Last updated: February 4, 2025 12:08 pm

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The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, has announced the reintroduction of the National Sanitation Day and a Cleanest City Award to promote a competitive and responsible approach to environmental sanitation in the region

According to her, in line with the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s “Clean Up Ghana” agenda, a Regional Sanitation Day will be observed on the last Friday of every month to improve environmental cleanliness and waste management across the region.

Speaking at an engagement with the management of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) on her first day in office, the minister emphasized that waste management and sanitation would be a key performance indicator for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

She stated that her administration would implement a comprehensive sanitation policy that would encourage waste segregation and the provision of garbage bags and bins in public places and homes.

She revealed plans to strengthen the capacities of sanitation and waste management departments within the MMDAs to enhance efficiency, adding that social and behavioral change campaigns would be intensified to educate and reorient citizens on proper sanitation practices.

She emphasized that MMDAs would be empowered to improve revenue generation for sustainable development, while sub-district structures such as zonal and area councils would be reinforced to enhance participatory governance.

On security, the Minister, who also chairs the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), assured that she would collaborate with security agencies to maintain peace and order in accordance with the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020 (Act 1030).

She also expressed her commitment to intensifying the provision and replacement of streetlights across the region to improve visibility, reduce crime, and enhance road safety.

Touching on economic development, Hon. Ocloo highlighted her intention to collaborate with MMDCEs to drive local economic development with a particular focus on supporting women entrepreneurs, adding that she would work closely with the Women’s Bank to foster innovation and promote women-owned businesses.

She also announced plans to facilitate trade fairs in collaboration with relevant institutions such as the Department of Agriculture, Ghana Tourism Authority, Ministry of Trade, and the Ghana Enterprise Agency.

She used the opportunity to call on civil society organizations, the private sector, and the media to support her administration to transform the region and reiterated that she would rely on the expertise of public servants to advance the government’s agenda.

Hon. Ocloo expressed confidence that through collective effort, Greater Accra would become a cleaner, safer, and more prosperous region for all.

BY: CAROLINE ABENA AMPOFO

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Legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has challenged the Speaker’s decision to suspend four MPs, stating that the law does not explicitly grant such powers. He has urged the affected MPs to sue for legal clarity.

Last updated: February 4, 2025

2 Mins Read

Mr. Martin Kpebu

Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has called on the four suspended Members of Parliament (MPs) to take legal action against Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, over their suspension, arguing that the law does not explicitly grant the Speaker such powers.

Speaking on TV3’s The Key Points, Kpebu questioned the legal basis of the Speaker’s decision, stating that the suspension of MPs without a clear constitutional provision could set a dangerous precedent.

“I strongly urge that the suspended MPs sue the Speaker,” Kpebu stated. “...yes, we’ve seen the Parliament Act, which says the Speaker is to maintain dignity in Parliament, but to totally suspend a member from sitting for two weeks is difficult to justify legally.”

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Friday, January 31, suspended four MPs—Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Nsawam-Adoagyiri), Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana (Gushegu), Jerry Ahmed Shaib (Weija-Gbawe) and South Dayi MP, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor over their conduct during the chaotic vetting process of ministerial nominees.

The suspension has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that the Speaker had overstepped his authority.

“When you read those sections, the Speaker has powers to maintain the dignity of the House, but does that also involve outright suspension of a member? That is difficult to justify,” he noted.

The lawyer strongly advised the suspended MPs to challenge the Speaker’s decision in court to establish legal clarity on the matter.

“The suspended MPs should sue the Speaker. It’s a democracy we are building, and we must be careful not to create laws by ourselves. If the Speaker’s power to suspend MPs is not expressly written, let the judges decide.”

Kpebu further warned against allowing political tensions to override due process, stating that Ghana’s democracy must be protected from arbitrary actions.

BY: CAROLINE ABENA AMPOFO

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