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Cracking the whip on leakers of sensitive and secret information in parliament
Very recently, the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Honourable Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin had the opportunity to caution against the practice of the leakage of sensitive parliamentary documents to the press. Addressing a staff durbar held on April 2, 2022 in the chamber of Parliament, Mr. Bagbin said “the practice reduces the reputation of the institution and what it represents in the eyes of the citizens.” He advised the staff to work as a team to ensure that Ghana’s Legislature attains its vision of developing into a model parliament worthy of emulation by other Legislative institutions.
TIMELY WARNING BY THE SPEAKER
The Speaker has, indeed, hit the nail right on the head by cautioning his charges to be circumspect about the leakage of vital and classified information on proceedings in the august House to some media personnel who for political advantage or expediency will like to twist the contents of these documents for their personal gains. If really what the Speaker is saying reflects the true state of events in parliament, then those engaged in that criminal and dastardly act must bow their heads in shame.
The parliamentarians and indeed, the entire staff of the Parliamentary Service should by now know that the institution in which they belong, which is the second arm of government- the Executive being the first and the judiciary being the third, is the most sensitive, crucial and important body in our dear country as far as democratic governance is concerned. It is a house of records, therefore, everything it does must be kept secret and well protected. If in an attempt to expose and malign the authority of this noble institution, some aggrieved members will go to the extent of releasing classified and official secret document to the media, then we are not safe in this country. The institution of parliament must be equated to National Security where vital information is kept from the public knowledge because it has the tendency to create confusion and sometimes destabilise the country.
PARLIAMENTARY FUNCTIONS
Parliament which is made up of all representatives of various constituents across the country, controls and guides the government in the day to day administration of governance. It is the ultimate authority for making laws. Across the globe, Parliament in any nation, has the powers to abolish an existing law, replace the old abolished law with new law, amend existing laws and create new laws.
The 1992 Constitution of Ghana has given our parliament a huge oversight responsibility and a lot of power to carry out various functions of holding a check on the Executive on public expenditure as well as being accountable to the people who gave them their mandate to rule this country. Parliament, as a strong institution, has the power to determine its own procedure and agenda and neither the President nor even the courts may interfere in its internal affairs.
IMMUNITY ENJOYED BY PARLIAMENT
Our Parliament enjoys a wide scope of immunity, even from court processes as provided for under the constitution. Quite apart from this internal provisions, our constitution gives parliament the power and authority to disapprove public expenditure, grants, loans, taxes and even the entire national budget. This presupposes that nothing can be done by government and for that matter the Executive arm without the approval of parliament. The appointment of Ministers, Article 71 office holders which include the Chief Justice and the Justices of the Supreme Court as well as other appointments in key positions in the various sectors of the economy is done with the tacit endorsement by parliament. That in essence shows how powerful this great institution is as far as our young democracy is concerned.
CURRENT COMPOSITION OF PARLIAMENT
Currently, the membership of our parliament which is significantly a two-party state is a hung parliament with no absolute majority of legislators. Out of the total 275 seats, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition National Democratic Congress have a split vote of 137-137 respectively with one independent member who has decided to align himself to the ruling NPP. Unlike the previous parliament in which the Speaker normally came from the ruling party, this time round, we have a Speaker came from the opposition NDC. The situation now has made parliament very active, especially in this hung parliament. Even though, at times, there are delays in the passage of some of the bills such as the controversial E-Levy (Electronic Transaction) Bill, which took about five months before approval and passage, the Speaker to some extent, has been resolute and firm in dealing with issues in the house. The two deputies, Messrs Joseph Osei-Owusu (First Deputy) and MP for Bekwai and Andrew Asiamah Amoako (Second Deputy), the only independent candidate, have all performed well so far.
Currently, the house has 40 female MPs with 20 each from both the ruling NPP and the opposition NDC. Even though the representation of women in our parliament continues to be very low, those available continue to make an impact in parliamentary proceedings as they articulate the concerns of their constituents effectively.
CONSULTATION AND CONSENSUS BUILDING AMONG MPs
It is important to state that the present state of our parliament where there is no clear majority in the house with the two main parties having 137-137 MPs, demands that there should be adequate consultations by the two parties as well as dialogue and consensus building to avoid the unnecessary conflicts which continue to be the bane in the house most recently. The lack of consultation and consensus building between these two parties in recent times, generated heated arguments and in some cases resulted in commotion and fight among our MPs.
That lack of trust between the two parties in the house in which one party would like to outdo the other, has necessitated the leakage of vital and official documents to media personnel sympathetic to each other to either publish or air information to defame or malign the two parties. It is time for our MPs to know that the positions they occupy are so sensitive, therefore, they ought to behave maturely and professionally.
LIVING UP TO THAT TITLE HONOURABLE
For the Speaker to have cautioned members and, indeed, the staff of the Parliamentary Service to stop giving out parliamentary documents to the press presupposes that the practice is on-going in the house and this must stop immediately to protect the integrity and sanctity of our august Parliament. Members should know that the people gave them their mandate to represent and serve their interests in parliament not to involve themselves in issues detrimental to the progress of our dear country. We call them honourable and we expect them to do things that will conform to the titles we have bestowed on them.
It is time the leadership of the House for that matter the Speaker took steps to crack the whip to stop all the negative acts including the leakages of vital and sensitive documents to the media to protect the integrity of Parliament and make it more sensitive and proactive in its avowed constitutional mandate in Ghana.
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By Charles Neequaye
When Abigail Fremah steps up to the Armwrestling table, the noise fades, the tension settles, and order takes over.
Despite a calm, but firm and meticulous disposition, she has become one of the quiet forces shaping Ghana’s growing reputation in the sport, not as an athlete, but a referee trusted on the continental stage.
Abigail’s journey into Armwrestling did not begin at the table. Like many Ghanaian sports enthusiasts, she grew up playing several disciplines. Football was her first love, but she also featured in volleyball and basketball during her school years. Sports, she says, was simply a way of life not just for her.
“It runs through the family. All my siblings are into sports,” she stated.
“I was involved in almost every sport in school, football, volleyball, netball, hockey; I did everything,” she recalls.
Her academic background in Health, Physical Education and Recreation laid a solid foundation for her sporting career. While on scholarship at the university (University of Cape Coast), she often used her modest budget to support young athletes, sometimes sharing skills and even T-shirts at programmes she attended. Giving back, she explains, has always been part of her motivation.
However, as she matured as an athlete, Abigail made a critical self-assessment.
“Armwrestling involves a lot of strength,” she admits. “Looking at my body type, I realised I couldn’t fit properly as a competitive athlete.”
That moment of honesty pushed her to a different trajectory but equally important path in sports; which is officiating.
During her National Service, she was encouraged by Mr Charles Osei Asibey, the President of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF), to consider officiating. He introduced her to a technical official, Mr Hussein Akuerteh Addy, who formally took her through the basics of Armwrestling officiating in 2021.
“I started as a case official,” she says. “We moved from region to region every week, officiating competitions. That’s where it all began.”
By 2022, Abigail was actively involved in national assignments, though she missed the African Championship that year. Her breakthrough came in 2023, when Ghana hosted the African Armwrestling Championship.
It was her first experience officiating at a major international competition and it changed everything.
“That was my first national and international exposure at the same time,” she says. “It really opened my eyes.”
Today, Abigail is a World Junior Armwrestling Referee, a status earned through performance, consistency and discipline. She explains that progression in officiating was not automatic.
“It’s all about performance, your appearance at African Championships, your conduct, how you handle pressure; that’s what takes you to the world level,” she stressed.
As a referee, Abigail’s priority is safety and fairness. Armwrestling, she notes, comes with risks, particularly injuries to the wrists, elbows, shoulders and arms.
“If athletes don’t follow the rules or refuse to listen to officials, injuries can happen,” she explains, adding that focus was everything.
Before every match, she ensures that all equipment which includes elbow pads, hand pegs and table alignment were properly set. Athletes are not allowed to cover their elbows, must grip correctly, and must follow the referee’s commands precisely.
“We make sure everything is fixed before the grip,” she says. “Once we say ‘Ready… Go’, there should be no confusion.”
She is also firm on discipline. Warnings are issued for infractions, and repeated misconduct attracts penalties.
“The referee must be respected, if you don’t listen, the rules will deal with you,” she says.
Abigail credits her confidence partly to her sporting family background. Her mother was a volleyball player, while other family members also participated in sports. Though they were initially concerned about her safety, her rise to the top reassured them.
“They were afraid at first,” she admits. “But they were also very proud, especially because some of them never got the opportunity to reach this level.”
Looking ahead, Abigail is optimistic about the future of Armwrestling in Ghana. In less than a decade, the country has produced African and world-level medalists, a sign, she believes, of great things to come for Ghana.
“Whenever we go out, we come back with medals such as gold and silver,” she says, and to her that was a sign of growth.
In the next five to ten years, Abigail sees herself rising to become a World Master Referee, the highest officiating level in the sport. Until then, her routine remains intense, training four times a week, working closely with athletes, standing on her feet for hours, and constantly refining her understanding of the rules.
“I love this sport,” she says simply. “That love is what keeps me going.”
Abigail encouraged women to be bold and intentional about their place in sports saying “don’t limit yourself because of fear or stereotypes.”
She also urged women to invest in learning, discipline and consistency, stressing that respect was earned through performance.
For Abigail, as Ghana’s armwrestlers continue to make their mark, she will remain where she is most effective at the table, ensuring the game is played right.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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As he had promised Aperkeh, the elderly man and his wife and three daughters stopped by Aperkeh’s parents’ house. Mr Amando and his family were preparing to settle in for the night.
“Brother Ben and family”, Mr Joshua Amando said warmly, “although I know you are here on a matter that can hardly be described as joyous, it is still good to see you. You are welcome. Please sit down while I bring you water”.
“Yes, we will take water, even though we are hardly thirsty, because this is our home”.
“Okay, Ben”, he started after they had drank, “Let me go straight to the point. My daughter Priscilla has told me about the goings on between her brother Aperkeh and our daughter Stella.
Before informing me, Priscilla had expressed concern to Aperkeh about some habits he is adopting, especially the late nights and the drinking. She tells me that one Saturday morning, she was there when Stella complained about his drinking and some girls who had come to the house to look for him, and he assaulted her.
I called him and complained, but all he could say was that I don’t know what caused him to react that way, so I could not judge him. Now he does not answer my calls.
I have sent Priscilla to his house to call him, but he has refused to come. Unfortunately, Ben, my son is a much different person than the young boy who completed university and started work at the bank. I am really embarrassed about his treatment of Stella”.
“Joshua, let me assure you that even though what is happening is very unfortunate, it will not affect our relationship.
We have been friends since childhood, and I thought that with their parents’ blessing, the relationship between Aperkeh and Stella would grow to become a blessing to all of us. But there appears to be a real challenge now.
Stella thinks that Aperkeh wants her out of his house, and indeed Aperkeh himself told me that, about an hour ago.
So I’m taking my daughter home. I suggest that you do what you can to straighten him out, but if it does not work out, let’s accept the situation and continue to be one family.
I am sure that being the well behaved girl that she is, Stella will meet a young man who will cherish her. Fortunately, this problem is happening early in the day, so they can sort things out if possible, or move on with their lives if they are unable to stay together”.
“I’m really grateful for that, Ben. I will do my best in the next few days to reason with him, because apart from the relationship with Stella, Aperkeh is risking his job and career with this lifestyle.
A good job and salary offers an opportunity to gather momentum in life, not to destroy yourself”.
“Okay Brother Joshua. We will say goodnight. I hope to hear positive news from you”.
As he descended in the lift from the fourth to the ground floor, Aperkeh wondered who would be waiting at the reception to see him at nine on Monday morning. He had spent good time with both of his new girls during the weekend, so it had to be someone else. He got out of the lift and pulled a face when he saw Priscilla.
“Priscilla”, he said as he sat down by her, “what do you want here? You know Monday morning is a busy time at the bank. I am a very busy person, so say what you want, I have work to do”.
“You are very funny, Aperkeh. You are telling me, your sister, that you have work to do, so I should hurry up? Okay, Dad says I should advise you to come home tonight, because he wants to discuss the issue of Stella with you. He sent me to you twice, and you did not come.
He has tried to call you quite a number of times, but you have refused to answer his calls. He says that if you do not come tonight, you will be very surprised at what he will do. He says you will not like it at all, so better come.
“What is all this? Why won’t you people leave me alone? Stella is very disrespectful. I told her that if she wanted to continue to live in my house, she must obey me. It is that simple.
She chose to continue ordering me about, controlling me in my own house, so I told her that if she could not live under my conditions she should leave. And she left. In fact, her own father came and took her away. So what again?’’
“How did she disobey or control you? Was she complaining about your continuous drinking and late nights? And did you slap her on several occasions because of that? Did you tell her that if she could not live under your conditions she should leave? You actually said that to her father? You have forgotten that before she came to live with you, our two parents met and agreed, and gave it their blessing?’
“Why don’t you leave, Priscilla? I don’t have to listen to all that”. “Okay, I will go. Your father who gave birth to you and educated you to university level sends me to you, and you ask me to leave? I wish you would defy him, and refuse to come home as he’s telling you, because he is planning to give you the discipline you badly need. Let me tell you. Stella is such a beautiful and decent girl, and I assure you that someone will grab her before you say Jack. You are only 30 years old, and you have already become a drunkard”.
As he walked towards the lift, Aperkeh decided on what to do. He would go home, and calmly listen to what his father had to say. The old man was very unpredictable, and he wouldn’t dare ignore him. So he would take all the insults and threats, but as for Stella she was history. According to Priscilla, Stella was beautiful and all that, but she had not seen the two curvaceous princesses who were all over him, ready to do anything he asked. And these were not barely literate waakye girls, but university graduates from wealthy homes, really classy girls. With stuff like that, who needs a waakye girl? He smiled as he took his seat.
A few minutes to five, Aperkeh was packing up to leave for home to meet his dad when his phone rang. It was Priscilla.
“Aperkeh, Dad says you don’t need to bother to come. Stella’s dad says she came to him early this morning to plead that she would rather stay at home than return to your house. She thinks you are already decided to be rid of her, and she does not want to risk being assaulted again. So it’s done. You can go ahead and enjoy the nice life you have started”.
Before he could tell her to go to hell, Priscilla hanged up the line. He was partially stung that his dad had virtually cut him off. The last thing anyone would want was to fall out of relationship with his own family, which had always supported him.
But the truth was he was no longer interested in Stella. What was wrong with going by one’s feelings? He could only hope that one day, his parents and sister would try to reason with him.
By Ekow de Heer
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