Speaker leaves for Abuja Conference
Abodakpi
complains to Parliament
Government
determined to equip Police
Plans
to complete police projects
Speaker
leaves for Abuja Conference
Accra (Greater Accra)
29 November 2002 - The Speaker of Parliament, Peter Ala Adjetey, left Accra for
Abuja, Nigeria to attend the eighth biennial conference of the African Bar
Association.
The Minister of
Justice and Attorney-General, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, accompanied the
Speaker. Ala Adjetey, who is the President of the Association told newsmen
before departure that the two-day meeting, which has the theme:
"Constitutionalism
and the Rule of Law in Africa," would bring together lawyers from all over
Africa, especially Anglophone countries.
Among issues to be
discussed are democracy and good governance, independence of the judiciary, the
rule of law and the legal profession. He said Nana Akuffo-Addo would be the
guest lecturer at the meeting and would also deliver the keynote address.
The Speaker disclosed
that he may not present himself for re-election due to the volume of work at
home. Ala Adjetey is also the President of the Pan- African Lawyers Union. He
was seen off at the airport by the Clerk of Parliament, Kenneth Tachie.
GRi…/
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Abodakpi
complains to Parliament
Accra (Greater Accra)
29 November 2002 - Dan Abodakpi, Member of Parliament for Keta on Thursday said
the time has come to clarify the issue of Contempt of Parliament under the
Article 122 of the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the House.
He said this has become
necessary when a Justice of the Fast Track Court has indicated that the earlier
decision to grant his request that his case be heard only on Mondays was being
reversed. Abodakpi said this when he issued a Statement in Parliament on the
"Complaint of Contempt of Parliament under Article 122 and Order 28 of the
Standing Orders of Parliament".
The Member explained
that he obliged with a summons and appeared at the Fast Track Court on 14
October 2002 and at the hearing, His Lordship Justice S.T. Farkye granted his
request.
Abodakpi said however,
at the last sitting of the Court on 25 Monday the Judge following the
promptings of the Director of Public Prosecution gave an indication to vary the
earlier decision on the attendance on Mondays only to either twice or thrice a
week starting from next week.
He said he did not
lodge a complaint earlier because the sittings of the Court on Mondays did not
greatly obstruct or impede the performance of his duties as a Member of
Parliament and that he could cope with.
Abodakpi said if
however, the Judge decides as indicated, his attendance would be greatly
obstructed or impeded to discharge his duties as a Member of Parliament since
he would be prevented from attending Parliamentary sittings on those days.
He said the issue of
contempt being raised was not to avoid any responsibility, but to seek
clarification of the Law and was seeking for a referral to the privileges
Committee under Standing Order 31.
Abodakpi said,
"in the meantime, the Court should be informed to continue with the
sittings on Mondays until the determination of the matter by the House. I am
fully prepared submit myself for trail any day during the recess", he
added.
Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice said the Director of
Public Prosecutions has informed him that the matter would be dealt with only
on Mondays and gave the assurance that there would not be any variations.
The Speaker, Peter Ala
Adjetey thereafter, referred the matter to the Privileges Committee to
determine Article 122 on its clear interpretations and asked the Committee to
submit its report as soon as possible.
GRi…/
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Government
determined to equip Police
Accra (Greater Accra)
29 November 2002 - The Acting Minister of the Interior, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor on
Thursday said government was determined to equip the Police Service to play its
expected role of maintenance of peace and order.
He said so far the
government has made available to the Police Service 357 police vehicles of
various types and it is expected that the remaining 56 vehicles would be
distributed to the remaining Divisional and District Police Headquarters.
Dr Addo-Kufuor said
this when he appeared before Parliament to answer a number of questions
concerning the Police Service. Samuel Johnfiah, NPP- Ahanta West asked the
Minister whether the Ministry would consider providing the Police Post at Agona
Ahanta with a vehicle and to extend such facilities to all police posts of
District capitals that do not have vehicles.
The Minister said as a
result of the acquisition of the vehicles, 17 out of the 25 Police Divisional
have been currently allocated with vehicles, while 132 out of the 138 District
Police Headquarters have also been allocated vehicles.
Dr Addo-Kufuor said
the situation at the various Police Stations and Posts would be addressed after
the other Divisional and District Headquarters have been provided with
vehicles. He said with respect to the Agona Ahanta Police Post, the Kwesimintim
District Police has been allocated a vehicle to service the whole area but when
the vehicle situation improves, Agona Ahanta would be allocated its own
vehicle.
Joseph Emmanuel Ackah,
NDC-Jomoro asked the total number of police vehicles in the system and the
Minister said the number has greatly increased this year and police activities
and vigilance has improved due to their mobility.
Dominic Aduna Nitiwul,
NPP- Bimbilla asked whether conflict areas would be considered a special case
for allocation of police vehicles and the Minister said they would get more
vehicles including military ones.
In a related
development, Yaw Effah-Baafi, NDC-Kintampo asked what steps were being taken to
equip the Police Service at Kintampo with means of transport to enhance their
work in view of the central position of the District and the numerous road
accidents on the Kintampo-Tamale trunk road.
Dr Addo-Kufuor said
the Kintampo District has been allocated a new Land Rover, while the Police
Service in a special exercise aimed at bringing discipline on the roads and
thus reducing accidents was currently patrolling the Kintampo -Tamale road.
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Plans
to complete police projects
Accra (Greater Accra)
29 November 2002 - Provision has been made in the 2003 budget for funds to
complete a number of development projects of the Ghana Police Service that were
suspended in 2000 including the Bunkpurugu Police barracks in the East Mamprusi
District of the Northern Region.
In the interim, the
Ministry of the Interior is embarking on a programme to rehabilitate Police
stations and barracks throughout the country and in the spirit of
decentralisation and self-help, District Assemblies are requested to assist the
Ghana Police Service with accommodation and offices.
Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor,
Acting Minister of the Interior said this when answering a number of questions
by members of Parliament on Thursday. Namburr Berrik, NDC- Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo
asked the Minister why the Bunkpurugu Police Barracks has not been completed,
the reason for the continued presence of police in Bimbagu and Nakpanduri and
what are plans to solve the problem that led to the police deployment to the
area.
Dr Addo- Kufuor said
the police personnel have been withdrawn from Bimbagu since August this year
and the permanent police station at Nakpanduri would continue to provide
security in the area including Bimbagu.
He said the problem
between the Tamung and Puli clans has been outstanding and the latest clash was
over a piece of land that led to deployment of the police to the area to
maintain and order.
The Minister said a
Peace and Reconciliation Committee was formed and they smoked the peace pipe by
exchanging kola and some tokens and the security agencies are keeping an eye on
the situation to ensure that the peace was achieved and maintained.
Poku Adu-Gyamfi,
NPP-Bosomtwi in a related development asked the Minister what plans the
Ministry has to provide accommodation for Police personnel at Kuntanasi and
Jachie Police Stations.
Dr Addo-Kufuor said it
was the desire of the Ministry of Interior to provide decent living and office
accommodation for the use of the Police Service but the difficult financial
situation of the country constitutes a major constraint.
He said the Police
stations at Kuntanasi and Jachie would be considered alongside the programme of
rehabilitation of Police station and barracks throughout the country.
The Minister said in
the long term, the provision of new accommodation for the Police Service would
be considered when the country's financial position improves, while the
possibility of donor or private funding and support would also be considered.
GRi…/
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