MPs gears up for heavy schedule

Accra (Return to top), 13^th November 99

Parliament will from next week do two sittings each day except on Thursdays, to enable it to complete its agenda for the third meeting.

Dr Kwabena Adjei, Leader of the House, made this known on Friday at the presentation of business statement for the week ending November 19.

He explained that the exemption of Thursdays from the double sittings is to enable members to attend caucus meetings.

The Leader of the House said the Business Committee had decided that from next week, the practice of Public Business taking over private business "shall be strictly adhered to.

" However, any private member's business which has important national implications, will be accorded priority."

Dr Adjei said on Tuesday, November 16, the Minister of Roads and Transport would answer questions while the House would receive a report from the Committee on Health on the Traditional Medicine Practice Bill.

He said the report from the Committee on Legal, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs on the Political Parties Bill, will be laid before the House on Tuesday.

A report from the Finance Committee on a concessional loan agreement for 29.538 million dollars between Ghana and China International Water and Electric Corporation to finance the extension of electricity to 106 resettlement towns under the Volta Lake Resettlement Towns Project will also be laid before the House.

The Citizen Bill will be read the first time on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, November 17, the Minster of the Interior takes his turn at "Question Time" . The second reading of the Immigration Bill will also be taken the same day.

The Minister of Health, will on Thursday, November 18, answer questions from members.

On the same day, the House will receive a report from the Finance Committee on an amendment agreement to increase the loan amount between Ghana and Swedish Development Agency (SIDA), through Nordbanken of Sweden, by 19.20 million Swedish Kroners, for electrification in the Greater Accra and Volta Regions.

There will be motions for the second reading of the Traditional Medicine Practice Bill and the adoption of a report on a 29.538 million-dollar concessional loan agreement between Ghana and China International Water and Electric Corporation.

A motion calling on the President to submit to the House the annual report on all steps taken to ensure the realisation of policy objectives on the directive principle of state policy contained in the Chapter Six of the Constitution, sponsored by Nana Akufo Addo, MP for Abuakwa, will also be moved.

The week's Question Time ends with the Minister of Education on Friday.

Four reports including one from the Finance Committee on a loan agreement between the Bank of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, for 19.592 Dutch Guilders to part finance the Technical Vocational Education and Training (VOTEC) resource centre, will be laid on the same day.

The Committee on Subsidiary Legislation's report on the Wetlands Management (Ramsar Sites) Regulations 1999 L.I. 1659, Minimum Wages Regulations 1999 L.I. 1658 and Income Tax (Amendment) regulations, 1999 L.I. 1664 will also be laid on Friday.

The House is expected to adopt a report of the Finance Committee on the concessional loan agreement to conclude business for the week.

GRi