The commissioning of the aviation security screening equipment at Terminal Three (T3) of the Kotoka International Airport in Accra and the timely release of allocations to the Public Interest and Accountability Committee by the government are some of the trending stories in the Ghanaian press on Thursday.
The Graphic reports that the Minister of Transport, Mr. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, has commissioned aviation security screening equipment at Terminal Three (T3) of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra.
The advanced body scanner and nine explosive and narcotics trace detectors, which have been installed at the departure hall of the airport, were donated by the US Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security Office of Anti-terrorism Assistance (ATA), in collaboration with the Transportation Security Administration of the US Department of Homeland Security.
The minister was assisted by the US Ambassador to Ghana, Ms. Stephanie Sullivan, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms. Martha Pobee; the Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Mr Yaw Kwakwa, and the Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Mr Charles Kraikue.
According to Mr. Asiamah, the aviation industry required not only safety regulations and measures, but also a robust security system to help improve on safety and sustainability.
He said the industry remained a symbol of target for terrorists and that “it is for this reason we are thankful to the government of the United States of America for donating the scanner, an L3 Body Scanner, the explosives and narcotics trace detectors under the anti-terrorist assistance aviation security enhancement programme.
“We also thank the US Embassy in Ghana for taking delivery and ensuring installation of the equipment, and taking further steps to train Ghanaian aviation security staff and technicians on its usage,” the minister added.
The newspaper says that the government has ensured the timely release of allocations to the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), the body charged to monitor the responsible use of oil revenue and resources in the country.
“Government since 2017 has ensured that, unlike in the past, the budgetary allocations of PIAC have been released to enable it undertake its activities. In 2020, for example, an amount of GH¢3.1 million was given to PIAC, with GH¢2.35 million set to be released for this year, in spite of the pandemic,” President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, stated.
The President disclosed this when he launched the 10th anniversary of PIAC in Accra yesterday.
Independent checks from PIAC indicated that the committee in a timely fashion to support their programmes, received GH¢1.34 million in 2017, GH¢3.54 million in 2018; GH¢2.94 million in 2019 and GH¢3.09 million last year.
“Indeed, the committee utilised part of its 2018 budgetary allocation to procure its current office building at East Legon, in Accra, which brought an end to the era of evictions and threats of eviction by landlords.
“For as long as I remain President, support to PIAC will be forthcoming and on time,” President Akufo-Addo stressed.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo urged the Ministry of Finance and PIAC to resolve the delay in transmission of information between them.
The Graphic also reports that six minority Members of Parliament (MPs) have initiated a private members’ motion for Parliament to investigate acts of violence that occurred in the 2020 general election.
They want the House to probe inappropriate interferences by some members of the state security which led to injuries and the loss of seven lives during the presidential and parliamentary polls.
The lawmakers are the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu; the MP for Asawase, Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka; the MP for Bawku Central, Mr Mahama Ayariga; the MP for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; the MP for Tamale North, Mr Suhuyini Alhassan Sayibu, and the MP for Builsa North, Mr James Agalga.
The motion, which is yet to be moved, identified the seven persons who lost their lives as Tajudeen Alhassan (39 years), Abdallah Ayaric (18), Emmanuel Dompreh (36), Samira Zakaria (36), Ibrahim Abass (30), Rita Otoo (15) and Fuseini Musah (14).
According to the police, there were 61 recorded cases of electoral and post-electoral violence across the country.
It indicated that 21 of the incidents were true cases of electoral violence, six of which involved gunshots.
Earlier on March 15, this year, some MPs called for the setting up of a commission of enquiry to probe electoral violence in Ghana so as to help bring justice to those who have suffered excesses from the security agencies.
The Daily Guide says that the Minister-designate for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta is appearing before Parliament Appointments Committee on Thursday.
Mr. Ofori-Atta, who was among 30-ministerial nominees appointed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was out the country for medical treatment occasioned by Covid-19.
He will face 26 members of the Committee, who are likely to grill on the financial sector clean up and Agyapa deal among others.
Public Affairs Directorate of the Parliamentary Service, in a statement, said the Appointments Committee would hold “a public hearing to consider Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta as Minister for Finance on Thursday, 25 March, 2021, 10 am prompt at Committee Rooms 1&2, New Parliamentary Office Complex.”
GIK/APA