News
Parliament Partners with World Bank and FCDO to Strengthen Legislative Capacity
The Parliament of Ghana has held a briefing session on a new support initiative in partnership with the World Bank and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The project aims to enhance the capacity of Members of Parliament and their staff in economic and financial governance to improve legislative efficiency and oversight.
The initiative, themed “Building the Capacity of Parliamentarians for Economic and Financial Governance,” was introduced by officials from the World Bank and FCD.
They emphasized the need for continuous development of parliamentary procedures and the importance of enhancing MPs’ understanding of legislative processes to ensure accountability and informed decision-making.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, welcomed the project, noting that it will expand Parliament’s engagement with development partners and boost its ability to fulfil its constitutional duties.
He emphasized that a retooled Parliament will be better equipped to fulfil both its legislative and oversight responsibilities.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Kwaku Ricketts-Hagan, and Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, commended the support from the World Bank and FCDO, describing the initiative as timely and impactful.
In his closing remarks, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, noted that the current Parliament comprises highly educated Members who chair key committees.
He urged committee leaders to take full ownership of the project and ensure its effective implementation to strengthen Parliament’s overall performance.
The official launch of the project will be led by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban S. K. Bagbin, on June 18, 2025 at Parliament House.
News
Nii Lante Vanderpuye calls for punitive action against soldier who assaulted the Joy News journalist
The former Member of Parliament for the Odododiodio Constituency and National Coordinator for the Disaster Resilience Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has called for strict disciplinary action to be taken against the soldier who allegedly assaulted a Joy News journalist during the demolition of a facility around Spintex in Accra on July 30.
The structures is said to belong to popular businessman, Daniel McKorley, popularly known as McDan.
Condemning the incident, Mr. Vanderpuye, stated that no one deserves to be assaulted in the line of duty.
He described the attack as unacceptable and insisted that it should not be excused under any circumstance.
“No government in its right sense would endorse, sanction, or approve of any wanton disregard for the rights of a journalist,”.
“I will never support, approve of, or justify any form of assault on any individual without cause” he affirmed.
He further explained that such misconduct is often the result of over-excited and irresponsible behavior by some security personnel, and it should not be viewed as a government policy or directive.
Mr. Vanderpuye stressed that even when security officers are provoked, their response must remain within legal and ethical limits.
“You don’t just attack someone and violate their fundamental freedoms and expect to walk away free,” he stated.
He emphasized that all forms of assault, whether from a civilian, a security officer, or even between civilians are wrong and must be condemned.
He urged the Ghana Armed Forces to follow the example of the Ghana Police Service, which interdicted an officer involved in a similar assault during the recent election at Ablekuma North in 19 polling stations.
He expressed confidence in the military’s disciplinary structure.
“I expect the military to act just as the police did. The army has always been a disciplined institution,” he said.
Mr. Vanderpuye urged the public and state institutions to take such matters seriously and ensure that justice is served, especially when it involves press freedom and the rights of ordinary citizens.
News
Police mount search for man 40, over GH3 million fraud
A 40-Year-old man, Alhaji Fareed Amin Yakubu, who allegedly took GH3 million from a businesswoman under the pretext of investing it in an oil business and paying back is being sort after by the police.
This is because the accused has jumped bail.
The accused stopped attending court proceedings after he was granted bail by the Circuit in Accra, presided over by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah on October 13, 2023.
Consequently, Alhaji Yakubu, charged with defrauding by false pretence and two counts of issuing fake cheque is being tried in absentia.
Prosecuting, Superintendent of police, Mr Augustus Yirenkyi told the court that the complainant, Madam Darling Tuffour, resides at Tessa Avenue, East Legon, while the accused lives in Ashongman.
He said Alhaji Fareed approached Madam Tuffuor in the early part of 2021, claiming that he needed money to clear a consignment of oil from the port.
The court heard that Alhaji Fareed requested and was given GHS 3 million by the complainant in two tranches.
Supt. Yirenkyi said the accused claimed he would pay back shortly.
He said the complainant, being convinced that this was a young man trying to establish himself as a legitimate business man, accepted post dated cheques from Alhaji Fareed.
However, when the period came for repayment, both cheques were declined by the respective banks.
The prosecutor told the court that the complainant was asked by Alhaji Fareed to re-present the cheques later.
On those dates, the cheques bounced again.
He then went into hiding, evading the Complainant.
As last resort, the matter was reported to the Police. After a long search, publications and declaring the Accused “wanted”, he was finally apprehended and put before the Circuit Court in August 2023. The Court, in its magnanimity, granted him bail on October 10, 2023.
Similar to how he had evaded arrest for long periods of time, the accused had since refused to show up in court and once again gone into hiding.
The case against him in the Circuit Court is being tried in his absence while the hunt for him continues.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
