Thursday, 20th February, 2025
Hon Francis Kwabena Berepong Owusu-Akyaw
Juaben
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity to read this Statement on behalf of my Colleague who is not available.
Mr Speaker, distinguished Members of the House, it is an honour to stand before you today on the occasion of World Social Justice Day. A day that reminds us of our duty to build a fair and just society where all citizens have equal opportunities, irrespective of their background. Social justice is the foundation of national development, peace, and stability. It is about ensuring that every Ghanaian, regardless of gender, ethnicity, social economic status, or physical ability, can enjoy the fundamental rights enshrined in our 1992 Constitution.
Mr Speaker, permit me to recall the words spoken on the floor of this House by the former President, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, during his first Message on the State of the Nation to Parliament. Our esteemed former President stated, “If our plans to revive the economy are to have any chance of success, we must at the same time, invest in our young people. My Government believes that education holds the key.”
“Equal access to educational opportunities is, in the long run, the principal instrument for achieving social justice. The present imbalance in volume and quality of educational facilities available to urban as against the rural population is creating the social divide which our Government would act decisively in reverse”.
Mr Speaker, these words were true 24 years ago and they are even more relevant today. It is without doubt that education remains a powerful tool for promoting social justice, and our 1992 Constitution guarantees the rights under Article 25(1), which states that: “All persons shall have the right to equal educational opportunities…” The landmark case of the Federation of Youth Association of Ghana (FEDYAG) v Public Universities of Ghana and Ors highlighted the need for public institutions to uphold fairness in admission and access to education. The ruling reinforced that public education must be accessible to all regardless of their social status.
Mr Speaker, beyond education, the Constitution of Ghana is also clear in its commitment to social justice with respect to guaranteeing human rights. Specifically, Article 12(1) of the 1992 Constitution provides that the fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in chapter 5
Mr Speaker, beyond education, the Constitution of Ghana is also clear in its commitment to social justice with respect to guaranteeing human rights. Specifically, Article 12(1) of the 1992 Constitution provides that the fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in Chapter 5 shall be respected and upheld by the Executive, Legislature, Judiciary, and all other organs of Government and its agencies. That instructs every person in Ghana, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, religion, creed or gender to be entitled to the fundamental human rights and freedoms of individuals, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest.
Mr Speaker, social justice also extends to economic rights and fair labour practices. Article 24(1) of the 1992 Constitution guarantees the right to work under satisfactory, safe, and healthy conditions, while directing the state to take measures to ensure an economic system that provides equal opportunities for all.
Mr Speaker, access to justice and due process is a cornerstone for social justice. The Constitution, under Article 19 and 296, guarantees the right to a fair trial and due process ensuring that no one is deprived of justice due to their economic or social status. In the case of Tsatsu Tsikata v The Republic (2008) SCGLR 16, the Supreme Court reinforced the principles of fair trial and due process, reminding us that justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done.
Mr Speaker, as we observe Social Justice Day, let us recommit ourselves to policies and legislative reforms that uphold these constitutional principles. We must strengthen equality before the law in all state actions, promote inclusive economic growth, and ensure that no Ghanaian is left behind. Social justice is not just a legal obligation, but a moral duty that defines the character of our dear nation.
Mr Speaker, may God bless Ghana, and may justice and fairness be the foundation of our development. Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity.
Hon Philip Fiifi Buckman
Kwesimintsim
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would want to commend the makers of the Statement, the three Hon Members.
Mr Speaker, there was this young girl who was met by a priest and the question to the girl was, are you a Christian, Muslim or Hindu? What the little girl said was, I am hungry. Poverty knows no religion, political or party affiliation. It is in this vein that I respectfully commend the makers of the Statements that with a collective effort, as a people, we would all have to stand up against social injustices.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, if we talk about fairness which is imbued in social justice, it is a behaviour without discrimination—not discriminating against any person because the person is either black, white or of any religious affiliation. Respectfully, justice is giving fair treatment to every person. If we look at the framers of our Constitution, looking at Chapter 5 and 6 of the 1992 Constitution, it is all meant to ensure that human dignity is protected and uplifted. I would want to join the world in celebrating the social justice day.
Mr Speaker, when we talk about social justice, we are looking at not discriminating against persons. We are looking at access to basic needs by persons living in the State, we are looking at access to education, job opportunities, financial resources, every person should have access to the right to financial resources. Access to public schools and I want to commend all of us—They cannot intimidate me.
I want to commend all of us for whatever we are doing to ensure that we protect and lift the image of our human race as a people. Respectfully, when the Minority Leader raised the issue of cholera, he informed the House about the strides he is making to ensure that his people are protected from that diseased and I would want to offer him a little advice and support that it all boils down to education. If we educate our people as to how to go about making sure that sanitation is right, we would ensure that it is eradicated.
Respectfully, I had same experience in my Constituency, Kwesimintsim, when about eight people died but for the swift attention of the doctors and medical caregivers over there, we would have lost more. I went there, we educated the people to ensure that they wash their hands, eat food that is hot, and disinfect those areas where the people are. So, I would want to advise my Hon Minority Leader that it is not about beds or the rights, it is about cleanliness.
Thank you, Mr Speaker for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Statement made by our Hon Members.
Hon Davis Ansah Opoku
Mpraeso
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to commend the makers of the Statement. Indeed, today, 20th February, marks the day for social justice and if you look at the theme for the day, “empowering inclusion, bridging gaps for social justice.”
Mr Speaker, this emphasises the importance for inclusive policies and social protections in addressing systematic challenges that we are e faced with as a people.
Mr Speaker, at the heart of this celebration, are issues related to employment. If we have witnessed or lived through unemployment before, we would realise that it is a major social issue that is worthy of highlighting. The theme, bridging the gap for social justice brings to bear an issue that is currently ongoing in our country.
Mr Speaker, it has to do with persons who have been gainfully employed but today for some reasons are being asked to go home. This, I would not blame the current administration for this, this has been with us for many years. In 2017, I suffered same, I had the opportunity to work at National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and within my own government, I was being denied the access to work. So, today, these young men and women who have been laid off and asked to go, I wonder if they are going to go through the very situation that I went through in 2017? That today, the very reasons we celebrate this remarkable day, we seem to be widening the very gaps we should be closing.
Mr Speaker, that is why I joined the Minority Leader’s appeal to H. E. President John Dramani Mahama that the era of tit-for-tat, and the era of this is New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government, so we are going to work with NPP Members, and this is National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government, so we are going to work with NDC members has to come to an end.
That practice ought to come to an end, Mr Speaker, and what a day. I was thinking that one of the topics for discussion would be resetting Ghana: Bridging the Gap through Social Justice. So that in the spirit of resetting Ghana, we are urging H. E. the President not to look at the period for which these young men and women were employed.
Today, they are being asked to go home, and we wonder, as they go to sit in their various homes, what really are they going to eat? How are they going to take care of their families? We should not allow partisanship to drive these young men and women home.
Mr Speaker, when it happened under the NPP, it was wrong, and it is important to make the point very clear, but this time Mr Speaker, so my plea on this day is that, as we reflect on the day, there is the need to ensure fairness; there is a need to ensure equity, and there is a need to ensure inclusive development, and in doing this, at the heart of it is how people get to, for want of a word, ‘‘chop’’, and how their families are able to survive, and that is why I will not generate a debate.
In fact, I use my case as an example, and the difficulties that I went through, even during an NPP government. It is not proper; it was not proper yesterday, and it is not proper today, and it should not be proper tomorrow. In fact, one of these young ladies who have been laid off in one of the agencies called me three days today. On TikTok, she was very active campaigning for H. E. John Dramani Mahama.
Most of these people who have been laid off We do not even know the political affiliation of most of the people who have been laid off, so on this day, Mr Speaker, I appeal to the President, and I appeal to the Chief of Staff that in the spirit of social inclusion
That in the spirit of social inclusion, they should revise their stance on this mass dismissal. It would not help Ghana. It continues to set a very bad precedent, and it is important that, as a people, we come to the realisation that tit-for-tat has no way. It would not help anybody, and we need to change our ways and ensure that the young people—
We need to change our ways and ensure that the young people are gainfully employed.
Hon Yusif Sulemana
Bole Bamboi
Mr Speaker, I am very grateful for the opportunity to contribute to these Statements. First of all, let me thank the makers of these Statements: The World Day of Social Justice, with the theme: Empowering, Inclusion, Bridging Gaps for Social Justice— What an important topic!
Mr Speaker, what are we talking about? We are talking about equal rights; we are talking about equal opportunity, and we are calling for equal treatment.
Mr Speaker, the issues to look out for here, among others, include economic inequality, bridging the gap between the rich and the poor and racial injustice. Why should somebody’s colour deny him some opportunities? These are the issues that we try to address when we talk about social justice.
Mr Speaker, we are talking about gender injustice. Why should somebody’s gender be a hindrance to the person’s development and progress? So, this subject is a subject that should bother all of us. It is a subject that we need to attach seriousness to.
Mr Speaker, we are talking about disability injustice. Look at some of our buildings. When somebody is incapacitated or when somebody is suffering from some kind of disability, even having access to some offices becomes a problem. These are the things that we should advert our minds to.
Mr Speaker, very soon, we are told that the Budget would be read in this House. We need to interrogate the Budget, and we need to look at the propoor programmes in the Budget. Let us look at those pro-poor programmes and see how these programmes will better the lives of the people. It takes the two Sides to look at the Budget to ensure that whatever that we roll out there brings about some development and some progress in the lives of our people.
Mr Speaker, we are talking about bridging the gap between the poor and the rich. We should be interested in coming up with policies that will give support to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), so that they would be able to build upon their economic status and when we do that, we would not even be interested in rolling out grants to them. What we need to do is to create an environment where we can give support to these SMEs, so that they can stand on their own.
Mr Speaker, let it be known to all of us here that we have passed a law, the Affirmative Action Law. This is the time to implement it. If we do that it would go a long way to help us in fighting these social injustices that we see especially when it has to do with gender; girls and women.
Mr Speaker, let me call our religious organisations to show interest in helping us fight this canker. All of us here either attend a mosque or church and the leaders of these religious organisations need to show interest in our welfare. In doing so, we would be making headway in the fight against injustice.
Mr Speaker, I want to join my Colleague—He is saying that I should call him my Brother and I call him OPK. I remember very well that he complained to me that he had this kind of experience which is very unfortunate. I agree with him that that is not the way to go, and as a nation, we must look out for what is in the interest of all of us, but to do that, we must correct the wrongs. We must all agree to correct the wrongs, and if we do not correct them, these issues will continue to be with us.
Mr Speaker, we have laws in this country and the laws are clear. The law says that if an institution wants to recruit, it must advertise, and if it advertises, that is social justice and giving equal opportunities to everybody. If there are no advertisements, some people are denied access, and that is injustice. So if we do not advertise and some people are recruited and someone draws our attention that it is because we had not advertised, then we have infringed on the rights of others. The right thing must be done. It is not tit-for-tat; it is correcting the wrong.
So, if one has a situation where in this country people are recruited to the services: Police, and Immigration among others without advertisement for several years, and when we talk, we are told that they did an advertisement some years back and are dealing with the backlog. I think that we should correct these issues and move ahead, but I agree with him that we cannot continue on that path.
With this, I would want to thank the makers once again and thank you, Mr Speaker. I also thank all those who have contributed to these Statements. Let me also thank the Minority Leader for trying to heckle me, but I think I have made my point.
Hon Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah
Manhyia South
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity.
Mr Speaker, I would like to commend the maker of the Statement. The issue of social injustice is so true with us in particular given our diversity; religious, tribal, and so on. When we swear, very respectfully, to pursue the development of this country, we swear to commit to the development of the diverse groups of people who find themselves in this country. So, this Statement, in as much it is true in terms of the globe in general, it is also true with the Republic of Ghana.
Mr Speaker, historically, there was a deliberate effort to ensure that there was unity in this country and no discrimination so that regardless of where one comes from or the religious group one belongs to, one was not discriminated against. It does appear that the advent of multiparty democracy, partisanship seems to have taken the front burner, and in our day-to-day lives, it appears that people are being discriminated against on grounds of partisanship.
Mr Speaker, when one complains, the response is that it happened during a previous administration so it is good that it is happening today. Very soon, our people are going to gang up against us if we are not careful. The truth of the matter is that the opportunities available to people in this country are not—The quantity is far less than the people in this country. So the only way that we can satisfy our people is to create a meritbased society; a society where people would qualify because they are competent; a society where people would qualify not because they belong to a certain tribe or political party, or go to a certain church.
Mr Speaker, increasingly, our people are taking refuge in collecting certificates because they cannot see their way clearly in this country. That is the truth. They get one master's degree today and chase another master’s degree tomorrow. They sit in organisations and do not know whether they can rise to the positions of chief executives or to the positions of directors because they do not belong to one political party or the other. I
ncreasingly, we are building a society that is governed by incompetence rather than competence. Party cards have become certificates of qualification. This is what today this Statement should call on us to eschew because we are sinking as a country as a result of that practice.
We need to change, and irrespective of where we belong, we must begin to create opportunities for our people based on merit. It must be based on merit. It must start somewhere. We did it yesterday and it was wrong, but let us begin from somewhere. We need to change and this is not—We have all sinned. An eye for an eye will make the whole world go blind. Our society is sinking because of partisanship.
So, Mr Speaker, we need to begin to evaluate our society and make amends. From the Judiciary, to state-owned agencies and to everywhere, we must begin to review what we have done in the past and ensure we chart a new course so that increasingly, people would have hope that when they go to school and work hard, there is hope that one day, they can become chief executives of state-owned institutions without belonging to any political party. Mr Speaker, I am grateful for this opportunity.
Hon Sebastian Ngmenenso Sandaare
Daffiama/Bussie/Issa
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. At the very moment that we are contributing to this Statement, there is a child somewhere in one community who is wondering where the next meal would come from while another child somewhere in the city has taken breakfast and lunch and has added a snack.
Mr Speaker, as we speak, there is a pregnant mother somewhere in this country who is about to die because there is probably no doctor or midwife to attend to her. While in another health facility, there are a number of doctor specialists and midwives who are probably relaxing and waiting for a client to come.
Mr Speaker, Junior High School (JHS) 3 students are preparing for their examinations. Somewhere in Ghana, there are children in JHS 3, who have no teachers to teach them, while in another part of this country, there are a lot of teachers in the same class teaching students and they have to write the same exams in June this year.
Mr Speaker, this is social injustice. The issue of social justice has nothing to do with which party one belongs to or whether something happened in one government and therefore, should happen in another government. No, it is about addressing inequalities.
It is about ensuring that there are equal opportunities for every child everywhere to have a right to quality basic education. That a patient everywhere in this country has the right to quality health care. These are the issues that confront our society in this country and those are the issues we must address. That everybody everywhere has equal opportunities and equal treatment.
Chapter 6 of our Constitution has given us the foundation to address this issue of social injustice. Therefore, as we contribute and debate, let us see how we bridge the gap of social injustice in this country where the rich is getting richer and the poor is getting poorer. How do we bridge this gap?
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity. Let us reflect on how we would ensure that there is social justice in this country.
Hon Millicent Yeboah Amankwah
Sunyani West
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this occasion of the World Day for Justice. I would add my voice to what my Colleagues have said.
The Hon Member spoke about some challenges women face in relation to this injustice. Again, when my other Colleague was speaking, he also spoke about a child who was asked a question. This equally shows that injustice affects mostly the women. When one reads through the Statement that was made by the Hon Member for Awutu Senya East, the strength of the Statement was relevant and timely.
Mr Speaker, the Statement spoke about fairness, inclusion, and equity in Ghana. It equally spoke about the historical background and context in relation to the Berlin Conference and also that of Dr Kwame Nkrumah. So, it tells us about the past and the present and the need for us to forge on to make sure that injustice is put to a stop. Again, there was a clear identification of the social injustice, that is, the economic hardship, election violence, human rights violation, and others that deny us this opportunity. It clearly also came about with a policy proposal and Government’s commitments such as the 24-Hour Economy, among others.
Mr Speaker, it is very important for us to look at some areas that we need to improve. Many of the Hon Members spoke about partisanship. We should be very objective when issues like these are brought up for discussions. I would like to add up some areas of consideration in relation to this day of celebration for the social justice. These areas are human rights violation and civil rights.
Mr Speaker, we were here in the year 2023 when there was an arrest of the—as the Hon Member for Awutu Senya East mentioned—democracy hub protesters against the Government. This hinders the growth of social justice. Again, reference is made in the context of the arrest of Ahmed Suale in 2019.
This also comes in the context of our press freedom as a nation. I cannot talk about this issue without the gender inequality and women rights. In Africa and Ghana inclusive, one would find out that in some rural areas, out of five people, one of them is still into the child marriage. Again, even not looking far from Parliament, women representation in Parliament is poor. We have barely 14.5 per cent, and this also hinders the growth of the country. If one looks at the Rwandan Parliament, they have over 53 or 54 per cent of women. No wonder there is growth in their economy.
If we need to encourage ourselves and look for the benefits and the betterment of the country, we should be very deliberate in helping leadership and encouraging women in leadership. Again, with the gender issues and human rights, Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) annually reports of thousands of these issues, and it is something we need to pay much attention to.
Mr Speaker, in trying to conclude, I would speak on access to health care and education. We have some policies like the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) but it lacks funds and this affects the low-income earners. That is one thing we need to look at and make sure that we try to help ourselves within that policy. Again, on the part of education, there is a shortage of teachers in the rural areas and this does not help the growth of the economy.
Mr Speaker, on housing and land issues, when we look at the prices of rent even in Accra and the land issues even in Kasoa—Land litigation is everywhere. We should tackle matters of discrimination of the marginalised people and people with disability so that we can get access for them. I think with this and many more, we would have a better position when it comes to social justice.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Hon Grace Ayensu-Danquah
Essikadu-Ketan
Mr Speaker, thank you, for allowing me to speak on this issue of social justice. Ghana, like most countries, faces a lot of systemic injustices, and I would like to use this opportunity to discuss the issue of persons with disability in Ghana.
The Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) and Article 29 of the 1992 Constitution ensure that persons with disability have access to non-discrimination, education, employment, housing, and also accessibility to public transport and public buildings.
Mr Speaker, as we can tell today, in Ghana, persons with disability face a lot of systemic inequalities. Many buildings and services remain inaccessible to persons with disability. When one looks at public transportation When we look at public transportation, persons with disability do not have equal access to transportation. When one comes to the Essikadu-Ketan Constituency and goes to Kojokrom, Kansawrodo, or Ntankoful, persons with disability do not have equal access to public transportation.
Mr Speaker, I recommend that we look into accessibility of public transport and specifically, public housing for our persons with disability in Ghana.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to comment on this. I also thank my fellow Colleague, for bringing up this very important issue to the fore, and I hope that we would take a very good look at social justice for all Ghanaians.
Hon Ernest Kumi
Akwatia
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. Let me also commend the makers of the Statements for bringing this subject matter to bear.
Mr Speaker, this is a topic that requires attention and action. It would interest all of us to know that the Constitution and other laws alike, especially other international instruments, guarantees this right to us as a people. But, historically, most people have suffered social injustice, not because they do not have the protective right, but because politicians over the period have become culprits and victims of this social injustice.
Mr Speaker, today, I am happy that this discussion is being had in this Parliament this passionately. Just last week, a simple request for procedural fairness from the Minority Leader on behalf of a former Minister of this Republic degenerated into a debate on this Floor. As I sat in my chair, I asked myself, for how long would we keep doing this to ourselves? Because, today, it could be happening to me, but tomorrow, it could be someone else. As we keep arguing along the way, I asked myself that if the Constitution guarantees that we need to be, at least, fair to one another, why can we not allow that and ask for a simple procedural fairness to happen?
Other contributors have spoken already on other things that do happen to us as politicians. The protocol conundrum that we, politicians, keep giving to people is also increasingly becoming a challenge to us in this country. To quote the Hon Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, who had said previously in other public domains that, until one is injected by an incompetent doctor or nurse for them to die, that is when they will know that we need to begin to advocate for fairness, equal opportunity and access for people
Mr Speaker, just this morning, I was asked by a journalist within the precinct of this Parliament that he wanted to know if we are waiting or how long we would wait until when a president wins an election in this country and the opponent goes to court just to challenge that person unfairly and to just deny that person that right that is due him.
Mr Speaker, in order not to sound prejudicial, I refuse to comment on the matter, but I want all of us to take note Mr Speaker, I want all of us to take note that this discussion that we are having here should not be one that we just have today and let it slide. It should bring to fore meaningful thoughts and discussions, where citizens, policy makers and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) would all come together to advance social justice in this country, and especially to me, as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia, in this country.
Hon Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin
Effutu
Thank you very much. Mr Speaker, the Hon Members who made these Statements drew our attention to a number of issues affecting society. I would want to adopt the three Statements from the Members as though same were coming from me and rely on all of them for records. Except to say that, I do not want this House to be drawn into the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
That conflict has its own history, and we need to be very cautious in drawing that conflict into our discussion on the floor of the House. It is for this reason that I believe that although Hon Ghansah’s Statement was well-intended, the way it came up created a certain impression. I just want the records to reflect that this House is not taking sides in that conflict. We only pray that there would be justice for all in that enclave.
Mr Speaker, each day in my prayer, I pray for peace in the Middle East, guided by St. Francis of Assisi's prayer. Being a Catholic, I always rely on that important prayer by St. Francis, where he calls for the Lord to make us an instrument of his peace. So, our prayer is that wherever there is injustice, the Lord Almighty Himself would lead the discussions that would lead to peace, so that there would be fairness for all.
Mr Speaker, the first maker of the Statement, the respected Member, Mrs Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor of Awutu Senya East, shared her own experiences. We need to take steps as a people to address the way we do politics in this country. Some of us do not tell our stories, but we all know the things we go through sometimes: the attacks, unfair treatments, the way we are manhandled and all. But it appears that sometimes when injustice benefits somebody, the person is in a hurry to go to church to thank God and sees same as blessings.
But when the next day, he is at the receiving end, we would see the person crying for people to save him. For how long should that continue in our country?
I have had my own experience in Winneba in 2012. It took the Lord’s intervention for me to be here. Somebody came close range to me with a pistol all because I was campaigning. I was lucky that he could not shoot. I do not know the mystery and the miracle behind it; it was at a close range. I went through other situations that time would not permit me to recount. People are suffering injustice. Sometimes, even our Judiciary, with the way our judges approach cases that come before them.
For my years at the Bar, I know that when there is an application pending before a court, a court of justice will always deal with that interlocutory matter before coming to the substantive matter and ensure that there is fairness. For my years of practice, I know that when there is an application before a Superior Court raising issues of bias, the court below would at least wait for the supervisory jurisdiction which is being invoked to be considered and determined, before dealing with the matter before him, all in the interest of fairness and justice. Are we experiencing that in all situations? I beg to say, no.
Mr Speaker, if we are calling for a fair society, then it should not be Rightly so, Mr Speaker. Not to disagree with you, but the example that I am citing also has in it an application for stay of proceedings, and in the light of an application for stay of proceedings, a judge goes ahead to say that a counsel should move his main application. The judge also goes ahead to determine the matter when there is an application for stay of proceedings pending.
So, Mr Speaker, I would want to strongly make this point, and I regret that this is coming at the time that I find myself in the Minority Frontbench. It is very regrettable because some people may see my views as being too rich, but it is the reality of the day. As a country, we must not repeat that vicious cycle of “You did it to me; I will do it to you.”
Mr Speaker, yesterday, I said something in an interview that sometimes, the political class forgets that when an election is won, the mandate is for them to develop the nation and not to go after opponents. But since 1992, it appears we have not learnt lessons from this. I recall when former President John Agyekum Kufuor won the elections, we heard comments on the streets of Accra, I was a young student then, that “Oh NDC, ↄmo ɛmba biom.
NDC party no agu”.
But, eight years down the line, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was back. When we had 169 seats in Parliament, there were similar comments and we know the story today. So, I am saying that some of the injustices that Ghanaians experienced because of political affiliations must end. I am not here to pick and choose. Mr Speaker, former President, Prof John Evans Atta-Mills of blessed memory, made an effort on this imbalance and I remember it.
Mr Speaker, let me share this. I was into transport business and I had a lot of trucks plying Awaso to Takoradi and I was a known New Patriotic Party (NPP) person. When NPP lost, some people made it a point to stop my trucks. One of the shareholders of my company was close to the government of the day. He tells me that he managed to inform the then President and Vice President and immediately, they gave instructions that, that was not right for the country. A person had taken a loan to buy trucks, is doing his business, and because he is an NPP member they should stop his business?
Mr Speaker, that effort was made; I remember, and I will state it for public record. But would extremists allow moderates and centrists in our political space to do their work to help with justice and fairness in society? We the voices of reason must prevail on those hardliners to understand that destroying an opponent is not the way to go. Why should somebody be afraid of a change in power? Is it because of fear of injustice? In the business community, sometimes I look at some businesses, and because I am in the private sector, I know about this.
A lot of the Ghanaian businesses are tagged NPP or NDC but we have these foreign entities owned by Indians, Israelites, Syrians, British and Americans. Their businesses remain untouched whether it is NPP or NDC. They are foreigners, so when they make their profit, they move their money out, but when the Ghanaian makes his profit, it remains here. A Ghanaian businessman is often tagged
Mr Speaker, local businessmen are always in fear. Their businesses are always being targets of injustice and political attacks whereas foreign businesses—
Mr Speaker, you would find their embassies moving to promote their businesses while our local businesses will be suffering. Why should there be a society like this?
Mr Speaker, the makers of the Statement talk about economic rights and that our citizens have a right to be employed and I dare emphasise that these are far right; Economic rights are far rights. A right that when you have the qualification, you stand an equal chance of being considered as a far right. We have heard that, in 2017, there were comments by some political leaders on our Side, and we would be very honest with the facts here. We would not pretend or be hypothetical. Facts are facts.
If we want to address these matters for proper steps tomorrow, we need to speak to the issue.
But Mr Speaker, the issue about Hon Osafo-Maafo that people refer to, I must say that, indeed, when he made those Statements, nothing of the sort happened, and I would want Hon Members who have contrary views to make those available. At least, the mass dismissals we are experiencing
Mr Speaker, in the said situation, we did not see the mass dismissal we are seeing today. But granted that it even happened, as a nation, do we need it? The situation we find ourselves in as a country requires that all of us, especially those who are moving from left of centre, right of centre, and believe that the country must move in a certain path must be loud in their views because four years is not far from today. Twenty years is not far from today, and thirty years is not far from today.
Mr Speaker, I am not here to talk politics; I am here to address a situation that is confronting us as a nation, and we are the people’s representative. Granted that, yesterday—
Mr Speaker, granted that, even yesterday it happened and I did not see reason to address it, it does not stop me from addressing it today, all for the good of our collective tomorrow.
Mr Speaker, that said, the respected Colleague who is a medical doctor, Dr Sandaare, made a contribution and talked about healthcare. We stay in Accra, and we think Accra has everything and Ghana is a happy home.
Mr Speaker, it is not. The poverty out there—I travel through the countryside and I still see atakpame buildings, mud houses. I went to my village, our village, you and I have a village, Nyekonakpoe. I was there on New Year after visiting Tsiame. I went to the village where I grew up, visited the family, and I saw poverty: no hospital and no water. In my own Constituency, there are places that you see poverty. What he said is true.
Today, though there is health insurance because they cannot afford, they still resort to the traditional midwives, and they die and attribute it to some other causes and they bury them quietly. This is not the promises that are enshrined in the Constitution. The promises that are enshrined in the Constitution include equal opportunity, justice, fairness, and it is for us as a political class to enforce these promises. We should not pay lip service to these promises.
It is a Ghanaian dream; a dream that the forebearers envisage and our duty, as the Ninth Parliament, is to lead in the process. So, if today is a commemorative day for social justice, this country must take it seriously. The Hon Member for Awutu Senya East, where once upon a time I was a presiding Member, has told us in clear terms that many people are going through challenges. But she was quick to assure us that this Government is ready to put in place some policies to address these concerns.
And, in fact, Mr Speaker, what she has said has become part of public record. She has spoken as a Member of the Majority party and for and on behalf of Government; when it comes to accountability, we are going to associate ourselves with the Statement, and then through the Committee on Assurances see to the implementation of these promises.
Mr Speaker, it is the duty of Hon Koryoo Okunor because she has made a very profound Statement in very veritable words, and she has given assurances that this Government is going to ensure that certain steps are taken in addressing social injustice. We look forward to that.
Mr Speaker, without more, let me thank all the makers of the Statement and thank the various contributors, especially the first timers. The first timers of this Parliament have shown promise, and I have seen a lot of determination on both Sides, seeing their curricula vitae (CVs). And when they are on their feet, it is as though they have done two or three times; their confidence level is very high. We commend them, and they should continue with their research. This is the time for them to be doing more Statements and be filing more Questions. Let us get the national issues on the front burner. It does not matter your party, and let us hold the feet of Government to the fire, not in the negative sense, but in the positive sense, all for the good of the people.
Mr Speaker, without more, let me thank you for this treasured space
Hon Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor
South Dayi
Mr Speaker, what else can I say than to thank you for the opportunity to comment on the joint Statements. Mr Speaker, it is joint because one is from the Minority Side, and two are from our Side in commemoration of today.
Mr Speaker, the United Nations organisation has a whole commission on social justice. It is such an important concept in our modern governance anywhere and somebody may ask, what does social justice mean?
Mr Speaker, it means the opportunity to have equal rights; economic, political, religious, cultural, under law. It therefore becomes a barometer by which every government or every nation’s governance structure, and systems are measured. And leaving the generals to the specifics, of course we will measure our governance structure back home by invoking these very indices.
Mr Speaker, yours truly, at variance with social justice, my residential home under construction was pulled down by operatives of government. There was no social justice, no court order, and no court process. Somebody just exercised Executive power of state arbitrarily.
Mr Speaker, my own uncle, the venerable Kodjo Hodari-Okae, was unfairly dismissed and terminated from Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), and he proceeded to court. He obtained judgment. It took so long for the judgment debt to be paid to him. That was not social justice. That was not.
Mr Speaker, there are Members on this Side, whose homes were raided by operatives of the State just a couple of months ago, without recourse to law. That was not social justice. Mr Speaker, social justice must resonate in everything that we do as a people and as a State. It is the only way we can ensure fairness.
Mr Speaker, exactly eight years ago, 10th February, 2017 or thereabout, the then newly appointed and confirmed Minister for Health, the Hon Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, wrote and terminated the appointment of 8,634 nurses and other health personnel, recruited into the Ghana Health Service without recourse to even the time of recruitment. I have the letter and I can show it to you. 10th February, 2017, that was not social justice. It was not. As we speak, those employees whose employment and socioeconomic benefits are consequent upon those employments that were suspended, remain in suspension. As we speak, they are sitting at home. They are grieving.
That was no social justice. So, I agree with you, Minority Leader. I am saying so. But I did not hear your high heaven cries in 2017. He was a formidable Member of this House. So, I agree that there must be a convergent zone. In plain language, there must be a convergent zone where we must do the appropriate things—
Mr Speaker, indeed, in April 2017, recruits that were undergoing training in the Assin Fosu Ghana Immigration Training School, who had started training in November of the previous year, were not graduated. They were asked to go home. They have not returned, as we speak.
Mr Speaker, let me take the House a bit back into time. In 2001, the most common cliche on the streets of Accra and by extension in Ghana was “proceed on leave”. Yes, 2001. Many public servants who had served within the public service, some for 20, 15, or 10 years prior were simply asked to proceed on leave, just to go home without recourse to laid down procedure.
That was no social justice So, Mr Speaker, I believe that today is such an auspicious day that going forward, we must have recourse to standards, basic requirements, procedures, so that when Ghanaians of all shades of life, tribal and cultural origin, religious coloration, are qualified, they should find space in the public sector and contribute their quota without any recourse to—Mr Speaker, I shudder to say it, but to political consideration. I am very happy that my brother touched on the issue of judicial tardiness in terms of matters before the courts.
Mr Speaker, you being our senior at the bar, when a matter is before the courts, whoever the plaintiff is, is immaterial. The same alacrity, zeal and speed that is brought to bear in dealing with all other matters must be exercised fairly in respect of all the cases before the courts. So, yes, social justice—Today we speak in commemoration of that.
But, Mr Speaker, in closing this matter, I urge you to give some general direction that as a nation and as a people, we should be guided by it. That is what ensures fairness and not because of the length of my name, for instance, which summarily will point to where I originate from this country, but given the even playing field so we can exhibit our qualities as Ghanaians. My Brother, the Minority Chief Whip, speaks impeccable Ewe, because he grew up among Ewes and attended Bishop Herman College and I got the opportunity to join him in the University of Cape Coast, so, my Fante is pristine and today we are here.
Mr Speaker, that is the social cohesion that we have enjoyed and it has benefited us. So, today, you may see us, but like the elders would say, we are like two cockerels. We may be fighting, but we watch our eyes, we cannot punch our eyes because we are brothers to the core. We may have our political dispensations, but by all means, let us be guided by simple standards so that every government has the power to exercise the Executive power of state. So by all means recruit. But I will love that we would be guided. There is always space in the public sector.
So, Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity and I thank the makers. This is a major reminder to all of us that we must always think of the people and do what will be of social benefit; socioeconomic, political, and cultural benefit to them. So, whatever social intervention programmes that we implement as a people, as a Government, it must go to benefit the people.
I thank you for the opportunity and I thank the makers of the Statements.
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