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2022 Budget: Parliament rejects 2022 budget in a Kumawood style

Parliament after all the Kumawood movie display has rejected the 2022 budget statement and economic policy of the government following a walkout by the majority NPP MPs. Apexnewsgh.com report According to the event in parliament, members on the Majority side of Parliament prior to the rejection of the budget by solely NDC MPs staged a walkout. This started as a result of a disagreement over a directive by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, for non-MPs to leave the Chamber. Then came a request from the Majority MPs for the General Secretary of the opposition NDC Johnson Asiedu Nketia who was seated in the public gallery to leave Parliament before the business of the house will continue. However, Mr. Asiedu Nketia ignored their request which triggered the Majority MPs to walk out from the Chamber, allowing only members on the Minority side on the chamber. The Speaker of Parliament thus suspended the sitting for five minutes after which the business of the day continued. Meanwhile, Parliament had also through a voice vote rejected a request by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to meet the leadership of the House before the approval of the 2022 budget. Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin had earlier rejected an application from Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to be afforded the opportunity to engage the leadership of both majority and minority members of the House ahead of the conclusion of debate on the 2022 budget and economic policy of the government. Majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu who moved the application on behalf of Ken Ofori-Atta argued the move is to afford the minister the chance to address concerns of the minority on imposition of taxes such as the E-Levy in order to secure consensus. Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu, however, prayed the speaker to be allowed to proceed with his concluding debate before the minister comes in. The speaker ruled the minister can have the opportunity to state whatever brought him to parliament after the minority is done with his debate. Haruna Iddrisu in his debate concluded that the minority will not approve the economic policy of government until the E-Levy is scrapped and allocations are made for phase two of the sea defense project in Keta. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Opinion

2022 Budget: Kennedy Agyapong returns in Parliament to take part in the controversial budget approval

Information reaching this platform has it that Kennedy Agyapong, the Assin Central Member of Parliament who has traveled to the country for sometime now has arrived in Ghana Parliament to take part in the controversial 2022 budget budget approval. Both caucuses of the House are gathering their members ahead of the vote to defend their positions. Reports say the Majority side is still expecting Dome-Kwabenya MP Adwoa Safo who is also in the United States to return before the ballot. The Minority have threatened they will vote against the budget because over the E-levy which is aimed at taxing Mobile Money transfers. Earlier Speaker Alban Bagbin has suspended sitting as a result of the absence of NPP MPs in the House. Members of Parliament from the governing NPP failed to show up for Friday’s sitting where the House is expected to conclude the debate on the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December, 2022. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs contend the move is because the Majority side does not have the full complement of their members for the impending decision on the government’s Economic Policy. The Minority through Ningo-Prampram MP, Sam George had accused the Majority Caucus of deliberately delaying proceedings with their absence from the chamber as of midday Friday. However, the Majority Chief whip, Frank Annor Dompreh, however refuted the claim by the Minority explaining that his side had been locked up in a caucus meeting as well as leadership meeting with the Speaker. But, when the Speaker entered the Chamber at 16 minutes past 1:00pm, only the Minority MPs were present. The development compelled the Speaker to suspend sitting after the Deputy Minority Whip, Ibrahim Ahmed, raised the issue of the absence of the Majority Leadership in spite of their presence in the precincts of Parliament. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/ Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Politics

$13.3m car loan tax waiver for 275 MPs

All the 275 MPs in Ghana’s parliament will collectively enjoy a quantum of $13.3 million in tax waiver per a bill laid before the house by the government in connection with their $28 million car loan.“Request for waiver of the Import Duty, Import GETFund Levy, Import NHIL, Import VAT, EXIM levy, COVID-19 Recovery Levy, Special Import Levy, ECOWAS Levy, AU Levy, Inspection Fees, and Withholding Tax (ITS Tax Deposit) amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of thirteen million, three hundred and eighty-seven thousand, five hundred United States Dollars (US$13,387,500.00) on vehicles to be procured for Members of Parliament of the Eighth Parliament of Ghana (2021-2024) and the Members of the Eighth Council of State (2022-2024),” the bill laid by the Finance Ministry on Wednesday, 14 July 2021 read. Meanwhile, the Finance Committee of Parliament has recommended the discontinuation of advancing car loans to Members of Parliament. This follows public backlash at the tabling of the $28-million loan deal for MPs to buy cars by Mr Ofori-Atta. The Finance Committee of the chamber suggested in its report that the practice be discontinued. Parts of the report read: “These legitimate concerns are fueled by the fact that, of all the Article 71 officeholders, it is only members of Parliament and Members of the Council of State who benefit from these vehicle loans, a large part of which are re-paid by the state”. “The Committee took the view that, as representatives of the people, Members of Parliament cannot continue to leave these concerns unattended”. “That weakens the confidence Ghanaians have in us. We have a responsibility to reflect the values and ideals of the people we represent”. “Accordingly, the Committee strongly recommends to Parliament the discontinuation of the current vehicle loan arrangement for MPs and Council of State Members”. “Members of Parliament and Members of the Council of State should have similar duty post vehicle arrangements as other Article 71 officeholders”. “And the Committee respectfully recommends that Parliament and the Parliamentary Service take the necessary steps to ensure that this happens”. “The instant vehicle loan arrangement for MPs and Council of State Members before us today should therefore be the last one the state is sponsoring.” —Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Opinion

Azugu under IGP not me – Dery tells parliament in answer to why he’s still at post

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Samuel Kojo Azugu, has, since 27 May 2021, been recalled by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) from the Ministry of National Security and duly reassigned within the Ghana Police Service, Minister for the Interior Ambrose Dery has told parliament on Thursday, 8 July 2021. “So, he is no more with National Security. He’s now with the Ghana Police Service”, Mr Dery told the chamber while answering a question filed by Ashaiman MP Ernest Norgbey about why DSP Azugu was still at post despite a recommendation by the Emile Short Commission that probed the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence that he be sanctioned. The former Commander of the SWAT unit’s name also came up for the wrong reason in May this year following the assault of Citi FM journalist Caleb Kudah. Mr Dery, however, deflected the question about DSP Azugu’s continuous stay in the police service, to the IGP. “Mr Speaker, your question was that he remains at post and my answer is that he is not at the Ministry of National Security but he is back with the Ghana Police Service. Besides, let me emphasise that by Article 202 of the Constitution, operational matters are in the remit of the IGP not the Minister”, he said. DSP Azugu’s transfer came some three weeks after the assault of the Citi FM journalist by some national security operatives within the enclave of the National Security Ministry for taking a video of some abandoned state-acquired vehicles within the MASLOC yard – a no-photography zone. Following Mr Kudah’s arrest, seven heavily armed security operatives barged into Citi FM’s premises at Adabraka to arrest Mrs Zoe Abu-Baidoo Addo, Caleb’s alleged co-conspirator, to whom he electronically forwarded the secret recordings via his mobile phone. Mr Kudah claimed he was pushed, slapped and kicked in the groin by the security operatives when he was arrested. Already, four operatives involved in the alleged assault – a military officer and three police officers on secondment to the National Security outfit – had been withdrawn and sent back to their mother units. Lieutenant Colonel Frank Agyemang, the soldier, was subsequently appointed as the Commanding Officer of the 64 Infantry Battalion. —classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Politics

Help set up Int’l Association of MPs for Peace – Speaker urged

The National Coordinator of the United Peace Federation-Ghana, Dr Mrs Helen Osei, has appealed to the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, to support efforts toward the setting up of the Ghana chapter of the International Association of MPs for Peace (IAPP). The initiative, she said, was to help promote the development of humankind along the path of coexistence and mutual prosperity for future generations. She said efforts made in the 7th Parliament to set up the association in the country proved futile and affected Ghana’s image and commitment at promoting global peace and development. Mrs Osei made the appeal when she led a delegation of the United Peace Federation-Ghana to call on the Speaker on Thursday, 20 May 2021. The International Association of MPs for Peace is an international network of parliamentarians created to take on crucial issues of territorial disputes, religious conflicts, climate change, violent extremism and poverty through the common solidarity and cooperation of the parliamentarians of the world. Mr Bagbin commended the federation for its dedication to building a world of peace centred on universal spiritual and moral values. He expressed regrets for the federation’s inability to see through the setting up of the Association of MPs for Peace during the 7th Parliament and tasked the protocol department to ensure that all the necessary structures are put in place to advertise the association when the second meeting of the first session of the 8th parliament commences next week. Mr Bagbin, who said he had similar challenges in the past, noted that Ghana, and Africa, for that matter, must be able to clearly re-define what their priorities are in order to reconscientise the citizenry. Peace, he said, can only exist where justice is made to prevail and, therefore, charged the federation and its leadership to do more to promote global dialogue and mutual coexistence. The United Peace Federation is an NGO in general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and supporting the work of the UN achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Politics

Breaking: Deputy Clerk of Parliament dead

Ghana’s parliament has lost one of its serving deputy clerks, Robert Apodolla. Apodolla passed away on Friday, February, 19, 2021 after a short illness. The deceased is respected by MPs in Ghana’s legislature as he was well versed with parliamentary rules and procedures. He’d the experience of working with all past Speakers of Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana. A former lawmaker for Kumbungu in the Northern region, Ras Mubarak in a Facebook post mourning Apodolla said: “Parliament of Ghana has lost one of its unsung icons, a dedicated servant of parliament who knew his work inside out, and discharged his duties diligently.” The deceased until his demise was a member of the Society of clerks-at-the-table in the Commonwealth parliaments. MyNewsGH Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

Politics

Sanction MPs with COVID-19 still attending Parliament – Center for Parliamentary Affairs

The Center for Parliamentary Affairs has condemned the actions of some lawmakers still attending parliament despite testing positive for Covid-19. The revelation was made in the House Wednesday with threats from leadership in the house to publicize the names of infected MPs if they do not stay off. First deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu also cautioned the over 50 MPs who were yet to subject themselves to the testing exercise to do so before the close of the day Wednesday, February 4 in order not to face sanctions. Speaking to Starr News, executive director of the Africa Center for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Rashid Draman said the recalcitrant MPs must be sanctioned instead of issued warnings. He was of the view that “we should institute sanctions. I have said over and over in many instances it looks like we have a culture of not sanctioning members of parliament and sending a very clear message and setting a very good public example.” “If we are relaxed about it when it comes to other issues, now it is about life and death and we cant relax about it. And I seriously entreat the leadership of Parliament to take it very seriously.” He explained that “because every one person who has covid and is seen out of their homes, you can bet that they could infect only God knows how many people. And you can bet that out of those people who would be infected, some might lose their lives. Is that what we want, I don’t think so.” Dr Draman added that “it doesn’t send a very good message and I think this is a new Parliament and we are hoping to see some changes.” “It’s beyond disappointing. If we are dealing with a public health emergency where somebody might lose their lives, I dot know how how much more seriousness you can add to it. It must be condemned in the most clearest terms.” Starrfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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IGP Opens Regional Crime Officers’ Conference to Bolster Police Investigative Capacity

2022 Budget: Parliament rejects 2022 budget in a Kumawood style

2022 Budget: Kennedy Agyapong returns in Parliament to take part in the controversial budget approval

$13.3m car loan tax waiver for 275 MPs

Azugu under IGP not me – Dery tells parliament in answer to why he’s still at post

Help set up Int’l Association of MPs for Peace – Speaker urged

Breaking: Deputy Clerk of Parliament dead

Sanction MPs with COVID-19 still attending Parliament – Center for Parliamentary Affairs

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