Director of Operations of the Progressive People's Party (PPP) Nana Ofori Owusu has called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to revoke the Major Mahama Bill passed by Parliament.
The Legislative House on Thursday passed the bill into an Act.
It is to give effect to the President's commitment to establish a Memorial Trust Fund with GHC 500,000 seed money to honour the memory of the late Major Mahama.
A memorandum to the bill stated that "it has become necessary to draft this bill considering the circumstances under which the officer died while on a national duty.”
The fund is intended to adequately cater for the widow, Barbara Mahama and her children with the deceased until she remarries. The money will be channeled to the welfare and upkeep of the children including their education.
But to the PPP stalwart, the bill is flawed and should be scrapped because it doesn't encourage rule of law.
According to Nana Ofori Owusu, he will only accept the bill if it's passed to cater for all security personnel in Ghana who lose their lives in line of duty.
He noted that the law makers cannot pass a bill to favor an individual, meanwhile there are other security personnel who equally suffer the same fate as the late Major Mahama.
Without sounding insensitive to the widow's predicament, Nana Ofori Owusu told sit-in host Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' that if the Parliamentarians "pass a bill for one person and don’t do it for all security personnel who lose their lives in the line of duty but for just one person, I think it’s a very bad bill. It’s a very, very bad bill".
He expressed utter shock over the character of the law makers asking "what have we done for the families of all the other security personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty . . . I’m surprised that the August House of Parliament has passed this Bill. I am so shocked. How can we sit in a country and pass an entire Bill for one person when we’re talking about the many, many, many, many Police Officers who have been killed by armed robbers in the course of protecting us while we asleep and many soldiers who have lost their lives?”
Nana Ofori Owusu importuned the President to the bill as "awful" and "kindly in your wisdom, do not append your signature to this bill that's been personalized to individual”.
"You can’t personalize law," he directed it to the Parliamentarians.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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This is the beauty of democracy! Every well meaning Ghanaian has seen that Parliament did a poor job. It is unfortunate that neither the Majority nor Minority thought of making the bill inclusive but rather chose to pass a discriminatory bill. This is where the checks and balances in democracy come into play. The ball is now in the court of the President. He is the one who Ghanaians have given power to have a final say in such controversial matters. I strongly believe the President will bring reason to bear and refer the bill back to parliament for amendment to make it more inclusive, appealing and acceptable to all and sundry. Only the Executive can correct this shortcoming of the Legislature. Mr President, OVER TO YOU.
Why do we make a bill for just one person. I can't think far. I see our parliament has nothing serious doing otherwise they will not waste precious time to make a bill for just one person. It is wise to make a bill that will cover every Ghanaian who dies on duty. Until now we don't know exactly what Major Mahama was doing that morning when he met his death. Some say he was jogging, the wife said he called him after bathing and so many contradictory statements. His autopsy report has still not been released. The doctor in charge of the autopsy has refused to release his report and nobody is questioning him. So many indiscipline in the system and we have to check all that before we make new laws and bills for Mahama. What has happened to the already existing laws.
u hav missed d point.it is about how he died in d course of executing a major gov. initiative-galamsey.almost a whole village lynching one person??this is an abnormal death for d fight against galamsey!!
YOUR EXCELLENCY ITS THE RIGHT THING TO DO NOT TO SIGN THIS BILL. IT WILL EVENTAULLY MAKE YOU UNPOPULAR IF YOU DO SO. PLEASE ADHER TO REASON!!!
L know of 3 policemen who suffered in line of duty and died later when justice agyapong, major acquah and justice koranteng addo were abducted. they were on duty and got beaten with gun. can the president add the widows of the poor ex policemen I wonder if ex president will include the widows
The president does not care because he has his family, ex concubines, daughters, nephew and all extended family members covered with juicy appointments so the other widows whose husband suffered similar faith in line of duty can go to hell.what an inward short memory, little mind honorable members of parliament. NPP members arise and advise Akuffo Addo there would be no job for unless you come from akyem area.
Exactly......she is not the only army wife who has lost the husband...what of the other widows....
Yes, Nana you're spot on. How??I mean how??What has been done or was done for the dependents of heroes like Sgt.Adjetey and many others who died for loftier causes that have been benefitted millions than this selfish, half-baked officer who was going to collect a bribe from galamseyers,got lynched and died in a cowardly manner!!! How?? Y3noa no s3n, nna ab3n??!!!!
Our MPs are a complete disaster. They don't think through anything. All they do is pass it and collect their fat salaries. Parliament is as good as sh*t!
It is just fair to enact a law that would cater for the spouses and children of all security martyrs. I don't think people are against major mahama, but it's only equitable to want to do same for others who have suffered the same fate.