Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has failed to appear in Senate to testify at his impeachment trial, with his lawyer saying that he has been taken ill.
The deputy president, who was present in the house in the morning, had been due to appear from 14:30 local time (11:30 GMT) to defend himself before a vote was due on Thursday evening about whether to remove him from office.
“The sad reality is that the deputy president of the Republic of Kenya has been taken sick, very sick, and is… in hospital,” said his lawyer Paul Muite.
Sittings have been suspended until 17:00. Speaker of Parliament Amason Kingi said they were expecting the deputy president to take the witness stand then.
The speaker said the case could then proceed without him, or “for exceptional reasons” he could be appear later, citing a rule of the trial procedures.
Speaking to local Citizen TV, Senator Daniel Maanzo said this was an exceptional trial and another “new exceptional situation has arisen that is not even anticipated by the law”, saying they would make submissions to push the speaker make a judgement.
He said the deputy president “just looked tired” but had lunch at his office with other senators who had said he was fine, with everyone expecting him to appear for his defence.
Two-thirds of the 67 senators are required to oust him.
He faces 11 charges, including corruption, inciting ethnic divisions and undermining government.
As the trial began on Wednesday, the deputy president pleaded not guilty to each of the charges as they were read out in the house. He has described the impeachment as a “political witch hunt”.
An overwhelming majority of MPs in the National Assembly last week voted to approve his impeachment, setting the stage for the Senate trial.
He has fallen out with President William Ruto, just two years after they were elected on a joint ticket.
Donald Trump has described the US Capitol riot of 6 January 2021 as a “day of love” during a campaign event just weeks before the presidential election.
The former president claimed the thousands who travelled to Washington DC that day did so because “they thought the election was a rigged election”.
On 6 January, a mob breached the US Capitol building in an effort to deny the certification of Joe Biden’s election win, forcing lawmakers to flee. Several deaths, including that of a police officer, have been attributed to the events that day.
Trump has spent years making false claims that the vote was rigged. The event continues to divide America.
During his “town hall” event in Miami, Florida, Trump was challenged to win back the vote of a man who said he had been disturbed by what happened after the Republican lost the 2020 vote.
“Nothing done wrong at all,” Trump said in a lengthy response.
“There were no guns down there. We didn’t have guns. The others had guns, but we didn’t have guns. And when I say we, these are people that walked down — this was a tiny percentage of the overall which nobody sees and nobody, nobody shows. But that was a day of love.”
He recalled addressing a group of “hundreds of thousands” during a speech elsewhere in Washington DC.
“They didn’t come because of me,” he went on. “They came because of the election. They thought the election was a rigged election, and that’s why they came.”
Trump has been accused of criminal efforts to overturn his defeat, which were recently described in detail in a filing from the federal prosecutor investigating him.
While the conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Ukraine are on the agenda at the summit on Thursday in Brussels, a key topic will be how to deal with irregular migrants arriving in the 27-nation bloc by land from the east and by sea from the south.
This is seen by most EU governments as a political and security risk that is driving the rise of populist and far-right parties and influencing elections.
EU Council President Charles Michel, in an invitation letter to EU leaders, wrote, “We will … focus on concrete measures to prevent irregular migration including strengthened control of our external borders, enhanced partnerships and reinforced return policies.”
Irregular migrants and refugees arriving in Europe last year numbered less than a third of the one million seen during the migration crisis in 2015. In the first nine months of this year, the number fell even more to 166,000, data from the EU’s Frontex border agency showed.
But the number of people arriving at the EU’s border with Belarus surged 192 percent year on year in January-September to 13,195 and the number of arrivals in the Spanish Canary Islands off the western coast of Africa doubled to 30,616, Frontex said.
Eczema is a group of skin conditions that makes your skin irritated, inflamed, and itchy. One of the common places to get a flare is on your face, especially on your cheeks. The best way to manage eczema on your face is to find out what triggers your flares and avoid contact with those triggers. But if you do have a flare, take good care of your skin by washing your face with gentle, non-soap cleanser and lukewarm water and using moisturizer several times a day.
Eczema on the Face
Eczema is a group of skin conditions that makes your skin irritated, inflamed, and itchy. Your doctor might also call it dermatitis. It weakens your skin’s barrier function, which protects you from outside elements and helps your skin retain moisture. This means that your skin may easily react to irritants and allergens in your environment.
Eczema can show up anywhere on your body, but one of the most common places is your face, especially on your forehead, cheeks, lips, and chin. You may also get it in and around your ears.
Any type of eczema can appear on your face, with atopic eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, and contact dermatitis being the most common types. And it’s possible to get more than one type of eczema at once.
Contact eczema on the face
Contact eczema (or dermatitis) happens when you come into contact with a substance that irritates your skin or triggers an allergic reaction. This type of eczema doesn’t tend to run in families and isn’t linked to other allergic conditions such as hay fever or asthma.
About 80% of the time, contact dermatitis is caused by exposure to an irritating substance, such as:
Solvents
Detergents and soaps
Bleach
Nickel-containing jewelry
Makeup
Hair dye
Over-washing with hot water and soap, which can dry your skin out
However, eczema may also come from a reaction that appears a day or two after your skin is exposed to an allergen. Common causes of allergic contact dermatitis are:
Poison ivy and poison oak
Nail polish
Fragrances in skin care products
Nickel
Thimerosal, which is a preservative found in some topical antibiotics
Symptoms of Eczema on the Face
You may get patches of eczema anywhere on your face from your chin to your forehead. But your cheeks are the most common site to get flare-ups.
Common symptoms of eczema of the face include:
Swelling, redness, and irritation (inflammation)
A rash with skin discoloration, which may be red, purple, or dark brown depending on your skin tone
Itchy skin
Dry, flaky, or scaly patches of skin
Small bumps or blisters
Wrinkled skin under your eyes
Sore or uncomfortable skin
Causes of Eczema on the Face
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes eczema. But they think it’s an interplay between your genes and your environment. For instance, people who have atopic eczema often have a personal and family history of eczema, asthma, or allergies.
Factors that trigger a flare-up of eczema can be different for different people. Common triggers of eczema on the face include:
Soaps and detergents
Air that’s too dry or weather with low humidity
Contact with something you’re allergic to
Makeup
Smoke and other pollutants
Rough or itchy fabric, such as wool
Emotional stress
Eczema on Face Treatment
Eczema can’t be cured, and it tends to come and go. The best way to treat it will often depend on what triggers your flare-ups. Your doctor will work with you to figure them out so you can avoid your triggers
Skin Care for Facial Eczema
One of the best ways to treat your eczema is to take good care of your skin. For instance:
Keep your skin moisturized.Try using thick creams (such as Cetaphil or Eucerin) and ointments (such as Aquaphor or Vaseline) rather than thinner lotions. The best time to moisturize is right after you wash your face. If ointments are too greasy, try using them only at night. Also, choose moisturizers or lotions for gentle or sensitive skin. You’re looking for moisturizers that don’t have fragrances or dyes that can trigger an eczema flare.
Clean gently. Soap can irritate your skin, but washing with water alone may not be enough, especially if your face is oily. Use a gentle non-soap cleanser or a medical emollient instead. Pat dry with a soft towel.
Watch the temperature.Use only cool — not hot — water on your face, and for as little time as possible.
Skip makeup. Don’t use cosmetics when you have a flare. The chemicals in makeup can irritate your skin further and prolong your flare-up.
The American Corner in Kumasi in conjunction with the US Embassy Ghana, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and Dubawa (an online news outlet) have organised a two-day workshop for media personnel in Kumasi.
The workshop focused on how journalists would be circumspect in the dissemination of information prior, during and after the December 7 elections.
A section of participants.
The American Corner is an educational and cultural center that is open to the general public to acquire knowledge and also collaborate with like-minded individuals. The American Corner is supported by the U.S. Embassy Ghana.
The two-day workshop, which commenced yesterday (October 17) will end today (October 18, 2024) under the
theme: “Building the Electoral Information Literacy and Fact-Checking Skills of Tertiary Students and Journalists”.
The workshop was designed in several modules, such as Media and Information Literacy, Understanding Information Disorder, Fact-Checking, among others to help participants in their reportage.
It also taught participants to verify their “Source and Content” before publication, and also how to differentiate between “credible news and information disorder (fake news)” with much emphasis on the fact that “information disorder “is disruptive.
The participants were urged to be fact-checkers, and also fast-check their news before publication.
Among the facilitators of the workshop were Nana Kwadwo Jantuah, Nhyira FM and Nathan Tetteh Gadugah, Dubawa.
Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee, Executive Director, Salt and Light Ministries
“The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish.” (Proverbs 14:11, NKJV)
Introduction
We walk through life, constantly building—whether it’s our careers, relationships, families, or our faith. The process of building requires effort, commitment, and investment. However, the foundation upon which we build is critical to the long-term success of what we are constructing. Proverbs 14:11 draws a powerful contrast between two builders: the wicked and the upright. This comparison holds a profound truth about how we should approach the construction of our lives and what really constitutes true strength and stability.
The House vs. The Tent
Proverbs 14:11 presents an intriguing comparison. It contrasts a HOUSE, symbolizing the achievements of the wicked, with a TENT, representing the efforts of the upright. In the natural world, these two structures seem incomparable. A house is far more stable, permanent, and valuable than a tent. A house, built of bricks and stone, can endure storms and is meant to last for generations. On the other hand, a tent is temporary, fragile, and can easily be blown away by strong winds. In comparing these two, one might assume that the house holds a great advantage over the tent.
However, the wisdom of this proverb turns our worldly assumptions on their head. Despite the apparent strength and superiority of the wicked person’s house, we are told that it will be overthrown. In contrast, the upright person’s tent, fragile and temporary as it may seem, will flourish. Why? Because the strength of what we build in life is not determined by its outward appearance or material worth. Rather, it is determined by the foundation and principles upon which it stands.
The False Stability of the Wicked
The house of the wicked may look impressive. In fact, to the world, it often appears that the wicked prosper, achieving great success through deception, manipulation, or corrupt practices. People might look at their lives and wonder how they’ve built so much so quickly. But Proverbs 14:11 warns us that the external success of the wicked is deceptive. What they build cannot stand the test of time or the scrutiny of God.
Building through lies, cheating, and oppression might yield temporary results, but such structures are inherently unstable. The wicked may create a false sense of stability, convincing themselves and others that their house will last. However, the foundation of their lives lacks the integrity and righteousness required for true endurance. At some point, their house will be overthrown—either through life’s trials or through the judgment of God.
Psalm 127:1 reminds us of this truth: “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.” The efforts of the wicked may seem successful at first, but without God’s blessing and guidance, everything they build is in vain.
The Strength of the Upright
In contrast, the upright build what looks like a mere tent. Tents are temporary shelters, not built to last for years or withstand major storms. Yet, the tent of the upright flourishes because of God’s presence and blessing. The upright may not amass wealth or power as quickly as the wicked, but their success is built on a solid foundation—one of integrity, obedience, and faith in God.
Though a tent may seem vulnerable, it is far more secure than the house of the wicked when it has God’s favor. The key difference is not in the outward structure but in the spiritual foundation. When we build with God and according to His principles, our lives are marked by His blessing and protection.
The upright person’s tent flourishes because God’s presence is there. When God is with us, even the most humble of beginnings can grow and thrive. It may not look like much to the world, but the tent of the upright contains something priceless—God’s favor. As Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Even a simple tent is indestructible when God is on your side.
Building God’s Way
The core message of this proverb is that what we build in life is far less important than how we build it. The wicked build grand structures, but their methods are flawed. They seek shortcuts, relying on dishonesty or greed. Meanwhile, the upright focus on building in alignment with God’s will and purpose, even if the results seem small or insignificant in comparison.
This proverb challenges us to ask: Are we building the right way? Are we focusing on outward appearances, or are we prioritizing God’s presence and blessing in our lives? It can be tempting to envy the success of the wicked, especially when their lives seem more stable or prosperous. However, the Lord reminds us that He blesses what is built in His way, no matter how small or temporary it may seem.
Jesus also illustrated this truth when He spoke about the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7:24-27. The wise man built his house on the rock, while the foolish man built on sand. When the storms came, only the house built on the solid foundation stood firm. Similarly, when we build our lives on the firm foundation of God’s Word and His ways, we can be assured that we will flourish, even in adversity.
Conclusion
Proverbs 14:11 calls us to reflect on the foundations upon which we are building our lives. The world may tempt us to pursue the fast and easy path to success, but God calls us to build with integrity, patience, and faithfulness. The wicked may appear to have the upper hand, but their success is fleeting. What truly matters is the presence of God in our lives, because whatever He blesses will flourish.
We are called to build with God’s blessing, trusting that His way is the best way. Though it may seem like we are building a tent compared to others’ houses, God’s presence makes all the difference. The tent of the upright flourishes because it is filled with God’s peace, protection, and favor.
So, as you build your life—your career, family, or ministry—remember to build God’s way. Seek His guidance in every decision and rely on His wisdom. When God is in the midst of what you are building, you can be confident that it will stand the test of time and flourish, even when the world around you crumbles.
Stay Blessed!
Please continue to join us on Asempa 94.7 FM – Sundays 5.30 am., Sunny 88.7 FM – Tuesdays 5:30 am; and YFM 107.9 – Sundays 6.30am; for our Radio Bible Study as well as Sunny FM 88.7 FM every Sunday at 3:30 pm. for Hymns and their Stories.
Unprecedented; Serene; Placid Tranquil, Unruffled; The Catholics’ “protest walk” on Friday, 11/10/24. The words used could not be “braggadocio” (arrogant and empty boast), but they give a good picture of the “walk” by the Catholic Diocese of Accra.
Septuagenarians and octogenarians may not have experienced such an episode in our lives and the straddlers had our spirits with the “protest walkers”.
It was enchanting to see the mass servers led by the “crucifer” carrying the processional cross and leading the walkers, with the Reverend Fathers in toe, after the banner “Environmental Prayer Walk Against Galamsey”.
The crowd which included ‘Crusaders Against Corruption’ ‘Green Faith Ghana’ looked like those we see at Easter and other similar festivities: The Paschal Triduum, and the Gloria in excelsis Deo… Ave Maria…ora pro nobis peccatoribus (Holy Mary… pray for us sinners…) Paternoster qui es in caelis. (Our Father who art in Heaven…) “Credo in unum Deum” (I believe in one God…)
The placards gave powerful messages: “Protect our future”, “Our home is on fire”; “The globe is warming up”, “There is no planet B “Choose eco, not ego”.
The Petition received by Adumoa Bossman was summed up as follows: 1. Declaration of a state of emergency in areas heavily affected by galamsey 2. Immediate moratorium on the issuance of mining licenses 3. Repeal of Legislative Instrument (L. I. 2462) which governs the issuance of mining licenses, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas.
The prayer walk lasted about four hours, starting from the Holy Spirit Cathedral (Adabraka) at 10:00 am and ending at Christ the King Parish, close to the Jubilee House. Kyrie, eleison (Lord, Have mercy). Alleluia, Amen.
A touching moment was when Most Rev. Asare reiterated that “all the communiqués issued by the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) had fallen on deaf ears”. In a brilliant article in the Chronicle on Thursday, October 10, 2024, Hon. Daniel Dugan recalls: “The Holy Catholic Church has been very concerned about the devastation of our environment world – wide, and on June 18, 2015, Pope Francis came out with “Laudato Si” sub-titled “On Care for our Common Home”.
In this encyclical, the Pope highlighted: “The Cry of Earth, the Cry of the Poor, Ecological Education and Ecological Spirituality… We share the earth with others and we must be seen to do the right thing so as not to destroy what nature has for us…”.
Hon. Daniel Dugan recalled the various instances at which the GCBC had drawn the attention of governments of Ghana to the menace of Galamsey: 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Most Rev. Asare gave the rationale of the walk: “As Christians we feel compelled to do something beyond the many statements that have been issued regarding this disaster; hence our environmental prayer walk to beseech God for His help and also to pray for those in public offices who are vested with power to direct our collective resolve”.
The man of God attributed “corruption, complicity of some politicians, chiefs, some influential private citizens and foreigners, and the apparent lack of political will over the years by governments” to have further exacerbated the problem of illegal mining.
We are tempted to go back to the “Agyapadie Book” and we read page 9 (1.4.3) Mining, Oil and Gas Industries: “Our mining, as well as oil & gas strategies constitute a major plank of the blueprint for controlling the extraction of natural resources which God has generously bestowed on Ghana particularly Akyem land… a cursory look at the approved concessions should be looked at (?) Asante Bediatuo is to lead the process to take over these concessions detailed below and consolidate them into the extended Agyapa LLC, incorporated in Jersey…” A list of 332 mining companies is made, and it is stated: “
The passage of the Mineral Income Investment Fund Act and the setting up of the first Special Purpose Vehicle (Agyapa Royalties) in Jersey, would allow us, acting in various capacities and through our friends, to acquire majority of the stake to be listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Ghana Stock Exchange…” Question the authorship of the “Agyapadie Book”?
You may give the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, the benefit of the doubt when he bellows a disclaimer, attributing the authorship to “opposition’s assigns”. Remember the suit by D.M. Ofori Atta against Hopeson Adorye for a gargantuan sum of GH¢10 million, and keep taciturn because you may not have that amount to face a court action against someone who is mentioned in the book as the leader of the “the technical team”:
Like Diana, England’s Rose, you may not go “quietly” without recalling Rambler’s song: “Won a adepaba a, wokye di no, eka ba a, won aranawokyetua” (loosely translated: ‘Those who benefit from a windfall alone, bear the cost of the failure of a venture). OR “Wonko wodidi a, wonko wo ko” (when you eat alone, you fight alone).
How think we? Thomas Hobbes (1588 – 1679) was the first modern philosopher to articulate the theory of social contract – a mutual contract. In the Leviathan (1660) he stated that in a state of nature life without a government would be nasty, poor, solitary, brutish and short, resulting from violent competition for resources. John Locke elaborated this in his Second Treatise on Civil Government in 1689, noting: “The state of Nature has a law of Nature to guide it”.
In “The Spirit of the Laws” (1748), Charles Louis de Second at de Montesquieu divided French society into three classes (“triaspolitica”): the executive, the legislature, the judiciary – the separation of powers – adopted by many Constitutions the world over.
A second edition of “Chasing the Elephant into the Bush”, a la Dr. Arthur Kennedy? No, wait.
So, it should be borne in mind that in a democracy we go to elections to choose a team of people to lead us: hence, the prayer of Akufo-Addo in soliciting our votes after two failed attempts: “Mo nso me nhwe” (Try me and see). He was “begging” for our votes. Now, in power, it is “yenntieobiaa” and he would go to a function and order chiefs to “stand up” for him! He would surround himself with “family and friends”, give government jobs to them for almost 8 years, and would hear nothing like “Cabinet Reshuffle” – those asking for it being told off for being jealous…
So, in Akufo-Addo’s government we have Catholics in a walk to pressurize government to take action on an existential threat– a phenomenon that has the potential to destroy our future. We have “fought” dictators before, so we cannot countenance any traits that have the tendency to veer towards dictatorship. Our fathers fought Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s dictatorship (one-party state, Nsawam Prison); we, including Akufo-Addo, fought Rawlings’s dictatorship and we pray God to “… help us to resist oppressor’s rule…”
The Catholics have given the lead, and the editorial of “The Catholic Standard of Sunday, October 13 – Saturday October 19, 2024 sums it up: “Political polarization makes it extremely difficult for anybody to voice out conscientious opposition against irresponsible mining of all forms, including ‘galamsey’… There is nothing partisan about the call to “End Galamsey Now”.
The fight against ‘galamsey’ is apolitical…” Per ipsum, et cum ipso, et in ipso, esttibi Deo patriomnipotenti in unitate Spiritus Sancti, omnishonor et gloria per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Premier League football returns from the international break with an intriguing London derby on Saturday lunchtime, as Tottenham Hotspur host West Ham United in the lunchtime kickoff.
Always one to cut a calm demeanour both before and after matches, Tottenhamcoach Ange Postecoglou did not follow in the footsteps of his predecessor Antonio Conte in his post-game press conference, but it did not take a body language expert to determine that the Australian was apoplectic.
Furthermore, each of Spurs’ last seven Premier League home games has seen them win one then lose the next, and with the Lilywhites sinking Brentford 3-1 in their last top-flight match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, those of a superstitious nature may fear the worst on Saturday.
As heavily criticised as West Ham have been this season, the Irons head to North London unbeaten in their last three Premier League away matches.
The first Premier League game back after the international break promises entertainment, as both Spurs and West Ham are forces to be reckoned with in the final third while also possessing defensive weaknesses for the other to exploit.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Man United look to end winless run against Brentford
Manchester United will be looking to end a five-match winless run in all competitions when they welcome Brentford to Old Trafford for a Premier League contest on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams meet for the first time since March when they played out a 1-1 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Erik Ten Hag
Not for the first time, Erik ten Hag has survived the axe and lives to fight another day as Man United manager, despite overseeing the club’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season, with only eight points accumulated and two wins posted in their opening seven matches.
The Red Devils have opted to remain silent on Ten Hag’s future following a seven-hour executive meeting that was held in London just over a week ago by members of the club’s leadership group, including Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Joel Glazer.
Man United have had little to celebrate at Old Trafford so far this term, but there is reason to be optimistic ahead of Saturday’s fixture, as they have won each of their last five home league games against Brentford by an aggregate score of 13-2.
Man United are facing an injury crisis as they could be without as many as 10 first-team players.
While Brentford can travel to Old Trafford without any pressure on their shoulders, that cannot be said for Ten Hag who can ill-afford to see his Man United side produce another below-par performance on home soil.
Real Madrid will be bidding to make it back-to-back wins in Spain’s top flight when they continue their domestic campaign with a clash against Celta Vigo at the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos on Saturday night.
Los Blancos are currently second in the La Liga table, boasting 21 points from their opening nine matches of the campaign, while Celta occupy ninth, with a successful start seeing them collect 13 points from nine games.
Real Madrid Players
Celta have been a good watch in La Liga this season, boasting a record of four wins, one draw and four defeats from nine matches to collect 13 points, which has left them in ninth spot in the division ahead of their return to action.
Claudio Giraldez‘s side actually have the third-best home record in La Liga this season, picking up 10 points from their five matches, and they will be welcoming a Real Madrid outfit with only one win to show from their four league fixtures on their travels.
Celta have lost each of their last eight league games against Real Madrid, though, with their last top-flight victory over Los Blancos coming more than 10 years ago.
Real Madrid have found it difficult to get going on their travels this season, and Celta are a big threat in the final third of the field. Aspas’s absence is a blow for the Sky Blues, though, and we are backing Ancelotti’s side to pick up a much-needed three points here.
Heavyweights Juventus and Lazio will fight it out for three points on Saturday night, when the teams meet in Turin.
Though Juve had to settle for a disappointing draw before international football intervened, they sit within touching distance of top spot following an unbeaten start to life under Thiago Motta.
Unable to reproduce a thrilling finale to their Champions League win against RB Leipzig just a few days earlier, Juventus could only claim one point from their most recent outing, at home to Serie A strugglers Cagliari.
Dusan Vlahovic, Juventus
They will head into their latest home assignment confident of victory, though, as the weight of history is firmly on their side against Lazio – Juve have lost just one of the clubs’ last 20 Serie A meetings in Turin, winning 15.
Indeed, the Biancocelesti’s only away win during that time dates back to October 2017, albeit recent results suggest a slight narrowing of the gap to their more successful rivals.
With a number of players unavailable, Juventus may have to put up with another single-point haul, as Lazio seem to be heading in the right direction and have scored freely this season.
A share of the spoils would keep both teams in touch with the Serie A pace-setters, and neither would be too dissatisfied to walk away with a draw.
For championing the welfare of traders at the Race Course market at Bantama at all times of distress, they (traders) have hailed Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, the Chief of Staff, for her philanthropic activities at the place.
Mmamensehene, Market Queen and KMA boss assist Chief of Staff to commission the market
The traders, who see her as their sole benefactor for the rehabilitation of the market, which got burnt on two occasions within four months, extolled her for her selfless commitment to the welfare of the traders.
In December 2023, the Chief of Staff, supported 70 traders who had their stalls gutted by fire at the Race Course market by procuring building materials worth about GHc150,000 for the reconstruction of the portion of the market affected by the fire outbreak.
She provided 70 bags of cement, 1,000 pieces of 2×4 boards, 400 pieces of roofing sheets, two trips of sand, 70 boxes of assorted nails and 20 galvanised poles and footed the cost of workmanship on the reconstruction.
In April, this year, she also committed almost GHc1 million from her own resources to procure materials for the reconstruction of parts of the Bantama Race Course market that got burnt on March 11, 2024.
Nana Kyeiwaa presenting a portrait of Madam Akosua Frema to her
The procurement covered 60 packets of roofing sheets, 500 bags of cement, 2,400 pieces of Galvanised poles, 6000 pieces of lumber, 30 boxes of nails and 30 tons of iron rods, and further supplied 50 trucks of sand and 20 trucks of chippings for filling up the muddy area, besides the hiring of excavators and earth moving machines for the rehabilitation works.
Last Tuesday, the market traders had reason to praise the Chief Administrator when she commissioned the reconstructed market to the admiration of entire market traders in the presence of dignitaries.
The Queen mother of the Bantama Race Course market, Nana Afia Kyeiwaa, on behalf of the Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, thanked their benefactor for the singular support and life saving moves to come to their rescue at all material times.
She said by her deeds, Mrs. Osei-Opare has proven to be a caring mother who had the welfare of traders and women in general at heart.
Parts of the reconstructed market have been named after Nana Konadu Yiadom III, the Asantehemaa and Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare.
Mrs. Frema Osei-Opare addressing the market traders
Nana Afia Kyeiwaa, who presented a portrait to their benefactor in appreciation of her gestures, urged the traders to reciprocate and translate their appreciation of the gestures into massive votes for the NPP government in the December elections.
Nana Ama Ampomah, Regional NPP Women’s Organiser described the Chief of Staff as a role model and philanthropist par excellence whose philanthropic activities span over 40 years.
In her inaugural address, Mrs. Frema Osei-Opare said she undertook the rehabilitation of the Race course market for the Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, who owns all markets in the metropolis for her good counsel.
Part of the reconstructed Race course market
The Chief of Staff commended Nana Afia Kyeiwaa for her strong and dedicated leadership at the Race Course market.
She also thanked her local and external donors who support her NGO to undertake philanthropic activities for the emancipation of women as a priority.
According to her, she is a representative of womanhood in government and assured to help with the development of the market.
Traders cheer up their benefactor
She said the December election is Ghana’s future and emphasised the need for Ghanaians to retain the NPP in power because the government has kept faith with the people.
Mrs. Osei-Opare described the NPP flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as humble and experienced and called on Ghanaians to vote for the NPP for a secured future.
Barima Osei Kwadwo, Otumfuo’s Mmamensenhene, who presided over the commissioning of the market, commended the Chief of Staff for honouring the Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III by reconstructing the market at no cost to the traders.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, is expected to state his position on the statement seeking a declaration of four seats in Parliament vacant.
This position will either be a directive or a ruling after observing how members on both sides of the aisle commented on the statement made by the Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, during sitting on Tuesday, this week.
Majority leader, Alexander kwamena Afenyo-Markin and MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu
The Speaker, who asked for two days to prepare a reasoned “ruling in this matter,” has his timeline due today as he made the request on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, when the statement was made and members passed comments.
Asking for leave to prepare a written response, the Speaker made the point that both the statement and the comments had raised quite serious issues of procedure and substantive law, and as such he needed time to deal with them.
“And so, I want to take a few days to submit a reasoned ruling in this matter. I see that this is not only an urgent matter but a very serious national issue,” he said.
According to the former Nadowli/Kaleo legislator, his experience, having gone through all the various constitutions and having gone through all the Parliaments in the Fourth Republic, “I think I’ll have to do justice to the subject. And so, I need to present to you a very well thought out ruling.
“So please kindly give me these two days and I’ll come here with a well-written ruling. I will submit it to all of you so that at the end of the day, justice would have not only been done, but would have been seen to be manifestly done in this matter,” he added.
STATEMENT
The Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, in making his statement told the House that he was coming under Order 93 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, on the matter which he said was of public importance.
He said his attention had been drawn to the issue that Peter Kwakye Ackah, the current NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Amenfi Central in the Western Region, and Cynthia Mamle-Morrison, the current MP for Agona West constituency in the Central Region, have filed with the Electoral Commission to contest as independent candidates.
Also, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, the current independent MP for Fomena, Ashanti Region and Kwadwo Asante, the current NPP MP for Suhum, Eastern Region, have filed to contest as NPP and independent candidates respectively.
Majority leader, Alexander kwamena Afenyo-Markin
He referred to the November 2020 situation that involved Andrew Amoako Asiamah, where the NPP argued that by his decision to contest as an independent candidate whilst he was a sitting NPP MP, Mr. Asiamah had vacated his seat in accordance with Article 97, clause one, sub-clause G of the 1992 Constitution.
This position of the NPP, Ato Forson recalled, was upheld by the then Speaker of Parliament, Prof Aaron Michael Oquaye, who took action to enforce the said Article.
“Mr. Speaker, this ruling was not contested and has still not been contested and remains good and valid as a rule of this House,” the Minority Leader recalled.
“Right Honourable Speaker we, therefore, call on you to enforce the existing ruling of this House, based on Article 97(1)(G) and (H),” Ato Forson added.
He continued that, “This means that currently we do not have an independent Member of Parliament. The NPP has only 135 members of Parliament, having seen two of their members contested as independent candidates and the NDC has 136 members of Parliament, having lost one member. Therefore, the NPP group cannot continue to hold themselves as the majority caucus of this House, Mr. Speaker, I so submit.”
PRELIMNARY ISSUE
The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin, responded to the submission by the Minority Leader, during which he raised preliminary issues to say that the argument of Ato Forson “falls flat.”
According to him, the argument by Ato Forson that there was precedence, did not hold water, explaining that whereas Speaker Oquaye acted based on a petition, there is no petition either from the NPP or the NDC in the current circumstance.
RULE
The Majority Leader, Afenyo Markin, who is a lawyer, first said his colleague cited the wrong Order to call on the Speaker to make a ruling on a statement.
He explained that Order 93 deals with statements, but after statements are made, members will make comments and the speaker may give directives.
“With the greatest respect, Honourable Minority Leader, if you want to invoke the rule, invoke it rightly. What you are trying to do by inviting Mr. Speaker to make a ruling has to do with a statement.
“The provision does not clothe you with that power to make that application, and you should get it. The provision that you quoted, you got it completely wrong. You got your rule wrong and you should know this.”
His position was supported by the MP for Essikado-Ketan, Joe Ghartey, who cited Order 93 and said the Speaker could only refer the matter to the petition committee.
“Order 93 states what he can do in these circumstances. And I end by that quotation. When a member makes a statement, the Speaker, considering the comments of the statement, may direct a committee to investigate and enquire into the matter. The Speaker, respectfully, in these circumstances, cannot rule.”
THE LAW
Most of the members who passed comments on the statement had intercourse with the law. Mostly lawyers, the period of the commentaries was rich with legal construal, interspersed with subtle jabs at non-Lawyer MPs, who attempted heckling Lawyer-MPs during their submissions.
For instance, Afenyo Markin told the Minority Leader, who is not a Lawyer but an Economist, that, “Ato, this is Law, not Economics.”
He went on to say that his colleague, Haruna Iddrisu, who is a Lawyer, had followed the right procedure to petition the Speaker on the matter.
When Dr Dominic Ayine rose to comment on the side of the Minority, he also took a jab at Afenyo Markin, saying that he taught him law. Soon after, Joe Ghartey also took the floor and during his submission, told Ayine that he had also been teaching law long before Dr Ayine started, so he should also listen. These side comments were always met with a moment of laughter from both sides.
Whereas Afenyo Markin and Joe Ghartey argued that the forum, Parliament, was wrong to determine the matter, Dr Ayine and others in the minority maintained that the law was clear and that Parliament could make a determination on its own.
The position of the majority, as stated by Afenyo Markin, was that the mere fact these MPs have declared their intentions should not lead to them vacating the seats, arguing that neither the political parties of these members have sacked them nor have they written to resign and join another party.
Joe Ghartey said unlike the Wayo Seini issue, the current one was not straight forward. He said that he was in the chamber when Wayo Seini stated on the floor that he had ditched the NDC and moved to sit with the NPP, which automatically meant his seat had become vacant.
The Majority Leader came back to state that to deal with the various arguments on the true interpretation of Article 97, he had filed a suit at the Supreme Court. The suit, he said, is accompanied with an injunction that prohibits Parliament from taking any action on the matter until the case is determined in court.
But the disclosures did not stop Dr. Ayine from disagreeing with the arguments that an action must be triggered, as happened in the Andrew Asiamah case.
He argued that the fact that the NPP petitioned the Speaker before an action was taken did not mean that was the only way to go subsequently.
Dr Ayine disagreed with the majority calling for the Andrew Asiamah process that led to the action to be followed in the current case, “but we are saying that what the Right Honourable Aaron Michael Oquaye, Professor of Political Science, that ruling, that erudite ruling that he delivered, we are saying that, Mr. Speaker (Bagbin), you should stay by this ruling.”
Commenting on the Afenyo Markin suit, which seeks an interpretation of Article 97, Ayine said the majority leader was inviting the court to take an advisory opinion on a matter that Parliament has not yet taken a decision on.
He said the Supreme Court made it clear in Tuffour versus Attorney General that it does not give advisory opinions. He added that in the same case cited, the Court said that whatever happens in Parliament is a closed book.
Dr Ayine opined that Afenyo Markin, by that, the action appeared to be wanting to gag the speaker and Parliament.
“Mr. Speaker, do not allow yourself to be gagged. Mr. Speaker, the members of this House will not be gagged by the action that he (the Majority Leader) has filed.
“We are going to speak out on this matter, and this House will perform its constitutional duty to take a decision with respect to the actions of the members involved,” he said.
