Category: General

Parliament is in talks with the national broadcaster over its early plans over the years to establish a television station that would broadcast live proceedings on the floor of the House.

In an interview with Acting Director of Public Affairs Kate Addo, as to what had happened to the early deal of the House establishing a TV Station, she pointed out that a lot had happened over the years.

“Obviously thing have happened, there has been a lot of changes in the broadcasting environment to the extent that most of the platforms are now digital we are rekindling the conversation”

She further pointed out that in the last session that the Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation (GBC) was approached and asked if the line could be re-activated, “we have rested on that right for a while”,  and Parliament is working to ensure that we have sometime dedicated to Parliamentary business.

“We have been assured that, should there be the need, we would be allocated five to six hours on GTV Govern to enable us broadcast proceedings live from the chamber and other programs”.

Madam Kate Addo also revealed that 2019 Parliament wants to Present the House to the public in their own words, hence the reason why they had started a program on Home Base Television, Mondays where officials from Public Affairs host it.

“We do this without the mediation of a presenter or journalist, so that we can talk to the citizenry on how Parliament functions and working hard to reach Ghanaians”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

The Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) has held a day’s capacity building workshop for members of the Parliamentary Press Corps on operations of the authority.

The exercise which was held on the theme; “the Parliamentary Reporter as an effective link between Parliament and the Public” was aimed at equipping Journalists with the requisite knowledge on the mandate of the authority to help better inform and educate the public.

Topics treated includes, Background, legal mandates and operational scope of the Ghana Free Zones Authority and its impact on the development of the country, the Role of the Ministry of Trade and Industry in ensuring acceptably delivery from GFZA and Processes for Issuing, monitoring and revocation of license of companies and its significance to the economy.

The rest includes Achievements, Challenges and the purpose of the Investment Week Benefits to Investors, Future prospects of the Ghana Free Zones Enclaves and the role of stakeholders.

Tamale Central Member of Parliament, Fuseini Inusah Abdulai Bistav who is a Member of Trade, Industry and Tourism Committee gave a presentation on the Execution of Parliamentary Oversight responsibilities on GFZA and other Government Agencies.

Officials of the authority who made various presentations are Head, Legal Mrs. Kristine Lartey, Head, Compliance and Monitoring, Mr John Abuga, Head, Application Processing, Mr Nsiah Asante and Manager, Marketing Ms. Anita Novi Quashie.

First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu was the guest Speaker urged journalists to always put the interest of Ghana first in their reportage.

The Free Zones Authority which was established in August 1995, is meant to promote economic development by creating an attractive and conducive business environment through the provision of competitive Free Zone incentives and operation of an efficient one-stop-shop for the promotion and enhancement of domestic and foreign investment.

Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

The Women Caucus on the Majority side of Parliament has called on the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) to render an unqualified apologise to the new Member for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Seyram Alhasan for describing her in unprintable words.

The group slammed the Minority for labeling the member “bloody widow.” describing the action as “barbaric, brutal, frivolous, unparliamentary and unconstitutional”.

The inscription was displayed by the Minority and followed same with a walk out of Parliament House moments before the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei- Owusu, was about to swear-in Madam Lydia Seyram.

Addressing a press conference in Parliament, the Deputy Majority Leader, Sarah Adwoa Safo said the position of their colleagues on Madam Lydia Alhassan was disappointing.

“We hereby condemn in no uncertain terms the act of the Minority; a rather disrespectful and inhumane treatment and an attack on the dignity and integrity of womanhood” , Madam Adwoa Safo stated.

Widowhood, she said was not a crime neither would any woman ever wish of becoming a widow.

She said through such unfortunate and “unconventional” circumstances, widows had the chance to represent their late husbands in Parliament and that Madam Lydia Alhassan’s case could not be any different.

The Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament shamed the Minority MPs saying that is not expected from honorable members.

“The Minority must bow down their head in shame and render an unqualified apology to the Honourable Member of Parliament, Honourable Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan as expected of Honourable members,” Adwoa Safo stressed.

She expressed disappointment that the Minority had descended to a level that taints the work of Parliament in increasing the number of female MPs.

“It is therefore worrying if women who boldly and willingly offer themselves to serve their nation are treated this way” she bemoaned.

Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

All Members of the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus who held and displayed placards with the inscription ‘Bloody Widow’ on the floor of Parliament just before the swearing-in of the newly elected member for Ayawaso West Wuogon on Tuesday February 5, 2019 will be expected to face the Privileges Committee.

First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu gave the indication after the leadership Minority refused to apologize on behalf of their members for displaying the placards in protest over the swearing-in of the newly elected Member, Lydia Seyram Alhassan.

The Speaker directed the Clerk of Parliament to review all the footages of the sitting and furnish him with the names of Members who displayed ‘Bloody Widow’ placards for referral to the privileges committee.
Mr Osei-Owusu who reviewed his earlier ruling gave the determination after hearing arguments from both sides of the House for and against the conduct of the NDC MPs.

The ruling follows an appeal by Second Deputy Majority Whip, Matthew Nyindam, to the Speaker to compel the Minority Caucus to apologize for displaying the ‘Bloody Widow’ placards.

Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

Almost two years, after the unfortunate Kintampo Water Falls disaster that claimed at least 20 lives in March 2017, Parliament has finally adopted its select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism report that investigated the incident.

The Committee was tasked to ascertain the cause of the disaster, preventive measures to avert same in future and lessons learnt from it to promote tourism in Ghana.

Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Ato Panford who presented the report enumerated some of the causes of the tragedy.

He indicated that activities of encroachers along the tributaries of the Waterfall, including clearing their land for farming activities set fire which destroys the vegetation cover along the water body.

The Committee observed with dissatisfaction the absence of a Sub-Meteorology Office at the time of the incident which could have informed revelers about changes in the weather at the facility.

He also disclosed there was no emergency preparedness team on site to respond to emergency situations observing that “most lives could have been saved if an emergency preparedness team was in place.

On structural defect, Ato Panford, the MP for Shaman said that “at the time of the accident, there was only one staircase for both exit and entry to the waterfalls” he said adding that “the staircase which was already too steep and narrow had become slippery as a result of the rain.”

On preventive measures to control bush fires and tree management, the Committee recommended that a fence wall was erected to serve as a boundary to restrict the movement of unwanted persons into the perimeters of the waterfall.

It among others wants a fire belt, by way of fire resistant plants planted around the facility, routine checks on trees, education and legislation to act as a deterrent to persons engaging in farming activities that leads to bush fires in the waterfalls area and its environs.

The Committee recommended that the Ghana Tourism Authority engaged the services of Safety Health and Environmental Officers to brief revelers on safety issues and provide the necessary safety tips before the commencement of a tour of the facility.

Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

The Member of Parliament for Pru East, Dr.Kwabena Donkor has commended the Akufo Addo led government’s policy to allocate 1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the development of Science and Technology in the country.

He however the stated that the one percent is inadequate since science and technology plays crucial in the nation’s socio-economic development.

Dr Donkor who is a former Minister for Power during former President Mahama’s administration gave the commendation on the floor of Parliament in a contribution to a statement made by Member of Parliament for Oforikrom on ‘’Parliamentary oversight over Science and Technology Development in Ghana- a new Window for action”.

The Pru East MP has therefore urged government to increase the allocation in order to enhance the development of Science and Technology.

Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Oforikrom in the Ashanti region, Dr Emmanuel Marfo is advocating Parliament with the collaboration with stakeholders to develop a framework for Research and Development (S&D) for the financing elements of government’s budgets.

The MP also urged Parliament to consider the establishment of a well resourced budget analysis support unit capable of providing support to committees of the House.

Dr Marfo made the suggestions on the floor of Parliament in a statement dubbed; ‘’Parliamentary oversight over Science and Technology Development in Ghana- a new Window for action”.

He commended President Akufo Addo for indicating that at least 1% of GDP will be allocated in the short-medium term and up to 2.5% in the long term as part of a seven pillar agenda for the development of science and technology.

According to him, the move is in line with article 38 of the 1992 constitution of the republic but observed that the allocation of 1 % of GDP to Science and Technology will only increase budgetary allocation marginally since 2015.

“If we were to commit a 1percent of GDP to Research and Development, we should have allocated some GH?2.3billion. If one takes the GoG budget allocation for MESTI from 2015 to 2019 as a proxy for R&D, government could be said to be achieving only 8.5% of the 1% GDP target and indeed using the entire Ministry’s budget will bring the figure to only 18%”.

The MP expressed worry there is no reliable data on the levels of Ghana’s spending on R&D to help provide basis for a credible scientific analysis.

Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu has directed the two chief whips from both sides of the House to facilitate the establishment of a joint committee towards the implementation of the 1 percent allocation of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the development of Science and Technology.

The Chief Whips, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh and Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka from minority and majority respectively have been assigned the responsibility are to develop modalities and present report to the plenary within a month.

The action by the First Deputy Speaker follows a statement by the Member of Parliament for Oforikrom, Dr. Emmanuel Marfo who commended the policy by the President and indicated that inadequate resource allocation to public research institutions has been identified as a major reason the country has not been able to develop Science Technology and Innovation (STI) since independence.

According to him, an analysis of the 2019 budget allocations, using the 2018 GDP of some US$51billion reveals the gravity of the challenge the president has committed to.

Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

These included the construction of major armour rock revetments and groynes to reduce the risk of flooding, constant coastland erosion all aimed at ensuring the safety of lives, livelihoods and properties at the catchment areas including Aboadze, New Takoradi and Nkontompo.

The Minister who is the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South disclosed this on the floor of parliament in response to a question posed by the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George on when the construction of the Ningo Sea Defence would commence.

He emphasized that the Ningo-Prampram Sea Defence project will protect the Ningo-Prampram Township against extensive coastal erosion due to intense tidal action along the Ningo-Prampram coastal stretch which is about 12 kilometres.

The Minister noted that extensive coastal erosion along the Ningo-Prampram coastal stretch has negative impact against fishing activities of the community.

The intensive tidal wave also results in flooding in the community, affecting life, livelihoods and properties.
He indicated that the Ministry will this year commence coastal protection works on selected areas comprising Amanful Kumah, Dansoman Phase II, Komenda, Anomabo,Cape Coast, Mensah Guinea,Ningo-Prampram and New Takoradi Phase III(Elmina).

The rest includes Apam,Kokrobite,Bortianor,Blekusu Phase II and Aboadze-Shama Phase II,Maritime University(Nungua),Takoradi,Anyanui and Essipong.

The Ministry has already signed a memoranda of understanding (MoU) with two groups who have expressed interest in executing the works.

The groups he stated are currently undertaking feasibility studies which upon completion will form the basis of the Ministry’s engagement to contract the groups to execute construction works under the Ningo-Prampram Sea Defence Project.

Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

As to whether Parliament is active on social media as a way of reaching Ghanaians, Kate Addo Acting Director of Public Affairs, has confirmed that the institution is active on social media.

According to the acting director, Parliament even broadcast proceedings live on its social media platforms and put other information on its facebook page.

She further revealed that their twitter account is linked to facebook and anything uploaded on facebook page is seen on twitter and our handle is parliament_gh and utube  and you can watch, again we have our website, www.parliament.gh

“We also have a mobile application called the Parliamentary watch, which could be downloaded on IOS platform and on android phones where you can truck bills on this platform   and MPs as well as things related to them”.

Again we are taking the one-on-one interaction serious and especially our outreach program seriously.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com