President-elect asked to consider an energetic candidate as speaker- Fmr UE Regional Vice Chair of NPP

Isaac Adawele Atasige

As incumbent MPs prepare to bow-out of parliament to make way for new crop of parliamentarians early next year, the question as to who occupies the seat as Speaker of Parliament rages on. 

Although governance experts are of the view that it is out of place for people to propose and mount pressure on the President–elect, Nana Akuffo Addo on his choice of appointments, other NPP stalwarts still pushes for Nana Addo to look out for expertise who are well versed and positioned  to take up the mantle. 

Since the NPP took over the reign of leadership from the NDC, names like former MP for Dome Kwabenya, Prof Mike Ocquaye, former MP for Sekondi, Papa Owusu Ankakomah, Veteran Sam Okudzeto, former Attorney General, Joe Gartey and the acting National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Freddie Blay have come in media journals as personalities deemed fit to take over from Mr Edward Doe Adjaho as speaker of parliament. 

Other names have also been widely speculated putting the President-elect at a cross road. 

Speaking to Radio Ghana’s Isaac Asare in Bolgatanga, a former Regional Vice Chairman of the NPP, Isaac Adawele Atasige said all the proposed candidates whose names have emerged in various media portals possess worth of experience that can be harnessed to rekindle the governance system of parliament. 

He said in as much as people believe in the expertise of these astute individuals, the President-elect should see it expedient to consider a candidate who is energetic and has the zeal to sit for longer hours to take up issues to their logical conclusion and not someone who will develop the penchant of postponing matters that require urgent solution. 

He argued that looking at the crop of parliamentarians today, they are between the ages of 20 and 60 and so such people have the energy and the physical ability to debate on issues for hours. 

Mr Atasige was emphatic that since parliamentary proceedings requires great deal of work and tenacity, it will be highly imperative to choose someone who is quite youthful and can manage stress. 

Mr Atasige however proposed the candidature of Papa Owusu Ankoma, for the position as speaker which is the third highest office in the country. 

He opined that Papa Owusu Ankomah has been in parliament for the past 20 years and by dint of hard work, he paid his dues as MP for the people of Sekondi from 1996 till 2016 when he declined to seek re-election. 

Moreover, due to his exceptional leadership qualities, the 58 year old politician won the heart of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who entrusted him the mandate to occupy key ministerial positions in his government. 

These include the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Interior Ministry as well as the Ministry of Education.  

 He said as compared to the likes of 81 year old, Sam Okudzeto who had served as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee and Prof Mike Ocquaye, Papa Owusu Ankomah stands tall and should be considered a probable candidate as speaker to stir the affairs of the next parliament under Nana Akuffo Addo.  

 Mr Atasige further observed that age wise, Papa Owusu Ankoma will represent both the youth and the aged in parliament and will be able to handle his duties with much maturity and high decorum. 

He concluded that it was not for nothing that Mr Adjaho confessed that he often sought the opinion on matters at the floor of parliament from Papa Owusu Ankoma before drawing to conclusions.  

 Following the victory of the NPP in this year’s general elections with the party winning 170 seats out of 275, the law requires the party to propose two candidates for election as Speaker and First Deputy Speaker. 

On the other hand, the NDC as the minority is equally expected to produce the second Deputy Speaker. 

The fate of prospective candidates for the position as speaker will then be decided by the new MPs on the midnight of January 6, after the majority in next parliament had confer with the President-elect. 

Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, has instructed all outgoing MPs to leave the confines of the House by the said date to pave way for a smooth transition for the incoming MPs. 

According to him, he is prepared and waiting for the conclusion of final proceedings to vacate the Speaker's Office to enable the incoming Speaker to assume office.

GBC

Paga Pio applauds Prez Mahama and President –elect for their sense of maturity

Paga Pio, Charles Awampaga

The Paramount Chief of the Paga Traditional Area, Charles Awampaga has commended President John Dramani Mahama for his exemplary leadership and show of statesmanship in conceding defeat in the December polls. 

He said inspite the decision by Gambian’s President Yahya Jammeh, to reject the election results and relinquish power to his political opponent in the aftermath of the country’s election, President Mahama on the contrary had shown a deep sense of nationalism by accepting the outcome of the elections which saw his party losing to the opposition NPP. 

He however described President Mahama as an astute politician whose intelligence and good judgment cannot be contested since he has the interest of Ghanaians at heart.   

He said indeed Ghana will continue to be touted as the oasis of peace and a model of democracy not only in the West African sub region but beyond. 

Speaking to Radio Ghana's Isaac Asare, the  Paga Pio said it was for nothing that the country chose the path of democracy but had exhibited its principles to the latter. 

He was elated that since 1992, the country has enjoyed peaceful democratic governance and successful transfer of power, an indelible feat that has made the country the beacon of hope to the envy of many including the international community. 

While commending President Mahama for his demeanor and sense of maturity in the body politics of Ghana, Pe Awampaga also expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the President–elect, Nana Akuffo Addo on his ascension to the highest seat of the presidency.  

 He said Ghanaians did not only call for a change but also chose another visionary politician whose proven track record and profound vast of experience both locally and internationally is acknowledged by all. 

He expressed the belief that his presidency will work to actualize the policies of the party to ensure the speedy growth and development the country yearns for.

 For him, the Presidency of Nana Akuffo Addo will perform exceptionally to compliment the legacy of President Mahama in the area of infrastructure. 

He therefore appealed to the President–elect to practicalize what he refers to as a ‘Positive Discrimination’ by ensuring that chunk of the country’s resources are channeled to developing the underserved areas of Northern Ghana, where poverty is still endemic.

 He again urged the NDC and other political parties to rally behind the NPP administration and offer constructive criticisms where necessary to keep them on track.   

Pe Awanpaga also showed gratitude to his subjects and Ghanaians in general for the peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves in this year’s general elections.   

On the post poll violence, Pe Awampaga advised the perpetrators of such acts to respect the rule of law and desist from acts that will incite violence and dent the hard won image of the country.

GBC

ABL hands over mechanized borehole to Nabio Community

Accra Breweries Limited, ABL, through one of its sustainable development brands, Eagle lager, has completed and handed over a mechanised solar powered borehole with a furrow irrigation system to the Nabio community in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region.  

With technical support from Terra-Hydro Associates Limited, the 100,000 Ghana cedi facility will not only serve the people of Nabio with potable drinking water but also reach out to areas such as Gia and Betui among other adjoining communities. 

Commissioning the project, the Senior Brands Manager at ABL, Jerry Gokah said the gesture is an Eagle brand’s contribution to ensuring that farmers get good returns for what they produce. 

He said in pursuance of the company’s long term resolve to improve food security and augment the country’s economic fortunes, similar projects are dotted in some selected deprived communities of the country because ABL was of the firm belief that farming should not be limited to just a particular season but also during the long dry season where most farmers abandon their farming activities to engage in menial jobs that often results in poor dividends. 

Mr Gokah noted that considering the long term dry season experienced yearly up north, the company has over the period, focused its attention to providing mechanized solar powered boreholes to under-served communities.

 This, he explained is to offer small holder farmers an alternative to rain fed agriculture that will enable them practice all year round farming. 

He said for the Upper East Region, Nabio is the second community aside Yikene to have benefitted from the gesture. Moreover, communities in parts of the Volta and Western Regions have had their fair share, stressing that the initiative will be pursued in the years ahead. 

Mr Gokah advised farmers in the Nabio community to make productive use of the facility to increase their yield so as enhance and supplement their income levels.

 Addressing the gathering, the Kassena-Nankana West DCE, George Nontera urged the community to take ownership of the facility to prolong its lifespan. 

The DCE further advised the people to ensure its regular maintenance while ensuring the safety of the solar panel and other components attached to the automated mechanized borehole.  

For his part, the Chief of Nabio, John the Baptist Kuwateni was grateful to ABL for the gesture since the community had been battling with shortage of water for irrigation and household activities. He said with the intervention, farming activities in the area will be sustained to better the lives of the people.

 The official commissioning of the mechanised borehole was done by the DCE assisted by Mr Gokah and his Eagle lager team. Present to grace the occasion was the Activations Manager, George Amoa-Attah. 

They later presented cartons of assorted ABL brands with other giveaways to the community to show appreciation for their contribution to agriculture.

GBC                                               END                                  IA/