Category: General

The nine-member Commission of Enquiry set up by President Akufo-Addo to collate public views for the creation of new regions will hold a briefing session with Members of Parliament from the four regions from which the regions may be created.

The MPs from the four regions including Northern, Brong Ahafo, Volta and Western are expected to make input into ongoing consultations as major stakeholders.

The Commission which was tasked to look into the demands for the creation of new regions has so far concluded some public stakeholder engagements in the regions concerned.

The government’s decision to set up the commission was in response to petitions made for the possible creation of the new regions.

The Commission’s Terms of Reference is set out in paragraph 4 of C.I. 105 and is to make recommendations to the President, based on its findings, on the creation of a region or alteration of regional boundaries; and to specify the issues to be determined by referendum and the places where the referendum should be held, where it makes recommendations for the creation of new regions and alteration of regional boundaries.

The process is expected to culminate in the conduct of a referendum on the creation of the new regions.

By Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com

Prior to her approval by the plenary in Parliament, Deputy Special Prosecutor nominee Cynthia Jane Naa-Korshie Lamptey had given indications that when sidelined in the discharge of her duties she would resign.

She made this revelation on Wednesday during her vetting by the Appointment Committee of Parliament when she appeared before the Committee.

And said it was not for nothing that she was appointed to occupy the position she has been nominated for.

Therefore, when her responsibilities are deliberately put on hold by her superior, she will have no option than to quit the job.

But before taking such a decision, she noted that she would first go to her superior to find out whether it was an oversight or deliberate in sidelining her.

“Hon. I will assure you that if I should face a situation or something like that, I will resign because I wasn’t put in that position just for cosmetics sake. I was put there to work and if you sideline me, I may even go to whoever it is to inform him that I am not working. May be it will be an oversight on the side of the person and he will come back to his senses. But if it is true then I will resign because I cannot be a puppet over there”, she posited.

Her comments were in relation to a question posed by a member of the PAC, Dr. Bernice Heloo as to how she would handle such a situation when sidelined or not involved in the decision making process of the institution she has been nominated for.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Chairman of the Appointment Committee Joseph Osei-Owusu has said the committee had unanimously recommend Deputy Special Prosecutor, Cynthia Naa Korshie Lamptey for approval by the plenary.

He disclosed this in an interview just after vetting of the nominee on Wednesday the 16th of May, 2018.

According to the chairman of the committee they were satisfied with the answers given by the nominees when she appeared before them. On the issue of her not giving detailed information in her answers, the chairman noted that they did not need detailed information.

“We just want to know if she is qualify and understand the work of prosecution that is all that she has done all her life”, he said.

As to when to expect the report on the floor of the House, Mr. Joseph Osei-Owusu noted that he is waiting for the clerk of the committee to present the report to him for the necessary correction then it would be presented before the House.

“When it came to matters of prosecution you realize that she was on top of issues except that she does not appear to be interest in other things that relate to prosecution”.Chairman of the Appointment Committee Joseph Osei-Owusu has said the committee had unanimously recommend Deputy Special Prosecutor, Cynthia Naa Korshie Lamptey for approval by the plenary.

He disclosed this in an interview just after vetting of the nominee on Wednesday the 16th of May, 2018.

According to the chairman of the committee they were satisfied with the answers given by the nominees when she appeared before them. On the issue of her not giving detailed information in her answers, the chairman noted that they did not need detailed information.

“We just want to know if she is qualify and understand the work of prosecution that is all that she has done all her life”, he said.

As to when to expect the report on the floor of the House, Mr. Joseph Osei-Owusu noted that he is waiting for the clerk of the committee to present the report to him for the necessary correction then it would be presented before the House.

“When it came to matters of prosecution you realize that she was on top of issues except that she does not appear to be interest in other things that relate to prosecution”.

Minister of the Interior Ambrose Dery and the Defense Minister, Dominic Nitiwul have been summoned by Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye to appear before the House on Tuesday to brief the House over the clashes between the military and police in Tamale.

The attack on the police officers occurred after officials of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the police service arrested a soldier who had brutally assaulted his wife.

In the process of arresting the soldier, his colleagues got wind of the situation and quickly went to his rescue. The soldier was freed by his colleagues in the process.

The angry soldiers then attacked the police officer and other officials who had gone to arrest the soldier.The soldiers subsequently attacked any other police officer they came across in the Tamale metropolis.

The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu drew the House’s attention to the development and noted that the people of Tamale and Ghanaians would need to be assured of security and that these occurrence of clashes between the military and police which is not the first time would not occur again.

He came under order 72 “By the indulgence of the House and the leave of Mr. Speaker a Member may, at the time appointed for statements under Order 53(Order of Business) explain a matter of personal nature or make a statement on a matter of urgent public importance. Any statement other than personal statement may be commented upon by other Members for a limited duration of time not exceeding one hour. The terms of any such proposed statement shall first be submitted to Mr. Speaker”.

Deputy Majority leader Sarah Adowa Safo on her part noted that its disappointing that security personnel who should be protecting Ghanaians would engage themselves in such act and it is appropriate that the sector Ministers come to the House to brief the House on how this issue would be resolved.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Speaker of Parliament Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye had served notice through the Deputy Majority Leader, Sarah Adwoa Safo to inform President Nana Akufo-Addo’s Ministers that Parliament is back from recess and they would be needed on the floor of the House.

He made this remarks on Thursday when the Minister of Food and Agriculture Dr. Akoto Afriyie failed to appear before the House to answer an urgent question from the MP for Juaboso Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.

Minority MPs were unhappy with the development and indicated that they would want the sector Minister to take Parliament serious as he was not visible in the House to take questions in the last meeting in his name and rather sent his Deputies.

The Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Dome/Kwabenya Sarah Adowa Safo sort permission from the Speaker to allow the Food and Agriculture Minister come to the House on Friday to answer the urgent question.

And added that the Minister had brought a letter to that regard that some very important engagement has taken him away and would want to answer the urgent question on his own.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Leader of Government Business, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu has cautioned against poor attendance to proceedings in the chamber this season.

Mr Mensah-Bonsu who attributed the situation to what he described as Members of Parliament engaged in “galamsey”, noted that instead of coming to the House to transact business some MPs rather prefer going to engage in “galamsey”.

Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu had to clarify what he meant by “galamsey” as members on the Minority side asked that he contextualize the word for better understanding.

“I am talking of members who do not come to the chamber but rather, go out there to pursue personal business outside this House that is the context in which I am placing the galamsey”, he explained.

“Mr. Speaker, there are very important issues before us as a House; Bills to be worked on, we need the full engagement of members on the various committees that have the appropriate referrals. Members would have to diligently attend to business in the House to allow us do as much as we can, that is the reason why we have been elected”.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Speaker of Parliament Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye had indicated on the floor of the House that none of the 275 Members of Parliament fear the media because without engaging the media none of the MPs would be on the floor of the House.

He further added that MPs communicated with people before they got elected to represent their constituency and cautioned against a recent practice where some MPs want to substitute debating in the chamber to debating in the media.

“We must be careful with matters pending before the House being taken to the media, we can’t have pre trial of matters in the media instead of dealing with them in the House and again this are matters of the state”, he said.

If we do that we will only be lowering our dignity; let us know the thin line between matters that can be discussed in the media and those that can be dealt with in the House, he lamented.

His remarks comes in the wake of some disagreement on the floor in the last meeting that found space in the media and the issue of “double salaries” being paid former appointees who server as Ministers and MPs.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

The Minority Chief Whip, Mubarak Muntaka Mohamed has assured the House that he would ensure that MPs from his side of the House are punctual to attend to business on the floor of the House.

He welcomed, Members of Parliament (MPs) back from recess and assured the Speaker of the Minority’s cooperation.

As the rules of the House are concerned, he called for consensus building to solidify works to be done by the House at the various committee level.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye has called upon committees having referrals before them to fast truck their work for the plenary to deal with their report and noted that the House has a record of rising to the occasion in many cases.

He noted that the Committee on Lands and Forestry held a stakeholders meeting on Land Bill 2018 at Cape Cost, same applies to the joint committee on Communications, Constitution, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the RTI Bill 2018 in Accra

Again he commended members for availing themselves for committee work and engaging their constituent during the recess.

He called on MPs to show same enthusiasm in this second meeting as they expressed during recess and continue to be punctual, also improve cordiality that exist between members in the House.

He was however quick to point out that members should be cautious and decorous during the course of debate and  refrain from using unpalatable languages on the floor of the House.

Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye further hinted that MPs should get involve with the galamsey menace, as it  is on Parliaments agenda this year when it has interaction with the people. And added that he is prepared together with leadership to make the work of MPs easy.

On the RTI Bill 2018 the Speaker noted that a lot of work has been done on it over the years and should fast truck its report, so that Ghanaians will find MPs worthy of their hire at the end of the session.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

The Minority in Parliament is calling on the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta to priorities his time and make it a habit to be on the floor of the House to do business in the chamber.

Finance Minister and his Deputies were not on the floor of the House on Tuesday to lay papers on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital gains.

These agreements are between the Republic of Ghana and Mauritius, Kingdom of Morocco, Czech and Singapore.

Minister of Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr. Antony Akoto Osei was allowed by the Speaker to lay the papers on behalf of the Finance Minister, which was referred to the Finance committee.

According to the Minority Chief Whip, Mubarak Muntaka Mohamed, it was wrong to start the second meeting of the second session of the seventh Parliament for the fourth Republic without the Finance Minister being present on the floor.

“We witness a similar occurrence in the first meeting, what is involve here is double taxation this is a very important tax Minister and his Deputies are not here, hope the Majority Leader will send out sentiment to the Minister”.

“He should priorities his time”, and pointed out that the Minister of State in charge of Monitoring and Evaluation has been doing this too many times on behalf of the Finance Minister.

Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, in response said the Minister and his Deputies were attending to an important business hence the absence.