GRi in Parliament Ghana 09 - 02 - 2001
Our land tenure system is the best - Aidoo
Split Northern Region - Minister designate
Parliament approves more Presidential
nominations
NPP denies promising to double wages
Our land tenure system is the best - Aidoo
Accra (Greater Accra) 09 February 2001
Mr Joseph Boahene Aidoo, Western Regional Minister designate, on Thursday said that although the present land tenure system has some problems, it remains the best regime the country can settle for.
"Research has shown that only the influential access land taken by government whereas parcels of land under traditional authority can be accessed by even non-indigenes."
Mr Aidoo, who is the MP for Amenfi East and a geographer, was being screened by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee in Accra.
He argued that land tenure system per se does not impede agricultural development but rather the inadequate supply of supporting systems like loans, water, good roads and machinery that have held back its progress.
Mr Nkrabea Effah Dartey, NPP-Berekum, had sought to find out the role of land tenure in the development of agriculture.
In a response to another question posed by the member on the perceived cruel treatment meted out to settler farmers by their landlords in the Western Region, he said settler farmers should learn to acknowledge the fact that the land on which they farm has owners.
He said that as much as he would not condone any form of harassment, he would urge the settlers to invest in areas where they have reaped and not see such places as mere sources of economic exploitation.
On land degradation, he said miners should be discouraged from surface mining, which he described as the main source of vegetation loss and its subsequent land degradation.
He suggested that the interest of landowners should be converted into equity shares when land is taken for public use.
Mr Aidoo told the committee that if he is approved, he will encourage all district assemblies to own road construction machinery to help in the widening of the region's road network, especially in highly remote food producing areas.
On tourism, he said the birthplace of Dr Kwame Nkrumah will be developed alongside the many attractions yet untapped in the region.
GRi…/
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Split Northern Region - Minister designate
Accra (Greater Accra) 09 February 2001
Mr Ben Bukari Salifu, Minister-designate for Northern Region said on Thursday that he would support a division of the region into two to ease administration and get development closer to the people.
Answering questions before the Appointments Committee of Parliament, which screened him for his appointment Mr Salifu said the region, the largest in the country, would benefit from such a split because its vast economic potentials could be more easily identified and harnessed.
He said the division must however follow the constitutional provisions on the creation of regions.
Mr Salifu said it would be his priority to halt the imbalance in the development of the region by providing access roads to the western half, particularly the West Gonja and Bole districts which have been at the ebb of development.
He also promised to open up the Mole National Park and turn it into a worthy foreign exchange earner in the tourism industry.
Mr Salifu said he would cultivate the goodwill of the media to change public perception of the region as notorious for conflicts by directing their focus of reportage on the positive rather than the negative adding, "there is conflict in every part of the country."
In an effort to entrench conflict prevention, he said he would talk to the chiefs to give preference to dialogue and in addition launch a massive campaign to educate the people about the advantages of peaceful co-existence.
Responding to a question by Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni, NDC-Kumbungu on the migration of young female head porters (Kaya Yei) from the region to the cities, Mr Salifu said the trend could only be reversed if the national economy improves.
"There is child labour in every region and this can only stop if the economy improves and the poverty level is reduced.
"We cannot fix barriers to prevent them from travelling," he said.
While lauding the extension of the national electricity grid to the north, in answer to a question from Mr John Mahama, the minister-designate regretted the difficulties the people face in paying the bills.
He said the standard of living of the people of the region, majority of whom are farmers, would improve if they are assisted with modern farming techniques to move away from subsistence to mechanised farming.
GRi…/
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Parliament approves more Presidential
nominations
Accra (Greater Accra) 09 February 2001
Parliament on Thursday approved the nomination of four more persons to ministerial positions, following the adoption of the third report of its Appointments Committee.
They are Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Minister of Transport and Communications, Ms Christine Churcher, Minister of State for Education in charge of primary, secondary and girl child education, Mrs Cecilia Bannerman, Minister of Manpower Development and Employment and Mr Ishmael Ashitey, Minister of State for Agriculture responsible for Fisheries.
Mr Eugene Atta Agyepong, Vice-chairman of the committee, moving for the adoption of the report, said there were no adverse findings against the nominees.
Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, NDC Kumbungu, seconding the motion, said the public should understand the committee's work and appreciate its methods of screening nominees.
The approval of the four raises the number of Presidential nominees so far cleared by Parliament to 25.
GRi…/
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NPP denies promising to double wages
Accra (Greater Accra) 09 February 2001
NPP Members of Parliament on Thursday denied that the party ever made a promise to workers to double their wages/salaries if the NPP came to power.
The issue came under hot debate in parliament when Mr Amos Buertey, NDC Ada alluded to it during his contribution to a motion on the approval of the third batch of four ministers.
He said those nominees who were known critics of the previous government should assume office quickly to enable them to deliver on their promise of doubling salaries, abolishing the cash and carry system and creating more jobs for the youth.
Mr Stephen Balado Manu NPP Ahafo Ano South got up, on point of order, and challenged Mr Buertey to substantiate the claim that NPP said it would double salaries.
Mr Manu said it was not in the NPP manifesto and it was not said on any political platform that workers salaries would be doubled.
Madam Hawa Yakubu, NPP Bawku Central and Minister of Tourism said if Mr Buertey could not substantiate his claim then he should withdraw it.
The Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, advised Mr Buertey to support his statement or withdraw before continuing his contribution to the debate.
Amidst shouts of WITHDRAW, WITHDRAW, from the majority side, Mr Buertey said:
"I withdraw for now. At the appropriate time I will furnish the House".
GRi…/
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