Sarah Adwoa Safo is still the representative for the Dome Kwabenya constituency, according to George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, ranking member of the Privileges Committee of the House of Representatives. The Cape Coast South MP stated that only the Speaker of Parliament has the authority to declare Adwoa Safo’s seat empty when speaking with Captain Smart on Onua TV/”Maakye” FM on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. She continues to represent Dome Kwabenya in Congress.
The MP highlighted that no member of the House, including a Committee Chair or anybody else, may declare a seat vacant until the Speaker instructs the Clerk of Parliament to do so.
Three additional MPs, including Sarah Adwoa Safo, were called before the Parliamentary Privileges Committee for missing more than 15 meetings.
The Dome Kwabenya politician, however, claims she was never served with an invitation and never appeared before the Committee.
Following the work of the Committee, the second deputy speaker and chairman of the privileges committee Joseph Osei Owusu stated that the Clerk of Parliament must declare the seat vacant in order for a by-election to be called.
A.B.A. Fuseini, a committee member, previously told the media in Parliament that the Committee never discussed anything regarding the removal of Adwoa Safo from the House and that Mr. Osei Owusu’s statements were a “utter pathological lie.”
The Clerk of Parliament’s duty, according to Mr. Rocketts-Haggan, is administrative, and only the Speaker has the authority to authorize that.
In addition, Adwoa Safo stated in a Facebook post that she will continue to support the NPP and President Akufo-Addo despite attempts to single her out for long-standing wrongdoing.
Twelve developing countries, including Ghana, have been identified as having an impending debt crisis due to the global economic downturn.
Ukraine, Nigeria, Kenya, Tunisia, Belarus, El Salvador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Argentina, and Ecuador were among the other 12 nations on the list that were at risk of defaulting on their debt.
A study from Reuters claims that among other things, enormous borrowing, growing inflation, a falling currency, and a skyrocketing debt to Gross Domestic Product, GDP, ratio are the causes of Ghana’s specific predicament.
“Frenzied borrowing has caused Ghana’s debt to GDP ratio to rise to almost 85%.
“Its currency, the cedi, has lost nearly a quarter of its value this year, and it was already spending over half of the tax revenues on debt interest payments. Inflation is also getting close to 30%, “the report noted.”
According to the research, Belarus was “on the brink and at least another dozen are in the danger zone as growing borrowing prices, inflation, and debt all fuel fears of economic collapse,” and countries like Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Russia, Suriname, and Zambia were already in default.
It reported that nations seeking to prevent an economic collapse were turning to the International Monetary Fund, among other sources, for rescue plans.
Ghana is currently in talks with the IMF for one such programme after the government.
The Majority Leader and MP for Suame, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has disputed media reports that he was nearly lynched by traders at Suame Magazine, yesterday, Tuesday, July 18, 2022.
The MP told Kwabena Agyapong on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that the traders were only expressing their discontent.
He said contrary to claims that he was attacked, the situation was not as reported by a section of the Ghanaian media.
”I was not attacked. The traders only expressed, their discontent over our promise to construct the road in Suame.”
According to the lawmaker, he had gone to the area to address some issues they had raised over delays in constructing a road in the area and the Suame interchange.
He said he had gone to Suame to address the issues the traders had raised, and upon reaching a section of the area, they encountered a group who would not take any explanation on why the project had been delayed.
He explained that he moved away from the group, but they followed him and his team and at a point, started throwing sachet of water at us.
Later, we went to a conference center in the area and engaged some of them on the issues they had raised.
He disclosed that the contractor who was working on the road project suspended the project because he was short of bitumen.
Meanwhile, he has underscored the need for the party and government to enhance the communication channel to prevent these challenges.
As part of the government’s efforts to implement the Right to Information Act and pursuant to section 45(c) of the Right to Information Act 2019 (989) which provides recommendations and guidelines to a public institution for internal training of personnel, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Right to Information Commission (RTI), has on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, began a training program for the various agencies under the Ministry.
The training program, which was in two sessions started with a welcome address from the Ministry’s Right to Information Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Afful, who indicated the purpose of the training by saying that “we are here to familiarize ourselves with the provisions of the Right To Information Act 989 and also to consider the role of members of staff in providing factual information to the public.”
Facilitators of the Training, Dr. Winnifred Nafisa Mahama, Head of the Access to Information Division (ATID), and Mr. Sampson Hodor, a Principal Information Officer with the Division, took turns expounding on the topics of the background, application process, exemptions, and the Decision of the Commission on the Right to Information Act.
The training informed participants about the details of implementation as stated in the constitutional right to information held by public institutions, subject to the exemptions that are necessary and consistent with the protection of public interest in a democratic society.
The training also included an interactive session where participants had the opportunity to ask questions and make contributions to the conversation.
The agencies that participated on the first day of the training included the Minerals Commission, Precious Minerals Marketing Company, Ghana Plantation Fund Board, and the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL).
The Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr. Yaw Baah, has called for a total overhaul of the current pension system to benefit the working majority in the country, as he says the current scheme is unfair to low-income earning workers.
According to him, only a few privileged individuals are being paid huge sums of money from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) scheme every month, at the expense of ordinary workers who are contributing from their meagre salaries.
Dr. Baah says it is unfair for such a system to continue operating, hence it must be changed for the good of all workers.
“We are demanding a total overhaul of the pension system. The current system is unfair to many workers. A few privileged individuals are being paid huge sums of money from the SSNIT scheme every month, at the expense of ordinary workers who are contributing to the scheme from their meagre salaries,” he said during a press conference organised by the TUC on Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) and the National Economic Situation.
He stated that the TUC and its member groups are ready to meet the authorities to properly put in place a better system that will benefit every worker.
On the IMF
Commenting on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme that the country is seeking, he said it will not solve the fundamental structural problems of the economy that is currently in place.
According to him, just like the previous programmes have always done, it will only prepare the country for another bailout to continue keeping them in business.
“IMF programmes will not deal with these fundamental structural issues. IMF programmes only prepare the country for the next bailout so that the IMF will continue to be in business,” he said.
Dr. Baah stated that the TUC is willing to lead the country’s working people in resisting any attempt to impose hardships on workers and the entire Ghanaian population. The TUC believes that IMF programmes and policies are completely separated from reality.
“We have already communicated our objections to the decision to seek an IMF bailout for the eighteenth time. We are convinced that an IMF programme will not solve our problems. It will only impose hardships on Ghanaians,” he stated.
Speaking on the economy and how best to grow it, the TUC boss said: “We insist that our main challenge in managing the economy has to do with corruption and failure – on the part of successive governments – to transform the economy’s structure so as to allow Ghanaians produce what we eat and eat what we produce”.
Although the TUC’s request for an increase in COLA has been granted after intense negotiations took place between Organised Labour and the respective ministries, it’s still calling on the government to honour its promise to pay the lump-sum top-up to workers who retired in 2020 under the new pensions act, Act 766.
Concerning the Single Spine Salary Structure Review, Dr. Baah said: “The TUC and its affiliates have their eyes and minds firmly fixed on outcomes of the Single Spine Salary Review process currently underway. We are determined to work together with other Organised Labour groups to end the unfairness in remunerations for public sector workers on the Single Spine Salary Structure on one hand, and Article 71 office-holders and state-owned enterprises on the other hand”.
Dr. Baah however commended the government for its timely intervention and positive attitude toward the negotiations that enabled the parties to reach a win-win deal. He also thanked all the unions and their members for the extraordinary display of unity that brought results.
Organised Labour led by the TUC reached an agreement with the government for a 15 per cent Cost of Living Allowance for all workers on the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), effective July 1, 2022. This agreement led to the strike being called off.
National Organizer hopeful of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mahdi Jibril, says he was stunned to see the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) elect Stephen Ayensu Ntim as the new National Chairman of the party.
Stephen Ntim was elected as Chairman of the NPP at the party’s National Delegates Conference held at the Accra Sports Stadium after a landslide victory of 4,014 votes (72%)
He won the chairmanship position of the ruling New Patriotic Party on his fifth attempt at contesting. He finally takes over from Freddie Blay, who has served in the position since 2015.
However, according to Mahdi Jibril, members of the party should have made better decisions electing the chairmanship position considering the consequences of the exploits of President Akufo-Addo.
In an interview with Don Kwabena Prah on Happy98.9 FM’s “Epa Hoa Daben” socio-political talk show, he indicated that President Akufo-Addo had led the country into ruins after several failed attempts contesting elections.
“I think the NPP and Ghanaians have still not learnt anything from what Akufo-Addo has done to the country. Then again, the chairmanship position they voted for surprised me. Akufo-Addo came to the NPP wailing about how he has bitterly lost several election contests and then after finally has the opportunity of a lifetime to govern the country; he messes the country totally to the point of depression,” he said
He furthered that the NPP, having elected Stephen Ntim as National Chairman, proves they expect to lose the 2024 elections.
“I see the same story with someone who has contested for 20 years and is now short of modern ideas as chairman of the NPP to lead the charge to break the 8. That’s what we’ve all noticed, and we need to learn from this irrespective of the political party we find ourselves in. I think the NPP are just preparing themselves for 2024 to lose,” he added
The Member of Parliament for Builsa South Dr. Clement Apaak has mocked President Akufo-Addo following claims by Prophet Isaac Owusu Bempah that he [Akufo-Addo] has departed from God.
Dr. Apaak said the prophet has fled from the President because he is no longer who he used to be and has refused to defend him.
Prophet Bempah prophesied about the 2016 and 2020 victories of President Akufo-Addo.
He is referred to as the Prophet of the President but has gone silent for some time now.
In breaking his silence in an interview, the man says the President has departed from his godly ways by depending on other sources.
He likened his current relationship with the president to that of Saul and Samuel in the Bible.
“Samuel was asked to anoint Saul to become president, things did not go well, things went rough and that was because Saul became stubborn and was not listening to God and Samuel, so Samuel distanced himself from Saul.
“When Samuel tried to intervene at a point, God asked him to stay off because Saul had showed disobedience and so I see that the pure heart Akufo-Addo for which God chose him, has changed.
“He doesn’t listen to God anymore, and the prayers that clergymen used to say for him, he doesn’t allow it any longer. So, if you like him to Saul, it is the same thing, Samuel was only instructed by God to anoint Saul because he was God’s own choice,” he stressed.
Dr. Apaak reacting said Prophet Bempah would have defended the President on the issue of the National Cathedral but his silence means all was not well.
He said the prophet has given up on ”insensitive Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo”.
”Even NADAA’S prophet has fled from him. Until now, I had been asking why Rev. Owusu Bempah was mute, not defended NADAA on the Cathedral and the U-turn to the IMF? Now I’ve my answers, the prophet has given up on insensitive NADAA!”
Health experts have raised concerns over the prevalence of high blood pressure and diabetes among residents in Koforidua Zongo.
The situation has been attributed to a shift in healthy eating and regular physical exercise in form of walking which was characteristic of Muslims in Zongo communities.
This was observed during a free health screening exercise organized by the Eastern Regional Queen Mother of Zongo Communities, Magajiya Hajia Rabiyatu Ahmed Zakaria.
The health screening saw some Medical Doctors and other clinicians from Ridge Hospital in Accra and Koforidua deliver quality healthcare to the residents.
Participants were screened for high blood pressure, Malaria, typhoid, COVID-19, and glucose among others.
Hypertension and diabetes were identified to be prevalent among the populace.
The medical team dispensed medications for the patients and referred others with severe to critical conditions to the hospital for further treatment.
Dr Fati Ahmed, a medical doctor at Ridge Hospital in Accra who led the medical team was worried that some hypertensive and diabetic patients had blatantly defaulted on their medications.
“We have a lot of people with hypertension and diabetes. There are a lot of people who are known as diabetic and hypertensive who are none complaint. They are not taking their medications, some people have gone to the hospital before but they’ve been told, given medication for a month instead of them to go for follow-ups and review, they did not go. So we have representatives from Ghana Health Service and Nurses who will make sure they do follow-ups. We have provided first aid for those with very high Bp as well and referred a couple of them to the hospital, and those who had to go immediately because their Bps and Sugars were very high,” she said.
Moro Mamunatu public health nurse at Health Center at Koforidua Zongo said the facility will monitor residents diagnosed with High blood pressure and diabetes to ensure they take their medications.
She is worried that many residents of the Zongo community are reluctant to go to the hospital for checkups.
The organizer of the program Hajia Rabiyatu Ahmed Zakaria – the Eastern Regional Queen Mother of Zongo Communities (Magajiya) said she was motivated to organize the health screening to improve the health of the people in Zongo Communities, particularly at this difficult economic situation to relieve the people.
She said similar exercises including free registration onto the National Health Insurance Scheme will be held in other Zongo communities in parts of the Eastern region including Kibi, Asamankese.
Some of the beneficiaries hailed the medical intervention.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been tasked by Nana Oye Bampoe Addo to examine and draw lessons from the late John Evans Atta Mills’ unselfish style of leadership and governance.
She charged that the president consistently prioritized his own comfort and that of his family over the needs of Ghanaians.
The former Gender Minister and rights campaigner said Atta Mills provided a wonderful model for Akufo-Addo to emulate, especially in these difficult times, in an interview with Metro TV news as part of the festivities to announce the 10th-anniversary celebration of Mills’ death.
“It is all about the comfort of his family, the comfort of himself regrettably and what President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo can learn from President John Evans Atta Mills is to place Ghana first.
“Place the welfare and interest of Ghanaians first. Look up to optimizing and utilizing efficiently the resources of Ghana for the people of Ghana, to improve the lives and standards of the people of Ghana,” Nana Oye stressed.
Regarding arrangements for Mills’ memorial service, she stated that President Atta Mills’ younger brother will give a speech in Parliament the following week.
“The NDC will conduct a wreath-laying ceremony in Asomdwee Park at one o’clock. The state will blow sirens in his honor at 1:40 p.m., the hour of his passing.
“Our lecture on July 26th, 2022, will be the high point of the week. Tsatsu Tsikata will be the keynote speaker, she continued.
