Debates of 13 Jul 2006

MR. SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10 a.m.

CORRECTION OF VOTES 10 a.m.

AND PROCEEDINGS AND 10 a.m.

THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10 a.m.

Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Order! Order! Correction of Votes and Proceedings, Wednesday, 12th July 2006. Page 1. . . 8.
Mr. David Hennric Yeboah 10 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, yesterday I was present but my name is listed as “absent with permission”.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Thank you. Correction
would be done. Pages 9 . . . 18.
Mrs. Gifty Eugenia Kusi 10 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, page 18, “In Attendance” -- at the meeting over which I presided were a lot of hon. Members of Parliament in attendance but their names are not here.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Thank you. Page 19
. . . 24. Hon. Members, we have two Official Reports; that of Thursday, 6th July 2006 and Friday, 7th July 2006 -- [Pause.] Hon. Members, we now move to item 3 -- Statements.
STATEMENTS 10 a.m.

Mr. Sampson Ahi (NDC -- Juabeso) 10:10 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity. Mr. Speaker, cocoa farmers in the country have been cheated for a long time. Mr. Speaker, if you go to the cocoa growing areas and look at the conditions under which these farmers struggle to cultivate the cocoa for us to export, you will be surprised.
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. Member who
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon. Member for Atwima Nwabiagya, do you have a point of order?
Mr. Owusu-Bio 10:10 a.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member on the floor is grossly misleading this House because in his statement he is saying that there is no cocoa tree here in Accra. Mr. Speaker, for his information I have one in my house -- [Laughter] -- So he is grossly misleading this House. [Interruptions.]
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Order! Hon. Member for Juabeso, please continue
Mr. Ahi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I will ignore him. As I speak now, COCOBOD is considering constructing another cocoa clinic in Kumasi. But the various communities which produce large quantities of cocoa do not have this facility. If you travel from Bibiani, through Wiawso, Asawinso, Juabeso, to Osei Kojokrom, about 90 per cent of the people there are cocoa farmers but, Mr. Speaker, we have the poorest roads in that part of the country.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Order! Order!
Mr. Ahi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, for the past six years, Juabeso-Kalo road has not seen a grader. But let me add that through the effort of the Minister for Transportation
Mr. Ahi 10:10 a.m.
But Mr. Speaker, the contractor, as I speak now, is not on site. So maybe, the hon. Minister is present and he can inform the contractor to go to site so that the people over there can also enjoy good life.
Mr. Speaker, cocoa farmers need to be commended. I have said it here before that this scholarship scheme for cocoa farmers' children in secondary schools, it is difficult for these farmers to access it. COCOBOD has demarcated certain centres where cocoa farmers have to travel over long distances to access the forms. Because of that and because of poverty, most of these cocoa farmers do not even access the forms, let alone enjoy the facility.
So I think that COCOBOD should decentralize the distribution of cocoa scholarship forms to the various districts so that cocoa farmers can access them. But as it stands at the moment, if you should go to my area, farmers who want to take the advantage of this facility have to travel from Amoaya, Kwesikrom to Asawinso before they can access the forms.
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon. Member for Sissala West, do you have a point of order to raise?
Mr. Bayirga 10:10 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. The hon. Member is grossly misleading this House. The scholarship forms are sent to schools so that the -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. Bayirga 10:10 a.m.
They are sent to --
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon. Member for Juabeso, it is time to conclude.
Mr. Ahi 10:10 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My hon. Friend is from Sissala where there is no cocoa tree, so he should allow me to -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon. Member, please conclude.
Mr. Ahi 10:10 a.m.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I have said it here before that the mass spraying exercise which is going on in the country, is a laudable programme which this Government has embarked on. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government started it and when this Government came in, they continued with it because it is good -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon. Member, conclude.
Mr. Ahi 10:10 a.m.
But Mr. Speaker, what is happening now is that if you go to Wiawso, Juabeso, Essam, the spraying gangs are selected based on party affiliation; that is the fact on the ground -- [Some hon. Members: “Shame! Shame!”] And I would want to call on COCOBOD to make sure that irrespective of one's political affiliation -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Kwadjo Opare-Hammond 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague on the other side is grossly misleading this House. He is making very serious allegations which he cannot substantiate. Mr. Speaker, in this House if you make statements and you cannot substantiate them then the honourable thing that one needs to do is to withdraw. Mr. Speaker, he just said that certain allocations are being made based
on party affiliations. Mr. Speaker, if he cannot prove this, then we want to ask him to withdraw. Mr. Speaker, with all respect, please ask him to withdraw.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Member for
Adenta, he has not made mention of any specific party so do not worry about that. Let him continue.
Mr. Ahi 10:20 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So
I commend the maker of the Statement; and Mr. Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity.
Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo (NPP --
Amenfi East): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to also associate myself with some aspects of the Statement made on the floor of this House.
Mr. Speaker, much as I agree with the maker of the Statement that cocoa farmers ought to be assisted in every way in this country, not only in the Western Region, not only in the Sefwi area but generally in the whole country, there are some issues that the maker of the Statement has made which need to be commented upon.
Mr. Speaker, he has presented an opinion to suggest that cocoa farmers in the Sefwi area are not being treated fairly, to the extent that even when it comes to health they cannot access health facilities in the Sefwi area. But Mr. Speaker, let me draw the attention of the maker of the Statement and then the hon. Member from Juabeso to the fact that when you go to the Sefwi area, the Government -- and I mean the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government -- has in its term of office built a number of clinics in the Sefwi area. Mr. Speaker, the NPP Government has put up a multi-billion clinic at Adabokrom; the NPP Government has put up a multi-
billion clinic at Akontombra; the NPP Government has put up a multi-billion clinic at Nsawoura -- [Hear! Hear!] Mr. Speaker, at Juabeso, for the first time --
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Member for Sefwi
Wiawso, do you have a point of order to raise?
Mr. E. P. Aidoo 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Order! Order! Hon.
Member for Sefwi Wiawso, you may use the word “mislead” and not use the word “deceive”.
Mr. E. P. Aidoo 10:20 a.m.
Thank you, Mr.
Mr. E. P. Aidoo 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think
the former Regional Minister should be fair to the House. What he is saying, that the NPP Government started the project is something that is rather misleading. I have the documents; if the House gives me the chance I will produce them even tomorrow in the House -- [Inter- ruptions.] I have them in my house. So Mr. Speaker, he should be mindful of the fact that the project was started during my tenure as District Chief Executive -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Order! Order!
Mr. E. P. Aidoo 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it was
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Member for Amenfi
East, you may continue now.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, by his own admission, he has misled this House seriously. Mr. Speaker, in his submission, that is, in the Statement that he made he indicated that his constituents could not access any health facility in the Sefwi Wiawso area -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Order! Order!
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 10:20 a.m.
He mentioned a
clinic and now he is admitting that a clinic was started by him. But Mr. Speaker, it is never true that a clinic was started by him.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Member for
Amenfi East, please comment on the Statement; this is not the time for debate.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, not
only that; the hon. Member for Juabeso has also made a lot of assertions which should not be allowed to pass as water under the bridge just like that. Mr. Speaker, in the Juabeso District, for the first time in the history of this country the road in Juabeso town was tarred -- for the first time. [Uproar.] Mr. Speaker, until the NPP Government came into power, the people in the district had never seen a tarred road within the district -- [Interruption.]
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Member for
Juabeso, do you have a point of order to raise?
Mr. Ahi 10:20 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the former Regional Minister is misleading the House. Mr. Speaker, if you go to Juabeso, he is saying that for the first time Juabeso town roads have been tarred; it is not true. Mr. Speaker, if you go there, it is only about 20 per cent of the entire principal streets -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Order! Order! Hon.
Members, let us have order.
Mr. Ahi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is only about
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Order! Let him continue.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, all
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Order! Order! Hon.
Member, I hope you are about to conclude.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am
about to. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, it now takes not more than ten minutes to travel that distance, because the road has been upgraded.
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Member for Wa
Central, do you have a point of order?
Mr. Pelpuo 10:30 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr.
Speaker, I wish that you called my hon. Colleague, the former Western Regional Minister to order. The hon. Member who made the Statement raised issues relating to the problem of inaccessibility to health services by cocoa farmers in his area, as well as the problem of discrimination in the mass spraying of cocoa in his area. The former Western Regional Minister is provoking a debate and diverting the attention of hon. Members from the real issue on the floor. Mr. Speaker, he should be called to order to stick to the issues on the floor, or else he should stop contributing on the issue.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Member for Wa
Central, I am in charge. Hon. Member, please conclude.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, all that I am saying is that the picture should not be painted as if this Government is unfairly treating cocoa farmers in the Sefwi Wiawso area or in the Sefwi area. That should not be the case. Of course, we know that not everything is right with the Western Region; that we admit. But Mr. Speaker, to just single out the Sefwi area and then always come to the floor of this House to say that the Government has not done this and that, when indeed, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government is providing services for the region, when the Government is making every effort to improve the road network in the region as well as the Sefwi area, when health facilities are being improved -- Mr. Speaker, the Statement is all right but then some aspects of it should not be countenanced on the floor of this House.
For that matter, Mr. Speaker, even
Mr. Eric Opoku (NDC -- Asunafo South) 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this important Statement.
Mr. Speaker, agriculture is the major activity that supports the economy of this country. It is the backbone of the Ghanaian economy and therefore one cannot talk about economic development without looking at agriculture. And when we talk about agriculture, the cocoa sector dominates.
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Member for
Bosomtwe, do you have any point of order?
Mr. Osei-Mensah 10:30 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. Member should get the facts straight. He should know the factors that determine the local producer price of cocoa. Mr. Speaker, since 2002 the world market price for cocoa has been reduced. Again, Mr. Speaker, the exchange rate has also been the same since 2002, and these are the two key factors that determine the local price of cocoa. [Uproar.] Mr. Speaker, currently, as I speak, the producer price of cocoa is over 72 per cent of the world market price instead of the 70 per cent
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Member for Asunafo South, please continue.
Mr. Opoku 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think my
hon. Colleague does not know more about cocoa than me. I have the facts here and I would let him know.
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Majority Leader,
do you have any point of order?
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I think there is one misleading statement that my hon. Colleague has brought up which needs to be corrected. For him to suggest that the cocoa growing areas are where we have the poorest people may be contradicting the data we all have, which suggest that the poorest areas are in the two Upper Regions and the Northern Region; and therefore we should not create that impression now.
Mr. Opoku 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I said that the producers of cocoa are poor and it is a fact. [Interruptions] -- Mr. Speaker, I want to explain this. I am saying this because -- [Interruptions]
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Order!
Mr. Opoku 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am saying
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Order! Order!
Mr. Opoku 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, for example,
in the year 2000, the producer price for a bag of cocoa in this country was ¢217,500 and a packet of roofing sheets was ¢195,000. Today, when you get to the same area, the same market, a bag of cocoa is bought at ¢562,500 and a packet of roofing sheets is ¢740,000. [Interrup- tions.] How can a farmer buy them?
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Member for
Bosomtwe, do you have any point of order?
Mr. Osei-Mensah 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, again, the hon. Member is totally misleading this House. He says that people within the cocoa growing areas are among the poorest in this country. Mr. Speaker, by the Ghana Living Standard Survey, the four poorest regions in this country are the three northern regions and the Central Region. Mr. Speaker, the three northern regions do not grow cocoa in this country. Again, when you come to the Central Region, it is not among the top cocoa growing areas. Among all the six cocoa growing areas, Central Region is not among the top in this country. So he is totally misleading this House.
Mr. Opoku 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think I have
to ignore him. Mr. Speaker, when the producer price
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Member for
Amenfi East, do you have a point of order?
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 10:30 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I think on the floor of this House, arguments are to be based on facts. For the hon. Member to stand on the floor of this House to say that cocoa farmers are the poorest or among the poorest in this country, it is a sweeping statement. Mr. Speaker, it should not be allowed -- [Interruptions] -- No, he has to withdraw.
Mr. Speaker, just as the hon. Member indicated, cash crop growers are not among the poorest in this country; it is rather food crop growers who are the poorest in this country, according to statistical survey. So Mr. Speaker, such a sweeping statement should not be allowed to go into the Hansard. Therefore, he should withdraw that statement. It is not right. He does not have the facts.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Member for
Asunafo South, please continue.
Mr. Poku 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think the
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Member, please
continue.
Mr. Opoku 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I was saying that when the producer price of cocoa was being fixed at ¢562,500.00, the world market price was $1,450 per every tonne of cocoa. Today -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Member, we are not debating at this stage; just comment.
Mr. Opoku 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am saying that even though at that time the producer price was $1,450 per tonne, today the world market price per tonne of cocoa as captured in the Daily Graphic of Monday, 10th July, 2006, is $1,650. It means that the

Mr. Speaker, I would also want to talk
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
You do not have much
time.
Mr. Opoku 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think
Mr. Yaw Baah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on
a point of order. Mr. Speaker, I am seeking your ruling on this matter. The point of the hon. Member who made the Statement, was particularly on a section of the country, that is, Sefwi Wiawso; but the hon. Member on the floor is making a universal assessment of an issue which is not the matter at stake. He made the Statement with particular reference to the Sefwi Wiawso area but he is talking universally; and that is not the basis. So he should rather be called upon to address the issue which was peculiar only to the Sefwi Wiawso area, and not the whole country.
Mr. Opoku 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on the mass
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Order! Order! Please
continue.
Mr. Opoku 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, what is happening is that by the application of insecticides we can treat the capsid, and by the application of fungicides we can deal with the cocoa blackpod disease. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately in these two regions, the Brong Ahafo and Western Regions the Government has been applying only the fungicides without the insecticides, and this is seriously affecting cocoa production in these areas. [Interruptions.]
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Order! Order! Hon.
Members, let us have decorum. Please, conclude.
Mr. Opoku 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I believe
that my hon. Colleagues on the other side cannot be comfortable with this presentation because the Government has not treated the cocoa farmers in the Brong Ahafo and Western Regions fairly.
Mr. Speaker, with these few comments,
I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr. Akwasi Afrifa (NPP -- Fomena) 10:40 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to speak on this Statement.
Mr. Speaker, one could probably do much justice to this issue when one looks at the issue of cocoa cultivation in this country. The history is so simple. Cocoa cultivation started from the Eastern Region of Ghana, then when the swollen shoot disease attacked this important crop it moved to the Ashanti Region; and more particularly to the Ahafo and the Brong Ahafo sections where it did so well. No wonder then that a cocoa clinic was put up at Tepa; that was the first of its kind -- [Hear! Hear!] -- to enable the farmers access health care.
Mr. Speaker, Accra is the headquarters
of COCOBOD and again for the staff in Accra and the entire Accra population, a small clinic was put up at the headquarters there for the staff.
Mr. Speaker, everybody knows that geographically Kumasi is the centre of this country and the cocoa industry too is very popular in the Ashanti Region. Therefore, at the headquarters of COCOBOD a small clinic was opened to enable the staff and their families in the region, as well as all those who criss-cross the Ashanti Region and other parts of the country, to access the facility.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon. Member for Fomena, this is not the time for debate; just make your comments.
Mr. Afrifa 10:40 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker,
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on
a point of order. Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity. First of all, even before I proceed on my point of order, Mr. Speaker, I need your personal guidance on this matter. It appears that we are abandoning our game rules and that hon. Members are exploiting your indulgence and provoking debate on a matter that we all could narrow ourselves
to the content of the Statement.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Order! Order! I hope
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 10:40 a.m.
Not at all, Mr.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Order! Order! Hon. Member for Tamale South, I hope you are not going to fall into your own trap.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 10:40 a.m.
Not at all,
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Order! Order!
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 10:40 a.m.
Therefore it is
very misleading for him to talk of twenty years of wasted political life even when some have spent much of that time on their children and travelling abroad.
Mr. Afrifa 10:50 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to continue.
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Please, do not evoke any debate.
Mr. Afrifa 10:50 a.m.
All right, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the COCOBOD has done very well in fixing so many roads in the Western Region; so many bridges have also been put in place.
Again, Mr. Speaker, the forms for applicants seeking scholarships from the COCOBOD are not distributed any how. They are all deposited with the district purchasing officers or COCOBOD, from where farmers, their children and their wards can go and collect them, fill them and then they are assessed and they are awarded a scholarship.
So please, let us be corrected that the forms are available in the district purchasing officers' offices of the COCOBOD and nowhere else. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the permission.
Sustaining the Spirit of Patriotism and Unity to Move Ghana Forward
Mr. B. K. Ayeh (NPP - Upper Denkyira West) 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, so soon, the soccer fever that gripped the world is over and nations and people all over the world are back to business.
For Ghanaians, besides the heroic performance of our Black Stars which has repositioned our country on the globe, the spirit of patriotism and unity that was lit or rekindled is so significant that, it must not be allowed to wither; it must be sustained.
Mr. Speaker, while going back to business, to some countries, means exploring further into space and orbit, looking for alternative hearts to preserve humanity, putting more desserts (not to talk of balanced meals) on the dining table, the danger for us is, we will soon
Mr. Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon. Members, may I at this stage welcome His Excellency the Vice- President (Alhaji Aliu Mahama) to the House. [Hear! Hear!] Hon. Members will recall that by virtue of our Constitution, article 111, the Vice- President shall be entitled to participate in the proceedings of Parliament and shall be accorded all the privileges of a Member of Parliament, except that he is not entitled to vote or hold an office in Parliament. Vice- Pre-sident, we welcome you to the House. [Hear! Hear!] - At the Commencement of Public Business, item 4 -- Laying of Papers. The following Papers to be laid.
PAPERS 11 a.m.

Mr. Speaker 11 a.m.
Item 5 - Motion.
Minister for Finance and Economic Planning. [Pause.] Minority Leader?
Minority Leader (Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin) 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that there is a problem with the procedure. I think after the laying of the Supplementary Estimates and its referral to the Committee, we will have to wait for the Committee to submit a report, the motion will then be moved by the Minister together with the report, and then we debate it and give our approval. There are two conditions, at least, one of which has to be satisfied by the Minister at the committee level under our Constitution before we can go to debate the Supplementary Budget.
Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I may refer you to article 179 (8). Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I quote:
“Where, in respect of a financial year, it is found that the amount of moneys appropriated by the Appropriation Act for any purpose is insufficient or that a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose for which no sum of moneys has been appropriated by that Act, a supplementary estimate showing the
sum of money required, shall be laid before Parliament for its approval.”
So Mr. Speaker, the first condition is that it has been found out that moneys appropriated by the Appropriation Act for a purpose are insufficient. The next condition is that a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose for which no sums of moneys have been appropriated by that Act. So the Minister will have to go to the Committee and put evidence before the Committee that one of these conditions or both have been satisfied.
Then, the Committee together with this will make a report to us and then the Minister will come and move the motion, we would debate it and then if we are convinced we give the approval. [Hear! Hear].
Mr. Speaker, these are supplementary estimates or what people call supple- mentary budget. There are clear differences between the budget and a supplementary budget. The national Budget which includes not just estimates - Estimates talk about policies for the year and you will realize that the Minister has to come before us to outline the policies on the basis of which there are estimates and these estimates are then referred to the committees. So, we have the opportunity of the Minister moving the motion to draw the attention of the House to the policies.
In the case of supplementary, it is just estimates to cover up a gap in one of the expenditures of the policies. So they are two different scenarios and I believe rightly so. Mr. Speaker, I am convinced by the Constitution and the Standing Orders 143 and 144, which are just verbatim quotations of the constitutional provisions.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge that that is the correct procedure. I humbly submit that you allow that procedure to take place
and I will want that with the support of this House, we allow the Committee to deliberate over what has been referred by you now to the Committee and then submit a report - [Interruption] - Mr. Speaker has referred it to a committee - then after that we can have our debate. Mr. Speaker, I object to this procedure and urge that the right one be done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon. Minority Leader,
you were referring me to the Standing Orders; let me hear you on that.
Mr. Bagbin 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Standing
Order as I said, is a verbatim quotation of the Constitution - Order 143, I quote again:
“Where, in respect of a financial year, it is found that the amount of moneys appropriated by the Appropriation Act for any purpose is insufficient or that a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose for which no amount of moneys had been appropriated by that Act, a supplementary estimate showing the sum of money required shall be laid before Parliament.”
It is a quotation of article 179 (8).

Standing Order 144 says:

“Where, in respect of a financial year, a supplementary estimate has been approved by Parliament in accordance with the provisions of Order 143 of these Orders, a supplementary Appropriation Bill shall be introduced into Parliament in the next financial year following the financial year to which the estimate relates, providing for the appropriation of the sums so approved for the purposes specified in that Estimate.”
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
149 as well.
Mr. Bagbin 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, Order 149
says:
“Supplementary Estimates shall be regulated by the same procedure as is provided for in these Orders for the Budget.”
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, that is it. Please
address me on Order 149.
Mr. Bagbin 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am talking
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, so address me on
Order 149, 149 deals with the procedure.
Mr. Bagbin 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Order!
Mr. Bagbin 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the first
procedure concerning a budget, we do not come to lay the Budget, we come to move the motion. In this procedure, the supplementary estimates have been laid and referred to the Committee. They are two different things. In the case of a Budget, the Minister comes and moves the motion; they do not lay the Budget Estimates. But in the supplementary estimates, it is laid and referred to the Committee, that is just what Mr. Speaker has just done. So there is a difference.
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Minority Leader,
I think he must read this Budget and then I will adjourn for the debate to continue or to start next week, that is the best way out. Let him read the Budget and then we will adjourn the debate on the budget till
rose
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, let me hear you.
Mr. Adjaho 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, you have
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Order!
Mr. Adjaho 11:10 a.m.
So Mr. Speaker, the
motion for the adoption of that has been referred to the Committee -- Mr. Speaker, I believe that what we ought to do -- and it is in the interest of this House, it will be a one-time assignment for your Committee to go back and look at those figures, get clarification and come back. Mr. Speaker, we have already approved financial policies for the financial year ending 31st December, 2006. We are only dealing with figures.
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Deputy Minority
MOTIONS 11:10 a.m.

Minister for Finance and Economic Planning (Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu) 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, when I stood here before the august House in November last year to present the Budget and Economic Policy Statement for 2006 I shared His Excellency the President's conviction that our country was poised for sustained economic prosperity.
Mr. Speaker, on the President's authority, I laid His Excellency's Good News Budget before you and concluded that the people of Ghana are better prepared today than they were yesterday in developing our country. We will be better prepared tomorrow in developing our country. This is a continuing assignment.
Mr. Speaker, development in both the economic and social fronts over the past first half of this year continue to confirm our optimism that Ghana's happy days are here again. It is merely wishful thinking or slogan for a manifestation of the fact that we have started to reap the dividends from the sacrifices Ghanaians have made, especially over the past five years.
Mr. Speaker, Government promised that it would do whatever it took to ensure that the Black Stars would not merely take part in the World Cup but would show the world that Ghana was indeed returning to its place as the beacon championing Africa's excellence in the global family of nations. Mr. Speaker, the skills, confidence and style which the Stars displayed at Germany 2006 amply demonstrated the positive change that Ghanaians can be as good as the best everywhere when offered an environment conducive for deve-lopment in freedom.
Mr. Speaker, in recognition of the important role of football, FIFA and the European Union have signed a joint agreement of €25 billion, about $32
billion to use the game in the fight against poverty in the world's poorest countries. The idea is to use the huge power of football for specific purposes such as fighting AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, helping in growth and development. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, on behalf of the Government of Ghana will put in the necessary application to benefit this nation.
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Members, let us have decorum.
Mr. Baah-Wiredu 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my appearance before you today is to fulfil the requirements of article 179 (8) of the Constitution and Standing Order 143 of this House and to seek your approval for a supplementary estimate for this financial year. Mr. Speaker, article 179 (8) states:
“Where, in respect of a financial year, it is found that the amount of moneys appropriated by the Appropriation Act for any purpose is insufficient or that a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose for which no sum of moneys has been appropriated by that Act, a supplementary estimate showing the sum of money required, shall be laid before Parliament for its approval.”

Mr. Speaker, in the face of rising oil prices, and at a time when a sister country is grappling with astronomical inflation levels of more than 1,000 per cent, we have managed to bring our inflation level down and still with the determination to maintain a single-digit level. Those who think inflation levels have no meaning to the ordinary Ghanaian should just cast their minds back to the time when prices of goods in shops literally changed overnight.

Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to update those figures with the actual outturns for 2005.

Mr. Speaker, as we have just passed the half-way mark in the implementation of the 2006 Budget, I also want to use this opportunity to give a progress report on our performance so far in delivering the programme that we put before you and the nation for this year.

Global and Regional Developments

Mr Speaker, our economy is not an island unto itself. It is situated within the context of a wider global economic framework, and the inter-relationships within and between regional economic groupings. Therefore, it is important for us to preface the review with a broad sweep of how the overall world economy, including that of our continent, Africa, has done over the same period.

The World Economy

Mr. Speaker, the world economy for 2005 was generally a good year for the global economy, despite the persistence of high crude oil prices, which have continued to rise in the first half of this year.

Mr. Speaker, inflation has remained
rose
Mr. Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Order! Order! Hon. Members, there is a budget which is being read. [Interruptions.] Hon. Members, let us have decorum. [Interruptions.] Let us have decorum, hon. Members. [Interrup- tions.]
Hon. Members -- [Interruption] -- it is not my intention to entertain any interventions until this debate is over, then I will give the opportunity to you to contribute, please. [Interruption.]
Order! Order! [Interruption.] Hon. Members, let us have decorum in the House.
Mr. Baah-Wiredu 11:20 a.m.
Macro-economic Update for 2006.
Mr. Speaker, the broad economic and
financial programme objective for the 2006 fiscal year outlined in the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana included:
a real GDP growth of at least 6 per cent; a lowering of end of period inflation to single digits -- between 7 and 9 per cent by end-year; average inflation rate of 8.8 per cent; a f u r t h e r a c c u m u l a t i o n o f international reserves to a target of four months of imports;
domestic primary balance of 2.0 per cent of GDP; and an overall Budget deficit equivalent to 2.1 per cent of GDP.
Mr. Speaker, developments in the
economy during the first quarter, and in some cases up to the first four months of 2006, show mixed results. While most of the macro-economic indicators performed creditably, a few underperformed, even though the global picture indicates that the economy is on course to achieve the targets for 2006.
Mr. Speaker, early indications for this year, point to a continued expansion in the face of rising international crude oil prices. As a result of tax rate reductions in both personal and company taxes, the receipts for the first four months of the year, amounted to ¢1,471.3 billion, representing a decline of 2.1 per cent. Workers' contributions to Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) from January to April 2006 totalled ¢205.3 billion as against ¢178.4 billion collected in the corresponding period of last year.
Mr. Speaker, the DVLA reports that new vehicle registration from January to April grew by 16 per cent to 25,413 when compared to the same period last year. Also, within the same period a total of 133,425 international tourists visited the
Mr. Baah-Wiredu 11:30 a.m.
country averaging around 33,356 tourist per month.
Mr. Speaker, the Bank of Ghana's
Composite Index of Economic Activity confirms the upward trends in the eco- nomy. The Index rose by 4.6 per cent in real terms between January and April 2006
Inflation
Mr. Speaker, we have tamed inflation, and done so in a period of unprece-dented rises in international oil prices, which development would in the past have led to spiralling inflationary pressures and the unravelling of our macro-economic fundamentals.
Mr. Speaker, the figures for inflation shows that it moved down from 14.6 per cent in January 2006, to 12.1 per cent in February 2006 to 9.9 per cent in March and to 9.5 per cent in April, 2006.

However, as a result of the pass- through effect of the adjustments in petroleum prices in April 2006, headline inflation rose slightly to 10.2 per cent in May. But as earlier mentioned, we are resolved to achieving the objective of lowering end-of-period inflation to single digits between 7 and 9 per cent this year.

Mr. Speaker, the same applies to the decline in the interest rate and the stability of the currency as against other international currencies. Mr. Speaker, there have been very interesting developments with regard to the domestic primary balance also recording a deficit of ¢1.8 trillion, 1.6 per cent of GDP as compared with a surplus of ¢995.4 billion.

Mr. Speaker, whilst this year's fiscal numbers may seem out of trend, they reflect the fact that for the first time ever, budgetary disbursements and spending started from the beginning of the year; this was the result of the early presentation and approval of the 2006 Budget which was completed before the start of the fiscal year.

Supplementary Estimates

Mr. Speaker, when the 2006 Budget

Statement was presented to this House last November, Government signalled its intention to utilise the additional resources to be realised from the Multi-lateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) to enhance the realisation of our development objectives, by augmenting the public investments already made and also providing for further poverty reduction.

Mr. Speaker, Government has been advised of the quantum of MDRI funds available for this year. We are therefore now able to submit a supplementary estimate for the use of these funds for the consideration and approval of this august House.

Mr. Speaker, Government is also using this occasion to seek the approval of the House to raise additional resources to enable us to make undertake investments for the rest of the fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, we need to take cognizance of the fact that the additional resources to be applied in the supplementary estimates do not involve raising any additional taxes; rather they consist of taxes already collected for which no appropriation has been granted, grants, loans and divestiture receipts.

Sources of Funds for the Supplementary Budget

Mr. Speaker, the total amount of receipts for which a supplementary appropriation is being sought for is about ¢4,280.3 billion.

Grants

Mr. Speaker, Ghana is targeted to

receive from the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI), US$200 million debt relief from the International Monetary Fund, about US$24 million from the World Bank and about US$6 million from the African Development Bank Group.

Mr. Speaker, for the avoidance of doubt, we wish to provide detailed information on the MDRI as follows:
A B C D E 11:30 a.m.

Mr. Speaker, article 179 (9) of the 1992 Constitution states that 11:50 a.m.
“Where, in the case of a financial year, a supplementary estimate has been approved by Parliament in accordance with clause (8) of this article, a supplementary Appro- priation Bills shall be introduced into Parliament in the financial year next following the financial year to which the estimates relate, providing for the appropriation of the sum so approved for the purposes specified in that estimate.”
Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure this House that we will fulfil this constitutional requirement come November, 2006.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that the 2007 Budget will be presented to the House on 9th November,
2006.
Mr. Speaker, the Ghanaian economy continues to be stable as we progress with the medium-term goal of achieving middle income status. There are great challenges which we continue to face - the issues of the size of the public sector wage bill, the continued agitation for salary increases and improved conditions of service, the brain drain, the massive investment requirements in infrastructure, job creation among others. Nevertheless, Government is determined to face these challenges squarely and put in place the requisite measures to enable us achieve the desired results.
Mr. Speaker, as we put in place measures to strengthen revenue performance and collection, we are streamlining our expenditures to enable us meet the aims of the 2006 Budget. The supplementary estimate presented to this House for approval, focuses on increased resources
Mr. Speaker, I am hereby requesting this august House 11:50 a.m.
To endorse the overall economic performance and outlook for the rest of 2006; and
To approve the supplementary estimate of ¢4,280.3 billion as laid earlier in the day, in conformity with article 179 (8) of the Constitution and Standing Order 143 of this House.
Mr. F. K. Owusu-Adjapong 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in line with Standing Orders 149, 140 (3) and 140 (5) and further strengthened by the decisions Leadership arrived at the meeting on Tuesday, I believe that we would need to hold on now and together with the Report we would get from the Committee on Finance take up any further discussion on this motion next week. In point of fact, this morning the Business Committee programmed this accordingly and that is in line with the agreement reached at the leadership meeting. Therefore, that should bring this matter to an end whilst we move on to any other item on the Order Paper.
Mr. Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon. Members, it has
Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
there is no report on this matter.
Mr. Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Majority Leader, if you have no report we cannot possibly go on with it.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if you will give me a few minutes to consult with the Minority Leader - [Interrup-tions.]
MR. FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong noon
Mr. Speaker, it has been agreed with Leadership that we would distribute the documents whilst Leadership sees the Vice-President off, and then we will continue with the next item on the Order Paper.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Very well. We will continue as the Leadership rises to see off the Vice President. We wish to express our pleasure for his coming to Sit with us, particularly to discuss a few matters affecting the nation. We hope that he will continue to come more often to this House.
rose
Mr. Speaker noon
Yes, hon. Minority Leader?
Mr. Bagbin noon
Mr. Speaker, we decided
that the House should rise because the report was not ready. I have just seen them distributing copies, but after hon. Members have taken copies, they will have to go through them to be better informed to debate it. So I said we were going to rise and then see off His Excellency the Vice-President and then later on we can reconvene after hon. Members have gone through it to debate it. If not, we have to continue tomorrow.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Well, hon. Majority Leader, is that the consensus that was arrived at?
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Yes, hon. Deputy Minority Leader?
Mr. Adjaho noon
Mr. Speaker, with the greatest respect, I think that it will be fair to this honourable House for us to look at this report so that we can take it tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, this is a Bill that we have passed. We are not - [Interruptions.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon. Deputy Minority Leader, do you align yourself with the sentiments expressed by the hon. Minority Leader, or you are proposing a new -
Mr. Adjaho noon
Mr. Speaker, absolutely; I am reinforcing the position taken by the hon. Minority Leader.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
He is proposing that we rise for a few minutes to enable them to see off the Vice-President and then come back to debate it. That is the proposal. Do you agree with that, hon. Majority Leader?
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong noon
Yes, Mr. Speaker. I think that we can suspend
Sitting for about forty-five minutes. That should be enough for us to look at the matter whilst we see the Vice-President off.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Very well. Maybe, as you rise to go, we will wait for you to go with the Vice-President, and then we will rise.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon. Members, the House will rise for about twenty to thirty minutes and then re- assemble to consider the Millennium Development Authority (Amendment) Bill.
The Sitting was suspended at 12.05 p.m.

Sitting resumed.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
The House is called to order. We are at item No. 6 on the Order Paper. Hon. Minister?
Suspension of Standing Order 80 (1)
Minister for Public Sector Reforms (Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom) 12:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provision of Standing Order 80 (1) which require that no motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the motion is given and the date on which the motion is moved, the motion for the Second Reading of the Millennium Development Authority (Amendment) Bill may be moved today.
Mr. Paul Okoh 12:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
BILLS - SECOND READING 12:45 p.m.

Dr. Nduom 12:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that the Millennium Development Authority (Amendment) Bill be now read a Second time. Mr. Speaker, I wish to provide just briefly the purpose of the amendment Bill.
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the Bill
is to make specific amendments to the Millennium Development Authority Act (Act 702), in order to reflect more accurately the terms of the Compact in the law, following further negotiations of the terms of the Compact. Essentially, Mr. Speaker, we are trying to make sure that we do not have co-mingling of the funds that come from the Compact.
We also want to make sure that we more clearly indicate which sector Ministries of relevance would be represented in the governing board and also provide some definitions that conform with the terms of the Compact.
Question proposed.
Chairman of the Joint Committee on Finance and Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises (Mr. Paul Okoh): Mr. Speaker, I beg to proceed to submit the Report of the Committee. I would crave your indulgence to read the Introduction, the Objectives, Observations and Conclusion of the Report and ask the Hansard to capture the rest as having been read.
1.0 Introduction
The Mil lennium Development Authority (Amendment) Bill was laid in the House on Wednesday, 12th July 2006 and referred to the Joint Committee on Finance and Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises for consideration and report in accordance with the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the House.
To consider the Bill, the Committee met with the Minister for Public Sector Reforms, hon. Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom and officials from the Ministry of Public Sector Reforms and reports as follows:
2.0 References
The Committee availed itself of the following documents in its deliberations:
1. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
2. The Standing Orders of the House;
3. Mil lennium Development Authority (Amendment) Bill;
4. Mil lennium Development Authority Act, 2006 (Act 702).
3.0 Object of the Bill
The object of the Bill is to make specific amendments to the Act in order to reflect more accurately the terms of the Compact in the Law following further negotiation of the terms of the Compact. 4.0 Observations
4.1 The Committee observed that the Bill is of an urgent nature and should be passed under the certificate of urgency. The Committee further observed that these amendments have to be included in the Act before the signing of the Compact
scheduled for 1st August 2006. The Committee noted that after approval by the House, certain stages have to be completed before the document can be signed.
4.2 The Minister further informed the Committee that the Bill seeks to clarify essential portions of the Act. These include:
Clarifying the Board members nominated to serve on the governing Board;
Stating specifically the sector Ministries of relevance that must be represented on the governing Board in accordance with the terms of the Compact;
Providing the needed definitions to conform to the terms of the Compact.
4.3 The Committee observed that the Bill clarifies certain portions of the Act to make it consistent with the terms of the Compact which will be acceptable to both Ghana and the United States.
4.4 The Committee was informed that the Bill aims at providing for a clearly established Fund into which monies meant for the Authority are paid into. This is to avoid the payment of funds into the Consolidated Fund.
The technical team informed the Committee that funds under this programme are to be separated from funds accruing to Government (Consolidated Fund) under the agreement. The team informed the Committee that a special arrangement has been reached with the Bank of Ghana to take custody of the funds.
4.5 The Committee was informed that as part of the terms of the Compact,
Mr. J. K. Gidisu (NDC - Central Tongu) 12:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the (Amendment) Bill is in response to issues and matters arising out of negotiations between our national technical team and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, acting for and on behalf of the United States Government. Mr. Speaker, the proposed amendments are not contentious as noted by your joint Committee. They are to reflect more accurately the terms and spirit of the Compact. It is on this note that I support the motion on floor and urge all Members to unanimously support the amendment.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu (NDC - Tamale South) 12:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion, but in doing so to raise some very few concerns.
Only yesterday, the Minister for Public Sector Reforms had cause to brief this House about the Compact which is convincing us to do other amendments to bring the provisions of Act 702 in tandem with the terms of the Compact. But Mr. Speaker, in doing so, I just want to refer to some provisions, in particular, under the proposed amendments.
If you look at clause 10, there is a new provision for monies to be provided by the Parliament of Ghana. Mr. Speaker, we are demanding an explanation from the Minister for Public Sector Reforms. All along, we had been told that the United States Government in its generosity in compensating developing countries for their democratic credentials was making available an amount of US$547 million for the implementation of the Compact.
At no point in time has anybody briefed this House or made any member of the Ghanaian public to think that counterpart funding may be a requirement for the true implementation of it. I have a difficulty if they are now calling for an amendment making provision for monies provided by the Parliament of Ghana. All along, the understanding we got, even yesterday, was that we had US$547 million from the United States Government to implement the Compact. Why are they now saying that money should be provided? In fact, it is specific and with your indulgence I would quote it, Mr. Speaker:
“The Government shall make provisions in the national Budget for such monies as may be required of the Government under the Compact.”
Is that an admission that the Government of Ghana is required to complement the funding of the United States Government? I would need an explanation for the people of Ghana to appreciate why this amendment is being sought. Only
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon. Member, continue with your submission.
Mr. H. Iddrisu 12:55 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, people are now beginning to accept it. If you look also at clause 2 -- substituting words -- I know we are not at the Consideration Stage, the Minister is saying that we should substitute “poverty through growth”, which is a very popular phrase in the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy document for a new admission that the growth ought to be qualified by “economic”. I appreciate it, that is what he is doing; but if you look at GPRS I, GPRS II, they are always talking about reducing poverty through growth; and now they want to qualify it with economic growth.
Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, when the debate about the status of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) came up, one of the officials of the MCA was quoted in the Daily Graphic as saying that it was not meant to alleviate poverty. I thought that somebody would have come out to challenge that. In fact, one of the requirements to qualify for this, apart from governing justly, investing in people and many other related issues, the essential thing is about your economic performance and the fact that you have a per capita income of USD1,400. It is one of the requirements under the Millennium Challenge Corporation by which people qualify to be able to source the funding.
Today, admittedly, I have heard people accept that by the Ghana Living Standards Survey -- we have said it here, and I
will like to repeat it. The Minority has no intention whatsoever to scuttle this opportunity of Ghana sourcing the funding of five hundred million - [Interruption] -- All right, we can write to Congress - [Interruption] All right, no problem.
Mr. Speaker, we were just drawing the attention of Government to accept certain realities. Today, I was amazed at people quoting Ghana Living Standard Survey to buttress their point about the incidence and existence of poverty in Ghana, which figures were contested here by the Minister for Private Sector Reforms when I made reference to them and said that by the Ghana Living Standard Survey of 1998 and 1999, we could not understand any intervention aimed at ameliorating poverty which would exclude the Upper East and Upper West Regions - statistically.
So if you say you want to ameliorate poverty with an intervention of $547 million and you exclude the areas in Ghana most affected by poverty, for me, it is a contradiction, unless you are not sincere to committing yourself to ameliorating poverty. The danger is that, if we do not spread it across, we will exacerbate the imbalances in the country which imbalances already point to varying -- Indeed, in the GPRS, they used the words, “special distribution of poverty”, and that is the reality. That is why we were saying that in his contribution he should try to have some intervention that would take care of the most deprived districts and the most deprived regions of Ghana, including the Upper East, the Upper West and some parts of the Central Region. Mr. Speaker, it is remarkable to know that people now accept that some other useful statistics exist. Mr. Speaker, I may have to wind up for other people to make their contributions.
Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I find some of the construction very interesting even
Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing (Mr. Hackman Owusu- Agyemang) 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, we did discuss this issue of the areas to be covered by the intervention under the MCA, and I thought we agreed and we had meetings subsequently that inasmuch as there were other sources of intervention within the basket, within the gamut of resources available to this nation, whatever was not catered for in the MCA would be catered for under other sources of funding. There was the clearest understanding that we were not going to revisit this issue of the Upper East and Upper West situation because we were going to take care of it. And so I was really surprised that he raised that issue.
But Mr. Speaker, the point to be made at this time is that it is out of the
abundance of caution that there is the need to incorporate into the Act a statement of the nature that the Government should make a contribution. What it means in practical terms, my very young and very affable friend is too young to know (how the government machinery operates). But even if you take a staff member of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to go and work with them, it is a cost that is borne by the Government of Ghana; I am sure the Minister for Private Sector Development would accept that.
Whatever you do, any intervention that we do, the resources that are put at the disposal of the MCA by the Ministry for Private Sector Development is all governmental contribution. So if the Bill says that you need to make available resources, it is not counterpart funding, per se, but inasmuch as we take over on board, the expenses of our experts, of some of their inputs, the infrastructure that is captured, it is out of abundance of caution, that this is incorporated in the Bill.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon. Owusu-Agyemang, I believe if I rightly heard the hon. Member in his contribution, he never made mention of any counterpart funding; I believe he did not do that. Did you say that?
Mr. H. Iddrisu 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I demanded for an explanation to be convinced why we should include as part of this Bill, a provision that monies from our national Budget be used for the implementation - [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
That
was what you said, you never mentioned counterpart funding.
Mr. H. Iddrisu 12:55 p.m.
Rightly so, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Any other comments? Have you finished with it?
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 12:55 p.m.
I thought the point that I was making was that monies from the national Budget could take care of even human resources that will assist in the implementation of the programme. And if you do not incorporate this into the Act, a time may come when it could be argued on the floor of this House or elsewhere that there was no money for them. And so for that matter, whatever it is, even the salary of the Minister and everything is part of the Budget; it comes from the Consolidated Fund and for that matter, it is part of our contribution to the implementation of the MCA. That is the point I am making.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Point well made.
Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning (Dr. A. A. Osei): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion on the floor at this moment. But Mr. Speaker, I am a bit disturbed by the Committee's Report, clause 4 (4).
This Parliament is a very important Parliament and we should not be seen to be using language that may be interpreted sometime later to mean that we were violating the law.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
It is a sentence in which report?
Dr. A. A. Osei 12:55 p.m.
The Committee's Report, paragraph 4.4.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Fair enough.
Dr. A. A. Osei 12:55 p.m.
“This is to avoid the payment of funds into the Consolidated Fund”. Mr. Speaker, I do not think it is the intent of this Parliament to avoid payment. Sometime later, when we are no longer parliamentarians, somebody will take this Parliament as having tried to violate the Constitution.
I want to urge the Committee to find a better language than putting the statement that we are trying to avoid payment into the Consolidated Fund. I am not sure why the Committee thought that language was the way to put it. It is not proper for this Parliament to say that we are trying to avoid payment into the Consolidated Fund.
Mr. Speaker, there are special circumstances in the Compact that suggest that this fund be lodged in a different account at the Bank of Ghana, but it is not because Government is trying to avoid payment. So with all respect, I want to ask the Committee to withdraw that sentence so that it does not become part of the records. It will be misinterpreted and all of us will be held accountable in the future.
Mr. Yieleh Chireh 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you. I want to draw attention to misleading statements he is making. It is not the Committee. Indeed, if you look at the memorandum accompanying the Bill, it is stated there:
“ ( a ) t h u s a v o i d i n g t h e payments of monies into the
. . .”
Dr. A. A. Osei 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I was reading a factual statement from the Committee's Report. Whether or not the
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Well, hon. Yieleh Chireh is making a point. He says that the amendment sought to be effective and you cannot change the language without changing the amendment, unless of course you are canvassing a point for the change of the amendment. That is another matter.
Dr. A. A. Osei 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am drawing this august House's attention to the type of language we are using in our amendment and I am saying that it is not proper - [Interruption.]
Mr. Doe Adjaho 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that we are at the Second Reading of this Bill and at the Second Reading, issues of amendment do not come in. When we get to the Con- sideration Stage, anybody can voice out his concern with regard to any amendment at that stage. We are now talking about - [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
I think you have made a point. He is only drawing the attention -- and it is not an issue of amendment - [Interruption.]
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, do you have anything to say about it? Are you making a contribution or you want to join the frail over the words?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, with respect, I thought that
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, I am ruling you out. Yes, does anybody want to make a contribution? Yes, hon. Salia?
Mr. Edward Salia (NDC - Jirapa) 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to make a contribution to this motion and I wish to say that I actually support the amendment of the Millennium Challenge Authority Act as proposed.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Did I hear you say that you support the amendment proposed?
Mr. Salia 1:05 p.m.
Yes.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Very well.
Mr. Salia 1:05 p.m.
I do support - [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Are you
against his support for the amendment?
Dr. A. A. Osei 1:05 p.m.
No, Mr. Speaker, he is just misleading the House. The amendment Bill is titled, the Millennium Development Authority, not Millennium Challenge Authority. So he is just misleading and if he can withdraw that statement. [Laughter.]
Mr. Salia 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my hon. younger brother. His eyes are better than mine so he actually read it more correctly. Yes, I support the Amendment Bill and I do so because I think it is necessary that the problems that
are contained in the Compact that affect the original Bill should be so corrected as to conform with the provisions of the Compact. But I have a problem and, my problem is that I had expected to see either the Compact itself or at least a draft of it. I know that it is in about August or later that they will be signing the Compact.
So by now, I expect that the Government of Ghana would have had an idea about what the Compact looks like. If we are amending an Act of Parliament to conform to certain provisions in that particular Compact, I think it would have been proper for this House to have seen that Compact to be so convinced that these amendments are necessary. So it will be useful if some contributions could be made as to what the Compact contains.
Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of this whole debate about the Millennium Challenge Account, some of us have had cause to complain about the way and manner in which this whole matter was handled. And on this occasion that I have the opportunity on this floor, I would like to reiterate that in future, grants of this nature or transactions of this nature should be handled in such a way that there is a lot more inclusiveness; there is a lot more consultation with various stakeholders.
The Millennium Challenge Account is not only coming to Ghana; there are several countries that have already signed their Compacts. The impression has always been given that the utilization of the Compact or the Millennium Challenge Account Funds are $500 million; that is far from the truth. Ghana could have applied for 700 or 800 million dollars. It is our programme that has determined the limit that we have applied for.
Indeed, if the Government of Ghana can justify that there are other communities
that could benefit from the utilization of the funds, I am very sure that the amount of money could have been raised; this is where the argument comes from.
Mr. Speaker, if you look at the Compact that has been signed by Benin and Armenia, Benin is a very small country but they have been able to get $305 million. They have decided to use their money for port rehabilitation, for land reform and for even judicial reform; no money is going to agriculture. For the longest while, the impression has been given that we were compelled to use our money for agricultural development.
I believe that we could have used this money to improve also infrastructure outside the programme area. Industry could have been improved and that is why I am arguing that from day one, if there were consultations, many other people's views could have informed the strategy by which we will use the money.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Yes, hon. Deputy Minister, are you on a point of order?
Dr. A. A. Osei 1:05 p.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. My hon. senior Brother has just made a statement that for a long time, the impression has been given that we have been compelled to use our money on agriculture. No one I know of on this side of the House, has ever made that statement. In fact, the hon. Minister has always repeatedly said, we have chosen -- “Chosen”, is the word. So for him to say that we have given the impression that we were compelled, is misleading this House. So if he can please, withdraw.
Mr. Salia 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have listened to a lot of debates on the Millennium Challenge Account. The choice of sectors, if it was made by the Government of Ghana,
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Well, hon. Deputy Minister is saying that no official, definitely not he or his Minister has given an impression that Ghana Government is being asked or compelled only to use the funds on agriculture. That is what he is saying and he wants the records to be straightforward.
Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to remind our hon. Colleague that the State of the Nation Address for 2005 and 2006 and even some aspects of 2004 and the Budget Statement for that period obviously stated something on Millennium Challenge Account. If there was any debate at all, it started from that time. So if he did not contribute, then it was his making.
Mr. Salia 1:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, mere mention of a particular policy could not necessarily lead to a debate. This is an august House and if the contours of a particular policy are not disclosed, there is no way anybody can actually debate the criteria for choice; and that exactly is what has happened about the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). The mention that Government would do a thing does not mean that one can start arguing that this particular money would have been applied to a particular sector or a particular group of projects or specific districts. It is that aspect of the decision that was lacking and I believe that consultation is important.
Mr. Speaker, it has been said elsewhere that the criteria that were used did not exclude any particular region or district. I have heard the hon. Minister for Public Sector Reforms say that a number of times. He has also stated that the two regions or some of the other regions that were originally not included would now

be included. We have reached the stage of the Compact. I want to know whether it would be possible to disclose how those other regions will now be included in the current Compact.
Dr. A. A. Osei 1:15 p.m.
On a point of information. Mr. Speaker, my hon. Senior Brother has just made another statement which is factually incorrect. He said that this is the biggest grant we have ever received. That is so far away from the truth. Today the hon. Minister just told us that even for MDRI we are getting a grant of over $4 billion. So how can the hon. Member say that this is the biggest grant we have ever received? It is incorrect. He should please withdraw. [Interruptions.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Hon. Members, please do not exchange words, do not debate among you without reference to the Chair.
Mr. Salia 1:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, this is a very significant grant that we have received.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
That is correct.
rose
Mr. Salia 1:15 p.m.
I believe that the amount could have been used to develop all parts of this country. The restriction to only a little few - [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Hon. Member for Asuogyaman, are you on a point of order? I know you have been up for quite some time.
Mr. Osei-Ameyaw 1:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, in spite of what the hon. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning had to say about the budgets in which the Millennium Challenge Account was referred to and hon. Members had to debate on it, our hon. Friend on the opposite side continues to say that he had no opportunity of debating it and that if he had his way, the whole issue should have been resurrected so that we can debate it again. He wished that he could bring in his arguments now, that certain areas, for example, infrastructure - [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
The hon. Member did not say that the whole issue should be brought back for debate.
Mr. Osei-Ameyaw 1:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, he is implying that if he had his way, he would have some infrastructural developments added to what the money should be used for.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
And what do you have against that?
Mr. Osei-Ameyaw 1:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I understand that when we have a budget we have the opportunity to debate it on this floor. Where was he when the 2004 - [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
That is not a point of order. Let us continue. Hon. Salia, you have just a minute to conclude.
Mr. Salia 1:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, a lot of people are misunderstanding the mention of policies in Budget Statements. The forum or the opportunity for discussion is when the real policy is tabled in this House. I can confirm that since this Millennium Challenge Account matter came up, nobody has come to the floor before the allocation of funds to give us an indication of the criteria for the selection of beneficiaries, nobody has told us the sectors that are likely to benefit. This is my argument.
Mr. Speaker, I want to conclude by saying that some other opportunities exist to complement the allocation of funds to other districts, and yet to miss out others that are in need of such funds - I think the suggestion that budgetary allocations should be used to, at least, negate the effect of not allocating to some of the needy districts should be considered. I believe that the arguments would have been laid to rest if hon. Members did not continue to argue that some particular regions have benefited from other programmes without stating that various programmes are going on in all other regions and districts and in spite of those programmes those regions and those districts are also still benefiting from the Millennium Challenge Account.
It was indeed unfortunate to make a statement in this House that the Upper East, the Upper West and the Northern Regions had benefited from DANIDA support projects when in fact several other regions have been benefiting from bigger amounts of donor funds, European Union funds and even DANIDA and other funds.
I think it was most unfair to have just singled out the Upper East and Upper West Regions as the only beneficiaries of some of those funds and I think that we should desist from doing such things because when we continue, we polarize this country further than we ought to do. [Interruption] That is not what I am doing.
Mr. E. A. Agyepong (NPP - Abetifi) 1:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think the issue before us is an amendment to the Millennium Development Authority Act (Act 702). Therefore, if there are any other issues that must be brought in, I believe they should be relevant to this issue.
This matter of this Millennium Challenge Account as stated by the hon. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, has been in the Budget for, if I remember correctly, 2004, 2005; these matters have been on and on. Hon. Members have talked about certain regions that have been left out. Some considered opinion is also that the money could not have been used in any other way except as sent to the Millennium Development Corporation.
Mr. Salia 1:15 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, I believe that he is talking about the Millennium Development Corporation. I am aware that it is the Millennium Challenge Corporation. I do not know what he is talking about.
Mr. E. A. Agyepong 1:25 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Millennium Challenge Account and the Millennium Challenge Committee -
Mr. Speaker, what I am saying is that if we believe that this year we ought to have even accessed about $100 million and the nation thinks that the programme we sent would help us to concentrate on three or four areas, let that be the case. If we are able to satisfy the Corporation with that $500 million, we believe next year we could extend their money to even a million or thereabout and then concentrate on other regions.

I do not think this should be a specific topic for discussion or contention, seriously speaking. It is a matter of having had one pound and using $100 or ¢100 and using it judiciously so that if a bank or the person who assisted you would see what you have used the money for and then offer you more so that you can extend whatever business you are using it for. So to talk about it being used for harbours and this and that, whatever the nation needed is what they presented and that is what they have done.

So I am pleading with all of us to concentrate on what we have done and see what we will get from the following year or two's distribution or awards to the nation so that we move from there. We cannot benefit from talking and talking about this thing over and over again, really. It is not because I am not concerned about the other regions that have been left out but if we start from “A” and we are able to do it very well, we believe it would go very well.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 1:25 p.m.
On a point of
order. Mr. Speaker, ordinarily I would not have wished to want to stop my hon. Senior Colleague but he has repeated two
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
Hon.
Member, you have had your turn, let him also express his opinion on this floor of the House.
Mr. E. A. Agyepong 1:25 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I want my hon. Friend to know that I recognize that fact but this is an Amendment Bill; it is not the main Bill. This is an amendment to - and that is where we are mainly concerned with.
Mr. Speaker, on the issue of the wording which was raised by a few of my hon. Colleagues, I believe that these are all drafting issues. When we get to the Consideration Stage the wording and other things could be polished up and the necessary corrections - the words that must not be used and where we should not place any emphasis could be done with the help of even the draftsmen who assisted us in this regard.
Mr. Speaker, therefore, I would want to suggest that we start from “A” and then move on to “B” so that the whole nation could be covered. If the nation is developed, it is developed for all of us and not a section of the nation or parts of it. Therefore, let us accept this offer, work with it judiciously and seriously so that the benefits would be seen by all and other help would come from the Corporation.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed
(NDC - Ayawaso East): Mr. Speaker, I
believe that there is a lot of emphasis on the Bill seeking to reduce poverty through economic growth in Ghana, and I am amazed that with this emphasis, nothing is being said about healthcare delivery. I do not know whether the terms of the Compact do not permit the inclusion of health matters in this issue. But I would want to caution that the health of any nation can be better promoted by an enactment of an appropriate law rather than by the right surgical procedure on the operating table.
Mr. Speaker, by so saying, I wish to say that even if part of this Fund is not going to be expended on healthcare delivery or the provision of healthcare facilities, I am surprised that the governing Board does not include any person from the health sector. I would like to draw attention to this fact. Mr. Speaker, otherwise, I support the Amendment Bill.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo (NPP - Amenfi East) 1:25 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I also rise to associate myself with the Bill but to say that I have a worry about paragraph 4.5 of the Committee's Report. Mr. Speaker, a number of concerns have been raised about the regional imbalance in the distribution of the facility and the hon. Minister, on the floor of this House, gave us an assurance that when it comes to the implementation of the Challenge Fund, there will be some flexibility in the whole exercise.
Mr. Speaker, when you look at paragraph 4.5 of the Committee's Report -- and with your indulgence, I quote:
“The Committee was informed that as part of the terms of the Compact, a new way of monitoring the Millennium Challenge Funds has been introduced. This has some auditing rules and penalties for using the Funds other than what it
Dr. A. A. Osei 1:25 p.m.
On a point of order.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Senior Colleague is referring to such assurances about flexibility allegedly given by the hon. Minister for Public Sector Reforms. Mr. Speaker, I am not sure of the basis for his statement. I have not heard the hon. Minister for Public Sector Reforms giving those assurances that the hon. Member for Amenfi East is saying he gave. If he has information to that regard, he should produce it, otherwise he should withdraw that statement.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 1:25 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, my
worry is just about the flexibility which the hon. Minister said would be introduced when it comes to the management of the Millennium Challenge Account. That is all what I am worried about. Paragraph 4.5 rules out that flexibility. What the paragraph is saying is that if you introduce any flexibility into the whole exercise, there will be penalties and penalties to that effect, and I should get worried because my region is also affected and if the disbursement is going to be so rigid, by 4.5, certainly it calls for some kind of concern.
Mr. Speaker, I am supporting the Bill but with some worry.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
I would
take on two more contributions and then - Hon. Abuga Pele?
Mr. Abuga Pele (NDC -- Chiana/
Paga): Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. In supporting this Amendment Bill, there are a number of issues that I think should be raised. Yesterday, the hon. Minority Leader was concerned about the non-availability of the Compact document to hon. Members of Parliament. We see in this Bill several references to Compact term, Compact document and so forth. For instance, if you take section 9.3, it says:
“The fund is exempt from taxes and duties specified under Compact.”
Then again, under 4.3 (b) - [Interruption] - No, there is another portion on tax. Well, this will suffice for the example I want to give.

Mr. Speaker, how do we know what type of exemption the Fund is going to enjoy? Are we saying that, for example persons who are contracted to perform contracts under the fund are going to be exempted from tax? What is the nature of the tax exemption that is being granted? If we had access to the Compact document - because it says that it has been specified in the Compact document but we have no access to it. So this is one area of concern.

Another thing is, if you take section 4

(3) (b) it says:

“The following members of the board are without voting rights: Three persons representing the District Assemblies within each intervention zone selected by the District Assemblies in the zones through a transparent selection process.”

This is a very nice provision indicating that we are democratizing the selection of people who should serve on the board.

But the irony of it is that these people have no voting rights; they are the people who are rather supposed to have voting rights.

The impact of whatever is going to happen is going to be on the District Assemblies; it is going to be in the district areas. And yet representatives who have been democratically elected to serve on the board have no voting rights. If we say the representative, of the NCC has no voting right, I understand it; but when we say the representatives of the District Assemblies are without voting rights, Mr. Speaker, I think that it is an anomaly and it should be corrected.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to

emphasize the need to use some money from Government Budget to supplement the Millennium Challenge Fund. We know that that amount is around ¢45 trillion. The volume of the last national Budget was ¢38 trillion and you are saying that, even with the ¢38 trillion, we had to spread it across the whole country.

Now, the ¢45 trillion is going to be limited to certain parts of the country and yet we are saying that with this big sum, we should still go and take what is a smaller part for the whole country and use it to supplement what is a big chunk for just a section of the country. I find this anomalous and the earlier we tried to correct it the better.

I want to also say that what hon. Salia

was saying was very, very reasonable. In fact, in the case of Togo, they have decided to use their money for port development and just a few areas. We could have used this to establish industries processing agricultural produce. But here all we are doing - I was very happy when they mentioned that they were going to engage in the construction of roads and other infrastructural developments, that was a very good idea. But to push again

for increase in raw materials so that we continue to get entrenched as a raw material producing country, for me, is not the best.

I think that it is high time we found a way of giving value to the raw materials, the agricultural produce of this country so that we can add value and empower our people to continue to produce. But all we keep doing when we contract these loans is increasing the quantity of produce and we know the problems of marketing, we know the problems of export under WTO arrangements, we know the problems that developing countries are facing when they want to send their produce to the advanced countries.

So Mr. Speaker, this is gone already but next time we are contracting an amount like this and we have the opportunity of looking at what would enable us take off from the agricultural raw material producing base to an industrial raw material processing base, I think that we should seize the opportunity and we should not let it pass.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, whilst associating myself with the principle upon which my hon. Colleague is building his case, I want to assure him that the issue that he is relating to is really covered by the Act. It talks about the performance of functions ancillary to the objectives of the account.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Where are you reading from?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am talking about the Act.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Yes, which section?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, section 3 (h) and even section 3 (g) -- “perform functions that may be required by subsequent investments made by the Millennium Challenge Corporation”.
Mr. Speaker, so his fears have been sufficiently taken care of by the provisions in the Act. So I agree with the principle he is establishing but only to assure him that they already exist in the Act.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
You may wind up, hon. Abuga.
Mr. Pele 1:35 p.m.
I am just winding up. I am very happy he said the ancillary to the crux of what the Millennium Challenge Fund is going to be used for. It tells us that that is on the periphery of what is happening. What we are saying is that other functions should be ancillary to the industrial base for processing raw material. That is the principle I wanted to establish. So it is different from what he is saying.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to say that the rationale for this whole idea of Millennium Challenge Fund for the developing countries is a subsequent development of other such concerns for the entrenched poverty of our people in Africa and other developing worlds. So I think, that the main thrust of the programme is the fact that those selected countries are getting deeper and deeper in poverty.
So the hon. Minister's statement here the other day which tried to create the impression that it was because of the success of the Government, and the success of the economic performance of the Government that was why we were being included, I think, is not the case. Rather it is the case that we have a big problem here; they have realized that we are growing poorer and poorer and that is
the more reason why people are calling for the poorest parts of this country to be included in the whole scheme.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho (NDC - Avenor/ Ave) 1:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is very, very sad for some of us to be called upon to support this Amendment Bill. We are doing so because we want the money to come to Ghana. That is the only consideration. Because a Bill that has not yet been put into implementation, we are being called upon to amend it. And I am not surprised that if we look at the memorandum to the Bill it does not satisfy article 106 (2) (a) of the Constitution in terms of telling us the defects -- and with your permission I quote:
“106 (2) No bill, other than such a bill as is referred to in paragraph (a) of article 108 of this Constitution, shall be introduced in Parliament unless -
(a) it is accompanied by an explanatory memorandum setting out in detail the policy and principles of the bill, the defects of the existing law, the remedies proposed to deal with those defects and the necessity for its introduction.”
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Hon. Member, are you on a point of order?
Ms. Tagoe 1:35 p.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. My hon. Colleague said it is sad for some of them to be called to support this Bill.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
And you have a problem with that?
Ms. Tagoe 1:35 p.m.
I want to know who called
Mr. Adjaho 1:35 p.m.
Well, I think that now that my hon. Sister has been sent to the Greater Accra Region she would be more regular here. The motion before us is for the Second Reading of the amendment Bill and I am speaking to the motion - that it be read the Second time. And once an hon. Member catches the Speaker's eye, he/she either speaks for it or against it.
Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh 1:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to correct my hon. Friend. He started on the wrong footing. He said that the memorandum does not state the defects. Mr. Speaker, he needs to read just the first paragraph --
“The purpose of the Bill is to make specific amendments to the Millennium Development Authority Bill in order to reflect more accurately . . .”
Mr. Speaker, it means that it does not reflect -- and therefore the purpose of this is to do that.
The terms of the Compact in the law following further negotiations of the terms tells us why we are doing this and what he read in article 106 (2) falls under this, or this fits into it perfectly. So if my hon. Friend does not see any difference, he needs to do some re-reading. I am sorry he said so.
Mr. Adjaho 1:45 p.m.
Anyway, he has to justify
his inclusion. I have not even finished my submission; he should have taken his time. He is the newly appointed Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, we know. But he should just take his time; he should let me finish my submission and he would be given the chance to respond. I just referred to the article, I have not even
finished my submission and -- Well, he is entitled to his opinion. I believe that -- When did we pass this legislation?
Mr. F. K. Agbesi 1:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want
your direction.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Over
what?
Mr. Agbesi 1:45 p.m.
The point of order taken
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
You are out of order.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Are you
also on a point of order?
Dr. A. A. Osei 1:45 p.m.
Yes, sir. Mr. Speaker,
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon.
Adjaho, I understand your constituency is enjoying part of this MCA, is it true?
Mr. Adjaho 1:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I made the
point - I want the money to come, that they have not heard it. When I stated earlier that I wanted the money to come and that is why I am supporting this thing -- But Mr. Speaker, on a more serious note, it does not reflect very well of this House for us to pass legislation, only for us to
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon.
Member for Asuogyaman, are you on a point of order?
Mr. Osei-Ameyaw 1:45 p.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Yes, what
is your point?
Mr. Osei-Ameyaw 1:45 p.m.
If the hon. Member
can read paragraph 4 - “Observations” -- If he has not, I will read it for him: “The Committee observed that the Bill is of an urgent nature and is to be passed under the Certificate of Urgency”. So what he was proposing we do has already been done. So perhaps he should have read that before making that comment.
Mr. Adjaho 1:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
Constitution is clear as to what type of determination the Committee is supposed to make. The determination that the Committee is invited by the Constitution to make is that of an urgent nature. Once that is done, any other follow-up is of no consequence. If the Constitution says what will happen when that determination is made -- that is the point I am making.
Mr. Speaker, it is important for this
House to have access to that Compact term. When we all go home now and our constituents ask us that they heard us debate this Bill and we kept referring to “Compact term”, so what does the “Compact term” say, what shall be the
response that we as Members of this honourable House will give to them?
The Bill referred to a “Compact term” which is the source document. That is the base and it is from that that this law and all the things that we are doing in this House emanate. If that is the situation, why is it that we are talking now? The Bill is talking about a “Compact term” and the Compact term has not been made available to this honourable House.
Mr. Speaker, I think that it is not too late and we do not want to do anything to delay access to this money in the national interest, but I think that it is a matter that we ought to follow up as a House if within a reasonable time the Minister respon-sible does not place this document before the appropriate House. It is a totally mockery of what we are doing here because we do not know what the Compact term says. We do not even know whether there are clauses in that Compact term which are not in the national interest. And they referred to it in the Bill; we have not seen it but we are approving it.
We do not want to do anything to suggest that we want to sabotage - Of course, it is money. It is supposed to be free money; we will have access to that free money. It is a grant, but Mr. Speaker, I want to use this opportunity to call on the Minister responsible for this Authority -- (I know that my Friend is smiling) -- to bring this document to this House at the appropriate time. It will help all of us in this House; it will help us understand the Compact term; it will help us explain to our constituents what the Compact term contains. It will also help us perform our oversight responsibility as a House. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon.
Minister, could wind up? Let the hon. Minister wind up for us. Hon. Members, I believe that maybe if we take a little more than five minutes then of course we
are having an extended Sitting, but if he finishes his summary before 2 o'clock then so be it. Yes, hon. Minister?
Dr. Nduom 1:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to
thank hon. Members on both sides of the House for their contributions. But Mr. Speaker, there are a few matters or items of correction that I would like to make.
First of all, the reference in the Memorandum that was submitted and which I signed, and also the reference made in the report of the Committee which talks about avoiding payment of funds into the Consolidated Fund is not the correct statement to make and I want to make that correction. What we are doing is creating a special account at the Bank of Ghana to ensure that the monies are handled separately, it is not an attempt to go away or to circumvent the Consolidated Fund.

Mr. Speaker, a point was made by the hon. Member who is not listening to me. The hon. Member made a point and I would like to make a correction, because it is an important point. That is, that there is no requirement in the Compact for counterpart funds - none. There is no requirement. Everything that we need to do with this money has been provided for a hundred per cent. What we are seeking to do, Mr. Speaker, if the hon. Member is still listening, is that once a road is constructed, it needs to be maintained.

If a school building is put up with these funds, it needs to be maintained. What we are trying to do is also to ensure that Government will take up its respon- sibilities for maintenance and make funds available for the maintenance, but not to provide funds for the construction or carrying out any of the responsibilities that are set out within the Compact. So there is no requirement for counterpart funds in the Compact.

Mr. Speaker, thirdly, I just want to also emphasize the point that we have not at any point been compelled to do anything. We ourselves chose modernization of agriculture and also proposed the programme design. So the programme design is still ours, it came from us. If there are any difficulties with it, they are difficulties that belong to us, the people who put the proposal on the table.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Yes, hon. Member for Bole/Bamboi.
Mr. Mahama 1:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I fail to understand the example that the hon. Minister has given. He says that the issue of funding approved by Parliament is for the purpose of - For instance, if a road is constructed, it will need to be maintained and so those moneys will be used to maintain it. The point is if a road is constructed, it becomes one of the roads of Ghana. And under normal budgetary allocation, the Ministry of Transportation and the Ghana Highway Authority will be responsible for maintaining that road. So we will not need to bring that in this legislation. I do not think it explains what we are objecting to here.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Yes, hon. Minister, he is drawing your attention to the fact that he thinks it is not relevant to bring that point.
Dr. Nduom 1:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, a concern was raised about paragraph 4.5 of the Report. I wish to assure the hon. Member
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Yes, hon. Deputy Minority Leader.
Mr. Adjaho 1:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, again, on that point of moneys provided by Parliament, if you look at this Bill, they draw a distinction between the Compact term and the post-Compact term. It is clear in this Bill - [Interruptions.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Hon. Members, let us have some silence.
Mr. Adjaho 1:55 p.m.
So if the hon. Minister is talking about what will happen after the Compact term, then the rendition should not be what we are seeing in this Bill. Because he is saying that after the road is built, which means that - After the Compact term, what will happen? We must be very clear and say that after the Compact term. But the way it is captured in this order and looking at the main Act -- The purpose of the main Act is to manage certain specific funds; this excludes Government of Ghana.
I think that what he is explaining is different from what is in this Bill. So it is contradictory. It is important for us to know exactly what we want this money to do; because what is here is not what the hon. Minister is explaining.
Dr. Dduom 1:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thought it was clear. But if it is not, I will explain further and give another example. The Compact term is five years but within the course of five years, we could put up a school building in the hon. Member's constituency within a two-year period. But within the two-year period that the building is up, it needs to be maintained. What we need to make sure of is that within the five-year Compact period, there
are funds made available to maintain that building.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Hon. Members, if you want to catch the eye of the Chair, there is a way to go by it. But when you get up and then you are at the same time making gestures and speaking to someone else, that is not appropriate. That is not appropriate.
Yes, hon. Minister, continue.
Dr. Nduom 1:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, what I am saying is quite simply that within the five- year period, we will have certain projects completed and we need to make provision for the maintenance of those completed projects. Indeed, it is very necessary and it is to our own concern and also to ensure that we ourselves gain maximum benefit from what is completed within the Compact period. That is why it is not necessary to say that we would only leave matters to post-Compact. This is because within the Compact period, we will have projects completed that need to be provided for.

Question put and motion agreed to.

The Mil lennium Development

Authority (Amendment) Bill was accordingly read a Second time.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Hon. Members, we now move on to item 8 on the Order Paper.
Dr. Nduom 1:55 p.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker - [Interruption.]
Mr. Adjaho 1:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, this morning when the Leadership met, because at that time the reports had not been distributed, our understanding was to take the Second Reading today. That was the understanding.
Mr. Speaker, in view of certain issues that have been raised and the fact that the Report also came in late, it is clear that some hon. Members might want to file amendments at the Consideration Stage - something they cannot do at this time. So we would want to say that if we can take the Consideration Stage tomorrow. It will still mean that we will be suspending the Standing Orders, anyway, so that hon. Members who feel that they have to file amendments can be offered the opportunity to file them.
If the Report had been brought earlier this morning when we came, I believe that those who felt that they had to file amendments would have filed them and that would have helped us avoid the situation where we may go back and realize that we have not included certain things, which will call for the amendment of the Act again, and all those things.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Hon. Majority Chief Whip, your hon. Colleague is saying that the understanding was that you would not take the Consideration Stage today.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, in truth, I am not privy to that understanding. However, I have looked
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:55 p.m.


at the Bill and even having a cursory look at it, there are many areas that we have to address our minds to. For instance, just looking at it cursorily, some amendments have been proposed and I do not really see the relevance of them.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
So you do agree with what is being proposed by the hon. Deputy Minority Leader?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:55 p.m.
Yes, in totality and in principle, I agree with what he is saying. Let us defer the Consideration Stage to tomorrow. We may agree to take it first thing in the morning.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Hon. Members, that being the case, the Chair is obliged to defer the Consideration Stage of the Bill.
On that note, the House will stand adjourned till tomorrow 10.00 a.m.
ADJOURNMENT 1:55 p.m.

  • The House was adjourned at 2.06 p.m. till 14th July 2006 at 10.00 a.m.