Author: nii Ghanamps

The Appointment Committee of Ghana’s Parliament led by the Chairman, Bernard Ahiafor and seven (7) out of the eleven (11) members have recommended to the plenary that the deputy Ministers designate who were vetted on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, should be approved despite their colleagues boycotting.

They are deputy Minister designate for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Yussif Issaka Jajah; Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini deputy designate for Roads and Highways; deputy Justice and Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai; and Yusif Sulemana, deputy designate for Lands and Natural Resources.

Chairman Bernard Ahiafor after the vetting noted that to form a quorum to transact business of Parliament as well as the business of the committee, Standing Order 217 (1) is to be relied on and they have not faulted on it.

 “Our colleagues in the Minority left us, we have quorum to be able to transact business within article 102 of the Constitution of Ghana. We have gotten to a state where we have to take a decision governed by article 104 of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana”.

Again, by that, a Committee of 11 should have more than fifty percent to be able to take a decision, and fifty percent is five point five, so it should be six and we are seven in number; we satisfy the constitutional requirement in Article 104 and took a decision on the four nominees vetted at the end of the day, he said.

“The Committee has to take a decision to recommend or not, that is where we are; so I take it that the committee is unanimously taken a decision”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has said pledged his side’s support to President John Dramani Mahama to succeed on his promise of accountability.

Moving the motion for the adjournment of the House after the President’s State of the Nation Address in Parliament on February 27, 2025, in fulfillment of Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution, Mr Ayariga said those who contributed to the damaging of the economy should be held accountable.

Addressing the sharp contrast on the attire of the two sides of the House, he said the Minority was dressed in black since it was obvious that they left a country that is miserable, and the

Majority side was in white because they knew the president was coming to give them hope going forward. “What has happened to our economy and country, the presentation made us see it all; it is sad and unfortunate.

The president has brought us hope both for the youth of this country, women, okada riders, private sector and students and ordinary Ghanaians who did everything to bring him to office with such an overwhelming number. Everything outlined here gives hope; we will support the president to deliver on his commitment”, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Government through the Ministry of Health is to establish the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCare) in the coming weeks.

The fund will be dedicated to financing the treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which according to the President have seen a significant rise over the past decade.
“As part of this initiative, the government is committing to allocating financial resources towards this project in 2025, with further support to be mobilised from private sector partners to ensure the sustainability of the fund”, President John Mahama stated.

When operational, the ‘MahamaCare’ will focus on directly addressing the financial burden of patients requiring dialysis treatment, cancer care, and other critical NCD-related interventions.

He affirmed that the composition of the technical committee is far advanced, with plans to establish the fund.

The President who made the announcement at his first State of the Nation Address to Parliament on Thursday, February 27, 2025 also disclosed that his administration is actively developing the framework for the rollout of the Free Primary Healthcare Programme which when fully implemented will mark a significant step towards achieving Goal 3.8 (universal health coverage) of the SDGs by eliminating financial barriers to basic healthcare access.

“Together, the Free Primary Healthcare Programme—which will focus on prevention, early detection, and treatment—and MahamaCare, which will focus on relieving the financial burden of treating Non-Communicable Diseases, will help revolutionize Ghana’s healthcare system by improving healthcare accessibility and outcomes and enhancing productivity and well-being across the country”, he asserted.

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President John Dramani Mahama has raised concerns about the low the number of women that mustered the courage to avail themselves for positions as Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

The President stated that while he is determined to achieving gender balance, especially at the local government level, the low number of women that presented themselves have been discouraging.

And added that the few who do are edged out on very flimsy and parochial grounds; thus stating that “it is my hope that the National Constitution Review Conference will clear a pathway for the election of DCEs”.

By so doing, he said, the Gender Ministry will have the obligation to encourage and support more women to apply for these positions. “My government is dedicated to successfully implementing the Affirmative Action Act of 2024 (Act 1121) to ensure gender equity across political, social, economic, educational, and cultural spheres.

The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection is actively collaborating with relevant stakeholders to guarantee that this Act is fully operational, including attaining the 30% target quota for women in political appointments”.

President Mahama assured that his government is on course to achieving the 30% target quota for women in political appointment as so far women currently make up 23.21% of all appointments.

Dominic Shirimrori/Ghanamps.com

Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Member of Parliament for Akim Oda has reminded the President John Dramani Mahama led ruling government of its promise to pay Assembly members, saying, “We are waiting for the NDC’s promise of paying Assembly members”.

According to him if the government is able to fulfill this promise, it will help attract people to voluntarily avail themselves to be elected as Assemblymen and women to contribute their quota to the development of the Assemblies.

This, he stated, should also be accompanied by ensuring that resources are made directly available to the electoral areas to work with.

The MP who was contributing to a statement in parliament on the “Challenges faced by Unit Committee members”, reminded the House that Dr. Bawumia, the 2024 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party would have made this possible as he had promised that portion of the Common fund was going to go to the electoral areas; “unfortunately, we did not vote for him”, he stated.

He emphasized that looking at the structures of our local governance system; it is only the Assembly members and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) that are seen performing; whereas the performance of Unit Committees and the other structures are hardly noticed because they do not have the empowerment.

“How, do we have the empowerment without looking at the financial capacity or a system that would allow them to have access to finance?” He queried.

He disclosed that in his constituency, the usage of the common fund was a major campaign issue during their primaries; so he promised his constituents that in other for them to have full access to the use of the common fund; he was going to disburse it to the 18 electoral areas in the constituency.

Again, when I got elected, every common fund that was released, it was done as we wanted. We have the various electoral areas led by the Assembly members opening electoral area accounts, and these monies were disbursed from the Assembly into those accounts. It made it easy for me to account for the common fund of every quarter despite not having any major project standing in my name for every electoral area, he stated.

“You go, there is something to show; this is what the MPs common fund has been used for” adding that it is one major area that if you are not careful they will definitely use it to campaign against you.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central Patrick Yaw Boamah has urged the House to give priority to the setting up of the House Committee at the start of the life span of every Parliament as there are urgent issues that has to be dealt with.

According to him it is unacceptable that MPs will receive delegations to their office and it becomes impossible to use the elevator because it is not working; same with the air-conditioners in their offices.

He gave the advice when he recounted receiving a delegation to his office on the tenth floor but the delegation was met with a faulty elevator.

He further pointed out that this could have been addressed easily if the House Committee were in place.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta is traumatized with the adjective used on him as “fugitive” but still knows God is with him, Minority Leader Kwamena Afenyo-Markin revealed on the floor of the House on Thursday, February 13, 2025.

Afenyo-Markin contributing on the development thanked the Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga for investigating issues surrounding the raiding of the private residence of the former Finance Ministers.

According to him he has had extensive conversations with Ken Ofori Atta who is undergoing a medical procedure outside the jurisdiction.

Again, he noted that he had an engagement with the current Chief of Staff who confirmed that the former Finance Minister wrote to him and was truthful about it and added that Ken will return back to Ghana within a reasonable time.

He said he will engage the Office of the Special Prosecutor and assure him if there was any miscommunication that the man will make himself available, and clarified that he left the country with permission; and if there is anything to be investigated, he will make himself available.

President John Mahama’s assurance given through the Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga to uphold the liberty of Ghanaians, the Minority thanked him and they will accord him all the necessary courtesies and we will cooperate and oppose when we have to oppose. Our duty is to oppose you, we can work together to represent our people for them to learn from us, he assured.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has commended the current Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dominic Akuritinga Ayine for preventing a political witch-hunt on him when he was then Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

Commenting on the recent raiding of the private residence of the former Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta, Afenyo-Markin recounting that in 2015 as a legal practitioner when he was in the Minority, the then AG was urged to prosecute him on some tax offenses because he was making too much noise but Dominic Ayine stood his grounds.

“He did not tell me but I was told by someone, I have respected him and taken a picture with him at my office and I celebrate him; we have maintained friendship since then”, he said on the floor of the House.

That moment when he said, political opponents should not be targeted; he has done demonstrating sincerity. “We are a political class that is the path we have chosen, we are not to cover crime but we have to protect each other for the good of democracy”.

“Ghanaians have told us something; if they are feed up with you, there is nothing that can be done. In 2000 election after former President John Kufour worn, some of us as student leaders were of the opinion that NDC will never come to power because it was devastating. But Within years, Ghanaians were fed-up with us, we have to eat our humble pie”, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Ashanti Region Minority caucus in Ghana’s Parliament is demanding the arrest of perpetrators of violence at the just ended council of state election in the region.

Addressing the media in parliament at a press conference chairman of the caucus Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong noted that individuals behind this shameful act, including Zuba, must be arrested immediately and made to face the full rigors of the law, as Ghana is governed by laws, not thuggery and they demand justice, and demand it now.

They further demand a swift resumption of the Electoral Process, stating that the Electoral Commission (EC) must ensure that this election is concluded transparently so that the true choice of the people prevails.
“We will not allow intimidation to dictate election results in the Ashanti Region and call for total rejection of Zuba for Any Appointment in the Ashanti Region.

A man who orchestrates violence and disregards the rule of law has no place in leadership. His appointment to any position in the Ashanti Region would be a grave disservice to the people.”
They urged the President and all responsible authorities to reconsider and reject any attempt to offer Zuba any role in the region. Kumasi and the entire Ashanti Region deserve better.

The Minority also stated that the Ashanti Region has always been the stronghold of democracy and good governance in Ghana. “We will not allow the reckless and lawless behavior of a few individuals to tarnish our democratic credentials”.

They sent a clear and strong message to the Mahama administration saying: Ashanti Region will not bow to intimidation as the people of Ghana will resist any attempt to erode democracy through violent and lawless means.

They further added that at the time of this shocking attack, Nana Nkansah Boadu had secured 49 out of 86 votes, putting him in a commanding lead but realizing that their preferred candidate was losing Mr. Zuba and his thugs violently intervened, halting the democratic process and plunging the election into chaos.

“We will not sit idly, while the will of the people is subverted through violence and intimidation”, they added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

A member of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Minority side Kwame Antwi Anyimadu said he overheard the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Bagbin giving directives for the Committee investigating the vetting chaos not to hold public hearing.

According to him he agrees with the directives of the Speaker and what the Committee is doing currently, the Committee is not conducting serious investigations, hence the reason he participated in the workings of the Committee once and later sought guidance from the leadership of the Minority.

At a press conference, he argued that, “if you call ten witnesses; according to the committee, twenty-five members have been identified and were to be invited. If all of them are to seat together and you call them one by one to speak to the hearing of the others, you are not conducting any investigation”.

Mr Anyimadu raised concerns with the manner the investigation is being conducted, stating that “the moment we take this as a public enquiry, any person, if you ask him to leave the committee room and go to the next room, he can go to the next room and watch television and observe whatever we are doing. The process of doing it is not the right thing. I have raised it and some of the members have also raised it”.

“We were not sure especially, when the Majority Leader has to come and testify before the Committee in public, I had to get up to seek clearance from the leadership of our caucus and we have to communicate to you that this is why you are not seeing us at the public hearing after our first appearance”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com