Page 12, Nov 30, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Bosome-Freho, Nana Yaw Ofori-Kuragu, has appealed to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to provide the Bosome-Freho District with its own office accommodation.
The district is among 60 districts (28 created in 2004 and 32 in 2008) which were recently created.
According to the MP, the assembly, which is facing a lot of challenges, is currently occupying an Information Communication Centre, thereby denying the people the use of the Internet facility.
Nana Ofori-Kuragu made the appeal when he posed a question in Parliament to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, asking when the assembly would be provided with offices at Asiwa.
Answering the question, Mr Chireh said the ministry had noted with concern the lack of infrastructure and logistics for the newly created districts.
He said in an effort to address the problem, the ministry conducted an inventory of the infrastructure and staff need of the assemblies, early this year.
Mr Chireh explained that following the exercise, a task team to work out some modalities for resourcing the newly created districts had been set up and expressed the hope that clear guidelines would be available for implementation by the end of the year.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic later, Nana Ofori-Kuragu said a number of projects had been done since he became the MP for the area in 2005.
He stated that a secondary-technical school had been established while a multi-storey dormitory block had been constructed for the school from his share of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
The MP said besides the completion of the Bekwai-Asiwa-Bomfa Junction road which was 50 per cent complete, 12 more communities had been connected to the national grid.
Nana Ofori-Kuragu added that 300 students had been offered scholarships from his share of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund (DACF) while all the 90 communities in the area had received cement or roofing sheets for the maintenance of their school blocks.
He expressed the hope that the provision of an office accommodation for the district assembly would go a long way to strengthen the delivery of services of the staff of the assembly.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
This week in Parliament
Page 12, Nov 29, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT is expected to begin the debate on the 2011 Budget and Financial Statement of the government presented to the House by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, last week.
The Majority Leader and Leader of the House, Mr Cletus Apul Avoka, made this known on Friday when he presented the Business Statement of the House for this week.
To deepen the understanding of the statement, Parliament had scheduled a post-budget workshop for leadership, chairpersons, ranking members of committees and committee clerks to ensure that they understood the policies behind the budget before the debate started.
According to the statement, the House is also expected to conclude the Consideration Stage of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, 2010 during the week and pass it.
In addition, three sector ministers are expected to appear before the House to answer three questions filed by Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, (NPP, Amenfi East) and Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh (NPP, Sunyani East).
Mr Ameyaw Cheremeh is expected to ask the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, what accounted for the postponement of the District Assembly elections originally slated for October 26, 2010.
He is also is expected to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, about efforts the government had made or is making to secure the release of and airlifting over 640 Ghanaians in detention in Libya for allegedly attempting to stowaway from Libya to Europe.
Mr Aidoo, for his part, is expected to ask the Minister of Road and Highway, Mr Joe Gidisu, what immediate measures being taken to remedy the Tarkwa-Wassa Akropong-Anyanfuri stretch of the Takoradi-Kumasi trunk road, which has deteriorated so badly.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT is expected to begin the debate on the 2011 Budget and Financial Statement of the government presented to the House by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, last week.
The Majority Leader and Leader of the House, Mr Cletus Apul Avoka, made this known on Friday when he presented the Business Statement of the House for this week.
To deepen the understanding of the statement, Parliament had scheduled a post-budget workshop for leadership, chairpersons, ranking members of committees and committee clerks to ensure that they understood the policies behind the budget before the debate started.
According to the statement, the House is also expected to conclude the Consideration Stage of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, 2010 during the week and pass it.
In addition, three sector ministers are expected to appear before the House to answer three questions filed by Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, (NPP, Amenfi East) and Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh (NPP, Sunyani East).
Mr Ameyaw Cheremeh is expected to ask the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, what accounted for the postponement of the District Assembly elections originally slated for October 26, 2010.
He is also is expected to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, about efforts the government had made or is making to secure the release of and airlifting over 640 Ghanaians in detention in Libya for allegedly attempting to stowaway from Libya to Europe.
Mr Aidoo, for his part, is expected to ask the Minister of Road and Highway, Mr Joe Gidisu, what immediate measures being taken to remedy the Tarkwa-Wassa Akropong-Anyanfuri stretch of the Takoradi-Kumasi trunk road, which has deteriorated so badly.
A shocker for Parliament
Frontpage, Nov 27, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Ato Dapatem
MEMBERS of Parliament (MP) yesterday expressed shock and dismay at the death of the former MP for Ablekuma South, Theresa Ameley Tagoe, which occurred on Thursday, November 25, 2010, at the age of 68.
Madam Tagoe, who was the first Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), attended the then Krobo Girls’ School for her elementary education and moved to Aburi Girls’ Secondary School for her General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary and Advanced levels. She was also a French scholar.
According to her elder brother, Mr James Tagoe, Madam Tagoe had her first degree at the University of Ghana, after which she founded the Agence D'or Secretarial Institute which offered training for the youth.
Described as an ‘Iron Lady’ in Ghanaian politics, Madam Tagoe contested the Ablekumah seat on the ticket of the NPP in 1992 but the party boycotted the parliamentary election that year.
However, she was able to annex the seat from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 1996, 2000 and 2004 and voluntarily declined vying for the seat in 2008.
During the administration of former President J.A. Kufuor, the late Madam Tagoe was first made the Deputy Works and Housing Minister and later the Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister.
She left behind two children.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Parliament House, the MP for Bantama, Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, said the nation, the NPP and women in the country had lost a gem who did her work with passion.
“She lived and died for women, the country and the party,” she said.
The MP for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, said she was sad about the death of Ms Tagoe, whom she considered as a mother and mentor.
“She encouraged me when I decided to contest the Weija seat and assisted me to win,” Ms Botchwey said.
The MP for Abirem, Ms Esther Obeng-Dapaah, said she admired the late Madam Theresa for being an inspiration and vibrant person throughout her political career and expressed shock at her death.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Ato Dapatem
MEMBERS of Parliament (MP) yesterday expressed shock and dismay at the death of the former MP for Ablekuma South, Theresa Ameley Tagoe, which occurred on Thursday, November 25, 2010, at the age of 68.
Madam Tagoe, who was the first Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), attended the then Krobo Girls’ School for her elementary education and moved to Aburi Girls’ Secondary School for her General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary and Advanced levels. She was also a French scholar.
According to her elder brother, Mr James Tagoe, Madam Tagoe had her first degree at the University of Ghana, after which she founded the Agence D'or Secretarial Institute which offered training for the youth.
Described as an ‘Iron Lady’ in Ghanaian politics, Madam Tagoe contested the Ablekumah seat on the ticket of the NPP in 1992 but the party boycotted the parliamentary election that year.
However, she was able to annex the seat from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 1996, 2000 and 2004 and voluntarily declined vying for the seat in 2008.
During the administration of former President J.A. Kufuor, the late Madam Tagoe was first made the Deputy Works and Housing Minister and later the Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister.
She left behind two children.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Parliament House, the MP for Bantama, Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, said the nation, the NPP and women in the country had lost a gem who did her work with passion.
“She lived and died for women, the country and the party,” she said.
The MP for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, said she was sad about the death of Ms Tagoe, whom she considered as a mother and mentor.
“She encouraged me when I decided to contest the Weija seat and assisted me to win,” Ms Botchwey said.
The MP for Abirem, Ms Esther Obeng-Dapaah, said she admired the late Madam Theresa for being an inspiration and vibrant person throughout her political career and expressed shock at her death.
‘Govt subsidising 100,000 metric tons of fertiliser’
Page 13, Nov 26, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
GOVERNMENT is subsidising 100,000 metric tons of fertiliser at an estimated cost of GH¢32million this year, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, has disclosed.
Last year, the government subsidised a total of 72,795 metric tons of fertilisers at the cost of GH¢34.4million using the coupons system.
However, in view of the high administrative cost of printing the coupons and time spent by staff signing all the numerous coupons, as well as the associated abuse, the coupon system has been discontinued with effect from June, 2010.
A waybill receipt system is being employed for administering the fertiliser subsidy programme for 2010.
The Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Mr Samuel Aye-Paye, had filed a question enquiring from the minister why the fertiliser coupons were yet not ready for farmers to purchase subsidised fertilisers for the main season this year.
Mr Ahwoi said under the new system, the fertiliser companies were to deliver fertilisers to all districts for sale to farmers at the recommended prices as follows: NPK, GH¢27.00, SOA GH¢18.00 and Urea GH¢25.00.
He explained that farmers could easily have access to fertiliser by only walking into a shop and procuring them at subsidised prices without coupons.
Mr Ahwoi said the recommended subsidy would be paid to the fertiliser companies after sales upon the presentation and reconciliation of the accounts with the regional and district directors of agriculture.
Answering another question, the minister said in 2008, about 39 dams destroyed by the 2007/2008 flood in the Upper East Region were under rehabilitation with 24 of them being completed.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
GOVERNMENT is subsidising 100,000 metric tons of fertiliser at an estimated cost of GH¢32million this year, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, has disclosed.
Last year, the government subsidised a total of 72,795 metric tons of fertilisers at the cost of GH¢34.4million using the coupons system.
However, in view of the high administrative cost of printing the coupons and time spent by staff signing all the numerous coupons, as well as the associated abuse, the coupon system has been discontinued with effect from June, 2010.
A waybill receipt system is being employed for administering the fertiliser subsidy programme for 2010.
The Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Mr Samuel Aye-Paye, had filed a question enquiring from the minister why the fertiliser coupons were yet not ready for farmers to purchase subsidised fertilisers for the main season this year.
Mr Ahwoi said under the new system, the fertiliser companies were to deliver fertilisers to all districts for sale to farmers at the recommended prices as follows: NPK, GH¢27.00, SOA GH¢18.00 and Urea GH¢25.00.
He explained that farmers could easily have access to fertiliser by only walking into a shop and procuring them at subsidised prices without coupons.
Mr Ahwoi said the recommended subsidy would be paid to the fertiliser companies after sales upon the presentation and reconciliation of the accounts with the regional and district directors of agriculture.
Answering another question, the minister said in 2008, about 39 dams destroyed by the 2007/2008 flood in the Upper East Region were under rehabilitation with 24 of them being completed.
Cabinet approves decentralisation policy-Chireh
Page 13, Nov 26, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A COMPREHENSIVE Decentralisation Policy with an action plan has been approved by the Cabinet, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh has told Parliament.
Answering questions from the floor of the House, Mr Chireh explained that included an Inter-Governmental Fiscal Framework which had been costed and Inter-Ministerial Fiscal Co-ordination Committee on Fiscal Decentralisation.
The committee, according to the minister, would audit the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to determine their needs to enable the fiscal decentralization to take place.
The Member of Parliament for Agona East, Mr John Agyabeng had asked the minister when the fiscal decrentralisation agenda, which obliged district assemblies to embark on decentralized budgeting within the mediul-term would be operationalised.
He said the fiscal decentralization was more of a national, rather than district level challenge explaining that decentralization involved restructuring of public administration and public financial management arrangements.
Mr Chireh said the government considered the implementation of the district composite budget, improving local revenue generation, improving central government transfer systems and improving financial management of the MMDAS, among others as priorities.
He said it was obvious that these steps were fundamental to the implementation of fiscal decentralization.
Mr Chireh added that with the Fiscal Decentralisation Secretariat in place, the full implementation of the various initiatives, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning would be pursued vigorously next year.
Answering another question, Mr Chireh said the government recognized the numerous responsibilities assigned to the district assemblies, especially with the transfer of functions.
He said there were no immediate plans to increase the 7.5 per cent of national revenue which is paid annually into the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
Mr Chireh explained that nevertheless, the ministry was considering other initiatives to ensure that the MMDAs got additional resources to carry out their responsibilities.
He said those initiatives included the development and implementation of the District Development Facility while proposals for the inclusion of Public-Privae Participation (PPP) in the management of some development activities of the MMDAs were being considered.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A COMPREHENSIVE Decentralisation Policy with an action plan has been approved by the Cabinet, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh has told Parliament.
Answering questions from the floor of the House, Mr Chireh explained that included an Inter-Governmental Fiscal Framework which had been costed and Inter-Ministerial Fiscal Co-ordination Committee on Fiscal Decentralisation.
The committee, according to the minister, would audit the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to determine their needs to enable the fiscal decentralization to take place.
The Member of Parliament for Agona East, Mr John Agyabeng had asked the minister when the fiscal decrentralisation agenda, which obliged district assemblies to embark on decentralized budgeting within the mediul-term would be operationalised.
He said the fiscal decentralization was more of a national, rather than district level challenge explaining that decentralization involved restructuring of public administration and public financial management arrangements.
Mr Chireh said the government considered the implementation of the district composite budget, improving local revenue generation, improving central government transfer systems and improving financial management of the MMDAS, among others as priorities.
He said it was obvious that these steps were fundamental to the implementation of fiscal decentralization.
Mr Chireh added that with the Fiscal Decentralisation Secretariat in place, the full implementation of the various initiatives, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning would be pursued vigorously next year.
Answering another question, Mr Chireh said the government recognized the numerous responsibilities assigned to the district assemblies, especially with the transfer of functions.
He said there were no immediate plans to increase the 7.5 per cent of national revenue which is paid annually into the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
Mr Chireh explained that nevertheless, the ministry was considering other initiatives to ensure that the MMDAs got additional resources to carry out their responsibilities.
He said those initiatives included the development and implementation of the District Development Facility while proposals for the inclusion of Public-Privae Participation (PPP) in the management of some development activities of the MMDAs were being considered.
Debade on Petroleum Bill ends
PAGE 13, NOV 26, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday approved the Budget Statement and Financial Policy of the government for 2011 presented to the House by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, on November 18, 2010.
That was after the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and the Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, had contributed to the debate and Dr Duffuor had winded it up.
The House was set agog when the two leaders contributed to the debate, which began on Wednesday, December 2, 2011.
So intense was the debate that the Speaker, Mrs Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo, had to stick to her resolve not to allow points of order to ensure that the two leaders had a smooth debate.
When he took his turn, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said it was unfortunate that despite the favourable economic climate in 2009 and 2010, the government could not record the 7.3 per cent GDP growth the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration had achieved in 2008.
He said the much-talked-about low budget deficit and soaring foreign reserves were both a “hoax”, since the government was not spending, explaining that the total spending of the government over the last two years was less than what the NPP spent in 2008.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated that the government was not ambitious enough in planning for an 8.3 per cent GDP in 2013 which fell below the rebased 8.4 per cent GDP that the NPP had chalked up in 2008.
He said even though the NDC promised to cut down tariffs during the 2008 campaign, it had ended up increasing road tolls and property rates and introduced new taxes to increase the tax burden on the people.
The minister said the NDC had not been able to implement the one-time premium payment of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the GH¢200 million it promised to pay to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).
“My Speaker, Ghanaians are now awake and will judge the NDC by its unfulfilled promises,” Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said, adding, “By their fruits you will know them.”
For his part, Mr Avoka stated that the 2011 budget was a good one, since it was aimed at ensuring equity and fairness to address the imbalances in the system.
He disagreed with the notion by the Minority that the budget would bring about “fear and panic” among the business community, explaining that well-meaning economists, civil society organisations and the masses had all hailed it.
“If the budget was not a good one, how come that the Minority did not organise press conferences to point out its flaws as it had been doing year after year?” he questioned.
Mr Avoka said despite the oil find, the government would still give priority to the agricultural sector, saying that the good policies put in place over the last two years had ensured that nobody in Ghana went to bed hungry.
He said the budget only sought to widen the tax net and not increase taxes, as had been touted by the Minority.
Summing up the debate, Dr Duffuor stated that the NPP left behind an economy which was in “intensive care” but through the ingenuity of the NDC the economy was now stable and resilient.
He said though 2009 had come with some difficulties as a result of the economic mess created by the NPP, the government did not go HIPC.
“We used our ingenuity to get back on track with a deficit above 10 per cent,” he said, adding that more jobs would be created next year.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday approved the Budget Statement and Financial Policy of the government for 2011 presented to the House by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, on November 18, 2010.
That was after the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and the Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, had contributed to the debate and Dr Duffuor had winded it up.
The House was set agog when the two leaders contributed to the debate, which began on Wednesday, December 2, 2011.
So intense was the debate that the Speaker, Mrs Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo, had to stick to her resolve not to allow points of order to ensure that the two leaders had a smooth debate.
When he took his turn, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said it was unfortunate that despite the favourable economic climate in 2009 and 2010, the government could not record the 7.3 per cent GDP growth the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration had achieved in 2008.
He said the much-talked-about low budget deficit and soaring foreign reserves were both a “hoax”, since the government was not spending, explaining that the total spending of the government over the last two years was less than what the NPP spent in 2008.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated that the government was not ambitious enough in planning for an 8.3 per cent GDP in 2013 which fell below the rebased 8.4 per cent GDP that the NPP had chalked up in 2008.
He said even though the NDC promised to cut down tariffs during the 2008 campaign, it had ended up increasing road tolls and property rates and introduced new taxes to increase the tax burden on the people.
The minister said the NDC had not been able to implement the one-time premium payment of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the GH¢200 million it promised to pay to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).
“My Speaker, Ghanaians are now awake and will judge the NDC by its unfulfilled promises,” Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said, adding, “By their fruits you will know them.”
For his part, Mr Avoka stated that the 2011 budget was a good one, since it was aimed at ensuring equity and fairness to address the imbalances in the system.
He disagreed with the notion by the Minority that the budget would bring about “fear and panic” among the business community, explaining that well-meaning economists, civil society organisations and the masses had all hailed it.
“If the budget was not a good one, how come that the Minority did not organise press conferences to point out its flaws as it had been doing year after year?” he questioned.
Mr Avoka said despite the oil find, the government would still give priority to the agricultural sector, saying that the good policies put in place over the last two years had ensured that nobody in Ghana went to bed hungry.
He said the budget only sought to widen the tax net and not increase taxes, as had been touted by the Minority.
Summing up the debate, Dr Duffuor stated that the NPP left behind an economy which was in “intensive care” but through the ingenuity of the NDC the economy was now stable and resilient.
He said though 2009 had come with some difficulties as a result of the economic mess created by the NPP, the government did not go HIPC.
“We used our ingenuity to get back on track with a deficit above 10 per cent,” he said, adding that more jobs would be created next year.
Media must assist society to achieve growth — Avoka
PAGE 13, NOV 24, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Cletus Avoka, has called for an independent and vibrant media that strives to put the public interest first to assist society to accomplish its development objectives.
He stated that effective collaboration between the arms of government and the media was a sure way to ensure transparent governance that will benefit the people.
Mr Avoka made these comments in a speech he delivered in Accra to inaugurate the West Africa Parliamentary Press Corps (WAPPC).
WAPPC is a collaboration between the Ghana Parliamentary Press Corps and their Nigerian counterparts to bring all reporters covering the legislatures in the sub-region to share ideas and experiences to deepen parliamentary reporting.
Mr Avoka said organising the parliamentary press corps as a professional body to disseminate parliamentary proceedings in any fledgling democracy across the sub-region should be of paramount concern to any stakeholder.
“There is no doubt that a healthy media work enhances education, information and facilitation of community involvement in debates relating to the business of Parliament,” he asserted adding that the formation of WAPPC to champion that was in the right direction and called for its support.
He explained that it was through the reportage of parliamentary proceedings that the public’s ‘right to know’ could be effectively exercised in building an informed democracy across the sub-region.
Mr Avoka admonished those championing the formation of WAPPC not only to be content with the formation alone, but should also endeavour to share information across the sub-region on key parliamentary issues through seminars and exchange programmes to ensure that good governance and democracy were built on a solid foundation.
He advised journalists covering the legislature to listen to the concerns of the public since they could not be expert journalists or experts on the issues they cover unless they knew how the general public experienced what they were covering.
Mr Avoka said fulfilling the desires of the people of West Africa could be achieved through the building of a strong professional relationship based on mutual respect and recognition, which were actors in a working democracy.
He, therefore, called for the study of the Constitution, standing orders, parliamentary practice and procedures of each country within the sub-region thoroughly to ensure that the reportage of journalists covering the legislature could do so within the confines of the law and parliamentary democracy.
“You must also show more responsibility and not allow yourselves to be used by any individual or group to pursue self-agenda,” he said.
He noted that since the long standing watch-dog function of the media was more crucial now than ever, the role of the parliamentary press in making intelligent and unbiased decisions about news and information, was paramount to the functioning of a democratic society.
For his part, the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, called on journalists not to use the power of their pens to disintegrate the fabric of the society.
He commended Ghana’s Parliamentary Press Corps for ensuring balanced reportage of proceedings of the House adding that since no condition was permanent, politicians should ensure a level playing field to promote the country’s fledgling democracy.
He pledged the support of parliament to the activities of the press corps since to him “the day the corps collapse, parliamentary democracy will also collapse”.
The President of the Ghana Journalist Association, Mr Ransford Tetteh, commended the corps for being very active over the years.
He said it was good that Africa had chosen the path of parliamentary democracy and called on journalist, especially those covering parliaments, to help in nurturing that democratic dispensation.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsuta/Beposo/Kwamang, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, who represented the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, called on the media to work hard to ensure excellence in order to promote the development of the sub-region.
The Dean of the Ghana’s Parliamentary Press Corps, Mr Andrew Edwin Arthur, cautioned journalist not to allow mediocrity to take a better part of them by closing their eyes to the realities of their professional calling.
He said it was in that respect that the formation of WAPPC would strengthen the resolve of parliamentary reporters in the sub-region to adequately strengthen their position to hold governments accountable to their actions through the legislature in their respective countries.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Cletus Avoka, has called for an independent and vibrant media that strives to put the public interest first to assist society to accomplish its development objectives.
He stated that effective collaboration between the arms of government and the media was a sure way to ensure transparent governance that will benefit the people.
Mr Avoka made these comments in a speech he delivered in Accra to inaugurate the West Africa Parliamentary Press Corps (WAPPC).
WAPPC is a collaboration between the Ghana Parliamentary Press Corps and their Nigerian counterparts to bring all reporters covering the legislatures in the sub-region to share ideas and experiences to deepen parliamentary reporting.
Mr Avoka said organising the parliamentary press corps as a professional body to disseminate parliamentary proceedings in any fledgling democracy across the sub-region should be of paramount concern to any stakeholder.
“There is no doubt that a healthy media work enhances education, information and facilitation of community involvement in debates relating to the business of Parliament,” he asserted adding that the formation of WAPPC to champion that was in the right direction and called for its support.
He explained that it was through the reportage of parliamentary proceedings that the public’s ‘right to know’ could be effectively exercised in building an informed democracy across the sub-region.
Mr Avoka admonished those championing the formation of WAPPC not only to be content with the formation alone, but should also endeavour to share information across the sub-region on key parliamentary issues through seminars and exchange programmes to ensure that good governance and democracy were built on a solid foundation.
He advised journalists covering the legislature to listen to the concerns of the public since they could not be expert journalists or experts on the issues they cover unless they knew how the general public experienced what they were covering.
Mr Avoka said fulfilling the desires of the people of West Africa could be achieved through the building of a strong professional relationship based on mutual respect and recognition, which were actors in a working democracy.
He, therefore, called for the study of the Constitution, standing orders, parliamentary practice and procedures of each country within the sub-region thoroughly to ensure that the reportage of journalists covering the legislature could do so within the confines of the law and parliamentary democracy.
“You must also show more responsibility and not allow yourselves to be used by any individual or group to pursue self-agenda,” he said.
He noted that since the long standing watch-dog function of the media was more crucial now than ever, the role of the parliamentary press in making intelligent and unbiased decisions about news and information, was paramount to the functioning of a democratic society.
For his part, the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, called on journalists not to use the power of their pens to disintegrate the fabric of the society.
He commended Ghana’s Parliamentary Press Corps for ensuring balanced reportage of proceedings of the House adding that since no condition was permanent, politicians should ensure a level playing field to promote the country’s fledgling democracy.
He pledged the support of parliament to the activities of the press corps since to him “the day the corps collapse, parliamentary democracy will also collapse”.
The President of the Ghana Journalist Association, Mr Ransford Tetteh, commended the corps for being very active over the years.
He said it was good that Africa had chosen the path of parliamentary democracy and called on journalist, especially those covering parliaments, to help in nurturing that democratic dispensation.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsuta/Beposo/Kwamang, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, who represented the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, called on the media to work hard to ensure excellence in order to promote the development of the sub-region.
The Dean of the Ghana’s Parliamentary Press Corps, Mr Andrew Edwin Arthur, cautioned journalist not to allow mediocrity to take a better part of them by closing their eyes to the realities of their professional calling.
He said it was in that respect that the formation of WAPPC would strengthen the resolve of parliamentary reporters in the sub-region to adequately strengthen their position to hold governments accountable to their actions through the legislature in their respective countries.
House continues with debate on Oil Bill
PAGE 12, NOV 24, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A FORMER Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Professor George Yaw Gyan-Baffour, has advocated the use of the country’s oil revenue for investments that will ensure that when the oil wells dry up, a new industry can help maintain the level of development that will be sustainable.
Prof Gyan-Baffour made the suggestion when he contributed to the debate on the Petroleum Oil Management Bill currently going on in Parliament.
“We must use our oil money to support and develop our industrial base for the production of light industrial goods so that our economy will no longer be under the constant threat of shocks from nature, such as drought and shocks from commodity markets such as falling prices of cocoa and minerals,” he said, adding that it was in doing so that the “oil find will become a real blessing to the country”.
Prof Gyan-Baffour explained that it was in that light that he was not in agreement with using the oil revenue to support the budget, as stated in clauses 19 and 22 of the bill and which was confirmed by the Minister of Finance, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, when he presented the 2011 Budget.
The former deputy minister asserted that for effective utilisation, there was the need to focus on few sectors by providing for better education, better health care, better roads, better energy and better access to finance by the government and the private sector, all in support of the industrial transformation of the economy.
He agreed that the oil revenue should be kept in a separate account at the Bank of Ghana but urged that the account be used to create a separate fund outside the Consolidated Fund for the industrial transformation of the economy and not to be used for general budget support.
On the establishment of the Ghana Heritage Fund, Prof Gyan-Baffour stated that even though the idea was brilliant, it was premature, explaining that at this time when the country’s roads were bad, the power system in danger, among other social problems, the country should postpone the establishment of the fund for at least five years.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nabdam and Chairman of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, Mr Moses Asaga, said the bill had come at the right time.
He said the government should be commended, since some countries which were seen as having best practices in the management of their oil revenue, such as Norway, did not put in place such a law at the initial stages of their oil production.
He said it was good for the Heritage Fund and the Stabilisation Fund to be endorsed as part of the bill.
Mr Asaga advocated the use of oil revenue as collateral, as against borrowing against the country’s reserves.
He said in the short term, the government wanted Ghana to move to the upper middle-income bracket by using resources accruing from the oil find.
“We want to make Ghana the Singapore of West Africa,” he said, and made a strong case by citing Brazil which used its oil to mobilise as much as $67 billion from the capital market for its development programmes.
For his part, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Professor Mike Oquaye, called for the consideration of the request of the chiefs of the Western Region for the allocation of 10 per cent of the oil revenue into a fund for the development of the region.
“The Western Region deserves a better treat,” he said, and advocated that wherever oil was found, some percentage of the revenue should be used for the development of that area.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A FORMER Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Professor George Yaw Gyan-Baffour, has advocated the use of the country’s oil revenue for investments that will ensure that when the oil wells dry up, a new industry can help maintain the level of development that will be sustainable.
Prof Gyan-Baffour made the suggestion when he contributed to the debate on the Petroleum Oil Management Bill currently going on in Parliament.
“We must use our oil money to support and develop our industrial base for the production of light industrial goods so that our economy will no longer be under the constant threat of shocks from nature, such as drought and shocks from commodity markets such as falling prices of cocoa and minerals,” he said, adding that it was in doing so that the “oil find will become a real blessing to the country”.
Prof Gyan-Baffour explained that it was in that light that he was not in agreement with using the oil revenue to support the budget, as stated in clauses 19 and 22 of the bill and which was confirmed by the Minister of Finance, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, when he presented the 2011 Budget.
The former deputy minister asserted that for effective utilisation, there was the need to focus on few sectors by providing for better education, better health care, better roads, better energy and better access to finance by the government and the private sector, all in support of the industrial transformation of the economy.
He agreed that the oil revenue should be kept in a separate account at the Bank of Ghana but urged that the account be used to create a separate fund outside the Consolidated Fund for the industrial transformation of the economy and not to be used for general budget support.
On the establishment of the Ghana Heritage Fund, Prof Gyan-Baffour stated that even though the idea was brilliant, it was premature, explaining that at this time when the country’s roads were bad, the power system in danger, among other social problems, the country should postpone the establishment of the fund for at least five years.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nabdam and Chairman of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, Mr Moses Asaga, said the bill had come at the right time.
He said the government should be commended, since some countries which were seen as having best practices in the management of their oil revenue, such as Norway, did not put in place such a law at the initial stages of their oil production.
He said it was good for the Heritage Fund and the Stabilisation Fund to be endorsed as part of the bill.
Mr Asaga advocated the use of oil revenue as collateral, as against borrowing against the country’s reserves.
He said in the short term, the government wanted Ghana to move to the upper middle-income bracket by using resources accruing from the oil find.
“We want to make Ghana the Singapore of West Africa,” he said, and made a strong case by citing Brazil which used its oil to mobilise as much as $67 billion from the capital market for its development programmes.
For his part, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Professor Mike Oquaye, called for the consideration of the request of the chiefs of the Western Region for the allocation of 10 per cent of the oil revenue into a fund for the development of the region.
“The Western Region deserves a better treat,” he said, and advocated that wherever oil was found, some percentage of the revenue should be used for the development of that area.
Parliament ratifies Unit Committee Regulations
PAGE 12, NOV 24, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday adopted the report of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee and ratified the Unit Committee Regulations, 2010 (C.I. 68).
By that, the number of members of the unit committees has been reduced from the current 15 to five to ensure more competitive district level elections in the country.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, who moved the motion for the adoption of the committee’s report, said the L.I. would make elections at the district level cost-effective, manageable and efficient.
“The committee is satisfied that the proposed instrument conforms to the requirements of the Constitution and relevant laws on the district level elections in the country,” he said.
He said it was for the purpose of ensuring consistency and conformity with the laws of the unit committee elections in the country that the instrument had been laid before the House.
Mr Osei-Prempeh said the instrument, apart from reducing the membership of the unit committees from 15 to five, also sought to liberalise the mounting of election platforms.
He said the committee noted that over the years there had been complaints by contestants of the unit committee elections in respect of the mounting of platforms.
He said the concern had been that the Electoral Commission had not been able to adequately offer platforms to candidates to communicate their messages to the electorates.
He said the liberalisation of platforms would, therefore, create a healthy competition necessary for the deepening of grass-root democracy and good governance.
The MP for Weija, Ms Sherry Ayorkor Botchwey, said the adoption of the C.I. was beneficial, since it would raise the electoral areas in her constituency, which is the largest in the country, from four to 22.
She said the Mallam Electoral Area, which has 98 polling stations, would now have 13 electoral areas, instead of one.
She said it was a good piece of news, as assembly members manning such big areas had suffered for far too long
Ms Botchwey stressed the need for the creation of more polling stations to encourage more people to vote during elections.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday adopted the report of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee and ratified the Unit Committee Regulations, 2010 (C.I. 68).
By that, the number of members of the unit committees has been reduced from the current 15 to five to ensure more competitive district level elections in the country.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, who moved the motion for the adoption of the committee’s report, said the L.I. would make elections at the district level cost-effective, manageable and efficient.
“The committee is satisfied that the proposed instrument conforms to the requirements of the Constitution and relevant laws on the district level elections in the country,” he said.
He said it was for the purpose of ensuring consistency and conformity with the laws of the unit committee elections in the country that the instrument had been laid before the House.
Mr Osei-Prempeh said the instrument, apart from reducing the membership of the unit committees from 15 to five, also sought to liberalise the mounting of election platforms.
He said the committee noted that over the years there had been complaints by contestants of the unit committee elections in respect of the mounting of platforms.
He said the concern had been that the Electoral Commission had not been able to adequately offer platforms to candidates to communicate their messages to the electorates.
He said the liberalisation of platforms would, therefore, create a healthy competition necessary for the deepening of grass-root democracy and good governance.
The MP for Weija, Ms Sherry Ayorkor Botchwey, said the adoption of the C.I. was beneficial, since it would raise the electoral areas in her constituency, which is the largest in the country, from four to 22.
She said the Mallam Electoral Area, which has 98 polling stations, would now have 13 electoral areas, instead of one.
She said it was a good piece of news, as assembly members manning such big areas had suffered for far too long
Ms Botchwey stressed the need for the creation of more polling stations to encourage more people to vote during elections.
Oil money and Western demands COMMITTEE OPTS FOR STATUS QUO
Frontpage, Nov 20, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Joint Parliamentary Committee on Finance and Mines and Energy has made a strong appeal to the government to come up with a policy that will target the accelerated development of the Western Region.
The committee made the appeal after it failed to endorse the petition of the chiefs of the region for the ceding of 10 per cent of the expected petroleum revenue into a fund for the development of the Western Region.
“It is the view of the committee that ceding 10 per cent of the petroleum revenue to a fund for the Western Region may defeat one of the primary objectives of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, which is to avoid the ring-fencing of petroleum revenues,” it stated.
It explained that it was for that reason that acts establishing statutory funds, such as the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the Roads Fund and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), did not apply to petroleum revenues.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, last Wednesday referred a petition by the Western Regional House of Chiefs to the committee for consideration as part of its report on the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill.
In its report, the committee acknowledged that even though the Western Region was endowed with many resources which had been used to support the development of the country over the years, it had suffered under-development for many years.
It, therefore, called for steps to be taken by the government to expedite the development of the region.
“It is also the considered view of the committee that other concerns of the chiefs of the region cannot be addressed by this bill,” the report said and recommended that due cognisance be given to those concerns in the consideration of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Bill, 2010 and the drafting of the local content policy.
The petition of the chiefs appealed to the House to, among other things, establish a Western Region Development Fund under the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill into which 10 per cent of the petroleum revenue would be paid.
The chiefs also called for the representation of the region on the Investment Advisory Committee, the Public Interest Accountability Committee, as well as all other governing bodies of institutions under the laws relating to oil and gas.
In addition, 10 per cent of the membership of the Oil and Gas Commission to be established should be indigenes of the region, while oil companies should be encouraged to employ and give business opportunities to indigenes of the region.
Furthermore, they called for the establishment of a fund to take care of any environmental disaster that might arise as a result of exploration and production activities.
Meanwhile, the Second Reading of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, which was to begin on the floor of the House yesterday, was deferred to Monday due to some concerns raised by the Minority.
Before the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Seth Tekpeh, could move the motion for the second reading, the NPP MP for Essikado/Ketan, Mr Joe Ghartey, raised two concerns bordering on the Constitution and procedures.
He reminded the House that on November 12, 2010, the MP for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Mr P.C. Appiah-Ofori, had raised a matter on the need for the House to deal with the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill before considering the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill.
Mr Ghartey referred to the Hansard of that day and stated that the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, had ruled that the leadership should consider the matter. He, therefore, wondered why that ruling had not been adhered to.
He also informed the House about Article 269 of the Constitution which called for the establishment of a commission to be responsible for the regulation, management and utilisation of natural resources, such as oil and gas.
In his ruling, Mr Adjaho said the Speaker had only made a suggestion to the leadership of the House to look at the concerns expressed by Mr Appiah-Ofori and had asked the House to continue with the debate on the bill and the Executive to bring a bill for the establishment of the commission in a reasonable time.
“Honourable members, it is my view that the motion must go on but the bill for the commission should be brought before the House within a reasonable time. We have been dealing with oil since time immemorial and I do not want us to believe that what we have done over the years was null and void,” he said.
Even though the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery, called on the House to deal with the basic things before the utilisation of the oil revenue, Mr Adjaho insisted that they should start the process now and wait for the Executive to bring the other bill.
With that, Mr Tekpeh moved the motion for the second reading of the bill, but before anybody could second the motion, the Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, appealed to Mr Adjaho to stand down the motion.
Mr Avoka said in the light of the latest development, and because the bill was of national importance, everybody should be brought on board.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Joint Parliamentary Committee on Finance and Mines and Energy has made a strong appeal to the government to come up with a policy that will target the accelerated development of the Western Region.
The committee made the appeal after it failed to endorse the petition of the chiefs of the region for the ceding of 10 per cent of the expected petroleum revenue into a fund for the development of the Western Region.
“It is the view of the committee that ceding 10 per cent of the petroleum revenue to a fund for the Western Region may defeat one of the primary objectives of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, which is to avoid the ring-fencing of petroleum revenues,” it stated.
It explained that it was for that reason that acts establishing statutory funds, such as the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the Roads Fund and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), did not apply to petroleum revenues.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, last Wednesday referred a petition by the Western Regional House of Chiefs to the committee for consideration as part of its report on the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill.
In its report, the committee acknowledged that even though the Western Region was endowed with many resources which had been used to support the development of the country over the years, it had suffered under-development for many years.
It, therefore, called for steps to be taken by the government to expedite the development of the region.
“It is also the considered view of the committee that other concerns of the chiefs of the region cannot be addressed by this bill,” the report said and recommended that due cognisance be given to those concerns in the consideration of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Bill, 2010 and the drafting of the local content policy.
The petition of the chiefs appealed to the House to, among other things, establish a Western Region Development Fund under the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill into which 10 per cent of the petroleum revenue would be paid.
The chiefs also called for the representation of the region on the Investment Advisory Committee, the Public Interest Accountability Committee, as well as all other governing bodies of institutions under the laws relating to oil and gas.
In addition, 10 per cent of the membership of the Oil and Gas Commission to be established should be indigenes of the region, while oil companies should be encouraged to employ and give business opportunities to indigenes of the region.
Furthermore, they called for the establishment of a fund to take care of any environmental disaster that might arise as a result of exploration and production activities.
Meanwhile, the Second Reading of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, which was to begin on the floor of the House yesterday, was deferred to Monday due to some concerns raised by the Minority.
Before the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Seth Tekpeh, could move the motion for the second reading, the NPP MP for Essikado/Ketan, Mr Joe Ghartey, raised two concerns bordering on the Constitution and procedures.
He reminded the House that on November 12, 2010, the MP for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Mr P.C. Appiah-Ofori, had raised a matter on the need for the House to deal with the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill before considering the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill.
Mr Ghartey referred to the Hansard of that day and stated that the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, had ruled that the leadership should consider the matter. He, therefore, wondered why that ruling had not been adhered to.
He also informed the House about Article 269 of the Constitution which called for the establishment of a commission to be responsible for the regulation, management and utilisation of natural resources, such as oil and gas.
In his ruling, Mr Adjaho said the Speaker had only made a suggestion to the leadership of the House to look at the concerns expressed by Mr Appiah-Ofori and had asked the House to continue with the debate on the bill and the Executive to bring a bill for the establishment of the commission in a reasonable time.
“Honourable members, it is my view that the motion must go on but the bill for the commission should be brought before the House within a reasonable time. We have been dealing with oil since time immemorial and I do not want us to believe that what we have done over the years was null and void,” he said.
Even though the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery, called on the House to deal with the basic things before the utilisation of the oil revenue, Mr Adjaho insisted that they should start the process now and wait for the Executive to bring the other bill.
With that, Mr Tekpeh moved the motion for the second reading of the bill, but before anybody could second the motion, the Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, appealed to Mr Adjaho to stand down the motion.
Mr Avoka said in the light of the latest development, and because the bill was of national importance, everybody should be brought on board.
It'll scare investors, says Minority
Frontpage, Nov 19, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has described the 2011 Budget and Economic Policy of the government presented to the House by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning yesterday as "wicked", "anti-private sector development" and "fear and panic" budget.
Even though the usual inscription on sheets of paper to convey their sentiments about budgets was absent, an interview with some members of the Minority showed their disapproval of the budget in general and the introduction of taxes in particular.
The Majority, however, debunked assertions by the Minority and explained that the budget would bring hope to Ghanaians after the government had used the past two years to repair the economic mess it inherited.
A former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and NPP MP for Old Tafo, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, said, "the budget is not a good one. There was nothing new with the exception of introduction of taxes".
He noted that with the introduction of seven different taxes, Ghanaians should expect more difficulties next year than what they experienced this year.
Dr Osei said anytime such taxes were introduced, "the government is causing fear and panic among investors and the general populace".
A former Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament (MP) for Wenchi, Professor Yaw Gyan-Baffour, bemoaned the insensitivity of the government, explaining that Ghanaians were already stressed up after going through a lot of difficulties under the NDC’s two-year misrule.
"Ghanaians are suffering and do not need more taxes. Why does the government want to increase the load on the already suffering Ghanaians?" he queried.
The NPP MP for Kwabre East, Mr Kofi Frimpong, stated that all projects that were mentioned in the budget were initiatives of the Kufuor administration and accused the Mills's government of running out of ideas after "promising Ghanaians the moon".
He explained that the budget could be described as anti-private sector because royalties that were paid by mining companies quarterly were now going to be paid monthly while the introduction of other taxes in the tourism sector would gradually kill the hotel business.
Mr Frimpong observed that it was the intention of the government to impose taxes on churches when Dr Duffuor mentioned that the activities of certain non-governmental organisations would be taxed.
"Why are we trying to put more impediments in the way of the private sector when the government has touted its resolve to make the private sector the engine of growth. Why are we taking away the oil that will lubricate the engine of the private sector to stimulate the kind of growth that we envisage?" he questioned.
The NPP MP for Ayensuano, Mr Samuel Aye-Paye, said there was nothing impressive about the 2011 budget, reiterating the fact that there were no new policies.
He said if the NDC did not have anything new for Ghanaians, then it was unfortunate that Ghanaians gave the party the mandate to rule.
He argued that it would have been better if the NPP had been allowed to continue with the policies the party initiated rather than offering the NDC the chance to change the policies.
Mr Aye-Paye observed that the removal of vehicle income tax was just a mere propaganda since the imposition of the repressive road tolls was rather severely affecting the road transport business.
The NPP MP for Ahafo-Ano North, Mr Richard Akuoko Adiyia, said the government could not boast of stability and growth while interest rates were still high.
He said it was only when interest rates were lowered that the private sector would be encouraged to borrow from the banks to expand their businesses and create jobs for the youth.
The NPP MP for Okaikoi North, Mrs Elizabeth Sackey, said it was unfortunate that after two years in office, the government was still struggling to find its feet.
She said even though prices of gold and cocoa had gone up, such gains had not been used to embark on more projects to benefit the people.
Mrs Sackey stated that not much was being done in the education sector, explaining that the provision of few school uniforms alone was not sufficient when the school feeding programme was gradually collapsing.
The Minister of Transport and NDC MP for Effutu, Mr Mike Allen Hammah, however, maintained that the budget would bring more hope to Ghanaians, assuring them that the new initiatives would encourage the private sector to do more to increase employment.
He explained that the taxes that had been introduced were well thought-out and would not affect the ordinary people in the country.
He assured Ghanaians that as stated in the budget, the rail lines would be rehabilitated and modernised to ensure easy and affordable transportation in the country.
The NDC MP for Juabeso, Mr Sampson Ahi, commended the government for working tirelessly to clear the economic mess that was left behind by the NPP administration.
"Let us give the government a chance to continue to implement its sound economic policies, which have already yielded positive results," he said.
Mr Ahi called on Ghanaians to support the government since it had proved that it was up to the task entrusted to it by the good people of the country.
The Majority Chief Whip and NDC MP for Nkwanta South, Mr Geshon Gbediame, said there was no doubt that the NDC government had been able to put the economy on a right path.
He, however, advised that if the government was poised to use the agriculture sector to stimulate growth and provide jobs, then efforts should be made to create ready market for farm produce to encourage the youth to take to agriculture.
Mr Gbediame expressed the hope that the eastern corridor road would be rehabilitated as expressed in the budget statement to ensure easy access to regions in the northern sector of the country through the Volta Region.
The NDC MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, argued that now that the economy had been stabilised, the government would be able to implement policies outlined in the 2011 budget in order to create jobs.
He said policy initiatives such as the rehabilitation and modernisation of the railway sector would go a long way to create jobs rather than the unsustainable National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) that was created by the Kufuor administration.
The PNC MP for Sissala West, Mr Haruna Bayirga, noted that every government had good intentions for its people and called on the government to rigorously implement policies outlined in the budget to achieve results.
He called for massive improvement in the road sector, stressing that roads in his constituency were not good.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has described the 2011 Budget and Economic Policy of the government presented to the House by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning yesterday as "wicked", "anti-private sector development" and "fear and panic" budget.
Even though the usual inscription on sheets of paper to convey their sentiments about budgets was absent, an interview with some members of the Minority showed their disapproval of the budget in general and the introduction of taxes in particular.
The Majority, however, debunked assertions by the Minority and explained that the budget would bring hope to Ghanaians after the government had used the past two years to repair the economic mess it inherited.
A former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and NPP MP for Old Tafo, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, said, "the budget is not a good one. There was nothing new with the exception of introduction of taxes".
He noted that with the introduction of seven different taxes, Ghanaians should expect more difficulties next year than what they experienced this year.
Dr Osei said anytime such taxes were introduced, "the government is causing fear and panic among investors and the general populace".
A former Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament (MP) for Wenchi, Professor Yaw Gyan-Baffour, bemoaned the insensitivity of the government, explaining that Ghanaians were already stressed up after going through a lot of difficulties under the NDC’s two-year misrule.
"Ghanaians are suffering and do not need more taxes. Why does the government want to increase the load on the already suffering Ghanaians?" he queried.
The NPP MP for Kwabre East, Mr Kofi Frimpong, stated that all projects that were mentioned in the budget were initiatives of the Kufuor administration and accused the Mills's government of running out of ideas after "promising Ghanaians the moon".
He explained that the budget could be described as anti-private sector because royalties that were paid by mining companies quarterly were now going to be paid monthly while the introduction of other taxes in the tourism sector would gradually kill the hotel business.
Mr Frimpong observed that it was the intention of the government to impose taxes on churches when Dr Duffuor mentioned that the activities of certain non-governmental organisations would be taxed.
"Why are we trying to put more impediments in the way of the private sector when the government has touted its resolve to make the private sector the engine of growth. Why are we taking away the oil that will lubricate the engine of the private sector to stimulate the kind of growth that we envisage?" he questioned.
The NPP MP for Ayensuano, Mr Samuel Aye-Paye, said there was nothing impressive about the 2011 budget, reiterating the fact that there were no new policies.
He said if the NDC did not have anything new for Ghanaians, then it was unfortunate that Ghanaians gave the party the mandate to rule.
He argued that it would have been better if the NPP had been allowed to continue with the policies the party initiated rather than offering the NDC the chance to change the policies.
Mr Aye-Paye observed that the removal of vehicle income tax was just a mere propaganda since the imposition of the repressive road tolls was rather severely affecting the road transport business.
The NPP MP for Ahafo-Ano North, Mr Richard Akuoko Adiyia, said the government could not boast of stability and growth while interest rates were still high.
He said it was only when interest rates were lowered that the private sector would be encouraged to borrow from the banks to expand their businesses and create jobs for the youth.
The NPP MP for Okaikoi North, Mrs Elizabeth Sackey, said it was unfortunate that after two years in office, the government was still struggling to find its feet.
She said even though prices of gold and cocoa had gone up, such gains had not been used to embark on more projects to benefit the people.
Mrs Sackey stated that not much was being done in the education sector, explaining that the provision of few school uniforms alone was not sufficient when the school feeding programme was gradually collapsing.
The Minister of Transport and NDC MP for Effutu, Mr Mike Allen Hammah, however, maintained that the budget would bring more hope to Ghanaians, assuring them that the new initiatives would encourage the private sector to do more to increase employment.
He explained that the taxes that had been introduced were well thought-out and would not affect the ordinary people in the country.
He assured Ghanaians that as stated in the budget, the rail lines would be rehabilitated and modernised to ensure easy and affordable transportation in the country.
The NDC MP for Juabeso, Mr Sampson Ahi, commended the government for working tirelessly to clear the economic mess that was left behind by the NPP administration.
"Let us give the government a chance to continue to implement its sound economic policies, which have already yielded positive results," he said.
Mr Ahi called on Ghanaians to support the government since it had proved that it was up to the task entrusted to it by the good people of the country.
The Majority Chief Whip and NDC MP for Nkwanta South, Mr Geshon Gbediame, said there was no doubt that the NDC government had been able to put the economy on a right path.
He, however, advised that if the government was poised to use the agriculture sector to stimulate growth and provide jobs, then efforts should be made to create ready market for farm produce to encourage the youth to take to agriculture.
Mr Gbediame expressed the hope that the eastern corridor road would be rehabilitated as expressed in the budget statement to ensure easy access to regions in the northern sector of the country through the Volta Region.
The NDC MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, argued that now that the economy had been stabilised, the government would be able to implement policies outlined in the 2011 budget in order to create jobs.
He said policy initiatives such as the rehabilitation and modernisation of the railway sector would go a long way to create jobs rather than the unsustainable National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) that was created by the Kufuor administration.
The PNC MP for Sissala West, Mr Haruna Bayirga, noted that every government had good intentions for its people and called on the government to rigorously implement policies outlined in the budget to achieve results.
He called for massive improvement in the road sector, stressing that roads in his constituency were not good.
Sunyani Senior High marks Golden Jubilee
Page 18, Nov 19, 2010
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
ME Man Nti, Enye Me Nti, to wit, ‘It is because of my country and not myself’, is the motto of the Sunyani Senior High School, formally Sunyani Secondary School (SUSEC), which is 50 years this year.
On November 27, this year, this great school will hold a grand durbar at the school.
The school has earned the accolade “Brong Ahafo University” because of the role it has played over the years in the training of the human resource of the region.
Even though this writer is not an old student of the school, as a journalist from the region working in Accra he considers it his cherished duty to let the achievements of the school known to the world.
SUSEC is one of the products of the Ghana Education Trust set up by Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, to put up school buildings throughout the country to promote education and bring it to the doorstep of the people.
On October 2, 1958, Dr Nkrumah, then the Prime Minister of the country, cut the sod to start the building of the school, while on September 12, 1959, the then Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr Kojo Botsio, laid the foundation stone for the school.
A year later, precisely on Friday, September 30, 1960, the first batch of 36 students, comprising 31 boys and five girls, were admitted and they started academic work on Monday, October 3, 1960. There were two classes, Form 1A and Form 1B. The first school prefect was Master Paul Achereko.
On December 13, 1960, Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah officially inaugurated the school at a very colourful ceremony held in front of the school’s administration block. Even though the school began as a co-educational institution, a decision was taken to make it a boys’ school, with the girls being transferred to the Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Secondary School in Kumasi. That decision was, however, reversed a year later to enable girls to be re-admitted into the school.
Mr P.D. Quartey, who is described as “a bold sportsman and adventurer”, was the first headmaster of the school. He was said to have come from Accra to Sunyani, then a remote area, to start the school, with his staff made up of three teachers and nine non-teaching staff. They did a yeoman’s job to lay the foundation of the school. Mrs Paulina Yeboah (nee Ayim) was the first House Mistress and it is gratifying to note that she is still alive in Sunyani while the school prepares to organise its Golden Jubilee Anniversary.
Academic work was not easy for the pioneer students as a result of the highly inadequate teaching staff, some of whom did not have any high academic qualification and experience, in addition to inadequate facilities. But notwithstanding these drawbacks, the first batch of 63 students, made up of 61 boys and two girls sat for the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level Examination in 1965 and since then SUSEC had not looked back academically.
The symbol of SUSEC is the elephant, selected from the name Sunyani, which is a corrupt form of ason dwae (the place where elephants killed by the hunter, Boahen Korkor, the founder of Sunyani, were skinned). Mr Quartey coined the motto of the school, Me Man Nti, Enye Me Nti, from a speech delivered by Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah during which he quoted a Latin phrase meaning “a man was not born only for himself but his country”.
By the motto, Mr Quartey hoped that any time old and current students quoted the motto, they would be fired up by the spirit of patriotism that was demanded of all Ghanaians and also die a little for the school.
It is gratifying to note that SUSEC today is a great institution with the present administration, led by the energetic and foresighted Headmaster, Mr Joseph Awuah, systematically building on the foundation laid by past heroes and transform the school into a dynamic and formidable academic haven for students who want to make a headway in life.
According to the headmaster, “Even though the school faces a lot of impediments to progress, SUSEC in a relatively short period of 50 years, had taken the lead in education in the region and confidently and successfully rubs shoulders with the long established schools throughout the country.”
The number of teaching staff has increased from four to 71, while the non-teaching staff had grown from nine to 83. The initial student population of 36 now stands at 1,783. It can now also boast a well-stocked library, a well-equipped Computer Laboratory with Internet facilities, a French Language Centre, a Language laboratory, a projector room, among other facilities.
As its contribution to education in Ghana, 12,529 students have passed through the school since its inception. They are grouped as follows: GCE Ordinary Level students, 4,213; Advanced Level students, 2,020; senior secondary school students, 6,296. Currently the school is pursuing courses in General Arts 1, General Arts 2, General Arts 3, Business, Science, Agricultural Science, Visual Arts and Home Economics.
SUSEC has achieved success in many fields of endeavour, including sports, science competitions and quiz. Academic results have been excellent, with the students scoring 99.8 per cent in 2005 and 100 per cent in the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
In spite of these achievements, the school faces many challenges which should be addressed immediately to enable it to operate at its maximum. For instance, the school needs a modern computer laboratory, a well-equipped Visual Arts Block and bungalows to accommodate teachers posted to the school. Out of the 71 teaching staff, only 20 have accommodation on the compound. There is also the need to complete the ultra-modern 2,000 capacity assembly hall complex, which is a Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) project.
As the school celebrates its Golden Jubilee, it is the hope that efforts will be made to provide it with the necessary facilities to enable it to increase its intake and provide excellent tuition and extra curricular activities to enable its student to come out well moulded to fit into the fast-changing world.
SUSEC, Ayekoo, and may your students and staff live according to the tenets of your patriotic motto wherever they find themselves. Me Man Nti, Enye Me Nti!
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
ME Man Nti, Enye Me Nti, to wit, ‘It is because of my country and not myself’, is the motto of the Sunyani Senior High School, formally Sunyani Secondary School (SUSEC), which is 50 years this year.
On November 27, this year, this great school will hold a grand durbar at the school.
The school has earned the accolade “Brong Ahafo University” because of the role it has played over the years in the training of the human resource of the region.
Even though this writer is not an old student of the school, as a journalist from the region working in Accra he considers it his cherished duty to let the achievements of the school known to the world.
SUSEC is one of the products of the Ghana Education Trust set up by Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, to put up school buildings throughout the country to promote education and bring it to the doorstep of the people.
On October 2, 1958, Dr Nkrumah, then the Prime Minister of the country, cut the sod to start the building of the school, while on September 12, 1959, the then Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr Kojo Botsio, laid the foundation stone for the school.
A year later, precisely on Friday, September 30, 1960, the first batch of 36 students, comprising 31 boys and five girls, were admitted and they started academic work on Monday, October 3, 1960. There were two classes, Form 1A and Form 1B. The first school prefect was Master Paul Achereko.
On December 13, 1960, Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah officially inaugurated the school at a very colourful ceremony held in front of the school’s administration block. Even though the school began as a co-educational institution, a decision was taken to make it a boys’ school, with the girls being transferred to the Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Secondary School in Kumasi. That decision was, however, reversed a year later to enable girls to be re-admitted into the school.
Mr P.D. Quartey, who is described as “a bold sportsman and adventurer”, was the first headmaster of the school. He was said to have come from Accra to Sunyani, then a remote area, to start the school, with his staff made up of three teachers and nine non-teaching staff. They did a yeoman’s job to lay the foundation of the school. Mrs Paulina Yeboah (nee Ayim) was the first House Mistress and it is gratifying to note that she is still alive in Sunyani while the school prepares to organise its Golden Jubilee Anniversary.
Academic work was not easy for the pioneer students as a result of the highly inadequate teaching staff, some of whom did not have any high academic qualification and experience, in addition to inadequate facilities. But notwithstanding these drawbacks, the first batch of 63 students, made up of 61 boys and two girls sat for the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level Examination in 1965 and since then SUSEC had not looked back academically.
The symbol of SUSEC is the elephant, selected from the name Sunyani, which is a corrupt form of ason dwae (the place where elephants killed by the hunter, Boahen Korkor, the founder of Sunyani, were skinned). Mr Quartey coined the motto of the school, Me Man Nti, Enye Me Nti, from a speech delivered by Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah during which he quoted a Latin phrase meaning “a man was not born only for himself but his country”.
By the motto, Mr Quartey hoped that any time old and current students quoted the motto, they would be fired up by the spirit of patriotism that was demanded of all Ghanaians and also die a little for the school.
It is gratifying to note that SUSEC today is a great institution with the present administration, led by the energetic and foresighted Headmaster, Mr Joseph Awuah, systematically building on the foundation laid by past heroes and transform the school into a dynamic and formidable academic haven for students who want to make a headway in life.
According to the headmaster, “Even though the school faces a lot of impediments to progress, SUSEC in a relatively short period of 50 years, had taken the lead in education in the region and confidently and successfully rubs shoulders with the long established schools throughout the country.”
The number of teaching staff has increased from four to 71, while the non-teaching staff had grown from nine to 83. The initial student population of 36 now stands at 1,783. It can now also boast a well-stocked library, a well-equipped Computer Laboratory with Internet facilities, a French Language Centre, a Language laboratory, a projector room, among other facilities.
As its contribution to education in Ghana, 12,529 students have passed through the school since its inception. They are grouped as follows: GCE Ordinary Level students, 4,213; Advanced Level students, 2,020; senior secondary school students, 6,296. Currently the school is pursuing courses in General Arts 1, General Arts 2, General Arts 3, Business, Science, Agricultural Science, Visual Arts and Home Economics.
SUSEC has achieved success in many fields of endeavour, including sports, science competitions and quiz. Academic results have been excellent, with the students scoring 99.8 per cent in 2005 and 100 per cent in the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
In spite of these achievements, the school faces many challenges which should be addressed immediately to enable it to operate at its maximum. For instance, the school needs a modern computer laboratory, a well-equipped Visual Arts Block and bungalows to accommodate teachers posted to the school. Out of the 71 teaching staff, only 20 have accommodation on the compound. There is also the need to complete the ultra-modern 2,000 capacity assembly hall complex, which is a Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) project.
As the school celebrates its Golden Jubilee, it is the hope that efforts will be made to provide it with the necessary facilities to enable it to increase its intake and provide excellent tuition and extra curricular activities to enable its student to come out well moulded to fit into the fast-changing world.
SUSEC, Ayekoo, and may your students and staff live according to the tenets of your patriotic motto wherever they find themselves. Me Man Nti, Enye Me Nti!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
'Give us 10 per cent of oil cash'
Frontpage, Nov 18, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE chiefs and people of the Western Region have petitioned Parliament to ensure that 10 per cent of Ghana’s petroleum revenue is paid into a Western Region Development Fund to be established under the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill.
This, according to them, is for the purpose of developing the region.
In addition, they have called for the establishment of a special fund to take care of any disaster that will arise from any environmental mishap that could occur during the exploration and production of oil and gas.
They further contend that the fund should be managed by a board comprising indigenes of the region.
At a press conference prior to the presentation of the petition to the Speaker of the House yesterday, the President of the Western Regional House of Chief, Awulae Atibrukusu, said the demand by the chiefs and people was informed by the state of development and the high rate of unemployment in spite of the rich resources in the region.
He said currently, the youth in the region were agitating as a result of the seemingly non-transparent employment practices of companies involved in the oil and gas industry and the apparent lack of interest of the government in recognising the Western Region as a key stakeholder in the oil discovery.
The nine-point petition also called for the achievement of regional and gender balance envisaged by the 1992 Constitution in employment by all state institutions, especially those engaged in the oil and gas industry.
It also called for the representation of the region on all institutions and bodies to be established by the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, such as the Investment Advisory Committee and Public Interest and Accountability Committee, as well as all governing bodies that would be established under all laws relating to oil and gas industry.
The petition also demanded that one-third of the members of the Oil and Gas Commission that would be established should be made up of indigenes of the Western Region, explaining that all such appointments should be in consultation with the chiefs and people of the region.
It called on the government to encourage the oil and gas companies, through legislation, to employ and offer other business opportunities to indigenes of the region.
Answering questions from the media, Awulae Annor Adjaye explained that the demands were not based on selfish interests, but on the need to forestall any future agitation as a result of unfair treatment in the oil and gas industry.
“We did not benefit from cocoa, gold, timber and other natural resources that were mined in the region and if we do not benefit from the oil find, then the region is doomed,” he declared.
Fourteen paramount chiefs in the region signed the petition.
Meanwhile, the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Adjaho, has referred the petition to the Joint Committee on Finance and Mines and Energy for consideration after receiving it from the chiefs.
Time is not on the side of the chiefs since the report on the joint committee on the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill was due to be laid before the House yesterday.
It was, however, deferred and it is hoped that it would be laid before the end of the week for it to go through its second reading.
The two sides of the House agreed that the laying of the report should be deferred.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE chiefs and people of the Western Region have petitioned Parliament to ensure that 10 per cent of Ghana’s petroleum revenue is paid into a Western Region Development Fund to be established under the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill.
This, according to them, is for the purpose of developing the region.
In addition, they have called for the establishment of a special fund to take care of any disaster that will arise from any environmental mishap that could occur during the exploration and production of oil and gas.
They further contend that the fund should be managed by a board comprising indigenes of the region.
At a press conference prior to the presentation of the petition to the Speaker of the House yesterday, the President of the Western Regional House of Chief, Awulae Atibrukusu, said the demand by the chiefs and people was informed by the state of development and the high rate of unemployment in spite of the rich resources in the region.
He said currently, the youth in the region were agitating as a result of the seemingly non-transparent employment practices of companies involved in the oil and gas industry and the apparent lack of interest of the government in recognising the Western Region as a key stakeholder in the oil discovery.
The nine-point petition also called for the achievement of regional and gender balance envisaged by the 1992 Constitution in employment by all state institutions, especially those engaged in the oil and gas industry.
It also called for the representation of the region on all institutions and bodies to be established by the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, such as the Investment Advisory Committee and Public Interest and Accountability Committee, as well as all governing bodies that would be established under all laws relating to oil and gas industry.
The petition also demanded that one-third of the members of the Oil and Gas Commission that would be established should be made up of indigenes of the Western Region, explaining that all such appointments should be in consultation with the chiefs and people of the region.
It called on the government to encourage the oil and gas companies, through legislation, to employ and offer other business opportunities to indigenes of the region.
Answering questions from the media, Awulae Annor Adjaye explained that the demands were not based on selfish interests, but on the need to forestall any future agitation as a result of unfair treatment in the oil and gas industry.
“We did not benefit from cocoa, gold, timber and other natural resources that were mined in the region and if we do not benefit from the oil find, then the region is doomed,” he declared.
Fourteen paramount chiefs in the region signed the petition.
Meanwhile, the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Adjaho, has referred the petition to the Joint Committee on Finance and Mines and Energy for consideration after receiving it from the chiefs.
Time is not on the side of the chiefs since the report on the joint committee on the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill was due to be laid before the House yesterday.
It was, however, deferred and it is hoped that it would be laid before the end of the week for it to go through its second reading.
The two sides of the House agreed that the laying of the report should be deferred.
Parliament stresses well-being of veterans
Centre Spread, Nov 12, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MEMBERS of Parliament have called for measures to ensure the well-being of veteran soldiers who fought for the building of the country.
Contributing to two statements to commemorate this year’s Remembrance Day, the MPs stressed that since “a country which does not recognise its heroes is not worth dying for”, it was important to take proper care of the veterans to encourage the current generation to work for the growth of the country.
In his statement, the MP for Nkoranza North, Major Derrick Oduro (rtd), said, “It is important to state that the day should not only be a remembrance day for those who lost their lives during the First World War, but also a day that recognises our servicemen, women and civilians who lost their lives during peacekeeping operations elsewhere”.
Ghanaian security agencies, according to the MP, had exhibited high professionalism and discipline in the discharge of their duties, particularly during peacekeeping missions, and had, as a result, won for the country high international recognition over the years.
Major Oduro called on the leadership of the country to work diligently towards the promotion of peace and development as a way of showing their appreciation towards the ex-servicemen who laid down their lives for the country.
He also called on the government to consider instituting a special fund for retired officers and ex-servicemen in order to address their plight.
In another statement to commemorate the day, the MP for Ho Central, Capt. George Nfodjo (retd), said it was unfortunate that only stipends were paid to ex-servicemen, which was woefully inadequate.
“These are former para-jumpers who now have knee and stability problems and are wheel-chair-bound,” he said and questioned whether they could still depend on such stipends.
The First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, advised the two statement makers to liaise with the leadership of the legislative body to ensure that some monies were collected from the MPs to be donated to the ex-servicemen as an example for others to emulate.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MEMBERS of Parliament have called for measures to ensure the well-being of veteran soldiers who fought for the building of the country.
Contributing to two statements to commemorate this year’s Remembrance Day, the MPs stressed that since “a country which does not recognise its heroes is not worth dying for”, it was important to take proper care of the veterans to encourage the current generation to work for the growth of the country.
In his statement, the MP for Nkoranza North, Major Derrick Oduro (rtd), said, “It is important to state that the day should not only be a remembrance day for those who lost their lives during the First World War, but also a day that recognises our servicemen, women and civilians who lost their lives during peacekeeping operations elsewhere”.
Ghanaian security agencies, according to the MP, had exhibited high professionalism and discipline in the discharge of their duties, particularly during peacekeeping missions, and had, as a result, won for the country high international recognition over the years.
Major Oduro called on the leadership of the country to work diligently towards the promotion of peace and development as a way of showing their appreciation towards the ex-servicemen who laid down their lives for the country.
He also called on the government to consider instituting a special fund for retired officers and ex-servicemen in order to address their plight.
In another statement to commemorate the day, the MP for Ho Central, Capt. George Nfodjo (retd), said it was unfortunate that only stipends were paid to ex-servicemen, which was woefully inadequate.
“These are former para-jumpers who now have knee and stability problems and are wheel-chair-bound,” he said and questioned whether they could still depend on such stipends.
The First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, advised the two statement makers to liaise with the leadership of the legislative body to ensure that some monies were collected from the MPs to be donated to the ex-servicemen as an example for others to emulate.
This week in Parliament
Page 13, Nov 15, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE MINISTER of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, is expected to present the government’s Budget Statement and Economic Policy for 2011 to Parliament on Thursday, November 18, 2010.
The Majority Leader and Leader of the House, Mr Cletus Apul Avoka announced this when he presented the Business Statement of Parliament on Thursday.
As part of deepening the understanding of the underlying policies behind the bugdet a post-budget workshop will be organised for leadership, chairpersons and ranking members and committee clerks and is scheduled for Friday November 26 to Sunday November 28, 2010.
Mr Avoka also informed the House that Parliament would sit on Mondays and also extend its sitting period from November 22, 2010 in order to complete the agenda it had set for itself for the current meeting.
The House is expected to rise for the Christmas break on December 21, 2010.
Meanwhile three ministers are expected to appear before the House this week to answer a total of 12 questions filed by eight Members of Parliament (MPs).
They are the Minister for Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, the Minister for Trade and Industry, Ms Hanna Tetteh, and the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi.
Bills expected to be presented to the House to be read for the first time are the Medical Training and Research Bill, 2010, the Mental Health Bill, 2010 and the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Bill.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE MINISTER of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, is expected to present the government’s Budget Statement and Economic Policy for 2011 to Parliament on Thursday, November 18, 2010.
The Majority Leader and Leader of the House, Mr Cletus Apul Avoka announced this when he presented the Business Statement of Parliament on Thursday.
As part of deepening the understanding of the underlying policies behind the bugdet a post-budget workshop will be organised for leadership, chairpersons and ranking members and committee clerks and is scheduled for Friday November 26 to Sunday November 28, 2010.
Mr Avoka also informed the House that Parliament would sit on Mondays and also extend its sitting period from November 22, 2010 in order to complete the agenda it had set for itself for the current meeting.
The House is expected to rise for the Christmas break on December 21, 2010.
Meanwhile three ministers are expected to appear before the House this week to answer a total of 12 questions filed by eight Members of Parliament (MPs).
They are the Minister for Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, the Minister for Trade and Industry, Ms Hanna Tetteh, and the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi.
Bills expected to be presented to the House to be read for the first time are the Medical Training and Research Bill, 2010, the Mental Health Bill, 2010 and the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Bill.
Parliament approves loan agreement
Page 12, Nov 13, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT last Thursday approved a 55 million euro financial agreement between the government and the Kredistanstal Fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) of Germany to be used as part of the Multi-Donor Budget Support (MDBS) for 2010-2012.
The loan was also accompanied by 500,000 euros grant to strengthen the Ghana Audit Service.
The MDBS is a joint support mechanism of 11 development partners and the government of Ghana, which is based on the contributions of financial resources by development partners directly to the government’s treasury to complement the country’s domestically generated revenue.
The contribution of the MDBS is to help facilitate the implementation of the country’s development and poverty reduction policies.
Under the programme, all decision concerning the allocation and utilisation of the funds are to be in line with government’s own long-term perspective plans.
A Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Seth Tekpeh, moved the motion for the approval of the agreement and he was seconded by the Finance Committee of Parliament, Mr James Klutse Avedzi.
In a related development, the House also approved a 7,980 million euros between the government and Austria for the construction and equipping of five polyclinics in the Upper West Region.
The loan would also be used to provide training of medical staff and other medical technicians/engineers of the Ghana health Service/ the Ministry of Health.
Under the facility, five polyclinics would be constructed and equipped at Babile/Birifo, Funsi, Ko, Lambussie and Wechiau.
It is hoped that the project would help enhance physical access in the Upper West Region, which is one of the most deprived in the country.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT last Thursday approved a 55 million euro financial agreement between the government and the Kredistanstal Fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) of Germany to be used as part of the Multi-Donor Budget Support (MDBS) for 2010-2012.
The loan was also accompanied by 500,000 euros grant to strengthen the Ghana Audit Service.
The MDBS is a joint support mechanism of 11 development partners and the government of Ghana, which is based on the contributions of financial resources by development partners directly to the government’s treasury to complement the country’s domestically generated revenue.
The contribution of the MDBS is to help facilitate the implementation of the country’s development and poverty reduction policies.
Under the programme, all decision concerning the allocation and utilisation of the funds are to be in line with government’s own long-term perspective plans.
A Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Seth Tekpeh, moved the motion for the approval of the agreement and he was seconded by the Finance Committee of Parliament, Mr James Klutse Avedzi.
In a related development, the House also approved a 7,980 million euros between the government and Austria for the construction and equipping of five polyclinics in the Upper West Region.
The loan would also be used to provide training of medical staff and other medical technicians/engineers of the Ghana health Service/ the Ministry of Health.
Under the facility, five polyclinics would be constructed and equipped at Babile/Birifo, Funsi, Ko, Lambussie and Wechiau.
It is hoped that the project would help enhance physical access in the Upper West Region, which is one of the most deprived in the country.
Drama unfolds in Parliament
Page 12, Nov 12, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
DRAMA unfolded in Parliament on Wednesday soon after question time when the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu North, Mr James Klutse Avedzi informed the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho about a comment that he claimed the MP for New Juaben North, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman had made about him (Adjaho).
Mr Adjaho had ruled that the one hour allotted for question time was over and called the Western Regional Minister and MP for Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo to present a statement, but before he could do so, Mr Avedzi stood up and made his claim.
He told the House that Mr Owusu-Agyeman had commented that Mr Adjaho "is not correct".
Mr Owusu-Agyeman had been standing to catch the eye of the Speaker, just before he ruled that the one hour allotted for question time had elapsed without success.
And when Mr Adjaho asked Mr Owusu-Agyeman whether he had made that comment, he replied, "Mr Speaker, did you call me to speak?"
That line of question to question ensued between Mr Owusu-Agyeman and Mr Adjaho until the latter stated thus: "Honourable member, you are a senior member of this House and you should know better" to end the drama.
That drama had preceded an intense question time, during which the Minister of Defence, Lt Gen J.H Smith, had briefed the House about the recent recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Jaman South, Mr Yaw Maama Afful, had asked the minister to what extent the ministry took into consideration regional and gender balance in the recruitment of 453 personnel of the 2009/2010 batch of general recruits who reported for training on July 1, 2010.
Even though the minister informed the House about the modalities and percentages allocated to every region based on the country’s population statistics, Mr Afful disputed the claim that the Volta Region had been allotted eight per cent of the recruitment.
According to him, a document in his possession indicated that the Volta Region alone had been allocated 30 per cent of the recruitment.
The minister told the House that the GAF recruitment policy generally required 90 per cent male and 10 per cent female, while a second requirement was that each region should exhibit the appropriate gender mix.
He said in the 2009/2010 general recruitment exercise, the Ghana Army was given a quota of 900, explaining that those recruits were expected to be taken in two batches of 450 each.
He said at the moment, 391 males and 60 females were undergoing training, while the second batch of 534 recruits were undergoing medical examination, out of which 450 would be shortlisted for training in January 2011.
“It is hoped that any shortfalls in the regional quotas in the first batch will be addressed,” he said.
He said the percentage chosen for each region was based on the population census figures of Ghanaians between the ages of 15 and 29, explaining, for instance, that the Greater Accra had 19.3 per cent, Upper West, 2.7 per cent and Volta, 8.2 per cent.
While the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, tabled the document in which Mr Afful claimed that 30 per cent of the recruits had been given to the Volta Region, Mr Adjaho directed that Lt Gen Smith submit his document stipulating the percentages of the recruits allotted the various regions to the Table’s Office.
Earlier, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, had appeared before the House to answer an urgent question on the outcome of the investigations by the United States Department of Justice on the Kosmos and EO Group affair which had been filed by the MP for Navrongo Central, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda.
Answering the question, Mrs Mould-Addrisu told the House that under the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) agreement between Ghana and the United States, contents of the investigations were strictly confidential.
She stated, however, that the involvement of companies in the acquisition of shares in the Jubilee Field, including the EO Group, was being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
She also told the House, in an answer to another question, that the problem of congestion in the country’s prisons was systemic and that efforts were being made to solve the problem.
When she was asked whether she would advise the President to set up a commission to review the country’s Criminal Code, she said the review had already begun, explaining that she intended to commission consultancy to study the code and submit a report to her.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
DRAMA unfolded in Parliament on Wednesday soon after question time when the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu North, Mr James Klutse Avedzi informed the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho about a comment that he claimed the MP for New Juaben North, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman had made about him (Adjaho).
Mr Adjaho had ruled that the one hour allotted for question time was over and called the Western Regional Minister and MP for Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo to present a statement, but before he could do so, Mr Avedzi stood up and made his claim.
He told the House that Mr Owusu-Agyeman had commented that Mr Adjaho "is not correct".
Mr Owusu-Agyeman had been standing to catch the eye of the Speaker, just before he ruled that the one hour allotted for question time had elapsed without success.
And when Mr Adjaho asked Mr Owusu-Agyeman whether he had made that comment, he replied, "Mr Speaker, did you call me to speak?"
That line of question to question ensued between Mr Owusu-Agyeman and Mr Adjaho until the latter stated thus: "Honourable member, you are a senior member of this House and you should know better" to end the drama.
That drama had preceded an intense question time, during which the Minister of Defence, Lt Gen J.H Smith, had briefed the House about the recent recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Jaman South, Mr Yaw Maama Afful, had asked the minister to what extent the ministry took into consideration regional and gender balance in the recruitment of 453 personnel of the 2009/2010 batch of general recruits who reported for training on July 1, 2010.
Even though the minister informed the House about the modalities and percentages allocated to every region based on the country’s population statistics, Mr Afful disputed the claim that the Volta Region had been allotted eight per cent of the recruitment.
According to him, a document in his possession indicated that the Volta Region alone had been allocated 30 per cent of the recruitment.
The minister told the House that the GAF recruitment policy generally required 90 per cent male and 10 per cent female, while a second requirement was that each region should exhibit the appropriate gender mix.
He said in the 2009/2010 general recruitment exercise, the Ghana Army was given a quota of 900, explaining that those recruits were expected to be taken in two batches of 450 each.
He said at the moment, 391 males and 60 females were undergoing training, while the second batch of 534 recruits were undergoing medical examination, out of which 450 would be shortlisted for training in January 2011.
“It is hoped that any shortfalls in the regional quotas in the first batch will be addressed,” he said.
He said the percentage chosen for each region was based on the population census figures of Ghanaians between the ages of 15 and 29, explaining, for instance, that the Greater Accra had 19.3 per cent, Upper West, 2.7 per cent and Volta, 8.2 per cent.
While the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, tabled the document in which Mr Afful claimed that 30 per cent of the recruits had been given to the Volta Region, Mr Adjaho directed that Lt Gen Smith submit his document stipulating the percentages of the recruits allotted the various regions to the Table’s Office.
Earlier, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, had appeared before the House to answer an urgent question on the outcome of the investigations by the United States Department of Justice on the Kosmos and EO Group affair which had been filed by the MP for Navrongo Central, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda.
Answering the question, Mrs Mould-Addrisu told the House that under the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) agreement between Ghana and the United States, contents of the investigations were strictly confidential.
She stated, however, that the involvement of companies in the acquisition of shares in the Jubilee Field, including the EO Group, was being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
She also told the House, in an answer to another question, that the problem of congestion in the country’s prisons was systemic and that efforts were being made to solve the problem.
When she was asked whether she would advise the President to set up a commission to review the country’s Criminal Code, she said the review had already begun, explaining that she intended to commission consultancy to study the code and submit a report to her.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Buffer Zone Policy ready
Backpage, Nov 10, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing has finalised a national buffer zone policy to guide the creation and management of tree covers on land strips along open water bodies, the sector minister, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, told Parliament yesterday.
The policy is part of a number of measures initiated through the Water Resources Commission to protect the various water bodies in the country.
Mr Bagbin made this known when he appeared before Parliament to answer questions by Members of Parliament (MPs).
The MP for Offinso North, Mr Augustine Collins Ntim, had asked the minister about measures being put in place to protect the various water bodies in the country.
Mr Bagbin explained that other measures included the Integrated Water Resources Management, public awareness and education programme, water quality monitoring, and transboundary co-operation.
He said the national buffer zone policy was to restore, conserve and maintain the ecological integrity, and optimise the socio-economic benefits of such designated areas.
The minister stated that in the meantime pilot tree planting programmes for the restoration of river banks were being implemented in selected river basins such as Densu and the White Volta through support given to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations.
In addition, river basin boards were being set up to ensure co-ordinated implementation of programmes to address basin-specific water problems. So far the Densu, White Volta and the Ankobra boards, he said, were functioning effectively.
Answering another question posed by the MP for Chiana/Paga, Mr Leo Alowe Kaba, Mr Bagbin admitted that water supply in the Upper East Region was insufficient since only 14 per cent of areas in the region had been provided with water systems from Bolgatanga, Navrongo and Bawku.
In the long term, he said, funding was being sourced from the ORIO programme of The Netherlands to develop a water supply project in the region.
Mr Bagbin said the feasibility study was currently being undertaken by Wittenven and Bos Engineers of the Netherlands, which would eventually lead to the construction of new water supply system with the water source being the Tono Dam.
He said the grant agreement had been signed and the feasibility study was expected to take six months while the project itself would take two years to be completed.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing has finalised a national buffer zone policy to guide the creation and management of tree covers on land strips along open water bodies, the sector minister, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, told Parliament yesterday.
The policy is part of a number of measures initiated through the Water Resources Commission to protect the various water bodies in the country.
Mr Bagbin made this known when he appeared before Parliament to answer questions by Members of Parliament (MPs).
The MP for Offinso North, Mr Augustine Collins Ntim, had asked the minister about measures being put in place to protect the various water bodies in the country.
Mr Bagbin explained that other measures included the Integrated Water Resources Management, public awareness and education programme, water quality monitoring, and transboundary co-operation.
He said the national buffer zone policy was to restore, conserve and maintain the ecological integrity, and optimise the socio-economic benefits of such designated areas.
The minister stated that in the meantime pilot tree planting programmes for the restoration of river banks were being implemented in selected river basins such as Densu and the White Volta through support given to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations.
In addition, river basin boards were being set up to ensure co-ordinated implementation of programmes to address basin-specific water problems. So far the Densu, White Volta and the Ankobra boards, he said, were functioning effectively.
Answering another question posed by the MP for Chiana/Paga, Mr Leo Alowe Kaba, Mr Bagbin admitted that water supply in the Upper East Region was insufficient since only 14 per cent of areas in the region had been provided with water systems from Bolgatanga, Navrongo and Bawku.
In the long term, he said, funding was being sourced from the ORIO programme of The Netherlands to develop a water supply project in the region.
Mr Bagbin said the feasibility study was currently being undertaken by Wittenven and Bos Engineers of the Netherlands, which would eventually lead to the construction of new water supply system with the water source being the Tono Dam.
He said the grant agreement had been signed and the feasibility study was expected to take six months while the project itself would take two years to be completed.
Speaker sworn in as acting President
Centre Spread, Nov 10, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo was yesterday sworn in by the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Wood as the acting President of the country.
She will, however, have to wait until this morning for the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, to leave for Nigeria to confer with President Goodluck Jonathan before assuming office.
With the Vice-President, Mr John Mahama, already in the Czech Republic to attend a Ghana-Czech trade and investment forum, the mantle falls on the Speaker when the President leaves for Nigeria today.
This is the second time in less than two months that the Speaker has to be called on to act as the country’s President.
The first time was on October 1, 2010 when the President was in China and Mr Mahama had to leave for Nigeria to attend that country’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Even though the Speaker spent only five hours as acting President, she will today spend the whole day as acting President.
The swearing in of the Speaker received a thunderous applause and shouts of “hear, hear” from both sides of the House.
But when the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, reminded the House that the Speaker would assume duty today, the backbenchers at the Minority side shouted “now, now, Madam Speaker, Cabinet reshuffle”.
Commenting on the swearing-in ceremony, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, observed that communication to the House about the absence of the President from the country was an improvement on the previous one when the Vice President left hours before the Speaker was sworn in, leaving a vacuum.
He, therefore, commended the presidency for listening to the concerns expressed by the MPs the previous time.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said even though the Constitution stipulated that the swearing-in should be done while the President was leaving the country, the House had found it expedient to swear in the Speaker earlier to assume duty soon after the President had left the shores of the country.
“This is the first time we are doing this and it is an innovation to remedy the situation that occurred the previous time,” he said.
The Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, said it was historic for the Speaker to be sworn in twice in less than two months to act as President.
He stated that given the rich background of the Speaker, “she will be able to hold the fort and take far-reaching decisions that will benefit the whole country, especially women”.
Mr Avoka wished the Speaker well in her endeavours during the period that she would act as the President of the country.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo was yesterday sworn in by the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Wood as the acting President of the country.
She will, however, have to wait until this morning for the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, to leave for Nigeria to confer with President Goodluck Jonathan before assuming office.
With the Vice-President, Mr John Mahama, already in the Czech Republic to attend a Ghana-Czech trade and investment forum, the mantle falls on the Speaker when the President leaves for Nigeria today.
This is the second time in less than two months that the Speaker has to be called on to act as the country’s President.
The first time was on October 1, 2010 when the President was in China and Mr Mahama had to leave for Nigeria to attend that country’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Even though the Speaker spent only five hours as acting President, she will today spend the whole day as acting President.
The swearing in of the Speaker received a thunderous applause and shouts of “hear, hear” from both sides of the House.
But when the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, reminded the House that the Speaker would assume duty today, the backbenchers at the Minority side shouted “now, now, Madam Speaker, Cabinet reshuffle”.
Commenting on the swearing-in ceremony, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, observed that communication to the House about the absence of the President from the country was an improvement on the previous one when the Vice President left hours before the Speaker was sworn in, leaving a vacuum.
He, therefore, commended the presidency for listening to the concerns expressed by the MPs the previous time.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said even though the Constitution stipulated that the swearing-in should be done while the President was leaving the country, the House had found it expedient to swear in the Speaker earlier to assume duty soon after the President had left the shores of the country.
“This is the first time we are doing this and it is an innovation to remedy the situation that occurred the previous time,” he said.
The Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, said it was historic for the Speaker to be sworn in twice in less than two months to act as President.
He stated that given the rich background of the Speaker, “she will be able to hold the fort and take far-reaching decisions that will benefit the whole country, especially women”.
Mr Avoka wished the Speaker well in her endeavours during the period that she would act as the President of the country.
This week in Parliament
Page 13, Nov 8, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr E.T Mensah is expected to appear before Parliament this week to answer a question on the implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy.
The Member of Parliament for Ahafo-Ano North, Mr Richard Akuoko Adiyia, has filed a question enquiring about the implementation of the new pay policy.
Mr Mensah is among six minister expected to appear before the House to answer questions this week.
Other are Mr Alban Bagbin, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Kwasi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture, Gen. Henry Smith, Minister of Defence, Mrs Betty Mould-Addrisu, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.
The Majority Leader and Leader of the House, Mr Cletus Apul Avoka announced this when he presented the Business Statement of Parliament for this week.
In all, 22 questions bordering on the sectors of the six ministries are to be answered during the week.
The MP for Asunafo South, Mr Robert Sarfo Mensah will also ask Mr Mensah about steps his ministry is taking to ensure that all public buildings and facilities are accessible to the people with disability as stipulated in the Persons With Disability Act, 2009 (Act 715).
On Friday, the MP for Sunyani East, Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh is also expected to pose a question to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, to enquire about measures being made to ensure that assembly members who ended three term in August/September 2010 are paid reasonable and acceptable end-of-service benefit.
Other MPs expected to ask questions are Mr Samuel Aye-Paye, NPP-Ayensuano, Mr Maama Afful, NPP-Jaman South, Mr George Artheu, NDC- Amenfi Central, Ms B.B Boateng, NPP- New Juaben South, Mr Yaw Ofori-Kuragu, Independent- Bosome-Freho and John Agyabeng, NPP-Agona East.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr E.T Mensah is expected to appear before Parliament this week to answer a question on the implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy.
The Member of Parliament for Ahafo-Ano North, Mr Richard Akuoko Adiyia, has filed a question enquiring about the implementation of the new pay policy.
Mr Mensah is among six minister expected to appear before the House to answer questions this week.
Other are Mr Alban Bagbin, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Kwasi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture, Gen. Henry Smith, Minister of Defence, Mrs Betty Mould-Addrisu, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.
The Majority Leader and Leader of the House, Mr Cletus Apul Avoka announced this when he presented the Business Statement of Parliament for this week.
In all, 22 questions bordering on the sectors of the six ministries are to be answered during the week.
The MP for Asunafo South, Mr Robert Sarfo Mensah will also ask Mr Mensah about steps his ministry is taking to ensure that all public buildings and facilities are accessible to the people with disability as stipulated in the Persons With Disability Act, 2009 (Act 715).
On Friday, the MP for Sunyani East, Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh is also expected to pose a question to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, to enquire about measures being made to ensure that assembly members who ended three term in August/September 2010 are paid reasonable and acceptable end-of-service benefit.
Other MPs expected to ask questions are Mr Samuel Aye-Paye, NPP-Ayensuano, Mr Maama Afful, NPP-Jaman South, Mr George Artheu, NDC- Amenfi Central, Ms B.B Boateng, NPP- New Juaben South, Mr Yaw Ofori-Kuragu, Independent- Bosome-Freho and John Agyabeng, NPP-Agona East.
MP’s calls for healthy discussions of issues
Page 12, Nov 5, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) have expressed worry about the current spate of insults on the airwaves and have called for healthy discussions of issues on partisan lines to enhance the country's political dispensation.
They were contributing to a statement made on the floor of the House by the MPs from Ablekuma North, Mr Justice Joe Appiah, and Ahafo-Ano North, Mr Richard Akuoko Adiyia.
Mr Appiah expressed worry about the use of the airwaves to attack political opponents and called on the media to be circumspect to avoid such situations.
"It behoves all of us to treat our leaders with respect and decorum, as they are the embodiment of dignity, and they also represent the soul of the nation."
Mr Appiah called for efforts to maintain the national unity even in the face of extreme provocation in order to avoid strives that had occurred in other parts of Africa in recent years.
He said that as the nation prepare to go to the polls in December 2012, “I passionately appeal to all to exercise the greatest restraint in the use of language that might create tension, rancour and animosity within the general public.”
In his view, the war of words which had saturated the country’s political discourse lacked discussions on policy alternatives to national accelerated development.
He reminded Ghanaians that “we are still practising multi-party democracy, with all political parties struggling to gain political power and govern the country.”
This, he cautioned, must be done with decency and the toning down of sentiments in our political discussions, adding that “we are not enemies but one people with a common destiny and aim.”
Mr Appiah said that Ghana was the only country we had and therefore it would be extremely unwise to sit aloof and allow a few people to toy with the destiny of the nation and disturb its peace.
In his statement, titled "Ghana First", Mr Akuoko noted that as citizens of the country, Ghanaians have a common destiny and collective security and that an attack on one was an attack on all.
"Mr Speaker, government will come and go, people will come and go, political parties will come to power and lose power but mother Ghana will always be there," he said.
Mr Akuoko stated that the country had reached a stage in its democratic dispensation that government in power and the largest opposition party should be able to give and take constructive criticisms to ensure cross-fertilisation of ideas.
"The cycle of vengeance and political vendettas has no place in our democratic dispensation and must stop," he said.
The MP said that the time had come for politicians to move away from the politics of lies, deceit, insults and personal attacks and rather engage in constructive debates of issues that promoted national development.
He said if, as the representatives of the people, politicians benefited more than the people they were serving, "then we are not serving," he said, adding that the politics of political brouhaha should be over.
"If we become too entrenched in our political philosophies and ideas, we tend to lose sight of a broader picture, the well-being of the people of this country," he said.
He cautioned Ghanaians that "whether we like it or not, we are in the same boat together, we either swim together or drown together."
The statements received the endorsement of the whole House. All MPs who contributed were commended for their timely advise.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) have expressed worry about the current spate of insults on the airwaves and have called for healthy discussions of issues on partisan lines to enhance the country's political dispensation.
They were contributing to a statement made on the floor of the House by the MPs from Ablekuma North, Mr Justice Joe Appiah, and Ahafo-Ano North, Mr Richard Akuoko Adiyia.
Mr Appiah expressed worry about the use of the airwaves to attack political opponents and called on the media to be circumspect to avoid such situations.
"It behoves all of us to treat our leaders with respect and decorum, as they are the embodiment of dignity, and they also represent the soul of the nation."
Mr Appiah called for efforts to maintain the national unity even in the face of extreme provocation in order to avoid strives that had occurred in other parts of Africa in recent years.
He said that as the nation prepare to go to the polls in December 2012, “I passionately appeal to all to exercise the greatest restraint in the use of language that might create tension, rancour and animosity within the general public.”
In his view, the war of words which had saturated the country’s political discourse lacked discussions on policy alternatives to national accelerated development.
He reminded Ghanaians that “we are still practising multi-party democracy, with all political parties struggling to gain political power and govern the country.”
This, he cautioned, must be done with decency and the toning down of sentiments in our political discussions, adding that “we are not enemies but one people with a common destiny and aim.”
Mr Appiah said that Ghana was the only country we had and therefore it would be extremely unwise to sit aloof and allow a few people to toy with the destiny of the nation and disturb its peace.
In his statement, titled "Ghana First", Mr Akuoko noted that as citizens of the country, Ghanaians have a common destiny and collective security and that an attack on one was an attack on all.
"Mr Speaker, government will come and go, people will come and go, political parties will come to power and lose power but mother Ghana will always be there," he said.
Mr Akuoko stated that the country had reached a stage in its democratic dispensation that government in power and the largest opposition party should be able to give and take constructive criticisms to ensure cross-fertilisation of ideas.
"The cycle of vengeance and political vendettas has no place in our democratic dispensation and must stop," he said.
The MP said that the time had come for politicians to move away from the politics of lies, deceit, insults and personal attacks and rather engage in constructive debates of issues that promoted national development.
He said if, as the representatives of the people, politicians benefited more than the people they were serving, "then we are not serving," he said, adding that the politics of political brouhaha should be over.
"If we become too entrenched in our political philosophies and ideas, we tend to lose sight of a broader picture, the well-being of the people of this country," he said.
He cautioned Ghanaians that "whether we like it or not, we are in the same boat together, we either swim together or drown together."
The statements received the endorsement of the whole House. All MPs who contributed were commended for their timely advise.
Parliament reconstitutes ECOWAS membership
Page 12, Nov 5, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT has reconstituted its membership in the ECOWAS Parliament.
The new members of Ghana's delegation are Mr Stephen Yakubu, NPP MP for Binduri, Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah, Minority Chief Whip and NPP MP for Suhum and Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku, NPP MP for Evalue-Gwira. They replace Mr Stephen Balado-Manu (NPP, Ahafo-Ano South), Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, NPP, Assin North and Mrs Elizabeth Sackey, NPP, Okaikoi North.
Other member of the delegation who retained their membership were Mr Michael Tei-Nyaunu, NDC, Lower Manya, Mr Dominic Azimbe Azumah, NDC, Garu Tempane, Mr Francis Yaw Osei Sarfo, NDC, Krachie West and Mr Alfred Kwame Agbesi, NDC, Ashiaman.
The reconstituted members would project themselves as a non-partisan delegation representing Ghana's Parliament and would submit a report at the end of every session of the ECOWAS Parliament.
Meanwhile, the government is to construct a 100-bed hospital in the Weija Municipality.
This is part of 12 hospitals which had been earmarked for construction with a concessional loan being sought from Opus 7 by the government.
The Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, told Parliament yesterday that the construction of the hospital at Weija is part of efforts to restore Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to its original status as a tertiary health provider.
He was answering a question posed by the MP for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who wanted to know when a proper Municipal government hospital would be provided for Weija.
Dr Kunbuor also informed the House that a modern claims processing centre had been established to handle National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) claims.
He explained that the centre was currently handling claims from teaching hospitals and regional hospitals adding that at full capacity the centre would be capable to process 15,000 claims per day.
In an answer to a question posed by the MP for Agona East, Mr John Agyabeng, Dr Kunbuor said currently the centre is processing 10,000 calls per day.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT has reconstituted its membership in the ECOWAS Parliament.
The new members of Ghana's delegation are Mr Stephen Yakubu, NPP MP for Binduri, Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah, Minority Chief Whip and NPP MP for Suhum and Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku, NPP MP for Evalue-Gwira. They replace Mr Stephen Balado-Manu (NPP, Ahafo-Ano South), Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, NPP, Assin North and Mrs Elizabeth Sackey, NPP, Okaikoi North.
Other member of the delegation who retained their membership were Mr Michael Tei-Nyaunu, NDC, Lower Manya, Mr Dominic Azimbe Azumah, NDC, Garu Tempane, Mr Francis Yaw Osei Sarfo, NDC, Krachie West and Mr Alfred Kwame Agbesi, NDC, Ashiaman.
The reconstituted members would project themselves as a non-partisan delegation representing Ghana's Parliament and would submit a report at the end of every session of the ECOWAS Parliament.
Meanwhile, the government is to construct a 100-bed hospital in the Weija Municipality.
This is part of 12 hospitals which had been earmarked for construction with a concessional loan being sought from Opus 7 by the government.
The Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, told Parliament yesterday that the construction of the hospital at Weija is part of efforts to restore Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to its original status as a tertiary health provider.
He was answering a question posed by the MP for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who wanted to know when a proper Municipal government hospital would be provided for Weija.
Dr Kunbuor also informed the House that a modern claims processing centre had been established to handle National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) claims.
He explained that the centre was currently handling claims from teaching hospitals and regional hospitals adding that at full capacity the centre would be capable to process 15,000 claims per day.
In an answer to a question posed by the MP for Agona East, Mr John Agyabeng, Dr Kunbuor said currently the centre is processing 10,000 calls per day.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
‘University Bill referred back to leadership’
Page 12, Nov 1, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
ASPECTS of the University of Ghana Law, which was passed by Parliament during its last meeting, have being referred back to the leadership of the House for study and report by the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo.
The referral followed a submission made by the Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, on the floor of Parliament during its sitting on Friday.
He complained that even though the Section 'A' of the Law, which deals with the appointment of the Chairperson of the Council of the University, empowered members of the council to elect their own chairman, that aspect had been changed.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah explained that instead of the members of the council electing their own chairperson, the Law now says that the chairperson should be appointed under Article 70 of the Constitution.
Under that Article, the President is to appoint the chairperson of the council in consultation with the Council of State.
In referring the matter to leadership, the Speaker urged them to go through documentation during the deliberations on the bill to ascertain what was actually agreed upon.
The Bill had already been assented by the President.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
ASPECTS of the University of Ghana Law, which was passed by Parliament during its last meeting, have being referred back to the leadership of the House for study and report by the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo.
The referral followed a submission made by the Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, on the floor of Parliament during its sitting on Friday.
He complained that even though the Section 'A' of the Law, which deals with the appointment of the Chairperson of the Council of the University, empowered members of the council to elect their own chairman, that aspect had been changed.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah explained that instead of the members of the council electing their own chairperson, the Law now says that the chairperson should be appointed under Article 70 of the Constitution.
Under that Article, the President is to appoint the chairperson of the council in consultation with the Council of State.
In referring the matter to leadership, the Speaker urged them to go through documentation during the deliberations on the bill to ascertain what was actually agreed upon.
The Bill had already been assented by the President.
Ministry to spend GH¢750,000 to fight menace of black flies
Page 13, Oct 30, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ministry of Energy is to spend GH¢750,000 over the next three years to fight the menace of black flies, which has become a nuisance towards the implementation of the Bui Project, the sector minister, Mr Joe Oteng-Adjei has told Parliament.
He said the black fly population within the project area became a major problem to the implementation of the project when the contractor's expatriate workers expressed serious health concerns about the effects of being bitten by the flies.
Dr Oteng-Adjei was answering a question posed by the Member of Parliament for Tain, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim on measures that had been put in place to control the nuisance of the flies which threatened the smooth implementation of the project.
He explained that the Bui Power Authority thus consulted the Ghana Health Service, Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Ngouchi Memorial Institute who had recommended the pursuit of control programme to deal with the menace.
Dr Oteng-Adjei stated that the Black Fly Nuisance Control Programme, which had been instituted had been segmented into short and long term plans.
He said the ministry was expecting that activities to control the pest would start immediately after the end of the 2010 rainy season adding that already GH¢250,000 had been advanced towards the programme.
However, a follow-up question by Mr K.T Hammond, MP for Adanse Asokwa about the viability of the Bui Project generated a lot of heat when the minister felt offended when Mr Hammond said it was unfortunate that after two years in office, he had not been able to appreciate the viability of the project.
Dr Oteng-Adjei, who felt offended, said it was unfortunate for the MP to make such a disparaging remark about him and remarked “if he has any personal problem with me, he should not bring it to the floor of the House”.
Answering another main question posed by Mr Hammond, Dr Oteng-Adjei informed the House that the Petroleum Agreement between the government and the GNPC on one hand, and AKER ASA had not been abrogated.
He explained that parties to the agreement had reached mutually satisfactory and amicable termination agreement, which was awaiting execution.
Dr Oteng-Adjei added that the basis for the termination of the agreement was “substantive and procedural or technical” adding that AKER ASA, being a Norwegian Company not registered as an external company under the country's company code lacked the legal capacity to acquire exploration and production rights or to be a party to the petroleum agreement.
However, Mr Hammond and other members of the Minority side challenged the basis for the parties to agree to terminate an agreement that had been reached through a resolution by Parliament without bringing it back to the House.
Mr Hammond also asked the minister whether the GNPC had reached an agreement with KOSMOS Energy Ghana Limited on the disposal or sale of KOSMOS Energy's stake in the Jubilee Field.
Answering the question, the minister said information available to him did not support the assertion that GNPC had reached agreement with KOSMOS Energy Ghana Limited on disposal on its stake in the Jubilee field.
Dr Oteng-Adjei also told the House that as part of measures to mitigate the effect of impounding the Bui Dam on the Akosombo and Kpong stations, a 100 megawatt had to be available from other fuel sources by 2011 to make up for the shortfall in energy requirements of the country.
He explained that to date a 180 MW Sunon-Asogli Thermal Power Plant had been commissioned and in commercial operation while two other plants, the Tema Osonor Plant 126 MW and Takoradi 3 Thermal Power Plant, 132 MW were under construction to get additional power for the country.
Answering a follow-up question, Dr Oteng-Adjei told the House that part of the gas being received by Ghana from the West Africa Gas project had been directed to the Sunon-Asogli Thermal Power plant to enable it generate power to cater for the expected shortfall.
Meanwhile, the Presidential (Transition) Bill, 2010 to oversee a smooth transition from one president to the other was laid before the House by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu.
The Health Institutions and Facilitates Bill, 2010 was also laid before the House to go through its first reading stage.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ministry of Energy is to spend GH¢750,000 over the next three years to fight the menace of black flies, which has become a nuisance towards the implementation of the Bui Project, the sector minister, Mr Joe Oteng-Adjei has told Parliament.
He said the black fly population within the project area became a major problem to the implementation of the project when the contractor's expatriate workers expressed serious health concerns about the effects of being bitten by the flies.
Dr Oteng-Adjei was answering a question posed by the Member of Parliament for Tain, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim on measures that had been put in place to control the nuisance of the flies which threatened the smooth implementation of the project.
He explained that the Bui Power Authority thus consulted the Ghana Health Service, Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Ngouchi Memorial Institute who had recommended the pursuit of control programme to deal with the menace.
Dr Oteng-Adjei stated that the Black Fly Nuisance Control Programme, which had been instituted had been segmented into short and long term plans.
He said the ministry was expecting that activities to control the pest would start immediately after the end of the 2010 rainy season adding that already GH¢250,000 had been advanced towards the programme.
However, a follow-up question by Mr K.T Hammond, MP for Adanse Asokwa about the viability of the Bui Project generated a lot of heat when the minister felt offended when Mr Hammond said it was unfortunate that after two years in office, he had not been able to appreciate the viability of the project.
Dr Oteng-Adjei, who felt offended, said it was unfortunate for the MP to make such a disparaging remark about him and remarked “if he has any personal problem with me, he should not bring it to the floor of the House”.
Answering another main question posed by Mr Hammond, Dr Oteng-Adjei informed the House that the Petroleum Agreement between the government and the GNPC on one hand, and AKER ASA had not been abrogated.
He explained that parties to the agreement had reached mutually satisfactory and amicable termination agreement, which was awaiting execution.
Dr Oteng-Adjei added that the basis for the termination of the agreement was “substantive and procedural or technical” adding that AKER ASA, being a Norwegian Company not registered as an external company under the country's company code lacked the legal capacity to acquire exploration and production rights or to be a party to the petroleum agreement.
However, Mr Hammond and other members of the Minority side challenged the basis for the parties to agree to terminate an agreement that had been reached through a resolution by Parliament without bringing it back to the House.
Mr Hammond also asked the minister whether the GNPC had reached an agreement with KOSMOS Energy Ghana Limited on the disposal or sale of KOSMOS Energy's stake in the Jubilee Field.
Answering the question, the minister said information available to him did not support the assertion that GNPC had reached agreement with KOSMOS Energy Ghana Limited on disposal on its stake in the Jubilee field.
Dr Oteng-Adjei also told the House that as part of measures to mitigate the effect of impounding the Bui Dam on the Akosombo and Kpong stations, a 100 megawatt had to be available from other fuel sources by 2011 to make up for the shortfall in energy requirements of the country.
He explained that to date a 180 MW Sunon-Asogli Thermal Power Plant had been commissioned and in commercial operation while two other plants, the Tema Osonor Plant 126 MW and Takoradi 3 Thermal Power Plant, 132 MW were under construction to get additional power for the country.
Answering a follow-up question, Dr Oteng-Adjei told the House that part of the gas being received by Ghana from the West Africa Gas project had been directed to the Sunon-Asogli Thermal Power plant to enable it generate power to cater for the expected shortfall.
Meanwhile, the Presidential (Transition) Bill, 2010 to oversee a smooth transition from one president to the other was laid before the House by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu.
The Health Institutions and Facilitates Bill, 2010 was also laid before the House to go through its first reading stage.
House refers publisher to Privileges Committee
Page 12, Oct 27, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, yesterday referred the Editor of Africawatch, a pan-African magazine, Mr Steve Mallory, to the Privileges Committee of the House over a publication in the magazine’s October 2010 issue which graded the performance of Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Executive.
Her action followed contributions by MPs on both sides of the House to two statements by the MP for Manhyia, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and the MP for Ashaiman, Mr Alfred Kwame Agbesi.
In referring the matter to the committee, the Speaker quoted Article 122 of the 1992 Constitution, as well as Order 30 (2) of the Standing Order of the House, and said that the publication had brought the reputation of MPs into disrepute.
The said article states: “An omission which obstructs or impedes Parliament in the performance of its functions or which obstructs or impedes a member or officer of Parliament in the discharge of his duties, or affronts the dignity of Parliament or which tends either directly or indirectly to produce that result, is contempt of Parliament.”
The Speaker explained that the publication had done exactly what Article 122 of the Constitution sought to prevent and thus needed to be investigated by the Privileges Committee.
“Honourable members, my duty is to protect the integrity of the House and I, therefore, refer the matter to the committee for consideration and report,” she said.
In his statement, Dr Prempeh said at one time or another, both sides of the House had considered an objective and fair assessment of MPs, adding that that showed that parliamentarians were not averse to being assessed.
“We will welcome it, provided it is done fairly, objectively and transparently with built-in safeguards for feedback and re-evaluations,” he said.
He said what the publication had achieved was to mainly ridicule MPs in the eye of Ghanaians by reducing a well-thought out initiative to be sacrificed on the altar of simplicity.
“This simplicity, which panders to the basic instincts of mischievous elements, is very unfair to the reputation of all MPs,” he said, adding that it was being used by friends and foes in the various media, political parties and constituencies to tarnish the image of MPs and Parliament as an institution.
He argued that the Political Performance Index (PPI) sought to undermine the harmonious working relation in the House, explaining that it would make it very difficult for the leadership to persuade the back benchers to give in to their colleagues on the front bench during debates.
“Madam Speaker, we should not make an avatar of this PPI and we should not allow it to pass, lie or die without comment and action. If we do so, it will be at our own peril,” Dr Prempeh said.
In his statement, Mr Agbesi said while it was necessary to assess MPs for the growth of democracy, it was critically necessary for those involved to be circumspect in arriving at conclusions such as awarding grades which sent devastating signals to constituents and the general public.
He called on Parliament to establish an institution of high learning to build the capacities of MPs, in addition to the formation and recognition of a strong back-bencher group.
When the MPs were given the chance to contribute to the matter, they did so with passion, with all the contributors calling on the Speaker to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee.
In his contribution, the MP for Atwima Mponua, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, said it would be the highest order of injustice should any MP lose his or her seat as a result of the publication.
For her part, the MP for Evalue-Gwira, Mrs Catherine Afeku, said the publication had done more harm to the effort of all well-meaning Ghanaians to encourage women to vie to become MPs.
She stated that by awarding such low grades to women in the House, the magazine had succeeded in putting fear in women who intended to contest for seats in the 2012 parliamentary election.
The MP for Asawase, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, said the publication was unfair, particularly to MPs who were in Parliament for the first time, explaining that since they were still learning, it was impossible for them to speak on all issues.
“How can people who know next to nothing about parliamentary practice assess the work of MPs?” he asked and called on the leadership of the House not to take the matter before the House lightly.
The MP for Jaman South, Mr Yaw Afful Maama, questioned the criteria for the assessment of MPs, saying it would be impossible for former MPs who lost their seats either at the constituency primaries or parliamentary elections to see anything better in sitting MPs.
When it came to their turn, both the Majority and Minority leaders, Mr Cletus Avoka and Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, respectively, condemned the publication and urged Ghanaians to treat it with the contempt that it deserved.
Other MPs who contributed to the two statements were Simon Edem Asimah (South Dayi), Sampson Ahi (Juabeso), Dominic Nitiwul (Bimbilla), Inusah B.A. Fuseini (Tamale Central) and David Tetteh Assumeng (Shai-Osudoku)
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, yesterday referred the Editor of Africawatch, a pan-African magazine, Mr Steve Mallory, to the Privileges Committee of the House over a publication in the magazine’s October 2010 issue which graded the performance of Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Executive.
Her action followed contributions by MPs on both sides of the House to two statements by the MP for Manhyia, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and the MP for Ashaiman, Mr Alfred Kwame Agbesi.
In referring the matter to the committee, the Speaker quoted Article 122 of the 1992 Constitution, as well as Order 30 (2) of the Standing Order of the House, and said that the publication had brought the reputation of MPs into disrepute.
The said article states: “An omission which obstructs or impedes Parliament in the performance of its functions or which obstructs or impedes a member or officer of Parliament in the discharge of his duties, or affronts the dignity of Parliament or which tends either directly or indirectly to produce that result, is contempt of Parliament.”
The Speaker explained that the publication had done exactly what Article 122 of the Constitution sought to prevent and thus needed to be investigated by the Privileges Committee.
“Honourable members, my duty is to protect the integrity of the House and I, therefore, refer the matter to the committee for consideration and report,” she said.
In his statement, Dr Prempeh said at one time or another, both sides of the House had considered an objective and fair assessment of MPs, adding that that showed that parliamentarians were not averse to being assessed.
“We will welcome it, provided it is done fairly, objectively and transparently with built-in safeguards for feedback and re-evaluations,” he said.
He said what the publication had achieved was to mainly ridicule MPs in the eye of Ghanaians by reducing a well-thought out initiative to be sacrificed on the altar of simplicity.
“This simplicity, which panders to the basic instincts of mischievous elements, is very unfair to the reputation of all MPs,” he said, adding that it was being used by friends and foes in the various media, political parties and constituencies to tarnish the image of MPs and Parliament as an institution.
He argued that the Political Performance Index (PPI) sought to undermine the harmonious working relation in the House, explaining that it would make it very difficult for the leadership to persuade the back benchers to give in to their colleagues on the front bench during debates.
“Madam Speaker, we should not make an avatar of this PPI and we should not allow it to pass, lie or die without comment and action. If we do so, it will be at our own peril,” Dr Prempeh said.
In his statement, Mr Agbesi said while it was necessary to assess MPs for the growth of democracy, it was critically necessary for those involved to be circumspect in arriving at conclusions such as awarding grades which sent devastating signals to constituents and the general public.
He called on Parliament to establish an institution of high learning to build the capacities of MPs, in addition to the formation and recognition of a strong back-bencher group.
When the MPs were given the chance to contribute to the matter, they did so with passion, with all the contributors calling on the Speaker to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee.
In his contribution, the MP for Atwima Mponua, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, said it would be the highest order of injustice should any MP lose his or her seat as a result of the publication.
For her part, the MP for Evalue-Gwira, Mrs Catherine Afeku, said the publication had done more harm to the effort of all well-meaning Ghanaians to encourage women to vie to become MPs.
She stated that by awarding such low grades to women in the House, the magazine had succeeded in putting fear in women who intended to contest for seats in the 2012 parliamentary election.
The MP for Asawase, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, said the publication was unfair, particularly to MPs who were in Parliament for the first time, explaining that since they were still learning, it was impossible for them to speak on all issues.
“How can people who know next to nothing about parliamentary practice assess the work of MPs?” he asked and called on the leadership of the House not to take the matter before the House lightly.
The MP for Jaman South, Mr Yaw Afful Maama, questioned the criteria for the assessment of MPs, saying it would be impossible for former MPs who lost their seats either at the constituency primaries or parliamentary elections to see anything better in sitting MPs.
When it came to their turn, both the Majority and Minority leaders, Mr Cletus Avoka and Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, respectively, condemned the publication and urged Ghanaians to treat it with the contempt that it deserved.
Other MPs who contributed to the two statements were Simon Edem Asimah (South Dayi), Sampson Ahi (Juabeso), Dominic Nitiwul (Bimbilla), Inusah B.A. Fuseini (Tamale Central) and David Tetteh Assumeng (Shai-Osudoku)
Steps needed for untrained teachers to become professionals
Page 61, Oct 25, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE District Chief Executive for Jaman South in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Julius Atta-Bediako, has called for measures to be put in place to enable community teaching assistants to be enrolled in teacher training colleges in future.
He said such a measure would enable more people to be trained and posted to the rural areas to improve on teaching and learning in such areas.
Mr Atta-Bediako made the call at the opening of a 14-day training workshop for 47 community education teaching assistants under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) in the district.
He said it was the wish of the government that whenever there was recruitment in any field of endeavour, the NYEP beneficiaries should be the first to be considered.
The DCE advised the beneficiaries not to be swollen headed and consider the NYEP as a permanent employment but must continue to study in order to further their studies to enable them achieve higher laurels.
He also advised them to obey the Ghana Education Service rules and regulations since they were now considered as part of the system.
The Jaman South District Co-ordinator of the NYEP, Mr Cosmos Amankona, advised the participants to avoid alcohol and use their allowances judiciously.
In a speech read on her behalf, the Jaman South District Director of Education, Madam Lilian A. §??, said the workshop did not focus on making the beneficiaries substantive professional teachers but as teaching assistants.
She, therefore, urged them to co-operate with their programme co-ordinators and facilitators during the workshop to enable them acquire basic teaching skills to assist pupils who would be entrusted to their care.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE District Chief Executive for Jaman South in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Julius Atta-Bediako, has called for measures to be put in place to enable community teaching assistants to be enrolled in teacher training colleges in future.
He said such a measure would enable more people to be trained and posted to the rural areas to improve on teaching and learning in such areas.
Mr Atta-Bediako made the call at the opening of a 14-day training workshop for 47 community education teaching assistants under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) in the district.
He said it was the wish of the government that whenever there was recruitment in any field of endeavour, the NYEP beneficiaries should be the first to be considered.
The DCE advised the beneficiaries not to be swollen headed and consider the NYEP as a permanent employment but must continue to study in order to further their studies to enable them achieve higher laurels.
He also advised them to obey the Ghana Education Service rules and regulations since they were now considered as part of the system.
The Jaman South District Co-ordinator of the NYEP, Mr Cosmos Amankona, advised the participants to avoid alcohol and use their allowances judiciously.
In a speech read on her behalf, the Jaman South District Director of Education, Madam Lilian A. §??, said the workshop did not focus on making the beneficiaries substantive professional teachers but as teaching assistants.
She, therefore, urged them to co-operate with their programme co-ordinators and facilitators during the workshop to enable them acquire basic teaching skills to assist pupils who would be entrusted to their care.
MPs divided on gender parity
Page 12, Oct 23, 2010
MPs divided on
gender parity
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) are divided on whether the country should legislate for the achievement of gender parity in representation at various levels of decision making.
While some are of the opinion that the time has come for laws to be put in place to encourage women to offer themselves for elections, others that women should earn their positions on merit and not because of their sex.
The MPs gave these divergent opinions when they contributed to a statement made on the floor of Parliament by the MP for Asante Akim South, Mrs Gifty Ohene-Konadu on the topic: “Local Government as a strategic site of struggle for gender equity” last Thursday.
In the statement, the MP stated that given the significance of local government in the lives of women, it was regrettable that gender activists had largely ignored local government in their quest for gender equity.
She observed that while efforts were being made to increase the number of women in Parliament and in the Executive, there seemed to be lack of measures in promoting women in local government.
Mrs Ohene-Konadu said international conventions required states to create the conditions that facilitated women’s participation in governance and eliminating gender restrictions for the occupation of certain offices.
She said the problem of lack of women in positions in the country was real, explaining that even though the 1992 Constitution provided for the appointment of people to key positions by the President in consultation with the Council of State, it did not state anything about the gender of the appointees.
Mrs Ohene-Konadu said it was, therefore, important that women take advantage of the forthcoming local level elections to put themselves up as candidates and solicit support of their communities to be voted as assembly women.
The MP expressed the hope that with the increasing status of local government, gender activism in the area of women’s participation in local government would also increase.
Mrs Ohene-Konadu explained that the assumption underpinning the expression that local government was closest to people in general and women in particular and that women who contest election at that level would win with ease, was false.
She, therefore, appealed to the general public to vote massively for women who would contest the election for progress, unity and development.
Mrs Ohene-Konadu asked donor community and the civil society to reduce the number of workshops aimed at building the capacities of women and rather make the funds available to the candidates to cater for their campaign expenses.
Contributing to the statement, the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery, called for legislation to ensure that women were well represented at all levels of decision making to fast-track the development of the country.
However, the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, argued that in the provision of education and jobs, women should be given opportunity on merit and not because of their sex.
He said participation in district level elections was crucial to strengthen women to contest in Presidential and Parliamentary elections in future.
The Minister of Youth and Sports and MP for South Dayi, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, urged men assist women in diverse ways to enable women to have the needed courage to contest elections at all levels.
The MP for Bantama, Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah, called on the President to work hard in order to fulfil his promise to offer 40 per cent of positions at all levels to women.
Other MPs who contributed to the statement were Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak (Asawase) and Ms Frema Osei-Opare (Ayawaso West Wuogon).
MPs divided on
gender parity
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) are divided on whether the country should legislate for the achievement of gender parity in representation at various levels of decision making.
While some are of the opinion that the time has come for laws to be put in place to encourage women to offer themselves for elections, others that women should earn their positions on merit and not because of their sex.
The MPs gave these divergent opinions when they contributed to a statement made on the floor of Parliament by the MP for Asante Akim South, Mrs Gifty Ohene-Konadu on the topic: “Local Government as a strategic site of struggle for gender equity” last Thursday.
In the statement, the MP stated that given the significance of local government in the lives of women, it was regrettable that gender activists had largely ignored local government in their quest for gender equity.
She observed that while efforts were being made to increase the number of women in Parliament and in the Executive, there seemed to be lack of measures in promoting women in local government.
Mrs Ohene-Konadu said international conventions required states to create the conditions that facilitated women’s participation in governance and eliminating gender restrictions for the occupation of certain offices.
She said the problem of lack of women in positions in the country was real, explaining that even though the 1992 Constitution provided for the appointment of people to key positions by the President in consultation with the Council of State, it did not state anything about the gender of the appointees.
Mrs Ohene-Konadu said it was, therefore, important that women take advantage of the forthcoming local level elections to put themselves up as candidates and solicit support of their communities to be voted as assembly women.
The MP expressed the hope that with the increasing status of local government, gender activism in the area of women’s participation in local government would also increase.
Mrs Ohene-Konadu explained that the assumption underpinning the expression that local government was closest to people in general and women in particular and that women who contest election at that level would win with ease, was false.
She, therefore, appealed to the general public to vote massively for women who would contest the election for progress, unity and development.
Mrs Ohene-Konadu asked donor community and the civil society to reduce the number of workshops aimed at building the capacities of women and rather make the funds available to the candidates to cater for their campaign expenses.
Contributing to the statement, the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery, called for legislation to ensure that women were well represented at all levels of decision making to fast-track the development of the country.
However, the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, argued that in the provision of education and jobs, women should be given opportunity on merit and not because of their sex.
He said participation in district level elections was crucial to strengthen women to contest in Presidential and Parliamentary elections in future.
The Minister of Youth and Sports and MP for South Dayi, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, urged men assist women in diverse ways to enable women to have the needed courage to contest elections at all levels.
The MP for Bantama, Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah, called on the President to work hard in order to fulfil his promise to offer 40 per cent of positions at all levels to women.
Other MPs who contributed to the statement were Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak (Asawase) and Ms Frema Osei-Opare (Ayawaso West Wuogon).
NPP MPs want Kobby Acheampong sacked for insulting comment
Page 12, Oct 21, 2010
NPP MPs want Kobby Acheampong
sacked for insulting comment
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) have called on the President to sack the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr Kobby Acheampong, over remarks by him which they deem as derogatory against residents of Kumasi and cocoa growing areas.
They said his attack on the General Secretary of the NPP, Mr Kwaku Owusu Afriyie (aka Sir John), on an Accra-based FM station during which he referred to him as “Kookooase Kuraseni from Kumasi”, that is, a villager from a cocoa area, had cast a slur on hardworking cocoa farmers across the country.
Again, they said his comment that the long period Mr Afriyie had stayed in Kumasi had affected his thought was not only an attack on the NPP General Secretary but rather the entire residents of Kumasi.
At a press conference in Parliament yesterday, the MP for Dormaa West, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, stated that it was unfortunate that cocoa farmers who had toiled for the country over the years could be rewarded with such derogatory remarks from a deputy minister who was being paid from their sweat and toil.
He explained that cocoa farmers were spread across the Ashanti, Western, Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Volta regions, and referring to the NPP General Secretary as such “was a complete insult of cocoa farmers”.
“Let Mr Acheampong tell us where he comes from and where he was schooled”. “Is it not proceeds from sales of cocoa that was used to educate him,” Mr Agyeman-Manu asked and demanded answers from his accuser.
For his part, a former Mayor of Kumasi and MP for Asokwa, Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, said it was unfortunate that the deputy minister made such remarks.
He referred to Kumasi as a citadel of the country’s culture, adding that a lot of prominent Ghanaians, including a former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan, former First Lady, Mrs Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, and former President John Agyekum Kufuor were born and bred in Kumasi.
Mr Jumah therefore called on President Mills to redeem his image by disassociating himself from such comments by sacking Mr Acheampong to deter others from using such insults against a segment of the country.
The MP for Nsuta/Kwamang/Beposo, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, said it was rather unfortunate that Mr Acheampong was still continuing with the foul language he used during the 2008 general election for which he was rewarded with his current position.
NPP MPs want Kobby Acheampong
sacked for insulting comment
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) have called on the President to sack the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr Kobby Acheampong, over remarks by him which they deem as derogatory against residents of Kumasi and cocoa growing areas.
They said his attack on the General Secretary of the NPP, Mr Kwaku Owusu Afriyie (aka Sir John), on an Accra-based FM station during which he referred to him as “Kookooase Kuraseni from Kumasi”, that is, a villager from a cocoa area, had cast a slur on hardworking cocoa farmers across the country.
Again, they said his comment that the long period Mr Afriyie had stayed in Kumasi had affected his thought was not only an attack on the NPP General Secretary but rather the entire residents of Kumasi.
At a press conference in Parliament yesterday, the MP for Dormaa West, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, stated that it was unfortunate that cocoa farmers who had toiled for the country over the years could be rewarded with such derogatory remarks from a deputy minister who was being paid from their sweat and toil.
He explained that cocoa farmers were spread across the Ashanti, Western, Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Volta regions, and referring to the NPP General Secretary as such “was a complete insult of cocoa farmers”.
“Let Mr Acheampong tell us where he comes from and where he was schooled”. “Is it not proceeds from sales of cocoa that was used to educate him,” Mr Agyeman-Manu asked and demanded answers from his accuser.
For his part, a former Mayor of Kumasi and MP for Asokwa, Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, said it was unfortunate that the deputy minister made such remarks.
He referred to Kumasi as a citadel of the country’s culture, adding that a lot of prominent Ghanaians, including a former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan, former First Lady, Mrs Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, and former President John Agyekum Kufuor were born and bred in Kumasi.
Mr Jumah therefore called on President Mills to redeem his image by disassociating himself from such comments by sacking Mr Acheampong to deter others from using such insults against a segment of the country.
The MP for Nsuta/Kwamang/Beposo, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, said it was rather unfortunate that Mr Acheampong was still continuing with the foul language he used during the 2008 general election for which he was rewarded with his current position.
Amoako-Attah sworn-in as Parliament resumes
Page 12, Oct 20, 2010
Amoako-Attah sworn in
as Parliament resumes
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
The newest Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah, was sworn into office as MP for Atiwa when the House resumed sitting yesterday for the Third Meeting of the Second Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
He was elected during a by-election in the Atiwa Constituency in the Eastern Region on August 31, 2010, following the death of the incumbent MP, Mr Kwasi Annor Ankamah.
At exactly 10 am, the Speaker of the House, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo entered the Chamber after the MPs had taken their seats.
After leading the MPs in prayers, she informed the House about the writ of election which had been sent by the Electoral Commission on the by-election declaring Mr Amoako-Attah as the winner.
When she invited the new MP for the brief swearing in ceremony, the Minority responded “hear, hear!” while some Majority MPs were heard saying "it is just a replacement".
Led by the Speaker and assisted by the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Emmanuel Anyimadu, Mr Amoako-Atta swore oaths of allegiance and Member of Parliament after which he was led to his seat while both sides of the House applauded.
Welcoming the new MP, Mrs Bamford-Addo encouraged him to learn the rules and procedures in the House quickly to enable him discharge his duties efficiently.
She informed the MPs about the tight schedule of the meeting and urged them to brace themselves up for the task ahead.
Mrs Bamford-Addo also informed the House about the completion of a three-storey office block which would accommodate the leadership and committee chairmen, and plans to distribute laptops to MPs to enhance their work.
The Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, for his part announced that the 36 new bills, 12 pending bills, 33 instruments, 38 other papers and 700 questions posed by MPs were expected to engage the attention of the House during the meeting.
In addition, the Economic Policy and Budget Statement of the government for 2011 was also expected to be laid before the House by the second week of November.
He mentioned some of the crucial bills expected to be passed during the meeting as the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill and the Freedom of Information Bill.
While welcoming the new MP to the House, Mr Avoka also charged the MPs to be patriotic and committed to enable the House to complete the agenda it had set for itself during the meeting.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the nine weeks ahead of the House would bring various challenges and difficulties "and would test our capabilities as law makers and representatives".
He, therefore, urged the MPs to see the challenges as opportunities to prove to Ghanaians "some of whom had become very critical and even cynical that, we can rise to the occasion and discharge our duties to satisfy the national interest".
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu appealed to his colleagues to eschew negative partisanship and be patriotic and diligent during the discussions on two bills on the petroleum industry, bearing in mind that "posterity would not never forgive us should we make any wrong decision on any of these critical matters which otherwise have the potential of contributing to transform our economy in a significant way".
He, therefore, advised his colleagues to be time-conscious, punctual and participate in all activities in the Chamber and committee meetings to ensure a productive meeting.
While welcoming Mr Amoako-Attah to the House, he called for measures to curb the violence that had characterised by-elections of late, explaining that if nothing was done it would mar the beauty of the 2012 general elections.
Both Majority and Minority leaders congratulated the Speaker for being the first female acting President of Ghana when both the President and his vice were away from the country on October 1, 2010.
At yesterday's sitting, the Local Government (Creation of New District Electoral Areas) Instrument, 2010, Unit Committee Regulations, 2010 (C.I 18) and the Energy Efficiency Standards and Labelling (Housing Refrigerating Appliances)(Amendment) Regulations, 2010 (L.I 1970) were laid before the House.
Amoako-Attah sworn in
as Parliament resumes
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
The newest Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah, was sworn into office as MP for Atiwa when the House resumed sitting yesterday for the Third Meeting of the Second Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
He was elected during a by-election in the Atiwa Constituency in the Eastern Region on August 31, 2010, following the death of the incumbent MP, Mr Kwasi Annor Ankamah.
At exactly 10 am, the Speaker of the House, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo entered the Chamber after the MPs had taken their seats.
After leading the MPs in prayers, she informed the House about the writ of election which had been sent by the Electoral Commission on the by-election declaring Mr Amoako-Attah as the winner.
When she invited the new MP for the brief swearing in ceremony, the Minority responded “hear, hear!” while some Majority MPs were heard saying "it is just a replacement".
Led by the Speaker and assisted by the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Emmanuel Anyimadu, Mr Amoako-Atta swore oaths of allegiance and Member of Parliament after which he was led to his seat while both sides of the House applauded.
Welcoming the new MP, Mrs Bamford-Addo encouraged him to learn the rules and procedures in the House quickly to enable him discharge his duties efficiently.
She informed the MPs about the tight schedule of the meeting and urged them to brace themselves up for the task ahead.
Mrs Bamford-Addo also informed the House about the completion of a three-storey office block which would accommodate the leadership and committee chairmen, and plans to distribute laptops to MPs to enhance their work.
The Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, for his part announced that the 36 new bills, 12 pending bills, 33 instruments, 38 other papers and 700 questions posed by MPs were expected to engage the attention of the House during the meeting.
In addition, the Economic Policy and Budget Statement of the government for 2011 was also expected to be laid before the House by the second week of November.
He mentioned some of the crucial bills expected to be passed during the meeting as the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill and the Freedom of Information Bill.
While welcoming the new MP to the House, Mr Avoka also charged the MPs to be patriotic and committed to enable the House to complete the agenda it had set for itself during the meeting.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the nine weeks ahead of the House would bring various challenges and difficulties "and would test our capabilities as law makers and representatives".
He, therefore, urged the MPs to see the challenges as opportunities to prove to Ghanaians "some of whom had become very critical and even cynical that, we can rise to the occasion and discharge our duties to satisfy the national interest".
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu appealed to his colleagues to eschew negative partisanship and be patriotic and diligent during the discussions on two bills on the petroleum industry, bearing in mind that "posterity would not never forgive us should we make any wrong decision on any of these critical matters which otherwise have the potential of contributing to transform our economy in a significant way".
He, therefore, advised his colleagues to be time-conscious, punctual and participate in all activities in the Chamber and committee meetings to ensure a productive meeting.
While welcoming Mr Amoako-Attah to the House, he called for measures to curb the violence that had characterised by-elections of late, explaining that if nothing was done it would mar the beauty of the 2012 general elections.
Both Majority and Minority leaders congratulated the Speaker for being the first female acting President of Ghana when both the President and his vice were away from the country on October 1, 2010.
At yesterday's sitting, the Local Government (Creation of New District Electoral Areas) Instrument, 2010, Unit Committee Regulations, 2010 (C.I 18) and the Energy Efficiency Standards and Labelling (Housing Refrigerating Appliances)(Amendment) Regulations, 2010 (L.I 1970) were laid before the House.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Ghana must avert curse of oil and gas industry — Asamaoh
Page 13, Aug 25, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress, Mr Kofi Asamoah, has called on the government to put in place adequate structures and appropriate legal measures to ensure that the ordinary Ghanaian benefited from the oil and gas find.
He said it would be impossible for Ghana to overcome the challenges associated with the production of oil and gas if it failed to put in place measures to ensure that people and not leaders, as well as giant oil companies benefited from the find.
He said with both good and bad lessons available from other oil and gas producing countries, Ghana could not fail, but rely on such experiences to avoid the curse associated with the industry.
Addressing a day’s seminar organised by the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union in Accra, he said averting the curse of the oil and gas industry did not require just optimism but laws to create a legitimate and effective framework to regulate the industry.
The seminar was on the theme, “Petroleum woes: repositioning for the production of oil and gas in Ghana”.
He said for the TUC, an oil economy presented opportunities for the creation of jobs and a national economy with enough fiscal space to pay a living wage.
Mr Asamoah explained that would, however, not come on a silver platter since the experience was that the multinationals were less tolerant of trade unions.
He said that required a repositioned TUC to organise and ensure that the rights of workers are protected.
“We must take keen interest in occupational health and safety issues and not only concern ourselves with bread and butter issues”.
He said the TUC had been following developments in the oil and gas sector and expressed concern about the seeming secrecy surrounding oil and gas contracts.
Mr Asamoah said it was only appropriate that Ghanaians got to know the contents of oil and gas agreements and contracts entered into on their behalf by the government.
Touching on oil-related bills currently before Parliament, the TUC boss said it was difficult to understand the fact that organised labour was not represented on the oil revenue management board and expressed the hope that such anomaly would be addressed before the bill was passed into law.
Delivering the keynote address, a Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said government was conscious of the fact that the oil and gas find in the Jubilee Field was an opportunity to enhance the country’s growth and development.
He said it was against that backdrop that the government had shown commitment by taking a number of important initiatives to make the Jubilee project happen in a manner that would ensure maximum benefit to all the major stakeholders in the country.
On human resource development for the sector, Mr Buah said the Ministries of Energy and Education were collaborating to develop the necessary curricula for Technical and Vocational Education Training (COTVET) to meet the human resource requirements of the oil and gas industry.
He said it was heartwarming that virtually all the major public universities had introduced oil and gas related studies, while some polytechnics and technical institutions had begun to introduce hands-on petroleum-related courses to provide some of the most essential skills required at the production and middle-management levels for the effective functioning of the industry.
Mr Buah gave assurance that government would continue to ensure that the right regulatory framework was in place to enable the Ghanaians worker succeed in the oil and gas industry.
For his part, the General Secretary of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union, Mr E.A Mensah, said the union was reliably informed that even though recruitment of workers by private employment agencies for the oil and gas sector was going on well, the employers on the rigs were not treating Ghanaian personnel on-board fairly.
He, therefore, called on the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), which is the regulator to regularly monitor activities of the various rigs to protect Ghanaian workers on-board.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress, Mr Kofi Asamoah, has called on the government to put in place adequate structures and appropriate legal measures to ensure that the ordinary Ghanaian benefited from the oil and gas find.
He said it would be impossible for Ghana to overcome the challenges associated with the production of oil and gas if it failed to put in place measures to ensure that people and not leaders, as well as giant oil companies benefited from the find.
He said with both good and bad lessons available from other oil and gas producing countries, Ghana could not fail, but rely on such experiences to avoid the curse associated with the industry.
Addressing a day’s seminar organised by the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union in Accra, he said averting the curse of the oil and gas industry did not require just optimism but laws to create a legitimate and effective framework to regulate the industry.
The seminar was on the theme, “Petroleum woes: repositioning for the production of oil and gas in Ghana”.
He said for the TUC, an oil economy presented opportunities for the creation of jobs and a national economy with enough fiscal space to pay a living wage.
Mr Asamoah explained that would, however, not come on a silver platter since the experience was that the multinationals were less tolerant of trade unions.
He said that required a repositioned TUC to organise and ensure that the rights of workers are protected.
“We must take keen interest in occupational health and safety issues and not only concern ourselves with bread and butter issues”.
He said the TUC had been following developments in the oil and gas sector and expressed concern about the seeming secrecy surrounding oil and gas contracts.
Mr Asamoah said it was only appropriate that Ghanaians got to know the contents of oil and gas agreements and contracts entered into on their behalf by the government.
Touching on oil-related bills currently before Parliament, the TUC boss said it was difficult to understand the fact that organised labour was not represented on the oil revenue management board and expressed the hope that such anomaly would be addressed before the bill was passed into law.
Delivering the keynote address, a Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said government was conscious of the fact that the oil and gas find in the Jubilee Field was an opportunity to enhance the country’s growth and development.
He said it was against that backdrop that the government had shown commitment by taking a number of important initiatives to make the Jubilee project happen in a manner that would ensure maximum benefit to all the major stakeholders in the country.
On human resource development for the sector, Mr Buah said the Ministries of Energy and Education were collaborating to develop the necessary curricula for Technical and Vocational Education Training (COTVET) to meet the human resource requirements of the oil and gas industry.
He said it was heartwarming that virtually all the major public universities had introduced oil and gas related studies, while some polytechnics and technical institutions had begun to introduce hands-on petroleum-related courses to provide some of the most essential skills required at the production and middle-management levels for the effective functioning of the industry.
Mr Buah gave assurance that government would continue to ensure that the right regulatory framework was in place to enable the Ghanaians worker succeed in the oil and gas industry.
For his part, the General Secretary of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union, Mr E.A Mensah, said the union was reliably informed that even though recruitment of workers by private employment agencies for the oil and gas sector was going on well, the employers on the rigs were not treating Ghanaian personnel on-board fairly.
He, therefore, called on the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), which is the regulator to regularly monitor activities of the various rigs to protect Ghanaian workers on-board.
Politicians must not toy with educational reforms
Page 12, Aug 25, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Matilda Attram
THE General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has called on politicians not to experiment with the country’s educational reforms in order not to jeopardise the well being of the Ghanaian student.
Expressing concern about the recent amendment of the 2007 Education Reform Policy, which reduced the duration of senior high school from four years to three years, the General Assembly said: "We are of the view that the future of school children in particular and education in general must be of concern to all and policies on education delivery must be tried and tested over a long period before change, so that we avoid undue experimentation of education in the country."
The church expressed the concern in a communiqué adopted at the 10th General Assembly of the church held at Takoradi recently and presented at a press conference in Accra by the Moderator of the church, Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso.
"We have found that most parents, especially in the rural areas, find it difficult to provide the needs of children due to the rising cost of education, "the communiqué said and called on the government to partner with churches to find lasting solutions to challenges facing education in the country.
On the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the communiqué also expressed concern about the reported allegations of mismanagement of funds and encouraged the government to thoroughly investigate these allegations and, if proven, seek justice for the wanton dissipation of state resources.
It, however, called for strenuous efforts to be made to strengthen and sustain the NHIS and insulate it from political interference. Touching on the provision of housing in the country, the church lauded the recent $10 billion STX and government deal to build 200,000 affordable housing units throughout the country and expressed the believe that the initiative would help to reduce the housing deficit and inject massive resources into Ghana's social development economy.
"However, we entreat government to take steps to tie up the knotty issues that were creating tension between government, the Minority in Parliament and other civil society organisations.”
On corruption, the General Assembly of the church said it found it worrying that the country was still struggling with the battle against corruption and asked the government to be passionate in leading a frontal attack on corruption by the application of appropriate sanctions to serve as a deterrent to others.
On governance, the church appreciated Parliament for its contribution to the growth and deepening of democratic governance process. It, however, appealed to the House to expedite the process of alleviating the poverty levels of the people.
The communiqué also commended the executive for its efforts to ensure general peace and stability in the country, particularly measures to curb armed robbery and other serious crimes.
It, however, considered as worrisome the unresolved conflicts in some parts of the northern Ghana.
"We note with satisfaction government efforts to curb the recent spate of indiscipline relating to attacks, seizures and closure of public offices by foot soldiers and supporters of the ruling party and urge the law enforcement agencies to apply the law."
It also touched on the performance of the judiciary and commended the Chief Justice for a good work done. It said, the General Assembly, however, was not happy about the
"seeming culture of delays in the delivery of justice and undue interference in the work of the judiciary by politicians. "We urge the judiciary to make every effort to ensure that cases are speedily tries and disposed off to reduce particularly, the number of accused persons on remand and congestion in prisons," the communiqué stated.
On the Single Spine Salary Structure, the church commended the government for the initiative and explained that even though the policy was fraught with initial problems of distortions and some inequities in assessing salary regimes and job evaluation mechanisms,
it would help in addressing the imbalances in salary administration in the civil and public services.
While commending the media for playing its watchdog role, the communiqué also said the church was not comfortable with the high levels of sensationalism and unprofessionalism in the practice of journalism, particularly by some radio stations.
It said the incidence of pornography on the screen and electronic media was not the best since it was detrimental to the development of the country.
"The General Assembly urges the Ghana Journalists Association to partner with the National Media Commission to facilitate the development and promulgation of the Broadcasting Standards Law to regulate the operation of radio stations.
On the Christian community, the communiqué said the PCG was disturbed by acts of a few Christian leaders, which had brought Christianity into disrepute.
"The General Assemble reiterate its call to the Christian Council of Ghana, the Catholic Bishops Conference, the Ghana Pentecostal Council and the leaders of all other religious denominations to rise up and weed out all such charlatans among their fold."
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Matilda Attram
THE General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has called on politicians not to experiment with the country’s educational reforms in order not to jeopardise the well being of the Ghanaian student.
Expressing concern about the recent amendment of the 2007 Education Reform Policy, which reduced the duration of senior high school from four years to three years, the General Assembly said: "We are of the view that the future of school children in particular and education in general must be of concern to all and policies on education delivery must be tried and tested over a long period before change, so that we avoid undue experimentation of education in the country."
The church expressed the concern in a communiqué adopted at the 10th General Assembly of the church held at Takoradi recently and presented at a press conference in Accra by the Moderator of the church, Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso.
"We have found that most parents, especially in the rural areas, find it difficult to provide the needs of children due to the rising cost of education, "the communiqué said and called on the government to partner with churches to find lasting solutions to challenges facing education in the country.
On the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the communiqué also expressed concern about the reported allegations of mismanagement of funds and encouraged the government to thoroughly investigate these allegations and, if proven, seek justice for the wanton dissipation of state resources.
It, however, called for strenuous efforts to be made to strengthen and sustain the NHIS and insulate it from political interference. Touching on the provision of housing in the country, the church lauded the recent $10 billion STX and government deal to build 200,000 affordable housing units throughout the country and expressed the believe that the initiative would help to reduce the housing deficit and inject massive resources into Ghana's social development economy.
"However, we entreat government to take steps to tie up the knotty issues that were creating tension between government, the Minority in Parliament and other civil society organisations.”
On corruption, the General Assembly of the church said it found it worrying that the country was still struggling with the battle against corruption and asked the government to be passionate in leading a frontal attack on corruption by the application of appropriate sanctions to serve as a deterrent to others.
On governance, the church appreciated Parliament for its contribution to the growth and deepening of democratic governance process. It, however, appealed to the House to expedite the process of alleviating the poverty levels of the people.
The communiqué also commended the executive for its efforts to ensure general peace and stability in the country, particularly measures to curb armed robbery and other serious crimes.
It, however, considered as worrisome the unresolved conflicts in some parts of the northern Ghana.
"We note with satisfaction government efforts to curb the recent spate of indiscipline relating to attacks, seizures and closure of public offices by foot soldiers and supporters of the ruling party and urge the law enforcement agencies to apply the law."
It also touched on the performance of the judiciary and commended the Chief Justice for a good work done. It said, the General Assembly, however, was not happy about the
"seeming culture of delays in the delivery of justice and undue interference in the work of the judiciary by politicians. "We urge the judiciary to make every effort to ensure that cases are speedily tries and disposed off to reduce particularly, the number of accused persons on remand and congestion in prisons," the communiqué stated.
On the Single Spine Salary Structure, the church commended the government for the initiative and explained that even though the policy was fraught with initial problems of distortions and some inequities in assessing salary regimes and job evaluation mechanisms,
it would help in addressing the imbalances in salary administration in the civil and public services.
While commending the media for playing its watchdog role, the communiqué also said the church was not comfortable with the high levels of sensationalism and unprofessionalism in the practice of journalism, particularly by some radio stations.
It said the incidence of pornography on the screen and electronic media was not the best since it was detrimental to the development of the country.
"The General Assembly urges the Ghana Journalists Association to partner with the National Media Commission to facilitate the development and promulgation of the Broadcasting Standards Law to regulate the operation of radio stations.
On the Christian community, the communiqué said the PCG was disturbed by acts of a few Christian leaders, which had brought Christianity into disrepute.
"The General Assemble reiterate its call to the Christian Council of Ghana, the Catholic Bishops Conference, the Ghana Pentecostal Council and the leaders of all other religious denominations to rise up and weed out all such charlatans among their fold."
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