Home Blog Page 2105

Mahama Drops Fiery Hint …of restoring Republic Day as a public holiday

By
JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
-
0
Former President John Dramani Mahama

The former president, John Dramani Mahama, has dropped a fiery hint of making 1st July every year, which is the Republic Day, a public holiday once again. In a Facebook post on the Republic Day, which fell on Saturday last week, he wrote: “1st July is and shall remain Ghana’s Republic Day. It is our history! And it shall remain our history.”

The Republic Day used to be a public holiday until President Akufo-Addo on April 16, 2019 assented to the Public Holidays (Amendment) Act 2019, making the Republic Day of July 1 no longer a public holiday.

A statement issued and signed at the time by the Interior Minister, Amprose Dery reads: “the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assented to the Public Holidays (Amendment) Act 2019, (Act 986) on 16th April, 2019.

The Public Holidays (Amendment) Act 2019, (Act 986) states, Statutory Public Holidays and Commemorative days; Public Holidays are New Year’s Day -1st January; Constitution Day – 7th January; Independence Day – 6th March; Good Friday; Easter Monday; Eid-Al-Adha (Hajj); Eid-Al-Fitr (Ramadan); Workers’ Day – 1st May; Founders’ Day – 4th August; Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day – 21st September; Farmers Day – 1st Friday in December; Christmas Day – 25th December and Boxing Day – 26th December.

Commemorative Days were listed as African Union Day – 25th May and Republic Day – 1st July.

“Whilst the public holiday days would be observed as such, the commemorative days would only be observed but not to be observed as holidays. The general public is hereby informed accordingly”, Mr Ambrose Dery’s statement concluded.

Criticisms by the NDC

This decision by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government became a subject of criticism from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Minority legislators in Parliament, who accused the government of trying to undermine certain historical figures.

The NDC in a statement marking the Republic Day in 2019 said the government’s move degraded the significance of the day. The statement said President Akufo-Addo “has deemed it fit to degrade the importance of this great day from a full public holiday intended to celebrate the efforts of our fore bearers in our collective struggle to affirm the benefits of equality, liberty, freedom and justice.”

The NDC, known for its support of Nkrumaist ideals, said the move was an attempt to distort Ghana’s history. As a result, the Minority MPs boycotted discussions on the Bill and its eventual passing.

Also, during the 2020 elections, the NDC in their campaign promised to return the Republic Day to a statutory holiday should it win power in 2020.

Though the NDC lost the 2020 elections, they are still holding on to their desire to restore 1st July as Ghana’s Republic Day and a holiday. This appears to have been reinforced by Mr John Mahama, albeit a subtle way.

 Renewal of Commitment

The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Facebook post also advised that there is the need to “renew our commitment to building this flourishing Ghana we all dream of, with the bold colors of our flag as a constant reminder of our shared values and ideals.”

He imagined a Ghana where freedom and justice are not just empty words, but a powerful force, guiding every citizen towards a brighter future.

“A Ghana where every person, no matter their background or circumstance is protected and provided for, a Ghana where our institutions and courts are trusted to defend constitutional rights and deliver impartial justice. A Ghana where speaking up against injustice is not criminalized but allowed and encouraged.” Mr. Mahama added.

RTI law has been given teeth to bite -KON

By
admin
-
0
Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah speaking in Parliament last week Friday

The Member of Parliament fort Ofoase-Ayirebi and Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has presented to Parliament the 2022 report on the performance of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The presentation, which was in accordance with section 77(4) of Act 989 of the 1992 Constitution, shed light on the significant strides made in the previous year, revealing notable initiatives and achievements, including the grafting of prosecutorial powers by the Attorney General.

Speaking to his colleagues in the chamber of the House, last week Friday, Mr Oppong Nkrumah underscored the pivotal role of the Access to Information (ATI) Division of the Information Services Department (ISD) and the RTI Commission in driving forward the implementation of the RTI Act.

“We have made significant strides in enhancing the implementation of the RTI Act,” the Minister stated, adding “the ATI Division of the ISD has embarked on five major tasks in the year gone by. Significant among these tasks are the recruitment and deployment of Information Officers, and the support to information units.”

He highlighted the inclusion of RTI compliance as Key Performance Indicators in the Chief Director’s Performance Agreement, underlining the government’s commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency across public institutions.

Speaking about the RTI Commission’s achievements, the Minister revealed that the regulatory body had secured prosecutorial authority from the Attorney General to go after individuals and institutions who flout the RTI Act.

He commended the Commission for conducting compliance surveys, determining review applications and securing additional logistics to enhance its operations.

“Mr. Speaker, in terms of the work that the regulator has done, the RTI Commission has done in the year gone by, the regulator has secured the prosecutorial mandate from the Attorney General of the Republic, has also conducted compliance surveys, determined review applications that have come before it, secured additional logistics for its operations, promoted the Right to Information Act and its infrastructure and issued guidelines for the compilation and publication of information units,” he emphasised.

The Minister provided valuable statistics regarding the number of information requests received by various public institutions in the year under review.

Out of an expected 683 institutions, 382 submitted annual reports to the RTI Commission, with 55% compliance.

These institutions, he said, received a total of 783 applications of which 669 were approved, rejected, transferred or deferred in accordance with the provisions of the RTI Act.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah unveiled the plans for the coming year. The ATI Division he said, aims to operationalise the Online Records Management System, streamlining the process for applying and receiving requests online. He also pledged to present the legislative instrument for the RTI Act to Parliament before the year’s end.

With regards to the future plans of the RTI Commission, he said the regulator is seeking to establish field offices in Kumasi and Sunyani to bring services closer to the Ghanaian people, stating that the Commission will continue with it public sensitisation efforts, whereas it will intensify efforts to populate the outstanding 333 public institutions with Information Officers, subject to available finances.

Afriyie Akoto begins nationwide campaign tour

By
admin
-
0
Dr Afriyie Akoto

The former Minister for Food and Agriculture and a flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, will today (Monday) begin a nationwide campaign tour, starting with the Greater Accra Region.

Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto

The two-term Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso in the Ashanti Region will first visit the Shai-Osudoku, Ningo-Prampram and Ashaiman constituencies, where he will meet with polling station executives and delegates to sell his vision for the party and Ghana to them.

On Tuesday, July 5, 2023, he will visit Domeabra-Obom, Ayawaso East and Ayawaso North constituencies, where he will convince the delegates to vote for him to become the party’s presidential candidate for the 2024 Election.

The former Minister for Food and Agriculture will then move his campaign to the Central and Eastern regions.

He will be accompanied by two Co-campaign Chairmen, Alfred Boye, a former Greater Accra NPP Regional Chairman, and KEN-WUUD Norwusu, also a former NPP Volta Regional Chairman, the National Coordinator of the campaign team, Peter Oteng Darko, and Campaign Spokesperson, Dr. Prince Sodoke Amuzu.

The New Patriotic Party, on May 26, 2023, opened nominations for its presidential primary and closed on June 24, 2023. A total of 10 aspirants contesting the flagbearer race successfully submitted their nomination forms to the party.

They are a former Minister of Energy, Mr. Boakye Agyarko; a former NPP General Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson, Mr. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong; a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Mampong, Mr. Francis Addai-Nimoh; a former Minister of State, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, and former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto.

The rest are the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; former Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen; a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Joe Ghartey; an energy expert, Mr. Kwadwo Opoku, and the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Mr. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.

A Special Delegates Congress will be held on August 26, 2023, to select five of the presidential aspirants. The top five aspirants will then contest for the flagbearer slot on December 4, 2023, to lead the party in the 2024 general elections.

By Stephen Odoi-Larbi

Speaker, AG dragged to Supreme Court over LGBTQI+Bill 

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
-
0
Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin and AG, Godfred Yeboah Dame

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin and the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame have been sued over the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill (LGBTQI+ Bill.)

According to the suit, the Provisions of Article 108 of the 1992 Constitution were not complied with at the time the Bill was first introduced in Parliament.

While Mr Bagbin has been accused of not complying with Article 108 of the 1992 Constitution, Mr Dame is a co-defendant by virtue of Article 88 of the 1992 Constitution to represent the government of Ghana, its organs and agencies in all legal actions taken against it.

Dr. Ernest Arko, Esq. of Ashong Benjamin and Associates Law firm filed the suit on behalf of the plaintiff, Dr. Amanda Odoi, a Kwaprow-based academic researcher, suing in his capacity as a Ghanaian to move the Supreme Court on July 19, 2023.

The Plaintiff is seeking a declaration that under Article 108 of the 1992 Constitution, the Speaker has a non-discretionary duty to make a determination in a non-arbitrary manner as to whether or not a bill, other than a bill introduced by or on behalf of the President offends Article 108.

He is also seeking a declaration that the failure of the Speaker to perform his non-discretionary duty under Article 108 of the 1992 Constitution amounts to a direct violation of the letter and spirit of Article 108 and renders the entire legislative process relating to the Bill as unconstitutional and void.

The plaintiff argues that the Bill was not introduced by or on behalf of the President of Ghana, noting that it had rather been introduced by a Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo, Sam George and supported by seven other MPs.

On Thursday June 29, 2023, Parliament of Ghana sat in anticipation of a Second Reading of the anti-LGBTQI+Bill in vain, after the Bill also failed to appear on the order paper on Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

Earlier the Speaker  of Parliament, in a statement read on his behalf by the First Deputy Speaker,Joseph Osei-Owusu, directed the Business Committee to programme the Bill on the order paper to make way for the second reading that never was.

Meanwhile, an application for interlocutory injunction has also been filed on June 26, 2023 at the Supreme Court in Accra seeking an injunction to restrain the Speaker of Parliament from proceeding with passing the Bill for assent by the President.

It seeks to restrain the Speaker, his deputies, assigns, agents and privies from proceeding with the promotion of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Value Bill 2021.

Bizline partners NEIP for 6-month Acceleration Programme 

By
admin
-
0
NEIP

Bizline Incubation Hub in collaboration with NEIP Hubs Grant Programme, has launched a 6-Month Acceleration Programme in the Savannah Region, to give entrepreneurs of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) the opportunity to pitch their businesses for both technical and financial support.

Bizline Consult

As part of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) Hubs Acceleration Grant Programme under the Ghana Economic Transformation Project (GETP), which is sponsored by the World Bank, Bizline Consult is introducing the 6-month Acceleration Programme to support and propel the growth of SMEs within the region.

The programme, according to officials who spoke at the ceremony,  had been designed to improve the growth of SME’s through a combination of mentorship, workshops and networking events and also help entrepreneurs achieve significant milestone and accelerate businesses to success.

According to them, the programme has the following on offer:

Mentorship: You will be paired with experienced industry mentors who will provide guidance, expertise, and support throughout the programme. They will help you refine your business strategy, tackle challenges, and make informed decisions.

Tailored Workshops: The programme offers a series of workshops and training sessions led by industry experts. These workshops cover various aspects of business development, such as marketing, finance, operations, and scaling strategies. You will gain valuable insights and practical skills to drive your business forward.

Networking Opportunities: It will give you the opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, industry leaders and potential investors through networking events and also help you build strong relationships within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, opening doors to new opportunities – crucial for expanding your business.

Access to Funding: Financial support is the major challenge of SMEs, and as part of the acceleration programme, Bizline Incubation Hub will provide access to a network of investors who are actively looking for promising startups to invest in.

Co-Working Space: As a participant of the programme, you will have access to modern co-working space, equipped with all the amenities necessary to support your business operations, collaborate with like-minded entrepreneurs and leverage the vibrant community spirit.

Who should apply?

We are seeking ambitious and innovative SMEs across various industries. Whether you are a technology startup, a sustainable business, or a social enterprise, we welcome applications from all sectors. To be eligible, your business should meet the following criteria:

  • Must be in operation for at least 1 year.
  • Must operate within the Savannah Region.
  • Must demonstrated market traction or a minimum viable product (MVP).
  • Must have strong potential for growth and scalability.
  • Must have a dedicated and passionate team.
  • Must be willing to actively participate and commit to the programme.

Note: Women entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

To apply for the 6-month acceleration programme, please visit our website at www.bizlineconsult.com, fill the application form, providing detailed information about your business, team, and growth potential.

Additionally, include a pitch deck outlining your business model, market opportunity, and any other relevant details.

After reviewing the applications, we will shortlist a select number of SMEs for the next phase, which may involve interviews and presentations.

Successful applicants will be notified and invited to join our acceleration program.

Application Deadline

The deadline for submitting your application is 31st July, 2023. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Join us on this exciting journey to accelerate your SME’s growth and unlock its full potential. Take advantage of our resources, expertise, and network to propel your business to new heights.

About Bizline Incubation Hub

At Bizline, we are committed to supporting and nurturing the growth of innovative SMEs. Our incubation hub provides a dynamic environment where entrepreneurs can collaborate, learn and access the resources needed to scale their businesses successfully.

We offer a comprehensive range of services, including mentorship, networking opportunities, access to funding, and tailored workshops to equip entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge required to thrive in today’s competitive market.

For any inquiries or further information, kindly contact our team at enquiries.bizline@gmail.com

Alan starts ‘Public Cluster Delegates Meetings’

By
admin
-
0
Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen

Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, presidential hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)  is set to engage Party delegates in a series of cluster meetings throughout the country as part of his robust campaign tour to garner support for his presidential bid beginning Tuesday, July 4, 2023.

Before the campaign tour, Mr. Kyerematen will face the vetting committee on the presidential aspirants of the New Patriotic Party on Monday, July 3, 2023.

The former Trade and Industry Minister will engage every single delegate of the Party to detail his Great Transformational Plan (GTP) ahead of the Party’s November 4, 2023 Presidential primaries.

A press release, issued by Yaw Buaben Asamoa, Press Secretary to Mr. Kyerematen, announcing the tour, said the ground-breaking cluster delegates meetings will see the presidential-hopeful engaging with over 200,000 NPP delegates.

The cluster constituency delegates meetings will also showcase Kyerematen’s commitment to sharing ideas with the people and working together with them for victory in the November primaries and the national elections in 2024.

“This innovation is expected to change the dynamics of Aspirant and Delegate interactions, giving diverse delegates from different constituencies a unique opportunity to meet, fraternize, and share experiences from differing perspectives”, the release said.

The cluster engagements will commence on Tuesday 4th July 2023, from the Greater Accra Region and from there move to the other regions. The cluster meetings with delegates is fashioned along constituencies with contiguous borders and common characteristics.

This strategic arrangement aims to maximise interaction and cooperation among party members.

They will help delegates and the presidential hopeful together, “devise winning strategies towards the A4P goal of building a strong partnership for power between the NPP and the public,” the release stated.

It added that “participation in the durbars is expected to lift the spirits of the delegates and the rank and file of the Party, renewing hope that ‘Together, We Will Win’ the 2024 General and Presidential Elections to transform the fortunes of Ghana.”

Alan Kyerematen’s profile as a former Trade and Industry Minister adds weight to his bid as a presidential candidate hopeful for the NPP, as the majority of party members see him as the best candidate for the 2024 presidential elections.

Make the Ghana poultry industry thrive -KAA

By
admin
-
0
Ing Kwabena Agyei Agyepong

A flagbearer aspirant of the National Patriotic Party (NPP), Ing Kwabena Agyei Agyepong (KAA), has promised to prioritise the Ghana Poultry Day initiative and expand it as a principal policy plank if he is successful in his bid to ascend to the Presidency of Ghana.

Speaking at the first edition of the Ghana Poultry Day initiative, organised by Agrihouse Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ghana Poultry Farmers Association in Accra recently, KAA emphasised the need for the government to prioritise and, especially, promote the local poultry industry.

He said there was significant potential to expand production of chicken products, as Ghana only currently produces less than 15% of our poultry consumption – a situation he described as tragic for the agricultural industry and the health of Ghanaians.

He called on the Agriculture Ministry to bridge the gap by creating an enabling environment for poultry farming to thrive.

He pointed out that the capital cost, production cost and the cost of feed have to be significantly reduced for poultry farmers to increase production. He encouraged initiatives to produce high-quality feed locally as a key to the success of the local poultry industry. KAA pointed out that a thriving poultry industry value chain will provide massive opportunities for the teeming youth and improve the country’s GDP.

In addition, KAA insisted that local poultry is capable of meeting the nutritional and supply demands of Ghanaians. He called on cold stores and entities in the poultry supply chain to prioritise local poultry products.

Further, he pointed out that local poultry is fresher and, therefore, healthier for people to consume as it doesn’t spend prolonged periods in cold storage before being shipped to Ghana.

Lastly, he entreated Ghanaians to change their mindset on nutrition.

He encouraged Ghanaians to prioritise protein over carbohydrates in our local cuisines. Additionally, he encouraged Ghanaians to adopt healthy eating habits by de-skinning the chicken and focusing on the chicken breast, which is white meat and contains much less fat.

During the event, KAA put on his chef’s hat and whipped up his award-winning KAA Special Chicken Spaghetti recipe using locally produced chicken provided by Boris B Farms.

Editorial: Is there any secret behind Closed Fishing Seasons?

By
THE CHRONICLE
-
0
Editorial

The Closed Fishing Season is here with us again. The 2023 period started last week, Saturday July 1, 2023, and will end on August 31, 2023. The artisanal and inshore fleets are to observe the closed season from July 1 to July 31, 2023, whilst that of trawling vessels take effect from July 1 to August 31, 2023.

The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson, who announced this on Wednesday in Accra, noted that consultations with all stakeholders in the fishing industry was done before the announcement.

According to her, the Ministry implemented the Closed Fishing Season as a stock recovery strategy, based on scientific recommendations. The Closed Season was implemented, she explained, to reduce overfishing and high fishing pressure, recover over-exploited fish stocks, rebuild depleted fish stocks, and replenish dwindling fish stocks.

The Closed Fishing Season has been observed by Ghana since 2019 to date, except in 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Though Ghana was expected to be joined by Benin, Liberia and Togo to simultaneously observe the Closed Season period, the three countries have postponed it to next year. In other words, it is only Cote d’Ivoire that is joining Ghana to observe this years’ Closed Season.

Ghana has 10,000 to 12,000 registered canoes operating in her waters, and these fishermen will not be allowed to operate during the period of the ban.

This move, as the sector Minister has indicated, is a great step towards achieving sustainable fishing and is also intended to replenish the depleting fish stock in the marine sub-sector.

For us, at The Chronicle, the Closed Season policy, as is being implemented to reduce over-exploitation and also replenish fish stocks in the Ghanaian waters, is a major step towards the sustenance of the livelihoods of over 2.7 million Ghanaians.

We, however, want to find out from the authorities if there is, indeed, scientific data to support the claim that the fish stocks in the sea is replenished during the period of the ban.

Though the Minister claims there is one, she failed to make that known. It is upon the basis of this that we challenge her to produce the said report. We are throwing this challenge, because there is a school of thought that during this period of the Closed Season, powerful people in the country take advantage to ship in frozen fish products to compensate for the shortfall.

In the opinion of The Chronicle, closing the fish season for a period of one month is surely not enough to help fight maritime crimes, most especially Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, which has become prevalent in our waters.

There is, therefore, the need for the Ministry of Fishery and Aquaculture to engage stakeholders in the fishing industry including fishermen, canoe owners, and fish processors amongst others to jaw-jaw to find ways of fighting maritime crimes. Without the proper involvement of stakeholders, there is no way we can effectively fight and win the war.

We are saying this, because no nation has been able to fight maritime crimes, and no single nation can tackle it alone.

For instance, James Town, Denu, Jay Wharf, Axim, Apam, Cape Coast, Prampram are captured in a Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Center (KAIPTC) report as coastal areas where, most particularly, IUU fishing is rife.

That is why there is the need for collaboration, coordination and cooperation amongst the stakeholders to fight maritime crimes in order to save our blue economy.

The blue economy is a big prospect for the country, and the time to save it from the hands evil minded people is now!

16-year-old Black American Philanthropist meets Lady Julia

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
-
0
Lady Julia and Khloe Thompson at Manhyia Palace

Lady Julia Osei Tutu, wife of His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, has given audience to the 16-year-old trailblazer African American Philanthropist, Khloe Thompson. The 16-year-old African American is the founder of Khloe Kares Foundation and she was in the Ashanti region to discuss possible partnership for projects in Kumasi.

At a meeting at the Manhyia Palace last Monday, Khloe Thompson, described as the Girl with the Golden Heart, who is on her fourth visit to Ghana, expressed interest in partnering Lady Julia to execute projects currently being carried out by Lady Julia in Kumasi.

She brought a token gift

Khloe Kares Foundation wants to use its range of skills, resources and experience to help build a park for children in honour of Her Majesty Lady Julia.

The young philanthropist mentioned genuine interest in the implementation of a Library and Children’s park projects in Kumasi.

Khloe told Lady Julia of her plans to continue her work in Ghana to empower the youth and announced that she is going to build a Creative Arts Studio on a parcel of land gifted to her at Heman in Kwabre South district by the chief of Hemang, Nana Appau Wiafe Ababio Sanwoansan.

According to her, the building plans are almost ready and the project will be completed by 2024.

“We are very passionate about contributing to the betterment of the lives of children in the Ashanti Region “, the young philanthropist said at the meeting, which turned out to be an amazing experience for the 16-year-old girl, who started helping the homeless population in Southern California at the age of 8 years.

Khloe Thompson and team pose with Lady Julia

Young Khloe was elated to hear about the passion in Lady Julia’s voice as she talked about servicing her communities to help improve maternity care at the Manhyia Hospital, building a park with library for children and helping the Centre in Kumasi to care for children with Down Syndrome, a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in extra genetic material from chromosome 21.

Khloe, who was immediately moved by Lady Julia’s initiatives, offered to support Lady Julia’s library and children’s park project.

Khole Kares Foundation has thus expressed the desire to make plans to build Lady Julia’s Library and Children’s Park in Kumasi to become a reality.

Lady Julia was very impressed that Khloe, at such a tender age, was doing so much and urged her to continue to inspire children, with the hope that some of them will follow in her footsteps.

Khloe Thompson was accompanied by Alisha Thompson (Khloe’s Mom), Betty Arnold (Khloe’s great grandmother), Lea Garcia Keepler (Khloe’s manager and business tycoon), Katina Holliday Wiseman (Business Owner and Philanthropist), Charlie Wiseman (Business Owner) and Adwoa Dawn, Founder/Executive Director of BTAC to visit Lady Julia.

MP calls for prosecution of coy that dismantled Osagyefo Barge

By
KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
-
0
Dorcas Affo-Toffey

The Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, has called for the prosecution of MISAQ, the private company that was allegedly involved in the dismantling of the Osagyefo Power Barge at Effasu-Mangyea.

The MP said the action of the private company constituted illegality, because it dismantled 90% of the Barge without recourse to due process.

Madam Affo-Toffey made the call in Parliament last week Friday, after the Deputy Minister of Energy, William Owuraku Aidoo, had responded to her questions on the state of the Osaagyefo Barge.

The Deputy Minister, in his response on the floor of the House, explained that the Ministry had directed the Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC) to take over the ownership of the Power Barge.

However, due to a legal dispute, the GNPC could not embark on maintenance on the Barge throughout the arbitration period, which has led to the deteriorating of the barge.

“Upon receipt of these letters, the GNPC visited the Barge sites and immediate communities and key government agencies to ascertain the condition of the barge.

“From the interactions from these communities, it was ascertained that the company had already commenced the removal of some parts”, the Deputy Minister told Parliament.

Reacting to the development, the Jomoro Legislator indicated that “the Minister confirmed that a private company called MISAQ, without proper authorisation and due processes, has significantly, dismantled the Osaagyefo Power Barge and sold off the components”.

Madam Affo-Toffey continued “what surprised me the most is that till today, there has not been any legal action taken against the company that did this illegal act, rather, the government is seeking to share the proceeds from the illegal sale of the power barge”.

“As the MP for the area, I am demanding that the right thing would be done. The company that dismantled the 90% of the barge be brought to law”, the MP said.

“And also, I am demanding a full-scale forensic audit into the disposal of the barge,” she added.

1...2,1042,1052,106...3,021Page 2,105 of 3,021

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

©
The Ghanaian Chronicle