News
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The L.I. was previously withdrawn as a public backlash over the proposal to grant Members of Parliament (MPs) similar privileges.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
You won’t regret, I’ll make you proud – Newly elected GBA president
The newly elected President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Efua Ghartey, has vowed to lead the Association towards a united and progressive future.
Speaking after her historic election in Kumasi on Wednesday, Ghartey pledged to resolve divisions and end factions within the GBA, emphasising the importance of unity.
She stressed that the Association’s success depends on the collective effort of all members and called for a shared commitment to advancing the GBA’s goals.
According to her, “The Bar has spoken and from this day forward it is a united Bar in service. No divisions, no factions. It is over. It is time that we put shoulders to the plough and work to deliver what we believe should be the bar in progress.”
“This indeed is something new, something novel that the bar for the first time has entrusted leadership to the ladies and I know that with God’s help, we shall make you proud,” she said.
“We shall serve you with all our ability and we shall make sure that you will never regret this choice,” she stated.
Mrs Ghartey’s election is being hailed as a transformative moment for the GBA, as it ushers in new leadership that is expected to bring fresh perspectives to the legal profession in Ghana.
She polled 1,278 votes to beat her closest contender Agbesi Dzakpasu who polled 1060.
Mrs Ghartey, a seasoned lawyer of over 30 years’ standing at the Bar and with an extensive track record of service to the GBA, was running for national president for the third time.
Her two previous attempts ended in a narrow loss to Tony Forson, the immediate past president of the GBA, and Yaw Boafo, the current national president, by thin margins of 67 and 65 votes, respectively.
Undeterred by these setbacks, Mrs Ghartey who is also the wife of former Attorney General, Joe Ghartey, spent the past six years consistently voicing her intention to lead the GBA.
In the Vice Presidential race, Victoria Barth polled 1624 of the total votes to win the race defeating Ebenezer Kwaitoo who polled 495 votes.
Victoria Barth is an accomplished legal professional, well known for her stellar academic career at the Ghana School of Law, where she has mentored and taught many young lawyers.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
News
Alan Kyeremateng nominates Kwame Owusu Danso as running mate
Leader of the Movement for Change, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen has nominated a young lawyer and media practitioner as his running mate.
Revealing his running mate, he said “I have nominated a young person, a lawyer by profession, a political activist, and his name is Kwame Owusu Danso, as my running mate.”
Speaking after submitting his nomination to contest for the Presidency at the Electoral Commission today, he noted that someone who is a youth advocate, Kwame Owusu Danso would bring his expertise to his candidacy for the needed transformation.
Mr.Kyerematen highlighted that Mr.Owusu Danso’s selection aligns with the aspirations of Ghana’s youth who are seeking greater inclusion in governance decisions.
Additionally, he stressed that Mr.Danso’s is a youth icon, recognized for his versatility and broad talents across corporate management, law, broadcast journalism, music, and civil society activism.
He is optimistic that God will guide their footsteps to victory come December 7,2024, adding that by this step, MFC is providing a platform for a non-partisan candidate to be elected as President.
Mr.Kyerematen further noted that Mr.Danso’s consistent history of advocating for public causes, especially in promoting quality governance, further strengthens his credibility.
His work with renowned professionals such as Dr. Lloyd Amoah of the University of Ghana, and governance experts like Dr. Kojo Asante and Dr. Franklin Oduro of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), underscores his commitment to transparency and accountability.
Mr.Owusu Danso as a founding member of the Forum for Accountable Governance (FAG), Danso has been dedicated to issues such as anti-corruption, electoral reforms, environmental governance, and human rights over the period.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
