Category: General

Government’s quest to continue the National Cathedral project has been dealt a big blow as the Minority members on the Trade, Industry and Tourism Committee of Parliament have voted against the budget.

The Minority Members on the Committee won by a majority decision of 11-10 to reject the GH¢80 million budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture for the National Cathedral for the 2023 Fiscal year.

A Minority member on the Trade, Industry and Tourism Committee of Parliament, Yusif Sulemana the Minority on the Committee voted against the GHC80million budget because this is not the time to be spending that huge sum of money in building a cathedral.

He said at the Committee, they were told that they had already spent GHC339 million but they failed to explain how the money was spent.

The Bole Bamboi Member of Parliament said they also observed that the National Cathedral Secretariat is not under the Tourist Ministry which means they only want to use the Ministry as a conduit to send the money to where ever they want to send it to, and the Minority will not accept it.

He asserts that the Minority is not against the Ministry of Tourism budget, and they will go ahead to approve it excluding the GHC80 million, adding that they were not satisfied with the explanations given to them.

He assured that the leadership of the Minority is solidly behind them and the Minority will not be part of it when it is brought to the House for debate.

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The Ministry of Finance has been directed to ensure the release of the full 2023 budgetary estimate Parliament has approved for the Ministry of Defence to enable the security agencies to discharge their mandate.

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin who gave the directive prior to the approval of the 3.742 billion budget estimate for the Ministry of Defence noted that partially releasing the approved budget for the ministry undermines the security agencies’ capacity to protect the safety and security of the individual and community as well as the stability of the country, which could not be toiled with by the Defence Ministry.

According to him, his (Speaker) checks from the Defence Ministry and the Controller and Accountant-General Department clearly indicated that the security agencies are one of the priority areas of the government but that was not was reflected in the performance of 2022.

The Speaker said he felt sad when he read and saw that approximately 81 percent of the budget on goods and services has not been released to the Ministry of Defence.

“In this current situation, how do you expect them to operate; it is not for this House to continue to appeal to the Ministry of Finance to release approved budget,” he said

The budget is meant for the implementation of the programmes and activities of the ministry for the 2023 financial year. “We are in charge, we legislate and pass the laws on taxation and Ministry of Finance are to implement; if they are failing to do it, we have to take them on and not to be appealing to them, he added.

“I cannot understand this particularly how the Defence Ministry and sister ministers are struggling with the safety of the Ghanaian and we know what is happening in the sub-region. I think that we should take this as the last occasion where we tolerate it from the Ministry of Finance; we do not want to have this repeated again,” the Speaker emphasized.

The Speaker’s comments were in direct response to Mr. Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Member of Parliament for South Dayi who in his contribution towards the approval of the budgetary estimate for the Defence Ministry observed that even though the approved budget which was later revised to GH¢141 million as capital expenditure for the Ministry of Defence but later revised from GH¢196 million, as of September when the budget was referred, the ministry had received only GH¢89 million; and added that “this is a very serious matter considering the accommodation difficulties that men in uniform are facing within the army, we should not toil with their budgetary allocation.

He was not happy that every year they (parliamentarians) stand on the floor and say that they are pleading with the Ministry of Finance; “we should stop pleading and demand”.

“Mr Speaker, when they collect the tax, they use the law to do so and they come here to make allocation and we give approval, we should not be pleading with the Ministry of Finance to release money.

How do you expect the army to work well if what they require in 2022 you cannot release all to them?”
He also noted that the Defence Ministry was making “heavy demand” for 2023 especially in relation to compensation, However, while the compensation for the ministry last year was GH¢1.8 billion, it was revised to GH¢1.4 billion as of September.

The ministry was demanding over GH3billion as compensation alone for this year; “and so, if we are experiencing shortfalls in CAPEX releases I fear what will happen in 2023 in respect of releases and the Ministry of Finance must pay attention to releases to the Defence Ministry,” he stated.

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Parliament has urged the Minister of Finance Ken Ofori Atta to support the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation to pay what the Committee has described as a legal debt to the tune of GH¢ 51,598,085 as the house acknowledged the precarious financial circumstances of the Information Ministry and its other agencies under it.

While encouraging GBC to vigorously pursue its revenue mobilization agenda to support its activities, “the Committee urges the Ministry of Finance to provide additional funds to clear the legacy debt and to meet the Corporation’s investment expenditure shortfall”.

This came to light when the MPs debate the report of the Committee on Communication on Annual Budget Estimate of the Ministry of information for the year ending 31st December 2023.

The Committee observed “the prevalent funding challenges facing GBC” and that, the underfunding of the operations of the state broadcaster has not only undermined its capacity but has caused the Corporation to contend with huge legacy debts arising from Judgement Debts, Electricity Bills and Long Service Awards.

The report revealed that, despite the frantic efforts of GBC to pay its debt, “it is still battling with a legacy debt of (GH¢51,598,085).

The funding capacity of GBC would worsen in view of the meagre allocation made to the Corporation for its investment activities in 2023”.

The report said, “Officials of the Corporation informed the Committee that though GBC requested an amount GH¢7,412,088.02 to meet its investment expenditure in 2023, an amount of GH¢4,769,893.32 has been approved by the Ministry of Finance for that purpose”.

In a related development, The Informed Ministry has planned to spearhead the passing of the Broadcasting Bill in 2023 to introduce broadcasting standards towards bringing sanity and professionalism in Ghana’s media space.

It has also planned to facilitate the passing of subsidiary legislation under the Right To Information (RTI) Act to enhance the implementation of the law.

The Committee however urged the Ministry to prioritize the passing of these two important legislations in 2023 in order to restore some level of sanity to the broadcasting industry.

The House to adopted the Committee’s and therefore approved the sum of One Hundred and Fourteen Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty-One Ghana Cedis (GH¢114,780,331) for the implementation of programmes of the Ministry of Information for the 2023 Financial Year.

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The Parliament of Ghana looks forward to serving better and being more relevant to the people of Ghana as it seeks to institute innovations to be more open and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people.

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin adding his voice to a statement made by the Member of Parliament for Ho West, Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzra on Ghana being adjudged the best on open parliament in West Africa said Ghana’s parliament has committed itself to it and there is a plan of action that is being touted, adding that those countries seeking to unseat Ghana from its first position are actually learning from Ghana’s plan of action. “What they don’t know is that we have gone beyond our plan of action and we are going to next year implement so many initiatives”.

He thus urged the Members to cooperate with the leadership and parliament service board, the clerk and management of parliament so that they will be able to implement the initiatives.

He expressed relief that the President Nana Akufo-Addo has recommended what parliament has proposed, and the budget submitted for next year has been greatly supported by the president. He said they have made proposals for enough funding to ensure detail implementation of most of the initiatives started this year.

“We are not going to be complacent at all; we will not allow any parliament to overrun us; that will not happen. And so luckily next year, the proposal to get real true offices for members of parliament will come on board and we will start the construction lf offices, real offices; not party offices, public state offices for members of parliament where as representatives of all the people in your constituencies, they can reach out to you, not just only party members, and that will not be to the inconveniences of your family members”. This move, he said forms part of the open parliament initiatives.

Additionally, the new standing orders will open up all parliamentary committees to the media, “and so parliament as you know, we transact our business in open, that is why we have public gallery; you don’t have public gallery at cabinet meetings, you don’t. And so it is not only when we are in plenary session, when we are at the committee level, we should be open to the public and we will be opening a lot, not just to the media but the public in general”.

The Speaker disclosed that in light of this, they are trying to get into agreement with Ghana Television in the meantime, while they roll out their own television network so that they can broadcast live proceeding of the House.

He said because parliament has a lot to do next year, they have got the Parliamentary Service Board to approve a new organogram for parliament, so that there would not be only Public Affairs Department, “we also going to have Public Engagement Department, as well as Media Relations Department. All these will work together and encourage us, which we are going to do to establish a Citizens Bureau, so that the citizens can have access to parliament.

He said they are also working hard to establish the Budget and Physical Analysis Office which would be rolled out next year “when we pass the Budget Act. The Budget Act which is on board would be passed latest by next year and then we would have the opportunity to get all these things in place.

He assured that there would be a lot of investment in Information Technology (IT) and this would be a serious change and there would be a paperless parliament and urged the MPs to upgrade their phones to be able to conform with the new trend.

He said, it would not only be about work, “we are also going to empower the House, the institutions and members to be able to measure up to the expectations of their constituents”.

He advised the Members to increase their resolves of bringing in Private Members Bills to assist the House in their advocacy for their constituents to know who an MP is, the duties and responsibilities, and what parliament is and how parliament works.

Ghanamps.com

A combined pressure group of Arise Ghana and Justice for Ghana have served notice to government of their intended picketing at the construction site of the National Cathedral in Accra.

Addressing the press in parliament on Tuesday, ahead of Wednesday, 21st December, 2022 picketing, Prince Derek Adjei, a member of the Arise Ghana said it is good the cathedral has been suspended; but they want the construction of the cathedral completely taken off Ghana’s books. “….. we want it taken completely off Ghana’s books, completely, halted, stopped and the walls must come down so that Ghanaians can see the extent of damage caused to Ghana’s purse, the public purse has been hurt very badly”,.

The group is also calling on government to completely retrieve monies so far expended on the construction of the project including those used in the demolishing of properties that were initially at the sites and those paid to the architect David Adjaye.

This, they said is very important at a time government is undertaking a debt restructuring programme asking people to have hair-cuts that are underserving of anybody.

In tomorrow’s picketing, the group served notice that they will also be addressing Pensions funds that are being taxed “because of the negligence of one Ken Ofori-Atta, assisted by one Dr. Addison and one Dr. Ogbame, and another Dr. Bawumia and a certain President Akufo Addo”.

Prince Adjei said it is their believe that “Pensions of Ghanaians must not be touched, and therefore they want that also taken off the books and as far as any restructuring of our debts are concerned”.

On the introduction of new taxes, they indicated that Ghanaians are already suffering and they do not expect more nuisance taxes, serving notice that the E-levy must not happen in the form that is being proposed, “that there would be no threshold for even the poor, means that the government does not recognize any poor people any more even at the time that even the rich are suffering”.

They also do not want any increases in the Valued Added Tax (VAT) and asked that the Members of Parliament (MPs) shoot down all the items mentioned so that Ghanaians are not overburdened.

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Parliament on Thursday vetted the president’s nominees for Minister and deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu, the Member of Parliament for Walewale and Francisca Oteng Mensah, Member of Parliament for Kwabre East respectively.

In August this year, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, acting in accordance with article 78 of the Constitution, appointed the Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu, the Member of Parliament for Walewale, as Minister-designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection subject to the approval of Parliament.

He also exercised his powers under article 79 of the Constitution, and nominated Francisca Oteng Mensah, Member of Parliament for Kwabre East, as Deputy Minister- designate for the same ministry.

Both nominees having satisfied the constitutional requirements and having been elected as members of parliament were largely questioned on their new roles when given the nods.

The President is hopeful that Parliament will expedite the approval of his nominees for this important Ministry, so they can assist in the effective delivery of his mandate for his second term in office.

Ghanamps.com

Parliament has approved the sum of Five Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety-Five Million, Three Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty-Six Ghana Cedis (GHC 5,295,359,626.00) for the activities of the Ministry of Roads and Highways for the financial year ending 31st December, 2023.

The House acknowledged roles the Sector plays by delivering efficient road transportation system in Ghana.

The House again acknowledged The Ministry’s mandate of providing a road transport system that is responsive to the needs of society, supporting growth and reducing poverty while establishing and maintaining Ghana as the transportation hub of West Africa can be realised if the Ministry is adequately resourced.

For the projects earmarked for the year under review the ministry intends to continue the following projects nationwide:

Construction of Ofankor – Nsawam Road (14.1km), construction of Accra – Kumasi Road: Osino Bypass (11.5km); Construction of Accra – Kumasi Road: Anyinam Bypass (6.10km); Construction of Accra – Kumasi Road: Enyirisi Bypass (9.10km) and Construction of Accra – Kumasi Road: Konongo Bypass (13.6km).

The year will also witness the continuation of the construction of Adidome – Asikuma Junction (39.2km) and Asutsuare-Aveyime (23.9km) including 2No. interchanges at Dufor Adidome and   Asikuma Junction.

The rest are:
Kasoa-Cape Coast Dualisation (116km),, Takoradi (PTC) – Daboase (38km); Dualization of Sekondi and Adiembra Roads (30km); Peduase-Mamfe-Koforidua (40.5km); Takoradi-Agona-Nkwata -Apemanim; and Kumasi Outer Ring Road.

Construction of Interchanges includes Ahodwo (as part of the completion of Kumasi Inner Ring Road); Santasi (as part of the completion of Kumasi Inner Ring Road); Kumasi Airport Roundabout (as part of the completion of Kumasi Inner Ring Road); and Oforikrom Roundabout (as part of the completion of Kumasi Inner Ring Road).

In the area of Bridges here are selected few contained in the Committee before, the approval: Construction of Bridge over the Volta River at Volivo; Buipe, Yapei and Daboya Bridges; Adawso-Ekyi Amanfrom Bridge; and Dikpe, Iture and Ankobra Bridges.

Under the Sinohydro Projects The Ministry informed the Committee that contract works under the Master Project Support Agreement (MPSA) with Sinohydro Corporation Limited were at the different stages of completion.

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The Rt. Hon Speaker Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has confirmed that he has demanded to be briefed by the Electoral Commission (EC) on a Constitutional  Instrument (C I) to be laid on the floor of the House.

First deputy whip of the Minority Ahmed Ibrahim brought the issue up on Friday, December 9, 2022 when the Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin presented the business statement on the floor of the House.

According to the Speaker the response given by the deputy Majority Leader as to whether official communication in this regard has been sent to the EC was right, and he would have to find out if that official communication was actually done.

The Rt. Hon Speaker asserts that he made the request based on order 160 rule (2) – “It shall be the function of the committee subject to order 53 (Order of Business) to determine the business of each sitting and the order in which it shall be taken; provided that the powers of the committee shall be without prejudice to the power of Mr. Speaker to determine which matters may properly be introduce into the House”.

And if what is being alleged is anything to go by, the EC is being given notice because they know they cannot go on the offensive against an arm of government. “We are not just a state institution, we are not just an administrative body, this is an arm of government, if they talk of independence of arm of government neither arm; not the Judiciary or the Executive control the other arm of government”, he stated.

Speaker Bagbin pointed out that, the legislature does not control the Executive or the Judiciary that is all the separation of powers is all about, hence the need to work together because they lead the country.

So there is no way, that a subsidiary body can be on an offensive, they pass the law to create the EC, it was simply guarantee in the constitution, they had to pass a law to establish it, he added.

“I hope this is enough notice, I should be given a brief before I can exercise my authority to allow the business to be provided and presented to the House; I will crosscheck to ensure the official communication has been given”

He further emphasized that he does not take the peace of this country for granted and he will not do anything to endanger it, “I mean what I say”, he said whiles presiding.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Chairman of the Committee on Macro-Economic Policy and Economic Research of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Kebba K. Barrow, has bemoaned the lack of coordination when it comes to the collection of the Community levy.

According to him there is again, lack of information flow from the Ministry of Finance to the Central Bank and various central banks of the various member states.

And as a budget meeting with the ongoing second ordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja Nigeria, “transfer collection of levies is becoming problematic and from the discussions and views of lawmakers, colleagues from Cape Verde collection has been done but transfer is problematic”.

In an interview with Ghanamps.com, he noted that the issue of delay in payment of the Community levy can be addressed with effective coordination and member states should not default to let their levies accumulate as it becomes difficult to pay.

Hence most of the member states having issues with regard to payment of their community levies should go into agreement with the Community, if they can come out with a payment plan.

Hon Barrow further noted that when it comes to preparation of Country report where the issue of payment of Community levies would come out, country representatives should be able to have their status report from their Finance Ministries.

“Again, the whole thing is how sure are we that the deduction are done, and if they are not done if the funds are there why is it being difficult for you to do any transfer?” He asked.

As to whether Community lawmakers should get involve with this whole process of payment of the Community levies as it comes up twice in a year when Ordinary Sessions are being held in Abuja Nigeria, he noted that it’s very important parliament get involved, as part of their oversight role to take up these issue and it’s the same budget they need to undertake their oversight trips and embark on sensitization programmes.|

In addition, the former Majority Leader pointed out that Gambia is one of the few countries that do not owe Community levy, any time as a delegation when they get back to their country they check to ensure that the funds are transferred to ECOWAS.

And for ECOWAS citizens to know what the institution is doing there is the need for this levies to be paid, as in the case of the Community Parliament, in the immediate past Parliament, they were very visible at the various borders of member states.

“We saw the integration process going on, but the fact is people need to know what we are doing; we can only do that when we have time with the regional integration ministries to be able to highlight their programme. Now that, the budget is with us we need to do an annual conference in our respective countries to give a rundown of some of the activities going to be held in 2023”, he stated.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The embattled Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has told Ghanaians he did nothing wrong as he is being chased by the Minority from office.

Taking his turn during the debate on the Censure motion brought before him by the Minority, he said the ground and allegations brought before him “excluding a few of them, I humbly say that I have done nothing amiss”.

He admits that the Censure has done some good to advancing our democracy as in the hope that such censures will have some thoroughness and less politically motivated.

He said he has really anything to say after everything he has said at the committee meeting.

“But I tell you Mr. Speaker, that even if I said I am innocent, they will not believe me, and if I asked for evidence, proof, they would not be able to answer that; I have committed no crime”.

He chastised and queried the Minority about what happened before they run to the IMF in 2015 in the absence of external factors like COVID, Russia/Ukraine war, as the Minority continue to echo issues about recklessness, mismanagement, and conflict of interest as their basis for the Censure.

The debate was based on the 8-membee ad hoc Committee report constituted by the Speaker to look into the Censure motion brought before the House by the Minority.

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