GRi in Parliament 02 – 05 – 2003

Creation of new ministries necessary for development
Parliament to reconvene on 6 May

 

Creation of new ministries necessary for development

Accra (Greater Accra) 02 May 2003- The need for the creation of new ministries in the present political context was necessary with the advent of the New Partnership for African Development, African Growth and Opportunity Act and other initiatives that require particular attention of the President.

The new ministries are therefore necessary to handle such national crucial issues and that explains the reason for the creation of more ministries and increase in the number of ministers than was the case twenty years ago.

Mrs Mercy Bampo Addo, acting Registrar of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) nominated for appointment as Deputy Minister at the Office of the President said this on Wednesday.

She was among the second batch of 10 people to appear before the Appointments Committee of Parliament to be considered for ministerial and deputy ministerial appointments. The first batch of the President's nominees were considered and approved by Parliament and sworn into office by the President, John Agyekum Kufuor last week.

Mrs Addo is a graduate of the University of Ghana with a B.A (Hons) in History and a graduate Diploma in Journalism and Communications. She said it was necessary that the marital rape bill was passed so that if human rights abuses are to be respected they would be extended to the bedroom.

Mrs Addo said there was the need to look at the needs of the society, offer skilled training to graduates and to make training institutions to offer skill training for the needed professions to create job opportunities.

The deputy Minister-designate said there has been a change in some aspects of training where people in business have entered into training and not just for academic exercises. On her view about the increased number of special assistants and "spinning doctors", she said a clearly designated individual would be desirable to handle government's public relations.

Mrs. Addo said GIMPA intends to get the required number of resource persons and to extend their activities to the regions to enable more people to take advantage of the course contents and also as a way of reducing the high cost for the courses.

David K. Gyewu, a Special Assistant at the Office of the President also appeared before the Committee to be considered for appointment as deputy Minister at the Ministry of Communications and Technology. He holds an MSc in Information Systems, Design and Management from Kingston University and was a freelance consultant in Information Technology Strategy Definition and Business Development until 2001.

Gyewu said the licensing of telecommunication operators was to bring about competition and registration and to ensure efficient performance. He said even though the three operators, Westel, Telecom and Capital may be enough for the country an additional operator would bring about competition, provided the original operators do not improve on growth and increase telephone lines.

Gyewu said the problem with the inter-connectivity in the country was that there were many lines than the equipment could cope with and so the need for an improvement of technology. He said another area that need to be strengthened is the quality service guarantees between the providers of service and the customer and that the trade liberalisation in the 1994 has brought in its wake high tariffs and interference in making calls.

Emmanuel Adjei Boye, Member of Parliament for Krowor in Accra Metropolis also appeared before the Committee to be considered for appointment as deputy Minister-designate of the Ministry of Roads and Highways.

He holds Masters Degrees in Electrical Engineering and in Finance and was the Managing Director of Mackays Electronics and Electrical Limited. Boye said the creation of the new Ministry of Ports, Harbours and Railways was necessary so that the needed expertise could be channelled to develop the sector.

He said he would not advice the creation of a Ministry for Aviation but would recommend that it be placed under the Ministry of Transport so that the Ministry could be termed the Ministry of Roads, Highways and Transport.

The deputy Minister-designate said since the road fund was inadequate to develop roads there was the need for tolling new and old trunk roads should be tolled to ensure that maintenance. Boye said his mission would be to assist the ministry to provide an integrated, well-managed, viable and sustainable road network and to ensure an improved road network between the urban and rural areas. He said the Frequency Control Board need to check, monitor and enforce the laws and regulations governing the establishment of the Frequency Modulations radio stations.
GRi…/

 

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Parliament to reconvene on 6 May

Accra (Greater Accra) 02 May 2003- Parliament would reconvene on Tuesday, 6 May a statement signed by the First Deputy Speaker, Frederick Blay said on Thursday. This would be the Second Meeting of the Third Session of the Third Parliament.
GRi…/

 

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