This week in Parliament

Page 42, June 5 edition (Mirror)
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of the Interior,Mr Martin Amidu was visible in Parliament this week as he appeared before the House to answer questions and provide information on some pertinent national issues.
Last Tuesday, he was in the House to brief Members of Parliament on the alleged influx of Ghanaian refugees into neighbouring Togo.
The story, which was carried by the BBC, dominated the local media and that provided the basis for the minister to brief the House about the situation after initial investigation.
Mr Amidu told the House that until cogent evidence of the number of verifiable Ghanaian refugees on the Togo side of the border was obtained, any figure given as the number of Ghanaian refugees in Togo ought to be treated as mere speculation.
He stated that the Ghanaian authorities have been unable to obtain any list of registered refugees from the Togolese after an earlier visit by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) team or the visit of the assessment team to the Togo side.
Mr Amidu said a report from the Assessment Mission sent to the Bunkprugu-Yunyoo District indicated that most of the displaced persons remained in Ghana, while the team saw about 20 unoccupied tents when it visited the Togo side of the border.
He said it was observed that most of the internally displaced Ghanaians continued to live on the Ghana side of the border but often crossed over to Togo to receive food aid anytime food emergency supplies were being distributed at that side and thereafter return to Ghana.
Mr Amidu said it was estimated that the total population of the conflict area was about 2,000, with a registered voter population of 900, adding that it would, therefore, be highly unlikely that any realistic refugee figures from there could be higher than the total population of the community.
He assured the House that life was returning to normal in the area, as the people in the conflict community were busy farming and engaging in other economic ventures.
Mr Amidu also returned to the House last Wednesday to answer seven questions which had been filed by some MPs.
The NPP MP for Binduri, Mr Stephen Yakubu wanted to know when a police station would be built and made operational in Binduri, in addition to how the National Disaster Management Organisation distributed relief items to recent floods victims in Binduri.
Replying, Mr Amidu stated that the flooding in the Binduri Constituency in September, 2009 affected 172 people in six electoral areas.
He said in all, NADMO in December 2009 distributed 45 mattresses, 15 poly mats, 17 bales of second-hand cloths, nine cartons of cooking oil, 30 lanterns, 15 packets of matches, 105 plastic plates,30 plastic bowls, 11 bales of blankets and 30 plastic buckets.
He said NADMO was also liaising with the World Bank to get recovery items to promote livelihood support such as cereals, seedlings, fertiliser and pumping machines to farmers who lost most of their belongings.
On the police station, Mr Amidu stated that the government had approved and provided funds for the completion of 38 ongoing office and residential accommodation projects for the Police Service in the 2010 budget.
He stated, however, that the Binduri Constituency was not part of the package, adding that much as the police administration would want to provide a building for the police in the area in 2011, that would be contingent on budgetary approval.
The NPP MP for Sunyani East,Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh,Mr Amidu told the House that the residential accommodation being put up for the police in Sunyani is part of the 38 office and residential accommodation projects approved by the government for completion in the 2010 budget.
He said the project composed of four-storey buildings, with each containing eight flats.
Mr Amidu explained that work on the projects were ongoing and expected to be completed before the end of the year.
For his part, the NPP MP for Ablekuma North,Mr Justice Joe Appiah,wanted to know what real safety measures the ministry would take to ensure that both motorbike and pillion riders use crash helmets when travelling.
Replying, Mr Amidu said the Road Traffic Regulations states that “a person who rides or is ridden on a motorcycle on a road shall wear a protection crash helmet of a type prescribed by regulations.
He said that was the law which the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) enforces in its day-to-day traffic management and control duties across the country.
The minister explained however, that loop holes in the existing law have to be closed to make the law effective.
He said, for instance, the law had to be revised to compel the compulsory carriage of a spare helmet on all motor cycles for the use by pillion riders, saying that in that regard, motorbike dealers could be compelled to include the cost of two protective helmets of the prescribed shape, design and quality in the price of motorbikes.
The NPP MP for Asunafo South,Mr George Yaw Boakye also enquired from the minister the pragmatic steps the ministry was taking to ensure the security of teenage girls operating as porters (Kayayee) on the streets of Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi.
In his answer, Mr Amidu stated that the Ghana Police Service is providing security to the teenage porters through the day and night patrols.
He said in addition, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) co-ordinates with the Social Welfare Department and some non-governmental organisations in providing social services to the kayayee.
Mr Amidu said the Community Police Unit had also intensified its educational campaigns and had been distributing police telephone numbers during visits to the kayayee in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi, in addition to educating them on the dangers associated with their work.
He said in the long-term, the ministry intends to consult the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs to explore the feasibility of providing temporary shelters in the form of dormitories for the kayayee so as to ensure their adequate security.