Debates of 13 Feb 2009

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:30 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:30 a.m.
Majority Leader/Leader of the House (Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin) 10:30 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, I present the Business Statement for the Sixth Week, ending Friday, 20th February 2009.
Introduction
Madam Speaker, the Committee met yesterday, Thursday, 12th February 2009 and arranged Business of the House for the Sixth Week, ending Friday, 20th February
2009.
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 10:30 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Papers and Reports
Madam Speaker, Papers may be laid during the week. Committee reports may also be presented to the House for consideration.
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 10:40 a.m.
Rt. Hon. Speaker may allow Statements to be made on the floor of the House. Debate on Motions and their consequential Resolutions, if any, may also be taken.
Message on the State of the Nation
Madam Speaker, H.E. the President of
the Republic will deliver to Parliament a Message on the State of the Nation on Thursday, 19 th February 2009, in accordance with article 67 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. Conclusion
Madam Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

Statements

Laying of Papers --

Report of the Appointments Committee on the President's nominat ions for Minis ter ia l appointments.

Motions --

Adoption of the Report of the Appointments Committee on the President's nominations for Ministerial appointments.

Committee Sittings.

Statements

Laying of Papers

Motions

Committee Sittings.

Message on the State of the Nation

Statements

Laying of Papers

Motions

Committee Sittings.

This is the Business Statement for next week and this gives the frame work of the Business for the week. As we go along next week, if there are other matters, we will draw the attention of the House to the matters that crop up.

Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
The Business Statement as presented is adopted.
We move on to Statements - Item 4. Hon. Members, I have admitted two Statements but they will be taken after the Public Business.
So, now, we commence the Public Business -- item 5. May I call on the First Deputy Speaker and the Chairman of the Committee to move motion numbered 5.
MOTIONS 10:40 a.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho) 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80 (1), which require that no motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which

notice of the motion is given and the date on which the motion is moved, the motion for the adoption of the first report of the Appointments Committee on the President's nominations for Ministerial appointments may be moved today.
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Dr. A. A. Osei 10:40 a.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, if you can go to the Parliamentary Debates - Official Report of 12th February 2009, column 296. I just need to be guided. Yesterday -- In column 296, and with your permission I want to quote:
“Madam Speaker, I think that this one [shows a copy of a Report] should be withdrawn and the correct one should be laid tomorrow so we can proceed. After all, it is by consensus and we should do things properly”.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon. Member, have we not finished item 5?
Dr. A. A. Osei 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, that is why I need to be guided because the ruling - [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
I thought you were going to make - [Interruption.]
Dr. A. A. Osei 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, your ruling said it must be laid before we discuss it, and we did not - [Interruption.] Please, read the Report. We have not seen anywhere here where we said that we accepted their submission, please.

As I read through the columns, I do not see anywhere you had ruled that you had accepted the submission of the Minority Leader that it be considered today.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Yes, you have raised a point, let me hear him.
Mr. Adjaho 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, in the first place, I thought that we have just finished correction of the Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report.
Dr. A. A Osei 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my hon. Senior Colleague is a very experien- ced Hon Member of this august House. In fact, it is his tutelage that got me to raise this issue because he is very good at it, and he has been teaching me very well. [Laughter] -- And he knows that once he has moved item 5 -- and column 296 has not been properly decided on, then there is a procedural problem.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon. Member, that was why I was asking whether it was right to wait till item 5 was moved.
Dr. A. A. Osei 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I was waiting to be guided because we went through the Votes and Proceedings and I never got called. So I was confused as to what we were doing, that is why I was waiting to be guided by the Leadership.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
What about the explanation he gave, are you satisfied because I thought you have experience in this House too?
Dr. A. A. Osei 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I do not have experience; he has more. [interruption] -- As far back as 1992. And he normally draws our attention to these
matters. That is why I wanted to bring it to his attention that, since we have been generously learning from him, I thought I would use his tutelage to remind him of what he has been teaching us, to do the right thing. Column 296 - It should be laid.
Mr. Adjaho 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, it is true that I have given him some few lessons in practice and procedure. But I use it to facilitate the Business of the House, not to frustrate it. [Laughter.]
Dr. A. A. Osei 10:40 a.m.
Having said that, I rest.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Member, this point that you have raised, you see, we have adopted the motion in item 5, and if you are going back, are you asking us to rescind it? Because we have adopted that motion, maybe, you can come on when we get to the substantive motion. I do not know.
Mr. Adjaho 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I would want to take liberty, before I move the motion, that the document that was laid yesterday is duly withdrawn and substituted with the one that - [Inter- ruptions.]
Madam Speaker, I had laid the document yesterday; the only point, Madam Speaker, that I am making is that because the other one is in the public domain, what is before me now and had been made available to Hon Members is the proper document before the House. That is all the point I am making. Yes, that is all the point I am making.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Member, can
you move your motion then?
First Report of the Appointments Committee
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho) 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, this

Madam Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the first report of the Appointments Committee on the President's nominations for ministerial appointments.

Madam Speaker, I beg to present the Report of the Committee.

1.0 Introduction

His Excellency, President J.E.A. Mills communicated to Parliament for the prior approval of his nomination of the following persons for appointment as Ministers of State pursuant to article 78 (1) of the Constitution.

They are:

1 . Hon. Alex Tet tey-Enyo -- Ministry of Education

2. Hon. Cletus Avoka -- Ministry of Interior

3. Hon. Akua Sena Dansua -- Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs

4. Hon. Juliana Azumah-Mensah -- Ministry of Tourism

5. Hon. Joseph Yieleh Chireh -- Ministry of Local Government

and Rural Development

6. Hon. Joe Gidisu -- Ministry of Roads and Highways

7. Mr. Collins Dauda -- Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources

8. Mrs. Betty Mould- Iddrisu -- Ministry of Justice and

Attorney- General

9. Dr. Oteng Adjei -- Ministry of

Energy

10. Hon. Mike Hammah - - Ministry of Transport

In accordance with Order 172 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House, Madam Speaker on Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th January 2009 referred the nominations to the Appointments Committee for consideration and report.

The Committee subsequently met to determine modalities for the vetting of the nominees. The names of the nominees were published in the media in accordance with Order 172 (3) and memoranda were invited from the public.

The Committee also undertook due diligence to ensure that each of the nominees satisfies, amongst others, the requirement of article 94 of the Constitution.

2.0 Reference Documents

The Committee had recourse to

the following documents during deli- berations:

1. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana

2. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana

3. The Curricula Vitae of nominees

4. Petitions and Memoranda from the public

5. Reports from security agencies

6. Reports from revenue agencies. 3.0 Procedure

As part of the Committee's procedures, each nominee took the oath of a witness.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho) 10:50 a.m.


On the question of possible review of the duration of the senior high school programme, hon. Tettey-Enyo reiterated the view for reduction of the period to three years, citing various opinions. He identified lack of teachers and other facilities at the basic level as a major cause for the declining standards in education. He maintained that two years of pre-school education and an intensive teaching at the basic level should be sufficient to ensure success within the three years at the senior high school.

He, however, stated that notwith- standing his view, if given the nod, he would call for a national debate on the duration of the senior high school education.

Declining Standards of Education

Agreeing with the Committee on the

issue of declining standards of education, hon. Tettey-Enyo observed that the decline would persist if steps are not taken to provide needed facilities to ensure good education. He called for the provision of textbooks and other educational equipment, improved learning environ-ment and teacher motivation for the improvement in the quality of education in the country. He also stressed the need to improve on the conditions of the ‘less endowed schools' to bridge the gap between such schools and the ‘privileged ones'.

Vocational and Technical Education

The nominee acknowledged efforts by previous governments in the upgrading of technical and vocational institutions and polytechnics and promised to continue the programme when given the nod.

He noted that it was appropriate to maintain the vocational and technical institutions under the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare because

training courses outside the formal system of education were better handled and protected.

Study Leave with Pay

He informed the Committee that the problem associated with “study leave with pay” is the huge expenditure it imposes on government as government has to incur additional expenditure to maintain the required number of teachers in the classroom at all material times. The way forward, he noted, is to allow teachers to participate in distance learning programmes, which he recommends should be subsidized by government, thereby allowing majority of them the opportunity to improve their capacity while at post. He held the view that the universities should be seen as institutions providing opportunities for research. He, however, called on government to consider subsidizing diploma awarding institutions to take care of teachers who may want to improve on their education.

Accommodation for Teachers

The nominee conceded that lack of accommodation for teachers continues to be an obstacle in the appointment and posting of teachers, particularly to the rural areas. He acknowledged the support of USAID in assisting government to address this problem and proposed a multi-sector approach to tackle this issue head on.

School Feeding Programme

Hon. Tettey-Enyo lauded the school feeding programme and said it both contributes to the nutritional needs of the pupils and serves as a motivator. He also acknowledged that it has contributed to increased enrolments in schools,
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho) 10:50 a.m.
Recommendation
The Commit tee by consensus recommends that the House approves his nomination as Minister for Education.
4.2 HON. CLETuS AVOKA -- Minister-designate for the Interior
Background
Hon. Cletus Apul Avoka is a lawyer and a Member of Parliament for Zebilla. He was born on 30th November, 1951. He is a former Minister for Lands and Forestry, Environment, Science and Technology and a former Upper East Regional Minister.
Petition Received
The Committee received a petition from an organization known as the Bawku Youth Association against his nomination as Minister for the Interior. This was duly brought to the attention of the nominee.
He expressed gratitude to the Committee for giving him the opportunity to state his side of the story. He indicated that the petition was based on two grounds; his roles as an opinion leader for the Kusasis and further as lawyer. He assured the Committee, the petitioners and the country as a whole that given his background as a peace maker and a team player, he would use his position to rather build bridges.
He, however, opined that there was nothing wrong with representing his clients in court and being an opinion leader for his ethnic group.
He emphasized that he had been a Member of Parliament for 12 years, and

accepted it in good faith.

The Commit tee by consensus recommends that the House approve of the nomination of hon. Cletus Apul Avoka as the Minister for the Interior.

4 .3 HON. JOSEPH YIELEH

CHIREH -- Minister-designate for Local Government and Rural Development Background

The nominee is a professional pharmacist, a lawyer and a Member of Parliament for Wa West Constituency. He is a former Minister for the Upper West Region. He is also a former Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinaire to Algeria with concurrent accreditation to Tunisia, Mauritania and Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic.

District Chief Executives (DCEs)

Hon. Chireh intimated to the Committee that if given approval, he would put forward a proposal to make District Chief Executives more accountable to the people. He noted that the non- elective nature of the position of District Chief Executives required that stringent mechanisms are put in place to ensure that they are made much more accountable to the people than what pertains now. Conflicts between DCEs and MPs

The problem of conflict between DCEs and MPs, according to the nominee, appears to be either caused by divergent political views or political ambitions of some DCEs. He believes, however, that the solution could be found in dialogue and emphasis on mutual respect of their defined roles.

MPs as Agents of Development

The nominee said he did not subscribe

as Regional Minister and chairperson of the Regional Security Council, he did not use his position to victimize anyone on tribal grounds.

Even though there is no evidence against the nominee that he ever used his official position to support his ethnic group, it is the considered view of the Committee that he should be cautious in dealing with matters that relate to ethnicity.

Narcotics Control Board and NADMO

In order to address the issue of the drug menace, the nominee proposed that the Narcotics Control Board should be reconstituted and a co-ordinating unit established to co-ordinate the activities of the various agencies to enable them work together. Further, security at the various ports and entry points should be beefed up, whilst stiffer measures such as confiscation of the property of those caught are enforced.

On his view about the change in leadership at NADMO, he explained that the government of the day appoints the leadership and he did not consider the issue to be politically motivated.

Internal Security

The Minister-designate said it had always been the commitment of govern- ment to provide adequate security and protection for all Ghanaians. He stated that if given approval, he will work hard to provide the required logistics for law enforcement agencies.

The nominee complained about the

lack of adequate equipment and resources to enable the police perform their work of ensuring law and order as well as protecting life and property. He promised

to work towards an enhanced budget for the Ministry in order to address the teething problems.

State of the Security Services

He denied knowledge of tribal consideration in the recruitment of personnel into the security services and the Police Service. He, however, promised to consider the issue when he is made Minister for the Interior. He also undertook not to dismiss any personnel on grounds of them having been recruited by the previous government.

He further informed the Committee that international best practice requires a minimum police population ratio of one to five hundred as opposed to Ghana's current position of one to seven hundred. He also assured the Committee of his commitment to pursue reform in the Ghana Police Service.

Regarding the Ghana Prisons Service, hon. Avoka bemoaned the current state of congestion in the prisons which has contributed to the inability of the Ghana Prisons Service to reform the inmates effectively.

He lamented that the conditions of the Ghana Fire Service which has only 76 fire tenders instead of the required minimum of 273 calls for a critical and immediate action.

The nominee acknowledged the challenge of poor infrastructure in the Ghana Police Service and advised District Assemblies to support the efforts of the Service in this regard.

Drivers and the Police Relationship

On the relationship between commercial and private drivers and the police, he advocated rigorous public education and training for police personnel to improve

upon the existing relationship. He also agreed with hon. Members about public perception of corruption in the Ghana Police Service and expressed the need to motivate personnel of the Service in a bid to curtail the perception of corruption.

Drug Trafficking

The nominee suggested that the issue of drug trafficking should be handled as a national crisis. He lamented the unfortunate perception that the previous government did not do enough to combat the problems.

Citing an example of exhibits getting missing in custody and the authorities not completing the investigations process, he observed that this is what has fuelled the perception and that is why the impression persists. He, therefore, called for collaboration between the Ghana Police Service and the Narcotics Control Board in combating the menace.

Armed Robbery

Hon. Cletus Avoka disagreed with the view that the source of weapons for robbery activities is solely from the police. He identified the Ghana Armed Forces, the neighbouring countries, retired personnel of the various security services and local manufacturers of weapons as other possible sources.

The Minister-designate attributed the slow response of the police to emergency/ distress calls largely to lack of adequate logistics, especially vehicles.

Recommendation

The Committee advised the nominee to pay particular attention to the sensibilities of the other ethnic groups and the nominee
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho) 10:50 a.m.


to the view that MPs are not agents for development because they can make suggestions on the type of development projects to be implemented. They can also approach officials of the various Ministries to lobby and solicit information on status of projects. Most members however disagreed with the nominee.

Local Government Service Act

According to the nominee, the Local Government Service Act needs to be reconciled with the Local Government Act to make it more functional. He indicated that competent persons will offer themselves to become Assembly members if the remuneration is made attractive. This, according to him, will lead to quality decision-making at that level.

District Assemblies Common Fund

The Minister-designate informed the Committee that the problem with the District Assemblies Common Fund is that the accounting process is flawed in several ways. In his view, if those who do not account properly are exposed and punished accordingly, others would be encouraged to do the right thing. He insisted that if funds accrued from tolls and resulting projects are published in the media, people would be encouraged to pay their tolls.

unit Committee Structures

Answering a question on the unit committee structures, he said the existing structures are not effective. The set-up makes them difficult to operate effectively and admitted that very few are currently operating properly. As part of measures to revive them, he advocated that traditional rulers be involved. Their role, however, should be determined by the Assemblies.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho) 10:50 a.m.


The nominee said discrimination against women in the District Assemblies is not acceptable. He intimated that about 40 per cent of appointees should be women to address the issue of women representation at the District Assembly level.

Sanitation

On sanitation, he said he would encourage scientific methods of disposal of waste. This, according to him, will require capital investment and hoped to get the necessary financial support.

Recommendation

The Committee by unanimous decision recommends that the House approves of his nomination as the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development.

4.4 HON. AKuA SENA DANSuA -- Minister-designate for Women

and Children's Affairs

Background

Hon. Akua Sena Dansua, born on 23rd April 1958, is a product of the Ghana Institute of Journalism, School of Communication Studies of the University of Ghana, and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Governance and Leadership at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. She has been a Member of Parliament from 2001 to date and is presently the Second Deputy Majority Whip of the House.

Non-Governmental Organisations

The nominee is a professional journalist, former DCE and currently, MP for North Dayi. She informed the Committee that she owns an NGO, Advocate for Gender

and Development Initiatives but has relinquished her position as Chairperson. She said she established the NGO to assist needy women in her constituency. She insisted the NGO will continue to exist but under a different leadership and that she will not refuse to provide advice when the need arises.

She advocated the need to maintain the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs since it provides the platform and avenue for gender advocacy and mainstreaming and for the mobilization of funds to promote the well-being of women and children.

Decentralization of MOWAC

It was observed that there are over- lapping responsibilities with respect to the Children's Act (1998) and Human Trafficking Act (2005) between the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs and the Department of Social Welfare. The nominee indicated that it was rightly so because at the time of the passage of the Children's Act, there was no Ministry for Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC). She, however, proposed that the Department of Social Welfare be moved to the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs because of the expertise of the Ministry and the experience in handling concerns relating to women and children.

She further observed that the Ministry for Women and Children's Affairs is currently represented in the regions but promised to further decentralize it by creating offices in the districts as well. She stated that her ability to do so would depend on the availability of resources.

She further called for a stakeholders' conference to determine what has to be done in terms of advocacy and the way forward. If need be, there would be re-

engineering of the Ministry for effective management and control. She would also elicit the help of churches and Members of Parliament in addressing the issues of child education and parental irrespon- sibility.

Early Childhood Centres

The nominee expressed worry at developments at Early Childhood Development Centres in the country. She said the basic infrastructures are not well established and some care givers are not well trained. Remuneration is also a problem. However she considered the centres as a bedrock of the development of some of the nation's human resources.

Recommendation

The Committee by unanimous decision recommends that the House approves of her nomination as Minister for Women and Children's Affairs.

4.5 HON. JuLIANA AZuMAH- MENSAH -- Minister- designate for Tourism

Background

Hon. Juliana Jocelyn Azumah-Mensah was born on 15th June 1950. She attended O.L.A. Secondary School, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana. She holds a Master of Science Degree in Health Management and Administration. She is a second-term Member of Parliament for Ho East.

Plans for the Ministry

Hon. Juliana Azumah-Mensah iden- tified the ineffectiveness of the Ghana Tourist Board as one of the challenges affecting the tourism sector. She suggested that the industry should be given the necessary attention to generate wealth for the country.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho) 10:50 a.m.


She advocated a serious focus on sanitation in the country because it can affect the potential of tourism. She further called for education on sex tourism and proper scrutiny of tourists who flock into the country in order to protect the vulnerable.

She observed that the current global credit crunch would likely affect tourism and revenue mobilization.

With regard to the promotion of local dishes, she called for a concerted effort at encouraging restaurants in the country to support the promotion of local dishes. She however advocated the hygienic preparation of these meals in order not to discourage their patronage.

Finally, she promised to improve infrastructure at tourist destinations if given the approval.

The Committee observed that the nominee has established herself as one of the respectful and courteous Members of the House and hopes that she carries that demeanor to her new Ministry. She did not sound as authoritative as the Committee expected but it is the firm belief of members that she is capable of rising to the occasion.

Recommendation

The Committee unanimously recom- mends that the House approves of the nomination of Hon. Juliana Azumah- Mensah as Minister for Tourism.

4.6 HON. JOE GIDISU

-- Minister-designate for Roads and Highways

Background

Hon. Joseph Kwashie Gidisu was born on 22nd February 1952 and holds a Masters Degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague. He is a two-term Member of Parliament for North and Central Tongu and a former Ranking Member for Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprise as well as Education.

Agricultural Roads

On agricultural roads, the nominee stated that there are structures already in place in the Ministry to address the issue of roads that link agricultural producing sectors and these are captured under projects of the Department of Feeder Roads. He further informed members that roads in the cocoa producing areas are being constructed under the sponsorship of the cocoa industry. He promised to look at the challenges facing the Feeder Roads Department if given approval.

The nominee identified the delayed payment to contractors as one of the problems confronting the sector. According to him, this sometimes results in shoddy execution of works. The nominee indicated that he would empower contractors who would be ready to work in the rural areas by assisting them in contracting loans. Poor Road Networks

Hon. Gidisu, emphasized the strict supervision of road contracts to achieve value-for-money. He admonished all and sundry to get interested in road works being undertaken in their localities to ensure effective execution of contracts.

Road Fund

The Roads and Highways Minister- Designate affirmed the need for an increase in road and bridge tolls. He informed the Committee that he is aware of a memo already submitted to Cabinet

on increasing these tolls. He promised to follow up on what his predecessor has done and hoped Parliament would assist when the need arises.

The nominee was of the view that axle load checks need to be enforced vigorously.

Recommendation

The Committee by unanimous decision recommends that the House approve of his nomination as Minister for Roads and Highways.

4.7 MR. COLLINS DAuDA -- Minister- designate for Lands and Natural Resources

Mr. Collins Dauda was born on 13th February 1957 at Mehame in the Brong Ahafo Region. He had his education at Mim Secondary School for his ‘O' level and ‘A' Level Certificates after which he taught briefly at Kukuom Agricultural Secondary School and Ahafoman Secondary School. In 1991, he served as a member of the Consultative Assembly.

He was a two-term member of Parliament for Asutifi South Constituency from 1993 to 2000 and returned to Parliament as MP for Asutifi South from 2005 to 2008. In Parliament he served as Chairman, Vice- Chairman and Ranking Member for the Committee on Lands and Forestry. He was also a member of the Finance Committee and the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture.

The Forest Cover

On the issue of the country's forest cover, Mr. Collins Dauda informed the Committee that the country had 8.2 million hectares of forest cover at the turn of the 20th century but at the turn of the last century, this cover had reduced

to 1.6 million hectares. He considered this situation as a reflection of serious degradation and recommended that the country put in place structures to conserve the nation's natural resources especially the forests. He assured the Committee that if given the nod, he would identify companies which would want to embark on serious commercial plantations in the country and motivate them.

Chainsaw and “Galamsey” Operation

The nominee, on the operation of chainsaws in the country, explained that the Timber Resources Management Act (L.I 1649) narrowed the use of chainsaw by allowing chainsaw lumber to be used for community purposes. This in his view has contributed to their illegal operations. He informed the Committee that if given the nod, he would organize a stakeholders meeting to persuade them to use lumber mills.

He also noted that steps would be taken to procure a number of these mobile mills for lease to these operators. He indicated that mobile mills would also generate revenue to the operators and the country as a whole.

Mr. Collins Dauda noted that the activities of the ‘galamsey' operators are similar to those of the chainsaw operators and that similar steps would be taken to address this issue. Furthermore under the Natural Resources Development Programme, basic tools would be procured for these small scale miners. He said some of these miners have been sent to China under the programme to equip them with basic skills.

Communities in Forests

The nominee said the Tonja pro- gramme allowed people who live close to forest areas to farm and replant forests
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho) 10:50 a.m.


after use. This, he said, was in the right direction. Unfortunately, the Tonja programme has declined and because of this, those who plant the trees are no longer compensated. If given the approval, Mr. Collins Dauda said he would try and find more acceptable solutions to the problem.

Commercial Timber Plantations

The nominee conceded that the land tenure system may be a hindrance in the promotion of the commercial timber plantation operations. He, however, proposed the use of degraded forest reserves and mined out area for plantation development.

Mining in Forest Reserves

On the issue of mining in forest reserves, the nominee indicated that this policy was developed in 1994 and it permits mining of 2 per cent of productive area of forest reserves. The law further allows for only deep cast mining. He indicated that he would evaluate the operations of these companies and where necessary the policy would be reviewed. Recommendation

The Committee, by unanimous decision, recommends that the House approves the nomination of Mr. Collins Dauda as Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

4 .8 MRS. BETTY MOuLD- IDDRISu -- Minister- designate for Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General

Background

Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu was born on 22nd March 1953 in Accra, Ghana.

She completed her university education at the University of Ghana, Legon in 1976. She furthered her education at the University of London, London School of Economics and later attended the Ghana School of Law (1978-1979). Between 1980 and 1990, she was appointed as an Assistant State Attorney, Senior State Attorney and Assistant Registrar General at the Registrar General's Department. Between 1990 and 1997, she was Principal State Attorney. In 1997 she was made the Chief State Attorney and from 2003 to date, she has been Director for the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, London, UK. She is a gender and a human rights advocate.

Right to Information Bill

The nominee informed the Committee that she believed in the right to information and that her work at the Commonwealth Secretariat dwelt on this issue. She said the right to information has proven difficult to administer even in developed countries and the practical application of it is where the difficulty arises. She said there are no codified information or computerized data making the process cumbersome. She said, citizens have the right to know but the problem is the time frame within which the information is obtained. She promised to take steps to speed up the formulation of the Right to Information Bill.

Law on Causing Financial Loss to the State

When questioned on her view on the issue of the law on causing financial loss to the State, the nominee stated that even though the law is a good law, she objected to it primarily because the offence has not been defined in law. She was however of the idea that the law should remain in the statute books whilst steps are being taken to address the legal problems associated

with it.

Freedom of Speech and Association

Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu stated that she believes in the right of people to free expression. She sees nothing wrong with the establishment of pressure groups since they exist all over the world. She however reiterated that people are free to express their views but must do so within the confines of the law. She condemned the act of threatening judges and believed that the judiciary will not succumb to such threats.

Empanelling of the Supreme Court

The nominee noted that the judiciary must be seen to be impartial. She was however of the view that the current method of appointing judges to the Supreme Court creates some form of suspicion especially when there are no upper ceiling to the appointments. Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu believed that an upper limit would erase the speculations and perceptions. Alternative Dispute Resolution

The nominee informed the Committee

that she was happy that the Alternative Dispute Resolution Bill is coming to fruition as it was currently before the House. She however indicated the need for the Bill to recognise our customary laws and hope it will serve as an avenue for arbitration.

Access to Justice for Women

Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu indicated that most outdated customs have been criminalized but criminalizing these customs does not usually achieve the intended effect. Due to

this, when given the approval, she would look critically into these issues and issues of access to justice especially with regard to customary rites, especially those that affect women. She alluded to a situation in Malawi where it is a crime to brand someone a witch. The solution she stressed was education.

Career as a Lawyer

On a quest ion relat ing to her performance as a lawyer who is not known to have practised seriously at the court room, the nominee said that will not affect her at all as Attorney-General if given the approval. She conceded not having been involved in litigation cases but indicated that she advises the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth and 56 other Governors of the Commonwealth and said a lawyer's job is not only in the courts. She hoped to get a competent deputy to assist her.

Attorney- General/Minister of Justice

The nominee opined that government should not be seen to be involved in criminal matters. There is therefore the need to separate the offices of the Attorney-General and that of the Ministry of Justice. This she said was possible as it has been done in the U.K., Kenya, and other jurisdictions and it may be important to consider the issue.

She said article 88 defines the role of the Attorney-General. She said the issue is a matter of public interest and should be debated and a decision taken.

Imposition of Curfew

When quizzed in respect of the imposition of a curfew in the North against the background of article 58 (5) of the Constitution, she expressed difficulty in answering.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho) 10:50 a.m.


Kangaroo Courts

The nominee explained that certain processes that took place in courts made her ashamed, hence her description of Ghanaian courts as “Kangaroo courts”. She conceded that the particular statement must not be taken out of its context. She however, averred that Ghanaian courts made judgments based on law only, otherwise she would not have accepted her nomination.

Recommendation

The Commit tee by consensus recommends Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu to the House for approval as Minister for Justice and Attorney-General.

4 .9 DR. OTENG ADJEI --

Minister- designate for Ministry of Energy

Background

Dr. Joe Oteng Adjei holds a PhD in Power Systems from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada and an MBA from the Cranfield University, Bedford, England. He has previously held several positions including the Director of GIMPA's Greenhill College (Undergraduate Business Studies.)

Utility Rates

Dr. Oteng Adjei informed the Committee that the rates paid by end users determine incomes of utility agencies. He also said that the utility agencies are mostly unable to collect all the revenue that are due them from their outputs because of losses in the chain of supply. These losses he said are so much that they contribute to hikes in utility prices. If the

wires and other equipment are changed, then cost may be recovered.

He further identified people who tap power illegally as part of the problem and called for measures to ensure that those who steal power are prevented from doing so. According to him, if increase in revenue is not realised after that, then tariffs may be increased. He called for transparency in the setting of tariffs to make it predictable and more acceptable to consumers. In his opinion, if those in industry think tariffs set are not right then the tariffs should be reconsidered in order not to cause unemployment and other social problems.

He called for a study on conserved energy because that is what helped the mining companies buy expensive generators to power their activities. The study he indicated would also assist the government to set appropriate tariffs.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)

The nominee indicated that the use of charcoal should be discouraged. He admitted that gas usage was on the decline because consumers felt shortchanged by the dealers. He therefore called on dealers to use the appropriate equipment in the measurement of LPG. He also proposed consumer education to enable consumers enforce their rights.

Oil Discovery

In an answer to a question on the actual date of commencement of the production of oil, Dr. Oteng Adjei indicated that it may be on or before 2010. He believed the oil discovery will be a blessing to the nation. The nominee said he would conduct his duties as a Minister with transparency if given approval.

Cost of Selling Power to VALCO

Dr. Oteng Adjei explained to the Committee that the cost of supplying power to Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) has always been low. It is only when hydro generation decreases and generation is mixed with other forms that the average becomes high and Volta Aluminium Company is subsidized indirectly.

According to him, the contract to the Volta Aluminium Company indicated that it was only entitled to hydro electricity. The price deferential came in when thermal power was supplied to Volta Aluminium Company and that contributed to the financial problems in the Volta River Authority (VRA).

Load Shedding

The nominee conceded that the power crisis of 2006 - 2007 did not arise out of the supply of power at low prices to VALCO since that has always been the situation. He also conceded that it may be incorrect to just state that long periods of darkness can be attributed to the NPP period.

However, the nominee informed the Committee that load shedding is not only measured by the duration but also the intensity of it. According to him, in 1983, during the crisis, the network had not moved beyond Kumasi. In 1987, it had moved beyond Kumasi but by 2007, so many communities had been electrified under SHEP and the impact of the load shedding was so pronounced.

It even called for the shutting down of some of the units of Volta Aluminium

Company. He promised to work hard to ensure that the nation is not plunged into the load shedding crisis that it went through recently.

Recommendation

The Committee, by unanimous decision, recommends that the House approves of the nomination of Dr. Joe Oteng Adjei as the Minister for Energy.

4.10 HON. MIKE HAMMAH

-- Minister-designate for Transport

Background

The nominee, Hon. Mike Hammah, holds a B.Sc in Building Technology (Quantity Surveying Option) and an MBA in Finance. He is a member of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors and is a sitting Member of Parliament for Effutu.

Accidents in Ghana

The nominee admitted that road accidents cost an average of about 1.6 per cent of GDP and believed it was very horrendous in terms of human resources lost. He proposed a review of the Road Traffic Act and stressed the need to involve the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Police Service as well as the Ministry of Roads and Highways in road safety campaigns.

He proposed legislation to allocate funds from the Road Fund to the National Road Safety Commission. He promised to tackle issues at the Ministry with a three- prong approach, education, enforcement and engineering (eee).

Road Worthiness

Hon. Hammah assured the Committee that he would encourage the establishment of workshops to test vehicles for road
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho) 10:50 a.m.


worthiness saying those established recently were yet to commence operation. He opined that private sector tends to be more efficient and government cannot be both a player and referee in this regard.

Maritime Law

He acknowledged there are over- lapping functions in respect of agencies under the Ministry, that is the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Ghana Shippers' Council and the Ghana Maritime Authority. He told the Committee he was aware of the conflicts and that a regulatory body, that is the Ghana Maritime Authority was established to rectify the situation. He informed the Committee that amendments would be made to the Ghana Maritime Authority Law if need be to solve the problem of the functional overlaps.

The Committee, having satisfied itself that the above-mentioned nominees have fully met the requirements of the Constitution, respectfully recommends by consensus, their nomination to the House for approval.

Respectfully submitted. Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

Minority Leader (Mr. Osei Kyei-

Mensah-Bonsu): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I beg to second the motion as moved by my Hon Colleague the First Deputy Speaker and the Chairman of the Appointments Committee.

Madam Speaker, but I think that we

should make a distinction between those of them that we are recommending for approval by this House by consensus and those of them that we are recommending for approval by this House by unanimity. There are some that we are recommending
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho) 10:50 a.m.


to this House for approval by consensus and others by unanimous approval and I believe that the hon. Chairman of the Committee understands very well; because I just observed him consulting on what is the distinction between unanimous and consensus. I believe he knows.

Madam Speaker, I just wanted us to know the conclusions that the Committee came to. So I am seconding the motion ably moved by the Chairman of the Committee.

But Madam Speaker, in doing so, I

want us to advert our minds to a few issues.

Madam Speaker, what I said was that he was a bit evasive and he did not address the issues frontally. That is all that I mean and in particular it related to benchmarks in respect of duration. He had earlier stated that he was going to review the duration but we must accept his own view that -- even though he has his strong views about reviewing,

I think he assured the Committee that if given the nod, he would rather call for a national debate on the duration before coming to a conclusion against his own

strong opinions earlier on expressed in very unambiguous and very succinct language. But we take that and as I said, we recommend to this House that he must be approved by consensus.

The second person is Hon Cletus

Avoka who without doubt has established himself as a very capable and competent member of this House. The issue that he raised which baffled some of us was his denial of knowledge of the perception of tribal consideration in the recruitment of personnel into the security forces. The good answer that he did give though was that, he promised to consider the issue very seriously and he undertook not to dismiss any personnel on the grounds of their having been recruited by the previous Government and I think that was a very useful assurance. We would want to hold him by that assurance.

Madam Speaker, the Hon Member

indicated that since Independence, it is only the Nsawam Prison that has been built by Government. That indeed, is a factual inaccuracy and later on when a dialogue was established, I think he admitted that upon reflection, the Ankaful Prison had been built after Independence. And so he acknowledges that it was a factual error and that he would accor- dingly amend his knowledge.

Madam Speaker, without doubt, our hon. Colleague is a very competent person. Certain petitions came before the House and the hon. Member even though we are recommending him by consensus to the House for approval we want to stress that he must be concerned with the sensibilities of the other ethnic groups within his community.

He agrees with us that the peace there is still very fragile and he has agreed to take that one on board. I think that it is very
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho) 11 a.m.


imperative that he carries out his duties with great deal of circumspection given the fact that the security situation in his own backyard is not the best.

I believe and trust that he can rise to the occasion. I even proposed that if it will be possible, notwithstanding his competences and capabilities, we also know that he is a very versatile Member and professional and could perform creditably anywhere the President takes him. So if any problem could ensue we may advise the President that possibly, he could be shifted to other areas but of course, that is a matter for the President.

On Hon Joseph Yieleh Chireh, we agreed that we would recommend to the House unanimously for approval.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member in his short stay in Parliament has exhibited very great diligence . He has found time and space to participate in almost everything that this House has done in his earlier life in Parliament; I am talking about the previous Parliament. He is a Member who attaches much importance to diligence and intensive scrutiny of everything that we do in this House and we hope that he carries that kind of demeanor and attitude to his new destination.

Madam Speaker, we have no problem in recommending him to the House for unanimous approval.

Madam Speaker, I believe she also discharged and acquitted herself very

well to the House and so we agreed to recommend her for approval to this House unanimously.

Unfortunately, we observed that our

very graceful Member did not sound very authoritative before the Committee as we all expected, but we are very firm in our conviction that she is capable of rising to the occasion and delivery and for which reason the Committee unanimously recommends that the House approves of her nomination.

For hon. Joe Gidisu who is looking straight at me and beckoning that I should say very few words about him - [Laughter], the Committee recommends that the House approve of his nomination unanimously.

Madam Speaker, on Hon Mike Hammah, we realized that in his earlier life, he was at the Ministry. He distinguished himself very well and has the professional competence to also serve at the place. So it is the firm belief of the Committee that he is well positioned to effectively run the Ministry for which reason we recommend to this House unanimous approval of hon. Mike Hammah as the Minister for Transport.

Dr. Oteng Adjei's professional competence is very impeccable. He has held several positions relevant to the Ministry where he is designated for. He has had a hand in the formulation of
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho) 11 a.m.


policies relating to the Ministry in various capacities already and we believe that he will be very comfortable with the terrain.

There was a point made regarding a statement that had also been attributed to him, that is, regarding the fact that the nation in 2006/2007 was plunged into long periods of darkness principally because of the cost of the selling of power to Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) smelter plant at very low rate and when his attention was drawn to that, he admitted that it was not the only cause and explained himself very well and the Committee was convinced that he had come to the conclusion that faced with reality, some positions must be amended and he accordingly did that.

The Committee recommends by unanimous decision that the House approves his nomination.

Madam Speaker, on Alhaji Collins Dauda -- [Interruptions] - I am not seeing him here - [Pause] - He is at large! [Some Hon Members: He is not a Member; is he a Member?]
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, because I have known him as a Member of this House, I think I almost made a mistake. Now, he is not here. But Collins had been a member of the Committee on Lands and Forestry for a very long time and he had been a member of several delegations outside this country to enrich the policies relating to forestry and land matters in the country and we believe that he is capable of rising to the occasion.

Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu is the Minister-designate for the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General.

Madam Speaker, we had a few problems. She came out as a very capable woman without doubt - very articulate, but there is this problem with her about a statement that she had made. The nominee had made a categorical statement describing Ghanaian courts as “kangaroo” courts and it was a bit frightening for a woman designated as the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to have made that statement. We thought that would not sit well with her as a Minister. But she explained that certain processes that took place in the courts made her ashamed and hence the statement that she made - that Ghanaian courts were “kangaroo” courts. Later on she said that she made the statement in the political context and therefore, must be understood as such.

Madam Speaker, it is our conviction that, that is not convincing and persuasive enough and that we believe that she must apologize in some form to the Judiciary -- I mean, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice. It would be reckless on her part to make such a statement on the performance of the judiciary in the country.

She made a tacit admission that upon reflection she realized that judgments from Ghanaian courts were based on law only. So what informed her to have made that statement? I personally think that perhaps on the platform she suffered some affliction which may be inexplicable at this time. But indeed, it is not the best of statements to have come from her and we invite her to offer some form of apology to the judiciary.

We will have no problem on that condition recommending that the President swears her in as the Attorney-General and Minister responsible for Justice.

Madam Speaker, the Minister- designate spent quite a time persuading us and the nation on the need to separate the Attorney-General's Department from the position of a Minister of State, to be specific, the Minister responsible for Justice. This has been a very topical issue in the country, she spent quite some time in that advocacy and I think that she sounded very persuasive and convincing.

There was an issue that cropped up involving a functionary of the Government who had issued or renewed a curfew somewhere in the country in a capacity other than that of a Minister, against the grain, against the letter and spirit of the Constitution. When she was questioned about that she exclaimed to the Chairman and I am quoting her: “Mr. Chairman, I am hot”.

Madam Speaker, I think that by both

words and actions she demonstrated to us that indeed the issue she had raised earlier relating to the separation of the Attorney- General's Department from the Ministry of Justice is really encapsulated in the two things -- what she said and when pushed, she being very evasive and not answering directly the question. So I think it is something worth considering as a nation.

But subject to what we have said about her that we believe that it will sit her well within the context of the Judiciary to offer some apology, we believe that she is qualified and recommend her to the House for approval as Minister for Justice and Attorney-General by consensus.

Madam Speaker, I am done and I

second the motion.
Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, a little guidance from your goodself will be in order. They are ten, and are we taking them individual by individual or when one has the floor, one
comments - We want to - [Inter-ruption] - Please, let the Speaker rule. We have to understand so that we know how we structure the debate.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Well have you got something against every individual, Hon Member?
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 11:10 a.m.
Sorry Madam Speaker, the point is that normally, we would go nominee by nominee - [Interruption] -
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
It is a report.
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 11:10 a.m.
Yes, a report but the report has - [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
It is a report that has to be adopted by consensus in this House -- approval by consensus. So if you have anything to say about the report as it concerns us, please.
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 11:10 a.m.
All right.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
But if everybody is going to take individual like the Hon Member for Suame, we will -
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 11:10 a.m.
That is why I wanted you to make it clear how we are going to debate - If it is the report, fine, individually, fine.
Question proposed.
Alhaji Sumani Abukari (NDC - Tamale North) 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, after listening carefully to the Chairman of the Appointments Committee and his capable Ranking Member, the question I ask myself is “What more can one say?” These are two competent people - the Chairman we know is very competent, his Ranking Member is very, very competent, in fact, very versatile - my good Friend - I call him “lawyer”. He is just waiting to be
Alhaji Sumani Abukari (NDC - Tamale North) 11:20 a.m.


called to the Bar, he is already a lawyer.

Madam Speaker, I think that the Committee is a very competent Committee. I have sat in there a couple of times - very capable ladies and gentlemen who knew what they were doing, who had quizzed these ladies and gentlemen that we are considering today for Ministerial positions. And I believe that their judgments - the judgment of the entire group of these nominees, is that we approve them for their various positions.

That is why I said, what more can one say? I absolutely agree with the Committee and I thank them for their hard work, sometimes late into the night. I thank them for their diligence; I thank them for their service to the nation.

Madam Speaker, the long and short of it all is that we do not prolong a debate arising out of a report by such competent ladies and gentlemen. There is no point debating for long periods.

Madam Speaker, I think that it is an honour for this House to have constituted such a wonderful by-partisan Appoint- ments Committee. Chairman of the Committee and versatile Ranking Member, this House and the entire nation is grateful to your Committee. We think that they have done a wonderful job and I think that we will approve of it unanimously as they have recommended.

Madam Speaker, in saying these few
Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei (NPP - Old Tafo) 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my name is Osei, alias “Baffour Akoto” Member of
Parliament (MP) for Old Tafo or popularly known as the “Cemetery MP” [Inter- ruptions.] The Hon Member can attest to that. The name is Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei. Baffour is my title - [Inter-ruptions.]
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Order! Order!
Dr. Osei 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to
commend the Appointments Committee for a job well done.
My only contribution is to bring the attention of my good Friend, Hon Cletus Avoka to a certain development which I think he ought to take into account. As we are fully aware, there were certain people who were hired into the Ghana Police Service purportedly to protect Ministers and Deputy Ministers. Some of them were attached to some of us. As I speak, all of them have been retired without any work to do on the allegation that they were close to some of us.
Madam Speaker, on page 5 of the Committee's Report, with your permission, I want to quote:
“He further informed the Committee that international best practice requi res a minimum pol ice population ratio of 1 to 500 as opposed to Ghana's current position of 1 to 700.”
Madam Speaker, with all due respect, if we have hired policemen and women and then we are letting them sit at home when our ratio is so bad, I think it does not say too well for us. So I expect that he would take a look at this matter
Dr. Osei 11:20 a.m.


seriously otherwise, potentially, I can see some resentment being built up of a good core of policemen that the Government hired to protect our Ministers and Deputy Ministers. So I think he would take note of that and look into that.

With those few words, I thank you.
Mr. Henry Ford Kamel (NDC - Buem) 11:20 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the motion.
Madam Speaker, some of us may not have been physically present at the vetting process but we watched the process with all the attention and interest and I am happy to say that I personally believe that the Committee did a very good job. I must commend Hon Members like Hon Samuel Atta Akyea, Hon Joseph Osei-Owusu and the hon. Minority Leader for the very deep investigative questions and trying, they tried to put to all the nominees -- bringing out the best of all the nominees. I think that the process demands commendation and we should commend them for that.
Madam Speaker, I also want to call on the House to support the motion because government machinery must definitely be running by now so that things would move on smoothly. But in doing so Madam Speaker, I want to draw this House's attention to page 6, paragraph 6, that deals with the District Assemblies Common Fund apparently in response to a question to a nominee. And in that paragraph, the nominee talks about the accounting process of the District Assemblies Common Fund being flawed.
Whilst this is true, I also think that we need to draw the attention of this nation to the fact that the District Assemblies Common Fund has a very big problem,
and the problem is that 41 per cent of Central Government grant, 41 per cent especially from the District Assemblies Common Fund is usually deducted at source and this has a telling effect on the development of the District Assemblies. Usually, the centre decides what we should be doing with this money and I think that maybe, we have to look at it.
I also think that if you go to paragraph 7, the situation where 40 per cent of the nominees should be women may be acceptable, but we would also maybe, look at the composition and structure of the government nominees. I think that for a very long time we have excluded the disabled; they do not seem to have a voice at the District Assemblies.
I am saying this because 2 per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund is usually allocated to the disabled but because they have no voice they are usually denied access to this money. And so maybe, in trying to look at this system, we have to give representation to the most vulnerable group, especially the disabled.
Mrs. Gifty Eugenia Kusi (NPP - Tarkwa Nsuaem) 11:20 a.m.
Thank you very much Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the motion on the floor which is to adopt the First Report of the Appointments Committee. I also want to add my voice to congratulate the Appointments Committee for a good work done.
Madam Speaker, I want to take this opportunity again to congratulate all the nominees, especially the female nominees I have really seen that in this country, if one is a woman and wants to get somewhere one really has to work harder, in fact, twice like one's male counterpart. This is because one really has to do very
Mrs. Gifty Eugenia Kusi (NPP - Tarkwa Nsuaem) 11:20 a.m.


well to be recognized.
Dr. A. A. Osei 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, on a point of order. Madam Speaker, the Hon Member who just spoke made a statement that women must work twice as hard. Is she implying that Madam Speaker must sit here twice as long than her counterpart? [Laughter.]
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Member, I would not mind. [Laughter.]
Mrs. Kusi 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as I was saying, I want to believe that the confidence that this House has reposed in all the ten nominees, they are really going to work hard and we would be proud of them as we are now.
Madam Speaker, as I go on, I want to touch a little on what has been put down concerning the Hon Minister-designate for Education.
Madam Speaker, as soon as he was nominated I heard in the interview that he granted saying “I am going to send senior high school (SHS) back to three years instead of the four years that is now being done”.

Madam Speaker, what I want to say is that he should have even waited to go to that Ministry to ascertain what has been done; to look at what has been done during the four years and then evaluate after the first batch comes out before he would say that he is going to send it back to three years.

As it is now, what he has said already, if even he takes that decision after a long time, people would say that this is what he said before coming, without evaluating. I do not think that it would augur well for Ghana if we have to change and change just because of changing sake. But I would urge him to go there and then evaluate whatever has been done.

Madam Speaker, as you can see, there

are a lot of remedial classes going on now; remedials, remedials, remedials. Students go in for the first world war, second world war, third world war as we used to say it. [Interruptions.] What I mean is that you go for the first examination, then you come to do the second one, you fail and then you go to do the third one.

I think that if students are given the chance -- because as it is now when it was three years, virtually, it would be only two years and some months and students are not well prepared. So I think that if they have the time to study in school; if the four years is adopted and the students study in school they would be able to avoid these so many remedial classes going on. So I think that he should take that on board.

Madam Speaker, I also want to urge

my Hon Colleague and a female like I am, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu -- My Leader has said a lot. She did very well at the Appointments Committee, but this issue of “kangaroo” courts, I think she should apologise and then withdraw before people would have confidence -- [Interruption.] Because she is going to a Ministry and already she is antagonizing some people there and I do not think it would augur well for her work. So she should really take what it has to -

Madam Speaker, I want to also commend the Hon Member for North
Mrs. Kusi 11:30 a.m.


Dayi, Ms. Akua Sena Dansua. I know that the Ministry to which she is going, she is competent; she is going to handle it well and the women of Ghana are really going to benefit from her expertise as she goes there.

Madam Speaker, I think that Hon Collins Dauda admitted at the Appointments Committee that he had some problems that already confronted the Ministry. They are the problems of land guards, galamsey operators and chain- saw operators. But I know that with his competence, he is going to deal with these problems so that people would not be peeved with some of the decisions that he has to take.

With these few words Madam Speaker, I beg to support the motion.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
I will have one last contributer from this side. We must move on.
Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (NDC - Ellembelle) 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to support the motion and I want to commend the Appointments Committee for a very great job done.
I would like to add my voice by reminding the House to go back a little bit and remember the just-ended elections; the mandate and what brought us here. It was a call by Ghanaians for a new leadership, it was also a call to really re-visit the urgency of the times we face as a country and the call was to look at the challenges we face. A country that water still does not flow as it should; a country that still has serious issues with employment; a country that is squandering its future away in the streets of every capital.
Madam Speaker, the issue is this, the President understanding this mandate has given very credible candidates and as the Appointments Committee has rightly noted, the candidates performed very well and really proved that the President's
choice was right.
The issue of Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu for example, that was brought up, she made it clear that she spoke, in terms of using the words: “kangaroo courts” --She was talking about one case and in talking about one case she did not speak out of context - [Interruptions]. Excuse me, I have to finish. Madam Speaker, I have to continue.
The important point here is that the President has to be given the tools he needs to do his work and the Appointments Committee has done its work and I will recommend to this House that we should adopt the report by the Appointments Committee so that as a matter of urgency, the President can get the Ministers needed to do the serious work of this country.
rose
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Oquaye, I said that would be the last contributer. Were you raising a matter of --
Prof. Mike Oquaye 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, it is very important that we should not go on record as accepting that calling our courts “kangaroo courts” is just one case and it must be taken for granted. Madam Speaker, it is important therefore that this must be seriously corrected. Our courts have really moved a long way towards being one of the most reputable in Africa. Madam Speaker, a court --
Mr. E. T. Mensah 11:30 a.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, it is on record that the nominee said she put it in context; it was not a general statement per se; she put it in context. It was in a context of packing the Supreme Court -- That is why in her contribution she raised the issue about the ceiling for the Supreme Court. It was in
a context of parking the Supreme Court. She did not even mention it; to review its decision. So the way we are talking about this, it is as if it was a general statement. She put it in a context and in any case, it was on a political platform.
If all of us here can swear that all the things that we said on political platforms can be held against us -- [Interruptions.] If all of us - It was a political statement on a political platform. In any case Madam Speaker, she is not here to defend herself. Madam Speaker, we had all the chances out there and we quizzed her. Now she is not here to speak to the issue to defend herself. So the issue is that who is going to carry the message, the message of apology.
Prof. Oquaye 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am still on my point of correction.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Second Deputy Speaker, I have said that I had closed; I would hear one side; you got up and I asked whether it was a point of order. The matter you are referring to had already been thrashed out by the Leader of the House - [Interruptions.]
Prof. Oquaye 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the point of correction is very important for the records of this honourable Parliament. In any case, when my hon. Friend on the other side interrupted in this way, I did not know whether he wanted to come by way of a point of order on my point of correction or not. And in any case, if he wants to talk about swearing, I do not know whether it would be sworn by the God I know or by Antoa Nyamaa -- [Interruptions] - I do not know.
Madam Speaker, I am glad he speaks on the same note. But Madam Speaker, one of the most important challenges that we are faced with in attracting foreign investment, in working as ambassadors
for this country and so on, was the kind of legal system that we have. Madam Speaker, the records of this House would not go to support any suspicion, any damnation of a well-contrived legal system.

Madam Speaker, if you look at our Supreme Court today, we have such competent men and women and in the past few years, we have had men like Modibo Ocran, Prof. Kludje, Dr. Darteh Baah, Dr. Twum, Allan Brobbey and a very competent woman Chief Justice. Madam Speaker, these cannot be looked at in “kangaroo” terms.

So Madam Speaker, now that someone seeks to justify this in this House then we must put the records very, very straight and we have a very, very well audi alteram partem system. Everybody has a right to be heard so much so that one case in this country can go on for six years so that one can exhaust all legal remedies. This is not “kangarooi sm”.

So Madam Speaker, I think this must be made very, very clear in this House, that we eschew this and in fact, if we will do the honourable thing in having an apology duly rendered in this connection, we would have done ourselves a lot of justice in this country, giving due respect to the rule of law. And it is very, very important, Madam Speaker, that we must respect that important arm of Government to whom we all adhere.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu, I want to hear from you. I heard you saying when you were presenting your comments on the Report that it had been decided she was going to apologise and that is why I want to hear it from you once again, because it is an important matter that has been raised. I thought I

heard you say it.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as you rightly said, we believe this is a very important matter. But I think that the signal that we got from her was that she herself was amenable to the suggestion; which is why we thought that it would be important to just make the request to her that she does it. Maybe, one could say that the House demands that she should apologize.
But I think that we got a signal from her that she herself is amenable to it and that is why I am surprised that people should now try to justify it. That really would let it degenerate into something else and I believe that is not the course to go. So let what we have said stand. We will indicate to her that it will be in her interest and in the interest of the nation that she does that.
Madam Speaker, that is what we demand. And I think as I said, we got that signal from her that she was ready to do that and so let nobody litigate it here because if it should enter the arena of litigation, then perhaps, the turn of events may degenerate into something that nobody can predict; and it is not good that we allow that. So I believe that we all take a cue and maybe, the Majority Leader in winding up would encapsulate that and that we move on.
Madam Speaker, that is my position.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Members,

I will listen to the Leader of the House before I put the Question.
Majority Leader/Leader of the House (Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin) 11:40 a.m.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. This
House is called upon by a motion moved by the Chairman of the Appointments Committee to adopt the First Report of the Appointments Committee on a number of presidential nominees that passed through public hearing conducted by this House and actually met the scrutiny of the members of the Committee.
Madam Speaker, I want to add my voice of commendation to the Committee and its members for doing a good job both at the committee level and also in the form of a report presented to the House.
Madam Speaker, we have complained many times about the paucity of information that the Appointments Committee makes available to the House in such instances.
Today, we are happy to note that the report before us from the Appointments Committee is very comprehensive. We have enough information to guide us to take a decision one way or another with regard to the presidential nominees.
Madam Speaker, I believe strongly that in this direction we have moved forward in the right direction. The Committee has greatly improved its work in spite of the pressure of time and in spite of the challenges of resources. The Committee has done a very good job, we highly commend them.
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, normally the tradition is that when the Majority Leader speaks, it seems to then terminate the debate. My appeal is that this is so important and that is the only item we have for this morning so can we have a bit more extensive debate
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Member, can you continue, please?
Mr. Bagbin 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, this is a House of free speech. It is a House in which we allow a lot of latitude to whatever rights we are entitled to but also, it is a House of discipline where we go by some rules and regulations, order and respect.
Madam Speaker, it is very, very
important that as much as we want to give latitude, we also have to respect hierarchy and there is leadership in this House. I believe strongly that we want to cooperate with our Hon Colleagues opposite and work together. We are working in this spirit and we would want as much as possible to give opportunity to everybody to contribute to debates on the floor. Unfortunately, the imperatives of time, the Appointments Committee are to leave and go and continue with considering the other nominees before them.

I would want to urge my Hon

Colleagues that as we continue to get more reports from the Committee, hon. Members will be given the opportunity to comment. I believe strongly that the suggestions made so far will be taken in good faith and that whoever is being called upon to try as much as possible to rectify an error whether of statement or opinion, whether of deed or speech, the person should faithfully accept the comments and recommendations of this House and proceed to do justice to that.

I think that the nominee in question, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu herself regrets making that statement and I think that she will not have any difficulty in accepting the opinion of the Minority Leader to apologize to the Judiciary because she is going to work with the Judiciary. And I think that that opinion is right and I will urge her to do just that.

Madam Speaker, my only worry is that

the Minority Leader seems to have tried prescribing even haircuts and mentioned our Colleague here, hon. Akua Dansua's hairdo. [Laughter.] That got some of us thinking as to what kind of haircuts or hairdos are acceptable when you are appearing before the Appointments Committee. I hope that was said in jest and that Members who are appearing before the Appointments Committee will not have to worry too much about their haircuts or hairdos once they are in proper shape and decent.

I also want to say just one other thing. My Friend the Minority Leader has done well by going through the reports, nominee by nominee and in fact went beyond the report that we have because he participated fully and therefore, sometimes he was giving us his opinions, those could be backed by some of the Members. But we are guided by what the Committee itself

has presented to the House.

In fact, that is why I referred to his statement that it is an opinion of him because it is not contained in the report. I had to look at the report to see whether they had made any such complaints or statement in it. So I believe that we try to capture all issues and also try to reach consensus on these matters -- because they have distinguished between unanimity and consensus and I went carefully through the report to see why there was no unanimity with regard to one candidate and why there is consensus here.

I think that I will plead with the Committee -- in areas where they disagree on policy -- to see that as the differences between us and not use that as the basis for not agreeing to approve the candidate. Because it is an area of policy that the person personally might disagree with but that is the position of the philosophy of the Government, of the party that you belong to and it is the party or government policies that you are going to implement and not the individual's opinion. So we should try to reach out to that.

I would want to end by saying that my friend, hon. Dr. Akoto Osei, in trying to put a very good point, did not present it well because he presented it as if they were personal staff. Because the police owe their loyalty to the State but when you talk about them being recruited to defend Ministers, now, that gave the impression like they were personal staff.

And with personal staff, they need to go away with them. But if they are recruited for the State, definitely, it will be wrong for any Government to dismiss them because they were employed by a previous Government. I agree with the hon. Member that nobody should lose his appointment on the basis of his political colour. Nobody.

But definitely, we have to look at the issues of loyalty to the country and to
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Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
I was going to
close the debate but as Chairman of the Committee, I will listen to you. But I was about to close.
Mr. Adjaho 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, thank
you very much. I just want to thank all Hon Members, both sides of the House for their co-operation and support with regard to these reports. I also thank the staff. Yesterday, the Clerk's Department worked very late into the night and I must also congratulate the hon. Minority Leader for his support in that direction.
Mr. Adjaho 11:50 a.m.


The Hon Minority Leader started with distinction between consensus and unanimity. The Standing Orders spe- cifically used the words “on a nominee” - “taking a decision on a nominee by either a secret ballot or consensus”. But on this occasion, the hon. Minority Leader has come with very new ideas and it is not bad to try new ideas. And those ideas are the new introduction that he is trying to bring to the work of the Committee. I am most grateful for comments made by each and every Member and they would be brought on board.

Thank you very much.
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
The last page of
the report, page 16, I noticed that the Committee, having satisfied itself that the above-mentioned nominees have fully met the requirements of the Constitution, respectfully recommends by consensus, which is a word demanded in the Orders to their nomination to the House for approval.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Madam Speaker noon
Hon Members, may I take this opportunity to congratulate the nominees, especially the Members of Parliament among them who have received parliamentary approval for appointment as Ministers.
Suspension of Standing Order 80 (1)
Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho noon
Madam Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80 (1) which require that no motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the motion is given and the date
on which the motion is moved, the motion for the adoption of the Second Report of the Appointments Committee on the President's nominations for Ministerial appointments may be moved today.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Madam Speaker, I rise to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Second Report of the Appointments Committee
Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho noon
Madam Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Second Report of the Appointments Committee on the President's nominations for Ministerial appointments.
1.0 Introduction
His Excellency President J. E. A. Mills communicated to Parliament for prior approval of the nomination of Dr. Kwabena Duffour for appointment as Minister for Finance pursuant to article 78 (1) of the Constitution.
In accordance with Order 172 (2) of
the Standing Orders of the House, Madam Speaker on 28th January 2009 referred the nomination to the Appointments Committee for consideration and report.
The Committee subsequently met to determine modalities for the vetting of the nominee. The name of the nominee was published in the media in accordance with Order 172 (3) and memoranda were invited from the public.
Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho noon


The Committee also undertook due diligence to ensure that the nominee satisfies, amongst others, the requirement of article 94 of the Constitution. 2.0 Reference Documents

The Committee referred to the

following documents during deliberations on the above-mentioned nominee:

1. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana

2. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana

3. The Curricula Vitae of the nominee

4. Petitions and Memoranda from the public

5. Reports from security agencies.

6. Reports from revenue agencies.

3.0 Procedure

As part of the Committee's procedure, the nominee took the oath of a witness. The nominee also answered questions on issues ranging from his records of office, through the positions to which he has been nominated to general matters of national concern.

4.0 Observations

4.1 DR. KWABENA DuFFOuR -- Minister-designate for Finance

Background

Dr. Kwabena Duffour is a former Governor of Bank of Ghana and holds a PhD in Economics, from Syracuse University, USA, M.A. (Economics), BSc. (Economics) from University of Ghana, Legon. He previously held several

positions including Chairman of Unibank Ghana Limited and Chairman of Star Assurance Company Limited. Clearly, Dr. Duffour is a man of impeccable business and professional competence.

Petitions

Two petitions were submitted against the nominee. One of the petitions was in relation to an alleged missing land document and the other relates to termination of appointment of the petitioner in a private company.

However, investigations by the Committee revealed that the petitions did not have any merit.

State of the Economy

When asked about the state of the economy and whether the economy was ‘broke', Dr. Duffour informed the Committee that the economy was not ‘broke' but rather it was facing some challenges just as many stronger economies are currently facing challenges. He said that some economic measures were needed to put it back on track. He assured the Committee that if given the nod, he would put in place the needed economic policies to help address the current challenges.

High Interest Rates/Prime Rates

On the current high interest rates, the nominee indicated that banks, like any manufacturing company, incur four basic costs of production including cost of deposits, overheads and bad debts. These and other factors contribute to the determination of interest rates by banks and it is not only the prime rate.

He further noted that savings in the country are low and this also affects the high interest rates. He informed the Committee that if given the nod, he would

take measures to address the situation of low saving rate which itself has a rather long history. Liquidity Levels in the Country

Dr. Duffour informed the Committee that the country is experiencing some amount of excess liquidity. He noted that there was the need to encourage people to save with the banks as this will help reduce the rate of inflation and hence the interest rate. He assured the Committee that if given the nod, he will introduce, facilitate and support interventions in getting these funds to the banks.

Conflict of Interest

Members of the Committee wanted to know if his role as Chairman of Star Assurance Company and prominent status at Unibank would not conflict with his job and compromise him if given the nod. The nominee informed the Committee that he has already taken steps to relinquish his chairmanship of Star Assurance Company and promised to ensure that there would be no conflict of interest in his stewardship.

Resource Mobilization

Dr. Duffour acknowledged that resource mobilization is a challenge in the country. He called for the automation of revenue mobilization as this would help increase revenue and reduce corruption.

He assured the Committee that if given the nod, he would further raise revenue by helping to revamp small scale industries which would help ensure macro stability and subsequent growth.

Growth Rate

The nominee informed the Committee that growth in emerging markets is about 2.5 per cent but in the case of Ghana, some of her exports such as cocoa and gold

have been experiencing high prices. This has contributed to the consistent higher growth rates experienced in the country in recent times. According to him, when oil production starts in earnest, Ghana's growth rate, other things being equal, would be much higher than other emerging markets.

The nominee conceded that macro economic stability and growth are imperative to achieving real national growth and everything must be done to protect the relative stability we now have and build on it.

5.0 Recommendation and Conclusion

The Appointments Committee has carried out its duty diligently in accordance with the Constitution and the Standing Orders of this House in respect of the President's nominee for Minister for Finance, Dr. Kwabena Duffour.

The Committee is satisfied that Dr. Kwabena Duffour has met the requirements of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

The Committee by consensus therefore respectfully recommends his nomination to the House for approval.

Respectfully submitted.
Mr. Ambrose Dery (NPP - Lawra- Nandom) noon
Madam Speaker, I rise to second the motion.
Question proposed.
Mr. Moses A. Asaga (NDC - Nabdam) noon
Madam Speaker, I rise to commend the approval of Dr. Kwabena Duffour, a former Governor of Bank of Ghana. I have previously worked with him from 1997 to 2001 when I was the Deputy
Minister for Finance and at the same time a Member of the Board of the Bank of Ghana. I saw him to be an economist who understood his work very well as far as monetary policies were concerned. Happily enough, the NPP Government also allowed him to work for them when they were in Government for almost a year before he went into private practice.
Madam Speaker, I had a second opportunity to work with him closely under the Transitional Team, under the Economic Committee and finally, we were the three-member committee who were given the authority to take care of the Ministry of Finance. [Interruption.] A Committee that have worked very hard, and I have seen in him someone who is giving the confidence statement that we need to move the economy in the right direction.
Madam Speaker, Dr. Kwabena Duffour has hit the ground running and for the period that I was with him on the Economic Team at the Ministry of Finance, we held several meetings with the donors, we held several meetings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and those meetings have resulted in very positive attitudes from our development partners.
Dr. Kwabena Duffour is interested in making sure that we would turn the economy around and also continue with some of the policies that were already inherited and especially those policies for poverty reduction strategy, the PPP concept; we will also want to go onto the international market to be able to source funding for some of our investment budgets.
But Madam Speaker, I know there is hard time, and the reason is with the depreciation of our currency which started in the last two months of 2008. And we hope that we will all come together,
Mr. Moses A. Asaga (NDC - Nabdam) noon


including Dr. Akoto A. Osei, now called Barfour Akoto - [Laughter.] We should all come on board to make sure that we assist Dr. Duffour to be able to arrest the current challenges as far as the exchange rate is concerned.

On this note, I wish to recommend Dr. Duffour highly and I hope Madam Speaker will even put the Question immediately I complete. Madam Speaker, thank you very much.
Mr. Isaac Osei (NPP - Subin) 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to support the motion on the floor. However, I wish to make a few comments.
I am very pleased that Dr. Duffour has calmed the financial markets by accepting that the country is not broke but faces challenges. [Hear! Hear!] I think confidence of the markets is extremely important to ensure that the vast variations that we see and the movements that we see are arrested.
I wish also to say that listening to Dr. Duffour answering questions by the Appointments Committee, I noted that he strayed very often into the area of monetary policy. That is understandable, considering his background as the Governor of the Bank of Ghana. But I dare say that monetary policy is an area which is reserved for the Central Bank, and I hope that as Minister for Finance, he will concentrate on fiscal policy and assure the Bank of Ghana of its independence in the area of monetary policy.
Therefore , having made these comments I wish also to note that he is being appointed only as Minister for
Finance and not Finance and Economic Planning. I hope that the area of Economic Planning would be covered by some further appointments to perhaps another body or perhaps, something else by His Excellency the President.
I want to add my voice to that of the last Hon Member who spoke in supporting the motion.
Mr. James Klutse Avedzi (NDC - Ketu North) 12:10 p.m.
Thank you Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to support the motion on the floor of the House.
Madam Speaker, first of all, I must thank the Committee for bringing this report. When I look through the report one thing I realize is that Dr. Duffour has answered so many questions that were put before him technically and also bringing his experience as a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana. Looking at the background of the nominee who holds a PhD in Economics and then also being a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, there is no doubt that he is the right person who qualifies to hold that position.
But I want to touch on one particular area that he talked about during the vetting process. Madam Speaker, on page 3, paragraph 5, the nominee spoke about resource mobilization, and with your permission, I quote what was said:
“Dr. Duffour acknowledged that resource mobilization is a challenge in the country. He called on the automation of revenue mobilization as this will help increase revenue and reduce corruption”.
Madam Speaker, every economy depends on the resources that that country has; and where we get those resources from are mainly from the revenue that
we can mobilize through various sources. Now, if we cannot mobilize our revenue and reduce corruption, we cannot meet the expenditure demands of the economy.
Therefore, in an attempt to automate the revenue mobilization that is an area which we must all look at. Whether we spend a lot of money in trying to bring the automation so that we can reduce corruption and increase revenue, we must do it. Maybe, in the year of automation we must spend a lot of money to automate the revenue sector. But over the years that capital expenditure that we incur in the first or the second year will pay off as we go along. But if we do not do that a lot of money will go down the drain through corruption.
So I want to urge the House to approve the nominee and then also encourage the nominee that as he enters the office, he should do all that he can to get money so that we can automate the revenue mobilization sector in order to improve and reduce the corruption of this country.
With these few words, I thank Madam Speaker and urge all hon. Members to approve of the nominee. Thank you.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto (NPP -- Kwadaso) 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity to make a contribution.
In supporting this motion Madam Speaker, I would like to remind Dr. Duffour of the challenges ahead of him. First of all, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Administration of the last eight years managed to lift the rate of growth of the economy from an average of about three and a half per cent per annum to the present six and a half to seven per cent, and that is a record which has not been matched for a long time in the economic
history of this country.
Therefore, we expect Dr. Duffour to improve upon this performance by carrying it further to 7, 8, 9 and 10 per cent in order to lift the people of this country from abject poverty.
I support the motion, Madam Speaker. Thank you very much.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
First Deputy Speaker and Chairman, can I have the last word from you and then I will move on to -
Mr. Adjaho 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am the Chairman of the Committee; so by the standard practice then the Minority Leader must come before me. I might not have anything to say after all, listening to the comments on the floor so far.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, as the Chairman noted, the Chairman normally would wind up on whatever we might have said and so by the standard practice you would allow him to have the last words.
Madam Speaker, the first issue that I think I want to raise is with the conclusions. I thought that the recom-mendation of the Committee was to recommend to this House for approval by unanimity in respect of Dr. Duffour. I see consensus but we agreed that it should be by unanimous approval and I think that we should effect that correction.
But we realized that the communication from the President in respect of Dr. Duffour, his designation is to the Ministry of Finance.
The Ministry used to be Finance and Economic Planning. We do not know whether Economic Planning now is to be assigned to National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) alone and reduced in status thereby not be made
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.


a Ministry. I thought we needed that clarification. Some people have argued that the Ministry even when it bore the name Finance and Economic Planning was perhaps overly concerned with finance matters and not economic planning. But we need to know where the destination of Economic Planning really is.

Madam Speaker, I think that it is re- assuring as the hon. Member for Subin has indicated the assurance from the nominee that the economy is not broke.

Madam Speaker, I think what has happened ever since this announcement came is that we have witnessed some stability in the money market, because before then we all saw the cedi really galloping. In fact, post-January 7th it started galloping and from ten thousand two hundred cedis it went to about thirteen thousand seven hundred cedis. Now, after the assurance by the nominee we realized some relative stability and I think that is a good signal from the Minister-designate and we hope that we continue with his realism.

Madam Speaker, we have also been told on some political platforms that macro economic stability and growth have no relevance. The nominee assured that indeed macro economic stability and growth are strategic imperatives to propelling real national growth. And I think that everyone who is less endowed in economics should not be making unguarded statements regarding the state of the economy.

Madam Speaker, the person that the Committee vetted has demonstrable professional competence and business acumen and we believe that he is one person who could lead this nation forward
rose
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Are you raising a point of order?
Mr. Asaga 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, it is a point of order and correction - [Inter- ruptions.]
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, may I suggest that on a point of correction, it lies on me to yield and I am not yielding.
Mr. Asaga 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am rising on a point of order.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, what kind of arrangement is this? He rises on a point of correction and now he ischanging to a point of order.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Member, he says he will not yield, let us leave it then. If it is a point of information, he has to yield.
Mr. Asaga 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, it is a point of order.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon. Asaga, yes, you could raise a point of order. But if you say it is information that you wanted to correct or give him, then he has to yield to you and if he does not yield, you leave him. Which order are you referring to?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, with respect, I am not too sure that we have to encourage this hop, step and jump from my Hon Colleague. He starts on a point of information, on a point of correction and now it is a point of order. Madam, we cannot entertain this from him. [Laughter.] He is a very good Friend of mine.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon. Asaga, I think he is not yielding to your point of information. And in any case, you have finished. Have you not?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Absolutely, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Asaga 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I just wanted to correct the fact that we do not have ten thousand cedis to the dollar. This is what I wanted to say.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Thank you.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, this is a complete exercise in futility, he knows. But as I was saying I believe that this House unanimously must approve of the nomination of Dr. Duffuor, a very capable person that the President has nominated.
I thank you.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Hon Members , the House has accordingly approved Dr. Kwabena Duffuor for appointment as Minister of State in accordance with article 78 (1) of the Constitution.
Hon Members, on behalf of the House
and on my own behalf, I congratulate Dr. Kwabena Duffuor who has received Parliamentary approval for his appointment as Minister for Finance.
Thank you.
Hon Members, at this stage, I think we could move on to the Statements which I referred to earlier, that is item 3 on the Order Paper. I indicated that I had admitted two Statements. At this stage, we
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.


will take that. So if I may call upon Hon. Justice Joe Appiah, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North Constituency to read his Statement.
STATEMENTS 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Justice Joe Appiah (NPP - Ablekuma North) 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, it is with a feeling of deep concern and great sorrow that I rise to make a few pertinent observations in respect of the celebration of Valentine's Day in Ghana these days.
Madam Speaker, this auspicious day, February 14, is observed every year all over the world in high commemoration of the risky sacrifices the Priest, Valentine made in defiance of Emperor Claudius II of Rome.
Madam Speaker, this audacious and heroic priest persisted in performing marriage rites and ceremonies for young people when this had been outlawed by the Emperor. He was therefore, seized and condemned to die. But while in confinement, the Priest fell in love with a young damsel, believed to be the daughter of the jailer, who paid him visits.
Madam Speaker, before Valentine suffered death, he was reported to have addressed a letter authenticated as “From your Valentine” a syndrome in current use of the young damaged. Which is why, Madam Speaker, all over the world, February 14 has been set aside to revere the saintly memory for the martyr who died on February 14, 269 AD.
Madam Speaker, as a tenet, gifts such as candy, flowers, cards and others are exchanged between loved ones, the world over, all in the name of LOVE: an event characterized by decency and decorum.
Mr. Justice Joe Appiah (NPP - Ablekuma North) 12:30 p.m.
Nonetheless, Madam Speaker, with the inception of Frequency Modulation (FM) radio stations in Ghana a few years back, which took increased advertising opportunit ies, the Valentine Day celebration was blown out of proportion. My observation this year clearly shows that the media are organizing quiz programmes for married couples and those engaged.

Now Madam Speaker, it seems the observation of Valentine's Day in Ghana is made for unmarried people to get clad in red and embark on drinking and sex spree, in total disregard of public decency.

Madam Speaker, on this day, pro- miscuity and licentiousness become so widespread that no one had the gumption to call the participants to order; and eventually marriages end up on the rocks as the winsome young girls attract and mesmerize married men into having affairs with them and breaking their homes on account of Valentine's Day Celebration.

Even today, our junior high school (JHS) students and their senior high school (SHS) counterparts are all involved in the celebration of this event in a negative and dangerous manner. Students cry out to their parents to send them money just to buy expensive gifts for their partners.

Madam Speaker, in some instances hotels are fully booked just to celebrate Valentine's Day.

I hope and pray that this time the celebration would be done cautiously and without any immoral attachment to it.

Madam Speaker, with the high

prevalence of the obnoxious HIV and AIDS globally, it would be appreciated if, less than twenty-four hours away from the observation of this promising day Ghanaians, especially the youth would be seriously advised to keep the free-flow of sex away on February 14 and any other day or time.

However, Madam Speaker, I would want before I resume my seat to wish all a Happy Valentine's Day.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mrs. Catherine A. Afeku (NPP - Evalue-Gwira) 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to support the comments and statements made by my hon. Colleague and I want to add a few comments also to support his Statement.
I am particularly concerned with the high incidence of teenage pregnancy which can be linked to the behaviours exhibited on Valentine's Day. The youth especially, as he mentioned are inundated with the media hype on Valentine's Day and peer pressure is so much that they are forced to conform to the immoral standards set by their peers.
I will use the occasion to urge this House to encourage school curricula to address this phenomenon of high teenage pregnancy by inculcating sex education in our school curricula.
Also as part of our efforts as role models we should use this occasion which is coming up tomorrow to sensitize our communities especially the youth to refrain from having premature sex which could lead to teenage pregnancy which will eventually affect the future leaders we are looking forward to running this country when we are dead and gone.
Madam Speaker, Parliament could also consider the possibility of enacting
laws that could prohibit sale of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages to people under the age of 18. This way, the easy access to alcohol and tobacco can be minimized on such occasions to children who are not supposed to be using the products anyway.
Lastly, Madam Speaker, the previous administration was very successful in instituting National Chocolate Day on St. Valentine's Day and since we are reviewing a lot of things, I would hope my hon. Colleagues on the other side will look to sustain and review Valentine's Day as a true National Chocolate Day.
On a lighter note Madam Speaker, I wish my hon. Colleagues a happy “Chocolate Day”.
Mr. Stephen Kunsu (NDC - Kintampo North) 12:30 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me this opportunity.
Valentine to me, is one of the latest intrusions into our society. I am really very scared about the negative impact it has on our vulnerable youth because the youth are going to be the future leaders of Ghana.
Valentine itself is not a bad thing, but the original motive behind this obser- vance has been corrupted. And instead of becoming a blessing, it is rather becoming a curse on us. In Ghana, it is characterized by obscenities and indignities which sometimes become repugnant to the eye. Sometimes, I try to make a historical incursion into the past to compare what is happening in Ghana today with what really happened during the Biblical days of Sodom and Gomorrah. But the more I try to do this, the more confused I become.
Valentine has become so popular
Mr. Stephen Kunsu (NDC - Kintampo North) 12:30 p.m.


among the youth that it is trying to submerge the popularity of Christmas. Our radio presenters have not helped matters especially those at the private radio stations - They are responsible for the rapid acceleration of the popularity of Valentine by whipping up enthusiasm in the youth.

Madam Speaker, something is really wrong with our society and I recognize this to be our attitudinal behaviour. Whether we like it or not, Valentine has come to stay - it has become a permanent feature in our society. We must therefore, try to maximize its potentials while at the same time minimize its negative potentials. If we are not able to check the excesses and absurdities associated with its observance, then I am afraid, Madam Speaker, we would be invoking more curses than blessings.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Ms. Shirley A. Botchwey (NPP - Weija) 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to associate myself with the Statement on the floor and also with the sentiments expressed by the previous contributors.
Madam Speaker, I remember when we were in school, the celebration of Valentine's Day was actually restricted to schools where you would find young people; especially the boys, who had some interest in girls would send small notes. There was nothing on the media like what we have today and it is unfortunate that right now, getting to the time of Valentine there are so many programmes and things on the media inviting people to participate in all kinds of quizzes and there is nothing in these programmes to check whether the people who actually participate are married or not.
Because, when people phone in, one cannot tell. Even if it is supposed to be for
Ms. Shirley A. Botchwey (NPP - Weija) 12:40 p.m.
married couples, people would phone in and there is no way of checking whether indeed they are married. And of course, they are paired up with other people and all kinds of things happen.
Today, on TV, I heard a very interesting
phrase which said that it was a day of affection and not infection and I think this is very appropriate. This is because you would find that years ago -- and this continuous year-in, year-out - on the 15th of February, in the morning, when one walked along streets such as the Cantonments Road which is now called the Osu Oxford Street, one would see a lot of used condoms on the road. A lot of promiscuity, a lot of free sex which should not be the case.

This is something that we should condemn as a House, because most of these kids just meet each other on the road, people they do not know very well and engage in all kinds of sexual activities; and we do not know the kind of transmition that actually goes on. In the end, it is the women and the teenagers especially the girls who are affected.

Madam Speaker, I was very happy that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government actually came up with the “National Chocolate Day”. This is just to redirect focus from Valentine's Day and all the negative things that are associated with it to ensure that we have something to look forward to and also to promote chocolate which is very important to us and cocoa which is the mainstay of our economy. So this is extremely important.

Also today, on television (TV), I heard that tomorrow the 14th of February is being observed as “National Mathematics Day”.
Ms. Shirley A. Botchwey (NPP - Weija) 12:40 p.m.


This is extremely good. A lot of quizzes and workshops are being organized on mathematics to actually highlight what mathematics can do for us as a nation, especially mathematics and the scientist. So I think we should encourage this, and the Ministry of Education should actually take this up and ensure that this is also one of the areas that they can concentrate on and actually take attention from all the things that happen on Valentine's Day.

In short, Valentine's Day is not a negative thing but I think we have turned it into something that it should not be. I think personally that showing love should not be reserved for one day, it should actually be a year-round thing. Showing love to husbands, boyfriends, parents and loved ones in general should be a year-round thing and not be reserved for one day.

So I associate myself with the Statement and I hope that this House would do something about it. I am told that we would want to show love everyday which is normal for every human being but the men are also saying that it is expensive to show love to the opposite sex on a daily basis. But then love will always be expensive. Whether it is financial or otherwise, it is always expensive.

Madam Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity. It is probably too late to sensitise the youth in our constituencies; I hope however, that this House would be able to do something about it.
Prof. M. A. Oquaye (NPP - Dome- Kwabenya) 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am inspired by the few Hon Members who made some comments on the Statement and par-ticularly with regard to the fact that -- I am sorry that the young ones have left -- there is so much misdirection so far as Valentine's Day is concerned.
Madam Speaker, St. Valentine was a
man who championed marriage and in fact, the whole Valentine's Day came about because the Emperor at one stage banned marriages among the youth so that he could take them as soldiers for his military incursions. As a result, a number of people went secretly to Valentine in his conclave in order to get married. He performed hundreds of secret marriages until it was found out by the Emperor. In fact, he was later on executed for this crime. Madam Speaker, it is very clear that this was a man -- later canonized -- who was actually protecting marriage as an institution, that young people should be free to love each other into marriage and it should not be stopped.
Madam Speaker, it appears at a time like this we should be concentrating on matters like forced marriages, forcing young people into marriage which we know forms part of certain cultures and rather emphasize the fact that people should marry out of love rather than things like forced marriages. It is also an occasion for people to engage in marriage vows and also for married people to rather renew their marriage vows, if you go by the true tenets of the essence of St. Valentine's activities.
Madam Speaker, I will encourage that churches, civil society organizations, the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs and other such social groups revisit the essence of Valentine and for that matter to let this be re-echoed in the society; because I believe that if it is adopted and conducted in the positive vein that it should be, it will do us a lot of good in strengthening the institution of marriage, in strengthening the family as a unit and for that matter our social network in this country.
Mr. G. K. Essilfie (NDC - Shama) 12:40 p.m.
Thank you Madam Speaker, for this
Mr. G. K. Essilfie (NDC - Shama) 12:50 p.m.


opportunity to add my voice to the Statement on the floor.

My name is Gabriel Kodwo Essilfie, Member for Shama Constituency.

Madam Speaker, while I associate myself with the Statement, I just want to caution the House to understand that the issue that is before us has to do with morality. And while we are considering the behaviour of our young ones on Valentine's Day, we have to understand that like the old adage goes “Charity begins at home”, these young people just do not take one day to get into amorous activities. It is what has been ingrained in them over the years from the behaviour of us the old ones. Because our society, our culture allows, like we say very liberally that you can take more than one, two, three, four or five wives.

So our children see us as parents, as uncles or whatever doing these things that they, based on their religious training, know are wrong and therefore, when this has been ingrained in them on Valentine's Day is when some of them want to show what they have got out there. So as far as I am concerned, the issue of promiscuity is something that we have to approach in a very holistic manner from our own culture, our behaviour and how we train our children.

Madam Speaker, I have lived in a system for 35 years, trained my four children and I can very honestly say that all my four children on Valentine's Day did not engage themselves in anything that was promiscuous because one, I led a life with their mother that that behaviour was meant only for the older ones and even if they had to give anything out, it will be a card to me, their mother, flowers and things like that and not getting involved in promiscuity.

So if we are talking about it then I want us to approach it not on the surface but go to the roots of the problem and try to educate the children just like the hon. Second Deputy Speaker said, to get the churches, the schools, the homes and all of us to educate them so that on Valentine's Day they would not like to go out there and try these things.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker for giving me the opportunity.

Rev. (Dr.) Joses Asare-Akoto (NDC -- Asuogyaman): I thank you, Madam Speaker, for permitting me also to add my voice to what my hon. Colleagues have said.

Madam Speaker, this wonderful Statement that was made on the floor is very timely. Why am I saying this Madam Speaker? When we mention Valentine, we are talking about love. Love is good because God is love and I believe every one of us also knows how to love except satan. Love is an attitude or an attribute of God and more so the greatest one. God says, faith, hope, love but the greatest is love. Love is good. As I said, God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall have eternal life. That is the famous quotation in the Bible. It is good to love one and another.

Madam Speaker, even in your daily morning prayers, you pray that we as a nation, Ghanaians, should love one another. Therefore, in my view, there is nothing wrong with love. But, I mean a big “but”, when, how, who and what kind of love? Madam Speaker, I am saying this because this is what makes the difference. I am saying this because we have two types of love: the true love and the untrue

love.

True love is from God which he has put in us from the foundation of this world, and the other type of love is untrue love which is satanic and I would term it also as lust.

Madam Speaker, there is a difference between true love and lust. I believe that we were talking about Valentine in our days. It is mostly celebrated by the youth and not by the older people; so Valentine has now become part of the youth. What we are seeing today is nothing but lust and this is a spirit that is displaying in the youth for lust. And this is what is leading to so many things, so many cankers in our nation today. HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy and other transmitted diseases which my Hon Colleagues have mentioned have also broken down the social fibre and bred immorality and indiscipline.

Madam Speaker, if you would permit me to carry on, in lust, there is wickedness. Also, lust breeds greed, selfishness leading into indiscipline, armed robbery, disrespect to parents and so many things.

Madam Speaker, what are some of these things that we can do as the Legislature? I am seeing as the foundation of this nation and the Bible says that if the foundation is destroyed what can the righteous do? Since charity begins at home, I believe it must first start from this House. Madam Speaker, I am saying this because I had an experience on my second day in Parliament, and if you may permit me, let me come out with it.

I was walking past down in the basement and there came a beautiful lady and who called me, “Honourable” and when I responded “yes”, she approached me and said she had certain medicines

As a matter of fact, I was set aback. I believe this House must be a House of lawmaking and not a house of, excuse me to say where promiscuity is being executed.

We must enact godly and moral laws -- I believe in our Constitution -- so that the nursery child can even begin to learn up to the university level, where the main law is as far as Valentine's Day is concerned. This, I believe should be enshrined in our national educational curriculum so that the children would be studying it constantly.

Madam Speaker, I thank you very much.
Mr. Samuel K. Obodai (NPP - Agona West) 12:50 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to associate myself with this Statement. Madam Speaker, I am just going to make a small submission on this.
Our problem as Africans and to be more precise as Ghanaians is ignorance. The level of ignorance is just unimaginable and because of this, it has eaten into so many aspects of human life. We have a lot of people who think that they know everything and yet they do not know much, and that is the problem that is confronting us. Even at times on certain issues that we expect some of our media men to inform us better, their presentations tell you that they do not understand the whole concept.
Madam Speaker, I think that as a nation, we need a centre of excellence that would actually bring together stake- holders in the various aspects of human development and on matters of such nature, they can come out with certain programmes that would inform our people
well. And when we do this, some of these problems that we have been encountering would not actually continue to be a problem to us.
I once witnessed a situation on Valentine's Day. A family called me to settle a marriage problem, and it came up because somebody was suspected to be chasing after a married woman on Valentine's Day. The person also came in and explained that he felt that on Valentine's Day, you can make new friends irrespective of the person's status; whether the person is married or not, you can just talk to anybody you feel you love or anybody you feel you should have something doing with. That was the only opportunity for that person on that day; he had got a licence to operate at all levels.
Madam Speaker, this is the level of ignorance some of our people are displaying. So I believe that with the centre of excellence that I am suggesting, it would go a long way to help us as a nation and we can actually develop to the level that we would no longer talk about issues of this nature.
On this note, I want to thank you for the opportunity.
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon Members,
Statements time is ended. I would now call on hon. John Tia Akologu.
Mr. John Tia Akologu 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, it thus appears that we have exhausted the day's business on the Order Paper and I would accordingly move that this House do now adjourn until next Tuesday, at ten o'clock in the forenoon.
Mrs. Gifty Eugenia Kusi 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to second the motion for adjournment.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOuRNMENT