Parliament goes on recess

Accra, March 12, GNA - Parliament on Friday adjourned sitting until April 13 2004, when they would sit for just that day and then come back from recess in May, 25 2004.

Meanwhile the House has set up an 11-member Special Committee to investigate VRA, which is chaired by Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh, NPP-Nsuta-Kwamang.

The members are Mr. Josepeh Darko-Mensah, NPP-Okai-Kwei North, Mrs Grace Coleman, NPP-Effiduase-Asokore, Mr. Benjamin Osei Kuffuor, NPP-Asunafo North, and Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda, NPP-Navrongo Central, and Mr. Samuel Quarm, NPP-Gomoa East.

The rest are Mr. Seidu Paakuna Adamu, NDC-Bibiani/Anhwiaso/Bekwai, and Mr. Edward Doe Adjaho, NDC-Avenor, Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni, NDC-Kumbungu, Dr. Daniel Kwame Ampofo, NDC-South Dayi, and Mr. Jacob Arthur, NDC-Nfantsiman West.

Parliament on Thursday agreed to appoint a special committee to investigate the administration, financial management, procurement, technical operations and transaction agreements of the Volta River Authority (VRA).

The investigations would cover January 1, 1982 to December 31, 2003.

Mr. Seidu Paakuna Adamu, NDC-Bibiani/Anhwiaso/Bekwai earlier moved a motion for the appointment of the committee but did not fix a specific date to be covered by the investigations.

Mr. Stephen Balado-Manu, NPP-Ahafo Ano South then moved an amended motion, which would allow the investigations to cover the last 20 years of VRA's work.

Mr. Adamu, in his submissions said developments at VRA had raised lot of issues that has become matters of public concern. He said the investigations should touch on whether technical expertise has been brought to bear on the operations of the VRA. He wanted to find out if financial appraisals of project were conducted, if there was transparency in the operations of the VRA and whether there was "wilful or reckless financial loss in the operations of the organisation."

Mr. Adamu said the objective of the investigations was to safeguard, protect and preserve VRA as a strategic infrastructure that would provide a foundation for industrialisation and socio-economic development.

He explained that apart from the huge financial commitment to the strategic reserve plant, its failure led to the shutdown of VALCO, which led to the loss of revenue and jobs among others. These, he said needs to be investigated.