Category: National

The Contracts (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which seeks to amend is at the consideration stage in Parliament.

The object of the Bill is to amend the Contracts Act, 1960 (Act 25) to provide for the type of interest to be paid a sum of money due to a party to a contract or transaction entered into on behalf of the government.

It is also meant to provide persons authorised to enter into a contract or transaction on behalf of the State.

Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, said the Committee noted that the proposed Amendment was seeking to authorise only Ministers of State or persons authorized by Ministers to enter into contract on behalf of the State.

He said the mischief the Amendment was trying to cure was to avoid a situation where it might be possible for persons in authority to enter into contract on behalf of the State without the knowledge or authorisation of the Sector Minister, who was vested with the overall responsibility over the administration of the Sector by the President.

He said the committee, however, observed that the proposed Amendment appears to be applicable only to the Executive Arm of Government to the exclusion of the other two Organs of Government.

He noted that the Legislature and the Judiciary arms of Government were not headed by Ministers and were allowed by law to enter into contract.

He said accordingly, further Amendment had been proffered to allow other persons authorized by law for contracts on behalf of the state.

According to the proposed Amendments: ‘A person who wilfully enters into a contract contrary to this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than five thousand penalty units and not more than 10 thousand penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years and not more than 15 years or both.’

Mr Anyimadu-Antwi said the Committee after extensive deliberations on the Bill, was of the view that the introduction of controls into Government contracts with respect to persons authorized to enter into a contract on behalf of the State, as well as, mode of calculating interest payments due other parties in contracts was a right approach.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The national political architecture is against women’s involvement in governance at the highest level and must be changed, Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim, former Acting Chairperson of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), has said.

She said the national political structure must move from rhetoric to the implementation of all gender-sensitive systems to strengthen the foundations for women’s participation in politics and governance.

Speaking on the theme ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’ at the Ghana News Agency Dialogue, Hajia Hamdatu said there was sufficient evidence to support the assertion that women have the potential to perform extremely well at every level.

‘National governance must tap the capabilities of women to meaningfully enhance the social, economic, and political development of the country; women must be part of the decision-making process, not serve those at the table,’ Hajia Hamdatu stated.

Explaining the importance of women in modern-day politics, the former CPP Acting National Chairperson, indicated that an increase in women’s participation in politics facilitated their direct engagement in decision-making, which was a means of reducing corrupt activities.

She called for gender-sensitive governance reforms that would make all elected officials more effective and essential in promoting gender equality.

Hajia Hamdatu cited, for instance, that female legislators were more committed to peace and invested in community health as well as education, while men were more likely to work cooperatively across party lines than their female counterparts.

She explained that women’s political role in Ghana had grown and expanded steadily since the drafting of the 1992 Constitution; however, its effectiveness in terms of meaningful participation was a matter that needed to be analyzed.

‘We need more women in politics to complement the efforts of men; we are not coming to take any positions from them; we must appreciate the fact that we must all work together to build the family and nation,’ she added.

The CPP’s former Chairperson said people must not hide under the umbrella of religion and tradition to suppress women’s ability to engage in and contribute to the economy and reminded people that ‘times are changing; some men now want their women to occupy higher positions.’

She indicated that times were changing and called on women to take up positions in politics by understanding the ideology of the political party they want to stand for and critically examining how it would help to improve the communities they want to represent.

‘If political parties in the country want people to take them seriously, they should increase women’s representation in Parliament,’ she said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, on Thursday in Luanda accredited four new ambassadors during a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace.

The Angolan statesman received the credentials of the new ambassadors of Uruguay, Nester Navarro, Chile, Julio Fiol, Eswatini, Mlondi Dlamini and Australia, Tegan Brink, who will have non-resident status.

During the event, the diplomats held separate talks with the Angolan Head of State.

Meanhile, on Wednesday, President Lourenço also accredited the ambassadors of Uganda, Julius Katembeka, Vietnam, Duong Chue, and Senegal, Ndao Malik, as well as the ambassadors of Turkey, Ufuk Ekici, Cabo Verde, Júlio de Morais, and the United Arab Emirates, Salem Alshamsi, who will have resident status.

A letter of credence is a formal diplomatic letter that designates a diplomat as ambassador to another sovereign state.

The letters are addressed from one Head of State to another, asking them to give credence to the ambassador’s claim of speaking for their country.

The letters are presented personally by the ambassador-designate to the receiving head of state in a formal ceremony, marking the beginning of the ambassadorship.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, has called on Regional Governors to closely monitor the activities of media organs, Non-Governmental organizations, and political parties operating in Cameroon.

He made the call while opening the first bi-annual conference of Regional Governors which took place in Yaounde on July 17, 2023.

Minister Atanga Nji insisted on the need to rally citizens in the direction of promoting peace, living together, and fighting against hate speech and tribalism.

“Henceforth, administrative authorities will have to monitor some private media organs who organize a one-sided debate, intended to discredit government action, divide Cameroonians and break down social cohesion, promoting tribalism and hate speech,” he said.

Atanga Nji went further to send a strong message of warning to the media stating that; “Any Media practitioners who indulge in this dangerous and anti-republican activities must always bear in mind that man is the master of what he intends to say whereas man will always remain a slave to what has already been said. In simple terms, media practitioners must think twice before publishing or making public pronouncements,”.

“ Distinguish governors, I, therefore, urge you to make the best of this working session so as to continue to work towards the development of your administrative units as well as maintain public order, fight against all forms of organized crime, and closely monitor activities of political parties, associations, and NGOs,”. He continued.

Besides the 10 governors of the nation who attended the meeting, the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguelle, and the secretary of State in the Ministry of Defense in charge of National Gendarmerie, Yves Galax Etouga.

There is already an organ that monitors the media-the National Communication Council. The outing of the Territorial Administration Minister shows that the government is active in stifling the press in Cameroon.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

A group has presented a bankers’ draft of GHC3,000 to pay for the nomination forms for Michael Gyato, a New Patriotic Party parliamentary aspirant.

The group, calling itself ‘Michael Must Contest’ comprise some Branch Executives, Area Coordinators, Floating Voters, and other women wings committed to work assiduously to ensure victory for Mr Michael Yaw Gyato and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The intention is to snatch the seat from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 general elections.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), after picking the nomination forms for the former legislator, Mr Abramani Alhassan convener of ‘Michael Must Contest’ group, said the decision was informed by his good works.

‘We believe in the good works done by him during his tenure in office, delegates and party faithful decided to pick the forms for him to come and continue with projects in the Constituency,’ he said.

They said under the watch of Mr Gyato, Krachi East was elevated to Municipal status, and 16 communities connected to the national grid, among other achievements.

The group, led by Mr Alhassan, said breaking the eight was possible with Gyato and that the forms would be officially presented to the former Deputy Minister of Sanitation at the weekend in Accra.

The group was of the view that Mr Gyato is the only person within the NPP that can transform the Constituency if he is given the nod as the next member of parliament in 2025.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Angolan President, João Lourenço, re-appointed Wednesday Lando Sebastião Teta as CEO of the National Printing Press, a public company.

According to the decree issued Wednesday, the President appointed Leonel Pires Magalhães as Executive Director for Technical and Technology Area and Manuel António as Executive Director for the Administrative and Human Resources Area of the same public company.

The president also appointed Manuel João da Fonseca and Rodeth Teresa Mákina Gil as non-executive directors of the National Press.

Earlier, in another decree, the President of the Republic terminated the mandate of the members of the previous board of directors of the said public company.

The National Press is a public company that operates under the supervision of the Secretariat of the Cabinet Council, the activities of which are focused on the graphic field, with emphasis on the production of publications of the State Gazette, official forms, books and other graphic products.

Created in 1845 by the Portuguese colonial regime, its status has evolved over time, following the historico-political development of the Angolan State.

In the 1990s the National Press underwent a restructuring and modernization process, which continues today, allowing it to present itself as a reference in the national printing industry

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)