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KNUST wins mock parliamentary debate

Mr. Andrews Asiamah Amoako handind over trophy to KNUST team

A mock parliamentary session and debate organised by Parliament under the auspices of the Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has been held with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) emerging the winner.

The event formed part of the celebration of Ghana’s 30 years of uninterrupted democracy under the fourth republic.

It provided a platform for a robust and informed debate on the topic, ‘Should Private Schools Receive Public Funding?’

Four universities, KNUST, Wesley College (WESCO), Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) and Kumasi Technical University (KsTU), participated in the debate.

KNUST took home GHȻ3,000.00 with a trophy after securing 828 marks out of 1000, followed by WESCO with 740 marks with GHȻ2,500.00 and AAMUSTED with 698 marks and GHȻ2,000.00 in third.

Mr Andrews Asiamah Amoako, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who stood in for the Speaker (Mr Bagbin) could not hide his joy for the way and manner the mock parliament session was handled by the participants.

He said that “we have capable people who can take up the job,” describing the session as very excellent.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Fomena Constituency indicated that democracy was all about patience and tolerance and asked the students to ensure that their day-to-day activities should reflect what they had exhibited.

On his part, the Deputy Minority Chief Whip in Parliament, Ahmed Ibrahim, who chaired the function, indicated that the debate on the topic would be taken seriously for consideration.

Mr Ibrahim, an MP for Banda Constituency, pointed out that similar debate gave birth to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) in 1998 to support the delivery of quality education to the citizens of Ghana.

From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi

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Traders, ‘Okada’ riders take over Circle pavement

• Korle-Bu CEO with staff of Nivaansh MediQas

Activities of traders and drug addicts are contributing to make the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange (Circle) area very uncomfortable and unsafe for commuters.

Day in and out, pedestrians are ‘ejected’ from the pavement created for their safety as traders preferred to sell their wares on that space.

Staff of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) showcasing their work

That hinders the free movement of the pedestrians.

The small space left for the pedestrians are also shared with ‘Okada’ riders.

As if these woes are not enough for a commuter on a single day, they also have to navigate carefully to avoid clashes with drug addicts and the mentally challenged.

Radiology department of KBTH exhibiting their works — A staff of Korle-Bu screening a patient

These people have turned the pavements into their places of abode, covering every inch of space with their wares.

Our photographer, Lizzy Okai, captures some of the unfriendly scenes the authorities must try and deal with to restore sanity to the area.

By Lizzy Okai

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NDC outlines demands before committing to Peace Pact

The National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has set forth specific conditions that the party insists must be met before considering signing the Peace Pact advocated by the National Peace Council in anticipation of the December 7 elections.

Mr. Nketia expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of past Peace Pacts, highlighting that they had not achieved their intended outcomes, particularly referencing the 2020 elections, during which eight NDC members were allegedly killed by national security operatives without accountability.

During an August 20 meeting with the National Peace Council at the NDC headquarters, Mr. Nketia detailed the certain conditions for the NDC’s participation in the Peace Pact.

The NDC is demanding that the recommendations from the investigation into the violence during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election be fully implemented.

They also want those responsible for election-related violence in the last election to be prosecuted, stressing the importance of justice and prevention.

The party is calling for accountability regarding irregularities in the printing of ballot papers and insists that visible measures be taken to prevent such issues from happening again.

They are also pushing for a thorough investigation into the missing IT equipment from the Electoral Commission’s (EC) warehouse, expressing concerns about the integrity of the EC’s systems and the potential bias of its staff.

Furthermore, the NDC is urging the President to publicly commit to respecting the results of the 2024 elections. Lastly, the party insists that the Peace Pact should be signed by key figures, including the Inspector General of Police, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, and the National Security Coordinator, before they will consider signing it themselves.

Source: Citinewsroom.com