Public Affairs Department

24/03/2023

Parliament approves six (6) Ministerial Nominees presented by Appointment Committee of Parliament .


The House in a vote today has approved the appointment of six Ministerial nominees presented by the Appointment Committee in accordance with Article 79(1) of the 1992 Constitution.

Out of the 275 Members of Parliament eligible to vote, three were absent while the remaining 272 Members successfully cast their ballots.

The approved Ministers include Hon. K.T Hammond as Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Bryan Acheampong as Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Stephen Asamoah Boateng as Minister of Religious Affairs and Chieftaincy, Hon. Mohammed Amin Adams as Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Osei Bonsu Amoah as Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, and Hon. Stephen Amoah as Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.

On Thursday, the Appointments Committee presented their report on the nominees to Parliament, which was followed by a vote that occurred today, March 24th, 2023. These appointments were made to fill vacancies that were created by the resignations of three previous Ministers.

23/03/2023

22/03/2023

Day 2

Judicial Committee of Parliament Visit to the Judicial Service

At day two of the Judicial Committee visit to the Judicial Service, Members of the Committee were taken through the challenges of the Circuit Courts and how Parliament can enhance the work of the courts.

The Chairman of the Judicial Committee Hon. Alhassan Abdallah Iddi, MP for Salaga North, introduced the Members of the Committee to the Circuit Court Judges and made brief remarks.

According to him law making is considered to be the most important function of Parliament whiles the Courts interpret them. Therefore it is important for the Committee to findout the Courts challenges so that it can be addressed holistically when it is presented before the House.

The Deputy Director of court services, Mr. Charles Kwesi Barido together with Mr. Prosper Kingsley Damankali, the registrar of Circuit court took members of the Committee round the various courts for members to appraise themselves of the conditions and other matters of the court system.

The Members of the Committee also had an interactive session with the Circuit court judges.

The Circuit court is considered to be the lower courts. They mainly deal with cases of r**e, defilement, assault and criminal cases.

Some of the judges that spoke to the members were Her Lordship, Adelaide Asui Keddeg, also a High Court Judge,Her Honour Christina Eyiah Donkor Cann, and Her Honour, Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie.

21/03/2023

Judicial Committee Visits Judicial Service
The Judicial Committee of Parliament has paid a familiarisation visit to the Judicial Service of Ghana as part of its oversight responsibilities and also to strengthen the relationship between the legislature and other arms of government.
The Committee was led by its Chairman, Hon.Alhassan Abdallah Iddi, MP for Salaga North. Other Members includes the Ranking Member, Hon.Cletus Apul Avoka, MP for Zebila, Hon. Yao Gomado, MP for Akan Constituency in the Oti Region, Hon. Sanja Nanja, MP for Atebubu/Amantini in the Bono East, Hon. William Okoto-Dateh, MP for Jaman South and Hon.Kwadjo Asante, MP for Suhum Constituency.
According to the Chairman of the Committee, the way forward considering the oversight mandate of the Committee especially in matters relating to the judiciary and their budget estimates must be critically and timeously considered when it comes before the House.
The Committee was received by the Director of Communications, Mr. Joseph R. Amponsah Fosu, and the Manager of Lower Court Complex(LCC), Mrs Patricia Naa Aforley. She welcomed and briefed the Members about the activities of the LCC.
The Committee later toured the complex made up of three main divisions namely Land Jurisdiction Court, Commercial Jurisdiction Court and General Jurisdiction Court proceedings with about 43 courts.
The Committee was also allowed to sit in all the divisional Courts to better acquaint themselves with the proceedings, the court system and how judgment is administered.
During the interactive session between Members of the Committee and the Judges, the issue of why some cases delays for many years before judgment given was explained.
Some of the reasons include lawyers and Clients given excuse duties, plaintiffs not serving all the parties involved, payments of filing fees not in time and parties travelling out of the Jurisdiction.
Commenting on the E-Justice system which has not been rolled out in other parts of the country, Mrs. Patricia Aforley, noted that plans are far advanced to extend it to other regions of the country. But for now she was of the view that only the court complex has the facility. Other matters discussed include Alternative Dissolution Resolution(ADR).
The Ranking Member, Hon.Cletus Avoka, on his part, noted that it is an opportunity to demystify the public conceptions about the judicial system, stressing that the Public believe that the Judicial Service is not fair, open, and not transparent enough.
Some of the High Court Judges who were present and had interactions with the committee were Justice kwasi Anokye Gyimmah, Land Court, Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu of General Court who doubles as the Vice President of Association of Judges and Magistrates.
The Committee is expected to visit the Supreme and Courts of Appeal tomorrow and have engagement with the Judicial Secretary, Ms Cynthia Pamela Addo.

21/03/2023

Former Old Tafo MP, Hon. Dr Anthony Akoto Osei passes away. May he rest in peace.

17/03/2023

Our youngsters didn’t want to be left out of the Commonwealth Day celebrations. They spent Thursday visiting and interacting with Members and Staff of Parliament.

16/03/2023

NUGS Petition Parliament Over Capping GETfund

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has presented a petition to Parliament over plans to cap the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund). The petitioners, led by NUGS President Mr. Dennis Appiah Larbi Ampofo, protested with placards in front of Parliament's ceremonial gate before presenting the petition to the Education Committee of the House.

Mr. Ampofo called on Parliament to uncap GETFund to make funds available for education. He also noted that funding for the education sector has been decreasing in recent years.

The petition was received by the Chairman of the Education Committee, Hon. Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah, and Hon. Peter Nortsu-Kotoe the Ranking Member, who assured the petitioners that the committee would do everything possible to ensure that the funds are used for education in the country and would take all necessary steps to ensure that the GETfund is uncapped.

The union was joined by Civil Society Organisations, led by the Africa Education Watch. The NUGS wants the Ministry of Finance to stop implementing the GETFUND formula for this year "which will see only 39% of GETFUND levy allocated to the fund with the remaining 61% diverted into other areas."

NUGS is a democratic, non-partisan, and progressive mass movement of students, both in Ghana and abroad, with the central aim of protecting the interest of all Ghanaian students both home and abroad. The union is committed to advocating to inculcate a high degree of patriotism and nationalism in students to prepare them adequately for the future of our country.

16/03/2023

Defence and Interior Committee visits Ashaiman

Members of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament visited Ashaiman, a suburb of Accra where a young soldier was slain few days ago.
Part of the Committee’s mission was to commiserate with the family of the late young soldier and also get first hand information on what happened on the 7th March between the military and the residents of Taifa, Official New Town and Tulaku all areas in Ashaiman.

The Committee was led by the Chairman Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong and the Ranking Member Hon. James Agalga and some members of the Committee including the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman constituency, Hon.Ernest Norgbey and some military personnel of the Ministry of Defence together with the sector Minister, Hon.Dominic Nitiwul.

It would be recalled that on 4th March 2023, a young trooper named Imoro Sheriff 22, was reportedly robbed and killed by unidentified people suspected to be living in and around Ashaiman. The Military later stormed the area on the 7th of March and subjected the residents to severe beatings to avenge the death of their colleague.

The Chairman of the committee, Hon Kennedy Agyapong sympathised with family and thanked the police for arresting the key suspects of the crime.

The young soldier’s junior brother, Abdul Rahman Imoro who was present with his mother, Hajia Sakina was promised to be taken care of until he finishes university by the Chairman of the Committee. The Chairman donated an amount of twenty thousand Ghana cedis to the family and also promised to complete the astro turf park in the Community and name it after the slain soldier Imoro Sheriff.

The Minister of Defence on his part expressed his condolences and also on behalf of the military high command and the Government to the family. He recounted the unfortunate story of the late Major Mahama as well some civilians who were murdered, stressing that these crimes must stop.

Hon. Nitiwul noted that the military has sworn to protect the civilian at the peril of their lives therefore it becomes very unfortunate when the same civilians the Military have sworn to protect decide to take lives of the Military. He later donated fifty thousand Ghana cedi’s to the family on behalf of the Ministry.

The Ranking Member of the Committee Hon. James Agalga assured the family of their commitment to use their oversight responsibility role over the Military to demand for justice because the future of the young soldier has been truncated.

The spokesperson of the group, “Ashaiman Lives Matter”, Lawyer Emmanuel Kumado proposed that the innocent civilians who were brutalised should be compensated.

In addition they proposed that all the Military High Command who sanctioned this crime should be sacked from the service so that civilians can be safe.
He later on presented a pictorial evidence to the committee for their perusal.

The Chairman assured them of swift action. He pleaded with them to see any uniform man as a friend and not an enemy.

14/03/2023

13/03/2023

Parliament of Ghana leads 12 Students Parliaments to observe this year’s Commonwealth Day celebrations with a mock parliamentary sitting and a debate.

12/03/2023

The 146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has kicked off in Manama, Bahrain.

Over 1,700 parliamentarians from around the globe, including the Speaker of Ghana's parliament, Alban Bagbin, were present on Saturday, March 11, 2023, as the Kingdom kick-started the proceedings of the IPU conference at the plush Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB) in Sakhir.

This year's conference, under the theme, "Promoting peaceful coexistence and inclusive societies: Fighting intolerance", was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa.

On behalf of the King of Bahrain, His Majesty Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, he inaugurated the 146th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly and related meetings being held for the first time in Bahrain and taking place from March 11, 2023, to March 15, 2023.
In his inaugural address, Shaikh Khalid reaffirmed Bahrain's commitment to join efforts and improve global security, stability and peace. He also noted Bahrain's history in laying democratic systems that today reflect crucial pillars of the Kingdom's comprehensive development.

He said the conference reflects the unflinching high level of confidence the international community has in Bahrain's ability to host such high-profile diplomatic events.

Other dignitaries who graced the event include the IPU President Duarte Pacheco, IPU Secretary-General Martin Chungong, Speaker of Ghana's parliament Alban Bagbin, Majority and Minority Leaders Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and Dr Cassiel Ato Forson respectively.

First Deputy Minority Whip Ahmed Ibrahim and Second Deputy Majority Whip Habib Iddrisu are also in attendance.

Female MPs from Asokwa and Ketu South, Patricia Appiagyei and Abla Dzifa Gomashie, complete the list of Ghanaian parliamentarians attending the event in Bahrain.

Speaker Bagbin is expected to address the General Assembly during the 146th IPU conference.

This year, the IPU membership will increase to 179 with the readmission of Liberia, a founding member of the IPU in 1889 whose membership lapsed in 2011.