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Parliament is the voice of the people – Speaker Bagbin
The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has stated that Parliament is the legislative arm of government that represents the voice of the Ghanaian people.
The Rt Hon Speaker made the statement when a six-member delegation from the University of Media Arts and Communication led by the Rector of the Institute of Journalism, Prof. Christiana Hammond paid a courtesy call on him to present a proposal on upcoming courses in Effective Political Communication to Members of Parliament.
In furtherance, Mr. Speaker said “Parliament is the voice of the people particularly in jurisdictions that focus on that voice including the commonwealth.”
He noted that political communication plays a central role in the business of Parliament adding that Parliament has often made frantic efforts to use resource persons to teach new Members of Parliament in Political Communication.
Additionally, Mr. Speaker revealed that Parliament has in recent times embarked on reforms with a strategic plan where the Public Affairs Department has now been split into three Departments namely Media Relations Department, Public Engagement and Parliamentary Broadcasting to communicate effectively and ensure a robust citizen participation.
The UniMAC Faculty seeks to collaborate with the Parliamentary Training Institute to teach and train Members of Parliament with programs in Effective political communication to obtain Diplomas and Degrees.
This will help enhance the capacity and sharpen the skills of Members of Parliament to effectively communicate with the citizenry.
President John Dramani Mahama has visited the Akosombo Dam to assess the impact of a fire incident at a substation operated by the Ghana Grid Company.
The fire is reported to have caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts from the national power grid, affecting electricity supply in parts of the country.
During the visit, he inspected ongoing restoration works and received briefings from engineers on efforts to restore power. He commended them for what he described as a swift and professional response to the situation.
According to him, the government remains committed to restoring stable electricity supply as quickly as possible.
He added that steps are also being taken to strengthen the resilience of Ghana’s energy infrastructure to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Ghana Grid Company has not yet provided a detailed timeline for full restoration, but work is ongoing to bring affected systems back on stream.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, says he and his deputy have publicly filed their annual tax returns to demonstrate leadership and encourage compliance among citizens.
In a facebook post, he explained that the move was meant to show that public officials must lead by example when it comes to fulfilling civic duties.
“Leadership must be demonstrated, not declared,” he said.
He commended Ghanaian taxpayers for their continued contribution to national development, noting that tax compliance plays a key role in sustaining government activities.
According to him, paying taxes is both a legal and moral responsibility. He stressed that all citizens, including public officials, professionals, and businesses, are equal before the law and must meet their tax obligations.
He added that tax revenue is essential for funding key sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and security.
The minister praised the Ghana Revenue Authority for its work, especially during the ongoing Tax and Good Governance Month in April. He said the initiative helps to educate the public and promote voluntary compliance.
He urged the authority to intensify public education and continue reforms aimed at simplifying tax processes, reducing compliance costs, and improving transparency.
He further encouraged individuals and businesses that are yet to file their returns to do so promptly, adding that support systems and digital platforms are available to assist them.
He said building a strong tax culture would strengthen the country’s economy, improve accountability, and promote fairness in society.
By: Jacob Aggrey
