Page 16, Aug 28, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE mid-year budget estimates presented to Parliament by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning on Tuesday, August 25, 2009, today received the approval of the House after intense debate.
So intense was the debate that the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho had to occasionally appeal to the leadership of both the Majority and the Minority to restrain their members to adhere to the rules governing the House to ensure a smooth debate of the supplementary estimates.
The Government had requested the House to give approval of GH¢ 252,790,947 as the supplementary estimate for the 2009 financial year.
The motion which was moved by the Dr Kwabena Duffuor last Tuesday, was seconded by the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Mr James Klutse Avedzi. Seconding the motion, Mr Avedzi said there was the need for the Government to get additional funds to undertake projects and programmes it had set for itself.
The beauty of the debate was marred by frequent point of orders, shouting and flipping of hands from both sides of the House.
In the ensuing melee, Mr Adjaho was not spared as he received some bashings from the Minority MPs, who accused him of being a biased Speaker.
The Member of Parliament for Kwabre East, Mr Kofi Frimpong nearly incurred the displeasure of the Mr Adjaho during his submission when he remarked that “I have not seen such a Speaker before”.
But he was prevailed upon to withdraw his remark. He explained that he was not aware that his microphone was switched on.
As if that was not enough, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also expressed some misgivings about the debate and accused the Speaker of giving the Majority side too much room to heckle the Minority MPs without giving the Minority side chance to make their point of orders.
When he took his turn in the debate, the Minority Ranking Member of Finance, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei took a swipe at the Finance Minister’s assertion that the Government inherited a rundown economy from the Kufuor administration.
He made references to the economy the Kufuor led Government inherited from the NDC in 2001 and asked Ghanaians to judge for themselves which of the two scenarios could be referred as a rundown economy.
So emotional was Dr Akoto Osei that some MPs from the Majority side occasionally heckled him through point of orders by asking him to tone down his emotions for the sake of his health.
He explained that in 2001, the Kufuor led Government inherited 41 per cent inflation, but was able to beat it down to 18 per cent before it left office while it increased the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from $290 to $712; reduced interest rate from 50 per cent to 27 per cent, reviewed minimum wage from 42 pesewas to GH¢ 2.20 and reduced poverty level from 39.5 per cent to 28 per cent.
He, however, conceded that the budget deficit in 2008 was 14.5 as against the 8.5 that the previous Government inherited from the NDC Government in 2001 and attributed that to the exigencies of the period.
He wondered why the minister of finance should write to the World Bank to praise the NPP Government for its economic achievement and turn around to do politics by telling to Ghanaians that the Government had inherited a rundown economy.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, on a number of occasions, had to come in to defend the Government and asked Dr Akoto Osei not to attack the personality of the finance minister, explaining that the current figures were there for everybody to see.
For his part, the NDC MP for Nabdam, Mr Moses Asaga noted that the depreciation of the cedi as a result of bad economic situation in 2008 was gradually improving due to the prudent management of the economy by the NDC.
He said with the space of six months, the Government had recorded a budget surplus of $125 million.
Mr Asaga explained that the Government was not spending frivolously by prioritising its expenditure adding that the Government was on course to achieve its set targets.
“The mid-year estimate will touch on the lives of the ordinary Ghanaians”, he stated, explaining that some social interventions included in the budget would go a long way to improve on the lives of the ordinary Ghanaian.
Mr Asaga mentioned the introduction of the free school uniform, the proposed mechanisation of agriculture, the enhancement of the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme.
The MP ended with an advice to politician across the divide to always present the true economic picture to the people, especially when they assumed office.
Other MPs who contributed to the debate were Mr Dominic Azumah, NDC, Garu-Tempane, Mr Joe Ghartey, NPP, Essikado-Ketan, the Minority Leader, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and the Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin.
Friday, August 28, 2009
House begins debate on mid-year budget today
Page 24, Aug 27, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
DEBATE on the mid-year review of the budget statement and supplementary estimates for 2009 presented to Parliament by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning will begin today.
Already, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, has referred the document to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.
The nominations of three Justices of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court by the President, have also been referred to the Appointments Committee for consideration and report.
They are Mr Justice Benjamin Teiko Aryeetey, Mr Justice Nasiru Sulemana Gbadegbe and Ms Justice Vida Akoto-Bamfo.
Last Tuesday, the government sought the approval of the House to spend approximately GH¢253 million additional resources to shore up its general expenditure.
If comments by some members of the Minority are anything to go by, then the debate, which may last for only two days, will be uncompromising.
They were apparently unhappy about what they termed as “the politicisation of the supplementary estimates”. Some of them chastised the minister for painting a good picture of the economic performance of the government.
To them, Ghanaians were the best judges of the economic performance of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government over the past eight months.
Speaking to journalists soon after the presentation of the review, a former Deputy Minister of Finance in the Kufuor administration, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, who is also the Member of Parliament for Dormaa West, noted that the government was not spending, thus creating hardships among the people.
He said the government did not have a clear policy direction on how to manage the economy, eight months into assuming the reins of government. “What the government is doing is only to collect taxes."
The NPP MP for Wenchi, who is also a former Deputy Minister of Finance, Professor George Yaw Gyang-Baffour, stated that all the figures that painted a good picture of the economy were not true.
“His figures are not in the marketplace,” he said, explaining that the depreciation of the cedi and inflation were all there for Ghanaians to see.
Responding to the criticisms of the Minority, the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament and NDC MP for Ketu North, Mr James Klutse Avedzi, said measures being taken by the government were all appropriate to fix the battered economy it inherited.
He explained that while efforts were being made to generate more revenue, the government had also reduced its spending to meet its economic targets.
Mr Avedzi said the government was now focussing on agriculture to increase production in order to improve on the economic performance of the country.
He added that the prudent handling of the economy was beginning to show and called on the revenue collection agencies to do more to meet their targets to enable the government to implement its projects.
Meanwhile the House yesterday paid tribute to the former MP for Chereponi, the late Doris Asibi Seidu, who died on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and was buried at Chereponi on August 10, 2009.
In a tribute, the MP for Tarkwa/Nsuaem, Mrs Gifty Kusi, acknowledged the contribution of the late MP to the development of her constituency.
“We acknowledge the pains you had gone through for the past five years to bring joy to children, women and men in your constituency. You were a catalyst ordained by the Almighty to make all equations to balance for them,” she stated.
She said it was unfortunate that the number of women MPs which was reduced from 25 in the previous Parliament to 20 in the current Parliament had further been reduced to 19 through the untimely death of the MP.
Contributing to the statement, the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery, advocated the proportional representation method to increase the number of women in Parliament, explaining that the present arrangement did not augur well for women representation.
He said the contribution of the late MP to the development of her constituency should be enough proof to people in the three northern regions that women could do better when given equal opportunities.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, said the House shared in the grief and pain of the bereaved family and called for an incident-free by-election to honour the MP, who he described as “a cool and peaceful person”.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
DEBATE on the mid-year review of the budget statement and supplementary estimates for 2009 presented to Parliament by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning will begin today.
Already, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, has referred the document to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.
The nominations of three Justices of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court by the President, have also been referred to the Appointments Committee for consideration and report.
They are Mr Justice Benjamin Teiko Aryeetey, Mr Justice Nasiru Sulemana Gbadegbe and Ms Justice Vida Akoto-Bamfo.
Last Tuesday, the government sought the approval of the House to spend approximately GH¢253 million additional resources to shore up its general expenditure.
If comments by some members of the Minority are anything to go by, then the debate, which may last for only two days, will be uncompromising.
They were apparently unhappy about what they termed as “the politicisation of the supplementary estimates”. Some of them chastised the minister for painting a good picture of the economic performance of the government.
To them, Ghanaians were the best judges of the economic performance of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government over the past eight months.
Speaking to journalists soon after the presentation of the review, a former Deputy Minister of Finance in the Kufuor administration, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, who is also the Member of Parliament for Dormaa West, noted that the government was not spending, thus creating hardships among the people.
He said the government did not have a clear policy direction on how to manage the economy, eight months into assuming the reins of government. “What the government is doing is only to collect taxes."
The NPP MP for Wenchi, who is also a former Deputy Minister of Finance, Professor George Yaw Gyang-Baffour, stated that all the figures that painted a good picture of the economy were not true.
“His figures are not in the marketplace,” he said, explaining that the depreciation of the cedi and inflation were all there for Ghanaians to see.
Responding to the criticisms of the Minority, the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament and NDC MP for Ketu North, Mr James Klutse Avedzi, said measures being taken by the government were all appropriate to fix the battered economy it inherited.
He explained that while efforts were being made to generate more revenue, the government had also reduced its spending to meet its economic targets.
Mr Avedzi said the government was now focussing on agriculture to increase production in order to improve on the economic performance of the country.
He added that the prudent handling of the economy was beginning to show and called on the revenue collection agencies to do more to meet their targets to enable the government to implement its projects.
Meanwhile the House yesterday paid tribute to the former MP for Chereponi, the late Doris Asibi Seidu, who died on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and was buried at Chereponi on August 10, 2009.
In a tribute, the MP for Tarkwa/Nsuaem, Mrs Gifty Kusi, acknowledged the contribution of the late MP to the development of her constituency.
“We acknowledge the pains you had gone through for the past five years to bring joy to children, women and men in your constituency. You were a catalyst ordained by the Almighty to make all equations to balance for them,” she stated.
She said it was unfortunate that the number of women MPs which was reduced from 25 in the previous Parliament to 20 in the current Parliament had further been reduced to 19 through the untimely death of the MP.
Contributing to the statement, the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery, advocated the proportional representation method to increase the number of women in Parliament, explaining that the present arrangement did not augur well for women representation.
He said the contribution of the late MP to the development of her constituency should be enough proof to people in the three northern regions that women could do better when given equal opportunities.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, said the House shared in the grief and pain of the bereaved family and called for an incident-free by-election to honour the MP, who he described as “a cool and peaceful person”.
Review of 1992 Constitution in right direction — Dery
Page 16, Aug 27, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Ambrose P. Dery, has said the proposition by the Government to review some aspects of the 1992 Constitution was a step in the right direction.
“Having been in operation since 1992, it is appropriate for some aspects of the document governing the country to be subjected to review,” he said.
Mr Dery, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic about the recent pronouncement by the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, on the review of the constitution, said such a review should rather emanate from the people.
He noted that the 2008 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, also campaigned for the review of the Constitution.
Mr Dery, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lawra/Nandom and lawyer, mentioned fusing of the Executive and the Legislature as the main aspect of the constitution that should be reviewed.
He noted that having been in operation for some time now, it had become clear that the Executive and the Legislature should be separated from each other to ensure a true separation of power.
“Although the concept is good in theory, it has a lot of drawbacks in practice,” he said.
On the immunity clause in the constitution, the deputy minority leader said he would not advocate its removal from the constitution.
He explained that after the national reconciliation exercise, such a clause in the constitution could serve as a bridge between the past and the present.
However, Mr Dery said that if Ghanaians thought that the clause had outlived its usefulness and decided otherwise, he would have no problem with their choice.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Ambrose P. Dery, has said the proposition by the Government to review some aspects of the 1992 Constitution was a step in the right direction.
“Having been in operation since 1992, it is appropriate for some aspects of the document governing the country to be subjected to review,” he said.
Mr Dery, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic about the recent pronouncement by the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, on the review of the constitution, said such a review should rather emanate from the people.
He noted that the 2008 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, also campaigned for the review of the Constitution.
Mr Dery, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lawra/Nandom and lawyer, mentioned fusing of the Executive and the Legislature as the main aspect of the constitution that should be reviewed.
He noted that having been in operation for some time now, it had become clear that the Executive and the Legislature should be separated from each other to ensure a true separation of power.
“Although the concept is good in theory, it has a lot of drawbacks in practice,” he said.
On the immunity clause in the constitution, the deputy minority leader said he would not advocate its removal from the constitution.
He explained that after the national reconciliation exercise, such a clause in the constitution could serve as a bridge between the past and the present.
However, Mr Dery said that if Ghanaians thought that the clause had outlived its usefulness and decided otherwise, he would have no problem with their choice.
Dr Asare sworn in as MP for Akwatia
Page 17, Aug 26, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE newly-elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia, Dr Kofi Asare, was sworn into office yesterday when Parliament resumed for the first special sitting.
Dr Asare won the Akwatia Constituency seat after the re-run of six polling stations as a result of electoral malpractices in those staions during the general election on December 7, 2008.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, informed the House that the Clerk to Parliament had received a writ of election from the Electoral Commission informing Parliament that Dr Asare won the Akwatia parliamentary seat.
Dr Asare thereafter walked to the podium and swore the oaths of office and allegience administered by Mr Doe Adjaho.
When he was marched to his seat by the Marshal of Parliament, Dr Asare was greeted by the Minority side.
Welcoming the new MP to the House, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, stated that Dr Asare was most qualified to occupy the Akwatia seat to render his services to the people.
He recounted incidents that occurred during the re-run of the election in the six polling stations during which many people got injured while some cars were either burnt or smashed.
"Mr Speaker, these incidents must be condemned by all since it reminded us of the dark days of the country's politics", he said and called for lessons to be learnt from the Akwatia election.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated that Ghana had earned international reputation as a result of previous elections and had thus become the beacon of hope in Africa.
"What happened recently at Akwatia was a dent in our enviable democratic credentials and we should resolve not to allow such indicents to mar our hard won positive image", he stressed.
The Minority Leader said the forthcoming bye-election at Chireponi would be a litmus test as to whether Ghana would be able to maintain its reputation as a good example of democracy in Africa.
He advised the new MP to face the realities of the House and learn the rules and procedures quickly in order to achieve the targets he had set for himself and his constituency.
For his part ,the Majority Leader and Leader of the House, Mr Alban Bagbin, reminded Dr Asare that he was now a dignified member of the House.
He stated that the culture in the House was different from what he witnessed during the election in the Akwatia Constituency.
Mr Bagbin explained that in Parliament, MPs debate and agree to disagree before arriving at a decision devoid of violence and unparliamentary pronouncements.
He said it was unfortunate that Dr Asare could not be sworn in with his other colleagues at the beginning of the fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic as a result of the violence that marred the 2008 election in the Akwatia Constituency.
Mr Bagbin called on the law enforcement agencies to deal ruthlessly with those who committed crimes to serve as a deterrent to others.
"This is not politics. Politics is a decent profession to serve the people", he stated.
Mr Bagbin assured the new MP of co-operation from the Majority, and urged him to fraternise with the defeated candidate in the election in order develop the constituency.
He advised the defeated candidate to accept defeat in humility and co-operate with the elected MP for the sake of the progress of Akwatia.
Mr Adjaho, for his part, called on the new MP to serve those who voted for him and those who did not vote for him as well since he was now the MP for Akwatia and not for a section of the people.
With the swearing in of the Akwatia MP, Parliament now has 229 parliamentarians.
The conduct of the Chireponi by-election will enable the House to have the full compliment of its 230 membership.
Mr Adjaho informed the House about the nomination of three justices of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court and referred their nominations to the Appointments Committee for consideration and report.
They are Justice Benjamin Teiko Aryeetey, Justice Nasiru Sulemana Gbadegbe and Justice Vida Akoto-Bamfo.
•Dr Kofi Asare (left), the NPP MP for Akwatia, being sworn in by the Mr Doe Ajaho, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE newly-elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia, Dr Kofi Asare, was sworn into office yesterday when Parliament resumed for the first special sitting.
Dr Asare won the Akwatia Constituency seat after the re-run of six polling stations as a result of electoral malpractices in those staions during the general election on December 7, 2008.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, informed the House that the Clerk to Parliament had received a writ of election from the Electoral Commission informing Parliament that Dr Asare won the Akwatia parliamentary seat.
Dr Asare thereafter walked to the podium and swore the oaths of office and allegience administered by Mr Doe Adjaho.
When he was marched to his seat by the Marshal of Parliament, Dr Asare was greeted by the Minority side.
Welcoming the new MP to the House, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, stated that Dr Asare was most qualified to occupy the Akwatia seat to render his services to the people.
He recounted incidents that occurred during the re-run of the election in the six polling stations during which many people got injured while some cars were either burnt or smashed.
"Mr Speaker, these incidents must be condemned by all since it reminded us of the dark days of the country's politics", he said and called for lessons to be learnt from the Akwatia election.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated that Ghana had earned international reputation as a result of previous elections and had thus become the beacon of hope in Africa.
"What happened recently at Akwatia was a dent in our enviable democratic credentials and we should resolve not to allow such indicents to mar our hard won positive image", he stressed.
The Minority Leader said the forthcoming bye-election at Chireponi would be a litmus test as to whether Ghana would be able to maintain its reputation as a good example of democracy in Africa.
He advised the new MP to face the realities of the House and learn the rules and procedures quickly in order to achieve the targets he had set for himself and his constituency.
For his part ,the Majority Leader and Leader of the House, Mr Alban Bagbin, reminded Dr Asare that he was now a dignified member of the House.
He stated that the culture in the House was different from what he witnessed during the election in the Akwatia Constituency.
Mr Bagbin explained that in Parliament, MPs debate and agree to disagree before arriving at a decision devoid of violence and unparliamentary pronouncements.
He said it was unfortunate that Dr Asare could not be sworn in with his other colleagues at the beginning of the fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic as a result of the violence that marred the 2008 election in the Akwatia Constituency.
Mr Bagbin called on the law enforcement agencies to deal ruthlessly with those who committed crimes to serve as a deterrent to others.
"This is not politics. Politics is a decent profession to serve the people", he stated.
Mr Bagbin assured the new MP of co-operation from the Majority, and urged him to fraternise with the defeated candidate in the election in order develop the constituency.
He advised the defeated candidate to accept defeat in humility and co-operate with the elected MP for the sake of the progress of Akwatia.
Mr Adjaho, for his part, called on the new MP to serve those who voted for him and those who did not vote for him as well since he was now the MP for Akwatia and not for a section of the people.
With the swearing in of the Akwatia MP, Parliament now has 229 parliamentarians.
The conduct of the Chireponi by-election will enable the House to have the full compliment of its 230 membership.
Mr Adjaho informed the House about the nomination of three justices of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court and referred their nominations to the Appointments Committee for consideration and report.
They are Justice Benjamin Teiko Aryeetey, Justice Nasiru Sulemana Gbadegbe and Justice Vida Akoto-Bamfo.
•Dr Kofi Asare (left), the NPP MP for Akwatia, being sworn in by the Mr Doe Ajaho, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Monday, August 24, 2009
'Public Servants unaware of housing loan scheme'
Page 34, Aug 21, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
DESPITE the desire of public and civil servants to have decent accommodation after their retirement, most of them are unaware of a Public Servants Housing Loans Scheme that has been Iin existence since 1975.
A performance audit report of the Auditor-General which was considered by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament during its public sitting last Wednesday showed that 73 per cent of public servants interviewed across the country were not aware of the loan scheme.
That is because managers of the scheme neither advertise nor inform staff of the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) about its activities.
The acting Executive Secretary, Mr Solomon Bonney, and the Head of Finance of the scheme, Mr Stanley Kumah, appeared before the committee to answer qustions on the scheme.
The two drew a lot of laughter throughout the sitting as they found it difficult to convince members of the committee with their explanation as to why most civil servants did not know about the existence of the scheme.
Giving explanations about why the scheme was unknown, Mr Bonney said that the scheme would come under pressure from would-be beneficiaries if civil servants knew more about it, and that the scheme would not be able to satisfy applicants.
However, members of the committee disagreed and suggested that the choice to access the loans should be left to individual public servants and should not be predetermined by the scheme managers.
Almost all members of the committee who quizzed officials of the scheme, who were led by the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Albert Bongo, expressed surprise about the existence of the scheme.
Disappointed by the performance of the scheme since its establishment, they suggested that the scheme should be scrapped since it had not been able to live up to expectation.
But Mr Kumah explained that it would be possible for the scheme to perform better if the government should provide the much needed capital.
He said despite its shortcomings, 3,939 public servants benefited from the scheme between 1975 and 2005.
A total of ¢22, 984,866,086 had been disbursed so far. Out of the amount, ¢18,068,292,560 had been recovered from the beneficiaries.
The chairman of the PAC, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, said he was amazed about the idea behind the establishment of the scheme more than 30 years ago, and expressed his disappointment about how the scheme had been managed over the years.
He suggested to the sector ministry to look at the possibility of re-organising the scheme to enable it to achieve its intended purpose.
For his part, Mr Abongo gave the assurance that the board of the scheme would be reconstituted, adding that the recommendation that would be made by Parliament would also be implemented to ensure the re-organisation of the scheme.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
DESPITE the desire of public and civil servants to have decent accommodation after their retirement, most of them are unaware of a Public Servants Housing Loans Scheme that has been Iin existence since 1975.
A performance audit report of the Auditor-General which was considered by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament during its public sitting last Wednesday showed that 73 per cent of public servants interviewed across the country were not aware of the loan scheme.
That is because managers of the scheme neither advertise nor inform staff of the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) about its activities.
The acting Executive Secretary, Mr Solomon Bonney, and the Head of Finance of the scheme, Mr Stanley Kumah, appeared before the committee to answer qustions on the scheme.
The two drew a lot of laughter throughout the sitting as they found it difficult to convince members of the committee with their explanation as to why most civil servants did not know about the existence of the scheme.
Giving explanations about why the scheme was unknown, Mr Bonney said that the scheme would come under pressure from would-be beneficiaries if civil servants knew more about it, and that the scheme would not be able to satisfy applicants.
However, members of the committee disagreed and suggested that the choice to access the loans should be left to individual public servants and should not be predetermined by the scheme managers.
Almost all members of the committee who quizzed officials of the scheme, who were led by the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Albert Bongo, expressed surprise about the existence of the scheme.
Disappointed by the performance of the scheme since its establishment, they suggested that the scheme should be scrapped since it had not been able to live up to expectation.
But Mr Kumah explained that it would be possible for the scheme to perform better if the government should provide the much needed capital.
He said despite its shortcomings, 3,939 public servants benefited from the scheme between 1975 and 2005.
A total of ¢22, 984,866,086 had been disbursed so far. Out of the amount, ¢18,068,292,560 had been recovered from the beneficiaries.
The chairman of the PAC, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, said he was amazed about the idea behind the establishment of the scheme more than 30 years ago, and expressed his disappointment about how the scheme had been managed over the years.
He suggested to the sector ministry to look at the possibility of re-organising the scheme to enable it to achieve its intended purpose.
For his part, Mr Abongo gave the assurance that the board of the scheme would be reconstituted, adding that the recommendation that would be made by Parliament would also be implemented to ensure the re-organisation of the scheme.
More health professionals leave for greener pastures
Page 31, Aug 21, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
IT is estimated that 6,546 health professionals left Ghana to other countries in search of greener pastures between 2001 and 2006.
They included 418 doctors, 1,155 pharmacists, 3,496 nurses, 296 medical laboratory technicians, 1,001 midwives and 180 community health nurses.
The total estimated loss to the country through the brain drain within the same period was $87.77 million which is 16.5 per cent of the 2006 total health budget of $531.84 million.
These startling revelations were contained in the performance audit report of the Auditor-General on the management of human resources for effective primary healthcare delivery by the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
The report, which has been submitted to Parliament, formed part of deliberations of the ongoing public sittings of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, led officials of the ministry to discuss the report with the 25-member committee.
The report indicated that the trend in the loss of trained personnel was not abating despite government efforts at meeting most demands of health workers.
The problem of medical professionals leaving the country was blamed on poor remuneration and lack of career development, among other reasons.
The report also identified that there was inequitable distribution of health personnel throughout the country, which was skewed towards urban centres to the disadvantage of the rural areas.
Again, despite the low staff numbers, the GHS draws its administrative personnel from the few available and experienced health professionals.
For instance, as of 2005, the Brong Ahafo Region required 90 doctors, out of which 58 were at post.
The report, however, found that out of the 58 doctors who were at post in the region, 21 were district directors, two with the Rural Health Division while five were in research centres, leaving only 30 to do medical work.
Furthermore, the report found that there were about a total of six months working days lost to strikes between 2001 and 2005 which resulted in the loss of lives and over GH¢500,000 in direct cost, since striking workers were paid their wages for the days they were on strike.
Discussing these revelations with members of the PAC, Dr Kunbuor noted that the brain drain was a canker which the country needed to tackle to ensure that trained health personnel stayed to provide quality health service to the people.
On what measures had been put in place to bond medical doctors, Dr Kunbuor said the ministry could not bond them, since it did not control their training.
He explained, however, that the ministry was able to bond nurses whose training were funded by the government.
As to whether it was the crave to control budgets that attracts doctors to the administrative sectors of the health service, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Ellias Sory, explained that those who were in such positions also played critical roles in the country’s health delivery.
He stated that efforts were being made to increase the number of health training institutions while 80 per cent intake of such institutions would be allocated to people in the regions where the institutions were located.
Also at the sitting was the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, and a team of high-ranking officials from the ministry.
They assisted the committee to discuss the performance audit report of the Auditor-General on the Accountability Arrangements in the Solid Waste Management.
Mr Chireh thanked the committee for the encounter and called for the involvement of all in the management of the country’s solid waste, since it was a shared responsibility.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
IT is estimated that 6,546 health professionals left Ghana to other countries in search of greener pastures between 2001 and 2006.
They included 418 doctors, 1,155 pharmacists, 3,496 nurses, 296 medical laboratory technicians, 1,001 midwives and 180 community health nurses.
The total estimated loss to the country through the brain drain within the same period was $87.77 million which is 16.5 per cent of the 2006 total health budget of $531.84 million.
These startling revelations were contained in the performance audit report of the Auditor-General on the management of human resources for effective primary healthcare delivery by the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
The report, which has been submitted to Parliament, formed part of deliberations of the ongoing public sittings of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, led officials of the ministry to discuss the report with the 25-member committee.
The report indicated that the trend in the loss of trained personnel was not abating despite government efforts at meeting most demands of health workers.
The problem of medical professionals leaving the country was blamed on poor remuneration and lack of career development, among other reasons.
The report also identified that there was inequitable distribution of health personnel throughout the country, which was skewed towards urban centres to the disadvantage of the rural areas.
Again, despite the low staff numbers, the GHS draws its administrative personnel from the few available and experienced health professionals.
For instance, as of 2005, the Brong Ahafo Region required 90 doctors, out of which 58 were at post.
The report, however, found that out of the 58 doctors who were at post in the region, 21 were district directors, two with the Rural Health Division while five were in research centres, leaving only 30 to do medical work.
Furthermore, the report found that there were about a total of six months working days lost to strikes between 2001 and 2005 which resulted in the loss of lives and over GH¢500,000 in direct cost, since striking workers were paid their wages for the days they were on strike.
Discussing these revelations with members of the PAC, Dr Kunbuor noted that the brain drain was a canker which the country needed to tackle to ensure that trained health personnel stayed to provide quality health service to the people.
On what measures had been put in place to bond medical doctors, Dr Kunbuor said the ministry could not bond them, since it did not control their training.
He explained, however, that the ministry was able to bond nurses whose training were funded by the government.
As to whether it was the crave to control budgets that attracts doctors to the administrative sectors of the health service, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Ellias Sory, explained that those who were in such positions also played critical roles in the country’s health delivery.
He stated that efforts were being made to increase the number of health training institutions while 80 per cent intake of such institutions would be allocated to people in the regions where the institutions were located.
Also at the sitting was the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, and a team of high-ranking officials from the ministry.
They assisted the committee to discuss the performance audit report of the Auditor-General on the Accountability Arrangements in the Solid Waste Management.
Mr Chireh thanked the committee for the encounter and called for the involvement of all in the management of the country’s solid waste, since it was a shared responsibility.
Police in makeshift structures-Audit
Frontpage.Aug 20, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MORE than half of the about 23,000-member police service in the country live in makeshift structures.
A performance audit report on the management of police residential structures, which was considered by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament during its sitting yesterday, indicated that as of now, only 42 per cent of officers and men of the service were accommodated while the rest lived in stopgap structures.
These include those housed in canteens, open workshops and kitchens, while in some instances, other available spaces have been converted into residential units for the policemen and women.
Mr Cletus Avoka, the Minister of the Interior and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, led a team of top-ranked policemen to answer queries raised by the Auditor-General in its performance report on the management of residential accommodation of the service submitted to Parliament.
According to the report, the police barracks were over-crowded due to inadequate residential accommodation for officers and men of the service.
The report indicated that the poor conditions of the existing structures at the barracks were likely to deteriorate with the planned increase in intake into the service.
Notwithstanding these problems, the report revealed that the service had a large number of uncompleted and abandoned buildings, with 80 per cent of the projects which were started in and around 1999 not completed as at the time of the compilation of the report in September, 2007.
According to the report, the police administration failed to properly plan and make adequate budgetary allocation for the uncompleted projects.
For instance, a three-storey building project that was started to house the police in Yendi in the Northern Region was abandoned after an amount of Gh¢13,713.41 or 21.3 per cent of the contract sum had been paid to two contractors.
Based on the report, members of the PAC, chaired by Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, argued that the same contract was awarded to two contractors, who all abandoned the project after collecting their monies.
Responding to the issue, the Director-General of Finance of the Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police George Akwasi Akufo Dampare, explained that there were two projects that were abandoned by the contractors and not one as indicated in the report.
One other issue highlighted in the report and which engaged the attention of members of the committee was the lack of maintenance culture by police officers residing in rented premises.
The Director in-charge of Estate, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Joshua Copson explained that as per agreements between the various landlords, police officers residing in rented premises were only responsible for interior maintenance and not the maintenance of the exterior portions of the buildings.
His assertion was, however, rebuffed by members of the committee, who argued that the low rent paid to landlords, which were not even regular, would make it impossible for such landlords to maintain their buildings.
A sad story was told in the report about one Madam Mary Manu, whose residence in Begoro in the Eastern Region had been occupied by the police since it was constructed in 1970.
At the time of the initial occupancy, the rent for the 10-bedroom house was ¢30.00 (GH¢3.00) per year and that was maintained till the time of the audit in 2007, although the landlady was demanding Gh¢600.00 per year.
It was revealed through discussions with the lady that no maintenance had ever been carried out since the police occupied the house and with the dilapidated nature of the house, the police had been advised to evacuate because the building was unsafe for habitation.
Answering further questions, ACP Dampare said efforts were being made to complete some of the ongoing projects across the country to provide living accommodation for the police.
He cited the new police barracks in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region and gave assurance that funds were being raised internally to ensure its completion by October, this year.
Mr Avoka stated that although the provision of accommodation for the police was the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior, there was the need for the district assemblies and non-governmental organisations to assist in that respect.
He announced that the government was still discussing whether to raise the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to 10 per cent so that the percentage increase could be used to fund security activities in such areas.
Mr Kan-Dapaah thanked the Audit Service for a very good work done and expressed the hope that the exercise would enable both the general public and the government to appreciate the accommodation problem facing the police.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MORE than half of the about 23,000-member police service in the country live in makeshift structures.
A performance audit report on the management of police residential structures, which was considered by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament during its sitting yesterday, indicated that as of now, only 42 per cent of officers and men of the service were accommodated while the rest lived in stopgap structures.
These include those housed in canteens, open workshops and kitchens, while in some instances, other available spaces have been converted into residential units for the policemen and women.
Mr Cletus Avoka, the Minister of the Interior and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, led a team of top-ranked policemen to answer queries raised by the Auditor-General in its performance report on the management of residential accommodation of the service submitted to Parliament.
According to the report, the police barracks were over-crowded due to inadequate residential accommodation for officers and men of the service.
The report indicated that the poor conditions of the existing structures at the barracks were likely to deteriorate with the planned increase in intake into the service.
Notwithstanding these problems, the report revealed that the service had a large number of uncompleted and abandoned buildings, with 80 per cent of the projects which were started in and around 1999 not completed as at the time of the compilation of the report in September, 2007.
According to the report, the police administration failed to properly plan and make adequate budgetary allocation for the uncompleted projects.
For instance, a three-storey building project that was started to house the police in Yendi in the Northern Region was abandoned after an amount of Gh¢13,713.41 or 21.3 per cent of the contract sum had been paid to two contractors.
Based on the report, members of the PAC, chaired by Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, argued that the same contract was awarded to two contractors, who all abandoned the project after collecting their monies.
Responding to the issue, the Director-General of Finance of the Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police George Akwasi Akufo Dampare, explained that there were two projects that were abandoned by the contractors and not one as indicated in the report.
One other issue highlighted in the report and which engaged the attention of members of the committee was the lack of maintenance culture by police officers residing in rented premises.
The Director in-charge of Estate, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Joshua Copson explained that as per agreements between the various landlords, police officers residing in rented premises were only responsible for interior maintenance and not the maintenance of the exterior portions of the buildings.
His assertion was, however, rebuffed by members of the committee, who argued that the low rent paid to landlords, which were not even regular, would make it impossible for such landlords to maintain their buildings.
A sad story was told in the report about one Madam Mary Manu, whose residence in Begoro in the Eastern Region had been occupied by the police since it was constructed in 1970.
At the time of the initial occupancy, the rent for the 10-bedroom house was ¢30.00 (GH¢3.00) per year and that was maintained till the time of the audit in 2007, although the landlady was demanding Gh¢600.00 per year.
It was revealed through discussions with the lady that no maintenance had ever been carried out since the police occupied the house and with the dilapidated nature of the house, the police had been advised to evacuate because the building was unsafe for habitation.
Answering further questions, ACP Dampare said efforts were being made to complete some of the ongoing projects across the country to provide living accommodation for the police.
He cited the new police barracks in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region and gave assurance that funds were being raised internally to ensure its completion by October, this year.
Mr Avoka stated that although the provision of accommodation for the police was the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior, there was the need for the district assemblies and non-governmental organisations to assist in that respect.
He announced that the government was still discussing whether to raise the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to 10 per cent so that the percentage increase could be used to fund security activities in such areas.
Mr Kan-Dapaah thanked the Audit Service for a very good work done and expressed the hope that the exercise would enable both the general public and the government to appreciate the accommodation problem facing the police.
(Public Accounts Committee sits today)
Page 16, Aug 19, 2009
Preview: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE constitutional mandate of Parliament to approve budgets and loans contracted by the government for the implementation of various policies and programmes will be meaningless unless measures are put in place to check the judicious use of such funds for their intended purposes.
That is why public interest was stimulated when the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament opened its sitting to public to consider some reports submitted to Parliament by the Auditor-General for the first time last year.
Although the PAC has been in existence since Ghana returned to constitutional rule in January, 1993, it was not until last year when it conducted its first public sitting that Ghanaians got to know about the importance of Parliament in the performance of its oversight function over public institutions.
During that sitting, a lot of financial malfeasance was uncovered, particularly in the second-cycle educational institutions and some ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
Public attention is expected to be focused on the committee once more when it begins yet another public sitting from tomorrow, August 19 to 24, this year, to consider some reports submitted to Parliament by the Auditor-General.
While the committee considered financial audit reports of the Auditor-General during its first public sitting last year, it would this time round consider performance audit report of the Auditor-General about some programmes embarked upon by some institutions during its forthcoming public sitting.
The committee will examine the Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General on the Management of Police Residential Accommodation, Performance Audit Report of Business Registration and Performance Audit Report on the Accountability Arrangements in Solid Waste Management.
Others areas expected to be covered include the Performance Audit Report on the Public Servants Housing Loan Scheme and the Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Pre-University Educational Institutions for the four-year period ending December 31, 2004.
The reports to be considered by the committee will, in no doubt, draw the attention of Parliament to irregularities and in some instances, as witnessed last year, embezzlement or misappropriation of public funds.
Parliament, is therefore, responsible for ensuring accountability and openness of government through its oversight activities of the executive and its auxiliary bodies in order to curb corruption and effect good governance practices.
The PAC has a membership of 25, which is made up of 13 from the Majority side and 12, including its chairman, from the Minority side. The current chairman of the committee is Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Afigya-Sekyere West.
During its deliberations, the chairman of the committee has no voting right except where there is a tie that he could use his vote to break such a deadlock.
It is expected that journalists who will cover the sitting would, to a large extent, avoid sensationalism and keep to the core objectives of the public sitting of the committee.
Accurate reportage, which shows balance and fairness, will be the necessary ingredients that should guide journalists who will cover proceedings of the second public sitting of the PAC.
It will also be important for the media to do follow-up checks and file stories on whether or not the recommendations made by the committee have been carried out.
Preview: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE constitutional mandate of Parliament to approve budgets and loans contracted by the government for the implementation of various policies and programmes will be meaningless unless measures are put in place to check the judicious use of such funds for their intended purposes.
That is why public interest was stimulated when the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament opened its sitting to public to consider some reports submitted to Parliament by the Auditor-General for the first time last year.
Although the PAC has been in existence since Ghana returned to constitutional rule in January, 1993, it was not until last year when it conducted its first public sitting that Ghanaians got to know about the importance of Parliament in the performance of its oversight function over public institutions.
During that sitting, a lot of financial malfeasance was uncovered, particularly in the second-cycle educational institutions and some ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
Public attention is expected to be focused on the committee once more when it begins yet another public sitting from tomorrow, August 19 to 24, this year, to consider some reports submitted to Parliament by the Auditor-General.
While the committee considered financial audit reports of the Auditor-General during its first public sitting last year, it would this time round consider performance audit report of the Auditor-General about some programmes embarked upon by some institutions during its forthcoming public sitting.
The committee will examine the Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General on the Management of Police Residential Accommodation, Performance Audit Report of Business Registration and Performance Audit Report on the Accountability Arrangements in Solid Waste Management.
Others areas expected to be covered include the Performance Audit Report on the Public Servants Housing Loan Scheme and the Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Pre-University Educational Institutions for the four-year period ending December 31, 2004.
The reports to be considered by the committee will, in no doubt, draw the attention of Parliament to irregularities and in some instances, as witnessed last year, embezzlement or misappropriation of public funds.
Parliament, is therefore, responsible for ensuring accountability and openness of government through its oversight activities of the executive and its auxiliary bodies in order to curb corruption and effect good governance practices.
The PAC has a membership of 25, which is made up of 13 from the Majority side and 12, including its chairman, from the Minority side. The current chairman of the committee is Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Afigya-Sekyere West.
During its deliberations, the chairman of the committee has no voting right except where there is a tie that he could use his vote to break such a deadlock.
It is expected that journalists who will cover the sitting would, to a large extent, avoid sensationalism and keep to the core objectives of the public sitting of the committee.
Accurate reportage, which shows balance and fairness, will be the necessary ingredients that should guide journalists who will cover proceedings of the second public sitting of the PAC.
It will also be important for the media to do follow-up checks and file stories on whether or not the recommendations made by the committee have been carried out.
(Presby Church promotes health delivery)
Page 22, Aug 8, 2009
Article: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) attaches much importance to the welfare of the poor and vulnerable in the society. The church is obliged to support the society by providing spiritual and physical needs.
This vision of the PCG as demonstrated within the health sector is, therefore, to serve the poor in fulfilment of the mandate by Christ to “go and heal the sick...and tell them the kingdom of God near you” (Luke 10:9).
The health service programme of the church, which was started about 124 years ago by Dr Rudolf Fich on a humble beginning, has now developed and expanded to benefit thousands of people in and outside the country.
The first ever mission hospital in the then Gold Coast, according to Reverend Dr D.N.A. Kpobi, in his book, “Triple Heritage”, was established in 1885 by the church at Kom (Aburi). Although that facility developed well for some years, it collapsed with the outbreak of the First World War and the consequent deportation of the Basel Missionaries.
The construction of a new hospital at Agogo in the Asante Akyem area by the church, which started in 1929, was completed in 1930 and inaugurated by the then British Governor of the Gold Coast, Sir Alexander Ransford Slater on March 21, 1931. It is now the oldest mission hospital in the country.
With communal labour, the chiefs and people of Dormaa started the construction of the Dormaa State Hospital in 1953 and completed it the following year.
In 1955, the management of the hospital was transferred to the Basel Mission which sent a Dutch female medical officer, Dr Emmy Ode as the first medical officer in charge of the hospital. Until the end of 1959, the hospital was financed by the Basel Mission and the Dormaa State with assistance from government.
The government handed over the Bawku and Donkorkrom Presbyterian hospitals to the church to manage in 1956 and 1985, respectively but despite the handover, the facilities were recognised as district hospitals.
The church did not stop at providing only medical care but also saw the need to offer primary healthcare services to the rural communities.
In collaboration with the government, the church started a Primary Health Care (PHC) programme, then called Rural Health Service Programme, in the Asante Akyem area in 1979.
The Agogo Presbyterian Hospital provided a District Medical Officer while the Ministry of Health supplemented with the other technical staff. The programme was later extended to Dormaa, Bolgatanga, Bawku, Sandema, Salaga, Tamale Rural, Afram Plains and Aowin-Suaman (Enchi).
The church was then training nurses at the Agogo Hospital before the Second World War (1939-1945) but the programme was temporarily suspended during the war. By 1986, however, 184 nurses had been trained.
In 2008 alone, the church’s health institutions spent GH¢24,848.95 to provide free medical care for 1,116 poor patients. The institutions also spent GH¢12,672.84 on the feeding of those poor patients aside paying their transport expenses and buying clothing for some of them.
Despite these impressive achievements, the church does not currently have any health facility in eight of its 15 presbyteries. The situation, therefore, calls for vigorous efforts by the church to mobilise resources for the establishment of health facilities in those presbyteries and the expansion of the existing facilities within the next five years.
That has become necessary because due to donor fatigue, the church’s overseas partners are gradually reducing their funding for the church’s health programmes.
It is in this vein that the church has instituted a health week celebration in August every year, during which funds are raised to support its health activities. This year, the church has targeted to raise GH¢100,000 towards the health programme.
Launching this year’s health week, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the church, Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso said, “our religious observance, our church attendance and our Presbyterian lifestyles will be meaningless unless they are harnessed for socio-economic development and provision of the physical needs of our people”.
He observed that the provision of health services as well as other social services is the church’s mandate, which it must not run away from.
The Heath Coordinator of the church, Mr Samuel Sarpong Appiah stated that the church’s health facilities did not discriminate against the provision of services to its clients.
He added that the church did not collect money from the health facilities but instead, it looked elsewhere for funds to support its running.
Mr Appiah announced that within the past two years, the church had acquired seven four-wheel Toyota and three Mitsubishi vehicles for some of its health institutions.
He said through the initiative of the moderator, members of the church resident in Australia had provided a grant of $10,000 to support the construction of a health centre for the Ehiamatuo community in the Samreboi area of the Western Region.
Mr Appiah, therefore, pleaded with the various congregations of the church to play their parts to ensure that the set target of GH¢100,000 for the year was realised to enable it embark on more health programmes for the benefit of the people in the communities where it operates.
Portrait of Rt Rev. the Moderator of the General Assembly of the PCG)
Article: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) attaches much importance to the welfare of the poor and vulnerable in the society. The church is obliged to support the society by providing spiritual and physical needs.
This vision of the PCG as demonstrated within the health sector is, therefore, to serve the poor in fulfilment of the mandate by Christ to “go and heal the sick...and tell them the kingdom of God near you” (Luke 10:9).
The health service programme of the church, which was started about 124 years ago by Dr Rudolf Fich on a humble beginning, has now developed and expanded to benefit thousands of people in and outside the country.
The first ever mission hospital in the then Gold Coast, according to Reverend Dr D.N.A. Kpobi, in his book, “Triple Heritage”, was established in 1885 by the church at Kom (Aburi). Although that facility developed well for some years, it collapsed with the outbreak of the First World War and the consequent deportation of the Basel Missionaries.
The construction of a new hospital at Agogo in the Asante Akyem area by the church, which started in 1929, was completed in 1930 and inaugurated by the then British Governor of the Gold Coast, Sir Alexander Ransford Slater on March 21, 1931. It is now the oldest mission hospital in the country.
With communal labour, the chiefs and people of Dormaa started the construction of the Dormaa State Hospital in 1953 and completed it the following year.
In 1955, the management of the hospital was transferred to the Basel Mission which sent a Dutch female medical officer, Dr Emmy Ode as the first medical officer in charge of the hospital. Until the end of 1959, the hospital was financed by the Basel Mission and the Dormaa State with assistance from government.
The government handed over the Bawku and Donkorkrom Presbyterian hospitals to the church to manage in 1956 and 1985, respectively but despite the handover, the facilities were recognised as district hospitals.
The church did not stop at providing only medical care but also saw the need to offer primary healthcare services to the rural communities.
In collaboration with the government, the church started a Primary Health Care (PHC) programme, then called Rural Health Service Programme, in the Asante Akyem area in 1979.
The Agogo Presbyterian Hospital provided a District Medical Officer while the Ministry of Health supplemented with the other technical staff. The programme was later extended to Dormaa, Bolgatanga, Bawku, Sandema, Salaga, Tamale Rural, Afram Plains and Aowin-Suaman (Enchi).
The church was then training nurses at the Agogo Hospital before the Second World War (1939-1945) but the programme was temporarily suspended during the war. By 1986, however, 184 nurses had been trained.
In 2008 alone, the church’s health institutions spent GH¢24,848.95 to provide free medical care for 1,116 poor patients. The institutions also spent GH¢12,672.84 on the feeding of those poor patients aside paying their transport expenses and buying clothing for some of them.
Despite these impressive achievements, the church does not currently have any health facility in eight of its 15 presbyteries. The situation, therefore, calls for vigorous efforts by the church to mobilise resources for the establishment of health facilities in those presbyteries and the expansion of the existing facilities within the next five years.
That has become necessary because due to donor fatigue, the church’s overseas partners are gradually reducing their funding for the church’s health programmes.
It is in this vein that the church has instituted a health week celebration in August every year, during which funds are raised to support its health activities. This year, the church has targeted to raise GH¢100,000 towards the health programme.
Launching this year’s health week, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the church, Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso said, “our religious observance, our church attendance and our Presbyterian lifestyles will be meaningless unless they are harnessed for socio-economic development and provision of the physical needs of our people”.
He observed that the provision of health services as well as other social services is the church’s mandate, which it must not run away from.
The Heath Coordinator of the church, Mr Samuel Sarpong Appiah stated that the church’s health facilities did not discriminate against the provision of services to its clients.
He added that the church did not collect money from the health facilities but instead, it looked elsewhere for funds to support its running.
Mr Appiah announced that within the past two years, the church had acquired seven four-wheel Toyota and three Mitsubishi vehicles for some of its health institutions.
He said through the initiative of the moderator, members of the church resident in Australia had provided a grant of $10,000 to support the construction of a health centre for the Ehiamatuo community in the Samreboi area of the Western Region.
Mr Appiah, therefore, pleaded with the various congregations of the church to play their parts to ensure that the set target of GH¢100,000 for the year was realised to enable it embark on more health programmes for the benefit of the people in the communities where it operates.
Portrait of Rt Rev. the Moderator of the General Assembly of the PCG)
(Public Accounts Committee to sit from August 19)
Page 16, Aug 12, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament will conduct a six-day public sitting to probe into the activities of some public institutions.
During the sitting, which begins from Wednesday, August 19 and ends on August 24, this year, the PAC will consider performance audit reports on some institutions submitted to Parliament by the Auditor General.
The Chairman of the PAC, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, who announced this, mentioned the Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General of Management of Police Residential Accommodation, Performance Audit Report of Business Registration and Performance Audit Report on the Accountability Arrangements in Solid Waste Management as some of the issues that would be considered.
Others are the Performance Audit Report on the Public Servants Housing Loan Scheme and the Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Pre-University Educational Institutions for the four-year period ending December 31, 2004.
Mr Kan-Dapaah, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Afigya-Sekyere East, was speaking at a three-day sensitisation workshop organised by the Canadian Parliamentary Centre, a non-governmental organisation, for members of the Parliamentary Press Corps at Sogakope in the Volta Region at the weekend.
The PAC has a membership of 25, which is made up of 13 from the Majority side and 12, including its chairman from the Minority side.
During its deliberations, the chairman of the committee has no voting right except where there is a tie that he could use his vote to break.
Mr Kan-Dapaah, therefore, debunked the assertion that the Minority could use the exercise as witch-hunting, explaining that by the country’s democratic practices, it was always the Majority which had its way.
For his part, the Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Mr Jones Kugblenu, commended the media for their role in ensuring the success of the previous public sitting of the PAC.
He, however, urged them to do follow-up checks after the report of the PAC had been adopted by Parliament, to find out whether its recommendations had been complied with.
The Director of the Parliamentary Centre, Dr Rasheed Draman, urged members of the Parliamentary Press Corps to use their stories to generate the interest of the general public in proceedings of Parliament.
He cautioned them against sensationalism and advised them to let their write-ups during the PAC sittings be devoid of partisan considerations.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament will conduct a six-day public sitting to probe into the activities of some public institutions.
During the sitting, which begins from Wednesday, August 19 and ends on August 24, this year, the PAC will consider performance audit reports on some institutions submitted to Parliament by the Auditor General.
The Chairman of the PAC, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, who announced this, mentioned the Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General of Management of Police Residential Accommodation, Performance Audit Report of Business Registration and Performance Audit Report on the Accountability Arrangements in Solid Waste Management as some of the issues that would be considered.
Others are the Performance Audit Report on the Public Servants Housing Loan Scheme and the Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Pre-University Educational Institutions for the four-year period ending December 31, 2004.
Mr Kan-Dapaah, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Afigya-Sekyere East, was speaking at a three-day sensitisation workshop organised by the Canadian Parliamentary Centre, a non-governmental organisation, for members of the Parliamentary Press Corps at Sogakope in the Volta Region at the weekend.
The PAC has a membership of 25, which is made up of 13 from the Majority side and 12, including its chairman from the Minority side.
During its deliberations, the chairman of the committee has no voting right except where there is a tie that he could use his vote to break.
Mr Kan-Dapaah, therefore, debunked the assertion that the Minority could use the exercise as witch-hunting, explaining that by the country’s democratic practices, it was always the Majority which had its way.
For his part, the Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Mr Jones Kugblenu, commended the media for their role in ensuring the success of the previous public sitting of the PAC.
He, however, urged them to do follow-up checks after the report of the PAC had been adopted by Parliament, to find out whether its recommendations had been complied with.
The Director of the Parliamentary Centre, Dr Rasheed Draman, urged members of the Parliamentary Press Corps to use their stories to generate the interest of the general public in proceedings of Parliament.
He cautioned them against sensationalism and advised them to let their write-ups during the PAC sittings be devoid of partisan considerations.
(Govt secures loan to complete work on “Job 600”)
Page 16, Aug 11, 2009
Story: Lucy Adoma Yeboah & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE government has secured a $24-million loan for the completion of rehabilitation works on the State House Tower, popularly known as Job 600.
The Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr Hanna Louisa Bissiw, who made this known in Accra, said the project was expected to commence soon after a stakeholders’ discussion on the modalities for the completion of the project.
She said such talks could only start when Parliament resumed sitting in October, this year.
The magnificent and imposing Job 600 building was put up in 1965 for the hosting of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit, which was chaired by Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
When completed, the Job 600 building would provide office accommodation for all the 230 legislators.
Dr Bissiw said the execution of the project had become even more urgent as parliamentarians would soon engage research assistants to help them in their work.
She expressed displeasure at what she said had been an unfortunate spectacle at Parliament House where members virtually used their cars as offices.
Throwing more light on the project, the Chief Technical Advisor (Housing) at the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji A. Dawuni, said the ministry decided to go ahead with the rehabilitation work after an assessment and evaluation had revealed that it was strong enough to be used.
The Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing says it would have been appropriate if the ministry was given the responsibility to handle the rehabilitation works on the Job 600.
The ministry has, therefore, began discussions with the leadership of Parliament to be given the responsibility to supervise the project.
In interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Albert Abongo confirmed that the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) had provided a loan to Parliament for the rehabilitation of the building to be used as offices for Members of Parliament (MPs).
He said the rehabilitation work was initiated by the ministry until Parliament decided to take full responsibility of the work some years ago.
Mr Abongo explained that since it was the ministry which had personnel with the requisite knowledge to take charge of all such projects belonging to the state, it would serve a very good purpose if the ministry was allowed to handle the job.
Story: Lucy Adoma Yeboah & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE government has secured a $24-million loan for the completion of rehabilitation works on the State House Tower, popularly known as Job 600.
The Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr Hanna Louisa Bissiw, who made this known in Accra, said the project was expected to commence soon after a stakeholders’ discussion on the modalities for the completion of the project.
She said such talks could only start when Parliament resumed sitting in October, this year.
The magnificent and imposing Job 600 building was put up in 1965 for the hosting of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit, which was chaired by Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
When completed, the Job 600 building would provide office accommodation for all the 230 legislators.
Dr Bissiw said the execution of the project had become even more urgent as parliamentarians would soon engage research assistants to help them in their work.
She expressed displeasure at what she said had been an unfortunate spectacle at Parliament House where members virtually used their cars as offices.
Throwing more light on the project, the Chief Technical Advisor (Housing) at the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji A. Dawuni, said the ministry decided to go ahead with the rehabilitation work after an assessment and evaluation had revealed that it was strong enough to be used.
The Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing says it would have been appropriate if the ministry was given the responsibility to handle the rehabilitation works on the Job 600.
The ministry has, therefore, began discussions with the leadership of Parliament to be given the responsibility to supervise the project.
In interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Albert Abongo confirmed that the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) had provided a loan to Parliament for the rehabilitation of the building to be used as offices for Members of Parliament (MPs).
He said the rehabilitation work was initiated by the ministry until Parliament decided to take full responsibility of the work some years ago.
Mr Abongo explained that since it was the ministry which had personnel with the requisite knowledge to take charge of all such projects belonging to the state, it would serve a very good purpose if the ministry was allowed to handle the job.
(Nii Tackie-Comme denies allegation)
Page 15, Aug 11, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Odododiodoo, Mr Jonathan Nii Tackie-Comme, has denied an allegation levelled against him that he was behind attempts to halt the celebration of this year’s “Homowo” festival.
“I wish to state emphatically that there is no iota of truth in that statement,” he said at a press conference in Accra to deny the allegation.
Mr Tackie-Comme explained that for the past three years, there had been disputes over the Ga Paramount Stool, which had resulted in riots and intervention by the security agencies.
He said during the preparation towards the festival in 2008, similar incidents occurred and that compelled the then government to request the National Peace Council to intervene leading to the imposition of a ban on the sprinkling of traditional meal in some parts of Ga Mashie.
Mr Tackie-Comme stated that during this year’s rites of the ban on drumming, similar issues nearly cropped up.
According to the MP, reliable information gathered from the security agencies showed that such incidents could erupt during this year’s Homowo celebration.
“As the MP for the area, I have the legitimate right to ensure peace and protect the rights of my constituents and therefore wholeheartedly support the action taken by the Regional Security Council in the maintenance of peace during the Homowo celebrations,” he stated.
The MP reiterated that the decision of the REGSEC could not be taken in isolation as it did happen under the previous administration, adding that chances must not be taken for any mishap to occur as it did in some parts of the country sometime ago.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Odododiodoo, Mr Jonathan Nii Tackie-Comme, has denied an allegation levelled against him that he was behind attempts to halt the celebration of this year’s “Homowo” festival.
“I wish to state emphatically that there is no iota of truth in that statement,” he said at a press conference in Accra to deny the allegation.
Mr Tackie-Comme explained that for the past three years, there had been disputes over the Ga Paramount Stool, which had resulted in riots and intervention by the security agencies.
He said during the preparation towards the festival in 2008, similar incidents occurred and that compelled the then government to request the National Peace Council to intervene leading to the imposition of a ban on the sprinkling of traditional meal in some parts of Ga Mashie.
Mr Tackie-Comme stated that during this year’s rites of the ban on drumming, similar issues nearly cropped up.
According to the MP, reliable information gathered from the security agencies showed that such incidents could erupt during this year’s Homowo celebration.
“As the MP for the area, I have the legitimate right to ensure peace and protect the rights of my constituents and therefore wholeheartedly support the action taken by the Regional Security Council in the maintenance of peace during the Homowo celebrations,” he stated.
The MP reiterated that the decision of the REGSEC could not be taken in isolation as it did happen under the previous administration, adding that chances must not be taken for any mishap to occur as it did in some parts of the country sometime ago.
(MP, assembly to embark on agric programme)
Page 15, Aug 11, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, and the Ellembelle District Assembly are collaborating to institute an agricultural development programme that will provide employment for the youth in the area.
Briefing the Daily Graphic after a tour of his constituency, the MP stated that he was in touch with the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to support that development agenda to ensure its success.
"The agricultural sector in my area is capable of wiping out poverty, especially if we support it with the necessary resources and technology,” he said.
According to Mr Buah, agriculture could engage majority of the unemployed youth most of who were uneducated and lacked the skills and the requisite qualifications.
He said communities in the area were engaged in cash crop farming, including cocoa, rubber, coconut and oil palm plantations, adding, “Apart from that, the district farmers are also engaged in food crop production such as cassava and maize.”
The MP, however, stated that some of the youth in that area had not taken agriculture seriously and as such, they had over the years, distanced themselves from its activities.
“The youth in this area think that agriculture is not lucrative, but that perception will change henceforth because we are going to make agriculture attractive to them. We will support them with funds, technology and the moral courage to venture into this area for the sake of the development of Ellembele,” he added.
Outlining some of the crops and the areas to start with, Mr Buah mentioned rice farming, animal husbandry, mass maize production and vegetable cultivation among other crops that he believed the district would consider when the programme began.
Rice production, he stated, would be the first to be tackled before the other crops and animal husbandry were considered, he said.
He said, “You cannot eradicate poverty in an area where there is mass illiteracy, but you can address illiteracy if you tackle poverty. If you do not consider the agricultural sector as an option, you cannot succeed in arresting mass unemployment”.
Mr Buah expressed the hope that with the collaboration of the district assembly, about 2,000 youth in the area would be engaged, adding that “for me, the agricultural sector is the answer, because it is a huge potential area that we must use to create jobs”.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, and the Ellembelle District Assembly are collaborating to institute an agricultural development programme that will provide employment for the youth in the area.
Briefing the Daily Graphic after a tour of his constituency, the MP stated that he was in touch with the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to support that development agenda to ensure its success.
"The agricultural sector in my area is capable of wiping out poverty, especially if we support it with the necessary resources and technology,” he said.
According to Mr Buah, agriculture could engage majority of the unemployed youth most of who were uneducated and lacked the skills and the requisite qualifications.
He said communities in the area were engaged in cash crop farming, including cocoa, rubber, coconut and oil palm plantations, adding, “Apart from that, the district farmers are also engaged in food crop production such as cassava and maize.”
The MP, however, stated that some of the youth in that area had not taken agriculture seriously and as such, they had over the years, distanced themselves from its activities.
“The youth in this area think that agriculture is not lucrative, but that perception will change henceforth because we are going to make agriculture attractive to them. We will support them with funds, technology and the moral courage to venture into this area for the sake of the development of Ellembele,” he added.
Outlining some of the crops and the areas to start with, Mr Buah mentioned rice farming, animal husbandry, mass maize production and vegetable cultivation among other crops that he believed the district would consider when the programme began.
Rice production, he stated, would be the first to be tackled before the other crops and animal husbandry were considered, he said.
He said, “You cannot eradicate poverty in an area where there is mass illiteracy, but you can address illiteracy if you tackle poverty. If you do not consider the agricultural sector as an option, you cannot succeed in arresting mass unemployment”.
Mr Buah expressed the hope that with the collaboration of the district assembly, about 2,000 youth in the area would be engaged, adding that “for me, the agricultural sector is the answer, because it is a huge potential area that we must use to create jobs”.
(’All must embrace Nkrumah’s centenary celebration’)
Page 17, Aug 10, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has appealed to Ghanaians to put their political, religious, cultural and ethnic differences aside and embrace the centenary celebration of the First President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The centenary celebration of the birth of the late Dr Nkrumah is expected to be marked on September 21, this year.
Mr Buah, who is also a Deputy Minister of Energy, said the celebration must be seen as an event aimed at achieving national unity, reconciliation and peaceful co-existence among Ghanaians.
"Osagyefo was a pacesetter in the fight against discrimination, disunity and underdevelopment,” he said, adding that he was considered by many as a symbol of African unity.
Mr Buah, who was speaking to Daily Graphic after a tour of his constituency, said that notion was made clear even after Dr Nkrumah’s death when he was voted the African of the Millennium.
He said he toured the constituency to meet the chiefs and people of the area and deliberate on how to celebrate the occasion to honour Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah for his contribution towards the advancement of humanity, particularly Africans.
He said the centenary celebration would enable the youth to draw inspiration from the life and achievements of the founder of modern Ghana, whose selfless sacrifice won the country her independence.
Mr Buah said while the whole continent of Africa would be celebrating the life of Dr Nkrumah in different ways, Ghanaians must demonstrate to the rest of the world that Nkrumah stood for all.
“This is the time for us in Ghana to tell the story of the founder of our nation. We must be actively engaged in showcasing his achievements, his ideologies and above all the courage and the ‘can do’ spirit that characterised the lifestyle of Nkrumah, which gave birth to the spirit of nationalism at the time of independence,” he said.
The MP urged Ghanaians to be proud of the noble man, adding that even though he was no more, his legacy was everywhere throughout the world.
“That is the impeccable position bequeathed this nation by a legend," Mr Buah asserted.
He suggested a common platform that would bring the people of Nzema together to share and brainstorm on the need to make their children imbibe the culture and spirit of nationalism, unity and discipline.
That, according to him, would help address most of the challenges, such as illiteracy, poverty, diseases, indiscipline and lawlessness among other problems confronting the people of the area.
“Don’t sit in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi and expect change to take place in Nzema; your role and responsibility should bring about that desirable change. This is very important for the development of our area,” Mr Buah emphasised.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has appealed to Ghanaians to put their political, religious, cultural and ethnic differences aside and embrace the centenary celebration of the First President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The centenary celebration of the birth of the late Dr Nkrumah is expected to be marked on September 21, this year.
Mr Buah, who is also a Deputy Minister of Energy, said the celebration must be seen as an event aimed at achieving national unity, reconciliation and peaceful co-existence among Ghanaians.
"Osagyefo was a pacesetter in the fight against discrimination, disunity and underdevelopment,” he said, adding that he was considered by many as a symbol of African unity.
Mr Buah, who was speaking to Daily Graphic after a tour of his constituency, said that notion was made clear even after Dr Nkrumah’s death when he was voted the African of the Millennium.
He said he toured the constituency to meet the chiefs and people of the area and deliberate on how to celebrate the occasion to honour Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah for his contribution towards the advancement of humanity, particularly Africans.
He said the centenary celebration would enable the youth to draw inspiration from the life and achievements of the founder of modern Ghana, whose selfless sacrifice won the country her independence.
Mr Buah said while the whole continent of Africa would be celebrating the life of Dr Nkrumah in different ways, Ghanaians must demonstrate to the rest of the world that Nkrumah stood for all.
“This is the time for us in Ghana to tell the story of the founder of our nation. We must be actively engaged in showcasing his achievements, his ideologies and above all the courage and the ‘can do’ spirit that characterised the lifestyle of Nkrumah, which gave birth to the spirit of nationalism at the time of independence,” he said.
The MP urged Ghanaians to be proud of the noble man, adding that even though he was no more, his legacy was everywhere throughout the world.
“That is the impeccable position bequeathed this nation by a legend," Mr Buah asserted.
He suggested a common platform that would bring the people of Nzema together to share and brainstorm on the need to make their children imbibe the culture and spirit of nationalism, unity and discipline.
That, according to him, would help address most of the challenges, such as illiteracy, poverty, diseases, indiscipline and lawlessness among other problems confronting the people of the area.
“Don’t sit in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi and expect change to take place in Nzema; your role and responsibility should bring about that desirable change. This is very important for the development of our area,” Mr Buah emphasised.
Remains of Chereponi MP to be interred on Monday
Page 12, Aug 8, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE remains of the late Member of Parliament (MP) for Chereponi, Mrs Doris Asibi Seidu, will be interred at her home town, Chereponi in the Northern Region, on Monday, August 10, 2009.
The MP died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, after battling with a protracted illness, on Saturday, August 1, 2009.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, who informed the Daily Graphic, said already the family of the deceased had formally informed Parliament about her death.
A letter addressed to the Majority Leader by the husband of the deceased, Mr Abdul-Karim Tahiru, on behalf of the bereaved family said Mrs Seidu had been suffering from a hole-in-heart condition for the past year.
According to Mr Bagbin, Parliament had established a committee to liaise with the bereaved family in order to organise a befitting burial and funeral for the late MP.
He said the body would be flown from Accra to Tamale before being conveyed in an ambulance to her home town where she would be laid to rest in the Muslim tradition.
Mr Bagbin added that the Northern Regional Minister and district chief executives in the area had all been informed to assist in the organisation of the funeral.
Arrangements had been put in place to convey MPs and sympathisers to Chereponi to take part in the funeral activities, he said.
Mrs Seidu won the Chereponi seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2004 and retained it in the 2008 elections when she polled 9,188 out of the 17,559 valid votes cast, representing 53 per cent of the votes.
She served on the Education and Mines and Energy committees in Parliament.
Her death means a bye-election will be held to find a replacement.
The Chereponi Constituency is made up of two ethnic groups, the Chokosis and the Kokombas, and political analysts argue that the NPP would need to get a candidate, who, like the late MP, laid claim to both groups if it wants to retain the seat.
Mrs Seidu was a teacher and social worker by profession. She is survived by a husband and one child.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE remains of the late Member of Parliament (MP) for Chereponi, Mrs Doris Asibi Seidu, will be interred at her home town, Chereponi in the Northern Region, on Monday, August 10, 2009.
The MP died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, after battling with a protracted illness, on Saturday, August 1, 2009.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, who informed the Daily Graphic, said already the family of the deceased had formally informed Parliament about her death.
A letter addressed to the Majority Leader by the husband of the deceased, Mr Abdul-Karim Tahiru, on behalf of the bereaved family said Mrs Seidu had been suffering from a hole-in-heart condition for the past year.
According to Mr Bagbin, Parliament had established a committee to liaise with the bereaved family in order to organise a befitting burial and funeral for the late MP.
He said the body would be flown from Accra to Tamale before being conveyed in an ambulance to her home town where she would be laid to rest in the Muslim tradition.
Mr Bagbin added that the Northern Regional Minister and district chief executives in the area had all been informed to assist in the organisation of the funeral.
Arrangements had been put in place to convey MPs and sympathisers to Chereponi to take part in the funeral activities, he said.
Mrs Seidu won the Chereponi seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2004 and retained it in the 2008 elections when she polled 9,188 out of the 17,559 valid votes cast, representing 53 per cent of the votes.
She served on the Education and Mines and Energy committees in Parliament.
Her death means a bye-election will be held to find a replacement.
The Chereponi Constituency is made up of two ethnic groups, the Chokosis and the Kokombas, and political analysts argue that the NPP would need to get a candidate, who, like the late MP, laid claim to both groups if it wants to retain the seat.
Mrs Seidu was a teacher and social worker by profession. She is survived by a husband and one child.
Maintain professional standards, Minority urges Police
Page 13, Aug 1, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has urged the Ghana Police Service to continue to engage in what it terms the “democratic policing and professionalism devoid of unwarranted excesses” to forestall public displeasure and condemnation.
“We congratulate them for the introduction of handsome rewards for informants, and urge them to protect the identities of whistleblowers”.
In a statement issued and signed by the Minority Spokesperson for Defence and Interior, Mr William Ofori Boafo, the Minority said it did not want the police to adopt the situation where the former Principal Accountant of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr Adim Odoom, was unmasked for exposing the former Sports Minister, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak.
The statement, which was in apparent reaction to the recent press briefing about the country’s security, also called on the government to immediately address the welfare and logistical requirements of the security agencies.
The statement added that the Minority acknowledged the emerging resourcefulness of the Ghana Police Service, the dynamism of the Ghana Immigration Service and the irreversible determination of the Narcotics Control Board in the combat against armed robbery, money laundering, cyber fraud, cross border crimes and trafficking.
Commenting on issues raised in the Minister of the Interior’s press briefing, the statement noted that the minister lauded himself for the past glories of the security services.
The statement said the minister was unable to indicate what outstanding and significant thing the NDC administration had done within the past seven months in office which had enabled the security agencies to perform creditably.
“He did not express regret about the freeze on fresh intake to strengthen and augment the capacity of the police; he did not indicate what had been done to solve the stark accommodation problems of the police; neither was he explicit regarding the upgrading of equipment to make the police more combat ready”.
The Minority stated that the minister failed to touch on the broken down vehicles and motorcycles at the various garages which were desperately crying for repairs.
The statement wondered why the minister also failed to address the continuous harassment of supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) by NDC supporters, and cited incidents at Sankore in the Brong Ahafo Region and the recent mayhem at the Kokomba Market to buttress his point.
It also questioned the basis for the mass transfer in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Police Service as well as the retrenchment of about 40 personnel of the National Security apparatus without any just or fair cause.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has urged the Ghana Police Service to continue to engage in what it terms the “democratic policing and professionalism devoid of unwarranted excesses” to forestall public displeasure and condemnation.
“We congratulate them for the introduction of handsome rewards for informants, and urge them to protect the identities of whistleblowers”.
In a statement issued and signed by the Minority Spokesperson for Defence and Interior, Mr William Ofori Boafo, the Minority said it did not want the police to adopt the situation where the former Principal Accountant of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr Adim Odoom, was unmasked for exposing the former Sports Minister, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak.
The statement, which was in apparent reaction to the recent press briefing about the country’s security, also called on the government to immediately address the welfare and logistical requirements of the security agencies.
The statement added that the Minority acknowledged the emerging resourcefulness of the Ghana Police Service, the dynamism of the Ghana Immigration Service and the irreversible determination of the Narcotics Control Board in the combat against armed robbery, money laundering, cyber fraud, cross border crimes and trafficking.
Commenting on issues raised in the Minister of the Interior’s press briefing, the statement noted that the minister lauded himself for the past glories of the security services.
The statement said the minister was unable to indicate what outstanding and significant thing the NDC administration had done within the past seven months in office which had enabled the security agencies to perform creditably.
“He did not express regret about the freeze on fresh intake to strengthen and augment the capacity of the police; he did not indicate what had been done to solve the stark accommodation problems of the police; neither was he explicit regarding the upgrading of equipment to make the police more combat ready”.
The Minority stated that the minister failed to touch on the broken down vehicles and motorcycles at the various garages which were desperately crying for repairs.
The statement wondered why the minister also failed to address the continuous harassment of supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) by NDC supporters, and cited incidents at Sankore in the Brong Ahafo Region and the recent mayhem at the Kokomba Market to buttress his point.
It also questioned the basis for the mass transfer in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Police Service as well as the retrenchment of about 40 personnel of the National Security apparatus without any just or fair cause.
Moves to review ex-gratia exercise in futility
Page 16, July 23, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has described the government’s efforts at reviewing the emoluments payable to beneficiaries of Article 71 of the Constitution, as determined by the Chinnery Hesse Committee as an “exercise in futility”.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic about the rejection of the Chinnery Hesse Committee recommendations as the basis for the determination of those emoluments, the Minority Leader stated that President Mills “cannot arrogate to himself the functions of the former President and the former Parliament”.
He, therefore, described the action of the President in setting up the Ishmael Yamson Committee as unconstitutional and questioned how an administrative committee could overturn a decision of Parliament.
He maintained that it was not the business of the current government to determine the emoluments of former President J.A. Kufuor and Members of Parliament (MPs) of the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, and described any such action as a “de facto” action.
“Any attempt to do that will be a breach of the Constitution”, he said, and indicated that the Minority would study the report of the Ishmael Yamson Committee, which President J. E. A. Mills set up to review the Chinnery Hesse Committee’s report to know their next line of action.
Asked whether the Minority would go to court to seek justice, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said that he was yet to get a copy of the report of the Ishmael Yamson Committee, adding that “we shall cross the bridge when we get to the river”.
As to why the Chinnery Hesse Committee’s report was adopted under a certificate of urgency during the last sitting of the previous Parliament, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said it was not a misplacement for Parliament to do so and cited a number of papers and loans that had gone through such a process.
He said nobody could dispute the fact that the recommendations of the Chinnery Hesse’s Committee were adopted by the previous Parliament, explaining that MPs in the previous Parliament had a collective responsibility to accept the decision they took .
On the way forward, the Minority Leader stated that “the bottom-line is the ability to pay” and called for engagement between Parliament and the Presidency rather than the latter taking actions which were unconstitutional.
“The action of the government is most unfortunate and should not be entertained”, he maintained.
The Daily Graphic reported on the front page of its Tuesday, July 21, 2009 edition that the Ishmael Yamson committee had declared that the Chinnery Hesse Committee report could not be the basis for determining those emoluments.
The report stated that there were two different reports, one of which was submitted in June 2008, while the other was submitted in December, 2008.
The paper stated that the Ishmael Yamson Committee report said it could not establish which of the two reports was purportedly approved by ex-President Kufuor and the Parliament at the time.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has described the government’s efforts at reviewing the emoluments payable to beneficiaries of Article 71 of the Constitution, as determined by the Chinnery Hesse Committee as an “exercise in futility”.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic about the rejection of the Chinnery Hesse Committee recommendations as the basis for the determination of those emoluments, the Minority Leader stated that President Mills “cannot arrogate to himself the functions of the former President and the former Parliament”.
He, therefore, described the action of the President in setting up the Ishmael Yamson Committee as unconstitutional and questioned how an administrative committee could overturn a decision of Parliament.
He maintained that it was not the business of the current government to determine the emoluments of former President J.A. Kufuor and Members of Parliament (MPs) of the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, and described any such action as a “de facto” action.
“Any attempt to do that will be a breach of the Constitution”, he said, and indicated that the Minority would study the report of the Ishmael Yamson Committee, which President J. E. A. Mills set up to review the Chinnery Hesse Committee’s report to know their next line of action.
Asked whether the Minority would go to court to seek justice, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said that he was yet to get a copy of the report of the Ishmael Yamson Committee, adding that “we shall cross the bridge when we get to the river”.
As to why the Chinnery Hesse Committee’s report was adopted under a certificate of urgency during the last sitting of the previous Parliament, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said it was not a misplacement for Parliament to do so and cited a number of papers and loans that had gone through such a process.
He said nobody could dispute the fact that the recommendations of the Chinnery Hesse’s Committee were adopted by the previous Parliament, explaining that MPs in the previous Parliament had a collective responsibility to accept the decision they took .
On the way forward, the Minority Leader stated that “the bottom-line is the ability to pay” and called for engagement between Parliament and the Presidency rather than the latter taking actions which were unconstitutional.
“The action of the government is most unfortunate and should not be entertained”, he maintained.
The Daily Graphic reported on the front page of its Tuesday, July 21, 2009 edition that the Ishmael Yamson committee had declared that the Chinnery Hesse Committee report could not be the basis for determining those emoluments.
The report stated that there were two different reports, one of which was submitted in June 2008, while the other was submitted in December, 2008.
The paper stated that the Ishmael Yamson Committee report said it could not establish which of the two reports was purportedly approved by ex-President Kufuor and the Parliament at the time.
Ministry completes electrification project
Page 16, July 17, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ministry of Energy has completed the electrification project at Mfrekrom in the Asunafo South District of the Brong Ahafo Region under the ongoing $90 million project package being executed by the China International Water & Electric Corporation.
A Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah who informed Parliament about the completion of the project, also said that installation work for high voltage, low voltage and substation works had also been completed at Anwiam, also in the district while customer service connections were ongoing under the Self-Help Project-4 Project.
The deputy minister gave the information when he appeared before Parliament on Wednesday to answer questions posed by a number of MPs relating to the operations of the ministry.
The Member of Parliament for Asunafo South, Mr George Yaw Boakye had asked the minister when electricity would be extended to Fawoman, Beposo, Kokooso, Agyeikrom, Adwuman, Asawinso, 1000 Acres, Tetekrom, Druwaakrom and Alavanyo.
He also asked the minister to know when service wires would be provided for Kamirekrom, Adomakokrom, Mfrekrom, Anwiam, Camp No. 1, Asempaneye, Denyase and Abuom.
Mr Buah stated that high voltage, low voltage and substation works had been completed at Abuom and Camp No. 1 under the SHEP-4 programme explaining that all electrification projects under the programme would be completed before the end of the year.
Answering another question posed by the MP for Amansie West, Ms Grace Addo, Mr Buah explained that although communities in the Amansie West Constituency such as Nipankerermia, Nyamebekyere, Banko, Pakyi-Keriago, Kwahu and Domi Beposo had been earmarked to benefit under the SHEP-4, they did not form part of the ongoing SHEP-4 Phase 1 and the gave assurance that they would be considered in the subsequent phases of the programme.
Other MPs who also asked the deputy minister questions include Mr Frank Boakye Agyen (Effiduase Asokore) and Mr Sammy Bavug Wusa (Damango/Daboya).
Answering these questions, Mr Buah stated that communities which had been earmarked under the various electrification programmes being implemented by the ministry would be hooked to the national grid while those who did not form part of the ongoing projects would be considered in subsequent programmes.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ministry of Energy has completed the electrification project at Mfrekrom in the Asunafo South District of the Brong Ahafo Region under the ongoing $90 million project package being executed by the China International Water & Electric Corporation.
A Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah who informed Parliament about the completion of the project, also said that installation work for high voltage, low voltage and substation works had also been completed at Anwiam, also in the district while customer service connections were ongoing under the Self-Help Project-4 Project.
The deputy minister gave the information when he appeared before Parliament on Wednesday to answer questions posed by a number of MPs relating to the operations of the ministry.
The Member of Parliament for Asunafo South, Mr George Yaw Boakye had asked the minister when electricity would be extended to Fawoman, Beposo, Kokooso, Agyeikrom, Adwuman, Asawinso, 1000 Acres, Tetekrom, Druwaakrom and Alavanyo.
He also asked the minister to know when service wires would be provided for Kamirekrom, Adomakokrom, Mfrekrom, Anwiam, Camp No. 1, Asempaneye, Denyase and Abuom.
Mr Buah stated that high voltage, low voltage and substation works had been completed at Abuom and Camp No. 1 under the SHEP-4 programme explaining that all electrification projects under the programme would be completed before the end of the year.
Answering another question posed by the MP for Amansie West, Ms Grace Addo, Mr Buah explained that although communities in the Amansie West Constituency such as Nipankerermia, Nyamebekyere, Banko, Pakyi-Keriago, Kwahu and Domi Beposo had been earmarked to benefit under the SHEP-4, they did not form part of the ongoing SHEP-4 Phase 1 and the gave assurance that they would be considered in the subsequent phases of the programme.
Other MPs who also asked the deputy minister questions include Mr Frank Boakye Agyen (Effiduase Asokore) and Mr Sammy Bavug Wusa (Damango/Daboya).
Answering these questions, Mr Buah stated that communities which had been earmarked under the various electrification programmes being implemented by the ministry would be hooked to the national grid while those who did not form part of the ongoing projects would be considered in subsequent programmes.
Govt is ready to investigate cases of dismissals — Duffuor
Govt is ready investigate dismissals-Duffuor
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Dufuor, yesterday indicated his readiness to investigate allegations of dismissals of some members of the mass cocoa spraying gangs in certain beneficiary districts in the country.
The minister gave the promise when he appeared before the House to answer a question posed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asunafo North, Mr Robert Sarfo-Mensah, on the status of the existing spraying gangs involved in the cocoa spraying exercise.
In his follow-up questions, the MP alleged that about 3,000 people taking part in the exercise had been dismissed.
His allegation was collaborated by the MP for Dormaa West, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, who also alleged that about 800 members of the spraying gangs in his constituency had been dismissed
Although the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyie-Mensah-Bonsu, and his deputy, Mr Ambrose Dery, called for an investigation to be conducted by the House since the matter involved the livelihood of the victims, the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, ruled that it was enough for the Minister of Finance to go into the matter.
Answering the questions, Dr Dufuor indicated that the Disease and Pest Control Programme, otherwise known as ‘mass spraying’, ran two programmes to control both blackpod and capsid diseases.
The blackpod programme involved spraying with recommended fungicide to control severe form of blackpod disease while the capsid programme involved spraying to control capsids on cocoa.
As of the end of 2008, the programme had 5,893 spraying gangs comprising 2,771 directly involved in the blackpod control while 3,122 were engaged in the capsid control.
Dr Dufuor told the House that an additional 100 spraying gangs had been created this year, bringing the total gangs to 5,993, explaining that the status of the spraying gangs remained unchanged.
He said that the mass spraying against the blackpod started since May 18, this year with the existing gangs together with the newly-created one while the Capsid programme was scheduled to start on August 3, 2009.
He emphasised that at the beginning of every season, the District Task Force was charged with the oversight responsibility of the spraying programmes in each district to review the performances of each gang for the previous year.
Dr Dufuor explained that appropriate disciplinary actions were taken against any misconduct such as theft of chemicals, misuse of spraying machines, collection of money from farmers for work done, absenteeism and vacation of post.
He said in some cases the entire gang or some of it against whom adverse reports were made were replaced, adding that these reviews and changes were practiced in the previous administration on a regular basis.
The finance minister stated that currently 72 districts were benefiting from the exercise, and gave the assurance to the House that the Ghana Cocoa Board would continue to assist hardworking cocoa farmers so that the target of achieving 1,000 tonnes in the medium term was realised.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Dufuor, yesterday indicated his readiness to investigate allegations of dismissals of some members of the mass cocoa spraying gangs in certain beneficiary districts in the country.
The minister gave the promise when he appeared before the House to answer a question posed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asunafo North, Mr Robert Sarfo-Mensah, on the status of the existing spraying gangs involved in the cocoa spraying exercise.
In his follow-up questions, the MP alleged that about 3,000 people taking part in the exercise had been dismissed.
His allegation was collaborated by the MP for Dormaa West, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, who also alleged that about 800 members of the spraying gangs in his constituency had been dismissed
Although the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyie-Mensah-Bonsu, and his deputy, Mr Ambrose Dery, called for an investigation to be conducted by the House since the matter involved the livelihood of the victims, the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, ruled that it was enough for the Minister of Finance to go into the matter.
Answering the questions, Dr Dufuor indicated that the Disease and Pest Control Programme, otherwise known as ‘mass spraying’, ran two programmes to control both blackpod and capsid diseases.
The blackpod programme involved spraying with recommended fungicide to control severe form of blackpod disease while the capsid programme involved spraying to control capsids on cocoa.
As of the end of 2008, the programme had 5,893 spraying gangs comprising 2,771 directly involved in the blackpod control while 3,122 were engaged in the capsid control.
Dr Dufuor told the House that an additional 100 spraying gangs had been created this year, bringing the total gangs to 5,993, explaining that the status of the spraying gangs remained unchanged.
He said that the mass spraying against the blackpod started since May 18, this year with the existing gangs together with the newly-created one while the Capsid programme was scheduled to start on August 3, 2009.
He emphasised that at the beginning of every season, the District Task Force was charged with the oversight responsibility of the spraying programmes in each district to review the performances of each gang for the previous year.
Dr Dufuor explained that appropriate disciplinary actions were taken against any misconduct such as theft of chemicals, misuse of spraying machines, collection of money from farmers for work done, absenteeism and vacation of post.
He said in some cases the entire gang or some of it against whom adverse reports were made were replaced, adding that these reviews and changes were practiced in the previous administration on a regular basis.
The finance minister stated that currently 72 districts were benefiting from the exercise, and gave the assurance to the House that the Ghana Cocoa Board would continue to assist hardworking cocoa farmers so that the target of achieving 1,000 tonnes in the medium term was realised.
Parliament approves $597 million credit
Page 13, July 18, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT has approved a $597 million credit agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Monetary Fund to provide Balance of Payments (BoP) support for the period between July 2009 and July 2012.
The facility among others is being procured from the IMF to support the government’s efforts to address the economic imbalances, increase import cover and also stabilise the economy.
The facility known as the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility has a 0.5 per cent interest rate and a 10-year term with a grace period of five years.
A report of the Finance Committee of Parliament noted that the global financial crisis had contributed to put pressure on the country’s balance of payments as private remittances had slowed down.
It added that foreign direct investment had assumed non-encouraging outlook whilst official access to global market financing had become extremely limited.
The committee chaired by Mr James Klutse Avedzi, observed in its report that reforms under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) would centre on measures to substantially raise revenue to make room for increased spending and develop needs.
The report said the assessment of the progress of the implementation of the facility would be done through the use of quantitative performance criteria with reviews of the product to be conducted twice each year.
According to the report, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning informed the committee that although the facility covered a period of three years, the ministry was arranging with the IMF to frontload the facility so that more funds could be received this year relative to the two remaining years.
But the Minority raised some concerns with some conditions attached to the facility stressing that they would impose hardships on Ghanaians.
According to the report, as part of the measures to achieve additional fiscal savings, the government was to introduce legislation to establish a National Stabilisation Levy (NSL) comprising an additional five per cent profit tax, effective through end 2010 and applicable to companies in the banking, insurance and other financial services, communications, mining and brewing sectors. “Expected yield of this tax is GHC11 million for the remainder of 2009 and GHC22 million or more for the full year of 2010,” the report said.
The report added that under the energy sector reform, the committee observed that “government intends to retain the bi-weekly price adjustments for petroleum products which are designed to ensure cost recovery for the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and bulk importers and to adjust electricity pricing by end-2009 to bring the average tariff to cost recovery levels”.
The report noted that some members of the committee suggested that the populace be educated by the government on the fact that although credit facilities from the IMF and other multi-laterals helped the country to stabilise the economy, they also came with costs such as full cost recovery of the energy sector.
The House also approved a $12 million loan agreement between the SG-SSB Limited and the Government of Ghana, (acting through the parliamentary service) to be used to purchase vehicles for Members of Parliament.
According to the agreement, the interest rate applicable shall be the Bank’s base rate currently at 25.75 per cent per annum.
The facility, which is being procured for the MPs has the government of Ghana as the guarantor,
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT has approved a $597 million credit agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Monetary Fund to provide Balance of Payments (BoP) support for the period between July 2009 and July 2012.
The facility among others is being procured from the IMF to support the government’s efforts to address the economic imbalances, increase import cover and also stabilise the economy.
The facility known as the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility has a 0.5 per cent interest rate and a 10-year term with a grace period of five years.
A report of the Finance Committee of Parliament noted that the global financial crisis had contributed to put pressure on the country’s balance of payments as private remittances had slowed down.
It added that foreign direct investment had assumed non-encouraging outlook whilst official access to global market financing had become extremely limited.
The committee chaired by Mr James Klutse Avedzi, observed in its report that reforms under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) would centre on measures to substantially raise revenue to make room for increased spending and develop needs.
The report said the assessment of the progress of the implementation of the facility would be done through the use of quantitative performance criteria with reviews of the product to be conducted twice each year.
According to the report, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning informed the committee that although the facility covered a period of three years, the ministry was arranging with the IMF to frontload the facility so that more funds could be received this year relative to the two remaining years.
But the Minority raised some concerns with some conditions attached to the facility stressing that they would impose hardships on Ghanaians.
According to the report, as part of the measures to achieve additional fiscal savings, the government was to introduce legislation to establish a National Stabilisation Levy (NSL) comprising an additional five per cent profit tax, effective through end 2010 and applicable to companies in the banking, insurance and other financial services, communications, mining and brewing sectors. “Expected yield of this tax is GHC11 million for the remainder of 2009 and GHC22 million or more for the full year of 2010,” the report said.
The report added that under the energy sector reform, the committee observed that “government intends to retain the bi-weekly price adjustments for petroleum products which are designed to ensure cost recovery for the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and bulk importers and to adjust electricity pricing by end-2009 to bring the average tariff to cost recovery levels”.
The report noted that some members of the committee suggested that the populace be educated by the government on the fact that although credit facilities from the IMF and other multi-laterals helped the country to stabilise the economy, they also came with costs such as full cost recovery of the energy sector.
The House also approved a $12 million loan agreement between the SG-SSB Limited and the Government of Ghana, (acting through the parliamentary service) to be used to purchase vehicles for Members of Parliament.
According to the agreement, the interest rate applicable shall be the Bank’s base rate currently at 25.75 per cent per annum.
The facility, which is being procured for the MPs has the government of Ghana as the guarantor,
Encourage investments that lead to diversification
Page 16, July 21, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Paul Acquah, has charged governments in the sub-region to encourage investments that will lead to the diversification of their economies and provide safeguards to the vulnerable segments of the society.
He noted that it was only such investments that would maintain macro-economic stability in the midst of the global financial crisis.
Dr Acaquah made the suggestion in an address read on his behalf at the opening of a five-day regional forum on the global financial crisis for 35 selected parliamentarians from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Liberia, in Accra yesterday.
The forum, which is being organised by the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), is to acquaint the legislators with the fundamental causes of the global crisis and the effects on the economies in the sub-region.
It would also build and strengthen the capacity of the participants to assess, monitor and evaluate stimulus packages in the annual budgets and deepen their understanding of monetary and fiscal options to insulate African economies from the harsh effects of the crisis.
Dr Acquah, whose address was read on his behalf by the Head of Research of the Bank of Ghana, Mr Lawrence Nketiah, noted that maintaining macro-economic stability was critical to ensure that the domestic economy remained attractive to both domestic and foreign investors.
“The challenge is how to sustain stability and mitigate falling domestic demand within the constraints posed by the increasingly scarce external inflows”, he said, explaining that that “must be done in the context of implementing policies consistent with medium-term stability and development goals”.
He called for enhanced vigilance and interaction with the domestic financial system to ensure adherence to supervisory guidelines to enhance information flow between banks and the central bank.
Dr Acquah stated that while legislators could not contain the global crisis, they could play a role in ensuring that the financial systems contained the right incentives, and were properly regulated.
He added that the legislators could play a critical role in ensuring that the effects of the crisis on economic growth and poverty in the sub-region were limited to the extent that the current crisis did not undermine the improvements that had been made over the years.
In his address, the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu North, Mr James Klutse Avedzi, said it was important for legislators within the sub-region to meet from time to time to share ideas and experiences as it pertained in their countries.
He said the selection of Ghana as the venue for the forum was appropriate since it was the only country in the West Africa Monetary Zone that failed to achieve any of the four criteria in 2008 for the introduction of the single currency, the ECO.
For his part, the Director-General of WAIFEM, Professor Akpan Ekpo,stated that the meeting would provide a regional forum for the exchange of ideas and sharing of ideas and experiences on national economic management by the legislators.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Paul Acquah, has charged governments in the sub-region to encourage investments that will lead to the diversification of their economies and provide safeguards to the vulnerable segments of the society.
He noted that it was only such investments that would maintain macro-economic stability in the midst of the global financial crisis.
Dr Acaquah made the suggestion in an address read on his behalf at the opening of a five-day regional forum on the global financial crisis for 35 selected parliamentarians from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Liberia, in Accra yesterday.
The forum, which is being organised by the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), is to acquaint the legislators with the fundamental causes of the global crisis and the effects on the economies in the sub-region.
It would also build and strengthen the capacity of the participants to assess, monitor and evaluate stimulus packages in the annual budgets and deepen their understanding of monetary and fiscal options to insulate African economies from the harsh effects of the crisis.
Dr Acquah, whose address was read on his behalf by the Head of Research of the Bank of Ghana, Mr Lawrence Nketiah, noted that maintaining macro-economic stability was critical to ensure that the domestic economy remained attractive to both domestic and foreign investors.
“The challenge is how to sustain stability and mitigate falling domestic demand within the constraints posed by the increasingly scarce external inflows”, he said, explaining that that “must be done in the context of implementing policies consistent with medium-term stability and development goals”.
He called for enhanced vigilance and interaction with the domestic financial system to ensure adherence to supervisory guidelines to enhance information flow between banks and the central bank.
Dr Acquah stated that while legislators could not contain the global crisis, they could play a role in ensuring that the financial systems contained the right incentives, and were properly regulated.
He added that the legislators could play a critical role in ensuring that the effects of the crisis on economic growth and poverty in the sub-region were limited to the extent that the current crisis did not undermine the improvements that had been made over the years.
In his address, the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu North, Mr James Klutse Avedzi, said it was important for legislators within the sub-region to meet from time to time to share ideas and experiences as it pertained in their countries.
He said the selection of Ghana as the venue for the forum was appropriate since it was the only country in the West Africa Monetary Zone that failed to achieve any of the four criteria in 2008 for the introduction of the single currency, the ECO.
For his part, the Director-General of WAIFEM, Professor Akpan Ekpo,stated that the meeting would provide a regional forum for the exchange of ideas and sharing of ideas and experiences on national economic management by the legislators.
Govt contracts IDA loan for water projects
Page 17, July 21, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE government has contracted a $15 million loan facility from the International Development Association (IDA) for the construction of 11 new small towns water systems.
In addition, 22 ongoing small towns water supply systems are to be completed with part of the loan facility.
The Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Project (STWSSP) is currently being implemented in six regions; namely Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Central and Western.
The other four regions were not included because at the time of the inception of the project, they were already benefiting from similar projects sponsored by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).
Parliament last Friday ratified the loan agreement for the construction of the 11 new projects and the completion of the ongoing 22. They are being implemented by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) under STWSSP.
A report of the Finance Committee of Parliament chaired by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu North, Mr James Klutse Avedzi indicated that in the past decade, small towns in the country had received attention as a result of the creation of the CWSA and subsequent implementation of a series of water and sanitation programmes.
The STWSSP is the second phase of Adaptable Programme Loan (APL) that emphasised decentralised rural water supply and sanitation delivery.
The first phase of the APL, which ended in December, 2004, successfully provided potable water to over 750,000 rural population.
According to the report, the implementation of the STWSSP was part of government’s efforts in providing access to potable water supply and improved sanitation in small towns and also a contribution to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals’ (MDG) target of 78 per cent coverage in the water sector by 2015.
The $15 million credit facility would, therefore, help to support the completion of 22 ongoing small towns water supply and several sanitation facilities with $6 million and to provide 11 additional small towns water systems with $9 million.
The report said that the finance committee was informed by a technical team from the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing that 40 small towns water systems had already been completed under the project while 22 were ongoing with the additional 11 to be implemented under the loan facility.
Meanwhile, the House also gave its approval for another IDA loan of $10 million to support the implementation of the second National Resources and Environmental Governance (NREG) development policy operation.
The NREG is a multi-donor sector budget support programme aimed at preventing the degradation of the country’s natural resources including the forestry, biodiversity and the mining sectors as well as the environmental protection agencies.
The programme will enhance Ghana’s growth potential by improving upon the policy development for natural resource extraction and in addition, promote environmental protection activities and efforts towards minimising the export of illegally acquired natural resources, especially wood.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE government has contracted a $15 million loan facility from the International Development Association (IDA) for the construction of 11 new small towns water systems.
In addition, 22 ongoing small towns water supply systems are to be completed with part of the loan facility.
The Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Project (STWSSP) is currently being implemented in six regions; namely Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Central and Western.
The other four regions were not included because at the time of the inception of the project, they were already benefiting from similar projects sponsored by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).
Parliament last Friday ratified the loan agreement for the construction of the 11 new projects and the completion of the ongoing 22. They are being implemented by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) under STWSSP.
A report of the Finance Committee of Parliament chaired by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu North, Mr James Klutse Avedzi indicated that in the past decade, small towns in the country had received attention as a result of the creation of the CWSA and subsequent implementation of a series of water and sanitation programmes.
The STWSSP is the second phase of Adaptable Programme Loan (APL) that emphasised decentralised rural water supply and sanitation delivery.
The first phase of the APL, which ended in December, 2004, successfully provided potable water to over 750,000 rural population.
According to the report, the implementation of the STWSSP was part of government’s efforts in providing access to potable water supply and improved sanitation in small towns and also a contribution to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals’ (MDG) target of 78 per cent coverage in the water sector by 2015.
The $15 million credit facility would, therefore, help to support the completion of 22 ongoing small towns water supply and several sanitation facilities with $6 million and to provide 11 additional small towns water systems with $9 million.
The report said that the finance committee was informed by a technical team from the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing that 40 small towns water systems had already been completed under the project while 22 were ongoing with the additional 11 to be implemented under the loan facility.
Meanwhile, the House also gave its approval for another IDA loan of $10 million to support the implementation of the second National Resources and Environmental Governance (NREG) development policy operation.
The NREG is a multi-donor sector budget support programme aimed at preventing the degradation of the country’s natural resources including the forestry, biodiversity and the mining sectors as well as the environmental protection agencies.
The programme will enhance Ghana’s growth potential by improving upon the policy development for natural resource extraction and in addition, promote environmental protection activities and efforts towards minimising the export of illegally acquired natural resources, especially wood.
PURC DARES ECG,NED Over debt recovery methods
Frontpage, July 30, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has challenged the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Department (NED) of the Volta River Authority over methods being adopted by the energy companies to recover debts from customers.
The issue has put the PURC and the energy providers on a collision course over the payment of accumulated bills by consumers of electricity in the country as the ECG, through its Public Affairs boss, says it is preparing an appropriate response to a statement issued by the PURC over the issue.
The imminent showdown might be the only solution following a press release by the PURC informing the general public and all consumers of electricity that the two companies cannot recover the cost of service should they fail to bill them for a period of 12 months.
The PURC is an independent body set up to regulate and oversee the provision of the highest quality of electricity and water services to consumers.
In the release issued in Accra yesterday, the PURC indicated that it had noted with concern the practice where the ECG and the NED delayed in demanding payment for services rendered to customers of electricity.
However, Ms Gloria Duah-Sakyi, Head of the Public Affairs Department of the ECG, told the Daily Graphic that “we have received a copy of the release of the PURC. We are studying the contents and will come out in due course with our response”.
The press release of the PURC, signed by its Executive Secretary, explained that ECG/NED waited for several months before presenting consumers with a huge bill, normally termed “the Final Bill”, which arises when a consumer’s meter was changed from credit to the Pre-Payment Metering System.
The PURC, therefore, informed the general public and all consumers of electricity that the two companies could not recover the cost of service should they fail to bill them for a period of 12 months.
It explained further that under the Electricity Supply and Distribution (Technical and Operational) Rules (L.I. 1816), “where a supplier (ECG/NED) fails to bill a customer for a period of 12 months, the supplier cannot recover the cost of the service”.
The cost of the service could only be recovered only when it is established that the delay in the billing occurred without negligence on the part of the supplier or due to the customer’s actions.
“The PURC is appealing to customers of the ECG/NED to take note of these regulations, insist on their rights and report violations to the commission,” the release said.
Clause 9 of L.I. 1816 states thus: Where a supplier’s right to claim the cost of service to the consumer is not vitiated by failure on the part of the supplier to bill the consumer for a period of 12 months, the supplier shall recover the accrued cost of service by (a) giving the customer the option to pay the shortfall by an instalment payment plan and (b) not charging interest on the amount.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has challenged the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Department (NED) of the Volta River Authority over methods being adopted by the energy companies to recover debts from customers.
The issue has put the PURC and the energy providers on a collision course over the payment of accumulated bills by consumers of electricity in the country as the ECG, through its Public Affairs boss, says it is preparing an appropriate response to a statement issued by the PURC over the issue.
The imminent showdown might be the only solution following a press release by the PURC informing the general public and all consumers of electricity that the two companies cannot recover the cost of service should they fail to bill them for a period of 12 months.
The PURC is an independent body set up to regulate and oversee the provision of the highest quality of electricity and water services to consumers.
In the release issued in Accra yesterday, the PURC indicated that it had noted with concern the practice where the ECG and the NED delayed in demanding payment for services rendered to customers of electricity.
However, Ms Gloria Duah-Sakyi, Head of the Public Affairs Department of the ECG, told the Daily Graphic that “we have received a copy of the release of the PURC. We are studying the contents and will come out in due course with our response”.
The press release of the PURC, signed by its Executive Secretary, explained that ECG/NED waited for several months before presenting consumers with a huge bill, normally termed “the Final Bill”, which arises when a consumer’s meter was changed from credit to the Pre-Payment Metering System.
The PURC, therefore, informed the general public and all consumers of electricity that the two companies could not recover the cost of service should they fail to bill them for a period of 12 months.
It explained further that under the Electricity Supply and Distribution (Technical and Operational) Rules (L.I. 1816), “where a supplier (ECG/NED) fails to bill a customer for a period of 12 months, the supplier cannot recover the cost of the service”.
The cost of the service could only be recovered only when it is established that the delay in the billing occurred without negligence on the part of the supplier or due to the customer’s actions.
“The PURC is appealing to customers of the ECG/NED to take note of these regulations, insist on their rights and report violations to the commission,” the release said.
Clause 9 of L.I. 1816 states thus: Where a supplier’s right to claim the cost of service to the consumer is not vitiated by failure on the part of the supplier to bill the consumer for a period of 12 months, the supplier shall recover the accrued cost of service by (a) giving the customer the option to pay the shortfall by an instalment payment plan and (b) not charging interest on the amount.
Committee lauds gender budgetting initiative
Page 11, July 28, 2009
Article: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Parliamentary Committee on Gender and Children has resolved to scrutinise future budgets of the country to ensure that the government’s policy of mainstreaming gender issues within national policies and programmes was given effect through the budgetary process.
The committee noted that it was through such actions that gender issues could be allocated adequate funding for effective programmes to be embarked upon for the achievement of the objectives of such gender issue.
Members of the committee gave their support to gender budgeting at the end of a three-day workshop at Koforidua during which gender activists briefed them about the need for budgets to address gender issues in the national budgets.
The workshop was organised and sponsored by the Parliamentary Centre, a Canadian non-governmental organisation under its Parliamentary Committee Support Project II.
The resolve of members of the committee was informed by the fact that national budgets encompass all issues of national priority and concern and there is no separate budget statement devoted to gender and women issues.
Again, the strategic and policy orientations under-pining budgets do not reflect interests and concerns based on gender and the best way of meeting the aspirations and needs of the majority of men, women, boys and girls was to engender budgets.
Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB), therefore focuses on the differences between women, men, girls and boys as well as the differences between the poor, rural, urban and the young and the old as well.
According to gender experts, a number of studies have come with empirical evidence that women in Ghana are poorer and more vulnerable than their male counterparts.
Women have less access to paid employment, income-generating activities, healthcare and education among other social and economic opportunities.
Although attempts have been made to develop responsive policy measures in the national strategic agenda such as the Vision 2020 and the GPRS I and II, not much have been done to address these inequalities.
Gender experts have, therefore challenged the Parliamentary Gender Committee to use its oversight responsibility to come out with a league table as to which of the ministries is responsive to gender issues.
Speaking at the workshop on the role of the Ministry of Women and Children on Gender Budgeting, the Acting Director of the Department of Women, Mrs Francesca Pobee-Hayford stated that the 2009-2011 budget guidelines/circulars clearly indicated that all ministries should start gathering sex disaggregated data as part of preparation towards their budgets.
She identified the lack of critical mass of technical people with the knowledge and skills to support the initiative, lack of ownership of the initiative and non-availability of sex disaggregated data among others as challenges confronting the programme.
For his part, Mr Fusheini Adams of the Parliamentary Centre called on both Parliament and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning effectively play their respective roles to ensure that ministries, departments and agencies (MDA) do proper planning and spending so that the scarce national resources were used to reduce poverty.
He stated that there was the need for more resources to be spent to where they were needed to address gender issues.
Mrs Gifty Ohene-Konadu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim South and Ranking Member of the committee in her remarks noted that programmes should be designed to popularised the GRB concept.
The Chairman of the committee and MP for Juaboso, Mr Sampson Ahi thanked the Parliamentary Centre for their assistance and said that members of the committee had been sensitised during the workshop to enable them play their oversight role in ensuring that future budgets were gender responsive.
He gave assurance that efforts would be made to bring ministers, particularly the Minister of Finance on board to ensure that the country’s budgets responds to gender concerns.
Article: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Parliamentary Committee on Gender and Children has resolved to scrutinise future budgets of the country to ensure that the government’s policy of mainstreaming gender issues within national policies and programmes was given effect through the budgetary process.
The committee noted that it was through such actions that gender issues could be allocated adequate funding for effective programmes to be embarked upon for the achievement of the objectives of such gender issue.
Members of the committee gave their support to gender budgeting at the end of a three-day workshop at Koforidua during which gender activists briefed them about the need for budgets to address gender issues in the national budgets.
The workshop was organised and sponsored by the Parliamentary Centre, a Canadian non-governmental organisation under its Parliamentary Committee Support Project II.
The resolve of members of the committee was informed by the fact that national budgets encompass all issues of national priority and concern and there is no separate budget statement devoted to gender and women issues.
Again, the strategic and policy orientations under-pining budgets do not reflect interests and concerns based on gender and the best way of meeting the aspirations and needs of the majority of men, women, boys and girls was to engender budgets.
Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB), therefore focuses on the differences between women, men, girls and boys as well as the differences between the poor, rural, urban and the young and the old as well.
According to gender experts, a number of studies have come with empirical evidence that women in Ghana are poorer and more vulnerable than their male counterparts.
Women have less access to paid employment, income-generating activities, healthcare and education among other social and economic opportunities.
Although attempts have been made to develop responsive policy measures in the national strategic agenda such as the Vision 2020 and the GPRS I and II, not much have been done to address these inequalities.
Gender experts have, therefore challenged the Parliamentary Gender Committee to use its oversight responsibility to come out with a league table as to which of the ministries is responsive to gender issues.
Speaking at the workshop on the role of the Ministry of Women and Children on Gender Budgeting, the Acting Director of the Department of Women, Mrs Francesca Pobee-Hayford stated that the 2009-2011 budget guidelines/circulars clearly indicated that all ministries should start gathering sex disaggregated data as part of preparation towards their budgets.
She identified the lack of critical mass of technical people with the knowledge and skills to support the initiative, lack of ownership of the initiative and non-availability of sex disaggregated data among others as challenges confronting the programme.
For his part, Mr Fusheini Adams of the Parliamentary Centre called on both Parliament and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning effectively play their respective roles to ensure that ministries, departments and agencies (MDA) do proper planning and spending so that the scarce national resources were used to reduce poverty.
He stated that there was the need for more resources to be spent to where they were needed to address gender issues.
Mrs Gifty Ohene-Konadu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim South and Ranking Member of the committee in her remarks noted that programmes should be designed to popularised the GRB concept.
The Chairman of the committee and MP for Juaboso, Mr Sampson Ahi thanked the Parliamentary Centre for their assistance and said that members of the committee had been sensitised during the workshop to enable them play their oversight role in ensuring that future budgets were gender responsive.
He gave assurance that efforts would be made to bring ministers, particularly the Minister of Finance on board to ensure that the country’s budgets responds to gender concerns.
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