Debates of 7 Jun 2005

MR. SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:05 a.m.
CORRECTION OF VOTES 10:05 a.m.
AND PROCEEDINGS AND 10:05 a.m.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Order! Order! Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 3rd June, 2005.
Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah 10:05 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, page 6 (33), I was absent with permission, please.
Mr. Speaker 10:05 a.m.
The Official Report of Friday, 3rd June, 2005.
Mr. D. T. Assumeng 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
column 497 -- “14. David Tettey Assumeng”, the middle name, “Tettey” should be corrected to read “Tetteh”.
Mr. E. K. Salia 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, at column 483, the fourth paragraph, under Dr. Anane, actually from line 5, “The phase I is a DANIDA-supported project under IFPP”, I believe he said “RSDP” and not “IFPP”.
Mr. Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Well, thank you. Any further corrections, kindly make them available at the Clerk's Table. Hon. Members, we would want to deal with item 4, Question numbers 52 and 53 standing in the name of hon. Samuel Johnfia, Member of Parliament for -- [Interruption.]
Mr. F. K. Owusu-Adjapong 10:05 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I think it is the same person who is asking Question numbers 30 and 31 so if we can start with 30.
Mr. Speaker 10:05 a.m.
That is the Minister for the Interior -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:05 a.m.
Oh, all right, thank you very much.
Mr. Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Hon. Members, the Minister for Fisheries must attend a meeting and so I would want her to answer her Questions first. Questions 52 and 53 are standing in the name of hon. Johnfia, Member of Parliament for Ahanta West.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:05 a.m.
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES 10:05 a.m.
Minister for Fisheries (Mrs. Gladys Asmah) 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Fisheries agrees that it is necessary to have cold storage facilities at Dixcove. However it is the view of the Ministry that the provision of cold storage facilities must be regarded as Private Sector Investment Venture. For this reason, the Ministry is in the process of holding discussions with the Ministry of Private Sector Development and PSI with a view to attracting investors into the cold storage business venture at Dixcove and indeed other areas which need cold storage facilities.
Again, Mr. Speaker, under the Agriculture Service Sub-sector Invest- ment Programme (AgSSIP), there is the Farmer Based Organised Development
Fund that can be sourced by fishermen groups in Dixcove to procure their own cold store to operate and maintain. An individual entrepreneur wishing to establish a cold store in Dixcove can also submit a proposal for the establishment of cold store (and blast freezer) facilities at Dixcove to the Ministry for consideration for funding under the Food and Agriculture Budgetary Support being provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
I therefore wish to advise interested investors to contact the Ministry of Fisheries for the necessary assistance to translate their business plans into reality. It is the policy of the Ministry to promote and attract private sector investments into the Fisheries sector. The Ministry of Fisheries will facilitate and support such applications.
Mr. Johnfia 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank the hon. Minister for the information that she has given, especially with regard to how one can source funds for installing a cold storage facility at Dixcove.
Development of Landing Site at Dixcove
Q. 53. Mr. Samuel Johnfia asked the Minister for Fisheries if her Ministry would consider developing landing site at the fishing town of Dixcove in the Ahanta West constituency to facilitate and also make convenient the discharge of catch.
Mrs. Gladys Asmah 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry has plans to improve fish landing sites for safe landing of canoes along the marine coast and the shoreline of the Volta Lake.
As first phase, six sites -- four (4) marine and two (2) along the shoreline
of the Volta Lake -- have been identified for feasibility studies to design, cost and construct this facility with the help of multilateral donors starting this year. These sites were selected based on canoes and fishermen numbers as well as volumes of fish landed at these sites.
Funds are being sought from the multi- donor funded Agriculture Services Sub- sector Investment Programme (AgSSIP) to engage a consultant to study and submit the feasibility report. Currently, my Ministry is in the process of the selection of the consultant and to commission the best firm by September 2005 for the work.
Mr. Speaker, Dixcove wil l be considered during the second phase of this programme, when additional sites will be developed. Presently Dixcove has a population of 4,500 and they would go to the second phase.
Mr. Johnfia 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister is saying Dixcove would be considered during the second phase of this programme. Do I take it that this is an assurance so that I ask the Committee on Government Assurances to take note?
Mrs. Asmah 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, safe landing sites are some of the programmes that the Ministry is currently working seriously on. Places that have been selected for this year are being considered and we have also sought support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to help us construct these sites, and I can assure my hon. Colleague that during the second phase, Dixcove would be considered; I know, because I am from the Western Region. Dixcove is a very busy fishing village and it would be considered in the second phase.
Alhaji Seidu Amadu 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Minister, in developing the landing sites, what is her Ministry going to do to address the issue
of soil erosion at Dixcove?
Mrs. Asmah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that question I believe is for the Ministry of Works and Housing.
Mr. A. K. Agbesi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to know from the hon. Minister whether there is any plan for developing fish landing sites along the lower Volta, instead of the Volta Lake.
Mrs. Asmah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, two landing sites can be identified in the Volta Region. In fact, some work has been done already at Dzemeni and Abotoase in the Volta Region along the Volta Lake; work had started on it already before I became the Minister. These are the two sites in the Volta Region that I know of.
Mr. C. S. Hodogbey 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think the question was on the Lower Volta but Dzemeni is at the Upper Volta area. So the question is, does the Ministry have any plan of developing such a site in the Lower Volta Basin?
Mrs. Asmah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, presently, no; it can come on in the second phase but presently, no. The ones that we have already started working on are the two, Dzemeni and Abotoase.
Mr. G. Kuntu-Blankson 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Minister whether she has any plan of developing a landing site at the Ekumfi area because it is deprived of a landing site.
Mrs. Asmah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there are criteria for the selection of the sites -- the number of canoes and the volume of population. Perhaps Ekumfi can come on in the second phase but presently it is not on the first phase.
Prof. A. W. Seini 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
would like to know from the hon. Minister for Fisheries what is being done about the long standing plan to develop a fishing landing port at Elmina? To elaborate the question, there has been a long standing plan to develop the Elmina port into a fishing harbour; what plans does the Ministry have to bring that about?
Mrs. Asmah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, Elmina is one of four sites that were captured in this year's Budget Statement, and we are working on it.
Mr. J. K. Avedzi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister for Fisheries in answering the question of the hon. Member for North Tongu (Mr. C. S. Hodogbey) said that the lower basin will be considered in the second phase. Can I know from the hon. Minister when the second phase is going to take off?
Mrs. Asmah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I said that presently what we have is what I have delivered and perhaps the Lower Volta will come in during the second phase. We have to look at what we have, and without funds there is nothing that we can do. We are sourcing the funds and when available, it will be done in the second phase.
Mr. Lee Ocran 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the hon. Minister's answer to the question about landing sites asked by the hon. Member for Ahanta West (Mr. Samuel Johnfia), the hon. Minister mentioned that eight sites have been selected. May she please tell us where the eight sites are?
Mrs. Asmah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the eight sites are in Axim in the Western Region, Winneba in the Central Region, Mumford in the Central Region, Elmina in the Central Region, Dzemeni in the Volta Region, Abotoase in the Volta Region, James Town in the Greater Accra Region
and Teshie in the Greater Accra Region.
Mr. Ocran 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know why Half-Assini, a very big fishing town, was not covered in the original list.
Mrs. Asmah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, landing sites are not cheap. We cannot put every fishing village in the same phase. That is why I have said that they would be done in phases. Axim has been identified first and perhaps the others will come later when we have finished with the first phase.
Ms. Akua Sena Dansua 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Minister what consideration her Ministry is giving to Kpando-Torkor as one of the popular landing sites in the Volta Region.
Mrs. Asmah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, perhaps my hon. Colleague can tell us the population of Kpando-Torkor and their request. If she has these things available to us we will put them all in the phases. We have not had any request from Kpando-Torkor and I believe that if she can facilitate that we will be able to look at it.
Ms. Dansua 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if she will consider asking her technical officers to do precisely what she is asking me to do because I do not work in the Ministry of Fisheries. [Interruptions.]
Mr. F. K. Owusu-Adjapong 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think it was not for nothing that we said Supplementary Questions must relate to the main Question. We are being drifted into another Question and I think that in such situations it is better we asked the person to bring a substantive Question rather than doing guesswork and things like that.
The Supplementary Question asked by hon. Miss Dansua is not related to the first one at all. We are talking of locations specifically in Dixcove in the Ahanta West district, but now we are asking the hon. Minister to begin to talk about Kpando-Torkor and all that. I believe that it was not for nothing that the rules stated that Supplementary Questions must be supplementary. Having indulged her with the first answer, I think if there is anything she should come by a substantive Question.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
In fact, I did not hear that question. The hon. Minister for Fisheries has been answering questions not directly connected with this, but I do not know what she would want to say now to this question.
Ms. Dansua 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the hon. Minister whether she would not consider asking her technical officers to go and source for the information that she wants, instead of asking me to oblige her that information.
Mrs. Asmah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague should come with a substantive Question and then I will come with all the details available to me.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Minister for Fisheries, thank you very much for appearing to answer these questions. You are hereby discharged for the time being.
URGENT QUESTION 10:20 a.m.
MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR 10:20 a.m.
Minister for the Interior (Papa Owusu-Ankomah) 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, according to the Ghana Police Service Report on the incident, different names are supplied for those who were said to have been killed. Since the Report of the Police and the Question relate to the same incidents, I assume that the persons referred to are the same. The names of the deceased, as given by the Police, are as follows: Yakubu Nakpari, Alifa Abubakar, Amadu Iddrisu, alias Iran-Iraq.
Mr. Speaker, following the death of three persons during the 7th December, 2004 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in the Northern Region, an investigative team was immediately dispatched from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Accra to assist the Northern Regional Police Command in its investigations.
The investigations confirmed, among other things, that three people -- Yakubu Nakpari, Alifa Abubakar and Amadu Iddrisu -- were killed at Gyakpati and Kpogolo in the Kumbungu constituency. The deceased persons and other New Patriotic Party (NPP) activists had been engaged by Prince Imoro Andani, the NPP Parliamentary candidate for the Kumbungu constituency to monitor the elections in the constituency. At about 13:40 hours the members of the monitoring team who were on board two pick-up vehicles and nine motorbikes visited the Gyakpati polling station. A misunderstanding arose
Mr. J. A. Tia 10:30 a.m.
On a point of order. Mr.
Speaker, the hon. Minister is to answer a Question on what he is doing about the following three persons: Abu Hanifa Barsha, killed at Gyakpahili; Ahmed Mohammed, alias Iran-Iraq, killed at Gyakpahili; and Alhassan Dawuni, killed at Gblin. What the hon. Minister is doing right now is talking about three different people. The Question is not in relation to those three people so I do not know whether there is a different Question in relation to the issue or not. I think the hon. Minister should address himself to the Question.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Minority Chief Whip, that is not a point of order; let the hon. Minister continue.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
as a Minister, when I am asked a Question by an hon. Member of the House, I believe I ought to assist the House by giving relevant information. In the early part of my Answer I disclosed that the report given by the Police gave three different names but I assumed that since it relates to the same incidents it was just a question of mistaken names. I therefore wish to continue with my Answer, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague, the Minister for the Interior is assuming some incidents but there is no incident mentioned here that he is talking about. The Question says, what is his Ministry doing about the following three men who were killed on Election day in 2004? Mr. Speaker, we are not talking about some incident. These were people who were killed on Election day. They mentioned names and at specific villages, these are known human beings at specific villages. Now, he is mentioning different names in different villages.
Mr. Speaker, I thought that he would now be answering this Question. He is at liberty to come and brief the House at any time about any incident at any place, but in answering the specific Question I do not think that it is within his powers to stray into other areas and give us some other information that is not requested for by the Question. That is it. The hon. Member of Parliament who asked the Question is
here; he knows the people and he knows what happened.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Minority Leader, I am happy you are saying that the person who asked the Question is here. So if he has any objection let him raise it, but in the meantime the hon. Minister should continue.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, four motorbikes belonging to the monitoring team -- [Interruption.]
Mr. J. A. Tia 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, even though you appear to have given your opinion about this thing -- [Some hon. Members: Ruling.] -- I want to use “opinion”. Mr. Speaker, I think that if an hon. Member poses a Question that is brought to the floor of the House, it becomes the concern and property of the entire House. So it is not just, at this point, only in the power of the hon. Member posing the Question to raise some objection or make some comments on it. That is why we have the provision in the Standing Orders that one can ask supplementary questions and other things.
What we are saying now is that the Question is specific; the people mentioned in the Question are known people. I remember that the hon. Member posed two Urgent Questions but only one has been brought today. That is why I am saying that the hon. Minister should answer to the specific Question here and not allude to incidents that happened somewhere. If he chooses to brief the House, as the hon. Minority Leader said, then it lies in your power to admit it but he should not use this occasion to brief the House on a different matter. If he is not prepared to answer this Question, he may say so and withdraw and come another time.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am fully prepared to answer the Question
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Deputy Minority Chief Whip, do you have a point of order?
10. 40 a.m.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 10:30 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since the Minister for the Interior is interested in briefing us on other issues he may as well brief us on the killers of the Ya-Na and tell us what is happening -- [Hear! Hear!]
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Minister for the Interior, please proceed.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
I wish to assure hon. Members that with my experience as a Member of Parliament, my attention will never be distracted -- [Interruptions.] Four motorbikes belonging to the monitoring team were burnt, while Yakubu Nakpari and Abubakari were killed instantly by the mob. Yakubu Nakpari, confirmed to be a native of Gyakpahili, sustained gunshot wounds in the head, while Abubakari who hails from Tamale -- [Interruption.]
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Member, do you
Mr. H. Iddrisu 10:30 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order. Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister is importing the case of another killing into his Answer, he is talking about the killing of Yakubu Nakpari. Mr. Speaker, this is not known to the Question. The Question is specifically dealing with Abu Hanifa Barsha, Ahmed Mohammed and Alhassan Dawuni. Mr. Speaker, Yakubu Nakpari -- nobody has asked the hon. Minister about what is happening to the killing of Yakubu Nakpari or a motorbike being burnt -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Order! Order! Hon. Member for Tamale, I shall give you time to ask supplementary questions afterwards. Let us proceed.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
Abubakari Zakaria and two other monitoring members sustained various degrees of injury and were admitted at the Tamale Government Hospital. In another related incident Amadu Iddrisu, popularly known as “Iran-Iraq”, aged about 56 years and also a member of the monitoring group in Tamale was captured by irate youth led by certain persons of Tolon village -- [Interruption.]
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Do you have a point of order to raise, hon. Member for Ashaiman?
Mr. Agbesi 10:30 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the information the hon. Minister is giving is irrelevant to the Question on the floor. Mr. Speaker, the Question is very specific; what is your Ministry doing about those killed? It does not call for narrating how motorbikes and bicycles or whatever were burnt. Mr. Speaker, what he is saying is irrelevant to this House.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Thank you very much, hon. Member for Ashaiman.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as a Minister, I need to give a full and comprehensive answer to Questions posed by hon. Members of the House, to assist the House -- [Interruptions.]
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, and I continue -- [Interruptions.]
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
They were captured by irate youth of Tolon village at Gbandu, while fleeing from Gyapkahili on 7th December 2004 and lynched. His body was abandoned in an open place at Bongu near the market. It was confirmed that he was sent to the chief's palace before being lynched. And it was the chief who came and reported to the police that there was a dead body in the community. The highly decomposed body was found on 9th December and reported to the police by the chief. Autopsy was performed by Dr. Frimpong of the Tamale Teaching Hospital who gave the cause of death as skull fracture. The body has since been buried -- [Interruption.]
Mr. M. Anthony Awuni 10:30 a.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister is lecturing us instead of answering the Question -- [Laughter.]
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Minister, please proceed.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to state that the interruptions are most unprecedented when Questions are being asked in this House.
Mr. Speaker, twelve persons have
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister, in answering the Question, stated that the three were monitoring the elections in Gyakpahili. Mr. Speaker, those three, were they accredited monitoring agents of the Commission?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am aware that they were monitoring the elections -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Order! Order!
Mr. H. Iddrisu 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am asking whether they were accredited by the Electoral Commission for the purpose of monitoring elections in Gyakpahili and for that matter the Kumbungu constituency. That is my question.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am aware that they were monitoring agents.
Ahaji Alhassan Yakubu: Mr. Speaker, if I heard the hon. Minister right, he said he had given the police one month to produce the killers. May I know how long he has given the police to produce the killers of the Ya-Na?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would normally have preferred notice, but investigations into the murder of the Ya-Na are ongoing and I will appeal to hon. Members of the House who have
Mr. F. A. Agbotse 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether he is aware that it was a mob action at Gyakpahili, and that started the mob action?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not have the details but I have been informed by the police that investigations disclosed that some youth in Gyakpahili led the mob; those youth have been identified; they have absconded and they are still being sought for.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Minister whether it would be material and therefore crucial to the investigations if the people killed were found not to have been accredited monitors of the elections.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we believe in the rule of law. And even alleged murderers cannot be given instant justice. So the answer is, it is completely and totally immaterial and irrelevant.
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to know whether the hon. Minister can tell this House how many people were killed on election day in 2004.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
I believe that if the hon. Minority Leader would give me notice, I will get the required information -- [Uproar!]
Mr. Bagbin 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Question he answered, he was not given notice. The one he was given notice on is not the one he answered. He has brought in his own answer, on his own question, and delivered it -- [Laughter.] So I would want to know --This is a different question he answered.
How many people were killed on election day, 2004? He should have been informed by the police.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:50 a.m.
Probably if the hon. Minority Leader had assisted the police by informing them as to the number of persons who may have been killed in his constituency, it would have been very easy for me. Certainly, asking me the number of persons who were killed during elections in the whole country, obviously, I cannot have that information at my finger tips -- [Uproar.]
Mr. Bagbin 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I did not give the police the information he is delivering to the House. And also it is wrong -- the fact that he is answering a different Question. He did not ask for notice and he delivered it. That is why I asked this question. We should not be selective in the application of justice. That is very, very important for the development of democracy anywhere in the society.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, this Government believes that each and every citizen is entitled to protection under the law. There is no selective justice in this country. [Uproar.]
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Order! Order! Let us have decorum, please.
Mr. J. D. Mahama 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the Answer the hon. Minister just gave, he said that the belief of this Government is that every citizen is entitled to protection under the law. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask whether Alhaji Issah Mobila received that protection under the law.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I believe so. I believe so; that is why persons who were alleged to have caused
Alhaji Sumani Abukari 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the two people who died at Gyakpahili or the person who died at Gyakpahili, Abubakari, was not amongst a group of terrorists who were at Gyakpahili to intimidate the villagers and to prevent them from voting. And it is one of them who shot Yakubu Nakpari, the first to die on that day. Yakubu Nakpari, a native of Gyakpahili, was shot by one of these people who came in two pick-ups and nine motor cycles to intimidate and terrorize the local people.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, this is news to me -- [Uproar]-- and I would urge the hon. Member to give this information to the police with particulars for further investigation.
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon. Members, we would take Question 30 which is standing in the name of -- [Interruption.]
Some hon. Members -- rose --
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.
We have already exhausted the time -- not more than one hour, please. Hon. Johnfiah, hon. Member for Ahanta West.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:50 a.m.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of the Interior is looking forward to the day when all police stations in the country will be fully equipped with vehicles and other items to make it possible for them to function effectively and efficiently. Unfortunately, that seems to be something which we have to fight seriously for in view of the competing demands for the country's resources.
When my predecessor responded to this Question some two years ago, there was expectation that work on the rehabilitation of a number of Land Rovers would be completed within some specific timeframe to make it possible for a number of District and Divisional Police Stations to be allocated vehicles. Unfortunately, the workshop undertaking the rehabilitation encountered a number of problems which have affected the completion of the process. This has affected the allocation of vehicles not only to the Agona Nkwanta but also to a number of other districts, especially in the three northern regions of the country.
Mr. Speaker, the Agona Nkwanta Police Station has not been allocated a Service vehicle. However, the Kwesi- mintsim district, under which is the Agona Nkwanta Police Station, has been allocated a vehicle for temporary use. This vehicle services the Agona Nkwanta Station as well.
Mr. Speaker, the Police Service is currently reviewing the status of various police stations as part of the process of improving its operational capabilities. One aspect of the review will be to ensure that all political districts are congruous with police districts. To this end, the Agona Nkwanta Police Station will be elevated to the status of a District police office and be accorded all the rights and responsibilities associated with this new status.

In the meantime, every effort will be made for at least one of the Land Rover vehicles being rehabilitated to be assigned to the Agona Nkwanta Police Station which I am personally aware caters for a very vast land area.
Mr. Johnfiah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister was saying that it was the expectation of his Ministry to rehabilitate some Land Rovers for distribution but they encountered a number of problems. Can the hon. Minister tell us some of the problems they encountered in the process?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, spare parts that were ordered were not delivered on schedule. Indeed, most of them have not been delivered because the manufacturers of those spare parts say that they are facing some problems, having regard to the age of the vehicles and those presently being manufactured by that company. Furthermore, finances, budgetary allocation fell far short of the actuals. We are trying to obtain further funding to enable this project to be completed.
Mr. J. D. Mahama 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the hon. Minister if he is aware that almost one-third of the vehicles that were procured for the Police have currently broken down and are in various workshops in the regions.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
I am definitely aware that some of the vehicles have broken down but certainly not one- third. And the explanation is that the police vehicles run virtually twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and so the expected time for servicing really was rather short; and we are reviewing the present situation. Some have broken down, but certainly not one-third, particularly with about 600 vehicles supplied to the police since this
Mr. John Mahama 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as to
the figure of one-third, I am talking about 200 police vehicles that have either broken down or have been smashed. They include those that have been involved in accidents. About 200 vehicles are currently out of service.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
that is definitely incorrect and a gross exaggeration.
Mr. Bagbin 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, could the
hon. Minister tell us the correct figure that is involved.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I just can give a rough idea. But to be asked of a definite figure, certainly it is not 200. I know some of them. For instance, I know that 30 of the Peugeot vehicles are in the workshop for regular servicing. The amount involved was rather huge. Just a couple of weeks ago, arrangements were made; the indebtedness of the Police has been substantially reduced and the Police have been assured by the workshop that at least 30 out of these vehicles would be ready within the next month or two.
Mr. Bagbin 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, he has not
answered my question. But he has even added that “30 out of these vehicles” -- 30 out of what number? He is talking about the vehicles that have broken down and out of service and he says 30 out of this number. I want to know the number because he says the number that the hon. Member gave was incorrect.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
I was talking
Mr. Speaker 11 a.m.
Order! Order!
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
What I am
certain of is that it is not 200.
Mr. J. Z. Amenowode 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
would like to ask the hon. Minister which workshop is rehabilitating these vehicles.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the leader in Peugeot vehicles in this country, I am sure Members of Parliament know, is Prestige Motors.
Mr. Gidisu 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon.
Minister has admitted the heavy schedules of the Police; would he now confirm that the Peugeot saloon cars are not the best of cars for the rounds of the Police Service, looking at the terrain in the country?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the saloon cars are good for the urban areas and directives have been given that as much as possible, for the rough terrain, particularly in the northern parts of the country and the rural areas, we should have robust vehicles like the Boleros and the Land Rovers; and accordingly the Police Administration is working on that.
Mr. John Tia 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to know from the hon. Minister whether the Police Service has a vehicle workshop; and if they have, what exactly do they do?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I know the Police Service has a workshop in Accra and I think it has another one in Cape Coast and a third one in Kumasi. Mr. Speaker, these workshops have not been functioning as efficiently as they ought to. I have had discussions with the Police Administration and various options are being considered. Among these options are: (a) Getting a qualified engineer to oversee these workshops, (b) semi-privatize them so that they can even
take in other vehicles.
But various options are being considered because ultimately, we believe that if the police workshops are properly managed, properly resourced, it may be the most cost-effective way to service and maintain their vehicles.
Mr. B. D. K. Adu 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the hon. Minister what immediate plans he has to buy new cars to augment the old cars.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
it is ongoing. I assumed office barely three months ago. But the programme initiated by my predecessor gave me the pleasure of presenting 65 new vehicles to the Police about six weeks ago and some to the Fire Service. We are expecting more and I believe that with the support of this House, we will continue resourcing the Police, not only with vehicles but other logistics including communication equipment.
Mr. Speaker 11 a.m.
The last question from
the hon. Deputy Minority Chief Whip.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, when
the hon. Minister's predecessor was answering similar questions two years ago, he indicated that he had taken delivery of some spare parts. Why is it that in spite of that so many vehicles have been parked? And his answer to the question raised with reference to the saloon cars and the terrain, he indicated that the saloon cars are good for the urban areas. I do not know whether he means Accra Metropolitan area, the central business district, because if you go beyond the central business district, the terrain is so rough -- Gbegbeyise, Sukura and many other places -- the saloon cars are not good for those terrains. The question is, is he still satisfied that the saloon cars are good for the urban areas?
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, still on rules. I thought we should have one
Mr. Speaker 11 a.m.
The hon. Minister may decide to answer any of them.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. Member would be pleased to indicate which of the two questions he prefers answered --
Mr. E. T. Mensah 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want him to answer both. It is a sequel to his performance today. Answering a specific question, he went into other terrains, so I know he can answer both.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, I am satisfied that the saloon cars are good for the urban areas.
Agona Ahanta Fire Station (Water Hydrants)
Q. 31. Mr. Samuel Johnfiah asked the Minister for the Interior if his Ministry would as a matter of urgency, provide water hydrants at the Fire Station at Agona Ahanta, the capital of the Ahanta West district.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, fire hydrants are deemed very critical for the management of fires in the country. To this end, the Ghana National Fire Service has undertaken a survey throughout the country to determine the state of fire hydrants. From the survey, it has been realized that a number of fire stations including Agona Ahanta lack fire hydrants. The financial outlay for providing the fire hydrants will then be determined for the necessary resources to be sought.
Mr. Johnfiah 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. Minister for his answer and to say that concerning the amount involved in the installation, I will team up with the District Assembly to -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. Moses A. Asaga 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as a follow-up question, I want to know how much is involved in the hydrant and how the Member of Parliament's Common Fund could be useful for that exercise.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we do not have a standard price; it would depend on the water connection where the pipeline would have to start. For Agona Ahanta, my information is that it is worth about ¢4 million. I would not know about that for the hon. Member's constituency but I believe that in terms of facilities, the
Upper West and Upper East Regions are very well resourced when it comes to the Ghana National Fire Service.
Mr. Charles S. Hodogbey 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my question to the hon. Minister is, in the wake of the water shortages in all the urban areas, how is his Ministry going to cope up in extinguishing fires within the city?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that is one of the major challenges facing the Service because one full tank of water could be discharged within ten minutes. However, we identified certain sources of water in strategic areas in the urban areas and we hope that when some of these fires occur, we do not have only one vehicle undertaking the job but with the support of others. It was through such joint effort that the Service was able to put down the fire that occurred at Tema.
Mr. Hodogbey 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that once installed, the fire hydrants become the property of Ghana Water Company. I would like to know from the hon. Minister what collaboration is there between the Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Water Company to share costs in terms of the installation of the hydrants so that the installation can be accelerated.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there is collaboration but the collaboration is undertaken through the District Assemblies because the Ghana National Fire Service on its own does not have the capacity to undertake that collaboration with the Ghana Water Company. What it does is to provide technical advice when it comes to some of these things, but we are working seriously on that matter.
Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the hon. Minister whether the traffic congestion in urban areas, will not
normally reduce the response rate of the Ghana National Fire Service to address issues of fire. I am asking this question within the backdrop of the fact that he indicated that areas have been identified for sourcing water in emergencies.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ghana National Fire Service is an emergency Service. When there is an emergency with the support of the Police, the route is cleared for the Fire Service to have access to the strategic areas where we draw water. However, the major challenge is not congestion; it is rather the vandalizing of some of these fire hydrants and I have given instructions that locations of these fire hydrants should be warded off so that persons cannot easily have access to them.
Dr. Kunbuor 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my follow-up question is this: In the light of the fact that he says it takes ten minutes to discharge a full tank of water, approximately how many minutes will they clear traffic for them to source water and respond to a fire outbreak?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have not given them instructions to carry out a mock-run but since he has asked me this question, I will advise them to carry out a mock-run.
Mr. John A. Tia 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in answer to a supplementary question, the Minister said that the Upper East and West Regions are well resourced or equipped with logistics. I believe he is on top of issues. I want to know from him what are the statistics; what are available in Upper East and Upper West Regions, not only fire tenders but logistics.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not have the statistics at my finger tips, but I recently embarked on a familiarization tour of the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions and I must say that when it comes to internal

security agencies, the Ghana National Fire Service is far better resourced in these areas than for instance, the Police and the Prisons. As compared to other parts of the country, the Upper West and Upper East are better resourced relatively. It is relative there but there is more that ought to be done and we are looking at that.
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Minister, thank you very much for appearing to answer these Questions. You are hereby discharged.
PAPERS 11:20 a.m.
rose
Mr. Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Minority Leader, do you have any point of order to raise?
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I had wanted to raise an issue of concern before we moved to Public Business. I am raising this issue because I, in my humble opinion, think that it is not right and it should not be repeated again.
Yesterday, we had information that my hon. Colleague, the Majority Leader, organized a workshop where the media, and some resource persons were invited, on the theme “Parliament and the Media, Partners in Development”. And I believe the hon. Minister who just finished answering the Questions delivered a Paper.
Mr. Speaker, as Members of this House, I the Minority Leader together with my caucus, had no knowledge of this workshop. And yesterday when I was confronted with it I was so embarrassed. This is because I was asked why I was

not present at the workshop and why my hon. Colleagues too did not attend. So the media raised an issue of us boycotting the workshop. I think, Mr. Speaker, it is not fair and our Colleague here owes us a duty to explain why this happened without our knowledge.
Mr. Felix Owusu-Adjapong 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am wondering under what procedure we are going on - [Interruptions] - Please! Please! I would want to know the procedure. Today, they have been concentrating on procedures. The short answer I can give to them is that this was a workshop that was organized by the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs and not by the Office of Parliament - [Interruption.] It is the prerogative of the Ministry to decide who comes to such a function. Mr. Speaker, if they want to hear, they can hear - [Uproar.]
Mr. Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Order! Order!
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
resource persons who were invited to this workshop were former Ministers for Parliamentary Affairs, that is, hon. Papa Owusu-Ankomah, hon. J. H. Mensah and hon. J. H. Owusu Acheampong. And I do think my hon. Colleague can say that he is one of them and was ignored. That is the answer.
Mr. Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon. Members, I would suggest that the Leadership of this House should handle this matter after our Sitting.
Mr. Bagbin 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I agree but it looks like my hon. Colleague has missed the point. This is because they are talking about Parliament and the media. That is the issue - Parliament. And we are not aware of it. I am not talking about the resource persons - those who were there. I do not care whom he decides on to be resource persons. But I am talking about Parliament and the media and we should
be part of it. That was why the media expressed concern that we were absent.
Mr. Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Minority Leader, the point is well made. So let us handle this matter after our Sitting.
MOTIONS 11:20 a.m.
Alhaji Malik A. Yakubu 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80 (1) which require that no motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the motion is given and the date on which the motion is moved, the motion for the adoption of the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Proposed Formula for the Distribution of Subsidies to be paid to Licensed District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes may be moved today.
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. Mr. Speaker, you are the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole and not the Second Deputy Speaker - [Interruptions.] It is Mr. Speaker - Committee of the Whole.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. Minority Leader - [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Minister for the Interior, I have not called you yet. Minority Leader, you are saying that the Second Deputy Speaker does not have the authority to move the motion, is that your point?
Mr. Bagbin 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes. I was expecting that he would take your permission as the Chairman of the Committee before going on to do it on your behalf. But he did it as the Chairman; he is not the Chairman of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Minority Leader, I
Dr. Francis Osafo-Mensah 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Proposed Formula for the Distribution of Subsidies to be paid to Licensed District Mutual Health
Insurance Schemes
Alhaji Malik A. Yakubu (on behalf of Chairman of the Committee) 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, That this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Proposed Formula for the Distribution of Subsidies to be paid to Licensed District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes.
Mr. Speaker, in moving the motion, I would like to present the Committee of the Whole's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The National Health Insurance Fund Allocation Formula (2005) was laid in the House on Tuesday, 24th May 2005 and referred to the Committee of the Whole in accordance with the Constitution and Standing Orders of the House.
To consider this document, the Committee met with hon. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Samuel Owusu-Agyei, Deputy Minister of Health and officials from the Ministry for Health and the National Health Insurance Council and reports as follows:
2.0 Reference Documents
(1) National Health Insurance Act 650

(2) Standing Orders of the House

(3) T h e 1 9 9 2 C o n s t i t u t i o n o f the Republic of Ghana.

3.0 Background

The National Health Insurance Act 650 establishes a National Health Insurance Fund. The sources of the Fund include:

The National Health Insurance Levy

Two and one-half per cent of each person's 17.5 per cent contribution to SSNIT Pension Fund

Funds from other sources such as money that may be allocated by Parliament, grants, donations, gifts, voluntary contributions and investments accruing from the Fund.

4.0 Object of the Fund

The object of the Fund is to provide finance to subsidize the cost of provision of health care services to members of District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes (DMHIS) licensed by the Council.

For the purpose of implementing the object, the monies from the Fund shall be expended as follows:

(a) to provide subsidy of such level as the Council shall determine to District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes (DMHISs);

(b) to reinsure District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (DMHIS) against random fluctuations of cost under conditions to be determined by the Council;

(c) to set aside some monies from the Fund to provide for the health care cost of indigents;

(d) to provide support to facilitate provision of or access to health services;

(e) to invest in any other facilitating programmes to promote access to health services as may be determined by the Minister in consultation with the Council.

4.1 General Asumptions

On the basis of available funds and projected monthly calculations from the defined revenue sources to the Fund, the Council has estimated a fund size of approximately ¢1.3 trillion (National Health Insurance Levy component is estimated at ¢1 trillion representing 77 per cent and the SSNIT Fund component is ¢300 billion representing 23 per cent).

The allocation is therefore done on the basis of a National Health Insurance Fund of ¢1.3 trillion.

4 . 2 D i s t r i c t M u t u a l H e a l t h Insurance Schemes (DMHIS)

The District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes (DMHISs) by law are to operate as Companies Limited by Guarantee and also to receive subsidy from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). They will incur expenditures in managing the scheme and in paying for the services rendered by health care providers to insured persons. The allocation to the DMHIS has been classified as follows:

Subsidies for the Exempted

The law proposes subsidies to DMHIS to cover health care for those exempted by
M 11:20 a.m.
Dr. Francis Osafo-Mensah (NPP -- Mpraeso) 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think the start of this National Health Insurance Scheme is something which has been agitating the minds of many people. What I would like to draw attention to is that this is a gigantic programme that we are undertaking and it involves a lot of programmes to be properly co-ordinated before we can really come on board. What I would say is that the House should support this motion for the subsidies to be distributed so that at least, we can start.
We are not going to have it perfect right from the beginning. As I have said, it is a complicated programme and a lot of things would have to come in after we have started, but we cannot waste all the time making sure that everything is perfect before we start. So I would urge my hon. Colleagues to support this Formula so that
we can start the programme.
Mrs. Grace Coleman (NPP -
Effiduase/Asokore): Mr. Speaker, I want to urge all my hon. Colleagues to support this Report and to immediately vote for the scheme to be adopted.
Mr. Speaker, we have been told that 40 per cent of the people in this country can be described as indigents, in other words, they are too poor to go to the hospital and be treated. What is happening is that any more delay in approving this Formula means that these people will still have to wait and have to find their own money to go to the hospitals.
I think we are all aware that this is bringing a lot of hardship to the people in this country. People under 18 years who cannot fend for themselves are also among the people we need to approve this formula to help in order to get the health- care they need. I think this House owes it to the whole country to adopt the report and immediately approve the Formula.
Mr. Mahama Ayariga (NDC - Bawku Central) 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, this formula, from all indications, deliberately denies eight million Ghanaians who are under the age of 18 access to the Fund.
Mr. Speaker, with particular reference to paragraph 4.6 (c), allocation is being made for two million under-17 year-old persons this year. Mr. Speaker, there is evidence to show, from the report, that we have about ten million under-18 year- olds in this country today, and we are budgeting for only two million persons. Is it the assumption that we are deliberately going to deny the other eight million access to this scheme? Mr. Speaker, if that is the case, then this is a deliberate case of discrimination which in my opinion is unfair.
Mr. Speaker, it is not the case that we do not have enough resources to make provision for the other eight million young persons under 18 years. This is
Mr. Samuel Owusu-Agyei 11:30 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I want to take on the issue that my hon. Colleague has just raised. The National Health Insurance Scheme is a gradual process and everybody is going to be covered. We are saying that at the initial stages, we are going to cover the two million, as you have stated, so it is not true that we are going to deny a larger proportion of those under 18 years access to health care.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu (NDC - Tamale
South): Mr. Speaker, I would like to associate myself with the motion on the floor of this House and to state that the National Health Insurance Fund and the consequence of its disbursement to Mutual Health Insurance Institutions is a major social intervention policy issue by Government and if properly

implemented can assure Ghanaians of access to quality medical care. But, Mr. Speaker, undoubtedly, the success of any health insurance scheme hinges on the availability and reliability of adequate and reliable statistical data.

Mr. Speaker, if you look through the Committee's Report, they seem to be relying more on projections. There is no basis, no statistical reference that they can rely on, whether they are defining indigents or whether they are defining those who qualify.

Mr. Speaker, with particular reference to page 7, the last paragraph about the age limit, under the parent law, my understanding is that only persons aged 70 and above may be qualified to benefit from health subsidy, if this is implemented. If you look at Ghana and the fact that our life expectancy rate is around 57 years, I do not think we would be doing our aged any good if we peg the age at 70 years. It is therefore important that we reduce the threshold of the age to 60 or 65 years.

Under the Constitution, especially if you work in the Public Service, you have a retirement age. The anticipation is that once you retire and you are no longer earning income, it behoves the Govern-ment to support you, since we do not even have functional and effective pension schemes to support the aged in this country.

With reference to page 6 and, Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote:

“The Committee was informed by the National Health Insurance Council that it has been able to mobilise over ¢700 billion.”

They have not stated the source of this
Mr. Samuel Owusu-Agyei 11:40 a.m.
I am aware that in the last one year, it has been reported in your Economic Dialogue Report that some HIPC money was made available for this purpose and we need to know better. Where is the source of this ¢700 billion?

Mr. Speaker, talking about exemptions and other related issues, in defining under- aged people -- below 18 years -- we are aware that pregnant women even under the original health system that we had were supposed to enjoy some exemption; it never happened. Many children were denied access to health care. Indeed, only a few weeks ago, a philanthropist had to dish out ¢150 million to bail out some children who were “imprisoned” for their inability to pay for medical care.

Mr. Speaker, if you go further, still on exemptions, we need to give an assurance that all those persons qualified under the “exempt” clause are given access not on the basis of pay-as-you-get, but on the basis that some funds would be made available to even the health institutions. For instance, Korle Bu or Tamale Regional Hospital or any other hospital must have a contingency fund so that they do not deny people the right to live simply on the basis that somebody has to work out the premium which is payable later.

To conclude, there is too much money going to bureaucracy. Mr. Speaker, with your indulgence, if you look at page 3, Administration and Logistics, ¢82 billion. If you add the contingency of ¢40 billion, you are talking about ¢122.8 billion. If you talk about Council Secretariat, ¢20 billion, it adds up to ¢142 billion, all going to secretarial jobs.

What Ghanaians need is not money for computers and vehicles; they need money to pay for their health care and they need that assurance. Too much money is going into the secretariat. And I think that we ought to be cautious in the disbursement of the Fund to ensure that money goes to the Fund for purposes of ensuring that people have access to quality health care; and that those qualified under exemptions would not be turned away and imprisoned like what those little children suffered a few days ago.

With these comments, Mr. Speaker, I associate myself with the motion.
Mr. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo (NDC - Wa Central) 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, definitely, the Health Insurance Scheme, as we have it now, is an answer to the huge gap between health cost and access. And we definitely would want to support it and to encourage the administrators to ensure that what is spelt out as health insurance for the indigents, for the majority of Ghanaians who do not have money for “cash and carry” to be able to access it.
Mr. Speaker, access, as has been indicated in the Report, under “Object of the Fund”, (d) -- is to provide support to facilitate provision or access to health service. I have a problem with it because access means delivery of information to
the doorsteps of the people who need it. No fund has been allocated to increase publicity, education, and information to ensure that people who need to have knowledge about it would have access to it.
It is a critical point I am making, the reason being that a lot of misinformation has gone on already. A lot of people try to use the Health Insurance Scheme as a political weapon and a lot of information getting to these people has it that it is a partisan issue. Definitely, it is not a partisan issue and information needs to reach people about exactly what it represents in their lives and how it can be accessed.
So, I want to support the motion but also ask that some funds be allocated to information delivery to the people who have to access the service.
Dr. A. A. Osei (NPP - Old Tafo) 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the comments made by my hon. Colleagues from the other side, particularly comments by my good Friend, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu.
First, I think it is important that we
watch carefully the amount of money going to administrative expenses. But I can assure my hon. Colleague that because this is just the beginning, it is only up to - I am sure that later on they will come back to Parliament to tell us the details.
As to the sources of the ¢700 billion, I am sure you are aware fully that since the law was passed, the 2.5 per cent levy as well as contributions from the SSNIT is what underlies this amount. Unfortunately, Parliament is the only body that can distribute that amount so it was kept in the Bank of Ghana in an account that all of us can see. So once Parliament passes the formula we will be in a position to open up the books.
Mr. Speaker, one of the most
Dr. A. A. Osei (NPP - Old Tafo) 11:40 a.m.


dishear ten ing th ings abou t th i s National Health Insurance is that we as parliamentarians, who are supposed to pass the Bill, have not even bothered to register; and I think it is shameful. I want to urge all my hon. Colleagues who have not registered that on leaving Parliament today, they should show leadership example by certainly going to register in their districts so that the scheme can start. People are looking up to us and so far we have not demonstrated the leadership that is needed.

I support the Committee's Report and I urge my hon. Colleagues to, as my good Friend from Wa Central said, completely de-politicize this particular social instrument so that all of us can be beneficiaries of this rather important health instrument.
Alhaji Muntaka M. Mubarak (NDC -- Asawase) 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if you look at page 5, under the financially distressed scheme, as specified by the law, the figure there, ¢81 billion is very huge. If you look at what we did by just providing for about 2 million people under 18 and going to board as much as about ¢81 billion for distressed -- I believe it will not be a very good start.
It will imply that we are giving some indication to these districts that when they hit below the belt, they are going to have as much as about ¢658.6 billion. I know others would argue that these monies do not mean that automatically they are going to be given to you.
By our nature as Ghanaians, the tendency is for people to share this kind of information that, “My brother, you have some money that you can fall on”. Therefore, the tendency for many districts to be applying will be high. And I would suggest that even though I support the totality of this motion, I believe that we should try to reduce that bulk money, so
that people do not think that there is some “Father Christmas” sitting somewhere whom, when you are inefficient, you could fall on.
Minister for Defence (Dr. K. Addo- Kufuor) 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, when we were on the other side, as the spokesman for Health, we went to Germany with many hon. Members who were in the House to study their Health Insurance Scheme. In Germany it has been operational for almost a century, yet there were many pitfalls in their scheme.
Mr. Speaker, it is most unlikely we are going to get a perfect scheme from the start. Therefore, my plea to hon. Members is that we should start with what we have and perfect the system as we go along.

The second point I would like to raise, Mr. Speaker, is that in view of the fact that we shall need accurate data for efficient and effective operation of the scheme, the allocation made for administration and logistics should not be tampered with: We should leave the allocation as it is.

The third point is that the provision made for 20 per cent of the people under 18 years should also be accepted. It is most unlikely the ten million under-18 citizens of this country will all of a sudden become sick. Therefore, we should start with the 160 billion and let the system run.

The fourth point I would like to make, Mr. Speaker, is that if you have life expectancy of 57 years, it is cruel to set the exemption of people over 70 as your mark. Therefore we should come down to either 60 or 65 as recommended by the Report.
rose
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 11:50 a.m.
No, I am supporting him so he should sit down. [Laughter.]
Mr. Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Does he intend to make a point of order?
Mr. Mahama Ayariga 11:50 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker 11:50 a.m.
All right, go on.
Mr. Ayariga 11:50 a.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, he is misleading the House when he says that it is unlikely that all the children or the under - 18 would fall ill. Registration is not about those who fall ill; it is about the entire population, that is the ten million people registering; those who fall ill can then use it, but registration itself is something that everybody must do.
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the point I am making is that these things are done at the district level, and I know that some are operational now and people under 18 years are getting the support they need. So what he is saying is theoretical; what I am suggesting is practical. [Hear! Hear!]
Mr. Speaker, and the fifth point I would like to make is that 11:50 a.m.
an hon. Member also raised the point of what happened at the Neonatal Unit at Korle Bu. I thought that was most unfortunate -- very young babies detained. But it is precisely because of that that we should allow the scheme to operate so that the Government would be in a position to look after very young babies who fall sick and whose parents are unable to pay.
Mr. Speaker, in view of all these points, my plea to hon. Members is that we have discussed this matter on the floor of the House long enough. It started when we were on the Minority side, some of us were very vociferous in our position on
the operation of the scheme. I think the time has now come for this scheme to be operational in this country so that we learn as we move along and all the mistakes that are detected corrected.
Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity.
Mr. Speaker 11:50 a.m.
All right, I give the floor to the hon. Minority Leader. After him, the Chairman will wind up.
Minority Leader (Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin) 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am happy my hon. Colleague, the Minister for Defence is clarifying the air that this matter started long ago, especially when my hon. Colleagues now in the Majority were in the Minority. It is true, and I can attest to the fact that he is one of those who seriously supported the establishment of a health insurance scheme and spoke many times on the floor about the establishment of the scheme. So it is not something that is being started today; it is something that has been with us for some time.
Mr. Speaker, it is also true that as a result of that some visits were organised for the Parliamentary Committee to Germany and some lessons were learnt. Mr. Speaker, together with the lessons learnt from the pilot schemes, we have been trying to let us not repeat the mistakes that others encountered when they initiated similar schemes; and that is why some of us have been very cautious and trying to make sure that some areas are clarified so that the monies we contribute actually go into the Health Insurance Scheme and not into private pockets - the issue of data, the issue of integrity systems to make sure that it is not like other funds.
Mr. John Mahama 11:50 a.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minority Leader just used a word that is unknown to us. He said, when he visited “Gee”. For the Hansard and the records, I would be happy if he explains what “Gee” means.
Mr. Bagbin 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I meant the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Mr. Speaker, I was really sad at what I saw there. Some of the staff there started questioning how an insurance scheme could be implemented with such facilities on the ground and also with the lack of staff, the requisite professionals to implement the scheme.
But Mr. Speaker, what I want to emphasize here is the impression that has been created, even on the floor of this House, that we are going to take up the totality of the cost of health service delivery, and that is why when hon. Grace Coleman was speaking, I was shaking my head. Because this is to subsidise; it is not to completely absorb the cost of health service delivery and we should make sure we pass the message across very well, lor else when we start the implementation, we are going to meet problems.
Mr. Speaker, it is true that we would learn along the way, but let us try as much as possible to avoid the pitfalls that we can see. And I think that, yes, we have to ground this health insurance scheme very well because the strength of a building is in the foundation. I agree that there is the need for us to put some resources at the level of the administration so that they can acquire some assets, some logistics to be able to take off well.
But Mr. Speaker, the issue of investment would have to be looked at. The amount that has been allocated for investment is rather huge. And the statement that has been put there that in case things crop up then we can rely on the investment,
I thought that was what the contingency was there to do but that is what is stated here again. And Mr. Speaker, my worry is the colossal amount -- ¢608.2 billion allocated to investment.
As a House, we have discussed this at the Committee of the Whole and we are being counselled to at least, allow this to pass at the very beginning. But it is important that in the implementation, some of these comments we are making be taken on board so that we do not just put this money there as investment even though they would be yielding some dividends depending on what investment we take. We should try to use them to support because I know it is not just 40 per cent of the people who are indigent. I think that we would be more than 40 per cent. Some of us are also indigent even though we are in Parliament.
So Mr. Speaker, let us try as much as possible to be rather pragmatic in the application and enforcement of the formula and not to stick to just the dogma or what has just been put here because it is just a preliminary formula and we will improve it as we go along. Mr. Speaker, it is with this that I support the motion.
Alhaji M. A. Yakubu noon
Mr. Speaker, let me thank hon. Members for their rather critical comments which I know would go to enrich subsequent developments of this formula.
Mr. Speaker, I think that, as the beginning of a very, very important project, we should expect some loopholes here and there. That notwithstanding I think those who have formulated this formula have been fairly wise in some of the safeguards that they have put in. The hon. Member for Bawku Central was worried about some under-18, a large number of them, possibly being left out. But that would be taken care of
by the various safeguards that have been provided.
The hon. Minority Leader just criticized the rather huge amount for investment, but at the Committee of the Whole we looked at this matter critically and we were told that it was not just passing a stone and that if you look at the page 6, paragraph 5 (3), it is said that,
“The Committee further observed that the Investment Fund is a balancing item in the formula until the expenditure pattern is determined over time; so that …”
And this is the important part,
“… so that if any programme relating to the National Health Insurance Scheme needs financial support, it would come from the Investment Fund.”
So it is not restricted to just investment; it is going to be there and it will go and cover areas that will come glaringly to the fore.
Now the age of 70, which has been lamented over - I know this was discussed at the Committee of the Whole meeting and it was pointed out by the Council that age 70 was what the Legislative Instrument provided. So it will mean that it is the duty of Parliament to look at it if the need arises.

Now there is a complaint about too much going into administrative cost. We have to realize that, at the beginning, if we have a weak administrative structure then the fear of the fund being mismanaged will come very strongly. So it is important, right from the beginning, to have structures that will be firmly grounded, that will be efficient to be used as vehicles to implement these things satisfactorily. So at the beginning, definitely, some administrative costs will be incurred, but as we go on, not everything will be repeated in subsequent years and the

administrative costs will definitely come down.

Now, the point that was raised by the hon. Member for Wa Central (Prof. A. W. Seini) reinforces this fact. He says that if information is not disseminated effectively you will have a lot of people who will not be able to maximize the benefits of this Fund; and that is why, again, you will have to put in more money at this stage into areas like information dissemination and the rest. They come under administrative costs.

Now I think the appeal by the hon. Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning (Dr. Akoto Osei) is really a strong point that hon. Members of this House should take on board. It will be a good idea if the Leadership of the House will organize so that hon. Members of Parliament will go and register - whether here or any other suitable place. If we go to register, it will be a very strong signal to the populace at large to go and register.

I think that with the points that have been raised, I will not be able to go into all the details but I think they will be captured and taken into consideration both at the implementation stage and when the next formula is brought before the House.

I would like to thank hon. Members for their very good and critical comments and call on the House to massively vote for the approval of this formula.

Question put and motion agreed to:

That this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Proposed Formula for the Distribution of Subsidies to be paid to Licensed District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes.
Mr. Speaker noon
Item 10 - Motions.
Report of the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation on Income Tax
Rates Regulations, 2005, L.I. 1810
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. Francis A. Agbotse) noon
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move That this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation on the Income Tax Rates Regulations, 2005, L.I. 1810.
1.0 Introduction
The Income Tax Rates Regulations, 2005, L.I. 1810 was laid in Parliament on Thursday, 17 th March 2005 and subsequently referred to the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation for consideration and report pursuant to article 11 (7) of the Constitution and Standing Order 166 (2) and (3) of the House.
2.0 Deliberations
In considering the referral the Committee held a total of two sittings and reports as follows:
3.0 Reference Documents
The Committee had recourse to the underlisted documents during its deliberations on the Instrument:
The 1992 Constitution
The Standing Orders of Parliament
Internal Revenue Act, 2000, Act 592
4.0 Background
The Income Tax Rates Regulations, 2005, L.I. 1810 was issued pursuant to Section 114 of the Internal Revenue
Act, 2000 (Act 592) which empowers the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to make Regulations among others for:
Exempting any person, class of persons or income from tax;
Amending a provision of the schedules to this Act or any monetary amount set out in the Act;
The better carrying into effect of the provisions of this Act.
The object of the Internal Revenue Act was to among others consolidate all the Laws relating to revenue collection including Income Tax and related purposes.
5.0 Object of Instrument
The object of the Instrument is to review upward the chargeable income threshold and the rate of taxes payable thereon with the view to reducing generally the tax burden on the taxpayer and in particular ensuring equity in the tax system.
6.0 Observations
6.1 The Committee observed with satisfaction that the L.I. 1810 seeks to raise the current minimum taxable income threshold from one million, five hundred thousand cedis (¢1,500,000.00) to one million, eight hundred thousand cedis (¢1,800,000.00) per annum with the ultimate aim of increasing tax relief to all eligible persons.
By this provision, only persons earning above one million, eight hundred thousand cedis (¢1,800,000.00) per annum are amenable to payment of income tax. On the other hand persons earning more than one million, eight hundred thousand cedis (¢1,800,000.00) per annum would be required to pay tax on the income in excess
of the non-taxable amount.
7.0 Recommendation and Conclusion
The Committee has examined closely the object and provisions of the Instrument and is of the considered view that they are in conformity with the Constitution, the parent Act and the procedural requirements specified by Standing Order 166 of Parliament.
Accordingly, the Committee recom- mends that this House allows the Income Tax Rates Regulations, 2005, L.I. 1810 to come into force in accordance with article 11(7) of the Constitution.
Respectfully submitted.
Mr. G. Kuntu-Blankson (NDC - Mfantsiman East) noon
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Report of the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation on the Internal Revenue (Amendment) Regulations,
2005, L.I. 1811
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. Francis A. Agbotse) noon
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, That this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation on the Internal Revenue (Amendment) Regulations,
2005, L.I. 1811.
Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I beg to present the Report of the Committee and I would plead with the Hansard Department to capture the Report in whole.
1.0 Introduction
The Internal Revenue (Amendment) Regulations, 2005 L.I. 1811 was laid in Parliament on Thursday, 17th March
2005 and subsequently referred to the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation for consideration and report pursuant to article 11 (7) of the Constitution and Standing Order 166 (2) and (3) of the House.
2.0 Deliberations
In considering the referral the Committee held a total of two sittings and reports as follows: 3.0 Reference Documents
The Committee had recourse to the underlisted documents during its deliberations on the Instrument:
The 1992 Constitution
The Standing Orders of Parliament
Internal Revenue Act, 2000, Act 592
4.0 Background
Section 114 of the Internal Revenue Act, 2000 (Act 592) provides that:
“114 (1) The Minister responsible for Finance may, by legislative instrument, make Regulations
a) for matters authorized to be made or prescribed under this Act;
b) exempting any person, class of persons or income from tax;
c) amending a provision of the Schedules to this Act or any monetary amount set out in this Act; and
d) for the better carrying into effect of the provisions of this Act.
(2) Without prejudice to the general effect of subsection (1), Regulations made under the subsection may
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. Francis A. Agbotse) noon


a) require a person or class of persons to deduct from an amount calculated at the prescribed rate and pay that amount to the Commissioner;

b) require a person or class of persons to pay tax to the Commissioner for any year of assessment in amounts calculated at the prescribed rate; and

c) provide for the time of payment, manner of assert ing, and recovery of the amounts referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) and any other matter incidental to the matter referred to in those paragraphs.”

5.0 Object of Instrument

The Instrument seeks to review taxes payable by commercial vehicle owners from yearly to quarterly bases with the view to reducing generally the bulk tax load on commercial vehicle owners.

6.0 Observations

6.1 The Committee observed with satisfaction that the L.I. 1811 seeks to change the annual tax payable by owners of commercial vehicles to quarterly tax.

The Committee, however, observed that officials of the Internal Revenue Service had commenced collection of the quarterly based taxes before the Instrument was laid in Parliament.

7.0 Recommendation and Conclusion

The Committee has examined closely the object and provisions of the Instrument and is of the considered view that they are in conformity with the Constitution, the parent Act and the procedural requirements

specified by Standing Order 166 of Parliament.

A c c o r d i n g l y, t h e C o m m i t t e e recommends that this House allows the Internal Revenue (Amendment) Regulations, 2005 L.I. 1811 to come into force in accordance with article 11 (7) of the 1992 Constitution.

Respectfully submitted. Mr. G. Kuntu-Blankson (NDC -

Mfantsiman East) Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion, but I have the following observations to make.

With regard to paragraph 6 (1), line 3, during the Committee's deliberations it was evident that the Internal Revenue Service had already started collecting the taxes, which is not in line with the regulations because the document must be laid before Parliament and approved before the collection of those monies.

What they have done contravenes that procedure and in view of that we have to caution them that in future, whenever such a situation occurs, they should not start collecting the monies before the approval of the L.I. With this, I second the motion.

Question put and motion agreed to.
Mr. Speaker noon
Item 12 -- Committee meetings.
Mr. Felix Owusu-Adjapong noon
Mr. Speaker, as you rightly said, there are very important committee meetings particularly on Education, and it is just right that hon. Members attend. There are few committee meetings which have already started but I thought that I should remind the House, the Committee of the Whole, to look at the District Assemblies Common Fund tomorrow.
Last week, we were all concerned that they had not been done but happily we
have the report now. So I entreat all hon. Members to be present since this is an important Fund.
Again, the House Committee will meet for the first time tomorrow at 9 o'clock in the morning to look at some preliminary processes and I would urge members of the Committee also to be present. With this I move that this House do now adjourn till tomorrow at 10 o'clock in the morning.
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin noon
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT noon