Day: November 22, 2023

Mr Mahama Ayariga, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, has petitioned Parliament on behalf of individual Ghanaian citizens numbering over 61,000 customers of Black shield Capital Limited, hitherto known as Gold Coast Fund Management (GCFM).

The GCFM was owned by Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom.

The petition indicated that the individuals were members of an organisation known as Aggrieved Customers of Defunct Gold Coast Fund Management.

The petition, therefore, prays that Parliament should investigate and establish what has accounted for the Government failure to pay the customers of the defunct Gold Coast Fund Management.

It urged the House to compel the Government to pay the customers of the defunct Gold Coast Fund Management their investments in the fund since Parliament approved the budget request by Government.

It said the Gold Coast Fund Management was a duly registered and accredited fund management company regulated by the Securities Exchange Commission of Ghan
a.

It noted that the funds of the petitioners valued at about GHS5 billion was locked up in the defunct Gold Coast Fund Management following the decision of the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance to carry out a financial sector cleanup exercise initiated in 2018.

The petition said following the financial sector cleanup exercise the petitioners successfully submitted and validated their claims through Price Waterhouse and Coppers (PWC).

It said the Regulator (SEC) budgeted an amount of Eight Billion Ghana Cedis (GHS8 billion) for total payment of the claims of customers of all the 47 defunct fund management companies

It said the House approved finds for the Financial Sector Cleanup Exercise and the Minister of Finance publicly reported that he had completed the exercise and has expended GHS25 billion in this regard.

It said Government’s accounting showed that this sum included the GHS8.6 billion meant to pay claims of investors in the 47 defunct fund management companies including Gold Co
ast Fund Management.

The petition said unfortunately, individual members of the petitioners’ association whose investment exceeded GHS50,000.00 had not been paid the remainder of their money because the Government paid only GHS50,000.00 to everyone owed in 2020.

‘Many members of the petitioners’ association had gone on pension and invested all their retirement benefits in the fund and have consequently been rendered destitute and many have died not being able to afford critically needed medical care,’ it stated.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Collins Adomako Mensah, Member of Parliament for Afigya-Kwabre North, has donated quantities of computers and their accessories to some basic schools in the constituency.

The beneficiary schools are at Ahenkro, Boaman and Denase communities.

The computers are to support the efforts by the government to strengthen and enhance the teaching and learning of ICT in basic schools.

Mr Adomako Mensah, speaking at a short ceremony to present the computers at Ahenkro, said it was important for every Ghanaian child to be equipped with skills in ICT to be able to fit well in the technological age.

He said advancement in technology required that children were introduced to basic skills in ICT to propel them well for the future and called on the school authorities to ensure that the children were properly trained in computer skills not only for their exams, but also for their future lives.

Mr Adomako Mensah said so far about 350 desktop and laptop computers had been donated to schools across the constituency to he
lp promote ICT education in the area.

Nana Ahenkro Osei II, chief of Ahenkro, who received the items on behalf of the schools, thanked the MP and the government for the gesture.

He said children at basic schools in rural communities needed to be equipped with ICT skills to be able to compete with their peers in urban communities.

Nana Ahenkro Osei appealed to the government to help complete abandoned educational projects at the St. Michaels’ senior high school in the community.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Goodman Paul Agbesi Ayrah, a former District Chief Executive (DCE) nominee for Akatsi North, has decried the rate at which party politics was creeping into the District Level elections.

He said care must be taken ‘not to create unamenable cracks within the core of the fiber of our society which will be beyond repairs.’

Mr Ayrah, a former assembly member and a human rights activist, made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) ahead of the upcoming December 19 exercise.

‘It is worrying as one can observe glaringly, the frantic efforts being made by some political parties in getting their members or sympathisers elected.’

He indicated that it was not for nothing that the constitution abhorred the politicisation of the local-level elections.

‘The District Assembly concept is the most basic core and fundamental structure of our democratic architecture, and so it must be kept politically neutral as the framers of the 1992 posit to attract the necessary community cohesion and local develo
pment to take place,’ he said.

Mr Ayrah argued that the canker remained a common knowledge that some, ‘if not all political players, such as MPs and party executives, sponsor these aspirants during their contest.’

‘Of late, many aspirants even design their campaign flyers and posters using their party colours to influence other party members to vote for them.’

The act, he said, is gradually creating a state of lawlessness and self-will with no respect for the Constitution.

‘Even now, some politicians have started organising intra-party primaries for aspirants deemed to belong to the same political party to get one formidable candidate to contest the supposed opposition candidate in blatant disregard for Local Governance Act 2016, as amended Act 936, section 8 clause 1, 2, 3 and 4.’

Mr Ayrah further attributed the practice to the view that political parties intentionally engage in the move to hold majority support to influence decisions on sensitive matters in the assembly, such as wielding the power to c
onfirm or reject DCE nominees, and others.

‘It is constructive and useful to speak against the phenomenon if we love our democracy to grow to benefit all of us.’

He, therefore, called on Corporate Social Organisations (CSOs), NGOs, Democratic Institutions, the Media, religious bodies, and individuals to rise to speak against the act.

‘Let us allow the Constitution to function. We cannot pretend all is well. Competence of a candidate must be the choice over political sycophancy,’ he added.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the various Metropolises, Municipalities, and Districts would go to the polls to elect Assembly and Unit Committee Members on December 19 this year in fulfilment of the 1992 constitution.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Nana Soglo Alloh IV, Otekple of Likpe and President of the Likpe Traditional Council, has called on the government to amend the 1992 Constitution ahead of the 2024 general election.

He said Article 95 clause 1 and Article 100 clause 1, contradicted each other.

Nana Alloh, speaking at Ve-Golokuati during the silver jubilee of the Ve Lukusi Dodoleglimeza of the people of the Ve Traditional Area, said the amendment should allow the Chief Justice to be given the responsibility of swearing in the Members of Parliament (MPs) before they elected the Speaker.

He said, ‘Article 95 clause 1 says there shall be a Speaker of Parliament, who shall be elected by the members of Parliament from among persons, who are members of Parliament or who are qualified to be elected as members of Parliament.’

Nana Alloh said Article 100 clause 1 of the same Constitution stated that before a Member of Parliament takes his seat in Parliament he must be sworn in by the Speaker of the same Parliament.

‘Article 100 means that after t
he Speaker has been elected by the MPs he then swears in the MPs. Under the Constitution, the first duty of an MP in a new Parliament is to elect the Speaker.’

How can he perform that duty if he himself has not been sworn in?, Nana Alloh quizzed.

He also said much had been written about the roles that Churches and governments played in the development of society, particularly in the field of education and medical support but very little credit had been given to the traditional rulers and authorities.

Nana Alloh said what had not been documented and which had been largely ignored was the role that traditional rulers played in all stages of social and educational development.

He said the chieftaincy institution had undergone tremendous transformation over the years and had been able to maintain its core values and at the same time cope with modernity.

Nana Alloh said the chieftaincy institution had faced competition from the Churches and the politicians to win the soul of the people and continued to face c
hallenges.

He said the Institution had become more responsive to the development aspirations of their people and also provided the glue that guaranteed the cohesion of their people.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A group has asked Ghanaians to join forces and vote for a new political party to save the country from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The group, calling itself the ‘Sabbath Day Society of Almighty’ based in the Western Region, said it was time for the citizenry to embrace new political ideologies and give a chance to new political parties other than the NPP and NDC to help move the country forward.

Mr Fiifi Brew, a leader of the group, said this during a press conference, at Effiakuma in the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality of the Western Region.

He said: ‘The time has come for us to not allow those two parties to rule our beloved country again because they are unpatriotic, undedicated, selfish and above all greedy.’

According to him, the two main political parties had nothing meaningful to offer Ghanaians, and that, they should reject them in next general elections.

‘Ghanaians ought to stand up for themselves and strive for a better Ghana for future generations as
these political leaders are only concerned about themselves and families leaving the ordinary Ghanaian vulnerable,’ he said.

Mr Brew added that: ‘Indeed Ghana is on the verge of collapse, and it has started spiritually and is going to manifest physically in the near future if we allow NPP and NDC and their allies to continue to rule us.’

He called the Ghanaian electorates to massively vote against the two parties in the 2024 general elections and allow a new set of people to steer the affairs of the country for improved national development.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, a former Minister of State has reiterated that the values, attitudes, and behaviors of leaders are shaped by the broader social context in which they operate.

This he said is an attribute to the statement that ‘Leaders are a reflection of their society,’ capturing the essence of the intricate connection between leaders and the societies they lead.

He said this understanding underscores the crucial role of cultivating a better society as a prerequisite for witnessing better leadership.

Mr Oppong-Fosu was speaking at the First Senate Conference organized by the University Students Association of Ghana (USAG) in Accra.

The Senate is an esteemed body within USAG that comprises elected representatives from different university campuses who convene to deliberate on pertinent matters affecting Ghanaian students ranging from educational policies to socio-economic issues.

The conference was on the theme: ‘Guiding the Solidarity of Student Leaders: The Fortress to Academic Development.’

He
revealed that to contribute to the creation of a better society, we must embark on a multifaceted journey that encompasses both personal transformation and active engagement.

The former Minister said embodying the qualities we seek in our leaders – honesty, integrity, compassion, and a commitment to service was a fundamental step in this journey.

‘By conducting ourselves with these values, we set a positive example for others and foster a more ethical and responsible society’.

He said active citizenship played an equally significant role in shaping a better society, adding that, this entails actively participating in civic activities, staying informed about local and global issues, and holding our leaders accountable.

‘By actively participating in shaping our communities, we can contribute to the creation of a more just and equitable society, ‘he added.

Mr Oppong-Fosu noted that education plays a pivotal role in cultivating the qualities necessary for effective leadership, and ‘In addition to acquiring k
nowledge, education should focus on developing emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and moral character.’

These qualities he said are essential for leaders to effectively navigate the complexities of society, make informed decisions, and inspire others.

‘As we aspire to leadership positions, it is crucial to examine our motivations and purpose’.

The former Minister of State also posted a question as to whether ‘leaders are seeking leadership for self-serving reasons – power, privilege, and possessions – or are driven by a genuine desire to make a positive contribution to society’.

He said true leadership is rooted in a commitment to service and a dedication to the common good and ultimately, our legacy as leaders is not defined by our power, status, or possessions; it is shaped by our character, our integrity, and our impact on the world around us.

‘By embracing the values that foster a better society and striving for transformational leadership, we can leave a lasting positive mark on the world.

USAG was founded in 2001 and serves as a unifying body representing the collective interest of students across the various universities in Ghana.

It is committed to fostering academic excellence, leadership development and promoting a conducive environment for learning and growth.

Source: Ghana News Agency