Debates of 11 Dec 2006

MR. FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:10 a.m.
CORRECTION OF VOTES 10:10 a.m.
AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE 10:10 a.m.
OFFICIAL REPORT 10:10 a.m.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Correction of Votes and Proceedings for Friday, December 8, 2006. Pages 1…21? Hon. Members, it appears there would not be any corrections. In that case, we would assume that the Votes and Proceedings for Friday, 8th December 2006 represents what exactly took place.
Hon. Members, we now move on to Public Business. Item -- 5, Laying of Papers; Chairman of Committee on Roads and Transport.
Mr. P. C. Appiah 10:10 a.m.
None

Report of the Committee on Roads and Transport on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Transportation for the year 2007.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon. Members, I think I nearly forgot a correspondence from the President. It is dated 7th December, 2006 and addressed to the Speaker.
COMMuNICATION FROM THE
PRESIDENT 10:10 a.m.
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC 10:10 a.m.
OF GHANA 10:10 a.m.
THE SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT 10:10 a.m.
PARLIAMENT HOUSE 10:10 a.m.
ACCRA 10:10 a.m.
Mr. F. K. Owusu-Adjapong 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to crave your indulgence to allow me to lay this document on behalf of my Colleague Minister.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Very well.
BILLS -- FIRST READING 10:10 a.m.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon. Members, we go back to item 5. We have finished with (a) so we now move on to (b), Chairman of the Committee on Food and Agriculture?
PAPERS 10:20 a.m.
Mr. F. K. Owusu 10:20 a.m.
None

Report of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Fisheries for the year 2007.

By the Chairman of the Committee --

Report of the Special Budget Committee on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Office of Parliament for the year 2007.
Mr. Kwadwo Agyei 10:20 a.m.
None

Report of the Special Budget Committee on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Audit Service for the year 2007.
Mr. James Appietu 10:20 a.m.
None

Report of the Committee on Finance on the Annual Budget Estimates of Statutory Payments and Other Government Obligations for the year 2007.

Mr. J. K. Hackman (on behalf of Chairman of the Committee) --

Report of the Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Public Sector Reforms for the year 2007.

By the Chairman of the Committee --

Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Interior for the year 2007.

By the Chairman of the Committee --

Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of National Security for the year 2007.

CONSIDERATION OF ANNuAL

ESTIMATES, 2007

Public Services Commission
Majority Leader/Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (Mr. F. K. Owusu-Adjapong) 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of ¢5,058,000,000 for the services of the Public Services Commission for the 2007 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, this is one of the independent bodies and it is just right that we give them resources so that they

can perform their functions as stipulated under the Constitution.

Mr. Speaker, the Committee found out that the allocation made to this organization was not up to the level they asked for but the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning drew our attention that total request made was a little over ¢100 trillion. The country could secure only ¢37 trillion from its own resources and topping it up with loans and grants, the highest amount that can be secured is ¢54 trillion.

Therefore, it is not likely that any MDA can secure the 100 per cent that it needs for that organization. It is against this background that I urge this House to approve the sum of ¢5,058,000,000 for the services of the Public Services Commission for the 2007 fiscal year.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh (NPP -- Tema West) 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion and to present the Report of the Committee on behalf of the Chairman.
Mr. Speaker, the Report has been circulated since last week, and if you would permit me, I would just proceed to read the ‘Conclusion', that is after reading paragraphs 5.2 and 6.0 and ask the Hansard to capture the whole Report.
1.0 Introduction
The 2007 Annual Estimates of the Public Services Commission was referred to the Special Budget Committee for consideration and report in accordance with the 1992 Constitution and Standing Orders of the House. This was after the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2007, on
Mr. A. O. Aidooh (NPP -- Tema West) 10:20 a.m.
The PSC also commissioned a 5-year strategic plan project in 2006. The main focus of this project is to strengthen the capacity of the PSC to fulfil its mandate of reporting to the President, on an annual basis, the state of the public services of Ghana. Emphasis has also been placed on strengthening the management services capability of the Commission to enable it to effectively perform its human resources audit, as well as its research and data management functions.
Another strategic focus of the PSC in 2006, has been the review and codification of processes, systems and procedures relating to appointments, promotions, discipline in the public services, with a view to infusing a sense of competence, integrity and confidence among public servants and also forge a sense of mutual respect and co-operation amongst the public and private sectors, and the general public.
4.0 The 2007 Budget Estimates of the Public Services Commission
(PSC)
A total amount of ¢5,059,000,000.00 has been allocated to the PSC to be disbursed as follows:
Personal Emoluments -- ¢2,015,000,000.00
Administration Expenses -- ¢1,483,000,000.00
Service Expenses -- ¢376,000,000.00
Investment Expenses -- ¢1,185,000,000.00
Total -- ¢5,059,000,000.00

5.0 Observations and Recommendations

5.1 PSC Outlook for 2007

The Committee observed that the PSC Annual Lectures, established eight years ago to create a public platform where topical and strategic issues bearing on national development are freely and openly discussed will be continued. This will continue to assist in the promotion of information-sharing, dissemination and good governance.

Also, the Commission will continue with the projects commenced in 2006, with an intention to renew and deepen its collaboration with educational and other relevant training institutions so as to effectively and efficiently address issues of human resource development, placement and career development in the public as well as private sectors.

Other well-established and successful initiatives such as the following will also be continued to deepen the collaboration and team spirit necessary for the running of an effective, efficient and productive public services:

i. The provision of a forum or p la t fo rm fo r in te rac t ion between the President and Chief Executives, Chairmen of Governing Councils of Public Service Organizations and Agencies.

ii. The Commission will also co- operate with other relevant agencies for the establishment and operation of a scheme for re-organizing and promoting excellence in performance in the public service.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh (NPP -- Tema West) 10:30 a.m.
5.2 Allocation of Service Budget
The PSC lamented that it is perennially underfunded and this is impacting negatively on how efficiently and effectively it carries out its mandate. Given the enormous task confronting the PSC, the Committee observed that the provision made for the PSC's core business, service, is very inadequate.
The PSC requested ¢1.160 billion for their activities during the 2007 financial year and have been given only 376 million, which would hamper its ability to undertake a number of the scheduled activities. In the light of this therefore, the PSC and the Committee wish to plead with the MOFEP to allocate more funds to the PSC, should there be some available during the year.
6.0 Conclusion
The Committee recommends to the House, the approval of the sum of ¢5,059,000,000.00 for the running of the operations of the Public Services Commission for the 2007 financial year and hopes that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning would be able to supplement the PSC's budget during the year, should there be any more money available, to enable the PSC undertake its planned activities and ultimately execute its mandate.
Respectfully submitted.

Question proposed.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Members, considering the number of motions we have on hand, it has been agreed that we limit our contributions on the motions that would be moved on the floor. Any contribution? If there is no contribution I will put the Question, hon. Members.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ANNuAL ESTIMATES
Office of the District Assemblies Common Fund
Mr. F. K. Owusu-Adjapong 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, That this honourable House approves the sum of ¢1,458,501,000,000 for the services of the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator for the 2007 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, like the PSC, this is one of the constitutional bodies which need to be resourced by the State to enable them perform. It is in this spirit that I urge all hon. Members to approve of these estimates.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. A. O. Aidooh) 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion and to present the Report of the Committee.
1.0 Introduction
The 2007 Annual Estimates of the District Assemblies Common Fund was referred to the Special Budget Committee for consideration and report in accordance with the 1992 Constitution and Standing Orders of the House. This was after the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2007 on
16th December, 2006 by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, hon. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu. The Committee met with the Administrator of the Fund and reports as follows:
2.0 Background
2.1 Reference Documents
To discharge its assigned duties, the Committee availed itself of the following documents:
The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
The Standing Orders of the House.
The Budge t S ta tement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2005 and 2006 financial years.
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2007 financial year.
2.2 Aims and Objectives of the Office of the DACF
The Office of the DACF exists to equitably distribute part of the National Tax Revenue to the District Assemblies for development. Among other activities, these aims and objectives are achieved through:
i. Developing an agreed sharing formula for approval by Parliament;
ii. Administering and distributing monies allocated into the Common Fund to the District Assemblies in accordance with the approved formula; and
iii. Ensuring fairness, equity and transparency in the distribution and administration of the Fund.

In pursuing these goals, the DACF has set itself objectives, principal among which include:

i. Establishing a comprehensive system for monitoring and evaluating releases to District Assemblies;

ii. Ensuring the effective utilization of funds to generate growth and reduce poverty; and

iii. Undertaking periodic impact assessments of the Fund on development and poverty reduction in the various districts.

3.0 2006 in Retrospect

During the year in retrospect, the Office of DACF undertook a lot of activities, all aimed at ensuring effective management and utilization of its share of the 2006 Budget. Some of these programmes and activities include the following:

i. Quarterly Disbursement of Funds

The Committee was informed that an amount of ¢784.93 billion representing 65.18 per cent of the budgeted figure for 2006 has been disbursed to the various MMDAs, MPs and RCCs.

i i . Yo u t h E m p l o y m e n t a n d Community Policing

As part of its planned programme to reduce unemployment and poverty in the country which is in line with GPRS II, the sum of ¢58.89 billion has been released from its allocated funds in 2006 to the MMDAs to support employment related initiatives.

iii. Training
Mr. J. Y. Chireh (NDC -- Wa West) 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion, but in doing so I wish to make some observations.
Every year when we come to approve a formula for the distribution of the District Assemblies Common Fund, we always decry the problem of criteria that have been used over the years. Indeed this year, you will recall that some districts were given doctors they did not have, in the case of Wa East and Wa West. So it is in my opinion very important that the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator be facilitated by more funds to be able to undertake and review the criteria for the distribution of the District Assemblies Common Fund.
The criteria that have been used over the years are no longer adequate; they are no longer applicable for the fact that new districts have been created. So I am really not happy that it is not even one of the things that the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator has programmed to do because we emphasised the fact that it should be regularly reviewed and the criteria set for this.
The other point I want to make is about getting the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator to really monitor what is going on as far as the use of the District Assemblies Common Fund is concerned. If you look at it, almost everyday when you take a newspaper or you listen to the media, you have corruption and it is always

about the District Assemblies Common Fund. The corruption has become so endemic that we must do something about how the District Assemblies Common Fund is used. Otherwise, we are going to have problems in terms of development. It appears that because we say it is District Assemblies Common Fund, everybody wants to dip his hands into it.

Proper procedures for awarding contracts must be put in place. The projects that are undertaken should be properly monitored and evaluated for us to see whether there is a basis for the money that we are spending on them. The only institution that should do this is the Office of the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator. He should be facilitated to go round or get people to monitor what is going on.

Therefore, I think that the amount that has been voted, he can still appeal to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and if there is some money from the Highly-Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Fund he should be facilitated to undertake these two things that I am suggesting.

On this note, Mr. Speaker, I support the motion.
Mr. Lee Ocran (NDC -- Jomoro) 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I also rise to support the motion, but in doing so, I think the District Assemblies Common Fund Secretariat should be well-resourced to be able to carry out its functions very well. So much money is going to the districts but ugly structures and structures of dubious value are being erected in the districts. There is no point for all of us to sit here, approve large sums of moneys only for them to be embezzled at the local level. You have people who were just -- call
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon. Chief Whip, I think you have a very good point but it is not the right time to do that unless you want to relate it to your contribution on the motion before this House.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, precisely what I am saying is that an hon. Member moved by the circumstances could make an appeal but if the order does not come from the Chair, then the Member speaks for himself -- he is entitled to his opinion. But it may not be said that it is an appeal from Parliament, for that request to be made. That is the point that I am making.
Mr. Speaker, I think that what we are doing in respect of the District Assembly is a very important thing. The request for ¢1.611 billion to be made available to the Office of the District Assemblies Common Fund is of considerable importance. As has been alluded to earlier on by my hon. Colleague (hon. Yieleh Chireh), Mr. Speaker, an important assignment for the office is to visit Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to collate and analyze new data and to develop district poverty profiles.
Mr. Kojo Armah 10:40 a.m.
On a point of order.
Mr. Speaker, I see on the Order Paper that the motion is for the approval of the
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Come
again. What is your point?
Mr. Armah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Order
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
You were
hearing that from whom?
Mr. Armah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, from the Chief Whip; he mentioned ¢1.6 billion.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Do you
have one of the reports in your hand?
Mr. Armah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not
have.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in
fact, what he is saying is right. There is a discrepancy in the figures. Mr. Speaker, it is between the Order Paper and the figure in the Report. Mr. Speaker, I propose to have the Report amended for the figure in the Report to be replaced with the figure in the Order Paper.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Fair
enough. In any case, what should go into the record should be the -- except of course, as you have already indicated, you want the whole Report to be captured by the Hansard. In any case continue, hon. Member.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I thought what we have here in the Report is for the running of the office itself, and what we have here is for the entire operation of the office including

disbursements to the Assemblies, and so on. Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Majority Leader is right if he says that the figure should be replaced with what we have in the Order Paper.

Alhaj i Muntaka Mohammed

Mubarak: Mr. Speaker, I need your guidance here because if the hon. Deputy Majority Leader is saying we should replace the figure with what we have in the Order Paper, you see that in the Committee's Report, the details of all the expenditures are cited: Personal Emoluments, Administration, Service, and Investments. So now that we are to replace same with that in the Order Paper, which of the expenses is going down to reconcile what he is saying? I believe that we need your guidance on this so that we get the facts right.
Mr. S. Sallas-Mensah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
it looks like the hon. Deputy Majority Leader is confusing the House. What is in the Order Paper is correct because if you look at the Budget, the micro ceiling for DACF is ¢1.458 trillion. So if we amend it, we are rather going to have problems with the micro ceiling.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, he is
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon.
Members, one after the other, please. Hon. Member, just a minute -- have you finished your contribution?
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, he is
trying to confuse the House. The effect
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon.
Deputy Majority Leader, so which one do you want amended?
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, but for
the confusion this thing would not have arisen. We amend the Report by deleting the figure in it and substituting therefor the figure in the Order Paper, which is the ¢1.61 billion plus the sums due to the fund.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
It should
be ¢1.4 billion with the little that will be added from the fund itself to make it ¢1.6 billion; is that not so?
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
sums due to the fund for its running purposes is ¢1.61 billion. This figure is added to the sums that go to the District Assemblies Common Fund to make a total of ¢1.458 trillion. It is in the Order Paper.
Mr. Sallas-Mensah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that
is why I am saying that the motion being moved in the Order Paper is the correct thing.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:40 a.m.
We are amending
the Report, not the motion.
Mr. Sallas- Mensah 10:40 a.m.
Why do you have to amend the Report? The motion is the most important thing.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, the hon. Colleague maybe was
not paying attention to what the hon. Deputy Majority Leader said. I think they are on the same wavelength. He is saying that the figure that we have in the Report is wrong because it is only for the running of the office, and that the real figure is what obtains in the Order Paper, which he seems to be saying too; so it is about the same thing that he is saying. Maybe, he is not following the argument yet.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Well,
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the point I was making was that the ¢1.611 billion which is for the running of the office may not be adequate given the work entrusted to the office; and we are saying that if they have to visit the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to develop district poverty profiles, then that alone calls for more than the ¢1.6 billion that has been allocated for the running of the office.
Mr. Speaker, again, they have been tasked to monitor and evaluate the utilization of the Common Fund to ensure effectiveness. Mr. Speaker, if one visits some of the newly-created District Assemblies, one sees the structures that are emerging there, and one concludes easily that we are building 21st Century squatters. Mr. Speaker, we need to really look at the architecture of the Assemblies themselves.
If you go on beyond that to the Auditor- General's Report, year in year out, what is unveiled is massive rot at the District Assemblies. And if any group should help in stopping this, it is the DACF.

Mr. Speaker, so it is important that

we give them adequate resources. If one considers other structures like school buildings and clinics that are within the purview of the District Assemblies, there is a world of difference in the quality of structures that are being put up -- school buildings and even there are serious variations in the cost of construction -- and the office should be enabled to monitor this.

Mr. Speaker, that is where corruption really is and so if the Assemblies should be in a position to help us all, help this nation save considerable amounts of money, then definitely we must resource the Office of the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator to help us all curb the incidence of corruption which the Auditor- General is year in, year out, unveiling.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
I did say
the last contribution is from the hon. Chief Whip but I would give you the floor for only two minutes.
Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor (NDC -- Lawra/Nandom) 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, for purposes of the records, certainly, this House can make any corrections, additions and subtractions to reports of your Committees, but I guess we should not set the precedent because this is a very major issue in terms of appropriation, and one wonders why such an important element based on the areas that have been provided for, the Committee overlooked it. Perhaps, we should reach a situation in which we might have to ask the Committee to take a second look -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
What exactly are you referring to, hon. Member?
Dr. Kunbuor 10:50 a.m.
I am referring to the differences between what we have in terms of the micro ceiling and what has been presented in the Report as the one

they want approved. I have not come across anything that draws attention to the addition that the hon. Deputy Majority Leader has mentioned.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes, hon.
Appiah-Ofori, are you on a point of order?
Mr. Appiah-Ofori 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have a point of order. I am really confused about the whole thing. If you look at the Report, Personal Emoluments is ¢452 billion; are we saying that the District Assemblies Common Fund Secretariat is going to be given ¢452 billion? [Interruption.] Is it million? You are lucky then.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Take your seat then, if you have been corrected.
Dr. Kunbuor 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am of the view that except time is really of essence, the Committee should take a second look and submit to this House a more serious and detailed report on this matter, accounting for what is the difference between the Order Paper and the Committee's Report.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon.
Deputy Majority Leader, what do you say to that suggestion, that there should be reconciliation so that it would be very clear for the records? That is what he is saying.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank him for his observation but it is not very necessary. Mr. Speaker, between the running of the office and sums due to the Assemblies, that is the problem. And so you would have a situation where we have suggested that the Report covers mainly the sums due to the office for its administrative purposes and running of the office. Then there is a standing figure which by law goes to them and the motion paper had added the two figures. That is
all. But then we decided to amend our Report so that we take into account that additional figure; that is all.
Dr. Kunbuor 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, all that I am saying is that, we are dealing with the Committee's Report. Almost all those additions and assumptions that he is making, there is no basis for them in this Report. No Report is suggesting that there is some amount that is outstanding which would add to this other amount and that is what gives you the micro ceiling.
So all that one is drawing attention to is that, if they had even given one line suggesting that there were some additional appropriations they required this House to do but has not been captured, then that gives us a basis for making the correction, otherwise it is a substantial matter.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon. Kunbuor, that is the basis for this debate. Indeed, the Hansard would capture whatever is being expressed here on the Report that has been brought. I believe that would reflect exactly what it is all about; that the Report in itself is not an end. It has been brought here, you have made comments on it, everybody else has expressed his or her own comments on it. Indeed, it would be captured in the final analysis so we do not need to throw it back for it to be brought to reflect what we are talking about. So let us continue.
Mr. Kwadwo Adjei-Darko 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think there is a bit of confusion here. Even -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Are you
contributing to the motion or not?
Mr. Adjei-Darko 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we
are dealing with an important document. If you look at the Committee's Report, it is headed, “report of the Special Budget Committee on the 2007 Budget Estimates
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
You
have even made the confusion more confounded. I believe you have just joined us in the debate; it has been going on and it has been corrected that the Order Paper itself reflects what in totality would be what goes to the various Assemblies and what that Committee had specially focused on which is what is going to go to the Administrator and his office. If you put it together, you would come by the figure in the motion which we all have agreed is the case. So we do not need to haggle over it as to what is appropriate or not.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this honourable House approves the sum of ¢1,458,501,000,000 for the services of District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator for the 2007 fiscal year.
ANNuAL ESTIMATES
Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice
Mr. F. K. Owusu-Adjapong 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of ¢36,405,000,000 for the services of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice for the 2007 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, again, this is one of the constitutional bodies and it is our duty to
resource them. Mr. Speaker, we are aware that the money that has been allocated to them is only a percentage of their requirements and needs, but as I indicated when I was moving the motion numbered 7, the total needs of the country compared with the figure available for distribution is about 54 per cent and therefore it is quite natural that not until the size of the cake is increased, we may all have to share the little that is available.
It is in this vein that I urge all hon. Members to support the motion so that the allocation made to the CHRAJ is approved for their use in 2007.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
second the motion by presenting the Report of the Committee.
1.0 Introduction
The 2007 Annual Estimates of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) was referred to the Special Budget Committee for consideration and report in accordance with the 1992 Constitution and Standing Orders of the House. This was after the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2007, on 16th November 2006, by the hon. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu.
The Commit tee met wi th the Commissioner of CHRAJ and a technical team from both the Commission and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) and reports as follows:
2.0 Background
2.1 Reference Documents
To discharge its assigned duties, the Committee availed itself of the following documents:

The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

The Standing Orders of the House.

The Budget Statement and Eco- nomic Policy of the Government of Ghana for preceding years, notably the 2005 and 2006 financial years.

The Budget Statement and Eco- nomic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2007 financial year.

2.2 Aims and Objectives of the CHRAJ

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) exists to enhance good governance by protecting, promoting and enforcing fundamental freedoms for all people in Ghana. These aims are to be achieved through:

i. The effective promotion of a culture of respect for other people's rights by society;

ii. Providing oversight guidance in administrative justice to ensure fairness, transparency, efficiency and the application of best practice.

The prime objectives through which CHRAJ intends to achieve its set goals include the following:

i. To protect and promote human rights and administrative justice at all levels of society, especially the vulnerable and excluded;

ii. To initiate the development of an effective legal framework for an effective delivery of service.

3.0 2006 in Retrospect
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:50 a.m.
The Department will also organize
training programmes for selected public services on the Conflict of Interest Guidelines and ethics developed by the Commission pursuant to Chapter 24 of the 1992 Constitution.
iii. Public Education
The Commission reiterated that many people in the rural areas of Ghana, who often need the help of the CHRAJ, do not even know about the Commission's existence nor do they know their rights under the 1992 Constitution which they have every right to protect. Through the rural community-based public education project therefore, the Commission intends bringing enlightenment to many, and empowering them with human rights knowledge to take better control of their lives. In 2007, the Commission plans to provide education for 1,000 rural communities.
For the 2007 fiscal year, the Commission also plans to step up its educational programmes for second and third cycle educational institutions and strengthen Human Rights Clubs in the schools.
Finally, the Commission will continue with its research and monitoring of the human rights situation in Ghana, including monitoring of prisons and detention centres.
5.2 Observations
i. Non-release of HIPC Funds
The CHRAJ informed the Committee that due to the decrease in its 2006 Budget, especially from the service line, the Commission had banked on using the HIPC funds of ¢5 billion allocated it to cater for a number of its activities. To date however, none of these funds have been released to the CHRAJ despite numerous requests and visits to the MOFEP.

Indeed, over the past few years, the CHRAJ has been budgeting to build or rehabilitate regional offices, but unfortunately, the allocations are never released for these activities and it was hoped that the HIPC funds, if provided, will solve this problem to a large extent.

The Committee hereby calls upon the MOFEP to release the HIPC funds without any further delay.

ii. Service-Based Institution

Like the other constitutionally established bodies, the core functions of the CHRAJ are service-based and their Service line in the budget is much more multifaceted, involving and pivotal than the service activities of the other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Therefore, if there is a policy to effect an across-the-board decrease in service expenditure, such bodies and institutions like the CHRAJ which primarily provide services to the general public may have to be reconsidered.

In these circumstances therefore, the Committee counsels the MOFEP to keep this in mind when allocating funds to such institutions in order not to compromise the quality of services that they are constitutionally required to provide.

iii. The CHRAJ also informed the Committee that Ghana has been voted onto the International Human Rights Council and is therefore obliged to clean up its act before the peer review sessions, which are part of the Council's conditions. If Ghana does not meet the requirements, it is feared that we will not be voted onto the Council in 2009. This is therefore one reason why CHRAJ pleads with the House and the MOFEP to make more funds available for
Mr. S. K. B. Manu (NPP -- Ahafo Ano South) 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion moved by the Deputy Majority Leader and in so doing I would like to take a serious view of an aspect that he read out, that some moneys were not released to the Commission, which impeded the operations of the Commission.
Mr. Speaker, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) is one cardinal institution that portrays Ghana as a country that respects human rights and if that Commission which is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that people's human rights are not trampled upon is not enabled to carry its activities out successfully, then I see a problem here.
I would therefore want to add my voice to the call made to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to take a second look at the funds released to
this very important Commission because without the funds being released to the Commission, it would be disenabled to work, and if it is not able to work, people's human rights will continue to be trampled upon; and our bid to promote the human rights of citizens of this country will not be achieved.
I therefore call on the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to take a second look at this and do all that it can to make those funds available to the Commission.
With these few words, I support the motion.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (retd) (NDC -- Ayawaso East): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion and in doing so I would like to say that the report that was filed yesterday on radio by CHRAJ about their activities should be commended. And in view of the fact that the scope of their work will expand in the very near future, as we attempt to deepen democracy and the practice of democracy in this country, there is the need to increase their budget so that they can cope with the increase in their duties.
However, in the report that was filed yesterday they did not mention the rights of people who live with HIV/AIDS, their rights of access to anti-retroviral drugs and I thought that was a very big omission. I expect that when they file their report for next year they would let us know what has been done by their office in connection with the rights of people who live with
HIV/AIDS.
Mr. A. K. Agbesi (NDC -- Ashaiman) 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I also rise to support this motion.
Mr. Speaker, if we look at page 3 of the Report on the Commission's work and their very existence, the Committee has reported that the Commission's existence
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Just as was mentioned in the previous motion, the figure that is in the Report and that of the motion, there is some discrepancy. It is ¢36.406 billion in the Report, but it is ¢36.405 billion in the motion.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we would go by the motion.
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (NPP -- Suame) 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in associating myself with the motion I just want to highlight the issue raised by the presenter of the Report, that is the Deputy Majority Leader, when he said that for the fiscal year 2006 the Commission was allocated an amount of ¢5 billion from the Heavily- Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Fund but

as of November 2006 not a cedi of that ¢5 billion had been released to CHRAJ.

I do not know whether the Commission itself did not take adequate steps to seek the release of that amount. But Mr. Speaker, we do know that, that amount definitely would have gone to enrich the activities of CHRAJ. So we would want to appeal to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to take steps to release the ¢5 billion which we believe would go to enrich the activities of the Commission.

Mr. Speaker, secondly, we are told that for year 2007 the Commission is going to embark on massive national campaign against corruption at all the regional capitals and selected district capitals. Mr. Speaker, it is supposed to employ extensively the use of the mass media and posters for such campaign.

Mr. Speaker, the Commission is scheduled to organize training programmes for selected public services on conflict of interest guidelines and ethics developed by the Commission, pursuant to chapter 24 of the 1992 Constitution; and for that reason an amount of ¢302 million has been earmarked for the purpose.

Mr. Speaker, corruption and the perception of same is bothering this country and if CHRAJ is purposed to mount a massive crusade against corruption then they should be provided with the needed enablement to pursue this noble agenda. I think the ¢303 million is not even going to be adequate for that purpose and so I would appeal that if there should be further funds available to the Ministry then definitely some should go to assisting the Commission in the pursuit of their endeavours, the anti-corruption endeavours.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, we are told that the Commission wants to develop a code of ethics, that is, guidelines on conflict of interest. That is good. But Mr. Speaker, where does it end? I believe that the Commission, perhaps, after the development of such ethics may have to come to Parliament so that maybe, those guidelines could be transformed into legislation, and that then becomes the bedrock for their operation. Mr. Speaker, if it is left at the level of guidelines, what becomes of them? It only becomes a moral issue. But if we have the guidelines translating into laws, then of course, people could be held accountable for any breaches of these ethics which would have become laws.

Mr. Speaker, with this, I thank you for your indulgence.
Mrs. Alice Teni Boon (NDC -- Lambussie) 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion on floor and in doing so I want to echo that the work of CHRAJ is very important and I think that it is worthwhile looking at how best we could give them enough resources to enable them to do their work effectively.
Mr. Speaker, I also overheard one of my hon. Colleagues say that CHRAJ is going to train one thousand people when this Budget is passed. I believe it was a slip of tongue. I did consult the hon. Member and he said that he did not look at it. It is in the Report that it is one thousand rural communities. So Mr. Speaker, I want to seek your indulgence so that the Hansard Department would correct the figure. It is not “people”, when I also heard it; it looked funny because training one thousand people is not enough. I looked at it and saw that it was one thousand rural communities and I think it is important;
we should correct it and give them the due resources to enable them to train these communities.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Members, I was wondering -- both sides have expressed concern over what has been described about the five million that the Ministry consented to or indicated that it would release to CHRAJ but hon. Members have said in the Report that it was not released. The hon. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning is here and I am wondering whether he has anything to say to that.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, he is trying to check from the Director of Budget and that is why he is on phone.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well. Maybe, in that case steps should be taken to release that amount to the Commission.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this honourable House approves the sum of ¢36,405,000,000 for the services of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice for the 2007 fiscal year.
ANNuAL ESTIMATES
Electoral Commission
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (Mr. Felix K. Owusu-Adjapong) 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, That this honourable House approves the sum of ¢41,780,000,000 for the services of the Electoral Commission for the 2007 fiscal year -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Majority Leader, I hate to do that but it looks like there is a little problem and the hon. Member for Upper West Akim wants to come out with -- Hon. Member, is there any problem?
Mr. Sallas-Mensah 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the motion numbered 8 that we earlier approved was wrong. [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Member, you are out of order.
Mr. Sallas-Mensah 11:10 a.m.
No, Mr. Speaker,
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Let him finish first; maybe, we will come back to that later.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have finished moving the motion.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. A. O. Aidooh) 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion and to present the Report of the Committee.
1.0 Introduction
The 2007 Annual Estimates of the Electoral Commission was referred to the Special Budget Committee for consideration and report in accordance with the 1992 Constitution and Standing Orders of the House following the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2007, on 16th November 2006, by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, hon. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu.
The Committee met with the Deputy Chairman, Mr. David A. Kangah and a

technical team from the Commission and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP), and reports as follows:

2.0 Background

2.1 Reference Documents

To discharge its assigned duties, the Committee availed itself of the following documents:

The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

The Standing Orders of the House.

The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for preceding years, notably 2005 and 2006 financial years.

The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2007 financial year.

2.2 Aims and Objectives of the EC

The Electoral Commission is the constitutionally established body, the mandate of which is to deliver free, fair and transparent elections as a means of advancing the cause of democracy and good governance in Ghana. Through a professionally competent workforce that exhibits a high sense of individual and collective integrity, it hopes to continue executing this mandate, basically by:

Building trust and confidence in the electoral system;

Establishing transparent and verifiable electoral processes;

Educating the electorate about their rights and responsibilities as voters;

Compilation of the Voters Register and its revision;

Conduction and supervision of all public Elections and Referenda;

Education of the people on the electoral process and its purpose.

3.0 2006 in Retrospect

During the year in retrospect, the Electoral Commission informed the Committee that it undertook the following projects:

i. A Voters' Registration and Exh ib i t ion exe rc i se and successfully conducted the District Assembly and Unit Committee elections. The Commission also conducted two Parliamentary by-elections for the Tamale Central and Offinso South Constituencies. The training of staff in ICT with the view to implementing the continuous registration of voters is also ongoing.

ii. Currently, the Commission is studying the Representation of the People's Act (ROPAA) with a view to setting implementation parameters and to this end, the Commission is holding several workshops aimed at collecting and collating input from all quarters of the general public.

iii. In fulfilment of the Commi- ssion's legal responsibility of securing effective storage, for election materials, a sod was cut to start the construction of the Greater Accra Regional Offices and National Stores Complex.

iv. The Commission reacti-vated the construction of its 15

abandoned District Offices. So far, 12 of these have been reactivated and some may be completed in 2006. The provision of adequate office facilities at the district level is in line with the Commission's determination in fulfilling its constitutional obligation of ensuring its presence in all districts of Ghana.

4.0 The 2007 Budget Estimates of the Electoral Commission

A total amount of ¢41,780 billion has been allocated to the Electoral Commission to be disbursed as follows:

Personal Emoluments -- ¢22,080,000,000.00

Administration Expenses -- ¢9,482,000,000.00

Service Expenses -- ¢4,181,000,000.00

Investment Expenses -- ¢6,037,000,000.00

Total ¢41,780,000,000.00 5.0 Observations and Recommendations

5.1 Outlook for 2007

The EC intimated that it will continue improving its infrastructure and human resource capacity by undertaking the following:

i. The Commission hopes to start constructing the Greater Accra Regional offices and National Warehouse as well as some district offices to ensure that the

Commission has presence at the district level and secure effective storage of all election materials. The EC intimated that most of its vital equipment are donations from development partners as the EC cannot afford them due to lack of funds.

It is therefore imperative that these equipment be well stored in order to keep them in mint condition. The EC informed the Committee that it has continuously budgeted for this warehouse facility since 2005 and to date, no funds have been released for it.

ii. The EC also hopes to further explore the possibility of providing Wide Area Network (WAN) facilities to all its Regional Offices and some selected District Offices, especially, those with good office accommodation. The purpose of this project is to improve the EC's service delivery, especially in the area of continuous voter registration, as well as ensuring an effective implementation of the

ROPAA.

iii. As part of its obligations, and in preparation towards the year 2008 general elections, the Commission will reopen the Voters Register during the last Quarter of 2007. The EC thus lamented that considering the amount of work it has to do to prepare the grounds for a free and fair elections, the amount of funds allocated it is woefully inadequate. In addition to the general elections, the EC will also conduct a bye-election early next year in the Fomena Adansi Constituency and it is important to be prepared for it.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. A. O. Aidooh) 11:20 a.m.


5 . 2 I n a d e q u a t e F u n d s f o r Personal Emoluments

The Committee learnt that, as in 2005, the Personal Emoluments for the EC during 2006 were never released on time and currently the institution has been unable to pay its staff since October. In addition to this, the EC informed the Committee that its 2007 PE budget allocation is less than requested and the Commissioner expressed apprehension about the consequences of the situation considering the amount of work to be undertaken before December 2008. For PE the EC requested ¢30.67 billion but has been allocated only ¢22.08 billion.

5.3 Service-based Institution

The Committee observed that like the other Constitutional institutions, the core functions of the EC are service-based so that its Service line in the budget must not be interpreted to mean ‘services' as in the other MDAs. Any across-the-board decrease in service expenditure will adversely affect their core functions. In the circumstance, the Committee requests that the MOFEP provide the needed funds as a matter of urgency, to enable the institution perform the critical activities as indicated above. In this vein also, the Committee urges the EC to prepare clear, monitorable proposals on some of their critical activities for consideration by the

MOFEP.

6.0 Conclusion

The Committee has considered the budget of the Electoral Commission noting its shortfalls, which may adversely affect effective service delivery. The Committee however recommends to the

House, the approval of the sum of ¢41,780 billion for the operations of the EC for the financial year ending 31st December 2007, and hopes that the recommendations it has made would be taken into serious consideration by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and Govern- ment.

Respectfully submitted.

Question proposed.
Mr. Kenneth Dzirasah (NDC -- South Tongu) 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion and to recall that since the passage of the Representation of the People's (Amendment) Act (ROPAA), all our activities, discussions and suggestions relating to the registration of citizens abroad have been frozen. Mr. Speaker, this is very disturbing. It is disturbing because it will take a long time to bring the implementation of that Act into being.
Mr. Speaker, there is conspicuous silence in this Report and for that matter the debate and monetary provision for the Electoral Commission (EC) on this subject. The only comment that has been raised about ROPAA is found on page three of the Report and, Mr. Speaker, it is because of such casual reference that one begins to suspect that ROPAA is dead and gone. Mr. Speaker, there is a suggestion in bullet point 5.1, that is outlook for 2007, in paragraph two, and it reads as follows: Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote:
“The EC also hopes to further explore the possibility of providing Wide Area Network (WAN) facilities to all its Regional Offices and some selected District Offices, especially those with good office accommo-dation. The purpose
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to assure my hon. Colleague that the Act has not been repealed.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon. Member for South Tongu, you have been informed that the Act is still part of the laws of this country.
Mr. Dzirasah 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my question is addressed to whether it would ever be implemented. If it would, then my humble suggestion is that we start looking at the details as soon as possible. Mr. Speaker, the reason being that the Electoral Commission itself is so cash- strapped that it does not have the capacity to do its internal registration and other businesses.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it looks like my hon. Colleague is misleading this House. He mentioned that we have less than eighteen months to another big national election. Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague knows that we here never set a date for the EC to implement -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
That is not
a point of order.
Mr. Dzirasah 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank
Mr. John Ndebugre 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, just a matter of factual correction. I think it is important for us to make this factual correction; it is not this House that has set out the procedure for the EC. It is the Constitution of the Republic that has fixed the life of this Parliament, and when it begins and ends. I think that that must be corrected.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Thank you very much for your information. Hon. Member for South Tongu, would you quickly land so that we can make progress.
Mr. Dzirasah 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Are you talking of 1995?
Mr. Dzirasah 11:20 a.m.
I am sorry, he also was not here. I am sorry, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, finally, I would like to say that the hon. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning should consider this institution as the most critical institution

and a pillar for the sustenance of our democratic culture, and that it should be funded well so that the stampede and the anxiety that attends the activities or the functioning of this institution can be abated.

Mr. Speaker, I support the motion.
Mr. Edward Salia (NDC -- Jirapa) 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this motion but in doing so, I have a few issues to raise in respect of the budget for the Electoral Commission.
Clearly, our democratic credentials as an electoral democracy can be attributed to the excellent performance of our Electoral Commission in the conduct of national elections. It is therefore essential for us to keep them on a high pedestal by ensuring that we provide them with the essential resources that will enable them to prosecute their functions more efficiently and effectively.
Mr. Speaker, as you can see from the Report, even the personal emoluments are not going to be met under this budget. Electioneering is a continuous process and the EC cannot be one of those institutions or organizations where one can lay off workers because their salaries are not going to be paid. I wonder where anybody expects the EC, which does not generate sufficient internal funds to be able to pay the employees that it currently has.
I believe there is the need for us to take a second look at their budget through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, unless we want to decree that all their employees who would not be paid during 2007 should be laid off. In any case, even if they are being laid off, redundancy awards would have to be paid. So essentially, money is required to enable them to perform their work.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
I have realized that the hon. Member for Central Tongu is very eager to catch the eye of the Chair; is there any little information you want to give?
Mr. Joe Kwashie Gidisu (NDC -- Central Tongu) 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to associate myself with the motion on the EC. But I would not rather go along with my senior Colleague who has just spoken, congratulating the EC to a greater extent on ensuring democracy, which of course is their constitutional duty.
Mr. Speaker, if you look at the aims and objectives of the EC, among other things, it is to build trust and confidence in the electoral system and establish transparent and verifiable electoral processes. Mr. Speaker, I am referring to those two objectives with reference to the reflections on the 2006 activities of the EC.
Mr. Speaker, I want to refer to paragraph
3.1:
“A Voters' Registrat ion and Exhibition exercise and successfully conducted the District Assembly and Unit Committee elections . . .”
as part of the overall activities of the EC during the year.
Mr. Speaker, I want to note with reservation that those activities that they have described as successful have been questioned because during the Voters Registration and Exhibition exercise, a larger number of people in our constituencies were disenfranchised as a result of not being covered fully during the exercise. Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious omission; if it is deliberate, then they would have to go back to review the situation.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon. Member for Ahafo Ano South, I believe you are on a point of order.
Mr. Manu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member is misleading the House. The hon. Member said that in the voters' exhibition exercise, a larger number of constituents were disenfranchised. Certainly, that could not be true. I can accept that a large number of people were disenfranchised but certainly not a larger number of people.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon. Joe Gidisu, your hon. Colleague is not happy with what you said and indeed you have given an impression that the greater percentage of the voting population got disenfranchised in the exercise. I think that impression is wrong.
Mr. Joe Gidisu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is a
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
No, that cannot be semantics; hon. Gidisu, that cannot be.
Mr. Joe Gidisu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am
reconciling my statement with my hon. Colleague's that a large number of our people were disenfranchised.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Very well.
Mr. Joe Gidisu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to take very serious note of the Electoral Commission -- [Interruption.]
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon. Manu, are you coming again on a point of order?
Mr. Manu 11:30 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, he continues to misinform the House. The people had their names registered, that is why they went for the exhibition. So the hon. Member on the floor cannot say that they were disenfranchised.
Mr. Joe Gidisu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague is confused himself in terms of what to say. But the point I want to make, Mr. Speaker, is that I want to take very serious note of the conclusion in the Report by the Electoral Commission that they have successfully conducted Unit Committee Elections throughout the country.
Mr. Speaker, as I stand here, I can testify to the fact that more than three- quarters of the area in my constituency have not been fully covered under the Unit Committee elections; and it is nationwide. This has been happening for the past four or five years; Unit Committees which are expected to be a very vital -- [Inter-
Mr. Kwadwo Adjei-Darko 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member on the floor cannot be blaming the Electoral Commission for the apathy. The Electoral Commission opened nominations for Unit Committee elections and those who availed themselves, the elections were held for them -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
The hon. Member on the floor is expressing an opinion on an exercise, and according to him it would not be a successful exercise if a greater percentage of the population had not indeed exercised their franchise; and he is entitled to his opinion. So let him continue.
Mr. Joe Gidisu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Unit Committee is supposed to be a pivotal base for the decentralization process we have in this country and not to have effective Unit Committees in place, for the past four or five years undermines the efficiency of the decentralization policy in the Assemblies. So Mr. Speaker, in the ensuing years, I would want the Electoral Commission -- As they have noted that they have been cash-strapped, very vital educational programmes which they should promote to buttress whatever activities they would be carrying out are very, very important. And as they are going to open voters' registers in the last quarter of the ensuing financial year, Mr. Speaker, I want to advise that unlike what they did this year, they should be more comprehensive in their activities and more intensive in their education as well as coverage so as to make the exercise more successful than it had been.
With these few words, Mr. Speaker, I
thank you for the opportunity.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
I will take
two more contributions on the matter -- Hon. Majority Chief Whip and the hon. Deputy Minority Leader.
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (NPP -- Suame) 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to associate myself with the motion on the floor. Mr. Speaker, I think it is important, while associating myself with the motion, to debunk the assertion made by my Colleague, hon. Joe Gidisu, when he said that three-quarters of her constituents were not represented at the Unit Committee Elections and that this was nationwide. Mr. Speaker, that cannot be the truth -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon. Gidisu, maybe, you have been misquoted.
Mr. Joe Gidisu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. Mr. Speaker, he is even putting a feminine tag on me and I would want to protest seriously. I am not “her”; I am “he”. The hon. Member on the floor is putting a feminine tag on me which is wrong; I am a man and not a woman. He is using “her” instead of “his constituency”.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, maybe, in the next generation, he may transmogrify into “her”, but the issue that he raised regarding three-quarters non-representation at the Unit Committee level in his constituency, which he says is a general malaise and that it depicts itself nationwide cannot be factual. [Inter- ruptions.] An opinion cannot be factual.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon. Majority Chief Whip, speak to the Chair.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know that -- [Interruption.]
Mr. E. T. Mensah 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. Mr. Speaker, the Majority
Chief Whip is totally out of order.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Why do you say so?
Mr. E. T. Mensah 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, he is responding to the presentation made by hon. Joe Gidisu. When he was given the floor, he was given the floor to make his own contribution; but I think that is not what he is doing.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
I think that is what he is doing. He is expressing an opinion on the opinion that has been expressed on this floor. [Interruption.]
Mr. E. T. Mensah 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that is the hon. Member's opinion; and his opinion is his opinion. So why should the hon. Member on the floor be speaking to his opinion?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I believe my hon. Colleague knows what this Chamber is meant for. If you express an opinion and it is not factual you could be challenged; and that is precisely what I am doing. So I am surprised that the hon. Member comes in his intervention -- but I would go on without him.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon. Majority Chief Whip, I have already advised you to speak to the Chair; you do
not make your contribution as if you are conversing.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr.
Alhaji Collins Dauda 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. My hon. Friend and Colleague, the hon. Majority Chief Whip said that I do not have ears -- [Interruption.] But I can see that everybody in this Chamber can see my ears. I have ears and I can hear very well. So he must be corrected and he should withdraw. I have ears so he should withdraw. It is very bad to say a thing like that about me.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, now I know he has ears so I have withdrawn. But Mr. Speaker, the -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Eugene Atta Agyepong 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want my hon. Friend to realize that it is a figure of speech, so there is no offence in that expression.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, hon. Collins Dauda is my friend, so as I said, I recognize now that he has ears so I have withdrawn. But Mr. Speaker, the hon. Colleague who spoke also said that we do know in this country that EC sets dates for national elections which they have set to coincide with the birthday of the President; and I thought even though it was said in a lighter vein, because it goes into the record, it needs to be corrected.
Article 46 of our Constitution stipulates clearly that in the performance of its duties the EC shall not be subjected to any direction whatsoever, and that includes the President. And so the President does not influence the EC in the choice of date for national elections, not even Parliament .
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
I think it is common knowledge, hon. Member.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, so that impression needs to be corrected. Having said that, Mr. Speaker, the final thing that I want to say is that the EC has provisions to conduct only two bye-elections in the ensuing year. Already, we have one bye-election ahead of us; it is important that all of us as Members of Parliament conduct ourselves well.
Mr. Speaker, we should take our health seriously; we should take our driving seriously because if the number should go beyond two, there would not be any provision for the EC to conduct bye- elections. So it is important that we take good care of ourselves.
Mr. Manu 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, he is saying we should drive carefully. In fact, the Members of Parliament who have been dying, all have not been dying through accidents. I thought he was going to say that the Ministry would have to ensure that Members have at least one medical check-up every year. That would have been a better thing to say for Members of Parliament.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Very well, you have a point there, hon. Member.
Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho (NDC -- Avenor/ Ave) 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion with some difficulty. Mr. Speaker, my difficulty is that if you look at the Committee's own Report, at page 3, under ‘Observations and Recommendations', this House has to be worried. Mr. Speaker, if you look at paragraph 5 of the Committee's Report, indeed page 3, it is
full of lamentations. We are being told there that as we are even talking now, since October staff of the Electoral Commission have not received their salaries.
Mr. Speaker, it is worrying. If we want to deepen our democratic process, if we want to have an electoral system that has the integrity and the needed integrity that we expect from it, if people who are supposed to be part of the key pillars in charge of our democratic process have not received their salaries for October, 2006 then we are in a difficulty; and I think that the Committee should have taken this matter up even before reporting to the House.
Mr. Speaker, why do I say so? When this House decided in the last Parliament to establish the Special Budget Committee, one of the factors that went into it was to put the Leadership of the House in charge of this Committee so that they can liaise with those who are in charge of the resources of this country in terms of its allocation, so that they can lobby, they can advocate for these independent constitutional bodies.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to inform my hon. Colleague that these facts had been made known to the Ministry even before the Report was presented. I can assure him that efforts are being made to get the money paid to the Commission.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Very
well, I think he is really raising a point. He says that this is an important Commission and if its staff are not working because their salaries have not been paid then indeed you should have taken it up. You should have at least written one line for this House as a sign of comfort; and I think he is absolutely justified in raising those concerns.
.
Mr. Adjaho 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, now he
is telling us, but we do not know the response from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. As to whether they are going to make the needed resources available to the Electoral Commission to discharge their constitutional obligations, we do not know. Fortunately for us, the hon. Minister in charge of the finances of this country is here, and before we take a vote on this matter we want to hear from him.
Mr. Speaker, there are lamentations and complaints about their resources, about getting the work done in time so that we can have an election that we all have confidence in. Mr. Speaker, we all know that on this continent, one of the areas of conflict is electoral disputes and therefore it is important for us to build a credible electoral system, a system that we will all have confidence in.
If we delay and the resources are not made available to this Commission in good time and they do not go and do their work well, which can be verified by independent bodies and all the stakeholders, the consequences are obvious for anybody to guess. And therefore, I will urge, Mr. Speaker, that let us hear a word from the hon. Minister who is here and is smiling at me, as to when he is going to make the allocation available to the Electoral Commission, before some of us can vote for this Committee's Report. Other than
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
So you
will not vote for the little that can be given to them?
Mr. Adjaho 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes, it is true that half a bread is better than none but at times when we come to electoral systems and we give half a bread, it can be more dangerous than none. Therefore, we want to hear from him for us to be in a position to vote for this motion moved by the Chairman of the Committee, a Cabinet Minister and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, first I think my hon. Colleague was not fair to his Colleagues in Leadership when he said that they were appointed to this Committee so that they could perform certain functions. I am sure that as a member of the Leadership, he could have contacted us when he got his Report -- [Interruption.] Now, if he has not got it then that is not the right way to do things.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
He is a Member of Parliament; he has his constituents also and they must hear him.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we know why there has been this problem and we are in contact with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to solve the problem. Mr. Speaker, you may recall that some officers of the Electoral Commission, just like the Media Commission and others, are supposed to be covered by the Chinery Hesse Committee; and that is what is now being resolved. And the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning has assured me that he has got sufficient allocation to resolve all these things. And therefore it is -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Adjaho 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister was not here when I was making most of my submissions. I believe his deputy has made the necessary intervention in this matter but we want to get assurance from the hon. Minister. Mr. Speaker, some of the things that the Minister who is the Chairman of the Committee is saying now, if he had put a line, one sentence in this Report, I would not even have made the intervention I am making.
So Mr. Speaker, we just want to get assurance from the hon. Minister -- [Interruption.] -- Yes.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon. Mnister for Finance and Economic Planning, this is not Question time but we would be a little comfortable if you could say a word or two with regard to what the hon. Deputy Minority Leader is raising.
Mr. Baah-Wiredu 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think the observations are right. I think we are picking all these comments and simultaneously we are trying to fix the situation on the ground. So I think it is fair for hon. Members to make their comments and then we would compile the responses; and I hope that there are enough resources to settle the bills.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
What he said was that he will not even vote unless he is assured that matters are under control.
Mr. Baah-Wiredu 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member must vote because he knows that we voted for the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) and he knows that whatever we say, we would be settling those bills. So we are even finding out something about the Electoral Commission and the other areas.
So Mr. Speaker, the point is well taken and we are working on it.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this honourable House approves the sum of ¢41,780,000,000.00 for the services of the Electoral Commission for the 2007 fiscal year.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
We now take item number 11 on the Order Paper. Hon. Majority Leader?
ANNuAL ESTIMATES
National Commission for Civic Education
Majority Leader/Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (Mr. Felix Owusu-Adjapong) 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of ¢38,871,000,000 for the services of the National Commission for Civic Education for the 2007 fiscal year.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Any seconder?
Deputy Majority Leader (Mr. A. O. Aidooh): Mr. Speaker, I second the motion and beg that you consider the Report as read.
1.0 Introduction
The 2007 Annual Estimates of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) was referred to the Special Budget Committee for consideration and report in accordance with the 1992 Constitution and Standing Orders of the House. This was after the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2007, on 16th December 2006 by the Minister for
Finance and Economic Planning, hon. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu. The Committee met with the Chairman of the NCCE, Mr. Laary Bimi, and a technical team from the Commission and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP), and reports as follows:
2.0 Background
2.1 Reference Documents
To discharge its assigned duties, the Committee availed itself of the following documents:
The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
The Standing Orders of the House.
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for preceding years, notably the 2005 and 2006 financial years.
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2007 financial year.
2.2 Aims and Objectives of the NCCE
The NCCE is a constitutionally established institution with a mandate to create, promote and sustain awareness of Constitutional Democracy for the achievement of political, economic and social stability in the country, by stimulating citizens of Ghana to appreciate their civic rights and responsibilities.
In pursuit of this, the NCCE among other things, undertakes the development and implementation of programmes that are aimed at inculcating in the citizenry, their civic rights, duties and responsibilities for their personal well- being and national development.
As part of its responsibility in achieving the aims of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy Programme, the NCCE aims to continue using and intensifying civic education to encourage all citizens to get involved in national governance and to strategize and fight against the many causes of poverty. As part of this, the NCCE has for the next four years, the following objectives and planned activities among others:
i. To ensure and promote peace and stability and prevent as well as manage conflict;
ii. To collaborate with the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment on the full participation of the citizenry in the lower levels of governance through civic education;
iii. To advocate as an institution and to collaborate with the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports for the introduction of civics for democracy in first and second cycle schools;
iv. To encourage Civic Classes, Civic Clubs and Civic Centres in all districts as well as targeting Civic Education for the vulnerable and socially excluded; and
v. T h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a headquarters building Centre for Civic Education (Democracy House);
vi. Increasing awareness of good governance principles through civic education programmes in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and District

Assemblies on issues relating to mental health and AIDS and with the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports for the introduction of ‘Civics for Democracy' into the school curriculum; and

3.0 2006 in Restrospect

In 2006, the Commission undertook the following activities:

i. An Inter-Schools Games Competi t ion organized throughout the country as part of Constitution Week Celebration Activities.

ii. Trained women to increase their participation in the District Assembly Elections and undertook a number o f C i v i c E d u c a t i o n programmes on the human rights of Women with UNDP Sponsorship.

iii. Introduced “The Citizen Project” on a pilot basis in selected schools of the Northern and Greater Accra Regions.

iv. Collaborated with ILO and the MOWAC to conduct research on Child Labour in Ghana.

v. Started constructing a wall around the land it acquired at Legon to house the NCCE headquarters.

vi. Purchased 62 Vehicles for the Commission for civic

education programmes.

vii. Launched Social Auditing in the country project to enhance t r anspa rency and accountability in the effective political process in all the 138 districts.

viii. Trained Management Staff and District Directors on the Social Auditing Project in collaboration with Hanns Seidel Foundation.

4.0 The 2007 Budget Estimates of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE)

For its activities during 2007, a total amount of ¢38.871 billion has been allocated to the NCCE to be disbursed as follows:

Personal Emoluments -- ¢20,507,000,000.00

Administration Expenses -- 12,402,000,000.00

Service Expenses -- 2,368,000,000.00

Investment Expenses -- 3,694,000,000.00

TOTAL ¢38,871,000,000.00

5.0 Observations and Recommendations

5.1 Outlook for 2007

In 2007, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) will pursue the following activities:

i. Building capacity for public

education and dissemination of information on Human Rights and introduce Civic Education and Conflict Prevention in basic schools, through the Civic Education Clubs strategy.

ii. Educate the public through Constitution Week Activities on the Rights and Responsibilities as enshrined in the Constitution and involve al l c i t izens, particularly women, in conflict p reven t ion , management and resolution through civic organizations.

i i i . Support Inst i tut ions and Schemes aimed at informed civic participation in all 138 Districts through the Social Auditing Strategy. In the same vein, the NCCE plans to undertake public education annually in all 138 districts about the dangers of human trafficking and on avenues of safe migration with special focus on sending and receiving districts.

i v. I d e n t i f y a n d p r o m o t e programmes in all 138 Districts that will assist in the prevention and management of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) in general.

v. Monitor the incidence of Domestic Violence and other violence against women in all 138 Districts.

vi. Strengthen the partnership with the public media to promote civically responsible behaviour

in all 138 Districts placing emphasis on 2008 Elections Sensitization Programme.

vii. Construct the Head Office Building at Legon and complete 40 District Offices which are in various stages of construction.

5.2 Observations

i. Headquarters Building

The NCCE lamented the fact that over the past few years, it has continuously budgeted for a Headquarters building (Democracy House) and had hoped to finally get the building underway during 2006 as they were allocated an amount of ¢25 billion of HIPC funds for the 2006 financial year. These funds are however, yet to be released so all the NCCE has been able to do is to build a wall around the land to keep trespassers off.

The Committee was informed that the NCCE is really hard pressed for space as they share office space with the Electoral Commission and this is making life difficult for staff of both Commissions, which are both very busy and essentially large institutions. The Committee was informed that the building is to cost between ¢15 and ¢18 billion but so far, only ¢3.5 billion has been allocated the NCCE over the past two years and even that has not been released.

ii. Service Based Institution

The Committee also observed that like the other Constitutional bodies, the core functions of the NCCE are service- based so that their Service line in the budget must not be construed as services in the other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The Committee would therefore like to reiterate that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning
Alhaji Sumani Abukari (NDC -- Tamale North) 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion on the floor. In doing so, I want to make a passionate plea to the hon. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning.
We expect a lot from the NCCE. I have heard several hon. Members of Parliament complain that the NCCE is not doing enough civic education. As a result, our constituents put a lot of pressure on us, pressure that they should not put on us. This is because most of them do not know the duties of an hon. Member of Parliament. They think that ours is to come here and dip our hands into the coffers of the State, bring it to them and share to most of them. So Mr. Speaker, the only institution that can help us, as far as this is concerned, and explain a lot of other state issues to the people is the NCCE.
Mr. Speaker, it is said that to whom much is given, much is expected. So if we give them little, we should expect very little from them. Year in, year out, the NCCE comes in here; they complain about shortfalls in their budget. Year in, year out, they still have the same shortfalls, yet everyday we sit down here and expect them to do wonders with the little that they are given.
Mr. Speaker, I think that it is about time the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning took a second look at the NCCE's requirements during the next mid-year budget. So I am supporting this motion and at the same time appealing to
the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. I think the hon. Minister has gone out, but I am happy that the Majority Leader is here.
The Majority Leader can put some pressure on the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to see what he can do for the NCCE so that they would be given a lot of transportation, they would be given a lot of money -- he has said it already -- and their services can be improved so that some of our problems in our constituencies would be alleviated.
Mr. Speaker, I would also suggest that since the Ministry of Information and National Orientation is taking delivery of several information vans, most of which would be in the districts, it should work hand-in-hand with the district officers of the NCCE to disseminate some of the information that we would want to reach the people of this nation.
Mr. Speaker, seeing that they have a shortfall of ¢17.7 billion, it is really serious, to say the least. So I would appeal once again to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and to the Government, actually, to take a second look at the financing of the NCCE so that they can go on and do the work that they are doing so very well in a very minimal way.
Mr. Kenneth Dzirasah (NDC -- South Tongu) 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my intervention relates to the terms and conditions of service of the NCCE staff, particularly on the subject of retirement.
Mr. Speaker, there is re l iable information that some members of the Commission are either due for retirement or have retired and paradoxically they are being replaced by people who are older
than them. I think this is something that is rather strange and if, in fact, this statement is true, it is disturbing.
Mr. Manu 11:50 a.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member is misleading this House. The conditions of service of workers of NCCE should not be better known to him than the conditions of service of hon. Members of Parliament. I thought he was going to talk about the conditions of service of hon. Members of Parliament. Without doing that I can say that he helps others, but he cannot help himself as -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon. Manu, you are out of order. [Laughter.] I thought that you were going to question whether what he is saying indeed is factual; that people who were retired are being replaced by even more “retired” people. I think that is the point I thought you were making.
Mr. Dzirasah 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, for his information, there is no retiring age for politicians and that he can afford to stay here for the next 30 years provided his people can give him the mandate.
Be that as it may, Mr. Speaker, what
I am raising is significant because if we are to obey the laws of nature, the older you grow the less effective you become, and for which reason your capacity to hold the institution that you are assigned responsibility to oversee also diminishes. So it is important that when we retire, we are not replaced by people who are older than us. This must be corrected.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved:
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of ¢1,713,000,000 for the services of the National Media Commission for the 2007 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, this is one of the consti tutional bodies that at any opportunity we should find a way of increasing its resources. Mr. Speaker, we found out that they do not even have any good means of transport. But we discussed with the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning and he assured us that they were looking at the possibility of supporting the organization during the mid-year review. With that assurance, we had no hesitation in endorsing the
¢1,713,000,000.00.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion by presenting the Report of the Committee.
1.0 Introduction
The 2007 Annual Estimates of the National Media Commission (NMC) was referred to the Special Budget Committee for consideration and report in accordance with the 1992 Constitution and Standing Orders of the House. This was after the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2007, on
16th November 2006, by the hon. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, hon. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu.
The Committee met with officials and a technical team from the Commission and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP), and reports as follows:
2.0 Background
2.1 Reference Documents
To discharge its assigned duties, the Committee availed itself of the following documents:
The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
The Standing Orders of the House. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for preceding years, notably the 2005 and 2006 financial years.
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2007 financial year.
2.2 Aims and Objectives of the NMC
The NMC's mission, which is in consonance with the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) Programme, is to promote and ensure the freedom and independence of the mass media in its role as the watchdog for transparency and good governance. To achieve this, the NMC has set itself some objectives which include the following:
1. To conscientize owners and practitioners of the mass media on the need to use the media to facilitate national development and cohesion;
2. To encourage media practi- tioners to focus on issues of
good governance and social responsibility in their reportage and programmes;
3. To educate media practitioners on responsible journalistic practices and their duty to improve trust in the mass media; and
4. To promote and ensure the existence of independent mass media, free from government interference and control.
3.0 2006 in Retrospect
In 2006, the Commission embarked upon a process of retooling aimed at developing an efficient strategy for democratic regulation of media for peace building. To this end, the Commission undertook the following activities among others:
3.1 Media and Peace-Building
The Commission, in partnership with the UNDP, trained journalists on how to use the media to promote national cohesion and support development. In all, journalists in eight regions of the country benefited from this training.
3.2 The Future of Public Broadcasting in Ghana
Public broadcasting offers the best platform for education and national cohesion. But there are concerns about the management and financial sustainability of the only public broadcaster in Ghana. To define a proper future for public broadcasting in Ghana, the Commission organized two separate fora with stakeholders to address emerging concerns.
3.3 Visits to Media Houses
In the year under review, the Commission began visits to media houses to sensitize them on the effects of their work as broadcasters on the society at large.
4.0 The 2007 Budget Estimates of the National Media Commission
(NMC)
A total amount of ¢1,713,000,000 has been allocated the National Media Commission to be disbursed as follows:
Personal Emoluments -- ¢412,000,000.00
Administration Expenses -- ¢964,000,000.00 Service Expenses -- ¢111,000,000.00
Investment Expenses -- ¢226,000,000.00
Total
¢1,713,000,000.00
5.0 Observations and Recommendations
5.1 Outlook for 2007
The Committee observed that the NMC's focus for 2007 is twofold:
i. The first focus is to strengthen the Commission's regulatory role to ensure that the Media performs in a manner conducive to peace-building and national deve lopmen t . The NMC informed the Committee that it intends to achieve this objective through monitoring media content to identify and address professional deficits.
The agenda is to track media content to identify conflict t r iggers so as to develop
Mr. A. O. Aidooh noon


guidelines for an early warning mechanism. This is necessary to identify the kind of content available to the citizenry, bearing in mind that negative media influence on the public mind can undermine confidence in elected leaders and push the nation to the brink of conflict.

ii. The second focus is to reposi- tion the media as a partner in the nation's development process, using the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II (GPRS II) as the basis. This kind of monitoring will be aimed at tracking how much development content is in the media, the direction of coverage (positive or negative) and the general tenor of media content. The Committee observed that the NMC hopes to achieve this objective through capacity-building pro-grammes aimed at moving the media to essentially become agents of development. The focus here is to ensure that the media contributes to the achievements of the objectives of GPRS II, by, among others:

Ensuring the effective partici- pation of the media in free and credible pre-election activi-ties, including development-based coverage of the presi-dential and parliamentary primaries.

Developing a policy on how to use community radio to support the modernization of agriculture and strengthen infrastructure.

Enhancing the capacity of the media to raise and discuss national concerns with special reference to the NHIS and the Youth Employment Programme.

5.2 Deplorable Working Conditions

i. The NMC informed the Committee that its current working environ- ment is deplorable and pitiful. Its offices are dilapidated and practically falling apart around them. The roofs of all the offices leak when it rains, the toilets are all broken down and the building has seen no paint in many years.

ii. As has been the situation over the past few years, the Committee learnt that while the Commission had a barely-running vehicle last year, it no longer has a vehicle. The funds for the two vehicles the NMC budgeted for during the 2006 financial year has not been released and currently, the four-year-old VW Bora which was available has been impounded by the VODI Company until the NMC settles its debts accumulated for many months of servicing.

In addition to this, some NMC officials who have to attend to duties outside their posting area have to cater for their expenses, including transportation, bed and board. This has made the NMC lose a lot of staff over the years, and due to the pervading situation, it cannot attract replacements.

iii. The NMC further lamented that due to these deplorable conditions, it is unable to effectively and efficiently carry out its mandate as a watchdog and regulator of the media in Ghana. This is compounded by the fact that the Commission does not have the powers of a Court and can therefore not force any media house or practitioner to appear before it or force the implemen-tation of any of its rulings.

The Committee on its part advised the NMC to appeal to development partners,

especially those most concerned in enhancing global good governance, for assistance for its various programmes and to rehabilitate its building. It was also advised that the NMC present a well-drafted Instrument to the Attorney- General's Office in its bid to be empowered to carry out its mandate.

6. Conclusion

Without prejudice to the above observations, the Committee recommends to the House, the approval of the sum of ¢1,713,000,000 for the NMC's operations for the financial year 2007 and hopes that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning makes a commitment to provide the additional funds needed to enhance the NMC's performance.

Respectfully submitted.

Question proposed.
Mr. A. K. Agbesi (NDC -- Ashaiman) noon
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak to the motion. Mr. Speaker, it is so saddening that we should hear that the whole National Media Commission (NMC) is without a vehicle. The working conditions are deplorable; the building is in a deplorable situation; the roofing leaks when it rains and a host of things. Mr. Speaker, if we would have to make this body function, then we only have to give them money.
Mr. Speaker, they have laudable aims as we can find on page 2 of the Report. This body is to encourage media practitioners to focus on issues of good governance and social responsibility in their reportage and programmes. These are laudable aims; but without funds how can they operate? They are also to educate media practitioners on
responsible journalistic practices and it is their duty to improve trust in the mass media.
Mr. Speaker, we sometimes say that our media men are not focusing on issues; and if this body is to see to it that these things are done and we are stifling it of money, Mr. Speaker, it is not the best. I will call upon whoever is concerned -- the hon. Minister -- that this is a serious matter and he should come to their aid as early as possible.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this honourable House approves the sum of ¢1,713,000,000 for the Services of the National Media Commission for the 2007 fiscal year.
ANNuAL ESTIMATES
Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs
Majority Leader/Minister for Parlia- mentary Affairs (Mr. F. K. Owusu- Adjapong) noon
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of ¢10,240,000,000 for the services of the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs for the 2007 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs exists to serve as a link between the Executive and the Legislature and the general public through the facilitation or flow of information amongst them and collaboration and networking with all relevant stakeholders. The policy focus of the Ministry is in the realm of expanding democracy and furthering pluralistic involvement in our democratic process.
Accordingly, the Ministry undertakes programmes aimed at promoting broad based participation and consensus building so as to ensure ownership of our national
TABLE HERE noon
ALLOCATION FOR noon
Mr. John Mahama (NDC -- Bole/Bamboi) 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the 1992 Constitution has operated for a while and the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs is one of the Ministries that have existed since 1993. Mr. Speaker, over the years, the role of this Ministry has not been adequately felt in terms of furthering parliamentary democracy and the independence of the parliamentary institution.
Mr. Speaker, if you remember, Ghana took the pride of place in acceding to the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process, and one of the major recommendations that came out of Ghana's peer review was that this particular Ministry should be abolished because it had become an impediment in the way of asserting the independence of the parliamentary institution.

Mr. Speaker, since this report appeared, it does not appear that Government has either the will or the desire to see the proscription of this Ministry. So year in, year out, we are being asked to appro- priate various sums of money for the operation of this Ministry. Mr. Speaker, there are two options, either we implement the recommendations of the APRM report and proscribe the Ministry or the Ministry should be up and doing and let us be convinced that it is not an obstacle to the proper functioning and independence of this Parliament.

Mr. Speaker, we do not feel the effect of this Ministry; every year we approve moneys and we do not really see exactly what this Ministry is doing with these moneys. So I think it behoves the Minister of the sector who also happens to be our hon. esteemed Majority Leader, to either sit up and be up and doing or else we shall promptly apply the recommendations of the APRM and consign his Ministry to the dustbin of history.

Mr. Yieleh Chireh (NDC -- Wa

West): Mr. Speaker, thank you for this opportunity and I rise to oppose vehemently this motion and to say that no money should be voted for this Ministry. I say so because all the time we have been appealing to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to add more money to the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), give more money to the Electoral Commission, give more money to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice.

One of the three pillars of this budget is supposed to be good governance; one of them. And if we are talking of good governance and the institutions that are supposed to ensure good governance are

not given enough money, yet we have a Ministry whose activities -- I do not know why it should be there. Last year, I said that it should be the last time we should vote any money for it; that it should be abolished and indeed, I am supported by the APRM report.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon.
Member, have you read the Report?
Mr. Chireh 12:10 p.m.
Yes I have read the Report
and I do not agree with the report and that is why I have rejected it and say that we should not vote any money for the Ministry. I think we must be firm. The Office of Parliament has so much need for money to complete its projects, to improve our condition and all that, yet you have a Ministry -- The only thing I remember this Ministry doing was to organize some District Chief Executives' conference in the Ashanti Region and then also organize a press conference for media people. How can you tell me this?
If you look at the functions of the NCCE, it is the one which can interrelate with civil society organizations better. How can a Ministry be superintending over civil society organizations? It does not work like that. It must be an independent organization like the NCCE or any other agency that relates to this. So I would urge this House to vote against the motion.
Mr. S. K. B. Manu (NPP -- Ahafo
Ano South): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion and in doing so I would like to
look at the second and third objectives of the Ministry --
(1) To facilitate interaction between civil society and the Legislature; (2) Deepen democracy and good governance --
And tie that to “Observation 7.5” which recommends that there be good relationship between Parliament and civil society in the formulation of the development agenda of this country.
Mr. Speaker, for democracy to thrive in this country, civil society must know what the Executive is about and the Executive can get this known to civil society through the Legislature. That is the body that formulates laws for this country and passes agreements and all that. Mr. Speaker, however, the sad thing is that, this body that has the responsibility to liaise between Parliament and civil society is so dis-enabled.
Mr. Chireh 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am rising
on a point of order. Mr. Speaker, what the hon. Member is talking about is misleading the House. First and foremost, the Office of Parliament and indeed the Parliamentary Service Board is supposed to ensure that the Parliamentary staff and everybody work well. As I am saying, for him to think that the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs is to give vehicles to Parliamentarians to travel, is misleading the House.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
That is no
point of order, hon. Yieleh Chireh.
Mr. Manu 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, he is so
much against the Ministry that he has not read the Report on the Ministry. Under “Observation 7.5”, if he read that, he would know that the Ministry has a res-ponsibility of liaising with the Parlia-mentary Service Board to provide us with what we need. Indeed, if the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs exists against the wishes of hon. Yieleh Chireh, and it has not been abolished as he wishes, then it should liaise properly with the Parliamentary Service Board so that Members of Parliament are enabled to reach out to civil society. We all remember the Western Region where Parliamen- tarians had to push their vehicles.
Mr. Speaker, this is not what one would expect of the Parliament of Ghana. When we talk about parliamentary democracy, Ghana stands high and to reduce the dignity of Parliament to that of pushing cars, is a very serious matter; and we have to take a serious view of it.
I therefore conclude by saying that, so long as the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs exists, until it is abolished as wished by hon. Yieleh Chireh, it should be up and doing and ensure that the work of Parliament goes on and goes on very well.
Mr. P. C. Appiah-Ofori (NPP
-- Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion and I disagree with my hon. Friend that the Ministry should be abolished.
Mr. Speaker, there should be a link between Parliament and the Executive and that is the reason why the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs has Cabinet status. Mr. Speaker, when we were agitating for our remunerations, somebody had to go
to the Castle to look for it. It was not the hon. Leader of the House, not the hon. Minority Leader, not the hon. Majority Leader but somebody who represents us, who would be able to take up the case to the Presidency and try to get whatever we need. What is wrong with us? What is wrong with the Government creating such a Ministry? Is it not in our own interest?
Mr. Speaker, I rather think the amount voted for the Ministry is inadequate and I am even surprised that we are thinking of ten billion cedis for this Ministry, a Ministry which has to take care of our well-being. So I want to appeal to all hon. Colleagues to disregard what my very good Friend -- [Interruption] -- Sit down! Sit down!
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon. Lee
Ocran, are you also on a point of order?
Mr. Ocran 12:10 p.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Hon. P.
C. Appiah-Ofori is misleading the House. This Ministry does not exist to see to our well-being; no, it does not. So he should not mislead us.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
That is no
point of order, hon. Member.
Mr. Chireh 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, my point of order is that the hon. Member is either wanting to be made a Deputy Minister in a few Ministries or else he is misleading the House in the sense that for our welfare, indeed it is in the Constitution. It is a committee that the President should set up and that committee's report is not based on one Ministry going to make representation on our behalf. We all know that that was not what happened and so he should not
mislead this House. In fact, the amount is too much.
Mr. Appiah-Ofori 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
Mr. Chireh 12:20 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, he is misleading the House. I remember that it was the Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs himself who was here to superintendent the discussion of that report. So it was not the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs who sent it to the Castle; no. He is misleading the House.
Mr. Appiah-Ofori 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I do not want to argue over this issue. Everybody knows the importance of this Ministry to Parliament. There are so many workshops organized for capacity- building for parliamentarians and it is done through this Ministry. So if today we want to disown it, if today we do not know its significance, then it is unfortunate.
I want to call on everybody here, even to condemn the allocation of ¢10 billion as insufficient. We need more for that Ministry so that it would be able to do more for Parliament instead of saying that we should scrap it. After all, if ¢10 billion is added to the Parliamentary Service allocation, has Parliament not got more money? We should not throw it away. Do we have to do so? Everybody should ignore this and vote for it.
Alhaji Sumani Abukari (NDC --
Mr. Akwasi Osei-Adjei 12:20 p.m.
On a point
of order. Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member is trying to mislead this House. In 1993, there was no party called New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament. Therefore it is not us who opposed that. Maybe, was the National Convention Party (NCP) and not the NPP.
Alhaji Abukari 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, when I say our Friends on the other side, is he telling me that there was no NPP outside there? Is he telling me that they did not go on street demonstrations?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon.
Member for Tamale North, you did point to that side and he is correcting you that in 1993 they were not here.
Alhaji Abukari 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, when
I pointed to that side I said our Friends in NPP who were outside there in the streets who opposed every positive move that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) made. So Mr. Speaker, we know the value of this Ministry and we are fortunate that His Excellency the President has made our leader the Minister for that Ministry. It will enhance our welfare here, it will enhance our revolution here, it will enhance the objectives of Parliament.
Mr. Speaker, in fact, we now have
Mr. Osei-Adjei 12:20 p.m.
On a point of order.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
I had
said that that was the last contributor but I have seen the hon. Minister for Education, Science and Sports and Member of Parliament for Sekondi and I will allow him.
Minister for Education, Science and
Sports (Papa Owusu-Ankomah): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this motion. Of course, when we were on the other side, I was one of the harshest critics of this Ministry. However, I came to appreciate the importance of this Ministry when I became the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
Mr. Speaker, the basic function of
this Ministry is to serve as a liaison between Parliament and the Executive and to ensure that the management of the business of Government in the House is properly superintended and then piloted.
Mr. Speaker, with a hybrid Constitution such as ours, this Ministry is of utmost importance. We cannot really have a Majority Leader supposed to superin- tendent the business of Government in the House, where we have Ministers, according to our Standing Orders, being under obligation to move Government motions. In the absence of a Minister in the House, it is the Majority Leader who moves the motion and he does not move it in his capacity as the Majority Leader
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Indeed there have been occasions when Cabinet meetings had to be suspended; when Cabinet meetings have had to be cancelled because it is important for Ministers to be in Parliament; both as Ministers and as hon. Members of Parliament; and all these positions have been advanced by the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
So in terms of Government business, I believe that this Ministry is of utmost importance. But it is always a subject of controversy because there is the feeling that probably the Minister may have his loyalty first to the Executive and secondly to Parliament, but that is a tight rope that every occupant of that position has to walk. I, therefore, urge hon. Members to support this motion and let us fashion out a system which can enable us strengthen this Ministry to enable the Ministry perform its role.
Mr. Kenneth Dzirasah (NDC --
South Tongu): Mr. Speaker, I would like to look at the bigger picture in this debate and, in doing so, while I may share some sympathies with hon. Yieleh Chireh, I think that his call is too radical. Indeed, I would say it is too revolutionary.
Mr. Speaker, the bigger picture that I want us to take a look at, as my hon. Colleague Minister for Education, Science and Sports has rightly pointed out, is the structural arrangements that we have in our relationship with the Executive.

Mr. Speaker, we have an interesting relationship where a Minister takes a decision at Cabinet, he comes to sit in a committee and then comes to the floor of the House to vote for the same decision.

That arrangement cannot be satisfactory. Mr. Speaker, now, it is the product of the Constitution and so in looking at the bigger picture, I would invite a national debate to look at whether we should continue with this hybrid arrangement or not. Mr. Speaker, I know that the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs has through the engagement of consultants worked on a vision and a mission for the Ministry, part of which it has shared with us.

I recall that at the meeting to consider these budget provisions, I raised the issue of the extent to which Parliament could make inputs by way of pre-budget analysis and I was assured that that point could be factored into a future arrangement by the Ministry. So the presence of the Ministry is not entirely unnecessary. It plays a very useful role and for which reason I disagree that it should be radically uprooted, as it were.

Mr. Speaker, there is also this issue relating to the Ministry. Now that it has permanent offices, we would encourage the hon. Minister to have a lot more interaction with the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs so that we can mutually push forward the agenda that they have elaborately laid for the onward movement of the Ministry in its activities.

Mr. Speaker, I support the motion and

urge my hon. Colleagues to vote for it.
Alhaji Collins Dauda 12:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
on a point of order.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon.
Member, are you raising a point of order against the Chair?
Alhaji Dauda 12:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, no; I just
want to draw attention to something which is very critical.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
There
could have been more time for you at Question time but, maybe, the Majority Leader will give you an explanation.
Mr. Felix Owusu-Adjapong 12:30 p.m.
Mr.
Speaker, with due apology if I could with your indulgence explain that the workshop was for District Chief Executives and not for Members of Parliament -- [Interruption] -- Please, please. I am correcting it if the Report contains any error; I think I owe a duty to the Committee to correct it.
The workshop had been organized in Kumasi for the Ashanti Region and in Sunyani for Brong Ahafo; it was for DCEs and the idea was to find out ways of improving relationship between MPs and the DCEs. It was not a workshop for MPs and DCEs; and I need that to be corrected -- I am trying to say if the Report has carried the wrong information, it must be corrected. That is all I am telling the House.
In fact, last week we had planned to meet the DCEs in the Upper East Region but that had to be cancelled because there was some other engagement. So that workshop was for the DCEs. You may recall that the other day I came here and said that rather than having it between

the Ministry and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment we were going to have one that was going to be for all MPs and the DCEs; and it had to be rescheduled for a good reason. Maybe, at a closed meeting we can discuss it. But the workshop was not for that.

Mr. Speaker, I never want to wind up motions but in the light of some of the comments I would wish to wind up so that I can respond to some of the comments.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that some of our

hon. Colleagues have been speaking under the influence of the theory of Separation of Powers. And when you get into that area, then you begin to see why the Executive realm which brings the hybrid system -- It was suggested by one of my hon. Colleagues; we may need time to talk on this matter, but not here. I always like to refer to what the hon. Minority Leader says, that we talk of co-operation of institutions.

We are encouraging independent thinking of bodies but not separation of powers. If we were to practise strict separation of powers then I would not have seen why the Speaker of Ghana's Parliament, in the absence of the Vice President and the President, does act as the Head of State of this country. It tells you the thinking of the framers of our Constitution.

Again, there is no strict separation of powers anywhere. The President of the Senate of America is the Vice President of the United States of America and they practise separation of powers. In China, there is a whole Vice President who performs the duties of Minister for Parliamentary Affairs. The problem we have is that we established a Ministry
Mr. J. D. Mahama 12:30 p.m.
On a point of
order. Mr. Speaker, he was giving various examples but I do not think that China is the best example to use to bolster his point.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 12:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
do not want to comment on that. All that I am trying to say is that -- like we have this constitutional problem and I think there is nothing wrong if we in Parliament would want to discuss it at a time, and not until that is discussed, there is a role -- But as I said, I only urge hon. Members to approve of the money and then possibly have a discussion with the Leadership and others for us to see how we can discuss this whole topic of the hybrid, and whether we want to be guided by our history or we want to throw our history away.
Mr. Speaker, thank you.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this honourable House approves the sum of ¢10,240,000,000 for the services of the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs for the 2007 fiscal year.
ANNuAL ESTIMATES
Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment
Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment (Mr. S. Asamoah-Boateng): Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, That this honourable House approves the sum of ¢1,196,327,000,000 for the services of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and
Environment for the 2007 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, I would like hon.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
So hon.
Minister, what are you seeking to correct -- the motion in the Order Paper or what?
Mr. Asamoah-Boateng 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the figure in the motion reads ¢1,196,327, 000,000, but it should read ¢1,183- 467,000,000. The difference, as I have said, Mr. Speaker, is ¢12,860,000,000 which is an allocation that should have gone to the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports but has wrongly been credited to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment. So the difference is clear.

Mr. Speaker, the sector allocation as provided within the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for the 2007 financial year is detailed as follows: The Government of Ghana component is ¢326,273,000,000 and the donor component is ¢736,595,000,000; HIPC allocation is ¢110 billion; and internally- generated fund (IGF) is ¢10,599,000,000.

Mr. Speaker, the objectives, outputs

and activities of the Ministry are captured in volume 2 of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for the 2007

to 2009 fiscal years and the Budget Statement. Mr. Speaker, I will skip some of them and just go to areas that might be of interest to hon. Members.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon. Minister, you are not reading the Report, are you?
Mr. Asamoah-Boateng 12:40 p.m.
No, I am moving the motion.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Yes, you are moving the motion and you are referring us to some areas. Which areas are you referring to?
Mr. Asamoah-Boateng 12:40 p.m.
I am just moving it. If I should move, then I humbly move that the House approves the sum of ¢1,183,467,000,000 for the services of the Ministry of the Local Government, Rural Development and Environment for the 2007 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move accordingly.
Chairman of Committee (Mr. Isaac Eduosar Edumadze) 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion as moved by the hon. Minister. But in doing so, I crave your indulgence to read certain aspects of the Report since it is quite voluminous. Again, I would crave your indulgence for the Hansard Department to capture the Report.
Mr. Speaker, this Ministry is quite
fast- moving, in the sense that it is going to expand within the next year and therefore there was the need for us to look at the sizes and approve the sums accordingly. But there are certain remarkable features of the Ministry which we should critically look at, one of which is about the decentralization programme which is going to take off in January, 2007.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Why not limit it to the “observations” and “recommendations”?
1.0 Introduction
1.1 In pursuance of article 179 of the

1.2 In accordance with Order 140 (4) of the Standing Orders, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament referred the Draft Annual Budget/Estimates of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment to a Joint Committee of Local Government and Rural Development and Environment, Science and Technology for consideration and report. The Joint Committee met on Monday, 4th December, 2006 and considered the Annual Estimates of the Sector Ministry and in accordance with article 179 of the Constitution and Orders 181 and 185 of the Standing Order reports as follows:

2.0 Acknowledgement

The Committee hereby expresses its gratitude to the Sector Minister, hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng and other officials of the Ministry, its Departments and Agencies for clarifying issues and making immense contributions during the consideration of the Budget. 3.0 References

ix. Rural Enterprise Project (REP II)

x . L o c a l G o v e r n a n c e Poverty Reduction Programme

xi. National Decentralisation Action Plan

x i i . P r o m o t i o n o f D i s t r i c t Capitals/ District Towns Project

5.0 Mission Statement

As noted in the Ministry's Annual Estimates for 2007, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment exists to ensure Good Governance (including decentralisation policies) and balanced development of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) through:

i. the formulation of policies on Governance (including decentra- lisation policies), Human and Financial resources by Assemblies;

ii. the design/delivery of systems to set targets for and monitor the performance of the Assemblies; and

iii. the development and monitoring of Sector plans and the provision of management advisory services to the Assemblies.

6.0 Objectives of the Ministry

The Committee noted that programmes outlined for the Ministry for the year 2007 would be geared towards the realisation of the following objectives:

i. To formulate appropriate policies and programmes to accelerate the
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
ii. Strengthen leadership and capacity at all levels of the decentralised government machinery
i i i . Deepen Dis t r ic t Assembly association with Civil Society for the mobilisation and management of resources for accelerated development
iv. To promote human development and sustain the orderly and healthy growth of human settlements in Ghana.
v. Promote community-based regis- tration, collation, analysis and publication of data on all births and deaths occurring in Ghana
vi. To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of local government i n s t i t u t i o n s f o r i m p r o v e d management performance.
vii. To intensify the application and enforcement of safe and sound environmental practices.
v i i i . To p romote , coord ina te a n d e v a l u a t e r e s e a r c h and development activities in the Environment and Science Sector.
7 . 0 O v e r v i e w o f t h e 2 0 0 6 Approved Budgetary Allocation to the Ministry
The Ministry was allocated a total amount of five hundred and thirty-three billion, thirty four million, eight hundred thousand cedis (¢533,034,800,000.00) for its expenditure for the 2006 fiscal year. Out of this amount two hundred and twenty-five billion, four hundred and four million, eight hundred thousand cedis (¢225,404,800,000) representing 42.3 per cent of the total allocation was from GOG sources while three hundred and seven

The Committee was guided by the following literature:

i. The Constitution (1992) of the Republic of Ghana

ii. The year 2000 edition of the Standing Orders of Parliament

iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2007 Fiscal Year

iv. The Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2007-

2009.

v. The 2007 Budget Proposal of the

Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environ ment.

4.0 Departments of the Ministry

The Joint Committee, in considering the Annual Estimates of the Sector Ministry examined allocations provided for the Departments and Agencies under it as well as its Council, Projects and Programmes. The areas examined are as follows:

i. Births and Deaths Registry

ii. Department of Community Develop- ment

iii. Department of Parks and Gardens

iv. Local Government Service/Council

v. Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA)

vi.Town and Country Planning Department (TCPD)

vii. National Sanitation Project

viii. Urban Poverty Reduction Project

billion, six hundred and thirty million cedis (307,630,000,000) representing 57.7 per cent was from Donor sources.

Table1 below is the breakdown of the allocation into the various items of the expenditure:-

7.1 Actual Expenditure as at 30th September, 2006

The Committee, in its deliberations noted that as at 30TH September, 2006 the Sector Ministry had utilised a total amount of two hundred and eighty-eight billion, four hundred and eighty-three million cedis (¢288,483,000,000.00) out of its 2006 Budgetary Allocation.

8.0 The Ministry's Achievements in

2006

The Commit tee observed that considerable progress aimed at achieving some key targets set for 2006 was made. These include:
TABLE 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Joseph Yieleh Chireh (NDC - Wa West) 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this motion wholly but I have some observations to make. And one of them is that for the second year running, this House at the Committee of the Whole, has recommended an increase in the Common Fund and if I may refer to the
Mr. Joseph Yieleh Chireh (NDC - Wa West) 12:50 p.m.
Constitution, article 252 (2) states, and with your permission, I quote:
“Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament shall annually make provision for the allocation of not less than five per cent of the total revenues of Ghana to the District Assemblies for development; and the amount shall be paid into the District Assemblies Common Fund in quarterly instalments.”
Now, this duty to increase, subject to the Constitution, is the duty of Parliament. And this Parliament has always made a decision, when approving the Formula for the Distribution of the District Assemblies Common Fund, that this be increased. Indeed, I remember also that NALAG and some other interest groups met with the President in the middle of the year and appealed to him to increase the fund to at least 7.5 per cent. In fact, some of them asked for ten per cent from the present constitutional mandatory five per cent. This has not been done.
For me, it is important for us to look at the issue. Why is it that the Committee of the Whole, would on two occasions adopt a report and yet when it goes to the Executive nothing is done? Should we now pass a resolution and if so, should I move the resolution now?
Now, the reason why I always insist on more of the resources going to the districts is amply demonstrated, given the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II); and the donor community has always urged that the real activity is at the district level. The development is there.

So if you leave money at the centre,
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon.
Yieleh Chireh, speak to the motion or I would have no other option than to rule you out of order.
Mr. Chireh 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am
speaking to the motion and it is something that I saw as a disappointment when the Budget did not mention it. Now, what I am urging this House to do is for us to approve this motion but to insist on the proper thing being done so that we do not remain at the 1993 level of 5 per cent which is stipulated by the Constitution. We must let more resources flow to the districts where activities would be taking place.
Mr. Speaker, I am urging this House to do this because if you look at the Common Fund as it is now, a chunk of it, that is 15 per cent, is being given to the Youth in Employment Programme, which makes it far less for the District Assemblies. I urge that once again, we should look at this matter.
Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. Mr. Speaker, I just want to know from my hon. Colleague on the floor what percentage of our total spending comes from donors.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
That
obviously is not a point of order and he is not a Minister as well, so he cannot appear before us to answer that question.
Mr. Chireh 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, under our
Standing Orders where there is Question time, the hon. Minister can ask me a question but this is not Question time. [Laughter.] Now, if you look at the Report itself, the Ministry has -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon.
Member, you have one more minute to finish your contribution.
Mr. Chireh 12:50 p.m.
All right, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I think that the Ministry has a lot of programmes that they want to carry out. I would urge them to carry them out diligently and also involve Members of Parliament in the implementation of these laudable projects.
I thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I urge my hon. Colleagues to support the motion.
Mr. Kwadwo Adjei-Darko (NPP
-- Sunyani West): Mr. Speaker, in supporting the motion, I want to make a brief comment on certain issues. Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment is a Ministry which also takes care of a lot of our poverty reduction interventions.
Mr. Speaker, I want to urge that instead
of usually tagging a whole community as poor, perhaps the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and
Mr. C. S. Hodogbey 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. Member on the floor is misleading the House, Mr. Speaker, the whole country is tagged as poor and that is why we apply for poverty-related funds. So for the hon. Member on the floor to have said that we have pockets of areas which are poor and others are not -- How are we going to justify our demand from donor countries?
Mr. Adjei-Darko 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think

Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Mustapha

Ahmed: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. Mr. Speaker, it is the entire nation that is poor but some regions are poorer than others.
Mr. Adjei-Darko 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, some
regions are poorer than others but within the poor regions you may perhaps get individuals who may rank among the richest in the country, and that is what we want to see. So Mr. Speaker, we have to do poverty mapping and once poverty
Mr. Adjei-Darko 12:50 p.m.


mapping is done, then the next stage is to specify why we are classifying those pockets or those areas as poor? Is it that we have to go to the root cause? Is it our attitude or is it because of certain factors? And once we are able to identify them, that is what can let us reduce poverty.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon.
Adjei-Darko, I wish you could speak to the motion because your theory of poverty or your philosophy on poverty is --
Mr. Adjei-Darko 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
Committee in its Report has talked about local governance and poverty reduction and that is what I am dwelling on by saying that for us to reduce poverty, let us approach it in a more scientific way and do proper poverty mapping; and we should not stop there. We should look at the factors that have contributed to that poverty in the community.
Mr. Speaker, the Committee also talks about births and deaths registration. It is my prayer that when the National Identification System comes into being -- It is hoped that the National Identification System would be registering people as they come into the society, either as foreigners who are entering or as people who are being given birth to.
So I would also urge that the Births and Deaths Registry would collaborate with the National Identification System so that we can capture proper data on births.
Mr. Speaker, with this, I support the
motion.

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu (NDC -- Tamale

South): Mr. Speaker, I rise to associate myself with the motion and to recognize that the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment is a very important Ministry if we are to deepen participatory democracy and deepen good governance. My worry rather has to do with the slow pace of decentralization.

Beyond the Regional Co-ordinating Councils (RCC) and the District Co- ordinating Councils (DCC) we have not done enough in the last few years to strengthen and decentralize departments and agencies under it, and there is still a lot of concentration or higher centralization within the country.

But Mr. Speaker, I would like to refer

you to page 6 of your Committee's Report and to raise an issue for which I would be grateful if the Minister can respond. Mr. Speaker, all the allocations, whether from Government of Ghana (Government of Ghana), Donor or Internally-Generated Fund (IGF), we are told what they will be used for -- whether for personal emoluments, administrative costs, service costs and investment costs. But Mr. Speaker, we are allocating ¢110 billion to this Ministry, under HIPC, and there is no indication in the Committee's Report as to the utilization of that fund.

I find it a little worrying because if we appropriate, we should give an indication of what they are going to do with the ¢110 billion allocated under HIPC and not just give a blanket cheque to the hon. Minister that he has ¢110 billion for HIPC so he should go and decide what he wants to do with it, I do not think that is enough.

The second issue I would like to raise

is that the IGF is too low and the Ministry must take steps to improve on it. If you look at the institutions or agencies under them, we have Births and Deaths Registry, Community Development, Environmental

Protection Agency, Town and Country Planning Department, Sama Sama and others, and yet they come with only ¢23 billion as internally-generated fund, I do not consider that adequate enough.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Hon.
Appiah-Ofori, are you on a point of order? [Pause.] You want to attract -- that is not the way to go about it. For doing that I will not even recognize you.
Mr. H. Iddrisu 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
other comment has to do with misuse of resources allocated to the District Assemblies. We have seen reports across the country, even from members of the ruling Government asking for probes and investigations into how monies have been utilized.
I think that the hon. Minister must keep an eye on how funds are disbursed by the District Assemblies, and sometimes you would see them spending money on annex buildings when we need money to improve healthcare, education and the sanitation. I want the hon. Minisater, in getting this money, to allow for deeper audit into the operation s and activities of the Ministry.
Mr. S. K. B. Manu (NPP -- Ahafo
Ano South): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion and in doing so I would like to look at the “Observation”, paragraph 11. 0 and with your indulgence I quote:
“District Assemblies Common Fund
(DACF) has not been increased from 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent as discussed by Parliament during Committee of the Whole meeting last year 2005.”
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 1 p.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I am wondering when Parliament took a decision on this matter; was it by a Resolution or by a motion?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
No; no
decision has been taken. I do not think that is what the hon. Member is saying. Are you saying, so hon. Balado Manu?
Mr. Manu 1 p.m.
I am saying that when we had the discussion with the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund, the decision we arrived at with him and his team was that -- [Interruption.]
Mr. J. Y. Chireh 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
let me help. When we were approving the Formula for the Distribution of the District Assemblies Common Fund, your committee, the Committee of the Whole's recommendation was what we voted on as having been approved. It is captured in the Hansard. So I do not know why they are saying it is not a decision.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Hon.
Yieleh Chireh, you have on several occasions raised the issue and indeed there have been a reaction on this floor, I remember; that it was a recommendation and that this House had not taken any decision to increase that percentage from 5 per cent to any higher level. So hon.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.


Manu, your attention has been drawn to it.
Mr. Manu 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think
this Parliament, when it recommends something to the Ministry, it is a decision. Other than that should we -- I do not know how we should convey our wishes to the Ministry then. If what we did was not a decision, next time we shall be guided by this and we shall instruct them to do what we want. In that case, maybe they would not take us for granted as they have done, because Parliament must be respected.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Hon.
Manu, I believe you want to speak to the motion.
Mr. Manu 1 p.m.
Yes, I am speaking to
the motion.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Your
attention has been drawn to the fact that no decision had been taken, that there had been a recommendation -- even though it was by the Committee of the Whole, it does not constitute a direction to the Ministry and, indeed, it is not a resolution.
Mr. Manu 1 p.m.
I hear; next time we shall
know how to go about it.
Mr. Lee Ocran (NDC -- Jomoro) 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion on the floor and wish to recommend to my fellow hon. Members to approve the money that the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment is asking for, for the Ministry performs very important functions. But in doing so I would want to refer to page 4 of the Committee's Report -- “Ministry's Achievements in 2006 -- completion of construction work on the Odaw drain”.
Mr. Speaker, sometimes the Ministry of and Water Resources Works and Housing claims responsibility for the Odaw Drains; at another time it is the Ministry of
Local Government, Rural Development and Environment. I do not know who is financing what and who is supervising what and I think this should be clarified.
Then on revenue enhancement, that
is on page 8 of the Committee's Report, it says:
“Other revenue enhancement measures to be implemented include street naming and house numbering.”
How street naming would bring revenue, I do not know; I think we need to be told. If we name a street, how will it bring in money? And house numbering, how will that also bring money? I do not know. But the issue of trying to increase revenue by overtaxing the rural folk is something that worries me.
For example, in my district, there are some very tiny villages where the District Assembly is preparing to take property rate from. In fact, those people can decide to abandon the house and you can do nothing with it -- [Laughter.] So why force such people to pay property rate on their buildings? I think the hon. Minister should take note so that people will not be overtaxed.
Then, on some of the institutions under the Ministry, like the Department of Parks and Gardens, the Department of Parks and Gardens has not performed its functions well at all. One, the department itself can raise its own money and develop exotic flowers and plants for sale.
The private sector is doing it very well, I do not see why the Department of Parks and Gardens, with all the expertise that it has, cannot. You go there and you see miserable plants but behind the scenes they are doing brisk business for themselves and I think the Ministry -- [Interruptions] -- The Minister, please
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Hon. Member, you are speaking to the Chair.
Mr. Ocran 1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, can you ask the Minister and his Deputy to pay attention? Parks and Gardens should be able to generate enough funds by developing exotic plants and flowers to sell. Apart from that they have not developed any gardens in town. There are no parks and gardens in this city apart from the Children's Park which is under the management of the National Commission on Children. There is no park. All the trees in this town have been cut and the parks converted into residential plots.

The Town and Country Planning Department is under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment and the Ministry should not allow the Town and Country Planning Department to go on rezoning areas that have been reserved for parks and gardens as residential places. It is not helping to enhance the beauty of the town.

Mr. Speaker, I do not know whether

some of the money requested is for tree planting. Over the weekend I saw the hon. Minister trying to plant some trees for the independence anniversary. I do not know when the trees would grow for the independence anniversary but I hope that in the next two months some things would be done.

Most of the District Assemblies are

interested in building markets and lorry parks. Of course, these would yield money but the type of markets and lorry parks we are building are not meant for the 21st century. You go to some areas and they

are not building storey car parks -- what they have are ugly and dirty car parks. The markets are not beautiful. You can see some markets which were designed in the early 1990s. These are markets which we continue building.

If you travel to just across the border to la Cote d'Ivoire you can see very beautiful markets -- compact, decent, storey buildings, well demarcated, so that people can sell. They are clean. Just after five o'clock people are asked to leave and the place is cleaned. The following day you go and sit in a salubrious atmosphere to sell.

So I would wish to call on the hon. Minister to tell his District Assemblies to be up and doing in this regard so that the districts too can be beautiful. We should go to a district capital and want to spend a number of days there instead of rushing back to Accra because the area is not quite beautiful.

With these few words, Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of hon. Members who want to speak, so I recommend that the amount they have asked for be approved for them.

Alhaji Collins Dauda (NDC --

Asutifi South): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this motion and in doing so, permit me to make a few observations.

Mr. Speaker, the first one has to do

with the way some decisions are taken at the centre that affect District Assemblies in terms of the utilisation of the District Assemblies Common Fund. Each time the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) is allocated to the districts, you will find from the report given to hon. Members of Parliament that some moneys are taken out at the centre for one thing or the other.

In my district, for instance, I found that septic emptiers were bought. About
  • [MR. FIRST DEPUTY SPEAK-
    • Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    You would be landing, hon. Member. You have had enough time.
    Alhaji Dauda 1:10 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I will wind up in just a minute. Mr. Speaker, in doing so, we need to draw attention to the fact that if we do not support the Town and Country Planning Department to move faster than developments we would always have this problem with us. They must move faster than developments, but the situation in the country now is such that development is moving faster than planning and we need to take care of that and address it.
    Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for your indulgence.
    Mr. David Oppon-Kusi (NPP -- Ofoase/Ayirebi) 1:10 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion on the floor. In doing so, I would like to limit myself to the report on the Department of Parks and Gardens and I would like to comment on the potential of the Department of Parks and Gardens which is yet to be tapped.
    Mr. Speaker, horticulture is big business elsewhere. Horticulture has the potential to create jobs and wealth for this nation. As you travel along Ghana, all you see is green except that this is not green that has been cultivated to bring wealth to us.
    We have this Department, which according to our report on page 10, paragraph 10.11 -- Mr. Speaker, with your permission, if I may quote:
    “The focus of the Department will continue to dwell on landscape
    Minority Leader (Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin) 1:10 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, one would want to draw the attention of the hon. Minister to the fact that if there were any differences in the figures, the amount, he should have brought them to the notice of the Committee so that it would have been captured at the committee level and explanations are given. The Committee brought this amount of ¢1,196,327,000,000.00 and now the hon. Minister says that we should approve ¢1,183,467,000,000.00, a difference of about ¢12,000,000,000.00. I think that is not properly explained but now -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    He explained it.
    Mr. Bagbin 1:10 p.m.
    No; we are not to take his explanation. We are to take our Committee's explanation.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Very well.
    Mr. Bagbin 1:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, if he had made it known to the Committee, the Committee would have gone into it and then reported on it, and not just what the Ministry tells us. So next time, Mr. Speaker, I think that that should be properly done.
    Again, I saw at page 11 under Births and Deaths Registry, one of the items that they have budgeted to do this year is to construct regional office buildings and fence walls in some regional capitals for the smooth running of operations. Mr. Speaker, I am totally against construction of fence walls around Ministries and government buildings.

    Mr. Speaker, for a good reason, the Ministries and government buildings

    should be opened to the public. The public should not be prevented from getting access to them. If it is to prevent stray animals and intruders from loitering around, there are better ways of handling it than spending huge sums to construct fence walls. We need such moneys for more priority areas than for the construction of fence walls. I have seen it being done recently in some of the regional co-ordinating councils and I think that such moneys are not being properly utilized.

    Mr. Speaker, my attention was drawn to a decision that was allegedly taken by District Assemblies from the three northern regions to procure helicopters; and the deductions were done sometime ago. I was surprised because I am not aware of District Assemblies taking that decision. I do not also know about the relevance of helicopters being purchased by district assemblies -- [Interruption] -- Yes.

    Mr. Speaker, when I asked the Administrator of the Common Fund, he stated that it was a decision of the Assemblies from the three northern regions. I asked whether it was the decision of the DCEs or the Assemblies because I am not aware of it. If you go through -- hon. Members can take their releases and go through -- you will see an item there -- helicopter. That was the deduction sometime ago and that item is still on the deduction list for us from the north.

    Mr. Speaker, I think that this is a serious matter and the hon. Minister should go into this matter and let us see how much monies were deducted, what they were used for -- because I do not think that it is quite a relevant item for the three northern regions.

    Mr. Speaker, let me just end by saying that on page 9, under the Local Government Service/Council, there is an activity that is to be performed next year, 2007 -- the formal launching of the Local Government Service. Mr. Speaker, I think that we need to look at the law that we passed establishing the Local Govern- ment Service. A number of provisions in that law seem to be re-centralising local government instead of decentralizing. I think we have to look at it. One area is the appointment of employees -- how you engage workers at the various Assemblies. I am aware that at my Assembly, there are some two ladies who are secretaries to the DCE, and for almost six years they have been rendering those services without being employed; and they are given only ¢200,000 a month.

    Mr. Speaker, this is exploitative and the reason being given is that the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment would have to approve of their appointments. So they are re- centralising appointments of employees of the District Assemblies and I believe that that should be decentralized to the extent that the Assemblies, if they have the resources, if they have the capabilities can engage at that local level to support the work of the Assembly.

    Therefore in trying to launch the Local Government Service, I think that it is important that the Ministry should relook that law and if there are any items that have been re-centralised, we try to decentralize them. The concept was to move away from a Ministry to a secretariat that will be under the Presidency so that the other areas would all be decentralized, so that not only financial decentralization but the physical decentralization would be realized on the ground.

    I think that we have moved away from

    it. We have to relook that concept.

    Question put and motion agreed to.

    Resolved:

    That this honourable House approves the sum of ¢1,183,467,000,000.00 for the services of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment for the 2007 fiscal year.
    Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 1:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, when we were debating the Electoral Commission estimates, an information was given to the effect that the staff have not been paid for October and November. I asked the hon. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to check up and he has confirmed that they have been paid for October and November and therefore that should be corrected.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon.
    Members, that is for your information. Earlier on the information had gone out that the staff of that Commission for over two months had not been paid. Apparently, the information was not correct and that is why the hon. Minister has corrected it. It is for our own benefit and maybe also for the media covering this Sitting. Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD?
    Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 1:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Honestly,
    I am not aware -- [Laughter] -- but if you are informing me -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 1:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    then I am formally informing you. I
    thought that having read the President's letter, you knew he would be going with him.
    ANNuAL ESTIMATES
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD
    Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD (Mr. Akwasi Osei-Adjei) (on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, Nana Akufo Addo): Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, That this honourable House approves the sum of ¢678,956,000,000 for the services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD for the 2007 fiscal year.
    Mr. Speaker, it is my honour and privilege to present for approval to this House the financial requirement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD for the fiscal year 2007. For the efficient performance of its function the Ministry submitted a request of ¢2,294 trillion for the fiscal year 2007 based on its more realistic requirements within the framework of the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II in accordance with policy guidelines issued by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
    Mr. Speaker, for 2007, however, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD has been allocated a discretionary expenditure ceiling of ¢678,956, 000,000. Mr. Speaker, this figure represents a shortfall of 70 per cent of the total needs of the Ministry and is
    Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 1:30 p.m.


    bound to impose severe restrictions on the attainment of the Ministry's objectives for the 2007 fiscal year.

    Nonetheless, the Ministry intends to make judicious use of the resources available and hopes that, when it becomes absolutely necessary for the Ministry to ask for additional resources, it can count on the co-operation of this House.

    Mr. Speaker, the 2007 financial requirements of the Ministry are for 47 diplomatic missions and for two subvented organizations -- Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA) and All Africa Students' Union (AASU).

    Mr. Speaker, I wish the Hansard will capture the breakdown of the Ministry's actual requirements vis-à-vis the discretionary budgetary ceiling approved by the Ministry of Finance as follows:

    Item 1 -- Personal Emoluments

    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry's require- ment of ¢301,704,022,663.68 for the personal emoluments and social security contributions of staff, both local and abroad as well as the proposed 25 per cent salary increment to officers in Ghana Missions abroad can be accommodated within the budgetary ceiling of ¢309,692,000,000.00 provided by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. It ought to be pointed out that the excess indicated above is to cater for the budgetary requirements of the African Peer Review Mechanism national Governing Council.

    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry appreciates the realistic level in its budgetary requirements under Item I in the 2007 fiscal year. The Ministry believes this will

    impact positively on the living conditions of our officers serving abroad and also serve as a form of motivation to them.

    Item 2 -- Administration Expenses

    Mr. Speaker, concerning the Ministry's Administration expenses captured under Item 2, it is significant to note that FSAs and Children's allowances which hitherto were classified under Item 1 -- Personal Emoluments, are now categorized under this item and are constantly subjected to random reductions even though they form an integral part of officers' legitimate emolument at post.

    Mr. Speaker, the difficulties that such reductions cause to the operations of our diplomatic missions, and their negative impact on the morale of officers cannot be gain-said.

    At the preliminary hearing on the Ministry's budget in September, 2006, it was agreed that the Ministry would submit detailed information on the Foreign Service allowances and children allowances being paid to officers at post to ensure the insulation of the amount involved from any reductions that might be made to estimates under Item II for whatever reasons.

    Mr. Speaker, it is needless to state that the Ministry's 2007 budgetary allocation of ¢227,467,000,000.00 for its adminis- tration expenses fall far short of its actual required expenditure of ¢354,387,- 766,082.08. It must be stressed that the shortfall in the Ministry's financial requirements under this particular item is bound to adversely affect its activities.

    A breakdown of the Ministry's Administration requirements for 2007 is as follows:-

    Headquarters -- ¢396,349,077,818.00

    Large Missions -- ¢378,205,532,450.00

    Neighbouring Missions -- ¢107,308,219,028.55

    Other Missions -- ¢206,570,129,474.50

    LECIA -- ¢7,376,000,000.00

    AASU -- ¢409,000,000.00

    Mr. Speaker, another important budgetary item under Administration is
    TABLE 1:30 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr. Kwabena Adusa Okerchire) 1:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion moved by the hon. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD and in so doing, present the Report of the Committee and asking you at the same time that I reserve the right to speak thereafter as an hon. Member of this House.
    1.0 Introduction
    On Thursday, November 16, 2006, the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning hon. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, presented to this House the Government's Budget Statement and Financial Policy for year ending 31st December 2007.
    Consequent upon the motion for approval of the Government's Financial Policy and Budget Statement, the Draft Estimates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration pursuant to article 103 of the 1992 Constitution and Standing Order 140 (4).
    The Committee in considering the referral, met Officials of the Sector Ministry led by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Akwasi Osei-Adjei. The Committee acknowledges their representations and express its gratitude for their co-operation.
    2.0 Reference Documents
    References were made to the following documents:
    to operate efficiently. We will continue to engage the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning on the issue.
    Item 4 -- Investment Expenses
    Mr. Speaker, our reques t fo r ¢1,493,765,169,472.50 under Item 4 is intended to enable the Ministry meet its critical investment needs as well as those of its Missions abroad. It is the policy of the Ministry to acquire, where possible, landed properties for all our Missions abroad in order to cut down on rent bills which keep soaring from year to year.
    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in consultation with the Ministry of Finance has decided to prioritize its projects in this regard in order to optimize the use of the limited funds available. The Ministry has therefore come to an understanding with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to spread the acquisition process over a number of years. We are in the process of drawing up such an acquisition programme for consideration.
    Mr. Speaker, for the 2007 fiscal year, the needs of Ghana's Missions in Ottawa, Brussels, Copenhagen, Belgrade, Riyadh, Berne, Seoul, Pretoria, Berlin, Moscow, Cairo, Algiers and Harare to mention a few in terms of renovation of existing premises, construction of new buildings as well as outright purchase of occupied landed properties have been prioritized at the total cost of ¢1,493,765,169,472.50.
    Mr. Speaker, as you may also be aware, His Excellency the President has approved the construction of a new office complex for the Ministry befitting its status at the site of the old International Students Hostel. All the designs have been completed by EFA Construction Complex of Turkey and A.E.S.L. and the construction is estimated to cost ¢200 billion. This amount is included in the
    ITEM 1:30 p.m.
    GOG IGF 1:30 p.m.
    -- 1:30 p.m.
    ITEMS 1:30 p.m.
    GOG 1:30 p.m.
    IGF 1:30 p.m.
    -- 1:30 p.m.
    Mr. J. D. Mahama (NDC -- Bole/ Bamboi) 1:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, as the Ranking Member for the Committee, I think it is worth saying a few words.
    Mr. Speaker, yes, we noticed the various constraints with financing for the Ministry and we on this side of the House think that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the Ministry that is responsible for upholding Ghana's image abroad, especially our Missions. Our Missions are the first port of call for any visitors who want to see our beautiful country and so the deportment of the Ministry, its general surroundings, the nature of the buildings must reflect a good image of this country.
    Mr. Speaker, in that regard, we notice that some of our Missions are in such a deplorable state. Indeed, at the committee meeting, we were shown pictures of our Mission building in Cairo and Mr. Speaker, I felt ashamed of that building. We own it, it was acquired since Dr. Nkrumah's period but it has seen very little maintenance and renovation and so the building has deteriorated considerably. I think that as a matter of urgency, we must make money available to rehabilitate that building.
    Mr. Speaker, it is the same for the Consular building in Saudi Arabia. I hear that building too is in a state that is not worthy of this country. I have not made a pilgrimage to Mecca but I have received reports from those who have made the pilgrimage that the Consular building in Saudi Arabia needs urgent attention.
    Mr. Speaker, in that regard, I think that the Ministry is considering looking at some financing in terms of raising a bank
    loan to be able to attend to the most serious of these responsibilities and I think that this side of the House is supportive that if we can raise that kind of money, we can identify the Missions that are in most need of critical renovation and where possible, if there are good properties available on the market whether we can acquire them so that our Missions are well housed.
    Mr. Speaker, as the Chairman of
    the Committee mentioned, this budget approved is just 30 per cent of what the Ministry requested. Now, the practice the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has adopted is that half-way through the year, it comes up with a Supplementary Budget and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of those that is given some supplementary financing. It makes planning a bit difficult.
    Mr. Speaker, if at the beginning of the year, the Ministry knows exactly what is available to it then it can plan better. I believe that sometime during the year, some supplementary moneys should be made available. But I hope that if Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning can do projections and know exactly how much it intends to get, it must make the right allocation to this Ministry so that we do not have to come back and make approvals.
    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry also informed
    us that they were adopting a policy, where possible, of leasing vehicles instead of outright purchases in order to economise on funds. Everybody knows that it is cheaper to go for lease of vehicles instead of outright purchases because some of the vehicles in the Missions are not worthy of name. There have been some improvements in South Africa where I go regularly because of the Pan-African Parliament.
    We used to be transported on an old Urvan bus whose door could not close but
    very happily, I must inform the Minister that the last two occasions we went, I noticed quite dramatic improve-ments in the vehicles available at the South African Mission.
    Mr. Speaker, just two short remarks.
    One, the Ministry has assumed duty for New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process. I think that one of the duties of the Ministry is to monitor the implementation of the APRM Report. Mr. Speaker, when I was at the Pan-African Parliament the last time, Ghana was very duly praised for having been the first country to have gone through the Peer Review Mechanism. But Mr. Speaker, I regret to say that our implementation of the Report is a bit slow.
    I would not be surprised that countries like Kenya and others who are currently undergoing the review would have their reports approved and would probably be faster in implementing the recommen- dations than we have. We did our Peer Review in Sudan last year and up till now, very little progress has been seen in terms of the implementation. So I urge the Ministry to take this up and together with the governing council, see how they can get the Executive to move faster on the implementation of the Report.
    Mr. Speaker, the main duty of our
    Missions is to protect our citizens outside the country and I want to remind the Minister of one outstanding case from The Gambia. This House has not been briefed on what happened to the ex judicial execution of almost 24 of our citizens. They were just killed in cold blood, and the Ministry took upon itself to investigate the incident.
    As at now we have not received any report about The Gambian issue. If the Minister would want to give us a Statement I will prefer that. I was going to file an Urgent Question to haul him here to come and brief us on that but if he
    would offer voluntarily to come and read a Statement in this House, I will stand down my Urgent Question.
    Mr. Speaker, with these few words, I
    wish to support the motion.
    Question put and motion agreed to.
    Resolved:
    That this honourable House approves the sum of ¢678,-956,000,000.00 for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Inte-gration and NEPAD for the fiscal year ending 31st December, 2007.
    .
    rose
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    Hon.
    Minority Leader, you have missed the boat. I am sorry you did.
    Mr. Bagbin 1:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, truly, I
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    That one
    I think you are right.
    Mr. Bagbin 1:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, and the
    treatment meted to hon. Members by the various Missions abroad. I believe that in approving these things, we should hammer it home to the Ministry and to the Missions abroad that they represent all of us. It is not only the Executive arm that they represent and hon. Members of Parliament who have had the opportunity to travel outside can testify to the very shabby manner in which hon. Members are treated.
    In fact, my hon. Colleague opposite, hon. Ossei Aidooh in London had to remark one day how we were deprived of even a vehicle. Because a Deputy Minister had arrived and was to be given a vehicle, we were not attended to at all.
    Mr. Speaker, it is also known that our
    Mr. S. K. B. Manu 1:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, just
    to correct the hon. Member that I fully support what he says except when he is trying to discriminate between private visit and official visit. No hon. Member of Parliament when he is even on private business does not perform a function in one way or the other to promote this country. Let me give an example.
    I was in the United States of America, Connecticut on a private business but there was a local FM Station on which I was constantly doing programmes, promoting Ghana. That was the time the Representation of the People's Amendment Bill (ROPAB) was coming to this House. I had to educate the people on what it entailed and all that.
    So once you are an hon. Member of Parliament when you are travelling, you must be met and given the necessary courtesies and on this I want to commend the New York Office. They are excellent in that. Others I would not mention because it would not be commendation, and they will say I am disgracing them. But I commend the New York Office. They are good. They should continue.
    Mr. Bagbin 1:50 p.m.
    Well, Mr. Speaker, that is an addition. We may have some differences there but definitely I will support him if the functions referred to are official. They are not private at all and I think that, yes, they should be supported to do that.
    I was also wondering how come the office complex is being moved to the old International Students' Hostel. I think that we are having a problem with planning in the country now, the way offices are thrown at all the corners of the city. You have problems with co-ordination even though I know computer is now what is in vogue, they still need sometimes to have the physical touch with each other. Therefore if the Ministry is located that far while some sector Ministries are located there, one can imagine the difficulties.
    I am told our Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs is lost somewhere around here; I do not know what is happening. This is because these are put at residential areas and there are some disadvantages when you locate Ministries in a residential area. I think we have to look at those issues of planning and leave that area for hostel facilities, the type of hostel facilities that we can construct. If it is for the use of our diplomatic community, yes, but not the office.
    Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Yes, hon.
    Deputy Minister, you want to comment on the concerns that hon. Members have expressed here particularly in relation to the reception that they receive from our Missions abroad. Before you do that, the hon. Deputy Majority Leader wants to speak.
    Mr. A. O. Aidooh 1:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I
    believe that it is all well and good that you have given us the chance to comment on this important matter. Mr. Speaker, in all sincerity and with all seriousness, I think the time has come for this House to send a clear message to those who represent the
    country outside that this Parliament will no longer tolerate any mediocre treatment. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD in particular must send this message as far as possible to all our foreign Missions.
    If we have to do it, in the next few years, we have to let people know that this House controls the cash in this country and we would be prepared to do anything to let those who will not hear us, those who will not respect us, not have any money to function.
    Mr. Speaker, this must be the message that my Colleague behind me must take to his people outside the country. If we were to narrate what we go through when we go outside as Members of Parliament, I think people will not believe it. But we will have to exhibit all our might and the authority of this House to save the dignity of this House. That is all I will say.
    Mr. A. Osei-Adjei 1:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I
    just want to react to one or two issues raised by the hon. Minority Leader and also my Colleague. Mr. Speaker, there is a procedure; if a Member of Parliament is travelling abroad, he has to come to the Protocol Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD and he will send a message -- [Interruption] -- No! No! It is not wrong.
    Mr. Speaker, what normally happens is that people travel without letting us know when they are travelling and at what airport they should be picked -- [Interruption] -- Please, let me address the issue. I am not wrong. Mr. Speaker, the office -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Hon. Deputy Minister, speak to the Chair and do not reply to interventions and interruptions.
    Mr. Osei-Adjei 1:50 p.m.
    Yes, Mr. Speaker.
    Mr. Speaker, this Office of Parliament has a protocol officer. What I am saying is that the protocol officer of Parliament can advise that one MP or the other is going to one location or the other, give the flight details and the person will be picked up. That is all I am saying. I am not saying that we are trying to be inquisitive to know what they are going to do. No. Let us know. It is not done.
    The right way is to let the protocol officer inform our protocol officer so that we will send the communication to our offices and alert them that you are coming; and you will be picked up. It is as simple as that. So what is their problem on this?
    Mr. A. O. Aidooh 1:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I
    think our Colleague is missing the point. Mr. Speaker, each time we travel, this thing is done. This formality is done. Mr. Speaker, the problem is where the foreign Embassy has to prioritise, where for example so many MPs are in London and there is a Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning or Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD also in London, and they abandon all the ten MPs and focus on that one person. That is the situation which this House will no longer accept.
    Mr. Kenneth Dzirasah 1:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    we need to share experiences so that the Deputy Minister can get what we are actually driving at. Recently, I travelled to one of the West African countries, with a relation of a member of staff of the Embassy there. Mr. Speaker, when we arrived, they saw me there, they identified me, they even greeted me. As I was in the process of removing my luggage from the conveyer belt, they entered the car about to leave. I had to run -- Mr. Speaker, look at my weight -- They were travelling with
    Mr. Kenneth Dzirasah 1:50 p.m.


    two cars which were empty. Meanwhile, I had notified them through the protocol that I was coming.

    They claimed subsequently that they had not received the notification. But then my physical presence there was enough for them to have behaved the way they should behave. This is a typical example.
    Mr. Osei-Adjei 1:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I
    Mr. M. K. Jumah 1:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, what I will say is, sometimes we need to look beyond us, as individuals. Parliament really represents the democracy that we have in this country. If you had the opportunity to travel with other foreigners who were Members of Parliament and you saw the treatment that they received from their missions abroad and compare it to the treatment that we receive - even sometimes for some of our Ministers, you will wonder whether we are serious in this country.
    Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to travel with Congressmen, even Council men -- I am talking about local government officials from other countries; the people we call Assemblymen here -- and I see the treatment that they are given. If you travel with Nigerian Members of Parliament and you look at the treatment that they receive, against the excuses that we keep getting -- “We never received any notification” -- you wonder.
    I remember the last time I travelled, I actually saw the letter that was sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD yet when we got there, there was nobody there to receive us. A personal friend who works in one of the Embassies -- I do not want to name the country -- took it upon himself to take us
    round. This is a serious matter that must be dealt with formally by this House.
    Mr. Speaker, Committee Chairmen in the United States -- and I want to use that one as an example -- when they go to a military installation, they are given a fanfare. What is going on? If we are serious about democracy, we should look beyond the individual, we should look beyond the personalities. The dignity of this country is at stake when we talk about the protocol that is given to politicians and political officials.
    So that is what we are talking about. Let us be serious. What is being peddled around is not good for this country and is not good for the dignity of this country.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    The hon.
    Deputy Minister happens to be a Member of this House. Indeed, I am not speaking for myself but there was an occasion quite recently that even the Speaker of Parliament made a journey to Rwanda and passed through Ethiopia, and the treatment that he had was nothing to write home about.
    Indeed, he had reason to even complain formally. It is getting a little out of hand. And for that reason maybe, you need to sit up and appreciate what your Colleagues are telling you. That is all I can say.
    Mr. A. Osei-Adjei 2 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for your direction and information. What I would say is that it is very unfortunate and we shall condemn that. If an hon. Member is somehow disrespected by an officer of the Ministry, we would talk about it.
    Mr. A. Osei-Adjei 2 p.m.


    I would also say that let us do this so that we can monitor. Sometimes, we do not know; if they do not tell us, we do not hear about it. So if they let us know, through their protocol officer, then we can monitor. If there is any situation of disrespect to any hon. Member of Parliament, then we can take that person on.

    So, Mr. Speaker, with due respect, we would take that on board and then we will address the situation.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Very well. I think I have already put the Question on that particular motion. For that reason, we would move forward to item 16 -- Hon. Minister for Harbours and Railways.
    Hon. Members, but before I do so, let me announce that we are having an extended Sitting and for that reason, be informed.
    ANNuAL ESTIMATES
    Ministry of Harbours and Railways
    Minister for Harbours and Railways (Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi) 2 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, first I would like to thank you for inviting me to this honourable House to request the House to approve the sum of ¢29,483,000,000 for the services of the Ministry of Harbours and Railways for the 2007 fiscal year.
    Mr. Speaker, your Committee has met with my Ministry and has gone through the allocation, the detail of activities that we are going to undertake and I would not want to bore the House by going through all that. I presume the hon. Chairman of the Committee would give a thorough account of what transpired during that meeting.
    Mr. Speaker, however, let me state
    Minister for Harbours and Railways (Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi) 2 p.m.


    that for last year, ¢92,547,000,000 made up of ¢19,379,000,000 from the main budget and ¢73,168,000,000 under the supplementary budget was made available to the Ministry. We have utilized this money very prudently. We have pursued our policies. First with the harbours, we have continued to invite private participation. Harbours itself has done a number of things to ease congestion which has presented us with numerous problems.

    Mr. Speaker, Harbours is undertaking the construction of the “van” area. A private company is almost close to ending the construction of a car park and all these activities are intended to reduce the level of congestion at our harbours. Tug-boats have been ordered and paid for. We have a close-circuit television system to improve on port security. The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) Management is working very closely with other agencies to ensure smooth operations at our ports.

    Mr. Speaker, water transportation continues to engage our attention in spite of the administrative difficulties; that is, whether it is the Volta River Authority (VRA) or the Ministry which is in charge of the lake, as far as transportation is concerned. Incidents are normally addressed by the Ministry, refurbishment of items, facilities are always pushed on to the Ministry and yet we do not see our way clear on what the functions of VRA and the functions of the Government, represented by the Ministry, ought to be.

    In spite of that, through the Ghana Maritime Authority, we are trying to educate the people on the right things to do, as we use the Volta Lake. We are, together with other Ministries, talking to the Clark group that is showing up here to try to remove the tree stumps, and we believe feasibility studies would begin at

    the beginning of 2007.

    Mr. Speaker, on Railways, we continue to look for partners by way of investors but even as we do that, we are also getting the Government to improve on its subventing mechanism to assist us with the rehabilitation of particularly the Accra-Tema line. Mr. Speaker, on that one, from the five million dollars obtained from OPEC, Ghana Government has contributed close to eighty billion cedis so far in the rehabilitation work.

    Mr. Speaker, for this year, an amount of ¢29,483,000,000 has been given to this Ministry and I am asking this august House to approve this amount and I hope you will.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr. Samuel K. Obodai) 2 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion and in so doing, present the Committee's Report. Mr. Speaker, I also crave your indulgence to read paragraphs 9 and 10 of the Report and ask that Hansard captures the Report in its entirety as having been read to the House.
    1.0 Introduction
    1.1 In fulfilment of article 179 (1) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2007 financial year was presented to the House by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, hon. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu on Thursday, 16th November 2006.
    The Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Harbours and Railways were subsequently referred to the Committee on Roads and Transport for consideration and report in accordance with Orders 140 (4) and 189 of the Standing Orders of
    Parliament.
    2.2 To consider the referral, the Committee met with the Sector Minister, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, his Deputy, officials of the Ministries of Harbours and Railways, Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) and officials of the underlisted agencies:
    a. Regional Maritime Academy
    (RMA),
    b. Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL),
    c. Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA),
    d. Ghana Shippers' Council (GSC),
    e. Ghana Maritime Authority
    (GMA)
    f. Volta Lake Transport Company
    (VLTC).
    The Committee is grateful to the Sector Minister, his Deputy and all officials at the Committee's meeting for their assistance in its deliberations.
    2.0 Reference Documents
    The Committee availed itself of the following documents in its deliberations:
    a. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
    b. The Standing Orders of Parliament
    c. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2007 financial year
    d. Report of the Committee on Roads and Transport on the 2006 Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Harbours and Railways
    e. A Presentation by the Minister for Harbours and Railways on the Review of the 2006 Budget and Performance of the Ministry of Harbours and Railways.
    3.0 The Ministry's Mission Statement
    The Ministry of Harbours and Railways exists to ensure the provision of efficient, safe, economic and reliable movement of goods and people using the rail and maritime transport system. It again ensures that the rail, inland waterways, ports and harbours contribute significantly towards the socio-economic development of the country.
    4.0 Objectives of the Ministry
    To achieve its stated Mission, the Ministry of Harbours and Railways has set for itself, the following objectives:
    i. to formulate appropriate pol ic ies to s t rengthen institutional capacity.
    ii. to establish and enforce standards to transform the rail and maritime sub- sectors.
    iii. to ensure the provision and maintenance of maritime and rail infrastructure.
    iv. to provide legal framework
    to promote private sector participation in the rail and maritime sub-sector.
    v. to increase access and usage of information and communi-cation technology in the provision of maritime and rail infrastructure and service delivery.
    vi . to in tegrate t ranspor t infrastructure in order to improve accessibility and expand economic oppor- tunities.
    5 . 0 R e v i e w o f 2 0 0 6 B u d g e t and Performance of the Ministry
    5.1 Reviewing the 2006 Budget and performance of the Ministry of Harbours and Railways for year 2006 (January - September), the Committee noted the following:
    i. for the year 2006, a total a m o u n t o f n i n e t e e n billion, three hundred and seventy-nine million cedis (¢19,379,000,000) was allocated to the Ministry to cater for its operations. The disbursement of this amount is shown in Table 1 below:
    TABLE 2 p.m.
    -- 2 p.m.
    TABLE 2 p.m.
    -- 2 p.m.
    T O T A L 2 p.m.
    Alhaji Seidu Amadu (NDC -- Yapei/Kusawgu) 2:10 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion and in so doing, I just want to make a few comments on the Committee's Report.
    Mr. Speaker, all over the world, water transport and rail transport continue to be the cheapest modes of transportation. Incidentally, in Ghana water transport is not well developed. Our rail system which has been there for ages has equally suffered some form of abandonment.
    Mr. Speaker, if we want to be serious with transportation, we need to look at these two areas and therefore we need to support the Minister and his Ministry for all the plans they have put in place, particularly to rehabilitate the rail system. But rehabilitation itself is not the eventual panacea; what we would have to do -- and here I would want to plead with the Minister -- is to look at our loss in hauling materials.
    The rails were developed during the colonial era to haul cocoa, bauxite, timber and other heavy commodities. At that time the articulated trucks that we have today were not in existence; and because we were patronizing them, Government paid a lot of attention to it. The railways were vibrant and we were getting a lot of jobs and making a lot of money.
    Today, the rail system has died just because we have failed to patronize it, and no matter
    ¢
    how much the Government puts into the rehabilitation of the rail system, if we do not back the rail system with some kind of prevention of loss, by ensuring that we prevent road transport from taking some of the share of the market, we would still have a lot of problem in maintaining the rail system. And if we also look at the axle load limitations that we have, most of the haulage that go by road transport continue
    to destroy the asphaltic concrete roads that have been built.
    So if we are serious in maintaining our roads and supporting the rail system, we need to stop road haulage. They can carry their cocoa and timber to a point where they have accessibility to the rail, and the rails can carry them to their point
    of export. Until we are able to do that, the Minister might not succeed in his rehabilitation works and the attempt to make the rail system efficient as well as self-financing.
    Mr. Speaker, the same goes for water transport. There is a barge that carries fuel from Akosombo terminal to the Buipe terminal in the Northern Region and the fuel is supposed to service part of Brong Ahafo Region, Northern Region and Upper East and Upper West Regions. Incidentally, Mr. Speaker, tankers still travel all the way from Upper East Region, Northern Region, Upper West Region, Brong Ahafo to Tema to load -- sometimes they go to Mamiwater, that is the depot at Akosombo, while we have cheaper and more convenient means of conveying fuel to these areas.
    Again, if the Minister is not assisted with some form of legislation to stop this kind of interference in the jobs that are meant for other sectors, that system would also not be properly revamped.
    Mr. Speaker, the creation of the ferryway is very, very important. For the past three years, we have been saddled with unfortunate news of boat accidents on the lake at various places -- in the Eastern Region, Volta Region, Brong Ahafo Region and in the Northern Region.
    Now, the Ministry is attempting to remove some tree stumps to provide ferryways such that the navigation routes would be properly navigated, so that the boat users or the navigators can be more careful in steering away from these dangers to reduce the spate of accidents. Again, this is a very laudable project that we need to support the Ministry to do, so that at the end of the day, we may not have any accident at all or we may have very few accidents.
    Mr. Speaker, finally, I just want to
    comment on a job that was awarded to a Dutch Company about six years ago; unfortunately the job has not been totally executed and it has been abandoned. I wish to plead with the Minister to ensure that this project is reactivated, that is, the Debre shows so that we can continue to have a safer navigation route from the delivery point to the Buipe Harbour.
    With this, Mr. Speaker, I support the motion.
    Mr. Abraham Ossei Aidooh (NPP -- Tema West) 2:10 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I just want to make a brief intervention. I noticed that on pages 4 and 5, there is allocation of ¢24.3 billion to be used to complete or to continue the rehabilitation work of the Accra-Tema Railway line. Mr. Speaker, I believe that this project is about more than two years behind schedule or about a year behind schedule. And there is also a provision to buy some diesel units when the land is completed.
    Mr. Speaker, there is no indication that this 24 billion would complete the project or whether it would be completed this year. And I want the hon. Minister to come clear on this matter because that project is at least one year behind schedule and I know that the cost it is creating for the country is high; so also is the social cost to the people who intend to use it. So I would want to know whether this ¢24 billion would complete the project and if so when.
    Mr. P. C. Appiah-Ofori (NPP -- Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa) 2:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, one of the best decisions taken by this Administration is the creation of the Ministry of Harbours and Railways.
    Mr. Speaker, the Government's intention is to revive the railway business and that is the reason why even the Boankra Inland Harbour was also conceived. But this Ministry is starved of resources. The
    Ministry puts before the Government its actual cash requirement that would enable it to revive the railways industry and to give impetus to the running of the habours, the Government thought it wise to give them only ¢29 billion while as a matter of fact, the Ministry asked for ¢276 billion to rehabilitate the Accra- Kumasi railway lines and stations. As for this money which is ¢29 billion -- the Ministry wanted to conduct feasibility studies for the Tema-Akosombo railway line at a cost ¢874 billion, but not a penny was contributed for it.
    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry wanted to equip the Kete Krachi Ferry at the cost of ¢2.1 billion, but this request was ignored. Are we making progress? Mr. Speaker, the Ministry wanted to construct alternative landing station at Yeji Awudzakope area at the cost of ¢3 billion; not a cedi was provided for it. The Ministry wanted to purchase ships, vessels and a new ferry and engines to rehabilitate, to repair existing ferries at a cost of ¢63.4 billion; not a cedi was provided. Are we making progress?
    The Ministry wanted to dredge the Makango part of the Volta Lake at the cost ¢3.7 billion, and this request was ignored. Rehabilitation of signal and telecommunication systems at the cost of ¢10 billion; no provision was made for it.
    Indeed, the Ministry wanted to purchase trains, self-steering wagons, fraction motors and locomotives at the cost of ¢282 billion, and it was also ignored; and we say we want to revive railways and harbours. Are we likely to succeed with this? Twenty-nine billion cedis while the Ministry wanted ¢644 billion in addition. What can it do?
    So the year will end and no progress would have been made in this industry.
    Growth of the nation is therefore going to be impaired.

    Mr. Speaker, I want to suggest something. If you look into the Budget, a provision has been made for ¢1.4 trillion being expected from HIPC Funds. Mr. Speaker, I want to suggest that we close our eyes and take out this ¢644 billion out of this fund and give it to this Ministry; and let us challenge Professor Ameyaw Akumfi whether he would be able to set the trains on fire, whether he would be able to rehabilitate the railways. If he is unable to do so then we also pounce on him and deal with him -- [Laughter.] Mr. Speaker, that is the only way we would make progress in this country.
    Mr. Osei-Adjei 2:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I think
    to be kind to my hon. Friend, there are certain words that he used in Parliament -- we cannot go and pounce on people. He said either we go and pounce on him -- I think it is a bit unparliamentary.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    He used
    the word figuratively, so please allow him.
    Mr. Appiah-Ofori 2:20 p.m.
    Thank you very
    much, Mr. Speaker. I used it figuratively; I just wanted to really emphasise that if we are able to give him this money and he does not perform -- What do we do to him. We also have to pounce on him? So seriously, Mr. Speaker, let us take a decision that if this country is going to succeed we should not share small amounts of money among Ministries and
    Mr. Appiah-Ofori 2:20 p.m.


    then nothing would be achieved out of it. Let us make a decision that the whole of this HIPC Fund -- Let us take this ¢644 billion and give it to this Ministry, and then let them go and buy the equipment -- the ships, the ferries, locomotives -- to revive the railways and to give facilities to the water transportation.

    Alhaji Collins Dauda (NDC --

    Asutifi South): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this motion and in doing so permit me to make one or two observations. Mr. Speaker, it is very stressful driving from Accra to Tema and it is very clear that one of the things that can reduce the stress on drivers in the city of Accra is probably the rehabilitation of the Accra-Tema railway line, that would reduce congestion on the road.

    Mr. Speaker, we have been told that about 75 per cent of the project has been completed and we expect to, maybe, complete the project sometime next year. Mr. Speaker, but this is not the first time we are hearing this and my opinion is that too much lip-service is going into this area. We are doing a lot of lip-service here, we are not seeing action.

    Mr. Speaker, I believe the purpose of carving out Harbours and Railways as a Ministry is to facilitate the development of this sector -- road transport, rail transport -- so that we can make progress in this direction. But Mr. Speaker, we are not seeing much. We have had opportunity on this floor to talk about some of the things that have to be done if we really want to have railways developing in this country.

    Mr. Speaker, we have said here before that the level of encroachment on railway lines, even up to the embankment has to be looked at. We need to carry out some demolition exercises; we need to get court orders to enable us carry out these

    demolition exercises, we have not seen any action in this direction. Mr. Speaker, the last time I did a check on that railway line, I saw that a section of it, about 50 metres of the railway line, the Accra- Tema one, has been asphalted and that is behind the President's private residence -- asphalted; it is covered completely with asphalt.

    Mr. Speaker, it is a very serious matter and I do not see how we are going to complete this project next year when we have not done any of the things that I have raised.

    Again, Mr. Speaker, before we went on

    Nii Adu Mante: Mr. Speaker, I am

    on a point of correction. That portion of the railway line that he has just referred to was formerly covered with asphalt but it has not been cleared. They have now cleared the asphalt from it, so I want to correct him.
    Alhaji Dauda 2:20 p.m.
    Thank you very much
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    You have
    less than a minute to conclude.
    Alhaji Dauda 2:20 p.m.
    Thank you very much,
    Mr. Speaker, I will move away from that. Mr. Speaker, this House had the privilege of approving an Agreement between a Canadian company and the Ministry to remove stumps from the Volta River to facilitate water transportation.
    Mr. Speaker, I hope that the Minister would brief us as to the status of this Agreement, whether indeed some action has taken place there or it is still the same raps that we are going to be treated to.
    Finally, Mr. Speaker, in the intervention of hon. P. C. Appiah-Ofori, he tried to
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Hon.
    Collins Dauda, do not use the words “complete lie”. If you say he has made a mistake -- it is unparliamentary to use those words.
    Alhaji Dauda 2:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I
    withdraw that.
    Mr. Osei-Agyei 2:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the
    actual project was for Fumesua, that is what the previous Administration did. But then, of course, there was a litigation so it moved, that was under this Administration -- Mr. Owusu-Adjapong -- he moved it from Fumesua to Boankra. So there is a great difference.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    It is the
    same thing.
    Mr. Haruna Iddrisu (NDC -- Tamale
    South): Mr. Speaker, I will be very brief. I thank you for the opportunity to be associated with the motion for the approval of ¢29,483,000,000 for the Ministry of Harbours and Railways. And in doing so, Mr. Speaker, I just want to point out how inadequate the allocation is and hope that the Professor, Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning will want to assist the Ministry.
    Mr. Speaker, if you look at how
    much was given to the Ministry as supplementary budget for the year 2006, it was around ¢73 billion. Then we come back to vote for an actual budget in 2007 and allocate only ¢29 billion. That in
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Are
    you talking about the Ministry or some departments under the Ministry?
    Mr. H. Iddrisu 2:20 p.m.
    The Ministry, Mr.
    Speaker.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    The
    Ministry itself?
    Mr. H. Iddrisu 2:30 p.m.
    Yes, Mr. Speaker.
    If you do not mind I can refer to your Committee's Report and in particular for 2006 they were allocated ¢19 billion and subsequently given ¢73.168 billion as supplementary budget. And I am saying that if you look at the quantum of money allocated for the supplementary it far exceeds even the original money which was given to the Ministry.
    Some projects have been initiated under the supplementary budget that ought to be completed, yet no adequate provision is made for them. I think it is important that the hon. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning looks into it.

    Mr. Speaker, if you look at the

    Committee's Report, there is a matter which they captured under “Observations” which in my view, rightly, should have been captured under “Recommendations”. The Committee says that the Ministry would require some additional ¢644, 724,739,000 to execute various projects. This must be a recommendation and not an observation because the Ministry has outlined what it wants to do such as rehabilitation of the Accra-Kumasi railway, feasibility study on the Tema- Akosombo railway, refurbishment of offices and others. So the Committee
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Hon.
    Mr. H. Iddrisu 2:30 p.m.
    A strong recommen-
    dation. But Mr. Speaker, I accept your guidance.
    Finally, I hope that the hon. Minister
    would keep his eye on the stevedoring operations around the ports across the country and show an interest in the recent saga involving some contract awarded by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority in which the Chief Executive is involved in some exchanges with some media practitioners. This House is interested in knowing the veracity of the matter and we have absolute trust that the hon. Minister will go into it and some time in future adequately inform this House about what informed those decisions.
    With this, Mr. Speaker, I support the motion.
    Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs,
    Regional Integration and NEPAD (Mr. Akwasi Osei-Adjei): Mr. Speaker, I would be very brief. I think that what the Ministry is suffering from is probably reorientation -- the Government backing down from rendering a social service to an economic one.
    Mr. Speaker, I am saying this because
    as my hon. Friend enumerated, the Budget cannot support such ventures. Therefore, I think the Ministry should be encouraged to look at other sources
    whereby private funding can be obtained for its expenditures. This is because we should not think that rail is going to be a social service. It must be an economic service, and as a result of that, if they are encouraged to go to the private market to borrow or to get investors to come to their aid, I think it would help them to be able to execute their projects.
    With these few words, I support the motion on the floor.
    Mr. K. K. Mensah (NPP -- Amansie
    West): Mr. Speaker, I want to support the motion on the floor but I want to make a few comments here.
    I refer to the Recommendations of your
    Committee, item 9 (b) on page 13. They are saying that the Ministry of Harbours and Railways should adhere to the promise indicated to the Committee by negotiating with prospective investors to remove tree stumps and then chart navigational fairways.
    Mr. Speaker, my worry is this 2:30 p.m.
    Two years ago or last year, we were informed that some Canadian group of investors intended to invest in this project. Why is it still here that we should prospect -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    It has
    already been mentioned by an hon. Member who spoke earlier.
    Mr. K. K. Mensah 2:30 p.m.
    So I want to
    comment that they should take immediate action if it is not going to be jeopardized.
    The second point I want to make is on item 9 (d), page 13 -- They are saying that they should become fully operational by resourcing them and becoming a subvented organization. It would appear to me that they are woefully under-resourced, so we should provide funds to make them work
    more and more efficiently.
    The answer seems to me to be
    privatization rather than divestiture or whatever. Until the railways are fully privatized to work -- You can tell from this Budget that Government is not minded to resource them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Hon.
    Members, I do not know whether the hon. Minister wants to say a word or two. That is the end. I would in that circumstance put the Question.
    Question put and motion agreed to.
    Resolved:
    That this honourable House approves the sum of ¢29,483,-000,000.00 for the services of the Ministry of Harbours and Railways for the 2007 fiscal year.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Hon.
    Members, after this it appears that the other motions are not yet ready, either because the reports have not been prepared or they have not met to consider them. In that regard we will adjourn proceedings till tomorrow at 10 o'clock before noon.
    ADJOuRNMENT
    THE HOuSE WAS ADJOuRNED
    AT 2.35 P.M. TILL 12TH DECEMBER,
    2006 AT 10.00 A.M.
    THOMAS 2:30 p.m.
    ACOLATSE 2:30 p.m.