BOST has no mandate to fix fuel prices-the Minority

House adopts report on Radioactive Waste Management

Nurses must be insured against occupational hazards-MP

Clothing allowance for Police under review - Okaija

Communities urged to change attitudes towards environment

House adopts report on Montreal protocol

Accra (Greater Accra) 10^th June '99

There was a heated debate in Parliament on Tuesday over the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products in the country.

This followed a statement made in the House by Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, the Minority Spokesman on Mines and Energy challenging the constitutionality of the increase.

While the Minority viewed the increase as illegal and unconstitutional, members of the Majority side saw it as natural.

Mr Kan-Dapaah stated that registered in December 1993, the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) was to primarily provide storage and transportation facilities for bulk oil and to also manage strategic stocks.

He pointed out that since BOST's object clauses at the Registrar-General's Department, have not changed to include the fixation of petroleum prices, the company cannot arrogate to itself the power to determine petroleum prices in the country.

Mr Kan-Dapaah said, since Act 544 imposes an "ad valorem duty of 15 per cent of the ex-refinery price", of petroleum products, this places a statutory discretionary power and responsibility on somebody to determine the ex-refinery price.

"To the extent that the person or authority so empowered is not a judge or a judicial officer, Section 296 of the Constitution requires that by means of a 'Constitutional instrument or statutory instrument' regulations are published to govern the exercise of the discretionary power."

It was, therefore, the conviction of the Minority Spokesman on Mines and Energy that the constitutional arrangement for the determination of petroleum prices has not been followed, and, therefore, called for the withdrawal of the "purported increases".

Mr Kan-Dapaah agreed that, even though, the main reason for the increase was government's desire to raise more revenue from petroleum tax, it came as a shock to industry because it dislikes unexpected shocks to production costs.

"One ought to spare a thought for our beleaguered industrialists, most of whom are yet to recover from the energy crisis we brought to bear on ourselves last year."

Nana Akomea, NPP-Okaikwei South, suggested that increases in the prices of petroleum products and transport fares should always be fixed simultaneously in order to save the chaotic and terrible situations arising from misunderstandings between drivers and passengers.

Mr Hackman Owusu Agyemang, NPP-New Juaben North, said it would be dereliction of duty on the part of members of the Executive to leave the fixing of the prices of petroleum products to BOST.

Mr Agyemang described the act as a "back pass", and said it must stop somewhere.

Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, NPP-Akim Oda, stressed the need to manage the economy from the central point.

Mr Osafo-Maafo was of the view that the increases would have overflow effects on the macro economy.

Members from the Majority side, who defended the increases included Mr Simon Anyoa Abingya, Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy and MP for Bolgatanga, Mr Thomas Kwame Yeboah, MP for Dormaa West, Squadron Leader Clend Sowu, MP for Anlo and Mr Abuga Pele, MP for Chiana/Paga.

In their collective view, they underscored the need for de-regulating the market so that the prices could be determined by the cost of importing of crude oil.

Mr Kwame Peprah, Minister of Finance, who was incidentally in the House, said since 1997, the increase in the prices of petroleum products has been less than 10 per cent.

Mr Peprah said he did not see the Minority's point of argument because in his view, prices of commodities must be made to reflect cost.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 10^th June '99

Parliament on Tuesday adopted the report of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on the Ratification of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and Radioactive Waste Management.

The joint convention is aimed at achieving and maintaining a high level of safety, world-wide in spent fuel management through the enhancement of national measures and international co-operation.

This would help protect human health and the environment to ensure that undue burden is not imposed on future generations.

Members, who contributed to the debate on the report were of a consensus that appropriate steps be taken to ensure that at all stages of spent fuel management, individuals, society and the environment are adequately protected against radiological hazards.

They were also of the view that a systematic safety and environmental assessment be taken before the construction of a radioactive waste management facility.

This, the members said, would help provide reasonable assurance in the achievement of compliance with safety and regulatory requirement.

Members were optimistic that Ghana's ratification of the Convention would assure the international community of her good intentions in any nuclear programme and policies that the country may undertake.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 10^th June '99

Mr Francis Kwasi Buor, Member of Parliament (MP) for Offinso South on Tuesday suggested that nurses be covered by some insurance scheme.

In a statement to Parliament, Mr Buor said the scheme would offer nurses some degree of security of service due to the hazardous nature of their work.

He outlined the numerous problems faced by the St Patrick's Hospital at Maase-Offinso. He said due to frequent power cuts, and the breakdowns of the hospital's 17-year-old generator, its X-ray and Ultra-sound Scanner machines are lying idle.

Basing his statement on the subject: "Tragedy hits St Patrick Hospital at Maase-Offinso", Mr Buor explained that it was the lack of electric power at the hospital and the use of lanterns that resulted in the tragedy that hit it on Friday, April 23 this year.

On the night of that day, whilst on duty, two nurses, Hilda and Anastasia were severely burnt when their kerosene lantern exploded and their clothes caught fire.

Mr Buor said the hospital authorities have so far spent over four million cedis on the victims now on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

He indicated that according to the medical officer in charge, the two nurses might need grafting of some parts of their bodies and, therefore, appealed to the government, religious bodies and well-meaning citizens of Offinso to offer the necessary financial assistance.

The MP said although the hospital has facilities for blood storage, blood cannot be stored and this has made it impossible for the authorities to perform surgical operations and carry out blood transfusion.

All the members, who associated themselves with the statement, held the view that if the Ministry of Health provides health institutions throughout the country with the required logistic, they would be able to function effectively.

Mr Freddie Blay, Second Deputy Speaker, and member for Ellembelle, who was in the chair, expressed the house's sympathy to the nurses and wished them speedy recovery.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 10^th June ’99

Nii Okaija Adamafio, Minister of the Interior on Wednesday told Parliament that clothing allowance being paid to Police personnel, who by virtue of their work are not in uniform, is under review.

He said a committee, which worked on the review, submitted its report to the ministry last Thursday for study.

After the Ministry had studied the report, it would be sent to the Police Council for the necessary action.

The Minister was responding to a question, on how much is paid to Police personnel as clothing allowance per month.

He said normally, Police personnel put on uniform but those who, by the nature of their work are not clothed, had been paid 12 cedis a month since 1970, and conceded that not much had been done about this since.

Nii Okaija, who is also MP for Odododiodioo, was in the House to answer members' queries during "Question Time".

Nii Okaija said work on the proposed Settlement Camp Prison at Forifori in the Afram Plains is due to start in 2000 under the medium-term expenditure framework with the provision of 250 million cedis and 200 million cedis in 2001.

He was answering a question on when the camp would be established to help reduce congestion in the country's prisons. The project is expected to start operating in 2002.

On the question of reducing the prison population, Nii Okaija said the task requires a multi-sectoral approach if this is to be effective.

He said, however, that the Prison Service Council is studying other alternatives to custodial sentence and at the appropriate time the necessary legislative instrument would be brought before Parliament for consideration.

In an answer to another question, the Minister said budgetary allocation has been made in the current medium-term expenditure framework to provide office and residential accommodation for a number of newly established district Police headquarters and Fire Service stations.

He mentioned Esiama, Elubo, Madina, La, Somanya and Jirapa as the newly established district Police headquarters while the new District Fire Stations are at Hohoe, Agona Swedru, Teshie/Nungua, Wa, Navrongo and Ada.

The Minister announced that there are plans to re-establish a Police Training Depot at Tamale, for the northern sector of the country and said work on the project would start next year.

Nii Okaija said the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation does not pay the one per cent levy they charge consumers into the "fire fund", established by the Ghana National Fire Service Act, 1997.

He was answering a question on how much has been paid into the fund since every consumer is charged one per cent on water consumed for fire fighting.

He explained that the one per cent deduction paid by consumers to cover the use of water for fire fighting goes directly to the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation.

On the re-instatement of risk allowance for firemen, Nii Okaija said he did not know how recent such allowance had been paid but intimated that as at 1985, when he first went to the Ministry, no risk allowance was being paid to Fire Service personnel.

He affirmed that there is no intent now by the Ministry to factor any such allowance into its budget, instead "we have a comprehensive plan to address the salary structure and allowances of Fire Service personnel".

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Accra (Greater Accra) 10^th June ’99

Parliament on Wednesday reminded communities to change their attitude towards environmental issues.

In a statement to commemorate this year's "World Environment Day", Mr Kosi Kedem, Member of Parliament (MP) for Hohoe South stressed the need to empower the various communities to enable them to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development.

Mr Kedem expressed concern about the state of the country’s environment and said in order to give a human face to environmental issues, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology needs to do something about the conservation and improvement of the environment.

Almost all members, who associated themselves with the statement, were of the view that for the country to achieve sustainable development, communities should pursue sound environmental management practices.

Those who contributed included Mr Edward Osei-Kwaku, MP for Asokwa East, Dr Farouk Brimah, Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology and MP for Ayawaso East, Mr Kojo Armah.

They commended the Ministry and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for pursuing policies and programmes towards sustainable environmental development.

The members urged government to commit adequate resources to the sector to ensure the attainment of the goals of the National Policy on the Environment as enshrined in the Vision 2020 document.

Members further appealed to district assemblies not only to implement their environmental action plans, but to also sustain campaigns to protect the environment to save it from being degraded.

Reacting to concerns expressed by members, Mr Lee Tandoh Ocran, a Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, who happened to be in the house said the Ministry considers MPs as partners in addressing issues relating to the environment.

Members, he said, should, therefore, intensify the education at the district assembly level to create awareness among the people on the need to engage in farming practices that help save the environment from degradation.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 10^th June ’99

Parliament on Wednesday adopted the report of the committee on Environment, Science and Technology on the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer.

Squadron Leader Clend Sowu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Anlo and chairman of the committee, moved the motion for the adoption of the report. He was seconded by the ranking member, Mr Edward Osei-Kwaku, MP for Asokwa West.

Sqd-Ld Sowu said the ratification of the protocol was aimed, among others, at accelerating the phasing out of ozone-depleting substances.

It also aims at building global partnership and co-operation in protecting the ozone layer in order to save mankind from the adverse effects of the ozone depletion.

Contributing to the debate on the motion, Mr John Kwekucher Ackah, NDC-Jomoro, urged Ghanaians to discourage the use of substances that help to deplete the ozone layer.

Mr I.K. Nyame Ofori, NDC-Sefwi-Wiawso, stated that it requires global effort and responsibility to protect the ozone layer.

Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, NPP-Akim Oda, said Ghana should go beyond the ratification of the convention and ensure that standards are set to discourage developed countries from depleting the layer.

"We shall be looking into the future as a nation if we educate ourselves about substances that cause the depletion."

Mr Osafo-Maafo urged third world nations to bring political pressure to bear on developed countries whose activities, he said, impact negatively on the ozone layer.

Mr Lee Tandoh Ocran, Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, stated that the nation does not produce those substances that lead to the depletion.

Rather, Ghanaians use them, he said, and urged users to desist from the practice to save the nation's environment from pollution.

The Deputy Minister said it is gratifying to note that most developed nations that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer have now ratified the convention.

The paper on the Lands (Miscellaneous Services) Fees Instrument, 1999, was laid before the house.

Mr Kenneth Dzirasah, Second Deputy Speaker who was in the chair, referred it to the appropriate committee for consideration and report.

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