Debates of 14 Jul 2006

MR. SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:05 a.m.
CORRECTION OF VOTES 10:05 a.m.
AND PROCEEDINGS AND 10:05 a.m.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:05 a.m.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Ibn M. Abass 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I notice that the Questions slated on the Order Paper for today for the Minister for Transportation to answer are the same Questions listed for Friday, 21st July, 2006. I would like the Majority Leader to throw some light on this.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:15 a.m.
We will check out from the Clerk's Table and see the typing error. At the time I was looking at the draft, I did not have the Order Paper
Mr. Sampson Ahi 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, last week hon. Ayariga and I were scheduled to ask the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning an Urgent Question, but I did not get the opportunity to ask it. This week, hon. Ayariga's Urgent Question has been captured in the Business Statement. I want to find out from the Chairman what has happened to my Urgent Question.
Mr. Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Hon. Member for Juabeso, we will take it up. Item 4 - Questions.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there seems to be mishap on what has been printed and we need to print a new Order Paper. So those with amendments, if they can meet the Chairman of the Committee and the Minister for Public Sector Reforms, so that by the time we finish the Questions they would have cleared this and we will get a new Order Paper to cover that area.
Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am sorry if I have to take you back; I was going to pass a comment on the Business Statement. In fact, this is what the Business Committee decided on. But as we are talking now we have not got the Estimates submitted yesterday by the hon. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning and we were told at the Business Committee meeting that we would lay this report on Tuesday. I thought that I should draw the hon. Majority Leader's attention to it, because we need to look at those figures before the report can be laid on Tuesday. We have not got it. I left here very late yesterday thinking that it would come, but I have not received it as at this morning. I had not got a copy of the report. I do not see how we can work on this report and lay it on Tuesday; it is impossible. I thought that I should draw
his attention to it.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in fact when I left your room this was one of the things I went to work on and I am told they will be arriving before the time scheduled for the Committee. But in case we are not able to achieve that -- that is why we manage our own rules -- we would be able to change and get it properly done.
Mr. Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Right. We move on to item 4 -- Questions, Minister for Transportation.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:15 a.m.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Kwao 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister
answered by saying that the roads in question are un-engineered and are currently not part of the Department of Feeder Roads (DFR) classified roads network. May I know from him what can be done to make these roads part of the feeder roads network.
Dr. Anane 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my last
statement was that I should want to urge the District Assembly of which my hon. Colleague is part, to prioritize the roads or the tracts for consideration. That is how they can be captured under the Department of Feeder Roads' inventory for attention and consideration.
Mr. Kwao 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, again, the
Minister in his last paragraph said “I should urge the District Assembly to prioritize (i) Akorkorma-Lagos, (ii) Akrusu-Saisi- Asekeso Ada, (iii) Osonson Korlenya- Sutawa, (iv) Dzomoa-Ablordem, (v) Dawa Akikase-Sekesua roads for consideration”.
Dr. Anane 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we attend to the felt needs of communities and the felt needs of communities are what they as a community present for consideration. So we cannot sit in Accra and instruct that these things be done. And I believe he is a member of the District Assembly. So I wish that he takes this up in the Assembly for the Assembly to prioritise for our attention. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Nawuni River
Q. 357. Mr. Dawuda Iddrisu (on
behalf of Mr. Yakubu Kakpagu Imoro asked the Minister for Transportation when the Nawuni River would be bridged to open up to communities beyond the White Volta like Singa, Mankarigu, et cetera.
Dr. Anane 10:25 a.m.
The Nawuni River
cuts across the Nawuni-Mempeasem feeder road which is located in the Tolon Kumbungu District of the Northern Region. The Nawuni River which indeed is the White Volta needs a long-spanned bridge. When installed, the bridge will open up the north-western part of the region.
Under the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) bridge programme, the construction of the Mole bridge on the White Volta was awarded in 2002 and is currently under construction. The project is expected to be completed in April, 2007.
Long-span bridges for the Nawuni and Daboya rivers will also be awarded next
Mr. D. Iddrisu 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
Minister in his Answer is talking about the Mole bridge on the White Volta. I do not understand that part. Can he clearly explain that part for me to understand because we are talking about Nawuni bridge and he is talking about Mole bridge. I do not understand what he is saying.
Dr. Anane 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Question
was on Nawuni and I first talked about Mole on a tributary of the White Volta and I also talked about the bridges that we are installing on the White Volta to make access to the north-western part of the Northern Region. I mentioned Kpasenkpe, Mishuo, Daboya and Nawuni. The Daboya and Nawuni projects will start next year whilst the Kpasenkpe and the Mishuo ones are expected to start this year. So my Answer was just to tell him that in addition to the Nawuni bridge which he is asking specifically about, looking at the White Volta and looking at its opening
to the north-western part of the Northern Region, these are other activities that are ongoing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Gomoa Ankamu-Afransi Road (Construction)
Q. 358. Mr. Joe Kingsley Hackman asked the Minister for Transportation when construction work on the Gomoa Ankamu-Afransi road would begin.
Dr. Anane 10:25 a.m.
The Gomoa Ankamu-
Afransi road is 24.9 km and is located in the Gomoa District of the Central Region.
The first 15.6 km from Gomoa Afransi is under the jurisdiction of the DFR while the remaining section from kilometre 15.6 to kilometre 24.9 is under the jurisdiction of Ghana Highway Authority (GHA).
The Ankamu-Enyeme section is paved and its condition varies from poor to fair. The bituminous surface has been scarified to gravel surface.
Current Programme
The first 4 km from Gomoa Afransi was awarded for surfacing in February 2006 at a contract sum of ¢3.164 billion. The project which is being funded under GOG is being executed by Messrs Anteli Agricon Limited and is expected to be completed in February 2007.
Documentation on the project has been completed and the contract was signed on 14th May, 2006. The contractor was given possession of site on 3rd July, 2006. It is expected that works will commence on 17th July this year. Inclement weather has delayed the commencement of the project.
The section from Ankamu-Enyeme has been awarded for routine pothole patching together with other roads to Messrs Altep Ent. Ltd. at a contract sum of ¢759.12 million. The other roads are Apam to Mumford, Agona Swedru town roads and Agona Nsaba town roads. The contract which begun in April 2005 is supposed to end by 31st December, 2006. Payment to date is ¢150 million and most of the potholes on the fair-paved sections on the Ankamu-Enyeme road have been patched.
Future Programme
The remaining stretch from km 4 to km 15.6 which is 11.6 km long has been programmed for surfacing next year.
Advertisement for “the invitation for bids” has been initiated this week.
Meanwhile, the unpaved section has been programmed for routine/recurrent maintenance this year. Bids were received on 28th of June this year and it is expected that the works contract would be awarded by the end of July 2006.
Mr. Hackman 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon.
Minister's response indicated that there will be pothole patching from Ankamu to Enyeme. This does not solve the problem. When will that portion also be earmarked for surfacing?
Dr. Anane 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we want to
first ensure that that stretch is motorable whilst we take on the worst part of the road to put it into proper shape. After that we will consider it. But since we are initiating the advertisement for surfacing of the other stretch after we have finished, which is done in phases, we will take up the other portion and do it.
Mr. R. S. Quarm 10:25 a.m.
Thank you very
much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I find the response given by the hon. Minister
Mr. R. S. Quarm 10:25 a.m.


for Road Transport a little bit interesting. In his response, he mentioned Agona Swedru town roads; yes, it is in the Central Region. He mentioned Nsaba town roads - yes, they are in the Central Region. Surprisingly, the major roads in Gomoa are left out. Specifically, I am talking about Potsin Junction to Awomberew awarded about two to three years ago with one mile tarred. It is not in his response.

I am talking of Gomoa Fetteh, Ojobi, Akotsi, Akraman, Fawomanye-Kwan- yako. They are not mentioned; they are all in Gomoa. I am talking of the road he just mentioned -- Ankamu-Afransi, Nyakrom. Mr. Speaker, I would like to know whether it should come in the form of another supplementary question. Otherwise, I am at a loss as to how a response to Gomoa's plight will have to be tied up to untarred roads in Agona.
Mr. Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Hon. Member, your
question again. Please, ask your supple- mentary question.
Mr. Quarm 10:25 a.m.
My question is, why did
the hon. Minister unknowingly leave out the major roads in the Gomoa area?
Dr. Anane 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I wish that
my hon. Colleague comes back with the Question for me to specifically answer him.
Mr. J. K. Hackman 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
hon. Minister's response does not indicate that the rest of the 20 kilometres will also be earmarked for resurfacing. It appears that there will be pothole patching which actually renders the road very dangerous during the rainy season. Can the hon. Minister assure us that it will be included in this year's Budget or next year's Budget or whenever? It is a critical road that connects all the Gomoa towns.
Dr. Anane 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my Answer indicated that about 11.6 km stretch of the roads in the District is going to be surfaced this year and that we have initiated advertisements. I also stated that we have been doing pothole patching to make the other stretches motorable. Mr. Speaker, we cannot do all the roads in the district at a go. We have to distribute the cake nationally and in so doing, that will mean that we have to do parts of roads in districts at a time.
I would want to urge my hon. Colleague to bid his time. We know that we have to do the roads and therefore with this support we would prioritize and get some of the roads in his district also done.
Benchema Junction to Oseikojokrom Road (Tarring)
Q. 359. Mr. Michael Coffie Boampong asked the Minister for Transportation what plans the Ministry had to tar the Benchema Junction to Oseikojokrom road.
Dr. Anane 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Benchema Junction-Oseikojokrom road is an unpaved trunk road which forms part of a continuous road link from Sefwi Wiawso to Oseikojokrom, route No. IR5. The total length of this road is about 130 km., that is, from Sefwi Wiawso through Benchema Junction to Oseikojokrom on our border with la Cote d'Ivoire.
The section between Sefwi Wiawso and Benchema, a length of 50 km is currently under rehabilitation by Messrs Interbeton Ltd. This project, which started on 1st October, 2005 and is scheduled to be completed by 31st October, 2008, is about 20 per cent completed. The project is being funded through a 35 per cent grant by Development-Related Export Transactions Programme (ORET), 50 per cent Fortis Bank Loan all of the
Netherlands and 15 per cent counterpart funding by the Government of Ghana
(GOG).
Current Programme
Currently, 10 km of the Benchema Junction-Oseikojokrom portion is being upgraded from the Oseikojokrom end by Messrs Nyagsi Engineers Ltd., km (0-5) and Messrs Cymain (Gh) Ltd., km (5-10).
The first section, km (0-5), was awarded at a cost of ¢6.212 billion with a start date of 10th September, 2003 and was scheduled for completion by 7th July, 2004. It is about 72 per cent complete with payment to date amounting to ¢4.69 billion. The concrete U-drains, earthworks and subbase works have been completed.
The second portion, km (5-10) was awarded to Messrs Cymain at a cost of ¢6.986 billion with a start date of 12th December 2003 for completion by 11th September, 2004. It is about 55 per cent complete with payment to date amounting to ¢2.516 billion. Permanent works completed are earthworks and subbase works.
The delays on both projects have been caused by difficulty in locating suitable base material besides inclement weather.
Meanwhile, two phases of a tarring project on the Benchema Junction- Juabeso road have either been completed or ongoing.
Under Phase 1, 8 km was completed by Messrs Cymain at a contract sum of ¢11.15 billion between 5th November, 2003 and 24th November, 2004.
Phase 2 of length 8.8 km is ongoing by Messrs Rinacand and it is 85 per cent completed.
These contracts cost ¢12.68 billion.
The remaining 70 km between Benchema Junction and Oseikojokrom which is in fair to poor condition, is currently being routinely maintained through grading under a two-year contract by Messrs Zebabu Ltd. at a cost of ¢1.410 billion. Amount paid to date is ¢410 million. The contract begun in April 2005 and is to be completed by 31st December, 2006. It was recently, in April/May, 2006, graded.
Mr. Speaker, feasibility and detailed engineering studies of the remaining 70 km of the Benchema Junction-Osei- kojokrom road will be done by GHA while rehabilitation works on the Sefwi Wiawso-Benchema section is in progress. When engineering designs are completed, procurement for the works will be done for the tarring of the Benchema-Oseikojokrom section to begin.
Meanwhile, GHA will continue the routine maintenance of this corridor by grading and spot improvement where necessary throughout the period until the actual tarring of this section begins.
Mr. Boampong 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, is the Minister aware that the two contractors working on the first 10 km stretch of the road in question, that is, from Oseikojokrom towards Desem have not been on site since 2005, and if yes, what is the Ministry doing about it since the road was supposed to be completed by July and September, 2004?
Dr. Anane 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes, I am aware and, yes, the reason for their absence from that corridor has been the fact that the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) has been trying to locate appropriate materials for doing the works that are left. Mr. Speaker, we have had to be doing a lot of searching in the area in order to get the requisite materials that can be used to complete the works. In addition, because of the distance, we also do appreciate the problem of getting chippings in the area.
Dr. Anane 10:35 a.m.


But these are all being resolved because we want to make sure that our border end is put in the right shape.
Mr. Boampong 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, from
the Minister's Answer, the completion of the first 10 km has delayed because of the location of suitable base materials and inclement weather. Were these conditions not considered before awarding the contract?
Mr. Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Would you be kind to
repeat the question?
Mr. Boampong 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, what
I am asking is, from his Answer, the completion of the first 10 km has delayed because of location of suitable base materials and the weather. Were these conditions not considered before awarding the contract?
Dr. Anane 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the weather
is a known problem in the area. However, the location of base materials starts when a contractor is shown the site. We try to get the appropriate material for the contractor to use. But for some time, in parts of the Western Region, it has been a big problem for us. Now, there is the consideration to even use other materials to add in order to stabilize so that we can get the proper type of material that we would use. So we are aware, but the road must be done and therefore we have to explore all avenues of getting the road done.
Mr. Boampong 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I still want to know from the Minister when the engineering designs are going to be commenced and completed as stated in his Answer, under future programme, page 12, paragraph 2.
Dr. Anane 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we expect that the first stretch of 50 kilometres being done by Messrs Interbeton would be finished by mid-2008 and therefore
engineering studies for the other section can start next year in order to meet the completion point for the first stretch. This is because we definitely would need one of the big contractors to be working in that corridor to join Ghana to our neighbour on the west.
Mr. S. M. E. K. Ackah 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the hon. Minister's Answer indicates that for the current programme, they have started upgrading of this road from the Oseikojokrom end, that is from the boundary towards Ghana. I want to find out what prompted the Ministry to start the upgrading from that end rather than from inside towards the boundary.
Dr. Anane 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon.
Colleague lives in the Western Region and I am sure he may have gone to that corridor. All our entry points to our neighbouring countries appear not to be in the best of shapes so I thought we ought to, at least, make sure we upgrade the entry points to this country. That is one of the reasons why even though we were preparing the corridor for award fully to a big contractor, we still felt we had to at least, put to shape some of the corridors that are entering our neighbouring countries. So that is one of the reasons.
Mr. John Gyetuah 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
considering the peculiar problems we have in the Western Region, I want to find out from the hon. Minister whether due to the ecological conditions in the area, he would consider a special programme for the Western Region in terms of awarding the contracts.
Mr. Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon. Member for
Amenfi, unfortunately, your question is not a supplementary one. If you wish to come, come properly.
Mr. Sampson Ahi 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
Question asked was on the Benchema

portion to Oseikojokrom. Benchema to Juabeso is a different route. I want to know from the hon. Minister why he decided to answer to the works going on from Benchema Junction to Juabeso whilst the Question was basically on Benchema Junction to Oseikojokrom.
Dr. Anane 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon.
Colleague does know that, first, the corridor from Sefwi Wiawso to Oseikojokrom was in the worst of shapes. Secondly, from Juabeso to Benchema Junction is part of the corridor. It is a T-Junction. Juabeso is on one side of the main route but it is the intention of Government to make sure that the entire stretch is tarred and that is why we have done it. And I am sure he is very happy.
Maybe, he wants his people to know that the township of Juabeso has seen tarring for the first time and that the corridor from Juabeso to the Benchema Junction which is 18 kilometres has also seen tarring for the first time in their history.
We did that because we wanted to
emphasise that we are doing the entire corridor and the entire corridor takes up Sefwi Wiawso to Oseikojokrom in addition to that main township, Juabeso, linking up to Benchema Junction.
Vea and Gowrie
Q. 360. Mr. Albert Abongo asked the Minister for Transportation what plans the Ministry had for linking Vea and Gowrie since during rainy seasons, the two villages cannot be linked by road when the Vea Dam spills over.
Dr. Anane 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Vea-
Gowrie feeder road forms part of the Gowrie-Vea-Zokko feeder road. The Gowrie-Vea-Zokko feeder road is 14.8 km long and is located in the Bongo District
Mr. Abongo 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to
have a clarification from the hon. Minister. The second but last paragraph of his Answer talks about studies being carried out by the “International Development Association” but the hon. Minister reads it as “Irrigation Development Authority”. I do not know which is the right one.
Dr. Anane 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think there was a typographical error so this was corrected last night. So the IDA here is not the “International Development Association”. It is the “Irrigation Development Authority” of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Mr. Abongo 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like
to know from the hon. Minister, exactly what these studies are all about.
Dr. Anane 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the studies
are being conducted under the Irrigation Development Authority of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. However, we are awaiting the results and the outcome of the study in order for us to know what we have to do because from our point, we have to install a major box culvert but the Dam authorities are not happy with that. So they said they would want to advise us. So we just want to wait; when they finish with their studies, we would then know what input they want to give us for us to consider further.
Abutia-Kloe-Juapong Road (Completion)
Q. 362. Mr. F. A. Agbotse asked
the Minister for Transportation what his Ministry's programme is for the completion of the road project from Abutia-Kloe to Juapong since that portion of the Sokode to Juapong road is in a very bad state.
Dr. Anane 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Sokode- Juapong feeder road is 35 km long. The road is engineered and is located in the Ho and North Tongu Districts res-pectively.
The road is being tarred in phases. The first phase which is 13 km long and covered the section from Sokode-
Abutia Kloe was awarded for surfacing in March 2003 at a contract sum of ¢7.4 billion. The project which was expected to be completed in May 2006 is about 92 per cent completed. The amount paid to date for works done is ¢6.3 billion. The outstanding works on the project are the correction of defective portions and construction of 465 m of concrete U-drain. The project is being funded by GOG and the contractor on the project is Messrs Ussuya (GH) Ltd.
The works completed to date include construction of 1,190 m of concrete U- drains and surfacing of the entire 13 km stretch.
Future Programme
Engineering studies on the entire 35- km Sokode-Juapong feeder road have been completed.
The second phase of the project will be programmed for surfacing next year when the first phase would have been completed. Meanwhile, the remaining un- tarred section has been programmed for routine/recurrent maintenance this year. Bids were received on 28th June this year and it is expected that the project will be awarded by end of this month.
Mr. Agbotse 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am satisfied with the Answer given by the hon. Minister. I would only want to know when exactly the project would start.
Dr. Anane 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon.
Mr. C. S. Hodogbey 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my
question is, how many of the remaining kilometres are involved in the second phase of the tarring?
Dr. Anane 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we are now
looking at our budget for 2007 as well as the cake and its distribution and that will
Mr. Hodogbey 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my
last question is, while waiting for the remaining programme for the untarred section, what plans does he have to solve the situation before the tarring actually begins, since the condition of the road is so bad?
Dr. Anane 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the last paragraph of my Answer says:
“Meanwhile, the remaining un- tarred section has been program-med for routine/recurrent main-tenance this year. Bids were received on the 28th June this year and it is expected that the project will be awarded by the end of this month.”
So that is the answer to his question.
Mr. Tanko Abdul-Rauf Ibrahim 10:55 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, in the hon. Minister's Answer, he mentioned that at the moment the contractor is not on site. I think the hon. Minister would have an idea why the contractor is not on site. May he please make it known to the House?
Dr. Anane 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, just at the tail-end of the completion of the works, we re-inspected and added further works for execution by the contractor. At that time the contractor had demobilized his equipment to another site, but we are urging him to come back to complete this so that we can start processes for the next phase. So that is how come he is not on site. He had almost finished with the job that he was given, but because we made an addition to it, that is how come we are saying that he had completed 92 per cent instead of 100 per cent of the works that he was supposed to have done.
Mr. Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Hon. Minister for
Transportation, thank you very much for appearing almost every Friday to answer Questions. You are discharged, at least, for the time being.
PAPERS 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Item (b) (ii), Chairman of the Committee --
Mrs. Kusi 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, with (b) (ii) the Committee is still considering it, so we want to step that one down.
Mr. Speaker 10:55 a.m.
It is not ready, is it?
Mrs. Kusi 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, no.
Mr. Speaker 10:55 a.m.
All right.
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Yes, hon. Chief Whip?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:55 a.m.
Mr.
Mr. Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Majority Chief Whip,
any indications at this stage?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:55 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I am informed by the Clerk to Parliament that certain developments are going on now and that in the circumstance and with your indulgence, if I may call for the suspension of Sitting for the time being. Mr. Speaker, if it sits well with you, I may then proceed to move that this House do now suspend Sitting for a period of one hour.
Mr. Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Majority Chief Whip, if
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:55 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, it may not necessarily be so; that is why I said if it sits well with you I may do that. And it will not offend the Standing Orders, any way. Mr. Speaker, however,
the Orders are in your bosom and you may do as you please.
Mr. Mahama Ayariga 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
Mr. Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon. Members, what
I will suggest is that we suspend Sitting for 30 minutes and find out whether we can really make progress thereafter -- only 30 minutes. We should come back at 11.30 a.m.
The Sitting was suspended at 10.59
a.m.

Sitting resumed.
MR. FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon. Members, the House is called to order; we go back to the Order Paper.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Yes, Majority Leader?
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, when the Business Statement was read this morning, my attention was drawn to what I may call a typing error by way of the Questions scheduled for the Minister for Transportation next week, Friday. And in order that hon. Colleagues who are supposed to ask those Questions may be aware, I wanted just to read the new Question numbers for them to take note.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Very well.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister for Transportation will answer Questions numbered 363, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371 and 372.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
That was a correction of part of the Business Statement for the coming week.
Mr. E. P. Aidoo 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, we are begging that he repeats that for us so that --
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
A repetition of what he said? Hon. Majority Leader, can you indulge the House by doing so for us?
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 12:50 p.m.
I will do so, Mr. Speaker. Questions 363, 365, 367, 368, 369, 371 and 372.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon. Member, are you all right with that? Very well, now we go back to item 6 on the Order Paper. The Minister for Public Sector Reforms?
Suspension of Standing Order 128 (1)
Minister for Public Sector Reforms (Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom) 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 128 (1) which require that when a Bill has been read a Second Time it shall pass through a Consideration Stage which shall not be taken until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed, the Consideration Stage of the Millennium Development Authority (Amendment) Bill may be taken today.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. Paul Okoh) 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
BILLS -- CONSIDERATION 12:50 p.m.
STAGE 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 1, paragraph (a), line 3, delete “in Ghana”.
Mr. Speaker, clause 1 (a) of section 2 of Act 702 as is being proposed to be amended. If you read the last line -- Economic growth in Ghana -- Mr. Speaker, my proposal is that “in Ghana” be deleted.
Mr. Speaker, there is no ambiguity about the fact that this is an Act of the Parliament of Ghana which will be assented to later by the President of the Republic of Ghana. Therefore, it is superfluous to put “in Ghana” there.
Mr. Okoh 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, we are in agreement with the hon. Member. It is a repetition of the name Ghana, so we think it is acceptable.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 1 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clauses 2 and 3 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 4 -- Section 7 of Act 702 amended.
Mr. H. Iddrisu 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would even crave your indulgence, before moving the advertised amendment, to further move that -- If you look at clause 4
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon. Member, which one are you talking about? Are you on clause 4?
Mr. H. Iddrisu 12:50 p.m.
Clause 4 (7) (1); I am seeking leave of you to do a reconstruction of clause 4 (7) (1). I think that it is wrong to begin with the phrase “During the Compact term”. If you look at the headnote, it is specific -- Governing body of the Authority.
My view would be that the whole phrase “During the Compact term”, should be deleted; but it appears the Minister for Public Sector Reforms insists that we should find somewhere within the rendition to place it. So with your indulgence, I want to rephrase it as follows:
“The governing body shall be composed of not less than 9 or more than 11 voting members.”
“During the Compact term” can now come after that or at best it can be deleted from the entire statement. But if we wish we can fix it after “members” so that it then makes some legal sense.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
That is the first part of your amendment?
Mr. H. Iddrisu 12:50 p.m.
Yes, the first part.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Let us handle that one first before we move on.
Mr. Okoh 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think I will
agree with him, but he used the word “or” which should be “nor”. He is making two suggestions, but I agree with the second one where “During the Compact term” comes after “members”.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
But you will not agree with the word “or”.
Mr. Okoh 12:50 p.m.
No, Mr. Speaker, it should be rather “nor”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr. H. Iddrisu 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 4, subclause (3), paragraph (b), delete and substitute “three persons selected by the District Assemblies in the Zones through a transparent process representing the District Assemblies within each Intervention Zone”.
Mr. Speaker, the earlier provision was “three persons representing the District Assemblies with each Intervention Zone selected by the District Assembly . . .” I thought that that construction was not apt; we rather go with what I have just proposed.
Mr. Okoh 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am afraid we cannot agree to that rendition. I think that what he is saying now does not add any value to what we already have and that we will want to maintain what is in the Bill.
Question put and amendment negatived.
Clause 4 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clauses 5 to 7 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 8 -- Section 15 of Act 702 amended.

Mr. J. K. Gidisu (on behalf of Mr. J.

Y. Chireh): Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 8, delete and substitute

“Section 15 of the principal enactment is amended in subsection (2) by the substitution of the following:

(2) There shall be a Chief Executive Officer of the Authority who shall be appointed by the President in accordance with article 195 (1) of the Constitution.”

The rationale is the word “officer”, instead of the original which ends with the “chief executive” -- so it is the inclusion of “officer”.
Mr. Okoh 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, we agreed on it. It is just adding “officer” because somewhere in the Bill we have said “executive officer” and therefore we want it to conform to what has been said already.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 8 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 9 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 10 -- Section 19 (a) inserted.
Mr. Okoh 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker I beg to move, clause 10, delete and substitute the following:
“The principal enactment is amended by the insertion after section 19 of the following:
Moneys approved by Parliament
194 Parliament shall approve such monies as may be required of the Government under the Compact.”
Mr. Speaker, we believe Parliament approves but does not provide money. That is the reason for this amendment, if it is accepted by all.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Hon. Iddrisu, are you against that or you want to make another contribution?
Mr. H. Iddrisu 1 p.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am opposed to the amendment but subject to some explanation that I may require from the Minister for Public Sector Reforms -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Put it properly then; are you saying that subject to some explanation by the Minister, you will agree?
Mr. H. Iddrisu 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I will support it but I will raise some preliminary issues. Mr. Speaker, if you look at clause 10 as being proposed that the Parliament of Ghana shall approve some funds for the Compact, I have a serious difficulty with it. Mr. Speaker, only yesterday the Minister for Public Sector Reforms was in this House and I would like to paraphrase him in a statement he made, 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 100 per cent.” These were his words yesterday. Mr. Speaker, why are we creating a new obligation for the Republic of Ghana, and the Parliament of Ghana to approve money for the implementation of the Compact for which we were told that -- [Interruption.]
Dr. A. A. Osei 1 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, I believe that yesterday hon. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang tried to answer this question very clearly, he was in the House.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
He has raised it again for -- [Interruption.]
Dr. A. A. Osei 1 p.m.
He raised it yesterday.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
We are considering it. At that stage it was Second Reading. So now we are doing the Consideration and he is raising his concern; let him continue.
Mr. H. Iddrisu 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you very much, I will be very brief. Mr. Speaker, my position is that throughout the discussions on this fund, we have been made to believe that the generosity of the Government of the United States of America is eventually winning us US$547 million from that Government, which will be implemented under the fund. Now I have a difficulty if we are being called upon today that Parliament must make provision to support implementation of that fund. Then it means that it is not the generous grant that we know; it means some funding is required from the Government of Ghana. If I get a satisfactory explanation from the Minister for Public Sector Reforms that indeed under the Compact the Government of Ghana has some obligation to support its implementation, I will wholeheartedly support it. But when he says 100 per cent from the Government of the United States of America and he is now defining a new obligation for the Parliament of Ghana, Mr. Speaker, I have difficulties with it.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Hon. Deputy Minister, do you want to react to that?
Dr. A. A. Osei 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, before the Minister answers, there is a simple thing that I may offer him as an explanation --
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Are you making a contribution then?
Dr. A. A. Osei 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, no; it is a point of information. [Interruptions.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Maybe, he has already finished, but go ahead; come out with what you want to say.
Dr. A. A. Osei 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, this Parliament has set up the Millennium Development Authority and has to even man it, put personnel there. That provision is considered a Government of Ghana financing. It is not possible that they would give us 100 per cent and then we do not spend any penny. The Authority's funding which we have set up, by the fact that somebody is going there and, we are funding it, it means that is Government of Ghana money. So he has never said that Government is not going to spend anything. He is saying that the activities that the Authority is going to implement are fully funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), but we as a nation must provide an office, a car, et cetera. So that is Government of Ghana financing.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Hon. Minister, do you have something else to add or you are satisfied with the explanation given?
Dr. Nduom 1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is perhaps unfortunate that when we were in caucus earlier on the hon. Member was not around. Because, we discussed this rather -- number one, that when he uses the words “counterpart funds” we were not required to have counterpart funds for the implementation of what is here;
that everything that we read to you in the statement, from the schedule of payments adds up to US$547 million, and all of that is provided for by the MCC.
We have also designed the programme in such a way that we do not require Government funds for the implementation of the projects that have been identified. Now what we have here, however -- And I will refer the hon. Member to the original Act itself, there is even some further clarification.

If you took the original Act, at page 8, at the Expenses of the Authority, item 20 -- and I quote:

“ . . . the expenses for the administration and management of the authority shall be paid from the Fund for a period of five years and after that from moneys provided by Parliament.”

Now, what we also explained is that what we are seeking Parliament to approve, subject to the request of Government, and if you read the amendment itself -- and it is important that the hon. Member reads the amendment properly. This is because I think he made a mistake in saying “funds provided for the Compact”. That is not what we are talking about. We said, the Government should make provision in the national Budget for such moneys as may be required of Government under the Compact.

And if you go to the Compact -- In the meeting, indeed, we had a copy of the Compact with us and we explained all the clauses that are there. And indeed, where it is required that Government will have an obligation during and after the term of

the Compact, for those specific things they are provided for within the Compact. So it is not a blanket provision. It is a specific thing that is explained in the Compact and we have all looked at it and accepted it.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
Hon. Member for Tamale South, I suppose that is all right with you now?
Mr. H. Iddrisu 1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, just a slight response. First of all the hon. Minister in his response chose to rather rely on an earlier advertised amendment, which has been changed. Now, what we are seeking to do is not to insert “where the national Budget . . .” We have now come to the amendment in the name of hon. Doe Adjaho and the hon. Chairman of the Committee which reads:
“Parliament shall approve such moneys as may be required of the Government under the Compact.”
I absolutely have no problem. But Mr. Speaker, in his response he is saying that “after the Compact . . .” In this same legislation, Mr. Speaker, if you read page 5, under interpretation, the Compact term is defined.
Why do we want to create obligations even when we have not been there for the Parliament of Ghana and the Government of Ghana to provide funding, which the hon. Minister himself said, sixty-two million dollars of the money is supposed to be used for administration? He told us here that about fifteen million dollars of the money is for monitoring and other things.
So I am saying that he should not create any new obligation for the Republic of Ghana because he wants to rely solely on the fund, which fund is the five hundred and forty-seven million dollars provided by the Government of the United States of America.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
Yes, hon. Minister, can you react finally to that so that I can put the Question?
Dr. Nduom 1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the hon. Member is confusing terms under the Compact and what we have said at this same place -- At least, it is the same rendition that he gave -- what is required of Government under the Compact with what is to be done during the Compact term. That is why I was making the reference that in our discussion we went through and identified what needed to be done by Government as government obligation under the Compact. Let me read a couple of things to him. Unfortunately, he was not there and I think there is some confusion in his mind that should not be there.
We talked about obligations of Government under or in furtherance of this Compact, during the Compact term and through the completion of any post- Compact term activities, audit and other responsibilities. That is why I want him to pay attention to what is required of the Government under the Compact, which is correct and acceptable, and which is what is included in the Compact document itself.
So I do not want there to be any misunderstanding. There is no obligation on the part of Government to provide counterpart funds, but there are obligations of Government under the Compact which should be provided for. And that is what we have accepted and that is why what the hon. Member for Avenor has provided is acceptable to us.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 10 as amended ordered to stand
part of the Bill.
Clause 11 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 12 -- Section 26 of Act 702 amended.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 12, Interpretation, delete “chief executive” and substitute “chief executive officer means the chief executive officer of the Authority under section 15”.
Mr. Speaker, this amendment is consequential to the earlier amendment.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
Hon. Chairman of the Committee, are you in agreement to the proposed amendment?
Mr. Okoh 1:10 p.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, we are in agreement.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 12 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
The Long Title ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Suspension of Standing Order 131 (1)
Dr. Nduom 1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 131(1) which require that when a Bill has passed through the Consideration Stage, the Third Reading thereof shall not be taken until at least twenty-four hours have elapsed, the motion for the Third Reading of the Millennium Development Authority (Amendment) Bill may be moved today.
Mr. Okoh 1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
BILLS -- THIRD READING 1:10 p.m.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
Hon.
Members, that brings us to the end, unless of course there is something else to be said. Have we finished? I thought there was some Paper to be laid?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, we agreed to stand that one down and do so on Tuesday.
Mr. Speaker, today being Friday, we have serious committee meetings and Mr. Speaker already is waiting for us. We have Committee on Mines and Energy meetings and the Finance Committee as well.
Beyond that, Mr. Speaker, your humble servant, the hon. Deputy Minister for Energy (Mr. K. T. Hammond) and the hon. Member for Tamale South (Mr. Haruna Iddrisu) are both preparing to go to the mosque. I suspect the hon. Deputy Minister for Finance (Dr. Akoto Osei) is also preparing to go to the mosque. For this reason, Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this House do now adjourn until Tuesday next week at ten o'clock in the forenoon.
I so move.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am equally due for the mosque. [Laughter.] So I second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 1:10 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 1.23 p.m. till 18th July 2006 at 10.00 a.m.