LIs for assemblies before Parliament

Page 15, March 6, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah

FOUR Legislative Instruments (LIs) establishing four metropolitan assemblies were yesterday laid before Parliament for consideration.
The assemblies are the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (LI 1926), Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (LI 1927), Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) (LI 1928) and Tema Metropolitan Assembly (LI 1929). The Deputy Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, laid the instruments on behalf of the sector Minister, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, after which the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, referred the four LIs to the Subsidiary Legislation Committee of the House for consideration and report.
Mr Adjei-Darko later explained to the Daily Graphic that it had become necessary for the laying of the LIs for the establishment of the Sekondi-Takoradi and the AMA because some portions of their areas of jurisdiction had been carved out to form new districts.
While the Teshie area has been severed from the AMA, the Shama area of the former Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly has been calved out, giving way to the establishment of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly.
In the case of Tema, while Ashaiman and Adenta have both been elevated to municipal status, the original Tema Municipal Assembly has been elevated to a metropolitan status.
The Cape Coast Municipal Assembly has also been elevated to a metropolitan status, hence the need for the instrument to give legal backing to its new status.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, appeared before the House yesterday to answer questions.
He told the House in an answer to a question posed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wa West, Mr Yiereh Chireh, that there were currently 27 ministries and listed all the departments and agencies under the various ministries.
To another question posed by the MP for Tamale South, Mr Iddrisu Haruna, about the share composition of the Ghana International Airlines (GIA) and the financial commitment made by the shareholders of the airlines and the financial contributions made by Ghana, Mr Mpiani referred the MP to the Ministry of Aviation.
“Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Aviation exercises sectoral responsibility over the Ghana International Airlines,” he explained.
He explained further that before the Ministry of Aviation was established, the GIA was under his ministry, adding that although he answered questions on the GIA in the past, all such questions should now be directed at the Minister in charge of the Aviation sector.