Finance Minister's absence sparks debate
Accra (Greater Accra)
25 October 2002 - Parliament on Thursday deferred the approval of the
President's nominations for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court to
Friday 25 October due to the lack of quorum after a long debate on the report
of the Appointments Committee.
The Members from both
sides of the House commended the nominees for proving themselves knowledgeable,
competent and capable of occupying the positions to which they had been
nominated.
Eugene Atta Agyepong,
Deputy Chairman of the committee moved the motion for the adoption of the
report and said the Committee was persuaded towards the conviction that the
President's nominees were severally excellent materials, fine minded, balanced,
very knowledgeable, forthright, frank and articulate.
He said the committee
in taking account of their observations and deliberations accordingly
recommended that the House approved the nominees for appointment as Justices of
the Supreme Court.
Earlier, Ms Akua Sena
Dansua, NDC- North Dayi had on two occasions drawn the attention of the House
to the lack of quorum and at the end of contributions the House failed to
approve the appointment of the nominees due to the lack of the presence of at
least one-third of members as required by the Standing Orders.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
25 October 2002 - The United Nations (UN) needs restructuring to reflect modern
political and socio-economic realities, Johnson Asiedu Nkestia,
NDC-Wenchi-West, said on Thursday.
He said the
assumptions and realities that gave meaning to the structure of the global body
at its birth no longer existed. The member was contributing to a statement
issued by Kwabena Adusa Okerchiri, Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee, to
commemorate the 57th anniversary of the UN.
He said the present
situation where only five nations had veto voting rights and permanent seats on
the Security Council should be reviewed. "We should see whether they are
still relevant, we should see whether it should be expanded. We have Japan, a
big contributor to the coffers of the body and countries like South Africa and
India to represent the third World."
Asiedu Nkestia said it
was ironic that a wealthy nation like the United State owed the UN and was
still allowed to use the body to advance its interests, while poor nations were
disenfranchised when they fail to pay dues.
The member said a
threat of a third World War was no longer imminent but AIDS, hunger and poverty
were. "We need a World Food Bank in which well endowed countries would
invest their food surpluses, about 800 million people are sick or hungry or
poor."
Captain Nkrabea Effa
Dartey, (RTD.) NPP-Berekum, said the UN had ignored trouble spots on Africa. He
said the UN had largely ignored the war in Sudan, the carnage in Rwanda and now
sits unconcerned about La Cote d'Ivoire.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
25 October 2002 - Prof Kassim Kassanga, Minister of Lands and
Forestry, on Thursday
said the government's policy was to replant all degraded forests based on the
modified "Taunga" system.
The system currently
being implemented in Bosomoa and Buru forest reserves in the Kintampo District,
offer farmers permanent stake in the farmlands to grow their foodstuffs.
The Minister said this
in an answer to a question asked by David Yaw Mensah, NDC-Atebubu North on
behalf of Yaw Effah-Baafi, NDC-Kintampo. Effah-Baafi asked what measures the
ministry was taking to concede parts of the old established forest reserves to
Ampoma, Krabonso, Nante, Pamdu and Paninamrisa communities for farming purposes
since their farmlands were being overstretched as a result of the increase in
population.
Prof Kassanga said
Government through the Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission
provided technical and financial support to the farmers for the cultivation of
ecologically compatible tree-crops on their farms.
He said the farmers
could remain on the land until the trees reached maturity while they enjoy
security of tenure and were also beneficiaries of the proceeds of the harvested
tree-crops on benefit-sharing.
The Minister said to
concede parts of the forest reserve directly to the communities would depend on
the circumstances and the evidence available and any policy decision would
therefore be based on an objective analysis of the situation.
Prof Kassanga said the
two forest reserves had been considerably degraded due to persistent bush
fires, illegal farming activities, chain- saw operators, charcoal burning,
illegal felling of trees and inevitable expansion of human settlements.
He said the Ministry
would investigate all claims, concerns and complaints by the various communities
in the forest reserves to arrive at a suitable settlement.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
25 October 2002 - Yaw Osafo Maafo, Minister of Finance on Thursday attracted
the anger of the Minority when he sent a late note to the house explaining his
inability to appear before it.
The minister who was
billed to answer four questions said he had to see a doctor. Alban Bagbin,
Minority Leader asked why he could not be represented by any of his two
deputies. "We would no longer accept such practice. When you (NPP) were in
Minority you protested over such issues and I think you were right."
He said: "I would
not be surprised if the Minister is down because the task is not easy. We are
all aware that he was choked here sometime ago. "We are interested in the
economy, the people are interested in the economy."
Papa Owusu Ankoma,
Majority Leader, said the majority, which asked three out of the four questions
to be answered was "a serious group." "We take the business of
the house seriously. We are in control. Why don't you enquire about the
whereabouts of his deputies before you make those statements."
The House leader said
the questions would be rescheduled to enable the Minister answer when he
regains his health.
GRi…/
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