Author: nii Ghanamps

Member of Parliament for Amenfi Central, Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah has served notice of withdrawing as independent candidate in the upcoming election. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmaker had served notice of contesting the December 7, 2024 parliamentary election as an independent candidate. He was therefore one of the four MPs whose seats were declared vacant by the Speaker of Parliament that the Supreme Court eventually declared as unconstitutional.

In a release to announce his withdrawal, the MP stated, “Pursuant to the decision by the High Court and the Electoral Commission to clear the NDC’s parliamentary candidate for this year’s election, I believe that my reasons for filing to contest the election as an independent candidate are no longer tenable”, he said in a statement.

He added that, he would like to thank the Elders of the party and other leading members of the party for their invaluable counsel that has led to this decision in the supreme interest of the party.
“Long live the NDC, long live Amenfi Central, long live Ghana”, he added.
Ghanamps.com

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus in Parliament has challenged President Nana Akufo-Addo, his Vice Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Education Minister Dr. Adutwum and his deputy Rev Ntim Fordjour to publicly consume the remaining samples of Moshosho rice from India.

According to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa the contaminated rice has criminally and callously been re-barged, twenty-two thousand barges in 50kg and used to feed Senior High School (SHS) students across the country.

The act, he said was done by the National Food Buffer Stock Company and Lamens Africa Investment Ltd which have been at the center of the scandal from December 2023 to April 30, 2024, and further expressed worry that the Education Ministry is defending the company despite the company admitting culpability.

“We strongly condemn this irresponsible and reckless conduct of the Ministry of Education and the government; and the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government must provide answers to the following pertinent questions from the people we represent in this parliament”.

• Why has the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government failed to initiate an independent, impartial and credible investigation into this heart-wrenching matter and why has the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government become spokespersons for the notorious Lamens?

  • Again, why was Lamens not blacklisted in 2020 when the Auditor-General made damning findings against the company about other unwholesome food items it distributed to schools?

  • Why did NAFCO, led by Alhaji Hanan Abdul-Wahab and Nana Boakye permit their NAFCO storage facility in Kumasi to be used by Lamens for this criminal re-bagging?

  • Why did NAFCO enter into this callous and criminal conspiracy with Lamens to put the lives of our students at risk?

  • Did NAFCO not seek approval from the FDA for the dubious repackaging exercise. NAFCO failed to comply with the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851) which requires that all NAFCO storage facilities across the country be registered?

  • As at today, NAFCO has failed to comply with utter impunity and continues to put the health of our children at great risk. Is the claim by the Education Ministry that the FDA extended the best before date from December 2023 to April 30, 2024, accurate?

  • If this claim is accurate, can the FDA explain to Ghanaians under what law and authority they extended the expiry date for Lamens as claimed by the Education Ministry. What are the FDA’s protocols for such strange extensions? How did Lamens manage to obtain this extension the same day it applied to the FDA?

  • Why has the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration not sanction any official involved in this grave matter? Who are the shadowy government actors who ensured the release of officials of Lamens after their arrest and who are the unpatriotic and dangerous government officials who put pressure on the FDA to change their position on this matter?

  • How did Lamens move from a culpable and fined company to a darling company of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government?

  • Have, the directors of Lamens escaped prosecution all these years?

“The NDC caucus asserts that President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia cannot remain silent on this grave matter which jeopardizes the health of millions of Ghanaian students. The nation is looking up to them to offer leadership, punish culprits who are largely their appointees and implement reforms to ensure the safety of our children. The NDC Caucus also demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of the directors of Lamens Investments Africa Limited”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin has given indication of recalling parliament in early November.
The Speaker gave the indication when a five-member delegation of the Council of State, led by the Chairman, Nana Otuo Siribuor, called on him on October 30, 2024 over the impasse in Parliament leading to the Speakers indefinite adjournment of the House.

A release from the Parliamentary Service noted that “The Rt. Hon. Speaker however indicated that he will return to Ghana earlier than anticipated, due to a request by Members of Parliament to recall Parliament. He indicated that his office has already started processes to recall the House in early November.

This was after the Speaker informed the delegation that he was compelled to lead the Ghana parliamentary delegation to attend the 67th Conference of the CPA international at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from the 3rd to the 8th of November, 2024.

Ghanamps.com

The Council of state has intervened to resolve the impasse in parliament resulting in the indefinite adjournment of the House.

This follows a courtesy call on the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin by a five-member delegation of the Council of State, led by the Chairman, Nana Otuo Siribuor, to ascertain at first hand, happenings in the legislature in recent times, resulting in the adjournment of the House indefinitely. Per a release from the Parliamentary Service, dated October 30, 2024, after a long deliberation, members of the Council assured the Rt. Hon Speaker of their preparedness to assist him and the leadership of the House to resolve whatever impasse there may be, to pave the way for a recall of the House.

The Speaker, who gave a brief about the situation and the basis of his pronouncements on the floor of the House, assured the delegation of his commitment to the development of the country’s democracy and its people.

The Council applauded the efforts of the Speaker, in keeping the democratic credentials of the country high, through efficient handling of the legislature and his leadership as the President of Parliamentary Organizations like the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, International, (C PA), Conference of the Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL) and an Executive member of the International Legislative Advisory Council of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in the United States of America. This, HRH Nana Otuo Siribuor encouraged him to continue with the good works in the interest of Ghana and all Ghanaians.
Meanwhile, the Speaker has informed the delegation that he was compelled to lead the Ghana parliamentary delegation to attend the 67th Conference of the CPA international at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from the 3rd to the 8th of November, 2024.

A five-member delegation of the Council of State, led by the Chairman, Nana Otuo Siribuor, today called on the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin to ascertain at first hand, happenings in the legislature in recent times, resulting in the adjournment of the Howe indefinitely.
After a long deliberation, members of the Council assured the Rt. Hon Speaker of their preparedness to assist him and the leadership of the House to resolve whatever impasse there may be, pave the way for a recall of the House.
The Speaker gave a brief of the situation in Parliament and the basis of his pronouncements on the floor of the House. He assured the delegation of his commitment to the development of the country’s democracy and its people.

The Council applauded the efforts of the Speaker, in keeping the democratic credentials of the country high, through efficient handling of the legislature and his leadership as the President of Parliamentary Organizations like the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, International, (C PA), Conference of the Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL) and an Executive member of the International Legislative Advisory Council of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in the United States of America.
HRH Nana Otuo Siribuor encouraged him to continue with the good works in the interest of Ghana and all Ghanaians.

Mr Speaker has informed the delegation that he was compelled to lead the Ghana parliamentary delegation to attend the 67th Conference of the CPA international at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from the 3rd to the 8th of November, 2024.

Ghanamps.com

The National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) position as Majority in parliament is short-lived as the Supreme Court of the land barely 24 hours stays execution of ruling of the Speaker of Parliament declaring four seats vacant pending determination of the substantive suit.

A five-member panel of the Supreme Court on Friday, October 18, 2024, granted the stay of execution following an ex parte application filed by the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

Ghanamps.com

The Deputy Minister of Health, Alexander Akwesi Acquah has urged his colleague politicians particularly Members of Parliament to desist from politicizing issues of health as that could hinder confidence in the health sector in the country.

Reacting to the Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh’s visit to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital regarding the broken down elevators, Mr Acquah said the action of the Ranking Member smacks of someone with political motive than seeking to find genuine solution to the problem.

“My brother, health is health, we need to decouple health from our political issues”, he affirmed.

Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, he noted, is Ghana’s premier health facility that takes referrals from all other health facilities across the country, and anyone is likely to end there in search of health delivery. Therefore, it is not healthy to make the place look like a grave yard due to the negative image we give it, he said.

Mr. Acquah who was reacting on GhOne TV argued that instead of storming the place with cameras, Mr. Akandoh could have just called authorities at the facility to get briefing; and added that if the Ranking Member had done that, he would have been told that management was already working to solve the problem.

He asserts that that Korle Bu like any other institution has management that oversees the running of the facility and it was within their remits to find solution to the problem, and they were at it before Mr. Akandoh went to whip up public sentiment with the cameras that he sent there.

HE berates the action of the Ranking member saying it did not expose anything as the management was already aware and dealing with it.

“The Korle Bu administration knew about it and they’ve been working at it, Korle Bu has a CEO  who has underlying managers, it doesn’t take the Minister or the deputy to know that Korle Bu’s lift is not working; and they are working at it. This is a regular routine maintenance”.

He said the traffic alone that uses the lift at the facility is quite on the high side and these breakdowns are expected from time to time, and management would always step in to make them functional again. “And so if for a moment the lifts are spoilt and the technicians are working at it, it doesn’t have to take honourable Akandoh, to come there before it is fixed; no it has been fixed, they were working on it, they had fixed some and they were working on the remaining ones.

He said this attempt to always make government look bad, is not helping the sector as the Ministry’s mandate goes beyond just fixing elevators.

The Deputy Minister who revealed that he equally patronizes the services of the Korle Bu Hospital because he carries out all his health check-ups in Ghana said the lifts works all the time, and reiterates that the traffic on it accounts for why it breaks down from time to time because it is a gadget.

Ghanamps.com

The Parliament of Ghana at its third meeting of the eighth parliament passed some five bills consisting as indicated in the chart.

Mr. Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Obuasi West Constituency, has donated 1000 desks to the Municipal Education Directorate for onward distribution to 12 public schools in dire need of furniture.

Procured from his share of the Common Fund for Members of Parliament (MPs), the expectation is that the desk would enhance quality teaching and learning in the beneficiary schools.

At a short ceremony to hand over the desks, Mr. Kwarteng said he had always supported schools in the constituency with furniture in his quest to address furniture deficit in schools.

He said the presentation of the 1000 desks was in response to a request by the Director of Education to fix the furniture challenges facing some public schools in the constituency.

“I have always put a premium on education, so, I had to respond quickly to the request of the directorate on the lack of furniture in some schools. We will continue to supply furniture to schools to ensure our children are comfortable in their classrooms,” the Obuasi West MP stressed.

Mr. Kwarteng seized the opportunity to highlight key interventions he had provided in the education sector, indicating that quality education was the most integral component of development in any society, and pledged to put premium on quality education delivery in the area.

He mentioned the rehabilitation of the Apitikooko School where a computer lab and staff common room had been provided, the provision of WASH facilities at Kokoteasua School and the Obuasi Complex Schools as well as the provision of classroom blocks at Nhyieso School as some of the key projects he has undertaken over the years.

The Former Deputy Minister of Finance said he would not relent in committing more investment into improving the quality of education in schools in the Municipality.

Receiving the desks on behalf of the schools, the Obuasi Municipal Director of Education, Mr. George Alfred Koomson commended the MP for the quick response to the request.

Mr. Koomson assured that he would liaise with heads of the beneficiary schools to ensure that the furniture was properly maintained.

Ms. Jacqueline Asante, Headmistress of Kwabena Fori Primary School lauded Mr. Kwarteng for the various educational interventions he had rolled out over the years.

She said the donation was a welcome relief to the heads of the beneficiary schools who had been saddled with the challenges of inadequate furniture in their schools.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Gomoa Central, Mrs Naana Eyiah Quansah, has presented 15 motorbikes to Okada riders in the constituency on work and pay basis as part of efforts to empower them financially to improve on their livelihoods.

The MP also presented GHC200.00 each to the recipients as start-up capital to buy fuel to commence their operations.

She also presented driving licenses to 100 taxi drivers who had financial difficulties acquiring a license from the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).

Addressing the riders and party supporters, Mrs Naana Eyiah who is also the Deputy Interior Minister said the prevailing employment for many school leavers in Gomoa Central constituency was the driving profession.

According to the MP, she gave the motorbikes to the riders at reduced cost to enable them pay as they worked since it was difficult for them to purchase them outright.

The MP renewed promises by the government to create more job opportunities for the youth to avert economic hardship currently facing them.

She urged the youth to rally support for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to win the December 7, polls to continue its good policies and programmes.

The Deputy Minister called on the electorates in Gomoa Central constituency to vote massively to maintain her as MP and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the upcoming December elections.

Mrs Eyiah Quansah further explained the reasons to maintain her candidature as MP to enable her to do more to help improve the quality living of the electorates.

The Deputy Minister appealed to the chiefs and people in the Gomoa Central constituency to support the government and ignore propaganda campaigns by the opposition NDC since they had nothing good to offer Ghanaians.

Mr. Benjamin Kojo Otoo, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Gomoa Central, urged the recipients to well maintain the bikes.

The DCE urged the people in the Constituency to rally support for the party and government to continue rollout good policies and programmes to enhance quality living standards.

The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the MP and pledged to support her and Dr Bawumia to win the elections.

Rt. Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey, born on August 11, 1931, in Accra, Ghana, served as the 2nd Speaker of Parliament in Ghana’s 4th Republic from January 2001 to January 2005. A distinguished lawyer, he obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Nottingham and was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in London. Adjetey also held a Master’s degree in Law from the University of London. Before his tenure as Speaker, he was the President of the Ghana Bar Association and a member of the Consultative Assembly that drafted Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. His leadership in Parliament was marked by a commitment to parliamentary independence, democratic governance, and the rule of law, leaving a lasting impact on Ghana’s legislative body. Adjetey passed away on July 15, 2008.

Shang Annang Papa Nii/ghanamps.com