Day: June 29, 2024

WINDHOEK: Chief Dawid Gertze of the ||Haboben Traditional Authority in the ||Kharas Region said the chiefs of the 1904-1908 genocide-affected communities have sternly directed the negotiating committee to conclude the agreement with Germany, citing that their people are dying.

Speaking at a press conference here on Friday on the outcome of the Chiefs’ Forum, chaired by Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah held on Thursday, Gertze said they in unison directed for the long overdue negotiations process to its logical conclusion in the best interest of the affected community in particular, and the people of Namibia in general.

‘Go back and work and finish the process and come to us. We have been waiting too long… our people are dying, our people are in need, so we cannot continue with this process indefinitely, we must conclude it, and that is a serious request, it’s a command that we are giving the negotiators,’ said the chief.

The forum attended by over 100 chiefs and their senior councillors deliberated on
the Namibia and Germany Joint Declaration of 2021 which encompassed an acknowledgement of the genocide; apology; and payments of reparations where Germany had agreed to pay a total of 1.1 billion euros (N.dollars 18 billion).

The amount was submitted to the National Assembly for debate and was referred back to the government for further negotiations with Germany.

Nandi-Ndaitwah told the chiefs a consensus was reached for the German government to deliver an unconditional apology and pay atonement to the affected communities, including those in the diaspora.

Speaking at the press conference, committee member of the Damara King’s Council, Seth !Nowaseb said the addendum of the joint declaration indicates that Germany has agreed that additional funds are going to be provided, however it was not discussed how much those funds will be at the moment after the 1.1 billion euro is used up.

‘We were thinking of how much and Germany also asked how much. So we have realised the best way is to conduct assessment and i
dentify further needs of the community to at least come up with a better figure that would determine on the additional funding,’ explained Freddy Nguvauva from the Ovambanderu Traditional Authority.

The forum ended on six recommendations – to maintain a regular status report on the ongoing negotiations between the two governments; continue to obtain inputs from traditional leaders of affected communities and reach out to those who are not part of the negotiations to join.

Further, Government through the technical committee and other stakeholders to bring the long overdue negotiation process to its logical conclusion; the forum’s inputs to be considered in the reconstruction and reparations programmes to accommodate all the affected communities – the Nama, Ovaherero, OvaMbanderu, San and Damara.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Chief Dawid Gertze of the ||Haboben Traditional Authority in the ||Kharas Region said the chiefs of the 1904-1908 genocide-affected communities have sternly directed the negotiating committee to conclude the agreement with Germany, citing that their people are dying.

Speaking at a press conference here on Friday on the outcome of the Chiefs’ Forum, chaired by Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah held on Thursday, Gertze said they in unison directed for the long overdue negotiations process to its logical conclusion in the best interest of the affected community in particular, and the people of Namibia in general.

‘Go back and work and finish the process and come to us. We have been waiting too long… our people are dying, our people are in need, so we cannot continue with this process indefinitely, we must conclude it, and that is a serious request, it’s a command that we are giving the negotiators,’ said the chief.

The forum attended by over 100 chiefs and their senior councillors deliberated on
the Namibia and Germany Joint Declaration of 2021 which encompassed an acknowledgement of the genocide; apology; and payments of reparations where Germany had agreed to pay a total of 1.1 billion euros (N.dollars 18 billion).

The amount was submitted to the National Assembly for debate and was referred back to the government for further negotiations with Germany.

Nandi-Ndaitwah told the chiefs a consensus was reached for the German government to deliver an unconditional apology and pay atonement to the affected communities, including those in the diaspora.

Speaking at the press conference, committee member of the Damara King’s Council, Seth !Nowaseb said the addendum of the joint declaration indicates that Germany has agreed that additional funds are going to be provided, however it was not discussed how much those funds will be at the moment after the 1.1 billion euro is used up.

‘We were thinking of how much and Germany also asked how much. So we have realised the best way is to conduct assessment and i
dentify further needs of the community to at least come up with a better figure that would determine on the additional funding,’ explained Freddy Nguvauva from the Ovambanderu Traditional Authority.

The forum ended on six recommendations – to maintain a regular status report on the ongoing negotiations between the two governments; continue to obtain inputs from traditional leaders of affected communities and reach out to those who are not part of the negotiations to join.

Further, Government through the technical committee and other stakeholders to bring the long overdue negotiation process to its logical conclusion; the forum’s inputs to be considered in the reconstruction and reparations programmes to accommodate all the affected communities – the Nama, Ovaherero, OvaMbanderu, San and Damara.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Members of Parliament (MPs) from both sides of the House, have lauded Madam Fatimatu Abubakar, the Information Minister, for the timely presentation of the Right to Information (RTI) Commission 2023 Report to the House.

In accordance with Section 77(4) of Act 989, the Minister made her maiden appearance before the plenary of the House on Friday, June 28, to present her Report on the activities of public institutions and the RTI Commission for the period January to December 2023.

Contributing to the report, Mr. Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business in Parliament, commended Madam Abubakar for her hard work and timely delivery of the RTI Commission 2023 Report.

He said Madam Abubakar’s elevation from a Deputy Minister of Information to Minister of Information was an assurance that the women of the country were capable and had the capacity to deliver.

‘…So, Honourable Abubakar on behalf of the House I say congratulations, this is your maiden statement on the fl
oor of Parliament, you’ve left no doubt on the minds of MPs that you are able to deliver.’

The Majority Leader reiterated that the Government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was committed to accountability and transparency in Governance.

On his part, Mr. Kwame Governs Agbodza, the Minority Chief Whip and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Adaklu, also commended the Minister for complying with the time frame for the submission of the RTI Report to the House; saying ‘indeed, when Ministers comply with the laws that we make, we must commend them for that.’

Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, NDC MP for North Tongu, also praised Madam Abubakar for the timely presentation of the 2023 RTI Report to the House; stating that in compliance with Section 77(4) of Act 989, the RTI Act, the Minister was very much within the stipulated time.

‘Mr. Speaker, the law requires the Minister to appear before us before the 30th of June, to present the annual report and Mr. Speaker, today, the 28t
h (of June), the Honourable Minister has duly complied,’ Mr. Ablakwa said.

‘And when Ministers act commendably, we have to praise them, and we have to laud them for being compliant to the laws this House has passed; so that we are all encouraged to follow that example and then it also helps us to understand exactly what is happening in the RTI space.’

Mr. Ablakwa, who said it took the nation more than 20 years to pass the RTI Bill into law, further commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for assenting to the RTI Bill.

Mr. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Majority Chief Whip and New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, said as a nation, Ghanaians need to admit that they had traversed a tortuous and a difficult path to be where they were today; adding that he was happy that the RTI Bill had been passed into law.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Members of Parliament (MPs) from both sides of the House, have lauded Madam Fatimatu Abubakar, the Information Minister, for the timely presentation of the Right to Information (RTI) Commission 2023 Report to the House.

In accordance with Section 77(4) of Act 989, the Minister made her maiden appearance before the plenary of the House on Friday, June 28, to present her Report on the activities of public institutions and the RTI Commission for the period January to December 2023.

Contributing to the report, Mr. Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business in Parliament, commended Madam Abubakar for her hard work and timely delivery of the RTI Commission 2023 Report.

He said Madam Abubakar’s elevation from a Deputy Minister of Information to Minister of Information was an assurance that the women of the country were capable and had the capacity to deliver.

‘…So, Honourable Abubakar on behalf of the House I say congratulations, this is your maiden statement on the fl
oor of Parliament, you’ve left no doubt on the minds of MPs that you are able to deliver.’

The Majority Leader reiterated that the Government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was committed to accountability and transparency in Governance.

On his part, Mr. Kwame Governs Agbodza, the Minority Chief Whip and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Adaklu, also commended the Minister for complying with the time frame for the submission of the RTI Report to the House; saying ‘indeed, when Ministers comply with the laws that we make, we must commend them for that.’

Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, NDC MP for North Tongu, also praised Madam Abubakar for the timely presentation of the 2023 RTI Report to the House; stating that in compliance with Section 77(4) of Act 989, the RTI Act, the Minister was very much within the stipulated time.

‘Mr. Speaker, the law requires the Minister to appear before us before the 30th of June, to present the annual report and Mr. Speaker, today, the 28t
h (of June), the Honourable Minister has duly complied,’ Mr. Ablakwa said.

‘And when Ministers act commendably, we have to praise them, and we have to laud them for being compliant to the laws this House has passed; so that we are all encouraged to follow that example and then it also helps us to understand exactly what is happening in the RTI space.’

Mr. Ablakwa, who said it took the nation more than 20 years to pass the RTI Bill into law, further commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for assenting to the RTI Bill.

Mr. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Majority Chief Whip and New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, said as a nation, Ghanaians need to admit that they had traversed a tortuous and a difficult path to be where they were today; adding that he was happy that the RTI Bill had been passed into law.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business in Parliament, has urged his colleague New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) to support whoever is eventually selected as the Party’s Running Mate for the December 7 general election.

Speaking to the Parliamentary Press Corps at his office in Parliament House in Accra, Mr. Afenyo-Markin appealed to his colleague NPP MPs, the rank and file of the party, that decisions regarding who would be the Running Mate to their Presidential Candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, were decisions for certain organs of the party; saying ‘once such organs of the Party come out with the final decision, we are all to respect it.

‘So, so far we haven’t heard anything officially from the Party. It is true that consultations are ongoing, we’ve all heard. We’ve heard names, all the names we are hearing are respected Party members, who have worked so hard for this great Party.’

The Majority Leader reiterated that it would be inappropria
te for any person to call out an individual.

‘Look, who is perfect? Who is perfect? Who can take all the punches? None of us can. Except God, our Creator. So, I will want to discourage coming out with certain attacks, how we describe people and all,’ he stated.

‘After all, in this game of politics, if destiny chooses you, it is like that. It doesn’t matter your height, age, whether you are a commoner, a royal, or so educated, or whether you are humble or whatever? Whether you are a stammerer or whether you are an orator? Whatever it is, if

God has chosen you, it is so. So, let’s all wait and ensure that the unity of the Party is maintained.’

He urged his colleague NPP MPs to take a cue from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), saying, ‘We have elections, just six months away, we are aware that when Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was finally selected as the NDC’s running mate,…when the decision was finally announced all the others rallied around the decision and we didn’t hear a single soul in the
NDC coming out publicly to say no. Because none is perfect.’

Mr. Afenyo-Markin underscored that no one was perfect, and that they only had to manage each other and look at what the person could bring onboard.

‘We should look at the strength of the person, so that we will all do it together.

So, again their colleagues, my respected Members of Parliament, let’s be mindful of what we say out there,’ he said.

‘If eventually the decision is made, and we are even against the decision, ours is to support the Party. That is what it is. We should not be seen going out there to be attacking the decision of the Party and for that matter, our flagbearer.’

Source: Ghana News Agency