Month: December 2012

Members of Parliament-elect to form the Sixth Parliament under the Fourth Republic have been undergoing orientation as they prepare for inauguration next year.

Early Thursday, the bio-data of the MPs were taken for IDs that will grant them access into the House in January.

Director of Public Affairs of Ghana’s Parliament, Jones Kugblenu told Joy News the process is a very important one.

“This is a simple process where members are required to give details of their background, date of birth, next of kin and all that. After which an ID would be issued to enable them enter the chamber on the day of inauguration. It is a very important exercise for all members-elect.”

He noted that both new and sitting Members of Parliament trooped in to register today.

Some of the MPs also talked about the programme and their preparation for the next Parliament.

NPP MP-elect for Bunkpurugu, Solomon Boar is hoping the next parliament takes off smoothly next year.

He was certain of lobbying to get some amenities like water that his constituency lacks to the area, irrespective of which party forms the next government in 2013.

Member of Parliament-elect for Odododiodio Nii Lantey Vanderpuije said fresh members must quickly learn from senior members of the house to be able to contribute meaningfully during proceedings.

He said with the kind of people who would be in the next parliament, the house would be full of excitement and expectation.

Myjoyonline.com

President John Dramani Mahama is expected to deliver his message of the State of the Nation on Friday 4th January 2013 in accordance with article 67of the constitution.

The message of the State of the Nation is an annual ritual which seeks to inform the public on how the various sectors of the economy is performing and how the governments intends to improve the current situation.

The Majority Leader Cletus Avoka who disclosed this on the floor of Parliament while presenting the Business Statement for the week ending Friday 4th January 2013, stated that the House stand dissolved on Sunday 6th January 2013.

He noted that Bills of urgent nature 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.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Parliament on Wednesday approved a Mixed Credit Agreement of 19.1 million dollars to fund critical reforms to alleviate poverty in farming communities to boost agricultural productivity to ensure food security for the country.

The mixed credit agreement comprises a financing agreement between the government of Ghana and the Arab bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) for an amount of 8.6 million dollars and an OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) for an amount of 10.5 million dollars to finance the Integrated Rural Development Project (IRDP).

The IRDP is part of government’s efforts to improve agricultural productivity under the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda, 2010 to 2013.

The project is to promote integrated rural development by increasing house incomes through enhanced farming, marketing and distribution chain.

The 8.6 million BADEA loan has an interest rate of one per cent, a grace period of 10 years and a repayment period of 20 years, while the OFID 10.5 million loan attracts an interest rate of 1.5 per cent, a service charge of one per cent, a grace period of five years and a maturity period of 20 years.

Mr James Klustse Avedzi, Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, who presented both agreements to the House for approval, said both agreements satisfied government’s requirement for concessionary borrowing.

He said the project would benefit some 20 districts across the ten regions that have agricultural development potentials and address the high poverty rate among farmers.

Under the project, farmers would have access to credit, technology and social services, as well as reliable and ready market for their produce and the strengthening of institutional capacities.

The selected districts for the project include Ga East in the Greater Accra Region; Mfantseman and Upper Denkyira West in the Central Region; Fanteakwa and Upper Manya Krobo in the Eastern Region; Nzema East and Wassa Amenfi in Western Region; Asunafo North, Sene and Nkoranza North in the Brong Ahafo Region.

The rest are the Afigya Kwabre and Ahafo Ano South in the Ashanti Region; Bunkpurugu Yunyoo and Nanumba South in the Northern Region; Ho and Nkwanta North in the Volta Region; Talensi Nabdam and Kassena Nankana West in the Upper East Region; Sissala East and Wa West in the Upper West Region.

GNA

A Special Parliamentary Committee on Poverty Redeuction strategy has recommended that continous effort must be made to increase resources to support the activities of Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and to also improve the capacity of personnel to effectively implement their development plans.

The Committee which revealed the 2010 Annual Progress Report on the implementation of the Ghana Shared Growth and Developmental Agenda 2010-2013 observed that more financial resources were transferred to MMDAs to support the implementation of their developmental plans.

According to the committee, total revenue to MMDAs of the total budgetary resources including DACF, HIPC, IGF, funds in percentage terms increased from 3.4% in 2009 to 5.3% in 2010.

On the other hand, total Central Government transfer including DACF, HIPC, IGF, funds (excluding grants) increased from 3.1% in 2009 to 4.8% in 2010.

On slum upgrading, the Committee further noted that efforts at improving capacity for effective planning and management of human settlement are being hampered by weak human resource base of the Town and Country Planning Departments in the country.

Presenting a report, the Chairman of the Special Committee on Poverty Reduction, Hon. Imoro K. Yakubu, noted that about 60% of MMDAs currently do not have physical planning units which allows for the continous sprawling of haphardly erected structures leading to the creation of slums.

Giving the current rate of urbanization in the country, the committee noted that the issue of slum upgrading should be a national priority.

It therefore recommended that capacity of the Town and Country Planning Department be enhanced, while ensuring that MMDAs have physical planning unit especially in the newly created districts with qualified personnel to integrate slum management into urban development.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The 31st December Women’s Movement has congratulated the 28 women who have been elected into Parliament for the next four years.

A statement issued and signed by an executive member of the DWM Ms. Sylvia Aholu congratulated the newly elected legislators for their admirable sense of perseverance in helping to change the status quo as far as women participation in politics is concerned.

“We believe women have a huge responsibility to help change the political direction of this country and it is heart-warming that in 2012, 133 women contested parliamentary seats, 30 more than the previous election”.

“We congratulate all women who presented themselves to the electorate and enjoin more women to muster courage and seek political office at various levels.

The Movement however called on the newly elected lady MPs to contribute constructively to the new parliament when it convenes in the new year to serve as an inspiration not only to other women but to convince the electorate that women have the capacity to represent and defend the rights of their constituents.

We wish to use this opportunity to wish all Ghanaians a reflective Christmas and a hopeful new year.

Myjoyonline.com

Ghanaian lawmakers have taken what one insider called “a firm decision” not to review the recently approved pay levels of the members of the Executive.

The decision was made after closed-door deliberations among lawmakers today.

One senior source told Citi News reporter, Richard Sky on condition of anonymity, that the decision of the House is expected to be communicated to the President in a formal letter on Friday, December 21, 2012.

President John Mahama in November directed the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning to withhold the payment of the newly approved salary increment.

In a statement, President Mahama requested parliament to consider a review the emoluments to align more realistically with the original recommendations of the Professor Ewurama Addy Committee.

The salary increases meant that the President was to take home, GHC 12,000 every month while his deputy took home GHC 10,500. Ministers and their deputies were also receive salaries ranging from GHC 8,000 and GHC 9,000.

Citifmonline.com