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The Member of Parliament for Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region, Joseph Frempong is making frantic efforts at giving education the needed push to meet the needs and aspirations of the constituents.

As part measures to improve educational infrastructure in the constituency, the MP supported some selected schools that have challenges with dilapidated structures to be renovated.

Among the schools include Jamasi No1; Opinamang and Presby Schools, Nkawkaw, Owusukrom LA Basic Schools, Awenade Aglican School, St francis basic schools.

other schools also like Brotherhood M/A Basic ; Amanfrom M/A Basic, Yakorkor Methodist Primary; Saafi M/A School; Opinaman, Nkawkaw, Danteng School; Nsuta ‘B’(M/A) Nkawkaw; Fodoa Islamic; L/A Primary, Owusukrom and Kwadwo Nkansah M/A Schools all got roofing sheets from the MP.

The Municipal Education Directorate was also presented with over 300 mono and dual desks with tables and chairs for teachers. The desks were meant for distribution to schools with inadequate furniture.

In support of Basic Education Certificate Examination, the MP gave out 2877pieces of mathematical sets to all 2021 BECE candidates in the constituency.

The MP looks forward to reaching out to more schools in the constituency and other major interventions to bring up the standard of education in the area.

Ghanamps.com

The Minority in parliament said tomorrow’s Budget Statement and Economic Policy of government promises to be full of taxes.

Mr. Thomas Ampem-Nyarko speaking to the media on Wednesday, 23rd November, 2022 said the signal the Minority is picking suggests that government intends to increase VAT by 2.5 percent; they intend to increase income taxes, and they intend to remove a lot of exemptions on MoMo; “so even merchants are going to be subjected to MoMo taxes”.

“We have known this government to be insensitive, but we never knew that their level of insensitivity would be this high; because in this time of serious hardship in this country, with inflation so high, none of us expected they would be increasing taxes to this level”.

According to him, the posture of the Minority is that they are willing to cooperate and support government in these difficult times because they need help; if we don’t help them this economy would crush. “However, government must come clear to show that they are going to reduce expenditure drastically”.

He alluded to how much expenditure on government machinery has increased since 2017 up to date. “What we are seeing is that they want to shift some of the expenditures out of government machinery to other sectors. That is not expenditure cut; they must do real expenditure cut all over, because we cannot continue to fund all the unnecessary expenditures that this government is engaged in”, he stated.

Mr. Ampem-Nyarko disclosed that the Minority will reject the 2.5 percent VAT. “We won’t say no taxes at all because government programmes must run. However, all these taxes when introduced would kill Ghanaians because of the hardship we are already experiencing to day”.
Watch the press conference

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu said on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022 that the Minority Caucus feels let down, betrayed by the sudden backtrack by their counterparts in the Majority Caucus not to support government business if the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta is not removed from office.

He stated that they were not oblivious to the fact that to succeed in their censure motion, they needed the support and cooperation of their colleagues from the majority. “When we initiated the motion, we firmly and sincerely believed that our friends opposite will walk the talk with us and not just make radio and interview declarations; but they would manifest it supporting us on the floor of parliament and in the exercise of secrete vote as required under article 82.

“We feel led down and we feel betrayed by the Majority Caucus who has shown no wit in supporting us with our impeachment processing within the letter and spirit of article 82 of the 1992 Constitution. We are not abandoning the censureship motion, we are in it for the long haul, and we will insist that the letter and spirit of article 82 is fully respected and an outcome determined by secret vote ultimately after a debate when the committee’s report is submitted to plenary”.

He said the Minority is closely monitoring the posture and conduct of the Majority and that will determine the body language of the Minority. “What they do tomorrow will determine what we do in response, but we just simply don’t have trust and faith in their pledge to the public and their pledge to their constituents.

“The country probably must run and will run, and would not necessarily be grounded to a halt by an irresponsible Minority. But we will watch the posture and conduct of our colleagues opposite and that will determine our body language.

It is early yet to determine what happens tomorrow; we are in as a country, workers probably would have to be paid and they have to be paid from a budget, the private sector will have to be assured and they have to be given assurance from a budget. We are looking at the substance not the forms.

According to him, President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo will go down in history under the fourth Republic as the president who most disrespected public opinion because as far as “we are concerned, public opinion is not supportive and favourable to the continues stay in office of his failing, beleaguered lame duck Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

Following threats by the Minority on the Finance Committee of Parliament not to support any more loans from government, Madam Ursla Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister for Communications and Digitalization has called on the Minority to rescind their decision.

According to her, the World Bank board has already approved the loans, “they are willing and eager to give these monies to us, but we cannot contract any loan without parliamentary approval”.

The Minister who addressing the media after a meeting with the Finance Committee of Parliament to make case for the approval of three loan facilities namely;

• USD$200.0 Million IDA Credit to Finance the Ghana Digital Acceleration Project;

• USD$150.0 Million IDA Credit for Primary Health Care Investment Programme; and

USD$150.0 Million IDA Credit to finance the Public Finance Management for Service Delivery Programme; stated that the loan for the Ghana Digital Acceleration Project for example would provide funding for entrepreneurial skills development and training, provide start-up capital to stir up the innovation ecosystem and tech-ecosystem of our country.

Additionally, “it is also providing funding for us to extend connectivity to some hard-to-reach areas in our country. And without connectivity there is very little we can do to stimulate the rural economy”, she stated.

She said, if we didn’t learn any lesson at all from the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing that we cannot gross over is the fact that “without digital technology, it is impossible for any country to grow its economy to live to communicate in the rapidly unfolding environment in which we live”.

The loan is also looking at the public sector its connectivity and digital strengthening to enable it deliver better services to the people and foster a more secure environment for us all in terms of cyber security.

She said before the committee, she admitted the country is facing challenges but digital technology provides us with the ladder to climb out of the difficulties we are faced with.

It is in view of these that she urged the Minority to reconsider their position on these loans and support their approval; stating that “if we don’t take the right decision today, our country would be in probably even more difficult circumstance tomorrow, and right decision taken at the wrong time is a wrong decision; so timing is everything”.

According to her, though the Minority insists they would not support any loan that is presented to the Finance Committee, she was hopeful they would change their stand upon further engagements, because they (Minority) admitted that the applications before them make sense, they are needed, so it is just appropriate they support the approval, she stressed.

Isn’t it prudent to stop borrowing at this time?
When questioned if it is not prudent to stop borrowing for now, she responded saying it depends on what you are borrowing for. “If you are borrowing to create the environment which will enable you to stimulate economies across the country to relief the burden of the country, then yes; because you can see what benefit that facility will give to you within the stated time lime”.

“And we’ve seen how digital technology was absolutely critical for our recovery from the pandemic, so if we say we are in a debt distress situation so we’re not going to seek funding that we need; we’re not raising enough funds locally to finance our development, we all know that.

Are we going to continue borrowing over the long term to finance our development? Yes, adding that the critical question that we have to answer is what are we taking those facilities for; how and where are they going to be used; what benefits are we going to derive from them; do they have the capacity of putting in systems that will enable us recover and rebuild, and derive revenue from the sources from the use for which those facilities are expended? The answer is yes”, she stated.

She asserts that when the expected benefits start accruing, we will see that in the long run, we invested in the growth poles of our economy and are reaping the benefits. “These can create jobs for the young people who can sit at home and engage in secure and lucrative digital jobs across the country”.

It also helps improve our foreign exchange situation, gives the sustainable livelihoods, solves the unemployment situation and reduces the insecurity that the devil finds jobs for ideal hands.

The Minister assured that the projects are carefully thought through as very important to the development of the country, and it would be a shame if we let this opportunity pass us by.

Ghanamps.com

The Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda constituency in the Eastern region; Alexander Akwasi Acquah has presented GHc100,000.00 to the management and team of Kotoku Royals Football Club to commence first phase renovation work of Akyem Oda Sports Stadium to enable the team to return back from Cape Coast Sports Stadium to play on their home soil.

Speaking to the media, he disclosed that he is committed to ensuring the renovation work of Akyem Oda sports stadium to welcome back Oda based Kotoku Royals football club to play on their home soil and to help boost economic activities of Birim Central Municipality.

He said although many people in his constituency wrongly criticized and lambasted him when he first actively took part in Kotoku Royals football club welfare and rehabilitation of Oda sports stadium which discouraged him, he is now committed to its work to help bring back Kotoku Royals football club to play at Akyem Oda after speaking to the team’s management.

He further added that Kotoku Royals Football Club coming back to play at Akyem Oda will help boost the economic activities of the municipality and also unit the people hence his intention to present the money for the rehabilitation work of Akyem Oda sports stadium.

The welfare manager for Kotoku Royals football club; Rev. Emmanuel Obeng Dompreh receiving the money thanked Mr. Alexander Akwasi Acquah for his kindness and genuine love for the team and his constituency.

Ghanamps.com

The Member of Parliament for Sissala East, Issahaku Chinnia Amidu said there is justification for how constituents clamor for developmental projects from their parliamentary representatives. According to him, though the constitution is very clear on the role of the MP, being a lawmaker and having oversight on the executive, they cannot blame their constituents on their expectations.

He asserts that MPs contest on the ticket of political parties, and in doing so during campaigns they combine their personal message with that of their political parties in order to market themselves and their parties for victory. “So invariably, you promise the people or you tell them you would be able to help them do the issues of education, road, water delivery, health delivery; because you are doing a combined kind of thing. You are campaigning for yourself as MP; you are campaigning for your party for the presidency.

You do a kind of campaign that gives the people the sense that when you become Member of Parliament you would be able to fix their roads, so I don’t blame them because that is how our system works”. Mr. Amidu, who is also the Deputy Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources said unless one is contesting as an independent candidate, it would be difficult to disassociate one from the manifestoes of the political parties one represents.

“…So there are promises you would make that put you in a position that you can’t say your work as a member of parliament is just to make laws; so you have the burden of trying to lobby central government and try to push for some of the issues of road, educational infrastructure, health infrastructure, employment and all that; and so it is a difficult thing. But I think as our democracy grows, and as the percentages of education increases, everybody will get to understand the role of the Member of Parliament and will begin to distinguish between what the MP should be doing and what the government or executive should be doing”, he emphasized.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

 The Zongo Community in the Akim Oda Constituency in the Eastern has recognised the good and selfless services of the Member of Parliament for the area, Alexander Akwesi Acquah.

The Community thus honoured the MP when they decorated him publicly with a traditionally made smock as a sign of appreciation of the good relationship he (MP) has with them.

The MP in response expressed his surprise, saying “I’m surprised for such a wonderful outfit”

He, however, assured the gathering of his continuous commitment to the development of Zongo community in the constituency.

He said the recognition is a motivation to do more to ensure the development needs of the various communities of which the Zongos form part are met.

The Zongohene, Alhaji Suleman Adamu said; “we have been moved by your humility and selfless service to humanity. The good people of Oda Zongo and beyond are living testimonies of your good and great work.” he said.

And pledged their support at all times towards a positive course.

Ghanamps.com

Ranking member on the Trade Industry and Tourism Committee, Kofi Armah-Buah has expressed worry over the system where Ghana is currently importing palm oil.

He expressed his worry when the committee met with the Association of Ghana Industries, Ghana Union of Traders Association and Ghana Chamber of Commerce.

According to him in the days of Unilever in the Western Region, there were massive plantations of palm fruit, but there has not been serious land turner system for people to invest in those areas in the last 20 years.

According to him, the Committee met the stakeholders in the industry and they pointed out their challenges, the Ranking member noted. He said, “We need to go back to the basis and make sure we can look at the things we are doing. If you say you want people to start producing poultry in Ghana, what do you give them as incentives?” he queried in an interview.

And further added that, there is a lot for us to do; short term problems should be addressed. One of the short term problems to be addressed is government should be seen engaging the stakeholders and making them know that yes, “I know you are in difficulties and say things that are confident building words and steps that government is taking”.
He lamented that it is not happening so we urge this government to take those steps. Importation -what should we do? It is government’s duty to provide policy direction, and it is important for government to take the lead in making sure we restart.

He asserts that the requirement from GIPC, where people are expected to pay one million dollars to trade in Ghana should be reviewed and arguing that with all the warehouse and the traders who have taken over our country, “is it not time to review the GIPC Act to say the peanut we are required to do, we want you to do more than that. We want you to depart from bringing in product to manufacturing”.

Again, let us start manufacturing from 30 percent and increase to 60 percent so that all these companies importing will be forced to basically produce those products here. It is in this manufacturing that will create jobs, everybody knows that; “1D1F was a joke we pretended we were creating factories where in actual fact we were not, we were going to existing factory that had produced and throwing good money at them”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamp.com

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sissala East Issahaku Chinnia Amidu said lawmakers have a major role to play in terms of educating their constituents on issues around sanitation and also ending open defecation.

According to him it became clearer when he made a statement on the floor of the House to mark World Toilet Day that MPs need to be involved actively in the crusade against open defecation.

In an interview as to whether in the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area, Sanitation and Water Project (GKMA SWP) MPs are involved, he noted that MPs are members of the Assembly concept and if things are to work according to law and rightly so, there cannot be activities at the Assembly without the involvement of the MP.

“We are human, you will find some MMDCs working in isolation from the MP and that is a bit problematic because the normal thing is that the MP is a member of the Assembly and represents the interest of the constituents. When there is a project that benefits the people and you want to implement it successfully you should involve the MP”, he said.

The Deputy Sanitation and Water Resources Minister further pointed out that the essence of the statement he made on the floor of the House is for the MPs to do advocacy and further added that two- point- five billion people across the globe do not have access to descent toilet facilities.

And in Ghana, over 18 percent of Ghanaians still indulge in open defecation which is quite a huge number; and as MPs go back to their constituencies, “I hope they will add it to their message and going forward we will appeal to the Assemblies to get MPs involve”.

Their voices are stronger because they are elected officials of the constituencies, so if you want your project to be implemented well in the constituency you need to get the MP involved; MMDCEs alone cannot do it well, get the MP involved, he emphasized.

He also assured that they will provide the leadership as a Ministry by bridging the gap between the chief executives and the MPs.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Deputy Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources Issahaku Chinnia Amidu has said good sanitation practice in Ghana will save Ghana two hundred and seventy million dollars yearly.

According to him we need to ensure that every household has a toilet facility and as a Ministry that is what they are doing in collaboration with the various Assemblies and other stakeholders.

In an interview with Ghanamps.com after he presented a statement on the floor of the House on Tuesday, November 16, 2022 to mark the world international toilet day set aside by the UN, he noted that the Assemblies need to enforce their bylaws to ensure every household has a toilet.

“We will also be collaborating with the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to do enforcement of the law on sanitation, where we can prosecute; you cannot build a nice house in Ghana and not have toilet facilities”.

He further noted that there are some compound houses in the country with about 10 to 20 tenants who pay rents regularly to the landlords, but the landlords failed to build toilet facilities in the house for the tenants. “I mean it is disappointing; we have to enforce the law”.

The Deputy Minister emphasised the need for advocacy because there are a lot of households without toilets and they engage in open defecation which behavior comes with dire consequences that may include outbreak and spread of diseases.

There is also high expenditure on health care related to sanitation and water borne diseases, hence the UN set November 19th every year for us to observe it as world toilet day which we can do advocacy and let people appreciate the importance of having toilet in our homes, he stated.

He said this advocacy cannot be done without the involvement of MPs who represent the various constituencies. “As a Ministry, we expect that MPs will do the advocacy in their various constituencies and let the people appreciate the importance of having toilet”.

Again, he asserts that one does not need to wait for government to provide toilet but because of the low income areas government cannot leave them behind in the sanitation drive, “that is why government is taking steps to help Ghanaians in lower income areas by supporting in the building of toilet facilities in Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi.

The Member of Parliament for Sissala East in a statement on the floor of the House noted that the theme for this year’s commemoration is “Sanitation and Groundwater” with campaign tag “Making the Invisible Visible”.

This theme was carefully selected to drum home the direct correlation between Sanitation and Groundwater sources.
Juxtaposing this theme with the fact that a whopping 18% of households in Ghana still practice open defecation or do not have access to toilets at all, should be a major concern for all well-meaning Ghanaians.

“Mr. Speaker, It is interesting to note that just one gram of faeces can contain 10 million viruses, a million bacteria, a thousand cysts and a hundred worm eggs. The impact of poor or non-existent toilet facilities on people’s health, their quality of life, their dignity and their income, is overwhelming. This makes safe disposal of human faeces a key concern for all.

Mr. Speaker, although the sanitation crisis comes from a set of complex causes, the prime reason is that nobody likes to talk about toilets, and too few nations and local governments give sanitation the priority it deserves. What the sanitation challenge needs is leadership: politicians and decision makers, the international community, religious authorities, businesses, media, and local communities need to learn, speak out and act on issues of sanitation”.

He said it is undeniable fact that, Ghanaians are paying a high price for lack of toilets in their homes. Ghana loses over US$290 million every year according to Water and Sanitation Programme of the World Bank 2012 study titled ‘’Economic Impacts of Poor Sanitation in Ghana’’. Economic cost of open defecation to Ghana is also pegged at US$79 million. Improved sanitation could save families and individuals a lot of income and time and hence improve their livelihood and give them economic empowerment.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com