Category: General

Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has noted that for democracy to thrive it does not need a timid society as dictators exist all over the world hence the need for citizens to stand up against dictators collectively.

According to him multiparty democracy needs to be strengthened and as Ghanaians we need to ensure democracy flourish and should be our guide.

He made this remarks over the weekend when Parliament organized a two-day workshop for members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) on the new revised standing orders.

“Our democracy has come to stay and the media needs to help entrench as well as the legislature for democracy to be our culture as a country”, he pointed out in his remarks.

The Rt. Hon Speaker further pointed out that democracy cannot thrive in a society that is ignorant and that should not be part of our democratic journey; and expressed joy over the willingness of the media to assist on this journey.

He gave the assurance that there would be more training opportunities for the media in Ghana’s Parliament going forward and wanted the employee of journalists in Parliament House to know that, the work they do in the House takes them beyond their employees. “You are essential partners of what we do in Parliament, we are by law to put at your disposal logistics and facilities for you to do your work well”, he stated.

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The Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin led his colleagues to commiserate with the family of their late colleague Dr. John Ampontuah Kumah, Member of Parliament for Ejisu in the Ashanti Region.

Members of Parliament from Majority side of the House were dressed in black on Friday, March 8, 2024 to indicate their sadness when they were hit with the news of the demise of their colleague on Thursday.

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Clerk of Ghana’s Parliament Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah said the work of Parliament in its governance architecture can be well understood and appreciated by Ghanaians through the dissemination of relevant information pertaining to their mandate in the conduct of the House.

It is in light of this that Parliament took it upon itself to organize a workshop for members of the Parliamentary Press Corps to help them familiarise themselves with the contents of the revised Standing Orders to enable them report accurately.

Mr. Kwabena Nisah further added that, not only on the proceedings and other activities of Parliament but also the intricate practices and procedures that underpin certain decisions, motions and resolutions of the House.

And the media as one of the key stakeholders of Parliament, he urged members of the media in Parliament to participate fully in all sessions of this orientation programme in order to benefit from the deliberations, which would enable them improve their knowledge on the rules of the House and facilitate the discharge of their duty.

Parliaments of the Fourth Republic have, in consonance with the provisions of article 110 of the 1992 Constitution, regulated procedures of the House by Standing Orders, which prescribe the rules and practices for the conduct of parliamentary business.

After twenty-three (23) years of adherence to the provisions of the previous Standing Orders of the House, with minimal amendments, it is prudent that Parliament refines its processes and procedures in accordance with emerging legislative trends across the Commonwealth.

Contemporary challenges including demands for higher levels of transparency in the democratic process; inadequacy of manual work procedures in the effective discharge of the mandate of the Legislature; and the Covid-19 pandemic revealed some gaps in the Orders of House, requiring that we adapt innovative techniques and strategies in order to deliver on the mandate of Parliament.

Moreover, the hung nature of the Eighth Parliament, which is the first of its kind since the inception of the Fourth Republic, presents a number of novel situations and challenges that were not within the contemplation of the drafters of previous Orders of the House.

The revised Orders, which was adopted by a Resolution of the House on Thursday, 21st December, 2023 and took effect on 2nd January, 2024, introduces practices and procedures, including the recital of the National Pledge, the conduct of parliamentary business through virtual platforms, and clearly delineates the hierarchy of the Leadership of Parliament.

Furthermore, under our current Standing Orders, the number  of parliamentary Committees have increased from thirty-one (31) to forty-four (44) to emphasise the new focus and direction of the House, as part of efforts to expand and improve parliamentary oversight of activities of public officials.

As partners in the advancement of parliamentary democracy, the critical role of the media in the reportage of parliamentary proceedings, as well as facilitating the scrutiny of activities of the representatives of the people cannot be overemphasised, he stated.

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Parliament of Ghana has approved an amount of $300 million dollars as support for the 2024 annual budget.

Prior to the approval, the minority leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson made the position of his side clear that, they’re not going to support the approval of the loan, since government has over borrowed, more especially since we are in an election year.

He further added that, the finance minister, Dr Amin Adam has also presented tax exemptions to the tune of GH 5.5 billion cedis which is equivalent to $449 million dollars and that, the minority can help approve the loan only when the tax exemptions is withdrawn or changed to tax credit.

Hon K. T Hammond, the Minister for Trade and Industry and MP for Adansi Asokwa in his contribution said, the issue raised by the Minority on tax exemptions has no basis since such item has not been submitted to Parliament for approval but at the committee level.

He advised that, the Minority should exercise patience until those tax exemptions get to plenary for such debate to be carried out.

Finally the Finance Minister, Mr. Adam agreed to the call of the Minority and assured the House that, he is going to review all those exemptions and report back to Parliament in two weeks.

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The Parliament of Ghana on Thursday operated without electricity from the national grid following a disconnection carried out by the Electricity Company of Ghana.

ECG carried out the disconnection when the House was debating the State of the Nation Address delivered by the President on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Following the disconnection, the offices of the Members of Parliament at the Job 600 building has been without light but the main chamber had light from the generators at the facility.

The development caused some individuals trapped in the elevator and it took the intervention of some security persons to get them out. Parliament is said to be hugely indebted to the power distributor, ECG and that resulted in the power cut.

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Ghanamps.com

Ghana’s Parliament has finally passed the Anti-LGBTQ bill into law.

The bill aims to uphold proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values while prohibiting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+), and related activities.

The Bill in its current form proposes a jail term ranging from six months to three years for those found engaged in same-sex activities, with a more severe punishment of three to five years for promoters and activists of LGBTQ rights.

In fulfillment of Ghana’s constitutional requirement, President Nana Akufo-Addo would on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 deliver his last but one State of the Nation Address in Ghana’s Parliament.

Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana states: “The President shall deliver a message on the State of the Nation to Parliament at the start of each session and before the dissolution of Parliament.

Checks done by Ghanamps.com can reveal that there are preparations to receive the President tomorrow in parliament.

Cleaners were seen on the premises of Parliament cleaning and painting everywhere to ensure the premises is spot clean for tomorrow’s event.

The Security Services were at the forecourt of Parliament on Monday, February 26, 2024 morning preparing for tomorrows event.

And investigation conducted by Ghanamps.com indicates that security would be tight tomorrow; and without accreditation one would not be allowed into the premises of the Parliament House.

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Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Member of Parliament for Suame, has officially declared his resignation as Majority Leader.

He made this announcement in Parliament on Friday, February 23, clarifying that the decision was solely his and not influenced by external pressure, as speculated in some media reports.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu encouraged members of the Majority Caucus to extend their support to his successor, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, by providing all necessary assistance.

“On Wednesday, February 21, at a meeting with the caucus and the President, I formally announced my decision to resign as the Majority Leader in order to still the storm and facilitate the peace and unity for the party at this time,” he said.

Below is the new front bench of the Majority Caucus

1. Majority Leader: Alexander Afenyo-Markin, MP for Effutu
2. Deputy Majority Leader: Patricia Appiagyei, MP for Asokwa
3. Majority Chief Whip: Frank Annoh Dompreh, MP for Nsawam/Adoagyiri
4. First Deputy Majority Chief Whip: Habib Iddrisu, MP for Tolon
5. Second Deputy Majority Chief Whip: Alex Tetteh Djornobuah, MP for Sefwi Akontombra

A Committee of Selection is one of the first committees set up at the beginning of every new parliament.

The Committee under the Chairmanship of the Speaker is appointed to prepare lists of chairpersons, vice chairpersons and Members to compose the Standing Committees.

It ensures that every Member of Parliament in accordance with clause (4) of article 103 of the Constitution, serve on at least one of the Standing Committees.

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Ghanamps.com

There are indications that the president Nana Akufo-Addo will in the coming days have a meeting with the Majority Caucus is parliament to discuss issues on the a possible changes in the leadership of the caucus.

Though the majority caucus at a press conference on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 rebuts all speculations about changes in their leadership and any contemplation to that effects, there is an evidence to the contrary as the party at one of their executive meetings had ‘changes to Parliamentary leadership as one of the items on the agenda for discussion which was subsequently skipped.

Mr Appiah Kubi, the Member of Parliament for Asante Akim South, speaking on TV3’s Ghana Tonight Show on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 confirmed attending such meeting by the party and seeing the said item on the agenda specifically as the fifth item for discussion but was dropped subsequently.

He, however, assured that the new Standing Orders of Parliament which came into force in January this year gave power to the caucuses/groups to constitute their own leadership, a position that is a departure from the previous system which allowed the party to do so.

As such, he said they are satisfied with their leadership and are solidly behind them, adding that whatever anybody or groups will put forward to be done to the Majority Caucus’ leadership would be treated as a suggestion to be tabled before the caucus for discussion.

Dominic Shirimori / Ghanamps.com