Debates of 15 Feb 2008

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 -- Pages 1-18. [No corrections were made to the Votes and Proceedings.] Hon. Members, we do not have any Official Report today.

Item 3 -- Business Statement for the 5th Week -- Hon. Chairman for the Business Committee?
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10 a.m.
Majority Leader/Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (Mr. A. O. Aidooh) 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Committee met on Wednesday, 13th February 2008 and determined Business of the House for the Fifth Week ending Friday, 22nd February 2008. Mr. Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows:
Arrangement of Business
Question(s) Mr. Speaker, the Committee has
programmed twenty-eight (28) Questions to be answered by various Ministers during the week.
The details are as follows:
No. of Question(s)
i. Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing -- 5
ii. Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment -- 2
iii. Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment -- 5
iv. Minister for Health -- 5
v. Minister for the Greater-Accra Region -- 1
vi. Minister for Transportation -- 10
Total Number of Questions -- 28
Mr. Speaker, in all, twenty-eight (28) Questions are expected to be answered in the fifth week.
Papers and Reports
Mr. Speaker, Papers and Reports may be laid and presented respectively for consideration by the House.
Bills
Mr. Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House and those which have already been presented would be taken through the various stages of passage.
Mr. Speaker, the Report of the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture
on the Chieftaincy Bill was laid on Wednesday, 13th February 2008. The Business Committee therefore wishes to urge hon. Members to thoroughly read the Bill alongside the Committee's Report and submit amendments, if any, to the Table Office for processing.
Statements and Motions
Mr. Speaker may allow statements and motions may also be debated.
Debate of the Message on the State of the Nation
Mr. Speaker, debate of the Message on the State of the Nation presented by His Excellency the President would commence on Tuesday, 19th February 2008.
To this end, the Business Committee wishes to recommend the following time allocations during the debate of the Message.
i. Majority and Minority Leaders -- 20 minutes
ii. Mover of the motion
-- 20
minutes
iii. Seconder of the motion -- 20 minutes
iv. Other Members of Leadership -- 10 minutes
v. Chairmen/Chairpersons and Ranking Members -- 10 minutes vi. The rest of hon. Members
-- 5 minutes
It is also recommended that hon. Members would adhere strictly to the time allocations to ensure that as many hon. Members as possible would make their presentations.
Majority Leader/Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (Mr. A. O. Aidooh) 10 a.m.
Conclusion
Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2) and subject to Standing Order 53, your Committee submits to this honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

Questions --

Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing -- 1133, 1146, 1152, 1178 and 1179

Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment -- 1321 and 1401

Motion --

That this House thanks His Excellency the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to this honourable House on Thursday, 14th February 2008.

Committee Sitting.

Questions --

Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environ- ment -- 1280, 1282, 1285, 1308 and 1317

Motion --

That this House thanks His Excellency the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to this honourable House on Thursday, 14th February 2008.

Committee Sittings.

Questions--

Minister for Health -- 1097, 1098, 1109, 1164 and 1199

Minister for the Greater-Accra Region -- 1397

Motions --

(a) That this House thanks His Excellency the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to this honourable House on Thursday, 14th February 2008.

(b) Second Reading of Bills --

Chieftaincy Bill

Committee Sittings.

Questions --

Minister for Transportation -- 854,

855, 856, 857, 858, 859, 880, 881,

Motion --

That this House thanks His Excellency the President for the Message on the State of the

Nation which he delivered to this honourable House on Thursday, 14th February 2008.

Committee Sittings.
Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to make some enquiry from the Business Committee. Given the nature of the Parliamentary calendar for this year, we are aware that there are a number of institutions for which appropriations have been made and for which some formula and approval have to be given by this House, particularly the District Assemblies' Common Fund, and one sees that by the end of March the first Meeting would have lapsed and we would be on recess.
I do not know whether any arrangement is in place to ensure that we address these particular formulae and report on them before Parliament gets less active, as it were.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, pertaining to the District Assemblies' Common Fund, the issue has to do with the creation and establishment of the new Assemblies and so we have advised that the Subsidiary Legislation Committee should expedite its work so that we have an idea as to which of the Assemblies would be indeed and in fact established. That would determine the number of Assemblies to which the allocations should go. That is the only matter outstanding, but we expect to do that before we rise.
Mr. J. D. Mahama 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, Urgent Questions by their connotation mean exactly that -- urgent. I filed two Urgent Questions almost three weeks ago -- one to the hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD and the other to the hon. Minister for Presidential Affairs. I have been waiting to have the Business Committee schedule
these Questions for Answer but they do not appear to be on the Order Paper for this coming week. I want to ask the Chairman of the Business Committee what the status of those Questions are.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not recall that these Questions have been referred to the Committee but I would check with the Clerk. If they have been admitted by Mr. Speaker, we would find time for them in view of his emerging position as the probable Vice President of the country.
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Please, take it up with the Leadership. I think these are not matters we should worry ourselves about, please.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed(retd): Mr. Speaker, I have concerns about the fact that the financial statements for the other statutory bodies like the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Fund and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Fund are still not with us. We do not know when they would be placed before the House for approval of their formulae.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
I thought this was the question the hon. Member for Lawra/ Nandom was alluding to.
Mr. A. O. Aidooh 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that related to the DACF, but as regards the other funds, we would get in touch with the hon. Ministers and the heads to expedite work on them.
URGENT QUESTION 10:10 a.m.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, 10:10 a.m.
AND SPORTS 10:10 a.m.
Minister for Education, Science and Sports (Prof. Dominic Fobih) 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there is no school called Kanda Unity. . . However, there is Kanda cluster of schools. There is also the Nima cluster of schools. The Ministry has taken the necessary steps to address the problem by providing additional classrooms. Approval has already been given for the construction of a 6-unit classroom block for each cluster of schools.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, in the first place, the Question talks about three (3) clusters of schools -- Kanda cluster, Unity cluster and the Nima cluster of schools. It is not Kanda Unity.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Are you saying there is a problem with the Question?
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, his Answer says that there is no ‘Unity.'
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Do you have other questions to ask about this?
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, the Question is, are Kanda, Unity and Nima cluster of schools -- So it is not Kanda Unity. It is Kanda cluster, Unity cluster and Nima cluster -- three (3) clusters of schools.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon. Member for East Ayawaso, ask questions about this Question, please. If you have other questions, ask.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister says that steps are being taken to provide facilities to terminate the shift system in these three clusters of schools. I would like to know what specific facilities are being provided and to which of these clusters.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Please, one question at a time.
Prof. Fobih 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Answer is precise. It says that approval has already been given for the construction of a 6-unit classroom block for each of the cluster of schools.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, I would like to know if the hon. Minister can provide details of the approvals -- the name of the contractor, et cetera.
Prof. Fobih 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would plead with the hon. Member of Parliament to verify from my office after these questions are over.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, I would also want to find out from the hon. Minister what steps he is taking to provide books on the new syllabuses that have been introduced in the primary schools in these clusters of schools.
Prof. Fobih 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, this is dealing with another Question all together. But for his information, the books on the new syllabuses are now in the processes of writing and publishing. As he knows very well, we develop the syllabus before we write appropriate textbooks to suit it. As the syllabuses are already in place
and the machinery for the writing of the textbooks through the publication have been made and the process of procurement also initiated, I can assure him that by September this year the school will have the textbooks -- [Interruption.] Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Dr. Kunbuor 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Question specifically requested for the provision of adequate facilities and resources but in the hon. Minister's Answer, he referred to the provision of six classroom blocks. Are they the only facilities or resources that are needed to terminate the shift system?
Prof. Fobih 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in our opinion, this is what we thought was a major shortcoming in the schools because we know that the schools have problem with accommodation, that is why we addressed this as a priority need. Of course, the Question is a bit general and from our perspective, this is our view of it.
Dr. A. Y. Alhassan 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister said the books would be published or by September the schools would have books. I want to know what books have been used in running the schools so far.
Prof. Fobih 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, when we introduced the reforms, we made it clear that not all the classes are going to have their programmes reviewed totally and in some cases they are just minor adjustments that have to be made because of the trend of change. That was why I said so.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I believe the hon. Minister, in relation to the shift system nationally, knows the adverse impact of it on education. Taking a cue from what he has talked about in connection with the Kanda cluster of

schools, what is his policy towards the shift system in terms of the policy on education?
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Member, you need to come properly.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:20 a.m.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, 10:20 a.m.
SCIENCE AND SPORTS 10:20 a.m.
Prof. Fobih 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry has an elaborate plan to improve and provide facilities in all senior high and secondary/technical schools. Every year, provision is made in the Ministry's budget including that of GETFund to cater for secondary schools.
In allocating resources, emphasis is always placed on deprived secondary schools, for example, the community schools with major infrastructure deficits. In the 2007 Budget, as with the previous budgets, for example, basic infrastructure such as classrooms, dormitories, science laboratories and libraries, et cetera were improved or provided in one hundred and three (103) out of about two hundred and fifty (250) deprived secondary schools.
In the 2008 Budget, provision has also been made for similar works. It is believed that such allocations to the schools will go a long way to ensure that the schools receive the minimum provision for infrastructure and other facilities to
make them attractive to both parents and students.
O t i Seconda ry /Techn ica l and Asukawkaw Senior High Schools may benefit from such improvement programmes in 2008.
Mr. W. Gidisu 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister did indicate that in allocating resources to school emphasis is always placed on deprived schools. I want to know from him whether Oti Secondary/ Technical School and Asukawkaw Secondary School are deprived schools or not.
Prof. Fobih 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as I said in the Answer, it is considered as deprived and that was why we said it may be considered in the 2008 Budget.
Mr. W. Gidisu 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, last year I asked a similar Question, that I wanted to know the plan the Ministry had to provide well-equipped science laboratories for these same schools. An assurance was given but there is no sign up till now. Also, he used the word ‘may' referring from his Answer and I want to know from him what the ‘may' means. [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Member for Krachi East, go ahead.
Mr. W. Gidisu 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to know what the hon. Minister meant by ‘may' -- whether the ‘may' means an assurance that this year we are getting these things. It is an open statement, when he says ‘may' -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Member, you should not be distracted at all. Ask your question.
Mr. W. Gidisu 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want assurance from the hon. Minister that Oti Secondary/Technical and Asukawkaw
Prof. Fobih 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I said it may be considered when we are allocating resources to the number of schools that we have adequate and available funds for in the 2008 Budget. So it is only after we have finished the exercise that I can be firm on it.
Mr. W. Gidisu 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister just said the Ministry is trying to speed up processes to finish the provision of the facilities and I want to know from him when they intend finishing these processes.
Prof. Fobih 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, our budget has just been approved by Parliament and we are waiting for the GETFund also to be approved so that we can complete the process.
Mr. Gershon Gbediame 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister knows the number of deprived secondary schools in this country, and in drawing their budget they would have programmed the number of schools that are going to benefit from this improvement in facilities. We want him to tell us the number of schools that the Ministry intends this year to provide these facilities to so that we would know whether Oti Secondary/Technical and Asukawkaw Secondary School would benefit.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Ask another question, hon. Member, if you have.
Mr. C. S. Hodogbey 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my question is very similar to the previous one. The question is, now that the Minister knows all the deprived schools, would it not be appropriate to give us the list so that he does not come here to answer questions relating to something which is already in the list?
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Member, if your question is similar to the other question, then why ask? [Interruption.]
Dr. Kunbuor 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to know from the hon. Minister whether provision has been made for Oti Secondary/ Technical School and Asukawkaw Senior Secondary Schools in the 2008 Budget.
Prof. Fobih 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, our sources of funding are two -- the Ministry's budget and as he knows, the GETFund. The budget has just been completed and of course, there were cuts. So we are waiting for the GETFund also to supplement so as to be sure that our provisions would be satisfied. We made provision but there were cuts and so we have to readjust our budget; that is what I mean.

Toase Senior Secondary School

Q. 990. Mr. Benito Owusu-Bio asked the Minister for Education, Science and Sports when Toase Senior High School would be upgraded to the status of a model senior high school.
Prof. Fobih 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is the policy of the Government to upgrade, at least, one senior high school in each district to a model status. The programme is however, being implemented in phases as I have said in this House before. Phase 1 of the programme has almost been completed. Work on the second phase of the upgrading programme comprising 25 senior high schools are at various levels of completion.
Toase Senior High School may be selected when the remaining districts are being considered but it is at present not in the second phase.
Mr. Owusu-Bio 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would want the hon. Minister to be a bit specific since he says “may”, as to which time or period Toase Senior High School would be considered.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Member, this is not a question. If you have other questions, please ask.
Mr. Owusu-Bio 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would want the hon. Minister to tell me why so far none of the schools in the three Atwima Districts have been selected or considered for the model senior high school status.
Prof. Fobih 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as I said in total, if we add the 25 to the 31 first phase schools, we have as many schools as possible that are still not been classified as model schools. So I believe if that district does not have a senior high school it must be among the list that we will move to when we have funds to complete these two phases successfully.
Ntruboman and Nkwanta Senior High Schools (Internet Facilities)
Q. 1011. Mr. Gershon K.B. Gbediame asked the Minister for Education, Science and Sports when Ntruboman and Nkwanta Senior High Schools will be provided with internet facilities in line with Government policy.
Prof. Fobih 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry/ GES has a programme of providing ICT including Internet facilities in all senior high schools in the country. Due to budgetary constraints, the programme is going to be implemented in phases. Phase one which consists of two hundred and fifty (250) schools include the Nkwanta Senior High School whilst Ntruboman is included in the second phase.
The plan is to provide all the schools in phase one with the necessary internet facilities by the end of the year. Work on the second phase of the programme will start as soon as the phase one is completed.
Mr. Gbediame 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in his Statement, he mentioned budgetary constraints. May I know the source of funding that the Government had in mind when this project was being thought of?
Prof. Fobih 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I cannot give any figure right now.
Mr. Gbediame 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am not talking about the figure; I am trying to know the source - either they were going to take an external loan or from the Govern-ment of Ghana (GOG) or whatever source for this programme to be implemented.
Prof. Fobih 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, our first dependency is the GOG funds. But sometimes we have other support and when we get additional support then we supplement it with the GOG funds.
Mr. Gbediame 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, now that he is saying that phase one of which Nkwanta Senior High School is part is going to commence this year, may I know whether the funds for that programme - the phase one - has been procured?
Prof. Fobih 10:30 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, and I said we hope to complete it by the end of this year; it is in our budget for this year.
Mr. John D. Mahama 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the hon. Minister under what programme these internet facilities are being rolled out. And I ask this against the background that the Ministry of Communications gave Ghana Telecom under Telenor a target for providing every training college and senior high school in this country with high speed broadband;
Mr. John D. Mahama 10:30 a.m.


is it the same programme or the Ministry has its own programme?
Prof. Fobih 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we are working in partnership and we are training the human resource personnel that is, the teachers who will run these programmes in the schools and provide the facilities, the infrastructure for housing these services.
Mr. F.A. Agbotse 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to find out from the Minister if it is possible to give hon. Members of Parliament the division into first phase, second phase, the schools which are contained in the first phase and the schools which are contained in the second phase so that they may prepare when it reaches their turn.
Prof. Fobih 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, sometimes we have difficulty completing the phases from the model schools concept. So we would rather be comfortable if we settle and complete what we are working on than giving a whole list of phases when we may not even be able to accomplish them.
Mr. Agbotse 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, he has already divided the schools into first phase, second phase. What I am asking is, which schools are in the first phase and which schools are in the second phase. He should give us the list so that we as hon. Members of Parliament would prepare when it comes to our schools.
Prof. Fobih 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we can give him the first phase which we are working on because we are sure of that. We can also furnish him with the remaining list if he wants to know. But whether all of them would be second phase depends on how much budgetary support we get eventually.
Mr. E.K. Salia 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to tell me the basis of
the classification into first, second groups; the criterion for determining which is in the first phase, which is in the second phase and which is not benefiting at all.
Prof. Fobih 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry works with the Ghana Education Service (GES) through the districts and the regional offices to select these schools which have some facilities already and then we build on them, especially if there is a teacher there who has some knowledge that we can build on to provide the training for the school. These are some of the general things I can talk about.

Nkwanta District Education Office (Completion)

Q. 1012. Mr. Gershon K.B. Gbediame asked the Minister for Education, Science and Sports when the District Education office at Nkwanta would be completed.
Prof. Fobih 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, a six-unit office block was completed in 1994 for the District Education Office at Nkwanta. However, an extension to the block was started the following year. Due to lack of funds work on the extension was suspended.
The attention of the Ministry has recently been drawn to several defects on the entire structure including the uncompleted building. These defects include cracks in the foundations, walls and ceilings.
The Ministry has been advised that in view of the serious structural defects particularly on the uncompleted structure, the Ministry should consider the possibility of demolishing the structure to make way for a new one whilst the completed District Education Office is rehabilitated.
However, due to budgetary con-
Prof. Fobih 10:40 a.m.


straints, work on the project could start in 2009 or thereafter.
Mr. Gbediame 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we are talking about two structures. The completed one which he has testified has serious defects including cracks on the foundation. Now that he is talking of 2009 or thereafter, may I know whether it refers to both the old structure and the uncompleted one?
Prof. Fobih 10:40 a.m.
I am referring to the uncompleted one. The completed one will also have to be rehabilitated to put it right.
Mr. Gbediame 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in view of the seriousness of the defects detected on the old structure, whilst waiting for the commencement of the new structure, when would rehabilitation works on the old structure commence to save the lives of those people who are using the offices?
Prof. Fobih 10:40 a.m.
Well, this year we would try to rehabilitate the defects, leaving the uncompleted parts.
Mr. Gbediame 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we are dealing with lives and it is a serious matter. So the hon. Minister saying that they would try, I am a bit worried about that statement because of the seriousness of the situation and the fact that the building is still being used by staff. To say that he would try suggests that there is no concrete programme to do it. May I get the assurance that he is going to, at least, do the rehabilitation of the old block this year.
Prof. Fobih 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I was also just emphasizing the importance of rehabilitating the cracked structure. That was why I said I would do my best to get that work started this year.
Ejuraman and Sekyedumasi
Secondary Schools (Buses)
Q. 1021. Alhaji Issifu P. Mohammed asked the Minister for Education, Science and Sports when Eduraman and Sekyedumasi Secondary Schools would be provided with buses.
Prof. Fobih 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is the policy of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to ensure that all schools have buses to enhance their smooth operation. As part of this policy, an exercise has been conducted to ascertain the number of schools without buses. Already, an order has been placed for the procurement of 200 buses. However, due to budgetary constraints the Ministry has phased the procurement of buses and hopes to complete the exercise within two years.
Alhaji Mohammed 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister has said that the exercise was started. I want to know which year the exercise started.
Prof. Fobih 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think last time I said “starting from this year”, when I answered a similar Question here.
Alhaji Mohammed 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister has just told the honourable House that 200 buses have just been ordered. I want to know from him whether the schools in Ejura-Sekyedumasi would be considered, in view of the fact that these are the only two senior high schools in the district and we do not have a bus. Would he consider allocating us from these 200 buses?
Prof. Fobih 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we know very well that some schools already have a number of buses and others do not have. We know that all the girls schools have been provided with buses also. So arithmetically, we think that without these calculations only a new number of schools are left, that is why we think that within the two years we should have enough buses
Prof. Fobih 10:40 a.m.


for every school that really needs a bus.

We have already placed an order for 200 buses as I said in my Answer and we are making arrangements to purchase 40 more for some of the technical schools as well. So given the rate at which we are proceeding on this exercise we would be able to satisfy everybody.
Mr. Eric Opoku 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated in his Answer that an exercise has been conducted to ascertain the number of schools without buses. Can he tell this House the number of schools without buses in this country?
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Would you come back probably. Hon. Member for Hohoe South (Mr. J. Z. Amenowode).
Mr. J. Z. Amenowode 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we know our economy is now booming and we have a looming industrial base. I want to ask the hon. Minister why his Ministry which is a bedrock of Ghana's develop-ment is always facing financial constraints in a buoyant economy.
Prof. Fobih 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the economy is buoyant but I think my hon. Colleague really knows that even in United States of America they have not solved all their problems. So the buoyancy of the economy does not mean that we would never have problems to solve.

Weta Traditional Area (senior high school)

Q. 1028. Mr. J. K. Avedzi asked the Minister for Education, Science and Sports when a senior high school would be provided for the people of Weta Traditional Area as promised by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana when

the chiefs of the area visited H.E. at the Castle in 2004.
Prof. Fobih 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, at the moment, the MOESS/GES is taking a new look at the siting of second cycle schools. The emphasis is now on Technical/ Vocational Schools.
At the appropriate time Weta Traditional Area would be given its consideration when we have decided on which type of second cycle school would be appropriate for the place.
Mr. Avedzi 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Minister since when the Ministry and the Ghana Education Service (GES) started placing emphasis on technical/vocational schools.
Prof. Fobih 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Member knows that the education reforms of 2007 clearly lay emphasis on vocational and technical education - since September,
11.
Mr. Avedzi 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, does it mean that since 2007, the Ministry has not been able to decide on the type of second cycle school that will be appropriate for the Weta Traditional Area?
Prof. Fobih 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes, what I said was that we are doing some exercise which will help us to decide on the balancing of senior high schools with technical institutions and we have not completed that exercise yet.
Mr. Avedzi 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister, in his Answer, did not say that they are doing an exercise. He said they are placing emphasis on vocational and technical education. It is not an exercise that they are doing. Now, he is telling me that they are doing an exercise. So, can he reconcile the two?
Prof. Fobih 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, what I really mean by interpretation is that with
the introduction of the education reforms there has been a shift of emphasis to vocational and technical education and because of that it has necessitated some kind of exercise within the Ministry and the GES to be able to decide on the appropriateness of an institution to be sited at a particular place. And that is why I am making reference to the Weta Traditional Council case.
Mr. Avedzi 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in July 2005, the chiefs of the area were asked by His Excellency to acquire a piece of land, which they did and wrote a letter to the Ministry about, attaching a copy of the indenture and the site plan. I want to find out from the hon. Minister if he has sighted this document and if so, when exactly the people of Weta will be given due attention.
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon. Member, this is not a supplementary question.
Alhaji M.M. Mubarak 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the hon. Minister's Answer, he kept mentioning senior high school and senior secondary/technical school. May I know the nomenclature very well since we are now changing from senior secondary and senior secondary/technical schools? Is he considering aligning the nomenclature properly or he thinks it is supposed to remain as “secondary/technical”?
Prof. Fobih 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have only used “senior high school” in reference to the usual senior secondary school and then technical institutions. But we have another category, which is senior technical schools with technical component and they are called “senior high secondary/ technical schools.” [Laughter.]
Yes, they are senior high schools but with technical component.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the hon.
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon. Member for East Ayawaso, please ask only one question.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the hon. Minister whether he has contacted the Office of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana with regard to this promise.
Prof. Fobih 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I was only trying to help him to answer by way of being elaborate. That was what I meant, that some of the schools which were classified as senior secondary schools which are now senior high schools and which had technical components - I was just elaborating; it was not a terminology I was coining.
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon. Member for Ayawaso East, you may ask your question again.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, my question simply is whether the hon. Minister is aware of this promise made by His Excellency the President to the chiefs and people of Weta Traditional Area.
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon. Member for Ayawaso East, this was not your question -- [Interruptions.]
All right, then please go ahead.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, my question to the hon. Minister is whether he has received any communication from His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana with regard to this particular promise.
Prof. Fobih 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, commu- nication between His Excellency and the hon. Minister is confidential. So that one - [Laughter.]
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Question number 1029 - hon. Member for Ketu North?
Wovenu Senior High School (Bus)
Q. 1029. Mr. J. K. Avedzi asked the Minister for Education, Science and Sports when Wovenu Senior High School in the Ketu North Constituency would be provided with a bus to facilitate easy movement of students and staff.
Prof. Fobih 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is the policy of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to ensure that all schools have buses to enhance their smooth operations.
As part of this policy, an exercise has been conducted to ascertain the number of schools without buses. Already, an order has been placed for the procurement of 200 buses. However, due to budgetary constraints, the Ministry has placed the procurement of buses - and hopes to complete the exercise within two years.
Mr. Avedzi 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to find out from the hon. Minister if Wovenu Senior High School will be allocated one out of the 200 buses to be procured by the Ministry.
Prof. Fobih 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is too early to tell that because we are expecting the buses to arrive some time in March and we are working on the allocation processes. So when we finish, I will be able to contact him.
Mr. Avedzi 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister gave an Answer that 200 buses
have been ordered and that is in relation to my Question of when the Ministry will provide a bus to Wovenu Senior High School. That is an assurance to me that my school will be allocated one. And I want him to assure me that yes, my school will be given one of them.
My question again is, is Wovenu Senior High School going to be considered in the allocation of the 200 buses?
Prof. Fobih 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, what I mean is that his school is among the needy ones which will be considered in the allocation and we are working on the allocation processes now. That is why I told him that that will be after we have finished with the allocation process. There are so many things we have to do to finish it and when we finish we will be able to communicate personally with him, if he likes.
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the hon. Minister for Education, Science and Sports whether Pope John Senior High School at Koforidua is included in the list of 200 schools that he has earmarked. It has been over three years since we were promised a bus. I also want to know whether the Oyoko Methodist Senior High School is included.
Mr. Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon. Member, have you filed this Question? [Laughter.]
Mr. J.D. Mahama 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the hon. Minister for Education, Science and Sports the Ministry's policy on replacing school buses and whether he is aware that some deprived schools like Bole/Bamboi Secondary School still have only the Science Resource Centre buses that were supplied 13 years ago.
What is the policy on replacing school buses?
Mr. Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon. Minister, answer only the first part of his question, that is on the policy on the replacement of school buses and not the one on the Bole/Bamboi Secondary School. That is not a question -- [Laughter.]
Prof. Fobih 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as I earlier on spelt out, we have done some evaluation exercise on the policy. We know some of the established schools, the elite schools which have buses. Some even have two buses provided by donors, parent/teacher associations and so on.
So we are looking at all those ones and classifying them as having some means of transportation. We are also looking at some community schools which have to serve some catchment areas with a bus. And this we classify as priority needs.
Then, of course normally the size of the school is also a determinant. In fact, because of the scarcity of resources, one has to use some selection criterion somehow. So these will be given priority also.
But then, in general, it is convenient that every secondary school worth its name should have a means of transport because of the other social and academic activities. So this is the general framework.
Mr. Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon. Minister for Education, Science and Sports, thank you very much for appearing to answer these Questions. You are discharged.
At the Commencement of Public Business - item 8 - Committee Sittings.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there are two very important Committee Sittings slated for today. And today being Friday and having exhausted the agenda for today, may I move, that this House do now adjourn until Tuesday, next week, at ten o'clock in the forenoon.
Ms. Akua Sena Dansua 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to second the motion for adjournment.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 11 a.m.
THE 10 a.m.
PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC 10 a.m.
OF GHANA 10 a.m.
MR. SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Order! Order! Correction of Votes and Proceedings -- Page 1-18. [No corrections were made to Votes and
Majority Leader/Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (Mr. Ossei Aidooh) 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Committee met on Wednesday, 13th February 2008 and determined Business of the House for the Fifth Week ending Friday, 22nd February 2008. Mr. Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows:
Arrangement of Business
Question(s)
Mr. Speaker, the Committee has programmed twenty-eight (28) Questions to be answered by various Ministers during the week.
No. of Questions
i. Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing -- 5
ii. Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment -- 2
iii. Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment -- 5
iv. Minister for Health -- 5
v. Minister for the Greater Accra Region -- 1
vi. Minister for Transportation -- 10
Total Number of Questions -- 28 Mr. Speaker, in all, twenty-eight (28)
Questions are expected to be answered in the fifth week.
Papers and Reports
Mr. Speaker, Papers and Reports may be laid and presented respectively for consideration by the House.
Bills
Mr. Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House and those which have already been presented would be taken through the various stages of passage.
Mr. Speaker, the Report of the Committee on the Youth, Sports and Culture on the Chieftaincy Bill was laid on Wednesday, 13th February 2008. The
Business Committee therefore wishes to urge hon. Members to thoroughly read the Bill alongside the Committee's Report and submit amendments, if any, to the Table Office for processing.
Statements and Motions
Mr. Speaker may allow Statements and Motions may also be debated.
Debate of the Message on the State of the Nation
Mr. Speaker, debate of the Message on the State of the Nation presented by His Excellency the President would commence on Tuesday, 19th February 2008.
To this end, the Business Committee wishes to recommend the following time allocations during the debate of the Message.
i. Majority and Minority Leaders
-- 20
minutes
ii. Mover of the motion -- 20 minutes
iii. Seconder of the motion -- 20 minutes
iv. Other Members of Leadership -- 10 minutes
v. Chairman/Chairpersons and Ranking Members -- 10 minutes
vi. The rest of hon. Members -- 5 minutes
It is also recommended that hon. Members would adhere strictly to the time allocations to ensure that as many hon. Members as possible would make their
presentations.
Mr. Speaker, the Business Committee also wishes to appeal to hon. Members to try as much as possible to avoid undue interruptions whenever an hon. Member is making his/her contribution.
Conclusion
Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2) and subject to Standing Order 53, your Committee submits to this honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.
Tuesday, 19th February 2008 Questions
- Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing - 1133, 1146, 1152, 1178 and
1179
- Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment - 1321 and 1401
Motion - That this House thanks
His Excellency the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to this honourable House on Thursday, 14th February 2008.
- Commencement o f Debate
Committee Sitting.
Wednesday, 20th February 2008 Questions
- Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment - 1280, 1282, 1285, 1308 and 1317
Motion - That this House thanks
His Excellency the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to this