Debates of 24 Feb 2009

MADAM SPEAKER
ANNOUNCEMENT 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon Members, we have a communication from His Excellen- cy, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills and I shall read to you --
“23RD FEBRUARY,
2009
MINISTERIAL NOMINATIONS 10:35 a.m.
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC 10:35 a.m.
OF GHANA 10:35 a.m.
OFFICE OF PARLIAMENT, 10:35 a.m.
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, 10:35 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:35 a.m.
MOTIONS 10:45 a.m.
rose
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon Members, I
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.


think he is moving a motion. You want to make a point of order before he finishes his motion?
Mr. Osei-Prempeh 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
the Hon Member started by quoting something from the President's State of the Nation Address. Madam Speaker, as it stands we are having two versions of the State of the Nation Address; the one which the President delivered which is captured in the Hansard of 19th February, 2009 and the one which was put in our pigeonholes.
Madam Speaker, there are fundamental
differences in the two documents. The Hon Member started quoting something -- Madam Speaker, what he said was, “All through my political campaign I pledged to make a difference …” Madam Speaker, if you go to the Hansard he said, “Madam Speaker, throughout my political life …”
Madam Speaker, not this alone; if you go through from page 1 to the end there are real fundamental differences. Which one are we treating? The official one in the Hansard or the one put in our pigeon- holes? We want to know. [Interruptions.] What is official before this House is what is captured in the Hansard. So if the Hon Member wants to quote, he must quote from the Hansard. I want your direction; which one is the authentic one we are using? [Hear! Hear!]
Madam Speaker 10:55 a.m.
You want my ruling on this? Hon Member, you have been served, or you have copies of the State of the Nation Address which was laid before Parliament. This was what was handed to me, which was handed to the Clerk and that is what you have been supplied with. And then we have the Hansard too --[Pause.]
Mr. Osei-Prempeh 10:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
I have seen that one. But this is Parlia- ment --
Madam Speaker 10:55 a.m.
He read from the one that you have been served with --
Mr. Osei-Prempeh 10:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, what happens in Parliament is what is captured in the Hansard, the official record of Parliament.
Madam Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Is it always so?
Mr. Osei-Prempeh 10:55 a.m.
It is so and it
should always be so.
Madam Speaker 10:55 a.m.
You have made a point. Before I rule let me hear from the Hon Majority Leader.
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 10:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, Hon Osei-Prempeh has a point. Usually the official documents that are in possession of the House are either documents laid at the Table or verbatim recordings of proceedings in the House. We have been confronted a number of times with this particular problem from the various Presidents and the way we have always charted is sometimes the way things are going today.
But we have always agreed that if we have to refer to the document that is put in our pigeon-holes then that document has to be officially laid to be part of the documents of the House and if Hon Members want to use both, the document that is laid and the official report which is captured in the Hansard, they do so. Until the document is laid before the House it is not properly before the House and it is not known by the House and it cannot be referred to by the House.
I will in this direction request that
the document be properly laid before we can move on with the debate. And I, as the Leader of the House, will seek the indulgence of the House and the
permission of the Speaker to so lay the document before the House.
PAPERS 10:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I would like to hear you.
Minority Leader (Mr. Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 10:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity. I thought you were going to hear me first before allowing the Hon Majority Leader to have the final say. But he has already spoken and I think that he has done the correct thing.
Really, sometimes they have come with voluminous documents and what they have always done is to appeal through you to the Hansard Department to capture the original document as having been read as such but they may read an abridged version. That is what is normally done.
In this case it was not done. That plea
was not made and he read a statement. Now it comes out that the very statement that my Hon Colleague read to introduce the motion is substantially different from what is contained in the Hansard. The very statement, the very first paragraph - Madam Speaker, now barely a minute ago the Hon Majority Leader has done the right thing in laying this document, but can we in truth and in sincerity and in accord with our conscience, just a minute after a statement has been laid, proceed to debate it?
Madam Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Well, it is for Hon Members to tell me that they need more time to study it. But I have a feeling that you know everything that is contained in both documents.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:55 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, given the fact that the very first verse being quoted from the genesis of this statement by my Hon Colleague, it has become very contentious. Madam Speaker, the veracity of that statement is contentious because it does not sit in accord with the statement just given and laid by the hon. Majority Leader. So clearly, we are all caught in a quandary, and Madam Speaker, l do not really know how to make progress and that is why I was seeking your own wise counsel and direction in this matter.
Madam Speaker 10:55 a.m.
I will give my counsel provided you will accept it.
Mr. Bagbin 10:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I believe strongly that we just simply regularized the procedure but Hon Members have been in possession of the document since it was placed in our pigeonholes and Hon Members have gone through it. So I believe that Hon Members are in the position to go on with the debate. In fact, on several occasions after the Presidents deliver the Address, we have often stated on the floor that we are prepared to debate it. It has happened a number of times even though we on many occasions decided to give ourselves time to do so.
I believe this is an occasion that Hon
Members are prepared and ready to go on with the debate. It is not only hon Members on my side of the House; I believe that the Minority are also prepared to debate it today. If the Minority are not prepared to debate it today I think that they will say so. But I know and I have had
Mr. Bagbin 10:55 a.m.


word with them; they are equally prepared to debate the President's Address today. So I think that it is proper for us to continue and I plead with my hon. Colleagues for us to continue with the debate today.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader is right in stating that oftentimes immediately after the delivery of the President's State of the Nation Address, he, when he was the Minority Leader had often sounded that the Minority was ready to debate the Address.
Madam Speaker, you would remember that the other day he threw a bait to me; I refused to be baited, because as I indicated, if a President or a Chief speaks and one has anything by way of criticism, one does not say so in the presence of the Chief or the elder which is why I deferred to the Chair.
Particularly, Madam Speaker, since you had, on the spur of the moment, as provided by the Constitution and our Standing Orders, congratulated the President for delivering the Address, I thought it would have been most unprofessional on my part and most unparliamentary to have immediately gotten up and indicated that we are prepared to debate the Address today and maybe proceeded to offer some critic there and then in the presence of His Excellency. I thought that was most untraditional which is why I said we should defer the debates, to quote myself, “to a more propitious time”.

Madam Speaker, when we thought that today will be “a propitious time”, we are being told today and indeed there has been this firm indication by the Hon Majority Leader that what we thought we were going to debate is really not the document

Madam Speaker, what we have in the Hansard really is the “King James Version” and so perhaps we need time to reconcile the two versions. But I stand by your wise counsel which I believe will prevail today. So Madam Speaker, I am looking forward to your direction. I thank you.
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the debate has already commenced. [Laughter.] I do not know whether my hon. Colleague is that young to recollect that Hon J. H. Mensah initiated what I continued as a Minority Leader. It was not initiated by me, instantaneous debates of the State of the Nation Address given by former Presidents. But Madam Speaker, I believe we should go by the counsel of Shakespeare rather than the Abdul stories, the famous Abdul stories where -- The young ones have not had the opportunity to read them but we the old ones who got the opportunity to read the Abdul stories where the king would be naked and by virtue of some mysterious beliefs the community would be compelled to be saying that the King is properly dressed in beautiful kente cloth and -- Those kinds of Abdul stories Shakespeare counselled against and produced an actor who used to immediately draw the attention of the king to the errors and the wrongs that he was doing which I believe is what we want to do in Ghana today, to make sure that we have a better Ghana.
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 11:05 a.m.


So I believe strongly that in calling for instantaneous debates, there is nothing improper, there is nothing wrong with it. It does not mean that we do not show reverence to His Excellency the President. But let me just say that His Excellency never intended his delivery to be the Bible so that there will be King James and then the New Testament or the Revised Version -- [Laughter.] It is not.

He knows that whether it is King James Version or New Testament or Revised Version or English version, they are read together as the Bible. And this is just the call that we are making that we take them together as we debate. I believe strongly that it will be proper and right for us to do so today. I know my hon. Colleague is simply pulling our legs because we have had extensive discussion on this matter and I would want the mover of the motion to continue with the motion.

I know my Hon Friend is prepared to second the motion -- not Hon Osei- Prempeh but another Friend of mine is prepared to second the motion and we intend doing justice to the Address so that the views that we express here could be incorporated by His Excellency in trying to administer and move Ghana forward in a better direction. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
It will be easy if you will agree, but carry on. [Laughter.]
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I be l ieve metaphor ica l expressions should be purposefully and properly contextually positioned. When I talked about King James Versions and Revised Standard Versions I thought that it will sit well with people who know the ABCs of the English language. I want to believe that my Hon Colleague opposite knows the ABCs of the English language very well and so for him to be likening
what I said to the Bible alone in this context is completely out of place.
However, Madam Speaker, I believe we are dealing with matters of substance and the mover of the motion moves a motion and the very first statement that he issues does not sit in the Hansard. As a reference point, a new document has been made and I think it is for the House to so decide because it has now become the document of the House.
The Hon Majority Leader says that he will want the mover to move the motion, but Madam Speaker, I think that can only be a plea to you which is why, in deference to the Chair and in deference to your good person, I have said I am looking for your direction, to proceed or not to proceed. I cannot say that we cannot proceed. Madam Speaker, it lies with you and we are waiting for your wise counsel and your wise direction in this matter.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Members, the points have been taken and the document has been properly laid and you are being asked to read the two together like all the versions of the Bible. Once you have the same substance and understanding, it could be read together because this is a summary of what has been laid. I find that even though it was not properly laid, it was served to Hon Members and I do not think there is anybody who would not have seen or already been prepared to comment on this Address. However, since it is going to take days, more than one day, I do not think that even if we start now with clever hon. Members here we can finish this in a day.
Since it is going to take up to three or four days, maybe, those who are ready can start it and the rest will -- [Interruptions.] If I am allowed to finish my ruling -- [Laughter.] Maybe comments on it may

not affect me as I am reading my ruling. So I think for the expedition of work here, since it is to move it and seconded and we start a debate on it, we can go ahead. And I will rule that we should carry on with the motion and then start the debate, which will be deferred to tomorrow or the next day, and the next day when the people who are not ready now can get themselves ready and contribute.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, thank you very much. I think I will be guided by your ruling.
Madam Speaker 11:15 p.m.
Thank you.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the point really is that we have a rather short period to debate this because next week, I believe, we should be holding ourselves in readiness for the Budget. So clearly, we do not have much time, and for that reason, and that reason alone, we may -- of course, in deference to your wise counsel, we will go along with it with acknowledgement that what is supposed to be the real version has been laid today. But it came to us rather surreptitiously through the window and not through the door. Thank you very much.
Madam Speaker 11:15 p.m.
I thank you, Hon
Members. Can you continue with your motion, Hon Inusah Fuseini.
Mr. Fuseini 11:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I was drawing attention to the report of residents of Sunyani when they were polled on their impression on the Address the President had delivered to the nation through Parliament. And Madam Speaker, with your permission, I beg to read page 13 of the Daily Graphic of Saturday, February 21, 2009. Madam Speaker, Mr. Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:15 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, we have all this while permitted the events captured in the newspapers to be tendered here in our debates. But you may remember that only last week the Deputy Majority Leader insisted that a newspaper publication cannot be used as evidence in this House. I held a contrary view; I thought that we had always allowed this. Today we are being told -- and my Hon Colleague is about to quote copiously from a Daily Graphic publication. I have no problem with that. But we must establish a principle and be consistent and then move on.
Mr. J. T. Akologu 11:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I would not have stood up but for the fact that my name was mentioned in connection with this issue. Madam Speaker, to correct the records, when I was objecting to the newspaper being flashed, I mentioned here that by convention we have always insisted that evidence must be produced beyond newspaper publication.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:15 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, with respect, my Hon Colleague never said that we should move beyond the newspaper publication for further evidence. That is not what he said. He indeed alluded to a ruling by a former Speaker; that is what he said. And the
argument from him was that newspaper publication should not be used, and I disagreed with him. I said it could be used. If now we are saying that it could be used, so be it. I have nothing against that at all.
But I am talking about the incon- sistencies; that is the point that I want us to advert our minds to. But I have nothing against what my Hon Colleague is doing. I think that it enriches the debate.
Madam Speaker 11:15 p.m.
Quoting newspaper
publication of this day and the veracity of what he said there -- So if it is permitted to quote what some newspapers had said then I think we can carry on. Hon. Inusah Fuseini?
Mr. Fuseini 11:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, Mr.
Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo, Regional Correspondent for Radio Ghana, for his part, described the President's Address as very reconciliatory and said the Address touched on most of the things he expected. He added that the President spoke on the economic challenges facing the country but gave the assurance that there was hope and therefore there was no need for Ghanaians to be worried.
Madam Speaker, Mr. Mensah-Abludo observed that another statement of the President that caught his attention was the institution of the Founder's Day as a statutory public holiday to honour the memory of the first President of the country: Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He furthered stated that the President's decision to assign service personnel as research assistants to Members of Parliament was also a laudable one.
Madam Speaker, in order to appreciate this year's State of the Nation Address, it is important to do a content analysis of the Address as against previous State of the Nation Addresses. Whereas it had almost become the norm, and an accepted one at that in the previous regime, to blame the
rose
Mr. Fuseini 11:15 p.m.
In almost every State of
the Nation Address delivered by former President Kufuor. His Excellency President John Evans Atta Mills began his State of the Nation Address by acknowledging his predecessors, former President Jerry John Rawlings and former President John Agyekum Kufuor. This is highly commendable and very conci-liatory. It is a recognition and our acceptance of the fact that a President can do only so much. And it takes a humble person only so to admit.
Madam Speaker, this act of acknow- ledgement portrays our President as a man of exceptional political acumen and maturity, and gives credence to his pledge to be the President for all Ghanaians and not a select few.
Madam Speaker 11:15 p.m.
Hon Inusah Fuseini, let me take a point of order. I have seen you but I did not like the noise that drew my attention, and that is why I did not call you then. Now, I have seen you.
Mr. S. K. B. Manu 11:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I thank you for your counsel. But I was compelled to attract your - [Uproar] -- Yes.
Madam Speaker 11:15 p.m.
But the orders say you must stand to catch my eye.
Mr. Manu 11:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Member started by saying that the people of Sunyani unanimously applauded the President on His State of the Nation Address, and he sought to quote from the Daily Graphic to support the statement he had made.
Madam Speaker 11:15 p.m.
Hon. Member,
I do not think you should use the word “deceiving” I had just ruled that you could quote a newspaper; it is the veracity that can be challenged. So if you were making a point of correction to harp on that, you are in order. But that he is deceiving the public here is an unparliamentary word.
Mr. Manu 11:15 p.m.
Thank you. He has misled
the public and the House.
Madam Speaker 11:15 p.m.
He has quoted what the newspaper said, is that not it? And we have said that it will not be accepted except the veracity of what a newspaper says is proved. So you have made the point, you have corrected it and that is in order but I am glad you have changed the word from deceiving. Thank you.
Mr. Fuseini 11:15 p.m.
Thank you, Madam
Speaker. Madam Speaker, probably what I did not do was to read the heading of the publication. And Madam Speaker, I crave your indulgence to read the heading: “Sunyani Residents Impressed by President Mills' Address”.
Madam Speaker, as I was saying, we

are told that a nation that does not honour its heroes and heroines, is not worth dying for.

In acknowledging the contributions of our First President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, this is what His Excellency the President says; and with your permission I quote:

“His selfless leadership serves as a point of reference in our determination to build a better Ghana”.

What a better way to honour this great and illustrious son of the realm. It is in the light of the above, I believe, that the institution of a public holiday to be known as “Founders Day” is commendable. Mr. President, we commend you for this gesture.

Madam Speaker, it might be true, and I

have heard it oftentimes, that corruption is as old as Adam. It is also true that it takes a determined government to fight this canker and to ensure that public resources are used for the benefit of the people. His Excellency, having realized this says, and with your permission I quote:

“Transparency in government and the fight against corruption are cardinal for sustainable develop- ment.”

He has therefore committed himself and his Government to the passage of the Freedom of Information Act and the passage of the National Broadcasting Law and a Code of Conduct in Government to regulate the activities of public officers and officers and subordinates of his Government. It is significant to say
Mr. Kofi Frimpong 11:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
as we all see it and I am coming by Standing Order 89, the Hon Member who is an old Member of the House, is copiously reading from a prepared speech. Madam Speaker, permit me to read from Standing Order 89.
“A Member shall not read his speech, but may read extracts from written or printed documents in support of his arguments …”
Madam Speaker, this is contrary to what he is doing. He is copiously turning the leaves of his paper one after the other and reading from his prepared speech. So Madam Speaker, I think he must be ruled out of order. Thank you.
Madam Speaker 11:15 p.m.
Thank you, Hon
Member; you quoted the relevant Order but you see, you can refer to notes to refresh your memory. And I thought this was what he was doing - [Inter-ruptions.] I think he is permitted to refresh his memory. Hon. Member, if you are only refreshing your memory, you are in order.
Mr. Fuseini 11:15 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. But if I may still add, your ruling is consistent with the ruling of the late Rt. Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey when the hon. Minority Leader was privileged to thank the President on the State of the Nation Address that was delivered by His Excellency President Kufuor.
Madam Speaker 11:15 p.m.
Can you carry on?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, you have given your ruling and I do not intend to challenge your ruling. I believe that it should stand.
Madam Speaker 11:15 p.m.
Thank you for that.
Mr. Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:15 p.m.
But then the reference to the ruling of the former Speaker, Rt. Hon Peter Ala Adjetey upon a complaint filed against me by the then hon. Minority Leader, hon. Alban S. K. Bagbin -- The then Speaker ruled that I could not read the Statement, and when I insisted that I was referring to my notes to refresh my memory, the Speaker said no, I could not be so constantly referring to my notes but we will leave it at that and let him continue.
Madam Speaker 11:15 p.m.
Can you just refer
to your notes and not to read?
Mr. Fuseini 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I was saying that the passage of the Freedom of Information Act -- [Uproar.] The bringing to this House of a Freedom of Information Bill will be a necessary complement to the fight against corruption as it is thought that the Freedom of Information Act, if a Bill is finally introduced into this House, will complement the Whistle Blowers Act that has already been passed and it is in existence as a law of the Republic.
Madam Speaker, I believe that the
President deserves some commendation for taking the bold step to promote greater transparency and accountability in his Government.
Madam Speaker, for six years now the Northern Region of the Republic of Ghana has known no peace. Indeed, the killers of the Ya-Na and forty of his elders are still roaming the streets with impunity. Issah Mobila, who died in the hands of institutions of State, his death is yet to be accounted for.

Madam Speaker, the wives and children of the Ya-Na, Issah Mobila and the elders of the Yendi Skin, are crying for justice.

His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana has pledged, Madam Speaker, that law and order, human safety and security and protecting the people will remain the cornerstone of his internal security policy.

Madam Speaker, it is therefore highly commendable that the President has promised and in his words, to bring closure to the lingering issues of justice in the murder of the Ya-Na, Issah Mobila and the several women whose unresolved cases still remain a mystery. Madam Speaker, let it be known that the Message on the State of the Nation was christened, “Rescue Plan for a Better Ghana”.

Madam Speaker, the financial crisis that has hit the world is a matter of great concern and worry. Indeed, many powerful nations on whose generosity we depended for our national survival are now beginning to look inward to rescue their own economies. In the face of this global economic meltdown, the economy of Ghana is in dire financial straits. Madam Speaker, fiscal deficits for the year 2008, we are told is GH¢2.5 billion or 15 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. Madam Speaker, we are told that external deficit or as the economists will call it, balance of payments for 2008 is about GH¢3.42 billion.
Dr. Osei 11:35 a.m.
On a point of order. Madam
Speaker, I know he has not finished yet. But this is one of the mistakes in here. I do not know who got it in there. But I think whoever put it in there did not advise the President properly. [Interruption.] He is misleading this House. The external deficit is not the same thing as the balance of payments. It is not. So he should withdraw that.
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Fuseini, that is
a point of correction. Can you carry on. A point of correction has been made.
Mr. Fuseini 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, indeed, that correction probably goes to the roots of the State of the Nation Address because on page 9 of the State of the Nation Address, Madam Speaker, it is stated and with your indulgence I read:
“The external deficit or balance of payments for 2008 is estimated at GH¢3.2 billion …
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon. Member, are
you moving a motion?
Mr. Fuseini 11:35 a.m.
Yes, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
It seems like you are
never going to finish - because you will have time to comment too. Going stage by stage, item by item, is it the thing to do at this stage? I thought you are moving a motion so we can debate it.
Mr. Fuseini 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, inflation for this country, we are told, is presently about 18.1 per cent. This is why our economy has been said to be in dire straits.
Madam Speaker, between 2006 and 2008, the total debt profile has risen from 5.3 billion dollars to 7.6 billion dollars.
Madam Speaker, the President of the Republic has told us, and we are all aware, that in these last few months, the cedi, our national currency, has lost ground, a substantial ground against the dollar.
Madam Speaker, many are quick to remind the President of his promise to reduce the price of fuel upon the assumption of office should he be given the nod. Madam Speaker, the President assures his critics that he is alive to this promise when he said and I quote:
“ … the decline in the value of the cedi is negating the benefits from
Mr. Fuseini 11:35 a.m.


Madam Speaker, the sincerity, honesty and candidness of His Excellency the President is highly commendable.

Madam Speaker, it is also very significant to state that the then President Kufuor seriously deprecated the attitude of politicians investing in their own comfort. Madam Speaker, we are told by officers and subordinates of the previous regime, that the Castle, the official seat of Government was not good, conducive to human habitation. Madam Speaker, tremendous amounts of money were used in rehabilitating the Castle --
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Member, did
this appear in the Address? [Interruptions]. You are moving a motion. We have not got to the Consideration Stage yet.
Mr. Fuseini 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, it is not in the statement the President presented.
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Your motion is to
thank the President. Is it not the case?
Mr. Fuseini 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am relying on his past statements as justification for what he told us in this House. Madam Speaker, we are told that the President -
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
But is it not this Address we are thanking him for?
Mr. Fuseini 11:35 a.m.
Very well, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker, indeed, i t is precisely because of the state of the seat of Government, then the Castle, that provided enough justification for the Republic of Ghana to source funding from India to build a Presidential Palace
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Member, did this appear in the Address for which we are thanking him?
Nana Akomea 11:35 a.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, my Hon Colleague made a statement which is factually wrong. He said that ex-President Kufuor said he was not going to live in the Castle because the Castle was not good for human habitation.
Madam Speaker, that is wrong. The reason why the President did not live at the Castle at that time, he said, was that he had a family and the Castle did not have the appropriate quarters for family life. He did not say it was not fit for human habitation. So he should withdraw that statement. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon. Inusah, can you continue, please? A point of correction has been made. Can you please continue with your statement?
Mr. Fuseini 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I never
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Then that is
different. Carry on then.
Mr. Fuseini 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, indeed
I believe it is in the light of the profligate amounts of money that was spent investing in the comfort of leadership that the President in his State of the Nation Address has told us and I quote, Madam Speaker -
Mr. Joe Baidoe-Ansah 11:45 a.m.
On a point of
order. Madam Speaker, the Hon Member just said that he is quoting from what officers and subordinates of the former President have said. Madam Speaker, it

is not true; he is misleading this House and I do not know who he is ascribing that to, because there are always faces to every statement. So he cannot come to this House and ascribe things to people without really telling us who these people are and I am saying that it is not true - [Interruption.] He should give us names, Madam.
Mr. Fuseini 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, thank
you. I believe that it is in the light of this that the President has said on page 11 of the State of the Nation Address and Madam Speaker, with your permission I quote:
“I am making sure that expenditure at the Presidency does not consti-tute an undue burden on the Ghanaian taxpayer.”
Madam Speaker, it is important that the taxpayer whose contributions shore up the lifestyles of political office holders, is not unnecessarily burdened. And it is in the light of this that I think the President of the Republic ought to be commended for realizing this point -
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:45 a.m.
On a point
of order. Madam Speaker, the Member on his feet and a very honourable man, Hon Inusah Fuseini has made a categorical statement, he is being called on for purposes of elucidation to ascribe the statement he made to personalities - let us know who said so.
The former Minister has challenged him that no such a statement has been made. Now he is trying to run away from the statement. Let him come clean because this is a serious debate. Madam Speaker, if he cannot provide the names, then the noble thing for him to do is to withdraw. Even if it is meant for tactical reasons he could withdraw; if he has the names later on, he could provide us with the names. But for now, he must come
clean, he just cannot make a blanket statement and then move on as if he has said nothing. This is a serious statement that he has made, could he come clean?
Mr. Bagbin 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think
this issue can only be resolved if we have to go and produce evidence because in this matter, I recall my own action at the Human Rights Commission which ignited a lot of responses from various government officials as to the reason why His Excellency's private residence had to be renovated. Those references were made by various Ministers - the explanations were given and there are public records that we can produce but they are not available now.
[Inter
Mr. Bagbin 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am still on my feet. The Second Deputy Speaker is aware that in his books he has copied and referred to newspaper publications copiously and we are definitely going to produce the same newspapers for him to see the publications from various Ministers. Those same newspapers that he used in his publications, we will draw his attention to them to prove this point that he has made on the floor. Thank you very much.
Prof. Oquaye 11:45 a.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, we are talking serious business and if my Hon Friend on the other side will not want to abandon the line of argument, he will be doing us a lot of disservice. Madam Speaker, this statement is not just being made, it is

being made to justify what His Excellency described as the simple way he is going to do things. If he simply commends a man who says “I am going to do things simply and nicely”, Madam Speaker, I will agree with such commendation.

But if he goes along to justify that by saying that others have spoken in terms of the Castle not being conducive to human habitation, then he is straying very serious grounds. And in any case, Madam Speaker, habitation simply means whether you are working there or you are living there - they both refer to habitat.

So Madam Speaker, if he seriously is saying that a responsible person had made a statement worthy of being quoted in this honourable House in these circumstances ‘conducive to human habitation,' I am telling him that I have never heard any such statement from any responsible person of the past adminis-tration and he may as well withdraw.
Mr. Bagbin 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I thought we are taking this in a very light manner. But let me emphasize that even there was television programme showing the rusted nature of the Castle, it was aired and I am saying that hon. Jake Obetsebi- Lamptey made many statements on this that it was unfit for human habitation. There was a TV programme on it; they even sent people to pray at the Castle to cleanse the Castle of all - [Inter-ruptions.]
Those were done - I am surprised Hon Members are saying that those statements were not made. We will produce the records. There was a television programme on it - I am surprised - [Interruption.] Yes. Memories for all of us are short; we sometimes forget, but it is there.
Mr. O. B. Amoah 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, in the matter of habitation at the Castle, I stand here to say that I worked at the Castle for four good years. My name is Mr. O. B. Amoah, Member for Aburi-Nsawam.
Mr. O. B. Amoah 11:55 a.m.
Between 2001 and March 2005, I was the Special Assistant to the Vice-President and the office was at the Castle Osu. It was habitable.
Indeed Madam Speaker, at the beginning of the Administration of ex- President Kufuor, we started at the International Conference Centre, we moved to the State House and then ended up at the Castle, and for almost four years I was part of the Administration at the Castle and it was habitable for every human being, including me.
Indeed as the Hon Deputy Speaker has stated, never did anybody in the Administration say that the Castle was not habitable for human beings. I remember very well that the former President stated that he had a large family and that the family could not be contained at the Castle - [Interruptions.] Indeed, if there were renovations, as I speak now - [Interruptions.]

Indeed records would show that Ex- President J. J. Rawlings did not live at the Castle with his family. [Hear! Hear!] and His Excellency Prof. Mills is living at the Castle now, we do not know whether he is living there with his family [Inter- ruptions.]

Madam Speaker, I think it will be only honourable for Hon Fuseini to withdraw his statement because it is factually incorrect.
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Members, I think this thing was generated by the fact that Hon Inusah Fuseini said the Ex- President, President Kufour had said it was not habitable and the correction was made that he said it was rather not big
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.


I will hear the Minority Leader.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, I thought after the intervention the Hon Member was about to withdraw and then move on, but for some other interventions; so if you may allow him to do the honourable thing by withdrawing the portion which is offensive because he cannot, as we speak, produce any evidence to that effect. So if he has to withdraw, I think he has to withdraw honourably and move on.
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Inusah Fuseini, the point was that the former President had said something, was that not it? That the house was not fit for human habitation and the correction was that what the former President had said was that it was not big enough and I think you were referring to what other people had said. So the point was corrected and I am prepared to move on if you accept it. Because when you said the former President, you brought the Hon Member to his feet.
Mr. Fuseini 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker I never said the President. [Interruption.] It was my Hon Colleague who raised the objection who said I said the President. Madam Speaker, I said officers and subordinates [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
I do not know
whether it is permitted in this House for an Hon Member to inspect somebody's “so- called” notes. [Interruptions] If it is not, then he was out of order. [Laughter.] Hon Member, shall we have your final word?
Mr. Bagbin 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am

Madam Speaker, it is an established practice and it is part of acts that add to the decency and dignity of the House. I think I have to draw the attention of Hon Members; my Hon Colleague would have done the same thing. You are permitted to cross to the other side but in doing so, you have to stand and bow to the Chair before you do that and I think he definitely is aware of it he just erred and I believe that he should admit that. Definitely, I will not say he has committed a grievous error, it is a privileged thing that he could purge himself of.
Nana Akomea 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I thought the Hon Majority Leader would be happy that I had crossed the carpet. [Laughter.]
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
He said before you cross the carpet you have to bow. [Laughter.]
Nana Akomea 11:55 a.m.
I think it was an after- thought, if I have stayed he would not have mentioned the “bow” but I do bow Madam Speaker.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.
Yes, indeed Madam Speaker, certainly he has done the right thing and first I still insist that my Hon Colleague, because he does not have the evidence, should withdraw.
Secondly the Hon Majority Leader is often drawing our attention to these niceties of the House. I remember on an occasion when Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo was here and was addressing the House, had stuck his hands in his pockets and he mentioned it, except that he himself on countless occasions had done
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.


so. Of course we have not mentioned it because he knows that I believe we should be engaging ourselves in more serious things but back to my hon. Colleague, he should withdraw.
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu, which part of the statement should he withdraw because there were corrections and counter corrections and I thought that solved the problem. Except if he does not take the corrections.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I heard him say that officers and subordinates of the former President had said and he quoted that “the Castle is unfit for human habitation”. That is what he said and we said nobody has said that and I thought that he was going to withdraw until the Hon Minority Leader [Interruptions] the Hon Majority Leader who was the former Minority Leader [Laughter] got up and said that he had evidence that Hon Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey made such a statement.

He has not admitted to that, Madam Speaker, so I would plead with him, that because he does not have the evidence, he must withdraw that portion. Otherwise, if you allow that to stand, Madam Speaker, then everybody in this House could make any allusions and get away with it. But the rule here is that if you do not have the evidence to prove it you withdraw and if perhaps you can satisfy this House subsequently it is allowed. But for now, because he does not have it, we are appealing to him to withdraw. That is the essence of my intervention.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Inusah
Fuseini, despite the fact that the Hon Leader of the House contributed to this matter, the hon. Minority Leader is saying that you said some people, without mentioning their names, and he says if
you do not have the names here then just withdraw or put the sentence in another way. Are you prepared to do that because later on you can say it again when you have your names. So I think if you do not have the names of the officers who said it, then there is no harm in withdrawing it.
Mr. Fuseini 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, thank
you very much. Indeed Madam Speaker, I have never believed that the Castle is not conducive to human habitation. I know as a matter of fact that the former President, Jerry John Rawlings lived in the Castle for the eight years of his reign as the President of this country, and I also know as a fact, that the President, Prof. J. E. Mills is living at the Castle and operating his Government from the Castle.
So I have never believed that the Castle is not fit for human habitation.
But Madam Speaker, it is important to

Madam Speaker, all that I am saying
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member. Now we can carry on with the motion.
Mr. Fuseini 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Member,
what are you reading? What are you asking permission for?
Mr. Fuseini 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, his
State of the Nation Address. Madam Speaker, that has now been laid before this House.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
But can you not
summarise it rather than reading it all the time because you are moving a motion?
Mr. Fuseini 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am
Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei 12:05 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, on a point of information. Madam Speaker, last week, I believe Madam Speaker agreed that the movers of the motion would be given a time slot of 20 minutes. By my watch I have timed the Hon Member, and he has spoken close to one hour. [Interruptions.] So I am just asking your indulgence to rule as to whether or not what we agreed on the rules have changed. I just need to be guided.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Members, the
rules have not changed but it was because of the interruptions. Hon. Member, I think your time is running out and time is almost up for you. So can you just move your motion, we would take it and you will come in again.
Mr. Fuseini 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, let me
rose
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Member, can
we allow him to wind up?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:05 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, on a point of information. Madam Speaker, I just want to draw your attention to the point earlier on made by my Hon Colleague, the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo (Dr. A. A. Osei) that the mover of the motion started at 10.47 a.m. sharp, after the initial gymnastics he really got off, he hit the ground running at 11.15 a.m.
So I just want to draw your attention to that so that when it comes to other contributors, the same rule may be allowed to reign. That is all that I am saying.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Thank you, but
when it comes to other contributors I would also take into account the interruptions. But Hon Inusah, please, conclude your motion.
Mr. Fuseini 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Member, I
give you five minutes from now, then wind up. Your time is up but I will allow you a time of five minutes.
Mr. Fuseini 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am saying that when the Aveyime Rice Project was conceived, rice import bill to this country stood in the region of 100 million
dollars. It was felt that using an amount of 100 million dollars for the purposes of importing rice into this country was simply unacceptable.
Mr. Frederick Opare-Ansah 12:05 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, on a point of order. Madam Speaker, the mover of the motion has made me confused and I believe I am not there alone. He keeps talking about the Aveyime Rice Project. In the Hansard, column 481 and with your permission, I quote:
“The Aveyime Rice Project will be revived in order to . . .”
When you come to the State of the Nation Address as was laid by the Hon Majority Leader this morning and which was earlier distributed to us, it talks about -- again page 13, paragraph 3, Madam Speaker, with your permission, I quote:
“The Aveyime Rice Project will be restored.”
Mr. Fuseini 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, clearly
maybe my learned friend is confused of the synonyms, but not me, I am not confused; I know exactly what I am saying.
Madam Speaker, what I am saying is that we need to convey to His Excellency the President our sincerest gratitude for delivering a validatory Address to this House. In fact, history and time have conspired to make him the President
of this Republic for the purposes of realising his vision. History and time have provided him a stage for the purposes of transforming our national life for the betterment of us, our children and our children's children.
Indeed, we wish him well in this endeavour and we hope and pray for him that he will achieve his vision that he has eloquently set out in the State of the Nation Address.

Madam Speaker, let me tell my Hon Friends on the other side of the House that indeed the wise men of old have it that to be in Opposition is no disgrace; it is an honour in fact. Indeed, it is an honour that politicians do not actively seek, contribute to the Address and to the development of this country by enriching the debate in this House and thanking the President for his Address. Madam Speaker, I thank you so very much and I so move.
Nana Akomea (NPP - Okaikwei South) 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to second the motion so ably moved by my good Friend, the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central (Mr. I. A. B. Fuseini). Madam Speaker, I can understand his energy in moving the motion. There are a few more deputy Ministerial positions available -- [Laughter.] So one can understand. But Madam Speaker, let me state straight from the onset that I am using the authorized version so that I do not get misunderstood.
But Madam Speaker, I would join my Colleague in commending the President for the general tone of his presentation. It was quite conciliatory, it did not have too much abrasion, and it was not too belligerent and it appealed to our common unity of purpose as a country

and it emphasized the need for us to build consensus.

In this vein, Madam Speaker, President Mills seems to be continuing a trend that has been set by the Presidency since the year 2001. Indeed Madam Speaker, in the period between 1993 and 2000 we seemed to have the Presidency embodying division in this country. It was a period where “we” and “them” attitude was present in our political discourse.

Indeed, the President himself at that time was able to admonish Ghanaians not to patronise Ghanaian businesses and Ghanaian products because the producers of those products were not seen to be on the same side as the President. It was the days of Moka koraa a na meye no more.
Dr. A. A. Osei 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I know that this President has had only his first, but my Colleague referred to his last Address -- [Interruption] - That is what he said. He said the last Address but this President has only one Address, so which last Address is he referring to?
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
I think it stands to reason that it is somebody who has made a statement before and that it is the former President's last Address.
Dr. Osei 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, he said, I
am happy that this President, this current President.
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Oh! This President?
Dr. Osei 12:15 p.m.
I just need to know which
last Address he is referring to.
Nana Akomea 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
this is friendly fire so I would just ignore it. But Madam Speaker, even in the midst of the warmth of the delivery of the President, there are issues that affect our national cohesion that I thought the President, should have highlighted. We are still in the period of transition. This transition is still being characterized like some of the events in 2001. It is still being characterized by political harassment.
This harassment takes the form of political opponents being ejected from their houses, their cars being seized on the streets, their homes being invaded at 4.00 a.m. and so on. These are events that do not inure to our political cohesion and I would have liked that the President in the warmth of his Address would have also highlighted this sentiment to send a clear message to the country that all of us are governed by the rule of law.
Mr. Pelpuo 12:15 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, the Hon Member has just made a sweeping statement and I think that if it is left unchecked it might go to misinform the Ghanaian public. The statement is to the effect that we have people who are seizing other people's cars on the streets of Accra and ejecting people
from their bungalows -- [Interruptions] -- Madam Speaker, we do not have any squad doing this.
We are aware that people are still keeping State cars and the Security of the nation legally are tracking them down and this does not amount to any illegality on the part of the Security. Madam Speaker, he should be duly corrected to mind his language.
Nana Akomea 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
well, it is said that when the shoe is on the other foot you do not see it. I would like my brother to take these things seriously because you do not know what would happen tomorrow.
Madam Speaker, the President signalled his attention to immortalize the memory of President Nkrumah by instituting a national holiday in his memory. It is a good intention, Madam Speaker. I did not see the days of Dr. Nkrumah but I have come to learn of the great deeds of Dr. Nkrumah as a nationalist and as a pan-Africanist.
But I have also come to learn, Madam Speaker, of the bitter memories of many citizens of this country under Dr. Nkrumah. I believe that the time is probably not correct, not right, because this would generate unnecessary divisive debate. I believe that even though it is a good intention and many people would support this, there are also a lot of people who would not support it and at this particular time in his Administration, maybe, this is not the time to let the nation engage in such a debate.
Madam Speaker, the President is the leader of a new government that says that it is changing to move forward in the right direction even though the right direction has not been defined. And indeed, Madam Speaker, the Address itself is titled “Rescue Plan for a Better Ghana”. But Madam Speaker, as I listened to the
President last Thursday and as I read the Address, I kept looking for the bold new innovative measures that would signify strongly the agenda of change and the agenda of rescue.
But Madam Speaker, I found out that even though the Address had many good intentions there were not a lot of new, bold, fresh innovative ideas that were going to take us forward in the way that we had been led to expect. I found out that a lot of the proposals are a rehash of the various proposals, intentions and initiatives that can be found in virtually every State of the Nation Address delivered to this House since 1993, and a few examples, Madam Speaker, would bear me out.
Madam Speaker, the Freedom of Information Bill for example, has been in this country since 1998 and various discussions have gone on about this particular Bill. It is good that the President wants to push it forward but it is certainly not a new innovative thing.

Madam Speaker, since 2002, there has always been a code of conduct in government. The President talked about the exclusive fund set aside for Members of Parliament. It is good; it should be supported by all of us if it materialises. But the concept of exclusive fund for Members of Parliament, Madam Speaker, is not a new concept. Indeed, since 1998 Members of Parliament have had set aside portions of moneys exclusively for their use; the District Assemblies Common Fund, the GETFund, the HIPC Fund - portions of these moneys have been set aside for Members of Parliament. It is just that the quantum is so small; it is not enough. It is certainly a good intention of the President, we will support it. But it is certainly not a new thing.

The President talked about the need to set up a National Constitutional Review Conference to look at aspects of our Constitution that need review. It is good, Madam Speaker. But the need for constitutional review has been talked about at various fora. And indeed, in former President Kufuor's last Address to this House, he dwelt a lot on constitutional amendment

The President also signalled his intention to speak to the nation every month on radio. I support it. But in terms of creating a bridge between the presidency and citizens through the media, we have had examples of former President Kufuor having quarterly press conferences and annual people's assemblies. So, it is good that President Mills wants to continue on the good record of media interaction that has been set by President Kufuor.

On the economy, the President suggests that in reality, the economy is not doing well in terms of the fiscal deficit, the external deficit, the rate of inflation, the national debt, the cedi depreciation and so on. Madam Speaker, the President was Chairman of the Economic Management Team in this country from the period 1997 to 2000. In that period, the economy grew 4.2 per cent in 1997; 4.7 per cent in 1998; 4.4 per cent in 1999 and 3.7 per cent in 2000. It is very clear that during the period when the President was Chairman of the Economic Management Team, the economy in the last two years was in a decline.

Madam Speaker, Madam Speaker, the economy in the last four years from 2005 to 2008 performed at 5.8 per cent growth in 2005; 6.2 per cent in 2006; 6.3 per cent in 2007 and an estimated 6.5 per cent in 2008. [Hear! Hear!] [An Hon Member: What about 2001?]
Nana Akomea 12:25 p.m.
2001? My Brother, do not heckle me.

Nii Amasah Namoale: Madam Speaker, my Hon Member is seriously deceiving all of us over here. He is d e c e i v i n g a n d m i s l e a d i n g a n d misinforming all of us over here. Madam Speaker, the Hon Member is quoting a figure that during the last regime of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) the debt was hundred and something per cent of GDP. Madam Speaker, it is never true. The Hon Member should prove it over here. I contest that figure.

Madam Speaker, so he should withdraw and come back if he thinks he is right. I am challenging that figure that it is never true.
Madam Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Member, you were not able to say the specific amount; you said “and something”. So, maybe he was also relying on “something”, I do not know. But surely you did not give a definite figure for me to ask him to withdraw.
In respect of the other words, you used other words like -
Nii Amasah Namoale: Madam Speaker, thank you very much.
I withdraw the word “deceive” and replace it with “misleading and misin- forming the House, for that matter, the whole of the country.”

Madam Speaker, he was quoting over

hundred per cent -- [Interruptions.] I am saying that it is not true. He should prove it beyond all reasonable doubt.
Madam Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Member, in this House, you do not prove anything that you say, so, let us hear him out. He is not bound to prove anything he says. If he is misleading, that is different. But you were not sure of your figure yourself - And if he is not sure of his figure, then, may we move on.
Nana Akomea 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, as I have said, there are still a few more deputy Ministerial positions - [Laughter.]
But Madam Speaker, figures on our GDP and debt are official records, they are not opinions, he can easily verify.
In the year 2000, our debt was $5.8 billion. Our GDP was $3.7 billion. That is a 181 per cent.
Madam Speaker, inflation had moved from 9 per cent in the year 1998 to 40 per cent in the year 2000. The corresponding period from 2006 to 2008, we had moved from 12.7 per cent to 18.1 as quoted by the President.
The cedi, Madam Speaker, in 1997 exchanged for ¢2,000 to the dollar. By the year 2000, three years down the line, it was exchanging for ¢7,200. When you compare it to the equivalent in the last three years, the cedi exchanged for ¢8,900 in 2005 to ¢11,100 in 2008, a much, much smaller percentage change in the cedi.
If you look at our reserves, Madam Speaker, in the year 2000, when the President was Chairman of the Economic Management Team, the country's reserve position was $235 million, three weeks of import cover. At the end of last year, the country's total quantum of reserves was $1.8 billion - [Hear! Hear!] - So, Madam
  • [NANA AKOMEA [NANA AKOMEA
    • Madam Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    When you say “he” - you said the economy that who handed over?
    Nana Akomea 12:25 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, because in the year 2000, President Mills was the Chairman of the Economic Management Team. So, he was directly in charge of the economy. So, the economy that he handed over.
    Madam Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    I was not sure we all knew the “he” you were referring to. But if you say it is President Mills, then -
    Nana Akomea 12:25 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, the President has indicated in his presen- tation that he is going to achieve macro- stability through cost cutting among other measures. Madam Speaker, it is a good intention. All of us, would agree that there is always room to cut cost in public administration and we will indeed support the President, but -
    Mr. David T. Assumeng 12:35 p.m.
    On a point
    of order. Madam Speaker, I want to draw the attention of the Hon Member that we all have our pigeon holes. So I think it would be better for him to get what he is reading typed and then place them in our pigeon holes so we could read instead of what he is reading over there. So if he could place them in our pigeon holes, it would be very helpful.
    Madam Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    I think he is under
    the impression that the Hon Member was reading copiously. If it is not so can we hear from you? I have not noticed it, but you know the Standing Orders do not permit reading.
    So Hon Member, were you reading, or referring like we have had before?
    Nana Akomea 12:35 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, you
    face me directly as I speak and if you do not see me reading, then I would just go ahead. Madam Speaker, I have said that the President is keen on continuing the macro stability through cost cuts and I have said that it is laudable and all of us would support it. There is always room to cut public expenditure. But Madam Speaker, as we speak, there are now sixty- one Ministerial positions announced, not counting the Chief of Staff and his -
    Mr. J. B. Aidoo 12:35 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, on a
    point of order. The Hon Member indicated that the international reserve, that is, the foreign reserves of the country for the year 2008 was 1.8 billion. [Interruptions.] He mentioned $1.8 billion. Madam Speaker, the correct figure at the end of December, 2008 is $2.036 billion. This is coming from the Bank of Ghana.
    Madam Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    It is a point of
    correction and he is quoting from -
    Nana Akomea 12:35 p.m.
    Madam Speaker,
    this is positive correction and I accept it. Madam Speaker, I have said that we are happy the President wants to cut public expenditure and we should support it. But Madam Speaker, as we speak the number of Ministers have already crossed the 60 mark, not counting the Chief of Staff and his deputies and it looks to me that there are still more Ministerial positions to come.
    Madam Speaker, even so early in the day, we have started hearing stories about new Ministers of State not wanting to use the four-wheel drives that have been left in good shape by their predecessors and ordering new four-wheel drives. Madam Speaker, if this trend continues
    the President may not be able to live up to his aim to cut public expenditure like he has said.
    Mr. John Tia Akologu 12:35 p.m.
    Madam
    Speaker, I do not want to refer you to what the Minority Leader said the other day. So I would leave it there. But Madam Speaker, the Hon Member has made a categorical statement that Hon Ministers who have so far been approved and appointed by the President have refused to use - [Interruptions.] Whether some or whatever. And that the area I want is that “they are ordering new cars”.
    Madam Speaker, there is no basis for that statement; it is not true. He must produce the evidence that the Govern- ment has placed orders for new cars for Ministers; otherwise he should withdraw that statement. [Interruptions.] It is not true! He should produce it. Where is the order, which company?
    Mr. Joe Gidisu 12:35 p.m.
    Madam Speaker
    -- [Interruptions]. No, I just want to - [Interruptions.] The Speaker called me. I am called by the Speaker - [Inter- ruptions.]
    Madam Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    I think a point of
    order has been raised. Hon Tia, was it a point of correction or something? Because I was looking at Standing Order 91.
    Mr. Akologu 12:35 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, by
    convention in the House if you make any statement that is not supported by evidence, you are not allowed to let it stay. That is what I am referring to, that the statement that he has made that hon. Ministers have rejected old cars and that the Government has placed orders for new cars to come, is not true. And I am saying that unless he produces evidence he must

    withdraw that portion.
    Madam Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    He is saying that
    you said categorically that Ministers have refused the old cars and that new ones are being ordered, that it is not a fact. He says if you cannot prove it, then withdraw it.
    Nana Akomea 12:35 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, the
    Madam Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Member, I think the same thing happened when somebody said he had heard people say something and could not prove it. So I think unless you can really support it.
    Nana Akomea 12:35 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I
    did not make a categorical statement that the Government has ordered new cars. [Interruptions]. Madam Speaker, all I said was that these are stories that we have heard. They may be true, they may not be true. But it is just a little warning that we should watch these things if we are going to be able to cut cost. Madam Speaker, [Interruptions.] Oh! John Tia?
    Mr. Akologu 12:35 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, he just
    stated that we are very good friends. That is why I kept on looking at him when he started. He has made so many inaccurate statements, and I was just looking at him. But this one is so grievous that I do not think that it should be allowed to pass and I insist that he made that categorical statement without evidence and he must withdraw it, unless he has the evidence to show that the Government has placed orders for new - [Interruptions.] He did! Why? Are you the only one who has good ears in this House? [Interruptions.]
    Madam Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    He says friendship
    apart, this particular one, since you cannot prove that the Government has ordered cars you must withdraw it. If you have not got evidence, hon. Member, then I think you have to withdraw it.
    Nana Akomea 12:45 p.m.
    Madam Speaker,
    hon. John Tia did not hear correct. He is putting words in my mouth. Madam Speaker, let me repeat to you what I said and if you think that I should withdraw I will withdraw. But what I said is not what hon. John Tia is saying. I never said Government has ordered cars for Ministers. I never said so, I never said Government.
    I said that we have heard that some of the new Ministers have rejected the four wheel drives and they are thinking of ordering new cars. Madam Speaker, it is an advice I am giving to them. If they will not take it, I withdraw.
    Madam Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    He says it is an
    advice and he withdraws that. Hon Tia, he says he has withdrawn his advice and so he has withdrawn.
    Nana Akomea 12:45 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, as I
    have said, it is an advice I have given to them, if they do not take it, I withdraw. But Madam Speaker, as for four wheel drives you cannot hide it in your bedroom. So when they start using the new four wheel drives all of us will see.
    Madam Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    Hon Tia, I think the matter should be laid to rest here. He says he has withdrawn it.
    Mr. Akologu 12:45 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, we
    must be very serious in this House. I think that when earlier on some hon. Colleagues on the other side of the

    House intervened, he said it was good advice so he would accept it. And I think we are also discerning, I am discerning enough to take good advice. What I am complaining about is not an advice. It is an allegation and I say that allegation is baseless, there is no evidence. Without that evidence he should withdraw. So he is not withdrawing an advice that I have refused, no, he is withdrawing an allegation. He should say that “I withdraw that part of my statement”.
    Madam Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    Hon Tia, he is
    saying it is an advice, you are saying it is an allegation. So I think it is the hon. Member who will tell us what he meant and he says it is an advice which he withdraws. So the fact is, it has been withdrawn. Whether it is an advice or allegation, it has been withdrawn. Can you put that sentence in another way to satisfy us?
    Nana Akomea 12:45 p.m.
    Madam Speaker,
    thank you very much. Madam Speaker, I have said to you that I never said categorically that the Government has ordered new cars for Ministers. If I had said so, then Hon John Tia is right. John Tia did not hear correctly. I never said so.
    Madam Speaker, all I am saying is that
    the President wants to cut cost. These are the little things that swell up cost -- Ministers wanting their own brand new cars and so on. The President should watch it. That is my little advice to him.
    Madam Speaker, the President touched on the private sector and he said that he was going to drive the agenda of the private sector from the heart of Government, at the Presidency itself. I support it that the President will lend his weight to the development of the private sector. But
    this is something that ex-President Kufuor started. In fact, ex-President Kufuor called it the President's Special Initiatives (PSIs) and I am happy that President Mills wants to continue the concept of the President's Special Initiatives (PSIs).
    Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:45 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I
    think the Hon Colleague who is talking on the Aveyime Rice Project would have to come again. That is my constituency. Luckily the former Minister for Agriculture is here. Until they left office, we were demanding the Memorandum of Under- standing (MOU) they signed with the investors to date.
    Madam Speaker, the Aveyime Project is not in the light that the hon. Colleague is painting it to be. The project after 8 years is still tottering. The project is still tottering in terms of the fact that the machinery had been run down over the years and for that reason he cannot say that the project is at its level that it was in 2001 when the immediate past Government took over. So they cannot be referring to the project now, as if it is a new project they are running. The project is still tottering.
    Madam Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    Let me rule on this
    point of order. He raised a point of order.
    rose
    Nana Akomea 12:45 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, he mentioned the former Minister for Agriculture. I have deferred to him because he wants to speak.
    Mr. E. A. Debrah 12:45 p.m.
    Madam Speaker,
    I think the position is very simple. The Hon Member of Parliament is saying that anybody who doubts that the Aveyime Rice Project is running, we should organize a trip for us to go there and have a look at it. So let us go there and have a look at it. I will end there.
    Nana Akomea 12:55 p.m.
    Madam Speaker,
    the President talked a little bit about employment and he pledged to deepen the National Youth Employment Policy. I commend the President for that, that he wants to deepen the already existing programme of National Youth Employ- ment.
    He also said that he would ensure
    that the Affordable Housing Scheme is deepened and equitably distributed. I commend him that he is going to take this very important project bequeathed to him by the former Government and run with it.
    On health, the President outlined a

    But Madam Speaker, he mentioned that on the National Health Insurance, he would try and make the premium one time. I believe that this one is a new bold initiative that if he is able to carry it

    through will be a marked difference to the current situation. And if the proposals come, I am sure all of us in this House will be able to support it, if the President is able to introduce and sustain a one-time premium payment for the National Health Insurance Scheme.

    The President said on education that

    he would continue with the National Apprenticeship Programme and also the Junior or High Secondary School (J/ HSS) Model School Programme which are already ongoing and I commend him that he is going to sustain and move these programmes ahead.

    But on energy, the President said that our installed capacity which is 1,800 megawatts, he is going to increase to 5,000 megawatts, that is a bold initiative because we know that energy adequacy has always been a problem in this country. He did not give us the time frame. To move the installed capacity from 1,800 to 5,000 -- [Interruptions.] Well, I am being told that the time frame for moving the capacity from the 1,800 to 5,000 is four years. [Interruptions.] Well, I commend the President and if the measures come, all of us in this House will support it.

    On the gender budgeting, there is

    already a gender budgeting programme approved by Cabinet in 2008 and I am happy that the President will continue with the gender budgeting format already approved last year.
    Mr. E. T. Mensah 12:55 p.m.
    On a point of
    order. Madam Speaker, I want to inform Mr. Akomea that the first National Youth Policy was launched under my watch in 1999, so currently there is a National Youth Policy. If he is bringing a new one and it has not reached here he should say it. Currently, there is a National Youth Policy launched in1999.
    Madam Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Akomea, have
    you finished seconding the motion?
    Nana Akomea 12:55 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, in
    conclusion I would like to suggest a few critical areas that also demand urgent attention from the Presidency. Corruption is a big issue. We need to separate the fight against corruption from the control of the Executive.
    Dr. A. A. Osei 12:55 p.m.
    On a point of order,
    Madam Speaker. I was trying to catch your eye when Hon E. T. Mensah - I refer to Order 86 (3). He referred to my good Friend as Mr. Nana Akomea. Madam Speaker, Order 86 (3), he is an honourable Gentleman and he is referring to him as Mr. Nana Akomea and so he should refer to him properly rather than using a strange name that nobody knows.
    Madam Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Member, we
    must keep the conventions of this House.
    Mr. E. T. Mensah 12:55 p.m.
    Thank you Madam
    Speaker, but he referred to Hon John Tia as “John” “John”, but I am sorry.
    Nana Akomea 12:55 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, the
    Hon E. T. --
    Madam Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    I think at this stage
    I must commend Hon Osei for drawing attention to the particular Order because [Uproar] - it means he is very conversant with the Orders -- and we will have business done quicker.
    Nana Akomea 12:55 p.m.
    Thank you Madam
    Speaker.

    In concluding, I would like to draw the attention of the President to very critical issue that I believe need urgent attention at the Presidency itself. The separation of the Attorney-General from the Ministry of Justice is something that will empower us in our fight against corruption. Making the Serious Fraud Office an independent office will strengthen our ability to tackle corruption. These are issues the President should look at seriously.

    The Judiciary -- the judicial process is time consuming and cumbersome. Ordinary people cannot access justice. The President should put his mind to making the judicial process less cumbersome, less expensive so ordinary people can access justice.

    Madam Speaker, when citizens come under attack from murderers, from burglers, they do not ask the political party of the victims so we should treat these things seriously, not in partisan lines. Our cities are too congested and too filthy, we have to look at it seriously and I would like the President to take direct personal interest in this matter.

    My last point is on employment. Madam Speaker, I am happy to tell you on this score that under my hand Cabinet has approved a National Employment Policy and Action Plan and I would like the President to take steps to follow this Cabinet approved policy to Parliament for Parliament to buy in so it becomes a national document that can be implemented. There are a lot of very good measures that will generate employment for our young people in that document and I would like the President to ensure that that document is implemented.

    With these few and nice comments, I second the motion.

    Question proposed.
    Madam Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon. Members, I think this time we will have to adhere to the guideline provided by the Leaders, that is 5 minutes for ordinary Members or Back benchers, ten for the leaders of the House.
    Mr. Frederick Fritz Baffour (NDC - Ablekuma South) 12:55 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I wish to contribute to this debate. I would like to commend the President for his words of reconciliation and in saying that he will build on the work of his predecessors. He said, and Madam Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote:
    “As a nation, we must learn to
    Mr. Frederick Fritz Baffour (NDC - Ablekuma South) 1:05 p.m.
    add to what is working, and to change course only when it is in the national interest so to do. We will depart from the present practice of undoing the valuable contributions of our predecessors. A house that is constantly rebuilding its foundation remains doomed to be stuck at the foundation level, never nearing completion and decoration, let alone occupation.”

    It is appropriate that today is the 43rd Anniversary of the overthrow of Kwame Nkrumah which led to the precedent that has been followed through by various governments not to build on the work of their predecessors. Kwame Nkrumah was a great leader. He was the founder of this country - [Hear! Hear!] - Whatever his foibles or whatever little faults that he had he will remain the main icon of Ghana's Independence, and I want to say that.

    So I am commending the President for instituting the Founders Day, and I hope that the time when the legislation is brought before Parliament, we will all support that move and make sure that the Founders' Day becomes an important date in the calendar of the Ghanaian people.

    I would like to also commend the President for acknowledging the role of art and culture in the development of this country when he said and I quote:

    “We will ensure that choral and theatre festivals become an integral part of the school curricula.

    We will encourage the School of Performing Arts and the National Commission on Culture to encourage the use of theatre for
    Mr. Isaac Osei (NPP - Subin) 1:05 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I rise to support the motion which seeks to thank His Excellency the President for acceding to the requirements of article 67 of our Constitution and delivering so successfully his Message on the State of the Nation.
    Madam Speaker, I wish also to say that the acknowledgement by the President of the works of his two immediate predecessors is commendable, and I believe that that show of statesmanship, if allowed to permeate all his activities would augur well for our country in the ensuing four years.

    Madam Speaker, let me further state that the President relied heavily on the projects and programmes of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration

    which he has just replaced -- [Hear! Hear!] In fact, I noticed that from the State of the Nation Address -- the printed version -- he talks about justifiable continuity. Continuity in itself -
    Alhaji Sorogho 1:05 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I am on a point of order. The point of order is that [Some Hon Members: Which order?] Well, they can talk. They can say this to the new Members of Parliament, not some of us.
    Madam Speaker, the Hon Member got up and made a categorical statement that the President relied heavily on the NPP's projects. Madam Speaker, can my Hon Colleague opposite specifically tell us what type of projects that he is talking about that the President relied heavily on? If he cannot he should withdraw immediately and begin to learn very fast, that in this House you just do not get up and make any statement. Madam Speaker, it must be supported by facts.
    Mr. Isaac Osei 1:05 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, in my view, the Hon Member who just spoke is completely out of order. But I shall proceed - [Interruption.]
    Madam Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Shall I rule on
    this? I thought you were making a point of order, and that you were correcting something. But this is not a correction. [Hear! Hear!] -- He is saying what he thinks of the Address, and he is permitted to make his comments. So when I come to you, you can also make your comments, what you think - so I do not think it is a proper point of order. Hon. Osei, can you continue?
    Mr. Isaac Osei 1:05 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, the Hon Member's reference to new hon. Members as if we were not full hon. Members of this House is something that

    I object to.

    However, for his education permit me to go to the Hansard of 19th February, 2009, column 482 in which you were addressed, Madam Speaker, by His Excellency the President who said:

    “. . .in addition, we will continue to provide subsidies and credits to the small-scale farmers and also continue with the fertilizer subsidy programme”.
    Madam Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Well, Hon Member,
    I have already ruled on this matter that you were not out of order.
    Mr. Isaac Osei 1:05 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, yes.
    I am only buttressing my point.
    Madam Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    You are just saying that I was right, was it not? Carry on then.
    Mr. Isaac Osei 1:05 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President -- [Inter- ruption.]
    Madam Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Hon Member, since
    they have given five minutes to the Back- benchers let us be within that time.
    Mr. Osei 1:05 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I under- stand that some of us who are not ordinary hon. Members can speak for 10 minutes.
    Madam Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Carry on, please.
    Mr. Isaac Osei 1:05 p.m.
    Madam Speaker,
    having said that, permit me to say that the President did recognize the important place of agriculture not only as a major contributor to Gross Domestic Product
    rose
    Madam Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Anybody who wants to make a point of order should refer me to the order. Can I hear you, under what order are you coming?
    Mr. Klutse Avedzi 1:15 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, the Hon Member has just misled the House. The rice that was distributed to hon. Members was not from Aveyime but rather from Afife; Afife is in my constituency, therefore he should not mislead the House. That rice was from Afife and not from Aveyime - {Uproar.]
    rose
    Mr. Isaac Osei 1:15 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I yield to Hon Debrah.
    Mr. E. A. Debrah 1:15 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, the rice that was distributed to Hon Members of Parliament was milled at Aveyime. [Uproar.]
    Mr. Isaac Osei 1:15 p.m.
    Thank you, Madam Speaker. With your permission I will
    Mr. Avedzi 1:15 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I think
    the Hon Member has also misled the House again. He said the rice was milled at Aveyime but he failed to tell us where that rice was grown. I am telling you that the rice was grown at Afife therefore the rice is from Afife and not from Aveyime.
    Mr. Isaac Osei 1:15 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, with due respect, can I continue?
    Madam Speaker 1:15 p.m.
    Yes.
    Mr. Isaac Osei 1:15 p.m.
    Thank you, Madam
    Speaker. Madam Speaker, in Fisheries, everyone in this country knows that that industry provides a very important protein component in our diet and that fisheries also provides employment not just for our fishermen but also for the fishmongers and traders who are not only located along the coastal towns, but also within the hinterland and provides opportunities for transporters who move produce from the South up to the North.
    Madam Speaker, in his Address, the President did own up to the fact that he comes from a fishing village. This is fine but he said “I have interest in it”. This interest has been exemplified with the scrapping of the Ministry of Fisheries, and today Fisheries will just become an appendage to another Ministry at the Cabinet Table.
    Madam Speaker, permit me to say that if you want to make projections then you have to base your projections on facts. In the cocoa sector, the President said he would increase yield from 1,250 kg per hectare to 1,750 kg. Madam Speaker, we are not in Utopia, because the President's base year figure is wrong. Everybody in this country knows that yields of cocoa have been increased from 450 kg per hectare to 600 kg per hectare. And indeed, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Manifesto, page 53 acknowledges that
    they are moving towards 700 kg per hectare.
    Mr. Sampson Ahi 1:15 p.m.
    On a point of order. Madam Speaker, the Hon Member who just spoke is misleading the House. The President, Prof. John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills said that his Administration, through the introduction of effective cultural practices will increase the average acreage to 1,750 kg. By this it means that he wants to introduce effective agricultural practices and by that the hon. Member cannot tell me that if he introduces effective agricultural practices he cannot attain the 1,750 kg that he has mentioned? He is rather misleading the House and he should study the facts and then educate the public accordingly.
    Mr. Isaac Osei 1:15 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, it is obvious to me that my hon. Colleague on the other side has not even read the Hansard because here in the Hansard he sates quite clearly - column 482 of 19th February, 2009, the President is saying that he will increase the yield from 1,250 kg. Madam Speaker, as we speak, permit me to say that in la Cote d'Ivoire which is doing better than us, they are able to yield 800 kg per hectare.
    In Malaysia and in Indonesia it is 1,000 and at Cocoa Research Institutes all over the world they have been able to attain 1,200 kg per hectare under research conditions. So my Hon good Friend indeed, does not know what he is talking about; may I say - [Uproar.] Madam Speaker, permit me -[interruption] --
    Mr. Ahi 1:15 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, it is important for us to know that the fact that in la Cote d'Ivoire or Malaysia they

    are not able to increase from 1,250 kg. to 1,750 kg. does not mean that in Ghana here we cannot do it. The President is saying that because we are going to introduce effective agricultural practices we are going to double, not even to triple it. So the fact that in Malaysia or in la Cote d'Ivoire they are not able to increase it to that level does not mean that in Ghana here, with good policies and with effective agricultural practices we cannot do it. He is rather misleading the whole Ghana.
    Mr. Isaac Osei 1:25 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I choose not to respond to the words of the Hon Member who has just spoken because the base figure here is completely lost on him.
    Having said that Madam Speaker, I wish now to speak on private sector development. The private sector is an area where I have worked for many years and I say that the private sector thrives on regularity, on certainty and on stability. Rapid changes in the economic and political environment does no good to the private sector. But I must commend His Excellency the President because what he is saying is that he wants us to develop a synergic platform for collaboration between the private sector and government. I think this is good.
    However, what do we see today? And I wish to quote from something which the hon. Sumani Abukari said on 21st February, 2008. He said the state of the nation is the state of the nation; what is the current situation? What are the current happenings in the State? You cannot skip these very important issues and say that you are giving a true state of the nation Address. What is the true state of this nation?
    Today we are witnessing post election violence, we are witnessing official car snatching - [Uproar.] These do not augur well for business because it gives the impression to the business community that their private property cannot be protected

    Madam Speaker, finally let me thank you for the opportunity to say a few words. And in ending, let me say that private business looks to a reduction in the cost of doing business. That is the bottom line for private business but it is disappointing that in spite of the challenges faced by the manufacturing sector the President failed to mention the manufacturing sector in his Address.

    I hope when he meets the private sector he will have some time to talk about that.

    Finally let me thank His Excellency the President for giving us his maiden State of the Nation Address even if it failed to meet our expectations. Thank you.
    Mr. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo (NDC - Wa Central) 1:25 p.m.
    Thank you Madam Speaker for the opportunity to comment on the President's State of the Nation Address and to thank him for such a wonderful Address presented to the people of Ghana, giving us the road map and defining all the dimensions we are going to go through to ensure that we strengthen our democracy and widen the scope of freedom in this country, and ensure that we have a viable strong economy to strive on.
    Madam Speaker, let me start by saying that the President's approach to governance is something to be happy about, it is something to cherish and to say thank you for the foresight that is unequal in recent times.
    Madam Speaker his approach of addressing transparency in this country, the three dimensional approach, is commendable.
    Madam Speaker, let me just mention the three of them. He has talked about expediting the passage of the National Broadcasting Law, he has also talked

    about elaborating the Code of Conduct in Governance in which Government will be more transparent, more open and will allow personnel in government to be more accountable to the people. And again the last one, he also talked about expediting the passage of the Freedom to Infor-mation Act.

    M a d a m S p e a k e r, t h e s e t h r e e dimensional approaches, if carried out -- and I hope and pray that we are going to give him all the necessary support to carry them out, are going to change the face of our governance because in this country what we are looking for is to ensure that we push forward the frontiers of governance, to make governance more approachable, to make governance more acceptable to the people because we represent the people.

    Madam Speaker, importantly he has talked about restructuring and re- organizing our local government structure and organization. And it is the reason he has talked about proposing an amendment to Act 2003 of the Local Government Service Act, and it is so important and dear to us . It is so important and dear to us in the sense that Madam Speaker, local governance serves as the bedrock of policy administration in this country.

    That is the melting point of all policy administration and policy direction. Madam Speaker, I am talking about Local Government Act 2003 - [Pause.] So it is important because it will help us to straighten up and enhance local government administration in this country and will enable us to ensure that in projecting our policy and in carrying out that policy, it will melt down at the local level. That is where all policies manifest themselves and it is important that the President is supported to do what he wants to do. Madam Speaker, this is serving as my introductory remark - [Interruption.]
    Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:25 p.m.
    Madam
    Speaker, thank you for a rather late recognition. The Hon Member on his feet, hon. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, ordinarily is a very good Member of Parliament, I recognize him for his diligence. Just this morning, I think if I heard rightly, he has been mentioned as a Minister of State- designate and I believe that is in order. He is a very diligent Member.
    But in his contribution he is talking about a certain Act 2003. Madam Speaker, the Acts of this country have not even reached 700 and he is talking about Act 2003. It has just gone past 700; we have not even reached 800 and he is talking about Act 2003. There is no such Act. So let him get his information right. Soon he will be appearing before the Appointments Committee and so he should set his house in order.
    Madam Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    Hon Member, was it the year that you mixed up with the Act?
    Mr. Pelpuo 1:25 p.m.
    Thank you Madam
    Speaker, I think I mixed up the year and then the Act number. The Act number is Act 462. I do acknowledge the correction. This is a very diligent Member of Parliament as well and Madam Speaker, he is a wonderful guy - [Hear! Hear!] - Madam Speaker, that correction is taken in good faith and I would want to continue. He is a very important hon. Member and I know that I will appear before him -- I hope he will not -- [Laughter.]
    Madam Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    I agree he is a wonderful guy - [Laughter.] Can you continue?
    Mr. Pelpuo 1:25 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I was making a point that if we support the President to be able to get this Act through, that is the new Local Government Administration Act which he is proposing, if we are able to get it amended to reflect
    Mr. Pelpuo 1:25 p.m.
    But Madam Speaker, I am more interested in the foreign policy pursuit proposed by the President. We have a traditional approach to foreign policy in this country which, either knowingly or unknowingly has consistently been ignored by past leaders. Madam Speaker, the President is proposing that we in Ghana are going to be more Pan-Africanist in our approach, we in Ghana are going to support the African Union (AU) and we in Ghana are going to ensure that we push forward the idea of African unity.
    Madam Speaker, this is a very important statement and we need to commend the President for bringing back Ghana onto the road to achieving African unity and again providing the leadership Africa has been looking for all these years. Madam Speaker, it is important that Ghana takes the lead in securing African unity in Africa. The fact that the idea germinated with the thinking and foresight of our first President means that we need to show outwardly and vigorously our desire to support the President to achieve the objective.
    It will not eventually obliterate the name of Ghana in the map. What it will do is to keep our unity as people, to keep our identity as Ghanaians but to subsume our sovereignty in a bigger sovereignty of Africa which will be called an African Union. Madam Speaker, I think that with the President's decision to take this up as President of Ghana, we need to commend him for that.
    Madam Speaker, he also talked about ECOWAS. Madam Speaker, for any country to launch itself into the wider

    scope of international politics, it is important to first of all think about your locality, your neighbours and the economic idea of what collectively you are thinking about. What the President has said is that he will strengthen his hold on ECOWAS. He will bring Ghana to accept ECOWAS as an identifiable regional group that is trying to find an economic development approach to our policy direction.

    q Therefore, Madam Speaker, I think that these are areas we should be talking about and we should help the President to shape policy and ensure that that policy manifests itself in a more viable manner that will enable Ghana to benefit from its economic diplomacy.

    Madam Speaker, what indeed touched my heart most was the President's innovative approach to equilibrium development in this country. He has talked about roping in the North and ensuring that the North is paid particular attention to. This over the years has been a thing that we have fought for. It is now coming to reality. I do acknowledge the fact that the past Administration talked about something like that. They talked about the Northern Development Fund.

    Today the President has proposed the Savannah Development Authority - [Interruption] - Madam Speaker, today the President is talking about the Savannah Development Authority, we are not talking about a fund; he is talking about an established organization - [Interruption.]
    Mr. Opare-Ansah 1:35 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I believe my Hon Colleague is grossly misleading the House and the entire nation. Indeed, the past New Patriotic Party Administration did not just talk
    about something for the North. This honourable House did pass a Bill into an Act of Parliament called the Northern Development Fund for - [Interruption] - I am sure but for the strange occurrences of 7th and 28th December, 2008 by now the Fund would have been full to the brim and we would actually be in the process of ensuring that the Northern people of this country benefit from this particular Fund. So he should correct his facts and properly inform this House and the nation; thank you.
    Mr. Pelpuo 1:35 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I just made reference to an attempt by the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration trying to establish a Northern Development Fund. It travelled as far as a Bill was brought to Parliament and was passed.
    Madam Speaker, it is all a talk about it if we did not see a manifestation of a policy direction that had been proposed. Policy is only meaningful when it is manifest in the lives of people. And I am saying that the President's idea of transcending policy, ensuring that an authority exists to address the issues of the North is commendable. That is what I want to say.
    Madam Speaker, I am saying that in the colonial past, there had been a deliberate attempt to sideline the whole people the rest of the North, to ignore them and to pretend that they did not exist in reality. And as far as it is beginning to be a reality in the minds of people, as far as it is becoming a policy that is going to be implemented, it is important that all Ghanaians accept this thing in good faith and support it, because development in disequilibrium is no development.
    Development that will not ensure that every member of the nation has the potential to manifest his own potential, to manifest his own idea about what development means for him or her is no development. And we are saying that the idea to present our own economic development that will touch the lives of people would be reflecting the constitutional requirement that this nation must ensure that every region, every people must have development reaching their doorsteps and that is what I am talking about, Madam Speaker.
    So while I commend the former Government for taking the initiative I want to say that we need to go further by supporting them. And I am happy to say that we are having a meeting of minds here, even though we are of different political persuasions; they have thought of it, they have brought it up, it has become a policy, it moved from the policy stage and became a law. And I am saying that it takes a President to take it up and say I am taking it up in a different form, I accept what you have said and I am moving it forward. And I say that, on behalf of my people, from the Upper West Region, the whole of the North, we want to commend the President for this idea.
    We want to say that we appreciate him, and I want to call on the Opposition who started it in another form to come on board and continue to support the President to meet this idea of providing equilibrium development to occur throughout the country.
    Mrs. Gifty Kusi 1:35 p.m.
    On a point of order. Madam Speaker, my hon. Colleague is misleading this House. Madam Speaker, for him to say that “an attempt was made” - “attempt was made”. Madam Speaker, the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
    Madam Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    Shall I rule on this?
    Mr. Pelpuo 1:35 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I am no longer permitted to say they have attempted. They have not established a Savannah Development Authority, the NDC Government is establishing a Savannah Development Authority. I am not making reference to what they have done earlier. I am saying that I am appreciating what the President has done by establishing a Savannah Development Authority. If I am not permitted to make reference to their own initiative, so be it, Madam Speaker.

    Mr. Opare-Ansah - rose
    Madam Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    Let me hear him. What order are you referring to?
    Mr. Opare-Ansah 1:35 p.m.
    Precisely Order 97, Madam Speaker. Order 97 says, and with your permission I quote:
    “When Mr. Speaker rises to address the House any Member then standing shall immediately resume his seat, and Mr. Speaker shall be
    Madam Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    Hon Member, the “rises”, does it mean I have to stand up before the Order 97 becomes operative?
    Mr. Opare-Ansah 1:35 p.m.
    No, I believe you -
    Madam Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    You can sit down.
    Mr. Opare-Ansah 1:35 p.m.
    Yes.
    Madam Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    So, that is “rises.”
    Mr. Opare-Ansah 1:35 p.m.
    To rise to the occasion to --
    Madam Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    You see the words
    that were used, “rise” when you are rather sitting. And he is saying an attempt was made up to the point of passing a Bill. So it was not finished like he said, and I do not think he was out of order; it was a process - [Interruption] - Even in the Orders, words could be used to import different meanings. So carry on, Hon Member.
    Mr. Pelpuo 1:35 p.m.
    Thank you very much Madam Speaker, I am sure my Hon Colleague just wants to heckle me.
    Madam Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    No, I think he
    Mr. Pelpuo 1:45 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I was saying that we have come a long way. I am starting from 1983 when we registered minus 5 per cent growth from 1979 when

    we registered minus 14 per cent growth -And so Madam Speaker, it is important that we appreciate where we are now and I just want to point out that the feeling that the President has inherited an economy better than what the NPP administration met, is a plus to development in this country - it is a plus to our collective will to move this country forward in the right direction.

    So it is not a minus that we inherit a state of a nation and come up with a State of the Nation Address which does not resemble what we inherited. So I want to say that we appreciate everybody's contribution and let us appreciate the fact that this President is going to move this nation in the right direction.

    But there was a talk - Madam Speaker, this will be my last - about whether there had been any innovation at all in the presentation of the State of the Nation Address. There have been a lot of innovations.

    First of all let me say that H. E. the President acknowledged the presence of two former Presidents. I am opening up a debate here; where they sat was at the public gallery. There have been concerns that they should have been brought into the Chamber. I think that where they sat was most appropriate and here are my reasons. Even though they are not ordinary people they are visitors to the House and that is the place for visitors. It is important that we acknowledge that and accept where they sat.

    Madam Speaker, the innovative things that were going to happen - First, the Savannah Development fund; second, the propping up of the legislature itself, ensuring that the legislature is supported

    so that it does not resemble what it used to be where Members of Parliament (MPs) used their car boots as their offices, and go to District Chief Executives (DCEs) and beg for money which belonged to them. There is an innovation where the President has proposed that we can now have our own secretaries, and offices which will be rented for us and a fund to be administered by us. It is an innovation.

    Madam Speaker, it is also an innovation for H. E. the President to say that in constructing a 100-bed capacity hospital, there will be a malaria research centre attached to it. This is an innovation which we can follow up on and develop so that we can tackle the major health problems that we face, especially malaria.

    Madam Speaker, to this extent let me thank H. E. the President very much for a wonderful presentation of the State of a Nation Address and also that you, Madam Speaker for the opportunity.
    rose
    Madam Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    Hon Catherine Afeko -- I have a list from both sides of the House. [Pause.] Oh, Hon Akoto Osei, was it you? I was coming to you after hearing the lady so if you would permit me --
    Dr. A. A.Osei 1:45 p.m.
    All right.
    Ms. Catherine A. Afeku (NPP - Evalue Gwira) 1:45 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I thank you for making gender balance a reality. Madam Speaker, I would like to associate myself with the motion on the floor in commending H. E. the President for his maiden State of the Nation Address. Madam Speaker, I made some points on infrastructure and I must say there were a few omissions that I would like to point
    Mr. Fuseini 1:45 p.m.
    On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I think that the Hon Member speaking is grossly misleading this House. We have heard her say that H. E. the President did not mention the Bui Dam, but I do not know of the existence of a hydro-electric dam at Bui. Madam Speaker, to say that H. E. the President ought to have mentioned the hydo-
    Ms. Afeku 1:45 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I think my hon. Colleague was not paying attention. The hydro-electric project that I was referring to is in process. I did not say that it has been established. As a matter of fact, it is on the drawing board and it has been ongoing and we have visited - [Interruptions.] It was on the drawing board in 1921, and as we speak, the Bui project is ongoing. So I think my hon. Friend was clean with semantics. I will go on.
    Again, my point is on the petroleum product. Madam Speaker, everyone who listened to H. E. the President was anticipating a hint on the reduction or otherwise of prices of petroleum product. There was no mention of it and I keep hearing ‘Budget'. The President knows that there would be a Budget but he did mention several things that one would allude to when it comes to what would come in the Budget.
    But at least, a hint of either a reduction or something on petroleum products was not given to the satisfaction of the people of this House or the nation. Madam Speaker, I do know that as we speak, a barrel of petroleum product is $35 and we are wondering when the reduction would come in.
    But then again, the National Petroleum Authority that has been so restructured and made vibrant by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration probably - probably - will be given the autonomy to make that statement in due course.
    Madam Speaker, another area and permit me - As much as we all witnessed, H. E. the President took a glass of water, there was no mention of water in his entire Address [Interruptions.] And water is life.
    Ms. Afeku 1:55 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I will not be distracted by my Hon Colleague over there. What I would like to say and I really do commend the President for continuing laudable projects that the administration has initiated. But there was one omission. Madam Speaker, we were all in this country when the Budget Statement was read last year and an initiative so laudable, that every district will be given 15 kilometre road but as I speak, the President, in his effort to streamline the Ministry, has delineated the roads sector into roads and highways and transport. But there was nothing mentioned at all on the modalities of how infrastructural growth through the road sector will be highlighted and I must say I was a bit taken aback.

    But then again, as I keep saying, unprecedented in this nation, the number of kilometres added by the previous administration is worth noting. I can even mention off the cuff the Pantang-Mamfie, the famous Aburi Road, the Dodowa road, the Winneba, the Bole/Bamboi that he said he would continue, even Hamile and the Axim Junction to Tarkwa Roads; these are many, many more roads that we have already taken care of; maybe, that is why there was no mention of it in the Address.

    But I must commend His Excellency for coming up with the statement that he is from the coastal area. I too coming from the coastal area do support that we
    Madam Speaker 1:55 p.m.
    Hon. Member,
    I think your five minutes is up; it is 2 o'clock. Please wind up, your time is up.
    Ms. Afeku 1:55 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I appreciate that. I would really like to wind up with one great omission that really as a mother affected my sensibilities. I listened to the President; I did really enjoyed his interaction with us but nothing was mentioned about the death traps, the recent spate of accidents on our roads. There was no sign of condolence, there was no mention that he actually is committed to resourcing the road traffic institution, the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) and I must say that I would like to see this coming through with the portfolio being given to the hon. Minister for Transport.
    In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I must congratulate the President. He was very poised and I must say he was also sharp in dressing but these omissions cannot be left out; and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to air my views.
    Madam Speaker 1:55 p.m.
    Thank you, Hon Member. Hon Members, the debate on this motion is deferred to Wednesday 25th February 2009 when everybody would be heard.
    ADJOURNMENT 1:55 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 2.00 p.m. till 25th February, 2009 at 10.00 a.m.