Tag: Mps

Some MPs have been denied visas, warned to stay away from anti-gay bill

Some MPs have been denied visas, warned to stay away from anti-gay bill – Arthur K

Dr Arthur Kobina Kennedy

A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) based in the United States, Dr Arthur Kobina Kennedy, has said some Members of Parliament have been denied visas and warned to stay away from the anti-gay bill which is currently before Parliament.

He said it is sad that “this intimidation is coming mainly from the Western diplomatic community.”

The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill was laid in the House on Monday, August 2 and read for the first time.

Reading for the first time, a clerk in the legislative assembly stated that the Bill proscribes lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) and other related activities and propaganda or advocacy and promotion for same.

It also came to light that it supports protection for children and persons who are victims or accused of homosexuality.

Second Deputy Speaker Andrew Asiamah Amoako referred the Bill to the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Committee for consideration.

“For the first time, it is referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for consideration and report,” Mr Asiamah Amoako, who is also the MP for Fomena, directed.

SEE ALSO: Ayawaso by-election incident: Stop the ‘hypocritical attitude

The controversial anti-gay bill has already divided opinion in the Ghanaian public discourse.

While some, particularly the religious and traditional groupings, have supported the Bill and hopeful of its passing, others say it could incur the wrath of the international community against Ghana.

Commenting on this development in a statement, Dr Arthur Kennedy said ” My goal today, is not to opine on the merits of the bill. Indeed, I wish, in the words of the sages, we had “allowed sleeping dogs to lie”. The homosexual community, in my view, were doing fine, in their private spaces, subject to the protections of the law accorded to all citizens.

“Unfortunately, the opposition to the bill, motivated by the noble desire to promote tolerance for our homosexual community, has been characterized by intolerance.

” Some lawmakers, including the bill’s sponsor, Sam George have been threatened publicly and privately. Calls have been made to the Speaker, threatening MPs. Some have been denied visas and warned to stay away from this issue. It is sad that this intimidation is coming mainly from the Western diplomatic community.”

Below is his full statement…

TOLERANCE AND THE DEBATE ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY IN GHANA

The pending legislation about homosexuality in Ghana has led to unfortunate manifestations of intolerance. Parliament is considering a bill that would criminalize certain aspects of homosexual conduct in Ghana.

In response, significant segments of the community, including Christian, Muslim and traditional authorities have offered support. On the other hand, there is an impressive array of intellectuals and government officials who are opposing the proposed bill. Indeed, a significant part of the diplomatic community too, has weighed in, to oppose the bill.

My goal today, is not to opine on the merits of the bill. Indeed, I wish, in the words of the sages, we had “allowed sleeping dogs to lie”. The homosexual community, in my view, were doing fine, in their private spaces, subject to the protections of the law accorded to all citizens.

Unfortunately, the opposition to the bill, motivated by the noble desire to promote tolerance for our homosexual community, has been characterized by intolerance.

Some lawmakers, including the bill’s sponsor, Sam George have been threatened publicly and privately. Calls have been made to the Speaker, threatening MPs. Some have been denied visas and warned to stay away from this issue. It is sad that this intimidation is coming mainly from the Western diplomatic community.

In addition to democracy and the rule of law, the West exemplifies, to the eternal admiration of people like me, the attitude of tolerance. It is at the heart of multi-party democracy and the support of minority rights etc that make the West such a powerful example to the rest of the world.

As JFK put it, “Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather, it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.”.

The West argued that dealing with China and Russia was better that isolating them. The West insisted on constructive engagement with Apartheid South Africa while we beat War drums. They were right.. Let us not fight intolerance with intolerance.

The next time there is an election dispute or tribal fighting and the West comes preaching tolerance, it would help if opportunists cannot remind us of Western intolerance!

The problem of this bill is not the Parliament. It is reflecting public opinion. Let us continue to educate the public.

Finally, to Parliament, continue this new attitude, by championing the interest of the public for Healthcare, jobs and for fighting the canker of corruption.

Long live tolerance. Long live Ghana. Arthur Kobina Kennedy.

BUY & SELL @Torsaa

October 12, 2021
Prof. Henry Kwesi Prempeh Shows Disappointment in Nana Akuffo-Addo and Hon. Albin Bagbin Management
The constitution of the Eighth Parliament in January this year, Prof Henry Kwesi Prempeh, Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) who had flagged the appointment of Members of Parliament (MPs) to management boards of state-owned enterprises as a bad governance practice and urged the President and the Speaker to ensure that such appointments are not done has been left disappointed as the practice has persisted.
Nana Akuffo Addo and Hon.Albin Bagbin
According to Prof Henry Kwesi Prempeh, he said that appointing MPs to state corporate bodies undermined the oversight responsibility of Parliament and was not a sound corporate governance practice. He called on the President to end the bad practice, stressing that if the President failed to end it, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin could end it by refusing MPs the opportunity to be both MPs and members of boards of state enterprises.

“The appointment of MPs to state corporate boards is antithetical to good governance. It undermines both Parliament’s oversight role and sound corporate governance in the SOE sector. It must stop. Having MPs double as Ministers in our system is bad enough, but that, for now, is what our Constitution mandates. MPs as board members is not compelled by the Constitution or by best practice, and it has zero, indeed negative, governance value.

The President must end this bad practice in the interest of good governance, or, failing that, the Speaker must exercise his prerogative under Article 98(2) of the Constitution to disallow it. This is low-hanging fruit when it comes to reforming the way we do business in this town,” Prof Prempeh had written.
Henry Kwesi Prempeh
With the recent appointment of the Members of Parliament(MPs) to boards, notably the MP for Effutu as the board chair of the Ghana Road Fund, the issue of the inappropriateness of such appointments has resurfaced.

“And here was I thinking Speaker Bagbin could put the brakes on this practice,” Prof Prempeh said while referencing his earlier appeal to him to stop the practice.

Meanwhile, several boards of state corporate bodies remain unconstituted and it is expected that some more MPs will be appointed to serve on those boards.
August 6, 2021
‘I’d have asked MPs to reject $28M car loan If I had my way’ – Okaikwei Central MP

‘I’d have asked MPs to reject $28M car loan If I had my way’ – Okaikwei Central MP

The Vice-Chairman of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Patrick Boamah says if he had his way, he would have asked his colleagues in the Chamber to reject the latest car loan laid in the House for Members of Parliament.

According to the Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, the state should rather consider purchasing cars in a pool for MPs to use during their term in office and hand over to their successors when they leave Parliament.

He contends that the public backlash that follows the procurement of loans is unfair when it is the case that MPs have to pay back the money while their colleagues in other arms of government access these vehicles as part of their conditions of office.

Okaikwei Central MP

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“If I had my way, I would tell my colleagues to reject the facility for the simple reason that all the other arms of government, vehicles are procured for them without going through the process where the media is always on the back of MPs for contracting a loan.”

The Minister for Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta presented a loan agreement for $28 million to Parliament for the purchase of 275 vehicles for members of Parliament.

Based on the amount and the number of individuals involved, each MP is expected to receive over $100,000 for the purchase of a vehicle.

The Finance Committee of the House is expected to consider the loan agreement and report to the house.

Mr. Boamah said his colleagues might explore other means of gaining access to such initiatives if the public continually criticise the move.

“If the public thinks that MPs do not deserve a vehicle to ride in, we should know, so we know our limitations and what the Finance Ministry can do to support our work.”

There have been situations of MPs failing to pay back car loans.

In 2017, the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) was on the heels of some Members of Parliament who bought their vehicles on loan but had defaulted in paying back several years after.

Reports indicate that letters that had been written to the MPS for them to honour their obligations did not receive any reply.

—citinewsroom || Shop @torsaa

July 8, 2021
Alban Bagbin has disclosed that some Members of Parliament have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has disclosed that some Members of Parliament have tested positive for COVID-19.
Though the identities of those infected are not known, the Speaker advised all MPs to strictly adhere to the safety protocols to avoid the spread of the novel virus.

“Even in the House, some members are afflicted by the Covid-19. You may not know who the person is and because of the protocol issues of confidentiality, we are not disclosing those who are now Covid-19 victims. But we have some of us in that category,” he said.

Mr. Bagbin made the revelation following a three-day health screening exercise organized for the law makers.

Despite the presence of the medical team for the exercise, Mr. Bagbin says over 60 parliamentarians have refused to avail themselves for the test.

“We arranged with the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research to use three days and the three days are over but I am reliably informed that a number of our members have not yet taken the opportunity to either do the screening or to even undergo the Covid-19 test.

“Honorable members, I humbly urge that you all take this opportunity seriously and go test by the end of today,” he appealed on Tuesday, January 26, 2021.

But addressing the House today (Friday), Alban Bagbin said he is displeased with the continuous refusal of some MPs to undergo the testing which he says is mandatory.

“My directive that all members subject themselves to the test has not yet been complied with by over 60 Members of Parliament.

“It is true as the Majority Leader has just stated that we are not all safe. And so members should take the protocols seriously. In fact when I was entering I myself had to signal some members to respect the physical distancing.”

In March 2020, some MPs tested positive for the virus after a medical screening was conducted in the legislature.

Their identities were, however, not disclosed.
At the time, two law makers were reported to have tested positive for the virus and asked to isolate.
13 parliamentary service staff were reported to have also tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, the latest update from the Ghana Health Service has revealed that the country recorded 625 new COVID-19 cases.

The latest update brings the country’s active case count to 3, 940 from a total of 63, 883 case count.

13 new deaths were recorded, bringing the death toll to 390.

There have been growing concerns over the rising COVID-19 cases.
February 5, 2021