Electrification
Project to continue next year
State of
Emergency in Dagbon extended
House
expected to rise next Friday
Attorney-General
on arrest of two in Dagbon
Electrification
Project to continue next year
Accra (Greater Accra)
14 December 2002- The delay by various communities, especially in the Northern
Regions to supply low voltage poles towards the completion of the Self-Help
Electrification Projects has delayed the various phases of the project.
The SHEP-Three would
therefore, be completed in the early part of next year, while projects in the
Northern sector are expected to be completed by the middle of next year.
SHEP-Three and SHEP- Four are therefore, to run concurrently next year due to
the delays.
Mr Kobina Tahir
Hammond, Deputy Minister of Energy said this in Parliament on Friday when he
appeared to answer a number of questions posed by members concerning his
ministry.
Mr Yaw Effah-Baafi,
NDC- Kintampo asked when the Self-Help Electrification Project (SHEP) in the
Dawadawa, Kawampe, Gulumpe, Portor, Jema-Nkwanta, Ntankoro, Yabraso, Asantekwaa
and Techera numbers one and two in the Kintampo district would be completed.
Mr Hammond said the
towns form part of the on-going SHEP- three Phase three project and
installation works for the High and Low Voltage lines have been completed at
Yabraso and Asantekwa and they are expected to be connected to the National
Grid by January 2003.
He said, however, some
major construction works such as erection of take-off towers on the shieldwire
supply lines and installation of transformers remain to be done in the
Dawadawa, Kawampe, Gulumpe and Portor communities.
The Jema-Nkwanta,
Ntankoro and Tichera numbers one and two communities have been earmarked for
connection to the national electricity grid under the SHEP-Four Project
expected to start in 2003.
Mr Samuel
Sallas-Mensah, NDC-Upper West Akim asked whether external funding has been
secured for the SHEP-Four project and the Minister said all the structures are
in place and the project would take-off on schedule.
Mr Jacob Scherrer
Arthur, NDC-Mfantsiman West asked when the High Voltage poles would be supplied
and the Minister said the contractor has taken delivery of the poles and he was
currently treating them.
Mr Hayford Francis
Amoako, NDC- Nkoranza asked what were the plans to assist communities such as
those in the Nkoranza District where the High tension poles pass through but
have no access to electric supply and the Minister said the poles in the
Nkoranza area were of sub-standard, while the communities need to formally
apply for connection and supply of electricity.
In another
development, Mr Akwasi Dante-Afriyie, NPP-Atwima Mponua asked when Abrofrem,
Tano-Odumasi, Aheresu Gyereso and Anasu all in the constituency would be
connected to the National Grid.
Mr Hammond said with
the exception of Tano -Odumasi, which has been earmarked for connection under
the SHEP-Four programme, the other communities are not included in any of the
Ministry's electrification programme.
Mr. Stephen Amoanor
Kwao, NDC-Upper Manya Krobo in a related development asked the Minister when
Dzomoa, Akohia, Akrusu-Saisi, Brepaw, Aframase, Akotoe, Aboase, Bormase,
Osonson, Sutapong and Esuom communities that had their lay-out plans prepared in
2001 would be connected to the national electricity grid.
The Minister said all the communities
mentioned in the Upper Manya Krobo constituency are not included in any of the
Ministry's electrification programme and therefore, advised all such communities
to apply to join the SHEP if they meet the requisite conditions.
Mr Moses Dani Baah,
PNC- Sissala said in view of the inability of most communities in the Northern
sector to procure the Low tension poles would the Ministry assist them, the
Minister said there were specific regulations for rural electrification and if
any community fails to meet it then they could not enjoy electric supply.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
14 December 2002- Mr Stephen Balado Manu, Chairman of the
Parliamentary
Committee on Labour and Employment, on Friday caught the wrath of female
legislators as he blamed the undue delay of the processing of a report on bill
before his committee on his three women clerks now on maternity leave.
The Labour Bill had
spent some time beyond the three-month period permitted by the House's standing
orders.
He said: "Mr.
Speaker, the Bill is voluminous and needed much time to work on it. Also unfortunately, as if by accident three
women Clarks of the committee went on maternity leave which has affected the
work of the committee."
The Speaker, Mr Peter
Ala Adjetey, told the member that women secretaries were entitled to go on
maternity leave and that it was not enough an excuse to put the blame on them.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah,
Majority Leader, said he had been monitoring the Bill since it was referred to
the committee and that it had been with the committee for five months, which
has elapsed the stipulated period in which bills have to be with committees.
He urged the chairman
and his vice to be up and doing saying, "as matters are standing now, they
are not acceptable."
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State
of Emergency in Dagbon extended
Accra (Greater Accra)
14 December 2002-Parliament on Friday voted for a resolution to extend the
State of Emergency in the Dagbon Traditional Area of Northern Region for a
further period of one month commencing, 16 December 2002 to 15 January 2003.
All the 123 members
present voted in favour of the resolution. This is the eighth time that
Parliament has approved the extension of the state of emergency since its
proclamation on 27 March following the clash between the Andani and Abudu Royal
families of the Dagbon Traditional Area.
Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor,
Minister of Defence and Acting Minister of the Interior, who moved the motion
for the resolution, said the facts and circumstances giving rise to the
declaration of the State of Emergency still persist in the area.
He said mistrust and
suspicion among both Andani and Abudu gates persist and that they are suspected
to be to be heavily armed, hence the need for security vigilance. He said had
it not been the vigilance of the security forces, there would have been a
bloodbath between the two gates on 7 December.
The Minister said
intelligence reports indicated that certain people are planning to hold
unlawful demonstrations in Tamale to disturb the peace. He warned that the
security forces would use all the power in their possession to deal with anyone
who contravened the law.
Dr Addo-Kufuor
however, thanked the people for co-operating with the security agencies during
the Ramadan fasting period when the security was relaxed. He said the curfew
hours have reverted to 10pm to 4am.
The Minister, who is
also the Member of Parliament for Manhyia, said government was studying the
Wuako Commission's report for appropriate action to be taken.
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House
expected to rise next Friday
Accra (Greater Accra)
14 December 2002- The Business Committee of Parliament on Friday urged all
committees with outstanding referrals to expedite action as the House is
expected to rise next Friday, 20 December.
The Committee also
called on the members to endeavour to attend sittings regularly and punctually
during the few remaining days to ensure a successful end of the second session
of the third Parliament.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah,
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs gave the advice when he presented the
Business Statement for tenth week ending 20 December, 2002.
According to the
agenda, the Ministers of Information and Presidential Affairs, Health, Food and
Agriculture, Roads and Transport and Education would appear before the House to
answer 27 questions. During the week the bills, which have reached their various
stages of passage will also be taken.
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Attorney-General
on arrest of two in Dagbon
Accra (Greater Accra)
14 December 2002-Nana Akufo-Addo, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, on
Friday said the police broke no rule or law in effecting the arrest of two
suspects in the Dagbon Traditional Area.
"I gave the
police the permission to effect the arrests the attorney-General I acted within
my powers." Nana Akufo-Addo was reacting to concerns on the arrest Jahinfo
and one other whose detention is now under contention before a Sunyani High
Court.
He said the two are
not in custody for the pleasure of the executive but in line with normal police
duties.
The Attorney-General
said the two, who were first arrested but were released afterwards had their
docket reactivated by the police after the work of the Wauko Commission adding
that the arrest has nothing to do with the recommendation of the Commission.
He said whatever had
gone into their arrest and detention was done on the orders of himself and a
competent Court of Law. He said government was studying every detail of the
Wauko Commission's report before coming out with a white paper. We do not want
to rush through it as such a deed could make the crises worse."
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