Parliament Passes Zongo Devt Fund Bill

Parliament on Friday passed the Zongo Development Fund Bill in fulfillment of the promise by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the 2016 general elections to establish the fund to improve the lives of members of Zongo communities across the country.

The Zongo Development Fund Bill seeks to establish a Fund to speed up the development of Zongo communities.

The government explained that Zongo communities in the country have over the years been bedeviled with infrastructure deficits, lack of social services and poor sanitation.

In line with the government’s efforts to ensure the welfare of every citizen, the Bill was introduced as part of efforts to improve the lives of residents in the communities.

The government promised to provide $50 million in the Fund when established.

Under the current budget, a seed amount of GH¢219.5 million has been budgeted for it.

The Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development, Boniface Abubakar Saddique, said the Fund would be deployed in five main areas, namely infrastructure and sanitation, economic empowerment, social development, cultural promotion and security and crime control.

Mr Saddique explained that roads, drains, clinics, water, electricity and street lighting would be provided in relevant communities under infrastructure and sanitation, while women and the youth would be trained in entrepreneurship and employment skills for economic empowerment.

The beneficiaries, he said, would also be assisted to draw business plans and be supported to access credit from financial institutions.

Meanwhile, the MP for Builsa South, Dr Clement Apaak, has told the House that MPs whose offices are located on the 10th Floor of Job 600 at the Parliament House are still struggling due to damages from fire outbreak that hit the block last July.

Dr Apaak said “not all the facilities and amenities are working and that the fans and the air conditioners are not working.”




He appealed to Joseph Osei-Owusu, the First Deputy Speaker, who was then chairing proceedings in the Chamber Block, to ensure the rehabilitation of the offices.

Dr Apaak raised the concern after the reading of the Business Statement for next week, the Seventh Week ending November 17, 2017 by Osei Kyei- Mensa- Bonsu, the Majority Leader and the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs

The Majority Leader confirmed that the Finance Minister would present the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the year ending December 21, 2018 to Parliament on Wednesday, November 15 2017.

The Majority Leader informed the House of a post budget workshop for the leadership, chairpersons, ranking members and deputy ranking members of Committees of oversight of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies and respective Committee Clerks scheduled for Koforidua from Friday, November 17, 2017 to Monday, November 20, 2017.

“For the avoidance of doubt, honorable members are informed that leadership of committees responsible for the consideration of annual estimates of Ministries, Departments and Agencies as provided for in the Standing Order 140(4) are to attend the post-budget workshop that is all the Select Committees and the following Standing Committees (i) Judiciary, (ii) Special Budget (iii) Gender and Children and (iv) Finance,” Mr Kyei-Mensa- Bonsu clarified.

GNA