GRi Parliament 24-02-99

Accra (Greater Accra), 24 Feb.

Mrs Rebecca Adotey, Deputy Minister of Communications-designate, said yesterday a National Communication Policy should "highlight on and promote national unity".

She said such a policy should also have a mechanism that would ensure a two-way information flow between the government and the governed so that policies and programmes for national development would be imbibed and effectively disseminated.

Mrs Adotey, was answering questions from the Parliamentary Appointments Committee vetting her for appointment as a Deputy Minister of Communications.

She said a segment of the policy should be devoted to trade and investment to boost Ghana's economic development.

The Deputy Minister-designate was scheduled for vetting last Friday but due to an objection to her nomination at the committee level, the Appointments Committee deferred public hearing of her vetting to yesterday .

Answering a question on her personal view of media outcry about "criminalisation of libel", Mrs Adotey told the committee that every Ghanaian has the right to seek remedy for an infringement on any of his or her freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution.

Mrs Adotey, who is the MP for Ayawaso West-Wuogon, said she, as a person, cannot change the Criminal Libel Law from the statute books. Any such review is the prerogative of Parliament.

She called for journalism that would be responsive to and respect individual freedoms provided under the Constitution.

She said every freedom, including the freedom of expression, goes with responsibility and expressed the hope that journalists would approach their work, mindful of the tenets of the Constitution and their code of ethics, to help promote democratic governance.

Mrs Adotey wished that the National Media Commission would institute effective internal mechanisms within media organisations so that the work of journalists could be regulated to stem the spate of libel suits against media personnel.

Asked whether the media are doing enough to address women's issues, the Deputy Minister-designate said the media have performed creditably in view of financial and economic constraints. But she added that there is still room for improvement. She suggested that more women should be encouraged to hold positions at decision-making levels in media houses to enable them to champion the cause of women more effectively.

Asked how she would combine her status as a Pastor's wife and a politician, Mrs Adotey said both are pastoral work and politics deal with society.

"Both are social work and they are very compatible", she added.

Mrs Adotey said women's issues should be approached on two fronts - through awareness creation of their potentials and through legislation.

She said countries have employed affirmative action to address women's issues and suggested that "this device should be used temporarily to give women a head-start; to bring women at par with their male counterparts to ensure gender balance in all fields of human endeavour.

Mrs Adotey disagreed with a suggestion that during her tenure as acting executive secretary of the National Council on Women and Development (NCWD), the council ceded responsibility to the 31st December Women's Movement.

She explained that as an apex body on women issues, the NCWD, during her tenure, collaborated with and sought the interest of all women's organisations.

She said there was no way the sovereignty of the NCWD was compromised by partisan politics.

"Nothing was sacrificed on the altar of partisan politics. I was able to walk the tightrope in dealing with all women's issues devoid of politics," she added.

Mrs Adotey called for adequate resources for the Information Services Department to enable it to play its proper role in national development.

She pledged that if her nomination is approved, she would discuss with the private sector and non-governmental organisations on the possibility of assisting the department to enhance the potentials of its capacity-building.

Asked whether she was dismissed as acting executive secretary, of the National Council on Women and Development (NCWD) the Minister-designate replied in the negative.

"On the contrary, I received a letter of gratitude for effective service to women and the people of Ghana", she added.

She explained that she reverted to the Ghana Education Service where she has served for 25 years.

On how she would cope with another deputy, Mrs Adotey said: "I will do my utmost to join and become a team player to ensure efficiency and progress in the ministry".

Mrs Adotey, 53, holds an Honours Degree in English from the University of Ghana, Legon.

She is married with two children.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 24 Feb.

Parliament will soon appoint an auditor to audit the accounts of the Auditor-General's Office in accordance with the constitution. Dr Kwabena Adjei, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs who disclosed this during question time on Wednesday, said his ministry and the Parliamentary Service Board have advanced in the process of identifying a competent and experienced auditor to take up the post.

This is the first time a Minister for Parliamentary Affairs has appeared before the house for questioning and the members took the opportunity to pin the minister down to a lot of issues.

Article 187 clause 15 of the 1992 constitution says that ''The accounts of the Office of the Auditor general shall be audited and reported upon by an auditor appointed by Parliament".

Since the inception of the fourth republic no auditor has ever been appointed.

''This matter is receiving urgent attention by the Parliamentary Service Board of which Mr Speaker himself is the chairman... Very soon, the board's recommendations will be presented to the house for its approval'', the minister said. When Mr Baah-Wiredu asked why it had taken so long to appoint an auditor, Mr Justice Annan intervened and assured the house that the board will come out within the next few days with a nominee.

''I will convey the sentiments of the house to the board'', Mr Speaker said to the amusement of members.

The board which has the Speaker as chairman also includes among others, the leadership of the house.Mr Stephen Kwaku Ballado Manu, NPP-Ahafo Ano South, asked the Minister what efforts his ministry is making to ensure the implementation of issues raised on the floor of the house by way of statements and motions.

A number of members in asking supplementary questions pointed out that various orders by the speaker and decisions taken by the house more than a year ago had not received any action.

Dr Kwabena Adjei said the chief director of his Ministry and the chairman of Government Assurance Committee are in active liaison and that together with the clerk they will ensure that information on issues arising out of motions requiring executive actions are promptly identified and acted upon.

Two other supplementary questions asked by the Mr Ballado Manu were not accepted and the Minister asked for notice to answer them.

The member wanted to know why rehabilitation work on the tower block of the State House had come to a standstill and what efforts the ministry was making to ensure that parliamentary proceedings are broadcast live on air.

Dr Kwabena Adjei assured Mr Ken Dzirasah, first deputy Speaker, that his ministry would liaise with others to establish a parliamentary desk with a schedule officer to convey proceedings of the house to their respective ministries.

The minister told Ms Christine Churcher, NPP-Cape Coast, that his position as leader of the house does not conflict with his executive position as a minister of Parliamentary Affairs and disagreed with her that the two offices should be separated.

He said on the contrary they are bed-fellows adding ''in the past we had a doctrine of separation of powers, now we have a doctrine of fusion of powers which operates within the constitutional checks and balances''.

''So in case of conflict, where will your loyalty be?'', Ms Churcher asked.

''That is a hypothetical question and I am not prepared to answer'', the minister added.

Dr Kwabena Adjei said further that his ministry is working out a strategy to reduce bureaucracy in the administration in parliament to lessen delays in the time it takes ministers to come to the house to answer questions.

Explaining why ministers take more than three weeks to answer questions as stipulated in the standing orders, he said this is due to the bureaucratic process the question goes through - from the Speaker's office, the Clerks offices through to the office of the minister concerned .

Further delay is caused '' when the ministers concerned are occupied by cabinet meetings or other urgent public duties often outside the country or region ... or when there is a backlog of urgent legislation and motions which are given precedence over questions''.

The question which stood in the name of Mr Joseph Abakah, PCP-Effia-Kwesimintsim was asked on his behalf by Mr Yaw Barimah, NPP-New Juaben.

Squadron Leader Clend Sowu, asked the minister: "when the does the three-week ultimatum begins, when the member files the question or when it is received by the Minister?".

Mr Justice Annan intervened and said the three weeks should begin when the minister concerned receives the question.

At the end of it, Mr Justice Annan directed that the questions and the comments be served on the Business Committee of the House for further consideration.