Category: General

Lawmakers at the First Ordinary Session of the fourth legislature, for this year have lamented and express serious reservation about the truant nature of the Nigerian delegation and the First Deputy Speaker Sulaimon Lasun Yussuff.

Nigeria has thirty-five lawmakers in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament but always have less than ten lawmakers in a session.

Speaker Mustapha Cisse Lo last year complained bitterly about the attendance of the Nigerian delegation to the session.

Former Speaker of the Liberian legislature and Leader of the current delegation to the sub-region Parliament, Edwin Marvin Snow Junior made a passionate apple for his colleagues to take the sitting of the House serious.

“As Nigeria has thirty-five members (35), never have they had more than ten (10) members in a session, all of us here have responsibilities back at home all of us here are obligated and committed to our countries and we are different leaders in our countries, but we come to Nigeria, Nigerians do not come to session”.

He further pointed out that Monday when Liberia presented its country report, the third Deputy Speaker Prince Yomie Johnson was talked about, “true he is not showing up equally speaking the First Deputy Speaker Sulaimon Lasun Yussuff Nigerian is perpetually absent”, he lamented.

According to him, the development is not good for their, adding “when Nigeria was giving its country report if you notice, a few of our colleagues came but few minutes after signing they left, “what is equally painful is that we stay in corridor some of the Nigeria senators and representatives come out of their vehicles they sign in the attendance, they turn out into their vehicles they drive out”.

“We all here are responsible people, we all have commitment to our countries, we want the Nigeria delegation here to make commitment to us her today, that moving forward they would attend session, we have responsibilities like them back in our country when we come here we all receive equal allowance and sitting fee and we should all do the work equally”.

Meanwhile, the house adopted the last country reports even though majority of members were not too happy because, they wanted the issue of truancy of Nigerian MPs to ECOWAS Parliament addressed.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com/Abuja

Parliament would resume back from recess on Tuesday May 28, 2019 for the second meeting of the third session of the seventh Parliament of the fourth Republic.

In a statement signed on behalf of the Speaker Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, first Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu noted that the recall is in accordance with standing order 37 of Parliament.

“Right Honorable Speaker of Parliament hereby give notice that the second meeting of the third session of the seventh Parliament of the fourth Republic will commence on Tuesday 28th May, 2019 at ten o’clock in the forenoon at Parliament House Accra”.

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A representative of Nigeria in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Foster Ogola has cautioned against the community Parliament adopting country reports in isolation.

According to Senator Ogola country reports give a factual picture of current happenings in countries within the West African sub-region, hence reading country reports without any further action at the end of every plenary session, whether Ordinary or Extra Ordinary session, “is not helpful”.

Senator Forster Ogola made this remarks on the floor of the House on Saturday May 12, 2019, at the ongoing First Ordinary Session, of the community Parliament of the Fourth legislature in Abuja – Nigeria when Benin, Togo and Burkina Faso presented their country reports.

“There should be a presentation of communiqué, which would generate reports sent to the Authority of Heads of states for action. It would help us also pass resolutions for adoption”.

He further indicated that he was moving a motion in that regard, which saw the Second Deputy Speaker Aminata Kamara Toungara interjecting and putting off his microphone.

Senator Foster Ogola kept on complaining, “my microphone is off”, when his colleagues kept complaining that they could not hear him, more especially when those francophone, lawmakers needed interpreters to translate to them what he was saying.

Mr. Mahama Ayariga, one of Ghana’s representative when he caught the eye of the Second Deputy Speaker Aminata Kamara Toungara pointed out to his colleague it was not the proper timing for a motion to be moved.

“You cannot bring a motion in the middle of question time, the rules of the House does not permit that, craft a motion to the Speaker for adoption, it would be presented to the House for debate’, he advised.

Second Deputy Speaker, pointed out that, that was the reason why she kept interrupting and advised that the rules should be complied with.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Abuja

Benin narrowly escaped rejection of their country report for adoption on Saturday May 11, 2019 at the ongoing Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament First Ordinary Session of the fourth legislature this year in Abuja Nigeria.

Lawmakers at the community Parliament during question time after Benin presented its report in the company of Togo and Burkina Faso wanted to know the current political situation in that country.

Out of the fifteen MPs who asked questions on the floor of the House, ten expressed worry about the political situation in Benin, issue of post-election violence; and MPs wanted to know measures being taken to address them.

Other MPs called on ECOWAS Parliament to look into the situation in Benin and advice Authority of Heads of States to work measures to avoid post-election violence, adding the fire brigade approach should be avoided.

Kamara was worried about the political situation in Benin and pointed out that the report was not detailed enough about the political situation and with technology most MPs are aware of the situation in Benin.

Youssoufou Abdouramani Bida Nouhoume in presenting the county report of Benin told the House, legislative elections across the country  have been held and result announced by the constitutional court.

Mr. Youssoufou Abdouramani Bida Nouhoume in answering the questions from MPs on the floor noted that as a democrat he would not say there is a perfect situation in his country.

“Those calling for the rejection of my country report are not right, we have had worse situations in a country like Senegal but no one called for the rejection of that country’s report”.

Second Deputy Speaker, Aminata Kamara Toungara had tough time keeping order on the floor of the House as some MPs were vehemently calling for the rejection of the country report of Benin.

Mr. Mahama Ayariga from Ghana pointed out to his colleagues, they should be mindful of procedures and rules of the House; objections can be raised on the grounds that the report is not complete or inadequate.

“We have an opportunity to fill in the gaps by the delegation from Benin, they have answered questions and attempted to fill in the gaps, if we still have issues the proper procedure is to adopt a resolution and communicate to leadership of Benin our displeasure about happenings in that country”.

He further impress on his colleagues not to be emotional about the issue on the floor, and advice that issues should be channeled through the right procedure otherwise the House will lose its reputation as a Parliament.

Some MPs opposed the whole idea put forward by Mahama Ayariga and other MPs who contributed while others supported.

After thirty-five minutes of back and forth on the matter on the floor, Second Deputy Speaker, Aminata Kamara Toungara put the question and the report was adopted.

Some five lawmakers were unhappy with the decision on the floor were seeing waling out of the chamber before Togo and Burkina Faso could answer questions asked them.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Abuja

Three countries; Senegal, Liberia and Sierra Leone on Monday presented their country reports at  the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, First Ordinary Session this year at Abuja Nigeria.

First to present was Senegal that reported to the House that on the 24 of February this year the country held its eleventh Presidential election with five candidates vying for the position of President.

President Macky Sall was re-elected for a five year term with 58.26 percent in a first round election that recorded a high voter turn-out of 66 percent nearly 15 percent more than what was held in 2012.

As part of enhancing the powers of the National Assembly, 28 May of each year is celebrated as National Day of dialogue to bring together the nations dynamic forces and rub minds on the major issues facing the country.

Senegal has adopted pre-emptive strategies to tackle the new multiform and multidimensional threats to public security and to strengthen the capacity to intervene and manage crises.

Leader of the Liberian delegation, Edwin Melvin Snowe Junior reported that recent political development have the propensity to further shatter the countries already fragile peace if steps are not taken to arrest the situation.

A case in point is a planned demonstration slated for June 7 this year by a group named and styled “Council of Patriots” and the theme “Save the State”, as four major opposition political parties name Collaborating Political Party (CPP) have endorsed the protest.

Whiles President George M. Weah has suspended the Deputy information Minister , the legislature is yet to take actions on the two members of the legislature.

Deputy leader of the delegation, Sidi M. Tunis who presented the report for Sierra Leone reported to the House that, the political situation continues to improve after the 2018.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Abuja

The Republic of Ghana, received a rousing commendation when the nation presented its country report at the ongoing First Ordinary session of the fourth legislature this year, at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament in Abuja Nigeria.

Lawmakers at the Community Parliament when it got to question time, praise Ghana for going according to the format laid down for presenting country report, and further commended Ghana for giving current information.

The only female representative of Ghana to the West African sub-regional Parliament, Ama Pomaa Boateng, received praise from his colleagues for her clarity in presentation.

Ghanaian delegation is made up of Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh leader of delegation, Frederick Opare-Ansah, Kwabena Appiah Pinkrah, Sampson Ahi, Mahama Ayariga, Ama Pomaa Boateng and Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin.

On the political situation in Ghana, Ama Pomaa Boateng told the House, Ghana continues to enjoy twenty-six years of uninterrupted constitutional democracy, with the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) electing its flagbearer in February this year. She said the party elected the former President John Dramani Mahama as its candidate for the 2020 Presidential elections, out of six other aspirants.

The report also stated that the Electoral Commission has signaled its intention to implement the “Representation of the People’s Amendment Act (ROPA) passed twelve years ago by Parliament, for Ghanaians abroad to vote in upcoming 2020 elections.

Again, the President Nana Akufo-Addo per Article 5 of the 1992 constitution caused to be created six additional regions, in addition to the ten existing regions.

On security situation of the nation, it was pointed out in the country report that, there is peace and stability. As such government has focused its attention on political vigilantism and monitoring of terrorism activities along national borders as well as cybercrime.

Government continues to wage a relentless war against illegal mining which has resulted in the degradation of large tracts of forest and the savanna belt.

Illegal mining goes on in eight out of the ten regions, the capital Greater Accra and Volta regions are the only regions spared of this menace.

Rights of women are championed by a number of feminist advocacy groups, whiles laws of the country do not discriminate against women, and disparities exist in the numbers when it comes to parallels in power politics, job placement and influence.

On persons with disability, Ghana’s country report revealed that Government has increased the share of the District Assembly Common Fund to persons with disabilities (PWDs), from two percent to three percent.

Another area the report touched on was, ECOWAS community levy. Ghana as at April 2019 has discharged it payment obligation to the ECOWAS Commission; all mount due to the period have been duly paid.

In the month of January this year payment units of account (12.040,542.75), in February 2019 (17,316,302.33), March was (13,583, 797, 87) and April (15,226, 879.22).

Thus the total levy paid by the first quarter of 2019 to the ECOWAS Commission is 58, 167, 522.17 units of account.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Abuja

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has decided to boycott activities of the Inter-Parliamentary-Union (IPU), after it humiliated Speaker Mustapha Cisse Lo at its 140 meet at Qatar Doha last month.

ECOWAS Parliament reached this decision on Wednesday May 8, 2019 as it started its First Ordinary session for the year.

The issue was raise on the floor of the House in Abuja Nigeria when the House was going through adoption of draft programme of activities for the community Parliament for the second semesters of the year.

ECOWAS Parliament which has observer status with the world legislative body, IPU was to adopt the decision to either attend the upcoming IPU 141st meeting in Belgrade Serbia slated for October 13 to 17, 2019 or not.

After Secretary General of the Community Parliament, John Azumah announced the coming event, Speaker Mustapha Cisse Lo noted that he would want to consult the plenary on the matter.

“I do not see the point of sending a delegation to the IPU, because the IPU does not appreciate the leadership of the sub-regional community Parliament, if you go to the IPU just as a tourist I do not think it is right. I am expressing my disagreement for the third time as Speaker”.

According to the Speaker, he went to Doha but came back disappointed and suggested that IPU activities be put on hold for this year.

He further pointed out that when he lives office then maybe the people from the secretariat might want to take it up. He then put the question: “Do you agree?” and added that it was for open debate.

The Speaker recounted that he led a delegation to Geneva for  same IPU meeting and the delegation did not have a place in the hall; I came back and reported to you in “my first year, I do want to go there any longer”.

“I have a duty to tell you we are wasting money for nothing, that money for ticket to Doha could have been used on other activities where the voice of the Parliament would be heard, the cost of the ticket let us think about it. Doha ticket is three million CAF and you go there to fold your arms as an observer”.

The Speaker further noted that the decision is his as to who to send, but when the time comes he would fold his arms, and added when he leaves as Speaker Sierra Leone will take over, and they should decide otherwise.

“I am a trader, I cannot put my money into something that I would not get profit, when I put my money into something I should profit from it so I want to ask that this activity be dropped for this year”.

Mr. Edwin M. Snowe Junior disagreed with the Speaker, pointing out that individual countries have representation at IPU, so the community parliament can only have an observer status.

He further urged the Speaker to engage the IPU by letting the Secretary General John Azumah write to IPU and “respectfully Mr. Speaker let us maintain our relations with the IPU”.

Other contributors agreed with the position of the Speaker and pointed out that “you cannot be invited, we should be given that respect, otherwise we should put our resources into other activities like Parliamentary visit”.

At the end of the back and forth debate on the issue, two MPs argued for further engagement with the world parliamentary body while two other MPs supported the boycott of activities of the IPU.

Speaker Mustapha Cisse Lo said, “I refuse yesterday and today and I say no to IPU. When I am leaving I will recommend it to my successor not to go to IPU meetings because you will be humiliated there”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com