Category: General

Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, has presented the National Chief Imam, Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Shaributu with a plaque and a citation as the chief patron of Sanitation and Water.

This was when the Minister paid a courtesy call on the National Chief Imam and expressed her gratitude to the Chief Imam for accepting to be the Chief Patron for the Sanitation and Water sub-sector.

According to the sector Minister looking at the role of the Imam, it was proper to bestow such an honour on him and thanked him for the warm and cordial reception accorded her and her staff, and prayed for God’s blessings and guidance upon the chief Imam’s life.

Receiving  the plaque,  the National Chief Imam,  was grateful  for the kind gesture, and also  prayed  for God’s  protection,  guidance  and blessings  on the life of the Minister and her entire  Staff.

He commended the harmony and peaceful co-existence among all the various religious faiths in the country.

It will be recalled that on October 2, 2019, the Sector Minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah whiles on a tour within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Sanitation and Water project  (GAMA)  paid a  courtesy  call on the National Chief  Imam and bestowed on him  Chief Patron for Sanitation and Water.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament for Kpando, Della Sowah has not only provided seats in her constituency to serve her people, she extended this goodwill to Parliament.

The Lawmaker has provided solid chairs at very strategic positions at the main gate to the premises of the parliament coming through the Accra International Conference Centre, and the other gate from the Kofi Annan ICT and the Communications Ministry side to enter Parliament House.

Most of the time the security personnel in Parliament are seen using the seats the MP has provided in Parliament and members of the general public relax on the chairs provided when they are coming to look for their MPs.

A random interview with Security Personnel’s in Parliament and with members of the general public both had expressed joy for the benevolence of the MP for Kpando.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

The Prime Minister of the Caribbean Island of Barbados, Mia Mottley would on Friday 15th of November 2019 address Ghana’s Parliament.

Ranking Member on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa raised the issue on the floor of the House when the Business Statement last week did not capture this important visit the Speaker had talked about earlier.

“I recall the afternoon of 3:00pm on the 15th of this month, we were urged to prepare accordingly to receive an important guest, if there is any adjustment let us know because some of us had to adjust our diary accordingly”.

Leader of Government Business, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu in responses noted that a confirmation would be made to that regard.

“Mr. Speaker on Tuesday 12th of November 2019 on the floor of the House an announcement would be made to that regard”, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

The upcoming referendum on December 17, 2019 would determine whether Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief (MMDCEs) should be elected or not.

Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and Ranking member on Constitutional Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Inusah Fuseini is advocating that the House invites the Electoral Commission to brief it on their preparedness ahead of the referendum.

He raised the issue on the floor of the House on Friday November 8, 2019 when the Business Statement was presented on the floor of the House by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.

“MPs as citizens of Ghana need to know about preparedness of the EC for this exercise, again when the EC receives the result it would be forwarded to the House”.

Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on his part noted that the demand made by the Tamale Central MP is legitimate and the issue came up at the Business Committee meeting, but “we did not know if this was the proper week to invite the EC”.

He added that all the same since the issue has come up on the floor of the House, the issue would be taken up for the EC to be invited to the House.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Parliament has fixed Wednesday November 13, 2019 for the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta to present the Economic Policy of Government for next year to the House.

Ghanamps.com interaction with Members of Parliament from the Majority side disclosed they are hopeful and confidence the budget would introduce measures to improve the lives of Ghanaians.

Whiles interactions with Minority Members are of the view that Ghanaians should not expect anything new since there are tougher times ahead.

Most of the radio stations and television stations would be hosting their morning shows within the premises of Parliament tomorrow. First to pitch camp at the entrance leading to the chamber is TV3.

However signals picked by Ghanamps.com revealed that the Public Affairs of Parliament would this time around go tough on media houses that would want to have their morning show done in Parliament without going through the proper channel by writing to it.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyeremantey has told Parliament Nsawam Astek Company Limited, now Nano Foods would start full operation in April 2020.

According to the Minister, a capital expenditure component of two million, six hundred and thirty-nine thousand and seven hundred and sixty Ghana cedis (GHc 2,639, 760.00) has been disbursed to the company, with the working capital component still outstanding.

The promoters had ordered a 600MT per annum pineapple processing equipment that is scheduled to arrive in January next year for installation to enable the company commence operation in April of next year.

“Mr. Speaker, Astek expressed interest to be part of the Ministry’s stimulus package programme and subsequently the one district, one factory (1D1F) initiative using its subsidiary company, Nano Foods Limited”.

Also the promoters had used part of the disbursed amount to refurbish the company’s premises at Nsawam but would require an additional amount of five hundred thousand Ghana cedis (GHc 500,000) to complete the refurbishment due to cost overrun.

This was when Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri Frank Annoh-Dompreh sought to know plans by the Trade Ministry to revive the Nsawam Astek Company Limited to give job opportunities to the youth of the area.

Mr. Kyeremantey further told the House the company has secured orders to export canned sliced and chunked pineapples to Spain, USA and Egypt under its new name and the company would produce and supply fresh pineapple juice.

Youths of Nsawam-Adoagyiri and its adjourning communities would get sixty (60) direct jobs and two hundred (200) indirect jobs, as the company would purchase the produce of pineapple farmers or out growers in the community to complement supply from the company’s nucleus farm.

And further pledged the Ministry’s support of incentives services earmarked for 1d1f companies and also assign a consultant to work with the business promoter to enhance operational performance for the achievement of the company’s objectives.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu has told Parliament the Mfantseman’s Saltpond District Hospital would be seeing upgrade and rehabilitation.

According to the Minister, the Ministry is prioritizing health projects, and Saltpond is earmarked to receive rehabilitation and upgrade.

This came to light when the MP Ekow Hayford wanted to know when the health centre which has a very large catchment area in terms of number of patients, will be upgraded to a polyclinic.

Mr. Agyeman Manu further pointed out that his Ministry is exploring avenues to secure funding for the earmarked rehabilitation.

“We have sent a proposal to the Finance Ministry, the approval may usually depend on the county’s borrowing capacity”, he stated.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanadistircts.com

Anomena Ventures, a Ghanaian based LP gas-stove producer is pushing to promote renewable energy use in Ghanaian homes by encouraging households to adopt biodigester system to produce electricity and for uses.

A visit by Ghanamps.com to the production site at Dowanyan on the Accra Aflao stretch where the factory is located witnessed a bio-digester at the factory premises.

In an interview with the owner of Anomena Ventures, Dr. Sabina Anokye noted that if every home would own the biodigester system we would be making good use of our waste and generating energy which could be used at a cheaper rate.

“Look at the public toilets,   we generate a lot of waste in Accra if we see the waste that piles up, as a country we have a master plan in renewable energy and if we can look at our waste disposal and usage, we would not wait for the waste to outgrow us”.

She noted that on her part she has started from her LP gas strove producing factory, and urged all to come on board.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanadistricts.com

First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu has directed that the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta and the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) Administrator Irene Naa Torshie appear before the committee of the whole on Tuesday 12th of November 2019.

According to the First Deputy Speaker, the two officials are to meet Parliaments committee of the whole to address controversies around whether the third quarter of DACF 2018 and second quarter of 2019 had been paid.

This came to light on the floor of the House on Friday 8th of November 2019 when the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram raised the issue on the floor, pointing out that Assemblies are facing issues with the indebtedness of third quarter of last year and second quarter of this year.

He argued on the floor that the issues should be addressed before next year’s budget is presented on the floor of the House on Wednesday the 13th of November 2019.

The Second Deputy Minority Whip, Ibrahim Ahmed supported the call that the DACF administrator alone should not be invited to the House but rather the Finance Minister should be added to settle the issues of indebtedness.

“We need the true figures of indebtedness of the DACF and end the controversy where Deputy Minister go on road to say they have paid but does not reflect in the Assemblies”.

Majority Leader who was presenting the Business Statement for this week when the issue came up noted that the DACF for the second quarter of this year has been paid.
He again added that, third quarter for 2018 would be paid this week because the necessary effects had been carried out.

“For the third quarter the time is not up to yet, it is from this time up to the end of December this year, let us wait until that time, no one can say the third quarter of this year is indebtedness”.

Mr. Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noted that despite the assurance that he has given if members are still not convinced and want the Administrator of DACF invited that would be done Tuesday after adjournment.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanadistricts.com

Four Ministers would next week answer four questions on the floor of the House.

Minister for Food and Agriculture has a question to answer, same with Educational Minister, Youth and Sports and Minister for Communication.

Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu presenting the Business Statement for the ensuing week noted that the Finance Minister on Wednesday the 13th of this month would present the budget statement and economic policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2020.

“The business committee urges MPs to arrange their affairs in order to be present in the House on the said date”.

On the 16th and 17th  of November 2019  at justice D. F. Annan auditorium of the Job 600 building there would be a post-budget workshop to enable MPs to assimilate the content of the budget.

Debate on the 2020 budget would commence on Monday, November 18, 2019. Meanwhile the House is expected to sit on Mondays commencing Monday, 18th November, 2019 and would as well have extended sittings.

The House is expected to adjourn for Christmas break on the 21st of December 2019 and in view of the impending referendum Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th of next month the House would not sit, the Majority Leader told the House.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com