Cabinet has approved for submission to Parliament a $175 million credit facility from the World Bank to finance a local government capacity support project in the country. The objective of the project is to build the capacity of local governments to deliver local services through an enhanced inter-governmental fiscal framework, improved municipal management capabilities and strengthened local accountability. The Minister of Information, Mr. John Tia Akologu, made this known at the monthly ‘Meet-the-press’ series organised by the Ministry of Information to inform the public on issues bordering on governance at Cabinet level. The Local Government Capacity Support project will comprise four components - Strengthening the fiscal framework for decentralisation, enhancing decentralised urban service delivery, stimulating account for demand governance and service delivery and project management and evaluation. The novelty meet-the-press is different from the normal meet-the-press event and is expected to be used by the Ministry of Information as a platform to brief the public on the government’s decisions on the economy, agriculture, infrastructure, the social sector and the “Better Ghana” agenda approved at the Cabinet level. Mr. Akologu said a further $70 million agreement had been signed between the government and the International Development Association (IDA) to finance skills and technology development. A further $50 million is also to be released by the IDA to finance the second phase of the Land Administration Project. Briefing journalists on the activities of Cabinet from April 20 to May 13, 2011, Mr. Akologu said it had approved the restructuring of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) debt and the technical, operational and financial diagnostic of the company. Again he said Cabinet had approved the contraction of a credit agreement between the government and the Trust Bank Ghana Limited to finance the supply of electrical cables and conductors for the implementation of the government’s Self Help Electrification Programme. Additionally, approval had been given by Cabinet for a credit agreement between the government and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) for the construction of a 34-courtroom complex for the Judicial Service. Mr. Akologu said Cabinet had also approved the purchase of one Embracer 190 aircraft and the construction of a hangar, but was awaiting parliamentary approval. Other bills, loan agreements and activities approved by Cabinet are the Marine Pollution Bill, a loan agreement with Fidelity Bank Limited for the financing of the acquisition of two German naval boats, another agreement with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China for $990 million for the construction of the Accra-Tema, Accra-Nsawam and Accra- James Town Railway lines on standard gauge. The rest of the loan agreements are one with the China Exim Bank for $1,950,000 for the construction of the Standard Gauge Eastern Railway line and a credit facility of $103 million from the Citi Bank of South Africa to finance the National Electrification Scheme in the Upper East Region. According to the minister, Cabinet had also approved the ratification of the statute for the International Renewal Energy Agency (IRENA), and had also given approval for the revised Cinematography Act 1961 (Act 76), to provide the machinery for streamlining the film industry in the country. The government, Mr. Akologu said, was also looking at the Police Service Regulation 2011 to bring it in line with modern day policing to enhance the performance of the service. In line with the government’s decision to get Ghanaians to patronize made in Ghana goods, he said Cabinet had decided that state institutions should use local cuisine at state functions. Source: Daily Graphic