GRi in Parliament Ghana 25 - 10 - 2000
Electoral Commission meets committee of the
Whole
House adopts two loan agreements
Electoral Commission meets committee of the
Whole
Accra (Greater Accra) 25 October 2000
Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), on Monday met with the Committee of the Whole of Parliament to brief it on the voters' register and the electoral system.
The meeting was at the instance of the Speaker.
The committee of Whole is the gathering of all members normally held in camera to discuss very sensitive and pressing national matters.
The House had received reports from members on the replacement of the thump-printed voter identity cards with photo ones, the bloated voters' register and the preparation towards the December 7 general election.
At its sitting last Thursday, October 19, Mr. Kosi Kedem, NDC-Hohoe South, made a statement that about two-thirds of registered voters in his constituency were not issued with photo ID cards during the recent replacement exercise.
He said those people stand to be de-franchised if the anomaly is not corrected. Mr. Kedem attributed the EC's inability to cover the area effectively to a number of factors, including bad timing, inefficiency of the operators of the camera, poor publicity and bad roads.
These views were supported by members who echoed complaints of the public and the media and advocated a review of the exercise.
All political parties are on record to have expressed doubts about the preparedness of the commission for the general election.
The EC has repeatedly said the exercise would continue at all district capitals till the voting day.
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House adopts two loan agreements
Accra (Greater Accra) 25 October 2000
Parliament on Tuesday adopted two loan agreements for the dredging of the Korle Lagoon and to finance a Rural Water and Sanitation project in five districts of the Northern Region.
The Korle Lagoon project involves 37,150,000 dollars. Standard Chartered Bank, London, will supply equipment for the ecological restoration of the Lagoon, which is already in progress.
Commodore Steve Obimpeh (rtd), Chairman of the Finance Committee, moving for the adoption of the report, said the ecological project involves the dredging of the lagoon from the Old Winneba Road to Agbogbloshie.
The total cost of the project is 82.7 million dollars with a construction cost element of 67 million dollars.
He said parliament had already approved 26.5 million dollars of the project and that the agreement under consideration was a further request for 37,150,000 dollars.
Cdre. Obimpeh said the loan, which will attract an interest rate of 7.22 per cent and a commitment fee of 0.4 per cent per annum, is repayable in 10 years with a grace period of 30 months.
The loan of 7.5 million dollars is to help provide Savelugu, Bole, East and West Gonja and Tolon Kumbungu Districts with potable water.
Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) will undertake the project.
Cdre. Obimpeh said the project will improve the lives of women and increase productivity since it will save the time used to search for water.
The loan has 19 years to mature and a seven-year grace period on repayment of the principal with an interest rate of 2.5 per cent per annum.
The implementing body of the project is the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA).
Beneficiary communities, who will contribute up to five per cent of the total capital cost, will bear the full cost of operation and maintenance.
It is to entrust half of the key position in the Water and Sanitation Committees (WATSAN) to women and encourage them to be very active in matters concerning water points and latrines.
Alhaji Amadu Seidu, Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, contributing to the motion, said the loan is a supplement to many water projects being undertaken by the government and NGOs such as CIDA to alleviate the suffering of the people, especially during the dry season in the Northern Region.
Mr. J.H. Mensah, Minority Leader, said ceded money to WATSAN committees should be made readily available to them to enable them to continue to maintain their water systems.
He regretted the outbreak of guinea worm in some parts of his constituency because of non-availability of potable water, saying providing a borehole now costs about 35 million cedis, which is rather on the high side.
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, NPP-Old Tafo Suame, regretted that though 400 million cedis was allocated to his constituency last year for improvement of the water supply system, this was not utilised.
This year, he said, another 400 million cedis was allocated, which has also not been used, and called for the utilisation of the money to improve the water situation in the area.
Mr. Francis Buor, NPP-Offinso South, said work on the water project should start with despatch to ensure that it benefits the communities.
Speaking in support of the lagoon project, Ms Theresa Tagoe, Minority Spokesman on Tourism, said similar projects should be undertaken in areas such as Sakumono and Kpeshie because of their economic and tourist attractions.
She said the project would generate revenue, give employment to many people and eradicate the menace of mosquitoes and water-borne diseases.
Alhaji Amadu Seidu said his ministry is determined to ensure an early completion of the project to provide Ghanaians with a capital befitting its status.
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