Mpiani accounts for Golden Jubilee budget

Accra, Nov, 5 GNA - Each Regional Co-ordinating Council, with the exception of the Greater Accra, was allocated 400,000.00 Ghana cedis to construct a Jubilee Park for Ghana's golden jubilee celebrations, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, Minister of Presidential Affairs, said on Wednesday in Parliament.

Additional 150,000.00 Ghana cedis were allocated to each of the regions to renovate regional venues that were to be used for the celebrations.

Mr Mpiani was responding to questions on cash and resources given to each region for preparations towards the celebrations between 2006 and 2008.

He said an amount of 20,000 Ghana cedis and assorted souvenirs were also given to the regions while "each of the 138 district assemblies was given an amount of 10,000 Ghana cedis for the jubilee day activities". In response to another question on the circumstances surrounding the deployment of armed security personnel to the residence of the former National Security Minister, Mr Francis Poku, and his subsequent departure from Ghana, Mr Mpiani said he had no idea how he left the country.

He said at the time the minister was removed from office, his official residence was being guarded by the military. Mr Mpiani said this was contrary to the directive that the police should provide security for all members of the Executive, including the President.

"An exercise was therefore undertaken to replace the military with police personnel," he said.

Dr Richard Anane, Minister of Road Transportation, who was also in Parliament to answer questions, said the construction of three interchanges across the Accra-Tema motorway, the widening of the Spintex road and other projects to be implemented soon, would help minimise the use of un-authorised exits and entries from and onto the Tema Motorway. Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries, told members of the House that plans were in place to develop an improved breed of tilapia along the Volta Lake and efforts were being made to encourage people to invest in cage and pen fish culture along the lake, as part of measures to revamp the fishing industry in the Volta Lake. 5 Nov. 08