Presidential jet lease agreement laid before Parliament
Capacity rebuilding necessary for efficient administration of justice
Presidential jet lease agreement laid before Parliament
Accra (Greater Accra) 6 Nov. '99
The agreement between Gallen Limited of the Cayman Islands and the Government of Ghana for the lease of "Gulfstream III" executive aircraft was on Friday laid before Parliament for consideration.
A memorandum from the Minister of Finance, which accompanied the lease agreement, said that the total cost of the aircraft, if purchased outright by the government, would be 16.68 million dollars.
This is made up of 13.50 million dollars being the actual cost of the aircraft and 3.180 million dollars, representing the cost of detailed inspection and revision at a manufacturing plant, warranties, additional work done on the aircraft, provision of training for five pilots and five mechanics and spare parts.
The memorandum said considering the current financial constraints on the government, it was proposed that the aircraft should be leased by the executive rather than acquiring it by outright purchase, which will require the government to borrow the necessary funds for that purpose.
Consequently, it said, the Ministry of Finance has negotiated an agreement with the owners of the aircraft, Gallen Limited, to lease the plane.
The term of the lease is five years during which period the government will make semi-annual rental payments to the lessor.
The memorandum said during the period of the negotiations, there were other parties, who were equally interested in the aircraft.
Consequently, immediately after the successful conclusion of the agreement, the government made a 2,950,800-dollar deposit in accordance with the agreement, to secure the plane.
The deposit represents a down payment of 1.450 million dollars and the first instalment of 1.50 million dollars.
The memorandum explained that negotiations were concluded after Parliament had approved the Appropriation Bill.
It said the first payment was made from the Contingency vote, adding that if parliamentary approval is given, subsequent lease payments would be provided for under respective annual budgets.
The agreement permits the government to purchase the aircraft outright at any time during the term of the lease should the government elect that option by paying the termination sum, the memo said.
The memo said the agreement also offers the government an excellent opportunity to resolve, at least during the term of the lease, the difficulty in providing the country with an executive jet, which has the right specifications to undertake long-range journeys efficiently.
The Income Tax Amendment Regulations 1999 was also laid before the House.
GRi../
Capacity rebuilding necessary for efficient administration of justice
Accra (Greater Accra) 5 Nov. '99
A permanent training school for the continuing judicial education, has been established to train members of the Bench, particularly, chairpersons and panel members of community and circuit tribunals and judges of the lower courts.
Dr Obed Asamoah, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, who announced this in Parliament on Friday, said human resource capacity rebuilding through continuing education, has been identified as a core area for the efficient and faster administration of justice in the country.
Dr Asamoah, who was answering a parliamentary question, said due to the importance the Judicial Service attaches to training, a permanent Director of a status of a Supreme Court Judge, has been appointed to head the institution.
Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, NPP-Tema West, had asked the Minister how the sector Ministry intends to enhance the performance of chairmen and members of community and circuit tribunals.
Dr Asamoah said among other training programmes, the Judicial Service organises seminars throughout the year in all regional capitals for chairmen and members of community and circuit tribunals.
Such seminars aim at the general overview of the law and procedure, particularly pertaining to the circuit courts and tribunals with the view to helping participants acquire knowledge and skills, which will enable them to perform their judicial duties more efficiently.
The Minister said the Service has also embarked upon a modernisation process to enhance efficiency and faster administration of justice.
A computerisation and mechanisation programme, including networking and linkages of the courtrooms with the library and the court registry, is being pursued.
On efforts to minimise delays in handling cases before the courts, Dr Asamoah told the House that the Ministry will present to Parliament a constitutional amendment proposal that seeks to remove delays in the administration of justice, among other things.
GRi../