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‘Seek advise from God not human’
A Catholic Priest of the St Augustine Catholic Church at Ashaiman, Reverend Father TaperaMuserere (SVD) has advised people to be careful of those they take advice from.
He said that some people gave pieces of advice based on their selfish interests and that they sometimes had hidden intentions unknown to those who sought their help.
Delivering a sermon at the Second Mass in the Sixth Sunday in the Ordinary Time on the theme “blessed are those who trust in the Lord”, Rev FrMuserere said the best thing for anyone to do when he or she needed advice was to go to God in prayer.
He said “God never fails and is always ready to help His children when they call on Him.”
Making reference to the Bible story of John the Baptist, Herod and Herodias, he said that when Herod’s daughter consulted her mother about what to ask for from her father after impressing her father and his guests at a banquet, his mother ill advised her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.
He said Herodias had an ulterior motive for prompting her daughter to make that demand because she (Herodias) had always been condemned by John the Baptist about her marriage which her daughter was probably not privy to.
The Catholic Priest said wrong counsel from people including parents, spouses, friends , superiors among others had been the reason for the fall of some people because they trusted them.
He said it was important for all to make God the centre of their lives but not replace Him with our loved ones.
He said those who trusted in God and obeyed Him were never betrayed nor disappointed and, therefore, advised people to always trust in God and obey Him.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Ashaiman.
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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.
