BUDGET: 140.2 billion cedis to Ministry of the Interior

Accra, Nov. 16, GNA - The Government on Thursday affirmed its commitment to ensure that the rule of law and the provision of safeguards to access justice for all citizens were entrenched through the updating of laws and revision of statutes.

In pursuance of the commitment, government has allocated an amount of A2140,216 million to the Ministry of Interior. Out of this, the government would provide A2122,866 million, Internal Generated Funds (IGF) A27,350 million and HIPC A210,000 million.

The Ministry of the Interior would use the estimate to transform the offices of the Attorney-General's Department to ensure efficiency through the use of modern technology, computerization and networking, Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu stated in the 2007 Budget statement.

The capacities of State Attorneys would be enhanced in 2007 to bring them abreast with modern trends of combating crime, continue with the construction of the Law House Project to accommodate the Ministry, Attorney-General's Department, Legal Aid Scheme and the Law Reform Commission.

On security projections for 2007, Mr Baah-Wiredu said the Registrar-General's Department would continue with its reform and programmes to improve service delivery to the private sector. The Department would continue with the implementation of business registration and licensing reform strategy to minimize the number of days for registering a business from 14 to five days.

To make registration of businesses more accessible, the Department would open Regional Offices at Kumasi and Tamale.

The Department would complete the construction of a new front Office Block in pursuance of its objective of improving service delivery, build a record centre at the Headquarters of the Department to keep the hard copies of the registration documents of registered Companies.

The offices of the Legal Aid Scheme, in collaboration with the International Federation of women Lawyers (FIDA) also undertook clinics in five selected regions to sensitise the populace on the availability of legal aid services.

The Scheme would continue to undertake nationwide capacity building exercises in Alternative Dispute Resolution for lawyers, organise legal aid clinics in the regions to educate citizens on the law and their rights and implement other activities aimed at reducing fraud and combating corruption.

With regards to the Serious Fraud Office, efforts would be made to complete their Head Office building, implement activities aimed at reducing fraud and combat corruption through investigating reported fraud cases.

The Law Reform Commission will conduct research into Restorative Justice and criminal injuries and compensation as well as review and consolidate Acts 29 and 30, respectively.

The Finance Minister said the Commission would conduct research into Restorative Justice and Criminal injuries and compensation as well as review and consolidated Act 29 and 30, respectively.

The Law Reform Commission would conduct research into Law and Poverty Reduction-Advocacy Projects on the Rights of Domestic Assistance in Ghana, Review of Operations of Corporate and Business Entities within the Ghanaian Business Environment and ascertain Customary Law. He said about 250 Lawyers would be trained and called to the Bar by October, 2007 by the Ghana Law School whilst the rehabilitation works on the Law School building would be completed.

Mr Baah-Wiredu said the Council for Law Reporting would complete the printing of backlog of Ghana Law Reports for 1997-98 volume II, 1999-2000 volume II, 2001-2003 volumes I & II.

The council would also prepare manuscripts for 2003-2005 and also prepare Review of Ghana Law Reports from 2001-2006.

On the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the Finance Minister said in 2006 it implemented prioritised policies and programmes, which aimed at improving the combat readiness of personnel.

The key objectives and programmes of the Ministry of Defence during the period under review were aimed at addressing the needs and priorities of the Ghana Armed Forces.

To protect the nation, a number of important barracks rehabilitation programmes were completed. In addition, some operational and administration equipment were acquired to improve the overall operational effectiveness of GAF.

He said the GAF actively supported the civil authorities in combating crime and promoting peace through routine and emergency land, sea and air operations, an exercise aimed at abating illegal fish poachers and drug traffickers.

The GAF and the Ghana Police Service conducted joint anti-armed robbery patrols, acquired new vehicles, which improved its mobility for the joint police/army patrols.

All Garrisons countrywide now conduct mobile patrols on daily basis, deploy troops to monitor the activities of lake transport operators at Yeji and check the frequent boat disasters on the Volta Lake and avert the loss of lives and properties.

As part of Government's efforts to address the critical accommodation needs of the Ghana Armed Forces, a number of housing units were constructed and old ones rehabilitated.

To help with the Internal Security, the GAF was involved with a number of Internal Security (IS) operations, which included Operation Calm Life, Operation Hunter, Operation Gong Gong, Operation Halt, Operation Cowleg and Boat Detachment.

He said in 2007, the GAF would continue to build on the substantial achievements made in operational, professional, logistical and administrative capabilities in the coming year.

The GAF would implement activities aimed at improving its combat readiness to deter any external aggressor, whilst thorough maintenance schedules would be enforced to ensure improvements in the serviceability state of land combat equipment, naval vessels and existing aircraft.