Category: Uncategorized

The minority through its ranking member on the Health Committee of parliament and MP for Juaboso, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has called on the Majority side in Parliament to cooperate with the Minority to investigate into the COVID-19 expenditure.

He explained further that, an Ad-hoc committee involving both health and finance committee which was constituted by the Speaker to investigate into the expenditure has failed to do its work since it was formed.

Mr Akandoh further said, the Chairman of Committee, Dr Ayew Afriyie is not showing any seriousness about the mandate assigned to them as a committee and has called for meeting just once.

Mr Akandoh used the opportunity to call on the Chairman to show leadership by calling members on the committee to begin the investigation immediately for Ghanaians to know everything about the COVID-19 expenses.

Ghanamps.com

The Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin has withdrawn his proposals to the Anti-Gay bill.

His motion was to give an alternative to convicted persons a community service instead of custodial sentence were all shot down by the House.

The leader was surprised about Speaker’s directive to withdraw his amendments since those proposals are alien to the process of law enactment in the House.

On another proposal from Mr Afenyo Markin on the mandatory commission of counselling to the convicted persons was also shot down and finally withdrawn from the Bill.

It is the sense of the House that there will be no further delays in the passage of the Bill.

The Nigo- Prampram MP, Mr Samuel Nartey George argued that the proposal of Mr. Afenyo Markin which seems to introduce a mandatory counselling will put cost on the consolidated fund which is contrary to the constitution of Ghana on private members’ Bill.

But the Deputy Majority Leader argues that the custodial sentence in the current form still puts a charge on the consolidated fund.

Ghanamps.com

In a meeting on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 with President Nana Akufo-Addo and the National Officers of the ruling NPP party, Majority Leader Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu turned in his resignation letter as leader of the caucus.
He thanked President Nana Akufo-Addo for the opportunity to serve the Party as its Majority Leader.

“I have served the Party diligently ever since I entered Parliament on the same day, January 7, 1997, with the President. I believe I have served the Party very well to the best of my ability, and I have no regrets.

There is a difficult battle ahead of us, to which enterprise all of us must commit ourselves. We are at a critical juncture that requires absolute unity and peace within our ranks to successfully prosecute the “Breaking the 8 Agenda”.

In my absence from the Country, certain issues had been raised to which I have been connected. I do not want to be the eye of the storm. Nothing should be done that would precipitate cataclysmic consequences. That is why I am stressing peace and unity, he stated.

He extended his sincerest gratitude to his colleagues for all the partnership and assistance they have provided to propel the agenda of the Party, and latterly, government.

“At this stage, I would want to inform Mr. President, the Members of Leadership, herein present, the Leadership of the Party, and all others, that I voluntarily declare my intent to step down as the Majority Leader before you my colleagues here and now, in order to afford the Caucus the opportunity to choose their leader.

I thank you Mr. President for the opportunity afforded. Thank you all once again.”

Ghanamps.com

Ghana’s fourth republican dispensation has so far seen a number of Speakers over the period. However, majority of these Speakers have only managed to serve a parliament.

The fourth republic, has thus recorded only one Speaker who had the opportunity of serving in two different parliaments. Thus, the first and second parliaments.

Meet Justice Daniel Annan – Speaker of parliament from 1993 through to 2001.

For more information click here

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa has announced that all 600 occupants of the newly commissioned North Tongu MP and Partners Safe Alternative Housing Projects will not be required to pay any rent.

The MP wrote on his facebook post saying, “Glad to announce that all 600 beloved occupants of our newly commissioned North Tongu MP & Partners Safe Alternative Housing Projects in Mepe & Aveyime will enjoy free rent & free utilities for the next three years.”

According to him, his vision is to convert both facilities into a Nursing Training Institute leveraging on the famous Battor Catholic Hospital after three years when it is hoped that all the VRA spillage victims would have been resettled permanently.

“May God bless our good intentions and recovery efforts. In this together, rising together”, he said.

Ghanamps.com

Citi News has gathered that Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the current Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, is to be replaced by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the current Deputy Majority Leader.

There is no immediate indication as to whether the Suame MP will keep his role in government as Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.

What is clear, however, is that he is likely to be named as the Chairman of the NPP’s 2024 Manifesto Committee.

Frank Annoh Dompreh, the present Majority Chief Whip and MP Nsawam-Adoagyiri will ascend to the role of Deputy Majority Leader, thereby creating space for Habib Iddrisu, the current First Deputy Chief Whip, to assume the position of Majority Chief Whip.

Sources indicate that Patricia Appiagyei, is likely to be named as the First Deputy Majority Chief Whip.

This vacancy comes after the incumbent, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, was recently nominated by President Nana Akuffo-Addo as Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation.

The position of Second Deputy Chief Whip, according to sources, is likely to be filled by Alex Tetteh Djornobuah, MP for Sefwi-Akontombra.

A key meeting of the NPP’s National Council is scheduled for Monday to carry out, among other things, a shakeup of the majority front bench, following President Akuffo-Addo’s Valentine’s Day Ministerial Reshuffle last week.

Meanwhile, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, is expected to present his campaign team to the National Executive Committee and National Council of the party today, Monday, February 19, 2024.

Names of members of the campaign team are expected to be announced after this meeting.

According to Citi News sources within the party, the former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Dan Botwe, is likely to be named as campaign manager for the 2024 general election.

Mr. Dan Botwe was part of the ministers who were relieved of their post last week in a reshuffle done by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani East Kwesi Ameyaw- Cheremeh on Friday, 16 February 2024 was elected as Speaker to chair affairs of the day.

Ghana’s standing orders permit the House to elect another MP to preside over proceedings in the absence of the Speaker and his deputies.

MPs have been discussing business for next week. Per standing order 12(4), “whenever the Speaker, the first deputy and the second deputy speaker are unavoidably absent, the Clerk shall chair the sitting for the election of a Member to preside at that sitting.

Mr Cheremeh was nominated by Mr. Annoh Dompreh and seconded by minority chief whip Governs Agbodza.
As the House approved the nomination, Mr. Cheremeh proceeded to take the chair as the Member Presiding to start the day’s proceedings.

He’s the first MP in the 4th republic to preside for a day. A couple of MPs rose up to congratulate Mr. Cheremeh for his one-day ascension to the chair as Speaker for today’s sitting with some calling it ‘historic’ in Ghana’s parliamentary jurisprudence where an MP is made to chair proceedings in the Speaker’s absence.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin  and Member of Parliament for Effutu on Thursday, 15 February 2024 arrested the third reading of the promotion of proper Sexual Right and Ghanaian Family value Bill 2021 popularly know as anti-gay bill 2021.

He raised concerns over the imprisonment of individuals for their sexual orientation under the Bill and called on the House to take a second consideration to enable him to move some amendments on the custodial sentencing.

The Bill proposes a six-month to three-year jail term for those caught in the act and three to five years jail for promoters and activists of LGBTQ.

Coming under Standing Order 1711, Afenyo-Markin advocated amendments that would see prison sentences replaced with community service.

While expressing support for the overall objectives of the bill, Afenyo-Markin argued that penalizing individuals with jail terms for their sexuality could undermine Ghanaian family values and human sexual rights rather than protect them.

He said, “Jailing a person for their sexuality is not the solution in maintaining the Ghanaian family values and ensuring proper human sexual rights.”

The third reading would have signified the passage of the anti-gay Bill by Parliament, which would then be submitted to the President for assent.

Hon disclosed that the government is on the verge of introducing a Community Sentencing Bill, which aims to offer non-custodial sentences as alternatives to imprisonment. He urged the House to consider this approach by amending the anti-gay bill to include community service options.

This measure, he said, will lead to a more compassionate and effective judicial system.

“I strongly hold the conviction that the integration of community service as an alternative to incarceration will substantially bolster the efficacy and compassion of our judicial system.”

“The essence of this motion is for the august body to thoroughly consider amendments proposed to the bill with a view of substituting community service for incarceration,” Afenyo-Markin stated.

The Deputy leader subsequently introduced 13 amendments after his motion for a second consideration stage was carried.

Ghanamps.com

Reacting to the news on the reshuffle made by President Nana Akufo-Addo on the floor of the House, Deputy Minority Leader Kofi Armah Buah has noted that the move is dead on arrival.

According to him the reshuffle was long awaited after seven years the good people of Ghana have called on President Nana Akufo-Addo when it became evident that some of his Ministers were not performing.

According to him, not even a call from section of the Majority members to the president even yielded any result when it was most needed.

“You do not wait until the boat capsizes. It is clear this has come a little too late, ten month left, what would the ministers do, they would not have the opportunity to make any impact”, he said.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com