A Deputy Minister who was content with budgetary allocation
Accra (Greater Accra) 15 March 2002- Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance, on Thursday said in Parliament that the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) should strengthen its investigative machinery to ensure that those who caused financial loss to the state were not re-engaged by their institutions.
He said there must be financial discipline in the economy and that there were some workers when dismissed or punished by their institutions took the matter up with CHRAJ, that directed that they should be reengaged. Mr Osafo-Maafo was reacting to contributions on the floor of the House when the budget estimates for CHRAJ was being debated.
Mr Kofi Attor NDC- Ho Central had called for substantial financial resources for the CHRAJ to be able to establish 11 more district offices so that justice could be brought to the doorsteps of the people.
Mr Osafo-Maafo said as much as he would wish that that was done it was equally important for the CHRAJ to make thorough investigations into complaints lodged to it by people, who have been dismissed at their work places for stealing or misappropriating money belonging to the state.
He said institutional disciplinary framework in one department might not be the same as in another and to use the same method to direct the reengagement of wrongdoers was causing financial indiscipline.
"We must be careful not to bring indiscipline into the system when dealing with such culprits", he said. The House finally approved 12.5 billion cedis budget for the CHRAJ.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 March 2002- The Minority on Thursday urged the government to designate who should be its spokesman to avoid the discrepancy that was occurring on the government's reaction on sensitive national issues.
They said describing Kwabena Agyepong as deputy government Spokesman to give explanation on a government action only for Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs to come out "and begin to battle to undo the mess the Assistant Spokesman had created was baffling."
Mr Kofi Attor, (Ho-Central), Mr John Mahama (Bole) and Mr Francis Agbotse (Ho-West) all NDC members made the point one after the other when they were contributing to the approval of the budget estimates for the Ministry of Information and Presidential Affairs Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey presented to Parliament. Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey, who took the criticism smiling, said: "I am the spokesman for the country. I speak officially for the government."
Mr Attor urging the Minister to affirm his spokesman position called for more resources for the ministry saying that the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) and the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) should be provided with adequate resources to able to give good training to journalists.
Mr Joe Baidoe-Ansah, NPP-Effia Kwesimintsim and Ms Sena Akua Dansua, NDC-North Dayi deplored the scanty budget allocation to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
Mr Baidoe-Ansah said it was a matter of regret that the GNA, which requested for about 2.2 billion cedis for investment was given only 31 million cedis that could only two computers. He said it was still sad that the same Agency requested 9.9 billion cedis to cover its administrative and development expenses but was allocated only 6.2 billion cedis.
Mr Baidoe-Ansah called for depreciation in the management of government agencies so that their equipment and infrastructure would not collapsed totally for them to begin to look for capital investment.
Ms Dansua said the GNA needed adequate resources to enable it play its role of projecting the public relations image of the nation through the transmission of news bulletins to local and foreign subscribers. The House approved 48.992 billion cedis for the Ministry of Information and Presidential Affairs for its operations for the year 2002.
The House also approved 4.8 billion cedis to the Ministry of Private Sector Development; Ministry of Justice received 24.5 billion cedis, while 11.8 billion cedis went to Ministry of Mines and that of Energy while the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development had 75.5 billion cedis. The Ministry of Defence got 285.3 billion cedis. Sitting continues tomorrow to approve estimates for other MDAs.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 March 2002- Mr Ofosu Asamoah, NPP-Kade, on Thursday called for the establishment of a Ministry for Men to check the seemingly reversed discrimination in society.
He lauded the Women and Children Ministry for its work so far but said it would not be long when men would be at the receiving end of bitter societal activities. The member was contributing to a debate for the approval of 2002 budgetary estimates for the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.
Mr Asamuah, a lawyer and one of the youngest members of the House, suggested a Men and Juvenile (boys) Unit (MAJU) with the Police Service to aid men, who are battered by women but due to fear of being stigmatised cry themselves to sleep.
He said the existing Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) of the Police Service normally tended to be more sympathetic to women. Mr Kwakye Addo, NDC- Afram Plains, challenged the member's assertion saying that he was being unfair to WAJU.
Mr Asamuah retorted; "if the member have had any experience there he would have supported my request." He said society should not assume that all was well with the boys when he had his own peculiar problems.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 March 2002- Mr Joe Donkor, Deputy Minister of Manpower Development and Employment (MMDE), on Thursday stunned Members of Parliament (MP) when he showed appreciation for a 27.7 billion budgetary allocation, a third of what the Ministry needed for 2002.
"We will manage. We will do our best to pursue the objectives of the ministry with what has been given us. We will make the best out it under the circumstances." Members, especially, the minority wondered why the Deputy Minister could be so grateful after having his budget slashed by two thirds.
Mr M. A. Seidu, NDC-Wa Central, said," I think that there are magicians in that ministry to manage just one third of what they have requested for." He asked whether the Ministry was expecting other reliable sources of funding. "Or are you expecting something from the HIPC initiative. The budget is just too little to do much."
Mr K. O. Frimpong, NPP-Ahafo Ano North, called for more resources, "even if it means the Minister of Finance bringing a supplementary budget estimates to that effect."
In another development, the nomination of Mr Thomas Broni, Deputy Minister of Lands and Forestry Designate and Mr Affram Aseidu, Deputy Minister of Interior designate was approved. Members approved the nomination through a voice count. They are yet to be sworn in by the President.
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