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A member of Ghana’s delegation to the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah has urged members of the Liberian Electoral management board to act as neutral arbiters by engaging all political parties on a level playing field.

As the country prepares itself for its election in October 2023, the Ho West lawmaker is serving on the Community’s Parliament Legal and Human Right Committee and was part of an eight-member delegation selected by the Speaker to visit Liberia and assess the situation on early warning signals, and triggers of conflict ahead of campaigns towards the country’s October 2023 General Elections.

Upon arrival in Liberia, the team paid a courtesy call on the ECOWAS Resident Representative Ambassador, H.E Josephine Nkrumah and the directors of Liberian National Centre for Coordinating Early Warning and Response Mechanisms (NCCEWRM) to find out about any triggers before next year’s election.

The delegation also had a meeting with the Chief Justice and Supreme Court Justices of Liberia, Members of the Senate Committee on National Security and the leadership of the National Assembly of Liberia (President pro tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives).

In the late hours of Thursday, October 26, 2022, the team paid a courtesy call on the Inspector General of Police of Liberia and later visited the Chair and Board Members of the National Elections Commission of Liberia.

The team also paid a courtesy call on the President of Liberia, H.E. George Weah and held discussions with him and his Vice President.

Speaking to the media after their closed-door meetings with these stakeholders, Mr. Bedzrah indicated that the team was in Liberia to ensure a sound environment for a peaceful General Election in 2023.

He added that the team held several meetings with stakeholders including the public and the political parties with standard bearers in Liberia as part of their efforts to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections next year.

He went on to advise the Electoral Commission that “the Election’s Management Boards should not be talking as politicians but to communicate with all stakeholders in order to win their trust”

Mr. Bedzra also urged the public and the political party leaders and the security agencies to cooperate with all relevant stakeholders to ensure a peaceful electoral process.

Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament (MP) for Klottey Korle Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings said the more industrialized nations have a moral responsibility to ensure that as they look at renewable energy technology, Africa is also empowered to do same.

According to her Africa should not be at the bottom of the chain all the time, because if a case is being made for someone to use solar panels and the cost for buying Kerosene for a lamp and the cost for buying diesel into a generator is lower than the cost of buying and maintaining solar panels, then it would be difficult for that person to opt for the solar panel.

“For someone who is struggling to make ends meet, I think the calculation in their mind is not going to be a difficult one; fusel fuel that wins every time less we can ensure that there is proper technology transfer”.

And unless we can ensure we are coming up with proper home grown ideas which are being supported, because, the problem is “we have a lot of ideas but the funding that is needed to commercialize some of these things, so that we can have huge projects across the continent is not happening”.

In an interview, the Klottey Korle lawmaker noted that Africa is being pushed to move towards renewable energy, but do not produce the technology; they have to be imported, which means by the time it gets to the end user to be used to generate electricity, the cost becomes unbearable.

Again,  governments need to offset all the taxes and the extra payment involved in importing all of these technology, “which means in the end the most vulnerable yet  again are left out of the loop, hence Africa  need to be careful whether is drawing up agreement or any kind of contracts, or any development of technology on our soil”.

Communities and countries that are taking part in these should be given the extra support  to be able to also rise up to the technological level, if Africa is supposed to stop using fusel fuel, otherwise,  “we cannot make a case for someone moving into something else, it is too expense to start anything”.

She noted that on her trip to Brussels during the recess, Europe and the rest of the more industralised nations are talking about how Africa needs to stop using fusel fuel; citing example of how Africa needs to create a scenario where “we can export wind energy, solar energy, to part of Europe”.

“We do not see investments on the continent in technology;  we do not see that investment that we become self-sufficient, and as usual we end up being in debt as we are trying to satisfy almost difficult to achieve goals that are constantly being set for us. And if we are dealing with the issue of climate change which is a global issue Europe cannot say they are dealing with climate change without the rest of us”.

She asserts that percentage wise, emissions from Africa only contributes two percent. And from the grand scheme of things, Africa is not the greatest contributor to the problems we are witnessing today with regards to climate change.

However, because of the secured manner in which our quality of life and economies are working out, Africa is so  hard hit and suffering the most for things that we did not contribute.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda Constituency, Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has disclosed that monies meant for rehabilitation of parts of facilities which were destroyed by rainstorm in Akim Oda Senior High School is ready and very soon the contractor will move to site.

On Monday, 17th May, 2022, the Oda Senior High School was hit with a rainstorm.

The storm which accompanied a downpour around 3:30 p.m. ripped off the roofs of the three-storey girls’ dormitory block, parts of the boys’ dormitory blocks, some masters’ bungalows, the pantry and other facilities.
Two female students of the school were injured, and property worth thousands of Ghana cedis destroyed displacing more than 250 of the students according to the headmaster, Evans Boafo.

Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah speaking to the school authorities during the handing over ceremony of three projects namely ultramodern toilet facility, six unit classroom block and a three unit classroom block to the school.

The MP announced that he has lobbied for the rehabilitation of the school facilities that were affected during the rainstorm and very soon the contractor is going to move to site for the full renovation of the blocks.

According to him he has followed up with all the necessary procedures for the awarding of the contract for the rehabilitation, He assured the authorities.

Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah said, he knows that, old students of Oda Senior High School have mobilized funds for that particular projects but now that funds meant for these projects are ready he will plead with them (Nananom) to rechannel their funds raised for the reroofing of facilities in the school to a different project. On behalf of government, He expressed gratitude of government for their intervention and self help spirit to the old students “Nananom”.

In his quest to show his support for their efforts, He donated GH5,000.00 as a top up to the old student’s funds.

The Assistant Director of Education for Birim Central Municipal, Mr. Wiredu Addo, thanked the Member of Parliament for how supportive he has being to the education sector in the municipality.

He urged the school authorities to take good care of the facility.

Ms. Nora Georgina Kwofie, Assistant Head Administration, said they appreciate all the work Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah, MP for Akyem Oda Constituency is doing for the school and promised that they are going to take good care of the buildings which was handed over to them by the MP.

She said a dormitory which was accommodating 17 girls some 60 years ago is now accommodating about 1500 girls which means there is a need for a new girls’ dormitory.
She pleaded with the MP to help them build three storey building which will house the girls in the school. She said, this will help the school to accommodate more girls in the boarding house to ease the difficulties these girls goes through commuting to and fro Oda to the school.

The Minority in parliament led by their Leader, Haruna Iddrisu has demanded the Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Identification Authority (NIA) be summoned before the House to explain and reconcile the discrepancies in the numbers between what the EC has registered as voters and what is on the data of the NIA.

According to the Minority Leader, the EC wants to rely on data from the NIA, and wondered what has become of the EC’s own data that they are abandoning their own bio-data that they have collected and want to use that of the NIA.

Mr. Speaker, there is a discrepancy in the numbers between what the Electoral Commission has registered as voters up to 17 million and what is on the roll of the National Identification Authority. And we hear that the Electoral Commission wants to rely on the National Identification Authority data.

The primary question, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed is asking is, so what has happened to the Electoral Commission’s own biometric data, that today they are avoiding the use of their own bio-data they have collected and they want to collect bio-data from the National Identification Authority”, he queried.

Mr. Iddrisu who speaking on the floor during the Business presentation on Friday, October 29, 2022 for the ensuing week, indicated that the Minority is interested in the reconciliation of the numbers because; “we are very convinced that Article 42 confers the right on Ghanaians to be registered as voters by the Electoral Commission”

“Mr. Speaker, the NIA is unlike the EC which by virtue of Article 45 says that it shall not be subject to the direction and control of any person or authority, the NIA is subject to ministerial control”; he asserted.

He thus served notice that the Minority would not accept any attempt by the Electoral Commission to disenfranchise any Ghanaian, “because they want to rely on an ID card which is not available to Ghanaians; and we mean serious business on this matter. That right, we will jealously protect and safe guard the provisions of Article 42”.

The Minority Leader also demanded that the EC explains why in 2021, 2022, Ghanaians of 18 years were not given the opportunity to be on the electoral roll, stating that it was a denial of their rights under Article 42.

Ghanamps.com

The Member of Parliament for Akim Oda Alexander Akwasi Acquah said he has lent with shock how major producers of everyday commodities like oil, rice and food items took advantage of the dollar speculations and pegged their prices. According to him, he learnt from one of the retailers that “they had been advised to adjust their prices higher to reflect an exchange rate of GHc16 to a dollar”.

“I can’t recount when a dollar was sold for GHC16 and so wondered why a major producer of cooking oil could advise its wholesalers and retailers to adjust their prices”. The MP, who is also the Vice Chair of the Trade and Industry Committee in Parliament engaged major wholesalers and retailers of consumables in the Akim Oda Constituency to ascertain the real reasons behind the price hikes and how to arrest such development.

He revealed that the traders themselves were surprised at the development and blamed government for creating a loophole for the people to be exploited. Mr. Akwesi Acquah was however delighted that major wholesalers of rice concentrated on some locally produced rice to drive sale in the midst of the recent price hikes.

This, he noted, is good news for the local rice industry; and stated that “it was refreshing to note that these traders were ready to be major agents for the products of the rice factory that is under construction in the Akim Oda constituency”

Ghanamps.com

Mr. Alhassan Suhuyini, has advised his colleagues in the Majority who boldly called for the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister for Finance and Charles Adu-Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry from office not to make a fool out of themselves or sacrifice their integrity. “They should not sacrifice themselves for the comfort of these two persons; or the presidency or their party”. Adding that, their personal integrity should be paramount to them.

Speaking on Metro Tv’s ‘Good Morning Ghana Show’ on Thursday, October 27, 2022, Mr. Suhuyini who was reacting to the statement from the Majority Caucus that suggests that they (Majority Caucus) have yielded to the President’s appeal to allow the two beleaguered Ministers remain at post for the conclusion of the round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the presentation of the Economic Policy Statement of government in November 2022, and subsequent passage of the appropriation Bill after which the matter in question shall be acted upon, said the Majority Caucus must show to be principled.

He asserts that “this journey that they have begun is an illuminating one; it is a patriotic one, and they should not let the masses down”. The Tamale North Member of Parliament said his colleagues in the Majority must stay committed to rescuing this nation; they must stay committed to refocusing the financial management of this country and admonished them not to be derailed.

As such, he called on the Majority Caucus to come on board to support the motion that the Minority Caucus has filed to censure the Finance Minister. He explained that though both sides of the House have equal numbers of 137, the Minority would not be able to succeed with the motion of Censure with their numbers without the support of the Majority. The Two-third majority as prescribed by law requires support from the other side, he stated.

Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North Kwame Andy Appiah-Kubi said on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 just after adjournment whiles on his way to the Majority caucus meeting that he is not under pressure after addressing the media calling for the sacking of the Finance Minister and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.

“Do I look like someone under pressure? I have been in court this morning representing my client and back to Parliament to participate in business of the House”. As to what they would be discussing when they have their caucus meeting later in the day, he noted that as at the time of granting the interview there was nothing on the table he knew of up for discussion.

He further pointed out that when it comes to the general caucus, he does not speak for it but only speaks for the group within the Majority caucus that took the action to call for the sacking of the Finance Minister and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.

Again, let me give this correction, “we are more than eighty percent of our number 137, he said in an interview with a section of the Parliamentary Press Corps.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Clad in black attire on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at the commencement of the Third Meeting of the Second Session of the Eight Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, the Minority in Ghana’s Parliament said they are mourning the current state of the country’s economy as well as the democracy of the Republic of Ghana.

Ranking Member on the Finance Committee, Ato Forson addressing the press said the country’s economy is in such a bad state, and if care is not taken, “we would crash this economy into a point of no return”, and that is why they have decided to mourn the state of the economy.

They also send a strong signal to the government that they will not chicken-out; stating that the economy is “our livelihood, and we will stand firm, for the people of Ghana deserve it. According to the Minority, the people of Ghana have done no wrong to be subjected to this kind of treatment and economic mismanagement coupled with ineptitude”

They accused the Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia of failing in his supervisory role as the Chairman of the Economic Management Team, and called for his resignation from such position.

Ghanamps.com

The Minority in parliament has called on their counterparts from the Majority side to support their motion on the floor to impeach the finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

Addressing the press on Tuesday, First Deputy Minority Whip, Ibrahim Ahmed said it is obvious that both sides of the House wants the Finance Minister removed, hence what they expect from their colleagues from the Majority is to support a motion to be moved by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu to that effect.

He revealed that the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu served notice yesterday at the business committee to the Majority Leader that he was going to proceed with a motion to impeach the finance minister on the basis of poor economic management, inconsistency in policies non-performance and lack of performing even statutory obligations.

He said it is refreshing that even before the Minority Leader goes ahead with the motion of impeachment; their colleagues have had a presser to call for same. However, the Minority does not believe the action of the Majority is strong enough; and if they really believe and want the finance Minister removed, then they should help them secure the 183 members to push the finance minister out of office.

He indicated that if the Majority meant well, the day they went to cabinet meeting and president Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo was not happy about their call for the Finance Minister to be sacked was the day they should have organised such a press briefing. He alleged that the position Mr. Ken Ofori Atta occupied is to compensate for using Data Bank to support the president’s campaign to become president; and that is the reason he cannot sack him.

Ghanamps.com

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The Majority caucus in parliament has called on President Nanan Akufo-Addo to as a matter of urgency sack the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry or they be forced to resign.

At a press conference on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, addressed by Kwame Andy Appiah- Kubi, Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North who served as a spokesperson for the Majority group noted that they have had the occasion to defend the allegation of conflict of interest and lack confidence against leadership of the finance Ministry.

According to him the recent development within the Ghanaian economy are of greater concern to the greater majority of their caucus and constituents and their concerns have been made known through their leadership to the president and the leadership of the party without any positive response.

And to restore the downward trend of the economy, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen should be changed.

The majority caucus, has however, threatened to abstain from any government business including budget presentation before the House if the president fails to heed their call.

“Meanwhile, we want to serve notice that until the persons mentioned are removed, we, members of the Majority caucus in Parliament would not participate in any business of government by or for the president by any other Minister”.

They hope those of them are the backbench would heed to this call and they would not be present for the budget hearing if their call is not heeded, neither would they participate in the debate.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com