Day: April 17, 2024

The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) has called for reforms to the composition and appointment processes of Board Members of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

This according to the committee will allow persons with the technical competence or experience in the extractives industry to provide strategic direction to the NOC.

PIAC observed that the appointment to the GNPC Board is governed by PNDCL 64, which allowed all board members to be appointed by the President of Ghana, on the advice of the Minister for Energy.

‘It is believed that persons often affiliated with the ruling administration are appointed to the Board,’ PIAC highlighted in its second Issue Paper titled, ‘The Role of GNPC in the Upstream Petroleum Industry: Challenges and Prospects’.

It also noted that the Board lacked institutional representation, unlike other Organisations such as the Petroleum Commission Board, which has representation from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Institution of Geoscien
tists, and three other persons, one of whom must be a woman.

It called for the urgent review of the PNDCL 64, which does not provide enough details on the qualifying criteria for appointment to the board of GNPC and for that matter served as an opening for ruling administration to appoint individuals ‘with strong allegiances to the party.’

PIAC also highlighted the need for the corporation to, among other things, take urgent action to retrieve funds owed to it by the state and other government agencies and review its Corporate Social Responsibility activities to commit more funds to cash calls and mandates, especially when its funding from the PHF is expected to cease.

‘The Committee commends GNPC for its role in managing Ghana’s interest in all upstream petroleum activities for over 30 years since its establishment, however, the NOC must start refocusing on its core mandate, and increase its efforts at becoming a viable stand-alone operator,’ the paper indicated.

PIAC is an independent statutory body man
dated to promote transparency and accountability in the management of petroleum revenues in Ghana.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has expressed shock at what he describes as the continuous violation of the Constitution of Ghana by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

According to him, Akufo-Addo, as an active lawyer and a legislator in the 1990s, was always up in arms challenging the supposed breaches of the constitution committed by the then Jerry John Rawlings administration.

Describing the president as a ‘judicial terrorist’ in the 1990s, the MP in an interview on GhanaWeb’s The Lowdown, said that Akufo-Addo was always in court fighting the late former President Jerry John Rawlings for supposedly breaching the 1992 Constitution.

He added that it is surprising that the same Akufo-Addo would be the subject of many legal actions for the same things he accused Rawlings of.

‘Between 1991 and 2000, if you were in this country, Nana Akufo-Addo was like a judicial terrorist. He was perpetually in court against anything that General Rawlings did that he thought w
as unconstitutional.

‘Go and read the cases… look, the number of cases he did against the JJR (Jerry John Rawlings) government between January 1993 and December 2000, I won’t speak to them, the law report does. This was a person who was perpetually seeking some manner of interpretation in the Supreme Court, as it were, to straighten the constitutional provisions.

He added, ‘So, it is unbelievable that 25 years down the line, he, himself is a subject of so many constitutional court cases regarding his actions as a president.’

The MP made these remarks while reacting to suits he has filed against the president, challenging his February 14, 2024, ministerial reshuffle and the president’s refusal to take action on the Anti-gay Bill, approved by parliament.

Source: Ghana Web

In a vibrant display of community spirit, BOAYAFEST, a new festival celebration by the youth of Bowiri, has been officially launched under the auspices of the Bowiri Youth for Development Forum (BYfDF).

The maiden festival is scheduled for September 2024 (specific date and venue to be confirmed shortly). This dynamic event promises to unite indigenes of Bowiri, particularly the youth, from near and far.

‘BOAYAFEST is more than just a celebration”, explained Naana Addae Ampedua II, the Omanhenema of Bowiri traditional area, during her heartfelt launch speech. ” It is an opportunity to invest in the future of all our townships – Anyinase, Amanfrom, Kyirahin, Takrabe, Kwamekrom, and all the rest.”

The festival’s central goal is to raise funds for development projects throughout Bowiri.

To ensure that every township benefits, BOAYAFEST will rotate annually.” This festival belongs to all of Bowiri,” Naana Addae Ampedua II emphasized.” Each year, a different township will share the honour of hosting, bringing
development and celebration directly to their community ”

Addressing the youth of Bowiri with warmth and encouragement, the Queen Mother urged them to embrace the festival’s spirit.” Start planning, start saving, and invite your friends from far, near, and wide to join us this September.

Together, we will make the first BOAYAFEST a resounding success! she concluded.

Source: Ghana Web

Members of the Graduate Unemployed Nurses and Midwives Association (GUNMA) on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, defied the torrential rains to protest what they say is unfair treatment from the government.

The group made up of 2020, 2021 and 2022 graduates converged at the Ridge Taxi Rank in Accra around 8 am but saw their event being threatened by gathering rain clouds.

Resolved to press home their grievances, the group notwithstanding the ensuing heavy downpour marched through the principal streets of Accra to the Ministry of Health, Parliament and the Ministry of Finance where they presented a petition outlining their demand for immediate posting.

As part of their demand, the group asked the government to settle their outstanding trainee allowances.

Source: Ghana Web

A group calling itself ‘Bryan Acheampong for Running Mate (BA4RM)’ has issued a statement galvanising support for Dr. Bryan Acheampong to be chosen as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) running mate for election 2024.

In a statement released on Facebook, on Wednesday, 17th April 2024 and signed by Nana Yaw Osene (Okyeman Mayor), titled “The Conversation Tilts Towards Dr. Bryan Acheampong For Running Mate… Group Tells Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia” urges the NPP flagbearer to consider the current Agriculture Minister as his running for 2024 elections.

The statement avers that, in light of “Dr. Bawumia’s unwavering dedication to Ghana’s advancement. The BA4RM group firmly believes that Dr. Bawumia’s choice for a running mate should transcend mere entitlement or birthright and instead prioritize the collective interests of the Ghanaian populace,” shared the statement.

In further soliciting support for their preferred running mate adds “Our optimism is firmly rooted in the peerless credentials and unmatched dedication
of Dr. Bryan Acheampong, whose commitment to community, institution, and individual transformation is unparalleled”.

Source: Ghana Web

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament representing the Upper West Region have expressed their profound thanks and gratitude to the Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament, Alban S. K. Bagbin, for his unwavering support to the Caucus over the last three years.

In a statement issued by the leader of the caucus, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, MP for Wa Central Constituency, the MPs acknowledged the Speaker’s consistent support, which extends to all MPs in Parliament, without discrimination. They particularly appreciated his kind and personal support to them as Upper West NDC MPs, citing instances where his advice, guidance, and sometimes material support had been invaluable.

The MPs highlighted the Speaker’s recent donation of street lights to them, valued at about eight-hundred and eighty thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC 880,000), which they are passing on to their constituents. They described this gesture as just one clear example of the many kinds of support they have enjoyed from Rt Hon Speaker Bagbin.

The MPs
thanked the Speaker for his commitment to uphold the sanctity of Ghana’s democracy and ensure the smooth running of Parliament. They wished him the best in his endeavours and prayed for God’s continued blessings and protection upon him.

The Rt Hon Speaker Alban Bagbin has been widely praised for his transformative leadership in Parliament, which has seen significant reforms and improvements in the functioning of the legislative body.

Source: Ghana Web

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has praised the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for his immense contribution to the development of Ghana, particularly Otumfuo’s role in maintaining the peace the country is enjoying.

Speaking in an Opemsuo Radio interview shared on X on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, former President Kufuor described the Asantehene as a wise man who is respected by all persons across the political divide.

He said that because of Otumfuo’s wisdom, actors in Ghana’s political landscape listened to him and this has saved the country from trouble, especially during the 2016 general elections.

The former president recalled how the overlord of the Ashanti Kingdom’s intervention averted potential political violence.

‘The 2012 or 2016 election almost turned messy at a point. But the Otumfuo intervened and all the factions in the elections accepted the results presented by the Electoral Commission.

‘If not for that things were getting very difficult,’ he said in the Twi dialect.

Source: Ghan
a Web