Debates of 13 Jul 2009

MR. FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:17 a.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 10:17 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:17 a.m.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings. We have two Votes and Proceedings. So we start with that of Friday, 10 July, 2009.
Page 1?
Mrs. Catherine Abelema Afeku 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have been marked present on Friday. But on Friday, I was at my constituency with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), western team consoling flood victims. So I was not here.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Were you absent with permission or without permission?
Mrs. Afeku 10:17 a.m.
I was absent without

permission. But I had to go because of the emergency -- [Interruptions] -- No, without permission.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Page 2
. . . 6?
Mr. Aquinas Quansah 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my name is Aquinas Quansah. I was present on Friday but my name is with the Hon Members who were absent.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Very well.

The Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 10 July, 2009, as corrected, are adopted as the true record of proceedings.

Hon Members, let us go on to the Votes and Proceedings of Saturday, 11th July,

2009.

Page 1. . . 5?
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the number of absentees - When one adds the number of Hon Members who were absent with permission to the number of the Hon Members who were just absent one gets 18. And when one adds that figure to the number of Hon Members who were present, one gets 230. So, it means there is something wrong somewhere.
Mr. F. Opare-Ansah 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think on the list of Hon Members absent, item 4, number 2 has been omitted. That is what is causing the problem.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Item number 2?
Mr. Opare-Ansah 10:17 a.m.
On the list of Hon Members absent, one moves from 1 and goes to 3 instead of 2.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
All right.
Ms. Cecilia A. Dapaah 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the same page 6, item number 6 (d), “His Excellency Mr. John Agyekum Kuffour”. The name has been wrongly spelt. It should read “Kufuor”.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Very well.
Page 7?
Mr. A. K. Agbesi 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take you back to page 6.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Which page?
Mr. Agbesi 10:17 a.m.
Page 6.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Yes?
Mr. Agbesi 10:17 a.m.
Page 6, item 6.
Mr. Speaker, item 6(a) says that “H.E. Mr. John Dramani Mahama (Vice President)”. Mr. Speaker, I think that I saw his wife with him and it has not been captured as such.
Mr. Speaker, item 6(c) “H.E. Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings (Former President)” -- I saw his wife.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Hon Member, these are Votes and Proceedings. We are being told what Madam Speaker had acknowledged. So the question is that, did Madam Speaker acknowledge their spouses? If she did, then you are right. If she did not, then the record of proceedings is right.
Dr. M. O. Prempeh 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, page 7, item 7 -
“The President of the Republic of
Ghana made some remarks on the State visit by the President of the United States of America.”
This is not wholly true. The President of the Republic of Ghana spoke to Parliament before the President of the United States spoke. And conspicuously absent from our pigeonholes today was the speech by H.E. John Evans Atta Mills. We have to have it in Parliament because when we make time for us to debate President Obama's speech, we should start from our own President's speech.
Thank you.
Mr. J. T. Akologu 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I wish that was the case. But if you would recall from the programme that we were given, the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Prof. John Evans Atta Mills was to make remarks preceding the Address by the President of the United States of America. So, these were remarks and not a speech. [Interruptions.]
If you look at the difference, when the President of the United States of America made a speech, he presented the address to the Speaker and the Clerk received it and laid it at Table.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Hon Members, we are correcting the Votes and Proceedings. If there is any other document that ought to be brought to the House, I think I would leave it to Leadership to try and discuss and if in their wisdom we should make these documents available, they should. But we are correcting the Votes and Proceedings.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Hon
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.


Majority Leader?
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 10:17 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, definitely, the Official Report will capture all those submissions. And it would be made available to Hon Members. So there is no problem with that.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:17 a.m.
Hon
Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Saturday, 11th July, 2009 as corrected are adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Mr. Joseph B. Aidoo 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, column 1588, under my submission, that is the first paragraph, line (5). It should be “the District Assembly”, not “the District Assemblies”. It is just one Assembly.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Very well.
Dr. A. Akoto Osei 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, column 1601, under the second submission by Mr. H. Iddrisu, fifth line: “the Hon Minister would response . . . ” I do not know any word that fits in that category. “The Hon Minister would respond . . . ” not “response”.
Mr. Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not know whether my copy is the problem. Column 1596 is absent up to column -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Which column?
Mr. Nitiwul 10:30 a.m.
From 1596 to 1598 are
blank; 1601 to 1602 are also blank. I do not know whether others have the same problem.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
It is your
copy. What I have here has those columns.
Mr. Nitiwul 10:30 a.m.
All right, then it is my copy. Thank you, Sir.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Members, the Official Report of Thursday, 9th July, 2009 as corrected is adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, item 3 - Questions. We have in our midst the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing to answer Questions from Hon Members.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:30 a.m.
MINISTRY OF WATER 10:30 a.m.
RESOURCES, WORKS AND 10:30 a.m.
HOUSING 10:30 a.m.
Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing (Mr. Albert Abongo) 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Akyem Oda water supply system is based on the abstraction of ground water by means of six mechanized boreholes. The system requires rehahilitation and expansion.
Short-Term Measure
This requires the following scope of works:
1. Redevelopment of existing mecha- nized boreholes;
2. Development and mechanization of additional boreholes to meet present water demand;
3. Rehabilitation and expansion of distribution network.
Under the budgetary provision in the 2009 Budget for Small Towns Minor
Rehabilitation, GWCL has requested for funding in addition to its own internal resources to undertake some of the works this year and to roll over the remainder in the ensuing year.
The system will continue to be based on ground water abstraction. Additional boreholes are to be drilled and mechanized. The existing and new boreholes production is not expected to cover fully the water demand in the short- term.
Long-Term Measure
Mr. Speaker, we have a long-term measure; in the long-term, the supply of the town should be based on the importation and treatment of surface water from a dam constructed near the confluence of Pra and Birim Rivers. This has become necessary because the production of water of all the drilled boreholes is declining because of aquifer depletion.
Mr. Owusu-Boateng 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the long-term, how much cubic metres of water does he hope to achieve for Akyem Oda? [Pause.] I said in the long-term, how much cubic metres of water does he hope to achieve for the town -- Akyem Oda?
Mr. Abongo 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that that question was not specific in the Question and so I would need to do further consultations on that.
Mr. Owusu-Boateng 10:30 a.m.
Well, I am asking that because according to the United Nations (UN), we need 50 litres per person and Akyem Oda has a current population of 50,000. So I thought whatever works that the Hon Minister is going to do on that should be based on these kinds of criteria. [Interruptions.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon
Members, Order! Order! Let us listen to the Hon Member on the floor.
Mr. Owusu-Boateng 10:30 a.m.
My next question is, how long is it going to take to get the whole thing fixed? Because from his Answer in the Order Paper, the aquifers are depleting and even during the dry season, the aquifers are likely to deplete further. So how long is it going to take the Hon Minster to finish with the final one?
Mr. Abongo 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as indicated in the Answer, the long-term measure would be based on the treatment of surface water from a dam constructed near the confluence of the Pra and Birim Rivers. This is undergoing a study and then funds would be sourced for that as the source of water.
Mr. Owusu-Boateng 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not think the Hon Minister has answered the question. He has actually given a final solution to the problem; that it would require the construction of a dam at the confluence of rivers Pra and Birim. But my question sort to find out how long it is going to take to finish the dam so that the issue there, that water problem, is completely fixed. That has not been answered.
Mr. Abongo 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon Member knows very well that we have financial constraints in dealing with some of these projects. Not until we have secured funding, it would be difficult to put a time limit on when that dam would be constructed and also the treatment plant.
Water Projects in Amansie West Constituency (Mechanisation)
Q. 107. Ms. Grace Addo asked the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing what measures had been put in place to ensure that the proposed mechanized water projects for Abore, Asuoyenwunu, Pakyi Numbers I and II, Adubia -- and Manso Nkwanta was
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Member, you ask the Question as printed on the Order Paper.
Ms. Grace Addo asked the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing what measures had been put in place to ensure that the proposed mechanized water projects for Abore, Asuoyenwunu, Pakyi Numbers I and II, Adubia -- and Manso Nkwanta was added because of the proposal that was brought to me; I have learnt that theirs have already been completed --which are standstill, would resume and be completed. Manso Nkwanta, I stand for correction, I learnt theirs have been completed.
Mr. Abongo 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Manso Nkwanta small town water supply scheme was part of 30 other small towns' water supply schemes financed under an European Union Financing Scheme of 14.8 million euros from 1997 to 2004. The project has since been completed. The scheme has been fully operational since 2002.
Monitoring activities of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency indicate that the Manso Nkwanta Small Town Water Supply Scheme is fully functional and viable under the tenets of the Community Management and Ownership concept.
Mr. Speaker, Abore, Asuoyenwunu, Pakyi Numbers I and II and Adubia, on the other hand, had their water sources established in 2004 and earmarked for full mechanization under the IDA-financed
Community Water and Sanitation Project, Phase 2.
Unfortunately, the project ran into financing difficulties and stalled. Provision however has been made under the 2009 Community, Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA's) investment budget to accommodate the full mechanization and completion of the water supply schemes of these communities. Project profiles under the CWSA's investment budget are under review and as soon as the review process is completed, prompt steps would be taken to initiate works in the stated communities.
Ms Addo 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like also to ask the Hon Minister if he can tell the amount earmarked for each of the projects in Adubia, Asuoyenwunu, Pakyi Numbers I and II projects.
Mr. Abongo 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I will not be able to give specific figures as demanded by the Hon Member.
Ms Addo 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, according to the Hon Minister's Answer, there is going to be a review and as soon as the review process is completed they will initiate the work. Would the Hon Minister tell me as to how soon the review process would be completed? This is because Adubia hosts one of our second cycle institutions where students come from all corners and they need water to go on with their lives and also Abore where we have one of our district health centres, where the community accesses health care delivery. I know the Hon Minister would also bear me out that water, we say, is life. So how soon is the process going to be reviewed?
Mr. Abongo 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the review
started last Thursday and it should end by tomorrow.
Dr. M. O. Prempeh 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
get worried when agencies and authorities
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon
Member, ask your question.
Dr. Prempeh 10:40 a.m.
Yes, I am going to ask
my question. If they write for the Hon Minister to come and tell us provision that has been made under the 2009 CWSA's investment budget to accommodate the full mechanization and completion of the water supply schemes of these communities, and we are in July going to August, and then they go to the next statement to say the project profile of CWSA are under review, they are not doing the House a good service. These reviews --
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon
Member, you are making an argument. Ask your question.
Dr. Prempeh 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if the Hon
Minister would take the necessary steps to really inform this House what the CWSA is doing in respect to these water projects because the answers are not good enough.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
I do not know whether it is a question. It is more of a comment.
Prof. (Emeritus) S. K Amoako 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the first Answer given by the Hon Minister, he said that the project would resume when funds are available. In the second Answer, he is saying that prompt steps would be taken to initiate works in the stated communities. Is he saying that work will commence or continue even if funds are not available?
Mr. Abongo 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think the Hon Member's question is not covered in this Answer that I have just provided.
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 10:40 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I think I was asking my question based on his Answer, so I am surprised he said it is not covered in this Answer.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Please,
refer to the particular portion of the Answer and ask your question.
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 10:40 a.m.
Mr.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Which
one is the first Answer?
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 10:40 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, the question now is, would he take those prompt steps even if funds are not available?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon
Member, if you say first Answer, are you talking about Question number 105? If it is Question number 105 then you are out of order. But if it is with regard to question number 107, you are within the rules.
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, Question number 107, page 9, the Answer: “. . . prompt steps would be taken to initiate works in the stated communities”. And I am asking the Hon Minister, would those steps be taken even if funds are not available?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon
Minister, I am not getting the question but if you get it, answer it.
Dr. Abongo 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that
the Hon Member's question refers to the last part of the Answer.
Yes, indeed, the investment budget is under review and when it is done and we
Dr. Abongo 10:40 a.m.


have allocated some funds for this specific project, they would be undertaken.

Bia Dam (Rehabilitation)

Q. 108. Mr. Yaw Ntow-Ababio asked the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when the Bia Dam at Biaso would be dredged and fenced.
Mr. Abongo 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Dormaa/Biaso Water Scheme is based on the abstraction of raw water from River Bia, and serves about 23 towns and villages in addition to the township of Dormaa-Ahenkro.
Short-Term Measure
In the short-term GWCL does not envisage the dredging of the intake pond as the volume of water could meet the water demand of the area. Fencing of the ponds or catchment area is in line but inadequate budgetary provision has not made it possible for it to be currently undertaken.
Long-Term Measure
Mr. Speaker, under the Strategic Investment Programme (SIP) of GWCL, cost estimates for the rehabilitation and expansion of the water supply system have been provided for interested investors both private and governmental to express interest and execute the intended project. This includes capacity expansion of the water treatment plant, dredging of the existing intake ponds, the river impoundment and construction of a third pond and fencing. Transmission and distribution pipelines will also be improved and extended.
Mr. Ntow-Ababio 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the Hon Minister whether he would reconsider the treatment plant because the Dormaa area is prevalent of guinea worm, typhoid, bilharzia and
other diseases. Would the Hon Minister consider, instead of a long-term measure, a treatment pump as an urgent measure? Would the Hon Minister do that?
Mr. Abongo 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon Member knows very well that whatever we do is dictated by the availability of funds and so it will be difficult for us to take such short-term measures. We need to study the situation and then to see if we can have funding for it in the long-term.
Mr. Speaker, thank you.
Mr. Ntow-Ababio 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the Hon Minister, at the same time, whether he would consider another short-term measure, in view of the fact that this dam was built as far as 1974, and the catch were -- The people to which the water system is supplying, about 23 towns in addition to Dormaa Ahenkro, have grown from a population of 50, 000 as at that time to about 180, 000 around this time.
Would the Hon Minister consider, as a very short-term measure, to dredge it? As the figures he is receiving from his people, over there in the Ministry are not correct; would the Hon Minister consider to do it very urgently for us?
Mr. Abongo 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that my Answer has already answered what he is asking for. We have said that, in the short-term, dredging of the intake pond is not envisaged, because we think that the capacity now, as it exists, can take care of the area that it is supplying.
Mr. Ntow-Ababio 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you. My Dear Hon Minister, Albert Abongo of Bongo -- [Laughter] -- Mr. Speaker, this morning, I am really saddened, for the mere fact that the Hon Minister would come to this House and when I quote the Hon Minister's Answer on page 9, paragraph 3 - And I read:
“Madam Speaker, the Dormaa/ Biaso Water Wcheme is based on the abstraction of raw water from River Bia . . . ”
The Hon Minister does not want to consider the fact that pumping raw water to the people of Dormaa without treating it is urgent, that the Hon Minister does not consider expanding water for two municipalities, that is, the Dormaa Municipality and the Dormaa District -- [Interruption] -- It is of importance. And he is saying -- postponing and buying time. Is that what the Hon Minister wants to tell us, the people of Ghana, the good people of Dormaa in this particular areas? [Hear! Hear!]
Mr. Abongo 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think what the Hon Member wanted me to say was that it was based on an abstraction of raw water from River Bia and treated. And so the raw water is abstracted and treated. It is not just abstracted and supplied to the people. So, if he is used to the answers in the House here, he would understand that we have the raw source -- [Interruption] -- We have a raw source of water which is drawn and then the treatment is provided before it is supplied to the people. It would be criminal for the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) or Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) to draw raw water from a pond and distribute to people.
Mr. Speaker, thank you.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Member, you have exceeded the supplementary questions that you are entitled to.
Mr. Ntow-Ababio 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, can
you give me the last chance?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Member, I will give you your very last chance.
Mr. Ntow-Ababio 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, very well. My dear Hon Minister, Hon Albert Abongo of Bongo knows that I am a good friend, and this one is a friendly fire. If we talk about health of our people, it is paramount. And I just want to know from my dear Hon Minister that if he talks about long-term, it means, it is unforeseeable in this current dispensation -- [Inter- ruption] -- And so I want to know from my dear Hon Minister when, as soon as possible, would he consider my request as a friendly friend and a friendly fire coming to him.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon
Member, did the Hon Minister say that his long-term is unforeseeable in his Answer?
Mr. Ntow-Ababio 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes.
Because there is nothing like a date there, so there is no answer. If long-term is like five years, then one will be thinking that it is foreseeable; but this one, he says the long-term, which means that it is unforeseeable.
Mr. Abongo 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my long- term is just about five years and over.
Mr. J. K. Avedzi 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the Answer to the Question on page 9, paragraph 2, under the short-term measure, the Hon Minister said:
“In the short-term GWCL does not envisage the dredging of the intake pond as the volume of water could meet the demand of the area.”
Does it mean that this assessment made it possible that over the past years, because of this assessment, no action was taken on that area?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon
Member, ask the question again.
Mr. Avedzi 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my question is that the Hon Minister said the Ghana Water Company Limited does not envisage the dredging of the intake pond, as the volume of water could meet the demand of the area as at now. And my question is that, is it because of these assessments that is why for the past eight years no action was taken on this dam? [Hear! Hear!]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Minister, if you understand the question -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Abongo 10:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, for the
past eight years nothing has been done on it -- [Uproar] -- But, we in the long- term -- In four to five years time, we will be doing something on it.
Mr. Speaker, thank you.
Mr. Frederick Opare-Ansah 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, is the Hon Minister telling us, as he seeks to indicate in paragraph 2, under Short-Term Measure, that the dredging of ponds and dams is considered for the sole purpose of increasing the volume of water in those ponds or dams?
Mr. Abongo 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes, dredging of dams and ponds is intended to increase the capacities of those dams and also to restore life to them.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Members, Question 109.
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu -- rose
-- 11 a.m.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, if you want to ask a question, I will give you the chance to
ask. Otherwise, I want to go to Question Number 109.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to ask a question but I thought the former Regional Minister was getting up and I thought that you will call him. That is why I was not getting up. So if maybe, with respect, you can just give him one opportunity to ask the question. He may have a relevant question to ask and that is why I was not getting up. And then thereafter I may ask my question with your indulgence, of course.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Well, based on the special appeal by the Hon Minority Leader, I want you to ask the question.
Mr. Ignatius Baffour Awuah 11 a.m.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Bagbin 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have been informed that it was agreed that the originator of the Question will go through the normal procedure of asking and getting the requisite supplementary questions. After that one person from either side will be given the opportunity to ask supplementary questions and then we move on.
That is what I was briefed by my Deputy and that was the understanding that the two sides agreed with the Speaker. So if it is varied then these appeals will be coming in because pressures are coming from both sides of the House and we are trying to maintain order so that we can do business.
So I am on a point of order that this definitely will derail the earlier understanding and agreement.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, you are absolutely right; we looked at the Questions this morning when I met the Leadership. You and your
Colleague the Hon Minority Leader were not at this morning's meeting and we looked at the Questions and realized that they are constituency-based Questions.
So as much as possible we should even over-indulge the Hon Members in whose names these Questions stand so that we can get more information on the Questions that they have posed to the Hon Minister and then give one or two chances to -- Because these are not Questions of general nature and that really is the understanding.
However, the only exception we give is when the Leadership gets up in addition to the one, and it is on that basis that I called the Hon Minority Leader to ask his question.
That was the understanding; you are right. But I agree with you that if we derail it, it will invite a lot of questions. But let the Hon Member ask the question.
Mr. Awuah 11 a.m.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity. I just want to know from the Hon Minister -- the Bia River from which the raw water is sourced for treatment for the people of Dormaa happens to be the boundary between the Brong section and the Ahafo section of the region. But unfortunately the treated water serves only communities within the Brong section.
I just want to know from the Hon Minister -- He provided in his Answer that transmission and distribution pipelines will also be improved and extended. I just want to know whether this extension this time will take into consideration communities in the Ahafo side, especially communities like Gambia Number Two, Gambia Number One, Mim and Goaso areas.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
I doubt whether that is supplementary because the person asking the Question mentioned specific areas in his Question; you are extending it. But the Hon Minister is here,
if he wants to provide any information, he can provide it.
Mr. Abongo 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, if the study by Ghana Water Company Limited will provide that the extension is carried to cover those areas and find that feasible, I think that definitely they will do it.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for your indulgence.
Mr. Speaker, in the second paragraph of the Hon Minister's Answer, he says in the second sentence of that paragraph that,
“Fencing of ponds or catchment area is in line but inadequate budgetary provision has not made it possible for it to be currently undertaken”.
Mr. Speaker, if the Hon Minister is talking about fencing of the pond, that is understandable. But the Hon Minister is also talking about fencing of the catchment area. Now we know that a catchment area of a river system is the entire basin of that river and its tributaries where it draws its water from.
Is the Minister telling us that this enterprise is feasible, fencing the catchment area, is it feasible? Mr. Minister, is it a feasible exercise fencing the catchment area off? I believe you know what a catchment area is. Can you respond to that?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Minister, if you doubt the question, the definition as provided by the Hon Minority Leader is whether it is feasible.
Mr. Abongo 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as stated in the Answer, the fencing would cover the ponds or catchment area and if it is realized that - [Interruptions.] Yes, it says that ponds or catchment area. So they are not specific here, but it is intended that the ponds would be fenced. But under the circumstances that the catchment is not that very wide, it is possible to fence the catchment area.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Members, Question No. 109.
Small Town Water System (Commencement)
Q. 109. Mr. Dominic B. A. Nitiwul asked 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. Abongo 11 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Small Town Water Supply Schemes of Chamba, Makayili and Bincharatanga have been captured under a 30 million dollar CIDA funded grant for the Northern Region Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project (NORST).
The project commenced in 2008 and is scheduled to be completed in 2015. The project is currently operational in the inception and preparatory phase. A consultant is in place and a draft Project Implementation Plan has been completed and forwarded to Canada for approval. Software activities would commence in September 2009.
Mr. Speaker, Bincharatanga, Chamba and Makayili are prioritized among the first fifteen (15) systems under the project. Construction is scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2010 and completion in 2012. Bimbilla and Bakpaba are currently orphaned communities and are not slated under any programme of the CWSA due to lack of funding. Government however, is soliciting for funding and as soon as funds are obtained, Bimbilla and Bakpaba will
Mr. Nitiwul 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister says under the first paragraph of his Answer that, a consultant is in place and a draft project implementation plan has been completed and forwarded to Canada for approval. He goes ahead to say that, Bincharatanga, Chamba and Makayili are prioritized under the first 15 systems under the project, and construction will be scheduled to start.
Mr. Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister, whether the approval has been given from Canada and whether he can really assure the three communities that they will get water by 2012.
Mr. Abongo 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, what I can
say for now is that these proposals have been submitted for approval but the project funding is in place. I think they have their own way of doing things and we just have to allow them to do them the way they want to have them done. But surely, they are going to take care of those areas.
Mr. Nitiwul 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, again, in
the last statement, he says “Government is however soliciting funds and as soon as the funds are obtained for Bimbilla and Bakpaba, Bimbilla and Bakpaba will be given the attention that they deserve”. Mr. Speaker, when will the fund be available, because there are water shortages in this area?
Mr. Bongo 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have said in the Answer that when funds are available. If I had that answer, I would have given it to the Hon Member for his consumption.
Mr. Nitiwul 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that is not a satisfactory answer but I will take it as that.
Mr. Speaker, will the Hon Minister consider giving the two communities that
he mentioned, emergency boreholes to solve the immediate water crisis that we have there?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Abongo 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that
suggestion will be studied.
Mr. Isaac K. Asiamah 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in paragraph 2, line four, “Bimbilla and Bakpaba are currently orphaned commu- nities and are not slated under any programme of CWSA due to funding”. Mr. Speaker, my question is, the “orphaned”, why are they orphaned communities?
Mr. Abongo 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that that is just to emphasize that they have not been slated for under their programme.
Mr. David T. Assumeng 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, before I ask my question, I want to draw your attention to the fact that Hon Isaac Asiamah is not properly dressed and he must be advised to immediately vacate the premises to go and find a tie to dress properly. I then go to my question.
Mr. Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister whether his outfit is sourcing for soft loans to undertake the project that my Hon Friend requested.
Mr. Abongo 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we are
always looking for funding and any time we have some, we will be dealing with these projects.
Mr. S. K. B. Manu 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, during the inauguration of the President and when he appeared before Parliament, he told us he was going to be a father for all, and for some communities in Ghana to be described as orphans -- [Laughter.] My question is, are they orphaned because they do not have anybody to take care of them and their needs and will they not have the President as their father? If that is the case, when are they going to have
a father to graduate from the situation of orphanage?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon
Member, you listened to the Answer given. The context in which the word “orphan” was used, is that there is no immediate facility available for them and so I have ruled your question out of order.
Last question on this matter, then we move to the next Question.
Dr. A. A. Osei 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker. in the first
paragraph of the Minister's Answer, he chooses to use language which I happen not to understand. With your permission let me try and read:
“The project is currently operational in the inception and preparatory phase. A consultant is in place and the draft Project Implementation Plan has been completed and forwarded to Canada for approval. Software activities would commence in September, 2009.”
Will the Hon Minister be kind enough to explain this last paragraph, the three sentences -- I do not understand them. Will he be kind enough to elaborate on these three statements -- what is “soft- ware activities currently operational in the inception and preparatory phase”? Could he be kind enough to elaborate?
Mr. Abongo 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that
refers to the preparatory stage where we would be recruiting consultants to do the ground studies and also contractors for the execution of the project. So they are not really on the ground doing any physical activity, but the paper work is being done as a first step for the real physical activities --
Thank you very much -- so the term “soft-ware activities” --
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Question
number 110.
Mr. Aquinas Quansah 11:10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon Member to ask this Question is absent and he has asked me to pose the Question on his behalf.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, go ahead.
Q. 110. Mr. Aquinas Quansah (on behalf of Mr. George Kuntu Blankson) asked 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. Abongo 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is a combined Answer for Questions 110 and 111 which are:
Q. 111. Mr. George Kuntu Blankson (Mfantseman East): To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when the following communities will have the supply of pipe-borne water:
(i) Ekumfi Asaman
(ii) Ekumfi Buadu Kwa
(iii) Ekumfi Eyakwa
(iv) Ekumfi Gyabeng Kwa (v) Ekumfu Owufu
(vi) Ekumfi Owuya.
So may I proceed?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
The Questions have been admitted by Madam Speaker as separate Questions and I think you should respond accordingly except that the Hon Member who asked the Question feels that he is satisfied with the first Answer you have given.
Mr. Abongo 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have combined answers to Questions 110 and 111 because the Answers are the same for the two Questions. The communities in question are located at the tail end of the Baifikrom Water Supply, Winneba Water Supply and Kwanyaku Water Supply Systems all in the Central Region.
As a short-term measure, these communities can be supplied with water from the Winneba system within the short- term when the following works are implemented:
Replacement of defective ACP
pipelines between Apam Junction and Apam Town with HDPE;
Replacement of section of ACP pipel ine between Apam and Mumford due to breakage of pipelines resulting from the road construction works;
Tracking along the transmission pipeline to identify damaged pipeline due to the fact of not being in operation for a long time from Mumford to the other towns.
As a current measure, extension of pipe network under the Winneba Water Supply System has been provided by the World Bank under the Urban Water Project to be implemented by the end of this year.
Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has also on its own mobilized resources to replace a section of the transmission pipeline from the Ankamu Booster Station to Apam, which is leaking and work is expected to be completed within three months.
This will provide the needed backbone of the network to deliver to these deserving communities.
Mr. Speaker, for the long-term, a Feasibility Study Design Report has been developed for water supply to cover areas which are either not served or not receiving enough water from the Winneba, Kwanyaku and Baifikrom Water Supply Systems.
The proposed project is being developed by Messrs Denys Engineers of Belgium which will cater for the areas along the coast which will include all the communities mentioned in both Questions. The treatment plant will be sited at Essakyer on the Ochi Nakwa River.
The contractor is currently finalizing funding arrangements with the Belgium Government to enable him implement the project by 2010.
Mr. Quansah 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon Minister said they are working on the project but these are communities that have starved from potable drinking water. Can he be definite on when these communities see or feel pipe-borne water?
Mr. Abongo 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, as indicated in the Answer, the contractor is finalising the funding arrangements and as and when these arrangements are concluded, we will be in a position to fast-track water delivery in the communities.
Mr. I. K. Asiamah 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, before I go onto my question, I think an Hon Member raised a question about my dressing. Mr. Speaker -- [Interruption.] I am only indicating that the Vice-President and indeed, the Hon Majority Leader, that is how sometimes they do dress and I admire their dress code. I believe when Hon Members were at GIMPA, the Hon Majority Leader ruled that this dress code is accepted. That is the reason why the other time when he wore it, some of us have taken note of it. [Laughter.]
Mr. Speaker, in fact, the last paragraph says and Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote:
“The contractor is currently finalising funding arrangement with the Belgium Government to enable him implement the project

by 2010.”

The question was asked about the “when” element but there has been a contract and a contractor working on it. So, what day? Or, what is the completion deadline for the contractor? This is because he has told us that the contractor is working on some funding arrangement. So when is that contractor going to complete that funding arrangement?

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that when Hon Ministers come to this House, they should be more exact and more precise in the Answers they provide because this House needs to be taken more seriously. That is my concern -- this issue of “when”, “as soon as possible”, “it is in the pipeline”, -- These are not Answers this House should demand of Hon Ministers of State. We should demand exactness and precision from Hon Ministers of State so that people would take us more seriously.

But when they come and say “it is in the pipeline”, “as soon as possible”, “it is ongoing”, these are not Answers this House should demand from Hon Ministers of State. They should come well prepared and give us exactness so that, at least, Hon Members of Parliament can monitor the performance of our Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) because that is the more reason why we are here.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity once again.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the long-term measure - the Hon Minister informed us that “the contractor is currently finalising funding arrangements with the Belgium Government to enable him implement the project by 2010”. Are we to understand from this Answer that it is going to be a turnkey project? This
is because already he has started listing efforts -- Government efforts -- Now, he comes here and he says that the contractor is finalising arrangements? Is it a turnkey project?
Mr. Abongo 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes, indeed, it is a turnkey project.
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am referring to the Answer by the Hon Minister under Short-term Measure, the second bullet. And he says that, and Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote:
“. . . Apam and Mumford due to breakage of pipelines resulting from the road construction works.”
May I know from the Hon Minister who pays for such breakages? Is it the Ministry or the contractors doing the road construction?
Mr. Abongo 11:20 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, sometimes if these things are detected at the time of construction of the road, then it is the responsibility of the contractor to take them up. But if after a long time, the contractor had finished and left the site and we later on realise that some pipes were damaged in the process, then it becomes your responsibility to fix them up.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Leader- ship must advise all of us including the Hon First Deputy Speaker at the appropriate time as to the dress code of this House so that these matters do not disrupt proceedings of the House. I am unable to make a ruling on this matter.
Hon Minister, thank you very much for attending upon the House to answer Questions on your sector.
You are discharged.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE 11:20 a.m.
PRESIDENT 11:20 a.m.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Members, there is communication from His Excellency the President.

Hon Members, at the Commencement

of Public Business -- Laying of Papers. (5) (a) by the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Yes, Hon
Member.
Mr. Manu 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise on an
observation. Mr. Speaker, with the passage of time, I realised that business in this
House is being curtailed in a manner that I would call unnecessarily. This is the House where representatives of Ghanaians are assembled to debate issues of national and even international importance.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon
Member, you are out of order. If you think you want to bring the conduct of the Chair into question, look at your Standing Orders to know what to do. But I want to tell you, neither Madam Speaker, the First nor Second Deputy Speakers of the House would do anything without consulting the Leadership of this House. I want to make that point clear and place it on record. We will not do anything, without consulting
Space for Communication from the President
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
(11.20 a.m. -- P. 5)

the Leadership of this House. You are therefore out of order.

Hon Majority Leader, you were on

your feet.
Mr. Bagbin 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I was on
my feet to seek your permission and the indulgence of my Hon Colleagues to allow the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, in the person of Hon Fifi Kwetey to lay the following Reports under item (5) (a), in the absence of the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning.
Then Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning indicated to me that he was coming to lay the Paper himself. A few minutes ago, I called and the Hon Minister says he is still in a meeting now and he did not want to keep the business of Parliament waiting. So he instructed his Deputy Minister to come and lay it on his behalf and that is why he is not here himself.
But he will follow up because he has to even appear before the Committee of Finance today. So he will be doing that but he did not want to hold the business of the House and that is why he instructed his Deputy to come and lay the Reports on his behalf.
PAPERS 11:30 a.m.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
(5) (b),
Hon Majority Leader?
By the Majority Leader --
Report of the Auditor-General on the Forensic Audit of the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) for the period January 1997- December 2002.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon
Members, in consultation with the Leadership of the House this morning, we have decided to defer item 5 (c) (i) and (ii).
Mr. Bagbin 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rather had
firm instructions that the Hon Minister is ready to withdraw the laying of the documents in connection with this Report for further consultation. So instead of us deferring it, I think it is proper that we allow them to be withdrawn so that later on, they bring in fresh Papers to re-lay and then they would be re-forwarded to the Committee for consideration.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Very
well, but Hon Majority Leader, it is the Committee's Report that is there, not the Hon Minister's Paper that he laid which is not the property of the House. I do not know whether it is the Committee Chairmen that will withdraw their Reports and then the - I do not know, I need guidance.
Mr. Bagbin 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the first is
to give an indication of the withdrawal of the basis before the Chairman will then withdraw the Report. But these Reports are not yet laid. So the documents that were laid, that can be withdrawn and I think that the Hon Minister himself will do that. I am just giving an indication. So the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing who laid the documents will have to withdraw them.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Very well. Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing.

Minister for Water Resources, Works

and Housing (Mr. Albert Abongo): Mr. Speaker, I rise to crave your indulgence to withdraw this Paper that was laid in the

House on the Offtake Agreement among Ghana Water Company Limited and EarthWater Ghana Limited and also the one on the finance of the Water Concession and Support Agreement between Ghana Water Company Limited and EarthWater Ghana Limited for further consultations.
Dr. Anthony A. Osei 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
with respect, when these memoranda were first brought to the House, they were in the name of the Ministers for Finance and Economic Planning and Water Resources, Works and Housing. This House has no indication if the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing has the authority from his Colleague to withdraw it. So it is a matter of the procedure and I crave your indulgence that we do it properly.
We have not been given any evidence that both Ministers are coming to withdraw. So to ask a single Minister to withdraw, with respect, I think it is in violation of our - and the Majority Leader not having been in Cabinet, cannot appear to know. If he does, he has not so indicated, so I think that the proper thing should be done.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
But you
listened to him when he said he had received firm instructions. [Laughter.] Hon Majority Leader, the Hon Member wants to hear it from your own mouth.
Mr. Bagbin 11:40 a.m.
I did indicate that I
had firm instructions from the - [Inter- ruptions.] I did state that clearly, and my very good Friend is aware that discussions on this matter have been on-going between the Ministers, even their Committees and my goodself. Both Ministers have agreed that there are some issues that need further discussion and clarification before the documents would be laid.
So I am sure he is just trying to pull my
leg; if not, he is aware and it is important for him to know that even though I am not a Minister, I attend Cabinet meetings.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
I will take
Hon Chairman of the Committee and then I will take the Ranking Member and the Minority Chief Whip.
Mr. James K. Avedzi 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I am on a point of correction. The issue about the memorandum from the Ministers that the Ranking Member said is from both Minister for Finance and Economic Planning and the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing is not the case. The memorandum is from the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing. He is the only person who brought the memorandum; it is not a joint memorandum from both Ministers. I have a copy here.
Dr. Osei 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my concern is
even more serious. I do not think that our Leader should receive firm instructions from anybody; that is my concern. How can a Leader of this House receive firm instructions from anybody except this House? He said he had received firm instructions. Mr. Speaker, that is my worry. The firm instructions should come from Members of this House, not anybody else. This is a very dangerous precedent. We cannot allow anyone to give our Leader firm instructions. [Hear! Hear!] Mr. Speaker, that is my concern.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
I thought
the Hon Member for Sekondi (Papa Owusu-Ankomah) was going to speak on when people say they received firm instructions.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:40 a.m.
Thank
you, Mr. Speaker, but of course, he is in charge of Business of Government in the House. In respect of that, the Majority Leader is supposed to ensure
that Government Business goes on. So in respect of Government Business, he may be the most authoritative person to speak on these matters, but when it comes to Government withdrawing anything, the necessary representatives of Government would have to do it. But the Majority Leader, in his capacity as the Leader of Government Business can give indications as to what Government intends to do in the House.
Mr. S. K. B. Manu 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon
Mr. Manu 11:40 a.m.
If I am out of order, yooo!
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon
Member, have they taken your mandate from you? Has anybody taken your mandate from you?
Mr. Manu 11:40 a.m.
If I had come to the end of

Mr. Frederick Opare-Ansah -- rose
-- 11:40 a.m.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon
Majority Leader - Hon Minority Chief Whip, do you have anything to say before the Majority Leader speaks then we close the chapter?
Mr. Federick Opare-Ansah 11:40 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I was going to make the same point that my Hon Colleague made about the fact that, being an independent institution, it is worrying. And indeed, I shuddered when I heard the Majority
Leader's confessions of receiving firm instructions. I would have thought that he received communication, just like the President communicates to the entire House, but to be receiving firm instructions -- These are not ordinary instructions, they are firm which means that you do not even have the flexibility of deviation. And so it is very, very dangerous and we would like to indicate to him that he has the support of the entire House and he should not - be feeling being compelled to receive and acting under firm instructions.
Mr. Bagbin 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think my
Hon Colleagues have misunderstood the whole meaning of “firm instruction”.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Advise?
Mr. Bagbin 11:40 a.m.
“Firm instruction” means
he would not come tomorrow to say I am withdrawing what I told you, it means, he is bound by what he is telling. And professionals know that when their clients come and give them instructions, the instruction does not mean that you are being bullied or you do not have the authority or your authority is being taken away, that is not it.
The “firm instruction” means that, I should be certain that tomorrow he would not come back and withdraw it from me, that is why I stated “firm instructions”. But definitely, I can assure you that I am not under anybody's command from the Executive.
Again, I am not under anybody's command from the Executive. [Inter- ruptions.] I work for and on your behalf for the institution of Parliament and we would all try to as much as possible make Parliament strong and independent. It is not constitutionally my mandate to
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon
Minority Leader, you want to say something?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, just to be sure of where we are. You mentioned item numbered 5(c) and that is what has landed us where we are now. Where are we?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Yes,
because I was trying to get certain guidance from the Leadership and indeed, from the floor of the House. Where we are is that the document has been withdrawn, especially taken into account the explanation given by the Chairman of the Committee that, the memorandum is not after all, in the joint names of the two Ministers but only in the name of the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing. So he brought the document and he is withdrawing it, of course, with the leave of the House.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:40 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, exactly that clarification is what I was looking for because, indeed, this Report is from the Joint Committee on Works and Housing and Finance. We come to that juncture, there is no Report to be laid, that is my understanding. So I guess it is for the Chairman of the Committee to inform us and then as the Majority Leader did, he would then invite the Minister to give the information to this House as to the status of it.
But officially, we have not even heard from the Chairman. The Leader got up and invited the Minister to tell us the status of it and he is saying that, yes, it has been withdrawn and I am saying that I thought the proper procedure would have been for the Chairman to inform us of the status. Maybe, the Joint Chairmen or maybe, the
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:50 a.m.


As regards the Majority Leader's position that he is in Cabinet, I do not want to talk about that because, Mr. Speaker, we do know Cabinet Ministers. If the Leader insists that he is part of the Cabinet, he may not be part of the Cabinet, he only may be in attendance. And being in attendance on the magnanimity of whoever, Mr. Speaker, is clearly different from being represented in his right to afford him the opportunity to lead Government Business in this House.

He cannot be a Leader of Government Business if he is not part of Government Business -- the shaping and evolution of Government Business for him to be appropriately informed and transmit same to this House. If he is not in that capacity, he cannot pretend to be the Leader of Government Business in this House. So it is debatable for a stranger there to come and say that he is the Leader of Government Business. Mr. Speaker, that point is debatable.
Mr. Bagbin 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my Colleague has been misleading everybody in the world -- [Laughter] -- with these submissions. He has been misleading everybody. You cannot eat your cake and have it. You cannot be asking for an independent Parliament and be asking for the leader of that same institution to be a subsidiary of the Executive, a Minister in the Cabinet.
If you are a Minister in the Cabinet and you are the Leader of Government Business, and you are the Leader of the House, you cannot get the House to be independent. That is why I am totally against the Majority Leader being Minister

of State and a Cabinet Minister, because it is proper that we get the separation of powers and get Parliament equipped and strong and stand on our own. But I never mentioned that I am a Cabinet Minister. No, I simply said I attend Cabinet meetings.

The other thing too is that, it is the duty of the Speaker to call on the Majority Leader to indicate the next business and that is what the Speaker did, and that is what I did by indicating the state of business. It is not for the Chairman of the Committee to stand up first before I indicate which business we are going to transact. That is the procedure and that is exactly what has happened. I think that you were not focused at that time -- [Laughter.] Your attention might have been somewhere.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, you see where the Majority Leader leads himself into a quagmire. Mr. Speaker, the Majority Leader would know that indeed it is not always that you may even have a Majority Leader to be in attendance at Cabinet meetings. You could have a situation when the Minority Leader would be the person to be shepherding Government business. And so that allusion is not entirely true -- [Interruption.]
What you just said -- the reference to the Majority Leader's position, because you could even have the Minority Leader doing that job anyway, that is, if the party controlling government loses out in Parliament. That is what he should advert his mind to. So in this exercise, he is leading us on some reckless journey and I do not know -- And I will assure him that having taken this course, his business will become very very epileptic in this House. If he wants it that way, he will have it.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Members, the Paper is duly -- item 5
(c ) (i) and (ii) are duly withdrawn -- [Interruption] - The Agreement, I am not -- the Agreement is withdrawn. The Hon Majority Leader made a very convincing point that the Paper has not yet been laid. So what has not been laid cannot be withdrawn -- You see -- [Interruptions.] I said the Agreement itself which should have formed the basis of this Report which the Minister has withdrawn is accordingly withdrawn. That is what I have said, not the Paper -- [Interruption] -- The Agreement, not the Report.

Hon Members, let us proceed. Yes, Hon Majority Leader, items 6 and 7?
Mr. Bagbin 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am informed that item 6 is not yet ready. Item 6 actually is based on item 7, which is the Report from the Committee of Selection. I am told it is not yet ready and therefore, we will proceed - But the Committee will meet to consider some issues that have been raised by Hon Members, that is why we are going to reconsider.
It is not that it is not ready. The Report is available but some issues have been raised and it is important for us to try to settle those issues by consensus. We do not want to come to the floor and raise these issues that we cannot easily iron out. So Mr. Speaker, I would want to plead that we consider item 8 -- [Interruption] -- Oh, you want (9)? All right, we should take item (9) first.
MOTIONS 11:50 a.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. J. K. Avedzi) 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the

request for waiver and exemption of tax liability on equipment and materials to be imported or purchased locally amounting to €38,743,883.00 in respect of the Network Expansion and Loss Reduction Project for the Electricity Company of Ghana.

1.0 Introduction

The Request for the waiver and exemption of tax liability on equipment and materials to be imported or purchased locally amounting to twenty-eight million, seven hundred and forty-three thousand, eight hundred and eighty-three Euros (€28,743,883.00) in respect of the Network Expansion and Loss Reduction Project for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) 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 169 of the Standing Orders of the House.

The Committee met and considered the Request with the Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Hon Fifi Kwetey and technical teams from the Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning and Energy and presents this Report.

2.0 Background

The present Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) network was installed about half a century ago when the population in the ECG operational areas was just about 10 per cent of the current population.

Energy demand in ECG operational areas has been growing at an average of about 10 per cent per annum for the last 12 years without a commensurate expansion in the distribution system, leading to serious pressure on the network. This situation has forced many customers of ECG especially industrial and institutional customers, to resort to diesel-powered generators as back-up because of poor quality of power supply in the project area and indeed the whole country.

Frequent network breakdowns also lead to further loss to ECG of about 26 per cent of the revenue of the presently
-- 11:50 a.m.
Mr. E.A. Buah 11:50 a.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, with all due respect a blatant condemnation of ECG as an organization and to say that hard working employees of ECG are entirely corrupt and ineffective is completely misleading the House and the people of Ghana. We have very hard working and decent employees at ECG. If we are talking about the challenges that ECG is facing it is correct. But to blatantly condemn all the employees of ECG as useless and as somehow ineffective and corrupt is completely misleading the House and the people of Ghana.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon. Deputy Minister, I think the Hon Member is raising very serious issues that should
Mr. D. B. A. Nitiwul (NPP -- Bimbilla) 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion that this House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the request for waiver and tax exemption liability on equipment/materials to be imported or purchased locally amounting to €28,743,883.00 in respect of the Network Expansion and Loss Reduction Project for the Electricity Company of Ghana.
Mr. Speaker, before I even make my comment, let me say that the substantive loan which was approved on 14th August 2008 was a loan negotiated by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government. Mr. Speaker, at that time, the main loan was €85 million. But the real cost -- the taxpayer would have to notice and take cognisance of the tax exemptions and if one added up the two, it gives one €113,743,83. And that is the total amount the taxpayer of Ghana should bear.
Mr. Speaker, but the Committee observed that the technical team informed us that the project will ensure that customers in Tema and Kumasi will have reliable power supply which will result in improved economic growth, health care, water supply among others. Mr. Speaker, I hope that this is the case.
I decided to have track of power cuts over the last month and Mr. Speaker, I got bored and stopped because it was just too much. In a day, in my house I could have as many as 10 power cuts without notice. [An Hon Member: Who started it?] Mr. Speaker, it is not about who started it. This is the bare fact that the ordinary Ghanaian is facing. The Electricity Company of Ghana must sit up. Mr. Speaker, people are paying and paying through their teeth to be able to have electricity -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon

Hon Member, continue.
Mr. Nitiwul 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am not going to engage you in debate. On 23rd February, 2009 the then Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana said I beg to quote:
“On the possibility of tariff increases, we are not yet there because the support from the Government and our intensified debt collection programme are helping us and therefore we do not need tariff increases yet.”
Mr. Speaker, just last week, I was speaking to a motion and one of the conditionalities in that motion is that Government will have to reduce or eliminate support to ECG and VRA. This comes back to the same point that we are going to experience tariff increases because Government is not going to support ECG any longer.
Mr. Speaker, what worries me even more is that, I do not know, like I have said before, whether we are experiencing load shedding or the problem is some other thing. In Achimota, some parts of the area could be without lights for three days. And the only explanation that was given to them was that the Achimota sub-station is overloaded, and when the sub- station is overloaded, they have a mechanism, which immediately cuts people off. And I think that they should do better. The electronic systems and property of individuals are spoiling because of the work of the Electricity Company of Ghana.
Mr. Speaker, let me also say that the Committee was told that the project is
Appendix 5

also aimed at reducing technical losses which arise due to obsolete equipment and over-aged power lines. Mr. Speaker, in the same Report, Mr. Joe Adu Amankwa says that the company requires more than 990 million to fully replace some of these existing equipment and upgrade some of them to be able to guarantee uninterrupted power supply.

Mr. Speaker, considering the amount of money that the Government of the NPP churned out to the Electricity Company of Ghana - My good friend Dr. Napo will quote these figures - and we are still having those power cuts, I think that they should sit up and let us see what happens.

Well, I would want to praise Mr. Joe Adu Amankwa because under his tenure, at least, for last year, the ECG made some small profit. Unfortunately, he has been removed, for whatever reasons, I do not know.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr. Bagbin 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think we
should not allow Hon Members to go in with these reckless jabs, because they lead to some heated debates that are not necessary at all in this House. They are not necessary at all. When Hon Members are making statements, please, they should base them on facts. Adu Amankwa was the first Director-General of ECG. They were those that were there and were removed and he took over.
He as an Hon Member of Parliament was the first Member of Parliament of his constituency. It is the reason assigned - he said, “and there is no reason assigned
for it”. He will go on television again and when they ask him to mention it he would say he will not mention it there. Please, it is very important. He said the same thing here and he was on television and they asked him to use the word and he said he could not mention it there. And that is responsibility. He was being responsible there. So, on the floor of the House too, let us try as much as possible to be responsible.
Mr. Nitiwul 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would not respond to him. But I said that I would not mention because the person I spoke of is my friend. That is why I said I would not give credence to anybody. And that is what I said. But in this case, I said Mr. Adu Amankwa was removed.
Mr. Speaker, I said the previous government had a very ambitious plan to transform the country into a middle income nation and targeted the electricity sector as the key area for growth. And structural and regulatory reforms were encouraged to provide investments in this area. Mr. Speaker, I said that the energy sector para-sectors have been earmarked for change to bring them in line with international standards.
Because of that the Government also committed itself to the development of the West African Power Pool, what they normally call WAPP, where generation capacities and inter-country connections can be expanded among the 16 African nations.

Mr. Speaker, I think the present Government should continue in line with that; these are good policies that they should continue and let us see how this would go. But Mr. Speaker, ECG has brought a very good policy.
Mr. Nitiwul 12:10 p.m.


On Saturday, April 28, 2001, the ECG made an announcement through the Accra Regional Commercial Manager called “Anokye Abebrese” who was then the Acting Manager. The ECG said they would replace all credit meters in the Accra metropolis with pre-paid meters by 2005 as part of measures to ensure effective revenue collection and effect efficient energy use.

Mr. Speaker, we are in 2009 and many parts of Accra are still using the old meters. Mr. Speaker, I am sure if they had taken this vigorously the problems that they are having today would not have been there. I encourage them to use pre-paid meters. Unfortunately, I heard once on a Joy FM programme that people had begun finding ways of not paying the right dues by manipulating the pre-paid meters. If it is true, the ECG would have to find a system of stopping it.

Mr. Speaker, ECG has many problems. It is a utility company that has many problems. They have to find a way of making themselves profitable, they have to find a way of satisfying customers because a lot of people are not satisfied with the service that they are given and they have to give us value for money.

Mr. Speaker, with these few words, I want to encourage Hon Members of this House to support the motion and pass the resolution.

Question proposed.
Mr. D. T. Assumeng (NDC 12:10 p.m.
None

Osudoku): Mr. Speaker, I beg to support the motion. But before I continue, I want to draw the attention of the House to some correction on page (4) of the Report, the paragraph that reads, and Mr. Speaker, with your permission I quote:

“The Committee noted that the

completion of the project --”
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Which
page?
Mr. Assumeng 12:10 p.m.
Page (4) of the
Report. That:
“The Committee noted that the completion of the project would ensure stable and reliable power supply to the Ghana Water Company pumping station at Akuse which supplies water to the eastern part of Accra and parts of the Eastern Region.”
Mr. Speaker, currently the pumping station is situated at Kpong and not Akuse and so I want that correction to be made.
Mr. Speaker, to further continue, I want to urge the House to support this motion and to also urge that the House must make sure that we monitor such loan agreements to the letter. We should not just come here and approve such facilities and allow them to go.
We should make sure that we monitor them so that the money which is supposed to go or to be paid by the taxpayer is used properly, judiciously. Mr. Speaker, I think we have been taking a lot of loan facilities in this country and I am of the view that if we should monitor and make sure that these facilities are properly used, this country would not have been where we are now. So I want to urge that we put a mechanism in place to monitor such facilities to make sure that they are judiciously used.
On this note, Mr. Speaker, I support the motion.
Dr. M. O. Prempeh (NPP - Manhyia) 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to start my submission from the Report that we have been given. It is good that my Hon Friend Member for Shai/Osudoku (Mr. Assumeng) just made some significant corrections in the Report signed by my Friend and Hon Member for Ketu (Mr.
James Avedzi).
Mr. Speaker, at page (2), of the Report, paragraph (2) there is a profound statement that says and with your permission, I quote:
“Energy demand in ECG operational areas has been growing at an average of about 10% per annum for the last 12 years without a commensurate expansion in the distribution system, leading to serious pressure on the network.”
Mr. Speaker, this is palpably untrue. Paragraph (3) reads, and again, I quote 12:10 p.m.
“Frequent network breakdowns also lead to further loss to ECG of about 26% of the revenue of the presently installed capacity.”
Another big lie. This 26 per cent -- [Interruptions.] Let me finish. This 26 per cent is split to technical and commercial losses -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Twumasi-Appiah 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon
Member, it is unparliamentary to say it is a lie; you can use other statements to make your point.
Dr. Prempeh 12:10 p.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take a cue from my Hon Friend and withdraw that word and use “misleading”.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Very well;
proceed.
Dr. Prempeh 12:10 p.m.
And I would continue
Mr. Avedzi 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon
Friend made reference to page (2), paragraph (2), that the energy demand in ECG operational area has been growing at an average of 10 per cent per annum for the last 12 years without a commensurate expansion, and he is tending this to be what? Misleading.
Mr. Speaker, if he should read the sentence very well, it says the demand is growing at 10 per cent per annum without a commensurate expansion. As the demand is growing, the expansion is not matching with that growth. That is the meaning of that. So that cannot be misleading.
Dr. Prempeh 12:10 p.m.
Thank you. I will take
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon
Member, you continue and tell us where it is misleading.
Dr. Prempeh 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the
last eight years nearly $2 billion has been signed by this House and invested in ECG; I will not talk about Volta River Authority (VRA) -- [Interruptions.] I am coming. This is not an issue that Hon Members of this House should attribute to a political party; I am talking about an institution, that is, ECG. Because that institution is not directly accountable here both parties are being disserved and that is why I am up here.
When the Government of Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings started the rural electrification programme, there was no electricity outside the Ashanti Region, and it brought electricity.
That Rural Electrification Programme
has sent electricity to almost nooks and crannies of this country which is very commendable. After such a laudable project has been continued by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), we are being told by those who are peeved that this project is not their baby, that electricity expansion is not increased, which is misleading and that was why I used that word. But Mr. Speaker, I am set to give evidence on this floor.
In 2006, for the third bulk supply point to really increase electricity distribution in this country, a tender was served by ECG. What did they do when I talk about gross incompetence and mismanagement? Like we are going to find with this current agreement, they split the bulk supply point that is supposed to stabilize the distribution system in this country into five places, five tenders; awarded the transformers, the balance of plants and what nots and what nots.
Before even the transformers got into Ghana the balance of plant was already in Ghana, contractors had been paid, they are delivered. What did we find, three years after that, in September, 2006? ECG has never been able to do anything on the ground. The equipment are lying in their warehouses and they are rotten because parts are missing and they are obsolete and they have not been interfaced. That is the amount of mismanagement and corruption within ECG that we are talking about; not political friends on the other side I am said to be blaming; I am not blaming them.
We had given ECG all these resources but last year, 2007, when there were these light-outs, the Government of Ghana borrowed money commercially and paid for fuel for ECG generators. Up to now, not a farthing of that money has been restored. In the last 12 years, 14 years ECG's debt has been totally absorbed by
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon
Member, were the fuel and the generators bought for VRA or ECG?
Dr. Prempeh 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, they were
bought for Government of Ghana and not VRA.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon
Member, were they for VRA or ECG? For the records.
Dr. Prempeh 12:20 p.m.
Yes, the fuel was
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
So you
are talking about distribution.
Dr. Prempeh 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I will not
end there.
In 2008, two tenders were done. This Accra bulk supply point when they did the tender for the transformers, they said that if you qualify you should have done it in the developing countries, supplied fifty transformers outside your country and hundred in the country. When they went to Kumasi and they did the second bulk supply point, they manipulated the tender and they are now saying before you can do the transformer, you should have supplied it in an African country.
Why am I saying that? If we do a forensic audit of ECG procurement processes, you find that a particular company -- being NDC time or NPP time, that is why I am not blaming parties
Dr. Prempeh 12:20 p.m.


-- consistently bids low and wins this tender. We have one tender, Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about as my example. This was the switches stages tender done in Takoradi. The lowest bidder who was awarded this contract bid $4.9 million. All the other companies bid around $6 million.

Six months after, before the trans- formers were supplied, this lower bidder had been given a variation of $1 million bringing it to $5.9 and as at now we have not even finished. There are two other variations in the pipeline, they bid low and by the time they execute the contract, they are the highest.

Why do I say that? ECG puts up a bid for a sub-station and instead of saying a hundred kilometres of wire for wiring, it says ten kilometres. Every competitive country knows that it is a hundred kilometres. So every company comes in and bids hundred kilometres. They give it to the one who bids ten kilometres, who has been informed and after that he comes with a variation.

ECG is a litany of mismanagement and corruption. That is what I am talking about. I am not talking about my Hon Friends on the other side in the Majority. I am not blaming them. I am blaming ECG.

Mr. Speaker, they bid a tender for
Mr. E. A. Buah 12:20 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, a blatant condemnation of ECG as an organization, by saying that hard-working employees of ECG are entirely corrupt and ineffective is completely misleading the House and the people of Ghana. We have very hard- working and decent employees at ECG. If we are talking about the challenges
that ECG is facing, it is correct. But to blatantly condemn all the employees of ECG as useless and as somehow ineffective and corrupt is completely misleading the House and the people of Ghana.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon.
Deputy Minister, I think the Hon Member is raising very serious issues that should concern this House and I thought that you should rather collaborate with him as the Deputy Minister for that sector so that together we resolve the problems at ECG.
Mr. G. K. B. Gbediame 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I think he is coming from the point that none of these people are here also to defend themselves. That is the point that the Deputy Minister is raising.
Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think the Second Deputy Majority Whip should understand that nobody can come to this House to defend himself except they are invited at the Committee of the Whole. So the point that he makes is neither here nor there. It is irrelevant. The point that he makes is irrelevant. They cannot bring civil servants here to do it so he should not just waste our time.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon
Hackman, the point being made is that there is nobody here to tell their side of the story. It is only fair to hear the other side and I think that that is the spirit of the point.
But Hon Member for Manhyia, continue.
Dr. Prempeh 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, when six
sub-station tenders are made, at least we need six transformers, the qualification was neutral earthing resistance, number outside supplier's country, 50; total supplies ever made, 100. That is six sub- stations, the qualification was 50 outside your country and 100 ever made.
When their favourite company did not win and they bid the next sub-station, the qualification, number outside supplier's country, 150; total 300. If you are serious about corruption, do not attack politicians, let us go to our institutions. That is the basis of my argument.
Mr. Speaker, I promise that I am going to collaborate with the Deputy Energy Minister if he has the temerity to support that we would have to investigate ECG.
Before I end, I am going to give a
categorical example. Switching stations were competitively bidded and the company that bids the lowest, that is always favoured by ECG bid $4.9 million, and I am telling him six months after that contract other twelve companies that were there all bid around $6 million and they gave it to this company. Six months before, they even supplied one thing, they had come in for a variation of $1 million, that $35.9 and there are still variations we are talking about.
That is why for you and I, if you go and sweat as a Minister and you find so much money for ECG it should not end there. Unfortunately, only one department in ECG is responsible for tenders, they bring out the tender documents, they do the evaluations, they do the award contracts and before companies know, they have been disqualified, this thing has been sent to the World Bank for what; they call - no objection. By the time even the Managing Director is aware, the tender is already gone.
As we speak, there is a tender that is going on in ECG that the ex-Managing Director when his attention was brought to some of these nebulous and fraudulent practices within his Directorate of Engineering, he called a meeting and he nearly reprimanded some of them and asked that they go and change such
fraudulent manipulation of bids under World Bank tenders.
What has happened when those who were in charge of this mismanagement and incompetence have been made acting Managing Directors? Within six months, they have brought their henchmen who are exhibiting as Directors of Engineering. What have they done, they have just gone last week to cancel again what the previous Minister had seen that was wrong. That is what me and you should collaborate on. The money that you find for ECG does not belong to ECG.
The loan that we approve here, it is Ghana Government that is going to pay. If we do not take particular chance of our institutions and find a way by our Standing Orders to bring them here to account, we make a mockery of Ministers and that does not help Ghana. ECG is fraudulent. How can a person in acting capacity, the first thing he does is to do management changes and it is six months for him to go on retirement?
That is why the country is suffering. ECG is nearly bankrupt and it has been bankrupted only by one department which I call the Planning Department. It is not true the Government of NDC and NPP have not invested massively in ECG, they have, but the so-called desktop engineers are to blame.
Mr. Speaker, my last one. In Adenta
and Madina they came out with a tender that is called High Voltage Distribution System. This High Voltage Distribution System is so good that you have to calculate the number of people, small transformers they put on the poles, the number of people who are served from that so that -- the bidding and everything is correct.
Dr. Prempeh 12:30 p.m.


The latest place that has done it is Abuja. They did it in Abuja and if you know how well Abuja is planned, you can see why they can do that. ECG quickly brought a tender and before we could say jack, nearly 18 million of Ghana's tax- payers' money had gone into poles and distribution; the money from where, from the sweat and toil of Ghanaians? What has happened? Go and look at what is happening in Adenta. No detailed survey was done. The contractors are at the ECG now looking for more money.

An equivalent work done in Abuja cost $26 million; when they came here and did the tender without even mapping, they said it was $16 million. What are they going to do? They are going to fleece you and me; that is what I am talking about, Deputy Minister. Mr. Speaker, I want to end.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon
Member, kindly wind up.
Dr. Prempeh 12:30 p.m.
I thank you for giving me
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:30 p.m.
Thank
you very much. The Hon Member is unwittingly misleading the House and I wouldl wish to refer him to Order 184 (1). It says:
“The Committee on Employment, S o c i a l We l f a r e a n d S t a t e Enterprises, composed of twenty Members, shall review and study on a continuing basis the operation of State Enterprises with a view to determining their economy and
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:30 p.m.


efficiency and also deal with matters relating to Employment and Social Welfare generally.”

So we do not need to amend our

Standing Orders. These serious matters that have been raised by the Hon Member, I am sure the Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises can take them up, and invite Management.
Dr. Prempeh 12:30 p.m.
I was going to end in
one minute.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon
Majority Leader, you listened to the Member for Sekondi?
Mr. Bagbin 12:30 p.m.
Yes, I totally agree with
him but I was shaking my head when he kept on referring to the failure of our Standing Orders to capture the urgent need for Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to appear before the House. They do not need to do that on the floor of the House; they need to do that at the committee level. In fact, they do not just appear but we have the mandate of the Constitution and our Standing Orders to go inside there and even hold inquisitions.
You inquire into their activities and operations and submit a report here for us to debate. And the issues he is raising are so critical and serious that at the end of the day, I think that we will be calling on our committee to do just that. This is not the first time we are hearing them; we have them before and even now these issues he is raising are being raised. And I think that it is important this House should take notice and go further into them.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Yes,
because you raised certain serious issues to the whole world and I think that we just do not allow them to pass. We want to take consequential action on this matter. But again, I would want -- How do you see the relationship between the Committee
on Mines and Energy that oversights that Ministry versus this Committee? I know why I am raising these matters.
Dr. Prempeh 12:30 p.m.
Please, let me finish.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Please, I
gave them the floor; you will finish, I gave them the floor.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:30 p.m.
Thank you,
Mr. Speaker. In this case, you can only have a joint committee.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Very well,
that is what I want.
H o n M e m b e r, w i n d u p y o u r contribution.
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 12:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I just like to understand precisely where we stand. Have you instructed, have you directed that these two Committees take a look at it or what?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
We have
not reached there yet, it is step by step.
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 12:30 p.m.
You will be
doing that?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
It is step
by step.
Dr. Prempeh 12:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I wanted
to end. I thank my Majority Leader for seeing the seriousness of this information I am supplying to this House. I had the occasion to discuss it with somebody who wanted to take the wind out of my sails.
But the last point I am talking about, -- the nail in the coffin I am talking about is called “Amorphous Transformers”. Transformers have a key component which we call the core and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) did a tender nearly two years ago, and of the seventeen companies that bid, everybody bid a steel core.
Why do I say that? Our electricity distribution system is the same as it is in India. In India this company is not allowed to put in an amorphous core because it is for those countries that have their electricity distribution around 97 per cent and wanting to raise it to 99 per cent. ECG did that and tens of millions of taxpayers' money went into this tender.
But the sad thing is that after they had finished with the tender, three months after when people complained, that was when ECG did another tender to look for a consultant to come and advise them on something they had already bought.
On that note, Mr. Speaker, I want to end by saying that all that I am saying, I have got evidence and that is why I am saying that. And we would want to have a serious look at Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) where one department with the exclusion of every other has taken itself of this and raped this country that much.
The only reason I am bringing it here instead of taking it to my Hon Friends is that, this same person in charge has been made Acting Managing Director and the first thing he has done has been to remove people and bring his henchmen into the Directorate of Engineering. That is the only reason I am saying it here.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Felix Twumasi-Appiah 12:30 p.m.
Mr.
Dr. Osei 12:30 p.m.
With respect, I thought there
was an agreement that there would be only two contributors from both sides; this would be the third one.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.


Member, I was thinking that the Chairman of the Committee would -- But if you think the Chairman of the Committee is representing - I thought the Chairman of the Committee is representing the Committee's Report, which is the position of both sides of the House, unless you want to count him as part of the Majority for presenting the Committee's Report. I do not have any difficulty at all with that.
Dr. Osei 12:30 p.m.
So is it my understanding
that you would be allowing the third contributor from this side? The person who seconded the motion is also in the same capacity as the Chairman, that is why he seconds the motion. We agreed that there will be only one more contributor. That is the agreement but now I find that they are having more; so it will not be fair. I believe that if that is the case, you allow, if you choose, an additional contribution -- I gave up my contribution for that purpose so that we can cut it short.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
I am
aware because you submitted two names to me from your side. Leaders, what do you say? I think that if that is the case, I will ask the Chairman to wind up and I put the Question.
Hon Member, let us make progress. I
respect understandings reached by people; it is good. So Chairman of the Committee, wind up and let me put the Question.
Mr. Avedzi 12:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker -- [Interrup-
Mr. Bagbin 12:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, just to make
sure that the issues that have been raised by our Colleagues here concerning the operations of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) be taken and investigated so that at the end of the day you make
Mr. Bagbin 12:30 p.m.


an order that the two Committees on Employment and Social Welfare and State Enterprises and the Committee on Mines and Energy should take up the issues and investigate those allegations and report back to this House. I think it is very, very important.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Yes, what
I intend doing is that after I propose the Question and disposing of the main Question, consequential orders in relation to what you have raised will be made. I agree with you that you cannot sweep these issues that he has raised under the carpet.
Mr. Kan-Dapaah 12:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
was just hoping that the Majority Leader would have caught my eye so we consult on this. I just wanted him to be aware that the financial statements for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have just been audited by the Auditor-General and laid in this House and referred to the Public Accounts Committee. In fact, we are meeting on it next week. So you probably want to take all these into account in deciding what action you take.
Mr. Bagbin 12:30 p.m.
I thank my Colleague for the information which we laid here but the allegations go beyond financial and that is why I think that even in investigating they should still look at the financial -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Very well.
Mr. Avedzi 12:40 p.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to urge Hon Members to adopt the Report and approve it for the tax waiver of €28,743,883.00 which is consequential to a loan of 85 million which was approved by this House on the 14th of August, 2008. This is very important for ECG to take those actions to give us reliable power supply to Tema and Kumasi. I want Hon Members to approve it and I thank Hon
Members.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Item 10 consequential resolution, Hon Deputy Minister for Energy?
RESOLUTIONS 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Avedzi 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I second the motion.
Mr. First Deputy Speakr 12:40 p.m.
Motion for the adoption of resolution moved and seconded. It is for the consideration of the House; in actual fact, it is consequential. I will therefore put the Question.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr. First Deputy Speakr 12:40 p.m.
I direct that the joint Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises and that of Mines and Energy look into the issues that have been raised on the floor of the House in relation to the management and operation of the Electricity Corporation of Ghana and report to the House accordingly.
Mr. Bagbin 12:40 p.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am told that item 8 will have to be deferred to tomorrow. I think in the circumstances, we have finished the Business on the Order Paper except that committees will have to meet after adjournment. Mr. Speaker, I want to emphasise this because I was compelled to whip Hon Members to come into the House to give us the numbers because committees were meeting while Parliament was in session.
But we reiterated here many times that committees should meet after adjourn- ment. It is important that Hon Members should abide by this -- It is very important.
Mr. Speaker, I now beg to move, that this House do adjourn till tomorrow 10.00 a.m. when we shall reconvene to continue with business. I beg to move.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to second the motion. But Mr. Speaker, all this that we have been doing, I believe that if our committees themselves will be listening to what business is transacted on the floor of the House then they could maybe on their
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.


own act on some of these things before the Chair directs that they should look at them.

Mr. Speaker, because our Standing Orders are very clear on this -- Order 192 (2) says:

“No instruction shall be given to a Committee to do which it is already empowered to do or to deal with a question beyond the scope of a Bill or matter”.

So if it is within the competence of the committee to act on it, when they have listened, they can take a cue from what business is transacted on the floor to deal with them.

Mr. Speaker, as I said, I want to second the motion but I may with respect want to remind you that when you made the referral you did not give any time frame and that could be open-ended and will not see any outcome from the joint committee. So if you could, with respect, give them some time frame within which to operate. I believe that will be all right with the House.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
What will you suggest? Because I am aware that the House will be rising this week and that was why I was in a difficulty. But you can make some suggestion as to whether they should work during the recess so that when we reconvene by October, the report should be ready.
So I direct that they should submit the report to the House in October when the House reconvenes.
Hon Minority Leader, have you seconded the motion for adjournment?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have. Mr. Speaker, with respect,
when we come for the next Meeting it will be the Budget Meeting. So maybe, the first two weeks before we have the Budget they will report and then we will know what the next step will be for us. But let me doubly assure you that I have seconded the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 12:40 p.m.