Page 15, June 30, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I.C. Quaye, has said it would not be out of place if the New Patriotic Party’s flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo heeds the voice of the people and nominates him as his running mate for the December polls.
“As far as I am concerned, I am the most qualified person among the many people being mentioned as possible nominees”, he told the Daily Graphic in an interview on Tuesday.
As the time for the filing of nominations for the December election approaches, several people have been mentioned as those who could be the running mates of the various presidential aspirants.
Apart from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, who has nominated the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole-Bamboi, Mr John Mahama, as his running mate, all the others are yet to do so.
As Ghanaians wait patiently for the nomination of Nana Akufo-Addo’s running mate, some NPP members such as the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing and MP for Salaga, Mr Boniface Abubakar Sadiqque; the Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs and MP for Savelugu, Hajia Alima Mahama; the Minister of Fisheries and MP for Takoradi, Mrs Gladys Asmah; the former Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kyerematen, and the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I.C. Quaye, have been mentioned as possible nominees Nana Akufo-Addo would choose from.
In choosing running mates, political parties from time immemorial have considered a number of factors that are considered to enhance their chances of winning elections.
Factors such as ethnicity, regional balance, religion and party loyalty, among other factors are considered by the political parties in their bid to achieve their political ambitions.
In the 2000 election, President J. A. Kufuor, then a presidential candidate, considered the northern sector and religion in the nomination of Vice-President Aliu Mahama as his running mate.
While the running mates the flag bearers of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the People’e National Convention (PNC) and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) among others, have not been revealed, rumours are rife about the one the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, is eyeing as his number two man.
While all these people are qualified for the slot, Sheikh Quaye claimed that he had the credentials that put him far ahead of all the other names that were being mentioned in the media.
Sheikh Quaye was a Member of Parliament on the ticket of Busia-led Progress Party (PP) during the Second Republic.
During General I.K. Acheampong’s military regime, Skeikh Quaye was accused of sedition and sentenced to seven years in prison for suggesting to the government(THAT......)
He, however, won an appeal against the sentence and two weeks later, Acheampong government was overthrown.
“I am popularly known as the people’s man and I played a yeoman’s role in propelling the party to power in 1992.”
Sheikh Quaye stated that if candidates were being chosen because of their Muslim background, then he was the best to be considered.
He stated that apart from being an MP in 1969, he became the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NPP before winning the Ayawaso Central seat in 1996 to represent his people, which he had been doing till date.
As a regional minister, Sheikh Quaye explained that his expertise in administration had won him a lot of awards, both locally and internationally and expressed the hope that his experience could assist the party in realising its goals if he was paired with Nana Akufo-Addo.
Currently, he has been nominated to receive an award in the Order of Volta category during this year’s celebration of the Republic Day.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Anti-Terrorism Bill goes through second reading
Page 16, June 26, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Anti-Terrorism Bill, which was placed before Parliament in October, 2005, has passed through its second reading stage.
With this hurdle cleared, the bill would have to go through its consideration stage, during which proposed amendments would be considered before it goes through the third reading.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey, moved the motion for the second reading, and was seconded by the Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, Mr Yaw Baah.
Presenting the object of the bill, Mr Ghartey said it had become incumbent to have legislation on terrorism, because all member states of the United Nations were obliged under the Security Council Legislation Resolution 1373 of 2001 to deny safe haven to those who finance, plan or commit terrorist acts.
He explained further that there was a Commonwealth Plan of Action on Terrorism which enjoined members of all Commonwealth nations to implement Resolution 1373.
Apart from the UN and Commonwealth initiatives, there was the Algiers Convention on the Prevention and Combating Terrorism, 1999, which had become the framework for the collective African response to terrorism.
The convention, according to Mr Ghartey, mandated member states of the African Union to review their national laws to include terrorist offences.
Mr Ghartey stated that although there were provisions in the Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29) on the safety of the state and other matters connected with terrorism, these were not considered adequate to meet the current international best practice standards on the matter.
“It is necessary to provide comprehensive anti-terrorism legislation to avoid a situation where the country may become a haven for terrorists because of laxity in the law,” he said.
Presenting the report of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Baah stated that the committee had examined provisions of the bill, and noted that they provided adequate legal basis for Ghana to meet its international obligations to counter terrorism.
He stated that the passage of the bill would enable Ghana, as a member of the UN and a signatory to all the international conventions of anti-terrorism, bring the country’s legal regime in conformity with international requirements.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Chireponi, Ms Doris A. Seidu, has called for a strategy to be worked out to minimise the inflow of under-aged girls, mainly from the three northern regions to cities in the south.
She suggested that a temporary home should be provided for such people who were homeless, while efforts were made to repatriate and reintegrate them into their original communities.
Ms Seidu made the call when she made a statement on the floor of Parliament on the need to find a lasting solution to the plight of head porters (kayaye) in the country.
She suggested the establishment of a fund by the government to oversee the rehabilitation, repatriation and re-integration of the kayaye into their original communities.
MPs who contributed to her statement, advised the government to properly resource the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs and the Department of Social Welfare to enable them effectively play their roles to curb such social problems in the country.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Anti-Terrorism Bill, which was placed before Parliament in October, 2005, has passed through its second reading stage.
With this hurdle cleared, the bill would have to go through its consideration stage, during which proposed amendments would be considered before it goes through the third reading.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey, moved the motion for the second reading, and was seconded by the Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, Mr Yaw Baah.
Presenting the object of the bill, Mr Ghartey said it had become incumbent to have legislation on terrorism, because all member states of the United Nations were obliged under the Security Council Legislation Resolution 1373 of 2001 to deny safe haven to those who finance, plan or commit terrorist acts.
He explained further that there was a Commonwealth Plan of Action on Terrorism which enjoined members of all Commonwealth nations to implement Resolution 1373.
Apart from the UN and Commonwealth initiatives, there was the Algiers Convention on the Prevention and Combating Terrorism, 1999, which had become the framework for the collective African response to terrorism.
The convention, according to Mr Ghartey, mandated member states of the African Union to review their national laws to include terrorist offences.
Mr Ghartey stated that although there were provisions in the Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29) on the safety of the state and other matters connected with terrorism, these were not considered adequate to meet the current international best practice standards on the matter.
“It is necessary to provide comprehensive anti-terrorism legislation to avoid a situation where the country may become a haven for terrorists because of laxity in the law,” he said.
Presenting the report of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Baah stated that the committee had examined provisions of the bill, and noted that they provided adequate legal basis for Ghana to meet its international obligations to counter terrorism.
He stated that the passage of the bill would enable Ghana, as a member of the UN and a signatory to all the international conventions of anti-terrorism, bring the country’s legal regime in conformity with international requirements.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Chireponi, Ms Doris A. Seidu, has called for a strategy to be worked out to minimise the inflow of under-aged girls, mainly from the three northern regions to cities in the south.
She suggested that a temporary home should be provided for such people who were homeless, while efforts were made to repatriate and reintegrate them into their original communities.
Ms Seidu made the call when she made a statement on the floor of Parliament on the need to find a lasting solution to the plight of head porters (kayaye) in the country.
She suggested the establishment of a fund by the government to oversee the rehabilitation, repatriation and re-integration of the kayaye into their original communities.
MPs who contributed to her statement, advised the government to properly resource the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs and the Department of Social Welfare to enable them effectively play their roles to curb such social problems in the country.
MPs condemn Bawku hostilities
Page 16, June 26, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Five Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Bawku Traditional Area have condemned the resurgence of hostilities in the area, leading to the loss of lives and property.
The MPs also condemned the general situation in Bawku and said lawlessness was becoming a normal practice with individuals taking the law into their hands and visiting havoc on others.
They are Mr John Ndebugre (Zebilla), Mr Mahama Ayariga (Bawku Central), Mr Mark-Anthony Awuni (Binduri), Mr Dominic Azimbe Azumah (Garu-Tempane), and Mr Simon Atingban Akunye (Pusiga).
In a statement read by Mr Ndebugre, they condemned the stoning to death of a Mamprusiman, Mr Zakaria Abangre, by a mob at Buabula Bongin, a suburb of Bawku.
They stated that although Mr Zakaria had been seen moving outside his house during the curfew hours, he could have been apprehended and handed over to the security agencies.
“We condemn in greater measure, the dastardly and gruesome murder of defenceless and vulnerable persons who were massacred by uniformed persons and warn the perpetrators of such acts that they infringe international humanitarian law”.
They also expressed deep concern about the use of military uniforms by unauthorised persons for criminal purposes and called on the government and the security agencies to unmask those persons and bring them to justice.
They said that the situation had now become a law and order issue that required resolute action by the state.
“Perpetrators of criminal acts must be sought, apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the law”, they said and called on judicial authorities to apply the law in a manner that would send a clear message that the nation was not in the mood to tolerate lawlessness.
The MPs took note of the efforts being made by the National Peace Council to find a lasting solution to the crisis and regretted the embarrassment that the latest incident had caused the eminent members of the council.
The MPs assured the council of their full co-operation and assistance and urged them not to relent in the face of the recent destabilising act by the people in the area.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Five Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Bawku Traditional Area have condemned the resurgence of hostilities in the area, leading to the loss of lives and property.
The MPs also condemned the general situation in Bawku and said lawlessness was becoming a normal practice with individuals taking the law into their hands and visiting havoc on others.
They are Mr John Ndebugre (Zebilla), Mr Mahama Ayariga (Bawku Central), Mr Mark-Anthony Awuni (Binduri), Mr Dominic Azimbe Azumah (Garu-Tempane), and Mr Simon Atingban Akunye (Pusiga).
In a statement read by Mr Ndebugre, they condemned the stoning to death of a Mamprusiman, Mr Zakaria Abangre, by a mob at Buabula Bongin, a suburb of Bawku.
They stated that although Mr Zakaria had been seen moving outside his house during the curfew hours, he could have been apprehended and handed over to the security agencies.
“We condemn in greater measure, the dastardly and gruesome murder of defenceless and vulnerable persons who were massacred by uniformed persons and warn the perpetrators of such acts that they infringe international humanitarian law”.
They also expressed deep concern about the use of military uniforms by unauthorised persons for criminal purposes and called on the government and the security agencies to unmask those persons and bring them to justice.
They said that the situation had now become a law and order issue that required resolute action by the state.
“Perpetrators of criminal acts must be sought, apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the law”, they said and called on judicial authorities to apply the law in a manner that would send a clear message that the nation was not in the mood to tolerate lawlessness.
The MPs took note of the efforts being made by the National Peace Council to find a lasting solution to the crisis and regretted the embarrassment that the latest incident had caused the eminent members of the council.
The MPs assured the council of their full co-operation and assistance and urged them not to relent in the face of the recent destabilising act by the people in the area.
MPs condemn turmoil in Zimbabwe
Page 17, June 25, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday condemned the current political turmoil in Zimbabwe and called on African leaders to act swiftly to save the country from total collapse.
They wondered why African leaders had not acted decisively from stopping President Robert Mugabe from harassing his political opponents in his bid to entrench his rule.
The MPs were contributing to a statement made on the floor of the House by the MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Professor Mike Ocquaye on the situation in Zimbabwe.
In his statement, the MP called on Africans to rise in unison and dissociate themselves from all such actions which lower Africans in the eyes and minds of the right-thinking humanity.
He also called for an international peacekeeping under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) to be deployed immediately to ensure human security and free and fair election in that country.
“Our globe has gone beyond the era when state sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of a country were employed to abuse human rights in a given nation”, he said.
Prof Ocquaye advised the AU to withdraw the membership of countries who do not have good governance credentials.
In addition, the MP called for the setting up of sub-regional electoral commissions to work with an African Electoral Commission to take full control over all elections throughout the continent.
He stated that Africa also needed to have a full-fledged Court on Human Rights and Electoral Matters which should be empowered to adjudicate on electoral affairs and human right issues within nations.
“We cannot continue doing ‘I scratch your back, you scratch my back’ any longer as many African Heads of States have done for so long”, he said.
He noted that if that continued, “democracy and good governance cannot thrive; political instability will abound’ tin gods will continue to impose their will on the people”.
Contributing to the statement, the Minority Leader and MP for Nadowli West, Mr Alban Bagbin said Africans could no longer allow what he called “the stupidity of President Mugabe to go on”.
He stated that the situation in Zimbabwe was “a sore on the conscience of Africa” adding that it was unfortunate that African leaders were looking on unconcerned while President Mugabe continued to misbehave.
While supporting the decision of the UN to impose economic sanctions on Zimbabwe, Mr Bagbin called for an emergency AU meeting to deliberate on how to halt the Zimbabwean situation.
He suggested that efforts should be made for the establishment of an interim government since the presidential run-off would be a sham.
“We should give signals to our leaders, both present and future, that they are not the repository of knowledge”, he said adding that President Mugabe should not hide under land issues to misbehave.
He noted that though some African countries, such as Ghana were doing well politically and economically, it was now difficult for outsiders to distinguish them from bad ones such as Zimbabwe.
“That is the more reason why we should all rise up and call the bluff of President Mugabe to indicate our resolve that enough is enough”.
For his part, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh noted that Zimbabwe was a country that was failing politically, economically and socially.
“We should not look on impotently since today it is Zimbabwe and tomorrow it will be another country”, he stated.
He attributed the action of President Mugabe to the quietness of African leaders and called on them to rise up to the occasion and be bold to condemn their colleague.
“The UN and AU must interfere. If it means foreign invasion, it should be done”, the Majority Leader stated adding Zimbabwean MPs were looking forward for their counterparts elsewhere to come to their aid.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday condemned the current political turmoil in Zimbabwe and called on African leaders to act swiftly to save the country from total collapse.
They wondered why African leaders had not acted decisively from stopping President Robert Mugabe from harassing his political opponents in his bid to entrench his rule.
The MPs were contributing to a statement made on the floor of the House by the MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Professor Mike Ocquaye on the situation in Zimbabwe.
In his statement, the MP called on Africans to rise in unison and dissociate themselves from all such actions which lower Africans in the eyes and minds of the right-thinking humanity.
He also called for an international peacekeeping under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) to be deployed immediately to ensure human security and free and fair election in that country.
“Our globe has gone beyond the era when state sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of a country were employed to abuse human rights in a given nation”, he said.
Prof Ocquaye advised the AU to withdraw the membership of countries who do not have good governance credentials.
In addition, the MP called for the setting up of sub-regional electoral commissions to work with an African Electoral Commission to take full control over all elections throughout the continent.
He stated that Africa also needed to have a full-fledged Court on Human Rights and Electoral Matters which should be empowered to adjudicate on electoral affairs and human right issues within nations.
“We cannot continue doing ‘I scratch your back, you scratch my back’ any longer as many African Heads of States have done for so long”, he said.
He noted that if that continued, “democracy and good governance cannot thrive; political instability will abound’ tin gods will continue to impose their will on the people”.
Contributing to the statement, the Minority Leader and MP for Nadowli West, Mr Alban Bagbin said Africans could no longer allow what he called “the stupidity of President Mugabe to go on”.
He stated that the situation in Zimbabwe was “a sore on the conscience of Africa” adding that it was unfortunate that African leaders were looking on unconcerned while President Mugabe continued to misbehave.
While supporting the decision of the UN to impose economic sanctions on Zimbabwe, Mr Bagbin called for an emergency AU meeting to deliberate on how to halt the Zimbabwean situation.
He suggested that efforts should be made for the establishment of an interim government since the presidential run-off would be a sham.
“We should give signals to our leaders, both present and future, that they are not the repository of knowledge”, he said adding that President Mugabe should not hide under land issues to misbehave.
He noted that though some African countries, such as Ghana were doing well politically and economically, it was now difficult for outsiders to distinguish them from bad ones such as Zimbabwe.
“That is the more reason why we should all rise up and call the bluff of President Mugabe to indicate our resolve that enough is enough”.
For his part, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh noted that Zimbabwe was a country that was failing politically, economically and socially.
“We should not look on impotently since today it is Zimbabwe and tomorrow it will be another country”, he stated.
He attributed the action of President Mugabe to the quietness of African leaders and called on them to rise up to the occasion and be bold to condemn their colleague.
“The UN and AU must interfere. If it means foreign invasion, it should be done”, the Majority Leader stated adding Zimbabwean MPs were looking forward for their counterparts elsewhere to come to their aid.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Speaker urges parties to consider issues of climatic change
Page 16, June 23, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes has urged political parties to consider the issue of climatic change during their campaigns for the December elections.
He stated that combating challenges of climatic change should be done with concerted efforts and not be viewed as the sole responsibility of the sector ministry and agencies charged with the responsibility.
‘The environment is all we have and we must do all we can to protect it for its continuous use by the present and future generations”, he said.
Mr Hughes was opening a day’s workshop on climatic change for Members of Parliament (MPs) on Saturday.
It was organised by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of the Administrator of District Assemblies Common Fund to sensitise the participants to issues of climatic change.
He, therefore challenged state and non-state actors dealing with the environment to come up with pragmatic proposals for dealing with challenges of the environment.
Mr Hughes commended the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, local and international agencies which had not relented in their efforts to raise awareness about climatic change.
The Speaker gave the assurance that Parliament was ready to facilitate legislation relating to the climate change as its contribution towards the war against global warming.
In his address, the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, said although African countries contributed only four per cent to greenhouse effect gas emissions, the continent was particularly vulnerable to climatic change.
He attributed the situation to factors such as widespread poverty, ageing infrastructure, unsustainable use of natural resources, over-dependence on rain fed agriculture and weak governance structures.
Mr Adjei-Darko said that Ghana was currently preparing a national adaptation, which is a process whereby individuals, communities and countries try to reduce potential climate change in eight sectors of the economy.
For his part, the United Nations Resident Co-ordinator in Ghana, Mr Daouda Toure, stated that there was the need for the mainstreaming of climatic change into planning and budgeting of countries.
He expressed the hope that debates generated by the workshop would go a long way in helping to bring climate change issues to the centre of the country’s development strategy and prepare economic actors in taking informed decisions in investing, negotiating with foreign investors and for international arrangements.
Mr Toure congratulated the government for accepting to host an international conference on climate change in August, this year, and expressed the hope that the country would take advantage of the meeting of experts to place the national climate change agenda in the context of its development priorities.
In his remarks, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, said the workshop was aimed at equipping MPs with enough information on climate change to enable parliamentary committees to be motivated to exercise their oversight responsibility over institutions to minimise the threat of climate change.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, called for a multi-sectoral approach to the fight against global warming for the achievement of better results.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes has urged political parties to consider the issue of climatic change during their campaigns for the December elections.
He stated that combating challenges of climatic change should be done with concerted efforts and not be viewed as the sole responsibility of the sector ministry and agencies charged with the responsibility.
‘The environment is all we have and we must do all we can to protect it for its continuous use by the present and future generations”, he said.
Mr Hughes was opening a day’s workshop on climatic change for Members of Parliament (MPs) on Saturday.
It was organised by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of the Administrator of District Assemblies Common Fund to sensitise the participants to issues of climatic change.
He, therefore challenged state and non-state actors dealing with the environment to come up with pragmatic proposals for dealing with challenges of the environment.
Mr Hughes commended the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, local and international agencies which had not relented in their efforts to raise awareness about climatic change.
The Speaker gave the assurance that Parliament was ready to facilitate legislation relating to the climate change as its contribution towards the war against global warming.
In his address, the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, said although African countries contributed only four per cent to greenhouse effect gas emissions, the continent was particularly vulnerable to climatic change.
He attributed the situation to factors such as widespread poverty, ageing infrastructure, unsustainable use of natural resources, over-dependence on rain fed agriculture and weak governance structures.
Mr Adjei-Darko said that Ghana was currently preparing a national adaptation, which is a process whereby individuals, communities and countries try to reduce potential climate change in eight sectors of the economy.
For his part, the United Nations Resident Co-ordinator in Ghana, Mr Daouda Toure, stated that there was the need for the mainstreaming of climatic change into planning and budgeting of countries.
He expressed the hope that debates generated by the workshop would go a long way in helping to bring climate change issues to the centre of the country’s development strategy and prepare economic actors in taking informed decisions in investing, negotiating with foreign investors and for international arrangements.
Mr Toure congratulated the government for accepting to host an international conference on climate change in August, this year, and expressed the hope that the country would take advantage of the meeting of experts to place the national climate change agenda in the context of its development priorities.
In his remarks, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, said the workshop was aimed at equipping MPs with enough information on climate change to enable parliamentary committees to be motivated to exercise their oversight responsibility over institutions to minimise the threat of climate change.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, called for a multi-sectoral approach to the fight against global warming for the achievement of better results.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Poverty levels assessed in Greater Accra
Page 15, June 20, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ghana Parliamentary Committee Support Project (GPCSP), in partnership with Parliament, has undertaken monitoring visits to a number of communities in the Greater Accra Region to assess the level of poverty in those areas.
Selected members of six parliamentary committees took part in the visits, which took them to such communities as Bortianor, James Town and Agbogloshie.
The GPSCP is a collaboration between the Canadian Parliamentary Centre, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and Parliament to support the work of committees of the House to operate efficiently.
The phenomenon of urban poverty in the country is amply exemplified among the coastal fishing communities in the Greater Region.
The homelessness of head porters “kayaye” in the business district of Accra and around the Zongos such as Nima-Mamobi community is quite visible.
Understanding the issue of poverty and its new characteristics, as it moves from rural to the urban areas, with the increasing wave of migration, has therefore become a major concern for policy makers.
It is in the light of this that the leadership of Parliament suggested to the Parliamentary Centre, through the GPCSP, to work with a cross-session of communities on the issue of urban poverty to help inform the House as it continues to address poverty reduction in its work.
According to the Information Research Co-ordinator of the Parliamentary Centre, Mr Adam Fuseini, said about GH¢24,000 is being spent on the poverty assessment programme.
During one of such visits to Bortianor, the selected members of the six committees held discussions with the chiefs and people of the village and toured the community to interact with the people.
The Chief of the village, Nii Ogbamey Ankonam I, appealed for the establishment of a senior high school (SHS) and a vocational training institute in the area to provide employment skills for the youth.
He also called for provision of a mini harbour and storage facility to enable the fishermen in the area to preserve their catch.
Nii Ankonam I told the visiting MPs that a clinic built in the community about 13 years ago is yet to be in operation, and called for measures to provide health workers for the clinic.
The leader of the delegation and Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Mr E.T. Mensah, educated the community on the work of MPs and the use of their share of the Common Fund.
He stated that amount allocated to MPs was only to solve small problems facing their constituents and not meant for projects that would require huge sums of money.
Mr Mensah said it was the responsibility of district assemblies, where the bulk of the Common Fund was sent, to provide the needed amenities of the communities in their respective areas.
He, therefore, asked the people to constantly liaise with their district assemblies, through their assembly member, for the provision of social amenities.
Schoolchildren interviewed called for the provision of teachers’ quarters in the community to entice qualified teachers to accept posting and stay in the community to offer their best to improve standard of education.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ghana Parliamentary Committee Support Project (GPCSP), in partnership with Parliament, has undertaken monitoring visits to a number of communities in the Greater Accra Region to assess the level of poverty in those areas.
Selected members of six parliamentary committees took part in the visits, which took them to such communities as Bortianor, James Town and Agbogloshie.
The GPSCP is a collaboration between the Canadian Parliamentary Centre, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and Parliament to support the work of committees of the House to operate efficiently.
The phenomenon of urban poverty in the country is amply exemplified among the coastal fishing communities in the Greater Region.
The homelessness of head porters “kayaye” in the business district of Accra and around the Zongos such as Nima-Mamobi community is quite visible.
Understanding the issue of poverty and its new characteristics, as it moves from rural to the urban areas, with the increasing wave of migration, has therefore become a major concern for policy makers.
It is in the light of this that the leadership of Parliament suggested to the Parliamentary Centre, through the GPCSP, to work with a cross-session of communities on the issue of urban poverty to help inform the House as it continues to address poverty reduction in its work.
According to the Information Research Co-ordinator of the Parliamentary Centre, Mr Adam Fuseini, said about GH¢24,000 is being spent on the poverty assessment programme.
During one of such visits to Bortianor, the selected members of the six committees held discussions with the chiefs and people of the village and toured the community to interact with the people.
The Chief of the village, Nii Ogbamey Ankonam I, appealed for the establishment of a senior high school (SHS) and a vocational training institute in the area to provide employment skills for the youth.
He also called for provision of a mini harbour and storage facility to enable the fishermen in the area to preserve their catch.
Nii Ankonam I told the visiting MPs that a clinic built in the community about 13 years ago is yet to be in operation, and called for measures to provide health workers for the clinic.
The leader of the delegation and Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Mr E.T. Mensah, educated the community on the work of MPs and the use of their share of the Common Fund.
He stated that amount allocated to MPs was only to solve small problems facing their constituents and not meant for projects that would require huge sums of money.
Mr Mensah said it was the responsibility of district assemblies, where the bulk of the Common Fund was sent, to provide the needed amenities of the communities in their respective areas.
He, therefore, asked the people to constantly liaise with their district assemblies, through their assembly member, for the provision of social amenities.
Schoolchildren interviewed called for the provision of teachers’ quarters in the community to entice qualified teachers to accept posting and stay in the community to offer their best to improve standard of education.
Osei-Mensah replaces Kyei-Mensah at ECOWAS Parliament
Page 17, June 20,2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday approved the nomination of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bosomtwe, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, as a member of the ECOWAS Parliament.
He replaces the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who has been appointed as a minister of state.
Under Article Five of the ECOWAS Protocol, eight seats out of the total of 120 have been allotted to Ghana’s Parliament.
The replacement of Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu became necessary because Rules and Procedures of the ECOWAS Parliament stipulated that a member appointed to carry out executive functions in a member state should resign as a member.
At yesterday’s sitting, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, moved a motion for the approval of Mr Osei-Mensah’s nomination.
He was seconded by the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho.
H, however, suggested to the House to also adopt a motion to choose somebody to replace Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as the leader of Ghana’s representatives in the ECOWAS Parliament.
Reacting to Mr Adjaho’s concerns, Mr Aidooh explained that by convention, the senior most representative from the Majority side was always made the leader of the delegation.
Meanwhile, the Speaker, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes yesterday deferred the motion for the second reading of the Anti-Terrorism Bill due to the absence of the Attorney-General, Mr Joe Ghartey from the House.
Although the Majority Leader, Mr Ossei Aidooh moved for the second reading of the bill, the Minority objected to his action.
The Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho wondered why both the Attorney-General and his deputy were not in the House to defend such an important bill at its second reading stage.
He was supported by the Minority Chief Whip, Mr John Tia, who argued that although the Majority Leader, as the Leader of Government Business could move the motion, he would not be able to take full responsibility for any lapses that might occur.
Replying, Mr Ossei Aidooh stated that in all fairness, the rules of the House permitted him to move the motion, adding that “Mr Speaker, my friends from the other side of the House know that I am very competent to deal with all matters that will arise from the second reading of the bill before the House”.
The Speaker, however, ruled that the motion should be stood down.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday approved the nomination of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bosomtwe, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, as a member of the ECOWAS Parliament.
He replaces the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who has been appointed as a minister of state.
Under Article Five of the ECOWAS Protocol, eight seats out of the total of 120 have been allotted to Ghana’s Parliament.
The replacement of Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu became necessary because Rules and Procedures of the ECOWAS Parliament stipulated that a member appointed to carry out executive functions in a member state should resign as a member.
At yesterday’s sitting, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, moved a motion for the approval of Mr Osei-Mensah’s nomination.
He was seconded by the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho.
H, however, suggested to the House to also adopt a motion to choose somebody to replace Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as the leader of Ghana’s representatives in the ECOWAS Parliament.
Reacting to Mr Adjaho’s concerns, Mr Aidooh explained that by convention, the senior most representative from the Majority side was always made the leader of the delegation.
Meanwhile, the Speaker, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes yesterday deferred the motion for the second reading of the Anti-Terrorism Bill due to the absence of the Attorney-General, Mr Joe Ghartey from the House.
Although the Majority Leader, Mr Ossei Aidooh moved for the second reading of the bill, the Minority objected to his action.
The Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho wondered why both the Attorney-General and his deputy were not in the House to defend such an important bill at its second reading stage.
He was supported by the Minority Chief Whip, Mr John Tia, who argued that although the Majority Leader, as the Leader of Government Business could move the motion, he would not be able to take full responsibility for any lapses that might occur.
Replying, Mr Ossei Aidooh stated that in all fairness, the rules of the House permitted him to move the motion, adding that “Mr Speaker, my friends from the other side of the House know that I am very competent to deal with all matters that will arise from the second reading of the bill before the House”.
The Speaker, however, ruled that the motion should be stood down.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Go to court to settle Nduom's eligibility-Kojo Armah
Page 16, June 19, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Convention People’s Party (CPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Evalue-Gwira, Mr Kojo Armah, has advised members of the party who have doubts about the eligibility of the party’s flag bearer to go to court to settle the matter.
“To avoid further sapping of the gains the CPP has made, I urge the Pro-SFO advocates to go to court without further delay and make appropriate recommendations to the National Executive Committee for a final decision,” he said.
In a press release, Mr Armah noted that of late the media had been awashed with developments within the CPP concerning the eligibility or otherwise of the party’s flag bearer, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, following agitation by some elders of the party led by Miss Lucy Anin and Mr F.A Juatuah.
“I find this last ditch agitation extremely unfortunate and very detrimental to the fortunes of a party gradually but steadily emerging out of the depths, especially at this time,” he said.
Mr Armah stated that the issue of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) came up at the party’s congress in December, 2007 in Kumasi during which the matter was thoroughly discussed.
“The resurfacing of the issue at this time, six months after the congress and six months into Dr Nduom’s hard-hitting campaign, is, to say the least, very unfortunate,” he stressed, adding that the agitation was not only hurting Dr Nduom but most importantly derailing the campaign.
He said it would be in the interest of the party for the chairman and leaders to call an emergency meeting to discuss the matter and make appropriate recommendations to the NEC for the final decision.
Mr Armah also advised Dr Nduom in his own interest and that of the party to stop his Communications Director, Mr David Ampofo, from making provocative statements on the matter.
He noted that the danger of a split in the party should be avoided, he said and advised both Dr Nduom and the national executive of the party to sit down to clear the hurdle.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Convention People’s Party (CPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Evalue-Gwira, Mr Kojo Armah, has advised members of the party who have doubts about the eligibility of the party’s flag bearer to go to court to settle the matter.
“To avoid further sapping of the gains the CPP has made, I urge the Pro-SFO advocates to go to court without further delay and make appropriate recommendations to the National Executive Committee for a final decision,” he said.
In a press release, Mr Armah noted that of late the media had been awashed with developments within the CPP concerning the eligibility or otherwise of the party’s flag bearer, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, following agitation by some elders of the party led by Miss Lucy Anin and Mr F.A Juatuah.
“I find this last ditch agitation extremely unfortunate and very detrimental to the fortunes of a party gradually but steadily emerging out of the depths, especially at this time,” he said.
Mr Armah stated that the issue of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) came up at the party’s congress in December, 2007 in Kumasi during which the matter was thoroughly discussed.
“The resurfacing of the issue at this time, six months after the congress and six months into Dr Nduom’s hard-hitting campaign, is, to say the least, very unfortunate,” he stressed, adding that the agitation was not only hurting Dr Nduom but most importantly derailing the campaign.
He said it would be in the interest of the party for the chairman and leaders to call an emergency meeting to discuss the matter and make appropriate recommendations to the NEC for the final decision.
Mr Armah also advised Dr Nduom in his own interest and that of the party to stop his Communications Director, Mr David Ampofo, from making provocative statements on the matter.
He noted that the danger of a split in the party should be avoided, he said and advised both Dr Nduom and the national executive of the party to sit down to clear the hurdle.
NDC members urged to intensify campaign
Page 15, June 19, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Lower Manya Krobo, Mr Michael Teye Nyaunu, has urged members of the party to intensify their campaign to ensure a resounding victory during the December elections.
“We cannot afford to lose for the third time and that is the more reason why we don’t have to relent until a total victory is ours,” he said.
Mr Nyaunu — who became a household name within the NDC due to his pronouncements on the health of the flag bearer of party, Professor J.E.A. Mills, recently — was speaking to the Daily Graphic after winning his primary last Saturday.
He polled 209 votes to beat three other contestants who altogether got 23 votes.
“Despite all the manipulations to get me out of the contest, delegates of the party have spoken. This is the indication that I am the best candidate to win the seat for NDC during the impending election,” he said.
He stated that his victory had sent shivers to the circles of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“The battle line has now been drawn. History is now beckoning us and we have to seize the opportunity to dethrone the NPP,” he stated.
Mr Nyaunu said the December election was a champion of champion contest which had to be won by the NDC, which had shown that it could implement policies that could bring relief to the masses.
He called for more education to ensure that people who had attained the voting age register when the voters register was re-opened.
Mr Nyaunu also thanked the constituency for the confidence reposed in him and promised to work hard to maintain the seat for the party.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Lower Manya Krobo, Mr Michael Teye Nyaunu, has urged members of the party to intensify their campaign to ensure a resounding victory during the December elections.
“We cannot afford to lose for the third time and that is the more reason why we don’t have to relent until a total victory is ours,” he said.
Mr Nyaunu — who became a household name within the NDC due to his pronouncements on the health of the flag bearer of party, Professor J.E.A. Mills, recently — was speaking to the Daily Graphic after winning his primary last Saturday.
He polled 209 votes to beat three other contestants who altogether got 23 votes.
“Despite all the manipulations to get me out of the contest, delegates of the party have spoken. This is the indication that I am the best candidate to win the seat for NDC during the impending election,” he said.
He stated that his victory had sent shivers to the circles of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“The battle line has now been drawn. History is now beckoning us and we have to seize the opportunity to dethrone the NPP,” he stated.
Mr Nyaunu said the December election was a champion of champion contest which had to be won by the NDC, which had shown that it could implement policies that could bring relief to the masses.
He called for more education to ensure that people who had attained the voting age register when the voters register was re-opened.
Mr Nyaunu also thanked the constituency for the confidence reposed in him and promised to work hard to maintain the seat for the party.
Work begins at former Ambassador Hotel
Page 3, June 19, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
CONSTRUCTION work on a 259-room Five Star hotel in place of the former Ambassador Hotel in Accra has begun.
The Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, who announced this in Parliament yesterday, stated that the new hotel was expected to be completed in 24 months.
The minister made this known when she appeared before Parliament to answer questions posed by some Members of Parliament (MPs) concerning her ministry.
The MP for Jomoro, Mr Lee Ocran, had asked the minister about the state of the Ambassador Hotel project.
Replying, Mrs Sai Cofie said the Ghana Tourist Board, on behalf of the government, had issued a sub-lease to Kingdom Hotels Investment to enable the company to develop the facility.
She explained that the commencement of the project delayed as a result of some problems the company faced in its bid to register the site.
Mrs Sai Cofie stated that currently the contractor, Messrs Barbissotti, was on site and earth work, including excavation, was going on.
Meanwhile, plans are well advanced for the Ministry of Defence to build a Military Complex in Kumasi.
The Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, told Parliament that the facility would be sited at the Old Soldier Line, opposite Prempeh College.
The project is estimated at 90 million euros, while plans, specifications and drawings on the project had been developed in close consultation with the Ministry of Health.
Mr Kan-Dapaah, who was answering questions in Parliament, stated that the primary objective of the project was to cater for the health needs and delivery of the military, civilian employees of the ministry and their dependants in the northern sector of the country.
The People’s National Convention (PNC) MP for Sissala West, Mr Haruna Bayirga, had asked the minister whether the ministry had plans to build a Military Hospital in Kumasi.
Mr Kan-Dapaah said the facility would also be made available to civilians within the northern sector, in the same way as the 37 Military Hospital in Accra catered for the civilian population.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
CONSTRUCTION work on a 259-room Five Star hotel in place of the former Ambassador Hotel in Accra has begun.
The Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, who announced this in Parliament yesterday, stated that the new hotel was expected to be completed in 24 months.
The minister made this known when she appeared before Parliament to answer questions posed by some Members of Parliament (MPs) concerning her ministry.
The MP for Jomoro, Mr Lee Ocran, had asked the minister about the state of the Ambassador Hotel project.
Replying, Mrs Sai Cofie said the Ghana Tourist Board, on behalf of the government, had issued a sub-lease to Kingdom Hotels Investment to enable the company to develop the facility.
She explained that the commencement of the project delayed as a result of some problems the company faced in its bid to register the site.
Mrs Sai Cofie stated that currently the contractor, Messrs Barbissotti, was on site and earth work, including excavation, was going on.
Meanwhile, plans are well advanced for the Ministry of Defence to build a Military Complex in Kumasi.
The Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, told Parliament that the facility would be sited at the Old Soldier Line, opposite Prempeh College.
The project is estimated at 90 million euros, while plans, specifications and drawings on the project had been developed in close consultation with the Ministry of Health.
Mr Kan-Dapaah, who was answering questions in Parliament, stated that the primary objective of the project was to cater for the health needs and delivery of the military, civilian employees of the ministry and their dependants in the northern sector of the country.
The People’s National Convention (PNC) MP for Sissala West, Mr Haruna Bayirga, had asked the minister whether the ministry had plans to build a Military Hospital in Kumasi.
Mr Kan-Dapaah said the facility would also be made available to civilians within the northern sector, in the same way as the 37 Military Hospital in Accra catered for the civilian population.
Parliament debates child prostitution
Page 16, June 18, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE increasing incidence of child prostitution in the country yesterday attracted the attention of Parliament during which some Members of Parliament (MPs) called for the enforcement of provisions in the Children’s Act (Act 560) to stop the practice.
The MPs were contributing to a statement made on the floor of the House by the MP for Ablekuma South, Ms Theresa Ameley Tagoe, on child prostitution in Ghana.
Her statement was informed by a recent visit by the Parliamentary Caucus on Population, of which she is the chairperson, to “Soldier Bar”, a popular spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, which is notorious for providing brothel services.
In her statement, Ms Tagoe said it was reported that Accra alone could boast 125 brothels, where young girls were forced into prostitution.
She said a tour of the “Soldier Bar” revealed that the place had 12 cubicles without windows with children between the ages of 12 and 16 as its patrons.
Ms Tagoe, therefore, wondered why the Accra Metropolitan Assembly had not complied with its decision to demolish the bar to put a stop to such nefarious activities.
She also attributed parental irresponsibility in the upbringing and development of their children as major causes of child prostitution.
Ms Tagoe also called for a ban on the showing of pornographic pictures both on the screens and in newspapers, adding that such pictures tended to encourage the youth to go into prostitution.
She suggested that stakeholders such as the Ghana AIDS Commission; Ministries of Health, Women and Children’s Affairs; Education, Science and Sports; and the Ghana Police Service should play their respective roles to ensure that the practice was nipped in the bud to save the country’s future generation.
Contributing to the statement, the MP for Cape Coast, Ms Christine Churcher, asked parents to know the worth of children and provide them with the necessary care to enable them to be useful citizens in future.
Other MPs who contributed to the statement were Mrs Agnes Chigabatia (Builsa North) and Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, the MP for Wa West.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE increasing incidence of child prostitution in the country yesterday attracted the attention of Parliament during which some Members of Parliament (MPs) called for the enforcement of provisions in the Children’s Act (Act 560) to stop the practice.
The MPs were contributing to a statement made on the floor of the House by the MP for Ablekuma South, Ms Theresa Ameley Tagoe, on child prostitution in Ghana.
Her statement was informed by a recent visit by the Parliamentary Caucus on Population, of which she is the chairperson, to “Soldier Bar”, a popular spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, which is notorious for providing brothel services.
In her statement, Ms Tagoe said it was reported that Accra alone could boast 125 brothels, where young girls were forced into prostitution.
She said a tour of the “Soldier Bar” revealed that the place had 12 cubicles without windows with children between the ages of 12 and 16 as its patrons.
Ms Tagoe, therefore, wondered why the Accra Metropolitan Assembly had not complied with its decision to demolish the bar to put a stop to such nefarious activities.
She also attributed parental irresponsibility in the upbringing and development of their children as major causes of child prostitution.
Ms Tagoe also called for a ban on the showing of pornographic pictures both on the screens and in newspapers, adding that such pictures tended to encourage the youth to go into prostitution.
She suggested that stakeholders such as the Ghana AIDS Commission; Ministries of Health, Women and Children’s Affairs; Education, Science and Sports; and the Ghana Police Service should play their respective roles to ensure that the practice was nipped in the bud to save the country’s future generation.
Contributing to the statement, the MP for Cape Coast, Ms Christine Churcher, asked parents to know the worth of children and provide them with the necessary care to enable them to be useful citizens in future.
Other MPs who contributed to the statement were Mrs Agnes Chigabatia (Builsa North) and Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, the MP for Wa West.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Set up independent committee-Avedzi
Page 13, June 14, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Mr James Klutse Avedzi, has called for on the government to to set up an independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the recent shooting incident at the official residence of the Volta Regional Minister.
"Mr Speaker, a committee should be set up as a matter of urgency to unravel the story of the lleged assassination attempt, and to establish the truth for appropriate action to be taken against those who will be found palpable", he stated.
In the said incident on June 2, 2008, the perpetrator, one Dan Dzikunu Agbaley, was allegedly murdered after he had stabbed the Hp Municipal Commander of the Ghana Police Service, eresulting in his subsequent death.
In a statement on the floor of Parliament yesterday, the MP stated that when the Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, was interviewed on an Accra FM, he linked the assassin to him (the MP).
He said it was unfortunate that the regional minister was quick to link the alleged assassin to him as his relative.
"I want to state emphatically that I do not know the young man, let alone engaging him in an assignment".
Mr Avedzi said it was unfortunate that Mr Dzamesi had linked the alleged assassin to him, adding that the truth of the incident could be established.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Mr James Klutse Avedzi, has called for on the government to to set up an independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the recent shooting incident at the official residence of the Volta Regional Minister.
"Mr Speaker, a committee should be set up as a matter of urgency to unravel the story of the lleged assassination attempt, and to establish the truth for appropriate action to be taken against those who will be found palpable", he stated.
In the said incident on June 2, 2008, the perpetrator, one Dan Dzikunu Agbaley, was allegedly murdered after he had stabbed the Hp Municipal Commander of the Ghana Police Service, eresulting in his subsequent death.
In a statement on the floor of Parliament yesterday, the MP stated that when the Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, was interviewed on an Accra FM, he linked the assassin to him (the MP).
He said it was unfortunate that the regional minister was quick to link the alleged assassin to him as his relative.
"I want to state emphatically that I do not know the young man, let alone engaging him in an assignment".
Mr Avedzi said it was unfortunate that Mr Dzamesi had linked the alleged assassin to him, adding that the truth of the incident could be established.
’Help govt to fight social vices’
Page 23, JUne 14, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Prophetess in charge of the Goka Pentecost Prayer Camp in the Jaman North District of the Brong Ahafo Region, Prophetess Sara Donkor, has urged Christians to assist the government in its quest to fight social vices in the country.
She stated that it was the responsibility of the Church to evangelise to convert people to save them from their sins and also teach them to refrain from the indulgence in social vices.
Prophetess Sara was speaking at a special prayer meeting to pray for the successful conduct of the 2008 elections at Goka.
It was attended by more than 10,000 worshippers from all parts of the country, Togo and La Cote I’voire.
She said Christians were the light of the world and, therefore urged them to recognise their position by living within the tenets of the faith.
“We cannot claim to be Christians while we keep on living in our past misdeeds,” she said, and advised them to study the scripture in order to know the will of God.
Touching on the 2008 general election, Prophetess Sara cautioned politicians to be mindful of their utterances so that their campaigns would be devoid of violence.
She said efforts should be made to maintain the country’s enviable record in the successful conduct of elections and asked the electorate to judge politicians who came to them through their utterances.
Preaching the sermon, the Tema Area Head of the Church of Pentecost, Prophet J.E. Ameyaw, said Ghanaians needed to demonstrate to the outside world that the country’s democratic dispensation had come of age.
He, therefore, asked politicians not to consider their opponents as enemies but rather as colleagues who had a similar agenda for the development of the country.
Prophet Ameyaw urged Christians to remain resolute in times of difficulties in order not to be swept away from their faith by the devil.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Prophetess in charge of the Goka Pentecost Prayer Camp in the Jaman North District of the Brong Ahafo Region, Prophetess Sara Donkor, has urged Christians to assist the government in its quest to fight social vices in the country.
She stated that it was the responsibility of the Church to evangelise to convert people to save them from their sins and also teach them to refrain from the indulgence in social vices.
Prophetess Sara was speaking at a special prayer meeting to pray for the successful conduct of the 2008 elections at Goka.
It was attended by more than 10,000 worshippers from all parts of the country, Togo and La Cote I’voire.
She said Christians were the light of the world and, therefore urged them to recognise their position by living within the tenets of the faith.
“We cannot claim to be Christians while we keep on living in our past misdeeds,” she said, and advised them to study the scripture in order to know the will of God.
Touching on the 2008 general election, Prophetess Sara cautioned politicians to be mindful of their utterances so that their campaigns would be devoid of violence.
She said efforts should be made to maintain the country’s enviable record in the successful conduct of elections and asked the electorate to judge politicians who came to them through their utterances.
Preaching the sermon, the Tema Area Head of the Church of Pentecost, Prophet J.E. Ameyaw, said Ghanaians needed to demonstrate to the outside world that the country’s democratic dispensation had come of age.
He, therefore, asked politicians not to consider their opponents as enemies but rather as colleagues who had a similar agenda for the development of the country.
Prophet Ameyaw urged Christians to remain resolute in times of difficulties in order not to be swept away from their faith by the devil.
Third term scholarships released to norther schools
Page 31, June 13, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has released GH¢3,019,006.00 for the payment of scholarships of second-cycle students of the three northern regions for the third term of the 2007/2008 academic year.
The payment of the scholarships for the students in the three northern regions has been a subject of controversy with heads of schools in the area refusing to re-open their school when the time was due.
Before the amount was released, a total of GH¢4,255,149.92, out of the GH¢7,344,413.92 to be paid for the academic year had already been provided.
Also released is GH¢500,000.00 for the payment of bursary grants for postgraduate students in the country’s universities.
A letter signed by the Administrator of the GETFund, Mr Fosuaba A. Mensah Banahene, to the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic Fobih, stated that “this extra payment will be enough to take care of the Northern Scholarship programme till December, 2008”.
Prof. Fobih told the Daily Graphic that with the payment of the final part of the scholarship for this academic year, no head of second-cycle schools in the three northern regions would have any excuse to close down his school.
The minister stated that heads of schools that remained closed after the payment of the scholarship would be viewed as a sabotage that would warrant severe punishment.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has released GH¢3,019,006.00 for the payment of scholarships of second-cycle students of the three northern regions for the third term of the 2007/2008 academic year.
The payment of the scholarships for the students in the three northern regions has been a subject of controversy with heads of schools in the area refusing to re-open their school when the time was due.
Before the amount was released, a total of GH¢4,255,149.92, out of the GH¢7,344,413.92 to be paid for the academic year had already been provided.
Also released is GH¢500,000.00 for the payment of bursary grants for postgraduate students in the country’s universities.
A letter signed by the Administrator of the GETFund, Mr Fosuaba A. Mensah Banahene, to the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic Fobih, stated that “this extra payment will be enough to take care of the Northern Scholarship programme till December, 2008”.
Prof. Fobih told the Daily Graphic that with the payment of the final part of the scholarship for this academic year, no head of second-cycle schools in the three northern regions would have any excuse to close down his school.
The minister stated that heads of schools that remained closed after the payment of the scholarship would be viewed as a sabotage that would warrant severe punishment.
IDA to support country's poverty reduction efforts
Backpage June 13, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Parliament yesterday approved a $100million loan agreement between the government and the International Development Association (IDA) to support the country's poverty reduction.
Known as the Sixth Poverty Reduction Support Credit, the loan is to support the implementation of the 2008 Budget and contribute to the attainment of of key macro-economic targets outlined in the budget.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, moved the motion for the approval of the loan and he was seconded by the Member of Parliament for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Mr P.C Appiah-Ofori.
In a report on the loan, the Finance Committee of of the House noted that as a precedent for the credit, the government had implemented measures aimed at growing the economy and reducing poverty.
Contributing to the discussion for the approval of the loan, MPs from both sides of the House called on the government to use the amount for the intended purposeto ensure the attainment of set targets.
IN another development, the House also approved a 5,383,822.22 euro loan between the government and the Government of Belgium for the second phase of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Project (CLIP).
The loan became necessary because of the deplorable state of clinical laboratories and lack of diagnostic equipment and technical facilities.
The CLIP has, therefore, been designed to help address the problem to improve standards of public laboratories in the country.
In his contribution, the MP for Wa West, Mr Yieleh Chireh, said that even though the amount was small and could have been raised internally, it would help to improve laboratory services in the beneficiary hospitals.
Mr P.C Appiah-Ofori who presented the report of the Finance Committee, stated that an efficient diagonosis of diseases in the districts would enhance health care in the country.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Parliament yesterday approved a $100million loan agreement between the government and the International Development Association (IDA) to support the country's poverty reduction.
Known as the Sixth Poverty Reduction Support Credit, the loan is to support the implementation of the 2008 Budget and contribute to the attainment of of key macro-economic targets outlined in the budget.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, moved the motion for the approval of the loan and he was seconded by the Member of Parliament for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Mr P.C Appiah-Ofori.
In a report on the loan, the Finance Committee of of the House noted that as a precedent for the credit, the government had implemented measures aimed at growing the economy and reducing poverty.
Contributing to the discussion for the approval of the loan, MPs from both sides of the House called on the government to use the amount for the intended purposeto ensure the attainment of set targets.
IN another development, the House also approved a 5,383,822.22 euro loan between the government and the Government of Belgium for the second phase of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Project (CLIP).
The loan became necessary because of the deplorable state of clinical laboratories and lack of diagnostic equipment and technical facilities.
The CLIP has, therefore, been designed to help address the problem to improve standards of public laboratories in the country.
In his contribution, the MP for Wa West, Mr Yieleh Chireh, said that even though the amount was small and could have been raised internally, it would help to improve laboratory services in the beneficiary hospitals.
Mr P.C Appiah-Ofori who presented the report of the Finance Committee, stated that an efficient diagonosis of diseases in the districts would enhance health care in the country.
Don’t politicise NHIS—Asiedu
Page 21, June 10, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Presiding Member of the Bia District Assembly in the Western Region, Mr P.P. Asiedu, has stated that the National Health Insurance Scheme is a laudable policy and should not be politicised.
He said since it was the wish of every government to cater for the health needs of the people, nothing should be done to discourage the people from registering to be part of the scheme.
Speaking at a farmers’ forum at Kwasi Nkruma in the Bia District, Mr Asiedu stated that the development of every nation depended on the health of the citizenry.
He, therefore, appealed to assembly members to educate the people about the benefits of the scheme.
Mr Asiedu stated that farmers, who were the backbone of the economy, needed to be healthy to enable them to increase their yield.
“It is, therefore, important for them to understand the NHIS so that they will not be swayed by the misinformation being peddled about the scheme,” he said.
He noted that the scheme had nothing to do with politics, explaining that the increasing cost of health made it obvious for Ghanaians to pool their resources to make health care affordable.
Mr Asiedu commended some assembly members in the area for their efforts to enhance the operation of the scheme and urged them to continue to render such dedicated services.
On the forthcoming general election, Mr Asiedu stated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was poised to emerge victorious to strengthen the country’s pillars of democracy.
He reminded farmers that there was no other government that could make their lives better and, therefore, called on them to retain the NPP in power.
Mr Asiedu noted that the consistent upward adjustments of the producer price of cocoa, the Capitation Grant, construction and rehabilitation of roads, among other projects, were testimonies of the good work of the government.
He also asked politicians to conduct their campaigns in a peaceful manner devoid of provocative utterances and attack on personalities.
“Let us tell the electorate about our policies instead of attacking our opponents on political platforms,” he said.
Portrait of Mr P.P. Asiedu, the Presiding Member of the Bia District Assembly.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Presiding Member of the Bia District Assembly in the Western Region, Mr P.P. Asiedu, has stated that the National Health Insurance Scheme is a laudable policy and should not be politicised.
He said since it was the wish of every government to cater for the health needs of the people, nothing should be done to discourage the people from registering to be part of the scheme.
Speaking at a farmers’ forum at Kwasi Nkruma in the Bia District, Mr Asiedu stated that the development of every nation depended on the health of the citizenry.
He, therefore, appealed to assembly members to educate the people about the benefits of the scheme.
Mr Asiedu stated that farmers, who were the backbone of the economy, needed to be healthy to enable them to increase their yield.
“It is, therefore, important for them to understand the NHIS so that they will not be swayed by the misinformation being peddled about the scheme,” he said.
He noted that the scheme had nothing to do with politics, explaining that the increasing cost of health made it obvious for Ghanaians to pool their resources to make health care affordable.
Mr Asiedu commended some assembly members in the area for their efforts to enhance the operation of the scheme and urged them to continue to render such dedicated services.
On the forthcoming general election, Mr Asiedu stated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was poised to emerge victorious to strengthen the country’s pillars of democracy.
He reminded farmers that there was no other government that could make their lives better and, therefore, called on them to retain the NPP in power.
Mr Asiedu noted that the consistent upward adjustments of the producer price of cocoa, the Capitation Grant, construction and rehabilitation of roads, among other projects, were testimonies of the good work of the government.
He also asked politicians to conduct their campaigns in a peaceful manner devoid of provocative utterances and attack on personalities.
“Let us tell the electorate about our policies instead of attacking our opponents on political platforms,” he said.
Portrait of Mr P.P. Asiedu, the Presiding Member of the Bia District Assembly.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Women Association supports HIV/AIDS victims
Page 18, June 7, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
( Women Association supports HIV/AIDS victims)
THE Indian Women Association in Ghana has presented a cheque for GH¢3,000 to the Pro-Link, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), to assist the organisation to cater for people infected and affected with HIV/AIDS.
The NGO, which is involved in HIV/AIDS prevention, education and counselling, has formed support groups for people living with the deadly disease, in addition to catering for the needs of some children orphaned by the disease.
The Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mrs Ruchi Ghanashyam, who presented the cheque on behalf of the association, said the war against the HIV/AIDS menace should be fought from all fronts.
She, therefore, commended the association for collaborating with the Pro-Link to bring comfort to people affected and infected with the disease.
Mrs Ghanashyam commended the efforts of the NGO and gave the assurance that the Indian High Commission was prepared to contribute towards the achievement of such laudable objectives.
The President of the association, Mrs Mahek Mahinani, said the association had been involved in the provision of assistance to the needy in the country.
It provided GH¢10,000 to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to mitigate the suffering of last year’s flood victims in the northern part of the country.
She said the gesture of the association had also been extended to the Nima cluster of schools, orphanages, the Akropong School for the Blind and inmates of the Accra Mental Hospital.
Mrs Mahinani said that was the first time that her outfit turned its attention to the HIV/AIDS menace, and expressed the hope that its collaboration with Pro-Link would bring smiles back to the faces of some of the affected and infected victims.
The Deputy Executive Director of the Pro-Link, Mrs Gertrude Nunoo, said currently, her organisation was providing care and support for more than 100 children who had been orphaned by the disease in the Volta, Central, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions.
She said family members who were taking care of the orphans had been registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme to enable the orphans enjoy free medical care.
Mrs Nunoo said the presentation by the Indian Women Association was, therefore, welcome, since it would go a long way to support the NGO in its activities.
She also expressed her gratitude to the association and called on other philanthropists to assist the Pro-Link to enable it extend its activities to all the 10 regions in the country.
The Head of Programmes of the Pro-Link, Mrs Ethel Sakitey, said the greatest problem facing people living with HIV/AIDS was stigmatisation, and called on Ghanaians to embrace such people to minimise the spread of the disease.
Pix I shows Mrs Ghanashyam (second left) presenting the cheque to Mrs Nunoo, while Mrs Sakitey (right) and Mrs Mahinani (left) look on.
Pix shows Mrs Ghanashyam (second left) presenting the cheque to Mrs Nunoo, while Mrs Mahinani and Mrs Sakitey ( fourth right) look on.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
( Women Association supports HIV/AIDS victims)
THE Indian Women Association in Ghana has presented a cheque for GH¢3,000 to the Pro-Link, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), to assist the organisation to cater for people infected and affected with HIV/AIDS.
The NGO, which is involved in HIV/AIDS prevention, education and counselling, has formed support groups for people living with the deadly disease, in addition to catering for the needs of some children orphaned by the disease.
The Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mrs Ruchi Ghanashyam, who presented the cheque on behalf of the association, said the war against the HIV/AIDS menace should be fought from all fronts.
She, therefore, commended the association for collaborating with the Pro-Link to bring comfort to people affected and infected with the disease.
Mrs Ghanashyam commended the efforts of the NGO and gave the assurance that the Indian High Commission was prepared to contribute towards the achievement of such laudable objectives.
The President of the association, Mrs Mahek Mahinani, said the association had been involved in the provision of assistance to the needy in the country.
It provided GH¢10,000 to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to mitigate the suffering of last year’s flood victims in the northern part of the country.
She said the gesture of the association had also been extended to the Nima cluster of schools, orphanages, the Akropong School for the Blind and inmates of the Accra Mental Hospital.
Mrs Mahinani said that was the first time that her outfit turned its attention to the HIV/AIDS menace, and expressed the hope that its collaboration with Pro-Link would bring smiles back to the faces of some of the affected and infected victims.
The Deputy Executive Director of the Pro-Link, Mrs Gertrude Nunoo, said currently, her organisation was providing care and support for more than 100 children who had been orphaned by the disease in the Volta, Central, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions.
She said family members who were taking care of the orphans had been registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme to enable the orphans enjoy free medical care.
Mrs Nunoo said the presentation by the Indian Women Association was, therefore, welcome, since it would go a long way to support the NGO in its activities.
She also expressed her gratitude to the association and called on other philanthropists to assist the Pro-Link to enable it extend its activities to all the 10 regions in the country.
The Head of Programmes of the Pro-Link, Mrs Ethel Sakitey, said the greatest problem facing people living with HIV/AIDS was stigmatisation, and called on Ghanaians to embrace such people to minimise the spread of the disease.
Pix I shows Mrs Ghanashyam (second left) presenting the cheque to Mrs Nunoo, while Mrs Sakitey (right) and Mrs Mahinani (left) look on.
Pix shows Mrs Ghanashyam (second left) presenting the cheque to Mrs Nunoo, while Mrs Mahinani and Mrs Sakitey ( fourth right) look on.
Controversy over Auditor-General continues in Parliament
Page 13, June 9, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC), Mr Samuel Sallas-Mensah, yesterday expressed concern about the delay in the presentation of some reports of the Auditor-General covering 2006 before Parliament.
The reports include the 2006 financial reports on the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), the Consolidated Fund and some performance audit reports prepared by the Auditor-General.
Reacting to the Business Statement of Parliament for next week, which was presented by the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, Mr Sallas-Mensah wondered why the reports had not been presented even though they were ready in the pigeon hole of Parliament.
Responding to the concerns of Mr Sallas-Mensah, Mr Aidooh explained that the Business Committee was unable to present the reports before the House because of a ruling on a letter written to the Speaker by the PAC questioning the prolong stay of the Auditor-General, Mr Edward Duah-Agyeman, in office after his mandatory retirement age in 2005.
He stated that since the Speaker upheld the concerns raised in the said letter, the Business Committee would not be able to present a report prepared and signed by the Auditor-General covering 2006 when he was supposed to be on retirement.
In addition, since the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, had filed a suit on the matter, it would not be proper for Mr Duah-Agyeman’s report to be presented before the House.
When the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lawra/Nandom, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, caught the eye of the Speaker, he argued that since the House was “the master of its own rules”, the matter could be dealt with to enable the reports to be brought before the House.
Giving his ruling on the controversy, the Second Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan, ordered that the leadership of the House should meet the Speaker to resolve the matter, since arguments and counter arguments within the House was not the best way out of the problem.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC), Mr Samuel Sallas-Mensah, yesterday expressed concern about the delay in the presentation of some reports of the Auditor-General covering 2006 before Parliament.
The reports include the 2006 financial reports on the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), the Consolidated Fund and some performance audit reports prepared by the Auditor-General.
Reacting to the Business Statement of Parliament for next week, which was presented by the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, Mr Sallas-Mensah wondered why the reports had not been presented even though they were ready in the pigeon hole of Parliament.
Responding to the concerns of Mr Sallas-Mensah, Mr Aidooh explained that the Business Committee was unable to present the reports before the House because of a ruling on a letter written to the Speaker by the PAC questioning the prolong stay of the Auditor-General, Mr Edward Duah-Agyeman, in office after his mandatory retirement age in 2005.
He stated that since the Speaker upheld the concerns raised in the said letter, the Business Committee would not be able to present a report prepared and signed by the Auditor-General covering 2006 when he was supposed to be on retirement.
In addition, since the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, had filed a suit on the matter, it would not be proper for Mr Duah-Agyeman’s report to be presented before the House.
When the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lawra/Nandom, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, caught the eye of the Speaker, he argued that since the House was “the master of its own rules”, the matter could be dealt with to enable the reports to be brought before the House.
Giving his ruling on the controversy, the Second Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan, ordered that the leadership of the House should meet the Speaker to resolve the matter, since arguments and counter arguments within the House was not the best way out of the problem.
Parliament passes Chieftaincy Bill
Page 14, June 7, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday passed the Chieftaincy Bill, which seeks to consolidate, with amendments, the 1971 Chieftaincy Act (Act 370) to bring it in conformity with the provision on the chieftaincy institution in the Constitution.
The details of the bill include the provision of the National House of Chiefs, Regional Houses of Chiefs, Traditional and Divisional Councils, Chieftaincy matters, jurisdiction and judicial committees, proceedings in chieftaincy matters, stool property, customary law, chiefs and miscellaneous provisions.
The bill, which was presented to the House in October, last year, was referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Sports and Culture for examination.
In studying the bill, the committee held a two-day stakeholders’ workshop and consultative session during which it had recourse to 16 documents, including Acts, Decrees, the 1992 Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament.
At yesterday’s sitting, the Minister of State in charge of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, moved for the third reading of the bill to pave way for its passage.
His motion was seconded by the Chairman of the Committee on Youth and Culture, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, after which the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan, pronounced the bill passed.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, is expected to brief Parliament on the commission’s planned programme of activities for the upcoming 2008 general election and other related matters on Wednesday, June 11, 2008.
The Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, announced this when he presented the Business Statement of the House for next week.
He urged Members of Parliament to take note of the date of the meeting and attend accordingly.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday passed the Chieftaincy Bill, which seeks to consolidate, with amendments, the 1971 Chieftaincy Act (Act 370) to bring it in conformity with the provision on the chieftaincy institution in the Constitution.
The details of the bill include the provision of the National House of Chiefs, Regional Houses of Chiefs, Traditional and Divisional Councils, Chieftaincy matters, jurisdiction and judicial committees, proceedings in chieftaincy matters, stool property, customary law, chiefs and miscellaneous provisions.
The bill, which was presented to the House in October, last year, was referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Sports and Culture for examination.
In studying the bill, the committee held a two-day stakeholders’ workshop and consultative session during which it had recourse to 16 documents, including Acts, Decrees, the 1992 Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament.
At yesterday’s sitting, the Minister of State in charge of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, moved for the third reading of the bill to pave way for its passage.
His motion was seconded by the Chairman of the Committee on Youth and Culture, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, after which the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan, pronounced the bill passed.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, is expected to brief Parliament on the commission’s planned programme of activities for the upcoming 2008 general election and other related matters on Wednesday, June 11, 2008.
The Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, announced this when he presented the Business Statement of the House for next week.
He urged Members of Parliament to take note of the date of the meeting and attend accordingly.
Addo-Kufuor, Owusu-Ankomah, Mensa-Bonsu vetted
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister designate for the Interior, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, has advocated a collaborative effort by the security agencies and the citizenry to curb the armed robbery menace in the country.
He said that was the only way to nib the problem in the bud to create the conducive environment to enable the citizenry to go about their businesses in peace.
The presence of the police, he added, should also be felt at all corners of the country during the day while military and police patrols should be intensified during the night to put fear into armed robbers.
The former Minister of Defence made these suggestions when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament yesterday to be vetted for his new ministerial nomination.
Also vetted by the committee were Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Minister designate for Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President’s Special Initiative (PSI), as well as Mr Kwabena Mensa-Bonsu, a Minister of State designate at the Presidency.
Dr Addo-Kufuor told the committee that other measures he intended to put in place when given the nod would be the re-introduction of the neighbourhood watchdog committee concept with incentive packages to the communities to help in the combat against crime.
Commenting on the dwindling confidence in the police by the public due to the recent incidence of police-public confrontation, the nominee stated that measures should be put in place to restore the lost confidence.
He said the ‘stray bullet’ incidence, which had resulted in the death of some civilians, had brought to the fore the need to retrain the police in the handling of weapons.
He told the committee that the upsurge in cocaine cases should be a worry to every Ghanaian, since the situation had the tendency of derailing all the economic gains the country had made in addition to corrupting some prominent institutions such as the Judiciary.
He stated that his main priority would be to ensure peace before, during and after the 2008 general election and asked opposition political parties to count on his neutrality when his nomination was approved.
When he took his turn, Papa Owusu-Ankomah disagreed with the assertion that the concept of the PSIs had been a failure.
He admitted, however, that the initiative was going through challenges, which needed to be tackled through the injection of the needed capital to serve the purpose for which they were instituted.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah, who resigned as Minister of Education, Science and Sports to pursue his presidential ambition, told the committee that Nestle Ghana Limited had made available $6 million for the production of starch that it required for its operation, and said such collaboration, among others that he intended to establish, would go a long way to revitalise the PSI concept.
Answering a question on the invasion of Chinese and other foreign nationals in all aspects of trade in the country, Papa Owusu-Ankomah stated that Ghana had laws guiding the operations of foreign nationals in the trading sector and gave assurance that such laws would be applied to the letter.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah challenged district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies to take the initiative in the country’s industrialisation drive by harnessing their potentials to create employment for their people.
“If we want to be an industrialised country, we need to be innovative, since the world is not waiting for us,” he stated.
Mr Mensa-Bonsu, former Ghana Ambassador to Togo, told the committee that Ghanaian students on scholarship at the Lome University had been paid their allowances and were going about their academic pursuit without any problem.
He said the Ghanaian government had also paid its debt to the university leaving a balance of CFA 12 million.
THE Minister designate for the Interior, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, has advocated a collaborative effort by the security agencies and the citizenry to curb the armed robbery menace in the country.
He said that was the only way to nib the problem in the bud to create the conducive environment to enable the citizenry to go about their businesses in peace.
The presence of the police, he added, should also be felt at all corners of the country during the day while military and police patrols should be intensified during the night to put fear into armed robbers.
The former Minister of Defence made these suggestions when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament yesterday to be vetted for his new ministerial nomination.
Also vetted by the committee were Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Minister designate for Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President’s Special Initiative (PSI), as well as Mr Kwabena Mensa-Bonsu, a Minister of State designate at the Presidency.
Dr Addo-Kufuor told the committee that other measures he intended to put in place when given the nod would be the re-introduction of the neighbourhood watchdog committee concept with incentive packages to the communities to help in the combat against crime.
Commenting on the dwindling confidence in the police by the public due to the recent incidence of police-public confrontation, the nominee stated that measures should be put in place to restore the lost confidence.
He said the ‘stray bullet’ incidence, which had resulted in the death of some civilians, had brought to the fore the need to retrain the police in the handling of weapons.
He told the committee that the upsurge in cocaine cases should be a worry to every Ghanaian, since the situation had the tendency of derailing all the economic gains the country had made in addition to corrupting some prominent institutions such as the Judiciary.
He stated that his main priority would be to ensure peace before, during and after the 2008 general election and asked opposition political parties to count on his neutrality when his nomination was approved.
When he took his turn, Papa Owusu-Ankomah disagreed with the assertion that the concept of the PSIs had been a failure.
He admitted, however, that the initiative was going through challenges, which needed to be tackled through the injection of the needed capital to serve the purpose for which they were instituted.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah, who resigned as Minister of Education, Science and Sports to pursue his presidential ambition, told the committee that Nestle Ghana Limited had made available $6 million for the production of starch that it required for its operation, and said such collaboration, among others that he intended to establish, would go a long way to revitalise the PSI concept.
Answering a question on the invasion of Chinese and other foreign nationals in all aspects of trade in the country, Papa Owusu-Ankomah stated that Ghana had laws guiding the operations of foreign nationals in the trading sector and gave assurance that such laws would be applied to the letter.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah challenged district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies to take the initiative in the country’s industrialisation drive by harnessing their potentials to create employment for their people.
“If we want to be an industrialised country, we need to be innovative, since the world is not waiting for us,” he stated.
Mr Mensa-Bonsu, former Ghana Ambassador to Togo, told the committee that Ghanaian students on scholarship at the Lome University had been paid their allowances and were going about their academic pursuit without any problem.
He said the Ghanaian government had also paid its debt to the university leaving a balance of CFA 12 million.
’Nkrumaist family have missed a glorious opportunity’
Page 16. June 5, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE People’s National Congress (PNC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Sissala West, Mr Haruna Bayirga, says it is unfortunate that members of the Nkrumaist family have missed a glorious opportunity to come together as a formidable force in the country’s political dispensation following the aborted unification of the PNC and the Convention People’s Party (CPP).
He said it was regrettable that during the recent unity talks, individual interest was deemed more important while the collective interest of the Nkrumaist family was relegated to the background.
“There is no doubt that the hearts of most well-meaning Nkrumaists were gladdened when the PNC and the CPP entered into a series of dialogues aimed at forming an alliance as a step towards the eventual merger for the purpose of reviving the dream of great people such as Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Dr Hilla Limann, Kojo Botsio and Moro Egala, who sacrificed for the Nkrumaist tradition”.
In a statement released to the press in Accra, Mr Bayirga, who is also the National Organiser of the PNC, stated that it was not clear as to when the tradition would get another opportunity to unite considering the entrenched positions taken by the leadership of the PNC and CPP after an alliance was almost reached last month.
He stated that there were external forces, whose survival thrived on the perpetual fragmentation of the Nkrumaist front and so such opportunistic forces would not mind doing anything so long as it would keep the unity of the Nkrumaists at bay.
The MP said there were also internal elements within the two Nkrumaist parties, who had been contracted by the external forces to make sure that the unity of the two parties was constantly frustrated.
He said as those hypocritical elements created the impression that they strongly supported the Nkrumaist unification, their actions made them look like “wolves in sheep skin”.
Mr Bayirga added that until such “ostrich characters changed their behaviour, it will be very difficult for the unification of the two parties to come to fruition”.
He, therefore, appealed to people who genuinely believed in the Nkrumaist tradition to remain calm and see the current developments as one of the numerous hurdles that needed to be surmounted as the tradition fought its rightful position in the current political dispensation.
He urged such genuine Nkrumaists across the country to start working together to force the leadership of the two parties to go back to the negotiation table.
Mr Bayirga reminded the leadership of the PNC and the CPP that for the Nkrumaist tradition to be revived, there was the need for them to make a lot of unconditional sacrifices and stop making big issues out of trivial ones such as logos and symbols which he noted, could ruin the fortunes of the two parties.
“It is unfortunate that the leadership of the two parties should at this crucial moment engage in a fierce blame game as to who did what,” adding “until the unification comes to pass, the good people of Ghana are never going to take us serious as political groups seeking political power”.
Mr Bayirga, therefore, called for an end to the blame game and media attacks adopted by certain elements of the two parties since that rather ridiculed the two parties in the eyes of Ghanaians.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE People’s National Congress (PNC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Sissala West, Mr Haruna Bayirga, says it is unfortunate that members of the Nkrumaist family have missed a glorious opportunity to come together as a formidable force in the country’s political dispensation following the aborted unification of the PNC and the Convention People’s Party (CPP).
He said it was regrettable that during the recent unity talks, individual interest was deemed more important while the collective interest of the Nkrumaist family was relegated to the background.
“There is no doubt that the hearts of most well-meaning Nkrumaists were gladdened when the PNC and the CPP entered into a series of dialogues aimed at forming an alliance as a step towards the eventual merger for the purpose of reviving the dream of great people such as Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Dr Hilla Limann, Kojo Botsio and Moro Egala, who sacrificed for the Nkrumaist tradition”.
In a statement released to the press in Accra, Mr Bayirga, who is also the National Organiser of the PNC, stated that it was not clear as to when the tradition would get another opportunity to unite considering the entrenched positions taken by the leadership of the PNC and CPP after an alliance was almost reached last month.
He stated that there were external forces, whose survival thrived on the perpetual fragmentation of the Nkrumaist front and so such opportunistic forces would not mind doing anything so long as it would keep the unity of the Nkrumaists at bay.
The MP said there were also internal elements within the two Nkrumaist parties, who had been contracted by the external forces to make sure that the unity of the two parties was constantly frustrated.
He said as those hypocritical elements created the impression that they strongly supported the Nkrumaist unification, their actions made them look like “wolves in sheep skin”.
Mr Bayirga added that until such “ostrich characters changed their behaviour, it will be very difficult for the unification of the two parties to come to fruition”.
He, therefore, appealed to people who genuinely believed in the Nkrumaist tradition to remain calm and see the current developments as one of the numerous hurdles that needed to be surmounted as the tradition fought its rightful position in the current political dispensation.
He urged such genuine Nkrumaists across the country to start working together to force the leadership of the two parties to go back to the negotiation table.
Mr Bayirga reminded the leadership of the PNC and the CPP that for the Nkrumaist tradition to be revived, there was the need for them to make a lot of unconditional sacrifices and stop making big issues out of trivial ones such as logos and symbols which he noted, could ruin the fortunes of the two parties.
“It is unfortunate that the leadership of the two parties should at this crucial moment engage in a fierce blame game as to who did what,” adding “until the unification comes to pass, the good people of Ghana are never going to take us serious as political groups seeking political power”.
Mr Bayirga, therefore, called for an end to the blame game and media attacks adopted by certain elements of the two parties since that rather ridiculed the two parties in the eyes of Ghanaians.
Don’t be complacent — Opare-Hammond
Page 17. June 5, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Adenta, Mr Kwadjo Opare-Hammond, has admonished members of the party not to be complacent about the achievements of the Kufuor administration and has rather urged them to work hard to ensure resounding victory for the party in the December general election.
The MP noted that those laudable achievements should rather spur them on into active campaign to enable the party to improve upon its electoral success in the 2004 elections.
Mr Opare-Hammond was speaking to the Daily Graphic on the recent Adenta Constituency NPP delegates conference at which he was confirmed by popular acclamation as the party’s parliamentary aspirant.
The confirmation ceremony was supervised by the Greater Accra Regional NPP Youth Organiser, Alhaji Ahmed Yusif.
Mr Opare-Hammond said with the implementation of laudable government policies and programmes, such as the Capitation Grant, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the School Feeding Programme, among others, Ghanaians had come to terms with a better administration of the country.
“What we need to do is to go out there to spread the good news of the Kufuor administration and what the party’s presidential aspirant, Nana Akufo-Addo, has in store for the people,” he said.
The MP added that the country, under the two-term rule of the NPP, had made a lot of strides, making it a showpiece of democracy and good governance.
He said the situation had given the people enough freedom to go about their businesses, adding that “with such achievements, we deserve to be given another mandate”.
Mr Opare-Hammond stated that the elevation of Adenta to a municipal status demonstrated the government’s resolve to develop the area and called on the people to reciprocate that gesture by voting massively for the party.
He pledged to work hard to retain the constituency and, therefore, pleaded with the rank and file of the party to rally behind him towards that direction.
Mr Opare-Hammond thanked the party members in the constituency for the confidence reposed in him and promised to justify the gesture by ensuring that the area got its fair share of the national cake.
Portrait of Mr Kwadjo Opare-Hammond, the MP for Adenta.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Adenta, Mr Kwadjo Opare-Hammond, has admonished members of the party not to be complacent about the achievements of the Kufuor administration and has rather urged them to work hard to ensure resounding victory for the party in the December general election.
The MP noted that those laudable achievements should rather spur them on into active campaign to enable the party to improve upon its electoral success in the 2004 elections.
Mr Opare-Hammond was speaking to the Daily Graphic on the recent Adenta Constituency NPP delegates conference at which he was confirmed by popular acclamation as the party’s parliamentary aspirant.
The confirmation ceremony was supervised by the Greater Accra Regional NPP Youth Organiser, Alhaji Ahmed Yusif.
Mr Opare-Hammond said with the implementation of laudable government policies and programmes, such as the Capitation Grant, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the School Feeding Programme, among others, Ghanaians had come to terms with a better administration of the country.
“What we need to do is to go out there to spread the good news of the Kufuor administration and what the party’s presidential aspirant, Nana Akufo-Addo, has in store for the people,” he said.
The MP added that the country, under the two-term rule of the NPP, had made a lot of strides, making it a showpiece of democracy and good governance.
He said the situation had given the people enough freedom to go about their businesses, adding that “with such achievements, we deserve to be given another mandate”.
Mr Opare-Hammond stated that the elevation of Adenta to a municipal status demonstrated the government’s resolve to develop the area and called on the people to reciprocate that gesture by voting massively for the party.
He pledged to work hard to retain the constituency and, therefore, pleaded with the rank and file of the party to rally behind him towards that direction.
Mr Opare-Hammond thanked the party members in the constituency for the confidence reposed in him and promised to justify the gesture by ensuring that the area got its fair share of the national cake.
Portrait of Mr Kwadjo Opare-Hammond, the MP for Adenta.
Parliament approves Owusu-Adjapong, judges
Page 16 June 4, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday unanimously approved the nomination of Mr Felix K. Owusu-Adjapong by the President as the new Minister of Energy.
The House also approved the nominations of four judges — Mr Justice Jones Victor Dotse, Mr Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Mr Justice Anin Yeboah and Ms Justice Rose Constance Owusu — for appointment as justices of the Supreme Court.
The House gave approval to the nominations of the five persons after the Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament, Mr Freddie Blay, had presented the two reports of the committee after vetting.
In the reports presented to the House, the committee recommended the approval of the nominees by consensus.
Commenting on the reports, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, said Members of Parliament (MPs) were aware of the capabilities of Mr Owusu-Adjapong, who is the immediate-past Majority Leader.
“We, therefore, hope that you will bring your experience and expertise to bear on the ministry to ensure that proper things are done in the country’s electrification programmes,” he said.
He said it was unfortunate that a lot of shoddy works had been witnessed within the system and cited Tema where some poles erected for electrification had started falling even before the completion of the project.
He, therefore, urged the new minister to open his eyes and make sure that such shoddy works were avoided to ensure that the country got value for money for projects being implemented within the sector.
Mr Aidooh also charged the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy to regularly visit project sites to do a thorough inspection in order to serve as a check on shoddy work.
The MP for Lawra-Nandom, Dr Ben Kumbuor, expressed worry about the haphazard manner in which the Self-Help Electrification Programmes (SHEP) were being implemented.
“I urge you to take a serious look about the abuses in the system and bring the implementation of the programme on track,” he said, explaining that it was unfortunate that some communities that had not been included in the programme had been presented with low tension poles to the detriment of those who had been pencilled in to benefit.
He noted that since the new educational reforms required that students became computer literate, electricity should be extended to all schools to ensure the success of the reforms.
When he caught the eye of the Second Deputy Speaker, Mr Malik Yakubu Alhassan, who was in the chair, the Minority Spokesman on Mines and Energy, Mr Moses Asaga, challenged the new minister to work closely with the Minority and heed their advice to help streamline the sector.
He acknowledged that the rising cost of crude oil was a daunting task that should be tackled in a bi-partisan manner for a decision to be taken on whether the country should hedge or not.
For his part, the MP for Sunyani East and Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Mr J.H. Mensah, said although six months would not be enough for the implementation of any meaningful project, the minister designate could assist in the fashioning out of a sustainable energy policy for the country.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin drew Mr Owusu-Adjapong’s attention to lack of information within the energy sector and cited the West African Gas Pipeline as a case in point, saying that it was unfortunate that in spite of assurances given by officials, the project was yet to be realised.
He called for measures to enable Parliament to make an input into agreement being signed between Ghana and its partners on the project.
Commenting on the nomination of the Supreme Court judges, the MPs expressed shock about the admission of the nominees that corruption within the judiciary had moved from perception to reality.
They, therefore, called for measures to enable the Judiciary to purge itself of such practices to enable Ghanaians to have faith in the judicial system.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday unanimously approved the nomination of Mr Felix K. Owusu-Adjapong by the President as the new Minister of Energy.
The House also approved the nominations of four judges — Mr Justice Jones Victor Dotse, Mr Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Mr Justice Anin Yeboah and Ms Justice Rose Constance Owusu — for appointment as justices of the Supreme Court.
The House gave approval to the nominations of the five persons after the Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament, Mr Freddie Blay, had presented the two reports of the committee after vetting.
In the reports presented to the House, the committee recommended the approval of the nominees by consensus.
Commenting on the reports, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, said Members of Parliament (MPs) were aware of the capabilities of Mr Owusu-Adjapong, who is the immediate-past Majority Leader.
“We, therefore, hope that you will bring your experience and expertise to bear on the ministry to ensure that proper things are done in the country’s electrification programmes,” he said.
He said it was unfortunate that a lot of shoddy works had been witnessed within the system and cited Tema where some poles erected for electrification had started falling even before the completion of the project.
He, therefore, urged the new minister to open his eyes and make sure that such shoddy works were avoided to ensure that the country got value for money for projects being implemented within the sector.
Mr Aidooh also charged the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy to regularly visit project sites to do a thorough inspection in order to serve as a check on shoddy work.
The MP for Lawra-Nandom, Dr Ben Kumbuor, expressed worry about the haphazard manner in which the Self-Help Electrification Programmes (SHEP) were being implemented.
“I urge you to take a serious look about the abuses in the system and bring the implementation of the programme on track,” he said, explaining that it was unfortunate that some communities that had not been included in the programme had been presented with low tension poles to the detriment of those who had been pencilled in to benefit.
He noted that since the new educational reforms required that students became computer literate, electricity should be extended to all schools to ensure the success of the reforms.
When he caught the eye of the Second Deputy Speaker, Mr Malik Yakubu Alhassan, who was in the chair, the Minority Spokesman on Mines and Energy, Mr Moses Asaga, challenged the new minister to work closely with the Minority and heed their advice to help streamline the sector.
He acknowledged that the rising cost of crude oil was a daunting task that should be tackled in a bi-partisan manner for a decision to be taken on whether the country should hedge or not.
For his part, the MP for Sunyani East and Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Mr J.H. Mensah, said although six months would not be enough for the implementation of any meaningful project, the minister designate could assist in the fashioning out of a sustainable energy policy for the country.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin drew Mr Owusu-Adjapong’s attention to lack of information within the energy sector and cited the West African Gas Pipeline as a case in point, saying that it was unfortunate that in spite of assurances given by officials, the project was yet to be realised.
He called for measures to enable Parliament to make an input into agreement being signed between Ghana and its partners on the project.
Commenting on the nomination of the Supreme Court judges, the MPs expressed shock about the admission of the nominees that corruption within the judiciary had moved from perception to reality.
They, therefore, called for measures to enable the Judiciary to purge itself of such practices to enable Ghanaians to have faith in the judicial system.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Feeding grant to 3 northern regions GH¢4.2m so far paid
Frontpage (1a), May 29, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE government has so far released GH¢4,255,149.92, out of the GH¢7,344,413.92 to be paid as feeding grant for second-cycle schools in the three northern regions for the 2007/08 academic year.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic Fobih, who made this known in Parliament yesterday, said only last week a cheque was issued for GH¢1.7 million and wondered why the heads of second-cycle schools in those areas had refused to re-open the schools.
Professor Fobih was reacting to a statement made on the floor of the House by the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, on the cumulative effect of the disruption of the academic calendar of senior secondary schools in the three northern regions.
The minister said efforts were being made to pay the balance of GH¢3,079.264 to enable the schools to pay their creditors.
He indicated that the Scholarships Secretariat was in a fix as to why the intake of schools in the three northern regions was 7,000 more than what was expected and said an audit would, therefore, be conducted to ascertain the veracity of the figure.
In his statement, Mr Bagbin had called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, release the feeding grant for senior secondary schools in the three northern regions.
He observed that the cumulative effect of the disruption of academic calendar in those schools would wipe out any gains made in addressing the historical imbalance between the north and the south.
Mr Bagbin said notwithstanding the disruption of the academic calendar in those areas as a result of delays in the release of feeding grants, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) would not change its examinations schedule to accommodate students from the north.
Mr Bagbin, who is also the Member of Parliament for Nadowli West, said it was sad that despite persistent calls by both parents and heads of those second-cycle institutions, the government had turned a deaf ear to those pleas.
The MP said what was regrettable was that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), set up primarily to promote education, had been compelled by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to metamorphose into a ‘Father Christmas’ doling out money to the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment.
Mr Bagbin said people from the northern regions would not believe that it was the intention of any post-independent government to perpetuate the colonial government’s policy of keeping the northerner as a low-class citizen.
“Any wilful marginalisation of the north by any government is detrimental to the overall development and growth of the country. Ghana is a unitary state and, like the human body, if one part suffers pain, it is the whole body that suffers,” he said.
Mr Bagbin said sight should not be lost of the fact that students from the north would write the same examinations with students from other parts of the country.
“This lackadaisical attitude by the government will rather deepen the woes of these unfortunate students who, even in their present circumstances, do not have access to a lot of facilities enjoyed by those in the south,” the MP said.
Other MPs who contributed to the statement were Mr Stephen Balado-Manu (Ahafo-Ano South), Mr Mark-Anthony Awuni (Binduri) and Mr Anthony Akoto Osei, MP for Old Tafo and Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE government has so far released GH¢4,255,149.92, out of the GH¢7,344,413.92 to be paid as feeding grant for second-cycle schools in the three northern regions for the 2007/08 academic year.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic Fobih, who made this known in Parliament yesterday, said only last week a cheque was issued for GH¢1.7 million and wondered why the heads of second-cycle schools in those areas had refused to re-open the schools.
Professor Fobih was reacting to a statement made on the floor of the House by the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, on the cumulative effect of the disruption of the academic calendar of senior secondary schools in the three northern regions.
The minister said efforts were being made to pay the balance of GH¢3,079.264 to enable the schools to pay their creditors.
He indicated that the Scholarships Secretariat was in a fix as to why the intake of schools in the three northern regions was 7,000 more than what was expected and said an audit would, therefore, be conducted to ascertain the veracity of the figure.
In his statement, Mr Bagbin had called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, release the feeding grant for senior secondary schools in the three northern regions.
He observed that the cumulative effect of the disruption of academic calendar in those schools would wipe out any gains made in addressing the historical imbalance between the north and the south.
Mr Bagbin said notwithstanding the disruption of the academic calendar in those areas as a result of delays in the release of feeding grants, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) would not change its examinations schedule to accommodate students from the north.
Mr Bagbin, who is also the Member of Parliament for Nadowli West, said it was sad that despite persistent calls by both parents and heads of those second-cycle institutions, the government had turned a deaf ear to those pleas.
The MP said what was regrettable was that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), set up primarily to promote education, had been compelled by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to metamorphose into a ‘Father Christmas’ doling out money to the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment.
Mr Bagbin said people from the northern regions would not believe that it was the intention of any post-independent government to perpetuate the colonial government’s policy of keeping the northerner as a low-class citizen.
“Any wilful marginalisation of the north by any government is detrimental to the overall development and growth of the country. Ghana is a unitary state and, like the human body, if one part suffers pain, it is the whole body that suffers,” he said.
Mr Bagbin said sight should not be lost of the fact that students from the north would write the same examinations with students from other parts of the country.
“This lackadaisical attitude by the government will rather deepen the woes of these unfortunate students who, even in their present circumstances, do not have access to a lot of facilities enjoyed by those in the south,” the MP said.
Other MPs who contributed to the statement were Mr Stephen Balado-Manu (Ahafo-Ano South), Mr Mark-Anthony Awuni (Binduri) and Mr Anthony Akoto Osei, MP for Old Tafo and Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance.
‘DCE aspiring to become MP’s must resign’
Page 15, May 29, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkwanta South, Mr Geshon K.B. Gbediame, yesterday called for the resignation of District Chief Executives (DCEs) who were aspiring to be parliamentary candidates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He said a situation where such DCEs, who had won primaries in their various constituencies were using state resources to campaign, did not create a level playing field for aspirants from other parties.
Mr Gbediame was contributing to comments raised on the floor of the House on the preparations towards the conduct of the forthcoming December elections.
He said it was because the government wanted to create a level playing field that some DCEs, who declared their intentions to contest primaries, were sacked by the President to enable them pursue their political ambitions.
Mr Gbediame said that notwithstanding, some DCEs, especially those in the Volta Region managed to hold on to their positions and contested their primaries and won.
He stated that efforts should be made to avoid the use of state resources by aspiring NPP candidates who were also DCEs for campaigning, since that would set a bad precedence.
Other MPs who contributed to the statement called for measures to be put in place to enable the electorate acknowledge contributions being made by MPs in the House.
The MP for Asawase, Alhaji Muntanka Mubarak, said it was sad that during the ongoing primaries to elect parliamentary candidates, sitting MPs were not being assessed by their works.
He blamed the situation on the lack of measures to educate the electorate on the actual work of MPs, saying that was rather unfortunate, and that as a result of ignorance, most people did not even consider law making as a development process.
For his part, the MP for Mfantsiman East, Mr George Kuntu-Blankson, called for a clean campaign by aspiring MPs from all the political parties.
“It is unfortunate that some colleague MPs make disparaging remarks about their colleagues in their bid to make them unpopular to lose their seats, due to political expediency”.
He noted that if MPs continued to do that the House would eventually lose the respect accorded it by the populace.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkwanta South, Mr Geshon K.B. Gbediame, yesterday called for the resignation of District Chief Executives (DCEs) who were aspiring to be parliamentary candidates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He said a situation where such DCEs, who had won primaries in their various constituencies were using state resources to campaign, did not create a level playing field for aspirants from other parties.
Mr Gbediame was contributing to comments raised on the floor of the House on the preparations towards the conduct of the forthcoming December elections.
He said it was because the government wanted to create a level playing field that some DCEs, who declared their intentions to contest primaries, were sacked by the President to enable them pursue their political ambitions.
Mr Gbediame said that notwithstanding, some DCEs, especially those in the Volta Region managed to hold on to their positions and contested their primaries and won.
He stated that efforts should be made to avoid the use of state resources by aspiring NPP candidates who were also DCEs for campaigning, since that would set a bad precedence.
Other MPs who contributed to the statement called for measures to be put in place to enable the electorate acknowledge contributions being made by MPs in the House.
The MP for Asawase, Alhaji Muntanka Mubarak, said it was sad that during the ongoing primaries to elect parliamentary candidates, sitting MPs were not being assessed by their works.
He blamed the situation on the lack of measures to educate the electorate on the actual work of MPs, saying that was rather unfortunate, and that as a result of ignorance, most people did not even consider law making as a development process.
For his part, the MP for Mfantsiman East, Mr George Kuntu-Blankson, called for a clean campaign by aspiring MPs from all the political parties.
“It is unfortunate that some colleague MPs make disparaging remarks about their colleagues in their bid to make them unpopular to lose their seats, due to political expediency”.
He noted that if MPs continued to do that the House would eventually lose the respect accorded it by the populace.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE four Appeal Court judges who have been nominated by the President for the Supreme Court yesterday suggested that there should be a deliberate effort to educate people to know that they could win or lose their cases without influencing judges and magistrates.
Admitting that corruption within the Judiciary had moved from a perception to reality, they were, however, of the opinion that even though studies had shown corrupt practices within the system, the situation had been blown out of proportion.
The judges, Mr Justice Anin Yeboah, Mr Justice Jones Victor Mawulom Dotse, Ms Justice Rose Constance Owusu and Mr Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, shared their thoughts on the subject when they appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament for vetting.
Buttressing the assertion when he appeared before the committee, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie told the committee that studies had established that on a percentage of 100 corruption cases, 15 per cent could be attributed to judges while the remaining 85 per cent was attributable to other staff of the Judiciary.
He said in the Ashanti Region, where he was a judge, it was found out that in 90 per cent of all cases which went to the Kumasi courts, the litigants expressed the interest of “seeing the judges”.
Mr Justice Baffoe-Bonnie explained that out of that percentage, less than 10 per cent actually succeeded in “seeing the judges”, while the rest ended up going to “all manner of persons such as bailiffs, brothers and girlfriends of judges” to convince them to adjudicate the cases in their favour.
“Even among the lawyers, when they are charging their fees, they will tell their clients that a percentage of the amount is for the judge,” he said.
He said in all these matters, “people should be made aware that bribery does not deliver justice”.
On whether the Constitution should be amended for a ceiling on the number of judges to be appointed, all the four judges stated that since the Constitution was a growing one, attempts should not be made to touch the entrenched clauses.
They added that although the Constitution did not put a ceiling on the number of Supreme Court judges, none of the two presidents under the Fourth Republic had exceeded 14.
They justified their nomination to the Supreme Court and said that if they were given the nod, they would help administer justice at that level since out of the current 12 Supreme court judges, two were due for pension while three were not working because of ill health.
Out of the remaining seven, the Chief Justice was an administrator while one was on an international assignment, leaving only five judges as active ones at the Supreme Court.
One issue which was discussed extensively by all the four judges had to do with the lack of logistics and poor infrastructure of the Judicial Service.
Mr Justice Yeboah told the committee that much of the problems besetting the Judiciary could be solved, if about 50 per cent of the internally generated funds by the service was retained for the construction of more courts and the renovation of the dilapidated ones. Currently, only 15 per cent of the fund is retained by the service.
Mr Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said, for instance, that as an Appeal Court judge with an oversight responsibility over the Brong Ahafo Region, he had toured the region extensively.
He said structures used by the Judiciary in the region depicted “ a sordid tale of neglect of the Judiciary”.
For his part, Mr Justice Dotse advocated the establishment of more courts throughout the country to ensure speedy trial of cases, stressing that courts should be sited in places such as Teshie and Madina in the Accra metropolis.
Ms Justice Owusu stunned members of the committee about her strong conviction of the administration of capital punishment.
To her, there was no need to remove capital punishment from the country’s statute books, since “he who kills needs to die”.
Her conviction about capital punishment was shared by Mr Justice Baffoe-Bonnie but their other two colleagues, however, called for the law to be expunged in line with the current thinking in the international community.
Other subjects which were dealt with during the vetting included the law of causing financial loss to the state and the decoupling of the Attorney-General from the Ministry of Justice.
THE four Appeal Court judges who have been nominated by the President for the Supreme Court yesterday suggested that there should be a deliberate effort to educate people to know that they could win or lose their cases without influencing judges and magistrates.
Admitting that corruption within the Judiciary had moved from a perception to reality, they were, however, of the opinion that even though studies had shown corrupt practices within the system, the situation had been blown out of proportion.
The judges, Mr Justice Anin Yeboah, Mr Justice Jones Victor Mawulom Dotse, Ms Justice Rose Constance Owusu and Mr Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, shared their thoughts on the subject when they appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament for vetting.
Buttressing the assertion when he appeared before the committee, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie told the committee that studies had established that on a percentage of 100 corruption cases, 15 per cent could be attributed to judges while the remaining 85 per cent was attributable to other staff of the Judiciary.
He said in the Ashanti Region, where he was a judge, it was found out that in 90 per cent of all cases which went to the Kumasi courts, the litigants expressed the interest of “seeing the judges”.
Mr Justice Baffoe-Bonnie explained that out of that percentage, less than 10 per cent actually succeeded in “seeing the judges”, while the rest ended up going to “all manner of persons such as bailiffs, brothers and girlfriends of judges” to convince them to adjudicate the cases in their favour.
“Even among the lawyers, when they are charging their fees, they will tell their clients that a percentage of the amount is for the judge,” he said.
He said in all these matters, “people should be made aware that bribery does not deliver justice”.
On whether the Constitution should be amended for a ceiling on the number of judges to be appointed, all the four judges stated that since the Constitution was a growing one, attempts should not be made to touch the entrenched clauses.
They added that although the Constitution did not put a ceiling on the number of Supreme Court judges, none of the two presidents under the Fourth Republic had exceeded 14.
They justified their nomination to the Supreme Court and said that if they were given the nod, they would help administer justice at that level since out of the current 12 Supreme court judges, two were due for pension while three were not working because of ill health.
Out of the remaining seven, the Chief Justice was an administrator while one was on an international assignment, leaving only five judges as active ones at the Supreme Court.
One issue which was discussed extensively by all the four judges had to do with the lack of logistics and poor infrastructure of the Judicial Service.
Mr Justice Yeboah told the committee that much of the problems besetting the Judiciary could be solved, if about 50 per cent of the internally generated funds by the service was retained for the construction of more courts and the renovation of the dilapidated ones. Currently, only 15 per cent of the fund is retained by the service.
Mr Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said, for instance, that as an Appeal Court judge with an oversight responsibility over the Brong Ahafo Region, he had toured the region extensively.
He said structures used by the Judiciary in the region depicted “ a sordid tale of neglect of the Judiciary”.
For his part, Mr Justice Dotse advocated the establishment of more courts throughout the country to ensure speedy trial of cases, stressing that courts should be sited in places such as Teshie and Madina in the Accra metropolis.
Ms Justice Owusu stunned members of the committee about her strong conviction of the administration of capital punishment.
To her, there was no need to remove capital punishment from the country’s statute books, since “he who kills needs to die”.
Her conviction about capital punishment was shared by Mr Justice Baffoe-Bonnie but their other two colleagues, however, called for the law to be expunged in line with the current thinking in the international community.
Other subjects which were dealt with during the vetting included the law of causing financial loss to the state and the decoupling of the Attorney-General from the Ministry of Justice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)