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Majority Leader seeks cooperation between Ghana and South Korea to tackle terrorist attacks

The Majority Leader in Ghana’s Parliament, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is seeking the support of the South Korean to help deal with terrorist attacks that is getting closer to Ghana more especially terrorist invasion in the Sahel Regions. According to him Ghana is seen as oasis of peace within the West African sub-region, but today almost fifty percent of Burkina Faso is lost to terrorist, which shares border with Ghana.

“That is why we need to have this cooperation in terms of security to the south is the gulf of Guinea, as we do know maritime piracy, the whole world the number one sport now is the gulf of Guinea. That is why we are appreciative of the discussion ongoing to provide us with a speed boat to secure our coast with our maritime resources”. He made this remarks on Wednesday, October 12, 2020 in Rwanda, Kigali at the ongoing 145th Assembly of the Inter Parliamentary Union, when the Speaker of the South Korean National Assembly Rt. Hon Kim Jin-Pyo called on the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin for a side meeting.

Touching on a point raise by his colleague the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, he noted that since the Republic of Korea has advanced more in ICT, Ghana needs its assistance to track communications of these terrorist groups “who are looking for areas of defect to pounce on. Just yesterday, I was having a discussion with our own defense minister, when we go back, we need to have a meeting with Members of Parliament, Minority leader to see how to make progress. Increasingly these days in the neighboring countries, these terrorist are pouncing on school children”.
He questioned, how they would be able to protect the lives of these children, unless, “we are able to trace the movement of them, hence the need to strengthen relation in ICT”. Rt. Hon Kim Jin-Pyo responded by saying relevant government authorities of both countries should take up the matter further, and these matters he believes would come up when the Korean and Ghana Parliament friendship group meet next time they can continue discussions on them. Majority Leader, thanked the Speaker Bagbin for facilitating the meeting as they all do know parliament is the bastion of democracy, they represent the people.

And most of the time Parliament is rushed to approve programmes and policies that, parliament does not have enough time to look into its importance; and to have such meetings to share ideas is most welcoming. The Republic of Korea he noted, has provided assistance to Ghana in many areas, most recent the refurbishment of Ghana’s oil refinery which has a capacity of refining just about forty –five thousand barrels which was increased to sixty thousand barrels. We need now to expand the refinery of current level of production from sixty to greater numbers.

“We should be able to refine not less than two hundred thousand; because daily consumption in Ghana now is over one hundred and twenty thousand barrels. What we have now is not even able to produce aviation fuel and bitumen”. He further added that Ghana needs an all inclusive refinery that would give off by-products for road construction and manufacture of fertilizer; “we need all these things, all inclusive refinery which would help Ghana a great deal”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com/Rwanda/Kigali

Kwadaso MP hands over computer lab to Nyankyerenease Methodist JHS

Dr Kingsley Nyarko, Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso, has handed over a fully furnished computer laboratory to the Nyankyerenease Methodist Junior High School (JHS) in the constituency. The 30-seater laboratory, which is equipped with 20 sets of personal computers, 40 chairs, 20 tables, a plotter, and projector, will help the school improve in the teaching and learning of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Prior to the MP’s intervention, the school over the years, had no computers which could help the pupils in their ICT lessons. According to Dr Nyarko, quality education was the integral component of development in any society and pledged to give a premium to the educational value chain in the area. He indicated that there were numerous activities ongoing in the constituency to uplift public schools to a higher standard.

Dr Nyarko encouraged the pupils to take maximum advantage of the laboratory to develop and build ICT skills for the future. “Where we are going in the 21st century, every basic school needs a computer lab for the students to have the current ideas to be able to innovate and create things for themselves,” he noted.
He urged the teachers and management of the school to ensure that the facility was put to good use and maintained.

Mr. Richmond Agyenim Boateng, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Kwadaso, said education could only be completed with the right facilities, especially at the pre-tertiary level. He commended the MP for his continuous support for the people of Kwadaso and encouraged the pupils to take the ICT lessons seriously as it would help them in the future.

Dominic Antwi Agyei/GNA

Dr Kingsley Nyarko urges Ghanaians to ensure regular medical check-ups

Dr Kingsley Nyarko, Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso, has advised Ghanaians to take their health issues seriously by seeking regular medical check-ups. He said Ghanaians needed to take diligent care of themselves to always remain healthy and be able to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country. “The human body is like a car that requires periodic servicing, so you must not wait till sickness consumes your entire body before seeking medical treatment because this may become difficult to fight at a certain stage,” he said.

Dr Nyarko gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during an interaction with a team of health officials and people who took part in a health screening exercise organized in some communities in the constituency. The three-day exercise was organised by the MP in collaboration with the Rich Women Foundation, a community-based organization, seeking to empower young women through health education and promotion.

The beneficiary communities were Kwadaso, Agric Nzema and Atwima Takyiman. According to the MP the exercise was aimed at improving the health status of the people to remain productive to enhance the development of the area. “The people cannot help accelerate the growth of the area, if their health conditions are not good, and health is wealth,” he said, adding that, quality health was essential for the progress of every community.

The beneficiaries were screened for malaria, blood pressure, sugar level, diabetes, among others. Medications were freely distributed to people diagnosed with various ailments by the medical team. Dr Nyarko commended the medical team for contributing towards the success of the exercise. Dr Priscilla Amma Pokuah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rich Women Foundation, advised the people to be health conscious and take issues related to their health as their number one priority and periodically embark on check-ups to know their health status. This, she said, was the only way to help improve their health care.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to the GNA expressed their gratitude to the MP for organising the exercise to Improve the health of the people of Kwadaso.

Dominic Antwi Aagyei

Work progresses on the Dome-Kitase Road

For many people, government’s declaration of year of roads may mean one of those empty rhetoric to get the public excited, especially because of their experiences with poor road network in their localities. But for people who have evidence of road construction in their areas, that declaration means a lot to them.

Such is the people living in and around Dome through Kwabenya to Kitase where work is progressing on the Dome-Kitase road. The Dome-Kitase Road has been at the heart of residents around Dome-Kwabenya and others who ply the Accra Koforidua route for the simple reason that it offers a shorter link from Dome-Atomic Down to the Akuapem enclave, thereby cutting off the traffic at Haatso-Madina and Adentan.

It was therefore not surprising the jubilation that greeted the sod-cutting by the president, Nana Akufo-Addo on July 29, 2022. The GHC 195million road Project, expected to be completed within 24 months is being executed by Messrs. First Sky Construction Limited, a road construction company in the country.

Work scope include 16.3km single carriageway with asphaltic concrete surfacing; a 2.85km dual carriageway, a one-kilometre two-lane single carriageway for Ashesi University, the provision of 1.45km three-lane single carriageway with auxiliary lanes for drop off/pick up on both sides, and a 1.9km two-lane carriageway link.

Some residents expressed their delight about the project and hope it would not be a one-day wonder like previous ones, instead this time the contractor would stay until the completion of the road.

Ghanamps.com

Afenyo-Markin advocates for direct transfer of ECOWAS levies

Following delays in some member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in transmitting the zero point five (0.5) levy they collect on goods imported into the West African sub-region that produce in the region, leader of the Ghanaian delegation to the Community Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin is advocating for a system to be put in place in this age of technology advancement, to ensure that levies collected from the various member states are transmitted straight to the West Africa sub-region block.

According to him there is the need for a political will from the ECOWAS Commission, Authority of Heads of States and Government or those responsible for coordinating to ensure that when the levies are collected, they are transmitted on time. “We should not allow bureaucracy in collecting the levies; there should be a network in place which ECOWAS would automatically receive funds ones payment is made.

A lot of our member states in their various ports charges go to respective institutions directly”. In an interview, as to how the delay of the payment of the Community levy can be resolved, he noted that the system he is advocating for when put in place is one way of resolving the problem to avoid excuse from member states who collect levies but delay in making sure funds are sent to the sub-regional body,

“it’s these levies that are used for capacity building and all activities for stability and work to progress, salaries for workers in all the community institutions depend on this levy; that is our only sources of income for funding to operationalize our activities in the sub-region and is the key thing that must be considered”. Mr. Afenyo-Markin further noted that the recent down turn in business is as a result of the economic crises leading to low import, more especially in the wake of the Russian Ukraine war, which set in just after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

ECOWAS Parliament Extraordinary Session has started on a good note—Afenyo

Leader of the Ghanaian delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has said the second extraordinary session ongoing in Lome-Togo has started on a good note.

According to him it has been fireworks in a positive sense; and a parliament where members are free to express their views and concerns is a good one since it’s the citizens of ECOWAS who brought them to the Parliament. In an interview, he noted that to him a Parliament that is all assertive is very positive despite the fact that the current Community Parliament does not have the enforcement powers, so the laws that are made there are not laws that they enforce.
“We are a deliberative chamber but as we assert ourselves and make ourselves heard, our superiors, being Head of States and Governments’ would see the seriousness in our effort; and they say the voice of the people is the voice of God and the voice of God manifest in the people”.

Also if as elected representatives they are able to assert themselves and bring out concerns of the people to the floor and express same and the community hear of it or the political leadership, Heads of government know that this is what parliament is saying and it is reflective of the views of the people. “Trust me there would be tremendous change, it would lead in a new policy direction and would be a guiding principle for our various Governments; so far so good, I want MPs to continue in that direction”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

ECOWAS states managing free movement as a result of security threat—Afenyo-Markin

Deputy Majority Leader in the Ghanaian Parliament and Leader to the Ghanaian delegation to the Community Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has noted that the idea of Free Movement of Goods and Services in the West Africa sub-region should be welcomed and embraced by all member states. According to him this is to create an atmosphere where ECOWAS citizens would not be limited by borders; but was quick to point out that member stats do have their challenges in the wake of security and political instability.

Hence member states are trying to control Free Movement of People in a manner that they can manage to know who is coming in and going out and citizens in member states are supposed to meet certain conditions as they trade in the sub-region. In an interview on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, he noted that MPs should create the awareness for citizens to know the community protocols if they want to move from their home country to another.

“We should be able to interact and explain more to our people at the same time we should let our citizen appreciate the security challenges. My country Ghana for instance is much concerned about its Northern border with Burkina Faso, the instability in Mali and Burkina Faso is of great concern to Ghana. If we do not control the influx, it would undermine our own security in this case it cannot be that in controlling you put in measures to prevent an influx, you are breaching community protocol, there is an essential need to ensure there is security in your country”.

This , he said is important to ensure that people would not come into your Country under the pretext of ECOWAS citizen to distablise your country, and need to look at it in that contest of what is being done on the whole citizen in the sub-region to allow free movement to Togo, Ivory Coast, Benin and Nigeria. Also, traders move in and out generally, but he does not think citizens have been denied that opportunity that much, but there is the need to put in measures to ensure that extremist do not take advantage of free movement to “distablilise our sub- region”.

Again, there is a military, government in Guinea Conakry, Burkina Faso, it does serve the good of the sub- region in terms of democracy. “We need democracy. As a key imperative for economic growth you need democracy for stability, if there is no democracy and we allow adventurist to come in as and when they wish to influence by external and internal forces at the end of the day the whole idea and objective of the sub- region to ensure democracy and stability would get compromised”.

Furthermore, he noted, “we cannot say the sub-region should unduly interfere in the affairs of member states, but we should be mindful of the principle of responsibility to protect. It happened in the Gambia, where the sub-region was proactive and there was stability in the Gambia; Liberia, it got to a point the sub -region took control that led to stability in Liberia. And there are instances Ivory Coast for instance a situation even as the AU at the time has to come in, the sub- region was very proactive at the end of the day it led to the stability that we have in Ivory Coast.

“The sub- regional political leadership has the responsibility to protect, invoke some powers which if implemented in a united form will send a strong signal to those adventures who are thinking that ‘let us organise our self and organise a coup’, it would deter people who think I can always stage a coup and find an excuse to say there is going to be transition and the sub-region body cannot bit and can generally talk and all that. I think one must be looked at critically and urgently”, he noted.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

GETfund ready to finish repair works on Attafuah, Oda SHS – MP

There were cheers and tones of applause when the Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda, Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah announced that a contract has formally been put together to finish the repair works of the Attafuah Secondary school and Oda Senior High School.

This was during the inauguration of the newly constituted Board of Governors of Attafuah SHS today in the school. The audience couldn’t help but to cheer on the MP when he also announced that prior to the arrangements of the contracts, he found it necessary to facilitate the repair works from his own resources.

He said he was proud to announce that all the repair works in the various basic schools and the ones at Attafuah SHS had been borne by him. Hon. Akwasi Acquah said he couldn’t bear watching the school kids being put together in a crowded classroom blocks when covid was in its critical stage..

Mr. Akwasi Acquah congratulated the old board and commended them for their excellent performance during their term of office. He singled out the former board chairman for his leadership role especially during the disaster that struck on the 5th of April 2021. He also advised the new board to contact the old board in all their deliberations.

To forestall the ravage visited on people and properties whenever there is heavy rain and storms, the MP announced that he would soon introduce a tree planting club to the school to help in their efforts at contributing to addressing climate change. Additionally, he said the tree planting would serve “perhaps as memorial for our passing through the school”, and would obviously stop the tendency of indiscriminately writing on school walls as a memory, which has been the practice.

Ghanamps.com

Akim Oda: More residents benefit from free NHIS registration, renewal

The Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Alexander Akwesi Acquah has once again come to the aid of his constituents with his benevolent services. As part of the MP’s resolve to ensuring healthy population through easy and affordable access to quality health delivery, the office of the MP’s Health Working Committee has opened registration and renewal of National Health Insurance Cards.


The exercise which commenced on October 3 and expected to last till October 8, 2022 has designated areas for the exercise. The exercise is expected to register and renew about two thousand (2000) residents free of charge. Free registration and renewal of NHIS cards has become a regular feature in the various interventions the MP engages in to help ameliorate the sufferings of his constituents.

There was a similar intervention earlier in the year which also included free health screening exercises to help people know their health status and the necessary medical interventions provided. Mr Akwesi Acquah urged residents in the Constituency whose NHIS cards have expired for between 1-3 years to endeavour to avail themselves for the exercise.

The National Health Insurance Scheme recently reviewed and added some new medical conditions to be covered under the scheme. It is therefore prudent that people get registered to benefit when the need arise.

Ghanamps.com

GETfund ready to finish repair works on Attafuah, Oda SHS – MP

There were cheers and tones of applause when the Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda, Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah announced that a contract has formally been put together to finish the repair works of the Attafuah Secondary school and Oda Senior High School.
This was during the inauguration of the newly constituted Board of Governors of Attafuah SHS today in the school. The audience couldn’t help but to cheer on the MP when he also announced that prior to the arrangements of the contracts, he found it necessary to facilitate the repair works from his own resources.
He said he was proud to announce that all the repair works in the various basic schools and the ones at Attafuah SHS had been borne by him.
Hon. Akwasi Acquah said he couldn’t bear watching the school kids being put together in a crowded classroom blocks when covid was in its critical stage..
Mr. Akwasi Acquah congratulated the old board and commended them for their excellent performance during their term of office. He singled out the former board chairman for his leadership role especially during the disaster that struck on the 5th of April 2021. He also advised the new board to contact the old board in all their deliberations.
To forestall the ravage visited on people and properties whenever there is heavy rain and storms, the MP announced that he would soon introduce a tree planting club to the school to help in their efforts at contributing to addressing climate change. Additionally, he said the tree planting would serve “perhaps as memorial for our passing through the school”, and would obviously stop the tendency of indiscriminately writing on school walls as a memory, which has been the practice.

Ghanamps.com