MPs decry poor services of cellular phone operators

Minority express concern about kerosene shortage

Member concerned about delay in inland port project

Concessional loan agreement for electricity laid before House

Accra (Greater Accra), 29^th October 99

Members of Parliament on Thursday expressed disquiet over what they see as poor services being rendered to consumers by cellular phone operators.

They, therefore, urged the Ministry of Communications to provide facilities to the Ghana Telecom to enable it to operate its intended national mobile phone network to introduce competition into the industry and promote efficiency.

The members' concerns followed a statement in the House by Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Minority Spokesman on Foreign Affairs, on "Consumer protection with special attention to cellular phone operators".

Mr. Owusu-Agyeman, (NPP New Juaben North), noted that one of the problems associated with the country's economic "open-door policy" has been the unfortunate situation of the consumers being taken for granted.

He said the Ghanaian consumer has for far too long, been at the mercy of producers and service providers, having to suffer problems ranging from arbitrary price reviews to deceitful and shoddy commodity performance.

The era of liberalisation of the economy has no doubt, opened the floodgates for products of all makes and shapes, and of varied uses, into the country.

"Much as the advantages of this liberalisation are immense, the system certainly has arrived with its own baggage".

Mr. Owusu-Agyeman said mobile phones may be playing an important role in the country's economic, social and political life, certain 'teething' problems which seem to be growing with the industry, however, need to be critically redressed for the full benefits of the communication device to be felt by the consumer.

Much has been said of the frustrations of the average mobile phone and ordinary phone user, who, in trying to reach a cellular phone user, usually encounters the irritating response, "the mobile phone has not responded, please try later".

"In fact, I am informed that a consumer,... recently referred to a case where his friend in the United States called 70 times with none coming through and threatened to sue the service provider over the unimpressive performance of the cellular phone".

Mr. Owusu-Agyeman said apart from the virtual impossibility of reaching a cellular phone from a Ghana Telecom booth and the irritation over constant failures of mobile phone calls, the cellular phone user now has to go through frustrations over the use of pre-paid phone cards, "which are in reality anything but what the service providers promise".

He said that the cellular phone operators are 'short-changing' the Ghanaian consumer, providing the shoddiest of services, yet charging exorbitant rates converted from the dollar to the cedi.

"My information is that the equipment being used by them are discarded and outmoded ones from the developed countries.

"Currently, one can buy a card and never succeed in making one telephone call, yet that card expires in 30 days", he said, describing the situation as "daylight robbery".

The Minority's ranking member wondered why Ghana Telecom, 70 per cent of which is owned by the country, is denied a frequency to provide competition.

"I know for a fact that the President has intervened in this issue but vested interests stand in the way of Ghana Telecom.

"Leaving the consumer at the mercy of the buffeting and conflicting influences and pressures of the current economic environment, will only be to the long-term disadvantage of this country", he added.

GRi

Return to top

Accra (Greater Accra), 29^th October 99

There was a heated debate in Parliament on Thursday on kerosene as whereas the Minority maintained that there was shortage of the commodity on the market, the Majority thought otherwise.

Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minority spokesman on Mines and Energy who made a statement on the subject, said the shortage of kerosene on the market in recent times has brought severe hardships to those who use the commodity for lighting.

Citing those living in rural communities as an examples, Mr. Kan-Dapaah said the absence of light in the darkness of the night around farmhouses in the middle of cocoa farms, cannot only be frightening, but "dangerously fatal, since such farmhouses are easily invaded by snakes and other equally poisonous reptiles".

The problem, he said, is equally pronounced in urban areas where quite a lot of the inhabitants who have no access to electricity rely on kerosene-fed lanterns.

The Minority spokesman wondered why officials in the petroleum industry allowed their storage depots to run out of kerosene.

He urged the Ministry of Mines and Energy to tell Ghanaians what has caused the shortage and how soon they could expect relief.

"I call upon the Ministry to explain to us what has happened to the three months strategic stock which our storage levels should have".

Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, (NPP-Asante-Akim North), wanted an assurance from the Minister of Mines and Energy as to when the commodity would be available to the ordinary Ghanaian.

Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh, (NPP-Nsuta Kwaman), said it is an eyesore to see some workers wasting man-hours in queues for kerosene, and said when this happens, some unpatriotic elements take advantage of the situation to sell the commodity at cut throat prices.

Mr. Osei-Prempeh blamed the unfortunate situation on the negligence of duty on the part of some officials in the Ministry, and suggested that in future, all those found to have neglected their duties should be made to face the full rigours of the law.

When Mr. Simon Abingya, Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, took the floor, he said there was no shortage of kerosene in the system.

Mr. Abingya explained that the weekly supply of kerosene, which has dropped from 2,500 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes, was due to the fact that the refinery could not take delivery of the supply of crude oil that was supposed to be supplied by companies like TOTAL and SHELL.

He assured Ghanaians that everything possible was being done to increase the weekly supply of kerosene to a maximum of 3,500 tonnes to take care of the shortfalls.

The Deputy Minister said as from tomorrow, the refinery would take stock of adequate supply of crude oil, and that a total of 2.2 million dollars worth of kerosene would be imported by the middle of next month.

GRi

Return to top

Accra (Greater Accra), 29^th October 99

A Member of Parliament on Thursday expressed concern about the delay in the execution of the Fumesua inland port project in the Ashanti region.

Mr. Akwasi Osei-Adjei, NPP-Ejisu/Juaben, said the project holds immense economic prospects not only for the people in the area but the country as a whole, and as such every effort should be made to get it off the ground.

Presenting a statement in the House, the MP said apart from the land problem that has bogged down the project, everything is on course for the construction of the port.

"It is my wish, therefore that my colleagues will support the Ghana Shippers' Council to carry out the project to fruition in view of the immense benefits it has for the Ejisu-Juaben District Assembly in particular, and the nation in general".

Mr. Osei-Adjei said the Fumesua inland port is a private sector-driven project whose execution the Council is acting as a facilitator.

He said the project is part of the government's efforts to remove bottlenecks from the national transportation system to facilitate trade and cut down on the aggregate cost of transportation.

On completion, the project is expected to ease congestion at the Tema and Takoradi ports, create job opportunities, and reduce the aggregate transport cost of international cargo to importers and exporters from the middle and northern parts of the country.

It will also facilitate the use of the Ghana corridor by land-locked countries like Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and promote the establishment of export processing zones in the vicinity of the port.

Mr. Osei-Adjei told the House that the project was conceived some 12 years ago but its implementation ran into difficulties due to financial constraints and the acquisition of a suitable site.

He said about four years ago, the Ministry of Roads and Transport mandated the Ghana Shippers' Council to reactivate the project, whose cost then was estimated at 10.3 million dollars.

After initial difficulties in the acquisition of a suitable site, the MP said, the government, acting through the Free Zones Board, declared the Fumesua site a free zone to facilitate the construction of the port.

Mr. Osei-Adjei said the "Fumesua Inland Port - Integrated Study Report", evaluates the project to be economically viable and financially profitable, with an internal rate of return to the tune of 50 per cent and 37 per cent respectively, at a relatively high discount rate of 45 per cent.

On a major problem facing the project, the MP said despite the knowledge that the government has acquired the site, lands in the area were sold to developers, who were asked to expedite development on the lands.

He said the developers were advised that once they reached lintel level of their building projects, the government would not repossess the lands.

Currently, he added, a large portion of the site declared as free zone for the project has been seriously encroached upon, to the extent that by November, last year, there were 139 buildings at various stages of development despite repeated warnings.

Members who contributed to the statement expressed the need for such a facility, in view of its economic importance, and urged the government to do all it can to speed up the implementation process.

Mr. S.K Boafo, NPP-Subin, wondered why the actual construction has not started even though preparatory work has been completed, adding that it is a project that cuts across the political divide.

Mr. Francis Kwame Nyarko, NPP-Kade, urged the government to expedite action on the implementation of the project, saying that the inland port facility is one area that could help substantially to reduce unemployment.

Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, NPP-Old Tafo/Suame, noted that the effectiveness of an inland port is dependent on efficient road and rail transport system, adding that the Accra-Kumasi road should be put in good shape before the project takes off.

Alhaji Ahmed Musah, NDC-Asokwa East, described the project as "one of the giant economic undertakings of the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Alhaji Collins Dauda, NDC-Asutifi South, said the project is of national importance and every effort should be made to stop all unauthorised development on the acquired lands.

Dr John Frank Abu, Minister of Trade and Industry and NDC MP for Amenfi Central, explained that the project is an important component of the government's "Gateway Programme".

He therefore called on the Ghana Shippers' Council, the Ashanti Co-ordinating Council and the traditional council of the area to help stop the encroachment.

Dr Abu gave the assurance that the Ministry would continue to support all efforts to enable the project to "come on board".

GRi

Return to top

Accra (Greater Accra), 29^th October 99

Dr. Kwabena Adjei, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs on Thursday laid on behalf of the Minister of Finance a concessional loan agreement to finance the extension of electricity to 106 towns in the Volta Lake Resettlement area.

Under the agreement, China International Water and Electric Corporation will give Ghana more than 29.538 billion dollars for the project.

Before the agreement was laid, a hot argument ensued between Members of both sides of the House as to who is to lay it.

Whereas the Minority requested that the Minister of Finance or any of his two deputies should do so, it was the contention of the Majority that it could be laid on the Finance Minister's behalf since he was out of the country.

Last week, Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, (NPP-Asante Akim North), sought clarification from the Speaker as to whether important papers could be laid for Ministers.

The Speaker thanked the Member for the concern raised and assured him that a ruling would soon be given on the issue.

So when today, Mr. Freddie Blay, Second Deputy Speaker, asked Dr. Adjei to lay the paper on behalf of the Minister of Finance, the Minority wondered why neither of the two Deputy Minister's was present to lay it for their boss.

This brought Dr. Adjei to his feet to say that at the Business Committee meeting, it was agreed that important papers such as this could be laid for busy Ministers.

As part of the Akosombo and Kpong Hydro electric projects, the Volta River Authority (VRA) built a number of townships, providing them with the necessary infrastructure and institutional services for the resettlement of more than 100,000 persons whose villages were submerged when the dam was constructed.

At the time the resettlement towns were established, VRA could not provide electricity to most of those communities, because they were far from the VRA grid sub-stations and the ECG sub-transmission and distribution networks.

Feasibility studies identified a total of 171 townships along the Volta Lake to benefit from the project, but due to the large number of towns involved, the project has had to be carried out in phases.

The first phase, which involves the electrification of 106 communities, is estimated at about 32,9 billion dollars of which China International Water and Electric Corporation is providing 29.538 billion dollars, representing 90 per cent of the total cost.

GRi

Return to top