Parliament continues discussions on GT/Vodafone deal

Accra, Aug 12, GNA- Parliament, called from recess on Tuesday for a special sitting, could not conclude the ratification of the $900 million sale and purchase of the 70 per cent ordinary shares of the Ghana Telecommunications Company between the Government of Ghana and Vodafone International Holdings BV.

The initial paper on the deal was withdrawn and a new one was laid with some modifications. However the motion and Report on the deal were adjourned to be considered later.

Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh announced that the House was adjourning for the next day. He said the joint Committee on Finance and Communication was to meet for further discussions on the Government of Ghana and the Vodafone deal.

The House earlier approved some loan agreements which included a 28.07 million euro plus credit insurance of 3.9 million euro between the Government of Ghana and VDL Jonckheere Bus and Coach NV Roeslare, Belgium for the supply of 150 City Buses for public transport and spare parts.

It also ratified the loan facility between the Government of Ghana and the Government of Austria through Bank Austria Creditanstalt AG for an amount of 7.6 million euros for the construction and equipping of five polyclinics namely Karaga, Kpandai, Tatale, Janyaand Chereponi in the Northern Region. Earlier in the day when prayers were said and at the start of business, only Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, Deputy Leader of Minority was in the House at the side of the largest Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC). Shouts of "lone ranger", apparently directed at Mr Adjaho, emanated from the side of the Majority and ruling New Patriotic Party, at the end of a welcoming statement of the Speaker, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes. The Speaker in the statement urged Members not to allow partisan considerations to override the national interest. Mr Adjaho said he went to a party caucus meeting before that of the business committee and thought his colleagues were in the chamber before he arrived. Some Members from the Majority side opined that the NDC had boycotted the sittings but NDC Members joined the sittings soon after the Speaker had suspended proceedings for five minutes.