Category: General

The Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL), on Saturday, October 27, 2024 opened its 2nd General Assembly Meeting in Accra, Ghana at the Kempinski Hotel.

The two-day Conference is to consider and adopt the Draft Constitution submitted by the Interim Technical Working Group (ITWG) that was assigned that responsibility at the first General Assembly held in Abuja, Nigeria in May 2022.

The Rt. Hon. A. S. K. Bagbin, Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana and President of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL), in his speech charged the conference to ensure deliberations are characterised by constructive and productive dialogue and the sharing of experiences and best practices from various countries and Parliaments.

This, he noted, will not only help strengthen the respective legislatures but also enrich the substance of the discussions during the consideration of the Draft Constitution for CoSPAL.

CoSPAL is the first permanent platform that seeks to unite Speakers and Presidents of legislatures across the African continent to support the agenda for Africa’s growth and sustainable development.

It aimed at expanding the frontiers of parliamentary diplomacy by working in close collaboration with executive arms of government and with other regional and international inter-parliamentary organisations, civil society groups, other key stakeholders, and most importantly, in alignment and close cooperation with the African Union.

That said, the Rt. Hon. A. S. K. Bagbin, the President of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL), clarified that CoSPAL was not formed to rival or compete with any existing organisations, or detract from their relevance, or to duplicate their objectives and activities.

On the contrary, CoSPAL was formed to support and complement their work from the unique perspective of African Speakers and Presidents of National Assemblies.

Ghanamps.com

The New Patriotic Party Members of Parliament in accordance with Article 112 (3) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and Standing Order 53 of the Parliament of Ghana have requested the Speaker to recall parliament for a meeting.

In a Memo to the Speaker, dated October 22, 2024 and signed by the Second Deputy Majority Chief Whip, the recall the memo noted will help to consider some urgent matters of national importance.
Among them include

• Request for Tax Exemptions for designated beneficiaries under the One District, One Factory Programme.

• Ghana Financial Stability Fund, and International Development Association facility of Two Hundred and Fifty Million United States Dollars ($250,000,000).

• Bill:

i) Environmental Protection Agency Bill, 2024

ii) Social Protection Bill, 2023

iii) Customs (Amendment) Bill, 2024

iv) Budget Bill, 2023

v) Ghana Boundary Commission Bill, 2023

vi. Intestate Succession Bill, 2022.

“We wish to emphasise that this request is made in utmost good faith and in the national interest, to enable the Government to discharge its Constitutional and Democratic obligations to the people of Ghana. The matters outlined herein are of pressing importance and require the urgent attention of Parliament”.

The request was made barely 24hours after the Speaker Rt. Hon Alban Bagbin adjourned the House Sine die on Tuesday.

Ghanamps.com

Signals picked up by Ghanamps.com can reveal that security will be very high tomorrow Tuesday, October 22, 2024, ahead of proceedings in the House, the first sitting after Rt. Hon Speaker Alban Bagbin’s ruling declaring four seats vacant.

Both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) group in Parliament and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) group in Parliament insist they form the Majority side of the House, and it raises a lot of concern about how things will be on Tuesday.

Persons who do not have Business around the legislature will not be allowed around the premises Ghanamps.com can confirm.

It is anticipated that, with both sides of the House holding on to their grounds of being in the Majority, they House may likely witness some levels of chaotic scenes unless cool heads prevail.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The National Service Scheme (NSS) has officially been launched into the National Service Authority following the passage of the National Service Authority Act (Act 1119) by Parliament.

The formal launch of the Act was done by President Nana Akufo-Addo on Friday, October 18, 2024, in Accra.
The President Nana Akufo-Addo applauded the critical role of the NSS in national development, noting that the scheme saves Ghana over 3 billion cedis annually.

According to him the new National Service Authority would continue to play a pivotal role in preparing the youth for nation-building and expressed optimism that it would be even more influential under the leadership of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the next administration.

Mr. Daniel Macholy, who chaired the occasion, advocated for mandatory national service, stressing its importance in fostering discipline and patriotism among the youth.

He further proposed a partnership between the National Service Authority, his foundation, and his salt industry to support the authority’s activities.

Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi, the first Director-General of the National Service Authority, welcomed attendees and praised President Akufo-Addo’s commitment to youth development. He highlighted the transformation of the NSS into an authority as a testament to the government’s dedication to strengthening institutions.

Mr. Assibey Antwi also called for additional government support, particularly in securing equipment and farmland for agricultural initiatives aimed at bolstering the Free Senior High School (FSHS) program.

He appealed to the Finance Minister for financial backing to expand the authority’s accounting aid and its collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC).

NSS Board Chairman, Nee Odoi Tetteyfio, underscored the significance of the transition, which he said would expand the authority’s capacity and jurisdiction.

He revealed that plans are underway to improve the remuneration of NSS staff, aligning with the authority’s new status and providing further growth and sustainable opportunities.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin on Thursday declared four seats vacant.

The four seats; three from the Majority caucus and one from the Minority side include NDC’s Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah of Amenfi Central constituency in the Western Region, Andrew Amoakoh Asiamah of Fomena in the Ashanti Region, Kojo Asante, NPP MP for Suhum in the Eastern Region, and NPP’s Cynthia Morrison of Agona West constituency

The speaker’s declaration follows notice of petition brought before him by the former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu urging him to declare the said seats vacant since the Members of Parliament from those constituencies have filed to contest the upcoming December parliamentary election as independent candidates with the only independent MP now contesting on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.

The Speaker explained that Article 97 (1)(g) of the 1992 Constitution necessitates that an MP must vacate their seat if they leave the party under which they were elected or attempt to continue in Parliament as an independent candidate.

He emphasized that the constitutional provision would be meaningless if it only applied to future parliaments, as the MPs in question would have completed their term by then.

The development has thus caused a power shift in the House with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) forming the majority with 136 as against the New Patriotic Party in the Minority with 135 seats.

Until this ruling, the NPP had the numerical advantage with 138 seats supported by the only independent MP, while the opposition NDC had 137 seats.

Ghanamps.com

The Rt. Hon Speaker Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin is to rule on the notice of petition by the former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu to declare some four seats vacant.

Four sitting MPs, three from the Majority caucus and one from the Minority have filed to contest the upcoming 2024 Parliamentary elections as independent candicates while the only independent MP currently in parliament, the second deputy Speaker is also contesting on the ticket of the ruling New Patriotic Party.

The development according to Mr Haruna Iddrisu requires that the seats of those crossing carpets should be declared vacant since they came to parliament on the tickets of political parties.

Minority Leader Dr. Ato Forson on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, raised the issue as a matter of public concern in a statement on the floor.

Speaker Bagbin appealed to the House to give him two days to do proper research on the matter and give a ruling.

Ghanamps.com has picked signals that, the Rt. Hon Speaker Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, will give a ruling today, Thursday, October 17, 2024, on the matter, as at 6:30pm when Ghanamps.com reporter was leaving the House the Rt. Hon speaker was still around.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) Kwasi Agyeman Busia has said digitalisation is what has transformed his outfit that earns him commendation from Members of Parliament when he accompanied the Transport Minister to the public hearing of the Government Assurance Committee meeting.

According to him he is humbled by the commendation given saying when he assumed office in 2017 a lot of problems were associated with the DVLA.

“Transparency International called us the most corrupt institution in the country, we went about our business and came up with a strategic plan and figured out what we had to do to uplift DVLA and take us out of that notorious list of most corrupt”

In an interview he pointed out that, they came out with people process and technology which is the foundational principles of our strategic plan. It means wherever there were manual processes where goro boyism was prevalent, where people went to rooms close doors and had to lose money here and there, they use digitisation to shorten the whole process from 21 steps to 5 steps, before long we started seeing results.

“We removed a lot of the human interaction out of the process. It was with this kind of initiatives that we did not lay off people but had to transform them by changing the culture. And this is not only drivers Licensing, we started training our personnel making them better than we found them”, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Rt. Hon Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has appealed to the House to give him two days to given a ruling, having been invited to declare four seats vacant as three seating Members of Parliament have declared their intentions to contest the 2024 Parliamentary elections as independent candidates with the only independent Member of Parliament contesting the election on the ticket of the ruling New Patriotic Party.

Former Minority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South Haruna Iddrisu has sent a petition of notice on the matter to the Speaker. And the Minority leader Dr. Atto Forson also had reason to speak on the matter when the House resumed on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, as a statement of public importance.

Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Asiamah Amoako of Fomena is an independent lawmaker caucusing with the Majority side, Amenfi Centrla Yaw Peter Kwakye-Ackah is on the Minority side, Kwadjo Asante Member of Parliament for Suhum on the Majority side likely to go independent. Whiles Member of Parliament for Agona West Mamle Cynthia Morrison on the Majority side has given indications of going independent.

“I will come here with a well written ruling, I will submit to all of you, so that at the end of the day justice will not only be done but will have been seen to be manifestly done in this matter”.

Again, when you plant evil, you will reap evil, so I want to take a few days to submit a reasoned ruling in this matter I see that this is not only an urgent matter but a very serious national issue and there is a good reason why the constitution after 1960 constitution differ because of the issues you are raising.

“Some said cross carpeting, others say crossing carpet; it is the same thing having gone through all these constitution and having gone through all the parliaments in the fourth Republic and having experienced all you have stated, I think I must do justice to the subject. So I need to present to you a very well taught out ruling so that tomorrow I will not either be crucified or hailed but the right thing would have been done”, the Speaker stated.

According to him, his attention was drawn to this by the leaders that it’s a serious matter and it is true that Mr. Haruna Iddrisu gave him a copy of a notice of a petition on this matter, “it was not a petition, it was a notice of petition and you know through our procedures how this should be processed. That is being done and that is different from the statement made by the Minority Leader Dr. Atto Forson. Despite the subject matter is the same the procedures are different”.

He further pointed out that the Majority Leader drew his attention for the fact that he has sued me, “me not Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin but Speaker of Parliament, that office and not me in person”.

Kindly give me two days and I will come here with a well written ruling I will submit to all of you so that at the end of the day justice will not only be done but will have been seen to be manifestly done in this matter, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minister of Transport, Mr. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, has explained that some staff of Ghana Airport Company who were implicated in a Cocaine smuggling scandal at Kotoka International Airport have now been reinstated after investigations was conducted.

The transport minister made the statement when he appeared before the Assurance Committee of Parliament to respond to some assurances, promises, as well as issues raised on the floor of Parliament pertaining to his ministry.

It was alleged in March 2023, that a staff of the GACL had smuggled 8.5 Kilograms of a substance suspected to be Cocaine through KIA but was subsequently busted at Brussels Airport by the Belgian authorities. Mr. Asiamah has explained that, there has been a collaboration with international partners to fight the illegal cocaine menace adding that a committee was set up to investigate the staff who were implicated in the incident.

He said ‘’The Security at various Airports collaborate with each other, I can even let people slip in for him to be busted at another Airport. We have also busted other people here on behalf of other countries. This is a network that we have to look for and pointed out that the safety and security of KIA is one of the best in the world”.

The Minister stated that the Committee’s findings on the incident, proved that the staff were not culpable hence the need for them to be reinstated. He further told the Assurance Committee that the matter was handled internally with best standards and opined that nobody was punished because nobody was found culpable.

It will be recalled that, on April 10th, 2024, the Herald Newspaper reported on the Cocaine smuggle bust. The Newspaper reported that the scandal emerged following the arrest of a significant quantity of illegal drugs at Brussels Airport in Belgium with reports indicating that the cocaine was smuggled through KIA on board the Moroccan national carrier, Royal Air Maroc, facilitated by a GACL staff member in March.

The Chairman of the Assurance Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa expressed concern over the GACL failure to apprise the public with the outcome of the investigations.

He said it is only fair that the public is informed about the conclusions of the investigations and what GACL is doing to keep the public safe.

Ghanamps.com

The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Martin Ayisi has justified the need for the issuance of licenses to Small Scale Miners despite calls by well-meaning Ghanaians on the government to stop all forms of small-scale and illegal mining.

He gave the justification when he appeared before the Assurances Committee of Parliament to respond to his outfit’s role in the issuance of mining licenses to small-scale miners, the upsurge in illegal mining as well as measures geared towards curtailing the menace in the country.

Mr. Ayisi opined that a move to stop issuing licenses to small-scale miners would worsen the situation, adding that delayed license issuance has been a major contributing factor to the illegal mining crisis. He said, “When you don’t give them the licenses, what they would do is that they will go and do it illegally.” “To say we shouldn’t grant licenses that will be a problem,” he stressed.

Additionally, he stated that in 2018 when the government placed a complete ban on small-scale mining, Ghana recorded 48% of small-scale production in the history of the country where Ghana toppled South Africa.

He explained that, for one to obtain a license or authorization for small-scale mining, one must go through the Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Forestry Commission among others, and stressed that failure to obtain licenses from any amounts to illegal mining.

He indicated that as a regulator, the Commission is mandated to conduct site inspections and report to the District Assemblies for the Regional Security Council to deploy security to arrest the illegal miners. “The solution to illegal mining is by investing millions of dollars into Geological Surveys Authority, the government explorers.”

He told the committee that anybody who mines in any river body, or forest reserves is engaged in criminal activity emphasizing that, the Commission will not issue a license to anybody to pollute and degrade the forest.

However, the Chairman of the Assurance Committee and MP for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa raised issues from an alleged report where a small-scale mining firm called Akonta Mines Limited has breached the mining law by destroying the Samraboi concession.

Ghanamps.com