Month: July 2010

The STX Housing Project Agreement for the construction of 30, 000 housing units for the security services was re-laid before parliament on Wednesday 28th July 2010.

It will be recalled that the STX Housing Project, which was first bought before the House for consideration, was later withdrawn following concerns raised by the Minority on some clauses of the Agreement.

Briefing the press in Accra on Tuesday on the STX Housing Project, the Minister for Water Resources Works and Housing Hon. Alban Bagbin, gave the assurance that the necessary corrections on the Agreement had been done and would be brought before parliament for approval before parliament goes on recess next week, Tuesday 3rd August, 2010.

The approval of the Agreement will ensure the implementation of the Housing Project which is expected to solve the housing needs of the Ghana Police Service.

Story by:Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

Policy think tank Imani Ghana has criticized government’s decision to return the STX Korea Housing deal to Parliament.

The group says government’s insistence on passing the agreement could have far reaching consequences on the economy.

In a statement Imani noted that the revised deal will still leave behind a colossal $1.5 billion national debt in the next 5 years.

It says despite the huge financial cost, there is no plan by government to pay up the debt and fund the project.

A fellow at Imani Ghana, Kofi Bentil, said government must reconsider its decision.

The debt will have serious implications on the economy, Mr Bentil said.

“One of the things that could happen if the deal goes wrong is that the cedi is going to fall badly that the whole redenomination exercise is going to be nonsense,” he said.

Imani said the best alternative for government is to contract a loan “and properly build [these houses]. Why do we have to go into an STX deal?” he quizzed.

The revised agreement has been forwarded to the Finance Committee of Parliament for consideration.

Mr. Bentil said the committee must examine the true impact of the deal on the national development agenda.

Government has consistently justified the deal saying it is the best programme to address the country’s acute housing deficit.

Works and Housing Minister, Alban Kingsford Bagbin, told pressmen in Accra positions on the deal are taking partisan lines, a situation he said is not in the best interest of the country.

Source: Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

The Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing Hon Alban Sumana Bagbin, has slammed the opposition New Patriotic Party over its strong criticism of the STX Housing deal which is expected to be brought back to parliament later this week for approval.

In a Press conference held on Tuesday July 27 the former opposition leader said the opposition-led attacks against the deal are not only “mischievous” but what he calls acts of “naked jealously.”

The Nadowli West Member of Parliament also slammed the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lampety, for criticizing the STX Housing deal even though he was uninformed about the details.

The press conference was to respond to the opposition’s attacks against the deal and to, as he puts it, lay bare the facts surrounding the STX Housing Agreement, and the factors that influenced the withdrawal of the Finance Committee’s report on the 1.5 billion dollar Loan Agreement that is to finance the 30,000 Housing Units to be constructed for the nation’s security services.

In a carefully worded statement read to a packed hall of journalists at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Information, Hon Bagbin painted a rather gloomy picture of the nation’s Housing sector, stressing that the situation required a government action that is bold and swift to reduce Ghana’s huge Housing deficit. In doing so, he said, the Mills administration will ensure transparency in all its actions.

Hon Bagbin also hinted that the STX Housing Loan agreement has been revised with some amendments made to some specific provisions, but failed to give details.

He also rejected claims that Ghanaian companies will not benefit from the Housing deal, insisting that all the 30,000 houses will be built only by Ghanaian Contractors.

Hon Bagbin also disclosed that the Ghanaian economy will reap massive benefits from the STX Housing deal.

He further called for unity of purpose to help deal with the nation’s Housing Sector crisis, but insisted that the Mills administration is not afraid to make the right decisions and the right choices even if they are not politically popular in order to improve the basic living standards of Ghanaians.
The Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing Hon Alban Sumana Bagbin, has slammed the opposition New Patriotic Party over its strong criticism of the STX Housing deal which is expected to be brought back to parliament later this week for approval.

In a Press conference held on Tuesday July 27 the former opposition leader said the opposition-led attacks against the deal are not only “mischievous” but what he calls acts of “naked jealously.”

The Nadowli West Member of Parliament also slammed the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lampety, for criticizing the STX Housing deal even though he was uninformed about the details.

The press conference was to respond to the opposition’s attacks against the deal and to, as he puts it, lay bare the facts surrounding the STX Housing Agreement, and the factors that influenced the withdrawal of the Finance Committee’s report on the 1.5 billion dollar Loan Agreement that is to finance the 30,000 Housing Units to be constructed for the nation’s security services.

In a carefully worded statement read to a packed hall of journalists at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Information, Hon Bagbin painted a rather gloomy picture of the nation’s Housing sector, stressing that the situation required a government action that is bold and swift to reduce Ghana’s huge Housing deficit. In doing so, he said, the Mills administration will ensure transparency in all its actions.

Hon Bagbin also hinted that the STX Housing Loan agreement has been revised with some amendments made to some specific provisions, but failed to give details.

He also rejected claims that Ghanaian companies will not benefit from the Housing deal, insisting that all the 30,000 houses will be built only by Ghanaian Contractors.

Hon Bagbin also disclosed that the Ghanaian economy will reap massive benefits from the STX Housing deal.

He further called for unity of purpose to help deal with the nation’s Housing Sector crisis, but insisted that the Mills administration is not afraid to make the right decisions and the right choices even if they are not politically popular in order to improve the basic living standards of Ghanaians.

citifmonline.com

The Minority in Parliament on Tuesday questioned government over what action it had taken after her vain appeal to the Public Utility and Regulatory Commission (PURC) to review the tariff increases.

The Minority believes that it was an empty talk, a statement issued by the Minority and signed by Mr. Kwame Ampofo Twumasi, Member for Nkoranza South, said.

Government should come out with workable interventions that would mitigate the hardships associated with the hikes as Volta River Authority, Ghana Grid Company and the Electricity Company of Ghana had been starved of resources since the last year of 2009.

It is not surprising the companies said they would have to push the cost to the consumer or fold up and throw the whole country into hellish darkness if they were not resourced by government.

The statement noted that this led to the hikes in tariffs for electricity and water as announced by PURC on May 31, 2010, adding, the PURC said a total of 1.9 million Ghana cedis was required by the companies to generate, transmit and distribute power, of which 1.2 billion was needed by the regulated market for the seven month commencing June 1, 2010 to December 2010.

The statement said government was trumpeting that it would absorb 49 million Ghana cedis however, the reality was that with a population of 24 million the subsidy translated into about two cedis per citizen for a year which in sum gave a figure of 0.17 or 1.70 per month.

It noted that while the minimum wage inched from 2.65 to 3.11, a mere increase of 17 per cent, the poor worker was to pay a minimum of 89 per cent for electricity alone and 32 per cent for water added to transport fares was too much.

Already, more than six million Ghanaian live below the poverty level and the increases would exacerbate the situation so “where is the I care for you choreography that was touted by the candidate Mills.”

It also noted that evidence on the ground points contrary to the 89 per cent increment by the PURC, “for example, the textile industry would experience a leap from 0.09 GHp per Kilowatt hour to 0.27 pesewas, which works out to 300 per cent”.

It again stated that the mining and timber milling companies were seriously affected adding, an average middle level timber mill at current rate spends about 100,000 Ghana cedis on electricity per month whilst the mining companies pay more than 1.2 billion per month.

It said water sector has also registered between 21 to 32 per cent increase for documented consumers adding, the Minister had confirmed the rather atrocious situation of massive wastage and even fraud in the system when he conceded that non-tariff water was in excess of 50 per cent treated water produced.

The statement noted that people of the country deserve better than the hypocrisy being displayed by the Mills government.

GNA

The NPP Member of Parliament for Manhyia has asked the Minister Water Resources, Works and Housing to bring the STX deal to Parliament for debate and stop the unnecessary PR gimmicks.

Mr Mathew Opoku-Prempeh told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show host Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah that Tuesday’s press conference by Mr Alban Bagbin was needless, and the comments at that press conference quite unfortunate.

He said if the concerns of the Minority that necessitated the withdrawal of the $1.5 billion deal had been addressed, the minister should lay the bill before the House and desist from populist political-point-scoring media blitz.

Works and Housing Minister, Alban Bagbin, accused the Minority in Parliament of double speaking and opposing the deal with the Korean construction firm that will see 30,000 housing units built for the security services. He claims the Minority’s conduct amounted to saying, ‘yes we want the houses to be built, but no we don’t want the houses to be built’ adding that “What the dire state of affairs in the sector is calling for is at this time is certainly not double talk.”

This minister is reported as saying the Minority NPP MPs were jealous because if the deal goes through, it will put the ruling NDC in a very positive light and boost its chances of winning a stream of elections at the expense of the opposition NPP.

But Dr Opoku-Prempeh said he wished the minister, who is also a former Majority Leader, did not make such comments because he, Mr Bagbin withdrawing the deal a fortnight ago, conceded that the Minority’s concerns were genuine.

According to the Manhyia MP, Mr Bagbin told the media in the immediate aftermath of the withdrawal that the Attorney-General’s advice on the deal had been ignored.

Dr Opoku-Prempeh said the minister had argued in Parliament that the document before the House was a draft, asking, “how could Parliament [be asked to] approve a draft?

For him, Mr Bagbin who publicly said the president ordered the withdrawal of the deal because due diligence had to be done, could not be faulting the Minority for raising the issues. That is double standard, he noted.

The MP also took issues with the delay in laying the bill before the House for the MPs to deliberate on before it rises Tuesday, next week.

“If the bill comes back to Parliament and it is the best for Ghana, I will support it. I’m not going to say I will not support it because am an NPP member. That is not what any opposition member is saying,” he stated.

Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Parliament on Tuesday went into a close door sitting an hour after business of the day started to consider two loan agreements for the Ministry of Defence.

The first loan agreement is between the government of Ghana and Fr Lurssen Werft GmbH & Co. KG of Germany for $ 37,867,500.

When approved it will be used for the purchase and refurbishment of two former German Navy Fast Attack Craft Type S143, setting-to-work of the ships, supply of equipment, inventory and spares, training of crews and the transportation of the ships to Ghana.

The second loan is Buyer’s Credit agreement between the government of Ghana and the Poly Technologies Inc. of Beijing China for an amount of $ 100,000,000.00.

It will be used for the procurement of strategic equipment to re-equip the Ghana Army and the Ghana Air Force and also improve barracks accommodation for the soldiers.

GNA

 

The Electoral Commission (EC), would conduct a Parliamentary by-election in the Atiwa constituency on Tuesday, August 31.

This is to fill the vacancy created in Parliament as a result of the death of the Member of Parliament for the constituency.

A statement issued in Accra on Tuesday and signed by Mr Christian Owusu-Parry, Acting Director of Public Affairs, said that the EC would accept nominations for the election from Monday, August 9, to Tuesday, August 10, between 0900 hours and 1200 hours and 1300 hours and 1600 hours each day at the district office of the Commission at Kwabeng.

“Nomination forms may be obtained from the Returning Officer at the district office of the Commission at Kwabeng or the Regional Office in Koforidua during working hours,” it added.

The Commission further reminded all political parties and qualified individuals interested in contesting the election that the filing fee for the election is GH¢500.

“All interested political parties and individuals are to take note of the dates and act accordingly,” the statement said.

The late Kwasi Annoh Ankamah, Member of Parliament for Atiwa, died on July 1, in London after a protracted illness.

Story by:Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh

Parliamentary select committee on Defense and Interior, on Thursday expressed shock at the deplorable living conditions of the police at barracks of the Central Police Station in Accra.

The committee members wondered how the 240 police officers, both Junior and Senior, ranging from Constable to Inspector and their families of about five or more live in single room apartments.

This came to light when the committee led by Mr. Alfred Agbesi, Member for Ashaiman, paid a visit to the Accra Regional Central Police Station.

They were taken round by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Madam Rose Bio Atinga and Superintendent Sarpong Aboagye.

It was realized that due to the appalling situation in the tiny rooms, the police personnel have turned their kitchens into sleeping rooms with some of their belongings kept outside at the mercy of the weather.

The police administration have also made available a big hall known as “ reserve room” where about twenty police officers live and some pass the night on their verandas because of congestion in the one bedroom.

The toilets and bathrooms which are more of public Kumasi Ventilated Improved Pit(KVIP) and public bathrooms are nothing to write home about as the members who entered to see quickly rushed out.

DCOP, Atinga took members into the living rooms of some Inspectors for the committee members to have first hand knowledge of the problem.

She said the barracks was built during colonial time and was adequate and spacious enough to contain the 3,600 police in Accra so some of the officers stayed outside the barracks and reported for duty.

She said the lack of accommodation was affecting their ability to do guard duty as she noted that banks and “Forex” bureaux were springing up but their request for police services can not met due to the accommodation problems.

DCOP Atinga called on the members to fight for the police with regards to the accommodation.

At the police station, Superintendent Mr Sarpong Aboagye, told the team that the cell is for 50 inmates but the number had increased to 91 without any space for expansion.

Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Member for New Juaben, said the committee would report to Parliament for the necessary steps to ensure that the basic facilities needed by the security agencies were provided.

Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah, Member for Afigyasi-Sekyere West, said concepts should be developed for the construction of two bedroom flats for the police and if necessary three bedrooms for them to live decently.

Mr. Daramani-Sakande Adamu, Member for Bawku Central, presented four emergency lamps to the police to facilitate their work during electricity blackout.

Source: GNA

Parliament on Thursday ratified the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance which seeks to secure the gains of democratic governance in Africa.

It seeks to entrench a culture of change of political power through the holding of regular free and transparent elections. The charter reflects these democratic traits by outlining the rights and responsibility of political parties including opposition parties.

African Union members that accede to the charter will commit themselves to establishing and strengthening independent and impartial national electoral bodies responsible for management of elections and to ensure that there is a binding code of conduct during and after the election period.

Ghana is the sixth country to accede to the charter, the rest of which are Lesotho, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Mauritania.

Mr. Francis Osei-Sarfo, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, in a report submitted on the floor of the House said the adoption of the charter was in response to the recent unconstitutional changes experienced by some Heads of States in recent times.

He noted that the charter required the ratification of at least fifteen member states for it to be operational however, currently only six member states have ratified it.

He observed that the ratification of the charter would not supersede the already existing favourable provisions on democracy and good governance in Ghana but to complement it.

He said since Ghana was the beacon of democracy and good governance in Africa and that Ghana must not merely sign and ratify the charter but must be seen to be playing frontal role in ensuring that other countries ratify the agreement.

Ms. Shirley Ayokor Botchway, Member for Weija, said the charter encourages member states on the need to embrace and defend democracy and that member states should ensure free and fair elections.

She said member states must encourage full and active participation and ensure that people in their respective countries enjoy human rights as enshrined in the provisions of the charter.

Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, Member for Tain, said it was time African countries took election monitoring serious and called for the total condemnation of power sharing.

The Member for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, urged the government of Ghana to consider as part of her international obligations to create diplomatic avenues that would persuade other African countries to ratify the charter.

Alhaji Mohammed -Mubarak Muntaka, Member for Asawase, said African states must find a way of diffusing the winner-take-all principle in elections.

He noted that “the way Ghanaians handle their former presidents” was not good enough for democracy and called on the government to do more in making them secure after serving the nation.

Mr. Ambrose Dery, Deputy Minority Leader, said so far only few African countries had ratified it adding that it was an urgent matter that should be treated with dispatch.

He was hopeful that Ghana‘s ratification would influence other countries to do so.

Mr. Rashid Pelpuo, Deputy Majority Leader, said signing this charter must deepen Ghana’s democratic culture to the extent that the root of this democratic culture must affect even students and appealed to all Ghanaians to respect the rights of others.

Source :adomfmonline.com