Category: General

Member of Parliament for Suhum and a representative of Ghana’s delegation to the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) Parliament, Fredrick Opare Ansah has urged his colleagues attending a localized meeting in Accra to use their stay to deepen the, community integration process.

According to the Suhum lawmaker, his colleagues in the West African sub-regional community Parliament, should never wait until there is a meeting in Accra before they travel down to Ghana.

“We need to come together beyond our meetings, hence the reason for inviting former Ghanaian MPs of the community Parliament to join us for dinner, on Tuesday evening, a lot of you are new to them but it was nice for them to be part of opening of our meeting to”, he said.

He made this remarks when he addressed his colleagues from the community legislature at a dinner on Wednesday evening, after calling on the President Nana Akufo-Addo at the presidency.

The week long localized meeting is on the theme, “Public-private partnership: An alternative Sources of funding for community programmes and projects”

Three committees are attending this localized meeting in Accra including Joint Committee on  Trade Customs and Free Movement,  Economic Policies; private Sector and NEPAD and   Administration, Finance, Budget Control and Audit.

Mr. Fredrick Opare Ansah on behalf of his colleagues in the community Parliament thanked, the institution for selecting Ghana for this particular meeting.

And also added that, Ghana is solidly behind the integration process and appreciate the effort of the Community Speaker in its effort to ensure that there is a common single currency, hence earlier meetings in Dakar Senegal.

Meanwhile on behalf of his colleagues and the Speakers of the Community Parliament, Edwin M. Snowe Junior thanked the Ghanaian delegation for their hospitality shown them since their arrival in Ghana.

“For some of us this is our second home, and for all of us this is part of our region, we thank the first Deputy Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament for the warm reception”.

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According to the community Speaker, good results have been achieved because in many countries of the region, “we are recognised”.

“We need to continue to have a greater visibility with our field visit and visibility of the community Parliament and also promote the acceleration of the integration process”.

Mr. Moustapha Cisse Lo made this remarks when she called on the President Nana Akufo-
Addo at the presidency on Wednesday evening, in the company of Secretary General of the Community Parliament, John Azumah and Fredrick Opare Ansah one of Ghana’s representatives to ECOWAS Parliament and some selected MPs from the Community Parliament.

He further briefed President Nana Akufo-Addo within a year ECOWAS Parliament holds two ordinary sessions, lasting for a week each, and in addition four delocalized meetings together with field visits.

“Mr. President, we need greater support in terms of resources to be more successful, we are counting on you and also the support of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

One important issue we have to address is the remuneration of Members of Parliament, we are near the end of the fourth legislature that will be next year February, we have had discussions with President Buhari and he has given us he gave us his work of support us on this issue”.

Again this matter is being discussed at the level of Council of Ministers; we need your support on this point, Ghana is very important to the community and particularly to the legislature.

Three committees are attending this delocalized meeting in Accra – Joint Committee on Trade customs and free movement; Economic Policies, private Sector and NEPAD and   Administration Finance Budget Control and Audit.

The week long localized meeting is on the theme, “Public-private partnership: An alternative Sources of funding for community programmes and projects”

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

According to the Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, the amount has been allocated to the Ministry of Works and Housing, the Hydrological Works Service and they are up to the task, and added that they just had a meeting last week Friday.

“To make room for the numerous vulnerable groups we have flood control is on the mind of all Ghanaians, as the rains have started kicking in, it looks like we are having early rains and the country must prepare for it. We are very grateful for the rains, but unfortunately the rains can also cause havoc through flooding at unexpected places, if the floods get away into the sea we do not have a problem, when people do get locked up in their homes then we do have a problem”, she lamented.

She made this remarks when she visited the Greater Accra Metropolitan Areas (GAMA) sanitation and water project offices at the Institute of Local Government studies at Madina.

And further noted that desilting of gutters and drains will be carried out, and when this is being done we do not “expect any body to drop anything in our gutters”.

“We are all fed up with people pouring their garbage and rubbish into the gutters and drains if you are caught you will be jailed”, she lamented.

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At a dinner hosted for the community lawmakers, the first Deputy Speaker urged to work together to ensure that Ghana will host the head quarters of African Continental Free Trade Area.

“We all particularly for our brothers from Nigeria you will walk down here easily and I am pleased to announce that the Nigerians feel comfortable to come and  spend the weekends in Accra, that should really tell you Ghana is a home for everyone. We are doing all to make Ghana safe place for you”.

He further pointed out that if MPs with the Community Parliament have not started, he encourages them to come for free weekends in Accra enjoy the weekend and go back.

In addition he used the opportunity to give gifts to the visiting Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament and lawmakers, a Ghanaian kente cloth.

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Members of Parliament on the Minority side of the House expressed worry over the delay in answering urgent questions and normal questions.

Member of Parliament for Biakoye, Nyanpong Kojo Aboagye raised this issue on the floor of the House and noted that some of the questions are of national importance and when raised, MPs do not get responses in good time.

In response to the issue raised on the floor of the House, Deputy Majority Leader who presented the Business Statement on the floor of the House noted that, he should let her know which specific questions and will draw the attention of the clerks.

She indicated that, that notwithstanding, order 66 of the standing orders talks about admissibility of questions; “Mr. Speaker shall be the sole judge of admissibility of a question”, so merely presenting a question to the clerk’s office does not mean it has been admitted by the Speaker, this is the sole responsibility of the Speaker, she clarified.

She was however quick to say that the remarks would be taken on board and questions followed up because there are a lot of questions that had been filled and has to do with addressing issues at their constituencies and national levels.

“This week a lot of public business will  be done because we have to go on recess Friday the 12th of April 2019, we have  major Bills we are looking at companies Bills we need to deal with”

Speaker in reacting to the issue on questions that had been raised on the floor of the House noted that himself and the first Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu have been concerned about issues to do with questions filled by MPs.

“It is only in few instances when a question does not comply with our rules, we quickly pass them on for them to be answered even where there are few issues with questions the owners of those questions are invited and some anomalies with the questions addressed. The first Deputy Speaker has been helping in addressing this particular matter, thereafter it is a matter of time table and availability of space”.

Speaker Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye noted that the rules allow a member to follow up on his or her questions, to the table office as have been said already.

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The resolution was submitted by the Netherlands calling for an urgent resolution to support the three African countries.

IPU emergency resolution called on all Parliamentarians to contribute to flash appeals by the UN for the three countries. And asked the world body, to focus on the most vulnerable people stranded without clean water, food especially women, children and the elderly.

And further urged, countries in a resolution to take more action on climate change to meet the goals of the Paris agreement by investing in climate-resilient programmes for the most vulnerable and supporting affected countries in developing resilience mechanisms and disaster risk reduction.

In 2018, at the 139th Assembly of the IPU, members voted on an emergency resolution put forward by a group of Small Island Developing States, demanding immediate action on climate change.

The IPU has been working with Parliaments to help them implement the Paris Agreement and find ways of mitigating the effects of climate change.

At a panel discussion at the Assembly, Parliamentarians also evaluated polices to reduce energy, poverty by mobilizing more investment in renewable energies, and saw the launch of the new IPU-UN environment publication – “shades of green: an introduction to the green economy for Parliamentarians”.

The cyclone was one of the worst tropical cyclones on record bringing torrential rains and high winds to Southern Africa; causing widespread flooding and landslides, and leaving a trail of devastation in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

It is estimated that well over seven hundred people died, one thousand five hundred were injured while well over ten thousand people were displaced.

Effects of the cyclone is likely to have exacerbated by environmental degradation, such as deforestation, cyclone Idai made landfall in Mozambique on the night of 14-15 March 2019, the day the One Planet conference began in Nairobi.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com Qatar/Doha

The funds would be a five year initiative to support Parliamentary action to disrupt and mitigate the effect of terrorist activities.

Under-Secretary-General from the UN office of Counter Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov underlined the importance of Parliamentary action to bring legal framework in line with international counter terrorism instruments and agreements.

Delegates at the 140th IPU Assembly heard the testimony of Falmata Bunu, a community leader from a displacement camp in Maiduguri, Nigeria, who escaped after being abducted by Boko Haram.

In addition, the Assembly adopted a new resolution condemning the use of mercenaries and foreign fighters.

Ukraine and Jordan, Parliamentarians reaffirm the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity of the states, and non-interference in the domestic affairs of other state.

The resolution expressed grave concern at he scores of human rights violations perpetrated by mercenaries and foreign fighters against civilian populations, particularly women and children. And set out a framework for Parliamentarians to take legislative measures to prevent the recruitment, financing, or transit of mercenaries or foreign fighters.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com  Qatar/Doha.

Over eight hundred (800) Members of Parliament (MPs) from one hundred and sixty countries convened in the world’s biggest platform, for global Parliamentary exchange.

The final Doha declaration endorsed at the Assembly, Parliamentarians underlined the critical role of education to enhance peace, security and the rule of law.

President of the IPU, Gabriela Cuevas noted that IPU is celebrating its 130th anniversary which in itself is proof of continuity and the importance of the global organization of Parliamentarians to seek effective and sustainable solutions to ensure a peaceful and inclusive future.

“Access for all to equality education is vital for all to quality education is vital to fight xenophobia, extremism and ensure viable democracies that work for all the people”

Secretary General of IPU Martin Chungong, on his part noted that it is important for the meeting to reaffirm the global role of IPU as a bridge builder between Parliamentarians.

He noted that Peace building and mediation is in the DNA of the IPU which was founded on the values of dialogue, exchange and understanding, – “130 years later, these values are still very much at the heart of what we do”.

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The North Dayi lawmaker joined the chiefs and People of Botoku to cut sod for the start of the project which is a two classroom block, staff common room and a store with the provision of toilet facility for boys and girls.

A non-government organization (NGO), Pencils of Promise is providing eighty percent of the materials for the building whiles the community is suppose to provide twenty percent, which had been taken over by the MP with the provision of sand, stone chippings while the community provides water and labour.

Madam Joycelyn Tetteh thanked the indigence of Botoku for coming out in their numbers to support the project, “I am happy that you came in your numbers, you did not go to your farms, neither did you say we are in opposition it’s the MP who had gotten her project she should go a do it”

She further pointed out that at a District Assembly meeting the chief and elders of Botoku approached her and said, “our daughter, we do not have classroom for our kindergarten pupils”.

The MP was met by the women and men of Botoku singing to the durbar grounds, where good boboboo music was played to welcome everyone.

“At a Volta River Authority resettlement meeting, I met the Country Director of the NGO after presenting a list of communities to be helped and I had to choose one; I had to settle on Botoku”.

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