Debates of 7 Jul 2009

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:30 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Members, we commence with Correction of Votes and Proceedings dated 6th July, 2009. Pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - [Interruption.]
Prof. (Emeritus) S. K. Amoako 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, page 6, item (5) - “The Rt. Hon Speaker acknowledged the presence in the House a delegation . . .” The “of” is missing. And “…from the Ugandan Parliament that was on a study visit . . .”
The “who were” is referring to the delegation, so it cannot be in the plural.
It should be “that was on a study visit”.
Thank you.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Thank you. Page
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 11:30 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, page 7, item (ii): “The following Questions were also asked of and answered…”, the “of” is not necessary, it should be taken off.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Thank you. Pages
Mr. Robert Sarfo-Mensah 11:30 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, the Motion on the IDA facility

of US$300.00 million is recorded to have been carried yesterday and I rise to challenge the whole process and to say that it should be nullified. Because Madam Speaker, it defied certain provisions in our Constitution, as well as our Standing Orders.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Member, we
are correcting it first.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
You were not in the
Mr. Sarfo-Mensah 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
You were not here.
At this stage, we are correcting the Votes and Proceedings.
Thank you.
Mr. Sarfo-Mensah 11:30 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Pages 9, 10 - [Interruption.]
Mr. Richard Akuoko Adiyia 11:30 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, page 10, item (2), (iv), the name is “Richard Akuoko Adiyia” not “Richard Adiyia Akuoko”.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Thank you.

The Votes and Proceedings of Monday,

6th July, 2009 as corrected be adopted as the true record of proceedings.

We move on to the Official Report of Monday, 6th July, 2009.

Any corrections?
Mr. A. W. G. Abayateye 11:40 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, a statement has been attributed to me but I am not the one who made that statement. So I want it to be corrected.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
What page?
Mr. Abayateye 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 11:40 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, on that same statement, there is a little typographical mistake there: “. . . I want to know from the Hon Minister how many military . . .” The statement reads “…how may military . . .”
Mr. O. B. Amoah 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, column 1407, second line - I think there is an omission. The line says “. . . and I saying . . . ”, it should be “. . . and I am saying . . .” That was the submission by Hon Akoto Osei. It should read “ …and I am saying that I object to that and that if he has facts, he should bring them to the House . . .” It is an omission.
Dr. A. A. Osei 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
column 1416, I just need your guidance in this matter. What I recollect is that when you were asking the Hon Member to withdraw and he had not done so, some of us were in the process of exiting. The Hansard has captured it as if after he
withdrew, then we existed.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Column 1416?
Dr. Osei 11:40 a.m.
Yes, “[Members of the
Minority walked out of the House.]” I need a clarification on that part. As I remember, I asked for a withdrawal and you asked him to do so; he did not do so and some of us started exiting. But the Hansard has captured it as if he withdrew and then we exited.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
He withdrew
because I remember when you were walking out, I kept shouting “he has withdrawn”, “he has withdrawn” but it was not captured here. [Interruptions.] There was noise, of course - [Inter- ruption.]
Dr. Osei 11:40 a.m.
Then it is not in the Hansard.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Yes, that is what I
am saying.
Dr. Osei 11:40 a.m.
So if the Hansard would
capture it properly. What you said is not captured here, that is the problem.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Yes, because when
Dr. Osei 11:40 a.m.
Then the Hansard has not
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Well, there was so
Dr. Osei 11:40 a.m.
So, Madam Speaker, I am

Madam Speaker, I am just talking about the sequence of events and it is not

properly captured here, in my opinion. So if the Hansard can capture it properly then it would be all right.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Any other correc- tions?
Mr. Robert Sarfo-Mensah 11:40 a.m.
Madam
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Member, we
are correcting this. At this stage, we are correcting it. I have told you, let us correct it first.
Any corrections?
Mr. Daniel Botwe 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
I think I can recollect asking the Minister for the Interior whether the - column 1373 -- whether the procedure, the delay in the Armed Forces Command in responding to the police, the same thing could have been extended to a civilian. I remember asking the Minister for the Interior that question but I cannot see it.
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Any other correc-
tions?
Hon Members, the Official Report of Monday, 6th July, 2009 as corrected represents the true record of proceedings.

Minority Leader (Mr. Osei Kyei-

Mensah-Bonsu): Madam Speaker, yester- day some event occurred in the House, that is, in the course of debating the IDA facility, the $300 million budgetary

support.

Madam Speaker, some allegation was

made against the Minority in Parliament and Hon Members called for a withdrawal of the allegation to the extent that it could not be substantiated; you yourself directed that it should be withdrawn. There was some considerable degree of prevarication on the part of the Hon Member who had made the allegation. And persisting in that prevarication, and not subjecting himself to your direction, the members of the Minority Caucus then walked out.

Subsequent to that, we held a press conference and stated our position that we had walked out because the Hon Member had refused to withdraw the allegation. We went further to say that not until the matter, which you had referred to the Privileges Committee, had been dealt with, we were not going to participate in any voting and/ or decision-making in the House.

Today, when we looked at the Official

Report, we realised that column 1416 captures the Hon Felix Twumasi-Appiah as having made these statements. And with your permission, I quote:

“Mr. Twumasi-Appiah: Madam Speaker, with directive from the Chair, I withdraw that one. I withdraw. And I want to move on. [Interruptions] . . . You were making noise so you would not hear. [Interrruption.]”

And then we have, subsequently:

“[ Members of the Minority walked out of the House.]”

The order of arrangement has already been alluded to that, it does not appear to be properly captured, that when he was persisting, the Minority then they started
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.


walking out. It does appear that in the course of exiting, the Hon Member came with this withdrawal.

Madam Speaker, first of all, we want this to be properly captured.

But more importantly, what we stated, after walking out, was that the Hon Member had refused to withdraw. The Hansard captures him as having withdrawn while Hon Members of the Minority were exiting. And that being the case, that the Hon Member had withdrawn, the statement that he made which could not be substantiated, I think it will now be of no effect.

Madam Speaker, we note, however, that you have referred the whole gamut of this business to the Privileges Committee. We want to entreat the Privileges Committee to deal with this matter expeditiously. It affects the dignity, not only of the Minority, but of this House as a whole. And we want them to bring the matter to a closure as soon as possible. Madam Speaker, that is the point that we want to register.

Madam Speaker, having said so, I think that it is important to also emphasise and to put on record that when the Minority side withdrew from the Chamber, there was supposed to be a maximum of 96

Hon Members remaining in the House, assuming everybody who they marked present was in the House by the list that we have. [Shows a copy of the “Votes and Proceedings” of Monday, 6th July, 2009].

Madam Speaker, the list provides that there were 160 Hon Members of Parliament in the House, both sides included. I am told on authority that at the time of exiting, the number on the Minority side was greater than the number on the Majority side. [Uproar.] But Madam Speaker, that is a moot point. The substantive matter is that 160 people had been marked as having been present yesterday in this Chamber.

And it is on record that 65 of them are supposed to be from the Minority side and 95 from the Majority side. Madam Speaker, Prof. Mike Oquaye, the Hon Second Deputy Speaker was in the Chamber; he did not leave. That brings the number to a maximum of 96.

And our rules and the Constitution as well provide that if any decision is taken in the House, we should have a minimum of one-half of Hon Members in the Chamber taking part in the voting. Madam Speaker, that is captured in article 104 of the Constitution. Order 109 of our Standing Orders also provides that no question for decision in the House shall be proposed for determination unless there are present in the House not less than one-half of all the Members of the House.

Madam Speaker, the Hon Members of the Minority walked out at exactly 1.00 p.m.; the vote was taken at 1.15 p.m. In

fact, as per the official record -- [Shows a copy of the “Official Report”], it was supposed to be at or about 1.34 p.m., even though this one puts it at 1.15 p.m. -- [Shows a copy of the “Votes and Proceedings”.] The official record has it that the Question was put and the motion was agreed to on or about 1.34 p.m. Hon Members of the Minority had left. How did anybody conjure the numbers to have more than one-half of this House present to participate in the taking of the decision?
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Order! Order!
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Madam Speaker, I believe that decision could only be null and void. I would not want to say that - [Interruption] -- Madam Speaker, I would not want to say that it was fraudulent. I would not say so. That it was fraudulent, I would not say so. But certainly, it is null and void because we did not have the numbers.

Deputy Majority Leader (Mr. J. T. Akologu): Madam Speaker, first of all, I would want to welcome back to the House our Hon Colleagues opposite. [Hear! Hear!] I believe the whole House is full of joy today because, excuse my words, the national interest - [Uproar.] The national interest has taken - [Interruptions.] Should I say it? The national interest has taken priority over parochial interest and over extraneous matters and that we were elected to be in this House to perform in the interest of the nation. So on the basis of this, we welcome our Hon Friends back to the House.

On the issues leading to the event, I would entreat that we do not revisit them because they evoke passions on both sides and they will not augur very well for our collective work and contribution to national development.

Madam Speaker, secondly, I think that the Hon Minority Leader knows that the rules or procedures of the House have been that if an Hon Member wishes to challenge any of such decisions or any decision taken in the House, there is a procedure that one should follow. If the issue of the Question being put is his problem and then he raises it, then he has to come properly by way of a motion.

But I thought that the Hon Minority Leader had the privilege of discussing this issue and we had put it to rest. [Interruptions.] I am surprised that this issue has come up, because if we look at the Standing Orders -- [Interruption.] He was quoting - I am aware that we need one-half of Members present and voting to take a decision -- [Interruptions] -- Please, one-half of Members present and voting in the House to take a decision.

Yes, and we had the numbers in the House. If we look at the Hansard, at a point in time -- I, in particular was not in the House when that confusion arose; some of us were not in. But when it became critical, we got everybody on our side to come and do business.

The other problem is that at that time
rose
Mr. Akologu noon
Madam Speaker, I think that the Hon Minority Leader is casting doubt and making a very serious allegation - [Interruption.]
rose
Madam Speaker noon
Hon Member, let us hear what he has to say.
Mr. Opare-Ansah noon
Madam Speaker,
on a point of order. Madam Speaker, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader is misleading this House. Madam Speaker, a few moments ago, you indicated that we should review the Votes and Proceedings of yesterday. Indeed, you went page by page.
The Hon Deputy Majority Leader was in this Chamber; he never once gave an indication that there was somebody who was present yesterday in this Chamber whose name had been left out of the Votes and Proceedings. Now, he gets up to tell us that, in fact, when the vote was being taken they had the numbers - [Laughter.] I do not know whether it is a problem of the arithmetic or it is that he does not have the information and he is just trying to mislead us.
Please, this document has already been approved by the House. Madam Speaker has admitted it and it is admissible as evidence and that is what we are referring to that when you calculate, based on the Official Report saying that we withdrew from this Chamber at about 1.00 p.m. and the fact that you took the vote at about 1.34 p.m., there could not have been a minimum of 150 Members of Parliament
in this Chamber. So please, he should advert his mind to that fact and address it.
Mr. Akologu noon
Madam Speaker, I am fascinated by my Hon Colleague's point of order because actually he has not raised any point of order. But let me remind him that I do not know by what imagination he thinks that we could not have marshalled our people. Yesterday, if he realized - [Interruptions.] Listen. I have the House -- that the record keepers take away the register at a point in time. But when - [Interruptions.]
But when we call people in the course of business, they are not here to record them, one cannot take it away from the Hon Members being present. One cannot. The one keeping the record has gone out; they take it away at a point. So they cannot capture everything. He should bear that in mind. [Interruptions.] Bear that in mind. But Madam Speaker -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker noon
Let me take a point.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah noon
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the difficulty of the Hon Deputy Majority Leader. However, I would plead with him, as part of the Leadership, not to mislead this House; I am sorry to say that.

Madam Speaker, he is seriously undermining the proceedings of this House. [Hear! Hear!] We appreciate the difficult -- we have all been placed
Papa Owusu-Ankomah noon


in such situations before; it may well be from the other side. But I plead with the Hon Deputy Majority Leader who is now presently in this House, its pro tem Leader, not to continue doing disservice to this House.
Mr. Akologu noon
Madam Speaker, I have no difficulty whatsoever and I am not misleading anybody. It is on record in this House that the register had been ruled out, that it had no effect on the conduct of our business. It is on record here -- [Interruptions.] Some of us did not sign the register based on the ruling by one of your predecessors, Rt. Hon Peter Alla Adjatey.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah noon
I have been recognized by Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker noon
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, let us stick to the facts contained in the Votes and Proceedings. [Hear! Hear!] Carry on now.
Mr. Akologu noon
Madam Speaker, I very much respect what is there, but when he says that I am misleading the House and I have institutional memory of what happened in this House, I must tell him. [Interruptions.] Keep quite and listen! That is why they walked out yesterday without hearing the -They should keep quiet and listen.
Madam Speaker noon
Order! Order! Hon Acting Leader, please -
Mr. Akologu 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I was coming to a more serious point on this matter. I think that the Statement by the Minority Leader casts some doubts and then speaks about the integrity of the Chair at the time of the issue. I think that is most unfortunate and we should stick to the rules of the House, if they want to come by way of a motion to rescind the decision, they should come and give us the reasons and we will do so.
But this is the one I said we have discussed with the Hon Minority Leader and that was about the issue of how many people will speak to the motion and so on. I thought that we resolved that matter. So I think that we should let this matter pass and let us move the nation forward in the right direction.
rose
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Dery, I think
the Hon Minority Leader made a point that you replied to. Were you going to add to it?
Mr. Dery 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I just
wanted to make a point that we were not impugning the integrity of the Chair. That was not the point at all. We were just raising a technical point and want it to be on record. It is a statement of fact and we want to deal with it.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader is the one who is inviting this side to come by motion and I hope he understands the time constraints if we are coming by a motion. I thought that he should be the last person to do that. But we have taken note of that. If he wants us to come by motion, we would ask for time to come by motion.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Member, I
do not think he was inviting you to come - [Interruptions.] He was talking about
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.


the alternatives. I say so because the Hon Minority Leader himself had said he wants to put this on record, which he has done. And whether you want to come back and rescind that decision, that would not be for him to advise the House. So if you can move away from that and to say that - unless the Hon Minority Leader insists and persists that we rescind this - [Interruptions] -- because then we would have to come by a motion.

I say so because the objection was not taken because you were not here. Any objection which is taken is resolved immediately but at that time you were not here to even take any objection, so the thing carried on. So unless you want to move it by - otherwise, you are on record for having said so.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, as everybody here perhaps understood, I said I wanted this for the records and if it is that we are being challenged on the substantive matter of facts, as the Hon Deputy Majority Leader attempted to do and tried to rubbish what I said by saying that it was parochial interest we were serving, it was extraneous -- Madam Speaker, such language [Interruption] - To all intents and purposes, what we did was most honourable under the circumstances. I just wanted to register the point that as at the time the matter was brought to a closure and the Question was put, they did not have the numbers to have indulged themselves in what they did. I wanted that to be on record.
Madam Speaker, it is not my intention to push it but if we are being pushed, we will push it. [Laughter.] If we are being pushed, we will push it. [Laughter.]
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Order! I do not
feel any push here. I do not think there is any pushing because I do not feel it. [Laughter.] I do not think you are being pushed. I do not feel any push here - [Interruptions.]
Hon Member, I do not think you are
pushing. Are you pushing?
Mr. Akologu 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am

Madam Speaker, what we were talking
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Deputy
Majority Leader has said he is not pushing anybody. So we have it on record.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I think that this business of importing discussions outside, this Chamber into this Chamber must stop. Madam Speaker, otherwise, we would not engage anybody on the other side. This discussion happened right in your office and I said - Since he is pushing me, I said that the matter of bringing the vote to this Chamber [Interruption.] When was it done? Because I was looking at the official record and said, “Oh! So it was brought to a closure?”
It was the Deputy Majority Leader who
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.


brought our attention to it that the matter was brought to a closure, a vote was taken. And I said, “Oh! Was a vote taken? And he said, “yes”. Then I looked at it and I said, “Oh! Then that is another matter”. That is what I said. And we think that that meant acquiescence. We think that meant acquiescence, when I said that that is another matter.
rose
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, with the greatest of respect to the Hon Deputy Majority Leader, I did not mean this as an offence to him. If he takes offence on this one, I will withdraw because it was not meant to offend him at all.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Thank you. Hon
Member, he has withdrawn.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, but clearly, it is out of order to bring this thing to the Chamber. Madam Speaker, I think I have made a point and I think that it was most irregular for the nation to have been taken the way it was taken and I would want to plead that next time it does not happen. The Hon Deputy Leader was saying that after leaving the House the Minority group is seized of the facts.

Madam Speaker, what else do we say to that? Indeed, we are seized of the facts and that is why we are arguing the way

we are arguing. We are indeed seized of the facts; I do not know what he meant by that, when he said that we are seized of the facts. We are seized of the facts, so, please, we know, that is why we have brought this matter here.

Madam Speaker, here, I will rest the case.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Member, he has not pushed any thing, he is not pushing --
Mr. Akologu 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, he has been asked to either clarify an expression I made here or something, that is why I am standing up, I am not going to react to -- He has withdrawn the other one, he knows that I do not qualify or I cannot be his son, I am older than him. He knows that one and he knows that it is not children who are in this House, he knows that one -
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
He has withdrawn that one, so let us -
Mr. Akologu 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, when I said they were not seized with the facts, I was saying that they are not seized with the full facts, full facts - they may have some but they do not have all of them. So I think that I am right -- they have some but they do not have all because they were not here, they left, they lost the right, so when I say they were not seized with the facts, if they want me to add “full facts” please, go and add it. They were not seized with the full facts because they had left - [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Yes, thank you, Hon Members. Can we move on, please?
Hon Minority Leader, you have it on record, whatever you wanted, it is on record, so can we now move on?
I admitted a Statement from the Regional Minister. Is he here?
STATEMENTS 12:20 p.m.
Mr. David Tetteh Assumeng (NDC - Shai Osudoku) 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, thank you very much for allowing me to support this Statement. I think that I need to express my sincere gratitude to the Hon Regional Minister (Nii Armah Ashietey) for coming up with this very important Statement.
Madam Speaker, the pressure on Accra is so enormous, and that is the reason why this situation continues to occur every year, and I am of the view that to reduce this pressure, there is a need for us to re- think and reintroduce some new packages.
Madam Speaker, that is why I am of the opinion that the regional capital that is situated here, I think, must be relocated. We must relocate the regional capital. And you will all agree with me that Dodowa, which has been on the drawing board for some time now, should be revisited.
[Some Hon Members: To where?] - Let us relocate the regional capital to Dodowa so that, at least, the pressure on Accra will reduce.
Madam Speaker, I am also of the view that we should do well to create some innovations. Madam Speaker, we all know of Abuja that has become a place of interest. I am of the view that we can also create a city in Ghana. We can also relocate some of these -- [Interruption] -- difficulties that we are having. Madam Speaker, I think that places such as Nima, Maamobi and other slum areas should be redesigned. We can build new cities in these areas, we can do it. So I am of the opinion that we should relocate resources to construct new areas.
Madam Speaker, we are also fortunate that in due course, we shall be getting oil revenue, and so I think that we should put this revenue into good use by constructing
Mr. J. B. Aidoo (NPP - Amenfi East) 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am rising to make comments on the Statement on the floor. Madam Speaker, before saying anything, I wish to also extend my sympathy to all those who have suffered from this event. Those who have lost property and those who have also lost relations.
Madam Speaker, reading from the Statement on the floor, one issue clearly comes to mind. The Hon Member who made the Statement has indicated that the various agencies are now desilting the drains and gutters. Madam Speaker, it is a bit worrying to hear that now that we are in the rainy season, and we have gutters and drains being flooded, that is the time when desilting is taking place.
Madam Speaker, we are in this country, and we all heard His Excellency the President, when he delivered his State of the Nation Address, and when you refer to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Manifesto, it is also indicated there clearly
that within the first 100 days on coming into office, the whole of Accra, Kumasi and all the big cities would be cleared of filth. Madam Speaker, [Interruption] -- I am not politicizing -- [Interruption] -- these are hard facts which must be - [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker, the floods are coming about because the drains were choked. The gutters are blocked -- [Inter-ruption.] And Madam Speaker, it means that the right thing was not done at the right time, and that is why people have suffered.
Madam Speaker, we all know that at the beginning of this year, there was a freeze on capital expenditure and therefore, there was no money released to contractors to even remove silt and garbage from the drains -- [Inter-ruption] -- and therefore --
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Member, this is not to provoke a debate. It is a Statement; make comments on it without provoking a debate, please.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
certainly so. Madam Speaker, with due respect, I am not intending to provoke any debate -- [Interruption] -- But then, the hard facts ought to be stated -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Comment on it.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the hard facts ought to be stated because we are having flooding in Accra. Why are we having flooding in Accra? It is because all the drains are choked.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Member, that is all right, except to bring promises --
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, certainly. So what I am saying is that, we must do the right thing at the right time. Most particularly, from December,
January, February, up to March, when we do not have the rains, we should be de- silting these gutters so that when the rains come, the runoff will find its own way and then empty into the sea.
Madam Speaker, but as it is, these things were not done, and that is what I want to draw the attention of the authorities to - I am drawing the attention of the authorities of Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) to the fact that we should be doing the right things at the right time. [Some Hon Members: When?] - When you are listening, and that is the time when we do not have the rains. That is the time when we should be de-silting, and not when the rains are already flooding our cities.
Madam Speaker, it is imperative to also note that for -- [Interruption] -- Look, do not say eight years because for the eight years the drains were cleared, the drains were clean and the runoff was moving -- [Interruption.]
rose
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 12:30 p.m.
But now, what are we seeing? Within the last three months, we have seen what has happened in this country. Madam Speaker, in fact -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker Hon Member, is it a point of order? [Interruption] -- Hon Member, somebody wants to make a point of order.
Mr. Alfred K. Agbesi 12:40 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, my Colleague is misleading the House. Madam Speaker, this is the first rains after National Democratic Congress (NDC) came to power. The New Patriotic Party (NPP)
had been in power for eight years. These gutters have not been cleaned, these gutters have not been desilted. This is the first time that we are having rains during the administration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Madam Speaker, he is misleading the House; he must go straight to the point.
Madam Speaker, we have never had any rain since the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to power. And when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was in power, these gutters were choked, they were choked and they did not even de-silt them. So he should tell the world what actually the point is. The work is being done at the right time by the right administration. So he should know this one.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
That was not a credible point of order but carry on.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, we all know that the Hon Member, where he comes from is noted for its mosquitoes. [Laughter.] We all know that he is in charge of mosquitoes and he admits - he knows.
Madam Speaker, so all what I am saying is that, we should do all what we can to ensure that our drains and gutters are well desilted well in advance before the rains come, so that the situation that we find ourselves in will not happen again.
On that note, Madam Speaker, I want to thank you sincerely for this opportunity.
Mr. George Kuntu Blankson (NDC - Mfantseman East) 12:40 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to express my concern about the Statement made by the Hon Regional Minister.
Madam Speaker, first and foremost, I would like to express my deep regret for the unfortunate situation which has been bestowed on certain people in the

community. Madam Speaker, it will interest you to note that in our society things are not done at the appropriate time. We all know that there are a lot of systems which have been put in place to make sure that there is sanity and there is fairness and the society must be clean.

I am not talking about the Statement made by my Hon Colleague on the other side of the House, saying that in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Manifesto, there was a declaration that the first hundred days, the city would be cleaned of filth; I am not talking about that. Even if that one is in the manifesto, it is for the interest of all of us Ghanaians because the manifesto was not made in the vacuum. Because there was a situation, that was why that manifesto came to clean that situation and if that statement has come from His Excellency the President, that indicates that all of us here have mandate and responsibility to make sure that that system works; because at the end of the day whatever money would be used in executing whatever is in the manifesto is from the taxpayer's pocket of which we must have interest in it.

It looks as if when there is a situation, we just reduce the situation to the level of politics without necessarily taking into consideration the people who have mandated us to be here and seek their interests. We have employed people, we have city engineers, what have you; they are supposed to make sure that all the laws we sit here and make are implemented. What do we see here today? We have people in responsible positions and we do not think about it, we do not talk about it and we just create fun.

My Brothers, this is the hour we must make sure that we all sink our political differences and make sure that this Ghana moves forward in the right

direction. Our people are suffering. Look at people carrying their bags, look at the people drowned in the rain. If we do not appreciate them, we should not joke with them.

Madam Speaker, we should now begin to do things for the people who brought us here to see that we are representing them and stop just throwing at each other funny, funny things that will not help the development of Ghana. And those who have been put in responsible positions that they should make sure the system works, that they know that they can do it must be seen to be doing their work so that at the end of the day people will not be allowed to build in water courses. We know water is coming from the mountains descending into Accra then you allocate the lands to them and they will go and build their houses there. Madam Speaker, what they are doing will not help us.

With this little contribution, I say thank you for giving me the opportunity.
Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare (NPP - Ayawaso West Wuogon) 12:40 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Statement which was ably made by the Hon Regional Minister.
Madam Speaker, first of all, I wish also to express my condolences to the bereaved families and my sympathies for all those who have been affected by this unfortunate situation.
Madam Speaker, I heard on the radio a gruesome narration by a woman who was witnessing some bodies coming out of a debris and it was pathetic. Even though you were listening, you could feel the pain and the horrific situation that she was witnessing. This situation should not
occur again.
Madam Speaker, my Colleague who just gave his contribution called for non- politicization of this issue. I want to associate myself with that point, that, the Government needs to come out with a long term comprehensive bipartisan policy, one that everybody can contribute meaning- fully to, so that we can all support our constituents, support our people and for us to ensure that that policy has the buy- in for all of us and that we can make the difference that will make it a thing of the past for people to lose serious lives and properties, not because man-made things can happen but because we were not doing the right things.
Madam Speaker, I would like also to caution into developing a policy for people not to look at solutions that are localized because while the flood can manifest itself in a particular location, the root causes are more widespread and therefore, doing things at a locality maybe, just a short- term, short-lived approach rather looking at things in a more holistic manner, in a more comprehensive manner can afford us the opportunity to rectify this situation.
Madam Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity to have contributed to this very important Statement.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
I have one from both sides. I will come to you, Hon Agyeman, not now.
Minister for Women and Children's Affairs (Ms . Akua S. Dansua) 12:50 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement ably made by the Hon Regional Minister. Madam
Speaker, I want to do so as the Hon Minister responsible for women and children in this country, and it is precisely because the worse, affected people whenever these floods occur are women and children.
First of all, let me sympathise with those who have been affected, those who have lost property and also express my condolences to people who have lost loved ones.
Madam Speaker, flooding in Accra is a big problem. So it is in all other big cities - districts and capitals and so in handling this problem, I think that we should discuss it holistically. We should discuss it and come out with solutions that will make it possible for the problem to be solved in these other areas in Ghana.
Madam Speaker, as has been said by the Hon Member who made the Statement, there are two main causes of these floods. The most serious one is man-made, and man-made because most of us Ghanaians are the ones who build in water ways. We are the ones who litter the streets, of which litter eventually are washed into the drains and therefore, get the drains choked and so the water cannot pass and then we have floods at hand.
We are the same people also who bribe the officers in the various Assemblies to process our building permits with dispatch without going through the process to the extent of even going to the site to inspect and see whether the areas which are demarcated for public use are not being used by private developers.
So Madam Speaker, in solving this problem, I think that all of us have a role to play. It is not only Government. Yes, Government has a major role but it behoves all of us as Ghanaians to also look
Minister for Women and Children's Affairs (Ms . Akua S. Dansua) 12:50 p.m.


at the contributions we make to cause these floods in the country.

So Madam Speaker, I want to confirm or endorse the proposal by my Colleague on decongestion that, it is an issue that we should not politicize because at the end of the day, all of us are in one way or the other affected. This is because these floods have created emergencies for which resources which otherwise would have gone into other areas will now have to be used to address road problems, resettle people, build drains and all of that.

I think that no matter which political divide we belong, should collaborate with the Ministry and Government to ensure that we find a lasting solution to all these problems.

Madam Speaker, on the enforcement of the by-laws, I have already alluded to it. Let us allow the Assemblies to do their work. If it is three months as the Hon Minister stated the other day, let us allow it because some of these things entail physical inspection of sites. Let the officers go and do their inspection, let us not corrupt them and make them short cut the process.

Madam Speaker, with these few words, I support the Statement and urge all Hon Colleagues to support it. I also urge all Colleagues to help Government find a lasting solution to the floods in this country.

Sheikh I. C. Quaye (NPP - Ayawaso Central): Thank you very much for catching your eye.

First of all, let me express my condolences to the victims of the floods in Accra and my sympathy for those who lost properties. I cannot agree with the Regional Minister the more, that, floods situation in Accra is perennial, that

whenever there is a heavy downpour of rain, people suffer from floods.

However, the good news around today in Accra is that Alajo, Dzorwulu, Achimota, Avenor, Odawna, Osu and some other prone areas are no more in the news. [Hear! Hear!] This means that there is a lot that we have done. In fact, if we had had the opportunity of continuity, we would have solved the problem by now [Hear! Hear!] It is a well known fact - [Interruption.]
rose
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Let me take a point
of order.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the bad news to the good news he is talking about is that - [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Order! Order! Let us hear the Hon Minister.
Mr. J. K. Gidusu 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the bad news is that, the flood waters from those areas the Hon Member of Parliament mentioned was that -- the bad news is that, the major drains into which the flood waters he mentioned flowed had not been desilted for the past 8 years.
An Hon Member 12:50 p.m.
Repeat! Repeat!
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:50 p.m.
For the past 8 years -
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Thank you Hon Minister.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:50 p.m.
The flood waters from those areas that he mentioned that flowed into the main drains, the major drains had not been disilted for the past 8 years. [Interruptions.]
Sheikh Quaye: Madam Speaker, it is a well known fact that I managed the mosquitoes all over Greater Accra to the extent that I was able to reduce the population of mosquitoes - [Laughter] - And tomorrow, I am going to continue once again - [Laughter] - I have the equipment, and I have the insecticides to be able to continue with this good work. Tomorrow, the press should come along and follow me and I am going to spray and spray all over so that when Obama comes to this country he will not have a mosquito bite and he will go free from malaria.
Madam Speaker, I would not like to actually bore the House too much but I think that a lot has been done.
You will remember Madam Speaker, that in 2003 when we suffered the same problem, I only signalled Saudi Arabia -- they came with two huge Jumbo Jets with food, blankets and tents and what have you - [Hear! Hear!] The NADMO, what they are using today, the tents were provided by me through Saudi Arabia - [Hear! Hear!] -- Is it not true?
rose
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
I have closed. One hour has elapsed.
Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (Mr. Joseph Yieleh Chireh) 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, first of all, let me commend the Hon Member who made the Statement and also share the grief that he expressed, which is collective, we all have for those who suffered this fate - [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
That is the last contribution.
Mr. Chireh 1 p.m.
I will like to say that a lot has already been said and we all
need to take note of what has been said - indiscipline is one of the issues, change of attitude and all that. But those who have been charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the right things are done, I can say that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, conscious of this perennial problem and looking at the environmental sanitation aspect of this problem, we have over the past few weeks, worked hard to send a policy on environmental sanitation to Cabinet for consideration and adoption.

The Ministry has also established a unit, the Urban Development Unit which will tackle issues arising out of the fact that people are streaming into our urban areas and they need to sleep. They build anywhere, and they do not follow any plans. Obviously, we need to develop a conscious effort to deal with urban issues and this is why this unit is being strengthened, its manpower will be further strengthened.

We are a l so encourag ing the

Metropolitan, the Municipal and the District Assemblies to strengthen their environmental sanitation departments with skilled personnel - engineers, who have studied and who can help them monitor how we dispose of waste.

Again, in the past few weeks, so many

offers and so many proposals have been made to the Ministry in terms of how we can deal with the sanitation issue. Some have offered to recycle, others to produce electricity, others to produce manure for farms and the rest of them. We are examining all and those that will be technically feasible and financially supportable will definitely be supported.

Indeed, there are many people who are
Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
Hon Member, wind
Madam Speaker 1 p.m.


up, time is up.
Mr. Chireh 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, waste,
not as a filthy thing that you should not like but as something that will be beneficial and useful, something that you can get profit from, and if we are able to harness all these new technologies, we should be able to resolve part of the problem.
The bigger problem we have is the
planning functions which seem to be dislocated. The District Assemblies are the planning authorities. We have a Town and Country Planning Department that has been set up by an Ordinance of the early 40s. Therefore, there is a need to harmonise all that. We are working hard to ensure that the Assemblies assert their authority in terms of approving plans of lands and determining for owners after these plans are adopted to develop according to them and therefore, all these matters are upfront and we will need to all support the things when the need comes.
I thank you, Madam Speaker, for the
opportunity.
rose
Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
Hon Members, we
have closed the debate. [Interruptions.] I would have called you if I had not closed the debate but I have closed it. We have so much to do today, so Hon Members, Statement time is over and Hon Leader of the House,which of the items are we going by?
Mr. Bagbin 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, we will
look at item 4 that we can present the Bills. The Ministers are available to do so.
BILLS - FIRST READING 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
Are we going on
item 5 on the Order Paper?
Mr. Bagbin 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, we
will plead with you to let us take the Resolutions. Has item 4(b) been laid?
Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
You mean item
6? Is the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning here to move for the adoption of the Resolution? [Pause.] Hon Leader, is there somebody to move for the Resolution?
Mr. Bagbin 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I
thought the Hon Minister was behind me but it is the Hon Deputy Minister and I want to seek your permission and the indulgence of the House, to permit the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to move the Resolution on behalf of the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning.
Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
Yes, he can move it.
RESOLUTIONS 1:10 p.m.
THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE 1:10 p.m.
H E R E B Y R E S O LV E S A S 1:10 p.m.
Mr. James Klutse Avedzi 1:10 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, I rise to second the Motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.

Resolved accordingly.
Madam Speaker 1:10 p.m.
Hon Majority
Leader, what is the next item? Should we move back to item 5?
Mr. Bagbin 1:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, we will
now take item 5. Madam Speaker, I want to, once again,
seek permission and the indulgence of my Hon Colleagues to permit the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways to lay this Report for and on behalf of the Minister for Health.
PAPERS 1:10 p.m.
Mr. Bagbin 1:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, we now
take item 7 at page 3 of the Order Paper.
MOTIONS 1:10 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. James Klutse Avedzi) 1:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Credit Agreement among Ghana Water Company Limited as borrower, the Government of the Republic of Ghana as guarantor and the Export-Import Bank of the United States of the America for an amount of US$15,- 323,979.00 to finance the rehabilitation and expansion of the Mampong Water System in the Ashanti Region.
Madam Speaker, in doing so, I wish
to present your Committee's Report, but I wish that the Hansard Department captures the entire Report.
1.0 Introduction
The Credit Agreement among Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) as Borrower, the Government of the Republic of Ghana as Government guarantor and
the Export-Import Bank of the United States of America for an amount of fifteen million, three hundred and twenty-three thousand, nine hundred and seventy-nine United States dollars (US$15,323,979.00) to finance the rehabilitation and expansion of the Mampong Water System was laid in the House on Tuesday, 30th June, 2009 and referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report in accordance with article 103 of the Constitution and Order 171 (1) of the Standing Orders of the House.
The Committee met and considered the Agreement with the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Hon Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Hon. Albert Abongo, Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Hon Fifi Kwetey and technical teams from the Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning and Water Resources, Works and Housing as well as Ghana Water Company Limited and hereby presents this Report.
2.0 Background
The Mampong Municipality is located in the Ashanti Region of Ghana and has a current population of approximately 58,000 inhabitants with a huge potential for agro-industrial processing. The existing surface water supply system of the municipality has become inadequate to meet the demands of the area, making the situation more serious during the dry season. The existing system depends on raw water abstracted from River Kyiremfa, a tributary of River Afram.
The rehabilitation and expansion of the system is to be undertaken by Messrs UEM of Florida, USA on turnkey basis with funding from the United States EXIM Bank.
3.0 Purpose of the Loan
The purpose of the facility is to finance the rehabilitation and expansion of the Mampong Water System in the Ashanti Region. 4.0 Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions of the mixed credit facility are as follows:
CONTRACT AMOUNT 1:10 p.m.
Dr. A. A. Osei (NPP - Old Tafo) 1:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to second the motion that was just read by the Chairman
of the Finance Committee. In seconding it, Madam Speaker, I want to make a few remarks in particular and I want Hon Members to take note of the grant element for this facility.
It is not usual that this type of facility would come with a grant amount. It should be stated for the record that negotiation for this type of facility started a bit ahead of time, prior to the end of December 2008, and we commend the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing and the current Minister for Finance and Economic Planning for accelerating negotiations to bring it to the House.
Mampong in the Ashanti Region in particular, is going to be a beneficiary of this facility and as the Committee noted, it is important that such facilities are sought for so that other communities that are in need of proper water would have the opportunity to benefit from this.
Madam Speaker, one of the things that the Committee is finding difficulty with and this is not just with this facility, is the issue about taxes and something that we are urging the House to take note of that; we would be waiving taxes for some of these facilities, but the amount sometimes is large. In general, there is evidence Madam Speaker, that some of these companies tend to abuse the waiver that we grant. I am just stating it here for Hon Members to take note so that when this House comes at another time, we would be in a position to look at this issue very, very closely.
Madam Speaker, as much as we want
water, we do not want also to be giving too much away and I think that it is a matter that all of us should be paying attention to. We understand that the target for the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of 67 per cent by 2015, and if these facilities
are brought on, then the Government and the people of Ghana would be able to achieve these targets in the shortest possible time.
Madam Speaker, on this note, I want to urge all Hon Members -- for the Committee, it was unanimous and I hope that Hon Members would vote for this facility so that the people of Mampong in the Ashanti Region can begin to enjoy proper water.
With these few words, I want to thank you.
Question proposed.
Minister for Communications (Mr. Haruna Iddrisu) 1:20 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to be associated with the motion ably moved by the Chairman of the Committee for an approval of an amount of US$23,112,702, for the support of the Mampong Ashanti Water Project.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:20 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, on a point of clarification. Madam Speaker, I believe it was rather the Hon Minister for Communications who sought to mislead this House by stating categorically that it was rather for Mampong Akwapim. Today, he is making it seem that the Hon Member for Kwabre (Mr. Kofi Frimpong) was the one who made that allegation. Nothing can be further away from the truth. He rather stated, maybe, it was inadvertent because
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:20 p.m.


later on, he came to state the correct position. But certainly, he cannot attribute it to Hon Kofi Frimpong, the Member of Parliament for Kwabre.
Mr. H. Iddrisu 1:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Minority Leader is aware that I am not suggesting that it was the Hon Kofi Frimpong who suggested that it was Mampong Akwapim. But he knows that the Hon Frimpong wanted to be certain that some area -- the beneficiary commu- nity was in fact Mampong Ashanti and not Akwapim Mampong. And I am only indicating that it would have been useful if he joins this debate.

Madam Speaker, the former Hon Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice must equally be excited that Government is committed to making potable water available to increasing number of Ghanaians. And indeed, Government did not hesitate in giving approval to this priority because Government wants potable water to be made available to the people of Ghana.

Madam Speaker, may I refer you to pages 3 and 4 of the memorandum and Madam Speaker, we request - I believe that the Chairman and members of the Committee on Finance, in future should better guide this House in exercising our mandate under article 174 of the Constitution as the only entity which has

the power to waive tax.

I think that in a culture where you go and come, you indicated to this House that Parliament would be requested later on to grant tax waivers. It would be useful if in future you give us an indication of the tax component, how much you are expecting to be waived from this figure, it would guide us in giving approval to this and I think that it is useful that the Committee takes it on board.

Madam Speaker, my other concern has to do with page 4, in particular the item numbered 8; US$1.4 million on contin- gencies.

I believe that sometimes we could negotiate for some of this to go into either the rehabilitation and expansion of distribution network, particularly including construction of standpipes. I do not know what accounts for this contingency, but my honest position is that it looks on the high side. It probably could be a little lower than US$1.5 million and much of the money could be redirected into item such as 3, “Rehabili-tation and expansion of existing water treatment plants”.

Madam Speaker, it is also important that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing would give us an update. We have seen in the past where a particular water project is titled “Rehabilitation and Expansion”. If we do not carefully monitor, the work will end at expansion without some work being done at rehabilitation and it is important that the Member of Parliament in and around that area must keep an eye on the performance of the contractor.

The Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning must keep an interest to ensure that the people
Mr. H. Iddrisu 1:20 p.m.


of Ghana get value-for-money for this particular project.

Madam Speaker, what is heart- warming about this particular facility is that it is not the entire US$23 million, a major component of it -- US$7.78 million is a grant element, and that is very, very encouraging. And we encourage the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to go in for more of such concessionary facilities in order to meet the needed interventions.

Madam Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to be associated with this motion.
Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh (NPP - Nsuta-Kwamang/Beposo) 1:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to add my voice to the topic and to urge the House to support the motion.
Madam Speaker, in saying so, I just want to say that it will bring a big relief to the people of my constituency. The two major towns there, Nsuta and Beposo are going to enjoy.
Madam Speaker, my worry is that, last year, this House approved a loan of about $35 million from the World Bank for the Kumawu Water Project which was to benefit almost all the major towns in my constituency. By what we approved in this House, the project was to start in February this year. As at now, nothing has happened. If that one had come on board, Nsuta, Beposo, Kwaman, Kyebi and all the major towns were going to benefit.
Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh (NPP - Nsuta-Kwamang/Beposo) 1:30 p.m.


As at now, I do not know the chance of that project coming on at all. Now, Nsuta and Beposo are being captured under this project.

Madam Speaker, let me ask the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning -- he is not here -- whether the Kumawu Water Project is going to benefit the people from his hometown. I believe that it is not shelved because that is going to be a major project which will benefit so many people. I believe it will come on.

Secondly, Madam Speaker, let me say that the Mampong Water Project is very important, but I was alarmed that value- for-money audit is now going to be done. I believe it is sine qua non; it must be done.

In the year 2005, Government made an attempt to solve the problem and the Ghana Water Company Limited was resourced to buy new pumping machines for the Mampong Water System. Unfortunately, the two machines which were sent there could not work for one month and were broken down again. All attempts to have them sent back to where they were purchased did not materialise. Madam Speaker, I believe every effort must be made so that the value-for-money audit be done so that the people can be assured that what they are going to get is what will benefit them.

With this brief intervention, I support the motion.

Thank you.
Madam Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member.
Let us have one more from either side.
Mr. A. K. Agbesi (NDC - Ashaiman) 1:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, it gladdens my heart that this loan is being sourced for the benefit of
providing good and potable water for the people of Mampong community.
Madam Speaker, one would come to realise that as many as 12 communities are going to benefit from this facility. It only means that this is a good venture and we need to support it wholeheartedly.
Madam Speaker, in the Report of the Committee, it is stated that it will lead to growth in the productivity of inhabitants leading to reduction in poverty. Madam Speaker, nothing can be so gladdening that such a thing is going to reduce poverty of the inhabitants of the area.
Madam Speaker, I believe that all
of us need potable water in our various communities and if the Government is so concerned in providing this facility, which will benefit Mampong community, we will only have to say bravo and then support this motion.
Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah (NPP - Bantama) 1:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the motion on the floor of the House.
But Madam Speaker, before I proceed, I have a comment to make, with your kind permission. I believe that we all know that the Finance Committee is your Committee that looks at loan agreements. But with regard to the provision of water, it would have been prudent for the Committee on Works and Housing to also have an input into this all-important Report. As it stands, there was no input from us. But all the same, we will go ahead and contribute.
Madam Speaker, I believe we all know the importance of water. And in this House, when it comes to matters that concern the provision of water, we all make it a point to give it a hundred per cent support. And that is what I am doing
right now.
Madam Speaker, we know from the Report that the main purpose of the loan is to provide water through the rehabi- litation and expansion of the existing Mampong Water System in the Ashanti Region. If one looked at the terms and conditions, as Hon Members who spoke previously have alluded to, we have a grant amount of $7.788 million out of the $23.112 million and this is quite commen- dable. This loan negotiation was started by the previous Government and I am happy that it is coming to a good and successful conclusion this time.
I also want to bring out this point. Madam Speaker, on page 3, that the system will be meeting the water demand of the population to the year 2020. This is a good vision that the negotiators had and they need to be commended.
If one looked at the scope of works, Madam Speaker, I believe they are quite extensive. But I am more interested with the benefits that will accrue to the population around Mampong area, most importantly, the Mampong Municipality.
Madam Speaker, we all know about this famous St. Monica's School that is situated at Mampong. If the students were to tell us what they go through due to the scarcity of water, we will all just be happy for them this time that indeed, this expansion project is going to take place.
Also, the reduction in poverty of the population should also be noted. This is because with the expansion and rehabilitation, people who use water for their industries and for their daily bread will also have the opportunity to increase their businesses.
Madam Speaker, I am also very happy that, at least, this will contribute towards achieving our MDGs in the water sector. And we know by 2015, we can, indeed,
Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah (NPP - Bantama) 1:30 p.m.


achieve our MDG target of 76 per cent.

With these few words, I urge all my Hon Colleagues to support the motion.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member.
Mr. D. T. Assumeng (NDC - Shai Osudoku) 1:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I would also want to add my voice to this motion and also to add to what the Hon Ranking Member for the Committee on Works and Housing said about the need to involve the Committee on Works and Housing, is just true. I believe in subsequent issues we will be adding to such financial arrangements.
Madam Speaker, I would want to express our gratitude to the Government for coming out with this arrangement to provide water for the people of Mampong in the Ashanti Region. Madam Speaker, this confirms the commitment and the statement of the President that he will be a father for all Ghanaians - [Hear! Hear!] - I believe that this is a clear testimony of what he said.
Madam Speaker, this loan that is coming on at this time and I believe that it is the right time and the people of Mampong will be very happy. This time round, I am very sure that come one day they will begin to redirect their focus to the right direction.
Madam Speaker, we need to commend the Government for coming out with this facility and I believe that we are going to support it.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member.
One more from the Minority side.
Mr. Francis Addai-Nimoh (NPP - Mampong) 1:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am excited about this facility because the project is in my constituency. [Hear! Hear!] And beneficiary communities, as we can see are Mampong and Nsuta/ Kwamang, Constituencies.
Madam Speaker, Mampong is the second largest city in the Ashanti Region and traditionally, it occupies the silver stool of the Ashanti Kingdom. Mampong is characterized by so many institutions. Among them, Madam Speaker, we have a university campus, we have two teacher training colleges, we have several senior high schools and we have so many other junior high schools. Therefore, the need for potable water for the people of Mampong and Nsuta/ Kwamang Constituencies cannot be over- empha-sised.
As the point was made by an Hon Colleague, looking at the number of educational institutions, the scarcity or absence of potable water to these institutions will certainly be a disaster and therefore, if this facility seeks to improve, rehabilitate and expand the water distribution network for Mampong and Nsuta/Kwamang Constituencies, Madam Speaker, we need to support it.
I have taken note of the Report and also agree with the Hon Member for Tamale South, (Mr. H. Iddrisu) that the amount earmarked under contingencies of about $1.45 million, we will critically look at it during the project implementation; that amount could also be used to extend the existing pipelines.
Madam Speaker, I would like to urge my Hon Colleagues to support this motion

I am happy to note that preparations towards this facility commenced or started in the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) Administration. [Hear! Hear!] And its continuity by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government is also commendable. [Hear! Hear!] Therefore, both sides of this House, I urge and persuade all of you to support this motion, that your children and guardians who are in school in Mampong can be free from water scarcity. It is on this note that I urge this Honourable House to adopt the motion and approve the Resolution.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 1:40 p.m.
Thank you Honourable. This is the conclusion of the debate; I will now put the Question.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Madam Speaker 1:40 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, we have finished with item 8.
Mr. Bagbin 1:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, we want to take the consequential Resolution, which is item -- [Pause.]
RESOLUTIONS 1:40 p.m.
THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE 1:40 p.m.
H E R E B Y R E S O LV E S A S 1:40 p.m.
Mr. J. K. Avedzi 1:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Madam Speaker 1:40 p.m.
Item No. 9. Chairman of the Committee, you may move?
Supplementary Loan Agreement
between GOG and ADF
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. J. K. Avedzi) 1:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to move, that, this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Supplementary Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the African Development Fund (ADF) for an amount of twenty-five million, four hundred thousand Units of Account (UA25,-400,000) (equivalent to US$38.10 million) for the implementation of the Tema-Aflao Road Rehabilitation Project (Lot 2: Agbozume-Aflao Section, and Akatsi Bypass).
Madam Speaker in doing so, I present the Report of your Committee.
1.0 Introduction
The Supplementary Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the African Development Fund (ADF) for an amount of twenty-five million, four hundred thousand Units of Account (UA25,400,000) (equivalent to US$38.10 million) for the implementation of the Tema-Aflao Road Rehabilitation Project (Lot 2: Agbozume-Aflao Section and Akatsi Bypass) was laid in the House on Tuesday, 9th June, 2009 in accordance with article 181 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
Pursuant to Order 171 (1) of the
Standing Orders of the House, the Agreement was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and Report.
Madam Speaker 1:40 p.m.
Hon Member, shall I interrupt you? Hon Members, having regard to the state of Business of the House, I direct that the Sitting be held outside the prescribed period.
MR. FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr. Avedzi 1:40 p.m.
The Committee con-
sequently met and considered the Agreement with the Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon Joe K. Gidisu, Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Hon Fifi Kwetey, Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo and officials from the Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning and Roads and Highways and hereby presents this Report. 2.0 Purpose of the Loan
The purpose of the facility is to help provide supplementary funding to finance the implementation of Lot 2 (Agbozume- Aflao Section and Akatsi Bypass) of the Tema-Aflao Road Rehabilitation Project.
3.0 Project Description
The Lot 2 segment of the Akatsi- Aflao section of the Tema-Aflao Road Rehabilitation Project consists of the construction of the 19.86 kilometres and 7.2 kilometres Akatsi bypass with a single carriageway of 7.3m width and asphalted concrete surfacing with 2.5 m surface dressed shoulders on each side of the road.
In accordance with Ghana's National ICT Development policy and the ADF's proposal on inclusion of passive backbone infrastructure in the transport infrastructure projects, provision has been made in the project's design for protective ducts to cater for future installation of fibre optic cables.
4.0 Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions of the facility are as follows:
Loan Amount -- UA25,400,000 (Equiv.
US$38.10 million).
Interest Rate -- Nil (No Interest Charge).
Service Charge -- 0 .75 pe r cen t p . a . on the principal amount of the loan disbursed and outstanding from time to time.
Commitment Charge -- 0 . 5 p e r c e n t p . a . o n t h e undisbursed portion of the loan commencing 120 days after the signing of the Agreement.
Grace Period -- 10 years.
Repayment Period -- 30 years (exclusive of grace period).
Repayment Dates -- Equal and consecutive semi-annual installments on 1st July each year. The first installment shall be payable able on 1st January or 1st July, whichever immediately follows the expiration of the 10 year grace period
Concessionality Rate -- 66.67 per cent.
5.0 Observations
The Committee observed that the
project includes the construction of a 7.2- kilometre bypass starting at the Akatsi town entrance and ending at 6 kilometres to the Abor town entrance.
It was noted that Service Charge and the Commitment Charge shall be payable semi-annually on 1st January and 1st July each year.
The Committee again noted that
repayment of the principal would commence 10 years from the date of signing the Supplementary Loan Agreement, at the rate of 2 per cent per annum from the 11th to the 20th year inclusive and at the rate of 4 per cent per annum thereafter.
As to when the Agbozume-Aflao
section and the Akatsi bypass project would be completed, the Committee was informed that the entire project (Tema- Aflao) is currently ongoing and that this particular lot (Agbozume-Aflao section and the Akatsi bypass) is expected to completed by 30th June 2011, thus a completion period of twenty-four (24) months from now.
The Committee was further informed that the project forms part of the broader ECOWAS transnational highway network and would lead to enhancement of travel and trade in the subregion.
The technical team from the Ministry
of Roads and Highways informed the Committee that the granting of the facility and its disbursement come with two (2) conditionalities from the African Develop- ment Fund. These are:
i. That the Ghana Government implements the axle load policy.
Mr. Avedzi 1:50 p.m.
ii. That Government should clear all road arrears. (This has been done, except for one contractor who has been dragged to court by a third party.)
The technical team further informed the Committee that the original designs and costing of the road were done in 1999, and that from that time till now, the costs have increased significantly, thus necessitating the need for supplementary funding to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
Members advised the Ministry of Roads and Highways to endeavour to create exits on our roads, highways and motorways so as to minimize traffic congestion at the ends of the roads.
It was also suggested that rest and truck stop facilities be provided on major highways to make their use more convenient and reduce fatigue to prevent accidents on our roads.
The Committee was informed that bigger capacity bridges and culverts have been provided between Afife and Weta Junction as part of the Tema-Aflao project to cater for situations of heavy rains and attendant flooding in that section.
The Committee noted that article VI section 6.02 of the Supplementary Loan Agreement provides the deadline for final disbursement of the facility as 31 December 2012 or such later date as shall be agreed between the Borrower (GoG) and the Fund.
As to what the “Unallocated” figure of UA5.59 million (Equivalent to US$8.385 million) would be used for, the Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways
explained to the Committee that this would be applied towards contingencies and other unforeseen variations and events that may occur in the course of the project.
Tax Waiver
In accordance with article 50 of the Agreement establishing the African Development Bank, dated 14th August 1963, the goods, services and other items imported for the use of the project shall be exempt from all local (Ghanaian) taxes, VAT and customs Duties.
The Committee was informed that a formal request for the waiver of taxes, duties and levies connected with the project would be presented to the House at a later date for approval.
6.0 Conclusion
The Committee having critically examined the Supplementary Loan Agreement and considering the relatively high concessionality rate of the facility, respectfully recommends to the House to adopt this Report and approve by Resolution, the Supplementary Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the African Development Fund (ADF) for an amount of twenty-five million, four hundred thousand Units of Account (UA25,400,000) (equivalent to US$38.10 million) for the implementation of the Tema-Aflao Road Rehabilitation Project (Lot 2: Agbozume-Aflao Section and Akatsi Bypass) in accordance with article 181 of the Constitution, section 7 of the Loans Act, 1970 (Act 335) and Standing Orders of the House.
Respectfully submitted.

Mr. I. B. Awuah (NPP - Sunyani

West): Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion on the floor that the House approves of a supplementary loan from ADF to the tune of UA25,400,000 for the Tema-Aflao Road Rehabilitation Project and specifically for the Agbozume-Aflao section, and a bypass at Akatsi.

Mr. Speaker, I must admit that the terms of the loan are very considerable and quite acceptable to us the members of the Committee. So we appreciate the negotiating teams for the work they have done in making sure that at least, they had very good terms for such a credit.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to look at the objectives of the loan itself. It is for works to be done on the Tema-Aflao road. By this, the Government is giving meaning to the integration of the West African countries; this road links Ghana to countries in the eastern part of the country, particularly Togo, Benin and Nigeria. So by this, we would also be enhancing trade on the west coast of Africa.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that many a time, our leaders meet at regional meetings to talk about harmonizing trade, to talk about harmonizing customs and what have you, but then little do they do to ensure that this is done. But this is to give practical meaning to some of these regional programmes that our leaders commit themselves to, and I must commend the NPP Government in particular for initiating this road project and also for this credit that we are approving today.

But as was said by my Colleague during the debate on the Mampong Credit Agreement, I do also give credit to the NDC Government for also pursuing a positive agenda which the NPP initiated.

But Mr. Speaker, the problem I have is the argument by the technical committee that studies were done earlier but never envisaged certain aspects of the work which are now being added. My problem

is that, these loans are quoted in foreign currencies and price variations may affect local pricing in terms of prices which are quoted in cedis because we know that our cedi is not very stable.

But Mr. Speaker, in terms of dollar- denominated prices, prices hardly do change over a short period of time. So I do not actually find that argument very convincing and I will want to say that, yes, if certain works need to be done, we are not saying that they do not need to be done, but then we should find a way of substantiating the need for additional money rather than perhaps, this argument that we are putting forward.

It is our hope that when completed, this project will enhance trade between Ghana and her neighbouring countries and also facilitate movement between Tema and Aflao.

Mr. Speaker, to conclude, I just want to add that contrary to beliefs that the NPP Government never cared for some parts of this country, this road project clearly demonstrates and shows that the NPP Government was a Government for all Ghanaians -- [Hear! Hear!] -- and never was a Government for only a section of the people of this country.

On this note, Mr. Speaker, I second the motion.

Question proposed.

Minister for Roads and Highways
rose
Mr. K. T. Hammond 1:50 p.m.


Some Hon Members - Sit down! Sit

down!
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 1:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, as
I noted, I want to use this platform to thank the African Development Fund for keeping faith with this project which started with the Tema-Aflao section, and more especially the Akatsi-Agbozume section which forms the first lot and was 31.5 kilometres.
Mr. Speaker, we have come to this supplementary loan as a result of the inadequacies in the quantities submitted and the unforeseen circumstances which the last Hon Member who spoke commented on. Mr. Speaker, with this lot, the Agbozume-Aflao section which is 19.8 kilometres, and the Akatsi Junction bypass of 7 kilometres would be addressed.
Mr. Speaker, this situation is a welcome idea, more especially the Akatsi bypass. A lot of our communities on major roads as a result of the roads passing through those communities generate some community problems. The experiences we are having on some of our major roads where the communities, as a result of intermittent road accidents, tend to take the law into their own hands by cutting trenches on those roads is an example. The bypass at Akatsi, just like other places, will reduce the incidence of community reaction to these accidents.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to confirm that the African Development Fund officials are in the country and as a result of their commitment to the promotion of this road, like other projects, would be going on an inspection tour of that road tomorrow so as to see how far we have carried on with the project.
Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the House that we will follow diligently the views expressed by the Committee on those
issues they raised and at the end of the day, we will have value for money.
With these few comments, I want to urge Hon Members to support the motion.
Dr. A. A. Osei (NPP - Old Tafo) 2 p.m.
Mr.
Speaker, my Deputy Ranking Member has said a few things about this but I want to bring this House's attention to the reason why we are only now looking at this motion, and the reason is simply that in this Parliament, at least, we are conscious of our responsibilities. At the time when this Agreement was brought before us, as you can recall, it was being signed; this Parliament was being asked to review a facility that already had been signed.
With respect, let me refer us to article 181 (3) which is the basis for us raising the concern at that time. I am very well aware of the fact that there was some compulsion on behalf of my Hon Colleagues in this House, in fact, in the Ministry there was a deadline that was imposed upon them.
Mr. Speaker, I think the Majority side said it that if somebody chooses to impose a deadline on you, that does not mean that Parliament should be forced to face that same deadline. When we asked for the Report, it was not even physically here. So the Ministry had to send word to Tunisia for copies of the loan to be brought back for some of us to sit down and review. It is a waste of our time.
However, given that we want govern- ment business to continue, we have done what is the appropriate thing, and I can, at least, on this side, assure our Hon Members and Hon Members on the other side that what was signed was exactly what we used to review the loan. But I think this type of thing should not be allowed to happen again. I want to draw
Hon Members' attention that it is very important, the fact that the loan had been signed when we were considering it.
In fact, in the Hansard, you went on record as having said that if somebody has imposed some condition on the Ministry, you would not be bound by that. This is why finally that document that has been signed has been brought back to this House and we have had to review it and we can confirm that the terms are consistent with what we had reviewed earlier.
Mr. I. A. B. Fuseini 2 p.m.
On a point of
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Hon
Member, is it a point of order?
Mr. Fuseini 2 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, a point of
order. This matter came before the House, you would recall and the Hon Member for Sekondi eloquently stated the position, vis-à-vis, this House and its relation with the Executive as against loans. Indeed, I was concluded decisively in this House that we do not open our eyes to what the Executive are doing, especially so that there are provisions in the Constitution that allow us to call the Executive back to this House to tell us whether or not they are following on the terms of a loan. So I will pray you on a point of order that he is reopening a matter that is closed and that we proceed.
Dr. Osei 2 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to my good Friend, the Hon Member for Sekondi is not the Speaker of this House. He cannot rule on matters on this floor. I want to remind him that the Speaker ruled on this matter the last time. So how can he make reference to my good Friend that he ruled? He commented on it but the final decision made was by the Speaker. [Interruption.]
Mr. Fuseini 2 p.m.
On a point of order.
Mr. Speaker, he is seriously misquoting and misstating my position. I said, and I quote: “… eloquently stated the position”. “Eloquently”, not “ruled”. Yes. And the Speaker ruled and then this House decided; I mean, it is a decision of the House.
Indeed, I have said it and I will continue to say it that unless we ourselves take a position that as an institution of government, we would whittle down our powers to such an extent that we would open our eyes to matters which do not concern us, which matters we have jurisdiction over, whether or not a loan agreement has been signed is not the business of this House and it was done because for us, that loan agreement must come to this House before any signature can be appended to it.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Hon Member, make your point and let me -
Mr. Fuseini 2 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, my point
is simply that I did not say that the Hon Member for Sekondi and one-time Attorney-General of this Republic ruled on a matter that was considered in this House. I did not say so. I said that as the former Attorney-General of this Republic and as a senior member at the Bar, he

eloquently stated the position in this House and I think that position was accepted by the Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Hon
Ranking Member, let us make progress. Continue.
Dr. Osei 2 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thought that
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Hon
Member, kindly continue your contri- bution, please.
Dr. Osei 2 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am sure you
heard him. I think that the point that I am making is that this House should be careful. As much as we want to help Government conduct its business, we should not be put in a position where, in this case, we have had to defer for at least, two weeks, something that we did not need to. And I want to urge my Hon Colleagues that in spite of whatever compulsion that might come from anywhere, there is a Constitution that we work with, that is what we would like to be able to do.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Hon Members, I have been advised by the Leadership and I will therefore, close the debate on this matter. As the Chairman of the Committee, if he wants to do any winding-up, one minute, if not, I will put the Question.
Mr. Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi (NPP
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Hon Member, I will allow you some few minutes to make your point, so you must be very brief.
Mr. Owusu-Aduomi 2:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
this project is among the numerous road projects that the previous administration, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government undertook on the various trunk roads that we have in this country. This, indeed, is the continuation of the work that the Government did on the coastal corridor which stretches from Aflao through Accra to Elubo.
Mr. Speaker, this loan is a supplement to the original loan that was secured by the previous Government for the execution of this road project. It is as a result of the delay in procurement of the works. Because of the delay in procurement, there was also further deterioration of the road along the corridor and that is the reason why it was necessary for review works to be done on the design and also to secure this loan to supplement the one that was secured already.

I believe that this loan will be adequate for the works to be executed on this road and we entreat the supervising agent also to ensure that work is done in accordance with specification and we do not expect that we will have cost overruns on this road project.

I want to thank you for the opportunity to make these few remarks.
Mr. Albert Kwasi Zigah (NDC - Ketu South) 2:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you. [Inter-ruption.]
Mr. Speaker 2:10 p.m.
Please, be very brief.
Mr. Zigah 2:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I will be very brief.
The Agbozume-Aflao segment of the Akatsi bypass of the ECOWAS trunk road leads to the southern part of the country, that is, Aflao, and it is one of the biggest revenue collection points in the country. We have been expecting this project for a very long time.
Twenty years ago, Elubo which is one of the entry points of this country had the border being connected to the national road network and subsequently increased its revenue collection. We are all aware that nation-building is a holistic and continuous assignment. That is why we the people along the route from Akatsi to Aflao have been waiting patiently for this facility.
Aside the anticipated increase in revenue collection at Aflao -- the construction of these roads, that is, the Akatsi bypass and Aflao will definitely save the lives of people travelling on that road, especially during cross-border activities at late hours. The vision of the ECOWAS forerunners and their objectives for the road network will completely be meaningless unless the Agbozume - Aflao segment and the Akatsi bypass are linked with the major road network.
The rate of population growth at Aflao and its environs is increasingly galloping at a rate at which we must consider. At this juncture, I would like to advise the engineers to consider re-engineering at least, the last three kilometres to the main border in order to stand the challenges of the future.
Before I resume my seat, it is mostly perceived that Hon Members of Parliament are responsible for road construction and repairs. Hon Members of this House cannot construct roads, we can only facilitate and advise the Government in that direction. The people of Agbozume and Aflao, especially the local transport operators are suffering.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
Hon Member, start winding up.
Mr. Zigah 2:10 p.m.
The then Minister of blessed memory quickly responded and the road was made accessible to the other side of the country. And I also wish this Government would arrest the situation before the actual work begins.
With these few words, I urge this august House, without hesitation to confidently approve the supplementary loan of US$38.10 million for the facility.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
Yes, Chairman of the Committee?
Mr. Avedzi 2:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to urge Hon Members to vote massively for this Agreement.
Question put and motion agreed to
RESOLUTION 2:10 p.m.
THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE 2:10 p.m.
H E R E B Y R E S O LV E S A S 2:10 p.m.
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 2:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my Colleagues very, very much. We want to with their indulgence, take motion 11.
GOG/ADF Supplementary Loan Agreement on Akatsi-Dzodze-Noepe
Road Upgrading Project
Chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr. James Klutse Avedzi) 2:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Supplementary Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the African Development Fund (ADF) for an amount of thirteen million, four hundred thousand Units of Account (UA13,400,000) (equivalent to US$20.10 million) for the implementation of the Akatsi-Dzodze-Noepe Road Upgrading Project (Lot 2: Dzodze-Akanu Section and Overlay).
Mr. Speaker, in doing so, I present the Report of your Committee.
1.0 Introduction
The Supplementary Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the African Development Fund (ADF) for an amount of thirteen million, four hundred thousand Units of Account (UA13,400,000) (equivalent to US$20.10 million) for the implementation of the Akatsi-Dzodze-Noepe Road Upgrading Project (Lot 2: Dzodze-Akanu Section and Overlay) was laid in the House on Tuesday, 9th June, 2009 in accordance with article 181 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
Pursuant to Order 171(1) of the Standing Orders of the House, the Agreement was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.
The Committee subsequently met and considered the Agreement with the Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon Joe Gidisu, Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Hon Fifi Kwetey, Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo and officials from the Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning and Roads and Highways and hereby presents this Report.
2.0 Purpose of the Loan
The purpose of the facility is to finance the entire foreign currency cost and part of the local currency cost of the cost overruns of the Akatsi-Dzodze-Noepe Road Upgrading Project (Lot 2: Dzodze- Akanu Section and Overlay).
3.0 Project Description
The project road, spanning a distance of 29.75 kilometres, would be a two-lane asphaltic concrete road with a 20-year design life for an equivalent standard axle load of 11.5 tonnes and a designed speed of 100-kilometre/hour for the highway.
The carriageway would consist of two 3.65m vehicle lanes and a 2m Double Bituminous Surface Treated (DBST) shoulder on each side of the carriageway. In the built-up areas (thus towns and villages), the design speed is reduced to 50 kilometres/hour.
The existing 7.3m carriageway is maintained with intermittent kerbs along the edges in villages in order to separate pedestrians from vehicles. In towns, the 2m shoulders would be replaced by a footpath, and where there are high numbers of bicycles, a 1.5m bicycle lane would be constructed on both sides of the road.
4.0 Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions of the facility
Chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr. James Klutse Avedzi) 2:10 p.m.


are as follows:

Loan Amount -- UA13,400,000 (Equiv. US$20.10 million)

Interest Rate -- Nil (No Interest Charge)

Service Charge -- 0.75 per cent per annum on is currently ongoing and is expected to complete by 31st December, 2010 thus a

completion period of eighteen (18) months from now.

The Committee was further informed that the project forms part of the broader ECOWAS transnational highway network and is expected to lead to enhancement of travel and trade in the sub-region.

The technical team from the Ministry of Roads and Highways informed the Committee that the granting of the facility and its disbursement come with two (2) conditionalities from the African Development Fund. These are:

i. That the Ghana Government implements the axle load policy. (This has been implemented); and

ii. That Government should clear all road arrears. (This has also been done, except for one contractor who has been dragged to court by a third party).

The technical team further informed the Committee that the original designs and costing of the road were done in 1999, and that from that time till now, the costs have increased significantly, thus necessitating the need for supplementary funding to ensure the successful implementation of the project.

Members advised the Ministry of Roads and Highways to endeavour to create exits on our roads, highways and motorways so as to minimize traffic congestion at the ends of the roads.

It was also suggested that rest and truck stop facilities be provided on major highways to make their use more convenient and reduce fatigue to prevent accidents on our roads.

The Committee noted that article VI section 6.02 of the Supplementary Loan Agreement provides the deadline for final disbursement of the facility as at 31st December 2011 or such later date as shall be agreed between the Borrower (GoG) and the Fund in accordance with the Agreement.

As to what the “Unallocated” figure of UA2.82 million (equivalent to US$4.23 million) would be used for, the Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways explained to the Committee that this would be applied towards contingencies and other unforeseen variations and events that may occur in the course of the project.

The Committee, however, recommends that any unexhausted amount remaining of this figure after the completion of the project should be declared by the Ministry of Roads and Highways and if possible used to support other road projects.

GOG Contribution

Government of Ghana's contribution to the project will amount to one million, four hundred and ten thousand Units of Account (UA1.41 million) (equivalent to US$2.115 million).

Tax Waiver

In accordance with article 50 of the Agreement establishing the African Development Bank, dated 14th August 1963, the goods, services and other items imported for the use of the project shall be exempt from all local (Ghanaian) taxes, VAT and customs duties.

The Committee was informed that a formal request for the waiver of taxes, duties and levies connected with the project would be presented to the House at a later date for approval.
Chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr. James Klutse Avedzi) 2:10 p.m.


the principal amount of the loan disbursed and outstanding from time to time

Commitment Charge -- 0.5 per cent per annum on the undisbursed portion of the loan commencing 120 days after the signing of the Agreement

Grace Period -- 10 years

Repayment Period -- 30 years (exclusive of grace period)

Repayment Dates -- Principal repayment in equal and consecutive semi-annual instal- ments on 1st January and 1st July each year. The first instalment shall be payable on 1st January or 1st July, whichever immediately follows the expiration of the 10- year grace period

Concessionality Rate -- 66.67 per cent

5.0 Observations

The Committee noted that the Service Charge and the Commitment Charge shall be

payable semi-annually on 1st January and 1st July each year.

It was again noted that repayment of the principal would commence 10 years from the date of signing the Supple-mentary Loan Agreement, at the rate of 2 per cent per annum from the 11th to the 20th year inclusive and at the rate of 4 per cent per annum thereafter.

The Commit tee was informed that the objective of the project is to

contribute towards Ghana's goal of poverty reduction, regional integration and economic development by reducing the travel time and vehicle operating cost, resulting in reduced road user costs for both passengers and freight.

On the duration of the project, the Committee was informed that the project
Chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr. James Klutse Avedzi) 2:10 p.m.


6.0 Conclusion

The Committee has critically examined the Supplementary Loan Agreement and found the terms to be highly concessional. The road project for which the loan is being contracted was also found to be very beneficial to the nation's developmental needs.

The Committee, therefore, respectfully recommends to the House to adopt this Report and approve by Resolution, the Supplementary Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the African Development Fund (ADF) for an amount of thirteen million, four hundred thousand Units of Account (UA13,400,000) (equivalent to US$20.10 million) for the implementation of the Akatsi-Dzodze-Noepe Road Upgrading Project (Lot 2: Dzodze-Akanu section and Overlay) in accordance with article 181 of the Constitution, section 7 of the Loans Act, 1970 (Act 335) and Standing Orders of the House.

Respectfully submitted.
Dr. Osei 2:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to second the motion.
Question proposed.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Hon
Members, I will put the Question.
Question put and motion agreed to.
RESOLUTION 2:20 p.m.
THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE 2:20 p.m.
H E R E B Y R E S O LV E S A S 2:20 p.m.
Mr. Avedzi 2:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Hon
Majority Leader, item 13? Am I right?
Mr. Bagbin 2:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have been
advised, and I think that is true that we go on with item 13.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Very well. Chairman of the Committee.
GOG/ADF Supplementary Loan Agreement - UEMOA-Ghana Road
Programme 1
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. J. K. Avedzi) 2:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Supplementary Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the African Development Fund (ADF) for an amount of four million, three hundred thousand Units of Account (UA4,300,000) [equi- valent to US$6.45m] for the implemen- tation of the UEMOA-Ghana Road Programme 1, Techiman-Kintampo Road Rehabilitation Project (Lot 2: Apaaso- Kintampo).
Mr. Speaker, in doing so, I wish to present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The Supplementary Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the African Development Fund (ADF) for an amount of four million, three hundred thousand Units of Account (UA4,300,000) [equivalent to US$6.45 million) for the implementation of the UEMOA-Ghana Road Programme 1, Techiman-Kintampo Road Rehabilitation Project (Lot 2: Apaaso-Kintampo) was laid in the House on Tuesday, 9th June, 2009 in accordance with article 181 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
Pursuant to Order 171(1) of the Standing Orders of the House, the Agreement was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.
The Committee subsequently met and considered the Agreement with the Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon Joe K. Gidisu, Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Hon Fifi Kwetey, Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon Robert Joseph Mettle- Nunoo and officials from the Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning and Roads and Highways and hereby presents this Report. 2.0 Purpose of the Loan
The purpose of the facility is to help provide supplementary funding for the implementation of the Apaaso-Kintampo section of the Techiman-Kintampo Road Rehabilitation Project.
3.0 Project Description
The p ro jec t would cover the rehabilitation of the remaining 6.3 kilometres (Apaaso-Kintampo) of the 60
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. J. K. Avedzi) 2:20 p.m.


kilometres Techiman-Kintampo road with a single carriageway of 7.3 m width of Asphaltic Concrete (AC) wearing course and 2.5 m surface dressed shoulders on either side of the road.

4.0 Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions of the facility are as follows:

Loan Amount -- UA4,300,000 (Equiv.

annum thereafter.

As to when the Lot 2 (Apaaso-Kintampo section) of the Techiman-Kintampo Road Rehabilitation project would be completed, the Committee was informed that the project would commence in June 2009 and is expected to be completed by 31st March, 2010, thus a completion period of nine months from the date the project commences.

The Committee was informed that the objective of the project is to contribute towards the Ghana's goal of poverty reduction, regional integration and economic development by reducing the travel time and vehicle operating cost, resulting in reduced road user costs for both passengers and freight.

The Committee was further informed that the project forms part of the broader ECOWAS transnational highway network and would lead to enhancement of travel and trade in the sub-region.

The technical team from the Ministry of Roads and Highways informed the Committee that the granting of the facility and its disbursement come with two conditionalities from the African Development Fund. These are:

i. That the Ghana Government implements the axle load policy. (This has been implemented); and

ii. That Government should clear all road arrears. (This has also been done, except for one contractor who has been dragged to court by a third party).

The technical team further informed the Committee that the original designs and

costing of the road were done in 1999, and that from that time till now, the costs have increased significantly, thus necessitating the need for supplementary funding to ensure the successful implementation of the project.

Members advised the Ministry of Roads and Highways to endeavour to create exits on our roads, highways and motorways so as to minimize traffic congestion at the ends of the roads.

It was also suggested that rest and truck stop facilities be provided on major highways to make their use more convenient to reduce fatigue to prevent accidents on our road.

The Committee noted that article VI section 6.02 of the Supplementary Loan Agreement provides the deadline for final disbursement of the facility as at 31 December 2011 or such later date as shall be agreed between the Borrower (GoG) and the Fund.

As to what the “Unallocated” figure of UA0.71 million (equivalent to US$1.065 million) would be used for, the Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways explained to the Committee that this would be applied towards contingencies and other unforeseen variations and events that may occur in the course of the project.

The Committee however recommends that any unexhausted amount remaining out of this “unallocated” figure after the completion of the project should be declared by the Ministry of Roads and Highways and if possible, used to support other road projects.

GOG Contribution

Government of Ghana's contribution to the project will amount to five hundred thousand Units of Account (UA500,000) (equivalent to US$0.75 million).

Tax Waiver
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. J. K. Avedzi) 2:20 p.m.


US$6.45 million).

Interest Rate -- Nil (No Interest Charge).

Service Charge -- 0 .75 pe r cen t p . a . on the principal amount of the loan disbursed and outstanding from time to time.

Commitment Charge -- 0 . 5 p e r c e n t p . a . o n t h e undisbursed portion of the loan commencing 120 days after the signing of the agreement.

Grace Period -- 10 years.

Repayment Period -- 30 years (exclusive of grace period).

Repayment Dates -- E q u a l a n d c o n s e c u t i v e semi- annual installments on 1st January and 1st July each year. The first installment shall be payable on 1st January or 1st July, whichever immediately follows the expiration of the 10 year grace period.

Concessionality Rate -- 66.67 per cent.

5.0 Observations

It was noted that the Service Charge and the Commitment Charge shall be payable semi-annually on 1st January and 1st July each year.

The Committee again noted that

repayment of the principal would commence 10 years from the date of signing the Supplementary Loan Agreement, at the rate of 2 per cent per annum from the 11th to the 20th year inclusive and at the rate of 4 per cent per
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. J. K. Avedzi) 2:20 p.m.


In accordance with article 50 of the Agreement establishing the African Development Bank, dated 14th August 1963, the goods, services and other items imported for the use of the project shall be exempt from all local (Ghanaian) taxes, VAT and Customs Duties.

The Committee was informed that a formal request for the waiver of taxes, duties and levies connected with the project would be presented to the House at a later date for approval.

6.0 Conclusion

The Committee, having critically examined the Supplementary Loan Agreement and considering the relatively high concessionality rate of the facility, respectfully recommends to the House to adopt this Report and approve by Resolution, the Supplementary Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the African Development Fund (ADF) for an amount of four million, three hundred thousand Units of Account (UA4,300,000) (equivalent to US$6.45 million) for the implementation of the UEMOA-Ghana Road Programme 1, Techiman Kintampo Road Rehabilitation Project (Lot 2: Apaaso-Kintampo) in accordance with article 181 of the Constitution, section 7 of the Loans Act, 1970 (Act 335) and Standing Orders of the House.

Respectfully submitted.
Dr. Osei 2:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
RESOLUTION 2:20 p.m.
THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE 2:20 p.m.
H E R E B Y R E S O LV E S A S 2:20 p.m.
Mr. Avedzi 2:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Hon
Members, it is after 2.00 p.m., the discretion to adjourn the House is mine but I do not know whether the Leaders have anything to say.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 2:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Resolution

Hon Majority Leader, you have the floor.
Mr. Bagbin 2:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank
you very much. I just want to take this opportunity to commend Hon Members highly for the co-operation and hard work.
It is important that the media do not only highlight the things that we disagree, they should also highlight when we agree. So I want to call on our brothers and sisters of the media to go ahead and also highlight what we have done today for the good people of Ghana to know that many at times, we agree to do business for the interest of the nation. It is not always that we disagree, and it is not always that we walk out. It is important that the people know that we are doing a good job, we are working hard, and nobody is playing
fiddle in this House.
Mr. Speaker, thank you very much.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Hon
Minority Leader.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I cannot agree more with the observation made by the Majority Leader. It is just important that the media covering the affairs of this House know that many a time we do agree, I would even go beyond that to say that it is not many a time but most times we do agree and it is important that they cover every blade of grass.
Just like the Majority Leader is saying, they should emphasize that it is not always that the Minority walks out, they need to cover the entire track. When things are done properly in the House, they should highlight them. When things are done improperly in the House, they should equally highlight them.
Mr. Speaker, that is my observation for
the time being.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Thank
you, the two Hon Leaders of the House. I thank you very much for your co- operation. The level of co-operation that we received today, I hope will continue this way as much as possible.
ADJOURNMENT 2:30 p.m.