MPs call for regular interaction with defence experts
Revise criteria for creating new districts
MPs
call for regular interaction with defence experts
Ho (Volta Region) 27
November 2002 - The Parliamentary Select Committees on Foreign Affairs,
Interior and Defence at the weekend called for regular platforms for
interaction with security and defence experts in the country.
The call was made at
the end of a two-day seminar on "Operationalising the ECOWAS Protocol
relating to the mechanisms for conflict prevention, management, resolution,
peacekeeping and security" at Ho.
Serving and retired
senior officers of the Ghana Army with peacekeeping experience addressed the
seminar, which was sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation
The MPs suggested that
future seminars relating to security and defence should include senior officers
of other security agencies such as the police, Customs Excise and Preventive
Service and Immigration Service.
They called on retired
senior military officers to form a think-tank to advice governments on defence
and security matters both in the country and in the international arena.
A military officer who
wants to remain anonymous described the forum as good and it afforded them the
opportunity to discuss issues in a frank atmosphere with decision makers and
representatives of the people for the first time.
He hoped the MPs would
share their information with their colleagues to enable them to educate their
constituents to appreciate the fact that the maintenance of national security
is a collective responsibility.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
27 November 2002 - The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has
put in place a four-man Committee to review the over 72 applications for the
creation of new districts.
The Committee, under
the Chairmanship of Capt (Rtd) Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey, a Deputy Minister has
commenced sittings in the regions and has invited petitioners to meet with and
so far they have visited three regions.
Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, the
Minister said when he answered a number of questions concerning his
ministry at the
sittings of parliament on Tuesday.
Akwasi Dante-Afriyie,
NPP- Atwima Mponua asked the minister when Mpasatia-Nyinahin-Wansabire area
would be up-graded to a district status. Baah-Wiredu said the aim of these
regional meetings was to review the petitions in terms of the revised criteria
and at the end of the review exercise; they would make recommendations for
consideration by the President.
He said the revised
criteria include population threshold of over 100,000 people, economic
viability including natural resources, potential for sustainable revenue
generation, geographical contiguity and ethnic homogeneity.
The Minister said all
the above would be considered against need, cost and the effect of elevating
one part of an area to a district status on the remaining part. Ms Akua Sena
Dansua, NDC- North Dayi asked why a non-partisan committee has not been set up
to review the status of the districts and the Minister said it was the
responsibility of the ministry to do so.
Cletus Avoka, NDC-
Bawku West asked whether the Committee's term of reference was outside the
promises made by the President on elevating certain towns and the Minister said
there was the need for the review of the increasing number of applications
while the President's promise still holds.
Modestus Ahiable,
NDC-Ketu North asked why the Committee was not to present its report to the
Electoral Commission and the Minister said it was working in line with Article
462 which also empowers the EC to assist in demarcations.
Dr Yaw
Brempong-Yeboah, NPP- Atiwa asked how many more districts were to be considered
and the Minister said that was the prerogative of the President.
Yaw Asiedu- Mensah, NPP-
Dorma West, in a related development asked the Minister under what conditions a
town/district capital may qualify to an urban status and when Dormaa District
and the other towns in the district would be raised to an Urban status.
The Minister said 41 settlements
have been proposed for up grading to urban status, in addition to the existing
34 urban centres and Dormma-Ahenkro has been included on the list of towns to
be up-grade since a town qualify if its population is 15,000 and over.
Yaw Effah-Baafi,
NDC-Kintampo also asked whether the Ministry has plans to encourage the
formation of agricultural sub-Committees in the District Assemblies to address
problems facing farmers and fishermen.
Baah-Wiredu said there
are provisions under Local Government Act, 1993, Act 462 section (19)
sub-section (1) that encourage the formation of relevant sub-committees of the
Executive Committees in District Assemblies to address specific and peculiar
problems.
He said if a
particular District Assembly has problems facing their farmers and fishermen or
in general agriculture, they have the right to form sub-committees to address
such problems without reference to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural
Development.
Francis Yaw
Osei-Sarfo, NDC-Krachi also asked the Minister what plans his Ministry has to
pay off the salary arrears of the employees of the sub-structures of the
Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
The Minister said since
July 2002 circulars have been sent to all the Assemblies asking them to settle
the issue of the remuneration of the staff of the sub-structures.
Baah-Wiredu the
Ministry undertook to pay the emoluments of staff of the sub-structures but due
to budgeting constraints this did not materialise and the responsibility was
therefore, returned to the Districts where they actually belong.
He said the Ministry
was now encouraging all District Assemblies to improve on their internally
generated revenue, appoint secretaries and relevant secretariat staff and to be
paid the relevant remuneration as may be fixed by the relevant District
Assembly.
GRi…/
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