Debates of 26 May 2006

MR. SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:15 a.m.
CORRECTION OF VOTES 10:15 a.m.
AND PROCEEDINGS AND 10:15 a.m.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Order! Order! Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report, if they are available. Page 1 ….5 -- [Pause.] Hon. Majority Chief Whip.
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:15 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, the hon. Member for Navrongo Central (Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda) was here with us on Wednesday and even moved the motion for the Second Reading of the “Persons with Disability Bill”.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Well,
the Clerk's Office will take note of it. Pages 6, 7, 8 . . . 15. Subject to the correction that was made and in the absence of any further corrections, this is accepted as the minutes for the sixth Sitting of the Second Meeting of Parliament.
The Official Report. I do not know if
hon. Members have copies of the Official Report. If no, that can be corrected later.
The hon. Chairman of the Business
Committee, shall we take the Business Statement?
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:15 a.m.
Chairman of the Business Committee (Mr. F. K. Owusu-Adjapong) 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Business Committee met on Wednesday, 24th May 2006 and determined Business of the House for the Third Week ending Friday, 2nd June 2006.
Mr. Speaker, the Committee presents its Report to this honourable House as follows 10:15 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Question(s)
Mr. Speaker, the Committee has scheduled five (5) Ministers to respond to various Questions asked of them.
The details are as follows:
No. of Question(s)
i. Minister for Food and Agriculture 6
ii. Minister for Tourism and Diaspora Relations 4
iii. Minister for Public Sector Reforms 2
iv. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning 5
v. Minister for Transporation 3
Total Number of Questions 20
Urgent Question(s)
Mr. Speaker, six (6) Urgent Questions have also been programmed for the week. The Questioners and the respective
Ministers are as follows 10:15 a.m.
Members to ask Questions Ministers to respond to Questions
i. Mr. Labik, Joseph Yaani (Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo) -- Minister for Food and Agriculture
ii. Mr. Henry Ford Kamel (Buem) -- Minister for Finance and Economic Planning
iii. Mr. Albert Abongo (Bongo) -- Minister for Transportation
iv. Mr. Mohammed Jagri (Zabzugu Tatale) -- Minister for Transportation
v. Alhaji Collins Dauda -- Minister for Transportation (Asutifi South)
vi. Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu -- Minister for Transportation (Suame)
Ministers are as follows 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in all, twenty-six (26) Questions have been scheduled to be answered.
Statements
Mr. Speaker may allow Statements duly admitted to be made on the floor of the House.
Bills, Papers and Reports
Mr. Speaker, Bills, Papers and Reports may be presented to the House for consideration. Mr. Speaker, those which have already been presented to the House may be taken through their various stages of passage.
Motions and Resolutions
Mr. Speaker, Motions may be debated and the appropriate Resolutions taken where required. Conclusion
Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

Urgent Question --
Mr. Labik, Joseph Yaani (Bunk- purugu-Yunyoo) 10:15 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Food and Agriculture what plans his Ministry has to introduce guaranteed prices for food crops to stop the exploitation of the Ghanaian farmer by middlemen in the sale of their produce.
Questions --
Minister for Food and Agriculture -- 456, 457, 458, 459, 460 and 461
Statements
Laying of Papers --
(a) Report of the Committee o n E d u c a t i o n o n t h e Polytechnics Bill, 2005.
(b) Report of the Finance Com- mittee on the Buyer Credit Facility between the Republic of Ghana and the Fortis Bank (Nederland) N.V. for an amount of E5,199,017.00 for the Odaw Drainage Improvement Works Extension (LOT 3).
(c) Report of the Finance Com- mittee on the Loan Agreement between the Republic of Ghana and the OPEC Fund for International Development for an amount of US$8.5 million for the Phase II of the Rural Health Services Project.
(d) Report of the Finance Com- mittee on the Internal Revenue (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill,
2006.
(e) Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Statements of Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments of the Bank of Ghana for two half-years of
2002.
Second Reading of Bills --
Laws of Ghana (Revised Edition) Bill.
Committee Sittings

Questions --

Minister for Tourism and Diaspora Relations -- 397, 398, 399 and 551 Minister for Public Sector Reforms 529 and 531

Statements

Laying of Papers --

(a) Report of the Joint Committee on Finance and Works and Housing on the Loan Agreement between the Republic of Ghana and KBC Bank of Belgium and the Government of Belgium for an amount of E38,739,482.00 for the Koforidua Water Supply Rehabilitation and Expansion Project.

(b) Report of the Finance Com mittee on the Request for Tax Exemption amounting to E7,983,892.00 on equipment and materials to be imported or purchased locally and a waiver of corporate tax for the contractors and income tax for the expatriate staff for the execution of the Tamale Water Treatment Plant Rehabilitation and Expansion works as statetd in the contract Document signed between Ghana Water Company Ltd. and Messrs BIWATER BV.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Persons With Disability Bill.

Committee Sittings.

Urgent Question --
Mr. Henry Ford Kamel (Buem) 10:15 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning why the Akaa Cocoa Station project has been abandoned.
Questions --
Minister for Finance and Economic Planning -- 231, 467, 468, 504 and 529
Statements
(a) Second Reading of Bills --
(i) Internal Revenue Bill, 2006
(ii) Polytechnics Bill, 2006
(b) Adoption of the Report of the Joint Committee on Finance and Works and Housing on the Loan Agreement between the Republic of Ghana and KBC Bank of Belgium and the Government of Belgium for an amount of E38,739,482.00 for the Koforidua Water Supply Rehabilitation and Expansion Project.

(c) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Buyer Credit Facil i ty between the Republic of Ghana and Fortis Bank (Nederland) N.V. for an amount of E5,199,017.00 for the Odaw Drainage Improvement Works Extension (LOT 3).

(d) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Loan Agreement between the Republic of Ghana and the OPEC Fund for International Development for an amount of US$8.5 million for the Phase II of the Rural Health Services Project.

(e) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for Tax Exemption amounting to E7,983,892.00 on Equipment and Materials to be imported or purchased locally and a waiver of corporate tax for the contractors and income tax for the expatriate staff for the execution of the Tamale Water Treatment Plant

Rehabilitation and Expansion Works as stated in the Contract Document signed between Ghana Water Company Ltd. and Messrs

BIWATER BV.

Committee Sittings.

Urgent Questions --

(a) Mr. Albert Abongo (Bongo): To ask the Minis te r fo r Transportation why progress on the Bolgatanga-Bongo road has come to a halt and when is it scheduled to be completed.

(b) Mr. Mohammed Jagri (Zab- zugu Tatale): To ask the Minister for Transportation what circumstances led to the attack on the staff of the Regional office of the Department of Feeder Roads on 20th December 2005 in the Northern Region.

(c) Alhaji Collins Dauda (Asutifi South): To ask the Minister for Transportation when the Goaso-Tepa Junction road will be asphalted as promised by H.E. the President at Hwidiem in the Asutifi South constituency in 2001.

(d) Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (Suame): To ask the Minister for Transporation if he is aware that the proposed extension of the dual carriageway from Maakro to Afrancho on the Kumasi-Offinso road is now terminating at Kronum instead of Afrancho, and if so what the Ministry is doing to revert to the original programme.

Questions --
Mr. Henry Ford Kamel (Buem) 10:15 a.m.
Minister for Road Transport -- 317, 318 and 319.
Statements
Motions --
Adoption of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Statements of Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments of the Bank of Ghana for two half-years of 2002.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Laws of Ghana (Revised Edition) (Amendment) Bill, 2005.

Committee Sittings.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Hon. Members, that is the Business Statement; it is for the consideration of the House.
Alhaji M. M. Mubarak 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
when we go through the Business Statement for next week, we can all see that conspicuously missing is “Committee of the Whole”. We are now entering the Third Week of this Meeting and we will only be fair to ourselves to meet and also take into consideration some of the very relevant issues that are affecting us as Members. So I would be very happy if the Business Committee could find a way of getting us meet, in this Third Week, to look at issues concerning us, as Members.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
The
way you put it, hon. Member, it looks as if you were given a firm promise that in the Business Statement of today you would have that item. Nevertheless, the Chairman of the Business Committee may want to give you some assurance.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:25 a.m.
First, I am wondering whether it is a Committee of
Mr. Francis A. Agbotse 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to find out the correct designation of the Transport Ministry, because it is here as “Road Transport” and “Ministry of Transportation”. Which is the correct one?
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think this is not Question time. If he files the appropriate Question, we will provide an answer.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
The hon. Minister is going to answer Questions shortly. If you are clever enough, you can slot in something there.
Mr. Agbotse 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is in the Business Statement. The confusion is in the Business Statement, that is what I want clarification on.
Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the point being made by the hon. Member for Ho West (Mr. Agbotse) is that in the Memorandum attached to the Business Statement, they referred to “Minister for Transportation”, page 1; and when you go to page 4, he is being referred to as “Minister for Road Transport”. We want to know the proper designation. He is the link between this House and the Executive so he should tell us the proper designation.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Hon. Majority Leader, there seems to be some inconsistency in the nomenclature of the Ministry. If you have the answer -- Otherwise, when the Minister comes he might explain it.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:25 a.m.
Well, Mr. Speaker, you would notice that on page 1, we have called him “Minister for
Transportation”, which is the proper designation. But I would want to believe that the Clerk's Office possibly might have looked at the your letter, and did not want to offend the questioner. If the Question had been couched “to as to ask the Ministry of Road Transportation . . .” -- Possibly, he copied that one and I think that we should give credit to the Clerk's Office for not trying to adulterate the way he asked his Question.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Very well.
Mr. A. K. Agbesi 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in view of the changing nature of names of Ministries, and particularly what we have seen this morning, will the Majority Leader be kind enough to list all the names of the Ministries we have as of today, so that we know what to say in asking Questions and in referring to the Ministries. What are the Ministries that we have, as at now, particularly with the changing names that continue to come every day?
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, first, we live in a dynamic world and therefore my Colleague, the hon. Member of Parliament for Ashaiman should not be too surprised that in this day and age, things keep on changing. And that should not be too much of a problem for him. As regards when it will be officially known, I am in contact with my Colleague Minister responsible for that and I believe not long from now, an Executive Instrument (E.I.) will be issued which will make it easier for hon. Members to know all these things.
Mr. Agbesi 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I know that the Ministers have a prefect, in the person of a Senior Minister. But I am asking this question because as at now, the name of the Senior Minister is conspicuously missing. That is the reason why I would like the Majority Leader to produce the list -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon. Member, you are out of order. Subject

to the comments made, the Business Statement is accepted.

Now, Question Time -- The hon. Minister for Road Transport. That is what the Question says so when you come, you can give them the right terminology of your Ministry.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:35 a.m.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION 10:35 a.m.
Alhaji Sumani Abukari 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure the question is directed to the present Minister because the Majority Leader just told us that it is the Ministry of Transportation. On the other hand, my Colleague is saying Minister for Road Transport. I do not know which Minister he is directing his Question to.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon. Member, you will see a Minister ably answering the Questions. Yes, Majority Leader.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:35 a.m.
I explained that there will be an E.I., but I said that the Clerk's Office has done the right thing by just repeating the very way he phrased the Question. The Question indicated, “to ask the Minister for Road Transport”, and that is what is repeated. Therefore, I do not see why he should be making this fuss. From what the Chief Whip is in fact advising me, changes would occur. For instance, his own constituency, come next elections, is going to change. Why is he now worried about these matters?
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon. Majority Leader, do not exhaust your energy; there is a Minister who will give capable answer to the Question. Hon. Minister, please go ahead.
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thought the best thing was that until an E.I. was issued, the Ministry should be “Ministry of Road Transport”. That is the best thing. The reference to a non-existent Ministry like Transportation should not be part of our documentation. The proper Ministry is called “Ministry of Road Transport”. If there is any change, they should issue the E.I., and from then on, we can capture it in our documents.
Again, Mr. Speaker, as for the world being dynamic, yes, it is not only the names of constituencies that are going to change; my hon. Colleague will soon be changed. [Laughter.] So far, he is the third Majority Leader; we can all be changed, that is true, so the world is dynamic.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon. Members, you are making too many diversions.
Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think what is important in this case is the Minister responsible for Roads. I think that is the bottom line, really. [Interruptions.] Mr. Speaker, the business of this House must go on. The questioner wanted just to know from the Executive, the Minister who is responsible for roads, when the roads are going to be constructed. I do not believe that it is important as to the designation of what it is.
Whatever it takes, this is the Minister who is in charge of the construction and the maintenance of roads and the question relates to that. When our Ministry was called “Ministry of Works and Housing” and did not have “Water”, as part of the

designation, we still answered questions on water. So I do not see why we should be spending time on this issue. I believe and I think that it is a ploy by my good Friend, hon. Salia and my hon. Brother, the Minority Leader, to create confusion in the House. Let us move on with the Business of the House.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
We do not want to spend time on non-substantive matters. Can the Minister please answer the Question?
Dr. Richard W. Anane 10:35 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Ako- sombo-Gyakiti-Oframase-Anyaase road is 29 kilometres long and is located in the Asuogyaman District -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Order! There is too much noise, and it may not enable the questioner to hear the Answer properly; so please let us have some quiet.
Dr. Anane 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the road is engineered and is in fair condition. The upgrading of the road is being tackled in lots. A total of 12 kilometres had been awarded for surfacing since 2003. Mr. Speaker, this has been divided into lots -- Lot One (A), Lot One (B) and Lot Two.
Mr. Speaker, Lot One (A) begins from kilometre 0 to 4 and was awarded in August 2003 to Messrs D'pong at a contract price of ¢1.610 billion. The contract was terminated in January 2006 due to non-performance of the contractor.
Works executed prior to termination were the construction of six culverts and the filling of approaches. Payments made for the works done prior to the termination was ¢617.659 million.
Mr. Speaker, the project has been re- packaged and would be reawarded by September this year. Mr. Speaker, Lot One (B) which starts from kilometre 4 to kilometre 8 was awarded in September
2003 to Messrs Wilhelm Contract Ltd. at a contract sum of ¢1.857 billion. The project was under Government of Ghana (GOG) funding and was completed in October 2004. Works executed included four kilometres of bituminous surfacing and construction of 400 metres of kerbs.
Mr. Speaker, Lot Two. This contract which starts from kilometre 8 to 12 was awarded in March 2006 to Messrs Wilhelm Contract Ltd. at a cost of ¢4.350 billion. The contract, which was signed in April this year, is to be funded under GOG. The project, which is yet to commence, will take 12 months to complete.

Future Programme

The remaining 17 kilometres will be programmed for upgrading after the completion of the lots one and two respectively.

Meanwhile routine/recurrent main- tenance works will continue to be carried out on the remaining section.

(ii) Apegusu-Mpakadan (8 km)

(iii) Akrade-Senchi (6 km)

The Apegusu-Mpakadan (8 km) and Akrade-Senchi (6 km) are all located in the Asuogyaman District. The roads are engineered and are in good condition.

The roads have been programmed for routine/recurrent maintenance this year under GOG funding.

Since it is the policy of Government to tar feeder roads in the country, DFR will carry out designed studies on these roads to enable them to be prioritized for surfacing.

Mr. Speaker, the Akosombo-Totebu

feeder road is engineered. It is 6.6 km long and is located also in the Asuogyaman District. The road is in fair condition.

The road was awarded in September 2003 for spot improvement to Messrs Alt Construction Ltd. at a contract sum of ¢970.11 million. The project which was terminated in September 2005 due to non performance has been repackaged and reawarded in April this year at a contract sum of ¢496 million to Messrs Usarp Construction Ltd.

The contract for the project which is yet to be signed will take six months to complete. The project is funded by International Development Agency (IDA).
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, just a supplementary question. I want to know what action is taken against a contractor who fails to perform a road contract awarded him. What is the action taken against him?
Dr. Anane 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we have to terminate contracts if contractors do not perform to our expectation. Mr. Speaker, depending on the gravity associated with the non-performance of the contractor, this contractor may even be blacklisted. As far as I am aware and as far as the Regional Administrations concerned are aware or have communicated to me, there was no action per se taken against the contractors. However, since my attention has been drawn to this I will find out why no action per se was taken against them.
Alhaji M. M. Mubarak 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if you look at the Answer given, especially in “slot 1(a)”, the hon. Minister indicated that as at the time of termination an amount of ¢617.659 million had been paid to the contractor. If you calculate you will see that it is about 40 per cent of the total money involved. I want to ask the hon. Minister ,what is the percentage
Dr. Anane 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, payments are done according to certification raised. Mr. Speaker, I would want to believe that about 40 per cent of the work would have been done as at the time of termination, and that is how come we have paid that much amount of money to the contractor.
Construction of Some Feeder Roads in the Asunafo South District
Q. 311. Mr. Eric Opoku asked the Minister for Transportation when the following feeder roads in the Asunafo South District would be constructed:
(i) Kukuom-Tadieso
(ii) Kwapong-Abetenewom
(iii) Kwapong-Abodom.
Dr. Anane 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Kukuom- Tadieso (2.5 km) and Kwapong- Abetenewom (4.5 km) links are un- engineered and I want to put emphasise on the word “links”. The two links are all located in the Asunafo District. The links which are in poor condition are currently not part of the Department of Feeder Road's (DFR's) classified road network.
Future Programme
Since the Kukuom-Tadieso and Kwapong-Abetenewom links fall within the prioritized list of the District Assembly, the DFR will carry out engineering and survey studies on the two links in June this year. The studies will be carried out this year to enable critical water crossing points and weak sections to be identified.
Based on the outcome of the studies
the road will be programmed for spot improvement under GOG funding subsequently.
Mr. Speaker, with respect to the Kwapong-Abodom feeder road, it is 2 km long. It is partially engineered and is located in the Asunafo District. The road is in fair condition.
Current Programme
The Kwapong-Abodom feeder road was awarded on contract in January 2006 under the DFR's routine/recurrent maintenance programme. The project which will cost ¢121 million is to be executed by Messrs Earth Worthy Limited. The project which is being funded under GOG commenced in April this year and is expected to be completed in September this year. The project is about 20 per cent completed.
Future Programme
After the completion of the ongoing contract, the road will be programmed for spot improvement to install all critical culverts under GOG funding.
Mr. Opoku 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the hon. Minister what actually constitutes the 20 per cent work done on the road? Is it the awarding of the contract? I asked this because nothing, and I repeat “nothing”, not even a signboard to give the indication of the contract has even planted there. Nothing has been done on the road, so what constitutes the 20 per cent work said to have been done on the road?
Dr. Anane 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the information provided by our officers on the ground has determined that 20 per cent of the project has been completed and I would want to believe that it has to do with the blading and maybe the grading whilst the required installation of culverts and others would continue. So my hon. Colleague may be
Mr. Opoku 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would want to know from the hon. Minister how much money has been paid to the contractor who, according to him, commenced work in April this year.
Dr. Anane 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we can only pay when certificates are raised. As far as I am aware, no certification has been raised so far and therefore no money has been paid to the contractor. But I would want to believe that when certificates are raised we will pay.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Hon. Member, your final supplementary question.
Mr. Opoku 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that whoever -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Do you want to ask a question?
Mr. Opoku 10:55 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, I want to ask a question.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Then put the question.
Mr. Opoku 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my question, is what is the source of this particular information? This is because whoever gave this information to the hon. Minister has caused him to misinform this august House and the whole public, because nothing at all has been done on that particular road. Why is it that the hon. Minister is standing in the midst of all hon. Members of this House to lie to us that

work is being done on the road?
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Hon. Member, I think in soliciting answers from hon. Ministers there is -[Interruption] -- Order! Order! The hon. Minister has clearly informed you that he worked on reports from his technical staff and he has explained that certain preliminary works which may not be visible may have constituted what is regarded as the twenty per cent. If you have further information as an hon. Member of this House, you can furnish the hon. Minister with that to enable him follow up. But if you come to the conclusion that he is lying to the House and all that, that is not acceptable. We go to the next Question.
Dr. Anane 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I only want to assure my hon. Colleague and this House that the only truth is what I have presented. Mr. Speaker, I would want to believe that my hon. Colleague is uninitiated when it comes to the issue of road construction and therefore he may be forgiven for making such statements.
Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would want to find out from the hon. Minister whether there is a monitoring department at his Ministry.
Dr. Anane 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to the Monitoring and Evaluation Units of all the Agencies under the Ministry, the Ministry itself has also a Monitoring and Evaluation Unit. In addition, there is a special Ministerial Monitoring Team which goes round on the ground to ascertain even the certification of works done so that this country may not be shortchanged.
Mr. Michael Nyaunu 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would want to inquire from the hon. Minister -- In view of the question our hon. Colleague put up and the answers that the hon. Minister has put forward, may I know whether the hon. Minister would like to go and inspect or investigate the situation properly again?
Dr. Anane 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my answer to the unfortunate comments emanating from the hon. Colleague, whom I deem not to be initiated, was that he could be forgiven because he is un-initiated and he does not understand what the construction industry is all about. However, it has always been my duty and I will always make sure that we go round this country and I believe that at the appropriate time I will be there.
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:55 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, the hon. Minister answered the Question and an hon. Colleague also relates to the same Question which was asked and asked that in view of that expression of doubts raised by my hon. Colleague and the argument that he put forth, would the hon. Minister undertake to do another matter; and the hon. Minister has answered. But Mr. Speaker, I believe that we all are learning, both hold- over Members of Parliament and new Members of Parliament and I believe hon. Colleagues would be better advised to use appropriate language in this House.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Order! Order!
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:55 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, so it is an appeal to the House through you that such language would not be acceptable - [Interruption.] They
are offensive expressions to say that the hon. Minister is lying based upon one's own idea of something else. Mr. Speaker, it is not acceptable. And even though the Question is gone, I am just passing this advice to all of us and we should all better educate ourselves.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
T h e
hon. Minister exhibited a high level of tolerance and good heartedness. And I could see from the countenance of the questioner that he absorbed the sentiments that the hon. Minister expressed. He has taken it also in and I can see him nodding his head and I think that should be all.
Abonyere and Dayi Bridges (Restoration)
Q. 312. Mr. Eric Opoku asked the Minister for Road Transport when the Abonyere and Dayi bridges in the Asunafo South District will be restored to facilitate transportation of foodstuffs to the market centres.
Dr. Anane 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, The Dayi River is located on the Oponkrom- Atekyem feeder road in the Asnafo South District. The river is currently spanned with a wooden bridge and is in weak condition.
Mr. Speaker, this particular crossing and the other one have never been given any attention over the past years.
Mr. Speaker, feasibility and engineering studies have been completed and the bridge has been programmed for award in June this year under the Ghana/Dutch Steel Bridge Programme.
The Abonyere River is located also on the Sankore-Bonwire feeder road in the Asunafo South District. This river is currently also spanned with a wooden bridge which has never been attended to
and which is in poor condition.
Mr. Speaker, feasibility and engineering design studies have been completed on the project. This project will be awarded next year under Ghana/Dutch Steel Bridge Programme.
Mr. Speaker, whilst awaiting for the award of the contract next year, all the weak timbers will be replaced with new ones.
Mr. Opoku 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would want to know from the hon. Minister why feasibility and engineering design studies on the Abonyere bridge have been completed but the contract cannot be awarded this year.
Dr. Anane 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague would accept the fact that these corridors have been in existence for years and that no attention have been paid to them. My hon. Colleague would also accept the fact that we cannot do all projects at the same time. And therefore, Mr. Speaker, in our Ghana/Dutch Steel and Bridges Programme, we have phased the development in stages. The first stage has gone and the second stage is taking on this year. The next stage will come on next year and that is why I have given this information.
Mr. Speaker, it only tells you that over the years we have taken note of the needs of our corridors and have gone through the studies so that we can install the required crossings for these corridors.
Mr. Opoku 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister
talked about replacing weak timber members with new ones. I would want to know when this would be done to facilitate transportation of food crops to market centres.
Dr. Anane 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have every confidence that within the next four months many of these projects would be ongoing and therefore I expect that it should be one of the areas that would be tackled. Within the next four months I expect that this should be started.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Next Question, 313.
Mr. John Gyetuah 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, hon. George Kofi Arthur is indisposed. He has therefore asked me to crave your indulgence to ask the Question on his behalf.
Tarring of Roads in the Amenfi Central Constituency
Q. 313. Mr. John Gyetuah (on behalf of Mr. George Kofi Arthur) asked the Minister for Road Transport when the following roads will be tarred:
(i) Asankragwa-Agona-Hum- jibre
( i i ) A s a n k r a g w a - Kwakuboah- Sefwi Bekwai
(iii) Ankwaso-Juabo-Wuratrem.
Dr. Anane 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Asankragwa-Kwabeng-Agona-Pewodie- Humjibre road is gravel-surfaced and consists of portions that fall under the purview of both Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) and Department of Feeder Roads
Mr. Gyetuah 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would want to find out from the hon. Minister the time-frame for the completion of reshaping the gravel surface of Asankragwa-Agona- Humjibre road.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Completion? [Interruption] - Page 8 on the Order Paper.
Dr. Anane 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if my hon. Colleague would help me, is it Asankragwa-Agona-Humjibre? Is that the one he is referring to and does he want to know when -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
The time limit set for it.
Dr. Anane 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my Answer indicated that the tarring of the roads will be considered under the Transport Sector Development Programme which is currently under preparation. Mr. Speaker, we have for the past five years, from 2001 to 2006, been executing the Road Sector Development Programme. We are moving from the Road Sector Development Programme to another programme and that is the Transport Sector Development Programme which will be starting late
2007.
We are going through a lot of studies to make sure that we capture as many of the required corridors as necessary to be handled under the Transport Sector Development Programme and therefore I would not be able to give a specific date but I can assure my hon. Colleague that this project would be part of the Transport Sector Development Programme.
Mr. Gyetuah 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, according to the hon. Minister, the delay in paving the Ankwaso-Juabeso-Wuratrem road is attributed to lack of chippings. I would want to find out from the hon. Minister what alternative measures his Ministry is putting in place to accelerate the rate of road development.
Dr. Anane 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, first, we have to tackle the issue of the shortage of chippings. Mr. Speaker, the past two years have taken a lot of our time in trying to ensure that this issue is resolved to the benefit of the construction industry, not only for the road sector but also for the building sector. Mr. Speaker, we have therefore encouraged some entrepreneurs into the quarry industry so that their activities would help to improve the supply which has been overwhelmed by the demand because of the amount of road works that are currently being done.
Mr. Speaker, in spite of that we have also had to explore other avenues as alternatives to the chippings and Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity and honour to present to this House the issue of the OTTA Seal which is another method of also surfacing our roads. Mr. Speaker, as I speak now, my Chief Director is in Norway exploring how we can expedite action on the introduction of the Otta Seal approach to the surfacing of roads in the country.
rose
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
I thought you had exhausted your supplementary so let another hon. Member speak.
Mr. Haruna Iddrissu 11:15 a.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, I would want to draw your attention to Order 48 of our Standing Orders and to state that it does not appear that this House has a quorum to continue the conduct of business and in that respect I accordingly crave the indulgence of Mr.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the issue raised by my hon. Colleague is true that there are not many people in the House. But Mr. Speaker, because today is a Friday, we have programmed that the committees that are required to meet do retreat and commence their meetings. I am aware that the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation has moved to Adu Lodge; they are meeting as I speak.
Mr. Speaker, there are other committees, Works and Housing, Judiciary Committee, Committee on Education which have been programmed to meet. Mr. Speaker, I do know that some of them have retreated and they have commenced their respective meetings.
In any event, Mr. Speaker, we have not even commenced Public Business so with your indulgence and with the indulgence of the rest of us, excepting my hon. Colleague who spoke, may I urge that we allow the Questions to be asked and the hon. Minister to answer the Questions.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
I have taken note of the point that has been raised and I would urge the Whips, to whilst business goes on, whip up those who may be hanging around to come in for us to
transact business. Please, hon. Member, your last supplementary.
Mr. Gyetuah 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, according to the hon. Minister, the Ghana Highway Authority would cede Kwabeng-Agona -Pewodie road to the Department of Feeder Roads as from year 2007. I want to find out from the hon. Minister the reasons assigned to such ceding.
Dr. Anane 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we have set up a committee to reclassify the roads based on their usage and based on their services. The expert's advice that I received was that based on their estimation this portion of the road should be ceded by the Ghana Highway Authority to the Department of Feeder Roads and I think that that advice has been well taken.
Mr. Gyetuah 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the
Minister's Answer on the Asankragwa- Agona-Humjibre road he stated that the works were awarded to Messrs Nana Baidoo & Sons at a contract price of ¢1.335 billion for a two-year period; work started in May 2005; work completed is 35 per cent. Two-year period -- the second year is about to end and work is only 35 per cent complete. What steps are being taken to get the contractor to do the work on schedule?
Dr. Anane 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the works
were awarded for a two-year period. It is true that, looking at the amount or quantum executed at the present, the contractor may be behind schedule. But Mr. Speaker, it is for reshaping and gravel surfacing; the corridor is noted for rains and therefore some of these areas, during the raining period, cannot be tackled. I am sure that is one of the reasons the contractor may have slowed down but it is our intention to make sure it is completed on schedule.
Mr. Speaker, I am sure my hon.
Mr. Gyetuah 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have
stayed in the area for nine years. In fact, the rains disturb but the area is such that immediately it rains, within thirty minutes to one hour the place is dried up. So I do not tend to take that point well because contractors have worked in the raining period and they have been able to do their work well. So from May, 2005 to 2006 -- If the hon. Minister will rather elaborate on his answer.
Dr. Anane 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have taken
note of my hon. Colleague's submission and would be advised accordingly by that.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Yes,
final supplementary?
Mr. S. M. E. K. Ackah 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I would want to find out from the hon. Minister whether he is aware that this corridor he is talking about normally has very torrential rains during the rainy season. These rains are being alluded to as part of the reasons why works on that road are delayed so what prevents the Ministry from awarding the contract during the dry season so that contractors can execute work on the job instead of using rainfall as an excuse?
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon.
Minister, maybe you will want to react. But hon. Member, the contracts have been given for a two-year period. Obviously that whole period cannot be the rainy season so maybe you want to zero in on the contractor doing his work at the appropriate time.
Mr. Ackah 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if you look
at the time, the contract was awarded, it is in May. Normally between May, June and July, these are the times we have the rainy season in Ghana. I am saying this because I have the same problem on my road. These contractors are given these jobs just around the rainy season and therefore for mobilization they tend to use the rainfall as an excuse. So I am asking what the hon. Minister can do to avert that problem so that these roads can be used.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon.
Member, your attention was being drawn by the Chair to the fact that the contract was given for a two-year period - 2005- 2006 -- and that work started in May, but he is not saying that the contract was awarded in May. So I was saying that maybe you would want to draw attention to the fact that contractors should be urged to start their work at a time when the rains are not a nuisance.
Mr. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo 11:25 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I just want to ask a general question, specific to the behaviour of our contractors and the response of the Ministry in respect of the contracts for the roads that he awards and their attitude to it.
I have also been to Asankragwa and I travelled on some of these roads. They are supposed to be awarded and still they are in such a bad state that even after the contractors have done their work, one cannot ply the roads the following year. So I just want to find out from the hon. Minister what he is doing to curb this kind of practice by contractors who do shoddy work and still get away with it.
Dr. Anane 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am
not very certain about the judgmental approach my hon. Colleague is going through. Mr. Speaker, some works are awarded with specifications and one is expected to execute them according to the specifications. Therefore, I think my hon. Colleague would have done us well or
Dr. Anane 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would
want us to note that Zabzugu and Tatale are two very important townships in the north-eastern part of the Northern Region of the country. Mr. Speaker, I would also want us to note especially the township of Tatale which is a border town and which has not seen any measure of improvement by way of corridors over the years.
Mr. Speaker, the surfacing of the
Zabzugu town roads is being tackled in two lots. The first lot totalling 1.55 km was awarded in December 2004 at a total sum of ¢2.733 billion under the Government of Ghana funding. The lot involves the construction of concrete U- drains and back filling only.
The project, Mr. Speaker, is being
executed by Messrs Uniquesco Limited and is about 89 per cent completed.
Work done so far by the contractor is the construction of 3.5 km of concrete U- drains and payment to date is ¢2.05 billion.
The outstanding works are the back
filling of the concrete U-drains and the project is expected to be completed in June this year.
Mr. Speaker, the second lot will involve
the filling of depressed sections and the laying of sub-base materials for the entire 1.55 km stretch. Estimates on the Lot II have been prepared and this lot is among the projects to be advertised in September this year.
Mr. Speaker, the Tatale town roads
surfacing is being also tackled in two lots. The Lot I totalling 3.0 km was awarded in October, 2004 at a contract sum of ¢5.047 billion also to be funded by the Government of Ghana. The lot involved the construction, again, of concrete U- drains and back filling only.
The project was executed by Messrs A
& N Ghanem Limited and was completed in February this year. Works done under the contract were the construction of 2.07 km of concrete U- drains and back filling to the concrete U- drains. Payment to date for works executed is ¢4.732 billion.
Mr. Speaker, the second lot will involve
the filling of depressed sections and laying of sub-base material for the entire 3 km stretch of township roads. Estimates on the lot two have been prepared and it is among the projects to be advertised in September this year.
Mr. Speaker, after the completion
of Lots I and II the roads would be programmed for tarring.
Mr. Jagri 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what accounts for the failure of the Ministry to complete its payment since the work done was completed in February this year. Why has the Ministry not been able to complete payment since February?
Dr. Anane 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have had the occasion to mention that we can only pay when certificates are raised, when a certificate has not been presented we cannot pay. Therefore until the contractor presents certified papers to assure us that the works have been completed as expected we cannot pay.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Yes,
hon. Member, go ahead with your supplementary question.
Mr. Jagri 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon.
Minister has stated that the project is expected to be completed in June this year. Will the Ministry consider sanctioning the contractor if by June this year the work is not completed?
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Can
you make your question much clearer?
Mr. Jagri 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, he has
indicated that the outstanding works are the back filling of the concrete U-drains, and that the project is expected to be completed by June this year. My supplementary question is, will the Ministry sanction the contractor if by June this year the work is not completed?
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon.
Member, you are prejudging the issue. You may react if you wish but --
Dr. Anane 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think this
question is anticipatory. The contract is expected to be completed in June this
year. So, we have to wait. Meanwhile, the contractor has been there to perform to a point, so we have to wait to see what happens.
Mr. Lee Ocran 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, first
of all, note is taken of the efforts of the Ministry to tar town roads. But I would like to know from the hon. Minister what efforts the Ministry is making so that surface of town roads tarred just immediately do not develop potholes after a single rainfall.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Which one?
Mr. Ocran 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the question is that town roads that are tarred do not develop potholes immediately after a single rainfall.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon.
Mr. Ocran 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is not a
generalisation. Tatale town roads have been tarred and most town roads being tarred are developing potholes.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
In this
country?
Mr. Ocran 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
I think
that that is a sweeping observation. You may have to get concrete cases and present a formal Question. That will be dealt with.
Mr. Ocran 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if you
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon.
Member, provide notice and he will answer you.
Mr. Abuga Pele 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the hon. Minister what steps he will take to ensure that after the completion of Lots One and Two, in the case of Tatale/Zabzugu, the roads will not develop potholes and will be tarred immediately. This is because we have seen instances in some places.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon.
Member, that is a very clever way of going round this thing. I think we will go to Question No. 315; hon. Mohammed Jagri again.
Repair of Bridge Linking Sangbaa and Sabonjida in the Kworli Area in
the Zabzugu/Tatale Constituency
Q. 315. Mr. Mohammed Jagri asked the Minister for Road Transport what efforts are being made to repair the bridge linking Sangbaa and Sabonjida in the Kworli area in the Zabzugu/Tatale constituency.
Dr. Anane 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the bridge
linking Sangbaa and Sabonjida is located in the Zabzugu district. The bridge which is an existing triple 3m by 3m box culvert is weak and needs replacement.
Current Programme
The hydrological and hydraulic design for a new box culvert to replace the existing one is being carried out. This is expected to be completed in June this year.
The bridge is among the projects to be advertised in September this year for execution.
Rehabilitation and Tarring of Roads
in the Akan Constituency
Q. 316. Mr. John Kwadwo Gyapong asked the Minister for Road Transport when the rehabilitation and subsequent tarring of the following roads in the Akan constituency will commence:
\
The 7 km Kadjebi-Dzindzinso gap of uncompleted gravel section has been re- packaged for execution this year under 100 per cent GOG funding. This project was advertised in the 27th April, 2006 edition of the Ghanaian Times.
The next 33 km covering Pepesu-Dodo and Tamale-Nkwanta are programmed to be constructed under the Transport Sector Development Programme.
The Ahamansu Junction-Ampeyo- Dapaa Junction stretch is 18 km and is located in the Kadjebi district.
The road is engineered and is in good condition. The road was awarded for spot improvement in October 2002 at a contract sum of ¢802.913 million under GOG funding.
The project which was executed by Messrs Megazillion Ltd was completed in October 2004. The works that were carried out on the project were: construction of six culverts and gravelling of 7 km.
Future Programme
The Ahamansu Junction-Ampeyo- Dapaa Junction road has been programmed for routine/recurrent maintenance this year.
Since it is the policy of the Government to tar feeder roads in the country, DFR will carry out studies as is going on countrywide on Ahamansu Junction-
Mr. Gyapong 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I know from the hon. Minister why his Ministry decided to create a missing link between Kadjebi and Dzindzinso and to go ahead to do part of the Phase II of the project.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon. Minister, did you hear the hon. Member very well?
Dr. Anane 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it has to do with contract administration. This project had been awarded as I mentioned earlier to Messrs A. Kassardjian Ltd. between 1992 and 1993, and as at 2001, only some percentages had been done. Studies had also been done after the expected completion of the contract awarded to Messrs A. Kassardjian Ltd. And therefore because the studies which were done did not capture what had been awarded to the company, the awarding of the contract based on the sourced funding could not permit the 7 km to be taken on stream and that is why we have had to take it on stream separately. Therefore there is nothing wrong so far as contract administration is concerned.
Mr. Gyapong 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the
Answer of the hon. Minister, he said the 7 km Kadjebi-Dzindzinso gap of uncompleted gravel section has been repackaged for execution this year under 100 per cent GOG funding. May I know what will be the scope of work in this particular project. What will be the scope of work in that project he is talking about? This is because the Answer talks of “uncompleted gravel section”. Does it include tarring of the road?
Dr. Anane 11:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon.
Colleague is aware that that corridor is being tarred and it is expected that at the end of it all, we will get to Kulungugu. Therefore, we cannot leave a section untarred; that section is going to be tarred. My hon. Colleague will also be the first to admit that we are even worried about what has been done previously by Messrs Kassardjian, because it started failing and so we have had to even be thinking about what was done in addition to what was left; but it will all be tarred.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
That
will be all for Question Time. We have exceeded Question Time by far so we would take this for now. We have come to Statements; and hon. Member for Sissala East (Mr. Moses Dani Baah), you may make your Statement.
Just a moment; I think the Minister,
we have kept him for nearly one and half hours. Hon. Minister, even though we did not discharge you, you discharged yourself. Although it was the end of Question Time, you indulged us well beyond Question Time and we thank you for coming to answer Questions in the House. You are discharged.
Hon. Member, for Sissala East, you
may make your Statement.
STATEMENTS 11:45 a.m.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
I will take just a few comments - two from either side, being conscious of what today is.
Mr. Mahama Ayariga (NDC - Bawku
Central): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I can see my lobbying yesterday worked - [Laughter.] Well, that is on a very light note.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to identify with the
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.
On
a point of order. Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague began by saying that his lobbying on you worked. Mr. Speaker, I do know that he uttered these words in the lighter vein, except that the Hansard will not capture the lighter vein in which it was uttered, and somebody reading the Hansard later may think that people are called here after they have lobbied the Speakership. Mr. Speaker, I want the records to be set straight that when people get up and they attract your attention you call them, they do not have to lobby you.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Very
well, I think that is a pertinent observation. I took what he said on the lighter side because yesterday we were not here. So there could have been no lobbying here. Hon. Member for Bawku Central, make your comments.
Mr. Ayariga 11:55 a.m.
Thank you very much,
Mr. Speaker. I was saying that the cases of robbery that we have report of, these days, have tended to involve the use of sophisticated weapons. Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that there are some reports that clearly indicate the possibility that people who are not nationals of this country might be involved in the cases of robbery that we have had. But we on our part must also not deny the fact that many of our own youth are involved in these robbery cases. So it is important for us to rather look at the causes and begin to find ways and means of dealing with those causes and not just focus on the symptoms of the problem.
There is no doubt, Mr. Speaker, that the increasing spate of unemployment and dislocation of many of the youth of this
country are increasingly providing a fertile ground for the recruitment of potential criminals. And so we need to be up and doing in terms of creating opportunities for the youth so that their energies could be channelled into very useful and productive efforts instead of becoming fertile grounds for recruitment into the armed robbery menace.
Mr. Speaker, another factor that we have to look at, in our attempt to deal with the issue of armed robbery, is the proliferation of light weapons. Recently, the reports we are getting indicate that light weapons are becoming very common in this country and therefore easily accessible to those who engage in armed robbery, which has made our society very, very dangerous.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that very soon we would as a country be faced with the debate whether or not we should make access to weapons possible to everybody, for purposes of personal protection. This debate has not gotten here yet but I know in other jurisdictions it is a very heated debate - the right to own a gun.
Considering the type of weapons that armed robbers are wielding these days, it might make some sense to loosen the process of allowing people to also wield weapons in order to protect themselves, assuming that our police are not equipped and are not given the requisite resources to be able to provide the level of protection that we need as a country. But the proliferation of light weapons is a contributory factor; and we need to look at that in order to deal with the issue of armed robbery.
Another issue, Mr. Speaker, has been the level of drug abuse. We know how much drugs are coming into this country. A few days ago, we saw the bust and the quantity of suspected cocaine that was being imported into this country. That
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
I hope
you are winding up.
Mr. Ayariga 11:55 a.m.
I am about to land,
Mr. Speaker. I identify with the recom- mendations that he has proposed, that we should strengthen the Police Service. Recently, we voted some amount of money for community policing. We had some objections - some of us thought that these resources should rather go to the traditional police institution so that they can equip themselves and carry out their traditional role of policing.
When we have not dealt adequately with these major issues of policing, we are embarking on other issues which are less important compared to these threats that we are confronted with. So if there are resources for policing, we should channel them to the Police Establishment so that they can be more equipped to deal with the issues of policing in our society.
On that note, Mr. Speaker, I support the Statement made by the hon. Member.
Minister for Women and Children's Affairs (Hajia Alima Mahama) 12:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Statement by my hon. Colleague, and interestingly, Mr. Speaker, I am learning today that it is because of the recent spate of unemployment that there is armed robbery. I am surprised that it is now that we are talking about increase in armed robbery cases being due to unemployment. Unemployment has been with us for several decades but robbery has been with us only for some decades now. So I am surprised that we are noting that unemployment is the cause.
Mr. Speaker, I am saddened today by
this Statement, especially in relation to that poor lady who was only travelling from Tumu to Bolgatanga and found herself being raped and sexually abused under the circumstances. This depravity should be condemned by all of us. And it brings to the fore our views and our perceptions of what kind of punishment should be meted out to women generally. Maybe, I am not talking here just about Ghana but even about other countries within the West African subregion. It would appear that the armed robbers thought the best punishment for this woman would be to rape her; this is a serious social issue that we should look at.
When we raise issues about gender and the social context, these are some of the things that we would want people to consider and to know that the kind of thinking and the kind of bullying tactics, and the kind of superiority that we may want to exert where women are concerned, does not in the long term help us in our socio-economic development. I feel sorry for the lady and I hope that the hon.
Member for the area has contacted her and has been able to support and console her; and I hope that he would do that on behalf of this House.
Mr. Speaker, in these days of HIV/ AIDS, I am even more scared to think about what the lady could have picked up because I am sure the armed robbers would not have thought of asking the male passenger to use condoms under those circumstances. And that could be another way of spreading HIV/AIDS and we should all be concerned. On this matter, even though we may have our vehicles, once in a while, we find ourselves using private vehicles so anybody can be affected under these circumstances. Through no fault of yours, you just want to travel and you end up contracting HIV/
AIDS.
But Mr. Speaker, it is indeed true that sometimes some of these offences are committed by persons from our neighbouring countries. In Mamprugu, between Janga Blubic and Walewale, early part of this year, some three Fulani people were arrested and sent to Tamale for prosecution. Obviously, we could not immediately trace the homes of these Fulanis in any neighbourhood within the Mamprugu area and within Upper East Region. So our conclusion was that they may have come from Burkina Faso. And here today we are being told that those who committed these offences spoke languages that showed that they were non-Ghanaians.
Only on Wednesday, Mr. Speaker, we had the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, NEPAD and Regional Integration, Mr. Akwasi Osei-Adjei, eloquently making a Statement on the necessity for regional integration, support for free flow of goods and persons. But at the same time, with these recent issues coming up
-- I am not saying that the youth of Ghana do not also engage in armed robbery, but it is also a fact that we have some other people crossing in from our borders and dealing with us.
When it is our people within the country, I believe the police would take up the challenge and work towards tracing them. But if these people are able to cross over to the neighbouring countries, how are we going to get them? Even in the face of preaching regional integration -- and I am in support of regional integration -- But we should also consider the fact that some cross-border crimes are affecting our socio-economic development and we need to rise up, on this occasion, and ensure that the necessary relationship is established, the necessary connection is made.
I will therefore call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, NEPAD and Regional Integration and the Minister for the Interior to link up with their colleagues across these areas, especially the Tumu border area, Paga border and various borders along the line, and indeed other parts of the country, to raise this issue of cross-border crime, especially in relation to robbery, rape and sexual abuse. I am hoping that having done that, they may have the opportunity to report to this House so that we can take some action.
I do take this issue seriously and I hope that we can get to the bottom of it, find some answers, because the lady would be asking questions as to whether her security is being undermined. We need to ensure that the women of Ghana are secured even as we go about our normal businesses in the country.
Mr. Speaker, we expect that we co-exist with our neighbours along the borders and I can just imagine that with these kinds of cross-border crimes next time we will not see people in Tumu, or the
Mr. E. K. Salia (NDC - Jirapa) 12:15 p.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I rise to associate myself with the Statement so ably made by my Colleague, the hon. Member for Sissala East.
Mr. Speaker, a couple of years ago, in this House actually, the Member for Atebubu North made a similar Statement when this menace of intercepting vehicles that were travelling to various market
places began.

One thought the focus was likely to be

on just traders and others known to carry lots of money when they are travelling from one place to the other. Indeed, this Statement emphasizes the fact that all of us are at risk because there is no specific place that these armed robbers interrupt or intercept vehicles; it can be anywhere. It is a random act and all of us should be wary of the likelihood that we could be attacked anywhere on any of the roads.

Mr. Speaker, I do not want to emphasize the fact that we Ghanaians are always known as peace-loving people and consequently we tolerate so many foreigners that quite often, such foreigners tend to be a nuisance to us. Specifically, we have had a lot of Statements made about the threat of the Fulani influx into our country. They have now moved, not just from the north to other parts in the middle belt, but they have come as far as the Afram Plains.

The evidence available is that they are actually a threat to a lot of communities throughout this country. Mr. Speaker, I am bold enough to say that most of the attacks that have so far taken place in the northern sector are attributable to the influx of the Fulani herdsmen.

In a number of places, based on the language they speak coupled with their physical features, one is able to categorically state that they are non- Ghanaians and in general they are people of Burkinabe origin. Mr. Speaker, this is important because even though we admit that it is necessary to have free movement of people between our countries I believe that we should be more selective and ensure that criminal elements do not dominate our country.

Having said that, in identifying the

perpetrators of most of these attacks on travellers, one also needs to admit that the police need to do a lot in a lot of the parts of this country. If you take the western corridor, right from Bamboi all the way to Bole, a distance of 105 kilometres, there is not a single police post on that road. No wonder that at least on three different occasions, there have been attacks on traders from Wa heading for the Techiman market and vice versa.

Mr. Speaker, just as my colleague has said, from Wa all the way to Tumu, which is about 150 kilometres, there is not a single police station in-between. Similarly, from Lawra through Han all the way to Tumu, there is not a single police station.

I believe that if there is going to be effective policing, then newer or additional police stations have to be established such that at least, within a reasonable range the police can move and meet each other on the way. The fear of being apprehended by the police might very well affect the operations of such perpetrators of these crimes.

Mr. Speaker, in the Upper West Region in particular, I believe that the police are understaffed and the facilities that they have are woefully inadequate. It is not surprising that the District Assemblies in the Upper West Region, out of their meagre common fund allocations are now compelled to allocate monies for the construction of the headquarters of the Police in Wa whilst even in their own districts still need additional police stations. I would therefore wish to appeal to the hon. Member of Parliament for Afigya-Sekyere West, who is also present in this House today in his capacity as the hon. Minister for the Interior to do something more significant for areas that do not have police stations or posts. Beyond that, even in areas where the police are available as divisional branch

headquarters, they do not have any means of transport.

In Jirapa, which is a district capital for the Jirapa-Lambussie District, the police have no vehicle whatsoever to move from place to place. It has been a district capital for several years, still they have no autonomy as a district police post; they still are under the Lawra Divisional Police and I think that it is time for us to create many more police stations in the country and upgrade other police posts in various districts to become district police offices with their own equipment such as motor vehicles and effective communication systems.

Mr. Speaker, apart from this, the final

thing I would like to appeal for is more education of the rural community. Where this particular attack occurred was very close to a village and I am told that the villagers just stood helpless. They could not even help the travellers as most of them were either unarmed or were unprepared to even defend themselves. I believe that if the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) were to undertake better education of our people, maybe, some of them would be better prepared in the identification of potential criminals and also be in a position to assist others who are attacked in their vicinity.

But at the moment, they are more afraid of their own lives than to go to the aid of the victims of these acts. I want to associate myself with my colleague for the Statement made and I believe that the Ministry of the Interior in particular and maybe the Ministry of Defence would look at ways and means of helping so that there will be increased patrols on our roads, particularly on market days between the very popular market towns such that they can prevent the attacks on traders and other travellers on these roads.
Mr. I. K Asiamah (NPP - Atwima- Mponua) 12:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Statement on the floor. Mr. Speaker, I think this attack on innocent Ghanaians is very disturbing. Mr. Speaker, let us ask ourselves as a nation what really is happening today? Is it as a result of what we did in the past? I am talking about the fact that we used to have democratisation of violence in this country in the past and as a result of that, some Ghanaians are having weapons at their disposal - [Interruptions.]
rose
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Order! Order! Hon. Member for Wa Central, are you rising on a point of order?
Mr. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo 12:25 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. Member is getting out of order and his attention must be drawn to that. The fact is that this is a very serious Statement that addresses a problem that everybody in this country faces. No blame is apportioned to anybody for it. The truth is that, we have a situation where young people in this country, as a result of situations that can be analyzed here but which are not brought for any analysis here, are out there terrorizing people and we are looking for a solution to ensure that this thing does not repeat itself.
For my hon. Colleague to impugn the integrity of people, as if it was the result of some other people's mismanagement that has brought about this thing, is touching too much on the sensibilities of people and it might erupt this House into a serious debate. This is because nobody knows whether it is the past that has resulted in this or it is the present economic situation that has resulted in this. Mr. Speaker, he
should be called to order so that we can move forward and discuss this issue dispassionately.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon. Member, the issue raised is that some people's sensibilities are touched and you may take that into consideration and contribute in a way that would not - [Interruption.]
Mr. Asiamah 12:25 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think
Mr. Lee Ocran 12:25 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think we meet in this august House to discuss very serious national affairs. We are not at party headquarters where we can just blow hot air; we are in the august House of Parliament. We either sit here without a quorum to discuss matters seriously or we all go out; we move the motion so that we leave this place. It is not nice when people are sitting in the public gallery to start this sort of childish pranks in this House; it does not pay anybody. Mr. Speaker, let us carry on with serious business, otherwise we should move a motion of no quorum and leave this House.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon. Member, continue but you should address the menace as mentioned in the Statement in a way that you do not generate heat that would take away the issues that the hon. Member raised in the Statement. Go ahead.
Mr. Asiamah 12:25 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is well
acclaimed that in the past, some Ghanaians who did not qualify to carry weapons were carrying them; that is a statement of fact and nobody can deny that fact. Mr. Speaker, my concern is, have we been able to retrieve all these illegal weapons from the hands of the people who do not qualify to handle them? Let me tell you, the fact of the matter is that these armed robbers sometimes carry very sophisticated weapons. Where do they get all those weapons? So if we want to solve such a problem, find out solutions, then it is incumbent on us as Members of Parliament to find out the root cause of all these nagging problems that are confronting us.
Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo - rose --
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon. Member, do you want to raise a point of order?
Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo: Yes, Mr.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon. Member, you are out of order. Hon. Member, just hold your breath. You are out of order. Whether arms were brought yesterday or today, his point is that there are illegal arms in the hands of people which is not good enough. I think that is a fair statement. Hon. Member, go ahead.
Mr. Asiamah 12:25 p.m.
Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, two wrongs do not make a right and whether they were carried yesterday or today, my point as a Member of Parliament, legitimately, is the fact that we need to check these illegal arms in the

Some hon. Members: Shame! Shame!
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Order! Order! Hon. Members, what he is alluding to should not be assumed by either side. The fact that there are illegal arms in the hands of some people is not a good thing for the country; and whether it is, as some hon. Members are saying, that some have come in 2002 and some have come in 1983 or whatever, the fact is that it is not acceptable that people should hold illegal arms. I think that is the point he is making and I think that we should be patient and take it from that angle. Please go ahead.
Mr. Asiamah 12:25 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, clearly, I think the security agencies should be up to the task to make sure that we have records of those who were part of the ACDR, People's Militia and those people so that - [Interruption.]
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:25 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, in a bid to address the causes, I think we are raising some contentious matters. Our Standing Orders prevent us to, in the process of debating or contributing to Statements, provoke a debate. So I may want to counsel whoever is contributing that we should not provoke a debate.
Mr. Speaker, that goes to both sides of the House because at the very onset I was not very comfortable when my hon. Colleague, hon. Ayariga, for instance, said that in recent times there has been increasing unemployment and that is what is contributing to the spate of armed robbery.
The trajectory that my hon. Colleague is also charting is also further pouring fuel onto the issue and I believe that we better advise ourselves. Let us stay on course and maybe, try to avert a debate on this matter and address the salient matter and a rather pathetic issue that has been raised. I hope my hon. Colleague would inspire
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon. Member, when you were making a general statement, I ruled that it was acceptable. But when you then moved on to specify some structures, then obviously you were offending the rules that forbid making statements, in contributing to Statements on the floor, that generate debate. To that extent, you are out of order. So please go ahead and avoid provoking debate and contribute to the Statement.
Mr. Asiamah 12:25 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you
for your wise counsel. Mr. Speaker, on this issue of local artisans, the manufacturers of local weapons, I think there is the need to take a second look at how they are even permitted to produce all those local guns. I think it is an area we need to check very critically. It is a fact that some of our local artisans produce some of those local guns which end up in the hands of armed robbers, so if we can also check these local artisans, the local manufacturers of these illegal weapons.
Mr. Speaker, on the influx of other
nationals in this country, I am not being xenophobic but the key point I am making is that we should check the background of some of these foreign nationals who invade our country with all sorts of business pretences. We should check them so that when they come here we know exactly what they do and how they earn a living. It is very critical that we look at that area too.
Then, Mr. Speaker, the Fulani herdsmen -- Mr. Speaker, of late there have been concerns about the activities of Fulani herdsmen in this country. We, as I said, are not being xenophobic again but then
we should look at how they operate on our lands, the fact that it is being alleged that they end up raping our women and doing all sorts of illegal things that go to really affect our Ghanaian citizens.
Mr. Speaker, another issue I want to touch on is this key area that we just introduced, the community policing. I think it is a welcomed thing and it is good for people to identify even strange characters in their local communities; that is the key. Mr. Speaker, when you travel elsewhere, it would interest you to know that everybody is a security person, a police officer elsewhere. So this time round, we are going to group the youth of this country to serve two purposes, first of all creating employment for them to earn a livelihood, and secondly, providing the key security we need in our respective communities. Mr. Speaker, I think it is something that everybody should welcome.
My last point, Mr. Speaker, is about getting stiffer punishment for armed robbery. I think the Judiciary has come out that this time round they are committed to supporting the police in some of these armed robbery trial cases.
Mr. Speaker, this is the only way we can deter these armed robbers. Mr. Speaker, thank you for the unique opportunity.
Minister for the Interior (Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah) 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity and let me also thank my hon. Friend who made the Statement on this very important subject, a subject which is a matter of great concern to many people in this country. I think, Mr. Speaker, that as a country we have every cause to be concerned about armed robberies. Our country is noted world- wide as a very peaceful country, a country where one's safety and security can be assured at all times.

I think it is important that we must do everything possible to sustain this image. And I believe, Mr. Speaker, that if we do not check it very firmly, armed robbery can erode the confidence that the world has in this country. And that, Mr. Speaker, can stop the foreign investors and it can stop the tourists from coming into our country. That is why I am most grateful to my hon. Friend for making this very important Statement.

Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult to

understand why people would want to resort to armed robbery. Obviously it is a very complex subject - why people embark upon armed robbery. My hon. Friend here talks about unemployment being the cause but obviously that cannot be the whole story. In developed countries where unemployment is not that much of an issue we still have very serious armed robberies going on. Of course, this is not to suggest that unemployment is not part of the reason except that I am not very sure whether that is the major cause of armed robbery in this country.

It has also been said that the proliferation

of arms is obviously a factor, especially the problem that we have in this country with locally produced guns. But Mr. Speaker, I want to assure my hon. Friend that there are very active programmes that are in place to address this equally complex problem with regard to the proliferation of arms. Mr. Speaker, the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons is working around the clock to check the proliferation. And Mr. Speaker, if it is any consolation, I can reveal that a National Strategic Conference has been held in recent times to try to evolve a plan which will very soon be launched to try to address this question of the proliferation of arms.

Another concern, Mr. Speaker, that has been mentioned is this problem that so many foreigners are engaged in armed robbery in our country and that brings a totally different dimension to the problem. And Mr. Speaker, I think they are right in saying that we need to find special strategies in addressing that particular problem. Do not let us earn the reputation that Ghana is always ready or Ghana accepts armed robbers from other countries to come and operate in our country.

But I think in all, Mr. Speaker, we need very ingenious strategies, as my hon. Friend suggested, to respond to the ever-increasing sophistication in armed robbery in this country. And I want to believe, Mr. Speaker, that this is just what the police has been doing in recent times. Policing, Mr. Speaker, I had cause to remark last week, is a very complex task in any society and when you have to police in a democratic society, it is even probably more complex.

I think that as a country, we need to improve upon our policing to be able to sustain the strides that we have made in democratic governance in our country. And I think we need to support the police, Mr. Speaker, in the discharge of this very difficult but very important task.

I would want to believe, Mr. Speaker,

that most hon. Members will agree that the police probably deserve a lot of praise for the efforts that they are making in this particular area. I think they have been able to confront this problem in a manner that a lot of people have found very admirable. But of course, there is a lot to be done. And in this connection I think we should try as much as possible as a country to resource the police both in terms of training and in terms of logistics, whatever it takes, to empower the police to be able to take care of our safety and our security needs in this country.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
The observation in the Statement that in areas which hitherto did not know armed robbery, especially the rural areas, are experiencing it, particularly the issue that there could be infiltration coming into the country at the border lines aggravates the already unfortunate armed robbery situation in the country and it is good that the hon. Minister for the Interior is in the House.
This matter is referred to your Ministry so that you liaise with the Regional Co-ordinating Councils, especially the Regional Security Councils in the border regions in the country so that strategic positioning of police posts will help to check the influx of these undesirable elements from other areas. I believe that if that is done it might help in fighting the menace.
At the Commencement of Public Business. Item 6 -- hon. Majority Leader,
any advice? Yes, he is referring to his Chief Whip.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think we are just about commencing Public Business and I want to draw attention to the fact that today being Friday, we still have five committee sittings to consider very serious matters and considering the fact that we have to rise to discharge other duties even though it is a quarter to one, I beg to move, that this House do now adjourn until next Tuesday at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move.
Mr. Abuga Pele 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 12:35 p.m.