Parliament to adopt Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Govt

Accra, Oct. 24, GNA- The Minister of Finance, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, would on Tuesday move a Motion for the adoption of the Mid-Year Review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government for 2003 in Parliament.

This is contained in the Business Statement presented to the House by Mr Abraham Osei-Aidoo, Deputy Majority Leader for the second week ending October 31, 2003.

According to the statement, Ministers of the following ministries Education, Youth and Sports, Trade, Industry and Special Presidential Initiatives, Food and Agriculture, Women and Children's Affairs, Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City and Communications would appear before the House to answer questions.

The House would also take the Public Procurement Bill through its various stages of passage during the week and three papers on a supplementary Estimates for the 2003 Financial Year, Report of the Finance Committee on the Banking Bill and the Report of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the Patent Bill would be laid.

Members of both sides of the House who commented on the statement complained of difficulties they encounter in their work which range from a member belonging to three committees, clerks serving more than two committees and none meeting halls.

The Speaker, Peter Ala Adjetey assured members that their concerns would be taken up by the Parliamentary Service Board to recruit more staff to help them in their work.