News:
May 13, 2019
The Republic of Ghana, received a rousing commendation when the nation presented its country report at the ongoing First Ordinary session of the fourth legislature this year, at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament in Abuja Nigeria.
Lawmakers at the Community Parliament when it got to question time, praise Ghana for going according to the format laid down for presenting country report, and further commended Ghana for giving current information.
The only female representative of Ghana to the West African sub-regional Parliament, Ama Pomaa Boateng, received praise from his colleagues for her clarity in presentation.
Ghanaian delegation is made up of Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh leader of delegation, Frederick Opare-Ansah, Kwabena Appiah Pinkrah, Sampson Ahi, Mahama Ayariga, Ama Pomaa Boateng and Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin.
On the political situation in Ghana, Ama Pomaa Boateng told the House, Ghana continues to enjoy twenty-six years of uninterrupted constitutional democracy, with the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) electing its flagbearer in February this year. She said the party elected the former President John Dramani Mahama as its candidate for the 2020 Presidential elections, out of six other aspirants.
The report also stated that the Electoral Commission has signaled its intention to implement the “Representation of the People’s Amendment Act (ROPA) passed twelve years ago by Parliament, for Ghanaians abroad to vote in upcoming 2020 elections.
Again, the President Nana Akufo-Addo per Article 5 of the 1992 constitution caused to be created six additional regions, in addition to the ten existing regions.
On security situation of the nation, it was pointed out in the country report that, there is peace and stability. As such government has focused its attention on political vigilantism and monitoring of terrorism activities along national borders as well as cybercrime.
Government continues to wage a relentless war against illegal mining which has resulted in the degradation of large tracts of forest and the savanna belt.
Illegal mining goes on in eight out of the ten regions, the capital Greater Accra and Volta regions are the only regions spared of this menace.
Rights of women are championed by a number of feminist advocacy groups, whiles laws of the country do not discriminate against women, and disparities exist in the numbers when it comes to parallels in power politics, job placement and influence.
On persons with disability, Ghana’s country report revealed that Government has increased the share of the District Assembly Common Fund to persons with disabilities (PWDs), from two percent to three percent.
Another area the report touched on was, ECOWAS community levy. Ghana as at April 2019 has discharged it payment obligation to the ECOWAS Commission; all mount due to the period have been duly paid.
In the month of January this year payment units of account (12.040,542.75), in February 2019 (17,316,302.33), March was (13,583, 797, 87) and April (15,226, 879.22).
Thus the total levy paid by the first quarter of 2019 to the ECOWAS Commission is 58, 167, 522.17 units of account.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Abuja