Category: General

The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye is expected to lead a Parliamentary delegation to grace the grand durbar of Chiefs and people of Asanteman commemorating the 20th anniversary of the overload of the Ashanti Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Ttutu II.

This follows an invitation extended to the Speaker and leadership of the House when a delegation of the Asantehene paid a courtesy call on the Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye in Accra.

The nine-member delegation including the Ashanti Regional Minister, Samuel Osei-Mensah, was led by Nana Susubiribi Krobea Asante, Asokoremanhene, who is known in private life as Nana Prof. S. K. B. Asante.

Speaking through the Chief Linguist of the Otumfuo, Nana Nsuase Poku Agyemang, the Asokoremanhene told the Speaker that the climax of the celebration falls on Sunday, April 21, 2019, where a grand durbar which coincides with Addae Kessie will be held.

Prof Emeritus K.B. Asante thanked the Speaker and Parliament for the warm reception.

The Speaker expressed gratitude to the Asantehene for the invitation and assured Parliament will be well represented.

Prof Oquaye reminisced the rich cultural heritage of Asanteman which was displayed during the funeral of the late mother of the royal.

The Majority Leader who is also the Otumfuo’s Sompahene, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, commended the Asante King for doing a lot for his people and the country as a whole over the past twenty years.

He assured of Parliament’s support to the King during his 20th anniversary celebration.

As part of activities marking the China anniversary celebration to be held between March 27 and April 27, traditional Asante foods will be cooked and served at the Manhyia Palace.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu known in private life as Barimah Kwaku Duah aged 49 ascends to the throne following the demise of his uncle Opoku Ware II into the church triumphant on april 26, 1999.

The King established the Otumfuo Educational Fund which has supported several underprivileged Ghanaians irrespective of their tribal inclinations.

To serve as a guide into the future, the Asantehene at a meeting with the Asanteman council asked the chiefs in his kingdom to make a candid assessment of his stewardship over the 20 years reign on the Golden Stool.

By Christian Kpesese /ghanamps.com

Second Deputy Speaker Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has indicated to Members of Parliament that, the House is ready to pass the Right to Information Bill (RTI) but two Ministries are holding the House up.

Right to Information Bill we give notice to the relevant Ministries, we can no longer wait on them, we would be compelled to pass the Bill without waiting for them whatever they are doing, he indicated.

Mr. Bagbin while presiding on Wednesday said, “you cannot get any perfect law in any party of the world, what we have done is one of the best in the world so far so there is nothing wrong with us passing the bill in its current state”.

“If there need be, there is nothing wrong to come back and make those necessary amendments to the Bill, they should come before the House either this week or next week”.

Civil society should be informed that, it is evolutionary and not revolutionary and so some of the proposal could be legislated upon, but could be held up when it comes to issue of implementation we should take all that on board, he said before adjourning the House on Wednesday.

According to the former Majority Leader the public is blaming Parliament for not passing the Bill, the system we have to the chief whip is supposed to whip members and not the Majority Leader.

The Leader might have to impress on the chief whip to whip the committee members, Majority chief whip has powers over all members not only those from his side, and would do so through the Minority Chief whip.

Mr. Alban Bagbin urged MPs to cooperate, help address all bills that are urgent and added that the House cannot complete everything, but those that are of urgent nature should be completed before the 5th of April, 2019 so that the House can go on recess.

“There are other compelling matters which would definitely take members out of the House, whether the House is sitting or not, there are issues that some members must of necessity get involve, particularly the leaders I have been there before and I was compelled when I was in their shoes”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

The Minority in Parliament had put out its views on the true state of the Ghanaian economy, posed five questions for Vice President Dr. Mahmud Bawumia, head of government economic management team.

In a breakfast meeting addressed by the Ranking Member of Finance Ato Forson asked, why an independent central bank with focus on price stability decides to reduce the monetary policy rate against its own research findings that US policy normalization is strengthening the US dollar and causing investors to move funds?

They further sought to know why an independent central bank, with a focus on price stability decides to reduce lower the policy rate in the face of dwindling net international reserves and a rising interest rate abroad?

“Why would an independent central bank, with focus on price stability decide to reduce the monetary policy rate in favor of growth, which has been projected to be higher than the previous year’s while the local currency is under pressure?”

Mr. Ato Forson further pointed that, clearly, an economy cannot be externally unstable and internally stable. “How can a rapid exchange rate depreciation be accompanied with a single digit inflation rate as captured by the posted macroeconomic indicators?”

And the fifth is, why would an independent central bank with a focus on price stability decides to lower the police rate in the face of excess liquidity in the banking sector emanating from banks increasing their minimum capital by over 100 percent, while the local currency is fast depreciating?

“The recent monetary policy easing by the Bank of Ghana is nothing more than populist approach and is a key factor fueling the recent exchange rate deprecation”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Ghana’s legislature has through its Public Affairs unit and students Parliaments have presented a citation and a piece of kente cloth to a former senior staff member for his enormous contribution towards the setting up of ‘Students Parliament and Parliamentary Youth Clubs’ in Tertiary and second cycle institutions across the country.

Mr Ansah served as the first coordinator of the Students’ Parliament and Parliamentary Youth Clubs exhibited high professionalism and leadership to drive the rapid growth of the groups.

Second deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin assisted by the Principal Clerk to the Table Office, Ebenezer Djietror Director of Budget, Mohammed Hardi Nyagsi and Acting Director Public Affairs presented the citation to Mr Isaac Kwame Ansah during the commemoration of the 2019 Commonwealth day event in Accra on the theme: Connected Commonwealth.

Find below the full words on the citation:

“In acknowledgement of your immense contribution, serving as the first coordinator of the Students’ Parliament and Parliamentary Youth Clubs in the various tertiary and second cycle institutions across the country from their inception.

You consistently exhibited the highest standard of professionalism and leadership in driving the growth of the Youth Parliaments throughout your tenure.

Your unceasing devotion made you accessible to the students at all times. You served as a source of knowledge to the students in their quest to emulate our national Parliament.

For this reason the Public Affairs Department and all Members of the Youth Parliaments wish to express our profound gratitude to you.

Thank you, Mr Isaac Kwame Ansah for your contribution to inculcating Parliamentary democracy in the youth.
Ayekoo!

Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

Speaker of Parliament Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye has charged government to as a matter of urgently address what he described as increasing poverty and inequalities in the country to eliminate child trafficking.

According to him, inequalities in the country especially in the rural communities are hampering the fight against child abuse and child trafficking.

The Speaker made these remarks when a delegation from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association paid a courtesy call on him in Parliament House.

Prof. Mike Oquaye noted that the introduction of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy has increase girl child education in the country, adding that parents must also be willing to send their children to school.

On his part, ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa commended government for placing a ban on some recruitment agencies and called for legislative reviews on laws against child trafficking and child abuses in the country.

Meanwhile, the Baroness Young of Hornsey of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Prof. Margaret Omolola Young said their visit is to deepen their collaboration with Common Wealth countries.

Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

The Korle-bu Teaching Hospital is chasing after the hills of a former Chief Administrator of the hospital, Prof. Afia Hesse for taking home a VW Passate saloon car and an amount of Ghc 51,000 paid to her as retirement package.

The 2016 Auditor General’s report indicated that the previous management of the Hospital awarded a retirement package of GHC 51,000 and a VW Passate saloon car to the former Chief Administrator without the approval of the Health Minister.

This the Auditor General noted was in breached of Section 37 (6) of the Ghana Health Service Act on retirement packages.

The current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Daniel Asare told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament that Prof. Afia Hesse has since returned the car but has refused to refund the GHC 51,000 challenging them to go to court to retrieve the money.

This came to light when a member of the Committee and MP for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak raised the issue during the Committee’s sitting in Accra.

Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman Manu said the only option left for the ministry is to seek advice from the Attorney General on how to recover the money.

Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

Minister of Education, Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has urged Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs) within the Ghana educational system to shift their focus from dues collection to demanding accountability from the schools concerning the quality of education delivery and their learning outcomes.

He made the appeal during a meeting with National Executives of PTAs in his office in Accra.

In a statement the Minister stated, “I also stated that the priority of the PTA should shift from dues collection to demanding accountability from the schools on the quality of education and their learning outcomes.”

He bemoaned that “sadly, PTA has now become synonymous to money collection and this should not be the case.”

He added that “the first thing I made clear to the organisation was that under Article 176 of the 1992 Constitution monies that are collected through a public institution (and in this context, PTA dues taken from students) automatically become public funds and are subject to the management and decisions of government.”

According to him, “Therefore, if the dues are continually collected through students, the use of the funds was subject to the approval of government.”

The minister added that “I charged the PTA to rearrange their priorities, focus on how they can get the best out of teachers, engage and partner the Ghana Education Service (GES) to improve accountability in schools and rebrand the entire PTA from a levy collecting association to a strong body that puts schools on their toes to perform as expected.”

He stated that “the members assured us that they are working on a new operational strategy and that the council is far advanced in setting up a new national payment system where all monies will be collected and disbursed to various schools to cater for specifics.

Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com.

The Bia Lamplighter College of Education has held its maiden Matriculation and induction ceremony at Debeso in the Bia West District of the new North Western region.

A total of 421 students at various levels of their studies from level one to three hundred formally matriculated at the event which coincided with the formal induction of the school’s first substantive Principal, Dr Samuel Agyeman by the District Magistrate his worship Albert Owusu Annor assisted by Jerry Sarfo a senior assistant secretary and coordinator colleges of Education.

The Bia Lamplighter College of Education was established as a private school by Dr. Augustine Tawiah, the Member of Parliament for Bia West Constituency.

Dr Augustine Tawiah expressed delight at the matriculation and stated that he has very high expectations of the school as one of the only 46 accredited colleges of Education in the country.

The school he said is aimed at becoming high standard centre of teaching and learning in the school especially to his people whiles commending government for fully taking over the school to ensure greater reach and support teaching and learning.

Principal of the college Dr. Samuel Agyeman called on stakeholders to support the school to become one of the best colleges of education in the country.

The students who could not hide their joy were grateful to the Member of Parliament for his visionary leadership. The Bia Lamplighter College of Education he said is committed to building three values of disseminating knowledge, transformation and service delivery.

The cadet corps of the college treated audience with a good display. In a related development the MP visited some communities within the Bia West constituency to interact with residents as he devices ways to lobby projects for the area.

Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

The Parliamentary Training Institute (PTI) has hosted a day’s forum that observed the 2019 Open Governance week with the aim of bringing parliament closer to the people.

The 2019 week celebration was on the theme, ‘Promoting Open Governance through deepening parliamentary accountability, partnerships and Inclusiveness’.

Co-chair of the Open Governance Program, Dr Steve Manteaw has urged the need for the legislative arm of government to up its game by opening up to the citizenry in the law making process to ensure collective ownership.

According to him, Parliament has a major role to play in achieving the objectives of the Open Government initiatives by passing laws that promote transparency and ensuring citizens take part in decision-making processes.

“Parliament is one of the three arms of government and, therefore, has a key role to play in OGP. The substantial part of Ghana’s OGP commitment hinges on Parliament and if parliament fails to do what we’re committed to do, that fails in its commitment of OGP,” he stressed.

“The agreement under the OGP is to improve inclusiveness and allow citizens know exactly what is happening in all aspects of governance including which contracts have been awarded and to who so that they can also have a say. The RTI is a law that will enable people easily get information from government and in turn help us fulfill our OGP commitment but its taking Parliament too long to pass it. This is a dent on Ghana’s commitment to the OGP.”

Dr Steve Manteaw who is the Chairman of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) urged Parliament to open up to citizenry to ensure inclusiveness in the lawmaking processes which engenders compliance.

“Openness is a mechanism for achieving participation and participation leads to ownership and ownership engenders compliance. If you’re part of the lawmaking process, chances are that you’ll comply with the provisions of the law. More importantly, ownership builds public support of initiatives of government,” Dr Manteaw stated.

Ghana membership and commitment to the OGP he said will enhance the country’s democratic credentials as a beacon of democratic governance in the African sub-region thereby boosting investor confidence to increase foreign-direct investment in the country.

The Acting Director of the Parliamentary Training Institute Mrs Gloria Sarku Kumawu described the Open Governance Initiative as a very important concept that must be supported by all stakeholders to succeed.

She assured of the Parliament of Ghana’s commitment to help promote the concept of Open Government in the parliamentary service and the country at large.

The immediate past Chairman of the Government Assurance Committee and current Chairman of the Committee on Environment , Science and Technology, Yaw Frimpong Addo who chaired the function emphasised the need for the three arms of government and Civil Society Organisations to intensify their collaboration in order to deepen openness in the governance process of the country.

This Manso Adubea Member of Parliament noted will promote peace and accelerated the economic growth of the country.

Acting Director, Public Affairs, Parliament of Ghana, Kate Addo enumerated the various platforms and social media tools being employed in order to ensure openness and bring Parliament closer to Ghanaians.

Ghana in September 2011voluntarilly signed unto the Open Government Partnership with a commitment to improve the lives of citizens through open, transparent and accountable governance.

The OGP week event was attended by staff and Members of Parliament and Civil Society Organisations.

The Open Governance Program is a global call to action and call on government to promote collaboration between citizens and itself. For one week in March, all who believe that citizens should play a role in how government makes decisions and subscribe to making government open and accountable come together to observe the Open Governance Week.

Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

Headmaster of Father Morin Memorial Education Complex, a basic Catholic school in Garu, Father Albert Wugaa is advocating for school kids in rural areas to be exposed to the bigger world.

He made this remark in an interview in Parliament House when he led more than thirty basic school students to Parliament to learn about the workings of the House on Tuesday the 19th of March 2019.

As to what extent should teachers take the teaching of current affairs serious, he added that there is the need to expose more Ghanaian kids to the world.

And added that this is the first time that the students had traveled out of their region, the Northern region.
“There should not be so much changes in our educational system, these changes confuses the children, in our society and country”.

He made this remarks in the wake of students in the basic catholic school from Garu, unable to mention the name of the Speaker of Parliament and the President of the Republic of Ghana.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com