Bagbin to meet Ablakwa over his resignation from Appointments Committee
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin will be meeting North Tongu Lawmaker Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over the latter’s resignation from the Appointments Committee of Parliament, TV3’s Parliamentary Correspondent Komla Klutse, has reported on Wednesday March 31. Mr Ablakwa has said after days of careful reflection, he has decided to resign from the Appointments Committee of Parliament. Komla Klutse reported that the former Deputy Education Minister said he will not rescind his decision. Mr Ablakwa said in a letter dated March 30, and addressed to the Speaker, Alban Kingsford Bagbin that “after days of careful reflection and thoughtful considerations. “I shall like to state that the reasons for this difficult decision is both personal and on principle.” This comes just days after the Appointments Committee members especially the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmakers received flak from their own party supporters and other members of the public for approving some of President Akufo-Addo’s ministers who they believed should have been rejected by the Committee. 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Schools break for Easter holidays
Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has informed staff, parents, students and the general public that all schools will break for the Easter Holidays on Thursday 1st April 2021 and resume on Tuesday 6th April, 2021. A statement said on Wednesday March 31 said academic work will commence fully on Wednesday 7th April 2021. “The Easter Break is not compulsory for boarding students and so students who wish to stay on campus will be allowed to stay and fed. “Students who decided to stay on campus should adhere strictly to school rules and regulations,” it added. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Your arrears’ll be paid immediately after Easter – GSFP to caterers
The management of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) has said funds are being mobilised to pay all the remaining arrears due caterers for providing a hot meal a day to Form 2 and Form 3 Junior High School students. A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Programme, Siiba Alfa, on 30 March 2021, urged the caterers “to exercise restraint while we engage the appropriate authorities for the release of the funds to defray the arrears immediately after the Easter break.” “We wish everyone a happy Easter and look forward to resolving our payment issues after the holidays,” the statement added. Last year, the government directed the GSFP to provide one free hot meal daily to students, as part of measures toward curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Ablakwa resigns from Parliament’s Appointments Committee
The Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has resigned from Parliament’s Appointments Committee. According to the lawmaker, his resignation, as contained in a letter dated March 30, addressed to the Speaker, Alban Kingsford Bagbin, was “after days of careful reflection and thoughtful considerations. “I shall like to state that the reasons for this difficult decision is both personal and on principle,” the letter stated. The former Deputy Education Minister noted that his resignation takes immediate effect. This implies that he will not partake in the vetting of President Akufo-Addo’s nominees for Deputy ministerial positions. “Respectfully, do take note that my resignation is with immediate effect and, therefore, I shall not be available for the vetting of nominees for Deputy Ministerial positions,” the letter indicated. Read the letter below: Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Bank Collapse: Speaker Bagbin sets up nine-member committee for probe
The drastic financial sector clean-up by the regulator Bank of Ghana in 2017 which led to the collapse of some major banks and some microfinance companies in the country, has been revisited in Parliament. Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has led the setting up of a nine-member committee to look into a petition presented to the House by two majority shareholders of uniBank and UT Bank. The petition called for an investigation into the conduct of the Bank of Ghana and the Ghana Stock Exchange in the revocation of the licences of UT Bank and uniBank. The Speaker, after the petition was officially brought before him by the Bawku Central legislator, Mahama Ayariga, proposed a seven-member committee. But on the floor of the House on Tuesday, Mr. Bagbin indicated that his earlier ruling had been revised. The First Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament (MP) for Bekwai, Joseph Osei-Wusu will chair the committee. “It is directed to consider the petitions and duly report to the House at the commencement of the Second Meeting. The Committee is composed in consultation with leadership”, the Speaker noted. Other members are Alexander Afenyo- Markin (MP, Effutu), Joe Ghartey (MP, Essikando-Ketan), Patrick Yaw Boamah (MP, Okaikwei Central), Samuel Atta-Akyea (MP, Abuakwa South), James Klutse Avedzi (MP, Ketu North), Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson (MP, Ajumako Enyan Esiam), Isaac Adongo (MP, Bolagtanga Central) and Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare (MP, Berekum). Opposition to committee Even before the committee will be formed, some Majority members kicked against the Parliamentary probe because of the ongoing litigation involving one of the banks. For instance, the Okaikoi Central MP, Patrick Boamah, said the petition will achieve no result as the House does not have the power to intervene. The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu, also wanted the Speaker, Alban Bagbin to reconsider the planned inquiry into the dissolution of the banks. He made the point that the committee’s work would impair the adjudication of the two cases currently before the Supreme Court. But Alban Bagbin in a detailed report assured that admitting and laying of the petitions will not be a contravention. Consistent with prior parliamentary practice, I may exercise my discretion to provide for occasions in the sub judice rule may be permitted in order to prevent a real and substantial danger of prejudice to a proceeding, and to ensure that a Member, in making reference to that matter does not seek to pass judgment on or prejudice the matter, he said. Petition and collapse of banks Former stakeholders of the banks, Prince Kofi Amoabeng and Dr. Kwabena Duffuor petitioned Parliament to investigate the conduct of the Bank of Ghana and the Ghana Stock Exchange in the revocation of the licences of UT Bank as well as uniBank and delisting them from the country’s stock exchange. The petition also sought the restoration of the licences of these banks. Dr. Duffuor, founder of now-defunct uniBank and Mr. Amoabeng, former Chief Executive Officer of collapsed UT bank, had the licences of their respective financial institutions revoked during the banking sector clean-up which commenced in 2017. For UT Bank, the apex bank claimed it took the action against the institution because it was insolvent and was unable to recapitalize despite several assurances from the company’s shareholders. The apex bank also gave similar reasons for the revocation of uniBank’s licence saying the financial institution was significantly undercapitalised. ModernGhana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093