Page 15, Feb 8, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament for Mion in the Northern Region, Dr Alhassan Ahmed Yakubu, has urged people of the area to place emphasis on education since the 21st century has no place for the unlettered.
He said there was also the need for the youth in the area to imbibe issues that bring peace and togetherness and not those that would divide them.
Dr Yakubu gave the advice at a meeting with members of the Gunsi/Kpabia Youth Association as part of his tour of the constituency at Gunsi.
“You must exhibit disciplined behaviour since that is the only way of preparing well for an aggressive world that is looking for perfection in all spheres of life”.
According to the MP, his tour took him to 32 communities in the constituency during which he distributed building materials, television sets, computers, plastic chairs, footballs and jerseys purchased from his share of the Common Fund to the communities.
The MP also inspected schools which had been renovated with his allocation of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) at Sanzie, Kukpaligu, Sunson-gbung and Limpua.
Dr Yakubu, however, expressed concern about the delay in repairing the bridge between Zalkpasi and Sakpe.
He said the bridge had become weak as a result of the torrential rains last year, adding that since he made a report to the Department of Feeder Roads (DFR) in Tamale last October nothing had been done about it.
The MP stated that the bridge remained a serious death trap and called on the DFR not to wait for a disaster to occur before the needed attention was given to it.
Dr Yakubu gave the assurance that the programme for the constituency this year would include the renovation of basic school buildings at Worvi, Kulkpagna and Jimle with his portion of the GETFund.
The installation of street lights at Gbungbaliga and the rehabilitation of Sang street lights would also be done to improve security at night within the two towns, he said.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
MPs should initiate frequent interactions — Ayorkor Botchwey
Page 13, Feb 7, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has called for frequent interaction between MPs and their constituents to share ideas on the development of their areas.
She said while MPs were expected to initiate such interactions, it also behoved the constituents to always get closer to their MPs to make useful suggestions on developmental issues.
Ms Botchwey, who is also a Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and PSI, made the call at a meeting with members of the Alhaji-Tabora Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in Accra to discuss problems facing the area.
The MP said the Weija Constituency was so large that all the needs of the people could not be met at the same time with her meagre share of the MP’s Common Fund, which was GH¢20,000.00.
She said, however, that serious efforts were being made to address problems such as the Weija-Lomnava road.
For his part, Alhaji Adamu Amadu, the Chairman of the Alhaji-Tabora Branch of the GPRTU, appealed to the MP to address the numerous challenges facing the area.
Those challenges, he said, included the provision of a parking place for drivers, a place of convenience, garbage containers and the need for a police patrol team to check armed robbery in the area.
Mr Mohammed Bashiru, the Ga West District Co-ordinator of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), said only 25 people from the Alhaji-Tabora area in the Weija Constituency had registered with the programme.
He, therefore, advised the unemployed youth in the constituency to take advantage of the programme to become employed or learn a trade.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has called for frequent interaction between MPs and their constituents to share ideas on the development of their areas.
She said while MPs were expected to initiate such interactions, it also behoved the constituents to always get closer to their MPs to make useful suggestions on developmental issues.
Ms Botchwey, who is also a Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and PSI, made the call at a meeting with members of the Alhaji-Tabora Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in Accra to discuss problems facing the area.
The MP said the Weija Constituency was so large that all the needs of the people could not be met at the same time with her meagre share of the MP’s Common Fund, which was GH¢20,000.00.
She said, however, that serious efforts were being made to address problems such as the Weija-Lomnava road.
For his part, Alhaji Adamu Amadu, the Chairman of the Alhaji-Tabora Branch of the GPRTU, appealed to the MP to address the numerous challenges facing the area.
Those challenges, he said, included the provision of a parking place for drivers, a place of convenience, garbage containers and the need for a police patrol team to check armed robbery in the area.
Mr Mohammed Bashiru, the Ga West District Co-ordinator of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), said only 25 people from the Alhaji-Tabora area in the Weija Constituency had registered with the programme.
He, therefore, advised the unemployed youth in the constituency to take advantage of the programme to become employed or learn a trade.
Forest fires causes 3% GDP loss
Page 13, Feb 7, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
FOREST fires have caused an estimated annual loss of about three per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during the last 15 years, a Deputy Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mr Andrew Adjei-Yeboah, has disclosed.
“Wildfires, particularly in the transitional and savannah zones, have been the most significant cause of deforestation and forest degradation in Ghana,” he said.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah made the disclosure when he appeared before Parliament on Tuesday to answer some questions posed by some Members of Parliament (MPs) concerning his ministry.
The MP for Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, had asked the minister about the extent of depletion of forest reserves and whether the country could boast of forest reserves by 2020 if the trend continued.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah said according to a Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) Report, 2005, the total forest area as of 1990 declined from over 2,047,000 hectares to approximately 1,738,978 hectares in 2000.
He explained further that for the period between 2000 and 2005, the forest cover reduced further from 1,738,978 hectares to 1,607,705 hectares.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah said, however, that there had been a number of government and donor support interventions that had helped to check further deforestation.
Those interventions included the Wildfire Management Project, the Forest Resource Use Management Project (FORUM), Participatory Forest Resource Management (PAFORM) and the Northern Savannah Biodiversity Project, he said.
The deputy minister stated that a recent satellite image covering forest zones revealed improved vegetation cover in the forest area where wildfire projects were operational.
He added that the National Forest Plantation Development Programme launched by President Kufuor had resulted in the re-forestation of an estimated 116,840 hectares of degraded forest reserve lands.
The deputy minister also informed the House that the ministry had established a project for the development of 10,000 acres of oil palm estates within four mining communities in the Wassa West District of the Western Region.
He said the measure was part of the implementation of the results of a study conducted that came out with possible alternative livelihood projects that could be undertaken in mining communities in the country.
Answering another question by Mr Aidoo, Mr Adjei-Yeboah explained that the objective of the initiative was to galvanise existing farmer groups in the target communities to establish producer-shareholding commercial entities to cultivate oil palm, among others.
He also told the House in an answer to a question by the MP for Ningo-Prampram, Mr E.T. Mensah, that the government’s long-term vision was to develop the Shai Hills Resource Reserve as a major tourist attraction, in partnership with the private sector.
He gave assurance that the reserve was not being developed into a housing estate, explaining that rather the land outside the boundaries of the reserve was being developed by private sector developers.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
FOREST fires have caused an estimated annual loss of about three per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during the last 15 years, a Deputy Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mr Andrew Adjei-Yeboah, has disclosed.
“Wildfires, particularly in the transitional and savannah zones, have been the most significant cause of deforestation and forest degradation in Ghana,” he said.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah made the disclosure when he appeared before Parliament on Tuesday to answer some questions posed by some Members of Parliament (MPs) concerning his ministry.
The MP for Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, had asked the minister about the extent of depletion of forest reserves and whether the country could boast of forest reserves by 2020 if the trend continued.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah said according to a Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) Report, 2005, the total forest area as of 1990 declined from over 2,047,000 hectares to approximately 1,738,978 hectares in 2000.
He explained further that for the period between 2000 and 2005, the forest cover reduced further from 1,738,978 hectares to 1,607,705 hectares.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah said, however, that there had been a number of government and donor support interventions that had helped to check further deforestation.
Those interventions included the Wildfire Management Project, the Forest Resource Use Management Project (FORUM), Participatory Forest Resource Management (PAFORM) and the Northern Savannah Biodiversity Project, he said.
The deputy minister stated that a recent satellite image covering forest zones revealed improved vegetation cover in the forest area where wildfire projects were operational.
He added that the National Forest Plantation Development Programme launched by President Kufuor had resulted in the re-forestation of an estimated 116,840 hectares of degraded forest reserve lands.
The deputy minister also informed the House that the ministry had established a project for the development of 10,000 acres of oil palm estates within four mining communities in the Wassa West District of the Western Region.
He said the measure was part of the implementation of the results of a study conducted that came out with possible alternative livelihood projects that could be undertaken in mining communities in the country.
Answering another question by Mr Aidoo, Mr Adjei-Yeboah explained that the objective of the initiative was to galvanise existing farmer groups in the target communities to establish producer-shareholding commercial entities to cultivate oil palm, among others.
He also told the House in an answer to a question by the MP for Ningo-Prampram, Mr E.T. Mensah, that the government’s long-term vision was to develop the Shai Hills Resource Reserve as a major tourist attraction, in partnership with the private sector.
He gave assurance that the reserve was not being developed into a housing estate, explaining that rather the land outside the boundaries of the reserve was being developed by private sector developers.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
House lauds Black Stars
Page 3, Feb 6, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Buoyed by the spectacular performance of the senior national team, the Black Stars, in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, Parliament yesterday lavished praises on the players and their handlers and urged them to fight hard to win the cup.
Most of the MPs who contributed to a statement made by the MP for Atwima-Mponua, Mr Isaac Asiamah, to congratulate the team advised the players and handlers not to be complacent about their current successes and underrate their next opponents, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun.
In his statement, Mr Asiamah, who is also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture, had said the Black Stars had so far put up a splendid performance and “I urge them to twinkle to win the two matches ahead of them to annex the ultimate”.
The MP noted that last Sunday’s match between Ghana and Nigeria marked the 60th encounter between the two West African soccer giants, adding that statistics indicated that Ghana was tactically superior to Nigeria in soccer.
Mr Asiamah also commended the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the tournament and the government for the extensive preparation, in terms of security arrangements, accommodation and other infrastructural support, which had so far ensured the success of the tournament.
He, however, identified ticketing as one problem currently facing the LOC and called for an effective machinery to overcome that challenge so that the remaining matches would receive the necessary patronage.
Mr Asiamah said the incessant prayers and support by fans had encouraged the players to gallantly defend the flag of Ghana.
Contributing to the statement, the MP for Juaboso, Mr Sampson Ahi, said the performance of the team in the face of odds showed that the country would be able to achieve its goals if the people were united.
He, however, wondered why it had become very difficult for ordinary Ghanaians to purchase tickets for matches involving the Black Stars to enable them to be part of the spectators.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said the Black Stars players had not been intimidated by the bullying tactics of their Nigerian counterparts, saying that unity and tenacity of purpose had been the critical ingredients that had propelled them so far.
The MP for Garu-Tempane, Mr Dominic Azumah, urged the handlers to deal with the striking ability of the team before they met their Camerounian counterparts. He, however, predicted a 1-0 victory for the Black Stars.
Mr Azumah also expressed concern over the manner in which some people had been celebrating the victories of the Black Stars, which had resulted in the death of three people, with many more being injured.
The Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia Alima Mahama, noted that many of the fans who had been trooping to the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium to watch the Black Stars matches were women and congratulated them on their exploits.
While welcoming the government’s plan to construct modern stadia in each of the 10 regions, the minister, who is also the MP for Nalerigu/Gambaga, predicted a 3-0 victory for the Black Stars in their encounter with Cameroun.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, said Ghana’s dream of hosting and winning the tournament was on course and so everything possible should be done for the achievement of that dream.
He proposed that the leadership of the House visit the team to encourage the players and handlers before they tackled tomorrow’s match.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Mr Dominic Fobih, commended President Kufuor for his visits to the camp of the team, saying they had boosted the morale of both the handlers and players.
Commenting on the ticketing issue, the minister said the LOC had to satisfy CAF regulations on the allocation of tickets, adding that it was not deliberate to deny the public access to the stadium to cheer the Black Stars.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Buoyed by the spectacular performance of the senior national team, the Black Stars, in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, Parliament yesterday lavished praises on the players and their handlers and urged them to fight hard to win the cup.
Most of the MPs who contributed to a statement made by the MP for Atwima-Mponua, Mr Isaac Asiamah, to congratulate the team advised the players and handlers not to be complacent about their current successes and underrate their next opponents, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun.
In his statement, Mr Asiamah, who is also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture, had said the Black Stars had so far put up a splendid performance and “I urge them to twinkle to win the two matches ahead of them to annex the ultimate”.
The MP noted that last Sunday’s match between Ghana and Nigeria marked the 60th encounter between the two West African soccer giants, adding that statistics indicated that Ghana was tactically superior to Nigeria in soccer.
Mr Asiamah also commended the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the tournament and the government for the extensive preparation, in terms of security arrangements, accommodation and other infrastructural support, which had so far ensured the success of the tournament.
He, however, identified ticketing as one problem currently facing the LOC and called for an effective machinery to overcome that challenge so that the remaining matches would receive the necessary patronage.
Mr Asiamah said the incessant prayers and support by fans had encouraged the players to gallantly defend the flag of Ghana.
Contributing to the statement, the MP for Juaboso, Mr Sampson Ahi, said the performance of the team in the face of odds showed that the country would be able to achieve its goals if the people were united.
He, however, wondered why it had become very difficult for ordinary Ghanaians to purchase tickets for matches involving the Black Stars to enable them to be part of the spectators.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said the Black Stars players had not been intimidated by the bullying tactics of their Nigerian counterparts, saying that unity and tenacity of purpose had been the critical ingredients that had propelled them so far.
The MP for Garu-Tempane, Mr Dominic Azumah, urged the handlers to deal with the striking ability of the team before they met their Camerounian counterparts. He, however, predicted a 1-0 victory for the Black Stars.
Mr Azumah also expressed concern over the manner in which some people had been celebrating the victories of the Black Stars, which had resulted in the death of three people, with many more being injured.
The Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia Alima Mahama, noted that many of the fans who had been trooping to the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium to watch the Black Stars matches were women and congratulated them on their exploits.
While welcoming the government’s plan to construct modern stadia in each of the 10 regions, the minister, who is also the MP for Nalerigu/Gambaga, predicted a 3-0 victory for the Black Stars in their encounter with Cameroun.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, said Ghana’s dream of hosting and winning the tournament was on course and so everything possible should be done for the achievement of that dream.
He proposed that the leadership of the House visit the team to encourage the players and handlers before they tackled tomorrow’s match.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Mr Dominic Fobih, commended President Kufuor for his visits to the camp of the team, saying they had boosted the morale of both the handlers and players.
Commenting on the ticketing issue, the minister said the LOC had to satisfy CAF regulations on the allocation of tickets, adding that it was not deliberate to deny the public access to the stadium to cheer the Black Stars.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Logos Rhema Church supports Adenta municipality
Page 53, Feb 4, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Adenta assembly of the Logos Rhema Church has presented GH¢530.00 to the Adenta Zonal Council as part of its contribution towards the inauguration of the Adenta Municipal Assembly.
The donation was made on behalf of church by the Member of Parliament for Adenta, Mr Kwadjo Opare-Hammond, who is also the pastor of the church.
The MP said the amount was the first collection of members of the church for the year, referred to as “first fruits”, which was usually used for charity work.
The church thus decided to donate the amount to the new assembly to help solve some of its initial financial problems.
The chairman of the Zonal Council, Reverend Nii Sowah Odoi, who received the amount on behalf of the assembly, appealed to residents of Adenta to come to the aid of the assembly to ensure its proper take-off.
He said as a new establishment, the assembly would face a lot of problems and expressed the hope that residents would not hesitate to come to its aid whenever necessary.
In a related development, Mr Opare-Hammond has held a meeting with members of the Adenta Zonal Council, assemblymen and other stakeholders to discuss the challenges likely to face the new municipality.
They identified office and residential accommodation and sources of revenue as the main challenges to the new municipality, which was carved out of the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA).
Mr Opare-Hammond said the then TMA sub-office at Adenta would temporarily serve as the office of the assembly while it waits for the construction of a permanent office complex to house the various decentralised organisations.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Adenta assembly of the Logos Rhema Church has presented GH¢530.00 to the Adenta Zonal Council as part of its contribution towards the inauguration of the Adenta Municipal Assembly.
The donation was made on behalf of church by the Member of Parliament for Adenta, Mr Kwadjo Opare-Hammond, who is also the pastor of the church.
The MP said the amount was the first collection of members of the church for the year, referred to as “first fruits”, which was usually used for charity work.
The church thus decided to donate the amount to the new assembly to help solve some of its initial financial problems.
The chairman of the Zonal Council, Reverend Nii Sowah Odoi, who received the amount on behalf of the assembly, appealed to residents of Adenta to come to the aid of the assembly to ensure its proper take-off.
He said as a new establishment, the assembly would face a lot of problems and expressed the hope that residents would not hesitate to come to its aid whenever necessary.
In a related development, Mr Opare-Hammond has held a meeting with members of the Adenta Zonal Council, assemblymen and other stakeholders to discuss the challenges likely to face the new municipality.
They identified office and residential accommodation and sources of revenue as the main challenges to the new municipality, which was carved out of the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA).
Mr Opare-Hammond said the then TMA sub-office at Adenta would temporarily serve as the office of the assembly while it waits for the construction of a permanent office complex to house the various decentralised organisations.
'Invite MPs to tender board meetings'
Page 17, Feb 4, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
SOME Members of Parliament (MPs) on Friday called on the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment (MLGRDE) to compel District Chief Executives (DCEs) to invite MPs to District Tender Board (DTB) meetings.
They said even though MPs were legal members of the DTBs, some DCEs blatantly refuse to invite them to meetings.
The MPs were contributing to a statement made on the floor of the House by the MP for South Dayi, Dr Kwame Ampofo, calling on the ministry to ensure that DCEs complied with Section 18 of the Procurement Act (Act 663) which made MPs members of the board.
Although a Deputy Minister of the MLGRDE, Mr Maxwell Kofi Dwumah, replied that though the situation had not been brought before the ministry, all MPs who contributed to the ensuing debate urged the minister to bring DCEs to order.
The MP for New Edubiase, Mr Kofi Yakah, for example, told the House that he had once been sacked from a tender board meeting by his DCE.
Mr Dwumah, however, said since the District Tender Board Committee included MPs, there should be no reason why they should not be invited to such meetings.
“I wish to assure my honourable colleagues that if there are specific cases of such nature, they should be brought to the attention of the ministry and the necessary action will thus be taken,” he said.
Answering another question posed by the MP for Awutu Senya, Mr Oppey Abbey, Mr Dwumah told the House that the ministry was in contact with the Electoral Commission (EC) for the re-demarcation and creation of electoral areas, especially in the fast growing areas such as Weija, Adenta, Madina and Kasoa.
The MP had asked the minister why Kasoa, which had more than 100,000 inhabitants and a voter population of 44,000 had only one electoral area,
Mr Dwumah replied that though the demarcation and creation of electoral areas were the responsibilities of the EC, he was aware that new electoral areas would be created after the December elections.
For his part, the MP for Ketu South, Mr Albert Zigah, also wanted to know the state of the construction of the Aflao Lorry Park which served as the entry point to travellers entering the country through the South Eastern Gate.
The MP wondered why bitumen should be used for the rehabilitation of the station, instead of the pavement blocks, which were suitable for such projects.
Mr Dwumah said the first bitumen surfacing for the project was completed last December.
He explained that the second bitumen surfacing should have started but for a directive to the contractor to temporarily stop the project to allow vehicles entering the country through the Aflao corridor for the Africa Cup of Nations to move into the station to avoid congestion at the main border post.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
SOME Members of Parliament (MPs) on Friday called on the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment (MLGRDE) to compel District Chief Executives (DCEs) to invite MPs to District Tender Board (DTB) meetings.
They said even though MPs were legal members of the DTBs, some DCEs blatantly refuse to invite them to meetings.
The MPs were contributing to a statement made on the floor of the House by the MP for South Dayi, Dr Kwame Ampofo, calling on the ministry to ensure that DCEs complied with Section 18 of the Procurement Act (Act 663) which made MPs members of the board.
Although a Deputy Minister of the MLGRDE, Mr Maxwell Kofi Dwumah, replied that though the situation had not been brought before the ministry, all MPs who contributed to the ensuing debate urged the minister to bring DCEs to order.
The MP for New Edubiase, Mr Kofi Yakah, for example, told the House that he had once been sacked from a tender board meeting by his DCE.
Mr Dwumah, however, said since the District Tender Board Committee included MPs, there should be no reason why they should not be invited to such meetings.
“I wish to assure my honourable colleagues that if there are specific cases of such nature, they should be brought to the attention of the ministry and the necessary action will thus be taken,” he said.
Answering another question posed by the MP for Awutu Senya, Mr Oppey Abbey, Mr Dwumah told the House that the ministry was in contact with the Electoral Commission (EC) for the re-demarcation and creation of electoral areas, especially in the fast growing areas such as Weija, Adenta, Madina and Kasoa.
The MP had asked the minister why Kasoa, which had more than 100,000 inhabitants and a voter population of 44,000 had only one electoral area,
Mr Dwumah replied that though the demarcation and creation of electoral areas were the responsibilities of the EC, he was aware that new electoral areas would be created after the December elections.
For his part, the MP for Ketu South, Mr Albert Zigah, also wanted to know the state of the construction of the Aflao Lorry Park which served as the entry point to travellers entering the country through the South Eastern Gate.
The MP wondered why bitumen should be used for the rehabilitation of the station, instead of the pavement blocks, which were suitable for such projects.
Mr Dwumah said the first bitumen surfacing for the project was completed last December.
He explained that the second bitumen surfacing should have started but for a directive to the contractor to temporarily stop the project to allow vehicles entering the country through the Aflao corridor for the Africa Cup of Nations to move into the station to avoid congestion at the main border post.
Friday, February 1, 2008
NDC reprimands Teye Nyaunu
Page 16. Feb 1, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reprimanded the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lower Manya, Mr Michael Teye Nyaunu, for using an inappropriate channel to address his concern on the health of the flag bearer of the party, Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
At a closed-door meeting yesterday, Mr Nyaunu was reported to have apologised for using the wrong channel of communication, not the issues he raised.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the outcome of the meeting, the General Secretary of the party, Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, said the MP breached Article 39 of the party’s constitution for using that mode of communication in airing his views.
“Although there are other sanctions, such as suspension for a specific period, removal from office and a fine, the party chose to reprimand the MP,” he said.
Mr Asiedu-Nketiah explained that the party was a democratic one which allowed its members to speak their mind freely. He, however, pointed out that that must be done in such a manner that the party was not put at a disadvantage.
He said during the meeting with the MP, which was also attended by the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, it was enquired from him whether he had any exclusive information about Professor Mills’s health.
He said the MP maintained his stance that he had come to such a conclusion as a result of his observation of the flag bearer.
He added that the National Council of the party would take the MP’s observation on board and conduct its own investigations, now that he had formally made it known.
“As far as we are concerned, Professor Mills was in good health before he left for South Africa and he is still the party’s flag bearer,” Mr Asiedu-Nketiah said.
Meanwhile, some Minority MPs have expressed their displeasure at the manner in which their colleague came out with his concerns, especially so when they concern the health of a prominent member of the party.
The NDC MP for Ketu South, Mr Albert Zigah, said although the MP should not be punished, he should be advised to use party structures to address issues of such sensitive nature.
To the MP, “even if Professor Mills is bed-ridden, with his right hand on drip and blood transfusion on the left hand, and with oxygen on him, we will still use him for the election”.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reprimanded the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lower Manya, Mr Michael Teye Nyaunu, for using an inappropriate channel to address his concern on the health of the flag bearer of the party, Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
At a closed-door meeting yesterday, Mr Nyaunu was reported to have apologised for using the wrong channel of communication, not the issues he raised.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the outcome of the meeting, the General Secretary of the party, Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, said the MP breached Article 39 of the party’s constitution for using that mode of communication in airing his views.
“Although there are other sanctions, such as suspension for a specific period, removal from office and a fine, the party chose to reprimand the MP,” he said.
Mr Asiedu-Nketiah explained that the party was a democratic one which allowed its members to speak their mind freely. He, however, pointed out that that must be done in such a manner that the party was not put at a disadvantage.
He said during the meeting with the MP, which was also attended by the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, it was enquired from him whether he had any exclusive information about Professor Mills’s health.
He said the MP maintained his stance that he had come to such a conclusion as a result of his observation of the flag bearer.
He added that the National Council of the party would take the MP’s observation on board and conduct its own investigations, now that he had formally made it known.
“As far as we are concerned, Professor Mills was in good health before he left for South Africa and he is still the party’s flag bearer,” Mr Asiedu-Nketiah said.
Meanwhile, some Minority MPs have expressed their displeasure at the manner in which their colleague came out with his concerns, especially so when they concern the health of a prominent member of the party.
The NDC MP for Ketu South, Mr Albert Zigah, said although the MP should not be punished, he should be advised to use party structures to address issues of such sensitive nature.
To the MP, “even if Professor Mills is bed-ridden, with his right hand on drip and blood transfusion on the left hand, and with oxygen on him, we will still use him for the election”.
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