• +233 20 230 9497

It’s too early to assess Majority on attendance — Klottey Korle MP

Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin on few occasions on the floor of the House has raised issues with attendance of the Majority side of the House to proceedings in parliament accusing them of failing to be present to do government business despite their huge number.

This he said shows that the Majority still needs the Minority to achieve their goals in parliament especially so when the president has made a lot of the appointments from the House.

But the Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings responding to the observation of the Minority Leader in an interview with Ghanamps.com said it is still early days yet in the first meeting of the first session of the ninth parliament to make assessments on attendance to business on the floor of the House.

She affirmed that the low attendance from the Majority side notwithstanding, when the numbers are required to take a decision on the floor, the Majority side will get the numbers.

She argued that the new government is still in the process of having its full complement of Ministers and those appointed would also have to familiarize themselves with their new portfolios.

“Bear in mind that some members have been going to the vetting and others re-orienting themselves with their ministerial appointments” and that going forward things will turn out better.

“But the reality is that you will not always have the seats full all the time given the fact that many of the president’s appointments are coming from Parliament there will be other duties that other members of Parliament have to play.”

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

“Alleged daughter of murderer comment did not come from me” —Samuel Jinapor

Immediate past Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor has denied calling his colleague Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle as “daughter of murder” as making rounds on social media.

According to him anyone who follows his career and involvement in Ghanaian public life in all modesty will confirm that he does not speak in that nature, “the words which are being falsely attributed to me, they are not my words; I will never use such words, that is not the way I speak”.

In an interview on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, he pointed out that he does not know such words have been uttered; I found out this morning when this was trending in a video that was brought to my attention. “What I can say to that is it’s totally false, it cannot be correct”.

“Again, anyone who has followed my career will know Abu will not speak this way and I do not speak across the House when I am in Parliament. When I have anything to say, I catch the eye of the Speaker to speak; I did not follow the proceedings which emanated into this unfortunate statement.”

“I have huge respect for late former president Rawlings, anyone who knows me very well knows that, when he was alive, he took a lot of interest in me and I visited him multiple times.

Furthermore, when he passed, on the floor of Parliament in the previous parliament the one who read the tribute in memory of the former President Rawlings, Haruna Iddrisu then

Minority Leader that was the first time I spoke, I was then a first- timer, I was the one who contributed after the Minority Leader.”
When his children set up his foundation of tree planting, I was the guest of Honour; its on record what I said about the former president, I have a personal relation with former President Rawlings and respect the family particularly the daughter and my colleague Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings; I will not say such a thing, it will not even cross my mind, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

John Dumelo, Suyihini, others nominated to deputy ministerial roles

John Dumelo, the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon and a first timer in Ghana’s legislature has been deputy Minister –designate for Food and Agriculture while Alhassan Suyibu Suhuyini is also heading to Roads and Highways Ministry as deputy.

They are among host of others whose names the President John Dramani Mahama has submitted to the Parliament through the Speaker for prior approval.

The President has also nominated Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba as Minister of State, Public Sector Reforms.

See below the full list of deputy Ministerial nominees

Guests of nominees had to sleep in Parliament – Agbodza recounts

Former Majority Chief Whip Governs Kwame Agbodza appearing before the Ad Hoc Committee investigating the chaos that occurred during last week Thursday, January 30, 2025 disclosed that some guests of nominees who could not be vetted had to sleep in Parliament.

According to him as someone in the immediate past leadership, there should have been agreement to vet nominees who were not vetted on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, because Oliver Vormawor was taken on that day when he had alleged that nominees were giving bribes to the Committee.

“In the case of Kwabena Minta Akandoh it came to light that he had brought chiefs all the way from Juabuso who could not go back, he stated.

Governs Agbodza revealed that some nominees had as many as one hundred chief and could not accommodate them in a hotel and had to beg colleagues to allow their visitors sleep in their offices because it was late and the nominees had to be vetted the following day.

As to whether the marshal and the police gave quick response to the chaos, the Road Minister said they responded in a timely manner but because they were dealing with members of parliament they were hesitant in their actions.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Parliament unanimously approves four Ministerial nominees

Parliament on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 unanimously approved the appointment of four Ministerial nominees.
This was done after the usual debates on the floor between the two sides of the House.

The Minority as part of their recommendations affirmed the competence of the four nominees and found them competent for their designated portfolios thus joined the Majority side to approve them.

The approved nominees are
• Dr Rashid Pelpuo as Minister for Labour, Jobs, and Employment
• Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed as Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology
• Kofi Adams as Minister for Sports and Recreation and
• Joseph Bukari Nikpe as Minister for Transport.

The Minority refused to accord two nominees; Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs, and Samuel Nartey George, Minister-designate for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations the same courtesy, thus they were subjected to vote.

The Minority, however, abstained from the participating in the voice vote that approved the two by Majority decision.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

Sam George responds to smear campaign against him

The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation Samuel Nartey George has responded to a smear campaign against him by some faceless individuals to tarnish his image.

The Minister responding to the smearing campaign launched on social media in which he was purported to be watching adult content while in the chamber assured the public that “the days of misinformation and cheap fabricated lies are coming to an end.”

He affirmed that the Ministry would tighten regulations on such illegal conducts of misinformation and misinformation in the coming weeks and sanitise our media space.

His X page read:

“It is clear to me that the NPP is so hurt by my nomination as Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations and would stop at nothing to fight it.

After failing to mobilise their own Caucus in Parliament to vote against my nomination, they have resorted to smear Campaign and cheap lies with fake photos.

I can assure them that the days of misinformation and cheap fabricated lies are coming to an end. The Ministry would tighten regulations on such illegal conducts of misinformation and disinformation in the coming weeks and sanitise our media space.

So help me God.”

Meanwhile, the original picture also surfaced on social media which attested to the fact that the one with the adult content was edited.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

Majority urged pass Minority over approval of Ablakwa, Sam George

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Samuel Nartey George, Ministers -designate for Foreign Affairs and Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation respectively have received parliamentary approval by majority decision with the loudest ‘Aye’.

The Minority side of the House, though present and fully participated in the processes leading to the question being posed by the Speaker, however abstained from voting on their approval.

The Minority Leader after the debate on the nominees make clear that they were unable to give their blessings for the two and indicated that they will abstain from the voice vote.

In the specific case of Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said, ” bring me water, I need proper water! We wash our hands off Okudzeto Ablakwa. May all his sins be upon you”, he told the House referring to the Majority.

The situation was no different in the case of Samuel George as the Minority opposed his appointment as the Minister -designate for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations citing some concerns over his past remarks that criticized former President Akufo-Addo and Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

These two nominees have drawn the most attention from the general public since their names were announced and the enthusiasm about their names was affirmed during their vetting.

It was therefore not surprising that their approval would have to be subjected to a vote.

Meanwhile, the following nominees were approved by consus.

*Dr Rashid Pelpuo as Minister for Labour, Jobs, and Employment
*Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed as Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology
*Kofi Adams as Minister for Sports and Recreation and
*Joseph Bukari Nikpe as Minister for Transport.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghana.com

Speaker Bagbin lifts suspension of four MPs in Parliament.

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Bagbin has with immediate effect lifted the suspension of the four Members of Parliament, Frank Annor-Dompreh, Rockson Dafeamekpor Alhassan Tampuuli and Ahmed Jerry after the Minority Leader in a statement apologized to the Speaker for the conduct of his colleagues that resulted in the chaos.
On the part of the Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, he agreed with the Minority Leader and urged the Speaker to temper justice with mercy.

Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin indicated that as Minority they have collaborated to pass all the forty-two nominees of President John Dramani Mahama, and the Minority cannot take over the powers of the Speaker.
“We will not litigate this and as Minority Leader I take full responsibility of the chaos and appeal to the Speaker to resend his decision”.

According to the Speaker, so far the suspended MPs have complied with his order and thanked the security in Parliament for enforcing the order of the Speaker but the Special Committee will continue to do its work.

The Rt. Hon Speaker further added that since last week Friday, January 30, 2025 he stopped referring to Members of Parliament as Honourables and only restored that today, Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

“We will beef up our security” — Minority

The Minority on the Appointment Committee has given indications that they will have to beef up their security in the wake of their colleagues in the Majority intimidating them as well as calling in their supporters into the premises of Parliament.

The NDC has resorted to carrying their foot-soldiers to come to Parliament to intimidate us; sometimes we will be walking and they will be pushing us; we have brought this to the attention of the parliament police, they stated.

According to the Minority Leader addressing the media on Monday, February 3, 2025, they have informed the marshal of this development.

“We are law abiding and for our security, we will engage the police in Parliament this morning. I engaged the marshal and told them that they should do all they can to protect us; it’s not for us to find our own security and beefing up security should come from Parliament”.

Again, he pointed out that, the vetting of nominees that took place when they boycotted are not valid because the Majority were disregarding the orders of the Speaker who pointed out that the Appointment Committee should be reconstituted.

As to whether the Minority will go to court on the issue of the rights of their members being affected with the suspension orders of the Speaker, he said “we did not have open door policy in the eighth parliament that was why we went to court; but in this case we have an open door policy so we will not go to court”.

He affirmed their commitment to give respect to his high office because he is a democrat and with his years of experience we should seat down and express our views with him. “We hope today will be a happy day for us as we are able to engage with the Majority leader”

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Appointment Committee Chaos: Special Ad Hoc Committee commences investigation

The seven-member Ad Hoc Committee tasked by the Rt. Hon Speaker Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin to investigate the brouhaha that erupted at the working of the Appointments Committee leading to the suspension of four MPs for two weeks has started its work.

The committee on the evening of Monday, February 4, 2025, started watching videos of the chaos that occurred on Thursday, January 30, 2025.

Chairman of the Committee, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah in a media address in Parliament pointed out that the Committee will start holding public hearing on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 10:00am in Parliament House.

And further added that they shall expect members of parliament, the media, guests who were present at the vetting room as well as members of the general public to voluntarily appear and assist the committee with relevant information on the incident.

The committee has also created a digital platform where we shall receive multimedia evidence including videos, audios and text to facilitate a speedy execution of the committee’s task. These can be forwarded to the clerk to the committee on 0244926911.

Again, the committee shall solicit the services of a forensic expert from the Ghana Police Service to assist with authentication, analysis and validation of all multimedia evidence that would be received from witnesses.

He also provided the opportunity for in-camera hearing for persons who may wish to utilize such an avenue to provide useful evidence to assist the committee.

“It’s our hope that all citizens would stand with the Parliament of Ghana in this trying moment to assist in rebuilding our enviable democratic attributes as we undertake to execute this task”, he said.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com