Category: General

The Minority in Parliament believes it is about time the country instituted some reforms into the handling of emoluments for Article 71 office holders.

Addressing the media in parliament following the public outcry that greeted news about the first and second ladies of the land being included among beneficiaries of emolument for Article 71 office holders as approved by the 7th Parliament, the minority believes the manner in which issues concerning emoluments are handled is a major course for worry.

They indicated that either issues surrounding emoluments are handled in secrecy or rushed through parliament usually at the last minutes depriving members of parliament from critically perusing the documents.

Some of the members who happened to be part of the 7th parliament complained that they have not seen the report, “I am saddened that as a member of the 7th parliament I did not get the opportunity to see the report, that is why we are calling for reforms, and that reforms is urgently needed”, Cassiel Ato Forson stated.

He indicated that “the President must appoint the Emolument Committee in time for them to submit their report in time, for members of parliament to have enough time to be able to peruse the documents, approve or disapprove. You don’t wait until the dying hours, dying minutes of the parliament for us to approve it.”

He argued that in the dying moments of the last parliament almost 50% of its members lost their seats or did not contest so they were not coming to parliament, “so you can’t wait till that time, bring a document of so much sensitivities and say that members of parliament have approved it without seeing the document.

He called for the issue to be revisited stating that “in every democracy there is something we call continuous improvement; you learn from mistakes and you make sure you fix it. It is a fact that we need to reform the way the Emolument Committee’s report is being presented to us, and we’re not running away from it, and I think that all of us should have had the opportunity to receive a copy of the document.

Mr. James Klutse Avedzi, also argued that, parliamentary approval does not give legitimacy to including the first and second ladies in the list of beneficiaries because they are not members of Article 71 holders. “The approval of that that report by the parliament cannot amend the constitution”.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

 ECOWAS Parliament’s delocalised joint Committee meeting of Administration, Finance and Budget, Macroeconomic Policy & Economic Research, Public Account, Trade, Customs & Free Movement in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso have adopted report and make recommendations having extensively discussed and deliberated on the topic “Cryptocurrencies as Facilitator for Trade and Investment in West Africa”.

The meeting noted that Cryptocurrencies offers investment opportunities, but it however, pointed out that it comes with many risks, but with the risks, all relevant stakeholders (Investors, State authorities and Central banks) are expected to play a vital role in mitigating the dangers linked to Cryptocurrencies.

Consequently, the Parliamentarians on the joint Committees made the following recommendations to the plenary for consideration and recommendation to the Commission.

 1.The ECOWAS Commission should immediately carryout necessary studies to better understand the implications of Cryptocurrencies on regional economies. WAMA, the Central banks and National Assemblies of member states should be implicated in these activities.

2. The ECOWAS Commission should propose a legal and regulatory framework for regulating, where necessary, the use of Cryptocurrencies in the region; It should propose frameworks for Compliance and Regulation using KYC and KYT (Know Your Customer and Know Your Transactions) procedures on the public blockchain infrastructure. It should include all stakeholders in the Cryptocurrency ecosystem, such as centralized exchanges, blockchain data analytics consultants, cybersecurity experts, expert in social engineering, and Non-profit organizations.
3. The ECOWAS Commission should immediately commence studies on the possibility of establishing a central bank digital currency (MDBC), which could be used in parallel with the ECOWAS common currency, ECO.
4. The ECOWAS Commission should immediately propose a communication strategy for increased sensitisation and training of all stakeholders on the use of Cryptocurrencies. A high-level Blockchain and Cybersecurity Training for policymakers and compliance stakeholders should be considered.
5. The ECOWAS Commission should recruit in-house blockchain, social engineering, and Cybersecurity personnel that will be continuously trained by leading experts in the industry, considering the rapid-evolving nature of the technology. The in-house personnel would explore the current global threats of Cryptocurrencies, how other nations are tackling these threats, and adapt them to suit the peculiar problems in West Africa. (B) Recommendations to ECOWAS Parliament:
6. Recommend regional bodies (ECOWAS Commission, WAMA and the Central banks) to carry out necessary studies to better understand the implications of Cryptocurrencies on regional economies;
7. Reflect on a legal and regulatory framework for regulating, where necessary, the use of Cryptocurrencies in the region;
8. Reflect on the possibility of establishing a central bank digital currency (MDBC), which could be used in parallel with the ECOWAS common currency, ECO;
9. Parliament should advocate for increased sensitisation and training of all stakeholders on the use of Cryptocurrencies. In this vein, Parliament should organize for a high-level Blockchain and Cybersecurity Training for policymakers and compliance stakeholders.

Ghanamps.com

Parliament has constituted a nine-member ad hoc committee to investigate into the procurement contracts between the government of the Republic of Ghana through the Ministry of Health and Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, and one other for supply of Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccines and submit a report for the consideration of the House.

Members

1. Alexander Afenyo Markin- Chairman
2. Mintah Akandoh – Vice Chairman
3. Bernard Ahiafoh
4. Kwame Anyim-Adu Antwi
5. Nana Ayew- Afiriyie
6. Ernest Henry Norgbey
7. Elizabeth Ofosu -Agyare
8. Umar Farouk Aliu Mahama
9. Sheila Bartels

Terms of reference

• To determine whether or not the transaction with respect to the procurement and supply……qualifies as an international business and economics transaction under article 181(5) of the constitution and if so whether it was subjected to prior approval by parliament;
• To determine the procurement process that was followed, and the propriety of same
• To determine whether the services of a middleman was procured in the transaction, and if so the propriety of same having regard to the relevant laws;
• To ascertain the cost of the vaccine, the justification of the cost of vaccine, and whether the transaction guarantee value for money for Ghana;
• To determine whether or not any consideration has passed from government of the Republic of Ghana to the middleman;
• To determine whether or not the Ministry of Health misled parliament during the consideration of the transaction for the procurement of the vaccine;
• To enquire into any other matters connected with the purchase and supply of the Sputnik-V vaccine in the agreement between the Government of Ghana and the other parties.

 

The Minority Leader, and a member of the 7 MPs who file the Private Members’ Motion stated that their quest is to ensure that “the people of Ghana have value for money, for the use of the taxpayer’s money, particularly that as a country we’ve not been able to cover a significant part of our population; only 450, 000, less than one percent of the population with over 19 billion is worrying.”

MOTION

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu together with six other MPs from the Minority side of the House, including Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Dr. Sebastian Ngmenenso Sandaare, Mr.  Samuel Okudzato Ablakwa, Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane, and Ernest Henry Norgbey on Thursday, July 8, 2021 filed a private member motion urging the House to constitute a bi-partisan Committee to investigate the procurement contracts between the government of the Republic of Ghana and Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, and one other for supply of Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccines and submit a report for the consideration of the House.

The Committee has 3 weeks to present its report for consideration by the House

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

Parliament has adopted a private member motion to constitute a bi-partisan Committee to investigate the procurement contracts between the government of the Republic of Ghana and Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, and one other for supply of Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccines and submit a report for the consideration of the House.

This decision came up, when Haruna Iddrisu, minority leader together with six MPs from his side   called on Speaker of Parliament to constitute a committee to investigate into the price of COVID-19 vaccine which the government of Ghana through the health ministry is buying the vaccines at a cost of $19 and $26 Dollars per doze, whilst it has been accepted internationally at $10 Dollars per doze.

Meanwhile, the House is expected to constitute the committee on Friday, July 10, 20221 with its terms and refences

The members behind the Private Members’ Motion are as follows:

1. Mr. Haruna Iddrisu
2. Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak
3. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
4. Dr Sebastian Ngmenenso Sandaare
5. Mr. Samuel Okudzato Ablakwa
6. Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane
7. Ernest Henry Norgbey

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MOGCSP) has been cited for several  infractions in the 2017 Auditor-General’s Reports of the Public Accounts of Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

But officials of the Gender Ministry failed to appear before the Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 to provide answers to these infractions.

Last Wednesday was the last sitting of the Committee to look at the audited report of the Auditor General for Ministries Department and Government Agencies (MDAs) 2017 report.

Chairman of the Committee, James Klutse Avedzi noted that the Ministry had not written to them and they do not have any option but to report to the plenary to prescribe the appropriate action.

Transport and Highways as well as the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General that were scheduled for Thursday 25th June 2021, had to be postponed to Wednesday, July 7, 2021 as PAC brought its proceedings to a close.

The Report indicted the MoGCSP for unauthorized investment of GHS 16,000,000 Ghana School Feeding Programme funds in Dalex Finance and Cal Bank, failure to pay withholding tax of GHS 9,461,880 to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and unretired impress of GHS79,500  contrary to Regulation 282 of Financial Administration Regulation 2004.

Other infractions the Report detected include payment of unearned salary at its Sekondi Social Welfare Office and an unearned salary totaling GHS 6,047.64 paid to a Social Development Assistant at Accra Head Office after the officer vacated post from January to December 2016.

When the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development took their turn to respond to their queries, it was established that the Regional Director of the Fisheries Commission at Kumasi failed to use a competitive process to select a supplier for the purchase of fish feed.

The Auditor-General could not therefore ascertain the reasonableness of the contract awarded Raanan Fish Feed West Africa amounting to GHS 23,260 and therefore urged the Commission to comply strictly with the requirements of the procurement law.

However, the Committee absolved Phillip Attakpah, a former National Project Coordinator for the implementation of FAO/GOG Co-operative Programme who was cited for receiving unearned salary of GHS 31,480 because it was found out that he actually worked during the period.

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Godfred Dame flanked by his two deputies and top officials of the Ministry had little difficulty explaining the Auditor-General’s query of three payment vouchers without relevant supporting documents totaling GHS 6,371.90.

He however disclosed that the Delta Force vigilante group who stormed the Kumasi Circuit in 2017 to free 13 of their members facing charges of causing mayhem but were discharged by then Attorney General for nolle prosequi are still under investigation by the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

The Roads and Highways Ministry led by the sector minister Amoako Attah apart from failing to meet specification in the construction of a modular ferry in respect of ladders with non-slip square rungs and manholes in the Damen Modular Pontoons had a smooth sail before the Committee.

The Audit Report revealed that the Modular Ferry constructed by Messrs Damen Ship Building Netherlands at a cost of EUR 2,788,500 failed to meet the required specifications the Committee found out that the anomaly was corrected when the Contractor was recalled to site.

While the Committee commended MDAs that appeared before the panel and those that responded to their queries, it lamented that many agencies have refused to comply with accounting systems put in place by the Office of the Accountant-General which is largely responsible for fraudulent transactions by some MDAs.

The Deputy Minority Leader James Klutse Avedzi who is the Chairman of the Committee therefore tasked the Auditor-General to ensure that agencies of government comply with the accounting systems and procedures specified by the office of the Accountant-General.

He announced that the plenary would consider the eventual recommendations of the Committee after it comes up with a document that neatly outlines and summarises them for consideration including its recommendations on government agencies that failed to honor its invitations.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament Rt. Hon Sidie Mohammed Tunis said the key component to any economic and financial ecosystem is the monetary and payment method available within the system and the regulatory framework and policies that underpin the system.

As areas such as advanced Technology, Big Data, Machine Learning and Internet of Things, continue to establish themselves as the bedrock for the transformation of current global systems, the issue of “Cryptocurrencies” taking center stage as regards the question of “What is the appropriate monetary framework for the future and what level of governance and regulation is required to ensure its safety, security and protection of value?”.

He noted that, this question and others much like it, need to be answered and an understanding reached amongst countries, especially ECOWAS member states, who will be making decisions as regards digital currency operations within their states and across borders.

He further noted that collectively we need to consider the short, middle and long-term impact and sustainability of this technology on trade across the region and financial security for our citizens.

 “I do not intend to hold court here, for or against any Cryptocurrency; I do not also seek to advocate strong or weak regulatory or governance of the system. I do not also wish to recommend greater or lesser degree of acceptance for such currencies, but what I do seek to do as we collectively need to consider the short, middle and long-term impacts and sustainability of this technology on trade across the region and financial security for our citizens”.

And added that the delocalised meeting in Burkina Faso would discuss the merits and demerits of “cryptocurrencies”, and investigate the areas of concern as well as support for this new payment system.

“We shall consider what roles, if any, Central Banks and Government regulations can play in ensuring it works better for our citizens from volatile shocks and change which digital currencies are highly susceptible to. Globally, technological advancements are coming to the forefront, and are being programmed to handle issues of our time. We should expect that there will be such changes and disruptions to our existing payment instruments, institutions and systems”.

That said, we must ensure that these changes are more positive impacting and relevant, and that we do not just have to change for change sake, they have to consider the needed framework within which such changes must occur and operate, and evaluate the preparedness of our current institutions, the scope of readiness for such a transition.

The time is now to begin to take charge of leading this advance, the basic necessities of life have been categorized as food, clothing and shelter. Access to these, in modern times, is secured by financial ability, he stated.

So, let us be clear that while we may be here discussing the future of securing and delivering better, easier and safer access to these basic needs for our citizens, if we adopt a system that requires infrastructure that is not accessible to the greater percentage of our people, we would be failing them, while also if we hold back on a system that could unlock untold potential, we would be failing them, he noted.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, Etse Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has noted that the perception that lawmakers are development agents in Ghana has come to stay.

According to him he doubts if the perception would change for MPs to stop moving around to source for funds for development and concentrate on their constitutional mandate to craft laws.

And cited Kenya, saying, “MPs in Kenya used to go through this until they had their constitutional reforms in 2010 and made MPs agents of development.

And argued that when President Akufo-Addo’s government introduced the one million one constituency policy, the proper entity to administer that fund was the MP,  “so that you run a skeletal office, you then implement the project, you are then audited like any other entity, and when the audit is fine you are allocated funds at the end of the year then you continue because the expectation of the people have shifted from Assemblies”.

And added that, constituents see the MP as ‘bringer’ of hope for development, and elections of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) would not change the whole idea of seeing the MP as a development agent.

“Our people see the MP as the focal point because, MPs understand the dynamics of the localities properly, his/her political umbilical cord is directly link to the welfare of the people, when someone is sick and admitted they call the MP, when people go to farm and water separate their foot path they call the MP for a small bridge, when people want tractors to plough their farms, they call the MP so it’s the MP the MP and the MP”.

 The South Dayi lawmaker emphasized that, to respond to the needs of Ghanaians, MPs needs to be resourced properly to be able to deliver on their mandate, “these things have become part of our mandate”, he stated.

Again, if you are MP you can stay in parliament, “if you like do not go to your constituency to do some of these things all your articulation and advocacy on the floor would come to not, in the other way let an MP stay in the constituency and have the resources throughout the year let parliament be marking him absent, if the people vote, they would still bring the MP back to parliament, despite the fact that he does not sit in parliament as he/she is supposed to be, that is the reality on the ground”, he emphasized.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon Sidie Mohamed Tunis has condemned the wave of insurgency, terrorist attack and kidnaping that is sweeping the West African sub-region.

He empathized with the people of Burkina Faso who have fallen victim to the wave of insurgency, terrorist attacks and kidnapping occurring in the region and appealed to the perpetrators to cease forthwith, all forms of violence and destruction of human lives with properties for they serve no purpose nor produce gain.

Second Deputy Speaker Malam Chalbou Boucary delivered the speech on behalf of the Rt. Hon speaker at the opening of a delocalised meeting in Burkina Faso on the theme, “cryptocurrency as a facilitator of Community Trade in West Africa”.

For joint Committee on Administration, Finance and Budget, Macroeconomics Policy and Economic Research, Public Account and Trade Customs and Free Movement.

He pointed out that the conduct of kidnapping, terrorist attacks derail a country and the sub-region from the enormous responsibility of development that stands to be beneficial for all and sundry.

“I wish to encourage the security apparatus put in place by the Government, whose mandate is to defend the populace and the Burkinabe territory, to remain steadfast even in the face of many adversaries”.

He further assured Burkina Faso that the community stands in solidarity against all menace to regional peace and security and remain determined to stamp out all terrorist cells in existence in the region.

And lauded the hospitality of the people of Burkina Faso who he described as “Land of incorruptible men”, for graciously willing to once again play host to the activity of the Parliament. He recalled with nostalgia, the August 2019 meeting hosted by Burkina Faso whereby the government put maximum effort at ensuring the community Parliament was well received, taken care of, and holds its deliberations in comfort and ease.

Ghanamps.com

It came to light when the Ministry of Education appeared before the Public Account Committee on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 that three officials at the Ministry’s Treasury including then Deputy Education Minister, Elizabeth Amoah Tetteh between 2014 and 2017 failed to hand over their official vehicles when they separated from the Ministry.

Also, ten new laptops could not be accounted for at Bechem District GES office, while at Adidome GES Office, two Mitsubishi Pick-Up vehicles were sold by auction for GHS 1,900 without any vital document to determine whether or not the vehicles should be sold and without inspection by the State Transport Company (STC).

There were also unsupported payments totaling GHS 432.800 uncovered at 16 District offices while tenants on the premises of two institutions defaulted in their rent payment ranging between 24 and 76 months to the tune of GHS 18,030.00.

 The Report further noted that 43 separated staff were paid unearned salary of GHS 215,977.95 while 137 private schools operating within the Ga South Municipal Education Office defaulted in paying their license fees amounting to GHS 32,280.00.

In his remarks, the PAC Chairman James Klutse Avedzi said the Committee will submit its recommendations to the House and recommend sanctions for MDAs that failed to account for public funds and public officials that refused to account for public funds at their disposal for them to be shown the way out of office.

 He said one of the major responsibilities of PAC is to hold the MDAs to account since whoever is given the responsibility and the trust of running any agency with public funds must be accountable to Parliament on behalf of the people.

 The Committee, he emphasized, will insist that any public servant or civil servant that is given public funds for public good and has questions to answer and refuse to answer satisfactorily should have no business being in government.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Judicial Service and the Ministry of Education (MOE) together with its agency, the Ghana Education Service (GES) on Tuesday July 06, 2021 appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to account for public funds at their disposal in respect of the Auditor-General’s Report on their finances for the year ended 31st December, 2017.

They took turns to answer questions on what was described by the Auditor-General as poor accounting and weak control systems in these Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) leading to loss of state funds.

PAC queried them for incessant violation of extant rules including non-retirement of personal advances within the financial year and grant of cash advances above approved limits.

The exercise among its various objectives of scrutinizing public expenditure was aimed at mobilizing public opinion to produce a change in attitude towards the spending of public funds and to ensure that public spending produce value for money.

The Committee sitting in Parliament House uncovered a pattern of consistent contravention of relevant constitutional provisions and other financial regulations in the various MDAs by public officials.

Other violations include uncooperative attitude towards Auditors, extra-budgetary expenditures without approval, and withdrawals of funds from accounts for purposes other than the funds were created and without recourse to the Financial Administration Regulations 2004.

The Committee noted that most MDAs do not adhere to the established accounting mechanisms to ensure accountability and transparency sent to them by the Office of the Accountant-General, hence the need to go ahead and check the accounting systems established in most of these agencies.

 The Committee, therefore, underscored the need for the Auditor-General to strengthen and streamline the audit process with a view to ensuring prudence in public finance and transactions.

 Officials from the Judicial Service were queried on unaccounted deposit of 46,650 euros at Tema High Court and their failure to present Bank Statements for the confirmation of revenue lodged amounting to GHS 357,940 to the Auditors.

 Another infraction uncovered was the ineffective control of Value Books at Weija District Magistrate Court which irregularities were attributed to Management’s failure to supervise the activities of the Registrar.

The officials were also cited for excess retention of Internally Generated Funds totaling GHS 285,250 at Offinso District and Tarkwa High Courts and their failure to charge interest on delayed Transfer of Revenue by Zenith Bank to the tune of GHS 3,854,718.07.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com