Category: General

As lawmakers in the Community Parliament raise red alert in the Sierra Leone country report, Dr. Sidie Mohammed Tunis set the record straight pointing out that his Country is not trying to change the electoral laws one year into their general elections.

According to him, it is misrepresentation; the district block system that they are talking about is in their laws in their constitution and quoted an amended section 38 3 b to back his point.

“I said first past the post system, the country shall be divided according to the population quota. There was a census in Sierra Leone in December last year which means the population quota that existed for those constituencies no longer exist. And because of that the president has pronounced the date for the presidential and legislative elections; then national electoral commission of Sierra Leone, they will not be able to go and give quota and divide the place into constituencies based on the current population quota. The last census was in 2015”.

The Rt. Hon Speaker who was presiding over proceedings on Saturday, December 3,2022 had to leave the chair for the third deputy speaker, Madam Memounatou Ibrahima to take the chair as he offered explanation by joining his colleagues from Sierra Leone.

He further told the House the President of Sierra Leone thought it wise to consult with the Electoral Commission to declare for a proportional representation system and hope his colleagues from Liberia will understand that, as they were worried pointing out whatever affects Sierra Leone affects Liberia.

As he speaks there are no constituencies in Sierra Leone now, it was through the same law that he entered into parliament; the first time in 2002, through a district block system of proportional representation.

Also on the political situation, he explained that, any country going into elections – first or third world country there will be some form of tension because of politics. Because people are fighting for power, adding that he is not a security person like his colleague from Liberia, Hon Stephen J. H. Zargo is.

“I can tell you the kind of political tolerance we have in Sierra Leone; we do not have it in most countries, I tell you. We are the only country without political detainee, none, zero. There is no way the said situation will be bad, and we do not have political detainees”.

And the problem in Sierra Leone is not inter-party politics; rather it is the intra-party politics. The problem is that the main opposition is in a very serious problem; they are in and out of court every day fighting each other every day and government has nothing to do with that and Hon Edwin Snowe and Hon Momolu Massaquoi know what I am talking about.

Additionally, he explained to the plenary that, he has had meetings as Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament with key players in the opposition, just to bring peace in the opposition party that is the major problem but not government and the opposition party.

On the August 10, 2022 disturbances, their constitution provides for people to air their views. For people to demonstrate peacefully they have the right, but when you have a situation where “the demonstrators have guns and cutlass, that is no longer a peaceful demonstration”. He pointed out that it can only call for the intervention of the security forces because it’s the right of individuals to demonstrate, and government allows them to demonstrate adding that on that faithful day, they were escorted by the police officers who had no arms.

When the demonstrators noticed that the police did not have gun, they attacked and killed in broad day light six police officers. “They were attacked and killed; where has that ever happened in this region? It was only after the demonstration that police saw demonstrators with gun and cutlass”.

It was at that time that the security forces went in, not a peaceful demonstration as envisaged, then the slogan turn out to be, “Bio must go and were matching towards the states house and Bio is the last name of the president of Sierra Leone. There are video clips and pictures to that effect and we call that peaceful demonstration? No”.

He recounted that, the president was not in the country, he the Speaker was in the country that morning around 9:30am and had a call from the vice president asking where he was, which he responded he was home.

According to him, he did not know what was happening in town, and the vice president invited him to his office and pointed out to him that, there was a problem in town and he had to rush to his office. “Before I got to his office, the whole place was like a war zone, thanks be to God the security forces were able to put everything under control”.

“The six police officers, who were killed, are they not human beings and don’t they have family? They left their wives and kids to go to work to protect peaceful demonstrators”. And indicated that when the whole situation was put under control the president initiated dialogue which involved every stakeholder in the country – chiefs, parliamentarians, disables and he continues to have those consultations. The president set up an independent committee to look into the issues of August 10, 2022 and they are still working”.

The committee is made up of well respected people and a committee recognized by all parties including the main opposition parties. Just last week they visited the site where the police officers were killed and where civilians were also killed, family members of the dead had consultation on how the burial ceremony should take place, he stated.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

High Commissioner of the Gambia, extraordinary and permanent representative to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) H. E. Mohamadou Musa Njie has praised the late and first former president of his country H. E. Dawda Kairaba Jawara for winning an award at the sub-regional level.

He received an honorary award, for eminent persons for his leadership and immense contribution to the promotion and restoration of peace in the sub-region and in the world.

It was during his turner as chairman of the Authority of Heads of States and Government (1989-1990 and 1991-1992) that ECOMOG was established to restore peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone in the 1990s.

The Permanent representative of the Gambia to ECOWAS hosting staff of the Embassy in Nigeria, lawmakers and family of the late first president of the Gambia- son and former first lady at his residence (Gambia House) to a dinner noted that when they have something good, they would want to showcase it to the world.

“It is our residence and it’s appropriate to celebrate our late first president for his excellence in promoting peace in West Africa for championing human right in ECOWAS and one of the founding fathers in pushing for the establishment of ECOWAS”.

He welcomed his guest on behalf of the president and used the opportunity to thank President Adama Barrow for spearheading the nomination.

“It is time to teach the young ones, our sons and daughters about their heroes and about the people who contributed to help in shaping Africa. We have to continue to promote our leaders more especially those who have done well. We have immortalized the former president’s good works and as a member of the PPP, I thanked the president for making sure that the name of the former first president to be instilled in the history books of the Gambia”.

Hon Fatoumatta Njai, the only female representative of Gambia to the ECOWAS Parliament , on her part thanked H. E. President Adama Barrow for the role he played for the first late former President to receive the first ECOWAS award.

She further told the gathering that when the president of the Gambia nominated the late president, his peers felt that he deserves the award and any other president in the sub-region who had intention of nominating any other persons held on to it.

And thanked the High Commissioner and permanent representative of the Gambia to ECOWA for hosting them and bringing them together to celebrate their late first former president, for the award presented to him.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Parliament on Tuesday, December 6, 2023 approved the Budget Statement and Fiscal Policy of Government for the year ending 31st December, 2023.

This follows a fears debate between both sides for about a week.

On Tuesday, leaders of both Caucus concluded the debate giving the Speaker to pose the question and subsequently declaring the ‘yeah’ as having carried the day.

The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu in concluding his side’s debate made it clear that they would not reject the budget saying that is the hope of the Majority just so they can put the blame on the Minority for their failed budget.

He, however, called for major expenditure cut as government continues to urge the citizenry to accept austere measures to save the ailing economy.

He also didn’t mince words in stating that his side will reject a number of tax measures introduced in the budget including the 2.5 Percent VAT, and E-Levy.

Other measures the Minority was emphatically opposed to include the allocation for the construction of the National Cathedral, and see debt restructuring.

The Majority Leader, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on the other hand described the budget as offering hope to reviving
the economy.

He chastised the Minority of being horrible managers of the economy and would have had worse situation if they were in charge of the economy at this critical moments of world recession.

Ghanamps.com

Community lawmakers from the Gambia on the sidelines of the 2022 Second Ordinary Session on Saturday 3rd December 2022 paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic, His Excellency Adama Barrow.

The President was in Abuja to attend the 62nd ECOWAS Ordinary Session of Heads of States and Government slated for Sunday 4th December 2022.

He was also on schedule to attend the swearing-in of Gambian-born President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, and the ECOWAS Excellence Award to the former President of Gambia, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, for his leadership in establishing ECOMOG, restoring peace in the sub region, and championing and making Banjul the home of Human Rights.

The Majority Leader and Head of the Gambian delegation to ECOWAS Parliament Hon. Billay G. Tunkara expressed their appreciation to the President on the ascension of a Gambian to the presidency of the ECOWAS Commission.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Mamadou Tangara said that his Ministry was acting under the directive of the President to reach out to all his counterparts to present the Gambian candidate.
In his response, President Barrow noted the need for Gambians to assume such a crucial position in the sub-regional organisation.

He thanked the delegation for the visit and assured them of his governments support to the course of diplomacy between Gambia and Nigeria.

Ghanamps.com

The Econoic Communicty of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, has condemn the barbaric and dispicable voilence perpetrated on a femal lawmake of the Senegal Parliament, Amy Ndiaye Gniby on Thursday, Deceber 1, 2022 which has gone vira.

At its plenary Session on December 3, 2022 at the on going Second Ordianry Session deliberated and adopted the following declaration:

1. The ECOWAS Parliament strongly condemns this despicable act unworthy of a parliamentarian from the ECOWAS region at a time when we are witnessing a proliferation of initiatives to prevent and eliminate violence against women and come helping women who are victims of it;

2. Reiterates its commitment to respect for women, and reaffirms that any form of violence against women is unacceptable, whatever the situation and whatever the circumstances;

3. Recalls that the State of Senegal, in addition to its fundamental law, has signed and ratified the international legal instruments relating to gender-based violence;

4. Reaffirms that this act, whatever the circumstances, cannot be justified nor tolerated in a country which guarantees parity between men and women in politics;

5. Considering that one of the key goals of the 5th Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament is to strengthenwomen participation in politics and that the action as witnessed is very regrettable as it sends negative impressions of the gains made in the past few years, the ECOWAS Parliament will continue to support and advocate for increased women participation and condemn any act of violence and abuse against women in general.

6. While wishing a speedy recovery to the victim MP, the ECOWAS Parliament urges the Senegalese State, in collaboration with the National Assembly of Senegal to take the necessary steps to ensure that justice is done for this unfortunate event.

Dr. Sidie Mohamed TUNIS

Rt. Hon. Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament

Ghanamps.com

A member of Nigerian’s delegation to the Community Parliament, Oghene Egoh has said with the country report presented by Liberia and Sierra Leone over the weekend at plenary, there is the need to take a second look at the political situation there as both countries prepare for election next year.

According to him the Community Parliament should take up the issue in Liberia as the World Bank and other International agencies assessment has raised some alert ahead of their Presidential and Parliamentary elections next year; “so that we can send a delegation to go and see the Liberian president and other politicians there.

The danger, he stated is that when the unstable political situation gets worse, the military could take over and then ECOWAS Parliament will be short of one more country, so the issue should be looked at”.

Further in his contribution, he noted that, the Country report of Sierra Leone was okay, there is a major dispute as to representation and how the elections will be done, stating that if you speak to one or two of their delegation, they will tell you going into their election is unstable; there is no need to hide anything from each other in the Parliament.

“If we in Nigeria have discovered that there will not be free and fair elections, we will say it out, if we say it and ECOWAS intervenes it will help us. But if we know there is something that will create problem in the country and we say there is nothing and something happens we have lost two countries”.

Mr. Bamidele Salam in his remarks noted that conducting of census needs accurate data for the purpose of planning and development, but unfortunately most of the member states in the sub-region have issues of politics coming to interfere with the smooth running of national censuses.

As some of the issues identified ranges to corruption and inefficiencies and lack of political will of the political leaders to ensure that the process is conducted in a manner that will be seamless and this is worrying given the fact that development partners support these national census processes. He was contributing to the Country report presented by Liberia, and thanked the Liberia delegation for their candor display in this report.

He further, commended Liberia for passing a law that guarantees thirty percent for women in Parliament, and hopes other countries will learn from that.

On Sierra Leone, he expressed worry over the political situation there with regard to management of inter-party conflict reference to the August 10, 2022 protest and there was mention of panel of investigation to bring out measure to cub it and there has not been conclusion on that matter.

He queried about what is being done; how inclusive is the members of the opposition as they are getting close to the elections.

Leader of the Liberian delegation, Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr. in his contribution raised concern about the political situation in Sierra Leone, stating that for the third time the military has to enter their Parliament House and brutalized MPs from the opposition party. He added that it is a serious situation and the ECOWAS Parliament must send a fact finding mission to Sierra Leone to investigate this serious issue, since it is neither the first nor second time, but the third time.

He further pointed out that less than a year to their election, they are still trying to change the electoral law, to work in the favour of the ruling establishment, indicating the situation is quite alarming and the delegation needs to speak to it.

On the issue of the August 10, 2022 demonstration, he pointed out that, he thinks the issue is being diluted. It was of great concern political and security situation and Sierra Leone delegation has five members to the Community Parliament.

One independent, two opposition, two ruling party, “we notice that none of the opposition party members are in here for the country report and I hope the delegation can tell us why they are not here whiles they are presenting their country report?”, he stated

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minority Caucus in parliament has made clear their objections to certain aspects of the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of government and vow to reject those aspects as they deem them inimical to the very existence of Ghanaian in these difficult economic times.

The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu flanked by his colleagues from the Minority at a press conference on Monday December 5, 2022 said they remain resolute in objecting to the E-levy, the 2,5 percent increase in VAT, the National Cathedral, and the debt restructuring.

E-Levy
Mr Haruna said their position on the E-levy has not changed, and not even its reduction to 1 percent is acceptable. “It is a setback to this cashless economy”.

He said they are also astonished to learn in the Budget that the GHS 100 threshold for e-levy deductions has been abolished. “How come that the threshold is being abolished. How do we protect the vulnerable poor?

He added that at least a 300gh threshold with a reduction in the principal from 1.7 to 1% will be ok. “You recall my suggestion of a 1% levy at a threshold of 500, which was out-rightly rejected by Government at the negotiations. This was part of the discussion when we rejected “AGYAPA”, he staed.

Debt Restructuring
On debt restructuring, Mr Iddrisu said the form and structure of this debt restructuring is unacceptable to the NDC Minority, stating that they simply cannot agree to this as it has dire consequences on the financial sector, on pension funds and on jobs.

He said the Minority is unable to help the government at this point as it warned them ahead yet they failed to heed those warnings.

He asserts that the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has himself made it categorical that “Ghana’s debt is unsustainable and we cannot service it fully if we do not restructure some GHc 137 billion of our domestic debt”.
National Cathedral 80 Million Ghana Cedis.

According to the Minority, the GHS 80 million earmarked for the National Cathedral does not constitute a spending priority at this time as it will bring the total amount spent on the project to about GHS 420 million, the total amount of tax payer funds so far spent. The estimated total cost of the project is around 400million dollars, and wondered if the project constitutes a national priority.

“For a government that is unable to print textbooks for basic school pupils several years after introducing new curricular unable to pay NABCO arrears and that is indebted to contractors and suppliers to the tune of over GHS 40 billion, this is most imprudent and unacceptable”.

2.5 % INCREASE IN VAT
The Minority described the 2.5 increase in VAT as a pile up of more hardships on the people of Ghana.

“The most punitive among these taxes is the addition of 2.5% to the VAT rate bringing it to a cumulative 21.5% (made up of 2.5% GETFund, 2.5% National Health Insurance, 1% Covid Levy and 15% VAT all levied under the terms of Value Added Act, Act 870) the highest in Africa”.

They questioned the moral right of President Akufo-Addo to increase VAT by 2.5% when he led the “KUMI PREKO” demonstration in 1995 resulting in the loss of five lives.

According to the Minority, the high rate of inflation has already eroded the disposable incomes of Ghanaians and they can no longer bear to give more to a government that is determined to waste our resources on extravagant living.

Click here to watch the Video

Ghanamps.com

The Minority in parliament is demanding government carries out major expenditure cuts to achieve fiscal consolidation.

The Minority in addressing the press on the 2023 Budget and Debt Treatment Plan as put forward by the government said the size of Government must be reduced drastically. “We demand responsible spending”.

The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu who spoke on behalf of the Minority affirms his sides resolve not to accept the outrageous GHC1.4billion allocation as contingency vote contained at page 209 of the 2023 Budget statement. “We note that, this allocation is an additional GHC400million compared with last year’s allocation of GHC993million. This cannot be happening in a period of austerity”, he stated.

Furthermore, the Minority asserts their opposition to an allocation of GHS10 million for what has been strangely described as Defense Advisory Services. “We also strongly denounce plans to increase the staff strength at the Office of Government Machinery by a staggering 1,570 at Page 230 of the 2023 Budget. This will increase total staff strength at the OGM to 3,681. This is unconscionable at a time Government has announced a total freeze in public sector jobs”.

“If ever there was proof that this government has lost its way and shown itself unworthy of the trust of the people of Ghana, this would be it”.

The Minority Caucus warned that without any clear, and significant improvement in the attitude of the Majority side and sector Ministers do not turn up to lead the Budget process on their sectors, they will withdraw from the Budget process.

Ghanamps.com

The Mampong Akuapem Apesemakahene Nana Yirenkyi l has lauded the achievements of the Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku.

According to him, Sammi Awuku had indeed transformed NLA since he assumed office.

Speaking in an interview with the media, Nana Yirenkyi l pointed out that Sammi Awukh has changed NLA for the first time in our history.

He said, for Sammi Awuku to bring world lottery association to Ghana to host NLA at 60 is commendable.

Nana Yirenkyi l hinted that most of the communities in Ghana have benefitted from the Good Causes Foundation which provides KVIPs, boreholes and supporting to needy people; all are initiatives under the able leadership of Sammi Awuku.

He said “our brother our son has made us proud. He hasn’t disappointed us.”

Nana Yirenkyi l said these projects being undertaken by NLA boss is not political as they affect the lives of all persons, both NDC and NPP are beneficiaries.

He said only blind people will not see that NLA has transformed under the leadership of Sammi Awuku.

Nana Yirenkyi urged Ghanaians to make history when given the opportunity for them to be remembered in future for their good works as Sammi Awuku has done.

Ghanamps.com

The only female among the sierra Leonean delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Veronica Kadie Sesay has said less than twenty (20) percent of females occupy elected positions in her country.

Despite the fact that women account for fifty-one (51) percent of the total population, their voice, visibility, participation and representation in elective and appointive position remains very low compared to the men.

She made this known on Saturday, December 3, 2022 when she presented the Country report of her country at the plenary at the ongoing Second Ordinary Session of the Community Parliament in Abuja Nigeria.

The challenges faced by women are many and include lack of economic independence, high illiteracy and entrenched customs and traditions, political violence and reprisals, the absence of progressive laws that protect and promote participation of women, and the lack of confidence to vie for public positions.

Gender representation is relatively low in Sierra Leone as in the rest of West Africa. Sierra Leone was ranked 182nd out of 189 countries on the UNDP’s Gender Development Index in 2020, and nearly half of the bottom 20 countries were in West Africa.

Today, 18 out of 146 (12%) MPs in Sierra Leone’s Parliament are women while only four women serve in a Cabinet of 32 Ministers. The four Ministers head the gender, tourism, marine and social welfare ministries.
The President, His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, in his stance for an affirmative action for female representation, has been constantly giving support to the Gender Empowerment Bill, which was enacted on the 11th of November 2022.

Also, the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act, 2022 seeks to address gender imbalances by making provision for increased elective positions for women, the promotion of gender equality in employment and training, the implementation of gender mainstreaming and budgeting, for access to financial institutions and to prescribe procedures for the improvement of women’s access to finance.

The Public Elections Act 2022, which was also recently passed into law, provides for a woman to be among every three candidates to be presented by political parties for election to Parliament or Local Council. Both the Gender Empowerment law and the Public Elections Act, 2022 will strengthen, enhance and improve women’s participation and representation in Parliament and the Local Councils.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com