MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT GOES RAMPAGE ON EX-GRATIA

Members of Parliament today descended heavily on their leadership for failing to submit their proposal to the presidential commission on the emolument a s requested by the commission.
The Presidential Commission on emolument has on several occasions written to the leadership of parliament to submit their proposal to enable the commission finalize its work and submit report to the president on the 4TH of January but have failed to do so.
The committee formed by the leadership of the house has failed to meet to compose their proposal and report to the commission due to their busy scheduled and this has met the fury of the members who think their leadership has failed them.
The members of the committee consist of the Minority leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, the Minister of Information John Akorlugu Tia, the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare Mr. E T Mensa and the Member of Parliament for Asikuma Odoben Brakwa PC Appiah Ofori.
Speaking on the floor of the house, the MP for Atwima Mponua Isaac Kwame Asiamah who could not hide his anger stated that the leadership of the house doesn’t care about the welfare of the Members and whenever issue regarding their welfare comes up, they sweep it under the carpet.
He warns them not to joke with their future because their future depends on the kind of proposal that will be submit tot eh commission and if they fail to do, they will never be pardon.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Shai Osudoku Constituency Mr. David Assuming Tetteh suggested that a new committee be reconstituted with members who will avail themselves and proven to be more competent enough to do the work.
The Member of Parliament for Manhyia Constituency Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh question why only the leadership of the house should be made to carry out such important exercise when they know very well that their busy schedule would not allow them.
According to him, it high time leadership of the house are exempted from such activities because is not everything that the leadership have to do, adding that other members should have done rather leadership who at the end of the day will review it own work.
The Majority Leader Mr. Cletus Avoka however debunks the assertion that leadership of the house has hijacked the committee, adding that the members of the committee are not part of the leadership of the house.
He assured the house that the committee will finish their work before the 4th of January because members of the committee have been meeting and have done some kind of consultation work so member should give them two days to enable them finish their work.
The house is expected to rise sine die and come back on the 25th of January next year.
END.

CHRISTIAN COUNCIL CONDEMNS ALCOHOL TAX REDUCTION

The President of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. John Annan Adotey says the tax reduction on alcoholic drinks in the country is unfortunate.
He explains that the reduction will encourage people to drink more alcohol and harm their immune system.
Rev. Adotey noted that the move runs counter to the continuous advice by medical doctors against the intake of alcohol.
Parliament reduced the 20% ad-valorem tax imposed on locally brewed alcohol ‘Akpeteshie’ and other alcoholic beverages to 17.5% to enable more people have access to it this Christmas and new year.
But Rev. John Annan Adotey says the tax reduction should have benefited agriculture, sports, education and other sectors rather than alcohol.
However, the leader of the Akpeteshi Drinkers Association of Ghana, Mr. Sadam welcomed the good news and noted that after a hard day’s work the body needs to satisfy itself with a bottle of alcoholic drink.
He congratulated legislators for listening to their plea and remarked that the reduction is also part of the Better Ghana Agenda.
In a related development, the spokesperson for Nima boys and Berekum boys Alhaji Akatogo has challenged Sadam to come out with his real name but not to tarnish the image of Muslims as they do not support the course of alcoholic drinking.
He explains that there is no reason why Sadam should congratulate the Mills administration for the reduction of alcohol.