Speaker welcomes MPs back after recess

Accra (Greater Accra), 13 Jan. '99- The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Justice Daniel Francis Annan yesterday welcomed Members of Parliament back to the House after a three-week Christmas recess. He expressed the hope that the legislators would approach their work with more vigour, now that "you have gone to recharge your political batteries", to complete the agenda for the first meeting of the third session. Mr Justice Annan said the beginning of the third session is an indication that the country has overcome the threat to parliamentary democracy adding that he is confident that this session and the next one will survive. He said considering the agenda, the first meeting appears to be the longest and busiest for the year, but added that with diligence and perseverance, members would be able to accomplish the enormous task before them. During the meeting, nine bills and three legislative instruments are expected to be enacted while a number of loan agreements and a report from the Auditor-General on the statement of foreign exchange receipts and payments of the Bank of Ghana for the first half-year ended June 30, 1997, will be placed before Parliament. About 140 questions are slated to be answered by the various sector ministers. After the Speaker's welcoming address, the Leader of the House, Dr Kwabena Adjei, then presented the business statement for the first week ending January 15, 1999. He told the House that a sessional address by President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday, January 14, will mark the official opening of Parliament. On Wednesday, January 13, the House will open its doors to the public at a forum on: "Parliament on the threshold of the 21st century", at the National Theatre in Accra. The Auditor-General's report on the statement of foreign exchange receipts and payments of the Bank of Ghana for the first half-year ended June 30, 1997 and a 14.3 million-dollar loan agreement between the Ghana Government and the African Development Fund for Poverty Reduction Projects, were laid before the house today. During the Week, there will be statements from members and committee sittings.