MPs want more funds for feeder roads maintenance

House extends sitting to pass VAT amendment law.

Accra (Greater Accra) 17 Dec. '99

Members of Parliament on Thursday urged the government to allocate a greater part of the Road Fund to the maintenance of feeder roads to boost economic activities in the rural communities.

They expressed the view that since feeder roads link most of the food and cash crop growing areas and constitute the largest in road network, it should enjoy the biggest chunk of funding through the Department of Feeder Roads.

In the disbursement of the fund as contained in the 1998 Annual Report of the Road Fund, the Department of Feeder Roads, out of the three road agencies, was allocated the lowest of 36.4 billion cedis.

The Ghana Highway Authority had 93.60 billion cedis, the biggest, while the Department of Urban Roads received 48.17 billion cedis.

They made the call in a debate to approve the Report of the Select Committee on Roads and Transport on the 1998 Annual Report of the Road Fund.

The report said the Ghana Road Fund was until 1997 managed by the Ministry of Finance as part of government's revenue but, with the enactment of the Road Fund Act 1997, Act 536, in July 1997, the Fund was "hived off and given a legal identity".

Act 536 states: "The fund is to finance routine, periodic maintenance and rehabilitation of public roads in the country and to assist the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the exercise of their functions relevant to public roads".

Moving for the approval of the report, Mr Dominic Azumah, Chairman of the Select Committee on Roads and Transport, commended the Board of the Fund for the good work done in its short period of existence.

The Board, he said, collected a net revenue of 188.8 billion cedis as against the budgeted target of 179.9 billion cedis for 1998.

He, however, attributed the favourable variance to the higher fuel levy and higher demand for diesel due to the energy crisis last year.

Mr Azumah, NDC Garu/Tempane, said based on the annual road and expenditure

programmes approved by the Board for the period under review, its secretariat disbursed a total of 180.0 billion cedis to the three beneficiary agencies for their programmes.

The Ghana Highway Authority was allocated 93.6 billion cedis, the Department of Urban Roads, 48.1 billion cedis, the Department of Feeder Roads, 36.4 billion cedis, while the sector Ministry received 1.8 billion cedis for road safety activities and emergency road maintenance works.

GRi../

Accra (Greater Accra) 17 Dec. '99

Parliament would extend its sitting to Tuesday 21 December, to enable it pass the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, Mr M A Seidu, the Deputy Majority Leader, announced when he presented the business statement for the tenth week.

The Bill will go through its second reading, consideration stage and the third reading on Monday under a certificate of urgency.

Parliament, which was expected to rise on Friday for the Christmas recess would during the extension consider urgent statements, questions, laying of papers, motions and resolutions.

The two-day extension would enable the House to complete its business arranged for this year.

The House was expected to rise on Friday, December 17.

Mr Seidu said there is the urgent need for the House to discharge its obligations in respect of measures arising out of crucial decisions taken at the recent consultative group meeting.

GRi../