Debates of 24 Nov 2006

MR. FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10 a.m.
CORRECTION OF VOTES 10 a.m.
AND PROCEEDINGS AND 10 a.m.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10 a.m.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10 a.m.
Hon. Members, correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 23rd November, 2006; any corrections? Pages 1….16. [No correction was made in the Votes and Proceedings.]
Hon. Members, in the absence of any
corrections let us assume that the Votes and Proceedings reflect what took place yesterday, 23rd November, 2006. Yes, Leader of the House, Business Statement for the Fifth Week.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10 a.m.
Majority Leader (Mr. Felix K. Owusu- Adjapong) 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Business Committee met on Thursday, 23 rd November, 2006 and determined Business of the House for the Fifth Week ending Friday, 1st December 2006.
Mr. Speaker, the Committee presents its report to this honourable House as follows 10 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Mr. Speaker, the Committee presents its report to this honourable House as follows 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker may allow Statements duly admitted to be made on the floor of the House.
Bills, Papers and Reports
Mr. Speaker, Bills, Papers and Reports may be presented to the House for consideration. The House would also continue to consider Bills, Papers and Reports which have already been presented to the House.
Motions and Resolutions
Mr. Speaker, motions may be debated and the appropriate Resolutions taken where required.
Mr. Speaker, the Business Committee wishes to recommend the following time allocations during the discussion of the Financial Policy of the Government for the fiscal year ending 31st December 2007.
i. Majority and Minority Leaders -- 20 Minutes ii. Seconder of the motion -- 20 Minutes iii. Other Members of Leadership -- 10 Minutes iv. Chairman/Chairpersons and Ranking Members -- 10 Minutes
v. The rest of hon. Members --5 Minutes
Of course, Mr. Speaker, I am referring to Mr. Speaker's watch, not the normal watch.
Mr. Speaker, hon. Members would observe that Business of the House for next week focuses primarily on the Financial Policy for 2007. The purpose of this arrangement is to ensure that ample
time would be available for debate even though only three days have been allocated for the debate.
Mr. Speaker, the Committee also proposes extended Sittings for next week.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform hon. Members that the proposed post-Budget workshop for Leadership of the House, Committee Chairpersons, Ranking Members and some Staff comes off from Friday, 24th to Sunday, 26th November
2006.
The workshop is residential and will take place at GIMPA, Greenhill, Accra. I hope we shall make it fully residential.
Mr. Speaker, participants are expected to arrive at GIMPA for registration and other formalities on Friday, 24th November
2006.
Mr. Speaker, as hon. Members are aware, Friday, 1st December 2006 is a Statutory Public Holiday that is (Farmers' Day) and would be observed as such.
Conclusion
Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

Laying of Papers

Motion --

That this honourable House approves the Financial Policy of the Government for the fiscal year ending 31st December 2007.
  • [Moved on Thursday, 16th November 2006 by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, hon. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu.]
    • SCHEDULE FOR SUBMISSION 10 a.m.
    OF COMMITTEE REPORTS AND DEBATE OF 10 a.m.
    AND OTHER AGENCIES 10 a.m.
    SPACE FOR TABLES 10 a.m.
    SPACE FOR TABLE 10 a.m.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10 a.m.
    We have
    not finished with it yet. We are debating it.
    Mr. Armah 10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, we started
    the Second Reading or the debate on the Domestic Violence Bill yesterday. Now, we observed in the Gallery some stakeholders who were clad in a particular fashion, perhaps to push their lobbying efforts. At a stage, they felt a bit uncomfortable with some statements being made by an hon. Member on the floor and they walked out.
    The incident I am referring to is the congregation they held outside there to sing war songs, yeani abre oo, yeani abre koo, obviously trying to intimidate this House. It did not stop there. The leader of the group, or somebody like that, also made a statement to the press, saying -- and more seriously -- that Parliament should be more serious than what we did.
    Mr. Speaker, this statement was carried
    on air and I heard it, and I felt a bit offended by it. The Domestic Violence Bill was not delayed by this House. In any case, I believe this House works according to our rules and by our own timetable. So if one is a stakeholder and he wants to lobby, there are more decent ways of doing that than trying to intimidate this House through what happened in the Gallery yesterday, or through the press and that press statement.
    Unfortunately, some of them are friends of this House, and we have been working with them at committee levels; and I think
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10 a.m.
    Hon.
    Manu, you want to say something on the statement?
    Mr. Manu 10 a.m.
    Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr.
    Speaker, yesterday when I took the floor -- I think I am the subject of all that happened -- I stated unambiguously that violence, no matter where it took place, was violence and should be condemned. Then I went further to state what I did not like about what was happening. Look, sometimes we take things for granted. Yesterday, we were lucky to have a group that was coming to support the law that was being passed.
    Recently, we passed a law against pushers of cocaine, and what did we say? That those people when they are arrested should not be given bail. We know in this country there are people who push cocaine; could they not have organized a group to come and chant war songs against Parliament passing that law? And if that had happened, which Member of Parliament could have been bold to stand on the floor of the House and air his or her views? Please, we are charting a course, and if we are not careful precedents will be set and we shall be the losers.
    Members of Parliament, we are so vulnerable; we have no security. Look at where we stay -- no lights. Sometimes, people come there and steal our things. We are open to the public. When they identify Balado Manu, for instance, that he does not like this, he wants cocaine people not to be given bail, he wants chainsaw operators not to operate and they come here with their chainsaws and they begin to chant war songs, how many Members
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:10 a.m.
    Hon. Members, that is the proposed business for the coming week; any comments thereon?
    Mr. P. C. Appiah-Ofori 10:10 a.m.
    Mr.
    Speaker, I have noticed that all other Members of the House would be entitled to only five minutes.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:10 a.m.
    Hon.
    Member, can you speak louder, I cannot hear you.
    Mr. Appiah-Ofori 10:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, if
    you look at the Statement, the Majority and Minority Leaders will speak for twenty minutes, seconder of the motion -- twenty minutes; other Members of Leadership -- ten minutes; Chairmen, Chairpersons and Ranking Members -- ten minutes; the rest of the hon. Members, five minutes -- and this includes me -- only five minutes. Mr. Speaker, this is not enough so he should adjust it.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:10 a.m.
    Yes,
    Majority Leader, that is what hon. Appiah- Ofori is saying; that five minutes for him in this House is not enough for his contribution.
    Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    we have to divide the available hours among the 230 Members of Parliament, so this is even very generous. But Mr. Speaker, you may recall that in this particular context we are using your watch and not the watch hanging there. And I thought that as an experienced Member of this House, he understands the meaning of the Speaker's watch. But if he wants further details I think he can see me in chambers.
    Mr. Appiah-Ofori 10:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    what he is implying here is that if I stand up to speak you should not go by the five minutes rule; this is what he is trying to say.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:10 a.m.
    Hon.
    Member, that is not so. You have been in this House for a while and naturally a little discretion is left to the Chair, depending on what you are dishing out to hon. Members. If it is good stuff, according to the Speaker, you may be given a little more time.
    Mr. Appiah-Ofori 10:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    good; that is all right.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:10 a.m.
    But
    mind you, if your stuff is also a little bit “non-sylla”, I might be obliged to stop you; so that is the case.
    Mr. S. K. B. Manu 10:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, when the hon. Majority Leader was speaking, he pointed to that place that it is by your watch and not the one hanging here. Yesterday, hon. Members pointed to that place as a watch being there, but if there is a watch which cannot be seen -- So where is the watch? If there should be a watch, could we find the watch there rather than pointing to a place where there is no watch? At least, I do not see one -- [Interruption] -- The back? Then it is not in the Chamber. [Interruption.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:10 a.m.
    Hon.
    Manu, you are not talking of a watch; there is a clock here and we go by that clock.
    Anyway, any other comments on the proposed Business for the week? [Pause.] In the absence of any other comments, hon. Members, we will adopt the proposed Business for the week subject to changes as and when it is appropriate.
    We move on to Statements. The Chair
    rose
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:10 a.m.
    Yes,
    before I do so -- I have seen the hon. Member for Evalue-Gwira.
    Mr. Armah 10:20 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I wish to
    of Parliament will have the courage to speak their minds here? We have to be very careful about what we are doing in this country in order not to intimidate this Parliament to make laws under pressure.

    Alhaj i Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak: Mr. Speaker, hon. Kojo Armah has made a point and I think that the time has come for us to take our work seriously. The only way to do it in this particular instance is for Parliament to investigate and confirm that statement made by that lady, that we ought to have been doing something more serious, and if possible bring her to the Privileges Committee. That is one way to make sure that people respect what we do here. We have rules and regulations here.

    Mr. Speaker, yesterday if you observed critically, at a point they were hooting at the floor and at another point they decided to leave unceremoniously, but we all know that when you sit in the Public Gallery there are rules and regulations that pertain. Yet, they went out and said mo nsore ma yen ko -- ‘get up and let us go'. And they went out disorderly.

    I do think, as a Parliament, we are socially very friendly. We are supposed to serve the people, and we are supposed to be open so that people can approach us with their genuine concerns for us to address them appropriately. But have done this kind of thing in a form of harassment, I move that we haul that person or those groups that made those insulting comments about us on radio to the Privileges Committee. Mr. Speaker, I so move.
    Mrs. Alice Teni Boon 10:20 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    I think it was unfortunate but I want to plead with all hon. Members here that
    Mr. J.Y. Chireh 10:20 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, whilst
    agreeing with the maker of the Statement about the need for the Leadership to look at this matter, I think we should end it there; and I also add a voice of pleading to that of my hon. Sister as regards this issue. We are politicians and nobody can say that in politics people would not attack you; they will. Intimidation? Yes, we may be intimidated but so long as we have not been prevented from doing our work, what people say about us should be completely
    Mr. Lee Ocran 10:20 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    yesterday, it seems hon. Balado Manu and myself are the people who were in the firing range. I appeared on one of the television channels with just a short statement -- “What is special about this Bill?” And I had a lot of phone calls from people of unidentified sources, insulting me. I will say it again if the debate starts. What is special? We were just saying that we should start the debate today; we were not saying we were not going to debate the Bill -- just saying time was far spent so let us postpone it and start today, what was wrong with that? Coming here, dressed in red, were they going to Asafo Company?
    Were they going to fight? We were not going to fight. We were just going to debate a Bill.
    There are so many Bills -- In fact, the Anti-terrorism Bill has been here for as long as the Domestic Violence Bill but it was just that it was not time for us to debate those Bills. So those who are aggrieved, let them exercise patience. We are going to discuss the Bill, we are going to make amendments where necessary; at the end of it we either pass it or reject it. That is the parliamentary procedure. So I beg my hon. Colleagues, let us ignore them and do our work.
    rose
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:20 a.m.
    Hon.
    Majority Leader, before you do that let us give another opportunity to -- [Interruption ] -- I am talking about hon. Esther Dappah Obeng .
    Mrs. Esther Dappah Obeng 10:20 a.m.
    Mr.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:20 a.m.
    Hon.
    Member, I do not want to let this provoke any debate. The hon. Member was just coming out with a description of what he perceived to be some kind of women. And it is not derogatory in the real sense of it, nor unparliamentary. So I appreciate the angle from which you are coming but if that is what you want to say then I would ask you to hold your fire and let us continue.
    Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:20 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    first, let me thank my hon. Colleague who
    STATEMENTS 10:20 a.m.
    Minister for the Interior (Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah) 10:20 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity to make a Statement on the National Framework for Peace- building in Ghana.
    Mr. Speaker, our country has generally been considered peaceful and stable. This is largely due to the character of the Ghanaian and the strong determination of our traditional and political leaders over the years to sustain peace and stability in our country.
    Mr. Speaker, we should forever be grateful for the peace and stability that we enjoy in this country. The absence of peace and stability in most of the countries in our subregion has had devastating effects in those countries.
    But Mr. Speaker, despite the state of tranquility in our country, we have often been shaken off our roots by conflicts, many of them so violent in nature as to threaten our democracy.
    Mr. Speaker, it is in the light of such conflicts that we perceive the urgent need to develop a National Architecture for Peace to help sustain our stability.
    When conflict situations had arisen in the past, the response of state institutions have been reactive and although we succeed in maintaining peace, we neglect the need to resolve the issues that led to
    the conflict in the first place.
    Mr. Speaker, what we must aim for is a country characterized by a dynamic environment where people can engage in their lawful activities confident that the institutions, mechanisms and capacities for mediating differences and grievances are effective and responsive.
    The broad objective for such framework is to enable and facilitate the development of mechanisms for cooperation among all relevant stakeholders in peace-building in Ghana by promoting cooperative problem- solving to conflicts and by institu-tionalizing the processes of response to conflicts to produce outcomes that lead to conflict transformation, social, political and religious reconciliation and transformative dialogues.
    Mr. Speaker, the specific objectives of this framework are 10:30 a.m.
    i. To harmonise peace-building activities in Ghana through networking and coordination.
    ii. To strengthen capacity of peace- building institutions and practitioners.
    iii. To increase awareness of the use of non-violent strategies in responding to conflicts in Ghana.
    iv. To develop a conflict-prevention framework in Ghana that will monitor, report and offer indigenous perspect ives , understanding and solutions to conflicts in Ghana.
    v. To develop national and inter- group understanding about values of reconci l ia t ion, tolerance, trust and confidence-
    raised the issue and the contributions made by other hon. Members of Parliament. Yes, it is true we bear some risk, except that it must be reasonable risk. Therefore, it is good we draw attention to this.
    I would rather want to plead with my hon. Colleague Member for Asawase to reconsider and drop the motion and instead allow Leadership to ask the two Whips supported -- Luckily the hon. Minister for Women and Children's Affairs is also a Member of Parliament, and the Chairperson for the Committee on Gender who just spoke is there. So that among the four people we would try and find out what is happening, not with the aim of bringing anybody here to be punished but to find a way of educating our people on some of these matters. Possibly, that may serve the country better.
    Three days ago I asked the hon. Minister for Women and Childrens' Affairs when I got a copy of a petition signed by a number of people ostensibly from my constituency -- I asked: what is this? And her answer was that she also got her copy and she was not too sure what was happening. So I also talked to my Deputy Whip and she said she had also got a copy from people in her constituency, some of them she even did not know. These are some of the things that are happening.

    But all that we want to say is that let us assure our ladies that this is not a Bill for ladies; it is a Bill for all of us. Because there are instances where men have also been -- [Interruption] -- I would not want to go that far, that Members have also suffered in circumstances that may be even more dangerous. So let us all be calm and let us make a law that will be good for the country. And therefore I plead with my Colleague to withdraw so that we can make progress.
    Alhaji M. M. Mubarak 10:30 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    in view of the comments that are coming from senior Colleagues, and since this is the first time this has happened, I believe that it will be prudent that we try to leave the matter to rest and maybe, as they said, Leadership could take it up. So I drop the motion.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
    In that
    case, hon. Members, I will refer the matter to the Leadership for them to get in touch with the women's group, particularly the one who is supposed to have made the statement about Parliament. But even then, I will also say that the points that were raised by the hon. Member for Ahafo- Ano South, hon. Balado Manu are very, very important and we should take them seriously.
    This is not any serious matter because they are invariably women who were not that violent except that they wore red bands around their necks and that Parliament need not be intimidated to do its job, so that Members could talk freely according to their conscience. And for that matter it is important to take steps to ensure that those who come to the Gallery or those who come to the premises of Parliament would be those who will not come and intimidate or stampede Parliament to do what we do not consider right to do.
    In that instance I will still insist that the Leadership of the House should take steps and then ensure that such things are not repeated in future. So hon. Majority Leader, you and your other Colleagues should put your heads together and take some corrective measures; you will assure us that you will do so. Thank you very much.
    Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:30 a.m.
    I want to assure you that it will be done.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
    Hon.
    building, mediation and dialogue as responses to conflict.
    vi. To build the capacity of civil society and community organizations to participate meaningfully in promoting and maintaining peace in their communities.
    Mr. Speaker, in pursuance of this Architecture for Peace, the Ministry for the Interior has partnered with the UNDP to set up a National Peace Council with the following broad objectives:
    a. To promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the country.
    b. To build inter-group trust and confidence.
    c. To create and facilitate spaces for dialogue between national actors and interests.
    d. To engage in negotiation, mediation, reconciliation and other related processes with groups, organizations and interests in conflict with a view to their non-violent resolution.
    e. To make recommendations to Governments and other stakeholders on actions to promote trust and confidence between groups as well as on the implemen-tation of agreements reached in the resolution of any conflicts.
    f. To monitor the implemen- tation of such agreements and resolutions.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the Council has been set up under the Chairmanship of Cardinal Peter Turkson. Other members of the Council are:
    1. Prof. Irene K. Odotei
    2. Mr. Kwabena Kesse
    3. Bishop Francis Lodonu
    4. Maulvi A. Wahab Adam
    5. Sheikh Nuhu Usman Sharubutu
    6. Dr. Kofi Agyekum
    7. Mrs. Georgina Baiden
    8. Pastor Mensah Otabil
    9. Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV
    10. Naa E. D. Mahami Mr. Speaker, there will also be Regional
    Peace Advisory Councils to be established in the ten regions of the country. Members of the regional councils shall be drawn from representatives of key groups and stakeholders in the regions.
    The Regional Peace Advisory Councils shall amongst others mediate inter-district conflicts or conflicts among groups, interest groups including political actors within the region. They shall also engage in public education, sensitization and awareness about conflict indicators within the region and how to ameliorate them.
    They shall also support the Regional Security Council in defusing tensions and facilitating the non-violent resolution of
    conflicts within the Region.
    Mr. Speaker, we envisage under the Architecture for Peace to establish District Peace Advisory Councils in all the Districts of which the membership shall be composed of representatives of key groups and stakeholders in the districts. Their role shall be to promote peace within the district as well as create and facilitate space for dialogue between groups and communities in conflict.
    Mr. Speaker, they shall also promote tolerance-building and provide strategic advice and early warning on potential threats to the peace and stability of the communities.

    Mr. Speaker, permit me to use this opportunity to inform the honourable House that this initiative is Ghanaian and that what the United Nations Development Programme is doing is assisting the Ministry with technical and logistical support in the implementation of the framework. And Mr. Speaker, I want to commend and I call on the House to also commend the UNDP for its financial support to this programme.

    Mr. Speaker, we owe it as a duty to our country as citizens and especially as Members of Parliament to ensure that we maintain and sustain the current peace that we have all taken for granted.

    Mr. Speaker, I wish to appeal for the support of all Members of this honourable House for this initiative which I am informed is the first of its kind in Africa and particularly to endorse the membership of this august body. As you would have observed, the members have been carefully chosen. They are all men and women of repute and integrity and we
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Yes, hon. Members, that is the Statement from the hon. Minister on the establishment of a national framework for peace-building in Ghana. I would take a few contributions from hon. Members.
    Alhaji Sumani Abukari (NDC -- Tamale North) 10:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I must say or I must admit that any move made in the direction of securing the peace we have in the country and to prevent possible conflicts is a laudable initiative that we must all support. So I would want to congratulate the Minister for the Interior that this is a laudable effort and I think that he deserves the support of all of us and the applause of the whole country.
    Mr. Speaker, personally, I am from a conflict area, Dagbon, and I know what conflict can do to any community. Apart from the loss of lives, it can break families, it can draw the area back in terms of development and it can build a lot of mistrust within the people in the area. Mr. Speaker, it can bring all sorts of havoc into the communities. In fact, I know of families that have broken up because of the unfortunate incident in Dagbon. Mr. Speaker, I therefore believe that my hon. Colleagues on this side will also fully support the hon. Minister for the Interior in the initiative to bring peace and stability
    more suggestions, especially suggestions from my very good Friend (hon. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang) who was a very efficient Minister for the Interior and I believe his experience would help a lot. We held several meetings with him over Dagbon and I know the role he played in getting Dagbon where we are today.
    So Mr. Speaker, I would also end on the role of the UNDP. Mr. Speaker, the UNDP, as the hon. Minister said, has helped a lot in conflict resolution in this country, in the background. Mr. Speaker, I cannot therefore conclude my speech without paying glowing tribute to the UNDP in the role they are playing in the resolution of conflicts and in enhancing peace in the country, especially the role they are playing now in the case of Dagbon. Where we have gotten to today in our peace process is because of the effective role the UNDP has played alongside our Ministries of the Interior and Defence.
    Mr. Speaker, on this note, I would want to support the initiative and congratulate the hon. Minister for the Interior.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    We will take one more contribution. Yes, hon. Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing.
    Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing (Mr. Hackman Owusu- Agyemang) 10:50 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity. I must associate myself with this delightful initiative of our dear Brother and Colleague, the Minister for the Interior. Indeed, if this were not available it should have been created yesterday and he has come to us with this Council, the composition of which, as I see, is as balanced as it can be.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
    Hon. Member, you should be landing by now.
    Alhaji Abukari 10:50 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I believe this is not the end of it. The hon. Minister should keep his mind open to one or two
    covered to the extent that issues that come up would be dispassionately discussed and solutions found.
    I am delighted that we have personalities like Cardinal Turkson, Bishop Lodonou, Maulvi Wahab Adam, and we have also the Chief Imam; you could not have gotten a better balance than this and I believe that the Minister has done very well.
    What is important at this point in time, Mr. Speaker, is also to appreciate the contribution of the United Nations (UN) system, specifically the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the peace-building management process in our subregion and in Ghana in particular. Even when it comes to the issue of small arms proliferation which sometimes is the instrument for the destabilization of nations, they are there to assist us. I think that if the Minister asked us to pay tribute to the UN, it is appropriate that we do so.
    Our own eminent son, Mr. Kofi Annan has been at the forefront of peace-making and that is why we named the Peace- keeping Centre after him, and I have absolutely no doubt that this Council will live up to expectation. But my hon. Friend for Tamale North, Alhaji Sumani Abukari said, we certainly need to ensure that the early warning system is so efficient and so effective that the disturbance of peace would not arise at all.
    Therefore, I want to give my absolute support to my dear Friend, the Minister, hon. Kan-Dapaah and to give him the encouragement to move forward. There is nobody in this House who would not be interested in any effort to ensure that we continue to enjoy the peace that makes us the envy of the subregion and the haven for development so that our energies would move us forward.
    Mr. Speaker, on that note let me say a
    Dr. Ben Kunbuor (NDC -- Lawra- Nandom) 10:50 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to make one or two comments on this important Statement that has been made by the hon. Minister for the Interior.
    Definitely, there is no community in the world that enjoys not having peace just for the sake of it. So we also do know that there are no communities in the world in which there is no conflict. In fact, conflict by itself, per se ought not to be a problem and should not be a problem. It is where conflict assumes violent dimensions that it becomes a social problem. In fact, conflicts seem to be what propel or has propelled a number of democracies the world over. The very notion of always using conflicts as the problem and not violent conflict sometimes creates conceptual difficulties in terms of what types of interventions we make. If conflict is understood to be disagreement and we know that as individuals we have our idiosyncrasies, we are bound to disagree -- what this framework is about is to make sure that that disagreement is contained and that that disagreement does not extend and assume violent dimensions.
    Mr. Speaker, one important thing in this framework we also need to keep at the back of our minds is that any form of peace that is devoid of justice is at best, very, very fragile. You always need to follow peace with justice initiatives to ensure that it is sustainable; because it is injustice invariably that leads to conflict and it is conflict that leads to violent conflict. We must make sure that we do not just stay at the level of peace, peace and peace without
    bringing the other essential ingredients of justice to ensure that it works.
    When it comes to the arrangement that has been put in place, I have always said and I have also heard somebody make the statement that even the road to hell is paved with the best of intentions. Perhaps, it is when you arrive there that you begin to see that what goes on at the end there becomes difficult. Such an initiative is one that should be of a national character and ought to engage almost everybody and get national support.
    One can look at the membership at the national level, but that for me is basically a coordinating body. The practical manifestation of it would take place at the regional and district levels and possibly sub-district level. Let us ensure and keep the faith and commitment that we have shown at the national level composition. Let us ensure that this framework should be a truly national framework and one that is not mediated by partisan consi- derations.
    The third point that I want to register, Mr. Speaker, is in composing these councils that at the lower level, we have to make the distinction between real change agents who are interested in peace and also identify the spoilers quickly. These spoilers and change-agent arrangement becomes very important in peace-building because when you decide to hand over peace initiatives to spoilers, you can be sure that you would never have the type of desired peace.
    It is in this light, Mr. Speaker, that I join hands with my Colleagues in thanking the hon. Minister for the Interior. He had unofficially discussed this issue with me when I was then Ranking Member for Defence and Interior and we thought that this is one of the initiatives that we can
    Mr. John A. Ndebugre (PNC -- Zebilla) 11 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for having given me the opportunity to contribute to this very important Statement.
    Peace is not the absence of war. That is very important; peace is not necessarily the absence of war; peace is the absence of the conditions for war. That is the first thing I want us to take notice of. I think that I agree very much with my younger brother, the hon. Member for Lawra- Nandom that there are certain situations that may give rise to conflicts, even though I disagree with him that conflict is the same as disagreement. Disagreement is a lower aspect of conflict. If we do not deal with disagreement properly, it may graduate into conflict and then into violent conflict. But I agree largely with him.
    Mr. Speaker, I think that this Statement could not have been made at a more appropriate time. We are priding ourselves -- When I say ‘we' I mean we the Ghanaian citizens. We are priding ourselves as being an oasis of a peaceful country within conflicts. But at the same time, we are not very careful about the manner in which we manage disagree-ments amongst ourselves which may lead to conflict. I think that this is what this Statement is about.

    We definitely will disagree all the time. I think there is this saying; I do not know whether it is in the Bible or the Quran or whatever, that the tongue and the teeth are in the same vicinity but they do not quarrel all the time. But sometimes the tongue is inadvertently bitten by the teeth, but the teeth will always quickly apologize to the tongue and then there is harmony again. Otherwise, if you have no tongue, you have no teeth and if you have no teeth,

    much, Mr. Speaker; I know I have taken some time already. I want to assure my hon. Friend that I did not say that he said the composition is based on religion. I was only disagreeing with him that the composition was balanced. I disagree with him on that. It is not balanced. I am saying that sometimes people think that when you see Maulvi Wahab Adam it takes care of Northerners.

    What people are called northerners? There is nothing in the country called “Northerners”. I am a Kusasi man and I am from Upper East Region. Hon. Ben Kunbuor is a Dagarti man, and he is from Upper West Region. But there are some people who have the habit of saying that they are Northerners. We are not Northerners, otherwise we will be having “Northerners” and “Southerners”. What I am saying is that the composition does not reflect balance, yet this is for peace.

    We are going to make peace and with the greatest respect, we should be very careful. I do not see any name that comes from Upper West, I do not see any name that comes from Upper East. There is Naa Idi Mahami, he is from Northern Region, Mamprusi District. There is Sheikh Nuhu, who is Usman Sharabutu, he is from Accra here. He is not from any part of the northern part of the country. And then we have Maulvi Wahab Adam. I am saying that -- [Interruptions] -- Mr. Speaker, this is a Statement and I am expressing my views so that -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
    Hon. Member for Zebilla, nobody has distracted your attention. People are reacting to what you are saying but they are not indeed interfering with what you are saying; so please continue. Meanwhile, I have seen hon. Member for Evalue Gwira up. Yes hon. Member, are you on a point of order?
    Mr. Kojo Armah 11 a.m.
    That is so, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I find it unfortunate
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
    Hon. Member, you are out of order. Yes, continue.
    Mr. Ndebugre 11 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I will conclude. As I was saying, I have had informal discussions with the hon. Minister for the Interior about this Statement. So what I am trying to do is to make my input so that the formation of the Council would be meaningful and achieve the objective for which it is being formed. So nobody should misunderstand me as being ethnic. I am a revolutionary, originally, and I do not think that -- [Uproar]-- So I know that the composition is more -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
    Yes, hon. Alhaji Collins Dauda, what is your point?
    Alhaji Collins Dauda 11 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague has indicated that he is a revolutionary. I want to know whether he was a People's Defence Committee (PDC) man or a Committee for the Defence of the Revolution or a PNDC Member.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
    This is not
    Question time so you better take your seat. Hon. Member, you may finish by landing.
    Mr. Ndebugre 11:10 a.m.
    Well, I have a lot of respect for the hon. Member who is senior to me in the House. I think he went out and came back again. But as fare as this particular House is concerned, we are pari pasu, we are at the same level. [Laughter.]
    Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:10 a.m.
    On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, my hon. Friend is misleading this House. People have tongues but they do not have teeth. And people have teeth without necessarily having an active tongue. The analogy is not logical.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Well, that is his analogy. Hon Member for Zebilla, I think you should be landing by now.
    Mr. Ndebugre 11:10 a.m.
    That is so. I have had the occasion before. When you rise on a point of order, you should tell us which of the rules one has broken, you do not just get up and then raise a point of order. Mr. Speaker, I would like you to rule on this. Is he in order or he is out of order so that we will be guided?
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    You would not ask me to rule on anything. I have asked you to continue and quickly finish with your contribution .
    Mr. Ndebugre 11:10 a.m.
    Very well, I am very grateful. I think he was just trying to derail me in my thought process. But what I was about to say is that conflict arises because we are all struggling to share limited resources. So we must share the resources in such a way that everybody will feel that he has been equitably dealt with, not equally but equitably. The basis of conflict is that some people feel that the sharing of the cake has not been equitable so we must try and take that into account. That is the basic thing I will like to say.
    The second thing, Mr. Speaker, is that I do not agree with my very good Friend the Minister for Water Resources, Works
    rose
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon. Minister, what is your point of order? I believe you have a point of order.
    Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 11:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I did not say it should be based on religion; I said that if you look at the list there is a balance -- ethnicity-wise, religion -- wise and everything. I did not say -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    I do not think he is speaking against what you have said but he says he does not agree with the composition.
    Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 11:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, he says that he disagrees that it should be based -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    No, he said he disagreed with you saying that the composition was all right. He disagrees with you; that is all.
    Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 11:10 a.m.
    Rightly so, but I wanted to put on record that I said that it seemed balanced to me but I did not say it should be based on ethnicity.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Yes, please wind up.
    Mr. Ndebugre 11:10 a.m.
    Thank you very
    Mr. J. A. Tia 11:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, for the information of the House and to confirm what the hon. Colleague has stated that he is a revolutionary, I want to inform this House that the hon. Colleague signed my curfew when he was the Regional Minister during the PNDC regime; so he is a true revolutionary.
    Mr. Ndebugre 11:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, it is not intended that we trivialise this Statement so much. We are not trivialising -- this is all part of the process of making peace. So I was only about to land by saying that I suggest that the hon. Minister for the Interior who has brought this Statement before this honourable House would make it possible for us to carry out further consultations and see whether we can expand the composition of the Council to include other persons, so that the purpose for which the Council is being set up will be properly realized. I thank you very much for the opportunity.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon. Members, that should be the end for this particular Statement. I will also crave your indulgence. I know you want us to start Public Business immediately but there is one short Statement that I have been made to admit reluctantly because of its time-bound nature. I will allow hon. David Asumeng, Member for Shai Osudoku to make one short Statement about a paramount chief that is to be buried at the weekend. There will not be any contribution after that.
    Tribute to the Memory of Nene Nagai Kassah VII,
    Late Paramount Chief of Shai Traditional Area
    Mr. David T. Assumeng (NDC -- Shai Osudoku) 11:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, thank you for the permission to pay this tribute to Nene Nagai Kassah VII, Late Acting Paramount Chief of Shai Traditional Area, which comprises Dodowa, Ayikuma, Doryumu, Kodiabe and Agomeda within the Dangme-West District.
    Mr. Speaker, the late chief was born on the 1st day of January 1919.
    Mr. Speaker, Nagai Kassah VII had to attend primary schools in many of the towns and villages that the father travelled to farm. He was however, enrolled at the Accra Royal School in 1933 and passed out of Standard Seven in 1937.
    Mr. Speaker, from 1937 to1939, Nene trained and worked as a driver mechanic, plying mostly the Accra-Koforidua route. He was drafted into the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) in 1939.
    Mr. Speaker, after receiving the basic military training, he was sent to the frontlines at the onset of World War II. He served as a member of the 81st division of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) in Burma.
    Mr. Speaker, by dint of hard work and dedication, he rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant (a very rare achievement at the time) within the period 1939-1945. Nene, who until 1949 was known as Stephen Teinor Kwame Agomeda, was chosen by his paternal uncle, the late Mr. Alfred Kwame Gizo (father of hon. Mike Afedi Gizo, former MP for Shai-Osudoku) --
    Mr. Speaker, Nene was enthroned in 1949 as the seventh occupant of the Nagai Stool and the Divisional Chief of Hiomerh-Shai, under the stool name, Nene Nagai Kassah VII. He ruled for 57 years.
    Mr. Speaker, being a technical instructor and a leader, he always maintained that service to society was paramount
    to him. He was selfless and on many occasions and instances, descended from the “Palanquin” and personally got involved in the technical design of the following projects:
    1. The Ghana t t a Secondary School — Dodowa;
    2. The Agomeda Post Office
    3. T h e I C C E S S c h o o l s a t Dodowa and Agomeda;
    4. T h e S h a i T r a d i t i o n a l Council Building; 5. The Agomeda D/A J.S.S.
    Mr. Speaker, Nene also found time to undertake the following national assignments 11:10 a.m.
    1. Chairman of Ghana Legion (now Veterans Association of Ghana,
    1972-1975;
    2. Member of Steering Committees, Ga-Adangme Council;
    3. Member of Steering Committees, National House of Chiefs;
    4. Member of Research Committee of National House of Chiefs;
    5. Board Chairman -- O.I.C. Schools in Ghana, 1974 -1980;
    6. Chairman, Management Board of West District Assembly, among others
    7. Government Appointee-Dangme West District Assembly, among others;
    8. He was also a Member of some International Organisations.
    Mr. Speaker, Nene also found time to undertake the following national assignments 11:10 a.m.


    Mr. Speaker, Nene demonstrated his passion for development by offering land free of charge for the construction of many public facilities, the most recent being the ICCES School in Agomeda of which he was the Life Patron.

    Mr. Speaker, the good people of Kordiabe and the Catholic Church would best bear testimony of his passion for community development and his selfless and peaceful nature; recently he personally had to contribute with my good self to pay a parcel of land to ensure that the catholic church maintained its intended development project at Kordiabe.

    Mr. Speaker, such was a man who gave wise counsel not only to his children and immediate family, but also to all that interacted with him.

    Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to appeal to the kingmakers to peacefully enstool a successor.

    Finally, I wish to invite all to join me to say Nene! Nene! Due! Due! “Ya wo nge hedzomi mi”.

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker for the opportunity.
    Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I wanted to crave your indulgence that we take items 8 and 9, the report on the outcome of the Committee of the Whole which I hope, there will be not much controversy on. After all, we are also expecting -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Very well.
    Suspension of Standing Order 80 (1)
    Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions 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
    sources:
    a. The National Health Insurance Levy;
    b. Two and one-half per cent (2.5%) of each person's seventeen and one-half per cent (17.5%) contribution to SSNIT Pension Fund;
    c. Funds allocated by Parlia- ment;
    d. Money that accrues to the Fund from investments made by the Council; and
    e. Grants, donations, gifts and any other voluntary contributions made to the Fund.
    4.0 Object of the Fund
    Mr. Speaker, the object of the Fund is to provide finance to subsidize the cost of provision of health care services to members of District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes (DMHIS) licensed by the Council.
    For the purpose of implementing the object, the monies from the Fund shall be expended as follows:
    a. to provide subsidy of such level as the Council shall determine to District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes
    (DMHIS);
    b. to reinsure District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes (DMHIS) against random fluctuations of cost under conditions to be determined by the Council;
    c. to set aside some monies from the Fund to provide for the health care of indigents;
    d. to provide support to facilitate provision of or access to health services;
    e. to invest in any other facilitating programmes to p romote acces s t o health services as may be determined by the Minister in consultation with the Council.
    4 . 1 G e n e r a l A s s u m p t i o n s f o r the 2006 Allocation
    4.1.2 Budgetary Allocation
    Mr. Speaker, on the basis of projections contained in the 2006 Budget Statement, the National Health Insurance Council estimates that the NHIF would realize an amount of ¢1,513.7 billion in the year 2006 from its two major sources of funds, namely the NHIL (VAT and CEPS) and SSNIT contribution.
    4.1.3 Registration Coverage
    Mr. Speaker, in 2005 the Council set a registration target of 10 per cent of the population of Ghana. Returns received from the DMHIS indicate that as at the end of December 2005, 17 per cent of the population has been registered. Based on the 2005 registration performance, the Council had set a target of 50 per cent coverage in 2006.
    The allocation of the fund is therefore based on the assumption that 50 per cent of the population of Ghana will access benefits under the scheme in 2006.
    4.1.4 Number of Schemes
    Mr. Speaker, as at the end of December 2005, one hundred and twenty-three (123)
    Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:10 a.m.


    motion is given and the date on which the motion is moved, the motion for the adoption of the report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to licensed District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes for the year 2006 may be moved today.
    Mr. Lee Ocran 11:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion on the floor.
    Question put and motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    MOTION 11:10 a.m.
    Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to licensed District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes for the year 2006.
    Mr. Speaker, we have the Report which has been signed by your goodself and which is a Report as a result of a Committee of the Whole, after which we made these recommendations. I therefore want the Hansard to capture the entirety of the Report whilst I read only the Recommendation.
    1.0 Introduction
    Mr. Speaker, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Allocation Formula (2006) was laid before the House on Friday, 10th November, 2006 and referred to the Committee of the Whole for consideration and report in accordance with the Standing Orders of the House and
    Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:10 a.m.


    the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

    Mr. Speaker, the Committee in its deliberations met with Mr. Samuel Owusu-Agyei, the Deputy Minister for Health, Dr. Akoto Osei, Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Ras A. Boateng, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Council (NHIC), Mr. Osei Boateng Acheampong, Director of Operations of the NHIC, Mr. Adu Anane Antwi, Director of Fund Management and Investment of NHIC, Mr. Ben Kusi, Director of ICT of the NHIC, Mr. Francis Xavier Andoh- Adjei, Deputy Director of Operations of the NHIC and Mr. Ahmed A. Imoro, Deputy Director of Finance of the NHIC and reports as follows:

    2.0 Reference Documents

    i. The National Health Insurance Act (Act 650);

    ii. The Standing Orders of the House;

    iii. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;

    3.0 Background

    Mr. Speaker, the National Health Insurance Council (NHIC) was established by the National Health Insurance Act, 2003 (Act 650). The function of the Council under Act 650 is to secure the implementation of a National Health Insurance Policy that ensures access to basic health care services to all residents.

    Section 76 of Act 650 established the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and made the NHIC responsible for its management.

    The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) accumulates from the following

    schemes were fully operational. Eight (8) newly created District Assemblies which were previously part of these operational schemes have since becoming autonomous, initiated the necessary processes to wean themselves off their sister district schemes which will all be operational this year. Provision has been made to cover the establishment of four (4) more schemes in the year. The allocation is therefore based on the assumption of one hundred and thirty-five (135) schemes.

    4.2 Investment Income

    Mr. Speaker, an amount of ¢611.90 billion was allocated for investments in 2005. A further amount of ¢53.54 billion has been allocated for investments in 2006. These investments are expected to generate an average return of 10 per cent amounting to ¢66.54 billion.

    The total inflow to the NHIF in 2006, including the expected investment income is therefore estimated to be ¢1,580.24 billion.

    The expected investment income of ¢66.54 billion will however not be available for allocation as it will be retained in the investment account to grow the fund.

    The allocation is made on the basis of a National Health Insurance Fund of ¢1,513.7 billion provided for in the 2006 Budget Statement.

    4.3 District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes (DMHIS)

    The District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes (DMHIS) by law are to operate as companies limited by guarantee and also to receive subsidy from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). They will incur expenditures in managing the

    scheme and in paying for the services rendered by health care providers to insured persons.

    4.4 Determination of Allocation of Funds

    4.4.1 Subsidies for the Exempt Groups and SSNIT Contributions

    Mr. Speaker, the law proposes subsidies to DMHIS to cover the health care cost of those exempted by law. The exempt groups are:

    a. indigents;

    b. those under 18 years of

    age with both parents or guardians as contributors;

    c. those under 18 years of age with community approved single parents;

    d. pensioners under the SSNIT Scheme;

    e. the aged (70 years of age and above).

    Allocation Formula for the exempts groups (subsidy variables) is Allocation = (a+b+c+d+e) x 100,000 +Administration Cost and Investments.

    4.4.2 Proposed Allocation of Funds to the Various Activities
    ITEMS 11:10 a.m.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon. Member, I think you are a member of the Committee of the Whole. Some of these issues that you are raising here were raised at -- [Interruption] -- unless of course, you want to play to the gallery.
    Mr. H. Iddrisu 11:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I would
    not go too far; I am not asking for an apology; I withdraw the aspect on apology. But Mr. Speaker, I am simply saying that it is wrong in law for the estimates for 2006 to be laid at the end of the year 2006. The National Health Insurance Act is very clear that the estimates shall be laid before Parliament and I believe the hon. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning was doing so when he informed us in the Budget Statement for 2006, that the formula would be laid in January. It is being laid in November. How long?
    The money we are going to approve in several billions of cedis -- whether it was raised at the Committee of the Whole or not, this is subject to debate on the floor of the House and I am raising objection that this House must be treated with respect. When the law says that lay something -- [Interruption] -- you said you would lay it in January 2006 and you brought it
    in November after the Budget for 2007. So how are we going to spend this ¢1.3 trillion between November and December when some of these funds were meant for administration and many other issues.
    Mr. Speaker, my second and final issue is that, under the National Health Insurance formula, there are provisions made for aged people, for indigent people and for persons under eighteen years. Mr. Speaker, we are told that over ten thousand Ghanaians have benefited from this so I would want the Ministry, through the National Health Insurance Council to furnish this House with details of those under-aged, aged and indigents who have benefited in the last few years under the allocations that this House has made so that we can do an effective monitoring of the billions of cedis we make to this important segment of our society.
    Mr. Speaker, I support the motion but I think that the premium payable, even in the Report, is not acceptable. They quoted one hundred thousand cedis but the whole public has been told it is seventy- two thousand cedis. They would have to explain to us why that increase because three thousand times five million people is a lot of money. I thank you, Mr. Speaker.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon.
    Deputy Minister, could you react to some of the issues that have been raised?
    Deputy Minister for Health (Mr.
    Samuel Owusu-Agyei) -- rose --
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Do you
    want to react to it?
    Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:10 a.m.
    He is the
    Deputy Minister for Health and he is going to respond to the matters.
    Mr. Owusu-Agyei 11:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    we have taken note of the concerns which have been expressed by our hon.
    Mr. Lee Ocran (NDC -- Jomoro) 11:20 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I second the motion but in doing so I want to make some few comments.
    Mr. Speaker, under the previous system
    children under five were automatically exempted from paying fees at the hospital but under the National Health Insurance
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Let them
    remain few.
    Mr. H. Iddrisu 11:20 a.m.
    Yes, they certainly
    would be few. Mr. Speaker, we are being called upon to approve the National Health Insurance formula for the year 2006 at a time that, that year, by the budgetary calendar, is almost completed. This House has been given the opportunity with the reading of the 2007 Budget Statement. I find it unacceptable, both in principle and in law.
    Indeed, in the Budget Statement of
    Colleagues. This particular issue came up for discussion three days ago and we are very happy that we have had a very frank discussion here. Before then, the Committee on Health had also met in Elmina. Also in Accra here, we had a detailed discussion.
    On the day that we met to discuss the 2006 formula, there was the need to explain the reason why there was the delay in submission to Parliament and we did do that also to the Committee at Elmina and at Alisa Hotel. So I am getting a bit surprised that at the last minute, when the Committee of the Whole has approved of this motion for submission and final approval today, the issue of delayed submission is coming up again; we thought we had addressed that issue already.
    With regard to the exemption of under
    Mr. Yieleh Chireh 11:20 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I
    rise on a point of order. The hon. Deputy Minister said that these things were discussed at the Committee of the Whole and therefore he finds it surprising for a Member to raise these. I want to say that it is wrong because if we approved the thing at the Committee of the Whole, why is he laying it in the House? Once it is laid in the House -- He is misleading the House.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Hon.
    Yieleh Chireh, you are out of order.
    Mr. Owusu-Agyei 11:20 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I
    just wish to thank hon. Members for the contributions that they have made and I wish to indicate that we have taken on
    board all the comments to be reflected upon.
    rose
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Hon.
    Gidisu, are you rising on a point of order too?
    Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:20 a.m.
    So am I, Mr. Speaker.
    Mr. Speaker, I do not know whether because you gave the opportunity to the hon. Deputy Minister, that is why he is winding up the debate. If so, I think it is a very short-circuited approach to the debate.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Hon. Gidisu, I know very well that you have been here for quite a long time. Indeed, just as what hon. Yieleh said, it is not automatic that when a matter has been considered by the Committee of the Whole, it cannot be again talked about here. But generally, it is accepted that the Committee of the Whole means there was a debate by all of us, and in some cases, even experts from outside were allowed to come and participate in the consideration of some matters. That is why we call it a Committee of the Whole.
    But you would agree with what has been said that many of the issues, indeed, the most essential one particularly harped upon by the hon. Member for Tamale South were considered at the Committee of the Whole. We did talk about it, unless of course, you want to open the debate again, for more explanation. In that case, it would have been almost useless for us to have considered the matter at the Committee of the Whole, when all hon. Members, not just a small committee which had considered the matter were present and all hon. Members could therefore ask for more explanation.
    We all were supposed to take part and honestly it was chaired by me and all these issues were discussed. For anybody to make it look as though we as a whole ignored these very important questions
    being asked amounts to belittling the Committee and its Members. So I do not want us to open it up again.
    Mr. Samuel Sallas-Mensah 11:30 a.m.
    Mr.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    This
    is not the first time somebody is asking such a question. Indeed, the practice has been here unless of course you say let us forget about the practice; then of course that is what has been happening all the while that a Committee of the Whole is handling some matter. It comes here unless of course there was a sharp division at that Committee of the Whole discussions. But that was not the case, we all arrived at it.
    rose
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Chief Whip, if you want to talk about it so that we make progress.
    Mr. Tia 11:30 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the purpose of
    holding Committee of the Whole meeting is to curtail to a large extent debate on the matter because they would have been so critical at that discussion that it would not be resolved. All the same, if an hon. Member, by our rules, strongly feels that he has a point that he just wants to put on record, he has the right to do so.
    So I do not think that we need to split hairs over this. But hon. Members should bear in mind that the purpose of Committee of the Whole is to curtail debate as much as possible. At least, like hon. Haruna Iddrisu has made a strong
    Mr. Tia 11:30 a.m.


    point that he feels strongly about, it can just be noted or it would be on record, and that is the purpose of it.
    Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:30 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    I think these are all pieces of advice we are taking but fortunately the Deputy Minister has reacted and wound up so if the Question can be put.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    I am
    Mr. Lee Ocran 11:30 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, issues
    were raised. I raised three issues; he spoke about only one and there was an intervention and he sat down. At least, he must react to the issues.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    I thought
    Mr. Ocran 11:30 a.m.
    And exemptions which people are not enjoying at the constituency level and six months waiting time for SSNIT contributors. Mr. Speaker, he has to -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Hon. Deputy Minister, he wants you to react to that.
    rose
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Hon. Gidisu, what is your problem?
    Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:30 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I am worried because as at now it seems the hon. Deputy Minister is being asked to address isolated issues which formed part of the whole comment. If the motion
    Mr. John Ndebugre 11:40 a.m.
    On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, you would remember that yesterday we had a lot of problems with when to start debate on this Bill. Then, our understanding was that we should start yesterday and then continue today. Now you have called the hon. Minister and it appears to me that the hon. Minister is winding up.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon.
    Member, you are out of order.
    Mr. Ndebugre 11:40 a.m.
    Very well, Mr.
    Speaker.
    Hajia Alima Mahama: Mr.
    Speaker, as I was saying, I conducted the sensitization workshop throughout the country and the support for this Bill was overwhelming. And it was very revealing for me because I have found out that majority of men who participated in the sensitization programme supported this Bill and encouraged that the Bill be passed.
    Mr. Speaker, the Domestic Violence
    Bill provides a broad set of remedies should there be domestic violence occurring in a household. Though it seeks also to criminalize domestic violence, the remedies provided do not necessarily send the parties to court for criminal action. Protection orders have been provided which would also take the form of a civil action. And there are broad remedies provided under the protection order.
    More importantly, Mr. Speaker, the court, the judge in his or her discretion can request that the parties should go for alternative dispute resolution and that they should seek reconciliation. So

    the fear that this is all mainly a criminal action is not that well founded. It seeks to bring families together, promote reconciliation, and promote counselling. And indeed, Mr. Speaker, the court can order a psychological enquiry and get the person's mind with the expertise in this regard to conduct this enquiry. And the court in its decision will be advised by the enquirer.

    So the important thing about this Bill is that it seeks to promote reconciliation, it seeks to provide rehabilitation, and it seeks to provide that families sit down to negotiate and agree to live together as a united family, rather than applying violence under any circumstance.

    Mr. Speaker, during the sensitization

    I had the occasion to go to the National House of Chiefs for the first time, taking the Domestic Voilence Bill to the National House of Chiefs. And the National House of Chiefs members -- It was well attended -- supported the Bill. And they did say that as chiefs they are the custodians of our culture and they would want to be part of the implementation, of the Domestic Violence Bill. So in terms of the implementation, especially on issues of reconciliation and on the issue of counselling, we want the traditional communities to play a role.

    I took the Domestic Bill to the Christian community and to the Moslem community. And again there was an overwhelming support for the Domestic Violence Bill among the Christian community and the Moslem Council who participated. Indeed, both religious communities expressed their interest in the passage of this Bill and their support for the implementation of the Bill, if it becomes law.

    The Moslem Council indicated that within their own practices they do provide

    had been subjected to a more detailed debate, there have been a number of issues which similarly would have needed his explanation and perhaps further explanation.

    For example we had during the discussions noted the amount that had been carried over from 2005. Some of us at the Committee of the Whole level were asking as to how effectively that money had been carried over to the 2006 and 2007 activities in terms of investments and other things. So perhaps, if we are talking about winding up, then he should have been asked to wind up after we had all commented on the issue.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon.
    Gidisu, I do remember very well -- I am not revisiting it -- that you raised these issues when the technical men were with us. I remember also that they were answered to the satisfaction of hon. Members of the Committee of the Whole. I am a bit surprised too, sitting in this Chair that you are still raising those issues. Do you want the hon. Deputy Minister for Health to answer those questions? Is that what you are asking for? Hon. Gidisu, is that what you are asking for?
    Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I perhaps want to reconcile myself with your position.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Thank you very much. Hon. Deputy Minister, would you wind up.
    Mr. Owusu-Agyei 11:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful to hon. Members for the concerns that they have raised and I wish to assure them that we are taking on board all the concerns and all would be addressed.
    Question put and motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    before we move on to the Domestic Violence Bill, I want to assure the House that the hon. Deputy Minister is confirming that within two weeks, the 2007 formula would be laid in the House, not at the committee. It would be laid in the House for us to refer to the Committee.
    PAPERS 11:40 a.m.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon. Members, yesterday, we began the debate on the Domestic Violence Bill, the Second Reading. We did not finish; we will continue.
    BILLS -- SECOND READING 11:40 a.m.
    Mr. F. A. Agbotse (NDC -- Ho West) noon
    Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion on the floor. During our discussions on the Bill in Ho, we were resourced by the resource persons and the indication they gave us was that domestic violence is on the increase and that something should be done to curb it; that is why we support this Bill.
    Mr. Speaker, yesterday evening I was with a group of women, foreign nationals, and the discussion was on the Domestic Violence Bill. It was realized that the Domestic Violence Bill is not only in Ghana, it is in most African countries, particularly in Zimbabwe where they are also looking at the Domestic Violence Bill.
    The essential thing that I got yesterday from the women I was with was that domestic violence is not only physical but most of it is psychological. When men and women in the domestic situation do not talk to each other and they do not discuss issues together, it makes the women very jittery and psychologically unbalanced. So in passing this Bill, we are trying to sort out some of these problems.

    Mr. Speaker, but one thing I have come to realize is that some of the Bills we pass into Acts in this House make provision for

    regulations. In the Domestic Violence Bill, clause 28 specifically sets out a number of regulations which should be put in place to make it possible for this Bill to be operational.

    For example, it is to provide funds necessary for the purposes of this Act, prescribe the training of the police and the court officials on domestic violence, provide for education and counselling of victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, provide for education and counselling on sexual relations in marital relationship; prescribe shelter for victims, provide for social welfare services for victims, provide the modalities for the provision of free medical services for victims, provide financial assistance for victims of domestic violence in case of imprisonment of a spouse; and provide for the effective implementation of this Act.

    I am gradually realizing that these Bills come to Parliament, we pass them but we neglect to provide the necessary regulations. For example, the Copyright Law, up till today there is no regulation. The Labour Act provides that there should be a regulation. Up till today I do not know what are the bases on which we are operating the Labour Act without regulation.
    rose
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
    Hon. Member, are you on a point of order?
    Mr. K. K. Mensah noon
    Yes, Mr. Speaker. The Labour Law has had regulations
    Mr. Agbotse noon
    Mr. Speaker, I am the Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee and I know we had the Labour Commission Regulation but the law itself has a provision for regulations which have not come to Parliament yet. So I do not know the basis on which we are operating that Labour Act.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
    Continue; speak to the Chair. I think you have proved your point that you are the Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee and -- According to him, he can handle that. He is an authority; so please, let us continue.
    Mr. Agbotse noon
    Mr. Speaker, I am asking my good Friend and Colleague, the Attorney-General, that when we pass this Bill into Law next week, section 28 will come to operationalize the Act.
    Ms. Cecilia A. Dapaah (NPP -- Bantama) noon
    Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion on the floor and urge all of us to pass this Bill, in the sense that it is a good Bill and it will come to promote harmony, dignity, respect and love in our homes and in the society. I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government for setting up the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs which has, under the former Minister and the present Minister, nurtured this Bill into fruition.
    I again want to register my appreciation to my Committee, which is your Committee, Mr. Speaker, the Committee I belong to; the Gender and Children and the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for going through this Bill to make it see the light of day. I believe that the interest that this Bill has generated
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
    Hon. Member, you should be landing.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr. Speaker,

    Mr. Kenneth Dzirasah (NDC --

    South Tongu): Mr. Speaker, I intend to be very brief, and I would like to focus on the issue of rehabilitation and the necessity for the creation of a fund along the lines of the Trafficking Act Fund. Also, I have noticed that hon. Dr. Richard Anane is proposing an amendment to the Insurance Bill, to create a fund under which emergency accident victims could be attended to. That is a good thing to do and I commend him highly for it.

    The spirit that cuts across all these Bills should be the same because of the nature of the end beneficiary. Mr. Speaker, when the advocates of the Domestic Violence Bill appeared before the Committee, they raised the issue of the necessity to arrange or to organize some kind of funding.

    At that stage, I was under the impression that so long as all the activities that relate to the implementation of this Bill would be a charge on the Consolidated Fund, I did not see the significance of it. But further consultations and discussions have enabled and emboldened me to stand before you, to urge this House to favourably consider the need to establish a fund under this Bill.

    Mr. Speaker, by its very nature, the implementation of this Bill, when it is passed, would cut across sectors; in other words, it is multi-sectoral. In fact, the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs has a role to play; the Attorney-General's Department has a role to play; the Ministry responsible for social welfare has a role to play; and then we have the Ministries of the Interior and Health, and the Judiciary.

    Mr. Speaker, generally, when a Bill is passed and there is financial provision or appropriation directly under the Bill, the implementation of that Act tends to be subsumed under various institutions. For instance, it is anticipated that the portion that should be taken care of by the police would have to reflect in the budget for Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) -- Domestic Violence Unit of the Police Service.

    Mr. Speaker, there are competing

    interests in every department of State -- Ministries for that matter. So the implementation would virtually stand out, if I may use the word loosely, as of a situation where a child has been born and he does not have parents. Why do I say this? If the budget for Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs comes up for appropriation, the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice's budget, the social welfare budget, since it is a new introduction, its ability to participate in the fortunes of these departments may be retarded because they may not have anybody to speak for them.

    It is for this reason that I strong urge that we establish this fund so that the vulnerables, that is the young ones, the destitutes and those who fall victim to domestic violence can be protected or compensated financially.

    Mr. Speaker, there is a proposal for training of the Judiciary staff, and if it is not captured under any other heading but under the Judiciary, you can imagine what type of training they would give the staff in respect of the domestic violence; it may virtually be nothing. I do suspect that even under the Police Service, it may not happen; similarly for the Social Welfare and for that matter the Attorney-General's

    within society will be sustained even after its passage. I do not take the fact that because people -- women, children and men -- have not filled the Gallery means that they are not interested. I know the interest is on and I believe that when the Bill is passed we will have congratulatory messages in our pidgeonholes because we have all received, as my hon. Colleague said, people who had signed to urge us on to pass this Bill.

    This Bill, I believe, will also represent the voiceless in our society because we are all of one conviction that this Bill is not for women, neither is it for men alone. It is for the whole society including children and even the aged; because there are people who when they are charged even to take care of the sick and the aged maltreat them. They slap them, they do not clean them up well, they do not give them food to eat and I believe this Bill will go a long way to forestall any of such happenings.

    I thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I believe everybody wants to contribute, so I will end with these few comments.
    Alhaji Collins Dauda (NDC -- Asutifi South) 12:10 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, this Bill is a very important Bill that has to be supported by all of us. But Mr. Speaker, in supporting it, I think that there are some issues that we need to look at.
    Mr. Speaker, if you look at the Bill and the way it stands, it is very clear that the intentions or the objects of the Bill seek to address some remedies in society, but whether the Bill as we find it will be able to address the ills is the question that we need to address our minds to.
    Mr. Speaker, I am saying this because it has been said on the floor of this House
    that violence has been criminalized in various forms under the Criminal Code of 1960, yet we still have violence, to the extent that it has become necessary that today we isolate and emphasise domestic violence. In ten years it will be another story. It means therefore that there is a human element that has to be looked at.
    Mr. Speaker, these abuses occur in homes and whether people are aware that what they go through constitutes an offence is an issue that we need to look at; and for that reason I will call for an aggressive awareness creation in society.
    Mr. Speaker, if people are not educated well enough to know their rights and the kind of abuses that they go through, this law will remain a very beautiful one on paper but will not address the ills that we now seek to address.
    Mr. Speaker, again, there are some of the victims who do not even have the courage to report such incidents; and I think that one of the things that has to be done is to kind of inculcate some courage into people or victims so that they will report these incidents and abuses to the appropriate authorities.
    Mr. Speaker, that apart, after a report is made probably to the police, that is where the test of the case would come up.

    Mr. Speaker, most times when such incidents are reported to the police they travel for too long. In my constituency, for instance, I am aware that a young girl of about 14 years was raped and for a year now nothing has been done about this case in the Goaso circuit court. Mr. Speaker, if things like this happen, if cases like this travel for too long in our law courts, it undermines the very essence of making these laws.

    I will therefore call on our police and the courts to kind of show interest, by way of expediting the legal process so that people would have confidence in the courts and therefore report. Indeed, if for instance, a case is reported from a village to the police about rape or domestic abuse and it has to travel for about 12 months or 2 years, the next victim may not be encouraged to make a report to the police.

    It is in this regard that I think that -- and I can see the hon. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice nodding his head. I believe this message would be passed on to the courts so that some action is taken in this direction. And today, I can see that he is wearing a smock and a Moslem something -- looking very handsome too.

    Mr. Speaker, I think that it is important that we all attached some importance to this law because it will save a lot of very bad circumstances in our homes. I thank you so much for the opportunity.
    Dr. Francis Osafo 12:10 p.m.
    None

    Mpraeso): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Bill but I would like to make a few comments.

    Since the publication of the Domestic Violence Bill there has been a lot of discussion in public, both in writing and on radio and the impression that has been created is as if women are fighting to gain their freedom from their oppressive husbands. If you look at the object of the Bill, it says the Bill seeks to provide protection for women and children, particularly from domestic violence.

    I think when you say domestic violence, you are talking about the home. And the home setting, at say Adabraka or Agbogbloshie, is made up of the husband, the wife, the househelp and other inmates of the house. And where does the violence come from? Who are the perpetrators? We
    Mr. Lee Ocran 12:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, my
    hon. Friend has been talking about female genital mutilation without mentioning that males also go through male genital mutilation -- [Interruption] -- Yes.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    When you
    have the opportunity, you talk about it.
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, so many
    things happen but we are only talking about those things that are not desirable.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Hon.
    Mrs. Angelina Baiden-Amissah 12:20 p.m.
    Mr.
    Speaker, the hon. Member for Jomoro, Mr. Lee Ocran said that we are always talking about female genital mutilation and that he wondered whether men do not also go through genital mutilation.
    Mr. Speaker, what men go through is just circumcision and it even makes them feel better -- [Interruptions] -- But with the female -- [Interruptions] -- It makes them look good.
    Mr. Speaker, it makes them appear better than they are normally, but with that of the female the labia minora is removed, the labia majora too is sometimes removed and the whole thing looks mutilated such that hon. Lee Ocran would not even want to see the woman let alone have an affair with her. So if we say that it is female genital mutilation, this is exactly what we are talking about. It is indeed mutilation of some parts of the female and not that of the man.
    Dr. A. A. Osei 12:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, my dear Colleague is a female; she is talking about circumcision. Mr. Speaker, can she tell us the basis of her speaking about circumcision on this floor? Because this is a personal matter; you must go through it to know whether it is painful or not. She is alleging that it is painful -- [Interruption] -- It is not painful. Does she have any evidence to prove to this House? If she does not, then I respectfully suggest that she should withdraw the statement.
    Mrs. Baiden-Amissah 12:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I have two sons who are young men now. And when they were going through circumcision, I put them on my lap and I realized that the weeping was just small -- [Interruption] -- But if you look at the ladies who are lined up to be mutilated, you look at the way they shiver, the way they live in fear -- some of them even run away and they are looked for. That one is more serious and he cannot compare it with the circumcision that men go through.
    Mr. Sallas-Mensah 12:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member is a woman. What we go through in circumcision, because they enjoy the benefits later -- [Interruptions] -- They do not see it as being painful -- [Interruptions.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    You are completely out of order.
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I am
    very happy that my contribution has made the House so lively and it has brought a lot of smiles and laughter into the House; that is a very good one.
    Mr. Speaker, I am saying that it is not only the female genital mutilation but there are other mutilations that we tend to lose sight of; and I mentioned one of them as being tribal marks. Some of them will have to go and stay in the house or in the room -- at times some of them even end up in the hospitals for the doctors to take care of them. So what are we saying about it?
    All what I want to say is that Mr. Speaker, this is a very good Bill; I am urging all my hon. Colleagues to support it after the necessary amendments have been made. And I also want to say that for the Bill to succeed, Mr. Speaker, we need to do a lot, not only leave it in the House. Because a lot of Bills have been passed and are only sitting in the books and nothing is being done.
    Mr. Speaker, I am saying that if we have been able to bring this up and we are going to pass it into law we should as well find ways and means by which we can educate our people -- those perpetrators as well as the victims -- to know what this law is all about before we can talk of success.
    Mr. Speaker, if we do not do that we will end up coming here one day to say that what we have done has not yielded any fruit. With these few words, I urge the whole House to support the motion.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Hon. Members, I think we have made enough contributions. It looks like there is a general consensus on the matter. We have a lot of work to do -- [Interruptions] -- I will allow two more contributions.
    Mr. E. K. Salia (NDC -- Jirapa) 12:20 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. Mr. Speaker, I stand here to support this Bill and I do so because I have a personal reason for wanting this Bill to come to pass. I am the proud father of four daughters and I am also a man and I know that truly most of us men do not really treat our partners as well as we should. I do not know whether it is the women who bring it about or it is a gender problem -- just because men are macho (stronger), they tend to lord it over their wives and they like to use a lot of force on issues that should require consensus.
    It is in the light of this that I am really disappointed that the original provision against marital rape has not really been put in the Bill. As far as I am aware, I have not sighted it and I believe that it is necessary at the appropriate time to introduce that clause because any sexual relation should be one of mutual understanding. There should be no opportunity for one to force the other against his or her will. It is very clear that if a man is not in the mood for sex there cannot be sex. So by the same token, if women are not prepared for anything there should be no force.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    In that case, in principle, you are not against the Bill?
    Mr. Salia 12:20 p.m.
    I am not against it.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    So there is a consensus; you have made your point. [Interruption.] At the appropriate time when we come to Consideration Stage you could --
    Mr. Salia 12:20 p.m.
    And I think that some people are arguing that there should also be choice for men and women. But unfortunately, a lot of them are recommending polygamy and not polyandry and I do not agree that choice means that only men can have other partners and women should not have. I would insist that that particular aspect of polygamy; should not be encouraged. I believe that there would be more peace in a lot of homes if polygamy is discouraged -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. H. F. Kamel 12:20 p.m.
    On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, it looks like hon. Salia is misleading this House. What he is saying now amounts to introducing certain clauses to protect his daughters and I do not think we should allow him. That is my point of order.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    But that is not a point of order.
    Mr. Salia 12:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I believe that much of the violence that also occur in homes come about largely because of alternatives. If somebody has more than one wife or more than three wives, even the children, sometimes they cannot live peacefully together. You find stepmothers brutalizing other people's children and I think that if polygamy were reduced it would also enhance -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. John Ndebugre 12:30 p.m.
    With the greatest respect, Mr. Speaker, I thank you very much. I am compelled to rise on a point of order. I want to draw my very good Friend's attention to the fact that the report
    of the Joint Committee has made certain proposed amendments which I do not think he has gone through.

    If you look at page 16 of the Report, you will see that there is a proposal that we include this so-called “marital rape”, outlawing the marital rape in it and it reads as follows:

    “That the use of violence in the domestic setting is not justified on the basis of consent.”

    So that has been taken care of. But now, he is also going to very difficult areas. When he says that a man cannot have more than one wife, he wants us to legislate against polygamy. It will be against the Constitution because the Constitution guarantees freedom of association -- [Laughter] -- So if hundred women want to associate with me, you cannot legislate against it. So I think that we should not invite this House to undermine the provisions of the Constitution.
    Mr. Salia 12:30 p.m.
    Obviously, freedom of
    association is not freedom of marrying several wives. Marriage is a different sort of relationship; it is not association. -- [Interruptions] -- Anyway, I am calling on this House to consider improving the provisions of this Bill so that we can enhance peace in our various homes. When t here is peace in our homes, the society is better off and the whole nation will be most peaceful.
    I urge my hon. Colleagues to consider
    some of these amendments as they come up.
    Deputy Minister for Manpower,
    Youth and Employment (Mrs. Akosua
    Frema Osei-Opare): Mr. Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the motion on the floor. Mr. Speaker, I think this Bill should even be considered as Domestic Harmony Bill because the provisions will enhance relationships in the home and I think that we must all embrace it with all our might.
    Mr. Speaker, I am happy that this Bill
    has finally come to this House. I have had close association with the processes leading to this Bill as former Country Director of ActionAid. We sponsored research, particularly in the three northern regions to find out the situation on domestic violence and how that can be put into legislation. And we found that the situation was not simply of a man and his wife or vice versa. It is about a whole lot of situations in the home that really does not breed harmony.
    Situations of abuse - when I say abuse, not only physical abuse but even verbal abuse or psychological abuse - certain nuisances that may not look obviously traumatizing but have an impact on the other partner. So Mr. Speaker, I am happy that all hon. Members who contributed mostly, are talking seriously about this Bill being not just for women and girls but for men and boys as well.
    But Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw attention to implementation issues. Some hon. Members in their contributions have drawn attention to the fact that this is a multifaceted situation and it requires a multi-sectoral approach to its solution. I am bringing focus on the Department of Social Welfare. Mr. Speaker, most of the actions that have to be taken of victims of domestic violence is in the domain of the Department of Social Welfare.
    It is the Department of Social Welfare that is mandated and indeed, practising as I
    Mr. Salia 12:30 p.m.


    am talking today, on issues of counselling, whether at the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (formerly Women and Juvenile Unit), at the hospital, in the home situation or in institutions - they are responsible for having shelters for abused children. Indeed, we have two shelters for abused children. Again we have shelters for children who have been trafficked. And it is the responsibility of the trained social worker to deal with the trauma and the rehabilitation processes, that is as a result of violence of this nature.

    Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I would like hon. Members, in reading the Bill and in contributing to amendments, to look critically as to who should hold the fund for domestic violence. This is because when I looked at clause 29, I realized that out of the nine responsibilities that have been given to the Minister responsible for Justice to make a legislative instrument on, seven are all the responsibility of the Department of Social Welfare. Yet, this Bill does not adequately recognize that in dealing with situations, the Ministry responsible for the Department of Social Welfare should be given recognition.
    rose
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Yes,
    hon. Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning?
    Dr. A. A. Osei 12:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I want to have a point of clarification - [Inter- ruptions.] By law, I think it is only the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General who can bring a legislative instrument in this case. That is what clause 28 seeks to do. It does not say the Minister for Justice should implement those actions. So my hon. Friend should be cautious in terms
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    I believe she is on the right path. She is talking about the whole Bill not making that provision that recognizes the role of the Department of Social Welfare. What she is saying is that clause 28 only allows the Minister responsible for Justice to make provisions as to how to implement it. But she is saying that the Bill should have made provisions and indeed recognized the role of the Ministry that she comes from, the Ministry which in the past has been handling such things. We are not reinventing the wheel, according to her. And for that matter, she wants that to be recognized. I think you should allow her to make her point.
    Mrs. Osei-Opare 12:30 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr.
    Speaker. I think this really reflects the line of argument that I was propounding. It is important to recognize that when we make a law, the right institutional framework and the support should be given to the right institution so that it really helps the people that we are sitting here today to assist.
    So if the Ministry which has the direct responsibility of supporting victims of violence, either in the home or institution, is not recognized in the Bill, consequentially, we would not be given the right resources to deal with this situation.
    So I urge hon. Members to look critically and to support, with the right amendments, to ensure that the Ministry responsible for the Department of Social Welfare is properly recognized. And I look critically as to the hosting of the fund for victims of domestic violence. I think that should be at the right place and at the appropriate time I would try to put forward an amendment.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Yes, hon.
    Member for Tamale South?
    Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 12:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I ordinarily should be very reluctant to rise on a point of order against the hon. Member but I just want to find out whether by insisting that the Department of Social Welfare should take care of this fund, she is not attempting to usurp the responsibilities of the new Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Well, I
    do not know whether that is meant to be a point of order or expression of an opinion. I think it is misplaced. So allow her to finish.
    rose
    Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:30 p.m.
    Yes, Mr. Speaker.

    Ministry which in the past has been handling such things. We are not reinventing the wheel, according to her. And for that matter, she wants that to be recognized. I think you should allow her to make her point.
    Mrs. Osei-Opare 12:30 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think this really reflects the line of argument that I was propounding. It is important to recognize that when we make a law, the right institutional framework and the support should be given to the right institution so that it really helps the people that we are sitting
    here today to assist. So if the Ministry which has the direct responsibility of supporting victims of violence, either in the home or
    institution, is not recognized in the Bill, consequentially, we would not be given the right resources to deal with this situation.
    So I urge hon. Members to look critically and to support, with the right amendments, to ensure that the Ministry responsible for the Department of Social Welfare is properly recognized. And I look critically as to the hosting of the fund for victims of domestic violence. I think that should be at the right place and at the appropriate time I would try to put forward an amendment.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Yes, hon. Member for Tamale South?
    Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 12:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I ordinarily should be very reluctant to rise on a point of order against the hon. Member but I just want to find out whether by insisting that the Department of Social Welfare is taking care of this fund, she is not attempting to usurp the responsibilities of the new Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Well, I do not know whether that is meant to be a point of order or expression of an opinion. I think it is misplaced. So allow her to finish.
    rose
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Yes,
    hon. Member for North Tongu, is there anything else?
    Mr. Gidisu 12:30 p.m.
    Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am equally appalled at the demand of the hon. Deputy Minister that her Ministry should be represented. This is because this is not the first Bill. There was a Bill in this House on human trafficking which was specifically in the domain of the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, and we on this
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Hon. Member for Central Tongu, I honestly consider your intervention as not a point of order. So forget it.
    Mr. Ndebugre 12:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member for Central Tongu used a word which I think he must withdraw. He said he was appalled, if I heard him right, about the hon. Member's intervention, and that word is not good for this House. If he actually used the word, I want to suggest that he should withdraw the word.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    I think that is a wrong word and he should not have used that word against a Member of this House making a contribution. So I wish you -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member knows very well that I did not mean any harm. [Interruptions.] But on the lighter side I will with the best of intentions withdraw that word.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Hon. Member, finish your contribution, we are a little late now.
    Mrs. Osei-Opare 12:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I would like also to draw attention to the need for very, very serious and thorough sensitization of members of communities in this country. It should not be left to one or two workshops; it must be something that is really for grass roots, people going down to communities at various fora to make people aware that the Domestic Violence Bill is going to change the whole phase of domestic relationships. I am particularly concerned about the use of househelps -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Hon. Deputy Minister, you should be landing

    by now.
    Mrs. Osei-Opare 12:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I will end. The use of househelps is going to be seriously affected by this Bill. I would like us to draw attention very quickly and have a good plan for disseminating this information to people so that they recognize that with the enforcement of this Bill, when this Bill comes into being, then we may have to be looking at domestic-helps more within the context of the Labour Act rather than some casual relationship.
    Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for this opportunity.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    On that note, I will now call on the hon. Attorney- General and Minister for Justice to wind up.
    Attorney-General and Minister for Justice (Mr. Joe Ghartey): Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank hon. Members for the very useful contributions they made. Indeed, the first sentence of the memorandum to the Bill sums it all up. It says domestic violence is a serious social evil and I am confident that even though there were times that in the nature of parliamentary debate, we went into casual bantering and laughing and so on, it should not be seen that anybody was seeking to undermine the seriousness of this Bill. All Members of this House are very confident, support it and we take it very seriously.
    I wish to take this opportunity to assure the Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee that he should get his lawyers because we shall make sure that with his assistance, we shall ‘fast track' it and ensure that the regulations are made as quickly as possible.
    I also take note of the comments made by the Deputy Minister for Manpower,
    Youth and Employment. I wish to assure her that we recognize the very important role of her Ministry, that the Ministry of Justice would cooperate with them fully and would cede what we have to cede when we have to cede.
    Mr. Speaker, I think as all Members said, as they started and as they ended, they support the motion. On that note, I beg to move.
    Question put and motion agreed to.
    The Domestic Violence Bill was accordingly read a Second time.
    First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, we now move on to item 7 on the Order Paper; that is the consideration of the Insurance Bill.
    BILLS -- CONSIDERATION 12:40 p.m.
    STAGE 12:40 p.m.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Hon. Yieleh Chireh? [Pause.] The hon. Member is not around. Will anybody move it on his behalf?
    rose
    Chairman of the Committee (Nii Adu Mante) 12:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, we have no objection to this very amendment.
    Question put and amendment agreed to; viz --
    That clause 126, subclause (3), line 2, at the end add “and is liable, on conviction, to the penalty stated in the First Schedule”.
    Clause 126 as amended ordered to
    Mr. Kojo Armah 12:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I see that almost all the amendments we are going to deal with stand in the name of hon. Yieleh Chireh but he is not in. I do not know whether we can go on with people moving them in his name.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    The hon. Member for Tamale South wants to do that on his behalf. Is that not so?
    Mr. H. Iddrisu 12:40 p.m.
    Rightly so, Mr. Speaker.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    I have put the Question on clause 126 already so let us continue.
    Question put and motion agreed to.
    Clauses 127 to 129 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Clause 130 -- Offence for maintaining an office without approval.
    Mr. H. Iddrisu 12:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 130, line 2, at the end add “and is liable, on conviction, to the penalty stated in the First Schedule”.
    It is consequential. I think that if you look at the First Schedule, some punishment is provided for, but it just escaped the drafters. I hope that hon. Members would support this amendment.
    Nii Adu Mante: Mr. Speaker, I have no objection.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 130 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.

    Question put and motion agreed to.

    Clause 131 to 143 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

    Clause 144 -- Audit report.
    Mr. Kofi Krah Mensah 12:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I have noticed that clause 144 does not fall in the purview of the amendment suggested. So I have agreed with the Chairman of the Committee that it should be brought to another section.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    I do not appear to understand what you are saying. Are you moving the amendment or you have come to some agreement with the Chairman?
    Mr. K. K. Mensah 12:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the amendment does not belong to that clause.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Clause
    144?
    Mr. K. K. Mensah 12:50 p.m.
    Yes, Mr. Speaker.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    What do you say, Chairman of the Committee?
    Nii Adu Mante: Mr. Speaker, indeed it does not fall in tandem with that particular audit report.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    In that case what do you do?
    Nii Adu Mante: Mr. Speaker, in that case it should be abandoned.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Fair enough.
    Question put and motion agreed to.

    Clause 144 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

    Clause 145 -- Obligations of auditors.
    Mr. H. Iddrisu 12:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I need your guidance and I would like to refer to Order 109 of our Standing Orders which states --
    “No Question for decision in the House shall be proposed for determination unless there are present in the House not less than one-half of all the Members of the House . . .”
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Hon. Member, you have drawn my attention to that Order, fair enough. I understand you but can you take your seat and let us continue? Three minutes, five minutes, let me see what happens.
    Dr. A. A. Osei 12:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, hon. Haruna Iddrisu has brought our attention to the fact that similar to clauses 130, 145 and those on page 5, these are drafting issues. So I am surprised that we are being asked to vote on these amendments. They are consequential so if we can -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Well, if even indeed they are consequential, we need to bring them up for the House to accept. Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, are you moving that, are you asking for that?
    Mr. H. Iddrisu 12:50 p.m.
    No. Mr. Speaker, I believe this House has subsequently accepted that wherever there is supposed to be a sanction, its rendition is the most appropriate. So in respect of clauses 145, 152, I so move, that we accept the amendments as they appear, and the same
    thing for clauses 152 up to 155. So we can make some progress.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee, do you agree to that?
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Hold on and let us move from one clause to the other, do not box them up. We were at clause 145, were we not?
    Nii Adu Mante: Mr. Speaker, we were on clause 145, subclause (6).
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Yes, you agreed to that, you had no objection.
    Question put and amendment agreed to, viz;
    Clause 145, subclasue (6), line 2, at the end add “and is liable, on conviction, to the penalty stated in the First Schedule”.
    Clause 145 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    C laue 152 -- Moni to r ing o f advertisements.
    Mr. H. Iddrisu 12:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 152, subclause (3), at the end add “and is liable, on conviction, to the penalty stated in the First Schedule”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 152 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Question put and motion agreed to.
    Clauses 153 and 154 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Mr. H. Iddrisu 12:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 155, subclause (4), at the end add “and is liable, on conviction, to the penalty stated in the First Schedule”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 155 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Question put and motion agreed to.
    Clauses 156 to 158 ordered to stand part ot the Bill.
    Mr. William Ofori Boafo 12:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that on page 4, after clause 145, Mr. Speaker did not put the Question for clauses 146 to 151.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    I did, I have put the Question on those clauses. We have not touched them unless of course you have some amendments you would want to move. As to whether I have put the Question or not -- [Inter-ruption.]
    Mr. W. O. Boafo 12:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, mine is not an amendment, I am only drawing your attention to the fact that prior to that, you were mentioning the clauses one by one and putting the Question but when we got to clause 145, instead of putting the Question on clauses 146 to 151 -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    I did not do that?
    Mr. W. O. Boafo 12:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker went on to clause 152.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    I am sorry if I did not do that. I could go back.
    Question put and motion agreed to.
    Clauses 146 to151 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Mr. Alfred W. G. Abayateye 12:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I would want to remind you that you promised that in three minutes if we have not formed a quorum -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    I did not say three minutes. The Standing Orders do not say three minutes, it is ten minutes, so please will you take your seat.
    Mr. Abayateye; Mr. Speaker, I am quoting from Standing Order 109.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    What does it say?
    Mr. Abayateye 12:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, it reads
    -- 12:50 p.m.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Hon. Member, you have reminded us of what we all know. This is a Consideration Stage, and the rules also say that we should allow

    Clause 159 -- Restrictions on disclosure of information.
    Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 1 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 159, subclause (2), after “Subsection” delete “(2)” and insert
    “ (1)”. .
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker; Chairman of the Committee, are you against that?
    Nii Adu Mante: Mr. Speaker, I am not.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr. H. Iddrisu; Mr. Speaker, I beg to move (on behalf of hon. Yieleh Chireh), clause 159, subclause (4), at the end add “and is liable, on conviction, to the penalty stated in the First Schedule”.
    Mr. Speaker, I think it is also consequential. I so move.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee, are you against it?
    Nii Adu Mante: No, Mr. Speaker.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 159 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Hon.
    Members, it appears that our numbers have dwindled. Of course, today is Friday. I thought we could push a little further because on Tuesday we are going to engage ourselves with the debate over the Budget. Unfortunately, that is not meant to be so. In the circumstance, I want to be advised as to what to do. If anybody could move, of course, it is not even 2 o'clock.
    Dr. R. W. Anane 1 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, in view of the fact that some of the Members may be involved in committee meetings, I beg to move that this House do now adjourn till ten before noon on the 28th of November,
    Mr. Lee Ocaran 1 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I second the motion.
    Question put and motion agreed to.
    ADJOURNMENT 1 p.m.