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The Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson has expressed worry over the intention of government to introduce export and import (restrictions on Importation of selected strategic products) regulations, 2023 bill.

According to him the introduction of this Bill would create injustice against importers who are not on the side of government by denying them the license to import, especially where a committee is to be set up by the Minister at the Trade and Industry Ministry to interview and grant permits.

Dr. Ato used the opportunity to call on government to reconsider its decision on the new L.I since it wouldn’t serve any better purpose to Ghanaians at a media briefing with members of the parliamentary press Corps (PPC).

He hinted that the Minority would not do anything to stop government from introducing the bill since the constitution mandates it.

Again if this Legislative Instrument goes through, Ghanaians should blame the president and vice president directly and it is not a parliament matter. If you look at the constitution it’s the president who can withdraw it, he said.

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The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor has set the record straight on the brouhaha on sales of State lands particularly the residence of the Clark of Parliament.

He said the claim by the NDC Minority that the residence of Clark of Parliament was sold in 2019 was not true.

Mr. Abdulai Jinapor made it known that, the said residence was sold in 2015 under the administration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under former President John Dramani Mahama by the Minister for Works and Housing to a Private developer.

Also, the minister further gave a clarity to the issues on the sale of UNESCO land situated close to Ghana Police headquarters which he said the land belonging to UNESCO has not been sold as Minority are trying to put out there and that, the organization is still occupying their residence as at today.

He made this known when it got to his turn to debate the 2024 Economic Policy of the Nana Akufo-Addo led government, on Thursday, November 24, 2023.

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Leader of Government Business in the Parliament of Ghana, Osei-Kyei Mensah Bonsu has admonished his colleagues from the Minority side to refrain from linking him to campaigning for the running mate position in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

According to him anytime his colleagues from the opposite side of the House get up to debate the 2024 budget they want to link him to competing for the running mate slot of the NPP.

He drew the attention of the Speaker to the former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu linking him up to this when he had the opportunity to address an issue on the floor of the House on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.

And the Minority whip Governs Kwame Agbodza repeated same on Thursday, November 23, 2024 when it got to his turn to debate the 2024 budget statement on the floor of the House.

“Let me make it emphatically clear, I am not involved in campaigning for running mate position, and it should be loud and clear; my colleague should not involve himself in conjectures he said. I probably voted for the vice president in my constituency and it has nothing to do with the budget”.

And further backed his point with order 93 clause 3 by saying relevance and conduct of the Member of Parliament, his colleague should stay away from that comment.

“I know you are capable in debating do not involve yourself in extraneous matters not related to the budget” and the speaker confirmed that the Majority Leader is right his name was mention and he is not in contest and the issue of relevance is important.

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Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central Sampson Tangombu Chiragia has noted that through the proactive nature of the Chairman of the Public Account Committee (PAC) Dr. James Klutse Avedzi and his Ranking Kofi Okyere Agyekum, the eighth (8th) Parliament has been able to address years of arrears of audited reports from the Auditor General.

According to him what has worked in their favor has been the resolve by the Chairman and his Ranking to tackle two years report within a year and they had to zone the whole country into four and try to catch up with the gap which dates back to 2016.

In the Northern sector, the Committee moved to have its public hearings there, then for the Central zone which comprises Ashanti and Brong Regions, then the Western zone. “We have the Central and Western Region then Greater Accra, Eastern and Ho also had their public hearings which add up to four zones”, he said.

The Navrongo Central lawmaker who is a member of the Committee pointed out in an interview that in the year 2021, the PAC try to catch up because the backlog was too much, “so as we speak we have covered a lot; we have done it up to 2022”.

By June next year he noted that PAC will tackle the 2023 report of the Auditor General whiles in September 2023 he is hopeful the 2024 Audited Account should be dealt with and expecting that by 2025 they should be full up to date.

And further revealed that previously he believes PAC was using a year to address Auditor General’s report and further explained that it has not been easy for the Committee members during recess. “When we have to be with our constituents, we have to move around, we have been busy for the past two years, we have not had time at all to stay at our constituencies.”

On issues of infractions as whether there has been improvement, he noted that when they had their public hearing in September this year, they noticed there has been some level of improvement when it comes to procurement issues.
The Financial Management Act was passed in 2016 and if you could not find receipt at the time of audit and there is infractions you are supposed to pay; salary and vacation of post, we use to face challenges on that all but those things have reduced drastically, he said.

Again, on procurement since we started referring people to the Attorney General for prosecution people are doing the right thing and the procurement issues have reduced drastically.

According to him, the only issue they are facing now is with Zoomlion, stating that when it comes to sanitation, monies are paid in advance towards addressing sanitation issues, but assured that the committee is dealing with it. “We have warned all the Assemblies not to pay money in advance before contracts are done”, he stated.

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The Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin has stated that the Minority in Parliament has no alternative solutions to Ghana’s economy else, they would have come up with an alternative to the budget that was presented by the finance minister last week while contributing to debate on the floor of the House.

According to him the President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government has done what the NDC could not do with respect to the implementation of free SHS. The NDC failed to increase the number of students on school feeding program which they took over from.

Again former President John Dramani Mahama’s government, cancelled nursing and teacher trainees allowances.
He further argued that, the NDC minority has failed for targeting the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia by denting his image.

The Mahama, Atto Forson and Seth Terkper economy that failed to achieve the IMF conditionalities failed the people of Ghana, run to the IMF with home grown policies, handed power to the current administration, the IMF had no trust in them all disbursement that were supposed to make were not made but today you say you want to come back to power, he stated.

When the Minority Leader Dr Atto Forson challenged him through an intervention to prove his points, he said these are 2016 records, “incompetent record and a record of lack of understanding of the economy. And a record they themselves could not defend; stating that there was a one percent special levy the NPP inherited, seventy percent on imported levy on medicines, and domestic airlines attracted 17 percent VAT, but in the 2017 budget under NPP all the taxes were removed.”

Again when it comes to energy, the NPP government has kept the lights on indicating that when the NPP took over there were killer ‘take and pay’ agreements signed during the time of ‘dumsor’.

“You are the same crop of politicians trying to deceive Ghanaians that you can do better, what did you do better during your time in office, the Mahama, Terkper and Atto Forson economy but today the liberties of opposition is making you believe you have changed; what have you done? Nothing”.

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Member of Parliament for Tamale South Haruna Iddrisu raised serious concerns over the absence of any representative from the Ministry of Finance on the floor of the House during the second day of debate on the 2024 economic policy of the Akufo-Addo led government.

According to him he is aware the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta is outside the country to deal with Ghana’s multilaterals on the country’s debt restructuring, but there are two deputies on at the Ministry of Finance and a Minister of State.

He was however quick to point out to the House that Abena Osei Asare is usually on the floor of the House to do business on behalf of the Ministry.

He further pointed out to the speaker that the second day of debate should not start if none of the representatives of the Ministry is on the floor of the House. He also urged the Majority Leader to ensure that there is focus on government business on the floor of the House.

“I am aware one of the deputy ministers of finance is competing with him but the Majority Leader would get what he is competing for. He would get there; we would help you with prayers, but focus on parliament”. (He side in the wake of the name of John Kumah pupping out as a possible running mate to Dr. Bawumia).

Mr. Iddrisu further noted that Parliament’s work as oversight on the budget is a very important function, and Ghanaians want Parliament to control the public purse and supervise it well for their good.

Mr. Iddrisu added that in the days of late Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, he never missed the opportunity to be in Parliament, same with Seth Terkper who did well to be showing up sometimes on the floor.

He affirmed that the points they raise on the floor are not raised just for nothing, “we want improvement on economic governance and management.

Minority Leader Dr Ato Forson made an appeal for the debate of the budget to be carried on because there were visitors in the public gallery who wanted to listen to the major issue like the 2024 budget.

He added that it cannot be said that there is not representative from the finance ministry so the debate cannot continue and rather arrangements should be made to get any of the deputies to the floor for business to start.

Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin had to allow a statement to be made on the floor of the House, while the House awaits the appearance of any of the deputy Ministers of Finance or the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry for the debate to start.

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Members of Parliament have started debate on the 2024 annual budget stament presented on the floor of the House by Ken Ofori Ata, the Finance Minister.

Members of Parliament on the Minority side of the House justified why the budget cannot solve the economic hardships Ghanaians are going through.

Ranking Member for Finance, Issac Adongo was disappointed that his colleagues from the Majority were only twenty-three in number despite the fact that the budget is the economic policy from their side of the House and asked that if they are not interested in the budget they should make that known.

He was disappointed that the Finance Minister told Ghanaians to celebrate a projected GDP of one trillion Ghana cedis; it’s just a promise the Majority side have not delivered any promise, “go and tell the Euro Bond holders the things you promise them you have not been able to achieve them”.

Again, you said your growth would be 2.8 even when you are cooking the numbers you are not smart about it since when did we use nominal GDP to assess the performance of the economy; it was done during the stone age.

He queried if their colleagues from the Majority side would prefer John Mahama’s economy when they were taking kalipo for fifty pesewas to where they would now be paying six cedis.

He agrees with the Minister when he said they have impacted Ghanaians and households but stated that that impact is negative when he registered a growth of 0.4 percent and kept a lot of people at home.

“And he impacted us negatively when in 2017 he introduced thirty-two new taxes. Where have you reached with the E-Levy? Mr. Speaker, they impacted us negatively when they had double digit inflation, 15 percent in 2020, 12.1 percent in 2021 and 11. 8 percent in 2022; that is disastrous economic management.

Mr. Speaker when we are finding solutions do deal with the economy when they leave office and the former President John Mahama is promising a twenty four hour economy, someone who has disappointed the people of Ghana who said 1V1D and one million for each constituency which I am still waiting for. “He said John Mahama does not understand the twenty four hours economy. With all due respect Dr. Bawumia learnt economics at O- Level to PhD, no currency can depreciate to one hundred percent”.

He was not enthused that Dr. Bawumia after thirty years of studying economics and leading the country’s economic management team has this abysmal record, saying “this is the economy he has left us. When he has left issue on the economy and concentrating on digitalization, how would he understand the economy?” He queried,

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The Minister for Trade and Industry K. T Hammond on Monday, November 20, 2023 presented a Legislative Instrument (L I) which seeks to restrict the importation of certain products such as rice, diapers, animal intestines and other products.

Title of the L. I is Export and Import (Restriction on importation of selected strategic products Regulations, 2023 which is to be laid to stop businesspersons from importing into the Country such products which can be produced locally but are been import and hurting the economy.

According to the sector minister, an amount of One Hundred and Sixty Four Million Dollar is used to import only animal intestines annually for which the minister believes, could be invested into local animal productions to help build Ghana’s economy.

Trade and Industry Minister K. T. Hammond further explained at a media engagement that, government has taken such initiative to sanitize the system and also help build the local industries in order to produce more of what is consumed by Ghanaians.

But the sector Minister’s attempt to lay the paper was objected to by the Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who called for better explanation and clarity on all the twenty three products which are to be restricted by the laying of the L. I should it get Parliamentary approval.

Based on the action of the Minority Leader, the sector Minister agreed to return to the House on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 to perform the duty of laying of the papers.

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The Rt. Hon Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has revealed that his residence was almost sold out to a private developer.

According to him it was when the buyer attempted to register the land at the Lands Commission that he realized it was the Speakers residence.

He made this revelation at the Speaker Breakfast Forum organized in Accra on Monday, November 20, 2023 a collaboration between Parliament of Ghana and Star Ghana Foundation on the theme.

“ Thirty years of Parliamentary Democracy under the Fourth Republic: Reflections on Citizens Engagement and the way Forward.

Many of you don’t know that even the residence of the Speaker was almost sold to the private sector. Actually, it was given out.

“It was when they went to register that the Lands Commission identified that that was the residence of the Speaker. Luckily, I was inside, so it was saved,” he stated.

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The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to be intentional in their actions to improve their core mandates and the welfare of their constituents.

According to him as leaders, it is a duty and not just to earn a badge of honour beyond the mere title of Honourable but rather strive hard to be known for honourable deeds and character.

The Speaker further said, legislatures cannot overlook the fact that the media and public auditors of ethics, performance and standards monitor Parliament constantly and cannot remain oblivious to their watchful eyes therefore it is about time MPs wake up to this reality.

He further added that, the annual post budget workshop has the primary goal for equipping members of Parliament and Senior Officers of the Parliamentary Service with the skills required to scrutinize the Budget and Economic Policy of the Executive arm of government for the 2024 fiscal year.

“It also has the objective of providing MPs with insight into the budget, interrogating to provide an effective oversight role that articulates the government’s policies and programmes” he added.

He said, the key expected outcomes of the workshop would be the quality deliberations of the statement on the floor of the House in the ensuing day’s relevant legislation and the ultimate Appropriation Act for the 2024 financial year.
Mr. Speaker therefore reminded the MPs of their duties to their representatives who had invested their trust in them and are looking forward to them to prove their worthiness of the title duty bearers.

Per the outcome of CDD Afro Barometer research on trust ratings on state institutions, the judiciary had ten per cent, the executive had Fourteen percent, the electoral Commission ten per cent and Parliament eight per cent.

“Honourable members we must change our minds, attitudes and the ways we conduct ourselves and our business. If you are not worried about the ratings, I’m really distressed,” Mr Bagbin said.

The Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin made all these comments at the opening ceremony of a two day post budget workshop which was organized at the plenary of Parliament of Ghana on Saturday 18, 2023.

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