Debates of 9 Nov 2007

MR. SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:35 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Order! Correction of Votes and Proceedings. I hope the Official Report is also ready. If it is, then hon. Members may take note of any errors and get them corrected by the Hansard Office.
Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 8th November, 2007 - Page 1 . . . 6 - Hon. First Deputy Speaker, do you have a correction to make? I thought you had a correction to make. Page 7. . . 12.
Mr. David Assumeng 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, your Committee on Environ- ment, Science and Technology met and I thought it would be captured.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
The Clerk's Office would take note of that.
Well, subject to this correction, the Votes and Proceedings are deemed to be the true record of the proceedings of Thursday, 8th November 2007.
Chairman of the Business Committee - Business Statement.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Committee presents its report to this honourable House as follows 10:35 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Question(s)
Mr. Speaker, the Committee has invited eight (8) Ministers to respond to various Questions.
The details are as follows:
Mr. Speaker, in all, thirty-three (33) Questions are expected to be answered.
Statements
Mr. Speaker, you 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, debate of the Private
Member's Motion - Half Hour Motion on the Tamale Water Project - has been scheduled for Friday, 16th November, 2007. Mr. Speaker, other motions may be debated and the appropriate Resolutions taken where required.
Committee of the Whole
Mr. Speaker, a meeting of the
Committee of the Whole has also been scheduled for Wednesday, 14th November 2007. The Business Committee wishes to indicate that due to the said meeting, no other committee sittings should be programmed for that day.
Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the Year 2008
Mr. Speaker, the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the year 2008 is expected to be presented to the House on Thursday, 15th November 2007. Post Budget Workshop
Mr. Speaker, a workshop would be organised for Leadership of the House, Committee Leadership and some selected staff of the Parliamentary Service on Friday, 23rd November 2007. Details of the said workshop would soon be communicated to participants.
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 Women and Children's Affairs - 1246 and 1326

Minister for Tourism and Diasporan Relations - 1144, 1256, 1335 and

1336

Motion --

Second Reading of Bills

Data Capture (Regulation, Pro- tection of Personal Information and Privacy) Bill.

Committee Sittings.

Questions --

Minister for Health - 1097, 1098, 1109, 1127 and 1137

Minister for Fisheries - 1210 and

1239

Committee Sittings --

No. of Question(s) i. Minister for Tourism and Disasporan Relations 4 ii. Minister for Women and Children's Affairs 2 iii. Minister for Health 5 iv. Minister for Fisheries 2 v. Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing 7 vi. Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment 2 vii. Minister for Harbours and Railways 4 viii. Minister for Transportation 7

Total Number of Questions 33
Mr. Speaker, the Committee presents its report to this honourable House as follows 10:35 a.m.
Committee of the Whole

Questions

Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing - 952, 964, 991, 1016, 1023, 1061 and 1073

Motion

That this honourable House approves the Financial Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2008.

Committee Sittings

Committee of Selection

Questions --

Minister for Harbours and Railways

- 1175, 1192, 1248, 1313

Minister for Transportation - 737, 738, 739, 740, 741, 743 and 744

Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment - 1288 and 1309

Consideration Stage of Bill --

Data Capture (Regulation, Pro- tection of Personal Information and Privacy) Bill.

Motion --

Half Hour Motion --

That this honourable House notes with concern the way and manner the Tamale Water Project is being executed by Bi-Water

Company. Mr. Haruna Iddrisu Alhaji Abukari Sumani

Committee Sittings.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon. Members, that is the Business Statement for the ensuing week. It is for the consideration of the House.
There being no comments, the Business Statement is taken as the Business for next week.
Questions - hon. Majority Leader, is the hon. Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment ready for us?
Very well, hon. Member for Shai Osudoku, you may ask Question number
1058.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:35 a.m.
MINISTRY OF LOCAL 10:35 a.m.
GOVERNMENT, RURAL 10:35 a.m.
DEVELOPMENT AND 10:35 a.m.
ENVIRONMENT 10:35 a.m.
Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment (Mr. Adjei-Darko) 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, aquatic weed infestation has become a nuisance affecting many West African water bodies including Ghana.
Indeed, the degradation of natural habitat, loss of ecological and social services and increased morbidity occasioned by water weed infestation has
Mr. Assumeng 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would want to know from the hon. Minister of State how the project would be executed.
Mr. Adjei-Darko 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think I made mention of it in my Answer, that it is going to be manual.
Mr. Assumeng 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, since the project is huge, I want to know from the hon. Minister of State whether he is considering other sources of funding in addition to the amount that we are going to get.
Mr. Adjei-Darko 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, a project document has been prepared, and I said, it is a collaborative effort with ECOWAS. I should think that until we start the project, we do not have any basis to request for additional funding. But we would see how we would cross the river when we get to it.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister of State in paragraph two of his Answer said that ‘the weed infestation has contributed
Mr. Adjei-Darko 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. Member wants us to come back to talk about poverty alleviation or reduction process, and how it is taking place in the whole country, perhaps the hon. Member should come by the appropriate procedure. But all these areas depend mostly on fishing and it is known by everybody that these aquatic weeds affect fishing activities.
So until we are able to introduce alternative livelihood programmes which would also take time, what we have to do is to make sure that we sustain the activities of the fisherfolk in these areas.
Mr. C. S. Hodogbey 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my Question to the hon. Minister of State is that the unit of account does not explain to us the amount of dollars or euros it is - [Interruption.]
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon. Member, your question is disallowed.
Dr. A. Y. Alhassan 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to find out from the hon. Minister of State which agency specifically is going to undertake the projects.
Mr. Adjei-Darko 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, this falls within the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), they are the lead agency. It does not mean that they are going to do the actual work. But it is the EPA which is the lead agency to ensure that all these processes take place.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon. Member for Sefwi-Akontombra, you may ask Question number 1134.
Mr. Herod Cobbina 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, this Question which is to be answered today was posed by me to the hon. Minister a year ago after I made the Statement on the need for the creation of a district for Akontombra in this very House. Mr. Speaker, the statement I made sought to ask for a creation of a district and this Question was posed a year after.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Very well.
Implementation of New Layout for Nima East
Q. 1135. Maj. (Alhaji) (Dr.) Mustapha
Ahmed (retd.) asked the Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment when the New Lay- out drawn by the Town and Country Planning Department for Nima East will be implemented.
Mr. Adjei-Darko 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to inform the House that there is no new layout prepared by the Town and Country Planning Department for Nima East. The current layout for Nima is the Nima-Maamobi Redevelopment Planning Scheme prepared in October 1973 by the Town and Country Planning Department

and it covered an area of 427.1 acres.

The Town and Country Planning Department will however be tasked to revisit the 1973 Nima-Maamobi Re- development Scheme to see what can be done to assist in the development of Nima East.

Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the hon. Minister whether he is aware that Nima West, Maamobi East and Maamobi West have all benefited from this new lay-out in the past under Urban I and II projects.
Mr. Adjei-Darko 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am aware that the Department of Urban Roads have had one scheme or the other covering these areas. But so far as a lay-out is concerned, the existing layout was done in 1973. So there is no new one which he is making reference to.
Maj. (Alhaji) (Dr.) Ahmed (retd.): Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the hon. Minister whether he is aware of the profiling that has been done since the year 2002 following a sensitisation exercise for the chiefs and landlords in Nima East area that is supposed to serve as a basis for the new layout. Also, I would like to know when the Town and Country Planning Department would be tasked to prepare the layout.
Mr. Adjei-Darko 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the profiling that has been done. The setback is that in the preparation of a new layout it may involve a lot of structures coming down. Mr. Speaker, in fact, as far back as 1957 demolition exercises took place, but immediately after the demolition exercises, uncontrolled development and encroachment on road reservations became so massive that no new layout could be prepared out of that
and so effective opening up of that area could not take place.
Now that the process has started, it may involve, as I said, a lot of structures giving way. So the Member of Parliament and members of the community may have to assist, especially when it comes to the social aspect of it.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, what the community wants is the introduction of roads, drains and sanitation points to enhance the quality of their lives and their economic activities. I would like to know whether this would be the central consideration to task the Town and Country Planning to do the new layout.
Mr. Adjei-Darko 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
definitely, improvement of road network in the community and for that matter any community within the metropolis is central to our developmental efforts and therefore this would be considered.
But the problem in Nima is that most of these streets may be narrow and we would therefore have to perhaps widen them because sometimes, the number of vehicles which even park along the roadside makes it very difficult and uncomfortable for people to use. So in providing these facilities, it may be necessary to touch some properties; and that is where the emphasis should be.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Question No. 1200, hon. Yaw Osei-Sarfo, Member for Krachi West?
Mr. H. F. Kamel 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member in whose name the Question stands is attending a committee workshop at Ho and he has asked me to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Very well; go ahead.
Mr. Kamel 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Very
well. Question stood down.
Accountability of District Assemblies to Parliament on Statutory
Financial Allocations
Q. 1209. Mr. Eric Opoku (on behalf of Dr. Kwame Ampofo) asked the Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment what system is in place to oblige the District Assemblies to account to Parliament, the disbursement of statutory financial allocations to them, namely: (i) Poverty Alleviation Fund (15 per cent of DACF); (ii) District Education Fund (2 per cent of DACF); (iii) District Response Initiative on HIV/AIDS (1 per cent of DACF).
Mr. Adjei-Darko 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the District Assemblies have no mandate to account directly to Parliament on the use of the statutory Financial Allocations made out of the DACF.
However, District Assemblies do account to the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator's office through the submission of monthly cash returns.
The Administrator of the Common Fund is mandated under section 14 of Act 455 of 1993 to account to Parliament on the usage of the funds by the submission of Annual Reports on these expenditures.
Mr. Speaker, I must mention herein that, the percentages referred to are indicative and serve only as guidelines to the Assemblies but not obligatory.
Mr. Opoku 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want the hon. Minister to explain further his statement that percentages are indicative but not obligatory.
Mr. Adjei-Darko 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, under the decentralisation concept, the Assemblies are to take charge of their developmental programmes and activities, but within the framework of national developmental policy. That is why it becomes necessary to issue guidelines to Assemblies, especially when certain things fall within the national develop- mental framework.
For example, if HIV/AIDS becomes an issue then the Minister can issue guidelines as to what percentage the Assembly may use on HIV/AIDS education. I said it is indicative; Assemblies may go beyond that depending on the magnitude of the problem there or they may go below that. That is why I said it is indicative.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Your final supplementary question, hon. Member.
Mr. Opoku 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think I
have asked just one and I am entitled to three.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
What
did you say?
Mr. Opoku 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I said I have
asked just one question, and I thought you were going to give me three opportunities.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
I
thought you asked the second one; this is the third one.
Mr. Opoku 11:05 a.m.
This the second one, sir.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Very
well, go ahead.
Mr. Opoku 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker I would like to ask the hon. Minister, what will be his reaction to the fact that Parliament has oversight responsibility over all MDAs and their sub-structures?
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Repeat
your Question, please.
Mr. Opoku 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am asking
the Minister what will be his reaction to the statement that Parliament has oversight responsibilities over all MDAs and their sub- structures.
Mr. Adjei-Darko 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker it looks as if the hon. Member is seeking my opinion. But I want to repeat what I said. The Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund, which can be classified as one of the MDAs is mandated under section 14 of Act 455 of 1993 to account to Parliament.
Mr. Speaker, if I may quote, section
14 of Act 455 states -- and with your permission, I quote:
“The Administrator shall within 6 months after the end of each financial year submit to Parliament a report of the activities of the Fund during the preceding fiscal year including the manner in which the moneys lodged in the Fund had been distributed and the report of the Auditor-General on the account.”.
And the same Act defines “Fund” to mean District Assemblies Common Fund. So the Administrator has been mandated to report to Parliament on the issue. And his report comes as a result of the Trial Balances and the monthly reports he receives from these Assemblies, as to how they are using their moneys. And the Auditor-General also audits these Assemblies. Unless perhaps, the hon. Member would want a specific Assembly to come down here and report,
we feel that we are going by the law; we have not breached any aspect of the law.
Mr. Opoku 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, is the hon.
Minister implying that Parliament cannot hold DCEs accountable on the use of the Common Fund?
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon.
Member, that Question is disallowed. Hon. Member, you should know that the oversight responsibility does not mean that the other organs do not have to take certain actions to report to Parliament. For instance, a lot of our oversight in Public Accounts is done by the Auditor-General and then he reports to Parliament, and the Public Accounts Committee takes it on. So that Question is disallowed.
rose
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon.
Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning --
Dr. A. A. Osei 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want
to ask the hon. Minister, if he is saying that after Parliament has met to agree on a minimum percentage, the Assemblies have the authority to go below that minimum that Parliament has approved. Is that what he is saying the “obligatory” means? After we have sat here to say that you cannot have less than, and then he is saying that to his mind the “obligatory” means that the Assemblies can go below the lower ceiling. Is that what he is saying? If yes, I would want to ask a supplementary uestion.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon. Minister, your “indicative of the percentages” - [Interruption] -- hon. Minister, your Question has been well put. Hon. Minister, you may answer it.
Mr. Adjei-Darko 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
stated that these are indicative figures.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon.
Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, have you finished? [Interruption] -- Very well. His concern was that, yes, they may go above it depending on the need but whether they can go below the amount approved by Parliament, was his question.
Dr. Osei 11:05 a.m.
In his statement he said they
could go below it if they wished and I want to seek clarification on this.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
That
is what I am saying.
Mr. Adjei-Darko 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Assemblies are agents of development in their own communities. Depending on the problems within the nation, Parliament may even decide that as guidelines, Assemblies may even invest in guinea worm eradication. A percentage of the Fund may go for those as guidelines. So I do not see whether guidelines are obligatory, and that is why
I personally feel that these are supposed to guide the Assemblies, but then we should not create the impression that, by all means, Assemblies should spend those moneys even if they are not needed for specific Assemblies. Because progress varies from Assembly to Assembly.
Dr. Osei 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it appears the hon. Minister is not directly answering my Question. Parliament in the last Appropriation Bill did not say it was indicative. It approved that they cannot spend less than a certain percentage for those areas; yes, they could go forward but my interpretation of “indication” was that that is the minimum that they can use. But in his Answer, he said it is his personal opinion.
I am not asking for the personal opinion, I am asking for the interpretation of what we did as Parliament. As hon. Minister, I am asking him to answer the Question, whether he is saying that he is authorizing the Assemblies to go beyond what Parliament had authorized or below. Earlier, he said they could even go below. My suggestion is that they cannot.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon.
Minister, you have given your position on the matter. I think it is for Parliament to consider when the next formula is being considered what specifically is required to be done.
Mr. J. A. Tia 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, District Assemblies, “shall use a minimum of two percent of their allocation for the establishment of a district education fund”. The operative word there is “shall use a minimum of two percent for the establishment of a district education fund”. I want to know whether if any Assembly decides to set aside three percent, he will approve it.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon.
Minority Chief Whip, that Question is disallowed. The hon. Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has belaboured the point sufficiently enough. We have got a clear indication from the Minister for Local Government, Rural Development that he has given his view. We have seen the direction he is going, and it is for Parliament to take a decision on that.
Mr. John Tia 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, his view
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon.
Chief Whip, please, resume your seat.

He said both sides - both up and down and I have said that it has come to the notice of Parliament - the understanding of the Minister -- and Parliament at the appropriate time will deal with the matter.
Mr. C. S. Hodogbey 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
my Question to him as the Minister for Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment is what is the legal definition of statutory financial allocation”?
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon.
Member, repeat your Question.
Mr. Hodogbey 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I said
the Question here is “statutory financial allocation.” What is the legal definition of that phrase?
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Legal
Dr. Osei Akoto 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
Question was asked by somebody on behalf of hon. Dr. Kwame Ampofo. If you read the Question, he made this statement. So he should be asked to define it legally and not the Minister.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Well,
it is the Minister who is on the floor answering Questions. But if you have information to give you may do so. You are not obliged to answer legal questions here.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alh.) Mustapha Ahmed
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon.
Mr. Ibn Mohammed Abass 11:15 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity. Following on the Answers the Minister gave, I wanted to know whether the District Asemblies have the authority to vary any decision that Parliament has made.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon.
Member, that Question is disallowed. I have indicated that the Minister has given the answer to the House, as he understands it. The House has taken note that it needs to look at it to make things very clear. So, let us not belabour the point. Thank you, hon. Minister for attending upon the House to answer Questions. You are discharged.
The hon. Minister for Finance and
Economic Planning, you have a Statement to make?
STATEMENT 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon. Members will remember that we recall that when the hon. Minister appeared before the House to seek the authority of Parliament for the Government to issue a Government Bond for this amount, the approval was given with the clear understanding that the hon. Minister would come with details when action was taken in that direction. And it is commendable that the hon. Minister
has fulfilled his promise to the House; I commend him for that.
Now, the details that have been given, in order that House will have a clear picture of them will be referred to the Finance Committee which will report to the House by Tuesday next. So the Finance Committee will go into work immediately and report to the House. And then because of the sensitive nature of getting into the Capital Market, the House may have close sitting to deliberate on the issues so as not to let out anything to adversely affect our interest.
So the statement is referred to the Finance Committee.
Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor 11:25 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I certainly recognize the fact that the matter has been referred to the committee but hon. Members will need some basic minimum documentation to assist them particularly the prospectus and certain ancillary documents like the due diligence; at least, this will assist both the Members to follow the discussions.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, if you can make those documents available that will be helpful.
STATEMENTS 11:25 a.m.
Minister for the Interior (Mr. Kwamena Bartels) 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am here once again to make this statement in fulfilment of my responsibility under section 4(3) of the Public Order Act 1994 (Act 491).
Mr. Speaker, I was here last Tuesday, the 6th of November, 2007 to brief this House on the situation in the Anlo Traditional Area in the chieftaincy dispute involving factions of the royal Adzovia clan over
who has the right to install an Awoamefia to succeed the late Togbe Adzaladaw II who died in 1998.
Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, violence
exploded on 1st November, 2007 in Anloga between the factions and the Police resulting in the death of 4 civilians and a Police Officer.
Mr. Speaker, as you aware, the
Government obtained an injunction from the Accra High Court restraining the Kingmakers of the Anlo Traditional Council from holding any meeting or event concerning or connected with the installation of the said Mr. Francis Nyonyo Agboada, also known as Regent Togbui Sri III as Awoamefia until further notice from the court.
By Executive Instrument, the Minister
for the Interior prohibited all persons in the Keta and Anlo areas from carrying arms or ammunitions.
Again, the Minister for the Interior
imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew running from 6.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. each day on Anloga, Keta and their environs with a directive to the police and the military to ensure strict compliance with the dusk-to- dawn curfew.
Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, under
section 4 (4) of the Public Order Act (491), the curfew imposed on 2nd November, 2007 came to an end at 12 midnight yesterday, the 8th November, 2007.
Mr. Speaker, even though no unusual
incidents have occurred since the imposition of the curfew and Anloga is calm, the situation in Anloga continues to be potentially very volatile.
Consequently Mr. Speaker, the curfew
has, by Executive Instrument, been re- imposed. But Mr. Speaker, the curfew
will now be from 8.00 p.m. to 5.00 a.m. everyday and shall cover only Angola and its immediate environs , these are Tegbi, Woe, Anloga, Whuti and Atorkor). Keta is no more covered by the curfew.
The police and military contingent
present in Anloga and Keta shall however be maintained to ensure law and order and to consolidate the current calm that is prevailing in the area whiles we continue to monitor closely the situation.
Mr. Speaker, the ban on the possession
of arms and ammunition in the Keta and Anloga areas still remains in force.
11. 35 a.m.
Once again Mr. Speaker, let me take
the opportunity to appeal to all traditional leaders, opinion leaders, citizens as well as well-wishers of the Anlo Traditional area to support the Government in its efforts to ensure that calm, peace, security, law and order return to the Anlo Traditional Area. Again, let me appeal particularly to the press to exercise circumspection in reporting on the issues arising out of the explosion of violence on the 1st of November, 2007 in Anloga. Issues of chieftaincy are very sensitive, emotive and explosive and the role of the press is very important in determining whether peace and tranquility return or whether we have another explosion on our hands.
The role played by particularly radio in inciting the genocide of Rwanda should be a lesson and a guide to all of us.
Mr. Speaker, the Government would
like to urge all the parties to settle the issue of who is the rightful heir to the Anlo Paramount Stool through the constitutionally recognised structures of the Regional or National Houses of Chiefs or the courts.
Minister for the Interior (Mr. Kwamena Bartels) 11:25 a.m.


Finally Mr. Speaker, the Government would like to once again reiterate it position of none interference in chieftaincy affairs but it would take all necessary steps to ensure that law and order prevail throughout the country. I wish to appeal to all and sundry to support the Government to bring peace and security to our brothers and sisters in the Anlo State. To all those who have lost dear ones in Anloga, let me express the Government's sincerest condolences.

I thank you Mr. Speaker.
Mr. C. K. Humado (NDC - Anlo) 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to contribute to the statement on the review of the situation in Anloga which has just been made by the hon. Interior Minister.
Listening to the statement, I think it is a positive statement and it is devoid of any contentious issues. So I believe we are making some progress. I also appreciate the reduction in the duration of the curfew from 6. 00 p.m. to 6. 00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. to 5. 00 a.m. On this point, I wish to let hon. Members know that my people are mainly fishermen, vegetable farmers and traders and they normally wake up very early in the morning, at about 3. 00 a.m. or 4.00 a.m. to start their livelihood activities. Though the review is an improvement, I hope in the immediate future, all things being equal the curfew may be lifted altogether.
I also appreciate the reduction in the area coverage of the curfew particularly for Keta because I have had a lot of complaints from the people of Keta. So I am quite delighted that Keta is now no more under curfew. There are a few complaints also coming from other areas like Wuti and Atorkor and I believe in the next review these may be considered.
Mr. Speaker, I am particularly assured by the continuous emphasis that the hon. Minister is making on the issue of who is the heir to the throne, that is, the Awoamefia, should be settled through constitutional means. This, as I said the last time, is the key to the solution of this problem and I am very delighted that he still continues to emphasise this aspect of the solution to the problem.
Mr. Speaker, the situation in Anloga is improving but we generally have a wait- and-see attitude. Several people have left the area for other parts of Ghana and the basic schools are beginning to resume and I think that during this period, we need to have confidence building measures.
I have heard yesterday and reliably, that a faction is again asking for or giving notice that they want to have a meeting in Anloga next week Tuesday. I know sometimes this may be constitutional rights of individuals and groups but considering the situation in which we are, I believe we need to build confidence measures, and I would, therefore, urge the hon. Minister to look at this particular request. My view is that it should not be allowed because it may spark off sensitivities again. So I urge him to take a look at this request and probably explain the circumstances to the faction which is asking for the police protection that they should, for now, desist from holding such meetings.
Mr. Speaker, everyday I have been working with the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the Keta District to review the situation on the ground and one issue that comes out very clearly is the budgetary issue. Any time we have an issue of this nature, they take money from the contingency fund. And this time the demand on the fund is so heavy and I would like to urge the hon. Minister to
assist the district with enough funds and in a timely manner so that the district would be able to cope up with taking care of the security personnel in the area.
Once again, I would also like to extend
my condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones, that is, the bereaved families of both the civilians and the policeman. I am also aware that there are several injured civilians on either side still at the hospital and I wish them a speedy recovery. I would also want to urge that those suspects who are still in cells should have their cases looked at expeditiously and treated humanely. Until proven guilty, we cannot allow their human rights to be abused and I therefore would urge the hon. Minister to also look at this aspect.
Finally, we would all cooperate to bring
the situation in the Anlo area to a speedy solution and I believe that the way things are going on and all things being equal, we should be able to solve this crisis in the shortest possible time.
I thank you Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon.
Members I commend the Member of Parliament (MP) for closely interacting with the DCE to ensure that progress towards peace is made. I urge him to also liaise constantly with the hon. Minister for the Interior in those areas that he has information which the hon. Minister does not have so that he will inform him to monitor the situation and take appropriate measures.
Hon. Minister, thank you for your statement. I believe the House is convinced about your reasons for extending the curfew.
PAPERS 11:25 a.m.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn till Tuesday 13th November, 2007.
Mr. J. A. Tia 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to
ADJOURNMENT 11:25 a.m.