Debates of 22 Oct 2008

MR. SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Order! Order! Hon. Members, correction of Votes and Proceedings for Tuesday, 21st October, 2008. Pages 1, 2 . . . 36. [No correction was made.]
Hon. Members, we have the Official
Report for 20th October, 2008.
Mr. Joseph Yieleh Chireh 10 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, the Official Report, column 246, paragraph 5, lines 7 and 8. There was a typographical error there. It is supposed to be “nominate” and not “dominate”; so they should take note of it. And then if you look at column 265, the construction of the word should be “fail” and not “failed” because I was talking in the future and not the past. So the word should be “fail”; no “ed” should be added to it.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker 10 a.m.
Thank you so much
for that.
Item 3 -- Questions -- Minister for
the Interior?
Question No. 1526 -- Hon. Herod
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10 a.m.
MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR 10 a.m.
Mr. Hodogbey 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the Answer given by the hon. Minister, he said with the current recognition of the increase of shipment and trafficking of narcotics drugs to the West African sub-region, it had become necessary for the United States to open the DEA Office in ghana.
I would like to know what has led to the increase in shipment and trafficking, which ghana is part of the West African sub-region.
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the question is interesting and I will give the answer the way I see it.
I believe the drug barons in Latin America are finding it increasingly difficult through the North American route. And since countries along the West Coast of Africa do not have strong maritime surveillance systems they have realized they can get to Europe by using countries along the West Coast of Africa.

I believe this is the main reason why, not only ghana but most of the countries along the West Coast have become targets for drug barons to use West Africa as transit for their trade in Europe. So I believe this is the main reason, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Hodogbey 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would
like to know, the DEA is an agency within the department of Homeland Security of the United States and being a para-police force, did you take permission, or at least, come to Parliament to seek permission before allowing the establishment of this agency? Because the DEA of the United States takes the civil liberties of people, they do not issue any warrant before searching individuals in premises. I would like to know if their operation will be the same as in the United States.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon. Member, this is not supplementary at all.
Mr. Hodogbey 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, what I would like to know is; will the operation of the DEA be the same as the way they operate in the United States?
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the concern of the hon. Member but I would like to assure him that DEA will not have a separate authority while operating in ghana. It will operate in a collaborative fashion with agencies in ghana like Narcotics Board (NACOB), ghana Police Service and Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).
Let me give the hon. Member an example. We have the British Agency in this country since November, 2006. The name of that agency is Operation West Bridge. It has been operating with the NACOB in this country and it has been very effective.
Because of the operations of Operation West Bridge, Kotoka International Airport is no longer an attractive exit route for drug barons along the West Coast. They try to avoid it and they do not operate on their own. They are collaborative agency working closely with the security agencies in this country as junior partners, if I may put it that way.
So I appreciate the concern of the hon. Member, but DEA will be working with the ghana Police Service, NACOB and

CEPS and in a subordinate fashion.

So far as ghana's sovereignty is concerned, it will not be undermined in any way by the operations of DEA.
Mr. Hodogbey 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my last question here is, recently there was a shake-up of the NACOB. Do you think that will solve the problem and how long will the DEA Office last in ghana?
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Which is your question?
Mr. Hodogbey 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, how long will they operate in ghana?
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, this is a rather speculative question. How long? If tomorrow, we realize that the security agencies in ghana are effectively keeping out illicit drugs from this country, I will ask them to leave the following day. As long as there is need for their services and support, I believe that in view of the grave danger posed to the institutions of this country, government, the Judiciary, the ghana Police Service and everything by illicit drug trade, I will go for support from DEA.
But as soon as I realize ghana has no need for DEA, if I am still at the Ministry of the Interior, I will request that they leave the country so that our institutions carry on without them.
Mr. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is curious to note that it has to take the intervention of the United States to come and open an office here to curb drug trafficking. I am saying it is curious to note that the US has to come to ghana to curb drug trafficking. But the question I want to ask is, what is ghana's own intervention in this influx of drug menace in this country which necessitates their coming here? What is our own response?
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon. Member, this is not a supplementary question.
Dr. A. Y. Alhassan 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the hon. Minister, the form the support from the DEA to countries in West Africa will take. What form will it be?
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as I have already indicated, the organizations dealing in drugs and coming from Latin America have targeted the whole of the West African sub-region. The first collaborative efforts between us and the DEA is in the field of intelligence. It is not only ghana that has been targeted; Nigeria, la Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, the whole of the West African sub-region has been targeted by these drug barons. Therefore, if we have an agency capable of monitoring the whole of the maritine zone of West Africa, you get intelligence.
But speaking specifically for ghana, what I would say is this; we need scanners capable of examining luggage and X-rays capable of looking into the inside, especially stomachs of drug couriers who swallow pellets. These are equipment that we require from the US and I have been promised that in the near future, we are going to get a few scanners and X-ray machines so that we are able to intercept drug barons as they move along the airport.
But even before the arrival, I am happy to report to the House that drug smuggling through the Kotoka International Airport has been con-siderably reduced; much, much reduced. The Kotoka International Airport is no longer attractive for drug couriers as an exit point because of the
support we have, not only from DEA but also particularly from Operation West Bridge.
Mr. Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Question 1540?
Ashaiman Police Quarters (Completion)
Q. 1540. Mr. Alfred Kwame Agbesi asked the Minister for the Interior when work would resume on the uncompleted police quarters building in Ashaiman.
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the police building projects at Ashaiman have been abandoned for some time now due to budgetary constraints. The cost of completing the police quarters in Ashaiman is estimated at gH¢1,300,000.00 and this has been captured in the budget estimates for 2009. Work on the police quarters at Ashaiman would be resumed and completed as soon as funds are released by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
Mr. Agbesi 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to know from the hon. Minister whether accommodation and offices for the police are considered before the police population or the police number is brought to an area. This is because I see that the police force in Ashaiman have out weighed the accommodation available for the police leading to a lot of inconve- nience for the police. I want to know whether the Ministry considered this in posting the personnel to areas.
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 10:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I agree with the hon. Member. It appears that the numerical strength of the ghana Police Service currently is far ahead of the residential and office accommodation available to the Service.
For the medium to long-term, arrangements are in place to, I would not say sell, but to barter police lands in prime
Mr. Agbesi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to know from the hon. Minister whether his Ministry would be prepared to liaise with the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing to allocate as a matter of urgency, several uncompleted estate houses which the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing is carrying on and whether when they are completed they would give some of these to the Ashaiman Police as a matter of urgency.
This is because I consider the population of Ashaiman being 200,000 and the police force is about 200 policemen, it is grossly inadequate; whether there is any plan to give the Ashaiman Police an immediate allocation of these houses which are yet to be completed?
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Member, this is not a supplementary question at all.
Mr. Agbesi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I would ask the last one.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
go ahead and ask.
Mr. Agbesi 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to know from the hon. Minister whether these uncompleted buildings which he says have been abandoned and which were started somewhere in the 1970s, are projects which can be continued or it is likely that they would be pulled down for new ones to be started.
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take advantage of the
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 10:20 a.m.


first question that the hon. Member asked to inform him that arrangements have been made with the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing to offer 200 dwelling units to the ghana Police Service in the greater Accra area when they are completed sometime in November. So arrangements have already been made in that connection.

I would also like to use this opportunity to appeal to hon. Members to persuade their District Assemblies to make dwelling units available to police personnel when they are transferred to the various districts. government alone cannot provide all the accommodation needed by the ghana Police Service in the medium- term. In the long-term that is possible. So District Assemblies should assist and also we are going to appeal to the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing to make dwelling units available.

So far as the question asked is concerned, yes, the money I have talked about, gH¢1.3 million would be used to complete the projects already started at Ashaiman.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Hodogbey 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the hon. Minister's Answer, he said that 200 and something houses were supposed to be built for the police personnel. Is Ashaiman included among these police establish-ments?
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, why should Ashaiman be excluded? Ashaiman is part of greater Accra and therefore, Ashaiman is included.
Police Personnel in Agortime Kpetoe and Adaklu-Anyigbe District
(Accommodation)
Q. 1570. Mrs. Juliana Azumah-
Mensah asked the Minister for the Interior what plans the Ministry had to construct permanent accommodation for the police personnel in Agortime Kpetoe in particular and the Adaklu-Anyigbe District in general.
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as already indicated above, measures have been taken by the Ministry to ensure that, the accommodation problems facing the ghana Police Service, are adequately addressed. I would like to assure the hon. Member that the police station at Agortime-Kpetoe and Adaklu- Anyigbe Districts would be provided with residential accommodation in due course, and here I am talking about medium-term because arrangements are already in place to provide accommodation for personnel of the ghana Police Service.
Once again, I would plead with hon. Members to impress upon the District Assemblies on the need to assist the ghana Police Service with accommodation particularly at the district level.
Mrs. Azumah-Mensah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, from the hon. Minister's Answer, he said “in due course, and probably, in short- term”. May I ask the hon. Minister to convince me or to try and assure me exactly when he thinks the police in my district would have their accommodation.
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in my Answer to the hon. Member, I said “medium-term”. I did not say “short- term”. I know we have got elections ahead of us and for the short-term, accommo- dation may not be possible, but definitely, for the medium-term. Confidence for the medium-term project is based on what I have already said.
Fortunately for the ghana Police Service, they have got lands in prime areas in most of the metropolitan areas of the country and I have no doubt arrange-ments can be made with banks,
financial institutions and certain industrial concerns for these lands to be exchanged for first-class residential and office accommodation for the ghana Police Service in the medium-term.
Mrs. Azumah-Mensah 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, there is this anomaly with my district/ constituency whereby the Adaklu area, which also forms a large part of the district, the police officers are stationed in Ho so they are not under Kpetoe. I would like to know if the time comes for the accommoda-tion to be provided, whether they could consider providing accommodation for that area in particular so that the police will be stationed in the Adaklu area.
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am unable to give that undertaking. Maybe, if I get notice of what really the hon. Member wants to discuss, but I have not got any information about the lodgement arrangements made for the police in her constituency and therefore, I am not able to give a firm answer to this question.
Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister in his Answer indicated “in due course”, and then later on he said “medium-term”. I want the hon. Minister to reduce the medium-term to years so that we are very clear in our minds as to how many years term that he is talking about.
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, a new government is going to be installed next year for four years. I have no doubt that during that time, a new police dwelling unit would definitely be provided. So two years to four years. Definitely, by the end of the first tenure of office of the incoming government something would be done about it -- four years.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Minister for the Interior, thank you very much for
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
No, before then, not yet discharged. Hon. Member for Jomoro, let us hear you.
Mr. Ocran 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, hon. Herod Cobbina asked me to ask his Question on his behalf. Unfortunately, I got in a little late.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Unfortunately you are late. Hon. Minister for the Interior, thank you, you are discharged. You are now discharged.
rose
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Member, do you have other matters to attend to?
Mr. Adjaho 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I was just going to plead that this Question be taken. Just as how you use your discretion to indulge hon. Ministers at times, on this occasion, we want to plead with you to indulge us for these Questions to be asked because maybe, after this Sitting these Questions would be useless.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Member for Jomoro, who mandated you to ask this Question on his behalf? Let us pry into that.
Mr. Ocran 10:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, hon. Herod Cobbina.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
When was this?
Mr. Ocran 10:20 a.m.
Over the weekend when we met. We met in Sekondi and he said he would not be able to be here so I should ask the Questions on his behalf. Yesterday I did it for him and today I should do it for him.
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon. Minister for the
Mr. Speaker 10:20 a.m.


Interior, please. There are two Questions; I would not allow any supplementary question.

New Sefwi-Akontombra District Police Personnel (Staff Strength)

Q. 1526. Mr. Lee Ocran (on behalf of Mr. Herod Cobbina) asked the Minister for the Interior what immediate plans the Ministry had to increase the staff strength of police personnel to adequately take care of the new Sefwi-Akontombra district.
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Police Administration has earmarked on recruitment exercise aimed at increasing the staff strength of the ghana Police Service. From January 2007 to October 2008, 4,075 policemen have been recruited, trained and are awaiting postings. However, lack of accommodation for the newly recruited personnel is holding up their postings to stations needing their services.
Mr. Speaker, I have requested that some of the housing units under construction by the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, be allocated to the ghana Police Service. So far, 200 units of flats have been allocated in greater Accra.
Mr. Speaker, in the long-term, and in line with the 2007 budget statement on private participation in the development of public sectors of the government, the Ministry has initiated action to redevelop selected lands belonging to the security services including the ghana Police Service. In the case of the ghana Police Service, it is nation-wide beginning with, Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Sekondi/ Takoradi.
Mr. Speaker, in the interim, I would plead with hon. Members to take up the issue of accommodation for personnel of ghana Police Service with the District Assemblies, to provide the needed dwelling units to enable the ghana Police Administration post personnel to the districts.
Sefwi-Akontombra Police Station (Vehicle)
Q. 1527. Mr. Lee Ocran (on behalf of Mr. Herod Cobbina) asked the Minister for the Interior when Sefwi-Akontombra Police Station would be provided with a vehicle.
Dr. Addo-Kufuor 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
Police Administration, under an Exim Bank of India Facility and Paramount Logistics Corporation of South Africa, has for the past two years taken delivery of 403 vehicles. I will ask the Police Adminis- tration to allocate one of the vehicles to the Sefwi-Akontombra Police Station.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Minister for the Interior, once again may I thank you very much for appearing to answer these Questions.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon. Minister for Transportation?
Question 992, hon. Member for Nkwanta North?
Mr. P. C. Appiah-Ofori 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the hon. Member called me this morning to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr. Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Permission granted, go ahead.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Appiah-Ofori 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member wanted to know whether the work will be completed before the end of 2008. It appears to me that this issue was not addressed. Specifically, I want the hon. Minister to commit himself so that the government Assurance Committee could take him on, whether it will be completed by 2008. Commit yourself please.
Dr. Anane 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the operative word in the Question is plans to tar. Mr. Speaker, we do have plans to tar before the end of the year because we have already taken all the actions that are being geared towards tarring the road. They are the plans but specifically works cannot be completed before the end of the year.
Mr. Appiah-Ofori 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to let us know, with the incompetence exhibited by this contractor; whether it is not appropriate for the contractor's name to be removed from the list of contractors
Mr. Appiah-Ofori 10:30 a.m.


that worked for the Ministry?
Dr. Anane 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we are not satisfied with the progress of works. But there are certain realities that confront us in the execution and in the implementation of projects. One of the major realities is that of getting contractors to move into certain parts of the country. When we have projects to be executed especially in the Afram Plains, in the northern part of the Volta Region and in certain remote areas, if we can facilitate the work, we do everything to facilitate it.

Mr. Speaker, this contractor, in spite of the fact that he is almost 10 months behind schedule has been able to do the major parts which are the concrete works. This contractor has also, after doing the concrete work, has done the sub-base and has been able to pile up material for the base of the project.

Mr. Speaker, we have gone into the capacity of the contractor, the contractor happens to have a quarry which can give him the chippings that are required for the completion of the works and incidentally, the contractor is also into bitumen industry. So we believe that with these factors behind the contractor, we only have to find ways and means of encouraging him to complete the work instead of curtailing the works and repackaging and re-awarding which would take a longer period.

Denu Beach (Swanzy) Road (Tarring)

Q. 1212. Mr. Albert Kwasi Zigah asked the Minister for Transportation when the Denu Beach (Swanzy) road, which was within the district capital would be tarred.
Dr. Anane 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Denu
Beach (Swanzy) road is a 1.2 km gravel road at Denu in the Ketu South District.
Mr. Speaker, this is the main road which leads from Denu to the Denu Beach. The Denu Beach has been prepared for tarring, this would be in 2009 programme of the ghana Highway Authority. In all 3.7 km of roads in Denu township has been prepared for development.
Mr. Zigah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the road in question leads to almost all government institutions in the district; in other words it is described as the CBD road. Mr. Speaker, governments over the years carried out period maintenance in order to keep the road motorable. I want to know from the hon. Minister, how many years is required by his Ministry for the maintenance of such roads?
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon. Member, this is not a supplementary question, it is not a supplementary question at all. If you have other questions to ask, you may ask.
Mr. Zigah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, for fair distribution of projects in the road sector, the government has instituted the tarring of 15 kilometres of road in each district capital. Mr. Speaker, can the hon. Minister explain to this august House why this concept? Even a metre of road is not implemented in the district capital, Denu.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon. Member, please, I thought your question was clear when you asked when the road was going to be tarred and he has answered it.
Mr. Zigah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Swanzy road is presently in a worse state as I speak. May I know from the hon. Minister what measures as a matter of urgency, can his Ministry adopt to make the only district capital road accessible?
Dr. Anane 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, even as we prepare to give the road and the township a facelift, we also do routine maintenance.
Mr. Speaker, parts of the year make routine maintenance difficult especially when the rains are on. So as soon as the rains come to an end, my hon. Colleague would see some routine maintenance on the roads in the township. However, as has been stated, we would then take the necessary actions to make sure that we have an all weather corridor for him.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Question number
1267 -- hon. John gyetuah, Member of Parliament for Amenfi West?
Mr. M. C. Boampong 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, please, I have the hon. Member 's permission to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Please, go ahead.
Compensation for Properties Destroyed
Q. 1267. Mr. M. C. Boampong (on behalf of Mr. John Gyetuah) asked the Minister for Transportation whether compensation had been paid to the people whose properties were destroyed during the construction of the Manso-Amenfi- Asankragua road.
Dr. Anane 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, during the construction of the Manso-Amenfi- Asankragua road, 205 people had their properties including buildings/ structures and crops destroyed. Payment of compensation started in July, 2007. The highest compensation amount paid was gH¢1995.50 and the lowest was gH¢6.4 being the cost of some crops destroyed.
With the assistance of the District Assembly in identifying the beneficiaries, all outstanding payments have been made since 18th September, 2008.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Question number 1289 -- hon. Alex Asum-Ahensah, Member of Parliament for Jaman North?
Alhaji Collins Dauda 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, hon. Asum-Ahensah is present ly indisposed and he has asked me to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Where is he?
Alhaji Dauda 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, he is at
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Please, go ahead.
Werewere Bridge (Rehabilitation)
Q. 1289. Alhaji Collins Dauda (on behalf of Mr. Alex Asum-Ahensah) asked the Minister for Transportation when the collapsed Werewere Bridge near goka on the Seketia-Seikwa road would be rehabilitated.
Dr. Anane 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Seketia- Seikwa feeder road is located in the Jaman North District of the Brong Ahafo Region. The collapsed bridge near the goka town on the Seketia-Seikwa feeder road was replaced with a 2/3 m x 2 m box culvert and a two cell 1.8 m diameter relief culvert in September 2007 at the cost of gH¢124,300. Under the project, the entire side slopes of the approach fill to the culvert was stone-pitched.
The works were executed by Messrs Dynamic Stars Company Limited at a contract sum of gH¢140,000.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Question number 1293 -- hon. Joseph Tsatsu Agbenu, Member of Parliament for Afram Plains North?
Mrs. Juliana Azumah-Mensah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Member has probably missed his boat from the Afram Plains, so he would like me to ask the Question on his behalf with your indulgence.
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.
go ahead, Madam.
Tarring of Amankwakrom Agordeke
Mr. Speaker 10:40 a.m.


Road (Completion)

Q. 1293. Mrs. Juliana Azumah- Mensah (on behalf of Mr. Joseph Tsatsu Agbenu) asked the Minister for Transportation when tarring of Amankwakrom-Agordeke road would be completed.
Dr. Anane 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Amankwa- krom-Agordeke road is 12.2 kilometres long and is located in the Kwahu North District of the Eastern Region.
The road was awarded on contract for surfacing in June, 2003 at a contract sum of gH¢932,000.
The project which is being executed by Messrs D. Owusu/Pentrex (gH) Limited commenced in July 2003. Works should have been completed by July 2004. The completion date was revised to December 2006 due to shortage of chippings and the unreliability of pontoon services in the corridor.
The project is currently about 40 per cent completed and payment for work done to date amounted to gH¢391,000. Works executed to date are, construction of 12 culverts, laying of 12.2 kilometres of sub-base and base course layers and the primer sealing of 1.2 kilometres
This project has delayed partly as a result of the contractor's poor delivery and in addition, a number of other factors that hinder smooth project execution in the area. These include difficult accessibility to the area, remoteness of the location as well as lack of reliable services such as supply of construction materials and servicing of equipment.
As a result of the long delay in completing the works, the Department of Feeder Roads was directed to liaise with the Regional Tender Review Board to terminate the contract for a new
procurement process to be initiated to complete the project without any further delay.
Mrs. Azumah-Mensah 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the hon. Minister 's Answer, he mentioned the contractor's inability to deliver and said that he had directed the Department of Feeder Roads to terminate the contract. As at now, I would like to know from the hon. Minister if he has heard anything from the Department of Feeder Roads as to whether the contract has been terminated.
Dr. Anane 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is the Regional Tender Review Board which will do the termination. But the Department of Feeder Roads has to liaise with the Regional Tender Review Board.
However, Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier with respect to works in certain areas in the country, where it is very difficult to get contractors to work, we find the Regional Tender Boards finding it a bit difficult to go in to do the termination because they may not be sure how we can get other more reliable contractors.
But in this particular case, because of the length of the duration over which the contractor has not been able to deliver, the Regional Tender Board has been implored to take into consideration the delays that have been encountered in order to terminate the contract so that we can find somebody who may be more reliable to execute the works.
But as I speak now, they have not done it but we are liaising with them to make sure that it is done.
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Question number 1301, hon. Abdul-Razaq A. Umar, Member of Parliament for Tolon?
Nyankpala-Tolon-Daboya Road (Tarring)
Q. 1301. Mr. Umar A. Abdul-Razaq asked the Minister for Transpor-tation when would the tarring of the Nyankpala- Tolon-Daboya stretch of the road would continue.
Dr. Anane 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Nyankpala-Tolon-Daboya strech forms part of the Tamale-Daboya road. It is about 58 kilometres long. Indeed, it crosses the White Volta and goes as far as to Busuru to meet the Fulfulso-Sawla road.
Mr. Speaker, kilometre 0-1.5 which was tarred in 2006 by the Department of Urban Roads, and that portion is in good condition.
Kilometre 1.5 - 58.0 is under the jurisdiction of the ghana Highway Authority. Out of that, kilometre 1.5- 15.2 was tarred by the ghana Highway Authority in 2005.
Kilometre 15.2-58.0 kilometre is untarred up to the banks of the White Volta River. It is under a 2-year routine maintenance programme. This section has since last year been graded three times. This year, the section has been graded three times. This year, the section has been graded once and is in good condition.
Studies for the upgrading of the section from kilometre 15.2-25, (up to the outskirts of Tolon) have just been completed for upgrading and tarring.
Currently, access from kilometre 58.0-58.5 (Daboya town) is by water transportation using canoes over the White Volta. A permanent solution will be the construction of a bridge of a total span of over 500 metres.
Studies have also been completed for
the bridge. The designs are currently being reviewed for implementation.
Mr. Abdul-Razaq 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, from the hon. Minister's Answer, kilometre 1.5 58.0 is under the jurisdiction of the ghana Highway Authority. Out of that, kilometre 1.5-15.2 was tarred by the ghana Highway Authority in 2005.
Mr. Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Minister if he is aware that since the year 2000 even a metre of tarred road has not been added to this stretch.
Dr. Anane 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not appear to understand my hon. Colleague. In 2005, from kilometre 1.5-15.2 tarring was done. But my hon. Colleague is saying that since 2000, not a metre of tarring has been done. This is where I have my difficulty.
Again, Mr. Speaker, the corridor that he is speaking about is a corridor that we have taken special note of and as I said, it stretches from Tamale through Tolon, Daboya, crosses the White Volta to Busuno to join the Fufulso-Sawla road. And this corridor has been captured for intervention. That is why I do not seem to appreciate exactly what my hon. Colleague is saying.
Mr. Abdul-Razaq 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it might interest the hon. Member to know that kilometre 1.5-15.2 had stopped in 2000, that is at Nyankpala. And from Nyankpala up to Tolon to Daboya, even a metre of tarring has not taken place.
So, I am surprised the hon. Minister is telling us that it was tarred in 2005. And this is the reality on the ground.
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Thank you, very much. Hon. Member, as you know, it is not a question.
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.


Question number 1303, hon. Simons Addai, Member of Parliament for Techiman South?
Mr. Stephen Kunsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to seek your permission to ask the Question on his behalf. He has asked me to do so.
Mr. Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon. Member for Kintampo North, you can do so.
Brong Ahafo Region Feeder Roads (Equipment)
Q. 1303. Mr. Stephen Kunsu (on behalf of Mr. Simons Addai) asked the Minister for Transportation why the Feeder Roads Department in the Brong Ahafo Region did not have equipment to carry out road construction in the region.
Dr. Anane 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Depart- ment of Feeder Roads (DFR) since its establishment in 1982 was doing in- house routine maintenance works, and out sourcing periodic maintenance works to contractors. As a result, the DFR kept a large number of maintenance staff and equipment. Output was not commensurate with expenditure on the staff. The result was a backlog of maintenance activities.
In addition to labour related issues, DFR had problems with the equipment that were procured for use. The set of equipment included a large number of Baukema graders and some rollers which were procured from the former East germany under a barter trade agreement between the governments of ghana and the then East germany between 1983 and 1991.
Mr. Speaker, the equipment was distributed among the ten (10) regions for feeder roads maintenance activities. The
equipment broke down frequently due to lack of back up spares. Other related problems involved pilfering of spare parts, fuel and lubricants by some staff.
As a result of the afore-mentioned
problems and following a new policy direction by government in 1992, the DFR maintenance works were out-sourced to private contractors instead of being done in-house. The policy-shift which became fully effective in 1996 enabled the DFR to increase the scope and the extent of its maintenance activities, thereby reducing the backlog that had been created.
Mr. Speaker, with the adoption of this policy, the ageing plant and equipment of the Department of Feeder Roads made up mostly of graders and tipper trucks were sold off to contractors. To ensure that the off-loaded equipment were used to maintain feeder roads in their respective regions, the sale of the equipment was limited to contractors in the regions where the equipment were located. The beneficiary contractors were selected in consultation with the Regional Co- ordinating Councils.
The criteria for the allocation were that
the beneficiary contractors were opera-ting in the regions at the time of sale and that the beneficiary contractors were involved in routine maintenance works.
In all, seventy-eight contractors throughout the country benefited from the allocations. The Brong Ahafo Region was allocated five, of such.
Mr. Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon. Minister, thank you very much for appearing to answer these Questions.
At the Commencement of Public
Business -- Item 5 -- Laying of Payers?
PAPERS 11 a.m.
BILLS -- SECOND READING 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the objectives of the Bill are to 11 a.m.
a. promote the judicious use of land
by the society, protect people's right and interest in land and ensure that land use is in accordance with sustainable management principles and maintenance of a sound eco- system; and
b. ensure that land development is done in conformity with the nation's development goals.
The intended reorganization would:
a. enable the implementation of the one-stop-shop concept;
b. render Land Administration
Mr. Speaker, the objectives of the Bill are to 11 a.m.


client-focused;

c. facilitate the sharing of data and information among the divisions and with the public;

d. promote expeditious, efficient, transparent and business- oriented mode of land services delivery;

e. reduce transaction time and cost; and

f. provide an accessible, healthy environment in the Land Sector.

Mr. Speaker, the passage of this Bill will go a long way to create efficiency and effectiveness in our land administration system.

Mr. Speaker, I beg to move.

Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. Joseph B. Aidoo) 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion and in doing so to present the Report of your Committee on Lands and Forestry.

Introduction

1. The Lands Commission Bill, 2008 was presented to Parliament and read the First time on 14th August 2008. In accordance with article 106 (4) and (5) of the Constitution and Order 177 of the Standing Orders of the House, the Speaker referred the Bill to the Committee on Lands and Forestry for deliberation and report.

2. The Committee held three sittings including a forum for stakeholders in the

lands sector. The Committee during these sittings deliberated on the Bill and has proposed a number of amendments.

Acknowledgement

3. The Committee received memoranda from the Survey Department (SD), Lands Commission (LC), Land Title Registry (LTR), Land Valuation Board (LVB), ghana Institute of Surveyors (ghIS), License Surveyors Association of ghana (LISAg), Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL), Farmers and Fishermen Association (FFA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Nene Akrasi Korda and Mr. Sampson Opare.

4. A team of officials led by the Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines (MLFM) assisted the Committee in its deli-berations.

5. The Committee wishes to extend its sincerest gratitude to the Minister and her officials from the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines (MLFM) for their input during the Committee's deli- berations. The Committee would also like to thank all institutions, bodies and individuals who submitted memoranda on the Bill to the Committee.

3.0 Reference

6. The Commit tee referred to the following documents during its deliberations:

i. The 1992 Constitution

ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament

iii. The Land Title Registration Law,

1986 (PNDCL 152)

iv. The Land Registry Act 1962 (Act

122)

v. The Lands Commission Act. 1994, (Act 483)

vi. The Surveys Act, 1962 (Act 127).

4.0 Background

7. The government of ghana in June 1999 issued its land policy. The long-term goal of the said policy was to stimulate economic development, reduce poverty and promote social stability by improving security of land tenure, simplifying the process for accessing land and making it fair, transparent and efficient, developing the land market and fostering prudent land management.

To implement the actions recommen- ded in the policy, the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines (MLFM) initiated the Land Administration Project which is aimed at laying the foundation for a sustainable and well functioning land administration system that is fair, efficient cost effective and enhances land tenure security.

8. The Project has four (4) components dealing with legal reforms, institutional reforms, land information systems and project management. The legal reforms component also has three sub- components comprising a legal framework for the institutional arrangements for land administration, the Land Bill and land use planning. The Lands Commission Bill, represents the first sub-component, that is, the legal framework for the institutional arrangements for land administration.

9. The legal responsibility for land administration in ghana is currently divided among seven public agencies namely: Lands Commission, Survey Department, Land Title Registry, Land Valuation Board, Town and Country
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. Joseph B. Aidoo) 11:10 a.m.


unlike the other land sector agencies that have been fragmented. This autonomous status stems from the specialized nature of surveying.

According to them, apart from cadastral surveys that have direct relationship with land administration, there are other aspects of surveying currently undertaken by the Survey Department that do not integrate with land administration. These include: geodetic Surveys, Photographical Surveys, Demarcation and Maintenance of International Boundaries, Hydrographic Surveys, Engineering Surveys, Licensing and Supervision of Land Surveyors, among others.

14. According to this school of thought, the importance of these other aspects of surveying is likely to be down-played if they are integrated into a single unit Lands Commission. Countries such as Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America and Australia were cited as countries whose national surveying authorities are autonomous.

15. The Committee, however, noted that clause 20 of the Bill has captured almost all the existing functions of the Survey Department. Clause 20 (1) also makes provision for the Commission to prescribe other functions for the Survey and Mapping Division of the new Lands Commission.

16. The Committee further noted that the various land sector agencies including the Survey Department would continue to carryout their functions as they currently do except that they would be reporting to a new Chief Executive. The various Divisions under the new Lands Commission would continue to own and operate their programmes. It is, therefore, unlikely that some functions of the various Divisions including the Survey and Mapping Division would suffer under

the new Commission.

17. The Committee was also informed that internationally most countries are moving towards convergence of the surveying and land registration authorities. guyana, Jamaica, Finland and Ireland were noted as countries that have successfully integrated the two authorities.

Membership of the Commission

18. The Committee observed that the Bill has re-stated the constitutional provision in articles 259 and 261 on the membership of the Lands Commission and the Regional Lands Commissions.

19. Some of the land sector agencies however argued that since the intention of the Bill is to integrate autonomous or semi-autonomous agencies into a one-stop-shop, it would be appropriate to expand the membership of the Lands Commission and the Regional Lands Commission to include representation from these agencies. This, according to them, would foster cohesion and ownership of the reforms by all the agencies.

20. The Committee, however, noted that expanding the membership of the Lands Commission and Regional Lands Commissions under the Bill would amount to amending articles 259 and 261 of the Constitution and which would be unconstitutional.

21. An alternative proposal was that the window of opportunity offered by clause 17 of the Bill which grants power to the Commission and the Regional Lands Commissions to co-opt persons to advise it at meetings should be exploited with the mention of all the divisions to be co-opted. According to the proponents the co-opting of persons should not be at the discretion of the Commission but a requirement of the law.

22. It was however, noted that listing the persons to be co-opted would defeat the purpose of the clause which is to ensure that the Commissions have access to a wide range of expertise. It was further noted that the Chief Executive represents the interest of the various Divisions on the Commission and should be able to articulate the concerns of all Divisions before the Board. The Committee noted that this is the practice in most corporate organisations.

Effect of Integration

23. The Committee raised concerns about the likely loss of jobs and diminution of status and remuneration as a result of the integration of the land agencies.

24. The Committee was, however, assured that there would be no diminution in remuneration for the existing staff. It was further indicated that all the agencies are currently under-staffed at the senior staff levels as a result of freeze on recruitment over the years. There is therefore no likelihood of retrenchment of such staff. There might however be excess staff at the lower levels of employment but since these agencies are already part of the Civil Service, the excess staff would be referred to the Office of the Head of Civil Service for reposting. The numbers of excess staff are however not expected to be high.

25. The Committee was informed that an Organisation, Management and Operations (OMO) study is currently being undertaken which is to help establish the staff requirement and appropriate placement for the new Commission. The preliminary results are expected in December 2008.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. Joseph B. Aidoo) 11:10 a.m.
Tenure for Commissioners
27. There was strong advocacy for the tenure of members of the Lands Commission and the Regional Lands Commissions to be limited to only two terms. The proponents contend that limiting the tenure to only two terms would prevent a situation where some persons become “near permanent” members of the Commission. It will also enable the Commission benefit from expertise of many more members of Institutions that are represented on the Commissions.
28. The Committee, however, noted that the tenure of members is a constitutional provision, (article 264 (1)) and therefore limiting the tenure through the Bill will be tantamount to amending the Constitution. Licensing of Surveyors
29. The Committee noted that in addition to providing surveying services to government and other private individuals and organizations, the Survey Department also undertakes the licensing and regulating of practitioners of the profession. The Committee noted that this dual role does not augur well for checks and balances. Unfortunately, this dual role is being carried over into the new Lands Commission.
30. The Committee held the view that the Commission should not act as a regulator and operator in the same industry and therefore a different institution should undertake the licensing.

31. The Committee was informed that a new Bill, to be known as the “The Survey Council Bill” which is currently at the drafting stage seeks to separate the two where the Survey Council would be responsible for licensing with the Commission being a regulator. The inclusion of this dual role in the current Bill was thus an interim measure and the Bill should reflect this.

Amendments Proposed

32. After a thorough examination of the Bill and taking cognizance of the above observations, the Committee is proposing the underlisted amendments to the Bill:

i. Clause 3, line 1, after “Minister” insert “responsible”.

ii. Clause 3, line 2, delete “with the

approval of the President”.

iii. Clause 5(d), line 2, after “land” delete “as well as registration of deeds and instruments affecting land”.

iv. Clause 5 (f), line 2, after “Country”, delete all.

v. Clause 5 (i), delete “undertake” and substitute “provide”.

vi. Clause 5, insert a new paragraph as follows:

“to register deeds and instru- ments affecting land throughout the country.”

v i i . C l a u s e 5 , i n s e r t a n e w paragraph as follows:

“provide mapping and sur-veying services where neces-sary.”

vi i i . Clause 7 (1) (b) , dele te
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. Joseph B. Aidoo) 11:10 a.m.


[NII MANTE] [DR. OSEI]