Category: General

Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery has said the newly created districts would have a standard fire station with the help of the chief fire office.

According to the Interior Minister the chief fire office is putting together what he considers to be a standard facility which can be turned into fire station.

This came to light when Member of Parliament for Adaklu Governors Kwame Agbodza wanted to know if the Minister would consider giving a standard prototype to be considered as a fire station for the newly created districts.

Mr. Ambrose Dery further pointed out that he is willing to make available to MPs a policy on those who want to establish a fire station post as many as possible.

“Those essential services would be provided to the new districts and regions, I do not have requirement now but I would get the chief fire officers to do that”.

He appealed to MPs to cooperate with the fire chiefs so that districts can have their fire post.

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Heads of International Election Observation Missions and the United Nations present in Nigeria, have urged Nigerians to remain calm and support the electoral process as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC works to implement its new timeline.

Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a statement has rescheduled the 16th February and 2nd March 2019 for the country’s general elections.

In a joint statement the international observation mission indicated that they have taken note of INEC’s decision to postpone the 2019 general elections due to logistical and operational challenges.

The international observation mission urged INEC to use the time to finalise all preparations and ensure that the new elections dates are strictly adhered to and provide regular updates and information to the public on its preparations in the coming days and weeks to enhance confidence and trust in the process.

“As we continue to closely observe preparations across the country, we stand in solidarity with the people of Nigeria in their desire for credible and peaceful elections”.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) election observation mission is led by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the former Liberian President, while Hailemariam Desalegn former Prime Minister of Ethiopia is leading the African Union election observation mission.

Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas is leading the United Nations special representative of the Secretary General of the West Africa and the Sahel.

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Minister of the Interior, Ambrose Dery, has revealed to Parliament that, the Amenfi Central District Assembly is liaising with the District Fire Service station in Asankragua to provide a suitable office facilities for the service.

According to the Minister the move is to establish a fire station and residential accommodation for personnel of the service.

He further told the House that the Assembly has so far provided a facility which has been deemed not conducive for the purpose of establishing a standard fire station.

As the discussion is on going with the Assembly to find alternative and suitable structure to be used as a fire station.

This came to light when MP for Amenfi Central, Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah asked as to when a district fire service station would be constructed at the District capital of Amenfi Central.

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Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah has told Parliament that from 2016 to 2018, thirty-eight thousand, Nine hundred and forty (38, 940) public sector workers have gone on retirement.

According to the Minister in 2016 fifteen thousand and fifty-nine (15,059) people went on retirement in the public sector of Ghana.

Again in 2017, eleven thousand two hundred and sixty-three (11, 263) went on retirement in the public sector.

Whiles in 2018 twelve thousand, six hundred and eighteen (12, 618) went on retirement in the public sector.

The Minister’s information was in response to the Member of Parliament for Keta, Richard Mawuli Kwaku Quashigah, who wanted to know the number of public sector workers that have gone on retirement since 2016 till date.

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President Nana Akufo-Addo is scheduled to deliver a message of the state of the Nation address on Thursday the 21st of February, 2019, in accordance with article 67 of the constitution.

Members of Parliament have been urged by the Business Committee of the House to be early in the chamber latest by 9:15am as it would not be courteous for MPs to enter and exit the chamber after the President had entered.

Majority Chief whip, Kwasi Amenyaw-Cheremeh in presenting the Business statement for this week indicated to members that they should not enter the chamber with their guest as it would be a breach of protocol.

There would not be much activities on the floor of the House on Thursday because of the message of the state of the nation address, the only two activities to be witnessed on the floor is presentation of papers and committee sittings.

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Four Ministers of the President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration would be on the floor of the House to answer fourteen questions on the floor of the House.

Majority Chief Whip, Kwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh whiles presenting business statement on the floor of the House made this known to Members of Parliament on Friday the 15th of February, 2019.

Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadow Kyeremanteng, would be in the House to answer five questions, whiles Minister of communications, Ursula Owusu Akufo would take a question.

Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwesi Amoako Atta would answer three questions, as the Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr. Afriye Akoto would take four questions for his sector.

There would be four urgent questions whiles nine oral questions are taken on the floor of the House this week.

Speaker of the House would allow statements to be made on the floor of the House, whiles Bills, papers and reports would be presented on the floor of the House.

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Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a statement has rescheduled the 16th February and 2nd March 2019 for the country’s general elections.

According to the chairman, following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plans and the determination of a conduct of a free, fair and credible elections, the commission came to the conclusions that proceeding with the election as scheduled is no longer feasible.

“Presidential and National Assembly elections rescheduled to Saturday 23rd of this month, Governor, state House of Assembly and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections rescheduled to Saturday 9th March 2019”.

He noted that this would afford the commission the opportunity to address identified challenges in order to maintain the quality of the election.

“This is a difficult decision for the commission to take, but necessary for a successful delivery of the elections and the consolidation of our democracy”.

He, added that the commission would meet key stakeholders to update them on the development by 2:00pm Nigerian time.

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Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Frank Annoh-Dompreh has expressed worry over the brand Ghana not being celebrated enough.

According to the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee just after the 2016 election almost all the key international players were coming to Ghana, not just because of the President, but the peace we enjoy as a country.

“The brand Ghana unfortunately, we have not celebrated enough, we must look at the brand Ghana and celebrate, going forward we should celebrate Ghana”.

And recounted how Ghanaian peace keeping force have distinguished themselves, troops have been loyal to the country and other destination where they have assisted in keeping peace.

“The committees tour to our missions across the world, one thing that came out clear in all our interaction across the globe, the name Ghana has always resonated positivity good reactions from our peers, so the brand is huge, but unfortunately those of us who live in the country have under rated it”, he lamented.

His remarks comes in the wake of contributing to a statement made by ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa commending Ghanaians occupying prominent positions in international organizations.

Mr. Frank Annoh-Dompreh further called for the building of capacity of young diplomat in Ghana, which he pointed out that Legon Center for International Affairs is doing and receiving support from government.

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Current crop of Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Dome/Kwabenya constituency, have donated thousand plastic chairs to one hundred and ninety-nine (199) branches within the constituency.

According to the constituency chairman, David Lamptey he indicated to the party supporters that, the new crop of Executives promised two thousand chairs, but to start with they are donating thousand.

“We would ensure that the remaining thousand comes in to redeem the promise we made whiles going through our primaries to elect constituency Executives”.

At a first awards ceremony organized by the constituency, the constituency party chairman explained to party supports during the elections that a lot of toes were stepped on, hence the Regional Executives and opinion leaders have come to help with reconciliation.

And pointed out that the awards ceremony would be a yearly event to appreciate hard working party members which saw all fifty-four members (54) receiving award.

“I am making sure that all the branches are well equipped that is what we have started, the moment you appreciate members and not executives, during elections they would come out in their numbers”.

In addition, for the past twenty-six years the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has dominated this constituency, we only took this seat in 1992, “NPP people have seen the hardship and bad roads, they cannot do anything about it because they love their party”.

“Today, Ghanaians are seeing the difference between John Mahama and President Nana Addo, things are though, and we are going to ensure there is another change in 2020, this time for John Mahama to come and continue his good works”.

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According to the chairman any political analyst cannot sleep with the signs written very clear on the walls, with the just ended Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.

“Guns cannot save NPP, neither delta nor invisible forces, election 2020 it’s about bread and butter, it is about how we survive Ghanaians cannot survive under Akufo-Addo. The harsh economic realities, Ghanaians are saying enough is enough, let us fire our people for them to know victory is on its way we would be swearing an NDC President 2021”.

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