Debates of 14 Jun 2005

MR. SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:10 a.m.
MINISTRY OF WORKS 10:10 a.m.
AND HOUSING 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Johnfiah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister is saying that the Ministry will undertake investigations and surveys to assess the problems at Asemko, Miemia and Egyambra after which the necessary action would be taken. May I know how soon these surveys would be undertaken.
Mr. owusu-Agyemang 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I did say that that is subject to the availability of funds. The budgetary resources have never been adequate but fortunately, we have managed to use the resources of the HIPC account which has helped us tremendously in most of our undertakings, either in the provision of water to the people or in carrying out coastal protection measures on our shorelines. So we are yet to receive the disbursement from the committee and if these are made available and without any shadow of doubt, we would undertake those activities.
Mr. Johnfiah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I was not talking about the action to be taken on the protection; I was talking about the surveys that would be done before the commencement of the programme. I just want to know when the surveys would be done.
Mr. owusu-Agyemang 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I did understand his question perfectly. Surveys are not done gratis; they are also to be paid for even if staff time is used. And so if we do not have the resources then we cannot do it this year, because what we have in the budget line has no provision for this survey that we have referred to.
Mr. Alex N. Tettey-Enyo 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
in the hon. Minister's Answer, we see that a coastal erosion management plan has been put in place. Does this plan include the integrated sea defence project such as the one proposed for Ada coastline in the budget for this year?
Mr. owusu-Agyemang 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, indeed, that is so. The Ada shoreline is one of the most critical areas that we must
tackle as well as Ningo Prampram; these are scheduled to be undertaken also. So that is correct, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Minister for
Works and Housing, thank you very much for coming to answer hon. Members' Questions. You are discharged.
MINISTRY OF LANDS, FORESTRY 10:20 a.m.
AND MINES 10:20 a.m.
Dr. Kwame Ampofo 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
hon. Member is on his way to the House. He called me and asked if I could put the Question on his behalf; so I would seek your permission to do that on his behalf.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Member, go ahead.
Q. 29. Dr. K. Ampofo (on behalf
of Mr. Francis A. Agbotse) asked the Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines the Ministry's programme for the development of the Kalakpa Game Reserve in the Abutia Traditional Area of the Volta Region.
Majority Leader (Mr. Felix owusu- Adjapong) 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated to you, the hon. Minister is out of Accra; he is somewhere in the north and he has asked his deputy who is handling this particular schedule to answer the Question on his behalf. So I crave your indulgence to enable him answer the Question.
Deputy Minister for Lands, Forestry
and Mines (Mr. Andrews Adjei-Yeboah): Mr. Speaker, the Kalakpa Resource Reserve is located within the Abutia and Adaklu Traditional Areas in the Ho and the North Tongu District Assemblies of the Volta Region. The Reserve is probably the only representative of the last relic of guinea-savannah in south-eastern Ghana and therefore the only place in the
Volta Region where indigenous wildlife associated with the vegetation type can be found.
The Resource Reserve was finally created in 1975 by Legislative Instrument 1022 after a long chequered history of acquisition.
objectives of Kalakpa Resource Reserve
The objectives of the Reserve are:
To conserve the biodiversity of the area as the only relic where indigenous wildlife associated with the vegetation type can be found.
To create opportunities for eco- tourism taking into consideration the spectacular hills and associated vegetation and wildlife.
To facilitate the production of bush- meat through sustainable caring.
current Status of the Reserve
The Resource Reserve is managed by the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission.
Management and infrastructural development of the Reserve are through the annual budgets voted by the Government of Ghana. The Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission is a Public Sector Organization.
The Reserve has seen some modest developments since its creation. Projects undertaken so far include:
A fully functional office and residential accommodation for the officer-in-charge has been constructed at Abutia-Kloe since
1976;

Three (3) Scout Camps have been built at Agordeke, Dzakpo and Kpetsu:

A Ranger post is currently being completed at Zitoe camp. It has 12 unit Junior Staff Quarters, a duplex Rangers' quarters and 1,000 gallon capacity surface water tank;

A 5-km road was constructed from Abutia-Kloe to Zitoe in 1997 to link the Zitoe camp to the Reserve headquarters;

A dam has been constructed to provide dry season watering for wildlife.

The purpose of these infrastructural services is to safeguard the resources and its integrity.

Future Programmes

The ultimate goal of the Wildlife Division is to develop the potentials of the reserve into an eco-tourism site to generate revenue for the benefit of all stakeholders.

The future development programmes for the reserve could be attained subject to the elimination of some constraints.

constraints to Development

Two major constraints have affected the overall development of the Reserve. These are:

i. The presence of settlers/migrants in the Protected Areas (P.A.). There are 20 settlements with a population of 3,721 persons living in the Reserve at time of reservation and this might have doubled by now.

These residents cultivate large tracts of land every year, cut down live trees to burn charcoal, engage in intensive and extensive hunting and annual burning of the reserve. These residents are very hostile and confrontational with the staff of the Wildlife Division and there have been innumerable occasions that the staff has been assaulted and their lives threatened.

The sad aspect of this issue is that the original landowners who appreciated the value of the Reserve have left the Projected Areas, leaving behind the settlers/migrants.

The Volta Regional Co-ordina- ting Council, the Ho Municipal Assembly and various traditional leaders and elders have tried in vain to convince the settlers/ migrants to accept relocation outside the Protected Area.

ii. The second Hindrance, should the settlers consent to move out of the Protected Area, is the issue of payment of compen- sation to original landowners.

Compensations paid for land, buildings and crops in 1997 amounted to 1,972,058.57 out of an assessed value of 3,228,-

440.00.

The outstanding compensation of ¢1,256,381.43 will be negotiated and settled as soon as the settlers depart for develop-ment to commence.

conclusion and the Way Forward.

It is expected that the matter of re- settlement of the settlers/migrants would be resolved promptly and amicably with the help of the Traditional Leaders, the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council,
Ms Akua Sena Dansua 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have two supplementary questions. The first one is to know whether since 1976 the fully functional office and residential accommodation for the officer-in-charge has been rehabilitated. Secondly, I wish to know whether any alternative programme has been made for providing alternative means of livelihood to the people who are supposed to be relocated.
Mr. Adjei-Yeboah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, to the best of my knowledge, the Ministry through the annual budget, as it were, always makes provision in the budget for the maintenance of infrastructure occupied by officials in estates that are in the game reserves. My hon. Colleague and I know that government provisions for these things are at times suspect and they do not come. so it is possible that in the past, it had not been flowing as we expected.
As a programme, the Ministry has planned to co-operate, if the migrant farmers do co-operate, to give them alternative livelihood because it is done in some other reserves, and that is what we want to promote.
Last two weeks, we were at Chabobo where such activities are going on. I believe it is also possible there, if they do co-operate with the Wildlife Division of the Ministry.
Mrs. Juliana Azumah-Mensah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am also a beneficiary to
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Member for Ho East, you have asked your question so let him answer.
Mr. Adjei-Yeboah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my answer to the earlier question by hon. Dansua, the Government cannot, as it were, just move people out and then deny them their livelihood. There are definitely programmes there to give them alternative livelihood. But in most cases like I mentioned, when the co-operation from them is not forthcoming, then it becomes very difficult for the institutions that are in charge. They are finding it very difficult doing the programme. So as soon as there is an understanding, the Department stands to give alternative livelihood development to the inhabitants and the settlers in the protected area.
Mr. Joseph Z. Amenowode 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the Minister's Answer he said that they were having problems with resettling the people or making them leave the settlement area; and I wish to ask if it is not possible that the amount of compensation, which is three million, two hundred and twenty-eight thousand, four hundred and forty cedis for twenty settlements - land buildings, et cetera -- could be the reason why the people are not moving out -- including cost.
Mr. Adjei-Yeboah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I asked a similar question when we were
discussing the Answer to the Question and I was made to understand that the amount that is stated in there is the reflection of the value of that land at that time, and that the amount as stated was indexed on the dollar.
So even as at now, if agreement is made and we are prepared to accept the compensation, the amount stated here as one point something million, the rates that were paid through dollar-cedi ratio relationship would be adopted to reflect that fact. That land, as an asset, keeps appreciating with time and therefore would not lose out. On paper, the amount may look very small and ridiculous but you know it is indexed against the dollar.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (rtd.): May I ask the hon. Minister what special plans his Ministry has put in place to maximize the potential of the reserve as a major place where teak poles can be obtained for electricity and telephone, which would benefit the local inhabitants.
Mr. Adjei-Yeboah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Friend is trying to ask a question that to me is a little bit out of context. We are talking about game reserve and the major object there is to protect and develop wildlife resource. So in bringing in teak, we are going to disturb the eco- nature and the natural setting of the land that we have there. If he really listened to the Answer, we have, as an object, to preserve the vegetation that is there which to the Ministry is the last that we have in the country, and the natural nature of the area. If we introduce teak to the area, we will succeed in driving away wildlife that are in there. So, it is not part of the programme to introduce teak into the game reserve area. We will try to do alternative livelihood, like bee-keeping, grasscutter rearing, mushroom farming. So teak cultivation is not coming in there.
Mr. Adjei-Yeboah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I cannot give the answer offhand, but I am saying that at the time the compensation was paid the amount that is stated, if it had been paid in 1997 -- and at that time the cedi to the dollar was 10 cedis to a dollar - [Interruption.] The value of the land now is one million; divided by ten you get the dollar as it were.
Mr. Samuel Adu-Gyamfi 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to know from the hon. Minister to what extent people in authority and those who wield influence help in getting the people out of the game reserves.
Mr. Adjei-Yeboah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in handling issues relating to human beings, it has always been a very big challenge and we believe that the pronouncements of those in authority and people of influence, if they come in, will actually help us move forward the vision of the Ministry. So I would request that Members of Parliament who wield a lot of influence in the area could make pronouncements on the very objects of the Ministry to them, because ultimately those who stand to benefit from the creation of the reserve are the indigenous people, and the people in the area.
If we are able to promote tourism in the area, I believe that the indigenous people would benefit. Therefore, I would make an appeal to the Members of
Parliament (MPs) from the area who know the potential, who know the object of Government, especially when the thing was started so many years ago, to help the Government in persuading the people who are there.
We have been told that they are not the original owners of the land and that they are migrant and settler farmers who have moved in while the indigenous people who own the land have themselves moved out of the area. So I would make an appeal to MPs who are from the area to help the Ministry in convincing the people who are in there to move out amicably.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Deputy Minister, thank you very much for coming. You are hereby discharged.
STATEMENTS 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Yaw Effah 10:40 a.m.
None

Kintampo South): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity given me to make a Statement on the threatening of soil fertility by serious land degradation.

Mr. Speaker, the rate of land degradation in this country is so alarming that if realistic measures are not taken to contain the situation, it will bring untold hardship to the citizenry.

Ghana is faced with the threat of the most serious form of land degradation known technically as plinthite or iron pan. Mr. Speaker, iron pan is the accumulation of iron oxides in the sub-soil which reacts with the sun to harden the soil. This phenomenon is often neglected because it usually occurs unnoticed, rendering the soil completely infertile for crop production. Iron pan restricts the movement of air and water in the soil which tends to suffocate plants.
Prof. Al-Hassan Wayo Seini (NDc - Tamale central) 10:50 a.m.
I think it is a fact that land degradation has become a problem in this country for a very, very long time and it looks as if we have been talking about it for a very long time without doing much about it.

We all know some of these causes that he has mentioned, particularly that population growth has resulted in land fragmentation and because of that it has put a lot of pressure on the land. Fallows are now very short and for that reason shifting cultivation or land rotation has not been beneficial to the farmers.

Mr. Speaker, we also know that inappropriate farming systems have been employed by many of our farmers mainly through ignorance, because we know that the Soil Research Institute has done a lot of research on land capability studies so that farmers should be able to grow crops according to what the land can carry. Unfortunately, our agriculture still remains largely subsistent. So farmers try to grow every thing that they eat on land that may not be able to carry those enterprises.

Mr. Speaker, we also know that our use of chemical fertilizer is inappropriate. In most cases, we use fertilizers generally recommended for soils that fertilizers are not suitable for, because, if you misuse fertilizer, the end result is that your land would rather degrade instead of improve.

Mr. Speaker, we need, at this juncture, to think seriously about promoting conservation farming in this country because, in the first place, we do not even have the chemical factories to produce

the fertilizers so we have to import them. So we have to endeavour to promote conservation farming.

Also, we need to carry out land reforms so that we can consolidate land, so that we can introduce the permanent agriculture that the presenter of the paper is suggesting. In other words, we have to move away from small-scale agriculture or even subsistence agriculture into some sort of business agriculture whereby we can introduce sedentary agriculture rather than peasant farming and rotation or shifting agriculture.

Mr. Speaker, in this regard, it is important that we integrate livestock- crop production because that is how the English agricultural revolution started - integrating livestock-crop production to make sure that the crops and livestock can benefit from each other. In other words, you have your meat and you also have manure to fertilize the soil. Mr. Speaker, it is also known that even in modern times, people prefer the output of organic farming to inorganic farming. So in doing so, we shall be promoting the production of crops that are demanded worldwide.

Mr. Speaker, just as a footnote, as I mentioned earlier on, we tend to crop on lands that are not meant for certain crops. At the same time, when even the scientists have earmarked very fertile lands for particular purposes, we tend to deviate from using them for those purposes.

A typical example is the Weija Irrigation Dam. All that land below the dam was earmarked for farming purposes stretching all the way from the Cape Coast road to Tubakrom and beyond. It was meant to support peri-urban agriculture, to produce vegetables and for aquaculture that would feed the growing population of Accra. Yet when you go there now, that fertile land which is supposed to be irrigated has been consumed by housing. So, Mr. Speaker, it
Dr. Matthew K. Antwi (NPP - Atwima Kwanwoma) 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I stand to associate myself with the Statement made by the hon. Member.
Mr. Speaker, iron pan formation is well known. It is known to the Ministry, to the Soil Research Institute, as he said. But once it is formed, there is very little that one can do about it. It takes a very long time for the formation to complete. Once it is done, very little can be done about it. Now, I hear farmers who went to - mostly Central Region cocoa farmers - they planted their trees and after five, six years, you asked them and the cocoa plantation has died off. It is just because of the iron pan beneath the soil.
So my advice to would-be big-time farmers is that they should go to the Soil Research Institute. They have classified our soils; they know where we have the
iron pan and where we do not have it. So that if you want to go and plant tree-crop plantation, then you will not go and plant your tree on the iron pan; you will fail. For cereal, for instance, in the Western Region, we can plant the cereals and they will do well. But if you go in for tree crops, where we have the iron pan formation, we will fail.
So my advice to would-be farmers is to contact the Soil Research Institute anytime they want to go into tree cropping. They will tell them where to go and where not to go.
Alhaji A. B. Sorogho (NDc - Abokobi-Madina) 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker. I rise to associate myself with the Statement which my brother has just made.
Mr. Speaker, this Statement is something that we all have to take very seriously in view of the fact that every activity that man does is done on this earth, and for that matter anything that threatens the land which we all live on must be taken seriously.
Mr. Speaker, I think there are enough laws regarding the utilization of the land that we have, except that they are not being enforced the way they should be. The District Assemblies, the various agencies that have been put in place to make sure that lands are not degraded, to me, are not living up to their task. I think it is time that we all came together to see what could be done to make sure that our lands are protected.
Coming from what he said and looking at the history that he has given, that about half of our agricultural land is under threat, Mr. Speaker, I think that if we are not careful -- now we are buying maize at ¢750,000.00 per bag and even though people are interested in trying to farm to raise the acreage so that we can have plenty of maize on the market, we can be sure that in a lot of the areas that farming
is taking place, yields are getting very bad; these may be some of the reasons. It is not, therefore, surprising that this year prices of foodstuffs continue to rise.
Mr. Speaker, I think that the Government must also be serious and have a deliberate policy towards the agro-forestry sector where, I think, incentives must be given to agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals who are interested in going towards that area so that we can at least plant more trees and make sure that we protect our vegetative cover.
Mr. Speaker, I think sand-winning in the Greater Accra Region, we can say, constitutes a threat to the degradation of land, and coming from a constituency that is partly degraded as a result of sand-winning, I think that we also have to be very serious and make sure that we empower the District Assemblies so that they can police the various areas where sand-winning is taking place.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is the right time that the Statement has been made and I implore all my hon. Brothers and Sisters on both sides of the House to embrace the Statement and include it in whatever package that they have in their constituencies so that, together, we can protect our vegetative cover.
With these few comments, Mr. Speaker, I say once again, thank you. I am very happy that the Statement has been made at the right time.

Mr. Stephen Kunsu (NDc --

Kintampo North): Mr. Speaker, I rise to associate myself with the Statement made by the hon. Member for Kintampo South.

Mr. Speaker, Ghana's need for pleasure

depends principally on vegetation as more than 60 per cent of the people are farmers, and people whose activities destroy the vegetation on which they live undermine their own means of livelihood. If Ghana is able to utilize its arable land, the rate of poverty will be reduced and Ghana would be extricated from its present economic predicament.

Ghana is the envy of some advanced countries because of the availability of arable land. This rich natural endowment must not be allowed to go waste through barbaric methods of farming.

Mr. Speaker, Kumasi used to be the pride of Ghana in the 1960s for its abundance of trees; no wonder Queen Elizabeth II gave it the title, “The Garden City of West Africa”. Today, the vegetation that attracted Queen Elizabeth II has now been depleted by the effect of urbanization and poor planning.

In conclusion, may I add to the recommendations made by the hon. Member for Kintampo South, that prospective landlords are made to plant trees on their plots as one of the pre- conditions to the granting of building permits.

Examination Leakages in our Universities and other centres

of Learning
Mr. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo (NDc - Wa central) 11 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for this unique opportunity to make a Statement on examination leakages in our universities and other centres of learning. [Interruptions.]
Mr. Speaker 11 a.m.
Order! Order!
Mr. Pelpuo 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, recent outcry about allegations of examination leakages in our universities raises serious concerns
Mr. Pelpuo 11:10 a.m.
in the bud with a thorough investigation and by exposing the ills in our academic institutions and deal with them so as to maintain our image and reputation in the academic world. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Deputy Minister for Education and Sports (Mrs Angelina Baiden-Amissah): Mr. Speaker, in associating myself with the Statement made on examination leakages, I would like to contribute in a way and also respond to some of the concerns raised.
Mr. Speaker, teachers are supposed to
prepare students for examinations, going strictly by the syllabus and sometimes other areas that have to do with the syllabus, so that students are well prepared and they also become confident in the examination room so that they can write very well. But what do we see? Sometimes, students are not well prepared for examinations because when they are even taught in class they do not learn. Rather, they always go about their own activities; they do not even have the time to sit down and learn. So when it comes to writing examinations, they look for examination questions and prepared texts, and such texts are hidden on some obscure corners of their bodies.

Mr. Speaker, I am saying this because of the experience I have had with examination - at least, I have supervised ‘A' Level Examinations and Training College Examinations for some time. Mr. Speaker, sometimes, the girls hide these prepared texts under their breasts while the boys hide the prepared texts under what you know - [Laughter.] Mr. Speaker, they do this even before they enter the examination rooms. The supervisors and assistant supervisors search them before they enter the rooms. And knowing very well where they hide the text, sometimes
rose
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Member for Abokobi-Madina, do you have a point of order to raise?
Alhaji Sorogho 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes, I have a small point. I would want a clarification. Every human part has a name and if she said that the girls hide them under their breasts and then she went on to say that the boys hide them under “what you know”, I would want to find out what part of the body is “what you know”. This is because, seriously, I do not know that part of the body. So the hon. Member should let us know what part of the body so that we can be careful to know “what you know” which forms part of the body.
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Member for Abokobi-Madina, this is not a point of order. Hon. Member, continue with your contribution.
Mrs. Baiden-Amissah 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if I say, “what you know”, they know what I am talking about. [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Please go ahead, hon. Member.
Mrs. Baiden-Amissah 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, they hide it under their male organs. Mr. Speaker, that is what they want to hear, so I have told them.
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Order! Order!
rose
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Member for South
Dr. Ampofo 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes. Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member is misleading the House. This is because it is not possible to hide anything under that part.
An hon. Member: What part?
Dr. Ampofo 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am talking from experience.
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Deputy Minister, please, continue.
Mrs. Baiden-Amissah 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am speaking from experience because I am - [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Please, continue.
Mrs. Baiden-Amissah 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, another reason for examination leakages here and there is that some teachers do not prepare the students very well such that even when they enter the examination rooms, they enter with fear. And this is the reason why they keep asking questions here and there, trying to see if friends can even help them to the extent that some bright students collect the scripts of weak students and write for them. So when it comes to marking, you can identify the same handwriting on two papers. It is the same English, which can easily tell you that there has been collusion.
Mr. Speaker, another reason is that whatever education you give the students, they will make sure that they form a syndicate and then they buy examination questions so that they can prepare. And this one can even start from Basic Education Certification Examination (BECE), Secondary Schools, training colleges or the universities. Mr. Speaker, on the part of the universities, I shall leave it to the hon. Minister in charge of tertiary education. But I would like to dwell on
secondary school and training colleges.
In the training colleges we do not often hear examination leakages but I know that it is rampant in the secondary schools. Mr. Speaker, we have normally foreign students who do that. As I said, I would leave it to the hon. Minister in charge.
Mr. Speaker, when it happens this way and this is identified, the school board sets up a committee made up of representatives of the board, representatives of the parent/teacher association, the senior house master or mistress, the head of administration and the teacher concerned or the student concerned. All those people normally meet the committee set up. If it is realized that it is just one paper, then that paper is cancelled from the student's results slip.
If it has to do with three papers, the whole examination of the student concerned is cancelled. If it has to do with the whole school, then that paper is cancelled from the school's results. For example, if it is Geography, then it means Geography is cancelled from that school's results. This is a punitive measure to prevent students or schools from indulging in such examination practices. If it affects a teacher, then the teacher is punished by way of reducing his promotion. So these are some of the actions taken.
Mr. Speaker, in all instances, we in the Ministry of Education and Sports are advising teachers to teach the syllabus. Everything must be taught so that the other aspects must be brought in so that if the student goes to meet any question, he or she will be bold enough to digest it accordingly.
We are also telling them that the subject teachers or form tutor must help students to form study groups according to their
Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor (NDc - Lawra/Nandom) 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to associate myself with this rather important Statement that has been made but seems to be played down on the non-serious or lighter side of it.
Mr. Speaker, this issue of leakages particularly in our institutions of higher learning might indeed be a symptom of a bigger malaise that we are taking for granted in our society. The essence particularly of university education has basically been functional and one that is rooted in epistemology; functional in the sense that we want to see the relevance of that level of education to your society and epistemological at a level of the fact that the mere fact of acquiring knowledge in itself is a very essential development concern.
Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor (NDc - Lawra/Nandom) 11:20 a.m.
I have heard those courageous statements being made by policy-makers that we must position our educational system in such a way that the output from those institutions become relevant to the Ghanaian market. Of course, when you equate market outcomes with knowledge acquisition, you then substitute the fact of understanding in gaining knowledge with how you can get financial returns from education. So you substitute the processes of learning and acquiring knowledge to one of acquiring a marketable document.
Definitely, why would students not be tempted to go for the weaker option of actually acquiring a document irrespective of the processes that they get it, so that they position themselves in a market? So our educational policy and particularly tertiary education, must have a second look to maintain the balance between acquiring knowledge and also making that knowledge functional to the society.

Your knowledge cannot be functional

and relevant to any society if that knowledge is not well grounded. A philosopher once said that we feed the body everyday, and yet the human body is made up of the body and the mind but hardly do we consider the situation of feeding the mind and that a malnourished mind is worse than a malnourished body. And I think that our Education Ministers should begin to look at this situation.
Mr. Emmanuel K. Bandua (NDc - Biakoye) 11:20 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to associate myself with this Statement.
I think that of late, leakage of examination questions has become very rampant in our educational system and the question we ask ourselves is, why is it so? The problem is that, it is so because everybody wants to pass an examination, because without that paper, you cannot get any gainful employment anywhere. In order to forestall this problem, there are various things that must be put in place to ensure that people are confident enough to write their examinations. If people are not confident enough or they are not well prepared to write their examinations, then they try to find ways and means to cheat in order to pass the examination. So that is the crux of the matter.
Mr. Speaker, I think that it starts from admissions into the secondary schools and various institutions in our educational system. We have realised that many of the students who are admitted into these schools are not qualified; some of them are admitted because of their connections. That is why I am very glad that this time -- it looks like admission into senior secondary schools is going to be done through the computerised system.
If this computerised system is put in place and it is effective enough, I think that people cannot find their ways into the secondary schools when they are not properly qualified. If the person is qualified, he will be prepared to cope and also be prepared to write the examination at the end of the day.
Secondly, in order for people to be able to equip themselves properly to write their examinations, the educational
Mr. Samuel Asamoah-Boateng 11:20 a.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague is making very sweeping statements on allegations with no evidence to substantiate them. He is saying that some teachers even deal in examinations papers and sell them -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Order!
Mr. Asamoah-Boateng 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, even if it is some, I am afraid that on the floor of the House this is something that must be - [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon. Member for Biakoye, please continue.
Mr. Bandua 11:20 a.m.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In any case, these questions are not given out free; they are sold to earn money -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Please continue.
Mr. Bandua 11:20 a.m.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. What I am saying is that teachers and people in the educational institutions should be adequately paid in order that they would not be influenced, or they would not be tempted to sell examination questions for money because they are not adequately paid. That is why sometimes they are tempted to sell examination questions for money.
Mr. Kojo Armah 11:20 a.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague is creating the impression that examination leakages come mainly from teachers. That is not so; he is misleading the House. Examination questions pass through several hands -- the teachers who set the questions, the typists who type the questions, those who parcel the questions. Leakages can result from any of them. Therefore, to say that because teachers are not paid well that is why they sell the questions to make money is misleading the House and I hope he would correct that.
Mr. Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon. Member for Biakoye, please take that on board and then wind up.
Mr. Bandua 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, like I am saying, there is the need to put in place measures that would discourage people from cheating and such measures must be punishments that are so severe as to serve as a deterrent to those who may be tempted to cheat in examinations.
Minister of State for Tertiary Education (Ms. Elizabeth ohene) 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is a very good idea that hon. Members in this House should be concerned about the examination malpractices that are going on in many of our institutions of learning. But I think it would be a dangerous path to go on if we start suggesting that the Government should institute investigations and things into them.
I think it is important to protect the integrity of these institutions themselves and that we do not have the situation where the Government or other outside institutions are telling them how they should conduct the business of running universities, polytechnics or other institutions of higher learning. And so far, there is nothing that has happened that makes me think that the institutions are not coping with the problems that they are faced with.
Wherever the examination malprac- tices have occurred so far, the authorities have moved very swiftly, they have set up committees to investigate and those who have been seen to be responsible are being disciplined. I think that is what we should all encourage them to do, outside the fact that society as a whole ought to be able to condemn totally this kind of practice, particularly when it has been shown on occasions that parents have been involved in instigating these practices for their children.
So it is not always and I would be very unhappy to put the blame on teachers simply because they are poor or that they are not well paid and that is why they would involve themselves in examination malpractices. Indeed, I think it would be particularly nasty and unfair to teachers to suggest such a thing.
For the moment, I think it is a good idea that we are concerned that these things are happening and it is also a fact that Government is doing a lot to improve upon the conditions of service of teachers and the infrastructure in our institutions. That should help to create the right atmosphere. But as for examination malpractices, I think it is a good idea, Mr. Speaker, that we put things in their right perspectives.
This year, 2005, three (3) papers have been cancelled by two (2) examination boards in the United Kingdom because some of the examination papers fell out of a bus or were otherwise stolen. In 1867, the mathematics paper was cancelled at the University of Oxford. In 2005, it happened that three papers were cancelled in the U.K. In other words this is a long-term thing; it happens in most societies and it is important that we should not lose sight and place this out of all perspectives.
BILLS - FIRST READING 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker 11:30 a.m.
All right.
Minerals and Mining Bill
An ACT to revise and consolidate the
law relating to minerals and mining and to provide for connected purposes.
Presented by the Deputy Minister for
Lands, Forestry and Mines (on behalf of the Minister). Read the First time; referred to the Committee on Mines and Energy.
PAPERS 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Item 7, Motion.
Mr. John Tia 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
move, in accordance with Standing Order 130 (1), for the Bill to pass through a Second Consideration Stage. We have some amendments to make.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
BILLS - SEcoND coNSIDERATIoN STAGE
National Petroleum Authority Bill
Dr. K. Ampofo 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
move, an amendment to clause 5 (5). It had been amended by the addition of the words “for a just cause”. That is the President may, by a letter addressed to a member, revoke the appointment of that member for a just cause. But I think we should continue and add the following words - “and in consultation with the nominating institution”. This is because if you look at the Governing Body of the Authority, there are members who have actually been nominated by their institutions; and the President appoints them.
So in revoking such appointments, the
President has to do it in consultation with those institutions.
Mr. Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon. Member for South
Dayi, clause number, please.
Dr. Ampofo 11:30 a.m.
Clause 5, subclause (5).
Mr. A. o. Aidooh 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I support the amendment proposed. In fact, we have a similar provision in the PURC Act. The PURC Act has a similar provision so I think it is something that we must support.
Question put and amendment agreed
to.
Clause 5 as amended ordered to stand
part of the Bill.
Mr. Tia 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to
propose amendments to clauses 6, 53, 54 and 69. I will begin with clause 6 - [Interruption] - do not dictate to me how I should proceed - [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Please, address the Chair.
Mr. Tia 11:40 a.m.
I will begin with clause 6 -- Meetings of the Board.
Clause 6, subclause (3) deals with the formation of a quorum. In its present state, we have an ambiguity. The present state of the Bill reads:
“The quorum at a meeting of the Board is five members of the Board or a greater number determined by the Board in respect of an important matter.”
Mr. Speaker, I propose that we delete all the words after “members” in line 1, and insert “which shall include the chairperson or anybody designated to act as such”.

Mr. Speaker, a quorum should be - [Interruption] - Mr. Speaker, I hear that there is no question about it and so you can put the Question.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:40 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I have been in consultation with my hon. Colleague and I believe that this should be taken without debate because it is most reasonable.
Question put and Amendment agreed
to.
Clause 6 as amended ordered to stand
part of the Bill.
Mr. Tia 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, when I
caught your eye and you gave me the floor, I indicated that I had about four amendments; so they should allow me to finish.
Mr. Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Please, go ahead.
Mr. Tia 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, clause 53 -
Mr. Kojo Armah 11:40 a.m.
On a point of order.
Mr. Speaker, I agree with the amendment proposed by the Minority Chief Whip, but I also find it difficult to place that principle in the amended clause. The principle there is that if there is an issue, which is of some importance, the quorum can be varied. I wonder whether that is taken on board by the Minority Chief Whip's amendment.
Mr. Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon. Member, this
amendment has been voted on.
Mr. Armah 11:40 a.m.
Yes, I know it has been voted on but I thought that you could find a way of letting us find out whether that principle there is important or not important.
Mr. Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon. Member, let him
continue; this has been voted on; let him continue. Chief Whip, which are the other amendments?
Mr. Tia 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague on the other side is indicating that there are some amendments that will precede mine; so we would take them before we get to mine. [Interruption.] Should I go on with the clause 53? Clause 53 (1) (b) seeks to impose a fee or a charge, but they are placing the responsibilities on some authorities, which do not have the power to do so.
Mr. Speaker, I intend to insert the word “the” after “with” in line 1; and delete all the words after “and” in line 2, and insert “approved by Parliament”. The new rendition will read: “Any fee or charge determined by the Board in consultation with the Minister and approved by Parliament”. I have the written text here so maybe the Hansard Department can get it.
Mr. K. T. Hammond 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I oppose the proposed amendment. Mr. Speaker, to start with, indeed, for a very simple reason, what he proposes to do is already done by clause 53 (1) (e) - “any other moneys that are approved by Parliament”; so why is he giving Parliament additional responsibility in clause 53 (1) (b)? In any event, Mr. Speaker, the reason why the original clause 40 was deleted was because of the provision that we made in clause 53 (1) (b).
So if the decision is now made that we take that one too out of it, effectively, we leave the Board in a position where it is not able to provide for itself. It is clear that we do not want to burden the good people of Ghana any more with any taxes. Accordingly, it is provided for in the Bill that they should look for some fees and
Mr. owusu-Adjapong 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
we have removed clause 40 because we did not want this Act to start imposing charges. I believe the compromise I wanted to suggest to my two hon. Colleagues - the Deputy Minister and the Minority Chief Whip -- is that if we delete the word “charge” from it, then it will be a normal organisational fee so that instead of the amendment he is making, I wanted to suggest to him and then also to suggest to the Deputy Minister that remove the words “or charge” and let it remain “any fee determined by the Board in consultation with the Minister and the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning” because the presumption is that we did not want this Act to be involved in charges.
Therefore, even if he decided to do it that way, I want to suggest that we agree to it and make progress. But if it is fees, then to say that fees should be sent to Parliament, I think we may be asking for too much because there is the clause 53 (1) (e) which says that whenever they want to fix charges and the rest, they would come to Parliament so that when they are fixing fees, they can then do it on their own. That is the suggestion I wanted to make for the consideration of the two hon. Colleagues.
Mr. Speaker 11:40 a.m.
If you have not reached
any agreement, may we stand it down for further consideration whilst we go on?
Mr. Tia 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, let me make
my presentation before the consultation because hon. Members here should be able to get the import of the amendment so that when we come back and agree on
anything, they would understand it.
Mr. Speaker, I only know that by law the District Assemblies and whatnot, by resolution, fix fees and other things, but any other thing at the national level, fees or charges or levies, and so on have to come before Parliament for approval. The Ministry or a Board cannot sit down and by any resolution fix a fee and just impose it upon the people. That is why we said that clause 40 was an imposition of a tax, which was not in the interest of the people and Parliament was not ready to do it. That was why it was taken out. So Mr. Speaker, we are just doing it.
If you look at the present clause, it is giving the power of fixing the fees and charges to the Minister for Energy and the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning and then the Board; and they do not have such constitutional powers, Mr. Speaker. So we are not saying they should not fix them; they should fix them, but they should bring them to Parliament for approval.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
All right, Minority Chief
Whip, that is why I am suggesting that you should put your heads together.
Mr. A. o. Aidooh 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if
you look at page 30 - Regulations - “The Authority may by legislative instrument make regulations to -- clause 82 (l) - prescribe the fees, and charges to be paid under this Act”. So it is there already and so we do not have to add the words; they mean nothing.

So whether or not the words “to be approved by Parliament” are added, they mean nothing because the L.I. will come to Parliament by all means. And the fees and charges will be fixed by an L.I. So the words, whether they are added or not added, they mean nothing because by all means, the fees will come by an L.I. which

must need parliamentary approval.
Mr. Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon. Members, let us stand this thing down for further consideration as we continue. Hon. Chief Whip, if you have the last amendment, we may take it please.
Mr. John Tia 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment on clause 54 (3) and it is to delete “three” after “done” in line 1 of clause 54 (3) and insert “six”; and also delete the words “forward a copy” after “and” in line 2 and insert the words “submit the . . .” Lastly, in line 2 and 3, delete the words “the Minister” after “to” and insert “Parliament”.
Mr. Speaker, the new rendition will read as follows 11:50 a.m.
“The Auditor-General shall, not later than six months after the receipt of the accounts, audit the accounts and submit the audit report to Parliament.”
Mr. Speaker, this is in line with article 187 (5) of the Constitution. The Auditor- General is an independent fellow; he does not work up to any Minister. He submits his report to Parliament and this is in article 187. So my amendment is supposed to redress the situation where the Auditor-General will just get the report and submit it to the hon. Minister; and then what happens thereafter? Parliament must discuss it.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is a very non-contentious amendment. Again, I have had useful discussions with my Colleagues and I believe we should be commending same to Parliament.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr. John Tia 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, delete subclauses (3) and (4) of clause 69.
Mr. Speaker, it appears there was an oversight. We discussed during our meeting that subclauses (3) and (4) which deal with the “Board of Trustees” should go because the President cannot descend that low to appoint trustees of boards. We agreed it should be deleted.
Mr. K. T. Hammond 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I support the amendment. It was an oversight on our part the last time. We support it and the Question can be put.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 69 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
chairman of the committee (Mrs. Gifty E. Kusi): Mr. Speaker, there was an omission. The Committee agreed that a new clause 74 be added to replace clause 74, so that clause 74 replaces clause 75. Mr. Speaker, we have to look at clause 72 first before I go to clause 74.
Mr. Speaker, clause 72 (3) (b) should read as follows 11:50 a.m.
(3) “A cheque for payment out of the Fund shall be signed by
(a) the Chairperson, and
(b) either the Chief Executive Officer or the Fund Co- ordinator.”
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 72 as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 74 -- Submission of reports by oil marketing companies.
Mrs. Kusi 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, insert a new clause 74 with a subheading “Submission of Report by UPPF Management Committee”. Then clause 74 (1) should read as follows:
“The Fund Management Committee shall submit a quarterly report to the NPA Board.”
Clause 74 (2) should read as follows:
“The Board shall within 14 days after receipt of the report submit the report to the Minister for Energy.”
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 74 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 76 - Co-ordinator and functions.
Mrs. Kusi 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we now move on to clause 76 -
Mr. Speaker 11:50 a.m.
You are now dealing with clause 76?
Mrs. Kusi 11:50 a.m.
No, Mr. Speaker, there should have been an amendment which was overlooked.
Mr. Speaker 11:50 a.m.
So which clause are you dealing with, please?
Mrs. Kusi 11:50 a.m.
Clause 76 which now becomes clause 77 because of the insertion of the new clause 74.
Mr. Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon. Chairman, let us get it quite clear; the last amendment was on clause 74, was it not?
Mrs. Kusi 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there is a new clause 74, so the existing clause 74 becomes clause 75. And so I am looking at the existing clause 76 now which will become clause 77.
Mr. Speaker 11:50 a.m.
As for the numbering I suggest we leave it to the draftsperson, and then consider the new one you are proposing.
Mrs. Kusi 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 76, subclause (4), paragraph (a), line (2), delete “Board of Trustees” and insert “management committee”. That was not done in the Votes and Proceedings. And then clause 76, subclause (3), delete “Board of Trustees” and insert “management committee”.
Mr. owusu-Adjapong 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I remember that on Friday we agreed that wherever we have the wording “Board of Trustees”, there would be consequential amendment. Therefore, if the Chairman can spare us those changes and go on with substantive matters.
Mr. Speaker 11:50 a.m.
That is the case.
Mrs. Kusi 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I said that because all the clauses have been changed here, but this one was not done.
Mr. Speaker 11:50 a.m.
You go ahead.
Mrs. Kusi noon
Mr. Speaker, clause 79, subclauses (1) and (4); I am drawing the attention of the Table Office.
Mr. J. K. Avedzi noon
Mr. Speaker, I have
three amendments to move. Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 54, subclause (1), insert “proper” after “keep”. Therefore, subclause (1) will read:
“The Board shall keep proper books of account in accordance with section 54 (1) of the Financial Administration Act, 2003.”
Books of accounts that should be kept by corporations should be proper books of account.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Mr.
Speaker, whilst agreeing with my hon. Colleague, I think that what needs to be done is the relocation of “proper” in line 1 to where he is talking about. And that means it should cover not only books of accounts but also records. So proper books of accounts and records; that is what obtains there. I agree with him; he should just relocate the word.
Question put and amendment agreed
to.
Clause 54 as amended ordered to stand
part of the Bill.
Mr. J. K. Avedzi noon
Mr. Speaker, I
beg to move, that the whole of clause 57 should be moved to the position of clause 54. Mr. Speaker, this is after clause 53 which is headed, “Funds of the Authority”. What should follow is “Expenses of Authority” in accordance with international accounting standards.
Mr. Felix owusu-Adjapong noon
Mr.
Speaker, I think this is a format and if the accountants feel this is the way to do it, we can put the Question and move on.
Question put and amendment agreed
to.
Clause 57 as amended ordered to stand
part of the Bill.
Dr. Kwame Ampofo noon
Mr. Speaker,
I have three amendments to move. Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 14, subclause (3), paragraph (b), add a new

subclause which should read:

“(iii) other requirements that the Authority may establish”.

Mr. Speaker, I am doing this because we cannot link the Authority to the future when perhaps the Authority shall come out with other requirements. So the subclause (3)(b) will have financial viability; that is you are providing evidence of financial viability, adequate training and other requirements that the Authority may determine.

Question put and amendment agreed

to.

Clause 14 as amended ordered to stand

part of the Bill.
Dr. Ampofo noon
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
move, clause 15, subclause (3) which reads:
“A licence issued is valid for the period specified on it and may be renewed”
should have the following words added after “renewed”:
“upon satisfying all the conditions for renewal as specified in the licence.”
Mr. Speaker, I think that renewal also has conditions. The way it is here, it is just like renewal is automatic; so I think we ought to add those words. So the subclause will now read:
“(3) A licence issued is valid for the period specified on it and may be renewed upon satisfying all the conditions for renewal as specified in the licence.”
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Mr.
Speaker, the principle is supported even though I would have wished that it followed subclause (4) rather than subclause (3); but the principle, generally,
Mr. Speaker noon
Hon. Member for South
Dayi, what is your view on that?
Dr. Ampofo noon
Mr. Speaker, it is the
principle that matters; so if my hon. Senior Colleague says it should follow subclause 4, I do not have any problem with it, so long as it is captured.
Mr. Speaker noon
So you are amending
subclause (4), is that the case?
Dr. Ampofo noon
Mr. Speaker, I think the
parliamentary draftsperson will capture this particular rendition; it is the principle that matters.
Mr. owusu-Adjapong noon
Mr. Speaker,
I just want to say that you may put the Question and the draftsperson will do the rest.
Question put and amendment agreed
to.
Clause 15 as amended ordered to stand
part of the Bill.
Dr. Ampofo noon
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
move, clause 20, add “section 51 (3) of the Energy Commission Act”. We are picking certain sections from the Energy Commission Act and giving them to the Authority. In my opinion, section 51(3) of the Energy Commission Act is relevant here and that should be added; and Mr. Speaker I will read that particular section from the Energy Commission Act. Section 51(3) states:
“The register shall be opened for public inspection during such hours and subject to the payment of such fees as may be determined by the Commission . . .”
but here we will say “by the Authority”. So that ought to be added to clause 20 under
“Register”, which is also relating to the Authority. So it will be a new subclause, in which case we will have clause 20, subclause (4); and subclause (4) will read:
“The register shall be opened for public inspection during such hours and subject to the payment of such fees as may be determined by the Board.”
Mr. K. T. Hammond 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I was just about to say that we support it and the Question can be put.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 20 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr. John Tia 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the matter of my amendment to clause 52 which was stood down, I want to indicate that I have understood the principle behind it and I withdraw the amendment accordingly.
Mr. Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Alright. Thank you.
Mr. owusu-Adjapong 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
we seem to have exhausted the Second Consideration Stage and so if we can look at the Third Reading.
Mr. Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon. Members, we now come to the end of the Second Consideration Stage.
BILLS - THIRD READING 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Item 8 - Committee Sittings. Any indication from the Majority Leader?
Mr. F. K. owusu-Adjapong 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I move that this House do now adjourn till tomorrow at 10 o'clock in the forenoon. I congratulate hon. Members for a good work done.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJoURNMENT
The House was accordingly adjourned at 12.14 p.m. till 15th June 2005 at 10
a.m.