The approval was done by only Majority Members of Parliament because the Minority staged a walkout during the debate on the Floor of the House.

[contextly_sidebar id=”jlkgpCU1oFW2RiEJ43AFDu2SbS6Ob6Ll”]It appears the House was bent on getting the agreement through before it rises for recess.

“This House adopts the report from the joint committee on defense and interior,” the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye said after the approval.

Prior to staging the walkout, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, spoke for close to 17 minutes giving a litany of reasons why they believe the agreement should not be ratified by Parliament.

Cabinet approves MoU

Ghana’s Cabinet had agreed to provide the US’ military troop a place near the Kotoka International Airport, and also give them unhindered access to some key installations following a Memorandum of Understanding between the government of Ghana and the US government.

The MoU was laid before before Parliament on Tuesday recommending to Parliament to ratify the agreement, but it was rejected by the opposition in Parliament.

With the agreement ratified, it means that the US troops will among other things be exempted from paying taxes on equipment that are brought to Ghana as well as use Ghana’s radio spectrum for free.

The troops and their equipment will also have unhindered access to the US forces and their equipment.

Although many Ghanaians have expressed resentment over the clauses of the agreement, the Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, said the agreement is in the best interest of Ghana.

The Government has consistently explained that it was only respecting the existing Status of Forces Agreement with the US signed since 1998 and reviewed in 2015, under the previous NDC administration.

But the NDC Minority has downplayed this argument saying the agreement as existed in the past, did not have the same clauses like the current one that gives the US unlimited access to Ghana’s military facilities.

The US Embassy in Ghana has also explained that it is only planning joint security exercises with Ghana, which will require that US military personnel are allowed access to Ghana’s military facilities, and that they are not building a military base.

“The current Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the United States of America and the Republic of Ghana is approximately 20 years old. It does not cover the current range and volume of bilateral exercises and assistance. This year, the United States of America is investing over $20 million in training and equipment for the Ghanaian armed forces. Ghana is also once again preparing to train U.S forces – as it did in 2017. The United States and Ghana are planning joint security exercises in 2018, which require access to Ghanaian bases by US participants and those from other nationals when included,” a statement from the US Embassy said.

Minority blocks report

The Minority on Thursday blocked the laying before Parliament, the report of the Joint Committee on Defence and Interior and Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, on the agreement seeking to ratify the hosting of  US military troops in Ghana.

It was however laid today, Friday, March 23, 2018, and subsequently approved late hours on the same day.

‘Protests today, expect more Wednesday’

Earlier today [Friday], a number of protesters who tried to gain access to Parliament to kick against the anticipated approval of the deal were prevented from entering the House.

The main entrance of the House was shut with strict access checks being conducted for members of the public and workers seeking to enter.

The protesters however chanted slogans and songs outside the House.

The leader of the protesters, a suspended CPP executive member, Ernesto Yeboah, who was dissatisfied with Parliament’s decision, said they posed no threat to the security of the House.

“Are we holding guns? So on what basis are we disallowed from entering Parliament to have a sight of the proceedings in Parliament? They have absolutely no basis to restrain us from entering to have a sight of the proceedings. We are going to enter, we are going to sit down, we are going to observe the rules of Parliament.

Hosting US soldiers will trigger terror attacks – NDC

The NDC at a news conference on Thursday, said Ghana could become a target for extremists if the agreement was allowed to go through.

The General Secretary of the party, Asiedu Nketia, who said this indicated that a ratification of the agreement will send wrong signals which could subsequently make Ghana vulnerable to attacks.

‘We’ll review deal in 2021’

He indicated that, the deal, if ratified by Parliament, will be suspended and reviewed by the NDC if it returns to office in 2021.

“We wish to state here and now that if President Akufo-Addo and his NPP administration proceed to ratify the agreement despite protests and public sentiments, the NDC administration which will assume the reins of government in 2021, will suspend the agreement and initiate a far reaching review.”

‘You can’t compare ‘military base’ deal to Gitmo 2′ – Ablakwa

Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, had said that the previous John Mahama administration’s handling of the hosting of the two Ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees in Ghana, cannot be compared the current government’s handling of the proposed US military camp in the country.

This is in spite of the fact that the Supreme Court declared that agreement illegal because it wasn’t approved by Parliament.

Some Ghanaians had questioned the Minority’s moral right to take on government seeing the controversy that surrounded the hosting of the ex-Gitmo two who have now become a burden for the government.

But speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Ablakwa refuted these claims, insisting that unlike this current deal, the previous government consulted key stakeholders, including political party leaders before sealing the Gitmo two agreement.

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Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also described the calls as “preposterous”.

[contextly_sidebar id=”SKaqdhk8WoNKWENXS7ZkgNzftTeTXyRj”]He explained that, similar calls had been made to the government which had been in place during the tenure of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, prior to his death in 2012.

He recalled that those requests were rebuffed by state officials, and so it was surprising that the opposition is insistent on being given full details of the current status of the Vice President.

“For now, I think it’s most preposterous for anybody to say that let’s demand the report, what report? The report, based on suspicion?” he said.

“This is the same call that I made of late president Mills. Those who to this day are resisting it, are the same people who are now saying this”

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia left Ghana for the United Kingdom (UK) on medical leave last Friday, on the advice of his Ghanaian doctors after taking ill.

It is as yet unclear what ailment the Vice President is suffering from.

A statement from the Presidency, signed by the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare said “the Vice President of the Republic, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on Friday, 19th January 2018, left Ghana for the United Kingdom for medical leave, on the advice of his doctors.”

“The Minister for Information, Mustapha Hamid has assured Ghanaians that the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, will soon return to the country after leaving on Friday for the United Kingdom on medical leave. accompanied by the 2nd Lady, Hajia Samira Bawumia,” the statement added.

Two days after his departure, the Minority in Parliament on Sunday registered its displeasure over the apparent lack of communication from the government on the health status of the Vice President.

Following the swearing in of the Prof. Oquaye as the acting president in the absence of both Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia, the Minority leader,  Haruna Idrissu said the governments’ handling of this “sensitive matter” was not the best.

“Mr Speaker, we are not happy with government communicators at the office of the Presidency. Mr Speaker, it is a sensitive matter. I could be ill myself, but Mr Speaker, they should communicate well. I have sighted a letter where they say he is on Medical leave. What medical leave? Words matter,” he said.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to the Speaker, the Committee is expected to submit its report to the House “as soon as possible, one day after our recall which is 24th [January 2018].”

The Committee has three members of the Majority namely Ameyaw Kyeremeh, Majority Chief Whip, who will Chair the Committee, Dr. Assibey Yeboah, Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, and Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, MP for Adentan.

On the Minority side are James Klutsey Avedzie, Deputy Minority Leader, and Dominic Ayine, the MP for Bolgatanga East.

On why the Speaker of Parliament allowed the motion to pass despite the irregularity concerns raised by the Majority, Prof. Oquaye said he does not want the Parliamentary processes to be abused.

“…We should be careful of the rights provided us so that it does not become a tool for promoting that which is frivolous, vexatious or otherwise an abuse of the process of Parliament. Our good nation cannot be allowed to sink into insecurity and confusion, and that is why I have allowed this to come on notwithstanding the incompetence in irregularities.”

Members of Parliament were recalled from recess for a special sitting  today, Friday, over the issue upon the request of the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak.

Muntaka had prayed the House to set up an adhoc committee to investigate the matter, adding that “It is important that these matters are investigated properly…I believe that as a House we will do what we think is right.”

This committee has become necessary despite President Akufo-Addo declaring that there was no wrongdoing, after he tasked Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyeremanten, to offer him some explanations.

Throw out ‘incompetent’ motion

Prior to the formation of the committee, there were heated arguments from both sides of the Chamber over the motion when the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu raised issues with the letter accompanying the motion.

The Majority Leader had disclosed that, Muntaka’s name was not part of the MPs who signed the letter accompanying the memorandum, adding that 28 of the MPs who were said to have appended their signatures did not do so, but only had their names captured on the letter.

He described it as a “clear case of misrepresentation” because the letter said the “under listed have appended their signatures.”

Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu further noted that, some of the Minority MPs including Collins Daudu, Eric Opoku, Oko Vanderpuije, Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings, Inusah Fuseini, Alban Bagbin among others, have all not appended their signatures to the memo.

“There are many more names listed, and we are being told they have appended their signatures but they have not.”

Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu further described the motion as “incompetent” and thus called for it to be rejected by the Speaker of Parliament.

“So the issue that I raised has to do with misrepresentation and it will be a gross abuse of the processes to come and pray. The second item is that, we should come and correct votes and proceedings. Mr. Speaker, the young indeed shall grow. On the allegations, we have heard the claims put in the public domain. Today, we are witnessing a shift of goal post. The motion before us has nothing to do with extortion.”

“Mr. Speaker, you will notice that I have not attempted to respond to the issue…I’ve not gone into what they are saying…because the motion itself does not talk about that. This is incompetence. They should learn the procedures of this house.  Their motion has very wobbly legs. This is a very incompetent motion that has been submitted. So I will urge and pray that you dismiss this. When they come properly even today, we are ready to debate them,” he added.

Muntaka fights back

Incensed by the claims however, Muntaka insisted that the motion was competent, adding that “it is most shocking and very disingenuous for the Majority Leader to even imagine that what was done was wrong.”

“My colleague the Majority Leader thinks he is smart. He should read the laws well. The request is in the memo and that is where my signature is,” he argued.

Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, also joined the argument, saying the motion in his possession had enough signatures to fulfill the requirement for such motions.

Speaker of Parliament rules

In his ruling, the Speaker of Parliament described the issues raised on the motion as “procedural irregularities” and suspended the House for 30 minutes in order to have the issues rectified.

“…Those applicants cannot determine the agenda for the House. The business of the house is done by the Executive. When you say I’m forwarding this on behalf of the applicants herein, and the application is attached, it is a procedural irregularity. This matter is a matter of grave importance. The procedural irregularities are being stated so that it must not be repeated. I will therefore direct the House to break for 30 minutes for the procedural irregularities to be corrected. As for those who did not sign it, it is neither here nor there. As far as the number of people required sign, it is so signed. We will suspend the House for 30 minutes and deal with the composition of the actual committee.”

Background

The Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, first made the extortion allegation in Parliament.

Mr. Mubarak said the fees charged at the Ghana Expatriate Business Awards (GEBA) were not approved by Parliament, adding that the monies were also not accounted for in the Internally Generated Funds [IGF] of the Ministry’s accounts.

The issue was further reinforced by Mr. Ablakwa, who suffered verbal assaults from Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkorah over the matter.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry initially dissociated itself from these allegations.

The Trade Ministry, in a statement said it played no role in determining prices for seats at the event, and clarified that it only facilitated the implementation of a new initiative by the Millennium Excellence Foundation.

But the Ministry after an order from the President to probe the matter, clarified that an amount of GHc 2,667,215 was realized from the event.

The organizers of the Awards had also explained that no one paid to sit close to the President, and that the amount raised was gotten from sponsorship through a fundraising at the event.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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This, they say, is due to government’s disregard for the provisions of the Public Financial Management Act, which requires the regular submission of intelligence reports on the security situation in the country to Parliament.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ZLNnqD299P2p2IHMvzRqMTUAdbeiKYwa”]According to Minority Spokesperson on Interior and Defense, James Agalga, the government has no justification for flouting the law hence their intended action.

“Upon the elevation of the Secretariat of the National Security Council into a full fledged Ministry, I believe what was within the contemplation of his excellency the President was to ensure that the intelligence agencies of state are accountable to this house. The enabling Act for the existence of the Ministry for National Security, specifically requires it to report to this house on their activities to make it possible for this house to exercise its oversight responsibilities.

“Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, they have omitted to discharge this function, thereby making it impossible for us to assess their performance as stipulated under the Public Financial Act 2016. This is an unpardonable violation which makes it difficult to asses their budget estimates. In the absence of that report, I am submitting that we cannot consider the budget estimates of the Ministry for National Security.”

Withdraw budget – Minority 

The threat comes days after the Minority admonished government to withdraw the budget because they claim the Finance Minister reviewed aspects of the last budget in July without a resolution of the house; an act they term unlawful and must lead to nullification of the 2018 budget.

The Minority Spokesperson for Finance, Ato Forson, who made the call in a submission on the floor of Parliament, said “The Minister responsible for Finance cannot revise the expenditures and revenue without parliamentary resolution.”

He also said the government’s budgetary allocation for the Nation Builders’ Corps was “nothing to write home about.”

He noted that the Minority’s calculations indicated that each of the 100,000 youth to be recruited under the program would receive a little over GH¢400, which is woefully inadequate.

“Mr. Speaker the said graduates will not take home more than GHC400, this is dangerous. Mr. Speaker that GHC600,000 they intend to fund the programme with is not coming from the government of Ghana. It is going to be taken from the district assembly common fund. You’re going to constrain the district assemblies just for the purpose of funding it. This, in my opinion, is an extension of the national service scheme,” he said.

The Majority however called the bluff of the Minority , daring it to go to court for redress if they are convinced that the 2018 Budget breaches the laws of the country.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This follows the Minority’s firm admonition to government to withdraw the budget during the first day of debate, because they claim the Finance Minister reviewed aspects of the last budget in July without a resolution of the house; an act they term unlawful and must lead to nullification of the 2018 budget.

The Chairman of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah however argued that the Minority will be doing a disservice to the country if they debate the budget without seeking clarity in the courts regarding the supposed illegality with the budget.

“When we pass an appropriation, we say that ‘spending not exceeding’, meaning the Minister of Finance can spend up to the appropriation, so if it is that he does not spend up to appropriation does he have to come back to Parliament ? No! If it were the case that he exceeds the appropriation, then he has to come back to Parliament, but he has not exceeded the appropriation. In the mid year review on 31st July, we decided that it is a statement and should not come by way of motion, but if he [Ato Forson] is saying that it was unconstitutional and he has stayed all this while waiting for a budget before, then you are doing a disservice to the nation, and the proper forum to test that one is the Supreme Court. ”

Meanwhile, the Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has been making the case of the Minority as to why the budget is illegal and should be withdrawn.

He stated that, government had reviewed some key economic targets without recourse to the House, adding that “the Minister responsible for Finance cannot revise the expenditures and revenue without parliamentary resolution.”

Minority’s call for budget withdrawal flawed – Kwaku Kwarteng

But Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr. Kwaku Kwarteng however dismissed these suggestions on Eyewitness News, saying the Minority’s argument is flawed since government cannot premise its budget on the previous one passed by Parliament while ignoring the realities on the ground.

“The point that we should have rather premised the 2018 budget on the 2017 budget passed by Parliament and we should have ignored the realities and we should have not built future plans on the basis of today’s actuals is a very strange proposition.

“ You do your budget on the basis of ‘actuals’ because going forward, you want to plan on the basis of reality so for anyone to suggest that because you did midyear review and Parliament did not approve of it, then you are unable to do 2018 budget statement because you would have premised it on the mid year review projections is flawed,” Mr. Kwarteng argued.

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By: Marian Ansah & Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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Reports are emerging that the BNI has taken over the probe of the matter from the committee set by the Energy Ministry, and also exonerated the embattled Managing Director of BOST, Alfred Obeng Boateng of any wrongdoing.

[contextly_sidebar id=”BZpbDlfSX9F3IMridloe0Mng38UcCVeQ”]Addressing the press in Parliament today [Tuesday], the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, indicated that, they will stop at nothing to expose the alleged rot at BOST.

“There is a very bizarre and uncharacteristic developments in our country today that we are being told that the BNI is acting in a manner that we don’t only smell, but we can sense a cover up in respect of the matter of the selling of contaminated oil by BOST which matter bothers on fraud, corruption and abuse of office. We are aware that the Ministry of Energy has set up a committee to investigate the matter.”

The Minority Leader said information they have picked up suggest that the “the BNI is asking for dissolution of that committee.”

According to him, if such information was true, “that can only be a gargantuan cover up on a matter which is fraudulent and we believe that this action of the BNI can only be sowing the seed of corruption in our country and also allowing and preventing sunshine on matters that are of public interest.”

“The mere selling of contaminated oil matter to motorists, the mere admission of the regulator, the NPA to the extent that they were unaware and they had not licensed a particular entity also raises major issues as to which entity, registered or not registered that the state should be dealing with. The BNI would have to come public to share with us what they have investigated and what their findings are and not just a mere statement to the effect that the Minister should dissolve his committee,” he added.

Haruna Iddrisu further called on the president to stop such cover ups if he  really wants to fight corruption as he had promised during the electioneering.

“We are already aware of an internal turf between the ministry and other players within government. This recent development, we find unacceptable and therefore if the president means well in fighting corruption, he should not be seen supporting any cover up and must allow the ministerial committee to proceed henceforth with full investigation of the matter and report publicly or they may as well say that they are not interested in any other matter of public interest,” Haruna Iddrisu added.

Background

BOST had been in the news for selling 5 million litres of contaminated fuel to two unlicensed companies, Movepiina and Zup Oil, which were allegedly set up few days before the sale making Ghana lose about GHc 7 million in revenue.

The NPA after complaining that it had not licensed the two firms, threatened to take legal action against the companies while investigations continue into the matter.

Some documents sighted by Citi News revealed that such cases had occurred at BOST in the past since about 38 unlicensed companies benefited from such deal between 2015 and 2016.

The Ministry of Energy subsequently set up an eight-member committee to investigate the issue. The Minority and Majority Members of Parliament also waded into the controversy taking divergent positions.

Whereas the Minority called for the appointment termination of the current Managing Director of BOST, Alfred Obeng Boateng, the Majority demanded a full scale investigation into the matter beginning from the era of the former BOST boss, Kingsley Kwame Awuah-Darko.

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According to him, the majority members left on the committee to continue the work, are doing a marvelous job.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Zr15ehVJlGCumC1BbiCMNX82DVFzDKKk”]The Minority members on the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Wednesday boycotted sitting, stating among other things that due diligence was being sacrificed.

They also complained that they were being overstretched especially when the House should have been on break ahead of the Easter celebration.

While dismissing the concerns of the Minority, Anthony Karbo, told Citi News his side is determined to do a thorough job.

“Unfortunately, we have finished the vetting so if they are coming back, they will only be coming back in respect with the report that is made before Parliament. We are expecting to form a quorum in accordance with the Members of Parliament, and we went ahead to conduct the vetting of Ministers, and so they had the opportunity to sit with the vetting committee and bring out their side of the issues and also to question some of the nominees.”

The Lawra Legislator believes that the Minority has the right to boycott the committee’s sitting, “it will be difficult to come back on other leg, claiming that those people do not merit the position given to them.”

He argued that, their concerns will not hold because the Majority has “questioned and done very serious interrogation of many of the Ministers.”

“We have questioned their competence, we have questioned their understanding of the sectors that they have been assigned by the President, and we have also gone through their CVs ” he said.

The Minority’s decision has been met with mixed reactions from some individuals and groups.

Pro NPP Pressure Group,  Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), is one of those groups, which criticized the Minority,  stating that their decision smacked of hypocrisy and poor attitude to work.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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This follows a boycott by the minority side of the house on Tuesday [February 7, 2017], when it sat to consider the 4th report of the Appointments Committee.

152 Members of Parliament voted “YES” in favour of the approval of Madam Otiko while there were 0 “NO” votes.

The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, in an earlier submission, said it stands against Otiko Djaba’s approval nomination over her posturing when she appeared before the committee for vetting.

The nominee was queried by some of the Minority members on the panel for describing the former president as “wicked, evil and someone with a heart of the devil,” but she said she still stood by those words and will not apologize for them.

He also expressed concerns that Otiko Djaba had not undertaken her one-year mandatory national service because she had traveled out of the country.

But speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, the majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said Otiko Djaba, following her vetting, secured an exemption from the National Service Scheme.

According to him, the waiver on her National Service makes her eligible to be employed in any institution in the country, as required by the National Service Act 426.

Frimpong-Boateng, Ursula Owusu, 4 others approved

Prior to the voting on Otiko Djaba’s approval, Parliament earlier approved the nomination of six (6) more ministerial nominees to serve in the Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

The House, at its sitting, agreed by consensus to approve the Appointments Committee’s recommendation for the approval of all the six nominees.

The nominees are Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng (Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation), Ursula Owusu-Ekuful (Minister for Communications), Joe Ghartey (Minister for Railways Development), and Joseph Kofi Adda (Minister for Sanitation and Water resources). The others are Kweku Ofori Asiamah (Minister for Transport) and Kwesi Amoako Atta (Minister for Roads and Highways).

This brings to total, 32, the number of ministerial nominees approved by Parliament out of the 36 nominated by President, Akufo-Addo. The Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Tamale South Constituency, Haruna Iddrisu, in his submission on the floor of Parliament during the consideration of the Committee’s report, said he believed that those who had been approved possessed the competence to promote development in their respective ministries.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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