The Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin led his colleagues to commiserate with the family of their late colleague Dr. John Ampontuah Kumah, Member of Parliament for Ejisu in the Ashanti Region.
Members of Parliament from Majority side of the House were dressed in black on Friday, March 8, 2024 to indicate their sadness when they were hit with the news of the demise of their colleague on Thursday.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com
Clerk of Ghana’s Parliament Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah said the work of Parliament in its governance architecture can be well understood and appreciated by Ghanaians through the dissemination of relevant information pertaining to their mandate in the conduct of the House.
It is in light of this that Parliament took it upon itself to organize a workshop for members of the Parliamentary Press Corps to help them familiarise themselves with the contents of the revised Standing Orders to enable them report accurately.
Mr. Kwabena Nisah further added that, not only on the proceedings and other activities of Parliament but also the intricate practices and procedures that underpin certain decisions, motions and resolutions of the House.
And the media as one of the key stakeholders of Parliament, he urged members of the media in Parliament to participate fully in all sessions of this orientation programme in order to benefit from the deliberations, which would enable them improve their knowledge on the rules of the House and facilitate the discharge of their duty.
Parliaments of the Fourth Republic have, in consonance with the provisions of article 110 of the 1992 Constitution, regulated procedures of the House by Standing Orders, which prescribe the rules and practices for the conduct of parliamentary business.
After twenty-three (23) years of adherence to the provisions of the previous Standing Orders of the House, with minimal amendments, it is prudent that Parliament refines its processes and procedures in accordance with emerging legislative trends across the Commonwealth.
Contemporary challenges including demands for higher levels of transparency in the democratic process; inadequacy of manual work procedures in the effective discharge of the mandate of the Legislature; and the Covid-19 pandemic revealed some gaps in the Orders of House, requiring that we adapt innovative techniques and strategies in order to deliver on the mandate of Parliament.
Moreover, the hung nature of the Eighth Parliament, which is the first of its kind since the inception of the Fourth Republic, presents a number of novel situations and challenges that were not within the contemplation of the drafters of previous Orders of the House.
The revised Orders, which was adopted by a Resolution of the House on Thursday, 21st December, 2023 and took effect on 2nd January, 2024, introduces practices and procedures, including the recital of the National Pledge, the conduct of parliamentary business through virtual platforms, and clearly delineates the hierarchy of the Leadership of Parliament.
Furthermore, under our current Standing Orders, the number of parliamentary Committees have increased from thirty-one (31) to forty-four (44) to emphasise the new focus and direction of the House, as part of efforts to expand and improve parliamentary oversight of activities of public officials.
As partners in the advancement of parliamentary democracy, the critical role of the media in the reportage of parliamentary proceedings, as well as facilitating the scrutiny of activities of the representatives of the people cannot be overemphasised, he stated.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com
Parliament of Ghana has approved an amount of $300 million dollars as support for the 2024 annual budget.
Prior to the approval, the minority leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson made the position of his side clear that, they’re not going to support the approval of the loan, since government has over borrowed, more especially since we are in an election year.
He further added that, the finance minister, Dr Amin Adam has also presented tax exemptions to the tune of GH 5.5 billion cedis which is equivalent to $449 million dollars and that, the minority can help approve the loan only when the tax exemptions is withdrawn or changed to tax credit.
Hon K. T Hammond, the Minister for Trade and Industry and MP for Adansi Asokwa in his contribution said, the issue raised by the Minority on tax exemptions has no basis since such item has not been submitted to Parliament for approval but at the committee level.
He advised that, the Minority should exercise patience until those tax exemptions get to plenary for such debate to be carried out.
Finally the Finance Minister, Mr. Adam agreed to the call of the Minority and assured the House that, he is going to review all those exemptions and report back to Parliament in two weeks.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com
The Parliament of Ghana on Thursday operated without electricity from the national grid following a disconnection carried out by the Electricity Company of Ghana.
ECG carried out the disconnection when the House was debating the State of the Nation Address delivered by the President on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Following the disconnection, the offices of the Members of Parliament at the Job 600 building has been without light but the main chamber had light from the generators at the facility.
The development caused some individuals trapped in the elevator and it took the intervention of some security persons to get them out. Parliament is said to be hugely indebted to the power distributor, ECG and that resulted in the power cut.
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Ghanamps.com
Ghana’s Parliament has finally passed the Anti-LGBTQ bill into law.
The bill aims to uphold proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values while prohibiting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+), and related activities.
The Bill in its current form proposes a jail term ranging from six months to three years for those found engaged in same-sex activities, with a more severe punishment of three to five years for promoters and activists of LGBTQ rights.
After more than three years of deliberations, the bill was unanimously approved on Wednesday, February 28, following the completion of the third reading.
During the session, Speaker Alban Bagbin rejected proposed amendments to the bill.
Ghanamps.com
In fulfillment of Ghana’s constitutional requirement, President Nana Akufo-Addo would on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 deliver his last but one State of the Nation Address in Ghana’s Parliament.
Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana states: “The President shall deliver a message on the State of the Nation to Parliament at the start of each session and before the dissolution of Parliament.
Checks done by Ghanamps.com can reveal that there are preparations to receive the President tomorrow in parliament.
Cleaners were seen on the premises of Parliament cleaning and painting everywhere to ensure the premises is spot clean for tomorrow’s event.
The Security Services were at the forecourt of Parliament on Monday, February 26, 2024 morning preparing for tomorrows event.
And investigation conducted by Ghanamps.com indicates that security would be tight tomorrow; and without accreditation one would not be allowed into the premises of the Parliament House.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Member of Parliament for Suame, has officially declared his resignation as Majority Leader.
He made this announcement in Parliament on Friday, February 23, clarifying that the decision was solely his and not influenced by external pressure, as speculated in some media reports.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu encouraged members of the Majority Caucus to extend their support to his successor, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, by providing all necessary assistance.
“On Wednesday, February 21, at a meeting with the caucus and the President, I formally announced my decision to resign as the Majority Leader in order to still the storm and facilitate the peace and unity for the party at this time,” he said.
Below is the new front bench of the Majority Caucus
A Committee of Selection is one of the first committees set up at the beginning of every new parliament.
The Committee under the Chairmanship of the Speaker is appointed to prepare lists of chairpersons, vice chairpersons and Members to compose the Standing Committees.
It ensures that every Member of Parliament in accordance with clause (4) of article 103 of the Constitution, serve on at least one of the Standing Committees.
Click here for details
Ghanamps.com
There are indications that the president Nana Akufo-Addo will in the coming days have a meeting with the Majority Caucus is parliament to discuss issues on the a possible changes in the leadership of the caucus.
Though the majority caucus at a press conference on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 rebuts all speculations about changes in their leadership and any contemplation to that effects, there is an evidence to the contrary as the party at one of their executive meetings had ‘changes to Parliamentary leadership as one of the items on the agenda for discussion which was subsequently skipped.
Mr Appiah Kubi, the Member of Parliament for Asante Akim South, speaking on TV3’s Ghana Tonight Show on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 confirmed attending such meeting by the party and seeing the said item on the agenda specifically as the fifth item for discussion but was dropped subsequently.
He, however, assured that the new Standing Orders of Parliament which came into force in January this year gave power to the caucuses/groups to constitute their own leadership, a position that is a departure from the previous system which allowed the party to do so.
As such, he said they are satisfied with their leadership and are solidly behind them, adding that whatever anybody or groups will put forward to be done to the Majority Caucus’ leadership would be treated as a suggestion to be tabled before the caucus for discussion.
Dominic Shirimori / Ghanamps.com
The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Hon. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, is set to meet key stakeholders in the pension industry regarding the refund of outstanding 4% Tier 2 contributions to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
The discussion is expected to begin this month. Indeed, the 2022 Auditor-General’s report highlighted SSNIT’s inability to fully retrieve the 4% contributions from the Tier 2 Fund Managers. These fund managers were entrusted with managing the funds on behalf of contributors following the enactment of the National Pension Act, 2008 (Act 766).
This came to light when the Director-General of SSNIT, Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang, appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament today to answer questions relating to the findings raised by the Auditor-General in its 2022 reports.
With the enactment of the National Pensions Amendment Act, 2014 (Act 883), a total of 105,124 contributors from both public and private sectors had already made contributions to SSNIT. These contributors, whose 4% contributions were managed by private fund managers, are now retired and receiving full pensions from SSNIT.
As of the beginning of 2021, the fund managers owed SSNIT GH¢483,365,156.60. However, only GH¢6,076,705.05 was received by SSNIT in 2021, leaving an amount of GH¢477,288,451.55 yet to be retrieved from the fund managers.
Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang noted that the Trust is making significant progress to retrieve all outstanding funds owed SSNIT.
Appointment of Auditors for subsidiaries
The Auditor-General’s report further indicated that 10 sampled subsidiaries of the Trust appointed their own auditors to audit their financial statements contrary to Article 187 of the 1992 Constitution and Regulation 204 of the Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019 (L.I. 2378).
In his response, Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang stated that the Trust’s subsidiaries operate as independent limited liability companies in accordance with the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992) with powers to appoint their auditors.
“Pursuant to the Companies Act, it is the Board of Directors of the company that has the mandate to appoint auditors on behalf of the shareholders. We have communicated this legal opinion in writing to the Auditor-General and we are waiting for a formal response”, he added.
However, the Auditor-General disagreed with the SSNIT DG’s position, prompting the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. James Klutse Avedzi, to intervene accordingly and resolve the matter.
“The Auditor-General audits the public accounts of Ghana and the same Auditor-General audits the accounts of Public Boards, Corporations and other Statutory Institutions. So, per that provision in the Constitution, the Auditor-General audits the accounts of SSNIT”.
“Now, SSNIT owns a company, which is a limited liability company governed by the Companies Act. So directly, the Auditor-General cannot audit that private company. So whatever decision is taken, (by the company) it’s incorporated into SSNIT’s accounts which is audited by the Auditor-General. So, there is no need for the Auditor-General to audit the subsidiaries”, Mr. Klutse Adedzi clarified.
Overpayment of Advance Mobilisation
Regarding the advance payments of 15% contract sum threshold as stipulated in the Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019 (L.I. 2378), the Deputy Director-General of SSNIT, in charge of Investment and Development, Mr. Kofi Bosompem Osafo-Maafo, noted that the Trust accepts the recommendations.
He added that Management has put in measures to ensure that subsequent payments do not exceed 15% of the contract sum threshold.
The Chairman of the Committee enquired from the auditors if they were satisfied with the response provided by SSNIT and the representatives of the Auditor-General acknowledged that they were satisfied with the response.
Need to increase investible funds to the Treasury Sub-Asset Portfolio
The Auditor-General in its report advised SSNIT’s Management to increase the investment outlay in the Treasury Sub-Asset Portfolio to surge its liquidity reserve to support the Trust.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Klutse Avedzi sought to know whether SSNIT has complied with this recommendations from the Auditor-General.
In his response, the Director-General of SSNIT said “the recommendation is well taken. The only reason we have fallen below threshold happened in years where we have not received adequate contributions. But we are committed to ensuring we have healthy liquid treasury portfolio that will solve the liquidity ratio problem”.
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