Debates of 20 Feb 2009

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 12:10 p.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 12:10 p.m.
Mr. O. B. Amoah 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, on page 6. I believe the presence of the former Presidents of Ghana was very significant and they should have recorded it even though they were spotted at the public gallery. I believe, for record purposes and for the fact that it was quite symbolic, maybe, it should be captured that they were present in the House.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
I am not very sure
whether you can put this in the Votes and Proceedings because we did not mention dignitaries that came here.
Majority Leader (Mr. A. S. K.
Bagbin): Madam Speaker, I do agree with you that even though as dignitaries, immediate first persons of the nation, they did not participate in the proceedings of the House and this is just covering the minutes of what took place here. They were at the public gallery; they were not, strictly speaking, in the House and they did not participate in the work of Parliament, so they cannot be recorded as having been part of the proceedings.
Mr. F. Opare-Ansah 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I believe this situation actually underscores the need for according the

former Presidents the proper place when they attend to this House. You would agree that normally when we have delegations from outside, even ordinary Members of Parliament like ourselves, once they sit on the right side of Madam Speaker, they are duly recognized and noted for our reports. Why our two distinguished former Presidents were kept in the public gallery, I do not understand and I think the protocol arrangements in this House should duly note this and ensure that in the future, we actually accord these gentlemen and possibly former First Ladies, their rightful place in this House.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 12:20 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, I just want to agree with the Hon Minority Chief Whip that I do not think it was appropriate and dignifying enough for the former Presidents to be kept at that hidden corner at the public gallery.
Madam Speaker, I think Leadership should direct that they be accorded a more respectable and dignified place in this House at any other appearance. It does add to the maturity of our own democratic process and the respect we want to attach to the institution of the office of the former Presidents, not the personalities involved.
So I do think Leadership should be guided to issue out quickly, instructions that next time, they should be - When we receive other delegations even from outside Ghana or other countries who may not have similar or same standing as our former Presidents, they are recognized at the back here. I do agree with him that we do same.
Dr. A. A. Osei 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I
think I agree with my two Hon Colleagues who spoke previously but I am informed that there was a reason and even though we may not want to discuss it immediately, I think we should discuss it in a close Sitting
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
I think I will leave it to you. As it is, we are correcting the Votes and Proceedings and normally these things do not appear. So if hereafter the House wants it to be recorded, it is up to the Leaders and if you come to that decision, it would be a good thing though.
But as it is now, we are correcting the Votes and Proceedings and they did not take part, so Hon Member who requested for this correction, maybe, the next time, when a decision has been taken to include them, it will come. I appreciate and support the stand but we leave it to next time.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 12:20 p.m.
Majority Leader/Leader of the House (Mr. A. S. K Bagbin) 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Committee met on Wednesday, 18th February 2009 and arranged Business of the House for the Seventh Week ending Friday, 27th February 2009.
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 12:30 p.m.
Arrangement of Business
Papers and Reports Madam Speaker, Papers may be laid
during the week and Committee reports may also be presented to the House for consideration.
Statements and Motions
Madam Speaker may allow Statements to be made on the floor of the House. Motions would be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, may also be taken.
Madam Speaker, a motion to thank H.E. the President for his Message on the State of the Nation, which H.E. delivered on Thursday, 19th February 2009, will be moved during the week. Hon. Members are therefore urged to participate actively in the debate after the motion has been moved.
Madam Speaker, in order to ensure that as many Hon Members as possible make their contributions, the Business Committee has recommended the following time allocations:
Mover of motion -- 20 minutes
Seconder of motion -- 15 minutes
Chairmen/Chairpersons and Ranking Members -- 10 minutes
each
Other Hon. Members -- 8 minutes each
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

Motions --

That this honourable House thanks H.E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to this honourable House on Thursday, 19th February 2009.

Committee Sittings.

Statements

Laying of Papers --

(a) Report of the Appointments Committee on the President's nominations for ministerial appointments.

(b) Report of Leadership on re- constitution of the membership of Pan-African Parliament.

(c) Report of Leadership on re- constitution of the membership of the ECOWAS Parliament.

(d) Report of the Committee of Selection on the composition of the Standing and Select Committees.

Motions --

(a) That this honourable House thanks H.E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to this honourable House on Thursday, 19th February 2009.

(b) Adoption of the Report of the Committee of Selection on the

composition of the Standing and Select Committees.

(c) Adoption of the Report of Leadership on reconstitution of the membership of Pan-African Parliament.

(b) Adoption of the Report of Leadership on re-constitution of the ECOWAS Parliament.

Committee Sittings.

Statements

Laying of Papers

Motions --

That this honourable House thanks H.E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to this honourable House on Thursday, 19th February 2009.

Committee Sittings.

Statements

Laying of Papers

Motions --

That this honourable House thanks H.E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to this honourable House on Thursday, 19th February 2009.
Mr. Isaac Kwame Asiamah 12:30 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, I have gone through the report of the Business Committee but the debate to begin on Tuesday, 23rd February 2009 on the President's State of the Nation Address, I believe we should conclude the recomposition of the committees before we can do any meaningful debate. This is because, as has been captured on the first page, the mover of the motion, seconder of the motion, chairmen/chairpersons, and ranking members -
Madam Speaker, as we speak now, we do not know which people are chairing committees as chairmen and ranking members, we do not know them, we have not done with that aspect of our work here.
So I believe that we should finalise
the work on the composition of the committees so that we are aware of chairpersons, chairmen, ranking members and their deputies. We have not done so and if you look at the report, Madam Speaker, on page 2 for example, it is being proposed that the Report of the Committee of Selection would be done on Wednesday, 25th February 2009 by which time we would have started the debate on Tuesday, 23rd February 2009. So, I believe we need to conclude the composition of the committees before we can have any meaningful debate.
Madam Speaker, another issue I want to raise is that the time allocated for the debate, for me, is too short. We have only four Sitting days for a President who has given his maiden State of the Nation Address and setting agenda for a four-year term mandate. Madam Speaker, I do not
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Member, can
you wind up, please?
Mr. Asiamah 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I
do not know whether it is one year or whatever - [Interruptions.] Madam Speaker, for four years -- I hope that satisfies the House.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Asiamah,
you have made that point before so can you wind up so that I would hear from the Leaders?
Mr. Asiamah 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, so
what I am saying is that, the time allocated for the debate is too short, we may not do any meaningful justice to the President's State of the Nation Address.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Can I hear from
the Leader of the House? What do you say about that?
Mr. Bagbin 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I
believe that the only valid point he raised is the fact that we have not yet composed the committees and therefore, it is not certain who is the chairperson or ranking member; that I would concede. We need to look at that and we may move the motion and then continue the next day after we have composed the committees.
Mr. Bagbin 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am told that we could even add Monday, but it is important for Hon Members to know that we are expecting the Budget Statement after next week. We would have the Budget Statement and we would have to debate that; we would have to work, approve or disapprove it by the end of March. If you look at the calendar of the House, we are programmed to rise on the 27th of March to go for the Easter break.
Now, if Members want us to extend it to April, well, it is a decision of the House and we are prepared to go by the decision of the House. But I believe that given four good days, Hon Members would have done justice to the debate. We may decide that these four days we Sit in the morning, we Sit in the afternoon. We can decide and add more time because we want justice to be done to the Address that has been presented.

We are not going to shield anything, we will open everything up and then together, we would share ideas and then we will insist, after the debate that the comments and views expressed in this House would be captured by His Excellency in the programme for the country. It is for the country, it is not for the President, it is not for only the House, it is for the betterment of this nation.
Mr. E. A. Owusu-Ansah 12:40 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, at least, a small point of clarification. I think I heard the Hon Majority Leader in his presentation saying that “other Hon Members would be allotted five minutes each.” [Some Hon

Members: He said eight.] He said eight -- [Interruptions] - He said five? Thank you, I rest my case.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Eight minutes.
Mr. C. A. Avoka 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
let me use this opportunity to thank the Majority Leader for the Business Statement.
I wish to observe that in view of the fact that the State of the Nation Address is focusing on Ministries and what they intend to do during the course of this year, it may be prudent to give sufficient time to sector Ministers to be able to expatiate on some of the issues that are raised in the State of the Nation Address.
Madam Speaker, if you look at it now, besides the mover of the motion who has 20 minutes and the seconder 15 minutes, ranking members, et cetera have 10 minutes and other Hon Members 8 minutes. I think sector Ministers need some more time to be able to give details of the work of the Ministries as expatiated in the President's State of the Nation Address - [Interruptions] - I know that there may be a Budget coming, but this will be without prejudice to what debate that would take place in the Budget Statement.
So I want to crave the indulgence of the Hon Majority Leader to review this and give Ministers more time so that they can address some of the issues raised by the President.
Ms. Cecilia A. Dapaah 12:40 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, I am just wondering whether the Hon Member is also referring to Ministers who are not Hon Members to come to the House and address us.
Ms. Beatrice B. Boateng 12:40 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, listening to the discussion on floor, especially from the Hon Majority Leader and that of the Hon Member who
just spoke (Hon Cecilia A. Dapaah), it becomes clear that the time allotted for the discussion of His Excellency's Address is not sufficient. From the Majority Leader's end, he said had it not been for the Budget we should have extended the time. But I think that whatever we do here is very, very important and should not be done haphazardly. As a result of that, I think we need to sit down, find time and then discuss this issue very well so that we would be satisfied with whatever we have done.
Mr. Joe K. Gidisu 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
I think it would be very clear to Hon Members that the State of the Nation Address only focuses on what the Budget would be taking details of and Hon Members are aware that whatever it is, I do not think anyone in this House has any doubts as to whatever we could do to comprehensively outline the objectives that the President set out in his Address.
I want to say that, the one week, as noted by the Majority Leader, if time along the line reveals that there is the need for extension, we have control over our own activities and we would do that by next week when the Business of the House will again come under focus.
So I want to associate myself with the need to accept this as an interim arrangement.
Mr. Bagbin 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, let me
emphasize that we are open to extending the time, increasing time allocation and the rest. I have not said that the door is closed and Madam Speaker herself will be exercising her discretion, and we are going to look at the tempo and the depth of the debate. I do not think that together we would be encouraging too much repetition and will not be encouraging acrimony. We would be prepared to accept very cogent

proposals and suggestions and critical minds would be noted and as I have said, our doors are open.

Non-Members definitely, by the Constitution are permitted to - non- Members who are Ministers of State can participate in the debate of the House. That has been it, it is part of our law and therefore, they would be available to participate.

I think that the issue raised by Hon Cletus Avoka, the Minister for the Interior, will be taken care of by the Rt. Hon. Speaker. We believe that if we decided to do that, even though that has been the practice for some time now, for me, looking at the programme, we may need to increase the time for Ranking Members because the Ranking Members are seen as the shadow Ministers. I did not enjoy that privilege but I think that it is important that we give more time to the Opposition to have even its business that can help the Government to perform better.

So I will allow the Rt. Hon Speaker to exercise her discretion in these matters and not try to prescribe stringent rules for her to go by.

I thank all Hon Members for their contributions and I want to urge Hon Members, that let us accept it as it is and as we go along, we would improve upon it during the course of the week.
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I believe the Hon Majority Leader eventually has made the vital admissions that I thought he was going to make because he started by saying that the only valid point that my Hon Colleague had made was in respect of the fact that the committees have not been composed, but he ended up conceding on the point of the time that is allotted for the debate which I think is all well and good.
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:50 p.m.
He talks about, as per the suggestion by the Hon Minister responsible for the Interior, that Ministers must be factored into the debate. It may be a useful proposition. I do not think that we have consciously done that in the course of transacting business hitherto. But I think it is a useful proposition that could well be considered.
I think the point must also be considered, as the Hon Majority Leader said, that indeed, the Budget we are expecting and the normal time for debating Budgets usually in this House is about six weeks. Indeed, given the shortness of the time, we may not have even four weeks to debate the Budget.
So we should be mindful of that and we are even suggesting that the presentation of the Budget be brought forward a bit because normally after the delivery, we have to move into workshops to listen to some experts and specialists in the various fields before we commence debate on the Budget. So if we even subtract that from it, we may have just about three weeks to deal with the Budget. So, maybe, we are constrained this time around and we should concede to that fact.
But the issue raised by my good
Friend, the Majority Leader, regarding the position of Ranking Members as shadow Ministers, I think it has been a point of contention. In the dispensation that we are now using, ranking members are not shadow Ministers. In the Cabinet system Ranking Members are shadow Ministers because ordinarily, when there is a shift and the Opposition moves into Govern- ment, usually, the spokespersons who are the shadow Ministers become Ministers in those sectors and that is why they are referred to as shadow Ministers.

In the presidential system, it is a different ball game altogether and I guess we will be learning as we all go along.
Mr. Bagbin 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, my Hon Colleague, the Hon Minority Leader is really interesting - [Laughter] - He is aware that we are practising the strict presidential system; we are practising the hybrid system.
He is also aware that during my tenure of office as the Hon Minority Leader for eight good years, His Excellency, President Kufuor had to accept that I was alternative President - [Laughter] - My good Friend, the Hon Minority Leader, on assumption of office, solicited my support to make sure that he is called the alternative President - [Laughter] -- Now, he is not supporting his Ranking Members to be called shadow Ministers. I think that is a useful suggestion.
But I believe that as we move along, we are not bound by practices of other countries; they are just guides to us. We should try to edge out our own. And I think that the Minority will need to have more time and that is why I made that proposal.
In fact, in future, it is important we have a Minority Day, so that the Minority will set the Business for that day. I know that a few years ago, it was proposed that Fridays be used for Minority Day. That, I think, will open up and give more democratic space for the Minority to be able to contribute to governance.
So, I have no problem with that, we will try as much as possible to widen the space for all of us to operate.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:50 p.m.
Madam
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
We would not touch that topic today - [Laughter.]
So, Hon Majority Leader, are we adopting this or are we calling it provisional or what, because you have made suggestions that - [Interruptions] - So, are we adopting it?
Mr. Bagbin 12:50 p.m.
That is so. We are adopting it subject to - we would adopt this and as we go along, we will try to enhance on what we have put there. So, I would urge Hon Members to adopt this Report.
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon Members, the Business Statement as presented today is adopted.
We get to Statements -- I have admitted some Statements but I would defer that and we move on to the Public Business.
PAPERS 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Can you move the procedural motion.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the motion is in the name of the First Deputy Speaker who is also the Chairman of the Committee. I seek your leave to move the motion in his stead. He is

unavoidably absent.
MOTIONS 12:50 p.m.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 12:50 p.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 Fifth Report of the Appointments Committee on the President's nominations for Ministerial appointments may be moved today.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Fifth Report of the Appointments Committee
Vice-Chairman of the Committee (Mr. E. T. Mensah): Madam Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Fifth Report of the Appointments Committee on the President's nomination for Ministerial appointments.
In doing so, Madam Speaker, I would move ahead to present the Report.
1.0 Introduction
His Excellency President J. E. A. Mills communicated to Parliament for prior approval of the nomination of the following persons for appointment as Ministers of State pursuant to article 78 (1) of the Constitution:
1. Hon Stephen Amanor Kwao -- Minister-designate for Employment
and Social Welfare
2. Hon Alexander Asum-Ahensah -- Minister-designate for Chieftaincy
and Culture
3. Hon Halutie Dubie Alhassan -- Minister-designate at the Presidency
4. Dr. George Sipa-Adjah Yankey -- Minister-designate for Health
5. Mrs. Sabah Zita Okaikoi -- Minister- designate for Information
6. Ms. Hanny-Sherry Ayittey -- Minister-designate for Environment,
Science and Technology.
APPENDIX A 12:50 p.m.
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