Parliament reconvenes to consider urgent business

Accra, May 4, GNA- Members of Parliament reconvened on Tuesday to consider several loan agreements being contracted by the government to finance development projects. Cletus Avoka, Majority Leader, who presented the business statement of the week, said though members were reserved the house has been recalled due to the urgency of issue.

The house was called from recess which began in March 25, 2010 to hold a special meeting for four days during which they will be debating amongst others, the loan agreements and the Internal Revenue bill (amendment) 2010, Engineering Council bill and Public Utility Regulatory Commission (amendment bill) 2010.


Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader, after the Majority leader presented the business statement said the members did not know the agenda to be discussed so they came unprepared.


According to him, the loan agreement to be adopted has no urgency to merit the recall and that the agenda which should have been given to them earlier was only read this morning by the Majority leader. Papa Owusu Ankomah, Member for Sekondi, said there was no urgency or whatsoever "I appeal to you the Speaker to exercise the authority in a manner that the calendar of the house would accommodate". Mr.Cletus Avoka, Majority Leader, reacted to this by saying that considering the cost involved in bringing back the members alone means the issues were urgent otherwise the would not have been recalled. Leadership would form a team from both sides to submit information for amendment of the constitution, he added.


Mrs. Justice Bamford-Addo, Speaker of Parliament, ruled for the adoption of business week. According to her, members would form committees to look into issues at hand and then present a report to the house. Dr. Kwabena Duffour, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, laid seven business agreement papers.

They include a credit agreement between the Ghana and Raiseinsene Zenpral Bank and Ostereich Akpengesellsehafp (Central Bank of Austria) for an amount of 7,497,000 pounds, Preference buyers credit agreement between the government of Ghana and the government of Republic of China acting through the Import and Export Bank of China for an amount of 260,000,000 US dollars for the expansion and rehabilitation of Kpong Water Project. A loan agreement between the government and the ECOWAS bank for Investment and Development, suppliers credits financing agreement between the government and STX Engineering and construction Ghana Limited for an amount of 1,525, 443, 468 dollars for construction of 30,000 units of houses under the security services housing projects.


Also included is a Credit agreement between Ghana and China EXIM Bank for an amount of 102,000,000 dollars for financing of electrification scheme (Northern Region electrification project).


Suppliers' credit facility agreement between the Ghana and China Water and Electricity Corporation an amount of 90,000,000 the financial of national electrification scheme in the Upper East Region. Request for the Internal Revenue Service Commission to wave tax arrears and penalties owned by Social Investment Fund of an amount of GHC507.059.16 been arrears and penalties assessed for the period of 1991-2004. Mr. Avoka, laid the Commission of Enquirer (structures and procedures) 2010, (CI 65), Court of Appeal (commission of enquirer rules), 2010, (CI 66), Public Utilities (termination of service amendment) regulations 2010 (L ..I 1964). 4 May 10