Category: Key Issues

Accra,- Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco arrived Accra Sunday for a three-day official visit to the country.

He is in Ghana at the invitation of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who was in Angola in August, 2019, for a 2-day official visit at the Angolan leader’s request.

President João Lourenço’s visit is aimed at strengthening the economic ties that exist between the two countries, as well as exploring possible areas of co-operation for their mutual benefit.

He was met on arrival at the airport by the Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul.

President Lourenco will on Monday, August 2, confer with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, and preside over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations between both countries.

He is expected also to tour, lay a wreath and plant a tree at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra, and later hosted to a State Banquet at the Jubilee House by President Akufo-Addo.

On Tuesday, President Lourenco is billed to visit the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), where he would interact with the Secretary Genral of the body, Wamkele Mene.

He has also been scheduled to visit and address Ghana’s Parliament on Tuesday.

President Lourenco will depart for his country on Wednesday.

He is being accompanied by officials from his country.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, – Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta says Government’s plan to develop the road sector is on course, with the overall progress on road construction standing at 70 percent as at the end of June, 2021.

Presenting the Mid-Year Budget Review to Parliament on Thursday in Accra disclosed that from January to June 2021, routine maintenance was carried out on 11,174km of the trunk road network; 5,389km of the feeder road network; and 2,937km of the urban road network.

The Minister said additionally, periodic maintenance comprising; re-gravelling/spot improvement and resealing works were carried out in the same period on 44km, 167km and 262km of the trunk, feeder and urban road networks respectively.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who has prioritized roads for economic development, during this year’s State of the Nation Address, declared 2021 as the “2nd Year of Roads”.

Works begun in 2020 for the construction of some 50 bridges nationwide aimed at improving connectivity within areas cut-off by waterways.

The Minister said works were completed on the Phase one of the Tema Motorway roundabout in June, 2020, adding that the 2nd Phase of the project which involved the 3rd tier of the interchange was expected to take off by the third quarter of 2021.

He said with the completion of the first Phase of the Obetsebi Lamptey Circle Interchange and other ancillary works, construction works on the second phase of the project had started in earnest and was currently at a physical progress of 15 percent.

“In 2020, works were also started on the La Beach Road Project (Lot 1 & 2), which involves improving capacity along the Accra Tema Beach Road and the construction of a 3-tier interchange at Nungua Barrier.

“Physical progress for Lot 1 and Lot 2 is 13 percent and 11 percent respectively. Physical progress of works on the Kumasi Lake Roads and Drainage Extension projects is 73 percent complete as at the end of June, 2021”, he said.

The Finance Minister announced that the construction of seven bridges in Kulun, Garu (2No.), Ambalara, Kulungugu, Doninga, and Sissili in the Northern Region were completed.

In addition, works have been completed on some 13 Spanish Bridges located in Detsebu, Dayi, Tsawoea, Alabo, Osiem, Birim, Akora, Osene, Okyi, Bukam, Linkale and Mogli. Also Works on five Belgium Bridges are nearing completion.

He said the first batch of 21 steel bridge components have arrived in the country and works have started on some 14 of them, whilst the Sub-structures of three others have been completed.

He announced that the government had awarded contracts for the implementation of 84 critical regional and inter-regional road projects with an estimated length of 2,237.51km at a cost of GH¢7,839 million.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Present at the symposium was the Party’s twin which is the Convention people’s Party (CPP), as well as representatives from the NDC, NPP, PPP, and GCPP.

Madam Janet Asana Nabila, General Secretary, PNC, speaking at the event, said the Party had congregated in diverse ways in shaping and consolidating Ghana’s democracy, socioeconomic development, health and education among others.

She said the forebears of PNC had been able to come up with policies such as the GetFund, National Insurance Scheme, School Feeding Programme among others which had been adopted by various governments in the country.

Madam Nabila said the implementation of those policies had not being the best under the NPP and the NDC government over the years.

The position of the Party could not be underestimated despite the many challenges it faces like most minority parties.

The country’s political space was gradually becoming polarised and that it seemed to be coming a two party state which is detrimental to the country’s multi-party Democracy.

She said PNC from the onset of the 4th Republic had produced several members of Parliament some of whom even served as Ministers of State to successive governments.

Madam Nabila added that the Party had failed to produce Members of Parliament in recent times due to lack of funding and logistical support for programmes and activities for activism, and participation in the political discourse.

“We are having dwindling political fortunes largely because even the media and most civil society organizations are not giving us enough support,” she said.

Madam Nabila said the Party planned to rejuvenate not only to win political power, but also as a major stakeholder in Ghana’s democratisation process as a nation in the next decade of the fourth republic.

She said as part of the Party’s first anniversary celebration, they intended to undertake two major activities hoping to add more in the near future.

Madam Nabila said the first was the anniversary Symposium to expatiate on the theme of the celebration: “Consolidating Multi-Party Democracy, Sustaining Minority Parties”.

She said the second activity was a Fundraising Dinner to share with its stakeholders on its new political pursuit and climax of the anniversary commemoration.

“Invitations are extended to former senior comrades of the Party, the political fraternity, Civil Society Leaders, Traditional Leaders, Private Sector, Media, etc,” she said.

Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim, Former Chairperson of the Convention People’s Party and Chairperson of the event, said minority parties must adopt new strategies to project their ideologies and policies to win political power.

She said the legacies of the CPP and the PNC forebears were a testament of the party’s ability to govern Ghana better than the two major political parties.

She called for consensus and deliberations among the smaller political parties to come out with a united front to oust the two big parties in the country.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

Takoradi, Three members of the Council of State from the Western Region have pledged commitment to ending the feud on who leads the Western Regional House of Chiefs.

The election of the President of the Regional House of Chiefs sparked lots of internal disagreement after the House failed to accept the election of Tetrete Okuamoah Sekyim II, Omanhene of Wassa Akropong as Head of the House over Awulae Amihere Kpanyile of Western Nzema Traditional Council.

This has resulted in several court cases which are yet to be settled.

The three members of the Council – Mrs Alberta Cudjoe, Mrs Eunice Buah and Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi who were disheartened and saddened by the turn of events at the Regional House of Chiefs, gave the assurance after engaging the traditional authorities in the Western Region as part of a three-day familiarization tour of the Western Region.

Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, who is also the President of the National House of Chiefs and a member of the Council of State expressed disappointment at the turn of events in the WR House of Chiefs.

He retorted, “I am surprised at what is happening…I was the President of the House until the creation of the Western North Region…how come the election of a successor should end in the law court”?.

The Council member added, “there are too many development issues to worry about which calls for oneness to handle and not divisiveness…see how our roads are overwhelmed by floods each time it rains, we need to unite for development”.

Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II said they would employ all mitigating measures to ensure that parties came into a compromise.

Ms. Eunice Jacqueline Buah, noted that disunity, misunderstanding among traditional leadership was a key contributor to the lack of development in the Region.

“The roads need to be fixed, there are jobs and other issues but whom do you liaise with among the traditional leadership to get these things done”?

Ms. Buah, therefore, called on them to rethink their position and allow peace to prevail for development.

Ms. Alberta Cudjoe, who almost shed tears, affirmed the need for peace among the leadership, adding, “I believe as a mother, when I call on them together with my sister Jacqueline Buah, we will have a permanent solution to this problem”.

Nana Otuo Siriboe II, the Omanhene of New Juaben and Chairman of the Council of State said there was no glory in protracted litigation and called for dialogue among the feuding parties.

Mr. Ebenzer Kojo Kum, the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs lamented, ” I was thinking that as an indigene of the Western Region and a Minister in charge of the Sector, such a misunderstanding should not come from my Region…” and pleaded with the Council of State to engage with them for settlement to aid in development”.

 

Source: Ghana News Agency

Takoradi,- Nana Otuo Siriboe II, the Omanhene of New Juaben and Chairman of the Council of State, has stressed the need to engage the various Regions to better appreciate their development aspirations, concerns and challenges.

This is to enable the Council to be in a better position to advise the government on real-time concerns on social, economic, security and other pertinent issues of national interest and Development.

The Council Chairman said, “We Don’t want to give armchair advice and that can only be done when we find time to engage Regional leaders and Communities for the best advice to the government.”

Nana Otuo Siriboe II said this when he and his team were officially welcomed by the Western Regional Minster Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah at the Airforce Base in Takoradi to begin a three-day familiarization tour of the Western Region.

The annual initiative of the Council would also help in carefully addressing issues at the decentralized level in the Regions.

Mr Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister, was grateful for the visit and said the Region was embarking on several Development programmes to improve living in the future.

He also alluded to the menace of illegal mining and unemployment, which was a matter of concern and prayed the Council to help mitigate its impact.

The Council members will visit the T3 Thermal plant site at Aboadze, the GNPC operational headquarters site in Takoradi and the Gas processing plant site at Atuabo.

They would also undertake field visits to illegal mining sites to appraise themselves of the devastating effects of the menace on the environment, especially forest reserves and water bodies.

They would also hold interactive sessions with members of the Regional coordinating council, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,- Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta says the National Security Minister is the best-placed person to furnish the House with the details of the cost of President Nana Akufo Addo’s foreign travels.

He said the President’s domestic and international travels were matters of National Security.

Mr Ofori-Atta made the observation when he appeared before the House to respond to an urgent question by Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu,

Mr Ablakwa wanted to know how much the President’s recent official travels to France, Belgium and South Africa in May cost the Ghanaian taxpayer.

Mr Ofori-Atta explained that the current practice was that the Ministry of Finance released quarterly funds to the Heads of Department, in this case Office of Government Machinery, Chief of Staff for all operational activities of the office.

He said the office of Government Machinery and the National Security Secretariat work together to facilitate the safe coordination of the President’s travels for both domestic and foreign.

He indicated that in line with the 2021 budget implementation instruction, the Ministry of Finance did not release any funds to the Chief of Staff, specifically for the President’s trip to France, Belgium and South Africa.

Meanwhile, Mr Ofori-Atta responded to a question by Mr Paul Apreku Twum-Barimah, MP for Dormaa East on the cost of air travel of the President using chartered flight between the period 2013 to 2016.

According to the Finance Minister, the air travel of the President including the cost for advance team, flight arrangements, security, accommodation, and air tickets are coordinated operationally between the Office of Government Machinery and the National Security Secretariat.

“Mr Speaker, as I indicate in my response to the question from Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa indicated that the air travel of the President including the cost for advance team, flight arrangements, security, accommodation, and air tickets are coordinated operationally between the Office of Government Machinery and the National Security Secretariat,” he added.

He maintained that the Presidents’ domestic and international travels were matters of National Security, saying the National Security Minister was best placed person to furnish the House with the details needed.

In related development, Mr Cassel Ato Forson, Ranking Member on Finance, at press briefing in Parliament House, expressed disappointment at the Finance Minister response to Ablakwa’s question on the Presidents travels, saying it is shocking and unacceptable to the people’s representatives.

He said the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA), 2016, Act 921(5) clothes the Minister of Finance with every responsibility and powers for use of all public funds for any covered entity, including the Office of the Chief of Staff and the National Security Secretariat.

He said for the Finance Minister to appear before Parliament and referred the matter to the National Security and Chief of Staff they found it unacceptable.

“We urged our minister to come back to revisit the powers he has because he is the supervising minister for all financial matters in this country,” he said.

Mr Alex Afenyo Markin, Deputy Majority Leader, in reaction to minority’s press conference on the Presidents travels, stated that the Minister of Finance when he appeared before the House took his time to explain in details how such expenditures are carried out.

He said the Minister explained that there was general release in terms of funds to the Office of Government Machinery, which include Office of the President and Vice President among others.

He said Minister also clarified to Parliament that there was a coordination between the Chief of Staff and the National Security Secretariat and that the issue of Presidential travels was under that scope and that the National Security Minister is best placed to give the specific details.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,- Mr Joseph Korto, National Dean of Presiding Members on Thursday appealed to Assemblies to confirm the yet-to be released names of nominees of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s for positions as Metropolitan, Municipal and District chief Executives.

That, he said would facilitate socio- economic development and growth and enhance unity among members.

Mr Korto, who doubles as the Presiding Member for the Tema Metropolitan Assembly was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency from Kumasi on the expectations of Assemblies on the names that would soon be released.

He said projects throughout the country had been delayed on account of the devastating effects of the global coronavirus pandemic and it was only fair for members to accept the President’s nominees without litigations to execute more development projects.

He said he had the conviction that the names to be released would be competent and performance-oriented personalities and advised members against tendencies that could undermine the process.

“We have lost a lot of time and resources due to the pandemic and there is no more time left for litigations. Let’s move on by confirming the nominees to accelerate development.”

He said all things being equal, they would organize a national conference for Presiding Members in October this year and called all members to brace up for it to deliberate on issues that would catapult development in succeeding years.

Mr Korto and the National Executives on behalf of Regional Presiding Members called on Parliament to institute and pass a bill for the establishment of Electoral Area Development Fund to offer people at the electoral areas the opportunity to make inputs for the development of their areas.

Mr Korto appealed to government to also establish Secretariats for Presiding Members as part of the decentralization policy that would remove bureaucratic bottlenecks at grassroots levels.

He said the welfare of Assembly Members was paramount and therefore needed serious attention for them to perform effectively.

“The Members of Parliament have a fund that they use for some development projects and it will therefore not be out of place for the Assembly Members to also have same to execute basic amenities for their electorate.”

He called for regular capacity building projects for members to be abreast with the developmental trends of the country and beyond.

Source: Ghana News Agency