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Category: General

Okoe Vanderpuije presents desks to schools

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
As a major stakeholder in the delivery of quality education to the people, Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma South constituency in the Greater Accra region, Dr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije has presented 175 pieces of dual desks to some selected Basic schools within the constituency.

The furniture pieces were presented to four Education Circuit areas including Circuit 07 (OJOO), Circuit 08 (Mamprobi), Circuit 08(Gbegbese), Circuit 11 (Korle Gonno) and for distribution to schools and a private school EP Basic at Mamprobi all within the Ablekuman Metropolis.

Addressing participants at the event which was held at the Nii Kojo Ababio Basic Schools, one of the Millennium City Schools’ Projects built under the watch of the MP during his tenure as Chief Executive Officer of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), the MP his gesture is aimed at enhancing teaching and learning.

The MP encouraged the teachers to continue to be steadfast and give off their best in impacting positively for the upbringing of the school children.

“Please do your best because the best will always reward you” he encouraged.

Dr Okoe Vanderpuije who said education is his passion assured of his commitment to continually support sound education in the country.

The MP said it is his vision that more millennium city school projects will be built in future charged the students and teachers of the Nii Kojo Ababio Basic Schools to continue to keep the school environment clean to serve as an example to others.

Mrs Kusi of the Ablekuma Education metro noted that the non-availability of seats for school pupils has been one critical challenge affecting education delivery hence the gesture by the MP will go a long way to help improve education in the Ablekuma South area.

The Deputy Director Finance and Administration of the Ablekuma Metro Directorate of Education, Stephen Abanfo who received the desks on behalf of the Metro Director of Education described the MP as a friend of education and has contributed significantly to end the shift system within the Accra Metropolis thanked the MP for his unrelenting support to education.

He appealed to the MP to encourage his fellow MPs and other stakeholders in education to contribute in building the future leaders of the country through education.

GIBA support national sanitation camping

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) has pledged its support to the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources to promote its public education agenda and sensitization on the national sanitation campaign.

Ministry of Information, GIBA and the Sanitation and Water Resources Ministry are to meet to develop an integrated communications plans and strategy as well as explore other areas of cooperation for the programme.

This meeting was held at the conference room of the Ministry of Information led by the sector Minister Mustapha Abdul Hamid, President of GIBA, Andrew Danso Aninkora and the Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, Joseph Kofi Adda.

The meeting agreed to convene again next week Wednesday 4th of April 2018 to discuss further on the modalities for implementation.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

“We can win the fight against galamsey if we are all involved”—Minister

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
The Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfour, has said the crusade against illegal  mining “galamsey”  to get our water bodies clean in the country can be won only if every Ghanaian gets involve in the crusade.

According to the Minister, the crusade needs the collaborative effort of every Ghanaian and should not be left for the security agencies and government alone.

He further noted that “we can succeed”, but people are burnt on engaging in “galamsey”. It is true people say those engaging in those activities are making it, that is why it is difficult to let them stop, if we all join hands media, civil society, town folks and the chiefs especially, he said in an interview with ghanamps.com.

Our chiefs sometimes fall to some of these, “small small”, influence when you brandish a few thousand of cedis in their faces, the security personnel also need to stand firm because money can be tempting because you have been sent on a mission, he lamented.

They need to be strong and support the President’s crusade against “galamsey”, it is not only the precious minerals, those mining rocks and sand and recently there was a commotion in the Northern Part of Ghana, they were not mining gold they were digging sand.

And they were digging into the “Black Volta” and sand too is a mineral, all these must be regulated.

Mr.  Eric Kwakye Darfour noted that the regulatory agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) should do what is right, as in most of these cases they are found culpable as they aid and facilitate all these illegal miners, “you see my brother it is sad” he emphasized.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

BNI Director reassigned with immediate effect

Posted on by Akumaa GhanaMPs
The Director of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), William Akwasi Appiah has been reassigned, it is however unclear why he was moved from his position.

After a meeting at the BNI office in Accra on 29th March 2018 which was chaired by the Minister for National Security Albert Kan-Dapaah.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Minister for Information Mustapha Hameed, with government announcing to the general public that the President Nana Akuffo-Addo, with immediate effect has made changes with the National Security outfit.

Ambassador Rasheed Seidu Inussah, Director General of the Research Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration is now the Director of the BNI, Peter Nyarko Opata Deputy Director General of the Research Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration is now Director General of the Research Department of the Ministry.

The former Director of BNI has been reassigned to the Ministry of National Security.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

NDC MPs under strict instruction not to support military deal– Koku Anyidoho

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC), Koku Anyidoho, has said the Party gave the Minority strict instructions not to support the Ghana-US deal to have a military base in Ghana.

General Secretary, Johnson Aseidu Nketiah was seen in the company of other party Executives and former MPs in parliament to ensure that the instructions were obeyed, he had red band on sitting in the public gallery until the Minority walked out when he left.

Mr. Koku Anyidoho in an interview with ghanamps.com on Friday said the opposition NDC will not allow President Akuffo-Addo’s government mortgage the freedom and sovereignty of Ghana.

There is no way we in the NDC will be part of what Akuffo-Addo wants to do, since he want to become American, let someone tell Akuffo-Addo he “ant seen nothing yet”.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Protestors against US-Ghana military deal locked out of Parliament

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Protestors against the Ghana-US Defence Cooperation Agreement were locked out of Parliament on Friday when they attempted to enter.

The group calling itself Economic Fighters League had staged a peaceful walk to Parliament on Friday morning where legislators were looking at a possible ratification of the agreement but were prevented from entering the premises, by police stationed in Parliament House.

Protestors complained about being tossed from one place to another by security personnel and insisted their action is a peaceful one, and were unhappy with the manner in which they were being handled.

Members of Parliament from the Minority side who had red bans on came up to the gate and pleaded with the Police commander to allow the protestors in but did not allow it.

Some MPs had to insist that some members were their visitors before they were allowed into the premises of Parliament House.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Minority walks out, but Majority ratifies agreement with US

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The Majority side of the House ratified the controversial Ghana-US Military Cooperation agreement on Friday 23rd March 2018, in the wake of drama and chaos.

Ahead of the ratification, the Speaker of Parliament, and the Minority members walked out at different stages of the sitting after heated exchanges for and against an agreement that will give US military unfettered access to some facilities in Ghana.

The Minority did not hide their objection to the agreement and did not fail to express same during proceedings in the House, by putting on red bands and shouting, banging the tables indicating their objections to things they objected to.

In their numbers, they washed their hands off the Ghana-US Military Cooperation agreement by staging a walkout in Parliament shortly after the report of the committee on Defence was presented on the floor.
The opposition legislators did not want to have anything to do with a military agreement they say will mortgage the country’s sovereignty to a superpower.

After several minutes of chaos, the Speaker returned to restore order and to continue the proceedings.
The Minority demanded amendments to be made to the report of the committee that had been brought to the floor for a debate.

Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu led his side of the House to stage a walkout from the chamber after arguing his case out and noted that, “we do not want to be part of this agreement”.

The Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu and the Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul had their say and later their way as the house adopted the committee report and ratified the agreement.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Ministry intervene to avert collapse of indigenous airlines ……Minister

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Minister of Aviation, Cecilia Dapaah, has revealed that the Ministry is taking steps to intervene to address challenges of the indigenous airlines to avert total collapse.

According to the Minister the Ministry has engaged airline operators and requested for a list of airline spares parts and consumables that require exemptions to enable the Ministry submit proposals to the Ministry of Finance for consideration.

She further noted that the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has been charged by the Ministry to look at the possibility of a downward review of licensing and certification fees and charges for new companies entering the domestic market.

The GCAA provides free of charge aeronautical services at the Regional airports and serve as a big incentive she said on the floor of Parliament, when MP for Adaklu Kwame Agbodza wanted to know if there are challenges facing domestic airlines as some of them are laying off their staff.

the Minister of Aviation again said the Ministry will take measures to make domestic airlines operations attractive and encourage Ghanaian investors to invest in the industry.

Again the Ministry would soon deposit an ICAO Registry in Montreal for ratification/accession in respect of International Air Law Convention to enable domestic operations enjoy incentives the Conventions affords, such as leasing of aircraft at affordable rates.

Mrs. Cecilia Dapaah told the House that high cost of operation from fuel price at domestic airports, leasing of aircrafts, non-availability of tax incentives for start-ups and payment of user and other charges to GCAA in dollars are among other contributing factors had resulted in laying-off of staff of some domestic airline and contributing to the collapse of some indigenous airlines.

The Minister recounted that in 2012 five domestic airlines operators, Africa World Airlines(AWA), Aero Surveys(Starbow), Antrak Air, CTK network Aviation Limited(City Link) and Fly 540 were operating the domestic route in Ghana.

City Link, Fly 540 and Antrak Air, suspended their operations in August 2012, May 2014 and June 2015 respectively leaving only AWA and Starbow.

In a written letter to GCAA all the three attributed their suspension to restructuring and reorganization of their respective organizations.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Unavailability of funds in road fund affects road projects—Minister

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwesi Amoako Atta, has revealed to Members of Parliament that most of the road projects in their advance form will be completed when funds are available.

According to the Roads and Highways Minister who was answering questions on the floor of parliament, completion of road projects will depend on the employers ability to pay for work done so far.

He hinted at the beginning of years that funds in the Road Fund had dry up because of the excessive road contracts award by the previous government and the interest that had to be paid for loans taken from the bank.

His answer was in response to the Member of Parliament for Klottey-Korle, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings whon wanted to know when the Abuja/CMB Market road will be completed.

The Minister noted that currently the project is 75 percent completed, the contractors have suspended works as a result of the employers undue delay in paying for work done and the project is financed through the Ghana Road Fund.

The same answers were provided for the Member of Parliament for Kintampo South Felicia Adjei on Jema Township roads which is 15 percent completed.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

MMDCEs to cooperate with MPs to access their common fund—Minister

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Alima Mahama, had indicted to Members of Parliament that the Ministry is required to instruct the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to cooperate with MPs in releasing funds for the payment of the procured works, goods and services.

According to the Minister, doors of the Ministry and the Administrator are open to assist in addressing peculiar challenges MPs may face regarding funds approved by Parliament for works, goods and services procured in the name of MPs.

The Ministry is expected to coordinate with the Common Fund Administrator to ensure that funds are transferred to the respective accounts in the various Districts.

Local Government and Rural Development Minister made this remarks when Muhammad Bawah Braimah, Ejura-Sekyedumase legislator wanted to know steps taken by the Ministry for MPs to access their common funds without challenges.

Base on the formula approved by Parliament, constituency projects identify by an MP are to be funded by specific amounts transferred to the Districts. Monies are transferred, to the account of the District Assemblies designated for projects goods and services and works which will be carried out at the instance of the MP, the Minister said.

“Mr. Speaker, in accordance with the constitution of the Republic of Ghana, Article 252 (2), parliament is required to annually make provision of the allocation of not less than 5 percent of the total revenues of Ghana to the District Assemblies for Development, which shall be paid in quarterly installments.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com