Debates of 5 Jul 2007

MR. SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Order! Order! Correction of Votes and Proceedings, Wednesday, 4th June 2007. Pages 1, 2. . .10. [No correction was made.] Hon. Members, we do not have Official Report for today.
Mr. F. K. Owusu-Adjapong 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to crave your indulgence to allow the hon. Deputy Minister to respond to the Questions. The hon. Minister is out of Accra doing other equally important business.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
All right. Question number 1071 -- hon. Emmanuel Bandua, Member of Parliament for Biakoye.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10 a.m.
MINISTRY OF FOOD AND 10 a.m.
AGRICULTURE 10 a.m.
Mr. Bandua 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the Deputy Minister's Answer, he said that there are ongoing discussions under the auspices of the National Security Council. I would like to find out from him the stage at which these discussions have reached.
Mr. Eledi 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I am not a member of the National Security Council. Mr. Speaker, I am not in
a position to answer that question.
Mr. Bandua 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, he says that the objective of the discussion is to establish secured grazing grounds. I want to find out from him whether some interim measures have been put in place to ensure that people do not suffer from the menace of this influx of cattle into the country.
Mr. Eledi 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I must be honest by saying once again, that I am not in a position to answer the question as to whether we have put in place an interim measure to at least mitigate the sufferings that would arise. But Mr. Speaker, if given the chance, we would come back and respond to that question.
Mr. Bandua 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Deputy Minister whether the Ministry has put in place any measures to ensure that those who suffer damages and loss of life and property as a result of this influx of cattle from neighbouring countries would be adequately compensated.
Mr. Eledi 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if damage is suffered and it is brought to our attention and it is genuine, I believe we would pay compensation.
Mr. John Ndebugre 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister's Answer suggests that the influx is justified by the existence of this ECOWAS Protocol. I would like to find out from him if there are any exceptions to this Protocol. Can the cattle just have to come in any numbers, and at any time and in any manner?
Mr. Eledi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, once again, I
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon. Deputy Minister,
cattle from neighbouring countries and the attendant destruction of life and property.
Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture (Mr. C. N. L. Eledi): Mr. Speaker, all the 15 countries of West Africa, except Mauritania, belong to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) whose major goal is to foster the economic integration of the countries in the region. This goal calls for the free movement of people and goods, including livestock.
In pursuance of this objective, the heads of state of member countries signed a protocol in 1998 that grants easy movements to owners of herds and flocks of livestock to facilitate seasonal migrations across the common borders of these countries.
Implications for Protocol
Mr. Speaker, as a result of the protocol, Ghana has for some time now been battling with the influx of these livestock from our member countries.
Preparations
Mr. Speaker, the fact that these alien herdsmen and their livestock destroy our crops and attack our people has brought into focus another dimension. It has become a national security issue. Presently discussions are ongoing under the headship of the National Security Council to find out how best the situation can be contained, especially when our own livestock are sometimes also involved.
Mr. Speaker, the objective of the discussions is to establish some secured areas where communal grazing grounds can be sited. The scheme is to be on a Public Private Partnership basis, involving the community, the District Assemblies and the Ministry. The following intervention
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.


have you finished answering the question?
Mr. Eledi 10:10 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. I said that given the chance we would come back and answer the question.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, from the answer of the hon. Deputy Minister to the supplementary questions it seems he has lost grips with the situation in his Ministry. In his answer he said the solution to the problem required multi- sectoral approach and he mentioned the various Ministries that are sectorally linked to the problem.
I would want to find out from him the two locations that he has mentioned in his Answer, in the last paragraph. Which of the sector Ministries had located the two areas, and when was the location identified?
Mr. Eledi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, let me put
it on record that we have not lost grips with the issues at stake. The two sites were located by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and it has been about two years now since we located them. Discussions are ongoing and there are a lot of things that are involved.
But Mr. Speaker, I want hon. Members of this House to remember that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture does not control the borders of this country; and that is where the cattle come in from. That is why we are saying that this matter does not just rest at the doorsteps of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, but it involves others who must necessarily be brought in so that we can find a permanent solution to the problem.
Mr. Raphael Ahaligah 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to know from the hon. Deputy Minister if he is aware that cattle brought into Ghana use unapproved routes to enter
Ghana.
Mr. Eledi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am not aware.
Mr. Ahaligah 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to know from the hon. Deputy Minister -- he mentioned two areas in the Afram Plains -- Maame Krobo and another place -- if he is also aware that recently destruction went on in farms and people's yams running into millions of cedis were all destroyed and they have not been paid. What is his Ministry doing about that?
Mr. Eledi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the destruction has not been brought to our attention; if it is brought to our attention we would address it adequately.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the hon. Deputy Minister's Answer, paragraph 3, he said the fact that these alien herdsmen's livestock destroy our crops and attack people has brought into focus another dimension. Mr. Speaker, he alluded to two effects of the activities of the herdsmen.
My question is, is the hon. Deputy Minister aware that apart from the destruction of our crops and the attack on the people of Ghana the herdsmen also burn the vegetative cover of the places that they traverse thereby contributing significantly to desertification of the lands which will ultimately affect the food security of the country? Is the hon. Deputy Minister aware?
Mr. Eledi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry is perfectly aware. Mr. Speaker may remember that I said that as one of the measures for controlling the range land there is also an anti-bush fire campaign. So definitely we are aware of the environmental impact of the influx of the cattle into the country.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the hon. Deputy Minister's Answer, the
last paragraph, he indicated that while the Ministry is trying to fashion out a solution to this problem, it is equally important to indicate that the problem needs a multi- sectoral collaboration involving -- he has listed all of them.
Mr. Speaker, the question is, when are they able to get them involved? Because, the way he puts it he is telling this House that there is the need for a multi-sectoral approach. Are they involved? If they are not, when are they getting them involved?
Mr. Eledi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we are involved. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is involved in finding a solution to the problem.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister did not get my question. He has indicated here that the solution to the problem is multi- sectoral. He has mentioned the Ministries involved. So it means that nothing has started. I want to find out whether they have started doing something about the situation, together with these agencies; or if not, when are they going to get the other agencies involved to deal with the problem at hand?
Mr. Eledi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I did indicate in my response to the Question that the matter was being addressed by the National Security Council, and most of the Ministries that I mentioned are members of the National Security Council; so something is ongoing.
Mr. Stephen Kunsu 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Deputy Minister what terms of reference were given to the National Security Council to fashion out a solution to the problem.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
The question cannot be supplementary. If you have other
questions, please ask.
Mr. Bagbin 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, to a
question as to whether the hon. Deputy Minister was aware that the cattle used unapproved routes, the hon. Deputy Minister said he was not aware. Could the hon. Deputy Minister tell us the routes that are used by the cattle?
Mr. Eledi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I did indicate that when it comes to the routes used by the cattle it is a matter for the agencies that manage and maintain our borders. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, even though we have some presence at the entry points of our borders, it is not for purposes of identifying the routes. [Interruptions.] Yes, it is possible that some of them come in through unapproved routes; that possibility cannot be ruled out.
Mr. C. K. Humado 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the written Answer by the hon. Deputy Minister, he said the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is not responsible for controlling the borders. I would like to find out from him whether the Quarantine Unit of the Veterinary Services Department has not got the authority to either grant permit, or refuse permit to livestock entering this country and thereby controlling the border with respect to livestock.
Mr. Eledi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, definitely the Veterinary Services Directorate has the power to issue or refuse a permit for entry of livestock into the country. But the presence of the Veterinary Services Directorate is at designated and approved entry points. At that point, yes, they can check it. But beyond that they are not in a position to check it.
Mr. Humado 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the
written Answer, the hon. Deputy Minister mentioned a number of measures --

fencing of the demarcated area, provision of water, all that. I would like to find out from him why this particular provision which has been in their budget and programmes since 2005. I have seen it there -- why up till now it has not reached implementation stage and remains at the planning stage?
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Member, this is
not a supplementary question.
Mr. A. K. Agbesi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, most of the time, the farmers whose crops are destroyed by these livestock are arrested and prosecuted. The owners of the livestock are left unpunished. These farmers, in an attempt to protect their farms, try to drive away the cattle; it is in that process that they are reported and arrested, and even prosecuted. To the annoyance of these farmers, the cattle owners are left free.
I want to know from him, what he will do in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior, to take these cattle owners, who allow their cattle to go to the farms and cause confusion and destruction, to court to be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Mr. Eledi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have said earlier that if it is brought to our attention, definitely, we will address it. But if something happens and it is not brought to the attention of the Ministry, we will not be in a position to address it. If a farmer's farm is destroyed and he is still sent to court, and he is being prosecuted, and it is brought to the attention of the Ministry, we will intervene and see what assistance we can give to the farmer.
Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, from the hon. Deputy Minister's Answer, and within the backdrop of the ECOWAS Protocol, it is clear that these are competing land uses between arable farming and pastoral agriculture. I want to know from the hon. Deputy Minister,
whether there are any policy frameworks that are being developed by the Ministry to address this conflict.
Mr. Eledi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that is why we have said that we want to establish range land where the cattle can come in and be confined to a certain radius, so that we try as much as possible to resolve the conflict between livestock and crop farming.
Dr. Kunbuor 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, a short supplementary to the first question. Is the hon. Deputy Minister aware that communal grazing has not been recognized as an interest in land in this country? So should they initiate that policy, how would they fence out this within the registerable interest in land which is basically focused on arable agriculture?
Mr. Eledi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that is why we say that discussion is ongoing; it has taken quite a bit of time. We recognize the complexity of the situation, and as much as possible we want to ensure that by the time that we establish the range land, it is in conformity with the laws and the usage of land in this country.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Question Number 1078
-- Hon. Simons Addai?
Mr. Alex Kyeremeh 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the hon. Member is not available and he has asked me to ask the Question on his behalf, with your permission.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Please, go ahead.
Tanoso Dam Site
Q. 1078. Mr. Alex Kyeremeh (on behalf of Mr. Simons Addai) asked the Minister for Food and Agriculture why work at the Tanoso Dam site is at a standstill.
Mr. Eledi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Tanoso Irrigation project was selected as one of the public irrigation projects for rehabilitation under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for small scale farmers in
Tanoso and its surrounding communities.
The contract for the civil works was signed on 2nd August, 2005 between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Messrs SAT Engineering Limited of Sunyani.
The site was handed over to the contractor on 24th September 2005 and the contract started work on 10th October
2005.
The rehabi l i ta t ion works was programmed for completion by December 31, 2006. The civil works comprising the construction of pump house, farmers' meeting hall, roads, stores for farm produce, fertilizer, chemicals and irrigation equipment, were completed on schedule by 28th December, 2006.
Currently the outstanding work is the installation of pumps. The contract for the supply of pumps was signed under a separate contract in September 2006 between Kirloskar Brothers Limited of India and the Ministry. They are to install the pumps, test-run them before commissioning. They are also to train the local technicians on the operation and maintenance of the pumps.
This contract Agreement was sent to the Crown Agent for “Value-for-Money” audit. This delayed the procurement process as the audit took quite sometime.
The pumps have now arrived and cleared. Site preparations are now going on for the installation of the pumps.
The Engineers of the Kirlorskar Brothers Limited are expected in the country by the third week of July 2007. Installation, testing and commissioning of the pumps is expected to be completed within three months. The Tanoso irrigation project will be ready for use by the
beneficiary farmers in the dry season.
Mr. Kyeremeh 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the Minister's Answer, he said that they have also awarded the second contract to an Indian company. So I want to find out the amount involved in that contract?
Mr. Eledi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I cannot supply the figure offhand; but I can always give it at a subsequent date.
Mr. Kyeremeh 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to find out whether the unavoidable delay would affect the cost of the contract.
Mr. Eledi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it would not affect the cost of the contract.
Mr. Bagbin 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, could the hon. Deputy Minister tell us the shareholders of Messrs SAT Engineering Limited?
Mr. Eledi 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, again, unfortunately, I am not in a position to tell the shareholders, but I believe that it is information that we can always supply at a subsequent date.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, thank you very much for appearing to answer the two Questions; you are discharged.
At the commencement of Public Business, item (5) -- Motion, hon. Majority Chief Whip?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, we stood this item down for further consultations. Unfortunately, we have not been able to conclude the consultations; so I plead that we stand it down till tomorrow by which time I believe -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Do you mean the motion on the Transfer of Convicted Persons?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:30 a.m.
Yes.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Right, it is stood down. Do we have any other items?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in respect of item (6), yesterday we had to stand that one down as well and it would be followed by some consultations, once again, on the Private Member's Motion.
Mr. Speaker, the consultations are still
inconclusive so if we have to resume -- [Interruptions] -- We could resume today; no, certainly -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
In fact, I wanted a feedback from the Leadership. I have not had any feedback yet.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:30 a.m.
I heard hon. Akua Dansua say that we are afraid; we certainly are not afraid. Mr. Speaker, if we have to resume, we are battle ready; but we plead that if we have to continue, there should be decorum and we should listen to one another.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Order! Order! Hon Members, I would suggest that we suspend Sitting for the next 15 minutes.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:30 a.m.
Very well, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker 11:05 a.m.
We are going to have a
meeting with the Leadership of the House on this.
The Sitting was suspended at 10.33 a.m.

Sitting resumed.
Mr. Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Order, order! Hon.
Deputy Majority Leader.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
wish to inform the House and, indeed, the whole country that we have arrived at a firm decision to have this debate continued tomorrow morning and have it concluded by Tuesday. Mr. Speaker, we thank you for your intervention and advice and I believe that tomorrow morning the debate would be resumed in full.
Now, let me also say that there were certain adjournments that we have had in the course of the debate which were not intended to deceive the public or to frustrate the exercise. We had the national interest at heart and we have been able to achieve or fashion out an agreement that will facilitate the debate to a fruitful conclusion by Tuesday.
So, that is the information we have for the House. I think my hon. Colleague would add a few words.
Mr. Bagbin 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we discussed
the issue at the leadership level and agreed to what has just been put forward by my hon. Colleague the Deputy Majority Leader. We also agreed that hon. Kan- Dapaah would be given the opportunity to wind up and two other Members will be given the opportunity to speak from each side of the political divide. The Minister for Energy will wind up for the Majority and my goodself will do so for the Minority. Mr. Speaker, we are committed

to this debate and we have to apologize if we have given any impression to the good people of Ghana that the House is not committed to at least, adding its voice to the policy process in finding the solution to the energy crisis.

We definitely are committed to that and we think that Members would do well to come out with inputs that could assist Government and the country to find a lasting solution to the energy crisis. We would be submitting the names of those who would take part in the debate from tomorrow and on Tuesday, to your good- self.

Mr. Speaker, we will support you in trying to enforce law, order and discipline in the House.
Mr. Felix Owusu-Adjapong 11:05 a.m.
Mr.
Mr. Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Majority Leader, we have just held a meeting with the Leadership of the House. I do hope your Deputy will brief you as to the outcome of the meeting, which I think was a good meeting.
Mr. Bagbin 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, let it
be put on record that the motion that we are debating is not to condemn the Government. I do not know where he got that term from. If one is expressing disappointment in something it is not condemnation - [Uproar] -- Please, it is English language. “Condemn” is far different from “disappointment”. Please it is English language; they may have to go back.
I am sorry, I completely disagree with that view that this motion is to condemn. No, this motion is not to condemn; this motion is to say that the way matters have been handled is not satisfactory. And then we are urging Government to put some programmes in place that would be effective because the programmes that it has in place are not achieving results. That is not to condemn.
Mr. Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon. Members, debate
has not commenced as yet.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong 11:05 a.m.
Mr.
Mr. Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Majority Leader, the
debate is not going to continue today; you can raise these matters tomorrow.
Minority Leader, there is an application for adjournment at this stage. Deputy
Mr. Speaker 11:05 a.m.


Majority Leader, any indications?
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg
to move, that we adjourn proceedings till tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 11:05 a.m.