He contends that when such is done it will help in curtailing the wanton abuse of Ghanaian workers by their foreign employees in the country.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ab6ZsxWZ7OzizpW75Dl8sXCxMSBYMyPS”]His comments come on the back of alleged assault on a staff of Marwako Restaurant by her Lebanese supervisor who dipped the face of his victim in hot pepper. There have also been instances where human right abuses have been visited on some Ghanaian employees by their bosses.

But in a Citi News interview, Richard Quashigah said it’s high time, the labour laws were applied appropriately.

“Where we have laws in this country as far as labour issues are concerned, how people should be treated at their work places, the rights that they have under the laws ought to be obeyed,” he said.

The legislator added that, “the labour act 651 2003 spells out clearly what the rights of a worker is, so if somebody engages a Ghanaian to work for him or her, being a Ghanaian or a foreigner, you must understand what the laws of this country are and work within that remit.”

Meanwhile, Gender Minister, Afisa Otiko Djaba has given assurances that justice will be served to the 25-year-old Ghanaian waitress, Evelyn Boakye. In a Facebook post yesterday, she said the Ministry is in collaboration with the appropriate security agencies and are putting in place the necessary measures to address the issue.

In a related development, the Lebanaese supervisor at the centre of the issue, Jihad Chaaban in an apology to the victim has “I wish very sincerely to personally apologize to you for the incident of 26th February 2017 at our Abelenkpe place of work.”

He has however denied reports that the victim was locked up after the incident, explaining that he rather tried to get help for her.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

The post Enforce labour laws to avert workplace abuse – Richard Quarshigah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to Afenyo-Markin, Nana Addo’s appointment of Ministers for new portfolios does not necessarily mean the creation of new Ministries.

[contextly_sidebar id=”58tRxFCeDjUBoQddkYYYnE76NHHlgst9″]“The appointments that were made, the President specifically indicated that these individuals were responsible for certain sectors so for instance if you look at the documents that were forwarded to Parliament for the purpose of vetting, if the President appoints someone and says he is responsible for planning that is the first stage. It does not necessarily mean that a Ministry for planning has been created. If the President appoints somebody and says that he is responsible for monitoring and evaluation, it does not necessarily mean that a Ministry of monitoring and evaluation has been created.

“ They are Ministers of State with certain responsibilities . My honourable brother is right when he says a Ministry would have the effect of the law when same has gone through gazetting and an executive instrument; but the context and the application of same must be properly juxtaposed. What he is saying is that, by the mere fact that a Ministry has been appointed responsible for a particular sector or given a certain function, will necessarily mean that a function has been created therefore Mr. President has breached the law, that is where I have a difficulty.”

Raising the issue on the floor of Parliament, NDC MP for Keta, Richard Quarshigah, said the President violated the laws by creating these Ministries, saying “It appears to me that because the President was in so much of a hurry he breached the rules, the laws of our countries in appointing ministers of state and especially the creation of ministries and realignment of ministries.”

He argued that based on the Civil Service Amendment Act 2001, which states that subject to the constitution, the President should by Executive Instrument publish in a gazette the establishment or re-designation of a ministry.

But the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensa-Bonsu, disagreed with Mr. Quashigah’s stance, and insisted that there was an official publication on the creation and realignment of the said ministries.

Senior minister position unconstitutional’

President Akufo-Addo’s creation of the “senior minister” position, currently occupied by Yaw Osafo Maafo, was  also recently described as unconstitutional by another minority member, Mahama Ayariga, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central constituency.

Ayariga in an open letter to the President on the matter said, “The Senior Minister post which you have created is demonstrably analogous to the office of Prime Minister. I will show, from a review of the history of the enactment of the 1992 Constitution, that there was a very conscious decision to avoid creating any office similar to that of a Prime Minister. The idea of having a Prime Minister was explicitly turned down.”

But in a rebuttal, the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South constituency, described Ayariga’s argument as unfortunate and hollow, arguing that the constitution had not spelt out guidelines for the appointment of Ministers under a particular government.

“It is very unfortunate because it has no substance and it is hollow. There is nowhere in the constitution that any ministerial portfolio has been created… So far as they have ministerial roles and functions, the only Minister who has been given constitutional recognition is the office of the Attorney General so with due respect to him, I do not see how he will have any serious argument to press home either in the court or within Parliament because it is pathetic…I am afraid his argument is jejune. They don’t see the light of state. And when you say a senior minister is it not a Minister of state? Is it a Minister from heaven? It doesn’t make sense,” Mr Atta Akyea said.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Nana Addo didn’t err in creating new ministries – Afenyo-Markin appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Government on Tuesday announced a 60 percent increase in allowances of service personnel effective January 2017. The announcement implies that each personnel who received GHc350 each month will now go home with GHc559.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Quarshigah who is also the Member of Parliament for the Keta Constituency and a member on the Public Accounts Committee said the amount will help NSS personnel manage their economic lives.

[contextly_sidebar id=”3CqcoS5PrWSDvQl8cjD0WQxHJ4YAIU8n”]“Clearly the allowances of national service personnel must be good news for the personnel and the young people of this country. The fact that a new government is coming does not necessarily mean that some deliberate mischief is being done to tie the hands of the incoming administration. We’ve had a situation in 2008 when the NPP administration was exiting office and we saw contracts being signed to the point that a very major policy was introduced that was the single spine salary structure which in itself was something that a lot of people saw as not being appropriate at the time because it was signed just few hours to the government handing over.”

Mr. Quarshigah also rejected claims that the decision will over burden the incoming government and argued that the NPP could review the policy if it’s too much for it.

“If they think the allowance given the national service personnel is inappropriate or too much and the public purse cannot bare it, they should have room to do a review and they must be able to explain to Ghanaians why they are doing a downward review of an earlier decision taken by the previous government. So there is no tying of hands in this,” he argued.

Uproar over last minute contract

The NPP had raised concerns over some supposed last minute contracts and appointments being initiated by the outgoing NDC government urging it to refrain from that.

But functionaries of the NDC have defended the actions saying they have done no wrong since they are still in power until they finally transfer power to the NPP on January 7, 2017.

–

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

The post Review NSS allowance if you can’t pay – MP to NPP appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.