Tag: Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh

  • Blame parliament for government’s reckless borrowing – Haruna Iddrissu

    The Minority leader in parliament, has asked Parliament to shoulder some of the blame and accountability for the failure to hold the executive branch of government accountable for carrying out its duties.

    According to him, Parliament must accept the blame for the government’s excessive borrowing.

    He said it was the responsibility of Parliament to check the excessive borrowing by the government, asking: “How did we get here?”

    “Parliament’s role as the defender of the people’s interests is lost,” he said.

    He made the admission on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, during a roundtable with the core leadership of Parliament on harnessing the dividends of democracy over the last 30 years, organised by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

    Democratic dividends refer to the benefits that a democratic system can provide for society.

    Among these benefits are the provision of public goods and an institutionalised arrangement for carrying the people along in the discharge of the duties of the state.

    The discussion was on the theme: ‘Parliament and the harnessing of democratic dividends: Assignment.’

    It brought together experts, including the Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, and Dr Maame Adwoa Gyeke-Jandoh, former Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana, Legon.

    The Minority Leader admitted that Parliament was always found wanting when it came to exercising its oversight due to intense partisanship.

    He said the House struggled to determine what was best for the national interest against the interests of political parties.

    Mr. Iddrisu said the consequences of excessive borrowing were being felt by “all of us.”

    He argued that Article 181 of the Constitution gave Parliament the sole right to approve the terms and conditions of all loans.

    “So if the Minister of Finance’s borrowing has exceeded 100 percent of GDP, how did we get here?” He asked.

    He intimated that Parliament had become a “clearing house,” approving Executive members nominated to serve, without scrutinizing them and telling them in the face “that their conduct is not good enough.”

    “The Parliament of Ghana is contributing, through acts of commission or omission, to eroding public faith and confidence in our democracy,” he stressed.

  • Ahmed Suale’s killers do not deserve to live – NMC chairman

    Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, has called on state authorities to bring closure to the murder of investigative journalist, Ahmed Suale, by thoroughly investigating the matter and bringing the culprits to book.

    He made the call at the 26th GJA awards held in Accra, specifically at the Kempinski Gold Coast hotel.

    During his speech to the scores of journalists and guests who graced the occasion, he noted that persons responsible for the murder do not deserve to live. 

    “Whoever killed journalist Ahmed Suale, does not deserve to live,” he stressed. 

    He also recalled the murder of Samuel Ennin in 2007, who was the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the GJA, and whose murder remains unresolved to date. He described the situation as appalling and called for an end to brutalities against journalists in the country. 

    The event was held on the theme, “Walking the path towards Ghana’s economic recovery; the role of the media,” and saw in attendance dignitaries including the U.S Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E-Palmer, journalists from various media houses, the deputy Information Minister, Honourable Fatimatu Abubakar, etc.

    In all, 29 awards were given out. At the end of the day, Portia Gabor of TV3, walked home with the prestigious “Journalist of the Year” award.

    Francisca Enchill, a freelance journalist previously working with JoyPrime,  was also crowned the Female Journalist of the Year.

    Manuel Koranteng of JoyNews emerged winner of the Komla Dumor Most Promising Journalist for the year under review. 

     

    Source: The Independent Ghana