Debates of 26 Mar 2009

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:50 a.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Members,

The delegation comprises Hon Omai

Henry Akolowin [Hear! Hear!], Hon Nataniel Abenj Anai [Hear! Hear!], Hon Nhial Nyanashek Mageed [Hear! Hear!], Hon Veronica Dominic Ubu [Hear! Hear!], Hon Ayat Mary Ungwee [Hear! Hear!], Hon Angelina Nyankina [Hear! Hear!], Mrs. Jacline Yangi [Hear! Hear!]

Hon Members, on your behalf, I wish to

welcome them to the country, and I wish them a fruitful stay.

We move now to the Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:50 a.m.
Ms. Cecilia Abena Dapaah 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, this is just a point of information. I believe today is your birthday; so Happy Birthday. The House sang the ‘Happy Birthday' song.]
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Members. I will not answer the question but I will wish to thank all of you and to comment that within a couple of a few weeks I have come to know over two hundred and twenty-five people who have captured my heart and who I think are my friends, my children, my grandchildren and this is a great honour. I am happy and I thank all of you.
Yes, honourable, can we continue now?
Mr. Isaac K. Asiamah 11 a.m.
Thank you, Rt. Hon Speaker. Rt. Hon Speaker, I rise on Order 28 and with your kind permission, I would like to read it:
An act or omission which obstructs or impedes Parliament in the performance of its functions or which obstructs or impedes a Member or officer of Parliament in the discharge of his duties or affronts the dignity of Parliament or which tends either directly or indirectly to produce such a result shall be contempt of Parliament.

Madam Speaker, three days ago when we did consider the Estimates of the Ministry of Information, something happened in this House, in the precincts of the House that should not go unnoticed. Madam Speaker, it happened between the Hon Member for Adansi Asokwa (Hon K. T. Hammond) and the Director-General of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).

Madam Speaker, after the Hon Member had discharged his constitutional mandate, on his way, he was confronted and attacked verbally by the Director-General of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Order! Order!
Mr. Asiamah 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, in the tape it says that Members of Parliament are fools. This is in the tape, we can get the tape, it is public notice; so that you bring the matter before the Committee of Privileges for investigation.
Madam Speaker, I hope you would want to exercise the powers so much enshrined in you by the Constitution to protect the dignity of this very important august House of the nation.
Madam Speaker, I so submit.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Members, when a matter of privilege is raised the
only thing I can do is to refer it to the Privileges Committee and this is what I will do. I refer this to the Privileges Committee.
So can we continue with the Com- mencement of Public Business and the Laying of Papers.
PAPERS 11 a.m.
CONSIDERATION OF ANNUAL 11:10 a.m.
ESTIMATES 11:10 a.m.
Minister for Communications (Mr. Haruna Iddrisu) 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to move, that this House approves the sum of eighteen million, seven hundred and twenty thousand, seven hundred and fifty- five Ghana cedis (GH¢18,720,755.00) under the Sector's Account code No. 26 of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) estimates for the Ministry of Communications.
Madam Speaker, approval is being sought for the Ministry and its Agencies to undertake its programmed activities for the development of a reliable and cost- effective communications and techno- logical infrastructure and services for the fiscal year ending 31st December, 2009.
Minister for Communications (Mr. Haruna Iddrisu) 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, in the face of the global economic crisis, the world is looking up to Information and Communi-cations Technology (ICT) to make businesses much more competitive and to reduce the cost of doing business and it is important that this Ministry gets this allocation to allow its agencies and institutions to execute its objectives.
Madam Speaker, one of the main challenges that our country faces is our inability to mainstream ICT and also to achieve synergy. Madam Speaker, we are determined to allow for the mainstreaming of ICT within the Ghanaian national economy. Madam Speaker, many other Ministries and Departments run their own ICT-related activities and that comes as additional cost and duplication to the Government of Ghana.
Madam Speaker, based on Government's own thematic areas of wanting to run a transparent and accountable Government, create a strong economy for real jobs and investing in people and infrastructure, the Ministry is determined to prioritise the development of the national fibre optic infrastructure to all parts of the country in order to allow for the deployment of broadband and to make it much more affordable and available in many areas so that we can, through the deployment, have some improvement in E-administration, E-education, E-health, E-commerce, E-agriculture, and also for the purpose of using ICT to improve upon ICT.
Madam Speaker, for the achievement of a transparent and accountable government for instance, it is best realized through ICT if we can promote through ICT Government to citizens, citizens to Government and also citizen to citizen engagement which can be taken on this platform and the Ministry is further embarking on the construction of community information

centres across the country in order to ensure that all constituencies are provided with ICT infrastructure services for their communities.

Madam Speaker, as part of the Ministry's programme for this year issues of cyber security, otherwise popularly referred to as cyber crime or what is popularly known in our language as sakawa will be addressed by the Government of Ghana in order to minimize the effect and the involvement of Ghanaian youth in cyber-related crimes. The Electronic Transactions Act which was passed attempts to deal with it but we will come with a specific Bill which will deal with cyber security in order to protect internet fraud in our country and the use of our country as a gateway for such computer-related offences.

Madam Speaker, with regard to the Internet, the Ministry will pursue actions to ensure Ghana's smooth transition from Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) to Version 6 (IPv6) because there is exhaustion of internet number on the Version 4. So in the course of this year we will be creating awareness and industry co-ordination in order to find some technical solutions to it.

Madam Speaker, the Ministry is also determined to improve upon the quality of service delivery, especially by mobile service providers in our country and in that respect the National Communications Authority is being strengthened and they have procured equipments which will monitor the quality of service delivered by the mobile telephone service providers.

In the course of the year, the Ministry will also expand rural telephony to under- served and unserved areas of the country.

Madam Speaker, in moving this motion, let me also urge Hon Members to support the Ministry for an additional HIPC allocation of GH¢5 million in order to support programmes that were initiated

by the Ministry and remain uncompleted. For instance, the Ministry is constructing 55 community information centres which will cost about GH¢3.3 million, 20 post offices and also we will require GH¢700,000 as counterpart funding for a UNDC initiated project.

In this respect, Madam Speaker, I beg to move that this honourable House approves the estimates for the Ministry of Communications for the fiscal year ending 31st December, 2009 and to urge this House to make further recom-mendation for an additional GH¢5 million HIPC allocation for the Ministry to execute its mandate.

I beg to move.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. Felix Twumasi-Appiah) 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, with your permission I beg to second the motion on the floor and to present the Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The Draft Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Communications for 2009 was referred to the Select Committee on Communications for consideration and report in accordance with Standing Orders 140 (4) and 181. This followed the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government presented to the House by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning (MoFEP), Dr. Kwabena Duffuor in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 140 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House. The Minister for Communications, Hon Haruna Iddrisu and a technical team from the Ministry and its Departments and Agencies assisted the Committee during its deliberations.
2.0 Reference Documents
-- 11:10 a.m.
Mrs. Catherine A. Afeku (NPP - Evalue-Gwira) 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to
Mrs. Catherine A. Afeku (NPP - Evalue-Gwira) 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the other area that I am interested in is the quality of service. Fortunately for us, we are going to have a sixth mobile service and Ghana in the line of competitiveness would have six mobile companies operating in our nation and the quality of service, especially drop calls, has to be something of concern to this Ministry and again once it is given the needed resource I am confident the human resource in that sector will be able to match this vigilance and the National Communications Authority (NCA) -- fortunately, with the new Act that was recently passed -- would also be given the muscle to do its mandate.
But again, the resource allocation does not really augur well for the vision that some of us envision to see, especially the Kofi Annan Centre, the E-governance project, the Pan-African E-project, it does not look like it would mirror the vision to move Ghana to ICT platform.
Business processing units -- Business processing, this is an opportunity to create jobs for the teeming youth who are running the streets and risking their lives in traffic but here we are. At least, last year, it was in the Budget and it is in the Hon Minister's statement that 10 of them were made possible. But what do we see this year? I do not see any significant approach in terms of resource allocation to ensure that Ghana migrates into creating an avenue for ICT platform, business processing outsourcing, to create available opportunities for the youth.
Madam Speaker, there is no other way to reiterate this very significant point that until we see ICT as a way out of poverty, our budget allocation and resources would always be whittling and slashed and it would indeed be contrary to the vision
of creating jobs and making Ghana a business hub.
With these words, I would like to
emphasise one single point, that is the duplicity - The sector Ministry should be supported to get these MDAs to bring all their ICT jobs to the sector Ministry instead of outsourcing to private jobs and getting all these different domain names running across different Ministries. It does not augur well for the nation and it does not also help us with our inter- operabilities and getting the nation to be on one platform.
The IPV4 was actually made possible by the erstwhile Administration and moving into IPV6 would require a lot of technical knowhow and our nation has a lot of young men and women who are ready, but the budget unfortunately, does not create this kind of room for this vision that would move us onto the direction where we would be proud to say we are ICT ready.
Madam Speaker, with these few words, I would support that the budget allocated be approved and the five million HIPC Fund that has not been attached to it, possibly some funds from CST be also attached to it for the Ministry to perform its mandate.
I thank you for these few words.

Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (Mr. Henry Ford Kamel): Thank you, Madam Speaker, for catching your eye and for the opportunity to contribute to the motion. Madam Speaker, I want to associate myself with the motion and in doing so I would like to make a few submissions.

Madam Speaker, I refer to page (4) of
Dr. Osei 11:30 a.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I agree with my good Friend that we need to do something about the quality of service, but in this House when you come and talk about the fact that you know of a man divorcing his wife, you are supposed to provide evidence. You just do not say you know.
Madam Speaker, we deal with hard facts and unless he has the evidence to give us this moment, I think that part should be left out of the record so that somebody does not come later to say that he is misleading this House. If he has the evidence I think he should provide it so that we can all listen to it, otherwise he should just move on without it.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Do you think he can talk about somebody's divorce matter here?
Dr. Osei 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, that is why I think that divorce is a very sensitive matter and for him to allege divorce, I think is not proper. So that this House can be spared of “somebody” trying to sue us for alleging that because of the bad quality of service “somebody” has divorced his wife. So I plead that he should withdraw that part of his statement.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Member he says if you cannot name the fellow, withdraw that “somebody” because he wanted to know the correct name of the “somebody”.
Mr. Kamel 11:30 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, I withdraw that.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Thank you.
Mr. Kamel 11:30 a.m.
Maybe later, between me and him we can come out with the facts but I withdraw it for the purpose of the records. Madam Speaker, I think - [Interruption.]
Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 11:30 a.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I thank you most sincerely for the opportunity. I think that people should not be browbeaten into withdrawing their positions. I do not see the point that the Hon Member for Old Tafo is making. He has made the point; it is not every item or commitment that you say here that you

have to prove. I think he is completely out of order. [Interruptions.] I have the floor, Madam Speaker, I am not yielding to him - [Interruptions.]

Madam Speaker, I was up and I am happy I caught your eye. I do not think the Hon Member should be harassed by asking for evidence -- before then, there will be no privacy in this country where people will have to come and name couples here. Madam Speaker, with the utmost respect I believe my younger Colleague from Old Tafo is completely out of order in insisting for that one and I think he should not do that.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
I will rule. I disagree with you. I think the Hon Member said “somebody” and he asked, “Who is the somebody?” I think he can ask that and if it is himself too, can he tell us. Can you carry on? [Laughter.]
Mr. Kamel 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I also associate myself with the Ministry's programme to promote E-Governance. I think this is a very laudable idea and it deserves the encouragement of the whole country. Madam Speaker, I think that E-Governance would reduce paper work, it would promote good governance, accountability and so we should support it.
In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I think that cyber fraud needs to be addressed seriously. It has become a whole industry and people are perpetuating it and are duping a lot of people and in certain instances it is even giving a bad image to the country and I think that every effort should be made to curb cyber fraud.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Frederick Opare-Ansah (NPP -- Suhum) 11:40 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for allowing me to contribute to the motion that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢18,720,755.00 for the services
of the Ministry of Communications for the 2009 fiscal year.
Madam Speaker, the earlier point by my Hon Colleague about the correction on page (4) is a very important thing and I was wondering how the Committee, being a Committee of this House and actually having members coming from the old Parliament who were indeed present here when the Act was passed could allow this kind of error to pass. Indeed I believe this must have even become one of the reference documents during the Committee's own work. So we would like to draw the attention of the leadership of the Committee, together with the Clerks of the Committee, to ensure that we do due diligence in the future.
Madam Speaker, on the growth in telecom sector as alluded to by the Report, indeed over the last eight years, we have seen a very monumental increase in tele-density in this country. From about 400,000 telephone lines in 2001, by early this year Ghana had over 11,000,000.00 telephone users and that is very significant and worthy of commendation.
Not only in this do we see very significant increase in tele-density but there has been a variety of services introduced and very, very significant competition also introduced into the sector; where we had just about three operators, we currently have about six operators and we expect that by the time all these services of the operators are rolled out, the competition would get keener and thereby improve on the level of service delivery.

The Ministry clearly has plans to enhance the telecommunication sector as it is stated in the Report, and I would like

to urge the Hon Minister to focus on the areas of quality of service.

As we continue the growth in the sector, generally worldwide, we see a gradual shift towards convergence and as networks begin to introduce these varied services, managing them becomes complex and that is why sometimes we begin to see the level of deterioration that we are seeing today. It would be the job of the Ministry working through the National Communication Authority (NCA) to ensure that the operators are properly monitored and where penal measures have to be instituted, it is instituted to keep them on their toes.

One important aspect of the Telecom sector which needs attention is the security of users, both in terms of handset and their identity. Madam Speaker, we currently do not have any mechanism in place which would allow a user of a telephone number or a mobile number in this case, to be traced to his personal or as it were, residential address. That is why sometimes we have people who are able to go out on the street to buy a chip and send anonymous messages which you cannot trace and they use this to threaten even Members of Parliament in certain instances.

Madam Speaker, there is a technology that exists today which would allow this country to know who the users of particular cell phone numbers are, and I would urge my Hon Colleague, the Minister for Communications to take up this matter seriously.

There is also a technology available that would enable every user of a telephone facility link his identity to his own handset so that even when the handset is stolen, it could be rendered useless and this would indeed reduce the issue of attacks on individuals, being targets of armed

robbery, for the purposes of stealing their mobile phones.

One very important thing that the Report talks about is the Telecom Gateway Project. Madam Speaker, Telecom as we all know, has become a very major contributor to our national revenue. Indeed we all witnessed last year when Ghana Telecom, with all its problems, the previous Government managed to sell it for almost US$1 billion and that is precisely what kept the country afloat in very difficult times. We could maximise the revenues that accrue to State better if we better monitor the revenue streams that are coming into this industry.

There are a lot of leakages in the international traffic market as pertains in Ghana today, and that is why I am very happy to see that the Ministry wants to focus on this particular project, which would ensure that every telephone traffic that is bound to Ghana would be channelled through a particular gateway; and Government would then be able to monitor the revenues that are coming into the country from international sources in that respect.

One worrying fact that I noticed when I first got a copy of the Budget Statement was the fact that although the Budget Statement clearly indicated in paragraph 578, page 134 that, and Madam Speaker, with permission I beg to quote:

“. . . the Ministry in pursuant of its commitment to promote an all-inclusive information and knowledge-based society to benefit the underserved will sustain the programme to build and provide infrastructure and equipment support for the CICs.”

Over the past years, the Ministry of Communications has been funding this
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, may I take this opportunity to thank Hon Members for their observations and comments and to assure them that at the Ministry of Communications, we would not hesitate in taking advantage of new technologies to protect users of telecommunications in Ghana.
Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I hope my good Friend would allow me to come by way of Standing Order 92 (b). With his permission, Madam Speaker, he just said that he is not oblivious of the difficulties and the quality of service and he did indicate that he was also going to make sure that we do get the necessary equipment to monitor. With my good Friend, since he has sat down,

Madam Speaker, I think he is out of order. So I want my Minister to assure us, about how soon we can get the black box within the system which would now record the number of droppings and when we would get a better service for all the money that we get because we are really being short-changed.
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Member, I do not think this is Question time but under that Standing Order you can ask him to elucidate some matter raised. But this you are putting is really a question, is it not?
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, thank you, but let me assure Hon Members that as part of the Ministry's commitment to improve upon the quality of service, in the course of this year, we have already instituted discussions with service providers to initiate number portability so that users can freely migrate if they were not satisfied and also to keep their persons to the numbers that they have.
Madam Speaker, finally, my comment
is on the comment made by the Hon Opare- Ansah regarding international traffic termination. In the course of this year, subject to Cabinet approval, the Ministry is initiating and is engaged in discussions to arrive at an agreement for a common clearing house for international traffic. I believe, if that is implemented, we should be able to enhance government revenue

through international traffic termination up to the tune of US$5 million a month. That will bring substantial money.

Also in relation to communications service tax, as was indicated in the Budget Statement, Government will effectively monitor the domestic traffic of telephony in order to achieve more revenue for Government and to ensure that the service providers do not take advantage of us.

Madam Speaker, once again, I thank Hon Members and urge them to vote for this motion.

Question put and motion agreed to.

Resolved:

That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢18,720,755.00 for the services of the Ministry of Communi-cations for the 2009 fiscal year.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 11:50 a.m.
Dr. A. A. Osei noon
Madam Speaker, just a point of information. The Minister has talked about a shortfall of GH¢26 million. At the same time he indicated that an amount of GH¢14,612,218.00 has been made available under contingency for personal emoluments. That fills a gap of at least GH¢14 million; so if there is a shortfall it cannot be GH¢26 million. I just want that to be corrected.
Lt.-Gen. Smith (retd): Thank you, Hon Member. Madam Speaker, the Defence budget for 2009 was prepared in accordance with our mission, goals and objectives as spelt out in our strategic plan for the medium-term expenditure framework for the period 2009 to 2011. Towards the realization of our stated mission, the following objectives are to be achieved:
(a) to improve the state of combat readiness of the Ghana Armed Forces;

(b) to support national effort aimed at sustaining economic growth and accelerating poverty reduction, especially the vulnerable and excluded;

(c) to improve logistics and infras- tructure facilities;

(d) to improve human resource capacity and staff utilization;

(e) to improve civil/military rela- tions.

Madam Speaker, the key objectives of the fiscal year 2009 budget are, to further improve the state of combat readiness for rapid response to the defence of our national interest. This should be achieved by undertaking the following:

one, actively supporting civil authorities in combating crime and promotion of peace and stability for socio-economic development of the nation;

two, sustain naval and air presence around the vital oil installations and infrastructure.

three, identifying stakeholders within the maritime domain for effective co- ordination and co-operation;

four, logistics infrastructure for rapid response will be further enhanced through the following:

(a) Delivery: more residential accommodation by public/ private partnership financing arrangements;

(b) Human and infrastructural

resources of the Ministry will also be expanded; and finally,

(c) institutional capacity for human resource development will be improved by the following: (i) collaborating with other

institutions of higher learning to train and develop human resource; and

(ii) developing the capacity of personnel in oil and gas industry with particular reference to legal, banking and custom procedures.

Madam Speaker, to conclude, I wish to state that the present posture, that is, the structure, strength, equipment and infrastructural state, other administrative and logistic facilities do not position the Ghana Armed Forces in a good stead to perform satisfactorily. Our porous borders must be secured. Our maritime resources must be well protected to prevent poaching. Our new oil fields must be secured and protected. The spate of crime, including armed robbery and drug trafficking must be ruthlessly dealt with.

Madam Speaker, I have proposed and in fact initiated a three-phase programme, spanning the year 2009 to 2025 to systematically revamp the Ghana Armed Forces. The details of the programme will be made available in due course. And phase one will be rolled out starting with this financial year.

I would therefore request that my budgetary request for GH¢185 million be met in full. This means a top-up of GH¢26,686,202 in addition to the Government budgetary allocation of

GH¢159,015,198.

[LT.-GEN. SMITH (RETD)] Madam Speaker, we need to revamp the Ghana Armed Forces to enable it proudly and professionally fulfil both internal and external obligations, its constitutional mandate. We need more moral and adequate financing to achieve this.

Madam Speaker, I beg to move.
Chairman of the Committee (Alhaji Sumani Abukari) noon
Madam Speaker, I beg to second the motion as moved.
Madam Speaker, in doing so, I would want to present your Committee's Report on the budget of the Ministry of Defence.
Introduction
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the 2009 Financial Year was presented to Parliament by the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning on Thursday, 5th March, 2009 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. The Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Defence were accordingly referred to the Committee on Defence and Interior for consideration and report pursuant to Orders 140 (4) and 158 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.
The Committee met with the Hon Minister for Defence and his staff and officials of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and deliberated thoroughly, the estimates of the Ministry.
The Committee wishes to express its gratitude to the Minister and his officials for acknowledging its invitation and attending upon it.
2. Reference
Yo u r C o m m i t t e e r e f e r r e d t o the fo l lowing documents a t i t s deliberations:
i. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana;
ii. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana;

iii. The Budget Statement and Eco- nomic Policy of the Govern- ment for the 2009 Financial Year.

3. Mission Statement

The mission of the Ministry is to develop a highly professional, effective, efficient and politically neutral Armed Forces which is subject to democratic control and capable of protecting by land, sea and air, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ghana against external aggression.

4. Performance for 2008

The Ministry, out of its planned activities for the year 2008, was able to achieve among others the following:

National Defence

The Ministry, through the Armed Forces was able to conduct planned and emergency land, sea and air exercises to enhance its combat readiness. Also, the Navy and Air Force were able to conduct sea and air patrols which led to the arrest of some fishing vessels engaged in illegal pair trawling in the country's territorial waters.

Re-equipping the Ghana Armed Forces

A loan facility of US$100 million was approved by Parliament for the procurement of two naval ships to improve the combat readiness of the military. In addition, the US Embassy in Ghana promised GAF a donation of five fast naval ships for patrol duties out of which three were delivered. To improve upon the capacity of the communication squadron of the Ghana Air Force, parliamentary approval was secured for a loan for the

procurement of 1 Falcon aircraft.

Human Resource Development

The Ghana Armed Forces, in a bid to develop its human resource capacity, conducted middle-level management training in its local military institutions and civil tertiary institutions and other foreign institutions. About 88 Officer Cadets were commissioned whilst 1,000 young men and women were recruited into the GAF.

Ghana Armed Forces Housing Project

Work is far advanced on the construction of 18 four-storeyed blocks of 16 flats each for 288 families utilizing a US$20 million SSNIT loan. Satisfactory progress was made on the rehabilitation of 43 housing units and office accommodation from budgetary resources. These are aimed at easing the accommodation difficulties facing the personnel of the GAF.

External Peacekeeping Operations

The GAF provided about 5,000 troops for UN and AU Peacekeeping Operations in Liberia, DR Congo, Lebanon, la Cote d'Ivoire and Sudan. A US$60 million loan facility was sourced to procure equipment for GAF troops. This is aimed at enhancing the operational effectiveness of the troops and the earnings from the UN peacekeeping operations is to be used to service the loan facility.

Outlook for 2009

With the view to combating armed robbery, smuggling of cocaine and petroleum products across the borders, internal peacekeeping operations in the northern parts of Ghana, environmental abuses such as illegal felling of timber and flushing out of alien herdsmen and protecting the country's oil find, the Ministry will continue to assist civil authorities in their internal operations.

Other major activities earmarked for the year include the following:

Conduct intensive sea and air patrols within the country's territorial waters, especially the fishery grounds and oil prospecting fields;

Repair and maintain Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), procure soft-skin vehicles and combat equipment;

Repair, dock and maintain naval ships as well as refurbish and maintain Ghana Air Force aircraft;

Improve human resource capacity of GAF personnel to enhance their effectiveness in national security matters;

Fully equip and deploy personnel of all ranks in internal and external peacekeeping operations; and Continue with GAF housing and office accommodation projects.

Estimates for 2009

For the implementation of the above activities, an amount of GH¢159,015,198 has been allocated MOD. Out of this, GH¢156,568,605 is from GoG and GH¢2,446,593 is to be generated internally. This amount falls short of the Ministry's minimum requirement of GH¢185,702,000, a negative variance of GH¢26,686,202 or 14 per cent.

The 2009 figure was however an improvement over the previous year's allocation of GH¢120,245,064. This represents a positive variance of GH¢38,770,734 or 32 per cent.

The breakdown is as follows:
Dr. Osei noon
On a point of order. Madam
Speaker, I want to crave the indulgence of my Hon Chairman that he cannot insist on the GH¢26 million when on the same page he acknowledges that the Ministry has already added GH¢13 million to that
shortfall. If that is there, then he cannot insist on GH¢26 million. He may want to insist on the GH¢14 million but it cannot be GH¢26 million because at page three, the Report says that an amount of GH¢10 million, and GH¢3 million has been earmarked. So if it is GH¢26 million and one takes out GH¢13 million, then the shortfall, at best can be GH¢13 million. So he cannot have it both ways.
Alhaji Abukari noon
Madam Speaker, the sums are only earmarked -- [Laughter.] We know what we are saying. Madam Speaker, we have all been dealing with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and when he was at the Ministry he knew what happened at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. So please, bear with us.
The Committee was however informed that an amount of GH¢10 million and GH¢3 million had been earmarked by MOFEP for the release of the over- aged soldiers and for food ration. These allocations are captured under Other Government Obligations.
The Committee noted that the allocation of GH¢10 million is inadequate for the release of the total over-aged soldiers of 1,659. The Committee is therefore recommending to the Ministry of Defence to execute the programme in phases, commencing with the 1977 and 1978 year groups with the GH¢10 million allocation. That is, if they receive it.
Shortfall in P. E. Allocation
The Committee observed that the P. E. requirement of the Ministry for 2009 was GH¢128,660,324 whereas the budget allocation was GH¢114,048,106, a shortfall of GH¢14,612,218.
make a lot of earnings from peacekeeping operations. Ghana's peacekeeping operations therefore has the potential of generating savings which can be used to support the national budget. The Committee is therefore urging the Ministry of Defence to develop a business plan on the management of the peace-keeping operation.
Residential Accommodation
It was observed that the troops are badly in need of residential accom-modation. The Committee was informed that the inability of the Ministry to release the over-aged soldiers is further compounding the accommodation difficulties of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
A loan of US$20 million was contracted by Government from SSNIT for the construction of 18 four-storeyed blocks of 16 flats each for the troops. Work progressed steadily but has since stalled.
The Committee was informed that the loan facility has since been virtually disbursed and that part of the amount was used to resettle soldiers who were resident at the site of the Jubilee House. The resettlement of the soldiers was originally not part of the project.
The Committee urges the Minister to appeal to Cabinet for recovery of the amount used for the resettlement of the soldiers and same ploughed back into the housing project.
MOD New Office Complex
The Committee was informed that a new ultra-modern office complex was commissioned in December 2008 and that the Ministry would be moving into occupancy by June 2009.
Equipping the GAF
The Committee was informed that the
Mr. W. O. Boafo (NPP - Akropong) 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to contribute to the motion on the floor.
I would like to refer to page 1, paragraph (3) of the Report. We the members of the Committee as well as most Members of the House, are very appreciative of this mission statement and with your permission I would like to read:
“Mission Statement:
The mission of the Ministry is to develop a highly professional, effective, efficient and politically neutral Armed Forces which is subject to democratic control and capable of protecting by land, sea and air, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ghana against external aggres-sion.”
Madam Speaker, with this mission statement we would like to assure the Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces that so far as and so long as this mission statement is honoured, that in particular, the Ministry would ensure that the Ghana Armed Forces demonstrate political neutrality in the affairs of this country; they would have the entire support of our Committee and this House.
Madam Speaker, so far as the Ministry is concerned, there are certain areas where the Government would have to look for extra funding so as to make the Ministry more effective and efficient. Most of the Ministry's activities rest on the service expenses. The Ministry in its judgement asked for GH¢13,843,000, but the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning brought it down to GH¢11,065,000, leaving a difference of GH¢2,780,143.
Madam Speaker, this particular reduction is likely to affect the training programme of the Ministry of Defence
and as such, the Ghana Armed Forces -
Dr. Osei 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, our Hon Colleague has just completely misled this House. This Budget was brought by Hon Dr. Kwabena Duffuor on the authority of the President, not on his own behalf. So he cannot infer that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has reduced it. This was taken to Cabinet and he is bringing it here on behalf of His Excellency. So if there is any reduction, it is coming under the directive of His Excellency; it cannot be at te directive of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. So he should not mislead this House.
Mr. Boafo 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I was just trying to lift the veil and look behind the veil, who are the true characters or the true actors of the play and my eye only caught the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. I lifted the veil, as incorporate practice, and saw Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning as the people behind the desk pushing figures here and there, cutting and reducing - [Laughter.]
Dr. Osei 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I think that unless he has some powers that we do not know about he cannot be looking beyond the veil and see somebody else. I do not see how he could have lifted it. Madam Speaker, if you look at the fact that he is challenged in a certain way, he cannot see beyond, in front of you. So I am surprised that he was doing the lifting.
Madam Speaker, we like to accept the fact that this paragraph here is the true statement, “on the authority”. I take that very seriously. It is the authority of the President, the one and only President. So for him to suggest that the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning - I think he is not very fair to the Minister
Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I would assume that my Ranking Member was speaking figuratively. He said he lifted the veil; maybe he wanted to see the bride. I do not know whether he was getting married, and wanted to see the bride so he lifted the veil to see the bride. So I do not know what the problem of the Hon Member for Old Tafo is. He has lifted the veil, he has seen the bride's face and knows that this is the bride he sort of paid for. I think the Ranking Member was only speaking figuratively, so let him pass.
Mr. Boafo 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, my Hon Colleague, the former Minister of State - [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Which one? Two former Ministers, is that not it?
Mr. Boafo 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, one was Minister and the other one was Minister of State. [Laughter.] Madam Speaker, whenever the Hon Dr. Akoto Osei gets up to speak and he comes out with his economic language and terms, I sit down, I do not challenge it. When I get up and come out with my legal terminologies then he stands up to challenge me. He should go and open Company Law, page 1, then he will know what is meant by “the veil”.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Fortunately, I support you in this one, I can understand. [Laughter.]
Mr. Boafo 12:20 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I was saying, this reduction is going to affect seriously local and foreign training for the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Armed Forces depends - [Interruption.]
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I do not want
to challenge the Ranking Member for Defence and Interior but he tries to make a distinction which is not known by our Constitution. Madam Speaker, article 78 (2) says:
“The President shall appoint such number of Ministers of State as may be necessary for the efficient running of the State”.
So Madam Speaker, every Minister is a Minister of State and that is what is known by our Constitution.
Mr. Boafo 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am grateful to my Leader for his expatiation of that portion of the Constitution.
Madam Speaker, regarding the equipping of the Ghana Armed Forces, it will be recalled that last year this House approved a loan of a $100 million to re- equip the Ghana Armed Forces, that is the entire three services and this loan is yet to be utilized. Madam Speaker, if this particular loan is pursued it is our belief that it will help in solving the low level equipment of the Ghana Armed Forces.
So we urge the Ministry to go ahead and pursue that so that the Ghana Armed Forces would be combat ready. We believe that the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning will assist the Minister for Defence to enable this loan to be executed.
Madam Speaker, if you look at the state
of the equipment of the Ghana Armed Forces, I would like to touch firstly on the Navy. Madam Speaker, there are about seven vessels, that is, GNS Achimota. It is 27 years old and it is barely serviceable. The second one is GNS Yogaga, and that is also barely serviceable. The other one is GNS Gyata, and that is also very serviceable. The next one is GNS Sebo, that is unserviceable. GNS Azonic is

equally unserviceable. GNS Bonsu is unserviceable and GNS Hansen is satisfactory.

Madam Speaker, we are in the era where we are trying to task the Ghana Navy with additional responsibility of patrolling the newly found oil fields and it is necessary that we pay attention to the needs of the Ghana Navy. I need to mention that during last year, approaches were made to the Korean Government and they agreed to supply two naval ships and donate an extra one to the Government of Ghana.

I will urge the Minister for Defence to follow this up for the Ghana Navy. Also a very affordable offer from the Portuguese Government, I will urge him to follow this offer from the Portuguese Government and I believe that these initiatives which were taken last year, if he has a fresh one to add , it will strengthen the Ghana Navy.

Maj. Dr. Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed (retd.): On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I just want to draw the Hon Member's attention that some of the information he is providing here are rather classified and he should restrict himself to information that should be given out here.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
The Hon Boafo, he says restrict yourself to the information contained in the Report. What do you have to say?
Mr. W. O. Boafo 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in order to strengthen the Ghana Air Force initiatives were made last year to acquire for the Air Force additional aircraft. This was not completed. I would like to urge the Minister to pursue that, transport aircraft, that is MA 60 and then Y 12.

Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister and the Chairman for the Committee referred to the number of over-aged soldiers in the military numbering 1,659. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning provided some amount, that is GH¢10 million which could be used as terminal payments and this can only cater for the 1977 and 1978 intakes.
Prof. Gyan-Baffuor 12:30 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I have always said it in various places and I think I want this on record this time around. I am really disturbed about even the idea of bringing the military budget into this House. So I want it on record that maybe we have to relook at it very carefully. These are sensitive issues, that no matter how you treat them, bits and pieces will get out there.
So I want it on record that maybe the Executive or maybe Parliament should look at it and make sure that the military's budgets are actually looked at in camera, in close sitting because even though we
are not at war with anybody around us, we still do not know what is in the future. And all these information that get out there are really very, very sensitive information. So I just want it on record that maybe we have to reconsider this thing and do all these things in camera.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
I think they will
take note. It is a legitimate point. Hon Boafo, can you please hurry up with your contribution.
Mr. Boafo 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, thank you.
Mr. Boafo 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in conclusion there is the need to re-equip the 37 Military Hospital which serves not only the military personnel but a large number of civilians. And I recall that last year, an amount of about €34 million was secured for the re-equipping of the 37 Military Hospital by Hospital Engineering. I would like to urge the Minister who has the welfare and the efficiency of the 37 Military Hospital at heart to pursue this particular facility so as to enable the 37 Military Hospital upgrading to proceed.
That is the end of my submission and I thank you very much.
Mr. Felix Twumasi-Appiah (NDC - Sene) 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I wish to support the motion on the floor and in doing so express a few concerns on the budget of the Ministry of Defence.
The Report which has been submitted by your Committee says that “This House approves an amount of GH¢159,015,- 198.00” and I strongly believe, looking at the mission statement here, that this amount is woefully inadequate. I heard my Hon Former Deputy Minister quote the mission statement and it appears that this mission statement is being eroded year

in, year out.

Madam Speaker, I am glad he was talking about equipment and other things and if you take them service by service, what is happening to our Armed Forces is so despicable that the least talked about it the better. It is indeed good that my Hon Colleague Major is telling us that we should not put all these things out there. But anybody who cares to know, knows it already. There is no secret about what we are in terms of our strength and everything about our Ghana Armed Forces. There is no secret about it.

Indeed, today I can go to the internet and check what is going on about the American Armed Forces. So it is no secret. The rules of engagement today in the American Armed Forces, I can go to the internet and check and download it today. So it is no secret. And if you even take the fact that we have been having exercises with other colleague armed forces -- You understand --

Now the Minister spoke about we having some exercises with American Armed Forces. They come here, they enter our house, they would know what we have, whether we like it or not. So this idea of it being so secretive that we cannot talk about - If we do not put this thing barely on the floor here, posterity will not forgive us.

If you take the Ghana Army, even those days the Officers and Men used to boast of personal rifles, it does not even exist today as we speak. [Interruption.] Officers and Men have to queue. The Minister is telling me it is all right so I will leave it there.

Madam Speaker, take the Ghana Navy for instance, my Hon Colleague was talking about naval ships, those ships do

not exist. They inherited Ghana Navy which at least had four operational vessels. As we speak today, as the former Deputy Minister himself alluded to, we do not even have one operational vessel with the Ghana Navy, not to speak about the Ghana Air Force. So I believe very well that if you want to know the cost of security just try insecurity.
Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I would rather associate myself with what the Hon Member of Parliament for Nima said. [Laughter.] Madam Speaker, without his intervention I want to apologize and say that the Hon Member for Ayawaso. I am sorry. Madam Speaker, I do not really believe that it will help us if we were to go along the lines of what my Hon Friend is trying to do. I think at the committee level we did agree that there is the need for some bi partisanship as regards affairs relating to the Ghana Armed Forces. And I believe it will be in the best interest of everybody in the country if that was done. So we inherited this and left this, it will not help us.
Madam Speaker, one of our best achievements when we sit down and consider what we did in Ghana, one area which we think we performed best was within the Armed Forces. That is our opinion and I do not think we should submit this to any debate on the floor of the House.
Mr. Kan Dapaah 12:40 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I thought I sought your intervention to rule on this matter that we should not -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Well, I thought he had taken it.
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, he is still going ahead.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Member, please wind up, if you have accepted his suggestion.
Mr. Twumasi-Appiah 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, to touch on the last, not the least arm of service, that is the Ghana Air Force. Madam Speaker, I had one problem, like he said, we should not talk about it; we should talk about bi-partisanship. But Madam Speaker, it will bother anybody, why you have an Air Force that has several aircraft sitting down there, not actually performing, and then a Government will think about selling the G3 while the other ones are sitting down consuming time and energy for nothing.
Madam Speaker, if the former Hon Minister wants, I will take him through the list here and he will understand what I am talking about. So for him to come and tell us that they did better, I do not know what they did because when they inherited about five vessels and they left us with nothing and his Deputy Minister has confirmed that as at now -- At least you had the machis, they were serviceable when they took over, and as I speak to you now, no machi is serviceable now.
Madam Speaker, so for the former

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, all

I want to say is that the amount as stated by your Committee as being the GH¢159,015,198.00 is woefully, woefully inadequate. And I think my uncle is here, he will do well to add more money for the Ministry of Defence to carry out its main core function.

Mr. Andrews Adjei-Yeboah (NPP

- Tano South): Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity offered me to contribute to the motion that this august House approves the estimates of the Ministry of Defence.

Madam Speaker, I believe the two other Hon Members who have spoken have made a lot of comments on the allocations given to the Ministry. My major worry about the figures is the fact that if we do not take care, we will be paying money to people who will be doing not what the State wants them to be doing.

For personal emoluments (P.E.) when I used a simple calculator to do some computation, I saw that the P.E. is taking as much as 73 per cent of the total amount going to be approved -- [Interruption] -- 73 per cent according to what I calculated here as P.E.; then one wonders what we are going to pay them to be doing, especially when we have stated the mission statement of the Ministry, as has been stated here very forcefully that they are supposed to defend us even as we sleep in comfort.

Madam Speaker, if the service and the investment amounts that will go into the equipment that they need to enable them to perform and perform well are not given to them, then I believe that what makes them what they are is the fact that they are ordinary men and women who are armed. And if they do not have that which takes them to perform and perform well, then we should be equally worried about the fact that we are all naked and not secured.

Madam Speaker, it is therefore very important that priority is given to the various investment amounts that they need so that when we are holding them accountable for the moneys that we are spending on them then we will know that, yes, we will be getting something from
rose
Mr. Adjei-Yeboah 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in the past those who actually entered the Army had that perception, and those of us who were outside had that perception that in the Army, they supplied nothing more than brute force and labour without any intelligence, without anything. But I want to believe that now, in the Army, we have very fine lawyers, we have very fine doctors, we have fine engineers, we have a lot and host of professionals, and that is the point I am making. So Hon Members ought to have patience and listen to the wisdom that I am saying.
So we are dealing with a professional body, and if they are not supplied with the equipment for them to perform, then we as a nation are failing them. And they are putting their lives at risk unnecessarily for the security of those of us who never had the courage to go into the Army. They respect us for our cowardice and we respect them for their bravery, and therefore, we need to provide those equipment for them to perform.
rose
Mr. Adjei-Yeboah 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, having said that - [Interruption] -- [Some Hon Members: E.T., sit down! Sit down!
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Let me hear the Ranking Member.
Mr. E.T. Mensah 12:40 p.m.
On a point of order.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Member goofed

by the statement that he made. In the days of Sergeant Adjetey and colleagues there were engineers; there were professionals in the Army. That perception that they have is wrong, so he should not carry it. It must be put on record that since Ghana Armed Forces was formed, we have had professionals in the Army. In Signals and what have you, we have had professionals all along. So that perception is not correct.
Mr. Adjei-Yeboah 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I wish my Hon Senior Colleague were listening and listening very well. [Hear! Hear!] I said it was a perception, and now there are a lot of nice people but people actually never saw it that way because - [Interruption] -- because if we are not making them - [Interruption.]
Mr. John Tia Akologu 12:40 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, what the Majority Chief Whip sought to do was to just alert our Hon Colleague opposite that the perception that he is referring to, as much as he believes that it was not true, should not be highlighted. Because even today, if I have to talk about the perception people have about the Military, it may not be good. This is because everybody says that if you want the right thing to be done just go and see a soldier man, he will apply what? Is it negative? No.
So you do not come and raise it as if it was a negative perception; so that is what the Hon Majority Chief Whip sought to do. Let us stick to the Budget; we are doing budgetary allocation and not perceptions about institutions.
Let us forget about it because as he pointed out, every year, February 28, we salute the heroes of this country; Sergeant Adjetey, Attipoe and the rest. So let us stray away from this kind of statement and stick to the issues that we have - We are to approve a budget.
Mr. Adjei-Yeboah 12:50 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I never intended making it offensive to the profession. To the contrary I am making the point that we have a very efficient, well-disciplined profession called the Army which is protecting us. And I have friends that I went to school with who are in there and I really respect them. And whenever I meet them, as I said, I said they should respect me for my cowardice because I could not go in there and I also respect them for their bravery. I cannot handle a gun and I do not have some in my home. So I was not actually being offensive.
Having said that, Madam Speaker, I just want to make some small comment on recruitment. Last year we were told about eighty-eight officer cadets who gra- duated; they came out and then thousand young men and women of other ranks were also recruited and that is the area of much concern to me. I know a lot of effort went in, in getting some young ones to be recruited and it has become a hot thing in the country about the fact that these young ones who were supposed to have gone for training on 31st January, 2009 do not still know their fate.
I believe what we are approving is going to take care of those younger ones, as it were. I want the Minister to tell us as to what the fate of these young ones are. And also my good Friend and Brother whose name has come into the news of late -- Just yesterday, I read in the newspapers that in his village, home town there was a demonstration to the effect that his own personal security is a threat. And that also is a worry to me. Ordinarily, I ought not to have mentioned it but it is some worry to me, as it were, and when I go in there to visit the family I get worried -- Col. Damoah to be precise.
So the Hon Minister, even as we are approving this and the President himself says that all of us will live in security, well secured so that none of us, whether in the Army, civilians, police, all of us can actually live in peace and not in pieces, I as well want us to know the real safety of my junior brother, Col. Damoah. And I believe a lot more of Brong Ahafo Mem-bers of Parliament who are here are equally worried about a young man whose only duty is to serve the country and is now being pursued like a game.
Madam Speaker, on that note, I want to urge the House to approve the amount as set out in the Order Paper so that the old General can go and work and work well for us.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity.
Lt.-Gen. J. H. Smith (retd): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I am most delighted and wish to thank Hon Members for fighting my war for me this morning. Madam Speaker, as we are all aware, issues on defence and for that matter national security are very, very sensitive. Madam Speaker, we are also aware of the fact that as a nation we have our potential enemies. And potential enemies never sleep, they are always collecting data and all that.
Therefore we have to be very careful when we disclose or talk openly about certain issues that affect our security. For that reason, Madam Speaker, I will talk to the Chairperson of the Committee on Defence and Interior and I believe that the next time we assemble, we will have a solution to this issue of discussing the Defence budget openly and I believe they will give me all the support and we will find a solution to it.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 12:50 p.m.
Minister for Employment and Social Welfare (Mr. S. A. Kwao) 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to move, that this House approves the sum of thirty-two million, eight hundred and ninety-six thousand, nine hundred and eighty-two Ghana cedis (GH¢32,896,982.00) under Head 24 of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to enable the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare implement its programmes, projects and activities for the year ending December
2009.

The Ministry's vision is to become a well-resourced, efficient and a lead entity capable of performing its mandate in the core areas of:

Human resource development;

Employment facilitation and creation, fostering congenial w o r k i n g e n v i r o n m e n t a n d harmonious industrial relations;

Integration of the disadvantaged into mainstream society; and

Resource mobilization through the co-operative system for national development.

Madam Speaker, the Ministry has three functional divisions comprising various departments and agencies. These include:

(i) Manpower sub-sector com- prising: The Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI), The National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), The Opportunities Industrialisation Centre (OIC), The Integrated Community Centres for Employable Skills (ICCES) and the Ghana Co- operative College.

(ii) Employment Subsector - We have the Labour Department, Depar tment of Factor ies Inspectorate, Department of Co-operatives, Ghana Co- operative Council, Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.

(iii) Social Development - Depart- ment of Social Welfare (DSW).

The Ministry is also responsible for the Disability Council, the National Tripartite Committee, Business Sector Programme Support and the National Programme for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Cocoa.

Madam Speaker, the t ra in ing institutions under the Ministry provide the various relevant managerial, technical and vocational competency-based programmes. These training institutions will become lead centres for the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Programme and the new education policy that highlights one year apprenticeship for Junior High School products who do not access Senior High School education.

T h e M i n i s t r y m a d e m o d e s t achievements in relation to resource allocation in the year 2008. Some key achievements included:

The completion and approval by Cabinet of the National Employment Policy and its Implementation Action Plan;

Review of the Ageing Policy was completed;

The Technical Directorates in Fair Wages and Salaries Commission were established and are operational;

National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) was developed. Under the programme 9,000 households na t ionwide bene f i t ed f rom conditional/unconditional cash grant from LEAP;

Under the National Programme for the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour in Cocoa, remediation interventions have been carried

out in 46 districts which resulted in about 1,246 children being reintegrated into schools;

A disable friendly stair way was constructed at the Ministry's headquarters;

Youth Policy approved by Cabinet and now released to Ministry of Youth and Sports;

Finalized Negotiations on 2008 Salary levels; and

Participated in international con- ferences such as ILO and AU.

Madam Speaker, let me acknowledge that there were some challenges faced in the course of implementation of programmes and activities. Major constraints included:

Inadequate funding and irregular releases of approved funds;

Inadequate staffing of professionals;

Dilapidated and inadequate office accommodation;

Inadequate logistics, eg. vehicles and computers for monitoring work.

2009 Programme

Madam Speaker, the Sector will in 2009 continue with its programmes, projects and activities in all areas under its mandate. Furthermore, the Sector will work closely with social partners to ensure peaceful industrial atmosphere for accelerated national development. The Sector with its mandate on Employment will vigorously pursue the National
IGF - - 1 p.m.
Mrs. Akosua F. Osei-Opare (NPP - Ayawaso West Wuogon) 1:10 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the motion that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢32,896,982.00 for the services of the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare which was moved by the Hon Minister.
In the submission of the Hon Minister he outlined very important achievements of the Ministry in 2008. It is therefore important for us to recognise that this Ministry, given the right support, can do a lot in advancement in the areas of employment and social development. However, the allocation made, in our view at the committee and in my view is inadequate to continue the very good work that this Ministry has started.
Madam Speaker, in the area of social
development, this Ministry has broken grounds, grounds for developing a national social protection strategy that looks at the myriad of problems within various sectors of our lives and has come up with
a comprehensive strategy to deal with it, particularly initiating a ground-breaking programme such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP).
I must commend the previous Hon Ministers for Finance and Economic Planning in the NPP Government who took a risk with the Ministry to pilot or to start this social cash transfer which generated a lot of controversy.
The report of the Committee and the Budget have stated quite categorically that this is an affordable programme and that it would make a difference to the extreme poor and vulnerable; and I would like to commend also the current Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning who presented, on behalf of His Excellency the President, the Budget by allocating GH¢7.5 million for the continuation of the Livelihood Empower- ment Against Poverty (LEAP). I think this is a commendable sum and I commend also the Ministry for taking such a bold initiative.
Madam Speaker, the Ministry has a lot of social development programmes such as elimination of child labour and has done a national plan of action. It is doing very well in the area of the national programme for the elimination of child labour in the cocoa sector. In His Excellency the President's Address, he made a commitment to this august House to continue with that project. I would like to stress that this programme has a lot of international repercussions for us and therefore what is working, as the President said, must not be tampered with. It is a time-bound programme, it is a programme that if not followed properly can lead to a legislation in the United States of America and can spill into Europe that can affect the sale of cocoa.
Therefore I urge the Hon Minister to maintain the current arrangement, the institutional arrangement that has been made and within that, improve upon any lapse that can affect the smooth implementation of this programme and ensure that the success that we have chalked as a nation in terms of legislation on child labour and cocoa is not retrogressed because cocoa is the lifeblood and continues to be the lifeblood of this country.
Again, the Hon Minister for Women and Children's Affairs has proposed on several fora, Appointments Committee and in this House, that social welfare should be annexed to the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs. I beg to differ. The Department of Social Welfare, even in its current underfunded state has a budget far higher than the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs. It is one that is spread all over every district. Its mandate is not simply about children and women. Its mandate is about all the vulnerable and excluded in this country.
It is about the aged, it is about the extreme poor households, it is about persons with disability; therefore if you take one aspect and say that you have to annex it, I beg the Government, please an assessment has been done professionally, of the Department of Social Welfare which was established in this country as far back as 1946 and that we should look critically at its total mandate and the fact that it is now moving from simply a welfare of fire fighting approach towards a social development department whereby it looks at mitigating, taking proactive measures, that will not allow people to slum into poverty before they are let out. Therefore, let us not be hasty in judging and just shifting the department to anywhere because it has serious implications for our national development.
I want to also recognise the fact that the Disability Act which was enacted in this House is now being operationalised and the Ministry has demonstrated its commitment by erecting a ramp that will allow any person with disability to climb to any level of the office or block of the Ministry. The Disability Act says that we have a grace period of about 10 years, a transition period of 10 years in which all current already established public buildings should be accessible. We do not need to wait for that and the Ministry has demonstrated a possible model.
I want to encourage all MDAs to visit the Ministry and to emulate what the Ministry has done. We do not need 10 years. The persons with disability do not have to wait for 10 years before they can access the Hon Minister for Education, the Hon Minister for Defence, and the Hon Minister for Health; they need to be able to see their representatives anytime they want. So please, let us not wait for 10 years; let the Council and the Ministry work together and ensure that there is compliance.
I also want to speak on employment issues, and to say that the persons with disability should not be confined - [Interruption.] Madam Speaker, I will wind up very soon. Persons with disability should not be confined to only receiving loans for them to establish their businesses. It is important for us to recognise that the Act itself talks about ensuring that people with disability are given the requisite skills so that they can also access paid jobs.
It is important to recognise that not everybody is an entrepreneur. Some of us have never been entrepreneurs. We have depended on jobs with other institutions so we must ensure that we follow the Act and that they have the requisite skills and that
Mrs. Akosua F. Osei-Opare (NPP - Ayawaso West Wuogon) 1:20 p.m.


Work on the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) for the Disability Act, I believe, has already started and that it is important for the Ministry to ensure that it comes to the House and that will help in the operationalisation of the Persons With Disability Act.

Finally Madam Speaker, I would like to say that the National Tripartite is a very important social platform that has helped very much in bringing peace in the labour front in this country. It should not be limited - its role should not be limited to certain minimum wage. And in fact, it has helped the Ministry to fashion out even the employment policy to the extent that it cannot be useful both to the private sector and the public sector. I therefore urge the Hon Minister to take the National Tripartite as a very serious ally in their quest to improve the lot of workers in this country and to advance the Ministry.

Madam Speaker, I urge this honourable

House to approve of the stated sum and I urge the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to consider this Ministry as a priority Ministry in his supplementary budget.

I thank you, Madam Speaker. Minister for Local Government and

Rural Development (Mr. J. Y. Chireh): Madam Speaker, this is a very important Ministry and when it is asking for money to manage its services we should all look at the areas that are important. One of them is the aging policy and I would urge the

Ministry and the stakeholders to finalise this aging policy to come to the House and beyond the policy itself to have legislation to back this aging policy.

Already we have the Children's Act, but that is not enough, we should also move ahead because I can see grey hair and bald heads in this House and they too must be legislatured for in retirement and for people who have store of knowledge and experience. We must encourage situations where people would learn from the aged people and ensure that those people who have toiled for this country and are on retirement have contributions to make.

Madam Speaker, the next point is about the Disability Act that we passed and I would urge the Ministry to expedite action for the Council to be inaugurated as soon as possible. In any case, beyond that I want to assure this House that the people with disability -- [Interruptions] -- Those with bald heads should sit down. I am not saying you are old, you are not old. Hon K.T. Hammond, should sit down, he has no hair.

The most important thing about the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development will insist on the Common Fund allocation, the percentage that should go to the people with disability really goes and to correct the imbalance that they have been suffering over the years. This is very important, we will monitor and ensure that this is done. Some of the District Assemblies either do not give the thing at all or when they do, do not monitor how useful it can be for people with disability.

Finally Madam Speaker, the problem about this whole Ministry is the issue of the Department of Cooperatives. We have on the statute books the Cooperative Decree which is more than 40 years old. It is not friendly again for the development

of cooperatives which can solve major problems including employment.

I will urge that the Ministry takes it as a matter of urgency to insist on this Bill, which the stakeholders have so far piloted and discussed at various seminars and workshops, to bring it to the House as soon as possible for us to pass it. It is going to solve a number of problems; it is going to encourage financial inter-mediation at the level of the rural people, particularly where we have no financial services at all.

Credit unions, you know, can help clear this facility for people to be able to save and of course if we get the Co-operative Bill passed, many more things can happen in the area of industrial, financial and service co-operative. And it is on this note that I will urge this House to vote the money for the Ministry so that these three areas that I have talked about are properly looked after.

With this, thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr. L. K. Alowe (NPP -- Chiana/ Paga) 1:30 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the motion on the floor seeking approval of the amount of GH¢32,896,982.00 to be approved for the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare.
Madam Speaker, my first contribution will generally be in the area of budgeting. I think it has been the tendency for sometime now that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) prepare their budgets, go to the Ministry to defend and ceilings are given. At the end of the day a budget is presented to this august House and this budget is approved. And yet when this budget is approved and the MDAs have programmes built around that budget, this budget is cut, all is not released to them and as a result they are not able to carry out their programmes of activities.
I want to suggest to the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to look at the budgeting aspect of things so that when MDAs submit their estimates and they are approved, the variance should not be so much that it would cripple MDAs' operations.
Madam Speaker, my second point relates to the effect of the non-release of these funds to these MDAs. The Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare and its agencies have been very deprived until recently when certain programmes were introduced by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government. It was then that we saw life bouncing back into the Ministry.
If we take the Labour Department, the block of office is sinking, they have on several occasions submitted estimates for something to be done and, as at now, this building is sinking, the ceiling is falling off, electric wires are hanging dan-gerously.
We just have to pray that nothing happens and if anything has to happen it should happen in the night when nobody is at work, so that this building does not collapse on the good people of Ghana.
Madam Speaker, the other point is that all the other agencies of the Ministries have been suffering these cuts in their budgets and as a result, are not able to achieve their targets; and I want to associate myself with the motion that the amount being requested by the Ministry be approved.
But then there is this other thing about the realignment of Ministries that has been recently done by Government. I believe that the purpose for realigning Ministries would be to achieve maximum performance and in that case, we would be looking at how we would organise various agencies and departments around
Ministries so that they can enhance the performance of those Ministries.

What we see here, particularly with regard to the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare is the fact that the National Youth Employment Programme is being moved to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. I would like to point out that much as we might not be able to do anything about it, we need to maybe make some contributions for the consideration of Government.

If you look at the departments and agencies that work with the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, these are specialised departments and agencies that have to do with labour. We have for instance the Labour Department which has to do with registration of employment agencies, the Workmen's Compensation Act which deals with the Trade Unions, collective bargaining and so on.

We also have the National Vocational and Technical Institute (NVTI) that trains youths in various skills and then we have the Opportunities and Industrialisation Centre (OIC) that is also in that area as well as the National Development Planning Institute (NDPI) which trains people in management so that work can go on in Ministries and Departments successfully.

Madam Speaker, if you look at what has happened recently, it would appear to me that there is conflict of roles and mandates. Madam Speaker, if we may refer ourselves to page 157 of the Budget Statement presented by the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, paragraph 684 says:

“Madam Speaker, the Ministry i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r h u m a n resource development, creation of employment opportunities,
Mr. S. A. Kwao 1:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
I would like Hon Members to know that I am highly appreciative of all the useful suggestions that they have given. And just to highlight a few since we do not have time, we talked about the Disability Council, the National Tripartite Committee, the release of the District Assemblies Common Fund which I would like to thank the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development for; we hope he would expedite action because it is a problem to the disabled. The Labour Office which is sinking, the realignment of the Ministries, et cetera, we assure them all; these are going to be captured in the Hansard and the Ministry is going to take a serious view of all that, discuss the issue nicely and where they should be placed, we would do so accordingly.
We are therefore pleading with the honourable House to approve our budget so that it can be used to update and improve the lives of our people since the Ministry's activities cut across the whole spectrum of life.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢32,816,982 for the services of the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare for
the 2009 fiscal year.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 1:30 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. G. K. B. Gbediame) 1:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to second the motion and in doing so, I wish to present the Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
1.1 The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the 2009 fiscal year was presented to Parliament by the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor on Thursday, 5th March, 2009 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. The Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources were accordingly referred to the Joint Committee on Lands and Forestry, and Mines and Energy for consideration and report pursuant to Orders 140(4) and 152(b) of the Standing Orders of the House.
1.2 In considering the referral, the Committee met with the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, key officials of the Ministry and the Schedule Officer from the Ministry of Finance. The Committee wishes to express gratitude to the Hon Minister and the officials for their presence at its sitting and lauds them for the assistance.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. G. K. B. Gbediame) 1:30 p.m.


Park was redesigned and reconstructed. Internal directional signs were provided to facilitate movement and observation of wildlife by tourists. The WD re-submitted investment bid for the Digya National Park to the Ministry for revaluation.

5.21 On the issue of institutional capacity development, staff of the Community Collaborative Unit at the Mole National Park were trained to improve their service delivery. In addition, a revised syllabus for training of Wildlife Guards and Rangers was prepared to be implemented during the second half of 2009. A total of one hundred and fifty (150) Wildlife Guards at Bia and Digya National Parks are expected to be trained.

Mines Sub-Sector

Minerals Commission 5.22 The Minerals Commission (MC)

drafted seven (7) regulations under the new Minerals and Mining Act 2006, Act

703.

5.23 The MC issued one hundred and twenty-two (122) licences to small scale mining firms.

5.24 An amount of three hundred and fifty-seven thousand, two hundred and fifty Ghana cedis (GH¢357,250.00) was made available by the MC to small scale miners at Bolgatanga and Bibiani to improve upon their operations.

5.25 The MC also registered sixty thousand (60,000) small scale diamond

winners under the Kimberly Process Registration Scheme.

Geological Survey Department

5.26 The Geological Survey Depart- ment (GSD) gathered data for airborne geophysical surveys of the Keta and Voltaian Basins.

5.27 The GSD also completed geolo- gical mapping in the Eastern, Central, Volta and Upper West Regions to determine their mineral potentials.

6.0 Outlook for 2009

The Table below shows the amounts allocated to the expenditure items with corresponding proportions of the total budget allocation. Lands Sub-Sector

6.1 The drafting of a new Lands Bill aimed at consolidating and updating all land laws is expected to be completed by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

The Lands Commission

6.2 The institutional legal framework under the new Lands Commission Act 2008, Act 767 will be implemented.

6.3 The Commission would open offices at Oda, Obuasi, Tarkwa Goaso, Axim and Winneba. A One-Stop-Shop (OSS) centre would be constructed at Wa in the Upper West Region geared at decentralizing the activities of the Commission.

Land Valuation Board

6.4 The LVB would collaborate with the East Akim Municipal, Adenta Municipal, Atiwa Municipal , Ho Municipal , Ashaiman Municipal and Nkoranza District Assemblies among others to continue the revaluation of properties in order to update values of properties for revenue collection.

6.5 The LVB would also continue with its Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) System to transform all manual record systems into digital.

6.6 The programme of activities of the LVB mentioned above for the year 2009 is aimed at generating a non-tax revenue of three hundred and fifty-five thousand, five hundred and fifty-seven Ghana cedis (GH¢ 355,557.00) and tax revenue of five million, eight hundred and fifty-one thousand, eight hundred Ghana cedis

(GH¢ 5,851,800.00).

Survey Department

6.7 The SD would survey and demarcate boundaries of ten (10) customary lands and would also prepare parcel/cadastral plans for title registration.

6.8 The SD would pursue Ghana's claim to extend its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles. The time-line for this important international exercise is 13th May, 2009. Ghana stands to benefit from about 8 billion barrels of oil in the extended area.

Land Title Registry

6.9 The LTR would continue the registration of all transactions relating to land in some districts to provide accurate information on lands to the public.

Office of the Administrator of

Stool Lands

6.10 The OASL would present the revised version of Act 481 to Parliament for consideration and would additionally finalise the human resource training guidelines for implementation.

6.11 The OASL would open more district offices and collection points in five (5) selected districts in five (5) regions. These are:

i. Greater Accra -- Kpone Kata- manso

ii. Western -- Aowin Suaman

iii. Brong Ahafo-Sunyani West

i v . A s h a n t i - - Ofoase Atwima Kwanwoma v. Eastern-West Akim

6.12 The OASL would fur ther

develop guidelines for the utilization of royalties by District Assemblies to ensure that communities benefit directly from revenues generated from their areas.

Forestry Sub-Sector

Forestry Services Division

6.13 The FSD would continue with its routine inspection of boundaries of lands and would also undertake patrols in forest reserves.

6.14 The Division has targeted to raise about one million (1,000,000) seedlings of various species in its nurseries in addition to twenty-five million, six hundred thousand (25,600,000) seedlings expected to be produced by private and
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. G. K. B. Gbediame) 1:30 p.m.


community tree seedling producers. The activity is expected to increase the national forest cover by twenty thousand (20,000) hectares annually.

6.15 The Timber Industries Develop- ment Division (TIDD) would review and publish prices of exportable wood products and about one thousand, two hundred 1,200 copies of monthly reports on export statistics are expected to be produced and distributed.

6.16 The TIDD would collaborate with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to submit proposals on the creation of a Furniture City in the Tema Multi Purpose Industrial Park.

6.17 The TIDD would also create public awareness of new timber species for building and construction.

Wildlife Division 6.18 A total of sixty-seven (67)

field staff of the WD are expected to be trained by the Mobile Training Unit in weapon handling and Wildlife laws for the effective enforcement, arrest and prosecution of poachers.

6.19. The WD will continue with transboundary collaboration between Kyabobo and adjoining Fazao National Park in Togo. Socio-economic studies would also be carried out to explore the possibility of establishing more Community Resource and Environmental Management Areas (CREMA) around Ankasa Conservation Areas.

Mines Sub-Sector

Minerals Commission

6.20 The MC will continue to explore, exploit and manage the country's mineral resources on sustainable and environ- mentally friendly manner.

6.21 The MC in collaboration with the Sector Ministry will continue to monitor all mining operations as well as exploration companies to ensure compliance with the requisite mining agreements.

6.22 The mineral base of the country would be diversified by the MC to reduce overdependence on the few precious minerals that are mined.

6.23 The MC would draft guidelines on the use of mineral royalties by District and Municipal Assemblies and undertake surveys to establish baseline data on social conflicts in mining communities. Geological Survey Department

6.24 The GSD would also continue the Geological Mapping Project.

6.25 The GSD would start work on the airborne gravity survey of the Keta and Voltaian Basins.

7.0 Estimates for 2009 Fiscal Year

7.1 For the implementation of the activities of the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources and its agencies in the year 2009, an amount of eighty million, thirty-four thousand, two hundred and sixty-seven Ghana cedis (GH¢80,034,267.00) has been allocated. Details of the allocations are indicated in the Appendix.

8.0 Observations/Recommendations

8.1 The Committee observed that a total of eighty million, thirty-four thousand, two hundred and sixty-seven Ghana cedis (GH¢ 80,034,267.00) has

been allocated to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the 2009 fiscal year.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. G. K. B. Gbediame) 1:30 p.m.


The overall allocation exceeds that of year 2008 by 20.8 per cent as a result of the huge Donor component under Investment.

8.2 Whereas there is an increase in the total budget allocation for year 2009 as compared to year 2008, the Committee observed reductions in the GOG allocations for Administration and Service activities by 55.7 per cent and 46.9 per cent respectively. Given these cuts, the Departments and Agencies under the Ministry would have to rely heavily on their Internally Generated Funds (IGF).

8.3 The Committee noted that whereas the Land Valuation Board (LVB) generates substantial amounts of revenue from its operations, it does not have the right to retain some for its activities.

8.4 Similarly, the Survey Department and the Land Title Registry which also generate a lot of revenue suffer the same fate as the LVB. It must be noted that, the SD is indebted to the tune of $2,572,027.26, which constitutes about 64.9 per cent of the total debt owed by eight (8) member States to the Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys (RECTAS). The Committee therefore recommends that steps must be taken by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Finance to enable the afore- mentioned agencies to retain a proportion of their IGF.

8.5 The VPA needs to be brought to Parliament for ratification in accordance with article 75 of the 1992 Constitution.

8.6 In view of the huge potential benefit that Ghana stands to gain from the extended continental shelf claim, the Committee urges the Sector Ministry to avail the SD the needed resources to

pursue this project.

8.7 The Committee further noted a backlog of estimates of properties awaiting approval at the LVB. This problem has arisen as a result of the dissolution of the Governing Board of the LVB. The Committee therefore calls on the new Government to expedite action on the constitution of a new Governing Board.

8.8 The Committee also noted with grave concern, the backlog in the submission of Annual Reports by the Lands Commission, the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands and the Forestry Commission. The Committee requests for immediate reversal of the situation.

8.9 The Committee also noted that a large number of expatriates work in the mining sector at the expense of the indigenes. Indeed, the situation does not help at absorbing the large number of unemployed population in the mining communities. Further, there are great disparities in salaries and general conditions of service between expatriates and local hands with same skill.

The Committee recommends to the Minerals Commission to put in place programmes geared at developing local skills in the mining communities. This will ensure availability of competent local skills in the industry and promote employment. The Committee also recommends that mining companies which employ indigenes should ensure fairness and equity in the salary and conditions of service for both expatriates and indigenes.

8.10 The Committee further noted that, a total of two million, four hundred and fifty-six thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢2,456,000.00) was allocated under HIPC funds of the Ministry to the Minerals Commission in 2008 for the implementation of livelihood empowerment programmes in five

communities within the Prestea-Huni- Valley area. The Committee demands that, proper monitoring and evaluation should be carried out to ensure accountability.

8.11 The Committee learnt that, the 1958 Geological Map of the country has since not been revised. The Committee urges the GDS to intensify efforts at commissioning a new Geological Map that will provide the requisite current information for investors interested in exploiting the mineral resources of the country.

8.12 The Committee was informed by officials of the GSD that strong motion equipment fitted at the Country's Hydro Dams have outlived their usefulness. This situation poses a major threat to the Dams. The Committee therefore recommends that, the GSD be provided with the needed resources to acquire the necessary equipment to monitor earthquakes to forestall disasters.

9.0 Conclusion

9.1 The Committee recommends to the House to approve the sum of eighty million, thirty-four thousand, two hundred and sixty-seven Ghana cedis (GH¢ 80,034,267.00) for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the 2009 fiscal year.

Respectfully submitted.

Question proposed.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo (NPP - Amenfi East) 1:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to support the motion on the floor. But before then I want to make this observation that the Report before us is not a joint-committee Report. Madam Speaker, this Report
is a merger of Reports. We never met as a joint committee. Madam Speaker, and in the introduction to the Report, the first paragraph, the last line refers to the Standing Orders of the House.
Madam Speaker, the Report refers to only Standing Order 152(b), and Standing Order 152(b) actually refers to the Committee on Lands and Forestry of the House. The virtual absence of Standing Order 152(o) which should refer to the Committee on Mines and Energy has not been captured in this Report. And as I indicated, we never met as a joint committee. But of course, somehow the observations by the Committee on Mines and Energy had been smuggled into this Report. We would comment on that any way.
Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho 1:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am a member of the Committee on Mines and Energy. We actually met. Because of the realignment of the Ministries the mining sector has not been pushed through. But the Committee on Mines and Energy met as a Committee and we looked at it. In actual fact, we have the mandate to look at the mining sector by virtue of the Committee on Mines and Energy. So all that we did was that the Committee on Mines and Energy submitted what we had done to the Committee on Lands and Forestry to add to their Report.
But for the Hon Member to use the word “smuggled”, I think that the connotation of the word is not proper. It looks as if no work has been done on it and then it found its way into the Report in a certain way as if there is some illegality with regard to that report findings. So he should withdraw the word “smuggled” and maybe use another word. But actually, the Committee of this House looked at the mining sector.
Madam Speaker 1:50 p.m.
Hon Member, the word “smuggled”.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 1:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I
withdraw that.
Madam Speaker 1:50 p.m.
Yes. Thank you.
Hon Member, can I interrupt you?
Hon Members, having regard to the
state of business of the House, Sitting will be held outside the prescribed period in accordance with Standing Order 40 (3).
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 1:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, with regard to the compensation to original landowners which the Government is pursuing, we realised that the allocation of money for the Ministry to pursue this important objective is woefully inadequate.
Madam Speaker, this issue has become a very contentious matter in the public domain and we know what is happening now, particularly in Accra. And the Government has taken pains already to inventories of some parcels of lands in Nungua - the Nungua lands, we have some portions of Accra Training College and a number of places in Accra.
Madam Speaker, the original owners are now very anxious to have the reversionary rights to their lands. Unfor-tunately, the money that has been given to the Ministry to ensure a speedy process of giving back these parcels of land to their original owners will be stalled or will be held back because these moneys are not enough.
Madam Speaker, apart from that, there is an indication that some of these lands have been encroached upon. The Ministry intends to regularise such lands for those who are occupying them. And there is an indication that the regularisation will go with some penalty. Madam Speaker, I want
to believe that whatever penalty is going to be issued will be very severe to deter people from encroaching on public lands in the future. Otherwise, the purpose for which such lands were actually acquired will not be served.
Madam Speaker, another area that I would want to touch on is the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union (EU). Last year, the Ministry attempted bringing this Agreement to the House for ratification and it was not done. The Committee is reminding the Hon Minister in charge to ensure that the Agreement which had been signed between Ghana and the European Union is brought to the House for ratification. We are only asking that the Hon Minister facilitates the process of bringing this important Agreement for the House's consideration.
Another issue which I would also want to touch on is the seismic equipment for Geological Survey Department. Madam Speaker, last year I made a Statement on this particular issue on the floor of the House. At the moment that equipment is not functioning and therefore should there be any earth tremor or any earthquake the equipment cannot sense it and then respond to what is happening.
Madam Speaker, for the whole Geological Survey Department, only GH¢120,000 has been allocated for investment. This amount is woefully inadequate. The seismic equipment by estimation will cost over US$2 million. So to provide GH¢120,000 as the total investment for the Geological Survey Department, I believe, will not make any effect.
We are therefore asking the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning - because this is a very, very important equipment. It is the equipment that senses any earth movement along all
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 1:50 p.m.


the water bodies in the country, including the Weija Dam and even the Akosombo Dam; it is the equipment which gives the early warning signals. We want the Minister to look at this important facility which this country needs very dearly.

Madam Speaker, one thing which we also noted during our meeting was that most of the institutions under the Ministry have defaulted in brining their annual reports to this House for consideration. And it is very, very important -- because we actually do not know how they are spending moneys that have been given to them over the previous years. And for which reason, at this year's budget sitting, we found it extremely difficult approving their budget.

We want to sound this warning to these institutions, basically the Lands Commission, the Forestry Commission and then the Administrator of Stool Lands to ensure that such reports are brought to the House for consideration before we take the next annual budget, that is in November this year. I believe that they will take this warning in good faith.

Madam Speaker, with these few words, I would urge the honourable House to support the motion in approving the sum of GH¢80,034,267 for the services of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the 2009 fiscal year.
MR. FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 2 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
heard rightly the Hon Member say that he was seeking for approval of those sums of money for the Ministry of Forestry, Wildlife, Mines and Energy. We do not have any Ministry like that in this country at the moment. Unless maybe, he has a different Ministry in mind he is referring to or he is trying to create a new Ministry for Hon Collins Dauda, he should tell us. Ministry of Forestry, Wildlife, Mines and Energy, this is a very strange Ministry.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Hon
Member, how did you describe the Ministry?
Rev. (Dr.) Asare-Akoto: Mr. Speaker,
I said it is the Ministry for Lands and Forestry, Mines and Energy and Natural Resources.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Hon
Member, look at item (9) on the Order Paper; the description of the Ministry is there. The name of the Ministry whose estimates we are considering is there.
Rev. (Dr.) Asare-Akoto: Lands and
Natural Resources, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Very
well, proceed.
Rev. (Dr.) Asare-Akoto: Mr. Speaker,
permit me to go back to the beginning of
beginnings when God created the heaven and the earth. The Good Book says that God created man in his own likeness and God put man in the garden called Eden and in this garden was a forest where there was wildlife and there were also natural resources and God gave man specific instructions that the land must be tilled, cultivated and also must be preserved against every form of destruction.
given land and there is the need for us to preserve this land of ours. But there have been so many challenges that this land of ours is facing; this land of ours is facing a lot of bushfires
Mr. K. B. Manu 2 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, the Hon Member has just said that Ghana is our Eden. But according to the Good Book that he is trying to quote, in that Eden there was a tree whose fruits we were not to touch; Adam and Eve were not to touch. Could he tell us which tree we have in the Ghana Eden? [Laughter.]
Rev. (Dr.) Asare-Akoto: Mr. Speaker,
there are so many things we do not need to touch in this nation. Mr. Speaker, our God-given land is being destroyed by so many things. Our God-given land is being destroyed by bushfires, which is also affecting productivity, our God-given land is being degraded by illegal galamsey mining and there are so many other things that are going on with our God-given land, with land litigations which are affecting the peace of the land.
Mr. Speaker, we need to preserve these God-given things in order to have a sustainable development for our motherland. In view of this, we need to empower this particular Ministry because I see this Ministry as the foundation of all the other Ministries; if any Ministry has to
Mr. K. B. Manu 2 p.m.


be constructed, it has to be built on a land.

I therefore recommend that and I also crave the indulgence of Hon Members to approve this budgetary allocation for this Ministry to operate and render effective service to the nation; looking at their mission's objectives and performance and their pressing needs of interventions.

Mr. Speaker, I am done and I thank you.
Mr. Benito Owusu 2 p.m.
None

Atwima-Nwabiagya): Mr. Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the motion on the floor.

Mr. Speaker, in doing so I would like to draw Hon Members attention to page 15 of the Report, item (8.2) and with your permission I would like to quote some few lines there:

“Whereas there is an increase in the total budget allocation for year 2009 as compared to year 2008 the Committee observed reductions in the GOG allocation for Admi- nistration and Service activities by 55.7 per cent and 46.9 per cent respectively. Given these cuts, the Departments and Agencies under the Ministry would have to rely heavily on their Internally Generated Funds (IGF).”

Mr. Speaker, interestingly enough,

the Land Valuation Board the Land Title Registry and the Survey Department do not have any mandate to retain any IGFs. So this becomes a serious issue.

Mr. Speaker, funny enough, the Lands Valuation Board, especially generates a lot of revenue for this country. These revenues that are generated are collected on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), especially those which relate to stamp duties and processing fees. Mr. Speaker, they do not retain anything, but the IRS which receives the money

is allowed to retain some portion of this money.

Mr. Speaker, what it means is that they are not being treated fairly at all. In both departments we have professionals. If you look at the IRS, they have accountants there, likewise the Lands Valuation Board; we have professional valuers there. They must be seen to be given the same treatment.
Mr. Avedzi 2:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I just want
to remind my Hon Colleague that those collections are taxes that are not supposed to be given to the department that collects them. In any case the retention by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is what they use for their personal emolument, Administration Service and Investments. They are not allocated anything apart from that but the department that he is talking of is given allocation from the Consolidated Fund. So it is the same thing that is happening but because they are taxes, they cannot be allowed to retain it but rather it must go to IRS. So I just want to remind him.
Mr. Owusu-Bio 2:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think
this brings us back to the same issue. They need money and we have been told their service and administration budget has been cut and because of that they will need to fall on IGF. The IGF they do not have, so where do they fall? That is the problem that we are talking of.
Mr. Speaker, also most of the services that are rendered by the Land Valuation Board, especially for the Municipal and t District Assemblies are not given anything in return and this, I think is something that we need to look into because these are professional services and at least the Municipal and District Assemblies must pay something to the Land Valuation Board.
Then we come to the Survey Department. Mr. Speaker, in the Report mention was made of the fact that we need to, as soon as possible, make arrangement for the extension of our continental shelf in the sea so that this nation will be able to expand our sea coverage which we all know that is where the oil lies. Mr. Speaker, this must be treated expeditiously so that at least we benefit from it other than that our neighbouring countries will take advantage of it and they will end up acquiring those areas.
On this note, Mr. Speaker, I would end here.
Alhaji Dauda 2:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank hon. Members - [Interruption.]
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, as you would have observed, all the contributors have spoken on Lands and Forestry because they belong originally to that Committee. None of them have spoken on mines and I thought that we give opportunity for one or two Hon Members to speak on mine issues before closing the chapter. But of course it is subject to your discretion.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I will give two minutes to the Member of the Committee to say a few things on the mining sector.
Mrs. Gifty E. Kusi (NPP 2:10 p.m.
None

Nsuaem): Mr. Speaker, we on the Mines

and Energy Committee looked at the Mines sub-sector and realized that there are some issues that have been cropping up since last session and then we heard from the Minerals Commission that they had put something together to regulate the Alternative Livelihood Schemes of the mining companies. I realize that some mining companies are doing well while others are just handing over something just peanuts or something that we can describe as meagre to communities because there is no regulation.

The Minerals Commission has put something together and they are not implementing that. But I think I want to urge the Minister since he is here that he has to look at this issue of Alternative Livelihood Schemes because the mining law did not put a particular percentage. But we are looking forward to some regulations to do that and the Minerals Commission has done that since last year and they are not implementing it because it has not yet come to Parliament for us to regularize the whole thing.

This issue of alternative livelihood is being done by some mining companies very well, while others are not doing it well, that is why I wanted to put in this intervention.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
Thank
you very much, Hon Member.
Alhaji Dauda 2:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am very
grateful to Hon Members for the interest they have shown in this sector. I also take note of the concerns that have been raised this afternoon.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to assure the House that I will collaborate with Hon Members, particularly members of the Committee in addressing the issues they have raised.
Alhaji Dauda 2:10 p.m.


Mr. Speaker, I thank you very much and urge Hon Members to approve of the estimates for me.

Question put and motion agreed to.

Resolved:

That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢80,034,267.00 for the services of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the 2009 fiscal year.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 2:10 p.m.
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 2:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion and in doing so, let me start by expressing my gratitude to the Hon Professor Gyan-Baffuor who chaired the Special Budget Committee in my absence and did a very good job in presenting all these reports. We are extremely grateful.
1.0 Introduction
The Minister for Finance presented the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2009 to the House on Thursday, 5th March 2009 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.
Pursuant to Order 140 (4) of the Standing Orders of the House, the Speaker referred the draft annual budget estimates for the Public Services Commission (PSC) to the Special Budget Committee for consideration and report.
The Committee met with the Chairman of the Commission and officials from PSC and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) to discuss the said estimates and accordingly reports as follows:
2.0 Background
2.1 Reference Documents
The Committee referred to the
following documents:
The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
The Standing Orders of the House;
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2009 Financial Year; The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana
for the 2008 Financial Year;
The 2008 Annual Estimates for the Public Services Commission.
3.0 Mandate of the Public Services Commission
The PSC exists to safeguard and promote integrity, accountability and competence in public services in Ghana through the rendering of advisory, consultative, regulatory and supervisory services.
In pursuance of this, the PSC envisions to become an autonomous body whose advice and opinions are respected and recognized as authoritative and indicative of best practices in human resource management and development. Ultimately, the Commission aims to ensure compe-tence and professionalism whilst ridding the Public Services of corruption, nepotism and favouritism.
The PSC hopes to actualize or execute this mandate through the following objectives, which are in line with the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy:
Promote the development of manpower, increase and sustain opportunities;
Establish and maintain a compu- terized personnel information system in the Public Service;
Rationalize and define structures, roles and procedures for per- formance management in the Public Service;
Ensure the expeditious resolution of grievances of Public Servants; and
Strengthen the institutional capacity of the PSC to fulfil its constitutional mandate.
4.0 Performance in 2008

The Public Services Commission in 2008 undertook the following:

Initiated measures towards the establishment of databank on human resources in the Public Service; and

Completed guidelines on specific human resource management issues for effective management of Public Service Institutions.

5.0 Outlook for 2009

The Commission intends to focus on its statutory functions to enhance service delivery to client organizations and the general public. To this end the Commis- sion plans to:

Organize a briefing and orientation workshop for New Government Ministers and Presidential Aides on Public Service processes, proce- dures and practices; Organise seminars on corporate governance for governing boards of client organizations of the Commission;

Develop and implement a perfor- mance management system for public institutions as well as establish public sector human resource performance benchmarks and assessment procedures; and

Organize a workshop to introduce more efficient personnel perfor- mance appraisal system in the public service and develop new institutional performance manage- ment instrument.

6.0 Estimates for 2009

An amount of GH¢1,895,727 has been allocated the Public Service Commission for 2009, an increase of GH¢1,265,834 or 67 per cent over the 2008 figure of
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 2:20 p.m.


The Committee, after careful exami- nation of the draft estimates, accordingly recommends to the House to approve the sum of one million, eight hundred and ninety-five thousand, seven hundred and twenty-seven Ghana cedis (GH¢1,895,727) for the Public Services Commission to perform its functions for the 2009 financial year.

Respectfully submitted.

Question proposed.
Prof. G. Y. Gyan-Baffour (NPP -- Wenchi) 2:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of the motion that this House approves the sum of GH¢1,895,727.00
for the services of the Public services Commission for the 2009 fiscal year.
Just as the Majority Leader and Chairman of the Committee said, the Public Services Commission, its functions are mainly providing service to members of the public services and these include, for instance, organizing a briefing and orientation workshops for new Government Ministers and Presidential Aides and public service processes; that is what they are going to do this year. Organize seminars on corporate governance, develop and implement performance management systems.
Mr. Speaker, when you look at what they do, it is about workshops; they do it through workshops and interactions with public officials. So if the idea is to reduce the number of workshops that we organize

do the review to enable us look at this again. Thank you very much for what you have done.

Question put and motion agreed to.

Resolved:

That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢1,895,727.00 for the services of the Public Services Commission (PSC) for the 2009 fiscal year.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 2:20 p.m.
Minister for Finance and Economic Planning (Dr. Kwabena Duffuor) 2:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢24,904,054.00 for the services of the Audit Service for the 2009 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, the Ghana Audit Service is an independent organization, constitutionally mandated to promote good governance, through the audits to ensure transparency, probity and accountability in the utilization of public funds.
The Service in 2009, will continue to audit the Central Government accounts, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), District Assemblies, Pre- University Educational Institutions, Public Boards and Corporations in the country and issue the Auditor-General's report to Parliament.
The Service will conduct a procurement audit of the National Health Insurance Scheme Fund, the District Assemblies Common Fund and the Millennium Development Authority.
For the various activities to be
undertaken this year by the Audit Service, I humbly request for the approval of the sum of GH¢24,904,054.00 for the services of Ghana Audit Service for the 2009 fiscal year.
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 2:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion and in doing so present the Report of the Committee.
1.0 Introduction
The Minister for Finance and Economic Planning presented the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2009 to the House on Thursday, 5th March 2009 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.
Pursuant to Order 140 (4) of the Standing Orders of the House, the Speaker referred the draft annual budget estimates of the Audit Service to the Special Budget Committee for consideration and report.
The Committee met with the Deputy Auditor-General and officials from the Audit Service and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and discussed the said estimates and accordingly reports as follows:
2.0 Background
2.1 Reference Documents
The Committee referred to the following documents:
i. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
ii. The Standing Orders of the House;
iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Po l icy o f the
Dr. Duffuor 2:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Members of both sides of the House for approving this sum of money for the Public Services Commission.
We have taken note of their concerns and we hope that the size of the envelope will grow between now and the time we
Dr. Duffuor 2:30 p.m.
The Committee wishes to appeal to the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning that in fulfilment of H.E. the President's commitment to ensure that adequate funds are made available to IGIs, the Audit Service should be given special consideration since its work is also vital to realizing the President's quest for eliminating waste in the system.
8.0 Conclusion
The Committee, after careful exami-
nation of the draft estimates, accordingly recommends to the House for approval, the sum of twenty-four million, nine hundred and four thousand, and fifty-four Ghana cedis (GH¢24,904,054) for the Audit Service for the 2009 financial year.
Respectfully submitted.
Question proposed.

Prof. George Yaw Gyan-Baffuor

(NPP - Wenchi): Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of the motion on the floor. That

from Wenchi, Prof. Gyan-Baffour.

Mr. Speaker, there is a matter that I want to bring to the attention of the Leadership of this House including your goodself, Mr. Speaker. They are issues relating to the position of the Auditor- General that has haunted this House for a long time and continues to haunt us. For that reason, a lot of reports have not officially been able to come to us for us to look at.

I recall sometime last year, all the donors were reluctant to disburse the amounts that were earmarked for the country because the Auditor-General reports, for certain years, could not be reconciled. We know recently there was an issue relating to the current Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, this matter is very serious. This House needs to resolve this matter so that the Public Accounts Committee can begin to look at reports coming from the Auditor-General's office. This is because if for some reasons the same House is questioning the authenticity of that position, it needs to be resolved; otherwise we will all be caught up in not being able to look at any report from the Auditor-General.

So I plead with the Leadership of the House to take up this matter seriously. If we do not do that we will not be able to move forward with any work of the Public Accounts Committee. I think it is a matter that - we need to be apprised of the position of the Auditor-General. Is he or is he not the Auditor-General? If he is, then the report should be coming to the House. If he is not, then the proper steps need to be taken to have a proper Auditor-General so that this House can move on.

Then there is this last matter of the Auditor-General having to be called before some sub-committee on Assets Transition

Committee without the report coming before the House. These are grey areas that do not augur well for this Parliament and this country. If there are matters that need to be resolved, it needs to be done, so that we can begin to do our work properly.

In spite of that, I see that they only met the Deputy Auditor-General; presumably, that issue is still standing, and I think the sooner we are advised of this matter the better.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, I think that he has raised an issue that, you know, I am very much aware of; but you are the Chairman of the Business Committee, do you have anything to say before I call the Hon Minority Leader?
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 2:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, this issue was resolved long ago; long, long ago. And in fact, the House was informed by then Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, the Hon Sallas-Mensah, of the resolution of the matter, and that the Committee was now receiving the reports. In fact, we tried urging the then Majority Leader to Chair the Business Committee to programme the reports that were submitted to the House; but we were told at that time, that there was so much pressure on the House that there was no space for those reports to be laid.
So we have a backlog, and in fact, the Chairman wrote to the Auditor-General asking for reports on the forensic audits that they had conducted; and they are very many. We have not received the forensic audits. It is just recent that we read in the newspapers that, one, as you referred, was made available to the Clerk's Office. And therefore, it has to pass through the normal processes to come before the Business Committee before we can programme them to be laid in the House.
But as at now, we are caught with
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 2:30 p.m.


is motion 13, that this House approves the sum of GH¢24,904,054.00 for the services of the Audit Service for the 2009 fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, similarly, this institution that actually renders service should not suffer in Item 3; but again, we have that problem with the Audit Service where their vote for last year's service has been cut by about 49-50 per cent.

So as the Majority Leader has actually urged the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, I think in fulfilment of His Excellency the President's commitment to ensure that adequate funds are made available to these Independent Governance Institutions (IGIs), the Audit Service should be given special consideration since its work is also vital to the realization of the President's quest for eliminating waste

in the system.

Nonetheless, as we cannot do much about it now, we will only appeal to the Hon Finance Minister to help us help Audit Service to perform their functions efficiently.

On that note, I urge all our Hon Members, on both sides of the aisle, to support motion number 13 as appearing in the Order Paper for today.

Mr. Speaker, thank you.
Dr. A.A. Osei (NPP - Old Tafo) 2:30 p.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I support the concerns that have just been expressed by my Hon. Colleague
Prof. Gyan-Baffour 2:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon Dr. Akoto Osei asked whether or not that was the reason the Auditor-General himself did not appear. In fact, when I chaired it, I was also concerned that he did not appear. So I was going to actually stop the meeting but they told me that he was outside town or doing something that is why he could not come. So the next morning, he called me to say that he was not in town, or he was not available that was why he did not come but not because of our concern about his status. So I think that is the issue.
Minority Leader (Mr. Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 2:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the understanding that I had last year when this matter came up was that, the matter had been withdrawn from court and that would allow us to consider the report. But I am being told by the Majority Leader that that is not the case. So if that is not the case, maybe we have to take a position on that, and then to really avail ourselves of the opportunity of looking at the reports from the Auditor-General. But I thought
I heard it loud and clear when the matter came up the other day for discussion in this House that the matter had been withdrawn from court.
Mr. Speaker, be that as it may, as I said, the important thing is for the reports to come to Parliament, and then we will know what to do with them when they do come.
Mr. Speaker, my concern relates to the amount that has been given to the Audit Service: GH¢24,904,054 as contrasted with last year's of GH¢20,795,665, there appears to be some increase. But Mr. Speaker, really, if one should depreciate this figure by the level of inflation which the Hon Finance Minister and Economic Planning stated to be 16.5 per cent average, I believe the figure that we will have will be less than the amount which was allocated last year.
And so in real terms, the amount that has been given to the Audit Service is lesser in quantum than the amount that was given last year. Mr. Speaker, I believe --
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Hon
Minority Leader, have you done the calculation? What is the value in real terms?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 p.m.
The value
is not the same - [Laughter.]Mr. Speaker.
Dr. Osei 2:40 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr.
Speaker, I just want to see if I understand my Leader. If the average was 16.5 and we are being told in the Report that the increase is 20.36, then the 20.36 is definitely higher than 16. So I do not see
how there would be a drop in the value of the allocation.
On page 5 they talk about a 20.36 per cent increase, the average inflation, 16.5. Clearly, there is a real improvement by its definition of three per cent at least. So I am not sure if you are talking about the same numbers or not. I just want to be clear from my Leader if that is the import so that we can follow his argument.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
On these
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 p.m.
Mr.
Speaker, he may be right. I took a cursory look at it, I have not really done the calculations and so he being more finance inclined, he would, I believe, be in a position to give us the exact figure. And so I will yield to him in this matter.
But really, even by that, one realizes that there is not much appreciation in the figure over last year's. In any event the increase is not 20 per cent plus but the increase really, that is where the variance is; GH¢4,107,389, that is the variance.
So Mr. Speaker, percentage-wise, I agree with him that it has gone up but I was talking about the real amount if we take into consideration the level of inflation. He says that there is at least a 3 per cent increase and I may yield to him on that. I thought I was talking about the real amount but as you said, I do not think we need to litigate this matter because as he said even if it is 3 per cent or 4 per cent, it is still up except that I am saying it is not significant. That is the point I am making.
Mr. Speaker, every year we have bemoaned the fact that because the Auditor-General spreads himself thinly
over all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), they are not at the end of the day very diligent in auditing the accounts of these MDAs.
Elsewhere in some other countries, at the end of the year, certain key Ministries, Departments and Agencies are targeted for auditing and so they would be able to do a more in depth auditing of these MDAs and that would yield, in my view, greater dividend rather than spreading ourselves thinly over all these Central Government accounts, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, District Assemblies, pre- university and tertiary institutions, public boards and corporations in the country, all of these plus lots more.
So Mr. Speaker, I would urge as I did last year, that we should pursue this path and I believe the nation would be better for it if we stick to that.
Mr. Speaker, the final thing that I want to talk about relates to what Dr. Akoto Osei mentioned; that the report of the Transitional Team, I believe Parliament should put in a request so that we are all able to know what is contained in it. It is not anything that cannot be done. We could do it because we all need to know the level of take-off of this Administration. So Mr. Speaker, I believe it is with these few observations that I want to support the motion on the floor.
I thank you for your indulgence.
Mr. Bagbin 2:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, just to
clarify an issue that has been raised by my Colleague, the Minority Leader. The report of the Transitional Team is an administrative report to be given to -- Whether involving Auditor-General or whatever, it is an administrative report to be given to the President. This adminis-trative report cannot be brought to Parliament for Members to know, it is from that end that it can be, if the need be and there are issues to be audited and that kind of thing; it would be properly routed
Mr. Bagbin 2:40 p.m.


through the constitutionally mandated body to do that. And from there, we can get the access.

But as at now, the report cannot be made available to the House. If you set up an administrative committee to report to you, they would submit the report to you. It cannot be made available to Parliament. That cannot be the case.
Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah 2:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I just wanted it to be on record that we are most encouraged by the statement that the Majority Leader has made that the Transitional Team's report is only an administrative one, not the result of any investigation and that if some investigation is needed the Government would take it on from there and we are not going to see pronouncements coming out of there. So I just want it to be on record that many, many Ghanaians would be encouraged by the positive statement that he has made.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 2:40 p.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for this opportunity. I am also grateful for the statement made by the Hon Majority Leader. But I have also got a problem. We have heard contrary statements from elsewhere. I do not know the capacity in which the Majority Leader is making this statement. Assuming he was the Leader of Government Business in the House, I could say that he is speaking on behalf of Government but he is the Majority Leader, he is not even a Minister. So he cannot be said to be speaking on behalf of Government on the floor of the House. He can only be speaking for the Majority party. I believe yesterday a certain point was made. It is also in the interest of this House that we are able to as it were, accept some of these statements and work with them.
So Mr. Speaker, I am taking this
opportunity, in the interest of good governance of this country, that it may assist His Excellency the President if he confers certain powers and titles on the Majority Leader so that when he speaks we can say that he is echoing the sentiments of H.E. the President.
I thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Thank
you very much. I am also encouraged with regard to the expression of gratitude to the statement being made by the Majority Leader but I can assure you that he is in charge of Government Business in this House. Yes, he is in charge of Government Business in this House.
Hon Minister for Finance and Economic
Planning kindly wind up.
Dr. Duffuor 2:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you
for giving me this opportunity to wind up. Mr. Speaker, we have taken note of the comments and contributions from the floor. We at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning are mindful of the importance of the Audit Service and therefore will do all that we can to enable this Service maintain the integrity of the public sector and all its finances. We are therefore urging you to approve the said amount.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Owusu-Agyemang -- rose --
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢24,904,054.00 for the services of the Audit Service for the 2009 fiscal year.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:50 p.m.
Before
I go to the Hon Majority Leader, Hon Member for New Juaben North, you have been on your feet for sometime.
Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 2:50 p.m.
Rt. Hon. Speaker -- [Laughter] -- I was just looking through this book and I realized that this is your fifth term. There are only five of you. I happen to be a fourth termer. I did not know that you were such a “Maradona” - Rt. Hon Speaker - [Laughter.]
You knew that I wanted to comment on that statement and you have now let it pass and you called me - [Laughter.] I was going to make a comment on the issue of the Majority Leader and also your statement. I just want to say that the statements that you make are authoritative and we take it as such. And so from now on I will at least on my side understand that my very good Friend, Rt. Hon Alban Sumani Bagbin, a Member of Parliament - [Interruption.] Not Rt. Honourable?
Well, you see when you are using the British system and you are in the front bench you are Rt. Hon, so it is all right. He indeed speaks on authority for the Government and that indeed he is the Government Spokesperson. So whatever he says we can hold him to account by way of our own Committee of the Standing Orders.
So I just want us to know this so that next time round he does not say no, it is Majority Leader who is our leader. This is a very distinguished House and our leader once he has been given a designation it can never be taken away from him. We are very happy that it has now been recognized that he is the leader of Government Business in this House and he speaks authoritatively for the Government.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 2:50 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin) 2:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion and in doing so present the Report of the Committee.
1.0 Introduction
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2009 was presented to the House on Thursday, 5th March 2009 by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.
Pursuant to Order 140 (4) of the Standing Orders of the House, the draft annual budget estimates for the Office

of the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) was referred to the Special Budget Committee for consideration and report.

The Commit tee met wi th the Administrator and his staff and officials of MOF and discussed the said estimates and accordingly reports as follows:

2.0 Background

2.1 Reference Documents

The Committee referred to the

following documents:

The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;

The Standing Orders of the House;

The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2009 Financial Year.

The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2008 Financial Year;

The 2008 Annual Estimates for the District Assemblies Common Fund.

3.0 Mandate of DACF

The Office of the DACF exists to equitably distribute part of the national tax revenue to the District Assemblies for development. This is achieved through:

Developing an agreed sharing formula for approval by Parliament;

Administering and distributing monies allocated into the Common Fund to the District Assemblies in accordance with the approved
Prof. G. Y. Gyan-Baffour (NPP - Wenchi) 2:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I also rise to support the motion. Mr. Speaker, the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator has the mandate to develop an agreed sharing formula for approval by Parliament. He also is in charge of distributing moneys allocated to him for the Common Fund to the District Assemblies and of course to Members of Parliament and to ensure fairness, equity and transparency in the distribution and administration of this Fund.
Mr. Speaker, just as the Majority Leader rightly said, the resources to do this job effectively is not there and therefore we all have to entreat the Finance Minister to give him the necessary resources; because when you look at the 2009 Services the money that he is going to use is about GH¢1,644.00. Mr. Speaker, maybe the salary of the two of us will cover that amount. So, I think something needs to be done to ensure that he can do this work effectively and also ensure that there is fairness in the distribution process.
I am sure he is going to appear before us tomorrow and I hope that even with this meagre sum of money he will be able to appear before us. Maybe tomorrow he will

appear before us to ensure that we actually approve of the formula.

On that note, I urge everybody in the House to approve the sum of GH¢182,350.00 for the services of the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator for this financial year.
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor 3 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, we are mindful of the concerns expressed by Hon Members and we would do all that we can to resource the Administrator to do his job.
Thank you very much. I urge Hon Members therefore to approve this amount for him to start his job.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
Hon Minister, I need your guidance. The motion talks about fiscal year and the Report talks about financial year. Is there any difference? Hon Minister, you know I like consistency. Several of the Committee's report are talking about financial year but the motions are talking about fiscal year. Are they the same?
Dr. Duffuor 3 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, when we
are talking about government business, we normally use fiscal year and when we are talking about commercial business - companies, we refer to that as financial year. So that is the difference.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
Thank
you very much. The Clerks office should take note accordingly.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Preventive Department to combat smuggling activities.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in a bid to improve revenue collection will continue with the automation of its offices which will reduce tax evasion and avoidance.
Mr. Speaker, the Value Added Tax (VAT) Service will enhance the implementation of the Communications Service Tax, expand points of preference throughout the country and fully implement the cash register initiative. The Service will continue to streamline the VAT rate scheme and ensure that only retailers take advantage of this scheme.
Mr. Speaker, the Revenue Agencies Governing Board will continue with the ongoing special tax audits to cover medium and small-scale businesses in the informal sector including individuals. The Board will also deepen and enhance its tax education programmes for the public.
The Ministry will initiate appropriate measures for the establishment of the National Revenue Authority to consolidate the reforms as promised in the Budget.
Mr. Speaker, for all these activities which we want the Agencies to undertake this year, I humbly request the sum of GH¢141,342,140.00 for the services of the Revenue Agencies for the 2009 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr.
J. K. Avedzi): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to second the motion to approve the sum allocated for the Revenue Agencies Governing Board. And in doing so, I present the Report of your Committee.
1.0 Introduction
The 2009 Annual Estimates of the Revenue Agencies were laid in the House on Thursday, 5th March, 2009 and referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report in accordance with article 179 of the Constitution and Orders 140 (5) and 169 of the Standing Orders of the House. This referral followed the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the 2009 Financial Year by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Hon Dr. Kwabena Duffuor.
The Committee met and examined the Estimates with the Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Hon Seth Terkper, Executive Secretary of the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB), Mr. Harry Owusu, Commissioners of the Revenue Agencies, the Director of Budget and a technical team from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and hereby submits this report.
1.1 Reference Documents
i. The 1992 Constitution of the Re-public of Ghana;
ii. The Standing Orders of the House;
iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Po l icy o f the Government for the 2009 Financial Year.
2.0 Background
The Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB) as established by an Act of Parliament, 1998, (Act 558) is a central
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 3 p.m.
Mr. D. B. A. Nitiwul (NPP - Bimbilla) 3 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion
Mr. E. T. Mensah 3:10 p.m.
On a point of
order. Mr. Speaker, the Hon Member is misleading this House. This issue has been discussed extensively and he understands it. We brought something to increase rate - [Interruption] - No, no, no. When we were going to reintroduce those duties on specific food items. Then we came here and I said it had been stood down. I was the one who stood it down here, Mr. Speaker was around.
I am telling him that it was filed on the Order Paper and when Madam Speaker called that item I got up and told her it was stood down for further consultation. I do not know why he is in a hurry to let us introduce it and create confusion. So he is totally out of order. It is not relevant to the issue on the floor.
Dr. A. A. Osei 3:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to my very Senior Colleague, it is true this matter has come up. The Majority Leader, if he will recall, has also come up and advised us that the Hon Minister would come with a proper motion. The Hon Minister said he does not intend to bring it back, but we were advised that in this House, once the Bill has been laid, he has to come properly with a motion to withdraw that Bill which was laid before us. It is no longer his discretion, that is what we were told by the Majority Leader and the Hansard will accurately capture it.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 3:10 p.m.
Hon Members, I think that we should not belabour this point. This issue has been argued on the floor of this House several times and I remember, sitting there, I took part in it but I cannot take part here [Laughter.] So Hon Member I think leave that matter now and move to another issue for now.
Mr. Nitiwul 3:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I will just
go on to say that it is good that the revenue agencies would want to automate their offices particularly the Internal Revenue Services (IRS). I think that during the vetting of the Hon Minister, he mentioned that he would want to see that exercise expanded to all the agencies and that would be very good because that would help bring in a lot of taxes. I am sure that the Hon Minister would also turn his attention, plus the agencies, and look at the informal sector of this economy because they carry about 80 per cent of the population and many do not pay taxes either because they sneak through the tax nets or for whatever reason. We should encourage them.
Along the line the Committee also observed that the Revenue Agencies particularly the IRS should find a way of enticing the Ghanaian public to let it be easier for them to file their tax returns or make it attractive. We should be ingenious to find a way of making it very attractive for them to file their tax returns so that at least, people will be happy paying taxes and seeing that this economy grows.
Mr. Speaker, I do not want to talk too much because this is something that I urge the House to accept. So I urge that the House adopts and passes this Report that GH¢141,342,140.00 be given to the Revenue Agencies.
Mr. E. T. Mensah (NDC - Ningo- Prampram) 3:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak to the motion on the floor that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢141,342,140.00 for the services of the Revenue Agencies for the 2009 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, before I make my comments, for the records, I need to correct something. Hon Akoto Osei indicated that I have no right to step down a Bill; I want to let him know that there is a difference between a Bill which has been advertised on the Order Paper and it is stood down -- anybody here has the authority to step it down for further consultation. It is different from withdrawal of a Bill which within three months the Hon Minister would have to come properly with a motion.
Mr. Speaker, Revenue Agencies Budget
-- quite often we hear at the end of the year that the Revenue Agencies have exceeded their targets. Whenever I hear that I begin to wonder, why is it that every year they exceed their targets yet we are not able to rake in what we need to finance our Budget. Is it because they give themselves very low targets so that when they exceed it they come up to tell the whole country that they have exceeded their target. Or is it because of certain external factors?
I want to use Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) as an example. CEPS uses an average of the dollar exchange rate to calculate the duties payable by importers and so if the dollar started at GH¢1.4 -- the average was based on GH¢1.00. If you based the average on the GH¢1.4 naturally you are going to rake in more. I have been saying that since we are now going to establish the revenue authority, it is important there is the need for paradigm shift, for us to go away from the traditional way of collecting revenue.
Dr. A. A. Osei 3:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I just
want to crave your indulgence on the issue of relevance. We are talking about the Revenue Agencies and how they forecast revenue and he used the example of CEPS. But the private businessman is not CEPS so I do not know why the difficulties of a private businessman - That notwith-standing I agree but let us focus on CEPS and how they may or may not reach their targets. But if you go into the realm of private people, there are different capacities of the private sector. If CEPS in your view is not forecasting well, so be it.
But let us not go into an area where there are so many things that - even with CEPS, we do not know how they forecast their revenue to say that they base it on average. Their forecasts are much more complicated than that. I agree with him, it is his opinion that they may be under- estimating and therefore they always achieve their targets.
That is a personal opinion which is subject to debate. But if he goes into the private area of forecasting and things like that, the issue of relevance becomes important here. So I crave the indulgence
of my Senior Colleague, if he can stay on the CEPS issue then we can follow his arguments and contribute.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 3:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, what I am saying is very relevant. CEPS deals with businessmen. They do not operate in a vacuum and businessmen do complain. When we begin to discuss these things people meet us and they put across their feelings. He is an economist and he knows that he has to plan programmes, he needs to know where he is coming from, what he is going to get and all that.
If there are inconsistencies and there is no stability in the things that we are doing, it affects his planning. That is the point I am trying to make that there is the need for a certain baseline, even if it is for six months. If you know that within six months you can be within whatever you have forecasted rather than every other month things are changing because of inflation, you will not get anywhere.
That is why in the big economies they are making interventions to cushion the private person. When we talk about the private business being the engine of growth, they cannot be working in isolation and that is the point that I am making.

I am only telling the Ministry of Finance that they should bear in mind that the parties that are dealing with to rake- in revenue, their well-being is important. And I give an example where around 1985, when we were sure that when you are bringing textiles you pay ¢5,000 at that time at the ports, people queued and paid. If your taxes are high, you compel even angels to join the smuggling, because there is something about smuggling that we have to deal with.

If you want to fight smuggling you do not only go to the ports and fight them, you must make sure that your taxes are

something which can be paid where angels would want to operate within the law.
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor 3:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, we, at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning know how important the Revenue Agencies are so we are working with them. We meet them almost every week or so, but any advice, comment or contributions from the floor are welcome because that is our focus for this year.
I would like to comment that the tax GDP ratio over the past six years has been rising very fast, so the real issue confronting us is the waste in the system. That is why in the Budget, we commented on the waste, that we want to ensure that the waste would be reduced to the barest minimum.
But it does not mean that we are not focusing on the revenue mobilisation; that is our main function for this year.
So thank you very much. I therefore would like to appeal to both sides of the House to approve this estimated amount for the Revenue Agencies for them to continue to mobilise more revenues for the country.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢141,342,140.00 for the services of the Revenue Agencies for the 2009 fiscal year.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 3:20 p.m.
Minister for Energy (Dr. Oteng Adjei) 3:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢317,243,469.00 for the services of the Ministry of Energy for the 2009 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, the Mission of the Ministry is to develop and sustain an efficient and financially viable energy sector that provides secure, safe and reliable supply of energy to meet Ghana's developmental needs in a competitive manner.
Mr. Speaker, the vision of the Ministry is to ensure a technologically driven, cost effective and world class energy sector firing Ghana's developmental agenda of steady accelerated growth in an economically sound, environmentally friendly and sustainable manner and to become a net exporter of energy services.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr.
Moses Asaga): Mr. Speaker I rise to second the motion and to present your Report through the Select Committee on Mines and Energy on the 2009 Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Energy.
1.0 Introduction
In pursuance of article 179 of the 1992 Constitution the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor on Thursday, 5th March, 2009 presented to Parliament the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2009 Fiscal Year.
The Rt. Hon Speaker of Parliament referred the Draft Budget of the Ministry of Energy to the Select Committee on Mines and Energy for consideration and
Minister for Energy (Dr. Oteng Adjei) 3:20 p.m.
report. The Joint Committee met on Thursday, 19th and Friday, 20th March, 2009 and considered the Annual Estimates of the Sector Ministry and reports in accordance with Order 188 of the Standing Orders of the House.
2.0 Acknowledgement
The Committee wishes to express its gratitude and appreciation to the Minister for Energy, the Hon Dr. Joseph Oteng- Adjei, Deputy Ministers of Energy, the Hon Dr. Kwabena Donkor and the Hon Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Chief Director and other officials of the Ministry, its Departments and Agencies for attending upon the Committee to clarify issues during the consideration of the Budget Estimates of the Sector.
3.0 Reference Documents
The Committee made reference to the following documents in its deliberations:
i. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
i i . The Standing Orders of Parliament;
iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Po l icy o f the Government of Ghana for the 2009 Fiscal year;
iv. The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for 2009-2011;
v. The 2009 Budget Proposal of the Ministry of Energy.
4.0 Departments of the Ministry
The Committee, in considering the Annual Estimates of the Sector Ministry

examined allocations provided for the departments and agencies under it as well as its, projects and programmes. The areas examined are as follows:

i. Energy Foundation;

ii. Energy Commission;

iii. Ghana National Petroleum Cor- poration (GNPC);

iv. National Petroleum Authority

(NPA);

v. The Volta River Authority

(VRA)

vi. Electricity Company of Ghana

(ECG);

vii. Bulk Oil Storage and Trans- portation Company Limited

(BOST);

v i i i . G h a n a C y l i n d e r Manufacturing Company

(GCMC);

ix. Tema Oil Refinery (TOR);

x. National Petroleum Authority

(NPA);

xi. Bui Power Authority;

xii. Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo);

x i i i . G h a n a O i l C o m p a n y Limited (GOIL).

5.0 Mission Statement

The Mission of the Ministry is to develop and sustain an efficient and financially viable energy sector that provides secure, safe and reliable supply of energy to meet Ghana's developmental needs in a competitive manner.

6.0 Vision of the Ghana Energy Sector

To ensure a technologically driven cost effective and world class energy

sector firing Ghana's development agenda of steady accelerated growth in an economically sound and sustainable manner and to become a net exporter of power in the sub-region.

7.0 Objectives of the Ministry

To achieve the above mentioned mission, the Ministry of Energy has set for itself among others, the following objectives:

i. To augment generation capacity to ensure adequate and reliable power supply;

ii. To provide support to modernize and expand energy infras- tructure to meet growing demand;

iii. To increase access to modern forms of energy;

iv. To improve the overa l l management, regulatory envi- ronment and operation of the energy sector;

v. To secure long-term source of fuel for thermal plant;

vi. To minimize environmental impact of energy supply and consumption through increase renewable energy and efficient energy delivery;

vii. To promote and encourage private sector participation in the energy sector;

viii. To diversify the national energy mix by implementing programs to support renewable energy sources in Ghana.

8.0 Overview of the 2008 Approved Budgetary Allocation to the Ministry and its Actual Expenditure.

The Ministry was allocated a total amount of five hundred and sixty-seven million, nine hundred and seventy-five thousand, three hundred and eighty-four Ghana cedis (GH¢567,975,384) for its expenditure for the 2008 fiscal year. The breakdown of the budgetary allocation was as follows:

Donor Sources -- GH¢184,391,315

Provision of GoG -- GH¢365,081,833
HIPC -- 3:20 p.m.
Mr. Moses Asaga 3:30 p.m.
On a point of
order. Mr. Speaker, the Ranking Member is a member of the Committee and he was a former Minister for Energy. I think that if he wants to capture what the previous Administration brought on board he should be very, very accurate.
This is because when he starts talking of all those additions to 400 when he knows that Aboadze was already under the NDC, Osagyefo Barge was brought by the NDC -- [Interruptions.] What? No, you do not understand. That contract was already -- [Interruptions.]
The education that I am giving Hon Members is that, the Osagyefo Barge was already constructed, the agreement was there -- [Interruptions.] You do not understand - [Interruption.] -- He knows it. He knows that the Osagyefo Barge was already constructed and it was already there and we used $60 million for the project so all that they needed to do was to implement by bringing the Barge down.
So Mr. Speaker, I think that the Hon Ranking Member is misleading the group. If they had done all this we should not have had the power crisis in 2006 and 2007. So Mr. Speaker, he is misleading the House and he is trying to generate a debate and I think I would rather honourably seek that he should go to his notes as agreed at the committee level.
We should not have had an energy crisis if they had implemented what was passed down to them by the NDC Government.
Mr. Adda 3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, in what I just said, I did not ignore what was brought on board before President Kufuor took over office. And indeed, that is what President Prof. Mills mentioned when he talked about installing capacity being 1,800 now. So, we take account of all of those things.
Mr. Speaker, I am talking about the
Thermal Plant I of 126 megawatts that is currently ongoing that President Kufuor put a lot of money into. I am talking about Thermal Plant II. I am talking about the power plant of 230 megawatts. I am talking about the Bui Dam of 400 megawatts since the 1920s.
Mr. Speaker, yes indeed , the construction of the Osagyefo Barge may have started but we all know clearly and
Mr. Asaga 3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, my point of order is that - [Some Hon Members: What Order number?] - Order number 91 - [Interruptions.] Mr. Speaker, the Hon Ranking Member is still misleading the House - [SomeHon Members: How?] - He just talked and he was talking about a 450 megawatts Bui Dam. That has been added in this document and I beg to quote:
The Bui Dam which was started in
2007/2008
“undertook clearing works on the dam site, topographic surveys, geological and hydrogeological invest igat ions , d ivers ion of water course and relocation and settlements of communities…”
Where are the megawatts in this? We are those bringing the megawatts. There is no megawatts involve in this and he is making it as if it is an installed capacity. All I am trying to say is that this is not an installed capacity. He should tell us the state in which the Bui Dam is and should not mislead Ghanaians about the 450
megawatts of the Bui Dam.
Mr. Adda 3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I said that it is
laudable for us to target 5,000 megawatts of power for this country. I also said that concrete steps have been undertaken to bring us up to 4,300 megawatts, that have been concluded, signed and action is going on, on all those. The balance is what I am talking about. And I am saying that there is nothing specific here. We just leave it to Independent Power Producers without any specific incentive, without any specific programme to draw them in. So I am just outlining all the things we have done, send power --
Mr. Speaker, it has been many years,
perhaps 50 or more years when we have tried to bring about independent power from the mini-hydros. As we speak, we have signed various documents with the Brazilian and Sino Hydro projects to convert some of our rivers and waterways into mini-hydros; Juale, 90 megawatts; Pwalugu near my Hon Colleague's (Mr. Moses Asaga) hometown, 50 megawatts; Pra-Hemang, 95 megawatts; Awisam, 50 megawatts, Ankobra Bonsu, 17 megawatts; Tano-Tanaso, 65 megawatts. We have also signed agreements on waste energy projects in Kumasi, Tema and Sekondi, all coming to about 200 megawatts. There is an undertaking with the Canadians to use gas to generate power around 500 megawatts.
Mr. Speaker, my simple point is this, if we take these and add the 126 megawatts emergency which is installed and sitting in this country and can be used, we are arriving at over 4,000 megawatts of power to come on stream. And I am saying, let us simply have a programme that shows that the balance will come on board and give us the 5,000 megawatts that we are looking up for. Simple point. That is all that I am saying, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, again I commend the Ministry and the Hon Minister -
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
Hon
Member for Nabdam, the contribution of the Hon Ranking Member is clear. He is not talking about installed capacity. You are talking about installed capacity. He is talking about targets.
Hon Member for Nabdam, unless it is
something else, let us proceed - [Hear! Hear!] -- [An Hon Member: Mr. Speaker, you will win.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
Hon
Member for Nabdam, let us hear from you, briefly.
Mr. Asaga 3:40 p.m.
What I am trying to
explain is that everything he is saying is on paper. There is no megawatt out of it - [Interruptions.]If the National Demo-cratic Congress (NDC) does not implement all these on paper, there will be no mega- watts out of it. So he should explain to Ghanaians that these are all on paper. These are paper megawatts. And we are talking about real megawatts. And it is the NDC Government that will implement and bring the real megawatts. This is what I want Ghanaians to understand. We are not dealing with paper megawatts; we are dealing with real megawatts.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
Hon
Member for Nabdam, you know that the Hon Ranking Member has the right to talk about paper megawatts. You cannot prevent him from talking about it.
Hon Ranking Member, kindly continue.
Mr. Adda 3:40 p.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Somebody said you will win.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, in this House when oil was discovered and samples were brought here, I do recollect that the Hon Member for Nabdam (Mr. Moses Asaga) initially, after the disputation, later on came to say that preparatory works had been done by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and so we should be thankful to the GNPC for the effort that they made. So I am not too sure that he wants to put his leg on another sphere.
Mr. Speaker, for reasons of consistency,
the Hon Asaga should simply accept this that preparatory works had been done - [Interruptions.] And Mr. Speaker, the Hon Asaga knows that in starting the constructional works on the Bui Dam, this nation had a target of a quantum of the power to be generated at Bui. He knows this for a fact. So why he is coming in with these shenanigans, we cannot understand.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
Hon
Ranking Member, I am a member of the Committee, I want to restrain myself. But I beg of you, kindly wind up.
Mr. Adda 3:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you
very much. Mr. Speaker, all I am saying is that let us make specific allocation to the Ministry of Energy and his team to begin to add onto the power for us to hit the 5,000 mW; that is all I am calling for, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in the area of rural electrification, I again commend the Government for wanting to move rapidly to get electrification to most of the rural areas. Again, they have acknowledged many of the things that have been done before and I commend -

Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, the Hon Member for
Mr. Adda 3:50 p.m.


Navrongo Central made a statement to the effect that this country has benefited from the personal largesse of President Kufuor and I want to draw his attention to the fact that under the direction of President Kufuor the money that was spent belonged to the taxpayers of this country. I would like him to take that on board and correct himself.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 3:50 p.m.
Hon Member, did you make those comments?
Mr. Adda 3:50 p.m.
No, Mr. Speaker, there was no point in my -
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 3:50 p.m.
Then kindly proceed and conclude since you have not made those comments.
Mr. Adda 3:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I was on the
point of rural electrification and expansion of electricity to the rural areas. A lot of work is ongoing, funds have been acquired to do that. This is important for all of us as Members of Parliament (MPs) here because of what happens when we go to our rural areas.
Mr. Speaker, in the 2008 Budget an initiative was brought on board to get five communities in each district electrified and the more important aspect of the initiative was for us to allocate certain number of low-voltage poles to each of the communities and also give them some street lamps to ensure that when the light is gotten there, the communities are brightened up for us to know that indeed light has gotten there.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry has accepted to continue with this initiative and I commend them except that it was not clear to me whether they would supply the street lamps alongside that -- and I think this is something important -- we need to do.
Mr. Speaker, there has been a special

problem with the Northern Electrification Department. Indeed, that department of the Volta River Authority (VRA) is faced with certain peculiar problems. These cover the northern part of the country which is generally very poor.

Mr. Speaker, one would have liked to see part of the GH¢25 million of the Northern Development Plan being allocated specifically to this because without electricity in some of these communities you would not be able to get investment projects such as agro- processing or agro-industries coming into these areas.

Mr. Speaker, my Hon Colleague opposite, the Chairman, is from my part of the country, the same region. I would not say President Kufuor; let me say the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Administration, before the NDC came on, had made a specific allocation of GH¢25 million because of the flood disaster that we had in the North. There was a programme for us to get a lot more funds to be able to do that.

Mr. Speaker, on this point, all I am trying to say is that the people of my part of the country who had the chance to get about GH¢1 billion from Nana Akufo- Addo's programme are now setling for GH¢25 million and we are saying that we are short-changed. The GH¢25 million Northern Development Fund or Savanna Fund should be put into electrification for the northern part of the country.

Mr. Speaker, my last sentence comes in two forms. One is that we need something specific about the reduction of utility prices from the Minister for Energy. The second one is that I need an apology from my Chairman of the Committee because when I brought in the sample of oil that was drilled and brought up to show the whole country that indeed the NPP Administration had done serious work and brought in petroleum products that would be drilled and extracted from Ghana, he told me that I brought used engine oil. I

need an apology from him to conclude with my contribution.

Alhaji A. B. Sorogho (NDC -

Abokobi/Madina): Mr. Speaker, we are all aware that the Ministry of Energy is one of the important Ministries that needs support by all of us. Mr. Speaker, we all know what happened last year. We are all aware, that if for nothing at all the huge debt that the NPP Government through the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) left for the NDC to come and pay, over GH¢7 trillion was left for TOR to pay; the TOR debt; the TOR Recovery Levy which was instituted to pay for this -
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 3:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I believe we are here today to consider the estimates for this very, very important Ministry and I want to advise that we limit ourselves to that. Mr. Speaker, you yourself are aware that in this House, we have witnessed hot debates on energy. On each occasion the NDC lost. [Uproar!] If they want yet another debate, let them come properly and we will face them. He should not use this medium to provoke a debate. It will not help us. So Mr. Moses Asaga, I give you the challenge; come properly and you will lose; you have lost four times here in this House. [Uproar.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 3:50 p.m.
Hon
Member, you started very well, but your conclusion -- I do not know who was the referee. [Laughter.] But Hon Members, please, as much as possible let us limit ourselves to the estimates.
Alhaji Sorogho 3:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I will
do exactly that and I will implore my senior Colleague to hold on; he can stand up until he catches your eye and then he can continue. But for now I have been given the chance to talk.
Mr. Speaker, we al l know the
importance of energy to the development of our country. Mr. Speaker, the Ministry's budget for last year and that of this year has one peculiar problem and I think I want to bring - [interruption] --
Mr. Opare-Ansah 3:50 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, when the Hon Member on the floor started speaking, he made a very serious statement. In fact, he modified the motion to which he was speaking and indicated that we were indeed approving the budget for the Minister for Energy. Mr. Speaker, considering the austerity measures that His Excellency has instituted -- lean government - in these days in which we find ourselves, which is why we have to be as prudent as possible, we should not begin tempting the Minister for Energy with this huge amount of GH¢307,243,469 for himself.
So I urge the Hon Member to correct himself and be sure that indeed, he is speaking to the motion numbered (6) on the Order Paper and indeed, I do not believe that TOR has any debt of GH¢7 trillion.
Alhaji Sorogho 4 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you very much. But I also do not think that he was listening to me because he was planning something, unfortunately it did not work and for that matter he lost that aspect.
Mr. Speaker, I am speaking to the motion and the motion is very clear. So if he did not hear me, I got up and I spoke and I am saying that I am referring to the motion.
Mr. Speaker, all what I want to say is that if you go through the Ministry's budget for last year and that of this year, there is one problem and I do not know whether we are learning from our past
Alhaji Sorogho 4 p.m.


mistakes.

Mr. Speaker, last year the amount which was given to the Ministry had a component of almost 80 per cent donor funding. Out of GH¢184 million only GH¢26 million was available to the Ministry. Mr. Speaker, this year the same problem is being repeated and out of the Ministry's total allocation of GH¢317 million a whopping GH¢286.1 million is to be sourced from donor agencies.

Mr. Speaker, we all know that energy is the foundation upon which we can develop this nation and if we always want to rely on donor funding, knowing very well that it is very difficult to access this funding, then Mr. Speaker, we have a very long way to go.
Mr. Adda 4 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, my Hon Colleague is seriously misleading this House. The estimates we have that were specified for 2008 against which an actual expenditure of GH¢26.9 million was carried out against the GH¢184 of donor, do not say that the Ministry of Finance refused to give them the money.
We have a problem with absorption capacity in the Ministry of Energy and indeed there were many instances when the Ministry of Energy could not process the documentation well enough or undertake project appraisals well enough to claim some of these funds. So one cannot fault the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning as if they did not make the funds available. If the Ministry of Energy did not go early enough with the right

documentations to claim those funds then that would not be the fault of the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning. So we should not put it as if the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning did not make the funds available. So he is misleading the House, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Sorogho 4 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am happy that last year he was then the Minister. [An Hon Member: Good.] He has just now told the whole House that under his Ministry, with all these funds available, he was not able to access this money for the development of the energy sector in this country. I am therefore not surprised that it was under his Ministry that we had the worst energy crisis in Ghana. [Hear! Hear!] I have not said it, but he has confirmed. So now that he has reminded us that it is the Ministry of Energy - [Interruption.]
Mr. Adda 4 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, indeed, my Hon Colleague opposite was here in this House last year when the portfolio was withdrawn from me and handed over to somebody else. I was not the Minister throughout the whole year.
Secondly i t was not under my administration that we had the worst crisis in the country.
Thirdly, Mr. Speaker, it was in response to the crisis that we had that we have restored so much capacity and creating such a solid foundation for this country that we would not have crisis for a very long time to come. If they can just add a balance of the 700 or so to give us the 5,000, and I am talking about the over 2,000 plus megawatts that we have initiated, we would not have a problem if they do or continue what we plan to do. Mr. Speaker, he is misleading the House on a number of counts.
Mr. Sorogho 4 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to conclude by saying that we need to tap our gas potential. We are all aware that we can no longer rely on the West African Gas Pipeline which kept on changing time for the last four years; it will come this year, the following year and the following year. I think we need it. God being so good, we have the reserves and I am imploring the Ministry to do all that it can to tap and develop the local garages that we have.
On this note, I beg to ask all the Hon Members to approve the budget.
Mr. Kwame Amporfo Twumasi (NPP - Nkoranza South) 4:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, my first concern is about the amount that has been allocated to the Ministry of Energy. Mr. Speaker, I compared this year's figure of GH¢317,243,469 to that of last year, 2008 and the difference is a whopping over GH¢250 negative deficit. It means that the Ministry of Energy would find it extremely difficult to execute the plans that they have earmarked in the year 2009. I would therefore want to appeal to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning that should there be the need for supplementary budget this year the Ministry of Energy should be considered.
My second contribution concerns the
natural gas sector, a sub-sector of energy. Mr. Speaker, we have for so long a time been counting on gas from Nigeria. It is heart-warming that this time there is a free flow of gas from Nigeria to power one of the turbans in Takoradi. We are hopeful that within the next few months we may have sufficient to fire the two turbans.
Mr. Speaker, the delay has always been attributed to technical reasons. But I think that, with my experience in the Ministry of Energy, it goes beyond technical reasons. There are economic and political reasons and I would want to advise my Minister to take a cue from what happened during our term. His Excellency the former President
had on a number of occasions intervened to speak to his colleague, the President of Nigeria, H.E. President Y'ardua and had even written several letters to enable us get the free flow as we are expecting now.

With the compressed gas I feel that we may succeed this year if we have His Excellency President Mills taking a cue from what happened in the previous years and intervening on behalf of the Ministry of Energy.

I would also want to touch on the Osagyefo Power Barge. I want to re-echo the importance of this project as mentioned by the Chairman of the Committee. I hope that the Minister and his able Deputies will have a chance to pay a visit to that site. And I want to recommend that they do not go alone; there are certain interest groups, VRA and GLICO.

On a number of occasions that we went there, we had the opportunity even to fly over the lines and there is always a blame game between the contractor and these interest groups. So if they sit with them they will be able to resolve this problem once and for all for Ghana to benefit from this important power project.

On this note I wish to urge all Members of this House to support and approve this budget for the Ministry of Energy.

Thank you very much.
Dr. Oteng Adjei 4:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
wish to express my appreciation to this honourable House. I have taken note of the observations and comments that they have made and I assure the House that we will factor them into the implementation of all the programmes and policies that have been outlined for this year.
I am really grateful to you and thank
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 4:10 p.m.
Minister for the Interior (Mr. Cletus Apul Avoka) 4:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢157,223,942.00, made up of Ghana Government contribution and Internally Generated Fund (IGF) vote under vote head 37 for Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), running the year 2009 for the Ministry of the Interior.
Indeed, the amount approved for the Ministry -- GH¢157,223,942.00 is far below the requirement of the Ministry, that is GH¢324 million plus. In effect, we have been given just about half what the Ministry requested to discharge its obligations under the year.
The Ministry of the Interior has the following critical agencies under it: Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Prisons Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, Narcotics Control Board and National Disaster Management Organization. Besides these or in addition to these agencies, the Ministry exercises responsibility over the Refugee Board, the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms, National Peace Council, Gaming Board and then the Migration Unit.
The challenges and constraints facing the Ministry are so numerous and are so obvious for Hon Members, that I do not need to belabour the point. Suffice it to say, the following challenges can be enumerated: Inadequate administration, service and investment votes, inadequate communication equipment, inadequate office and residential accommodation. Hon Members, it will be a sad spectacle if you are able to visit a very senior policeman, a Police Corporal or a Police Sergeant who has served for twenty years and you realize that he is still in a single room with a large family.
Inadequate training, and what is very critical is the fact that with the oil find “419” culprits are now in the game and we need a lot of resources to be able to run ahead of them. It is against this background that I pray that this honourable House adopts the report and approves the figure requested and approved by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning for our Ministry.
Before I conclude, let me say that Ghana has won a lot of international accolades and respect as a result of the peaceful election that we held last year. And it was partly because of the role played by our very able and efficient security services as mentioned here in that we had peaceful elections. Against this background, I pray that this august House approves our vote for this.
Alhaji Sumani Abukari (NDC - Tamale North) 4:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion and in doing so, I want to present your Committee's Report on the budget of the Ministry of the Interior.
1. Introduction

The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the 2009 Financial year was presented to Parliament by the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning on Thursday, 5th March, 2009 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. The draft Budget Estimates of the Ministry of the Interior were accordingly referred to the Committee on Defence and Interior for consideration and report pursuant to Orders 140 (4) and 158 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.

The Committee met with the Hon Minister for the Interior and heads of agencies under the Ministry and officials of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) and deliberated thoroughly, the estimates of the Ministry.

The Ministry of the Interior comprises the Headquarters and the following agencies:

(a) Ghana Police Service;

(b) Ghana Prisons Service;

(c) Ghana National Fire Service

(GNFS);

(d) Ghana Immigration Service

(GIS);

(e) National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO); and

(f) Narcotics Control Board

(NACOB).

Additionally, the Ministry oversees the activities of the Ghana Refugee Board, Migration Unit, National Commission on Small Arms, the National Peace Council

and the Gaming Board.

The Committee wishes to express its gratitude to the Minister and officials who acknowledged its invitation and attended upon it.

2. Reference

Yo u r C o m m i t t e e r e f e r r e d t o the fo l lowing documents a t i t s deliberations:

i. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana;

ii. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana;

iii. The Budget Statement and Financial Policy of Govern- ment for the year ending 31st December, 2009.

3. Mission Statement

According to its Mission Statement, the Ministry of the Interior seeks to ensure the maintenance of peace, security and stability for accelerated socio-economic development.

4. Performance for 2008

For the year under review, the Ministry, among other things, strengthened the effective monitoring of the activities of the Private Security Organizations (PSOs) by firmly establishing a Supervisory Board for PSOs. A draft Strategic Plan for 2009 2011 on policies for migration and work permit was formulated. The roles and operations of the Peace Building Support Unit and National Peace Council were also consolidated.

National Peace Council
Alhaji Sumani Abukari (NDC - Tamale North) 4:20 p.m.
The Council organized a forum with stakeholders (TUC, GJA, NCCE, NUGS, the Judiciary and the Legislature) on the Council's vision and mission of creating a peaceful atmosphere for the development of the country. In addition, the Council organized a number of workshops on Conflict Transformation for Political Parties and undertook various conflict mediation activities.
Ghana National Commission on Small Arms (GNACSA)
The Commission actively participated in the ECOWAS Sub-Regional Small Arms and Light Weapons Survey Methodology Harmonization Training Workshop, as well as the UN Conference on the Ban of Cluster Munitions in Dublin.
Ghana Police Service
The Ghana Police Service undertook the following activities:
Provided adequate logistics to aid the Police effectively patrol most of the crime prone areas within the country and supplied personnel with new set of uniforms and boots;
Provided adequate security for both foreign and local dignitaries who attended the UNCTAD and 2008 African Cup of Nations Tournament;
Procured 269 new vehicles to enhance the activities of the Service; and Created new Divisional and District Police Stations in various parts of the county following the creation of new districts for local governance by the Government.
Ghana Prisons Service
As part of efforts to improve living conditions of prisoners, the daily feeding rate was increased from 40Gp to 60Gp. In addition, work on the Ankaful Maximum Security Prison is almost complete. This is to ease congestion in other walled prisons in the country. Other activities undertaken include the following:
The introduction of information communication technology (ICT) and formal educational programmes in some selected prisons; The “Justice for All” programme to address the problem of untried prisoners;
The registration of inmates, officers and their dependants under the National Health Insurance Scheme; and
The acquisition of industrial equipment to enrich the quality of training of inmates.
Ghana National Fire Service
The Ghana National Fire Service undertook the following activities in 2008:
Attended to 3,012 fire outbreaks and effectively saved a number of properties;
Established a Road Traffic Collision Unit as an integral part of the Service's core duties; Acquired fire fighting jackets, extinguishers and other fire fighting accessories to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness;
Organized radio and TV programmes on community and marketplace fire safety education and fire safety talks for organi-zations and institutions on how to handle victims during emergency situations; and
Issued 437 Fire Safety Certificates and renewed 152 of such Certificates; trained 647 recruits and 5,870 Fire Fighting Volunteers; and 120 Serving Officers trained in ICT.
Ghana Immigration Service
The Service employed 750 persons to enhance the country's border control and security system. Highlights of some of the programmes are:
Arrested and repatriated 63 foreign nationals and 24 foreign nationals working without work permit and GIS authorization through increased surveillance, intensive monitoring and investigation activities and company inspections;
Refused entry into the country of 88 foreign nationals;
Intercepted the trafficking of 17 persons across the territorial boundaries of the country; and
Processed at various entry points, 464 Ghanaians deported from various countries.
National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO)
NADMO undertook the following activities during the year under review:
Trained 233 personnel including 20 Regional Co-ordinators and Operations Officers in disaster management and conflict resolution;
Undertook countrywide public educa t ion on f lood ing and windstorms in six major Ghanaian and English languages through radio and television;

Organized press conferences and floats to create awareness for workers about reducing risk at their workplaces as part of the celebrations of the International Civil Defence Day.

Collaborated with other stakeholders to mitigate the effect of flood disasters in the three northern regions and other parts of the country;

Conducted constant surveillance on conflict situations, floods and landslides, mining hazards and slums;

Promoted the establishment of woodlots in 10 communities in the three northern regions to reduce the occurrence of disaster and continued the promotion of iodated salt in 10 salt-producing districts.

Narcotics Control Board (NACOB)

The Board undertook, among others, the following activities during the year;

Established two Inter Agency Committees for demand reduction, enforcement and control to share experiences and intelligence to map out strategies to fight against the drug menace;

Intensified surveillance at the Kotoka International Airport and other entry points of the country to reduce drug trafficking, resulting in 63 arrests and seizure of narcotic drugs;

Carried out educational and sensitization programmes in basic and second cycle institutions and churches in the Greater Accra region to bring the awareness of the dangers of drug abuse to the youth.
Alhaji Sumani Abukari (NDC - Tamale North) 4:20 p.m.


examination of the Ministry's estimates that there has not been any allocation for the Border Patrol Unit (BPU).

The Committee was informed that because of the paucity of funding for the Unit, the GIS has not been able to provide accommodation at the various border posts for the personnel. Most personnel continue to live in temporary tents whilst off-site accommodation had to be found for others.

It is the considered view of the Committee that this state of affairs is affecting the morale of the officers and also hampering the effective patrol of the country's borders. Efforts should therefore be made to provide accom-modation at the border posts for the Border Patrol Unit.

P. E. for GIS

The Committee observed a shortfall in Item 1 for GIS from GH¢5,079,569.45 to GH¢4,925,411, a shor t fa l l of GH¢154,154.45. The shortfall implies that the GIS may not be able to pay the salaries for personnel recruited last year. The Committee urges MOFEP to endeavour to meet the PE requirements of the GIS under the contingency vote of the MOFEP.

Personnel Accommodation

The Committee observed that all the agencies under the Ministry are facing acute accommodation challenges. The Ghana Police Service, Prisons Service, Fire Service, GIS and NADMO are all in dire need of accommodation. Most of the barracks need urgent renovation and the agencies also need to establish presence in the newly-created districts.

Unfortunately, the total investment budget for the Ministry was GH¢3,153,625. The Committee wishes to recommend to the Ministry to seek for extra budgetary financing for the accommodation needs of its personnel as done by the Ministry of Defence through the SSNIT loan facility.
NACOB 4:20 p.m.
Mr. Albert Kan 4:20 p.m.
None

Afigya-Sekyere West): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion, and I want to remark that at the committee level we were most impressed with the way that the Hon Minister articulated his vision and also the challenges facing the Ministry. Probably, I must say the same thing for the Hon Minister for Defence.

Mr. Speaker, we were convinced that the plans and the programmes that the Hon Minister has in mind will be able to achieve the vision for the sector as set out by His Excellency the President when he gave his State of the Nation Address.

Mr. Speaker, but we believe that it is one thing having the plans and the programmes, and it is another thing being able to achieve the plans and the programmes. And certainly, you are not going to be able to achieve your plans and programmes unless sufficient financial resources would have been made available to the Ministry to be able to do that. Mr. Speaker, it is in this connection that we thought we should bring certain figures and facts to your knowledge and to the attention of the House.

Mr. Speaker, what I find interesting is not just a comparison of how much was spent last year and how much is proposed this year. I think it is the Hon Minister who knows the plans and programmes that he wants to undertake to achieve the vision as set out by the President. Therefore, the important figures here are the initial demands, the initial budget submissions that are made by the Ministry.

Mr. Speaker, for an institution like National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), for instance, their request was for GH¢39 million; what has been given to them is GH¢7.7 million. Mr. Speaker, this is barely enough to take care of personal emoluments and salary- related allowances.

So what will happen is that for NADMO, we are going to pay salaries for them; but as I said at the committee level, NADMO is not a consultancy firm where you get the experts, you pay them and that is the end of the story. It is an institution that is supposed to undertake services, and they need money for that. We have not given them any money for the services, so how do we expect them to able to perform? And that, Mr. Speaker, is a very good example of NADMO.

Mr. Speaker, when you take an institution like Ghana Immigration Service, they were asking for GH¢38 million. They have been given GH¢7.3 million.
Alhaji Abukari 4:20 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, the Hon Member, in fact, is not only a member of that Committee, but I call him the consultant to the Committee because he has been the Minister for the Interior and Minister for Defence before. But where he is going, I do not know where he is getting those statements from Mr. Speaker, he was there when the officials of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning promised to make up the shortfalls during the mid-year review.
Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang
- rose -
Alhaji Abukari 4:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, he was there; so for him now to be talking about it as if it is something that -- When I got up he said wind up, wind up. Now he is saying things that he knows he should not say. It is not fair to us.
Hon Hackman Owusu-Agyemang was not there, so sit down. My Friend, you are not a member so sit down! [Laughter.] -- You too, sit down.
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 4:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I was there. Indeed, the records show that I was at the committee meeting when Hon Kan-Dapaah made his submission. But I think, for the purposes of the future development of this House, because he has a Report and we are going to debate the Report, the point that was being canvassed was that he limits that and let the argument be made for the Hon Minister by those who were there. The point is that he has tried to buttress the point that eventually emerged at the committee level. And I was there till six o'clock; he drank two cups of
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 4:30 p.m.
Hon Kan- Dapaah, the Chairman is saying that you should take account of the assurance given by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning in making your submission so that we can make progress.
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 4:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I must also add that at the committee level, there was a clear understanding that we would not make this thing partisan and I certainly do not want to do that and I assure you.
Mr. Speaker, it is important for me to make these points so that we can draw the attention of the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to some of these realities. I believe in the Cabinet Room when resources are being made, it is always difficult to argue for the defence and security institutions because when you have health and education institutions, you consider them very important.
But if we are going to give these scarce resources to these very important institutions, then you are not going to see any improvement in the security situation as promised by His Excellency and that is all that I am trying to demonstrate.
Mr. Speaker, take the case of Ghana Prisons, prisoners will have to be fed, whether there is money or not. So to give them money that will not be sufficient even to feed prisoners is not good enough. So

Nii Amasah Namoale: Mr. Speaker, I want to tell my Hon Colleague that the President, H.E. Prof. John Evans Atta Mills never promised the security agencies that he was not going to help them. In his submission he said ‘as promised by the President that he was not going to help the security services.' All what he said was that he was going to have alternative measures; he was going to take alternative measures to run the country. So he is suggesting that the President promised not to help the security agencies. I would like my Hon Colleague to withdraw that statement and then we move forward.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 4:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, if I did make that statement I would have been very, very sorry for myself. I never made that childish statement. If I did, it would be very childish. I was rather saying that the promise and the assurance to the nation from His Excellency was that he was going to take security seriously. The moneys that have been made available to institutions will not enable the Minister to achieve that and I was only making a passionate appeal to the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to have a special look at the allocations to the security agencies when he comes round to present a supplementary budget.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that we have a lot of essential demands on our scarce resources, but I believe this country has come to the point where it is very, very important that we make adequate investment in peace and in security matters. And we should have this at the back of our mind as we try to allocate resources in future.
With these few remarks, I want to
support the motion.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (retd) (NDC - Ayawaso East): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to support the motion that this House approves the sum of GH¢157,223,942.00 for the services of the Ministry of the Interior for the 2009 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak about some of the challenges facing the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service and then the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO).
Mr. Speaker, at the committee meeting we were informed about the difficulties confronting the Ghana Police Service in relation to accommodation for the men and officers of the Service. Indeed, it came to light that certain projects which were initiated by the Police Administration in the past few years had been discontinued any time a new Inspector-General of Police was appointed and all were due to the fact that sums of monies voted for investment in the Service had been woefully inadequate to continue and to complete these projects for accommodation which were started.
Mr. Speaker, we were also informed that the Ghana Immigration Service has taken over border patrol duties from the Ghana Armed Forces. Here again we were informed about the difficulties they have with regard to accommodation at the new border patrol areas.
Indeed, we were told about how they work unarmed. When the Border Guards of the Ghana Armed Forces were in charge of these duties they always operated using arms, at least minimum of pistols, G3s, or light weapons. And in the estimates for this year, nothing has been earmarked for the procurement of weapons for the patrol duties of the Ghana Immigration Service
and this will put the men and women who have the duty to perform this task at risk, particularly in areas where they may come into contact with elements who need to be confronted using weapons.
Mr. Speaker, I also wish to touch on accommodation for the NADMO. The NADMO headquarters is located in my constituency and indeed if one comes to Kanda where the headquarters is located, it is sad to note that an organization that is charged with management of disasters is in itself in need of management in terms of the look of their headquarters building.
I would like to plead that when it comes to making estimates in the supplementary budget, the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning takes a look at the issue of increasing the estimates for NADMO so as to enable them undertake required urgent repair works at their office accommodation as well as provision of the relief materials for areas which have been afflicted by disaster within the country.
With this short comment, Mr. Speaker, I wish to urge my Colleagues to support in passing this estimates for the Ministry of the Interior.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Adamu Daramani-Sakande (NPP - Bawku Central) 4:30 p.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this motion and to support the recommendation to the House to approve the sum of GH¢157,223,942.00 for the Ministry of the Interior for the 2009 financial year.
Mr. Speaker, the inadequate provision of budgetary support to the Ministry of the Interior is becoming a kind of legendary budgetary allocation. However, Mr. Speaker, this is much more pronounced in examining what has been presented
Mr. Adamu Daramani-Sakande (NPP - Bawku Central) 4:40 p.m.
before us. The assumption generally with security policy-makers is when the atmosphere is calm, when there are no adverse security situations then security becomes the first victim of budgetary cuts. But it appears the opposite has been the case.

Last budgetary session saw a higher level of allocation as compared to this. One would have thought that with the increase in the recruitment sector and all the transfer of the patrol duties and all that, this would have resulted in a higher quantum. But I think the Minister and the President particularly, have plans to probably address the increasingly worrying situation with lesser budgetary allocation.

I, more than anybody should be concerned, being an MP from an area which is crisis-prone - Bawku Central, just as the Minister for the Interior. So we have particular concerns and it should be an issue of not only personal to our constituents but also issues we should be lobbying towards.

I have said in various fora about my constituency, Bawku Central, the appreciation for the role of the security services, being a personal victim and having seen it at first-hand and what it means like and what the security agencies have to go through in order that others might sleep safely in their beds at night. Lack of logistics is just something one has to know to appreciate what goes on and what the security agencies have to go through in the course of their duty. The adverse security situation in the north particularly, calls for a much more concentrated emphasis on the budgetary allocation to the security agencies.

If you look at their budgetary allocation, there appears not to be an encouragement or anything that would encourage raising of funds from alternative sources. I am very much aware, for example, the use of initiatives by some people in the previous regime on the issue of raising of funds. I am very much aware. I was involved in this initiative by the Ghana High Commission in London when the Hon Member for Subin Constituency (Mr. Isaac Osei) was there and through this programme raised very substantial resource and logistics for the security agencies. I remember we completely catered for the Ghana Police Service, their uniforms, rain coats, handcuffs, touchlights, you name it and that was outside the budgetary allocation.

These are the kinds of initiatives that we would encourage Government to push across and then fill the gap that we are facing. I would implore Hon Members to support this particular initiative and to confirm the allocation as stated here.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Cletus A. Avoka 4:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Hon Members for the support and informed contributions they have made on this subject.
I will want to add that we are representatives of our constituents here and then our constituents at this stage of our national development will want us to ensure that we are able to fight the incidence of armed robbery, chieftaincy conflicts, political conflicts, ethnic conflicts, et cetera.
Mr. Speaker, our constituents enjoin us to be able to fight the narcotic drugs menace. It is against the backdrop of these demands by our constituents and the fact that we need peace and tranquility to be able to attract investors and tourists to this country for the social economic development, that I invite all of us here
to support the motion.
Thank you.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢157,223,942.00 for the services of the Ministry of the Interior for the 2009 fiscal year.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 4:40 p.m.
Minister for Finance and Economic Planning (Dr. Kwabena Duffuor) 4:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to move this motion for Government on behalf of His Excellency the President.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this, honourable House approves the sum of GH¢289,610,596.00 for the services of Government Machinery for the 2009 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, the Office of Government Machinery provides administrative, managerial and technical services to the Presidency of Ghana, leading to improvement in social, economic and political direction of the nation in the best interest of all Ghanaians.
Mr. Speaker, the increase in the allocation for 2009 as compared to 2008 allocation is due to a donor component of GH¢147 million from the Millennium Challenge Account for programmes being undertaken by the Millennium Development Authority. The Millennium Development Authority, among other activities we are undertaking this year, will fund and facilitate the following work on the N 1 Highway --
appropriation of the three strategic environmental assessments in connection with feeder roads;
the N 1 Highway from Tetteh- Quarshie to Mallam Junction, trunk roads and ferry activities;
rehabilitation of sections of feeder roads in eight districts or the intervention zones and rehabilitation of 35 schools in eight districts;
facilitation of the provision of pre- coolers;
a perishable cargo centre at the Kotoka International Airport; and
improvement of the Volta Lake Ferry Services to facilitate marketing of agricultural produce in the Afram Plains Zone.
Mr. Speaker, our agencies under the Government Machinery including the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, National Identification Authority, National Population Council, Ghana AIDS Commission, Internal Audit Agency, Ghana Investment Promotion Council, will all undertake various activities and therefore Mr. Speaker, I humbly request that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢289, 610,596.00 for the activities of all these bodies.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. J. K. Avedzi) 4:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to second the motion and in doing so, I wish to present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The 2009 Annual Budget Estimates of Government Machinery was laid in the

House on Thursday, 5th March, 2009 by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning and referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report in accordance with article 179 of the Constitution and Standing Order 140 (4) of the House. This referral followed the presentation of the 2009 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government to the House by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Hon Dr. Kwabena Duffuor.

To consider the Estimates, the Committee met with the Chief of Staff, Mr. Joseph Henry Newman, heads and technical teams from the various departments and agencies under Government Machinery as well as officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and reports as follows: 1.1 Reference Documents

In considering the Estimates for Government Machinery, the Committee referred to and was guided by the following documents:

i. The 1992 Constitution of the

Republic of Ghana

ii. The Standing Orders of the House

iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Po l icy o f the Government of Ghana for the 2009 Financial Year.

2.0 Background

Government Machinery embraces the Office of the President as the seat of Government, the Regional Co-ordinating Councils (RCCs) and those organizations whose operations fall outside traditional areas of sectoral responsibility, for which the Office of the President (Government

Machinery) exists to provide adminis- trative, managerial and technical services.

The Office of Government Machinery has responsibility for the following:

i. Office of the President

ii. Office of the Head of Civil Service

iii. Scholarships Secretariat

iv. Public Records and Archives Administration Department

v. Management Services

vi. Ghana AIDS Commission

vii. Commissions and Councils

viii. Office of the National Security

ix. Regional Co-ordinating Coun- cils

The main focus of the sector is efficient service delivery for good governance through ensuring that all MDAs become transparent, accountable, efficient and responsive to the needs and direction of the country. This is to be achieved through the following activities:

1. Researching and collating information for Executive policy formulation and review;

2. Conveying Executive policies and decisions to MDAs, other public sector organizations and monitoring the private sector's performance;

3. Ensur ing by sys temat ic monitoring the implementation of Executive decisions and programmes and improving the qua l i ty o f l i f e o f Ghanaians.

Some other objectives are:

To formulate, implement, co-

ordinate, monitor and evaluate government policies and to preserve and conserve public records for the benefit of the general public;

To promote political tolerance, stability, and peace in Ghana and the sub-region;

To provide institutional capacity and enabling environment for effective, efficient and sustainable service delivery.

3.0 The 2009 Annual Estimates of Government Machinery

A total amount of GH¢289,610,596 has been allocated to Government Machinery for the 2009 financial year. The breakdown is as follows:

Personal Emoluments

GoG -- GH¢22,470,990

IGF -- GH¢0

Donor -- GH¢0

Sub-total -- GH¢22,470,990

Administration Expenses --

GoG -- GH¢9,986,630

IGF -- GH¢50,000

Donor -- GH¢0

Sub-total -- GH¢10,036,630 Service

GoG -- GH¢45,434,575

IGF -- GH¢303,880

Donor -- GH¢0

Sub-total -- GH¢45,738,455

Investment

GoG - -

GH¢24,839,436

IGF -- GH¢20,100

Donor -- GH¢186,504,98

5

Sub-total -- GH¢211,364,521

Grand Total -- GH¢289,610,596

3.1 Office of the President

The Office of the President caters for the following departments: General Administration, Office of the Chief of Staff (COS), Vice-President's Secretariat, Cabinet Secretariat, Press Secretariat, Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), African Fund for Bio Fuels Development, National Identification System, State Enterprises Commission, Divestiture Implementation Committee, National Population Council, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, Pension Reform Implementation Committee, Presidential Committee on Emoluments (Poli t ical) , National Governance Programme and Internal Audit Agency Board.

For the 2009 financial year, the Office of the President has been allocated the following amounts to cater for the respective expenditure items:

Personal Emoluments
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Mr. I. B. Awuah (NPP - Sunyani West) 4:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion on the floor, that the Office of Government Machinery be allocated GH¢289,610,596.00 for the operation of its activities. Whilst recommending that this figure be approved, I would want to draw the attention of the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to some observations that we made during our Committee sitting, especially in relation to the National Identification Authority, the Internal Audit Agency and the Regional Coordinating Councils.
Mr. Speaker, we were told that the National Identification Authority is mandated to establish a national identification system by creating a national database on Ghanaians and foreigners lawfully resident in Ghana; issuing national identity cards and promoting the use of the cards. We were told that last year, the Agency conducted mass registration in the Western and Central Regions and this cost the Agency six million Ghana cedis. At the Committee sitting we were told that the Agency had requested for a total sum of eighteen million Ghana cedis but then an allocation of 4.8 million Ghana cedis is being recommended for the Authority.
Meanwhile, in the year under review, they are supposed to extend their activities
to the Greater Accra Region and Volta Region and to conduct mopping up exercises in those regions where they conducted the database exercise last year, which means that they are expected to do more this year. So if they used six million Ghana cedis for data capturing in two regions and this year they are going to cover four regions and they are going to be given less amount of money, then certainly, we can all conclude what would happen.
Mr. Speaker, I would want to urge that since the name of the Authority is National Identification Authority and that they are supposed to establish a national database for the nation, they should be encouraged to give real meaning to the term “national”. What I do mean is that, the data capturing exercise should cover the entire nation so that at least, we can all be proud as Ghanaians that we have national identity cards that cover every Ghanaian irrespective of where he or she is living in Ghana.
So by this I am urging the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning when he comes back to this House as he has promised coming back somewhere in the middle of the year, to perhaps, find a way of augmenting the total budget votes for the Authority.
Mr. Speaker, I am a product of the Regional Coordinating Council and in the Regional Coordinating Councils especially, when it comes to procurement, particularly vehicles, there used to be a tradition where Central Government, especially the Office of the Chief of Staff at the Presidency does central pro- curement for all the Regional Coordinating Councils.
At the Committee level, we realised that the Office of the Chief of Staff had made a total budgetary allocation of GH¢720,000 for the purchase of
MR. SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr. C. A. Forson (NDC - Ajumako/ Enyan/Essiam) 5 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion to approve the budget for the running of Government Machinery for the 2009 fiscal year. Mr. Speaker, in doing so, I would like to concentrate on the National Identification Authority (NIA).
Mr. Speaker, the NIA was established to ensure that Ghanaians and foreigners who live in Ghana legally are issued with identification (ID) cards and to promote the use of the ID cards. Mr. Speaker, the use of national identity cards has become necessary, due to constant global terrorism and again other people impersonating Ghanaians identity. Mr. Speaker, until something is done on the approval of national identification cards to Ghanaians, I believe that the amount of money we would throw at it would be of no essence.
Mr. Speaker, we all know that from pages 12 and 13 of the Report, the NIA would be recruiting data centre staff and also regional and district representatives this year. Mr. Speaker, the greatest risk that we face as a country is the people that we employ to work at the data centres.
I would like to stress that until a proper
system is put in place by ensuring that people who work at these data centres are screened properly in terms of their ability to work at these data centres, the amount of money we would throw at it as a nation would go waste. We all know that the NIA centre spent quite a lot of money this year in constructing bullet proof building, but I would like to say that until this is done there is nothing we can achieve as a country.
With these few words, I rise to support the motion on the floor of the House.
Mr. D. B. A. Nitiwul (NPP - Bimbilla) 5 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion on the floor of the House to approve the amount specified in the Report for Government Machinery. Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I would want to quote a little from page 11:
“The Committee was informed that the office of Government Machinery exists to provide administrative, managerial and technical services to the Presidency of Ghana leading to improvement of social, economic and political direction of the nation in the best interest of Ghanaians”.
Let me stress the words “in the best interest of Ghanaians”. Mr. Speaker, there is a problem that the Committee observed and that had to do with the students on scholarship. It was observed that the students who are currently studying in London or the United Kingdom and the United States of America are finding it very difficult to pay their fees or to even go for lectures. They have been sacked or suspended from lectures because their fees have not been paid.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the Government to quickly find money and help these students so that at least, they can come back and help us. Otherwise, we would be setting a precedence where students who struggle to
find money to pay their own fees, would be tempted to remain there instead of coming back to help this country.
Mr. Speaker, but the most interesting aspect of the Report is the issue of emolument at the Office of the President itself -- Administration. Mr. Speaker, if you look at the Office of the President - Emoluments -- for established posts they are getting 3.2 million and for the non-established posts, that is the others -- I believe the established posts are those who have actually been employed and are civil servants; the other people who are non-established are rather getting five point something million.
I find it a bit odd that we are paying people who have not been employed through - well, we are rather paying people who are - I will not use the words “party boys” but maybe, that is it. Mr. Speaker, what has scared me a little is the Service quantum for the Office of the President which has increased.
We understood H.E. the President when he said he was going to do cost- cutting in all areas, particularly Item 3 which is Service and Item 4 which is Investment. Unfortunately, in his own office, he has increased the quantum to
GH¢21,678,545.00.
Mr. Speaker, your own office here, the budget for the Office of Parliament is GH¢29 million and I will tell you what Service means here. Service means, one, Training and Conferences cost GH¢7 million; Consultancy Services GH¢2.8 million; Material and Consumables GH¢1.7 million, Printing and Publications GH¢825,000; Travel and Transport GH¢6.7 million; Rent and Plant Equipment GH¢472,000; Special Services including special operations of the Chief of Staff and that of the National Security Council GH¢7.4 million.
Minister for Finance and Economic Planning (Dr. Kwabena Duffuor) 5:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to express sincere thanks for supporting the motion. Today, my lawyer Dr. Osei has done so well by supporting me in everything.
Mr. Speaker, we have taken notice of all the comments and contributions, especially the comments on the inventory of computers and other vital items and the general asset management of all MDAs, they will receive a top attention in our job.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all Hon Members for supporting the motion on Government Machinery Estimates. I hope that both sides of the House would approve the amount allocated so that we would be able to start using the money.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢289,610,596.00 for the services of Government Machinery for the 2009 fiscal year.

We move on to item 17, which is
Dr. Osei 5:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I seek your indulgence. Mr. Speaker, because this particular one encompasses all MDAs, it has been the practice that it is the last one that is done before the Appropriation Bill. This is because we talk about GETFund, they are all in here. So I would ask the Leader to let us stand this down and when we have done all of these, this should be the last one that we should be looking at.
Mr. Akologu 5:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, in that case, we move to item 21, which is on the services of the National Media Commission for the 2009 fiscal year. Mr. Speaker, what appears there is wrong, in fact, it should be in the name of the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning who moved the entire Budget on behalf of the President because the Special Budget Committee handled this.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 5:10 p.m.
So you want us to make a correction there that it should be changed from Minister for Information to Minister for Finance and Economic Planning?
Mr. Akologu 5:10 p.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 5:10 p.m.
Prof. G. Y. Gyan-Baffour (on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee) 5:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think the Chairman is not in the House so I would like to present the Report.
I rise to second the motion that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢503,741.00 for the services of the National Media Commission for the 2009 fiscal year. Mr. Speaker, in so doing, I would like to read the Report of your Committee.
1.0 Introduction
The Minister for Finance and Economic Planning presented to Parliament the Budget Statement and Economic Policy
of the Government on Tuesday, 5th March, 2009 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.
Pursuant to Order 140 (4) of the Standing Orders of the House, Madam Speaker referred the draft Annual Budget Estimates for the National Media Commission (NMC) to the Special Budget Committee for consideration and report.
The Committee met with the Executive Secretary to the Commission and officials of the Commission and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and deliberated on the Estimates.
2.0 Background
2.1 Reference Documents
The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
The Standing Orders of the House
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2009 Financial Year
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2008 Financial Year
2.2 Aims and Objectives of the NMC
The NMC's mission is to promote and ensure the freedom and independence of the mass media in its role as the watchdog for transparency and good governance. To achieve this, the NMC has set itself the under-listed objectives:
i . Conscient ize owners and practitioners of the mass media on the need to use the media to facilitate national development and cohesion;
  • [MR. NITIWULI
    • Mr. J. T. Akologu (NDC - Talensi) 5:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the Committee for doing a very good job. In fact, the observations that have been made about the National Media Commission are very exact and I can testify to them because I am a member of the Commission on behalf of this Parliament.
    rose
    Mr. Akologu 5:20 p.m.
    It must be noted that -- [Interruptions.] I do not know what the problem of the Nabdam man is - [Laughter] - but Mr. Speaker, if you look at the work of the Commission as enumerated by the Committee's Report, you would realize that it bothers on good governance and therefore, peace for this country. But it looks as if over the years we have paid lip-service to the Com- mission's work.
    Mr. Speaker, it is for this reason that I am happy to note that in the President's Address to this House, he indicated that he would make sure that the constitutional commissions are supported to be really effective and that is why I am not surprised to see that this year's allocation has, I think about doubled from GH¢236,000 to GH¢503,741.00.
    Mr. Speaker, there is another problem in the Commission which I think the Hon Minister should take note of. The release of funds to the Commission for its work, in fact, is always in arrears. As I speak now the Commissioners have not been paid their allowances for January and
    February this year. As for the staff, I will talk very little about them because they always take their salaries after other Commissions have benefited and so on. In fact, they are
    Mr. Akologu 5:20 p.m.


    Mr. Speaker, I do not know why people want me to be brief when I am in the -- I am suffering the heat so I want the Minister to know on behalf of my Colleagues, and for the benefit of this country. You have really seen that the Committee has expressed everything about the suffering that the Commission goes through and therefore, I am only urging this House to accept the Committee's Report, accept the motion moved by the Minister and approve it for them.
    Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I rose up earlier on but it appears
    I could not catch your eye. In reality, I wanted to draw the attention of my Colleague to what ought to be done which is not being done under article 71, and he knows it. And that is what has led to the impediment of the Commissioners at the place. He knows it.
    Dr. A. A. Osei (NPP - Old Tafo) 5:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I want to contribute to the motion and support the Minister and also try to follow up on my Leader's statement.
    I think that my Leader was referring to article 71 (1) (d) and in particular (iii) and with your permission, if I can quote:
    “The salaries and allowances payable, and the facilities, and privileges available, to - (a) the Speaker and Deputy Speakers
    and Members of Parliament;
    (b) the Chief Justice and the other Justices of the Supreme Court of Judicature;
    (c) the Auditor-General, the Chairman and Deputy Chairmen of the Electoral Commission,
    Dr. A. A. Osei (NPP - Old Tafo) 5:20 p.m.
    the Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice and his Deputies and the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator;
    (d) the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the other members of -
    (i) a National Council for Higher Education howsoever described;
    (ii) the Public Services Com- mission;
    (iii) the National Media Com- mission;
    (iv) the Lands Commission; and
    (v) the National Commission for Civic Education.”
    I think what my Leader was trying to say is that this is at the heart of the Chinery-Hesse Report, that to the extent that it has been approved by this House and the President, the speedy implementation of it will lead to the significant enhancement of the facilities and privileges of that Commission. And if that is done, the Deputy Majority Leader will get all that he has been asking for. We know that he is a hardworking person and we expect that he would be rewarded adequately. But if something has been approved as of December last year and he has not been paid as we are in March then I can see why he is in a difficulty. So I urge him that since he was part of the process of approval and he knows whose job is to implement, that he would take the appropriate steps to ensure the speedy implementation.
    Of course, I am sure sometime today he will be coming to us to give us some

    With these few words, I urge all the Hon Members of the House to support the Minister's motion and approve the amount of GH¢503,741.00 for the services of the National Media Commission for the 2009 fiscal year.
    Mr. Akologu 5:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I want to correct something fundamental here. I am happy that my Hon Colleague opposite has at least shown concern for the plight of the National Media Commission. But the truth of the matter is that what is contained in the Chinery-Hesse Report as privileges and facilities for the Commission including retirement benefits cannot be applied wholly to them as far as the gratuity is concerned. This is because the current Commission has not yet come to an end. In fact, their tenure comes to an end in November this year. [Interruption.] But for salaries, everybody is part of it. Why is he referring to me?
    Dr. Osei 5:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the salaries are still at the 2007 levels and he knows that. So if his allowance is still at the 2007 level, he is being cheated. And we are suggesting that we do not want him cheated. That this is 2009 and at least, adequate adjustment should be made to reflect inflation, otherwise, he is being cheated.
    rose
    Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 5:30 p.m.
    Hon
    Member, do you have an intervention?
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 5:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    what I did was that because the Hon Chairman was not in the Chamber, I read the Report on his behalf. I am the
    Hon Ranking Member and I have my contribution that I want to make. So, I think if you give me the chance, just two minutes to make that contribution.
    Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 5:30 p.m.
    Very well.
    Prof. G. Y. Gyan-Baffour (NPP - Wenchi) 5:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the importance and relevance of this institution is not taken very seriously until when one is besieged by the press or by the media in this country.
    Mr. Speaker, last week Friday there was a news item that the former Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing had sold his house to me. It went all over my constituency. Everybody was concerned.
    But Mr. Speaker, the real issue was that one of the newspapers reported that my house, my official residence, has been sold by a committee in the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing to some private operator. And then the press just picked it up, the radio stations, all over in the morning, that was what they were broadcasting that that house had been sold to me. When I was actually the victim, they made me the villain.
    Mr. Speaker, why I am saying this is that if we do not have an institution like the National Media Commission that one can really go to when there is a problem like that, one gets caught up in a mess like this and there are no solutions to it. When it does not affect one, one does not see their importance.
    Number two, Mr. Speaker, at the committee meeting, what came up was that there were a lot of international media organisations that wanted to come into this country. And a lot of them are actually financed by multinational corporations who want their interests to be asserted in the country. So if you are a Minister for instance, in Half Assini or where this
    oil find is and your views are something contrary to the views of an oil company, they will make sure they pester your life so that you get out of the house and be replaced by somebody else.
    They can even replace a whole government because these days multinational corporations are even much more powerful than governments. And therefore, there is the need for the National Media Commission to be resourced in such a way that they can actually fight these threats both internally and externally.
    I think when one looks at what they have for Item 3 this year which is about GH¢8,000, it is very, very small and the programmes that they want to undertake this year to ensure that they regulate these media houses effectively will not happen. Therefore, I am appealing to the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to look at this very seriously, just like the other service organisations, to ensure that the National Media Commission is well resourced.
    When we went to the office, it was really horrible. So, we are appealing to the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to please go to their aid and get them some resources to enable them do the work that they are mandated to do.
    On that note, I think I will also urge all Hon Members on both sides of the House to approve the sum of GH¢503,741 for the services of the National Media Commission for the 2009 fiscal year.
    Dr. Duffuor 5:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, we would like to thank all Hon Members once again for supporting this motion.
    We in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning do recognise the importance of the Commission being the regulator of the fourth realm of the State.

    We would therefore, during the year, do all that we can to resource the Commission to enable it do its work in the most efficient manner. We, therefore, appeal to all Hon Members to approve the said amount to enable them start the work as soon as possible.

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    Question put and motion agreed to.

    Resolved:

    That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢503,741 for the services of the National Media Commission for the 2009 fiscal year.
    ANNUAL ESTIMATES 5:30 p.m.
    Minister for Health (Dr. G. S. Yankey) 5:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢546,720,310 for the services of the Ministry of Health for the 2009 fiscal year.
    Mr. Speaker, these resources would be used to support the manning of the Ministry of Health in the areas of promoting good health, preventing diseases and injuries, ensuring sustainable financial arrangements that protect the poor and restoring the health of the sick and the incapacitated.
    In 2008 Mr. Speaker, the Ministry
    of Health continued its programmes on regenerative health, nutrition, communicable disease control and non- communicable disease management.
    Further, the Ministry of Health succeeded in improving traditional and alternative health service delivery and the National Health Insurance Scheme, though the Scheme continues to experience some teething problems.
    Considerable amount of work was also done in the areas of human resource development and management, emergency preparedness and resource and enhancement of the quality and coverage of clinical care.
    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Health in 2009 will pursue the following priorities 5:40 p.m.
    continue to scale up the high impact and rapid delivery programme through repositioning community based health planning and services; restructuring of the National Health Insurance Scheme with the view to achieving national coverage, and portability and the medium-term strategy of one-time premium payment; targeting of safe food and water; improving quality of medical care including referrals and main services and; finally, nationalising facility and service availability.
    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Health in 2009 will seek to improve maternal and neonatal health through increase access to obstetric care, expanding midwifery and nursing training institutions, deploy qualified nurses and midwives, improving comprehensive abortion care services and monitoring the implementation of existing policy on free maternal deliveries.

    Mr. Speaker, in 2009, malaria inter- ventions will be set up to control and eliminate malaria in this country. This would include intensified education to increase utilization of insecticide treated nets and indoor residual spraying nationwide.

    The existing bio-larvaeciding project would be scaled up to cover Central, Western and other regions among other measures.

    Finally, the Ministry would undertake collaborative programmes with its counterparts in Togo, la Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso to tackle and control and ensure that malaria is eliminated completely.

    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry would

    intensify its efforts in 2009 to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases through strengthening the prevention, control and management of such diseases such as diabetes, cardio-vascular conditions and cancers.

    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry would equip and upgrade the staff of Community- Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) under this strategy to cater for maternal health services. Accordingly, the Ministry would among others review the curricula of community health officers to include midwifery services and also simplify the referral system.

    Mr. Speaker, with regard to quality and coverage of a clinical care, the Ministry would introduce additional improvement in clinical care and strengthen emergency services through provision of diagnostic and/or scientific equipment, promotion of rational use of medicines, management blood transfusion services development and adoption of protocol for referrals.

    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Health will enhance its interventions to improve outcast of trauma, medicals, surgical and arthritic emergencies. Furthermore, the Ministry will expand coverage of national ambulance services to 20 additional districts by procuring 20 specialised vehicles, train 200 personnel and also re-orient health staff in emergency care.

    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry would improve and strengthen human resource facility within the sector by implementing performance value contracts and to expand training programmes for middle level health works and reintroduce community psychiatric and dental nursing training programmes.

    For 2009, Mr. Speaker, the Ministry would train additional 670 midwives and 190 medical assistants. The National Health Insurance Scheme would be restructured to respond to the need of the population and improve upon the issue of claims management, specifically, where it could continue to enable the District Health Mutual Insurance Scheme to be networked to service providers and the National Health Insurance Authority. These interventions, Mr. Speaker, coupled with other strategies will resolve the current problem of portability and claims management. It will also start to pursue the policy of the de-linking children from their parent registration and the provision of free maternal care.

    Finally, the Ministry would also begin initial work towards the implementation of the one-time payment of insurance premium.

    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry's inter- sectoral work in 2009 would be geared towards improving sanitation, targeting safe food and water resources. The Ministry would also collaborate with the Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development, Education, Women and Children's Affairs, Water Resources, Works and Housing and Food and Agriculture to develop relevant regulations and guidelines to ensure safety of food, water and sanitation.

    The Ministry would complete work on the mental health, tobacco, national health
    Chairman of the Committee (Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (retd)) 5:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I will be very brief. Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to second the motion so ably moved by the Hon Minister.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to read your Committee's Report.
    1.0 Introduction
    In accordance with article 179 of the Constitution, the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor presented the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2009 financial year to the House on Thursday, 5th March, 2009.
    Pursuant to Standing Orders 140 (4) and
    178 of the House, Madam Speaker referred the Draft Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Health to the Committee for consideration and report to the House.
    2.0 Deliberations
    The Committee held series of meetings with the following to deliberate on the 2009 Draft Annual Estimates:
    1. Hon Minister for Health, Dr. George Sipa Yankey, the Chief Director of the Sector Ministry, Madam Salimata Abdul-Salam
    as well as Chief Executives. Registrars and Directors of the following agencies and departments:
    a. Ghana Health Service;
    b. Christian Health Association of Ghana;
    c. Tamale Teaching Hospital
    d. Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital;
    e. National Ambulance Service;
    f. Mental Health Service;
    g. Food and Drugs Board;
    h. Medical and Dental Council;
    i . Nurses and Midwives Council;
    j. Pharmacy Council;
    k. Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine
    l. Traditional Medicine Practice Council;
    m. National Health Insurance Scheme;
    n. Pr ivate Hospi ta ls and Maternity Homes Board,
    o. Ministry of Health,
    p. National Blood Transfusion Service.
    The Committee is grateful to them for their support and co-operation during
    deliberations.
    3.0 Reference Documents
    In considering the draft Annual Estimates for the Sector Ministry, the underlisted documents were used as reference materials:
    1. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana;
    2. The S tand ing Orders o f Parliament of Ghana;
    3. The 2008 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana;
    4. The 2009 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana;
    5. The 2008 Draf t Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Health;
    6. The 2009 Dra f t Annua l Estimates of the Ministry of Health.
    4.0 Mission Statement of the Ministry of Health
    The Mission Statement of the Ministry of Health for the 2009 fiscal year is to contribute to socio-economic develop- ment, wealth creation by promoting health and vitality as well as ensure access to quality health.

    5.0 Objectives

    The Ministry operates by the objectives cited below in pursuance of its Mission Statement and Policy within the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF):

    i. Ensure that people live long, healthy and productive lives without risks of injuries or death;

    ii. Reduce the excess risk and burden of morbidity, mortality and disability, especially in the poor and marginalized groups; and

    iii. Reduce inequalities in access to health, population and nutrition services and health outcomes.

    6.0 Review of the Ministry's Performance in 2008

    6.1 Funds Allocated

    In the year under review, an amount of five hundred and sixteen million, eight hundred and three thousand, eight hundred and fifty-five Ghana cedis (GH¢516,803,855.00) was approved by the House. The breakdown is as follows: 7.0 Performance in 2008

    The funds allocated were committed to the set objectives of the GPRS II. The Ministry therefore focused on three broad objectives:

    1. Bridging of equity gaps in
    Chairman of the Committee (Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (retd)) 5:40 p.m.


    delivering quality health care and nutrition services;

    2. Ensuring sustainable financing arrangements that protected the poor; and

    3. Enhancing efficiency in service delivery.

    In this regard, health sector programmes were designed to address the key challenges facing the Sector. They were:

    7.1 Regenerative Health and Nutrition

    Surveys to establish Ghana baseline information on lifestyles and behaviours were conducted with Statistical Service under the Ghana Standard Survey in the Greater Accra, Volta, Eastern and Central Regions. A National Behaviour Change Communication Strategy was also developed and implemented.

    A training manual was also developed to facilitate scaling up of the Regenerative Health Nutrition Programme (RHNP) throughout the country. Additionally, the Ministry conducted orientation and training for 2000 health professionals including School Health Educational Programme (SHEP) co-ordinators and traditional medicine practitioners.

    The Ministry further collaborated with MOESS in incorporating the regenerative health and nutrition programme into the Schools Feeding Programme of the Ghana Education Service. 7.2 Communicable Disease Control

    The Ministry during the course of the year under review strengthened its management of communicable diseases especially cholera, meningitis, yellow fever, buruli ulcer and filariasis by continuing to sustain the High Impact Rapid Delivery Programme (HIRD) in all

    the ten regions of the country.

    With regard to management of guinea- worm cases, ten case containment centres were constructed at Kintampo, Tolon/ Kumbugu, Tamale, West Mamprussi, Savelugu/Nanton and East Gonja Districts. As a result of this and other interventions, guinea-worm cases have been reduced from 3,021 in June 2007 to 501 at the end of 2008.

    In pursuance of Government's policy of eliminating malaria from this country, the Ministry prepared a seven-year draft national strategic plan (2008 2015) for consideration of Government.

    7.3 Non-Communicable Diseases

    A National Cancer Control Steering Committee has been formed to manage cancer issues. In addition, a National Co- ordinator has been appointed to implement the nationwide Sickle Cell Screening programme.

    Traditional and Alternative Health Service

    To improve traditional and alternative health service delivery, 15 Scientific and Medical Herbalists were trained at KNUST and will be deployed in 2009 to selected health facilities throughout the country. A list of recommended herbal medicines and scientific monographs have also been developed for traditional practitioners in at least 15 accredited private herbal medicine centres and 2 public health facilities.

    Homeopathy, acupuncture, and chiropractic are being promoted. Frameworks for legal, regulatory, training and administration have been introduced to officially institutionalize traditional and complementary alternative medicine practice as an accepted profession for private and public service. Guidelines for registration of practitioners are ready for

    implementation in 2009.

    7.4 National Health Insurance Scheme

    The National Health Insurance Authority introduced a new Diagnostic- Related Groupings (DRGS) and tariffs in April 2008 throughout the country. The new universal ID cards which were to replace the expiring scheme- specific DMHIS cards were first issued in September 2008.

    The National Health Insurance Scheme also expanded its coverage to reach almost 12,269,503 registered members by the end of the year. That represents 54 per cent of the population. Regional monitoring and evaluation officers have been appointed and systems continue to be strengthened.

    7.5 Human Resource Development and Management

    In 2008, the Ministry established five new health assistants training institutions at Tepa, Asankragua, Nalerigu, Kpembi and Dunkwa-on-Offin to increase the number of public sector training institutions to 67 nationwide. In addition, enrolment into the health institutions increased from 6,500 to 7,200 representing 11 per cent increase. The Ministry also started the accreditation of two midwifery training schools at Tarkwa and Tamale.

    Five hundred and thirty (530) midwives and 105 medical assistants graduated from the training institutions in 2008 and were integrated into the system. During the year, the human resource policy for the sector was disseminated for imple-mentation. Furthermore, the regulatory agencies under the Ministry were integrated into the Health Sector Salary Structure thereby eliminating dis-crepancies.

    7.6 Mental Health

    The draft mental health legislation has been prepared for finalization in 2009.

    7.7 Emergency Preparedness and Response

    Ambulance services have been scaled- up from 19 to 24 stations in 2008. The additional stations are located in Tamale, Bolgatanga, Wa, Sunyani and Seckondi- Takoradi. From January to December 2008, the Service responded to a total of 7,678 emergency calls.

    7.8 Enhancement of the Quality and Coverage of Clinical Care

    The Ministry implemented a number of programmes aimed at improving access of the population to quality health care, safety and treatment outcomes. Achievements to date include completion of the following: Gushiegu District Hospital, National Accidents and Emergency Centre at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, health centres at Buipe, Amasaman and Duffor, hostel and classroom facilities at nurses, midwifery and health assistants' training institutions at Agogo, Korle-Bu, Jirapa, Teshie, Sunyani, Atibie, Ashanti Mampong. Besides 30 selected hospitals also benefited from the supply of new equipment. Twenty-one dental facilities were also completed. 8.0 Outlook for 2009

    8.1 Funds Allocated

    The Ministry has been allocated an amount of five hundred and forty- six million, seven hundred and twenty thousand, three hundred and ten Ghana cedis (GH¢546,720,310.00) for its activities for the 2009 fiscal year. The breakdown is as follows:

    *** The table excludes votes for NHIF

    (GH¢375,209,162.00)
    Chairman of the Committee (Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (retd)) 5:40 p.m.


    The amount provided would be committed to the following activities:

    8.2 Maternal and Neonatal Health

    The Ministry will improve maternal and neonatal health by increasing access to obstetric care in all health facilities to reduce maternal death. Key strategies include expansion of midwifery and nursing training institutions, deployment of qualified nurses and midwives, improvement in comprehensive abortion care services and monitoring the implementation of existing policy on free maternal deliveries.

    8.3 Malaria

    As part of current strategy to control malaria, education and advocacy will be intensified to increase utilization of insecticide treated nets (ITNS) nationwide, indoor residual spraying and scale-up the bio-larviciding projects in Central, Western and other regions. Additionally, the Ministry will initiate a mass treatment pilot project in the Greater- Accra Region with the aim of eliminating malaria parasites from the defined population and establish the safety and efficacy of the method used.

    In furtherance to the sector's policy of eliminating malaria, the seven-year draft national strategic plan (2008- 2015) currently under preparation will be completed for consideration by Government in 2009.

    Furthermore, the Ministry will undertake collaborative programmes with its counterparts in Togo, la Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso to tackle the control and elimination of malaria.

    8.4 Other Communicable Diseases

    In the light of resources allocated to

    protocol for referrals.

    8.8 Emergency Preparedness and Response

    To improve outcomes of medical, surgical and obstetric emergencies, a national emergency response policy and plan to guide the implementation of epidemic diseases management preparedness within the sector will be prepared. The Ministry will expand coverage of national ambulance services to 20 additional districts by procuring 20 specialized vehicles, train 200 personnel and also orientate health staff in emergency care.

    8.9 Human Resouce Development and Managemeng

    The Ministry will improve and strengthen human resource productivity within the sector by implementing performance management contracts and conducting a study on human resource productivity including development of an online human resource update. It will endeavour to match intake into training institutions with availability of practical training sites. It will also expand training programmes for middle level health cadres especially the reintroduction of community psychiatric and dental nursing training programmes.

    Furthermore, the Ministry will train additional 670 midwives and 190 medical assistants. It will also institutionalize continuous Professional Development programmes for critical staff.

    8.10 National Health Insurance Scheme

    The National Health Insurance Scheme will be restructured to respond to the needs of the population and improve upon the issue of claims management. The latter

    will involve networking all DHMIS to service providers and the National Health Insurance Authority. This, among others, will help to resolve the problem of portability to make it national in coverage.

    It will also pursue the policy on delinking children from their parent's registration and the provision of free maternal care. Furthermore Government will commence work on the implementation of the one time payment of insurance premium under the National Health Insurance Scheme. In this regard the actuarial analysis relating thereto will start in earnest.

    8.11 Inter-Sector Collaboration and Advocacy

    The Ministry will embark upon major multi-sector collaboration with the view to improving sanitation and targeting safe food and water. Specifically, it will collaborate with the Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development, Education, Women and Children's Affairs, Water Resources, Works and Housing and Food and Agriculture to develop relevant regulations and guidelines to ensure safety of food, water and sanitation.

    8.12 Harmonization of Health Legislation

    The Ministry will complete work on the Mental Health, Tobacco, National Health Service and National Ambulance Bills for consideration of Cabinet and subsequent passage by Parliament.

    8.13 Gender Mainstreaming

    The Ministry will f inalise and disseminate guidelines on gender mainstreaming in all health facilities. Gender sensitive case management protocols will also be developed. In this regard, management teams will be trained to handle gender dimensions of
  • [MAJ. (DR.) (ALHAJI) AHMED communicable diseases, the Ministry will, as a matter of urgency, review the management of diseases like cholera, meningitis and yellow fever. 8.5 Non-Communicable Diseases The Ministry's focus will be to strengthen the prevention, control and management of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardio-vascular conditions and cancer so as to reduce their burden by improving data and education on risk factors and incidence of specific diseases, developing cancer registry and promote increased use of health education materials. In addition, general screening of the population for breast, cervical and prostate cancers to facilitate early detection and prompt treatment will be conducted and clinical services for non- communicable diseases improved. 8 . 6 C o m m u n i t y - B a s e d H e a l t h Planning and Services Under this strategy, the Ministry will equip and staff the CHPS compounds to cater for maternal health services. In addition, the Ministry will review training of Community Health Officers (CHOs) to include midwifery services. It will also simplify the referral system with the object of providing guidance to CHOs. Other strategies will include improving communication at CHPS level through increased use of mobile telephones and strengthen district and regional level supervision of CHPS. 8.7 Quality and Coverage of Clinical Care The Ministry will place emphasis on introducing improvements in clinical care and strengthen emergency service through provision of diagnostic and/or scientific equipment, promotion of rational use of medicines, development and adoption of
  • [MAJ. (DR.) (ALHAJI) AHMED health service delivery. In addition, Police medical reports forms will be reviewed and standardized to facilitate data capture on domestic violence. 8.14 Infrastructure Development
  • [MAJ. (DR.) (ALHAJI) AHMED for Effective Health Delivery To further strengthen the programme for modernizing health care and also improve access to quality health care, the Ministry will rehabilitate all Health facilities destroyed by floods in the Northern Region. In addition, 21 health centres will be constructed and four existing health centres equipped and upgraded to district hospital status. The health centres are at Essiam. Ajumako, Zabzugu and Galo-Sota. Again phase 1 of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital will be completed. Feasibility studies for the development of a specialized Maternity and Children's Hospital at Ridge will be undertaken. Similarly, offices for the Food and Drugs Board, Nurses and Midwives Council will be completed and the expansion works on training schools at Keta, Bolgatanga, Berekum, Oda, Tamale, Teshie, Sefwi Wiawso and Agogo will also be carried out. The Ministry will further staff and equip CHPS Compounds nationwide, and re-equip selected regional and district hospitals with emphasis on emergency and essential obstetric care. In addition, ongoing works in selected hospitals, DHMT. and RHMT offices with high sunk cost will be completed while twenty specialized ambulance vehicles will be procured for the National Ambulance Service. New projects to be initiated include redevelopment and upgrading of Tamale Teaching Hospital, phase 2 of the rehabilitation of the Bolgatanga Hospital: the construction of five polyclinic/health centres in the Northern Region at Kpandai, Tatale, Janga, Chereponi, and Winneba District Hospitals will be completed. A 100-bed general hospital with malaria research centre at Teshie, Accra will commence. Similarly, two regional hospitals with staff housing at Wa and Kumasi will also be funded. Six district
  • [MAJ. (DR.) (ALHAJI) AHMED 9.3 HIPC Allocation The Committee observed that the HIPC allocation for the Ministry of Health has not been allocated to any line item. It was however explained that the allocated funds would be committed to sanitation, water and education at the district level as well as the MP's share of the HIPC fund (Page 310 of the 2009 Budget Statement). The Committee hopes that the proposed mode of allocation of the funds would be duly monitored to prevent diversion of the funds. 9.4 Internally Generated Funds The use of internally generated funds was discussed extensively. It was realised that while some agencies under the Ministry generate very high revenue from their operations others generate very little or none. It was further realised that although some of the agencies are indebted they do not use their internally generated funds to defray these debts but use the funds to purchase vehicles and other nonessentials. It is therefore the view of the Committee that the use of internally generated funds should be closely monitored and if possible varied to support activities of less endowed agencies. Hospitals should also prioritise their needs according to essential medical services other than ancillary services for funding by the Ministry. 9.5 Malaria Eradication One of the major policies of the Government stated in the Budget is to control and eradicate malaria through education, advocacy for increased use of insecticide treated nets as well as indoor residual spraying among others. It was however noted that not much funds have been allocated to the project under the budget of the Ministry of Health. The provision from GOG is GH¢80 million and Donor GH¢2.1 million. It was however explained that project on malaria eradication would be piloted this year whilst further work would be done in the ensuing year. The Committee is however of the view that the project would only succeed if serious attention is paid to education, vector control as well as proper sanitation rather than medication. The Committee therefore recommends further financial support to ensure total success in the project. 9 . 6 C o m m u n i t y - B a s e d H e a l t h Planning and Services (CHPS) The Committee was informed that although 5,000 CHPS compounds were expected to be established through out the country only about 500 have been established in 84 districts in the 10 regions. The programme after 6 years of operation lacks ambulances, trained nurses, and an administrative structure. The Committee was however assured that an impact assessment of the programme is being done to ensure effective and efficient delivery of service through out the country. It is, however, recommended that serious attention should be paid to the establishment and management of these centres in order to bring down the maternal and infant morbidity rate. 9.7 General Indebtedness It was also realised that most of the agencies in the Ministry are indebted to various service providers. These debts are however continuously forwarded to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for payment although some could be set t led from internal ly generated funds. The Accra, Pantang and Ankaful Psychiatric Hospitals are for instance indebted to the tune of about GH¢1,382,782.58 but are not in a position to settle these debts because they do not generate any funds and have very low budgetary allocations. The Committee recommends that urgent attention should be paid to the indebtedness of the three psychiatric hospitals to ensure continuous supplies from their service providers. Those who can afford to settle their indebtedness from their internally generated funds should take steps to do so. The Ministry should also monitor and evaluate the situation to ensure a reduction in the indebtedness of its agencies. 9.8 National Health Insurance Scheme It was noted that various factors including the high cost of administration, unskilled personnel, numerous claim centres as well as delay in the submission of claims affect the general efficiency of the National Health Insurance Scheme. The Committee was however assured that with the introduction of the technology backbone most of the problems would be solved. 60 per cent of claims delivered would be processed electronically at regional centres and new personnel would be engaged for processing and payment of claims. The Committee calls for holistic support in the achievement of the goals of the scheme as well as intense monitoring and evaluation of the scheme. The National Insurance Commission should also ensure that its percentage contribution to the National Health Insurance Scheme for emergency service is released within the year. 9.9 Tamale Teaching Hospital The Committee was informed that the Tamale Teaching Hospital is still in a deplorable state with debris falling off the ceilings of some wards. It also has problems of obsolete equipment, inadequate number of skilled staff coupled with attacks of doctors in their consulting rooms by factions in the ongoing war. The Committee calls for a concerted effort at boosting security at the hospital as well as scaling up of renovations to ensure an increase in total care of patients admitted at the hospital. 9.10 Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital The Committee was surprised to note that the maternity ward which was started in 1974 is still under construction. Although it is 60 per cent complete, there is no space to accommodate the ever increasing number of deliveries. The Committee recommends that funds be made available to the hospital to complete the maternity block within the year to ensure proper care of expectant mothers and reduce maternal morbidity in the Ashanti Region since the hospital caters for a large number of communities in the region. The Committee further recommends that funds should be provided for the purchase of the cobalt source for the radiotherapy centre to enable the hospital provide essential services to women and other cancer suffers in the northern part of the country. 9.11 National Ambulance Service The National Ambulance Service attended to about 8,060 emergencies within the year under review. It, however, has only 36 ambulances in operation all over the country. Considering the importance of the service it renders to the nation, the Committee recommends that it be captured under the National Health Insurance Scheme in order to obtain adequate number of ambulances for its operations. The Committee again calls for adequate funds to be provided for regular maintenance of these vehicles to ensure readiness for emergency response.
  • [MAJ. (DR.) (ALHAJI) AHMED [MAJ. (DR.) (ALHAJI) AHMED [MAJ. (DR.) (ALHAJI) AHMED The Committee further proposes that the paramedics who work with the service should be trained at the Department of Anesthesia at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital as well as the Fire Service Training School. Blood and laboratory services of the Ghana Health Service may also be captured under the National Health Insurance Scheme. 9.12 Food and Drugs Board The Committee was informed that the headquarters building of the Food and Drugs Board as well as its laboratory complex are still under construction. If they are not completed by June 2009, the Board would loose its accreditation from the World Health Organisation. The Committee recommends that provision should be made within the second quarter of the year to ensure early completion of the office and laboratory complex. 9.13 Medical and Dental Council The Medical and Dental Council though established in 1974, has not seen an increase in infrastructure. Budget provisions to the Council have always been very low. To guarantee the Council's ability to effectively check quack doctors and control medical malpractice, there is the need to strengthen the capacity of the Council as well as improve its infras- tructure. The Committee urges the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to, in future consider allocating sufficient funds towards the improvement of the Council's infrastructure. Efforts should also be made at filling the fourteen vacancies in the Council to ensure efficiency. 9 . 1 4 P r i v a t e H o s p i t a l s a n d Maternity Homes Board The mandate of the department among others, is to provide and renew licences of private hospitals and maternity homes. It was however realised that the department charges a paltry sum of GH¢10 as license fee. This in the opinion of the Committee is unacceptable and urged the department to consider an increase in the license fees to rake in adequate resources to support its activities. Serious attention should also be given to the revision of the law establishing the Board to bring it to modern standards. 9.15 Blood Transfusion Service The role of the service among others is to ensure a co-ordinated national approach to the provision of safe, adequate and efficacious blood and blood products. It was however realised that the service is not able to run a well co-ordinated supply of blood nation-wide. To ensure efficiency in the distribution of blood, legislation has been drafted in a bid to develop a blood service that is centrally co-ordinated with a network of area blood centres, well distributed in the country to provide effective coverage. The Committee therefore recommends that work should be expedited on the draft legislation to ensure efficiency in the distribution and coordination of blood service. 10.0 Conclusion If the Ministry of Health is to ensure adequate health support for the people of Ghana and change for better results in health delivery, there should be concerted efforts at providing the necessary funds to support its activities. This not withstanding the Committee recommends that an amount of five hundred and forty- six million, seven hundred and twenty thousand, three hundred and ten Ghana cedis (GH¢546,720,310.00) be approved by the House to support the activities of the Ministry of Health for the 2009 fiscal year. Question proposed.
    • Dr. R. W. Anane (NPP - Nhyiaeso) 5:50 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving the opportunity to associate myself with the motion on the floor.
    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Health is focused on three broad objectives as captured under paragraph 721 of the Budget as presented by the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning in line with the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) (2). The Ministry dispenses with this mandate through 16 agencies.
    Mr. Speaker, while it is the duty of Government to assure health access to the citizenry, it must equally be the duty of Government to ensure that agencies charged with the duty of this assurance, discharge their duties with positive returns. We cannot continue to be expending high budgetary allocations without equally positive results.
    Mr. Speaker, the persistent refrain of inadequate budgetary allocation from all the agencies is not lost on us. Malaria continues to take its toll on the nation's morbidity and mortality statistics with the associated economic implications.
    An estimated expenditure of $70 million per annum towards the management of malaria and its related issues. It is the single most important contributor to mortality and morbidity, especially amongst children less than 5 years and of morbidity amongst pregnant women.
    Whilst the various control and preventive measures with the required multi-sectoral collaboration are going on Mr. Speaker, I would want to call for a
    review of the replacement of the cheaper chloroquine or its combination therapy versus the new ammodiaquine combi- nation therapy.
    Perhaps, the Hon Minister would wish to present a comparative malaria case fatality and durational morbidity studies amongst the under-5s and pregnant women to justify the continuous expenditure on this more expensive and complicated to administer combination therapy.
    The question is, are we getting better treatment results? That is what we want to establish. The disturbing fraught of maternal mortality and mobidity has attracted a lot of attention. The need for a more aggressive approach with a requisite inter sectoral and inter agency collaboration to facilitate all modes of access should not be lost in us as a nation. From 1998 to 2008, Ghana's institutional maternal mortality rates have hovered between 280 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 1998 to 186 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2004. Of this gloomy picture, Ashanti Region alone contributes 20 per cent.

    Mr. Speaker, inadequate midwives or trained hands for skilled delivery continue to be the key challenge. Inadequacy of infrastructure also continues to be another major challenge. It is in this light that we will call for the creation of a budget line and for the early completion of the 60 per cent complicated 35 year old maternity and children's block project at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

    Mr. Speaker, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was initiated in 2001 to promote access to health services and also as an alternative source of funding for the health sector which have
  • [MAJ. (DR.) ALHAJI AHMED
  • [MAJ. (DR.) (ALHAJI) AHMED had to depend on a perennially inadequate Government of Ghana or development the Nation Address and Mr. Speaker, I believe that with the time at our disposal he can do us some service if he can leave the thesis for us so that tomorrow we can look at it.
    • Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 5:50 p.m.
    Hon Agbesi, that is not a point of order and perhaps, if you would allow him to continue, he will rather finish in time.
    Dr. Anane 6 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, my Hon Colleague knows that I am a very senior member of this House and as a Minister coming out from a Ministerial portfolio; I think I have to be given the rights to even read if I want to do so and I am also the Ranking Member for the Committee.
    Mr. Speaker, as I have said earlier, time consuming convoluted because I am aware of a lot of work that had been done. Mr. Speaker, it requires only two ingredients for what has been proposed to be done. The two ingredients are one, an increase in the National Health Insurance Levy and then two, the political will to follow that measure through.
    Mr. Speaker, this is free advice and I want to assure Government that we on this side will be more than ready to support this intervention if Government would be emboldened to pursue this course as long as it does not detract the ownership factor from the scheme and push it to an early demise.
    Mr. Speaker, there are other important agencies under the Ministry which I want us to pay attention to. Mr. Speaker, we have the National Ambulance Service. It is for the benefit of all of us. The National Ambulance Service is poorly served. The original intension of setting up the National Ambulance Service was to link it to the National Health Insurance so that it could be funded so that the National
    Ambulance Service would be able to get enough mobile ambulance vans.
    In addition to the National Ambulance Service, we would be able to even procure helicopters like we now have the Emergency and Accident Centre in Kumasi with the Heliport. Mr. Speaker, it is only if we link the National Ambulance Service to the National Health Insurance that we can be assured of getting enough resources for them to be able to work.
    In addition, Mr. Speaker, the medical technicians working with the National Ambulance Service are trained by the Ghana National Fire Service. Again, the original intention was to have them trained at the School of Anesthesia in Kumasi, where fortunately today we have also a National Accident and Emergency Centre where we have enough capacity to give them enough training or be it with the collaboration of the Ghana National Fire Service. Mr. Speaker, we believe that if this is conjoined, we will be able to get good hands to take care of us when we are involved in accidents.

    Mr. Speaker, the Food and Drugs Board must be emboldened, but there is an existing problem of the Food and Drugs Board, and the Standard Board which appear not to be headed and I wanted to advise the Hon Minister with his Colleague Hon Minister for Trade and Industry to sit down and resolve this once and for all. In 2001, this was seen to but it appears to continue and therefore, I think I have to draw the attention of the Hon Minister to ensure that this is resolved between the two of them.

    The College of Physicians and Surgeons must also be given enough commendation for the work that has been done to be able to ensure that they close the gap of the
  • [MAJ. (DR.) (ALHAJI) AHMED partner budgetary support. The vision is that, the sector would eventually be able to wean itself from this overdependence. Mr. Speaker, the most welcome National Health Insurance Fund contribution to the health sector budget is most visible in the following: In 2007, the health insurance contribution to the health sector funds amounted to GH¢291,823,883. In 2008, the provisional estimate was GH¢256,500,000 as provisional contribution from the National Health Insurance Fund. For 2009, Mr. Speaker, it is estimated that about GH¢375,209,161 is going to be the contribution from the National Health Insurance Fund. Mr. Speaker, the above, which the Government of Ghana would have had to fund from other sources are close to 40 per cent of the total budget of the health sector for each year. Payments of claims from the National Health Insurance Fund to institutions which render services are not clearly captured, perhaps, as Internally Generated Fund (IGF) for clarity. We would want the Minister to pay attention to this and to get us to know how payments for services rendered and payments made from the National Health Insurance Fund are accounted for. Mr. Speaker, the unnecessary bureaucracy as captured in the Minister's statement in the processing of claims must be tackled and resolved with alacrity to engender the needed confidence in the scheme. The envisaged review and amendment to the National Health Insurance Law to tackle problems such as the teething bureaucratic bottleneck, formulization of the decoupling of all children under 18
  • [MAJ. (DR.) (ALHAJI) AHMED years of age from parents to enable these children to benefit from free healthcare and the linkage to the National Ambulance Service may have to be quickly submitted for the consideration of the new Cabinet to enable early processing. Mr. Speaker, Government may also have to seriously consider NHIS support to the Private Hospitals and Maternity Homes Boards to strengthen the Board's supervisory and regulatory role in the provision of acceptable standards of health services to the poor public and so to speak, the clients of the National Health Insurance Scheme. Mr. Speaker, the 2007 Hamen Develop- ment Report observed at pages 43 and 44 under the National Health Insurance Scheme which aims at reducing financial barriers and increasing access to health hazards, Mr. Speaker, with your per- mission, I want to quote: “The people who have not registered have complained mainly about inability to pay the premium thus access to the National Health Insurance Scheme is another basis for social exclusion to health services in Ghana.” Mr. Speaker, I have gone to the extent of making this quote to explain something to my Hon Colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the above observation must have advised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in proposing a one-time off premium payments. The Committee was informed of actual studies which would be pursued in the course of the year. Perhaps, there would be no need for this convoluted and time consuming approach -- [Inter- ruption.]
    • Mr. A. K. Agbesi 6 p.m.
    On a point of order.
    Mr. Speaker, I can see my Hon Colleague reading thesis which looks like a State of
    doctor population ration which used to be one doctor to cover twenty thousand people in the country. Today, as we speak, the doctor population ratio is 1:10,641.
    Mr. Speaker, these are issues that require that we pay attention to and help them so that at the end of the day we get the help that we require in order for us to provide the kind of health support services that everybody in this country, especially, under the National Health Insurance Scheme has.
    As I wind up, I would want to also bring to the fore the issue of road traffic accidents. In recent times, a lot of talk had gone on about road traffic accidents. Road traffic accidents today are not seen just merely as a transport related issue, it is a public health issue, and over the past few years, the Ministries or relevant Ministries have been collaborating.
    I did not see any reference to that in the budget of the Ministry of Health and I thought it was necessary for us to draw attention to this. Also to draw the attention of the Hon Minister so that he will be proactive in order to collaborate with the other Ministries for Transport, Roads and Highways, Local Government and Rural Development, Finance and Economic Planning and others; so that at the end of the day we get the necessary support to ensure that we continuously reduce our road traffic accidents that are fighting us and which fortunately has been coming down even though because of publicity, it appears to be rather going up.
    Finally, I would want to say that, noting the needs of the Ministry and realizing that not much can ever be given to any sector, I would want to urge my Colleagues to support the motion on the floor.
    Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
    Mr. Wisdom Gidisu (NDC - Krachi East) 6 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to contribute to the motion on floor that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢546,720,310.00 (five hundred and forty-six million, seven hundred and twenty thousand, three hundred and ten Ghana cedis) for the Services of the Ministry of Health for 2009 fiscal year.
    Health as we all know is wealth and a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. That is why there is a need for us to give special attention to this sector.
    Statistics or research has shown that funds available for healthcare have been increasing over the past ten years and however, health financing is still a major challenge in this country. I am of the view that the increase in funding to health and other sectors go mainly to take care of personal emoluments rather than to support service delivery and that is why target set in most areas sometimes are not achieved.
    I want to say that this fund is even woefully inadequate to take care of the health sector. Korle-Bu - there is an attempt to decongest Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital but I want to say that this goal will not be realized if we do not actually improve regional and district hospitals nationwide. I think if this is done the decongestion of Korle-Bu will be achieved.
    Now doctors are willing to go to rural areas to actually work there but the problem is accommodation, decent accommodation of course and good schools. That is why at times we feel doctors are not trying to or do not want to be posted to these areas.
    I recommend strongly that the District Pharmacy Programme that is in place
    should be vigorously pursued to enhance the access to medicine situation. In certain areas, remote areas for instance, in my constituency, to even get an ampoule of chloroquine injection is a problem, let alone vaccines for snake bites. That is why there is a need for us to actually embark on this District Pharmacy Programme nationwide so that districts which are deprived or without hospitals can get access to healthcare.
    Malaria control is another important area I want to talk about. If you look at the Report at page 8 - before that, the Government has a plan to actually introduce Malaria control programme in this country. And malaria is a major killer disease in this country like AIDS, so if malaria is taken care of, I think we will all be happy in this nation. If one looks at the report, at page 8 of the Report, column 8 (3) and with your permission, I beg to quote:
    “The Ministry will undertake collaborative programmes to its counterparts in Togo, la Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso to tackle the control and the elimination of malaria.”
    This is a laudable idea. A research has shown that 45 per cent of all visits to outpatient departments is related to malaria in this country, twenty-five per cent of all admissions is related to malaria and one-third of the death of children under 5 years is malaria related.
    Cost of treating malaria, attendant cost and loss of productivity in 2007 was computerized to be about seven hundred and sixty million United States dollars (US$760 million), this amounted to about 10 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the year 2007. That is why in this area, malaria, if given attention, I think
    mother Ghana will move forward in the right direction. And I want to say that we can only achieve this if we take critical consideration to preventive measures rather than curative measures. This is because if we prevent malaria, we are not going to spend so much money on it, and what do we do?
    I think that we should cut at least, the seven hundred and sixty million Ghana cedis (GH¢760,000,000.00) of total funds that normally go into treatment, into all these things; we should actually cut some and give to agencies like Zoomlion to be able to carry out preventive malaria risks; spraying of mosquitoes all over the country. I think this will be a very laudable idea and if we do that, it will actually help us.
    Another area I want to talk about is mental health. Mental health is another important area that should be expanded nationwide but funds allocated to this area is woefully inadequate. It will interest you to know that patients who have been discharged from hospital at times do not even go home. Their relatives even refuse to come for them, so the funds allocated to these areas are used to feed these patients. That is why there is a need for us to give particular attention to this area so that mental health will be expanded nationwide.
    I want to say that health like we say is wealth and we should give the health sector the necessary attention it deserves.
    On this note, I thank you for the opportunity given. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
    Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh (NPP - Manhyia) 6:10 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to
    Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh (NPP - Manhyia) 6:10 p.m.
    the Ministry of Health's debate.
    Mr. Speaker, in the era of scarce resources, prioritizing is needed and it is more important. What we find across board in the Ministry of Health's estimates are unprioritised but allocated sums of money.
    Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that this year, the Ministry of Health captures this budget in a document called Maternal and Child Health. You will find out that in the northern part of the country the only tertiary referral centre for mother and child is unfinished and even no line item of vote is catered for it; when we are talking about bad - [Interruption] --
    Yes. Also when the centre for the treatment of women cancers in the northern part of the country is broken down, and we need €160,000 to service it; over GH¢400,000 is allocated to buying pick-ups and motorbikes.
    We should get our priorities right. In this country, we need to get our priorities; essential clinical service is more important than ancillary health services. If we are serious about controlling malaria, we must be seen to be putting money in how we can control malaria. It is not that money should be spent on outcomes that we can never measure. Those who put and devoted sums of money to malaria eradication in Greater Accra by the treatment of drugs have done this country a huge disservice. [Some Hon Members: I. C. Quaye, I. C. Quaye] -- I. C. Quaye did what was right.
    I believe that if we can put sums of money in the treatment of female cancers like cervical cancer which is killing our mothers, if we can put money into maternity wards, that is more important than buying scooters for lawn mowers.
    Mr. Speaker, when you go through
    the health budget, the most interesting item that we found was 26 different items: purchase of airplanes. And you see, scattered around the budget are paltry sums of money devoted for this - GH¢5,000, GH¢50,000 and GH¢20,000. It is interesting -- [Interruption] -- Yes, 26 different items in the budget for buying airplanes. And when you go to Tamale Teaching Hospital, they do not have maternity wards, that is what I am talking about; we have to prioritize health delivery - [Interruption] -- Yes, this year's Budget.

    Abdul-Rauf Tanko Ibrahim: On

    a point of order. Mr. Speaker, if I heard my Hon Colleague on the opposite side of the House right, he made mention that there are no maternity wards at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. I think that this statement is not right. [Interruption] -- No. He mentioned that there were no maternity wards at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. It is not right, and I think that he has to withdraw that. He should correct it, it is not right. There are maternity wards at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. [Interruption] -- He said it. He said that. My Hon Brother, be sincere.
    Dr. Prempeh 6:10 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I will like to ignore the statement just made. What my emphasis was on, when the Chief Executive of Tamale Teaching Hospital
    came to brief us he lamented about the deplorable state - [Interruption] -- Let me finish. Not only the deplorable state, that the ceilings were falling down; that they moved out of those wards. [Interruption] -- Yes, that is why I am saying that we have to prioritize. If you are telling us that Tamale Teaching Hospital does not need modern maternity facilities, fine, the people of Tamale would hear that.

    Some Hon Members -- rose
    Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 6:10 p.m.
    Hon Member for Mankyia, please continue with your own point.
    Dr. Prempeh 6:10 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I will like
    Mr. David Tetteh Assumeng 6:10 p.m.
    On
    a point of order. Mr. Speaker, I want to inform my Hon Friend that it is only tomatoes that can take just one day to deteriorate and that a building cannot take one day to deteriorate. [Interruption.] So if a building deteriorates, he should know how long it took for the building to deteriorate. Within three months, you cannot say or you cannot attribute the deterioration of the Tamale Teaching Hospital to three months -- [Inter-
    ruption] -- It is only tomatoes that can take a day to deteriorate.
    Dr. Prempeh 6:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, this information is not only unwelcome, it is unneeded.
    Mr. Speaker, what I am trying to bring to our notice is that whether it is our side or it is their side, the Government of Ghana must take interest in what it presents to this House. My Hon Friend, the Hon Minister is at par with me on some of these issues. For one to go to a hospital and see a woman die, needlessly when a budget is being brought to this House, that could have easily catered for her -- it is not the Hon Minister. [Interruption] -- I am talking about the technocrats who manage to put things in our budget that we can never defend.
    So Mr. Speaker, I think there are more important issues -- a Bill that should come to this House about Private Hospitals and Maternity Homes Board. Mr. Speaker, if you are concerned about health, you should be concerned about the quality of care in our private hospitals and maternity homes. A lot of Ghanaians get treated there, and it is high time we scrutinized the legislation to cover these hospitals so that the Ministry can conduct its supervisory role -- [Interruption] -- That is more important. [Interruptions] -- I would ignore these noises.

    Mr. Speaker, it is high time this House supported the Ministry of Health to, as a matter of urgency, enforce the law that has been made that the National Insurance Commission (NIC) contributes to the national emergency situation in this Fund.

    Mr. Speaker, in this country every Government that comes tries to promote health. In trying to promote health - [Interruptions] -- some people for years have gone on the line of “Cash and Carry”.
    Dr. Yankey 6:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Hon Members for the valuable contributions that they have made and I want to assure this Honourable House that I have taken careful note of everything that has been said and I will ensure that I take them on board to try to enable us provide quality healthcare for this country. All the points that you made have been taken care of and I can assure you that everything would be done to ensure that this country gets the best healthcare possible.
    Mr. Speaker, before I end, I want to
    clarify the problem of the aircraft issue that the Hon Member raised. This arises from the problem of converging between
    the Budget and Public Expenditure Management Systems (BPEMS) and active software. The coding for aircraft and the BPEMS is the same as coding for furniture and fixtures in the activate.
    The purchase of furniture and fixtures are for equipping the health delivery facilities but the problem has been sorted out by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning. The Minister for Finance and Economic Planning is no way going to buy aircrafts; we intend to buy air ambulances in the very short-term and the next few years to augment our emergency services delivery work.
    Mr. Frederick Opare-Ansah 6:20 p.m.
    On
    a point of order. Mr. Speaker, the Hon Minister for Health is grossly misleading the House - [Interruptions.] Mr. Speaker, the Hon Minister indicated to this House that he is not buying aircrafts, he is buying air ambulances.
    Mr. Speaker, I am an Electrical Engineer by training and to the best of my engineering knowledge, any craft which moves through the air is an aircraft. So I do not know by what mechanism the air ambulances the Minister is going to purchase are going to move from one place to the other and why he prefers to describe them as air ambulances other than aircrafts. He should not mislead this House.
    Thank you.
    Dr. Yankey 6:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I did not say that we were going to buy air ambulances during this financial year. We are discussing the budget for this financial year, so I said in the long-term, to enhance our emergency services delivery or delivery services, we intend to augment the fleet of our ambulances. As a matter of fact, the whole of Greater- Accra Region has only six ambulances. So we have a difficulty conveying thirty people from Winneba to Accra. It is for future purposes

    to enable us deal with emergencies. Mr. Speaker, right now, if there should be a problem at the airport, to convey the victims from the airport to Korle-Bu for instance, we shall be overwhelmed . So these are plans for the future but for now, we are not buying any aircraft.

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    Question put and motion agreed to.

    Resolved:

    That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢546,720,310.00 for the services of the Ministry of Health for the 2009 fiscal year.
    Mr. Bagbin 6:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, may we now take item numbered 20 which is on the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
    ANNUAL ESTIMATES 6:30 p.m.
    Minister for Trade and Industry (Ms. Hannah Tetteh) 6:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢72,296,148.00 for the services of the Ministry of Trade and Industry for the 2009 fiscal year.
    Mr. Speaker, these sums will be used to ensure that the mission of the Ministry which is to develop a vibrant technology-driven competitive industrial sector, that significantly contributes to economic growth and employment creation, particularly involving the mass mobi-lization of rural communities and other vulnerable groups including women is executed.
    Mr. Speaker, it will also be used to
    implement the private sector development strategy, which has as its output, enhancing Ghana's competitiveness in the global and regional markets, ensuring that efficiency and accessibility improve in national and domestic markets, improving competence at the firm level and strengthening the Government of Ghana's private sector policy formulation, implementation and monitoring capacity.
    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry will execute its policies through the following agencies, the Ghana Standards Board, National Board for Small-Scale Industries, Ghana Exports Promotion Council, GRATIS Foundation and CEDECOM.
    Mr. Speaker, for want of time, I will just like to focus on the major outputs for 2009.
    During the year 2009, the Ministry will focus on implementing policy that will develop the competitiveness of local industries and improve employment levels in the MSMEs sector. Promote strategic downstream production linkages, facilitate the transfer of technology and strategic sectors and promote made-in-Ghana goods and services locally and internationally.
    We intend to monitor and improve the quality of trade and industry data in collaboration with the Ghana Statistical Service and we will issue a quarterly trade statistics bulletin.
    The National Medium-Term Private Sector development strategy will come to an end in 2009 and we will continue preparations for a second phase of the programme.
    An industrial sector policy will be completed with a view towards focusing on job creation, diversification of the export base, increase foreign exchange earnings, technology transfers and linkages with other sectors.
    Minister for Trade and Industry (Ms. Hannah Tetteh) 6:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry is currently engaged in several parallel trade negotiations and consequently we will focus on improving the capacity of the staff and strengthening the institution with regard to improved negotiation skills and we have designed the capacity building programme for this purpose.
    We will establish a Trade and Tariff Advisory Board to promote a transparent tariff regime, to ensure a level playing field for all economic operators. This will be the forerunner to the establishment of the Ghana International Trade Commission.
    The Ministry will promote the deve lopment o f ag ro - indus t r i e s specifically, the establishment of three sheanut factories in the three northern regions with the capacity to produce 50,000 metric tones of shea butter per annum.
    The PSIs will be reviewed to assess their financial viability and the Ministry will facilitate the setting up of an integrated sugar project to produce sugar and ethanol - a bye-product from this venture will be used to generate electricity.
    A national export strategy for refocusing national effort to achieve a quantum leap in export will also be developed.
    Mr. Speaker, before I take my seat, I will like to focus on some of the constraints that the Ministry is facing with this year's budget, so that hopefully, when the Budget is reviewed, they will be addressed.
    As a result of the inadequate ceilings approved by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for the payment of salaries and salary-related allowances, the Ministry is unable to fully take care of the needs of its five trade and investment

    missions located in the United States of America (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Switzerland, Belgium and Nigeria. We have estimated that a million and thirty- four thousand, nine hundred Ghana cedis would be required for their upkeep and for their personal emoluments.

    However, funds allocated for that purpose are seven hundred and seventy- six thousand, a hundred and ninety Ghana cedis, which means that this will suffice until September this year, after which we will need a top-up of two hundred and fifty thousand, seven hundred and ten Ghana cedis.

    Also, under investments, the total requisition for counterpart funds is inadequate and because we are not going to have the total quantum of counterpart funds for the implementation of donor funded projects, as matching funds will not be available to access more donor inflows, we will have a difficulty in meeting our required output, and though it looks like the Ministry of Trade has got a lot of money this year, because most of it is donor funded, if we do not have the matching counterpart funds, we will be seriously challenged.

    I will therefore, entreat this august House to advocate for more funding for the sector in order that the Ministry can deliver its output on schedule.

    Mr. Speaker, I beg to move.
    Chairman of the Committee (Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho) 6:30 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to second the motion which has been ably moved by the Hon Minister.
    Mr. Speaker, in seconding the motion, I would like to present the Committee's Report.
    1.0 Introduction
    In accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning Dr. Kwabena Duffuor on Thursday, 5th March, 2009 presented to the House, the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2009 financial year.
    Pursuant to Standing Orders 140 (4) and 159 of the House, Madam Speaker referred the Annual Estimates for the year 2009 of the Ministry of Trade and Industry to the Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism for consideration and report.
    To consider the Annual Estimates, the Committee met with the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon Hannah Tetteh, the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon John Gyetuah and the technical team from the Ministry and its affiliated agencies and report as follows:
    2.0 Reference Documents
    The Committee in its deliberations referred to the following:
    1. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
    2. The Standing Orders of the House;
    3. The 2009 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.
    3.0 Mission Statement of the Ministry
    The mission of the Ministry is to develop a vibrant, technology-driven, competitive industrial sector that significantly contribute to economic growth and employment creation, particularly involving mass mobilization of rural communities and other vulnerable
    groups including women.
    This, the Ministry believes will lead to the diversification and structural transformation of the economy in a liberalized trade environment.
    4.0 Implementing Agencies
    The Ministry will execute its policies through the following agencies:
    i. Ghana Standards Board;
    ii. National Board for Small Scale Industries;
    iii. Ghana Export Promotion Council;
    iv. GRATIS Foundation;
    v. President's Special Initiatives; and
    vi. CEDECOM.
    5.0 Performance in 2008
    The technical team informed the Committee that in 2008 the Ministry (Headquarters) completed a number of legal, regulatory and institutional reform programmes. These included a study on Effective Rate of Protection (ERP), establishment of Trade Tariff Advisory Board, installation of equipment for the electronic tracking of trucks for transit trade and drafting of the revised Competition Bill.
    The Ministry also developed and operationalised the Technical Barriers to Trade/Sanitary and Phyto Sanitary (TBT/ SPS) website and prepared the Consumer Protection Policy. Model Markets for Municipal and District Assemblies were also designed.
    Chairman of the Committee (Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho) 6:30 p.m.
    The Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration successfully hosted the UNCTAD XII to bring to the fore trade and development issues confronting the developing world.
    By the end of 2008, 14 companies had benefited from the Business Development Services Fund under the MSME Project. The project covered a number of areas including quality management and certification, production management and procurement. The project also offered technical assistance to banks to help them enhance their credit delivery and support for micro-scale and medium enterprises.
    Under the following construction works were at their completion stages:
    Gateway Project:
    the construction of flyover bridge and access road within Tema Port and the Tema Multi-Purpose Industrial Park (TMPIP);
    the installation of permanent power supply and distribution;
    construction of roads and side drains, water supply and distribution, power supply and distribution; and
    the construction of a security fence wall at the Tema Multi-Purpose Industrial Park.
    Ghana Export Promotion Council
    (GEPC)
    The GEPC established four mango nursery centres at Ho and Nkonya- Kwamekrom in the Volta Region, Kpalo- Salaga in the Northern Region and Ada-Afiadenyingba in the Greater-Accra

    Region. The project involved a total of 120,000 grafted seedlings of export variety exotic mangoes.

    As part of efforts by GEPC to improve market access, programmes to the effect were undertaken and this resulted in the receipt of orders for medical plants and seeds worth over US$20 million.

    Presidential Special Initiative (PSI)

    The Minister informed the Committee that currently, there are two initiatives under the PSI. These are the Cassava Starch PSI and Garments PSI.

    She intimated that under the Cassava Starch PSI, 65 acres of high-cassava- starch-content planting material for multiplication have been cultivated near Kasoa in the Central Region. This would enable the PSI to increase the output of raw material for starch production.

    Under the Garment PSI, 2,000 sewing

    machine operators have been trained to increase the availability of trained workforce for the garment industry. She said, the country also participated in Apparel Shows in USA which resulted in securing orders to the tune of US$2.5 million for the production of sportswear, ladies and men's wear, and overall uniforms.

    National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI)

    NBSSI organized business improve- ment programmes for 5,600 enterprises and provided advisory and extension service to 10,500 entrepreneurs to enhance their efficiency. Additionally, 80 micro and small enterprises were supported to improve product packaging and quality.

    The Rural Enterprise Project in

    collaboration with NBSSI and the District Assemblies, provided funds for 53 Business Advisory Centres established in those districts.

    Ghana Standards Board (GSB)

    The Board intensified its inspection activities at the ports including critically examining over 120,000 imported high risk goods. 837 export consignments, factories, fishing vessels and manufacturing establishments were also inspected.

    Additionally, 1,337 health and export certificates were issued by the Board to exporters to enhance export competiveness. Furthermore, three meteorology laboratories of GSB were successfully upgraded and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 to build capacity to protect consumers, both local and international.

    GRATIS Foundation

    The foundation trained over 300 rural women in various employable skills, such as batik/tie and dye production and marketing. Also 74 final year apprentices graduated and took the Craft Certificate Examination (CCE) of the Ghana Education Service (GES). Sixty-four new technical apprentices were also placed on a three - year apprenticeship training pro-gramme in metal machining, welding and fabrication, foundry and woodwork.

    6.0 Budgetary Allocation for 2009

    A sum of GH¢72,296,148.00 has been allocated to the Ministry and its agencies for the implementation of its programmes and policies in the 2009 fiscal year. The

    breakdown for this allocation is as follows: Personal Emoluments

    (GH¢)
    GOG 6:30 p.m.
    IGF 6:30 p.m.
    G O G 6:30 p.m.
    I G F 6:30 p.m.
    DONOR 6:30 p.m.
    G O G 6:30 p.m.
    IGF 6:30 p.m.
    D O N O R 6:30 p.m.
    NBSSI 6:30 p.m.
    GEPC 6:30 p.m.
    GRATIS 6:30 p.m.
    Mr. Isaac Osei (NPP - Subin) 6:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, he Ministry's budget is an example of what permeates throughout the entire Budget. The Government has indicated that it wants to bridge the deficit. The question we have to ask ourselves is whether, cutting various items of expenditure will be a way to generate the efficiencies which we require to deliver the output which various Ministries have to achieve.
    The Budget as we have been told is going to be financed mainly by donors. Mr. Speaker, we are talking about 70 per
    cent financing from donors. I worry about that. All of us in this House, are fully aware of the international financial melt down which is compelling governments from whom normally donations come to invest in their own economies, thus donor support is unlikely to be attained and that donor support will be reduced.
    Indeed, the Hon Minister for Finance
    and Economic Planning in his contribution on the Budget Statement at page 10, paragraph 36 talked about a slow down in donor support, yet here we are talking about an increase in donor support for a very important sector, one of the real sectors of the economy.
    Indeed, if this scenario which I am describing and which the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning himself expects materializes, then the entire
    Mr. Isaac Osei (NPP - Subin) 6:40 p.m.
    programme of the Ministry of Trade and Industry will be seriously jeopardized.
    Mr. Speaker, I wish to say that I am also worried about the 59 per cent cut in the service budget considering the work programme of the Ministry which includes playing facilitating roles in a number of areas. Some very, very important, others equally critical.

    The Hon Minister has told us about the shea-nut processing factories, I believe three of them in the three northern regions with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes, which the Ministry would facilitate. The Hon Minister has also told us about the various feasibility studies which will be conducted and the support which the Ministry wants to give to a sugar processing plant to produce sugar and ethanol.

    In the Budget, there are areas where we are attempting to boost trade relationships yet the ceiling has reduced the service budget by 59 per cent. We cannot, simply by cutting achieve the efficiencies that we want to have.

    Mr. Speaker, if you look at the investments, the investments have risen as the Hon Chairman has rightly pointed out, by 176 per cent; the allocation has risen by that amount - 176 per cent mainly financed by donor inputs. It is clear from what the Hon Minister herself said, and what the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning has indicated that these donor funds would not be available. What is more, the Hon Minister has told us today that matching counterpart funds would also be difficult to find. If this materialises, of course, the entire budget of the Ministry would be thrown out of gear.

    Mr. Speaker, I want to say a few words about what my Hon Chairman has said. On personal emoluments, the Hon Minister

    has indicated that we are going to be short by about GH¢258,000. Surely, we cannot budget for a situation where at the end of September, there would be no money to pay our staff in some of the overseas countries. I think this is very, very serious. If you do not have capacity to pay then you ought not to employ.

    Mr. Speaker, talking about the subscriptions to International Organi- zation for Standardization (ISO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), these subscriptions are mandatory. We have an obligation, if we want to maintain membership in these important organisations. So it is a choice for Ghana, whether we want to be members of the World Trade Organisation or not, an adequate provision, in my view, should

    have been made for these areas.

    Mr. Speaker, the Hon Minister in talking about CEDECOM and indeed, I think, His Excellency the President raised this issue, about the endemic poverty in the Central Region and the need to revive the Central Region Development Commission. I could not agree more with His Excellency the President. But the truth of the matter is that, all of us are mindful of the fact that there are many areas of endemic poverty in the Ashanti, in the Greater Accra, in the Western, in the Volta, in the Brong Ahafo Regions.

    We know about the Savannah Project for the North but these regions also require that we put some investment monies in these areas so that endemic poverty throughout the country would be banished. But let us use CEDECOM as a model for these other regions that I have talked about.

    Mr. Speaker, you will recall that in the budget, it was agreed that there would be an Industrial Sector Support Programme. I think this is very laudable and all of us should support this. However, I wish to remind you that under the NPP Administration, a Trade Sector Support programme was put in place and I believe that this TSSP would be complementary to the TSSP that we had. I think it is a step in the right direction.

    Many of us are also concerned about how we police the activities in the retail sector of our domestic economy, especially with the influx of foreigners who are engaged in retail trade and the Committee discussed this and I believe that the Hon Minister would do something about this.

    The recent close-up case which I do not want to go into details because it is before a court of law, testifies to this, that there are foreigners especially, the Chinese who are moving into the retail sector and

    I believe that the Ministry will co-operate with other relevant agencies to ensure that the laws which allow only Ghanaians to participate in the retail sector, are strictly adhered to subject to the limits which the law provides.

    I am also concerned about Ghana Regional Appropriate Technology and Industrial Services (GRATIS) because one would notice that the allocation for GRATIS, is mainly on training and I believe that at the Committee meeting we said that design of appropriate technology machines which GRATIS, we know had been used to, is something that we should think about.

    Finally Mr. Speaker, I wish to caution the Ministry on the three factories that they wish to establish in the northern regions. On the face of it, it is a very, very good idea because all of us know that the shea-nut market is susceptible to wide variations in price and I believe that these three facilities, when built may be able to assist us to even the price fluctuations. However, let me say that the Ministry should be mindful of the fact that there are some private sector companies, for example, ADM operating a 60,000 tonnes facility at Tema.

    Then there is also a factory in Techiman also processing and then the Juaben Oil Mills also processing and indeed, all of them sometimes have to buy shea-nuts from Burkina Faso. So the question of capacity has to be considered.

    Mr. Speaker, because of the critical importance of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, I recommend that all of us should support the Hon Minister whose answers at the Committee were spot on and I know that she will do well. But please, do not let us take refuge in a Supplementary Budget.

    As I had ind ica ted ear l ie r, a Supplementary Budget will only be available if we have the capacity to generate domestic resources. That is a fact that we must think about. So we cannot

    take refuge in a Supplementary Budget.

    Mr. I. A. B. Fuseini (NDC - Tamale

    Central): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to the motion on the floor of the House and to urge Hon Members of this House to vote massively for the budget of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

    Mr. Speaker, I would not speak a lot, except to say that indeed, when you look at the budget, the comparison of the 2008/2009 budgetary allocations, you would see clearly at the Service sector that there has been a reduction of about 59 per cent. The Cotonou Agreement is at an end. Ghana and all other countries of the ACP are negotiating the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).

    In fact, this year and subsequent years would require the Ministry of Trade and Industry to continue to engage our European partners in negotiating various provisions of this Agreement and that again would require that they travel far and wide to engage the European partners. These travels would be funded largely from the Service votes and the fact that the service vote is limited, might inhibit their capacity to travel and engage our European partners in negotiating the EPAs.

    Mr. Speaker, again, the Ministry will

    have to engage in negotiating market access to our local producers. That will require building the capacity of our local businessmen and industries. It would require holding consultative fora with these industries to ensure that they take advantage of market opportunities outside the country.
    Mr. K. T. Hammond (NPP - Adansi Asokwa) 6:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I think the commitment on the side of Government, really is to ensure that, there is what they call -- even though there appears
    to be now some distinction, a leaner Government.
    I think there is now some correlation between a leaner Government and a slimmer economy; that is what we seem to be experiencing because ever since we started debating these budgetary allocations, every single Ministry is complaining about how much is being allocated to it. The Ministry of Trade and Industry does not appear to be in any exceptional position.
    Mr. Speaker, I intend to make a very short contribution. I have been reading the Report submitted by your Committee and signed by Hon Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho -- [Interruptions] -- who is the Hon Member for Abokobi-Madina and yet when a matter about Tamale is being discussed, he highjacks the matter. That is not appropriate and I think that is also breaching the Standing Orders of the House.
    Mr. Speaker, while reading the Report, page (9), paragraph 5.2, I realized that the Ghana Export Promotion Council is also under the Ministry of Trade and Industry and among its objectives is to strengthen and provide world class export services to exporters through market, access to facilitation, product development and the product information delivery.
    Mr. Speaker, it is intended that by this targeted amount of US$1.5 million, this could be obtained. Mr. Speaker, my submission is that in doing this, the Export Promotion Council should ensure that only legitimate goods are exported from this country. Mr. Speaker, because if they do not ensure that that is done, a bad name
    Alhaji Sorogho 6:50 p.m.
    On a point of order.
    Mr. Speaker, I am surprised. There is nowhere in the Report from the Committee that mention is made about what he is saying. What is hidden is probably from the Ministry for the Interior and he is trying to import this into our Report and he keeps referring to the Minister for the Interior's Report. I have nothing in my report that talks about what he is saying and for that matter, Mr. Speaker, he is misleading the House and he is out of order. He must sit down and re-sensitize; there is something wrong with him now.
    Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 6:50 p.m.
    Hon
    Member for Adansi Asokwa, would you respond to that?
    Mr. Hammond 7 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I
    referred the House to page (9) of the Report of the Committee on Trade and Industry. Mr. Speaker, that deals with export promotion and the facilities that they were going to put at the disposal of exporters of goods for this country. I have just indicated that some of the exporters of products from the country have just been arrested in a country called Germany for allegedly importing an illegal commodity and the commodity being what I have told you 5.5 tonnes of marijuana and 18 kilograms of -
    Indeed Mr. Speaker, I should have added, apparently it is about the largest consignment of its kind detected or arrested in Germany for the last 15 years [Interruptions.] So Mr. Speaker, I simply entreat the Hon Minister to work
    in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior because, Mr. Speaker, on its own, the Ministry of Trade and Industry will not be able to arrest the culprits.
    It is the Ministry of the Interior which would help them to arrest them hence the link. My Hon Friend from Abokobi- Madina should know these things from us, we know these things and we are teaching them.
    Mr. Speaker, thank you for the
    opportunity.

    Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang

    (NPP - New Juaben North): Mr. Speaker, I thank you most sincerely. I have a very short intervention. Mr. Speaker, I believe that we are talking about moving this economy, whichever way we want to move it, through the private sector. When we talk about the private sector, we are really referring to trade and industry basically, whether it is intravenous or whether you are producing motor vehicles and so this is one of the critical - this is the fulcrum around which the private sector operates. And that is why it is so important that the Ministry is given that much importance.

    Mr. Speaker, if you look at the Report, you would find out that it is full of good intentions but what has been difficult has been the implementation of all what is there.

    First and foremost, the Report does not capture the trade policy, both internal and external that we need to pursue, it is so very clear here, Mr. Speaker.

    Again, I think that if we talk about the PSI, even where they claimed that $2.5 million - [Interruption] -- I have the
    Mr. Hammond 7 p.m.
    Why do I say this? Some hours ago,

    Mr. Speaker, I take solace in the fact that Hon Ama Benyiwa Doe, albeit gladdenly now accepts that this narcotic trade is not one-party-restricted -- [Interruptions] and that it is a national malice, so we can deal with that. But I am just entreating the Hon Minister to ensure that during their Administration, only legal legitimate items are sent out there.

    Mr. Speaker, a moment before the Hon Minister was called to come and develop her case for the budget, the Minister for the Interior also came in here and supported their case for their budgetary allocation. Mr. Speaker, among the problems the Minister for the Interior raised was the one about the lack of facilities, both at the port and specifically at the Kotoka International Airport, to determine the export of these dangerous items.

    Mr. Speaker, indeed, it says here at page 12 of the Minister for the Interior's report, that the Committee was informed that the only narcotics itemizer which is installed at the Kotoka International Airport was donated by an external partner or source. It goes on to say that, the lack of equipment is hampering the Board's efforts in drug detection and arrest. Mr. Speaker, I learnt a few weeks ago that even that single item

    experience of this and I am speaking from experience. Mr. Speaker, I must declare that many a time, these Fairs are held, orders are placed but because of lack of support from either the PSI or from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, we have not been able to fulfil those things.

    Again, I do not know how the US$1.5 billion worth of export is going to be achieved.

    Mr. Speaker, one of the important things that must be brought to the attention of the distinguished Minister is the fact that the cost of doing business in Ghana goes up by the day and therefore, the private sector is finding it very difficult to play the role that has been given to it.

    I would believe that although it is not within her purview, because she is not the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, certainly, she must be assisted to make sure that the private sector is allowed to grow because the cost of doing business - Mr. Speaker, right now, interest rate is about 35 per cent and if you have 35 per cent interest rate then what you have is a recipe for unemploy-ment in the economy.

    Mr. Speaker, one thing that I want

    the Hon Minister to pay attention to is consumer protection. In this country, consumers are not well protected. It is the duty of the Hon Minister, and I know she can do it, that we begin to put in place programmes and processes for protecting our people. Consumer protection does not seem to have a central place in the system.

    Lastly, I would like to also say that the private sector is there and an engagement with them would have facilitated all these issues that I am raising here. It is important that the private sector is supported, but under the system, unless the Minister for

    Finance and Economic Planning decides to assist the distinguished Minister, she is going to find it very difficult to keep the private sector going.

    The latest business survey report of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) shows, and I am sure the Hon Minister has had access to it, it is a damning report of what we should be doing as a nation to move the private sector industry forward. I am sure she would take due cognisance of that.

    On that note, Mr. Speaker, I would like

    to thank you very much.
    Ms. Hannah Tetteh 7 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    I appreciate all the comments and contributions made by Hon Members of this House especially the Hon Ranking Member because he has evidently studied both the budget and the Report of the Committee with a great deal of scrutiny. And I take very much on board the points that we cannot expect to make progress if we are going to expect that our progress is going to be donor-funded, especially in the year where we have financial constraints.

    On that note, Mr. Speaker, once again, I would like to thank the Hon Members of Parliament and urge that all of them vote to approve this motion so that the budget of the Ministry of Trade and Industry can be fully financed.

    Thank you very much.

    Question put and motion agreed to.

    Resolved:

    That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢72,296,148.00 for the services of the Ministry of Trade and Industry for the 2009 fiscal year.
    ANNUAL ESTIMATES 7 p.m.
    Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 7:10 p.m.
    I
    will please want all Hon Ministers and Chairmen of Committees to know, we have got the Reports fully circulated. So if they would just speak to them briefly so that we can move along. Chairman of the Committee?
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr. A.
    Y. Alhassan): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to second the motion.
    Mr. Speaker, in doing so, I beg to
    present the Report of the Committee.
    1.0 Introduction
    The Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, on
    Thursday 5th March, 2009 presented to Parliament, the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2009 financial year in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.
    Pursuant to Standing Order 140 (4) and 176, Madam Speaker referred the draft estimates of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to the Committee for consideration and report to the House.
    2.0 Deliberations
    The Committee held series of meetings with the following to deliberate on the 2009 draft Annual Estimates:
    1. The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, the Deputy Ministers for Agriculture-designate; Hon Yaw Effah-Baafi, Nii Amasah Namoale, Hon Alfred Sugri Tia (Dr.) and Chief Director, Dr. Gyiele Nurah;
    2. Directors and Project Co- ordinators of the following:
    i. Policy Planning, Moni-toring and Evaluation Directorate;
    ii. General Administration;
    iii. Statistics, Research and Information Directorate;
    iv. Human Resource Develop- ment and Management Directorate;
    v. Irrigation Development Authority;
    v i . I n l a n d Va l l e y R i c e Development Project;
    vii. ICOUR;

    vii i . Grains and Legumes Deve- lopment Board;

    ix. Ghana Veterinary Council;

    x. Crop Services Directorate;

    x i . A n i m a l P r o d u c t i o n

    Directorate;

    x i i . A g r i c u l t u r a l E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e s Directorate;

    x i i i . V e t e r i n a r y Services Directorate;

    x i v . W o m e n i n Agriculture Development;

    xv. Afram Plains Project;

    x v i . R o o t s a n d Tu b e r s I m p r o - v e m e n t a n d Marketing Project;

    xvii. Cashew Development Pro- ject;

    x v i i i . N e r i c a R i c e Development Project;

    x i x . L i v e s t o c k Development Project;

    x x . E x p o r t M a r k e t i n g and Quality Awareness Project;

    xxi. Tsetse Eradication Project;

    x x i i . L i v e s t o c k Development Project.

    The Committee is grateful to them for their support and co-operation.

    3.0 Reference Materials

    i. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana

    i i . The Standing Orders of Parliament

    iii. The 2008 Draft Annual Budget of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture;

    iv. The 2009 Draft Annual Budget of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture;

    v. The 2008 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for 2008 financial year;

    vi. The 2009 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for 2009 financial year.

    4.0 Mission Statement (General)

    The Ministry of Food and Agriculture was established to promote sustainable agriculture and thriving agri-business through research and technological development, effective extension and other support services to farmers, fishermen, processors and traders for improved human livelihood.

    5.0 Overview of Year 2008

    5.1 Allocations for 2008

    The Ministry was allocated an amount of eighty-seven million, one hundred and two thousand, one hundred and seventeen Ghana cedis (GH¢87,102,117) to carry out its activities and programmes for the year 2008. This comprised of GoG component of GH¢31,005,763, an IGF
    Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 7:10 p.m.
    whilst two hundred (200) fish processors were trained in small- scale income generating skills.
    To enhance the education on fisheries laws among fishermen, 125 were given training on the Fisheries Laws and Regulations. Five hundred youth bene- fited from aquaculture training within the year.
    During the year, the Ministry registered 5,000 fish farmers and 30,000 fish ponds. Operations of the tuna fish industry were also regularized. These measures resulted in increased tuna fish production in the country.
    6.10 Cashew Project
    The Cashew Development Project procured planting materials and sold to farmers to add on about 1,913 hectares of cashew farms to the existing hectarage.

    6.11 Extension Services

    During the year, an extensive programme was rolled out to retrain all agricultural extension agents in best practices and proven technologies in both crop and livestock production.

    6.12 Tsetsefly Eradication Project

    The Tsetse Eradication Project (TEP) commenced rehabilitation works on the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) Insectary which would be fully completed by April 2009. The project has procured a Geographical Information System (GIS) for depicting pictorial tsetse situation on the ground and trained 220 people in tsetse control.

    6 . 1 3 A f r a m P l a i n s D i s t r i c t Agricultural Development Project

    (APDADP)

    Under the above project, maize yield in the district has increased from 1.6 t/ha to

    Services Directorate

    As part of its effort to modernize agriculture, the Directorate procured 20 mounted drill rigs, 732 tractors, 200 power tillers and 220 manure shellers during the year to be given to farmer groups on favourable credit terms.

    7.0 Budgetary Allocation for 2009 Fiscal Year

    This year, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has been allocated a total of two hundred and two million, six hundred and twenty-nine thousand, three hundred and seven Ghana cedis (GH¢202,629,307) for the implementation of its programmes, activities and projects. Of this amount, sixty million, five hundred and forty-one thousand, eight hundred and twenty-five Ghana cedis (GH¢60,541,825) repre- senting 30 per cent is GoG component, whilst one hundred and thirty-eight million, eight hundred and seventy-six thousand, five hundred and forty-two Ghana cedis (GH¢138,876,542) repre- senting 68.4 per cent, is donor-funded. IGF component is three million, two hundred and ten thousand, nine hundred and forty Ghana cedis (GH¢3,210,940) representing 1.6 per cent.

    Breakdown of Allocation for 2009

    8.0 Outlook for 2009

    This year, the Ministry's programmes and activities would be informed by the underlisted objectives:

    i. Food security and emergency preparedness;

    ii. Increased growth in incomes;

    iii. Increased competitiveness and enhanced integration into

    domestic and international markets;

    iv. Sustainable management of land and environment;

    v. Science and technology applied in food and agricultural development;

    vi. Improved institutional co- ordination.

    8.1 General Administration

    Activities for the year would include the Farmer's Day Celebration, Royal Agricultural Show, World Food Day Celebration and renovation of the Head Office Block of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

    To implement these activities, a total of three million, one hundred and eighty-five thousand, nine hundred and seven Ghana cedis (GH¢3,185,907) has been allocated. The GoG component is two million, one hundred and eighty-five thousand, nine hundred and seven Ghana cedis (GH¢2,185,907) and IGF component of one million cedis (GH¢1,000,000). 8.2 Human Resource Development and Management

    The Human Resource Development and

    Management will initiate more training programmes this year, in addition to the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the existing programmes.

    For this year's programmes and activities, a total of four million, six hundred and twenty-seven thousand, two hundred and fifty Ghana cedis (GH¢4,627,250) is allocated. GoG component is eight hundred and thirty- eight thousand, seven hundred and sixty-
    Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 7:10 p.m.
    of a GoG component of five hundred and forty-three thousand, two hundred and twenty- two Ghana cedis (GH¢543,222), IGF of eighty thousand, three hundred and twenty Ghana cedis (GH¢80,320) and a donor component of eight hundred and eighteen thousand,
    one hundred and twenty-six Ghana cedis (GH¢818,126) for Service and Investment. 8.9 Veterinary Council
    The mandate of the Council as enshrined in P.N.D.C.L. 305 is concerned with veterinary practice and enforcement of professional standards in the practice of veterinary surgery and medicine in Ghana.
    A total of sixty-seven thousand, six hundred and fifty-nine Ghana cedis (GH¢67,659) was allocated to the sector thirty-six thousand, five fundred and three Ghana cedis (GH¢36,503) being GoG component and thirty-one thousand, one hundred and fifty-six Ghana cedis (GH¢31,156) of donor contribution.
    8.10 Fisheries Commission
    In the year under review, Government intends to increase fish production by 20 per cent. This will be achieved by increasing farmed fish production to a minimum of 10,000 tonnes this year. Fisheries Commission will rehabilitate the existing public hatchery of Dormaa Ahenkro, construct 6 cold stores with refrigeration facilities and develop landing sites in selected coastal communities. The sector will also collaborate with the Ghana Navy to conduct 8 Marine/Lake patrols. As part of their activities, the sector hopes that Parliament will be able to pass the Fisheries Regulations Instrument by June this year.
    The Fisheries Commission is allocated a total of forty million, two hundred and forty-eight thousand, six hundred and eight Ghana cedis (GH¢40,248,608). Out of this total, two million, eight hundred and eight thousand, six hundred and eight Ghana cedis (GH¢2,808,608) is GoG component; thirty-six million, two hundred and forty thousand cedis (GH¢36,240,000) of donor contribution and one million, two hundred

    thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢1,200,000) as IGF contribution. 8.11 Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Project (RTIMP)

    The main objective of the project is to enhance incomes and food security in order to improve the livelihoods of the rural poor, through the building of competitive and market-based root and tuber commodity chain, supported by sustainable services that are easily accessible to the rural poor.

    For the 2009 fiscal year, the RTIMP among other activities will create public awareness of the root and tuber produce and products and create business opportunities and linkages between all stakeholders in the roots and tuber commodity chain. It will also link small- scale producers to larger-scale markets and promote new uses for roots and tubers.

    In line with its food security and income enhancement objective, the Project will continue its supply of healthy and improved planting materials of desired varieties to specific location. Integrated Pest and Disease Management System would also be strengthened to control and combat common pests and diseases of roots and tubers during the pre- and post-harvest periods of production.

    A budget l ine of four million, five hundred and fifty-six thousand, five hundred and eight Ghana cedis (GH¢4,556,508) being both GoG and donor components have been allocated for implementation of programmes and activities of the Roots and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Project.

    8.12 Export Marketing and Quality Awareness Project

    The overall objective of the project is to increase the income levels of horticultural crop farmers, exporters of horticultural products and cassava producers. The

    project is operating in four regions and it is projected that 13,502 rural households (40 per cent women) will benefit directly from the Project.

    The main components of the Project are:

    i. Enhancing production and productivity of horticultural crops through the provision of improved, pest and disease- resistant seeds and plantlets.

    ii. Promotion of export marketing and infrastructure development

    iii. Capacity building of horti- cultural producers, exporters, cassava farmers, extension personnel, seed inspectors and other private entrepreneurs.

    In 2009, the Project will continue the development of four Demonstration Centres to be used as centres of excellence to train farmers/exporters in GAP techniques. Commence the construction of two Temperature Controlled Pack Houses in the Tema Port and the Accra International Airport. Varietal trials to determine suitability of planting material for local conditions and gazetting standards for the planting materials certification. The Project will also sponsor 9 exporters to international and regional agricultural fairs.

    8.13 Crop Services Directorate

    Four units operate under the Directorate of Crop Services for the realization of its objectives. They are the food crops, tree and perennial crops, horticulture and non-traditional export crops and the environment and land management units. These units focus on facilitating activities towards the development of crops in the

    food, industrial and export sub-sectors. The objectives of the Directorate which

    include:

    i. The introduction of two improved varieties of cereal and legumes to farmers to increase yield per hectare;

    ii. Improving quality of horticulture planting material in an effort to enhance export of horticultural produce;

    iii. Promotion of the development of o i l pa lm, rubber and coconut through public/private collaboration;

    iv. Release of improved crop varieties by the National Varietal Release Committee through field inspections.

    For the realization of these objectives, the Directorate has been allocated an amount of four million, two hundred and two thousand, seven hundred and fifty- four Ghana cedis (GH¢4,202,754), six hundred and fifty-two thousand and four Ghana cedis (GH¢652,004) being GoG component and three million, five hundred and fifty thousand, seven hundred and fifty Ghana cedis (GH¢3,550,750) of donor funding for investment activities.

    8.14 Cashew Development Project

    This is a GoG/African Development Fund Project with the objective of increasing cashew production and village level processing within target districts with the view to improving living standards of participating families, and contributing to foreign exchange earnings of the country.

    In 2009, the project aims to procure
    Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 7:10 p.m.


    credit facilities for agricultural activities. Presently, only about 50 hectares (0.1 per cent) of land suitable for irrigation is under irrigation farming. Some irrigation projects are in need of urgent rehabilitation.

    It came to light at the budget hearing that the irrigation project at Dahwenya which is managed by the farmers has been shut down due to indebtedness of the project to ECG to the tune of GH¢50,000.

    The Committee recommends that the Ministry intervene by meeting the farmers at Dahwenya to find a way of reviving the project.

    9.1. c Also, the country continues to register deficits in the production of certain staples like rice, groundnut and soyabeans. Only 21 per cent of rice requirement is produced locally, thus generating over US$200 million rice import expenditure per year. The Committee views this development as unpleasant to the Ghanaian economy and recommends that MoFA facilitates the development of a national plan through better organization of resources for rice production. Nationals are also encouraged to develop the habit of eating locally produced rice which (eg. brown rice) is more nutritious than may imported rices. 9.1. d The performance of the livestock, poultry and fish sectors have also been poor due to external pressures as the country continues to import large quantities of cheap but inferior quality of meat and fish to meet local consumption.

    The Committee admits that there are some isolated cases of successes in the sector, and therefore recommends that

    study should be conducted to ascertain why the two scenarios exists in the country given the same economic variables.

    9.1. e Despite the fact that over 1,000 tractors have currently been deployed in the agricultural sector, most small holder farmers who constitute about 95 per cent of the farmer population still lack access to even the basic appropriate agricultural mechanization equipment. This has resulted in many farmers shying away from the major season production of cereals especially in maize and rice, due to the lack of harvesters, threshers and drying facilities.

    The Committee takes cognizance of fact that mechanization of agriculture can not reach every farm in every part of the country at the same time. In the meantime, the Committee is in agreement with the Minister for Food and Agriculture that the use of animal traction which remains largely unexploited in Ghana should be explored and harnessed to fill in the gaps at the remote areas.

    9.2 The development of landing sites and storage facilities in some selected coastal communities became a thorny issue during the last elections. The budget has provided for the construction of six of the cold storage facilities this year. However, funding has not yet been secured to construct the landing sites. The Committee was informed that the European Investment Bank has shown interest in the provision of a credit facility to enable the Commission undertake this project.

    The Committee is by this report urging MoFA to harness all effort to

    secure the credit facility in order to bring the construction of the landing sites to fruition.

    9.3 In the Committee's view, there are many Donor funded projects under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture which are engaged in programmes and activities. This has posed challenging management problems, resulting in late start up of projects and poor execution of activities. The Committee therefore has tasked the PPMED to place all Projects operating under MoFA, under the ambit of a centralized co-co-ordinating body. This will harmonize activities of the Projects, ensure value-for-money and equitable distribution of projects.

    9.4 In making inference from the above observation, the Livestock Development project which is chalking tremendous successes in its area of operation could not wind the project down by the end of 2008 as was initially estimated. The funding agencies, the African Development Bank and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning have sent letters agreeing to the extention of the project from 31st December 2008 to 31st December 2010 to MoFA.

    However, a matching component of nine hundred and fifteen thousand, five hundred and eighty-eight Ghana cedis, sixty Ghana peswas (GH¢915,588.60) required from GoG to enable the Project access the donor component allocated in the budget has not been entered for in the Project's budget. The Committee thinks this would jeopardize the project which has activities at various stages of completion. Without the completion of the Project, all the efforts and funds committed to it would be wasted, again the Project would lose the donor funding

    which is ready for release but for matching fund.

    The Committee is therefore, urging the Ministers for Food and Agriculture and Finance and Economic Planning, to make every effort to secure the Livestock Development Project since the Minister for Food and Agriculture recognized the importance of LDP to contribute to achievement of MOFA's objective in the livestock sub-sector. The present situation of the Project buttresses the view of the Committee that, there exists the need for a centralized co-ordinated Body to properly monitor and keep track Projects in the Sector.

    9.5 The importance of the agriculture Extension Service Directorate to the advancement of agriculture cannot be emphasized. Despite this fact, no releases were made to the Directorate for its planned Investment activities for the 2008 fiscal year. This affected the imple- mentation of certain important earmarked projects.

    The Committee is making a special appeal to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to ensure that for year 2009, all allocations to the Directorate of Extension Services and indeed the other cost centres of the Ministry be released upon request.

    9.6 The Committee also noted that most of the enabling Acts empowering the directorates and agencies under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture are outmoded and need restructuring to accommodate current trends and mandates, as such the Committee is tasking the Ministry to constitute a Committee to look into all the enabling Acts and initiate amendment process as soon as possible.
    Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 7:10 p.m.


    9.7 The Committee observed that as part of efforts to curb pair-trawling on Ghana's territorial waters, the Fisheries Commission has projected to undertake only 8 patrols on our territorial waters for the whole year due to budgetary constraints. This, in the Committee's view, is woefully inadequate. The Committee therefore, urges the Minister for Food and Agriculture to liaise with his counterpart Minister of Defence, to task the Ghana Navy to add constant patrols of the territorial waters to their mandate. This is to ensure that, fishery stock in Ghana's territorial waters is protected and conserved for the nation.

    10.0 Conclusion

    Mr. Speaker, due to the importance of agriculture to the Ghanaian economy, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning should commit the necessary allocation that would strategically position MoFA to achieve the set objectives in ensuring food security and emergency preparedness, increased growth in incomes, and increased competitiveness and enhanced integration into domestic and international markets, and other laudable objectives.

    The amount allocated to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the imple- mentation of the programmes and activities earmarked for the 2009 fiscal year is woefully inadequate. The Committee therefore, urges the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to consider allocating more funds to MOFA in the course of the year when a Supplementary Budget is being considered.

    In order to achieve its set objectives, the Committee recommends for approval of the House an amount of two hundred and

    two million, six hundred and twenty-nine thousand, three hundred and seven Ghana cedis (GH¢202,629,307) for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to undertake its programmes and activities.

    Question proposed:

    Mr. E. A. Debrah (NPP - Tano

    North): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion for the allocation of an amount of GH¢202,629,307.00 for the implementation of the programmes, activities and projects of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the fiscal year 2009. However, Mr. Speaker, I have some few comments and observations to make.

    But I make these observations taking cognisance of the fact that this is the maiden Budget of an in-coming Administration and time was therefore a major constraint in the preparation of the Budget. We should all therefore be accommodating and close our eyes to some minor, minor issues. Mine would be some level of advice to the Minister.

    To begin with, the programmes,

    activities and projects of the various directorates, Mr. Speaker, are not well aligned to the budget provisions and therefore make achievement of the targets set in the budget difficult. I will quote just an example with regard to irrigation. If one goes to the Budget, page 67, paragraph 287, with your kind indulgence I quote,
    Mr. Speaker 7:20 p.m.
    “… to mitigate the effects of unreliable rainfall and increase employment opportunities in the dry season the Ministry will develop new irrigation facilities and rehabilitate existing facilities in order to expand the area under irrigation.”
    And if one moves ahead and looks at page 8 of the Report of the Committee,
    paragraph 8.6, Mr. Speaker, it states:
    “The objective of the Authority is to formulate and execute plans to promote the development of land and water resources in crop production, watering livestock, aquaculture, agricultural related industries and institutions within a sustainable environment.
    IDA will pursue programmes and activities that will tie in with MoFA's strategic objective of increasing local production. There will be a project to substantially increase dry season farming by putting under irrigation 10,000 hectares of farm lands.
    The provision and rehabilitation of small-scale irrigation facilities in different parts of the country, expansion of existing irrigation facilities and construction of new facilities among others, would also be carried out. In addition, 250 hectares of small-scale schemes would be developed to benefit 120 communities within eight regions of the country in an effort to boost all year round production of fruits and vegetables.”
    This is in addition to the rehabilitation of the Tono Irrigation Project. And with this, the total amount allocated is GH¢13,536,000 for the irrigation works. Mr. Speaker, irrigation infrastructure is quite expensive and the amount of GH¢13,536,000 will not be adequate to carry out these functions. So there are problems with the linkages between the activities and projects of the Ministry and the amount approved in the Budget Statement.
    I hope the Hon Minister will take his time and go through this with the Hon
    Minister for Finance and Economic Planning so that during the mid-year review, the targets can be reset so that at the end of the year, we will not have big variances in the projections of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
    Mr. Speaker, it is important to properly align the Ministry's activities with projections in the Budget so that at the end of the day, there will not be wide variances.

    Mr. Speaker, my second proposal is with regard to the Maputo Declaration of the African Union (AU). We all know that now the world is one small village and by the Maputo Declaration of AU, 10 per cent of annual government expenditure should be spent on agriculture by member countries. This is supposed to reduce poverty by increasing food security.
    Mr. B.K. Ayeh 7:20 p.m.
    I rise on a point of
    order, Order 91 (3). Mr. Speaker, looking at the number of empty seats on the other side of the House, I am not sure we have a quorum to continue with the business of the House.
    Besides that, if you look at Order
    numbers 48 and 109, we do not even have the numbers to take the decisions. So, even if we continue the debate, I am not sure we can make any meaningful - [Interruptions.] Yes, we cannot take any decision, Mr. Speaker. So, I think we can do ourselves a better service by maybe, looking around, if we can fill those spaces out there or we truncate proceedings for the day.
    Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
    Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 7:20 p.m.
    Hon
    Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 7:20 p.m.


    Majority Leader, do you have any response?
    Mr. Bagbin 7:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, clearly, the
    one who is trying to seek the support of the House on the basis of the Standing Orders is himself not clear and not sure about whether we have a quorum or not. I think when he becomes sure, he should come back and then tell us the quorum and the number on the floor so that we can all look at it. This is because looking at the number on the floor here, we are definitely far above one-third of the membership of the House which forms the quorum.
    Mr. Ayeh 7:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, this is a 228 member House, and I can tell you on authority that the numbers here is not up to the 76 required to form the quorum. [Interruptions.] I have counted the numbers here and we are not up to the 76 that we need to form a quorum to do business in this House.
    Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 7:20 p.m.
    Shall
    we hear from the Hon Minority Chief Whip?
    Mr. Frederick Opare-Ansah 7:20 p.m.
    Mr.
    Speaker, I believe the Hon Member has done the honourable thing by drawing the attention of the House to the absence of a quorum. In such an instance, I believe there is only one thing for us to do. And we all know that Mr. Speaker can give us ten minutes within which we will ring
    the bell, after which we will indeed verify whether the number is up to the quorum number or not.
    I believe the reference of the Hon Member to Order 109 was to sound a caution to us that we need a minimum of 115 members to take any decision that will be binding. And he is cautioning us that as at now, we do not have anything close to 115. So, to continue Sitting and taking decisions with disregard to Order 109 will not be the proper thing to do.
    Mr. Speaker, I will entreat you to direct that we go by the 10 minutes rule.
    Mr. Sampson Ahi 7:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I
    think that my Hon Friends opposite are still within the domain of Parliament and I could see their files lying there. It means that they are around. If one looks outside, one will see them. So, if you can ask the Clerk to just draw their attention that we need them in so that business can go on. But I could count not less than 50 of their files. So they are around. If you can ask the Hon Deputy Minority Whip, to go to the coffee shop and ask the Hon Members to come in.
    Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 7:20 p.m.
    In the worst scenario, if one looks at Order 48 (2), we will give them the relevant 10 minutes while we go on with business.
    Hon Member for Tano North, you may
    please wind up so that we can maximise the time.
    Mr. Debrah 7:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I said
    the 10 per cent expenditure is invested necessarily to achieve food security and reduce poverty. Last year, Ghana achieved 8.8 per cent; this year, we are still below 9 per cent and therefore, it is important that we all come together and ensure that we reach the 10 percentage point so that we can reduce poverty and also reduce
    hunger.
    Now, Mr. Speaker, if you come to page 6 of the Report, you will see that the Hon Minister said out of the budget of GH¢202 million, GH¢60 million was from Government of Ghana. If you move further and look at the investment budget of GH¢155 million, only GH¢22 million is from Government of Ghana and that is less than 17 per cent of the development budget and Mr. Speaker, I think this is a very serious issue.
    Ghana is an agricultural country; about 60 per cent of the working population are in this category and therefore, 17 per cent of investment budget on agriculture is quite low, and I hope that all of us would put our acts together to ensure that we move agriculture forward by increasing our support for the agriculture sector.
    Mr. Speaker, to wind up, I want to talk a little about credit to the small-scale farmer. In the President's State of the Nation Address he said that, in addition to fertilizer subsidy, there would be a programme to support the small-scale farmer with credit input. I did not see that clearly in the activities, projects and programmes that were presented by the Ministry. I also did not see that clearly in the Budget Statement and this is a very serious issue and I wish the Hon Minister would sit down with the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning and then look at credit to support the small-scale farmer who constitutes about 90 of the farming population in this country.
    Mr. Speaker, with these few comments, I support the motion and call on my Hon Colleagues to support the motion to approve the needed amount for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the fiscal year 2009.
    Mr. Clement K. Humado (NDC - Anlo) 7:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the motion that this honourable House approves the sum of GHc202,629,307 for the services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the 2009 fiscal year. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee, I only wish to throw some light on some critical discussions that came to the attention of the Committee and also to fill in some information gaps that could not be captured adequately in the Report. I will first of all want to talk about the food security situation.
    MR. FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
    Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi 7:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I would want to thank Hon Members of the House for the incisive comments that
    they have expressed on the Ministry's budget provision. We have taken note of all the concerns; we have taken note of the advice that has been given and I undertake to ensure that these are appropriately dealt with during the implementation of this year's budget provisions.
    We will liaise with the necessary Ministers especially the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to see to it that the various issues that have been raised by Hon Members are adequately dealt with. I am most grateful to Hon Members.
    Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
    Question put -- [Interruption] --
    Mr. Opare-Ansah 7:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, it is my contention that we do not have the necessary quorum per article 104 (1) of the Constitution and Standing Order 109 (1) to be able to take the decision that we have just taken. On that note, I request that we take a headcount of Hon Members present and voting in this Chamber right now.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 7:40 p.m.
    Which
    Standing Order are you referring to?
    Mr. Opare-Ansah 7:40 p.m.
    Standing Order
    109 and constitutional article 104 (1).
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 7:40 p.m.
    Let me
    hear the Majority Leader, then I make my ruling.
    Mr. Bagbin 7:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, his context
    is actually not clear. He has to come properly because he ended up by saying we should have a count vote but he has not contested the voice vote. He was talking about issues of quorum and then issues of decision-taking. If he talks about count vote then he is contesting the voice vote which is not what he has done. So if he
    can come properly.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 7:40 p.m.
    Hon
    Member, I have not declared on the voice vote and therefore, I will find out whether we have the numbers. When I entered, I realized that they were raising issues of quorum and I did not pronounce on the voice vote. It is only when I declare on the voice vote that you can get up to challenge on the voice vote and call for the headcount. I have not done it.

    Hon Members, order. I have been

    advised that we do not have the numbers to take the decision so we defer it. We will put the Question on the matter tomorrow.

    Hon Majority Leader, the next item

    -- I have been advised that we have the quorum to transact business but we do not have the quorum to take decisions so let us take the next item and defer the decision to tomorrow.
    ANNUAL ESTIMATES 7:40 p.m.
    Minister for Transport (Mr. Mike Hammah) 7:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this august House approves the sum of four million, five hundred and sixty-two thousand, eight hundred and fifty-nine Ghana cedis (GH¢4,562,859) for the services of the Ministry of Transport for the 2009 fiscal year.
    Mr. Speaker, the former transport sector ministries namely 7:40 p.m.
    Ministry of Harbours and Railways, Ministry of Aviation and the Road Transport Services have been realigned into a single Ministry known as the Ministry of Transport. The re-
    Mr. Speaker, the former transport sector ministries namely 7:40 p.m.


    alignment of the Ministries is to enhance integration and co-ordination of all the transport modes for better planning and effective utilization of resources.

    Mr. Speaker, the vision of the Ministry is to create an integrated, cost-effective, safe, secure and sustainable transpor- tation system responsive to the needs of society, supporting growth and poverty reduction and capable of establishing Ghana as a transportation hub in West Africa.

    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry will provide leadership and guidance for the development of Ghana's transportation sys tem through effec t ive pol icy formulation, market regulation, asset management and service provision.

    Mr. Speaker, the key policy objectives for the transport sector include the following:

    Establish Ghana as a transportation hub in the West African Sub-Region;

    Create a sustainable, accessible, affordable, reliable, effective, efficient, safe and secure transport system that meets user needs;

    Create a vibrant investment and performance-based management environment that maximizes benefits for public and private sector investors;

    Develop and implement a compre- hensive and integrated policy, governance and institutional framework.
    Mr. Speaker, the functions of the Ministry include the following 7:40 p.m.
    1. Formulating policies on trans- port;
    2. Exercising oversight respo- nsibi l i ty over the sector agencies; and
    3. Dealing with all other transport related matters.
    The Ministry's policies will be implemented through fifteen agencies namely:
    1. Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA);
    2. Ghana Shippers' Council (GSC);
    3. Ghana Maritime Authority
    (GMA);
    4. Regional Maritime University
    (RMU);
    5. Volta Lake Transport Company Limited (VLTC);
    6. PSC Tema Shipyard (PSC);
    7. Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL);
    8. Ghana Civil Aviation Authority
    (GCAA);
    9. Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL);
    10. Ghana International Airlines Limited (GIAL);
    11. Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA);
    12. National Road Safety Com- mission (NRSC);
    13. Ghana Technical Training
    Centre (GTTC).
    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry is faced with a lot of challenges particularly in the rail sub-sector. Only sections of the western line, the only existing line for haulage of bulk traffic, is operational and even on these sections trains cannot run for a complete week without derailment particularly during the rainy season.
    Out of a total track length of 337.2 km only 234.4 km, spanning between Takoradi, Dunkwa and Awaso are partly operational. The Dunkwa to Kaase section is closed to traffic due to the poor state of the Tracks and serious drainage problem between Kaase and Kumasi. The eastern and central lines from Kumasi to Accra and Huni Valley to Kotoku respectively are non-operational.
    The Company's operation on the eastern line is restricted to commuter trains on the Accra-Nsawam and Accra- Asaprochona sections.
    In the case of signals and telecommu- nicat ions , the normal system of communication installed in 1984 has broken down. The system has to rely on improvised arrangement using mobile phones with its attendant delays and risks. The tracks and signals have deteriorated beyond normal maintenance and heavy investment is required for complete rehabilitation of the system.
    Mr. Speaker, the Volta Lake Transport Company Limited with vast infrastructure and inherent potential for transportation of passengers and goods at sheer rates, operates the service with aged vessels, lacks warehousing facilities and container terminals.
    The continuous presence of Debre shoals and reduction in the water levels
    at certain times of the year, all constitute challenges for all year-round operations of the Volta Lake Transport Company Limited (VLTC).
    Mr. Speaker, some of the difficulties in
    the aviation sub-sector include inadequate capitalization for Ghana International Airlines (GIA), lack of certification of the Airline making it difficult for it to become a fully-fledged airline.
    Mr. Speaker, for aviation infras-
    tructure, inadequate funds hinders its development.
    Mr. Speaker, in the area of roads
    transport services, the recent spate of accidents with its attendant loss of lives and properties are quite worrying. The National Road Safety Commission needs to be adequately resourced to enable it undertake serious advocacy programmes to sensitize the general public on safe and secure driving.
    Mr. Speaker, during the course of the
    year, the Ministry will pursue programmes to further enhance the maritime sub-sector. The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) will undertake the following activities:
    Review of the Port Master plan studies for the development of the Port of Tema and Takoradi;
    Feas ib i l i t y s tud ie s fo r t he reclamation of land from the sea to build a new dedicated container terminal for the Ports of Tema and Takoradi. This project is expected to be carried out in partnership with the private sector;
    Develop a transit cargo truck village at Kpone for the Port of Tema. This is to be funded by the World Bank and partly by GPHA.
    Mr. Speaker, development of the
    Mr. Speaker, the functions of the Ministry include the following 7:50 p.m.
    rail sub-sector is very critical for the development of the country's economy. In this regard, the Ministry will pursue programmes that will attract investment into the rail sector. It will also continue with the following projects:
    The 2nd phase of the rehabilitation and extension of rail networks i.e. Asoprochona to the Port of Tema would be completed;
    Commuter service on the Accra- Tema rail network will be improved with the introduction of the Diesel Multiple Units; and
    Feasibility study on the western corridor would be completed for actual work to begin.
    Mr. Speaker, the operational capability of the Volta Lake Transport Company Limited will improve through the procurement of communication equip- ment. Last year the Ministry assisted the company to procure two forklifts and marine spare parts which I am informed have enhanced its operations.
    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry will pursue
    vigorous programmes to encourage private sector participation in the aviation sector. In this connection, the Ministry is in the process of finalizing the draft aviation policy document to provide the framework for sustainable growth and development of the aviation sector.
    2009 Budget
    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry's proposed Budget for 2009 excluding the road transport service agencies was four million, eight hundred and forty-seven thousand, nine hundred and forty Ghana cedis (GH¢4,847,940.00). However, an amount of four million, five hundred and sixty-two thousand, eight hundred and fifty-nine Ghana cedis (GH¢4,562,859.00)
    was approved for the Ministry leaving a shortfall of two hundred and eighty- five thousand; eighty-one Ghana cedis
    (GH¢285,081.00).
    The details of the approved budget are
    as follows:
    Personal Emoluments
    -- GH¢ 366,070.00
    Administration -- GH¢ 443,515.00
    Service -- GH¢ 427,807.00
    Investment -- GH¢2,141,896.00
    Internally Generated Funds (IGF) -- GH¢1,183,571.00
    Total - -
    GH¢4,562,859.00
    In addition, a budgetary request of
    one hundred and forty-three million, eight hundred and fifty-five thousand, one hundred and seventy-six Ghana cedis (GH¢143,855,176.00) for funding on the capital market was made due to the low cash ceiling provided the Ministry.
    Mr. Speaker, aviation, rail and maritime
    sub-sectors are capital intensive and much as vigorous efforts will be made to attract private sector participation in the sub-sectors, Government also has a responsibility towards the development of infrastructure in these areas. In this connection, I will entreat this august House to favourably consider the provision of some funds for programmes lined up in a supplementary budget.
    Mr. Speaker, infrastructure develop-
    ment, its rehabilitation and maintenance as well as service provision in the transport sector are crucial for sustainable development. I, therefore, wish to urge my Hon Colleagues to consider and approve the sum of four million, five hundred and sixty-two thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine Ghana cedis (GH¢4,562,859) for
    the Ministry's activities for 2009.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to move.

    Chairman of the Committee (Mr.

    M. C. Boampong): Mr. Speaker, I rise to second the motion on the floor of the House and in doing so I wish to present the report of your Committee.

    1.0 Introduction

    Mr. Speaker, in fulfilment of article 179 of the 1992 Constitution, the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government for the 2009 financial year was presented to the House by the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning.

    Pursuant to Standing Orders 140 (4) and 189 of the House, the Annual Budget Estimates for the Ministry of Transport was referred to the Committee for consideration and report.

    2.0 Deliberations

    The Committee met and deliberated on the Estimates with the Hon Minister, Mike Hammah, the Chief Director, Heads of agencies and officials of the Ministry.

    The Committee acknowledges their presence at the meeting and was grateful for their co-operation.

    The Ministry's policies are implemented through the following agencies:

    i) Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA)

    ii) Ghana Shippers' Council (GSC)

    iii) Ghana Maritime Authority

    (GMA)

    iv) Regional Maritime University

    (RMU)

    v) Volta Lake Transport Company

    (VLTC)

    vi) PSC Tema Shipyard (PSC)

    vii) Ghana Railway Company Limi-ted (GRCL)

    vi i i ) Ghana Civ i l Avia t ion Authority (GCAA)

    ix) Ghana Airports Company Limi- ted (GACL)

    x) Ghana International Airlines Limited (GIAL)

    xi) Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)

    xii) National Road Safety Com- mission (NRSC)

    x i i i ) G h a n a T e c h n i c a l Training Centre (GTTC)

    xiv) Intercity STC (STC)

    xv) Metro Mass Transport Limited

    (MMTL)

    3.0 Vision

    To create an integrated, cost effective, safe, secure and sustainable transportation system responsible to the needs of society, supporting growth and poverty reduction and capable of establishing Ghana as a transportation hub of West Africa.

    4.0 Mission

    The establishment of the Ministry is to ensure the integration and co-ordination of all transport modes.
    Mr. Speaker, the functions of the Ministry include the following 7:50 p.m.


    The Ministry thus has responsibilities

    for the infrastructure and service delivery for Maritime, Rail and Aviation as well as Road Transport Services.

    5.0 Reference Documents

    The following documents were referred to by the Committee:

    i) The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;

    ii) The Standing Orders of Par- liament;

    iii) The Budget Statement and Eco- nomic Policy of the Government of Ghana for 2009 financial year.

    6.0 Objectives of the Ministry

    The Ministry has the following objectives:

    i ) To establ ish Ghana as a transportation hub for West African sub-region.

    i i ) To create a sustainable, accessible, affordable, reliable, effective, efficient, safe and secure transport system that meet user needs.

    iii) To integrate land use, transport planning, development plan- ning and service provision.

    iv) Create a vibrant investment a n d p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d manage-ment environment that maximize benefits for public and private sector investors.

    v) Develop and implement a

    comprehensive and integrated policy, governance and insti- tutional framework.

    vi) Ensure sustainable development in the transport sector.

    vii) Develop adequate human re-source and apply new Technology.

    7.0 Overview of 2008 Budget and Performance

    i) The Ministry commenced feasibility studies on rail system on the western corridor (West Rail Line and Port of Takoradi) and has completed a feasibility study on the multimodal freight transport between Tema-Buipe via Akosombo.

    It has also completed a pre- feasibility study on the Kumasi- Paga, Tamale-Yendi and a proposed Accra-Tema railway line along the coast. Parliament passed the Railway Act 2008, Act 779.

    ii) The Ministry also facilitated inc reased pr iva te sec to r participation in the ports. A total of nine private stevedoring companies were licensed to handle 75 per cent of the general cargo at the ports. Other services provided by the private sector at the ports include clearing and forwarding services, tank firms, commercial warehousing, off-dock terminals for container storage, bunkering services, ports clearing and shore handling.

    iii) The Ministry through the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) developed the fo l lowing

    draft bills to improve upon its regulatory service; the Maritime Pollution Legislation, Ghana Shipping (Licensing of Ghanaian vessels under 24 meters or 150 tons in weight and vessels operating solely in inland waters of Ghana) Regulations, Miscellaneous Subsidiary legislation made by virtue of the Ghana Shipping Act 2003 645) including Ports State Control Regulations and Ghana Shipping (Crew Services Licensing) Regulations.

    iv) In line with its policy to l ibe ra l i ze the l ega l and regulatory framework in the aviation sector, the Ministry entered into bilateral air services agreement with China and reviewed agreement with Egypt, Morocco and Belgium.

    v) The Ministry hosted the African Airports Councils International Conference in collaboration with the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL). This brought together experts on the continent to exchange ideas.

    vi) The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority Licensed WASPS, a private micro-light aircraft assembly plant in the Eastern Region to embark on basic training of pilots on micro-light aircrafts.

    vii) The Ghana International Air l ines Limited (GIAL) operated its Accra-London route during the year. Due to the low capitalization of the airline and the dispute between the shareholders, the airline was faced with a lot of financial and operational challenges.

    viii) Antrak Air was designed to operate to Germany, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. A number of applications were received from proponent for the issuance of Air Carrier's Licence for the operation of air transport services.

    ix) With respect to Ghana Airways Limited (in liquidation) Govern- ment released US$4.5 Million to support the severance payment of ex-Ghana Airways staff.

    The Official liquidation is in the process of finalizing creditor validations and resolving matters in litigation.

    x) The Ministry continued to encourage the private sector to establish training schools to develop human resource capital to meet the needs of the industry.

    Below are the details of Expenditure for the Year 2008. Also shown at Appendix 1 are Comparative Analysis of the 2008 Actual Expenditure of the Ministries of Harbours and Railways and Aviation attached to this Report:
    MINISTRIES OF HARBOURS 7:50 p.m.
    AND RAILWAYS AND AVIATION 7:50 p.m.
    STATEMENT OF ACTUAL 7:50 p.m.
    T O T A L 7:50 p.m.
    Mr. Opare-Ansah 7:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, round about 29 minutes after 7.00 p.m., we raised
    the issue of quorum for debates. Along the line we were told that we had a quorum. I believe on 7th January 228 Members were sworn-in in the Chamber. By Standing Order 48 there should be a minimum of 76 Members present in this Chamber for business to continue. By my own checks, it is my contention that we do not have 76 people present in this Chamber -- [Interruptions.] And I am therefore calling for a count of all the Members in this Chamber to ascertain the veracity of my claim.
    Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 7:50 p.m.
    Let us continue. I am now taking the issue of the quorum.
    I will allow for ten minutes then I will get the Clerks to find out within the next ten minutes whether we have the 76 that you referred to.
    Alhaji Abubakari 7:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, I am just appealing to the
    Government that transport being so important and the life blood of any economy, when the supplementary budget is due the transport industry should be given much importance.
    If you go to page 14 of the Report, a supplementary budget of 143 is needed. So in this respect I urge the House to support the motion on the floor.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 7:50 p.m.
    Hon Minority Chief Whip, the information given to me
    by the Clerk is that at the time that you raised the issue of a quorum, we had a quorum to transact business but we did not have a quorum to take a decision. And, indeed, that was why the other Question in respect of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture was deferred. Now, you are raising it again. If you are raising it we have ten minutes under the rules so we may have to wait for the next ten minutes and if still we do not have the number to transact business, the Clerks will count and advise me accordingly.
    Mr. Hammah 7:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I would want to thank my Hon Colleague for his contribution and I have taken note of most of the concerns that he has raised and we will make sure that we include his concerns during the implementation of the Ministry's policies, programmes and activities for the year.
    On this note, I want to urge Hon Members of this House to approve the amount of GH¢4,562,859.00 for the Ministry of Transport for the year 2009.
    Thank you.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 7:50 p.m.
    Question to be put when we have the quorum to take a decision.
    ANNUAL ESTIMATES 7:50 p.m.
    Alhaji I. D. Abubakari (NDC - Salaga) 7:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity.
    Mr. Speaker, the transport industry is important in the economy of every nation; in fact, the life blood of any economy. But if you look at the sum of money to be approved for this industry, it is woefully inadequate, considering the fact that most of the agencies under the Ministry are capital- intensive -- Volta Lake Transport Company, Ghana Railway Company Limited, Ghana Civil Aviation, Ghana Airport Company Limited, Ghana International Airline.
    Alhaji I. D. Abubakari (NDC - Salaga) 8 p.m.
    Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢15,006,817.00 for the services of the Ministry of Justice for the 2009 fiscal year.
    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Justice has the constitutional mandate of promoting and
    ensuring the smooth administration of justice. And in pursuance of this, we hope to deepen adherence of the rule of law in Ghana and ensure a responsible legal system to give first class legal advice to Government.

    Mr. Speaker, I would crave your indulgence to compare the 2008 actual expenditure with the 2009 allocation. Mr. Speaker, this indicates a total shortfall of GH¢2,752,242.00. Mr. Speaker, if this is not addressed, it will severely affect the administration of the Ministry of Justice, especially since almost the 58 per cent drop in the allocation would not enable

    The 1992 Constitution of the Republic;

    The Standing Orders of Parliament;

    The Budge t S ta tement and Economic Policy of the Government for the 2009 Financial Year, and

    Report of the Committee on C o n s t i t u t i o n a l , L e g a l a n d Parliamentary Affairs on the 2008 Draft Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Justice.

    4.0 The Ministry of Justice

    4.1 Misson Statement

    The Ministry of Justice exists to:

    (i) entrench at the core of the body politic abiding respect for the rule of law and a constant observance of human rights;

    (ii) ensure equality of treatment before the law for all citizens.

    (iii) promote social justice;

    (iv) facilitate the operations of a fair, efficient and transparent legal system.

    (v) propagate a culture of due defender of the constitutional order; the guarantor of the rights and liberties of the citizen; the protector of the State's legal interest; the enforcer of the criminal laws; the developer of the human resources of the legal sector; and the upholder of the rule of law.

    In helping to create and sustain a reputable legal system and an enabling

    legal environment, the Ministry contributes not only to fostering good governance and social peace, but also to strengthening the investment prospects of the national economy.

    4.2 Departments and Agencies of the Ministry

    The main agencies and departments of the Ministry include:

    Headquarters of the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney-General's Office,

    Registrar-General's Department,

    Law Reform Commission,

    Ghana School of Law,

    Council for Law Reporting,

    Legal Aid Board,

    Serious Fraud Office, and

    O f f i c e o f t h e C o p y r i g h t Administrator.

    5 . 0 R e v i e w o f t h e 2 0 0 8 B u d g e t a r y A l l o c a t i o n a n d Performance

    5.1 The Committee observed that during the year under review the Ministry represented the State in arbitrations, negotiations and litigations both locally and abroad. This was one of the major unforeseen programmes embarked upon by the Ministry which recorded over a hundred per cent excess expenditure on the service allocation. Actual disbursements for Personal Emolument and Administration also recorded excess expenditure over the approved allocations. The Ministry was thus compelled to re- allocate a percentage of its investment vote to finance the deficit created for the payment of outstanding Bills including
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr. Inusah A. B. Fuseini) 8 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I rise to second the motion. Mr. Speaker, in doing so, permit me to present the Report of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the estimates and budgetary allocation of the Ministry of Justice.
    1.0 Introduction
    1.1 In compliance with article 179 (1) of the Constitution, the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor on the authority of H.E. the President of the Republic presented to Parliament the Budget Statement and
    Economic Policy of Government for the 2009 Financial Year on Thursday, 5th March, 2009.
    1.2 Pursuant to Standing Orders 140 (4) and 179 of the House, the 2009 draft Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Justice stood referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for consideration and report.
    2.0 Acknowledgement
    2.1 The Committee met on Monday, 23rd of March, 2009 to consider the Estimates. The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Hon Mrs. Betty Mould- Iddrisu and the technical teams from the Ministry and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning were in attendance at the invitation of the Committee to assist in deliberation on the Estimates. Also in attendance were officials from the Departments and Agencies under the Ministry. The Committee is grateful to the Attorney-General and all the officials for attending upon the Committee to assist in its deliberations.
    3.0 Reference
    3.1 The Committee referred to the underlisted documents during its deliberations on the Estimates:
    -- -- 8 p.m.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 8 p.m.
    Hon Members, I have been informed that we are 79 now -- [Hear! Hear!] - Seventy-five from the Majority side and four from the Minority side. So we have the number to transact business. Hon Member, you have five minutes.
    Question proposed.
    Mr. Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi (NPP - Asante Akim North) 8 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, for the
    sake of time, I will be very brief. Mr. Speaker, all the Ministries and agencies have complained of the budget that they
    have been allocated, and this Ministry is not an exception. This Ministry is providing services to the nation. And it is surprising that the service allocation had been slashed by
    about 80 per cent.
    Mr. Speaker, I would want to limit myself, at this time, to the crisis situation that we have in the legal education. It has been established and the Director of the Law School had drawn the attention of the Committee as my Hon Chairman has already stated, that come September,
    October this year when they are due to admit new students; we have about 400 students that are supposed to be admitted at the Ghana School of Law. But unfortunately, the facilities at the Ghana School of Law cannot accommodate these 400 students.
    Mr. Speaker, if you look at the Legal Profession Act; precisely, section 14 of the Legal Profession Act, it gives the General Legal Council the mandate to regulate legal education in the country. Subsequent to these powers, L.I. 1296 which is the Professional Law Course Regulations was established in 1984.
    It is surprising that under this law monopoly of professional legal training is given only to the Ghana School of Law in Accra. At the moment, I would want to urge the Hon Minister that if the L. I. 1296 is amended, opportunities would be given to other institutions that have already started the legal education.
    In particular the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) had already trained a lot of students; they have the facilities. Through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) a huge and magnificent building, a classroom block and a library had been constructed. It is my view that if the amendment is made the General Legal Council can now regulate examinations of the professional training.

    Mr. Speaker, if you look at other professional bodies like the Chartered Accountants, they have an examination board. No matter where an individual is trained, the person goes to sit the examination and the person is admitted into the profession.

    If you look at the United Kingdom where we had borrowed their tradition - [Uproar.] If you look at the United Kingdom where we had borrowed their tradition, the teaching of Bar courses had been decentralized considerably enabling other institutions other than the traditional
    Mr. A. K. Agbesi (NDC - Ashaiman) 8:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I will not have much to say. With the overwhelming support that is given to these Estimates by both sides of the House, I will only say that, for me, I am grateful because anything involving administration of justice must go to the heart of everybody.
    Mr. Speaker, much has been said about the Legal Aid. Mr. Speaker, we need to do
    and assist those who are not in a position to afford the services of lawyers and such a scheme needs the support of everybody because it is not everybody that can afford the services of lawyers, for that matter, people in such profession.
    Mr. Speaker, I am even grateful to say that even though as far back as 2005 an amount of GH¢50,000 had been approved for the Ghana Law School, this money remained unreleased and unutilized. Mr. Speaker, the Ghana Law School is a place which has trained a lot of legal brains in this country.
    Mr. Speaker, we must all put our resources into training of lawyers because lawyers come to deliver those who need legal services.
    Mr. Speaker, with the majority supporting this Estimates, I have nothing more to say than to say you can let us wind up.

    Minority Leader (Mr. Osei Kyei-

    Mensah-Bonsu): Mr. Speaker, I would also want to lend my voice in support of the motion moved by the Minister responsible for Justice.

    Mr. Speaker, I have been perusing the budget of the Ministy of Justice and at the time when we were talking about endeavouring to separate the Attorney- General's Office from that of the Minister of Justice, I have been struggling to see what allocation had been made to the Attorney-General's Office in particular. It is difficult to discern. Mr. Speaker, that is one thing that should concern us. Assuming the two offices were separated, how much was to go to the Attorney- General's Office and how much to the Ministry of Justice?

    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Justice as we have said is service-driven and yet, if you look at the allocation for service, the variation between the 2008 and 2009 figure is more than 80 per cent downwards. Again, if one looks at the allocation for administration, it has been reviewed downwards by over 57 per cent and that is to a Ministry that is service-driven.

    Mr. Speaker, in moving the motion, the Minister alluded and lamented this situation and appealed that something indeed must be done if there should be a supplementary budget to augment the allocation to the Ministry.

    Mr. Speaker, the Committee itself has also amplified the situation that indeed, the allocation to the Ministry is not enough. That being so, Mr. Speaker, I find it very difficult to understand the conclusion arrived at by the Committee and Mr. Speaker, with your permission I want to quote:

    “The Committee has examined the Draft Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Justice for the 2009 financial year and considers the allocation under the various expenditure items fully justified.”
    Mr. Fuseini 8:20 p.m.
    On a point of order! Mr. Speaker, what the Committee said was that
    Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:20 p.m.
    Mr.
    Speaker, clearly, the Hon Member who just spoke is the only one who understands what he just said - [Interruptions.] Mr. Speaker, when you have argued extenso that the thing is not adequate -- [Interruption.]
    Mr. Joseph Yieleh Chireh 8:20 p.m.
    On a
    point of order. Mr. Speaker, my point of order is that I understood clearly what the previous Hon Member said and many of us understood him - [Hear! Hear!]-- and therefore, he cannot think for us.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 8:20 p.m.
    Hon
    Minority Leader, kindly continue.
    Mr. Fuseini 8:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I heard my
    name. Have you called me?
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 8:20 p.m.
    Hon
    Member, I have not called you. I called the Minority Leader.
    Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:20 p.m.
    Mr.
    Speaker, the Hon Inusah Fuseini is the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs and I believe he is for Justice and he knows the rules of this House that he should not be interjecting himself whenever he has not been called and he has not attracted your attention.
    Mr. Speaker, but the point I am making is that, the Committee is entreating this House to urge Government to take steps to address the huge shortfalls especially in
    the administrative and service allocations to the Ministry. And I am saying that I find it difficult to agree with the Committee when they say that the allocation of the various expenditure items are however fully justified and so I thought it was really incongruous.
    Be that as it may, and since the Chairman , as I have been told and assured, fully understands what he has written, I would not want to make further play but to aver the point that indeed, the Ministry ought to be provided more funds if we come to consider a supplementary budget in this House.
    Mr. Speaker, I thank you for your indulgence.
    Mrs. Mould Iddrisu 8:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I am indeed, grateful for the support I have received from Hon Members and I am indeed, most obliged for their understanding of the plight of the Ministry of Justice.
    Hon Speaker, I plead with the honourable House to approve the sum of GH¢15, 006,817.00. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 8:20 p.m.
    Thank
    you very much. The Question to be put is deferred and will be put tomorrow.
    ANNUAL ESTIMATES 8:20 p.m.
    Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture (Mr. Alex Asum-Ahensah) 8:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this august House approves the sum of GH¢13,190,099.00 allocated to the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture and its agencies for the programmes and activities for the 2009 fiscal year.
    Mr. Speaker, I will highlight on the summary of the programmes for 2009 and then continue with the conclusion. Mr. Speaker, the Ministry in the year 2009 will continue to pursue the policies and programmes, to realize its objectives of good governance. However, the celebration of the National Arts and Culture, NAFAC which is a biennial function of the Ministry's calendar may not take place this year due to budgetary constraints. The Ministry will however continue the project to ascertain and codify customary laws relating to land inheritance and ascension to stools and skins.
    Mr. Speaker, the Ministry in colla- boration with the Ministry of Tourism will explore and develop tourism sites for the creation of wealth. In this regard, the Ministry has conducted an inspection of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park with the view to rehabilitating it for the upcoming centenary commoration of the birth of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah as intimated by His Excellency the President in his State of the Nation Address to this House. Efforts will be made in this respect to mobilize for the rehabilitation works since no funds have been earmarked in the 2009 budget for this activity.

    Mr. Speaker, even though the amount given is an improvement on the 2008 allocation there is a shortfall in the area of other administrative functions which will adversely affect the realisation of the objectives of the Ministry. It is the expectation of the Ministry that the Budget Estimate for the Ministry will clearly differentiate the Ministry's funds from that of the Chieftaincy Division.

    I n c o n c l u s i o n , M r. S p e a k e r, notwithstanding the above submission, I wish to urge this honourable House to

    consider and approve the GH¢13,190,- 099.00 allocated for the services of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture for the 2009 fiscal year.

    Mr. Speaker, I pray that in view of the expected rehabilitation of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, the additional responsibility or inclusion of payment of allowances to queenmothers and the organisation of the biennial celebration of the NAFAC, this Honourable House will not hesitate to consider a supplementary budget for the Ministry when one is laid before this august House in the course of the year.

    Mr. Speaker, I so move.

    Mr. S. M. E. K. Ackah (NDC -

    Suaman): Mr. Speaker, I rise to second the motion and in doing so, I beg to present your Committee's Report. 1.0 Introduction

    Following the presentation of the 2009 Budget Statement and Economic Policy by the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Hon Kwabena Duffuor on the 5th of March 2009, the Annual Estimate for the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture was referred to the Select Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture for consideration and report in accordance with Orders 140 (4) and 187 of the Standing Orders of the House and article 179 of the Constitution.

    In considering the referral, the Committee met on 19 th March 2009 to examine the Estimates. Present at the meeting was the Sector Minister, Hon. Alex Asum-Ahensah (MP) and his team from the Ministry led by the Chief Director. Officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) were also present.

    The Committee is grateful to the Hon Minister and all the officials for their kind assistance.
    Mr. I. K. Asiamah (NPP - Atwima- Mponua) 8:30 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the motion on the floor and to support this august House to approve the sum of GH¢13,190,099.00 for this fiscal year, that is year 2009.
    Mr. Speaker, your Committee met and
    critically went through the Estimates of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture and made the following observations: What is very important which we ask the Ministry to, as a matter of urgency, consider is the prioritisation of their projects.
    It is quite strange that the Ministry has about eight regional theatres under construction and every year they come for support from this House and all that they do is to spread itself so thinly that at the end of the day instead of completing a particular project, or two regions, they end up spreading themselves and for over 15 years or so we still have those buildings hanging without being completed and that for us is very worrisome.
    We have asked the Ministry to, as a matter of urgency, prioritise its projects so that if this year they want to complete one regional theatre or an office complex, they should do that; or what whatever has been allocated can cater for, they should do that so that there is value for money instead of spreading themselves so thinly and in fact, the impact is lost.
    Mr. Speaker, another issue that is of great concern to this Committee is the fact that -- We are all aware that His Excellency the President has made his intentions clear to make the first President's birthday a national public holiday but strangely enough, there is nothing in the budget estimate of the Ministry to support this pledge by His Excellency the President.
    This year we are going to have the centenary celebration and clearly nothing has been allocated and so the Committee felt so bad that after this huge pro- nouncements, at least that pronouncement would be backed by real allocation of funds to realise this but there is nothing in the budget that suggests that indeed,
    Mr. Joe K. Gidisu 8:40 p.m.
    On a point of order! Mr. Speaker; my Hon Brother from the other side of the House is speaking as if every item that has to be undertaken in a Ministry would have to be in the presentation at this time. If His Excellency the President promised that the birthday of the first President would be celebrated as a national holiday, we do not need to come to this House with detailed expenditure for that occasion. So he is just playing to the gallery.
    Mr. I. K. Asiamah 8:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    I think if he had allowed me he would have come with - Mr. Speaker, we have Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum over there [Interruptions] as part of the properties of the Ministry. Mr. Speaker, as the Hon Minister went there he saw it for himself, but we need to at least refurbish the place to befit the status of a former President's edifice.
    Mr. Speaker, another issue is about
    Dr. Nkrumah's birthday. One would have expected that at least once there is a national holiday being proclaimed in his honour, his birthday would also be factored in the budget estimates of the Ministry as part of their effort to honour the first President but there is nothing in the budget to suggest that.
    Mr. Speaker, another issue worth
    considering is the issue of capacity building for the Ministry. Mr. Speaker, of late, the problems some of us have is that we are seeing workshops and seminars at areas where we can cut cost. Mr. Speaker, how do you build capacity of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)? How do we build their
    capacities if we do not organize workshops for them to upgrade their knowledge? How do you do this?
    So the safest place is to rather cut expenditures on workshops and seminars that would build the capacities of MDAs to rather allocate more resources to the Office of the President where we rather have MDAs which would implement governmental policies. [Hear, hear!] Where we have funds allocated to serve the castle boys and castle girls - [Interruption.]
    Mr. Ackah 8:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I wonder
    why my Ranking Member is making a whole lot of noise. He was at the Committee and we were told that this capacity building, nothing like that have ever happened in the Ministry and I want to make it clear that for eight (8) good years that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was in power, they had a Minister for Chieftaincy and they never organized any workshop for them, so he should stop lambasting us here.
    Mr. I. K. Asiamah 8:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that the Chairman does not even know the history of the Ministry. For (eight) years, he should learn more from Hon Isaac Asiamah who was the Chairman of that Committee on the issue of that Ministry. [Interruptions.] Mr. Speaker, he does not know when the Ministry was created, we are talking about (eight) years, go and learn about it - [Interruption.]
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 8:40 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee, the Ranking Member is taking objection to the use of the word ‘noise'.
    Mr. Ackah 8:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, he is my Ranking Member and we work together, if he has taken offence I withdraw.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 8:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, your last sentence to conclude; I have given you over 10 minutes.
    Mr. I. K. Asiamah 8:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, on the issue of capacity building, clearly, it is a major concern of the Ministry and it is captured on page (6) of the Report. I urge the Hon Minister to take a critical look at the issue of capacity building for the Ministry. It is so critical to the survival and of course, to the development of the Ministry.
    Mr. Speaker, another issue is about office accommodation. I believe as the Hon Minister pointed out at the Committee hearing, it is important that he takes that issue more critically so that other supporting staff of the Ministry would be accommodated well.
    Mr. Speaker, with these few words and with the kind of harassment from the other side of the House [Laughter] I humbly submit and urge this honourable House to approve the allocation for this Ministry.
    Mr. Alex Asum-Ahinsah 8:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I thank the honourable House for the suggestions and concerns they have given so far. I assure the House that we would take the concerns on board and work with them.
    On this note, I move that the [Interruptions] House approves the budget. Thank you very much --
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 8:40 p.m.
    Hon
    Members, until I am advised by the Clerks as to whether we have the number, the Question on this is deffered.
    ANNUAL ESTIMATES 8:50 p.m.
    SOURCES 8:50 p.m.
    A M O U N T 8:50 p.m.
    -- 8:50 p.m.
    IGF 8:50 p.m.
    HIPC 8:50 p.m.
    MDRI 8:50 p.m.
    DONOR 8:50 p.m.
    TOTAL 8:50 p.m.
    GRAND TOTAL 8:50 p.m.
    Mr. Theophilus Tetteh Chaie (NDC - Ablekuma Central) 8:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion to approve the sum of GH¢1,418,654,946.00 for the services of the Ministry of Education for the 2009 fiscal year.
    Mr. Speaker, I would like to touch on the Council for Technical and Vocational Training.
    It would interest Hon Members to know that at the end of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), about 40 per cent of the graduates enter into the senior high school, out of this, 60 per cent are expected to enter either technical, vocational or apprenticeship training institutions. But we were informed by the Committee that the enrolment at the technical, vocational and apprenticeship institutes are very, very low.
    Mr. Speaker, one may ask what accounts for that? This has led to most of the youth that we find on our streets today hawking and it is about time the Government actually sat up and then found ways of supporting these technical and vocational institutions so that at the end of the day, we would be able to absorb those students who are not able to enter the senior high school.
    Teacher motivation is also very, very important and we should try as much as possible to increase the level of motivation for teachers, especially our circuit supervisors so that they would be able to deliver.
    Prof. Dominic K. Fobih (NPP - Assin South) 8:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion on the floor and to ask my Hon Colleagues to approve the sum of GH¢1,418,654,946.00 for the services of the Ministry of Education for the 2009 fiscal year, and in doing so, to make a few comments.
    Mr. Speaker, Ghana has chosen a
    laudable path of investing in her people with the objective of producing the appropriate human resource for the objective of attaining middle income status in 2010. I believe that in investing in people, many paths can be taken, one could be investing in the healthcare of the people, the other could be investing in the poverty levels of the people and many others, like job creation and so on. For me, I believe that in all this, education is pivotal and that is why I believe education must be given its rightful place in the allocation of resources particularly in this year's Budget.
    Mr. Speaker, I think I would be very
    short because I think it is too late now, but let me mention the highlights of what I would have wanted to say 9.00 p.m.
    We have embarked on a new education reform as the tool for this human resource development and I believe that the reform imposes some degree of obligation on the Ministry of Education by way of implementation. Besides, the Education Act which has been passed in 2008, also has some obligation for the Ministry to set up certain structures to manage quality education delivery in this country.
    When all these are taken into account, then the shortfall that is observed in the budget allocation becomes a serious matter for all of us and needs to be attended to or considered. But this inadequacy notwithstanding, we have some agencies
    doing their best.
    Mr. Speaker, what I would like particularly to focus on is the Internally Generated Funds (IGF) for tertiary levels. Some of these institutions are doing very well particularly the universities. But there are also some which are not declaring the proper levels of IGF they have generated because in one case you would find that a most populated university is declaring admissions and registration fees less than less populated universities revenue on that item and this means that it needs to be looked into and audited properly.
    What is worth doing is worth doing
    well -- [Interruptions.] The polytechnics are also not making adequate contribution in this respect. I believe it is a serious matter that needs to be looked into because the polytechnics are supposed to train hands-on graduates and one would expect that they should be able to generate more revenue from the kind of skills that they acquire in these institutions. So if they are unable to generate revenue, then one must look into that closely.
    The second thing I would like to
    highlight is allocation of resources to old and new universities or institutions -- [Interruptions.] It looks like we have been talking about this issue for many years but still the gap between the newly established universities and the old or well-established ones is widening more and more and I believe this is the result of the way we allocate resources to both the new emerging ones and the old established ones.
    I believe that if we should create a special fund, that is a kind of develop- mental fund for the newly created universities, this would help to make a headway in that respect.
    Mr. Speaker, with these few words, I
    Dr. J. S. Annan 8:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, in
    winding up, I wish to thank all Hon Members for supporting this motion and for their well-received comments. Mr. Speaker, the comments, of course, would be taken on board.
    I humbly request Hon Members to approve this critical budget that is for investing in people, the amount of GH¢1,418,654,946.00 for the services of the Ministry of Education for the 2009 fiscal year.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 8:50 p.m.
    Question
    deferred to tomorrow. Hon. Majority Leader?
    Mr. Bagbin 8:50 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, we are
    now totally in your hands. We believe Hon Members have done a very good job and I want to thank Hon Members for their patience and endurance. We will ask you to accordingly adjourn the House as required by the rules and then the House will have a Caucus of the Whole for a brief on very pertinent issues.
    Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 8:50 p.m.
    Thank
    you, Hon Majority Leader. Hon
    Members, I thank you very much
    for your support. I also thank those
    who disappeared and reappeared --
    [Laughter.] Hon Mem-bers, the House
    is accordingly adjourned.
    ADJOURNMENT 8:50 p.m.