Debates of 21 May 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 for Tuesday, 20th May, 2008. Page 1, 2...11. [No correction was made.]
Hon. Members, we have the Official
Report for Tuesday, 20th May, 2008.
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I am sorry to take us back but I know the hon. Member for Amansie West is the Ranking Member for Public Accounts Committee and he travelled together with hon. Sallas-Mensah, the Member for Upper West Akim. I do know that they sought your permission, Mr. Speaker, to embark on that travel.
Equally so for hon. S.K.B. Manu (the Member for Ahafo Ano South) and I guess for those of them, hon. Michael Nyaunu, hon. Agbotse who are representing Ghana's Parliament at the ECOWAS Parliament. I have seen the request they put in but I do not know whether it has got to you. I know that there are official reasons so if we will take steps to correct the Votes and Proceedings accordingly, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Hon. Members, as I was
saying, we have the Official Report for Tuesday, 20th May, 2008. [No correction
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10 a.m.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, 10 a.m.
SCIENCE 10 a.m.
AND SPORTS 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Question 1118.
Rev. Benjamin B. Donkor: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have already had the opportunity of asking this very Question before we went on recess but if the hon. Minister has a new Answer for me, then with your kind permission, I would go ahead and ask the Question.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Hon. Member, you are
withdrawing your Question?
Rev. Benjamin B. Donkor: Yes,
Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Thank you for
withdrawing it.

Lassia-Tuollu Senior High School
Mr. Mathias A. Puozaa 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Please, go ahead and
ask the Question.
Mr. Mathias A. Puozaa (on behalf of
Mr. Joseph Y. Chireh) asked the Minister for Education, Science and Sports when the Lassia-Tuollu Senior High School would be provided with a bus.
Minister for Education, Science
and Sports (Prof. Dominic K. Fobih): Mr. Speaker, the Ministry has a policy of ensuring that all senior high schools
have buses to enhance their operations. Towards this end, the Ministry has conducted an exercise to ascertain schools that require buses. However, due to budgetary constraints, the Ministry has phased the procurement of buses with the purchase of 200 buses this year and hopes to complete this exercise by 2009. Lassia-Tuollu Senior High School will be considered alongside others in the implementation of the policy.
Mr. Puozaa 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Hon. Member, your
question, please.
Mr. Puozaa 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I know
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Order! Please your
supplementary question.
Mr. Puozaa 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I know
from the hon. Minister in which phase Lassia-Tuollu Senior High School will be served.
Prof. Fobih 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as I said, there is a policy to supply all the senior high schools with buses and I am saying that because of the numbers involved we are phasing this process in terns. And Mr. Speaker, we have ordered 200 buses which have just arrived and we hope to make the
Mr. Puozaa 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am only
asking which phase, not the date, first batch, second batch or so. That is all that I am asking for, not the date. Definitely, he may not know when they would arrive.
Prof. Fobih 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we have not
grouped them into specific phases yet but we would deal with them as and when we get the buses, then we apply our criteria to the list that is left and see those that should be given priority. That is how we do it.
Dambai Training College (Dining Hall Block)
1159. Mr. Wisdom Gidisu asked the Minister for Education, Science and Sports what steps the Ministry was taking to construct a dining hall block for Dambai Training College (DATCO) to replace the current wooden structure.
Prof. Fobih 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry is currently upgrading all the 38 teacher training colleges including Dambai Training College. As part of this exercise, a 6-unit classroom block, a library block and 6-seater water closet are being constructed in the college. In view of the Ministry's policy of giving priority to the completion of ongoing projects, these projects under the upgrading programme are to be completed by the end of the year to enable the construction of either a dining hall or an administration block to be carried out next year depending on the priority of the college.
Mr. Wisdom Gidisu 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister did indicate in his Answer
that the construction of either the dining hall or administration block would depend on the priority of the college. I want to find out from him whether the college will have to submit its programme of priorities to the Ministry in order of priority before any action would be taken.
Prof. Fobih 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, what I said
implies that already we are committed to certain projects as part of our upgrading process and that when we complete them we would decide, based on our consultation with the institution, which their priority is in terms of the two main projects there.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
would want to find out from the hon. Minister, what is the level of work on the ongoing projects he has cited which gives indication that they would be completed by the end of the year, to take on board the new project he is talking about.
Prof. Fobih 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Question
I am to answer in this House relates to the dining hall, not the other construction works. I just made reference to them because when we complete them then we can commit ourselves to other projects because of financial constraints.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
hon. Minister indicated that by the end of the year the Ministry would be able to take on the other projects of priority to the college and I am trying to find out from him those projects that he himself intimated are being undertaken. What is the level of work on them to assure this House that they would be completed by the end of the year to take on board the priority of the college by the close of the year?
Prof. Fobih 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, what I implied is that this is our targeted completion date for the other projects. But as to whether 70 per cent or 60 per cent

of each of the projects has been done, we need to find out. That is why I said that it is not implied in this Question.

Dambai Training College Administration Block

Q. 1172. Mr. Wisdom Gidisu asked the Minister for Education, Science and Sports whether the Ministry would provide an administration block for Dambai Training College (DATCO) to replace the existing wooden structure.
Prof. Fobih 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, this is
implied in the Answer I gave previously but for purposes of records, I would want to respond wholly to it.
Mr. Speaker, as indicated in the
preceding response, a 6-unit classroom block, a library block and 6-seater water closet are being constructed in the college as part of the upgrading process. It is expected that these projects will be completed by December this year. The completion of the projects will then pave the way for work to start in 2009 on either the administration block or the dining hall as I said earlier depending on what the College decides because of our limited resources.
Mr. Wisdom Gidisu 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister in his Answer to the previous Question and then the current one said he is giving priority to the ongoing projects that the dining hall and the administration block would be completed in 2009. Is he assuring this House that the construction of both the dining hall and the administration block which are wooden structures would be taken on board or be given top priority in 2009?
Prof. Fobih 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my Answer to this House cannot be false.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Question No. 1213, hon. Albert Kwasi Zigah, Member of Parliament for Ketu South?
Mr. C.K. Humado 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member has asked me to seek your permission to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Please go ahead.
Ketu District Three Town Senior High School
Q. 1213 Mr. C.K. Humado (on behalf
of Mr. A.K. Zigah asked the Minister for Education, Science and Sports what measures the Ministry had put in place to provide an assembly hall for the three town senior high school in the Ketu District.
Prof. Fobih 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry
is constructing a 2-storyed classroom block in the school at an initial contract sum of GH¢45,000. This project is one of the numerous projects currently being undertaken in the country by the Ministry. It is expected that the classroom block will be completed in 2009 in line with the Ministry's policy of completing ongoing projects. The assembly hall project would be considered when new projects are to be listed for inclusion in the 2010 investment budget for the Ministry.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Question No. 1214,
hon. Albert Kwasi Zigah, hon. Member for Ketu South. Hon. Member for Anlo, you may ask the Question on his behalf.
Agbozume Senior High School (Assembly Hall)
Mr. Humado (on behalf of Mr. Zigah
asked the Minister for Education, Science and Sports what plans the Ministry had for the completion of the assembly hall of the Agbozume Senior High School.
Prof. Fobih 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the assembly hall of some Senior High School, Agbozume which is now at the foundation level was started by the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) in 1996. In view of lack of funds, the PTA could not continue

with the project and therefore appealed to the District Assembly for assistance. The District Assembly, however, could not assist. The Ministry is considering the possibility of continuing the project by first of all, assessing the full cost of completion after which consideration will be given to its implementation.
Mr. Humado 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister, when would the Ministry finish considering the possibility of continuing the project?
Prof. Fobih 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is a fact that this is not our own project and therefore, we do not have any valuation estimates on the project, so we need that. It is a process so I cannot give a definite date as to when the process could be finished. But as soon as it is finished, as I have said here, we would consider completing it for the school.
Mr. Humado 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if the Ministry has started the process of assessing or evaluating the project.
Prof. Fobih 10:20 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, we have started the process.
Mr. Humado 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would want to know, when would that process be completed?
Prof. Fobih 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as I said, it
is a process and therefore, I cannot give a definite date. It depends on when the available technical data are assembled and the proper cost is put to the project.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 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 5 - Chieftaincy Bill,
Leadership?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in view of the peculiar nature of this Bill, the hon. Minister responsible has indicated that he wants to be present before we continue with the Consi- deration Stage of the Bill. Unfortunately, the hon. Minister has had to travel outside the country. I understand he would be returning on Friday. So Mr. Speaker, with your permission and the indulgence of the House, we may stand it down until next week.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
The item is deferred. Item 6 - Committee Sittings. Leadership?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, a very important committee meeting was advertised in respect of the Appointments Committee to schedule the screening of the President's nominees for Ministry of Energy as well as Supreme Court Justices.

Mr. Speaker, that being the case, I beg to move that this House do now adjourn till tomorrow 10' o'clock in the forenoon.

I so move.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 10:20 a.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 10.24 a.m. till 22nd May, 2008 at 10.00 a.m.
    • Alhaji Mohammed M. Mubarak 10:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, in the hon. Minister's Answer he said there is a general demand-supply deficit in the water supply to the above- mentioned area. Mr. Speaker, may I ask the hon. Minister what caused this demand and supply deficit.
    Alhaji Boniface 10:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the answer to my hon. Colleague's question is that first of all, there are many factors accounting for the demand-supply deficit. Currently, we are carrying out the East- West interconnection and therefore most of the pipelines are broken down. And in order to supply all these areas, you cannot have a straight flow and therefore rationing has to take place.
    We also have expansion and popu- lation explosion and what we currently supply will not be enough to meet the demand. Therefore, we must take a critical look at it and then ration to the satisfaction of all. This is because one cannot supply one area at the expense of the other; we do not have to trade off. And therefore there is the need to make sure that we do some rationing which has been done proportionally for people to benefit.
    Alhaji Mubarak 10:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the question I would want to ask of the hon. Minister is what plan has been implemented for the past five, seven years that has taken into consideration the expansion in the population and also the project work that he talked of, when we know critically the number of people and the amount of water that they require.
    Alhaji Boniface 10:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, this was inherited. Population growth is about 2.6 per cent and the point is that the supply of water is just one per cent. So there is a very wide gap of about 1.6 per cent. And in order to meet this in the supply of

    water, one needs to forecast by making a provision of about ten, twenty, thirty years ahead. Right now, what is being supplied from Weija is about 15 million gallons per day. But we are planning to bring something that will supply 186 billion gallons a day. So even if the population growth goes beyond 2.6 per cent we can still meet the demand.

    So Mr. Speaker, what the Government is doing is not intentional but it is rather salvaging the problem.
    Mr. David T. Assumeng 10:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, talking about rationing, I want to know how effectively it is being done because areas like Labone, Apapa and even Dodowa are not getting adequate water. So how effective is the water rationing?
    Alhaji Boniface 10:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, my hon. Colleague answered the question when he said they are not getting adequate water. It is based on the rationing so he does not expect me to give him water everyday. But at least, if within the week he gets water for two days it is enough for other areas to also get. I personally do go round to check areas where the water is not flowing and I interact with the people. I have personal intercourse with them -- [Interruptions.]
    Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Hon. Minister, you should not be disrupted.
    Mr. Mahama Ayariga 10:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, from the response of the hon. Minister, he seems to be indicating that the main cause of the water shortage in Nima, Mamobi and Kwaotsuru is the general shortage of water supply to the Accra Metropolis. I believe the hon. Minister knows Nina very well by virtue of the several intercourses that he has been having with members of the Nima community.
    But is it not also the case that internally, within the Nima/Mamobi and New Town communities the water connections are so
    inadequately done that even if he rations water in Accra, that community will not end up being able to access the quantum of water that he will be rationing for them? So what is the hon. Minister doing about the internal connections and supply of water in the Nima/Mamobi and New Town communities apart from the issue of rationing of water for the entire Accra Metropolis?
    Alhaji Boniface 10:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I agree with my hon. Colleague perfectly. We are all Nima boys. We do converge there. And he knows that that is why in my Answer I said we are working on it. Also, there are illegal connections and so they often misdirect the flow of water to the right place. And we are taking measures on that.
    Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Question number 1117 hon. Evans Paul Aidoo -- Member of Parliament for Sefwi-Wiawso?
    Sefwi-Aboduam and Sefwi-Wiawso Constituency
    (Small Town Water System)
    Q. 1117. Mr. Evans Paul Aidoo asked the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when Sefwi-Aboduam in the Sefwi-Wiawso constituency will be provided with the small town water system.
    Alhaji Boniface 10:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the current population of Sefwi Aboduam is estimated to be 2114 and this qualifies the town for a small town water supply system according to CWSA guidelines. Sefwi Aboduam now has four (4) boreholes fitted with hand pumps as sources of water supply for the town. Sefwi-Aboduam would be considered for the IDA and EU small town piped borne water supply system in 2009.
    Mr. Aidoo 10:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, Sefwi- Aboduam is just about a kilometre away from my village. Is the hon. Minister not
    Alhaji Boniface 10:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I am not aware. I will be there to justify.
    Mr. Aidoo 10:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, since the hon. Minister is not aware, will the Community Water and Sanitation Agency consider providing additional boreholes for the community until the programme starts in 2009?
    Alhaji Boniface 10:40 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I take notice of it and I will summon Community Water and Sanitation Agency for us to check.
    Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Hon. Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing thank you very much for appearing to answer these Questions.
    Item 4 -- Statements -- Statement by hon. Member for Atwima-Mponua and Chairman of the Committee on Sports, Youth and Culture.
    STATEMENTS 10:50 a.m.
    Chairman, Committee on Sports, Youth and Culture (Mr. Isaac K. Asiamah) 10:50 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the time is here and now. Ghana, our beloved and blessed country is the host of this memorable 26th MTN Africa Cup of Nations. The impressive performance of the Black Stars against their Guinean counterpart in the opening match is a good beginning for the nation. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, the victory of the Black Stars last Sunday has electrified the entire country and unified the nation. The wild jubilation that greeted the vintage

    Black Stars' victory across the length and breadth of the country underscores the fact that soccer is the passion of the nation. However, a note of caution to football loving fans is necessary. Soccer fans should be more responsible in their jubilations -- alcoholism, careless driving, indecent sexual behaviour, et cetera should be watched.

    Mr. Speaker, I wish at this juncture to congratulate Ghana, the host nation for her extensive preparation towards successful hosting of the tournament and the 15 other qualified nations are being congratulated for clinically going through the mill. They are therefore welcomed to the land of Gold and to the land of hospitality.

    Mr. Speaker, Africa Football has indeed come of age, key ambassadors of football have emerged from the continent. Their conjuring skills in the field of play have been exhibited through out the World most especially in Europe. These ambassadors are shining icons in the world. Mention can be made of Didier Drogba of la Cote D'Ivoire; Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah of Ghana, Nwankwo Kanu and Obafemi Martins of Nigeria.

    The absence of some of the continent's key football ambassadors is a threat to the survival of some clubs in Europe. This tournament is therefore an opportunity for the Continent to showcase the abundant football talents at its disposal, and to signal to the world that we can compete healthily and catch the attention of the World.

    Mr. Speaker, the Black Stars of Ghana, hold the hearts of about twenty million Ghanaians. Like eggs in their hands, they should handle us with care. Discipline is key on the field of play for the Stars to progress in this tournament. The unnecessary attraction of referees' cautions, and yellow cards should be
    Mr. Pele Abuga (NDC -- Paga/ Chiana) 10:50 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the maker of the Statement for hastening to congratulate the Black Stars and all those involved in this big competition. Mr. Speaker, I also take the opportunity to congratulate our Black Stars and to urge them to put in more effort. While I say this, I would like to caution that the road is going to be very tough, but as usual with determination and perseverance I know the Black Stars will make it.
    Mr. Speaker, I would also like to point out that in the general organization of the competition, there were very soar areas that are of much concern to many Ghanaians. I will particularly like to point out the way tickets are being distributed. In the first match that we witnessed at the Ohene Djan Stadium, we saw empty chairs while people were still clamouring before the match for tickets. Mr. Speaker, this is very, very bad that we can have empty chairs at the stadium while people are still looking for tickets outside to enter the stadium. The Local Organizing
    Committee (LOC) and the Ministry will have to be up and doing and to see how they can correct some of these problems in the ticket distribution.
    Mr. Speaker, we also had occasion to hear that the accreditation to the pressmen and others was not the best. Mr. Speaker, I hope that with time, all this will be corrected.
    Mr. Speaker, the Black Stars coach and other coachers have complained about the quality of the pitch. While the stadium is one of the best that we can witness on the African continent, the pitch itself where the footballing takes place is something that everybody is lamenting about. It is very unfortunate that with such a very beautiful shining stadium you go into the pitch to kick the ball and you find that when you kick the ball it goes in different directions.
    All the clubs, even the Ghanaian team have complained about the quality of the pitch. It is an unfortunate development. I am surprised they did not take the trouble to ensure that the pitch itself where the game was going to take place is of the best quality.
    Mr. Speaker, to worsen matters and I hope it will not occur again, yesterday when some of the teams were playing at the sports stadium suddenly we had the usual Ghanaian blackouts and for twenty minutes everybody was confused, they did not know what was taking place. I hope this incident will not repeat itself. I know it has occurred in other countries, it is not the first time but this could have been avoided. I hope that the authorities are taking every trouble to ensure that we do not experience black outs in the rest of the competition.
    Mr. Pele Abuga (NDC -- Paga/ Chiana) 10:50 a.m.


    Mr. Speaker, there were other problems that they encountered but I hope these are normal problems like some of the teams rejecting the training pitches. Mr. Speaker, we had the occasion to point out that it is not just the matter of putting up quality stadia, we should also ensure that teams have training pitches on which to train before they play their matches.

    Mr. Speaker, to have the clubs or countries rejecting some of the training pitches was also a very bad part of the organization. But all said and done, I think that it is a very interesting competition and we all pray for the Black Stars and we hope that they will put in maximum effort to ensure that the cup comes to this country. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
    Mr. Emmanuel A. Gyamfi (NPP -- Odotobri) 11 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I wish to associate myself with the Statement made by my hon. Friend for Atwima-Mponua. Mr. Speaker, indeed the future is bright for Ghana. Looking at the preparation so far made towards the hosting of CAN 2008, the infrastructure that we have provided so far gives the necessary indication that we in Ghana are heading somewhere.
    For the two newly refurbished stadia and the two newly constructed ones at Tamale and Sekondi-Takoradi gives the hope that our national team the Black Stars are in for the trophy for the fifth time, which we are all envisaging in the country.
    Mr. Speaker, one thing that I would like to point out here is that we should support the Black Stars.
    Mr. Speaker, the last Sunday's match, the opener, between the Black Stars and their Guinean counterparts, when we had the penalty goal then the Guineans equalized we saw that the support base of Ghanaians, the fans, was just dying away but that was the time the team needed our support. Mr. Speaker, some of us even switched off our television sets. Some
    others who were listening to their radios -- [Interruption] -- Mr. Speaker, the unflinching support that we needed to give to the Black Stars was just dying away.
    Though I am not a fan of Accra Hearts of Oak, I learnt the saying that “never say die until the bones are rotten”. We have 90 minutes of action and if the 90 minutes is not exhausted, then we should not give up. We should continue to support the Black Stars and I thank God that we were able to win this particular opening game.
    I do not know what would have happened at the subsequent matches that we are going to play if we did not win. So I will urge all Ghanaians to support the Black Stars in any way, no matter what is happening so that we will just encourage them to do what we are expecting them to do for us.

    Mr. Speaker, there is another issue, the blackout that we had yesterday. It looks as if this incident is making the good things that have been done as a nation to go to the background. It is quite unfair. We should be encouraged by the preparations so far that we have made for this particular tournament. Though it is quite unfortunate, these things sometimes do happen. So we should encourage ourselves with the preparations that have been done towards hosting this particular tournament. The comments that we are hearing are very unfortunate. It is as if we have not done anything at all to host this particular tournament.

    Again, I will use this opportunity to

    appeal to the authorities to start thinking and making preparations towards naming the two newly constructed stadia -- the one at Tamale and the one at Essipon in Sekondi/Takoradi. We know we have the
    Mr. Abdul 11 a.m.
    None

    Wa Central): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to this all important Statement. At this very juncture, any word said for the Black Stars in support of them is crucial for their morale and it is important that we do so in this Parliament to let them know how seriously we are taking this tournament and to also let them know that we are fully and solidly behind them.

    Team play promotes development

    and it promotes unity. And for the Black Stars what they demonstrated in their first match is a commendable approach to team playing and that is what we want to encourage them to continue to do. We are all elated, and we are all happy with the success they brought us in their match against Guinea. We want to encourage them, as the maker of the Statement has said, to continue to work hard so that they can move from victory to victory as they encounter even tougher teams.

    But this tournament is bringing to us a kind of tourist value which we need to reap as a nation. The football tournament we are enjoying is just not only the fiesta about it, it is also the fact that we are bringing together huge numbers of people from varied and different types of countries who are coming to see Ghana. This is the time for us to showcase Ghana. Apart from showcasing the talents the boys have, we also showcase what we have made of ourselves 50 years after

    independence.

    It is important also to use this

    opportunity to caution our young people who are enjoying the fiesta to do so with moderation. At the moment, we have sad news of situations where young girls are deceived into prostitution in the sex trade. This is an opportunity also to caution the people who are in it and leading it to stop it and ensure that we do not expose our young people to this kind of situation as we all enjoy the fiesta in Ghana.

    Mr. Speaker, there is also the question

    of complacency on the part of our boys in their encounter with various teams. This is also another opportunity we want to use to let them know that as we enjoy the soccer they play, they have to ensure that they do not run into situations where they value teams below their expectations.

    What I mean is that they should ensure that they do not underrate any team. I am just venturing into advising them to commit themselves so much to what they are doing and to know also that every Ghanaian is watching them and that no team is small. As they go into the field, Parliament is telling them to work as hard as they can to ensure that they bring victory home. That is the only thing we want from them at this very moment.

    Lastly, I wish to urge them to commit themselves to the national cause. This is a responsibility they have to demonstrate to the highest and this is a responsibility that if they are able to carry out to the fullest, would make us happy throughout our Golden Jubilee celebration until we enter the next season of celebration.

    This is also an election year and

    football as we see now, is brining us all together. We want to encourage them to do as much as they can to let us go through
    Mr. Abdul 11 a.m.


    to the finals. So that as they play we also are going to demonstrate we have a united approach to supporting Ghana and forget about our partisan divisions and win this Cup for Ghana.
    Mr. Benito Owusu 11 a.m.
    None

    Atwima/Nwabiagya): Mr. Speaker, I would like first of all to congratulate the maker of the Statement for a good job done.

    I would also like to congratulate the Black Stars because I think it is necessary and important that we congratulate them for the win on Sunday. At the same time we also have to congratulate the Government for the magnificent edifices and facilities that it has made available for this tournament.

    In congratulating the Government, we should also not forget other service providers like those in the accommodation sector, those also in the transportation sector and all other sectors that have all gone a long way to help in having a successful tournament so far.

    Mr. Speaker, the games have helped

    in opening up the country. For instance, the various regional capitals which are currently host cities for the tournament have been opening up in terms of hotel facilities and other facilities that are currently under use.

    I would urge the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations to take a cue from what is happening now. Now, I would say that Ghana has been opened up, Tamale has been opened up, Kumasi is opened up, Sekondi/Takoradi has been opened up and all these places can also host various important conventions and conferences. So henceforth, I think we should also help them by decentralizing these events to these host cities.

    Kumasi for instance, has been witness

    to so many hotels that have sprung up. After these games, what are they going to do if we do not help them by holding events in these places? Likewise Tamale and Sekondi/Takoradi.

    On this note, I would end and thank the

    maker of the Statement.
    Mr. E . T. Mensah (NDC -- Prampram) 11:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I rise to associate myself with the Statement on the floor. But before that, let me welcome back to the House our flagbearers. They are hereby welcomed back home. I believe hon. Osafo-Maafo is listening to me. Hon. Papa Owusu-Ankomah and the rest of them are welcome. And the great leader -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Order! Hon. Members,
    let us have decorum.
    Mr. E. T. Mensah 11:10 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, even
    though the Statement is quite early, the intention is quite clear for the organizers and those in charge to wake up and address all the pitfalls and the concerns. Concerns have been raised about problems with ticketing. The rumour is that some companies purchased the tickets to do business with them, even in both stadia. I went to Takoradi yesterday and there were our local people outside who wanted to enter the stadium but could not have access to tickets. The stadium was filled by mostly Nigerians and la Cote d'Ivoire supporters and when Nigeria lost for the second match the stadium was virtually half full.
    What we want to suggest they do is to go back to what we did in 1999 and 2000. We got the Accountant-General's Department and the Ghana Commercial Bank to take charge of the tickets. So
    Minister of State (Mr. Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 11:10 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to associate myself with the Statement.
    Mr. Speaker, I think we must at this juncture commend the Government and the people of Ghana for bringing to this country this all important tournament. One cannot fail to appreciate the sense of patriotism that this tournament has ignited in the good people of Ghana. If one goes everywhere one sees Ghanaians waving the flag of Ghana and wearing the various paraphernalia associated with the Black Stars. A few people also have associated with some other countries which are participating in this tournament. Clearly, Mr. Speaker, this ought to continue.
    This patriotism that this tournament has engendered in Ghanaians ought to continue. We are one people with a common destiny, one nation. In unity, we can achieve a lot. Yes, we are diverse in our politics but unity in diversity ought to be appreciated by everybody.
    Mr. Speaker, whilst we are at this, the hon. Ranking Member alluded to certain shortcomings and I believe our focus
    Mr. E.T. Mensah 11:10 a.m.
    On a point of order.
    Mr. Speaker, it is not a point of order against him but a point of order against some of the former flagbearers. They are disturbing.
    Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Deputy Whip, you have
    no point of order, let him continue.
    Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
    Mr.
    Mr. Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon. Members, order.
    Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
    So, Mr.
    Speaker, as we have said, yesterday at the Accra Sports Stadium, less than a 20th of the spectators who witnessed the opening match between Ghana and Guinea witnessed yesterday's match at the Accra Sports Stadium and that was most unfortunate.
    Some former players of the national
    team have also complained about neglect. It is important that we look at them because their resilience, their own contributions, during their time has contributed to making Ghana what it is today in respect of the image that we have as a footballing
    Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:20 a.m.


    nation.

    Mr. Speaker, we also need to look at the

    pitch. Hon. E.T. Mensah has mentioned, hon. Pele Abuga mentioned it. I think that the technical people have told us that when we grew the grass we ought to have allowed some time, cut it very low, allow the grass to grow and then do the mowing thereafter. Unfortunately, we did not have much time at our disposal but that is what we would have to deal with and let us make the best out of it. Subsequently, we have to look at it.

    An hon. Member has raised this

    issue about the naming of the two other stadia that we have built at Tamale and Essipon. It is important that we do great consultation in this regard because I do know that when names were given to the Accra Sports Stadium, now Ohene Djan Stadium and Baba Yara in Kumasi, there were some noises which were made. So it is important that we begin the consultations and if we have to put some names onto these stadia, there would not be any controversy.

    Mr. Speaker, what we witnessed the day before yesterday, on Sunday, was a useful beginning. It was an endeavour in perseverance and endurance.

    Yesterday, on my way from Kumasi, a local sports journalist on Oman FM, gave a description of what we went through, and he said that this was, to quote him, “Ayem hyehyeo nkunimdi”. Mr. Speaker, that was not what we wanted to go through. Yes, it was victory all right but it came whilst we were sitting on tenterhooks -- [Interruption]-- The translation is what I have offered -- “Victory on tenterhook”.

    He said “ayem hyehyeo nkunimdi”. We would not want to go through such

    circumstances again. Mr. Speaker, so it is important to urge the players, the technical team and the board room support team to put their act together and soldier on. The nation expects much from them but at the end of the day, let the best team win. Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.

    Deputy Minister for Education,

    Science and Sports (Mrs. Angelina Baiden-Amissah): Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports expresses its gratitude to hon. Members of Parliament and Ghanaians in general for showing so much interest, and also showing a sense of patriotism and nationalism in the tournament.

    Mr. Speaker, we are also happy that there is so much commendation for the Black Stars and their performance, and also for the other national teams that are playing in the country.

    Mr. Speaker, we have taken care of concerns raised on ticketing, maintenance of the fields and other setbacks that reared their heads during the opening of the tournament. The Ministry would inform the National Sports Council (NSC) the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and Ghana Football Association (GFA) to take care of all these so that such occurrences would not happen again in the subsequent ones.

    Mr. Speaker, concerning the naming

    of the Sports Stadia, the two have already been named, for the Sekondi Sports Stadium, it is going to be named after Edward Acquah, a footballer that we all know of. I am even happy that this has been raised because the area where the stadium is situated is Inchaban, not Essipong; Essipong is the place where the contractors are residing.

    If anything, the name should be “Sekondi Sports Stadium” which we

    all know and which we all approved in Parliament. So if it is named after a footballer, all of us would like it. As at now Inchaban's name does not even come in at all. If it is “Edward Acquah Sports Stadium, Sekondi”, there will be no noise because my Chiefs are agitating so much as regards the naming after Essipong.

    Mr. Speaker, as I say this I thank every hon. Member here, I also urge all of us to keep on encouraging them to play and also win. Let us all hope that they are going to win, and win massively.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:20 a.m.
    On a point
    of order. Mr. Speaker, just a point of correction. The stadium is now known as “Sekondi Sports Stadium”, it is not “Essipong Sports Stadium”. I just wanted to correct my hon. Colleague. It is Sekondi Sports Stadium, not Essipong Sports Stadium.
    Mrs. Baiden-Amissah 11:20 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    I am very happy that the hon. Member of Parliament for Sekondi has come out with the correction that it is not Essipong Sports Stadium. But pressmen keep saying Essipong Sports Stadium. Even the hon. Minister for Information and National Orientation mentioned Essipong Sports Stadium on the day that we were having -- the People's Assembly.
    Mr. Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Deputy Minister, are
    you concluding?
    Mrs. Baiden-Amissah 11:20 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    so the name is “Sekondi Sports Stadium”, not “Essipong Sports Stadium”, and it would subsequently be named after Edward Acquah; it would be “Edward Acquah Sports Stadium”. Mr. Speaker, thank you very much.
    Mr. Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    At the Commencement
    of Public Business, Item 5 -- Committee Sitting. Leadership?
    Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:20 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, it is the beginning of the Meeting, and we have done justice to today's agenda. Mr. Speaker, in the circumstance, may I move, that this honourable House do now adjourn until tomorrow at ten o'clock in the forenoon.
    Mr. John Tia 11:20 a.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I rise to
    second the motion.
    Question put and motion agreed to.
    ADJOURNMENT 11:20 a.m.