Category: General

Ahead of Nigeria’s general elections; Presidential and Parliamentary of February 25, 2023 the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament is ready to observe the election as preparation are far advanced.

According to the Chairman of the Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr. the parliament is in touch with the ECOWAS long term observers and they have an advance team which is being coordinated by the Secretary General John Azumah.

In a telephone interview with Ghanamps.com at his base in Liberia, Senator Snowe noted that he would be joining the team next week Tuesday, February 21, 2023; and as head of the Parliamentary delegation for the Nigerian election observation he noted that eight (8) of his colleagues lawmakers are part of the team.

“We are monitoring the situation there and working with the ECOWAS Commission and the Nigerian, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and we are hopeful that we can have a peaceful election in Nigeria”, he said.
Furthermore, on the preparation towards the upcoming Liberia’s general election this year, he pointed out that the ECOWAS Commission would be in Liberia this week to have an assessment of Liberia’s preparedness for their upcoming election.

And in May of this year, the ECOWAS Parliament would be in Liberia for a fact finding mission to do an assessment on Liberia’s preparedness for the election, and June 2023 Committees on Political Affairs and Legal would have a delocalized meeting in Liberia.

It would be centered on Liberia’s preparedness for its election, as ECOWAS would have long and short term observer mission that would be going to Liberia for its elections.

In the case of Sierra Leone, which also has a general election this year, Chairman Snowe pointed out that, there is a mission of the Parliament in mid March 2023 by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Female Parliamentary Association (ECOFEPA) which would be having a big symposium and the Speaker has mandated the Political Affairs Committee to spend some time there within that period to see Sierra Leone’s preparedness for the elections.

Again, in May 2023, they have a mission there to check on the final preparation of the elections in June 2023, as they would be there to observe the elections as well.

And as they plan for the Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone, they are putting in place plans to addressing issues of run offs. “We have our team prepared to visit those countries or be a part of the run off process”, he stated.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) is considering communities in the Ketu South Constituency in the next phases of the Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project to help improve their network challenges.

That, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister of Communications and Digitisation, reiterated, would depend on the availability of funds.

She said this on the floor of Parliament in her response to a question by Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu South.

Madam Gomashie wanted to know the steps the Ministry was taking to solve the challenges in the communication networks in the Ketu South Constituency.

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful informed the House that MTN Ghana had connectivity in Klikor, Agbozome and the Diamond Cement Area of the Ketu South Constituency.

She noted that AirtelTigo had six operational sites in Ketu South, three of which were located at Aflao, with the remaining three at Agbozome, Avoeme and Denu.

All the six sites receive both 2G and 3G coverage telecommunication networks.

“Mr Speaker, finances permitting, the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications will consider other communities in the Ketu South Constituency in upcoming phases of the Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project to help improve their network challenges,” she stated.

For further clarification, Madam Gomashie questioned how connectivity at Aflao could be improved to avoid data problems and the ability to make calls.

“Aflao alone is like a big constituency on its own, it has about 83 branches, now increased to hundred and over, so one mask is not enough to serve the people…”

In her response, Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful said: “The network operators are obliged by their license obligation to extend connectivity to district capitals, which all of them have done, but going beyond the district capitals, it is the commercial return on investment, largely influencing their rollout obligations.”

“We will continue to work with them, knowing how critical connectivity is for the growth of our digital economy to ensure that they improve the network challenges there.”

“I do know that Aflao is a very big border community and the economic activity there is vibrant and so, we will work with the network operators to see what they can do to extend connectivity there.”

GNA

Former Member of Parliament for Shama in the Western Region, Dr Ato Panford has been reported dead.

A family source confirmed the sad news to Takoradi-based Connect FM, on Sunday, February 12, 2023.

He’s said to have died at the GPHA Hospital in the Western Regional capital, Takoradi.

Dr Ato Panford was the Member of Parliament for Shama in the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

Ghanamps.com

The Mampong Akuapem Apesemakahene, Nana Yirenkyi I has stated strongly that the Akuapem North Parliamentary seat is not a bonafide property of any individual hence people who are trying to malign others so they can clinch to the seat should desist from the act.

His message came at the heels of some publications against the Director of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) Samuel Awuku that he is using the organization’s resources to support Bawumia’s campaign thereby depleting NLA’s financial resources.

The said publication also sought to suggest that the President had confronted Sammy Awuku over the development.
This, Nana Yirenkyi believes is a fabricated claim against the NLA Boss just to destroy his reputation and Goodwill among the people of Akuapem.

He has warned such persons to desist from the act and do a clean campaign if they are indeed confident that they can will the Akuapem North seat.

“We are warning them to stop those childish moves or else, we call our ancestors to deal with them,” he said.

Speaking in interview with the media Nana Yirenkyi I hinted that there is no gainsay that all the people including chiefs in Akuapem North are ready for Sammi Awuku should he contest to be their Member of Parliament (MP).

“Look, the people are for Sammy Awuku. If he stands today, he will secure the votes he needs. We know those people who are launching this kind of hate campaign and false allegations against Sammy, we know those behind these false stories and we are ready for them,” he said.

According to him, Akuapem North needs someone who can unite the people for proper development of Akuapem and no one can stop “our brother from contesting Akuapem North seat. No matter how they fabricate stories against him he will become our MP.”

The visibly angry Apesemakahene said this is the last warning they are giving to people behind the false stories and that should that continue, they will come out publicly to announce the names of people behind the said publications.

He said: “Sammi Awuku is the one who the chiefs and people in Akuapem North need. In any case, Akuapem North seat is not anybody’s property; you can contest, campaign and when you are voted for, you do what you can do, so stop the attacks.”

Ghanamps.com

Parliament has to suspend for an hour for Members of Parliament to go through the Foreign Affairs Committee, as lawmakers complain of not having copies of the report.

The African Union Convention on Cross Border Cooperation (NIAMEY Convention), according to the Tamale Central MP Murtala Ibrahim Muhammed complained of not having the report and requested that they are given time to go through the report.

Minority Leader Dr. Ato Forson agreed with the point raised and seconded the move for a hour to be given for members to go through.

Meanwhile at the time the Speaker Started proceedings this morning, the House had only eight lawmakers in the chamber, with three persons including the Majority Chief Whip on the majority side.

The Minority side led by Minority Leader Dr. Ato Forson in the company of four others represented the Minority side.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Cocoa Board Joseph Boahen Aidoo has warned that if nothing is done to curtail the illegal mining and destroying of water bodies in the country, Ghana would have to import water for farming and other water related activities.

According to him there is real danger stating that rivers like the Pra, Ankobra and Tano others would be no more. For now, a lot of cocoa farms are also in danger following the destruction to these water bodies.
He added that everybody, not only he the CEO of cocoa board should be concerned that water bodies are being destroy through the activities of the illegal mining.

He made this know when he appeared before the Public Account Committee (PAC) as part of its public hearing and was asked a public interest question by the Ningo-Prampram lawmaker whether he was worried, about the activities of the illegal mining.

“Mr. Chairman we have a lot of mercury being discharged which posses a lot of health risk for human beings, not just for those who stay around these corridors and enclaves, but extends to those of us in Accra”.

Despite the fact that in Accra there are no illegal mining activities, “for all you know you go and buy a nice Tilapia for your afternoon meal who knows maybe that Tilapia or that red fish has actually swallowed some mercury”.

“Again, you are likely to be affected; the fight against galamsey should not be left for those who stay around the rivers, cocoa farmers, it should be every body’s fight and for the cocoa sector particular its difficult for, “us to do irrigation; you cannot use bore holes”.

He further told the Committee that surface run offs water are use for irrigation as the river bodies are polluted and contain chemicals, cocoa farmers have to transport water to their homes and to their farms through the use of tricycles, he noted.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

A member of the Nigerian delegation to the Community Parliament, Kolawole Taiwo has accused the French government of fueling a political inertia in the adoption of the West African single currency, ECO, over its CFA France.

According to him the CFA franc is the common currency for the Francophone Zone, created in the 1930s on the eve of the Second World War. Critics see it as a neo-colonial device and a form of French monetary imperialism in Africa that continues to destroy any prospect of economic development in user nations.

Hon Kolawole Taiwo representing Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Lagos noted that the single currency is not about technicalities but about political will to set it in motion.

Our leaders are not ready to make it happen, there are too many external interferences that are delaying it.
For instance the Francophone countries still see France as their master, and the French don’t want to let go of them which was the reason why they came up with CFA franc in order to block the achievements of single currency which is known as Eco, the lawmaker said.

He said, the problem of Eco is not technical but it is a political reason. If our leaders want it to happen tomorrow, they will announce it.

Another member of the ECOWAS Parliament from Liberia, Mr. Clarence Massaquoi said that achieving 2027 single Currency will need a practicalised political will to do it.

They should be concerned about the economy of other smaller countries, which will speak well of the political will of our leaders of their countries.

I think in the ECOWAS region, we are reluctant to exercise our political will on several decisions, the lawmaker added.

According to him, a single currency is not just a single basis for saying that ECOWAS has to gamble with the realities by making decisions, they should not be afraid of political powers which for me is one of the reasons why we lag behind in decisions. I am only hoping that we would say that because it took the EU 37 years to come up with the Euro, so we too should take 37 years even if we have the possibility and prospect and willingness of the people to do it today.

And hope ECOWAS can take decisions; the political will is for the structure itself. As it stands, the parliament does not have a full parliament power, so most of the decisions are taken by the authority of Heads of States. If they are not willing to let go of some of the political control and are not willing to stand the fear of losing control, then we cannot thrive. Even the decision to give the parliament full parliamentary power, he added.

Ghanamps.com

The Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) Samuel Awuku has said the management and board have put in efforts to deal with fraudsters who send unnecessary messages to Ghanaians claiming to have lotteries winning numbers.

According to him they are dealing with a whole organised group of decorators who are motivated by evil and do not have a limit on who they want to scam.

Me as Director General, sometimes they can create a platform add you to it, you exit they add you and tell you they can give you winning numbers. We have reported the matter to the NCA and the national security and we have made some tremendous effort in dealing with this.

He made this revelation on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 when he appeared before the Public Account Committee (PAC) to answer some questions on work done by the Auditor General and pointed out that, eighteen (18) people were arrested last year and some are also standing trial at various stages; but it is an everyday matter dealing with the their dictators and believes, if there is one agency which is going to benefit from the sim card registration is NLA, he added.

This issue came up when the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram Samuel George Natty, asked a human interest story as to how the NLA is dealing with fraudsters who send messages and call Ghanaians to give the NLA winning numbers.

In addition, he told the committee that those who send message and call cannot tell where the person is operating from. “One of the people we arrested had about five hundred sim cards; they send the message and take off the sim card. We believe that these crusade should not be left to the NLA alone.

And added that they have been embarking on sensitization programmes to demystify the perception that there is strong room where winning numbers are produce from, it does not exist, so if you recall we have started an exercise; we were at the Kwahu East to perform live draw.

In addition we have been to cape coast festival last year and they have been to the Volta Region last year for a live draw.

To us in NLA its a game of chance, but to others its a game of skill. They think they have some magical powers to work out one or two sometimes when you are driving in town they will tell you your car number dropped.

For instance in December 8 and 9 of last year president Kuffours birthday dropped twice and there are times that we lose, so its a game of chance and we need the support of MPs to help with the education that today its a game of chance.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Ophelia Mensah Hayford MP for the Mfanteman constituency has begun dredging the major storm drain in Mankessim.

The drain which begins at the star oil filling station on the mankessim – Kumasi highway and passes behind the Asabee market to join the Mankessim Cape coast highway is heavily choked due to a cocktail of activities such as dumping of both biodegradable and non-biodegradable refuse into the drain whilst some use it as a place of convenience and this has resulted in the growing of shrubs and various plants that block the free flow of water.

It is the hope of MP that people who live closer to the drain will help prevent the dumping of refuse as well as using it as a place of convenience especially after the desilting/dredging activities to allow for the free flow of water and prevent any flooding at the onset of the rain. Work is expected to be completed within 7 days.

She has done her part and residents and other stakeholders must also do their part. Together we develop Mankessim.

Ghanamps.com

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared this year an election year partly because of the general elections coming up in Nigeria this year and similar elections in other three West African countries.

Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament, Si die Mohammed Tunis, speaking at the opening of the fifth Legislature of ECOWAS Parliament Extraordinary session in Guinea Bissau said Nigeria is the region’s biggest democracy and that a large chunk of its observer mission will be deployed for the polls.

“This year has been tagged “Elections Year” in the region. In a matter of weeks, our biggest democracy, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will be holding Presidential and Legislative elections.

In a few months, the Republics of Sierra Leone and Liberia will do the same. These have been preceded by Legislative elections in the Republic of Benin”.

“In conformity with the established framework for election observation, we are working very closely with the ECOWAS Commission to ensure the scrupulous implementation of the provisions of Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, relative to the holding of elections. Our Observers will be available to provide the necessary support to the Joint ECOWAS Mission, in anticipation of free, fair and transparent elections in the various countries,” Tunis said.

The Speaker assured Nigeria that ECOWAS will be fully involved in election observation across the country on the day of election and added the parliament is working very closely with the ECOWAS Commission and has signed a memorandum appointing observers who will be in Nigeria for the polls.

Dr. Tunis also condemned the killing of innocent souls in Burkina Faso and other parts of the region.

“Let me emphatically condemn the brutal killing of Innocent civilians including children in the west of Burkina Faso and other parts of the region where similar menace exists. No expression of displeasure and no religious loyalty justify the killing of Innocent people. It is barbaric, evil and must be condemned by all- meaning citizens of this region.

On top of all I have said, is the issue of the economy, the bread and butter issue, 2023 is not going to be a challenging year for our democracies alone but also our economies.

The IMF predicts that global growth will slow at 2.7%in 2023 and many countries will experience recession. These have been attributed to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the hike in cost of living and economic slowdown in China due to the latest hike in COVID-19 cases.

This leaves poorer countries, like most of ours, with no option but to act aggressively to heighten monetary policies and build more multilateral cooperation to address our economic volatility.

“It is a fact that economic stagnation would usually influence the finding and implementation of projects, programmes and activities of ECOWAS; we must therefore act within our discretion to draw attention to the need to start economic choices not only in the ECOWAS institutions but in our respective member states,” Tunis added

In his opening remarks, Speaker of the Guinea Bissau National Assembly, Cipriano Cassama urged the Parliament to implement new policies and infrastructures that will speed up development technologies within the West African market.

According to Cassama, These development plans and major policies in the process of decision taking are placed on the shoulders of parliament.

Communities should invest more in educational programs in a way of improving the protection of the environment and health sector.” He thanked the parliament for resolving the internal crisis within the region.

Ghanamps.com