Political Parties Bill receives first reading

Members of Parliament re-echo corruption in society

Absence of political will-major problem facing Health sector-MP

Five Ministers to answer parliamentary questions

Constraints on foreign exchange to continue unless ... Ohene-Kena

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 May '99

A Political Parties Bill, which seeks to bring the existing enactment in conformity with the Constitution, was on Thursday given the first reading in Parliament.

The bill intends to remove some provisions in the existing law no longer considered purposeful and introduce some reforms for the better regulation of political party activities in the country.

It seeks to repeal the Political Parties Law, 1992 (PNDCL 281) and the Political Parties (Amendment) Law 1992 (PNDCL 283).

Specific provisions on merger of political parties have now been introduced, under which merged political parties lose their individual identities.

Political parties in alliance retain their registration as separate parties and are dealt with by the Electoral Commission as different entities for public elections.

A memorandum accompanying the bill says time frames for submission of various accounts and reports to the Electoral Commission required under the existing Political Parties Law, 1992 (PNDCL 281), have been extended upon the realisation that the parties cannot realistically comply with the law as provided under the existing enactment.

It says the requirement under the existing law for political parties to provide to the Electoral Commission the location of their offices by indicating, among other things, the nature of ownership of the properties, the names, addresses and nationalities of the owners, have been deleted as not being purposeful.

Fines and penalties for contravention of the various punishable provisions have been revised upwards.

The memorandum says the proposals in the bill take into account the outcome of discussions between the Electoral Commission and the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) and recommendations received by the Commission at public forums.

It says, however, that due to limitation of national finances, not all the recommendations could be accepted by the government, especially that of funding political parties.

Under the bill, political parties may be founded to further purposes, which are not contrary to the laws of the country, and every Ghanaian of voting age has the right to form or join a political party.

A political party is free, subject to the Constitution, to participate in shaping the political will of the people. It could disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programmes of a national character and to sponsor candidates for elections to any public office other than to district assemblies or lower local government units.

Every candidate for election to Parliament has the right to conduct his campaign freely and in accordance with the existing law, and no member of any organisation or interest group shall be required to join any particular political party by virtue of his membership of the organisation or group.

The bill says any person, who suppresses or attempts to suppress the lawful political activity of another person contrary to the law or requires any person to join any particular political party, commits an offence. And shall on summary

conviction be liable to a minimum fine of two million cedis or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.

No political party shall be formed on ethnic, gender, religious, regional, professional or other sectional divisions; or uses words, slogans or symbols, which could arouse sectional divisions.

The bill enjoins every prospective political party not to submit to the Commission for registration, any identifying symbol, slogan, colour or name which is the same as those of any other existing political party or of the country.

No political party should submit for registration any symbol, slogan, colour or name which so closely resembles those of a registered party or the country as to be likely to deceive the public.

On contribution to the political parties, the bill says any Ghanaian may contribute in cash or in kind to the funds of a party except that the contribution in any period or twelve months, shall not exceed an amount to be determined by the Commission.

This does not apply to a contribution, donation or pledge of contributions or donations, whether in cash or in kind, made by any founding member of the political party, as his contribution towards the initial assets of the party within the first year of the existence of the party.

The bill prohibits any person, who is not a Ghanaian, from directly or indirectly making a contribution or donation or loan, whether in cash or in kind, to the funds of a political party. And no political party or person shall demand or accept a contribution, donation or loan from a non-Ghanaian.

Additionally, no company, partnership, firm or other business enterprise other than those legally registered or established under a law in Ghana, shall contribute any amount, whether in cash or in kind, to the funds of a political party.

On public officers and political activities, the bill provides that a chief or a person, who is not eligible to be elected to Parliament, does not qualify to be a founding member, leader or a member of the executive of a political party

Such a chief or person is barred from holding office in a political party or engaging in canvassing in support of or against a political party or a candidate standing for public election.

The bill says without, prejudice to the penalty for contravention of any of its provisions, where a political party contravenes any of the provisions and is convicted, the Commission may cancel the registration of that political party.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 21 May '99

Members of parliament on Thursday re-echoed the need to eliminate corrupt practices from the society.

They were of the consensus that unless members of the society re-examined themselves and refrained from wrong doings, corruption would persist.

Alhaji Kojo Mama Adam, Member for Techiman South said he regretted that there is a tendency in this country to over amplify a few major problems that plague society, while the numerous little ones, which have far-reaching cumulative impact are down-played.

Alhaji Adam, who is also the Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister pointed out that little things matter as much as big ones, and therefore charged society to educate its members to appreciate the importance of these little negative things and to eliminate them.

The Deputy Regional Minister said all wrong doings in society are bad no matter their magnitude, but wondered why society appears to be selective in what it should detest.

He, therefore, underscored the need to seriously and comprehensively re-orient the value system, especially in the light of "our emerging democracy and on-going social change such that everything that impacts negatively on society is given ample focus and severely condemned and sanctioned".

Alhaji Adam lauded both the Catholic Church and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice for leading the campaign against corruption and for organising a seminar on integrity.

Corruption, he said, is a vice that needs a sustained attack to keep it down because it re-surfaces in subtle forms when the fight abates.

For this reason, Alhaji Adam urged religious bodies, youth organisations, social clubs and other identifiable groups to join in the crusade to sensitise the people in order to rid society of this canker.

Associating themselves with the statement, some members on both sides of the House contended that unless Ghanaians tackled the issue collectively, the nation could not develop.

Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, NPP-Asante-Akim North, who was the first to contribute, categorised corruption into two groups, namely, petty and grand, and said corruption can be minimised, if government acted swiftly in raising the salary levels of workers.

Mr Baah-Wiredu blamed corrupt practices in society on weak laws and said when there are weak acts and laws, the fight against corruption in society becomes a big problem.

Mrs. Vida Amaadi Yeboah, NDC-Akwapim South, appealed to Ghanaians to refrain from the "one for me, one for you" attitude, adding that when talking about issues in society that matter, equal attention ought to be paid to the trivial ones.

Mr Kosi Kedem, NDC-Hohoe South, pointed out that "we cannot condemn corruption when we desire to enjoy its 'good' things".

Mr Kedem urged parents to set examples worthy of emulation by the younger generation.

"No nation is better than its people, for when a nation is corrupt, its people become corrupted."

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Accra (Greater Accra) 22 May '99

Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, the Minority Spokesman on Health on Friday blamed the current problems facing the health sector on the absence of political will, empire-building, inequity, corruption and plain incompetence.

Dr Addo-Kufuor, who made this remark in a statement in Parliament pointed out that, even though, the sector is inundated with fine policies, programmes and strategies, the responsible authorities fear to implement them.

He said the yawning gap that exists between intent and implementation at the moment, has not only been costly to the nation, but has also demoralised health workers.

"Programmes worked out at great expense to the tax-payer and with advice and benevolence of the donor community have been left on the shelves because of unwillingness to let go political control over institutions and facilities currently manipulated from the centre."

The Minority Spokesman on Health said he regretted that the poor in society do not have the means to utilise the health services and that the government's exemption policies have failed to bring relief to those in greatest need, including paupers.

Dr Addo-Kufuor, therefore, advocated a national forum of stakeholders to review the operation of the Cash and Carry System and the effectiveness or otherwise of the current exemptions policy.

On the brain drain of health professionals, he pointed out that unless the Ministry comes to terms with the demoralised and restless professionals, and provided their basic needs, the Ministry would find it difficult to implement effectively its fine programmes.

The Minority Health Spokesman reminded professionals of their duty to society and urged health associations to discipline their wayward members so that patients, their relatives and the public at large would be treated with consideration, honesty and respect.

Mr Stephen Kwaku Balado Manu, NPP-Ahafo-Ano South and the Deputy Minority Spokesman on Health associated himself with the statement and urged the Ministry to improve the service conditions of health workers in the rural areas, where the health needs of the people are greater in order to retain them there.

Mr Manu suggested that social workers be attached to health institutions throughout the country to ensure their efficient and effective functioning.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 22 May '99

Five Ministers are expected to appear before Parliament next week to answer questions pertaining to their respective sectors.

They are Roads and Highways, the Interior, Education, Justice and Attorney- General and Parliamentary Affairs Ministers.

Mr M. A. Seidu, the Deputy Majority Leader announced this in Parliament on Friday, when he presented business statement for the second week ending May 28, on behalf of Dr Kwabena Adjei, Leader of the House.

According to the statement, the Citizenship and Immigration Bills would receive the first reading on Tuesday, May 25.

The Forestry Commission Bill would go through the second reading on Friday, after a report on it has been laid before the House and then read the first time on Wednesday May 26.

During the week, a motion would be moved for the approval of a 9.3 million-dollar Development Credit Agreement between Ghana and the International Development Association of the World Bank.

Approval would also be sought for an 8.7 million-dollar Global Environment Facility Fund Grant Agreement between Ghana and the International Bank for Reconstruction for the implementation of the National Resource Management Project Phase One.

A Finance Committee's report on a 9.65 billion-Yen loan agreement between Ghana and the Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund of Japan to co-finance the rehabilitation of the Achimota-Anyinam road, would be laid before the House on Thursday, May 27.

On Friday, May 28, another report on a loan agreement between Ghana and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) for 4.10 million dollars for the rehabilitation of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital would be put before the House.

A report from 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 would also be laid before the House on the same day.

There would be committee sittings and the Speaker may allow statements from members, during the period.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 22 May '99

Unless Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) succeeds in its efforts to discover substantial oil reserves, constraints on the country's foreign exchange holdings would persist, Mr Fred Ohene-Kena, Minister of Mines and Energy told Parliament on Friday.

Mr Ohene-Kena, who was in the House to answer a member's question about the Ministry, said this is because the nation's petroleum products are either imported or produced locally from imported crude oil.

The questioner, Mr Alex Kwaku Korankye, NPP-Asante-Akim South, wanted to know whether the nation's energy resources are being judiciously and efficiently managed to propel economic success and sustained socio-economic development.

The Minister replied in the affirmative and said currently, Ghana obtains 84 per cent of its electricity requirements from the hydro plants at Akosombo and Kpong.

The remaining 16 per cent, he said, is generated from the thermal power station at Aboadze near Takoradi, as well as a number of diesel powered stations.

Mr Ohene-Kena said he regretted that, even though, Ghana has in abundance wind and solar energy sources, these energy potentials are the least exploited.

This, he said, is due mainly to the fact that until recently the technology to harness these resources were very expensive.

The Minister pointed out that Ghana would have to increase its energy production and consumption by between five and nine times the current levels, if it is to attain the level of economic growth envisaged in the Vision 2020.

Comparing Ghana to other sister African countries, Mr Ohene-Kena said it is in the forefront of using energy efficiently.

He said, although, the Ministry has successfully promoted energy-use efficiency for some time, experience has shown that a combination of efforts by government and the private sector could yield the best dividends.

Mr Ohene-Kena said it is for this reason that the Ministry collaborated with the Private Enterprise Foundation in establishing the Energy Foundation, which is mobilising resources to educate consumers on the need for the efficient use of energy.

He disclosed that a 10 per cent saving in energy consumption of refrigerators could save the nation 107 billion cedis by the year 2020.

Another 10 per cent improvement in efficiency in the use of air-conditions and lighting would result in eight million dollars and six million dollars savings respectively.

The Minister stated that steps are being taken to enhance the harnessing of renewable energy resources such as solar energy, wind energy and mini hydro plants to supplement the country's traditional energy resources.

Mr Ohene-Kena said the Volta River Authority has since 1995 paid a total of 544,695,252 cedis to 682 farmers, whose farms were destroyed as a result of the construction of the Aboadze Thermal Plant.

He was answering a question put by Mr Joseph Ghansah, PCP-Tarkwa Nsuaem on the payment of compensation to the farmers.

GRi./

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