News Guide Africa

Tag: Minority in Parliament

  • Minority Demands Immediate Increase In Farm-Gate Price Of Cocoa 

    Happy Cocoa Farmer

     

    Read Full Press Statement Below:

     

    For Immediate Release

    02/04/2024

     

    MINORITY IN PARLIAMENT DEMANDS IMMEDIATE INCREASE IN FARM-GATE PRICE OF COCOA

     

    The Minority in Ghana’s Parliament has taken notice of recent developments on the international market relative to the prices of cocoa. 

     

    We have observed that global cocoa prices have been soaring in recent time, hitting an all-time high of $10,000 USD per ton. 

     

    The recent increase in cocoa prices on the world market has been occasioned by the global shortage of cocoa owing to a significant decline in cocoa output in Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire, who contribute approximately 70 percent of the total volume of cocoa produced globally. 

     

    The NDC is deeply concerned about the sharp decline in Ghana’s cocoa production volumes under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government. This situation is set to get even worse, as Ghana’s cocoa production for the 2023/2024 crop season is reported to be about 450,000mt; the lowest in the past two decades. 

     

    This sad situation is fast-eroding the incomes and purchasing power of our already-impoverished cocoa farmers. As a matter of fact, the living conditions of Ghanaian cocoa farmers keep worsening by the day due to the sharp decline in cocoa output. 

     

    Clearly, this negative trend will persist if the farm-gate price of cocoa is not significantly increased, to compensate for the loss in income of farmers.

     

    It is instructive to note, that the average international market price of cocoa currently stands at Ten Thousand United States Dollars ($10,000) per ton (16 bags) of cocoa. This is equivalent to GHS130,000 per ton, at a conservative exchange rate of $1 to GHS13. This means that a bag of cocoa is currently being sold on the world market at about GHS8,125, while the Ghanaian farmer is being paid a paltry GHS1,308 by the insensitive and corrupt Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government. 

     

    This is a clear rip-off of our hard-working cocoa farmers by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government who continue to mismanage the cocoa sector. 

     

    The NDC caucus in Parliament therefore demands that the government immediately increases the farm-gate price of cocoa to reflect the recent unprecedented hike in the world market prices of cocoa. 

     

    We are appalled by the continuous mismanagement of the cocoa sector and the shortchanging of our hard working Ghanaian cocoa farmers by the ruling NPP government. 

     

    Last year, Ghana lost about 150,000mt of cocoa valued at almost $400,000,000 to smuggling. This was occasioned by the fact that, our hardworking cocoa farmers were not offered competitive prices by the insensitive Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government. 

     

    The reoccurrence of this situation this year, will have dire consequences for the cocoa industry which is on the verge of collapse due to gross mismanagement and corruption. 

     

    It is sad to note, that while our hard working cocoa farmers continue to be shortchanged, COCOBOD’s administrative expenses which stood at less than GHS500 million in 2016, increased to GHS1.7 billion in 2020, and ballooned further to GHS2.5 billion in 2021.

     

    Only this week, we sighted an official document in which the Management of COCOBOD has granted approval for the purchase of fifteen (15) ipad keyboards for its Board of Directors at a staggering cost of GHS4,500.00 per unit. 

     

    This is the clearest evidence yet, that the management of COCOBOD have prioritized waste and the comfort of their offices at the expense of hard working cocoa farmers. Also, it is symptomatic of the recklessness and mismanagement that have plagued COCOBOD for the past seven years which accounts for the cumulative losses of GHS13.62 billion, recorded by COCOBOD since 2017. 

     

    It is the considered view of the Minority Caucus, that urgent steps be taken to save our dying cocoa sector now. It is therefore imperative, that government significantly increases the farm-gate price of cocoa, in consonance with the current world market price of cocoa.

     

    This we believe will incentivise our farmers and discourage the smuggling of cocoa beans amid all the challenges bedevilling the industry.

     

    ***END***

     

     SIGNED.

    ERIC OPOKU (MP)

    (Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agric & Cocoa Affairs and Member of Parliament for Asunafo South).

     

  • Team ‘SAGLEMI NOT FOR SALE’ Joins Minority’s BoG Governor Must Go Demo

     

     

    Read Full Press Statement:

     

    TEAM SAGLEMI NOT FOR SALE JOINS THE NDC AHEAD OF THE ADDISON MUST GO DEMONSTRATION

     

    0593787825

     

    It has become relevant on the calendar of Team Saglemi Not For Sale to collaborate the unwavering efforts of the National Democratic congress in their undefiled determination and bid to demonstrate humongously against the inept administration of BOG Dr Addison’s led leadership especially on the recent gargantuan loss of over GHS 60billion owing to corruption, lawlessness and inept leadership.

     

    1. Team Saglemi firmly holds the position of the NDC that the B.O.G boss must resign immediately together with his team of directors for the GHS60.8 billion loss they have caused this country.

     

    2. Mr Addison together with his team of directors following the resignation must be arraigned before court for violating and contravening the Financial management act 5% treashold of printing money to cushion the central government especially when some transactions didn’t receive parliamentary approval

     

    3.Bank of Ghana must officially apologize to Ghanaians for their infamous act of collapsing our indigenous banks and other financial institutions. They have made more humiliating losses than them.

     

    4. More importantly, as the convener for Team Saglemi Not For Sale, I officially wish to declare solidarity and our unflinching stance to be part of the impending patriotic struggle targeted at corruption and greed

    Signed

    Nana Otu Darko

    0593787825

     

  • NDC calls on Speaker to allow debate on NPP-cooked GNPC/Genser report

    NDC MPs

     

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

    The Minority in Parliament has called on the Speaker to provide opportunities for the debate of the GNPC/Genser which is currently in the public domain.

     

    The Minority is not in agreement with the misleading information the report has dumped out about the gas sales.

     

    Their grievances was contained in a press statement released today.

     

     

    Read full statement below:

     

    Press Release

     

    For Immediate Release

     

    17th August, 2023

     

    *REPORT ON GENSER/GNPC GAS SALES AGREEMENT*

     

    My attention has been drawn to a report on some social media platforms allegedly signed by the chairman of the committee on Mines and Energy, Hon. Samuel Atta-Akyea on the Gas Sales Agreement (GSA) between Genser Energy and GNPC.

     

    For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to categorically disassociate myself from the content and intents of the said report as it does not accurately reflect my position and that of the minority in its entirety.

     

    Firstly, it is true that I have consistently maintained that the GSA is not fairly priced and will result in significant losses to the state. It cannot therefore be the case that I disagreed with the position of ACEP/Imani that the GSA in its current form will result in huge losses to the state.

     

    More importantly, it is inaccurate to report that the entire membership of the committee disagreed with my position.

     

    More importantly, the said report contains factual inaccuracies and assumptions that do not address the key issues of value for money.

     

    From the evidence, the current Genser/GNPC gas price of US$2.790/mmBTU is far lower than the actual commodity price of US$4.879/mmBTU as approved by the PURC. The critical question the report fails to address is which entity will eventually pay for the price differential of about US$2mmBTU, which runs into billions of cedis over the contract tenure?

     

    It is my hope that the referral by the speaker to the joint committees of the Finance/Mines and Energy will provide the opportunity to address the critical issues as noted.

     

    -Signed-

    John Abdulai Jinapor—MP

    (Ranking Member Mines and Energy Committee)

  • NDC still wants government to cut-down number of ministers…despite approval of new ministerial nominees

    NDC still wants government to cut-down number of ministers…despite approval of new ministerial nominees

    PRESS STATEMENT

     

    For Immediate Release:

    25th March, 2023

     

    NDC REAFFIRMS ITS POSITION ON THE NEED FOR THE PRESIDENT TO DOWNSIZE HIS GOVERNMENT IN THE WAKE OF PARLIAMENT’S APPROVAL OF NEW MINISTERIAL NOMINEES.

     

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken notice of the outcome of a vote on new Ministerial nominees on the floor of Parliament, yesterday, 24th March, 2023.

     

    Ghanaians would recall that the party issued a directive to the Minority Caucus in Parliament to reject the new Ministerial nominees a few weeks ago. This was in alignment with the pervasive view of Ghanaians that this moment of economic crisis and financial haircuts, calls for the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to show by example that it is willing to reduce its expenditure by downsizing its government among other things.

     

    We note however, that some Members of Parliament on the side of the NDC Minority for reasons known to themselves, elected to place their parochial interest ahead of the interest of Ghanaians.

     

    The party, on behalf of all Ghanaians, condemns this conduct in no uncertain terms, as it not only betrays the expressed will of the party, but the desire of the Ghanaian people and constitutes a massive stab in the back of the good people of Ghana.

     

    The party wishes to reaffirm its principled position for President Akufo-Addo to downsize his bloated government and reset his priorities to reflect the difficult times Ghanaians find themselves in.

     

    The party commends highly, the leadership of the Minority caucus in Parliament and Members of Parliament who stayed true to the expectations of the party and the Ghanaian people. We will stop at nothing to identify them and publicly laud them in due course. Their loyalty and patriotism will not be forgotten.

     

    It must be noted that, the National Democratic Congress as a body corporate, has multiple structures, represented by elected and appointed officers who are expected to act in the supreme interest of suffering Ghanaians, particularly the over six (6) million supporters of the party. The party as a corporate entity therefore bears no liability for the deviant action of the few self-seeking Members of Parliament who betrayed the collective cause of the party and the nation.

     

    Undoubtedly, our country currently faces the biggest economic meltdown in living memory. It is therefore unpardonable for any person, not to talk of a Member of Parliament who believes in the ideals of the NDC, to lend support to the ongoing recklessness by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government.

     

    The NDC shall continue to hold the government accountable for the socio-economic quandary that our country finds itself and present our superior alternatives to Ghanaians in our bid to rescue the soul of our nation.

     

    We are not oblivious of the fact that, the road to rescue will at a point become rough, howbeit such obstacles only strengthen our resolve to achieve the rescue mission. We shall leave no stone unturned in our quest to bring our dear nation out of our present economic doldrums.

     

    Signed.

    Comrade Fifi Fiavi Kwetey

    General Secretary

  • “I am also disappointed” – Mahama expresses in a write-up on approval of new ministerial nominees

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

     

    Former President, John D. Mahama, has taken to his facebook wall to express his disappointment at the outcome of voting in parliament yesterday on the ministerial nominees.

     

    He noted that, Ghanaians and himself were sorely disappointed yesterday when several members of the Minority for some parochial and personal interest voted against the principled position adopted by the NDC party not add up to already bloated NPP-led government.

     

    The NDC party and its members in Parliament, weeks a go declared their intention on a principled position not to approve any new ministers until the President has taken steps to significantly reduce the size of his government. But, the voting in the House yesterday was disappointing many Ghanaians who had put their trust in the hands of the minority.

     

    “Those responsible for this betrayal must do some serious soul searching and learn to place national interest over personal interest”, John Mahama shared his disappointment.

     

    “Equally disappointing is the President’s refusal to seize the opportunity to realign and downsize his bloated government when the NPP flagbearer hopefuls and the Chieftaincy minister resigned.

     

    “I still believe, as I said in Ho recently, that in this time of crisis, government can still run efficiently with not more than 60 ministers.”

     

    Read full statement below:

     

    A couple of weeks ago, our NDC group in Parliament announced a principled position not to approve any new ministers until the President has taken steps to significantly reduce the size of his government.

     

    This position was supported by a broad section of Ghanaians and public advocacy groups.

     

    Unfortunately, Ghanaians were sorely disappointed yesterday when several members of the Minority for some parochial and personal interest voted against the principled position adopted by the party.

     

    I am also disappointed.

     

    Those responsible for this betrayal must do some serious soul searching and learn to place national interest over personal interest.

     

    Equally disappointing is the President’s refusal to seize the opportunity to realign and downsize his bloated government when the NPP flagbearer hopefuls and the Chieftaincy minister resigned.

     

    Clearly in this time of crisis and excruciating hardships, President Akufo-Addo, his NPP administration and some of our MPs are out of tune with the mood of the Ghanaian people.

     

    I still believe, as I said in Ho recently, that in this time of crisis, government can still run efficiently with not more than 60 ministers.

     

    For our grassroots members and all Ghanaians who are disappointed by this insensitivity, I urge you not to despair.

     

    2024 offers us an opportunity to work hard to defeat this reckless government that seeks to destroy our democracy and the very livelihoods of Ghanaians- an opportunity for us to work and build the Ghana we all want from January 07, 2025.

     

    https://www.facebook.com/100044152253932/posts/pfbid0XQkruf2kZqY5bb3zBam2NobaUofQcoEMi31tbN71KyDHyrKvdS8kc47LA1XsKR9Jl/?mibextid=cr9u03