Category: General

Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has pointed out to the Leader of a delegation of  lawmakers from the European Parliament, Mr. Norbert Neuser that his side is not happy with moves taken by Ghana’s Electoral Commission to compile new voters’ register less than nine months into a Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

According to Mr. Haruna, they have misgivings and concerns about the intention of the EC and they have made that known publicly.

“We are worried about this development. There are two main political parties in Parliament; the NDC and NPP, but it is not lost on us that we have Article 46 which states that the EC shall not be subjected to control. Our concern is directed to the EC”.

He made this point when the EU Country Director, H. E. Ms. Diana Acconcia in the company of some EU lawmakers called on Speaker Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye on Tuesday February 25, 2020.

He underscored how Ghana cherished its friendship with the EU, as the EU remains a continental unifier, and is a wakeup call for Ghana and Africa to embrace beyond the lip service of Pan-African slogan.

“Ghana takes pride in multi-party constitutional democracy, we remain committed to those values, Ghana is not just an oasis of peace, we look forward in protecting our democracy and hope our citizens would benefit from it”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Minority in Parliament have said violence in the Ayawaso West Wuogon bye-election was state sponsored hence part of their reasons for walking out during last Thursday’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).

According to the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu that should not be related to individual violence that occurred in places like Talensi and chereponi bye-elections that the Majority has been pointing out, adding that those are individual in nature.

He further lamented over the decision by President Nana Akufo-Addo over the Emile Short report not to disband the illegal SWAT group and is one of “our fundamental reason for the walk out”.

“We trust the Ghana Police Service as an institution but a police service heavily loaded by a SWAT team their loyalty would be to a political party not the state of Ghana. What would happen in a major elections?”.

More especially when the current government sees signs that they are losing elections, as they were blood testy at Ayawaso bye-elections. The “Majority Leader also said if NPP gets a new voters register the opposition NDC would never come back to power, he has to come back and explain himself”, the Minority Leader added.

Mr. Iddrisu noted that the current government has turned deaf ears to their complaint of a compilation of a new voters’ register, which gave birth to him. “In what capacity does he want us to recognise him when they are refusing to recognise a register that was used for the creation of six regions?”

In addition, under President Akufo-Addo, the media has come under attack and freedom of expression is under attack. “More so, media houses that are critical of the current government are being closed down”.

He further revealed that businesses that were sympathetic to the opposition NDC are suffering, and added that if this is allowed to go on he does not think there is future for the countries democracy.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Debate on the 2020 State of the Nation Address would start next week Tuesday 25 February 2020.

The mover of motion would be allotted thirty minutes, whiles the seconder allotted the same amount of time, with leadership and Ministers allotted fifteen minutes.

This was disclosed on the floor of the House on Friday 21st February 2020 by Leader of Government Business, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu when he presented the Business statement on the floor of the House for the ensuing week.

He further pointed out that chairpersons, ranking persons and Deputy Ministers would be allotted fifteen minutes each, whiles members would have ten minutes with the Majority and Minority leaders winding up the debate on March 3, 2020, and allotted fifty minutes each.

MPs were urged to avoid repetition of points, and in view of this, the House was told it would have extended sittings beyond the stipulated 2:00 pm time in the Standing Orders, depending on the business of each other.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

President Nana Akufo-Addo in his State of the Nation Address on Thursday emphasised that Ghana continues to play a lead role in making the AU and ECOWAS relevant and active to the changing needs of the region and continent.

The President who was in Parliament to fulfill Article 67 of the 1992 constitution which requires that the president gives State of the Nation Address at the beginning of every year, also touched on the difficulties that exist in ECOWAS especially with the five month boarder closure with its age-old friend Nigeria and the instability and terrorist activity that is sadly blighting the lives of thousands in some part of Nigeria.

“Shedding of innocent blood in the Sahel and neighbors to the North of Ghana, we are playing positive roles in the efforts being made within ECOWAS to bring this boundary impasses to an end”.

There is a consistent cooperation of security and intelligence between Ghana and her neighboring countries like Cote d’lvoire, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Mali and Niger which continues to be Ghana’s concrete contribution to the fight against terrorism in the region.

“All of us have a vested interest in helping to maintain the peace, stability and security of Ghana in current troubling circumstances of our Region”.

“Mr. Speaker, we never lose sight of the fact that there are many Ghanaian communities in all parts of the world, and our missions abroad have been charged anew to be alive to their needs. I am happy to report that Ghanaians in the diaspora are very much involved in whatever happens in their home country”.

He added that wherever he goes, he meet with Ghanaians and they are often very well informed and insistent on accountability from government officials.

Remittances from Ghanaians abroad constitute a healthy part of the Ghanaian economy and I always encourage them to bring their acquired skills to invigorate the political and economic landscape.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Checks and interviews conducted by Ghanamps.com have revealed that the inauguration of the fifth legislature of the West African sub-region hinges on the Nigerian Senate which is yet to present its list of reconstituted members.

According to the administrative head of the Community Parliament, Mr. John Azumah, out of the fifteen member states, fourteen have presented their reconstituted list with the exception of Nigeria that holds thirty-five (35) seats in the one hundred and fifteen (115) members.

Mr. Azumah further revealed in an interview that currently he has received the list of eighty (80) reconstitute members but the Supplementary Act requires three-quarters of the membership to form a quorum which is eighty-six (86).

“Nigerian’s membership of thirty-five (35) seats constitutes thirty-one (31) percent of the entire one hundred and fifteen (115) membership so you see where the difficulty is”.

As to whether the inauguration of the fifth legislature would be possible this month, the Secretary-General pointed out that, it is not possible due to the earlier reason for a quorum.

“Secondly, as required in the Supplementary Act, we have to inform the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of States before whom the members are going to swear their oath within a month of obtaining the three quarters”.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Mr. John Azumah failed to specify what role the ceremonial Speaker, H. E Mustapha Cisse Lo would be playing in the new parliament as he earlier expressed before the lifespan of the fourth legislature ended in Abuja where he announced is available to assist.

Mr. Azumah however, pointed out that it is within the domain of the next Speaker to decide whether he would require his support, “I would not be able to respond to that”.

He noted that this has never happened before in the last four legislatures where an outgone Speaker has been involved in a new legislature, “but it could happen depending on the disposition of the new Speaker”, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com.

Leadership of this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) planning committee met members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) to outline measures they had put in place to ensure a successful address by President Nana Akufo-Addo on Thursday 20th February 2020.

First Deputy Majority whip Moses Anim represented the Majority side as Benson Tongo Baba represented the Minority side on the Committee, with the briefing moderated by the Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Kate Addo.

Mr. Moses Anim commended the media for the work they perform by taking the event of SONA to the door steps of Ghanaians and further explained that there is not enough space in the House and the media would have to manage well the small space allotted to them.

He further revealed that the media houses should take a second look at how they approach members when they want interview just after the Presidents delivery because there has been complains of harassment for interview by some MPs.

“We want to avoid unnecessary confrontations that would lead to misunderstanding where journalists would think he or she is not being treated well and allow to work, we want to you to work with the Director of Public Affairs”.

Again, wherever the President or his Vice goes, the National Security takes full charge of the environment, “we are trying to alert you to avoid any confrontation”.

On the issue of rubbish generated after SONA by the media who have their stands at the entrance leading to the main chamber, Mr. Anim noted that dust bins would be provided.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com