GRi in Parliament Ghana 08 - 02 - 2001
Let's make GSE a resource pool-MPs
I will maintain open door policy on sports -
Isa
I do not believe in Libation - Boafo
Chiefs should not meddle in Politics -
Edumadze
Parliament urged to avert strike at Obuasi
Goldfields
MP calls for Independent Broadcasting Authority
Let's make GSE a resource pool-MPs
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 February 2001
Members of Parliament on Wednesday called for public education on the relevant laws to step up the operations of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE).
They said all rigidities that make potentially enlistable companies hesitant should be scrapped.
Mr Edward Osei-Kwaku, NPP-Asokwa West, who whipped support for GSE by a statement to commemorate its tenth anniversary, said the exchange should be made the nucleus for the mobilisation of long-term funds for financing private sector investment.
"The stock market can also be used to play a more prominent role in the ECOWAS economic integration process as well as in the divestiture process thus bringing true meaning to the term-shareholder democratisation."
He expressed the hope that the new government will create a more stable macro economic environment and through such efforts, the GSE will grow to its expected peak.
Mr Charles Omar Nyanor, Minister of State for Private Sector Development, said his first task will be to promote the practice of underwriting in the country.
" The missing gap that I see in the GSE operation is the missing underwriter. People are simply scared to enter that corridor without the appendage of the underwriter."
Mr Joe Donkor, NPP-Tano North, criticised the past government for not laying bare some of the dealings in the divestiture of companies.
He cited the Ghana Distillery Company, where a significant part of its assets were "secretly" divested instead of using the GSE for that purpose.
GRi…/
Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com
I will maintain open door policy on sports
- Isa
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 February 2001
Mallam Ali Yusuf Isa, Minister-designate of Youth and Sports on Wednesday told the Parliamentary Appointments Committee that he would maintain an open door policy to promote sports administration.
He said such a policy will involve listening to all shades of opinion and meeting the press weekly to exchange views.
Mallam Isa said he will also rely on advice from the technical personnel of the ministry and would promote sports organisation from the grassroots.
Asked whether the Black Stars needed a new or a foreign coach, Mallam Isa said the issue is a thorny one and he needs a lot of consultation before he can take a decision.
He said a lot of planning will be needed before one can declare that a model club like the erstwhile Republicans should be formed.
He said the People's National Party of which he is the national vice-chairman has not abandoned him because he has been nominated by the ruling NPP government.
"If anything at all Dr Edward Mahama, leader of the party has commended me to President J.A Kufuor for my hard work".
He said he will support the previous government's plan to build an Olympic Games Complex in the Teshie-Nungua area in Accra.
GRi…/
Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com
I do not believe in Libation - Boafo
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 February 2001
Mr Samson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister-designate, on Wednesday, said if he had the opportunity he would abolish the pouring of libation at state functions.
He, however, stated that even though he is a devout Christian he would freely tolerate ceremonies of other religions and not because he is obliged by law to do so.
Mr Boafo was the first in the queue of presidential nominees that were screened by the Parliamentary Appointment Committee in Accra.
He said he would promote ethnic, religious and social harmony in the Ashanti Region to accelerate development when given the nod.
Mr Victor Gbeho, (Independent-Anlo) wanted to know how best he would de-emphasise the concentration of ethnic groups in certain suburbs of Kumasi so that they do not become easy targets for molestation.
Mr. Boafo said such settlements of the city are heterogeneous and only bear the names of certain ethnic groups that founded them.
" I understand that it is not only the people from Anlo who live in Anloga and that citizens of Fanti form only a part of the population at Fanti Newtown. Anlo men love Ashanti women very much so don't worry."
Mr Freddy Blay, Chairman of the committee, said the romantic co-operation should not be limited to the two ethnic groups.
On the development of the Kumasi Suame string of garages popularly called "Suame Magazine", Mr. Boafo said the NPP government has the solution to the problems there.
"I think it is the duty of government to help the artisans. There are a lot of things and services government can offer to make the artisan more productive."
The Chairman did not allow the nominee to answer the question: "Will you be loyal to the Asantehene, your King or the President, Mr J.A.Kufuor?", posed by a member of the committee.
GRi…/
Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com
Chiefs should not meddle in Politics -
Edumadze
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 February 2001
Mr. Isaac Edumadze Central Regional Minister-designate, said on Wednesday that chiefs are not expected to meddle in politics, since it could undermine the chieftaincy institution.
He advised chiefs particularly those in the Central region to use the arbitration mechanism of the National House of Chiefs in settling disputes.
Answering questions from the Parliamentary Appointment Committee which screened him for his appointment, Mr. Edumadze said they should keep records on judgements especially, those concerning line of secession to serve as reference points for solving possible disputes in future.
He said there are 33 chieftaincy disputes in the region, adding that the situation has affected development.
When Mr John Mahama (NDC-Bole) asked Mr. Edumadze whether he was still not on talking terms with the Chief of his town (Ajumakohene), he said the chief displayed political bias against him, but now that he has won the elections he is "reversing the trend."
Mr. Edumadze who is the Member of Parliament for Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam who had a misunderstanding with his District Chief Executive over the release and use of MP's share of the Common Fund, said 'my victory at the polls has vindicated me, he lied about me but I have decided to forgive him."
GRi…/
Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com
Parliament urged to avert strike at
Obuasi Goldfields
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 February 2001
Parliament was on Wednesday urged to avert a looming strike at the Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) Limited at Obuasi and stop the management from victimising a woman trade unionist.
Ms Adelaide Bordon, Secretary of the AGC branch of the Ghana Mines Workers Union (GMWU) is said to be interdicted following allegations levelled against her and this has led to unrest at the mines.
Mr Abraham Kofi Asante, MP for Amenfi West, in a statement in Parliament said the interdiction of the secretary has met with protests from the mineworkers.
He said on January 31, this year, the management committee and the branch union executives met over a series of allegations against Ms Bordon for she was interdicted by a letter signed by Mr Robert Cole, General Secretary of the Ghana Mines Workers Union.
The MP said the Managing Director, Mr A.D. Doods followed up with a memorandum the same day confirming Ms Bordon's interdiction, adding that this development precipitated an industrial arrest by the workers who held two of their executive officers hostage.
He said the workers have called for the reversal of the interdiction order and threatened to go on strike if that was not done.
Mr Asante appealed to the Minister responsible for mines to intervene and resolve the issues in a transparent and unbiased manner.
"Industrial conflict in an industry like the AGC, given the level of foreign exchange it generates, needs quick response from government, management and this honourable House," he said.
Mr. Asante said the fact that the interdiction of the union secretary has led to an industrial unrest clearly shows that the rank and file of the workers support her, adding: " there is more to it than meets the eye".
Supporting the statement, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, NDC-Kumbungu, said last year the same woman was at the centre of an intended strike which was promptly averted by the NDC government and that the same allegations are now being levelled against her.
He said nothing should be done to decrease the productivity of the Ghanaian worker; "when two elephants fight the grass and things around suffer" and in this case if the strike is not checked the country will be the loser.
Mr Edward Osei-Kwaku, NPP-Asokwa West, said the statement was uncalled for because when the NDC was in power it had a profile of strikes including the Prisons, Nurses and other categories of workers.
Mr Anthony Boadi-Mensah, NPP-Obuasi, said the lady was suspended because if that were not done there would be escalation of a strike adding; "where the lady belongs is different from where I belong".
At that juncture, Mr Doe Adjaho, Minority Chief Whip got up on a point of correction while Ms Theresa Tagoe, NPP-Ablekuma South, also got up but her voice was drowned by shouts of "shame, shame" from the Minority side.
The Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey ordered Ms Tagoe to sit down and allowed Mr Adjaho to make his contribution.
Mr Adjaho urged the House to take a serious view of the intended strike action because of the state of the economy and the role AGC plays in the nation's industrial life adding that the issue should not be politicised.
Mr Adjaho said whichever family, party or association the woman belongs to did not mean that she should be victimised.
When Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, NDC-Gomoa West, caught the Speaker's eye she said it is sad that when a vocal woman is in a position, be it political or managerial, she is discriminated against and victimised.
She said her concern is that a trade unionist is being victimised and that the episode of 1979 during the Busia regime when workers were unlawfully dismissed should not be revisited on the country.
GRi…/
Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com
MP calls for Independent Broadcasting
Authority
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 February 2001
A Member of Parliament on Wednesday called for the creation of an Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) to ensure equal representation across Ghana's culture among other things.
Mr Kosi Kedem, NDC- Hohoe South said in a statement in Parliament that the establishment of the IBA should be within the framework of a national policy which will make broadcasting operate, grow and be practised without compromising constitutional provision on freedom of speech.
Mr Kedem said radio and TV have emerged as the most powerful communication tools in the third world and for that reason it must not be left or allowed to operate in a vacuum.
"The role that the radio played in inciting genocide in Rwanda and Burundi, and the role it is playing in Ghana now calls for some sort of guidelines within which broadcasting should be practised".
He said in Ghana "all that an investor in broadcasting needs is to apply for and obtain a frequency from the National Communications Authority and he is in business".
Mr Kedem said as much as radio and TV should be used for national development and in the maintenance of peace and stability there should be a policy to provide listeners with more choices, pursue public interest and social objectives without necessarily offending Article 162 (3) of the constitution.
That article states: "There shall be no impediments to the establishment of private press or media, and in particular, there shall be no law requiring any person to obtain a license as a prerequisite to the establishment or operation of a newspaper, journal or other media for mass communication or information".
To make the national broadcasting policy operative and to ensure fair broadcasting, the MP said the IBA should liaise with the National Communications Authority for the allocation of frequencies and the registration of new stations.
Mr Kedem said the policy will clearly define the categories of broadcasting systems whether it is private-owned, driven by profit, or state-owned, solely financed by government and therefore requires to be responsive to public needs.
There can also be community-owned non-profit broadcasting systems, he said.
Mr Kedem expressed regret that there is unnecessary delay in coming out with a policy in view of the crucial role of broadcasting and said the proposed policy could be hooked into a national communications and information policy.
He said broadcasting has proved that it could be an agent for promoting democracy, accountability and free speech "but my fear is that it also has real potentials to create chaos and lawlessness if it is not guided by any national policy".
Supporting the statement Papa Owusu-Ankomah, NPP-Sekondi, said the concerns expressed could be taken care of by institutions established by the constitution, especially the National Media Commission (NMC).
He said what is needed is to allow those institutions time to perform their monitoring role.
Mr Ken Dzirasah, NDC-South Tongu, also associated himself with the statement and said there is the need for radio stations to develop a technology that will allow them to first listen to phone-ins before opening them to the public.
He said this would save them from libellous statements that may not be in the interest of the public and the good purpose the radio station may be serving.
Mr E.T. Mensah, NDC-Ningo/Prampram, said it is necessary for those who inform, educate and entertain to know how to direct their messages so that they do not end up achieving negative results.
Mr Ken Ohene Agyepong, NPP-Assin North, said care must be taken not to introduce self-censorship and external control of the media that will be inimical to the promotion of democracy.
Mr Joe Donkor, NPP-Tano North, said media practitioners should develop a code of conduct as in other professions, adding that it is necessary for them to present well-rehearsed programmes to give them job satisfaction.
Mr Abuga Pele, NDC-Chiana/Paga, said it is important for the public to make inputs towards the establishment of the policy since it affects them.
GRi…/
Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com