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The Minister for Communications and Digitalization Ursula Owusu- Ekuful has said her Ministry would comply fully with the laws of the country in overseeing the Telecom/ICT sector and complete all legal and constitutional processes for the acquisition of Airtel Tigo by the end of April 2022.

Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful stated this in response to a question asked by the Ningo/Prampram Member of Parliament, Samuel Nartey George.

Mr. Samuel Nartey George wanted to know if the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization intends to comply with article 181(5) of the 1992 constitution which requires Parliamentary approval for international business transactions   between the government of Ghana and international entities such as the announced state acquisition of AirtelTigo Ghana from its parent holding company called Bharti Airtel International Netherlands B. V.

The Minister in a later engagement with the media in Parliament assured that the Ministry would be transparent about the transaction.

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The Deputy Majority leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin leading his side at a press briefing in parliament has appealed to the striking University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) to end their strike and return to the classroom.

According to him, even though he recognized the rights of UTAG to demand for better conditions of service, they should also consider the future of the students and also consider not distorting the academic calendar of the universities.

“At the same time we are pleading with them to balance their demand with the plight of the students so that the academic calendar is not unduly disturbed. We urged government to show a good faith and ensure that there is consensus so that the matter is dealt with once and for all”.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin further urged government to consider the plea of the teachers and take the needed steps to address them.

The Deputy Majority leader further used the opportunity to commend the NDC minority for supporting the adoption of SPUTNIK-V AD-HOC Committee’s report in Parliament on Wednesday, saying, that should be the way to go as members of Parliament so as to help develop and grow Ghana’s democracy.

And commended the consensus  built and was happy they were able to hold the Health Ministry accountable and there was not lose financially to the state, and through their work resulted in the refund of some amount paid for which reason vaccine was not delivered.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin noted that when parliament is working together, they can achieve results and was happy the issue of Sputnik-V has been dealt with.

“We hear some attempts are being made to bring a motion of censure against the Minister we are hearing that; well we would be surprised to see that on the floor of the House it would amount to a serious bad faith being mounted, we wait to see”.

 Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Chairman on the Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament, Kennedy Osei Nyarko has announced that, government of Ghana is set to commit a total of Two Billion Ghana Cedis into the construction 4  by-passes on Apergrua -Kumasi  highway as part of its dualisation program.

According to him government has assigned an agreement with 8 different Ghanaian companies to carry out these projects.

He further added that a distance of 11.6 kilometers of the by-pass project would be carried out at Osinor, and would be handled by two big companies; at Anyinam, 6.1 kilometers; at Enyiresi by-pass which is 10.5 kilometers and finally 13.5 kilometers at Konongo.

Mr.  Osei Nyarko said, the projects are expected to commence latest by first week of April, 2022.

Again, government is carrying these projects with the vision to reduce accidents on Accra to Kumasi stretch and also to manage the heavy traffic flow for motorists and other road users.

He gave these details at a media briefing on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 before the House commenced business for the day.

“This is a major news, government made that promise and delivering on its promises. We currently know where the traffic build up start from on the Kumasi road engineers have looked at it and have decided we should have these four by-passes”.

And pointed out that, this shows how the President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government is committed to addressing issue of deplorable road conditions in the country. He said when completed it would inure to the benefit of the country.

“These are contracts that government of Ghana has already awarded and going to be funded by the government of Ghana funds, that the taxes that we all pay, we need to pay our taxes so that contractors would be paid”, he said.

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The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu has called on the Ghana Police Service in Lamashegu to take full responsibility for the unprofessional conduct of their officers that has resulted in the death of Abdul-Hakeem Yakubu and six others who sustained injury on Sunday, February 13, 2022.

According to him he is aware the principal actors have since been interdicted pending investigation but urged them to do more to assuage the anger of the people and build trust between the police and the local people.

“They must go to the root cause of the unprofessional conduct of their men in uniform and ensure that justice is done”, he said on the floor of the House in a statement on Tuesday, February 15, 2022.

He said Police brutality on civilians has become prevalent in Tamale; a growing phenomenon very hard to understand and accept, and there is concern about the lack of scrutiny and accountability over this incidence, and it appears many of them will go unpunished.

As eye witnesses and media reports, a police patrol team, in an attempt to effect the arrest of one Rahman Jibril, who was alleged to be driving an unlicensed vehicle with a DV number plate, pursued the driver of the unlicensed car to the compound of the Paramount Chief of the Lamashegu, Lamashe Naa Abdulai Ziblim.

And said Rahman Jibril had run to the Palace of his Paramount Chief to seek refuge but he was pursued and shot at the Palace with live ammunition and sustained gunshot wounds on the waist.

In our culture and tradition, one can run to the chief’s palace for protection.  How could the police disrespect the Lamashe Naa this way? The shooting also resulted in injuries to four others – Rahman Jibril, the driver of the unlicensed vehicle, Alhassan Yussif, Abdul-Karim Abdulai and Wahab Abdulai all residents of LLamashegu.”

 The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Tamale Teaching Hospital morgue whiles the other victims are currently receiving treatment at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

“Mr. Speaker, I have since met the family of the deceased to commensurate with them and also visited the severely injured in the Hospital to wish them a speedy recovery and also support them defray part of their medical bills. I call on the Government and the Police Service to as a matter of urgency come to the aid of the victims and pick up all the bills as an interim measure”.

He said the incident of Sunday, 13^th February 2022 adds to the list of similar unprofessional conduct of the Ghana Police.

“Unfortunately, in all those instances there has either been no action from the Leadership of the Police Service or that the response was lame duck. Some of the cases include the following:

1. On September 21st, 2021, Ppolice meted out brutality on residents of Nakpanzoo, Nimafong, Zujung among others, when they accompanied NEDCo staff to arrest residents suspected of engaging in power theft.
2. Saturday, 19th April, 2021, Ppolice raided the Changli community in Tamale at midnight unleashing violence on residents to avenge alleged assault on their colleague. This left several residents severely injured and properties worth millions of cedis destroyed.

• We also recall how Police Officers – Corporal Kenneth Amoah Korsah and four (4) others allegedly chased a driver to the precincts of the Gbewaa Ppalace and assaulted him. An incident the police command had to apologies profusely for having disrespected the Overlord of Dagbon.”

He bemoaned the conduct of the police stating that it brings to focus the training regime for officers and men at the various Police Training Schools and Police Academies, especially in the area or riot control. “We have witnessed too many incidents of unpleasant outcomes arising from attempts by Police to control riots and demonstrations by the public. The Police Command must as a matter of urgency take a second look at the training provided officers at the various schools.

The countless cases of police brutality cases across the country raises the question of improper and inadequate training of law enforcement personnel generally, Mr. Speaker, enough is enough” he added.

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The Minority in parliament has called on the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to immediately suspend the current prices hikes and resort to due process and ensure that the right thing is done.

Mr. John Jinapor, Ranking Member on the Energy and Mines Committee at a press briefing in parliament on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 complained that the price hikes in new services connection as being implemented by the distribution companies, ECG, and NEDCO is unacceptable.

He explained that “in accordance with the PURC Act, if charges or fees are going to be implemented the PURC ought to take into account social economic conditions, consult consumers in particular and other stakeholders and when any decision on charges, fees and its related services are adopted, same is communicated to the consumer and the general public before its implementation.

What we just realized is a clandestine, surreptitious and nefarious way of adjusting these charges without recourse to due process within the electricity sub-sector.

 They said inasmuch as the PURC has some level of independence, in the determination of fees and charges and tariffs, it cannot do that in a whimsical and capricious manner without due course to the law.

The Minority contends that the hikes are too astronomical that it defies logic. “They are charging about 1,920 for street service, 4,400 for pole extension, 2 poles extension 6,700. Some of these increments are getting to about 100 percent; it is unacceptable and we are waiting that the PURC would do what is proper, what is right. To attempt to take money from the individual’s pocket through the back door is unacceptable.

They, therefore, served notice that if the PURC failed to adhere to the directive, the Minority within the Mines and Energy Committee “shall use whatever legitimate parliamentary processes to ensure that the PURC is hauled before parliament”.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu has said technical and vocational education (TVET) should be the focus of Ghana to reverse the practice of importing almost everything we find in any office in Ghana from a foreign country.
According to him such behaviour must change, and there should be a fresh start where Ghana would begin to produce such products in Ghana.
He further added that it is about time the country braced up to encourage itself by taking technical and vocational education seriously to help foster development, rather than the over concentration on grammar education.
The First Deputy Speaker made this call in an interaction with the Turkish Ambassador to Ghana, when she paid a courtesy call on him on Monday, February 15, 2022 as part of effort to strengthen Ghana-Turkey relations in terms of trade.
And added that those who learn vocation, if care is not taken we would be in this country and the Chines who are with us here would take over the vocational work.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the introduction of the E-Levy would address two major things including youth unemployment and road infrastructure in the country.

According to him Government through the Ministry of Finance has been engaging Ghanaians on the importance of the introduction of the E-Levy and why it’s introduction.

On graduate unemployment, he noted that public sector cannot take on everybody so this year’s budget is seeking to create the opportunity for the Ghanaians young male and female to take advantage of the private sector. “Government is looking forward to support young entrepreneurs from the district level, way up. This would be the game changer”.

Addressing members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC), he further noted that the explanation being given to Ghanaians on the E-Levy they would appreciate the introduction of the levy as his colleagues lawmakers have been talking about the deplorable nature of roads in their constituencies.

And there should be a sustainable dedicated source of funding; “I chair the road fund, as we speak today what is in the fund that we are going to disburse next week, it is just around seventy five million cedis; what can it do,  how many contractors are you going to pay?”, he queried.

He noted that, the reality is that there are key aspects of the economy that as Ghanaians we should look for reliable funding.

Again, wastage in the public sector financial management should not be limited to the political class; solution would not be found, and believes right at the district assemblies we should have a way of collectively doing away with waste that is why they should embrace technology because many of the waste, the leakages are human related.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has set the record straight that he is not aware that any part of official records of the House has it that they have agreed to one percent on the much talked about Electronic Transfer Bill 2021, and can only be the imagination of some people with the Majority side of the House.

According to him at the appropriate time he would school the Majority side of the House on E-Levy as a former Communication Minister. He asserts that the charge on the E-levy rather 3.5 percent. “Rather the charge on E-Levy is 3.5 percent and not the one point seven five percent (1.75) being talked about”.

“What we call the back to back charges of the Telcos of one percent in and one percent cash out; it was within that narrative I was speaking to; but for the record nobody at our caucus has said one percent. I would explain myself when we come to the debate on the second reading” he told the House.

Responding to the Business presented by the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin the Minority Leader expressed his disquiet about some ongoing developments with regard to the E-Levy where Finance Minister is engaging in town hall meetings to explain the E-Levy Bill 2021.

He explained that under Order 169, the committee of Finance shall be composed of 25 members to which bills and enquires would be referred to them,  other matters relating to finance and the economy generally the Electronic Transfer Bill was introduce in this House so far as they  are concern, a referral has been made to the finance committee. “My strong view is that search for views and input should not fall within the domain of Ken Ofori Atta but rather the finance Committee”.

And what the Finance Minister should do is under Article 106 in his explanatory memoranda which should accompany the Bill would explain, and he is not parliament or its committee, “if the bill had gone through a certificate of urgency, “would he be doing what he is doing now?”

“We should get things right, our rules put that authority on the committee of finance”, and urged the minister not to be usurping the authority of the House. “When you bring e-levy, we would wait for you, you are struggling and you would not let Ghanaians know you are struggling?” he queried.

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A one week free health screening, and national health insurance card renewal exercise which commenced on Monday, February 14, 2022 in the Akim Oda Constituency got residents elated.

The kind gesture by the Member of Parliament for the area, Alexander Akwesi Acquah, estimated at GHC 90, 000.00 is being held across all the 18 electoral areas in the Constituency.

The MP noted that there is no better love than ensuring his constituents are in good health, hence, the exercise is his Valentine gifts to the people to show his love for them.

He said the significance of the national Health Insurance Card to ensuring citizens access health delivery at affordable price cannot be overemphasized, and it is in that spirit that from time to time he tries to get his constituents to have active health insurance card. “I have a health committee, I have worked in the health insurance sector, and I believe in it. Even when I was not an MP, I was doing this for my people, so what won’t I do as an MP.”

According to him, they are looking at renewing about three thousand (3,000) insurance cards during this exercise while screening as many residents as possible that would avail themselves for the exercise.

He advised the people to avail themselves for the screening stating that it is prudent to screen and know you are safe, than not screening and not knowing you have a health condition that can degenerate.

Dr Akunyagra, a physician at the Community Hospital, Akim Oda who led the exercise at Aboabo, one of the centres noted that the screening focuses more on detecting diabetes and hypertension.

He indicated that their observation revealed that hypertension is on the rise among the people; unfortunately majority of residents screened were oblivious of having the condition. “So it is a very useful exercise that the MP instituted.”

Accordingly, most of the individuals with the condition have been referred to various health facilities in the area to undergo treatment or undergo further examination to treat them appropriately.

He advised all and sundry to take advantage of the health screening exercise to know their status and be given the needed health advice to guide them in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

He expressed delight that the exercise involves renewal of health insurance cards that provides the people to access free treatments from the various facilities.

Meanwhile, some beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the MP for his continuous support to the constituents, indicating that but for these some people would never have renewed their cards, while others would live with health conditions that may advance and cause major problems in their lives.

 Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadmps.com

Embattled Member of Parliament for Assin North James Gyakye Quayson who was spotted in Parliament on Friday, February 11, 2022 granting audience to members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) said he is in high spirit and going about his parliamentary duties.

According to him an innocent person has nothing to fear and that is all he can say to members of the PPC, when pushed to find out why he was running away from being served a criminal sermons.

“Did you throw away any bailiff who came to your house to serve you, I have said to you I cannot go beyond that.

Also when asked if he feels persecuted,  he declined to give further details, saying  “all I have said to you at this point as you are all aware, this matter is in court. I believe and trust in the judiciary system, because that is the way for people to measure their innocence”.

As to whether he has been dogging the court system, his response was, “you are making up your own story, all I can say to you is that I am not going to go into any extent to own up any information to you, all I can say is that the matter is in court, leave the court to do their work”.

He also asserts that his constituents know what he is doing both in parliament and at the constituency.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com