Parliament to meet CLOGSAG on Monday Parliament of Ghana
Opinion, Politics

Parliament to meet CLOGSAG on Monday

Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government and Rural Development are expected to meet the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) over its indefinite industrial action. Below is the invitation letter from Parliament to CLOGSAG  Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your  adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

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Appear in 2 hours to answer question; stop disrespecting Parliament! Speaker orders Health Minister
Politics

Appear in 2 hours to answer question; stop disrespecting Parliament! Speaker orders Health Minister

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has summoned Health Minister Kweku Agyeman-Manu to appear before the house in the next two hours to answer a question concerning his ministry. The question stands in the name of the Member of Parliament for Sefwi Akontombra, Alex Tetteh Djornobuah. Mr Djornobuah wants to know from the minister the type of health facility being constructed in Sefwi Akontombra and when it will be completed and handed over. Minority Chief Whip Annoh Dompreh pleaded with the Speaker to defer the question, as, according to him, the minister had indicated his absence to the Majority Caucus. However, this did not sit well with Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak, who argued that such habits on the part of ministers must not be tolerated. In his ruling, the Speaker said ministers must take Parliament seriously and, therefore, demanded that the minister appear in two hours to answer the question. He said: “The minister responsible for health is aware that a question has been scheduled for today. The reason he has given for his inability to present himself to the house to answer the question is completely disrespectful to parliament and I’m not going to take that”. “I direct the minister appear before parliament in the next two hours to answer the question. Failing to do so… ministers must take parliamentary business seriously…within two hours, the minister must appear to answer this question.” Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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Akufo-Addo increases Parliament’s budget after Bagbin threat
Politics

Akufo-Addo increases Parliament’s budget after Bagbin threat

President Nana Akufo-Addo has increased the budgetary allocation of Parliament following a complaint by Speaker Alban Bagbin. Mr Bagbin has expressed qualms about the earlier capping of the budget for the legislature and judiciary in the 2021 budget. Mr Bagbin had threatened that if the Executive failed to review the allocations, the House was not going to approve the 2021 budget and economic statement presented on Friday, 12 March. While the allocation for the Judiciary was slashed by some GHS70 million, that of the Legislature was reduced by GHS190 million. “Respectfully, I’m unable to accept such reduction,” the Speaker said in Parliament on Tuesday, 16 March. “The budget is not for the Executive”, he noted, adding: “We have the final power to approve or disapprove and, so, what the Constitution has done is for them to make recommendations and negotiate during the deliberations of the budget before the House”. “It’s not for the Executive to impose [a] ceiling on the Judiciary or Parliament. We’ve to do the right thing,” Mr Bagbin insisted. He said: “So far as I remain the Speaker of this House, I’ll insist that the right thing is done” and threatened not to forward the appropriation bill to the President for his assent when passed if “the right thing is not done.” “And, so, during the considerations of the [budget] estimate, particularly the committees concerned, take that on board and at the end of the day, come and explain to us the negotiated figure and not the ceiling that has been given by the president. That is not the [intent] of the 1992 Constitution”. “If you do otherwise, I, as your Speaker, will not affirm any letter for submission to the President for his assent, I mean what I am saying.” A response from the Presidency to Parliament read by the Speaker on Wednesday, 24 March 2021, said GHS523 million has now been approved for Parliament as against a request of GHS533 million. Mr Bagbin read the response thus: “The government recommends that Parliament and the parliamentary service operates within the proposed budget above while government explores opportunity to increase the allocation in subsequent budgets when revenue improves and debt has stabilised”. “Accordingly, Parliament is respectfully requested to keep the estimates of Parliament and the parliamentary service within the expenditure proposed above to enable the government to contain expenditures within the overall fiscal space for 2021.” Mr Bagbin added: “I am drawing the attention of the Special Budgets Committee to the new recommendation and to urge the committee to consider the budget estimates for Parliament and the parliamentary service along those lines”. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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Breaking News: Parliament Approves 2021 Budget
Politics

Breaking News: Parliament Approves 2021 Budget

Parliament has approved the Budget Statement and Economic Policy for the 2021 fiscal year, after heated arguments from both sides of the House. The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and leader of Government Business in Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on Friday, March 12, 2021, presented the 2020 budget statement and highlights to Parliament, detailing the government’s programmes and policies for the year. He did that in his capacity as an Interim Minister of Finance after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last week assigned him that additional responsibility. Heated debate There was a heated debate between the two sides before the budget was approved Friday afternoon, March 19, 2021.yeman. After the debate on the budget ended, the Speaker put the motion to a voice vote. There was an equal loud “YES” and “No” vote to the motion. While the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Joe Osei Owusu who was presiding said the YES vote from the Majority side had it, the Minority called for a head count. There was a standstill for a while and the Speaker, Mr Alban S.K. Bagbin took over from the First Deputy Speaker to preside. The Speaker then ruled that a head count be taken. more to follow soon… Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu is shamelessly dishonest –Clement Apak CLEMENT APAK
Politics

Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu is shamelessly dishonest –Clement Apak

Member of Parliament for Builsa South Constituency Dr. Clement Apak said the Majority Leader Mr, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has proven to be shamelessly dishonest for his pronouncement on the event that took place in the Parliament during the election of Speaker of Parliament. Meanwhile outlining the details on the night of the dissolution of the 7th Parliament in an exclusive interview with the media, the MP for Suame indicated that during the voting exercise to determine who was to be the leader of the House of Legislature, contrary to the reports, both candidates garnered 136 votes. He further explained that two of the votes were unaccounted for, while one got rejected because both candidates had been tainted. However, he said, that the former MP for Nadowli Kaleo, Alban Bagbin did not win the speakership race but upon dialogue both leadership of the house, concluded to give it the Mr. Alban Bagbin. However, Dr. Apak believes there is some level of dishonesty from the position of the Majority Leader. He further explained that the truth is that after many hours of standoffs because the NPP side he leads had refused as he instructed, to abide by the law dictated and practice driven protocol of secret voting or if you like, secret ballot, he and his team reluctantly agreed to do what is right. “Thereupon, we voted, all 275 of us. The ballot box was opened and the ballots sorted. There was one spoiled ballot after sorting in accordance to the number of Candidates: Prof. Mike Oquaye number 1 and Alban Sumana Bagbin number 2. The votes for Prof. Oquaye counted were 136.” “It was after this that we in the NDC started jubilating because the outcome was obvious, that our Father and nominee, Hon. Bagbin had won. Clearly with only one spoiled ballot, common maths showed that Bagbin obtained 138 votes. For those not good at maths, 275 minus 1+136=137. When 137 is subtracted from 275 the answer is 138.” He explained Here are the details: Folks, Kyei Mensah Bonsu has proven to be shamelessly dishonest. In anycase, not even my three-year-old son who sleeply watched the events of the early hours of January 7th, 2020 in the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana in relation to the election of a Speaker, his two deputies and the swearing in of MPs-elect, will believe this palpable lie Kyei has concocted. Truth is that after many hours of standoffs because the NPP side he leads had refused as he instructed, to abide by the law dictated and practice driven protocol of secret voting or if you like, secret ballot, he and his team reluctantly agreed to do what is right. Thereupon, we voted, all 275 of us. The ballot box was opened and the ballots sorted. There was one spoiled ballot after sorting in accordance to the number of Candidates: Prof. Mike Oquaye number 1 and Alban Sumana Bagbin number 2. The votes for Prof. Oquaye counted were 136. It was after this that we in the NDC started jubilating because the outcome was obvious, that our Father and nominee, Hon. Bagbin had won. Clearly with only one spoiled ballot, common maths showed that Bagbin obtained 138 votes. For those not good at maths, 275 minus 1+136=137. When 137 is subtracted from 275 the answer is 138. The same Kyei Mensah then had a short chat with Hon. Carlos Ahenkorah, and after Kyei Mensah pulled an NPP MP elect at the counting table, Carlos Ahenkorah snatched ballot papers from a Clarke and bolted. Carlos Ahenkorah was apprehended. Leadership then went into conclave and returned to confirm that Bagbin was indeed the Victor. And the process continued with the swearing-in of Speaker Bagbin. When MPS-ELECT got sworn in, the next was the approval of the 1st and 2nd deputy speakers of Parliament. For these positions we did not cast ballots, we agreed. Hon. Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the now minority leader, should stop being arrogant. Truly, if he and his team had a choice, will they make the Rt Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin the Speaker of Parliament? Hon. Rt. Hon. Sumana Bagbin was duly elected as the Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the Republic of Ghana. This was in spite of all the plots, schemes and shenanigans of Mr. Akufo-Addo as deployed by his henchmen aftert a meeting on the night of January 6th and the early hours of January 7th. Kyei Mensah Bonsu was part of that meeting held at a well-known hotel. In fact a number of Akufo-Addo henchmen were spotted in Parliament, ostensibly to oversee the execution of their plots to ensure that Prof. Mike Oquaye was elected Speaker. The action of Hon. Carlos Ahenkorah was known by Kyei Mensah and was duly sanctioned by the cabal put in charge of ensuring that Prof. Mike Oquaye was elected Speaker. Mind you, as confirmed in the programme of the President Select on January 7th, Prof. Mike Oquaye was named as the Speaker of Parliament. So, the shameless claim that Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin was not elected is a feeble attempt to save face after all the plots and schemes by the cabal failed due to the determined effort of the NDC MPS-ELECT. I remain a citizen! Dr. Clement Apaak M.P for Builsa-South 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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Muntaka, Sam George and Jinapor should apologize for their regrettable conducts
Politics

Muntaka, Sam George and Jinapor should apologize for their regrettable conducts

Dr. John Osei Bobbie a political expert said, the Parliament Clerk must take a share of the blame for the disgrace the world witnessed in the chamber of Ghana parliament on January 6, 2021 midnight. According to Dr. Osei Bobbie, the clerk did not exhibit all the powers entrusted to him to ensure that law and order prevail in the house of parliament. He made the revelation during an exclusive interview with Apexnewsgh.com. “The clerk himself did not perform. He did not act accordingly, because you see, at that moment he was the man in authority. He had all the powers entrusted to him to ensure that law and order prevail in the house. Some incidents, some utterances that came up show that some people are really ignorant about the laws themselves yet they are there to enact laws for Ghanaians. The interpretation of some implementation of the injunction order. I look at the Constitution and I was so sad.” However, Dr. Osei Bobbie welcomed the apology rendered by Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah over his ballot snatching misconduct, insisting that Sam George, Muntaka, and John Jinapor should equally do the same. “If the national laws will not be applicable on the floor of the house then, the standing orders must apply accordingly. I will simply say that Carlos has gone to some length to acknowledge the fact that what he did was wrong, I am expecting the others to do the same Muntaka, Sam George, and Jinapor to do the same because they took us for granted. The ballot boxes that were booted symbolizes the nation Ghana”. 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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President Akufo Addo pledged his support to Alban Bagbin in congratulatory message
Opinion

President Akufo Addo pledged his support to Alban Bagbin in congratulatory message

President elect Nana Addo Akufo-Addo has congratulated the newly elected Speaker of Parliament of the 8th parliament of the 4th republic, Alban Bagbin. However, he assured the Speaker of his determination to working with him to ensure an advanced peace, progress, and prosperity of the Ghanaian people. below is his Facebook post I must, at the outset, express my warm congratulations to my good friend and colleague of many years in this House, the Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, on his assumption of office as the Speaker of the Eighth Parliament of the 4th Republic. Nearly three decades of devoted service to Parliament by you has culminated in this moment, which has seen your elevation to the third great office of state of our nation. Together, you and I will be chartering new territory in the governance and politics of the 4th Republic, for this is the first time in the life of this Republic that a President from one party will be obliged, by the exigencies of the moment and the will of the people, to work, in all sincerity and co-operation, with a Speaker of Parliament from another party. I am confident that both of us will be guided in our relationship by the supreme interest of our people in ensuring good governance in the ordering of the affairs of state. I want to assure you of my wholehearted determination to work with you to advance the peace, progress and prosperity of the Ghanaian people. Once again, many congratulations to you and the re-elected and new Members of Parliament. below is his Facebook post 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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Akufo-Addo to take oath in parliamentary tent
Politics

Akufo-Addo to take oath in parliamentary tent

President-elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will next Thursday, January 7, 2020 be sworn-in as President for a second term in a parliamentary tent created at the Parliament House, in Accra. He will, however, deliver the State of the Nation Address, in the chamber of parliament, in Osu-Accra, tomorrow, Tuesday, January 5, 2021. Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader in Parliament, announced the venues on Monday, in Accra, when House returned for the Christmas and New Year holidays, to complete the last three days of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic. He said the election of the new Speaker of Parliament would take place in the chamber, but the swearing-in of the new parliament, the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic would take place in the tent. The announcement was in response to Members’ questions on the exact venues within the precincts of House, for the President and President Elect’s constitutional roles in relation to the delivery of the State of the Nation’s Address (SONA) and his inauguration. The Seventh Parliament, which began on January 7, 2017, would dissolve on the night of January 6, 20202, and usher in the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, on the eve of January 7, 2021. Mr Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu, announced in the Business Statement that “H E the President of the Republic is expected to deliver a Message on the State of the Nation prior to the dissolution of the Seventh Parliament, on Tuesday, 5th January 2021, in accordance with Article 67 of the Constitution.” He entreated members to attend upon the House punctually for the event. A visit of the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to the car park of the Parliament House, where a large conference tent has been erected for the ceremony, shows that finishing touches were being done to the place for the ceremony. The hitherto open space has been tarred with goudron, and the avenue trees to the venue have been re-painted fresh from the base to the stem in the Ghana national colours of red, yellow and green. The street has also seen much improvement. The dwarf poles holding the street lights the venue, which were in disrepair and had looked abandoned, were being worked on, with numerous barricades under the giant mahogany trees that line the streets. The inauguration ceremony at the Parliament House follows a decision to move the inauguration from the Black Star Square after an appeal by Parliament last November to have subsequent swearing-in of presidents in the precincts of parliament. The GNA observed a heightened security presence in the precincts. Meanwhile, Minority Chief Whip Alhaji Mubarak Muntaka, in contribution to the Business Statement, has prayed the Leadership of the House not to engage members in any tall business before dissolution to allow for ample time for the business of the Committee on Emoluments. GNA Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.

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