Debates of 26 Oct 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, Thursday, 25th October 2007. Page 1 …8. [No correction to Votes and Proceedings.] Hon. Members, we do not have the Official Report of Wednesday, 24th October, 2007. Hon. Members, there is the need to amend the
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10 a.m.

Mr. Speaker, the Committee presents its report to this honourable House as follows 10 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Question(s)
Mr. Speaker, the Committee has invited six (6) Ministers to respond to various Questions.
The details are as follows:
No. of Question(s)
1022, 1039, 1068 and 1070.
Minister for Food and Agriculture - 1171, 1173, 1241 and 1291.
Laying of Papers --
a) Report of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the Data Capture (Registration, P r o t e c t i o n o f P e r s o n a l Information and Privacy) Bill.
b) Report of the Committee on Mines and Energy on the Mining Leases between the government of the Republic of ghana and the following:
(i) Anglogold Ashanti,
( i i ) g h a n a B a u x i t e Company Limited,
(iii) gulf Coast Resources Inc.
Committee Sittings.

Questions --

Minister for Energy - 810, 811, 812, 835, 848, 849 and 850.

Motions--

Second Reading of Bills --

Data Capture (Registration, P r o t e c t i o n o f P e r s o n a l Information and Privacy) Bill.

Committee Sittings. Friday, 2nd November 2007

Questions --

Minister for Education, Science and Sports - 867, 870, 871, 895 and 896.

i. Minister for Transportation 7

ii. Minister for the Interior 5

iii. Minister for Energy 7

iv. Minister for Education, Science and Sports 5

v. Minister for Health 5

vi. Minister for Food and Agriculture 4

Total Number of Questions 33

Mr. Speaker, in all, thirty-three (33) Questions are expected to be answered.

Statements

Mr. Speaker may allow Statements which have been 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 businesses which have already been presented to the House would also be considered.

Motions and Resolutions

Mr. Speaker, motions may be debated and the appropriate Resolutions would

also be taken where required.

Mr. Speaker, hon. Members will recall that a number of referrals were made to the various Committees during the last Meeting. Some of these referrals are still outstanding.

Mr. Speaker, the Business Committee therefore wishes to request Chairpersons of Committees with outstanding referrals to submit to the Business Committee not later than Wednesday, 7th November 2007 the dates on which their Reports would be ready for presentation to the House.

Mr. Speaker, this arrangement would enable the Business Committee to effectively plan the Business of the House for the Meeting.

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.

Questions --

Minister for Transportation - 708, 731, 732, 733, 734, 735 and 736.

Minister for Health - 1127, 1137, 1141, 1151 and 1163.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Anti-Money Laundering Bill.

Committee Sittings. Wednesday, 31st October 2007

Questions --

Minister for the Interior - 1019,

Laying of Papers

Motion --

Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Mines and Energy on the mining leases between the government of the Republic of ghana and the following:

(i) Anglogold Ashanti,

(ii) ghana Bauxite Company Limited,

(iii) gulf Coast Resources Inc.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Item 4 - Questions.
Hon. Minister for Energy.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, may we seek permission for the hon. Deputy Minister to act for the Minister who is not in the Chamber.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
The Deputy Minister
for Energy.
rose
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
The Deputy Minister for Energy -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Bagbin 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I apologise for the late intervention. We wanted to raise a few issues concerning the Business Statement, but you just moved ahead to item - 4. But I do not know, with your kind permission and the indulgence of the House, if that could be done.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Is it not possible to raise it with the Leadership?
Mr. Bagbin 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, sometimes
it is important to capture them for note so that they take it up from there. Sometimes, when you just refer to them without --
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
I can make myself available after the Sitting so that we put our heads together. [Laughter.]
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Question number 780, hon. Herod Cobbina, Member of Parliament for Sefwi-Akontombra.
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Yes, hon. Member for Suaman.
Mr. Ackah 10:10 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my Colleague is indisposed and he has asked me to ask the Question on his behalf.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:10 a.m.

Mr. Ackah 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, for sometime now, several questions relating to the extension of electricity to rural areas have been answered as being captured under SHEP-4 programme. However most of them do not fall under the SHEP-4 Phase-1 which is in progress now. I want to find out from the Minister when exactly the Phase-1 of the SHEP-4 is ending.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, the SHEP-4 Phase 1 is ongoing and it is the hope of the Ministry that by the end of the first quarter of next year we will be able to finish with the SHEP-4 Phase-1.
Mr. Ackah 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I know from the Minister how many phases have been slated for SHEP-4 and under which of them these communities are going to be considered.
Mr. Amporfo- Twumasi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we have four phases but I cannot tell under which of them is second, third and fourth -- these communities will be captured.
Nii Amasah Namoale: Mr. Speaker, I will like to ask the Minister if he will be able to publish the implementation
schedule for us to know the time-frame for the phases.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:10 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That can be done.
Nii Namoale: Mr. Speaker, I will like the hon. Minister to tell us when he is going to publish this implementation schedule.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon. Member, you know that this is not a supplementary question.
Question number 804 - hon. Joe gidisu, Member of Parliament for Central Tongu.
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Yes, hon. Member for North Tongu.
Mr. Hodogbey 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member for Central Tongu, hon. Joe gidisu has asked me to ask the question on his behalf because he is attending some other parliamentary function.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
go ahead, hon. Member
for North Tongu.
Degradation of the Lower Volta Basin (Responsibility)
Q. 804. Mr. C. S. Hodogbey (on behalf of Mr. Joe Gidisu) asked the Minister for Energy what is being done by the Ministry to ensure that the Volta River Authority take responsibility for the degradation of the Lower Volta Basin as a result of the construction of both the Akosombo and the Kpong dams.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:10 a.m.
Following the construction of the Akosombo and Kpong hydroelectric dams, the Volta River
Mr. Hodogbey 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, for the purposes of the House, can the Minister tell us what is the stretch and the extent of the Lower Volta Basin? He should answer before I will be able to ask questions.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Please, ask another question.
Mr. Hodogbey 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister made mention of vitiating problems and the mitigating measures taken to resolve the degradation of the Lower Volta Basin especially bilharzia, screening and all other things. I will like to know the specific areas where these
activities have taken place.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, these activities have taken place along the lower Volta Basin.
Mr. Hodogbey 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think
the question is dealing with the Lower Volta Basin. That is why you ruled out the definition of the extent. Since you have ruled it out, my question - he says along the Volta Basin - I mean the area - because it stretches from the lower Akosombo all the way to Ada, the estuary and so many other traditional areas and towns are along the Lower Volta Basin - which areas has his Ministry undertaken these activities? give me just one area because I come from there. I represent the area.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:10 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the answer indicates , all areas which are susceptible to such environmental degradational issues are under the VRA's activities.
Ms. Akua Dansua 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I believe the question talks about degradation in all forms, not only environmental. I will like to know from the Minister what the VRA is doing to improve the socio- economic lives of the people in terms of projects like schools, markets and all that.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that the provision of infrastructural facilities will not be captured under degradational issues. I wish to state that I may need to consult and provide the list of all infrastructural facilities that have been provided under the scheme.
Mr. Joseph Z. Amenowode 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think the questioner specifically wanted to know when the Ministry is going to ensure the Volta River Authority takes responsibility for degradation. And the answer given, I think, only addresses the health needs of the people and that is just
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
I thought this question had been asked and answer given. Hon. Member for Shai-Osudoku.
Mr. David T. Assumeng 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the issue of the Lower Volta Basin has been raised several times in this House since we came; the time of Professor Oquaye, and it is like no solution is being found to the problem. I cannot put any specific question to the Minister. But Mr. Speaker, I want to crave your indulgence that if you could use your good offices to intervene in the affairs of the Lower Volta Basin because as a matter of fact, the people are suffering.
Though we keep on hammering this issue in the House, it is like no solution is being found. So I want to know, I want to urge you to use your good offices to intervene in this problem of the Lower Volta Basin. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
I have heard you. [Laughter.] Hon. Member for Biakoye.
Mr. Emmanuel K. Bandua 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister said that the VRA regularly dredges the area in order to maintain some balance. I want to know how often it is done. Within a year for instance, how often is the dredging done? The frequency of the dredging -
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that I will not be able to tell the frequency now.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Question 805.
Rural Electrification Project (Completion)
Q. 805. Mr. John A. Ndebugre asked the Minister for Energy when would the Rural Electrification Project SHEP covering the following communities in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region be completed:
(i) gbantongo
(ii) Teshie
(iii) Binaba
(iv) Kusanaba
(v) Lamboya
(vi) Saka
(vii) Sapelliga
(viii) Tanga
(ix) Timonde
(x) Yarigu
(xi) Kubogo
(xii) Kobore
(xiii) Kansongo
(xiv) Yelwoko.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, gbantango, Teshie, Binaba and Kusanaba form part of the SHEP-3 Phase-2 project. The projects in Teshie and Binaba have been completed and the communities are enjoying power supply. High Tension (HT) and Transformer Substation Works have also been completed at gbantongo and Kusanaba. The outstanding works in these communities are LT extension works and customer service connections.
The delay in the completion of these projects was due to the inability of the communities to procure the required LT
poles for the project. The outstanding works have been scheduled for completion by the end of the year 2007.
Mr. Speaker, the Lamboya, Saka, Sapelliga, Tanga, Timonde, Yarigu, Kubogo , Kobore and Kansongo communities form part of the SHEP-3 Phase-3 project.
The projects in Saka and Kobore have been completed and the communities are already enjoying power supply. Forty- four and 16 meters have respectively been installed in these communities. Further, HT and substation works have been completed at Lamboya, Kasongo, Sapelliga, Tanga and Timonde.
The projects in Lamboya, Kansongo, Sapelliga, Tanga, Timonde, Yarigu and Kubogo have been scheduled for completion by the end of December, 2007. It is important we note that the delays in the completion of these projects are due to the inability of the communities to procure the low tension poles required for the project on time.
The Yelwoko community forms part of the SHEP-4 Phase-1 project. Installation works have been completed and the community is enjoying power supply. Eighty-two customers have been served with single phase meters whilst two customers have been served with three- phase meters.
Mr. Ndebugre 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I know from the hon. Deputy Minister when the three SHEP projects started? SHEP-3, Phase-2, SHEP-3 Phase-3 and SHEP-4 Phase 1; when were the commencement times?
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, SHEP-3 Phase-2 commenced in December, 1998. SHEP-3 Phase-3 commenced in August, 2000 and SHEP-4 Phase-1 commenced in 2004.
Mr. Ndebugre 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the hon. Deputy Minister if or what efforts have been made by his Ministry to make these communities aware of the contributions expected of them in the supply of these low tension poles and so on. Since this excuse has been recurring and recurring, what effort has been made to sensitize the communities as to their part of the contribution to the project?
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, several interventions have been made through education and the hon. Member of Parliament and my Colleague is quite aware of the responsibility of the community in fulfilling their part of the deal. I hope that it will not be a surprise to me that the hon. Member of Parliament will take up this responsibility and support the Ministry to deliver.
Mr. Ndebugre 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I know from the hon. Deputy Minister which institution is in charge of awarding the contracts for the supply of the poles as well as the undertaking of high tension and sub-station works and low tension extension and service connections?
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that is the responsibility of the Ministry of Energy.
Mr. Ndebugre 10:20 a.m.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for your indulgence. I would like to know from the Deputy Minister whether these communities he has mentioned can be assured that come the end of December 2007, the works will be completed.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry is resolved that all efforts will be marshalled to ensure that by December, 2007, these communities are connected.
We will do so depending upon the number of poles that a community has provided. We will not delay any further.
Mr Tanko Abdul-Rauf Ibrahim 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the Minister's answer, he made mention that the delay in the conclusion of these projects is due to the inabilities of the communities to procure the required LT poles for the project. And he has also stated that the outstanding works have been scheduled for completion by the end of the year 2007. Is the Minister now telling us that the communities have made these poles available? Have they gotten the required poles?
Mr. K. Amporfo Twumasi 10:30 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated in the last answer to my hon. Colleague's question, the Ministry has resolved that we would not wait for the complement of the poles that would be required by the community. If the community is expected to provide about 40 poles and the community is ready with 20, we will go ahead and use the 20 to connect the community. That would solve the problem once and for all.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Question number 806 - hon. Member for Zebilla, Mr. John Ndebugre.
Connecting of Bawku West District Communities to the National
Electricity Grid
Q. 806. Mr. John A. Ndebugre asked the Minister for Energy when would the following communities in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region be connected to the National Electricity grid:
(i) Boya
(ii) Kamega
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.


(iii) googo

(iv) Tang-Dabote

(v) Yikurugu

(vi) Widnaba

(vii) Zongoiri

(viii) Abotdabogo.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:30 a.m.
The Yikurugu, googo, Zongoiri and Abotdabogo communities form part of the SHEP- 4 programme for which the Ministry has carried out engineering surveys. They however do not form part of the ongoing SHEP-4 Phase-1 project. The communities would be considered in the subsequent phases of the programme in line with the implementation schedule and the availability of funding.
The Kamega, Widnaba, Boya and Tang- Dabote communities do not form part of the Ministry's ongoing electrification programme. These commu-nities would be considered under the subsequent phases of the SHEP if they meet the eligibility criteria. And with that, the community would even have to apply.
Mr. Ndebugre 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the hon. Deputy Minister, what the implementation schedule is.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry has decided to complete the SHEP-3, Phase-3, SHEP-4 Phase-1 and immediately after that commence with the SHEP-4, Phase-2; and I have already indicated that we hope to finish the SHEP- 4, Phase-1 by the end of the first quarter of next year. So starting from the first quarter of next year, we would be compiling the list for SHEP-4, Phase-2.
Mr. Ndebugre 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the hon. Deputy Minister, if Yikurugu, googo, Zongoiri and Abotdabogo can be considered in the
SHEP-4, Phase-2 project.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, they may be considered depending upon their ability to meet the other criteria.
Mr. Ndebugre 10:30 a.m.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the hon. Deputy Minister what the eligibility criteria are since he said we have to meet them and apply. What are the eligibility criteria?
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there are three.
One is that the community should be within 20 kilometres radius of an already existing 11 kV or 33 kV transmission line. Two, the communities must be willing and ready to buy all the low voltage poles required for the project. The third one is that, about one-third or thirty per cent of the houses in that community must be ready for the consumption of power.
Mr. Edward Salia 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the hon. Deputy Minister's Answer on when the phases will be completed, he did indicate when SHEP-4, Phase-1 will be completed. But is the hon. Deputy Minister aware that there are a lot of communities under SHEP-3, Phase-3, that have still not got electricity? And if so, when will those communities also benefit?
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I am aware and I think I have stated it here. I said that for all that, all those communities under SHEP-3, Phase-2, Phase-3 work is expected to be completed by the end of December 2007, except maybe, like the experience we have had in the northern part, we may wait for some communities for the water to recede before we can move ahead to do that.
Mr. Stephen Hodogbey 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the hon. Deputy Minister, what criteria they use to terminate one phase before going to the next phase.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Your question again, please.
Mr. Stephen Hodogbey 10:30 a.m.
The question is that, in several other communities as the hon. Member for Jirapa indicated, which were in different phases, the projects have not yet been finished but they have moved to another phase. So I am asking what criteria they use in their decision-making, to terminate one phase, which is still not completed before moving to the next new one. That is what I would like to know.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not think that we terminate phases. They can be running concurrently as we are having now. We have different sources of funding for these projects and that is why we tag them “the SHEP” and “the Phase”.
Status of Work on the Extension of Electricity to the Akan Constituency
Q. 807. Mr. John Kwadwo Gyapong asked the Minister for Energy the status of work on the extension of electricity from the national electricity grid to the following communities in the Akan Constituency: (i) Attakofi, (ii) Akum, (iii) Titiaha, (iv) Dodo-Fie, (v) Kuku-rantumi, (vi) Ahamansu Junction.
Mr. Amporfo-Twumasi 10:30 a.m.
The Attakofi, Akum, Titiaha, Dodo-Fie, Kukurantumi and Ahamansu Junction communities form part of the SHEP-4 Programme for which the Ministry has already carried out engineering or feasibility surveys. They however do not form part of the ongoing SHEP-4 Phase-1 project. The communities would be considered in the subsequent phases of the programme in line with the implementation schedule and the availability of funding.
Mr. Gyapong 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want
to ask the hon. Deputy Minister why the communities are not in the Phase-1 of the SHEP-4. Why?
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, under the SHEP-4, as many as about 2000 communities have been surveyed and we looked at the preparation of these communities before selecting them in the phases.
Mr. Gyapong 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I know from the hon. Deputy Minister if these communities will be considered in the Phase 2 of the SHEP-4. This is because I know that these communities are 20 kilometers from what they want. They have low tension poles and thirty per cent of their members have wired their houses.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I can assure my hon. Colleague that a team would be dispatched to look at the level of preparedness of these communities when we are considering those that will come under Phase 2.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Question number 808 - it stands in the name of the hon. Member for Nkwanta South, Mr. g. K. B. gbediame.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.


SHEP-4 and Communities in Nkwanta South Constituency

(Commencement)

Q. 808. Mr. G. K. B. Gbediame asked the Minister for Energy which phase of SHEP-4 the following communities belong to: Odumase, Kacheibi, Ashiabre, Tutukpene, and when work for that phase will commence.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:40 a.m.
The Ministry of Energy is currently executing the SHEP- 4 Phase-1 project. The communities under the Phase-1 project are expected to be completed by the end of the year 2007. Following the completion of the Phase-1 project, the second phase will commence upon the availability of funding.
The Ministry is in the process of finalizing the list of communities to be connected under the subsequent phases of the SHEP-4. We shall therefore consider under which phase the Odumase, Kacheibi, Ashiabre and Tutukpene communities will be executed under the SHEP-4.
Mr. Gbediame 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as far back as the year 2000, these communities were informed of their inclusion in SHEP-4. Anytime we go round these communities on our normal rounds, the question we are asked is when work is going to commence in the various communities and we are handicapped in giving them specific answers. It is upon this reason that I would want the hon. Deputy Minister to tell us that these communities are in SHEP-4 Phase-2 or 3 and then those questions that are being directed to us anytime we go to the communities could be answered.
As the Answer is stipulating, they are still in the process of, first of all, looking for funds and secondly, to finish the listing of the various communities under various
phases. May I know from the hon. Deputy Minister when they would finish this categorization of the various communities for us to have specific answers to give our electorate.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the assurance to my hon. Colleague is that the communities are still under the SHEP- 4. The Ministry is working on grouping or categorizing them into phases, and as soon as that is done, my hon. Colleague would know under which of the phases his communities fall and could then use that as information to his electorate.
Mr. Gbediame 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, another
part of the Answer states that the Ministry is sourcing for funds. May I know what source they are looking at and when this process would be completed so that, at least we would have a fair idea about what we are talking about?
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we are looking at the traditional development partners and other friends of the nation who are ready to support us.
Mr. S. M. E. K Ackah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the previous answer to my Question on behalf the hon. Member for Sefwi- Akontombra, the hon. Deputy Minister indicated that Phase-1 of SHEP-4 is to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2008. Here in his same Answer, he is saying that the project is supposed to end by 2007. I want to appeal to the hon. Deputy Minister to reconcile these answers by telling us specifically when Phase-1 is ending.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would want to plead that my hon. Colleague accepts the end of the first quarter of 2008.
Electricity Substation at Nkwanta (Construction)
Q. 809. Mr. Gershon K. B. Gbediame
asked the Minister for Energy if the Ministry will consider building an electricity substation at Nkwanta to serve Nkwanta and its environs in order to reduce the rampant power outages.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:40 a.m.
The construc- tion of primary substations is occasioned by the consumption of huge loads from consumers. Presently the volume of load in the Nkwanta area does not justify the construction of a primary substation. The Electricity Company of ghana under whose jurisdiction the distribution of electricity falls in Nkwanta and its environs has therefore disclosed that they have no immediate plans to put up a primary substation at Nkwanta.
What the Electricity Company of ghana (ECg) intends to do however is to put up a switching station at Jasikan to improve upon reliability of supply in view of the long lines in the Nkwanta area. This will allow for the isolation of faults on the Hohoe-Jasikan-Nkwanta line. It is expected that following the completion of the switching station, power supply in these areas will improve.
Mr. Gbediame 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I know from the hon. Deputy Minister when this facility at Jasikan would be constructed.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
ECg is ready to take up that responsibility and execute it in 2008. So hopefully by the end of the year 2008, the programme and the project would have been executed.
Mr. Gbediame 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there is currently extension of light from the northern part of the district, that is, from the Damanko area, which actually has been connected from the Bimbilla-Krachi line towards Nkwanta. Currently it is
about some 20 kilometres from Nkwanta town which is enjoying electricity from the south. It is in this wise that Nkwanta would become very strategic in view of the two sources of energy coming towards it.
The first question is, would the hon. Deputy Minister consider joining the northern line to the one at Nkwanta to make the electrification of that area complete - [Interruption.] That is the reason why it is very important to establish a substation at Nkwanta. That is the basis of that question because there is power coming from the north and the substation is far away in the Northern Region. For the one from the south, the substation is far away at Kpando serving Nkwanta. That is the reason why I am asking whether he would consider establishing a substation at Nkwanta.
Mr. Amporfo Twumasi 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, until and unless the two lines are fused and Nkwanta is seen as strategically carrying that load that would warrant the construction of a substation, I think that I would not be able to assure my hon. Colleague. However, if the two lines are fused, ECg would do the needed feasibility study and if the community warrants the construction of a substation, that would be done.
Mr. Gbediame 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I find out from the hon. Deputy Minister whether it is the intention of the Ministry to actually join these two lines and when that project would commence.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon. Member, this is not a supplementary question at all. Deputy Minister, thank you very much for appearing to answer these Questions. You are discharged.
The next item is Statements. Statement by the hon. Member for Asawase.
STATEMENTS 10:50 a.m.

Ms. Christine Churcher (NPP - Cape Coast) 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to place on record the importance of the Statement made by my hon. Colleague on education. My major concern on the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results and the placement this year is that all the pupils who go through are supposed to record no lower than grade 5 in each of the core subjects to be able to get placement.
There is a situation in my own constituency, Cape Coast where a young, deprived, poor girl who felt so hopeless and did not feel that she has any future or any hope was virtually adopted by us. This young girl finds it difficult even to get her daily bread let alone find a place to sleep. This girl sat for the examination, and Mr. Speaker, fortunately she made aggregate 18.
Mr. Speaker, this young girl, deprived, made aggregate 18 although she does not have a place to sleep. Fortunately, she made 1 in the English Language, she made beautiful grades in the Science. But because she made 6 in the Social Studies she has been offered no placement because the policy is that in the core subjects you should make at least 5. This girl has made 5s and 4s and 3s and even 1s, but because she made 6 in the Social Studies, as I am talking now, she has no placement. Where lies the future of this deprived girl? Where lies the future of such deprived children?
Mr. Speaker, I am alarmed and I want to entreat my colleagues in the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to look at this policy critically, otherwise it would widen the gap and the inequities would be widened.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to look at the issue of “zero schools” -- The fact that some schools simply are not able to produce even one child who is able to make the grades, even minimally to qualify for the senior secondary school.
Mr. Speaker, this is untenable; there is no excuse for this. There were times when children from the most deprived parts of this country could make it. Hon. Effah- Dartey came from Jinijini to Achimota. Mr. Speaker, there is no reason why any school should say that they could not even identify one promising child who could make it minimally to the senior secondary school.
Mr. Speaker, when in education we talk about “zero schools”, we are talking about children who are able to make it basically, even minimally; this one, Mr. Speaker, I still do not understand, it defies logic.

Mr. Speaker, it is untenable, and I call on this House, especially the Committee for Education to look seriously at this, and all of us interested should come together and find ways of solving this. We should not have it on our records again that any school should say that god created only children who cannot even -- Aaba! -- [Laughter.] Mr. Speaker, this is untenable.

Mr. Speaker, coming again to the problem of resitting, when children sit for the Senior Secondary Examination and they do not make it, it is easy for them to resit; everywhere there are advertise- ments; everywhere people know where to
Ms. Christine Churcher (NPP - Cape Coast) 11 a.m.


go but the plight of the young ones who come from BECE, like this one from my constituency -- Mr. Speaker, I will fight it till she gets placement because it is unfair.

Mr. Speaker, when they turn up for re-sitting they are discouraged left and right. I feel that we should come out forcefully with a policy -- all those who are interested should be encouraged to resit. And when it comes to resitting, every condition should be such that it should be easier for them to resit. If it is possible only a minimal fee should be taken from them to enable them to resit.

Mr. Speaker, coming to the issue of supervision which was raised by the hon. Member, supervision is one crucial ingredient in ensuring that teachers and for that matter pupils do the right thing and that education is propelled. Sometimes, I ask myself, even in those schools which are not performing at all, who supervises them? So nobody is aware of what they do there?

Sometimes, it is difficult; I want to say that supervision must be strengthened. If it is possible, for each district to get a four-wheel vehicle -- I do not even think of a motorbike because the nation's future depends on these children. I had the opportunity when I was in the Ministry of Education to enter into the hinterlands to visit some of the schools, and I had a shock, when I got to a school very much in the depths of the Brong Ahafo Region.

In that school there were only two teachers, every teacher posted there runs away. Walking around, I saw shirts washed, immaculately hanged; and I said, “Eh! there must be somebody great in this place.” When I went there, this was the teacher who has stayed there for about six years - the headmaster. I asked him, how are you making it? He said, Madam, I am trying. I said, how have you managed to stay here for eight years, this place?

He said, Madam, anytime that I intend to go, I ask myself: Is there no good one among these? But this teacher had never been recognized; nobody knew what he was doing. I went on straight and asked what the performance of the children was. He said they were doing well. So randomly we selected the children, some of them naked, not even in pants, and asked them a few questions.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of that teacher, I will later give all his particulars so that this House will support me in recommending such teachers, wherever they are; they should be identified to be the best teachers. Mr. Speaker, the random sampling, each side that we selected could speak English, and they could spell because of the dedication of one teacher.

Mr. Speaker, talking about performance also brings in the point of the role of parents. Mr. Speaker, teachers can do what they can but parents have a role to ensure that their children when they get home, at least, they do their home work, spend less time watching television, and spend more time on their books. Sometimes, parents relegate this only to teachers.

We go about looking for money everywhere; if we do not take care we will come back home and the children for whom we are looking for money will not be there even to enjoy the prospects of our riches. Mr. Speaker, parental irresponsibility is too much in this country.

Even when I was in education, even now, there are people in my constituency who keep on telling me, Madam, I do not even know who my father is; madam, my mother does not care whether I eat. Mr. Speaker, if a parent is not prepared to look after the child, let alone help the child educationally, that parent should not

go scot free.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I am speaking with so much passion because I have been in education. I am a mother, and I know that but for education I would not have been where I am. I call on this House to make it clear to this nation that zero (0) per cent for any school is simply unacceptable. Every teacher, every school should be able to identify at least some who when assisted can make it at least minimally.

Mr. Speaker, the same god who created children from all over, who made them is not different from the god of today. Every child has a potential, every child can make it. Every child is special when given the necessary support; when given the necessary support; every child will be able to make it. Mr. Speaker, it is on this call that I thank you for the opportunity to pour out my heart on this educational matter.
Mr. J. Y. Chireh (NDC - Wa West) 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the maker of the Statement because I have a worrying situation, slightly different from his, but closely connected to it. What is it? He is talking about those who fail examinations and cannot do resit and progress but I am going to talk about those who have passed and are taken in either training colleges or in the senior high schools but who are required to pay between 200 ghana cedis and 400 ghana cedis before they can even obtain the admission letter. That is ridiculous.
If the same situation occurred several years ago, many of us would not be in this room. Indeed, I remember that some of us owed fees and we were given some notice to pay. But today unless you pay upfront you will not even get the admission letter. How can one say that, particularly those people in the northern sector who have
been ravaged by these floods, can produce this amount of money before their children can get admission to these schools? This is not right.
We need to look at these policies. Indeed, I did not know whether the Ministry of Education or the ghana Education Service has agreed with the heads of these institutions to implement these policies, and if it is so then I am certain that many people would not gain admission into these schools.
rose
Mr. Chireh 11 a.m.
When I was on tour, and
Mr. Speaker 11 a.m.
Minister for Water
Resources, Works and Housing, do you have a point of order?
Alhaji Saddique Boniface 11 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I have a point of order. The two million that he is talking about, I want to find out whether it is spelt out in the admission that one has got to pay, and a time period is spelt out. Even in universities, it is normal, right from Adam, that any letter that is given to one, the admission fee is spelt out and a date is given after which date the letter elapses. So I am very surprised that he is telling us that they have got to pay before they enter. It is neither here nor there. It is about fees.
Mr. Chireh 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am surprised that as a Minister he has not been able to go to his constituency, otherwise he would have been confronted with this problem. It is a demand that you pay upfront before you even get the admission letter. And I am saying that it is full payment, it is not part payment but it is possible for bursaries to be given to
Mr. Chireh 11:10 a.m.


people to pay these monies over a period.

Many developed countries do that and I do not understand why he is still telling me that what I am saying is routine. There is nothing routine about it, it is an illegal thing they are doing and it is being sanctioned by the Ministry and I think something has to be done about it. It is a serious matter.
Alhaji Boniface 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I want to tell my hon. Colleague that I just returned from my constituency so he should withdraw that statement by telling me that if I had gone to my constituency - I went to fetch my people for the Sanla and as I stand here I have paid school fees for more than fifty people to universities and primary schools. So I am very surprised for him to tell me that if I had gone to my constituency - I am the people's man in my constituency so I would be surprised for him to tell me that if I had gone to my constituency -
Mr. Chireh 11:10 a.m.
If he were not the people's man he would not be here. He is the people's man but I am saying that as a busy Minister maybe he has not been to his constituency. I am saying that this issue is clear, that what is going on, all of us here are aware. I was bombarded with so many requests to pay these monies upfront from the Common Fund. How many can you pay from the Common Fund? How many? For Nursing Training Colleges, Teacher Training Colleges, Senior High Schools, Polytechnics and others.
rose
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Member for Abetifi, do you have a point of order?
Mr. E. A. Agyepong 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the allegation which my hon. Friend is making is a serious one. We would like to get more facts on it because with the computerization of the results, what we know is that each school has its results pasted on the notice board and therefore for him to talk about two million cedis before admission letters are given, we need further clarification so that the matter could be gone into. Let us not just make this allegation and just gloss over it. So we would like to know about it.
Mr. Chireh 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am saying and I still emphasize that this is the principle now adopted by all heads of institutions in this country and I am saying whether it is - [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Members, at least, we have the hon. Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Sports here and I would call her to respond, so let us go on.
Mr. Chireh 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, whether it is a policy or it is something that they are doing, I am saying that it is not fair and I continue to say that in other countries they have a system where one can delay payments. Why is it that people are now asked to pay upfront, complete payment for the term or for whatever period? It is not right and that is where my concern is.
If it is about money, definitely many people cannot get education. I am saying if it is not the position - I have paid and I know people have asked me and people have gone to collect their admission letters and they were saying, No, bring the fees before we give you the admission letters”. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. P. C. Appiah-Ofori (NPP -Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa) 11:10 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, it is just a brief intervention. What he is saying is as true as the gospel; it is very true.
Mr. Speaker, there is a young lady in my constituency called Amina Adam. She gained admission to Fosu Teacher Training College and she was supposed to pay a fee of about two million cedis. This girl did not see the need to come and tell me but by the time she was able to raise the money, she was told the offer had been given to another person and she had lost it. So what he is saying is as true as the gospel. So let us try to find a solution to the problem instead of going round it.
Mr. E. K. Salia (NDC - Jirapa) 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to add my voice to this very well-researched Statement made by the hon. Member of Parliament for Asawase. Indeed, the performance of very young pupils at the basic level, particularly in those exams is something that should be worrying almost all of us.
rose
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Minister, do you have a point of order?
Alhaji Boniface 11:10 a.m.
That is so, Mr. Speaker, I am on a point of order. The hon. Member is saying that the people employed under the Youth Employment Programme under the community assistance are unqualified - [Interruption]
- Mr. Speaker, he is now saying “some”. He said they are unqualified but now he is qualifying it by saying “some.” Mr. Speaker, even some of us here are not qualified - [Inter-ruption.] Yes, one does not expect.
An hon. Member: We are not qualified to be what?
Alhaji Boniface 11:10 a.m.
My hon. Brother, let us be very frank here. Mr. Speaker, I was fortunate to have been the Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment and we made sure that every person who was recruited under the community teaching assistance was screened. They must have at least three passes in the Senior Secondary School Examination - [Interruption] - Pardon me?
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Do not be distracted.
Alhaji Boniface 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, some of us were one time pupil teachers and we had no qualification before we became “Cert B” teachers, before going to “Cert A” and before going to the university. So even those people we claim to be qualified are going through a training process. Education, as we see it, is a very expensive investment. Education is a bad investment and all of us would agree that education is a bad investment but it turns out to be good savings provided the product proves himself very well.
So it is not easy. No one is born stupid so the fact that he is saying that those people are unqualified, he should withdraw that statement.
Mr. Salia 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am trying to find out causes for the poor performance in some of these schools. The truth is that we can even have qualified teachers who are not dedicated. In every profession one comes across people of this nature and the truth also is that in some of the
Mr. Salia 11:10 a.m.


communities and districts the recruitment process did not consider the qualifications of some of the newly recruited pupil teachers.
rose
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon. Member for Tarkwa Nsuaem, do you have a point of order?
Mrs. Kusi 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have a point of order. Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister said some of us are not qualified. I want him to withdraw that statement because what he said is going into the newspapers - [Interruption] - Mr. Speaker, we all filled forms to qualify as parliamentary candidates and we won our elections so if he says some of us are not qualified I do not know the qualification that we need before we come here. He should explain it because I am qualified to be here. [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Order! Order! I have not called you.
Alhaji Boniface 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, this is where I see ambiguity in language. When we are talking about teachers, I said some of us in this House are not qualified to be teachers. [Some hon. Members: No.] [Interruption.] I said trained teachers.
Mr. Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Order! Order!
Alhaji Boniface 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I said
whether you have finished university or not, you are not a qualified trained teacher. So some of us in this House are not all
qualified to be teachers. Hon. Mubarak even asked me and I said he was not a qualified trained teacher.
Mr. Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Order! Order! Hon.
Alhaji Boniface 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if that
is the impression, I withdraw.
Mr. Salia 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I can say that
Mr. Mahama Ayariga 11:20 a.m.
On a point of
order. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I have to take him on on a point of order. Mr. Speaker, there is a misleading statement that is being made on the floor of this House in the sense that people are looking at the returns on investment in education in terms of the results or the performance of the student. But if you look at education from the basic up to junior high level, the investment on education, the returns are such that even the basic education that young girls get that they can use in their married homes, et cetera are important for the rest of society.
So we should not look at the returns on investment only in terms of the outcome -- the results of examination. That is what I want corrected.
Mr. Salia 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to
emphasize that the point made by the hon. Member for Wa West is indeed a major problem in a lot of communities. This
year has been particularly difficult for a lot of new entrants into polytechnics to do HND, Nursing Training Schools and Post Secondary Colleges. One of the greatest demands that faced me when I was in my constituency was request by what we call newly admitted students into these three tertiary institutions, all demanding some support.
It is regrettable to come across students who have 50 per cent of the money and yet they are denied admission. I know of a situation in which I gave two million cedis, that is 200 ghana cedis, for a student to go to Wa Polytechnic and at the moment he is at home because he got there late, not having paid the required amount earlier.
Mr. Speaker, I think that everybody knows the benefit of education. As my hon. Colleague from Bawku Central has said, even though there are other benefits of education, an indicator of the effectiveness or the efficiency of an educational system is the performance in the various examinations that are set by the institutions. So if students are not passing the examination and schools are recording zero per cent, it must be a matter of concern to most of us.
I think that there is indeed the need to take a second look at our educational policy and our educational administration so that teachers can be better supervised and the situation where unqualified teachers are in some of the classrooms - Please when teachers are being recruited under the youth employment model, at the very least, promising teachers, even if they are pupil teachers, should show intelligence enough to be able to teach.
I was taught mostly by pupil teachers but I succeeded in my educational programme. So I have nothing against
pupil teachers as long as they are good enough. In fact, in those days from classes 1 to 6 most of us were taught by people who had just finished Standard Seven. And I will admit that Teacher J. K. Anokye, Teacher Richard Danchaga who taught me were effective teachers, that is why I ended up being in this House as a Postgraduate degree holder from a ghanaian University.
I want to add that there is a lot for all of us to do in respect of education. We would be surprised that some of my hon. Colleagues are attacking the contribution as if they were not in the system themselves to know what is happening. I would urge everybody else to take a closer look at education in their constituencies and see what we can all contribute to improve upon the situation.
The future of our country lies in the quality of the human resource we turn out now. If at the basic level we do not perform well and have no opportunity at all to climb the educational ladder then most of them are doomed for the rest of their lives.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you very much for giving me the opportunity.
Deputy Minister for Education,
Youth and Sports (Mrs. Angelina- Baiden Amissah): Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute and to give a few answers to issues raised here.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the maker of the
Statement but some of the issues raised are unfounded. I realize that in ghana all efforts put in by government to improve upon education, some people recognize them but others pretend they have not seen them. This is because if we compare what is happening now in education with what we were reaping some time ago, we would realize that there have been vast improvement.
Mr. Salia 11:30 a.m.


Mr. Speaker, the maker of the Statement talked about gender parity which we have not reached and that he wondered what would happen after that. Mr. Speaker, gender parity is now 0.96. If we look at the ratio it is 0.96:1, so 1 for boys, 0.96 for girls. gradually we are getting there because of the measures we have put in place.

Mr. Speaker, we presented 320,256 candidates for the examination and those who qualified for placement were 166,808 and those who have been placed are 128,901; vacancies that we have for placement is 172,193. Mr. Speaker, for any candidate to qualify for placement we look at the aggregate so we have from aggregate 6 to 30.

Even before the Computerised School Selection Placement no head of a school would take aggregate 30 apart from schools that would not have enough candidates. For the aggregate 30 the candidate must make grade 5 in four of the core subjects and a minimum of grade 6 in two best subjects but when all is combined it must come to aggregate 30 and we are placing those with aggregate

27, 28, 29, 30.

The reason why some candidates

were not placed with this - Yesterday or two days ago, I mentioned here that government is doing well to improve upon secondary schools in our communities, what we called the community-based secondary schools by making them model schools. But we expect that candidates in those communities will select schools in their own communities, so that if parents cannot even pay the boarding school fees, they could attend the day schools. At least, it would be something small that they will have to pay as day students.

But they move away from their community schools and select schools which they classify as grade-one schools. And some of these schools like Wesley girls High, Holy Child, Achimota, Opoku Ware and others - It is true that the student could select any school, but they must look at their capabilities; if they can compete in grades with those who have attended experimental schools here and there, where they get nine ones.

When they select Wesley girls High School as their first choice and get aggregate 30, Holy Child Secondary School as second choice and then any other secondary school as third choice, then they are bound to miss all. This is because they would not get their first and second choices. There are others who have made it. And for the placement, it is not just the grades but we look at the raw scores.

So one could make eight-ones with an average being 70 per cent. Another person could make eight-ones with an average of 90 per cent. So that person would be placed first before it comes to the former. And this is the essence of the computerised school selection pro-grammne. Otherwise, it is only children of the affable in society who will get best schools.

There are children of drivers and children of people who do not earn much salary who are making it to these schools, which we called the A-schools and when it comes to payment parents find it difficult to pay because they do not have money but their children are academically good. So they may have to borrow money from somewhere and later request for scholarship from the District Assemblies.

Even some Members of Parliament give scholarships to their constituents. Some organisations are also giving. If

one goes to Cocoa Marketing Board they also give. So for the child who is brilliant but needy, there are organisations offering scholarships for them.

An issue came up here that head of schools take ¢4 million before they give admission forms. Sometimes they give admission forms and the parents take them but they do not come back. So when they are asked to declare vacancies after the placement programme has given them the number of candidates coming to the school, they are not able to because they do not know whether these children are coming or not.

When the names are put up on the notice boards of the schools for those who have been accepted by the school or those who are going to be absorbed by the school, they are given a deadline, sometimes two or three weeks. Some parents toil but cannot find any money to go and pay even half of it. So what do you expect of heads of schools? It is sometimes easier said than done. We can sit here and criticise but are might have to find oneself as a headmaster in a particular school and see how it feels.

During this period when we expect headmasters and headmistresses to be free, they are still suffering. Parents keep going to them with so many problems here and there. Sometimes even in my own constituency parents come to tell me, “Madam, my child has aggregate so and so, he has been offered admission here, but I do not have money to go and pay.”

Meanwhile, I might have also used my Common Fund on something else which is also needed in the constituency. Sometimes I try to improve upon education in my constituency - not only by paying school fees but by mostly using it to
Mr. Salia 11:40 a.m.


improve upon the buildings, buy books, drains, health and other things.

Apart from the placement, the figure

that I gave, we have placed a lot of them on the computer and the names will come out by early next week. We are even expecting the names to come out today. By early next week, I promise that you would see the names.

Most parents whose wards were not placed need not come to Accra. They only have to go to the District Directors of Education to take forms and fill them in and indicate the grades of their wards. They then look through the schools that have declared vacancies and fill them in. A lot of those who were not placed have been placed now. And parents will hear of it early next week.

Mr. Speaker, talking about supervision in schools, with the education reform supervision is an integral part of it. This is because without supervision we do not expect to yield any meaningful results. For this reason the Inspectorate Division of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports has been revamped. Almost all the Circuit Supervisors at the District Level have been given motorbikes. So the problem of motorbikes does not come in here.

The District Directors have been given four-wheel drives each for supervision and monitoring. Ebei! Look at what the government is doing and praise us - [Laughter] - The Regional Directors have also been given their four-wheel drives. And all the Principals of the 38 public training colleges have also been given their four-wheel drives so that they will be able to move up and down for proper supervision and do their recruitment well.

Mr. Speaker, if a student is unable to go to the secondary school, the technical and vocational schools are there for such a student. Sometimes when they bring their

results, I advise and some of the Members also advise that looking at the child's grades, it would be better to put the child in a technical or vocational school.

When it comes to intelligence, it is not only with the mental faculty. I mean, they can do something with their hands. So why can they not combine that and their manipulative skills to improve upon their lots? Should it always be secondary school? Then what is the use of the technical schools? Meanwhile, we are building more technical schools in trying to improve upon the technical/vocational fields. Should they lie fallow?

So let me advise our children and our constituents to make use of these facilities because the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment has also built a lot of ICCES institutes in some constituencies. And those who would not be able to go to secondary school can find their way there. This is because I have visited some of the ICCES institutes and I realised that they are teaching sewing, food and nutrition, masonry, carpentry, building technology and so many things.

So from there, they can make way into something else. But they attend for some time - just for one year - and if they are able to make blocks, they just end it without any certificate and start making blocks and telling people that they can build. They start the buildings and in no time, the buildings collapse. But those who are serious and do finish are actually doing well on the field. After that, they can go into apprenticeship or take care of their own small-scale industry.

Even after junior high school, apart from secondary and technical schools, some of them could go into apprenticeship, what we call structured apprenticeship, where government pays for the first year

of training for these children. This has started in phases and the government is taking care of those in these schools. And what we do is that we pick a master craftsman, somebody we know can actually do well and teach very well -- and some of them are even in the mechanic industry. They learn so that nobody, no child will be useless in life.

Mr. Speaker, talking about zero per cent rating, last year I was called to the Akwapim area where they had zero per cent rating for five years. We were all disturbed. So what the communities in those areas did was to come together and invite me. I listened to issues here and there and realised that the teachers were not serious. Some of the teachers were practising what we called “absenteeism”. There were few teachers who were drunkards and some of them were using the lack of electricity in some areas, long distance as excuses. But there are a lot of schools in the Akwapim area which are very close to the communities. So why were the teachers not teaching?

We were also told that some of the children were only visiting some companies which were making pineapple juices and the children were rather interested in making mounds for the growing of the pineapples and not going to school because they were able to make quick money instead of going to school to “waste” their time over there.

So these are some of the reasons where I see social attractions that pull some of the children out. And if parents do not put their foot down, then it affects the children. This is not caused by the Ministry or the ghana Education Service (gES) but what we have done is that we are trying to improve upon the lot of schools.

We are putting up schools under trees, you are all aware. We saw it in the papers here and there, award of contracts for schools under trees. We are putting up staff accommodation for such distressed schools so that at least teachers can have a place to stay close to the schools.

We have not been able to satisfy all communities. Please it is gradual. It is a gradual process because the budget is for so many things - It is not only for the building of schools and accommodation for teachers. Mr. Speaker, an issue came up as regards teaching assistants who have been employed by the Youth Employment Programme. The Ministry of Education, Science and Sports is working together with the Ministry for Manpower, Youth and Employment. These children are trained and prepared well. They go through training programmes before they are put in the schools and these supervisors or circuit supervisors go round to see how they are faring on the field. If the child is not performing well it is not coming from the teacher.

Mostly, there are few issues I have raised as regards teachers but it is not these new teachers who are teaching assistants. It is not only ghana which has employed teaching assistants. Singapore, when they reached a boom in enrolment they resorted to the same thing. They trained teachers quickly - O' Level teachers. In our case, it is SSS graduands. They are trained quickly to fill these vacancies instead of just letting the children suffer unduly; and I tell you that some of these teaching assistants are performing better than some trained teachers. So there is no problem here and there.

Mr. Speaker, if we look at the figures released for this year 2007, the ratio of
Mr. Salia 11:40 a.m.


teachers to children is 32 to 1, instead of 35 to 1. We know that there are few problems here and there which we are trying to patch up but I think that this government has done well and must be commended.

Yes, what we came and saw was worst than we are seeing now. There has been a lot of improvement - [Hear! Hear!] - and we need to be commended. Mean-while, we have taken note of all the issues raised and we will see how best we can together with Parliament or the Committee on Education address these issues for the betterment of mother ghana. I thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker 11:40 a.m.
At the Commencement of Public Business - Committee Sittings.
Mr. K. A. Okerchiri 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there are some committee sittings and we have quite exhausted what is on the Order Paper for the day.
Mr. Speaker, I therefore move that this House adjourns till Tuesday, 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
Mr. Edward Salia 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as the available Leader, I wish to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 11:40 a.m.