Backpage, Oct 30, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
GHANAIAN workers can now heave a sigh of relief following the passage of the Pension Reforms Bill by Parliament yesterday to offer workers a better pension package.
When given Presidential assent, the bill will introduce a contributory three-tier pension scheme and establish a National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) to oversee the administration and management of registered pension schemes and the trustees of registered pension schemes.
It will also establish a Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to manage the basic national social security scheme to cater for the first tier of the contributory three-tier scheme, in addition to the establishment of the second compulsory tier and the third voluntary tier pension schemes.
In 1950, the Pension Ordinance Number 42 established a pension scheme for public servants in the Gold Coast which later became known as the CAP 30 scheme.
Later, in 1965, the Social Security Act (Act 279) was enacted to create a contributory Social Security Fund for the payment of supernnuation, invalidity, survivors and other related pension benefits for workers.
In 1972, however, the Social Security Decree (NRCD 127) repealed Act 279 and established the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to administer a social security fund for the country.
Ghana has, thus, been operating two major pension schemes — the CAP 30 and SSNIT — since 1965.
The inequalities between these two schemes have become pronounced over the years and led to agitation and protests by some public sector workers on the SSNIT scheme who demanded to be placed on the CAP 30 scheme which is considered more favourable because of the payment of a lump sum.
It was because of this that the Presidential Commission on Pensions, which was chaired by Mr T.A. Bediako, was constituted by President J.A. Kufuor in July 2004 to make appropriate recommendations for a sustainable pension scheme that will ensure retirement income security for workers, with special reference to the public sector.
When the three-tier pension scheme is finally established, an employer of an establishment shall deduct from the salary of every worker in the establishment immediately after the end of the month a worker’s contribution of an amount equal to five and a half per cent of the worker’s salary.
The employer will then pay an amount equal to 13 per cent of the worker’s salary during the month.
The bill, which was laid before Parliament on June 27, 2008, was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report before passing through the various stages to end its full journey in Parliament yesterday.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, moved for the Third Reading of the bill and he was seconded by the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Nii Adu Daku Mante.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
House approves credit facility for Sunyani water project
Backpage, Oct 29, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday gave approval for a mixed credit facility of $92,436,000.00 to be secured for the implementation of the Sunyani Water Supply Rehabilitation and Expansion Project.
The amount is being sourced by the government from the Guandong Development Bank of China and BHP Paribas.
The mixed credit facility consists of a grant of $30 million from the Guandong Development Bank and a $62,436,000.00 loan from the PHB Paribas.
The project, which is to benefit 341,871 people, is expected to be completed within 36 months.
According to the report of the Finance Committee of Parliament, the project will increase water supply to the Sunyani municipality and its environs.
In a related development, the House also approved a 19 million euro loan facility agreement between the government and Kreditanstalt Fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) for Multi Donor Budget Support (MDBS).
In 2003, the government and her development partners signed a framework agreement for the MDBS to support the implementation of the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II (GPRS II).
The loan is, therefore, the contribution of the German government through the KfW to support the implementation of the GPRS II.
The House also gave approval for the waiver of tax liabilities totalling GH¢5,149,208.48 on equipment/materials to be imported or purchased locally in respect of the implementation of the first phase of the National Communication Backbone Network Project.
The report of the Finance Committee on a $122 million loan agreement between the government and the GK Airport Company of Ghana for the rehabilitation of the Kumasi, Takoradi and the Sunyani airports were also laid before the House for consideration.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday gave approval for a mixed credit facility of $92,436,000.00 to be secured for the implementation of the Sunyani Water Supply Rehabilitation and Expansion Project.
The amount is being sourced by the government from the Guandong Development Bank of China and BHP Paribas.
The mixed credit facility consists of a grant of $30 million from the Guandong Development Bank and a $62,436,000.00 loan from the PHB Paribas.
The project, which is to benefit 341,871 people, is expected to be completed within 36 months.
According to the report of the Finance Committee of Parliament, the project will increase water supply to the Sunyani municipality and its environs.
In a related development, the House also approved a 19 million euro loan facility agreement between the government and Kreditanstalt Fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) for Multi Donor Budget Support (MDBS).
In 2003, the government and her development partners signed a framework agreement for the MDBS to support the implementation of the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II (GPRS II).
The loan is, therefore, the contribution of the German government through the KfW to support the implementation of the GPRS II.
The House also gave approval for the waiver of tax liabilities totalling GH¢5,149,208.48 on equipment/materials to be imported or purchased locally in respect of the implementation of the first phase of the National Communication Backbone Network Project.
The report of the Finance Committee on a $122 million loan agreement between the government and the GK Airport Company of Ghana for the rehabilitation of the Kumasi, Takoradi and the Sunyani airports were also laid before the House for consideration.
New office building for B/A Lands Commission nears completion
Page 20, Oct 28, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
WORK on a two-storey building to provide office accommodation for the Brong Ahafo Regional Secretariat of the Lands Commission is about to be completed.
The building, which is being constructed at a cost of GH¢250,000, is being financed from the internally-generated fund of the secretariat.
When completed, the building will provide offices for the Regional Chairman of the commission, the Deeds Registry, Records and senior staff of the secretariat.
The Regional Lands Officer, Mr Sandy Mensah, took the Daily Graphic round the project at the weekend.
He stated that the construction of the project, which started in November, last year, is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“The Brong Ahafo Regional Office of the Lands Commission is poised to use its internally generated funds for a good purpose to create a conducive atmosphere so as to entice the staff to offer their best,” Mr Mensah stressed.
He, however, expressed concern about encroachment on lands earmarked for future public use by way of the construction of unauthorised places.
Mr Mensah said following a court order on July 31, 2008, 20 unauthorised structures were demolished.
He warned that the commission would go all out to ensure that all land regulations were enforced.
Picture: The new office building, which is about to be completed.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
WORK on a two-storey building to provide office accommodation for the Brong Ahafo Regional Secretariat of the Lands Commission is about to be completed.
The building, which is being constructed at a cost of GH¢250,000, is being financed from the internally-generated fund of the secretariat.
When completed, the building will provide offices for the Regional Chairman of the commission, the Deeds Registry, Records and senior staff of the secretariat.
The Regional Lands Officer, Mr Sandy Mensah, took the Daily Graphic round the project at the weekend.
He stated that the construction of the project, which started in November, last year, is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“The Brong Ahafo Regional Office of the Lands Commission is poised to use its internally generated funds for a good purpose to create a conducive atmosphere so as to entice the staff to offer their best,” Mr Mensah stressed.
He, however, expressed concern about encroachment on lands earmarked for future public use by way of the construction of unauthorised places.
Mr Mensah said following a court order on July 31, 2008, 20 unauthorised structures were demolished.
He warned that the commission would go all out to ensure that all land regulations were enforced.
Picture: The new office building, which is about to be completed.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Politics is not about sharing money- Appiah-Pinkrah
Page 17, Oct 27, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Akrofrom in the Ashanti Region, Mr Kwabena Appiah-Pinkrah,has debunked the assertion by the opposition that the government has not been able to put money in the pockets of the people.
“The claim that there is no money in the pockets of the people is neither here nor there”, he said.
He stated that politics was not about sharing money but rather the putting in place of policies and programmes that would alleviate the suffering of the people.
Mr Appiah-Pinkrah told the Daily Graphic in an interview that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had, therefore, fulfilled its promises by putting in place a number of sound policies to improve the lots of the people.
“What else can put money in the pocket of ordinary Ghanaians than the National Health Insurance Scheme”, he questioned, and explained that other policies such as the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme were targeted at relieving poor parents of their financial burdens.
He added that the necessary school infrastructure had been built to enhance teaching and learning in schools throughout the country.
Mr Appiah-Pinkrah stated that the first phase of fee-free education had been completed by the Kufuor administration with the implementation of the Capitation Grant, while the second phase is awaiting implementation at the senior high school.
He asked Ghanaians not to take for granted the current sound macro-economic atmosphere that had made Ghana a toast of the international community.
“Now banks chase Ghanaians for loans instead of the previous situation where traders and salaried workers wait at the doorsteps of bank managers in search of loans”, he said.
The MP said Ghanaians were now wide awake and would not allow the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in particular to throw dust into their eyes in order to secure their votes.
“Ghanaians believe in the NPP and will give the party another mandate because of the matured manner the Kufuor administration has handled affairs of the country over the last eight years”, he said.
He called on politicians to tell Ghanaians what they would be able to do when voted into power instead of spreading falsehood about their opponents.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Akrofrom in the Ashanti Region, Mr Kwabena Appiah-Pinkrah,has debunked the assertion by the opposition that the government has not been able to put money in the pockets of the people.
“The claim that there is no money in the pockets of the people is neither here nor there”, he said.
He stated that politics was not about sharing money but rather the putting in place of policies and programmes that would alleviate the suffering of the people.
Mr Appiah-Pinkrah told the Daily Graphic in an interview that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had, therefore, fulfilled its promises by putting in place a number of sound policies to improve the lots of the people.
“What else can put money in the pocket of ordinary Ghanaians than the National Health Insurance Scheme”, he questioned, and explained that other policies such as the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme were targeted at relieving poor parents of their financial burdens.
He added that the necessary school infrastructure had been built to enhance teaching and learning in schools throughout the country.
Mr Appiah-Pinkrah stated that the first phase of fee-free education had been completed by the Kufuor administration with the implementation of the Capitation Grant, while the second phase is awaiting implementation at the senior high school.
He asked Ghanaians not to take for granted the current sound macro-economic atmosphere that had made Ghana a toast of the international community.
“Now banks chase Ghanaians for loans instead of the previous situation where traders and salaried workers wait at the doorsteps of bank managers in search of loans”, he said.
The MP said Ghanaians were now wide awake and would not allow the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in particular to throw dust into their eyes in order to secure their votes.
“Ghanaians believe in the NPP and will give the party another mandate because of the matured manner the Kufuor administration has handled affairs of the country over the last eight years”, he said.
He called on politicians to tell Ghanaians what they would be able to do when voted into power instead of spreading falsehood about their opponents.
Denu town roads to be tarred next year
Page 39, Oct 27, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A TOTAL of 3.7 kilometres of roads in Denu, the capital of the Ketu South District in the Volta Region, are to tarred to give the town a facelift.
The Minister of Transportation, Dr Richard Anane, announced this in Parliament when he appeared before the House to answer question on the road sector posed by a number of Members of Parliaments (MPs).
The MP for Ketu South, Mr Albert Kwasi Zigah, had asked the minister when the Denu Beach (Swanzy) road would be tarred.
Dr Anane said the 1.2 kilometre Denu Beach road had been prepared for tarring in 2009 by the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA).
He said in all 3.7 kilometres of roads in the Denu town had been prepared for development.
Mr Zigah, however, expressed regret that the district had not benefited from the government’s programme of tarring 15 kilometres of roads in each district as was announced in the 2008 budget.
He said the Denu Beach road, which leads to most of the government institutions in the town, was currently in its worst state and called for immediate measures to arrest the situation.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A TOTAL of 3.7 kilometres of roads in Denu, the capital of the Ketu South District in the Volta Region, are to tarred to give the town a facelift.
The Minister of Transportation, Dr Richard Anane, announced this in Parliament when he appeared before the House to answer question on the road sector posed by a number of Members of Parliaments (MPs).
The MP for Ketu South, Mr Albert Kwasi Zigah, had asked the minister when the Denu Beach (Swanzy) road would be tarred.
Dr Anane said the 1.2 kilometre Denu Beach road had been prepared for tarring in 2009 by the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA).
He said in all 3.7 kilometres of roads in the Denu town had been prepared for development.
Mr Zigah, however, expressed regret that the district had not benefited from the government’s programme of tarring 15 kilometres of roads in each district as was announced in the 2008 budget.
He said the Denu Beach road, which leads to most of the government institutions in the town, was currently in its worst state and called for immediate measures to arrest the situation.
Former MPs call for MPs’ pension scheme
Page 14, Oct 25,2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE President of the Forum of Former Members of Parliament (FFMP), Mr Kosi Kedem, has called on Parliament to institute a pension scheme for Members of Parliament (MPs) in order to reduce their suffering and hardship when they leave the House.
Describing the life of the former MP as “not a pleasant one”, Mr Kedem reminded the President, Mr J.A. Kufuor, that the Hessey Committee’s report which determined the salaries of MPs of the Third Parliament of the Fourth Republic was yet to be implemented.
According to him, MPs were not paid their full salaries during the entire period of their tenure of office (2001-2004).
“Many former MPs are impoverished and crippled economically because of the delayed implementation of this report” he said, and appealed to the President to ensure the implementation of the report immediately.
Mr Kedem was speaking at the inauguration of the forum at the Speaker’s Conference Room in Parliament.
The forum is opened to all former MPs, dating back to the First Republic.
Although the FFMP, according to its executives, is made up of politicians, it is strictly a non-partisan organisation.
It has been formed, among other objectives, to bring together all former MPs, who are scattered all over the country to contribute to the deepening of the democratic process.
Mr Kedem appealed to the Speaker, the leadership of Parliament and colleague ministers to use their good offices and influence to urge the President to expedite action on the Hessey Committee’s Report.
Touching on the current political dispensation, he called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to provide a level playing field for all the political parties contesting the forthcoming elections to operate efficiently.
“The EC must assert its independence and integrity as well as manage the elections professionally”, he said.
Mr Kedem stated that members of the forum were delighted about the vibrant political parties, and noted that that was an indication that multi-party governance had come to stay.
He urged political parties to campaign on issues and devote less time to insults, mudslinging and empty propaganda.
Inaugurating the forum, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, commended the former MPs for coming together to use their experiences for the deepening of the country’s democratic dispensation.
He pledged the assistance of Parliament to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the forum and called all former MPs to join the association.
Among some of the former MPs who attended the inauguration of the forum was an 82-year-old former MP for Suhum, Mr Kwaku Amoa-Awuah, who was an MP in the First Republic (1954-1956) and Nana Adarkwa-Yiadom, who was an MP for Kwame Danso in the Brong Ahafo Region during the Third Republic.
Mr Amoa-Awuah, who said he was now a retired businessman and farmer, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that he was proud to have served his country as an MP, Deputy Minister for Health, Agriculture and Minister for Labour.
For his part, Nana Adarkwa-Yiadom said that after the overthrow of Limann’s regime, MPs did not get any reward for their services to the nation.
Asked about what he wanted the government to do for him, he asked in a low tone; “my son, does a beggar has a choice ?”.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE President of the Forum of Former Members of Parliament (FFMP), Mr Kosi Kedem, has called on Parliament to institute a pension scheme for Members of Parliament (MPs) in order to reduce their suffering and hardship when they leave the House.
Describing the life of the former MP as “not a pleasant one”, Mr Kedem reminded the President, Mr J.A. Kufuor, that the Hessey Committee’s report which determined the salaries of MPs of the Third Parliament of the Fourth Republic was yet to be implemented.
According to him, MPs were not paid their full salaries during the entire period of their tenure of office (2001-2004).
“Many former MPs are impoverished and crippled economically because of the delayed implementation of this report” he said, and appealed to the President to ensure the implementation of the report immediately.
Mr Kedem was speaking at the inauguration of the forum at the Speaker’s Conference Room in Parliament.
The forum is opened to all former MPs, dating back to the First Republic.
Although the FFMP, according to its executives, is made up of politicians, it is strictly a non-partisan organisation.
It has been formed, among other objectives, to bring together all former MPs, who are scattered all over the country to contribute to the deepening of the democratic process.
Mr Kedem appealed to the Speaker, the leadership of Parliament and colleague ministers to use their good offices and influence to urge the President to expedite action on the Hessey Committee’s Report.
Touching on the current political dispensation, he called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to provide a level playing field for all the political parties contesting the forthcoming elections to operate efficiently.
“The EC must assert its independence and integrity as well as manage the elections professionally”, he said.
Mr Kedem stated that members of the forum were delighted about the vibrant political parties, and noted that that was an indication that multi-party governance had come to stay.
He urged political parties to campaign on issues and devote less time to insults, mudslinging and empty propaganda.
Inaugurating the forum, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, commended the former MPs for coming together to use their experiences for the deepening of the country’s democratic dispensation.
He pledged the assistance of Parliament to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the forum and called all former MPs to join the association.
Among some of the former MPs who attended the inauguration of the forum was an 82-year-old former MP for Suhum, Mr Kwaku Amoa-Awuah, who was an MP in the First Republic (1954-1956) and Nana Adarkwa-Yiadom, who was an MP for Kwame Danso in the Brong Ahafo Region during the Third Republic.
Mr Amoa-Awuah, who said he was now a retired businessman and farmer, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that he was proud to have served his country as an MP, Deputy Minister for Health, Agriculture and Minister for Labour.
For his part, Nana Adarkwa-Yiadom said that after the overthrow of Limann’s regime, MPs did not get any reward for their services to the nation.
Asked about what he wanted the government to do for him, he asked in a low tone; “my son, does a beggar has a choice ?”.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
‘Seek House approval on mining leases’
Page 44, Oct 23, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy has cautioned the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines to seek the ratification of mining leases with companies in future before the companies are allowed to operate.
It noted with concern the inability of the various ministries responsible for mines over the years to seek the ratification of Parliament prior to the execution of mining lease agreements between the period 1994 and 2007.
The caution was contained in a report of the committee on the mining lease agreements between the government and 21 mining companies operating in the country.
The committee observed that although the various mining lease agreements were entered into between 1994 and 2007, most of the mining companies were operating, even though the agreements had not been ratified.
“The committee wishes to recommend to the House that all future mining leases should be brought before the House for ratification before the commencement of operations,” it said.
The report explained that such an attitude was gross disregard of the laws of the land, especially Article 268 of the 1992 Constitution.
“The violation is an affront to the dignity of Parliament, as it seems to suggest that parliamentary ratification is nothing but a mere rubber stamp for the approval of already executed agreements,” it said.
“The committee wishes to sound a note of caution to the ministry responsible for mines that any such violation of the laws of the land in future will be subjected to the full sanctions of the law,” it warned.
In spite of the reservations expressed by the committee, it recommended to Parliament to approve the various mining lease agreements.
The mining companies are Goldfields Ghana Limited, AngloGold Ashanti Limited, Bogoso Gold Limited, Chirano Gold Mines Limited, Sian Goldfields Limited, Narawa Ghana Gold Limited, Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, Ghana Manganese Company Limited, Gulf Coast Resources Limited, Med Mining Company Limited and Adamus Resources Limited (Nkroful).
The rest are Midras Mining Limited, Talos Ghana Limited, Goldenrae Mining Limited, Blue River Mining Company Limited, West Star Mining Company Limited, First Canadian Goldfields Limited, Kibi Goldfields International, Ghana Bauxite Company, Savanna Cement Company Limited and Ghacem Limited.
The Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mrs Cecilia Obeng Dapaah, moved the motion for the adoption of the report and she was seconded by the Chairman of the Committee on Mines and Energy, Mrs Gifty Kusi.
After an intense debate on the matter, the House adopted the report.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy has cautioned the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines to seek the ratification of mining leases with companies in future before the companies are allowed to operate.
It noted with concern the inability of the various ministries responsible for mines over the years to seek the ratification of Parliament prior to the execution of mining lease agreements between the period 1994 and 2007.
The caution was contained in a report of the committee on the mining lease agreements between the government and 21 mining companies operating in the country.
The committee observed that although the various mining lease agreements were entered into between 1994 and 2007, most of the mining companies were operating, even though the agreements had not been ratified.
“The committee wishes to recommend to the House that all future mining leases should be brought before the House for ratification before the commencement of operations,” it said.
The report explained that such an attitude was gross disregard of the laws of the land, especially Article 268 of the 1992 Constitution.
“The violation is an affront to the dignity of Parliament, as it seems to suggest that parliamentary ratification is nothing but a mere rubber stamp for the approval of already executed agreements,” it said.
“The committee wishes to sound a note of caution to the ministry responsible for mines that any such violation of the laws of the land in future will be subjected to the full sanctions of the law,” it warned.
In spite of the reservations expressed by the committee, it recommended to Parliament to approve the various mining lease agreements.
The mining companies are Goldfields Ghana Limited, AngloGold Ashanti Limited, Bogoso Gold Limited, Chirano Gold Mines Limited, Sian Goldfields Limited, Narawa Ghana Gold Limited, Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, Ghana Manganese Company Limited, Gulf Coast Resources Limited, Med Mining Company Limited and Adamus Resources Limited (Nkroful).
The rest are Midras Mining Limited, Talos Ghana Limited, Goldenrae Mining Limited, Blue River Mining Company Limited, West Star Mining Company Limited, First Canadian Goldfields Limited, Kibi Goldfields International, Ghana Bauxite Company, Savanna Cement Company Limited and Ghacem Limited.
The Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mrs Cecilia Obeng Dapaah, moved the motion for the adoption of the report and she was seconded by the Chairman of the Committee on Mines and Energy, Mrs Gifty Kusi.
After an intense debate on the matter, the House adopted the report.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Efforts to restore lost vegetation
Page 31, Oct 22, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MORE than 140,000 hectares of forest has been established under the various plantation projects since 2001 to restore the country’s lost vegetation.
The Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mrs Esther Obeng-Dapaah who announced this in Parliament yesterday, stated also that the projects had created over 45,820 permanent and 1.1 million part-time jobs all over the country.
“Mr Speaker, it is expected that with the effective implementation of these measures, the problem of deforestation will be significantly reduced, if not completely eliminated, by the year 2020,” she said.
Mrs Obeng-Dapaah made this known when she appeared before Parliament to answer questions posed by some Members of Parliament (MP) concerning her ministry.
The MP for Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, had asked the minister the extent of depletion of forest reserves and whether the country could boast of forest reserves by 2020 if the trend of depletion continued.
Mrs Obeng-Dapaah attributed the depletion of forests to excessive slash and burn agricultural methods, wildfires, encroachment by cash crop farmers and illegal logging, chainsaw activities and surface mining.
She explained that it was to reverse that trend that the government introduced governance measures and best practice forest management prescriptions, with the support of communities and civil society organisations, to ensure effective protection of the country’s forest cover.
Answering another question from the MP for Pru, Mr Masoud Baba Abdul-Rahman, who enquired about when the removal of tree stumps from the Volta Lake would begin, Mrs Obeng-Dapaah said the agreement for the removal of the stumps was signed in February 2006 between the government and a company called Sustainable Resource Developments Ghana Limited.
She said since the agreement was signed, a number of activities, such as the preparation of environmental and social impact assessment, have been carried out to enable the company to obtain the necessary permits to commence operations.
Mrs Obeng-Dapaah explained that an environmental permit was expected to be issued next month, after which a Forestry Commission permit would be issued to enable the company to begin with the harvesting of the tree stumps.
For his part, the MP for Sefwi Akontombra, Mr Herod Cobbina, asked the minister about the plans the ministry had to release land for the expansion of communities such as Wansampobreampa, Attakrom, Krokowa, Betenase and Kwasiakrom, which were within forest reserve lands in the constituency.
Replying, Mrs Obeng-Dapaah explained that the four communities were located on the fringes of the Sui River Forest Reserve in the Sefwi Wiawso Forest District and not within the reserve.
She stated that although the issue of the expansion of communities into the gazetted forest reserves was not possible, the Forestry Commission was addressing the livelihood needs of the people in those communities by giving them gainful employment in terms of boundary cleaning, fire protection, seedling production and tree planting.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MORE than 140,000 hectares of forest has been established under the various plantation projects since 2001 to restore the country’s lost vegetation.
The Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mrs Esther Obeng-Dapaah who announced this in Parliament yesterday, stated also that the projects had created over 45,820 permanent and 1.1 million part-time jobs all over the country.
“Mr Speaker, it is expected that with the effective implementation of these measures, the problem of deforestation will be significantly reduced, if not completely eliminated, by the year 2020,” she said.
Mrs Obeng-Dapaah made this known when she appeared before Parliament to answer questions posed by some Members of Parliament (MP) concerning her ministry.
The MP for Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, had asked the minister the extent of depletion of forest reserves and whether the country could boast of forest reserves by 2020 if the trend of depletion continued.
Mrs Obeng-Dapaah attributed the depletion of forests to excessive slash and burn agricultural methods, wildfires, encroachment by cash crop farmers and illegal logging, chainsaw activities and surface mining.
She explained that it was to reverse that trend that the government introduced governance measures and best practice forest management prescriptions, with the support of communities and civil society organisations, to ensure effective protection of the country’s forest cover.
Answering another question from the MP for Pru, Mr Masoud Baba Abdul-Rahman, who enquired about when the removal of tree stumps from the Volta Lake would begin, Mrs Obeng-Dapaah said the agreement for the removal of the stumps was signed in February 2006 between the government and a company called Sustainable Resource Developments Ghana Limited.
She said since the agreement was signed, a number of activities, such as the preparation of environmental and social impact assessment, have been carried out to enable the company to obtain the necessary permits to commence operations.
Mrs Obeng-Dapaah explained that an environmental permit was expected to be issued next month, after which a Forestry Commission permit would be issued to enable the company to begin with the harvesting of the tree stumps.
For his part, the MP for Sefwi Akontombra, Mr Herod Cobbina, asked the minister about the plans the ministry had to release land for the expansion of communities such as Wansampobreampa, Attakrom, Krokowa, Betenase and Kwasiakrom, which were within forest reserve lands in the constituency.
Replying, Mrs Obeng-Dapaah explained that the four communities were located on the fringes of the Sui River Forest Reserve in the Sefwi Wiawso Forest District and not within the reserve.
She stated that although the issue of the expansion of communities into the gazetted forest reserves was not possible, the Forestry Commission was addressing the livelihood needs of the people in those communities by giving them gainful employment in terms of boundary cleaning, fire protection, seedling production and tree planting.
Fire guts bungalow in Sunyani
Page 21, Oct 22, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Sunyani.
FIRE gutted a plush bungalow at Agyei-Ano South in the Sunyani municipality last Saturday.
Property worth thousands of Ghana cedis was destroyed.
Some of the items destroyed by the fire included electrical appliances, cooking utensils and items of clothing.
Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service who took two hours to bring the fire under control, ran out of water within 30 minutes of arriving on the scene and had to go to Abesim for more water.
Residents of the neighbourhood told the Daily Graphic that they had first heard an explosion from the house before flames engulfed it.
The wife of the owner of the house, Maame Efua, managed to escape from the house during the fire outbreak. She was found weeping uncontrollably, while a tenant who had rushed to the house upon hearing of the fire outbreak had folded his arms in bewilderment.
The leader of the seven-member fire team, Station Officer John Ashong, said the cause of the fire would be known after analysis of evidence and information provided by occupants.
He said the municipality had only one fire tender and called for more fire tenders to be allocated to it
Mr Ashong called for the construction of fire hydrants in new residential areas in Sunyani to make water readily available to the GNFS in case of fire outbreaks.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Sunyani.
FIRE gutted a plush bungalow at Agyei-Ano South in the Sunyani municipality last Saturday.
Property worth thousands of Ghana cedis was destroyed.
Some of the items destroyed by the fire included electrical appliances, cooking utensils and items of clothing.
Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service who took two hours to bring the fire under control, ran out of water within 30 minutes of arriving on the scene and had to go to Abesim for more water.
Residents of the neighbourhood told the Daily Graphic that they had first heard an explosion from the house before flames engulfed it.
The wife of the owner of the house, Maame Efua, managed to escape from the house during the fire outbreak. She was found weeping uncontrollably, while a tenant who had rushed to the house upon hearing of the fire outbreak had folded his arms in bewilderment.
The leader of the seven-member fire team, Station Officer John Ashong, said the cause of the fire would be known after analysis of evidence and information provided by occupants.
He said the municipality had only one fire tender and called for more fire tenders to be allocated to it
Mr Ashong called for the construction of fire hydrants in new residential areas in Sunyani to make water readily available to the GNFS in case of fire outbreaks.
Rehabilitate Nkwanta-Kadjebi road — MP
Page 39, October 20, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE chiefs and people of Nkwanta and Kadjebi in the Volta Region have appealed to the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to rehabilitate the Nkwanta-Kadjebi road to facilitate the movement of people and the haulage of agricultural produce in the area.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkwanta South, Mr Gershon Gbediame, who made the appeal on behalf of the people, said the stretch of the road had deteriorated making it very difficult for vehicles ply it.
He told the Daily Graphic that vehicles, especially those carting foodstuffs to the marketing centres, get stuck on the road on rainy days and foodstuffs start to rot.
“I appeal to the GHA to take immediate measures to save the situation to alleviate the plight of travellers in the area,” he pleaded.
Mr Gbediame explained that some traders dealing in foodstuffs and also farmers incur debts as a result of the bad roads. This situation, he said, had forced some drivers to stop plying the route. He therefore called for the situation to be rectified soon in the interest of all.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE chiefs and people of Nkwanta and Kadjebi in the Volta Region have appealed to the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to rehabilitate the Nkwanta-Kadjebi road to facilitate the movement of people and the haulage of agricultural produce in the area.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkwanta South, Mr Gershon Gbediame, who made the appeal on behalf of the people, said the stretch of the road had deteriorated making it very difficult for vehicles ply it.
He told the Daily Graphic that vehicles, especially those carting foodstuffs to the marketing centres, get stuck on the road on rainy days and foodstuffs start to rot.
“I appeal to the GHA to take immediate measures to save the situation to alleviate the plight of travellers in the area,” he pleaded.
Mr Gbediame explained that some traders dealing in foodstuffs and also farmers incur debts as a result of the bad roads. This situation, he said, had forced some drivers to stop plying the route. He therefore called for the situation to be rectified soon in the interest of all.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
MAKING MANGO A BIG NON-TRADITIONAL EXPORT PRODUCT
Page 9, Oct 21, 2008
Article: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A favourable and vibrant agricultural sector in Ghana is key to poverty reduction because it employs the bulk of the poor
Commercially cultivated mango, is a relatively new industry of the agriculture sector in Ghana.
The major production areas are the Eastern Coastal and the Middle Transition-Zone Savannahs with the main cultivars as keitt, Kent and Tommy Atkins. Increasing more land areas are coming under mango cultivation by the year.
This industry represents one area within the horticultural sector which, if well developed and provided with the necessary logistics and support, can easily become a major foreign exchange earner.
This is because the country has all the natural conditions that can position the produce as a top export product. According to experts in the industry, Ghana is one of the few countries in the world with two mango seasons, and with the right practices, both seasons can yield fruits for the international mango market.
In 2004, the European Union imported 170,000 metric tones representing less than 1.3% of the total volume of imports of the product". (Daily Graphic Vol, 339. Tuesday February 21, 2006).
The local volume of trade for this giant fibreless hybrid mango species, (Keitt and Kent) in Ghana is very small because the vast majority of Ghanaian mango eaters go in for the local type. Hybrid mangoes produced in Ghana are therefore essentially meant for the European market where there is a huge demand for it.
Efforts to access the European export market for mangoes involved overcoming difficulties such as start up capital, access to good planting materials and gaining access to favourable land tenure for large land holdings needed for that production level in view for export.
GTZ i.e German Technical Cooperation, in 2006, offered to train operatives of the sector on how to produce decease resistant grafted seedlings, which hitherto were obtained from cross border Burkina Faso.
Now the operational barrier that is standing between farmers and large scale mango production for export in access to credit and state technical support.
Mango farmers write very good business plans backed by collateral for accessing medium term credit facilities from the financial institutions but they are rather interested in granting credit to early harvesting crops like careals or vegetables.
This stance by the banks is stifling the mango industry to the brink of collapse.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture Mr. Clement Eledi disclosed at the launch of the Mango Week on Thursday February 16, 2006, that his ministry among other interventions was providing support to mango out growers in the Northern Region through extending facilities that would enable them access improved planting materials of export varieties. This sadly excluded mango farmers in the Brong Ahafo Region. The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) also excluded Brong Ahafo as beneficiary region, adding to the frustration and neglect of mango farmers in the area.
An advocacy action to dialogue the financial institutions, the Federation of the Association of Ghana Exporters (FAGE), Trade and Investment Programme for a Competitive Export Economy (TIPCEE), Export Promotion Council of the Ministry of Trade, Industry PSI & PSD and MOFA for them to come to appreciate the potential and capacity of mango famers to embark on large scale mango production for export is now the only hope for survival of the sector.
It is only at that capital intensive high production level for export that farmers can offset overheads and other production costs, break even and make meaningful profit to break the poverty cycle that has become endemic in the rural areas. Located in the transition zone between the Savannah North and the forest south, large scale mango farms will double as a reforestation programme which will provide shelter and arrest the Savannah and thus save the environment.
But operatives in this new industry, particularly, the Kintampo Mango Farmers Association (KIMFA), are reeling under the usual distress factors that characterise in Ghanaian Agricultural Sector in general.
Mango Farmers are not only making losses but are loosing entire investments as a result of the lack of sate institutional support, in terms of extension and infrastructure. This situation is limiting their production levels, in both quality and yield per acre. Thus they are kept out of the huge export opportunities on the international market, as local demand for these varieties cannot support and grow the industry.
KIMFA's goal is ,"seeing a booming, vibrant and competitive mango sector; growing in job opportunities and income generation,"
With this goal in view, KIMFA applied for and won a highly competitive grant from BUSAC Fund (created by DANIDA, DFID and USAID to enable them engage public sector policy makers in dialogue, to seek policy changes that will see the development and growth of the industry.
BUSAC's core goal is to facilitate the development and growth of a vibrant and competitive private sector by improving the environment within businesses operate.
As part of KIMFA's advocacy action, the grant sponsored a research activity that took a four- member implementation team to the Republic of South Africa to document the country’s success story that will be used to convince policy makers to come to aid of the industry.
In South Africa, the main mango production areas are the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, located in the south east of the country. Hoedspruit area, lying to the west of the Kruger National Park, accounts for over 45 per cent of South African mangoes.
Mango plantations in the Hoedspruit area, where the team visited, are planted in orchards of about a hector each in seize; surrounded by tall pine trees, serving as wind break to stop the wind from hitting the fruits and giving them dark sports and lowering their market value.
At the time of the study tour mango fruits were in season in farmers were busily harvesting.The team visited several nurseries, farms, plants and engineering workshops and observed everything in the industry, including grafting technology, harvesting, pack-house operations, processes for making mango chips, mechanical pruning and irrigation infrastructure.
The most popular planting distance applied in South Africa is 3m between trees in the row and 7m between rows. In Ghana planting, 10m by 10m is the norm; a practice which South African farmers stopped years ago, to maximise yield per acre and to make harvesting easier.
According to officials who undertook the trip, the team gathered from the farmers that as a result of on-going new land reforms which seeks to reverse the situation where over 6 per cent of South African lands are owned by whites who make up only 10 per cent of the population, land is fast becoming critical for mango farmers, who are mostly whites.
It was not surprising, therefore to hear a few farmers express investment interest in Ghana. This is an area of partnership that KIMFA , in particular, and other mango producers must endeavour to pursue.
Even for South Africa the competition with countries such as Brazil, India and Egypt on the European market is very stiff.
Areas where the state must support Ghanaian mango farmers, for them to be able to enter the stiff competition, are; extension, credit facilities,pack house infrastructure and irrigation infrastructure.
The public sector stands to benefit by supporting the mango sector, in terms of foreign exchange earnings, local revenue generation and employment creation.
On the other hand, removal of constraints in the mango sub sector is positively correlated with;
•enhanced income levels,employment opportunities, wealth creation and poverty reduction for the private sector operatives.
Thus the advocacy action will end up in a win-win situation for both the public sector and private sector.
Article: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A favourable and vibrant agricultural sector in Ghana is key to poverty reduction because it employs the bulk of the poor
Commercially cultivated mango, is a relatively new industry of the agriculture sector in Ghana.
The major production areas are the Eastern Coastal and the Middle Transition-Zone Savannahs with the main cultivars as keitt, Kent and Tommy Atkins. Increasing more land areas are coming under mango cultivation by the year.
This industry represents one area within the horticultural sector which, if well developed and provided with the necessary logistics and support, can easily become a major foreign exchange earner.
This is because the country has all the natural conditions that can position the produce as a top export product. According to experts in the industry, Ghana is one of the few countries in the world with two mango seasons, and with the right practices, both seasons can yield fruits for the international mango market.
In 2004, the European Union imported 170,000 metric tones representing less than 1.3% of the total volume of imports of the product". (Daily Graphic Vol, 339. Tuesday February 21, 2006).
The local volume of trade for this giant fibreless hybrid mango species, (Keitt and Kent) in Ghana is very small because the vast majority of Ghanaian mango eaters go in for the local type. Hybrid mangoes produced in Ghana are therefore essentially meant for the European market where there is a huge demand for it.
Efforts to access the European export market for mangoes involved overcoming difficulties such as start up capital, access to good planting materials and gaining access to favourable land tenure for large land holdings needed for that production level in view for export.
GTZ i.e German Technical Cooperation, in 2006, offered to train operatives of the sector on how to produce decease resistant grafted seedlings, which hitherto were obtained from cross border Burkina Faso.
Now the operational barrier that is standing between farmers and large scale mango production for export in access to credit and state technical support.
Mango farmers write very good business plans backed by collateral for accessing medium term credit facilities from the financial institutions but they are rather interested in granting credit to early harvesting crops like careals or vegetables.
This stance by the banks is stifling the mango industry to the brink of collapse.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture Mr. Clement Eledi disclosed at the launch of the Mango Week on Thursday February 16, 2006, that his ministry among other interventions was providing support to mango out growers in the Northern Region through extending facilities that would enable them access improved planting materials of export varieties. This sadly excluded mango farmers in the Brong Ahafo Region. The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) also excluded Brong Ahafo as beneficiary region, adding to the frustration and neglect of mango farmers in the area.
An advocacy action to dialogue the financial institutions, the Federation of the Association of Ghana Exporters (FAGE), Trade and Investment Programme for a Competitive Export Economy (TIPCEE), Export Promotion Council of the Ministry of Trade, Industry PSI & PSD and MOFA for them to come to appreciate the potential and capacity of mango famers to embark on large scale mango production for export is now the only hope for survival of the sector.
It is only at that capital intensive high production level for export that farmers can offset overheads and other production costs, break even and make meaningful profit to break the poverty cycle that has become endemic in the rural areas. Located in the transition zone between the Savannah North and the forest south, large scale mango farms will double as a reforestation programme which will provide shelter and arrest the Savannah and thus save the environment.
But operatives in this new industry, particularly, the Kintampo Mango Farmers Association (KIMFA), are reeling under the usual distress factors that characterise in Ghanaian Agricultural Sector in general.
Mango Farmers are not only making losses but are loosing entire investments as a result of the lack of sate institutional support, in terms of extension and infrastructure. This situation is limiting their production levels, in both quality and yield per acre. Thus they are kept out of the huge export opportunities on the international market, as local demand for these varieties cannot support and grow the industry.
KIMFA's goal is ,"seeing a booming, vibrant and competitive mango sector; growing in job opportunities and income generation,"
With this goal in view, KIMFA applied for and won a highly competitive grant from BUSAC Fund (created by DANIDA, DFID and USAID to enable them engage public sector policy makers in dialogue, to seek policy changes that will see the development and growth of the industry.
BUSAC's core goal is to facilitate the development and growth of a vibrant and competitive private sector by improving the environment within businesses operate.
As part of KIMFA's advocacy action, the grant sponsored a research activity that took a four- member implementation team to the Republic of South Africa to document the country’s success story that will be used to convince policy makers to come to aid of the industry.
In South Africa, the main mango production areas are the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, located in the south east of the country. Hoedspruit area, lying to the west of the Kruger National Park, accounts for over 45 per cent of South African mangoes.
Mango plantations in the Hoedspruit area, where the team visited, are planted in orchards of about a hector each in seize; surrounded by tall pine trees, serving as wind break to stop the wind from hitting the fruits and giving them dark sports and lowering their market value.
At the time of the study tour mango fruits were in season in farmers were busily harvesting.The team visited several nurseries, farms, plants and engineering workshops and observed everything in the industry, including grafting technology, harvesting, pack-house operations, processes for making mango chips, mechanical pruning and irrigation infrastructure.
The most popular planting distance applied in South Africa is 3m between trees in the row and 7m between rows. In Ghana planting, 10m by 10m is the norm; a practice which South African farmers stopped years ago, to maximise yield per acre and to make harvesting easier.
According to officials who undertook the trip, the team gathered from the farmers that as a result of on-going new land reforms which seeks to reverse the situation where over 6 per cent of South African lands are owned by whites who make up only 10 per cent of the population, land is fast becoming critical for mango farmers, who are mostly whites.
It was not surprising, therefore to hear a few farmers express investment interest in Ghana. This is an area of partnership that KIMFA , in particular, and other mango producers must endeavour to pursue.
Even for South Africa the competition with countries such as Brazil, India and Egypt on the European market is very stiff.
Areas where the state must support Ghanaian mango farmers, for them to be able to enter the stiff competition, are; extension, credit facilities,pack house infrastructure and irrigation infrastructure.
The public sector stands to benefit by supporting the mango sector, in terms of foreign exchange earnings, local revenue generation and employment creation.
On the other hand, removal of constraints in the mango sub sector is positively correlated with;
•enhanced income levels,employment opportunities, wealth creation and poverty reduction for the private sector operatives.
Thus the advocacy action will end up in a win-win situation for both the public sector and private sector.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
. . .And Parliamentary proceedings end midway
Page 13, Oct 16, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PROCEEDINGS in Parliament yesterday ended midway as a result of the lack of the required number of parliamentarians to form a quorum.
The House requires the presence of one-third of its 230 members before it can go on with business and half of its members before a decision can be taken.
Yesterday’s sitting , however, began with only 13 MPs from both sides of the House.
When proceedings began, the Speaker invited the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, to answer two questions which had been asked by two MPs.
After he had answered the questions, the House began to deal with the National Pension Bill at its consideration stage.
However, the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, raised the issue of quorum during the deliberations, thereby forcing the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Freddie Blay to bring proceedings to an end.
“Honourable members, I thought that the leadership of the House has agreed to continue with proceedings no matter the situation, but now that no less a member than the Deputy Minority Leader has raised the issue, my hands are tied”, Mr Blay said.
Mr Adjaho told the House that since the National Pension Bill was very important, there was the need for a greater number of the MPs to be present before its consideration.
He was supported by the NDC MP for Ningo-Prampram, Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, who called for the House to be adjourned till the following day.
Other MPs, Mr Ken Dzirasah (South Tongu) and Papa Kwesi Nduom (Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem), joined the call for the suspension of the debate on the National Pension Bill.
The Majority Chief Whip, Okerchire Adusah, however argued that although the raising of the issue of quorum was justified, Mr Adjaho had stabbed the Business Committee, of which he was a member, in the back.
He explained that the committee took the decision last week and wondered why Mr Adjaho should turn round to raise the issue of quorum in the House to disrupt proceedings.
“Mr Speaker, I am amazed by the action of the Deputy Minority Leader”, he said.
Although the NPP MP for Amenfi East, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, and his colleague, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman (New Juaben North), impressed on those who were calling for the end of the day’s business to allow the House to continue with its discussion on the bill, Mr Blay ruled that the House should adjourned till today.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PROCEEDINGS in Parliament yesterday ended midway as a result of the lack of the required number of parliamentarians to form a quorum.
The House requires the presence of one-third of its 230 members before it can go on with business and half of its members before a decision can be taken.
Yesterday’s sitting , however, began with only 13 MPs from both sides of the House.
When proceedings began, the Speaker invited the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, to answer two questions which had been asked by two MPs.
After he had answered the questions, the House began to deal with the National Pension Bill at its consideration stage.
However, the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, raised the issue of quorum during the deliberations, thereby forcing the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Freddie Blay to bring proceedings to an end.
“Honourable members, I thought that the leadership of the House has agreed to continue with proceedings no matter the situation, but now that no less a member than the Deputy Minority Leader has raised the issue, my hands are tied”, Mr Blay said.
Mr Adjaho told the House that since the National Pension Bill was very important, there was the need for a greater number of the MPs to be present before its consideration.
He was supported by the NDC MP for Ningo-Prampram, Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, who called for the House to be adjourned till the following day.
Other MPs, Mr Ken Dzirasah (South Tongu) and Papa Kwesi Nduom (Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem), joined the call for the suspension of the debate on the National Pension Bill.
The Majority Chief Whip, Okerchire Adusah, however argued that although the raising of the issue of quorum was justified, Mr Adjaho had stabbed the Business Committee, of which he was a member, in the back.
He explained that the committee took the decision last week and wondered why Mr Adjaho should turn round to raise the issue of quorum in the House to disrupt proceedings.
“Mr Speaker, I am amazed by the action of the Deputy Minority Leader”, he said.
Although the NPP MP for Amenfi East, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, and his colleague, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman (New Juaben North), impressed on those who were calling for the end of the day’s business to allow the House to continue with its discussion on the bill, Mr Blay ruled that the House should adjourned till today.
Filing of nominations impact on attendance in Parliament
Page 13, Oct 16, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE impending filing of nominations by prospective Members of Parliament (MPs) seems to impacted on the turnout at the House.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has scheduled today and tomorrow as dates for the filing of nominations by the aspiring parliamentarians.
Last week, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Asawase, Alhaji Muntanka Mubarak, appealed to the leadership of the House to suspend this week’s sittings to give MPs ample time to go to their constituencies to file their nominations. But the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, stated in his reply that MPs who would not contest the forthcoming parliamentary elections would be present to perform the business of the House.
At yesterday’s sitting, the House began proceedings with only 13 MPs from both sides. However, the day business was aborted midway because of lack of forum.
On Tuesday, less than 30 MPs, mostly those who were not seeking re-election and MPs from the Greater Accra and adjoining regions were in the House to perform their parliamentary duties.
Some of the MPs who spoke to the Daily Graphic said that filing of the nomination forms required ample time since prospective MPs had to be endorsed by 20 registered voters, among other requirements, hence the need for the House to have suspended sittings for the week.
The MP for Lower West Akim, Mr James Apietu-Ankra, stated that bills, such as the National Pension Bill, among others which would be discussed during the week, were so crucial that they needed inputs from all MPs.
But it seems the leadership of the House was mindful of the limited time available to Parliament before the break on November 7, 2008 hence the decision not to suspend their sittings.
The House is expected to consider 10 new bills during the period in addition to bills which are already before the various committees of the House while papers and loan agreements are also expected to be considered.
The new bills include the Internal Revenue (Registration of Businesses) (Amendment) Bill, Institute of Marketing Bill, Trade Mark (Amendment) Bill, Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, Electoral Commission (Amendment) Bill, Internal Revenue (Amendment), Northern Development Fund Bill and the Parliamentary Service (Amendment) Bill, among others.
It is expected that the poor attendance of the House during the week would continue till the end of the week.
Mindful of the enormous task ahead, the leadership of the House last week announced that the House would have extended sittings in addition to sitting on Mondays as from next week.
Some of the MPs, however advised the Executive not to wait till the last day of the meeting before placing loan agreements before the House for consideration.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE impending filing of nominations by prospective Members of Parliament (MPs) seems to impacted on the turnout at the House.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has scheduled today and tomorrow as dates for the filing of nominations by the aspiring parliamentarians.
Last week, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Asawase, Alhaji Muntanka Mubarak, appealed to the leadership of the House to suspend this week’s sittings to give MPs ample time to go to their constituencies to file their nominations. But the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, stated in his reply that MPs who would not contest the forthcoming parliamentary elections would be present to perform the business of the House.
At yesterday’s sitting, the House began proceedings with only 13 MPs from both sides. However, the day business was aborted midway because of lack of forum.
On Tuesday, less than 30 MPs, mostly those who were not seeking re-election and MPs from the Greater Accra and adjoining regions were in the House to perform their parliamentary duties.
Some of the MPs who spoke to the Daily Graphic said that filing of the nomination forms required ample time since prospective MPs had to be endorsed by 20 registered voters, among other requirements, hence the need for the House to have suspended sittings for the week.
The MP for Lower West Akim, Mr James Apietu-Ankra, stated that bills, such as the National Pension Bill, among others which would be discussed during the week, were so crucial that they needed inputs from all MPs.
But it seems the leadership of the House was mindful of the limited time available to Parliament before the break on November 7, 2008 hence the decision not to suspend their sittings.
The House is expected to consider 10 new bills during the period in addition to bills which are already before the various committees of the House while papers and loan agreements are also expected to be considered.
The new bills include the Internal Revenue (Registration of Businesses) (Amendment) Bill, Institute of Marketing Bill, Trade Mark (Amendment) Bill, Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, Electoral Commission (Amendment) Bill, Internal Revenue (Amendment), Northern Development Fund Bill and the Parliamentary Service (Amendment) Bill, among others.
It is expected that the poor attendance of the House during the week would continue till the end of the week.
Mindful of the enormous task ahead, the leadership of the House last week announced that the House would have extended sittings in addition to sitting on Mondays as from next week.
Some of the MPs, however advised the Executive not to wait till the last day of the meeting before placing loan agreements before the House for consideration.
Monday, October 13, 2008
16,000 to die from HIV\AIDS this year
Page 47, Monday Oct 12, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
About 16,000 people may die through HIV/AIDS in the country this year, the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has revealed.
The figure, which translates into 70 deaths per day, is a decline from the 25,000 people who died last year.
The Technical Director of the GAC, Dr Richard N. Amenyah, who disclosed this, was speaking at a two-day workshop on HIV/AIDS for the leadership of Parliament at the Royal Atlantic Resort at Bortianor, near Accra, at the weekend.
The workshop was aimed at identifying ways of giving further impetus to the fight against the pandemic and carrying the fight to a new level by involving Members of Parliament (MPs).
It was organised by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, with support from the GAC and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on the theme, “Parliamentarians forum for Millennium Development Goals and Human Development — Linkages with HIV/AIDS”.
Dr Amenyah noted that since the disease had currently assumed an epidemic proportion, there was the need for the fight against its eradication to be the concern of all stakeholders.
He said while more than 200,000 families had suffered from the disease since its detection in the country, it was also showing a feminine face, as 58 per cent of the over 270,000 people who had been infected in the country were females.
Giving details of the HIV/AIDS situation in the country, Dr Amenyah stated that Agormenya in the Eastern Region led with an 8.9 prevalence rate on a chart of selected urban centres, while Fanteakwa, also in the Eastern Region, topped with a 5.8 per cent prevalent rate on the rural sites chart.
He, therefore, called for a new political commitment to the fight against the disease and charged political parties currently criss-crossing the country in search of votes to include messages on HIV/AIDS in their campaign.
In his address, the Deputy UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Shigeki Komatsubara, said while Ghana had made tremendous progress in stabilising the epidemic, Ghanaians needed to learn from the experiences of other sub-Saharan countries and not remain complacent.
“We need to recognise that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has become the hurdle for human development, claiming millions of lives and leaving millions more infected,” he said.
He added that if not kept in check, the disease would accentuate the burden of poor countries by worsening poverty, reversing the gains made in human development and reducing governments’ capacity to provide essential services for the people.
“The prevailing and projected socio-economic effect of the disease is so drastic that fighting AIDS has become synonymous with fighting poverty. The MDGs and many of the national poverty reduction targets can be achieved only if the AIDS crisis is addressed effectively,” he said
For his part, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei-Aidooh, noted that although the health sector was so vital in the fight against the disease, the halting of the spread of the pandemic could not be left to health workers alone.
He said the involvement of MPs had become crucial, since, as recognised opinion leaders, they could serve as effective change champions.
“I have no doubt that the positive involvement of MPs in the fight against HIV/AIDS will complement the effort of other organisations and individuals in several ways,” he said.
Mr Ossei-Aidooh appealed to MPs to work hard to address difficulties such as discrimination, stigmatisation, job loss and abandonment by families, relations and friends that persons living with HIV/AIDS went through.
He, however, acknowledged that there was the need to build the capacities of MPs to enable them to respond more effectively to the fight against the disease and thanked the UNDP and the GAC for assisting the ministry to organise the workshop for that purpose.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
About 16,000 people may die through HIV/AIDS in the country this year, the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has revealed.
The figure, which translates into 70 deaths per day, is a decline from the 25,000 people who died last year.
The Technical Director of the GAC, Dr Richard N. Amenyah, who disclosed this, was speaking at a two-day workshop on HIV/AIDS for the leadership of Parliament at the Royal Atlantic Resort at Bortianor, near Accra, at the weekend.
The workshop was aimed at identifying ways of giving further impetus to the fight against the pandemic and carrying the fight to a new level by involving Members of Parliament (MPs).
It was organised by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, with support from the GAC and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on the theme, “Parliamentarians forum for Millennium Development Goals and Human Development — Linkages with HIV/AIDS”.
Dr Amenyah noted that since the disease had currently assumed an epidemic proportion, there was the need for the fight against its eradication to be the concern of all stakeholders.
He said while more than 200,000 families had suffered from the disease since its detection in the country, it was also showing a feminine face, as 58 per cent of the over 270,000 people who had been infected in the country were females.
Giving details of the HIV/AIDS situation in the country, Dr Amenyah stated that Agormenya in the Eastern Region led with an 8.9 prevalence rate on a chart of selected urban centres, while Fanteakwa, also in the Eastern Region, topped with a 5.8 per cent prevalent rate on the rural sites chart.
He, therefore, called for a new political commitment to the fight against the disease and charged political parties currently criss-crossing the country in search of votes to include messages on HIV/AIDS in their campaign.
In his address, the Deputy UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Shigeki Komatsubara, said while Ghana had made tremendous progress in stabilising the epidemic, Ghanaians needed to learn from the experiences of other sub-Saharan countries and not remain complacent.
“We need to recognise that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has become the hurdle for human development, claiming millions of lives and leaving millions more infected,” he said.
He added that if not kept in check, the disease would accentuate the burden of poor countries by worsening poverty, reversing the gains made in human development and reducing governments’ capacity to provide essential services for the people.
“The prevailing and projected socio-economic effect of the disease is so drastic that fighting AIDS has become synonymous with fighting poverty. The MDGs and many of the national poverty reduction targets can be achieved only if the AIDS crisis is addressed effectively,” he said
For his part, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei-Aidooh, noted that although the health sector was so vital in the fight against the disease, the halting of the spread of the pandemic could not be left to health workers alone.
He said the involvement of MPs had become crucial, since, as recognised opinion leaders, they could serve as effective change champions.
“I have no doubt that the positive involvement of MPs in the fight against HIV/AIDS will complement the effort of other organisations and individuals in several ways,” he said.
Mr Ossei-Aidooh appealed to MPs to work hard to address difficulties such as discrimination, stigmatisation, job loss and abandonment by families, relations and friends that persons living with HIV/AIDS went through.
He, however, acknowledged that there was the need to build the capacities of MPs to enable them to respond more effectively to the fight against the disease and thanked the UNDP and the GAC for assisting the ministry to organise the workshop for that purpose.
Communications bill go through second reading
Page 14, Sat Oct 11, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
TWO bills aimed at enhancing the operations of the communications industry, which were placed before Parliament during its previous meeting, today passed through their second reading stages.
They are the National Communication Authority (NCA) and the Electronic Communication bills.
The purpose of NCA Bill is to re-establish the NCA to achieve a clear separation of regulatory matters from institutional matters to promote accelerated growth in the communication industry.
The Electronic Communication Bill, on the other hand, aims ???at providing for ????the regulation of electronic communications and broadcasting services in accordance with the National Electronic Communications and Broadcasting Policy of 2005.
The Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, moved for the second reading of the two bills and was seconded by the Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Communications, Mr Kojo Armah.
Mr Armah said after a careful consideration of the two bills, the committee found that they would enhance the operations of the communications industry and, therefore, recommended them to the House for passage.
Contributing to the NCA Bill, the Minority Spokesperson on Communications and MP for Tamale South, Mr Iddrisu Haruna, expressed concern about the inability of the NCA to ensure that mobile phone operators in the country provided quality services to their clients.
He, therefore called for measures to sufficiently empower it to enable it to demand quality service from mobile phone operators.
In another development, the MP for Asawase, Alhaji Muntanka Mubarak, called on the leadership of the House to consider the suspension of sittings on October 16 and 17 to enable sitting MPs who were contesting their seats to travel to their constituencies to file their nominations.
He made the suggestion after the Majority Leader, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, had presented the business statement of next week to the House.
Alhaji Mubarak observed that a greater percentage of MPs would not attend sitting on those two days and said that it would, therefore, be appropriate if sittings were suspended.
Replying, Mr Aidooh said the leadership of the House took into consideration the filing of nominations by MPs who were contesting their seat and found out that those who were not seeking for re-elections could attend sittings on those two days.
He announced that the House would not sit tomorrow due to the funeral of the late former Speaker of the House, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
TWO bills aimed at enhancing the operations of the communications industry, which were placed before Parliament during its previous meeting, today passed through their second reading stages.
They are the National Communication Authority (NCA) and the Electronic Communication bills.
The purpose of NCA Bill is to re-establish the NCA to achieve a clear separation of regulatory matters from institutional matters to promote accelerated growth in the communication industry.
The Electronic Communication Bill, on the other hand, aims ???at providing for ????the regulation of electronic communications and broadcasting services in accordance with the National Electronic Communications and Broadcasting Policy of 2005.
The Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, moved for the second reading of the two bills and was seconded by the Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Communications, Mr Kojo Armah.
Mr Armah said after a careful consideration of the two bills, the committee found that they would enhance the operations of the communications industry and, therefore, recommended them to the House for passage.
Contributing to the NCA Bill, the Minority Spokesperson on Communications and MP for Tamale South, Mr Iddrisu Haruna, expressed concern about the inability of the NCA to ensure that mobile phone operators in the country provided quality services to their clients.
He, therefore called for measures to sufficiently empower it to enable it to demand quality service from mobile phone operators.
In another development, the MP for Asawase, Alhaji Muntanka Mubarak, called on the leadership of the House to consider the suspension of sittings on October 16 and 17 to enable sitting MPs who were contesting their seats to travel to their constituencies to file their nominations.
He made the suggestion after the Majority Leader, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, had presented the business statement of next week to the House.
Alhaji Mubarak observed that a greater percentage of MPs would not attend sitting on those two days and said that it would, therefore, be appropriate if sittings were suspended.
Replying, Mr Aidooh said the leadership of the House took into consideration the filing of nominations by MPs who were contesting their seat and found out that those who were not seeking for re-elections could attend sittings on those two days.
He announced that the House would not sit tomorrow due to the funeral of the late former Speaker of the House, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey.
Peter Ala Adjetey laid to rest
Frontpage, Saturday October 11, 2008
Story: Nehemia Owusu Achiaw & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
HUNDREDS of Ghanaians besieged the forecourt of the State House in Accra yesterday to pay their last respects to one of the country’s most accomplished lawyers, the Rt Honourable Peter Ala Adjetey, who was also a former Speaker of Parliament.
In attendance at the state funeral was an impressive array of political, judicial, legislative and social leaders, including President J.A. Kufuor and his wife, Theresa; Vice-President Aliu Mahama; the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes; former President J.J. Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu, and the flag bearers of the various political parties.
Also present were Members of Parliament (MPs), members of the Diplomatic Corps, the clergy, executives of the various political parties, chiefs and queens from across the country and a cross-section of the people.
To honour the late former Speaker for his contribution to the growth of parliamentary democracy, the leadership of Parliament decided not to sit yesterday to give MPs ample time to mourn their departed former leader.
As early as 6.00 a.m. the casket bearing Mr Adjetey’s body arrived at the Speaker’s Block in Parliament, where it was received by Mr Sekyi Hughes; the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Freddie Blay; the Second Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan; the Majority Leader, Mr Abraham Ossei-Aidooh; the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin; a cross-section of MPs and members of the Parliamentary Service.
Brief religious rites were performed at the lobby of the block by Reverend Antonio Nelson of the La St Paul’s Anglican Church, where the late former Speaker worshipped, after which the casket was carried to the forecourt of the State House for the state burial service.
Before the arrival of President Kufuor, MPs, members of the Diplomatic Corps, family members and a cross-section of the people had filed past the body, amid singing by the Tema Youth Choir and the throbbing of traditional drums.
When he arrived, President Kufuor led a retinue of Ministers of State to file past the body to accord the former Speaker their last respects.
In a tribute read on his behalf by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey, President Kufuor stated that the return to constitutional rule in 1992 saw another chapter in the life of the late former Speaker in which he represented the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) in a number of constitutional cases before the Supreme Court, explaining that those cases contributed immensely to the development of constitutional rule in Ghana.
He mentioned the NPP vrs GBC case, in which the Supreme Court decided that the state-owned broadcasting corporation was obliged to give political parties equal opportunities to present their views on state-sponsored television, and the NPP vrs IGP case in which the Supreme Court gave clarity and further meaning to Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution on the right of freedom of assembly, including freedom to take part in processions and demonstrations, as some of Mr Adjetey’s contributions to constitutional democracy.
“We, as a nation, owe a debt of gratitude to all actors at this stage of the nation’s development and for the recognition of and respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms that today we take for granted; a stage on which Peter Ala Adjetey once again stood tall,” he said.
He observed that Mr Adjetey’s transition from a politician to a statesman was seamless, as he was passionate and believed in the doctrine of separation of powers and the independence of Parliament.
President Kufuor added that it was in recognition of that that the late Speaker was awarded a well-deserved national honour — Order of the Star of Volta (Civil Division) Member — on July 3, 2008, explaining that “Peter Ala Adjetey lived a life worth celebrating and that is why we are gathered here today not to mourn the dead but to celebrate a life”.
The flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in a tribute, recalled his association with Mr Adjetey and described him as a fearless lawyer and politician who was meticulous in all the fields in which he found himself.
He said he was very grateful for the support he received from Mr Adjetey to shape his political career, adding, “I have lost the guidance of a valued counsellor and committed politician. Ghana is poor for his loss but his legacy will live with us forever.”
Other tributes were read by Mr Freddie Blay, on behalf of Parliament, Mr Adjetey’s widow, children, grandchildren, the judiciary, the GBA, the NPP, the St Paul’s Anglican Church, the Rotary Club, the Accra Academy Old Boys Association, among others.
In a sermon, Right Reverend J.K. Dadson, a former Anglican Bishop of the Sunyani/Tamale Diocese, asked Ghanaians to strive to leave legacies that would enable present and future generations to remember them for the development of the country.
“Let us learn from the selfless life lead by Mr Adjetey and live in harmony with our opponents in order to forge a united front for the country’s development,” he advised.
The former Speaker was buried at the churchyard of the St Paul’s Anglican Church, La, Accra, after the state burial service.
Story: Nehemia Owusu Achiaw & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
HUNDREDS of Ghanaians besieged the forecourt of the State House in Accra yesterday to pay their last respects to one of the country’s most accomplished lawyers, the Rt Honourable Peter Ala Adjetey, who was also a former Speaker of Parliament.
In attendance at the state funeral was an impressive array of political, judicial, legislative and social leaders, including President J.A. Kufuor and his wife, Theresa; Vice-President Aliu Mahama; the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes; former President J.J. Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu, and the flag bearers of the various political parties.
Also present were Members of Parliament (MPs), members of the Diplomatic Corps, the clergy, executives of the various political parties, chiefs and queens from across the country and a cross-section of the people.
To honour the late former Speaker for his contribution to the growth of parliamentary democracy, the leadership of Parliament decided not to sit yesterday to give MPs ample time to mourn their departed former leader.
As early as 6.00 a.m. the casket bearing Mr Adjetey’s body arrived at the Speaker’s Block in Parliament, where it was received by Mr Sekyi Hughes; the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Freddie Blay; the Second Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan; the Majority Leader, Mr Abraham Ossei-Aidooh; the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin; a cross-section of MPs and members of the Parliamentary Service.
Brief religious rites were performed at the lobby of the block by Reverend Antonio Nelson of the La St Paul’s Anglican Church, where the late former Speaker worshipped, after which the casket was carried to the forecourt of the State House for the state burial service.
Before the arrival of President Kufuor, MPs, members of the Diplomatic Corps, family members and a cross-section of the people had filed past the body, amid singing by the Tema Youth Choir and the throbbing of traditional drums.
When he arrived, President Kufuor led a retinue of Ministers of State to file past the body to accord the former Speaker their last respects.
In a tribute read on his behalf by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey, President Kufuor stated that the return to constitutional rule in 1992 saw another chapter in the life of the late former Speaker in which he represented the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) in a number of constitutional cases before the Supreme Court, explaining that those cases contributed immensely to the development of constitutional rule in Ghana.
He mentioned the NPP vrs GBC case, in which the Supreme Court decided that the state-owned broadcasting corporation was obliged to give political parties equal opportunities to present their views on state-sponsored television, and the NPP vrs IGP case in which the Supreme Court gave clarity and further meaning to Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution on the right of freedom of assembly, including freedom to take part in processions and demonstrations, as some of Mr Adjetey’s contributions to constitutional democracy.
“We, as a nation, owe a debt of gratitude to all actors at this stage of the nation’s development and for the recognition of and respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms that today we take for granted; a stage on which Peter Ala Adjetey once again stood tall,” he said.
He observed that Mr Adjetey’s transition from a politician to a statesman was seamless, as he was passionate and believed in the doctrine of separation of powers and the independence of Parliament.
President Kufuor added that it was in recognition of that that the late Speaker was awarded a well-deserved national honour — Order of the Star of Volta (Civil Division) Member — on July 3, 2008, explaining that “Peter Ala Adjetey lived a life worth celebrating and that is why we are gathered here today not to mourn the dead but to celebrate a life”.
The flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in a tribute, recalled his association with Mr Adjetey and described him as a fearless lawyer and politician who was meticulous in all the fields in which he found himself.
He said he was very grateful for the support he received from Mr Adjetey to shape his political career, adding, “I have lost the guidance of a valued counsellor and committed politician. Ghana is poor for his loss but his legacy will live with us forever.”
Other tributes were read by Mr Freddie Blay, on behalf of Parliament, Mr Adjetey’s widow, children, grandchildren, the judiciary, the GBA, the NPP, the St Paul’s Anglican Church, the Rotary Club, the Accra Academy Old Boys Association, among others.
In a sermon, Right Reverend J.K. Dadson, a former Anglican Bishop of the Sunyani/Tamale Diocese, asked Ghanaians to strive to leave legacies that would enable present and future generations to remember them for the development of the country.
“Let us learn from the selfless life lead by Mr Adjetey and live in harmony with our opponents in order to forge a united front for the country’s development,” he advised.
The former Speaker was buried at the churchyard of the St Paul’s Anglican Church, La, Accra, after the state burial service.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Parliament pays tribute to Ala Adjetey
Page 50, Oct 9, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) yesterday paid glowing tribute to the late former Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, for the role he played in nurturing the country’s parliamentary democracy.
The government has scheduled tomorrow , October 10, for the performance of a state funeral for the late former Speaker.
The MPs were contributing to a statement made by the Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Suame, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, in honour of Mr Adjetey.
In his statement, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu observed that Mr Adjetey “lived fairness, objectivity and impartiality in Parliament”.
He said the former Speaker was so fair that at different times, either side of the House accused him of favouring the other side.
“Not all member agreed with him all the times, yet they all always respected his sense of justice and his fairness. His credo was that even if the Majority would have their way, the Minority must always have their say,” he said.
The MP stated that initially, Mr Adjetey was misunderstood by many of his own party people in Parliament but added that in retrospect, there was general agreement that that was the way to grow Parliament.
He explained that the consensus approach he promoted brought unity and combined will to achieve goals collectively, resulting in the passing of 92 bills into laws during his four-year tenure as Speaker.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the news of the death of the former Speaker came as a shock, stressing that “our grief is not simply about the loss of a great statesman; our grief springs from the sudden realisation that a visionary who gave so much hope to widening the horizon of democracy has been lost”.
Contributing to the statement, the Majority Leader and MP for Tema West, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, described the late former Speaker as a principled and disciplined man who believed in the supremacy of the law.
He noted that Mr Adjetey appreciated things done in the rightful manner and worked for the independence of parliamentary democracy.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Alban S.K. Bagbin, noted that it was the late former Speaker’s forthrightness which ensured the success of the operation of the House during his tenure of office.
Other MPs who contributed to the tribute were Kojo Armah (Evalue Dwira), Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman (New Juaben North), Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan (Yendi), Francis Abotse (Ho West) and Christine Churcher (Cape Coast).
They were all unanimous in their contributions that the former Speaker had played his part in the country’s parliamentary democracy.
Meanwhile, the National Pension Reform Bill yesterday passed through its second reading stage.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, thanked the MPs for the various contributions to enable the bill to stand the test of time when passed into law.
The Minister of Energy, Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, who also appeared before the House to answer questions, told the House that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) had proposed in its 2009 budget to expand the distribution network by upgrading the low voltage network and also installing another transformer to cater for the load growth in the Dwinase community in the Sefwi Wiawso Constituency.
Answering a question posed by the MP for Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, the minister said the ECG had further planned to commence system improvement activities at Sefwi Asafo, Sefwi Boako and Sefwi Anyinabrim by the end of 2008.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) yesterday paid glowing tribute to the late former Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, for the role he played in nurturing the country’s parliamentary democracy.
The government has scheduled tomorrow , October 10, for the performance of a state funeral for the late former Speaker.
The MPs were contributing to a statement made by the Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Suame, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, in honour of Mr Adjetey.
In his statement, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu observed that Mr Adjetey “lived fairness, objectivity and impartiality in Parliament”.
He said the former Speaker was so fair that at different times, either side of the House accused him of favouring the other side.
“Not all member agreed with him all the times, yet they all always respected his sense of justice and his fairness. His credo was that even if the Majority would have their way, the Minority must always have their say,” he said.
The MP stated that initially, Mr Adjetey was misunderstood by many of his own party people in Parliament but added that in retrospect, there was general agreement that that was the way to grow Parliament.
He explained that the consensus approach he promoted brought unity and combined will to achieve goals collectively, resulting in the passing of 92 bills into laws during his four-year tenure as Speaker.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the news of the death of the former Speaker came as a shock, stressing that “our grief is not simply about the loss of a great statesman; our grief springs from the sudden realisation that a visionary who gave so much hope to widening the horizon of democracy has been lost”.
Contributing to the statement, the Majority Leader and MP for Tema West, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, described the late former Speaker as a principled and disciplined man who believed in the supremacy of the law.
He noted that Mr Adjetey appreciated things done in the rightful manner and worked for the independence of parliamentary democracy.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Alban S.K. Bagbin, noted that it was the late former Speaker’s forthrightness which ensured the success of the operation of the House during his tenure of office.
Other MPs who contributed to the tribute were Kojo Armah (Evalue Dwira), Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman (New Juaben North), Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan (Yendi), Francis Abotse (Ho West) and Christine Churcher (Cape Coast).
They were all unanimous in their contributions that the former Speaker had played his part in the country’s parliamentary democracy.
Meanwhile, the National Pension Reform Bill yesterday passed through its second reading stage.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, thanked the MPs for the various contributions to enable the bill to stand the test of time when passed into law.
The Minister of Energy, Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, who also appeared before the House to answer questions, told the House that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) had proposed in its 2009 budget to expand the distribution network by upgrading the low voltage network and also installing another transformer to cater for the load growth in the Dwinase community in the Sefwi Wiawso Constituency.
Answering a question posed by the MP for Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, the minister said the ECG had further planned to commence system improvement activities at Sefwi Asafo, Sefwi Boako and Sefwi Anyinabrim by the end of 2008.
Baah-Wiredu's body in today
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Centre Spread, October 8, 2008
THE body of the late Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, will arrive at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra from South Africa today.
Disclosing this in Parliament yesterday, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, said the Ghana High Commission in South Africa had already communicated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that relations of the late minister and high-ranking officials of the High Commission would accompany the body from South Africa.
The Speaker was welcoming members to the beginning of the third meeting of the last session of the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
Thousands of Ghanaians, including the country’s political and business leadership, law makers and the clergy are expected to throng the airport to receive the body.
Informing the Members of Parliament (MPs) officially about the demise of Baah-Wiredu, who was MP for Asante-Akyem North, after the reconvening of the House, which had been on recess for almost three months, the Speaker said the body would arrive in the country on a South African Airways flight.
Mr Sekyi Hughes said the leadership of the House received the news of the death of the late minister in South Africa with shock and dismay.
He paid glowing tribute to the late MP, describing him as a man who sacrificed his entire life for the good of the broad masses of the people.
He said the late minister’s high level and selfless sense of discipline and hard work impacted positively on the various ministries that he presided over during the past seven and half years.
The Speaker explained that what endeared the late Baah-Wiredu to people, irrespective of their political posture and colouring, economic or social standing, was his unwavering commitment to listen to their problems and address their concerns.
Mr Sekyi Hughes added that what made the late minister outstanding among his peers was his humility, accommodating nature and tolerance which he exhibited whenever he interacted with people.
He called on Ghanaians to emulate the late minister’s shining example, adding that he led a simple life devoid of pomp, arrogance and intolerance.
The Speaker then called on the MPs to observe a minute’s silence in memory and honour of Baah-Wiredu.
Mr Sekyi Hughes also informed the House about the final funeral rites of the immediate past Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, on October 10, 2008 and called on the MPs to attend the funeral in their numbers to give the late Speaker a fitting burial.
The atmosphere in the House was full of emotion as members turned up in mourning clothes to show their respect for their departed colleague, reports Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah .
The seat of the late minister and MP and the microphone in front of it were robed in red pieces of cloth, while most of the MPs wore either black cloths or suits, with red ties to match.
Baah-Wiredu died in South Africa on Wednesday, September 24.
Before the meeting began, some of the MPs were spotted in groups discussing the death of their colleague, while a member of staff of the Parliamentary Service distributed red bands to them.
The order paper for the day included the National Pension Reform Bill which had been moved by Baah-Wiredu on Thursday, July 17, 2008 before Parliament went on recess the following day.
The motion for the second reading of the bill, which was scheduled for yesterday, was deferred to today “to show respect to Baah-Wiredu”, both the Majority Leader, Mr Abraham Osei Aidooh, and the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, told the House.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the MP for Tema East, Mr Ishmael Ashitey, said Baah-Wiredu’s death was a big blow to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the country as a whole.
“It will be very difficult to fill the vacuum created by his death,” he said.
The MP for Jaman South, Ms Anna Nyamekye, described the work in Parliament as very stressful, explaining that matters worsened if one doubled as a minister of state.
She said comments heard after Mr Baah-Wiredu’s death showed that he had overworked himself and called on the leadership of the House to take a cue from his death and institute a suitable welfare package for MPs.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Talensi, Mr John Akolugu Tia, paid tribute to the late MP, describing him as a “well bred politician who cut across people from the political divide”.
The People’s National Convention (PNC) MP for Sissala West, Mr Haruna Bayirga, described Mr Baah-Wiredu as a humble minister who could be approached by any ordinary person.
“He extended his love not only to MPs and his colleague ministers but also ordinary citizens as well,” he said, adding that he was a “peacemaker, a unifier and a developer”.
He observed that all the political parties could boast of people with Mr Baah-Wiredu’s calibre and called on them to come together to water down the current political tension.
He said the people of Sissala would always remember the crucial role played by Mr Baah-Wiredu in splitting the area into two districts.
The Minister of Fisheries and MP for Takoradi, Mrs Gladys Asmah, recalled the role played by Mr Baah-Wiredu when the NPP was in opposition and said the House would miss “such a team player”.
Centre Spread, October 8, 2008
THE body of the late Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, will arrive at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra from South Africa today.
Disclosing this in Parliament yesterday, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, said the Ghana High Commission in South Africa had already communicated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that relations of the late minister and high-ranking officials of the High Commission would accompany the body from South Africa.
The Speaker was welcoming members to the beginning of the third meeting of the last session of the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
Thousands of Ghanaians, including the country’s political and business leadership, law makers and the clergy are expected to throng the airport to receive the body.
Informing the Members of Parliament (MPs) officially about the demise of Baah-Wiredu, who was MP for Asante-Akyem North, after the reconvening of the House, which had been on recess for almost three months, the Speaker said the body would arrive in the country on a South African Airways flight.
Mr Sekyi Hughes said the leadership of the House received the news of the death of the late minister in South Africa with shock and dismay.
He paid glowing tribute to the late MP, describing him as a man who sacrificed his entire life for the good of the broad masses of the people.
He said the late minister’s high level and selfless sense of discipline and hard work impacted positively on the various ministries that he presided over during the past seven and half years.
The Speaker explained that what endeared the late Baah-Wiredu to people, irrespective of their political posture and colouring, economic or social standing, was his unwavering commitment to listen to their problems and address their concerns.
Mr Sekyi Hughes added that what made the late minister outstanding among his peers was his humility, accommodating nature and tolerance which he exhibited whenever he interacted with people.
He called on Ghanaians to emulate the late minister’s shining example, adding that he led a simple life devoid of pomp, arrogance and intolerance.
The Speaker then called on the MPs to observe a minute’s silence in memory and honour of Baah-Wiredu.
Mr Sekyi Hughes also informed the House about the final funeral rites of the immediate past Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, on October 10, 2008 and called on the MPs to attend the funeral in their numbers to give the late Speaker a fitting burial.
The atmosphere in the House was full of emotion as members turned up in mourning clothes to show their respect for their departed colleague, reports Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah .
The seat of the late minister and MP and the microphone in front of it were robed in red pieces of cloth, while most of the MPs wore either black cloths or suits, with red ties to match.
Baah-Wiredu died in South Africa on Wednesday, September 24.
Before the meeting began, some of the MPs were spotted in groups discussing the death of their colleague, while a member of staff of the Parliamentary Service distributed red bands to them.
The order paper for the day included the National Pension Reform Bill which had been moved by Baah-Wiredu on Thursday, July 17, 2008 before Parliament went on recess the following day.
The motion for the second reading of the bill, which was scheduled for yesterday, was deferred to today “to show respect to Baah-Wiredu”, both the Majority Leader, Mr Abraham Osei Aidooh, and the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, told the House.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the MP for Tema East, Mr Ishmael Ashitey, said Baah-Wiredu’s death was a big blow to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the country as a whole.
“It will be very difficult to fill the vacuum created by his death,” he said.
The MP for Jaman South, Ms Anna Nyamekye, described the work in Parliament as very stressful, explaining that matters worsened if one doubled as a minister of state.
She said comments heard after Mr Baah-Wiredu’s death showed that he had overworked himself and called on the leadership of the House to take a cue from his death and institute a suitable welfare package for MPs.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Talensi, Mr John Akolugu Tia, paid tribute to the late MP, describing him as a “well bred politician who cut across people from the political divide”.
The People’s National Convention (PNC) MP for Sissala West, Mr Haruna Bayirga, described Mr Baah-Wiredu as a humble minister who could be approached by any ordinary person.
“He extended his love not only to MPs and his colleague ministers but also ordinary citizens as well,” he said, adding that he was a “peacemaker, a unifier and a developer”.
He observed that all the political parties could boast of people with Mr Baah-Wiredu’s calibre and called on them to come together to water down the current political tension.
He said the people of Sissala would always remember the crucial role played by Mr Baah-Wiredu in splitting the area into two districts.
The Minister of Fisheries and MP for Takoradi, Mrs Gladys Asmah, recalled the role played by Mr Baah-Wiredu when the NPP was in opposition and said the House would miss “such a team player”.
Parliament reconvenes today
Page 16, October 7, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT reconvenes today for the third meeting of the last session of the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
The meeting is expected to break on November 7, 2008 to enable Members of Parliament (MPs) have enough time to prepare for the forthcoming general elections.
The House will reconvene on January 6, 2009 for the dissolution of the Fourth Parliament to pave way for beginning of the Fifth Parliament on January 7, 2009.
Ten new bills are scheduled to be placed before the House during the period while bills which are currently before the various committees of the House, papers and loan agreements are also expected to be considered.
The new bills include the Internal Revenue (Registration of Businesses) (Amendment) Bill, Institute of Marketing Bill, Trade Mark (Amendment) Bill, Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, Electoral Commission (Amendment) Bill, Internal Revenue (Amendment) Bill, Northern Development Fund Bill and the Parliamentary Service (Amendment) Bill, among others.
According to the Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Mr Jones Kugblenu, the third meeting of the last session of the Fourth Parliament is expected to be hectic since most MPs would be torn between their bid to maintain their seats and the work of the House.
He said, however that since that was the first time in the history of Parliament, the MPs would be able to combine their parliamentary duties and electoral campaigns to make the meeting a success,
“The MPs know the rules and regulations of the House and I hope that as honourable members, they will abide by them to bring the sitting to a successful end to crown the successes chalked up during the Fourth Parliament”, he said.
Some MPs who spoke to the Daily Graphic said they were prepared to meet challenges that would confront them during the meeting.
The NDC MP for Ho East, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, said that although most of the MPs were in the race to maintain their seats, that would not prevent them from taking part in the business of the House.
She stated that most of the MPs were expected to go back to their constituencies during the second week of the meeting to file their nominations for the forthcoming elections and expressed the hope that they would rush back to Accra to continue with the business in the House.
For his part, the NPP MP for Heman Lower Denkyira, Reverend Ben Donkor, said “I am expecting a busy meeting. It will not be easy for us to combine our campaigns with the business of the House, but with determination and dedication, we will succeed”.
He, however, advised the executive not to wait till the last week of the meeting before bringing loan and other agreements to the House for ratification since that would not augur well for a successful meeting.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT reconvenes today for the third meeting of the last session of the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
The meeting is expected to break on November 7, 2008 to enable Members of Parliament (MPs) have enough time to prepare for the forthcoming general elections.
The House will reconvene on January 6, 2009 for the dissolution of the Fourth Parliament to pave way for beginning of the Fifth Parliament on January 7, 2009.
Ten new bills are scheduled to be placed before the House during the period while bills which are currently before the various committees of the House, papers and loan agreements are also expected to be considered.
The new bills include the Internal Revenue (Registration of Businesses) (Amendment) Bill, Institute of Marketing Bill, Trade Mark (Amendment) Bill, Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, Electoral Commission (Amendment) Bill, Internal Revenue (Amendment) Bill, Northern Development Fund Bill and the Parliamentary Service (Amendment) Bill, among others.
According to the Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Mr Jones Kugblenu, the third meeting of the last session of the Fourth Parliament is expected to be hectic since most MPs would be torn between their bid to maintain their seats and the work of the House.
He said, however that since that was the first time in the history of Parliament, the MPs would be able to combine their parliamentary duties and electoral campaigns to make the meeting a success,
“The MPs know the rules and regulations of the House and I hope that as honourable members, they will abide by them to bring the sitting to a successful end to crown the successes chalked up during the Fourth Parliament”, he said.
Some MPs who spoke to the Daily Graphic said they were prepared to meet challenges that would confront them during the meeting.
The NDC MP for Ho East, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, said that although most of the MPs were in the race to maintain their seats, that would not prevent them from taking part in the business of the House.
She stated that most of the MPs were expected to go back to their constituencies during the second week of the meeting to file their nominations for the forthcoming elections and expressed the hope that they would rush back to Accra to continue with the business in the House.
For his part, the NPP MP for Heman Lower Denkyira, Reverend Ben Donkor, said “I am expecting a busy meeting. It will not be easy for us to combine our campaigns with the business of the House, but with determination and dedication, we will succeed”.
He, however, advised the executive not to wait till the last week of the meeting before bringing loan and other agreements to the House for ratification since that would not augur well for a successful meeting.
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