Ensure smooth running of business-Hughes

Page 15, Jan 23, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes yesterday taxed Members of Parliament (MPs) to ensure the smooth running of business of the House by avoiding frequent absenteeism and lateness.
“Honourable members, even though I know some of you will campaign for re-election, that should not be an excuse for you to shirk your constitutional responsibilities as MPs”, he told the House.
Mr Hughes made the appeal in his remarks at the commencement of the First Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic today.
He reminded the MPs about a number of political activities, particularly, the impending general elections within the year and urged them to brace themselves up so that the business of the House would not suffer.
“Whatever the situation, let us approach our work as MPs with vigour so that we will be able to fulfil our constitutional mandate”, the Speaker advised.
The House plunged itself into business soon after the Speaker’s remarks with the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Sadique appearing before it to answer some questions posed by some MPs about some institutions under his sector.
Mr Michael Coffie Boampong, MP for Bia, who asked two questions wanted to know when communities such as Oseikojokrom, Adjuafua, Asuntaa and Elluokrom, all in his constituency would be provided with portable drinking water.
Replying, Alhaji Sadique said that the population of the communities qualified them to enjoy portable water and assured the MP that in due course.
He added that the erosion problem facing Oseikojokrom and Elluokrom had been referred to the Hydrological Services Department to identify critical areas in the towns for consideration by the ministry.
Answering another question posed by the MP for Ayawaso East, Alhaji Dr Mustapha Ahmed, Alhaji Sadique stated that the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) had put in immediate, medium-term and long-term plans to solve the perennial water problems facing some communities in Accra metropolis.
He said in the immediate term the GWCL is rationing the available water to communities while for the medium-term, the company was undertaking the East-West Interconnection Pipeline Transfer Project through which the Weija Dam would be expanded to provide 15 million gallons of water a day.
In the long term, the GWCL would embark on the Kpong Expansion Water Project which would result in the pumping of 186 million gallons a day to ensure that all communities in the metropolis would have adequate supply of water.