Parliament ends energy debate

Accra, July 10, GNA- Parliament on Tuesday ended debate on the energy crisis by voting massively on an amended motion filed by some NPP members of parliament supporting government's plans towards generating more power and urging it to implement those plans on schedule.

The majority vote of 104 against 60 from the minority NDC defeated an original Private Member's motion filed by three NDC members of parliament.

The motion expressed disappointment over government's inability to end the crisis, urging it to adopt an effective programme to address the situation.

Debate on the energy crisis in Parliament was initiated some weeks ago through a motion jointly filed Mr Haruna Iddrisu, NDC-Tamale South, and two others, which condemned government's way of handling the energy situation.

A counter motion was, however, introduced immediately by Mr. Maxwell Jumah, (NPP-Asokwa) and others, noting government's plans to end the crisis and urging it to do so on time.

Mr Iddrisu, winding up on the debate on Tuesday, said government should try to solve the crisis through a combination of hydropower, thermal and solar energy.

He said there should be plans to establish a thermal plant in the Northern part of the country to serve those areas.

Mr Iddrisu also called for massive local budgetary investment in energy in the 2008 budget to help address the crisis in the short term. Mr Joseph Adda, the Minister of Energy, summing up, said the NDC did not hand over any solid energy policy to the NPP to help offer solutions to the energy crisis.

Earlier, before the commencement of public business, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, the Finance Minister, told the House that the total foreign "indebtedness of Ghana as at April 30, 2007 stood at 2,712.35 million dollars."

"This debt stock consists of 2,249.48 million long-term debt and 462.87 short term debt."

Mr. Baah-Wiredu was responding to a question on the total foreign indebtedness of the country as at April this year. He said as at the end of 2000, the country's foreign debt totalled six billion dollars.