Page 16, Aug 11, 2009
Story: Lucy Adoma Yeboah & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE government has secured a $24-million loan for the completion of rehabilitation works on the State House Tower, popularly known as Job 600.
The Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr Hanna Louisa Bissiw, who made this known in Accra, said the project was expected to commence soon after a stakeholders’ discussion on the modalities for the completion of the project.
She said such talks could only start when Parliament resumed sitting in October, this year.
The magnificent and imposing Job 600 building was put up in 1965 for the hosting of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit, which was chaired by Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
When completed, the Job 600 building would provide office accommodation for all the 230 legislators.
Dr Bissiw said the execution of the project had become even more urgent as parliamentarians would soon engage research assistants to help them in their work.
She expressed displeasure at what she said had been an unfortunate spectacle at Parliament House where members virtually used their cars as offices.
Throwing more light on the project, the Chief Technical Advisor (Housing) at the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji A. Dawuni, said the ministry decided to go ahead with the rehabilitation work after an assessment and evaluation had revealed that it was strong enough to be used.
The Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing says it would have been appropriate if the ministry was given the responsibility to handle the rehabilitation works on the Job 600.
The ministry has, therefore, began discussions with the leadership of Parliament to be given the responsibility to supervise the project.
In interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Albert Abongo confirmed that the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) had provided a loan to Parliament for the rehabilitation of the building to be used as offices for Members of Parliament (MPs).
He said the rehabilitation work was initiated by the ministry until Parliament decided to take full responsibility of the work some years ago.
Mr Abongo explained that since it was the ministry which had personnel with the requisite knowledge to take charge of all such projects belonging to the state, it would serve a very good purpose if the ministry was allowed to handle the job.
Monday, August 24, 2009
(Nii Tackie-Comme denies allegation)
Page 15, Aug 11, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Odododiodoo, Mr Jonathan Nii Tackie-Comme, has denied an allegation levelled against him that he was behind attempts to halt the celebration of this year’s “Homowo” festival.
“I wish to state emphatically that there is no iota of truth in that statement,” he said at a press conference in Accra to deny the allegation.
Mr Tackie-Comme explained that for the past three years, there had been disputes over the Ga Paramount Stool, which had resulted in riots and intervention by the security agencies.
He said during the preparation towards the festival in 2008, similar incidents occurred and that compelled the then government to request the National Peace Council to intervene leading to the imposition of a ban on the sprinkling of traditional meal in some parts of Ga Mashie.
Mr Tackie-Comme stated that during this year’s rites of the ban on drumming, similar issues nearly cropped up.
According to the MP, reliable information gathered from the security agencies showed that such incidents could erupt during this year’s Homowo celebration.
“As the MP for the area, I have the legitimate right to ensure peace and protect the rights of my constituents and therefore wholeheartedly support the action taken by the Regional Security Council in the maintenance of peace during the Homowo celebrations,” he stated.
The MP reiterated that the decision of the REGSEC could not be taken in isolation as it did happen under the previous administration, adding that chances must not be taken for any mishap to occur as it did in some parts of the country sometime ago.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Odododiodoo, Mr Jonathan Nii Tackie-Comme, has denied an allegation levelled against him that he was behind attempts to halt the celebration of this year’s “Homowo” festival.
“I wish to state emphatically that there is no iota of truth in that statement,” he said at a press conference in Accra to deny the allegation.
Mr Tackie-Comme explained that for the past three years, there had been disputes over the Ga Paramount Stool, which had resulted in riots and intervention by the security agencies.
He said during the preparation towards the festival in 2008, similar incidents occurred and that compelled the then government to request the National Peace Council to intervene leading to the imposition of a ban on the sprinkling of traditional meal in some parts of Ga Mashie.
Mr Tackie-Comme stated that during this year’s rites of the ban on drumming, similar issues nearly cropped up.
According to the MP, reliable information gathered from the security agencies showed that such incidents could erupt during this year’s Homowo celebration.
“As the MP for the area, I have the legitimate right to ensure peace and protect the rights of my constituents and therefore wholeheartedly support the action taken by the Regional Security Council in the maintenance of peace during the Homowo celebrations,” he stated.
The MP reiterated that the decision of the REGSEC could not be taken in isolation as it did happen under the previous administration, adding that chances must not be taken for any mishap to occur as it did in some parts of the country sometime ago.
(MP, assembly to embark on agric programme)
Page 15, Aug 11, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, and the Ellembelle District Assembly are collaborating to institute an agricultural development programme that will provide employment for the youth in the area.
Briefing the Daily Graphic after a tour of his constituency, the MP stated that he was in touch with the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to support that development agenda to ensure its success.
"The agricultural sector in my area is capable of wiping out poverty, especially if we support it with the necessary resources and technology,” he said.
According to Mr Buah, agriculture could engage majority of the unemployed youth most of who were uneducated and lacked the skills and the requisite qualifications.
He said communities in the area were engaged in cash crop farming, including cocoa, rubber, coconut and oil palm plantations, adding, “Apart from that, the district farmers are also engaged in food crop production such as cassava and maize.”
The MP, however, stated that some of the youth in that area had not taken agriculture seriously and as such, they had over the years, distanced themselves from its activities.
“The youth in this area think that agriculture is not lucrative, but that perception will change henceforth because we are going to make agriculture attractive to them. We will support them with funds, technology and the moral courage to venture into this area for the sake of the development of Ellembele,” he added.
Outlining some of the crops and the areas to start with, Mr Buah mentioned rice farming, animal husbandry, mass maize production and vegetable cultivation among other crops that he believed the district would consider when the programme began.
Rice production, he stated, would be the first to be tackled before the other crops and animal husbandry were considered, he said.
He said, “You cannot eradicate poverty in an area where there is mass illiteracy, but you can address illiteracy if you tackle poverty. If you do not consider the agricultural sector as an option, you cannot succeed in arresting mass unemployment”.
Mr Buah expressed the hope that with the collaboration of the district assembly, about 2,000 youth in the area would be engaged, adding that “for me, the agricultural sector is the answer, because it is a huge potential area that we must use to create jobs”.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, and the Ellembelle District Assembly are collaborating to institute an agricultural development programme that will provide employment for the youth in the area.
Briefing the Daily Graphic after a tour of his constituency, the MP stated that he was in touch with the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to support that development agenda to ensure its success.
"The agricultural sector in my area is capable of wiping out poverty, especially if we support it with the necessary resources and technology,” he said.
According to Mr Buah, agriculture could engage majority of the unemployed youth most of who were uneducated and lacked the skills and the requisite qualifications.
He said communities in the area were engaged in cash crop farming, including cocoa, rubber, coconut and oil palm plantations, adding, “Apart from that, the district farmers are also engaged in food crop production such as cassava and maize.”
The MP, however, stated that some of the youth in that area had not taken agriculture seriously and as such, they had over the years, distanced themselves from its activities.
“The youth in this area think that agriculture is not lucrative, but that perception will change henceforth because we are going to make agriculture attractive to them. We will support them with funds, technology and the moral courage to venture into this area for the sake of the development of Ellembele,” he added.
Outlining some of the crops and the areas to start with, Mr Buah mentioned rice farming, animal husbandry, mass maize production and vegetable cultivation among other crops that he believed the district would consider when the programme began.
Rice production, he stated, would be the first to be tackled before the other crops and animal husbandry were considered, he said.
He said, “You cannot eradicate poverty in an area where there is mass illiteracy, but you can address illiteracy if you tackle poverty. If you do not consider the agricultural sector as an option, you cannot succeed in arresting mass unemployment”.
Mr Buah expressed the hope that with the collaboration of the district assembly, about 2,000 youth in the area would be engaged, adding that “for me, the agricultural sector is the answer, because it is a huge potential area that we must use to create jobs”.
(’All must embrace Nkrumah’s centenary celebration’)
Page 17, Aug 10, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has appealed to Ghanaians to put their political, religious, cultural and ethnic differences aside and embrace the centenary celebration of the First President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The centenary celebration of the birth of the late Dr Nkrumah is expected to be marked on September 21, this year.
Mr Buah, who is also a Deputy Minister of Energy, said the celebration must be seen as an event aimed at achieving national unity, reconciliation and peaceful co-existence among Ghanaians.
"Osagyefo was a pacesetter in the fight against discrimination, disunity and underdevelopment,” he said, adding that he was considered by many as a symbol of African unity.
Mr Buah, who was speaking to Daily Graphic after a tour of his constituency, said that notion was made clear even after Dr Nkrumah’s death when he was voted the African of the Millennium.
He said he toured the constituency to meet the chiefs and people of the area and deliberate on how to celebrate the occasion to honour Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah for his contribution towards the advancement of humanity, particularly Africans.
He said the centenary celebration would enable the youth to draw inspiration from the life and achievements of the founder of modern Ghana, whose selfless sacrifice won the country her independence.
Mr Buah said while the whole continent of Africa would be celebrating the life of Dr Nkrumah in different ways, Ghanaians must demonstrate to the rest of the world that Nkrumah stood for all.
“This is the time for us in Ghana to tell the story of the founder of our nation. We must be actively engaged in showcasing his achievements, his ideologies and above all the courage and the ‘can do’ spirit that characterised the lifestyle of Nkrumah, which gave birth to the spirit of nationalism at the time of independence,” he said.
The MP urged Ghanaians to be proud of the noble man, adding that even though he was no more, his legacy was everywhere throughout the world.
“That is the impeccable position bequeathed this nation by a legend," Mr Buah asserted.
He suggested a common platform that would bring the people of Nzema together to share and brainstorm on the need to make their children imbibe the culture and spirit of nationalism, unity and discipline.
That, according to him, would help address most of the challenges, such as illiteracy, poverty, diseases, indiscipline and lawlessness among other problems confronting the people of the area.
“Don’t sit in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi and expect change to take place in Nzema; your role and responsibility should bring about that desirable change. This is very important for the development of our area,” Mr Buah emphasised.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has appealed to Ghanaians to put their political, religious, cultural and ethnic differences aside and embrace the centenary celebration of the First President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The centenary celebration of the birth of the late Dr Nkrumah is expected to be marked on September 21, this year.
Mr Buah, who is also a Deputy Minister of Energy, said the celebration must be seen as an event aimed at achieving national unity, reconciliation and peaceful co-existence among Ghanaians.
"Osagyefo was a pacesetter in the fight against discrimination, disunity and underdevelopment,” he said, adding that he was considered by many as a symbol of African unity.
Mr Buah, who was speaking to Daily Graphic after a tour of his constituency, said that notion was made clear even after Dr Nkrumah’s death when he was voted the African of the Millennium.
He said he toured the constituency to meet the chiefs and people of the area and deliberate on how to celebrate the occasion to honour Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah for his contribution towards the advancement of humanity, particularly Africans.
He said the centenary celebration would enable the youth to draw inspiration from the life and achievements of the founder of modern Ghana, whose selfless sacrifice won the country her independence.
Mr Buah said while the whole continent of Africa would be celebrating the life of Dr Nkrumah in different ways, Ghanaians must demonstrate to the rest of the world that Nkrumah stood for all.
“This is the time for us in Ghana to tell the story of the founder of our nation. We must be actively engaged in showcasing his achievements, his ideologies and above all the courage and the ‘can do’ spirit that characterised the lifestyle of Nkrumah, which gave birth to the spirit of nationalism at the time of independence,” he said.
The MP urged Ghanaians to be proud of the noble man, adding that even though he was no more, his legacy was everywhere throughout the world.
“That is the impeccable position bequeathed this nation by a legend," Mr Buah asserted.
He suggested a common platform that would bring the people of Nzema together to share and brainstorm on the need to make their children imbibe the culture and spirit of nationalism, unity and discipline.
That, according to him, would help address most of the challenges, such as illiteracy, poverty, diseases, indiscipline and lawlessness among other problems confronting the people of the area.
“Don’t sit in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi and expect change to take place in Nzema; your role and responsibility should bring about that desirable change. This is very important for the development of our area,” Mr Buah emphasised.
Remains of Chereponi MP to be interred on Monday
Page 12, Aug 8, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE remains of the late Member of Parliament (MP) for Chereponi, Mrs Doris Asibi Seidu, will be interred at her home town, Chereponi in the Northern Region, on Monday, August 10, 2009.
The MP died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, after battling with a protracted illness, on Saturday, August 1, 2009.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, who informed the Daily Graphic, said already the family of the deceased had formally informed Parliament about her death.
A letter addressed to the Majority Leader by the husband of the deceased, Mr Abdul-Karim Tahiru, on behalf of the bereaved family said Mrs Seidu had been suffering from a hole-in-heart condition for the past year.
According to Mr Bagbin, Parliament had established a committee to liaise with the bereaved family in order to organise a befitting burial and funeral for the late MP.
He said the body would be flown from Accra to Tamale before being conveyed in an ambulance to her home town where she would be laid to rest in the Muslim tradition.
Mr Bagbin added that the Northern Regional Minister and district chief executives in the area had all been informed to assist in the organisation of the funeral.
Arrangements had been put in place to convey MPs and sympathisers to Chereponi to take part in the funeral activities, he said.
Mrs Seidu won the Chereponi seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2004 and retained it in the 2008 elections when she polled 9,188 out of the 17,559 valid votes cast, representing 53 per cent of the votes.
She served on the Education and Mines and Energy committees in Parliament.
Her death means a bye-election will be held to find a replacement.
The Chereponi Constituency is made up of two ethnic groups, the Chokosis and the Kokombas, and political analysts argue that the NPP would need to get a candidate, who, like the late MP, laid claim to both groups if it wants to retain the seat.
Mrs Seidu was a teacher and social worker by profession. She is survived by a husband and one child.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE remains of the late Member of Parliament (MP) for Chereponi, Mrs Doris Asibi Seidu, will be interred at her home town, Chereponi in the Northern Region, on Monday, August 10, 2009.
The MP died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, after battling with a protracted illness, on Saturday, August 1, 2009.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, who informed the Daily Graphic, said already the family of the deceased had formally informed Parliament about her death.
A letter addressed to the Majority Leader by the husband of the deceased, Mr Abdul-Karim Tahiru, on behalf of the bereaved family said Mrs Seidu had been suffering from a hole-in-heart condition for the past year.
According to Mr Bagbin, Parliament had established a committee to liaise with the bereaved family in order to organise a befitting burial and funeral for the late MP.
He said the body would be flown from Accra to Tamale before being conveyed in an ambulance to her home town where she would be laid to rest in the Muslim tradition.
Mr Bagbin added that the Northern Regional Minister and district chief executives in the area had all been informed to assist in the organisation of the funeral.
Arrangements had been put in place to convey MPs and sympathisers to Chereponi to take part in the funeral activities, he said.
Mrs Seidu won the Chereponi seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2004 and retained it in the 2008 elections when she polled 9,188 out of the 17,559 valid votes cast, representing 53 per cent of the votes.
She served on the Education and Mines and Energy committees in Parliament.
Her death means a bye-election will be held to find a replacement.
The Chereponi Constituency is made up of two ethnic groups, the Chokosis and the Kokombas, and political analysts argue that the NPP would need to get a candidate, who, like the late MP, laid claim to both groups if it wants to retain the seat.
Mrs Seidu was a teacher and social worker by profession. She is survived by a husband and one child.
Maintain professional standards, Minority urges Police
Page 13, Aug 1, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has urged the Ghana Police Service to continue to engage in what it terms the “democratic policing and professionalism devoid of unwarranted excesses” to forestall public displeasure and condemnation.
“We congratulate them for the introduction of handsome rewards for informants, and urge them to protect the identities of whistleblowers”.
In a statement issued and signed by the Minority Spokesperson for Defence and Interior, Mr William Ofori Boafo, the Minority said it did not want the police to adopt the situation where the former Principal Accountant of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr Adim Odoom, was unmasked for exposing the former Sports Minister, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak.
The statement, which was in apparent reaction to the recent press briefing about the country’s security, also called on the government to immediately address the welfare and logistical requirements of the security agencies.
The statement added that the Minority acknowledged the emerging resourcefulness of the Ghana Police Service, the dynamism of the Ghana Immigration Service and the irreversible determination of the Narcotics Control Board in the combat against armed robbery, money laundering, cyber fraud, cross border crimes and trafficking.
Commenting on issues raised in the Minister of the Interior’s press briefing, the statement noted that the minister lauded himself for the past glories of the security services.
The statement said the minister was unable to indicate what outstanding and significant thing the NDC administration had done within the past seven months in office which had enabled the security agencies to perform creditably.
“He did not express regret about the freeze on fresh intake to strengthen and augment the capacity of the police; he did not indicate what had been done to solve the stark accommodation problems of the police; neither was he explicit regarding the upgrading of equipment to make the police more combat ready”.
The Minority stated that the minister failed to touch on the broken down vehicles and motorcycles at the various garages which were desperately crying for repairs.
The statement wondered why the minister also failed to address the continuous harassment of supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) by NDC supporters, and cited incidents at Sankore in the Brong Ahafo Region and the recent mayhem at the Kokomba Market to buttress his point.
It also questioned the basis for the mass transfer in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Police Service as well as the retrenchment of about 40 personnel of the National Security apparatus without any just or fair cause.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has urged the Ghana Police Service to continue to engage in what it terms the “democratic policing and professionalism devoid of unwarranted excesses” to forestall public displeasure and condemnation.
“We congratulate them for the introduction of handsome rewards for informants, and urge them to protect the identities of whistleblowers”.
In a statement issued and signed by the Minority Spokesperson for Defence and Interior, Mr William Ofori Boafo, the Minority said it did not want the police to adopt the situation where the former Principal Accountant of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr Adim Odoom, was unmasked for exposing the former Sports Minister, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak.
The statement, which was in apparent reaction to the recent press briefing about the country’s security, also called on the government to immediately address the welfare and logistical requirements of the security agencies.
The statement added that the Minority acknowledged the emerging resourcefulness of the Ghana Police Service, the dynamism of the Ghana Immigration Service and the irreversible determination of the Narcotics Control Board in the combat against armed robbery, money laundering, cyber fraud, cross border crimes and trafficking.
Commenting on issues raised in the Minister of the Interior’s press briefing, the statement noted that the minister lauded himself for the past glories of the security services.
The statement said the minister was unable to indicate what outstanding and significant thing the NDC administration had done within the past seven months in office which had enabled the security agencies to perform creditably.
“He did not express regret about the freeze on fresh intake to strengthen and augment the capacity of the police; he did not indicate what had been done to solve the stark accommodation problems of the police; neither was he explicit regarding the upgrading of equipment to make the police more combat ready”.
The Minority stated that the minister failed to touch on the broken down vehicles and motorcycles at the various garages which were desperately crying for repairs.
The statement wondered why the minister also failed to address the continuous harassment of supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) by NDC supporters, and cited incidents at Sankore in the Brong Ahafo Region and the recent mayhem at the Kokomba Market to buttress his point.
It also questioned the basis for the mass transfer in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Police Service as well as the retrenchment of about 40 personnel of the National Security apparatus without any just or fair cause.
Moves to review ex-gratia exercise in futility
Page 16, July 23, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has described the government’s efforts at reviewing the emoluments payable to beneficiaries of Article 71 of the Constitution, as determined by the Chinnery Hesse Committee as an “exercise in futility”.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic about the rejection of the Chinnery Hesse Committee recommendations as the basis for the determination of those emoluments, the Minority Leader stated that President Mills “cannot arrogate to himself the functions of the former President and the former Parliament”.
He, therefore, described the action of the President in setting up the Ishmael Yamson Committee as unconstitutional and questioned how an administrative committee could overturn a decision of Parliament.
He maintained that it was not the business of the current government to determine the emoluments of former President J.A. Kufuor and Members of Parliament (MPs) of the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, and described any such action as a “de facto” action.
“Any attempt to do that will be a breach of the Constitution”, he said, and indicated that the Minority would study the report of the Ishmael Yamson Committee, which President J. E. A. Mills set up to review the Chinnery Hesse Committee’s report to know their next line of action.
Asked whether the Minority would go to court to seek justice, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said that he was yet to get a copy of the report of the Ishmael Yamson Committee, adding that “we shall cross the bridge when we get to the river”.
As to why the Chinnery Hesse Committee’s report was adopted under a certificate of urgency during the last sitting of the previous Parliament, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said it was not a misplacement for Parliament to do so and cited a number of papers and loans that had gone through such a process.
He said nobody could dispute the fact that the recommendations of the Chinnery Hesse’s Committee were adopted by the previous Parliament, explaining that MPs in the previous Parliament had a collective responsibility to accept the decision they took .
On the way forward, the Minority Leader stated that “the bottom-line is the ability to pay” and called for engagement between Parliament and the Presidency rather than the latter taking actions which were unconstitutional.
“The action of the government is most unfortunate and should not be entertained”, he maintained.
The Daily Graphic reported on the front page of its Tuesday, July 21, 2009 edition that the Ishmael Yamson committee had declared that the Chinnery Hesse Committee report could not be the basis for determining those emoluments.
The report stated that there were two different reports, one of which was submitted in June 2008, while the other was submitted in December, 2008.
The paper stated that the Ishmael Yamson Committee report said it could not establish which of the two reports was purportedly approved by ex-President Kufuor and the Parliament at the time.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has described the government’s efforts at reviewing the emoluments payable to beneficiaries of Article 71 of the Constitution, as determined by the Chinnery Hesse Committee as an “exercise in futility”.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic about the rejection of the Chinnery Hesse Committee recommendations as the basis for the determination of those emoluments, the Minority Leader stated that President Mills “cannot arrogate to himself the functions of the former President and the former Parliament”.
He, therefore, described the action of the President in setting up the Ishmael Yamson Committee as unconstitutional and questioned how an administrative committee could overturn a decision of Parliament.
He maintained that it was not the business of the current government to determine the emoluments of former President J.A. Kufuor and Members of Parliament (MPs) of the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, and described any such action as a “de facto” action.
“Any attempt to do that will be a breach of the Constitution”, he said, and indicated that the Minority would study the report of the Ishmael Yamson Committee, which President J. E. A. Mills set up to review the Chinnery Hesse Committee’s report to know their next line of action.
Asked whether the Minority would go to court to seek justice, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said that he was yet to get a copy of the report of the Ishmael Yamson Committee, adding that “we shall cross the bridge when we get to the river”.
As to why the Chinnery Hesse Committee’s report was adopted under a certificate of urgency during the last sitting of the previous Parliament, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said it was not a misplacement for Parliament to do so and cited a number of papers and loans that had gone through such a process.
He said nobody could dispute the fact that the recommendations of the Chinnery Hesse’s Committee were adopted by the previous Parliament, explaining that MPs in the previous Parliament had a collective responsibility to accept the decision they took .
On the way forward, the Minority Leader stated that “the bottom-line is the ability to pay” and called for engagement between Parliament and the Presidency rather than the latter taking actions which were unconstitutional.
“The action of the government is most unfortunate and should not be entertained”, he maintained.
The Daily Graphic reported on the front page of its Tuesday, July 21, 2009 edition that the Ishmael Yamson committee had declared that the Chinnery Hesse Committee report could not be the basis for determining those emoluments.
The report stated that there were two different reports, one of which was submitted in June 2008, while the other was submitted in December, 2008.
The paper stated that the Ishmael Yamson Committee report said it could not establish which of the two reports was purportedly approved by ex-President Kufuor and the Parliament at the time.
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