The Deputy Director of Protocol for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Frimpong was honoured by the Floodlights Excellence Media Awards for his remarkable contributions to society.
The recognition came in the form of a citation, celebrating his dedication to supporting the underprivileged and highlighting the plight of the downtrodden in various communities.
The citation acknowledged Frimpong’s commitment to serving those often overlooked by society, bringing attention to their struggles, and providing much-needed assistance.
His efforts have not only brought visibility to the issues facing marginalized groups but have also inspired positive change within these communities
Kwabena Frimpong receiving a citation
The Floodlights Excellence Media Awards team commended Frimpong for his exceptional service, noting that his humanitarian efforts have made a significant impact on the lives of many.
His work, they said, exemplifies the kind of leadership and compassion that is needed to uplift those who are most vulnerable in society.
In their presentation, the awards team emphasized that Frimpong’s dedication to helping the helpless has not gone unnoticed. His contributions have been a beacon of hope for many, and this recognition serves as a testament to the positive influence he has had on countless lives.
Frimpong, who has long been an advocate for social justice and community development, expressed his gratitude for the award.
He reiterated his commitment to continue working tirelessly to support those in need and to use his platform within the NPP to promote initiatives that benefit society’s most vulnerable.
The Floodlights Excellence Media Awards is known for honouring individuals and organizations in the media space for their dedication to society.
This year’s event held over the weekend in Kumasi celebrated media houses, journalists, media personalities, politicians, among others.
There was wild jubilation among the residents of Prang, the Pru West District capital of the Bono East Region, when the inner roads of the towns in the district were tarred recently by the Akufo-Addo government.
The opinion leaders of the towns, mostly chiefs, could not hide their joy, describing the reality as “historic” as this is the first time the Prang inner roads have seen asphalt since the creation of the district.
Current state of Prang inner roads
Some residents, who spoke to this paper, showered praises on the Paramount Chief for the area, Nana Kwadwo Nyarko III, for his good lobbying skills that had brought Prang to this level.
“We’re very proud of Nana Kwadwo Nyarko for everything he has been doing for us, ranging from education, health infrastructure, among other interventions,” a resident said.
One Baba Amadu described Nana Kwadwo Nyarko’s leadership skills as “unmatched”. He, therefore, called on the leadership of the country to offer him a national award.
Nana Kwadwo Nyarko III, Pranghene
He was happy that Prang could now merit its status as a district capital. He, however, appealed to the Pranghene not to be complacent but rather continue to lobby for more developmental projects to improve the lives of his people.
It would be recalled that a few months ago, motor riders and commercial drivers made a passionate appeal to the government to fix the Prang roads. According to them, they have been spending huge sums of money on maintenance due to the danger the bad roads pose to their machines on a daily basis.
The Pranghene took the concerns raised by the motor riders seriously and consulted the appropriate authorities to fix the roads in question.
On his part, Nana Kwadwo Nyarko III was full of joy for the level of development at Prang.
He said fixing the Prang inner roads was one of his major concerns. He, therefore, thanked the Akufo-Addo government through the Member of Parliament for the area, who doubles as Deputy Minister of Roads, Mr. Stephen Jallula, for their efforts that had transformed Prang.
Hence, he implored the government to remain fully committed to doing more to promote the economic well-being and development of his people.
He recalled that there was a passionate appeal by the chiefs and people of Prang prior to the fixing of the roads, and it is not surprising that President Akufo-Addo is being described as a “listening President.”
Nana Kwadwo Nyarko said the Pru West District was created out of Pru East by the current administration, with the aim of decentralising development and, indeed, it had come to pass.
The chief urged the people in the area to continue to support him in order to lobby for more developmental projects for them.
The Leader and Founder of Caravan of Prayer Outreach Ministry at Gyinyase in the Asokwa Municipality of Ashanti, Apostle Johnson Ackah Braimah, has bemoaned the invasion of the airwaves by mallams, lotto dealers, money doublers, fetish priests and fake men of God who indulge in fraudulent and con activities to swindle innocent people.
Their activities, he said, included giving out lotto numbers, doubling of money, exploiting people in the name of God, etc.
According to him, these so-called mallams, fake men of God, lotto dealers and fetish priests are tarnishing the image of Ghana, for which reason there is an urgent need to take measures to curtail their dubious activities.
Aps.Ackah Braimah
Concerning the church, Apostle Ackah Braimah said it is doing well for the country as it is not only winning souls for Christ but also establishing hospitals, schools and other infrastructural projects, but some latter-day preachers and prophets are denigrating the image of the church.
“What they’re doing today is bad. When you watch television and listen to radio, you’ll be shocked at what is going on. We have a lot of so-called men of God who give out lotto numbers and also engage in other fraudulent activities,” he bemoaned.
Apostle Ackah Braimah, therefore, humbly appealed to television and radio stations that offer their platforms to these groups of people not to consider only the profit they would make but also consider the consequences their decisions would bring to the society.
He added that their actions and inaction could have negative impacts on the current and future generations.
He, however, commended the government for its recent decision to come out with measures to deal with these unscrupulous people.
He said that was a step in the right direction as it would go a long way to sanitise the system.
Apostle Ackah Braimah, however, appealed to the government to endeavour to set up a trained taskforce to augment the work of the BNI to carefully monitor and bring the bad ones out for punishment.
According to him, all Ghanaians must co-operate with the government to support this exercise, since it would go a long way to inject discipline into the system.
The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has destooled Wirempehene Nana Opia Mensah II for desecrating and abusing the Asante Sacred Oath (Ntamkɛseɛ), a violation of both statute and tradition. The destoolment occurred on Monday, September 2, 2024, during a meeting of the Kumasi Traditional Council at the Manhyia Palace.
Nana Opia Mensah II, a 90-year-old former Member of Parliament who had reigned for 54 years, was stripped of his title following Otumfuo’s reprimand for his blatant disregard and disrespect toward the solemnity of the Great Oath. Otumfuo chastised the former chief for attempting to distort historical truths for personal gain.
“Nana Opia, despite knowing the stool wasn’t rightfully yours, you deceitfully invoked the Great Oath. You were fully aware that the stool didn’t belong to you, yet you chose to challenge its ownership,” the Asantehene stated.
“You thought your long reign would give you an advantage, allowing you to hide behind the Great Oath. However, since you exploited and misused the Great Oath, you must relinquish the stool.”
In accordance with tradition, the chief’s traditional slippers were immediately removed, signifying his destoolment.
This decision follows a report presented to the Council on August 15, 2024, which determined that the Aduana Clan, to which Nana Opia belongs, is not the rightful royal house but rather the Oyoko Clan.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, visibly provoked by the frequent abuse of the Great Oath by certain chiefs, took the opportunity to educate those present on its profound significance. He explained that the oath reflects a period of great sorrow in Asante history, when the then-Asantehene lost several nephews, leaving him in despair over the future of the royal lineage. The survival of the fourth child, following the intervention of the kingdom’s priest, led to the establishment of the Great Oath.
“This is my deepest sorrow, and yet it is now being abused,” Otumfuo lamented. “I share this history today so that you may appreciate and honor it. When individuals invoke it and come before me, I caution them about the consequences. Let it be known that no one, regardless of their position, can invoke it and escape punishment if found guilty.”
After nine years of meritorious service at Boss 93.7 fm, I have officially parted ways with the station. Many thanks to the CEO, the General Manager and the entire staff of the company for their support for all these years. It’s now time to take up a new challenge.
Watch this space!
K or L?
Former Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Henry Kwabena Kokofu has charged the members and supporters of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to follow their leaders blindly.
The NDC led by their National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia alias General Mosquito, says they won’t sign the peace agreement which is aimed at ensuring peace and stability during and after the December elections.
File photo
General Mosquito, in an interview on Joy News, says his party leadership “won’t sign peace declaration ahead of elections”.
“Signing a peace declaration doesn’t mean anything to the party as previous pacts have not yielded any real results,” he added.
Commenting on Peace FM’s Thursday edition of ‘Kokrokoo’ morning show, Henry Kokofu advised the NDC supporters not to allow themselves to be used by the party to sacrifice their lives.
“If you follow your leaders and they disappoint you and you lose the elections, and they summon you to go to the streets to fight, let their children lead the fight,” he urged them.Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
The newly elected chairman of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Bernard Owusu, has pledged to implement radical changes to address what he describes as the current weak and unresponsive state of the organisation.
Mr Owusu secured 347 votes in a decisive victory over incumbent Alex Opoku-Nyarko at the TUC’s quadrennial congress held at the Pentecost Convention Centre at Kasoa in the Central Region.
He pledged a transformative approach focused on safeguarding workers’ rights.
“The current leadership, they have done their bit but I think it is time we change and move on. The TUC as it stands today is weak and the reason being that, as TUC, there are a lot of things that are happening that I think should have been done better. Currently, we got to the negotiation table to beg. I believe that radicalism and social dialogue is the game. I believe that we can do more and better.”
“We are living in a time of economic uncertainty where workers are under increasing pressure and gaps between the rich and poor continue to widen. Our fight is far from over. As the TUC chairman, I pledge to lead with integrity, transparency and deep commitment to the principles that have guided our union. I will make sure that the voices of workers are heard and that their rights are protected,” he said.
The new Deputy Secretary General, Joshua Ansah, called for unity among TUC members, stating that strength lies in solidarity.
“Let us all put what has happened behind us and unite our front. I am calling for unity because in unity lies strength. Let us leverage the unity that we have and ensure that we do what is expected of us. Unity is what we are calling for and I have no doubt that when we unite, we can eradicate or reduce the problems facing workers,” he said.
Nana Dwamena Akenten II, the Paramount Chief of Offinso Traditional Council in the Ashanti Region, has stressed the need for all hands to be on deck for the development of the area with unity.
According to him, without unity, no meaningful development could be achieved; hence, there is the need for all Ghanaians, especially those in the area, to come together and work hard for the betterment of Offinsoman, Asanteman and Ghana as a whole.
The revered chief gave the advice when he managed to settle a long-standing disagreement between two royal families (Akokodease and Ahyaem) at his palace at Offinso on Sunday, 11th August 2024.
The settlement meeting, which was personally facilitated by the paramount chief, was attended by over 200 members of the two families. It was heartening when the families agreed to be one without division.
Nana Dwamena Akenten II
Nana Akenten said, “From today onwards, there is no more Akokodease or Ahyaem family because you’re all royals. You’re all now Offinso Asona (Adeyie) royals.”
Nana Akenken was very grateful to Nana Owusu Kwarteng II, the Dumanafohene and all chiefs in the area for their continued support for peace and unity in the area.
Abusuapanin Atta Kwabena thanked the paramount chief for his intervention which had brought finality to the misunderstanding between the two families.
He promised that both families would live in peace and support his administration to succeed.
Ghanaians across the country, especially first time voters and students,have been cautioned not to allow themselves to be deceived by the 2024 Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC),who doubles as the former President of the Republic of Ghana,Mr.John Mahams.
Dr.Keskine Owusu-Poku,who gave the warning in an article copied to The New Trust Newspaper,said trusting Mahama for a job as a Nurse is like investing in a Ponzi scheme.
His comments follows the promised by Mr Mahama to recruit trained nurses,who are still at home after completion of their courses and promise to provide free tuition for first -year University students in Ghana etc.
In made a reference from an article published by Modern Ghana online ahead of 2020 general election heading “Scrapping Nursing Trainees allowance:KNUST NDC TEIN lauds Prez Mahama”.
The full article is attached below;
Trusting Mahama for a job as a Nurse is like investing in a Ponzi scheme – Dr. Keskine Owusu Poku
In an attempt to explain the cancellation of nursing allowances in 2014, Mr. Mahama disingenuously claimed that he cancelled the trainee allowance to make room for expansion in training facilities for nurses and also recruit more nurses.
Dr. Keskine Owusu Poku
In as much as he has demonstrated inconsistencies overtime on this subject, Mr. Mahama’s excuse is a lazy rationale just as it is untruthful if one critically examines the post-cancellation of allowance events . https://www.modernghana.com/news/531621/scrapping-nursing-trainee-allowance-knust-ndc-tein-lauds-pr.html
Two questions are important for probing his claim:
A. After the cancellation in 2014, was there any recruitment of nurses? If yes, how many?
B. After the cancellation in 2014, was there any expansion in training facilities for nurses? And, what was the nature of this expansion, if any and where were they done?
Mr. Mahama’s claim for the cancellation of nursing training allowance contradicts the records and facts when he was president.
First, Mr. Mahama is on record to have left a backlog of nurses over a 4 year period. This practically means that no recruitment of nurses officially happened under him from 2013 to 2016. https://citinewsroom.com/2019/06/govt-begins-recruitment-of-2012-2016-trained-but-unemployed-nurses/
Secondly, assuming the first claim is wrong, post the cancellation of the allowance in 2014, how many nurses were employed in 2014, 2015 and 2016? What is the record of expansion his government did in nursing training colleges? If indeed the cancellation was to make room for recruitment and expansion, we should see higher numbers of recruitment between 2014 and 2016. No record of such has been identified.
Lastly, in the run-up to the 2016 elections and with the pressure from the opposition NPP and students, his government rushed to nursing training colleges to make ‘table-top’ payments. While it was an afterthought, it showed the lack of policy credibility and consistency, exposing the policy poverty in the decision to cancel the allowances. https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/politics/politics/201610/293999.php?storyid=100&
On the other hand, the Nana Addo government has shown consistency in recruiting nurses and other health professions year on year to date. While allowances for trainees do delay, there has been consistency in the payment.
It will therefore be easy to suggest that John Mahama cannot be trusted by nursing trainees as his years of presidency gave nursing trainees a raw deal both in the lackadaisical attitude towards recruiting them after school and the inconsistencies surrounding the logics of cancelling allowances and ‘somewhat’ making an unprincipled u-turn.
For nursing trainees, a comparison of the NPP and NDC on their records of building and investing in hospital infrastructure (which will be their working place) and facilities, showing consistency to the welfare of students, expanding nursing training facilities, and the consistency in employing nurses will be cardinal in deciding who to vote for.
Anyone who objectively does an analysis on job creation, payment of allowances, expansion of health infrastructure and investment in health generally will come to this singular and firm conclusion that a Bawumia-led NPP government can be trusted to complete and continue the good legacy of Nana Addo in the health sector while creating his own legacy.
Mahama is an expensive risk that must be avoided by nurses and other medical professionals based on his recent history at the presidency. To the nursing students, Mr. Mahama can be likened to an expensive ponzi that is waiting to explode in their faces.
On Tuesday, 31st July, 2024, the Third Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana which commenced 11th June, 2024, was adjourned sine die. Parliamentary debates and discussions on a wide range of issues and policies were held during the Meeting to advance Ghana’s development and deal with urgent domestic concerns.
Bills Passed
The National Roads Authority Bill, 2024, which, among other things, establishes the National Roads Authority as a single organisation in charge of planning, development, maintenance, and administration of the national road network, was one of the major Bills passed during this Meeting.
The purpose of the new Authority is to improve road management nationwide in terms of efficiency and oversight by merging three separate agencies: the Ghana Highway Authority Department of Feeder Roads and Department of Urban Roads into one entity. The objective is to enhance the overall efficacy of road management and guarantee the provision of superior service within the transportation industry.
During the Third Meeting, Parliament also passed the National Service Authority Bill, 2024.With the passage of this Bill, the National Service Authority is established as a corporate entity with the legal authority to create and carry out national service policies and programmes.
The main goal of the Act is to enable the Authority to generate internal funds to supplement government efforts in creating employment opportunities for the youth. The Act will also empower the Authority to mobilise and post qualified individuals to undertake national service in areas of national priority for national development and encourage youth entrepreneurship through the national service programme.
Parliament also passed the Ghana Civil Aviation Bill, 2024, which is set to replace the existing Ghana Civil Aviation Act, 2004 (Act 678) as amended.
This new legislation establishes the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) as an autonomous body responsible for aviation safety and security in the country. The Act empowers the GCAA to operate independently, with new governance measures that enhance transparency and accountability.
RT.Hon.Alban K Bagbin
The legislation introduces stricter safety and security regulations, such as prohibiting flights over sensitive areas like military zones and forbidding flying practices that could endanger lives.
It also provides a legal framework for the GCAA to manage air navigation services in the Accra Flight Information Region until the establishment of the Ghana Air Navigation Services Agency. This new law aligns with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, promoting safety and efficiency in the aviation sector
The Ghana Shippers’ Authority Bill, 2024, was also passed during the Third Meeting. The rationale for this legislation is to improve the regulation of commercial activities related to shipping in Ghana by amending the Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 1974 (NRCD 254). The Act is to shield regional companies from the abusive tactics of global shipping corporations. To ensure fair pricing and transparency in the port charge determination process, the Act addresses the unfair and excessive charges imposed on traders using Ghana’s ports and borders.
The new law will strengthen regulatory oversight, enable the GSA to adjust to new trends in the shipping and logistics industry and safeguard the interests of shippers and shipping service providers. Positioning Ghana as a preferred transit trade channel for landlocked neighbours like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the Act aims to increase the sector’s contribution to national revenue.
The icing on the cake in legislation for the Third Meeting was the passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Bill, 2024, which marks a significant advancement in the country’s efforts to promote gender equity.
The Act seeks to remedy the historical gender disparities in Ghana’s socio-cultural, political, economic, and educational domains. The government is required by this Act to guarantee “progressive equitable representation of women” in governance, public office, and decision-making positions.
In keeping with the Sustainable Development Goal on gender parity, the Act sets specific targets for women’s participation: 30% from 2024 to 2026, 35% from 2027 to 2028, and 50% by 2030. Additionally, it aims to increase women’s involvement in both the public and private sectors of the economy.
The Act forbids discrimination based on gender and mandates that constitutional bodies and security services provide equal opportunities for women.
After years of development, on 30th July, 2024, the Parliament of Ghana, presided by an elated Rt Hon Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, unanimously passed this Bill.
The Rt Hon Speaker urged Members of Parliament to strive for a just society and underscored the need for true equity as well as their dedication to enforcing the new law. Advocates for gender equity celebrate the passage of this Bill, which marks a major turning point in Ghana’s legislative history.
Reconstitution of Parliamentary Committees
During this Meeting, Parliament reconstituted some of its Committees in accordance with the new Standing Orders by realigning their membership and mandates. In constituting the Committees, the House was guided by Article 103(4) of the 1992 Constitution which provides that every Member of Parliament shall be a member of at least one of the Standing Committees.
Mid-Year Budget Review
Further, the Minister for Finance, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, appeared before the House and delivered the 2024 Mid-Year Budget Review. The Minister said that the economy of Ghana has proven to be remarkably resilient, growing at a rate of 4.7% in the first quarter of 2024.
In terms of fiscal performance, he indicated that the government will not be looking for additional funding because they are making significant efforts to be more effective, deliberate, and strategic to firmly establish fiscal consolidation and vigorously support growth. According to Dr Adam, the government is pursuing growth in the debt restructuring space within the framework of fiscal restraint and debt sustainability.
30th Anniversary Activities
The Third Meeting was not all about law making as Parliament hosted a soccer match dubbed “The Democracy Cup”, in commemoration of 30 years of uninterrupted parliamentary democracy in Ghana under the Fourth Republic.
This event which will be marked annually, had its inaugural edition taking place at the Accra Sports Stadium and featured a titanic clash between Ghana’s two most successful clubs, Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak.
The porcupine warriors emerged victorious, defeating Hearts of Oak 2-1 to clinch the maiden Democracy Cup. Kumasi Asante Kotoko S.C. will have the opportunity to represent Ghana in a friendly match against DC United, a professional soccer club based in Washington, USA. In the curtain-raiser, a classic squad of Members of Parliament (MPs) and Parliamentary Service staff stunned a group of former Black Stars players with a 3-1 victory.
Prior to this event, the Speaker led a team to hold a public forum in Techiman and a mock parliament in Sunyani. In Kumasi, the Speaker paid a courtesy call on his Royal Majesty Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II which was followed up with a public forum and a mock parliament at the Great Hall of KNUST.
Walk Out
During this Meeting, there was a tense moment where the Marshall walked out the Member of Parliament for Sefwi Wiawso, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, from the Chamber on the orders of the Rt Hon Speaker. Dr Afriyie was walked out for making comments deemed disrespectful,
following the Rt Hon Speaker’s comment on the President’s communication on the nomination of two persons as Justices of the Supreme Court. The situation brought to the fore the importance of maintaining decorum and respect within Ghana’s Parliament.
Brief from EC Chairperson
As Ghana gears up for the 2024 general elections in December, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensa, was in Parliament to brief and assure the representatives of the people on the Commission’s preparedness to conduct free, fair, and transparent polls.
Public Hearing of Committees
The Appointments Committee, Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Assurances held public hearings in the exercise of Parliament’s oversight responsibility.
Conclusion
Parliament has since proceeded on recess, and there is a sense of anticipation for the upcoming Fourth Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Eighth Parliament which promises to be a period of engaging debates, collaborative efforts and consensus building focused on the national interest.
Issued by the Media Relations Department, Parliament of Ghana
