Parliament fails to start processing the 3 billion dollar loan

Accra, Aug. 22, GNA – Parliament on Monday failed to discuss a 3 billion credit facility from the China Development Bank on its first day of extraordinary sitting.

Parliament was called from recess after four weeks to consider the loan that is expected to finance a number of projects in the country.

Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka said the item which was the first on the order paper could not be laid because the joint committee report of Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and that of Poverty Reduction Strategy was not ready.

He appealed to Mr Doe Adjaho, the First Deputy Speaker who stood for the Speaker, to defer the laying of the papers to the next sitting on Tuesday.

Government of Ghana is seeking a 3 billion US dollar Master Facility agreement between the government of Ghana and the China Development Bank to finance infrastructure development projects under the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA).

A statement released by Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa said the projects include: the Western Corridor Gas Infrastructure Project, Western Corridor ‘Petroleum Terminal’ Project, Western Corridor ‘Oil Enclave’ Toll Road Project, Western Corridor Railway Line Modernization Project- Takoradi-Kumasi, Dunkwa-Awaso Railway Line, Retrofit Phase 1, Western Corridor Infrastructure Renewal project- Takoradi Port Retrofit Phase 1, Sekondi Free Zone Project- Shared Infrastructure, Utility Services and Accra Plains Irrigation Project.

The rest are: Coastal Fishing Harbours and Landing Sites Re-development Project (Axim, Dixcove, Elmina, Winneba, Mumford, Senya-Beraku, Jamestown, Teshie, Tema, Ada, Keta), Eastern Corridor Multi-Modal Transportation Project- Upgrade of Volta Lake Ferries, Pontoons + Landing sites (Kpando-Amankwakrom; Kete Krachi-Kwadokrom; Yeji-Makongo; Tapa Abotoase; Dzemeni), Upgrade of Akosombo and Buipe Ports, Accra Metropolitan Area ICT- Enhanced Traffic Management Project (including urgent road completion components) and SME Projects Incubation Facility.

The House had the second reading of the Ghana Maritime Security Amendment Bill 2011, Ghana Maritime Authority Amendment Bill 2011 and the Ghana Shipping Amendment Bill 2011.

The object of the Maritime Security Bill 2011 is to extend the application of the Ghana Maritime Security to Act 2004 (Act 675) to cover fixed and mobile offshore drilling units and other marine installations in an area within Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction.

It also seeks the opportunity to include in the Act International Maritime Organisation (IMO) requirements in the area of maritime security under SOLAS.

The purpose of the Maritime Authority Amendment Bill 2011 bill is to amend the Ghana Maritime Authority Act 2002 (Act 630) to fix specific levies, fees and charges to cover administrative cost of the Authority.