Hawa Koomson not comfortable with media blackout, set to engage GJA for reunion. Hawa Koomson
Opinion

Hawa Koomson not comfortable with media blackout, set to engage GJA for reunion.

Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Member of Parliament for the Awutu Senya East Constituency, Hawa Koomson, has announced her intention to have a discussion with the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) leadership. The aim is to address any misunderstandings and establish a positive relationship between the Ministry and the media. This decision comes after the GJA called for a media blackout on all activities involving the Minister. The blackout was in response to the assault of a journalist from Cape Coast, allegedly by individuals connected to the Minister, during the NPP’s parliamentary aspirants’ vetting in Cape Coast. In a statement from her office, Ms. Koomson expressed her deep concern about the GJA’s decision to blacklist her. She made it clear that she strongly condemns the reported incident. She and her associates deny all accusations leveled against them. The statement acknowledged the significant role of the media in Ghana’s democracy. It emphasized Ms. Koomson’s commitment to creating a safe and secure environment for journalists to carry out their duties. The Minister urged the GJA leadership to reconsider their decision to blacklist her, highlighting the absence of evidence linking her to the assault. She expressed her confidence in the ongoing investigation by the Ghana Police Service to apprehend the alleged attacker. Source: Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0256336062

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‘NPP would’ve sacked Sammy Gyamfi for insulting Speaker’- Obiri Boahen.
Politics

‘NPP would’ve sacked Sammy Gyamfi for insulting Speaker’- Obiri Boahen.

A Deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), lawyer Obiri Boahen, says the elephant family would have dealt severely with Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) if he were a member of the party. He said Sammy Gyamfi went overboard in attacking Speaker Alban Bagbin and the Minority in Parliament after Hawa Koomson, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and some other nominees were approved by the plenary. The NDC National Communication Officer, Sammy Gyamfi recently accused the party’s leadership in Parliament as well as the Speaker, Alban Bagbin of betraying the party. He specifically named Tamale South MP, Haruna Iddrisu and Asawase MP, Muntaka Mubarak, saying the duo “brazenly defied the leadership of the party and betrayed the collective good for their selfish interest.” His accusation came after the NDC MPs on Parliament’s Appointments Committee approved Defence Minister-designate, Dominic Nitiwul and later approved three other rejected Ministers-designate when they were brought before the House. Mr. Gyamfi has been slammed for his utterances with some persons asking for him to be punished. Reacting, lawyer Obiri Boahen said Sammy Gyamfi disrespected the Speaker and the Minority and would have been sanctioned by the NPP if he was a member. ”If Sammy Gyamfi was a member of the NPP, he would have been suspended or sacked from the party. If He was a member, we would have. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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Muntaka reveals how coronavirus affected NDC MPs plans to reject Hawa Koomson, others
Politics

Muntaka reveals how coronavirus affected NDC MPs plans to reject Hawa Koomson, others

There was hue and cry in the NDC after three appointees of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo including Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Hawa Koomson and Dr. Afriyie Akoto were approved by Parliament through secret balloting. The approval which hit the party so hard caused its Communications Director to issue a statement blaming the Speaker of Parliament, Minority Leader and Minority Chief Whip for pushing their selfish agenda. But speaking on Accra-based Adom TV in a yet-to-be-broadcasted interview, the Asawase Member of Parliament indicated that the Minority was handicapped during the process considering the fact that seven of its members were not present during the sitting. He indicated that they did not want to engage in the heated arguments and “fight” that ensued on January 6 because after what they did in securing the Speaker seat in Parliament, over twenty members of the Minority got infected by COVID-19 and some were still in treatment centres recovering. “A number of our members thought we had the power to reject them. After 6th and 7th when we engaged in that fracas and the Soldiers came in, we all came to the middle of the chamber to sing and after what we did, 23 of our members got COVID. So before we were going into the chamber, me as a whip I reported that I didn’t have seven of my members, till now some of my members are at the COVID centre. Did we really have what it takes to do what people expected us to do? We didn’t,” he said in an interview monitored by MyNewsGh.com. Mynewsgh Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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How NDC MPs could have rejected Hawa Koomson, Oppong Nkrumah and others – Inusah Fuseini Lawyer Inusah Fuseini, former MP for Tamale Central
Politics

How NDC MPs could have rejected Hawa Koomson, Oppong Nkrumah and others – Inusah Fuseini

Former Ranking Member on the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini has explained the process National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmakers ought to have adopted in rejecting the nomination of three controversial persons. The approval of Information Minister-designate, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister-designate for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hawa Koomson and Minister-designate, for Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto was characterized by controversy last week and had to be subjected to a secret ballot on the floor of parliament. Shockingly, all three sailed through after garnering majority votes suggesting that some members of the NDC actually voted for them in order to confirm their nomination exacerbating the anger of NDC grassroots. But speaking on how it should have been done if the party was determined to reject the nominees, he indicated that they ought to have resorted to a three-line whip which is a a strict instruction to attend and vote according to a party’s position, breach of which would normally have serious consequences. “A three-line whip is simply that, no member can vote outside what the party or the caucus has decided, and when you vote, you must actually find a way to show that you have actually voted as directed [by leadership], and this wasn’t used.” The former Tamale Central lawmaker expressed disappointment in the turn of events on the floor of parliament paving way for the three nominees to be passed. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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Vetting: Oppong Nkrumah, Hawa Koomson finally approved
Politics

Vetting: Oppong Nkrumah, Hawa Koomson finally approved

 The Appointments Committee of Parliament has finally approved and recommended to the house for approval, the nomination of Madam Hawa Koomson, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, and Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto as sector ministers by majority decision. Initial reports by various credible media platforms have it that the ministers-designate of Information; Fisheries and Aqua Culture; and Food and Agriculture, respectively, was rejected by the minority members on the committee due to some few reasons. Meanwhile, the report of the committee says that, the three were recommended for approval by majority decision of Appointment Committee. Others, including the Minister-designate of National Security, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah; Minister-designate for the Interior, Mr Ambrose Derry and Minister-Designate of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, have also been recommended for approval by consensus. Below are the reasons from the Minority MPs on the committee for rejecting some of the nominees who have been approved by majority decision: REJECT LIST 1) Hawa Koomson (MP) a) The Minister-designate for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development could not provide convincing grounds for the shooting incident during the Voter Registration Exercise in Kasoa on 20th July 2020 even though we acknowledge her belated apology for her recklessly dangerous conduct. b) Furthermore, claims of an ongoing investigation by the Police did not come across as credible considering that there has been no update from the police more than 8 months after the unfortunate incident. Our checks also point to the fact that she has not provided any statement to the police as of yet. c) The nominee confirmed the identity of close associates who have unleashed a reign of terror on helpless political opponents in the pursuit of their narrow political ends. d) The Minister-designate displayed an alarmingly abysmal lack of knowledge on the sector she was nominated for, making her unfit for the portfolio and therefore untenable to secure the approval of members of the NDC caucus. 2) Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto a) The Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture was untruthful under oath to the Committee on the circumstances leading to the abrogation of the Fruit and Export Terminal Contract of 2015 by GPHA on his express instructions as contained in a letter dated 11th January 2021. b) He was untruthful under oath about his directive ordering GPHA to issue a license to Fruit Terminal Company Ltd and how his actions could lead to a US$50million judgement debt. c) The nominee was grossly insincere with the Appointments Committee on his special relationship with the Director of AMG Company Limited, Mr Ernest Appiah and the latter’s control of fertilizer contracts awarded by the Ministry. d) The Minister-designate was particularly discourteous, downright condescending and offensively arrogant in his appearance at the committee which is not the kind of attitude expected of public servants. 3) Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (MP) a) The Minister-designate for Information was not the least candid with the committee on the multiple infractions of the law leading to the Bank of Ghana’s revocation of the license of Oval Microfinance – a company in which he was 83% majority shareholder. b) He failed to admit ethical liability for the related party lending between Oval Microfinance and West Brownstone which also belongs to him. He also denied outstanding obligations to Oval Microfinance despite the BoG’s examination report establishing the contrary. c) He peddled untruths under oath about the circumstances leading to investigative journalist Manasseh Azure relocating to South Africa with the assistance of the Media Foundation for West Africa when the journalist faced threats to his life. d) The nominee was quite evasive on his association with MX24 TV which is owned and managed by his wife with other family members such as Kwabena Oppong Nkrumah serving as shareholder/Trustee for the parent company of MX24 TV known as Black Volta Publications Limited incorporated recently on the 4th of April, 2017 when the nominee was serving as Deputy Minister for Information. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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See the mood of Hawa Koomson, when she received the disapproval news Hawa Koomson
Politics

See the mood of Hawa Koomson, when she received the disapproval news

It was a sad moment when Hawa Koomson received the news of her disapproval by the minority side of the appointment committee. Indeed, no one is expected to be excited with disappointment especially when he/ she is expected to be approved as a fisheries Minister and later, the least you would hear from the Minority side of the Appointment Committee was that “you are not fit for the job” That is so painful. However, no one knows whether the Minority side of the Appointment Committee will reconsider their decision on the former Minister for Special Initiative. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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Minister designates and why minority denied them approval
Politics

Minister designates and why minority denied them approval

So far these are Minister designates in Akufo Addo’s second administration currently having issues with their approval as far as the minority side of the Appointments Committee is concerned. Below are the reasons why they were not approved at the same time with the rest of the 22 already Unanimously approved by the Appointment Committee of Parliament. Kwesi Amoako-Atta It is believed that on the Roads and Highways portfolio, the clarification they may be seeking has to do with the Tema road contract before they approve the nominee, Kwesi Amoako-Atta. Oppong Nkrumah The sources say, members of the minority side of the Appointments Committee accused Oppong Nkrumah, as being the one who called for a member of the legal team of the petitioner in the ongoing Election 2020 petition, Dr. Dominic Ayine, to be cited for contempt, after Ayine told the media on 16 February 2021, that the Supreme Court has a predetermined agenda to rule in favour of President Akufo-Addo. Ursula Owusu Ekuful The approval of the Minister-designate for Communications and Digitization, Ursula Owusu Ekuful, is also on hold because the Minority side says they require some clarification on the closure of some radio stations in the country. Kwaku Owusu Afriyie Akoto In the case of the Minister for Food and Agriculture-designate, Kwaku Owusu Afriyie Akoto, members of the Minority side of the Appointments Committee accused him of being arrogant when he appeared before the committee and on that basis, they will not approve of his nomination. Hawa Koomson As for Hawa Koomson, the Minority side of the Appointments Committee, are of the opinion that she is not fit for the job. John Amewu Peter John Peter Amewu, the former Minister for Energy who supervised the PDS deal and has been nominated by the president to serve as the Minister for Railways Development in his second administration, has his approval also on hold. The minority side of the Appointments Committee say they require some clarification on some answers the minister-designate provided during his vetting on the PDS deal. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu The Health Minister-designate, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu‘s appointment, according to our source is on hold because the Minority side of the Appointments Committee say he did not satisfy them with his answers on questions regarding the engagement of Frontier to offer COVID-19 testing services at the airport some time in September 2020. Godfred Yeboah Dame The Agyapa Gold Royalties deal and the answers given by the Minister for Justice and Attorney General-designate, Godfred Yeboah Dame, to questions posed by some members of the Appointments Committee ought to be clarified and to that end, the Attorney General’s nomination is also on hold, one source disclosed. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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Approve Hawa Koomson – Adam Bonaa to Parliament Mavis Hawa Koomson
Opinion

Approve Hawa Koomson – Adam Bonaa to Parliament

A Security Analyst Adam Bonaa has asked the Appointments Committee of Parliament to endorse the nomination of Hawa Koomson as the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture in spite of claims by some quarters that she put up a poor show at her vetting on Thursday February 18. Mr Bonaa noted that the way and manner she answered the questions asked her during the screening should not to be used as a yardstick to measure her ability or inability to deliver on the job. The Awutu Senya East lawmaker got social media talking after some believed that her grammar was not the best. Others also thought that she was not on top of the issues. However, in a statement, Mr Bonaa said these concerns do not matter because “Ghana had a Medical Professor as Minister in-Charge of Environment, Science and Technology in the last administration, but it was the period in which the environment got destroyed through Galamsey.” To that end, he said, Parliament should not focus on eloquence rather, substance in approving the former Minister of Special Development Initiative. “We seem to glorify eloquence with articulation over performance on the Job. Ghana had a Medical Professor as Minister in-Charge of Environment, Science and Technology in the last administration, but it was the period in which the environment got destroyed through Galamsey, rosewood illegal harvesting and improper disposal of refuse in the country. “Ability to define a subject may not be a yardstick for performance. First Class Degree may not be a panacea for an excellent performance on the Job. “We must as a Nation start glorifying performance on the Job, not articulation and fluency in a certain language and definitions of subjects. “Hon Hawa Koomson was one of the best performing Ministers of State in the previous Government and I urge the appointments committee of Parliament to approve her. My name is Adam Bonaa and I am a Citizen of Ghana and not a Spectator.” 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +233555568093

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Here are the ministerial hopefuls who should expect a tough vetting
Politics

Here are the ministerial hopefuls who should expect a tough vetting

In the coming days, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is expected to release his list of ministerial nominees who will then go through vetting before getting approval to start their mandate. Typical of a political party that is heading into its second term, a few former appointees may have had various brushes with either the law, opposition party members, the media, or the general public. And with a near hung parliament, it is easy to guess that the opposition National Democratic Congress will have a strong say on the vetting committee and who gets the nod to be a minister in Akufo-Addo’s second term. Here, we have listed a few personalities who should brace themselves for a showdown if they are nominated for appointments. Ursula Owusu CLOSURE OF RADIO STATIONS – Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful during her tenure as the Communications Minister refused to back down on the decision to withdraw the authorization of Accra-based Radio Gold and Radio XYZ. Due to her refusal to rescind her decision, the two ‘NDC-affiliated’ radio stations have remained closed for a long time as she has failed to restore their licenses. The two stations were among some 54 radio stations that had been shut down on the instructions of the National Communications Authority (NCA) on May 9, 2019, under circumstances that have been widely condemned for allegedly not renewing their licenses. KELNI-GVG SCANDAL– Earlier in 2020, Ursula was in hot waters following the contract which some Ghanaians waged relentless crusades against. The then Communications Ministry, headed by Ursula Owusu-Ekuful was accused of engaging in a fraudulent act solely to ‘rape’ the country with the award of a 10-year contract worth $178 million to Kelni-GVG. Ursula Owusu was invited to Parliament several times to provide answers concerning the work the company that was awarded a contract to independently monitor the revenue of telecommunication companies in the country. She failed to show up on countless occasions. Conduct during Parliament’s 8th inauguration Instances where she wrestled with some NDC MP’s in Parliament including its inauguration was publicized on TV and widely criticized by many. Ursula among other things pushed her colleagues, Mr. Collins Dauda to the floor and deliberately sat on the lap of Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh over a seat and that could be used against her during vetting. Peter Amewu PDS SCANDAL– During his tenure as the Energy Minister, there were calls for him to resign following his involvement in the circumstances that led to the cancellation of takeover by the Power Distribution Services (PDS) from Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). He was accused of attempting to reappropriate shares to some NPP cronies through the proposed restrictive tendering. HOHOE CONSTITUENCY BROUHAHA– The election of Mr. Amewu as the MP-elect for Hohoe was fraught with many arguments suggesting that he was not duly elected to represent the people of that constituency. Following the ‘protest’, a Ho High Court presided over by Justice George Buadi granted an interim injunction restraining the EC from gazetting Mr. Amewu as the MP-elect for Hohoe. This was due to the contention of the applicants that voters in Santrofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi, (SALL) were only given the opportunity to vote in the Presidential election and not the parliamentary election. Hawa Koomson Nicknamed the ‘Rambo Minister’, she has been indicted in many scandals during her tenure in the past four years, In July 2020, Hawa Koomson breached security laws and fired gunshots into a crowd of citizens who were in the process of registering for the controversial voters’ ID card in Kasoa. This incident resulted in some casualties and loss of properties. The Awutu Senay East MP was believed to be behind the shooting of some two persons who sustained gunshot wounds near the polling station in Kasoa after some men in a black SUV fired at them during the 2020 December general elections. Ken-Ofori Atta The Finance Minister during his first term was accused of engaging in a conflict of interest, bid-rigging and violation of procurement rules in his attempt to transfer Ghana’s mineral royalties into private hands under the guise of creating value for natural resources. Many have called for the Minister’s resignation for his negotiation of the ‘very unpopular’ Agyapa Royalties deal adding that not act in good faith. PDS SCANDAL -In this instance, his job was again on the line following a concession agreement with PDS in March 2019, signed by the government thereby handing over more than GH¢22 billion in assets of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). Puis Enam Hadzide The former Deputy Sports Minister was suspended in April 2018 after a probe into the circumstances that led to the arrest of some 60 Ghanaians who had allegedly attempted to enter Australia by pretense in the 21st Commonwealth Games. In April 2018, it emerged that 50 Ghanaians had been deported from Australia after they were deemed to be “non-genuine travellers” posing as journalists for the Commonwealth Games. Mr Hadzide at that time insisted that he knew nothing about the scandal or how the 60 people who faked their identities got visas to Australia for the games. Although he been exonerated from the scandal, it could be brought up against him during the vetting. Mathew Opokuu Prempeh Apart from being in the bad books of teachers due to the non-payment of allowances, delay in salaries and so on, the former Education Minister was reported to have been a beneficiary of GET-FUND scholarship meant for brilliant but needy students. Cecilia Dapaa Apart from the former Sanitation Minister’s claim that Accra is almost the cleanest city in Africa which many have criticized, she was also accused of wasteful expenditure in 2018 after being summoned by Parliament. The accusation follows the allocation of some GHC151,000.00 in the 2019 budget estimate for the Ministry as security, clothing, and entertainment allowance. Kyei Mensah-Bonsu What is alleged to be his ‘dark past’ of Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu could be a topical issue when he appears before the vetting committee. Some media reports have suggested that Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is said to be coy when it comes

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Awutu Senya East NDC accuses Hawa Koomson of ordering assault on constituency secretary
Politics

Awutu Senya East NDC accuses Hawa Koomson of ordering assault on constituency secretary

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Awutu Senya East Constituency of the Central Region is demanding justice for its constituency secretary, Tauriq Amadu, who is alleged to have been assaulted by incumbent MP, Mavis Hawa Koomson. The NDC says the MP ordered her men to assault Tauriq Amadu after she accused him of “disturbing her social media.” When he tried to talk back to Mrs. Koomson, some men with her got upset and she allegedly ordered the assault. “She told the boys that they shouldn’t even engage me. They should beat me up. So upon her orders, the boys descended on me. They were about five,” Mr. Amadu recounted They are therefore urging the police to swiftly investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book. The MP was reportedly in the area to inspect a road project. Meanwhile, the New Patriotic Party in the Constituency has denied the claims. It has rather accused the NDC of mischief. Charles Kojo Odom, the Communication Officer for the NPP in the Awutu Senya East Constituency said Mrs. Koomson only offered some season greetings to one of the men Mr. Amadu was with. “She went closer to the chairman and gave some greeting and wished him a Happy New year.” Mr. Odom added that the MP was not even around for the alleged assault. “The honourable minister left before the incident happened so it is not true that the honourable minister commanded people to beat the general secretary of the NDC.” Citinewsroom Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.

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