Debates of 2 Mar 2007

MR. SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10 a.m.
CORRECTION OF VOTES AND 10 a.m.
PROCEEDINGS AND THE 10 a.m.
OFFICIAL REPORT 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Orde r ! Orde r ! Correction of Votes and Proceedings, Thursday, 1st March, 2007. Pages 1. . .15. Hon. Members, we do not have any Official Report today. Item 3 -- Business Statement for the Sixth Week.
BUSINESS OF THE HOIUSE 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Committee presents its report to this honourable House as follows 10 a.m.
Question(s)
Mr. Speaker, the Committee has scheduled the hon. Minister for Education, Science and Sports to answer Questions on Friday, 9th March. In all, six (6) Questions are therefore expected to be answered by the hon. Minister.
Statements

Mr. Speaker may allow Statements duly admitted to be made in the House.

Bills, Papers and Reports

Mr. Speaker, Bills, Papers and Reports may be presented to the House for consideration and other business which have already been presented to the House would also be considered.

Mr. Speaker, the Polytechnics Bill may be taken through the Consideration Stage during the week.

Motions and Resolutions

Mr. Speaker, Motions may be debated and the appropriate Resolutions would be taken where required.

Mr. Speaker, Tuesday, 6th March, 2007 is Ghana's Independence Day. The day has therefore been declared a Statutory Public Holiday which would be observed as such. Mr. Speaker, by an Executive Instrument, Wednesday, 7th March has also been declared an additional public holiday and would be observed as a statutory holiday.

Mr. Speaker, a Commemorative Golden Jubilee Sitting has been scheduled for Monday, 5th March, 2007.

Mr. Speaker, H.E. the President, the Vice President, the Duke of Kent, U.K. and the President of the Pan-African Parliament would be in attendance. Hon. Members are therefore urged to take note of this special Sitting of the House.

M r. S p e a k e r , d e t a i l s o f t h e Commemorative Sitting is attached. The important item to note is that hon. Members are supposed to be seated at 9.45 p.m. Mr. Speaker, however, since there

would be a lot of security implications with a number of Heads of State around, hon. Members should try and enter our precincts by 9.15 p.m. so that whatever security arrangements we need to make for the visiting Heads of State would be done in time.

I have asked the Clerk to liaise with State Protocol and the Castle Security System to recognize that Mr. Speaker and hon. Members of Parliament are playing host.

Conclusion

Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

Commemorative Golden Jubilee Sitting Tuesday, 6th March, 2007

Public Holiday (Independence Day)

Public Holiday

Statements

Laying of Papers

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Polytechnics Bill

Committee Sittings.

Questions --

Minister for Education, Science and Sports -- 609, 610, 611, 621, 622 and 623.

Statements

Laying of Papers

Committee Sittings.
COMMEMORATIVE GOLDEN 10 a.m.
JUBILEE 10 a.m.
SITTING OF PARLIAMENT 10 a.m.
ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS 10 a.m.
GMT 10 a.m.
Alhaji Muntaka M. Mubarak 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if you look at the Order Paper for next week, the Minister for Education, Science and Sports is to answer six Questions. Mr. Speaker, I am very much aware that hon. Haruna Iddrisu, the hon. Member for Tamale South has an Urgent Question for the Minister for Education, Science and Sports with regard to how much money was received from Government and donors towards the World Cup, 2006. Mr. Speaker, I want to find out from the Business Committee Chairman why he did not advertise the Urgent Question though the hon. Minister for Education, Science and Sports is
coming next week.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I believe the hon. Member for Tamale South has now engaged a specialist to -- [Laughter] -- We will try and recognize that. He is sitting there, and so in fact I want to agree he has engaged a specialist. But Mr. Speaker, I have with me a copy of the Agenda of Parliament for the First Meeting. In it, I have not seen any Urgent Question listed in the name of the hon. Member for Tamale South. But he can check up with the Whip and possibly the Clerk's Office and if there is any such Question, we shall look at it.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
We shall investigate this; let us make progress.
Alhaji Sumani Abukari 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there are several Urgent Questions that have been pending for over a year. I have two Urgent Questions, one of them is most important for me, that is, on the Tamale Hospital. Somehow, this Question never seems to come up. I do not know what the Majority Leader and Leader of the House is doing about some of these Questions because they are urgent to some of us.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon. Member, I think we shall take note and then conduct the necessary investigation into that.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, before that, the other day you gave very good guidance, that it is you who determines what is an Urgent Question. Perhaps, I would want to go back to your advice that where you see that your Question, has been brought as a normal Question the best route is to talk to the Chief Whip so that he does the investigation for us to settle it behind the scenes, as we are normally encouraged to do. Because, he may think something is urgent but Mr. Speaker can exercise his prerogative and say it is no more an Urgent Question.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon. Member, I suggest
we take it up with the Leadership of the House.
Alhaji Abukari 10:10 a.m.
But, Mr. Speaker -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
I have not called you; I said we will take it up with the Leadership.
Alhaji Abukari 10:10 a.m.
The Majority Leader
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
I have not called you.
Alhaji Abukari 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am your lawyer today -- [Laughter.]
URGENT QUESTION 10:10 a.m.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, 10:10 a.m.
REGIONAL INTEGRATION 10:10 a.m.
AND NEPAD 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu (NDC -- Tamale South) 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, with your leave and indulgence, the hon. Member (Mr. John. D. Mahama) is on his way and has authorized me to put the Urgent Question on his behalf.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Permission granted.
Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the practice is that when the substantive Minister is not around, permission is sought before the Deputy Minister steps into his shoes. On this occasion, we do not know whether the Minister is on his way coming, and he has come here to answer the Question for the Minister or --
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
You are right, there is the need for permission to be sought first.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. Because I introduced him to you even before we came in. I thought I had sought the permission; but then you are right. Yes, but having taken the trouble to take him to the Speaker
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
In any case, permission is granted. Deputy Minister, please provide the Answer.
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): Mr. Speaker, in connection with the Question posed by the hon. Member for Bole-Bamboi, it is my privilege to provide the response which outlines actions taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD aimed at getting to the root of this most unfortunate incident.
In an effort to establish all the facts in this most bizarre case, the hon. Minister led a delegation of officials of our Ministry and the Ghana Police Service to Banjul from 7th to 9th August, 2005 on the instructions of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, to seek audience with the highest Gambian authorities.
The meeting in Banjul led to an understanding that Ghana and Gambia set up a joint investigation team to work together to unravel the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of our compatriots. Subsequently, President Kufuor met President Jameh of The Gambia who reiterated the willingness of the Gambian authorities to co-operate in the exercise.
In this connection, Mr. Speaker, a seven-member investigative team from Ghana comprising the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police, Mr. D. Asante-Apeatu, the Director of Legal and Consular Bureau of our Ministry, Mr. E.
Odoi-Anim, Chief Superintendent Salifu Amadu, Director of Operations, Criminal Investigations Department; Superin- tendent Frank Coffie, International Police Organization (INTERPOL); Chief Superintendent Frank Gove, Homicide Division, Ghana Police; Inspector Apeatu- Adabor, Homicide Division, Ghana Police and Detective Sergeant Richard Anaty of the Forensic Department visited The Gambia from the 19th to the 28th January, 2006 and held discussions to define the terms of reference and framework within which the investigations could be carried out.
The two sides agreed that investigations should commence on the 1st of March, 2006. The Ghana team on the 14th of February, 2006 informed the Gambian authorities of its intention to arrive in Banjul on 1st March, 2006 as previously agreed. Despite an unanticipated shift in position by the Gambian authorities to the effect that the investigations should commence from Dakar, Senegal instead of Banjul, as previously agreed, the Ghana team nevertheless proceeded to Dakar and with the assistance of the Senegalese authorities conducted investigations into the origins of the ill-fated journey.
Mr. Speaker, with the principal characters behind it the team was in Dakar from the 10th to 18th of March, 2006. At the conclusion of its work, the Ghana team once again sought the approval of the Gambian authorities to proceed to Banjul on the 19th of March, 2006. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the team did not receive the required co-operation from The Gambian side. A lot of excuses were put forward to justify this sudden change and lack of commitment by the Gambians.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.


in the face of numerous unheeded requests to the Gambian authorities decided that the Ghana team complete investigations into outstanding issues in Dakar, Senegal. The Ghana investigation team therefore visited Dakar again from the 14th to 25th December, 2006.

It must be stated at this juncture that the subject-matter of this investigation is delicate and complex and without the co-operation from the Gambian side, the pace will be slow and frustrating.

As at date, the team has unearthed the principal characters behind the ill-fated trip which commenced from Senegal. The names of officials in The Gambia, as well as the Gambian state institutions which were involved in dealing with the Ghanaians upon their arrival on Gambian territory have also been unearthed. The team is in possession of the list of deceased Ghanaians as well as those yet to be accounted for. It also has information on the cause/causes of death and possible places of interment.

It must be pointed out however, that, a lot remains to be done, and it may not be prudent to put some sensitive information in the public domain prematurely. The outstanding work necessary to bring this case to a conclusion still requires the co- operation of the Gambian authorities.

In this regard, it is gratifying to note that after several months of unco-operative attitude, the Gambian authorities have finally agreed to work with their Ghanaian counterparts. The Ghana team may soon unheeded visit The Gambia, and together with the reconstituted Gambian team hold a meeting aimed at finalizing the investigation, to enable appropriate action to be taken against any wrongdoers.
-- 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Member, ask your questions through the hon. Member for Tamale South.
Mr. Mahama 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I just crave your indulgence. I was at a special programme to do with Ghana@50 on a radio station and that was why I asked him to ask the first Question on my behalf. -- [Laughter] -- [Pause.]
I await your direction, sir.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Alright, the last time. Please, go ahead -- [Laughter.]
Mr. Mahama 10:20 a.m.
Thank you, very much,
Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the hon. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD what the
value of a Ghanaian life is; and whether he puts warm diplomatic relations with Gambia higher than the lives of forty-four of our citizens murdered extra-judicially?
Mr. Osei-Adjei 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as
my Friend, and senior hon. Member of Parliament and also the Ranking Member for Foreign Affairs is trying to put it, I am afraid you can never equate the value of any Ghanaian life to the relations we have with a country. But what I am trying to say is that in order to ensure that this does not happen in our life time, we must be conscious of the fact that Ghana continues to have good relations with the Government of The Gambia and at the same time wanting to find out the truth of the matter.
Let me say this, Mr. Speaker, that there are a lot of Ghanaians outside our shores and if we do not maintain a situation whereby they are all protected, they are also liable; people will take advantage of Ghanaians outside our shores. So in no way could we equate the life of a Ghanaian to the relations that we have. After all, the relations we are having are for the benefit of the Ghanaian not against Ghanaians.
Mr. Mahama 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, this incident occurred in 2005. We are currently in 2007, almost two years ago. Mr. Speaker, in diplomatic circles there are various actions a country can take. You can recall your Ambassador; you can summon the Gambian Ambassador to your country and berate him to send the message back home. As the hon. Deputy Minister said, you can take it up at the ECOWAS level; at the AU level; you can report to the African Human Rights Commission; you can go to the International Criminal Court. Indeed, the actions that we can take are many.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know
why the Government, two whole years
after this incident happened, has not taken any of these steps but still persists in investigating jointly with The Gambia, even though they know the Gambian government is unco-operative in this investigation.
Mr. Osei-Adjei 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, to start with, we do not have an Ambassador in The Gambia. We do not. We only have an Honorary Consulate in The Gambia. Again, we must have evidence before we can proceed. It is not good seeking redress without solid evidence.
It must take time. I am frustrated; the hon. Minister is frustrated; everybody is frustrated but that is how it should be. You should gather the evidence and have concrete evidence before you can go forward for others to assist you in getting to the final thing.
Mr. Mahama 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think this is my final supplementary question.
Mr. Speaker, why is it that despite overwhelming evidence, including reports by Gambian officials themselves, one of which I have in my hands, which has detailed exactly what happened to these people -- they were killed with machetes and axes very brutally, dismembered, and their bodies dispersed and secretly interred. Mr. Speaker, the facts are available and we know what happened to our countrymen -- the hon. Minister did not advise our President not to attend the AU Summit that took place in Banjul? Considering what had happened, would he not have advised our President not to attend that Summit and wined and dined with President Yahya Jammeh because of what had happened to our countrymen?
Mr. Osei-Adjei 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in diplomacy, you continue talking. You do not cut off the talking. You should always continue to talk. It is -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Order!
Mr. Osei-Adjei 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as I stand here, I do not know how many people, as the hon. Member knows quite well, were killed. We are all speculating how many people were actually killed. We do not know.
Mr. Speaker, because the boat that carried them from Senegal was not even manifested, we do not even know the people who were actually killed. We have declared some killed, some missing. We are now trying to get the people who were in the boat to come forward so that they can tell us exactly what happened.
So we do not know for sure. And the investigations have revealed that not the figure that is being quoted or bandied around is the actual number of people who lost their lives. So we are continuing the investigations.
The hon. Member will agree with me that a country's situation is very different from a personal situation. We have to be treading cautiously and getting to the root. But I promise him that we want to get to the root of the problem so that it will protect Ghanaians who are also outside the shores of Ghana. So we are doing it to make sure that that happens.
Mr. Ibn Mohammed Abass 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Deputy Minister whether his Ministry is satisfied so far with the co-operation from the Gambian authorities.
Mr. Osei-Adjei 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we are not, emphatically not happy. We are a bit frustrated but we have to tread cautiously. We have to get the evidence that we want before we can put it in front of outside authorities -- the AU, as I have
mentioned, the UN, the Commonwealth. For them to come in, we have to make sure that we have evidence to incriminate the culprits.
So I am as frustrated as my hon. Friend is.
Mr. E. K. Bandua 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Deputy Minister whether he does not find it necessary to vary the steps being taken to have this matter resolved since we are not receiving the necessary co-operation.
Mr. Osei-Agyei 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, certainly, at a certain point you have to cut off and then adopt another strategy which would let us get the evidence that we want.
Mr. J. A. Tia 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in view of the fact that the hon. Deputy Minister has expressed the frustration of the Ghana Government in this matter, would he consider breaking diplomatic relations with The Gambia until such a time that this matter is resolved?
Mr. Osei-Agyei 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that would not help us to get the evidence that we want, because if we break diplomatic relations it means we cut off; and then how are they going to allow us in that country? Let us do the talking; let us use the diplomacy to obtain the evidence because at the end of day we have to. It might take time, it might be long. People who actually perpetrated the holocaust are being pursued as of now. So let us not throw out the baby with the dirty bath water.
Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in response to an earlier question the hon. Deputy Minister indicated to this honourable House that they are not sure of the number of Ghanaians who died in
Mr. Osei-Agyei 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I cannot give the names out here because we have to respect the families; they should be informed first. And as I said, we are investigating so it would be a bit unfair to the families to disclose the names of the persons that are dead. We have a figure but we are not sure of the figure. We have to proceed, Mr. Speaker, with the evidence to maybe add or subtract because as they appear then we would take them off the list.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the reaction of the hon. Deputy Minister is quite confusing. In his principal Answer, he said the principal characters in the act had been identified and that even the names of those who were killed were equally identified. So what prevents him, after having established those facts from the Mission or the team from Ghana, from disclosing this to this august House -- the number as being demanded from him.
Mr. Osei-Agyei 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes, I can let the hon. Member who asked the Question know details of the names. Mr. Speaker, the Director of Legal and Consular Services who was with the hon. Minister in all these meetings has indicated to me that the confirmed dead were eight and we have pictures of the dead bodies.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Deputy Minister, you are discharged.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:30 a.m.
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION 10:30 a.m.
AND NATIONAL ORIENTATION 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, before asking the Question, I just want to place on record how delays in getting these Questions asked render many of them redundant. Indeed, the first part of my Question has been rendered redundant with the passage of the Ghana Institute of Journalism Act. Nonetheless, for the purpose of NAFTI, I would still proceed with the Question.
NAFTI and GIJ (GETFund)
Q. 527. Mr. Haruna Iddrisu asked the Minister for Information and National Orientation what steps the Ministry was taking to ensure that the Ghana Institute of Journalism and NAFTI benefit from the GETFund as accredited tertiary institutions.
Minister for Information and National Orientation (Mr. Kwamena Bartels) 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, because NAFTI is not under Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, it does not qualify for support from the GETFund, and is consequently not listed among the specific institutions under the GETFund Law to benefit from the Fund.
However, a memorandum has been submitted by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports on the issue. Work has commenced on a new Bill to amend the GETFund for presentation to Parliament. There has been some delay because other proposals to extend the scope of the Fund were being considered, and it was considered prudent that all such proposals be consolidated in the proposed amendment to be presented to Parliament.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the National Film and Television Institute, I do believe that the hon. Minister is aware that we are picking up strongly as a country as far as the film industry is concerned. Would he not want to cede that institution so that it becomes an accredited public tertiary institution under the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports instead of being under the Minister for National Orientation?
Mr. Bartels 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that in asking the question, the hon. Member omitted the information angle of the Ministry. The information mandate is really what is actually dictating NAFTI's continued existence under the Ministry. We may be willing to look at ceding it to the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports provided that the information angle, the training of artistes in film making, would not be lost in terms of their being under the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister in his Answer indicated the difficulty that NAFTI goes through, to the extent that it is treated by GETFund as if it were a private tertiary institution.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, instead of proposing an amendment to the GETFund Law, will the Minister not agree that another way of doing it is to cede NAFTI to the Ministry for Education, Science and Sports? Perhaps, he wants to convince this House that film making is still relevant to the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
Mr. Bartels 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, film- making is still very relevant to the Ministry of Information and National Orientation. Indeed, they are currently preparing documentaries on national orientation for the Ministry of Information cinema vans which are to be put out in the various districts. But as I said earlier, we will seriously consider the possibility also of ceding them to the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, provided the information mandate angle is not lost.
Mr. J. K. Avedzi 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the Answer the hon. Minister said NAFTI, like GIJ and the universities, was also presented with a bus purchased from the GETFund by His Excellency the President. I just want to find out from him if His Excellency the President is now the purchasing officer for the GETFund.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon. Member for Ketu North, this cannot be a supplementary question.
Mr. J. Y. Chireh 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
Minister tried to explain why NAFTI has an angle for the Ministry of Information and National Orientation. But would he not see NAFTI as a training institution rather than a department of the Ministry of Information? And if it is a training institution, it is just like GIJ; they really belong to the Ministry that trains and educates all of us. Does he not think that he should just consider ceding the thing rather than talking about an angle that I cannot see?
Mr. Bartels 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think I have answered this question twice already, but I will repeat it for purposes of my hon. Colleague.
Mr. Speaker, we believe that the information angle of the training of film- makers is very, very critical and that is why we believe their continued stay with the Ministry of Information and National Orientation is justified.
However, I have said it earlier on that
we would also consider ceding it provided that that angle is not lost.
West Akim District Information Services Dept (Information Van)
Q. 876. Mr. James Appietu-Ankrah asked the Minister for Information and National Orientation, when the West Akim District Information Services Department would be provided with an Information Van.
Mr. Bartels 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, to enable the Information Services Department of the Ministry of Information and National Orientation improve on its outreach programmes, Cabinet has given approval for the procurement of one hundred and forty-six (146) cinema vans for all the 138 districts as well as the ten (10) regional capitals.
Mr. Speaker, the vans are already in the country.
Since the hon. Member for Lower West Akim has been the first to ask this very relevant question, it shows his interest in the dissemination of information in his district, and one has already been allocated to the West Akim District.
Mr. Agbesi 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to
know from the Minister what criterion will be used in the distribution of the vans. The Minister has indicated that because somebody had asked the Question he will be the first beneficiary. I want to know the criterion he is using to distribute the vans.
Mr. Bartels 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in my Answer I said we would consider -- we would consider -- the emphasis is on the word ‘consider'. We would consider allocating one to West Akim District. And as I said, already the allocations for the first 52 districts have been made and Lower West Akim is in there, not Upper West Akim. I am talking about Lower West Akim -- it is in the first batch of those to be allocated.
Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing (Mr. H. Owusu- Agyemang) 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the hon. Minister for Information and National Orientation whether in view of the fact that 146 of these vans are coming in and we have only 138 districts, we are assuming that every district will get a van. In that case, I do not see the relevance of the question. [Laughter.] I want to know whether every district will be allocated a van.
Mr. Bartels 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, every district in this country, by the end of March, will get one cinema van.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon. Minister, you may
resume your seat if you have answered the question.
Mr. Bartels 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to say this -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
If you have answered the question, you may resume your seat.
Mr. J. Z. Amenowode 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in his Answer, the hon. Minister gave a calculation that I am not very sure on. He said 10 regions and 138 districts will benefit from 146 vehicles. Are we going to have ‘halves', Mr. Speaker? My question is, which districts or regions will not get?
Mr. Bartels 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I will explain. We already have 40 vans in the system; there are some districts that already have cinema vans. In addition to the 146, before I assumed office in the Ministry, they had ordered six others. So indeed, it is 146 + 40 + 6 = 192. We have enough for every district to have one and for us to have some in reserve. When any goes for servicing or any repairs, we will be in a position to replace that particular van.
Mr. Herod Cobbina 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if you heard the answer given by the Minister for Information and National Orientation, he said the first person to have allocation for the districts will be for the questioner. But if you look at the last line, the one who asked the question, he said “I will consider his district among the first to be given a van. The West Akim District will be allocated a cinema van in February 2008”. He said 2008; we are in March but he said by March 2008.
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.
So what is your question?
Mr. Cobbina 10:50 a.m.
I want to find out from the Minister, why he says that the vans will
Mr. Cobbina 10:50 a.m.


be in by 2007 but he is going to give them out in 2008. That is my question; whether he means 2008 or 2007.
Mr. Bartels 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, this was a printer's devil; 2007 is the correct date -- 2007. And as I said earlier on, the allocation has actually been made already.
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon. Minister, thank you very much for appearing to answer these Questions. You are discharged.
MR. FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
STATEMENTS 10:50 a.m.
Mrs. Elizabeth K. T. Sackey (NPP -- Okaikoi North) 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on this auspicious occasion of celebrating the Golden Jubilee of our dear country, it is important to put into proper perspective the contribution early education played in galvanizing the independence struggle and thereafter shaping the destiny of this country.
In talking about the pioneering role of education, one institution which has served this country in a very profound way is Achimota College.
Mr. Speaker, Governor Sir Gordon Guggisberg who administered the then Gold Coast from 1919 to 1929 was the founder of Achimota School. He believed that the Gold Coast needed a school, the standard of which could be compared to any international high school. It was to be a model school designed to produce the intelligentsia of the country who would be drawn from across the length and breadth of the country.
In the contents of its curricula, Achimota sought to turn out a total product, a complete person whom, upon passing through the school, would be
academically and intellectually prepared with practical hands on skills and a sound moral, ethical training and a deep sense of African values.
Guggisberg, a surveyor himself, acquired the land in 1923 and paid for it outright at the cost of four thousand pounds (4,000 pounds). Construction of the buildings started in 1924. The school was officially opened in January, 1927 with the admission of sixty children to lower primary classes.
A year later, the students of the Government Training College, Accra, were transferred to the College and in 1929 the first upper primary and secondary section were also opened. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales opened the first building and both the school and college bear his name, the Prince of Wales College.
At the beginning, a lot of people were against the idea of putting boys and girls, adolescents on the same compound. Therefore, many people were unwilling to send their girls especially to the school.
The first Principal was Rev. A. G. Fraser and the first Vice Principal was Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey. They toured the country and explained the usefulness of the system to the general public convincing them to send their children to Achimota. Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey acted as the interpreter. As an example, Nana Sir Ofori Atta I, King of Akyem Abuakwa sent his daughter to Achimota. She is Susan Ofori-Atta, who became the Girls' Senior Prefect in 1933 and became the first lady medical doctor in Ghana.
The School was founded on Christian principles. We refer to the Governor, Sir Gordon Guggisberg, the first Principal, Rev. A. G. Fraser and the first Vice
Principal, Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey as the Triumvirate or Founders of the school. The school therefore celebrates its Founder's Day on the first Saturday of March every year.
The purpose and ideals for which the school stands are:
The best use of the mind and bodies, which God has given us;
An equal opportunity for girls and boys in education;
Respect for all that is true and lasting value in the old African culture, beliefs and ways of life;
Willing and humble service of the educated for the uneducated;
Mutual understanding and co- operation between Christians of all denominations, and the growth of that spirit in which the churches shall one day be united again;
Friendship, respect and co-operation between all races on equal terms; and
The belief on which all else rest in Jesus Christ as the revelation for all
Mrs. Elizabeth K. T. Sackey (NPP -- Okaikoi North) 11 a.m.


time and all people of the love of God, and as the guide and pattern of our lives.

The school crest explains the school's motto --Black and White Keys put together -- Ut Omnes Unum Sint” -- that all may be one, which was designed by Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey. His idea was that the black and white races could live and work together in harmony.

It is important to acknowledge the principal officers who have contributed enormously to building and elevating the status of Achimota School. The Heads of that Institution in the order of succession are as follows:

Principals of Achimota College

Rev. A. G. Fraser -- 1924 - 35

Rev. H. M. Grace -- 1935 - 39

Rev. R. W. Stopford -- 1941 - 45

Headmasters/Mistresses of Achimota School

H. C. Neil -- 1946 - 49

R. G. Rendall -- 1949 - 53

A. W. E. Winlaw -- 1954 - 59

D. A. Chapman -- 1959 - 63

I. K. Chinebuah -- 1963 - 65

A. P. Rudwick -- 1965 - 77

Rev. Canon Ankrah -- 1977 - 81

A. A. Dadey -- 1982 - 85

R. W. Asiedu -- 1985 - 95

C. Brew-Graves (Mrs.) -- 1995-2002

Adelaide D. Kwami (Mrs.)

-- 2003 - 2006

Flora Ivy Mensah -- Ag. Headmistress

People trained in Achimota were to go out and be a blessing to others and their country at large. To quote part of the school's prayer written by Rev. A.G. Fraser: “May its sons and daughters come to know life that is life indeed, and go forth from it as living water to a thirsty land.”

The school has been able to achieve this over the years. It's sons and daughters have indeed served the country in diverse ways as judges, lawyers, doctors, engineers, chiefs, administrators, and top civil servants, diplomats, company directors, bankers, economists, vice chancellors, lecturers, soldiers, journa-lists, writers, musicians, et cetera.

Vice Chancellors of University of

University of Cape Coast

Vice Chancellor -- Prof. Boateng is an Achimotan

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Vice Chancellors -- Prof. Evans Anfom is an Achimotan

-- Prof. F. O. Kwami is an Achimotan

-- Prof. E. H. Amonoo-Neizer is an

Achimotan

-- Prof. Andam is an Achimotan.

These are but a few of the nation's prominent citizens who come to mind.

Ghana

The first Ghanaian Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana -- Prof. A.A. Kwapong is an Achimotan

The second Ghanaian Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana -- Prof. Adzei Bekoe is an Achimotan

The third Ghanaian Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana -- Prof. Akilakpa Sawyerr is an Achimotan

The fourth Ghanaian Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana -- Prof. George Benneh is an Achimotan

The fifth Ghanaian Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana -- Prof. Addae Mensah is an Achimotan

In the field of politics, it is worth pointing out these unassailable historical truths:

Achimotans (Edward Akufo-Addo and William Ofori-Atta) were at the forefront in the founding of the United Gold Coast Convention UGCC, the political party that ignited the torch of struggle for self-government.

Achimota School produced three of the BIG SIX in the struggle for independence -- Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, William Ofori-Atta and Edward Akufo-Addo.

Achimota School produced the CPP's three foremost leaders - Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, K. A. Gbedemah and Kojo Botsio. The CPP was the party that led Ghana to indepen- dence.

Dr. J. B. Danquah, “the doyen of Gold Coast politicians”, served on the Achimota College Council (in 1939 and was re-elected in 1941) (as representative of the Old Achimotan Association). This gave him the first opportunity to influence the educational policies of the Colonial Government directly.

Dr. K. A. Busia, the Leader of the Opposition at the time of indepen- dence, was at Achimota (1935- 39). So at independence we had a situation where the Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition were all products of Achimota School.

On the platform at Old Polo grounds where Nkrumah declared Ghana's independence, two Achimotans were among the four who flanked him -- Kojo Botsio and Komla Gbedemah.

There are three universal symbols of
Mr. Moses A. Asaga (NDC -- Nabdam) 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to associate myself with the Statement that has been made regarding our founding fathers of the new state of Ghana. I agree with my hon. Colleague that Achimotans have done a lot for Ghana and all the attributes she has given to all founding fathers are very appropriate, including His Excellency the former President Rawlings who is also an Achimotan.

But Mr. Speaker, beyond Achimota, I know that other schools have been able to produce presidents, including Prempeh College which has produced His Excellency President John Agyekum Kufuor who has also contributed to the running of this country for the past six years.

Mr. Speaker, on my own behalf, I want to be very appreciative of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah for establishing the Ghana Trust schools in the 1960s. I, as Moses Asaga, attended Ghana Secondary School which was one of the Ghana Trust schools established by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Hon. Salia also attended the same school and today we are prominent politicians in Ghana's political history.

On a more se r ious no te , the establishment of the Northern Scholar-ship scheme by the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah

has been very useful to the north and it has produced a lot of scholars, including the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, hon. (Alhaji) Malik Al-Hassan Yakubu.

Mr. Speaker, without Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's Scholarship Scheme a lot of colleagues from northern Ghana would have been left behind in their education. So I want to honour the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and to tell him ayekoo for the Northern Scholarship Scheme.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, hon. Member, are you on a point of Order?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, I was rising on a point of Order. My hon. Colleague has just sat down. I thought he was leading us to other territories.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
You are out of Order.
Mr. J. K. Hackman (NPP) -- Gomoa West) 11:10 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to add my voice to the Statement on the floor.
It appears that this House, the Parliament of Ghana, has also produced eminent personalities. Whilst we have been paying tribute to others from outside this House we have forgotten about past Speakers, past Clerks to Parliament and past Members of Parliament who have also contributed to the development of
this country; and I would want to ask hon. Members that when Statements like that come on the floor, those who have information about past Speakers, past Members of Parliament could also bring them on the floor for us to deliberate on.
M r. A . K . A g b e s i ( N D C - - Ashaiman): Mr. Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity to make a contribution on the Statement on the floor.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, hon. Moses Asaga, are you on a point of Order?
Mr. Asaga 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, I have a
Mr. Agbesi 11:10 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I would take it on board. Achimota Secondary School, by the Statement, had produced three Heads of State.
Our great Dr. Kwame Nkrumah brought about the Educational Trust which saw some of us in school. But for that policy I would not have gained admission to the secondary school, particularly Nkonya Secondary School, which is deep down in
Mr. Joe Ghartey 11:10 a.m.
On a point of Order. Mr. Speaker, while not denying that all the schools he mentioned are great schools, I did not hear Mfantsipim where I went to or Adisadel where you went to - [Laughter.] How can he mention great schools in Ghana without mentioning Mfantsipim and Adisadel? So if he could please mention them, I would be very happy.
Mr. Agbesi 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you. Instead of his school I think that Zabzugu Tatale Secondary School is one of the best in this country. [Laughter.] Bishop Herman Secondary School is one of the best.
Mr. Speaker, I think that this is a very
good Statement and we need to commend those schools which have made us what we are today. Once again, I thank Nkonya Secondary School for producing me.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu (NDC-- Central Tongu) 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, i t is quite appropriate, when celebrating the 50th anniversary, to take note of important institutions of state which have in one way or the other contributed towards the development of the country.
Mr. Speaker, in so doing, education is the pivot for development and it is quite refreshing at this time to identify Achimota School as the primary instrument which set the agenda for education in the country.

Mr. Speaker, as noted by other hon. Members who have spoken, there are other “Achimotas” in their own right in the

various locations throughout the country.

It is in this wise that in mentioning products from those key schools, we must acknowledge that there are some unsung institutions which are located in very isolated areas which are not privileged, by virtue of infrastructure, by virtue of the teaching personnel and other inputs towards the upliftment of students but which have improvised in various ways to bring up students, who have competed with students from Achimota School at all levels.

Mr. Speaker, in so doing, we should recognize that each government should have an identity towards the educational advancement of this country.

Kwame Nkrumah, under the accelerated development plan, took education to all corners of the country and the Provisional National Defence Council/National Democratic Congress (PNDC/NDC) Government was the Government which had taken off from the drawing board, the educational reforms which the Dzobo Report, noted as far back as 1973 , had recommended for bringing about the needed changes in our educational system.

Mr. Speaker, in the same way, we are expecting that as a significant contribution towards the development of education in the country, the situation of the present Government to begin a new evolution of reforms in the country as from September this year, will need a revisiting.

Mr. Speaker, by so doing the situation which we would have in another 50 years from today would be set by the agenda that education has today. By that I mean we should be more sensitive towards the provision of the needed infrastructure, for example, the educational reforms which are to start in September.

If we are going to begin a four-year senior secondary school or the senior high
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon. Frimpong, are you on a point of Order?
Mr. Kofi Frimpong 11:20 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our hon. Colleague there is seriously misleading the House and the nation. The Statement is on Achimota School and its achievements -- what it has done for Ghana. So for him to come and discuss the educational policies of this Government at this time, I think, Mr. Speaker, he must get a better forum for the discussion of that issue whereby it would be a give-and-take affair. For him to use this chance to chastise Government for what it is doing is unacceptable and he must withdraw and steer to clear waters.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Colleague has lost the import of the statement I am making. We are reflecting on the contributions of Achimota School after 50 years in nation-building and I am saying that for posterity to look at our educational system within the next 50 years, there is the need for us to come out with very pragmatic educational policies which would allow our educational institutions to stand tall within the next 50 years, as Achimota School has done. It is only by virtue of the Government putting in place the needed policies and programmes that we would be able to achieve this.
Mr. Speaker, it is on this note that I want to urge the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government that, as we are committed to
Ms. Josephine H. Addoh (NPP -- Kwadaso) 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the maker of the Statement and also to say that, yes, Achimota School has contributed a lot to this country. But I would like to add that in order not to allow Members of Parliament (MPs) to talk about individual schools in their contributions, we may have to give regard to all schools in Ghana -- what smaller schools and bigger schools have also contributed to the development of this country.
Like Achimota School, schools like Yaa Asantewa Secondary School in the Kwadaso constituency, Wesley Girls High School, and in fact, Kumasi High School have all produced some people for this country. The hon. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, I must remark, is a product of Kumasi High School.
Mr. Speaker, we would like to encourage all schools to do what they are doing because a good number of hon. Members in this House might come from Achimota School, but the remaining are from various schools. So we are saying this time that, yes, Achimota, bravo; and all other schools including Amaniampong Secondary School, Apam Secondary School and those small schools that the Government is trying to bring up -- Yes, Mfantsiman Girls' Secondary School and all those girls' secondary schools -- and if you see the ladies here, we are all from diverse schools.
Mr. Speaker, I am trying here to
encourage them to do their best as they have been doing for the country so that in 50 years' time we would have so many ‘Achimota' schools and ‘Prempeh' colleges with presidents coming from all over the country and not only from Prempeh College and maybe Achimota School.
Deputy Minister for Defence (Mr. W. O. Boafo): Mr. Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to the Statement by the hon. Member.
Mr. Speaker, we all laud Achimota School for its achievements but we need not forget that Achimota School has been able to make this achievement because of the discipline which the school had maintained throughout the period of its existence.
Mr. Speaker, a visit to Achimota School in the past and now would clearly indicate and demonstrate the discipline which the students are under, in the school. It is therefore apt that we encourage Achimota School to continue to maintain such discipline in the school.
Mr. Speaker, another contributive factor to Achimota School's achievement has been the Old Boys and Girls of the school -- the ‘Akoras' and the equivalents and the Parent-Teacher Association's support that they have been giving to the school to enable the school to survive some of these turbulent periods in our history. If all other old boys and old girls of the various secondary schools would contribute their quota to the management of their schools, it would go a long way to help those schools to proceed in their achievements.
Mr. Speaker, it is all well and good to say that Achimota School has produced certain individuals in this country who have helped to steer the affairs of the country. But Mr. Speaker, it is not enough to say that Achimota School has produced
Mr. “X” and Mr. “Y”. The crucial question is, Mr. “X” or Mrs. “Y” who has been produced by Achimota School, has he or she lived up to the expectations required of an Achimotan? That is a crucial question; the answer we need to find for ourselves.
I believe that those persons they have mentioned who have contributed to the advancement of this country in terms of politics, in terms of education, in terms of other social contributions have all excelled and it is a laudable thing for Achimota School.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to urge all other schools to study carefully what Achimota School has done so that it would be an inspiration for pupils and students of other schools to emulate so that our second cycle schools would be inspired to upgrade themselves to that level and make meaningful contributions towards the national wealth of this nation.
Nana Abu-Bonsra (NPP -- Fomena) 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to contribute to the Statement made by the hon. Member in whose constituency the school is situated. Mr. Speaker, in doing so I want to, with your indulgence, refer to parts of the Statement that Achimota School was to be a model school designed to produce the intelligentsia of the country, drawn from across the length and breadth of the country.
Mr. Speaker, I think it was a very laudable idea, but unfortunately, looking at the population of children of school-going age, it was certain that all of us could not be cramped into one school, however laudable that idea was. It is for such reason that I think the present Govern-ment must also be commended for seeing the need to broaden the base, through its school
upgrading policy.
Currently, we know we have about 31 schools that have been upgraded, at least, if not up to the status of Achimota, to be able also to increase their population and also improve on their standards. And it is hoped that this intervention will be broadened to cover almost every district in this country.
Mr. Speaker, having said that, I want to address another issue concerning Achimota School. Mr. Speaker, I think that being the first government school in this country, Achimota should be seen as a national monument and for that matter we must make every effort to ensure that we preserve the original idea for which Achimota was established.
I am happy to note that Governor Guggisberg who was the brain behind the establishment of Achimota School was a professional. He was a surveyor; and that is why when we go to Achimota today, for me as an architect, I appreciate the beautiful architectural edifices that we have in Achimota School, even though that is not my school.
But the sad thing is that whereas such a school could be preserved and added to the potential tourist sites in this country, from which we can derive so much revenue, it appears we are not paying attention, as it were, to this particular issue.
For example, today most of us are worried about the kinds of development that have been springing up around the Achimota School. What one witnesses, as one drives past Achimota School or towards Achimota School, especially from the University of Ghana campus direction, are a lot of some haphazard, unauthorized structures springing up all over and therefore destroying the beauty of that school which we can use as a good monument or a good tourist attraction.
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I want to use this opportunity to call on the Minister
Mr. Kofi Frimpong (NPP -- Kwabre East) 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to associate myself with the Statement that has been ably made by hon. Elizabeth Tawiah Sackey. Indeed, it is always important that we remind ourselves of certain institutions that have helped this country of ours.
Achimota School, when we were up there in the Ashanti Region, we heard of it as a very big institution which was reserved for the sons and daughters of the rich people, so to speak. We thought that it was an institution reserved for the elite and indeed all those who went there, according to the Statement, a lot of them have made it and it is important that at this time of our Independence we give recognition to such people and institutions.
But I wish to remind us all that it is not only Achimota School that one should go to be able to achieve the lot that we have mentioned. In this House that we are, the school that I attended, we have eight of the old students of Bekwai SDA Secondary School who are hon. Members of this House. [Hear! Hear!] They are not Achimotans but they are here. And there are some people too who had the chance of going to Achimota but they could not make it and are very irresponsible.
So I wish to tell students who are here and all who are listening that it is not only Achimota that one should go, to be
able to achieve one's aim. One can stay where one is, especially schools like SDA Secondary School, Achirensua Secondary School, Antoa Secondary School, Sim Secondary School, Adanwoma Secondary School, Osei Tweretwie Secondary School (OKESS) and whatnots and become a Head of State or a big lawyer in this country.
So Mr. Speaker, I wish to urge us all to support the Statement that has been ably made by hon. Elizabeth Tawiah Sackey.
Mr. I. K. Asiamah (NPP - Atwima- Mponua) 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the maker of this great Statement -- [Interruption.] Mr. Speaker, I attended Accra High School -- [Interruption.]
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon. Deputy Minority Leader, I could see you rise up; is there anything you want to say?
Mr. Adjaho 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, even though you have the discretion, the rules of the House say that Statements should normally not exceed one hour. I have been watching the time since this Statement was made; and it is more than one hour now.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
It is the privilege of the Chair to allow debate on any issue, and I believe you are not taking that privilege from me. Is it the Whip and the Leadership who want to stampede me to draw the curtain on this matter? If you want to say so, let me hear it.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, you have already called one person; I thought that you would give him the opportunity and after him we move on.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
I thought
you rose on a point of Order.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, seriously, we have not exceeded the one hour. We took the first hour to answer Questions and then we went to the Statement -- [Interruption.] Mr. Speaker, I may plead with you that after this contribution we curtail it and then we move on, with respect.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon. Asiamah, a minute for you to finish.
Mr. Asiamah 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, I attended Accra High School and thank God my school has never produced any coup maker in this country. Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that -- [Interruption.]
Mr. J. A. Tia 11:30 a.m.
On a point of Order. Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member claims to know all schools that have produced coup makers and he should mention the schools and names of the coup makers.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon. John Tia, you are out of Order.
Mr. Asiamah 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I was giving credit to my school. Accra High School has never produced any coup maker and that to me, is a credit to the school.
rose
Mr. Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon. Member for Chiana-Paga, on a point of Order, I believe?
Mr. Abuga 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on point of relevance. Mr. Speaker, as to whether the Statement gives him the ground to talk about coup makers and schools that produce coup makers and non-coup makers or democrats or whatever, I think that what he is saying is completely irrelevant and should be ruled out.
Mr. Speaker 11:40 a.m.
You are out of Order. Hon. Member for Atwima-Mponua, continue.
Mr. Asiamah 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my only call to all our schools is that we should introduce subjects like democracy and the rule of law. That, to me, is important. We should imbue in our kids and our students, the need for Ghana to entrench multiparty democracy in this country. That to me is the only legacy and the best legacy schools in this country can leave for mother Ghana. That is very, very important because all over the world, we all agree that democracy and the rule of law remain the cornerstone for sustainable democratic and economic development. And that is the main reason why I am hammering on this point.
We should not only be celebrating schools and individuals but we should be celebrating ideas and principles in addition. Such values have helped nations to develop over the years. Values like free- market economy, individual freedom and all these are important. As a country, if today we are celebrating our heroes, we should also make sure that these things are imbued in our kids so that tomorrow nobody will wake up and think that he or she alone is the best to rule mother Ghana. That is important.
Mr. Speaker, there are many forgotten heroes in this country and I am suggesting that right from the district to the regions to the national level, there should be a profile of our distinguished Ghanaians, farmers
rose
Mr. Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Are you on a point of Order?
Mrs Boon 11:40 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker 11:40 a.m.
What is your point?
Mrs. Boon 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am wondering whether the Statement made by my good Friend there, about the farmers and all those out there, are coming from Achimota. We are talking about Achimota and I do not know whether those farmers he is talking about are coming from Achimota. I know that most people school very well and come out to be farmers, and I know that a farmer certainly should be an educated person. And from the way he is addressing the Statement, it looks as if he is looking down on Achimota.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon. Member, you never had the opportunity to contribute, so wait for your turn.
Yes, hon. Member for Atwina-Mponua, I give you one more minute to conclude.
Mr. Asiamah 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think the main reason why Ghana has not deve-loped is the fact that sometimes we are a little bit myopic and we are narrow- minded. Mr. Speaker, it is important that when we are talking we stretch the argument to encompass everything because it is only the whole that is very critical in our analysis. If we only tackle the minute aspect of an issue, we dodge the issue. I am speaking and touching on all aspects of our development.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:40 a.m.
On a point of Order. Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member for Atwima-Mponua is a young man burning with energy and that is why he could [Interruption.] Somebody is telling me he is still a bachelor and for that reason he has more energy to make those comments without trying to look back. I want to call him to Order.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon. Member for Central Tongu, you are out of Order.
Hon. Asiamah, I gave you only one minute, you have already spent about fifty per cent of that time.
Mr. Asiamah 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is true that I am a bachelor. I am a very responsible bachelor and I am an active bachelor -- [Interruption.]
Mr. John Tia 11:40 a.m.
On a point of Order. Mr. Speaker, I just cast my eyes around the Chamber and I see somebody who appears to be a stranger in the House. He is near hon. Christine Churcher. I do not know him. I do not know whether he has established his credentials in the House here. I do not know him.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
You have not mentioned - You said somebody is sitting near hon. Christine Churcher; there are quite a number of people sitting near her.
Mr. Tia 11:40 a.m.
The fellow is even sitting on hon. Grace Coleman's seat -- [Laughter.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Are you referring to the hon. Member for Saboba (Mr. Charles Bintim)?
Mr Tia 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, is that hon. Bintim? [Laughter.] I have not seen him in the House for a long time.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Yes, hon. Member for Saboba, you want to say something in reaction or what?
Mr. Charles Bintin 11:40 a.m.
Yes, that is so, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think we need to get him to an eye specialist to really test his eyes and find out what is wrong with him.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
This, I agree with you.
Mr Bintin 11:40 a.m.
But Mr. Speaker, I also think that his long stay out of Parliament has caused him not to see me in Parliament -- [Laughter] -- So next time he should not join those boycotting Parliament.
I wish also -- Mr. Speaker, all jokes aside, he needs to withdraw such a statement and apologise sincerely.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon. Member for Saboba, take it lightly. You are definitely a Member of this House; we all recognize that.
Mr. K. Osei-Prempeh 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, with the greatest respect and deferment to your seat, the hon. Member here who is now a student at GIMPA and spends all his time at GIMPA -- what he said against the hon. Member must be withdrawn and he must be made to apologise.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon. Deputy Minister, you are out of Order.
Hon. Member for Atwima-Mponua, have you finished with your statement?
Mr. Asiamah 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the last
issue is on the need to develop history in our second-cycle institutions. Mr. Speaker, gradually we are losing focus of the essence of history as a subject. It is important that history is given the right priority it needs in this country. Mr. Speaker, it may shock you to note that from the revelations, as were made by the hon. Member who made the Statement, I do not even think that now, when you go to Achimota Secondary School the students there are even aware of this very rich history of theirs. I do not think others who have even gone to Achimota Secondary School are aware of these facts. It is important that we develop history because that is the only way that we can determine a very sound future. History is there to guide us and history should be given priority in our national endeavours.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon. Members, I want to allow at least one woman to make a contribution to this Statement, and that is the hon. Member for Cape Coast.
Ms. Christine Churcher (NPP -- Cape Coast) 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise not because I am an Achimotan, but because in making the Statement and in the contributions which arose, the impres-sion was created that children of the elite are those who go to Achimota. I know of a young man in this House who came all the way from Jinijini, a poor man's son, who is a product of Achimota.
Mr. Speaker, I only rose, although a good product of Mfantsiman Girls' Secondary School, to yield this time to hon. Effah-Dartey because I believe that everybody is thinking that it is only the rich who make it.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Although that will not be in strict accordance with the practice of the House, I was going to give the floor to hon. Effah-Dartey to make one minute's contribution.
Capt. N. Effah-Dartey (retd) (NPP -- Berekum): Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity to contribute to this Statement.
Alhaji S. Abukari 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, hon.
Effah-Dartey is seriously misleading the entire country and the entire world by telling us that he has a bone and which has a marrow in his heart. It is seriously misleading. So Mr. Speaker, I would ask him to withdraw that portion of it.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, with respect to my Colleague whom I know was a student of literature, this really is not English, it is biology. [Laughter.] Mr. Speaker, I do not want to believe that this is the biology that he is taught at Achimota School.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
I said I was giving you a minute and you must be mindful of that.
Capt. Effah-Dartey (retd): Mr. Speaker, the reason that Achimota has attained so much glory is because the founding fathers had a policy that they were going to open the doors of the college to the whole country, anybody from any part of Ghana could come to the school.
Mr. Speaker, indeed, as I was saying, I came from Jinijini in 1967 and I confess that the very first time that I stepped foot in Achimota School and I looked at the compound, Mr. Speaker, Achimota campus at that time, 1967, was bigger than the whole township of Jinijini. I say so with no regrets because even today, as I speak, Achimota School campus is bigger than so many towns and villages in Ghana
which are on the map.
Mr. Speaker, Achimota has attained this glory because the school has a policy that when you go there, it is not only for academic training, but extra-curricula activities. For instance, debating societies, drama, writers' club, Today's Movement for African Unity, GUNSA and so many of them. Mr. Speaker, some of us have reached where we are because of these extra-curricula activities which the school tries to place emphasis on.
Mr. Speaker, honestly I feel very proud that by the Grace of God, I was a student in Achimota School. And I think that all schools should emulate the example of Achimota, especially in the form of giving extra-curricula training to the students.
Mr. Speaker, again, the administration of Achimota School, the way and manner they manage the school, the Board and the teachers, supervision is first class.
Mr. Speaker, allow me to give this very interesting example. In 1999 when I started campaigning for Parliament, I visited Jinijini Secondary School and I was shocked to see only 60 students in the whole senior secondary school (SSS). From SSS 1to SSS 3, the total enrolment was 60. I could not believe my eyes, that a secondary school that was going to write the SSSCE , the entire enrolment was 60. I tried to do what I could to help.
Mr. Speaker, I was also amazed that just last year, while I went on a routine visit to the schools in the constituency, I went to Jinijini Secondary School and the enrolment had risen to 1,200. When I tried to find out the reasons behind the expansion, I was told management had changed. There was a new headmaster and I was amazed at the teaching, the
policy, the administration, the degree of supervision, Mr. Speaker, I marvelled.
The principle remained the same that in any school where the teachers are serious, in any school where discipline is the hallmark, in any school where management and supervision are first class, that school, wherever it is in this country can make it.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
On that note, hon. Effah-Dartey, that brings the curtain down on all the contributions on the Statement that the hon. Member made regarding Achimota.
Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, can I have your attention?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there is a Legislative Instrument that must be laid at the Commencement of Public Business, and it is going to be done by the hon. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
This, I believe, is an Addendum to the Order Paper for the day and I believe the Leadership has already agreed to it.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon. Tia, you want to make a statement on that?
Mr. Tia 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the attention of the Leadership on this side was drawn to this Addendum. Unfortunately, we were expecting copies to be distributed, and that has not yet been done. But I want to plead with my Colleagues to allow it.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Very well.
PAPERS 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, really, this is supposed to be for our information. There were a few technical details that we were trying to sort out and that was why I crossed the divide to confer with the Deputy Minority Leader. When we come to it, I guess we may need to effect some amendment on the Bill, but that will be after we have had discussions. For now, it is supposed to be for the information of the House.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Very well. On that note, hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, I want to be advised as to what to do.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we have exhausted the Business for the day and given the fact that today is Friday, I beg to move, that this House do now adjourn till Monday, at 9.30 p.m. Mr. Speaker, 9.30 p.m. is when we are commencing Sitting here.
Mr. Speaker, for reasons of security, it may be important for us, as hon. Members, to be here in Parliament at 9.00 p.m. If you want to be here around 9.30 p.m., driving through the security barricades may take a while and you may not be able to get seated at 9.45 p.m. when Business will
commence. So I want to plead with hon. Colleagues that they ought to be here at 9.00 p.m. prompt.
If I may, I want to move again that having exhausted the Business for the day, this House do now adjourn till 9.00 p.m. on Monday, 5th March, 2007.
Mr. Tia 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
ADJOURNMENT 11:50 a.m.