GRi in Parliament 20 - 12 - 2001
Central bank to be independent of government control
Parliament receives Vice President
Report on 41 million dollar housing loan adopted
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 December 2001 19, GNA - Parliament on Wednesday took the Bank of Ghana Bill through the seconding with members declaring massive support for it.
The Bill sought to make the central bank out of governmental control and to vest requisite powers into it to perform its functions effectively. It also reconfirmed the Bank of Ghana's role in credit control by endowing it with power, upon notifying the Minister of Finance, to use any instrument of control at its disposal to counteract any unusual movements in the money supply and to maintain and promote a balanced growth of the economy.
Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance, in summing up the debate on the bill said by that power the Bank of Ghana could not spend any money without seeking parliamentary approval.
He said even in emergencies the bank and the Accountant-General and the Minister of Finance had to confer before coming to Parliament for any expenditure. The House adopted the report from the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation on the Unit Trust and Mutual Fund Regulations 2001, LI 1695.
It also adopted the report on the joint committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Health on the National AIDS Commission Bill. The report between Ghana and United States on an agreement to co-operate in narcotics control in which the US would support the later with 384,000 dollars was also adopted.
GRi../
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Accra (Greater Accra) 20 December 2001 - Both sides of the House on Tuesday warmly received the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama on his working visit to Parliament.
Shouts of "yeah, yeah" greeted the Vice President when the Majority Leader, Papa Owusu-Ankomah introduced him to the House quoting portions of the Constitution and Standing Orders that allowed the Vice President to participate in the work of the House.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah said it was the government's respect for Parliament that had made the Vice President's visit possible. Hardly had he sat down than Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni NDC-Kumbungu on half of the Minority welcomed the Vice President to the House and said that his presence would enrich deliberations and that it would also make him appreciate the work of the House. He prayed that he would spend some time with members.
Mr Cletus Avoka NDC-Bawku West echoing the feelings of other members said the House at its sitting on Tuesday accepted the challenge the Vice President has thrown to members to undertake farming ventures.
He appealed to the Speaker to serve the Vice President with the Hansard so that he would appreciate the feelings of MPs on the issue and how the government would help the legislators to undertake farming.
The MPs protested when after only 20 minutes it was announced that the Vice President was leaving the House to attend to other important state affairs.
The Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey had to call back a host of MPs and ministers who were about to troupe out with the Vice President.
Mr Ala Adjetey said he did want the numbers in the Chamber to be reduced so that decision could not be taken on issues being discusses.
GRi../
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Accra (Greater Accra) 20 December 2001 - The Majority in Parliament and a few members of the Minority struggled to push through a 41 million loan agreement as Mr Johnson Aseidu Nkestia, NDC-Wenchi West, took an opposing stand, citing procedural irregularities and drawing followers in the process.
The Supplier Credit agreement between Ghana and Hycoproject Bratislavia A.S. of Slovakia was withdrawn on December 11, when it was tabled for debate after Mr Aseidu Nketsia discovered procedural hitches on it.
Wednesday's motion had to be settled by a head count that translated into 80 in favour, Zero against and 47 abstentions. The Wenchi West member said the report of the Joint Committee on Finance and Works and Housing was full of conflicting issues, adding that the accompanying letter from Cabinet was defective.
He said the report did not explain enough what uses the loan would be put to. “Government is not clear in its mind what it is going to use the money for."
Mr Osei Prempeh, Chairman of the Joint Committee, said procedure had been followed and that the member had mixed up his thoughts.
He said the agreement was withdrawn because there was a bit of confusion around it but "now all members are satisfied that there is no confusion." The loan is to be used to create land banks for development of housing units throughout the country.
GRi../
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