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Right to Information Bill: NPP blames Majority for delays in its passage

Minority members of Parliament have blamed the majority side for the delay in passing the Right to Information Bill.

The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Albert Kan-Dapaah, stated that the bill might never become law considering the slow pace of work on it.

According to him, “with barely two weeks to go on recess, and despite all the promises which had been made earlier, I note that the very important Right to Information Bill is again not featured in the business statement for next week.”

Mr. Kan-Dapaah thus implored the House through the Speaker to accord the bill the necessary attention it needs to ensure its immediate passage.

He also called on the majority side to make clear their intention on the bill saying “if they don’t think it should be passed, they should come to this house and tell us.”

He further added that without the Right to Information Bill, accountability to the people of Ghana is deficient.

But the Chairman of the Joint Committee handling the bill, Emmanuel Kwasi Bandua said the Majority has no intentions of delaying the passage of the Bill.

He attributed the delay to the change in institution handling the bill. “At the committee level, we believed that an independent institution should handle and operationalize the bill so we decided to pass it on to CHRAJ.”

He however stated that committee is expecting a write up from CHRAJ to enable them finalize the report and make the necessary recommendations to the Members of the House.

Citifmonline.com/Ghana

Betty Mould-Iddrisu Threatens Suit Against Ken Agyapong

Lawyers for the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Betty Mould-Iddrisu have threatened to take legal action against the Member of Parliament for Assin North Kennedy Agyapong for his recent remarks about their client.

Mr Agyapong is reported to have stated on Accra based Oman FM that the NPP will jail Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu if the party wins power in December for what he says is her complicity in some judgment debt payments by the NDC government.

Though the party has dissociated itself from the comments, lawyers for Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu say they will seek a legal clarification on the matter.

Speaking to XYZ News, the lead counsel for Mrs. Mould Iddrisu, Nana Ato Dadzie insisted that their client is innocent of all their allegations being leveled against her.

“The legal team has requested for a copy of the comment he is said to have made. Nobody is above the law and everybody must respect the right of others in this country.

“The PAC is investigating the matter and I think that comments like this and that of Hon. Asiamah undermine the integrity of the committee”.

Source: radioxyzonline.com

GHs2.6 billion to be approved as supplementary budget

Government has submitted an amount of GHs2,613,407,346.00 for approval by Parliament as supplementary budget for 2012.

The amount is to enable government to execute its developmental projects for the rest of the year and also pay wages on the single spine salary arrears.

Delivering a statement on the Floor of the House, the Minister of Finance Dr. Kwabena Duffour parted the back of government for achieving high economic gains despite the harsh economic conditions that confronted the country.

Touching on the Public Sector Wage Bill, he noted the remaining amount of GHs991 million which is the payment of deferred wages resulting from the migration of employees to the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) will be paid at the end of July 2012.

This he said its in addition to the 18% increase base pay granted to public sector workers this year for which the deferred payment covering January 2012 will be paid in August.

Dr. Duffour said the additional cost of the pay increase is estimated at GHs1,100 million which will be met partially by savings of about GHs512 million expected from the ongoing tension and pay roll orders.

Touching on non packed revenues, the Minister stated that fees and other charges related to the granting of stability agreement are expected to generate some GHs525 million as revenue to government.

He added that an amount of GHs55.3 million is also expected to be realized as gains from petroleum hedging activities that commenced in 2010.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMps.gov.gh

I will deliver more projects when retained – Joe Gidisu

The Member of Parliament for Central Tongu Joe Gidisu has promised to step up infrastructural development in his constituency when retained as the MP for the area in the upcoming December election.

According to him, the constituency and the Volta region as a whole unfortunately has an infrastructural deficit especially in the roads sector and that he is committed to ensuring a significant level of development is achieved.

Speaking to Ghanamps.gov.gh, Hon. Joe Gidisu stated that he together with his ministry is looking at ways to increase the construction of feeder roads which presently are few in the area, while noting that the trunk roads such as the Sogakofe- Adidome-Ho road on the other hand has reached an appreciable level.

The said the Juapong -Volo-Adidome network will soon have contractors posted to the site to start work.

Touching on his expectation of the elections, Hon. Joe Gidisu noted that the quality of work done by the NDC government is ample evidence and put the government in pole position to once again win power in the elections which promises to be keenly contested between the NPP and NDC parties.

He said though not sounding complacent, he sees the upcoming election as a ‘done deal’ with him emerging as the MP elect for the area to continue with his good works.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Finance Minister to present supplementary budget on Wednesday

Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, will on behalf of President John Evans Atta Mills present a review of the performance of the economy on Wednesday, July 18 to Parliament.

The Minister would also request for supplementary estimate in accordance with Article 179 (8) of the 1992 Constitution.

The supplementary estimate being requested for is informed by the receipt of certain inflows and some savings made in expenditure management.

A press release issued by Abdul Karim Ahmed, Media Liaison for the Ministry and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the estimate would seek approval to incur additional expenditure in certain areas including the Single Spine Pay Policy and election-related expenditure.

The release said in presenting the report, Parliament would be appraised of 2011 economic developments based on the actual data for the full year.

“The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning will also use the opportunity to inform the House of the current economic situation and performance of the Ghanaian economy for the first six months of … 2012,” it added.

Dr Duffuor would also discuss the projections and policy objectives for the remaining period of 2012.

GNA

MP cautions NDC against washing ‘dirty linen’ in public

The Member of Parliament for Gomoa West, Mr Francis Kojo Arthur, has expressed concern about the behaviour of some members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), saying, such people felt they had not achieved their aim of joining the party.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Dawurampong, Mr Arthur said the rift in the NDC clearly proved that some people joined the party with ulterior motives and had turned against it because they did not achieve their aim.

He appealed to such people to note that it was dangerous to join a society with a “predetermined ambitions”, and urged them to demonstrate that they joined the party out of love for it and that they would continue to be part of the “Better Ghana” agenda set by the government.

He noted with concern that at this crucial time when the Party needed peace to embark on aggressive campaign, some members rather preferred to malign the government and some prominent members to cause the party to lose the upcoming elections.

Mr Arthur reminded them that they would feel more secured if the party stayed in power rather than going into opposition.

“Washing our dirty linen in public would do no one in the party any good,” he said.

He said the party, as a human institution, was bound to make mistakes but urged members to use laid down channels to address such issues instead of rushing to the media.

Mr Arthur said “this is the time we must all rally behind President John Evans Atta Mills and campaign for him to win the upcoming elections to enable him to continue with the good works he is doing to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians”.

Mr Arthur appealed to the New Patriotic Party to stop making the NDC an escape goat for the NPP’s actions and inactions, which had made the nation to incur huge judgment debts.

GNA

22 questions to be answered in Parliament this week

Twenty two (22) questions are expected to be answered by five Ministers who will be attending parliament this week.

They include the Ministers Employment and Social Welfare, Hon. E.T Mensah, Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Mike Hammah, Minister of Education, Hon. Lee Ocran, Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and Minister of Roads and Highways, Hon. Joe Gidisu.

Questions to be asked would include, How many jobs have been created since 2009, How soon the medical students of the University of Cape Coast will enjoy facilities like their other counterparts in other schools in Ghana in the area of fee- paying.

These were contained in the Business Statement for the week ending 20th July which was presented in the House by the Deputy Majority Chip Whip George Kuntu Blankson on behalf of the Majority Leader Cletus Avoka.

He said Bills may be presented to the House for First Reading and those of urgent naure may be taken through the various stages in one day in accordance with Order 119. Papers and committee reports may also be presented to the House.

Hon George Kuntu Blankson noted that having regard to the tall order of Business to consider within the brief period before recess, the Business Committee has decided that the House have extended sitting and may sit on Monday 23rd July 2012 and also have extended sittings each day when the need arises.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Lengthy arguments on judgment debts counter productive – Adu Asare

The Member of Parliament for Adenta Kojo Adu- Asare, has waded into the ongoing discussion on the controversial issue of judgment debt saying the length of time used in arguing about the matter is counter- productive to the country.

According to him, nine months of blame game between the two leading political parties, NPP and NDC on several media platforms on whose action caused the country to pay huge monies as judgment debt without any concrete solution proffered to prevent its reoccurrence, is doing the nation a great disservice as the ‘bread and butter’ issues that confront the ordinary person begs attention from government.

Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo Show on Monday, Hon. Adu Asare recounted the various judgment debt cases such as the Woyome, CP, Vamed, Waterville, African Automobile Limited, Isofoton, and City and Country Waste Limited, adding that he has decided not to spend quality airtime on the issue not because he has nothing to say but because he is worried about the trend the issue has assumed.

“Skewing all discussions on radio and other platforms towards judgment dept is worrisome, if this is all politics is about then it is not exciting and some of us will find it difficult to continue talking about it” he said.

Hon. Adu Asare noted that most of the deals which result in the state having to pay such debts have details of the contracts worked on by technocrats who are civil servants, however these officials suffer little or no blame for the mess caused.

He charged the government to prosecute culpable public officials who are found to have negligently caused such needless judgment payments to serve as a deterrent to others who have such intentions.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Ellembelle MP Donates 100 Bags Of Cement To Basake Community

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmnauel Armah-Kofi Buah, has donated 100 bags of cement to the Basake community in the Western Region.

The donation follows a request forwarded to his office to assist the community complete 2 projects – a place of conveniece and a school block, it had initiated to improve the well-being of the people.

The MP who made the donation at an impressive ceremony at Basake, was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Joyce Buah, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Daniel K.Eshun and some NDC executives.

Mr Buah, who doubles as the Deputy Minister for Energy, said the impressive reception accorded him in every community that he visited was ample testimony that the economic fortunes of the people was improving.

The MP further pledged 15 street light bulbs to the community as part of measures to ensure security during the night.

Chief of the town, Nana Bonya Kofi who chaired the function, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Mr Buah and prayed for God’s guidance and blessings for him in order to continue with the good works to better the lot of the people in the area.

GNA

Setting up committees to probe judgment debts unnecessary- Mampong MP

The Member of Parliament for Mampong, Hon. Francis Addai-Nimoh has checked against the establishment of a commission or a committee to probe recent issues of payment of judgment debt which has become topical in the past one year.

According to him, the commissions are not necessary especially as there are enough laws and regulation in place to ensure that the nation does not incur unnecessary debts.

The MP’s statement comes in the wake of huge judgment debts that has been paid to companies such as Construction Pioneers (CP), Rock shell, and Africa Automobile Limited (AAL).

Contributing to a discussion on e-TV Ghana’s Breakfast TV show on Friday, Hon. Addai Nimo said regulations such as the Public Procurement Law and the Financial Administrative Law if well applied will save the country from spending the ordinary tax payers’ money on such avoidable judgment debts.

He called for the strengthening of the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of all the Ministries to serve as a check on government projects on the dealings to protect the public purse.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh