Help poor communities out of darkness-Aidoo
Osafo Maafo faces Parliament on Friday
Chieftaincy disputes discussed in Parliament
Help poor communities out of darkness-Aidoo
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 November 2001 - Mr. Boahene Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, on Wednesday described as “a betrayal of the Ghanaian poor” the demands on the deprived energy hungry communities to fund part of some national electrification programmes is.
"Poverty is widespread in the rural areas. Funding part of such programmes is a hot assignment for them. We need to help them now," he said.
Mr Aidoo, who is also MP-Amenfi East, was contributing to a motion for the adoption of a report on the Committee on Mines and Energy on the performance of contractors engaged in electrification projects in some constituencies.
The reality is that many rural communities cannot afford the poles and wiring cost as stipulated under the programmes, especially, the Self- Help Electrification Programme (SHEP), he said.
According to the Minister, a treated teak pole and its transportation from treatment site to work site amounts to one million cedis. "In most cases, these communities are asked to provide 100 of such poles, how many communities can afford 100 million cedis today? It is really a burden."
He said teak poles are becoming expensive due to its conversion into carpentry and joinery products lately. Mr. Kwabena Tahir Hammond, Deputy Minister of Energy, said concerns of members are well taken and that his Ministry would liaise with all relevant bodies "to light up the countryside soon."
He said most of the difficulties associated with electrification programmes stem from funding. "For instance, we requested 50 billion cedis for the SHEP three programme but only 10 billion was approved. We have so far received 2.5 billion cedis."
The Deputy Minister urged District Assemblies to help deprived communities link up to the national grid. The Committee recommended, among others, the timely release of the District Assembly Common fund so that assemblies could channel some money into electrification programmes. The House adopted the report by a yes voice vote.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 01 November 2001 - Mrs Alice Teni Boon, MP for Lambussie, on Wednesday could not enjoy what she loves so much-a lecture on rural electrification, because Deputy Minister of Energy, Kwabena Hammond's, accent was too foreign and fast for her.
The British trained lawyer was answering queries raised in a parliamentary committee report on rural electrification in the house. "Mr Speaker, I think he is "slanging". The language is not coming out well enough," Mrs. Boon raised an objection twice.
Yearning for a soothing response, she had a rather embarrassing one from the Deputy Minister who said: "one member has requested to translate what I'm saying into Lambussie for you."
Mr. Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker, had to be the comforter, saying, "don't worry, it would be clearer when the Hansard (official record of Parliament) comes out.
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Osafo Maafo faces Parliament on Friday
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 November 2001 – Finance Minister Yaw Osafo Maafo would appear before Parliament on Friday and not on Wednesday as published, to answer an urgent question on the budget.
Papa Owusu Ankoma, Majority Leader, told the house on Wednesday that the minister began a marathon discussion with a group of development partners on Tuesday and would be available to Parliament on Friday.
"I have the consent of the Minority Leader on the matter. I also informed the member (Mr. Norber Awulley,NDC-Builsa South) in whose name the question stands, and I have made the Clerk aware of the situation. I believe that explains why it is not on the order paper."
Mr Doe Adjaho, Minority Chief Whip, had questioned why the Finance Minister did not appear as advertised last week and why Wednesday's order paper did not reflect the situation.
Alhaji Amadu Seidu, NDC-Atebubu South, asked whether the failure of the minister to come to the house amounts to the level of seriousness he attaches to parliamentary business.
Mr. Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker, said that "the minister has to perform those functions on behalf of the people of Ghana. It is not a matter of power play but a matter of convenience."
"What about his two deputies, can't one of them stand in for him?" Mr Kwame Asante, Minority Spokesman on Energy, asked.
Papa Owusu Ankoma said: "Considering the gravity and importance of the question, we would want the minister to come to the house and talk on the issue so that whatever he says would be binding on (the) government."
Despite his heavy schedule, he has accepted the fact that parliamentary business is a national priority." Mr. Awulley wanted to know when the minister would be presenting the real budget for the year since the first one was described as an interim budget.
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Chieftaincy disputes discussed in
Parliament
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 November 2001 - The country, as at December 2000, recorded a total of 44 appeal cases pending before the National House of Chiefs from the Regional Houses of Chiefs while, there were a total of 171 cases pending before the Regional Houses of Chiefs.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Houses of Chiefs leads with 35 cases pending with two cases on appeal at the National House of Chiefs followed by Ashanti Regional House of chiefs with 34 cases pending and 20 cases on appeal at the National House of Chiefs.
Mrs. Cecilia Amoah, NPP Member of Parliament for Asutifi South disclosed this in a Statement in Parliament on Wednesday, expressing concern about the spate of Chieftaincy disputes in the country.
She said the chief is the custodian of stool or skin lands and properties and as the arbiter of disputes, he commands respect and wields enormous influence.
Politically, the chief has authority as the custodian of customs, tradition and maintenance of law and order, which places him in a unique position that must transcend party politics, she added.
Mrs. Amoah said, however, despite the dignified and vital role that traditional authorities play in the country, the institution of chieftaincy is saddled with numerous problems, which seem to undermine its significance.
She said the country has witnessed many cases of chieftaincy disputes in recent times and the law courts and the Regional Houses of Chiefs have been flooded with cases relating to ownership of lands, the right to occupy stools and skins and destoolment of chiefs.
Mrs. Amoah said causes of chieftaincy disputes include lack of transparency and accountability and improper stewardship on the part of some chiefs.
"These and other practices, coupled with delays in settling disputes by our courts and traditional councils lead the youth to misguidedly take the law into their own hands to cause commotion and riots which, quite often, result in violent classes with traditional authorities and their supporters".
Mrs. Amoah said these days it was commonplace to see chiefs dabbling in active politics to the extent that some of them openly campaign on political party platform during elections.
She said such chieftaincy disputes and litigation's not only scare away foreign investors but lead to lawlessness, insecurity and confusion and retard progress.
The MP said it is heart-warming that attempts were being made to salvage the waning image of the institution some Houses of Chiefs for setting up arbitration and mediation committees to settle disputes.
Mrs Amoah suggested that the Chieftaincy Secretariat, and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to get actively involved in the education of chiefs and the general public in the handling of chieftaincy issues.
Alhaji Muhammed Mumuni, NDC - Kumbungu said the institution of chieftaincy is one of the unifying factor for uniting the people as one people with diverse ethnic backgrounds.
He said the institution requires periodic attention to enable it adapt to the changing times and called for the customary law to be made relevant to the people.
Mr. Kwame Owusu Frimpong, NPP - Ahafo Ano North said "some of the chiefs are their won enemies and tend to cause trouble for themselves."
He suggested that all cases pending before the Houses of Chiefs should be referred to the Fast Track Courts to save the long delays and anxiety among the people.
Mr. Frimpong called on the people to be prepared to accept verdicts of the Houses of Chiefs for peace to prevail. Dr. Benjamin Kunbour, NDC - Lawra/Nandom said the chieftaincy institution is a creation of the colonial government which, in some cases, have been used to suppressed the people.
He said there are some ethnic groups, which do not have chiefs but pay allegiance to their Tindana's who are recognised as custodians of the land
Mr. Kwaku Balado Manu, NPP - Ahafo Ano South said the institution was sacrosanct, which until recently played a unifying role and contributed immensely to the socio-cultural, political and economic advancement of society.
He said most often chieftaincy disputes were orchestrated from without and there was the need for a pragmatic approach to bring back its past glory.
Mr. Joseph Gidisu, NDC - North Tongu said the elite in society are the most guilty of fanning chieftaincy disputes since they use their education and wealth to influence who occupies a stool or skin.
Mr. Osei -Kyei- Mensah Bonsu, NPP- Old Tafo Suame said there was the need for parts of royalties and proceeds from stool lands to be used for the development of their areas.
He called for regulatory measures to weed out the bad nuts who meddle in the chieftaincy affairs and to make laws to guide the disbursement of proceeds of stool lands.
Mr. Victor Gbeho, Ind. - Anlo said there was the need for a study of the role of chiefs in the communities to help improve their image. He said there was the need for modernising the Chieftaincy institution without sacrificing its traditions, culture and norms.
Mr. Freddie Blay, CPP- Ellembelle said the insitutions of chieftaincy was very relevant to mobilising the people, but of late, their authority and influence has waned, especially in the urban areas.
He called on the central government to help the chieftaincy institution to codify its operations in the interest of society while the Lands Commission needs to be firm on the demarcation of stool lands.
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