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Speaker, Chief Justice excluded from siren privileges in new Traffic Law
Parliament of Ghana has today excluded the Office of the Speaker and the Chief from the list of high-ranking Ghanaian public officials permitted to install a siren in their official vehicles and use a motorcade.
The L.I. was previously withdrawn as a public backlash over the proposal to grant Members of Parliament (MPs) similar privileges.
This was championed by the former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu after a new road traffic Legislative Instrument (L.I.) was laid before Parliament.
Highlighting the issue, he said, “Without personalising it, it is not Alban Sumana Bagbin. It is the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament and he is not entitled to a motorcade or a police siren.? In my view Mr Speaker, it is wrong for the number three to be out of this privilege.”
According to him, “The Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana is also out of the Motor Traffic Regulation and not entitled to it. Mr Speaker, you can keep a minister and Member of Parliament but this republic has four important personalities; the president, the vice president, the speaker and the chief justice.”
On his part, the Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin expressed concern over the exclusion, stressing that it could hinder MPs in carrying out their duties to the people of Ghana.
Speaking on the floor of parliament, he said, “Politicians are always in a rush to save their heads when there is a crisis but sometimes we can have a collective fall. We know the challenges we face coming from home and going to our constituencies. It is not that a Member of Parliament, by virtue of having a siren, will use it every day.”
The Majority Leader further noted that “We belittle ourselves. You are a politician and you cannot take public bashing and go and explain to the public? Even you have MPs criticising Article 71 benefits that they have benefitted from and we hear them on radio and they continue to benefit? We have to take our democracy a little more seriously.”
Against this backdrop, the Speaker, Alban Bagbin appealed to the Parliamentarians to be assertive and defend their positions whenever necessary.
“Today, when you are talking about a major democracy and spineless Parliament, leadership matters. You must be prepared to take responsibility and defend your positions. If the people knew like you, they will not elect you to lead them, and so they expect you to lead them and be able to persuade them that you are doing so in their interest,” he said.
He concluded, “There are only two people elected on December 7 every election year and they are the president and the MP and the two of you are to lead the people to make their condition better.”
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
News
VRA Senior Staff picket against proposed merger with Bui Power Authority
Senior staff of the Volta River Authority (VRA), along with members of the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), staged a protest at the VRA headquarters in Accra on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
The protest was in opposition to a proposed merger between the VRA and the Bui Power Authority, which the group believes would undermine the operations of the VRA.
The draft bill currently in Parliament also seeks to consolidate the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) with the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) and create an independent Thermal Power Authority from VRA’s thermal plants.
Speaking to Citi News during the protest, Theophilus Tetteh Ahia, Chairman of the VRA Senior Staff Association, called for the immediate withdrawal of the merger bill, citing concerns about the future viability of the VRA under the proposed changes.
“Our demand is just for the bill to be withdrawn for a peaceful existence. Because VRA has been established for all these years…The bill that has been laid in parliament should be withdrawn and that is all we are looking for,” he stated.
He continued: “We will continue praying seeking the face of God and we will do everything possible to resist it.”
Source: Citinewsroom.com
News
Africa Remittance Conference UK scheduled for September 21
The much anticipated Africa Remittance Conference UK 2024 dubbed “Market of Remittance” will be hosted in London, the capital of the United Kingdom on Saturday September 21, 2024.
It is scheduled to take place at the Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel (E14 8RS) in East London from 12noon to 6pm.
The event is being organized by Akwaaba UK in collaboration with Emergent, OmniBSIC BankGhana Limitedand Unity Link, under the theme“Leveraging Fintech and Banking Partnership for Growth”.
According to the organizers, Akwaaba UK, Africa Remittance Conference UK 2024, is a premium networking brand and the largest gathering of leading players, key and relevant stakeholders in the Remittance industries in the United Kingdom, across Europe and Africa.
Speaking on the rationale behind the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Akwaaba UK, Mr. Dennis Tawiah, indicated that the annual event is the first of its kind and a platform created for all recognized players in the Remittance Industry in the United Kingdom, Europe and Africa.
“We are excited to be hosting the Africa Remittance Conference UK 2024 after years of working with key players within the sector within the UK, Europe and across the African continent,” he said.
According to him, “We have identified the need to enhance growth and development in the sector. Remittance contributes to ending poverty and hunger, promoting good health, quality education, clean water and sanitation, decent work and economic growth, and reducing inequalities.”
On his part, the International Relations and PR Manager for Akwaaba UK, Chris Koney, highlighted the importance of the Africa Remittance Conference UK 2024and the need for corporate entities to be interested in the conference.
“Strategic partnerships and progress on remittances go hand in hand. Participants at the Africa Remittance Conference UK 2024 will acquire valuable insights, new trends and get to know opportunities in the sector. In addition, the event provides an avenue to explore ways of developing the industry, practitioners and other professionals within the value chain,” he further stated.
In addition to the list of distinguished resource persons and speakers, there will also be Networking and Business-to-Business sessions, Deal Room for Negotiations, Investor Pitching sessions and Exhibition of Innovative Financial and Fintech products and services
