Debates of 30 Oct 2009

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Hon Members, in accordance with Order 53 (2) of the Standing Order, I am minded to alter the order of proceedings and after Prayers, immediately go on to the Commencement of Public Business. So item 6 of the Order Paper -- Laying of Papers.
Mr. J. T. Akologu 10:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
the item 6 was done yesterday; it is item 7 that we have come to.
Madam Speaker 10:05 a.m.
We are starting
Mr. Akologu 10:05 a.m.
Sorry, sorry.
Madam Speaker 10:05 a.m.
So Laying of
Papers -- By the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the Interpretation Bill.
Mr. Akologu 10:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the
Chairman is out of town; he is on an official assignment and the Report is not ready; so I plead that we defer it until I contact the Vice-Chairman and others.
Madam Speaker 10:05 a.m.
All right. We then
move on to item 7, the motion.
MOTIONS 10:05 a.m.
Chairman of the Appointments Committee (Mr. E. K. D. Adjaho) 10:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts the Fourteenth Report of the Appointments Committee on the President's nominations for appointment to the Supreme Court.
1.0 Introduction
Madam Speaker, His Excellency,
President J. E. A. Mills in a letter dated 20th August, 2009 communicated to Parliament for the approval of the nomination of the following persons for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court pursuant to article 144 (2) of the Constitution:
1 . J u s t i c e B e n j a m i n Teiko Aryeetey
2 . J u s t i c e N a s i r u Sulemana gbadegbe
3 . J u s t i c e V i d a A k o t o -
Bamfo.
In accordance with Order 172 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House, the nominations were referred to the Appointments Committee for consi- deration and report.
The names of the nominees were subsequently published in the media in accordance with Standing Order 172 (3). Memoranda were also invited from the public as part of the mechanism to ensure that each of the nominees satisfies the requirements of the Constitution, particularly article 128(4).
2.0 Reference Documents
The Committee referred to and was
guided by the following documents during deliberations on the above mentioned nominees:
1. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of ghana;
2. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of ghana;
3. The Curricular Vitae of the nominees;
3.0 Procedure
The Committee noted that despite two weeks of advertisements requesting memoranda from the general public, none was received.
In line with the procedure of the Committee, each nominee took the oath of a witness or made a solemn affirmation in that regard. They also answered questions on issues ranging from their records of office, experience on the bench, the positions to which they have been
nominated through general matters of legal, judicial and/or national concern. 4.0 Observations and Recommendations
4 . 1 J u s t i c e B e n j a m i n Te i k o Aryeetey: Justice-designate of the Supreme Court
Background
Justice Banjamin Teiko Aryeetey was born on June 14, 1941. He attended Mfantsipim School from 1956 to 1960 where he obtained a first division Certificate in the West African School Certificate Examination and later attended the Winneba Training College from 1960 to 1962 where he was awarded a Teacher's Certificate ‘A'. He continued to Achimota School from 1963 to 1965 for his general Certificate of Education Advance Level. He obtained his LLB degree from the University of ghana in 1968 and further pursued a Post-graduate Certificate in Law at the same university.
He was first appointed District Magistrate grade II in April 1971. He rose through the ranks and was appointed a Justice of the High Court in 1989. In 1990, he was appointed Judge Advocate for the ghana Armed Forces.
Justice Aryeetey was subsequently appointed a Justice of the Court of Appeal in 1999 where he has served to date.
He has participated in various international conferences including Operat ion Cross Roads , Afr ican Programme on American Legal Institution and Jurisprudence in the USA and Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association Workshop in The gambia.
He has held several other positions including Chairman of Maranatha University College Board and a member of the Judges and Magistrates Association. He is also a lecturer on Judicial Ethics for the Career Magistrates Programme and an examiner on Practical Advocacy for final year students of the ghana School of Law.
Experience on the Bench
His Lordship Justice Aryeetey informed the Committee that he has been on the Bench for 38 years. During this period he has worked in Accra, Akim Oda, and Cape Coast.
Judicial Activism
When asked about his understanding on Judicial activism, the nominee opined that it means not being there just to interpret the law but being proactive to solve problems as and when the need arises and being willing to effect change when necessary.
Opinion on law on “Wilfully Causing Financial Loss to the State”
On the law of “wilfully causing financial loss to the State”, Justice Aryeetey indicated to the Committee that he has never dealt with the law but has a fair idea about it. Quizzed further on the actus reus and the mens rea of the Law on wilfully causing financial loss to the State, the nominee stated that it is important that the actus reus and the mens rea are established in determining the criminal liability of a person charged with wilfully causing financial loss to the State.
MPs on Governing Boards and Conflict of Interest
Questioned on whether the appoint- ment of Members of Parliament to Boards and Councils of Public Corporations does not have inherent conflict of interest, the nominee opined that the matter should not be generalized but must be looked at on
case by case basis. Upper Limit for the Number of Judges on the Supreme Court
On his take on a possible upper ceiling for the number of Supreme Court Judges, the nominee noted that based on the 1992 Constitution, there is no such upper limit. He said currently, the Court of Appeal is expanding and as the economy grows, there could also arise the need to expand the Supreme Court. To him, the current frame of the Constitution allows for flexibility but “when you don't need it, you don't bring it on board”.
Retirement in two years at the Supreme Court
Members wanted to know if the two years left for the nominee to retire was not too short a time for him to make any impact at the Supreme Court. He responded and explained that “others have been there for shorter periods and still performed” and so he will manage with the two years at his disposal.
Panelling for Constitutional Interpretations
On the suggestion of empanelling the full complement or membership of the Supreme Court to sit on matters -- constitutional matters, the nominee expressed the view that the court should stick to the minimum of five (5) so that in case of a review others could be brought in. He further stated that it is “illegal” for any body or group to insist that the Supreme Court should be empanelled by all the Justices for any case.
Judicial Delays
Justice Aryeetey attributed the delays in disposing of cases at the courts to several factors and said frustrations put in the way of cases by some lawyers also contribute to the delay.
Landmark Case
Upon enquiry, the nominee informed the Committee that in his view one of the landmark cases he has presided over was a case involving the government's intention to sell out some shares in the then Ashanti goldfields Corporation (AgC). He said he tried the case and gave his ruling, the effect of which was that the government could sell the shares. It is significant to note that there was no appeal in the matter.
Judges and Remand Prisoners
The issue of remand-prisoners, according to the nominee, is a disturbing one. He said ordinarily, a remand prisoner should appear before a Judge every two (2) weeks, but it is not the Judge's duty to bring the prisoner to court. Also, changes in Judges and transfers contribute to some remand prisoners being “forgotten”.
On what should be done to solve the problem, he said the rules should be followed rigidly so that remand prisoners would be brought to court as stipulated.
Court Buildings
The nominee bemoaned the deplorable nature of many court buildings in the country saying many of the court buildings “are far below what one expects to be called courtrooms”. He indicated that some District Assemblies are helping to provide court houses, explaining that court fine retentions are too insignificant to put up court houses. He said the Judicial Service is doing its best to solve the problem but this is not enough.
Judicial Corruption
The nominee informed the Committee that he is very much interested in the subject of ethics and conduct of Judges
in their duties.
He subsequently decried the situation in which allegations are frequently made against Judges but no one is willing to come forward to prove it or make a case for investigation. Consequently, he advocated vigorous public education on the matter so that people could complain to the Complaints Unit of the Judiciary if the need arose.
Directive Principles of State Policy
In the opinion of the nominee, the Directive Principles of State Policy contained in Chapter Six (6) of the Constitution of ghana (articles 34 - 41) are meant to be guiding principles. Even though they are not justiceable in his view, they are taken into account during judgments.
Obstacles in his duties
Having moved from a Magistrate to an Appeals Court Judge, the nominee intimated that every stage and location he has served came with its own obstacles and hindrances. He said hitherto, lack of vehicles was the main problem but now they have vehicles so that is no more a problem.
He further explained that currently at the Court of Appeal, the needs of Judges are reasonably catered for but the same cannot be said of the lower courts.
Political Colouration of Judges
The nominee s t a t ed t ha t t he Constitution does not allow Judges to show their political colouration or persuasion. Therefore, trying to get Judges to publicly declare their political bias would be illegal. Recommendation
Minority Leader (Mr. Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 10:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg in all humility, to second this motion. I do not know whether my Hon Colleagues, particularly those of them on
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NPP - Manhyia) 10:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to support the conclusions for which the Hon Chairman of the Appointments Committee has arrived at.
Madam Speaker, I want us to draw our attention to certain things inherit in examination of Supreme Court Judges. Madam Speaker, your goodself was on the Supreme Court until you retired, you would have still been with the Supreme Court but maybe, for age.
Madam Speaker 10:15 a.m.
It is not for life.
Dr. Prempeh 10:15 a.m.
It is up to the age limit of 75 years.
Madam Speaker 10:15 a.m.
70 years.
Dr. Prempeh 10:15 a.m.
70 years, when the life expectancy in ghana is 61 years, Madam Speaker. [Laughter.]
Madam Speaker 10:15 a.m.
They do reach there, for your information.
Dr. Prempeh 10:15 a.m.
That is my point, Madam Speaker. That is the life expectancy in the country, so in ghana, it is probably for life. We should do a more thorough job than what has been pertaining, not to say that the eminent nominees are much more than qualified. They are, but we seem to be in a rush to get it through once the Presidency has forwarded it to us, and I have already discussed it with my Chairman. It does not give us enough time to deliberate into details. Their judgement, Madam Speaker, is law.
So if we find out that some Supreme Court Judge nominees are not very conversant with our Constitution, it becomes a bit worrying. But since the Chairman -- and we support this motion, I would say that we would discuss it as a Committee to make a better job as has been entrusted to us.
I wholly support this motion.
Thank you.
Mr. Haruna H. Bayirga (PNC - Sissala West) 10:15 a.m.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to rise and support the motion on the floor and to urge Members to give their approval.
During the vetting, there was an observation and the observation was that some of the people who have been in remand for a very, very long time, appear before courts and they are released, they are freed and they go home. Some do not appear before courts but they are released -- through no fault of theirs; once you are released then you are cleared, that you have not committed any crime. There is no compensation for this group of people. Meanwhile, they would have lost their jobs, their wives, their means of livelihood and the community looks down on them as people who have come out of jail. We
appeal to the Supreme Court Judges that, they should see if they could advocate --
Indeed, they said that it is in the law books that people should be somehow compensated. But in this country, it is not being done, and we have appealed to them that we should look at it again so that these people, when they come out as free people, they would be taken care of.
On that note, I wish all Hon Members would approve their nominations.
Mr. Kobina Tahir Hammond (NPP - Adansi Asokwa) 10:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I wanted to make one or two comments but it looks like a certain amount of dictatorship is creeping in here. Every- body is telling me to sit down; Hon Tia said I should sit down; another person Hon Adjaho is saying I should sit down. Madam Speaker, I want to be of good character, so I want to sit down. They want me to sit down. [Laughter.]
Madam Speaker 10:15 a.m.
In other words, you support the motion?
Mr. Hammond 10:15 a.m.
Yes.
Minority Leader (Mr. Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 10:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to, in principle, support the Report of the Appointments Committee in respect of the recommended approval for the nomination of these three Justices to the Supreme Court, not least Madam Speaker, because of the strand contained in the nominations for women empowerment but because indeed, the beneficiaries have earned these promotions; that significantly and revealingly, one of them, Justice gbadegbe demonstrated tremendous potential to even touch the sky.
Minority Leader (Mr. Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 10:25 a.m.


In that regard, I extend my profound congratulations to all these three nominees. Madam Speaker, I must congratulate the appointing authority for bestowing this honour on these three nominees.

Notwithstanding, Madam Speaker,

there are some serious concerns, profound concerns. A couple of years ago, the previous administration, the Kufuor- led NPP government nominated four Judges for approval by Parliament to bring the number of Justices at the Supreme Court to 14. Never mind the fact that one person, at that time, was terminally indisposed and for that reason, the operating number, for all practical purposes, was going to be 14.

Madam Speaker, the cacophony which was generated, that greeted that singular act was most significant. Madam Speaker, I do not remember that the NDC as a party took a position on that matter. But indeed, high profile, high-heeled and high-browed personalities in the NDC took positions in this matter and stated emphatically that government was packing the courts with its sympathisers, and I am quoting what they said:

“. . . that the Executive intended to manipulate the Judiciary and that people were going to be discon- tented with the dispensation of justice in the country”.

Madam Speaker, perhaps, we may

refresh our memories with what was said on the floor of this House when the number was being increased to 11. And that was in March, 2002.

Madam Speaker, the Hon Deputy

Minority Leader then, Mr. I. K. Adjei- Mensah, had this to say -- that increasing the number to 11 amounted to swelling the number on the Supreme Court. For that reason then, he indicated that the then NDC Minority would not want to be part of the consideration of the nominations in

of a member, one Justice of the Supreme Court, the retirement of one and the resignation of yet another whittled down the number from 14 to 11. For those who said the number of 13 or 14 was too large, nature has been very kind to them. So, why increase the number now to 14? Not even to 13, I should say, for practical purposes as the case was yesterday but 14 now. Why?

Madam Speaker, can the same argument

not be raised against Prof. Mills that he is also bloating the numbers on the Supreme Court? Madam Speaker, can it not be said of the Prof. Mills' Administration that they are also packing the Supreme Court as they accused the Kufuor Administration of? Can it not be said of the Associate Professor of Law that he is minded to manipulate the Judiciary?

Madam Speaker, criticism should be informed by principle and criticism should aim at reform not a reversion to the status quo if the situation presents itself.

As I indicated earlier, Madam Speaker
Mr. E. K. Adjaho 10:25 a.m.
On a point of order.
Madam Speaker, I do not want to intervene at this point, but the truth of the matter is that the document that was supplied to the Committee clearly indicated we were replacing three Supreme Court Judges, some of whom have retired and one who has actually - It is one of replacement. So I think that the Hon Minority Leader should put this information in the public domain.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I do not think the Hon First Deputy Speaker has said anything to the contrary. Madam Speaker, whether replacement or fresh appointment, the
value is the same. The number now is 14. And for a party that has said that even taking the number in the first place to 11 amounted to swelling --

Madam Speaker, I beg to quote, 18th

March, 2002 Appointments Committee Report, column 3547. Let me say this; the then Deputy Majority Leader stated, the first paragraph, let me quote:

“ Mr. Speaker, I am going to explain; I have used those phrases advisedly, because there is a press release from our Colleague Minister for Informa- tion and Presidential Affairs (Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey) that the appointment of Justice Afreh will enable the Chief Justice to meet the requirement of expanding the number to 11.”
Mr. John T. Akologu 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I do not know whether the Hon Minority Leader would accept this statement: I am sitting here and he is confusing me and I do not know what is happening to those who are either outside, because - Interruptions] -- If the explanation by the Chairman of the Committee that the three Judges that we are going to approve today are just a replacement, it means that the number that he is referring to as 14 has always been there. Because there is nothing like an addition; it is a replacement. So my understanding is that the number 14 had been in existence before today.
this House. Indeed, he went on to say that they were going to be spectators because they, like Pontius Pilate, wanted to wash their hands off. The words are there, Madam Speaker, let me quote.
Madam Speaker, the Hansard of 18th March, 2002 -- since the Hon Deputy Majority Leader is daring me to quote, this is what he said, column 3546 - [Interruptions] - I did not hear Hon David Assumeng saying that we are wasting time. [Uproar.]
rose
Madam Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:35 a.m.
He said in column 3546:
“So, Mr. Speaker, we are putting this on record for posterity to judge whether the appointment was beyond the personality of Justice Afreh, or the principle is whether to get him to swell the number just to vote in one direction or the other --”
The Speaker drew his attention that it was not really right. But then, he went on to re-emphasise the point on column 3547. Madam Speaker, I could go on and on. But that indeed, was the trend and they the NDC Minority then said they did not want to participate in the proceedings.
Madam Speaker, I have already signalled that the Chairman intends to leave. But the Hon Minister for Roads is saying that I should quote. So, Madam Speaker, if he is daring me, I would still quote -- [Interruption.] The Hon Deputy Majority Leader has made a u-turn, he is saying no, so I would not go there. [Laughter.]
An Hon Member 10:35 a.m.
Which paragraph?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:35 a.m.
The third
paragraph. I quote, with the indulgence of the House and your goodself, Madam Speaker:
“There is therefore justifiable discontent with the dispensation of justice, the professionals scorn at the quality of some of the judgements delivered from the Bench and an increasing tendency on the part of the citizenry to mete out instant justice. It is the duty of the NDC that we restore confidence in and respect for the Judiciary, make it truly independent and close any loopholes that turn to tempt and encourage Executive manipulation of the Judiciary. In pursuance of this, we set ourselves clear benchmarks by which the NDC government's performance in respect of law and justice shall be measured at the end of the first term of our office.”
The construction is as if the Consti- tution guarantees them a second and a third term. We will come to that.
Madam Speaker, the point being
canvassed is simple that the transition
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:35 a.m.


for themselves, as if the Constitution guarantees subsequent succeeding terms for them -- Well, they have stated categorically again on page 33 of the manifesto cited supra that they --

“Will ensure…”

and I am quoting:

they “will ensure the empanelling of all Supreme Court Justices on all cases so that there is consistency of precedent and an end to litigation.”
Mr. Adjaho 10:35 a.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I think that on the issue of relevance, the issue before us is the nomination of the three Supreme Court Judges, not one of the manifesto of the NDC. I know that the Hon Minority Leader is so much in love with the NDC manifesto that when I even want some clarifications on the NDC manifesto, I approach him. [Laughter] But with regard to the Judges, we all agreed that we should not politicize it, we should not be drawn into the manifestos of the various political parties.
And as much as possible, we try to veer away -- Now, he is putting the NDC manifesto on track. The issue is about the three nominees, not the NDC manifesto. So he should address the matter before the House.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, issue of consistency. On March 18, 2002, the NDC copiously referred to the manifesto of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in respect of the nominations of the Justices. Now, why should my Brother, this time not only tiptoe away, but speedily ran away from the manifesto of the NDC, why? He wants to leave, he should allow me to finish; I even want to go further on -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon Member,
I think this time he wants us to operate within the rules.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, precedents in this House inform us about the track insofar as they were not ruled unparliamentary or not within the rules and regulations of our House.
Madam Speaker 10:35 a.m.
So Hon Member, are you saying that if some decision has been made and the next Speaker does not think it falls within the rules, that he or she would not be able to also bring new thinking to it? I think the one thing he is raising is that we should speak to the motion. I do agree that these points will sort of come in, but I think he says it is going in too far and - [Interruptions.]
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I take a cue from what you have said, knowing very well that you yourself would resist the temptation of descending into the arena of debate.
Madam Speaker 10:35 a.m.
I will never do that.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:35 a.m.
But Madam Speaker, empanelling the Supreme Court was and is part of the Report we are considering.
Madam Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Oh! All right. Then carry on, but do not be too long.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:45 a.m.
I think that that matter about the even numbers should concern all of us. As for empanelling the Supreme Court Justices at first sitting, I think that the intendment appears to be quite good, except that the modus is clearly unconstitutional and illegal. But we would address that aspect in a moment. The issue is, if as the NDC is canvassing, the Supreme Court is fully empanelled on any case at first consi-deration and there is a split decision and upon review there
is also another split, what decision would then obtain? What would be the effect of two split decisions? So we should be wary of that.
So it is important maybe, to revisit the issue of numbers in the first place.
Madam Speaker, as regards the merits in that argument of ensuring the empanelling of all Justices of the Supreme Court on all cases, the response by Justice gbadegbe was quite unequivocal, unambiguous and indeed, very succinct. He said that it is an illegality; I would not want to go further.
Madam Speaker, the Constitution provides in article 125(1) as follows 10:45 a.m.
“Justice emanates from the people and shall be administered in the name of the Republic by the Judiciary which shall be indepen-dent and subject only to this Constitution.”
That is 125(1).
Madam Speaker, reinforcing that position, that is the position of article 125 (1), is article 125 (4) which states :
“The Chief Justice shall, subject to this Constitution, be the Head of the Judiciary and shall be responsible for the administration and super- vision of the Judiciary.”
Madam Speaker, what it means is that there cannot be any bolder declaration of intent of Executive interference and, by extension, any more concrete evidence of a purpose by the Executive to manipulate the Judiciary than what the NDC has done on page 33 of their manifesto. That the NDC government would ensure or see to it that the Supreme Court is fully empanelled on all matters! Justice gbadegbe has said that he considers that as a wish list, that is the manifesto of the NDC. Let it be, Madam Speaker, with all respect, a death wish and let that wish perish before it is
He is referring to a period in 2002. What happened along the route of 2002 up to today, he has not told us. But my understanding is that if we are replacing three people with a number and somebody is telling us that that replacement makes it 14, I do not understand how that would be an addition. The number has always been there. That was why I said he must come out - If he is not going to succeed in confusing all of us, he must come out clear. Are we adding or we are replacing?
These two words -- he says that we are replacing -- he is the Chairman, and he is his Ranking Member and that is their Committee's Report. So he is replacing and he is adding. Can he, please, come clear?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my Hon Colleague is saying that he is confused; I would leave him in that state -- [Laughter.]
Madam Speaker, a number is increased to 11, it is criticized that it amounts to swelling, it goes further to 14 and people say we do not even want to take part because it is over-bloated. Madam Speaker, now, as I said, nature has been kind to them, so leave it there at 11. The President whose party criticised the numbers 11 and 14 now says let me get back to 14. That is the issue and Hon John Tia says he is confused.
Madam Speaker, because he says he is confused, I would leave him to perish in the state of confusion.
But Madam Speaker, as I indicated earlier, the operating number of Justices is from hence going to be 14, an even number. As we do know, if the Supreme Court sits to review its own decisions, a full panel sits. If it happens that way and there is a split decision, Madam Speaker, what happens?
Indeed, it is instructive to observe that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has even categorically indicated that during its first term of office, and I wonder how many terms they are envisaging
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:45 a.m.


Madam Speaker, as for the charges of justice being bought and sold to the rich and the justification of instant mob justice on the altar of the incompetence, the clear verdict is that they are palpable untruths. Party manifestos should be predicated on truth, just so that the little confidence left in politicians would not be further eroded.
Madam Speaker, the Constitution provides as per article 128 (4) as follows 10:45 a.m.
“A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Justice of the Supreme Court unless he is of high moral character and proven integrity and is of not less than fifteen years' standing as a lawyer.”
Madam Speaker, there is no clear provision in the Constitution regarding the ability, capability and competence of whoever is nominated to the Supreme Court. It is no wonder that the nominees endevoured to parry questions which sought to test their own brain on some seemingly controversial legal matters. May we consider inserting the relevant clauses in the intended review of the Constitution? I guess it would serve a very useful purpose.
In concluding, Madam Speaker, let me again refer to the Constitution, article 144 in particular, 1 and 2. Madam Speaker, article 144 (1) says and with your permission, I quote:
“The Chief Just ice shall be appointed by the President acting in consultation with the Council of State and with the approval of Parliament.”
That has been done already. Now what we are doing in respect of other Justices of the Supreme Court derives its strength from article 144 (2):
“The other Supreme Court Justices shall be appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Judicial Council, in consultation with the Council of State and with the approval of Parliament.”
Madam Speaker, this appears to be the last leg of this process and that is what Parliament is doing now. Chronologically, one realizes that the President, before he makes the nominations should listen to the advice of the Judicial Council, so that one should be the first. The second chapter then is the consultation with the Council of State and thereafter to Parliament.
Madam Speaker, this is only logical. Madam Speaker, what did we see in these appointments? Madam Speaker, as is traditional, as is conventional, as is constitutional and indeed, as has been the case, the Chief Justice wrote to the President. The Chief Justice wrote on August 12, 2009 in respect of these nominations. The letter was written on 12th August, 2009. The Office of His Excellency the President, Associate Professor John Evans Atta Mills received the letter from the Chief Justice on the 18th of August 2009. [Interruptions.] They received it on the 18th of August, 2009. The President received this letter. After that it was referred to the Council of State.
Madam Speaker, it is instructive to note that whereas the President received this letter from the Chief Justice in respect of the advice on these three Justices, and this letter was received by the President on the 18th of August, the Council of State held a meeting on the 13th of August 2009, even before the President had received this letter from the Chief Justice and considered these nominations -- the Council of State -- And on the 17th - [Interruption] - The source is here. Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways is
asking me for the source.
The source is per the letter written by the Council of State, signed by Prof. Kofi Awoonor, the Chairman of the Council of State, to the President and it is dated 13th August, 2009. If they like I would read the content. Madam Speaker, should I read the content?
Some Hon Members 10:45 a.m.
Read, read.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the letter says and with your permission, I quote:
“Please refer to your letter No. OPS104 Vol.2/09/1673 dated 12th August, 2009. . .”
-- when the President had not received the letter from the Chief Justice. And then they said the Council of State met on 13th August and endorsed the nominations which had not been received officially at least, by the President. That is our Council of State. Madam Speaker, the Council of State wrote to the President and the President is saying that he received the letter from the Council of State on 17th August 2009 when he himself received the letter from the Chief Justice on 18th August 2009.
Madam Speaker, some people, some neutrals have already concluded on the rather “indecent haste” in the matter before us which as we have heard from the Chairman of the Appointments Committee are of these replacements. These are unfortunate circumstances to say the least. The people of this country are better judges. I have made all these points so that we know what had gone on and what is going on. But as I have already indicated, I do not want to take anything away from these three justices.
I have already indicated that they have

Madam Speaker, another bold declaration in the manifesto is to place upper limit on the number of Justices that may be appointed to the Supreme Court. I am not sure about what is meant by that provision, whether it is meant the number that the Prof. Mills' government may itself appoint during its term or the total number of the Justices on the Supreme Court. Beyond that, we notice that an even number of Justices is an aberration, an odd number is better and indeed best. So is the 14 going to be subtracted from or added to? Is it going to be 13, 15 or 17?

Madam Speaker, my own opinion is

that Parliament as an independent arm of government must assert itself in these areas of undefined rules. We all recognize that 19 or perhaps, even 17 or even 15 will be too high. Parliament could refuse to approve beyond a certain number in the case of Justices of the Supreme Court, just as well in the case of the appointment of Ministers. If we are not careful, we may enter the realm of absurdities.

Madam Speaker, as to comment on an optimal number, none of the nominees ventured any guess, one of them stating that as a beneficiary of the no-ceiling regime, he himself would not want to critique the system. That, indeed, is caution. But one can glean some amount of discomfort in that very answer which reinforces the position that Parliament must take a position in a very non-partisan manner in these matters.

Madam Speaker, it is instructive to know that in the United States of America, the Supreme Court at the federal level has no higher than 9 Justices of the Supreme Court. It is important for us to inform ourselves of this to also inform our own system.
Mr. K. T. Hammond 10:45 a.m.
On a point of
order.
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon Member, is it
on a point of order?
Mr. Hammond 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
Mr. Hammond 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
I have been complaining about some amount of unfairness in here. The Chairman of the Committee had to travel urgently, for that reason, some of us stood
down our contributions. He now has the oppor-tunity to simply wrap up and run for his plane. Now, look at all that he is doing in here. That is not fair, so he should just wrap up and catch his plane.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Yes, you are
summing up, are you not?
Mr. Adjaho 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am
winding up but it is very important to put certain things on record. It is very, very important and it is important to correct certain impressions. In 2004, I was part of the Minority Leadership and it will not be fair for certain comments to be made and for me not to respond. If the then Minority Leader was here, I would not have been bothered, I would not have responded.
Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 10:45 a.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I think the Hon Chairman of the Committee will spare us all these explanations - at the Committee level, we discussed it and we agreed that something was wrong with the chronology of the sequence of receipts and non receipts of documentation. I think the issue now here -- what is germane to the point is that, are these people qualified or not qualified? That is what we are dealing with. He should stop all these things and let us go ahead and decide whether or not the people are qualified or not.
I do not think we should drag the issue of the appointment of Justices of the Superior Courts into disrepute. So far we have all said that we were quite delighted with their performance. I think the Chairman of the Committee will advise himself and refrain from that, otherwise, we are all going to go back into the old system again which is not what we are here for. I think we ought to deal with it, just finish and go on.
Thank you.
Mr. Adjaho 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as I
have said, the stamps on the dates the letters were received, is evidence but not conclusive evidence and when those matters were raised -- if you look at the dates that the letters were received, if you look at the official stamps, there is something wrong with it - [Inter- ruptions.] The dates that they were received, there is something wrong. But as I said, that does not conclude the matter, we do not intend as a Committee, at the committee level to go and - [Inter- ruption.]
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon Member, can
you now wind up?
Mr. Adjaho 10:45 a.m.
It is rather unfortunate
that a matter at the committee level, we discussed and I thought that we pointed out certain things should come back to be a matter of serious concern on the floor.
Having said all these, I thank all Hon Members for supporting the motion.
Thank you very much.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:45 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, you did recognise me and gave me the floor. Perhaps, the First Deputy Speaker did not hear that instruction. The point I made really was not to ridicule
earned these nominations which is why in conclusion, rather grudgingly, I would commend these nominees and recommend their nominations to Parliament as the Appointments Committee has indeed done. I have already indicated that some of them - indeed, in particular, Justice gbadegbe distinguished himself before the Appointments Committee. I would want to believe that given the opportunity, he will contribute to enrich the adminis- tration of justice in this country.
Mr. Adjaho 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I thank
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
You were supporting
the motion?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:55 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, that is what I set out to do at the onset, except to point out certain anomalies.
Madam Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Yes, yes.
Mr. Adjaho 10:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I thank Hon Members of the House for their contribution but it is very, very important to put certain things on record for posterity. The first point I would want to make in that regard is the comment made by the Hon Member for Manhyia (Dr. M. O. Prempeh) and I entirely agree with him.
For example, apart from looking at the bare provisions of the Constitution, what else do we look at as a Committee in recommending to this House for the approval of Supreme Court Judges? Do
Madam Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Hon Member, I
think what he said was that it was not conclusive; was it not?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, beyond that he is saying the Committee discussed the issues that I raised. Madam Speaker, nothing can be farther from the truth because he did not know. I raised this matter as an aside at the Committee level, and he was surprised. When did the Committee discuss that matter? We should be truthful with ourselves.
Madam Speaker, what he has said is an apparent and a clear untruth, and it should not come from the First Deputy Speaker who presides when you are not in the Chair. Madam Speaker, I take a strong exception to that. What he said, he knows is not true, but I will rest it because finally, he has appealed that we all support it, which is what we have done. As to what he said, as I said, I do not know whether to re-emphasize that it is a palpable untruth.
Thank you very much.
Madam Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Hon Members,
the debate is over now, and I have to put the Question. [Interruption.] I think the
Madam Speaker 10:05 a.m.
The motion is adopted. The House has accordingly approved the following nominees for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court in accordance with article 144 (2). They are Justice Benjamin Teiko Aryeetey, Justice Nasiru Sulemana gbadegbe and Justice Vida Akoto-Bamfo.
I think Hon Members, you will all join with me and we take this opportunity to congratulate them for receiving parlia- mentary approval for their appointments as Supreme Court Justices.
Thank you, Hon Members. Now, we move back to the Correction
of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:05 a.m.
rose
Madam Speaker 10:05 a.m.
The Official Report -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have raised this matter here time
and time again in respect of Hon Members who are marked absent. And I refer in particular to the list of Hon Members who were absent on the Votes and Proceedings, 29th October, 2009, pages 5 and 6.
Madam Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Yesterday?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:05 a.m.
And while he was there, he was marked absent. It could not be so because certainly, he had our authority to participate in the proceedings of the Pan African Parliament, and yet he is out there, and he has been marked as absent. Equally so for the Hon Member for Oforikrom (Mrs. Elizabeth Agyeman) my own Deputy (Hon Ambrose P. Dery), Hon Osei-Mensah, who is now on an official mission to Ouagadougou, and so on.
Madam Speaker, I believe we should take a position on this. Once we know that they are attending these conferences, these fora, these meetings on behalf of our Parliament, we should recognize that and not mark the Hon E.T. Mensah as having been absent without permission. I think it is most incongruous and we should look at that.
Madam Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Did it say without permission?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:05 a.m.
Yes, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 10:05 a.m.
It said “The
following Hon Members were absent”?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, yes. Madam Speaker, those with permission have been clearly marked.
Madam Speaker 10:05 a.m.
All right, further up.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, maybe, we may have to look at it again, and see how to more appropriately capture these absences.
Madam Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Thank you Hon Member. I think it would be taken note of.
Yes, I was referring to the Official Report of the 27th October -- Correction of the Official Report -- [Pause] -- The Official Report of 27th October, any corrections? [Pause.]
Hon Members, in the absence of any corrections, the Official Report of Tuesday, 27th of October, 2009 is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.

Hon Members, once again, in the absence of any corrections, the Official Report of Wednesday, 28th October, 2009 is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.

Then we move on to Thursday, 29th

of October, 2009 -- Official Report; any corrections? That is yesterday.

Hon Members, in the absence of any corrections, the Official Report of Thursday, 29th October, 2009 is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.

Item 3 on the Order Paper. Now we go

to Business Statement for the week.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Kofi Frimpong (Kwabre East) 11:15 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Education what efforts the Ministry is making to address the havoc caused by a recent rainstorm to the following educational institutions in the Kwabre East Constituency: ( i ) g y a a m P e n s a n
Secondary Technical School
( i i ) Adven t i s t gi r l s High School Ntonso
( i i i ) I s l a m i c P r i m a r y School Aboaso
( i v ) R o m a n C a t h o l i c ‘ B ' Primary School Aboaso
( v ) R o m a n C a t h o l i c Primary School Krobo.
Questions --
*184. Mr. Stephen M. E. K. Ackah (Suaman): To ask the Minister for Education when the gETFund Project involving a science cum ICT laboratories at Dadieso Senior High School will be completed to enable the students have access to practical science lessons and ICT studies.
*185. Mr. Benito Owusu-Bio (Atwima Nwabiagya): To ask the Minister for Education when new classroom blocks will be constructed for the
Mr. Kofi Frimpong (Kwabre East) 11:15 a.m.
following schools in Atwima Nwabiagya District, whose existing classroom blocks have been destroyed by rainstorm:
( i ) A c h i a s e M e t h o d i s t Primary School
( i i ) N t e n s e r e D i s t r i c t Authority Primary School.
*186. Mr. Robert Sarfo-Mensah (Asunafo North): To ask the Minister for Education when all the teacher applicants for the study leave facility will benefit from it.
*187. Mr. Richard Akuako Adiyia (Ahafo-Ano North): To ask the Minister for Education whether there has been any decision on the duration of Senior High School.
*189 . Mr. S tephen Kunsu (Kintampo North): To ask the Minister for Education what immediate steps the Ministry is taking to supply Kintampo senior high school with a school bus to facilitate effective administration.
Statements
Laying of Papers --
Annua l Ex te rna l F inanc ing Performance Report of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for the period January to December
2008.
Annual Report of the National Communications Authority for the year 2008.
Annual Report and Accounts of the ghana Road Fund, 2007.
Committee Sittings.

Questions --

*134. Mr. Isaac Kwame Asiamah (Atwima Mponua): To ask the Minister for the Interior what is being done urgently to assist flood victims in the Atwima Mponua Constituency.

*173 . Mr. S tephen Kunsu (Kintampo North): To ask the Minister for the Interior what steps the Ministry is taking to equip Kintampo ghana National Fire Service Station with a utility vehicle and a new fire appliance to effectively handle emergency disaster cases at the Kintampo North Constituency.

*174. Mr. Ben Abdallah Banda (Offinso South): To ask the Minister for the Interior what steps the Ministry is taking to resolve the critical accommo- dation problems of the ghana Police Service in ghana.

*175. Mr. Kofi Frimpong (Kwabre East): To ask the Minister for the Interior the intervention NADMO is putting in place to alleviate the plight of the victims of recent rainstorms that hit Asonomaso, Kasaam and Aboaso in the Kwabre East Constituency.

*176. Mr. Herod Cobbina (Sefwi Akontombra): To ask the Minister for the Interior what immediate plans the Ministry has to increase the staff strength of ghana Police service personnel

in the Sefwi Akontombra District to adequately take care of the citizens there.

Statements

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Interpretation Bill

Committee Sittings.

Respectfully submitted.
Mr. Isaac K. Asiamah 11:15 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, it is not for nothing that Hon Members of Parliament ask Questions. We ask Questions and we demand Answers from the Executive.
Madam Speaker, when the Deputy Leader of the House was delivering the Business Statement, he did indicate that those of us who think that our Questions are no longer relevant for -- Madam Speaker, is it deliberate that the Executive delays answering Questions so that they become irrelevant? We ask Questions and we demand Answers from the Executive.
Madam Speaker, I asked my Question
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Honourable, who
delayed it? We should not make charges we cannot prove. Tell us who you think delayed it. We have a lot of Questions and you know how we schedule Questions and your Questions are all there, are they not? And they have been scheduled. We cannot take your Questions and leave the others which came before yours. So they are listed. So if you say they have delayed it, is it Parliament, is it the Clerks?
Do not talk about government, government does not work here. So, please, carry on with what you are saying but do not charge people unless you can
provide the evidence that somebody here is delaying it.
Mr. I. K. Asiamah 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, mine was an Urgent Question and I filed it about five months ago when there was flooding in my constituency and at that time, I impressed upon the Hon Minister and the Executive to come and answer and give me a feedback. Nothing came back and today, I am being asked to withdraw the Question.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Oh, who said you should withdraw the Question?
Mr. I. K. Asiamah 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the issue is that the time we needed the response, it did not come.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Honestly, nobody will force you to withdraw your Question. You know that? You can never be forced to do anything.
Mr. I. K. Asiamah 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, but today as we speak, the Question is no longer relevant because the flooding is gone - [Interruptions] - my people were not catered for and they continue to suffer. That is the issue, that the time we needed the Ministry most, it did not come.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Well, the issue is that you should take into account also the exigencies of the work here. As you know, a lot of Questions come, we programme them but when it gets to your turn and you feel that the Question has already been answered in some way or another, then you graciously withdraw it but I do not think anybody will ask you to withdraw a Question. Today are you on?
Mr. I. K. Asiamah 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, it has been programmed for Friday.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Yes, maybe, next
Friday. When we get there and you think it has been answered then maybe, you may graciously withdraw that. I do not think anybody can force you to withdraw
Mr. I. K. Asiamah 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, but the point I am making is that we should act and act urgently and expeditiously for we are governing a country. We should be faster in responding to situations of such nature. That is my concern as a Member of Parliament that we should act and act fast to alleviate the suffering of our people. That is my legitimate concern.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
That is a very legitimate concern. I was talking about when you said “some people”, whether the Executive or Parliament, and I said, no. Please, do not charge people unless you have the evidence. So your point is well taken. I think you say that it should be expeditiously brought up.
Mr. I. K. Asiamah 11:25 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I do not intend debating you since I have grown to love you so much in the House -- [Laughter] - I do not intend debating you.
Thank you.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
This is really not debating, it is just that when you make an allegation, I wanted you to be careful that you do not charge people who have done nothing.
Thank you very much, Hon Asiamah for your co-operation.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I wanted to ask the Hon Deputy Majority Leader when the House was going to meet as a committee to discuss welfare matters before the financial estimates are laid.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, any indication as to when?
Mr. Akologu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, thank you very much. Before I come to his question, I just want to assure my Hon Colleague - I. K. Asiamah that no one will force him to withdraw a Question. It was an appeal that we made in view of the work load that we have - [Interruptions] -- We will move on but you see, when you are making a charge, you should be mindful of your own side. That is all that I am saying. I do not want to go on to other areas.
Madam Speaker, on welfare matters, yes, we have said that there will be various meetings and other things. There will be a Committee of the Whole meeting, that is being proposed for next week. We have not firmed the date but we are thinking of Wednesday. We are gathering some information before we can put it on the agenda. So when the time comes, we will let you know.
Thank you.
Mr. Joseph Osei-Owusu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am not sure whether the Deputy Majority Leader will like to explain to the House how Questions are selected to be put before the Hon Ministers to be answered. This is because in the last Meeting, I filed Questions and the Meeting came to an end, they never showed.
At the close of that Meeting, I filed another one on the same subject matter, since May this year and that Question has not appeared to be answered but I noticed that Questions that were filed much later in time are being put before the Hon Ministers to be answered. We do not know by what criteria the Questions are selected to be put before the Ministers.
Mr. Akologu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as
you are all aware, the procedure is that a Member files his Question at the Table
Office and it is forwarded to Madam Speaker for consideration and admission. It is only when that is done by Madam Speaker, if she admits a Question that the Minister is notified of it and we have a time limit that the Hon Minister has to provide the Answer to the Table Office to enable the Business Committee to programme it for answering on the floor of the House.
Most of the time until all these processes are done and mainly, it is how the Answer is received from the Minister that we will programme a Question to be taken. So that is the process and along the line you know the official thing - bureaucracy takes place sometimes -- so that is the procedure. Nobody delays any Question for any reason.
Thank you.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think there appears to be some omission when the Hon Deputy Majority Leader spoke about the presentation of the Budget. I think the position that the Business Committee took was that given the shortness of the time that we have, we were striving to see if the presentation of the Budget could not come a day or two before the 19th and then whether we are able to do it or not is another matter.
This is because we cannot compel the Finance Minister. But we said that Hon Members - that is the Committee Chairs, the Vice-Chairs, the Ranking Members -- I do not know whether to include the Hon Deputy Ranking Members, are to hold themselves in readiness for the engagement with the specialists on Sunday after the presentation to Parliament so that we do that engagement on Sunday and Monday following to allow the debate to commence on the following Tuesday.
Usually, we allow for one week to
allow the experts to consider the Budget and Economic Policy document before we engage them but we now have a very short time. So just allow a couple of days, Thursday evening, Friday, Saturday and rather start Sunday and Monday. And that is what we said these people should take notice of but I think the text forgot to include that. It is important that we sound them.
Mr. Akologu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I did not forget per se, but we have explained that the Budget would be presented within this period. He is aware that at the Committee level, we were not certain of the exact date; we will have an opportunity to meet again before the Budget is presented. So when the details are known and I guess that yesterday there was a Cabinet meeting and Hon Majority Leader attended, when he comes, he will give us the information on the exact date and at the next meeting next week, we will take a firm position on these issues and inform the House.
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Today's Business Statement as presented is adopted.
Now, we move on to Question time, Hon Members - The Laying of Papers, item 6, we left that out. Commencement of Public Business when we got to item six the Hon Minister was not in.
Mr. Akologu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as I indicated earlier on, the Vice Chairman is now in and I will crave your indulgence to allow him to lay the Paper.
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Chairman of the Committee, can you lay the Papers?
PAPERS 11:35 a.m.
- 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Now, we can move back to Question time and as you know, we have one hour for Question time. We have a number of Questions, so can we be brief? Hon Minister, you are here, can I call on the first Hon Member who asked the Question? Mr. Robert Osarfo-Mensah (Asunafo North) Question No. 83, to ask his Question?
Mr. George Boakye 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, with your indulgence, I rise to ask the Question on behalf of the Hon Member for Asunafo North.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:35 a.m.
MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 11:35 a.m.
Minister for Roads and Highways (Mr. J. K. Gidisu) 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, Mim is an important town in the Asunafo North Municipal Assembly of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The Bediakokrom-goaso-Nobekow highway and the Mim-Atronie feeder road pass through the town. Some sections of the roads in the town are paved while the rest are unpaved. The condition of these sections is poor.
Current Programme
In 2007, a contract was awarded for the upgrading of sections of the town roads to bitumen surface dressing. This comprised the 2 kilometres road link in Mim town made up of 1 kilometre section on the link from the VRA station through the lorry park to join the Mim-Atronie feeder road, 820 m link to the chief's Palace and the 180 m link into and out of the lorry park. These were to be carried out in two stages.
The f i rs t s tage comprised the construction of concrete drains and building of the pavement up to the sub- base layer. This phase was completed in March, 2008.
Mr. Boakye 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise again to refer the Hon Minister to the last sentence;
“. . . The execution of this stage has been constrained due to funding.”
The Hon Minister has not been too précised with the Answer. I would want to know from the Hon Minister the steps he is taking to solve the problem of funding to ensure the smooth implementa-tion of the project.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the funding of that project is part of a national scheme and as I indicated, we are soliciting for funding and as we get ourselves availed with adequate funding for the completion of that stage, we will definitely take it on board.
Mr. Boakye 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to appeal to the Hon Minister that Mim is the most populous town in the Asunafo North with a population of about 23,000. Therefore, whatever funds that come his way must be given to Mim as priority.
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Finished. Anybody wants to ask a question?
Mr. I. B. Awuah 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I just want to draw the Hon Minister's attention to the Question once again. Madam Speaker, the Question was specific on time. It was not about resource in terms of funding; so I want the Hon Minster to let it be known when work on the project is going to start.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I very much share the sentiments of my Brother about time, but time is constrained by the availability of resources and I said that we were seriously mobilising funds and to put time lag on that would be inappropriate. But I can assure him that we are seriously working on that and we would bring it on board.
Dr. A. A. Osei 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, can the Hon Minister tell this House what “seriously looking for funds” means? What does it mean to be seriously looking for funds?
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, for example, I believe that in the course of this Meeting, we are bringing to this august House an upward revision of our tolls of roads and bridges in this country, which is a very dependable source of revenue for the Road Fund of which all these projects are contingent on. So when we say we are doing this, I think my Hon Colleagues could be rest assured and I appeal to them that when the Legislative Instrument (LI) comes to the House, they will do it with that dispatch, that would encourage us to get the revenue for that work.
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
The next Question will be from the same Hon Member who asked the Question.
Aworakese Bridge (Construction)
Q. 84. Mr. George Boakye (on behalf of Mr. Robert Sarfo-Mensah) asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Aworakese Bridge (near Asumura)
would be constructed.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Aworakese junction to Aworakese feeder road is 4.4 kilometres. It is an un-eningeered road and located in the Asunafo North Municipal Assembly of the Brong Ahafo Region. The road condition is poor.
The Ministry received a request from the Asunafo North Municipal Assembly for the provision of a bridge at the point that River Enyimaye crosses the road. A visit to the site however revealed that a box culvert would be the appropriate intervention.
The Department of Feeder Roads (DFR) has been directed to undertake engineering studies on the road to determine the appropriate box culvert to be constructed. This study will be undertaken in 2010. Based on the outcome of the studies and the availability of funds the box culvert will be programmed for construction.
Mr. Boakye 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, Aworakese is a very important cocoa growing area and because of the poor nature of the bridge, the Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) are finding it difficult to cart cocoa to the southern side of Asumura. I, therefore, want to suggest to the Hon Minister that while waiting for the studies to be completed, he should provide a temporary wooden bridge to enable the LBCs to cart their cocoa to the southern side of Asumura.
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Was it a question or just an appeal?
Mr. Boakye 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to know from the Hon Minister whether he would consider providing a temporary bridge on the river to enable the LBCs cart their cocoa from Aworakese to Asumura.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, there is already a wooden bridge and this is the situation that we have seen that there is the need to replace it with a box culvert. I would want to assure my Hon Colleague that in the interim, we may have to advise on the reinforcement of the wooden bridge as an interim measure towards the construction of that box culvert.
Mr. Boakye 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want the Hon Minister to note that I have worked in that area before, the bridge is a death trap and therefore, the sooner it is repaired the better.
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Can you not put it in a Question form for him to take notice of it?
Mr. Boakye 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have finished with the questions and I want to suggest to the Hon Minister that the bridge is a death trap and therefore, something must be done to forestall any problem from happening.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, that is an inherited problem and I can assure him that we would do everything possible to make the necessary intervention.
Mr. Boakye 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, it does not mean that the Minister should wait for people to die if even it is an inherited problem. I implore him to fix it.
Mr. David Tetteh Assumeng 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister if the Ministry has plans to construct such similar bridges all over the country.
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Well, I do not see the relevance of the question that was
asked. Do you mean a general question or is it concerning the Aworakese Bridge?
Mr. Assumeng 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, since the issue of bridges has come to the fore and we think that it is very important to Hon Members as well, we think that if the Ministry could assure Hon Members that plans are afoot to construct such bridges in various parts of the country, I think that would also put us in some position.
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Then put it in a Question form -- when would he build similar bridges - Is that not the Question? Then he would know the answer to give. Hon Minister, I think what he is saying is -- when would similar bridges be built all over the country?
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think we have a very comprehensive bridge project overlapping from previous years to now, and I can assure Hon Colleagues that there is a comprehensive programme towards especially the feeder roads linkage with bridges and that one is oncoming. A number of Bills towards credit facilities would come before the House for approval towards that.
Mr. S. K. B. Manu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to ask the Hon Minister that in the second paragraph of his Answer, the third line, he said and I quote with your indulgence:
“A visit to the site however revealed that a box culvert would be the appropriate intervention.”
I would like to know when this visit was undertaken.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, to give me a very accurate oversight of the situation, it was when the Question was filed that we asked for an update of the
situation along that route.
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Members; we move to the next Question then. Question 85, Hon Kwasi Annoh Ankamah to ask the Question.
Prof. (Emeritus) Samuel Kwadwo Amoako 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, with your permission, I want to ask the Question on behalf of the Hon Member for Atiwa (Mr. Kwesi Annoh Ankamah).
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Yes. Can you ask the Question now?
Abomosu-Asunafo-Jejeti Feeder Road (Completion)
Q. 85. Prof. (Emeritus) Samuel Kwadwo Amoako (on behalf of Mr. Kwesi Annoh Ankamah) asked the Minister for Roads and Highways what measures were being taken to ensure that the road works from Abomosu through Asunafo to Jejeti was completed on time.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Abomosu-Asunafo-Jejeti feeder road is 21.65 kilometres long and is located in the Atiwa District of the Eastern Region. It is an engineered road with gravel surface and in good condition.
The road is one of the road links which received spot improvement under the Feeder Roads Improvement Programme (FRIP) with funding from the European Union (EU).
The works comprised the construction of 19 number culverts, 280 m of concrete drains and 7.44 kilometres of gravelling. The project was completed in April 2009 at the cost of gH¢277.803.72 and taken over in May 2009.
The future plans is that the road will be programmed for routine maintenance programme in 2010.
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Minister if he is aware that what he described as the road is “in good condition” in the last sentence of the first paragraph is really not in good condition. The road has started deteriorating already. Is he aware of this?
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am not aware.
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, may I know from the Hon Minister what steps he is going to take to ensure that this road is inspected and report given to him so that he would be aware.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I indicated in the last paragraph of my Answer, that for the 2010 fiscal year, there would be a routine maintenance of that road and the routine maintenance would take care of the portions that may go bad as he is indicating. He can be directly assured that the routine maintenance would take care of that problem next year.
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, is the Hon Minister telling this House that we must take his word and assurance that he is going to make himself aware of the problems on this road? Shall we take his word for it?
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my Hon Colleague and brother is a friend, he knows that I stand by my word and I give him that assurance that for the 2010 fiscal year, we would do spot improvement along that road and he can take my word for that.
Dr. A. A. Osei 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, 2010 fiscal year's Budget would be coming in next month, so we should expect that if we are following up on the Hon Minister's
Dr. A. A. Osei 11:45 a.m.


word, we should be seeing a programme for this part of the road. Is that what the Hon Minister is saying, that next month we should see it?
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my brother knows very well that we may not be very indicative of specific roads in that wise; we would capture it under spot improvement of roads generally in the country. So he can be rest assured that it would be captured along that line.
Dr. Osei 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, would the Hon Minister confirm that it would be captured in the Budget that they would be bringing to Parliament - [Inter-ruptions.] That is what he said, that 2010, and that is why I want him to be careful. My Hon Colleague's Question was specific about the 2010. The Budget for 2010 would be coming to us next week, so I am asking him - would it be captured in there because if it is not captured in there - [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Can you make the question clearer? What is captured -- after he said on roads generally - [Interruption.]
Dr. Osei 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, can the Hon Minister confirm that this specific - [Interruption.] I listened to Madam Speaker, I did. Can the Hon Minister confirm that in the Budget that would be coming to us next month, we would be able to see that this particular road for which he has programmed for routine maintenance will be captured?
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
I think he has referred to future plans. From your reply, Hon Minister, that the road would be programmed for routine maintenance programme in 2010. I think the question is whether -
Dr. Osei 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, if it is programmed for 2010 and we want to take his assurances then it would have to be captured in the Budget for it to be implemented. So I was asking him, next month, when we get the Budget, should we expect to see it there? Because if we do not, then the assurance he has given us would be null and void.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my Hon Colleague is an immediate past Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and he knows that under those general matters, we cannot capture feeder roads of that magnitude individually in the Budget. They come under the routine maintenance generally and I can assure him that the routine maintenance provision under the 2010 fiscal year will definitely cater for that road.
Dr. Kojo Appiah-Kubi 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think I need your assistance to understand the Question and the Answer a bit more. The Question that was put to the Hon Minister was, “What measures were being taken to ensure that the road works from Abomosu through Asunafo to Jejeti was completed on time.” In his Answer, the Hon Minister said that the road works had already been completed and taken over in May.
Does it mean that the Question was asked earlier than May? I just want your assistance and maybe, to the relevance of the Question and the timing of when we received the Answer. This is because if you look at the Question, I do not think it is now relevant and I do not know whether the Question has been changed; whether the road works actually referred to - road maintenance or - I just cannot understand the Answer properly. Can you, please, assist me to understand?
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Member, I would have if you had been the Hon Member who asked the Question but the Hon Member who asked the Question is in no doubt about it.
Dr. Appiah-Kubi 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Member who asked the Question is not around.
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Well, Hon Member stood in for him. Are you saying he did not understand the Question and the Answer? That is my observation. Yes, I see what you mean but I am saying that this should have come from the Hon Member who asked the Question or his representative but since you did not ask the Question, of course, you will not understand, maybe, but he understood the Question well because he has not complained.
rose
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Member, I thought we had finished with your three Questions?
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I just wanted to provide some information to my Hon Colleague here. I have travelled on that road, so I can testify that the project has been completed.
New Takoradi and Kokompe Roads (Plans)
Q. 86. Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko- Mensah asked the Minister for Roads and Highways the Ministry's plans for the two major economic roads namely, new Takoradi road and Kokompe road, in view of the economic potentials of the region, especially the discovery of oil in the region.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, both the New Takoradi road and the Kokompe road are located in the Sekondi-
Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly in the Western Region.
The New Takoradi is 1.8 kilometres and serves as access to the New Takoradi community and some industrial establishments in the harbour. goods such as lime, cement, bitumen and minerals, such as bauxite are conveyed to and from the harbour.
The section of the road from the Paa grant roundabout through the T-junction to the New Takoradi community is tarred but has deteriorated and developed several potholes, while the section from the T-junction to the railway line in the harbour has lost almost all the bitumen surfacing.
Madam Speaker, the Ministry has made provision in the 2010 Budget to carry out partial reconstruction works to strengthen the pavement structure on the 1.2- kilometre section from the Paa grant roundabout towards the harbour gate while resealing and normal routine maintenance works would be carried out on the remaining 600 metres of the New Takoradi section.
For the Kokompe road which is 3.5 kilometres, the preparatory works involving inventory design and packaging had been done by the Department of Urban Roads. Resealing and partial reconstruction works on this road has been provided in the 2010 maintenance programme of the Ministry.
Mr. Darko-Mensah 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Minister when procurement of works will begin on these roads. [Interruption.] I wanted to know when procurement of works would begin for next year since it is part of his budget for 2010.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I believe my Hon Colleague is interested in the execution of this project. As indicated in the business programme of the House, the Budget is yet to be presented to the House and I would urge him to throw his weight behind the budget of the Ministry which would make provision for the execution of the project as indicated here.
Mr. Darko-Mensah 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I believe that it is very necessary because recently, the road was blocked by the youth of the area. That is why I need to ask him so that they would be assured that that road would be done. So if he says that we should wait till the Budget is read in the House, I strongly believe that --Already he has mentioned that the Budget would be coming to the House on the 19th and I strongly believe that since he did the budget for his Ministry, he has a work plan and therefore, I would like to know when the Ministry plans to start that project or commence work for procurement.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Member, I think obviously, when you pass the Budget then he can do it; is it not? Can he answer? He says when you put your strength behind the Budget then -- [Laughter.] He has answered that question, or is it another question?
Mr. Darko-Mensah 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I believe that he is running away from the question because otherwise, it might also mean that I would have to bring another Question asking him again when he is going to start the road after we had passed the Budget and I strongly believe that that would also amount to bringing the Question back to the House.
So I thought that since he has a budget, definitely, he has an action plan to the budget that he is bringing to the House and I would like to know something about it.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
I do not know whether you can ask that question -- supposing this would be done. But can you help?
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I just want to draw my Brother's attention to the point that the approval of the Budget from the House here will empower us to execute whatever proposals we now have along that line for that particular project. So he should hold on and support the Budget when it comes, so that we would be empowered to execute the programmes of the Ministry which include the urban roads of the New Takoradi community and the section he talked about.
rose
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
You have asked two questions; do you have another question?
Mr. Darko-Mensah 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am not satisfied with the answer. [Interruptions] Yes, I am not.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
You cannot be satisfied. The rules say that when the Minister answers the Question, you take it; you do not debate with him. It is in the rules. Maybe, other people are satisfied, you are not, but the rules say that you take the Answer -
Mr. Darko-Mensah 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, my last question on Kokompe; Madam Speaker, can I ask my last question?
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Your last question.
Mr. Darko-Mensah 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the last one is on Kokompe; the Kokompe
Mr. Darko-Mensah 12:05 p.m.


road has seen a lot of rehabilitation, about four times in the last ten years. I would like to know from the Hon Minister what new input they are considering for the partial reconstruction of the Kokompe road as he mentioned.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minister, this is another road; Kokompe road.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I do not know if my Hon Colleague is telling this House that the Kokompe road is in the best of shapes because from our point of view, there is the need to reseal the potholes and other patches on that road and that is what we have indicated; we are programming ourselves for the 2010 fiscal year. So if he is trying to indicate that the road is in the best of shapes, it contradicts what we have seen on the ground.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, this is for my education. I want to find out from the Hon Minister, is the road located in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly or the Metropolis? [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Minister, can you -
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, it is located within the Metropolis.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi 12:05 p.m.
So it is not located in the Assembly? [Interruptions.]
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I indicated it is located within the Metropolis.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I think - [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Member, I think he has answered your question. You asked a question and he has answered you; you are not debating him.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi 12:05 p.m.
I am not debating him, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
He says it is within there.
Dr. A. A. Osei 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, unless there is a typographical error in the Order Paper, this is the Hon Minister's Answer here and with respect I would read:
“Both the New Takoradi road and the Kokompe road are located in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly …”
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
That is why he corrected it; that he meant within.
Dr. Osei 12:05 p.m.
So there is a typographical error here; “in the Assembly.” Madam Speaker, it cannot be located in the Assembly.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Let him correct it. Hon Minister?
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I indicated that it was located within the Assembly. But if he is going by that, the Assembly area -- So that is the point I am making.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Member, he says put “area” - “within the Assembly area”.
Dr. Osei 12:05 p.m.
It would be incorrect to put “Assembly area”.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I tried to help him, he did not see it. Was it in the Metropolis or in the Assembly? There is nothing like “Assembly area;” in the Metropolis. [Laughter.]
Mr. Simon Asimah 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in the Answer that the Hon Minister gave,

he said, paragraph three and with your permission, I quote:

“The section of the road from the Paa grant roundabout through the T-junction to the New Takoradi community is tarred but has deteriorated and developed several potholes; while the section from the T-junction to the railway line in the harbour has lost almost all the bitumen surfacing.”

Madam Speaker, my question to the Hon Minister is, when was the road tarred? I am asking this question to see how long it takes for a road to deteriorate, when a road is tarred.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Minister, do you know when it was tarred?
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I may not be able to be time-specific, but definitely, it has seen some years behind it in terms of some earlier works.
Mr. Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister in his Answer to the New Takoradi road indicated that goods such as lime, cement, bitumen and minerals such as bauxite are conveyed on this road and in that vein, that pavement structure is going to be strengthened. I want to know from the Hon Minister what type of pavement structure is his Ministry considering on this particular road since that road carries a lot of heavy loads.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Colleague who asked the Question was an engineer in the Ministry a short while ago and I can assure him that having taken note of the fact that, that is an economic road, it would be strengthened in terms of the new structural designs that we have come up with, to be able to withstand the economic activity that is carried along that line.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
We move to the last Question then; from Ms. grace Addo, the Hon Member for Amansie West.
Work on the Amankyia-Ahwerewa- Asuagyenun Road
(Resumption)
Q. 87. Miss Grace Addo asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when work on the road from Amankyia to Ahwerewa through to Assuoyenyun would resume, since construction work had come to a standstill.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the road from Amankyia to Assuoyenyun is part of the connector from Wioso in the Atwima Nwabiagya District through Amankyia, Assuoyenyun to Moseaso in the Amansie West District. The road is 37.0 kilometres long and serves a number of communities. The road condition is poor.
Madam Speaker, the entire 37- kilometre road has been programmed for upgrading from gravel to bitumen surface in phases. The Phase 1 contract involving the first 9.4 kilometres beginning from Wioso was completed in 2006. The Phase II, which is 6.5 kilometres was awarded in July 2006 at the contract sum of gH¢974,173.66. The contract commenced in October 2006 and was scheduled to be completed by October 2007. Currently, work is 51 per cent complete.
There has been a delay in completion. Following discussions with the contractor in February 2009, the site has since been reactivated. The contract is now expected to be completed by December 2009.
Madam Speaker, the future programme is that on completion of Phase II, the remaining 21.10 kilometres will be
programmed for execution depending on the availability of funds.
Ms Addo 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I would like to know from the Hon Minister if he is aware that the contract sum that was allocated for the construction of the 6.5 kilometres road also included the construction of a bridge in the centre of Assuoyenyun on the main road to Moseaso which has now been abandoned. When the contractor was contacted, he told me that work had stopped because when there was a change of government, they came to him to stop constructing the bridge and my problem is, from the Answer the Hon Minister gave, this main road is serving a number of communities and I am asking whether it is important for the Minister or whoever is responsible to stop the contractor from constructing the bridge, which is very important to the people of Amansie West.
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Did you get the question?
Ms Addo 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, my question is, the contractor is telling us that he has been stopped from constructing the bridge at the centre of Assuoyenyun and I am saying that this contract included the construction of the bridge. Why has he been stopped from constructing the bridge?
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Minister, she says why have you stopped the contractor from doing that?
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, my Hon Colleagues would realize that we said the contract was awarded since 2006 and the work had staggered until we now directed that it should be reactivated and the reactivation started in February this year - that is when it stopped. Perhaps, it stopped during the time that we were

not in power. But I can assure her that we are taking steps to get the work completed since we indicated that it would be completed by December this year. The bridge would be catered for if it is part of that contract.
Ms Addo 12:15 p.m.
I thank the Hon Minister and I hope he will go by his words and my people are also hearing that the bridge would be constructed.
Mr. S. M. E. K. Ackah 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, reading through the Hon Minister's Answer, I realize that even if the second phase of the 6.5 kilometres is completed by December this year, we still have 21.10 kilometres to be tackled. What plans has the Ministry got with respect to this 21.10 kilometres by way of maintenance so that the road would be motorable?
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I indicated in the last paragraph of my Answer that we would be taking it on alongside the availability of funds. But in terms of some reshaping which would be different from the actual planned work, to make it motorable, I think it would be considered.
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Minister for coming here to answer Questions for us.
Hon Members, I think we have come to the end of Public Business. Hon Akologu, any indications as to what -
Mr. J. T. Akologu 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, as contained in the Order Paper, we now have committee sittings. I will therefore crave the indulgence of yourself and the House that we do now adjourn till Tuesday next at ten in the forenoon.
Madam Speaker, I beg to move.
Dr. A. A. Osei 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 12:15 p.m.