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Flouting COVID-19 protocols: Apaak berates NPP leadership for not sanctioning members
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South in the Upper East Region, Dr Clement Apaak, has berated the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for just scolding its members for flouting COVID-19 protocols during their primaries.
He expressed disappointment in President Nana Akufo-Addo for just scolding members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for flouting COVID-19 protocols during their primaries and described the President’s lack of firm action as very ‘shameful’ in an open letter addressed to the President on June 28, 2020.
Dr Apaak’s abhorrence to the President’s ‘mild rebuke’ stems from the fact that some members of the public having conducted similar offences have been prosecuted and jailed saying “having opportunity to address the nation a day after the NPP primaries on June 21, the President failed to mention the unfortunate show of impunity by members and supporters of his party.
“Indeed, many videos and pictures that were circulated, showed identifiable faces, which should pose no difficulty to law enforcement to identify culprits, if the President wished to apply the law but, as expected, a week on, the President, having grabbed another opportunity to address the issue.
“After a week of open criticism from a cross section of Ghanaians, to the effect of discriminating against some class of Ghanaians, President Akufo-Addo shamefully pardoned his party members for openly offending his own law.
“To close churches and order citizens about in a certain manner without same applying to his party members, smacks of hypocrisy, divisiveness, and is detrimental to national unity, President Akufo-Addo during his acclamation by his party on June 27, 2020, admitted that his party, the NPP, failed to fully comply with some of the COVID-19 preventive measures and hygienic protocols during its parliamentary primaries and admonished them not to let that repeat itself.
“This past weekend, our party came to the end of the processes that we have to go through to prepare for the elections in December to prepare for the primaries in constituencies where we have sitting MPs, unfortunately, in our enthusiasm and sheer unbridled joy, we broke some of the COVID-19 safety protocols and it should not happen again,” President Akufo-Addo cautioned. -ghanaweb.com
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Speaker of Parliament inaugurates open Parliament Steering Committee, launches action plan
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has launched the Open Parliament Steering Committee and the Open Parliament Action Plan.
The ceremony was under the theme “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action.”
The Speaker highlighted the critical role Parliament plays in translating the will of the people into inclusive legislation, responsive policies, and accountable governance.
“The International Day of Parliamentarianism is worth celebrating, as it offers an opportunity not only to recognise and promote achievements in strengthening democratic governance, but also to pause and reflect on the remaining gaps in institutionalising parliamentary democracy,” he said.
He noted that the event was scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Parliamentarianism to reinforce the importance of open and inclusive governance.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, stated that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is intended to recognise the vital role Parliaments play globally as pillars of democratic governance.
He noted that this marks the first time Ghana is formally observing the day.
“The gravity of our observance is further accentuated as we convene to witness the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan by the Open Government Partnership Caucus,” he said.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, described the Open Parliament Action Plan as a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between Parliament and the public.
She said the plan represents a bold commitment to making Parliament more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Ghanaians.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the launch as a key milestone in the effort to build a citizen-focused and accountable Parliament.
He added that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is a call to action to recommit to the highest standards of public service and democratic accountability.
The inauguration was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, members of the Open Parliament Steering Committee, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, Parliamentary Network Africa, representatives from civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, student bodies, the Parliamentary Press Corps, and other media partners.
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NACOC declares drug menace a national emergency
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior has paid a working visit to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to engage with its leadership and assess operational challenges hampering the fight against illicit drugs.
In a detailed presentation, Dr. Basha Ligbi, Head of the Commission’s Research Bureau, highlighted critical setbacks including broken body scanners at airport terminals, inadequate office infrastructure, overcrowded detention facilities, and deteriorating vehicles.
He also called for the Commission’s headquarters to be reclassified as a security zone, citing growing security risks due to private encroachment and nearby high-rise developments.
Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obiba Mantey, described the escalating drug trade as a national emergency, warning that drug barons now rival armed robbers in threat level and are gaining influence at the highest levels.
He appealed for stronger institutional support and morale-boosting interventions to preserve the integrity of NACOC officers.
Chairman of the Committee and MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, assured the Commission of the Committee’s commitment to escalate the concerns to Parliament and engage key justice sector stakeholders to fast-track reforms in support of NACOC’s mandate.
