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The Minister of Health Kwabena Minta Akandoh has told Parliament that his Ministry is fully committed to addressing the cholera and meningitis outbreaks as they work with their partners to control the outbreak to protect the health of all Ghanaians.

According to him they are implementing a range of measures to address these challenges including:
* Strengthening surveillance to detect and track cases.
* Providing timely and effective treatment to those affected.
* Raising public awareness about prevention and control measures.
* Collaborating with local and international partners to coordinate our
response.

In addition to that he pointed out that together with his team they have been to the following places:
• Upper West (Meningitis Response)
• Regional Health Directorate
• Wa Na’s Palace
• Nadowli District Hospital
• Queen of Peace SHS
• Wa Regional Hospital
• Greater Accra and
• Central Regions
For Cholera Response, the team visited
• Mamprobi hospital
• Martyrs of Uganda School
• Winneba Municipal Hospital
• Winneba Township
• Winneba Beach front and
• Swedru Municipal Hospital

He further encouraged all health workers especially those in the hard-hit districts to support the ongoing response to the outbreak.

Similarly, he called on the Municipal/District Assemblies including local authorities responsible for water, sanitation, and food safety, to actively play their part in enforcing local bye-laws, ensuring access to safe water as well as the media to support the public education and awareness some more to fully prevent any further spread of these outbreaks.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Members of the National Democratic Congress in the Dendo Sasekope Ward in the South Tongu Municipality have received a cash donation of five thousand Ghana cedis for delivering the highest percentage of votes in the December 7, 2024, Presidential and Parliamentary elections in the constituency.

The event was graced by constituency executives, branch/ward leaders and local electorates, reinforcing the strong ties between the Member of Parliament Maxwell Kwame Lukutor and his people as he fulfilled his promise.

Addressing the community, the MP expressed deep appreciation for their overwhelming support and assured them of his dedication to both legislative duties and constituency development.

He emphasized the importance of investing the funds wisely to address local challenges, urging the community to use the donation for a sustainable project that would benefit everyone.

“This is a reward for your hard work and loyalty to the NDC. Your determination contributed significantly to our party’s success. However, this money will only be meaningful if used to solve a problem or improve the community. Let’s make it count,” he stated.

The Dendo-Sasekope ward recorded an impressive 75% voter turnout, with a staggering 94% of votes cast for NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama.

This contribution helped South Tongu to achieve a national-best performance of 93.33% for the NDC. The landslide victory saw Mr Lukutor secure a commanding 40,668-votes margin over the NPP, further solidifying the party’s dominance in the constituency.

Hon. Kwame Lukutor’s strong grassroots connection and leadership approach played a pivotal role in securing this trust and loyalty. His fulfillment of campaign promises signals a new era of accountable leadership, setting an example for political representatives across the country.

Ghanamps.com

Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has told Parliament that the Finance Minister Dr. Ato Forson will present President John Dramani Mahama’s first budget on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 on the floor of the House on behalf of the President.

According to him the Finance Minister indicated that he was prepared to present the budget on Monday, March 10, 2025 but he indicated to him that the House does not sit on Mondays hence the need to push it to Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

This came to light on Friday, February 14, 2025 when the Minority wanted to know when the Finance Minister will be in the House to present this year’s budget.

Meanwhile, the Leader of Government Business has revealed to the House that the President will be in the House on Thursday, February 27, 2025 to deliver his message on the State of the Nation (SONA).

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The South Tongu lawmaker, Kwame Maxwell Lukutor believes for accelerated development at the various constituencies and Assemblies there is a need for strong collaboration between Members of Parliament and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDAs).

According to him he has decided not to take sides as to who becomes the next Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) in his Municipality so he has decided to stay neutral.

He affirmed that he was elected to represent the people at the legislature and not as an MCE, and that is what he is focused on. But hopes who ever will be given the opportunity would be someone who will deliver effectively whether the MP is there or not. “You must be sure someone is keeping your back not withstanding his position”.

He believes that any party member who has helped the party to come to government and is competent for the role and being appointed should not be an issue.

For us, once we all believe we are from one constituency and understand each other we hold it a duty to work together to promote development. We should be able to help whoever is given the nod to play his or her role as an MCE. “There were ten people for that slot, I called all of them and assured them I was positively neutral and wish all of them well”, he said in an interview.

He disclosed that in the build-up to their short listing, there were some misunderstandings and “I tried to resolve them and cautioned people to tone down because we are one people; it’s only one who will be selected and appointed. Some have been short listed, we are waiting for the one person to be appointed by the president, we will all be behind and ensure the assembly members confirm them”.

On the issue of MPs not being development agents, he maintained that despite their primary role as lawmakers, they owe some responsibility to their constituents, adding that one cannot only come to make laws and leave development out in the constituency.

“The responsibility given to you as an MP, you need to widen your scope with the MPs common fund; you need to leverage on your position to get more for your constituents” stating that he has had some meetings with leadership of some companies to see what they can do in terms of corporate social responsibility to be able to help the constituents.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Amenfi West lawmaker  Eric Afful has raised concerns about the growing disorder in parliament anytime the Rt. Hon Speaker, Alban Bagbin is not presiding over affairs in the House.

According to him whenever the two deputy Speakers, Bernard Ahiafor, and Andrew Amoako Asiamah are in the chair the House seems to lack decorum, particularly the 2nd deputy Speaker.

“The Minority becomes more hostile; it is not the best and should not be entertained, hence my call for the House to be sitting in the afternoon from two o’clock. By then the Speaker himself would have been around; and Members of Parliament can have time to be on the floor. Professionals among us like doctors and lawyers can also go about their duties in the morning and comeback to the chamber for business. Again traffic will not be an issue for us to have the numbers to transact business” he stated in an interview.

Again, one benefit we will have is that we avoid seeing students travel from very long distances like Northern Ghana to the House to observe proceedings; rather they can observe behind television sets from their schools.

Additionally, our constituents can have the opportunity of watching live proceedings by the afternoon as those who are farmers as well as others who manage shops can go about their duties in the morning but make time to observe proceedings from two o’clock to eight o’clock.

Mr Afful further revealed that when he raised the matter on the floor of the House, staffs of Parliament have issues with the time he was proposing on the floor of the House on Friday, February 14, 2025, and approached him on it, indicating that their closing time will be late when the new proposal is adopted.

He however, added that the Parliamentary staff need to assist them on this because any new policy one will encounter the merit and demerit, but one needs to choose the best option that can help solve the problem.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The New Patriotic Party Minority in Parliament continue to raise the issue of quorum and keep delaying government business, a situation many never saw coming considering the huge number of the Majority.

As first-time lawmakers form a huge chunk of the numbers in the ninth Parliament of Ghana and most of them are yet to settle down with issues of accommodation and settle down into their offices.

But a first-time Member of Parliament representing South Tongu, Kwame Maxwell Lukutor believes the Minority is only playing to the gallery by raising issue of quorum knowing what the problem really is.

According to him, a large number of the MPs in the ninth parliament are first-timers and are yet to fully settle in as many are currently logging in hotels as they struggle with accommodation issues.

“Again, we have just gone through elections; most of our resources have been used in campaigning, other MPs who have worn were formally working somewhere and will have to go and hand over.”

“So the first month has been a bit herculean for us, we are not lackadaisical in doing our work; any time the Minority raised issues of quorum you look at the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin and behind him you see only seven (7) of his members out of the eighty-seven (87) members”

According to him, the Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga at a point told him, if they are not going to make use of their numbers, it will be reduced further in the next elections. “It is a general situation with first- time MPs, not only the Majority. “We are trying to find our feet, and so many things are happening at the same time.”

In addition we know what we signed up for and we are ready to do that and we are not reneging on our responsibilities. Committees are yet been formed, we do not have committee meetings, government is still being formed, he noted.

He said it is also not true that the first-time MPs are out there trying to lobby for positions, stating that “we have 186 MPs, and only 40 will come from the House, and we have senior lawmakers we came to meet in the House, “so it cannot be the case that we are only out there lobbying”.

He also raised the issue of some of the MPs who lost their seats and are yet to completely pack out of their offices so that others can have them.

The South Tongu lawmaker pointed out that, sometimes they are told meetings will start at eight (8:00am) but it will rather take place eleven (11:00am) by then you have not taken your breakfast and there is no proper place for food in Parliament.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

 Amenfi West lawmaker in Ghana’s Parliament  Eric Afful is pushing for the Nation  to start sitting in the afternoon to make time for lawmakers to attend to business of the House in their numbers as issues of quorum most of the time are raised when serious business of the House is in motion.

According to him his colleagues in the Minority usually come under order 54 and article 102 of the 1992 Ghanaians Republic constitution when the number in the House seems small.

“Let us shift our sitting time from 10:00am in the morning to 2:00 pm; it will help MPs to be in their seats so that the morning can be used for administrative duties and help ministers of state to prepare adequately to come and answer parliamentary questions and the Speakers to have other administrative works to do”.

The Amenfi West MP who has been a member of the Business Committee for almost eight years indicated that he has visited other World Parliaments and gave an example of Zambian Parliament where sitting starts in the afternoon, stating that “if we can do this, it will go a long way to help us”.

Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga on his part indicated that he has always advocated for afternoon sitting having gone round the West Africa sub-regional Parliaments and witnessed sitting being conducted in the afternoon.

This, he said allows the professionals who are lawmakers including doctors, lawyers and businessmen and women to go and practice when they get elected so that their services are not missed; and added that for now nothing can be done but it is for the Speaker of Parliament to decide.

Kwaku Saky-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central Patrick Yaw Boamah has urged the House to give priority to the setting up of the House Committee at the start of the life span of every Parliament as there are urgent issues that has to be dealt with.

According to him it is unacceptable that MPs will receive delegations to their office and it becomes impossible to use the elevator because it is not working; same with the air-conditioners in their offices.

He gave the advice when he recounted receiving a delegation to his office on the tenth floor but the delegation was met with a faulty elevator.

He further pointed out that this could have been addressed easily if the House Committee were in place.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Mr Bawah Muhammad Braimah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejura Sekyeredumase, has implored the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to institute an investigation into the burning down of the Ejura Police station by some irate youth on January 11, 2025.

The legislator also asked the Police Administration to bring all perpetrators involved in the incident to book to serve as deterrent to others.

In a statement read on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, February 13, Mr Braimah appealed to the IGP to urgently rebuild the police station and increase the number of police personnel to ensure effective policing in the town.

It will be recalled that on January 11, 2025, some irate residents from Ejura attacked the Ejura police station and set it ablaze following the sudden demise of Masaudu Shaibu, a suspect in lawful custody, assisting the Police in investigation over alleged purchase of a stolen mobile phone case.

The MP stated that the deceased, while in police custody, complained of stomach upset, and was subsequently rushed to the Ejura Government Hospital.

However, he died on admission at the health facility.

The news of Shaibu’s death spread like a wildfire in the Ejura township, infuriating the youth to mobilise themselves to attack the police station and set it ablaze.

The legislator expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and also condemned in no certain terms the burning down of the police station.

He bemoaned the recent youth vandalism of state facilities anytime there is a report of demise of a suspect in lawful custody.

The MP observed that most of the mob attacks were fuelled by misinformation over alleged police brutalities of victims.

While contributing to the statement, Mr Frank Afriyie, the MP for Afadjato South, expressed dismay over the frequent violence posture by the youth and advised that they employ dialogue in finding solutions to nagging matters.

The legislator expressed concerns about the First Aid administration in the country’s police stations and called for it to be taken seriously to save lives.

Mr Sanja Nanja, the MP for Atebubu Amantin and Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, the MP for Assin South, both shared their thoughts on the statement and added their voices for the IGP to investigate the matter and punish those involved in the arson attack on the police station.

Godwill Arthur- Mensah

The Appointment Committee of Parliament would on Monday, February 24, 2025, start vetting deputy minister nominees.

Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, Minister designate for public sector, will be the first to appear before the Committee, followed by Thomas Nyarko Ampem deputy Finance Minister designate, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, Deputy Interior and Sampson Ahi, Deputy Trade and Agribusiness and Industry.

Tuesday, February 25, 2025, will be the turn of Deputy Education Minister designate, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, Richard Gyan-Mensah, Deputy Minister designate for Energy and Green Transition, Deputy Minister designate, Food and Agriculture John Kofi Setor Dumelo.

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini, Deputy designate for Roads and Highways, Justice Srem-Sai Deputy Justice and Attorney General, Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Yusif Sulemana and Yussif Issaka Jajah Deputy Tourism Culture and Creative Arts will also have their turn.

The final lists of the first lists to be vetted on Thursday February 27, includes Rita Naa Odoley Sowah Deputy Minister designate for Local Government, chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Deputy Minister Works, Housing and Water Resources Gizella Akushika Tetteh-Agbotui and Ernest Brogya Genfi Deputy Minister of Defence.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com