The Togolese technical team negotiating maritime boundary with their Ghanaians counterpart have raised issues with the Ghanaian navy occupying positions on the Ghanaian-Togo Sea that is of contention.

Mr. Hubert Matchonnawe Bakai leader of the technical team for Togo made this remarks at a third meeting of both countries in Accra.

According to the chief of Cabinet High Council for the sea, their issue has nothing to do with exploration, but as negotiation goes on some Ghanaian navy are placed on sea which has oil deposit belonging to both countries.

He reminded the technical team that both countries need to keep to the peaceful negotiation both countries have started, which was initiated by Presidents of both countries.

Mr. Hubert Matchonnawe Bakai further called for amendment of the agenda for the day saying, Togo does not agree with the agenda which was to be laid by the Ghanaian team leader Lawrence Apaalse.

The agenda for the meeting was conclusion of the last meeting, frame work for negotiating, applicable laws and methodology, on technical parameters, land boundary terminus, baseline/base-point, nautical charts and software.

“Both parties should respect the united Nations convention of the Law of the sea,  to ensure there is stability between the two countries we did not fix any time for the signing of agreement between the two countries. We promise commitment in accordance with existing laws subject to the final deliberations that would come out of today’s meeting there was improper placement of the navy on the sea”.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

According to the Ranking member on Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, as the House prepare to approve the estimate of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

“We would raise this matter and scrutinize further we would put our issues strongly across, we need a ceiling the way we are going, we complain that there is no money the little money we get we are using that to pay a ballooning government?”

Mr. Samuel Okudzato Ablakwa lamented that as a nation we are always increasing the ceiling, in 2019 for government machinery we are looking at one thousand, six hundred and fourteen, where we are going is that the best way to use our scares resources.

In an interview ahead of debate on the budget estimate approval he pointed out that there are a lot of duplications and role conflict, “it is a total waste of the tax payers’ money, we cannot continue to waste the tax payers’ money.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Parliament by Majority decision has given approval to the phase one of the Sinohydro agreement to be used purposely in road construction across the country with a total amount of ($646,637,879.74) dollars for a period of fifteen years.

Government of Ghana is to undertake a total contract price of Sinohydro using the proceeds from the sales of refined bauxite as a source of funds.

The House divided on the terms and conditions of the facility where the Minority was with the view that the interest rate on the facility is too high and it is not in the interest of Ghanaians.

Cassiel Ato Forson the Ranking member on Finance in an interview indicates that he does not get the understanding of a facility which is four hundred and twenty million dollars that Ghana would have to be paying and an interest of one hundred and fifty million dollars as interest and insurance when to pay back the facility.

However the Majority side have said the facility is going to bring the best in terms of road constructions and that Ghana is going to get the best when the project begins.

“We were in this country, when in opposition they talk about borrowing, we never knew they would come and be borrowing like this”, Ato Forson lamented.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has said some actions have been initiated to expand the 3 District Water Supply Scheme among others assessment of the water production.

According to the Minister the  3 District Water Supply Scheme was designed to serve a ten year projected population and currently serving a total of one hundred and sixty-two small towns and rural communities in six Districts; Ningo-Prampram, Shai Ossudoku, Ada East, Ada West, Central Tongu and North Tongu.

“Mr. Speaker, a private investor has carried out an assessment on the system and has proposed an investment of USD 27, 600,00 to meet the current total water demand, but because of possible delays, the Ministry together with the Finance Ministry is also exploring new ways to mobilize funds to improve water production and service delivery”, she disclosed.

The Minster made this remarks when Samuel Nartey George wanted to know the current state of the expansion work on the 3 district water project now 6 district Water project.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Minister of Health Kwaku Agyeman Manu has said the Ghana Health Service through the National Health Insurance Authority pays approximately One Hundred and Eighty Thousand Ghana cedis (180,000) monthly to health providers in the Talensi-Nabdam District.

According to the Health Minister they had expected to have paid all 2017 claims by now as the reconciliation exercise shows.

He added that the NHIA-GHS-Word Bank project has led to some missing payment of CHPs and Health Centers which are being rectified now.

“The last payment made to the Talensi-Nabdam District was Friday 16th November this year in the sum of GHc 589, 849.93”

In addition he pointed out that there are currently twenty-one (21) accredited providers under the Talensi-Nabdam NHIS District, 5 GHS Health Centres, 1 GHS primary hospital, 10 GHS CHPS, 1 CHAG Health Centre, 2 CHAG CHPS, 1 Private Health Centre and 1 Private Laboratory.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

Minister of National Security, Albert Kan Dapaah has commended a delegation of Ghanaians and Togolese for holding a third meeting in Ghana to address maritime boundary issues with the initial move by the two Presidents of Ghana and Togo.

He commended the nomination of focal persons negotiating to facilitate regular contacts and maintain communications between both sides aimed at enhancing and sharing of relevant, vital information amongst the parties and to facilitate efficient preparations for meetings.

According to the Minister the negotiation which is the third has come a long way in the quest to enhance a mutual interest for the benefit of the two countries that has existed between “us”.

Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah pointed out that the underlying principle is to drive an outcome that is grounded in international law utilizing all the established principle governing matters of this nature.

There has been significant progress made in the last meeting held in Lome from the 30th to 31st October, 2018 during which both parties agreed on a work programme with timelines for negotiations as well as provisional arrangements in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the law of the sea (UNCLOS) whiles negotiations for the formal delimitation of the maritime boundary continues.

The National Security Minister in his welcome address indicated that he hopes the meeting would lead to the closer and finality of the maritime boundary negotiations.

By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com