Referring to the current impasse between Gold Fields Ghana Limited and the Mine-workers Union, the Tamale South Member of Parliament said much needed to be done to set the mining industry on the right path.

He was contributing to a statement on the floor of Parliament by MP for Abirem, Johnny Osei Frimpong on the Mining Development Act.

[contextly_sidebar id=”geAGXPGfbNaZWIXOZNFgzAssckuFRMto”]“The Parliament of Ghana over the years has slept on this constitutional onerous responsibility in ratifying Parliamentary agreements and we must be seen doing so because we owe it a duty to mining communities for the mining companies to develop them. Indeed, as I’m speaking Mr. Speaker, the mining industry in Ghana is in a near crisis. I know what is happening to Gold Fields, we know what has happened to takeovers and the amalgamation but many of them Parliament is not even apprised.”

“The mining industry used to be a major employer but it is not the case today. Yet we continue exporting gold. Can’t we process our own gold in order to find value? Mr. Speaker, I’ve repeated myself several times on this matter – if you want to cure a depreciating cedi or an epileptic cedi against major currencies, the solution lies in expanded exports,” he added.

Protest over announced layoffs 

Gold Fields Ghana Limited in December 2017 announced that it is changing its operational strategy from owner mining to contract mining.

The situation is leading to the laying off of some 1,500 workers at its Tarkwa mine in the Western Region.

The decision has been heavily resisted by the Ghana Mine Workers’ Union which has accused the company of acting in bad faith leading to a demonstration on Monday, March 12, 2018.

This was after the Union’s attempt to get the company to reverse its decision in court failed.

Gov’t intervenes after workers’ protest

Meanwhile, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show said government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with aggrieved workers over the issue.

According to him, the MoU was aimed at ensuring that the affected workers are re-engaged under the new arrangement.

“Yesterday [ Monday], we had a very extensive meeting together with the Ministry of Labour and the Union executives to resolve this issue. So we have resolved and signed some Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry and union. So that is what we are doing to ensure that we bring this issue to a halt,” the Minister added.

–

By: Godwin A. Allotey & Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post ‘Ghana’s mining sector in near crisis’ – Haruna Iddrisu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This follows what he describes as the Speaker’s failure to recognize him when he wanted to make an intervention during the debate on the Special Petroleum Tax today [Thursday].

What further angered the Minority Leader was the fact that the Speaker rather called the Majority Leader for his contribution, even though he, Haruna Iddrisu, had been standing for several minutes.

Following the sequence of events, Mr. Iddrisu was finally given the opportunity to speak, where he expressed his disappointment.

“I am sad at the way you have treated me as Minority Leader. I stood up before the Majority Leader. You owe me that courtesy and that respect. Mr. Speaker, even after hearing him [Majority Leader], you have still not decided whether to hear me or not,” he said.

Mr. Iddrisu stressed that he was acting within the Standing Orders of Parliament, citing order 130. He further asserted that Prof. Oquaye “must respect the Standing Orders as chair of this House… therefore, you owe me every duty and every standard of care to hear me on this matter.”

“Mr. Speaker, you owe me, I don’t want to ever disrespect you but if you invite me, I will,” the Minority Leader concluded

Other members of the Minority in Parliament were angered by Prof. Oquaye’s actions and three of them: the North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; Sagnarigu MP, A.B.A. Fuseini and the Adaklu MP, Kwame Agbodza even walked out, according to Citi News’ Parliamentary Correspondent, Duke Mensah Opoku

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/ citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post I will disrespect you if you dare me – Haruna threatens Speaker appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

His comments follow the Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr. Afriyie Akoto’s announcement last week that 745,000 jobs had been created under the first phase of the programme, with the caveat that the jobs were “unofficial jobs.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”2lvs0rKEvs5cjJBLufoooQxbnaRYbcA9″]The Minister explained to the media that, the jobs were created in rural areas, and were essentially not taxable, and did not contribute to pension funds following the earlier scepticism that met the announced figure.

The figures were based on the number of additional inputs as well as improved seeds and fertilizers supplied to participating farmers in 2017.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Mr. Iddrisu, however, emphasized the need for an independent investigation into the Minister’s assertion.

“All agricultural experts in this world and in the country must interrogate the figures of 745,000 persons employed under Planting for Food because even in the Committee Chairman’s own constituency, the numbers are not what we are reporting and therefore every day we wake up that 745,000 jobs [have been] created.

“Someone, independent, if you have the list, please publish it for us and let us know because it is important. If you distrust government, distrust the Minority, let us have an independent assessment.”

Government’s assertion on the number of jobs being created through the programme has been disputed by many including former government officials who have called on Ghanaians to disregard such claims.

The National Democratic Congress [NDC] Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini had earlier indicated that the Minister had claimed the plaudits for jobs that did not exist.

“As I have said, I have not seen any strategic blueprint for the planting for food and jobs, they went and assisted farmers who are already in the field, they didn’t create new farmers, all they did was extend facility to them, is that creation of new jobs?, ”he said.

Beyond Inusah Fuseini’s concerns, the General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU), also pointed out that government’s estimate of 745,000 jobs provided under the Planting for Food and Jobs programme might be exaggerated.

The Union’s General Secretary, Edward Kareweh, contended that the figure provided by the government would have to be scrutinized.

Lack of understanding

Despite the contentions with the figures from government, a Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Sagre Bambangi has said those doubting the number of jobs created by the programme needed to acquaint themselves with the situation on the ground.

According to him, the sceptics “have not been able to take time to appreciate the process involved in agricultural production.”

“In the course of agricultural production, we have input delivery, and in the course of the input delivery, a lot of stakeholders are involved and all these create jobs. For instance, if you are going to procure seeds and fertilizer, you are creating jobs for people who will haul the seeds and fertilizer. If you are going to haul the seeds and fertilizer, you are creating jobs for transport owners and hauliers,” he explained.

The ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ programme, which was launched in 2017, is expected to modernize agriculture, improve production, achieve food security and make Ghana more self-sufficient, whilst creating jobs for the youth.

The initiative is expected to increase the production of maize by 30%, rice by 49%, soybean by 25% and sorghum by 28% for current production levels.

It was estimated that the first phase of the policy would cost the government about GHc 560 million.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Minority wants independent probe into Govt’s 745,000 jobs claim appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, said the assessment was not necessary because some of the ministries are struggling due to lack of funds.

He added that, any attempt to give them enough funding for their work will go a long way in boosting the performance of the ministers in the discharge of their duties.

[contextly_sidebar id=”oI14QQdDMaAHGZ0XYia7gasSDskt93zf”]“The president was generous in heaping adulation of praises on a handful of appointees and left out many hardworking of his ministers in other enterprises who are struggling to work with financial resources and financial releases from the Ministry of Finance. So if you say you are going to evaluate ministers to achieve what? They don’t just have the money,” he said.

The Majority Leader further noted that, information available to them suggests that some of the ministries in 2017 received as low as 25% of their budgetary allocation, and thus could not operate at optimum capacity as expected of them.

He added that only the Flagstaff House had consistent releases.

“Detailed releases as we saw in 2017 were between 25.9 to 38 percent, at best was 40 percent except office of government machinery and the Flagstaff House which had reasonable releases to that outfit,” Haruna Iddrisu added.

President assesses ministers on Monday

The President is expected to assess his ministers on Monday to ascertain how they performed during his first year in office.

Reports in the media suggest that the President will have face-to-face conversations with each of his appointees during the assessment exercise.

Monitoring and Evaluation minister defends appraisal

Meanwhile, the Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, has justified the upcoming exercise by the President. According to him, the exercise is well within the purview of the President as the appointing authority.

Speaking to journalists on Friday, he indicated that, he will even be assessed as the Monitoring and Evaluation Minister by the President.

“As you do your things you need to assess yourself to see where you are going so I think it’s necessary. A year down the line it’s important that the President who is the appointing authority will have a one-on-one discussion with his appointees. We are not interested in their [Minority’s] preference. They are not in government so their preferences do not matter. When they say the ministries do not have money to work with, what do they mean by that?”

“Ministries are operating. We have to cut our coat to our size; we don’t want to exceed the appropriations act which is illegal which they did in 2015. It is crucially important for the president to independently have a conversation with his appointees to see the way forward. Maybe because they [NDC] did not do enough of that so that is why they could not see what was going on,” he added.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Ministers appraisal needless, give them money to work – Minority appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The starlet was returning to Accra from Sunyani after visiting her mother who had just returned from the UK, when the Jeep she was travelling in crashed into a VIP bus on Thursday evening, according to the police.

[contextly_sidebar id=”lC6fjNHNjkrMuMmj8LRRXYZs4AgI82Nq”]Ebony was travelling with three other people, two of whom have also been confirmed dead.

The driver of the Jeep survived the crash, but most recent reports indicate that he is still receiving treatment.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the leader of the Minority, Haruna Iddrisu, eulogized the 20-year-old songstress, stating that, she was a talented young woman who had contributed a lot to the Ghanaian music industry.

He also expressed the Minority’s condolences to the families of Ebony and the two others who perished in the accident at Mankranso in the Ashanti Region.

“I would like to express our shock and sadness at the sudden demise of the exceptionally talented and amazing young Ghanaian musician, Ebony, Priscilla Opoku Kwarteng. Our deepest condolences to her family, her fans and the entire nation,” he said.

“A promising, enterprising musician is gone. We commiserate with those who perished in the accident and pray that the good Lord will comfort their families and loved ones.”

‘My Queen is gone’ 

The father of Dancehall artiste Ebony, Nana Poku Kwarteng, earlier described her as a splendid personality with a unique talent.

Nana Poku, who last spoke to Ebony on Wednesday, learned of the passing of his 20-year-old daughter around 4:00 am this morning.

“If I should describe my girl, I’ll say she was amazing, splendid, so unique. Ghana is going to find it tough to find someone like this pretty queen,” he said to Citi News‘ Kwame Dadzie.

Nana Poku recalled his support for Ebony’s music career despite the criticism that came her way for her salacious persona and fashion sense.

“I have always supported this queen, that was her talent. She had nothing to lose. I supported her all the time. I have always supported my queen… she had it all. Honestly, she did.”

Tributes pour in from top politicians

President Nana Akufo-Addo, former President John Mahama and Vice President Bawumia, were among hundreds of Ghanaians who paid tribute to the artiste after news of her demise broke on Friday.

A number of people took to social media to express their condolences to Ebony’s family and eulogize the artiste. President of the Republic, Nana Akufo-Addo tweeted on Friday, saying: “Saddened by the news of the death of the young, but extremely talented female artiste, Priscilla Opoku-Kwarteng, aka Ebony Reigns”

Former President John Dramani Mahama also tweeted, expressing his sorrow at the death of the artiste and his love for one of her most popular songs ‘Maame hw3’.

Other celebrities and her colleagues in the music industry have also posted on social media about their shock at her death and sympathized with her family and loved ones.

Artiste of the Year in waiting

A number of people, including President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bice Osei Kuffuor had Ebony pegged as one of the favourites to be named Artiste of the Year at the 2018 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs).

Obuor said Ebony’s songs were some of the most popular in 2017, with the starlet being tipped to continue her rise to prominence in 2018.

“Within the last two years that she had been in active professionalism as a musician, you can say that she was the quickest rising star. Because two years ago Ebony was in the unsung category VGMAs which means an Artiste who is now upcoming. A year down she is in the artiste of the year category and it’s actually being rumoured that she is a possible winner of that category. And I don’t doubt that at all,” he said in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Friday.

He explained that Ebony’s contribution to the Ghana music industry has been tremendous considering her small beginnings about two years ago.

About Ebony

Ebony’s passing comes on the back of a stellar 2017 where she rose to superstardom in Ghanaian popular culture.

The singer was discovered by renowned music entrepreneur Bullet of Ruff n Smooth fame in 2015, when she sent in a demo. She was signed to Bullet’s Rufftown record label a day after.

Known for her risqué onstage acts and vivacious performances, Ebony captivated Ghanaians with her hit singles which included Maame Hwԑ, Kupe, Poison and Sponsor.

She was widely tipped to be the Artiste of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards in April 2018.

–

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Minority MPs shocked at death of ‘talented, amazing’ Ebony appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“Mr President, we have heard you on your state of promises, and Mr. President, we have heard that at least sole sourcing is still lawful in Ghana,” he said.

[contextly_sidebar id=”bHdaqqNHIE45sG4LVGr6CPfSTGlJh0ur”]On the back of the Minority Leader’s comment, Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, said the President’s address was more of a campaign speech and all the president did was talk about what he is going to do instead of what his outfit has done so far.

“Virtually, he was just talking as if he was on a campaign trail, still making promises. Instead of him to be telling us exactly what he has been able to do in 2017, the President wasted all the time talking about what he was going to do,” he said.

Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu, in reaction to Muntaka’s claims, said once they are in opposition, the minority will never be satisfied with government’s efforts at developing the country.

“It is typical that in opposition you have to rubbish everything that is right under your nose. Even he [Muntaka Mubarak] would have to admit that the improvements in the indices as indicated by the President are remarkable. You will marvel at it and so I am not surprised that he is saying he heard nothing,” she said.

She challenged some of the information put out by the Chief Whip, saying they were inaccurate.

“Unfortunately, all the facts that he claims he has put out are nonfactual and are bombs, and I challenge you to do a fact check,” she said.

The state of the nation address

President Akufo-Addo touted the achievements of the government in stabilizing the economy, implementing the Free SHS and clearing a huge chunk of debts owed by National Health Insurance Scheme and contractors in the past one year.

He also reiterated the efforts and strategies underway to put the economy on a sound footing, improve agriculture, enhance road network, revive the country’s rail network, the health sector, as well as give real meaning to the fight against corruption.

–

By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Akufo-Addo delivered ‘State of Promises’ – Minority appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, Mahama Ayariga argued that, the Constitution has laid out the procedures for sanctioning a Minister.

[contextly_sidebar id=”iABYBmRf6S0bTjUCNF9OsBf6YvmbgssN”]According to him, the President could have either reshuffled the Minister or dismissed him, while Parliament could also tender a motion for censure against him.

“The President didn’t appoint the Minister alone and the President didn’t create the office of the Minister…The kind of public service positions where you can exercise disciplinary control such as suspension from office are different from Ministerial appointments. In the case of Ministers, there are mechanisms for dealing with them such as a vote of censurship by Parliamentarians or the President reshuffling a Minister or dismissing a Minister outright. The President cannot suspend a Minister. He has to show us specifically under which provision of the Constitution he’s exercising the power to suspend the Minister,” he said.

Mahama Ayariga hinted that, he might head to court to ensure that finality is brought to the matter, if the President does not reverse his decision.

“We can raise it on the floor of Parliament and debate it, but that doesn’t also give finality to the matter. It’s the courts that will give finality. The only way to obtain some finality is to go to the courts and test then Constitution in relation to the conduct of the President. Perhaps by [Friday] morning the President would have thought through it, realized he has done the wrong thing and reverse his decision. If he doesn’t then of course, there might be a need to challenge his actions and either myself or somebody else who has the space may decide to do that.”

The Minister was suspended after he was reported to have protected a group of angry youth believed to be members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who besieged the Upper West Regional office of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) on Wednesday evening.

The statement announcing his suspension noted that, his deputy will act, pending the conclusion of an investigation into the incident.

‘Commendable but deputy can’t act’ – Haruna Iddrisu

The leader of the Minority in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, appeared to disagree with this school of thought from his colleague, stating that the President deserved to be commended for taking the decision and allowing the Regional Minister to be heard before making a final decision.

He added that, it was necessary for the processes initiated by the President to be allowed to proceed.

“You have to look at it within the larger context of the public service and I welcome the swiftness of the President’s action. He wants to deal with the crippling lawlessness in the country led by NPP youth and we should commend him for that. The President is allowing the Minister to be heard on the merits of the issue and is allowing, in the meantime, an investigation in the action. Probably that is why he chose the word suspension. The President can exercise the power of revocation, but has asked for an investigation into the matter, let’s allow the process to roll out,” he noted.

Mr. Iddrisu, however, described the directive by President Akufo-Addo for the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Amidu Ishaq to act in the stead of the suspended Regional Minister as unconstitutional.

He stated that, it was imperative that the President does not breach the Constitution in his effort to address the matter.

According to him, the constitution does not allow for a Deputy Regional Minister to act in the absence of a substantive Minister.

“We welcome the swiftness of the President’s action against the Regional Minister for attempting to [frustrate efforts] at getting an end to the lawlessness in the country by the masquerading NPP youth in that region and other parts of the country. But the President himself is a respected legal practitioner and must do what is appropriate legally and constitutionally within the meaning of the Supreme Court ruling on the status of deputy Ministers. It is wrong in law and constitutionally for the deputy Minister to be asked to acting in the absence of the regional Minister,” Haruna Iddrisu said on Eyewitness News.

He believes that the President could direct another Regional Minister to assume the role of acting Upper West Regional Minister until he makes a final determination on the fate of Sulemana Alhassan.

“What the President should be doing is to get any other Regional Minister to step in while the investigation continues until he decides whether he is revoking the suspension or enhancing it with a revocation of his appointment. There is a Supreme Court judgement on the status of deputy Ministers and they cannot act in the absence of Ministers. The President must get a Minister, probably a Regional Minister within the decentralization regime to act in that role. I expect the President to act within the law and within the Constitution and within the ruling of the Supreme Court. What he has done is legally untenable and inappropriate.”

Chaos at U/W NADMO

At about 5:00 pm on Wednesday, the youth from the Wa East district, numbering about 30, arrived in two pickups and a minibus, and stormed the NADMO offices at the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council.

After the police got to the scene of the disturbances and effected the arrest of three persons, Alhassan Suleiman ordered the release of the suspects.

He reportedly told the Police that “This is a party matter, I will have a meeting with them and get back to you”.  After that, the attackers walked home freely.

Following the incident, workers of NADMO declared a strike today [Thursday], and demanded that until the suspects are arrested, they will not return to work.

They  slammed the Regional Minister, whose duty is to protect citizens as the Regional Chairman of the Security Council, for choosing to shield the attackers.

They said the Minister demonstrated no value of their lives, as the attack on the offices of NADMO led to an aide to the NADMO Regional Director being beaten to pulp.

The Regional NADMO Director, Isaac Seidu, who appeared to be the main target of the attack, however escaped unhurt.

Isaac Seidu told Citi News that “the police came and met the boys around my office but when they wanted to make the arrest, the Minister [Sulemana Alhassan] came down and prevented them.”

The angry NADMO staff have welcomed the Minister’s suspension, and have called off their strike accordingly.

–

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Addo’s suspension of Regional Minister ‘unconstitutional’- Ayariga appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

While commending the decision taken by the President to suspend the Regional Minister, Haruna Iddrisu stated that, it was imperative that the President does not breach the Constitution in his effort to address the situation.

According to him, the constitution does not allow for a Deputy Regional Minister to act in the absence of the substantive Minister.

“We welcome the swiftness of the President’s action against the Regional Minister for attempting to [frustrate efforts] at getting an end to the lawlessness in the country by the masquerading NPP youth in that region and other parts of the country. But the President himself is a respected legal practitioner and must do what is appropriate legally and constitutionally within the meaning of the Supreme Court ruling on the status of deputy Ministers. It is wrong in law and constitutionally for the deputy Minister to be asked to acting in the absence of the regional Minister,” Haruna Iddrisu said on Eyewitness News.

He believes that the President could direct another Regional Minister to assume the role of acting Upper West Regional Minister until he makes a final determination on the fate of Sulemana Alhassan.

“What the President should be doing is to get any other Regional Minister to step in while the investigation continues until he decides whether he is revoking the suspension or enhancing it with a revocation of his appointment. There is a Supreme Court judgement on the status of deputy Ministers and they cannot act in the absence of Ministers. The President must get a Minister, probably a Regional Minister within the decentralization regime to act in that role. I expect the President to act within the law and within the Constitution and within the ruling of the Supreme Court. What he has done is legally untenable and inappropriate.”

The Minister was suspended after he is reported to have protected a group of angry youth believed to be members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who besieged the Upper West Regional office of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) on Wednesday evening.

The statement announcing his suspension noted that, his deputy will act pending the conclusion of an investigation into the incident.

‘Minister can’t be suspended’ – Mahama Ayariga

NDC MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga also believes that the President’s decision to suspend the Minister was unlawful, as the Constitution lays out the procedures for sanctioning a Minister.

According to him, the President could have either reshuffled the Minister or dismissed him, while Parliament could also tender a motion for censure against him.

“The President didn’t appoint the Minister alone and the President didn’t create the office of the Minister…The kind of public service positions where you can exercise disciplinary control such as suspension from office are different from Ministerial appointments. In the case of Ministers, there are mechanisms for dealing with them such as a vote of censurship by Parliamentarians or the President reshuffling a Minister or dismissing a Minister outright. The President cannot suspend a Minister. He has to show us specifically under which provision of the Constitution he’s exercising the power to suspend the Minister,” he said.

Mahama Ayariga hinted that, he might head to court to ensure that finality is brought to the matter, if the President does not reverse his decision.

“We can raise it on the floor of Parliament and debate it, but that doesn’t also give finality to the matter. It’s the courts that will give finality. The only way to obtain some finality is to go to the courts and test then Constitution in relation to the conduct of the President. Perhaps by [Friday] morning the President would have thought through it, realized he has done the wrong thing and reverse his decision. If he doesn’t then of course, there might be a need to challenge his actions and either myself or somebody else who has the space may decide to do that.”

Haruna Iddrisu disagrees with Ayariga’s argument

Haruna Iddrisu however appeared to disagree with this school of thought from his colleague, stating that the President deserved to be commended for taking the decision and allowing the Regional Minister to be heard before making a final decision.

He added that it was necessary for the processes initiated by the President to be allowed to proceed.

“You have to look at it within the larger context of the public service and I welcome the swiftness of the President’s action. He wants to deal with the crippling lawlessness in the country led by NPP youth and we should commend him for that. The President is allowing the Minister to be heard on the merits of the issue and is allowing, in the meantime, an investigation in the action. Probably that is why he chose the word suspension. The President can exercise the power of revocation, but has asked for an investigation into the matter, let’s allow the process to roll out,” he noted.

Chaos at U/W NADMO

At about 5:00 pm on Wednesday, the youth from the Wa East district, numbering about 30, arrived in two pickups and a minibus, and stormed the NADMO offices at the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council.

After the police got to the scene of the disturbances and effected the arrest of three persons, Alhassan Suleiman ordered the release of the suspects.

He reportedly told the police that ” This is a party matter, I will have a meeting with them and get back to you”.  After that, the attackers walked home freely.

Following the incident, workers of NADMO declared a strike today [Thursday], and demanded that until the suspects are arrested, they will not return to work.

They  slammed the Regional Minister, whose duty is to protect citizens as the Regional Chairman of the Security Council, for choosing to shield the attackers.

They said the Minister demonstrated no value of their lives, as the attack on the offices of NADMO led to an aide to the NADMO Regional Director being beaten to pulp.

The Regional NADMO Director, Isaac Seidu, who appeared to be the main target of the attack, however escaped unhurt.

Isaac Seidu told Citi News that “the police came and met the boys around my office but when they wanted to make the arrest, the Minister [Sulemana Alhassan] came down and prevented them.”

–

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Suspending regional minister commendable, but deputy can’t act – Haruna appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

They have also suggested that the Finance Minister alternatively resigns over the matter.

[contextly_sidebar id=”biYHRXRzAgzkXpSijWgChBZBZMjt51cV”]The caucus, at a news conference addressed by their leader, Haruna Iddrisu, threatened to initiate processes to have the Minister removed from his position through a motion of censure per Article 82 of the constitution.

According to Haruna Iddrisu, the multiple infringements of the law by the Minister in the issuance of the bond as indicated in a report by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), indicated that he acted in bad faith and must not be allowed to remain in office.

“We serve notice that in event that the President, Nana Akufo-Addo does not exercise appropriate judgement, we will initiate an action of censorship against the Minister. We in the minority feel strongly vindicated by the [CRAHJ] report… All of us must uphold the laws of Ghana including the Minister for Finance,” he said.

CHRAJ in December, 2017 cleared Ofori-Atta of the allegations of conflict of interest in the issuance of the bond, but found him guilty of some  infractions in the process.

This followed a petition to the Commission by Brogya Genfi, a known member of the opposition National Democratic Congress [NDC].

Among the 21-point findings in its decision, CHRAJ observed that Primary Dealers also doubled up as Bookrunners/Transaction advisors and that dual role gave them an undue advantage.

It also observed that the “Respondent is either a director, former director or shareholder, or beneficial owner, of several companies whose objects relate to the securities market sector. The companies include Databank and EGL. As such, Respondent’s interests in the growth and well-being of those companies, have the potential to conflict with the interests of the state in relation to the securities market such as the issuance of bonds.

It stated that “The Respondent has business partners and associates related to the securities industry where, according to the Respondent, he has been working for over thirty years. These business partners and associates include partners in Databank, Enterprise Group Limited, Ventures and Acquisitions Limited, as well as Keli Gadzekpo, Trevor Trefgarne and Angela Ofori Atta, also Respondent’s spouse.”

‘Blacklist Databank’

Haruna Iddrisu further urged state institutions to cut ties and discontinue engagement with Databank and Enterprise Group which they say the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has interests in.

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By: Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Minority pushes for Ofori-Atta’s dismissal over $2.25bn bond appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Iddrisu called for Oath of Allegiance to be removed from the schedule after the Speaker took the oath of office to act as President for the second time in six days.

[contextly_sidebar id=”toOvdP1F9sq1vwJaXUdRmjwnA02BEtSU”]After Prof. Oquaye’s first swearing-in last Sunday, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, made similar suggestions saying future Speakers of Parliament who may have to act as President should only need to take only the Oath of Secrecy.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament today [Saturday], Mr. Iddrisu made reference to Section 3 of the Oaths Act which is against the repetition of Oaths.

“Must the Speaker of Parliament repeat the Oath of Allegiance? My position is, Section 3 of the Oaths Act of 1972 is against the repetition of oaths. Just within the span of less than 10 days, the same Speaker of Parliament who swore an earlier Oath of Allegiance and swore one just a few days ago is being made to swear another oath of allegiance. In my view, that is legally needless and at best, unnecessary. Mr. Speaker, this Parliament must rise to the calling that under article 93 of the constitution, the power to legislate and make laws is ours and we must jealously protect and safeguard it,” the Majority Leader submitted.

Section 3 of the Oaths Act says: “No person who has duly taken the Oath of Allegiance or the Judicial Oath shall be required again to take that oath on appointment to any other office or on any other occasion…  No person shall be required to take any oath on appointment to any office unless that oath is different from or in addition to an oath duly taken by him in respect of any other appointment.”

The swearing-in is mandated by Article 60 (11) and (12) of the 1992 Constitution and has been necessitated by President Nana Akufo-Addo’s trip to Addis Ababa for the AU Summit.

The Vice President, Dr. Bawumia, is also currently in the United Kingdom on medical leave after being taken ill last week.

The Speaker will be clothed with Presidential powers until Wednesday, 31^st January.

Upset MPs

Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, expressed his displeasure with the summoning of MPs for the second swearing-in of the Speaker of Parliament in less than a week to Citi News.

According to Dr. Apaak said the processes prescribed by law were inconveniencing several MPs who had made other plans.

He said bluntly this current arrangement was unsustainable.

“As I speak to you, myself and many of my colleagues have engagements and activities in our constituencies and we are to leave, and yet we are expected to come back to the House at 8:30 am to swear in the Speaker as President. I don’t think it is sustainable.”

Controversy over swearing-in

The law concerning the swearing-in was breached by a former Speaker of Parliament, Doe Adjaho in 2014, when he refused to take the oath of office as acting President at a point.

Both President Mahama and his Vice Kwesi Amissah-Arthur had traveled outside the country at the time.

This compelled the Managing Director of Citi FM, Samuel Atta-Mensah, and a United States-based Ghanaian lawyer, Prof. Kwaku Asare, to file a suit at the Supreme Court, to among other things, seek an interpretation of Article 60 (12) of the 1992 Constitution, which requires that the Speaker takes the oath of office each time he is to act as President.

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, declared that the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, violated Article 60 (11)-(12) of the 1992 Constitution when he declined to be sworn in to act as President.

The apex court Speaker of Parliament shall always, before assuming the functions of the Office of President when the President and the Vice-President are unable to perform their functions, take and subscribe to the oath set out in relation to the Office of President”.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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