Category: General

The Speaker Alban S. K. Bagbin has described the late Hon Modestus Ahiable as a man of conviction who approached his earthly endeavors with calculated precision and strong principles.

According to him, this attribute of the late former regional chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) endeared him to the late former President Jerry John Rawlings who appointed him regional minister for the Volta Region.

Speaker Bagbin paid this tribute when the family of the late Modestus Ahiable called on him in Parliament on Monday to formally announce his passing and details of the funeral arrangements.

They were led by the Member of Parliament for the Ketu North Constituency Hon James Klutse Avedzi who is also chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.

Recounting the memory of Mr. Ahiable who was popularly called ‘Eku’, Speaker Bagbin expressed the need to celebrate the contributions and memory of people who dedicate and devote their lives to serving their nation.

This, he said, helps to inspire and uplift younger generations to commit themselves to a life of service.

“When I was minority leader, these were the men of wisdom whose support I could count on in my moment of difficulty. He sparingly spoke and when he did, you will see commitment in it,”-Speaker Bagbin said.

He described the passing of the man he called his friend as a great loss to humanity, the country, the NDC and the family.

The Speaker assured the family that Parliament will support them to give him a befitting burial according  to the family, the mortal remains of Mr. Ahiable will be laid to rest on April 27, 2024 in Dzodze, Volta Region.

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The Majority caucus of Ghana’s parliament has defended the upward review of fees for passport acquisition from one hundred Ghana cedis (GHS100) to five hundred Ghana cedis (GHS500) as reasonable.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Andy Appiah Kubi on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, addressing members of the Parliamentary Press Corps said government was subsidizing the fee for passport acquisition by GHS300.00 hence passport applicants were paying only GHc 100.00 prior to the recent passport fee review.

According to him passport was a main document for people to prove their Ghanaian citizenship, however, the Ghana Card is now an important alternative means for proving one’s citizenship hence the decision by government to withdraw the subsidy on passport which is used by only 20 percent of Ghanaians to travel.

He further pointed out that increment in the fees for passport acquisition will help government to open more passport application centers across the country to reduce the inconvenience in the acquisition of passport.

Again, within the West African sub-region Ghana’s passport is the cheapest and the whole House both the Majority and Minority encouraged the Ministry to increase the passport fees, the subsidiary legislation agreed to this co -chaired by the Minority.

“So for anybody to step out to say they oppose the upward review is neither here nor there and those doing that are not part of the Committee. It is not the work of the Foreign Affairs committee which I chair and Okudzeto Ablakwa is the ranking; it never came up at the committee meeting that there was protestation to the upward review”, he stated.

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The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced a parliamentary primary to elect a candidate for the Ejisu constituency by-election.

The seat became vacant following the death of John Ampontuah Kumah, Member of Parliament and Deputy Finance Minister, on March 7, 2024.

Key Dates:
Saturday, April 13, 2024: The date for the NPP’s Ejisu constituency by-election primary.
Tuesday, April 2 to Thursday, April 4, 2024: Three-day nomination window for aspiring candidates.

Nomination Fees:
Application Fee: GHC 3,000 (non-refundable)
Filing Fee: GHC 35,000 (non-refundable) for regular candidates
GHC 17,500 (non-refundable) for women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs)
Reduced Filing Fee for Women, Youth and PWDs:

The NPP is offering a 50% discount on filing fees for women, youth, and persons with disabilities who wish to run for office. This initiative encourages participation from these underrepresented groups in the upcoming by-election.

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The Speaker of Parliament, Alban S. K. Bagbin has reaffirmed his unwavering support for the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill unanimously passed by parliament.

According to his aid Peter Bamfo at the 2024 Suma Akwantu Kesie Festival in Suma in the Bono Region,he noted that the passage of the bill marked a triumph of the country’s democratic principles and a reaffirmation of its commitment to upholding traditional values.

He, therefore, called on the traditional leaders to continue their advocacy for the preservation of the country’s true values.

He commended the Suma Traditional Council for its visionary leadership in reimagining the festival as a catalyst for development in the traditional area.

He also praised the Council for the initiative to establish an ultramodern social centre in honour of the late Nana Kwadwo Adinkra, who invented the Adinkra symbols.

“The Adinkra Center will serve as a beacon of hope and opportunity, providing invaluable resources for youth training, cultural education, and socio-economic empowerment,” Speaker Bagbin said.

The Speaker also called on the people of Suma to rally behind their leaders to ensure the development of the area.

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The Minority Caucus in Parliament has described as bizarre and unfortunate the Majority Caucus’ claim against the Speaker, RT. Hon. Alban Bagbin of arbitrariness and falsely claiming that the Speaker and the Minority Caucus are sabotaging so-called government business.

The Minority said the Majority Caucus has only fallen on its own dagger in Parliament on Wednesday; stating that “the Majority Caucus is engaged in deliberate distortions and grand propaganda to whip up public sentiments against the Rt. Hon. Speaker and the Minority Caucus with these claims.

According to the Minority, in a statement issued on Thursday March 21, 2024, on Wednesday, there was no tax waiver business before the House, and that the claim by the Majority Caucus is false. “Clearly, they intended smuggling the tax waivers into the last-minute business of the House. In its present form, we are opposed to these tax waivers. We have stated our opposition on these waivers time without number. They are tainted with corruption and designed to siphon state resources into private pockets.”

The Speaker on Wednesday, suspended the approval of the President’s Ministerial nominees citing an interlocutory injunction filed by Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, Member of Parliament for South Dayi which prevents parliament from carrying on with the approval process until the determination of the case by the Supreme Court.

The Speaker said his decision was based on the precedence set by the President in which the President wrote to the Clark of Parliament urging him not to transmit the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2021 passed by Parliament to the President to assent to until two injunction cases at the Supreme Court are determined.

But the Majority Caucus would have none of this and accused the Speaker and the Minority of sabotaging government business.

The Majority Leader in a statement noted that the President is entitled to respect the legal injunctions pending before the Supreme Court; and that the presidency’s stance does not undermine Parliament’s authority.

BACKGROUND
The Executive Secretary to the President on March 18, 2024 wrote to the Clark of parliament to cease and desist from transmitting the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024 to the President for assent until the matters before the Supreme Court are resolved.

This has brought some level of tension between the two arms of government.

The Speaker in an official statement to the House also expressed regret concerning the conduct displayed by the Presidency following Parliament’s successful unanimous passage of the Human Sexual Values Bill, 2021; adding that the behaviour exhibited by the Presidency in refusing to accept the transmission of this bill not only deviates from established democratic practices but also undermines the spirit of cooperative governance and mutual respect for the arms of government.

“This is a principle that forms the cornerstone of our political system. Such actions, if left unchecked, risk setting dangerous precedents that threaten the integrity and functionality of our democratic institutions”, the Speaker stated.

The Speaker disclosed that a disturbing pattern seems to be emerging from the Executive branch, which points to a concerning disregard for the foundational principles enshrined in the Constitution, 1992, citing President’s refusal to assent to three critical bills that had been duly passed via as a Private Members’ Bill.

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In a rather unexpected response from parliament, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has served notice parliament would not be able to consider the approval of the new ministerial appointees.

According to the Speaker a law suit has been filed against the Speaker and parliament. And taking cue from the precedent set by the president, parliament is an able to act until the determination of the case.

“Be that as it may, Hon Members, I also bring to your attention, the receipt of a process from the Courts titled Rockson-Nelson Etse K. Dafeamekpor vrs. The Speaker of Parliament and the Attorney -General (Suit no. J1/12/2024) which process was served on the 19th of March 2024 and an injunction motion on notice seeking to restrain the Speaker from proceeding with the vetting and approval of the names of the persons submitted by His Excellency the President until the provisions of the constitution are satisfied.

Hon. Members in the light of this process, the House is unable to continue to consider the nominations of His Excellency the President in the “spirit of upholding the rule of law “until after the determination of the application for interlocutory injunction by the Supreme Court.”

In a formal statement on the floor of the House, the Speaker expressed his profound regret concerning the conduct displayed by the Presidency following Parliament’s successful unanimous passage of the Human Sexual Values Bill, 2021.

He said the behaviour exhibited by the Presidency in refusing to accept the transmission of this bill not only deviates from established democratic practices but also undermines the spirit of cooperative governance and mutual respect for the arms of government.

“This is a principle that forms the cornerstone of our political system. Such actions, if left unchecked, risk setting dangerous precedents that threaten the integrity and functionality of our democratic institutions.”

Citing a disturbing pattern emerging from the Executive branch, which points to a concerning disregard for the foundational principles enshrined in the Constitution, 1992, he said the President’s recent refusal to accept the transmission of the Human Sexual Values Bill adds to similar action when the president refused to exercise same “to three critical bills that had been duly passed via as a Private Members’ Bill.

He indicated that he had course to speak about the president’s refusal to assent to bills; and “underscored the troubling nature of the President’s justifications for his actions, or rather, the lack thereof, particularly highlighting that his failure to assent on grounds of alleged unconstitutionality, paradoxically stood in violation of the very constitution he invoked.”

Letter From The Office Of The Secretary To Parliament On 18 March, 2024, the Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, issued a letter to the Clerk to Parliament directing him to cease and desist from submitting the Human Sexual Values Bill, 2021 to the President until the matters before the Supreme Courts are resolved.

The Executive Secretary in the said letter noted that the Office of the President was aware of two pending applications for an order of interlocutory injunction seeking to restrain the Clerk and Parliament from transmitting the Bill to the President.

And that the Attorney General had on 18 March 2024 informed the President that he had received the two applications and had advised the President not to take any step in relation to the Bill until matters raised by the suit are determined by the Supreme Court. As a result, the Presidency conveyed to the Clerk that it was unable to accept transmission of the Bill.

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Majority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo said his side disagrees with the position taken by Rt. Hon Speaker Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin that the president is undermining democracy by not assenting to a bill passed by Parliament and making reference to a Supreme Court case on the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill and should have resorted to the constitution in making certain communications.

According to him in the letter sent to the House the president limited himself to the process before the court and the fact that parliament itself has filed an affidavit in opposition and is in court.

“In fact parliament is a party to the suit; for us we do not see how this would have to affect the proceedings of parliament. In any event, the Speaker should have referred issues to the leadership of the House to guide him in the conduct of business this morning”.

The leadership of the House sat together to discuss the various items to be taken, we were done with some and some that we were supposed to take; we were told that the Speaker would have to take the chair. It is very disappointing that after the Speaker has made known his own views about the letter from the presidency to the clerk, he adjourned the House sine die without given room to the leadership of the House to even comment, he lamented.

In addition, we find this very strange, this is a democracy as he himself has said that this impasse call for reflection, I would play that out to the Speaker himself that we all need to reflect on going forward as a nation.

Again, he said he was not going into the matter as this would undermine same but we all know that the very issue that was raised by Dafeamekpor had to do with the continuing ministers who have been reshuffled to other ministries, the issue of constitutionality of certain nominees has been determined by the going vetting process.

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The Second Deputy Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Andrew Asiamah Amoako has urged the House Committee working on a referral he made to the Committee on the welfare of MPs to quickly work on it.

Members have course to raise concerns about the leaving conditions of their colleagues especially after parliament describing it as not the best since no constitutional provision has been made towards that.

The whole of last week saw six tributes of former MPs presented on the floor of House, a situation that got the MPs worried.

Hon Asiamah Amoako drew the Majority Leader’s attention to a referral he had made last week when the Effutu MP urged the House to enact a law in the wake of tributes on the floor of the House revealing how poor the former colleagues are after serving the state but cannot take care of themselves when they leave Parliament.

“It is becoming an issue; within a week there has been six tributes and I believe others may come, they are all lamenting, and it is time to take a critical look at the whole issue and take a decision so when the House committee report is presented we take it from there”, the Speaker stated

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The Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu Ekuful has been summoned to brief the House on the recent internet disruption experienced across the country.

This was after Members of Parliament (MPs) from both sides of the House requested that the Majority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin scheduled the Communications and Digitalization Minister to provide some answers and details on the unfortunate development.

Member of Parliament for Dome/Kwabenya Sarah Adowa Safo after the business statement was presented on the floor of the House pointed out that internet is not working and constituents want to know what is going on.

She further pointed out that this has affected mobile money operations despite some media release from the National Communications Authority but that was not detailed enough.

Member of Parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Abuakwa first raised the issue on the floor of the House on Friday, March 15, 2024, and pointed out the need for the sector Minister to come before the House and brief it immediately the country started experiencing network interruption.

Former Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Munbarak Muntaka on his part supported the point raised by the North Tongu lawmaker that Ministers are not being proactive, and that naturally by Thursday, March 14, 2024, when the country started experiencing network interruption; the sector Minister should have briefed the House and the Nation.

According to him, the silence from the sector Minister is not the best as it gives room for all manner of speculations and was not pleased that was being asked to report to the House on Monday to brief the House, stating that Monday was too far. “This thing started like a joke in the evening, and up till now it is not stable and no one knows what is happening and the Minister does not find it necessary to brief the representative of the people and give some assurance; that is worrying”.

In his repose Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin pointed out that on Thursday when the interruption started the sector Minister reached out to him to come brief the House to make a statement on Friday, but he drew her attention that she has some business to do on Monday, March 18, 2024. As such she should wait till that time and do all the business she has before the House together.

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Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has noted that for democracy to thrive it does not need a timid society as dictators exist all over the world hence the need for citizens to stand up against dictators collectively.

According to him multiparty democracy needs to be strengthened and as Ghanaians we need to ensure democracy flourish and should be our guide.

He made this remarks over the weekend when Parliament organized a two-day workshop for members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) on the new revised standing orders.

“Our democracy has come to stay and the media needs to help entrench as well as the legislature for democracy to be our culture as a country”, he pointed out in his remarks.

The Rt. Hon Speaker further pointed out that democracy cannot thrive in a society that is ignorant and that should not be part of our democratic journey; and expressed joy over the willingness of the media to assist on this journey.

He gave the assurance that there would be more training opportunities for the media in Ghana’s Parliament going forward and wanted the employee of journalists in Parliament House to know that, the work they do in the House takes them beyond their employees. “You are essential partners of what we do in Parliament, we are by law to put at your disposal logistics and facilities for you to do your work well”, he stated.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com