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Parliament approves the MCA, but notes
inherent challenges
Accra, Feb. 2, GNA - Parliament on Friday approved the
Millennium Challenge Compact agreement between Ghana and the
Government of the United States of America after hectic
debate on the conditions which touched on national
sovereignty, auditing issues and tax exemptions.
There was a long debate involving professional lawyers from
both sides of the House on the pros and cons on the
implications of the legal conditions of the agreement.
The Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho had noted
that the nation had missed the January 2007 target for the
money to come due to the delay of Parliament to approve the
agreement.
Under the Compact, Ghana is to benefit from a 547 million
dollar facility from the United States Government for a
five-year project focusing on an integrated agricultural
programme aimed at growing the economy and reducing poverty.
Mr Mahama Ayariga, NDC-Bawku Central, drew attention of the
House to the fact that the Compact bound the nation not to
effect changes in constitutional provisions during the
period of the grant and thereafter.
He also noted that the excessive tax exemptions for all
kinds of imports from the US including personal property for
persons involved in MCA projects would not make
accountability effective.
The intervention of Dr Benjamin Kumbour, NDC-Lawra Nandom,
in reaction to a point-of-order from the Deputy
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Kwame
Osei-Prempeh on the points raised by Mr Ayariga sparked a
long display of legal and constitutional knowledge from both
sides of the House.
These included Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Foreign Affairs
Minister; Mr Edward Salia, NDC-Jirapa; Mr Hackman
Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of Water Resources, Works and
Housing; Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minority Leader; Mr William
Ofori-Boafo, Deputy Minister of Defence, and Mrs Frema
Osei-Opare, Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and
Housing.
But the Speaker, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi-Hughes allowed Dr
Moses Asaga to intervene just before Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom,
Minister of Public Sector Reforms to sum up the points for
the approval of the Compact to raise issues on economics and
developments that related to the Compact.
Mr Bagbin later drew the attention of the House to the fact
that provisions on final authority on auditing were not
clear.
He stated that the amount of 7.5 million dollars in respect
of auditors from the US within the five years period of the
Compact could be used to raise the capacity of the
Auditor-General Department of Ghana.
He called on Parliament to assert its authority and
independence after the Compact was ratified.
The Majority Leader and Acting Minister of Transport, Mr
Felix Owusu-Adjapong commenting on the numerous
interventions called on the House to use the leadership of
the committees in resolving matters of such nature.
The Government of Ghana and the Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) of the United States of America signed a
Compact on August 1, 2006 to implement a programme to reduce
poverty through agricultural transformation.
Ghana was one of 16 countries worldwide to benefit from the
MCA, set up by US Government to fight poverty in developing
countries.
Ghana initiated steps to withdraw from the MCC administered
accounts by establishing the Millennium Development
Authority through an Act of Parliament, Act 702.
The Act was subsequently amended by Act 709 to over see the
management and implementation of the Ghana country programme
as provided in the Compact under the MCA.
Funds to be provided from the Compact are to be applied in
three project areas - agricultural, transportation and rural
developing projects.
The Compact, which was signed by Accra and New York in
August 2006 in accordance with Article 75(2) of the 1992
Constitution, is expected to contribute to the attainment of
Ghana's goal of reducing poverty by half and increasing per
capita income to 1,000 dollars by 2015.
GNA
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