MP calls Minister to order

Accra, Jan 27, GNA- Mr. Steve Akorli, NDC-Ho East, Tuesday observed that Dr. Richard Anane, Minister of Roads and Transport violated Section 18 of the Road Funds Act of 1997, Act 536 by not submitting the Road Fund reports for years 2000, 2001 and 2002 to parliament.

He said published information on the Road Fund indicated that the fund generated 254.9 billion cedis in 2000, 303.4 billion cedis in 2001 and 460 billion cedis in 2002 from its main sources, being road and bridge tolls, license fees, international transit fees and fuel levies.

Mr. Akorli said despite the large sums paid into the Road Fund within the period under question, parliament had been denied of its right to be officially informed of how the fund was implemented.

"However since January 17, 2003, an astronomical increase of up to 400 cedis per litre in fuel prices was introduced alongside the 95 per cent fuel price increase to raise more money in to the fund and this money was paid into an escrow account," he said.

"We have up till now not been apprised of how much accrued into the escrow account for the road fund or if it had been released from the escrow account," he said.

Mr Akorli said his statement was to serve as a wake-up call to correct "this flagrant violation and to order the minister to bring the 2000-2002 Road Fund report before parliament immediately, before the contemplation of a request for any increase in fuel levy for the 2004 financial year."

He said it was also to remind the minister that laws were meant to be obeyed and not to be violated, adding that such violations by the Ministry of Roads and Transport was becoming rampant and needed to be checked.

Dr. Anane said all three reports on the Road Fund for the years 2000 to 2002 had been submitted to parliament but had only not been presented on the floor of the house.

He called on Mr. Akorli to withdraw his suggestion that the Ministry of Roads and Transport was recalcitrant and noted for violating laws, saying that, that was not true.

Mr. Felix Owusu-Agyapong, Majority Leader said now that the Minister had informed the house that the reports had been submitted to parliament, the necessary steps would be taken to ensure that it was brought before the house for consideration.

Mr. Kofi Attoh, NDC-Ho Central argued that for such important reports to have been kept in parliament for two years without being brought to the floor of the house for consideration, suggests that there were problems with the reports.

He said it was the duty of the Minister to have enquired why, none of the three reports had not been brought before the house.