Category: General

Minister for National Security Albert Kan Dapaah has honored invitation extended to him by Parliament to brief the House on the situation in Garu where security personnel from the National Security and Ghana Armed Forces brutalized some civilians.

According to him the Ministry deployed five counter terrorism officers to Garu in the Upper East Region. When they arrived in Garu they were besieged by an irate youth who were armed with weapons including AK 47 despite the fact that they introduced themselves as national security personnel.

The irate youth went ahead to fire multiple rounds at the black Toyota Land Cruiser the officers were occupying, forcing them to drive to the police station to seek refuge. But the youth followed them to the police station, circle them and fired at them again.

Mr. Kan Dapaah further told the House on Monday, November 13, 2023 it took the timely intervention of the military to evacuate the national security personnel from the police station and the House should agree with him that the attack on the personnel was reprehensible and should be condemned in no uncertain terms.

“ In other jurisdictions such attack would be consider as attack on the state, both security agencies conducted joint operations to take weapons use by the irate youth to attack the national security personnel after the operation and report emerge of excess of some of the personnel who conducted the operation”.

The National Security Minister after his remarks further told the House he could not make or answer issues from the lawmakers because the issue was before court and lawmakers should be circumspect in discussing the issue as it has some security implications.

More especially the security situation in Bawku as counter terrorism operations is going on in the area and nothing should be done to demoralise the National Security Personnel; and he is prepared to cooperate with the House.

Rt. Hon Alba Kingsford Sumana Bagbin pointed out that if the National Security Minister had said the matter was before court and would not make any remarks that would have ended the matter, and he has been in a tight corner.

But he is compelled to ask the MPs from the affected constituency to make some remarks on the floor of the House.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The 2024 post budget workshop will no longer hold at Rock City in the Eastern Region, Parliament has to beat retreat after public outcry on the cost implication hosting the post budget work shop outside Accra when the Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Adams urged the leadership of the House to reconsider the venue considering the state of the Economy.

Speaker Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin you drew the House’s attention to a video clip he watched when the Deputy Majority Leader presented the Business statement for this week on last week Friday, pointed out that it was decided at the meeting that Rock City Hotel will host the post budget workshop.

The Minority Leader Dr. Atto Forson contributing, to the issue on the floor of the House pointed out that there was not such decision at the Business Committee for the post budget workshop to be held a Rock city hotel.

“This year’s post budget would be held in Parliament; it’s so decided and members should make it a point to be there. We would use the floor of the House as main conference room, other committee rooms would be used for side workshops”, the Speaker said.

He further pointed out that this year’s post budget workshop would defer from previous ones and would be trainers of trainers and not the usual lectures. It would be on analysis of the budget from sector to sector going through the estimates.

He drew their attention that this post budget workshop would generate healthy debate; they would all have to be present and there would be a roll call every day. They would start practicing new standing orders so absent action would be taken against then.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has provided an update on the now reopened Renal Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

According to him the circumstances that led to closure of the unit, Mr. Agyeman-Manu (MP, Dormaa Central) sighted debt owed by the renal unit to its supplier FMC in South Africa.

He further added that finance minister had approved for the disbursement of GH¢4 million to settle the accrued debt of the renal unit.

Every patient who visits the renal unit for dialysis at Korle-Bu is required to pay a subsidised fee of GH¢380 each day.

The renal unit receives 260-300 patients a week for dialysis at full capacity; undertakes about 2,000 dialysis sessions per month and operates for 24 hours.

Over the past 5 years, a wholly-owned Ghanaian company, First Sky Group committed GH¢1 million every quarter to enable patients who cannot afford dialysis to have two sessions a week for free, which constitutes over 80% of the patients’ receiving treatment at Korle-Bu renal unit and accounts for over 80% of the renal unit’s revenue.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Five sector Ministers would appear before the floor of Parliament to answer forty-nine questions in the ensuing week.

The Attorney General and Minister for Justice would take two questions, whiles Sanitation Minister takes nine questions; Education will take fourteen questions as the Minister for the Interior takes eleven questions with the Minister for Roads and Highways taking thirteen questions.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 the Minister for Energy and officials of the Volta River Authority would be part of a joint caucus meeting to make a comprehensive presentation to the House on the spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong hydro electric dams.

On Wednesday, November 15, 2023 the Finance Minister would present budget statement and economy policy of government for the year ending December 31, 2023.

The MPs are expected to attend a post budget workshop from Friday, November 17, 2023 to Sunday, November 19, 2023 at Rock city hotel at Kwahu Nkwatia in the Eastern Region.

Ghanamps.com

Throughout history, women have encountered significant barriers when attempting to engage actively in the political arena, not only in Africa but also on a global scale. The aim of achieving equal representation for women in political spheres at various levels of governance still remains a distant goal. In the context of Africa, the representation of women in parliament stood at 24 percent in 2021. This deficiency is deeply rooted in the absence of political determination, the presence of restrictive electoral frameworks, and the pervasive influence of patriarchal norms and systems.

Despite these challenges, there exists an array of tools, laws, and policies within Africa that are dedicated to fostering women’s equal and meaningful participation in politics. In Ghana, the issue of women’s representation in parliament has increasingly become a central point across all political parties. Since Ghana’s 4th republic, there has been a noticeable surge in the involvement of women within the political landscape.

Numerous political parties have taken deliberate measures to integrate women into the parliamentary system. In the 8th parliament, both the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party have made strides by including 20 female members each, which totals to 40 women out of the 275 members. This move signifies a significant step forward in the ongoing journey towards achieving gender parity and enhancing women’s representation in the political sphere.

Click on the link below to view females in the 8th Parliament.

https://ghanamps.com/mps/2021-2025-8th-parliament/?gender=female

President elect of the World Parliament, Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), Rt. Hon Dr. Tulia Ackson in her acceptance speech after her election in Angola, Luanda on Friday, October 27, 2023 where the 147th Assembly is being hosted thanked delegates for bestowing on her the honor.

According to her she is very humbled with gratitude for the confidence in electing her as the IPU President which was the turn of Africa.

As she accepts the responsibility she told delegates, “I recognize all the responsibility that comes with it and congratulated the outgoing president and the secretariat for organizing the 147th Assembly and Speaker of the Angola Parliament for being a great host”.

She used the opportunity to thank the President of her country, H. E. Samia Suluhu Hassan who was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and also thanked her campaign team for the massive support.

And as someone who believes in team work, she called upstage her fellow contestant and appreciated them for running a dignified campaign.

She reaffirmed her commitment to work with all and sundry to enhance effective, accountable and transparent organisation.

“I believe we can work together. We have had the chance to know most of you delegates; it is all because of the good fight. If there was no fight, we would not have reached out to you like we have done now with me as your sister we would put ideas to work together, I will represent all of you; I would consult”, she added.

Madam Ackson noted that, when they work together as a team they can achieve the needed IPU and pledge to consult past presidents.

“Delegates, whatever I pledged to do for the IPU, I would do just that, trust me I will do justice to IPU as president elect”, she told the Assembly.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Mr. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, one of the flagbearer aspirant of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), ahead of the party’s delegate conference on Saturday November 4, 2023, to elect a presidential candidate has chosen Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia ahead of Ken Ohene Agyapong.

Speaking in a zoom interview he said “between Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Ken Ohene Agyapong, in all good conscience, I prefer Dr. Bawumia to become the candidate of the party”.

According to him he has a feeling that he would be very different from the status quo, “and in life you can be different from the status quo. Again in life you can reengineer yourself.”

The former General Secretary of the ruling party noted that in Ghana late President Atta Mills who took over from late President John Rawlings is an example and former President Rawlings was all over the place complaining that, late Atta Mills does not listen.

“Power when it’s in your hands, you are the one who runs the show. I do not believe in the narrative that the cabal behind Akufo Addo would be controlling him pulling strings from behind. I want to give him that benefit of the doubt; the only way he can give the party and himself the good opportunity of winning is to demonstrate to the party and Ghanaians by his actions the decisions he make that he is his own man”.

He further added that, if he is in the position of helping the vice president achieve that, he will so that the party would give itself a reasonable chance of winning. “I am a party person and respect the decision of the party.

He was however; quick to point out that as a party, they have allowed so many things that have gone down unchecked and they need a new era. “We need a new dawn of decisive and strong leadership; it can be done and be achieved”.

He also pointed out that whoever the party elects as flagbearer, if he finds him wealthy of supporting him of contributing, “I will make that contribution.”

On his view, as to the resignation of Alan John Kyeremanten, he said he disagrees with a lot of the reasons put up by his team justifying why he left, “but that is his decision, I do not want to spend a lot of time on it”, he said.

He said he is a product of the party and he is not going to leave the party today or tomorrow; and that should put that matter to rest. You do not always get the best you want; this is the reality we have, and it’s the reality we have to deal with and I am prepared to deal with the reality, he added.

But was quick to point out that as a party, they have allowed so many things that have gone down unchecked and they need a new era. “We need a new dawn of decisive and strong leadership; it can be done and be achieved”, he emphasized.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Bagbin has donated a cash amount of GHc 100, 000 to flood victims in the Volat Region.

His Chief of Staff Kofi Attor, made the donation on his behalf at a durbar in Sogakofe in the South Tongu District.
The amount is to benefit victims in North Tongu, South Tongu, Ketu North, Anlo, Ketu South, Keta, and Central Tongu.

The National Democratic Congress and the Minority Caucus in Parliament also presented relief items worth one hundred and fifty thousand cedis to the affected communities.

Addressing the media Kofi Attor described the flooding as a serious situation and pointed out that it needs all the attention it deserves and called for fair distribution of all the items received.

“We hope the water recedes soon to bring life back to normal in these constituency, but until then, we have brought water, food and other relief to alleviate their plight”, he said.

Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson advocated for the need to relocate the affected people to the Saglemi housing project until the communities become habitable again.

Ghanamps.com

 

 

The Rt Hon Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin together with leadership, Members of Parliament and Staff of Parliament visited the family of the late Hon E.T Mensah to commiserate with them following his demise.

 Late Hon. E.T Mensah was a former Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Minister of State and until his unfortunate demise, he was a Member of the Council  of State.

The Rt Hon Speaker shared his fond memories of the late E.T Mensah whom he referred to as his brother.

He informed the family that, Parliament will participate fully to ensure that he is giving a befitting burial. 

Ghanamps.com

As the Ad Hoc Committee brought proceedings to an end taking evidence from witness, a member of the IGP’s legal team, Kofi Bentil has stated that the committee has now established that the tape was not doctored as it was earlier made to believe.

According to him the last in-camera hearing has also expressed confidence that the true facts of the case have been established.

Speaking to the media, spokesperson of the IGP’s legal team Kofi Bentil said the committee admitted that the tape that went viral was not edited but was simply a shorter version of the conversation that transpired.

And further added that witnesses were supposed to bring further evidence to support their information they have given to the Committee earlier as they came to change portions of their earlier statement but new evidence was not given.

“We, were thinking it was a bit strange because that procedure is not known to us; you should know your evidence before you start the process, if for months they have not been able to present any evidence, we do not know which evidence again JB and Alex would give.

And Bugri Nabu’s statement has been confirmed, the tape was rather a longer version of it, everything on the new tape is still on the old tape so yesterday they corrected.”

He asserted that this should not have taken our time, but the extent that it did reveals what the truth is.

“Some people are saying we are saying it’s the waste of the IGPs time; we have not said that we are saying when you have something said of a high profile person, it is high consideration to see if its necessary to subject them to certain scrutiny based on what some people have said”.

Again, pulling the IGP out of his busy duties was not the best but we respect the Committee so we came, but in future we should be minded of how we are happy the way things are turning out, and indeed there is nothing untoward, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com