Debates of 10 Jul 2009

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:20 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 9th July, 2009. Pages 1-6 --
Dr. A. A. Osei 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my
name is down there as being absent. I was absent, but I requested for permission; I have not been informed that my permission was not granted and so I assume that I was absent with permission.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Page 7 --
Mrs. Beatrice B. Boateng 11:20 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, page 6, item (5), Wednesday is wrongly spelt there. The “s” is left out.
Thank you.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Pages 6- 9 --
Mr. G. K. B. Gbediame 11:20 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, page 9 -- “Motion -- moved by the First Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Hon. Gershon K. B. Gbediame”. Madam Speaker, I am the Second Deputy Majority Whip.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Page 10 --
Prof. (Emeritus) S. K. Amoako 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, page 10, number 2 -- Attendance -- (xv). I happen to know that Catherine Abelema Afeku's title is “Mrs.” -- “Mrs. Catherine Abelema Afeku”.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Page 11 --
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 11:20 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, page 11, item number 2 --
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Were you correcting
the “Ms.” too?
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 11:20 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, the “Ms.” is correct; I was just correcting the spelling of the name “Dappah”, whatever it is, but I am told it is correct as it is. But the “Ms.” is correct.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Pages 12, 13.
The Votes and Proceedings of Thursday,
9th July, 2009 as corrected be adopted as the true record of proceedings.

Hon Members, we move on to the

Official Report of Tuesday, 7th July, 2009.
Mr. J. K. Avedzi 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
Official Report of Tuesday, 7th July, 2009, column 1509, the first paragraph before “Question put and motion agreed to”. I seconded the motion but that has been omitted. After the Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning moved the Resolution, I seconded it but it has not been captured by the Hansard.
Then column 1517, the third paragraph, “Mr. Avedzi: Mr. Speaker, I beg to second motion”; “the” has been omitted. It should read:
“I beg to second the motion.”
Mr. Frederick Opare-Ansah 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the same Official Report at column 1442, the first paragraph. I said, “…there could not have been a minimum of 115”, not “150”. So they should delete “150” and insert “115”.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Members, the Official Report of Tuesday, 7th July 2009, as corrected represents the true record of proceedings.
Now, we move on to the Official Report
of Wednesday, 8th July, 2009.
Mr. Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, Official Report of 8th July 2009, column 1536, paragraph 3. “In my view the manual system of regis-tration, election and declaration of results has outlived its influence”. Madam Speaker, I said “…has outlived its usefulness” and not “influence”.
Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I refer to column 1543, paragraph 4, line 2; it should read “. . . and all the work” instead of “works”. There is no “s”.
Then column 1544, line 6, “I would like to list the areas” and not “also areas”.
Then fourth paragraph, the same column, line 8, “547”; I did not say “557”.
Then the last one, Madam Speaker, column 1545, paragraph 4, line 2 reads: “said that he believes” and not “belief”.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, column 1527, second paragraph under my submission, line 4. The sentence should read, “there is oddity about” and not “oddity over”.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Members, the Official Report of Wednesday, 8th July 2009 as corrected represents the true record of proceedindgs
Hon Leader, Business Statement for the Eighth Week.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:30 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Question(s)
Madam Speaker, the Committee has programmed the following Ministers to answer the specified Questions during the week:
No. of Question(s)
i. Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing 6 ii. Minister for Information 1 iii. Minister for Health 6 iv. Minister for Energy 6 v. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning 1 vi. Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture 1 vii. Minister for Education 5 viii. Minister for Roads and Highways 6 Total Number of Questions 32 Madam Speaker, in all, eight Ministers are expected to attend upon the House to respond
to thirty-two (32) Questions during the week.
Statements
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:40 a.m.


Madam Speaker may allow Statements duly admitted to be made in the House.

Papers, Bills and Reports

Madam Speaker, Papers and Bills may be presented to the House for consideration. Committee Reports may also be submitted to the House for debate.

Motions and Resolutions

Madam Speaker, Motions may

be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.

The House is expected to rise Sine Die on Friday, 17th July 2009.

Conclusion

Madam Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160(2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this Honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

Questions --
Mr. Yaw Owusu-Boateng (Akyem Oda) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when the general water rehabilita- tion works mentioned in this year's (2009) Budget including that of Akyem Oda would start.
Ms. Grace Addo (Amansie West) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing what measures has been put in
place to ensure that the proposed Mechanised Water Projects for Abore, Asuoyenwunu, Pakyi Nos. I & II, Adubia and Manso Nkwanta, which are at a standstill would resume and be completed.
Mr. Yaw Ntow-Ababio (Dormaa East) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when the Bia Dam at Biaso would be dredged and fenced.
Mr. Dominic B. A. Nitiwul (Bimbilla) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when the Small Town Water System for the following towns would commence:
(i) Bimbilla
(ii) Chamba
(iii) Makayili
(iv) Bincharatanga
(v) Bakpaba
Mr. George Kuntu Blankson (Mfantseman East) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when the following communities would have the supply of pipe-borne water:
(i) Ekumfi Otuam
(ii) Srafa Aboano
(iii) Srafa Kukudo
(iv) Srafa Mpoano
(v) Ekumfi Immuna (vi) Ekumfi Adansi
(vii) Ekumfi Ebiran
(viii) Ekumfi Ekupoano
(ix) Ekumfi Akra.
Mr. George Kuntu Blankson (Mfantseman East) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when the following communities would have the supply of pipe-borne water:
(i) Ekumfi Asaman
(ii) Ekumfi Buadu Kwa
(iii) Ekumfi Eyakwa
(iv) Ekumfi Gyabeng Kwa
(v) Ekumfi Owufu
(vi) Ekumfi Owuya.
Statements
Laying of Papers --
(a) Report of the Auditor-General on the Forensic Audit of the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) for the period January 1997 to December
2002.
(b) Report of the Joint Committee on Works and Housing and F inance on t he Off t ake Agreement among Ghana Water Company Limited, EarthWater Ghana Limited (EWG) and Government of Ghana for the abstraction and production of potable water for delivery to Ghana Water Company Limited
(GWCL).
(c) Report of the Joint Committee on Works and Housing and Finance on the Water Concession and Support Agreement between Ghana Water Company Limited, EarthWater Ghana Limited (EWG) and the Government of Ghana for the abstraction and production of potable water for delivery to Ghana Water
Mr. George Kuntu Blankson (Mfantseman East) 11:40 a.m.


Company Limited (GWCL).

Motion --

Adoption of the Report of the Committee of Privileges on the investigation into the complaint against the Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation in the matter relating to a breach of Parliamentary Privilege.

Committee Sittings

Questions --
Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko- Mensah (Takoradi) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Information when Ghanaians will be able to watch the Premier League on Ghana Television (GTV) since the other networks do not cover the hinterlands/most rural areas.
Ms. Beatrice Bernice Boateng (New Juaben South) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Health what plans the Ministry is putting in place to provide the Eastern Regional Capital with a new hospital befitting its regional status.
Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko- Mensah (Takoradi) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Health when the Takoradi Hospital's accident and emergency centre will be completed in view of the fact that Takoradi Constituency is hosting the oil and gas field of the country and oil is to be produced next year, 2010.
Mr. Augustine Collins Ntim
(Offinso North): To ask the Minister for Health when the Nkenkaasu Health Centre, which now serves as the district hospital, will be upgraded to meet the full status of a district hospital.
Mr. Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi (Asante Akim North) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Health when the Mental Health Bill will be presented to Parliament.
Mr. Ben Abdallah Banda (Offinso South) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Health when the Ministry will consider providing a government hospital for the Offinso municipality.
Mr. Yaw Ntow-Ababio (Dormaa East) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Health when a district hospital will be provided for Dormaa East District.
Statements
Laying of Papers --
(a ) Repor t o f the F inance Committee on the Credit A g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Development Association (IDA) for an amount of SDR150.5 million (US$225.0 million equivalent) to finance the Transport Sector Project.
(b) Report of the Finance Com- mittee on the request for waiver and tax/duty exemptions on equipment and materials to be imported or purchased locally amounting to €2,414,790.00 in respect of the Mixed Credit Facility between the
Mr. Yaw Ntow-Ababio (Dormaa East) 11:40 a.m.


Government of the Republic of Ghana and the Government of The Netherlands/Fortis Bank for the construction and equipping of the Winneba District Hospital.

Motion --

Adoption of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs and traditional councils for the period 2001 2004.

Committee Sittings

Questions --
Mr. George Boakye (Asunafo South) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Energy when electricity will be extended to the following communities in the Asunafo Constituency:
(i) Fawoman
(ii) Beposo
(iii) Kokooso
(iv) Agyeikrom
(v) Adwuman
(vi) Asanwinso
(vii) 1000 Acres (viii) Tetekwao
(ix) Druwaakrom
(x) Alavanyo.
Mr. George Boakye (Asunafo South) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Energy when service wires will
be provided for the following communities:
(i) Kamirekrom
(ii) Adomakokrom
(iii) Mfrekrom
(iv) Anwiam
(v) Camp No. 1
(vi) Asempaneye
(vii) Denyase I
(viii) Abuom.
Mr. Frank Boakye Agyen (Effiduase/Asokore) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Energy when the following towns will be connected to the National Electricity Grid:
(i) Bojya
(ii) Daakoho
(iii) Mahinso
(iv) Adurom
(v) Anunya
(vi) Naama
(vii) Bimma Nos. 1 and 2
(viii) Akokoaso (ix) Ahensan
(x) Obaapaninkrom
(xi) Attakrom
(xii) Putuom
(xiii) Awaham
Mr. Frank Boakye Agyen (Effiduase/Asokore) 11:40 a.m.


(xiv) Brofoyedru

(xv) Nkwankwaanua

(xvi) Temaate.
Mr. Kwame Amporfo Twumasi (Nkoranza South) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Energy what price build-up informed the recent 30 per cent price increase in petroleum products.
Ms. Grace Addo (Amansie West) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Energy when the following towns in the Amansie West District will be connected to the national electricity grid:
(i) Nipankyeremia
(ii) Nyamebekyere
(iii) Banko
(iv) Pakyi Keniago
(v) Kwahu
(vi) Domi Beposo.
Mr. Sammy Bavug Wusah (Damongo/Daboya) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Energy when the following towns will be connected to the national electricity grid:
(i) Nabore
(ii) Lingbensi
(iii) Busunu.
Statements
Laying of Papers --
Report of the Finance Committee on the Loan Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Fund for Agricultural Development for
an amount of four million and fifty thousand Special Drawing Rights (SDR 4,050,000) (equivalent to six million United States dollars [US$6,000,000]) for the Rural and Agricultural Finance Programme (RAFiD).
Motions --
(a) Adoption of the Report of the Joint Committee on Works and Housing and Finance on the Offtake Agreement among Ghana Water Company Limited, EarthWater Ghana Limited (EWG) and Government of Ghana for the abstraction and production of potable water for delivery to Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).

(b) Adoption of the Report of the Joint Committee on Works and Housing and Finance on the Water Concession and Support Agreement between Ghana Water Company Limited, EarthWater Ghana Limited (EWG) and the Government of Ghana for the abstraction and production of potable water for delivery to Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).

Committee Sittings

Questions --
Mr. Robert Sarfo-Mensah (Asunafo North) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning what is going to be the status of the existing spraying
Mr. Robert Sarfo-Mensah (Asunafo North) 11:40 a.m.


gangs.
Mr. Simons Addai (Techiman South) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture what plans the Ministry has to support the chiefs and people of Techiman who have initiated a move to put up a cultural village.
Rev. Benjamin B. Donkor (Hemang Lower Denkyira): To ask the Minister for Education when work on the construction of a six-classroom block for Bobi D/A Primary School in the Hemang Lower Denkyira Constituency will resume.
Mr. George Boakye (Asunafo South) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Education when work on the upgrading of Kukuom Agricultural Senior High School wil l be completed.
Mr. Yaw Owusu-Boateng (Akyem Oda) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Education what steps are being taken to improve the quality of education in general and basic education in particular.
Mr. Leo Kabah Alowe (Chiana- Paga) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Education what steps are being taken to furnish the new Ghana Education Service (G.E.S.) District Education Directorate in the Kassena-Nankana District.
Mr. Dominic B. A. Nitiwul (Bimbilla) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Education when the Ministry will provide each district with basic schools to ensure that no child walks more than three kilometres to school.
Statements
Motions --
(a) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Credit Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Development Association (IDA) for an amount of SDR150.5 million (US$225.0 million equivalent) to finance the Transport Sector Project.

(b) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the request for waiver and tax/duty exemptions on equipment and materials to be imported or purchased locally amounting to €2,414,790.00 in respect of the Mixed Credit Facility between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the Government of The Netherlands/Fortis Bank for the construction and equipping of the Winneba District Hospital.

Committee Sittings

Questions --
Mrs. Catherine Abelema Afeku (Evalue Gwira) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the roads in the following communities will be constructed:
(i) Axim town roads
(ii) A collapsed bridge in Upper Axim
(iii) Gwira Aiyinase-Tumentu
(iv) Kutukrom-Tebakrom
Mrs. Catherine Abelema Afeku (Evalue Gwira) 11:40 a.m.


(v) Nsein town road

(vi) Apaitam town road

(vii) Bamiango-Kukuaville town roads

(viii) Akango-Duale
Mr. Simons Addai (Techiman South) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways what plans the Ministry has to construct the following feeder roads:
(i) Baniri-Woraso
(ii) Nsuta-Gyankrom
(iii) Nkrankrom-Tanoanafour
(iv) Tanoso -Mpehia
(v) Hansua-Aworopata.
Mr. Justice Joe Appiah (Ablekuma North) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the road from Darkuman Circle Station junction to Afropa linking Demod will be regravelled and sealed as it is a busy and major road that links Odorkor, Official Town and Kwashieman.
Mr. Justice Joe Appiah (Ablekuma North) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Owusu Kofi road will be gravelled and sealed at Darkuman.
Mr. Stephen Yakubu (Binduri) 11:40 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways what steps the Ministry is taking to link the roads from Narango to Gotisaliga and the road linking Binguri to Binduri town centre.
Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu
(Dormaa West): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways what plans the Ministry has to complete the Dormaa-Ahenkro to Nkrankwanta road and to extend it to Krakrom.
Statements
Motion --
Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Loan Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Fund for Agricultural Development for an amount of four million and fifty thousand Special Drawing Rights (SDR 4,050,000) (equivalent to six million United States dollars [US$6,000,000]) for the Rural and Agricultural Finance Programme (RAFiD).

The House expected to rise Sine die.

We are expecting that some Questions that we programmed earlier on for the Minister for Employment and Social Welfare will come on, that is the Question on the wages and salaries. The Minister will have to find time and answer that Question. And we are expecting the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to come and answer the Question on the cocoa spraying.
MR. FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr. Bagbin 11:50 a.m.
Hon Members have indicated that they intend filing Questions on the security and intelligence, and it is my duty to inform Hon Members that they could proceed to do so, because the Hon Minister for the Interior has been assigned
Mr. Bagbin 11:50 a.m.


the additional responsibility for security and intelligence. So Hon Members could file Questions for that sector.

The House is expected to Sit tomorrow, this is not part of the Business for next week, but it is important that at this time, I inform Hon Members that we are expected tomorrow to play host to the august visitor, the President of the United States of America (USA), President Barack Hussein Obama. We are expected to be seated by 9.00 a.m. And we are likely to commence proceedings before his arrival.

This will take place at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), where Parliament has decided to convene in order to give enough space for others to observe as part of the public, and we will create a congenial environment for President Obama to deliver an address. We are expecting that President Mills will definitely bring the guest to the House and will have the opportunity to make opening remarks.

It will be presided definitely by the Rt. Hon Speaker herself; she will be in the Chair. We are expecting that we may end proceedings by one o'clock and Hon Members will have the opportunity of being refreshed here in Parliament House -- [Some Hon Members: Otwaa tea! Otwaa tea! 5000! 5000!] -- [Interruption] -- Actually, Madam Speaker has given a strong indication of her readiness to rule that the use of the words “US$5,000” and “tea” -- [Laughter] -- are both unparliamentary, and should not be used on the floor of this House -- [Laughter] -- When those words are used, they create a different environment, which is not conducive for parliamentary work. So we are not going to use that, we prefer using cocoa -- [Laughter] -- and also talking about front kick, not kickback -- [Laughter.]

Mr. Speaker, definitely, the premises

of the AICC will be inundated by a lot of important dignitaries, and we would expect that Hon Members will be on time, because, the security -- [Interruption]-- I said, we should be seated by 9.00 a.m. [Interruption] -- Actually, when you talk, I am compelled to listen to you, and when you finish talking, then I will now speak for you to listen to me -- [Interruption] -- I have stated earlier on, but because you were talking you did not hear me.

I said, we will be Sitting at the AICC, and that Hon Members are expected to be seated by 9.00 a.m. Hon Members, definitely, will be given accreditation. Definitely, you will have some cards, so that you can be identified as Members of Parliament -- [Some Hon Members: When? When?] -- There will be security at the entrance, and they need to identify you as an Hon Member of Parliament before you enter.

We are going, I believe, together. We will have to park our vehicles on the premises of Parliament, and then, just cross over to the AICC. There will be buses to take Hon Members of Parliament to the frontage, where you will descend and walk inside. It is very important that we accord this occasion all the respect and dignity that it deserves.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I mentioned, and I want to emphasize that, the uniqueness of our culture must be exhibited, and therefore, we are expecting that the dress code will be traditional. [Hear! Hear!] Since it is a democratic State, you are allowed to decide but it is just an advice. [Interruption.] Hon Members, it is a strong advice, that is why I used the word “must”.

Mr. Speaker, this is the Business Statement for next week.

Thank you very much.
Mr. I. K. Asiamah 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you.
I appreciate, maybe, the promise by the Majority Leader that next week, though it did not appear on the Business Statement, the Minister will be asked to come here and answer my Question on the wages and salary adjustment to Ghanaian workers. So, I take his word.
Mr. Speaker, but my concern is tomorrow's programme. Normally, when Parliament relocates to a different place, obviously, sometimes, the Independence Square, you experience little bits of nasty scenes. There are times when even chairs, seating arrangements for Hon Members of Parliament are taken over by other dignitaries, sometimes other party faithfuls and supporters.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Member, you have made the point and I see it is a very valid point. I do not think you should belabour the point. I agree with you, so do not belabour the point. The Majority Leader will inform the House of arrangements that have been made.
Mr. I. K. Asiamah noon
Mr. Speaker, I do not think you may debate me because
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Member, I want you to refer to Standing Order 99 (1). You should know that when you are repeating the same point, it does not help anybody in the House. I am not debating you; I am coming under Order 99 (1) of our Standing Orders.
Mr. I. K. Asiamah noon
Mr. Speaker, I think you have even worsened the situation by debating me. The situation has been worsened by the Rt. Hon Speaker. You are still debating me. {Uproar.] That Order should have come from another Hon Member.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah noon
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. From the tenor of the contributions, it will appear that the matter of the House keeping arrangements for tomorrow will be very important to Members. So if I may propose that probably after today's Sitting, after adjournment, the Leadership will meet us for probably 10 to 15 minutes so that issues that may be raised about these arrangements, the House-keeping, may be finalized.
Otherwise, today being Friday, we are being told accreditation, et cetera -- when, how, whether you can come with your spouse, et cetera -- These are matters that may engage the attention of Hon Members and so I will suggest if I may, that after adjournment, we meet briefly so that we discuss these House- keeping arrangements.
While I am on my feet, Mr. Speaker, I note that next week's Business, particularly relating to Questions is very heavy. On occasions, we have been advised by Madam Speaker that she was taking

only one hour. If I look at Tuesday's programme for instance, we have as many as seven Questions. From experience, it will definitely exceed one hour.

So I am urging Leadership under the circumstances to try and guide us so that each Hon Member who proposes asking a Question may have enough time to ask the Question. Other related questions too, being posed by Hon Members, may be asked and answered by the Ministers.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Dr. Richard W. Anane noon
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow's activities have certain security implications and because of these implications certain corridors are to be closed to traffic. Members of Parliament are expected to be here, possibly around 8.30 a.m. so that they can be bussed to the Centre. Mr. Speaker, perhaps, it may be helpful if Members of Parliament could be permitted to traverse the corridors which would be closed for security reasons so that they could be here early enough to partake in the programme.
Second, in respect to the House-
keeping issue, it was suggested that Leadership had to meet.
Mr. Speaker, in recognition of what the Majority Leader said about provision of tags, that is, maybe, for entry purposes -- in order that there will be order in the room itself, we want to also suggest for the consideration of Leadership that perhaps the name tags are carried over there so that Hon Members will know where they have to sit if the necessary arrangements are made. This will help in doing all this.
Mr. Alfred K. Agbesi noon
Mr. Speaker, I did not follow exactly what my Colleague has just said. My concern follows --
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Which of your Colleagues?
Mr. Agbesi noon
Hon Dr. Anane.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Members, I think the suggestion has been made with regard to the logistics. There is a suggestion coming that Leadership should meet so that they are properly guided for tomorrow's programme. Let us concentrate on the Business Statement presented and the logistic aspect of tomorrow's programme, we leave to the Leadership of the House to sort out and for them to brief us properly, immediately we arrive here tomorrow.
Mr. Agbesi noon
Mr. Speaker, I am not on logistics, I am on security. Mr. Speaker, I have heard a lot of roads to the Inter-national Conference Centre and Parliament. My concern is how Hon Members will come from their homes to places near Parliament because most of the roads are supposedly closed. That is my concern, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Charles S. Hodogbey noon
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, as other Hon Members have already indicated, there would be large numbers of people who are very important and they want Hon Members of Parliament to walk across the street. There had been an occasion, a precedent when Members were not accorded due respect. Now, a President of the United States of America is coming and as a Member has already alluded, where do we park our cars before going there? Who escorts us there to avoid embarrassment?
We should settle that over here instead of the Leadership meeting and -- telling us tomorrow morning. Mr. Speaker, should we wait until tomorrow for them to tell us how we should move?
Mrs. Gifty E. Kusi noon
Mr. Speaker, I am on the Business Statement. I have already filed two Urgent Questions, one on some accounts that we found in some banks -- that petroleum account, we do not know.
Secondly, a lot of people are parading the Castle -- Presidential Staffers -- we do not know. So Ghanaians want to know.
I filed two Urgent Questions and yesterday I asked the Majority Leader and he did not know about it.
Mr. Speaker, we are rising next week, we are rising on Friday and the Questions are so urgent that I want them to be answered and Ghanaians also want them answered.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Members, order!
Yes, Hon Member for Ahafo Ano
South?
Mr. S. K. B. Manu 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want something to be made clear.
My Hon Colleagues are saying that President Obama is going to address Parliament. Mr. Speaker, that is not true. President Obama is going to address a cross-section of Ghanaians including the Parliamentarians tomorrow . That is the truth. [Interruptions.] He is not addressing Parliament as Parliament; he is addressing a cross-section of Ghanaians including Members of Parliament. That is the truth of the matter and I want anybody to challenge me on that. We must get things clear. We should not throw dust into the eyes of Ghanaians by saying that President Obama is going to address Parliament tomorrow. That is not the truth.
Mr. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon Member is misleading the House. The information we got from the Hon Leader of the House says that President Obama would address
Parliament and that Parliament will move to the Accra International Conference Centre. That is basic information. I do not know where he is getting the information from. The public is -- [Interruptions] -- Mr. Speaker, the public is going to be part of it. They will be asked to sit at the public gallery. The Speaker is going to preside over Parliament. I do not know what his understanding of Parliament is.
Mr. Speaker, I do not know whether his understanding of Parliament means Sitting inside this House. So, I think he should be corrected and he should not mislead the rest of us.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Members, order!
Rev. Donkor: I did not hear anything about the Question. The Question I filed was to ask the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning whether the account books of the transitional team has been submitted to the Auditor-General for auditing.
Mr. Speaker, it is about three weeks now and I do not know the status. So, if the Leadership would let me know what is happening.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
I will take
one more and call on the Hon Majority Leader to respond to all the issues that have been raised.
Mr. Joseph Osei-Owusu 12:10 p.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity.
Mr. Speaker, looking through the Business Statement for the week, all the Questions that are to be asked and the Hon Ministers to answer them have been listed -- in total, they are 32. There is no indication that any Urgent Questions are listed for any of the days next week. The Hon Majority Leader, however, suggested that Urgent Questions may be answered.
Indeed, deriving from the mood of Hon Members who have also raised issues relating to Urgent Questions that have been filed, it may appear that to be assured that indeed, those Urgent Questions, whichever ones that have been selected, will be answered, be actively part of the Business Statement of the week. As it is now, it is actually speculative. We do not know which one and indeed, whether any will be answered next week at all.
So, I pray that he should let the Business Statement reflect, these Urgent Questions that are listed and will be answered next week as well.
Mr. Bagbin 12:10 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I did raise the issue of tomorrow's event because I think it is very crucial that we do so. What I should have added is that after we adjourn today we should have a few minutes to go into the details. Parliament is finalising the details. I have a copy of the programme for tomorrow. So we will surely meet immediately we adjourn here so that we can give him the details. So I agree with the suggestion of the Hon Member for Sekondi (Papa Owusu-Ankomah).
I would respond to the issues that were raised by Hon Members with regard to tomorrow's event. I do not think I should do that now.
Urgent Questions, I agree, are urgent Questions. But the urgency is determined by Madam Speaker, not by me or even the person filing the Question. The person gives an indication that it is urgent but Madam Speaker will decide according to our rules. That is what is stated there. And I just stated that if Madam Speaker admits any Question as urgent for next week, we will so programme it to be answered.
I think that is the right thing to do. It will not be the case - [Interruption] -- No, I will do that when we are together, not Sitting in public. We know Sittings of Parliament are usually in public. And I want to emphasise that Parliament conducts its business in the open because we represent the people. And we always want the people to be by us to see what is happening in Parliament. That is why we have the public gallery. We do not have public gallery at Cabinet meetings.
We have agreed that we will look at some Urgent Questions that were admitted by Madam Speaker and they could not be answered because of some reasons. And I referred to them in the Business Statement that we will try as much as possible to programme them during the course of the week to be answered because they are Urgent Questions. I am not talking about Questions that Hon Members have filed as urgent which are not before the Business Committee. And the Hon Member for Tarkwa-Nsuem (Mrs. Gifty E. Kusi) is aware that she filed her Questions not in my office.
I am not even aware that she has filed Questions. It is when they are admitted and processed to the Business Committee that my goodself as the Chair together with the Hon Members of the Business Committee will have the opportunity to programme them for the House. So, she cannot be
asking me about the fate of her Questions because I would not even know that she has filed Questions; they are not shown to Leadership. That is not the process. That is not the procedure.
The Hon Minority Leader would know because she filed the Questions through her leadership and not through the leadership of the Majority. So, when they are processed and brought to the Business Committee, I will have the opportunity together with the Hon Members of the Business Committee to programme them to be answered.
So this is the case and I want to urge Hon Members that they should let us go by our rules until we revise them, maybe, to capture the current thinking. But as at now, we must agree that this is the way to go, which is clearly stated by the Standing Orders of the House.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mrs. Kusi 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader, being the Leader of this House, I suppose, if an Hon Member has a difficulty and tells him or approaches him, it is one of his duties to find what is happening from Madam Speaker because he is the Leader of the House. Otherwise, what is the essence of the Leader of the House? This is because yesterday, I told him and I suppose that since he is the Hon Majority Leader, he has to ask from the Speaker's Office or the Table Office. This is not my first time of being an Hon Member and therefore, I know what happens. I have been in the Majority. When Questions were filed and Hon Members on this side were at a loss, the Majority took it upon itself and then found out.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Member, you know you are part of the Leadership of this House and you have access to Madam Speaker.
Mr. Bagbin 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, my Hon Very Good Lady knows very well that it is a whole process, that even her Questions are not filed at the Office of Madam Speaker. She knows. So if she has a difficulty in that direction, definitely, I agree she can seek my assistance. But when I stand here, I do not just stand here as Hon Majority Leader or Leader of the House. I am presenting the Report as the Chairman of the Business Committee.
So we can do our consultations outside, to do whatever but it should not be the position of the Business Committee that the Hon Majority Leader and Leader of the House should be the one going round asking Madam Speaker the whereabouts or the stage of Questions and that sort of thing; I do not think it is proper. This is because I am presenting the Report of the Business Committee and not my Report. It is the Report of the Business Committee. So we can do that outside the Report of the Business Committee.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Members, that constitutes the Business of the House for next week.
The Hon Majority Leader, I would urge you to take into account the comments by Hon Members, especially with regard to arrangements for tomorrow. It is important
that if it is Parliament that is Sitting at the Conference Centre, then it should take the form of Parliament actually Sitting so that Hon Members of Parliament get seats to sit and listen to the President.
Mr. Frederick Opare-Ansah 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the issue about these Urgent Questions which my Hon Colleague raised, I believe it is not only for the Hon Majority Leader's consumption but also for the Speakership. I believe they are flagging this to alert the Speakership that, indeed, we are about to end this particular Meeting of the House. As you realise, we have all been talking about Urgent Questions which by their very nature are urgent.
Since we have only one week left before we go on a very long recess, possibly coming back sometime in October -- and so that we do not lose the relevance of the Answers that they seek to these Urgent Questions -- I believe, that is why they are raising it.
It is also for the information of Madam Speaker or Mr. Speaker, in this case, so that whatever is keeping these Questions from being either admitted or rejected then they can treat them with dispatch. I believe it is in this regard that they raised the matter.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Very well. Hon Members, I will crave your indulgence by referring you to Standing Order 53 (2) and go to Laying of Papers before we come back to the other items.
PAPERS 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Members, we go back to item 4 -- Urgent Questions.
URGENT QUESTIONS 12:20 p.m.
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, 12:20 p.m.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 12:20 p.m.
Minister for Environment, Science and Technology (Ms. Hanny-Sherry Ayittey) 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology is aware of the environmental effects surface mining generally posed to the environment and the area in question. The nature of problems are:
1. Encroachment of mining conces- sions by unauthorized persons, notably, the youth in the area;
2. Land degradation through loss of vegetation;
3. Loss of soil fertility;
4. Pollution of water bodies through increase in total particulate matter suspension, colour, mercury (by
galamsey operators);
5. Inadequate and non-payment of compensation;
6. Disruption of cultural heritage, for example, public cemeteries, sacred groves, et cetera;
7. Creation of death traps due to uncovered dugouts/pits;
8. Loss of farmland leading to food insecurity;
9. Solid and liquid waste generation and degradation;
10. Tailings generation, that is, stockpiling of mining waste material;
11. Impact on ambient air and noise to the community; and finally
12 Inherent deficiencies in the Minerals and Mining Law (Act 703, March 2006) such as:
i. Royalties
PNDC Law 153, Section 22, subsection 2 on Taxes, Incentives and Benefits -- the rate of royalty payable shall not be more than 12 per cent or less than 3 per cent of the total revenue of minerals obtained by the holder from his mining operations whilst Act 703, section 25, narrows the royalty rate not to be more than six per cent and not less than three per cent.
ii. Issuance of Environmental Permits
Section 46, subsection 4 (b) of PNDCL 153, states that
“a mining lease shall not be granted to an applicant unless the proposed programme of mining operations submitted by him takes proper account of environmental safety
Minister for Environment, Science and Technology (Ms. Hanny-Sherry Ayittey) 12:30 p.m.


factors”.

In the current Act 703, section 18, sub- section (1), before undertaking an activity or operation under a mineral right, the holder of the mineral right shall obtain the necessary approvals and permits required from the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency for the protection of natural resources, public health and the environment. Mr. Speaker, this provision allows applicants to secure mining lease even before they have been cleared by the EPA.

iii. Omission in Act 703

Section 67, subsection 1 (b) of PNDC Law 153 provides for the suspension or cancellation of a mineral right if the holder is in breach of any provision of the law or the provisions of any other enactment relating to mines and minerals.

This provision is omitted in the new law (Act 703).

Measures

Mr. Speaker, the Minis t ry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) has started consultations to ensure:

Allocation of large tracts of land to mining companies is reviewed;

Review of some aspects of the Minerals and Mining Law as I indicated a while ago;

Greater cooperation of the relevant Regional and District Security Councils in combating clashes in mining communities;

Timely handling of mining-related cases;

Transparency in the application

of royalties paid to the Traditional Authorities;

That mining companies should honour their corporate social responsibilities to local commu- nities;

Improvement in the capacity of the small-scale mining operators and reduce the menace caused by illegal mining practices; and

Increased regularization of small- scale mining, including a review of procedures for obtaining small-scale mining licences.
Mr. Speaker, the MEST recommends the following for consideration 12:30 p.m.
The practice of allocating vast stretch of lands to mining companies should be reviewed. The general practice in some countries is that only a portion of the land holding the mineral deposits and other mining infrastructure is released to the company to operate on. When the legal obligations are fulfilled, more land could be applied for. This practice must be the case in Ghana. For example, in the Tarkwa area, there is a company which has about 160 square kilometres of land. By so doing, the inhabitants of mining communities are deprived of arable land because they need permission from the mining companies to engage in their farming activities. These communities are also not supposed to plant cash crops;
Explore mechanisms for allocating portions of royalty received by traditional authorities for community development;
MEST in consultation with the Ministry of Local Government and
Rural Development (MLGRD) and other outfits will review the procedures for the registration of small-scale mining operators;
Environmental permit should precede the issuance of the mining lease (as stated in PNDC Law 153, section 46, subsection 4 (b);
There is the need for an upward review of the three per cent royalty payment. This will enable Government to obtain more revenue to commit more into community development to reduce the agitation from mining communities;
The Ministry through the EPA, has initiated a programme, Environ- mental Performance Rating and Disclosure dubbed “Akoben” which will be launched soon. The Programme seeks to assess the legal, environmental and social performance of mining companies, rate and disclose same to the public. We are of the opinion that the programme will bring social pressure to bear on companies to fulfil legal, environmental and social obligations.
Mr. Speaker, I will conclude by saying that, as a nation, we need to consider whether we need to do surface mining in our forest reserves. Because it is depriving communities arable land for farming. And I think, importantly, the revenue that we are getting from mining in the forest reserve is very little.
Economically, it does not go a long way. And if we look at the destruction, the environmental degradation in the forest, compared to the revenue that we are getting from mining companies in our forest reserves, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recommend that we should take a critical look at this policy.
Ms. Grace Addo 12:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think the Hon Minister is diverting the whole Question that I asked. The Answer she has given looks as if she is talking in general terms. I asked a simple Question; I know mining laws are not tightened and as such it has an effect on some communities in my constituency. And I am asking the Hon Minister if she is aware and what measures she is taking to address the situation --
This is a particular situation -- [Interruptions]-- please; I want the Hon Minister to answer - [Interruptions] -- Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about the situation in Tontokrom, Takorase and Bonteso but not the nation in totality. Because I have realized that some of the mining laws are not being conformed to. But what is really happening here is the problem of the environment and I want to ask the Hon Minister if they have immediate solution to the problem.
Ms. Ayittey 12:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the problem is the recognition that we need to review Act 703 of the mining law. Mr. Speaker, it is not only these two villages. I have received delegations from a lot of mining communities; Nhirame, Adjanua, et cetera and they are all complaining of environmental degradation caused by the mining companies, arbitrary destruction of cocoa trees.
If you give me the mandate, then I can suspend the operations of the mining companies. Their licences should be withdrawn -- [Interruptions] -- Yes, and this is what I am saying, that we need to review the Mining Act. Because if you look at it in terms of economic analysis, our people are losing their jobs, they are not being paid fairly compensation for destruction of their cocoa farms.
Ms. Ayittey 12:30 p.m.


Sometimes they pay them four Ghana cedis for the destruction of a cocoa tree that they have planted for 15 years and then the disposal of cyanide into rivers.

Mr. Speaker, I have rated the problems and I think that as a nation, we should review the Mining Act.
Ms. Addo 12:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am still not
satisfied. Do we wait till the Mining Laws are reviewed before we go to the aid of these poor people there who are suffering from what is not their wrongdoing? Mr. Speaker, it is important and very serious. That is why I asked it as an urgent Question. More especially, I would like you to answer me if you are aware of the deadly disease known as the buruli ulcer which has spread widely in the area as a result of these mining activities.
If so, what is the Ministry doing about the environmental hazard of these mining activities in that particular area, more especially, Tontokrom and its environs?
Ms. Ayittey 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that, first, I would like to say that the control of buruli ulcer comes under the Ministry of Health, it is not under my Ministry. And then I would also want to emphasize that mining companies should commit themselves to their corporate respon- sibilities.
This is because before a licence is issued, Mr. Speaker, the mining companies prepare what we call the social impact assessment, and within this document, the companies outline social programmes that they are going to provide to the communities. But invariably, most of the mining companies fail to honour their obligations. In the PNDCL 153, the Ministry has the mandate to withdraw the
licence but in Act 703, one cannot do that. Mr. Speaker, that is why the Ministry is proposing the urgency for the review of the Mining Act 703.
Mr. Frederick Opare-Ansah 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon Minister was directed by your goodself to answer a question and per Order 66, you are the sole judge of the admissibility of a question. She starts off by saying that she is not the Minister to answer that question, but I believe you directed her to answer the question. If she feels she needs information or time, notice, she could say so. But to say that she is not the Minister responsible to answer that question when indeed, per your own direction, you had asked that she answers the question.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Minority Chief Whip, the Hon Minister is right. She was answering the question -- She went to the microphone and she was answering the question. In answering the question, she said certain areas are not under her jurisdiction and the rule says that you only answer questions that are under your administration.
Mr. Bagbin 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to emphasize that that is an answer -- that is an answer -- [Interruption.] The answer that that particular area, buruli ulcer is under the Ministry of Health, that aspect is an answer. [Interruptions.] So that her attention is drawn as to where to file the question; that is an answer.
Ms. Esther Obeng Dappah 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the Hon Minister's answers, she mentioned that she had received complaints from certain communities and she mentioned Adjanua. Adjanua is in my constituency, Abirem. I would like to know which community made the complaint because as far as I am concerned, the communities support the mining that is going on and they are quite
happy with the arrangement with the EPA. So I would like to know which community actually complained so that I can take it up when I visit the constituency.
Ms. Ayittey 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the President received a petition through some chiefs in the Agyenoa area and it was referred to the Ministry for investigation and I have appointed a consultant to go and do an independent assessment of the complaints of the community, so the programme is going on.
Ms. Dappah 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, is the Hon Minister prepared to give me a copy of that complaint? [Interruptions.]
Mr. First Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Minister, she is asking whether you would furnish her with a copy of the complaint?
Ms. Ayittey 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I will make a copy available for your attention.
Mr. D. T. Assumeng 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to know from the Hon Minister what motivated the NPP Government to come out with this very bad law that affected the various communities -- [Inter-ruptions] -- What was the motivating factor? I want to know the motivating factor that compelled them to come out with this very bad law -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
You are out of order; ask another question. [Inter- ruptions.] I have ruled him out of order, please.
Mr. E. A. Armah 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I had ask the Hon Minister, if the mining firms operating within that community are issued with licences and if so, who did it? Who gave them the licences and when were the licences issued?
Ms. Ayittey 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to say that I will not be able to tell this august House when these licences were issued because the Ministry was just re-aligned only in January, 2009.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Members, I will take two more questions, one from each side and then we move on.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Hon Minister, since by her own admission, the environmental degradation of those communities has resulted in clashes between the communities and the companies. Would she consider closing the activities of those companies until she comes out with the law she is looking for?
Ms. Ayittey 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that I do not have the mandate. But what we are doing now is, we are meeting the traditional chiefs and then we are also talking to the youth. I am going to take a visit to some of these mining areas to discuss with management the need to allow some of the farmers to continue farming on lands that they are not mining on. We want to bring some kind of interaction and harmony and then I intend to place a memorandum to Cabinet for the urgency that certain aspects of the law should be looked at so that we can minimize social disturbances, community agitation and then we can also create this kind of interaction with foreign companies and the communities for harmony. So this is what I plan to do.
Mr. Hodogbey 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the Answer given by the Hon Minister, she stated a lot of provisions to prevent environmental degradation. Normally, mining activities produce mercury and lead deposits. I would like to know from her how often does her Ministry cause to conduct tests in the homes and playgrounds and the water bodies which
Ms. Ayittey 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, this is quite a substantive Question and I would beg the august House to give me time to come back and prepare to answer this question.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Question time.
Hon Minister, we thank you very much
for attending upon the House to answer the Urgent Question.
You are discharged.
Hon Majority Leader, item 7. Hon Majority Leader, the Hon Second Deputy Speaker has some challenges and he has to take that motion.
Suspension of Standing Order 80 (1)
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker (Prof. A. M. Oquaye) 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80 (1) which require that no motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the motion is given and the date on which the motion is moved, the motion for the adoption of the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Proposed Formula for the Distribution of Insurance Schemes may be moved today.
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
MOTIONS 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker (Prof. A. M. Oquaye) 12:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Proposed Formula for the Distribution of Subsidies to be paid to Licensed District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes.
Mr. Speaker, in doing that, I beg to present the Committee's Report before this Honourable House.
1.0 Introduction
The proposed formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to Licensed District Mutual Health Insurance schemes for the year 2009, was laid before the House on Tuesday, 7th July 2009 and referred to the Committee of the Whole for consideration and report in accordance with the Standing Orders of the House and the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
The Committee referred to the following documents during its deliberations:
i. The National Health Insurance Act 2003 (Act 650)
ii. The Standing Orders of the House
iii. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
Clarifications were sought on the proposed Formula from Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor, Deputy Minister for Health, Mr. Sylvester Mensah, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and Mr. Ahmed A. Imoro, Deputy Director of Finance, NHIA and reports as follows:
2.0 Background
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) was established by the National Health Insurance Act, 2003 (Act 650). The core function of the Authority under Act 650 is to secure the imple- mentation of a National Health Insurance policy that ensures access to basic health care services to all residents. Section 76 of Act 650 established the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and made the NHIA responsible for its management.
2.1 Sources of Funds to the NHIF
Section 78 of the National Health Insurance Act, 2003 (Act 650)
a. The National Health Insurance Levy
(NHIL);
b. Two and one-half per cent (2.5 per cent) of each person's seventeen and one-half percent (17.5 per cent) contribution to SSNIT Pension Fund;
c. Funds allocated by Parliament;
d. Money that accrues to the Fund from investments made by the Council; and
e. Grants, donations, gifts and any other voluntary contributions made to the Fund.
3.0 Object of the Fund
The object of the Fund is to provide finance to subsidize the cost of provision of health care services to members of District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes (DMHIS) licensed by the Council.
For the purpose of implementing the object, the monies from the Fund are to
be expended as follows:
a. To provide subsidy of such levels as the Council shall determine to District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes (DMHIS);
b. To reinsure District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes (DMHIS) against random fluctuations of cost under conditions to be determined by the Council;
c. To set aside some monies from the Fund to provide for the health care of indigents;
d. To provide support to facilitate provision of or access to health services; and
e. To invest in any other facilitating programmes to promote access to health services as may be determined by the Minister in consultation with the Council.
4.0 General Assumptions for the 2009 Allocation
4.1 Budgetary Allocation
Based on the projections of MOFEP for 2009, the NHIF is expected to realize an amount of GH¢375.21 million, an increase of 49.24 per cent over the previous year's budgetary allocation of GH¢235.42 million and GH¢16 million British Grant. The 2009 project receipt is expected from the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions and a British Grant. There is an additional allocation of GH¢87.73 million from the Reserve Fund, bringing the total expected receipts for the year to GH¢462.94 million.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker (Prof. A. M. Oquaye) 12:50 p.m.


Table of Source
SOURCE 12:50 p.m.
TOTAL 12:50 p.m.
Dr. R.W. Anane (NPP - Nhyiaeso) 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I also rise to associate myself with the motion on the floor and in so doing, make a few observations.
Mr. Speaker, yes, the institution of the National Health Insurance Authority and so to speak, the National Health Insurance Fund was to provide an alternative to our health financing. Mr. Speaker, if we are to create an alternative to our health funding, then it implies that funding from the Consolidated Fund will be freed.
If funding from the Consolidated Fund will be freed, then it means that, Consolidated Fund could be used specifically for certain projects while funding from the National Health Insurance Fund could be used to facilitate the provision of health care, while the Consolidated Fund may be used for other things.
Mr. Speaker, in the allocation documen- tation presented to the House on which the Committee of the Whole also had a look and came out with these observations, there were a few things that I would just like to mention.
Mr. Speaker, under the observations of
the Committee, it was noticed that children under 18 years are to benefit from the Fund as shown in the allocation documentation. But Mr. Speaker, true as it may, based on the law under which children under 18 whose parents have registered, it is not really true that children under 18 can all benefit from the Health Insurance Fund.
Based on this observation, a policy was adopted about a year ago but it was not consummated in the relevant amendment to the law. And Mr. Speaker, I do know that the relevant documentation has been done and I would want to urge the Ministry of Health to process it quickly to the House so that it would become acceptable that all children under 18 years in this country should automatically benefit from the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The other observation which I have a little problem with is the observation of a vote of GH¢ 41.50 million for preventive care programmes this year. This compared to last year -- last year's GH¢ 6.5 million was allocated for preventive care programmes but this year, GH¢ 41.5 million has been allocated for that.
Mr. Speaker, much as we do appreciate that there is the need for prevention and preventive care, we still do not think that it will be very, very necessary for the Health Insurance Fund to be used for such because if you look under what actions are to be taken under preventive health care -- it is about vaccination pro-grammes, about sanitation programmes, about malaria control programmes and about sickle cell screening programmes.
Mr. Speaker, yes, they are necessary but some of us do not think that the National Health Insurance Fund should be used for all these programmes. But for the fact that there is the need for this to go on, we may have to cut down on them and then ensure that the Consolidated Fund is used.
When it comes to sanitation, we do not expect that the Ministry of Health should be taking this up. We have other agencies that are relevant focus to do these things. So Mr. Speaker I would wish that we take note of that.
Mr. Speaker, I would want to associate
with the presentation by the Chairman of the Health Committee, when he brought in the issue of the Maternity Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
Arguably, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital appears to serve about 30 per cent of the population of the nation and it renders not less than 30 per cent of the maternal care services to the people in this country but for quite some time, and indeed, the maternity block was started way back in 1974. It was raised up to a height of about -- the last few years but we have not been able to complete it.
So Mr. Speaker, while we are looking at the problem of maternal mortality, the soaring maternity statistics in the country and looking at maternal morbidity statistics in the country, it will behove us to ensure that these facilities are provided so that mothers who go to these centres can access health care. And therefore, Mr. Speaker, I would wish that as we consider the Tema Hospital and the Tamale Hospital Maternity Units, we include also the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Maternity Unit under the budget line as provided of GH¢ 20 million for this year.
I believe they would not be able to even use up the entire Fund for the year; then next year we may continue using the same budget line instead of observation by the Committee of the Whole that, yes, they can do it outside of what has been agreed. I believe that will create some problem for the Ag. Chief Executive and possibly for the Board.
Mr. Speaker, the issue of the Mutual
Health Insurance Scheme has also been taken up and Hon Members raised some observations. Mr. Speaker, true, the relevance of the Mutual Health Insurance Schemes may have been brought into question by the practitioners and it is acceptable for Hon Members of the House to make these observations and I think these questions raised in the House also have been agitating the minds of those who have been managing the system. That is how come the House was informed that certain amendments were being brought in for certain changes to be done so that we can have a meaningful system for the provision of health care for our people.
Mr. Speaker, w i th these f ew
observations and also with my main sentiments that Tema, Tamale and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Maternity Units be given the right support this year, I want to associate with this.
Alhaj i Mohammed-Mubarak
Muntaka (NDC -- Asawase): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion before the House to approve the Formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to Licensed District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes for the year 2009.
Mr. Speaker, in doing so, I would want to emphasize, having had the opportunity serving on this Committee for the past four years, to bring out some basic issues. Mr. Speaker, for example, the health care of our people does not only rest in just
  • [MAJ. (DR.) (ALHAJI) AHMED
    • Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:10 a.m.
    Hon
    Members, I will take one each then if the Leaders want to say something, they can say because this is a Report of the Committee of the Whole.
    Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NPP
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.


    -- Manhyia): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this motion, but I would like in supporting to start just from where my Hon Friend and Colleague ended -- Support to College of Physicians and Surgeons for Fellowship training. I would disagree with him when he says that the training means everybody needs to be resident and he interprets “resident” meaning Accra.

    Actually, it is not so. Residency is another term like housemanship, where you are under training in a certain locality. It does not mean you have to stay, for that matter, in Korle-Bu or Accra, it is not so. The residents come to Accra for specific training and go back to their districts.

    But more importantly, in supporting him, if you realize that GH¢30 million was provided with the engine of my Hon Colleague, for supporting the nursing assistantship training under the National Youth Programme -- We all supported it but if we are going to support nursing assistants, why are we not going to support the doctors we need to train to man the hospitals we seek to build and to give the care we seek for our people?

    So it came as a surprise to the Committee, when this year, the Government decided to cut total funding for the College in the training or Fellowship. I think it is something as a country we must think about. Do we want our doctors or we do not want our doctors? I agree we want quality health care in this country, not only facilities.

    If you go to the hospital and there is no doctor or a competent nurse, you might as well go home. Likewise, if you have an accident and you have a National Health Authority Card and there is no ambulance to carry you from the place of accident to the hospital, then the card is useless.

    Chronic diseases do not kill quick but accidents will kill you on the spot. So this year, innovation has been put into the Formula for the National Health Fund to start even buying ambulances to support our health care.

    Because if you are sick and you need to be transferred from Ho Hospital to Korle-Bu and there is no ambulance or Manhyia Hospital for that matter, that is under construction, and there is no hospital serving over five hundred thousand people, I do not see the need why we should carry cards and be proud that we have a national health insurance card. So as a country, and as the Committee wants, the Ministry of Health should engage the Committee in Parliament so that we are very, very specific on what we want our health budget to pay for.

    If you look in this year's health budget and when I was reading the commentary, I made it -- If the Ministry of Health's focus is on maternal health this year, such that when President Obama is coming, we are taking him to La Polyclinic because the USAID is supporting maternal health care, we have even the teaching hospitals without the adequate facilities, then we as a country we are joking. And the same Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital comes and requests for tractors and mowers and bicycles.

    Our priorities seem to be very wrong in this country. So I will tend to support what my Hon Colleague is saying. If we want to go on with the National Health Insurance, we should be very, very specific what that money should be used for, and access and affordable and quality health care is what we all support in this country.

    Mr. Speaker, in this country of ours, we seem to let every person that we put

    in authority decide to do what he or she likes, without any limit being put on the person. Health Committee, what we have experienced is that, we want to extend our arm and friendship, cooperation and supervision to the National Health Insurance.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, did they refuse? Because, that is serious, or they wrote giving reasons? This is because, if they actually refused-- [Interruption] -- because, if a Select Committee calls an agency under it, and they refuse, that is a very serious matter. Is it that they refused or they said, they were not available?
    Dr. Prempeh 1:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I hope that the Hon Speaker is not entering the ring; I do not want him to enter. I am bringing this -- [Interruption.]
    Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) M. Ahmed (retd)
    -- rose --
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Yes,
    Chairman of the Health Committee.
    Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr. Speaker, thank you. Mr. Speaker, this issue about the letter, we have had occasion to discuss with my very good Friend. So I did follow up. When I did, I was informed that because of a scheduled
    activity of the Authority with the Board at Akosombo, they were unable to attend the meeting with us. Therefore, they requested for a new date to be set. So I just want to assure him that it was not a flat refusal to attend upon the Committee, and that, they, indeed, have intention to come.
    Thank you very much.
    Dr. Prempeh 1:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, thank you. I will support my Hon Chairman in saying that the appointments clashed, that is why I did not go there. I was bringing to the fore that, if you have a Board meeting and Parliament has written to you, a week or two, you have to be careful which one you will go, because, contempt of Parliament is more serious than rescheduling a Board meeting. But I would not want to belabour the point.
    I think as Members of Parliament or Hon Colleagues here, who happened to find themselves in various boards, we should try to strengthen the institution of Parliament in our oversight responsibility and not to undermine Parliament that we all seek to strengthen.
    Mr. Speaker, I would want to humbly end by saying that -- [Interruption] -- this is a Report we should all take and digest and improve on for next year's Formula.
    Mr. Felix Twumasi-Appiah (NDC -- Sene) 1:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I also rise to support the motion under discussion, and also urge every Hon Member on this floor to do the same.
    Mr. Speaker, it is heart-warming to see that substantial funds are being allocated for our teaching hospitals. I want to add my voice in saying that, they are referral hospitals, but if care is not taken to send more funds to the districts and the mutual levels, the whole essence and emphasis of the health insurance through subsidies,
    Mr. Felix Twumasi-Appiah (NDC -- Sene) 1:20 p.m.


    health services to our brothers and sisters in the hinterlands will come to nothing.

    It is heart-warming to see the emergency fund that has been allocated for the Korle- Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the other teaching hospitals. And we equally would have expected same or equally substantial amount could be allocated to the districts and the other regional hospitals which are not necessarily referral hospitals, or so to speak, teaching hospitals.

    Mr. Speaker, emphasis in this case, is more on curative health care than preventive health care, and that is where I also welcome the idea that this amount of money has been allocated for constituencies to empower and enable Members of Parliament to do more of the job than has to do preventive services. That is, campaigning and being the advocators and then the platform speakers for some of these illnesses or diseases that can be easily avoided, instead of us waiting for people to inflict themselves with these diseases for us to go and spend a colossal amount solving them.

    Mr. Speaker, what surprises me in your Committee's Report is at page 6, item 6 (i) that talks about subsidies for the exempt groups and Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributors. Mr. Speaker, we have spoken on this item every now and then. Mr. Speaker, what surprises me is that, taking a country of ours, which has an average life expectancy of the ordinary Ghanaian to be 52 years, I think now, it is about 56 years. It is a bit disturbing to see a Report here that talks about subsidy and put the aged above 70 years.

    Mr. Speaker, all what this Committee is telling us is that, if you are not careful, even your goodself, may not live long

    enough to benefit from this exemption, because the life expectancy in Ghana here is 56 years. Mr. Speaker, we should be very cautious when dealing with some of these figures. I think that is where these statistics are needed to ensure that, at least, we do not ask people that go to the hospital, keep paying money, keep paying insurance premium, and it is only after you are dead and come back that by this you will take advantage of exemption.

    Mr. Speaker, next time, when we meet -- I think I have raised this issue over and over again. And I think next time when your Committee meets, it should look at this exemption groups. If it takes place, my constituency, for instance, where because of the kind of work they do, it takes too much toll on them, the physical work that is involved in farming, a person of about 40 years will begin to exhibit signs and symptoms as though he is about 80 years.

    So if we couch this thing as 70 years and above, if we are not careful, we will be cutting a greater number of our population, who by their own occupational hazards may be qualified for exemption. But we are asking them that because we have put the age at 70 years, you do not qualify, and somebody who sits in the office and probably, is 80 years, but looks like 40 years old then has the right to qualify under this exemption.

    Mr. Speaker, I think next time when your Committee meets, we should look at this provision and ensure that, given our life expectancy, the aged coming under the bracket of 70 and above years, should be looked at, and probably, brought down. If for nothing at all, to meet our own national statistics so far as life expectancy rate is concerned.

    Mr. Speaker, with these few words, I want to support the motion and urge all Hon Members to vote in favour of the motion.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Second Deputy Speaker, would you want to wind up?
    Prof. A.M. Oquaye 1:20 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, we are very, very grateful for the various contributions made by Hon Members in this matter.
    Mr. Speaker, yesterday we were very mindful of some of the difficulties when we were coming to our relevant conclusions; and our consensus is that we should take them up in future, while the Formula is applied for the system and the Scheme to go on.
    Mr. Speaker, thank you very much.
    Question put and motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, Madam Speaker has admitted one Statement on population day, and I do not know whether we should take the other motion or we should take the population day. I need the guidance of the Leadership.
    Mr. Bagbin 1:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the State- ment is quite short and it is commemora- ting the World Population Day which falls tomorrow but tomorrow being Saturday, we agreed that it should be made today. So I think you should kindly allow them to do that before we go to the motion on Finance and the consequential Re-solutions.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Very well. Chairman of the Population Caucus.
    STATEMENTS 1:30 p.m.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Vice Chairperson of the Population Caucus.
    Mrs. Gifty E. Kusi (NPP -- Tarkwa- Nsuaem) 1:30 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I am the Secretary to the Caucus. Mr. Speaker, the topic for this year's celebration, “Responding to the Economic Crisis: Investing in Women is a Smart Choice” cannot be over- emphasized.
    Mr. Speaker, we all know that in this world, it has been recognized that investing in women is the ideal thing because when women are educated, when women are involved in development, the whole world is poised to get to the crux of the matter where development should comprise both men and women. Mr. Speaker, if a nation does not recognize the fact that a whole half of its population needs to be educated or needs to be developed, then that nation is doomed.
    Mr. Speaker, since 1989, there had been five United Nations conferences
    that identified the fact that, the problem of inequality of men and women is really creating a very big problem for this world.
    Mr. Speaker, in 1997 the Commonwealth Heads of Government met and then committed themselves to the fact that 30 per cent of decision-making positions should be reserved for women. And I know that up till now there are so many countries, including Ghana, that have not yet adhered to this commitment.
    Mr. Speaker, we should know that this will only help this nation to develop if we do this commitment. Even though these conferences have really done a very good job by trying to highlight on the fact that gender inequality is killing most of us, there has been a lot of progress but the progress has been very, very slow.
    Mr. Speaker, in the annual report of the International Women Development Agency, a non-governmental organiza- tion in Australia in 2002, these statistics came to fore. Of the 1.3 billion people living in poverty, 70 per cent are women. Women and girls are now two-thirds of the world's 900 million illiterate population. Women and children are 80 per cent of the 25 million refugees and internally displaced people. Violence against women is a leading cause of injury and death.
    Among women aged 15 and 44 years, gender violence account for more deaths and disability than cancer, malaria, traffic injuries and war, put together. This is a very, very serious outcome. So we should all have in mind that we should join this war against gender inequality and I am very, very happy that the Chair of the Population Caucus, being a man, read this Statement on the floor of this House. And I know that he is not alone in this fight against inequality of men and women, but we have so many Hon Gentlemen here who support this cause.
    Gender-based analysis should include looking at our budget to ensure that whatever we are putting down as policy- makers, we are gender sensitive and that more women and more children are getting what is due them.
    Mr. Speaker, we cannot bow down our heads like ostriches and assume that everything is well as far as gender equality is concerned. What is the budget of a nation? It reflects the values of a country and whatever it values and who is benefiting from what should be our concern and especially the concern of Members of Parliament that we are.
    Mr. Speaker, this World Population Day should be a turning point in this nation of ours and we should make it a point to invest more in women than men because men already have had their development and we are nowhere near the statistics that we have in this country.
    With these few words, I want to support the Statement.
    Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare (NPP -- Ayawaso West Wuogon) 1:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I wish to associate myself with the Statement and commend the Chair of the Population Caucus in taking this initiative. I want to acknowledge the fact that the theme “Responding to Economic Crisis: Investing in Women is a Smart Choice” is a very laudable one.
    Mr. Speaker, in the analysis of the role of women, it has been identified that women play a triple role in society. One is the reproductive role, second is their productive role and third is the community roles.
    Now when you look at the productive role, we are looking at women's
    contribution to economic development and we need to recognise that women's economic activity is a very important contribution to the sustenance of households, particularly in this country and in most African countries.
    Mr. Speaker, for instance, it has been suggested that the work women do in the house should be quantified and included in the calculation of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In fact, it has been suggested that we must begin to value it to the extent that we should be paying women for keeping the home.
    When you look at the theme, ‘Looking at Economic Crisis', one thing that we need to recognise is that when there is economic crisis in the family, when a man loses his job, or even a woman loses a formal job, it is usually the woman who maintains the family. Women do not mind doing menial jobs.
    I know of a graduate, a colleague of mine, when there was economic crisis in the home, she took her pots and pans and made food and went to the stadium in Accra here and sold to people -- and she is a graduate -- and ensured that the family survived until the husband's job and her job were restored.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    Hon. Member, you should start winding up.
    Mrs. Osei-Opare 1:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, this is very important and I do acknowledge it. I am moving towards winding up, but I just want to say that ‘investing in a woman is investing in society', is a practical thing and will benefit both men and women.
    Mrs. Osei-Opare 1:40 p.m.


    Mr. Speaker, a lot of women in Ghana are working in the informal sector. How are we supporting this group in the informal sector to ensure that their work is enhanced for our benefit? We need to strengthen the micro-finance scheme that we give to women; we need to create an environment where they can get appropriate technology to enhance their productivity.

    Again, one phenomenon that we need

    to recognise is that the informal sector does not have allocated space for doing business. So when you do decongestion, when you do moving of people from the streets and so on, it is mainly the women whom we are recognising as the breadwinners, as those who sustain our society, these are the people who get most affected. Therefore, I want even exercises of decongestion and so on to have a gender dimension to them and to recognise that our livelihood is being affected and not just the physical space.

    I would conclude by saying that when we talk about the policy of giving free maternal care to pregnant and lactating mothers, it is a laudable one and it should be backed by support on the training of traditional birth attendants because majority of people live in the rural areas and therefore, they may not have access to the formal clinics and hospitals that, perhaps, you and I have access to.

    Lastly, let us support the health extension workers of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to move out from the hospitals into communities to really give support to our women, particularly, the pregnant and lactating mothers.

    For these few words and for your

    generosity, Mr. Speaker, I thank you.

    Several Hon Members -- rose --
    Mr. Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    Last, I am giving you not more than two minutes.
    Dr. F. B. Dakura (NDC -- Jirapa) 1:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity given me to associate myself with the Statement made by the Hon Chairman of our Population Caucus. Mr. Speaker, I am going to be very brief and to the point unlike, perhaps, previous Statements.
    Mr. Speaker, I want to indicate that the issue of inequality cannot be taken in isolation from the problems also faced by men. In 2007, I delivered a message at the pre-African Union (AU) Conference on gender mainstreaming here in Accra and I called for an alliance for gender engagement in order to discuss and move forward the issue of gender inequality. This, at the time, was quite frowned upon by the leaders of the Femme Afrique Solidaritaire.
    Mr. Speaker, later on these groups recognised the importance for engaging both male and female in trying to advance the issues that are very important for dealing with gender equality.
    I want to indicate that dealing with only one area of gender inequality can go further to create more problems and I will always call for an issue of gender alliance and gender engagement to address and help ameliorate the issue of gender equality.
    Mr. Speaker, I want to also point out that there is the need for addressing the issue of decentralisation and taking it very seriously if we are to deal with the issue of population drift from rural to urban centres which, I believe, is one of the reasons why in rural areas you find a lot of women population who are not actually having
    their partners to support them because most males from rural areas migrate down to urban centres.
    Mr. Speaker, I want to actually call on this House to be looking seriously at the issue of decentralisation, looking at supporting decentralisation programmes all around the country.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    Wind up.
    Dr. Dakura 1:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, thank you very much.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    That is the end of Statements. Hon Deputy Majority Leader.
    Mr. J. T. Akologu 1:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, we will now move on to item 11.
    MOTIONS 1:40 p.m.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Hon Members, before you second the motion, I refer you to Standing Order 40 (3). And I direct that we shall Sit after two o'clock. I duly consulted the Leadership of both sides of the House before proceeding.
    Mr. I. B. Awuah (NPP - Sunyani West) 1:50 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to second the motion on the floor.

    Mr. Speaker, the total tax exemption as we have been told is €11,642,706.00. This, Mr. Speaker, represents 60 per cent of the total loan amount. This point, Mr. Speaker, was made known yesterday and I would want to place more emphasis on it.

    Mr. Speaker, in determining the total cost of our projects, many a time we do not include the exemptions which we offer or which we grant on a particular project. So in this case, if we want to know the total cost of the project, it is not the €72 million,

    but it is €72 million plus the €11.6 million which we are granting as tax exemption today, which brings it to a total of €83.6 million.

    Mr. Speaker, we on our part have carefully studied the Report and we think that the exemption is appropriate and we want to urge the House to approve of it.

    But Mr. Speaker, let me also look at the objectives of the entire project. As we have been told, the project is to help improve sanitation at Old Fadama and also to relocate the slum of settlement at Old Fadama.

    Mr. Speaker, I did a little search and I was told that Old Fadama settlement that we are talking of here is the same as the settlement that we call Sodom and Gomora here in Accra.

    Mr. Speaker, my problem is why the city authorities sit down for such settlements to develop over a period of time without taking action, only for the Government to go for a loan to resettle them. Maybe, in granting a tax exemption, we should also caution ourselves that we do not wait for such occurrences to occur again before we take action.

    Another aspect is the sanitation programme at Old Fadama, which includes the desilting of Korle Lagoon. Mr. Speaker, the Korle River forms the main water basin in the metropolis. Most of the smaller rivers in Accra throw into the Korle River which eventually flows into the Korle Lagoon and enter the sea. So any sediment which is thrown into the river eventually flows downstream and causes the siltation that we currently see in the Korle drainage system.

    That, Mr. Speaker, I believe, contri- butes largely to the current flooding that we are having in the Metropolis. I believe that by undertaking this project, we would not only be adding to the beautification

    of Accra, but we will also be solving a perennial problem which is the annual flooding of parts of the city of Accra. But Mr. Speaker, I beg to caution that, we should be very careful and we should also, especially, let our city authorities know that it is their responsibility to make sure that the project succeeds.

    Mr. Speaker, if we undertake any project at Old Fadama and for that matter on the Korle Lagoon without ensuring development discipline in Accra, we will not be solving any problem. Because we will solve the problem today and tomorrow the problem will arise. I am saying so because if we are not very careful and people build on waterways, if people throw out garbage indiscriminately without anybody taking them on, Mr. Speaker, today we will solve the problem but tomorrow it will reoccur.

    So my word to the people who are going to execute this project is that, perhaps, as part of the programme, we should also include sensitization and also empowering the city authorities of Accra to make sure that at least, they carry out development projects and ensure that development continues and works within the city.

    But as I said, we have looked carefully at the exemptions and we are convinced that the exemptions are in order and therefore, we would want to urge everybody in this House to vote for the provisions in the exemptions.

    Thank you.

    Question proposed.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    I have been advised by Leadership of the House that the main loan of the tax exemption was approved sometime last year and therefore, once both sides of the House agree on the tax exemption, I should put
    the Question.
    Question put and motion agreed to.
    Item 12 -- Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning.
    Mr. J. T. Akologu 2 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the
    Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, as you are aware, is engaged in the other arrangements for the visit of President Obama and his deputy is here to stand in for him. I therefore, crave your indulgence to allow him to stand in for the Minister.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon
    Ranking Member?
    Dr. A. A. Osei 2 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I agree
    with him.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Deputy Minister for Finance?
    RESOLUTIONS 2 p.m.
    Minister for Finance and Economic Planning) 2 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that
    WHEREAS by the provisions of article 174 (2) of the Constitution, Parliament is empowered to confer power on any person or authority to waive or vary a tax imposed by an Act of Parliament;
    THE EXERCISE of any power conferred on any person or authority to waive or vary a tax in favour of any person or authority is by the said provisions made subject to
    Mr. J. K. Avedzi 2 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, I beg
    to second the motion.
    Question put and motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon
    Members, it is past 2.00 o'clock and this is the appropriate time to adjourn the House. We would be coming back to this House by reconvening at the Accra International Conference Centre tomorrow and I think that it is appropriate to adjourn at this time. The House is accordingly --
    rose
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Balado?
    Mr. Manu 2 p.m.
    [Interruptions.] -- Please,
    please, better listen. Mr. Speaker, while reading the Business Report this morning, the Hon Majority Leader indicated that we would be told subsequently the arrangements that have been put in place to ensure our going to the Conference Centre for tomorrow's event. We are adjourning to reconvene there tomorrow. May I know what arrangements are there for us in terms of accreditation and others?
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon
    Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr. J. T. Akologu 2 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker,
    I would crave the indulgence of Hon Members to stay back just for 5 minutes of briefing after adjournment.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Very
    well, the House is accordingly adjourned to tomorrow at 10.00 o'clock - is it 10 or 9?
    Some Hon Members 2 p.m.
    9.00 o'clock.
    Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    At 9.00
    o'clock in the forenoon. Thank you very much for your support.
    ADJOURNMENT 2 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 2.04 p.m. till 11th July, 2009 at 9.00 a.m.