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Muntaka courts World Bank support to fast truck E-Parliament

As Parliament is saddled with a lot of papers in conducting its business, Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak is courting the support of the World Bank to fast truck and conclude the E-Parliament programme.
According to the Minority Chief Whip, the process was started with the chamber screen but the screens were not user-friendly.|

“I am  talking about five to six years ago; sometimes it is so embarrassing if you look at the volume of papers we have to carry around when it could be easily distributed to enhance our work efficiency, for our work to be quick and fast”.

He further pointed out that the House had to suspend sitting sometimes jut to wait for some papers to be run.

“This World Bank project is a very important one and it should be fast tracked we need to help us enhance the work we do here”.

The Minority Chief Whip made this comments when the new country director of the World Bank, Pierre Jean Laporte to Ghana paid a courtesy call on Speaker Professor Aaron Oquaye.

In a related development, he called on the World Bank to help Ghana address its challenges. “Poverty in urban cities in Ghana is really growing up, you see people sleeping on the streets outside at East Legon, and you are getting slams there too but unfortunately you design your programmes but the emphasis is more on the rural areas”.

He also emphasised the need to tackle urban poverty with the number of people moving into the urban centers putting pressure on facilities there.

“When you want to assist us, have a look at our plans we have developed, instead of coming down with your own models of what you want done, as the amount of money you are offering push us to give up on our plans”.

Mr. Mubarak also noted that if the World Bank really want to help Ghana get out of its challenges, they should look at development agenda that Ghana has and look at how they can tap into it to help.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.co

Sanitation Minister commends World Bank for its support

Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has commended the country Director of the World Bank, Pierre Jean Laporte for the institutional support the sector has received over the years through GAMA Sanitation and Water Project.

According to the Minister, over twenty-seven thousand household toilets in the Grater Accra Region alone has been provided and Sustainable Rural Water resilient and Integrated Development would become effective this week.

The Minister  informed the team that access to improved sanitation has increased from 15% to 21% across the country; similarly open defecation rates in the Upper West Region has dropped from 83% to 52% within the last three years.

She also mentioned that, over the past two years, the Non Revenue Water of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GCWL) has reduced from about 50% to 48% as a result of the support from the World Bank amongst other interventions by the Company itself.

Mrs.  Dapaah informed the Country Director and his team that the Ministry has successfully secured 65.5 acres of land in the Ga West Municipality for the development of an engineered landfill site to receive solid waste from the GAMA as part of its readiness for the successful takeoff of the GARID Project. She further indicated that the Ministry is still pursuing the acquisition of other such sites in Adenta Municipality and Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) for waste Transfer Stations.

She further emphasized the point that as a government interested in the development of the private sector, the Ministry will work with private companies in developing and managing the various landfill sites and transfer stations to improve the solid waste management efforts of the country.

Madam Dapaah assured the team of her resolve as the sector Minister to ensure that all the investments made into the sector yield favorable results SRWSP and GAMA SWP has introduced innovative approaches to boost effectiveness and sustainability of WASH services.

The GARID Project, on the other hand, is a multi-sector and transformative urban resilience project which aims to support Greater Accra Region to become a cleaner, flood resilient and economically vibrant city.

In addition the project is the first phase of a series of projects and focuses specifically on reducing flood risk in the Odaw river basin in three selected low-income communities: Nima, Alogboshie and Akweteman.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

World Bank Country Director calls on Sanitation Minister

Country Director of the World Bank Office in Ghana, Pierre Jean Laporte has called on the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources Cecelia Abena Dapaah as part of his supervisory mission on the implementation of the GAMA Sanitation and Water Project.

These include the Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project (SRWSP) and the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project which has been signed pending effectiveness.

According to Mr Laporte, the World Bank is fully committed to providing all support that is needed to the sanitation sector including facilitating the transfer of experiences from other countries in the region to enable the country meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially goal 6.2 which focuses on sanitation.

Mr. Pierre Jean told the Sanitation and Water Resources Minister he expect the Ministry to speed up the institutionalization and operationalization of the proposed National Sanitation Authority which was announced by H. E Dr. Bawumia, the Vice President some months ago.

“The establishment of the Authority is a critical step towards the organization of a coordinated sector”, he said.

Also the Bank’s agreement to extend the project closing date by seven months and further provide an additional financing of One Hundred and Sixty Million dollars to upscale the project to the other regions of the country.

However, the Ministry must follow up with a formal request and immediately complete a project preparation plan. Again, the financing intent of the Bank includes upgrading of an existing fecal sludge treatment plant at Nungua-farms.

The Country Director also mentioned the need for the Ministry to seriously put in place measures to ensure the sustainability of the 406 institutional school sanitation facilities provided under the GAMA Project.

He said the facilities provided are disability friendly and menstrual hygiene considerate but their successful operation and maintenance involves mobilization of funds. And therefore entreated the Ministry to clarify the responsibility of the operation and maintenance arrangements in the context of the free education policy.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Atiwa East MP picks nomination forms ahead of primaries

Member of Parliament for Atiwa East Abena Osei Asare is seeking to contest in the primaries of the ruling New Patriotic Party ahead of the December 2020 Parliamentary elections.

Friends of the Deputy Minister and sitting MP picked her forms led by the party secretary Philip Anokye and was handed over to her at the constituency office at Anyinam.

Receiving the forms, chairman of the party in Atiwa East Albert Antwi Boasiako noted that the performance of the MP has been outstanding and should be given another chance to run and serve President Akufo-Addo who should also be given another four years.

He further added that her good deeds and works are outstanding and noted that whoever does well deserve a good push.

In the field of education in the constituency she put school buildings from the Kindergarten to the Senior High School and before the Free Senior High School (SHS) she spent two hundred thousand on scholarship.

And in the tertiary institutions, she spent sixty thousand on students each year and given employment to people from her constituency, thirty-eight with immigration, thirty-two with Ghana Police Service, ninety-three fire service, twenty-four Customs, sixteen at the Local Government but to mention a few.

The MP revealed that with assurance from his colleague the Roads and Highways Minister Amoako Atta most of the roads in the constituency are awaiting rehabilitation and tiring.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Government allocates Gc2.5m to deal with outbreak of coronavirus

Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu on Wednesday February 4 2020 told Members of Parliament (MPs) that government has allocated two point five million Ghanaian cedis in preparedness to deal with outbreak of coronavirus in the country.

According to the Health Minister, a process has been initiated to procure ten thousand pieces of personal protective equipment and insurance cover for the use of front line workers.

In a statement on the floor of the House he urged the private sector and development partners to support government’s effort being put in place in preparedness for the outbreak of the diseases in Ghana.

“Government is doing everything possible to prevent and protect against the outbreak and spread of the infection in Ghana”, Mr. Speaker.

In addition, the sector Ministry has sent alerts to all regions and districts to activate the respective Public Health Emergency Management Committee and pointed that that stakeholders like Tema Port, Ghana Airport Company Limited and authorities of Kotoka International Airport.

Furthermore, he told the House there has been a meeting between the Health Ministry and Chinese Ambassador to Ghana on regulating high risk travels to and from the affected areas in China.

Whiles the Chinese Ambassador indicated that all is being done to contain the outbreak and advice against mass evacuation of Ghanaian nationals in the affected areas, as it is the view of the World Health Organisation.

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Mohammed Habib Tijani told the House there are thirty thousand Ghanaians in China with eight thousand students and the Ghanaian Mission in Beijing is in touch with their leadership.

“There are about three hundred Ghanaians studying in Wuhan, but one hundred and fifty-two had been caught up in the lock down of the city, the mission has contacted them and provided with basic items as nose marks, sanitizers and groceries”.

He assured the House that currently no Ghanaian has contracted the coronavirus and all is being done to ensure that the students are safe and do not lack basic necessities.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Fifth Legislature: “I would speak truth to power”—Snowe

The fifth Legislature of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is expected to be sworn-in in the first quarter of this year in, Niamey Niger.

And leader of the Liberian delegation to the fourth Community Parliament, Edwin Melvin Snowe Junior has assured that in the fifth legislature he would speak truth to power.

According to Melvin Snowe it would be wrong for anyone to think because the incoming Speaker Sidi Mohamed Tunis from Sierra Leone is his good friend, he would not be active like he was in the fourth Legislature.

“You can be my best friend if you do not live up to expectation believe me I would speaker truth to power, we expect the incoming Speaker to uphold the dignity and integrity of the Parliament”.

In an interview with journalists in the Gambia, he noted that what people do not know about he was that many years back when he served as President of Liberian Football Association (LFA), the current President of his country, His Excellency was his player and friend for over thirty-five years.

“When he wanted to be President of Liberia I told him you are my best friend you want to be president, I do not think I would want to support you, I went to the opposition and supported the opposition against him”.

Mr. Snowe Junior further pointed out that he anticipate the incoming Speaker of the fifth Community Legislature to do better and build on what the outgone Speaker Cisse Lo had done. “We would hold him to the books and remind him of his short comings. Again we would encourage him in private and public”.

“What Cisse Lo did good, bad or ugly, I can say to you that he left a glass half full and not empty that we must build on, for our people in the sub-region to feel ECOWAS Parliament and appreciate it, then they would feel that this is a Parliament for the region that they can walk and work with”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Banjul

Gambia Extraordinary Session highest turn out —Barrow

Leader of the Gambia delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, Kebba K.  Barrow has revealed that the last Extraordinary Session of the fourth legislature which ends today is the meeting with the highest attendance in the last twenty years.

According to Barrow, he has been in the Parliament since May 2018 and can confirm that this is the highest turnout as the deliberations were also on point.

He pointed out tin an interview that he was happy his country was given the opportunity to host the meeting as the commitment was very good and much focus paid on the work.

“We would see how the evaluation, which is the first of its kind in the last twenty years lifespan of the ECOWAS Parliament goes. I expect this large turn out to meetings in the fifth legislature and more focus on work”.

He called for a second look at the Supplementary Act which enhances their power and noted as said by President of the Gambia and the Speaker of ECOWAS that MPs represent the grass root people and it is important that they focus on their work.

“We would continue to advocate for the active participation of MPs to our meetings to ensure we represent our people effectively”, he said.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Banjul

ECOWAS Parliament mediates in Gambia emerging crisis

Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Rt. Hon. Mustapha Cisse Lo on Wednesday led a twelve (12) member delegation to the Gambian Presidency to pay a courtesy call on His Excellency President Adama Barrow.

The visit was primarily to thank him for hosting  the last extraordinary meeting of the Community Parliament,  and attending the opening ceremony. it was however,  an opportunity to brief  him on the activities of the Parliament in the Gambia.

Briefing journalists after more than an hour meeting at the Presidency, the Speaker Cisse Lo noted that they reported to the President on issues pertaining in the Parliament.

According to the Speaker, he briefed the President on his meeting with the opposition leader as there is emerging political tension in the country, but pointed out that there is the need for Gambia to have stability.

“President Adama Barrow gave us listening ear and took good note of the issues we brought to his attention; and it is my view that we undertake such visits and discuss with all parties, a country cannot develop without stability”.

He again pointed out that he has had discussions with the opposition leader on the emerging political situation in the Gambia.

Over the weekend there was demonstration by the opposition to call on President Barrow to step down based on a three year agreement despite the constitution giving him a five year mandate. Others also demonstrated calling for the return of Yahya Jammeh.

As to whether discussions with the opposition came up in their discussions, he responded in the affirmative, but was quick to point out that their discussion cannot be shared with the media.

“Again, we ask the leaders to comply with the country’s constitution and rules; we would meet with the party leader of former President Yahya Jammeh, the meeting was divided into two the President met the whole delegation and we both moved into in-camera”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Banjul

Speaker clashes with section of MPs

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Moustapha Cisse Lo has asked Members of Parliament who wish to go home from the Gambia, venue of the ongoing Extraordinary Session, to do so.

The Speaker made this declaration after most members of parliament learnt their voices to a motion by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase which resulted in commotion.

Hon. Wase had insisted that the Session should be brought to an abrupt end on Wednesday, saying that the evaluation of the activities of the outgoing 4th Legislature, which according to him, formed the basis for the Extraordinary Session had already been concluded.

This resulted into a heated debate as other members sided with the Speaker, pointing out that some items in the program of event, were yet to be carried out.

They urged the parliamentarians to stick with the initial agenda set for the session rather than altering them.

At this point, the originator of the motion and Deputy Speaker of the Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Wase, flared up, accusing Speaker Cisse Lo of going against what had been agreed upon at the Bureau level the previous night.

“Mr Speaker, we need to respect ourselves on the manner with which we go about this. You are talking as if we are dragging this because we want to just leave. Let’s go through the agenda. My country’s resources and other country’s resources are being used for this program. I believe at the bureau, we had the opportunity to sit down and analyze and take a decision before coming to plenary. I am a deputy speaker of my own country’s Parliament, I know how things are done”.

“When I met you with this suggestion yesterday, all of you agreed we should bring it up here today; only for you to come now and talk as if there was no agreement. Is that the way things are done? You don’t run parliament on this manner.  All those who are now supporting you were part of those who agreed to this position yesterday. Is it because we want to take money that we designed the program? This is public funds! You must design things in such a way that you justify public funding”.

During the back and forth for almost an hour, Speaker Cissé-Lo moved that Parliament go into a closed door session and resolve the issue.

Emerging from the closed door, the Speaker urged members with contentions about going through with all the activities initially lined up for the 7day period slated for the Extraordinary  Session, to go home if they so desire.

He, thereafter, beckoned on the Secretary General, John Azumah, who read out the outlined program of event to the parliamentarians.

The Extraordinary Session comes to an end on Thursday, the 30th of January, 2020 after an in-camera meeting that got the meeting back after a brief suspension.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Banjul

Gambia opposition agrees to dialogue with government—Cisse Lo

Outgoing Speaker of the West African Community Parliament, Rt. Hon.  Mustapha Cisse Lo has said the opposition leader in the Gambia had agreed to have dialogue with the ruling Government under the leadership of President Adama Barrow.

According to the Speaker this was as a result of a long discussion he had with opposition leader on Monday the 27th of January 2020.

He made this revelation at a dinner hosted in his honor by the Speaker of the Gambian National Assembly, Rt. Hon Mariam Jack Denton.

Over the weekend, the Gambian police had to use tear gas and rubber-coated bullets to disperse thousands of protesters calling for President Adama Barrow to step down, as reported in the media.

The Speaker in an unprepared ten minutes speech thanked his colleague MPs in the Gambia National Assembly, Speaker, Government and people for their warm hospitality and generosity.

“ECOWAS Parliament did not make a mistake for choosing the Gambia for the extraordinary section, I am proud we made the correct choice, as friends of mine everywhere including MPs have helped me in this journey”.

He added that as politicians some people will go and others will come, and in all things there is the need to retain a good and healthy memories as some have worked to advance the course of the sub-region.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Banjul