MP calls for non-partisan approach in award of contracts

Accra, Feb. 9, GNA - Mr Edward Salia, Member of Parliament for Jirapa, on Wednesday urged Ghanaians to be committed to the concept of "Ghana Incorporated," as captured in President Kufuor's address, with a view to making it a reality.

Mr Salia said one way to make the concept a reality was to adopt a non-partisan approach in the award of contracts and access to credit facilities at all level of governance.

Mr Salia who was contributing to the debate on the State-of-the-Nation address, which began on Tuesday, said partisanship had eaten into the Ghanaian society so much so that instead of a concept of Ghana Incorporated, the country was faced with an "NPP Incorporated and an NDC Incorporated," situation.

He said the country was faced with a situation where contracts were now being awarded on the basis of associations.

Mr Salia's comments attracted the displeasure of some members of the Majority side who said the MP was misleading the House and that both NDC and NPP supporters were equally benefiting from contracts. The Jirapa MP who described the State of Nation address as short in detail but less harsh in content, said it was disappointing that infrastructure development was not one of the top priorities of government.

He said the railway sector had only seen a five-million-dollar investment over the last four years while the construction of bridges in the road sector had been stalled over the same period.

According to Mr Salia, only four communities in his constituency had been connected to the national electricity grid with a large number of other communities living in complete darkness. On private sector development, the MP said government should extend some of the President's Special Initiatives to the north adding that it was not enough to have only the PSI on Cotton and Sorghum located in north.

Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, NDC-Ada, said educational reforms did not depend on a change in name from Junior Secondary School to Junior High School but rather in addressing serious issues such as poor teaching, supervision and equipment, coupled with low motivation among teachers.

Dr Paa Kwesi Ndoum, CPP-Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abrem, who dwelt on the private sector, said the passage of the Long Term Savings Bill would help businesses get the needed resources to assist in accelerated growth.

He urged the sector Minister to expedite action on making the bill operational to help address issue of funding for businesses. On deregulation of the petroleum sector, Dr Nduom said this would assist in making the industry "robust".

On human resource development, he said the challenge was for all Ghanaians to ensure that every child was enrolled in school and stayed through to the end.

Ms Rita Tani Iddi, NPP-Gushiegu, lauded government's emphasis on developing vocational and technical skills and said this would address unemployment problems.

She said the proposed four-year period for secondary education would adequately prepare students for serious academic work. 9 Feb. 05