Ban on drumming and noise making referred to
Parliamentary Committees
Parliament approves loan for Pantang-Mamfe
road project
Parliament defers motion on high food prices
Ban on drumming and noise making referred
to Parliamentary Committees
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2001
The Speaker of Parliament on Wednesday referred the issue of the annual ban on drumming and noise-making in the Ga Traditional Area to the joint Committees of Culture, Subsidiary Legislation and Constitutional and Legal Affairs to come out with appropriate recommendations.
Mr Peter Ala Adjetey gave the Committees three months within which to come out with acceptable response to the issue so as to curtail the recurrence of misunderstanding between the traditional authorities and some religious groups.
The Speaker said the committees should work with urgency since it has repercussions not only on national security and peace but that the confusion was likely to resurface next year.
Mr Adjetey gave the order following a statement made by Mr Ernest Attuquaye Armah, NDC Ga South, concerning the controversy over the customary ban imposed by the Ga Traditional Council.
Mr Armah said the usual drama which surrounds the observation of the ban was once again unfolded by a section of the community that are of the view that the ban is against their religious beliefs and that the Council was trying to impose its religion on them.
He said the Council, however, says the ban is not a religious act but a custom, which needs to be observed by everyone who resides within the jurisdiction of the Council.
Mr Armah said customs in Ghana vary from place to place which are always adhered to and followed by the people but lately the custom within Accra has been infringed upon due to the cosmopolitan nature of the area.
He said while within the smaller towns and villages, such offenders could be invited and sanctioned by the "Mankrado, Ahenfie Police or Chief, it is never the same in the cosmopolitan area.
"Accra is not the only cosmopolitan area in the country with such a custom yet in all other such areas all customary practices are observed without any query," he added.
Mr Armah said it is sheer coincidence that those charged with making sure the ban is observed by everyone is the Wulomoi and the fact that they are associated with a traditional religion it is assumed by people of different religious backgrounds as an imposition on them.
He said such conflicts mostly bring about tribal misunderstanding, which could affect tribal marriages as well as inter-religious harmony and suggested negotiation in the spirit of give and take.
He called on the Minister of the Interior and other stakeholders to enforce the law to ensure that the rights of the Gas as custodians of the land are respected to avoid conflicts.
Capt. Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey, NPP Berekum, supporting the statement traced the history of the ban on noise-making, saying the rationale for the annual ban was to prevent young men and women from rejoicing during the period of planting.
He recommended a return to the joint declaration signed in 1999 by the Ga Traditional Council, Religious organisations and the Pentecostals so as to forestall any future misunderstanding and bring about a compromise.
Capt. Effah-Dartey suggested that the terms of the declarations be published in the daily newspapers and radio for all to abide by them.
Alhaji Abubakari Sumani, NDC Choggu/Tishigu appealed to various groups to respect each other's customs and traditions for a peaceful co-existence.
He said now is the time to reconcile the various parties and settle the issue instead of waiting to look for solutions come the next ban period.
Nana Akomea, NDC Okaikwei South, said now is the time to harmonise traditional norms and cultural practices on a constitutional footing to reduce the misunderstanding and conflict of interest.
He urged the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to take effective measures to enforce its ban on noise making to bring about religious tolerance and understanding.
Mr Amos Lawerh Buertey, NDC Ada, called for a follow up to the meeting organised by the Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinating Council to bring about reconciliation on the ban.
He said the issue at stake should be who monitors the ban and who determines the acceptable levels of noise making in the metropolis.
Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, NDC Wenchi West, said there is the need for the issue of the annual ban to be removed out of religion and to allow secular institutions or a regulatory body to enforce the law.
Mr J. H. Mensah, the Majority Leader, said the issue was that of a break down of compromise and accommodation since peoples' interest was bound to clash in any social set up.
He appealed to all to eschew the practice of meting out instant justice to offenders and to allow the law to take its course since every religion and culture has its period of silence.
Dr Kwabena Adjei, NDC Biakoye called on the Joint committee to take a critical look at the legislation on noise making and to take holistic approaches to finding a lasting solution to the impasse.
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Parliament approves loan for Pantang-Mamfe
road project
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2001
Parliament on Wednesday unanimously approved a 32 million-dollar loan agreement to be contracted by the government from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to finance the construction of part of the Tetteh Quarshie Circle-Mamfe road.
Seventy-eight million dollars would be needed to complete the entire project.
According to a report on the loan agreement read by Mr Reo Addai Bosoah, Chairman of the Finance Committee, the package would cater for the 30-kilometre
Pantang Junction to Mamfe section.
The road would be turned into a single carriage double bitumen surface road with a width of seven metres and a two-metre single bitumen surface treatment shoulders on both sides.
Mr Bosoah said the loan package has an institutional support component that would provide technical assistance to the Ghana Highway Authority for improvement in the management information, financial management as well as contract administration systems.
"Both local and foreign short-term training would be provided for staff at all levels," he said.
Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister of Roads and Highways, told the House that negotiations for the remaining stretch is almost completed.
" The portion is slated under the Road Sector Development Programme (RSDP)."
Mr Adjei-Darko said issues of compensation would be worked out between government and the various communities that would be affected.
The Minister expressed optimism that international competitive bidding for the project would scale down the ultimate cost to be borne by government and rake in savings.
Mr Adjei-Darko said routine maintenance of the road would go on as usual before the real rehabilitation begins.
Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance, called for a uniform tax exemption regime for all projects in the country.
He urged the house to fine-tune any aspect of the loan agreement that may have adverse implications of the country's finances.
Permission for exemption would be laid before the house soon.
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Parliament defers motion on high food
prices
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2001
Parliament for two consecutive sittings on Tuesday and Wednesday deferred the debate on a motion on escalating prices of foodstuffs and calling on the government to take immediate steps to address it.
A private member's motion on the issue that was scheduled for debate on Tuesday, June 12 was first deferred to (June 13) today for the House to reach a consensus on it because there was an amendment motion from the Majority side.
The original motion stood in the names of NDC members, Mr Edward Doe
Adjaho, (Avenor), Mr John Akologo Tia, (Talensi) and Dr Alfred Tia (Nalerigu) calling on the House "to view with serious concern the current escalating prices of foodstuffs and urge the government to take immediate steps to arrest the situation".
The next day the Majority proposed an amendment to the motion, which reads "the House, conscious of the strenuous efforts currently being made by the government to improve the economy, urges the government to remain steadfast in this pursuit in order to revamp the agricultural sector and stabilise food prices".
According to the House Order Paper (Programme), four members of the Majority are co-sponsoring the amendment.
They are Mr Abraham Ossei-Aidoo, (Tema West), Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu,
(Old Tafo-Suame), Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh,(Nsuta-Kwamang) and Mr Samuel Balado
Manu.
At Tuesday's sitting, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Deputy Majority Leader informed the House that the leadership of both sides were seeking a consensus on the two motions. Mr Doe Adjaho supported the Majority's stand.
The motion was again deferred to Thursday after the Speaker, Mr Peter Ala
Adjetey had called the topic for debate only for Papa Owusu-Ankomah to request
that the matter be deferred.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah said the day was far advanced and the motion needed a full-scale debate for more members to contribute to it. Also by Thursday the leadership could have reached a consensus.
Mr Adjaho again supported this.
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