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As controversy surrounds where the immediate past Minority Leader, Haruna should seat in the chamber, Majority chief whip Frank Annor Dompreh said it would be wrong to allow him seat three or two steps away from the front bench of the Minority.

According to him looking at the pedigree of the Tamale South lawmaker from his point of view it would be wrong for the current Minority Leadership to do that despite the fact that he is not the one to show where Haruna Iddrisu should seat.

“I can probably offer advice, if only they would talk to us for fair advice and can give that to Ahmed Ibrahim and Kwame Govern Agbodza and I think they should resolve this issue quickly, I have seen that Muntaka have been given a seat”, he said in an interview with journalists in Parliament.

And further pointed out that this is a lesson for the Majority side to learn from because it can happen to them, if they give any advice it should not be seen as spite, seating position is the work of the chief whip despite the fact that the leader has a say, he stated.

“I will have a word with the Minority chief whip it’s one thing for Haruna to complain, it’s another for the leadership to engage, the more it festers on the more it creates problem; it’s not an issue of cross carpeting, it’s about the intention and his intention is not to cross carpet”.

He said, “Mr. Speaker I have to speak from your position First Deputy Speaker”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The immediate past Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu said he is prepared to seat wherever he will be directed to seat or he is offered but as someone who was properly brought up he will not want to take over the seat of Mr. Collins Dauda who is his senior.

When the Tamale South lawmaker entered the chamber on Thursday, February 9, 2023 morning the issue of where he should seat arose despite earlier arrangements made for him to seat by former Majority Leader Cletus Avorka.

Contributing to the Foreign Affairs Committee Report on the African Union Convention on Cross Border Cooperation (NIAMEY Convention) he had to speak from the first Deputy Speakers seat.

The Tamale South lawmaker left the chamber few minutes after his contribution.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

President Nana Akufo-Addo would be in Parliament first week of next month to deliver his message of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) as required by the 1992 Republican Constitution of Ghana.

According to Leader of Government Business, the high point of the first meeting of the third session of the 8th Parliament is SONA and it has never happened in the 4th Republic that parliament reconvenes for its first meeting in February.

As usually it starts in January of every year, hence by the March 31, 2023 the House will have to break and it means they are going to have only eight weeks for the first meeting and is loaded and they have to do their best to achieve a lot, hence the need to work together to achieve a lot.

He made this remarks when leadership met with members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC), and further added that his colleagues in the Minority NDC have their primaries and when the House adjourns they have only one month to campaign in their backyard.

“This game is becoming something else and hence they cannot be kept in parliament, ample space should be granted them to go and engage their constituents”, he noted.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Majority Leader Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has cautioned journalists and Ghanaians to disabuse their their minds of cooperation between Majority and Minority meaning they are in bed.

According to him his remarks at the opening of the first meeting of the thirds session of the 8th Parliament, got misconstrued when he indicated that he had a good working relations with the immediate past Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu.

Again, as Majority Leader, you need to facilitate government business and you work harmoniously with the Minority Leader to achieve optimum effect for government business.

At a media engagement with members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 the Majority Leader pointed out that, there were many occasions that the Haruna Minority led group disagreed with him and the Majority especially on the account of policy.

When, government and their party had taken a policy decision that cannot be reconciled with the policy decision of the NPP, certainly there will be hick ups and you will see fireworks; it does not mean they are enemies.

And to the largest extent possible, one needs to work together. “We have to grow parliament and also ensure that parliament performs its assigned roles including legislation and financial control oversight and representation and so many.

He further revealed that when it comes to crafting of bills, those of them who participate in the willowing most of them are from the Minority and not from the Majority, that is how it’s supposed to be.

He said when he was a Minority Leader he was in charge of willowing, even as Minority leader you want to help grow parliament and underscore the need to want to help grow our democracy, you should disabuse your minds of this cooperation between the Majority and Minority to means they are in bed.

“Haruna and I we’re not gay but we are working to some determined principles to grow our democracy and parliament. When I was the Minority Leader and Cletus Avorka was the Majority Leader any time he came to Kumasi he will give me prior information and in the evening we met at a location and give ourselves a good treat”.

“I had not sold out to the Majority at that time, equally so for the Bagbin when he was the Majority Leader and we all know I went to his back yard to speak for him, I have not sold out to the Majority at that time but we needed really to grow parliament”.

And further pointed out that, that was the kind of relationship he had with the Member of Parliament for Tamale South when he was the Minority Leader for six years.

“You necessarily have to cultivate this friendship; Ato is a close friend, I know he is very rational, yet has a stiff neck when it comes to his policy decision, I hope I will not break the neck but twist it a bit”.

Again, he is very principled not withstanding you have to cultivate a good working relationship with him. I hope together we would be able to up scale the development of parliamentary democracy, he said in his remarks.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

President Nana Akufo-Addo has nominated the MP for Abetifi, Mr Bryan Acheampong, as the minister-designate for Food and Agriculture following the resignation of Mr Owusu Afriyie Akoto.

Mr Acheampong, a former Minister of State at the Ministry of the Interior and at the Ministry of National Security, is currently the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament.

He has a background in politics, business leadership, technology, media, intelligence and security.

The accomplished politician and business leader is expected to continue with the transformation agenda in a sector at the heart of the country’s quest for food security, high industrialization, and economic growth.

Many Ghanaians and industry experts have hailed his nomination as a strategic and visionary move by the President, considering his rich credentials and impressive accomplishments. If confirmed, Mr Acheampong will join a list of persons with a military background to lead the sector, with Major Courage Quashigah, Commodore Steve Obimpeh, and Colonel Frank Bernasko as previous agric ministers with an army background.

The minister-designate is a serial entrepreneur with successful investments in agriculture, hospitality, security, technology, media and real estate.

He possesses a bachelor’s degree, three master’s degrees, a PhD, a graduate diploma in law, and other certificates in management, leadership and journalism.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Johnson and Wales University, USA and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Johnson and Wales University, USA, a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Applied Intelligence from Georgetown University, USA, a Master of Arts (MA) in Security and Intelligence from the University of Leicester, UK, and a PhD in Information systems from the University of Ghana, Legon.

He also holds a graduate diploma in law from the University of Laws, certificates in Building, Leading, and Sustaining the Innovative Organization from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Effective Leadership in Management and Administration from the University of Ghana Business School, and Public Relations, Advertising, and Marketing from the Ghana Institute of Journalism.

He has worked as an Adjunct Lecturer in Electronic Business at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

In addition, he is a member of the Security Institute, a membership of security professionals.

His foundation, the Bryan Acheampong Foundation, has made valuable contributions to development in deprived communities with regular programs in agriculture, poverty reduction, health and education.

Ghanamps.com

The Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman Constituency in the Eastern Region; Thomas AmpemNyarko has presented cheques and amounts of over Two Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC200,000.00) to some 150 tertiary students from Asuogyaman District.

 These students comprise SHS graduates who have just gained admission and continuing students offering courses in various tertiary institutions in the country.

In a brief ceremony to present the cheques, Mr. Thomas Ampem Nyarko said he is aware of the difficulties parents go through with respect to paying off their ward fees and therefore presenting the cheques as a token to support them. “Each beneficiary will receive a minimum of GHC1, 000. I know this will not be enough to offset all your admission and accommodation fees, but it’s a token from me just to support you”.

 He added that, beneficiaries who will go and perform well in their studies will continue to receive support from the “Asuogyaman MP’s Tertiary Education Support Fund” until they complete their tertiary education. The Member of Parliament said he was grateful to some donors to the fund, especially Mr Wisdom Dogbe (USA), MrOtengDuahAlhassan (UK) and Mr Erick Washington (UK).

The District Director of Education for Asuogyaman; Madam AugustinaOwusu and Akosombohehe; Nana AnsahPrem IV also took turns to advise and encourage the beneficiaries on their educational journey. Madam AugustinaOwusu advised beneficiaries to study hard so that they can continue to get the needed support from the MP.

 She also advised those who have gained admission to offer courses in education to come and give back to Asuogyaman the benefits they are receiving and that is to accept postings back to Asuogyaman at the end of their studies.

 On his part, Nana AnsahPrem IV asked beneficiaries to continue to pray for the Member of Parliament and also those who support him in the many projects he is undertaking in the constituency.

 The “Asuogyaman MP’s Tertiary Education Support Fund” is one of the initiatives by Hon. Thomas AmpemNyarko to support the youth further their education and training and has supported hundreds of young men and women across the constituency since 2017.

 Another initiative by the MP is the “Thomas AmpemNyarko Skill Development and Youth Empowerment Program” (TANSDYEP) that has so far seen over 400 young men and women graduating with various skills with over 500 more under various forms of apprenticeship.

Ghanamps.com

The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central Mahama Ayariga has in the strongest term condemned military brutality inflicted on innocent civilians in his constituency by members of the Ghana Armed Forces which occurred on Wednesday, February 1, 2023.

According to him its totally unacceptable and assured that “I will leave no stone unturned in my fight for redress for these victims”.

The lawmaker who is a member of Ghanas delegation to the Community Parliament and currently in Guinea Bissau attending its first Extra Ordinary meeting, has learnt of gun fires last night across the Bawku town.

“The military, as part of their efforts to curtail the situation, chased anyone they saw. Information reaching me is to the effect that they were chasing some people and other people saw those being chased running and also took to their heels.

The military shot at them and in the process killed six civilians. A little boy who also run to hide behind some grasses was also shot. The grass caught fire and burnt him to death, making the number 7.

In addition, the Assemblyman for Missiga Electoral Area was physically assaulted by the military personnel and sustained serious injuries. Several unspeakable brutalities have been reported. “This is totally unacceptable and I condemn the military in very strong terms.

Mr. Mahama Ayariga recounted that similar killings of two men at patelmi because they allegedly broke curfew laws, this is preposterous.

Again, the Government must immediately investigate this report and bring to book the perpetrators of this dastardly act, he noted in a statement.

And urged everyone to lay down their weapons for them to work towards peace and not give opportunities to others to inflict such inhuman treatment on them.

Ghanamps.com

The Deputy Majority Chief Whip in Parliament, Alhaji Habib Iddrisu, through his Soya-Lana Education and Endowment Fund has given financial support to 200 brilliant but needy students in his constituency.

The beneficiary students, who are pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate degree, diploma and certificate courses, were drawn from several communities across the constituency.

The scholarship covered the entire tuition fees of all the female and disabled beneficiary students, while the male students received half of their tuition fees.

A total of Two Hundred and Eighty-One Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy-Seven Ghana Cedis (GHS 281,577.01) was disbursed to the students from the MPs Education and Endowment fund.

This is the second time, the MP through his Educational and Endowment Fund, is supporting the needy students in his constituency after a successful launch of the fund in 2021. Diamondfmonline.com understands that the gesture is in recognition of the MP’s Special Initiative on Education.

The Deputy Majority Chief Whip outdooredthe Soya-Lana Educational and Endowment fund in 2021 to sponsor brilliant but needy students from his constituency who are qualified to tertiary institutions.

In his speech at a short ceremony, Mr. Habib Iddrisu, said the initiative forms part of his efforts to enhance education in the area.

He underscored the importance of education and encouraged the beneficiary students to take their studies seriously so that they would be better equipped to transition into the country’s workforce.

Habib Iddrisu, also revealed his readiness to lobby for more scholarships for his constituents who are willing to study higher in their educational career.

Speaking after receiving the funds, some of the beneficiary students who could not hide their happiness thanked the MP and pledged to use the monies for the intended purpose.

Ghanamps.com

 

Former Minority chief whip, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka has refuted claims by the embattled new Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson that he has had fruitful discussion with the Tamale South lawmaker Haruna Iddrisu.

According to him the former Minority Leader has not recognised the new proposed leadership appointed by the National Party Executives and impressions should not be created as if the Tamale South lawmaker has given his blessing to the proposed new leadership.

He was responding the media on Thursday, January 27, 2023 in the afternoon, after the Minority caucus met after the morning press conference organised by Dr. Ato Forson, which has seen a huge section of the Minority caucus on a war path with the Party’s National Executive decision to impose new leadership on them.

“Haruna, he asked them to do one or two thing and that has not been done, they should not be in a hurry if this caucus wants a change and want to have them as leaders they can count on our support. Just, as they have supported us, if this caucus meets and take a decision that we want to change our leaders”.

He again pointed out that he had enjoyed a lot of support from his colleagues and one can see that each time they are required, “I am able to marshal them because they trusted in me, why would I not give them same support if the caucus decides to change a whip and bring another person. Why would I not respect that and give that same person the support?”

“We need to do it properly; we do not just wake up and do anything. As to the next line of action, let us wait for the outcome of the petition, we would advise ourselves”, he said.

He further emphasized that in terms of changing the leadership there is nothing before the Minority caucus and usually its consultation with the caucus and the party that produces leadership for the caucus.

He said he will not want to give full details of the “so called fruitful discussion” adding that their press conference is not to create a banter with the proposed Minority caucus Leadership, but noted that Haruna Iddrisu met with them at their caucus and gave details and it is not for him to give details but there was nothing fruitful about their discussion.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

In the wake of the mix reaction that welcomed changes made to the leadership of the Minority in Parliament by the Party leadership, Minority Leader Dr. Ato Forson has said he has had fruitful and positive conversation with the immediate past Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu.

He commended him for his admirable stewardship when he was granted the opportunity by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to lead them.

At an emergency press conference on Thursday morning addressing the media in Parliament, he thanked the Minority caucus for their profound support and solidarity.

“As leader, it will be my duty to represent our collective goals with unwavering dedication and high integrity”, he said.

He was supported by the Minority chief whip, Governs Kwame Agbodza and first deputy whip of the Minority Ahmed Ibrahim.

Dr. Ato further noted that with the support of the entire Minority he believes they shall succeed.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com