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.