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Month: February 2014

Parliament summons Roads Minister over UG’s road tolls

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Parliament’s committee on Roads and Transports has summoned the Minister for Roads and Highways for reportedly approving the University of Ghana’s decision to charge motorists, who ply its roads.

There has been an outpour of public criticisms against the decision by the premier university to charge tolls, ranging from Gh¢1 to Gh¢3 from motorists beginning Saturday, February 1.

The University authorities claim they have the backing of the Roads and Highways Minister, Alhaji Aminu Sulemana, to levy their roads in order to repay a loan the university secured from a bank to reconstruct its roads.

Two students of the university have filed a legal suit against the University in respect of the tolls at the Supreme Court, questioning the Constitutionality of the action.

But Vice Chairman of the Committee on Roads and Transport, Theophilus Tetteh-Chaie says Parliament, which reserves the right to authorize the levying of such road tolls, knows nothing about the development.

Mr. Tetteh-Chae told Joy FM on Monday that the decision by the university to take road tolls from the public is illegal.

“Once it is above the rate that is being applied elsewhere, I don’t think it is the right thing to do,” Mr. Tetteh-Chae said.

He explained: “It is not for the committee to actually make final decision on the issue but we should be briefed on the actual issue”.

Private legal practitioner, Kwame Akuffo says Parliament’s intervention has “come too late and seeks to stampede the final determination of the matter” in court.

Kwame Akuffo also disagrees with the move to halt the University authorities from collecting the tolls on the grounds that the roads are not public roads.

“So far as I’m concerned, the applicability of the tolls Act to the University’s roads is completely non-existent and the university is on firm grounds,” he emphasized.

Myjoyonline.com

Depreciation of cedi is not spiritual matter – Agyarko

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko has challenged the Archbishop of the Christian Action Faith Ministries, Nicholas Duncan Williams to be bold and speak to the mismanagement of the economy by the present administration.

According to him, the downward depreciation of the cedi which has already depreciated by three per cent against the major international currencies in one month is attributed to maladministration and nothing to do with spirituality which should require prayers to make the currency appreciate.

The US dollar, which sold at Ghc2.20 on the local foreign exchange market before Christmas last year, now sells at Ghc2.60. The British pound, which sold at Ghc3 now sells at Ghc4.20.

The euro and CFA are also selling at Ghc3.50 and Ghc4.80 respectively.

In a bid to rescue the local currency Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams at a church service over the weekend spiritually “commanded” the falling cedi to “rise”.

In a fervent prayer for the recovery of the fast depreciating cedi, the Presiding Bishop, said: “…I hold up the cedi with prayer and I command the cedi to recover and I declare the cedi will not fall; it will not fall any further. I command the cedi to climb. I command the resurrection of the cedi. I command and release a miracle for the economy”.

Archbishop Duncan-Williams also led his church to pray for President John Mahama, Finance Minister Seth Tekper and Central Bank Governor Dr Henry Kofi Wampah, for divine help and guidance to salvage the cedi.

However, contributing to a discussion on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo show on Monday, Hon. Kyeremanteng Agyarko stated that in as much as he is a Christian and believes in the power of God to change situation, the problem with the cedi is more of a human action or inaction and not spiritual.

“There is nothing God cannot do, yet he put man in charge of several things to manage, the issue with the cedi is about economic mismanagement. We’re always quick to blame the devil for so many things instead of doing introspection to see where the fault lies” he said.

Hon. Kyeremanteng Agyarko noted that the weakening of the cedi is the fallout of what transpired in the run up to the 2012 general election where huge sums of monies were spent by government for political gains.

GhanaMPs.gov.gh

Parliament directs Water company to suspend prepaid metering

Posted on by Fred GhanaMPs

The Ghana water company has been directed to present a comprehensive programme justifying proposal to roll out a prepaid metering system of water.

Works and Housing Committee of Parliament is demanding that the company furnishes them with the justification before it can be allowed to pilot the initiative.

The decision was taken after a closed door meeting between the Works and Housing Committee of Parliament, officials of Ghana Water Company and the Water Resources, Works and Housing minister.

Chairman of the committee David Tetteh Assuming tells Joy FM’s parliamentary correspondent Elton John Brobbey, officials of Ghana Water Company could not provide basic information demanded by the committee during the meeting.

Hence, he said, a directive was given to the company to abandon the project for now until a more detailed plan is presented.

Mr Assuming noted that the plan of issuing prepaid meters got to the public domain prematurely when the water company was at the planning stage.

He acknowledged that managers of the company are “mindful, they want to do it and do it well”.

For now a committee is working to come out with the details before rolling out the prepaid meters, he said.

Myjoyonline.com