Debates of 30 Jun 2006

MR. FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:05 a.m.
CORRECTION OF VOTES 10:05 a.m.
AND PROCEEDINGS AND 10:05 a.m.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:05 a.m.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Correction of Votes and Proceedings for Thursday, 29th June. Page 1 . . . 10. In the absence of any corrections let us assume that what we have is a reflection of what took place on Thursday, 29th June 2006. We also have two Official Reports -- [Pause] -- for Tuesday, 27th June, 2006.
Mr. Yieleh Chireh 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:05 a.m.
We are
first making corrections of Official Report for Tuesday, 27th June; we will come to that if need be.
Mr. Lee Ocran 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
Official Report of 27th June, column 1468, Mr. Lee Ocran, the fifth line, it is “large tracts of land . . . ” and not “parts of land”. I think there is a mistake.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Hon. Member, I did not hear you; what did you say?
Mr. Ocran 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I said, “immediately after independence large tracts of lands were offered to the
Government to put up schools . . .”, not “large parts of land” as captured by the Hansard.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:05 a.m.
You say
“large tracts of land” instead of --
Mr. Ocran 10:05 a.m.
Instead of “tracts” -- it
is written “parts” -- “p- a- r- t-s”. But it is “tracts”; I said “tracts”.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:05 a.m.
What I
am reading is “tracts” not “task”.
Mr. Ocran 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, no, what
is written is “p-a-r-t-s”; what I said was “tracts” -- “t -r- a-c- t-s”.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Oh, it is
“T- r - a- c - k”, that is what you meant and not “s” in addition.
Mr. Ocran 10:05 a.m.
It should be “t-r-a-c-t-s”, not “parts”” as they have written here.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Hon.
Member, I am definitely not getting you.
Mr. Ocran 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, look at “Mr.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:05 a.m.
I know
where it is -- “much noise about those large tracts of land”. Is that what you are talking about?
Mr. Ocran 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I said
“tracts” -- “t- r- a- c- t- s” and not “parts” as it is written here.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Very
well. The Clerk's Office would see to the right thing -- as it were the Clerk's Office would effect the relevant changes or corrections if need be. Yes, apart from that what else? Any more corrections for the Official Report for 27th June, 2006? Let us move on to Friday, 23rd June, 2006 as well. Yes, hon. Yieleh Chireh --
Mr. Yieleh Chireh 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if you look at column 1440, you will notice that we passed the Persons With Disability
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Hon.
Mr. Yieleh Chireh 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, 1440.
Mr. Speaker 10:15 a.m.
But that is the way they report it. It says “Question put and amendment agreed to”, that is all.
Mr. Chireh 10:15 a.m.
Yes, but I am saying
that there was a subsequent decision. A motion was moved for the Third Reading and after the Third Reading, I heard the Speaker very clearly say that it had been read and passed. This should form part of the records, otherwise if you look at the records now there is no such thing.
If you also look through the reporting that they have been doing, it looks like we all just get up and start speaking but we have to be recognized by the Chair and that should be indicated. Otherwise, if anybody takes these records it would appear as if when I get up I start speaking. But unless you call me -- and when you call me, it should be indicated.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Hon.
Yieleh Chireh, I did say earlier on that I am not entirely following what you want
to lead to but what we are discussing is that “Question put and amendment agreed to” is still at the Second Reading stage so it goes on to say Second Reading, Consideration Stage. So at that moment and during that process, it does not need to be written that the Question on the whole had been put and agreed to; it was still at the Second Reading stage. So honestly I do not really get --
Mr. Chireh 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not
think you are getting the point I am making. I am saying, column 1440 -- Third Reading -- When you look at the Third Reading, somebody has to move the motion for the Third Reading and I am saying that is not recorded, it has been so done.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Hon.
Yieleh Chireh, please, hold on. I honestly do not follow what you are saying. What is here -- We are capturing the records and indeed at that stage they had not put the Question on the Third Reading. Maybe, after the Consideration Stage we left it at that and we came back later to it. So what you are saying does not follow at all, please.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that if we take the relevant Votes and Proceedings we can reconcile the two and make the necessary correction.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
It can be reconciled later on.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not have it, but if we take the appropriate day's Votes and Proceedings I am sure the Clerks can reconcile the two.
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:15 a.m.
Mr.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
That also
was moved subsequently.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:15 a.m.
Subsequent
to that.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Fair
enough.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:15 a.m.
When the
Question was put the motion was agreed to.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
That is right.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:15 a.m.
So if it
was not recorded, as my hon. Colleague is saying, then the proper thing ought to be done because the Question was put to the motion for the Third Reading and it was agreed to. So I agree with my hon. Colleague. I do not have the Hansard so I am unable go quote from it.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Well, the Clerk's Office may have to reconcile the Official Report and the Votes and Proceedings to ensure that indeed the
Third Reading, after it had gone through the Second Consideration Stage, if the Question was not put again for the House to agree to and be passed then of course there was a problem there which needs to be corrected. Is there any other correction for the Official Report for 23rd June 2006?
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:15 a.m.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs) 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the Business Statement for the Eighth Week ending Friday, 7th July, 2006 -- [Interruption.]
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Hon.
Member, are you rising on a point of order?
Mr. Agbesi 10:15 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
What is
your point?
Mr. Agbesi 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we do not
form a quorum. From the beginning of the Sitting, the House has not formed a quorum and I am raising this point under Standing Order 48 -- we have not formed a quorum.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
You have
drawn our attention to that so sit down, we would look at it. Hon. Deputy Majority Leader, continue.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:15 a.m.
I thank you, Mr.
Speaker.
Introduction Mr. Speaker, the Business Committee
met on Thursday, 29th June 2006 and determined Business of the House for the
Eighth Week ending Friday, 7th July 2006.
The Committee accordingly presents its Report to this honourable House as follows: No. of Question(s) i. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice 4
ii. Minister for Defence 1

iii. Minister for Energy 8

iv. Minister for Manpower Development, Youth and Employment 1

v. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD 3

vi. Minister for Transportation 8

Total Number of Questions 25

Mr. Speaker, in all twenty-five (25) Questions have been scheduled to be answered.

Statements

Mr. Speaker may allow Statements duly admitted to be made on the floor of the House.

consideration and those which have already been presented to the House may also be considered.

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.

Questions --

Attorney-General and Minister for

Justice -- 261, 475, 502, 503.

Minister for Defence -- 573.

Statements

Second Reading of Bills --

Food and Drugs (Amendment) Bill

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

Committee Sittings. Wednesday, 5th July 2006

Questions --

Minister for Energy - 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310 and 542.

Statements

Presentation and First Reading of Bills --
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:15 a.m.
Bills, Papers and Reports
Mr. Speaker, Bills, Papers and Reports may be presented to the House for
Data Processing Control Board Decree (Repeal) Bill.
Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill.
The West African Examinations Council Bill.
Consideration Stage of Bills--
Institute of Journalism Bill, 2006.
Committee Sittings.

Questions --

Minister for Manpower Deve- lopment Youth and Employment

-- 289.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD -- 500, 515 and 579.

Statements.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Whistleblower Bill.

Committee Sittings. Friday, 7th July 2006

Questions --

Minister for Transportation -- 348, 349, 350, 351, 353, 354, 355 and

544.

Statements

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Food and Drugs (Amendment) Bill .

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

Committee Sittings.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Hon. Members, that is the proposed Business for the coming week. Any comment thereon?
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Yes, hon.
Member for Ashaiman --
Mr. Agbesi 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the course
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
You
are reading from the Order Paper for Wednesday or for Tuesday?
Mr. Agbesi 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, for Tuesday.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
You are reading that for Tuesday. I do not have it before me, but go ahead; I will listen to you.
Mr. Agbesi 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in that proposed Business for Wednesday, 28th June 2006, some Questions where put down to be asked of hon. Ministers. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, 28th June 2006, the Questions did not appear on the Order Paper. I expected that since they did not appear on the following day, which was Wednesday, they would appear for questioning the following week, which will be next week. From the Business Statement, those Questions have not been listed at all.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
So what you want to find out is what has been done to that. Yes, hon. Deputy Majority Leader.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am aware of those Questions for the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment. Mr. Speaker, they will be rescheduled and my hon. Colleague will be given enough time to inform his constituents so that they will listen to him.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
The Questions are therefore rescheduled; is that not it? Does that satisfy you, hon. Member for Ashaiman?
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that will be done at the next meeting of the Business Committee on Thursday.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Are you all right with that?
Mr. Agbesi 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, apart from this there are Questions that had been listed, but they disappeared weeks ago and we have no indications when those Questions -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Be a little bit specific.
Mr. Agbesi 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is so serious
because we put down the Questions for hon. Ministers so that our constituents will know what we are doing here, but if they do not appear, at least, we should be given indications when those Questions will be brought back.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Fair
enough, I think you have a point.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Yes, hon.
Majority Chief Whip.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:25 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I am not too sure that anybody performed any “vanishing act” on the Questions. I guess he is relating to Questions which were slated for the previous week, which could not be answered. I think we explained why they could not be answered. I am not too sure if my hon. Colleague was here at the time the explanation was given. But talking about Questions which have been slated and had disappeared, I am not too sure that anybody here has any power to perform any “vanishing act”.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Anyway,

In the absence of any other comments,

we will --
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
I asked
you to rise up early. Yes, what do you want to say?
Mr. Agbesi 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday we
had a closed Sitting of the House.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Yes.
Mr. Agbesi 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there was an
unfinished business and I expected that it will appear in the Business for next week so that we would know that there will be closed Sitting and the unfinished business will be taken on board. Mr. Speaker, I would want to know from the hon. Deputy Majority Leader whether we would have any closed Sitting for next week to discuss the unfinished business that was not finished yesterday.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday we had a closed Sitting to discuss certain matters of concern to hon. Members. Now, it was agreed that the hon. Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning would make available to the great Leader some data. If that is done, there will be a Leadership meeting on Tuesday and after that we will inform hon. Members of the date for the next closed Sitting. So, I assure my hon. Colleague that that matter is being very well handled by the hon. Majority Leader.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Hon.
Members, on that note, we will adopt the proposed Business for next week subject to change as and when necessary.
We move on to Question time. The first
Question stands in the name of Mr. Joe Kwashie Gidisu, hon. Member for Central Tongu for the Ministry of Transportation.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
hon. Minister is unavoidably absent and we seek your indulgence to permit his Deputy to answer the Questions.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Fair
enough. Let him come and answer the Questions.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:25 a.m.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION 10:25 a.m.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Yes, hon.
Member, any supplementary question?
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:25 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know the hon. Minister has not been to Adidome before. If he has been to Adidome, I would want to find out what measure he is using to describe the Adidome town roads as gravel-surfaced when not even a single road in the town
is gravelled.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Hon. Member, can you go over your question?
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:25 a.m.
My question is, what measure is the hon. Deputy Minister using to describe Adidome town roads as gravel- surfaced when not even a single road in the town is gravelled?
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I really do not understand my hon. Colleague. If a road is gravelled, it is gravelled, if it is tarred, it is tarred. So I do not understand what he is saying that a single -- [Interruption.]
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:25 a.m.
I said that not even one road in the town is gravelled and he is saying that -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Hon. Gidisu, is it your contention that what the hon. Minister has said so far is not true or correct? Are you saying -- [Interrup- tion.]
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:25 a.m.
It is false.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Are you
saying that no work at all has been done for the Adidome town? There has not been a single inch or yard of road that has been done in Adidome town; is that what you are saying?
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I would want to explain the situation.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Go ahead.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:25 a.m.
The main Junction- Adidome township road is the road under focus by the hon. Minister. But the point I am making is that, for the hon. Minister to
allege in his Answer -- and I read:
“The roads in the town are gravel- surfaced and are in fair condition.”
I would want to contest this assertion by asking him what measure he is using to say that Adidome town roads are gravel- surfaced when not even a single road in the town has such a gravel surface.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Hon. Member, do you want to answer the question for the hon. Minister or you are raising a point of order?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am raising a point of order.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
What is your point?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member interjected by saying that the Answer given by the hon. Minister is false and then he went on further to say that he wanted to contest the Answer that the hon. Minister has given. Mr. Speaker, that has no place in this House. Mr. Speaker, the issues that he is raising offends our Standing Order 67 (1) (b) --
“a Question shall not contain any arguments, expression of opinion, inferences, imputations, epithets or controversial, ironical or offensive expressions or hypothetical cases.”
Mr. Speaker, clearly, the conduct and words coming from the mouth of my hon. Colleague offends the provisions in Standing Order 67 (1) (b) -- [Interruptions] -- I am not running away. He cannot have his way when he
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Let everybody take his seat. Yes, hon. Member, are you doubting what the hon. Deputy Minister said? If so put it rightly, but do not ask questions meant to -- [Interruptions.] Hon. Members, please let us have a little silence here. Hon. Member, put your question, if you want to, but definitely you are not supposed to argue with him and ask for his opinion on what he is supposed to do. If you do not believe it say so; if you do, go ahead and ask another question.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there are no gravel roads in Adidome and I want to put that as a fact to the hon. Deputy Minister. For that matter the portion of his Answer that the roads in the town are gravel-surfaced and are in fair condition is a misnomer; it is a contradiction of the reality on the ground.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
So go ahead and ask any other question, if you want to.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:35 a.m.
So I would want to find out from him when they are going to really work on the town roads, as they are in really very poor condition.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon. Deputy Minister, the hon. Member is saying that indeed there has not been
any work done on the road that you are referring to at all and he is therefore asking when you are going to begin --
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague does not understand what is meant by a gravel-surfaced road. [Interruptions.]
Some hon. Members: Yes.
Several Members -- rose --
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon. Members, could you take your seats? [Interruptions.] Which one is offensive, hon. Member?
Mr. E. T. Mensah 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that the hon. Member does not understand what gravelled road means is insulting -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon. E. T. Mensah, please, allow him to carry his own load. He is saying that that is a technical word; this and others are technical words.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to tell the hon. Deputy Minister that the roads in Adidome are earth roads; they are not gravelled. For him to stand before this august House to contest the fact that the roads are gravelled is a misnomer -- [Interruptions.] -- It is a lie.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Please, hon. Members, let us have some order; there should not be exchanges -- [Interruptions] Please, hon. Gidisu, hold on.
Hon. Members, I want you to co- operate with me to handle this issue. If hon. Members are asking questions of the hon. Deputy Minister, allow them to ask their questions and allow the hon. Deputy Minister ample opportunity to explain. Those of you who are aside should not
engage in quarrels and exchanges; it does not help at all. So please, I want the hon. Deputy Minister to answer. You were on your feet, hon. Deputy Minister.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I can confirm that the material on the surface on the roads in Adidome is gravel of California Bearing Ratio, minimum of 40.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would want to find out from the hon. Deputy Minister whether he has ever been to Adidome personally to confirm the point that he is making. [Interruptions.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
That is a fair question; let the hon. Deputy Minister answer. He is asking you whether you have ever been to Adidome.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have never been to Adidome, but we have Regional and District Engineers who give us information.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
That would be all for your supplementary; you have asked more than three supple- mentaries.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:35 a.m.
No, it is the same question we have been debating, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Listen, hon. Member, you go up to ask a Question and I allowed you to ask supplementaries. Unfortunately, you made it look like exchanges, asking him for his knowledge and so forth and you have asked about three more questions.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:35 a.m.
That was the only question I asked and that was about the regravelling -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
I am giving the floor to hon. Salia; ask your supplementary question.
Mr. Edward Salia 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, when was the road gravelled?
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think in answering this question I have to give a background. His interest is in when the Ministry has plans to face-lift the Adidome town roads, that is the issue in question -- [Interruptions.] Yes. When it was gravelled is immaterial.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon. Deputy Minister, do you know when it was gravelled? If you do not know, tell the House; if you know -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:35 a.m.
I do not have that information with me.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
You need time to get that. That is fair enough. Do you have any more questions?
Mr. Salia 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the question at issue is the dispute between the two hon. Members as to what the surface of the road is and its condition. The hon. Deputy Minister alleges or he states that it is a gravelled road in fair condition. The hon. Member says it is not a gravelled road, it is earth road. It is important to tell us when -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon. Member, that issue has already been settled. He has said that he has district and regional engineers on site who have informed him and he believes it; and he is in the position to confirm that it has been done. But as to when it was done, he says he does not know. Do you want to ask any other question?
Mr. Salia 10:35 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Can a gravelled road become an earth road?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Are you seeking an opinion?
Mr. Salia 10:35 a.m.
Can that road he says is gravelled become earth? [Pause.]
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, a gravelled road is earth road, because either the road is tarred or it is untarred. [Interruptions.] Yes, that is what it is.
Mr. Salia 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the hon. Member whether he knows that a road becomes earth before it becomes gravelled.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon. Member, you are seeking an opinion. The rules do not allow asking for opinion. [Interruptions.] No, you are seeking an opinion; you want to know whether a gravelled road can become this or that; it is seeking a technical opinion. Do you want to ask any other question? Go ahead.
Mr. Charles Hodogbey 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my question is on the issue of gravel on earth roads. Normally, when the condition of a road is so bad, then it tends to become an earth road. My question goes to the hon. Deputy Minister about the paragraph -- The Ministry has approved an additional 2.9 kilometres for tarring of town roads as an addendum to the ongoing contract. My question is, how much is the cost of the 2.9 kilometres as an addendum to this?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
You want the cost of the addendum? Well, hon. Deputy Minister -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Hodogbey 10:35 a.m.
Is it part of the ¢4.7 billion, since he is saying it is an addendum, or it is additional cost associated with the 2.9 kilometres?
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry has approved 2.9 kilometres for tarring of the town roads as an addendum to the ongoing contract. We are still working on the cost of this addendum and when this is ready I can let him know.
Mr. Agbesi 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I had been to Adidome just a few days ago. I saw the project that the hon. Deputy Minister is talking about. They are constructing drains only along one side of the road. I would want to know from the hon. Deputy Minister whether the contract is only to construct drains along one side of the road or both sides of the road.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, drains are normally constructed on both sides of the road. As I said, works are 50 per cent completed and if they are working on one side, the other side will be done in due course.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon. Members, we move on to the next Question. Feeder Roads in the Kintampo South
Constituency
Q. 342. Mr. Yaw Effah-Baafi asked the Minister for Transportation what programme the Ministry had towards the construction of the following feeder roads in the Kintampo South constituency:
(i) Kokuma - Nyame Bekyere;
(ii) Kokuma - Dumanafo
(iii) Beposo - Akowuakrom.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, (i) Kokuma-Nyame Bekyere, (ii) Kokuma- Dumanafo.
Background
Mr. Effah-Baafi 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Kokuma-Dumanafo segment of the road is crossed by a river and vehicles cross this road because of an underlying rock. I would therefore want to know from the hon. Deputy Minister if the Ministry will be in a position to provide a bridge or a culvert of some sort to facilitate the passage of the vehicles.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if I got him clearly he says the road is crossed by a river which has no culvert -- [Pause.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Well, if you want the question repeated, the hon. Member may repeat it. Hon. Member, can you repeat your question? It appears that the hon. Deputy Minister did not grasp it fully.
Mr. Effah-Baafi 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, what
I said was that the Kokuma-Dumanafo segment of the road is crossed by a river and vehicles cross the river successfully because there is an underlying rock. I am asking the hon. Deputy Minister whether the Ministry will be in a position to provide either a bridge or a culvert of some sort to facilitate the passage of vehicles.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I now understand that he is talking about a stream, not a river, and the Ministry would ask its engineers to go and have a look and design an appropriate intervention for it.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon. Members, we move on to the next Question.
Tuobodom-Offuman, Asuyei Junction- Bouyam Roads
Q. 343. Mr. Alex Kyeremeh asked the Minister for Transportation what was withholding the tarring of the Tuobodom- Offuman and Asuyei Junction-Bouyam roads as promised during the run-up to the 2004 elections.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Tuobodom-Offuman feeder road is an engineered gravelled road. It is 20 km long and is located both in the Wenchi and Techiman Districts of the Brong Ahafo Region. Future Programme
The Offuman-Tuobodom feeder road has been programmed for routine/recurrent maintenance this year. The road together with others was advertised in the 24th May 2006 edition of The Ghanaian Times.
It is expected that the procurement process would have been completed for the award of the contract by the end of July 2006.
The Offuman-Tuobodom feeder road has been programmed for surfacing in 2007 under GOG funding.
Meanwhile the surfacing of the Offuman Town road (1.8 km) was awarded in November 2004 to Messrs Jowarks Enterprise Limited under HIPC funding. The contract was annulled due to the inability of the contractor to provide the necessary security and other contractual requirements.
The project has been repackaged for
re-award. The evaluation report on the bids has been completed. It is expected that the project will be awarded by the end of July this year.
Asuyei Junction-Buoyam
Background
The Asuyie Junction-Buoyam feeder road is an engineered gravel road. It is 11.2 km long and is located in the Techiman District of the Brong Ahafo Region. No promise was made to tar this road.
Current Programme
The Asuyie Junction-Buoyam feeder road has been programmed for routine/ recurrent maintenance this year. The roads together with others were advertised in the 24th May 2006 edition of The Ghanaian Times.
It is expected that the project will be awarded by end of July this year.
Studies will be carried out next year on the road and the outcome of the studies will determine the type of intervention that might be needed on the road.
Mr. Kyeremeh 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would
like to know from the hon. Deputy Minister why it has taken a long time to re-award Offuman township road after the contract was abrogated.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it took a long time for the contractor who won the bid to provide the necessary security, which at the end of it he was unable to do. That was the reason why it took time for it to be repackaged and re-awarded.
Mr. Kyeremeh 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the hon. Deputy Minister when Asuyei Junction-Buoyam road will be tarred, since this links up very important tourist centres in Brong Ahafo
Region. I am referring to Buoyam Cave and Asuyei Grotto.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, before we decide to tar a road, we carry out studies; and in the last portion of the Answer, we said that studies would be carried out next year and the outcome of the studies would determine what kind of intervention we should provide.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Hon. Members, we will move on to the next Question. The next Question is in the name of hon. Member for Sene (Mr. Felix Twumasi-Appiah).
Mr. M. Ayariga 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member is not here today; he is at the Awards Ceremony, so he has asked me to ask the Question on his behalf and with your permission, I will proceed to do so. He had to accompany the Minority Leader, our Leader does not walk alone.
Atebubu-Kojokrom-Kwame Danso Road (Tarring)
Q. 344. Mr. M. Ayariga (on behalf of Mr. Felix Twumasi-Appiah) asked the Minister for Transportation when the Atebubu-Kojokrom-Kwame Danso Road would be tarred.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the 93 km Atebubu-Kwame Danso- Kojokrom Road is the Regional route R47 in the Brong Ahafo Region. The road is gravel- surfaced and in fair condition.
The tarring of this road is being undertaken in phases. Three (3) km of the Atebubu Town road has been tarred. One (1) km of this project passes through Atebubu. In addition, 2 km of the section of the road which passes through Kwame Danso has also been tarred. The contract
for the tarring of these roads was awarded to Messrs Cymain (Gh) Limited at a contract sum of ¢7.44 billion. The project was awarded on 12th September, 2003 for completion by 11th September, 2004. The project was completed in January, 2006 and it is in the defects liability period of one year.
The remaining 90 km gravelled section
from Atebubu to Kojokrom together with other roads have been awarded to Messrs Kilam Limited for grading at the contract sum of ¢1.66 billion. The project was awarded on 5th May, 2005 for completion by 31st December, 2006. The first round of grading for 2006 was completed in April this year.
Regravelling and construction of drainage structures (4 km) from Kojokrom to the New Volta Lake Landing Bay has been awarded to Messrs Achwek Limited at a contract sum of ¢919.84 million.
The project was awarded on 12th April, 2005 for completion by 11th April, 2006.
The delay in the completion of the project was as a result of sub-contracting arrangements made between the original contractor, Messrs Achwek and Messrs Kilam. The project was finally completed on 26th June, 2006.
The tarring of an additional 10 km from Atebubu to Kwame Danso (km 1-11) was advertised in The Ghanaian Times on 27th April, 2006 and bids received are currently being evaluated. The tarring of the road is expected to be awarded by the end of August, 2006.
Additionally, the regravelling of the Kwame Danso-Kojokrom (km 50-60) is at bid evaluation stage. The project is
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
The next Question is in the name of hon. Member for Walewale (Mr. Iddrisu Zakari Alidu).
Mr. T. A. Ibrahim 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member is absent and he has asked me to ask the Question on his behalf, and with your permission, I will ask the Question.
Roads in Walewale Constituency (Status)
Q. 345. Mr. T. A. Ibrahim (on behalf of Mr. Iddrisu Zakari Alidu) asked the Minister for Transportation the status of the following roads in the Walewale constituency:
(i) Wungu-Yama,
(ii) Yama-Mishio; and
(iii) Yama-Bulbia.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Wungu-Yama-Zoa feeder road is engineered. It is 15.6 km long and it is located in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region.
The Wungu-Yama feeder road was awarded for regravelling in March 2003 to Messrs Wilhelm Company Limited at the contract price of ¢724.6 million. The project was funded under the International Development Association (IDA).The project which should have been completed in July 2004 was terminated in December
2003 after the contractor had abandoned the site. At the time of termination, 43 per cent of works had been completed. Works completed were clearing of vegetation and gravelling of 8 kilometres.
The project has been repackaged for re-tendering in July this year.
(i) Yama-Mishio
(ii) Yama-Bulbia
The Yama-Mishio (7.3 km ) and Yama- Bulbia (6.3 km ) feeder roads are partially engineered and are located in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region.
The two roads together with others totalling 56 km were awarded for reshaping in August 2004. The project was executed by Messrs Mawums Agency at a cost of ¢1.466 billion. The project was completed in March 2005 under GOG funding.
The Yama-Mishio and Yama-Bulbia feeder roads have been programmed for spot improvement this year under Danida Transport Sector Programme Support Phase 2 (TSPS 2).
Engineering studies will be completed at the end of June this year. The project will be advertised for competitive bidding by the end of July this year. It is expected that the works contract will be awarded by the end of September this year.
Mr. Ibrahim 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would want to ask the Deputy Minister for Transport, whether he is aware that the contractor, Messrs Wilhelm Company Limited has piled heaps of gravel on the road making it impossible for motorists to ply the road.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am not aware.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Your last supplementary.
Mr. Ibrahim 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the Deputy Minister's Answer, he mentioned that the project, Wungu -Yama feeder road awarded to Messrs Wilhelm Company Limited was at the contract sum of ¢724.6 million and the project was 43 per cent complete and has been terminated. I want to find out from the Deputy Minister how much of the ¢724.6 million was paid to the contractor.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not have the figure with me but I believe that he would be paid according to the percentage of completion of the work that he has done. So I expect that he would be paid 43 per cent of the ¢724.6 million.
Mr. Ibrahim 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to find out from the Deputy Minister, whether his Ministry has taken the pain to find out why the contractor has abandoned the road.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have not found out why, but what we know is that he did not perform and that was why we had to terminate the contract.
Kadjebi-Oti Damanko Road (Tarring)
Q. 346. Mr. Joseph Kwaku Nayan asked the Minister for Transportation when the untarred portion of the Kadjebi- Oti Damanko road would be tarred.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Kadjebi-Oti Damanko road is a section of the National road (N2). The N2 starts at Tema in the Greater Accra Region and runs through Yendi and ends at Kulungugu in the Upper East Region.
The history of the construction of the
above national road is as follows:
1. The Jasikan-Kadjebi Section (km 0 - 24) was awarded to Messrs Kassardjan on 2nd December, 1992. This was subsequently terminated on 19 th February, 2002 due to poor performance. At the time of termination, the contractor had completed works up to km 17, leaving a gap of 7 km untarred (between Dzindzinso and Kadjebi).
2. The section from (km 24-57) which is between Dzindzinso and Pepesu, was awarded to Messrs Top International Engineering Limited on the 15th of March, 2003; and completed on 18th March, 2005.
Tenders have been received for the construction of the 7 km gap between Kadjebi and Dzindzinso and is being evaluated. The works contract will be awarded by the end of August this year. The project will be funded by the Government of Ghana.
The untarred portions from Kadjebi to Oti Damanko and other roads have been awarded to Messrs Samoswag Construction Works for grading at a contract sum of ¢5.22 billion. The contract was awarded on 16th August, 2005 for completion by 31st December, 2006.
Mr. Speaker, on our future programme, feasibility and detailed engineering studies for the tarring of the Brewaniase to Oti Damanko section has been completed.
The implementation of the road project will be considered under the Transport Sector Development Programme (TSDP) which commences after 2007.
The road would however be kept motorable through routine maintenance until its implementation.
Mr. Nayan 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague, the Deputy Minister is saying
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, well, I said the Transpsort Sector Development Programme (TSDP) commences in 2007, and this road will be considered in 2007 because it is a very important eastern corridor which the Ministry wants to attend to.
Mr. Nayan 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaekr, I think my question is that, he is saying it will commence after 2007 -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
He has changed his position; he said it will be considered in 2007.
Asiwa-Amoaful Road (Tarring)
Q. 347. Nana Yaw Ofori-Kuragu asked the Minsiter for Transportation when the road from Asiwa to Amoaful would be tarred.
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the 36 km Bekwai-Amoaful-Asiwa road forms part of the Bekwai-Asiwa- Nobewam Regional route R87 in the Ashanti Region. The road is gravel surfaced and in fair condition.
The section of the road from Nobewam to Asiwa totalling 22 km is tarred. This was executed in four phases.
The tarring of this road from Nobewam to Asiwa was undertaken in phases by DFR until it was handed over to the GHA. The programme for the phased tarring of the road was interrupted as a result of the handing-over of the road from DFR to GHA in 2000.
The tarring from Bekwai to Asiwa is being undertaken in phases by GHA.
The first 5 km from Bekwai to Abodom has been awarded to Messrs I. K. Owusu and Sons Limited at a contract sum of ¢5.06 billion. The project was awarded on 4th November, 2004 for completion by 3rd December, 2006. Forty-five (45) per cent of the works have been completed and this consisted of the tarring of 1 km, 1.5 km of base and 95 per cent of concrete works. The contractor is currently on site.
The upgrading (tarring) of additional 5 km for the next phase would be considered under the 2007 periodic maintenance programme that will be funded by GOG.
In addition, the Ministry has approved a further 2.5 km to the current 2.5 km as an addendum to the first contract.
Mr. Ofori-Kuragu 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, is the hon. Deputy Minister aware that although the road was captured in this year's Budget, it was captured as Asiwa to Amoaful but not Amoaful to Asiwa? In other words, the idea was to start the roads from Bosome Freho and not Bekwai constituency; and that nothing at all was done about it this year.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon.
Deputy Minister, do you understand the question? What the hon. Member is saying is that from the budgetary allocation it was meant to start the other way round round; instead, maybe his constituency has been swerved and nothing has been done about it at all. Can you react to that?
Mr. Opare-Asamoah 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
did add -- but it is not part of the Answer given -- that an additional 2.5 kilometres has been approved by the Ministry in May this year as an addendum to the contract. So 5 kilometres of that road will be completed this year.
Mr. Ofori- Kuragu 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
would advise the hon. Deputy Minister to check with the Ghana Highway Authority because it looks as if whatever has been added on is still being added onto the existing contract awarded way back in the year 2004. But I am talking about budgetary allocation for this year, from Asiwa to Amoaful.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Very well.
Hon. Members, that brings us to the end of Question Time. We have already spent one hour fifteen minutes on that and so let us move on to Statements. Today is Friday and so let us hurry. Thank you very much, hon. Deputy Minister for making yourself available to answer Questions from Members of this House.
The first Statement, short as it is, is
from the hon. Member for Asutifi North (Mr. Paul Okoh) on Senior Citizens' Day in Ghana.
STATEMENTS 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Joe Kwashie Gidisu (NDC -- Central Tongu) 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to get associated with the Statement on the floor. I equally want to salute our senior citizens on the declaration of 1st July as Senior Citizens' Day. Mr. Speaker, on such an occasion, it is very necessary for all of us to reflect soberly, because as noted by the maker of the Statement, ageing is a process and all of us are marching towards that terminal point.
Mr. Speaker, one very strong institu-
tion which had been the pivot for ageing in our society is the extended family system. Such a system provided authority for such elderly members, not only in the family but also in the community. But Mr. Speaker, unfortunately situations have changed dramatically over the years, and
Ms. Josephine Hilda Addoh (NPP -- Kwadaso) 11:35 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for this opportunity to add my voice to the Statement on the floor of the House.
Mr. Speaker, those who have left this world of ours have played their roles. Those who have taken their places are also playing their roles. Mr. Speaker, old people have been historians of this our country; old people have played the role of caretakers in many of our homes. It is sad to learn that in other countries, when people get old they are sent to what they call homes to be taken care of; and it is heart-warming to know that in African homes old people are taken care of by family members.
Mr. Speaker, when we pray for long life, we are praying to get older and older. So this is the advice that I would give to all people who call themselves young. If you listen to people when they talk these days, they make reference to the young generation -- “we are the young people; the owners of this country”, and so on and so forth.

People say that old-age starts at 40 but these days they are celebrating it from 60. So between 40 years and 60 years we doubt whether we are young or old. When we say the new generation are the owners of this country, all we are saying is that they should please serve the older people -- serve them well, show them respect, and give them the support so that when they leave this world they the younger generation can also take control of this world of ours.

Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to advise younger people to adhere to our customs, those aspects of our customs which teach us to show respect to older people, to support older people and to do whatever we can to support these people when they are no longer in the situation where they can help themselves and they need our help.

Also, there is this piece of advice, that we should make hay while the sun shines. This is the time younger people should save towards old-age. If you pray for long life as I have said, you will also go through whatever they are going through.

For the State, I wish to make this request. The traditional system is supporting old people but I think it is time we looked at a system where we could provide shelter for our old people, because things are changing. A time will come when younger generations and younger families may not be in a position to help old people even if they would like to. So there is this need for the State to come to the aid of old people by trying to put up accommodation, shelter, which can take care of these people when the time comes; because I know the time will definitely come where people cannot support the old people.

Mr. Speaker, we may also have, at this time, to start doing something about our insurance policies. Young people, people who are not too old, between 40 and 60 years who describe themselves as not being too old can go in for life insurance schemes -- enter those schemes and put something aside for old-age.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity and I congratulate the maker of the Statement.

Mr. C. S. Hodogbey (NDC -- North

Tongu): Mr. Speaker, the Statement on senior citizens is very important in the sense that every nation has become great as a result of young people turning to be aged. Our politicians, people who have contributed to the growth of this nation, the military men, the economists, the bankers, they all were very young and grew to the age where they are now called senior citizens.

In most countries special privileges are reserved for senior citizens. When they go to departmental stores, they are given special discounts. The government builds for them special homes which are called “Senior citizen's homes”.

On transportation, they are given special facilities to wheel them from their homes to places. In insurance they are given special discounts. In every aspect they are given some kind of recognition by the government. The question is: what is our Government doing to give some privileges to our senior citizens who have contributed so much to this country? Some of them when you see them, you will have sympathy for them.

We should build a system whereby -- as we are all sitting down here today as young people, we should remember that we shall all grow to become old. So the conditions that Parliament would set up today, if we do not enjoy today, our children who would grow up would come
Mr. Mahama Ayariga (NDC -- Bawku Central) 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to associate myself with this Statement, even though I am a very young man.
Mr. Speaker, just as one of my hon. Colleagues has indicated, we now have a social system in which the aged depend on family and children for their support. It is becoming increasingly evident that that type of social system cannot be sustained. Because of urbanization and migration that is taking place, many people are moving from their communities to different communities in search of opportunities, and in the process they are distancing themselves from their aged; and the aged are receiving less and less support from family members, including even their own children.
Mr. Speaker, this makes it compelling for us, as a country, to begin to shift away from that and create a social system, that is not entirely dependent on the family, for taking care of the aged in our society. But before we would be able to do that we need to create a sound economic base that will provide the relevant support for such a social system.
Indeed, let me say without intending to be disrespectful, that if we are not able today to take care of the aged, it is because during their youthful days, they were not able to work hard enough to create a sound economy that would today be able to provide the relevant infrastructure to support an effective social system.
Learning from this lesson then, we have to work very hard to be able to create a sound economy so that tomorrow, we would be able to develop an effective social system that would be able to provide support for the aged when they are unable to work and take care of themselves.
Mr. Speaker, there are some institutions that originally were meant to put in place infrastructure that would help ensure that when people got old they would still have something to depend on. One such system has been the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). The whole idea behind it was to create a social system that will provide support for the aged during their old age, but the difficulty is that this only takes care of the formal sector; those in the formal sector. And we know that very few people in this country are captured in the formal sector and so we need to re-engineer the SSNIT system in such a way that it would be able to capture those who are in the informal system.
Indeed, it is not the case that it is only those who are in the formal system who have high incomes or consistent incomes. There are many in the informal sector who are receiving consistent income and very high income and yet because the SSNIT system does not adequately capture them during their youthful days, they will make a lot of money, they may spend it without actually putting aside enough to take care of them during old age when they become a burden on all of us. So the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) system needs to be re-engineered and restructured in such a way that it can effectively take care of those in the informal sector so that during their old age, they will be able to benefit from any SSNIT system.
Mr. Speaker, on that note, I identify with the Statement that has been made by my hon. Colleague.
Mr. Albert Kwaku Obbin (NPP -- Prestea/Huni Valley) 11:45 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Statement. Mr. Speaker,
one thing we the young ones sometimes forget is that we shall also grow old one day and become senior citizens. Mr. Speaker, I am saying this because of the way some of these pensioners are treated in most offices. Mr. Speaker, it is very pathetic that somebody may use most part of his youthful days in serving the nation and when he goes on pension, how his pension is actually processed becomes a problem.
Mr. Speaker, I am saying this in relation to a situation that happened in my constituency where a pensioner from that area had to travel to Accra on several occasions. He was a teacher and he had to travel from Prestea to Accra on several occasions but the last time that he came nobody heard of him again.
In fact , when you go to other organizations, especially the Police Service, I also know of a policeman who has gone on pension and for about two years he has not received his pension benefits. He has been travelling from that area to Accra on several occasions without getting his benefits. Sometimes it is we the young ones at the Pension Office who work for these people and we forget that we shall also grow old one day and face the same problem.
Mr. Speaker, I am suggesting that a special desk should be provided for each Ministry to serve the aged or the pensioners so that they can process their pension benefits very, very fast.
Mr. Speaker, another area is the
informal sector. It is true that some people in the informal sector in their youthful age got money but there are other people also who were actually on a very low income. Mr. Speaker, let us take, for instance, food crop farmers, they work from morning till evening in their
youthful days, but Mr. Speaker, because income in the agricultural sector is very low they get little to save; once they save little, in their old age they also do not get any social security.
Mr. Speaker, incomes are also low for young ones because at the end of the month the young man has not got enough, the salary cannot serve him and his children. And Mr. Speaker, in Ghana, looking after one's parents is not a legal -- We do not have legal obligation to look after our mothers or fathers as it is in the case of children. It becomes a moral obligation; no one can take you to court for not caring for your father or your mother as could be done for not caring for your children. And therefore, a better system, I believe, must be put in place so that at old age people can get something to live on.
Mr. Speaker, it is very pathetic that our food crop farmers, tomato farmers, rice farmers and all those in the agricultural sector, at their old age, we see them in a very wretched situation. There must be a system; the Social Security and National Insurance Trust must care for these people. There must be a better way -- the SSNIT must find better means by which farmers could also be covered in their youthful days so that they can also enjoy the little social security that those in the formal sector are benefiting from.
With these words, I also thank the maker of this brilliant Statement.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Few
words, indeed. And on that note, hon. Members, I want to be advised by the Leadership of the House.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 11:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg
to move that we adjourn proceedings to Tuesday next at 10.00 a.m.
Mr. Lee Ocran 11:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to
ADJOURNMENT 11:45 a.m.