Debate on private member's motion on armed forces begins
I'm not aware of GNPC's 100 billion-cedi liability - Dr. Abu
Though emotions were whipped high, members hardly argued against the principle of the motion but taught that it could be well tailored to suit the constitutional and nationalistic aspirations of Ghanaians.
Mr Agyare Koi-Larbi, NPP-Akropong, wants the House to request the Minister of Defence to annually place before it guidelines for ensuring regional balance in the recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces.
He told the house that the Ghana Armed Forces was without any recruitment policy and may run the risk of being manipulated by a particular government or group for political purposes.
The member said the pre-colonial history of the country shows that a deliberate effort was made by the colonial power to recruit from ethnic groupings that were considered loyal.
"Analysis of recruitment patterns of armies and especially the Ghana Armed forces would indicate a correlation between the political objectives of the army, which also underscores its pattern of recruitment and the government which controls it".
He said though a deliberate policy of that nature had not occurred after Dr Kwame Nkrumah's Africanisation policy, the tendency that a particular group could take advantage of the "untouchable" institution to advance its political objectives is there.
Mr Koi-Larbi said the need to place the army under the direct scrutiny of Parliament is that the carriers of arms have a direct relationship with political power than many other sectors of the public service.
"An umbilical chord necessarily links every political order to a military establishment."
Mr Koi-Larbi said one could not be ethnocentric in recruitment into the forces and be open-minded in Parliament and in the exercise of executive authority "it is only a question of time before one yields to the other."
The member said that if Ghana is to enjoy her peace for a long time then it should make sure that the population or command of the army is not tilted to serve any particular interest but the security of the nation.
Mr Darko Mensah, who seconded the motion, said centres of recruitment into the forces could be opened in all district and regional capitals to facilitate the measure.
He said the time has come for the Armed Forces to come clean after denting its image with the several coups that have halted most democratic programmes.
Squadron Leader Clend Sowu (retired) called the motion annoying, ill conceived and having ethnic connotations, saying the armed forces structure has no problem and urged members not to inject confusion into the minds of Ghanaians.
Mr Doe Adjaho, the Majority Chief whip said he would not support the motion in its present shape because it does not conform to the spirit and letter of the Constitution.
He said the Article 35 of the Constitution of which the mover quoted to support his claim is not wholly reflected in his motion.
Mr Adjaho said an ingredient like gender balance was omitted and that it sought to sell the idea of "reasonable regional balance" and not the strict regional balance the mover is talking about.
He criticised Mr Koi-Larbi for trying to inject an element of politicisation into the army by suggesting that Members of Parliament could stand surety for a candidate for any of the military training schools.
Mr Adjaho said the member failed to make provision for amendments to make the existing laws conform to his motion.
Nana Akufo Addo, the Minority Spokesman on Legal and Constitutional Matters, began the bargain for compromise when he said certain matter, which are disagreeable to the Majority could be discussed for the motion to stand.
He said Parliament should not give up its role as the organ of government where all matters of public concern are scrutinised.
The Member said the Ghana Armed Forces should not be allowed to degenerate into an anti-nationalism institution.
Mr Johnson Aseidu Nketia, a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture asked Mr Koi-Larbi to withdraw the motion and come back with a "well conceived" one since the principle behind it was good.
He said the motion is resting on pre-conceived false assumptions, which needed to be changed.
The member said that to base an argument of that nature on the assumption that there is ethnic homogeneity in all the regions of Ghana was false.
He said what was needed was to take ethnicity out of the army and that should occur during recruitment and conscientisation periods.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 16 June 2000
Dr. John Abu, Minister of Mines and Energy, on Thursday told parliament that his ministry is not aware of the alleged loss of 100 billion cedis by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) in the derivative futures trade.
He said his ministry is aware of a contract between the GNPC and Societe Generale, a French Financial Institution, for the development of the Tano fields in Ghana and not a liability.
Dr. Abu said under the contract, Societe Generale agreed to establish a basis for transactions through which GNPC would obtain price protection for the future oil and gas production from the Tano fields.
"However, the production that would have generated revenues for the corporation to enable it to support the transaction did not occur," he explained.
Dr. Abu appeared before the house to answer questions from the members. He said Societe Generale later instituted a claim in a High Court of England against GNPC, adding: "I am informed that the negotiations for settlement are taking place".
Asked whether the amount involved is a true figure, the Minister said he was not aware of the actual amount involved. Besides, the case is still pending before courts in England and Ghana and he would not want to go into details.
Attempts by the members to reframe the question failed as the Speaker insisted that the case is still pending in the law courts and must be treated as such.
Ms Grace Boachie, NDC-Tano South, asked why the people farming around Kwabena Tenten and nearby villages were not compensated when their coca trees were cut for the construction of electricity lines.
Dr. Abu said all those affected by the National Electrification Scheme would not be compensated because no provision was made under the project for compensation.
He said the government had a lengthy discussion with the chiefs and people of the affected areas and arrived at a decision.
The minister said those that were affected by the Volta River Authority's scheme have to settle that with the authority.
On efforts made by the Ministry to encourage rural women to use more environmentally friendly energy, Dr. Abu said the Ministry had since the 1980's promoted alternate sources of energy for cooking and also for efficiency in the cooking systems in the country.
On whether his ministry was aware of a survey conducted by the GNPC into cooking habits in the country that revealed that the use of kerosene stoves and oil lamps were largely responsible for the many eye problems being suffered by rural women, he said his ministry was unaware of any quantitative evidence on the subject.
"However, the ministry is aware of some health and environmental hazards associated with the use of these sources of energy for cooking."
The question was asked by Mr Kwakye Addo, NDC-Afram Plains. The Minister, answering a question from Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, NPP-Asante Akim North, on the submission of the annual report and audited accounts of the National Electrification Fund to Parliament, explained that the Audited Accounts are submitted annually by external auditors to the Auditor General, who, in turn, submits a consolidated report embodying that of the NEF to the appropriate institutions, including parliament. He promised members that the report would reach them in due course.
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