Debates of 23 Jun 2006

MR. SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10 a.m.
CORRECTION OF VOTES 10 a.m.
AND POCEEDINGS AND 10 a.m.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 22nd June, 2006 - Pages 1 to 12? - [Pause.] [No correction was made in the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 22nd June, 2006.] Hon. Members, we do not have
the Official Report for today. Item 3 - Business Statement - Yes, Chairman of the Committee?
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10 a.m.
Mr. James Klutse Avedzi (Ketu North) 10 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Food and Agriculture what steps the Ministry has taken or intends to take on the flooding of Afife Irrigation Farm in the wake of recent rains that has affected the dam and the farmers in order to enable the farmers to replant their crops.
Questions --
Minister for Health - 284, 286, 469,
474, 478, 492 & 493
Statements
Consideration Stage of Bills --
Food and Drugs (Amendments) Bill
Closed Sitting of the House

Questions --

Minister for Transportation - 341,

342, 343, 344, 345, 346 & 347

Statements

Committee Sittings
Mr. A. K. Agbesi 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rose at the time the hon. Majority Leader was presenting the Business Statement. At that time I counted only 42 hon. Members in
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Order! Hon. Member for Ashaiman, what is your point?
Mr. Agbesi 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my point is that the House does not form a quorum.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
All right. I have heard that. You may resume your seat.
Mr. C. S. Hodogbey 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not think I desire or I like to get up every Friday to question about an Urgent Question I put in some three weeks ago regarding the Aveyime Project which has been left unattended, with machinery rotting and farms being encroached upon. Every week I get up, I ask this question but the Urgent Question has never been scheduled. So I would like to know what the problem is.
The second issue also regards the hon. Member for Ashaiman. Truly, if you look at our attendance from day one when we came to Parliament, it runs between 182 and 189 everyday but we hardly see that number of people in the House. Even though we claim they are in a committee they do not seem to be. So I would plead with the membership, especially on the other side, to look into this seriously.
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon. Member for
Tamale South, you know we are dealing with the Business of the House.
Mr. H. Iddrisu 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, rightly so. Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago I had
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I would want to believe that possibly the Committee and the hon. Minister are working on it. As he may be aware, the hon. Minister is in far away Germany and if he is not available it may not be very easy for me to say that we should rush the matter. Therefore, let us await his return with the trophy at the end of the tournament and possibly we would then take this Bill through.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:10 a.m.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION 10:10 a.m.
Minister for Transportation (Dr. R. W. Anane) 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Tsiame- Atsiame-Heluvi road consists of two sections. The Abor-Tsiame-Atiavi road which is 15 km long and the Atsiame- Heluvi link which is 6.2 km long are all located in the Keta district.
The Abor-Tsiame-Atiavi section was tarred in 2003 at a cost of ¢4.1 billion. The project which was awarded in December 2000 was completed in October 2003

by Messrs Opanyin Ayeh Construction Limited.

The Atsiame-Heluvi link is currently unengineered.

Mr. Speaker, the Atsiame-Heluvi link has been programmed for spot improvement under the Department of Feeder Roads, (DFR) Maintenance Performance Budgeting System (MPBS) programme this year. Under the MPBS programme, critical culverts will be installed and the entire road reshaped.

The projects among others were advertised for competitive bidding on 24th May this year. The project is expected to be awarded by the end of July this year.

Mr. Speaker, the Abor-Tsiame-Atiavi section will be maintained under DFR's routine/recurrent maintenance prgramme.
Mr. Abodakpi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would
like to find out from the hon. Minister that given the sandy nature of the Atsiame- Heluvi link road which this Question concerns, would we not be having value for money or would it not be more cost- efficient if we gravel it?
Dr. Anane 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, all these
roads are under study and the studies would normally tell us what interventions would be most appropriate. So I hope the studies would eventually advise on what measures to take in order to make it motorable year-round.
Abor-Avenorpeme-Hatorgodo and Akatsi-Dagbamatey Roads
(Rehabilitation)
Q. 327. Mr. Daniel Abodakpi asked the Minister for Transportation what plans his Ministry had to rehabilitate and upgrade the Abor-Avenorpeme-Hatorgodo and the Akatsi-Dagbamatey-Avenorpeme feeder roads to the same status as the Abor- Atiavi roads to help unlock the economic
potential of the area and ensure the safety of the traders who ply these roads.
Dr. Anane 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Abor- Avenorpeme-Hartogodo and Akatsi- Dagbamatey roads are gravelled and in fair condition. The roads are located in the Keta and Akatsi Districts respectively. Each road has a length of 14 km and are all engineered. Mr. Speaker, the status of the Abor-Atiavi road is that of a tarred corridor.
Current Programme
The two roads under reference have been programmed for routine/recurrent maintenance this year. The projects were advertised in May this year. The contracts for the two projects will be awarded by the end of July this year.
Future Programme
Engineering studies will be carried out on the Abor-Avenorpeme-Hartogodo and Akatsi-Dagbamatey next year to ensure and advise on what steps would be taken in order to put them in the right perspective. The outcome of the studies will determine the interventions to be taken.
Mr. Abodakpi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have sighted the advertised works that are supposed to be carried out on these roads and in his Answer, the hon. Minister rightly stated that the roads in question are gravelled. But in the works that have been advertised, they are for reshaping, not regravelling; why is it so?
Dr. Anane 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes, it is true. The two roads have been programmed for recurrent and routine maintenance. That is not to say that they are to be reshaped. There are several interventions involved in
Mr. Abodakpi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the import of my Question is that the roads are currently gravelled. My Question is what interventions we are going to make to upgrade them to the level of the Abor- Atiavi roads that is tarred. But in the current awards - In fact, the tenders would be opened on the 28th of this month. The tender is calling for reshaping, and given the ravinery nature of the Hatorgodo- Avenorpeme road itself, a little rainfall destroys the road completely even with the gravels on it. So is reshaping it not only going to lead to further deterioration?
Dr. Anane 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the advertise- ments and preparations towards the advertisements predated this Question. And Mr. Speaker, the Ministry has programmes for corridors. The first is to make sure that these corridors are open for use. The second is to start and embark on appropriate studies which advise on the next steps.
Mr. Speaker, in my Answer, I said the Abor-Atiavi road is tarred; the Question was how and what we were going to do to bring the two roads to the same status as the Abor-Atiavi road. So I did understand that my hon. Colleague was requesting for the road to be converted into a tarred road. But before we do that, we have to do our studies; the studies are what advise on the measures to be taken. That is why I said we are going to start studies to conclude.
Mr. Abodakpi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I perfectly understand what the Minister is saying. My worry is that the roads are currently gravelled. In the interventions that he is seeking to make now, we are
just going to do reshaping; they are not going to be gravelled. And if you travel from Hatorgodo, especially in this rainy season, vehicles are finding it very difficult to ply the road.
So my question is, are we not worsening the situation of the roads by reshaping instead of making them what they are - the condition in which they were before the deterioration set in - that is, gravelled roads? That is the question I am asking. Ultimately, my prayer is that they should be tarred. But if they are going to tar it eventually, should we reduce it to a lower category in order to do the studies?
Dr. Anane 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want my hon. Colleague's fears to be allayed. The routine maintenance and the recurrent maintenance activities are necessary. We do not need to regravel them now because of the current situation in which the road is. The road had been gravelled and the routine maintenance is to bring it into appropriate motorable shape. The routine maintenance takes cognizance of the fact that the road had already been gravelled and therefore there was no need for any further gravelling as we pursue the studies which will advise on what we have already done.
Indeed, it is when they lose their shape that is when we have to do reshaping. So reshaping may be part of the routine maintenance but it is to render the road motorable as we prepare for further interventions. So my hon. Colleague may rest his worries and appreciate the fact that we understand his problem and we will want to resolve them appropriately.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would want to know from the hon. Minister whether the routine and recurrent maintenance by the Department of Urban and Feeder Roads includes filling of potholes.
Dr. Anane 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, when the roads get potted we have to, at least, fill them; routine and recurrent road maintenance activities also improve them and make them motorable. It may even involve just cutting the grass at the sides of the road to make visibility easier and then opening the drains along the corridor. So there are so many activities involved in the routine maintenance activity.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my worry is that some time ago, when we had problems with potholes on the Dawhenya- Prampram road and we were trying to have it resolved, we were informed that the Department of Urban Roads and Highways has stopped filling potholes as part of the routine maintenance that they used to do. That is why I want to know whether this time round the maintenance includes pothole filling rather than awarding it on contract to the private sector.
Dr. Anane 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am not very certain whether the message conveyed to my hon. Colleague was appropriately digested. Mr. Speaker, it is not the institutions which do these works now. Now they are all out-sourced. Sometimes a contractor is given the job to do over a two-year period and not the Department of Feeder Roads or Department of Urban Roads. So if they said that the Department is no longer doing it, that is correct. The Department has out-sourced it to contractors to do that.
Bridges on the Wogu-Saamanbo, Busie-Dakpa-Daffiama, etc Roads
(Completion)
Q. 336. Mr. Mathias Asoma Puozaa asked the Minister for Transportation when the bridges on the following feeder roads would be completed to make them motorable: (i) Wogu-Saamanbo, (ii) Busie-Dakpa-Daffiama, (iii) Saawie-Tuori
Dr. Anane 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Wogu- Saamanbo (12 km), Busie-Dakpa- Daffiama (8.4 km) and Saawie-Tuori (7.5 km) feeder roads are all engineered while the Busie-Kamahegu (12.3 km) track is un-engineered and will therefore require spot improvement and including the installation of critical culverts (bridges).
Current Programme
(i) Wogu-Samanbo
The Wogu-Samanbo (12 km) feeder road together with others totalling 42.5 km was awarded for routine/recurrent maintenance in November 2005 at a contract sum of ¢800.6 million.
The project which is under GOG funding is being executed by Messrs Bennids (GH) Limited and is expected to be completed on 15th July 2006.
The percentage of works completed to date is 37 per cent and payment to date amounts to ¢251.9 million. The contractor is at the moment not at site and has been subsequently warned to recommence works. The slow progress of work can be attributed to the contractor's poor equipment holding. (ii) Busie-Dakpa-Daffiama
(iii) Saawie-Tuori-Worgberi
Background
The Busie-Dakpa-Daffiama (8.4 km) and Saawie-Tuori-Worgberi (7.5 km) feeder roads were awarded for spot improvement in October 2003 under International Development Association (IDA) funding. The project which cost ¢2.04 billion was completed in December 2005. In all twenty-four (24) critical
culverts (bridges) were installed. The project was executed by Messrs Baiseng Limited.

Current Programme

The two roads have been programmed for routine/recurrent maintenance this year. The projects together with others were advertised in May this year for competitive bidding. It is expected that the project will be awarded by the end of July this year.

(iv) Busie-Kamahegu

Background

The Busie-Kamahegu feeder road is 12.3 km long. The road which is partially engineered is located in the Nadowli District. There are several water crossing points on the road that need to be bridged.

Current Programme

The Busie-Kamahegu feeder road was awarded for spot improvement in June 2005 under the African Development Bank (AfDB) Cashew Development Programme. The project which is estimated to cost ¢1.7 billion is being executed by Messrs Marble Stone Company Limited. It is expected to be completed in November

2006.

A total of twenty-five culverts (bridges) will be constructed under the contract to bridge all critical water-crossing points. Weak sections will also be gravelled.

A total of twelve culverts (bridges) have so far been completed and payment to date stands at ¢372.9 million. Percentage of work completed to date is 30 per cent and the contractor is still on site working.
Mr. Puozaa 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the hon. Minister's Answer, it is stated that the Wogu-Saamanbo road and others have
Dr. Anane 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague may need to notify me to give him the list of the roads which have been included within the 42- kilometre stretch.
Mr. Speaker, yes, we have stated that so far 37 per cent of the total quantum of works has been executed. We have also stated that we have reviewed the works of the contractor. We are not satisfied with his works and we think that his equipment holding is the cause of the delay in the execution of the project. He has been warned and the Regional Tender Board has also been advised to take a critical look at the output of the contractor. We hope he will be able to do what is expected of him.
But Mr. Speaker, since my hon. Colleague would want to know the other corridors, I will definitely want to provide them to the House.
Mr. Puozaa 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am forced to ask the hon. Minister this difficult question because nothing has happened to the Saamanbo road since 2005.
Mr. Speaker, my other question is -- According to the hon. Minister's Answer, the main problem with the contractor is lack of equipment. When one goes to the Department of Feeder Roads in Wa to question why certain roads are not done, the general complaint is that there is no equipment around or the contractors have no equipment. What is the hon. Minister doing to really improve on the equipment situation in the region since the roads must be done?
Dr. Anane 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes, we did take an inventory of some of the worries or some of the problems confronting the construction industry in the country. Mr. Speaker, one of the factors, which prominently came up was the problem of equipment holding, and therefore we decided to address it. But. Mr. Speaker, I am certain that my hon. Colleague may have been aware that some three months or so ago, we came out to show that in collaboration with the National Investment Bank (NIB) and Volvo Company, we have sourced for equipment for contractors in the country. We are not satisfied with what we have done; we believe that we have to continue.
Therefore, this is going to be a continuous programme to ensure that as many of the contractors in the country as possible are re-equipped so that they can also deliver on the job that they have been given. So as I speak now, many contractors have now benefited from the equipment which were sourced in collaboration with the NIB and the Volvo Company.
Dr. Benjamin Kunbour 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the hon. Minister's Answer on the Wogu-Saamanbo road, he indicated that it is expected that the project will be completed by 15th July 2006 when it is only 37 per cent completed. I would want to know from the hon. Minister what informed such an expectation that, as at 23 June 2006, 37 per cent of the road has been done and it is expected that by 15th July the road will be completed.
Dr. Anane 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as at last week, that is the quantum of work that had been executed by the contractor. Mr. Speaker, the contractor is aware that he is expected to complete his works in July. He is on site and therefore we expect that he will accelerate works to make sure that he finishes the work.
Dr. Kunbour 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, a short follow-up -- I would want to know from the hon. Minister if the problem he has found with the contractor is low equipment holding and whether a lot of professional assessment went into the contract arrangement in the first place or he detected his low equipment holding only after the contract was awarded.
Dr. Anane 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we go round to determine the capacity of contractors at work sites. It is expected that before a contract is awarded the contractor's capacity would have been evaluated and therefore what the contractor can do would have been recognized before the jobs are given.
But Mr. Speaker, the awarding of contracts, sometimes, are beyond the Ministry per se. Even though we all work together, our agents are expected to also be involved to make sure that the correct things are done. And when the contracts are awarded we advise and ensure that the works are done. After going round the country, we have come to appreciate the fact that many of our contractors have low capacity in certain areas, and Mr. Speaker, it is based on this that we have decided
to come in and support the equipment holding of contractors.
Mr. Speaker, even in addition to that, we are also supporting the management capacity of our contractors in collaboration with some of our development partners to build their capacity so far as management is concerned. Therefore, in this particular case, it is when we went on site that we noticed that this contractor does not appear to have what should have been on site; we have noticed a few such cases around and we are making sure that they are addressed.
We have advised the Regional Tender Boards also to be more vigilant in the execution of the contract awards so that a contractor who is awarded a project has the capacity that is commensurate with the execution of that project.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Question number 338 - hon. John Gyetuah, Member of Parliament for Amenfi West.
Mr. Stephen M. E. K. Ackah -- rose
- 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Member for Suaman?
Mr. Ackah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member is on a committee assignment and he has asked that I should seek your permission to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
What has happened to him?
Mr. Ackah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, he is on a committee assignment.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Alright, please, go ahead.
Amenfi West Constituency Feeder
Roads (Tarring)
Q. 338. Mr. S. M. E. K. Ackah (on behalf of Mr. John Gyetuah) asked the Minister for Transportation what plans his Ministry had to ensure that feeder roads in the Amenfi West constituency are tarred since they are cocoa carting roads.
Dr. Anane 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the feeder roads network in the Amenfi West District is about 789 km. Out of this 389 km is engineered, 65 km partially engineered and 341 km un-engineered. However, in the Amenfi West constituency, the total network is 386 km with the following breakdown:
Engineered = 147 km;
Partially engineered = 58 km; and
Un-engineered = 181 km.
A total of 147 km of engineered roads in the Amenfi West constituency have been programmed for routine/recurrent maintenance this year. The projects together with others were advertised in May this year and the projects are expected to be awarded by the end of July this year.
Again, Mr. Speaker, a total of 43 km of the un-engineered network have been programmed for spot improvement while the Asankragwa Township roads have also been programmed for tarring or surfacing this year.
Mr. Speaker, here is the need to spot- improve the unengineered tracks even as we consider others for bituminous surfacing. The choice of candidate roads will be determined by the results of studies to be embarked upon before the close of the year in collaboration with the COCOBOD. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Ackah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister's Answer indicates that Asankragwa town roads have been
programmed for surfacing this year. May he tell us when that programme is starting and when it is ending?
Dr. Anane 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the roads of Asankragwa township have been programmed and before the end of the year we expect the contractor to be on site to execute them. It is to be awarded on contract and not until the contract award has been executed, Mr. Speaker, it is difficult for me to give an exact date. What I do know is that this township road must be started this year and it is going to be started. And Mr. Speaker, I am even happy to let my hon. Colleague know that in addition Government has sourced funds to continue the road from Asankragwa to Enchi; and others will be coming very soon for his information.
Mr. Ackah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister has given an elaborate programme for the network of the Amenfi West constituency roads. We have routine/recurrent and spot improvement programmes and there is consideration for bituminous surfacing. Mr. Speaker, I want to find out what criteria inform the choice of a particular road to be given bituminous surfacing as far as the Ministry is concerned.
Dr. Anane 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have not indicated that roads have been selected for bituminous surfacing. What I said was that in collaboration with the Cocobod, studies are to be embarked upon this year so that we select, depending upon the results of the studies, certain roads to be tarred. But I went on further, Mr. Speaker, to say that the township roads of Asankragwa are to be tarred and I have even gone further to inform my hon. Colleague and the House that very soon the road from Asankragwa to Enchi is also going to be tarred.
Mr. Ackah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon.
Mr. Ackah 10:40 a.m.


Minister is saying that in collaboration with Cocobod the studies are going to be conducted. Can he tell us exactly when those studies will be conducted this year?
Dr. Anane 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to assure my hon. Colleague that we collaborate with several agencies to get roads started. In addition to our external collaborators we have internal collaborators and the Cocobod is one main collaborator when it comes to executing projects in cocoa producing areas. And I do assure my hon. Colleague that we are in touch with Cocobod; we are looking at a very big project and I am hopeful that when my hon. Colleague Minister for Finance and Economic Planning returns from his travels we will be able to come out and let the august House know what we expect to do with the support of Cocobod in the road transportation sector.
Tuna-Soma Road
Q. 339. Mr. Donald Dari Soditey asked the Minister for Transportation what the fate of the Tuna-Soma road which has been left unattended to since 2001 was.
Dr. Anane 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Tuna- Soma feeder road is 15.5 km long. This road is engineered and is located in the Sawla Tuna Kalba district. The road was awarded for spot improvement in May, 1995 to Messrs Abticam Limited at a contract sum of ¢178.1 million.
The project which should have been completed in February 1996 was, due to poor performance, terminated in August
2000.
Upon consistent appeal by the contractor, the termination letter had to be withdrawn in October 2000.
The contractor again could not perform after regaining possession of the site resulting in the final termination of the project in May 2003. At the time of termination fifteen (15) culverts including the filling of approaches had been done. Percentage of work at the time of termination was 71 per cent and payment made for work done was ¢114 million. Upon termination in 2003 DFR programmed for its maintenance under its 2005 routine/recurrent maintenance programme.
Current Programme
The Tuna-Soma feeder road has just been reshaped under DFR's routine/ recurrent maintenance. The project for the reshaping was awarded in February 2005 at a contract sum of ¢301.4 million. The project which was completed on the 8th of June this year was executed by Messrs Danufawa Limited.
Future Programme
Engineering studies will commence in September this year and it is expected to be completed by December 2006.
The road will be programmed for spot improvement next year under GOG funding.
Mr. Soditey 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether he is aware that it is only the reshaping that has been done on that road, but the filling which he has spoken of has not been done; and so there is no filling on that road. After the contractor had left the place, the fifteen culverts were put up, but the filling of the approaches he is mentioning has not been done.
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon. Member, what is your question?
Mr. Soditey 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, is he aware that the filling of the approaches he has mentined now has not been done on that road?
Dr. Anane 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my information is that the filling was done. Mr. Speaker, it is possible that it was not done to satisfaction and that is why my hon. Colleague made a complaint. But if my hon. Colleague has been using the corridor then it stands to reason that it might have been done, because if it had not been done, there was no way he could have used that corridor. It is possible it may not have been to his satisfaction. I will draw the attention of the Department, to go and re-inspect and make sure that it is corrected to satisfaction.
Mr. J. D. Mahama 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the hon. Minister for a clarification. In his Answer, he says the road is engineered, and it is located in Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District. Then in the same Answer, he says that the engineering studies will commence in September. I do not know what is the distinction between these two.
Dr. Anane 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think I should rather have said that further studies will commence in September; but the further studies will also encompass some engineering studies because the road was not completed and some shortcomings have been noticed; and these must be corrected. So we will have to be doing further studies, but it will also encompass some engineering studies as well.
Roads in Kpone-Katamanso Constituency (Tarring)
Q. 340. Mr. Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo asked the Minister for
Transportation when the following roads in the Kpone-Katamanso constituency would be tarred:
(i) Oyibi-Appolonia-Katamanso;
(ii) Kpone Barrier-Kponetownship
(iii) Appolonia-Tema-Afienya main road junction
(iv) Amrahia-Katamanso.
Dr. Anane 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Oyibi- Appolonia-Katamanso-Ashaiman road is 18.7 km long. It is partly gravelled and partly bituminous. The road is in fair to poor condition and serves as an alternative route from Dodowa to Tema.
Mr. Speaker, the Oyibi-Appolonia- Katamanso section is 11km and is gravel- surfaced.
Grading and spot improvement of the
Oyibi-Appolonia-Katamanso road and others were awarded to Messrs Micandy Limited at a contract sum of ¢869.5 million. The contract was awarded on 21st June, 2005 for completion by 31st December, 2006. The first grading and ditch cleaning for this year was completed in June, 2006.
Pothole patching on the tarred section of the Katamanso-Ashaiman section and others were awarded to Messrs B-Kham Limited at a contract sum of ¢960.6 million. The contract was awarded on 21st June, 2005 for completion by 31st December, 2006. The first round of patching was completed in December,
2005.
Mr. Speaker, the rehabilitation and
upgrading (tarring) of this road would be carried out in phases. The first 5 km would be considered under 2007 periodic
Mr. Afotey-Agbo 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the 5.7 km Kpone Barrier-Kpone Township Road, according to the Minister's Answer, will be resurfaced by July this year. I want to ask the hon. Minister why the road cannot be upgraded as it is the major road leading to the township.
Dr. Anane 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Answer was that the bids would be closed on the 14th of July this year. Thereafter the bids will be evaluated and it is expected that the contract for the surfacing of the road will be awarded by the end of July this year. Mr. Speaker, in the Question, my hon. Colleague wanted to know when the road will be tarred and my answer is about the tarring of the road. So Mr. Speaker, it is an answer which was requested by the hon. Colleague who posed the Question.
Mr. Afotey-Agbo 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, looking at the terrain, the Amrahia- Katamanso road is the only major road in-between Adenta - Accra and the Tema-
Akosombo road. I want to find out from the Minister if this portion of the road can be tarred within the shortest possible time.
Dr. Anane 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in my Answer on the Amrahia-Katamanso section of the road, I concluded by saying that engineering studies on the road will commence in September this year to be completed also in September this year. And I went further to say that the outcome of the studies will determine the intervention to be instituted. Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate the concern of the honourable Colleague. I am hopeful that the results of the studies will advise us appropriately.
Mr. C. S. Hodogbey 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to do some cost differential here. The Appolonia-Tema-Afienya road is 8.8 kilometres long and costs ¢76.6 million; and when you come to Amrahia - Katamanso feeder road it is 7.8 kilometres long and costs ¢165.4 million. What is the cost differential?
Dr. Anane 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the cost of the project will be determined by the quantum of works that will entail irrespective of the length. If we are not doing much on the corridor, we cannot say that because it is long we have to put in more money than when a short stretch will have to be intensively worked upon. So it is the quantum of works involved which determines the cost that eventually comes out. So it is nothing to be worried about.
Mr. A. K. Agbesi 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to know from the Minister the current rate to upgrade the road from Amrahia to Katamanso; and the Appolonia-Tema feeder road is very bad for road users. What will the Minister do in the interim to make those roads passable for the motorists before the major works start?
Dr. Anane 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that is why
we have embarked on routine maintenance activities to make sure that these corridors are open for use. Therefore, I do understand that this must be one of the corridors that will also be routinely maintained, even as we prepare to do the major works on them.
Half-Assini Roads and Drainage
(Construction)
Q.547. Mr. Lee Ocran asked the Minister for Transportation when construction of Half-Assini roads and drainage would commence.
Dr. Anane 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, Half-Assini is the District Capital of the Jomoro District.
The total length of roads in the township is 8 km. The roads including the drainage are in poor condition and they have not been taken care of for a very long time.
The 53 km Mpataba Junction to Jewi Wharf trunk road passes though the town. The road condition is fair.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry has programmed to rehabilitate and upgrade the 8 km of the Half-Assini Town roads in phases since it happens to be a district capital.
Engineering studies started in May this year. The studies are being carried out by the Ghana Highway Authority's Regional office. Currently, the studies are being done on the first 3 km of this road. The studies would be completed by the end of August this year. After the completion of the studies, the road will be procured for tarring under GOG funding.
The remaining 5 km will thereafter be studied and programmed for tarring.
Mr. Ocran 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, apart from the road to Jewi Wharf which passes through Half-Assini and which
Mr. Ocran 11 a.m.


was completed in the year 2000, there is no road worth the name in Half-Assini township. Can the Minister tell me when work on the three kilometres engineered will start?
Dr. Anane 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we expect that the studies will be completed by the end of August. After completion of the studies, we will have to go through the motions of procurement. As soon as we finish procurement, the works will start. Mr. Speaker, the motions of procurement must be respected and I want to urge my hon. Colleague to bear with us as we go through the legal processes of getting a proper contractor to work on this township which is most historical.
Mr. Salia 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague in answering most of these questions has emphasized engineering - engineering works are being done, this and that. I would like to know who are doing the engineering works and how long it normally takes to do them.
Dr. Anane 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not think that my hon. Colleague is talking about engineering works; he is talking about engineering studies. They are not the same, Mr. Speaker. I am very convinced he is talking about engineering studies.
Mr. Speaker, the studies must first be done for us to appreciate the quantum of work that has to be done for the levels that we decide to do.
Secondly, Mr. Speaker, depending on the corridors, we may procure a consultant or we may do them in-house. Mr. Speaker, a lot of the engineering studies and social studies are done by consultants who are normally procured, or from whom these studies are sourced because the agencies may not have the capacity to do all these studies by themselves.
Mr. Speaker, a lot of the studies, as I
have said, are being done by consultants and the studies may span between three months and about eighteen months depending on the type of project that we are going to do. Mr. Speaker, perhaps the next question may even come up to show that we are doing some studies which are taking about eighteen months or so to do. Therefore, depending on the quantum of works that ought to be done, the studies would take a certain length of time.
With respect to the Half-Assini town roads, three kilometres was taken to be studied. We felt that we could do it within a very short period of time, and that is why we are finishing it in August to enable us start procurement processes.
Elubo Town Roads and Drains
(Construction)
Q. 554. Mr. Lee Ocran asked the Minister for Transpsortation when construction of Elubo Town roads and drains would commence to avoid flooding during the rainy season.
Dr. Anane 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, Elubo is a border town in the Jomoro District. The main road through the town to the border is an asphaltic concrete pavement which was in poor condition last year. However, recent emergency partial reconstruction works being undertaken by Messrs Justmoh Construction Ltd. has rectified most of the defects which developed on the main road bringing the surface into fair condition.
The road network in the township are unpaved and are lacking proper drainage structures. Currently there is an ongoing feasibility and detailed engineering design studies for the Agona Junction-Elubo road.
These studies which begun in January, 2006 are being undertaken by Messrs Arab Constructing Engineers and will be completed by early next year. This is being funded by the African Development
Bank.
The Feas ib i l i ty and De ta i l ed Engineering studies will factor in the drainage issues on the Elubo town roads.
The appropriate engineering solutions to the flooding, traffic management issues on the main road through the township to the border and the rehabilitation of the main road through Elubo and other roads in the town will be subsequently developed during the implementation period.
Mr. Lee Ocran 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister is aware that the township roads are in terrible condition. Until the studies that are being conducted have been concluded and contracts awarded, can something be done, some remedial measures be undertaken, to improve the condition of the roads, at least two of the roads, to make them passable?
Dr. Anane 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, while sympathizing with my hon. Colleague and while sympathizing with the people living in the corridor, my hon. Colleague is also very much aware that these town roads have been there and have been left in the condition that they are in for a very, very long time.
Mr. Speaker, we also do appreciate that this is a border town and we believe that we must upgrade our border towns to some levels of respectability, and that is how come we felt there would be the need to do studies which would advise us on the appropriate interventions.
Mr. Speaker, we are going to spend government money and we think that it should be advisedly used. And so we cannot just go in and do some interventions which may not help the people at the end of the day. He does know the area and knows that it is not an easy terrain. So if
Dr. Anane 11:10 a.m.


we do not do the right studies and get the appropriate interventions, whatever we do may come to nought. So we appreciate his concerns and we want to get it addressed. But we would want them to also perhaps co-operate and abide with us so that we get the best for Elubo, which is one of our major border towns.
Mr. Ocran 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like
to ask the Minister whether he is aware that a major study of Elubo township was concluded in the year 2000. In fact, a master plan was drawn but for the past six years nothing has been done about the master plan. So if he is saying that the roads have been there all these years, it is true; but that has been the case. Would the Minister tell me whether what he plans to do will take into consideration the master plan that was drawn up for Elubo in the year 2000?
Dr. Anane 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes, I am aware a master plan had been done for Elubo township but I am not very certain whether it was completed in 2000. But that is beside the point.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague is also aware of my concern for our border towns. I have always been concerned about our border towns which are the entry points for foreigners into our country, and that is how come in discussions with him I have gotten it to him that we must ensure that what we do for our border towns gives this country the kind of image that we must have for our continent.
So we would took into the studies done there and then let the consultant who is doing the studies take them in tandem and see how to bring them all together. I do know that the District Assemblies should also be involved in the township issues, but we want the consultant to finish his studies so that we all sit down and see how we will move forward.
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Minister for Trans-
portation, I thank you very much for appearing to answer these Questions.
STATEMENTS 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Abuga Pele (NDC - Chiana- Paga) 11:20 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this very important Statement.
Mr. Speaker, the House is once more

Mr. Speaker, we had occasion when

the last Statement was made in this House on the Black Stars, to indicate that it is a matter of confidence and self-belief and that if you compare the skills of Ghanaian players as individuals to any other player in this world, you can easily say that if they are not with the first, they would be the first in the world. All we needed was to weld this team into a formidable one, put the individual skills together and play as a team. We thank God this is being realised.

Mr. Speaker, against Brazil, we know

we are going to miss players like Essien because he has received a number of
Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo (NPP - Akim Oda) 11:30 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Hear! Hear!] Mr. Speaker, it was very clear yesterday throughout the whole country, that football is a unifying factor - [Hear!Hear!] Indeed, what we all saw in various towns and cities was a clear manifestation of the need for us to promote sporting activities in this nation beyond what we have done; and we must be very grateful to the Almighty God for listening to the prayers of the whole country.
Virtually every knee bowed to pray for the Black Stars against the United States. We were playing a superpower but we indicated very clearly that in football, it is Ghana that is the superpower. [Hear!Hear!] Mr. Speaker, it is important for us to learn lessons from this, and we
should not take the victory for granted.
First of al l , a long the l ine of qualification, Tarkwa Goldfields came in with a sponsorship of $3 million which, to my mind, was the turning point because we could not find resources to give incentives to the Stars to the level that they got to when the money came in. After providing them with the incentives and they knowing that at least, if we promise we live by our promise, the whole attitude changed.
Mr. Speaker, after the qualification of the Black Stars the response of the private sector to the qualification is also very significant. Our premier bank, the Ghana Commercial Bank, provided ¢100 million seed capital and opened 80 branch accounts on behalf of the Black Stars. About seven banks responded with a minimum of ¢100 million each. Areeba, Guinness Ghana Limited and all these people came in.
The lesson is very clear, that the financing of sporting activities and football for that matter, is not the preserve of Government and that the private sector should appropriately come in to sponsor sporting activities in this country. Therefore, this performance of the Black Stars, based on this sponsorship, must be a lesson to all of us.

Mr. Speaker, there is something I also learnt. As we saw our boys play the others, we suffered from sizes; we were much smaller in sizes than almost all the teams we played. Indeed, yesterday, the USA players in terms of sizes were much bigger, were stronger, and were faster. So what do we do to promote football, because football is a man's game? - [Interruption] - it is a man's game. Mr. Speaker, it is a manly game. [Laughter.]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps in promoting football, we have to rediscover certain

things. We have to identify certain young men of certain stature, and women, and bring them into football so that we have footballers of a certain stature. But we beat the USA because of our skills.

Mr. Speaker, as our hon. Majority

Leader ably pointed out, due to the Ghana Black Stars, everybody now knows about Ghana. People used to confuse Ghana for Guyana, and the rest of it. Now, people know that there is Ghana in West Africa; that it is the Brazil of Africa, as they themselves said.
Mr. Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Order!
Mr. Osafo-Maafo 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we
are certainly going to surprise the world. On the 22nd June, 1992, a statement was made by Roger Miller. When Cameroon performed so well in 1992, people asked Roger Miller what his comment was and he said, “Look, wait until Ghana comes to the World Cup, then you would know that Africa has arrived.” Ghana is there. Cameroon went to the quarter finals. If Africa has indeed arrived, then we must go beyond the quarter finals. Therefore, we shall at least be at the semi finals, to show that Africa has arrived.
Mr. Speaker, I add my voice to my hon.
Mr. Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Order! Order!
Mr. Osafo-Maafo 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
you may recall that when Dramani was selected to go, literally everybody thought that the coach should not have selected this particular player; but yesterday, Dramani proved all of us wrong - those who criticized him. The way he calmly outwitted the captain and went ahead and in a very calculated manner displaced the goalkeeper was - [Interruption.] Mr. Speaker, that was the choice of the coach, so let us sometimes give credit to those who know. The coach obviously knew better. Let us be patient with our technical handlers.
Mr. Speaker, we are very happy that the Black Stars have won. They have brought victory to us and I can assure you that the economic benefit of this victory is even far more than the social benefits.
Mr. E. T. Mensah (NDC - Ningo/
Prampram): Mr. Speaker, those of us who have been in the Ministry, such as hon. Osafo-Maafo, some of the things that we have said over and over again are now dawning on us that football is a most effective tool for investment promotion and tourism promotion. On the issue about people knowing the country, the number of spectators that watched this game, the millions that watched even in their homes, got to know where Ghana is.
When we went to Japan in 1993, they were surprised because they knew Ghana just because of the cocoa that they use there. But at the end of the day, when we defeated even Japan, they realized where Ghana was. We have said it again and again that in USA when Ghana first got the bronze in soccer, people did not know where Ghana was. That was when they were talking about whether it was Guyana or Ghana; but we were able to get to the
quarter finals and got the bronze.
Mr. Speaker, we are paying tribute
to the current technical team. What we should know is that in every country, everybody has a history. The people that we need to pay tribute to as well, were people who worked under trying circumstances. In those days, some of them had to use their own money - Nana Butler, who was the Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) at that time, when things were difficult and Mr. Ade Coker, for instance.
We also have to pay tribute to Alhaji Jawula and the coaches because the group that we have playing now happens to be the 1993 - [Interruption] - the 1993 and 1995 groups; and what has happened to the coach recently is not new. When we identified Stephen Appiah and Sule Muntari and we felt that we should fly them to Japan in 1995 to go and join the twenty-two players and also participate just to have some experience, one of the persons who led the team - Joe Aggrey and Abbey. It is interesting that these people - Life is quite interesting.
Randy Abbey today is basking in the glories of the people that he condemned. Those were the days when they said the boys were too old; that they were fathers and that was why we were not qualifying. The same boys today have brought honour to us and the same boys -- when I was listening to Multichoice; they said our team happens to be the youngest out there. Those were the boys that we said were old; they would have been grandfathers today.
So we need to pay tribute to coach Sam Addy; we need to pay tribute to coaches Afranie, Osam Doudu, and Jones Attuquayefio - [Interruption] - Mr. Speaker, certain things happen behind
the scenes. Jones Attuquayefio and some of the coaches went to watch matches of the Czech Republic, for instance, and they came back with information on the weaknesses of the team; so they are working as a team out there. So when we are paying tribute, it is important that we do not leave anybody out.
Ms. Akua Dansua 11:30 a.m.
Who is he?
Mr. E. T. Mensah 11:30 a.m.
I will call his
name. Hon. Yaw Osafo-Maafo needs to be commended because when we performed badly at the African Cup of Nations Tournament, he called me and said, “what do we do?” We discussed the need to look for certain players and bring in certain players. That was when they did not want to bring in Osei Kuffour and others; and he listened and contributed to that and the team was sent.
I believe that on Tuesday -- Football is football. What is going to happen on Tuesday reminds me of when we were going to play Brazil in the finals in Ecuador. We were written off that having got to that stage there was no way we were going to get it but we told the boys “go to the field and see; it is eleven against eleven”. It is not Brazil, the old team that we are playing; we are playing Brazil and we are going to the finals by our own pedigree, by our own performance. So they should go all out and keep their eyes on the ball.
I believe that next Tuesday, the Black Stars of Ghana will shine. I am not going to wait for extra time. During regulation
time, ninety minutes, the Black Stars will surprise Brazil and the world.
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (NPP - Suame) 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to also associate myself with the Statement made by the Majority Leader to express our felicitation to the players, the technical team, the officials of the GFA, supporters both in Germany and in Ghana as well as all who have contributed financially to get the Black Stars at where they find themselves now.
Mr. Speaker, as has already been said, we must be grateful to God for this achievement by the Black Stars. Mr. Speaker, yesterday my prayer to God when I got up in the morning was that yes, the USA is a leader in many areas and that Ghana, comparing ourselves to the USA -- In fact, there is no basis for comparison and so I prayed to God that in that aspect alone God should grant us the mercy to conquer the USA.
When I was asked by one of the FM stations to predict, I said that with determination we could triumph by either 1-0 or 2-1; and lo and behold, it came to pass.
Mr. Speaker, pundits rated our group as
a deadly group; and they rated the group which contained la Cote d'Ivoire as “the group of death” for whatever reason. But indeed, our group appeared to be the strongest because it contained the country that was rated second in the world, that is the Czech group. The USA team was rated fifth in the world; Italy was rated 13th; and then Ghana, 48th. Mr. Speaker, we were up to a herculean task and yet we managed to come out triumphant.
Cameroon at their first appearance at the World Cup, succeeded in taming
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (NPP - Suame) 11:50 a.m.
Argentina when Argentina had the best goalkeeper in the world at the time in the person of Pompidou. Mr. Speaker, Argentina as a team at the time was rated sixth. Senegal four years ago triumphed over France which was the defending champion at the time. France, the defending champion at that time, was rated third. Ghana has beaten the Czechs, rated second in the world, and triumphed over the USA, also rated fifth in the world.
Mr. Speaker, by yesterday's per-
formance one must acknowledge the nerve, the verve, the determination, the vigour, the dexterity, the commitment, the singleness of purpose and the unity of purpose displayed by the young men to impoverish the United States of America (USA). Mr. Speaker, the scene was really invigorating and infectious. One can only hope that this unity of purpose would from hence infect our partisan politics, our chieftaincy, our religious practices and indeed every facet of our social and national life.
Ms. Akua Sena Dansua (NDC -
North Dayi): Mr. Speaker, I also rise to add my voice to the Statement that has been made in congratulating the Black Stars.
Mr. Speaker, the Black Stars have really made us proud, particularly mothers in this country. They have glorified Ghanaian motherhood and they have shown that indeed they did not suck the breasts of their mothers for nothing. [Hear! Hear!] Mr. Speaker, I am informed that majority of the players were brought up by their mothers and this goes to show what mothers in this country can do.
Mr. Speaker, while celebrating the victory of the Black Stars, I think that the one major lesson for me -- and I believe all Ghanaians should learn from this -- is that of succession planning. Mr.
Speaker, yesterday we missed the services of big names like Samuel Kufuor, Sulley Muntari and Asamoah-Gyan. We indeed felt their unavoidable absence. And Mr. Speaker, when the hitherto unknown Haminu Dramani was brought in to offer his services, a lot of us complained; we thought that he did not have the experience and the capacity to play in the World Cup tournament. But he has shown to us that when we encourage underdogs, when we give the opportunity to people who have the potentials, they can deliver. I am saying this to emphasise the point that succession planning is crucial in every institution and human endeavour, whether in politics, sports or in business; and I think that we all should learn from this experience.
Mr. Speaker, I a l so no te the characteristically high level of patriotism, love and unity that all of us displayed since the beginning of the tournament, especially yesterday. And I think that we should use this opportunity to reconcile this nation. Reconciliation is very crucial for development and I think that all of us should come together. But in saying so, I think that the onus lies more on the Government of the day; this is an opportunity which the Government should not allow to pass by. We need reconciliation to bring Ghana back to the pedestal as far as the politics of the world is concerned.
So on this note, Mr. Speaker, I would like to also congratulate the Stars. I know that all mothers of Ghana are solidly behind them. We will pray that come next Wednesday, by this time we would all be back here in our white attire to celebrate the victory of the Stars over the Brazilians.
Mr. I. K. Asiamah (NPP - Atwima
Mponua): Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to add my voice to this congratulatory and urge-on message to the Stars.
Mr. Speaker, as history has it, Ghana continues to give hope to the rest of Africa. Indeed, some of us were in Germany and what we witnessed was really unbelievable. Any black person in Germany today is very proud of what Ghana is doing. The Black Stars are really making us proud all over the world. Mr. Speaker, the commitment, the determination, the zeal, the enthusiasm by the Black Stars at the camp is very wonderful and it is not surprising that they are performing so excellently.
Mr. Speaker, for some time past what we did not have at the Stars' camp was unity. Mr. Speaker, as we speak now, unity among the Black Stars is something that I am very proud of. They are very united, with a single purpose. Mr. Speaker, the Black Stars are really there to achieve an aim, and that is to make sure that Ghana is rated high among the football nations in the world.
Mr. Speaker, the whole of Africa is jubilating because for what we have presented, it is clear now that it is only Ghana that is holding the fort for Africa and of course, for everybody in the black race.
Mr. Speaker, there is something so unique about this particular team. The collaboration from our local coaches is so wonderful. The style of play today, I will consider it as the multi-system style of play. Sometime ago our local coach taught Ghanaians - Coach Addy taught Ghanaians one thing - multi-system and all-attacking football. The play is unique; it is all-attacking; everybody is seriously on the ball playing.

Mr. Speaker, for me, one thing is clear, that if Ghana wants to market itself well, we should use our respective national teams. If we want to market Ghana well and get the right investment, we should use our respective national teams. The kind of respect that we get out there from the Black Stars is very, very wonderful so we should really make sure that we use the Black Stars as a rallying point for attracting investment and for getting whatever opportunities we want to have.

Mr. Speaker, the role of the private sector in this whole thing is very commendable. The role of the private sector, right from the qualification stages as has been said earlier, has been very commendable. Mr. Speaker, it is very important to note that the Black Stars are playing well also because of the motivation we had from the word go. The motivation is so good that -- Mr. Speaker, sometimes it is not the best to talk about how much they are receiving but it is also important to point it out so that it would urge our younger generation to take up football.

Those of us who started playing football in those days, our parents thought it was a waste of time and would not bring about whatever we would achieve in the future. Mr. Speaker, this is for Ghanaians to accept the fact that football is a big investment now and that we should encourage our younger generation to take to football.

Mr. Speaker, on the private sector again, it is quite ironical that when it comes to Africa -- Like these stadia that we see, when you go elsewhere the private sector has taken up the challenge to build very nice and fantastic stadia. When you go to South Africa, the banks in South Africa have built a very wonderful stadium; why can our banks in this country not replicate this by putting up wonderful stadia for this country? So it is an area we
Mrs. Alice Teni Boon (NDC - Lambussie) noon
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. Mr. Speaker, I will first of all start by thanking the hon. Majority Leader (Mr. Felix Owusu- Adjapong) for making this very important Statement in the House for us to contribute to show our appreciation to the Black Starts; and I am really privileged to be part of this important Statement.
Mr. Speaker, I will again thank the coach for taking in all the annoying comments people made against him; he tried by taking them in and still had the courage to train the Black Stars to come out with this wonderful performance. Mr. Speaker, it is not easy to be a coach to a group that is hesitating to see the team be on top. The anxiety, the urge makes people -- the least mistake and people want to ‘chop' you up. But this coach, I have observed him keenly and seen that he has what it takes to be a coach. So I will say congratulations to the coach, he should keep it up; we are also very proud that he is our coach.
Mr. Speaker, the management that made it possible for the Black Stars, I would also want to say congratulations and all those who have contributed generously. The success of the team, I see it as being the result of the support that they got. To be frank, if they did not get that immense support from the donors, the good wishers, I do not think the Black Stars would have
gotten to where they have gotten to. So I want to say a big barika ayekoo, nagoode, akpe and whatever to all those who contributed for the Black Stars to perform wonderfully.
We can all recall that in times past when the Black Stars were due for some matches they complained that they did not have good jerseys, good boots and what have you, but this time round I think because of those who really contributed to the fund, we never heard of such things and that even builds up the team. It is a kick-start already for them. So I think that it is a good thing and we must applaud all those who gave us funds.
Mr. Speaker, I know that everybody is very happy because they have performed well, but what do we do to continue such a thing? Yes, Ghana has made it and we are happy about it but we need to put something in place so that we would keep on having such wonderful performances. We cannot do it without grooming the very little ones at the grass roots.
Mr. Speaker, if we have the under-12, we have the under-16, we have the under-18 and we are not grooming them properly - If I heard the former hon. Minister for Education and Sports well, he talked about the structure that the other footballers had. They just do not have that structure for fun; it is what they eat and how they are being catered for. If you are not well catered for and you go on all the time exhausting your energy, certainly you will shrink up, burn all what is in you and you will be lean and weak.
So I think that we should take very good care of our players right from the grass- roots level in order that they would grow up into healthy, strong, well-to-do players so that at any point in time our players
would always perform wonderfully.
I also beg to differ from whosoever said - I think it is still the former hon. Minister for Education and Sports -- that manly -- You can look womanly and play football better. I used to be a football star - [Hear! Hear!] - Am I not looking womanly? I look womanly and I think that it not only “manly” that makes somebody play better. You can look womanly and still play better. So I think that it is just about maintenance. We know how other countries take good care of their sportsmen. Once we are so happy as a country, please, let us take very good care of our sportsmen in general, not only footballers.
Today it is the footballers and we are so happy. But who said if we saw the basketball players play very well and brought a trophy to Ghana we would not be very happy? Who said if netball players played very well and brought a trophy to Ghana we would not be happy? Or athletes?
So Mr. Speaker, I think that we should also not just say all what we are saying here today and keep it; we should put it into practice so that Ghana would always be heard. Especially when the Commentator was always saying that at the end of the day there would be a big party in Ghana, I was so happy; and he added that Africa would also be happy. So Ghana is happy, Africa is happy and we are so grateful that the team is there. Congratulations to them and we pray that they bring the trophy to Ghana.

Minister for Information and National Orientation (Mr. Kwamena

Mr. Speaker, Roger Miller's prophesy

is coming true, that “ the world ain't seen nothing yet” and that indeed Ghana is going to keep the flag of Africa -- This is coming true. The Black Stars have put Ghana on the soccer map of the world - [Hear! Hear!] -- But for me, Mr. Speaker, as the Minister for Information and National Orientation, it is not the victory by itself but most importantly the orientation of national unity and the patriotic feeling that the success of the Black Stars is endearing in our people.

Now, Ghanaians are seeing themselves not as people from the Central Region, a Fante from Swedru, but people are seeing themselves first and foremost as Ghanaians. [Hear! Hear!] And this is a feeling that we need to deepen in this country.

Mr. Speaker, after the September 11 attack on the twin towers in the United States of America (USA), almost every house in the USA sported and flew the American flag; almost every car in the USA sported and flew the American flag. It was a statement of their loyalty and their commitment to their nation in a time of tragedy, but we in Ghana have actually got good news to galvanize us as a nation. We should deepen this oppor-tunity to commit ourselves to our country Ghana.

Mr. Speaker, for once we are seeing Ghanaians carrying the flags on their cars, on themselves, wearing ‘T'shirts all in the national colours. Mr. Speaker, for once we seem to have forgotten about New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC); now we are
Mr. Speaker noon
Order! Order!
Mr. Bartels noon
Mr. Speaker, he asked me
whether we put “Ministry for Information and National Orientation” under it, and I said yes. And I asked, “how did you know?” But Mr. Speaker, what it does show is that indeed, as a people we have literally the same spirit.
Mr. Speaker, as His Excellency the
President said at the beginning of this tournament that, by just qualifying into the World Cup, we are already winners; whatever the outcome of this tournament, by just qualifying, Ghana is already a winner. It is my prayer, Mr. Speaker, that as a people we would seize this moment and build into our psyche the commitment and loyalty to Ghana before anything else; what these young people have done is invaluable.
Mr. Speaker, I asked Cable News
Network (CNN) for a quotation of a three- minute advertisement; I asked the same from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and from Deutsche Welle (DW TV) and it ranges from between $150,000 and over $220,000 for three minutes. These young boys have managed to get us 90 minutes three times so far, putting Ghana on the world's stage, with five billion

No amount of money would have gotten us what these young people have done for this country? No investment tour by a President or by a Minister or by the Ghana Investment Promotion Council would have gotten the kind of exposure that these young people have managed to get for us in these last few weeks and they deserve our congratulations.

Mr. Speaker, Shakespeare in Julius

Caesar said,

“There is a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the floods, leads unto fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in misery . . .”

Mr. Speaker, this is indeed a great time to be a Ghanaian - [Hear! Hear!] Mr. Speaker, I do not believe we should predict the outcome of Tuesday's match. After all, our Black Stars are the boys who graduated from the Starlets that won the World Cup beating the Brazilians, Italians, Swedes and the Portuguese, so I believe that the young boys are bringing the Cup to Ghana.

Let me appeal to our Moslem brothers who are just about to pray this afternoon to give thanks to God for what He has done for us and to pray that in the subsequent matches, God's hand would be heavy and strong over our boys in Germany. I would like to appeal also to all Christians to pray, giving first of all thanks to God for what He has done for us so far and to pray that God, in His infinite mercy, would bestow grace and favour upon our boys so that they would win the subsequent matches.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, this is indeed

a great time to be a Ghanaian.
Mr. Speaker 12:10 p.m.
At the Commencement of Public Business - Item 6 - That the Persons With Disability Bill be now
read the Third time. The Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment?
rose
Mr. Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Yes, Chairman of the
Committee?
Mr. Okoh 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move
in accordance with Order 130, that the Persons with Disability Bill do now pass through a Second Consideration Stage in respect of clause 25. Mr. Speaker, I so move.
Question put and motion agreed to.
BILLS - SECOND 12:10 p.m.
CONSIDERATION STAGE 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I beg to move, clause 44, the opening phrase, that is 44 (1), “the governing body of the Council is a board consisting of” be deleted and in its place be inserted these words -
“for the performance of the functions of the Council, there shall be a board as the governing body consisting of”.
Mr. Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Majority Chief Whip,
you have not moved the procedural motion yet. Do you want us to have a Second Consideration Stage?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I thought the motion by the Chairman had an effect, but I will accordingly move.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move that the
Persons With Disability Bill do now pass through a Second Consideration Stage in respect of clause 44.
Mr. Speaker, I so move.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Mr. Speaker 12:10 p.m.
You may now move
your amendment.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I beg to move, clause 44, subclause (1), line 1, delete and insert
“For the performance of the functions of the Council, there shall be a Board as the governing body consisting of”.
Mr. Speaker, I so move.
Mr. J. Y. Chireh 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that the amendment should be supported. As you will notice, the hon. Deputy Minority Leader is not here, but he is co- sponsoring this amendment and I will urge hon. Members to vote for it.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 44 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr. Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Minister for Manpower,
Youth and Employment, you may now move your motion.
Majority Leader (Mr. F. K. Owusu- Adjapong) 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister is not immediately available and I crave your indulgence to allow the hon. Deputy Minister who has been piloting this Bill to move that motion on behalf of the hon. Minister.
Mr. Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon. Deputy Minister,
you may move it.
BILLS - THIRD READING 12:10 p.m.
Mrs. Osei-Opare 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, on
behalf of the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, I would like to thank the Executive and hon. Members sincerely for the bold initiative in passing this Bill to protect the rights of persons with disability and to ensure that they are actively involved in family, community and national activities.
Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity
to thank His Excellency the President for his personal interest in pushing us to go this far. Many thanks also go to the Ministers who worked very closely with us throughout the process. We also commend highly, the Committee of Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises for their exceptional dedication in going to great lengths to solicit views from across the country and from various stakeholders.
Mr. Speaker, hon. Members, including
the Leadership of both sides of the House, have demonstrated their commitment to the welfare of persons with disability which has contributed in improving the Bill, which when it becomes law, will obviously improve the livelihood of our brothers, sisters and children who through no fault of theirs have to live with some form of disability.
Mr. Speaker, let me acknowledge the
cooperation the Ministry has received from the organisations of persons with disability which no doubt contributed to the smooth process of the passage of this Bill.
Mr. Speaker, as we move to the implementation, we count on hon. Members to continue to play an active role at constituency, district and national levels.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you for this
opportunity.
Mr. Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon. Deputy Minister,
Mr. J. D. Mahama 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, this
is a novelty; I was wondering whether we are accepting it into our convention that after the Third Reading, the hon. Minister will give a formal statement. Often, the hon. Ministers have the opportunity to round up the debate and at that point the thanks and everything can be given. But this might be a Frema Special.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 12:10 p.m.
Well, I wanted to assume that she was expressing the Ministry's sincere thanks except that today being Friday, possibly she could have done something more than what she said and she should have ended with possibly some reception as part of the celebration of the victory of the Black Stars and that would have possibly been
a better conclusion. But perhaps, she is giving us notice that at the appropriate time she will get the Ministry to perform.
Mr. Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Leadership, at this stage
what do we do?
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I think we have done more than enough for the day and I know some of the committees are supposed to have some weekend activities, look at certain Bills and Regulations. It is therefore a proper time for us to adjourn.
I therefore beg to move that this House
do now adjourn till next Tuesday at 10.00 o'clock in the morning. I so move.
Ms. Akua Dansua 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise
to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 12:10 p.m.