Backpage, July 9, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
ARRANGEMENTS have been made to enable former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor to share a common breakfast table with Presidents John Evans Atta Mills and Barack Obama when the latter visits the country this week.
The Minister of Communications and MP for Tamale South, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, gave the hint in a contribution to a statement by the Foreign Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, on the visit of the US president to Ghana.
The MP told the House that that arrangement was to enable the eminent personalities to share their views on the needs and concerns of the country.
He said he had been reliably informed that invitations had been sent to the two former presidents.
The MP lauded the contribution of the USA to the development of the country, indicating that aside development initiatives by the US government for the country, many Ghanaians had also benefited by way of education and training from the US.
He said the choice of Ghana reflected the fact that the country had a peaceful and stable democracy.
He said it had been the wish that the Ghanaian public would have had some interaction with the US President, but said because of uncertainty over the weather and other security consideration, there was not going to be such direct public interaction. He, however, indicated that there would be live broadcasts of the major events.
Contributing to the statement, the MP for Kwabre West, Mr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, said although Obama was not the first US President to visit the country, his visit was unique because Ghana was the first country south of the Sahara to host the US President.
He said the choice of Ghana did not come by accident but by painstaking development of the country’s democratic credentials and the effective management of socio-economic challenges.
He said in order to deepen and improve the country’s democratic credentials, there was the need to ensure a more credible electoral process through the introduction of an electronic system of voter registration, voting and declaration of results.
In his contribution, the MP for Garu/Timpane, Mr Dominic Azumah, said the visit of the US President would deepen relationship between the two countries.
He, however, suggested that President Obama’s schedule should have included a visit to the northern part of the country where he could have a better appreciation of the country’s development challenges.
The MP for Subin, Mr Isaac Osei, told the House that the democratic experiment that was instituted more than 50 years ago was working, adding that the country had benefited tremendously from its association with the US.
His said the life and achievements of the US President enforced the belief that the country could make it.
The Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, for his part urged that necessary measures be put in place to enable the US President and his entourage to interact with the private sector.
He said President Obama should also make clear the policy direction of his administration and assured the US President and his entourage of the “proverbial Ghanaian hospitality”.
The Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin, said the visit was unique because it was the first time a US President was visiting the country not only with his wife but his children as well.
He said the visit was also in recognition of the country’s achievement as a united people and added that the country was fortunate to host the US President.
The Second Deputy Speaker, Professor Mike Oquaye, said Ghana had been the natural choice for Obama’s first visit to sub-Saharan Africa and urged Ghanaians to “sustain and develop that which makes us special”.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Govt to remove unauthorized structures — Ashitey
Page 13, July 8, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey has announced government’s intention to remove all unauthorized structures in waterways after an inventory had been conducted and due diligence carried out.
He said after these measures had been carried out, where there were no permits and these structures were obstructing free-flow of water, they would have to be demolished.
Mr Ashitey made the announcement in a statement he presented on the floor of Parliament on the current floods being experienced in Accra.
He said an inter-ministerial task force comprising of Road and Highways, the Interior, Water Resources, Works and Housing, Local Government and Rural Development, NADMO, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Greater Accra Co-ordinating Council had been put in place to resolve all matter relating to the disaster.
He said it was sad to note that when decongestion was mentioned, many people referred to it as the removal of traders from the streets of Accra.
He said it was his view that decongestion should encompass the removal of all unauthorised structures and trading activities from the unauthosused places.
Recounting the flood situation, he stated that this year’s flood had been very serious resulting in the destruction of property worth millions of cedis and displacement of many people.
He stated that during the incident, officials of NADMO, the RCC and the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces were deployed to the scene to assess the situation and map up strategies to stem the tide.
Mr Ashitey said as a short term measure, repair works on a number of roads had been started in earnest and primer sealing of the Kaneshie-Mallam Road had been done,
He said the permanent restoration of the roads would be done using alsphalt sealing and expressed the hope that many of the works would be completed before the end of this month depending on the state of the weather.
The Regional Minister stated that the Roads and Highways and the Hydro Division of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing intended to desilt the underground storm drain on the Kaneshie-Mallam Road and re-align sections of the drain around the Obetsebi Lamptey Circle.
Contributing to the debate, the MP for Mfantseman Mr Kuntu Blankson, said it was important not to politicize the issue adding that all Ghanaians had a responsibility to address that challenge.
The MP for Ayawaso West Wugon, Mrs Frema Osei-Opare shared the sentiments of Mr Blankson and urged the government to introduce a long-term bi-partisan policy that would help address the situation.
The MP for North Dayi, Ms Akua Dansua, for her part said, there was the need to adhere to building and sanitation regulations to ensure that rain water did not chole drains and cause havoc.
When he took his turn, MP for Ayawaso Central, Sheikh I. C. Quaye said there had been tremendous work done in the past as a result of which areas such as Achimota, Alajo, Dzorwulu, Odawna, Osu among others had not experienced flooding this year.
He said during his tenure of office he was able to reduce the population of mosquitoes in Accra and added that starting from today he was going to embark on a mass spraying exercise to rid the city of mosquitoes.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey has announced government’s intention to remove all unauthorized structures in waterways after an inventory had been conducted and due diligence carried out.
He said after these measures had been carried out, where there were no permits and these structures were obstructing free-flow of water, they would have to be demolished.
Mr Ashitey made the announcement in a statement he presented on the floor of Parliament on the current floods being experienced in Accra.
He said an inter-ministerial task force comprising of Road and Highways, the Interior, Water Resources, Works and Housing, Local Government and Rural Development, NADMO, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Greater Accra Co-ordinating Council had been put in place to resolve all matter relating to the disaster.
He said it was sad to note that when decongestion was mentioned, many people referred to it as the removal of traders from the streets of Accra.
He said it was his view that decongestion should encompass the removal of all unauthorised structures and trading activities from the unauthosused places.
Recounting the flood situation, he stated that this year’s flood had been very serious resulting in the destruction of property worth millions of cedis and displacement of many people.
He stated that during the incident, officials of NADMO, the RCC and the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces were deployed to the scene to assess the situation and map up strategies to stem the tide.
Mr Ashitey said as a short term measure, repair works on a number of roads had been started in earnest and primer sealing of the Kaneshie-Mallam Road had been done,
He said the permanent restoration of the roads would be done using alsphalt sealing and expressed the hope that many of the works would be completed before the end of this month depending on the state of the weather.
The Regional Minister stated that the Roads and Highways and the Hydro Division of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing intended to desilt the underground storm drain on the Kaneshie-Mallam Road and re-align sections of the drain around the Obetsebi Lamptey Circle.
Contributing to the debate, the MP for Mfantseman Mr Kuntu Blankson, said it was important not to politicize the issue adding that all Ghanaians had a responsibility to address that challenge.
The MP for Ayawaso West Wugon, Mrs Frema Osei-Opare shared the sentiments of Mr Blankson and urged the government to introduce a long-term bi-partisan policy that would help address the situation.
The MP for North Dayi, Ms Akua Dansua, for her part said, there was the need to adhere to building and sanitation regulations to ensure that rain water did not chole drains and cause havoc.
When he took his turn, MP for Ayawaso Central, Sheikh I. C. Quaye said there had been tremendous work done in the past as a result of which areas such as Achimota, Alajo, Dzorwulu, Odawna, Osu among others had not experienced flooding this year.
He said during his tenure of office he was able to reduce the population of mosquitoes in Accra and added that starting from today he was going to embark on a mass spraying exercise to rid the city of mosquitoes.
Minority rescinds decision
Page 13, July 14, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minority has rescinded its decision not to participate in votes and decision making in the House in a row over an alleged $5,000 bribery scandal raised on the floor of the House by the MP for Sene, Mr Felix Twumasi Appiah.
The Minority had resolved not to participate in the decision making or voting in the House until the determination of the case by the Privileges Committee but the Minority Leader yesterday told the House that the withdrawal of the controversial statement by the MP, Mr Twumasi Appiah, had informed its decision.
Minority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told the House that official report of the proceedings in the House confirmed that Mr Felix Twumasi-Appiah had indeed withdrawn his statement at a time the Minority members of the House were exiting the Chamber.
He said the Minority’s resolve had been based on the refusal of Mr Twumasi-Appiah to withdraw those statements: We have seen that he has withdrawn the statement while members of the Minority were exiting,” the Minority Leader noted.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said although the decision to walkout was a difficult one it was the most honourable thing to do under the circumstance.
The Minority Leader however, raised issue with the adoption of the report of the Finance Committee on the $300 million IDA facility at a time when clearly, the number of MPs in the House did not meet the requirement of the law.
The report was adopted at a time when the Minority had walked out of the House and the official records showed that the number of Majority MPs in attendance that day was not at least half the number of the total number of MPs required by law to take that decision.
Hpwever, the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr John Tia said the register of official did not capture all MPs who attended sitting as the record keepers left the House before the Majority mobilized its members to adopt the report.
But that argument was sharply countered by the MP of Sekondi who said in as much as he appreciated the difficulty of the Deputy Majority Leader he should be careful not to mislead the House since the record of votes and proceedings had been duly approved by the House.
The Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo in her intervention urged the House to stick to the official records of votes and proceedings.
Meanwhile, the House has approved a $38.10 million loan agreement between the government and the African Development Bank (ADB) for the implementation of the Tema-Aflao Road rehabilitation project.
The House also approved a $6.45 million loan agreement between the government and the ADB for the implementation of the Techiman-Kintampo Road Rehabilitation Programme.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minority has rescinded its decision not to participate in votes and decision making in the House in a row over an alleged $5,000 bribery scandal raised on the floor of the House by the MP for Sene, Mr Felix Twumasi Appiah.
The Minority had resolved not to participate in the decision making or voting in the House until the determination of the case by the Privileges Committee but the Minority Leader yesterday told the House that the withdrawal of the controversial statement by the MP, Mr Twumasi Appiah, had informed its decision.
Minority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told the House that official report of the proceedings in the House confirmed that Mr Felix Twumasi-Appiah had indeed withdrawn his statement at a time the Minority members of the House were exiting the Chamber.
He said the Minority’s resolve had been based on the refusal of Mr Twumasi-Appiah to withdraw those statements: We have seen that he has withdrawn the statement while members of the Minority were exiting,” the Minority Leader noted.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said although the decision to walkout was a difficult one it was the most honourable thing to do under the circumstance.
The Minority Leader however, raised issue with the adoption of the report of the Finance Committee on the $300 million IDA facility at a time when clearly, the number of MPs in the House did not meet the requirement of the law.
The report was adopted at a time when the Minority had walked out of the House and the official records showed that the number of Majority MPs in attendance that day was not at least half the number of the total number of MPs required by law to take that decision.
Hpwever, the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr John Tia said the register of official did not capture all MPs who attended sitting as the record keepers left the House before the Majority mobilized its members to adopt the report.
But that argument was sharply countered by the MP of Sekondi who said in as much as he appreciated the difficulty of the Deputy Majority Leader he should be careful not to mislead the House since the record of votes and proceedings had been duly approved by the House.
The Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo in her intervention urged the House to stick to the official records of votes and proceedings.
Meanwhile, the House has approved a $38.10 million loan agreement between the government and the African Development Bank (ADB) for the implementation of the Tema-Aflao Road rehabilitation project.
The House also approved a $6.45 million loan agreement between the government and the ADB for the implementation of the Techiman-Kintampo Road Rehabilitation Programme.
Enlistment into Police Service temporarily suspended — Avoka
Page 17, July 7, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka has given the assurance that enlistment into the Ghana Police Service has only been temporarily suspended and not cancelled.
He said the Police Administration had put its plans of recruiting more personnel on hold, in order to avoid compounding an already precarious situation of accommodation facing the service.
Mr Avoka said this when he appeared before Parliament yesterday to answer questions posed by Members of Parliament (MPs) on his ministry.
The MP for Bawku Central, Mr Adamu Dramani-Sakande had asked the minister about the status of the enlistment process of over 7,000 persons who had been shortlisted for screening into the Ghana Police Service this year.
Mr Avoka explained that the Police Service issued a public statement on June 12, 2009 to suspend enlistment into the service for this year.
He said the decision of the administration was taken mainly because of the lack of residential accommodation for personnel already in service.
“It must be explained that a number of personnel are putting up in dilapidated buildings and make-shift structures while others do not have any accommodation at all,” he explained.
The minister added that some officers had embarrassingly become squatters, staying with relations and friends in different towns closer to their stations.
This state of affairs significantly affects the performance of the police personnel as it lowered their morale and demotivates them, he said, adding that as a result of these extreme accommodation difficulties, most married policemen, especially the young ones, cannot live with their families.
Mr Avoka said that it was, therefore the priority concern of the police to improve the acute accommodation shortage before embarking on any recruitment exercise.
He said the police training schools would continue to retrain personnel already in the system to improve their professional effectiveness.
Answering other follow-up questions, the Interior Minister refuted the allegation that the suspension of the enlistment exercise was due to certain World Bank conditionalities attached to loans that the bank had agreed to offer Ghana.
Mr Avoka said it was better to have few police personnel who were well motivated in terms of accommodation and logistics, rather than many policemen living in dilapidated structures.
He said efforts were being made to rehabilitate some police buildings, while some district assemblies had also indicated their preparedness to construct more residential and office accommodation to house police posted to their areas.
The minister also told the House that the newly-completed police office accommodation at Dom-Sampaman had been inspected by the police high command and it was noted that it was located in a remote area with unmotorable road in addition to the fact that there were no residential facility attached for the personnel.
Answering a question posed by the MP for Trobu-Amasaman, Mr Enerst Attuquaye Armah, the minister said the police, therefore intended to discuss the issue of residential accommodation with the community in order to post a few personnel there to maintain law and order.
Answering another question by the MP for Asunafo North, Mr Robert Sarfo-Mensah, Mr Avoka explained that the government had recognised the need to equip and strengthen the capacity of the Ghana National Fire Service throughout the country.
He said efforts were been made to secure new fire engines, and the gave assurance that the Goaso Fire Station would be catered for when the facilities were procured.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka has given the assurance that enlistment into the Ghana Police Service has only been temporarily suspended and not cancelled.
He said the Police Administration had put its plans of recruiting more personnel on hold, in order to avoid compounding an already precarious situation of accommodation facing the service.
Mr Avoka said this when he appeared before Parliament yesterday to answer questions posed by Members of Parliament (MPs) on his ministry.
The MP for Bawku Central, Mr Adamu Dramani-Sakande had asked the minister about the status of the enlistment process of over 7,000 persons who had been shortlisted for screening into the Ghana Police Service this year.
Mr Avoka explained that the Police Service issued a public statement on June 12, 2009 to suspend enlistment into the service for this year.
He said the decision of the administration was taken mainly because of the lack of residential accommodation for personnel already in service.
“It must be explained that a number of personnel are putting up in dilapidated buildings and make-shift structures while others do not have any accommodation at all,” he explained.
The minister added that some officers had embarrassingly become squatters, staying with relations and friends in different towns closer to their stations.
This state of affairs significantly affects the performance of the police personnel as it lowered their morale and demotivates them, he said, adding that as a result of these extreme accommodation difficulties, most married policemen, especially the young ones, cannot live with their families.
Mr Avoka said that it was, therefore the priority concern of the police to improve the acute accommodation shortage before embarking on any recruitment exercise.
He said the police training schools would continue to retrain personnel already in the system to improve their professional effectiveness.
Answering other follow-up questions, the Interior Minister refuted the allegation that the suspension of the enlistment exercise was due to certain World Bank conditionalities attached to loans that the bank had agreed to offer Ghana.
Mr Avoka said it was better to have few police personnel who were well motivated in terms of accommodation and logistics, rather than many policemen living in dilapidated structures.
He said efforts were being made to rehabilitate some police buildings, while some district assemblies had also indicated their preparedness to construct more residential and office accommodation to house police posted to their areas.
The minister also told the House that the newly-completed police office accommodation at Dom-Sampaman had been inspected by the police high command and it was noted that it was located in a remote area with unmotorable road in addition to the fact that there were no residential facility attached for the personnel.
Answering a question posed by the MP for Trobu-Amasaman, Mr Enerst Attuquaye Armah, the minister said the police, therefore intended to discuss the issue of residential accommodation with the community in order to post a few personnel there to maintain law and order.
Answering another question by the MP for Asunafo North, Mr Robert Sarfo-Mensah, Mr Avoka explained that the government had recognised the need to equip and strengthen the capacity of the Ghana National Fire Service throughout the country.
He said efforts were been made to secure new fire engines, and the gave assurance that the Goaso Fire Station would be catered for when the facilities were procured.
Minority stage walkout over bribery allegation
Page 3, July 7, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
A BREWING controversy over an alleged $5,000 bribery scandal involving Minority Members of Parliament emerged yesterday on the floor of the House, leading to a walkout by the Minority.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sene, Mr Felix Twumasi Appiah, provoked the ire of the Minority when he made a reference to an allegation made by New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Asikuma Odoben Brakwa, P. C. Appiah Ofori, in the media that some NPP MPs were bribed $5,000 each in their support for the Vodafone deal.
Mr Twumasi-Appiah appeared to have been goaded by the NPP MP for Bimbilla, Mr Dominic Ntiwul, who, in his contribution to the debate on the Finance Committee’s report on a $300 million IDA facility, expressed the hope that the cash would not be used for “tea partying, pampas and chinchiga” to the rousing response of “hear hear” from the Minority.
When he took his turn, Mr Twumasi-Appiah said he hoped that members of the Minority were not speaking from experience, adding that in view of the comments made by P. C. Appiah Ofori that members on the Minority side were given $5,000 each to vote for the Vodafone deal, there was a clear indication that in the past some monies might have been misapplied.
That sparked numerous interventions from members of the Minority side, with Deputy Minority Leader, Ambrose Dery; MP for Old Tafo, Dr Akoto Osei, and Minority Chief Whip, Mr Frederick Opare Ansah leading those interventions and requesting that Mr Twumasi-Appiah be compelled to withdraw the statement.
The Minority MPs argued that the statement was purely an allegation that could cause damage to the integrity of the parliamentarians although it could not be substantiated.
The Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery, argued strongly that P. C. Appiah Ofori had made an allegation about an occurrence in the past and the reference to the present Parliament was unfair, stressing that “either he withdraws the statement or he is referred to the Privileges Committee”.
The MP for Old Tafo, Dr Akoto Osei, who shared similar sentiments, urged the MP for Sene to withdraw the statement, since he could not provide any evidence to buttress the statement.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, urged both sides of the House to be decorous and wondered why after the Minority had responded heartily to Ntiwul’s admonition to the Executive not to use the money for pampers, chinchiga and tea partying, they would now complain about the statements made by Twumasi-Appiah.
Nevertheless, the Majority Leader urged that both P. C. Appiah Ofori and Mr Twumasi-Appiah be referred to the Privileges Committee in order to get to the bottom of the matter, “since it affects the integrity of Parliament”.
The Speaker ruled that the MP for Sene should withdraw the statement, but in doing so, his comments displeased the Minority, who believed he was just playing with words and not being forthright, hence their resort to the walkout.
Meanwhile, the Minority have resolved not to take part in any voting or decision in the House until the matter is expeditiously resolved by the Privileges Committee of Parliament.
Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, at a press conference yesterday, said the Minority, however, would partake in the proceedings of the House.
“We wish to state that until this matter is cleared by the Privileges Committee, we in the Minority feel constrained to state that we find it rather difficult to participate in further decision making and voting on the floor of the House,” Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated.
He explained that in as much as government business must go on, it was the belief of the Minority that the esteem, dignity and integrity of Parliament must be preserved.
He said Standing Orders 93 (2) 28 and 38 provided for the use of proper language and the making of statements of fact during debates.
He added that the Minority was aware “of the baseless allegations of the receipt of $5,000 by individual Members of Parliament who voted for the approval of the Vodafone Agreement that have been made by Mr P. C. Appiah-Ofori against some members of this House in some sections of the media”.
He said the re-echoing of the matter on the floor of the House raises serious concerns, especially given the reluctance of Mr Twumasi-Appiah to withdraw the statement, despite persistent directives by the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo.
The MP for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa was, however, not present in the House.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
A BREWING controversy over an alleged $5,000 bribery scandal involving Minority Members of Parliament emerged yesterday on the floor of the House, leading to a walkout by the Minority.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sene, Mr Felix Twumasi Appiah, provoked the ire of the Minority when he made a reference to an allegation made by New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Asikuma Odoben Brakwa, P. C. Appiah Ofori, in the media that some NPP MPs were bribed $5,000 each in their support for the Vodafone deal.
Mr Twumasi-Appiah appeared to have been goaded by the NPP MP for Bimbilla, Mr Dominic Ntiwul, who, in his contribution to the debate on the Finance Committee’s report on a $300 million IDA facility, expressed the hope that the cash would not be used for “tea partying, pampas and chinchiga” to the rousing response of “hear hear” from the Minority.
When he took his turn, Mr Twumasi-Appiah said he hoped that members of the Minority were not speaking from experience, adding that in view of the comments made by P. C. Appiah Ofori that members on the Minority side were given $5,000 each to vote for the Vodafone deal, there was a clear indication that in the past some monies might have been misapplied.
That sparked numerous interventions from members of the Minority side, with Deputy Minority Leader, Ambrose Dery; MP for Old Tafo, Dr Akoto Osei, and Minority Chief Whip, Mr Frederick Opare Ansah leading those interventions and requesting that Mr Twumasi-Appiah be compelled to withdraw the statement.
The Minority MPs argued that the statement was purely an allegation that could cause damage to the integrity of the parliamentarians although it could not be substantiated.
The Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery, argued strongly that P. C. Appiah Ofori had made an allegation about an occurrence in the past and the reference to the present Parliament was unfair, stressing that “either he withdraws the statement or he is referred to the Privileges Committee”.
The MP for Old Tafo, Dr Akoto Osei, who shared similar sentiments, urged the MP for Sene to withdraw the statement, since he could not provide any evidence to buttress the statement.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, urged both sides of the House to be decorous and wondered why after the Minority had responded heartily to Ntiwul’s admonition to the Executive not to use the money for pampers, chinchiga and tea partying, they would now complain about the statements made by Twumasi-Appiah.
Nevertheless, the Majority Leader urged that both P. C. Appiah Ofori and Mr Twumasi-Appiah be referred to the Privileges Committee in order to get to the bottom of the matter, “since it affects the integrity of Parliament”.
The Speaker ruled that the MP for Sene should withdraw the statement, but in doing so, his comments displeased the Minority, who believed he was just playing with words and not being forthright, hence their resort to the walkout.
Meanwhile, the Minority have resolved not to take part in any voting or decision in the House until the matter is expeditiously resolved by the Privileges Committee of Parliament.
Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, at a press conference yesterday, said the Minority, however, would partake in the proceedings of the House.
“We wish to state that until this matter is cleared by the Privileges Committee, we in the Minority feel constrained to state that we find it rather difficult to participate in further decision making and voting on the floor of the House,” Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated.
He explained that in as much as government business must go on, it was the belief of the Minority that the esteem, dignity and integrity of Parliament must be preserved.
He said Standing Orders 93 (2) 28 and 38 provided for the use of proper language and the making of statements of fact during debates.
He added that the Minority was aware “of the baseless allegations of the receipt of $5,000 by individual Members of Parliament who voted for the approval of the Vodafone Agreement that have been made by Mr P. C. Appiah-Ofori against some members of this House in some sections of the media”.
He said the re-echoing of the matter on the floor of the House raises serious concerns, especially given the reluctance of Mr Twumasi-Appiah to withdraw the statement, despite persistent directives by the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo.
The MP for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa was, however, not present in the House.
Asante Mampong benefit from a $15.3 m loan
Page 14, July 4, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Asante Mampong Municipality in the Ashanti Region is to benefit from a $15.3 million loan facility for the rehabilitation and expansion of its water system.
With about 58,000 inhabitants, the municipality has a potential for agro-industrial processing.
However, the existing surface water supply for the municipality has become inadequate to meet the demands of the area.
A report on the loan facility, was laid before Parliament by the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the House, Mr James Klutse Avedzi for the approval of the loan for the execution of the project.
The report indicated that the loan was being sourced from the Export-Import Bank of the United Stated of America, by the Ghana Water Company Limited with the Ghana of government as the guarantor.
Apart from the loan, the bank is also providing $7,788,723 as grant while the execution of the water project would be undertaken by Messrs EUM of Florida, USA.
The beneficiary communities of the project would include Mampong, Darmang, Daaho, Bosofour, Besease, Kyeremfaso, Krobo, Mpenya, Dadease, Bonkrom, Nsuta and Beposo.
The technical support to be provided under the project, included the training of the Ghana Water Company staff and post construction operational support.
The project is expected to enhance the provision of water to help government’s objective of increasing access to potable water by the population to meet and even exceed the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of 76 per cent by 2015.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Asante Mampong Municipality in the Ashanti Region is to benefit from a $15.3 million loan facility for the rehabilitation and expansion of its water system.
With about 58,000 inhabitants, the municipality has a potential for agro-industrial processing.
However, the existing surface water supply for the municipality has become inadequate to meet the demands of the area.
A report on the loan facility, was laid before Parliament by the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the House, Mr James Klutse Avedzi for the approval of the loan for the execution of the project.
The report indicated that the loan was being sourced from the Export-Import Bank of the United Stated of America, by the Ghana Water Company Limited with the Ghana of government as the guarantor.
Apart from the loan, the bank is also providing $7,788,723 as grant while the execution of the water project would be undertaken by Messrs EUM of Florida, USA.
The beneficiary communities of the project would include Mampong, Darmang, Daaho, Bosofour, Besease, Kyeremfaso, Krobo, Mpenya, Dadease, Bonkrom, Nsuta and Beposo.
The technical support to be provided under the project, included the training of the Ghana Water Company staff and post construction operational support.
The project is expected to enhance the provision of water to help government’s objective of increasing access to potable water by the population to meet and even exceed the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of 76 per cent by 2015.
Govt to review policy on second cycle
Page 13, July 3, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tetteh Enyo, yesterday told Parliament that the government was reviewing the policy on the establishment of second cycle institutions with emphasis now on vocational and technical schools.
He told the House that “as part of the review, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service would consult the appropriate authorities on the siting of second cycle institutions”.
The minister made the disclosure when he addressed questions posed to him by some parliamentarians on the siting of second cycle institutions in some parts of the country.
The MP for Techiman South, Mr Simon Addai, had asked the minister what plans the ministry had to establish senior high schools at Nsuta and Tanoso, while the MP for Evalue Gwira, Mrs Catherine Afeku, had also wanted to know plans for the establishment of a senior high school at Gwira.
The minister told the House that it had normally not been the practice of the ministry and the GES to establish senior high schools.
Rather, he said, “it is normally the communities or individuals who take the initiative of starting or establishing senior high schools after which they apply for absorption into the public system”.
However, he gave the assurance that Nsuta, Tanoso and Gwira would be considered for the establishment of second cycle schools when the ministry and the Ghana Education Service decided on the type of institutions appropriate for those areas.
The minister also told the House that to qualify for consideration for absorption into the public education system, a private school must fulfil a number of conditions after it had submitted a formal application for absorption.
Responding to a question posed by the MP for Hemang Lower Denkyira, Mr Alex Tetteh-Enyo said some of the conditions to fulfil included having the school registered by the director of education in the region where the school was located.
He added that the provisional certificate of registration issued by the regional director should bear the date of registration as well as a registration number which was unique to the particular school.
The minister also indicated that the school should show evidence that it could enrol at least 80 senior high school form one students annually,adding that “the buildings for the school should not be in a rented premises or be in temporary structures”.
Other requirements he outlined included; having an adequate drainage system to ensure good sanitation and healthy environment, an effective waste or rubbish disposal system, facilities for storing water and facilities for alternative power supply.
Responding to another question on the construction of an administration block and an assembly hall for the Jukwa Senior High School, the minister stated that it was the policy of the ministry to complete all ongoing projects before new ones were started.
He said the ministry had compiled all requests for infrastructure from schools throughout the country, and gave the assurance that the request for an administration block and assembly hall for the Jukwa Senior High School would be considered alongside others in due course.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tetteh Enyo, yesterday told Parliament that the government was reviewing the policy on the establishment of second cycle institutions with emphasis now on vocational and technical schools.
He told the House that “as part of the review, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service would consult the appropriate authorities on the siting of second cycle institutions”.
The minister made the disclosure when he addressed questions posed to him by some parliamentarians on the siting of second cycle institutions in some parts of the country.
The MP for Techiman South, Mr Simon Addai, had asked the minister what plans the ministry had to establish senior high schools at Nsuta and Tanoso, while the MP for Evalue Gwira, Mrs Catherine Afeku, had also wanted to know plans for the establishment of a senior high school at Gwira.
The minister told the House that it had normally not been the practice of the ministry and the GES to establish senior high schools.
Rather, he said, “it is normally the communities or individuals who take the initiative of starting or establishing senior high schools after which they apply for absorption into the public system”.
However, he gave the assurance that Nsuta, Tanoso and Gwira would be considered for the establishment of second cycle schools when the ministry and the Ghana Education Service decided on the type of institutions appropriate for those areas.
The minister also told the House that to qualify for consideration for absorption into the public education system, a private school must fulfil a number of conditions after it had submitted a formal application for absorption.
Responding to a question posed by the MP for Hemang Lower Denkyira, Mr Alex Tetteh-Enyo said some of the conditions to fulfil included having the school registered by the director of education in the region where the school was located.
He added that the provisional certificate of registration issued by the regional director should bear the date of registration as well as a registration number which was unique to the particular school.
The minister also indicated that the school should show evidence that it could enrol at least 80 senior high school form one students annually,adding that “the buildings for the school should not be in a rented premises or be in temporary structures”.
Other requirements he outlined included; having an adequate drainage system to ensure good sanitation and healthy environment, an effective waste or rubbish disposal system, facilities for storing water and facilities for alternative power supply.
Responding to another question on the construction of an administration block and an assembly hall for the Jukwa Senior High School, the minister stated that it was the policy of the ministry to complete all ongoing projects before new ones were started.
He said the ministry had compiled all requests for infrastructure from schools throughout the country, and gave the assurance that the request for an administration block and assembly hall for the Jukwa Senior High School would be considered alongside others in due course.
195 Metro buses not in operation — Minister
Page 14, July 2, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
OUT of a total of 400 Yaxing buses imported from China by the Metro Mass Transit Limited, 195, representing close to 50 per cent of the buses have broken down.
Thirteen out of the 400 Yaxing buses have been cannibalised to service other fleet and also to dispose off as scraps, with another 101 expected to be cannibalised to service other operational fleet, leaving only 91 in operation.
These came to light on Wednesday when the MP for Trobu-Amasaman, Mr Ernest Attuquaye Armah, posed a question on the floor of the House to the Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah, enquiring on the number of Metro Mass buses imported from China and the number now in operation.
In response to a question from the Minority side on the total number of buses imported, including those from China, the Minister said he needed time to compile the data in order to properly address that question.
Mr Mike Hammah told the House that “mechanical and electrical failures, especially, poor engine, clutch problems coupled with poor after sales service support had resulted in several of the Yaxing buses being grounded for long periods with the attendant loss of revenue”.
The minister said as a result of the increase in urbanisation and use of many private and mini buses, there was congestion in the cities with high fuel consumption and consequently high cost of travel per passenger time.
He said the successful expansion and operation of the MMT with a planned bus replacement programme would help reduce congestion in cities in the country, lower cost of travel for the mass of the people and therefore a positive, social and economic impact.
Providing a background to the operation of the service in the country, the minister stated that in order to fulfil the government’s policy of providing passenger mass transport service in the urban areas of the country, a pilot mass transit service was introduced in October, 2002 with 17 used high capacity Fiat/IVECO buses donated by the Government of Italy.
He said after the initial encouraging operation of the pilot project, the government in 2003 used the assets of OSA as equity and in partnership with SSNIT, NIB, STC and Prudential Bank, established and incorporated the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMT) as a limited liability company.
“Later, ADB and GOIL also joined the company and currently the six institutions own 55 per cent shares and the government owns 45 per cent shares,” he indicated.
Mr Hammah added that in April 2004 following Cabinet’s approval and subsequent ratification by Parliament, 50 Yaxing buses were imported by the ex-Ministry of Roads and Transport after a supply contract agreement with the China National Machinery and Equipment Corporation (CMEC).
The Minister also told the House that a total 763 right-hand drive buses have been imported and registered in the country from June 2004 to date.
He said out of that number 23 were imported from January to date.
The Minister explained that the influx of the right hand buses into the country was as a result of the amendment of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (Management) Law 1993, PNDC Law 330, which banned the importation of right-hand drive vehicles into the country.
Responding to a question posed by the MP for Trobu-Amasaman, the minister said that law was amended in 2002 by Act 634 and also a letter by the Ministry of Finance dated November 28, 2003.
“Per the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning’s letter, the importation of right-hand drive vehicles was restricted except for refuse trucks and equipment for sanitation and construction and mining equipment for use at sites off the road,” the minister explained.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
OUT of a total of 400 Yaxing buses imported from China by the Metro Mass Transit Limited, 195, representing close to 50 per cent of the buses have broken down.
Thirteen out of the 400 Yaxing buses have been cannibalised to service other fleet and also to dispose off as scraps, with another 101 expected to be cannibalised to service other operational fleet, leaving only 91 in operation.
These came to light on Wednesday when the MP for Trobu-Amasaman, Mr Ernest Attuquaye Armah, posed a question on the floor of the House to the Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah, enquiring on the number of Metro Mass buses imported from China and the number now in operation.
In response to a question from the Minority side on the total number of buses imported, including those from China, the Minister said he needed time to compile the data in order to properly address that question.
Mr Mike Hammah told the House that “mechanical and electrical failures, especially, poor engine, clutch problems coupled with poor after sales service support had resulted in several of the Yaxing buses being grounded for long periods with the attendant loss of revenue”.
The minister said as a result of the increase in urbanisation and use of many private and mini buses, there was congestion in the cities with high fuel consumption and consequently high cost of travel per passenger time.
He said the successful expansion and operation of the MMT with a planned bus replacement programme would help reduce congestion in cities in the country, lower cost of travel for the mass of the people and therefore a positive, social and economic impact.
Providing a background to the operation of the service in the country, the minister stated that in order to fulfil the government’s policy of providing passenger mass transport service in the urban areas of the country, a pilot mass transit service was introduced in October, 2002 with 17 used high capacity Fiat/IVECO buses donated by the Government of Italy.
He said after the initial encouraging operation of the pilot project, the government in 2003 used the assets of OSA as equity and in partnership with SSNIT, NIB, STC and Prudential Bank, established and incorporated the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMT) as a limited liability company.
“Later, ADB and GOIL also joined the company and currently the six institutions own 55 per cent shares and the government owns 45 per cent shares,” he indicated.
Mr Hammah added that in April 2004 following Cabinet’s approval and subsequent ratification by Parliament, 50 Yaxing buses were imported by the ex-Ministry of Roads and Transport after a supply contract agreement with the China National Machinery and Equipment Corporation (CMEC).
The Minister also told the House that a total 763 right-hand drive buses have been imported and registered in the country from June 2004 to date.
He said out of that number 23 were imported from January to date.
The Minister explained that the influx of the right hand buses into the country was as a result of the amendment of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (Management) Law 1993, PNDC Law 330, which banned the importation of right-hand drive vehicles into the country.
Responding to a question posed by the MP for Trobu-Amasaman, the minister said that law was amended in 2002 by Act 634 and also a letter by the Ministry of Finance dated November 28, 2003.
“Per the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning’s letter, the importation of right-hand drive vehicles was restricted except for refuse trucks and equipment for sanitation and construction and mining equipment for use at sites off the road,” the minister explained.
Minority abtains from petroleum accord
Page 14, July 2, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament have abstained from a resolution by the House to endorse a petroleum agreement among the government, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Vanco Ghana Limited and LUKOIL Overseas Ghana Limited.
The agreement was for the conduct of exploration and production operations in the Offshore Cape Three Points Deep Water Block.
The Minority had, however, last Friday taken part in the motion in the House as part of the process for the approval of the agreement.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, last Friday called on the House to defer the resolution for the endorsement of the agreement to this week.
But when the matter came before the House on Tuesday, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said although the Minority supported the agreement in principle, they would abstain from voting for the resolution.
He explained that the Minority found it wrong for Nana Boakye Asafo-Adjaye who was the Country Director of Vanco to preside over the agreement, now in his capacity as the acting Managing Director of the GNPC.
“Mr Speaker, I want it to be on record that we members of the Minority abstained from taking part in the resolution although in principle, we are not against the agreement”, he said.
Replying, Mr Bagbin said he was surprised about the turn of events, stating that there was a clear indication that the Minority would support the resolution after they had taken part in the motion.
He stated that the reason that the Minority Leader had ascribed for their intention to abstain from the resolution which was about conflict of interest could be decided by the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
When he caught the Speaker’s eye, the First Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ave-Avenor, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, also expressed “shock” about the decision of the Minority and called on the Majority Leader to defer the resolution for further consultations.
The Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, explained that voting for the resolution could go on even if the Minority abstained from the exercise.
When Mr Bagbin took the floor again, he called on the Speaker to proceed to put the question for the House to resolve to approve the agreement.
When the Speaker finally put the question, the Majority side responded with yes while there was a deafening silence on the Minority side.
Meanwhile the Editor of the Lens newspaper, Mr Kobby Fiagbe, has apologised to Parliament for describing MPs as “a den of thieves” in one of the recent editions of his paper.
His publication followed an allegation that some members of the Communication Sub-Committee of Parliament demanded monies from communication service operators when they paid them a working visit.
Mr Fiagbe was said to have rendered the apology when he appeared before the Privileges Committee of Parliament, which is chaired by Mr Adjaho.
The matter was referred to the committee by the Speaker when the Minority Chief Whip and MP for Suhum, Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah, formally made the complaint on the floor of Parliament.
A source told the Daily Graphic that Mr Fiagbe explained to the committee that his story was not intended to tarnish the image of MPs and rendered an unqualified apology.
The Privileges Committee did not however come out with its decision on the matter after its sitting.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament have abstained from a resolution by the House to endorse a petroleum agreement among the government, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Vanco Ghana Limited and LUKOIL Overseas Ghana Limited.
The agreement was for the conduct of exploration and production operations in the Offshore Cape Three Points Deep Water Block.
The Minority had, however, last Friday taken part in the motion in the House as part of the process for the approval of the agreement.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, last Friday called on the House to defer the resolution for the endorsement of the agreement to this week.
But when the matter came before the House on Tuesday, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said although the Minority supported the agreement in principle, they would abstain from voting for the resolution.
He explained that the Minority found it wrong for Nana Boakye Asafo-Adjaye who was the Country Director of Vanco to preside over the agreement, now in his capacity as the acting Managing Director of the GNPC.
“Mr Speaker, I want it to be on record that we members of the Minority abstained from taking part in the resolution although in principle, we are not against the agreement”, he said.
Replying, Mr Bagbin said he was surprised about the turn of events, stating that there was a clear indication that the Minority would support the resolution after they had taken part in the motion.
He stated that the reason that the Minority Leader had ascribed for their intention to abstain from the resolution which was about conflict of interest could be decided by the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
When he caught the Speaker’s eye, the First Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ave-Avenor, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, also expressed “shock” about the decision of the Minority and called on the Majority Leader to defer the resolution for further consultations.
The Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, explained that voting for the resolution could go on even if the Minority abstained from the exercise.
When Mr Bagbin took the floor again, he called on the Speaker to proceed to put the question for the House to resolve to approve the agreement.
When the Speaker finally put the question, the Majority side responded with yes while there was a deafening silence on the Minority side.
Meanwhile the Editor of the Lens newspaper, Mr Kobby Fiagbe, has apologised to Parliament for describing MPs as “a den of thieves” in one of the recent editions of his paper.
His publication followed an allegation that some members of the Communication Sub-Committee of Parliament demanded monies from communication service operators when they paid them a working visit.
Mr Fiagbe was said to have rendered the apology when he appeared before the Privileges Committee of Parliament, which is chaired by Mr Adjaho.
The matter was referred to the committee by the Speaker when the Minority Chief Whip and MP for Suhum, Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah, formally made the complaint on the floor of Parliament.
A source told the Daily Graphic that Mr Fiagbe explained to the committee that his story was not intended to tarnish the image of MPs and rendered an unqualified apology.
The Privileges Committee did not however come out with its decision on the matter after its sitting.
‘Establish tourism university to improve service delivery’
Page 13, July 1, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Bosome-Freho, Nana Yaw Ofori-Kuragu, has advocated the establishment of a tourism training university to improve service delivery in the country’s tourism industry.
The MP, who was presenting a statement on the floor of Parliament on the organisation of the 2009 PANAFEST and some challenges facing the tourism industry, also called for the establishment of a national tourism policy.
He said if the government wanted to make tourism the country’s number one foreign exchange earner, then there was the need for more capital to be injected into the industry.
He appealed to the Ghana Immigration Service to provide the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) with tourists arrival data regularly to enable the GTB to maintain accurate records for planning and marketing purposes.
Dilating on the organisation of this year’s PANAFEST, Nana Ofori-Kuragu said activities lined up included a wreath-laying ceremony to honour illustrious sons of Pan-Africanism.
There would also be the re-enactment of the crossing of the Pra River at Assin Praso, where captured slaves reached the point of no return.
He added that numerous colourful durbars would also be held at Gwollu, Keta, Peki, Tumu, Nkroful, Paga, Salaga, Bono Manso, Akamu, Kumasi, Osu and Beyin as part of the festival.
The official opening of the festival, according to him, would be done in Cape Coast on July 25, 2009 with a grand durbar of chiefs to be followed by the opening of the PANAFEST village expo/bazaar on July 26.
The high point of the celebrations would be the durbar of chiefs at Assin Manso on Emancipation Day on August 1, 2009.
Nana Ofori-Kuragu noted that the festival helped to re-unite the African and African-American, adding that it was no wonder that President Barrack Obama had decided to lead the way by making Ghana his second destination in Africa.
He said the historic visit would stimulate the tourism industry and Cape Coast as the traditional home of PANAFEST.
“President Obama’s visit will re-affirm Ghana’s position as the gateway to the Homeland, our commitment to the total liberation of our continent and our new role as the masters of democracy in Africa,” he said.
The MP stated that PANAFEST was an essential tool for selling Ghana abroad, especially to the United States of America, which is Ghana’s number one international market segment.
Nana Ofori-Kuragu was, however not happy about challenges confronting the GTB, which had hindered its smooth operation.
He enumerated these problems to include the lack of board of directors; inadequate funding and marketing programmes; inadequate infrastructure, especially receptive facilities, websites and training facilities; inadequate human resource base and high turnover of staff; lack of district tourism offices and overseas tourism offices and old vehicles and inadequate office equipment among others.
He, therefore, called on the government to properly resource the Ministry of Tourism and the GTB to enable them to improve on their operational efficiency.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Bosome-Freho, Nana Yaw Ofori-Kuragu, has advocated the establishment of a tourism training university to improve service delivery in the country’s tourism industry.
The MP, who was presenting a statement on the floor of Parliament on the organisation of the 2009 PANAFEST and some challenges facing the tourism industry, also called for the establishment of a national tourism policy.
He said if the government wanted to make tourism the country’s number one foreign exchange earner, then there was the need for more capital to be injected into the industry.
He appealed to the Ghana Immigration Service to provide the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) with tourists arrival data regularly to enable the GTB to maintain accurate records for planning and marketing purposes.
Dilating on the organisation of this year’s PANAFEST, Nana Ofori-Kuragu said activities lined up included a wreath-laying ceremony to honour illustrious sons of Pan-Africanism.
There would also be the re-enactment of the crossing of the Pra River at Assin Praso, where captured slaves reached the point of no return.
He added that numerous colourful durbars would also be held at Gwollu, Keta, Peki, Tumu, Nkroful, Paga, Salaga, Bono Manso, Akamu, Kumasi, Osu and Beyin as part of the festival.
The official opening of the festival, according to him, would be done in Cape Coast on July 25, 2009 with a grand durbar of chiefs to be followed by the opening of the PANAFEST village expo/bazaar on July 26.
The high point of the celebrations would be the durbar of chiefs at Assin Manso on Emancipation Day on August 1, 2009.
Nana Ofori-Kuragu noted that the festival helped to re-unite the African and African-American, adding that it was no wonder that President Barrack Obama had decided to lead the way by making Ghana his second destination in Africa.
He said the historic visit would stimulate the tourism industry and Cape Coast as the traditional home of PANAFEST.
“President Obama’s visit will re-affirm Ghana’s position as the gateway to the Homeland, our commitment to the total liberation of our continent and our new role as the masters of democracy in Africa,” he said.
The MP stated that PANAFEST was an essential tool for selling Ghana abroad, especially to the United States of America, which is Ghana’s number one international market segment.
Nana Ofori-Kuragu was, however not happy about challenges confronting the GTB, which had hindered its smooth operation.
He enumerated these problems to include the lack of board of directors; inadequate funding and marketing programmes; inadequate infrastructure, especially receptive facilities, websites and training facilities; inadequate human resource base and high turnover of staff; lack of district tourism offices and overseas tourism offices and old vehicles and inadequate office equipment among others.
He, therefore, called on the government to properly resource the Ministry of Tourism and the GTB to enable them to improve on their operational efficiency.
Extend PANAFEST celebrations to Axim — MP
Page 13, July 1, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Member of Parliament for Evalue-Gwira, Mrs Catherine Afeku, has urged the National Planning Committee of PANAFEST to extend the celebrations to Axim.
The festival has traditionally been celebrated in Cape Coast and Elmina, but Mrs Afeku told the Daily Graphic that Axim had a unique cultural heritage that could not be ignored.
“The first Portuguese Castle was the Elmina Castle, which was built in 1482. Subsequently, the Fort Antonio was built in Axim in 1515 before the Cape Coast Castle was built in 1653,” she explained.
She said about 1,900 people walked through the gate of no return at Fort Antonio into the “other world” and stressed that the significance of those events placed Axim as an important setting in the country’s cultural and historical heritage.
“It will augur well if in celebrating PANAFEST, the trail is properly walked; from Elmina to Axim, then to Cape Coast and then Accra,” the MP suggested.
The MP extolled the tourism potential of Axim, describing the place as “serene with a plethora of beaches”.
She said that politically, the place also had some significance because Nkroful which was the birth place of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was located in Axim.
Mrs Afeku added that Axim had the first West African bank, which was built by Paa Grant, founding president of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC). She added that Paa Grant also had a beautiful heritage home in Axim.
She said extending the festival to Axim would not only recognise the unique cultural and historical heritage of Axim, but also open up the place for investments and other development initiatives.
The MP stated that the Fort Antonio has been well kept and the local people are very much conscious and enthused about the prospects for tourism in the area.
This year’s PANAFEST celebration is expected to be formally opened with a grand durbar of chiefs to be held at Cape Coast on July 25.
Other programmes expected to be organised include a Pan-African conference to be held at Cape Coast from July 27 to 29.
There is also expected to be the re-enactment of the crossing of the River Pra in canoes by slave masters and captured persons with other scheduled visits to Anomabo Fort William, Atimpoku, Salaga Slave Market, the kente weaving capital at Bonwire and Ntonso.
A solemn night will also be held on the night of July 31 and that is expected to be followed by the high point of the celebration, a durbar of chiefs at Assin Manso on Emancipation Day on August 1.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Member of Parliament for Evalue-Gwira, Mrs Catherine Afeku, has urged the National Planning Committee of PANAFEST to extend the celebrations to Axim.
The festival has traditionally been celebrated in Cape Coast and Elmina, but Mrs Afeku told the Daily Graphic that Axim had a unique cultural heritage that could not be ignored.
“The first Portuguese Castle was the Elmina Castle, which was built in 1482. Subsequently, the Fort Antonio was built in Axim in 1515 before the Cape Coast Castle was built in 1653,” she explained.
She said about 1,900 people walked through the gate of no return at Fort Antonio into the “other world” and stressed that the significance of those events placed Axim as an important setting in the country’s cultural and historical heritage.
“It will augur well if in celebrating PANAFEST, the trail is properly walked; from Elmina to Axim, then to Cape Coast and then Accra,” the MP suggested.
The MP extolled the tourism potential of Axim, describing the place as “serene with a plethora of beaches”.
She said that politically, the place also had some significance because Nkroful which was the birth place of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was located in Axim.
Mrs Afeku added that Axim had the first West African bank, which was built by Paa Grant, founding president of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC). She added that Paa Grant also had a beautiful heritage home in Axim.
She said extending the festival to Axim would not only recognise the unique cultural and historical heritage of Axim, but also open up the place for investments and other development initiatives.
The MP stated that the Fort Antonio has been well kept and the local people are very much conscious and enthused about the prospects for tourism in the area.
This year’s PANAFEST celebration is expected to be formally opened with a grand durbar of chiefs to be held at Cape Coast on July 25.
Other programmes expected to be organised include a Pan-African conference to be held at Cape Coast from July 27 to 29.
There is also expected to be the re-enactment of the crossing of the River Pra in canoes by slave masters and captured persons with other scheduled visits to Anomabo Fort William, Atimpoku, Salaga Slave Market, the kente weaving capital at Bonwire and Ntonso.
A solemn night will also be held on the night of July 31 and that is expected to be followed by the high point of the celebration, a durbar of chiefs at Assin Manso on Emancipation Day on August 1.
Monday, July 6, 2009
‘Amend Act on Presidential Staffers’
Page 17, JUne 30, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has recommended an amendment of Act 463, which makes provisions on the appointment, tenure and other conditions of service of the Presidential Office Staff.
According to the committee, the amendment should be done “to enable the Office of the President to present to the House a more comprehensive report which would capture, among others, some achievements and challenges, if any, that confront the presidency”.
In its report on the 2008 annual report of the Presidential Office Staff, the committee observed that the 2008 Annual Report like those of previous years provided information on just the staffing position at the presidency, which the committee considered to be unsatisfactory.
The committee noted that although unsatisfactory, the format and content of the report was in compliance with Act 463 hence the need to amend it.
The report noted that the 2008 Annual Report of the Presidential Office Staff covered the number of staff employed at the office of the President, the ranks and grades of appointed staff and employees in other public services assigned to the Office of the President.
It said the presidential staffers at post during the year under review totalled seven, and by designation included the Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Chief Advisor to the President, a Minister of State, Secretary to the President, Secretary to the Cabinet and two deputy ministers.
The report said there were 17 other officers which included three senior special aides to the President, two senior special aides to the Vice President, a special assistant to the President, press secretary to the President and a writer in-residence.
“There was also a nine-member team who were responsible for policy co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation at the Presidency,” the report noted.
It said there was also a third category of officers who were employees of public sector organisations assigned to the presidency. It indicated that those officers included civil servants of various classes as well as other staff on attachment from the Department of Parks and Garden, Ghana Health Service, Controller and Accountant-General Office, Audit Service, Ghana National Fire Service and the Public Works Department, making a total of 241.
It said the last category of employees were the household staff which totalled 372, adding that those employees served at the Office of the President, including various residential and official facilities for the presidency across the entire country.
“In sum, a total of 613 persons worked at the presidency during the period in question,” the report stated.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has recommended an amendment of Act 463, which makes provisions on the appointment, tenure and other conditions of service of the Presidential Office Staff.
According to the committee, the amendment should be done “to enable the Office of the President to present to the House a more comprehensive report which would capture, among others, some achievements and challenges, if any, that confront the presidency”.
In its report on the 2008 annual report of the Presidential Office Staff, the committee observed that the 2008 Annual Report like those of previous years provided information on just the staffing position at the presidency, which the committee considered to be unsatisfactory.
The committee noted that although unsatisfactory, the format and content of the report was in compliance with Act 463 hence the need to amend it.
The report noted that the 2008 Annual Report of the Presidential Office Staff covered the number of staff employed at the office of the President, the ranks and grades of appointed staff and employees in other public services assigned to the Office of the President.
It said the presidential staffers at post during the year under review totalled seven, and by designation included the Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Chief Advisor to the President, a Minister of State, Secretary to the President, Secretary to the Cabinet and two deputy ministers.
The report said there were 17 other officers which included three senior special aides to the President, two senior special aides to the Vice President, a special assistant to the President, press secretary to the President and a writer in-residence.
“There was also a nine-member team who were responsible for policy co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation at the Presidency,” the report noted.
It said there was also a third category of officers who were employees of public sector organisations assigned to the presidency. It indicated that those officers included civil servants of various classes as well as other staff on attachment from the Department of Parks and Garden, Ghana Health Service, Controller and Accountant-General Office, Audit Service, Ghana National Fire Service and the Public Works Department, making a total of 241.
It said the last category of employees were the household staff which totalled 372, adding that those employees served at the Office of the President, including various residential and official facilities for the presidency across the entire country.
“In sum, a total of 613 persons worked at the presidency during the period in question,” the report stated.
French agency approves funding for project
Page 17, June 30, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE French Development Agency, Agence France Development, has approved a funding of 30 million euro for the construction of the 15-kilometre Awoshie-Pokuase Road Project.
The amount forms part of the project’s estimated total cost of 92.41 million euros.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Kwashie Gidisu, who disclosed this in Parliament, said the African Development Bank (AfDB) was considering the provision of additional funding.
The government would also provide a counterpart funding of Gh¢8.5 million for the payment of compensation to owners whose property would be affected by the project.
Mr Gidisu, was answering a question posed by Mr Enerst Attuquaye Armah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Trobu-Amasaman, who wanted to know when the project would begin.
The minister stated that tendering for the project would commence in April 2010, while construction was expected to begin in August, next year for an approximate duration of three years.
For his part, the MP for Nanton, Alhaji Iddrisu Abdul-Karim, Mr Gidisu enquired from the minister what plans his ministry had towards the maintenance of the main trunk road from Tamale through Nanton, Karaga and Gushiegu, which was currently in a very bad shape.
Answering the question, Mr Gidisu explained that the worst section of the road, which stretches from the Tampion Dam to Zilungu, was awarded to Shiraco Investment Company Limited on December 2008 for regravelling at the cost of Gh¢392,175.
He said due to poor performance by the contractor, Ghana Highways Authority had recommended the termination of the contract to allow for its repackaging.
Mr Gidisu also told the House that the AfDB had indicated its interest in providing funding for the reconstruction of the144-kilometre Fufulso-Damango-Sawla road.
Answering another question posed by the MP for Damango/Daboya, Mr Sammy Bavug Wusah, the minister explained that the ministry had requested Ghana Highway Authority to update the estimated cost of the project to enable the government submit a funding application to the AfDB for consideration.
He said it was expected that the reconstruction work would begin in the latter part of 2010, adding that routine maintenance works would continue to be carried out on the road this year.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE French Development Agency, Agence France Development, has approved a funding of 30 million euro for the construction of the 15-kilometre Awoshie-Pokuase Road Project.
The amount forms part of the project’s estimated total cost of 92.41 million euros.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Kwashie Gidisu, who disclosed this in Parliament, said the African Development Bank (AfDB) was considering the provision of additional funding.
The government would also provide a counterpart funding of Gh¢8.5 million for the payment of compensation to owners whose property would be affected by the project.
Mr Gidisu, was answering a question posed by Mr Enerst Attuquaye Armah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Trobu-Amasaman, who wanted to know when the project would begin.
The minister stated that tendering for the project would commence in April 2010, while construction was expected to begin in August, next year for an approximate duration of three years.
For his part, the MP for Nanton, Alhaji Iddrisu Abdul-Karim, Mr Gidisu enquired from the minister what plans his ministry had towards the maintenance of the main trunk road from Tamale through Nanton, Karaga and Gushiegu, which was currently in a very bad shape.
Answering the question, Mr Gidisu explained that the worst section of the road, which stretches from the Tampion Dam to Zilungu, was awarded to Shiraco Investment Company Limited on December 2008 for regravelling at the cost of Gh¢392,175.
He said due to poor performance by the contractor, Ghana Highways Authority had recommended the termination of the contract to allow for its repackaging.
Mr Gidisu also told the House that the AfDB had indicated its interest in providing funding for the reconstruction of the144-kilometre Fufulso-Damango-Sawla road.
Answering another question posed by the MP for Damango/Daboya, Mr Sammy Bavug Wusah, the minister explained that the ministry had requested Ghana Highway Authority to update the estimated cost of the project to enable the government submit a funding application to the AfDB for consideration.
He said it was expected that the reconstruction work would begin in the latter part of 2010, adding that routine maintenance works would continue to be carried out on the road this year.
MDAs, MMDAs not complying with regulations — Report
Page 17, June 29, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Finance Committee of Parliament has noted in a report that Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies (MMDAs) were not complying with statutory regulations and government directives in the preparation of audit reports.
In its report on the Internal Audit Agency for 2006, the committee said the non-compliance was found mainly in the non-maintenance and update of asset register, non-preparations of bank reconciliation statements, inadequate controls over value books and unauthorised use of internally generated funds.
The committee also noted that 42 institutions, covering 58 per cent, had no Audit Report Implementation Committees (ARICs) in place with mandate to consider and implement audit reports.
“The Agency, therefore, needs further collaboration with the Auditor-General’s office to facilitate the process and to ensure that MDAs and MMDAs set up their Audit Implementation Committees,” the report said.
According to the report, the committee observed that out of the 121 internal audit report received, only 25 met the quality standards of the Agency’s expectation in terms of form and content.
It added that the remaining 96 fell short in terms of improper development of audit findings, non-inclusion of management responses and poor follow-up of previous audit recommendations.
The committee also noted in the report that out of a total budgeted expenditure of 13,103,508,948.00 cedis approved by Parliament, 12,457,823,047.00 cedis was released to the Agency and the actual expenditure amounted to 11,309,035,551.00 cedis resulting in a variance of 1,148,787,496.00 cedis.
“The variance of 1,148,787,496.00 cedis was used to support the work plan for the year 2007,” the report added.
The committee also noted that the Agency had been moving from one rented office to another and recommended that the Agency should be provided with the needed funding to put up an office accommodation.
The report also made reference to the “vast difference” between the total revenue for the year under review, which was 12,457,823,048.00 cedis and total expenditure including depreciation of 8,357,911,244.00 resulting in excess of revenue over expenditure of 4,099,911,804.00 cedis.
It added that it was explained by the Director-General that the excess of revenue over expenditure for the year was due to the annual accrual concept used by the Agency to prepare its accounts.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Finance Committee of Parliament has noted in a report that Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies (MMDAs) were not complying with statutory regulations and government directives in the preparation of audit reports.
In its report on the Internal Audit Agency for 2006, the committee said the non-compliance was found mainly in the non-maintenance and update of asset register, non-preparations of bank reconciliation statements, inadequate controls over value books and unauthorised use of internally generated funds.
The committee also noted that 42 institutions, covering 58 per cent, had no Audit Report Implementation Committees (ARICs) in place with mandate to consider and implement audit reports.
“The Agency, therefore, needs further collaboration with the Auditor-General’s office to facilitate the process and to ensure that MDAs and MMDAs set up their Audit Implementation Committees,” the report said.
According to the report, the committee observed that out of the 121 internal audit report received, only 25 met the quality standards of the Agency’s expectation in terms of form and content.
It added that the remaining 96 fell short in terms of improper development of audit findings, non-inclusion of management responses and poor follow-up of previous audit recommendations.
The committee also noted in the report that out of a total budgeted expenditure of 13,103,508,948.00 cedis approved by Parliament, 12,457,823,047.00 cedis was released to the Agency and the actual expenditure amounted to 11,309,035,551.00 cedis resulting in a variance of 1,148,787,496.00 cedis.
“The variance of 1,148,787,496.00 cedis was used to support the work plan for the year 2007,” the report added.
The committee also noted that the Agency had been moving from one rented office to another and recommended that the Agency should be provided with the needed funding to put up an office accommodation.
The report also made reference to the “vast difference” between the total revenue for the year under review, which was 12,457,823,048.00 cedis and total expenditure including depreciation of 8,357,911,244.00 resulting in excess of revenue over expenditure of 4,099,911,804.00 cedis.
It added that it was explained by the Director-General that the excess of revenue over expenditure for the year was due to the annual accrual concept used by the Agency to prepare its accounts.
Five ministers to answer questions in Parliament
Page 17, June 29, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
FIVE ministers are expected to be invited to Parliament this week to answer various questions from the floor of the House.
They are the Minister of the Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka; Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah; Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tetteh-Enyo; Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, and the Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa Yankey.
The Majority Leader and Chairman of the Business Committee of Parliament, Mr A. S. K. Bagbin, told the House that in all, 22 questions are expected to be asked.
Key amongst them is one to be posed to the acting Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima Mponua, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, on the level of preparations for the pending African Hockey Championship slated to be held in the country in July this year.
Mr Isaac Asiamah had raised the issue some days back but because of the absence of a Minister of Youth and Sports, following the president’s directive to the then Minister, Muntaka Mohammed, to proceed on leave, the issue could not be addressed.
The Majority Leader told the House that papers to be laid in the coming week included reports of the Auditor-General on the statement of Foreign Exchange receipts and payments of the Bank of Ghana for the two half years ended December 31, 2005 and also for the two half years ended December 31, 2007.
Other papers to be laid include the report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Consolidated Fund) for the year ended December 31, 2007 as well as the Public Accounts Committee on the report of the Auditor General on the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs and traditional councils for the period 2001-2004.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
FIVE ministers are expected to be invited to Parliament this week to answer various questions from the floor of the House.
They are the Minister of the Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka; Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah; Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tetteh-Enyo; Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, and the Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa Yankey.
The Majority Leader and Chairman of the Business Committee of Parliament, Mr A. S. K. Bagbin, told the House that in all, 22 questions are expected to be asked.
Key amongst them is one to be posed to the acting Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima Mponua, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, on the level of preparations for the pending African Hockey Championship slated to be held in the country in July this year.
Mr Isaac Asiamah had raised the issue some days back but because of the absence of a Minister of Youth and Sports, following the president’s directive to the then Minister, Muntaka Mohammed, to proceed on leave, the issue could not be addressed.
The Majority Leader told the House that papers to be laid in the coming week included reports of the Auditor-General on the statement of Foreign Exchange receipts and payments of the Bank of Ghana for the two half years ended December 31, 2005 and also for the two half years ended December 31, 2007.
Other papers to be laid include the report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Consolidated Fund) for the year ended December 31, 2007 as well as the Public Accounts Committee on the report of the Auditor General on the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs and traditional councils for the period 2001-2004.
MPs get E-zwich cards
Page 14, June 14, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Standard Chartered Bank on Wednesday began a two-day exercise to issue E-zwich cards to Members of Parliament (MPs) and staff of the Parliamentary Service.
According to officials of the bank, the exercise was aimed at educating the MPs to be aquainted with the new electronic system of transaction to assist them to educate their constituents about the system.
Briefing the MPs about the benefits of the exercise, the General Manager of Wealth Management of the bank, Mr Benjamin Mensah, explained that the e-zwich worked both on line and off line.
That means that it did not require an active connection to a bank to complete a transaction.
He stated that the system would eventually reduce cash holdings, bank charges, communication cost, reconciliation problems and the maximisation of risks associated with fraud.
Mr Mensah said the bank’s quest to issue the cards for its customers as well as others had been successful.
He said the bank was now in its second stage of the programme during which holders of the E-zwich cards would be encouraged to activate them so as to enable the use of the card to transact their daily businesses.
The MP for Nkwanta South, Mr Geshon Gbediame, asked his colleagues to take advantage of the exercise to own an E-zwich card to assist them in their transactions.
He thanked authorities of the bank for bringing their services to the doorsteps of the MPs.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Standard Chartered Bank on Wednesday began a two-day exercise to issue E-zwich cards to Members of Parliament (MPs) and staff of the Parliamentary Service.
According to officials of the bank, the exercise was aimed at educating the MPs to be aquainted with the new electronic system of transaction to assist them to educate their constituents about the system.
Briefing the MPs about the benefits of the exercise, the General Manager of Wealth Management of the bank, Mr Benjamin Mensah, explained that the e-zwich worked both on line and off line.
That means that it did not require an active connection to a bank to complete a transaction.
He stated that the system would eventually reduce cash holdings, bank charges, communication cost, reconciliation problems and the maximisation of risks associated with fraud.
Mr Mensah said the bank’s quest to issue the cards for its customers as well as others had been successful.
He said the bank was now in its second stage of the programme during which holders of the E-zwich cards would be encouraged to activate them so as to enable the use of the card to transact their daily businesses.
The MP for Nkwanta South, Mr Geshon Gbediame, asked his colleagues to take advantage of the exercise to own an E-zwich card to assist them in their transactions.
He thanked authorities of the bank for bringing their services to the doorsteps of the MPs.
. . . But Minority wants GNPC boss replaced
Page 14, June 27, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minority in Parliament has urged the President to reconsider the appointment of Nana Boakye Asafu-Adjaye as the acting Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
According to the Minority, the appointment of Nana Asafu-Adjaye, who is former Country Director of Vanco Energy Company, presents a potential case of conflict of interest, because Vanco was negotiating an agreement with the GNPC and the Government of Ghana for oil exploratory activities.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Essikado-Ketan and former Attorney General, Mr Joe Ghartey, argued strongly against the appointment of Nana Asafu-Adjaye, stressing that by virtue of the GNPC’s position as the major regulator of the sector, there was the need for the President to reconsider that appointment.
Mr Ghartey defied interventions from First Deputy Speaker, who argued that the ministry also had regulatory functions and stressed that “it is quite clear that the major regulator is GNPC,” adding that “the Ministry of Energy deals with policies and not regulations”.
He said Nana Asafu-Adjaye’s association with Vanco as the Country Director raised concerns, and urged the House to impress on the President to reconsider the appointment of Nana Asafu-Adjaye.
Quoting Matthew 27: 24, he said the Minority wished to take inspiration from Pontius Pilate and dissociate itself from the appointment of the acting boss of the GNPC, although it fully endorsed the agreement.
The MP for Manhyia, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also shared similar sentiments and said the appointment of the acting GNPC boss presented a kind of conflict of interest he described as “revolving door politics”.
“The conflict of interest is so glaring; if we say that we are not sure, then we are behaving like ostriches,” he emphasised.
He said the Minority was not against the agreement with Vanco, but advised the President to appoint Nana Asafu-Adjaye in another position.
However, those assertions were countered by the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, who said Nana Asafu-Adjaye was an objective personality who had demonstrated that he had the interest of the country at heart.
He said with Nana Asafu-Adjaye in the saddle as GNPC boss, the country had negotiated agreement with Vanco when compared to the previous one ratified by the Parliament of Ghana in 2002.
He said the concerns raised over his appointment were as a result of the fact that there were no clear provisions on conflict of interest, and said it was time to pass appropriate legislation on conflict of interest.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, argued that though his side of the House supported the agreement, they were against the former representative of VANCO being made the acting boss of the GNPC.
He said there was no doubt that his position would negatively affect other oil companies who were dealing with the country to the advantage of VANCO.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, thanked members of the House for supporting the agreement and stated their comments were legitimate.
He sided with the suggestion by the committee that efforts should be made for the enactment of a law to properly define the parameters of conflict of interest.
Mr Bagbin asked the executive to take comments made on the floor of the House on board, so that the right decisions could be taken to make the country’s oil find to be a blessing and not a curse.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minority in Parliament has urged the President to reconsider the appointment of Nana Boakye Asafu-Adjaye as the acting Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
According to the Minority, the appointment of Nana Asafu-Adjaye, who is former Country Director of Vanco Energy Company, presents a potential case of conflict of interest, because Vanco was negotiating an agreement with the GNPC and the Government of Ghana for oil exploratory activities.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Essikado-Ketan and former Attorney General, Mr Joe Ghartey, argued strongly against the appointment of Nana Asafu-Adjaye, stressing that by virtue of the GNPC’s position as the major regulator of the sector, there was the need for the President to reconsider that appointment.
Mr Ghartey defied interventions from First Deputy Speaker, who argued that the ministry also had regulatory functions and stressed that “it is quite clear that the major regulator is GNPC,” adding that “the Ministry of Energy deals with policies and not regulations”.
He said Nana Asafu-Adjaye’s association with Vanco as the Country Director raised concerns, and urged the House to impress on the President to reconsider the appointment of Nana Asafu-Adjaye.
Quoting Matthew 27: 24, he said the Minority wished to take inspiration from Pontius Pilate and dissociate itself from the appointment of the acting boss of the GNPC, although it fully endorsed the agreement.
The MP for Manhyia, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also shared similar sentiments and said the appointment of the acting GNPC boss presented a kind of conflict of interest he described as “revolving door politics”.
“The conflict of interest is so glaring; if we say that we are not sure, then we are behaving like ostriches,” he emphasised.
He said the Minority was not against the agreement with Vanco, but advised the President to appoint Nana Asafu-Adjaye in another position.
However, those assertions were countered by the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, who said Nana Asafu-Adjaye was an objective personality who had demonstrated that he had the interest of the country at heart.
He said with Nana Asafu-Adjaye in the saddle as GNPC boss, the country had negotiated agreement with Vanco when compared to the previous one ratified by the Parliament of Ghana in 2002.
He said the concerns raised over his appointment were as a result of the fact that there were no clear provisions on conflict of interest, and said it was time to pass appropriate legislation on conflict of interest.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, argued that though his side of the House supported the agreement, they were against the former representative of VANCO being made the acting boss of the GNPC.
He said there was no doubt that his position would negatively affect other oil companies who were dealing with the country to the advantage of VANCO.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, thanked members of the House for supporting the agreement and stated their comments were legitimate.
He sided with the suggestion by the committee that efforts should be made for the enactment of a law to properly define the parameters of conflict of interest.
Mr Bagbin asked the executive to take comments made on the floor of the House on board, so that the right decisions could be taken to make the country’s oil find to be a blessing and not a curse.
Parliament approves petroleum agreement
Page 14, June 27, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
PARLIAMENT has approved the petroleum agreement among the Republic of Ghana, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and Vanco Ghana Limited and Lukoil Overseas Ghana Limited in respect of Cape Three Point Deepwater Block Offshore Ghana.
According to the committee, the contract is “a good one and is in the interest of the nation” and also “an improvement over the original Vanco agreement ratified by the House in 2002”.
In its report on the agreement, the committee noted that the agreement was negotiated within the framework of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Law 1984, PNDCL 84.
According to the report, in the new Petroleum Agreement, Vanco, the current operators would have 28.339 per cent ownership interest and Lukoil would also have 56.661 per cent ownership and would thus be the operators of the project after the drilling of the first exploratory well.
The report said, “GNPC has 15 per cent carried interest through exploration and development,” adding that “GNPC has the option to take an additional paying interest of up to five per cent upon commercial discovery”.
According to the report, the agreement provided an exploration period of five years which comprised an initial exploration period of three years, first extension period of one year and a second and final extension period of one year.
It said within the first three years, the contractor shall acquire, process and interpret a minimum of 1,500 square kilometers of new 3-D seismic data and shall drill a minimum of two exploration wells in the contract area.
“The contractor shall invest a minimum of $100,000,000.00 for work in the initial exploration period,” the report added.
It indicated that in the second exploration period, the contractor shall reprocess existing data where required and drill a minimum of one exploration well in the contract area with a minimum expenditure for the first extension period pegged at $45,000,000.00.
The third extension period also has same schedules and expenditure requirement, the report noted.
It said in the event of commercial discovery, benefits to be accrued to the state were Royalties: Oil (Shallow Water), 12 per cent, Oil (Deep water) 10 per cent, Gas, 5.0 per cent; GNPC carried interest, 15 per cent; GNPC additional interest, 5.0 per cent; Corporate Income tax, 35 per cent.
It said under the new agreement, the state shall be the sole owner of any associated gas produced from the contract area and gave the GNPC the right to take off all associated gas for its own use.
The report also indicated that the new agreement required the applicants to pay to the GNPC $200,000.00 annually during the initial exploration and extension periods and $300,000.00 during the development and productions periods.
“This is to help GNPC develop a programme to train Ghanaians in management and technical skills associated with petroleum operations,” the report said.
It said other benefits to the state included additional oil entitlements upon the attainment of agreed Rates of Returns and also surface rental charges.
The report said during deliberations, the committee observed that as part of the agreement, Vanco Ghana Limited and Lukoil Overseas Ghana Limited had their registered mail and contact addresses at Houston, Texas in USA and Moscow, Russia respectively.
It said the committee was of the view that such an arrangement would put additional responsibility on the State during its dealings with the contractor, adding that as a condition for recommending the agreement for approval, the committee directed that Vanco and Lukoil should provide their contacts to their registered addresses and telephone numbers in Ghana.
It said subsequently that the applicants had provided their local addresses.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
PARLIAMENT has approved the petroleum agreement among the Republic of Ghana, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and Vanco Ghana Limited and Lukoil Overseas Ghana Limited in respect of Cape Three Point Deepwater Block Offshore Ghana.
According to the committee, the contract is “a good one and is in the interest of the nation” and also “an improvement over the original Vanco agreement ratified by the House in 2002”.
In its report on the agreement, the committee noted that the agreement was negotiated within the framework of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Law 1984, PNDCL 84.
According to the report, in the new Petroleum Agreement, Vanco, the current operators would have 28.339 per cent ownership interest and Lukoil would also have 56.661 per cent ownership and would thus be the operators of the project after the drilling of the first exploratory well.
The report said, “GNPC has 15 per cent carried interest through exploration and development,” adding that “GNPC has the option to take an additional paying interest of up to five per cent upon commercial discovery”.
According to the report, the agreement provided an exploration period of five years which comprised an initial exploration period of three years, first extension period of one year and a second and final extension period of one year.
It said within the first three years, the contractor shall acquire, process and interpret a minimum of 1,500 square kilometers of new 3-D seismic data and shall drill a minimum of two exploration wells in the contract area.
“The contractor shall invest a minimum of $100,000,000.00 for work in the initial exploration period,” the report added.
It indicated that in the second exploration period, the contractor shall reprocess existing data where required and drill a minimum of one exploration well in the contract area with a minimum expenditure for the first extension period pegged at $45,000,000.00.
The third extension period also has same schedules and expenditure requirement, the report noted.
It said in the event of commercial discovery, benefits to be accrued to the state were Royalties: Oil (Shallow Water), 12 per cent, Oil (Deep water) 10 per cent, Gas, 5.0 per cent; GNPC carried interest, 15 per cent; GNPC additional interest, 5.0 per cent; Corporate Income tax, 35 per cent.
It said under the new agreement, the state shall be the sole owner of any associated gas produced from the contract area and gave the GNPC the right to take off all associated gas for its own use.
The report also indicated that the new agreement required the applicants to pay to the GNPC $200,000.00 annually during the initial exploration and extension periods and $300,000.00 during the development and productions periods.
“This is to help GNPC develop a programme to train Ghanaians in management and technical skills associated with petroleum operations,” the report said.
It said other benefits to the state included additional oil entitlements upon the attainment of agreed Rates of Returns and also surface rental charges.
The report said during deliberations, the committee observed that as part of the agreement, Vanco Ghana Limited and Lukoil Overseas Ghana Limited had their registered mail and contact addresses at Houston, Texas in USA and Moscow, Russia respectively.
It said the committee was of the view that such an arrangement would put additional responsibility on the State during its dealings with the contractor, adding that as a condition for recommending the agreement for approval, the committee directed that Vanco and Lukoil should provide their contacts to their registered addresses and telephone numbers in Ghana.
It said subsequently that the applicants had provided their local addresses.
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