Page 17, March 30, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT has approved the formula for the distribution of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for this year.
A total of GH¢ 236,197,500 allocated in the 2008 budget for the DACF was approved by the House after it had satisfied itself with the proposed formula for the sharing of the fund by the district assemblies.
The amount represent 7.5 per cent of the total national revenue meant to be paid statutorily into the DACF.
The percentage is an increase on the five per cent that had been paid into the DACF since the inception of the fund.
The formula for the distribution of the DACF is based on need , responsiveness, service pressure, equity and sanitation factors.
For the GETFund, a total of GH¢ 163,025,000 was allocated. The current formula took into account the priority needs highlighted in the current Education Strategic Plan and the Education Sector Reforms.
Under the formula Academic for tertiary education, Facilities and Infrastructure had 12.3 per cent, Scholarship Secretariat, 3.1 per cent, Students’ Loan Trust, 4.9 per cent, Faculty Development and Research, 1.8 per cent, Special Support for Medical Studies, 1.8 per cent, Special Support for Telecom University, 1.2 per cent, Open Universities, 1.2 per cent and Colleges of Education, 5 per cent.
A total of GH¢ 31,323 million, representing 19.2 per cent, has been allocated for secondary education contingencies, which include MPs Emergency Projects and other emergencies had GH¢3,450,000 representing 2.1 per cent.
Meanwhile, the formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to Licensed District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes for 2008 has also been approved by the House.
The National Health Insurance Fund is expected to realise GH¢ 2345,420,000????? based on projections of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for 2008.
This is an increase of 33.83 per cent over the previous year’s budgetary allocation of GH¢179,911,000.
The registration target of 65 per cent has been set for 2008 by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) while it projects to operate 148 schemes within the year.
The NHIA is also to increase the subsidy per person from GH¢ 12.00 to GH¢ 14.00 as a result of the rising medical bills submitted by service provides and the Review Medicine List and Tarrif Structure.
The report of the Committee of the Whole of Parliament, which deliberated on the issue noted that at the close of 2007, GH¢153,809,624.54 which remained in under the NHIS yielded GH¢23,960,000.
The committee recommended that the National Health Insurance Law should be amended to include the mentally ill as indigents while children under 18 be made to register unconditionally to become members of the scheme.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Training Centre for MPs inaugurated
Page 17, March 30, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A multi-purpose training centre aimed at improving the functioning of Parliament has been inaugurated at Osu, Accra.
The facility, provided by the Canadian Parliamentary Centre (CPC), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has a well-equipped liaison office for the regular interaction and review of the collaborative efforts of the Audit Service and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.
It would also provide opportunity for Members of Parliament (MPs) to network with their colleagues from other parliaments across Africa.
Inaugurating the centre, the Chairman of the PAC, Mr Samuel Sallas-Mensah, said the relationship between Parliament and the CPC had existed for a long time during which the NGO organised capacity building programmes for the PAC and other committees and staff of the Parliamentary Service.
He noted that the effectiveness of every Parliament depended on MPs capacity to effectively discharge their duties as expected of them.
He said it was, therefore important for members of the various committees of Parliament to be well informed about the subject area of their respective committees in order to facilitate proper deliberations on issues referred to them for consideration.
Mr Sallas-Mensah said that the success of the recent public sitting of the PAC was a testimony of the effectiveness of the capacity building work of the CPC.
He said the CPC, through the Department for International Development (DfID,) was very instrumental in supporting the public sitting of the PAC, adding that the inauguration of the centre would enhance the work of the PAC and other committees of Parliament.
Mr Sallas-Mensah expressed gratitude to the CPC, DFID and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for supporting Parliament to ensure the attainment of power balance among the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.
For his part, Dr Rasheed Draman of the CPC thanked the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), CIDA, DFID and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for supporting the CPC to undertake the project.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A multi-purpose training centre aimed at improving the functioning of Parliament has been inaugurated at Osu, Accra.
The facility, provided by the Canadian Parliamentary Centre (CPC), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has a well-equipped liaison office for the regular interaction and review of the collaborative efforts of the Audit Service and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.
It would also provide opportunity for Members of Parliament (MPs) to network with their colleagues from other parliaments across Africa.
Inaugurating the centre, the Chairman of the PAC, Mr Samuel Sallas-Mensah, said the relationship between Parliament and the CPC had existed for a long time during which the NGO organised capacity building programmes for the PAC and other committees and staff of the Parliamentary Service.
He noted that the effectiveness of every Parliament depended on MPs capacity to effectively discharge their duties as expected of them.
He said it was, therefore important for members of the various committees of Parliament to be well informed about the subject area of their respective committees in order to facilitate proper deliberations on issues referred to them for consideration.
Mr Sallas-Mensah said that the success of the recent public sitting of the PAC was a testimony of the effectiveness of the capacity building work of the CPC.
He said the CPC, through the Department for International Development (DfID,) was very instrumental in supporting the public sitting of the PAC, adding that the inauguration of the centre would enhance the work of the PAC and other committees of Parliament.
Mr Sallas-Mensah expressed gratitude to the CPC, DFID and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for supporting Parliament to ensure the attainment of power balance among the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.
For his part, Dr Rasheed Draman of the CPC thanked the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), CIDA, DFID and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for supporting the CPC to undertake the project.
23 vocational students pass out
Page 22, March 29, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE first batch of 23 students of the Pro-Link Vocational Institute at Danfa in the Ga East District of the Greater Accra Region, has passed out.
The institute was established by Pro-Link, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to the improving the lives of the needy.
Currently, it is training its students in hairdressing, dressmaking, carpentry, electrical installation, masonry and catering.
In an address read on his behalf, the Ga East Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Kofi Alottey, noted that but for the institute, the youth in the area might have fallen prey to teenage pregnancy, rural-urban drift, armed robbery and other social vices due to the adage that “the devil finds work for the idle hands”.
He, therefore, asked the youth to take advantage of the institute, which was close to their doorsteps, to acquire employable skills to enable them to be self-sufficient.
“These graduands, having acquired skills, will provide services to the society and thereby contribute to national development,” he said.
Mr Alottey advised the graduands to realise the investments that had been made in them and challenged them to be innovative and creative in employing strategies that would enable them to provide services to generate sufficient income to support themselves, as well as their families.
He acknowledged the help offered by Tools for Self-Reliance, a United Kingdom (UK) based NGO, which had provided kits for the institute.
Mr Alottey commended Pro-Link for establishing the institute and described the gesture as a timely intervention to provide employment for the youth in the area.
The Ga East Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Emma Baaba Quarcoe, commended Pro-Link’s efforts.
He called on chiefs and parents in the area to co-operate fully with the NGO to ensure the training of more youth.
The Executive Director of Pro-Link, Ms Bernice Heloo, said the NGO would continue to train the youth in acquiring skills to reduce the unemployment rate in the country.
The UK NGO, Tools for Self-Reliance, provided the graduands, who specialised in dressmaking, carpentry and joinery and electrical installation, with start-up tools, while Pro-Link gave kits to those who specialised in hairdressing to enable them to start their businesses.
Picture: Some of the graduands in a pose after the graduation ceremony.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE first batch of 23 students of the Pro-Link Vocational Institute at Danfa in the Ga East District of the Greater Accra Region, has passed out.
The institute was established by Pro-Link, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to the improving the lives of the needy.
Currently, it is training its students in hairdressing, dressmaking, carpentry, electrical installation, masonry and catering.
In an address read on his behalf, the Ga East Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Kofi Alottey, noted that but for the institute, the youth in the area might have fallen prey to teenage pregnancy, rural-urban drift, armed robbery and other social vices due to the adage that “the devil finds work for the idle hands”.
He, therefore, asked the youth to take advantage of the institute, which was close to their doorsteps, to acquire employable skills to enable them to be self-sufficient.
“These graduands, having acquired skills, will provide services to the society and thereby contribute to national development,” he said.
Mr Alottey advised the graduands to realise the investments that had been made in them and challenged them to be innovative and creative in employing strategies that would enable them to provide services to generate sufficient income to support themselves, as well as their families.
He acknowledged the help offered by Tools for Self-Reliance, a United Kingdom (UK) based NGO, which had provided kits for the institute.
Mr Alottey commended Pro-Link for establishing the institute and described the gesture as a timely intervention to provide employment for the youth in the area.
The Ga East Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Emma Baaba Quarcoe, commended Pro-Link’s efforts.
He called on chiefs and parents in the area to co-operate fully with the NGO to ensure the training of more youth.
The Executive Director of Pro-Link, Ms Bernice Heloo, said the NGO would continue to train the youth in acquiring skills to reduce the unemployment rate in the country.
The UK NGO, Tools for Self-Reliance, provided the graduands, who specialised in dressmaking, carpentry and joinery and electrical installation, with start-up tools, while Pro-Link gave kits to those who specialised in hairdressing to enable them to start their businesses.
Picture: Some of the graduands in a pose after the graduation ceremony.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Majority unhappy about minority stance
Page 17, March 26, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Majority in Parliament has expressed its dismay at attempts being made by the Minority in Parliament to throw dust into the eyes of Ghanaians concerning the genuine efforts being made by the government to re-equip the Ghana Air Force.
“It is regretted that the NDC Minority in Parliament, in their desperate effort to equate the present acquisition of aircraft to the very irregular, fraudulent and infamous acquisition of the Gulf Stream II, which was tainted with irregularity in 2000 by the NDC government, told a pack of lies and outright distortion of facts to the Ghanaian public,” it said.
In a statement in reaction to a press conference by the Minority on the acquisition of jets for the Air Force, the Majority said since the NPP government assumed office in 2001, there had been persistent requests by the Ghana Air Force to equip the force, adding that the President had shelved the request in view of the socio-economic conditions of the time.
It said today the economic conditions of the country had significantly improved and so it had now become necessary to bring the matter back from the back burner, given the fact that by 2010 the F2B and F27 aircraft of the Air Force were going to be decommissioned, explaining that the planes cost the nation about one million euros in repairs every year.
The statement added that in going for the new planes, the government was not seeking its comfort, as stated by the Minority in its press conference, but rather it was “part of the demonstrable commitment of the President to build institutions of state for the benefit of the state and not his comfort”.
It explained that another palpable lie of the NDC was that the aircraft were not for the Air Force, saying that it was common knowledge that the Air Force, as an institution of state, was the custodian of the executive jets which were used by state institutions.
It said it was not true that the government had paid five per cent as advance payment and had, therefore, breached the Constitution, explaining that the very contract that the NDC referred to stated that the whole agreement was subject to verification by Parliament.
“We challenge the NDC Minority to produce evidence of payment or retract and apologise, not to the government but the good people of Ghana,” it stressed.
The statement admitted that while there were still problems with getting potable water, electricity, roads, health facilities and educational institutions to every corner of the country, the government was still working hard to meet those challenges.
It added that the government was not going to make a down payment of $100 million, as was being peddled by the NDC, explaining that the country’s obligation was to pay $1.857 million and thereafter make another payment of $3.715.
“We would like to assure Ghanaians that the whole transaction is so transparent that any Ghanaian can verify the contract sum and obligations on the Internet.
It said unlike the NDC’s acquisition of the Gulf Stream which in a single day went through three different parties, the present transaction was manifestly transparent, well thought of and could stand the litmus test.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Majority in Parliament has expressed its dismay at attempts being made by the Minority in Parliament to throw dust into the eyes of Ghanaians concerning the genuine efforts being made by the government to re-equip the Ghana Air Force.
“It is regretted that the NDC Minority in Parliament, in their desperate effort to equate the present acquisition of aircraft to the very irregular, fraudulent and infamous acquisition of the Gulf Stream II, which was tainted with irregularity in 2000 by the NDC government, told a pack of lies and outright distortion of facts to the Ghanaian public,” it said.
In a statement in reaction to a press conference by the Minority on the acquisition of jets for the Air Force, the Majority said since the NPP government assumed office in 2001, there had been persistent requests by the Ghana Air Force to equip the force, adding that the President had shelved the request in view of the socio-economic conditions of the time.
It said today the economic conditions of the country had significantly improved and so it had now become necessary to bring the matter back from the back burner, given the fact that by 2010 the F2B and F27 aircraft of the Air Force were going to be decommissioned, explaining that the planes cost the nation about one million euros in repairs every year.
The statement added that in going for the new planes, the government was not seeking its comfort, as stated by the Minority in its press conference, but rather it was “part of the demonstrable commitment of the President to build institutions of state for the benefit of the state and not his comfort”.
It explained that another palpable lie of the NDC was that the aircraft were not for the Air Force, saying that it was common knowledge that the Air Force, as an institution of state, was the custodian of the executive jets which were used by state institutions.
It said it was not true that the government had paid five per cent as advance payment and had, therefore, breached the Constitution, explaining that the very contract that the NDC referred to stated that the whole agreement was subject to verification by Parliament.
“We challenge the NDC Minority to produce evidence of payment or retract and apologise, not to the government but the good people of Ghana,” it stressed.
The statement admitted that while there were still problems with getting potable water, electricity, roads, health facilities and educational institutions to every corner of the country, the government was still working hard to meet those challenges.
It added that the government was not going to make a down payment of $100 million, as was being peddled by the NDC, explaining that the country’s obligation was to pay $1.857 million and thereafter make another payment of $3.715.
“We would like to assure Ghanaians that the whole transaction is so transparent that any Ghanaian can verify the contract sum and obligations on the Internet.
It said unlike the NDC’s acquisition of the Gulf Stream which in a single day went through three different parties, the present transaction was manifestly transparent, well thought of and could stand the litmus test.
Owusu-Adjapong nominated for Energy
Frontpage, March 20, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu Gyamerah
President J.A. Kufuor has nominated the former Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Felix Kwasi Owusu-Adjapong as the Minister of Energy.
His nomination ends months of speculation that the substantive Minister of Energy, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, has been removed from office.
The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, announced Mr Owusu-Adjapong’s nomination in Parliament yesterday evening.
The House was debating a report on the purchase of equipment for the Ghana Air Force when Alhaji Yakubu suddenly made the announcement from the Presidency, which was treated with “Hear! Hear!” from both sides of the House.
Some Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Minority side, apparently stunned by the turn of events, shouted, “Oh Adda, what happened?”
Mr Adda, who was in the house when the announcement was made, smiled and remained calm in his seat.
The nomination has been referred to the Appointments Committee of the House for consideration.
In December, a local FM radio station speculated that the minister had been relieved of his post. However, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, said he was just on an extended leave period.
Mr Adda had since not been seen performing any public assignments.
He was conspicuously absent when new oil finds were announced in February this year and during the subsequent oil conference.
He was at first the Minister of Manpower Development, Youth and Employment and during his tenure the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) was initiated. He was moved to the Ministry of Energy in April 2006.
His tenure as Energy Minister was characterised by a year of nation-wide power black outs, resulting in calls for his removal.
Story: Emmanuel Adu Gyamerah
President J.A. Kufuor has nominated the former Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Felix Kwasi Owusu-Adjapong as the Minister of Energy.
His nomination ends months of speculation that the substantive Minister of Energy, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, has been removed from office.
The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, announced Mr Owusu-Adjapong’s nomination in Parliament yesterday evening.
The House was debating a report on the purchase of equipment for the Ghana Air Force when Alhaji Yakubu suddenly made the announcement from the Presidency, which was treated with “Hear! Hear!” from both sides of the House.
Some Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Minority side, apparently stunned by the turn of events, shouted, “Oh Adda, what happened?”
Mr Adda, who was in the house when the announcement was made, smiled and remained calm in his seat.
The nomination has been referred to the Appointments Committee of the House for consideration.
In December, a local FM radio station speculated that the minister had been relieved of his post. However, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, said he was just on an extended leave period.
Mr Adda had since not been seen performing any public assignments.
He was conspicuously absent when new oil finds were announced in February this year and during the subsequent oil conference.
He was at first the Minister of Manpower Development, Youth and Employment and during his tenure the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) was initiated. He was moved to the Ministry of Energy in April 2006.
His tenure as Energy Minister was characterised by a year of nation-wide power black outs, resulting in calls for his removal.
Parliament approves loan for Ghana Air Force
Page 35, March 24, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
IT took Parliament more than six hours intensive debate to approve a $31,577,500 loan agreement between the government and Societe Generale (SG) of Paris for the purchase of two aircraft as part of a strategic plan to re-equip the Communication Squadron of the Ghana Air Force.
Speaker Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes had to call for a headcount to decide on the matter after the voice vote had produced no clear winner. After the headcount, a majority decision of 118 votes against 63 won the day before the House adjourned for the Easter break.
Within a period of more than six hours, the Speaker and his First and Second deputies, Mr Freddie Blay and Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, respectively took turns to steer the affairs of the debate.
In addition to the loan from SG, the government is providing $62 million from its budget as part of its contribution for the purchase of the two aircraft.
The Majority, led by the Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, argued that it was necessary to acquire the two aircraft for the Air Force, while the Minority, led by its Spokesperson on Defence and Interior, Alhaji Abubakari Sumani, contended that the two planes were not the types urgently needed by the Air Force.
Alhaji Sumani said the House had to deal with the unconstitutionality of the contract entered into by the government since Ghana paid five per cent of the total amount involved soon after the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, appended his signature to the contract.
He said instead of the government buying the two aircraft for the cost of $105,150 million, it would have been better for the country to have purchase the four other aircraft requested by the Air Force at a total cost of $90,731,969.
He wondered why the government was bent on purchasing the two planes to the exclusion of the other four, which he considered as very important for use by the Air Force.
Alhaji Sumani noted that Ghanaians were baffled as to why the president was in a hurry to purchase a presidential jet when he was about to leave office and called on all Ghanaians who cared for the nation to reject the use of scarce state resources for the purchase of a presidential jet.
Replying, Mr Kan-Dapaah explained that the choice of purchasing the aircraft was made according to the recommendation made by the Ghana Air Force and not because the government was bent on buying those types of aircraft.
He added that the average age of the various aircraft of the Air Force was 30 years and said the country therefore had no choice but to purchase new ones in order not to ground the operations of the force by 2010.
Mr Kan-Dapaah stated that the Ghana Air Force had always operated a Presidential Jet, adding that "It is not possible to conduct modern day business without a presidential jet".
He said it was unfortunate that the Minority was creating an impression that the economy of the country would come to halt when the aircraft were purchased, explaining that by the terms of the agreement the country would pay $1.856 million this year towards the payment for the two jets.
"We should have the courage now to buy the aircraft to save our presidents from travelling to neighbouring countries to connect flights to their destinations to transact business on behalf of the state," he said.
When he took his turn in the debate, the Minority Spokesperson for Finance, Dr Ben Kunbuor, argued that the $62 million contribution by the government should not be allowed to be part of the committee's report since it was not a loan.
He called for the rejection of the committee's report because the House would be endorsing an illegality.
When the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Nii Daku Adu Mante, attempted to alter the original $43.15 million loan as indicated on the Order Paper to $37.15 million, the Minority rejected this, saying that the chairman had no power to do that without the consent of the other members of committee.
The Speaker at that stage stood the motion down and asked the leadership of the Joint Committee of Finance, Defence and Interior, which deliberated on the loan, to go back and confer in order to adopt a compromise stand on the matter.
When they came back to the House, they had agreed to decouple the $62-million government contribution from the loan agreement, while the $43.15 million loan agreement had been reduced to $31,577,500.
So deafening was the voices of both the Majority and Minority when the Speaker called for the endorsement or otherwise of the report that he resorted to the headcount to settle the matter.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
IT took Parliament more than six hours intensive debate to approve a $31,577,500 loan agreement between the government and Societe Generale (SG) of Paris for the purchase of two aircraft as part of a strategic plan to re-equip the Communication Squadron of the Ghana Air Force.
Speaker Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes had to call for a headcount to decide on the matter after the voice vote had produced no clear winner. After the headcount, a majority decision of 118 votes against 63 won the day before the House adjourned for the Easter break.
Within a period of more than six hours, the Speaker and his First and Second deputies, Mr Freddie Blay and Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, respectively took turns to steer the affairs of the debate.
In addition to the loan from SG, the government is providing $62 million from its budget as part of its contribution for the purchase of the two aircraft.
The Majority, led by the Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, argued that it was necessary to acquire the two aircraft for the Air Force, while the Minority, led by its Spokesperson on Defence and Interior, Alhaji Abubakari Sumani, contended that the two planes were not the types urgently needed by the Air Force.
Alhaji Sumani said the House had to deal with the unconstitutionality of the contract entered into by the government since Ghana paid five per cent of the total amount involved soon after the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, appended his signature to the contract.
He said instead of the government buying the two aircraft for the cost of $105,150 million, it would have been better for the country to have purchase the four other aircraft requested by the Air Force at a total cost of $90,731,969.
He wondered why the government was bent on purchasing the two planes to the exclusion of the other four, which he considered as very important for use by the Air Force.
Alhaji Sumani noted that Ghanaians were baffled as to why the president was in a hurry to purchase a presidential jet when he was about to leave office and called on all Ghanaians who cared for the nation to reject the use of scarce state resources for the purchase of a presidential jet.
Replying, Mr Kan-Dapaah explained that the choice of purchasing the aircraft was made according to the recommendation made by the Ghana Air Force and not because the government was bent on buying those types of aircraft.
He added that the average age of the various aircraft of the Air Force was 30 years and said the country therefore had no choice but to purchase new ones in order not to ground the operations of the force by 2010.
Mr Kan-Dapaah stated that the Ghana Air Force had always operated a Presidential Jet, adding that "It is not possible to conduct modern day business without a presidential jet".
He said it was unfortunate that the Minority was creating an impression that the economy of the country would come to halt when the aircraft were purchased, explaining that by the terms of the agreement the country would pay $1.856 million this year towards the payment for the two jets.
"We should have the courage now to buy the aircraft to save our presidents from travelling to neighbouring countries to connect flights to their destinations to transact business on behalf of the state," he said.
When he took his turn in the debate, the Minority Spokesperson for Finance, Dr Ben Kunbuor, argued that the $62 million contribution by the government should not be allowed to be part of the committee's report since it was not a loan.
He called for the rejection of the committee's report because the House would be endorsing an illegality.
When the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Nii Daku Adu Mante, attempted to alter the original $43.15 million loan as indicated on the Order Paper to $37.15 million, the Minority rejected this, saying that the chairman had no power to do that without the consent of the other members of committee.
The Speaker at that stage stood the motion down and asked the leadership of the Joint Committee of Finance, Defence and Interior, which deliberated on the loan, to go back and confer in order to adopt a compromise stand on the matter.
When they came back to the House, they had agreed to decouple the $62-million government contribution from the loan agreement, while the $43.15 million loan agreement had been reduced to $31,577,500.
So deafening was the voices of both the Majority and Minority when the Speaker called for the endorsement or otherwise of the report that he resorted to the headcount to settle the matter.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Minority opposes arrangement for purchase id aircraft
Page 3, March 19. 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament said yesterday that while it was not against the re-equipping of the Ghana Air Force, it is opposed to the whole arrangement of the planned purchase of the aircraft because it is unconstitutional, lacks clarity and insensitive to the real needs of the country.
At a press conference to state the position of the Minority in Parliament, the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, said what was before the House was not an application for the acquisition of aircraft for the Ghana Air Force but the acquisition of two luxury aircraft for “Presidential comfort”.
He explained that the first aircraft, a luxurious Falcon 900 Ex Easy, with a capacity of only 12 passengers, was being purchased at the cost of $43,150,00 with a buyer’s credit of $37,150,000 from Societe Generale of Paris, while Ghana was making available a budgetary amount of $6 million. The loan is repayable within five years.
Mr Bagbin said the Corporate Jet was also being financed from a loan of $52 million from an undisclosed source and an additional government support of $10 million.
“The Minority take issue with the purchase of the two luxury aircraft at this time of HIPC, where the refrain for failure to execute projects is ‘when funds are available’,” he said.
He said it was important not only to look at the legalities or otherwise of the transaction, but also to examine “the issue of how trustees of political power use the resources of the society for their personal interest in preference to the interest of the disadvantaged members of the society”.
Mr Bagbin explained that the House had been called upon to approve the report of a joint parliamentary committee and resolve to mandate the government to purchase 1 Unit 319 ER Corporate Jet from Airbus Industry at the cost of $62 million and 1 Unit Falcon 900 Ex Easy aircraft from Aviation SA at the cost of $43.14 million
The acquisition, according to the government’s memo and the Parliamentary Committee report, was being done in “pursuit of the Ghana Armed Forces five-year strategic development plan spanning 2005-2010”.
He said it was important to know that in 2003, Parliament approved a $55-million Barclays loan from which four transporter helicopters were purchased, while the Gulf Stream III was also exchanged for K8 Chinese –made trainer/light attack military jets and one flight simulator for the Ghana Air Force.
He said the sale contract of the current transaction between the government and the Dassault Aviation SA was signed on February 13, 2008 by the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, and officials of the company and explained that the payment schedule of the contract stipulated that five per cent of the price due must be paid on signature.
The payment of deposit which involved the withdrawal of money from the Consolidated Fund without parliamentary approval contravened Articles 178 and 181 of the 1992 Constitution.
“It is ironic that the very same people who raised objections in 1999 to the NDC acquisition of the Gulf Stream on grounds of misplaced priority are today asking Parliament and the nation to approve the acquisition of two luxurious Presidential Aircraft whose costs are exorbitantly higher than that of the Gulf Stream,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Majority in Parliament is to hold a press conference today apparently to respond to issues raised by the Minority on the issue.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament said yesterday that while it was not against the re-equipping of the Ghana Air Force, it is opposed to the whole arrangement of the planned purchase of the aircraft because it is unconstitutional, lacks clarity and insensitive to the real needs of the country.
At a press conference to state the position of the Minority in Parliament, the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, said what was before the House was not an application for the acquisition of aircraft for the Ghana Air Force but the acquisition of two luxury aircraft for “Presidential comfort”.
He explained that the first aircraft, a luxurious Falcon 900 Ex Easy, with a capacity of only 12 passengers, was being purchased at the cost of $43,150,00 with a buyer’s credit of $37,150,000 from Societe Generale of Paris, while Ghana was making available a budgetary amount of $6 million. The loan is repayable within five years.
Mr Bagbin said the Corporate Jet was also being financed from a loan of $52 million from an undisclosed source and an additional government support of $10 million.
“The Minority take issue with the purchase of the two luxury aircraft at this time of HIPC, where the refrain for failure to execute projects is ‘when funds are available’,” he said.
He said it was important not only to look at the legalities or otherwise of the transaction, but also to examine “the issue of how trustees of political power use the resources of the society for their personal interest in preference to the interest of the disadvantaged members of the society”.
Mr Bagbin explained that the House had been called upon to approve the report of a joint parliamentary committee and resolve to mandate the government to purchase 1 Unit 319 ER Corporate Jet from Airbus Industry at the cost of $62 million and 1 Unit Falcon 900 Ex Easy aircraft from Aviation SA at the cost of $43.14 million
The acquisition, according to the government’s memo and the Parliamentary Committee report, was being done in “pursuit of the Ghana Armed Forces five-year strategic development plan spanning 2005-2010”.
He said it was important to know that in 2003, Parliament approved a $55-million Barclays loan from which four transporter helicopters were purchased, while the Gulf Stream III was also exchanged for K8 Chinese –made trainer/light attack military jets and one flight simulator for the Ghana Air Force.
He said the sale contract of the current transaction between the government and the Dassault Aviation SA was signed on February 13, 2008 by the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, and officials of the company and explained that the payment schedule of the contract stipulated that five per cent of the price due must be paid on signature.
The payment of deposit which involved the withdrawal of money from the Consolidated Fund without parliamentary approval contravened Articles 178 and 181 of the 1992 Constitution.
“It is ironic that the very same people who raised objections in 1999 to the NDC acquisition of the Gulf Stream on grounds of misplaced priority are today asking Parliament and the nation to approve the acquisition of two luxurious Presidential Aircraft whose costs are exorbitantly higher than that of the Gulf Stream,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Majority in Parliament is to hold a press conference today apparently to respond to issues raised by the Minority on the issue.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)