The minority in parliament has cautioned the House against what it describes as “bad precedent” on the part of the government to present the mid-year review as a statement instead of a motion.
According to the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who raised the concern even before the Minister for Finance was invited by the Speaker, the development was against Section 28 of the Public Financial Management Act.
He cited that the 2023 budget was prepared with no assumption of an increase in wages and salaries, but subsequently, it happened.
Also, he indicated that the 2023 budget was approved without a debt restructuring, but it has happened, adding that the minister needed the consent of Parliament.
“If the minister responsible for finance is varying even expenditure line downwards, there will be the need for Parliament to approve it. Mr. Speaker, in case we know for a fact that the [2023] budget was prepared with the assumption that the government was not going to increase wages and salaries, subsequently, the government increased wages and salaries. That clearly means that in the mid-year budget review that the minister is presenting today, there will be an increase in the compensation line,” Ato claimed.
He continued, “Mr. Speaker, he (the Finance Minister) cannot do it unilaterally. Parliament will need to give him permission to spend that money. That is why he should not come to us (the Parliament) with a statement. He should come to us in the form of a motion in line with Section 28 of the PFM Act. Mr. Speaker, let them do the right thing.”
Meanwhile, the Speaker, in his ruling, found no fault with the minister for finance presenting the review in the form of a statement instead of a motion.
He read Section 28 of the PFM Act and concluded that the minister could go ahead with the statement.
Former Minister for Finance Seth Terkpe has advised the government to channel considerable attention to tax administration and compliance.
According to him, measures have been put in place to enable the finance ministry to be successful in that endeavour, he told JoyNews.
He cited the introduction of the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) to make the case that the government should ensure its successful implementation and use other tax systems to generate revenue.
The former Minister for Finance’s advice precedes the mid-year budget review scheduled to take place today.
The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, will present a review of the 2023 budget to Parliament today, in accordance with the law.
The presentation will fulfill Section 28 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and Regulation 24 of the Public Financial Management Regulations (L.I. 2378).
The review comes after some postponements, a meeting with Members of Parliament last Friday at the instance of the leadership of both the House and the Finance Ministry.
It is not clear whether the mid-year budget review will scrap any existing taxes, request an additional supplementary budget, or deal with what was approved for the year.
It is expected that the review will reveal positive signs of stabilisation in Ghana’s economy.
According to sources at the Ministry of Finance, the economic numbers are likely to showcase improvements in various key indicators.
One of the areas of focus in the budget review is expected to be the prioritization of social protection programmes likeLivelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), School Feeding, and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Amid global economic uncertainties, hopes are high that the review will provide a positive outlook for Ghana’s economy and set the stage for a promising second half of the year.
The government, through the ministry of Education, has released a whopping GHS300 million to the various educational institutions and the Ghana Buffer Stock to ensure smooth running of the schools.
It is on record that suppliers of food to the Senior High Schools recently picketed at the National Food Buffer Stock offices in Accra, demanding payment for food they have supplied to the schools.
The government, through the Ministry of Education, promised the suppliers that their issue would be addressed, a promise which has now been fulfilled.
In a statement released in Accra yesterday, the Ministry of Education said the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) also has a share in the GHS300 million that has been released.
The following is the full statement;
The Ministry of Education is pleased to announce the timely disbursement of
GHC 300,000,000.00 to Senior High and Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools across the country.
The disbursement, which was made just last week, underscores the government’s commitment to fostering quality education and ensuring the smooth running of educational institutions.
Out of the total amount GHC 100,000,000.00 was released to the National Food Buffer Stock to facilitate the seamless supply of food to schools. An amount of Ghc40,000, 000.00 was released to WAEC.
The remaining sum has been disbursed to cover various essential components that contribute to the efficient operations of the schools. This includes recurrent expenditure, science practical fees and provisions for perishable food items, among other necessities.
The Government is committed to continually improve education in Ghana and invest in the future of our nation.
By disbursing these monies, we reaffirm our dedication to providing quality education for all Ghanaian students and fostering an enabling environment for our socio-economic transformation.
Obuasi-based anti-galamsey crusader, Mr. Kwasi Aboagye, has revealed how the Municipal Chief Executive Officer of the Bekwai Municipality in the Ashanti Region, Kwaku Kyei Baffour, flared up over the arrest of three Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining at Achiase, near Bekwai.
State of Adankran River from illegal mining activities
Mr. Aboagye told listeners of Angel FM in Kumasi that on Friday July 21, 2023 he undertook an operation at Achiase with policemen and National security personnel from the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) from Obuasi.
According to the anti galamsey campaigner, who is also the President of the Adansi Progressive Association (APA), his team arrested three Chinese nationals and two Ghanaians involved in illegal mining activities, which had polluted the Adankran River and degraded the environment.
He said, whilst at the mining sites, he was confronted by some elders from the Omanhene of Bekwai and later a Taskforce from the Bekwai Municipal Assembly, who pleaded for the release of the Chinese illegal miners and taken to the chief or the Municipal Assembly.
The anti-galamsey campaigner said he refused and told them that he did not believe there was a chief or an MCE at Bekwai, else they would not have looked on unconcerned as the river bodies and environment got degraded without restraint, hence his intervention following pleas by indigenes in the area.
Mr. Aboagye also narrated that, but for the timely arrival of the team from the Ashanti South Regional Police Command, he would have been subjected to beatings by members of the Taskforce, who claimed the MCE had ordered them to take over the Chinese nationals because the area was under his jurisdiction.
Mr. Aboagye accused the MCE of failure, since his investigations in the area revealed that illegal mining activities were taking place right under the MCE’s nose and not in the forest, as it has usually been the case.
But reacting to the allegations on Angel FM’s morning show, “Angel in the Morning”,
hosted by Kwame Tanko, on Wednesday,
MCE Kwaku Kyei Baffour flared up and went berserk on live radio.He stated that his Task force was on a normal routine check to drive the Chinese away when they coincidentally encountered Kwasi Aboagye.
The MCE described Aboagye as disrespectful and accused him of discrimination and extorting money from the illegal miners in his dealing with the galamseyers.
“Aboagye doesn’t respect, if he really respects, he would have consulted the police administration and my office before making those arrest. You don’t know your job. You wouldn’t have said this if you have brains. I’ll make the police commander invite you, Crazy guy”.
The MCE threatened to have him (Aboagye) arrested by the police. “I am m going to the Police Commander; I’ll let him be arrested. Why didn’t you seek permission from authorities before going on with such an activity? Is Aboagye credible? Foolish Aboagye”, the MCE ranted on air.
Kwasi Aboagy, in a heated response, also called the MCE “crazy” and insisted there is nothing he can do and called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to sack the MCE for condoning activities of illegal mining.
“You are also a crazy MCE. What have been your contributions? President Akufo-Addo must sack you”, Kwasi Aboagye fired back at the MCE.
New Patriotic Party (NPP) Delegates in the Assin Central Constituency, who were ordered not to accept and wear the T-shirts of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, have resisted the orders,after a marathon meeting to deliberate on the issue.
The Delegates reportedly defied the orders given to them by the Constituency Chairman not to wear T-shirts with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s portrait embossed in it.
Attakora Amaniammpong, the Constituency Chairman, according to the polling station executives and electoral area Coordinators, insisted that no delegate should accept or wear the T-shirts of Dr. Bawumia, whose Central Regional tour took him to Assin Central on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
“We were told never to accept any t-shirt from the Bawumia campaign team for obvious reasons, but we have decided not to abide by this order”, a polling station chairman stated.
Another delegate spoke about the order and why they had decided to defy it:“This is democracy. We are one party and family. Why should we maltreat Dr Bawumia because an aspirant comes from here? If Dr. Bawumia wins, how can we go out there to campaign for him to become president if we maltreat him today? This is why I am in his t-shirt,” he intimated.
The delegates heartily and cheerfully welcomed Vice President Bawumia as they praised him for his competent leadership.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia is on his campaign tour in the Central Region and visited the Assin Central Constituency.
The Parliament of Ghana has passed two critical bills to repeal the long-anticipated death penalty and also made witchcraft accusations criminal.
The law that abolishes the death penalty for life sentences was passed on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, and the other proscribing the law against witchcraft accusations passed on Thursday, July 27, 2023.
Both laws, the Criminal and Other Offences (Amendment) Act 1960 (Act 29) and the Armed Forces (Amendment) Act 1962 (Act 105), as well as the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill 2022, were privately sponsored by the members of parliament.
DEATH PENALTY
The imposition of the death penalty as punishment takes its root in the retributive theory of punishment, premised on the principle of an “eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth.”
Also known as capital punishment, the death penalty is the state-sanctioned execution of individuals convicted of specified offences such as attempts to commit murder, genocide, murder, treason, high treason, smuggling, and piracy.
The amended Act 29 and Act 105 together repeal the death penalty contained in the Criminal and Other Offences Act of 1960, and the Armed Forces Act of 1962. The bills were gazetted on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, and amend sections 46, 49, 49a, 180, 194, and 317a of Act 29 and sections 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 40, 78, and 79 of Act 105.
Witchcraft lynching
According to Section 304(3) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), execution of the death penalty may either be by hanging or shooting by firing squad.
Upon assent by the President, every sentence in the various amended sections with the death penalty effectively changes to life imprisonment.
SUPPORT
All three human rights laws were private member’s bills initiated by the Madina legislator, Francis Xavier Sosu, with the backing of a group of Members of Parliament (MPs).
Other legislators, who threw their weight behind the Bill, were the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Akatsi South, Bernard Ahiafor; NDC MP for Bolgatanga East, Dr. Dominic Ayine; NDC MP for Builsa South, James Agalga; New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Asante Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi; NDC MP for Talensi, Benson Baba Tongo; NDC MP for Krachi West, Helen Adwoa Ntoso; NDC MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga.
Those who opposed the motion were the NPP MP for Tolon, Habib Iddrisu; NDC MP for Zebilla East, Cletus Avoka; and the NPP MP for Hemang Lower Denkyira, Bright Wireko-Brobbey, who were not convinced by the argument that backed the bill.
The amendment passed has received huge acceptance from human rights advocacy groups across the world.
GENESIS OF AMENDMENT
The opportunity to abolish the death penalty in Ghana came out of the case of Dexter Johnson versus the Republic [2011] 1 SCGLR 601.
A majority Supreme Court decision shifted the responsibility to Parliament to consider a policy direction change on the subject.
Writing for the majority in the case of Dexter Johnson supra, Justice Jones Dotse (as he then was) opined that “the time has possibly come for the Parliament of Ghana to seriously consider whether to have a policy shift in the mandatory death penalty regime imposed on those convicted of murder.” {[2011] 1 SCGLR 601 at 702}.
It has taken more than a decade after the Supreme Court’s decision and spirited public advocacy to have the death penalty repealed.
At the last count, 176 people were currently on death row, including six women. They are likely to have their sentences converted to life imprisonment.
WITCHCRAFT LAW
On Thursday night, the House passed a law against witchcraft accusations and their attendant assaults.
Members of Parliament, prior to passing the bill, called for the abolishment of all witchcraft camps in the country following the passage of the law that proscribes the accusation of witchcraft. All members who participated in the debate to pass the bill called for the criminalization of all witchcraft activities and accusations.
The Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2022, widely referred to as the Witchcraft Accusation Bill, if assented to by President Akufo-Addo, is expected to address issues relating to witchcraft accusations and the torture linked to them.
The law, as passed by Parliament, will criminalise the act of falsely accusing individuals of being witches and subjecting them to associated punishments.
The bill at its third reading, which preceded its passage, received unanimous support from members, who argued that its passage would curb witchcraft accusations and abuses.
BILL
The Madina MP, the sponsor, on March 31, 2023, laid the Witchcraft Accusation Amendment Bill on behalf of other co-sponsors.
The members are Francis Sosu; MP for Pusiga, Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba; MP for Wa East, Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw; MP for Krachi, Helen Adjoa Ntoso; and MP for Afram Plains North, Betty Nana Efua Krosbi Mensah.
The introduction and laying of the bill followed the lynching of 90-year-old Akua Denteh in broad daylight at Kafaba in the East Gonja Municipality in the Savannah Region on the accusation of witchcraft on Thursday, July 23, 2020.
According to the report of Parliament’s Committee on Constitution, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs, which considered the Witchcraft Accusation Bill, while witchcraft belief was widespread across Africa and other parts of the world, only Ghana had established “witch camps”.
It said the need for public policy interventions to deal with the social canker of witchcraft beliefs and its attendant human rights violations became more relevant considering the number of inmates in the various camps and the uninhabitable conditions under which the inmates lived.
“Information gathered by the committee indicates that in 2021, the number of inmates in the five prominent Witch Camps in Ghana, namely the Gnani Camp, Kukuo Camp, Gushegu Camp, Gambaga Camp, and Kpatinga Camp, totalled 539.
“Out of this number, the females constituted 498, representing 92 percent and the males were 41. The inmates were all vulnerable persons, consisting of older women, single mothers, widows, and unmarried women,” the report said.
Rev. Dr. Charles Owusu Ampofo, Chairman of Baptist Ministers Convention
The 39th Annual Conference and Retreat of Spouses of Baptist Ministers has been held at Ejura in the Ashanti region, with a call on them to advise and inspire their husbands to do the needful, in line with serving their ministries and the dying world.
The Conference, held under the theme: “Growing to make Jesus known”, afforded the spouses the need to talk about current challenges, share best practices and ideas to help them support their husbands as Ministers of the gospel.
Spouses of Ghana Baptist Ministers at the 39th annual conference-retreat
Rev. Dr. Charles Owusu Ampofo, Chairman of Baptist Ministers Conference noted that some Ministers turn a blind eye on their responsibilities and entreated the Spouses to plead with their husbands to do the needful by ensuring they deliver what is expected of them, or the right thing is done in line of duties as men of the gospel.
He lauded them for the unity and oneness among them and urged them to grow and obey in making Jesus Christ known to others.
Rev. Dr. Owusu Ampofo reminded them that, they can make their lives better for themselves with God than relying on someone and stressed the need to always assist their husbands to proclaim the undiluted word of God to the dying world full of challenges.
Rev. Enoch Nii Narh Thompson, Executive President, Ghana Baptist Convention urged them to guide and inspire their spouses to succeed and please God.
He also called for growth in the Christian faith and work with God to transform characters of holiness and agents of the kingdom of God through their fellowship with others.
Mrs. Grace Annan, President of Baptist Spouses conference commended the spouses of the Ministers for remaining united and their determination to support their spouses despite the hard economic challenges to the service.
She noted that though women had been silent in decision making in the church, it is incumbent on them to help their spouses to grow the church physically and spiritually and make Jesus known to others.
Mrs. Annan reminded the women that their role is to serve as the pastor’s pastor and entreated them to be prompted by the Holy Spirit to play their role as a Christian women leader.
Rev. Mrs. Mary Fosu, presided over the conference.
Dr. Adu Gyamfi presenting the items to the prison officials at the ceremony
Dr. Adu Gyamfi, Chief Executive Officer of Medimafo Herbal Center, has donated food items worth thousands of Ghana Cedis to inmates at the Kumasi Central Prisons.
The items included toiletries, bags of rice, cartons of mackerel and sardines, gallons of cooking oil and boxes of mosquito spray.
The gesture comes under the Herbal Centre’s corporate social responsibility.
Dr. Adu Gyamfi, aka Dr. Time Daso, noted that there were some of the inmates who did not directly commit the crimes they were being held for, but had ended up there, hence, the need for society to support them by way of encouragement and assistance in cash or kind.
Dr. Adu Gyamfi called on the general public to visit prisons once a while to support them, and entreated the youth to be law abiding in order not to end up in prison.
Supt. Stella Ama Kakyo, Regional Chaplain at the Kumasi Central Prisons, also called on the general public to come to the assistance of the inmates.
She expressed worry over the neglect of the inmates by some families, and cautioned against discrimination against them, stressing that every individual was a potential prisoner.
Pix: Prof. (Sr) Frances Emily Owusu-Ansah, Head of Department of Behavioral Sciences, KNUST
The Corpus Christi Catholic Church at New-Tafo, a suburb of Kumasi, has launched a Homecoming programme, which would set up an Educational and Vocational Fund.
The proposed Fund is aimed at supporting the youth in the church, especially brilliant but needy students among the youth.
The President of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Mr. Job Senkyere, has urged all parishners in the church, both home and abroad, to intensify the membership drive and contribute to the success of the programme, which climaxes on December 25, this year.
The theme for the event was: “Coming back to your first love, rejuvenating the Family Networking for progress.”
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Professor (Sr) Frances Emily Owusu-Ansah, Head of Department of Behavioral Sciences (SMD) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), advised parents to be gentle in providing constructive feedback to their wards to become who they were destined to be in society.
According to her, parents must be consistent for proper attachment formation, friendship, empowerment and trust building between them and their wards.
The Professor in Behaviourial Sciences, speaking on “The contemporary youth,” as part of activities of the Homecoming programme, revealed that, every stage had opportunities and challenges for the youth, including social media, with varied options for alternative ways of life.
She noted that, the youth were desiring, yet resisting guidance, and would fight you when you intend to guide them to go for the right way.
Professor Owusu-Ansah disclosed that some of the ways parents could have a companionship with their wards were socialisation, depending on how they socialised during the formative years, as certain things were internalised like values, needs, and desires, while others were repressed, complying with parents’ desires or pressure from peers.
She indicated that, the youth, in their formation years, may repress their own desires towards self actualisation in the process of identity formation and constantly pleasing others without explanation and awareness.
She noted that, the holistic health of the child was important, hence, their spiritual, social/ emotional and psychological health of the children which comes with consistent good or quality life and practice must be prioritize.
She was optimistic that, friendship, mentorship (seeking for good counsel) reducing stress (keeping physically active) that leads to inner peace.
She reiterated that, being holistic healthy would enhance one’s state of being mentally, emotionally, spiritually balanced or integrated, says holistic healthy leads to being peace that concerns self understanding and acceptance as a path to inner peace.
