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Majority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh has appealed to his colleagues in the Minority to give the Minister of Finance Ken Ofori Atta the benefit of doubt and reschedule the appearing of the Minister on the floor of the House to next week Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

“The day the Finance Minister was supposed to appear that Friday, we did not seat, the House decided not to seat on that very Friday,  we need to take our minds to these facts, beyond that there has been some outstanding concerns”.

According to him, the Business Committee programmed the Minister to come before the House but there was communication from the Ministry appealing to them to reschedule his appearance and the Minister has related through the Majority Leader to the Speaker, to next week Wednesday.   “It is not the first a Minister with respect is calling for reprograming of his appearance, we should not raise the temperature unnecessarily, and he is going to kill two birds with a stone. He is going to answer all the questions and going to make a statement, let us exercise some restraint”.

Mr. Frank Annoh-Dompreh explained further that the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta would make a statement related to the COVID-19 expenditure and he should be given the benefit of the doubt; “he would do the needful and speak to the question to bring finality to this matter”.

In his remarks the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said he hopes the Minister would be on the floor of the House on Wednesday, he hope God would give them life up to that day and the House should stand down all matters related to the Finance Ministry.

“We demand that he comes in person and not through a Deputy Minister, Ken Ofori Atta come and answer COVID questions and MPs questions in the interest of oversight and accountability in the name of the Republic of Ghana”.

Majority Leader Osei-Kyei-Mensah –Bonsu on his part noted that he agrees Parliament must insist on its responsibility so if anyone raises issue with the Minister coming to the House to account for the expenditure that can only be right.

He was however quick to point out that the Minister is not running away from accountability and nobody should run to that conclusion. “What he has indicated to us, yesterday at parliamentary board meeting, Mr. Speaker we were to relate to the Minister for some additional information and further conversation on some other issues”.

He further pointed out that he was in touch with the sector Minister who got in touch with him in Parliament around 9:00pm and they left around 10:00pm following from that he related to the Speaker the conversation that has gone on between himself and the Finance Minister.

“And what he pleaded we did  for him with respect to the question that have been filled, it was whiles we were in the office that he got to know responses to the questions have been dumped in his House, he was not aware that they had finished with the responses. He said to me he need to read and do some consultations after he has read just so that, it would be in sink with the responses others have given”.

Again, before he could see the responses they were already brought to Parliament so he pleaded that he should see them first and appreciate what the technical people have brought and appreciate them, before coming to the House for him to be able to give comprehensive response.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Government paid Ghc 563.4 million in 3 tranche payments to the Nigeria Gas Company Ltd (N-Gas) between March 2018 to July 2019 through the Ministry of Energy and the Energy Sector Levies Act (ESLA) PLC.

The Deputy Minister of Energy William Owureko Aidoo made this known in an answer to a question by Hon Frank Annoh- Dompreh Majority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam / Adoagyiri.

Hon Annoh- Dompreh wanted to know how government settled the debt owed Nigeria Gas Company ( N- Gas )  through the Energy Sector Levy .

Mr. William Owureko Aidoo said VRA has improved its balance sheet over the last years which has helped it to pay its debt to N- Gas .

This, according to the Deputy Minister has helped to address power outages also known as dumsor and Ghana’s generating machine are run by natural gas.

Ghanamps.com

The Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong on Wednesday, June 16, 2022 appeared before the Privileges Committee, to answer questions on why he was absent from the House for more than the stipulated fifteen sitting days during the First Meeting of the Second Session of the Eighth Parliament.

This follows the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Alban Bagbin’s directive to consider circumstances surrounding the absence of three Members of Parliament, pursuant to Article 97 (1c) of the 1992 Constitution.

The Honorable Member indicated to the House that his absence was inadvertent, due to ill health

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Chairman of the Privileges Committee, Joseph Osei-Owusu has directed that embattled Member of parliament for Dome/Kwabenya Sarah Adowa Safo be summoned before the Committee on July 6, 2022 at midday at the New Administration Block, Committee Room 1 and 2 after attempts to reach her failed. Pursuant to Article 103 clause (6) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 205 of the Standing Orders of the House the summons be published in all relevant media.

The summons form part of the Committee’s work, referred to it by the Speaker, Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin. “Article 97 clause (1) ( c ) and order 15 and 16 clause (1) of the standing orders of Parliament, for consideration and report to the House, on the absence of the Member of Parliament for more than fifteen sittings, without permission in writing of the Speaker, during the First Meeting of the Second session of the Eight Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana”.

In a statement issued by the Public Affairs Director, Kate Addo, it noted that the Committee has employed all available means, both official and unofficial to serve the member with an invitation letter, including sending letters to her office and pigeonhole in Parliament. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, where she superintend as a sector Minister, her official email addresses, known social media handles, and through her personal assistant.

“The Honorable Member may choose to honor the summons via zoom; further information and clarification may be obtained on telephone number, 00233266380643 or email address, kmenkah@parliament.gh for further information”, the statement directed.

Ghanamps.com

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has clarified that the Ghana Card is not a replacement to our current biometric passport.
According to her the Ghana Card may serve as an optional travel document to be used in tandem with our biometric passport.

Responding to a question by the Member of Parliament for Salaga South, Ms Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahim on whether Ghanaians no longer need passports and whether the Ghana Card now represents a passport she noted that “it must be underscored that the passport, together with the travel certificate are the only approved travel documents for Ghanaians that are internationally recognised”.

She informed the House that currently, the Ghana Card cannot be used for travel to other countries either within or outside of ECOWAS as that would require bilateral agreements with those countries for their authorities to accept the card as a travel document.

In view of this, the Ministry is in active discussion with ECOWAS member States and our bilateral partners to achieve this. “However, in light of the announcement by the Ghana Immigration Service titled “Notice to the Public: Use of Ghana Card as a Travel Document”, dated 24″ February, 2022, Ghanaian and dual national holders of the Ghana card would be able to travel to Ghana using the Ghana Card”, she stated.
Ghanamps.com

Acting chairman of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Sampson Ahi has questioned if the West African sub-region has the capacity to purchase 50% of fertilizers produced in the region, as 80% are exported to Latin America.

Presentation made by the ECOWAS Commissioner in charge of Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources Sekou Sangare at the plenary points out to the fact that NPK and Urea fertilizers with industrial unit produce annual has more than 4.5 million tons of fertilizer in Nigeria and Senegal.

The Dangote Fertilizer Group, Indorama and OCP Group and ICS in Senegal’s fertilizers currently more than 80% is exported to Latin America.

During discussion session at the plenary, the acting chairman of the committee that has oversight responsibility noted that the war in Russia and Ukraine has created panic in Africa and for that      matter West Africa.

“We are all talking about possible farming hunger in the sub region, we are talking about fertilizer deficit of two million, we have our compatriots’ business persons in the sub-region who are producing more than this deficit but they are being exported to Latin America. We are still crying that that war is preventing us from accessing fertilizer, do we have a capacity as a sub-region to purchase fifty percent of the 80 percent that they are exporting?”

It was a question he posed to the Commissioner and added that if that happens it would clear the two million deficit of fertilizer the sub-region has.

He further questioned the Commission on steps being taken to allow our scientist to come out with climatically favored Genetic Modification Organism (GMOs) seeds in our sub region, as it seems to him that what is being done now is importing from Europe and the Americas.

“We  have scientific centers in the sub-region to produce GMOs as the Commissioner spoke  about strategic reserves,  and buying grain during surplus production, what is the criteria for member states; at what states can we conclude that a member state is in need and what state can a member state access facilities at the strategic reserve?”.

And on food deficit in member states, when one is asked to state the five problems in agriculture activities it would be repeated, “just to say that we know what the problems are, the issue is how do we resolve the old age problems, that we know of and how are we doing to modernise Agriculture in our sub-region?”, he queried.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com/Abuja-Nigeria

The Member of Parliament for the Akyem Oda Constituency, Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah has congratulated the management and technical team and the playing body of Kotoku Royals for qualifying into Ghana’s premier league.

Addressing supporters who had thronged the Oda Sports Stadium to welcome the Gallant Royals after holding Tema Youth to a goalless game in Tema, the MP said this was a dream come true.

He was particularly excited because he saw this dream long ago and decided to partner with the team to achieve this. “I know the extent to which the economy of Akyem Oda and its environs will be rejuvenated if our team qualifies into Ghana’s premier league and that’s why I decided to associate myself with the dream at a time that nobody believed in their efforts” he told the excited supporters who had waited for the team and supporters to arrive as late as 9pm.

Many were those who criticized the MP for wasting money when he gave cash rewards to the playing body after winning each game in the last season.

Even though the campaign was not successful then, Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah, didn’t relent in his effort.

Yesterday’s jubilation carnival by thousands of supporters that were at the Tema Sports Stadium and followed the team to Akyem Oda justified any investment to encourage the team to press to this stage.

Mr Alexander Akwasi Acquah thanked all those who responded to the clarion call to push the team to this stage and promised that the support base will be organised so well to ensure that the team stays in the Premier League.

Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament for Ho West, Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah has called on leadership of the Majority side of the House to remove the chairman of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi for not showing interest in expediting work on the passage of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 popularly known as the (Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill)

His call comes in the wake of controversy surrounding delay in the passage of the (Anti-LGBTQ) Bill, and an alleged invitation extended to the leadership of the Committee by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Associations.

According to the Ho West lawmaker who is a member of those sponsoring the private members motion in the Ghanaian Parliament, the chairman has been compromised; “so far he is not    prepared to work, I am calling for his removal for someone else there to do the work as we all want it done. Ghana is a sovereign nation, we have our own norms and culture, and we would not force our polygamy culture on any nation, so they should also not force things on us”.

And if the United Kingdom is prepared to tolerate polygamous culture, we are also prepared to accept anything coming from them; “any other country that says polygamy is not good then LGBTQ+ is also not good”, he stated.

As to whether the removal of the chairman would change the dynamics, he responded in the affirmative, stating that every Committee has a chairman being the head who direct affairs including the ranking.

“I bet you that this chairman has really delayed this bill, it has been more than six months not that the Bill has been with the committee, the report has not come to the plenary for us to discuss. What is he doing, does he need to go to Europe before writing a report?” he queried.

Again he has met all the groups and had zoom meetings with all manner of people who claim they are experts in the field and he cannot see why he cannot seat down but be jumping from country to country just, “because he wants the international community to do what? “If they are interested in it they should come down us, as we have the Canadian MPs coming down to interact with us”

And for him to be happy because he has been invited to the United Kingdom shows the kind of person he is and the attitude he has towards the Bill.

As to whether the sponsors of the Bill would not back down with the kind of pressure coming in, he noted that; “when the people are determined nothing can deter us. Granted that they are powerful, the same CDD that has put up a memo that the Committee should not allow the bill to pass, they have conducted a survey being sponsored by DANIDA. They have gone round and said getting  to 75 percent of Ghanaians frown on this,  if Ghanaians say they do not want it,  I do not see why we in Parliament want to delay the bill from passing”.

On the mood in Parliament towards the Bill he said it has the support of both the Majority and Minority and a by partisan Bill and the only problem is, some amendment that needs to be done which would be ironed out when it gets to the consideration stage.

And where there should be amendment they are prepared to listen to people and “if those amendments fall in line with our culture, we would vote for it, but if it does not fall we would vote against it”, and was emphatic about it.

“We  are a sovereign nation,  our laws are not of the UK neither is it of any other commonwealth nation, despite the fact that we belong to committees of nations,  we receive over 150 memoranda all over the world including people linking themselves to human right activist as well as the United Nations experts on human right”

They have been worried since then, on the external influence on this particular bill has been too much on them and those of them who are sponsors of the bill are worried because their  expectation is that  this bill could have been passed as the Speaker mentioned last year before they  want on recess.

“Unfortunately the committee chair has deliberately delayed the bill to the extent that he mentioned that they have been invited by another parliament”.

Mr Bedzrah revealed that when some Canadian Parliamentary delegation visited Ghana’s Parliament some weeks back and they met the Speaker Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Bagbin, one of the MPs touched on the Anti-Gay Bill on two occasions.

And it shows the international Community are watching whether Ghana would pass this Bill or not, and Ghana would not be the first to pass it; Nigeria and Uganda have passed it, and wonders what is wrong if Ghana is also doing same to have its frontier culture protected.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com/Abuja-Nigeria

The Member of Parliament for Ahafo-Ano South West Constituency, Johnson Kweku Adu has commissioned ten educational projects completed under the Ghana Education Trust Fund, (GETFund) in various communities within the Constituency. The projects are aimed at easing the pressure among students as a result of the non-availability of school buildings; a situation that compels students to walk long distances to and fro school on daily basis.

The projects include 2- unit classroom block at Mpasaso Dotiem, 6- unit classrooms block at Akyease, 3-unit classroom block at Manshia and others in the various communities. The representative for the District Director of Education, Mr. Kwabena Adu Poku commended the government and the Member of Parliament for addressing the infrastructure deficits that bedeviled the education directorate in the District.

District Chief Executive of Ahafo-Ano South West District Assembly, Joseph Frimpong Bonsu who was represented by the Presiding Member, Hon Eric Agyekum advised the management of the beneficiary schools to ensure proper maintenance of the projects.

Member of Parliament, Johnson Kweku Adu disclosed that education is one of the areas he wants to develop in the Constituency hence the lobbying for these projects. The head teachers and Chiefs of the various beneficiary communities commended the government and the MP for the interventions, saying the school blocks will help the students to have a conducive environment for learning.

Ghanamps.com

The Deputy Minority whip Ahmed Ibrahim is not enthused by the Finance Minister’s attitude towards parliament. Registering his displeasure at the Finance Minister’s response to the works of parliament, Mr. Ahmed described the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta as disrespecting the House by not showing up on the floor of the House when the House needs him on the floor.

“We come here to do Public Business, he does not come to the House but we know the payment he is making out there”. He made this remarks on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 when the Member of Parliament for Adaklu Governs Kwame Agbodza raised the issue of quorum on the floor of the House and recounted that a similar quorum issued was raised the previous day by same MP he had to be prevailed upon, for members to be called into the chamber for business to continue.

“The House should be taken serious, we are 137 :137 as Article 252 is clear on they working together and supporting the Executive and the Judiciary to ensure the citizens who brought them to the House, their interest is taken care of”. According to him, the House used one or two days to pass legislation to enable the Finance Minister to perform his duty, so he should “release the health insurance funds let it go, common fund let it go, same with the GETfund.

I was on television and children in Greater Accra are learning under trees; when it rains they run away to their houses the DCE is called to report on the school, what has been given to the DCE – the fund to perform is not given”. He pointed out that this time around they are not going to go to court but are going to use the powers given to them as a House by the constitution to compel the Finance Minister to seat up and do the needful.

Majority chief whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh did not take kindly to comments made on the floor by the first deputy whip and pointed out that despite the fact that he has a point he should do the proper thing. And questioned the Order the deputy Minority Whip was making his submissions. “Under which Order is our colleague coming under, this House is a House of record, bring the issue up and be captured properly”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com