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Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has expressed disappointment in the ruling of the first Deputy Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu when he threw away a motion he was part of, that sought a bi-partisan enquiry into Ghana’s expenditure on funds to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020.

According to him he is worried for future parliamentary Ad Hoc Committees that would seek under Article 103 of the 1992 constitution to enquire into any matter of public interest, noting that their motion was simple and admitted by the Rt. Hon Speaker.

“Dismissal by the first Deputy Speaker, interesting times in Ghana and sometimes this is what invites chaos into the chamber; a deputy Speaker dismissed application of a motion saying it ought not to be admitted; and I hoped he is not assuming to have more powers than the Rt. Hon Speaker?”

Mr. Iddrisu noted at a press conference organised on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 that both the Health Minister and Finance have not adequately accounted for the COVID expenditure and want Ghanaians to take note.

“I am refereeing to the 2.5 billion Ghanaian cedis announced in the 2022 budget as expenditure over the 2021 period that has not been accounted for anywhere in any budget, or any expenditure during the budget hearing. You heard the Minister of Foreign Affairs say, Minister of Finance spent 65million Ghana cedis on my behalf; it is not a procurement entity of Foreign Affairs. So how were those expenditures committed by what procurement procedures to guarantee value for money?” he queried.

And further noted the Deputy Minister of Finance Abena Osei-Asare attempted to explain but she could not account for 65million Ghana cedis but ended up, with explanation on 21 to 30million Ghana cedis.

Hence a motion was moved, civil society like Ghana Integrity Initiative have presented a damming report on the COVID expenditure and they do not want sunshine on darkness of corruption,  “Ghanaians voted for this government and they cannot uphold itself to the values of probity and accountability”

In addition, he pointed out that they can only be disappointed by the ruling of the deputy Speaker and urged his colleagues to be calm, they have lost not even a vote on a motion, “There are many more motions to come; even tomorrow we would move the motion on frontiers which is doing open thievery at the airport, it did not go through any procurement process.

And a probe would expose different prices of different Ministries of nose mask and promise to subject the ruling of the Speaker to thorough scrutiny. “We could not be wrong about Article 191 and 103 (3) which talk about investigation.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Joseph Osei-Owusu on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 threw out a motion seeking to have a bi-partisan parliamentary enquiry into the expenditures made by the Government of Ghana in relation to COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020.

In his ruling, he noted that there should be guiding principles on matters that they are being called on to set up a committee to investigate, stating that the request did not come under any of the standing and select committee of the House.

According to him, “in my view, it falls under the Public Account Committee and indeed all the Committees of the House including the PAC are bi-partisan and the PAC by nature is designed to be chaired by the Minority in all its forms”.

And further added that the PAC if it is minded to investigate anything related with COVID    expenditure is fully faced with the authority and the power to investigate that, as all the accounting of it has been provided for in the budget which has been presented before the House and it is before the committee.

“Anyway, my view is that this motion ought not to be admitted, and is improperly before the House, I so rule”.

Motion 21, he said, was admitted by the Rt. Hon Speaker Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, and is as follows, “this House constitute a bi-partisan parliamentary Committee chaired by a Member of the Minority Caucus to enquire into the expenditure made by Government of Ghana in relation to COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020”, moved by Haruna Iddrisu, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka and Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.”

He quoted standing Order 191, “the House at any time by motion appoints special or Ad Hoc Committee to investigate any matter of public importance to consider any bill that has not come under any of the jurisdiction of the select committees of the House a matter of public importance or a Bill which does not come under the jurisdiction of the of any of the standing or select Committees of the House” to support his ruling.

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Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin has said the Majority side is not against accountability and transparency in a bi-partisan parliamentary enquiry into the expenditures made by the Ghana Government in relation to COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020.

According to him what his side wants is that the due process would be followed as what the Minority is seeking to do is the job of the Auditor-General by the constitutional dictates of Article 187of the 1992 constitution.

And further added at a press conference he addressed on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 after the first Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu dismissed a private members motion 21 which seeks that the House constitutes a bi-partisan parliamentary Committee chaired by a Member of the Minority Caucus to enquire into the expenditure made by Government of Ghana in relation to COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin further told members of the Parliamentary Press Corps their colleagues in the Minority are being over partisan in a way to prepare towards election 2024 as democracy respect the rule of law, “that is the only way democratic principles can be sustained, we cannot do it as and when it is suitable to us”.

Again, public expenditure is a matter of public record and Parliament approves certain facilities, “there is no way  in this day and age with the GIFMIX system government can spend and hide,  no matter what,  the Auditor General would have a look at it”, he said.

“What is the difference between enquiry and audit? I think audit is a proper step to take to unravel irregularities. All their argument is on irregularity; thanks to the first Deputy Speaker for his ruling”.

Responding to questions from journalists in Parliament, the Deputy Majority Leader cautioned them not to fall into the trap where someone is talking about COVID-19 expenditure as the Auditor-Generals report expenditures on COVID-19 can be verified.

“You do not need to prepare a separate account report on COVID. Our colleagues are just being mischievous”. As to the oversight responsibility of parliament, he emphasised that when the AG is done with his work, the report would be sent to Parliament, and Public Account Committee has the mandate to set up a Committee to look into the report and other matters would flow from there.

“We should move one step at a time, we are not blocking them, we think they want to side-step the powers of the Auditor General; they want to create the impression that there is some issue of no clarity in some expenditure which we think it is unfair”.

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Second Deputy Majority Whip, Habib Iddrisu has said the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government fought for media freedom and cannot turn its back to destroy what it fought for as a government and Majority in Parliament.

“We all know who fought for free press in Ghana we cannot fight for something and come to destroy it, government is not in that position the majority is not in that position”.

He made this known on Friday, February 18, 2022 when Parliament officially handed over a media center to members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) and the Deputy Minority Leader Dr. James Klutse Avedzi condemn the current state of arrest of journalists in the country.

According to him responsible reportage is very necessary and he would encourage members of the PPC that the new office that is given to them,! they should use it to get informed, know about every member of parliament and what the person stands for.

For example Dr. James Klutse Avedzi who is a fifth timer has been a chair of the finance committee for eight years what did he say and what was his position on topical issues when he was chair of the finance committee, what is his position now as chair of the Public Account Committee?

“If we are able to merge that we would be able to get MPs to be responsible and be very effective, when you go to other jurisdiction an MP can say something ten years later and would still stand by, that position and not shift because the media would bring it up. In our case, our media needs to do a lot of work hanzard is available you should be able to know what is going on in the country in this House a lot of things has happen that has not been good the media has reported on many of the things”.

Mr. Iddrisu further noted that he is happy the House has a Speaker who has seen it all in terms of the Parliaments of the 4th Republic from 1993 till date, so on the issue of strengthening the PPC the media center would go a long way.

“I know this is not the only challenge that they encounters with this 8th parliament. a lot needs to be done and that would also open an opportunity for the media to up their game in terms of reporting”. According to him, It is very clear that most of the time journalists that media house send to parliament are either not properly trained in basic parliamentary procedure and find it very difficult in fitting in, and again majority of the media houses associate with political parties.

That is either trying not to report on some issues because of their affiliation or sometimes due to advert that they need from some institutions. They, the MPs are elected by their constituents and they have oversight responsibility over the Executive and judiciary. The question is, “who has oversight over MPs? “Obviously the media as watchdog to the society can play this role very effectively”.

He, however, pointed out that this can only be done, when journalists are well informed and well educated and are ready to work impartially and to bring the necessary report to the attention of the public.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Muntaka has urged the Majority side of the House to take Business of the House serious as he expressed worry over a development on the floor of the House on Friday, February 18, 2022 where on the Majority side they had only Frank Annoh Dompreh representing their side.

According to him he was not in position to present the Business statement on the floor of the House since he was part of the Business Committee that worked on the Business Statement.

This occurred on the floor of the House when the Majority Chief Whip wanted the Business of the day varied for the Roads and Transport Minister, Kwasi Amoako Atta to take questions in his name, and when the Majority Leader shows up on the floor he presents the statement.

Mr Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak noted that, “it does not show any seriousness; we are here and you want the business varied, and doing things your way.  If the worry is that you were not there at the business committee meeting, I was there and ready to take the report on the floor”.

Mr. Frank Annoh Dompreh caught the eye of the second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Amoako Atta who was in the chair and noted that there have been times that his colleague had not been there; Adaklu MP Governs Kwame Agbodza stands in for him.

“The impression should not be created as if our members do not show up; it is only the chief whip who show up, it is unfair and I urge the Speaker to use his wisdom to rule on the matter”.

The Second Deputy Speaker said he is with the Minority Chief Whip, but pleaded with him to allow the Minister to take his question since the chief wipe does not know how government business would be.

Mr.  Muntaka responded by saying if the Speaker is pleading, he accepts but they should be taken seriously and each time Kwame Agbodza takes over, he has his full mandate but,  “once the Speaker has said he pleads I would oblige”.

Minister for Roads and Highways Kwasi Amoako Atta on his part when he caught the attention of the Speaker on the subject matter noted that the point being made by the Minority Chief Whip was in order on the face value.

And further added that since the Majority Chief Whip was not at the Business Committee meeting and appealed that he is not cloth with the authority to speak to issue that might come up and in normal business set up anyone who was not at a meeting cannot move for acceptance of a minute.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Four members of the Majority caucus in Parliament have filed a private members motion seeking the constitution of a bi-partisan group to probe the death of the late President John Evans Atta-Mills.

The group behind this motion is led by Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh Dompreh.

It’s unclear what the grounds for the probe are, but if the motion is admitted by the Speaker and tabled for debate, the sponsors would be required to provide a basis for their motion.

Tolon MP, Habib Iddrisu, Mpraeso MP, Davis Opoku Ansah and Tema Central MP, Yves Hanson Nortey completes the quartet of lawmakers seeking the intervention of the house to investigate the death which occurred on July 24, 2012.

The former President Atta-Mills had returned to Ghana after visiting the US for medical checks shortly before his death.

Mr. Atta-Mills, who died aged 68, served as Vice President to former military ruler, Jerry Rawlings between 1997-2001.

He came to power after narrowly winning over the then governing New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, in the 2008 elections.

Though the cause of his death was not released, Atta-Mills had reportedly been battling throat cancer, and in the days leading up to his death, had been in the US for some medical attention.

His office announced that Atta-Mills died hours after being taken ill.

However, Mills’ brother, Dr. Cadman Mills, later disclosed that he had died from complications of a massive hemorrhagic stroke resulting from brain aneurysm.

Ghanamps.com

Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh has noted that since the inception of the President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government, there has been an upward incremental growth in the renewable energy development in Ghana.

According to him this is in fulfillment of the party’s manifesto promise regarding renewable energy development in Ghana

“The development of renewable energy is in line with the government’s ‘National Determined Contribution’ (NDC) towards the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) where it strives to adopt innovative and sustainable technologies within the renewable energy sphere to meet its commitment to the agreement. This great initiative forms parts of government’s agenda to have 10% of our energy from renewable energy resources by the year 2030.”

He said subsequent to the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) assessment of Ghana’s readiness to adopt energy from renewable sources in 2017, major activities have taken place that addressed some bottle necks. Those identified focused on grid code priorities for the various power sources; the complex process of entering the market of renewable energy especially by Independent Power Producers among others.

In line with these ideologies, the Government outlined these objectives;

1. To increase the proportion of renewable energy in the national generation mix by harnessing alternative energy options to ensure the expansion of low carbon energy in our economy

 This government opted for the amendment of  the Bui Power Authority Act, 2007 (Act 740) to enable Bui Power Authority perform some of the functions of the proposed Renewable Energy Authority and any function assigned by the Minister responsible for Energy in the area of renewable energy. These functions were added to the original functions of Bui Power Authority under section 11 of the amended Act. With the Bui Power Authority (Amendment) Act, 2020, Bui Power Authority now has the legal mandate to; execute renewable energy projects on behalf of the State, undertake its own renewable energy activities and undertake clean energy alternatives in the country.

Mr. Speaker, since 2017, the Government of Ghana through Bui Power Authority has made big strides as the Renewable Energy Leaders, which are highlighted by the following:

• Tsatsadu Micro Generating Station — A 45kW Tsatsadu Generating Station (TGS) at Alavanyo in the Volta Region developed by local expertise.
• 250MWp Solar Project — 50MW of the 250MW has been completed, the first to be connected to the National Interconnected Transmission System (NITS). This is the largest renewable energy project in Ghana.
• 5MWp Floating Solar PV — The BPA has completed the constructing of an initial 1MWpof a proposed 5MWp Floating Solar PV System on the Bui reservoir.  It is the first of its kind in the West African sub-region.

2. To rapidly move to the adoption of a distributed solar energy solution for all government and public buildings to reduce demand on the national grid and reduce government expenditure on electricity.

The entire Jubilee House — the seat of government has been powered with solar energy, an initiative that strongly shows the commitment and determination of the Akufo Addo government to promote the development of renewable energy. The 912-kilowatt solar panel which was installed at the Presidency at a cost of US$1,494,350.00 to provide clean energy is a great initiative.

Build solar parks in the northern part of the country.

In  achieving this third objective, the Government of Ghana through the Bui Power Authority (BPA) would construct about eight solar plants in the northern part of the country in a bid to harness the vast solar radiation resource in that area to increase renewable energy generation. The earmarked sites for the project include Yendi, Northern, Buipe and Sawla, Savannah; Zebilla, and Bolgatanga, Upper East and Tumu, Upper West. These spots are close to sub-stations of the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) in the northern part of the country, where the potential solar plants capacity between 10 Mega Watt peaks (MWp) to 100MWp could successfully be tied into the National Interconnected Transmission System (NITS).

Develop solar and wind mini-grids for irrigation and community water supply around the country through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)

Through the efforts of the Government of Ghana, the Board of Directors of the African Development Fund have approved a $27.39 million grant to Ghana for the development of renewable energy investments in the mini grid and net metering space. This is to support the government’s renewable energy initiatives under the Ghana Cares Obaatanpa Programme. The project involves the development of 35 mini grids, standalone solar photovoltaic systems in 400 schools, 200 units in healthcare centers and 100 units for community energy services centers in the Volta Lake region. It will also deploy up to 12,000 units of roof-mounted net-metered solar photovoltaic systems for public institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises and selected households. The project has leveraged co-financing from the Scaling up Renewable Energy Program, a funding window of the Climate Investment Funds, and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, amounting to $28.49 million and $13.30 million, respectively. The Ghana Mini Grid and Solar Photovoltaic Net Metering is expected to have an annual electricity output of renewable energy estimated at 111,361MWh, corresponding to an installed capacity of 67.5MW. The project will mitigate greenhouse emissions of 0.7795 million tons of CO2 equivalent per year and create up to 2,865 jobs during construction, of which 30% will target women and youth.

To ensure local supply of solar panels to meet the requirement of our policy proposals, by establishing a Renewable Energy Industrial Zone where the private sector will be supported to build factories for the production and assembling of the full components of solar power systems

Mr. Speaker, The Government of Ghana recognizes that there is the potential to manufacture all renewable energy components in Ghana. Government has put in place incentives and created the enabling environment for local manufacturing and assembly of renewable energy technologies. According to renewable energy masterplan which was launched by the Akufo-Addo government in 2019, four companies are taking advantage of these market incentives to locally manufacture and assemble PV modules with details as follows:

• Strategic Security Systems International Limited (3SiL) has begun solar PV module assembly in Ghana with capacity of up to 30 MW of modules per year.
• Halo International has also completed a solar PV module plant with production capacity of 15 MW per year.
• Trade works Ghana Ltd. is in the process of completing a solar PV module assembly plant with 12 MW per year capacity.
• Atlas Business and Energy Systems (ABES) have a smaller scale solar PV module assembly plant in place.
• Africano Electro Ltd, PowerWings Company Ltd, Pamasonic and Deng Ghana Ltd, among others are at various stages setting up manufacturing/assembly plants for RE components.

It is evidently clear that this Government is poised to unearth, create and sustain environmentally innovative channels regarding renewable energy development in Ghana, and has chalked unprecedented achievements in the history of renewable energy development in Ghana. The Akufo-Addo government has demonstrated that it is time for us as a nation to get environmentally drastic and lead in the sub-region towards the transition of the continent using renewables.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The NDC parliamentary caucus of the Upper West Region has come out to point out that all is not well with the Regional hospital, despite the fact that the Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu told parliament otherwise.

At a media briefing on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 Dr. Sebastian Ngmenenso Sandaare leading the caucus told journalists in Parliament that they were not happy with the answers given by the Health Minister.

The caucus noted that the Minister in an answer to a question as to when seed money for the effective operation of the Upper West  Regional Hospital would be released, admitted that initial capital money is needed, but this has not be done, and made it worse by saying despite all these initial challenges, all is well now”.

Dr. Sebastian Sandaare pointed out that they represent the people of Upper West Region and they think all is not well with the Regional hospital; adding that there are serious challenges because the start-up capital was not released as happens to other new projects.

And they want the people of Upper West to know that they have represented them, they have asked the questions on their behalf, and the Minister said all is well, “when we know it is not the case. Those who take patients there know there are challenges with drugs, non-drugs and other issues, but to back our displeasure since the hospital was commissioned and started operation, they have not been given vehicles, no ambulance”.

He told the press it took the benevolence of an individual for the hospital to have the only ambulance that the hospital operates with. “Major infrastructure and equipment they need are issue but the Minister is saying all is well, “we want you to carry the message that it is not well, we need interventions. It is not too late to release the start-up capital to get the facility more responsive to the needs of the people.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abdulai Jinapor has cautioned members of Parliament not to reduce the issues of University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) to politics.

He made these submissions on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, February17, 2022, when he was contributing to a statement read by Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Mr. Hamza Adams saying government is not handling the issues of UTAG with seriousness.

Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor explained that, when it comes to issues of better condition of service with respect to teachers in Ghana, no government has performed better than the NPP government, both under Ex-President John Agyekum Kuffour and current administration of President Akufo-Addo.

He concluded that, government is doing everything possible to get to the button of the UTAG strike issues and resolve them immediately in order to get the teachers back to their lecture halls.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Baffour Awuah said government is ever willing to continue negotiations with the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) to find a lasting solution to their grievances.

Speaking on the floor of the House on Thursday few minutes after a meeting between UTAG, the Select Committee on Education, the Education Minister and the Labour Minister, he said “government has acted in good faith and is ever willing to continue negotiations with UTAG. We want due process to be followed, and I have given them assurance that, if today they call off the strike, I wouldn’t mind asking that we lock ourselves in a room d make sure that we finish negotiations before we come out”.

He noted that government has demonstrated its resolve to jaw-jaw with the UTAG and assured the House and the Country that government will work with UTAG to bring life back into the universities.

UTAG has been on strike for more than a month over conditions of service and all plead to get them back to the classroom has failed.

UTAG wants government to restore their 2012 conditions of service, which pegged the monthly income of entry-level lecturers at $2,084.

The Association has complained that the current arrangement has reduced its members’ basic premiums to $997.84.

Following the resolve of UTAG to continue the strike until their demands are met, the National Labour Commission (NLC) sought for an interlocutory injunction for UTAG to suspend the strike while negotiations continue.

On Monday, the Labour Division of the Accra High Court granted the plea and placed an injunction on UTAG’s strike until the Court determines the substantive application by the NLC.

Ghanamps.com