Parliament Reconvenes Today

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey would officially open the Third Session of the Third Parliament of the Fourth Republic at 10.00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 21, 2003.

Among the Legislatures of the sub-region invited to attend the opening ceremony are Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Parliaments of the Republics of Togo, La Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Burkina Faso as well as the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.

The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama is also expected to grace the occasion. The Presiding members of each of the District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies have also been invited.

Agenda For First Meeting Of Parliament

The Agenda for the First Meeting of the third Session of the Third parliament of the Fourth Republic includes Presentation of Bills, Instruments, Motions Questions and laying and consideration of Papers.

A Release signed by the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Kenneth E. K. Tachie stated that the Bills, numbering 23 include the 2003 Appropriation, Labour, Minerals, Insolvency, Financial Administration, Payment Systems, Juvenile, Postal Services Regulatory Commission, Procurement and Institute of Local Government Studies Bills. Others are the Local Government Service, University of Education, Winneba, Criminal Code (Amendment), Arms and Ammunition, Prisons Service, Banking, Geographical Indications, Layout-Designs (Topographies) of Integrated Circuits and Industrial Designs Bills.

The rest are the Trade Marks, Patent, Copyright, Interpretation, Right to Information, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Companies Bills. The Instruments to be presented include the National Communications Regulations, 2003, Ghana National Fire Service Regulations, 2003, Fire Precaution (Premises)) Regulations, 2003, and national Media Commission (Newspapers and Publication) (registration) Instrument, 2003 C.I. 39.

The other Instruments are the Securities and exchange Commission Regulations, 2003, Border (Ghana/Togo) Demarcation Commission (Amendment) Instrument 2003, Road (Vehicles Use Fee) Schedule (Amendment) 2003, Accra metropolitan Assembly (Sub-Metropolitan District) (Establishment) 2003, High Courts Rules, 2003 and Timber Resources management (Amendment) Regulations 2003.

Papers to be laid and considered include Report of the Committee On Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises on a petition by 1995 retrenched staff of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). The Report of the Parliamentary delegation to the 14th Executive Committee Meeting and the 25th Conference of Speakers of National Parliaments of the African Parliamentary Union in October 2002.

Report of the Committee of Privileges on the Complaint of Contempt Of Parliament lodged by the member of Ketu under Article 122 of the Constitution and Standing Order 28. Montreal and Beijing Amendments to the Montreal Protocol, International Convention on Oil pollution, Preparedness, Response and Co-operation, 1990 and the Co-ordinated Programme of Economic and Social development of Ghana (2003 - 2012).

The others are the Annual Reports of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands for 1998, the National Media Commission for 2001 and the Ghana Free Zone Board for 2001. The Report of the Accountant General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Ministries, Departments and other Agencies) of the Central Government for the year ended December 31, 2000, Estimates of the Revenues and expenditures of the Government of Ghana for the 2003 Financial Year.

Report of the Auditor-General on District Assemblies and Traditional Councils for the period ended December 31, 1996 and the Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Ministries, Departments and other Agencies) for the year ended December 31, 1998. Others are the Report of the Auditor- General on the Accounts of the District Assemblies Common Fund for the year ended December 31 1996 and the Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Public Boards, Corporations and other Statutory Institutions) for the three-year period ended December 1999.

The Motions are for the House to approve the financial policy of Government for the year ending December 31, 2003 and that the House thanks the President for the Message on the State of the Nation delivered to the House. There would be 41 questions to be asked by Members during the Session including one urgent question.