Category: General

Former Chairman of the Communications Committee in the seventh (7th) Parliament of the Fourth Republic, Fredrick Opare-Ansah has urged the 8th Parliament to pass the E-Levy in order not to deny the government the needed revenue for development.

According to him whatever the disagreement is between the two sides in the House, both the Minority and Majority know the mechanism available to them in Parliament which is the Amendment process, which they can adopt to the Electronic Transfer Bill 2021 by moving the rate from 1.75 to 1.5.

He believes Ghanaians would not blame parliament when this is done and it is sent to the presidency for assent, but the president decides otherwise.
He said since December 2021, “we are three month into the year, we have denied the government for a whole quarter, so if the expectation of revenue from the E Levy say ten billion cedis, you have lost two point five billion already; then we complain that things are tough in the country. Government wants revenue to work for us and we do not have to deny government that revenue”.

Again, some MPs complain that their constituents are saying after paying tax on their salaries after that they have to pay on momo too, but sometimes after working for someone and you are being paid you should be the one paying the tax.

So, a proposal should be made for an amendment and change the application of the tax from someone sending to the one receiving the mobile money. You can change the law so that the mobile phone operators have numbers for commercial use and those for personal use.

“If I send money and at the end of the month it is twenty thousand my pay from all records is ten thousand, now the records would be available to government, then you would be called to find out how you were able to send this monies but you claim you were not paying it to a commercial line but you were paying to an individual line”.

He recounted that when he went to Parliament for the first time during the John Agyekum Kuffour’s time, a lotto bill of the National Lotteries Authority brought to parliament, government wanted to create its own lotto company to have a monopoly, in lotto operation.

But, parliament said no they would rather give government the power to regulate the lotto authority; let individuals have lotto marketing companies and operate their own system. This was parliaments decision and not that of the Executive.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Aspiring General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Fredrick Opare-Ansah, has bemoaned the current “exclusion national executive leadership style of the NPP indicating that it would not help the party to win the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary general elections.

According to him the challenge faced by the party required a different kind of national party executive style; but acknowledged that the current national executives have played their role.
“I have been talking about the non-inclusion of some members of the NPP. They have become apathetic to the party; there are a whole host of former MPs, government appointees and office holders of the party who have given up and no one is even approaching them to bring them back on board. Politics is about numbers”, he added.

He further pointed out in an interview on Saturday, March 26, 2022 when he officially declared his intention of contesting the General Secretary position of the party that party officials, like polling station officials, coordinators are needed, but they are not the only ones needed to win a general elections.

“The party officials would not be more than three hundred thousand; you need over six or seven million votes to win the presidential election, and a number close to that to win majority of parliamentary seats. We need to go back for those who feel excluded”.

“Again, I have said I do not think there is anyone who can debate the E-Levy better than me, but no one has approached me to help debate, I would avail myself but no one has approached me. If I were in office, I would go looking for the best people in the field to come and help the party because one person does not possess knowledge”.

“I have dared the party if they have any one who can debate the e- levy better than me that person should come and meet me for us to be in the studious and debate for Ghanaians to listen to us”.
He noted that the politics of exclusion is what he is talking about; the leadership style now cannot help the party. According to him, sometime last year when the issue on the general secretary position came up and he expressed interest should the opportunity be available, he was removed from the national communications team whatapp platform. And queried it should be so.

He said when he questioned the basis for his removal, he was told all persons on the platform who do not talk have been taken away from the platform.

He indicated that for effective and coherent communication on government issues, a platform as theirs to disseminate information, the National Communications Director of the party should have summary on government policies and discussion to guide the People on what to say and what not to say.

The former Suhum lawmaker noted that the intolerance in the party now, if it is taken into 2024 it would be difficult for them to win, that is why he is calling for change in leadership. “That is why I am presenting myself.

I have told my campaign team and all those coming on board that do not go and speak against anyone because after winning, they would need, Mr. John Boadu himself, the current General Secretary, we would invite him if he would not invite me I would invite him like I am doing with my former MP I defeated, I move everywhere with him”.

“If he does not want to come with me, I would tire him into a car and move around with him for him to help with the party work, the party would need his contribution for the party to be maintained in power, but the style of excluding people in the party if we do not stop would affect us”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Former Member of Parliament for Akwatia Mercy Adu Gyamfi popularly known as (Ama Sey) has endorsed Frederick Opare-Ansah as the next General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday March 26, 2022 when the later officially declared his intention to contest for the position.

According to Ama Sey the NPP is a party with respect and appeals to a lot of people but the conduct of some elected Executives is forcing some supporters to give up on the party.

“We need a proper General Secretary who would bring the poor and the rich together and someone who can work with the young and the old, to cut down bickering, that person is our father Opare Ansah. Tell a friend to tell his or her boyfriend or girlfriend, I said you should vote for Opare Ansah when the time comes later in the year to elect a General Secretary for NPP”.

Friends of Opare-Ansah organised a programme at Tarkoradi over the weekend, specifically on Saturday, March 26, 2022 where they officially asked him if he was interested in the General Secretary position because they have heard he was interested and they wanted him to officially declare his intention to vie for the General Secretary position.

Madam Mercy Adu Gyamfi further pointed out while addressing friends of Opare-Ansah that he is the only person who can bring the party members together in the wake of the retrogression being witnessed in the party.

“They said they do not like Ama Sey because she cannot speak English, we do not like her but I can bring people into the party fold so if I stand to be elected wouldn’t you vote for me? There were people who stood behind and said Ama Sey, we do not want her when I went to Parliament. If people would like me it has to do with our father Opare Ansah”.

She recounted that, due to the embarrassment she was taken through, when she was in Parliament she became quiet; it was the former Suhum MP Frederick Opare-Ansah who took her to his office and encouraged her.

And she was able to talk in Parliament and he is someone the party needs, indicating that with Opare Ansah, no matter who you are if you are down he would lift you up again, his human relation is perfect and would ensure no one abuses or makes you uncomfortable.

“I hope you and I can push for him to become the General Secretary; it would surprise us as to the level he would place the party for it to be attractive to the extent that when he is the General Secretary even supporters of the opposition would have confidence in NPP”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Ranking members of three Committees in Ghana’s Parliament have served notice to the Ghana police service to start picketing Wednesday March 30, 2022 over the illegal, unconscionable and extortion COVID-19 antigen testing being conducted by Frontiers Health Services Limited at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

They are Member of Parliament for North Tongu and Ranking on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; MP for Adaklu and Ranking on Roads and Transport, Governs Kwame Agbodza; and Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Ranking on the Health Committee.

In a letter dated Thursday, March 24, 2022 to the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander they pointed out that pursuant to the Public Order Act, (Act 491) on behalf of the Minority caucus and Ghanaians they represent, “we are further resolved to converge at the precincts of the airport from 2:00pm to 6:00pm each day”, they wrote.

In addition they noted in their letter that they convey their warm regards and look forward to their lawful cooperation in this matter of immense national interest.

Ghanamps.com

Colonel Assimi Goita, head of the Mali’s interim government has responded to the ECOWAS invitation to attend the Friday, March 25, 2022 Accra summit by naming two Minister-representatives saying he can only attend virtually.

An official letter from the ECOWAS Commission addressed to Mali’s Foreign Minister extended the invitation to Goita whose administration has delayed a previous transition timetable, which prompted ECOWAS’ suspension and blockade of Mali.

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, the ECOWAS Mediator on the Mali crisis ended his latest mission to Bamako this week without any agreement on the transition programme.

Diplomatic sources say Friday’s summit is to negotiate a compromise transition timeline of between two years and 12 months.

The meeting comes on the heel of a damning disclosure by French President Emmanuel Macron that he was instrumental to the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS and the African Union on Mali.

Relations between France and Mali have taken a turn for the worse with France pulling out its forces fighting Islamic insurgency in Mali and the Sahel.

The French troops are being relocated to neighbouring Niger Republic after Paris accused the Bamako junta of engaging Russian private defence agency Wagner for military support.

The Goita government has responded by expelling the French Ambassador from Mali and announced the sacking of French media groups RFI and France24 from Bamako.

Goita’s invitation to the ECOWAS summit is seen as a crackdown by the regional bloc, which has been accused of inconsistency and ineffective strategy in dealing with the resurgence of military coups in its member States – Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.

Guinea and Burkina Faso are also suspended from ECOWAS but have been spared ECOWAS’ harsh sanctions even though in defiance of the organisation’s demand, their military rulers have not announced any transition timetables.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

colonel Assimi Goita, head of Mali’s interim government is to attend Friday, March 25, 2022  ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit in Accra, Ghana, to negotiate a compromise political transition programme and review the sweeping sanctions imposed on Mali by the regional organisation.

An official letter from the ECOWAS Commission addressed to Mali’s Foreign Ministry extended the invitation to Goita, leader of two coups and whose administration has delayed a previous transition timetable, which prompted ECOWAS’ suspension and blockade of Mali.

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, the ECOWAS Mediator on the Mali crisis ended his latest mission to Bamako this week without any agreement on the transition programme.

Diplomatic sources say Friday’s summit is to negotiate a compromise transition timeline of between 12 months and two years.

The meeting comes on the heel of a damning disclosure by French President Emmanuel Macron that he was instrumental to the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS and the African Union on Mali.

Relations between France and Mali have taken a turn for the worse with France pulling out its forces fighting Islamic insurgency in Mali and the Sahel.

The French troops are being relocated to neighbouring Niger Republic after Paris accused the Bamako junta of engaging Russian private defence agency Wagner for military support.

The Goita government has responded by expelling the French Ambassador from Mali and announced the sacking of French media groups RFI and France24 from Bamako.

Goita’s invitation to the ECOWAS summit is seen as a climb down by the regional bloc, which has been accused of inconsistency and ineffective strategy in dealing with the resurgence of military coups in its member States – Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.

Guinea and Burkina Faso are also suspended from ECOWAS but have been spared ECOWAS’ harsh sanctions even though in defiance of the organisation’s demand, their military rulers have not announced any transition timetables.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation has extended the deadline for SIM card registration from March 31, 2022 to July 31, 2022.

A statement from the ministry issued on Tuesday, 22 March 2022 said: “As of 17 March, 14,091,542 SIM cards had been linked to the Ghana card” while “10,348,532 bio-captures” had been conducted and 99,445 new SIMs registered.

The ministry said, “Due to a number factors including the fact that over 7.5 million citizens and residents are yet to obtain Ghana cards to enable them to register their SIM cards, it is clear that the deadline for the completion of the registration of the remaining active SIM cards cannot be met”.

Also, it said, “More time will also be required to update the SIM registration app for the registration of diplomats while a self-service SIM registration app is also being developed to facilitate the registration of SIM cards for Ghanaians resident abroad”.

This will be operational by mid-April, the statement noted.

“The Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation has, therefore, extended the deadline for the registration of SIM cards to 31 July 2022”, the statement announced.

Ghanamps.com

The Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah has said the mandate of the Ghanaian court is very clear and has been properly spelt out by the 1992 Republican Constitution as the Ghanaian courts operates within its municipal systems.

According to him the ECOWAS Court of Justice operates at the sub-regional level hence both courts are not in competition

“The ECOWAS court is not an appellate court over the courts of member states. There is the need for room for collaboration of our different mandate, the protocols of ECOWAS Court has a provision of onward referrals by national courts of member states to the ECOWAS Court and given member states national courts the responsibility of the enforcement of the judgment of the Community Court of Justice”.

Justice Anin-Yeboah made this remarks when he gave a welcome address on Monday, March 21, 2022 as Ghana host the ECOWAS Court external court session for the first time in Accra for the next two weeks.

“It is a step in the right direction to bring the courts closer to the citizens and foster close relation between the Community court and the judiciary of Ghana and also create awareness of the court. Ghana is a key player in the affairs of the West African sub- region and the court has to facilitate the integration process”, he stated.

He commended the Community Court for discharging its human rights duties with distinction and has established bold authoritative and globally acclaimed human rights mechanism.

He further called for the review of the decision that reduced the number of judges from seven (7) to five (5) as he believe the court requires adequate number of judges to discharge its functions effectively, and also it would be necessary to review the four years nonrenewable tenure of the members of the court to enable the community derive maximum benefit from their vast experience.

As the court session in Ghana would provide members of the Ghanaian bar the opportunity to observe and international court in session and to learn more of their practice and procedure of the community court of justice.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Chairman of the Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer Review Mechanism Committee of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Junior has touted the democratic progress made by the West African sub-region despite few challenges.

According to him the West African sub-region has made some progress in democratic consolidation, regional cooperation, and economic growth over the year. However, the region has been in the global spotlight in recent times due to persistent insecurity and accompanying humanitarian crises.

“Indeed, the current peace and security climate in West Africa is brimming with existing and emerging threats that are national, regional, and global in character. The threats are occasioned by incidents of terrorism, violent extremism, election violence, inter-communal violence, ethnic violence, farmer-herder conflicts, transnational organized crime, and climate change, among others”.

He was addressing gathering of all Parliamentary Associations in the world which is having its 144^th Assembly under way in Bali, Indonesia from March 20 to 24, 2022, and speaking on the topic “Rethinking and reframing the approach to peace progress with a view to fostering lasting peace and International Security”.

And further pointed out that, in an effort to find a long lasting solution to previous security problems that confronts the region, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in 2008, adopted the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF), to serve as strategic framework for improving conflict prevention and human security.

The adoption of the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework is an addition to several initiatives which includes key protocols and conventions that are aimed to build a stable West Africa as prerequisite for social, political and economic development.

Whiles some of the earlier initiatives by ECOWAS to promote stability in the region include but not limited to; the Protocol on Non-Aggression (1978), the Protocol on Mutual Assistance on Defense (1982); ECOWAS Revised Treaty (1993); the Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security (hereafter the Mechanism); Declaration of Political Principles (1991); and the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance (2001). Over the years, with the mandate provided by virtue of these protocols, ECOWAS has made significant contribution to the promotion of peace and security in Côte d’Ivoire (2010), Guinea Bissau (2012), Liberia (1990), and Sierra Leone (2002), where violent conflicts took place.

 The overall aim of the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework is to strengthen the human security architecture in West Africa, the intermediate purpose is to create cooperative interaction within the region and with external partners to push conflict prevention and peace-building up the political agenda of Member States in a manner that will trigger timely and targeted multi-actor and multi-dimensional action to defuse or eliminate potential and real threats to human security in a predictable and institutional manner.

Again, despite the Protocols in place to tackle the insecurity within the region, recently, there has been decline in the democratic landscape in West Africa with implications on peace, development and security of its people.

Notable trends include the re-emergence of military coup d’état and overthrow of democratic governments as can be observed in Mali (2021), Guinea (2021) and in Burkina Faso (2022) most recently, to include the failed coup in Guinea Bissau (2022). Of note is that in the case of Guinea, the tension generated by the incumbent administrations aspiration for a 3rd term was one of the root causes of the 2021 coup d’état.

These have not only thwarted democracies, but also led to political uncertainties in the affected countries. The case of Guinea is not an isolated incident but the trajectory of incumbent’s administration’s efforts towards constitutional amendment in relation to Presidential term limits and tenure elongation as also recently witnessed in Togo and Cote d’Ivoire with growing fears of attempts by other Member States adopting this trend.

This has further undermined governance leading to fractured civic space, social in cohesion, manipulation of the electoral processes and violent dissensions between citizens and political actors. Member States were unanimous in demanding during the extraordinary session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government of September 16, 2021, for the President of the Commission to initiate the process of reviewing the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy & Good Governance.

Hence this call was received with enthusiasm by all stakeholders, including the ECOWAS Parliament. The call was also seen as an effort to regain ECOWAS dwindling political relevance amongst its citizens and also shore up a renewed wave of democratic stability in the region. Also, it meant to address critical aspects of the above mentioned Protocol to respond effectively the declining democratic governance in the region, including the issue of presidential term limits and tenure elongation.

Senator Snowe Junior, further pointed out that ECOWAS has found useful the deployment of special mediators and members of the Council of the Wise (a group of eminent personalities, including former heads of state, ministers, diplomats, and other high level personalities) in fact finding, facilitation, mediation and negotiation missions in areas of potential conflict.

 In addition, ECOWAS Heads of State also apply methods such as peer review, peer pressure and consensus building to resolve lingering crises, behind the scenes and often to good effect, Parliament and as enshrined in relevant Articles of its established Supplementary Act, the Parliament has been able through its activities to create for itself an enviable record of peace keeping and mediation. Parliament, as a matter of parliamentary diplomacy, was involved in the search for peace in the Mano River Union (MRU) in 2002, where Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia had fragile peace.

Similarly the Parliament also initiated peace talks between the Liberian United Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) rebels and the Liberian Government.

And mediated the 2018 dispute in the Sierra Leonean Parliament where the leadership of the Parliament was in an impasse with their membership, there were many others. Parliament regularly conducts Fact- Finding pre-election missions to ensure a level playing field and subsequently dispatches observers to verify the fairness of the votes during elections.

 This is a framework which the Parliament practiced recently in Cabo Verde and the Gambia (2021).

 Notwithstanding these achievements, they are fully aware and agree that the direct elections of members into the Parliament will confer new competences on the Parliament and would transform the Parliament into a truly independent and democratic body, and all efforts are being directed towards achieving that.

“Whiles, we work towards the realization of this democratic legacy, we take pride in the work we do, as a Parliament, to keep our region peaceful and secure. ECOWAS is already taking steps towards rethinking and reframing the approach to peace processes in reaction to the emerging political upheaval”.

Additionally, it is their belief that if ECOWAS can put in more responsive and reactive measures, this would engender lasting peace and development in the region.

“As the representatives of the people, we are here to listen and learn from experiences of other regions and Member States in relation to rethinking & reframing the approach to peace processes with a view to fostering lasting peace the world over”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Parliament has refuted allegation over the Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin requesting a fifty thousand dollars from it a week after his trip to Dubai for a routine check-up.

“We would like to state categorically that the Rt. Hon Speaker has not, at any point in time, made direct cash request from Parliament. The condition of service of public employees, including political office holders cover medical care, both local and foreign, the specific details of each category of public employees is covered by law”.

In a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs Madam Kate Addo pointed out that in the case of Parliamentarians and Speakers, the Presidential Commission on emoluments details out the main areas of coverage, for sitting and former Speakers.

“The current Speaker has no authority and has not made any attempts to, in anyway amend or alter what has been in existence before he came into office”.

“Parliament is fully aware of the dire times they are in as a country and mindful to avoid any profligate spending, the 8^th Parliament right from its inception has sought to put the interest and wellbeing of the taxpayer at the fore of all its considerations and deliberations for the enactment of laws and the formulation of polices.

Hence Parliament would like to remind the media that they are partners in the development of the country’s democracy and incumbent on practitioners, while remaining independent and adhering to house styles, to be fair and temperate in their reportage for the overall development of our country’s participatory democracy”.

Ghanamps.com