I’m the 3rd most-powerful person in Ghana; ‘what’s your position?’ Bagbin debates Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
Mr Alban Bagbin has told Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu that he (the Suame MP) had been his friend until he (Bagbin) became the Speaker of Parliament. “Hon. Majority Leader, your powers have not reached that. Hon. Majority Leader, resume your seat. You don’t lead Parliament. You lead the business of the House. You lead the Majority and you lead government business. As to the role of Speaker, you’ve not been there yet. When you get there, you’ll do so,” Mr Bagbin told the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs on Tuesday, 23 March 2021 during parliamentary business regarding a petition filed by Dr Kwabena Duffuor and Mr Prince Kofi Amoabeng to have the house investigate the collapse by the government, of their banks – uniBank and UT Bank. Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu had raised issues with the Speaker’s referral of the petition laid by Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga, to a yet-to-be-composed seven-member committee for probe, since, according to the Majority Leader, the matter was already before a court. The Suame MP did not take kindly to the Speaker’s overruling of his objections, which sparked a back-and-forth between the two politicians and friends. Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu insisted the Majority Leader is the leader of the House, to which Mr Bagbin retorted: “I stated it but you’re not the leader of the Speaker. At least, I have a position in Ghana. Number three”. The Majority Leader then counters: “Number three is not in government” to which Mr Bagbin replied: “No, I didn’t say in government. I said in the country” and then asked the Suame MP: “What is your position in the country?” He also told Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu that: “You’ve been my good friend from all these years until I became Speaker”, adding: “Everybody in Ghana was doubting whether, indeed, you were really my friend”. “I’ve received a lot of calls about us and I said you’re my friend and you’re still my friend. Please don’t give credence to that,” the Speaker told Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu. Dr Duffuor, a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana and former Finance Minister; and Mr Amoabeng, founder of UT Bank, petitioned Parliament to have the licences of their banks, which were revoked in 2017 and 2018, restored. They also want Parliament to investigate the conduct of the Bank of Ghana in carrying out the revocation of the licences. Below are their reliefs: UT Bank i) Investigate the conduct of the Bank of Ghana and the Ghana Stock Exchange for the revocation of UT Bank’s licence and delisting the bank without due regard to the rules of Administrative Justice guaranteed under Article 23 of the 1992 Constitution. ii) Direct the restoration of the banking licence of UT Bank Limited by the Bank of Ghana and the remedying of the harms done the shareholders’ property rights as a result of the conduct of the Bank of Ghana. uniBank i) Investigate the conduct of the Bank of Ghana in the takeover, appointment of an Official Administrator of uniBank Ghana Limited and the circumstances surrounding the revocation of the banking licence of uniBank Ghana Limited; ii) Direct the restoration of the banking licence of uniBank Ghana Limited by the Bank of Ghana and the remedying of the harms done the shareholders’ property rights as a result of the conduct of the Bank of Ghana. Revocation of licences The Bank of Ghana (BoG) in August 2018 announced that it has revoked the licences of five banks and put them together as Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited. The banks were uniBank Ghana Limited, The Royal Bank Limited, Beige Bank Limited, Sovereign Bank Limited, and Construction Bank Limited and appointed Nii Amanor Dodoo of KPMG as the Receiver for the five banks. Prior to the amalgamation of the five banks, the Central Bank had closed down UT Bank and Capital Bank in August 2017. Reasons for closureuniBank, according to the BoG, was identified during the Asset Quality Review update in 2016 exercise to be significantly undercapitalised and beyond rehabilitation. “Shareholders, related and connected parties had taken amounts totaling GH¢3.7 billion which were neither granted through the normal credit delivery process nor reported as part of the bank’s loan portfolio. “In addition, amounts totaling GH¢1.6 billion had been granted to shareholders, related and connected parties in the form of loans and advances without due process and in breach of relevant provisions of Act 930. “Altogether, shareholders, related and connected parties of uniBank had taken out an amount of GH¢5.3 billion from the bank, constituting 75 percent of total assets of the bank,” the Central Bank explained back in 2018. On UT Bank, the Central Bank stated in a press release: “This action has become necessary due to severe impairment of their capital.” Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
“NDC Regional Communication Officers bounced on Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, asked him to mind his own Business
Regional Communication Officers of the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) across the 16 regions of Ghana have sent a strong warning to the Majority leader Osei kyei Mensah Bonsu to mind his own business and exclude himself from Sammy Gyamfi and NDC issue. Sammy Gyamfi in a post on his wall after Members of the minority Appointment Committee voted for all the President Akufo-Addo ministerial nominees posted, “Comrades, the betrayal we have suffered in the hands of the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, the leadership of our Parliamentary group, particularly Hon. Haruna Iddrissu and Hon. Muntaka Mubarak, and dozens of our own MPs, is what strengthens me to work hard for the great NDC to regain power.” “It’s about time we understood, that we don’t have any NDC Speaker of Parliament. No we don’t! We have a Speaker who rode on the back of the NDC into Office to pursue his own parochial agenda and nothing more. You trust them, at your own peril,” However, The Regional Communication Officers of the Party say, they appreciate the difficult moment that the Party has been confronted with in the past few days. Adding, that they believe the “horns are never heavier than the cow that is to carry them”. We have outmost confidence in our leaders at the Functional Executive Committee, The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament and our Caucus Leaders in Parliament to work under the supreme counsel of our Highly Respected Council of Elders, to find an amicable resolution to the difficulties that have come our way. Below is the full press release 12/03/2021 REGIONAL COMMUNICATION OFFICERS’ CAUCUS OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS. PRESS RELEASE RE: SAMMY GYAMFI CROSSED THE LINE, LEADERSHIP WILL MEET AND DECIDE WHAT TO DO – OSEI KYEI MENSAH We the sixteen Regional Communication Officers of the National Democratic Congress have taken note of the impotent threat issued by Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu to our erudite and peerless leader – Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi (National Communications Officer of the NDC.) The said threat, in which he gives indication that, the leadership of parliament will meet to decide on what to do with Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi , is published on Ghana Web (Thursday, 11/03/2021) and is purported to have been issued on Kumasi based Hello FM. While we deem the Suame Legislator’s outburst to be malicious, vicious and to some extend ludicrous, it sounds quite ridiculous that Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu lurks around hoping to prey on the disagreement within the NDC to settle personal scores with the young brilliant lawyer. As lead voices of the legion of communicators in all the sixteen Regions, we wish to humbly notify our Revered Parliamentary Caucus, particularly the leadership of the NDC front to be wary of ‘Ahithophels ’ like the Hon. MP for Suame who in their treachery, will wish to fun into flames sparkles of fire in the NDC for their own whims and caprices. We are of the firm conviction that, the majority group leader’s disposition of crying more than the bereaved in this matter is a calculated ploy aimed at exacerbating discontent within the rank and file of the NDC. It is not out of place for one to wonder why Hon Kyei Mensah Bonsu is so much interested in resurrecting a matter that is being carefully managed by the NDC’s most respected Council of Elders and all concerned parties. The climax of our bewilderment at the Majority group leader’s outburst is in his hypocritical turn of pretending to show respect and camaraderie for the much-respected Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament. It is trite knowledge that, the night of 6th January, 2021 and early hours of 7th January, 2021 saw Hon. Kyei Mensah betray his long-standing friendship with the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, by fighting feverishly to ensure that, Rt. Hon. ASK Bagbin never ascended the throne as Speaker. Though he wielded much experience in parliamentary affairs and exuded more competence than his sole contender, Hon Kyei Mensah preferred imposing President Akufo Addo’s poodle over parliament in lieu of the Venerable Rt. Hon. ASK Bagbin. We deem his position in this matter as a face-saving charade aimed at repairing his fractured ego in the face of his party, which he couldn’t lead to win the speakership slot and also, before his age long friend whom he shamelessly back stabbed in the name of party loyalty. We wonder where he had left his voice of moral consciousness when Hon Kennedy Ohene Agyapong described him and all NPP faithful including President Akufo Addo as “FOOLISH PEOPLE”. It is thus our collective caution to him to mind his own business and learn to, remove the plank from his own eye to enable him see clearly, so that he could remove the saw dust from another man’s eye. We appreciate the difficult moment that the Party has been confronted with in the past few days. We however believe the “horns are never heavier than the cow that is to carry them”. We have outmost confidence in our leaders at the Functional Executive Committee, The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament and our Caucus Leaders in Parliament to work under the supreme counsel of our Highly Respected Council of Elders, to find an amicable resolution to the difficulties that have come our way. On this note, we humbly appeal to our rank and file and particularly, the masses of our support base to rally our unflinching support for our parliamentary Caucus as they lead the charge to hold the feet of the Akufo Addo’s regime to the fire of accountability. Thank you. Long live the NDC, Long live Ghana! …Signed… Ɔwɛnfoba Kwesi Dawood RCO- Central Reg 0246388002 Darlas Ampomah Williams RCO- Eastern Reg 0545295731 Alhaji Saeed Ahmed Tijani RCO- Upper East Reg 0244176429 Sam Jerome Kweku RCO- Western North Reg 0244043482 Puo-Ire Prosper RCO- Upper West Reg 0204852735 Alhaji Abdul- Moomin Alhassan RCO- Northern Reg 0504068549 Hon. Jerry Johnson RCO- Greater Accra Reg 0244670391 Nana Abass Nurudeen
“I am not going to tolerate that at all, Don’t turn parliament into a playground– Speaker of Parliament
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has expressed his dissatisfaction following the noisy conduct of some lawmakers during President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s presentation of the State of The Nation Address (SONA). Expressing Bagbin said he did not want to speak much about what happened in parliament during the president’s March 9 address, referring to noisy interruptions, boos, and jeers from both sides of the house during the presentation. When MPs on both sides tried chanting during the start of the debate of SONA on Wednesday, March 10, 202, the Speaker of Parliament cautioned them not to convert the chamber into a musical theater because he was not going to allow such acts in the chamber of Parliament. “Honourable members, this is not a musical theater. What happened in parliament yesterday, I don’t want to talk about it. Don’t turn parliament into a playground, I am not going to tolerate that at all,” he cautioned. The house quietened subsequently as NDC MP for Asunafo South, Eric Opoku; continued his submissions on the address. His submission came after Okaikwei North MP, Patrick Yaw Boamah had submitted the majority’s main commentary on the address. Meanwhile, lawmakers are currently continuing with the debate which is expected to last from today till tomorrow. Speaker Bagbin has vacated his seat for the first deputy speaker after the main submissions were concluded. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Alban Bagbin sworn in as new Speaker of Parliament
Immediate past Member of Parliament for the Nadowli Kaleo constituency, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has been sworn in as Speaker of Ghana’s 8th Parliament. This comes after he was elected in a keenly contested election between himself and former Speaker, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye. Alban Bagbin, who was the Second Deputy Speaker in the 7th Parliament was nominated by his political party –the National Democratic Congress (NDC)– for the position. In his acceptance speech, Alban Bagbin pledged to discharge his duties wholeheartedly and in service to all Ghanaians. “I will submit myself to the will of this House and pledge to serve my dear country, to serve you and to serve all Ghanaians faithfully to the best of my ability,” he said. He further indicated his readiness to use his experience and skill, acquired within the 28-year period he served in Parliament, to help advance the cause of the lawmaking body. “I will also contentiously discharge my duties as the Speaker of this Parliament. I want to promise wholeheartedly to put to the disposal of this country the store of knowledge, enough experience and the huge data bank that I have accumulated over the 28 years that I have been a member of this House,” Alban Bagbin said. About Alban Bagbin Born on September 24, 1957, at Sombo in the Upper West Region, Mr. Bagbin is a graduate of the University of Ghana (1977-1980) and the Ghana School of Law (1980 -1982). He holds an Executive Masters in Governance and Leadership from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). His parents were Mr. Sansunni Bagbin and Mrs Margaret B. Bagbin who were both peasant farmers. He is the fourth child of nine children of the Margaret Bagbin and the thirteenth of the Bagbin family. Mr. Bagbin is married to Mrs Alice Adjua Yornas Bagbin, the Programme Officer of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) office in Ghana. Education The former Majority Leader started schooling at an early age at the Roman Catholic Primary School, Sombo, did his second cycle education at Wa Secondary School and ended at the Tamale Secondary School, where he earned his Ordinary Level and Advanced Level certificates before entering the University of Ghana in 1977. Working Life His working life experience took him to a number of establishments after school, and this undoubtedly enabled him to garner a lot of experiences that he brings to bear in his current political role. From 1980 to 1982, he worked at the Bureau of Statistics and Statistical Service as the acting Secretary to the Statistical Service Board while between 1982 and 1983; he worked as Personnel Manager of the erstwhile State Hotels Corporation (Ambassador /Continental Hotels) before sojourning to Libya to teach English at the Suk Juma Secondary School, Tripoli. When he returned from Libya in 1986, Mr. Bagbin joined the Akyem Chambers, a firm of legal practitioners, consultants and notaries public, as a partner. Between 1989 and 1992, he was appointed an external solicitor of the Credit Unions Association of Ghana (CUA), Nii Ngleshie family of James Town and a number of private business firms in Accra. From 1993 to date, the Former Majority Leader has been a partner of the Law Trust Company, a firm of legal practitioners, consultants and notaries public. Parliament Bagbin has held a number of positions in Parliament since 1994 and capped his lawmaking career with the ultimate, the Majority Leader and Leader of the House. In the first Parliament of the Fourth Republic, he was made the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Subsidiary Legislation and Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy and Member of the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development. From 1995 to date, Mr. Bagbin has been a member of a group known as Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) and member of the international Law and Human Rights Programme of the PGA. From 1996 to 2001, he was appointed Chairman of the Advisory Committee on the Restructuring of the Water Sector (Ministry of Works and Housing) while between 1997 and 2001, he was a member of the National Media Commission. In the Second Parliament of the Fourth Republic, Mr. Bagbin was the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs with oversight responsibilities for the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Electoral Commission, National Commission on Civic Education, Office of Parliament and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. He was also the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee from 2001 to 2005. He was also the Vice Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament. Citinewsroom Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.