What is the formula for fixing petroleum prices?

Salaga MP appeals for relief for rainstorm victims

Rice production to go up - Acheampong

Accra (Greater Accra) 4 Feb. 2000 

The Minority in Parliament on Thursday asked Mr Simon Abingya, Deputy Minister for Mines and Energy, the formula for fixing petroleum prices, and they had :"PFIAC with C as a constant."

His attempt to unwind the formula attracted calls from the questioners to stop and come later.

But the Deputy Minister took time to explain that prices of petroleum products were dependent mainly on the world price of crude oil and the exchange rate of the cedi.

Mr Albert Kan Dapaa, NPP-Efigya Sekyere West, presented a statement on the recent increase in the price of petroleum products and criticised the government for shrouding the formula for the determination of the ex-pump price in secrecy.

He alleged that the lack of transparency in price fixing has led to undue manipulation of the oil market by the government.

"Ghanaians deserve to know what indeed is driving the continuing increase in fuel prices and I demand that for the sake of transparency and accountability."

He accused the government for violating a deal brokered between the two sides of the House that there would be no price increase until a motion pending before it asking for the determination of the price has been addressed.

Mr Abingya before giving the House the formula said many factors and variables determine petroleum product prices but that most of the time, the government uses only the price of crude oil as the factoring agent.

He announced that the Vice President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, has personally shown concern about the pricing system and asked for a review.

Papa Owusu Ankoma, NPP-Sekondi, accused the government of pursuing a policy grounded in the principle of, "Each one for himself, God for us all" in the oil industry.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 4 Feb. 2000

Mr Hamid Baba Braimah, NDC-Salaga, has appealed to the government to alleviate the plight of victims of last week’s rainstorm that hit Salaga Township.

He said the storm that lasted for a few minutes, led to the destruction of over 300 buildings and damaged electric poles and trees.

The member, who was presenting a statement in Parliament, on Thursday, said "this mishap has come at a time the people of Salaga are still recovering from the recent floods that hit the northern part of Ghana.

He said families rendered homeless make their beds in open spaces, thus exposing themselves to various diseases like malaria.

Dr Kofi Aprako, the Minority Spokesman on Finance, said the time has come for the nation to reflect on the precariousness of the rural areas.

He said support to the rural areas should be swift and constant so that the agricultural sector, which has its base in the area, does not suffer.

He said most of the time, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) does not act quickly enough to alleviate the plight of the poor rural folk in times of disaster.

He asked NADMO to work closely with Parliament so that their concerns and weaknesses could be easily appreciated and improved.

The ranking member asked the private sector to add their weight to relief delivery and appealed to the government to reciprocate "such gestures with tax relief and other incentives".

Mr Kosi Kedem, NDC-Hohoe South, asked Ghanaians to adopt more environmentally friendly measures in their bid to survive so that the nation does not suffer unduly.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 4^th February 2000

Mr. Mike Acheampong, a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, told Parliament on Thursday that it is estimated that 672,000 tonnes of paddy rice would be produced locally in 2006 as against the current annual production of 221,000 tonnes.

Mr. Acheampong, who was answering parliamentary questions, said under the 'Vision 2020' perspective plan, rice is expected to play a key role in achieving national food security.

Rice is becoming increasingly a staple food consumed throughout the country and that it has been estimated that per capita consumption had more than doubled from 7.0 kilogram a year in 1988/89 to 16.3 kilograms in 1994/95.

He attributed the increased consumption to the development of rice trade as a result of trade liberalisation.

Mr. Kwakye Addo, NDC-Afram Plains South, had asked the Minister about the sector's plans to promote the cultivation and marketing of rice locally to reduce its importation.

Mr. Acheampong told the House that the Ministry has produced a development policy to increase paddy rice production.

He said that as part of the efforts, 4,000 tonnes of good quality rice seed would be made available for planting next year.

Agricultural Extension agents of the Ministry are also being trained and motivated to transfer improved technology to farmers to ensure the production of rice of high quality.

Mr. Acheampong said under Ghana's medium term agricultural development programme, a World Bank supported national livestock services project was initiated in 1993 to cater for the genetic improvement of ruminants, under which an open nucleus breeding scheme was adopted as the breed improvement approach.

He was explaining the Ministry's programme to step up the rearing of ruminants in the Afram Plains in particular and the savannah zone in general to meet the country's protein requirements.

He said under the scheme, three of the national breeding stations have been upgraded into open nucleus breeding centres for ruminants, adding that Pong-Tamale is responsible for the improvement of the West African shorthorn cattle.

Ejura in Ashanti and Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region are undertaking improvement of the Djallonke sheep and the West African dwarf goat respectively.

Mr. Acheampong noted that the small ruminants' aspect of the project has been relatively successful due to the comparatively short generation interval.

The Minister announced that since the inception of the project, 578 sheep, 396 goats and 267 cattle have been supplied to farmers throughout the country.

He said currently, there are 624 breeding sheep at Ejura and 582 breeding goats at Kintampo open nucleus breeding centres.

There are also plans to intensify the small ruminant improvement and multiplication under a programme being prepared for implementation this year and beyond.

Mr. Acheampong said a unit has been created within the Ministry to test and package production technologies for exporters of pineapples, pawpaw and vegetables to increase export earnings.

He said consultants have been engaged to improve on current production techniques and to ensure quality produce that would meet the demands of the export market.

In addition, he said, the Ministry was encouraging the formation of commodity groups to promote specific non-traditional export crops.

The Minister said the sector is also organising training workshops for farmers and farm managers on new technologies for efficient production, harvesting and post-harvest handling, packaging and transportation.

GRi