Education Fund yields 319 billion cedis
Residential areas in Techiman to enjoy water supply
Accra (Greater Accra) 05 July 2001
Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Education on Wednesday announced that the main source of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETF) being 2.5 per cent of the Value Added Tax (VAT) yielded 319 billion cedis from December to May 31.
Briefing Parliament on the state of GETF, Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi said out of this amount 75 billion cedis has been deposited in the Fund's accounts while 442 million cedis accrued to the Fund through donations and individuals and corporate bodies are still in the accounts of the donors and are yet to be transferred to the Fund.
Thirty billion cedis has been released to SSNIT to meet the first semester students' loan obligation for this academic year while one billion cedis was released for work on the chemistry block at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi said the inability to establish the Board of Trustees and arrive at a formula for disbursement, were some of the hi-cups to the operation of the Fund.
"A problem of interpretation arises as to whether the Board should submit the formula direct to Parliament or to do so through the Ministry of Education."
He appealed to the House to revisit the issue and remove any ambiguity in the interpretation of the law.
Mr Ameyaw-Akumfi said the delay in establishing the Board and the secretariat of the Fund due to the change in government contributed to the slow operation of the Board of Trustees.
"Indeed, the secretariat may be said to have become operational effective May 8, this year when its administrator assumed office. It is also to be noted that selection interviews for the appointment to the other key positions of the Fund were conducted on June 19 to 22 this year".
He urged Parliament to harmonise the VAT and GETF laws to enable the Fund to have a smooth operation.
Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi said a section of the GETF law stipulates that the VAT service should pay the revenue directly into the banks of the Fund while a portion of the VAT required that the money should be paid into the Consolidated Fund in accordance with financial regulations.
"It may be worthwhile to provide an exemption to enable the Commissioner to pay the portion of the VAT tax due to the Fund directly into the designated account of the Fund."
All members who contributed to the statement commended the Minister for giving the House a comprehensive report on the Fund and thereby erased any misconceptions and fears about the existence of the Fund.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 July 2001
Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Minister of Transport and Communications on Wednesday said telephone services in Hohoe in the Volta Region would be restored in August, when work on a 5,000 lines telephone exchange rehabilitation project would be completed.
He expressed regret about the inconvenience caused by the delay of the project and said Ghana Telecom has given him an assurance to that effect.
The Minister was answering question in Parliament on the issue when Mr Kosi Kedem, NDC-Hohoe South sought to know when work would be completed on the project.
Mr Kedem said the people have been without telephone facilities for the past two years and this was causing a lot of inconvenience to them.
Mr Owusu-Adjapong said the delay on the project came during the installation of the new 5,000 line capacity switch to replace the old line when part of the building housing the equipment collapsed and killed one of the workers.
The accident together with technical difficulties brought the installation process to a halt.
He said work resumed on the project in April and the materials needed for the work that was ordered have arrived at the harbour.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 July 2001
Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Works and Housing on Wednesday said under the Medium Term Expenditure Framework - 2001 - 2003, water supply has been programme to be extended to residential areas in Techiman.
Provision of 180 million cedis has, therefore, been made in the Budget to be used for the dredging of the impounding reservoir at the Tanoso Headwork.
He said the project was estimated at 650 million cedis in February 2000 and programmed for execution in 2002 by which time the cost would have increased approximately to 815 million cedis.
Mr Bartels said this in an answer to a question posed by Mr Prince Ernest Oduro-Mensah, NPP-Techiman South as to what plans the Ministry has to extend water to the new residential areas in Techiman.
He said the dredging of the Tanoso Headworks was to ensure free flow of water in the Tano River, which serves Techiman and its surrounding areas.
The residential areas include Diasempa, Wiaso, New Semsama and the remaining parts of Abuaso, Nfante New Town, Takofiano, Tuobodom, James Town and Brigade.
Mr Bartels said water supply to the Ridge residential and other areas, which require extensive works are next on line to be tackled.
He said these works comprise supply and erection of one number 30,000 gallons high-level tank to ensure free flow of water, supply and installation of booster pumps and additional pumps.
The rest were the supply and installation of one number 50 kilovolts transformer and electricity extension to the booster Station at Techiman and supply and laying of about 2.5 kilometres of four inch diameter transmission and distribution pipe lines and ancillary fittings.
When Mr Oduro-Mensah asked the Minister whether the works were based on the new designs and development of the town, Mr Bartels said everything was being done to cater for current needs of the residential areas.
Mr Norbert G. Awulley, NDC- Builsa South asked the Minister how much of the budgeted money has so far been used on the project.
Mr Bartels said some parts of the contracts have already been awarded but he was not in a position to say how much has so far been used.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 July 2001
Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister of Education, on Wednesday said the responsibility of providing educational structures and maintaining them lies primarily with district assemblies.
"However, we have limited funds to cater for communities, which had their schools' roofs blown off during the recent rainstorms on "first come first served basis".
Prof. Ameyaw Akumfi was answering an urgent question posed by Mr Hayford Francis Amoako, NDC-Nkoranza.
The member wanted to know what measures the Ministry of Education was taking to provide classrooms for about 1,000 Junior Secondary and Primary school children the roofs of whose classrooms were ripped off by a rainstorm at Dromankesse, Yefri, Bodom and Bonsu in the Nkoranza constituency.
The Minister said communities whose schools suffered as a result of the natural disasters are to channel their demands through their respective district assemblies.
Prof. Ameyaw Akumfi said priority would be given to disadvantaged districts.
He said the Ministry has since 1999 provided 100 classroom blocks and 150 KVIPs and other structures for various communities.
The Minister complained about the poor work done by certain contractors over the years, which has rendered most school blocks weak and vulnerable to rainstorms.
He expressed the hope that when the Educational Fund was put in operation most of the problems would be solved.
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