The Western and Central regions are yet to benefit from government intervention under the fishing input support scheme.
According to the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Hawa Koomson when she came to the floor of the House on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 to answer question in the name of her Ministry.
Mr. Isaac Ashai Odamtten lawmaker from Tema East wanted to know what economic impact mitigation measures are available for peasant or artisanal fisher folks for the 2021 closed fishing season which is imminent.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry during the implementation of the 2021 Closed Season supported fishers across the four (4) Coastal Regions namely; Greater Accra, Volta, Central and Western Regions respectively with some relief items including 15,000 bags of rice and 6,250 cartons of cooking oil. The Ministry has also initiated the distribution of approved fishing nets to artisanal fisher folks in the Volta and Central Regions respectively.
Sector Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hawa Koomson has said the sector has over the years been dominated by the marine sub-sector.
The over dependency on the subsector has greatly contributed to the overexploitation of marine fisheries resources and to address the situation, the Ministry is promoting aquaculture development with the objective of growing the aquaculture subsector to increase its contribution to domestic fish production and reduce the over dependency on marine fisheries resources.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper Denkyira East wanted to know the measures the Ministry is taking to secure Ghana’s marine fish stock which has seen rapid decline in the past decade.
The Ministry has also reviewed the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy developed in 2008 as part of the steps towards the revision of the existing Fisheries Act, 2002.
The revised policy has extensively outlined measures for management of marine fisheries such as regular assessment of status of fish stocks, establishment of marine protected areas and climate smart fisheries.
As a result, Plans are advanced to procure four (4) patrol boats and a research vessel for the sector to enhance surveillance operations at sea and provide evidence for policy directives.
Mr. Speaker, the marine subsector accounts for the bulk of domestic fish production and fisher population in Ghana, sustaining the subsector in therefore, key to the fisheries sector and the livelihoods of the over 186 fishing communities along the coast.
Accordingly, the Ministry has put in place measures to protect and sustain marine fisheries resources including:
– The implementation of the all Fleets Closed Season aimed at recovery of overexploited fish stocks and rebuilding of depleted fish stocks;
– Intensified fisheries law enforcement through at sea and land patrols as well as inspections;
– Deployment of observer on board all industrial vessels,
– Installation of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) electronically monitor the activities of the vessels at sea.
The artisanal fishers, who constitute the majority of the marine fisher population, are also being provided with authorized fishing inputs such as approved fishing nets to address the proliferation of illegal fishing nets which has been observed to be a major cause of illegal fishing in the artisanal subsector.
Member of Parliament for Ho West, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah as part of Ghana joining the rest of the world to commemorate world anti-corruption day noted that data available from the African Union (AU) indicates that, Ghana and other African countries lose an estimated corruption cost of about US$140 billion annually.
An amount that is enough, according to Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) to provide power 24 hours a day to every citizen in the continent for the next three years.
“Mr. Speaker, according to another report presented by Transparency International in January this year, sub-Saharan Africa is the lowest performing region on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) with an average score of 32 showing little improvement from previous years and underscoring a need for urgent action.
Referring to the same report by the global movement, Ghana’s current score is at 43 out of a 100 indicating a perception of failure in our anticorruption fight. Transparency International further noted that 43% of Africans are living in poverty while over $50 billion worth of stolen assets flows out of Africa every year.”
He added that the impact of corruption cannot be underestimated, as it is a major root of poverty, deprivation and underdevelopment. In the particular case of Ghana, the high prevalence of corruption has blighted the hopes of many, given rise to poor service delivery and lack of access to basic necessities of life and continues to threaten Ghana’s developmental aspirations.
In a statement on the floor of the House on Thursday, December 9, 2021 he noted that 2021 Anti-Corruption and Transparency Week is an effort at tackling one of the foundational issues of corruption and integrity. And call for concerted effort and commitment of all colleague Members of Parliament in the August House, to win the fight against corruption, to increase “our fortunes and that of Africa and to create prosperity for all”.
A member of Ghana’s delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah said it does not lie in the mouth of the Cape Verde lawmakers to say they would withdraw their services from the Parliament.
According to him there are various member states which form ECOWAS, and such withdrawal should be decided at the level of Authority of Heads of States and Government, since they came together to form a common union.
Again, the formation of the Union is to see to the welfare of citizens within member states and added that the vision 2050 of ECOWAS which was presented last week Saturday, December 4. 2021 in Abuja is geared towards that.
“One of the things we were looking at is the Community of people as a theme, and we were looking at full integration of the citizens; opening of our boarders; issues on our monetary zone, as such no one country who has appended their signature to be part of the Community would decide that they would just walk away”.
The final sitting of the 39 member adhoc committee on the consideration of the draft consolidated community budget for the year 2022 was delayed by over four hours due to severe protest by the Portuguese speaking Parliamentarians who threatened to withdraw from every engagements of ECOWAS.
Plenary Session at Abuja
The Portuguese speaking member states’ agitation came as a result of being omitted during the distribution of translated working documents during the final sitting of the committee in Abuja.
Expressing the worries to the adhoc committee, one of the Portuguese speaking parliamentarians, Gabriela Alfredo Fernandes said the act of them being marginalized or excluded most of the times in the affairs of ECOWAS is a recurring event which must be stopped.
She insisted that henceforth they will never allow themselves to be treated as a second fiddle in the affairs of the parliament.
The situation which the committee condemned in strong term was however, brought under control by the parliamentarians.
The Chairman of the adhoc committee, Senator Ali Ndume who shared the pains of his colleagues said strong recommendation would be made to the leadership of ECOWAS Parliament to forestall future occurrence.
Mr. Emmanuel Bedzrah in an interview again pointed out that parliament is just one of the institutions of ECOWAS, and Cape Verde having issues with parliament is not enough ground to opt out of the community bloc.
“Let me place on record that the staffs in parliament need to do more, I witnessed the incident in question in one of our committee meetings, and at the plenary, where the budget from the Commission was presented to the parliament and that for the Portuguese colleagues were not part”.
He emphasised that the issue came up at the plenary and added that if it’s an issue having interpreters, the Community Parliament need to get them and pay them to work so that the needed materials can be worked on.
“We are members of equals from the community; it would not be fair that English and French speaking countries to have their documents, whiles the Portuguese speaking countries do not have theirs. It’s not fair if we claim that we are all equal of the community”.
Mr Alexander Akwesi Acquah, the Member of Parliament for Akim Oda in the Eastern Region said the call for the rebuilding of the Oda Central Market is a genuine one and a step in the right direction.
However, he noted that it is not just about rebuilding, but what they are looking for must be something that cures the very reasons why the Ghana National Fire Service could not help salvage some of the shops and their contents during the inferno.
Thus, a modern market is being considered with good access to the facility and modern facilities befitting of a municipality like Birim Central that is surrounded by about seven more districts.
The MP asserts that a project of that magnitude would require adequate planning and funding, as such discussions are ongoing to that effect.
Mr. Akwesi Acquah who was responding to calls from the traders to the aforementioned problem during the second batch of financial disbursement to the traders allayed their fears that reconstruction of the market has not been abandoned.
He assured that in the meantime, efforts would be instituted to make the place conducive for trading activities while they look forward to having that befitting modern market built.
On Tuesday, December 7, 2021 the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) collaborated with the office of the Member of Parliament for Akim Oda to provide a three million, one hundred and sixty-one thousand, five hundred Ghana Cedis (GHS3, 161,500.00) to five hundred and ninety-nine (599) traders who suffered losses during the September 13, 2021 fire that ravaged the Oda Central Market.
MASLOC earlier came to the aide of some 500 traders with a one million Ghana Cedis support with each trader receiving GHC2000.00 each.
The cash support is to enable the traders revamp their business and get back on their feet once again.
First Deputy Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament Joseph Osei-Owusu on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 directed the clerks at table to correct the votes and proceedings of the House to reflect that, last week Wednesday, December 1, 2021 he ruled on the approval of the 2022 budget that the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu challenged where there was an uproar which he suspended the House for an hour.
“We are correcting the votes and proceedings what is recorded here is not correct whether the Minority thinks I am not entitle to rule is another matter; what I am saying here is that I ruled what is reported here was that I was ruling and it was interrupted. It appears that the ruling did not conclude”.
He told the House in the morning that he wants that to reflect and is not about yes, or no as the record is available and he had played the video to the table office when he saw the votes and proceedings and want that reflected.
“To raise issues with it, you are entitled to that, what I have to do or not to do that is a different matter altogether; let the correction reflect as we await a motion challenging the ruling by the Minority Leader”.
Deputy Majority Leader when he catched the eye of the Speaker noted that he wanted the votes and proceedings to correct and point out that the Majority Leader Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu raised a point of order which should be captured.
And in addition submitted that one’s there was a point of Order the subsequent debate of the Minority Leader’s motion does not tie the hand of the First Deputy Speaker and should reflect in the votes and proceedings.
Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has served notice to the First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu that he would come by a motion to challenge his conduct as the First Deputy Speaker.
According to him he would file a motion under Order 93 (5) and further noted that their side would call for the recordings of Wednesday, December 1, 2021 for examination. They would look at it critically.
“As far as we are concerned you attempted to rule and there was an uproar and there was a suspension and adjournment that is what we know, you cannot operate the standing orders at your wimps and caprices”, he stated.
During the correction of votes and proceedings on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 the Minority Leader disagreed with the First Deputy Speaker when he directed the clerks to make changes to reflect that he gave a ruling on the 2022 budget statement as approved while the Minority Leader challenged it resulting in an uproar.
“Mr. Speaker, there was an uproar; you had to put the question that was moved by me and seconded by Mahama Ayariga. There was some disturbances in the House, you suspended the House as far as we are concerned and Second Deputy came to Adjourn the House.
“When I hear you now saying that you are giving directives to table to do what, you told the House you are not the Speaker you are a member of parliament for Bekwai if so, my application was to the Speaker, you are not the Speaker. So Mr. Speaker the only correction which I should think which should reflect and I hope you direct table to do so is that in moving my motion I referred to article 102 and standing order 109 of the parliament of Ghana”.
He added that the First Deputy Speaker as a lawyer reference to our constitution and standing orders should at all times be respected. I have a difficulty with the directive you are giving to the table office because as far as they are concerned, I moved a motion, it was seconded, after that yours is simply to put the question nothing more.
Again, a decision by this House is not some ones imagination; the majority inside parliament is about members present; meaning members available and voting. Therefore, I have a difficulty with the directive you are giving the table office.
The office of the Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, through the support of the Ghana Enterprises Agency has presented and distributed an amount of three million one hundred and sixty one thousand, five hundred Ghana cedis (GHS3, 161, 500.00) to some traders affected by the September 13, 2021 fire that ravaged the Oda Central Market.
Some 599 traders would be beneficiaries of this new support, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency, Mrs Kosi Yankey-Ayeh announced.
This is the second batch of financial support to the traders since the unfortunate incident that saw shops and goods worth millions of Ghana cedis destroyed.
Earlier, MASLOC disbursed about one million Ghana cedis (GHS1, 000,000.00) to 500 traders with each receiving GHS2000.00 each.
Presenting a dummy cheque to the traders to signify the handing over of the cash amount to the traders for distribution, Mrs Kosi Yankey-Ayeh said this is a different directive from the President, Nana Akufo-Addo to the GEA to marshal funds to support the traders after his visit to the market when he toured the Eastern Region.
According to her, unlike the MASLOC disbursement that every individual received the same amount, the GEA’s disbursement would be based on merit (the type of trade one is engaged in) so that each individual would have sufficient fund to rejuvenate their business.
The Member of Parliament for Akim Oda whose efforts finally brought this relief to the traders also called on them to remain focused in investing the money in their business and nothing else.
He said, it is not for nothing that the money is coming at this season of Christmas, adding that it is an opportune time for them to start and revamp their businesses once again and make some money this festive season.
He assured them that the Ghana Enterprises Agency would be embarking on a regular visit to monitor how well they are utilizing the financial support extended to them, and that would serve as a basis for extending more support when the need be.
The Chairman of the Roads and Transport Committee, Kennedy Osei Nyarko has categorically stated that, government’s introduction of Electronic levy (E-levy) is not a substitute or a replacement for road tolls.
He explained that, government’s decision to close all toll booths across the country was to do away or reduce heavy vehicular traffic on roads, but not to take the proceeds or money from Ghanaians through E-Levy tax.
Mr. Nyarko further noted that, some members of the Minority MPs and their party communicators, on radio and TV as panelists keep deceiving most Ghanaians that, government has introduced the Electronic levy (E-Levy) to replace the road tolls in order to generate more revenue from the citizens, whether you have car or not, government would take the money from you as long as you send MOMO over Gh100.
The Chairman said, government has no plans to take money in place of the road toll from any Ghanaian either through the E-Levy or renewals of vehicular road wealthy at the DVLA.
He said, Communications of such kind are all false and propaganda, just to make the government to look bad in the eyes of many Ghanaians.
Mr. Kennedy Osei Nyarko made these clarifications in an interview in Parliament.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Bekwai Joseph Osei-Owusu has hinted that economists on both sides of the House have agreed that unless something drastically is done, the Ghanaian economy would collapse.
This, he said, was made known at the meeting in the wake of the brouhaha over the 2022 budget rejection and approval by the House.
According to him he is not aware if a head way has been made as Leadership of the Majority side of the House is of the view that the E-Levy is the way to go, while the Minority side is totally against the introduction of E-Levy.
“I know further discussions are going on but as at now, I do not know if they have reached any conclusion yet”.
This is the second batch of financial support to the traders since the unfortunate incident that saw shops and goods worth millions of Ghana cedis destroyed.
According to her, unlike the MASLOC disbursement that every individual received the same amount, the GEA’s disbursement would be based on merit (the type of trade one is engaged in) so that each individual would have sufficient fund to rejuvenate their business.
