Page 16, Feb 26, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE debate on the maiden State of the Nation Address delivered by President John Evans Atta Mills began in Parliament on Tuesday with members of the Majority and the Minority sides expressing divergent views about its contents.
While members from the Majority side, led by the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Mr Fuseini Inusah, described the address as an encompassing one serving as a rescue plan for a better Ghana, the Minority said the address lacked direction.
Mr Fuseini, who moved the motion to thank the President for the address, argued that the acknowledgement of the first President of Ghana, the late Dr Kwame Nkrumah, as well as the institution of a founder’s day was a good initiative that would encourage people to commit themselves to the cause of the country.
The MP said President Mills gave a clear indication of his intention to fight corruption in the system, adding that his resolve to ensure the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill to complement the Whistle Blower’s Act attested to his determination to fight the canker.
However, he stirred some controversy when he referred to an allegation purportedly made by officials of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government that the Castle was not suitable for human habitation, which was why former President John Agyekum Kufuor stayed in his own house throughout his tenure of office while commuting to the Castle daily.
The NPP MP for Effia Kwesimintim, Mr Joe Badoe-Ansah, on a point of order, called on the Speaker to rule Mr Inusah out of order, and asked him to withdraw his statement if he could not substantiate the allegation.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, supported the assertion by Mr Inusah and mentioned Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey as the one who made the comment.
Mr Alban Bagbin added that Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey even took television cameras to the Castle to take pictures to show to the whole world conditions at the Castle that did not make the place suitable for human habitation.
However, the Speaker prevailed on Mr Inusah to withdraw that aspect of his assertion after a heated debate between the two sides on the issue.
When he resumed the debate, Mr Inusah commended the President for his intention to revive the Aveyime Rice Project, saying that if the plan was implemented it would save the country from importing a sizeable part of its rice requirement from other countries.
The NPP MP for Okaikoi South, Nana Akomea, who seconded the motion commended President Mills for being “quite conciliatory” in his address, explaining that by so doing he followed the trend set by former President Kufuor in his various state of the nation addresses.
He said in spite of the warmth of the address, the President failed to touch on the numerous problems that characterised the transition period during which, he said, supporters of the NDC brutalised NPP supporters, as well as the snatching of cars belonging to former government officials.
He stated that there were no new ideas in the address since all the proposals in it were ideas from addresses delivered in the House since 1993.
Nana Akomea stated that the NPP left a healthy economy than it inherited from the NDC government.
He said all the projects mentioned in the address were those which the NPP government had already started, and called on the government to give praises where they were due.
The MP, however, commended President Mills for his bold step to implement a one-time premium payment for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS),and noted that if that plan became sustainable, it would be a novelty.
The NDC MP for Ablekuma South, Mr Fritz Baffoe, in his contribution acknowledged the President’s resolve to fight corruption from the system and urged him not to relent in his effort.
He also commended him for his ideas for the arts and noted that the development of that sector would bring in a lot of positive returns to the country.
When he caught the eye of the Speaker, the NPP MP for Subin, Mr Isaac Osei, stated that the address lacked vision and accused the President of failing to touch on what he called “the official car snatching and post election violence”.
He noted that the situation did not augur well for the development of the business sector in the country.
For his part, the NDC MP for Wa Central and Minister of State designate, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, noted that the address gave the nation a road map of the government’s economic rescue plan.
He stated that the President’s zeal to see the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill in addition to other bills attested to his resolve to rid the country of corrupt practices.
He called for the review of the Local Government Act to enable it to reflect current realities to ensure the proper implementation of the decentralisation process.
Mr Pelpuo noted that the resolve of the President to continue with the projects of the past government should rather be seen as a plus for the country’s democracy, and called on politicians to appreciate the contributions of others in the country’s development.
For her part, the NPP MP for Evalue-Gwira, Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku, said it was unfortunate that the President failed to mention the construction of the Bui Dam when he spoke about his plan to increase the power generation capacity of the country.
She noted that Ghanaians were expecting to hear about the President’s plan to reduce the price of fuel in response to the reduction of the price of crude oil on the international market.
Mrs Afeku said although she felt sad when the President failed to mention his plan for the water sector, she took consolation in the fact that the NPP government did a lot in that sector, which might have explained why the President had nothing to say about it.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Five per cent demand unfair to rural areas
Page 14, Feb 26, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minister designate for Water Resources, Works & Housing, Mr Albert Abongo, says it is unfair for rural dwellers to be required to pay five per cent of the construction of water systems in their villages and towns.
He notes that since water is a basic necessity of life, every possible step has to be taken to ensure that rural communities are not denied clean water if they are unable to raise the five per cent component of the rural water construction programmes.
Mr Abongo, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bongo Constituency, made the observations at his vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament. He was nominated by President J.E.A Mills to replace Mr Moses Asaga, whose nomination was withdrawn.
He was the last person among the 35 ministerial nominees to be vetted by the committee.
The nominee, who appeared at the precincts of Parliament with a large following of friends, relatives and admirers, led by the popular musician King Ayisoba, noted that while the existing water systems in the country needed to be expanded, new systems should also be constructed to enable more communities to have access to potable water.
Mr Abongo stated that the Community Water and Sanitation Agency’s (CWSA) long-term programme to provide potable water for 76 per cent of rural communities should be strictly followed and reinvigorated.
Touching on the guineaworm menace, the nominee stated that endemic communities would be provided with borehole systems to enable them to have safe drinking water as a measure to eradicate the disease.
He stressed the need for enforcement of the provision in the building code which made it mandatory for systems to be provided for rain harvesting.
On the housing sector, the minister designate noted that there was the need for the construction of 100,000 housing units every year to make up for the current deficit in the sector.
He said there would also be the need for the review of the rent control laws in the country to prevent landlords from demanding rent advance covering a long period from prospective tenants.
The Minister designate for the Presidency, Mr Azong Alhassan, spent less than 10 minutes to answer questions mainly on his curriculum vitae (CV).
He stood in awe as the chairman of the committee, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, discharged him after witnessing his colleagues, in some cases, spend more than two hours with the committee answering a number of questions.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minister designate for Water Resources, Works & Housing, Mr Albert Abongo, says it is unfair for rural dwellers to be required to pay five per cent of the construction of water systems in their villages and towns.
He notes that since water is a basic necessity of life, every possible step has to be taken to ensure that rural communities are not denied clean water if they are unable to raise the five per cent component of the rural water construction programmes.
Mr Abongo, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bongo Constituency, made the observations at his vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament. He was nominated by President J.E.A Mills to replace Mr Moses Asaga, whose nomination was withdrawn.
He was the last person among the 35 ministerial nominees to be vetted by the committee.
The nominee, who appeared at the precincts of Parliament with a large following of friends, relatives and admirers, led by the popular musician King Ayisoba, noted that while the existing water systems in the country needed to be expanded, new systems should also be constructed to enable more communities to have access to potable water.
Mr Abongo stated that the Community Water and Sanitation Agency’s (CWSA) long-term programme to provide potable water for 76 per cent of rural communities should be strictly followed and reinvigorated.
Touching on the guineaworm menace, the nominee stated that endemic communities would be provided with borehole systems to enable them to have safe drinking water as a measure to eradicate the disease.
He stressed the need for enforcement of the provision in the building code which made it mandatory for systems to be provided for rain harvesting.
On the housing sector, the minister designate noted that there was the need for the construction of 100,000 housing units every year to make up for the current deficit in the sector.
He said there would also be the need for the review of the rent control laws in the country to prevent landlords from demanding rent advance covering a long period from prospective tenants.
The Minister designate for the Presidency, Mr Azong Alhassan, spent less than 10 minutes to answer questions mainly on his curriculum vitae (CV).
He stood in awe as the chairman of the committee, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, discharged him after witnessing his colleagues, in some cases, spend more than two hours with the committee answering a number of questions.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Govt committed to campaign promises — Amenowode
Page 17, Feb 24, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Adidome
THE Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, has said the government is committed to all its campaign promises and will work hard to ensure that they are all fulfilled.
He said Ghanaians were justified in their expectations that the government should deliver on its campaign promises, especially so, when many people toiled to ensure a change of government during the December 2008 elections.
Mr Amenowode, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hohoe South, was speaking at a well-attended thanksgiving rally organised last Sunday by the Central Tongu Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to thank God for the party’s success in the December 2008 elections.
The rally was also to thank God and honour the MP for the area, Mr Joe Kwashie Gidisu, for his appointments as Minister for Roads and Highways.
Hundreds of supporters of the party who lined up the street of Adidome to welcome Mr Gidisu later converged at the forecourt of the North Tongu District Assembly to offer thanks to God and listen to speeches by a number of dignitaries who attended the function.
Mr Amenowode said although the government would fulfil its campaign promises, it had to first look at the challenges facing the country’s economy in order to find its way clear on what to do to fulfil such promises.
“This we will do since we have the right calibre of people within the party to meet the challenges of the country,” he said.
The regional minister said the Volta Regional caucus in Parliament was determined in its resolve to make sure that the region got its share of the national cake.
He, therefore, called on the people to play their part in the quest of the MPs to develop the region instead of trooping to Accra in search of solutions to their personal problems by the MPs.
For his part, Mr Gidisu paid a glowing tribute to the foot soldiers of the party, who he acknowledged had worked tirelessly for the party’s victory.
“It is time now for the foot soldiers of the party to be recognised for their efforts instead of the premium always placed on officials of the party,” he said.
He also thanked the President for recognising him by making him a Minister of State in his government, and said he was humbled by his appointment and promised to work hard to justify the confidence reposed in him.
Mr Gidisu said he would constantly liaise with the district chief executive of the North Tongu District Assembly to ensure that the people were provided with the basic necessities of life.
He gave the assurance that all the 10 regions would receive their fair share as far as the rehabilitation and construction of roads was concerned.
The MP for North Tongu, Mr Charles Hodogbey, commended supporters of the NDC for showing a high sense of commitment during the elections.
He, however, asked them not to let the victory go into their heads and sit on the fence, but should rather be involved in the governance of the country to enable the government achieve its set goals.
Mr Hodogbey urged all Ghanaians to join supporters of the party for the victory celebration since such a unity was crucial for the total development of the country.
He also stressed the need for the people to make individual sacrifices instead of expecting too much from the government, adding that MPs in the region would work around the clock to bring development to the region.
The Central Tongu Constituency Chairman of the NDC, Mr Kudjo Agbo, said the people in the area were very grateful to the President for appointing their MP as the Minister of Roads and Highways and called on the members of the party to pray for the government to enable it perform its duties to the satisfaction of all.
The Queen of the Mafi Traditional Area, Mama Sename III, later presented a full piece of cloth and a pair of native sandals to Mr Gidisu, in recognition of his achievements.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Adidome
THE Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, has said the government is committed to all its campaign promises and will work hard to ensure that they are all fulfilled.
He said Ghanaians were justified in their expectations that the government should deliver on its campaign promises, especially so, when many people toiled to ensure a change of government during the December 2008 elections.
Mr Amenowode, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hohoe South, was speaking at a well-attended thanksgiving rally organised last Sunday by the Central Tongu Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to thank God for the party’s success in the December 2008 elections.
The rally was also to thank God and honour the MP for the area, Mr Joe Kwashie Gidisu, for his appointments as Minister for Roads and Highways.
Hundreds of supporters of the party who lined up the street of Adidome to welcome Mr Gidisu later converged at the forecourt of the North Tongu District Assembly to offer thanks to God and listen to speeches by a number of dignitaries who attended the function.
Mr Amenowode said although the government would fulfil its campaign promises, it had to first look at the challenges facing the country’s economy in order to find its way clear on what to do to fulfil such promises.
“This we will do since we have the right calibre of people within the party to meet the challenges of the country,” he said.
The regional minister said the Volta Regional caucus in Parliament was determined in its resolve to make sure that the region got its share of the national cake.
He, therefore, called on the people to play their part in the quest of the MPs to develop the region instead of trooping to Accra in search of solutions to their personal problems by the MPs.
For his part, Mr Gidisu paid a glowing tribute to the foot soldiers of the party, who he acknowledged had worked tirelessly for the party’s victory.
“It is time now for the foot soldiers of the party to be recognised for their efforts instead of the premium always placed on officials of the party,” he said.
He also thanked the President for recognising him by making him a Minister of State in his government, and said he was humbled by his appointment and promised to work hard to justify the confidence reposed in him.
Mr Gidisu said he would constantly liaise with the district chief executive of the North Tongu District Assembly to ensure that the people were provided with the basic necessities of life.
He gave the assurance that all the 10 regions would receive their fair share as far as the rehabilitation and construction of roads was concerned.
The MP for North Tongu, Mr Charles Hodogbey, commended supporters of the NDC for showing a high sense of commitment during the elections.
He, however, asked them not to let the victory go into their heads and sit on the fence, but should rather be involved in the governance of the country to enable the government achieve its set goals.
Mr Hodogbey urged all Ghanaians to join supporters of the party for the victory celebration since such a unity was crucial for the total development of the country.
He also stressed the need for the people to make individual sacrifices instead of expecting too much from the government, adding that MPs in the region would work around the clock to bring development to the region.
The Central Tongu Constituency Chairman of the NDC, Mr Kudjo Agbo, said the people in the area were very grateful to the President for appointing their MP as the Minister of Roads and Highways and called on the members of the party to pray for the government to enable it perform its duties to the satisfaction of all.
The Queen of the Mafi Traditional Area, Mama Sename III, later presented a full piece of cloth and a pair of native sandals to Mr Gidisu, in recognition of his achievements.
Woyongo clarifies issues on equipment
Centre spread, Tuesday Feb 24, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minister designate for the Upper East Region, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, made his third appearance before the Appointments Committee of Parliament yesterday and was finally discharged after he had clarified issues relating to his importation of radio equipment into the country and the issue of his voter registration.
When he appeared before the committee the first time, the nominee had been asked to appear at another date, since, according to the committee, he was ill-prepared and confused.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, told the committee that he had received correspondence from the Electoral Commission that the nominee was a registered voter who had his vote permanently transferred to the Upper East Region in the run-up to the December polls.
The chairman referred to a letter signed by the Deputy Chairman of the EC in charge of Operations, Mr Safo Kantanka, but the Minority Leader and Ranking Member of the committee, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said there were still issues relating to the nominee’s voter registration that needed to be addressed.
He said the committee should not just limit itself to the letter from Mr Kantanka but go further to verify the claims that had been made.
The minister designate stated that he had not appeared before any committee of enquiry on his importation of radio equipment into the country and explained that he had explained issues to the Bureau of National Investigation, as well as the National Security.
He said he had been duly exempted from the payment of tax after seeking due clearance from the Value Added Tax (VAT) Service and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).
He said when given the nod, he would work towards empowering the committees of the regional house of chiefs to ensure that they effectively resolved chieftaincy disputes there.
After Mr Woyongo was discharged, the Minister designate for Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, appeared and told the committee that the modernisation of agriculture would be a top priority if his nomination was approved by Parliament.
The minister, who spent close to three hours before the committee, said the modernisation of agriculture would ensure a significant increase in agricultural production and re-orient local farmers to become modern farmers.
The minister designate, who is a former board chairman of the Mim Timber Company and Cash Pro, underlined the importance of using a hi-tech approach in agricultural production and said the new administration was determined to use that approach to increase cocoa production.
He said using the hi-tech approach, which included the effective application of fertiliser, it was possible to increase, by 2012, the tonnage of cocoa beans produced in the country from 700,000 to one million and said that would not necessarily imply increasing the size under cultivation.
“By the hi-tech approach, we can increase the yield of cocoa on the same piece of land,” he stated.
Mr Ahwoi also expressed the commitment of the government to increase agricultural production in other sectors, such as the rice sector.
When asked by the MP for Manhyia, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, to comment on the statement made by the President in his State of the Nation Address that the government would revive the Aveyime Rice Project, the minister designate stated that the President probably meant that the project would be expedited.
He stated that if given the nod, his administration would also continue with plans initiated by the previous government to irrigate the Accra Plains to boost agricultural production.
He said the Accra and Afram plains, if properly irrigated and cultivated, could serve as the bread basket of the country, stressing that it was time for the country to minimise its dependence on rain-fed agriculture.
Mr Ahwoi also articulated the commitment of the new administration to encourage the youth into agriculture, explaining that it should not be just a case of the youth going into agriculture but ensuring that the appropriate resources were made available to maximise yield.
The minister designate emphasised the need to bring practical meaning to agricultural education in schools, adding that practical agricultural education in school should be mechanised to help provide students with the right foundation.
Mr Ahwoi also underlined the importance of linking agricultural communities with good roads and advocated the responsible use of roads to ensure that they lasted longer.
The Minister designate for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Albert Abongo, and the Minister designate for the Presidency, Mr Azong Alhassan, also appeared before the committee to answer various questions.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minister designate for the Upper East Region, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, made his third appearance before the Appointments Committee of Parliament yesterday and was finally discharged after he had clarified issues relating to his importation of radio equipment into the country and the issue of his voter registration.
When he appeared before the committee the first time, the nominee had been asked to appear at another date, since, according to the committee, he was ill-prepared and confused.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, told the committee that he had received correspondence from the Electoral Commission that the nominee was a registered voter who had his vote permanently transferred to the Upper East Region in the run-up to the December polls.
The chairman referred to a letter signed by the Deputy Chairman of the EC in charge of Operations, Mr Safo Kantanka, but the Minority Leader and Ranking Member of the committee, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said there were still issues relating to the nominee’s voter registration that needed to be addressed.
He said the committee should not just limit itself to the letter from Mr Kantanka but go further to verify the claims that had been made.
The minister designate stated that he had not appeared before any committee of enquiry on his importation of radio equipment into the country and explained that he had explained issues to the Bureau of National Investigation, as well as the National Security.
He said he had been duly exempted from the payment of tax after seeking due clearance from the Value Added Tax (VAT) Service and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).
He said when given the nod, he would work towards empowering the committees of the regional house of chiefs to ensure that they effectively resolved chieftaincy disputes there.
After Mr Woyongo was discharged, the Minister designate for Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, appeared and told the committee that the modernisation of agriculture would be a top priority if his nomination was approved by Parliament.
The minister, who spent close to three hours before the committee, said the modernisation of agriculture would ensure a significant increase in agricultural production and re-orient local farmers to become modern farmers.
The minister designate, who is a former board chairman of the Mim Timber Company and Cash Pro, underlined the importance of using a hi-tech approach in agricultural production and said the new administration was determined to use that approach to increase cocoa production.
He said using the hi-tech approach, which included the effective application of fertiliser, it was possible to increase, by 2012, the tonnage of cocoa beans produced in the country from 700,000 to one million and said that would not necessarily imply increasing the size under cultivation.
“By the hi-tech approach, we can increase the yield of cocoa on the same piece of land,” he stated.
Mr Ahwoi also expressed the commitment of the government to increase agricultural production in other sectors, such as the rice sector.
When asked by the MP for Manhyia, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, to comment on the statement made by the President in his State of the Nation Address that the government would revive the Aveyime Rice Project, the minister designate stated that the President probably meant that the project would be expedited.
He stated that if given the nod, his administration would also continue with plans initiated by the previous government to irrigate the Accra Plains to boost agricultural production.
He said the Accra and Afram plains, if properly irrigated and cultivated, could serve as the bread basket of the country, stressing that it was time for the country to minimise its dependence on rain-fed agriculture.
Mr Ahwoi also articulated the commitment of the new administration to encourage the youth into agriculture, explaining that it should not be just a case of the youth going into agriculture but ensuring that the appropriate resources were made available to maximise yield.
The minister designate emphasised the need to bring practical meaning to agricultural education in schools, adding that practical agricultural education in school should be mechanised to help provide students with the right foundation.
Mr Ahwoi also underlined the importance of linking agricultural communities with good roads and advocated the responsible use of roads to ensure that they lasted longer.
The Minister designate for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Albert Abongo, and the Minister designate for the Presidency, Mr Azong Alhassan, also appeared before the committee to answer various questions.
Monday, February 23, 2009
MUMUNI SAILS THROUGH. Sherry, others make it
Lead story, Sat. Feb 20, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
PARLIAMENT yesterday approved the nomination of Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration after a gruelling debate characterised by wild allegations and intense heckling.
While the Majority made a strong case for Alhaji Mumuni’s approval, the Minority argued vehemently against it and the final vote of 116-74 in favour of the Majority was the expected climax that ushered into office the new Foreign Minister.
The heckling was very intense, with frequent interventions from members on both sides of the House as each side asked the other to withdraw statements made on the floor.
In the ensuing exchanges, the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, expressed some mild exasperation when both sides made counter requests for statements made on the floor to be withdrawn.
Responding to requests from both sides for statements deemed to be unparliamentary to be withdrawn, the Speaker lamented: “I am not even allowed to deal with one before another comes up. I think both cancel each other.”
Two reports had been laid before the House. The first covered six ministerial nominees — Mr Stephen Kwao Amoanor, Mr Alexander Asum-Mensah, Mrs Halutie Dubie Alhassan, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, Mrs Sabah Zita Okaikoi and Mrs Hanny-Sherry Ayittey — while the second covered only Alhaji Mumuni.
Whereas the first report was adopted by the House within 30 minutes, the one covering Alhaji Mumuni was voted on after a debate that lasted about three hours.
The issue in contention bordered on a 2004 audit report commissioned by the Auditor General on the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), which the Minority said implicated the nominee.
According to the Minority, when the issue came up during the vetting of the nominee, he had cautioned the committee that since a case related to that report was in court, he considered it subjudice.
The Minority contended that per Standing Order Number 93, “reference shall not be made to any matter in which judicial decision is pending in such a way as may in the opinion of Mr Speaker prejudice the interest of parties to the action”.
The MP for Bekwai, Mr Joe Osei-Owusu, stated that the Appointments Committee’s own procedure for the public hearing of presidential nominees, Number 10, stated categorically that “the major yardstick is the various provisions on disqualification of public officers, e.g. criminal conviction, adverse findings of committees of enquiry, allegations of stated misbehaviour, abuse of office, fraud, misappropriation of public funds etc”.
The MP for Abuakwa South, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, argued that since the case in question was before a court of competent jurisdiction, approving Alhaji Mumuni’s nomination would be prejudicial.
In the heat of the debate, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, reacted sharply to a statement by the MP for North Tongu, Mr Charles Hodogbey, questioning the justification of the Minority’s concerns, since, in his view, someone who had a cocaine tag on him would have been elected President of the country but for God’s intervention.
The Minority Leader described the statement as an abuse of the privilege of the MP and demanded a withdrawal of that statement.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, in his intervention, said Mr Hodogbey had gone overboard and urged him to withdraw the statement. Subsequently, the statement was withdrawn by the MP.
Mr Bagbin, in his submission, said it was unfortunate that the committee had to go on with its sitting on the nominee after a number of behind-the-scene deliberations had not yielded any result.
He said the walkout by the Minority had not been helpful, since they could have sat through the proceedings to register their concerns and give the nominee an opportunity to respond to those concerns.
He called on members from both sides of the House to remain focused on the work of the House, stressing, “We should not mar the friendship between us because of one nominee. It is important for us to continue to work together.”
He said in the circumstance, the only option for the House was to use secret ballot to determine the nominee’s fate, since the committee could not reach a consensus.
The MP for Garu/Tempane, Mr Dominic Azumah, said the Majority would have preferred that a consensus had been arrived on the nominee, since he was an excellent gentleman who could perform well.
The MP for Ashaiman, Mr Alfred Agbesi, said Parliament could not invoke the said audit report, since it had not been laid before the house.
The MP for Jomoro, Samia Yaaba Nkrumah, lived up to her word to be independent on issues when he supported the Majority’s position and asked her colleagues in the Minority to consider the calibre of the nominee and duly give him the nod.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
PARLIAMENT yesterday approved the nomination of Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration after a gruelling debate characterised by wild allegations and intense heckling.
While the Majority made a strong case for Alhaji Mumuni’s approval, the Minority argued vehemently against it and the final vote of 116-74 in favour of the Majority was the expected climax that ushered into office the new Foreign Minister.
The heckling was very intense, with frequent interventions from members on both sides of the House as each side asked the other to withdraw statements made on the floor.
In the ensuing exchanges, the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, expressed some mild exasperation when both sides made counter requests for statements made on the floor to be withdrawn.
Responding to requests from both sides for statements deemed to be unparliamentary to be withdrawn, the Speaker lamented: “I am not even allowed to deal with one before another comes up. I think both cancel each other.”
Two reports had been laid before the House. The first covered six ministerial nominees — Mr Stephen Kwao Amoanor, Mr Alexander Asum-Mensah, Mrs Halutie Dubie Alhassan, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, Mrs Sabah Zita Okaikoi and Mrs Hanny-Sherry Ayittey — while the second covered only Alhaji Mumuni.
Whereas the first report was adopted by the House within 30 minutes, the one covering Alhaji Mumuni was voted on after a debate that lasted about three hours.
The issue in contention bordered on a 2004 audit report commissioned by the Auditor General on the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), which the Minority said implicated the nominee.
According to the Minority, when the issue came up during the vetting of the nominee, he had cautioned the committee that since a case related to that report was in court, he considered it subjudice.
The Minority contended that per Standing Order Number 93, “reference shall not be made to any matter in which judicial decision is pending in such a way as may in the opinion of Mr Speaker prejudice the interest of parties to the action”.
The MP for Bekwai, Mr Joe Osei-Owusu, stated that the Appointments Committee’s own procedure for the public hearing of presidential nominees, Number 10, stated categorically that “the major yardstick is the various provisions on disqualification of public officers, e.g. criminal conviction, adverse findings of committees of enquiry, allegations of stated misbehaviour, abuse of office, fraud, misappropriation of public funds etc”.
The MP for Abuakwa South, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, argued that since the case in question was before a court of competent jurisdiction, approving Alhaji Mumuni’s nomination would be prejudicial.
In the heat of the debate, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, reacted sharply to a statement by the MP for North Tongu, Mr Charles Hodogbey, questioning the justification of the Minority’s concerns, since, in his view, someone who had a cocaine tag on him would have been elected President of the country but for God’s intervention.
The Minority Leader described the statement as an abuse of the privilege of the MP and demanded a withdrawal of that statement.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, in his intervention, said Mr Hodogbey had gone overboard and urged him to withdraw the statement. Subsequently, the statement was withdrawn by the MP.
Mr Bagbin, in his submission, said it was unfortunate that the committee had to go on with its sitting on the nominee after a number of behind-the-scene deliberations had not yielded any result.
He said the walkout by the Minority had not been helpful, since they could have sat through the proceedings to register their concerns and give the nominee an opportunity to respond to those concerns.
He called on members from both sides of the House to remain focused on the work of the House, stressing, “We should not mar the friendship between us because of one nominee. It is important for us to continue to work together.”
He said in the circumstance, the only option for the House was to use secret ballot to determine the nominee’s fate, since the committee could not reach a consensus.
The MP for Garu/Tempane, Mr Dominic Azumah, said the Majority would have preferred that a consensus had been arrived on the nominee, since he was an excellent gentleman who could perform well.
The MP for Ashaiman, Mr Alfred Agbesi, said Parliament could not invoke the said audit report, since it had not been laid before the house.
The MP for Jomoro, Samia Yaaba Nkrumah, lived up to her word to be independent on issues when he supported the Majority’s position and asked her colleagues in the Minority to consider the calibre of the nominee and duly give him the nod.
President’s address receives mixed reactions
Page 31, Feb 18, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE maiden State of the Nation Address delivered by the President, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, has drawn contrasting reactions from individuals on both sides of the political divide.
While some hailed it as an excellent piece that offered hope to Ghanaians, others described it as a hollow presentation and just another tale of promises.
A former DVLA boss and MP for Bekwai, Mr Joe Osei-Owusu, said the address delivered by the President was not what he had expected.
He said he had expected the President to comment on how he was going to fulfil promises such as fuel price reductions and the provision of school uniforms made by the NDC in the run up to the elections, noting that surprisingly that had not been the case.
A former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board and MP for Subin, Mr Isaac Osei, also shared similar sentiments and said there was nothing unusual about the address delivered by the President.
“It was not what one would have expected,” he said, stressing that it would have been important for the President to put meaning behind the words.
He expressed surprise at the fact that although the President made various statements on the energy sector, he failed to comment on a major project like the Bui Dam.
Mr Osei stated that some of the figures given by the President with regard to the health of the economy would first have to be verified before any comment could be made on them.
The MP for Mampong, Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh, also criticised the President for delivering an address that could not be described in its entirety as a State of the Nation Address.
He said at a point it was not easy to distinguish the address from a budget statement.
The MP for Kwabre West, Mr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, said the President did well in his presentation and tried to ease tension with humorous statements.
“I will give him the pass mark, but there are some areas that we are going to critically analyse and debate on,” he stated.
The MP for Weija, Ms Ayorkor Botchway, said the President’s address contained nothing new, explaining that most of the areas he touched on were projects that had been started by the NPP administration.
She said the only significant message was the initiative to provide MPs with national service persons to serve as their research assistants, adding that if that was implemented it would enhance the work of the legislators.
For her part, the NPP MP for New Juaben South, Mrs Beatrice B. Boateng, said although the President made many promises in his address, he failed to tell the House how he was going to implement policies and programmes to fulfil those promises.
The NPP MP for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, said the address was “not too inspiring, since it failed to show the direction that the government wants to go”.
He noted that the address did not provide the country with hope, adding that Ghanaians were patiently waiting to see how he would deliver on his numerous campaign promises.
The MP for Oforikrom, Ms Elizabeth Agyeman, said he saw the address more as a budget than a State of the Nation Address and accused the President of failing to touch on any of his campaign promises.
She reminded him of his promise to provide all schoolchildren with school uniforms, reduce the price of fuel, among others.
For Kofi Frimpong, the MP for Kwabre East, said it was unfortunate that the President failed to touch on the various atrocities being meted out to NPP supporters by some members of the NDC since the latter won the December 2008 elections.
“How can the President pretend to preach peace when he sits down unconcerned while NPP members are being brutalised just because their party lost an election?” he asked.
The Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Baba Jamal, described the address as an excellent one that underlined clearly the vision of the new administration for a prosperous Ghana.
“It offers so much hope to Ghanaians. The vision is clear and we have the people to prosecute it,” Baba Jamal stated.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe, also praised the President for an exciting presentation that outlined the prospects and challenges ahead of the country.
“I believe the address was in the right direction,” she told the Daily Graphic, and expressed appreciation to the President for showing a commitment to develop the most impoverished regions in the country.
For his part, the MP for Juaboso, Mr Sampson Ahi, described the address as a very good one that explained the challenges facing the Ghanaian economy.
He said the address gave strong indications that the government had good intentions for the country.
The MP for Ellembele, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, described it as very impressive, since it touched on the various facets of the country.
He said what kept resonating in the address was the issue of modesty as the President enumerated measures being adopted to cut down waste, especially at the Castle, and measures to review the agreement by the previous government to purchase two presidential jets to save money for the country’s development.
For his part, the NDC MP for Odododiodoo, Mr Jonathan Nii Tackie Commey, said the President sounded reconciliatory in his address and urged the Minority to respond to that gesture to ensure the growth of the country’s democratic dispensation.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE maiden State of the Nation Address delivered by the President, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, has drawn contrasting reactions from individuals on both sides of the political divide.
While some hailed it as an excellent piece that offered hope to Ghanaians, others described it as a hollow presentation and just another tale of promises.
A former DVLA boss and MP for Bekwai, Mr Joe Osei-Owusu, said the address delivered by the President was not what he had expected.
He said he had expected the President to comment on how he was going to fulfil promises such as fuel price reductions and the provision of school uniforms made by the NDC in the run up to the elections, noting that surprisingly that had not been the case.
A former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board and MP for Subin, Mr Isaac Osei, also shared similar sentiments and said there was nothing unusual about the address delivered by the President.
“It was not what one would have expected,” he said, stressing that it would have been important for the President to put meaning behind the words.
He expressed surprise at the fact that although the President made various statements on the energy sector, he failed to comment on a major project like the Bui Dam.
Mr Osei stated that some of the figures given by the President with regard to the health of the economy would first have to be verified before any comment could be made on them.
The MP for Mampong, Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh, also criticised the President for delivering an address that could not be described in its entirety as a State of the Nation Address.
He said at a point it was not easy to distinguish the address from a budget statement.
The MP for Kwabre West, Mr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, said the President did well in his presentation and tried to ease tension with humorous statements.
“I will give him the pass mark, but there are some areas that we are going to critically analyse and debate on,” he stated.
The MP for Weija, Ms Ayorkor Botchway, said the President’s address contained nothing new, explaining that most of the areas he touched on were projects that had been started by the NPP administration.
She said the only significant message was the initiative to provide MPs with national service persons to serve as their research assistants, adding that if that was implemented it would enhance the work of the legislators.
For her part, the NPP MP for New Juaben South, Mrs Beatrice B. Boateng, said although the President made many promises in his address, he failed to tell the House how he was going to implement policies and programmes to fulfil those promises.
The NPP MP for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, said the address was “not too inspiring, since it failed to show the direction that the government wants to go”.
He noted that the address did not provide the country with hope, adding that Ghanaians were patiently waiting to see how he would deliver on his numerous campaign promises.
The MP for Oforikrom, Ms Elizabeth Agyeman, said he saw the address more as a budget than a State of the Nation Address and accused the President of failing to touch on any of his campaign promises.
She reminded him of his promise to provide all schoolchildren with school uniforms, reduce the price of fuel, among others.
For Kofi Frimpong, the MP for Kwabre East, said it was unfortunate that the President failed to touch on the various atrocities being meted out to NPP supporters by some members of the NDC since the latter won the December 2008 elections.
“How can the President pretend to preach peace when he sits down unconcerned while NPP members are being brutalised just because their party lost an election?” he asked.
The Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Baba Jamal, described the address as an excellent one that underlined clearly the vision of the new administration for a prosperous Ghana.
“It offers so much hope to Ghanaians. The vision is clear and we have the people to prosecute it,” Baba Jamal stated.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe, also praised the President for an exciting presentation that outlined the prospects and challenges ahead of the country.
“I believe the address was in the right direction,” she told the Daily Graphic, and expressed appreciation to the President for showing a commitment to develop the most impoverished regions in the country.
For his part, the MP for Juaboso, Mr Sampson Ahi, described the address as a very good one that explained the challenges facing the Ghanaian economy.
He said the address gave strong indications that the government had good intentions for the country.
The MP for Ellembele, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, described it as very impressive, since it touched on the various facets of the country.
He said what kept resonating in the address was the issue of modesty as the President enumerated measures being adopted to cut down waste, especially at the Castle, and measures to review the agreement by the previous government to purchase two presidential jets to save money for the country’s development.
For his part, the NDC MP for Odododiodoo, Mr Jonathan Nii Tackie Commey, said the President sounded reconciliatory in his address and urged the Minority to respond to that gesture to ensure the growth of the country’s democratic dispensation.
Govt to provide development infrastructure
Backpage, Friday, Feb 19, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, yesterday unveiled plans to provide infrastructure and improve agricultural production as part of efforts to raise the standard of living in the country.
Delivering his maiden State of the Nation Address in Parliament, the President said his administration would renew efforts to improve the housing stock for workers in the country.
“In line with our philosophy of social equity, we will ensure equitable distribution of houses constructed under the affordable housing programme,” the President stated.
He said as part of efforts to accelerate national development and enhance regional integration, his administration had proposed to fast-track the West Africa Transport and Transit Project, which would improve sections of the Central Corridor from Kintampo to Paga.
He added that work on the Eastern Corridor project, which would improve the Tema-Yendi-Tamale road links, would also be expedited while the Bole-Bamboi road would be completed. The President further stated that work on the entire Western Corridor would also be completed.
He said infrastructure to be provided in the health sector included a 100-bed general hospital with malaria research centre at Teshie, regional hospital with staff housing at Wa and six district hospitals with staff housing at Adenta/Madina, Twifo Praso, Konongo-Odumase, Wenchi, Tepa and Salaga.
The President said there were also plans to construct two district hospitals at Bekwai and Tarkwa and Blood Transfusion Centres in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale.
In the agriculture sector, the President said the Aveyime Rice Project would be restored to boost rice production for internal consumption and for export. He added that large-scale food production ventures would be initiated in all the regions.
“We will move beyond rhetoric and execute a programme to rehabilitate existing irrigation schemes to ensure their efficient utilisation,” he said.
He said the government would construct additional dams, boreholes and other water harvesting facilities in areas with high agricultural potential.
He said the government would pursue a policy of direct intervention to make available production inputs for small farmers on credit.
The President stated that to address the situation of cheap poultry and meat imports, large-scale cultivation of maize and soya beans would be supported to drastically reduce the cost of feed for poultry production.
Prof. Mills said the government would provide funds in the budget to revamp science resource centres in some selected schools in the course of the year.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, yesterday unveiled plans to provide infrastructure and improve agricultural production as part of efforts to raise the standard of living in the country.
Delivering his maiden State of the Nation Address in Parliament, the President said his administration would renew efforts to improve the housing stock for workers in the country.
“In line with our philosophy of social equity, we will ensure equitable distribution of houses constructed under the affordable housing programme,” the President stated.
He said as part of efforts to accelerate national development and enhance regional integration, his administration had proposed to fast-track the West Africa Transport and Transit Project, which would improve sections of the Central Corridor from Kintampo to Paga.
He added that work on the Eastern Corridor project, which would improve the Tema-Yendi-Tamale road links, would also be expedited while the Bole-Bamboi road would be completed. The President further stated that work on the entire Western Corridor would also be completed.
He said infrastructure to be provided in the health sector included a 100-bed general hospital with malaria research centre at Teshie, regional hospital with staff housing at Wa and six district hospitals with staff housing at Adenta/Madina, Twifo Praso, Konongo-Odumase, Wenchi, Tepa and Salaga.
The President said there were also plans to construct two district hospitals at Bekwai and Tarkwa and Blood Transfusion Centres in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale.
In the agriculture sector, the President said the Aveyime Rice Project would be restored to boost rice production for internal consumption and for export. He added that large-scale food production ventures would be initiated in all the regions.
“We will move beyond rhetoric and execute a programme to rehabilitate existing irrigation schemes to ensure their efficient utilisation,” he said.
He said the government would construct additional dams, boreholes and other water harvesting facilities in areas with high agricultural potential.
He said the government would pursue a policy of direct intervention to make available production inputs for small farmers on credit.
The President stated that to address the situation of cheap poultry and meat imports, large-scale cultivation of maize and soya beans would be supported to drastically reduce the cost of feed for poultry production.
Prof. Mills said the government would provide funds in the budget to revamp science resource centres in some selected schools in the course of the year.
Two former Presidents grace State of Nation Address
Spread, Friday Feb 19, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
NOW Ghana can boast of two former Presidents, in the persons of Flt Lt John Jerry Rawlings and Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, the first and second Presidents, respectively, of the Fourth Republic who enhanced the country’s democratic dispensation with their presence at Parliament House yesterday to listen to President J.E.A. Mills as he delivered his maiden State of the Nation Address.
It was a delight to watch as the two former Presidents, flanked by their wives, listened attentively as President Mills delivered his 65-minute address to the nation in Parliament House.
Most members of the general public who had the opportunity to be at the public gallery of Parliament were seen nodding their heads in admiration as the two former Presidents entered the gallery, one after the other.
Former President Kufuor and his wife, Theresa, were the first to enter the public gallery at exactly 9.30 a.m. to take their seats.
They waved at members of the press sitting in the Press Gallery and acknowledged cheers from some New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) who were waving at them from the floor of the House.
The MPs later lined up at the public gallery to greet former President Kufuor and his wife to acknowledge their presence.
At exactly 10.02 a.m., former President Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu, took their seats at the gallery, near his successor, amid cheers from particularly the Majority side of the House.
The cheers were deafening, as the MPs stood up while former President Rawlings and his wife waved back, kissing their hands in acknowledgement of the cheers.
Former President Rawlings remained in a reflective mood as his former Veep, now President Mills, delivered his address.
The discussions in the Press Gallery centred on hope as members of the media lauded the action of the two former leaders, with one of them remarking, “Ghana has really come of age. Ghanaians should learn from these two former Presidents and forge ahead in unity for the country’s development.”
Members of the Diplomatic Corps, chiefs, former MPs, political leaders and some members of the general public started arriving at Parliament House as early as 7 a.m.
While some of them wore suit, others preferred to go traditional and showcased the varieties of traditional wear in the country. What dominated the day were rich smocks and Kente cloths.
As they sat waiting for the address, the Police Central Band provided choral music until 10.10 a.m. when the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo, entered the Chamber to begin the business of the day.
At exactly 10:25 a.m., the Speaker, the Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin; the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu; the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Anyimadu, and the other clerk at the table left the Chamber to meet President Mills and Vice-President Mahama.
President Mills delivered his address confidently, while occasionally responding to the intermittent heckling by some MPs from the Minority side.
Whenever he paused to drink water, the Minority side yelled, “More water, more water”, with President Mills responding on one occasion, “I am drinking water because I am about to talk about the economy.”
While the Majority side gave the President a standing ovation after his address, the Minority side remained in their seats and make various comments about his performance.
One significant development during the day was the way President Mills moved from one seat to another on the front row to exchange pleasantries with MPs on both the Majority and Minority sides.
Mr Bagbin, who moved the motion for the adjournment of the sitting, thanked President Mills for his address and drew laughter when he said, “When the elephant started dancing the kangaroo dance, I told my colleagues last year that we will exchange positions in the chamber after the December elections.”
In the same jocular vein, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who seconded the motion, referred to Mr Bagbin as “the Minority Leader who has become Majority Leader” and promised that the MPs would thoroughly go through the address before discussions on it began in the House.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
NOW Ghana can boast of two former Presidents, in the persons of Flt Lt John Jerry Rawlings and Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, the first and second Presidents, respectively, of the Fourth Republic who enhanced the country’s democratic dispensation with their presence at Parliament House yesterday to listen to President J.E.A. Mills as he delivered his maiden State of the Nation Address.
It was a delight to watch as the two former Presidents, flanked by their wives, listened attentively as President Mills delivered his 65-minute address to the nation in Parliament House.
Most members of the general public who had the opportunity to be at the public gallery of Parliament were seen nodding their heads in admiration as the two former Presidents entered the gallery, one after the other.
Former President Kufuor and his wife, Theresa, were the first to enter the public gallery at exactly 9.30 a.m. to take their seats.
They waved at members of the press sitting in the Press Gallery and acknowledged cheers from some New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) who were waving at them from the floor of the House.
The MPs later lined up at the public gallery to greet former President Kufuor and his wife to acknowledge their presence.
At exactly 10.02 a.m., former President Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu, took their seats at the gallery, near his successor, amid cheers from particularly the Majority side of the House.
The cheers were deafening, as the MPs stood up while former President Rawlings and his wife waved back, kissing their hands in acknowledgement of the cheers.
Former President Rawlings remained in a reflective mood as his former Veep, now President Mills, delivered his address.
The discussions in the Press Gallery centred on hope as members of the media lauded the action of the two former leaders, with one of them remarking, “Ghana has really come of age. Ghanaians should learn from these two former Presidents and forge ahead in unity for the country’s development.”
Members of the Diplomatic Corps, chiefs, former MPs, political leaders and some members of the general public started arriving at Parliament House as early as 7 a.m.
While some of them wore suit, others preferred to go traditional and showcased the varieties of traditional wear in the country. What dominated the day were rich smocks and Kente cloths.
As they sat waiting for the address, the Police Central Band provided choral music until 10.10 a.m. when the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo, entered the Chamber to begin the business of the day.
At exactly 10:25 a.m., the Speaker, the Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin; the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu; the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Anyimadu, and the other clerk at the table left the Chamber to meet President Mills and Vice-President Mahama.
President Mills delivered his address confidently, while occasionally responding to the intermittent heckling by some MPs from the Minority side.
Whenever he paused to drink water, the Minority side yelled, “More water, more water”, with President Mills responding on one occasion, “I am drinking water because I am about to talk about the economy.”
While the Majority side gave the President a standing ovation after his address, the Minority side remained in their seats and make various comments about his performance.
One significant development during the day was the way President Mills moved from one seat to another on the front row to exchange pleasantries with MPs on both the Majority and Minority sides.
Mr Bagbin, who moved the motion for the adjournment of the sitting, thanked President Mills for his address and drew laughter when he said, “When the elephant started dancing the kangaroo dance, I told my colleagues last year that we will exchange positions in the chamber after the December elections.”
In the same jocular vein, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who seconded the motion, referred to Mr Bagbin as “the Minority Leader who has become Majority Leader” and promised that the MPs would thoroughly go through the address before discussions on it began in the House.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
13 MORE MINISTERS APPROVED
Lead story, Wed Feb 18, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THIRTEEN more ministerial nominees who have been vetted by the Ap[pointments Committee of Parliament were approved by the House yesterday.
The number brings to 24 those who have so far been approved by Parliament.
They are Ms Hanna Tetteh, Ministry of Trade and Industry; Lt Gen Joseph Henry Smith, Ministry of Defence; Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Ministry of Communications, and Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The rest, who are all regional ministers are Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo; Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu; Ashanti; Ms Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Central; Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong Ahafo, Mr Mahmud Khalid, Upper West; Mr Nii Armah Ashitey, Greater Accra; Mr Joseph Zephenat Amenowode, Volta, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Western, and Mr Stephen Sumani Nayina, Northern.
Except for Ms Tetteh, whose approval attracted a heated debate and was nearly deferred, the House approved the nominations of the others without much comment and debate.
It was only an intervention by the Majority Leader, Mr Alban S.K Bagbin, that enabled both sides to reach consensus on the approval of Ms Tetteh.
Whe she appeared before the Appointments Committee, Ms Tetteh had said she had paid her taxes at both Parliament and GAFCO where she had worked concurrently between January 7, 2001 and January 6, 2005.
She was, however, not sure whether she had to pay hif=gher taxes if the remuneration from both places were consolidated and promised to pay higher taxes or take steps to do so immediately.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Tafo, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, thus called on the House to satisfy itself, as had been suggested by the Appointments Committee, that the nominee had honoured her promise before her nomination could be approved.
That matter, which dragged on for some time resulted in a near clashes vetween the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho and the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is also the Ranking Member of the committee.
Whie Mr Adjaho insisted that his attention had not been drawn to that portion of the committee's report which ordered Ms Tetteh to comply with tax obligations, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu urged him "not to tread on that path, since it will be an indictment on you as chairman to sign its report and deny certain aspects of it".
Mr Bagbin's intervention endedthe matter when he assured the House the he had been in contact with the nominee and explained that she was still going through the process of honouring her tax obligations.
Winding up the debate, Mr Adjaho informed the House he had received a letter from the Internat Revenue Service confirming that the nominee had settled her tax liabilities.
When it came to the debate on the approval of the regional ministers, the MP for Okere, Mr Dan Botwe, reminded politicians to mindful of the comments and allegations they make on political platforms.
Referring to the admission by the Central Regional Minister designate, Ms Benyiwa-Doe, that the cocaine issue was a national issue but not a party matter, he cautioned politicians against utterances which might cause them later in their lives, in addition to dividing the country.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THIRTEEN more ministerial nominees who have been vetted by the Ap[pointments Committee of Parliament were approved by the House yesterday.
The number brings to 24 those who have so far been approved by Parliament.
They are Ms Hanna Tetteh, Ministry of Trade and Industry; Lt Gen Joseph Henry Smith, Ministry of Defence; Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Ministry of Communications, and Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The rest, who are all regional ministers are Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo; Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu; Ashanti; Ms Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Central; Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong Ahafo, Mr Mahmud Khalid, Upper West; Mr Nii Armah Ashitey, Greater Accra; Mr Joseph Zephenat Amenowode, Volta, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Western, and Mr Stephen Sumani Nayina, Northern.
Except for Ms Tetteh, whose approval attracted a heated debate and was nearly deferred, the House approved the nominations of the others without much comment and debate.
It was only an intervention by the Majority Leader, Mr Alban S.K Bagbin, that enabled both sides to reach consensus on the approval of Ms Tetteh.
Whe she appeared before the Appointments Committee, Ms Tetteh had said she had paid her taxes at both Parliament and GAFCO where she had worked concurrently between January 7, 2001 and January 6, 2005.
She was, however, not sure whether she had to pay hif=gher taxes if the remuneration from both places were consolidated and promised to pay higher taxes or take steps to do so immediately.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Tafo, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, thus called on the House to satisfy itself, as had been suggested by the Appointments Committee, that the nominee had honoured her promise before her nomination could be approved.
That matter, which dragged on for some time resulted in a near clashes vetween the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho and the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is also the Ranking Member of the committee.
Whie Mr Adjaho insisted that his attention had not been drawn to that portion of the committee's report which ordered Ms Tetteh to comply with tax obligations, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu urged him "not to tread on that path, since it will be an indictment on you as chairman to sign its report and deny certain aspects of it".
Mr Bagbin's intervention endedthe matter when he assured the House the he had been in contact with the nominee and explained that she was still going through the process of honouring her tax obligations.
Winding up the debate, Mr Adjaho informed the House he had received a letter from the Internat Revenue Service confirming that the nominee had settled her tax liabilities.
When it came to the debate on the approval of the regional ministers, the MP for Okere, Mr Dan Botwe, reminded politicians to mindful of the comments and allegations they make on political platforms.
Referring to the admission by the Central Regional Minister designate, Ms Benyiwa-Doe, that the cocaine issue was a national issue but not a party matter, he cautioned politicians against utterances which might cause them later in their lives, in addition to dividing the country.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
'NYEP must be maintained'
Spread, Wed, Feb 18, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minister designate for Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Stephen Amoanor Kwao, yesterday lauded the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), describing it as a good programme that must be maintained.
He said out of the 10 modules that had been instituted under the programme, eight were doing very well and gave the assurance that if given the nod, he would work towards ensuring that it became more effective.
The minister designate gave the assurance when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament to be vetted.
Mr Kwao identified the Teaching and Nursing Assistantship module as one of the modules that had made significant contributions to the development of the country.
He said the NDC was determined to create jobs for Ghanaians and the NYEP would serve as a good programme to help in the provision of jobs for Ghanaians.
When asked whether the NDC’s vision to provide jobs for all Ghanaians was not utopian, the minister designate explained that in life one had to aim high.
He stated that if given the nod, he would liaise with his counterpart at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to find out how best small-scale miners, popularly referred to as galamsey operators, would be trained to enable them to maximise the benefits of their operations and also make them more environmentally friendly.
The MP for Upper Manya also touched on the issue of orphanages and homes in the country and identified poor supervision as one of the challenges that must be addressed in order to ensure that the rights of children were not abused.
The minister designate said if given the nod, he would liaise with the appropriate authorities to ensure that rules and regulations guiding the establishment and operation of orphanages and children’s home were strictly enforced.
He said he would work towards the enforcement of the Children’s Act, stressing that it was important to provide a congenial environment and conditions for the development of children.
He denounced the exploitation of children by way of child labour and said there was the need for a concerted effort on the part of the various stakeholders to address the issue.
“People don’t have feelings for these children and together we can fight this canker,” he stated.
When he took his turn, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture designate, Mr Alex Asum-Ahensah, who appeared in a beautiful Kente cloth, said it was good for the framers of the Constitution to debar chiefs from actively taking part in politics.
He noted that since the subjects of chiefs cut across political boundaries, that provision in the Constitution should not be changed in order to keep the sanctity of the chieftaincy institution.
Also vetted was the Minister designate for the Presidency, Hajia Halutie Dabie Alhassan, who is also the MP for Sissala East.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minister designate for Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Stephen Amoanor Kwao, yesterday lauded the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), describing it as a good programme that must be maintained.
He said out of the 10 modules that had been instituted under the programme, eight were doing very well and gave the assurance that if given the nod, he would work towards ensuring that it became more effective.
The minister designate gave the assurance when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament to be vetted.
Mr Kwao identified the Teaching and Nursing Assistantship module as one of the modules that had made significant contributions to the development of the country.
He said the NDC was determined to create jobs for Ghanaians and the NYEP would serve as a good programme to help in the provision of jobs for Ghanaians.
When asked whether the NDC’s vision to provide jobs for all Ghanaians was not utopian, the minister designate explained that in life one had to aim high.
He stated that if given the nod, he would liaise with his counterpart at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to find out how best small-scale miners, popularly referred to as galamsey operators, would be trained to enable them to maximise the benefits of their operations and also make them more environmentally friendly.
The MP for Upper Manya also touched on the issue of orphanages and homes in the country and identified poor supervision as one of the challenges that must be addressed in order to ensure that the rights of children were not abused.
The minister designate said if given the nod, he would liaise with the appropriate authorities to ensure that rules and regulations guiding the establishment and operation of orphanages and children’s home were strictly enforced.
He said he would work towards the enforcement of the Children’s Act, stressing that it was important to provide a congenial environment and conditions for the development of children.
He denounced the exploitation of children by way of child labour and said there was the need for a concerted effort on the part of the various stakeholders to address the issue.
“People don’t have feelings for these children and together we can fight this canker,” he stated.
When he took his turn, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture designate, Mr Alex Asum-Ahensah, who appeared in a beautiful Kente cloth, said it was good for the framers of the Constitution to debar chiefs from actively taking part in politics.
He noted that since the subjects of chiefs cut across political boundaries, that provision in the Constitution should not be changed in order to keep the sanctity of the chieftaincy institution.
Also vetted was the Minister designate for the Presidency, Hajia Halutie Dabie Alhassan, who is also the MP for Sissala East.
Woyongo asked to return better prepared
Spread, Sat Feb 14, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Upper East Regional Minister designate, Mr Mark Woyongo, yesterday made a shaky appearance before the Appointments Committee of Parliament and succeeded in drawing some sympathy from the committee members who asked him to sort himself out and reappear at another date.
The former Minister Counsellor for Information at the Ghana High Commission in London found himself caught in his own web as he tried to explain the circumstances surrounding his importation of radio equipment into the country and issues relating to his voter registration.
The Minority Leader and Ranking Member of the committee, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, had engaged him in a series of questions and the contention had been whether he could recall appearing before a committee of enquiry to answer questions relating to the said importation of radio equipment.
Mr Woyongo had initially told the committee that although he had reported to the then Director-General of GBC to explain the issues to him, he had not appeared before a committee of enquiry.
But after the Minority Leader had pressed on with other questions, Mr Woyongo conceded that he might have appeared before a committee of enquiry.
“I now recollect that I met a group at GBC and they wanted to find out how my equipment got into their container,” he told the committee.
That appeared to have drawn the ire of the Chairman of the committee, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, who had earlier warned the nominee that since he was speaking on oath, he needed to be truthful and straightforward.
Thereafter, the Minority Leader sought to clarify an issue related to the nominee’s registration as a voter, apparently in a move to address a complaint presented to the committee by a petitioner, to which Mr Woyongo responded that he had originally registered in La, Accra, and voted there in 2004.
He explained, however, that in 2008 he transferred his vote to Navrongo in the Upper East Region where he contested as a parliamentary candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
When asked whether he had his name on the main voters register or the transfer list, the nominee stated that his name had been on the main voters register at the Nayagenia Polling Station where he had cast his ballot during the 2008 elections.
That appeared to have been the breaking point, as Mr Woyongo explained that he had gone to the IT Department of the Electoral Commission to effect the transfer of his ballot.
Perhaps sensing that the nominee was not well composed and prepared for the vetting exercise, the Minority Leader suggested that he be permitted to leave and sort himself well and to reappear at another date.
“It will be in your own interest if you go and sort yourself out well to reappear before us,” Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated.
The MP for Lower Manya, Mr Teye Nyaunu, concurred with the Minority Leader and said since the nominee appeared to be a little confused, he should be allowed to reappear at another date.
When he appeared before the committee, the Minister designate for Youth and Sports, Alhaji Muhammad Muntaka Mubarak outlined his vision for the ministry and pledged to institute programmes that would help to develop the youth of the country.
He said if given the nod, he would not abandon the National Youth Employment Programme introduced by the previous administration, since it was a good programme aimed at empowering the youth to be self dependent.
He said the new administration was determined to improve sports infrastructure in the country and pledged to work towards the achievement of that dream.
He said there was the need to encourage sports development in schools, since academic institutions had contributed significantly towards nurturing good sportsmen and women for the country.
The minister designate stated that it was important to re-orient the youth to make them confident and also engineer in them the belief that they didn’t need to travel to the West to be successful in life.
The ministers designate for the Western and Volta regions, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo and Mr Joseph Amenowode, respectively, also appeared before the committee to answer questions.
Mr Aidoo told the committee that when given the nod, he would work towards uniting the people of the region and also provide a very good blueprint for the development of the region.
For his part, Mr Amenowode told the committee that he would work with the Ministry of Tourism to develop the tourism potential of the Volta Region if he is given the nod as the regional minister.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Upper East Regional Minister designate, Mr Mark Woyongo, yesterday made a shaky appearance before the Appointments Committee of Parliament and succeeded in drawing some sympathy from the committee members who asked him to sort himself out and reappear at another date.
The former Minister Counsellor for Information at the Ghana High Commission in London found himself caught in his own web as he tried to explain the circumstances surrounding his importation of radio equipment into the country and issues relating to his voter registration.
The Minority Leader and Ranking Member of the committee, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, had engaged him in a series of questions and the contention had been whether he could recall appearing before a committee of enquiry to answer questions relating to the said importation of radio equipment.
Mr Woyongo had initially told the committee that although he had reported to the then Director-General of GBC to explain the issues to him, he had not appeared before a committee of enquiry.
But after the Minority Leader had pressed on with other questions, Mr Woyongo conceded that he might have appeared before a committee of enquiry.
“I now recollect that I met a group at GBC and they wanted to find out how my equipment got into their container,” he told the committee.
That appeared to have drawn the ire of the Chairman of the committee, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, who had earlier warned the nominee that since he was speaking on oath, he needed to be truthful and straightforward.
Thereafter, the Minority Leader sought to clarify an issue related to the nominee’s registration as a voter, apparently in a move to address a complaint presented to the committee by a petitioner, to which Mr Woyongo responded that he had originally registered in La, Accra, and voted there in 2004.
He explained, however, that in 2008 he transferred his vote to Navrongo in the Upper East Region where he contested as a parliamentary candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
When asked whether he had his name on the main voters register or the transfer list, the nominee stated that his name had been on the main voters register at the Nayagenia Polling Station where he had cast his ballot during the 2008 elections.
That appeared to have been the breaking point, as Mr Woyongo explained that he had gone to the IT Department of the Electoral Commission to effect the transfer of his ballot.
Perhaps sensing that the nominee was not well composed and prepared for the vetting exercise, the Minority Leader suggested that he be permitted to leave and sort himself well and to reappear at another date.
“It will be in your own interest if you go and sort yourself out well to reappear before us,” Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated.
The MP for Lower Manya, Mr Teye Nyaunu, concurred with the Minority Leader and said since the nominee appeared to be a little confused, he should be allowed to reappear at another date.
When he appeared before the committee, the Minister designate for Youth and Sports, Alhaji Muhammad Muntaka Mubarak outlined his vision for the ministry and pledged to institute programmes that would help to develop the youth of the country.
He said if given the nod, he would not abandon the National Youth Employment Programme introduced by the previous administration, since it was a good programme aimed at empowering the youth to be self dependent.
He said the new administration was determined to improve sports infrastructure in the country and pledged to work towards the achievement of that dream.
He said there was the need to encourage sports development in schools, since academic institutions had contributed significantly towards nurturing good sportsmen and women for the country.
The minister designate stated that it was important to re-orient the youth to make them confident and also engineer in them the belief that they didn’t need to travel to the West to be successful in life.
The ministers designate for the Western and Volta regions, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo and Mr Joseph Amenowode, respectively, also appeared before the committee to answer questions.
Mr Aidoo told the committee that when given the nod, he would work towards uniting the people of the region and also provide a very good blueprint for the development of the region.
For his part, Mr Amenowode told the committee that he would work with the Ministry of Tourism to develop the tourism potential of the Volta Region if he is given the nod as the regional minister.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Ten nominees recommended
Spread, Friday, Feb 13, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Appointments Committee of Parliament has recommended for approval 10 out of the 22 ministerial nominees who have so far been vetted by the committee.
The nominees whose approval has been recommended by the committee include Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister designate for Education; Mr Cletus Avoka, Interior; Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Local Government and Rural Development; Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Women and Children’s Affairs, and Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Tourism.
The rest are Mr Joe Gidisu, Roads and Highways; Dr Oteng Adjei, Energy; Alhaji Collins Dauda, Lands and Natural Resources; Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Justice and Attorney-General, and Mr Mike Hammah, Transport.
This was contained in the first report of the Appointments Committee laid before the House yesterday. It is expected that other nominees will be recommended for approval or otherwise in due course.
Although the report was laid before Parliament yesterday, discussions on it were deferred to today due to errors in the report that needed to be corrected.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, had taken a swipe at the Clerk of the committee for some of the errors in the report and asked the House to adjourn sitting to enable the corrections to be effected.
The Minority Leader and Ranking Member of the committee, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said the committee had been working under severe pressure and late into the evenings, saying that might have accounted for some of the errors.
He said as human beings, the members could make some mistakes and also prayed for some time to enable the committee to correct the mistakes.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, told the House that he had followed the work of the committee and noted that it had worked under “a lot of pressure”.
He said he had visited both Mr Adjaho and Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on some occasions and could attest to the work rate of the committee.
He observed that the committee and the staff attached to it had worked under severe pressure and recommended that the errors in the report be corrected before the motion was moved.
Sitting was adjourned to today.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Appointments Committee of Parliament has recommended for approval 10 out of the 22 ministerial nominees who have so far been vetted by the committee.
The nominees whose approval has been recommended by the committee include Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister designate for Education; Mr Cletus Avoka, Interior; Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Local Government and Rural Development; Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Women and Children’s Affairs, and Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Tourism.
The rest are Mr Joe Gidisu, Roads and Highways; Dr Oteng Adjei, Energy; Alhaji Collins Dauda, Lands and Natural Resources; Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Justice and Attorney-General, and Mr Mike Hammah, Transport.
This was contained in the first report of the Appointments Committee laid before the House yesterday. It is expected that other nominees will be recommended for approval or otherwise in due course.
Although the report was laid before Parliament yesterday, discussions on it were deferred to today due to errors in the report that needed to be corrected.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, had taken a swipe at the Clerk of the committee for some of the errors in the report and asked the House to adjourn sitting to enable the corrections to be effected.
The Minority Leader and Ranking Member of the committee, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said the committee had been working under severe pressure and late into the evenings, saying that might have accounted for some of the errors.
He said as human beings, the members could make some mistakes and also prayed for some time to enable the committee to correct the mistakes.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, told the House that he had followed the work of the committee and noted that it had worked under “a lot of pressure”.
He said he had visited both Mr Adjaho and Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on some occasions and could attest to the work rate of the committee.
He observed that the committee and the staff attached to it had worked under severe pressure and recommended that the errors in the report be corrected before the motion was moved.
Sitting was adjourned to today.
Abongo replaces Asaga
Frontpage, Friday Feb 13, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
Whatever remote hope Mr Moses Asaga may be nurturing about his nomination as minister designate for the Water Resources, Works and Housing portfolio has been effectively dealt a devastating blow with the nomination of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bongo in the Upper East Region, Mr Albert Abongo, by President J. E. A. Mills to be vetted for that ministry.
Mr Abongo replaces the Nabdam MP whose nomination was withdrawn by the President last week.
Mr Abongo, 50, has been the MP for the Bongo Constituency since January 2001 and holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
He also holds post-graduate qualifications in Ports and Coastal Engineering from the University of Trondheim in Norway and Ports and Harbours Engineering from the Ports and Harbours Research Institute in Japan.
The Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo, announced Mr Abongo’s nomination when she read a communication from the President, dated February 11, 2009, to the House yesterday.
The announcement was greeted with shouts of “hear, hear” from MPs from both sides of the House, with some MPs moving to the nominee to congratulate him.
Mr Abongo’s nomination has ended efforts by Mr Asaga, his admirers and people from his constituency to impress upon the President to rescind his decision to withdraw the nomination of the former Deputy Minister of Finance.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Mr Abongo expressed appreciation to the President for nominating him and pledged to pursue the policies that the party had drawn up to improve upon the lives of the people.
He said the issue of water supply to both rural and urban areas had been quite difficult over the years, for which reason the NDC administration was determined to address that problem.
The minister designate said he would work towards bringing all hands on board to address the problem if his nomination was approved and indicated that there would be the need to build more mechanised borehole systems.
He said another issue that would attract his attention when given the nod was the provision of accommodation for the police, military and other security services, as well as public servants.
Touching on his relationship with Mr Asaga, the minister designate stated that he had a cordial relationship with him, adding that Mr Asaga had even congratulated him.
He said Mr Asaga had told him a few days earlier about his (Mr Abongo’s) possible nomination and urged him “not to feel bad about it”.
He said it was gratifying to note that the President, in making a new appointment, chose someone from the same region.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
Whatever remote hope Mr Moses Asaga may be nurturing about his nomination as minister designate for the Water Resources, Works and Housing portfolio has been effectively dealt a devastating blow with the nomination of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bongo in the Upper East Region, Mr Albert Abongo, by President J. E. A. Mills to be vetted for that ministry.
Mr Abongo replaces the Nabdam MP whose nomination was withdrawn by the President last week.
Mr Abongo, 50, has been the MP for the Bongo Constituency since January 2001 and holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
He also holds post-graduate qualifications in Ports and Coastal Engineering from the University of Trondheim in Norway and Ports and Harbours Engineering from the Ports and Harbours Research Institute in Japan.
The Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo, announced Mr Abongo’s nomination when she read a communication from the President, dated February 11, 2009, to the House yesterday.
The announcement was greeted with shouts of “hear, hear” from MPs from both sides of the House, with some MPs moving to the nominee to congratulate him.
Mr Abongo’s nomination has ended efforts by Mr Asaga, his admirers and people from his constituency to impress upon the President to rescind his decision to withdraw the nomination of the former Deputy Minister of Finance.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Mr Abongo expressed appreciation to the President for nominating him and pledged to pursue the policies that the party had drawn up to improve upon the lives of the people.
He said the issue of water supply to both rural and urban areas had been quite difficult over the years, for which reason the NDC administration was determined to address that problem.
The minister designate said he would work towards bringing all hands on board to address the problem if his nomination was approved and indicated that there would be the need to build more mechanised borehole systems.
He said another issue that would attract his attention when given the nod was the provision of accommodation for the police, military and other security services, as well as public servants.
Touching on his relationship with Mr Asaga, the minister designate stated that he had a cordial relationship with him, adding that Mr Asaga had even congratulated him.
He said Mr Asaga had told him a few days earlier about his (Mr Abongo’s) possible nomination and urged him “not to feel bad about it”.
He said it was gratifying to note that the President, in making a new appointment, chose someone from the same region.
Give NDC govt needed support — MP Shai-Osudoku
Page 13, Feb 12, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Shai-Osudoku, Mr David Tetteh-Assumeng, has urged Ghanaians to give the government the needed support to enable it deliver on its campaign promises.
He said President John Evans Atta Mills is an honest man who would not renege on his promises and urged Ghanaians to give him a little time to study the country’s economic situation.
Mr Assumeng-Tetteh said the NDC had capable men who could shape the economy as well as alleviate the plight of the people.
Mr Tetteh-Assumeng said by voting the NDC into power, Ghanaians had made the right choice and, therefore, gave the assurance that everything would be done to justify the confidence that had been reposed in the party.
“The NDC has a track record of working in the interest of the people”, he said, adding that although the beginning would not be easy, the government would live up to the task ahead.
He thanked his constituents for their unfailing trust in him by renewing his mandate and promised to use resources available to him to improve on the lives of the needy in the area.
Mr Tetteh-Assumeng urged people in the area to bury their differences now that the elections were over and forge ahead for the development of the constituency.
The MP also asked citizens of the area resident in other parts of the country and abroad to regularly visit home to contribute to the area’s development efforts.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Shai-Osudoku, Mr David Tetteh-Assumeng, has urged Ghanaians to give the government the needed support to enable it deliver on its campaign promises.
He said President John Evans Atta Mills is an honest man who would not renege on his promises and urged Ghanaians to give him a little time to study the country’s economic situation.
Mr Assumeng-Tetteh said the NDC had capable men who could shape the economy as well as alleviate the plight of the people.
Mr Tetteh-Assumeng said by voting the NDC into power, Ghanaians had made the right choice and, therefore, gave the assurance that everything would be done to justify the confidence that had been reposed in the party.
“The NDC has a track record of working in the interest of the people”, he said, adding that although the beginning would not be easy, the government would live up to the task ahead.
He thanked his constituents for their unfailing trust in him by renewing his mandate and promised to use resources available to him to improve on the lives of the needy in the area.
Mr Tetteh-Assumeng urged people in the area to bury their differences now that the elections were over and forge ahead for the development of the constituency.
The MP also asked citizens of the area resident in other parts of the country and abroad to regularly visit home to contribute to the area’s development efforts.
IDDRISU RUDES THE STORM AT VETTING SESSION
Lead Story, Wed, Feb 11, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Charles B Okine & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minister designate for the Ministry of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, appeared to have weathered the storm which was highly anticipated to characterise his vetting at Parliament House yesterday.
Mr Iddrisu was part of the four nominees whose vetting had been preceded by an atmosphere poisoned by allegations of misconduct by a group at a press conference.
In that heat of excitement, there was the noticeable presence of ardent youth in the Speaker’s Conference Room, some of whom were perched close to the windows when it was Mr Iddrisu’s turn. The youth had apparently come to provide moral support for the young barrister.
Mr Iddrisu showed exceptional composure and even when his glass of water accidentally spilled onto the floor, he remained calm.
His firm grasp of the communications sector was manifest when he pointed out to Mr Atta Akyea, the MP for Abuakwa South and member of the Parliamentary Appointments Committee that the NCA Act, which Mr Akyea had referred to ahead of a question, had been amended.
As expected, the issue of the withdrawal of his MPhil degree by the University of Ghana, Legon, was raised and the MP for Tamale South gave a detailed explanation of what the real issue was and in the end there were clear indications that members were content with the explanation he had given them.
He said he had cited 63 authorities in this dissertation, including the one whose work he was said to have plagiarised, and had duly acknowledged them all in his bibliography.
He said although he had acknowledged the said authority in his bibliography, he apparently failed to give him the credit for some paragraphs used in the body of his thesis and said that was a basic human error and the committee that investigated him had duly acknowledged that.
Making reference to the committee’s report, Mr Iddrisu said the committee noted that the research work was originally his own work and further established that he did not intentionally refuse to acknowledge the said authority.
The minister designate for Communications was also questioned on his statements in the media that when given the nod he would review the sale and purchase agreement of the GT/Vodafone deal and whether that would not send wrong signals to the investor community.
In response, he stated that a review did not necessarily mean the deal would be revoked, stressing that any review would be aimed at ensuring that both parties remained committed to their obligations under the sale and purchase agreement.
The minister designate said any review would be done in accordance with the law and the government would be guided by the national interest.
He also commented on the mobile telephony sector and said there were strides being made but admitted that there were still concerns over the quality of service provided that must be addressed by the mobile phone companies.
He also commented on the operations of FM stations in the country and stated that presently there were 190 licensed FM stations but only 140 were effective.
Mr Iddrisu underlined the importance of radio and said it would be helpful if every district had a radio station and said there was also the need to encourage people to access community radio.
When he took his turn, the Minister designate for Defence, Lt-General J.H. Smith, said if approved, he would make a case for the military to be financially resourced to acquire additional equipment such as patrol boats to be able to better protect the country’s territorial waters.
He also promised to make a case for more military personnel and equipment to be released to augment the military/police patrols in the country.
The move, he said, was to tackle head-on the increasing criminal activities, particularly armed robbery which was preventing Ghanaians from moving freely to conduct their daily activities.
He said the military/police patrols had already been given some boost and gave the assurance that when he was approved more would be done to ensure that crime was tackled head-on to enable people move around more freely than before.
Answering a question from Mr Akyea on what would be done to save the country from intruders who would come after the country’s oil on the high seas, the Defence minister designate said the issue of logistics would be tackled to ensure the safety of the country’s resources.
He would not go into details but said the state of the country’s Army was not the best, hence the need to revamp it.
Lt-Gen Smith, who had had about 39 years in the military with an impeccable track record in all facets of the profession, said he would consider using the military to generate some funds.
He said, for instance, that he was going to consider resourcing the Engineers Regiment, the 37 Military Hospital and the Staff College at Teshie to enable them to be able to generate some funds to support other activities of the service.
On the present halt in recruitment into the military, Lt-Gen Smith explained that the exercise was halted because it was discovered that some of the applicants did not have proper certificates, while others had forged documents. Some of the applicants did not also have medical examination documents.
The first regional minister designate to appear before the committee was Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, who is designated for the Eastern Region.
Answering a number of questions from members of the committee, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said he was well aware of the problems and challenges facing the Eastern Region and would, therefore, work hard to solve them in order to alleviate the plight of the people.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Charles B Okine & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minister designate for the Ministry of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, appeared to have weathered the storm which was highly anticipated to characterise his vetting at Parliament House yesterday.
Mr Iddrisu was part of the four nominees whose vetting had been preceded by an atmosphere poisoned by allegations of misconduct by a group at a press conference.
In that heat of excitement, there was the noticeable presence of ardent youth in the Speaker’s Conference Room, some of whom were perched close to the windows when it was Mr Iddrisu’s turn. The youth had apparently come to provide moral support for the young barrister.
Mr Iddrisu showed exceptional composure and even when his glass of water accidentally spilled onto the floor, he remained calm.
His firm grasp of the communications sector was manifest when he pointed out to Mr Atta Akyea, the MP for Abuakwa South and member of the Parliamentary Appointments Committee that the NCA Act, which Mr Akyea had referred to ahead of a question, had been amended.
As expected, the issue of the withdrawal of his MPhil degree by the University of Ghana, Legon, was raised and the MP for Tamale South gave a detailed explanation of what the real issue was and in the end there were clear indications that members were content with the explanation he had given them.
He said he had cited 63 authorities in this dissertation, including the one whose work he was said to have plagiarised, and had duly acknowledged them all in his bibliography.
He said although he had acknowledged the said authority in his bibliography, he apparently failed to give him the credit for some paragraphs used in the body of his thesis and said that was a basic human error and the committee that investigated him had duly acknowledged that.
Making reference to the committee’s report, Mr Iddrisu said the committee noted that the research work was originally his own work and further established that he did not intentionally refuse to acknowledge the said authority.
The minister designate for Communications was also questioned on his statements in the media that when given the nod he would review the sale and purchase agreement of the GT/Vodafone deal and whether that would not send wrong signals to the investor community.
In response, he stated that a review did not necessarily mean the deal would be revoked, stressing that any review would be aimed at ensuring that both parties remained committed to their obligations under the sale and purchase agreement.
The minister designate said any review would be done in accordance with the law and the government would be guided by the national interest.
He also commented on the mobile telephony sector and said there were strides being made but admitted that there were still concerns over the quality of service provided that must be addressed by the mobile phone companies.
He also commented on the operations of FM stations in the country and stated that presently there were 190 licensed FM stations but only 140 were effective.
Mr Iddrisu underlined the importance of radio and said it would be helpful if every district had a radio station and said there was also the need to encourage people to access community radio.
When he took his turn, the Minister designate for Defence, Lt-General J.H. Smith, said if approved, he would make a case for the military to be financially resourced to acquire additional equipment such as patrol boats to be able to better protect the country’s territorial waters.
He also promised to make a case for more military personnel and equipment to be released to augment the military/police patrols in the country.
The move, he said, was to tackle head-on the increasing criminal activities, particularly armed robbery which was preventing Ghanaians from moving freely to conduct their daily activities.
He said the military/police patrols had already been given some boost and gave the assurance that when he was approved more would be done to ensure that crime was tackled head-on to enable people move around more freely than before.
Answering a question from Mr Akyea on what would be done to save the country from intruders who would come after the country’s oil on the high seas, the Defence minister designate said the issue of logistics would be tackled to ensure the safety of the country’s resources.
He would not go into details but said the state of the country’s Army was not the best, hence the need to revamp it.
Lt-Gen Smith, who had had about 39 years in the military with an impeccable track record in all facets of the profession, said he would consider using the military to generate some funds.
He said, for instance, that he was going to consider resourcing the Engineers Regiment, the 37 Military Hospital and the Staff College at Teshie to enable them to be able to generate some funds to support other activities of the service.
On the present halt in recruitment into the military, Lt-Gen Smith explained that the exercise was halted because it was discovered that some of the applicants did not have proper certificates, while others had forged documents. Some of the applicants did not also have medical examination documents.
The first regional minister designate to appear before the committee was Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, who is designated for the Eastern Region.
Answering a number of questions from members of the committee, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said he was well aware of the problems and challenges facing the Eastern Region and would, therefore, work hard to solve them in order to alleviate the plight of the people.
Drama at Alhaji Mumuni's vetting. As Minority walks out
Frontpage, Tuesday, Feb 10, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE anticipated drama and tension at the vetting of President John Atta Mills’s nominee for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, lived to expectation when the Minority members of the Appointments Committee staged the first boycott of the exercise yesterday.
Led by the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, they walked out midway through Alhaji Mumuni’s vetting, claiming that he was not qualified to appear before the committee because there was an adverse finding against him in an audit report.
They took the action after the Chairman of the committee and First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, had ruled that the forensic audit report which implicated Alhaji Mumuni, which was the subject matter of his defamation suit, could not disqualify him from appearing before the committee.
The walkout, however, could not prevent other members on the Majority side to proceed with the vetting of Alhaji Mumuni, who eloquently answered questions put to him about the ministry he was designated to head.
Earlier, the nominee’s attention had been drawn to a petition submitted by a group known as the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) which made reference to a forensic audit report at the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) when he was the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare.
Answering the question, Alhaji Mumuni said since the matter was in court, he was apprehensive of making any reference to it before the committee unless the committee ruled that he should do so.
When Mr Adjaho sought the views of members of the committee, the Minority members who had made submissions raised an objection to the nominee’s vetting due to the pendency of the case before a competent law court.
They quoted the Standing Order 93 (1), which states thus: “Reference shall not be made to any matter on which judicial decision is pending in such a way as may, in the opinion of Mr Speaker, prejudice the interest of parties to the action.”
However, the Majority argued that the forensic audit report in question had not been laid before the House to enable members to make reference to.
They also argued that the nominee was qualified to be a minister, since nothing prevented him from contesting to be a Member of Parliament (MP).
The vetting of the nominee, along with others, which was scheduled for last Saturday, could not take place and was re-scheduled for yesterday.
The Minority members returned to the Speaker’s Conference Room to participate in the vetting of the Minister designate for Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Sherry Ayittey, who answered questions pertaining to how she would handle the sector should she be given the nod by Parliament.
She also answered questions on the divestiture of GIHOC Distilleries which was purchased by Caridem, the business wing of the 31st December Women’s Movement.
The last to appear before the committee, which sat late into the evening, was Mr Mike Hammah, the Minister designate for Transport.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE anticipated drama and tension at the vetting of President John Atta Mills’s nominee for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, lived to expectation when the Minority members of the Appointments Committee staged the first boycott of the exercise yesterday.
Led by the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, they walked out midway through Alhaji Mumuni’s vetting, claiming that he was not qualified to appear before the committee because there was an adverse finding against him in an audit report.
They took the action after the Chairman of the committee and First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, had ruled that the forensic audit report which implicated Alhaji Mumuni, which was the subject matter of his defamation suit, could not disqualify him from appearing before the committee.
The walkout, however, could not prevent other members on the Majority side to proceed with the vetting of Alhaji Mumuni, who eloquently answered questions put to him about the ministry he was designated to head.
Earlier, the nominee’s attention had been drawn to a petition submitted by a group known as the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) which made reference to a forensic audit report at the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) when he was the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare.
Answering the question, Alhaji Mumuni said since the matter was in court, he was apprehensive of making any reference to it before the committee unless the committee ruled that he should do so.
When Mr Adjaho sought the views of members of the committee, the Minority members who had made submissions raised an objection to the nominee’s vetting due to the pendency of the case before a competent law court.
They quoted the Standing Order 93 (1), which states thus: “Reference shall not be made to any matter on which judicial decision is pending in such a way as may, in the opinion of Mr Speaker, prejudice the interest of parties to the action.”
However, the Majority argued that the forensic audit report in question had not been laid before the House to enable members to make reference to.
They also argued that the nominee was qualified to be a minister, since nothing prevented him from contesting to be a Member of Parliament (MP).
The vetting of the nominee, along with others, which was scheduled for last Saturday, could not take place and was re-scheduled for yesterday.
The Minority members returned to the Speaker’s Conference Room to participate in the vetting of the Minister designate for Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Sherry Ayittey, who answered questions pertaining to how she would handle the sector should she be given the nod by Parliament.
She also answered questions on the divestiture of GIHOC Distilleries which was purchased by Caridem, the business wing of the 31st December Women’s Movement.
The last to appear before the committee, which sat late into the evening, was Mr Mike Hammah, the Minister designate for Transport.
Methodist church holds biennial conference
Page 21, Mon Feb 9, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Lay President of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Mrs Araba Arthur Sam, has called on leaders and members of the orthodox churches to put in more efforts to ensure the growth of their congregations.
She noted that low church growth figures reported in recent times were a cause for concern, since the trend was a “confirmation of the ineffectiveness of our evangelism programmes.”
Mrs Sam was speaking at the sixth biennial evangelists conference, which was organised by the Evangelism, Mission and Renewal Division of the Church at the Methodist University College of Ghana (MUCG) in Accra.
About 200 evangelists of the church took part in the conference, which was held on the theme: “The Holy Spirit, the Evangelists and the Mission of the Church”.
Mrs Sam noted that something was not right with the church’s evangelism strategies and called for measures to make evangelism the core business of the church.
She called for the re-thinking of the place of evangelism in the church’s activities and suggested that all members of the church should engage in evangelism “so that our lives, words and works will become a magnet in our workplaces and wherever we find ourselves.”
In his welcoming address, the National Chairman of the Fellowship of Methodist Evangelists, Mr J.K. Bissaw, commended the church for its intention to double its membership within the next five years.
He gave the assurance that evangelists within the church were ready to contribute their quota towards the attainment of the goals of the church and called for financial and material assistance to enable them to effectively perform their core duty of winning souls for Christ.
Mr Bissaw revealed that a lot of evangelists within the church were not “given anything”, adding that even though such evangelists were being frustrated, they were working hard to ensure that the church achieved its set targets.
In his keynote address, a Senior Lecturer at the MUCG, Rev Dr Richard Foli, said although the Church of Pentecost was established in the country in 1953, many years after the establishment of the Presbyterian and Methodist churches, it had done far better in terms of the planting of branches and membership drive.
He said recent figures indicated that while the Church of Pentecost, operating with only local resources, had 10,634 branches and 1,468,726 members, the Methodist Church had 3,814 branches with 634,689 members while the Presbyterian Church has 2,173 with 616,391 members.
Rev Dr Foli, therefore, called for an all-hands-on-deck approach in the implementation of the church’s evangelism programme to enable membership to be doubled within the five years that it had set for itself.
The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Most Reverend Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah, encouraged the evangelists to work hard to meet the demands of their calling.
For his part, the Director of the church’s Evangelism, Mission and Renewal Division, Rev Dr Emmanuel Asare-Kusi, called for more action rather than talking by the entire membership to enable the church to achieve its aim of doubling its membership.
Present at the ceremony were Right Rev Abraham Tagoe, Bishop of Accra Diocese, and Right Rev George Ayisi, Bishop of the Takoradi Diocese.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Lay President of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Mrs Araba Arthur Sam, has called on leaders and members of the orthodox churches to put in more efforts to ensure the growth of their congregations.
She noted that low church growth figures reported in recent times were a cause for concern, since the trend was a “confirmation of the ineffectiveness of our evangelism programmes.”
Mrs Sam was speaking at the sixth biennial evangelists conference, which was organised by the Evangelism, Mission and Renewal Division of the Church at the Methodist University College of Ghana (MUCG) in Accra.
About 200 evangelists of the church took part in the conference, which was held on the theme: “The Holy Spirit, the Evangelists and the Mission of the Church”.
Mrs Sam noted that something was not right with the church’s evangelism strategies and called for measures to make evangelism the core business of the church.
She called for the re-thinking of the place of evangelism in the church’s activities and suggested that all members of the church should engage in evangelism “so that our lives, words and works will become a magnet in our workplaces and wherever we find ourselves.”
In his welcoming address, the National Chairman of the Fellowship of Methodist Evangelists, Mr J.K. Bissaw, commended the church for its intention to double its membership within the next five years.
He gave the assurance that evangelists within the church were ready to contribute their quota towards the attainment of the goals of the church and called for financial and material assistance to enable them to effectively perform their core duty of winning souls for Christ.
Mr Bissaw revealed that a lot of evangelists within the church were not “given anything”, adding that even though such evangelists were being frustrated, they were working hard to ensure that the church achieved its set targets.
In his keynote address, a Senior Lecturer at the MUCG, Rev Dr Richard Foli, said although the Church of Pentecost was established in the country in 1953, many years after the establishment of the Presbyterian and Methodist churches, it had done far better in terms of the planting of branches and membership drive.
He said recent figures indicated that while the Church of Pentecost, operating with only local resources, had 10,634 branches and 1,468,726 members, the Methodist Church had 3,814 branches with 634,689 members while the Presbyterian Church has 2,173 with 616,391 members.
Rev Dr Foli, therefore, called for an all-hands-on-deck approach in the implementation of the church’s evangelism programme to enable membership to be doubled within the five years that it had set for itself.
The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Most Reverend Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah, encouraged the evangelists to work hard to meet the demands of their calling.
For his part, the Director of the church’s Evangelism, Mission and Renewal Division, Rev Dr Emmanuel Asare-Kusi, called for more action rather than talking by the entire membership to enable the church to achieve its aim of doubling its membership.
Present at the ceremony were Right Rev Abraham Tagoe, Bishop of Accra Diocese, and Right Rev George Ayisi, Bishop of the Takoradi Diocese.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Vetting fiasco
Frontpage, Monday Feb 9, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Charles Benoni Okine and Daniel Nkrumah
THE Appointments Committee of Parliament last Saturday suspended the vetting of five ministerial nominees after hours of closed-door deliberations among members of the committee.
Although the Chairman of the committee, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, failed to disclose the real issues that held up the process, which had been expected to start at 10 a.m., sources indicated that there had been some disagreements over the documentation of some of the nominees.
“We have been negotiating throughout the whole day to build a certain consensus to do our work to ensure that nominees meet the test when they appear before the committee,” he told the media when the committee members finally appeared in the Speaker’s Conference Room about 2 p.m.
“It has been a difficult decision,” he added, without elaborating on what the considerations were.
A visibly exhausted Mr Adjaho said as a result, the committee had decided to add one more nominee, Mr Mike Hammah, the minister designate for Transportation, to the list of five to be vetted today in order to clear the backlog.
Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni for the Foreign Ministry; Ms Sherry Ayittey Environment for Science and Technology; Alhaji Collins Dauda for Lands and Natural Resources; Mr Joe Gidisu for Roads and Highways and Dr Joe Oteng Adjei for Energy were scheduled to appear before the committee but in the end they had no option but to go back and return today, as announced by Mr Adjaho as the new date for the vetting of the five nominees.
“The situation is very disappointing. Some of the sympathisers of the nominees had travelled from far and near and the nominees had high hopes of being vetted,” Mr Gidisu told journalists minutes after the chairman’s announcement.
A calm Ms Ayittey found the spirit to reassure her sympathisers and the Daily Graphic, “That is democracy at play. We need to be accommodating. I am very sure that by the weekend the issues would have been sorted out well.”
Although the chairman of the committee had expressed optimism about the committee vetting the five nominees on Monday, most committee members interviewed appeared evasive about the issues and told journalists to stick to what the chairman had said.
The reaction of Alhaji Mumuni virtually confirmed earlier speculations that the hold was as a result of some members of the committee calling on the President to withdraw the nomination of the Foreign Affairs Minister designate because he had serious questions to answer in court.
Alhaji Mumuni told journalists that he sensed some vilification in the actions of his former colleagues in Parliament.
Spotting an all-white kaftan, Alhaji Mumuni said he was prepared to answer any queries when he appeared before the committee today.
There was also speculation about the fact that the leadership of the committee had left the House for a meeting with President Mills over the withdrawal of Mr Moses Asaga but one source told the Daily Graphic that Mr Asaga’s withdrawal was not the cause of the suspension of the vetting process, stressing that the issue of Mr Asaga’s withdrawal was purely an executive decision and not something for the committee.
The unanswered questions and speculations surrounding the nominees that may have caused the suspension of the vetting are expected to make today’s vetting process more exciting and interesting.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Charles Benoni Okine and Daniel Nkrumah
THE Appointments Committee of Parliament last Saturday suspended the vetting of five ministerial nominees after hours of closed-door deliberations among members of the committee.
Although the Chairman of the committee, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, failed to disclose the real issues that held up the process, which had been expected to start at 10 a.m., sources indicated that there had been some disagreements over the documentation of some of the nominees.
“We have been negotiating throughout the whole day to build a certain consensus to do our work to ensure that nominees meet the test when they appear before the committee,” he told the media when the committee members finally appeared in the Speaker’s Conference Room about 2 p.m.
“It has been a difficult decision,” he added, without elaborating on what the considerations were.
A visibly exhausted Mr Adjaho said as a result, the committee had decided to add one more nominee, Mr Mike Hammah, the minister designate for Transportation, to the list of five to be vetted today in order to clear the backlog.
Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni for the Foreign Ministry; Ms Sherry Ayittey Environment for Science and Technology; Alhaji Collins Dauda for Lands and Natural Resources; Mr Joe Gidisu for Roads and Highways and Dr Joe Oteng Adjei for Energy were scheduled to appear before the committee but in the end they had no option but to go back and return today, as announced by Mr Adjaho as the new date for the vetting of the five nominees.
“The situation is very disappointing. Some of the sympathisers of the nominees had travelled from far and near and the nominees had high hopes of being vetted,” Mr Gidisu told journalists minutes after the chairman’s announcement.
A calm Ms Ayittey found the spirit to reassure her sympathisers and the Daily Graphic, “That is democracy at play. We need to be accommodating. I am very sure that by the weekend the issues would have been sorted out well.”
Although the chairman of the committee had expressed optimism about the committee vetting the five nominees on Monday, most committee members interviewed appeared evasive about the issues and told journalists to stick to what the chairman had said.
The reaction of Alhaji Mumuni virtually confirmed earlier speculations that the hold was as a result of some members of the committee calling on the President to withdraw the nomination of the Foreign Affairs Minister designate because he had serious questions to answer in court.
Alhaji Mumuni told journalists that he sensed some vilification in the actions of his former colleagues in Parliament.
Spotting an all-white kaftan, Alhaji Mumuni said he was prepared to answer any queries when he appeared before the committee today.
There was also speculation about the fact that the leadership of the committee had left the House for a meeting with President Mills over the withdrawal of Mr Moses Asaga but one source told the Daily Graphic that Mr Asaga’s withdrawal was not the cause of the suspension of the vetting process, stressing that the issue of Mr Asaga’s withdrawal was purely an executive decision and not something for the committee.
The unanswered questions and speculations surrounding the nominees that may have caused the suspension of the vetting are expected to make today’s vetting process more exciting and interesting.
Senior high school to run 3 or 4 years? PUBLIC TO MAKE INPUT-Education Minister designate declares
Frontpage, Feb 7, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Charles Benoni Okine & Becky Duho
CORE issues likely to define the four-year tenure of President John Evans Atta Mills in education and internal security dominated the first day of vetting when the first five nominees appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament yesterday.
Those who appeared before the committee were the Minister of Education designate, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo; the Minister designate for the Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka; the Minister designate for Women and Children’s Affairs, Ms Akua Sena Dansua; the Minister designate for Tourism, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, and the Minister designate for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh.
While Mr Tettey-Enyo proposed to institute a non-partisan national forum to discuss the issue of whether or not to change the present four-year duration of the senior high school (SHS) course, Mr Avoka pledged his commitment to ensure the independence of the regional, metropolitan, municipal and district security councils to make them more effective to proactively deal with security matters within their areas of jurisdiction.
Mr Tettey-Enyo, who was the first to appear before the committee, explained that the proposed national forum was intended to give Ghanaians perhaps the final opportunity to make an input as far as the duration at the SHS programme was concerned.
For more than one hour 40 minutes, the 69-year-old educationist who spent a longer time than any of the other four nominees who appeared before the committee explained that “although our party had proposed to change the present duration of the SHS from four to three years in its manifesto, the public will be given the opportunity to make an input”.
His appearance had been of interest to many because of his earlier pronouncements on the issue and it was expected that he was going to have a tough time answering most of the questions.
Although most of the committee members pinned him to the issue of the duration and even referred him to his earlier statement to the press about his intention to change the present duration to three years, Mr Tettey-Enyo maintained a calm posture and answered every question that came to him from all angles.
He insisted that he had only referred to the manifesto of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) which he said would be implemented in the best interest of the country, adding, “But we will not leave the public out in what we intend to do.”
He said it was important for the government to ensure that the basic school level of education was well equipped so that students who would be turned out would be able to spend only three years at the secondary level, instead of the present four.
He said the Anamoah-Mensah Committee which had been tasked by the previous government to reform the educational sector had proposed three years for many reasons and indicated that the government, after the proposed national forum, would ensure that the will of the people prevailed.
On the issue of study leave for teachers, the minister designate said the ministry would work to encourage teachers who aspired for higher training to undertake distance learning.
He said the move was to ensure that they did not leave the classrooms in droves to pursue their education at the expense of the students and pupils.
Mr Tettey-Enyo explained that the training would be subsidised for them, while also ensuring that the classrooms were not emptied.
He added that the move to upgrade teacher training colleges to undertake diploma courses would be pursued vigorously.
He said much work had been done already and efforts would be made to ensure that the programme took off as soon as possible to boost the capacity of teachers even before they entered the classrooms to begin teaching.
“We are all aware that teachers need to be well trained before they enter the classrooms and we believe that when their training is upgraded, it will have a positive impact on their performance in the classrooms,” he said.
When asked about the school feeding programme, he said, “The programme is definitely a good idea because of the positive impact it has on school enrolment, among others.”
Mr Tettey-Enyo said what the government intended to do was ensure that many more pupils benefited from the programme, while the mode of implementation was also streamlined.
On issues at the tertiary level, there were various questions, ranging from congestion in the lecture halls to lack of accommodation facilities, with the Minister of Education designate pledging the commitment of the government to ensure that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) was judiciously applied to provide the needed infrastructure on the various campuses.
“We have seen the major transformation the fund has brought on the campuses of the polytechnics and the public universities and I will work to ensure that more of such facilities are provided to enhance enrolment and also provide a more conducive learning environment for the students,” he added.
Mr Tettey-Enyo further pledged his commitment to ensure that vocational and technical institutes were given the needed attention to enable them to continue to turn out qualified and well-trained students to be absorbed at all levels of education.
The Interior Minister designate, Mr Avoka, who demonstrated a lot of bravery and confidence in answering questions, said the regional, metropolitan, municipal and district security councils would be well supported by the ministry to enable them to deal with security issues that confronted them on a much more speedy basis.
“These councils are on the ground and they need to be independent, while the ministry only provides support when the need arises and that I will pursue,” he added.
One expected issue of national concern, the cocaine menace, also came up strongly, mainly from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) members of the committee.
Mr Avoka said Ghana had been negatively tagged as a haven for drug dealers and stated that during his stewardship as a minister he would propose the transformation of the Narcotics Control Board to a commission to give it more powers and authority to discharge its duties and report to the President.
He said those convicted on drugs would not only be given prison sentences but the ministry would also work to ensure that their assets were frozen and confiscated to the state to deter others from committing such crimes.
He said the various security agencies, particularly those at the entry points of the country, would be strengthened, while the necessary equipment used in detecting drugs are provided.
On accommodation and incentives for the personnel of the Police Service and the Fire Service, he called on Parliament to increase the budget allocation of the ministry to enable it to provide more incentives to them.
Mr Avoka, who is a Kusasi, said he would not allow his background to influence his decisions on how to get the Bawku conflict fully resolved.
Some groups had wondered how he could he fair when he had defended the Kusasis against the Mamprusis in the Bawku conflict but he said, “They know I am a unifier and I will work to unify all of them to ensure peace in the area.”
When he took his turn, the Minister designate for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Chireh, told the committee that he would make a proposal to the President to consider nominating three people for each district assembly for one of them to be voted for the district chief executive (DCE).
He stated that such a system would make DCEs work in the interest of the people, instead of the current situation where such appointees were only accountable to the President.
Mr Chireh said, however, that he shared the view of other people that the time was not yet ripe for DCEs to be elected by the people, since that system needed some constitutional provisions.
The nominee also said the redemarcation and realigning of some district assemblies were issues worth considering, since that would ensure the efficient running of the assemblies.
He promised to work towards the implementation of the Local Government Act to ensure the deepening of the decentralisation process to bring governance to the doorstep of the people.
For her part, the Minister designate for Tourism, Mrs Azumah-Mensah, stated that with the current global credit crunch, there was the need for emphasis to be placed on domestic tourism to keep the industry in business.
She also stressed the importance of the promotion of local dishes and spoke of her resolve to liaise with managers of receptive facilities to include more local dishes on their menu.
On the poor roads leading to tourist destinations in the country, Mrs Azumah-Mensah said there was the need for a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to ensure that such roads were upgraded.
“This is the only way that we can attract both local and international tourists to boost the industry,” she said.
She appealed to leaders of the ECOWAS sub-region to implement the protocols put in place to enhance the free flow of people to encourage people in the region to visit tourist destinations.
When the Minister designate for Children and Women’s Affairs, Madam Akua Sena Dansua, took her turn, she proposed that the Department of Social Welfare be brought under the Children and Women’s Affairs Ministry.
According to her, since the department dealt with issues concerning women and children, it was better that the two were harmonised for the advancement of women and children’s issues.
She also said if given the nod, one of her first assignments would be to review the structure and mandate of the ministry to make it more responsive to the needs of women in the country.
Ms Dansua said she would ensure that the ministry had offices in all the districts, saying that “even if I have to use officers from the Social Welfare Department to achieve that purpose, I will not hesitate to do that”.
Ms Dansua, who told the members of the committee that the establishment of ministry was relevant to the advancement of women in the country, said, “We need a ministry that will be responsible for women and children’s issues to move forward the agenda of mainstreaming gender.”
Answering a question on the need for affirmative action, she said, “As a gender activist, I do not see anything wrong with it,” adding that there was no equity between men and women, especially in the economic and political sectors, hence the need for that action.
According to her, the issue of affirmative action had become necessary, since in the past women did not have the opportunity to upgrade themselves like their male counterparts, for which reason there was the need to give them the push to enable them to rub shoulders with their male counterparts.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Charles Benoni Okine & Becky Duho
CORE issues likely to define the four-year tenure of President John Evans Atta Mills in education and internal security dominated the first day of vetting when the first five nominees appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament yesterday.
Those who appeared before the committee were the Minister of Education designate, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo; the Minister designate for the Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka; the Minister designate for Women and Children’s Affairs, Ms Akua Sena Dansua; the Minister designate for Tourism, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, and the Minister designate for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh.
While Mr Tettey-Enyo proposed to institute a non-partisan national forum to discuss the issue of whether or not to change the present four-year duration of the senior high school (SHS) course, Mr Avoka pledged his commitment to ensure the independence of the regional, metropolitan, municipal and district security councils to make them more effective to proactively deal with security matters within their areas of jurisdiction.
Mr Tettey-Enyo, who was the first to appear before the committee, explained that the proposed national forum was intended to give Ghanaians perhaps the final opportunity to make an input as far as the duration at the SHS programme was concerned.
For more than one hour 40 minutes, the 69-year-old educationist who spent a longer time than any of the other four nominees who appeared before the committee explained that “although our party had proposed to change the present duration of the SHS from four to three years in its manifesto, the public will be given the opportunity to make an input”.
His appearance had been of interest to many because of his earlier pronouncements on the issue and it was expected that he was going to have a tough time answering most of the questions.
Although most of the committee members pinned him to the issue of the duration and even referred him to his earlier statement to the press about his intention to change the present duration to three years, Mr Tettey-Enyo maintained a calm posture and answered every question that came to him from all angles.
He insisted that he had only referred to the manifesto of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) which he said would be implemented in the best interest of the country, adding, “But we will not leave the public out in what we intend to do.”
He said it was important for the government to ensure that the basic school level of education was well equipped so that students who would be turned out would be able to spend only three years at the secondary level, instead of the present four.
He said the Anamoah-Mensah Committee which had been tasked by the previous government to reform the educational sector had proposed three years for many reasons and indicated that the government, after the proposed national forum, would ensure that the will of the people prevailed.
On the issue of study leave for teachers, the minister designate said the ministry would work to encourage teachers who aspired for higher training to undertake distance learning.
He said the move was to ensure that they did not leave the classrooms in droves to pursue their education at the expense of the students and pupils.
Mr Tettey-Enyo explained that the training would be subsidised for them, while also ensuring that the classrooms were not emptied.
He added that the move to upgrade teacher training colleges to undertake diploma courses would be pursued vigorously.
He said much work had been done already and efforts would be made to ensure that the programme took off as soon as possible to boost the capacity of teachers even before they entered the classrooms to begin teaching.
“We are all aware that teachers need to be well trained before they enter the classrooms and we believe that when their training is upgraded, it will have a positive impact on their performance in the classrooms,” he said.
When asked about the school feeding programme, he said, “The programme is definitely a good idea because of the positive impact it has on school enrolment, among others.”
Mr Tettey-Enyo said what the government intended to do was ensure that many more pupils benefited from the programme, while the mode of implementation was also streamlined.
On issues at the tertiary level, there were various questions, ranging from congestion in the lecture halls to lack of accommodation facilities, with the Minister of Education designate pledging the commitment of the government to ensure that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) was judiciously applied to provide the needed infrastructure on the various campuses.
“We have seen the major transformation the fund has brought on the campuses of the polytechnics and the public universities and I will work to ensure that more of such facilities are provided to enhance enrolment and also provide a more conducive learning environment for the students,” he added.
Mr Tettey-Enyo further pledged his commitment to ensure that vocational and technical institutes were given the needed attention to enable them to continue to turn out qualified and well-trained students to be absorbed at all levels of education.
The Interior Minister designate, Mr Avoka, who demonstrated a lot of bravery and confidence in answering questions, said the regional, metropolitan, municipal and district security councils would be well supported by the ministry to enable them to deal with security issues that confronted them on a much more speedy basis.
“These councils are on the ground and they need to be independent, while the ministry only provides support when the need arises and that I will pursue,” he added.
One expected issue of national concern, the cocaine menace, also came up strongly, mainly from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) members of the committee.
Mr Avoka said Ghana had been negatively tagged as a haven for drug dealers and stated that during his stewardship as a minister he would propose the transformation of the Narcotics Control Board to a commission to give it more powers and authority to discharge its duties and report to the President.
He said those convicted on drugs would not only be given prison sentences but the ministry would also work to ensure that their assets were frozen and confiscated to the state to deter others from committing such crimes.
He said the various security agencies, particularly those at the entry points of the country, would be strengthened, while the necessary equipment used in detecting drugs are provided.
On accommodation and incentives for the personnel of the Police Service and the Fire Service, he called on Parliament to increase the budget allocation of the ministry to enable it to provide more incentives to them.
Mr Avoka, who is a Kusasi, said he would not allow his background to influence his decisions on how to get the Bawku conflict fully resolved.
Some groups had wondered how he could he fair when he had defended the Kusasis against the Mamprusis in the Bawku conflict but he said, “They know I am a unifier and I will work to unify all of them to ensure peace in the area.”
When he took his turn, the Minister designate for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Chireh, told the committee that he would make a proposal to the President to consider nominating three people for each district assembly for one of them to be voted for the district chief executive (DCE).
He stated that such a system would make DCEs work in the interest of the people, instead of the current situation where such appointees were only accountable to the President.
Mr Chireh said, however, that he shared the view of other people that the time was not yet ripe for DCEs to be elected by the people, since that system needed some constitutional provisions.
The nominee also said the redemarcation and realigning of some district assemblies were issues worth considering, since that would ensure the efficient running of the assemblies.
He promised to work towards the implementation of the Local Government Act to ensure the deepening of the decentralisation process to bring governance to the doorstep of the people.
For her part, the Minister designate for Tourism, Mrs Azumah-Mensah, stated that with the current global credit crunch, there was the need for emphasis to be placed on domestic tourism to keep the industry in business.
She also stressed the importance of the promotion of local dishes and spoke of her resolve to liaise with managers of receptive facilities to include more local dishes on their menu.
On the poor roads leading to tourist destinations in the country, Mrs Azumah-Mensah said there was the need for a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to ensure that such roads were upgraded.
“This is the only way that we can attract both local and international tourists to boost the industry,” she said.
She appealed to leaders of the ECOWAS sub-region to implement the protocols put in place to enhance the free flow of people to encourage people in the region to visit tourist destinations.
When the Minister designate for Children and Women’s Affairs, Madam Akua Sena Dansua, took her turn, she proposed that the Department of Social Welfare be brought under the Children and Women’s Affairs Ministry.
According to her, since the department dealt with issues concerning women and children, it was better that the two were harmonised for the advancement of women and children’s issues.
She also said if given the nod, one of her first assignments would be to review the structure and mandate of the ministry to make it more responsive to the needs of women in the country.
Ms Dansua said she would ensure that the ministry had offices in all the districts, saying that “even if I have to use officers from the Social Welfare Department to achieve that purpose, I will not hesitate to do that”.
Ms Dansua, who told the members of the committee that the establishment of ministry was relevant to the advancement of women in the country, said, “We need a ministry that will be responsible for women and children’s issues to move forward the agenda of mainstreaming gender.”
Answering a question on the need for affirmative action, she said, “As a gender activist, I do not see anything wrong with it,” adding that there was no equity between men and women, especially in the economic and political sectors, hence the need for that action.
According to her, the issue of affirmative action had become necessary, since in the past women did not have the opportunity to upgrade themselves like their male counterparts, for which reason there was the need to give them the push to enable them to rub shoulders with their male counterparts.
I won’t be blinded by political philosophies — Adjei-Baah
Page 14, Friday, Feb 6, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE independent Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkawkaw, Mr Seth Adjei-Baah, has stated that he will not be blinded by political philosophies to take any decisions which will be to the detriment of the development of his constituency.
“For me, what is important is development. At the end of the day, every politician wants to work towards the uplift of the living conditions of his people,” he said.
He, therefore, appealed to supporters of both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the constituency to rally behind him to enable him to fulfil his campaign promises.
Mr Adjei-Baah, popularly known as Shaba, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that there was no need for political bickering now that the elections were over and a government had been put in place.
“We all need to look beyond political affiliations after the elections to enable us to focus on the aim of all the parties — to ensure the welfare of the people,” he noted.
He said until that was done, Ghanaians would continue to change governments but would not see any meaningful development to improve upon their lives.
Touching on his success during the December 2008 elections, Mr Adjei-Baah attributed that to the work of God, adding, “This is the right time for me to be in Parliament.”
He asked Ghanaians to think about Ghana first and assist any government in power to bring development to the people.
Mr Adjei-Baah thanked the people of the Nkawkaw Constituency for voting massively for him and assured them that he would work hard to justify the confidence reposed in him.
The independent MP, who is now part of the Minority Caucus, said, however, that his supporters cut across the NDC, the NPP and other political parties in the constituency.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE independent Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkawkaw, Mr Seth Adjei-Baah, has stated that he will not be blinded by political philosophies to take any decisions which will be to the detriment of the development of his constituency.
“For me, what is important is development. At the end of the day, every politician wants to work towards the uplift of the living conditions of his people,” he said.
He, therefore, appealed to supporters of both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the constituency to rally behind him to enable him to fulfil his campaign promises.
Mr Adjei-Baah, popularly known as Shaba, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that there was no need for political bickering now that the elections were over and a government had been put in place.
“We all need to look beyond political affiliations after the elections to enable us to focus on the aim of all the parties — to ensure the welfare of the people,” he noted.
He said until that was done, Ghanaians would continue to change governments but would not see any meaningful development to improve upon their lives.
Touching on his success during the December 2008 elections, Mr Adjei-Baah attributed that to the work of God, adding, “This is the right time for me to be in Parliament.”
He asked Ghanaians to think about Ghana first and assist any government in power to bring development to the people.
Mr Adjei-Baah thanked the people of the Nkawkaw Constituency for voting massively for him and assured them that he would work hard to justify the confidence reposed in him.
The independent MP, who is now part of the Minority Caucus, said, however, that his supporters cut across the NDC, the NPP and other political parties in the constituency.
Vetting- First batch faces House tomorrow
Page 3, Thursday Feb 5, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
FIVE of President John Atta Mills’s ministerial nominees will tomorrow be confronted by critical issues concerning competence, integrity and morality in governance that have been thrown into the public domain since the President named 35 of them for consideration by Parliament.
With allegations being levelled against some of them publicly, some bordering on constitutional breaches and improper conduct, the ministers designate will face the Appointments Committee of Parliament when it begins vetting at the Speaker’s Conference Room tomorrow.
The exercise is expected to end on Friday, February 13, 2009, with the committee vetting five nominees per day.
According to the schedule of the committee, the Minister for Education designate, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, will be the first to appear before it on Friday, with Mr Cletus Avoka, nominated for the Ministry of the Interior; Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development; Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, and Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Ministry of Tourism, also being vetted in that order on the same day.
On Saturday, February 7, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, billed for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; Mr Joe Gidisu, Ministry of Roads and Highways; Dr Oteng Adjei, Ministry of Energy; Ms Sherry Ayitey, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, and Alhaji Collins Dauda, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, will go through the process.
Monday, February 9, will see Mrs Hannah Tetteh, pencilled in for the Ministry of Trade and Industry; Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice; Dr Kwabena Dufuor, Ministry of Finance; Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Ministry of Communication, and Mr Mike Hammah, Ministry of Transport, appearing before the committee.
Those who will make an appearance before the committee on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 are Lt Gen J.H. Smith (retd), Ministry of Defence; Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Region; Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Central Region; Mr Kofi Opoku Adusei, Ashanti Region, and Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong Ahafo Region, while Mr Mahmood Khalid, Upper West; Nii Armah Ashitey, Greater Accra; Mrs Zita Okai Kwei; Information, Mrs Halutie Dabie Alhassan, the Presidency, and Dr George Yankey, Health, appear the next day.
The following will come face-to-face with members of the committee on Thursday, February 12, 2009 — Mr Stephen Kwao Amoanor, Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare; Mr Moses Asaga, Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing; Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, Ministry of Youth and Sports; Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, and Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Region.
The final day of the exercise will see the following nominees — Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Ministry of Food and Agriculture; Mr Azong Alhassan, the Presidency; Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Region; Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Region, and Mr S.S. Nanyina, Northern Region — facing members of the committee.
The Speaker’s Conference Room has remained the venue for the public sittings of the committee to vet presidential nominees over the years.
The only exception during the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic was the vetting of the current Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Theodora Georgina Wood, during which the venue was changed to the floor of Parliament as a result of the sheer number of spectators.
The Appointments Committee is composed of the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, as Chairman, and not more than 25 other members.
The committee recommends to Parliament for approval or otherwise persons nominated by the President for appointment as ministers of state, deputies ministers, members of the Council of State and such other persons specified under the Constitution or any other enactment.
Nominees for appointment as Chief Justice and other justices of the Supreme Court are also considered by the committee.
The committee has its own set of rules, even though it is not supposed to be a platform for inquisition.
Members of the committee, during the vetting, examine and scrutinise the backgrounds of the nominees and seek to know, apart from the curriculum vitae supplied, whether a nominee has engaged in fraud, misappropriation, criminality, among other things, which would otherwise disqualify a person from being voted for.
The committee is also expected to examine the general competence and versatility of the nominees, given the fact that an appointee could be moved from his sector the next day and be re-assigned without going through another process of vetting.
Eight out of the 35 nominees to be vetted are women, while 17 are Members of Parliament (MPs).
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
FIVE of President John Atta Mills’s ministerial nominees will tomorrow be confronted by critical issues concerning competence, integrity and morality in governance that have been thrown into the public domain since the President named 35 of them for consideration by Parliament.
With allegations being levelled against some of them publicly, some bordering on constitutional breaches and improper conduct, the ministers designate will face the Appointments Committee of Parliament when it begins vetting at the Speaker’s Conference Room tomorrow.
The exercise is expected to end on Friday, February 13, 2009, with the committee vetting five nominees per day.
According to the schedule of the committee, the Minister for Education designate, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, will be the first to appear before it on Friday, with Mr Cletus Avoka, nominated for the Ministry of the Interior; Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development; Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, and Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Ministry of Tourism, also being vetted in that order on the same day.
On Saturday, February 7, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, billed for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; Mr Joe Gidisu, Ministry of Roads and Highways; Dr Oteng Adjei, Ministry of Energy; Ms Sherry Ayitey, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, and Alhaji Collins Dauda, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, will go through the process.
Monday, February 9, will see Mrs Hannah Tetteh, pencilled in for the Ministry of Trade and Industry; Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice; Dr Kwabena Dufuor, Ministry of Finance; Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Ministry of Communication, and Mr Mike Hammah, Ministry of Transport, appearing before the committee.
Those who will make an appearance before the committee on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 are Lt Gen J.H. Smith (retd), Ministry of Defence; Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Region; Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Central Region; Mr Kofi Opoku Adusei, Ashanti Region, and Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong Ahafo Region, while Mr Mahmood Khalid, Upper West; Nii Armah Ashitey, Greater Accra; Mrs Zita Okai Kwei; Information, Mrs Halutie Dabie Alhassan, the Presidency, and Dr George Yankey, Health, appear the next day.
The following will come face-to-face with members of the committee on Thursday, February 12, 2009 — Mr Stephen Kwao Amoanor, Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare; Mr Moses Asaga, Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing; Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, Ministry of Youth and Sports; Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, and Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Region.
The final day of the exercise will see the following nominees — Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Ministry of Food and Agriculture; Mr Azong Alhassan, the Presidency; Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Region; Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Region, and Mr S.S. Nanyina, Northern Region — facing members of the committee.
The Speaker’s Conference Room has remained the venue for the public sittings of the committee to vet presidential nominees over the years.
The only exception during the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic was the vetting of the current Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Theodora Georgina Wood, during which the venue was changed to the floor of Parliament as a result of the sheer number of spectators.
The Appointments Committee is composed of the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, as Chairman, and not more than 25 other members.
The committee recommends to Parliament for approval or otherwise persons nominated by the President for appointment as ministers of state, deputies ministers, members of the Council of State and such other persons specified under the Constitution or any other enactment.
Nominees for appointment as Chief Justice and other justices of the Supreme Court are also considered by the committee.
The committee has its own set of rules, even though it is not supposed to be a platform for inquisition.
Members of the committee, during the vetting, examine and scrutinise the backgrounds of the nominees and seek to know, apart from the curriculum vitae supplied, whether a nominee has engaged in fraud, misappropriation, criminality, among other things, which would otherwise disqualify a person from being voted for.
The committee is also expected to examine the general competence and versatility of the nominees, given the fact that an appointee could be moved from his sector the next day and be re-assigned without going through another process of vetting.
Eight out of the 35 nominees to be vetted are women, while 17 are Members of Parliament (MPs).
‘Remain committed to defend NPP ideals’
Page 13, Wed Feb 4, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim South, Mrs Gifty Ohene-Konadu, has urged supporters of the party to remain committed and stand firm to defend ideals of the party.
She noted that Ghanaians would soon realise their mistake in voting the NPP out of power, in spite of the party’s numerous successes during its eight years in power.
“That is why it is necessary for us not to be down-hearted but continue to remain solidly behind our leaders in order to regain power in the next general election,” she said.
Mrs Ohene-Konadu, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic, thanked her constituents for the massive support she received from them during the December 7, 2008 elections which enabled her to retain her seat in Parliament.
She noted that the socio-economic successes chalked up by the NPP government would be the yardstick with which Ghanaians would judge the NDC government.
The MP, who was a Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry in the Kufuor administration, thanked her supporters for the confidence reposed in her.
She stated that despite the NPP’s defeat, the people of the constituency should consider her choice as an excellent one and pledged that she would continue to use her share of the various funds available to MPs to assist the needy in the area.
Mrs Ohene-Konadu said Ghana had come a long way in its democratic dispensation and gave the assurance that the NPP would work hard to put the government on its toes to ensure that the proper thing was done.
“Let us all play our roles as expected of us and continue to sustain the spirit that binds us as one family so that we will not be found wanting during the next general election,” she advised.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim South, Mrs Gifty Ohene-Konadu, has urged supporters of the party to remain committed and stand firm to defend ideals of the party.
She noted that Ghanaians would soon realise their mistake in voting the NPP out of power, in spite of the party’s numerous successes during its eight years in power.
“That is why it is necessary for us not to be down-hearted but continue to remain solidly behind our leaders in order to regain power in the next general election,” she said.
Mrs Ohene-Konadu, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic, thanked her constituents for the massive support she received from them during the December 7, 2008 elections which enabled her to retain her seat in Parliament.
She noted that the socio-economic successes chalked up by the NPP government would be the yardstick with which Ghanaians would judge the NDC government.
The MP, who was a Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry in the Kufuor administration, thanked her supporters for the confidence reposed in her.
She stated that despite the NPP’s defeat, the people of the constituency should consider her choice as an excellent one and pledged that she would continue to use her share of the various funds available to MPs to assist the needy in the area.
Mrs Ohene-Konadu said Ghana had come a long way in its democratic dispensation and gave the assurance that the NPP would work hard to put the government on its toes to ensure that the proper thing was done.
“Let us all play our roles as expected of us and continue to sustain the spirit that binds us as one family so that we will not be found wanting during the next general election,” she advised.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Politicians asked to cultivate tolerance for opposing views
Page: Spread lead. Mon Feb 1, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Cardinal Peter Turkson, has admonished politicians to have passion for justice, tolerance and the mutual respect for the views of opponents.
He noted that the situation where politicians opposed issues when they were in opposition but saw nothing wrong with those same issues when they were in office, did not augur well for the development of the country’s democracy.
Cardinal Turkson was speaking at the opening of a week-long orientation seminar for Members of Parliament (MPs) of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic currently underway at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) at Achimota near Accra on Saturday.
The orientation seminar is to usher in the new MPs into Parliament so that they can find their right bearings within the parliamentary environment while old and experienced ones would be afforded the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the legislative work.
Cardinal Turkson made it clear to the MPs that the sovereign will of Ghanaians was for MPs to exercise corporate leadership and that was borne out by the results of the December 2008 election in which no party won with an absolute majority.
He stated that the current composition of Parliament demanded that both sides of the House built consensus instead of adopting entrenched positions in the discussion of issues, for common positions with the interest of the Ghanaian as the basis.
“Ghanaians have vested their trust in you to lead them. It is, therefore, your job to pursue the attainment of the goals and aspirations of the people,” he said.
Cardinal Turkson asked the MPs to consider their roles as divine, since leadership was a task of God.
He further explained that it was for that reason that a passion for justice, tolerance, mercy and respect for each other’s views was imperative.
In her keynote address, the Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo, noted that since the legislature was the cradle of democracy, Parliament had to foster public awareness at all times bearing in mind the scrutiny of its activities by the public.
She reminded the MPs that since the people had entrusted them to exercise political authority for and on their behalf, any act of commission or omission would not be glossed over by the media and the public.
Mrs Bamford-Addo stated that the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic would be evaluated and judged just like previous Parliaments, adding that the success or otherwise of the current Parliament would depend on the effectiveness of the assimilation of the rules and procedures of the House and the efficiency of MPs in the delivery of their legislative work.
“You must always remember that the capacity of members of the House to perform their oversight responsibility will be questioned when weaknesses in the quality of our work as parliamentarians are exposed,” she said.
Mrs Bamford-Addo said Parliament was aware of the need to place the required equipment at the disposal of the MPs to assist in creating the enabling environment for them to effectively discharge their parliamentary duties saying that “as Speaker, I assure you of my support and encouragement throughout the tenure of this Parliament.”
She expressed her gratitude to the Fredrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), DANIDA and the Parliamentary Centre for funding aspects of the orientation and the Rector and staff of GIMPA for hosting the MPs.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, reminded the MPs that it was not people with high academic credentials that made good MPs and, therefore, called on them to use the workshop to learn tit bits of legislative work to get a good start as MPs.
“The most important ingredient of an MP is the human touch which is learnt through experience and a listening ear,” he said.
A former Electoral Commissioner, Justice V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe, who chaired the function, told the MPs that Ghanaians expected much from them, adding that “you should, therefore, work hard in order not to fail them.”
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Cardinal Peter Turkson, has admonished politicians to have passion for justice, tolerance and the mutual respect for the views of opponents.
He noted that the situation where politicians opposed issues when they were in opposition but saw nothing wrong with those same issues when they were in office, did not augur well for the development of the country’s democracy.
Cardinal Turkson was speaking at the opening of a week-long orientation seminar for Members of Parliament (MPs) of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic currently underway at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) at Achimota near Accra on Saturday.
The orientation seminar is to usher in the new MPs into Parliament so that they can find their right bearings within the parliamentary environment while old and experienced ones would be afforded the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the legislative work.
Cardinal Turkson made it clear to the MPs that the sovereign will of Ghanaians was for MPs to exercise corporate leadership and that was borne out by the results of the December 2008 election in which no party won with an absolute majority.
He stated that the current composition of Parliament demanded that both sides of the House built consensus instead of adopting entrenched positions in the discussion of issues, for common positions with the interest of the Ghanaian as the basis.
“Ghanaians have vested their trust in you to lead them. It is, therefore, your job to pursue the attainment of the goals and aspirations of the people,” he said.
Cardinal Turkson asked the MPs to consider their roles as divine, since leadership was a task of God.
He further explained that it was for that reason that a passion for justice, tolerance, mercy and respect for each other’s views was imperative.
In her keynote address, the Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo, noted that since the legislature was the cradle of democracy, Parliament had to foster public awareness at all times bearing in mind the scrutiny of its activities by the public.
She reminded the MPs that since the people had entrusted them to exercise political authority for and on their behalf, any act of commission or omission would not be glossed over by the media and the public.
Mrs Bamford-Addo stated that the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic would be evaluated and judged just like previous Parliaments, adding that the success or otherwise of the current Parliament would depend on the effectiveness of the assimilation of the rules and procedures of the House and the efficiency of MPs in the delivery of their legislative work.
“You must always remember that the capacity of members of the House to perform their oversight responsibility will be questioned when weaknesses in the quality of our work as parliamentarians are exposed,” she said.
Mrs Bamford-Addo said Parliament was aware of the need to place the required equipment at the disposal of the MPs to assist in creating the enabling environment for them to effectively discharge their parliamentary duties saying that “as Speaker, I assure you of my support and encouragement throughout the tenure of this Parliament.”
She expressed her gratitude to the Fredrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), DANIDA and the Parliamentary Centre for funding aspects of the orientation and the Rector and staff of GIMPA for hosting the MPs.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, reminded the MPs that it was not people with high academic credentials that made good MPs and, therefore, called on them to use the workshop to learn tit bits of legislative work to get a good start as MPs.
“The most important ingredient of an MP is the human touch which is learnt through experience and a listening ear,” he said.
A former Electoral Commissioner, Justice V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe, who chaired the function, told the MPs that Ghanaians expected much from them, adding that “you should, therefore, work hard in order not to fail them.”
Parliament approves advisors to Speaker
Page 14, Sat Jan 31, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT has approved the selection of five Members of Parliament to advise the Speaker on the appointment of members of the Parliamentary Service Board.
They are, Mr Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader; Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, Minority Leader; Mr John Akologu Tia, Deputy Majority Leader; Mrs Elizabeth Tetteh-Amoah, NDC MP for Twifo-Ati Morkwaa and Papa Owusu-Ankomah, NPP MP for Sekondi.
The selection of the MPs to advise the Speaker is in accordance with Clause 2 (b) of Article 124 of the 1992 Constitution and section 5 of the Parliamentary Service Act (Act 460).
Mr Bagbin moved the motion for the approval of the selection of the MPs and his motion was seconded by the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery.
Meanwhile, the issue as to who is the Leader of the House resurfaced in Parliament again.
The issue arose when a motion on the approval of the five selected MPs to advise the Speaker on the appointment of members of the Parliamentary Service Board, stood in the name of the Majority Leader and Leader of the House.
When Papa Owusu-Ankomah caught the eye of the Speaker, he said it was strange that although the NDC refused to recognise all Majority Leaders during the Fourth Parliament as Leaders of the House, they had bestowed the same title on Mr Bagbin now that their party (NDC) was in the Majority.
Contributing to the issue, the MP for New Juaben North, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman said although it was a convention that Majority Leaders in all jurisdictions were also leaders of the House, Parliament should affirm that the Majority Leader is the Leader of the House for posterity sake.
For his part, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated that there was no doubt that the Majority Leader was the leader of the House.
“The only problem is that when they were in the Minority, they did not find it fit to recognise the then Majority Leader as the Leader of the House,” he said.
When he caught the eye of the Speaker, Mr Bagbin explained that the question as to who was the leader of the House had been an issue right from the First Parliament of the Fourth Republic, until it was settled during the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic with the involvement of the civil society.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT has approved the selection of five Members of Parliament to advise the Speaker on the appointment of members of the Parliamentary Service Board.
They are, Mr Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader; Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, Minority Leader; Mr John Akologu Tia, Deputy Majority Leader; Mrs Elizabeth Tetteh-Amoah, NDC MP for Twifo-Ati Morkwaa and Papa Owusu-Ankomah, NPP MP for Sekondi.
The selection of the MPs to advise the Speaker is in accordance with Clause 2 (b) of Article 124 of the 1992 Constitution and section 5 of the Parliamentary Service Act (Act 460).
Mr Bagbin moved the motion for the approval of the selection of the MPs and his motion was seconded by the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery.
Meanwhile, the issue as to who is the Leader of the House resurfaced in Parliament again.
The issue arose when a motion on the approval of the five selected MPs to advise the Speaker on the appointment of members of the Parliamentary Service Board, stood in the name of the Majority Leader and Leader of the House.
When Papa Owusu-Ankomah caught the eye of the Speaker, he said it was strange that although the NDC refused to recognise all Majority Leaders during the Fourth Parliament as Leaders of the House, they had bestowed the same title on Mr Bagbin now that their party (NDC) was in the Majority.
Contributing to the issue, the MP for New Juaben North, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman said although it was a convention that Majority Leaders in all jurisdictions were also leaders of the House, Parliament should affirm that the Majority Leader is the Leader of the House for posterity sake.
For his part, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated that there was no doubt that the Majority Leader was the leader of the House.
“The only problem is that when they were in the Minority, they did not find it fit to recognise the then Majority Leader as the Leader of the House,” he said.
When he caught the eye of the Speaker, Mr Bagbin explained that the question as to who was the leader of the House had been an issue right from the First Parliament of the Fourth Republic, until it was settled during the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic with the involvement of the civil society.
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