Page 16, Feb 9, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Appointments Committee of Parliament is expected to vet new ministers who have been nominated by President John Evans Atta Mills within the week.
The ministerial nominees expected to be vetted are the Majority Leader, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin for the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr John Tia, Deputy Majority Leader for the Ministry of Information, and Mr E.T. Mensah, the Majority Chief Whip, who has been nominated for the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare.
Also to be vetted is the runningmate of President Mills during the 2000 elections, Mr Martin Amidu who has been nominated to replace Mr Cletus Avoka as the Minister of the Interior.
The rest are Mr John Gyetuah, Deputy Minister of Trade, who has been nominated at a Minister of State at the Presidency and Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Presidential Spokesperson, also nominated as the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.
The Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Mr Jones Kugblenu, confirmed this to the Daily Graphic and stated that the vetting of the ministerial nominees had already been published in the dailies to invite memoranda from the general public.
The public is expected to fill the Speaker’s Conference Room, where the vetting will take place to witness the vetting of Mr Bagbin in particular.
For more than eight years, Mr Bagbin, then the Minority Leader, caught national attention with his incisive questions for nominees during sittings of the Appointments Committee.
His nomination for the ministerial position caused a stir due to the sterling leadership he provided to the NDC, both as the Minority and Majority Leader.
Both MPs from the Majority and Minority sides expressed worry over why such experienced legislators could be drafted into the executive, creating a vacuum in Parliament.
He is among the few experienced legislators the country could boast of, having contested the Nadowli West seat in the Upper West Region and won on every occasion.
For Mr Tia, who is a professional journalist, it would be a back-to-base affair if his nomination is approved by Parliament.
Mr Tia is one of the MPs who are serving their fifth term in Parliament and it is expected that he would bring his rich experience as a journalist and veteran legislator to bear on the performance of the Information Ministry.
E.T. Mensah is not new to Ghanaian politics as he served the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive and Minister of Sports during the Rawlings era.
Indeed, the public would be on the lookout to see whether these experienced legislators would be “grilled” as they face their own colleagues or would be treated with kid gloves.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Three energy providers make case for new tariffs
Backpage, Feb 9, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Mr Kweku Awortwi, has stated that arrears owed the authority by the government and the low tariffs currently being charged will bring its operations to a halt some time this year if the situation is not fully addressed and resolved.
He has, therefore, called for the settlement of the arrears, in addition to the payment of the right price by consumers, to ensure the payment of the cost of production and the provision of adequate maintenance of the system that had been under-invested for many years.
Mr Awortwi made the call when he, in the company of the heads of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), addressed the media to explain to the public the need for the adjustment in electricity tariffs.
He noted that the VRA experienced increasing difficulty procuring its monthly crude oil needs to run its thermal facilities, explaining that its monthly crude bills of between $30 million and $40 million were not being covered by the current electricity tariff of 6Gp per kilowatt (or 4 cents per kilowatt).
Although the heads of the three institutions who addressed the media refused to tell how much they were demanding as tariff increase, the PURC has confirmed that in all they are demanding a total of 437 per cent increase.
While the VRA, which generates the energy, is demanding a 115 per cent increase, the GRIDCo, which undertakes the transmission of power to the ECG, is asking for 173 per cent, with the ECG, which distributes the power to consumers, asking for a 109 per cent increase.
For his part, the Managing Director of the ECG, Mr Cephas Gakpo, said the company required an average of $180 million to meet its annual investment in order to meet the growing need for electricity in the country.
He explained that the current tariff allowed the ECG to internally generate only $30 million annually to support its capital investment projects, explaining that that would not enable it to satisfy the seven per cent energy demand growth of the country.
Mr Gakpo stated that as a result of obsolete machinery, the company incurred 12 per cent technical losses and an additional 13 per cent commercial losses (electricity theft) and appealed to Ghanaians to assist it to effect the arrest of such perpetrators.
The Chief Executive Officer of GRIDCo, Mr Charles Darku, explained that the peak power demand in Accra had grown from about 110 megawatts in 1990 to about 400 megawatts in 2009, with three lines from the Volta to Achimota continuing to serve that load.
He said the total transformer capacity of Accra was about 415 megawatts, implying that the transformer capacity of Accra had almost been exhausted.
Mr Darku said his outfit had drawn up a five-year capital investment programme to cater for the construction of transmission lines and substations, the installation of transformers and substation equipment and the provision of tools for maintenance and operations.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Mr Kweku Awortwi, has stated that arrears owed the authority by the government and the low tariffs currently being charged will bring its operations to a halt some time this year if the situation is not fully addressed and resolved.
He has, therefore, called for the settlement of the arrears, in addition to the payment of the right price by consumers, to ensure the payment of the cost of production and the provision of adequate maintenance of the system that had been under-invested for many years.
Mr Awortwi made the call when he, in the company of the heads of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), addressed the media to explain to the public the need for the adjustment in electricity tariffs.
He noted that the VRA experienced increasing difficulty procuring its monthly crude oil needs to run its thermal facilities, explaining that its monthly crude bills of between $30 million and $40 million were not being covered by the current electricity tariff of 6Gp per kilowatt (or 4 cents per kilowatt).
Although the heads of the three institutions who addressed the media refused to tell how much they were demanding as tariff increase, the PURC has confirmed that in all they are demanding a total of 437 per cent increase.
While the VRA, which generates the energy, is demanding a 115 per cent increase, the GRIDCo, which undertakes the transmission of power to the ECG, is asking for 173 per cent, with the ECG, which distributes the power to consumers, asking for a 109 per cent increase.
For his part, the Managing Director of the ECG, Mr Cephas Gakpo, said the company required an average of $180 million to meet its annual investment in order to meet the growing need for electricity in the country.
He explained that the current tariff allowed the ECG to internally generate only $30 million annually to support its capital investment projects, explaining that that would not enable it to satisfy the seven per cent energy demand growth of the country.
Mr Gakpo stated that as a result of obsolete machinery, the company incurred 12 per cent technical losses and an additional 13 per cent commercial losses (electricity theft) and appealed to Ghanaians to assist it to effect the arrest of such perpetrators.
The Chief Executive Officer of GRIDCo, Mr Charles Darku, explained that the peak power demand in Accra had grown from about 110 megawatts in 1990 to about 400 megawatts in 2009, with three lines from the Volta to Achimota continuing to serve that load.
He said the total transformer capacity of Accra was about 415 megawatts, implying that the transformer capacity of Accra had almost been exhausted.
Mr Darku said his outfit had drawn up a five-year capital investment programme to cater for the construction of transmission lines and substations, the installation of transformers and substation equipment and the provision of tools for maintenance and operations.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Dan Lartey laid to rest
Centre spread, Feb 8, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Henrietta Brocke
IT was a real celebration of life as hundreds of mourners and sympathisers from all walks of life converged on the forecourt of the State House, Accra, last Saturday to participate in the funeral and burial service of the veteran politician, Daniel Lartey.
The casket bearing the remains of the Mr Lartey, 83, who passed away in his sleep at his “Citadel House” residence at Kaneshie, was placed under a decorated tent for the public to file past.
Vice-President John Dramani Mahama led the government delegation to pay their last respects to Mr Lartey, popularly called “Domestication”, the founder and leader of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP).
Also present were the former Vice–President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama; the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood; the Election 2008 flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo-Danquah Akuffo Addo; the Chairman of the NDC, Dr Kwabena Adjei; the NDC Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah; the Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu; Members of Parliament (MPs), the Leader of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), Mr T.N. Ward Brew, and Mr Ansa Asare of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP).
Others were the Central Regional Minister, Ms Ama Benyiwa-Doe; the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Alex Segbefia, and the NDC National Women’s Organiser, Anita Jemima De-Sosoo.
Preaching the sermon, the Anglican Archbishop of the Cardinal Province of West Africa, the Most Rev Dr Justice Ofei Akrofi, said the best tribute Ghanaian politicians could pay Mr Lartey was to emulate his principle of basing his campaign on issues rather than attacking personalities.
He said aside from making his indelible mark on the political scene in his ‘domestication’ mantra, Mr Lartey never attacked any personality but explained issues.
Dr Adjei, on behalf of the government, noted that the idea of domestication would not be overthrown.
He said Mr Lartey was really self-reliant and self-sufficient and shared his ideology with other political parties for the development of the country.
The government donated GH¢10,000, while the NDC donated GH¢2,000 to support the family.
In her tribute, the widow, Mrs Sarah Lartey, praised her husband for his love, saying, “Your spirit lives on; your words will bring me strength and your promise will fill my heart with peace.”
For her part, the CPP MP for Jomoro, Ms Samia Nkrumah, called on all Nkrumaists to honour the late Lartey by coming under one umbrella.
“So as we bid farewell to an inspired Nkrumaist, we pay tribute to him and all departed pioneers by pledging to forge ahead with the domestication campaign and to unite the Nkrumaist front — the CPP, the PNC, the GCPP and other splinter groups — in order to establish a viable alternative force that will lead our country and people to economic self-reliance without fail,” she said.
The body was later conveyed to the Osu Cemetery for interment.
A former publisher and labour unionist, Mr Lartey's name became a household one following his 2004 mantra of ‘domestication’, the political philosophy of growing Ghana from Ghana, instead of depending on foreign aid and investments.
His political career started in 1969 when he contested the Gomoa East Constituency seat on the ticket of the National Alliance of Liberals (NAL) in the parliamentary election of that year.
In 1972, he was appointed a special adviser to General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong’s National Redemption Council (NRC) government and in 1978 he represented Gomoa-Ewutu-Effutu at the Constituent Assembly to write the Third Republican Constitution.
He was a founder member of the People's National Party (PNP) in 1979 and aspiring presidential candidate of the National Independence Party (NIP) in 1992, losing to Mr Kwabena Darko.
With signs of old age and its attendant ill health, Mr Lartey returned to Ghana on November 29, 2009 after a six-month visit to the United States of America (USA) where he had received medical treatment, but he passed away on Monday, December 28, 2009.
Mr Lartey, who was the 2000 and 2004 presidential candidate of the GCPP, was born on August 1, 1926 at Winneba in the Central Region.
After his elementary education in Ghana, he proceeded to the UK, where he obtained a diploma at the London Chamber of Commerce and Sloan's Shorthand Certificate of Proficiency. He also obtained a diploma in Commerce and Industry from the London School of Economics in 1956.
From 1944 to 1958, Mr Lartey worked with the then United Africa Company (UAC), where he rose to senior management status and was posted to its headquarters at the Unilever House in London.
He established a number of businesses, including Lartey & Lartey Books and Stationery, which later became the nucleus of Ghana Book Supply, Citadel Printing Press and the Federal Stores of Nigeria.
Mr Lartey also established five newspapers — the Citadel Daily, African World, Citadel Sports, The Guardian and The Guardian Sports.
Later in life, he became the Odikro of Gomoa Lome in the Central Region but had to vacate the stool when he decided to engage in active political party activities in 1992.
He left behind six children and his 87-year-old widow, Sarah.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Henrietta Brocke
IT was a real celebration of life as hundreds of mourners and sympathisers from all walks of life converged on the forecourt of the State House, Accra, last Saturday to participate in the funeral and burial service of the veteran politician, Daniel Lartey.
The casket bearing the remains of the Mr Lartey, 83, who passed away in his sleep at his “Citadel House” residence at Kaneshie, was placed under a decorated tent for the public to file past.
Vice-President John Dramani Mahama led the government delegation to pay their last respects to Mr Lartey, popularly called “Domestication”, the founder and leader of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP).
Also present were the former Vice–President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama; the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood; the Election 2008 flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo-Danquah Akuffo Addo; the Chairman of the NDC, Dr Kwabena Adjei; the NDC Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah; the Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu; Members of Parliament (MPs), the Leader of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), Mr T.N. Ward Brew, and Mr Ansa Asare of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP).
Others were the Central Regional Minister, Ms Ama Benyiwa-Doe; the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Alex Segbefia, and the NDC National Women’s Organiser, Anita Jemima De-Sosoo.
Preaching the sermon, the Anglican Archbishop of the Cardinal Province of West Africa, the Most Rev Dr Justice Ofei Akrofi, said the best tribute Ghanaian politicians could pay Mr Lartey was to emulate his principle of basing his campaign on issues rather than attacking personalities.
He said aside from making his indelible mark on the political scene in his ‘domestication’ mantra, Mr Lartey never attacked any personality but explained issues.
Dr Adjei, on behalf of the government, noted that the idea of domestication would not be overthrown.
He said Mr Lartey was really self-reliant and self-sufficient and shared his ideology with other political parties for the development of the country.
The government donated GH¢10,000, while the NDC donated GH¢2,000 to support the family.
In her tribute, the widow, Mrs Sarah Lartey, praised her husband for his love, saying, “Your spirit lives on; your words will bring me strength and your promise will fill my heart with peace.”
For her part, the CPP MP for Jomoro, Ms Samia Nkrumah, called on all Nkrumaists to honour the late Lartey by coming under one umbrella.
“So as we bid farewell to an inspired Nkrumaist, we pay tribute to him and all departed pioneers by pledging to forge ahead with the domestication campaign and to unite the Nkrumaist front — the CPP, the PNC, the GCPP and other splinter groups — in order to establish a viable alternative force that will lead our country and people to economic self-reliance without fail,” she said.
The body was later conveyed to the Osu Cemetery for interment.
A former publisher and labour unionist, Mr Lartey's name became a household one following his 2004 mantra of ‘domestication’, the political philosophy of growing Ghana from Ghana, instead of depending on foreign aid and investments.
His political career started in 1969 when he contested the Gomoa East Constituency seat on the ticket of the National Alliance of Liberals (NAL) in the parliamentary election of that year.
In 1972, he was appointed a special adviser to General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong’s National Redemption Council (NRC) government and in 1978 he represented Gomoa-Ewutu-Effutu at the Constituent Assembly to write the Third Republican Constitution.
He was a founder member of the People's National Party (PNP) in 1979 and aspiring presidential candidate of the National Independence Party (NIP) in 1992, losing to Mr Kwabena Darko.
With signs of old age and its attendant ill health, Mr Lartey returned to Ghana on November 29, 2009 after a six-month visit to the United States of America (USA) where he had received medical treatment, but he passed away on Monday, December 28, 2009.
Mr Lartey, who was the 2000 and 2004 presidential candidate of the GCPP, was born on August 1, 1926 at Winneba in the Central Region.
After his elementary education in Ghana, he proceeded to the UK, where he obtained a diploma at the London Chamber of Commerce and Sloan's Shorthand Certificate of Proficiency. He also obtained a diploma in Commerce and Industry from the London School of Economics in 1956.
From 1944 to 1958, Mr Lartey worked with the then United Africa Company (UAC), where he rose to senior management status and was posted to its headquarters at the Unilever House in London.
He established a number of businesses, including Lartey & Lartey Books and Stationery, which later became the nucleus of Ghana Book Supply, Citadel Printing Press and the Federal Stores of Nigeria.
Mr Lartey also established five newspapers — the Citadel Daily, African World, Citadel Sports, The Guardian and The Guardian Sports.
Later in life, he became the Odikro of Gomoa Lome in the Central Region but had to vacate the stool when he decided to engage in active political party activities in 1992.
He left behind six children and his 87-year-old widow, Sarah.
Parliament approves loan for Awoshie-Pokuase road
Page 13, Feb 6, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT has approved a 30 million euro loan agreement between Ghana and Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) for to finance the Awoshie-Pokuase Road and Community Development Project.
The Awoshie-Pokuase area is a rapidly developing community, as a result of Accra’s urban spill, with an estimated physical growth of more than nine per cent per annum.
The situation has made it difficult for residents to meet service demands of residents regarding transportation, health, education, water and sanitation.
The road construction project therefore aims to promote sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty through employment and income generation opportunities.
The report of the Finance Committee of Parliament indicated that the primary and direct project beneficiaries span across Awoshie, Anyaa, Ablekuma, Amamorley and Ayawaso in the Ga West and South municipalities.
The report added that the total estimated cost of the project, excluding taxes and duties, is 98.67 million euros with AFD providing 30 million euros, African Development Bank (ADB), 62.54 million euros with the government providing a counterpart fund of 6.13 million euros.
It said a a technical team from the Ministry of Road and Highways explained to the committee that the government’s counterpart funds consisted essentially of compensation and resettlement costs and that provision had been made in the ministry’s budget for 2010.
The project would affect approximately 274 persons who own 303 permanent structures, among which are dwelling homes and businesses, and 659 persons who own 715 temporary structures.
While compensation would be provided to occupants and owners of permanent structures who would be displaced, occupants of temporary structures would be entitled to supplementary assistance to aide them in relocating their premises.
The committee, the report said advised the Ministry of Road and Highways to work together to secure the ADF resources in time to ensure that the project did not get stalled midway.
Actual construction of the project, which would last for four years, is expected to begin by the end of September, this year.
Contributing to the ensuing debate on the loan, the Member of Parliament for Weija, Ms Sherry Ayokor Botchway, expressed her joy over the approval ,saying that she hoped that the completion of the project would bring comfort to her constituents.
In another development, the House also gave its approval to a 10 million euro agreement between Ghana and the KFW of Germany to finance the Out-grower Value Chain Fund (OVCF).
The fund seeks to improve the income of the target group, especially small-scale farmers, in an effort to reduce rural poverty as part of the overall goal of Ghana’s Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II).
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT has approved a 30 million euro loan agreement between Ghana and Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) for to finance the Awoshie-Pokuase Road and Community Development Project.
The Awoshie-Pokuase area is a rapidly developing community, as a result of Accra’s urban spill, with an estimated physical growth of more than nine per cent per annum.
The situation has made it difficult for residents to meet service demands of residents regarding transportation, health, education, water and sanitation.
The road construction project therefore aims to promote sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty through employment and income generation opportunities.
The report of the Finance Committee of Parliament indicated that the primary and direct project beneficiaries span across Awoshie, Anyaa, Ablekuma, Amamorley and Ayawaso in the Ga West and South municipalities.
The report added that the total estimated cost of the project, excluding taxes and duties, is 98.67 million euros with AFD providing 30 million euros, African Development Bank (ADB), 62.54 million euros with the government providing a counterpart fund of 6.13 million euros.
It said a a technical team from the Ministry of Road and Highways explained to the committee that the government’s counterpart funds consisted essentially of compensation and resettlement costs and that provision had been made in the ministry’s budget for 2010.
The project would affect approximately 274 persons who own 303 permanent structures, among which are dwelling homes and businesses, and 659 persons who own 715 temporary structures.
While compensation would be provided to occupants and owners of permanent structures who would be displaced, occupants of temporary structures would be entitled to supplementary assistance to aide them in relocating their premises.
The committee, the report said advised the Ministry of Road and Highways to work together to secure the ADF resources in time to ensure that the project did not get stalled midway.
Actual construction of the project, which would last for four years, is expected to begin by the end of September, this year.
Contributing to the ensuing debate on the loan, the Member of Parliament for Weija, Ms Sherry Ayokor Botchway, expressed her joy over the approval ,saying that she hoped that the completion of the project would bring comfort to her constituents.
In another development, the House also gave its approval to a 10 million euro agreement between Ghana and the KFW of Germany to finance the Out-grower Value Chain Fund (OVCF).
The fund seeks to improve the income of the target group, especially small-scale farmers, in an effort to reduce rural poverty as part of the overall goal of Ghana’s Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II).
Right to Information Bill introduced in Parliament
Page 13, Feb 6, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
AFTER years of public discussions and lobbying by civil society organisations, the Right to Information Bill was finally laid before Parliament yesterday.
The Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Ebo Barton-Odro, laid the bill on behalf of the substantive minister, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu.
The passage of the bill was one of the campaign promises of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, referred the bill to the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee of the House after it had gone through its first reading stage.
The right to information is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the Constitution and it is recognised as a right by international conventions on human rights.
Article 21 (1) (f) of the 1992 Constitution provides that all persons have the right to information subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society.
According to the memorandum covering the 30 page bill, the purpose of the bill is, therefore to give substance to that constitutional provision by providing for (a) access to official information held by government agencies and (b) the qualifications and conditions under which the access should be obtained.
The bill has 66 clauses explaining how information could be obtained, as well as exemptions.
It is expected to be scrutinised by the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee during which some amendments would be proposed before it is sent back to the House for the remaining processes of its passage.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
AFTER years of public discussions and lobbying by civil society organisations, the Right to Information Bill was finally laid before Parliament yesterday.
The Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Ebo Barton-Odro, laid the bill on behalf of the substantive minister, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu.
The passage of the bill was one of the campaign promises of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, referred the bill to the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee of the House after it had gone through its first reading stage.
The right to information is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the Constitution and it is recognised as a right by international conventions on human rights.
Article 21 (1) (f) of the 1992 Constitution provides that all persons have the right to information subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society.
According to the memorandum covering the 30 page bill, the purpose of the bill is, therefore to give substance to that constitutional provision by providing for (a) access to official information held by government agencies and (b) the qualifications and conditions under which the access should be obtained.
The bill has 66 clauses explaining how information could be obtained, as well as exemptions.
It is expected to be scrutinised by the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee during which some amendments would be proposed before it is sent back to the House for the remaining processes of its passage.
Armed Forces Recruitment resumes• 46,124 apply
Frontpage (Lead), Feb 5, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
RECRUITMENT into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), which was suspended last year amidst accusations of impropriety, is to resume next month, the Defence Minister, Lt Gen. J.H. Smith, has told Parliament.
He indicated that 46,124 people had applied to be enlisted by the December 31, 2009 deadline given the exercise which was widely publicised.
The minister told Parliament, however, that only 7,357 applicants met the general eligibility and educational requirements for the recruitment exercise.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkoranza North, Major Derek Yaw Oduro (retd), had asked the minister when the recruitment of new military personnel for 2010 would commence.
The minister explained that invitation letters were being dispatched to shortlisted applicants, saying that would be completed by February 12, 2010.
Lt Gen Smith said candidates who would pass the regional screening exercises on the basis of technical or trade qualifications would be called to Accra for trade tests from March 8 to 19, 2010, adding that those who would pass, including the non-tradesmen, would be called for training after passing a medical examination.
He explained further that it was projected that 800 people would be recruited into the Army, 200 into the Navy and another 200 into the Air Force.
As to whether those whose recruitment was suspended last year would be given priority, the minister declined any comment but stated that every citizen who qualified had the right to apply.
He also indicated that efforts had been made to ensure regional balance and that all applicants who met the required criteria would be offered the chance to serve the country in the GAF.
Answering another question, also posed by Major Oduro, the minister stated that a 482-acre land allocated to the ministry for the construction of accommodation for military personnel had been massively encroached upon, leaving only two acres.
Lt Gen Smith said t the GAF was currently facing very acute accommodation problems which had affected the morale of the troops.
He said the forces, therefore, intended to complete the five prototype buildings which had already been roofed and three other houses which were being constructed to be used to accommodate senior non-commissioned officers.
Responding to further follow-up questions, the minister disclosed that a committee had been formed to come up with recommendations on the encroachment of military land countrywide to enable the ministry to take the necessary action.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
RECRUITMENT into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), which was suspended last year amidst accusations of impropriety, is to resume next month, the Defence Minister, Lt Gen. J.H. Smith, has told Parliament.
He indicated that 46,124 people had applied to be enlisted by the December 31, 2009 deadline given the exercise which was widely publicised.
The minister told Parliament, however, that only 7,357 applicants met the general eligibility and educational requirements for the recruitment exercise.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkoranza North, Major Derek Yaw Oduro (retd), had asked the minister when the recruitment of new military personnel for 2010 would commence.
The minister explained that invitation letters were being dispatched to shortlisted applicants, saying that would be completed by February 12, 2010.
Lt Gen Smith said candidates who would pass the regional screening exercises on the basis of technical or trade qualifications would be called to Accra for trade tests from March 8 to 19, 2010, adding that those who would pass, including the non-tradesmen, would be called for training after passing a medical examination.
He explained further that it was projected that 800 people would be recruited into the Army, 200 into the Navy and another 200 into the Air Force.
As to whether those whose recruitment was suspended last year would be given priority, the minister declined any comment but stated that every citizen who qualified had the right to apply.
He also indicated that efforts had been made to ensure regional balance and that all applicants who met the required criteria would be offered the chance to serve the country in the GAF.
Answering another question, also posed by Major Oduro, the minister stated that a 482-acre land allocated to the ministry for the construction of accommodation for military personnel had been massively encroached upon, leaving only two acres.
Lt Gen Smith said t the GAF was currently facing very acute accommodation problems which had affected the morale of the troops.
He said the forces, therefore, intended to complete the five prototype buildings which had already been roofed and three other houses which were being constructed to be used to accommodate senior non-commissioned officers.
Responding to further follow-up questions, the minister disclosed that a committee had been formed to come up with recommendations on the encroachment of military land countrywide to enable the ministry to take the necessary action.
‘Establish Financial Authority to regulate financial market’
Page 15, Feb 4, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for New Juaben North, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, has called for the establishment of a Financial Services Authority (FSA) and Financial Ombudsman to regulate the financial market in the country.
He explained that the FSA aimed at promoting an efficient, orderly and fair financial market to help retail financial service consumers get a fair deal.
In a statement on the floor of Parliament, the MP said that the Financial Ombudsman’s main task would be to settle individual complaints between consumers and businesses providing financial services such as insurance, mortgages, investments, pensions, stocks, bonds and money transfer.
“The Financial Ombudsman is independent and impartial and although its findings do not prevent one from going to court, in most instances the parties accept its jurisdiction,” he said.
He said his request would necessitate the introduction of a bill to Parliament to establish the two authorities.
Quoting a letter he sent to the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, and copied to the President, Mr Owusu-Agyeman noted that the Bank of Ghana lacked the authority and capacity to ‘chaperone’ the interests of the ordinary Ghanaian or businessman.
He stated that what was required, therefore, was a fresh look at the banking sector and to put in place regulatory mechanisms that would enforce equity and fairness.
Mr Owusu-Agyeman opined that with the present modus operandi of the Monetary Committee, the Bank of Ghana would have no moral authority to play the role of an unbiased, fair and firm regulator in the interest of the people.
He stated that recent global financial situations had underlined the need for an effective regulatory mechanism and also to ensure an effective regulatory voice for the voiceless.
In another development, the Second Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Professor Mike Oquaye, has expressed concern about the encroachment on lands belonging to the Achimota School in Accra.
“Madam Speaker, one most disturbing news in Ghana today, is what some Ghanaians are doing to a vital national heritage – Achimota School”, he said
In a statement in Parliament, he said following the publication on Friday, January 29 in the Daily Graphic, he visited the school out of national concern.
He said he had learnt that the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) had asked for the closure of the school as the sewerage system had collapsed due to the activities of encroachers who were building on the land in that part of the school, where the entire sewerage system had been channelled.
“ People are building unlawfully on the main channels, causing the system to collapse” he noted, and called on Ghanaians who cared to visit the school to see the broken main lines, gushing of human excreta and liquid waste plus foul stench which engulf the hemisphere”.
He stated that in the late 1980’s, the Board of the School made the tragic mistake of attempting to sell a portion of the school’s land to certain individuals, adding that the board had no legal right to sell Achimota School lands which were by law vested in the Head of State of Ghana.
The Speaker referred the matter to the Ministry of Education for the appropriate action to save the school from the encroachers.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for New Juaben North, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, has called for the establishment of a Financial Services Authority (FSA) and Financial Ombudsman to regulate the financial market in the country.
He explained that the FSA aimed at promoting an efficient, orderly and fair financial market to help retail financial service consumers get a fair deal.
In a statement on the floor of Parliament, the MP said that the Financial Ombudsman’s main task would be to settle individual complaints between consumers and businesses providing financial services such as insurance, mortgages, investments, pensions, stocks, bonds and money transfer.
“The Financial Ombudsman is independent and impartial and although its findings do not prevent one from going to court, in most instances the parties accept its jurisdiction,” he said.
He said his request would necessitate the introduction of a bill to Parliament to establish the two authorities.
Quoting a letter he sent to the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, and copied to the President, Mr Owusu-Agyeman noted that the Bank of Ghana lacked the authority and capacity to ‘chaperone’ the interests of the ordinary Ghanaian or businessman.
He stated that what was required, therefore, was a fresh look at the banking sector and to put in place regulatory mechanisms that would enforce equity and fairness.
Mr Owusu-Agyeman opined that with the present modus operandi of the Monetary Committee, the Bank of Ghana would have no moral authority to play the role of an unbiased, fair and firm regulator in the interest of the people.
He stated that recent global financial situations had underlined the need for an effective regulatory mechanism and also to ensure an effective regulatory voice for the voiceless.
In another development, the Second Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Professor Mike Oquaye, has expressed concern about the encroachment on lands belonging to the Achimota School in Accra.
“Madam Speaker, one most disturbing news in Ghana today, is what some Ghanaians are doing to a vital national heritage – Achimota School”, he said
In a statement in Parliament, he said following the publication on Friday, January 29 in the Daily Graphic, he visited the school out of national concern.
He said he had learnt that the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) had asked for the closure of the school as the sewerage system had collapsed due to the activities of encroachers who were building on the land in that part of the school, where the entire sewerage system had been channelled.
“ People are building unlawfully on the main channels, causing the system to collapse” he noted, and called on Ghanaians who cared to visit the school to see the broken main lines, gushing of human excreta and liquid waste plus foul stench which engulf the hemisphere”.
He stated that in the late 1980’s, the Board of the School made the tragic mistake of attempting to sell a portion of the school’s land to certain individuals, adding that the board had no legal right to sell Achimota School lands which were by law vested in the Head of State of Ghana.
The Speaker referred the matter to the Ministry of Education for the appropriate action to save the school from the encroachers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)