A six member delegation from the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations working in the area of governance, has called on the Speaker of Parliament to explore ways by which Parliament and Civil Society can collaborate effectively to push the democratic development agenda of the country forward. The delegation was led by the Executive Director of Star Ghana Foundation, Ibrahim Tanko, who, on congratulating the Speaker on his election, recollected the many projects undertaken by Civil Society Organizations and Parliament in the past and expressed the hope of more collaborative efforts in the future.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Rashid Draman outlined seven key issues that Civil Society expects Parliament to work on expeditiously. These include strengthening of the Parliamentary Training Institute, strengthening of the Legislative Drafting Unit of Parliament revision of the Standing Orders consensus building in Parliament, and negotiations and mediation in Parliament.
Speaker Bagbin emphasised that one of the key things he seeks to do during his tenure as Speaker is to create and maintain a bi-partisan Parliament which will work to maintain a balance of power among the various arms of government. The Speaker also emphasised the need for Members to work closely together, building consensus and putting the country first in all their deliberations and actions.
Members of the group that called on the Speaker are Ibrahim Tanko Executive Director Star Ghana Foundation, Dr. Kwesi Jonah,a fellow IDEG, Regina Amanfo from CDD, Beauty Emefa Narteh, Executive Director Ghana Anti-Corruption Coaltion, and Faruza Salisu a Programme Officer from Star Ghana Foundation.
The Minister-designate for Central Region, Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, has promised to pursue aggressive policies and programmes that will create decent jobs, particularly for the youth to reduce poverty among the people.
According to her, despite the many resources and economic potential the region was endowed with, it was very worrying that the region was still referred to as the poorest after the regions in the north.
“Although it will be quite challenging especially where some of the youth may not have the requisite skills to take advantage of the many job opportunities in the formal sector, government together with partners would ensure the decentralisation of job creation to reduce poverty to the barest minimum.”
Exclusiveinterview
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in Agona Swedru last Sunday, on a wide range of issues, she noted that “if I am duly approved by parliament as the next minister for the Central Region, I would work to change the old narrative which considered the region as the next poorest region after the northern regions.”
Mrs Assan, the Municipal Chief Executive for Agona West Municipality, if approved by parliament’s appointment committee would replace Mr Kwamena Duncan.
She will be the second woman to occupy such a portfolio in the region after Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) since the commencement of the Fourth Republic in 1993.
She noted that it was unacceptable that despite the presence of many first class second cycle institutions and other opportunities, they had not been harnessed fully to provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youth to better their lives.
“The government will continue to champion the One-District, One-Factory agenda and other policy interventions to provide more sustainable job opportunities to the youth across the region to improve their living standards.”
“One of my top priorities is to ensure the creation of business-friendly environment that will attract many private investors both home and overseas into the region to set up firms to provide direct and indirect decent jobs to the youth,” she indicated.
Openupregion
Mrs Assan noted that another critical area that special attention would be paid to was road construction so as to open up the region to development, saying “many of the roads to remote communities were in deplorable state which must be tackled to ease transportation”.
She explained that the region voted massively for the NPP and she would lobby government to turn its spectacle to the region in the area of road construction to help farmers to cart their goods to market centres.
She stressed that the traffic alone that commuters experienced from Kasoa through Buduburam alone was a great source of worry to many road users and investors who were interested in investing in the region.
“I believe if the Accra-Cape Coast highway is converted into a dual carriage road, it would ease traffic as well as encourage investors in particular to come into the region to take advantage of the numerous opportunities to do business in the region,” she pointed out.
She expressed optimism that the region would hugely benefit from the second year of road projects recently announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo so as to open up the region for development.
The Charge D Áffaires of the Chinese Embassy, Zhu Jing has delivered a congratulatory message from Chairman Of The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China H.E LI Zhanshu, and the Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference of the People’s Republic of China H.E WANG Yang, to the Speaker of the 8th Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin on being elected as Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic.
Mr. Jing was at the head of a three member delegation from the Chinese Embassy here in Accra. He described Speaker Bagbin as a long-time friend of China and expressed the hope that the Legislatures of Ghana and China will continue to collaborate closely for the mutual benefits of their two countries.
The MP for North Tongu and former Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa referred to the close relations between the Parliament of Ghana and China during the 7th Parliament where China sponsored a number of Training And Knowledge Exchange Programmes for the Members which helped in improving the skills of Members and expressed the hope that the Members of the 8th Parliament will have similar opportunities for interactions. He also commended China for being the first country to offer Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) and financial assistance to Ghana at the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Speaker Bagbin thanked China for the kind considerations and said China was always a close friend of Ghana and is currently one of Ghana’s best friends in the world, adding that Ghana intends to maintain that relationship. He also made reference to the COVID 19 and said it was a global pandemic which needs a global solution and called on world countries to treat it as such.
Speaker Bagbin said his aim is to strengthen the capacity of Members and Staff of Parliament, adding that he intends to superintend over a Parliament with a decentralised Speakership. He expressed the belief that for Parliament to develop and be at par with the Executive, it must have all its sections and systems working effectively and that is what he hopes to achieve.
The Supreme Court has dismissed an application filed by John Dramani Mahama asking it to review a decision to disallow him from asking the Electoral Commission some 12 questions.
This was after two additional justices, Justice Imoro Tanko and Justice Henrietta Mensah Bonsu were added to the initial seven-member panel hearing the election petition.
Lead Counsel for the petitioner, Tsatsu Tsikata had argued that the interrogatories are relevant as it would help the apex court determine the authenticity of the result that was declared on December 9, 2020, by the EC.
Again, he explained that order 22 under CI 47 can still be applied since it will not affect the 42-day timeline the court wants to meet under the CI 99.
But giving its ruling, the court held that the threshold required to enable it to review its decision has not been met.
Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah explained that no exceptional circumstances have been demonstrated to necessitate the review powers of the court neither has any new evidence been added to urge the court to take a different view.
This dismissal follows a similar ruling on another application by the petitioner, Mr. Mahama, to replace paragraph 28 of the original statement of case, as well as file a supplement to their statement of case requesting for the review.
Mr. Mahama, through his legal team, had argued that the court will not only be provided with further information if the application was granted but the interrogatories will not delay the petition hearing.
But the nine-panel of judges unanimously dismissed the supplementary application and proceeded to hear the review application which was also subsequently dismissed.
The case has since been adjourned to Friday, January 29, 2021.
Background
Mr. Mahama’s lawyers on January 20, 2021 filed a motion asking that the court reviews its decision.
They say the court erred when it ruled that CI 47 was not applicable. They also argue that the court should have exercised its discretionary powers in accordance with article 296 of the constitution.
This provision requires an authority vested with discretionary power to be fair and candid. They further stated that the court got it wrong yet again when it took the view that the current rules requiring expeditious trial mean even amendments are not allowed.
Mr. Mahama on Monday, January 25 filed another process asking to be permitted to file additional ground to support the review requested.
This ground seeks to argue that the court’s ruling was characterized by a lack of due regard to the law or facts (per incuriam) relative to article 129 (4) of the constitution and the court’s decision in Ex Parte Magna International Transport Ltd and Bernard Mornah v AG.
129(4) states that; “For the purposes of hearing and determining a matter within its jurisdiction and the amendment, execution or the enforcement of a judgment or order made on any matter, and for the purposes of any other authority, expressly or by necessary implication given to the Supreme Court by this Constitution or any other law, the Supreme Court shall have all the powers, authority and jurisdiction vested in any court established by this Constitution or any other law.”
They also want to replace paragraph 28 of the original statement of case (that of the review) and additionally file a supplement to the statement of case.
Paragraph 28 in the initial review document stated among others “there is no reference in rule 69(c) 4 of CI 99 to amendments.
It is rather 69 A (6) which provides as follows ….”.
The proposed new paragraph in the bit about “it is rather” quoted 68(7) instead of the 69A(6) quoted earlier.null
Anweem-Kissi Basic School in the Central Region needs urgent attention due to its deteriorated nature.
Stakeholders in the community say the School structure is a death trap, as it can collapse at anytime and cause havoc.
They fear the pupils lives are in danger because of the condition of the school and have thus called on the government to attend to their plight.
Anweem-Kissi Basic School is in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem Municipality of the Central Region.
The School has been in bad shape for years but the community members say, appeals to the government to get the school structure fixed have yielded no results.
A teacher’s bungalow which was started in the year 2010, is still not completed.
The children are unable to observe social distancing in this Covid 19 era because of inadequate school desks.
G News Network can authoritatively report that the School structure is in a very dilapidated state.
Teachers and learners say they fear for their lives.
Members of the community recount, that teachers who are posted there don’t return after seeing the structure.
“We have to convince the teachers before they stay for about a year and afterwards, they apply for transfer”, they lamented.
The SMC Chairman for the School, Abubakar Mensah, indicated that “We’ve made several appeals to the government, to no avail. We hope the government would listen to us this time”.
The Chief of Anweem-Kissi, Nana Kobina Mensah appealed to the government to reconstruct the School block. “Also the government should complete the teacher’s bungalow for us. The School serves a number of the surrounding communities, else our children would not have access to quality education”, he maintained.
“Our children are really suffering. Whenever it rains, the children can’t do any serious classes due to the nature of the building. At times snakes chase them out of class. We really need help from the government”, Aunt Ekua Esirifua, a resident appealed.
He burst onto the scene like a meteor, but a meteor that did not burst into flames and disintegrate like all meteors do. On the contrary, it remained potent until the very end of its life, leaving strong footprints in the sands of time.
The turbulent occurrences of the 1970s in Ghana – the overthrow of the 2nd Republic and the Progress Party Government by the military coup of 13th January 1972; the takeover of power by the Col. I.K. Acheampong-led National Redemption Council and, subsequently, the Supreme Military Council; the proscription of multiparty democracy; the professionals’ strike of 1976; the March 1978 Referendum on the proposal to entrench military rule through the Union Government concept; the formation of the People’s Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ) to mobilise the ‘No Vote’ in the Referendum; the consequences of the vote, and the conspiracy to abduct the Electoral Commissioner; the palace coup that removed Gen. Kutu Acheampong from office and ushered in Gen. Fred Akuffo in his stead – culminated in the emergence of Flt. Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings in the political space of our country.
Charismatic, energetic, fearless leader. Such were the attributes ascribed by many Ghanaians to the man, Jerry John Rawlings, the young air force officer, who announced his presence in Ghana’s politics by the abortive coup of May 15, 1979, and was sentenced to death for his part in the failed effort. He gave, at his trial, an important insight into his character, when he stood up, before the military tribunal, to accept sole responsibility for the attempt, and to request the NCOs, who were being tried with him, to be absolved and freed by the tribunal.
The great events that were to define his career followed quickly after his trial, conviction and sentence. Three (3) weeks later, whilst awaiting execution of his sentence, he was dramatically freed from prison by the insurgents of what has come to be known as the June 4th Uprising, when junior officers and other ranks of the Ghana Armed Forces banded together to throw out the Supreme Military Council, and install the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), headed by Flt. Lt Jerry John Rawlings, thereafter ‘J.J’ to all and sundry in Ghana. It is no wonder that he came to regard June 4th as “that divine day”.
He re-emerged as Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), when he led the successful coup that brought the short-lived 3rd Republic to an end on 31st December 1981. The tumultuous, and at times lawless, incidents of the AFRC’s three (3) month tenure of office, and of the early years of PNDC rule, are matters of record, winning him passionate admirers, vociferous critics, and determined lifelong enemies, all at the same time.
He was the longest serving ruler in our history – eleven (11) years as a military leader, and eight (8) years as a twice elected civilian President, making nineteen (19) years in all. He was fortified in his work by his union with his celebrated consort, the equally dynamic Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, who proved to be a sturdy pillar and invaluable companion to the very end, and who bore him four (4) children, the eldest of whom, Zanetor, is continuing his tradition of public service.
It was no secret that the relationship that existed between the two of us, right from the heady days of 1979, through to my brief period in exile, his assumption of office as the 1st President of the 4th Republic, the historic Kume Preko demonstrations, my period as Attorney General and Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Kufuor administration, to my being elected 2008 NPP presidential candidate, was one of open animosity. We did not see eye to eye!!
However, with time, things changed. We came to see value in each other, and understood, to a very large degree, our respective perspectives. One thing we had in common was our mutual commitment to public service.
My visit to his Ridge residence in 2012 signified the easing of tensions between us, leading to a friendship that lasted for the better part of some eight (8) years. Indeed, when the Ghanaian people, in 2016, reposed, for the first time, their confidence in me in the elections of that year, one of the first persons on whom I paid a courtesy call was His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings.
From my entry into office, right up to the day he was called by his Maker, he remained a good friend and a repository of sound advice. I knew that, in moments of difficulty in my presidency, I could count on his considerable wealth of experience and knowledge. On those occasions, he came through for me.
There was a symbolic gesture he advanced to me at the funeral of his late mother, Madam Victoria Agbotui, held at the Forecourt of the State House on 24th October 2020. It was to be our last time together. He was called up by the clergy to receive special prayers as the only surviving son. He told the men of God to wait and called for me to walk up to join him to receive the special prayers. He whispered to my ears as I stood beside him: “I reminded them that they should pray for you also because you had also lost your mother.” I was touched by this.
It is for good reason that his well-known, oft-cited ideals of “probity and accountability”, in which he invested a great deal of his political capital, have been enshrined in the Constitution of the 4th Republic, and, together with “Freedom and Justice”, the words of our nation’s motto, constitute the foundational principles on which social order is to be developed in Ghana.
There are many who acknowledge him as the Founder of the 4th Republic, a Republic which has proved to be the most enduring and stable in our history, and which has witnessed eight (8) successive elections, three peaceful changes of government from one party to another, and five Presidents. For all his revolutionary antecedents, he set, in 2001, the enviable precedent, which has, since, guided our country, of respecting the two-term limit of the Presidency and superintending the orderly transfer of power to his democratically-elected successor.
Whilst he was with us, he, respectfully, declined an offer I made to him, in 2017, to have the University of Development Studies, Tamale, (UDS), which he, personally, helped establish, named after him. His reason was that, in adhering to a long-standing principle, he did not want to have any national monument or facility named after him. Two days after his passing, at the 21st Congregation of UDS, I expressed my strongest convictions, in spite of his reservations, that such an honour should be accorded him. I am glad that this has found favour with his family, and the necessary formalities will be carried out to achieve this, i.e. The Jerry John Rawlings University of Development Studies, Tamale.
Such is the measure of the man that the days associated with his political interventions in Ghana, i.e. 15th May, 4th June, 31st December, and 7th January, are now significant days in the calendar of the nation. But, the most significant of them all must be 7th January 1993, the day that ushered in the 4th Republic. It is in recognition of this that I decided to commemorate 7th January as Constitution Day on the national calendar. It is, perhaps, the greatest tribute a grateful nation can offer to the men and women whose efforts led to the establishment of the 4th Republic. It is my hope and prayer that he remains, forever, the longest serving Head of State in our nation’s history, for that would mean that the 4th Republican Constitution and its enshrined term limits have endured.
His actions were not limited to Ghana only. The African nationalist that he was, he held unwavering positions on all matters concerning the wider continent of Africa, especially when they involved foreign interference and control of Africa’s destiny, and was quick to voice his views on them.
His chairmanship of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government set the example, whereby virtually all his successors, John Agyekum Kufuor, John Dramani Mahama, and I, the 2nd, 4th and 5th Presidents, respectively, of the 4th Republic, have been honoured by their peers with the occupancy of that high office, reinforcing the pan-African vocation which has been an essential element of Ghanaian public policy since independence.
I called him ‘Comandante’, because of his admiration for the famous Latin American revolutionaries, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, and Daniel Ortega, a nickname which seemed to please him.
I believe that history, on balance, will be kind to him, and will render a positive verdict on his contribution to the evolution of our nation, and the entrenchment of its democratic institutions and culture. It is entirely appropriate and fitting that he should receive a State Funeral with full honours to express the gratitude of the nation for that contribution.
My wife Rebecca and our children join me in expressing our sincere, heartfelt condolences to his beloved wife, Nana Konadu, his children, Zanetor, Yaa Asantewa, Amina, and Kimathi, and his entire family, for their great loss of one of the outstanding figures of modern Ghanaian history, a man whose sense of humour was truly infectious.
‘Comandante’, rest and abide in perfect peace in the bosom of the Almighty, until we all meet again on the last day of the Resurrection.
Farewell, God bless, and thank you for all your help.
It is no secret that former presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufour had a frosty relationship.
While they both tried in the public space do downplay suggestions of some hostility between them, their public statements were more than enough to convey such thoughts to Ghanaians.
This deep-seated spite between Rawlings and Kufuor who were the first and second presidents of the fourth republic respectively was allegedly birthed by what the late former president thought to be a persecution of his appointees by the Kufuor administration and a withdrawal of his courtesies.
Records show that the late president at any given opportunity ‘boomed’ at his successor who though silent often, on few occasions fired back.
Death, they say helps put things in perspective and remind humans of the essence of love, unity and peace.
This effect that death supposedly has on human beings appears to have caught up with former President Kufuor who despite not being in the best of conditions showed up at his funeral ceremony.
John Agyekum Kufour showed up in a wheelchair to pay his last respect to his predecessor who will be laid to rest on Wednesday, January 27, 2021.
The Central Regional Police Command and Oguaa Traditional Council has gifted over thousand residents in Cape Coast Metropolis with nose masks to help them comply with the mandatory wearing of nose masks without any excuse since the Police Command has started arresting and have arrested 450 people without nose masks in the Region.
The program which took place in all the market places,beaches, streets among other work prone areas in Cape Coast was attended by the Paramount Chief of Oguaa Traditional Council, Osaberima Kwesi Atta ll, Central Regional Police Commander DCOP Habiba Twumasi, the Central Regional Police P.R.O DSP Irene Serwaah Oppong and her deputy, Sgt.Evans Ettie among other Police Personnels as well as other dignitaries from the traditional Council was organized purposely to make sure all residents in Cape Coast adhere to the mandatory wearing of the nose masks protocol which is one of a key protocol to prevent the Virus.
The gesture was done by the Traditional Council and the Police Command after almost all those who was arrested for failing to comply with the nose masks wearing protocol complained about how they couldn’t afford to buy the masks to prevent themselves, hence giving out the masks to protect themselves from the virus.
During the gesture,the Paramount Chief of Oguaa Traditional Council Osaberima Kwesi Atta ll, advised the residents to always wear their face masks even when at home since the virus is deadly and easy transmittable.
In an interview with Anaafi Kokooto, he said,No one should doubt about the existence of the virus because many leaders and top officials as well as individuals has lost their lives through the pandemic.
Talking about the Compliance of the mandatory wearing of nose masks,the Central Regional Police Commander,DCOP Habiba Twumasi cautioned every individual to adhere to all the Covid-19 protocols especially the wearing of nose masks since the Central Regional Police Command won’t spare anybody without the mask despite all their excuses of not wearing the mask.
She then advised shop owners, drivers,market men and women to make sure they wear their masks and tell their clients, customers and passengers to wear theirs too when they are not wearing to help prevent and reduce its mode of transmission drastically.
“It’s mandatory to wear face masks and failure to comply awards a penalty, she told Anaafi Kokooto.
We are happy to announce that A1, an indigenous Ghanaian bread-making company has expanded its operations to the United States.
This expansion to the U.S. market is particularly unique because it is grounded on a special partnership arrangement with a major American bread company to ensure scale and penetration of the U.S. market at a faster rate.
This initiative is part of Select USA, an American government program designed to help foreign products penetrate the U.S. market.
Last year, H.E. Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah toured the $3 million production site as well as retailers currently testing the A1 cake bread market in the tri-state area.
As an Embassy, we are particularly proud of this emerging Ghanaian story and Godfried Obeng Boateng, the young CEO leading this initiative.
We encourage Ghanaian investors and all investors alike to support this great initiative.
G-News 