The nominee Minister of State of Procurement, Adwoa Safo, has said she will recuse herself if Kantanka Automobile Limited, a company owned by her family, bids for a government contract.

The Minister-designate is expected to push for major changes in public procurement and make sure in procurement there will be fairness, non-discrimination​,value for money, and,  to a very large extent, integrity.

To this end, she told the vetting committee in parliament on Monday, 27 March: I "foresee in the event that Kantanka Automobile Company Limited, owned by my family, should bid for a contract, I obviously will have a vested interest in and I will recuse myself accordingly."​

Kantanka Automobile Company Limited is a subsidiary of the Kantanka​ Group of Companies founded by Apostle Dr Ing. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, the founder and Leader of Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana.

Source: classfmonline.com​

Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo has revealed that she drives cars produced by her father's Kantanka Automobile Company Limited, a subsidiary of the kantanka Group of Companies.

Speaking during her vetting​ by the Appointment Committee of Parliament as Minister-designate of Public Procurement Authority on Monday, 27 March, the Deputy Majority Leader said: "I am driving daddy's car and I must tell you that the pick-ups are already there - there has been the first model, the second model, and the third model - and also inform this honourable house that I just do not have a car of my dad's: my children use my dad's cars for school, my constituency has a Kantanka pickup that my organizer uses, and I also have my personal one. Daddy is pampering me small so he has given me three."

Meanwhile, she has said the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will engage in sole-sourcing in the award of contracts but will only do so under restrict conditions.​

According to her, this government will ensure absolute transparency, fairness and value for money​ in the award of contracts, especially in cases that sole-sourcing is used.

I will want to reiterate what has already been stated by His Excellency the President on our government's position on procurement: in ensuring that there is transparency, fairness, non-discrimination, value for money and, to a very large extent, integrity in the procurement processes and the only way that we can best champion this cause is through​ open competitive tender.

"So believe that open competitive tendering is the way to go: open up the tendering process for as many that qualify or meet the specifications for the contract for which they want to bid f​or," she said.

However, she added: "Sole-sourcing is permitted by Act 914. It is a method that is acceptable under the Act and it is lawful but it is an exception to the rule rather than the general rule. If the condition precedent set out in the Act and the guidelines for sole-sourcing as developed by the PPA​ are met. And so we will only advise that those conditions are satisfied.

"Sole-sourcing is a method that is justified under the law provided the conditions precedent exist," the Deputy Majority Leader said, adding: "We are able to satisfy [them]. We would [engage in sole-sourcing] where necessary ​if the conditions are met.

Source: classfoonline.com​

The nominee Minister of State of Procurement, Adwoa Safo, has said her ministry will cooperate with the office of the Attorney General to sanction any entity found culpable of resorting to sole-sourcing in the award of government contracts.

Sole-sourcing has been criticised as a vehicle used by​ politicians to steal money from the public through the award of contracts.

Speaking at the Appointment Committee hearing on Monday, 27 March, the Dome-Kwabenya lawmaker said: "The sanctions are provided for in section 92 of the public procurement act as amended and it so clear.​It's been reviewed in the amendment, the fine is now from a GHS2500 or imprisonment for not less than five years, so the offence is already in the law. So we will work together with the Attorney General's Department to ensure that people who are found or entities found to have flouted the procurement law are dealt with."

She added that her ministry would ensure that "in procurement law there will be fairness, non-discrimination, value for money, and, to a very large extent​, integrity in the process and the only way to best champion the cause is through open, competitive tender.

Source: classfmonline.com​

The Minister designate for Public Procurement, Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo has explained that her role will in no way conflict with that of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).

There have been concerns that the new portfolio created by President Akufo-Addo ​and handed over to Ms Safo to overseer would conflict with the work of the (PPA).

Answering a question on how she intends to reconcile her position with that of the PPA when she appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Monday morning, Ms Safo said there would be no conflict.​

"My role in no way conflict with that of the Public Procurement Authority. It is rather going to strengthen ​and empower the PPA to be the regulatory body that oversees public procurements that are done."

"What I will be doing is to advising government on procurement issues. I won't veer into the regulatory functions of PPA. Mine, is just to advice as an internal check for us as a government even before​ we move to the PPA for the needed approval we ought to get for sole-sourcing or for restrictive tendering."

The MP for Hohoe, Bernice Adiku Heloo who asked the question on how she intends to get reconcile her position with that of the PPA congratulated her and asked her to serve as a role model for especially young women by bringing her expertise to bear on her new position.​

When the MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa asked if her role will not conflict with that of the Minister of Finance, Ms Safo reiterated : I do not think that I will veer into that arena..., my role will be restricted to advising government on procurement internally before we move to the next level of PPA regulating to see whether indeed as a government we have followed the right procedure."​

Ms Safo said she will ensure that entities that flout the procurement law are sanctioned in accordance with the law.

Source: dailygraphic online​

Adwoa Safo and Joe Wise

Vetting of the last batch of 54 ministers of state and deputy ministers-designate will start on Monday, March 27, 2017, with the appearance of the four ministers of state-designate before the Appointments Committee of Parliament.​

The Chairman of the committee, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, told the Daily Graphic last Tuesday that the leadership of the committee had agreed that five deputy ministers-designate would be vetted a day , after the vetting of the four ministers of state.​

He said the vetting would be held daily till March 30, 2017, which also starts the recess of Parliament.​

Mr Osei-Owusu also noted that the committee would resume the vetting of the deputy ministers-designate on April 3, 2017 till April 5, 2017, and then go on a break.​

He said the committee would then hold the last batch of vetting from April 15 - 18, 2017.​

The ministers of state are Ms Adwoa Safo, Minister of State at the Office of the President in charge of Procurement​: Brian Acheampong, Minister at the office of the President: Dr Nurah Gyeile, Minister of State at the Minister of Agriculture, and Professor Kwesi Yankah, Minister of State, Tertiary.

No disagreements

Mr Osei-Owusu, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, denied that there had been disagreements between Majority​ and Minority members of the committee over the number of nominees to be vetted daily.

He said the decision to vet all the four ministers of state in a day and subsequently five deputy ministers daily was made by the leadership of the committee, which included himself; his deputy , Ms Safo; the Minority Leader and Ranking Member on the committee, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, and the Minority Chief Whip and Deputy Ranking Member on the committee, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak.​

He said at no point in the meeting did anybody suggest that 10 nominees be allowed to appear before the committee daily.​

​According to him, there was no need to rush the vetting of the nominees because Parliament would only resume on April 16, 2017 for the possible approval of the nominees.

Earlier, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale North and Minority member on the committee, Mr Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini, told the Daily Graphic that the Minority members on the committee had rejected a suggestion for the committee to vet 10 ministers and deputy ministers daily.

He said the Minority felt it was impossible to vet 10 nominees daily.​

Therefore, he said, the Minority had proposed that five nominees be vetted in a day.​

Mr Suhuyini said the Minority members in the committee were of the view that the vetting of the rest of the ministers could continue after recess.

Source: Daily Graphic​

The health benefits of lemon include treatment of throat infections, indigestion, constipation, dental problems, and fever, internal bleeding, rheumatism, burns, obesity, respiratory disorders,cholera and high blood pressure, while it also benefits hair and skin care. known for its therapeutic property since generations, lemons help to strengthen your immune system, cleanse your stomach, and it is considered a blood purifier.

​Lemon juice, especially, has several health benefits associated with it, is well known as a useful treatment for kidney stones, reducing strokes and lowering body temperature. Lemonade helps you stay calm and cool.

The health benefits of lemon​s are due to its many nourishing elements like vitamin C, vitamin B 6, vitamin A, vitamin E, folate, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin,pantothenic acid, copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, phosphorus and protein. 

Lemon is a fruit that contains flavonoids, which are composites that contain antioxidant and cancer fighting properties. It helps to prevent diabetes, constipation, high blood pressure, fever, indigestion and many other problems, as well as improving the skin, hair and teeth. ​

Studies conducted at the American Urological Association highlight the fact that lemonade or lemon juice can eliminate the occurrence of kidney stones by forming urinary citrate, which prevents the formation of crystals.​

People use lemons to make lemonade by mixing lemon juice with water. Many people also use lemon as a washing agent, because of its ability to remove stains. The scent of lemons can also repel mosquitoes, while drinking lemon juice with olive oil helps to get rid of gall stones.

Lemon is well known for medicinal power and is used in many different ways. As per the results reported by the Annals of the Rheumatic Disease​s, lemon provides protection against inflammation polyarthritis and arthritis.

Indigestion and Constipation

Lemon juice helps to cure ​problems related to indigestion and constipation. Add a few drops of lemon on your dish (take care, it does not go well with milk, and it will aid in digestion. It acts as a blood purifier and a cleansing agent , so a good drink after lunch or dinner is fresh lemon soda, which is also called fresh lime. The recipe is lemon juice, cold water, soda, salts for added flavor. Drink this whenever you have a heavy lunch or dinner.

Fever:

Lemon juice can treat a person who is suffering from a cold, flu or fever. It helps to break fevers by increasing perspiration.​

Dental Care:

It is also frequently used in dental care. If fresh lemon juice is applied on the area of a toothache, it can assist in getting rid of the pain. Massaging the juice from various gum bleeding, while eliminating the bad odors that can come from various gum diseases and conditions.​

Additionally, it can used in the regular cleansing of your teeth. Keep your eye out for a toothpaste containing lemon as one of the ingredients, or add a drop of its juice onto your normal toothpaste. Some people also rub their teeth with the outer shell (the inner side touching your teeth) of a lemon after removing the juice.But be careful, lemons are highly acidic, so if your mouth starts burning , rinse your gums and mouth quickly with water.​

Hair Care:

Lemon juice has proven itself in the treatment of hair care on a wide scale. The juice applied to the scalp can treat problems like dandruff, hair loss​ and other problems related to the hair and scalp. If you apply lemon juice directly on the hair, it can give your hair a natural shine.

Skin Care:

Lemon juice, being a natural antiseptic medicine, can also cure problems related to the skin. The juice can be applied to reduce the pain of sun burn, and it helps to ease the pain from bee stings as well. It is also good for acne and eczema. It acts as an anti-aging remedy and can remove wrinkles and blackheads. Drinking lemon juice mixed with water and honey brings a healthy growth to the skin, and if you thoroughly search the cosmetic​ market, you will find some soaps containing lemon juice, but they aren't too easy to find!

Burns:

Use lemon juice on the site of old burns can help fade the scars, and since lemon is a cooling agent, it reduces the burning sensation on the skin when you currently have an irritating burn.​

Internal Bleeding:

It has antiseptic and coagulant properties, so it can stop internal bleeding. You can apply lemon juice to a small cotton ball and place it inside your nose to stop nose bleeds.

Weight ​Loss:

If a person drinks lemon juice mixed with lukewarm water ​and honey, it can help reduce body weight.

Respiratory Disorder:

Lemon juice assist in relieving respiratory problems and breathing problems, such as its ability to soothe a person suffering from an asthma . Being a rich source of vitamin C, it helps in dealing with more long-term respiratory disorder.​

Cholera:

Diseases like cholera and malaria can be treated with lemon juice, because it acts as a blood purifier.​

Foot Relaxation:

Lemon is an aromatic and antiseptic agent and is useful in foot relaxation.Add some lemon juice to warm water and dip your feet in the mixture for instant relief and muscle relaxation​.

Rheumatism:

It is also a diuretic and can treat rheumatism and arthritis. It helps​ to flush out bacteria and toxins from the body.

Corns:

Lemon juice can dissolve lumps on the skin, so it can be applied at the place where the skin has hardened up, like the soles of feet and the palms of your hands. Drinking lemon juice​ with water can help patients reduce gall stones for the same reasons.

Throat Infections:

Lemon is an excellent fruit that fight against problems related to throat infections, due to its well-known ​antibacterial properties.

High Blood Pressure:

Drinking lemon juice is helpful for people suffering from heart  problems​, because it cnntains potassium. It controls high blood pressure, dizziness and nausea, because it provides a calming sensation to both the mind and body. It is commonly employed to reduce mental stress and depression.

Lemon:

Lemon has proven to be nature's boon to everyone who uses it. It provides many valuable solutions to health-related problems, because it contains its own  set of antiseptic and natural medications. In case of malaria​, lemon will not cure it, but aids in the treatment. A good practice is to eat anywhere from a quarter to a half of a lemon per day to get the maximum benefits from this powerful little fruit.

Nutrients* Dietary Fiber 19%   Carbohydrate 4%   Protein 2%​

Vitamins* Vitamin C 128%    Vitamin B6 5%​   Thiamin 3%

Minerals* Copper​ 13%   Calcium 6%  Iron 4%

*% Daily Value per 100g. For e.g. 100g of lemon provides 128% of daily requirement of vitamin C.​

References: American Urological Association and Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases​

Source: organicfacts.net​

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