House passes Boundary Commission Bill

Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday sat deep into the night to pass the Ghana Boundary Commission Bill, 2010 under a certificate of urgency.
The bill, was, however passed behind closed doors because of the sensitive nature of issues involved in boundary demarcations.
The bill was presented to the House and read for the first time before it was referred to the Committee on Lands and Forestry for consideration and report.
When the bill was brought before the House yesterday to be read for the second time, the Minority Chief Whip, Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah, reminded the House about the decision taken by the House to consider the bill in camera.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, who had already moved a motion for the bill to be read for the second time, therefore had no option but to stop to enable the House to deal with the bill behind closed doors.
Historically, several ad hoc boundary committees were set up under the NLCD 235 to negotiate Ghana's land boundaries with her neighbours.
However, no commission had ever been set up to delimit the country's maritime boundaries with its neighbours.
The bill is, therefore, to establish the Ghana Boundary Commission with the mandate to undertake negotiations to determine and demarcate Ghana's land boundaries and delimit its maritime boundaries.
It will ensure the proper development and consistent application of Ghana's policies regarding maritime boundary delimitation.
Under the bill, a team of experts would be developed to engage and provide continuity in
negotiation processes concerning land boundary and maritime boundary delimitation.
There is a particular urgency with regard to the delimitation of Ghana's maritime boundaries, since it involves fundamental issues of national and regional security.
A report of the committee noted that undelimited maritime boundaries placed Ghana's offshore natural resources at risk of aggressive claims from neighbouring countries.
In addition, there was the need to create a stable environment for the operation of oil investors in boundary areas in view of the huge cost and risk involved in the industry.
Meanwhile, the Appointments Committee of Parliament yesterday vetted two people nominated by the President for deputy ministerial positions.
They are Alhaji Dr Major Mustapha Ahmed (retd) for Water Resources, Works and Housing and Mr San Nasamu Asabigi Deputy for the Northern Region.
They both gave an assurance to support their substantive ministers to implement policies that would go to assist in the achievement of objectives set under the "Better Ghana Agenda".