GRi in Parliament 13 12 - 2001
Fate of private member's motion to be decided Thursday
Parliament adopts Inland Rice Loan Report
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 December 2001 - The fate of a private member's motion calling on the government to reduce the price of petroleum products would be decided on Thursday as a ruling on a preliminary objection raised on its legitimacy was deferred.
Mr Abraham Asante, the Minority Spokesperson on Energy, who had sponsored the motion, barely spoke five words when Mr Nkrabea Effa-Dartey challenged the legitimacy of the motion on point of order.
Mr Freddy Blay, First Deputy Speaker, who was in the chair declined to rule on it saying he had a personal opinion on the matter and therefore deferred it to Thursday when Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker, who admitted the motion, would preside.
Mr Effa-Dartey said the member brought the motion to the house through a wrong procedure and asked that it should not be allowed to stand. Quoting Order 93 of the House, he said the member should have come by way of a motion of rescission before stating his case.
He said the House had dealt with the issue of petroleum product pricing when it approved the Mid-year review of the 2001 budget and, therefore, the House would have to rescind its decision on the issue before it could be re-opened.
Mr Doe Adjaho, the Minority Chief Whip, called the objection diversionary and misconceived. He said the House approved of taxes on petroleum products and their prices as it was not its duty to fix them.
The Whip said the motion was only seeking to urge the government to reduce the ex-pump price of petroleum products.
Papa Owusu Ankoma, the Majority Leader, had implored Mr Blay to defer the ruling on the matter since whatever ruling he gave on the matter would be misconstrued.
He said since he did not admit the motion in question and that he had a personal opinion on the issue, it would be fair if Mr Adjetey ruled on it.
Mr Ken Dzirrasah, Second Deputy Speaker, said the Leader's remark was an affront to the chair. "You are in charge and everything is under your control," he told Mr Blay. Papa Owusu Ankoma said:" I do not seek to question the integrity of the
Speaker.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 December 2001 - Parliament on Wednesday adopted a loan report of 19.47 million dollars for Inland Valleys Rice Development Project for increased rice production in 17 districts of five regions.
The regions are: Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central, Eastern and Western Regions. The African Development Fund is providing the loan to be administered by the Agricultural Development Bank and repaid over 40 years, with a grace period of 10 years at an interest rate of one per cent.
Mr Eugene Atta Agyepong, Vice Chairman, Finance Committee, presenting the report said the project was to support government's agricultural growth and development initiatives by expanding and improving rice cultivation.
The project would involve about 9,000 small-holders rice farmers made up 450 farmers' groups and associations, 50 mill operators and 100 traders within the private sector.
Selection of the farmers was based on their experience and know-how in rice production following topographical assessment of inland valleys as well as the physical accessibility and distance to site from farmers' villages.
Mr Agyepong said the benefits to be derived included, application of improved technology in inland valley rice cultivation that would increase yield per hectare from 1.5 tons to 4.5 tons and would cover an area of 4,500 hectares.
There would be an improvement of 200 kilometres of feeder roads and upgrading of 80 kilometres of field access tracks in the 17 districts.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com