Page 13, Friday June 26, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr David Yakubu, has bemoaned the lack of provision of the right mix of high calibre of staff for district assemblies and the sub-district structures, noting that the situation has hampered development in the rural areas.
He said many district assemblies, especially the newly created ones, did not have adequate human capacity to ensure their development goals.
“The central administration of most district assemblies, especially the newly created ones lack planning and budget officers for the preparation of good plans for the development of the assemblies,” he noted.
Mr Yakubu was presenting a paper on the topic “Enhancing the capacity of newly created district assemblies to ensure the achievement of effective development goals” at a workshop in We.
It was organised by the Parliamentary Press Corps and sponsored by the Office of the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
Participants included District Chief Executives (DCEs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Upper West Region and members of the Parliamentary Press Corps.
Mr Yakubu said it was sad that apart from the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Ghana Health Service, most of the other departments in the region either had caretaker officers or at best a “one person” department.
He said in the midst of inadequate staffing, there was a serious challenge of coordination, since most departments of the various assemblies still worked in isolation or under their regional heads instead of the assemblies.
Mr Yakubu said that had further weakened the collaborative efforts needed to enhance the human resource capacity of the assemblies.
He also identified lack of capacity on the part of assembly members to play effective roles and functions as the greatest challenge facing newly created assemblies in particular and all other assemblies in general.
Mr Yakubu said since many assembly members did not know or appreciate their roles and functions, they were unable to discuss issues affecting their constituents and the assemblies.
He, therefore, suggested that provision of human resource for the newly created assemblies should be well planned and systematic, adding that because of the rural nature of the assemblies, incentive packages should be instituted to entice high calibre of staff to accept postings to those areas.
Mr Yakubu called for the institution of continuous training programmes to be designed for all the staff at the district and sub-district levels, as well as for the assembly members to enhance their capacities.
He also suggested provision of additional financial resources outside of the DACF, while provision of some infrastructural development in the new assemblies should be taken up by the central government.
Touching on the theme for the workshop, “Transparency and Accountability: Pillars for Effective Decentralisation”, the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, said it behoved all Ghanaians, especially those placed in positions of trust, to live up to their responsibilities.
He stated that transparency and accountability, as a means of propelling effective decentralisation, could only be achieved through informed participation of the people at the community level.
Mr Chireh gave assurance that the government was committed to the tenets of effective decentralisation and local government administration through participation, transparency and accountability as indicated in its manifesto.
He said the recent announcement of the introduction of town hall meetings with community members of the various districts was an added leap to transparency and accountability of governance, especially at the local levels.
Mr Chireh noted that although Ghana had chalked up successes over the years in its decentralisation process, the country could do better if it considered transparency and accountability as the corner pillars of its decentralised local government administration.
For his part, the Administrator of the DACF, Mr Joshua Magnesia Nicol, called on the media to rebuild public trust, expectation and the confidence in the district assemblies as the institutions that had the capacity to provide sustained development.
“The media may have to intensify their role of informing and educating the public and of exposing mistakes of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies,” he said.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Deputy minister confirms demolition exercise
Page 12, Fri June 26, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
DEPUTY Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr Hannah Bissiw, yesterday told Parliament that about 41 houses and structures would have to be demolished in order to properly clear the Lafa Drain of silt and construct it to help prevent flooding in some parts of Accra during rainfalls.
The Lafa Stream, which stretches over 11 km, flows through Mallam Kokoroko, Awoshie, Santa Maria, and Race Course and, according to the deputy minister, “to alleviate the flooding situation within the Lafa Basin, there should be free flow of runoff from upstream to the outfall”.
“That could be only achieved when structures located on the [watercourse] are relocated or removed,” she added in response to a question posed by the MP for Ablekuma North, Mr Justice Joe Appiah.
Mr Appiah wanted to know from the sector minister when silt in the Lafa River would be cleared to prevent the perennial problem of flooding whenever it rains.
Dr Bissiw noted that the natural alignment of the Lafa Drain had been seriously encroached upon.
She indicated that apart from areas beyond the Motorway Crossing at Mallam where channel improvement or construction of the drain could be carried out without any restrictions, houses had been built either in the drain’s right of way or very close to it at several places.
She said the Hydrological Services Department had been carrying out periodic channel deepening and widening of stretches that allow access and space for machinery.
The deputy minister noted that the removal of structures on the watercourse would enable the Hydrological Services Department of the ministry to carry out full designs and costing of the entire works to be carried out in the Lafa Catchment for further action.
The deputy minister also told the House that the Community Water and Sanitation Agency would initiate a process of procurement for the rehabilitation of the Binduri Small Town Water Supply System once an ongoing review was completed.
Responding to a question by the MP for Binduri, Mr Stephen Yakubu, on steps being taken to resolve the water problems in Binduri, she said the ongoing review was focused on project profiles in all the 10 regions under the CWSA’s investment budget.
Dr Bissiw said works to be undertaken at the Binduri Small Town Water Supply System included drilling an additional borehole to augment the existing source of water, connecting the system to the national grid, laying new transmission line, constructing a new pump house and expanding existing network.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
DEPUTY Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr Hannah Bissiw, yesterday told Parliament that about 41 houses and structures would have to be demolished in order to properly clear the Lafa Drain of silt and construct it to help prevent flooding in some parts of Accra during rainfalls.
The Lafa Stream, which stretches over 11 km, flows through Mallam Kokoroko, Awoshie, Santa Maria, and Race Course and, according to the deputy minister, “to alleviate the flooding situation within the Lafa Basin, there should be free flow of runoff from upstream to the outfall”.
“That could be only achieved when structures located on the [watercourse] are relocated or removed,” she added in response to a question posed by the MP for Ablekuma North, Mr Justice Joe Appiah.
Mr Appiah wanted to know from the sector minister when silt in the Lafa River would be cleared to prevent the perennial problem of flooding whenever it rains.
Dr Bissiw noted that the natural alignment of the Lafa Drain had been seriously encroached upon.
She indicated that apart from areas beyond the Motorway Crossing at Mallam where channel improvement or construction of the drain could be carried out without any restrictions, houses had been built either in the drain’s right of way or very close to it at several places.
She said the Hydrological Services Department had been carrying out periodic channel deepening and widening of stretches that allow access and space for machinery.
The deputy minister noted that the removal of structures on the watercourse would enable the Hydrological Services Department of the ministry to carry out full designs and costing of the entire works to be carried out in the Lafa Catchment for further action.
The deputy minister also told the House that the Community Water and Sanitation Agency would initiate a process of procurement for the rehabilitation of the Binduri Small Town Water Supply System once an ongoing review was completed.
Responding to a question by the MP for Binduri, Mr Stephen Yakubu, on steps being taken to resolve the water problems in Binduri, she said the ongoing review was focused on project profiles in all the 10 regions under the CWSA’s investment budget.
Dr Bissiw said works to be undertaken at the Binduri Small Town Water Supply System included drilling an additional borehole to augment the existing source of water, connecting the system to the national grid, laying new transmission line, constructing a new pump house and expanding existing network.
‘Improve budgetary allocation to CHRAJ’
Page 12, June 26, 2009
Story; Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has urged the government to improve the budgetary allocation to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to enable it work more efficiently.
In a report on the commission laid before the House, the committee said that would “enable the commission improve the conditions of service of its staff and also attract and retain its skilled personnel for better service delivery”.
The report noted that the commission continued to grapple with a number of challenges which had the tendency of undermining the effective discharge of its mandate.
“Notable amongst these challenges are; severe resource constraints, poor conditions of service and high turn over of skilled personnel and other high calibre staff of the commission,” the report noted.
It said, for instance, during the year under the review, the institution lost 10 of its “limited number” of lawyers to other sister-institutions with more attractive conditions of service adding that currently the commission had only 20 lawyers at post.
According to the report, since its inception, the commission had always operated with budgetary constraints and ceilings imposed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
It said that challenge had always made it extremely difficult for the commission to implement a number of planned programmes and activities.
“The committee further identified the delay in release of funds by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning especially during the last quarter of the year,” the report noted and said that had continuously undermined the commission’s efforts over the years in implementing its programme of activities on schedule.
“This difficulty finds expression in the delay in publishing and presenting the commission’s annual report to Parliament within time,” the report said.
The committee, however, noted that inspite of the constraints confronting CHRAJ, the commission continues to deliver on its mandate and was able to settle 80 per cent of the 14,953 cases it received within the year.
The report said cases ranged from human rights, administrative justice to corruption. It said in all human rights related cases accounted for 13,249, representing 88.6 per cent of the total number of cases. It also indicated that administrative justice and corruption – related cases were 1,671 and 33 representing 11.2 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively.
The report also indicated that children’s rights-related cases recorded a total of 6,118 representing 41 per cent of the overall sum of complaints received while women’s rights-related cases accounted for 1,270 representing 8.5 per cent.
“It is also gratifying to note that the commission was able to successfully draft a code of conduct to guide public officials in the discharge of their duties,” it stated adding that the code was intended to institutionalise response to conflict of interest, challenges confronting private persons and public officials in the discharge of their duties.
Story; Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has urged the government to improve the budgetary allocation to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to enable it work more efficiently.
In a report on the commission laid before the House, the committee said that would “enable the commission improve the conditions of service of its staff and also attract and retain its skilled personnel for better service delivery”.
The report noted that the commission continued to grapple with a number of challenges which had the tendency of undermining the effective discharge of its mandate.
“Notable amongst these challenges are; severe resource constraints, poor conditions of service and high turn over of skilled personnel and other high calibre staff of the commission,” the report noted.
It said, for instance, during the year under the review, the institution lost 10 of its “limited number” of lawyers to other sister-institutions with more attractive conditions of service adding that currently the commission had only 20 lawyers at post.
According to the report, since its inception, the commission had always operated with budgetary constraints and ceilings imposed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
It said that challenge had always made it extremely difficult for the commission to implement a number of planned programmes and activities.
“The committee further identified the delay in release of funds by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning especially during the last quarter of the year,” the report noted and said that had continuously undermined the commission’s efforts over the years in implementing its programme of activities on schedule.
“This difficulty finds expression in the delay in publishing and presenting the commission’s annual report to Parliament within time,” the report said.
The committee, however, noted that inspite of the constraints confronting CHRAJ, the commission continues to deliver on its mandate and was able to settle 80 per cent of the 14,953 cases it received within the year.
The report said cases ranged from human rights, administrative justice to corruption. It said in all human rights related cases accounted for 13,249, representing 88.6 per cent of the total number of cases. It also indicated that administrative justice and corruption – related cases were 1,671 and 33 representing 11.2 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively.
The report also indicated that children’s rights-related cases recorded a total of 6,118 representing 41 per cent of the overall sum of complaints received while women’s rights-related cases accounted for 1,270 representing 8.5 per cent.
“It is also gratifying to note that the commission was able to successfully draft a code of conduct to guide public officials in the discharge of their duties,” it stated adding that the code was intended to institutionalise response to conflict of interest, challenges confronting private persons and public officials in the discharge of their duties.
Appointments were suspended for lack of merit — Mumuni
Page 12, Friday June 26, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, yesterday told Parliament that the appointments of 40 persons into the Foreign Service was suspended because they were not based on the principles of meritocracy and justice.
He explained that prior to those appointments, a shortlist of 157 persons had been interviewed and although the interview panel recommended the top-ranked 30 interviewees for appointment, only 11 out of the top 30 were issued appointment letters.
He added that 22 others who had taken part in the interview but could not make it into the first 30 and seven others who did not participate in the interview at all were rather issued with appointment letters.
He was responding to a question posed by the MP for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, on what had become of the appointments of “30 entry level foreign service officers whose appointments were revoked by the Transition Team in January 2009”.
Subsequently, he said after a review of the appointments, the top 30 candidates have been appointed into the service with effect from April 2, 2009.
Providing a background to events leading to the suspension of the earlier appointments, the minister said in December 2007, the ministry sought appropriate financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to recruit 30 personnel into the ministry.
He said following the receipt of the financial clearance, the ministry engaged the services of the West African Examinations Council and the Legon Centre for International Affairs to conduct an entrance examination for over 400 persons whose applications had been received by the Human Resource and Administrative Bureau of the ministry.
He said a selection board was subsequently constituted to interview applicants who had been shortlisted on the basis of their performance in the examination, as well as considerations of skills and requirements of the ministry.
The minister stated that on March 20, 2008, the interview panel submitted its report on the interview to the minister and recommended that the top-ranked 30 interviewees for appointment.
“After consideration of the report, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs’ Record of Decision to the OHCS listed 11 out of the 30 candidates recommended by the Selection Board for appointment, as well as 22 other candidates who had taken part in the interview, but could not make it into the first 30,” the minister stated.
He added that seven others who did not participate in the interview at all were also included, bringing the total number of persons recruited out of the exercise to 40.
Although he conceded that due approval had been obtained from the Office of the Civil Service by the ministry for the appointment of the extra 10 persons, the extra number had not been catered for by the Ministry of Finance.
The minister said on receipt of the Record of Decision, which was communicated to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service on November 21, 2008, and upon approval from the Head of the Civil Service on November 26, 2008, the 40 candidates were issued with the necessary appointment letters and were asked to assume duty by January 5, 2009 to undergo an induction and training programme, which was to start that day.
He indicated that, however, in the course of the programme the International Relations Subcommittee of the Transition Team called the ministry’s attention to some reported irregularities that had come to its notice regarding the recruitment exercise.
“The committee, therefore, advised the ministry to suspend the appointments of the 40 officers pending the outcome of investigations into the alleged improprieties,” the minister added.
He said an investigation by the committee established those irregularities, which he said were in breach of the 1992 Constitution and the laid down regulations governing appointments in the Ghana Civil Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in particular.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, yesterday told Parliament that the appointments of 40 persons into the Foreign Service was suspended because they were not based on the principles of meritocracy and justice.
He explained that prior to those appointments, a shortlist of 157 persons had been interviewed and although the interview panel recommended the top-ranked 30 interviewees for appointment, only 11 out of the top 30 were issued appointment letters.
He added that 22 others who had taken part in the interview but could not make it into the first 30 and seven others who did not participate in the interview at all were rather issued with appointment letters.
He was responding to a question posed by the MP for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, on what had become of the appointments of “30 entry level foreign service officers whose appointments were revoked by the Transition Team in January 2009”.
Subsequently, he said after a review of the appointments, the top 30 candidates have been appointed into the service with effect from April 2, 2009.
Providing a background to events leading to the suspension of the earlier appointments, the minister said in December 2007, the ministry sought appropriate financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to recruit 30 personnel into the ministry.
He said following the receipt of the financial clearance, the ministry engaged the services of the West African Examinations Council and the Legon Centre for International Affairs to conduct an entrance examination for over 400 persons whose applications had been received by the Human Resource and Administrative Bureau of the ministry.
He said a selection board was subsequently constituted to interview applicants who had been shortlisted on the basis of their performance in the examination, as well as considerations of skills and requirements of the ministry.
The minister stated that on March 20, 2008, the interview panel submitted its report on the interview to the minister and recommended that the top-ranked 30 interviewees for appointment.
“After consideration of the report, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs’ Record of Decision to the OHCS listed 11 out of the 30 candidates recommended by the Selection Board for appointment, as well as 22 other candidates who had taken part in the interview, but could not make it into the first 30,” the minister stated.
He added that seven others who did not participate in the interview at all were also included, bringing the total number of persons recruited out of the exercise to 40.
Although he conceded that due approval had been obtained from the Office of the Civil Service by the ministry for the appointment of the extra 10 persons, the extra number had not been catered for by the Ministry of Finance.
The minister said on receipt of the Record of Decision, which was communicated to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service on November 21, 2008, and upon approval from the Head of the Civil Service on November 26, 2008, the 40 candidates were issued with the necessary appointment letters and were asked to assume duty by January 5, 2009 to undergo an induction and training programme, which was to start that day.
He indicated that, however, in the course of the programme the International Relations Subcommittee of the Transition Team called the ministry’s attention to some reported irregularities that had come to its notice regarding the recruitment exercise.
“The committee, therefore, advised the ministry to suspend the appointments of the 40 officers pending the outcome of investigations into the alleged improprieties,” the minister added.
He said an investigation by the committee established those irregularities, which he said were in breach of the 1992 Constitution and the laid down regulations governing appointments in the Ghana Civil Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in particular.
MPs commend Black Stars
Page 17, Thurs June 25, 22009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) yesterday commended players of the national senior soccer team, the Black Stars, for their sterling performance in the ongoing World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualification matches.
They noted that by winning two away matches against Mali and The Sudan, the team had shown Ghanaians how success could be achieved, in the face of difficulties, with unity, dedication and commitment.
They were contributing to a statement made on the floor of Parliament by the MP for Suaman, Mr M.E.K. Ackah, who is also the Chairman of the Youth, Sports and Culture Committee of Parliament.
In his statement, Mr Ackah noted that experts and analysts of football had been very sceptical about the chances of the Black Stars in the two away matches due to ill-preparation, inadequate motivation, among other reasons.
“The Black Stars have shown that they are the shining stars of Africa. Indeed, it is when you least expect them to shine that their full blossom comes to light,” he said.
The MP stated that it needed a team that had commitment, courage, resilience, dedication and the will to die a little to keep the nation’s banner high to do that, adding, “These are the virtues our young, patriotic and gallant men exhibited.”
Mr Ackah said the journey to South Africa was only halfway through and cautioned the team and its handlers to eschew complacency in the remaining matches.
“The ultimate is not just getting to South Africa to participate but to dream big to make Ghana the first African country to annex the World Cup trophy,” he added.
He entreated the government to ensure that whatever it took to make the Black Stars achieve the best in the qualifying series was provided so that the commitment and dedication was sustained.
Contributing to the statement, the MP for Atwima Mponua, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, who is also the Ranking Member of Youth, Sports and Culture, said the Black Stars’ journey to South Africa had been fantastic so far.
He said due to the quality of play by the team during the 2006 World Cup, the whole world was itching to see another quality performance which brought big soccer nations such as the Czech Republic and the United States of America to their knees.
He stated that the current performance of the team could be attributed to the long-term plan by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) which had groomed the players from the Under 17 stage to the senior level.
The Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and the MP for Ahafo-Ano South, Mr Stephen Kwaku Balado-Manu, called on Ghanaians to be patient with the coach even in the face of difficulties.
Other MPs who contributed to the statement were Mr Ahmed Ibrahim (Tain) and Ms Beatrice Bernice Boateng (New Juaben South).
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) yesterday commended players of the national senior soccer team, the Black Stars, for their sterling performance in the ongoing World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualification matches.
They noted that by winning two away matches against Mali and The Sudan, the team had shown Ghanaians how success could be achieved, in the face of difficulties, with unity, dedication and commitment.
They were contributing to a statement made on the floor of Parliament by the MP for Suaman, Mr M.E.K. Ackah, who is also the Chairman of the Youth, Sports and Culture Committee of Parliament.
In his statement, Mr Ackah noted that experts and analysts of football had been very sceptical about the chances of the Black Stars in the two away matches due to ill-preparation, inadequate motivation, among other reasons.
“The Black Stars have shown that they are the shining stars of Africa. Indeed, it is when you least expect them to shine that their full blossom comes to light,” he said.
The MP stated that it needed a team that had commitment, courage, resilience, dedication and the will to die a little to keep the nation’s banner high to do that, adding, “These are the virtues our young, patriotic and gallant men exhibited.”
Mr Ackah said the journey to South Africa was only halfway through and cautioned the team and its handlers to eschew complacency in the remaining matches.
“The ultimate is not just getting to South Africa to participate but to dream big to make Ghana the first African country to annex the World Cup trophy,” he added.
He entreated the government to ensure that whatever it took to make the Black Stars achieve the best in the qualifying series was provided so that the commitment and dedication was sustained.
Contributing to the statement, the MP for Atwima Mponua, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, who is also the Ranking Member of Youth, Sports and Culture, said the Black Stars’ journey to South Africa had been fantastic so far.
He said due to the quality of play by the team during the 2006 World Cup, the whole world was itching to see another quality performance which brought big soccer nations such as the Czech Republic and the United States of America to their knees.
He stated that the current performance of the team could be attributed to the long-term plan by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) which had groomed the players from the Under 17 stage to the senior level.
The Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and the MP for Ahafo-Ano South, Mr Stephen Kwaku Balado-Manu, called on Ghanaians to be patient with the coach even in the face of difficulties.
Other MPs who contributed to the statement were Mr Ahmed Ibrahim (Tain) and Ms Beatrice Bernice Boateng (New Juaben South).
NCA, GAEC focus attention on masts
Page 17, Thurs June 25, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
DEPUTY Minister of Communications, Mr Gideon Quarcoo yesterday told Parliament that the National Communication Authority and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission were collaborating in a study to determine whether masts erected by telecommunications companies emit harmful radiation.
He said although the ministry was concerned about the multiplicity of communication masts in the country, there was the need to establish the harmful nature or otherwise of radiation emitted before posing severe restrictions on the erection of such masts in residential areas.
Answering a question posed by the MP for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, on the Ministry’s policy on the siting of communications masts in the country, the deputy minister stated that the siting of communications masts in residential areas was spelt out in section 57 of the Electronic Communications Act (ECA), 2008 and also Section 98 of the L.I. 1719 of the National Communications Regulations, 2003.
“Section 57 of the ECA, 2008 requires permission and payment of appropriate compensation to landowners. Where there are disputes, the National Communications Authority is required to step in to assist dispute resolution,” the deputy minister stated.
He added that Section 98 of the L. I. 1719 also required any person intending to construct a mast or tower to get clearance from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, obtain permits and certificates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Town and District Planning Committees and where feasible, allow co-location.
The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi was also in Parliament to answer questions posed by the Mr Augustine Collins Ntim, MP for Offinso North on the Akomadam Irrigation Project Complex and Mr Simons Addai on the Tanoso Dam.
While Mr Collins Ntim wanted to know what measures had been put in place to ensure that the Akomadam Irrigation Project Complex, with about 1000 irrigable lands was completed for the use of farmers.
Mr Addai also enquired from the minister why work on the Tanoso Dam had come to a standstill.
The minister told the House that the site was handed over to the contractor on September 24, 2005 and the contractor mobilised equipment and personnel and work started on October 10, 2006.
He said although civil works were completed on December 31, 2008, the work had not been handed over to the farmers because the installation of pumps and sprinklers which were under separate contracts were outstanding.
He said the contract for pumps, was awarded to Kirloskar Brothers Limited, a company from India while the contract on the farm equipment was awarded to Jain Irrigation Systems Limited also from India.
Mr Ahwoi said there had been delays in the shipment and delivery of the equipment to the country, adding that the pumps had arrived in the country and have since been installed.
“What is left is the electrical connection from the transformer to the pumps and Kirloskar Engineers and Northern Electrification Unit from Techiman are currently working on that,” he stated.
The minister added that engineers from Jain Irrigation Systems were also working fixing lateral lines and sprinklers in the field and expressed the hope that works would be completed by the end of June.
On the Tanoso Irrigation Project, the minister stated that the site was handed over to the contractor on September 24, 2005 and the contractor mobilised equipment and personnel with work commencing on October 10, 2005.
He said rehabilitation works were programmed for completion within a year, precisely by December 31, 2006, and indicated that although civil works were completed on December 31, 2007, the community requested an extension of the scope of works.
He said the extra works were completed on December 31, 2008, however, the project had not been handed over to the farmers because installations of pumps and sprinklers which were under separate contracts were outstanding.
He however, indicated that the contractors were feverishly working to ensure the speedy completion of works and expressed the hope that the project would be handed over to the farmers before the commencement of the dry season.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
DEPUTY Minister of Communications, Mr Gideon Quarcoo yesterday told Parliament that the National Communication Authority and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission were collaborating in a study to determine whether masts erected by telecommunications companies emit harmful radiation.
He said although the ministry was concerned about the multiplicity of communication masts in the country, there was the need to establish the harmful nature or otherwise of radiation emitted before posing severe restrictions on the erection of such masts in residential areas.
Answering a question posed by the MP for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, on the Ministry’s policy on the siting of communications masts in the country, the deputy minister stated that the siting of communications masts in residential areas was spelt out in section 57 of the Electronic Communications Act (ECA), 2008 and also Section 98 of the L.I. 1719 of the National Communications Regulations, 2003.
“Section 57 of the ECA, 2008 requires permission and payment of appropriate compensation to landowners. Where there are disputes, the National Communications Authority is required to step in to assist dispute resolution,” the deputy minister stated.
He added that Section 98 of the L. I. 1719 also required any person intending to construct a mast or tower to get clearance from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, obtain permits and certificates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Town and District Planning Committees and where feasible, allow co-location.
The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi was also in Parliament to answer questions posed by the Mr Augustine Collins Ntim, MP for Offinso North on the Akomadam Irrigation Project Complex and Mr Simons Addai on the Tanoso Dam.
While Mr Collins Ntim wanted to know what measures had been put in place to ensure that the Akomadam Irrigation Project Complex, with about 1000 irrigable lands was completed for the use of farmers.
Mr Addai also enquired from the minister why work on the Tanoso Dam had come to a standstill.
The minister told the House that the site was handed over to the contractor on September 24, 2005 and the contractor mobilised equipment and personnel and work started on October 10, 2006.
He said although civil works were completed on December 31, 2008, the work had not been handed over to the farmers because the installation of pumps and sprinklers which were under separate contracts were outstanding.
He said the contract for pumps, was awarded to Kirloskar Brothers Limited, a company from India while the contract on the farm equipment was awarded to Jain Irrigation Systems Limited also from India.
Mr Ahwoi said there had been delays in the shipment and delivery of the equipment to the country, adding that the pumps had arrived in the country and have since been installed.
“What is left is the electrical connection from the transformer to the pumps and Kirloskar Engineers and Northern Electrification Unit from Techiman are currently working on that,” he stated.
The minister added that engineers from Jain Irrigation Systems were also working fixing lateral lines and sprinklers in the field and expressed the hope that works would be completed by the end of June.
On the Tanoso Irrigation Project, the minister stated that the site was handed over to the contractor on September 24, 2005 and the contractor mobilised equipment and personnel with work commencing on October 10, 2005.
He said rehabilitation works were programmed for completion within a year, precisely by December 31, 2006, and indicated that although civil works were completed on December 31, 2007, the community requested an extension of the scope of works.
He said the extra works were completed on December 31, 2008, however, the project had not been handed over to the farmers because installations of pumps and sprinklers which were under separate contracts were outstanding.
He however, indicated that the contractors were feverishly working to ensure the speedy completion of works and expressed the hope that the project would be handed over to the farmers before the commencement of the dry season.
Ghana to start commercial oil production in 2010
Page 16, June 24, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
GHANA will start its first commercial production of oil in the fourth quarter of 2010, the Minister of Energy, Dr Oteng Adjei has told Parliament.
He said, “we are on track to achieve the first production in the fourth quarter of 2010. The contractors are still committed to the priduction schedule”.
Dr Adjei was responding to a question filed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Effia-Kwesimintim, Mr Joe Badoe-Ansah.
The MP wanted to know what had prevented the completion of negotiations on the Plan of Development (POD) for the Jubilee Fields and whether the delay would not negatively impact on the planned production of the fields by the end of 2010.
Dr Adjei said following the discovery of oil in commercial quantities at the Jubilee Fields, Tullow and Partners submitted a POD to the government for review in accordance with the petroleum agreement.
According to him, the POD was reviewed by the government’s team, which raised a number of issues.
He explained that most of the issues had been resolved while the iterative negotiation process was almost completed.
Dr Adjei told the House that although he had read in the media about the intention of Kosmos Energy to sell its share in the oil find, nothing official had come on his table.
Answering another question posed by the MP for Evalue-Gwira, Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku, Dr Adjei stated that the ministry had completed the electrification project at Awukyire-Averebo under the ongoing $90 million project package being executed by the China International Water and Electric Corporation.
He said Kakusuazo, also in the Evalue-Gwira Constituency, had been earmarked to benefit under the Self-Help Electrification V Programme(SHEP)
Other communities in the constituency, Kutukrom, Sikaneasem, Gyampele, Tebakrom, Kukuaville, Akango, Gwira Eshiem, Satem, Gwira Anyinase, Akonu and Dominase, had also been earmarked to benefit from the next phase of SHEP-IV.
The minister added that the Tumantu, Draw and Enyan communities in the constituency did not form part of the electrification projects currently being undertaken by the ministry,and gave the assurance that they would be considered in the subsequent phases of the National Electrification Programme when funds were made available.
He also responded to questions filed by Mr Robert Sarfo-Mensah (Asunafo North) and Mr Augustine Collins Ntim (Offinso North) and gave the assurance that some communities in their constituencies would be hooked unto the national grid when funds were made available.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
GHANA will start its first commercial production of oil in the fourth quarter of 2010, the Minister of Energy, Dr Oteng Adjei has told Parliament.
He said, “we are on track to achieve the first production in the fourth quarter of 2010. The contractors are still committed to the priduction schedule”.
Dr Adjei was responding to a question filed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Effia-Kwesimintim, Mr Joe Badoe-Ansah.
The MP wanted to know what had prevented the completion of negotiations on the Plan of Development (POD) for the Jubilee Fields and whether the delay would not negatively impact on the planned production of the fields by the end of 2010.
Dr Adjei said following the discovery of oil in commercial quantities at the Jubilee Fields, Tullow and Partners submitted a POD to the government for review in accordance with the petroleum agreement.
According to him, the POD was reviewed by the government’s team, which raised a number of issues.
He explained that most of the issues had been resolved while the iterative negotiation process was almost completed.
Dr Adjei told the House that although he had read in the media about the intention of Kosmos Energy to sell its share in the oil find, nothing official had come on his table.
Answering another question posed by the MP for Evalue-Gwira, Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku, Dr Adjei stated that the ministry had completed the electrification project at Awukyire-Averebo under the ongoing $90 million project package being executed by the China International Water and Electric Corporation.
He said Kakusuazo, also in the Evalue-Gwira Constituency, had been earmarked to benefit under the Self-Help Electrification V Programme(SHEP)
Other communities in the constituency, Kutukrom, Sikaneasem, Gyampele, Tebakrom, Kukuaville, Akango, Gwira Eshiem, Satem, Gwira Anyinase, Akonu and Dominase, had also been earmarked to benefit from the next phase of SHEP-IV.
The minister added that the Tumantu, Draw and Enyan communities in the constituency did not form part of the electrification projects currently being undertaken by the ministry,and gave the assurance that they would be considered in the subsequent phases of the National Electrification Programme when funds were made available.
He also responded to questions filed by Mr Robert Sarfo-Mensah (Asunafo North) and Mr Augustine Collins Ntim (Offinso North) and gave the assurance that some communities in their constituencies would be hooked unto the national grid when funds were made available.
CAR DEALERS INVADE PARLIAMENT; Following approval of GH¢50,000 FOR MPs
Frontpage, June 19, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah.
VARIOUS vehicle dealers have invaded Parliament House following President John Evans Atta Mills’s approval for a GH¢50,000 loan to be sourced for each of the 230 Members of Parliament (MPs) for the purchase of a vehicle.
Dealers in automobiles, apparently in anticipation of the President’s gesture, have turned the forecourt of Parliament House into an exhibition centre for a variety of vehicles, including saloon cars, cross-country vehicles and pick-ups, to attract the attention of the MPs.
Some of the make of vehicles on display at the precincts of the House are Nissan, Volkswagen (VW), Toyota, Ford, Honda, Skoda, etc.
Interestingly, the dealers are not prepared to disclose the price range of their vehicles, as they are competing to get a good deal from the MPs.
The GH¢11.5 million package was, however, not what the legislators had bargained for.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, had earlier indicated that MPs would insist on being given official cars by the state, as in the case of members of the Executive and the Judiciary; but that apparently did not materialise.
Mr Bagbin told the Daily Graphic yesterday that Parliament had already started negotiations with the Amal Bank and Fidelity Bank to secure the loans for the legislators which are expected to be secured at the prevailing market rate.
The MPs are expected to pay the loans over their four-year terms. Under the arrangement, those who are unable to complete the payment will have to use part of their ex gratia to pay for the rest.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah.
VARIOUS vehicle dealers have invaded Parliament House following President John Evans Atta Mills’s approval for a GH¢50,000 loan to be sourced for each of the 230 Members of Parliament (MPs) for the purchase of a vehicle.
Dealers in automobiles, apparently in anticipation of the President’s gesture, have turned the forecourt of Parliament House into an exhibition centre for a variety of vehicles, including saloon cars, cross-country vehicles and pick-ups, to attract the attention of the MPs.
Some of the make of vehicles on display at the precincts of the House are Nissan, Volkswagen (VW), Toyota, Ford, Honda, Skoda, etc.
Interestingly, the dealers are not prepared to disclose the price range of their vehicles, as they are competing to get a good deal from the MPs.
The GH¢11.5 million package was, however, not what the legislators had bargained for.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, had earlier indicated that MPs would insist on being given official cars by the state, as in the case of members of the Executive and the Judiciary; but that apparently did not materialise.
Mr Bagbin told the Daily Graphic yesterday that Parliament had already started negotiations with the Amal Bank and Fidelity Bank to secure the loans for the legislators which are expected to be secured at the prevailing market rate.
The MPs are expected to pay the loans over their four-year terms. Under the arrangement, those who are unable to complete the payment will have to use part of their ex gratia to pay for the rest.
Alban Sumana Bagbin. All you must know about him
Mirror Frontpage, Sat June 19, 2009
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
WHEN the history of Parliaments under the Fourth Republic is written one parliamentarian who will stand tall among all members of parliament (MPs), both past and present, is the current Majority Leader, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
He is the only person who currently holds the record as having served both as the Minority Leader, during the Fourth Parliament, and the Majority Leader, during the Fifth Parliament, all in the Fourth Republic.
The outspoken lawyer is one of only five MPs in the current Parliament referred to as "The Pioneers", because they have been members of all the Parliaments since Ghana returned to constitutional rule on January 7, 1992.
The other four in this group are the current First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho (Ave Avenor), Alhaji Seidu Amadu (Yapei-Kusawgu), Kwajo Tawiah Likpalimor (Kpandai) and the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr John Akolugu Tia (Talensi).
When the National Democratic Congress lost power in the 2000 general election and formed the Minority in Parliament in the Third Parliament of the Fourth Republic, Mr Bagbin, who is the MP for Nadowli West in the Upper West Region, became the voice of the party and performed his role as the Minority Leader to the admiration of all.
On the floor of Parliament, he was always at his best and could be described as one of the best debaters and constitutional experts of our time.
Ghanaians will always remember the role Mr Bagbin played in his eight year term as the Minority Leader in the Third and Fourth Parliaments of the Fourth Republic, during vetting of ministerial nominations by the Appointments Committee and the public sittings of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.
His knowledge and insight of the background of matters and people who appeared before the two committees earned him both admirers and enemies. But he always stood his grounds, once he knew he was right.
In fact, his popularity during the Third Parliament led people to think that he was the person to partner the then candidate, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, to contest the 2008 general elections on the ticket of the NDC, but alas, that was not to be.
Born on September 24, 1957 at Sombo in the Upper West Region, Mr Bagbin is a graduate of the University of Ghana (1977-1980) and the Ghana School of Law (1980-1982). He holds an Executive Masters in Governance and Leadership from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
His parents were Mr Sansunii Bagbin and Mrs Margaret B. Bagbin who were both peasant farmers. He is the fourth child of nine children born to the Bagbin family.
The Majority Leader started schooling at an early age at the Roman Catholic Primary School and ended at the Tamale Secondary School, where he earned his Ordinary Level and Advanced Level certificates before entering the University of Ghana.
His working life experience took him to a number of establishments after school, and this no doubt enabled him to garner a lot of experiences that he brings to bear in his current political role.
From 1980 to 1982, he worked at the Bureau of Statistic and Statistical Service as the acting Secretary to the Statistical Service Board while between 1982 and 1983, he worked as Personnel Manager of the erstwhile State Hotels Corporation ((Ambassador/Continental Hotels) before sojourning to Libya to teach English at the Suk Juma Secondary School, Tripoli.
When he returned from Libya in 1986, Mr Bagbin joined the Akyem Chambers, a firm of legal practitioners, consultants and notaries public, as a partner. Between 1989 to 1992, he was appointed an external solicitor of the Credit Unions Association of Ghana (CUA).
From 1993 to date, the Majority Leader has been a partner of the Law Trust Company, a firm of legal practitioners, consultants and notaries public.
Mr Bagbin has held a number of positions in Parliament since 1994 and capped his law making career with the ultimate, the Majority Leader and Leader of the House.
In the First Parliament of the Fourth Republic, he was made the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Subsidiary Legislation and Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy and Member of the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development.
From 1995 to date, Mr Bagbin has been a member of a group known as Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) and member of the International Law and Human Rights Programme of the PGA.
From 1996 to 2000, he was appointed Chairman of the Advisory Committee on the Restructuring of the Water Sector (Ministry of Works and Housing) while between 1997 to 2000, he was a member of the National Media Commission.
In the Second Parliament of the Fourth Republic, Mr Bagbin was the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs with the responsibilities for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Electoral Commission, National Commission on Civic Education, Office of Parliament and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. He was also the Vice Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
He has also been a member of the African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (1999-2005), Chairman, Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (2001-2004), Ranking Member of the Appointments Committee (2001-2008), Founding Member, Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (2002 to date) and elected Vice President, Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and elected member of the International Council for Parliamentarians for Global Action.
Added to these, Mr Bagbin has attended a number of international conferences, seminars and assignments while he has undertaken a lot of consultancies and presented papers at a number of international fora.
Mr Bagbin is married to Mrs Alice Adjua Yornas Bagbin, the Programme Officer of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) office in Ghana. Although Mrs Bagbin also hails from the Upper West Region, the couple met in Accra and tied the nuptial knot in 1984.
Mr Bagbin said he has been prepared to hold high positions right from his days in school when he was appointed Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the Legon Hall, University of Ghana . According to him, he also held positions in a number of associations on campus at Legon
When asked what pushed him into politics, the Majority Leader simply answered, "law and politics are siamese twins". He said he was part and parcel of the 1979 Revolution staged by Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings. He explained that his year group in Legon became known as ‘the Aluta Group’. He said he was attracted by the ideas and ideals of the June 4 Revolution.
"In 1992 when the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) metamorphosed into the National Democratic Congress (NDC), it became a matter of choice for me to stand for election in my constituency and from then my parliamentary career has known no bounds", he said.
He described his eight-year term as the Minority Leader (2001-2008) as a very challenging period, adding that he however managed to ride the challenges till his party captured power during the 2008 general elections and formed the Majority in Parliament.
Mr Bagbin accused the then Majority in Parliament, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), of behaving as if they will remain in power forever, forgetting that the Ghana’s political terrain is fluid.
He said he intended to move parliamentary democracy forward through tolerance, accommodation of all shades of opinions, consensus building and compromises in addition to ensuring best parliamentary practices and procedures.
Mr Bagbin noted that although achieving a total parliamentary independence was utopic, he would work hard towards the independence of Parliament to enable it to play its proper role in the country’s current political dispensation.
"Parliament is the fulcrum of multi-party democracy. We should therefore strive to make the institution become an active player to turn things round so that the principle of checks and balances will be at play to provide good governance", he said.
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
WHEN the history of Parliaments under the Fourth Republic is written one parliamentarian who will stand tall among all members of parliament (MPs), both past and present, is the current Majority Leader, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
He is the only person who currently holds the record as having served both as the Minority Leader, during the Fourth Parliament, and the Majority Leader, during the Fifth Parliament, all in the Fourth Republic.
The outspoken lawyer is one of only five MPs in the current Parliament referred to as "The Pioneers", because they have been members of all the Parliaments since Ghana returned to constitutional rule on January 7, 1992.
The other four in this group are the current First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho (Ave Avenor), Alhaji Seidu Amadu (Yapei-Kusawgu), Kwajo Tawiah Likpalimor (Kpandai) and the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr John Akolugu Tia (Talensi).
When the National Democratic Congress lost power in the 2000 general election and formed the Minority in Parliament in the Third Parliament of the Fourth Republic, Mr Bagbin, who is the MP for Nadowli West in the Upper West Region, became the voice of the party and performed his role as the Minority Leader to the admiration of all.
On the floor of Parliament, he was always at his best and could be described as one of the best debaters and constitutional experts of our time.
Ghanaians will always remember the role Mr Bagbin played in his eight year term as the Minority Leader in the Third and Fourth Parliaments of the Fourth Republic, during vetting of ministerial nominations by the Appointments Committee and the public sittings of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.
His knowledge and insight of the background of matters and people who appeared before the two committees earned him both admirers and enemies. But he always stood his grounds, once he knew he was right.
In fact, his popularity during the Third Parliament led people to think that he was the person to partner the then candidate, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, to contest the 2008 general elections on the ticket of the NDC, but alas, that was not to be.
Born on September 24, 1957 at Sombo in the Upper West Region, Mr Bagbin is a graduate of the University of Ghana (1977-1980) and the Ghana School of Law (1980-1982). He holds an Executive Masters in Governance and Leadership from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
His parents were Mr Sansunii Bagbin and Mrs Margaret B. Bagbin who were both peasant farmers. He is the fourth child of nine children born to the Bagbin family.
The Majority Leader started schooling at an early age at the Roman Catholic Primary School and ended at the Tamale Secondary School, where he earned his Ordinary Level and Advanced Level certificates before entering the University of Ghana.
His working life experience took him to a number of establishments after school, and this no doubt enabled him to garner a lot of experiences that he brings to bear in his current political role.
From 1980 to 1982, he worked at the Bureau of Statistic and Statistical Service as the acting Secretary to the Statistical Service Board while between 1982 and 1983, he worked as Personnel Manager of the erstwhile State Hotels Corporation ((Ambassador/Continental Hotels) before sojourning to Libya to teach English at the Suk Juma Secondary School, Tripoli.
When he returned from Libya in 1986, Mr Bagbin joined the Akyem Chambers, a firm of legal practitioners, consultants and notaries public, as a partner. Between 1989 to 1992, he was appointed an external solicitor of the Credit Unions Association of Ghana (CUA).
From 1993 to date, the Majority Leader has been a partner of the Law Trust Company, a firm of legal practitioners, consultants and notaries public.
Mr Bagbin has held a number of positions in Parliament since 1994 and capped his law making career with the ultimate, the Majority Leader and Leader of the House.
In the First Parliament of the Fourth Republic, he was made the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Subsidiary Legislation and Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy and Member of the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development.
From 1995 to date, Mr Bagbin has been a member of a group known as Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) and member of the International Law and Human Rights Programme of the PGA.
From 1996 to 2000, he was appointed Chairman of the Advisory Committee on the Restructuring of the Water Sector (Ministry of Works and Housing) while between 1997 to 2000, he was a member of the National Media Commission.
In the Second Parliament of the Fourth Republic, Mr Bagbin was the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs with the responsibilities for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Electoral Commission, National Commission on Civic Education, Office of Parliament and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. He was also the Vice Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
He has also been a member of the African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (1999-2005), Chairman, Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (2001-2004), Ranking Member of the Appointments Committee (2001-2008), Founding Member, Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (2002 to date) and elected Vice President, Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and elected member of the International Council for Parliamentarians for Global Action.
Added to these, Mr Bagbin has attended a number of international conferences, seminars and assignments while he has undertaken a lot of consultancies and presented papers at a number of international fora.
Mr Bagbin is married to Mrs Alice Adjua Yornas Bagbin, the Programme Officer of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) office in Ghana. Although Mrs Bagbin also hails from the Upper West Region, the couple met in Accra and tied the nuptial knot in 1984.
Mr Bagbin said he has been prepared to hold high positions right from his days in school when he was appointed Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the Legon Hall, University of Ghana . According to him, he also held positions in a number of associations on campus at Legon
When asked what pushed him into politics, the Majority Leader simply answered, "law and politics are siamese twins". He said he was part and parcel of the 1979 Revolution staged by Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings. He explained that his year group in Legon became known as ‘the Aluta Group’. He said he was attracted by the ideas and ideals of the June 4 Revolution.
"In 1992 when the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) metamorphosed into the National Democratic Congress (NDC), it became a matter of choice for me to stand for election in my constituency and from then my parliamentary career has known no bounds", he said.
He described his eight-year term as the Minority Leader (2001-2008) as a very challenging period, adding that he however managed to ride the challenges till his party captured power during the 2008 general elections and formed the Majority in Parliament.
Mr Bagbin accused the then Majority in Parliament, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), of behaving as if they will remain in power forever, forgetting that the Ghana’s political terrain is fluid.
He said he intended to move parliamentary democracy forward through tolerance, accommodation of all shades of opinions, consensus building and compromises in addition to ensuring best parliamentary practices and procedures.
Mr Bagbin noted that although achieving a total parliamentary independence was utopic, he would work hard towards the independence of Parliament to enable it to play its proper role in the country’s current political dispensation.
"Parliament is the fulcrum of multi-party democracy. We should therefore strive to make the institution become an active player to turn things round so that the principle of checks and balances will be at play to provide good governance", he said.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
GOVT SPENDS GH¢361,924 on Transitional Team
Frontpage, June 18, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, yesterday disclosed in Parliament that GH¢361,924.41 was spent on the Transitional Team which managed last January’s transfer of power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
However, what was expected to have put a long-standing debate to rest turned contentious when members on the Minority side claimed that no member of the NPP who served on the Transitional Team was paid any money for the service.
From the moment the Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Tafo and former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, who was also a member of the Transitional Team, disputed the assertion by the Finance Minister, the debate turned chaotic and continued even after the Speaker had discharged the minister.
Dr Akoto Osei had told the House that nobody from the NPP side of the team received any amount for serving on the transition team and from then members from both sides shouted on top of their voices, with some of the NPP members banging their desks with shouts of “ootwa tea, ootwa tea”, in reference to the amount Dr Duffuor said had been spent on refreshment during the exercise.
Even after the Speaker had discharged the Finance Minister after he had spent about 40 minutes to answer the main question and the follow-up questions which ensued, many NPP MPs were still on their feet demanding to ask him further questions.
The Minority in Parliament showed how anxious they were to know every detail about the exercise when they quizzed the Finance Minister over the amount spent on the Transitional Team which looked into the country’s economy, among other issues, to give the government an idea of the task ahead of it.
The MP for Atwima-Nwabiagya, Mr Benito Owusu-Bio, who asked the main question, wanted to know the total cost in terms of expenditure for the entire transitional process.
Dr Duffuor explained that the expenditure incurred on the team was in four categories, namely, honoraria, refreshment, hiring of office equipment and stationery.
He gave the breakdown of the honoraria paid to members of the team as follows; chairman, GH¢2,250; two supporting staff at GH¢1,800 each (GH¢3,600); seven subcommittee chairmen at GH¢1,800 each (GH¢12,600), and 141 members at GH¢1,350 each (GH¢190,350), bringing the total to GH¢208,800
On refreshment, Mr Duffuor explained that an amount of GH¢135,316.30 was spent on water, tea, snacks and lunch for the Transitional Team members, security, volunteers, invitees and the press.
The total cost of the hiring of office equipment was GH¢15,024.01, while the expenditure on stationery (pens, paper clips, file covers, note pads and A-4 paper, among others, amounted to GH¢2,784.10.
As expected, a flood of questions followed after the minister had answered the question. At a stage almost all the members on the Minority side were on their feet, hoping to catch the Speaker’s eye to ask follow-up questions.
Answering a follow-up question from Mr Owusu-Bio, Mr Duffuor said the exercise, which started on January 4, 2009, lasted about two months, but when asked for further clarification, the minister requested for more time to be able to furnish the House with the details on the duration of the exercise.
Later, when the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, enquired from the minister whether he was aware that none of the NPP members of the team was paid any honorarium, Mr Duffuor said the entire amount had been spent on the team which comprised other people, apart from those in the NDC and the NPP.
Upon a request from the NDC MP for Ashiaman, Mr Alfred Agbesi, and the NPP MP for Aburi-Nsawam, Mr O.B. Amoah, Dr Duffuor promised to furnish the House with details on the names of members of the team and how much each person received.
Mr Duffuor also told the House that given time, he would be able to provide the House with details on the cost of the transitional exercise in 2001 when the NPP took over from the NDC in an answer to a question by the NDC MP for Tamale Central, Mr Inusah Fuseini.
In another development, Dr Duffuor stated that the number of diverted State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) as of December 31, 2008 stood at 367.
He gave the breakdown of the mode of the divestiture as follows: Sale assets — 253; sale of shares — 51; joint venture — 14; lease — 8, and liquidation — 41.
In another development, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, also appeared before the House to answer questions posed by some MPs concerning his ministry.
He told the House that the district assemblies were required to cater for the salaries of staff of the area, town, urban, zonal councils and sub-metropolitan assemblies.
Mr Chireh also stated that composite budgeting at the district level would commence as soon as modalities for the transfer of resources to the district assemblies, which were being worked on by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the Controller and Accountant-General, were completed.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, yesterday disclosed in Parliament that GH¢361,924.41 was spent on the Transitional Team which managed last January’s transfer of power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
However, what was expected to have put a long-standing debate to rest turned contentious when members on the Minority side claimed that no member of the NPP who served on the Transitional Team was paid any money for the service.
From the moment the Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Tafo and former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, who was also a member of the Transitional Team, disputed the assertion by the Finance Minister, the debate turned chaotic and continued even after the Speaker had discharged the minister.
Dr Akoto Osei had told the House that nobody from the NPP side of the team received any amount for serving on the transition team and from then members from both sides shouted on top of their voices, with some of the NPP members banging their desks with shouts of “ootwa tea, ootwa tea”, in reference to the amount Dr Duffuor said had been spent on refreshment during the exercise.
Even after the Speaker had discharged the Finance Minister after he had spent about 40 minutes to answer the main question and the follow-up questions which ensued, many NPP MPs were still on their feet demanding to ask him further questions.
The Minority in Parliament showed how anxious they were to know every detail about the exercise when they quizzed the Finance Minister over the amount spent on the Transitional Team which looked into the country’s economy, among other issues, to give the government an idea of the task ahead of it.
The MP for Atwima-Nwabiagya, Mr Benito Owusu-Bio, who asked the main question, wanted to know the total cost in terms of expenditure for the entire transitional process.
Dr Duffuor explained that the expenditure incurred on the team was in four categories, namely, honoraria, refreshment, hiring of office equipment and stationery.
He gave the breakdown of the honoraria paid to members of the team as follows; chairman, GH¢2,250; two supporting staff at GH¢1,800 each (GH¢3,600); seven subcommittee chairmen at GH¢1,800 each (GH¢12,600), and 141 members at GH¢1,350 each (GH¢190,350), bringing the total to GH¢208,800
On refreshment, Mr Duffuor explained that an amount of GH¢135,316.30 was spent on water, tea, snacks and lunch for the Transitional Team members, security, volunteers, invitees and the press.
The total cost of the hiring of office equipment was GH¢15,024.01, while the expenditure on stationery (pens, paper clips, file covers, note pads and A-4 paper, among others, amounted to GH¢2,784.10.
As expected, a flood of questions followed after the minister had answered the question. At a stage almost all the members on the Minority side were on their feet, hoping to catch the Speaker’s eye to ask follow-up questions.
Answering a follow-up question from Mr Owusu-Bio, Mr Duffuor said the exercise, which started on January 4, 2009, lasted about two months, but when asked for further clarification, the minister requested for more time to be able to furnish the House with the details on the duration of the exercise.
Later, when the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, enquired from the minister whether he was aware that none of the NPP members of the team was paid any honorarium, Mr Duffuor said the entire amount had been spent on the team which comprised other people, apart from those in the NDC and the NPP.
Upon a request from the NDC MP for Ashiaman, Mr Alfred Agbesi, and the NPP MP for Aburi-Nsawam, Mr O.B. Amoah, Dr Duffuor promised to furnish the House with details on the names of members of the team and how much each person received.
Mr Duffuor also told the House that given time, he would be able to provide the House with details on the cost of the transitional exercise in 2001 when the NPP took over from the NDC in an answer to a question by the NDC MP for Tamale Central, Mr Inusah Fuseini.
In another development, Dr Duffuor stated that the number of diverted State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) as of December 31, 2008 stood at 367.
He gave the breakdown of the mode of the divestiture as follows: Sale assets — 253; sale of shares — 51; joint venture — 14; lease — 8, and liquidation — 41.
In another development, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, also appeared before the House to answer questions posed by some MPs concerning his ministry.
He told the House that the district assemblies were required to cater for the salaries of staff of the area, town, urban, zonal councils and sub-metropolitan assemblies.
Mr Chireh also stated that composite budgeting at the district level would commence as soon as modalities for the transfer of resources to the district assemblies, which were being worked on by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the Controller and Accountant-General, were completed.
Muntaka absence delays debate
Page 15, June 17, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE problems in the Ministry of Youth and Sports came up for debate on the floor of Parliament yesterday when the embattled sector Minister, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, failed to appear before the House to answer an urgent question about the ministry.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima-Mponua, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, who is also the Minority Ranking Member for Youth, Sports and Culture had asked the minister about the level of preparation for the forthcoming African Hockey Championship slated for July 2009 in Accra.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, informed the House that the question could not be answered because the sector minister, the chief director and the chief accountant of the ministry were on leave pending investigation into alleged malfeasance at the ministry.
He, therefore, requested that the Speaker should stand the question down till the appropriate time.
Mr Bagbin explained that the deputy sector minister was also not in the position to answer the question because with the absence of these key personalities in the ministry, it had become difficult to get the necessary information for him to answer the questions.
Replying, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, wondered in what capacity the Majority Leader gave the information.
According to him, since Mr Bagbin is the Leader of the House and not the Leader of Government Business, he could not hold brief for the government.
He argued that the deputy sector minister of Youth and Sports had no constitutional mandate in the absence of the substantive minister and quoted Article 81 of the 1992 Constitution to buttress his point.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu explained that since the sector minister’s appointment had not been revoked by the President,and neither had he resigned nor died, a colleague minister could be asked to act while he was on leave.
When he caught the eye of the Speaker, Mr Asiamah expressed his disappointment about what he termed “the turn of event at the ministry”.
He said it was unfortunate that at this critical moment when the African Hockey Tournament was just around the corner, Ghanaians were being denied the necessary information about the preparedness of the country to host the tournament.
Mr Asiamah stated that the inactivity of the ministry due to the absence of the key officials, resulting in the inability of the ministry to answer the question, was a recipe for the poor organisation of the tournament.
For his part, the Member of Parliament for New Juaben North, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, suggested that the House should inform the President to take the appropriate action in connection with the ministry.
In her ruling, the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, asked the Business Committee of the House to find an appropriate time to re-schedule the question for it to be answered.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE problems in the Ministry of Youth and Sports came up for debate on the floor of Parliament yesterday when the embattled sector Minister, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, failed to appear before the House to answer an urgent question about the ministry.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima-Mponua, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, who is also the Minority Ranking Member for Youth, Sports and Culture had asked the minister about the level of preparation for the forthcoming African Hockey Championship slated for July 2009 in Accra.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, informed the House that the question could not be answered because the sector minister, the chief director and the chief accountant of the ministry were on leave pending investigation into alleged malfeasance at the ministry.
He, therefore, requested that the Speaker should stand the question down till the appropriate time.
Mr Bagbin explained that the deputy sector minister was also not in the position to answer the question because with the absence of these key personalities in the ministry, it had become difficult to get the necessary information for him to answer the questions.
Replying, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, wondered in what capacity the Majority Leader gave the information.
According to him, since Mr Bagbin is the Leader of the House and not the Leader of Government Business, he could not hold brief for the government.
He argued that the deputy sector minister of Youth and Sports had no constitutional mandate in the absence of the substantive minister and quoted Article 81 of the 1992 Constitution to buttress his point.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu explained that since the sector minister’s appointment had not been revoked by the President,and neither had he resigned nor died, a colleague minister could be asked to act while he was on leave.
When he caught the eye of the Speaker, Mr Asiamah expressed his disappointment about what he termed “the turn of event at the ministry”.
He said it was unfortunate that at this critical moment when the African Hockey Tournament was just around the corner, Ghanaians were being denied the necessary information about the preparedness of the country to host the tournament.
Mr Asiamah stated that the inactivity of the ministry due to the absence of the key officials, resulting in the inability of the ministry to answer the question, was a recipe for the poor organisation of the tournament.
For his part, the Member of Parliament for New Juaben North, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, suggested that the House should inform the President to take the appropriate action in connection with the ministry.
In her ruling, the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, asked the Business Committee of the House to find an appropriate time to re-schedule the question for it to be answered.
(Forum on SHS duration helped to tackle problems)
Page 14, June 13, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Mr Mathias Puozaa, has stated that the recent forum organised to deliberate on the duration of the senior high school (SHS) system offered the country another chance to take a look at problems confronting the system.
He said it was, however, unfortunate that people took entrenched positions before, during and after the forum.
Mr Puozaa, who is an educationist and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli East, told the Daily Graphic that when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took office in 2001, it behaved as if its predecessor had left nothing good in the education sector for the country.
He cited for instance that the then government changed school uniforms for basic schools while the word “secondary” was dropped and substituted with “high” to change the name of the second cycle education.
Mr Puozaa stated that the NPP administration appointed the Anamoa-Mensah Committee to review the educational system that had been in place since 1987.
He said that committee did its work diligently and came up with recommendations which included integrating pre-school into the regular system.
Mr Puozaa stated that the new reforms had increased the number of years in the basic education system by two years unless one would want to argue that those two years would not be spent for teaching and learning.
He added that the Anamoa-Mensah Committee also saw nothing wrong with the three-year duration of the SHS system provided there would be improvement in the provision of teachers to enhance the teaching and learning process.
Mr Puozaa said he was of the opinion that the Anamao-Mensah Committee would not have recommended the three-year duration if it had not found it feasible.
He recalled that all the participants at the recent forum agreed that given the necessary facilities and supervision, there would not be the need for an additional year at the SHS level.
Mr Puozaa said that position was informed by the statistics presented by experts who were the resource persons of the forum.
He said the fact that people agreed that even five years of SHS would not yield the required results if the authorities failed to improve standards at the basic level was a clear indication that the three-year duration was all right.
“I believe we will be doing ourselves good if we try to identify why our students are not performing and solve those problems in order to go forward in the right direction”, he said.
Mr Puozaa added that all participating countries of the WASSCE did three years of SHS education and questioned why Ghana wanted to extend the period students spent to write the same examination.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Mr Mathias Puozaa, has stated that the recent forum organised to deliberate on the duration of the senior high school (SHS) system offered the country another chance to take a look at problems confronting the system.
He said it was, however, unfortunate that people took entrenched positions before, during and after the forum.
Mr Puozaa, who is an educationist and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli East, told the Daily Graphic that when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took office in 2001, it behaved as if its predecessor had left nothing good in the education sector for the country.
He cited for instance that the then government changed school uniforms for basic schools while the word “secondary” was dropped and substituted with “high” to change the name of the second cycle education.
Mr Puozaa stated that the NPP administration appointed the Anamoa-Mensah Committee to review the educational system that had been in place since 1987.
He said that committee did its work diligently and came up with recommendations which included integrating pre-school into the regular system.
Mr Puozaa stated that the new reforms had increased the number of years in the basic education system by two years unless one would want to argue that those two years would not be spent for teaching and learning.
He added that the Anamoa-Mensah Committee also saw nothing wrong with the three-year duration of the SHS system provided there would be improvement in the provision of teachers to enhance the teaching and learning process.
Mr Puozaa said he was of the opinion that the Anamao-Mensah Committee would not have recommended the three-year duration if it had not found it feasible.
He recalled that all the participants at the recent forum agreed that given the necessary facilities and supervision, there would not be the need for an additional year at the SHS level.
Mr Puozaa said that position was informed by the statistics presented by experts who were the resource persons of the forum.
He said the fact that people agreed that even five years of SHS would not yield the required results if the authorities failed to improve standards at the basic level was a clear indication that the three-year duration was all right.
“I believe we will be doing ourselves good if we try to identify why our students are not performing and solve those problems in order to go forward in the right direction”, he said.
Mr Puozaa added that all participating countries of the WASSCE did three years of SHS education and questioned why Ghana wanted to extend the period students spent to write the same examination.
(Action Plan to eradicate child labour in the offing)
Page 13, June 12, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare is finalising a seven-year National Plan of Action (NPA) to eradicate all worst forms of child labour in the country by 2015.
The sector minister, Mr Stephen Amoanor Kwao who announced this in Parliament yesterday, said, when finalised and adopted, the NPA would provide the necessary focus and impetus for eliminating child labour in a timely, efficient, effective and sustainable manner.
“Ghana has indeed made a lot of strides in dealing with the child labour problem. Much more, however needs to be done”, he said.
Mr Kwao, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lower Manya, was presenting a statement on the floor of Parliament to commemorate World Day Against Child Labour, which is celebrated around the world on June 12, every year.
The theme for the celebration for this year is: “Give girls a chance: End child labour”.
The day is set aside to remind the world about the plight of millions of children of school age, who are out of school and working in dangerous situation, damaging their health, morals and proper development.
Mr Kwao said it was important to note that it was acceptable in the country that children worked as an integral part of the sensitisation process and a means transmitting acquired skills from parents.
He stated that children had been working throughout by helping their parents to care for the home and the family by performing light work such as assisting in family business.
Mr Kwao said those activities were positive and contributed to a child’s development and provide the child with skills, positive attitudes and experience useful in the quest to make the child a productive member of the society.
He explained that child labour on the other hand was work which was morally, physically, socially and mentally dangerous and harmful to children.
“It is work which deprives children of education or prevents them from benefiting fully from schooling as a result of either combining heavy and long hours of work with schooling or dropping out of school completely to undertake activities”.
He said the government, together with its social partners, was not relenting on its efforts to find appropriate solutions to the problem, adding that when the country ratified the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 182, a lot of interventions had been implemented in specific sectors of the economy.
Mr Kwao said that had resulted the development of policy and legislation and the implementation of small-scale direct action in identifying, withdrawing and rehabilitating children in various worst forms of child labour across the country.
Contributing to the statement, the MP for Odododiodioo, Mr Jonathan Tackie-Komme said the most recent ILO report (Geneva 2006) estimated that there were 218 million child labourers world-wide out of which 100 million were girls.
He stated that a number of girls in Ghana, who should had been in school were working, often in some of the worst forms of child labour.
Mr Tackie-Komme said although education was vital, it could not on its own address child labour among girls.
He, therefore, called for the reduction of poverty through the provision of social safety nets for poor families, enforcement of child labour laws and the protection of children rights, among other measures.
The MP commended some non-governmental organisations such as IN Network Ghana, which had contributed to the fight against child labour in the Kpeshie South and Ashiedu Keteke sub metros in the Greater Accra Region and some places in the Central Region.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare is finalising a seven-year National Plan of Action (NPA) to eradicate all worst forms of child labour in the country by 2015.
The sector minister, Mr Stephen Amoanor Kwao who announced this in Parliament yesterday, said, when finalised and adopted, the NPA would provide the necessary focus and impetus for eliminating child labour in a timely, efficient, effective and sustainable manner.
“Ghana has indeed made a lot of strides in dealing with the child labour problem. Much more, however needs to be done”, he said.
Mr Kwao, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lower Manya, was presenting a statement on the floor of Parliament to commemorate World Day Against Child Labour, which is celebrated around the world on June 12, every year.
The theme for the celebration for this year is: “Give girls a chance: End child labour”.
The day is set aside to remind the world about the plight of millions of children of school age, who are out of school and working in dangerous situation, damaging their health, morals and proper development.
Mr Kwao said it was important to note that it was acceptable in the country that children worked as an integral part of the sensitisation process and a means transmitting acquired skills from parents.
He stated that children had been working throughout by helping their parents to care for the home and the family by performing light work such as assisting in family business.
Mr Kwao said those activities were positive and contributed to a child’s development and provide the child with skills, positive attitudes and experience useful in the quest to make the child a productive member of the society.
He explained that child labour on the other hand was work which was morally, physically, socially and mentally dangerous and harmful to children.
“It is work which deprives children of education or prevents them from benefiting fully from schooling as a result of either combining heavy and long hours of work with schooling or dropping out of school completely to undertake activities”.
He said the government, together with its social partners, was not relenting on its efforts to find appropriate solutions to the problem, adding that when the country ratified the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 182, a lot of interventions had been implemented in specific sectors of the economy.
Mr Kwao said that had resulted the development of policy and legislation and the implementation of small-scale direct action in identifying, withdrawing and rehabilitating children in various worst forms of child labour across the country.
Contributing to the statement, the MP for Odododiodioo, Mr Jonathan Tackie-Komme said the most recent ILO report (Geneva 2006) estimated that there were 218 million child labourers world-wide out of which 100 million were girls.
He stated that a number of girls in Ghana, who should had been in school were working, often in some of the worst forms of child labour.
Mr Tackie-Komme said although education was vital, it could not on its own address child labour among girls.
He, therefore, called for the reduction of poverty through the provision of social safety nets for poor families, enforcement of child labour laws and the protection of children rights, among other measures.
The MP commended some non-governmental organisations such as IN Network Ghana, which had contributed to the fight against child labour in the Kpeshie South and Ashiedu Keteke sub metros in the Greater Accra Region and some places in the Central Region.
(Minority raises concern about hike in fuel prices)
Page 16, June 11, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has raised concerns about the recent 30 per cent increase in fuel prices and demanded an immediate explanation about the details of the build up that led to the increase.
“We demand of the Minister of Energy to immediately come to Parliament to inform the good people of Ghana about the build up in the petroleum prices”, the Members of Parliament (MPs) demanded.
At a press conference in Parliament yesterday addressed by the Minority Ranking Member on Energy, Mr Joseph Kofi Addah, they noted that as a result of the 30 per cent hike in fuel prices, taxi and tro-tro fares for the ordinary people had gone up by 17 per cent while prices of basic items in the markets had also shot up.
“Instead of Ghanaians having money in their pockets as candidate Mills promised in his electioneering campaigns, we now have a situation where what we have in our pockets…. is being taken away”, he stressed.
Mr Addah, who was a Minister of Energy in the Kufuor government, said the current situation was not only a far cry from the paradise promised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), but it was also a pathetic and grievous insult to Ghanaians who had been grossly deceived by “the politricks of Professor Mills”.
He said if an “insensitive” NPP government sold petrol at GH¢5.80 per gallon when oil was selling at $149.00 per barrel, why is a “sensitive” and “caring” government of NDC sell petrol at GH¢5.1 per gallon when oil is selling at just $65.00 per barrel.
“Let Prof Mills tell us how much his government will sell petroleum products at the world market price of cruse oil should hit $147 per barrel at least, to enable Ghanaians to prepare immediately”, he asked.
Mr Addah questioned whether Prof Mills promised Ghanaians that his government would increase price of fuel because of Teman Oil Refinery (TOR) debt and alleged mismanagement of NPP, adding that was the then candidate Mills aware that TOR had always been in debt since the late 1980s.
He stated that Ghanaians had overnight realised that they were hookwind, explaining that the Minority was aware of a song which had started making waves with lyrics such as “Atta adaadaa yen agyegye yen akoku yen”, literally meaning, Atta had deceived and killed us”.
He called on Ghanaians to gird their loins and be resolute by beginning to count the broken promises and the betrayal of trust by Prof Mills, who according to him, rode on the crest wave of relieving the hardships that had been allegedly inflicted on them by the NPP.
Mr Addah advised the Committee for Joint Action (CJA), a political pressure group, to mobilise Ghanaians to go on the streets to condemn the insensitivity of the NDC as it did against the NPP when fuel prices were increased.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has raised concerns about the recent 30 per cent increase in fuel prices and demanded an immediate explanation about the details of the build up that led to the increase.
“We demand of the Minister of Energy to immediately come to Parliament to inform the good people of Ghana about the build up in the petroleum prices”, the Members of Parliament (MPs) demanded.
At a press conference in Parliament yesterday addressed by the Minority Ranking Member on Energy, Mr Joseph Kofi Addah, they noted that as a result of the 30 per cent hike in fuel prices, taxi and tro-tro fares for the ordinary people had gone up by 17 per cent while prices of basic items in the markets had also shot up.
“Instead of Ghanaians having money in their pockets as candidate Mills promised in his electioneering campaigns, we now have a situation where what we have in our pockets…. is being taken away”, he stressed.
Mr Addah, who was a Minister of Energy in the Kufuor government, said the current situation was not only a far cry from the paradise promised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), but it was also a pathetic and grievous insult to Ghanaians who had been grossly deceived by “the politricks of Professor Mills”.
He said if an “insensitive” NPP government sold petrol at GH¢5.80 per gallon when oil was selling at $149.00 per barrel, why is a “sensitive” and “caring” government of NDC sell petrol at GH¢5.1 per gallon when oil is selling at just $65.00 per barrel.
“Let Prof Mills tell us how much his government will sell petroleum products at the world market price of cruse oil should hit $147 per barrel at least, to enable Ghanaians to prepare immediately”, he asked.
Mr Addah questioned whether Prof Mills promised Ghanaians that his government would increase price of fuel because of Teman Oil Refinery (TOR) debt and alleged mismanagement of NPP, adding that was the then candidate Mills aware that TOR had always been in debt since the late 1980s.
He stated that Ghanaians had overnight realised that they were hookwind, explaining that the Minority was aware of a song which had started making waves with lyrics such as “Atta adaadaa yen agyegye yen akoku yen”, literally meaning, Atta had deceived and killed us”.
He called on Ghanaians to gird their loins and be resolute by beginning to count the broken promises and the betrayal of trust by Prof Mills, who according to him, rode on the crest wave of relieving the hardships that had been allegedly inflicted on them by the NPP.
Mr Addah advised the Committee for Joint Action (CJA), a political pressure group, to mobilise Ghanaians to go on the streets to condemn the insensitivity of the NDC as it did against the NPP when fuel prices were increased.
Defence Minister justifies suspension of recruitment
Frontpage, June 11. 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Defence,General J.H. Smith (retd), yesterday justified the action of the Military High Command in suspending the 2008 recruitment exercise into the Ghana Armed Forces.
Answering questions on the floor of Parliament in Accra, Gen. Smith explained that the action had to be taken after investigations had confirmed persistent complaints by the general public over anomalies in the exercise.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General Peter Blay nullified the 2008 enlistment into the Ghana Armed Forces in a letter issued to all the service commanders.
Consequently, the letters of enlistment and recruitment offered to the 1,200 would-be soldiers in February 2008, and others who had been prepared for military training, were revoked.
Gen Smith said investigations conducted after the complaints confirmed serious anomalies that flawed the well laid down recruitment procedures in the 2008 enlistment exercise.
He said the Ghana Armed Forces commenced the 2008 general recruitment exercise on March 10, 2008 and at the end of the initial screening, 798 applicants were shortlisted for a further screening exercise in Accra.
The Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North, Major Derek Yaw Oduro (retd) , had enquired from the minister about the fate of the 420 potential army recruits whose training had been suspended.
According to the minister, the subsequent screening exercise resulted in the selection of 420 applicants to undergo a six-month training at the Army Recruit Training School (ARTS) at Shai Hills, from January 31, 2009.
He said following persistent complaints, a board of inquiry was set up and from the 420 selected, only 228 were detected to have passed through all stages of the recruitment exercise while the names of the remaining 192 were, as he put it, “illegally inserted.”
Gen. Smith stated that the Military High Command had to accept the recommendation to suspend the recruitment of all the 420 applicants for the training.
He said the other reason for the suspension of the exercise was based on a routine visit to the garrison, which revealed that “the ARTS was so inadequate that it would end up corrupting our final products,” adding that recruitment funding would therefore be used to improve physical conditions in the training school.
“Madam Speaker, I would like to say that the training of the 420 had to be suspended in good faith in order to preserve the security and safety on the citizens of the state,” he added.
The minister said the enlistment processes were being reviewed to ensure that the situation was never repeated, adding that as soon as the anomalies were rectified, a fresh recruitment exercise would be undertaken.
Gen. Smith gave the assurance that those affected applicants might re-apply when the exercise resumed.
In an answer to a subsequent question, the minister stated that investigations were ongoing and those found to be responsible for the insertion of the names of the 192 people would be dealt with.
On what remedies were available for the 228 applicants, Gen. Smith explained that the military did not owe them anything, since it was not automatic that their applications would be accepted for enlistment.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Defence,General J.H. Smith (retd), yesterday justified the action of the Military High Command in suspending the 2008 recruitment exercise into the Ghana Armed Forces.
Answering questions on the floor of Parliament in Accra, Gen. Smith explained that the action had to be taken after investigations had confirmed persistent complaints by the general public over anomalies in the exercise.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General Peter Blay nullified the 2008 enlistment into the Ghana Armed Forces in a letter issued to all the service commanders.
Consequently, the letters of enlistment and recruitment offered to the 1,200 would-be soldiers in February 2008, and others who had been prepared for military training, were revoked.
Gen Smith said investigations conducted after the complaints confirmed serious anomalies that flawed the well laid down recruitment procedures in the 2008 enlistment exercise.
He said the Ghana Armed Forces commenced the 2008 general recruitment exercise on March 10, 2008 and at the end of the initial screening, 798 applicants were shortlisted for a further screening exercise in Accra.
The Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North, Major Derek Yaw Oduro (retd) , had enquired from the minister about the fate of the 420 potential army recruits whose training had been suspended.
According to the minister, the subsequent screening exercise resulted in the selection of 420 applicants to undergo a six-month training at the Army Recruit Training School (ARTS) at Shai Hills, from January 31, 2009.
He said following persistent complaints, a board of inquiry was set up and from the 420 selected, only 228 were detected to have passed through all stages of the recruitment exercise while the names of the remaining 192 were, as he put it, “illegally inserted.”
Gen. Smith stated that the Military High Command had to accept the recommendation to suspend the recruitment of all the 420 applicants for the training.
He said the other reason for the suspension of the exercise was based on a routine visit to the garrison, which revealed that “the ARTS was so inadequate that it would end up corrupting our final products,” adding that recruitment funding would therefore be used to improve physical conditions in the training school.
“Madam Speaker, I would like to say that the training of the 420 had to be suspended in good faith in order to preserve the security and safety on the citizens of the state,” he added.
The minister said the enlistment processes were being reviewed to ensure that the situation was never repeated, adding that as soon as the anomalies were rectified, a fresh recruitment exercise would be undertaken.
Gen. Smith gave the assurance that those affected applicants might re-apply when the exercise resumed.
In an answer to a subsequent question, the minister stated that investigations were ongoing and those found to be responsible for the insertion of the names of the 192 people would be dealt with.
On what remedies were available for the 228 applicants, Gen. Smith explained that the military did not owe them anything, since it was not automatic that their applications would be accepted for enlistment.
Parliament ratifies International Coffee Agreement
Page 31, June 10, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday ratified the International Coffee Agreement, 2007, which seeks to strengthen the global coffee sector and promote the sustainable expansion of the commodity.
The agreement was laid before the House on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 and referred to the Finance Committee of the House for consideration and report.
The International Coffee Organisation (ICO) was established under the International Coffee Agreement in 1962 by the various governments of coffee-producing and consuming countries which recognised the importance of the commodity to the achievement of socio-economic goals.
Member countries also recognised the need to avoid disequilibrium between production and consumption which could give rise to fluctuations in prices which were harmful to both producers and consumers.
The maiden agreement and its resultant benefits, especially in the area of international co-operation, resulted in the conclusion of five international coffee agreements in 1968, 1976, 1983, 1994 and 2001.
Ghana has been a signatory to all these agreements, with the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOB) as the implementing agency.
The International Coffee Agreement 2007 was adopted by Resolution 431 of the International Coffee Council in September 2007, with the active participation of Ghana, to succeed the 2001 agreement.
The Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Mr James Klutse Avedzi, laid the report of the committee and moved for its adoption.
The Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, stated that Ghana was among the few independent African countries who were part of the original negotiators of the agreement in 1962.
He said it was unfortunate that Ghana had not taken advantage of the benefits the agreement provided for its members, to the extent that coffee production in the country had continued to fall since the 1960s.
He observed that many countries in Africa and Asia had successfully used coffee to reduce poverty, increase foreign exchange and also generate jobs among the rural poor.
He compared the flourishing coffee industry in the Cote d’Ivoire which, at its peak, produced 300,00 metric tonnes of the product for export, to Ghana’s maximum export of 15,000 metric tonnes and called for mere efforts to boost the production and export of the commodity in the country.
Meanwhile, the House also approved the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on timber trade and development co-operation with the European Union.
The objective of the agreement is to ensure that Ghana continues to maintain its access to the EU market for timber and its related products and also provide an avenue for effective development and co-operation with the EU.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, moved the motion for the House to adopt the resolution to ratify the agreement.
The House also adopted another report of the Finance Committee for a waiver of tax liability on equipment/materials to be imported and purchased locally; corporate and expatriate taxes amounting to £12,676,140.50, $4,207,213.60 and $510,001.000 in respect of the Accra-Tema Municipal Area (ATMA) rural water supply expansion (south and north Kpong Project).
In another development, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kumbuor, told the House that Bosome-Freho is one of the newly-established districts in the Ashanti Region that had been earmarked to have a new district hospital.
He was responding to a question posed by the MP for the area, Nana Yaw Ofori-Kuragu, who wanted to konw when a new hospital would be built to serve the people of the area.
Dr Kumbuor said in all six district hospitals had been planned for the region and explained that those hospitals would be constructed subject to the availability of funds.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday ratified the International Coffee Agreement, 2007, which seeks to strengthen the global coffee sector and promote the sustainable expansion of the commodity.
The agreement was laid before the House on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 and referred to the Finance Committee of the House for consideration and report.
The International Coffee Organisation (ICO) was established under the International Coffee Agreement in 1962 by the various governments of coffee-producing and consuming countries which recognised the importance of the commodity to the achievement of socio-economic goals.
Member countries also recognised the need to avoid disequilibrium between production and consumption which could give rise to fluctuations in prices which were harmful to both producers and consumers.
The maiden agreement and its resultant benefits, especially in the area of international co-operation, resulted in the conclusion of five international coffee agreements in 1968, 1976, 1983, 1994 and 2001.
Ghana has been a signatory to all these agreements, with the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOB) as the implementing agency.
The International Coffee Agreement 2007 was adopted by Resolution 431 of the International Coffee Council in September 2007, with the active participation of Ghana, to succeed the 2001 agreement.
The Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Mr James Klutse Avedzi, laid the report of the committee and moved for its adoption.
The Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, stated that Ghana was among the few independent African countries who were part of the original negotiators of the agreement in 1962.
He said it was unfortunate that Ghana had not taken advantage of the benefits the agreement provided for its members, to the extent that coffee production in the country had continued to fall since the 1960s.
He observed that many countries in Africa and Asia had successfully used coffee to reduce poverty, increase foreign exchange and also generate jobs among the rural poor.
He compared the flourishing coffee industry in the Cote d’Ivoire which, at its peak, produced 300,00 metric tonnes of the product for export, to Ghana’s maximum export of 15,000 metric tonnes and called for mere efforts to boost the production and export of the commodity in the country.
Meanwhile, the House also approved the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on timber trade and development co-operation with the European Union.
The objective of the agreement is to ensure that Ghana continues to maintain its access to the EU market for timber and its related products and also provide an avenue for effective development and co-operation with the EU.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, moved the motion for the House to adopt the resolution to ratify the agreement.
The House also adopted another report of the Finance Committee for a waiver of tax liability on equipment/materials to be imported and purchased locally; corporate and expatriate taxes amounting to £12,676,140.50, $4,207,213.60 and $510,001.000 in respect of the Accra-Tema Municipal Area (ATMA) rural water supply expansion (south and north Kpong Project).
In another development, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kumbuor, told the House that Bosome-Freho is one of the newly-established districts in the Ashanti Region that had been earmarked to have a new district hospital.
He was responding to a question posed by the MP for the area, Nana Yaw Ofori-Kuragu, who wanted to konw when a new hospital would be built to serve the people of the area.
Dr Kumbuor said in all six district hospitals had been planned for the region and explained that those hospitals would be constructed subject to the availability of funds.
(Former Speaker returns items)
Page 14, June 6, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE former Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, has returned some of the items he took away from his official residence after his retirement, sources at Parliament have hinted.
The former speaker was given a 10-day ultimatum by the Parliamentary Services Board (PSB), and with six more days to go, sources at Parliament had stated that Mr Sekyi Hughes was yet to return all the items.
The source told the Daily Graphic that officials of Parliament had been stationed in the house to monitor the exercise.
It could not, however, mention the items that had been brought back and those yet to be brought but the source said they were still monitoring events to see if all the items could be brought by the deadline.
The former Speaker, according to the source, began conveying the items to the official residence of the Speaker last Tuesday evening and as of Wednesday morning, some of the items, were reportedly being conveyed to the residence, which was yet to be occupied by the current speaker.
When the Daily Graphic visited the residence at Cantoments, there was virtual calm with a police officer detailed at the security gate as the only indication of human presence in the house.
In an ‘across the window’ terse conversation, the police officer declined to comment on any movement of goods and persons into the residence.
The PSB on Monday, June 1, faulted the ex-Speaker of the House, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, for illegally taking away furnishings from his official residence at the end of his tenure.
In its reaction to the ex-Speaker’s response to an ad hoc committee report on the affair, the PSB also expressed regret at Mr Hughes’s conduct, noting that he did it without authority.
An official statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Mr Jones Kugblenu, stated that “The board has decided that the former Speaker should return all the items to the official residence of the Speaker within 10 days to enable the board to conclude this regrettable matter”.
It explained that the board’s attention was drawn to the matter on March 12, this year, during its first meeting and it subsequently enquired from the former Speaker about the whereabouts of the items.
According to the statement, since the board received evasive responses from the ex-Speaker, it scheduled an emergency meeting to decide on its next line of action.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE former Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, has returned some of the items he took away from his official residence after his retirement, sources at Parliament have hinted.
The former speaker was given a 10-day ultimatum by the Parliamentary Services Board (PSB), and with six more days to go, sources at Parliament had stated that Mr Sekyi Hughes was yet to return all the items.
The source told the Daily Graphic that officials of Parliament had been stationed in the house to monitor the exercise.
It could not, however, mention the items that had been brought back and those yet to be brought but the source said they were still monitoring events to see if all the items could be brought by the deadline.
The former Speaker, according to the source, began conveying the items to the official residence of the Speaker last Tuesday evening and as of Wednesday morning, some of the items, were reportedly being conveyed to the residence, which was yet to be occupied by the current speaker.
When the Daily Graphic visited the residence at Cantoments, there was virtual calm with a police officer detailed at the security gate as the only indication of human presence in the house.
In an ‘across the window’ terse conversation, the police officer declined to comment on any movement of goods and persons into the residence.
The PSB on Monday, June 1, faulted the ex-Speaker of the House, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, for illegally taking away furnishings from his official residence at the end of his tenure.
In its reaction to the ex-Speaker’s response to an ad hoc committee report on the affair, the PSB also expressed regret at Mr Hughes’s conduct, noting that he did it without authority.
An official statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Mr Jones Kugblenu, stated that “The board has decided that the former Speaker should return all the items to the official residence of the Speaker within 10 days to enable the board to conclude this regrettable matter”.
It explained that the board’s attention was drawn to the matter on March 12, this year, during its first meeting and it subsequently enquired from the former Speaker about the whereabouts of the items.
According to the statement, since the board received evasive responses from the ex-Speaker, it scheduled an emergency meeting to decide on its next line of action.
Create new national capital — Dr Mustapha
Page 16, June 5, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso East, Dr Ahmed Mustapha, has suggested the creation of a new national capital to ensure that Accra is decongested.
He stated that efforts by authorities of the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) to decongest the city would come to nought.
Alhaji Mustapha was contributing to a statement made on the floor of Parliament by the MP for Ablekuma Central, Mr Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, on the intended decongestion exercise to improve sanitation in the capital city.
Explaining his suggestion to the Daily Graphic later, Alhaji Mustapha cited the example of Nigeria and La Cote d’Ivoire where new national capitals had been created to decongest the old ones.
In his statement, Mr Chaie stated that that was not the first time that a new mayor of Accra had announced his presence with the decongestion and improvement of sanitation in the city.
“At the end of the day, it becomes a mirage and the situation is made rather worse. The tax payers’ money is thrown down the drain”, he said.
The MP stated that the future of the youth was bleak and there was therefore the need for bold and pragmatic decisions to be taken to save the situation, which politicians had failed to tackle head on.
Mr Chaie however, suggested that in taking such a decision, the mayor should create conditions which would enhance trading activities in the markets, collection of refuse in the city, installation of traffic and street lights to ease vehicular traffic and improve security of the residents.
He advised that bus stops should be created where necessary to avoid the illegal parking of vehicles while public education on environmental cleanliness must be sustained and bye-laws of the assembly must be enforced.
Mr Chaie appealed to traders, hawkers and the general public to do the most honourable thing by vacating all unauthorised places in the city to avoid the action to be taken by the assembly.
“Now is the time for the entire nation to tackle this menace once and for all so as to save our environment for today and the future”, he stated.
At yesterday’s sitting, the MP for Old Tafo, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, raised an issue bordering on quorum which generated into a heated debate between members of the two sides of the House.
The mention of the celebration of June 4 during his submission brought the Majority Chief Whip, Mr E.T. Mensah, on his feet who said that the limited number of MPs in the chamber could be attributed to other factors and not the celebration of the June 4 anniversary.
When he caught the eye of the Speaker, the MP for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, said that it was difficult for him to commute from Achimota to Parliament yesterday due to road blocks mounted by the police as a result of the June 4 anniversary celebration.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso East, Dr Ahmed Mustapha, has suggested the creation of a new national capital to ensure that Accra is decongested.
He stated that efforts by authorities of the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) to decongest the city would come to nought.
Alhaji Mustapha was contributing to a statement made on the floor of Parliament by the MP for Ablekuma Central, Mr Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, on the intended decongestion exercise to improve sanitation in the capital city.
Explaining his suggestion to the Daily Graphic later, Alhaji Mustapha cited the example of Nigeria and La Cote d’Ivoire where new national capitals had been created to decongest the old ones.
In his statement, Mr Chaie stated that that was not the first time that a new mayor of Accra had announced his presence with the decongestion and improvement of sanitation in the city.
“At the end of the day, it becomes a mirage and the situation is made rather worse. The tax payers’ money is thrown down the drain”, he said.
The MP stated that the future of the youth was bleak and there was therefore the need for bold and pragmatic decisions to be taken to save the situation, which politicians had failed to tackle head on.
Mr Chaie however, suggested that in taking such a decision, the mayor should create conditions which would enhance trading activities in the markets, collection of refuse in the city, installation of traffic and street lights to ease vehicular traffic and improve security of the residents.
He advised that bus stops should be created where necessary to avoid the illegal parking of vehicles while public education on environmental cleanliness must be sustained and bye-laws of the assembly must be enforced.
Mr Chaie appealed to traders, hawkers and the general public to do the most honourable thing by vacating all unauthorised places in the city to avoid the action to be taken by the assembly.
“Now is the time for the entire nation to tackle this menace once and for all so as to save our environment for today and the future”, he stated.
At yesterday’s sitting, the MP for Old Tafo, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, raised an issue bordering on quorum which generated into a heated debate between members of the two sides of the House.
The mention of the celebration of June 4 during his submission brought the Majority Chief Whip, Mr E.T. Mensah, on his feet who said that the limited number of MPs in the chamber could be attributed to other factors and not the celebration of the June 4 anniversary.
When he caught the eye of the Speaker, the MP for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, said that it was difficult for him to commute from Achimota to Parliament yesterday due to road blocks mounted by the police as a result of the June 4 anniversary celebration.
Let’s tackle waste problem—Ameyaw Akumfi
Page 17, June 5, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Techiman North, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi has stressed the need for all Ghanaians to play their roles to tackle the problem of management which has now reached an explosive level in the country.
The MP made a statement in Parliament House yesterday on the 2009 World Environment Day which is celebrated on June 5, every year.
The theme for this year’s celebration is: “Your plant needs you-unite to combat climate change”.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi emphasised that all types of waste, from domestic to industrial had engulfed residential areas, choked waterways, and taken over arable lands.
“The sad state of affairs is that the waste management issue is not limited only to the cities, but the entire nation”, he stated.
The MP cautioned that “In our desire to meet our daily needs and develop, we must not lose sight of desertification and biodiversity loss”, adding “These losses must also be checked with pragmatic programmes”.
The MP for Ablekuma North, Mr Justice Joe Appiah also contributed to the statement.
He said the importation of second-hand goods such as socks, singlets, brassieres, among others could cause environmental hazards, adding that plastic waste and water sachets that entered the seas and lagoons also gave problems to the fish and fishermen.
Mr Appiah, therefore, stressed the need to check pollution and other environmental challenges in the country.
Portrait of Prof. Christopher Akumfi, the MP for Techiman North.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Techiman North, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi has stressed the need for all Ghanaians to play their roles to tackle the problem of management which has now reached an explosive level in the country.
The MP made a statement in Parliament House yesterday on the 2009 World Environment Day which is celebrated on June 5, every year.
The theme for this year’s celebration is: “Your plant needs you-unite to combat climate change”.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi emphasised that all types of waste, from domestic to industrial had engulfed residential areas, choked waterways, and taken over arable lands.
“The sad state of affairs is that the waste management issue is not limited only to the cities, but the entire nation”, he stated.
The MP cautioned that “In our desire to meet our daily needs and develop, we must not lose sight of desertification and biodiversity loss”, adding “These losses must also be checked with pragmatic programmes”.
The MP for Ablekuma North, Mr Justice Joe Appiah also contributed to the statement.
He said the importation of second-hand goods such as socks, singlets, brassieres, among others could cause environmental hazards, adding that plastic waste and water sachets that entered the seas and lagoons also gave problems to the fish and fishermen.
Mr Appiah, therefore, stressed the need to check pollution and other environmental challenges in the country.
Portrait of Prof. Christopher Akumfi, the MP for Techiman North.
'Over 500 lives lost in accidents within 3 months
Page 15, June 5, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
AVAILABLE statististics indicate that more than 500 lives were lost through road accidents while 2,000 injuries were also recorded, the Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah has revealed.
He stated that the cost of road traffic crashes to the economy, made up of media bills, property damage, human lives, lost output and administrative cost was estimated at 1.6 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Mr Hammah made these disclosures when he appeared before Parliament to answer a quastion posed by the Member of Parliament for Agona East, Mr John Agyabeng.
The MP had asked the minister what measures were being taken to curb the current spate of road accidents, which had claimed many lives and properties.
The minister stated that his ministry and the national road safety agencies had put together a comprehensive strategy dubbed “The Road Safety Strategy II (2006-2010) and Action Plan”, as the blue print for road safety management in the country.
He said in the immediate term, the ministry had directed that all long distance commercial drivers should carry a vehicle log book to help with the adherence to the Road Traffic Regulation, 1974(L.I 953) which made it mandatory for drivers to rest.
He said the ministry would continue to be committed to public safety concerns by supporting the relevant agencies, especially the National Road Saftey Commission and the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA) to deliver on their mandates.
The Minister noted that the current status of the NRSC did not allow it to enforce its recommendations and it had therefore become necessary to review the NRSC Act 567 to reflect emergint global trends in road safety management.
He explained, if the reveiw was completed, the commission would be changed to an authority to enable it demand compliance of the road safety laws and regulations by stakeholders.
Mr Hammah said the amended act would also seek to expand the sources of funding for the agency explaning that while reliance on support from development partners was drying up, there was the need for find other innovative measures and deepen the financial resources for road safety activities.
He stated that a committee was currenlty working on the draft regulations that would soon be put before Parliament for enactment.
Meanwhile, the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo today referred a publication in this week’s edition of an Accra weekly, the Lens to the Privileges Committee of Parliament for consideration and report.
The frontpage report on the coverage of the visit of the members of the Communications Committee of the House to offices of the mobile phone service operators.
The Minority Chief Whip, Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah, who raise the issue said it was unfortunate that the publication baselessly accused members of the committee for demanding “envelopes” from the service providers during their visits.
The publication described the MPs as “den of thieves”, a description, which infuriated all the MPs who contributed to the matter raised by their colleagues.
Although, the Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin impressed on his colleauges to allow the leadership of the House to discuss the matter with the leadership of the Parliamentary Press Corps, the MPs from both sides of the House insisted that the matter be referred to the Privileges Committee.
The MP for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah Mr Inusah Fuseini (Tamale Central) were of the opinion that it was important for the committee to deal with the matter to come out with the truth or otherwise of the allegation so as to safe the reputation of MPs.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
AVAILABLE statististics indicate that more than 500 lives were lost through road accidents while 2,000 injuries were also recorded, the Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah has revealed.
He stated that the cost of road traffic crashes to the economy, made up of media bills, property damage, human lives, lost output and administrative cost was estimated at 1.6 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Mr Hammah made these disclosures when he appeared before Parliament to answer a quastion posed by the Member of Parliament for Agona East, Mr John Agyabeng.
The MP had asked the minister what measures were being taken to curb the current spate of road accidents, which had claimed many lives and properties.
The minister stated that his ministry and the national road safety agencies had put together a comprehensive strategy dubbed “The Road Safety Strategy II (2006-2010) and Action Plan”, as the blue print for road safety management in the country.
He said in the immediate term, the ministry had directed that all long distance commercial drivers should carry a vehicle log book to help with the adherence to the Road Traffic Regulation, 1974(L.I 953) which made it mandatory for drivers to rest.
He said the ministry would continue to be committed to public safety concerns by supporting the relevant agencies, especially the National Road Saftey Commission and the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA) to deliver on their mandates.
The Minister noted that the current status of the NRSC did not allow it to enforce its recommendations and it had therefore become necessary to review the NRSC Act 567 to reflect emergint global trends in road safety management.
He explained, if the reveiw was completed, the commission would be changed to an authority to enable it demand compliance of the road safety laws and regulations by stakeholders.
Mr Hammah said the amended act would also seek to expand the sources of funding for the agency explaning that while reliance on support from development partners was drying up, there was the need for find other innovative measures and deepen the financial resources for road safety activities.
He stated that a committee was currenlty working on the draft regulations that would soon be put before Parliament for enactment.
Meanwhile, the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo today referred a publication in this week’s edition of an Accra weekly, the Lens to the Privileges Committee of Parliament for consideration and report.
The frontpage report on the coverage of the visit of the members of the Communications Committee of the House to offices of the mobile phone service operators.
The Minority Chief Whip, Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah, who raise the issue said it was unfortunate that the publication baselessly accused members of the committee for demanding “envelopes” from the service providers during their visits.
The publication described the MPs as “den of thieves”, a description, which infuriated all the MPs who contributed to the matter raised by their colleagues.
Although, the Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin impressed on his colleauges to allow the leadership of the House to discuss the matter with the leadership of the Parliamentary Press Corps, the MPs from both sides of the House insisted that the matter be referred to the Privileges Committee.
The MP for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah Mr Inusah Fuseini (Tamale Central) were of the opinion that it was important for the committee to deal with the matter to come out with the truth or otherwise of the allegation so as to safe the reputation of MPs.
MP calls for bye-law on space management
Page 14, June 4, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Subin, Mr Isaac Osei, has stated that the recent Kumasi Central Market fire disaster must kindle the interest of local authorities to enact appropriate bye-laws regarding space management, environment and sanitation processes.
He noted that enforcement of bye-laws had to be strengthened to prevent people from building or trading on waterways, public access routes, on hydrants and open spaces.
Mr Osei, in whose constituency the disaster occurred, made the suggestions in a statement on the disaster on the floor of Parliament yesterday.
He stated that much of the destruction during the incident occurred in the immediate vicinity of the railway line, when in fact at least 50 feet on either side of the tracks should have been left bare.
“If the eastern line should be rehabilitated today, people can actually touch trains from their shop fronts,” he said.
According to him, although the role of the Ghana Railway Corporation in leasing areas close to tracks in many parts of the country might be a revenue-generation strategy, it might in the long run prove to be unwise.
The MP stated that in Kumasi, like other parts of the country, railway tracks had become market sites and it was said that the revenue so generated was used mainly to finance recurrent expenses of the GRC and not for development or rehabilitation.
Mr Osei said about 400 stalls and shops were totally consumed by the fire and appealed to his colleague MPs to join him in sympathising with the victims of the incident.
He observed that far too often, Ghanaians drew politics into everything, and appealed to the MPs to have a national outlook in discussing the consequences and challenges of the Kumasi tragedy.
Mr Osei stated that the tragic event should be seen as an opportunity to completely redevelop the entire Kumasi Central Market.
He added that the redevelopment of the Kumasi Market should make the authorities think about what to do with cities and how to plan new settlements.
“We should not wait and allow shanty towns to mushroom when we can plan and take pre-emptive action,” he said.
The MP said when Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain visited Kumasi in the company of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah in 1960, she called Kumasi “The Garden City of West Africa” because trees had lined avenues in most parts of the city.
He, therefore, suggested that the whole concept of the garden city and its principles ought to inform the country’s urban planning.
Mr Osei recalled a similar fate that was suffered by leather dealers, shoe-makers and pepper sellers in the same market on March 9, 2007, explaining that the committee set up established that none of the traders had insurance cover.
He called on the House to consider a legislation which would make it mandatory for those plying their trade in public facilities to subscribe to insurance against theft, fire, unnatural causes and goods in transit, among others.
Mr Osei commended the officials of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and the Ashanti Regional Minister for taking action in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
He also thanked the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for not only visiting the site to sympathise with the affected people, but also his wise counsel on the need for all residents to respect and obey the laws of the country and the bye-laws of the metropolis.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Subin, Mr Isaac Osei, has stated that the recent Kumasi Central Market fire disaster must kindle the interest of local authorities to enact appropriate bye-laws regarding space management, environment and sanitation processes.
He noted that enforcement of bye-laws had to be strengthened to prevent people from building or trading on waterways, public access routes, on hydrants and open spaces.
Mr Osei, in whose constituency the disaster occurred, made the suggestions in a statement on the disaster on the floor of Parliament yesterday.
He stated that much of the destruction during the incident occurred in the immediate vicinity of the railway line, when in fact at least 50 feet on either side of the tracks should have been left bare.
“If the eastern line should be rehabilitated today, people can actually touch trains from their shop fronts,” he said.
According to him, although the role of the Ghana Railway Corporation in leasing areas close to tracks in many parts of the country might be a revenue-generation strategy, it might in the long run prove to be unwise.
The MP stated that in Kumasi, like other parts of the country, railway tracks had become market sites and it was said that the revenue so generated was used mainly to finance recurrent expenses of the GRC and not for development or rehabilitation.
Mr Osei said about 400 stalls and shops were totally consumed by the fire and appealed to his colleague MPs to join him in sympathising with the victims of the incident.
He observed that far too often, Ghanaians drew politics into everything, and appealed to the MPs to have a national outlook in discussing the consequences and challenges of the Kumasi tragedy.
Mr Osei stated that the tragic event should be seen as an opportunity to completely redevelop the entire Kumasi Central Market.
He added that the redevelopment of the Kumasi Market should make the authorities think about what to do with cities and how to plan new settlements.
“We should not wait and allow shanty towns to mushroom when we can plan and take pre-emptive action,” he said.
The MP said when Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain visited Kumasi in the company of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah in 1960, she called Kumasi “The Garden City of West Africa” because trees had lined avenues in most parts of the city.
He, therefore, suggested that the whole concept of the garden city and its principles ought to inform the country’s urban planning.
Mr Osei recalled a similar fate that was suffered by leather dealers, shoe-makers and pepper sellers in the same market on March 9, 2007, explaining that the committee set up established that none of the traders had insurance cover.
He called on the House to consider a legislation which would make it mandatory for those plying their trade in public facilities to subscribe to insurance against theft, fire, unnatural causes and goods in transit, among others.
Mr Osei commended the officials of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and the Ashanti Regional Minister for taking action in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
He also thanked the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for not only visiting the site to sympathise with the affected people, but also his wise counsel on the need for all residents to respect and obey the laws of the country and the bye-laws of the metropolis.
MPs call for measures to reduce maternal mortality
PAGE 16, JUNE 3, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
SOME Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday expressed concern about the country’s estimated maternal mortality figure of 214 deaths per 100,000 births and called for measures to reduce the situation.
They were contributing to a statement made on the floor of Parliament by the MP for Savelugu, Hajia Salifu Mary Boforo, on the struggle by women to overcome maternal mortality in the country.
In her statement, the MP stated that maternal mortality had accounted for an average of 10,000 deaths in the country over the last 10 years.
She said health experts estimated that if the trend continued till 2015, about 12,000 more deaths would occur and 1,000 more women and children would suffer disabilities.
Hajia Boforo expressed worry about the deplorable conditions of the various maternity wards in the various hospitals across the country.
She stated that in most of those wards, beds were woefully inadequate, thereby compelling two or three mothers with babies to share one bed while those in labour sat on benches waiting for some colleagues to be discharged in order to occupy their beds.
The MP said the situation could be worse, particularly at the local level, where access to health care delivery was a serious challenge due to poor road network, lack of transportation and non-availability of expert staff.
“I appeal to the government and other stakeholders to put in more efforts to address this avoidable menace”, she said.
Contributing to the statement, the MP for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Mrs Gifty Kusi, said the issue about 214 deaths per 100,000 births was debatable since the World Health Organisation had also quoted 500 deaths per 100,000 births for Ghana.
She called on the government to attach more importance to the issue on maternal mortality to enable the country to achieve the fifth Millennium Development Goal of reducing maternal mortality by three-quarters by 2015.
For his part, the Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Lawra/Nandom, Mr Ambrose Dery, called for more attention to be devoted to the traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to enable them to cater for the inadequacies of the health sector in the rural areas.
The MP for Evalue-Gwira, Mrs Catherine Abelema Afeku, drew the attention of the House to the issue of teenage pregnancy, which she said had contributed to the country’s poor maternal mortality.
In another development, the Chairman of the Health Committee of Parliament and MP for Ayawaso East, Alhaji Dr Mustapha Ahmed, made a statement to commemorate the World No Tobacco Day, which fell on May 31.
He enumerated the harmful effects of tobacco and called for the passage of the a law to ban smoking in all public places.
“We need to be role models and good mentors by not smoking or quitting smoking if we take passion in it. We need to carry the message on the harmful effects of tobacco usage to our constituents in schools, bars and public gatherings”, he stressed.
Dr Ahmed’s statement was supported by the MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Professor Mike Oquaye, and the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, who also called for measures to ban smoking in public places since the practice was harmful to the health of non-smokers.
The Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Shirley Ayitey, also made history at yesterday’s sitting as the first minister of the current administration to appear before the House to answer a question posed by the MP for Mampong, Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh.
The MP had asked the minister what measures were being taken to address the continuing fishing in the polluted Fosu Lagoon in Cape Coast.
In her answer, the minister stated that the ministry, through the Environmental Protection Agency, cautioned the general public and fishermen of the high risk they were exposed to through the direct contact with water in the lagoon and possibly eating fish from it.
She said that the solution to the problem laid in addressing the causes of contamination from the upper catchment to improve the water quality and thereby enabling fishermen to obtain wholesome fish.
Ms Ayittey appealed to the House to give the ministry a bit more time to solicit funding to implement its programme to solve the problem.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
SOME Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday expressed concern about the country’s estimated maternal mortality figure of 214 deaths per 100,000 births and called for measures to reduce the situation.
They were contributing to a statement made on the floor of Parliament by the MP for Savelugu, Hajia Salifu Mary Boforo, on the struggle by women to overcome maternal mortality in the country.
In her statement, the MP stated that maternal mortality had accounted for an average of 10,000 deaths in the country over the last 10 years.
She said health experts estimated that if the trend continued till 2015, about 12,000 more deaths would occur and 1,000 more women and children would suffer disabilities.
Hajia Boforo expressed worry about the deplorable conditions of the various maternity wards in the various hospitals across the country.
She stated that in most of those wards, beds were woefully inadequate, thereby compelling two or three mothers with babies to share one bed while those in labour sat on benches waiting for some colleagues to be discharged in order to occupy their beds.
The MP said the situation could be worse, particularly at the local level, where access to health care delivery was a serious challenge due to poor road network, lack of transportation and non-availability of expert staff.
“I appeal to the government and other stakeholders to put in more efforts to address this avoidable menace”, she said.
Contributing to the statement, the MP for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Mrs Gifty Kusi, said the issue about 214 deaths per 100,000 births was debatable since the World Health Organisation had also quoted 500 deaths per 100,000 births for Ghana.
She called on the government to attach more importance to the issue on maternal mortality to enable the country to achieve the fifth Millennium Development Goal of reducing maternal mortality by three-quarters by 2015.
For his part, the Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Lawra/Nandom, Mr Ambrose Dery, called for more attention to be devoted to the traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to enable them to cater for the inadequacies of the health sector in the rural areas.
The MP for Evalue-Gwira, Mrs Catherine Abelema Afeku, drew the attention of the House to the issue of teenage pregnancy, which she said had contributed to the country’s poor maternal mortality.
In another development, the Chairman of the Health Committee of Parliament and MP for Ayawaso East, Alhaji Dr Mustapha Ahmed, made a statement to commemorate the World No Tobacco Day, which fell on May 31.
He enumerated the harmful effects of tobacco and called for the passage of the a law to ban smoking in all public places.
“We need to be role models and good mentors by not smoking or quitting smoking if we take passion in it. We need to carry the message on the harmful effects of tobacco usage to our constituents in schools, bars and public gatherings”, he stressed.
Dr Ahmed’s statement was supported by the MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Professor Mike Oquaye, and the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, who also called for measures to ban smoking in public places since the practice was harmful to the health of non-smokers.
The Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Shirley Ayitey, also made history at yesterday’s sitting as the first minister of the current administration to appear before the House to answer a question posed by the MP for Mampong, Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh.
The MP had asked the minister what measures were being taken to address the continuing fishing in the polluted Fosu Lagoon in Cape Coast.
In her answer, the minister stated that the ministry, through the Environmental Protection Agency, cautioned the general public and fishermen of the high risk they were exposed to through the direct contact with water in the lagoon and possibly eating fish from it.
She said that the solution to the problem laid in addressing the causes of contamination from the upper catchment to improve the water quality and thereby enabling fishermen to obtain wholesome fish.
Ms Ayittey appealed to the House to give the ministry a bit more time to solicit funding to implement its programme to solve the problem.
EX-SPEAKER ERRED
Frontpage, June 2, 2009
THE Parliamentary Service Board (PSB) has officially faulted the ex-Speaker of the House, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, for illegally taking away furnishings from his official residence after the end of his tenure.
In its reaction to the ex-Speaker’s response to an ad hoc committee report on the affair, the PSB also expressed regret at Mr Hughes’s conduct, noting that he did it without authority.
“The PSB regrets the conduct of the former Speaker in relation to the issue on furnishings and disposal of same without proper authority,” it said.
An official statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Mr Jones Kugblenu, said, “The board has decided that the former Speaker should return all the items to the official residence of the Speaker within 10 days to enable the board to conclude this regrettable matter.”
The 10-day ultimatum is expected to expire by Friday next week.
It explained that the board’s attention was drawn to the matter on Thursday, March 12 during its first meeting and it subsequently enquired from the former Speaker about the whereabouts of the items.
According to the statement, since the board received evasive responses from the ex-Speaker, it scheduled an emergency meeting to decide on its next line of action.
It added that before the emergency meeting could be held on May 26, 2009, the board received a letter from the solicitors of the former Speaker expressing his willingness to return the items he took and explaining that “he took the items on a bona fide claim of right”.
It said the board was also aware of several allusions made by the former Speaker and other commentators concerning payments made to the leadership of Parliament for non-procured soft furnishing items and an alleged existing convention which allowed the leadership and senior staff of the service to retain soft furnishings on leaving office.
It insisted that the service kept records of all items in the households of the Speaker and members of the leadership, adding that the existing practice was that every item was issued through stores, while the Development Department delivered the items to their intended destinations.
The statement said Mr Hughes was the first occupant of the official residence meant for the Speaker and moved into it in late December 2006.
“The Speaker had spent almost two years of his four-year term living in the State House. In reality, the former Speaker stayed in the permanent official residence for almost two years, a time too short to underscore the point that some of the items might have suffered any appreciable wear and tear,” it said.
It stated that although the Speaker of the First and the Second Parliaments of the Fourth Republic, Mr Justice D.F. Annan, lived in a public residence, items supplied for his official use were returned on his leaving office.
The statement noted that the Speaker of the Third Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, lived in his private residence throughout his tenure of office and was supplied with few items, adding that when he retired rent for which he would have benefited for living in his private residence, instead of the official residence, was refused him on the basis of the cost of the items supplied.
It explained further that two former Clerks to Parliament, Messrs Samuel Ntim Darkwa and Rex Owusu-Ansah, lived in government bungalows but were not officially supplied with any furnishing items and could not have gone away with anything official.
It added, however, that it was the immediate past Clerk to Parliament, Mr K.E.K. Tachie, who had six-year-old sitting room furnishing and beds in his possession.
On the assertion that GH¢195,200 was approved and paid by the board of the Fourth Parliament to leadership for furnishing items not procured for them, the statement explained that even though the board gave the approval, nothing was paid because the Clerk to Parliament expressed difficulty in the implementation of the decision, since the amount was not captured in the 2008 budget for the Office of Parliament.
“The PSB wishes to reiterate that no such payment has been made till date. The board also wishes to succinctly state that aside the leadership, the clerk was requested to confer with the then Chairman of the PSB, Mr Hughes, to discuss the non-procured items and other related matters affecting the chairman. There was, however, no discussion with the former Speaker as directed,” the statement added.
THE Parliamentary Service Board (PSB) has officially faulted the ex-Speaker of the House, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, for illegally taking away furnishings from his official residence after the end of his tenure.
In its reaction to the ex-Speaker’s response to an ad hoc committee report on the affair, the PSB also expressed regret at Mr Hughes’s conduct, noting that he did it without authority.
“The PSB regrets the conduct of the former Speaker in relation to the issue on furnishings and disposal of same without proper authority,” it said.
An official statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Mr Jones Kugblenu, said, “The board has decided that the former Speaker should return all the items to the official residence of the Speaker within 10 days to enable the board to conclude this regrettable matter.”
The 10-day ultimatum is expected to expire by Friday next week.
It explained that the board’s attention was drawn to the matter on Thursday, March 12 during its first meeting and it subsequently enquired from the former Speaker about the whereabouts of the items.
According to the statement, since the board received evasive responses from the ex-Speaker, it scheduled an emergency meeting to decide on its next line of action.
It added that before the emergency meeting could be held on May 26, 2009, the board received a letter from the solicitors of the former Speaker expressing his willingness to return the items he took and explaining that “he took the items on a bona fide claim of right”.
It said the board was also aware of several allusions made by the former Speaker and other commentators concerning payments made to the leadership of Parliament for non-procured soft furnishing items and an alleged existing convention which allowed the leadership and senior staff of the service to retain soft furnishings on leaving office.
It insisted that the service kept records of all items in the households of the Speaker and members of the leadership, adding that the existing practice was that every item was issued through stores, while the Development Department delivered the items to their intended destinations.
The statement said Mr Hughes was the first occupant of the official residence meant for the Speaker and moved into it in late December 2006.
“The Speaker had spent almost two years of his four-year term living in the State House. In reality, the former Speaker stayed in the permanent official residence for almost two years, a time too short to underscore the point that some of the items might have suffered any appreciable wear and tear,” it said.
It stated that although the Speaker of the First and the Second Parliaments of the Fourth Republic, Mr Justice D.F. Annan, lived in a public residence, items supplied for his official use were returned on his leaving office.
The statement noted that the Speaker of the Third Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, lived in his private residence throughout his tenure of office and was supplied with few items, adding that when he retired rent for which he would have benefited for living in his private residence, instead of the official residence, was refused him on the basis of the cost of the items supplied.
It explained further that two former Clerks to Parliament, Messrs Samuel Ntim Darkwa and Rex Owusu-Ansah, lived in government bungalows but were not officially supplied with any furnishing items and could not have gone away with anything official.
It added, however, that it was the immediate past Clerk to Parliament, Mr K.E.K. Tachie, who had six-year-old sitting room furnishing and beds in his possession.
On the assertion that GH¢195,200 was approved and paid by the board of the Fourth Parliament to leadership for furnishing items not procured for them, the statement explained that even though the board gave the approval, nothing was paid because the Clerk to Parliament expressed difficulty in the implementation of the decision, since the amount was not captured in the 2008 budget for the Office of Parliament.
“The PSB wishes to reiterate that no such payment has been made till date. The board also wishes to succinctly state that aside the leadership, the clerk was requested to confer with the then Chairman of the PSB, Mr Hughes, to discuss the non-procured items and other related matters affecting the chairman. There was, however, no discussion with the former Speaker as directed,” the statement added.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Aboadze Thermal Plant ro be expanded
Page 21, Sat May 30, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Ghana’s current energy production of 2,000 megawatts is expected to be increased by 132 megawatts when the proposed combined cycle thermal plant at Aboadze is finally constructed.
When he took his turn in the meet-the-press series, the Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, indicated that “the government is on course to fulfilling our manifesto promise of increasing energy generation capacity from the current 2,000 megawatts to 5,000 megawatts in the medium term”.
He said at the inception of the new administration in January 2009, the installed operational power generation capacity was 1,810 MW, comprising 1,020 MW from Akosombo, 160 MW from Kpong, 550 MW from Takoradi Thermal Plant, and 80 MW from Mines Reserve Plant.
It is against this backdrop that a 132-megawatt combined cycle thermal plant is expected to be constructed at Aboadze.
A $196,480,170.00 loan is, therefore, being sought from the Societe Generale (Canada) with insurance guarantee from the Export Development Canada (EDC) to finance the project.
The credit agreement between the government and the Societe Generale (Canada) is expected to be placed before Parliament for consideration and ratification on Tuesday, June 2, 2009.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, announced this yesterday when he presented the business statement of Parliament for next week.
Other papers expected to be laid before the House next week include the Public Holders (Declaration) of Assets and Disqualification) Regulation, 2009 (L.I 1957), annual report of the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency, 2003 and the annual report of the Export Development and Investment Fund, 2005.
Also to be placed before the House are the annual report on Presidential Office Staff for the period January to December, 2008 and the performance audit report of the Auditor-General on the management of the Ghana Police Residential Accommodation.
Meanwhile, four sector ministers are expected to appear before the House next week to answer questions that have been filed by a number of Members of Parliament (MPs).
This would be the first time that ministers in the current administration would be appearing before the House to answer questions posed by MPs.
They include the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Sherry Ayittey; the Minister for Transport, Mr Mike Hammah; the Minister of Energy Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, and the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu.
In all, the four ministers are expected to answer 11 questions.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Ghana’s current energy production of 2,000 megawatts is expected to be increased by 132 megawatts when the proposed combined cycle thermal plant at Aboadze is finally constructed.
When he took his turn in the meet-the-press series, the Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, indicated that “the government is on course to fulfilling our manifesto promise of increasing energy generation capacity from the current 2,000 megawatts to 5,000 megawatts in the medium term”.
He said at the inception of the new administration in January 2009, the installed operational power generation capacity was 1,810 MW, comprising 1,020 MW from Akosombo, 160 MW from Kpong, 550 MW from Takoradi Thermal Plant, and 80 MW from Mines Reserve Plant.
It is against this backdrop that a 132-megawatt combined cycle thermal plant is expected to be constructed at Aboadze.
A $196,480,170.00 loan is, therefore, being sought from the Societe Generale (Canada) with insurance guarantee from the Export Development Canada (EDC) to finance the project.
The credit agreement between the government and the Societe Generale (Canada) is expected to be placed before Parliament for consideration and ratification on Tuesday, June 2, 2009.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, announced this yesterday when he presented the business statement of Parliament for next week.
Other papers expected to be laid before the House next week include the Public Holders (Declaration) of Assets and Disqualification) Regulation, 2009 (L.I 1957), annual report of the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency, 2003 and the annual report of the Export Development and Investment Fund, 2005.
Also to be placed before the House are the annual report on Presidential Office Staff for the period January to December, 2008 and the performance audit report of the Auditor-General on the management of the Ghana Police Residential Accommodation.
Meanwhile, four sector ministers are expected to appear before the House next week to answer questions that have been filed by a number of Members of Parliament (MPs).
This would be the first time that ministers in the current administration would be appearing before the House to answer questions posed by MPs.
They include the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Sherry Ayittey; the Minister for Transport, Mr Mike Hammah; the Minister of Energy Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, and the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu.
In all, the four ministers are expected to answer 11 questions.
MP suggests ways of achieving united Africa
Page 15, May 29, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has called for a clear road map for the achievement of a United States of Africa.
“The time has come for some concrete action to be taken for us to move from the rhetorics, summit after summit. A clear road map to achieve this laudable goal is needed”, she stated.
Ms Botchwey, however, called for the involvement of the people in such a decision, through national debates throughout member states of the African Union (AU).
The MP gave these suggestions in a statement on the floor of Parliament to commemorate the AU Day which fell on May 25 and the ECOWAS Day, which fell yesterday.
She noted that the theme chosen for the celebration of this year’s AU Day, “Towards a United, Peaceful and Prosperous Africa” was very appropriate.
Ms Botchwey explained that peace and security had eluded the continent with Africa being viewed as a place of poverty, war and disease while there was the resurgence of cross border conflicts and coup d’etats in countries such as Guinea and Mauritania.
The MP added that although Africa had great potential, until its people came to the realisation that their prosperity laid in their own hands, “we will go nowhere”.
Ms Botchwey stated that the present global crisis presented Africa with a golden opportunity, adding that rather than mourning how the situation had affected the continent negatively and how foreign exchange had dwindled, African must look at ways to take advantage of it.
She said the debate on the United States of Africa had remained a prominent agenda of the AU with several consultations, concluding that the ultimate goal of full political and economic integration leading to the unity was not in doubt.
Ms Botchwey added that, the unity, must however, be a union of African people and not just governments and should, therefore be gradual.
The MP stated that while some people believed that Africa would find its strength in unity, the feeling by others was that the continent was too divided along ethnic, religious, race and language lines for it to achieve that dream overnight.
“As citizens, we all have a stake to ensure Africa’s development by strengthening it against the daunting challenges. It is only with one strong voice that we have the bargaining power we so desire to take our proper place in the world arena”, she said.
On ECOWAS, the MP stated that Ghana’s theme sought to highlight the free movement of persons, goods and services within the sub-region.
Ms Botchwey said it was clear that the success of ECOWAS and all other regional economic bodies depended on free movement, noting that “that no doubt will put us on the right path to achieving a united, peaceful and prosperous Africa”.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has called for a clear road map for the achievement of a United States of Africa.
“The time has come for some concrete action to be taken for us to move from the rhetorics, summit after summit. A clear road map to achieve this laudable goal is needed”, she stated.
Ms Botchwey, however, called for the involvement of the people in such a decision, through national debates throughout member states of the African Union (AU).
The MP gave these suggestions in a statement on the floor of Parliament to commemorate the AU Day which fell on May 25 and the ECOWAS Day, which fell yesterday.
She noted that the theme chosen for the celebration of this year’s AU Day, “Towards a United, Peaceful and Prosperous Africa” was very appropriate.
Ms Botchwey explained that peace and security had eluded the continent with Africa being viewed as a place of poverty, war and disease while there was the resurgence of cross border conflicts and coup d’etats in countries such as Guinea and Mauritania.
The MP added that although Africa had great potential, until its people came to the realisation that their prosperity laid in their own hands, “we will go nowhere”.
Ms Botchwey stated that the present global crisis presented Africa with a golden opportunity, adding that rather than mourning how the situation had affected the continent negatively and how foreign exchange had dwindled, African must look at ways to take advantage of it.
She said the debate on the United States of Africa had remained a prominent agenda of the AU with several consultations, concluding that the ultimate goal of full political and economic integration leading to the unity was not in doubt.
Ms Botchwey added that, the unity, must however, be a union of African people and not just governments and should, therefore be gradual.
The MP stated that while some people believed that Africa would find its strength in unity, the feeling by others was that the continent was too divided along ethnic, religious, race and language lines for it to achieve that dream overnight.
“As citizens, we all have a stake to ensure Africa’s development by strengthening it against the daunting challenges. It is only with one strong voice that we have the bargaining power we so desire to take our proper place in the world arena”, she said.
On ECOWAS, the MP stated that Ghana’s theme sought to highlight the free movement of persons, goods and services within the sub-region.
Ms Botchwey said it was clear that the success of ECOWAS and all other regional economic bodies depended on free movement, noting that “that no doubt will put us on the right path to achieving a united, peaceful and prosperous Africa”.
Parliament resumes sitting
Page 17, May 27, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo has challenged Members of Parliament (MPs) to draw lessons from recent developments about Parliament and sit back to do self introspection to right the wrongs of the establishment.
“As a House, it behoves us to sit back and critically do self introspection in order to right whatever wrong the establishment might have made by commission or omission”.
In her remarks at the commencement of the Second Meeting of the First Session of the fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, Mrs Bamford-Addo reminded the MPs that “these developments, you know, have the tendency of eroding the dignity and integrity of legislative establishments worldwide”.
Without explaining what she meant by “recent developments”, the Speaker urged the MPs to exhibit qualities that would endear them to the people who had reposed their confidence in them.
She stated that it was by so doing that Parliament would continue to win the sympathy and support of the people while MPs would also be accorded the needed respect and assistance to enhance their work.
Mrs Bamford-Addo expressed the hope that the MPs had had rest during the recess and now felt more refreshed to continue from where they left off during the previous meeting.
“As I always say, the bond between myself and honourable members continually deepen by day. I really missed the company of honourable members during the recess and greatly itched to meet them in good health”, she said.
In yesterday’s sitting, the proposed formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to Licensed District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes for 2009, which was expected to be laid before the House was stepped down.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin explained that he had no evidence that new board for the National Health Insurance Authority met to consider the formula before it was brought before the House.
The meeting, which is to last for 10 weeks, is expected to end on Friday, July 31, 2009.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo has challenged Members of Parliament (MPs) to draw lessons from recent developments about Parliament and sit back to do self introspection to right the wrongs of the establishment.
“As a House, it behoves us to sit back and critically do self introspection in order to right whatever wrong the establishment might have made by commission or omission”.
In her remarks at the commencement of the Second Meeting of the First Session of the fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, Mrs Bamford-Addo reminded the MPs that “these developments, you know, have the tendency of eroding the dignity and integrity of legislative establishments worldwide”.
Without explaining what she meant by “recent developments”, the Speaker urged the MPs to exhibit qualities that would endear them to the people who had reposed their confidence in them.
She stated that it was by so doing that Parliament would continue to win the sympathy and support of the people while MPs would also be accorded the needed respect and assistance to enhance their work.
Mrs Bamford-Addo expressed the hope that the MPs had had rest during the recess and now felt more refreshed to continue from where they left off during the previous meeting.
“As I always say, the bond between myself and honourable members continually deepen by day. I really missed the company of honourable members during the recess and greatly itched to meet them in good health”, she said.
In yesterday’s sitting, the proposed formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to Licensed District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes for 2009, which was expected to be laid before the House was stepped down.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin explained that he had no evidence that new board for the National Health Insurance Authority met to consider the formula before it was brought before the House.
The meeting, which is to last for 10 weeks, is expected to end on Friday, July 31, 2009.
Asafoatse Nettey road ready October
Page 29, May 26, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
WORK on the reconstruction of the 1.7-kilometre Asafoatse Nettey Road within the Central Business City (CBD), of Accra is expected to be completed in October, this year.
The completion of the road, which is being undertaken by the China Railways Corporation, is expected to ease the traffic situation along that corridor.
Drains are also being constructed on the sides of the road, some portions of which are being covered to improve upon the sanitation situation in the area.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Odododiodio, Mr Jonathan Tackie-Komme, who inspected the road among other projects in the constituency, urged the contractor to work hard to ensure that the project was completed on schedule.
He said he decided to inspect projects in the constituency to get first hand information in order to brief the people who have been complaining about the delay in the completion of some of the projects.
Mr Tackie-Komme expressed concern that the construction of the road was completed before pipelines were laid and called for collaboration among the authorities of the Urban Roads Department and utility services providers to avoid such occurrences.
He advised residents of the area to refrain from throwing human waste in polythene bags into the newly constructed drains since such unsanitary practices could result in the outbreak of diseases in the area.
When he inspected the bridge being constructed across the Korle Lagoon on the Beach Road, the MP commended the contractor for the work done so far but called for more expedited action to ensure the early completion of the project.
He asked the contractor to always give prior notice whenever there was the need to close the road in order not to inconvenience road users.
Mr Tackie-Komme also appealed to the contractor to review the salaries of the workers upwards to motivate them to work hard.
The Project Manager, Mr Bu Zhuging, thanked the MP for his visit and gave the assurance that the project would be completed and handed over in October, this year.
He appealed to the government to ensure the release of funds on time for the project to be completed on schedule.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
WORK on the reconstruction of the 1.7-kilometre Asafoatse Nettey Road within the Central Business City (CBD), of Accra is expected to be completed in October, this year.
The completion of the road, which is being undertaken by the China Railways Corporation, is expected to ease the traffic situation along that corridor.
Drains are also being constructed on the sides of the road, some portions of which are being covered to improve upon the sanitation situation in the area.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Odododiodio, Mr Jonathan Tackie-Komme, who inspected the road among other projects in the constituency, urged the contractor to work hard to ensure that the project was completed on schedule.
He said he decided to inspect projects in the constituency to get first hand information in order to brief the people who have been complaining about the delay in the completion of some of the projects.
Mr Tackie-Komme expressed concern that the construction of the road was completed before pipelines were laid and called for collaboration among the authorities of the Urban Roads Department and utility services providers to avoid such occurrences.
He advised residents of the area to refrain from throwing human waste in polythene bags into the newly constructed drains since such unsanitary practices could result in the outbreak of diseases in the area.
When he inspected the bridge being constructed across the Korle Lagoon on the Beach Road, the MP commended the contractor for the work done so far but called for more expedited action to ensure the early completion of the project.
He asked the contractor to always give prior notice whenever there was the need to close the road in order not to inconvenience road users.
Mr Tackie-Komme also appealed to the contractor to review the salaries of the workers upwards to motivate them to work hard.
The Project Manager, Mr Bu Zhuging, thanked the MP for his visit and gave the assurance that the project would be completed and handed over in October, this year.
He appealed to the government to ensure the release of funds on time for the project to be completed on schedule.
(Reconsider review of Ghana -Vodafone agreement
Page 14, May 23, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has urged the Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, to rethink the means he has chosen to review the agreement between Ghana and Vodafone on the sale of share of the Ghana Telecom.
It said while it had nothing in principle against the reviewing of the decision, “it is important to establish that if a decision is made by one body, it is appropriate that any attempt at reviewing the decision, would be done by a body of equal stature and legal standing”.
The Minority in Parliament gave the advice in a press release in response to the inauguration of a five-member Inter-ministerial Review Committee by Mr Iddrisu to look into the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) between the government and Vodafone International Holdings BV.
The transaction, which was entered into by the previous administration, enabled Vodafone to purchase 70 per cent shares of Ghana Telecom, with the remaining 30 per cent being retained by the government.
The setting up of the administrative review committee, according to the minister, is in fulfilment of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto pledge to review the agreement and take a decision that would be in the strategic interest of the country.
In the release signed by the Minority Chief Whip, Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah, the Minority stated that any attempt to review any aspect of the deal, which was given endorsement by Parliament after going through it, would constitute a review of the parliamentary approval.
It said inasmuch as the Majority NDC might want to fulfil its manifesto pledges, and the Minority NPP also strongly believed that ex-President Kufuor administration stood to be exonerated of any perceived misdeeds, there should not be any unnecessary tangle.
“It is worth reiterating that all the answers they seek are either in the Agreement or are available to them through the various ministries, departments and agencies that worked with the previous administration to initiate, negotiate and conclude the SPA”.
The Minority stated that if the review was being made to protect the strategic interest of Ghana, as the NDC claimed, to guide the government to decide on the entire process of the privatisation, “may we indicate that there are still lingering doubts regarding the initial divestiture of Ghana Telecom to Telecom Malaysia.
It is, therefore, insisted that the review should start from the very onset of the agreement and its accompanying management agreement between the government and Telecom Malaysia.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has urged the Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, to rethink the means he has chosen to review the agreement between Ghana and Vodafone on the sale of share of the Ghana Telecom.
It said while it had nothing in principle against the reviewing of the decision, “it is important to establish that if a decision is made by one body, it is appropriate that any attempt at reviewing the decision, would be done by a body of equal stature and legal standing”.
The Minority in Parliament gave the advice in a press release in response to the inauguration of a five-member Inter-ministerial Review Committee by Mr Iddrisu to look into the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) between the government and Vodafone International Holdings BV.
The transaction, which was entered into by the previous administration, enabled Vodafone to purchase 70 per cent shares of Ghana Telecom, with the remaining 30 per cent being retained by the government.
The setting up of the administrative review committee, according to the minister, is in fulfilment of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto pledge to review the agreement and take a decision that would be in the strategic interest of the country.
In the release signed by the Minority Chief Whip, Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah, the Minority stated that any attempt to review any aspect of the deal, which was given endorsement by Parliament after going through it, would constitute a review of the parliamentary approval.
It said inasmuch as the Majority NDC might want to fulfil its manifesto pledges, and the Minority NPP also strongly believed that ex-President Kufuor administration stood to be exonerated of any perceived misdeeds, there should not be any unnecessary tangle.
“It is worth reiterating that all the answers they seek are either in the Agreement or are available to them through the various ministries, departments and agencies that worked with the previous administration to initiate, negotiate and conclude the SPA”.
The Minority stated that if the review was being made to protect the strategic interest of Ghana, as the NDC claimed, to guide the government to decide on the entire process of the privatisation, “may we indicate that there are still lingering doubts regarding the initial divestiture of Ghana Telecom to Telecom Malaysia.
It is, therefore, insisted that the review should start from the very onset of the agreement and its accompanying management agreement between the government and Telecom Malaysia.
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