Debates of 4 Nov 2009

MR. FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10 a.m.

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10 a.m.

Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report.

The Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 3rd November, 2009 be adopted as the true record of proceedings.

Hon Members, it may be recalled that

yesterday we deferred the consideration of the Official Report of 30th October, 2009 in order that Hon Members could bring their copies. So let us look at the Official Report for 30th October, 2009.
Prof. (Emeritus) Samuel K. Amoako 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am referring to column
184 --
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10 a.m.
Normally, we say “columns”.
Prof. (Emeritus)Amoako 10 a.m.
I said column 184, under Question 85 and with your permission, I quote:
“. . . 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.”
What we have is “was completed . ..” And in the same column, the Answer given by the Hon Minister, the last paragraph and I quote:

“The future plan is that the road will be programmed for routine maintenance programme in 2010.”

I do not believe the Hon Minister said “routine maintenance programme in 2010.” The “programme” preceding “in” should be taken out.

Thank you.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10 a.m.
Very well. The Official Report of Friday, 30th October, 2009 as corrected be adopted as the true record of proceedings.

There being no correction the Official Report for Tuesday, 3rd November, 2009 be adopted as the true record of proceedings.

Hon Members, Question time; Item (3), we have the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing to answer Questions.

Question No. 197 standing in the name of the Hon Member for Takoradi, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah.
Mrs. Catherine Abelema Afeku 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Hon Member for Takoradi, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, I ask the question for him. He has given me the permission to do so. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10 a.m.
Hon. Member, you will take authority first and if it is granted, then you go ahead to ask the Question. He has authorized you to ask the Question on his behalf?
Mrs. Afeku 10 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10 a.m.
Very well, go ahead.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10 a.m.

MINISTRY OF WATER 10 a.m.

RESOURCES, WORKS AND 10 a.m.

HOUSING 10 a.m.

Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing (Mr. Albert Adongo) 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry has directed the Hydrological Services Department to carry out surveys, appropriate design and costing for funds to be sourced for the construction of the New Takoradi Coastal protection works.
Mr. Speaker, the Hydrological Services Department is to submit its report to the Ministry within six (6) months for further action.
Mrs. Afeku 10 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, since the
Hon Minister says “within six months”, would he please share with the House when this report or directives to the Hydrological Services Department was given so that we can calculate the actual six months?
Mr. Abongo 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, hopefully,
by March next year, we should be getting the report from them.
Mrs. Afeku 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon
Minister actually did say that they had directed the Hydrological Services Department to carry out surveys, appropriate design and costing and now he is saying it will submit its report next year. The answer seems to confuse me and the rest of this House. Please, he should
clarify it.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Hon
Member, that is why you press with your supplementary question. So ask the supplementary question.
Mrs. Afeku 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like
to know when the Hon Minister issued the directive to the Hydrological Services Department to carry out the surveys, design and costing. Mr. Speaker, it seems there is a conflict with the answer he is giving us and I am confused with the date for the submission of the report.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Hon
Member, if he says March, you just have to calculate backwards to know when the 6 months directive was given so that you can ask your question. So ask the question.
Mrs. Afeku 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like
to ask the Hon Minister to clarify when he actually gave the directive for these services to be conducted.
Mr. Abongo 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that
it is about mathematics. I am not saying that starting from now they should submit a report in six months. They have been issued with the directive to submit a report within 6 months and that should come in March, next year.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
When did
you give the directive?
Mr. Abongo 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the directive
was given last month.
Mrs. Afeku 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in view of
the incoming industry of the oil discovery in the area, within the time frame that he has given us, do they have any plans to also sensitise the communities around the New Takoradi area of the impact of the sea on their lifestyles vis-a-vis the oil industry that is coming in?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Hon

Member, rephrase the question and ask.
Mrs. Afeku 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like
to ask the Hon Minister if the Ministry for Water Resources, Works and Housing has any plans to sensitize the community of New Takoradi with this directive that he is giving the Hydrological Services Depart-ment.
Mr. Abongo 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, maybe, we
will have to pass that information to the Regional Minister that something is being done about the situation.
Ms. Cecilia A. Dapaah 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I would like to enquire from the Hon Minister where the funds that he has promised to source would come from.
Mr. Abongo 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think
that when it comes to the issue of funds, where we can lay hands on funds would be where we will draw from. That is open, we would look for it from government and external sources.
Ms Dapaah 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in our
proactive quest for or proactive ability to source for funds, it would be better that at least, since the report is supposed to be submitted in March and due to the importance of this New Takoradi Coastal Protection Works, I would want to ask the Hon Minister to be specific as to the source of funds because we do not want this report to gather dust.
Mr. Abongo 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that was
supposed I knew where money was. If I knew exactly where I could get that money, I would have been more specific. But for now, we would look for money where we can find it.
Dr. A. A. Osei 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to ask my good Friend and Hon Colleague whether he is aware that in sourcing for funds under the current
economic framework, he cannot source for a commercial loan. Is he aware of that fact?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Hon
Member, the Hon Minister never mentioned commercial loans, and that he was going to source for commercial loans. In his Answer, he never indicated that.
Dr. Osei 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, he said he was
Mr. Abongo 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the res-
ponsibility to access loan facilities is within the purview of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
Dr. Osei 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my question
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Hon Member, you know the Hon Minister said he was going to source for funds. He did not qualify whether it was going to be concessional or commercial. In fact, he even added that he did not know where he was going to source for the funds; if he had known, he would have been specific.
Mr. Ambrose P. Dery 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that the question that the Hon Member is asking is germane. The Hon Minister has said he would go anywhere. Now, this question seeks to limit the scope. So, is he aware that he cannot go for commercial loans, anywhere commercial? So if he is aware, he should tell us.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Hon Minister, you said you would go anywhere to look for the money? Are you aware that, that “anywhere” cannot include that
of commercial loans? That is the question now.
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do agree with you that this question does not arise at all. When he referred to “anywhere”, he was talking about geographic -- [Laughter.] It is geographic. He is not talking about the type of finance, whether it is commercial or concessional. He said “anywhere”. You can go anywhere and get a loan, but he is not talking about the type of loan. He said anywhere we source for funds. Even domestic, we can source for funds. What is the problem?
Mr. Dery 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not think that the Majority Leader has appreciated the import of the question. He has said he would go anywhere and anywhere is not limited to geographical. It is also limited to the type of facility that he can get.
Mr. Speaker, let me put it into context. We are expecting a Budget for next year, in a few days time and if an Hon Minister from a Ministry comes here to say he does not know where he is going to get money from, it becomes germane for us to begin to limit him and to find out whether the six months he is talking about is genuine or not.
Mr. Speaker, the important thing is that he is not seeking for opinion; it is not importing anything new. It is relevant and it is a supplementary question. He said he would go anywhere; the simple question is, is he aware or he is not? He is limited in scope, that is all.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Hon Minister, when you say you will go anywhere, what exactly did you mean?
Mr. Bagbin 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the question is clear. He said that the Ministry had directed the Hydrological
Services Department to carry out surveys, appropriate design and costing for funds to be sourced. He did not say that the Ministry or he is going to source funds for the construction -- [Interruptions] -- Mr. Speaker, when he was speaking, I sat quietly and listened to him -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Let us listen to the Hon Majority Leader, he has the floor.
rose
Mr. Bagbin 10:25 a.m.
Please, sit and listen to me. Please, sit down, your Leader is standing. -- [Laughter.]
Mr. Speaker, in answer to supple- mentary question, he stated clearly that it is the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning who is responsible for seeking for funds. I was here, he did not say his Ministry, and he did not say himself.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Let me hear from you and then I will --
Mr. Dery 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I can understand the difficulty of the Hon Majority Leader. He is alluding to the Answer that has been printed in the Order Paper. This follow-up question is in respect of an answer he gave to a supplementary question by Hon Cecilia Dapaah, so the source is not this one. And the question is so simple that I fail to understand the difficulty. [Interruption.] This Parliament must be satisfied, it is not a circus, it is not a place for jokes and an Hon Minister has said that he would go anywhere. The simple question is, is he aware that the scope he has is limited and not unlimited? That is, he cannot go for commercial loan?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Hon Minister, it is your “anywhere” that has created all these problems. What do you mean by “anywhere”, so that I will be very clear in my mind? This is because the Majority is putting a different interpretation and the Minority is putting another interpretation. So let me know, what do you exactly mean by “anywhere”, so that I can decide whether you should answer the question or not? Hon Minister, what do you mean by “anywhere”?
Mr. Abongo 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, funding sources are many and varied but the acceptability of a fund is up to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to determine if the fund is acceptable to government or not. It is not the responsibility of my Ministry to determine if a particular facility is acceptable to government or not.
Thank you.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Hon Minister, answer the question as to whether you may or may not. You tell the House.
Mr. Abongo 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am aware that commercial loans are not acceptable by government.
Water to Adjoa Community (Restoration)
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Question
Mr. Abongo 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, water
supply to Adjoa is from the Inchaban water treatment plant through Apowa. In 2006, the Department of Feeder Roads carried out surface dressing of works on the road and damaged the whole 3 kilometres of 150 mm diameter pipeline to the town.
Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) submitted an estimate to the tune of GH¢57,700.00 (fifty-seven thousand, seven hundred Ghana cedis) to the Department of Feeder Roads to restore water supply.
To date, there has been no response. Upon persistent follow-ups with the Western Regional Office of the Department of Feeder Roads, a revised estimate is being prepared for the Department of Feeder Roads Regional Office for onward submission to the Department of Feeder Roads, Head Office, Accra for consideration and payment.
Mr. Johnfiah 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want
to say that I am aware of this estimate of GH¢57,700.00 (fifty-seven thousand, seven hundred Ghana cedis) and all the time that I visited Ghana Water Company Limited, the impression had been created that they were going to bear the cost. So I want to ask the Hon Minister why they have changed from Ghana Water Company Limited to the Department of Feeder Roads to undertake this project knowing very well that they were supposed to have done it.
Mr. Abongo 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is clear from the Answer that it is the
Department of Feeder Roads that will have to bear the cost. And so it is when funds are released by them that Ghana Water Company Limited will really do the supervision and ensure that the work is done.
Mr. Johnfiah 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, since it is the Department of Feeder Roads that is going to undertake this project, why is it that the Ghana Water Company Limited has to revise the estimates for them to carry it out but not the Department of Feeder Roads rather that will have to empower somebody to do these estimates for them?
Mr. Abongo 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that is because of the know-how that exists in Ghana Water Company Limited. They deal in roads and not pipes and so it is a reasonable thing to do, that they provide the assessment and the costing of the works.
Thank you.
Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 10:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, by way of preliminary comments, it is the height of irresponsibility really that 3 kilometres of pipeline should be destroyed and nobody worries about it. I believe that, what we need here is -- will the Hon Minister be proactive in insisting that this pipeline is restored immediately and not when the so-called funds are available, which in Ghanaian parlance, from the time of independence “when funds are available”, can mean as many as ten years.
I think really that water is life, clean water is life, so the Hon Minister should take it up as a matter of urgency and insist that it is done; that is because when you have destroyed 3 kilometres of pipeline, not even a hundred metres -- that is the height of irresponsibility.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:25 a.m.
Hon
Member, ask your question.
Mr. Owusu Agyemang 10:25 a.m.
I want to know when the Hon Minister, my young Brother will insist and get it done so that the people will get the water.
Mr. Abongo 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, this damage
occurred in 2006 and my attention has just been drawn to it; I will make the follow- ups.
Ms. Cecilia Abena Dapaah 10:35 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker. I want to enquire from my Hon Minister what remedial measures is Ghana Water Company Limited or Aqua Vittens or his Ministry has put in place to lessen the hardship of the people of Adjoa.
Mr. Abongo 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I will not
be able to say what exactly Ghana Water Company Limited has done on the ground as a remedial measure.
Dixcove Sea Defence Project (Completion)
Q. 199. Mr. Samuel Johnfiah asked the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing what concrete measures are being undertaken to ensure that the Dixcove Sea Defence Project is completed to save the township from the vagaries of the sea.
Mr. Abongo 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to say that work on this project is ongoing at the moment. The contractor is blasting rocks off the site and getting them ready for laying at the site.
Activities are being monitored closely at the site and it is hoped the contractor will complete the work according to specifications. It is expected that subject to availability of funds, the project will be completed by December, 2010.
Mr. Johnfiah 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I know from the Hon Minister the contract sum of this project and the amount that had been paid to the contractor to date?
Mr. Abongo 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the contract
sum, I must say, I cannot provide here.
Mr. Johnfiah 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I
know from the Hon Minister again the reason why the contractor has not been on site since January this year?
Mr. Abongo 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
contractor is on site. It has been stated in the Answer that he is currently blasting rocks and that is an important component of this work.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Your last
supplementary question.
Mr. Johnfiah 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I know
for a fact that, since the beginning of this year, the contractor has not been on site. It was only last two weeks that he started blasting rocks. But what I want to know is the reason why since January this year he has not been to the site.
Mr. Abongo 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I will not
be able to provide that answer.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Question

Hon Members, we have one hour for Question time and I am managing the time. So I will take one more and then we move to the next Question.
Mr. Justice Joe Appiah 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I want to ask the Hon Minister if there is a budget to complete the work before the end of this year. Is there a budget for this project?
Mr. Abongo 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that is in
the budget but it is also subject to approval
by this very House.
Thank you.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Question
Mr. Stephen Kunsu 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the Hon Member for Sefwi Akontombra is absent with permission and has asked me to seek your permission to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Are you
sure he has authorized you?
Mr. Kunsu 10:35 a.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Very well,
go ahead.
Soil Erosion in Kojokrom, Apratu and Bopa
Q. 200. Mr. Stephen Kunsu (on behalf of Mr. Herod Cobbina) asked the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing about the outcome of investigation by the Hydrological Services Department to assess the extent of soil erosion in Kojokrom, Apratu and Bopa in 2008.
Mr. Abongo 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hydro-
logical Services Department of the Ministry has surveyed, designed and costed the whole project. The total estimated cost for the project is GH¢620,300.00. The Ministry is sourcing funds for the project. As soon as funds are secured, the project will be placed on tender.
Mr. Kunsu 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I know
from the Hon Minister when the Ministry completed the investigation?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon
Minister, he wanted to know when the investigation was completed.
Mr. Abongo 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I will not be able to provide that time that he is requesting for.
Thank you.
Mr. Kunsu 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the Hon
Minister's Answer, he mentioned that the Ministry is sourcing funds for the project. May I know about the latest develop- ment?
Mr. Abongo 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, funds are
not secured yet.
Mr. Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon Minister said that he is not aware when investigation was completed. And he also said that he is sourcing for funding. So I want to ask him when was the investigation completed. I think it is a very valid point.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon
Member, he has answered that question. So if you want to press further then you should press further but not to repeat the same question that had been asked and the Hon Minister had provided an answer.
Mr. Francis Addai-Nimoh 10:35 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I would like to know from the Hon Minister what are the plausible sources of funds that he is engaging himself in to secure for this project.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon Minister, you are sourcing for funds, where are the areas you are exploiting?
Mr. Abongo 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, from
Government sources, international sources and from individuals like him, provided that the funding is acceptable by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
I will take
Mr. Addai-Nimoh 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in
his answer, the Hon Minister said ‘from individuals like him'. May I know from the Hon Minister when did he contact me to find out if I would be able to provide any funds for him?
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon
Majority Leader, in his answer he referred to the Hon Member.
Mr. Bagbin 10:35 a.m.
No, he said ‘individuals
Mr. Dery 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, ‘ndividuals
like him'does not exclude you. So the question is - he is asking, so he can now include him or exclude him. That is the matter. The Hon Minister should be asked to answer. He made them a subject matter, so this comment coming from him should be reacted to.
Mr. Bagbin 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
supplementary question from him is, “. . . when did he consult him?” And I am saying that ‘individuals like him' does not include ‘you' -- [Interruptions.] It does not also exclusde ‘you' -- [Inter- ruptions] -- but the question, “. . . when did you consult me . . .” does not arise because he has not talked about him.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, I think that the Hon Minister should take a cue from you and answer the question - [Laughter.]
Mr. Abongo 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am yet to
get to him.
Mr. Isaac Osei 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, how
does the Hon Minister reconcile his earlier statement that he is aware that he cannot borrow from private sources? With the last

statement that he made.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon Member, rephrase the question. He did not say “private sources”. He never used “private sources” here.
Mr. Osei 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is quite
obvious that these individuals are private people and he himself has said that he would not borrow from commercial private entities -- [Interruptions.] Yes, he said it. If the Hon Minister will answer this question, I will appreciate it.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon
Member, the Hon Minister never men- tioned “private sources” earlier. He never mentioned it. It was the issue of a commercial loan. That was it. So if there is a private person who can be a philanthropist and can make funds available and does not offend the rules of concessionality, there is nothing wrong with it. So ask another question.
Mr. Osei 10:45 a.m.
So we are relying on gifts now. [Laughter.]
Thank you. I will ask no more questions.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon Members, let us move on to the next Question -- Question number 201 -- standing in the name of the Hon Member for Zabzugu/Tatale.
Water to Tatale, Nakpale, and Kukpalgu
(Connection)
Mr. John Bennam Jabaah asked the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when the following communities in the Zabzugu/Tatale District would be connected to pipe borne water:
(i) Tatale (ii) Nakpale (iii) Kukpalgu.
Mr. Albert Abongo 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, Tatale is a small town under the Tatale Area Council in the Zabzugu/Tatale District with a population of 6,928 inhabitants out of which 2,400 of the inhabitants have been served with safe potable water.
The town is currently supplied with safe potable water through earlier interventions with 8 boreholes fitted with hand pumps. The population served constitutes 35 per cent coverage. The remaining 65 per cent is earmarked to be served/covered under the ongoing Northern Region Small Towns Water Supply Project (NORST). Tatale is one of the 30 small towns to be covered under the project.
The project is a 30 million Canadian dollar grant to support Ghana's develop- ment agenda, earmarked specifically for the rural water sector in the Eastern Corridor of Northern Region. The project is currently running. The official launching of the project took place in Tamale on the 27th of October, 2009 by my goodself. The project will come to a closure in 2015, and Tatale is included in the first batch of 15 towns which constitute the first phase of the project. If the project runs as scheduled, Tatale will enjoy the benefit of a pipe scheme latest by 2011.
Mr. Speaker, Nakpale is a community under the Tatale Area Council in the Zabzugu/Tatale District with a population of 641 inhabitants. It is currently adequately served with safe potable water through the provision of 5 boreholes fitted with hand pumps. Indeed, it is over supplied with coverage of 230 per cent.
The community has not attained the status of a small town yet, by virtue of its size and population. Policy defines that it would be superfluous, uneconomical and waste of scarce resources to convert the
existing facilities into a small town water supply pipe scheme. However, at the earliest opportunity, it will be connected as such, as soon as it meets the requisite criteria as defined by policy for the attainment of a small town status.
Mr. Speaker, Kukpalgu is a community under the Korli Area Council in the Zabzugu/Tatale District with a population of 1,028 inhabitants. It is currently served with 2 boreholes fitted with hand pumps. This represents coverage of 58 per cent. The deficit of 42 per cent coverage, which will require a minimum of two additional boreholes fitted with hand pumps, is slated under the GH¢30 million Government investment package for rural water provision in the 2009 Budget.
The project is currently undergoing due process and it is at the tendering stage. Adverts have been floated, bids have been opened and evaluation is in progress. Contracts will be signed by the middle of November, 2009 and works will commence, latest by the end of November, 2009. On a fair day, the community of Kukpalgu should be covered 100 per cent by February 2010.
Mr. Jabaah 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon
Member, such comments are out of order. Look at Order 68 (5) rule. If you want to ask a supplementary question, go ahead and ask.
Mr. Jabaah 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am going
to ask my supplementary question but I want to do some corrections. Nakpale is not under Tatale Electoral Area. Nakpale is under Korli Electoral Area. We have
Nkpabor under Tatale Electoral Area. So I want him to do that correction. Nakpale is the third biggest community in Zabzugu/Tatale District. Nakpale in the last elections had over 1,675 registered voters. So the population of Nakpale, Mr. Speaker, cannot be 641.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon
Member, ask your supplementary question.
Mr. Jabaah 10:45 a.m.
Hon Minister, Zabzugu
town was recently affected by the recent rains in the Northern Region and as I am talking now, since August this year, Zabzugu has no pipe borne water. Is there any immediate plans to restore the pipe borne water in Zabzugu/Tatale?
Mr. Abongo 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the Hon
Member's Question, I think he was asking about Tatale, Nakpale and Kukpalgu. Now, he is bringing in Zabzugu. I think that Zabzugu township was not mentioned specifically in his Question.
Thank you.
Mr. D. B. A. Nitiwul 10:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the Hon Minister says that Kukpalgu community is under the Korli Electoral Area with a population of 1,200 in- habitants. Mr. Speaker, is the Minister aware that the registered population of Kukpalgu is 927 people and obviously, it will be difficult for the population to be 1,200? The population figures he has given are wrong. Will he consider withdrawing the Answer and coming back to this House with an accurate Answer?
Mr. Bagbin 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think his question is based on wrong premise. The fact that the registered voter population is 900 does not mean that the population of 1,028 will not be correct. That is wrong premise because the registered voter population does not necessarily mean that residents -- it does not mean that.
Mr. Bagbin 10:55 a.m.


That basis is wrong, so his question does not arise at all. Many, many people would know residents in various places move to their homes to register but they are resident in Accra, Kumasi and many places. So that premise is erroneous, it does not follow at all.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Hon Member, can you ask your question by avoiding figures because there is no official figure before me here to make a ruling one way or the other. So if you can ask questions avoiding the figures.
Mr. Nitiwul 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you very much, I will take your advice. But I just thought that if you gave a figure. that a town's population was 641, meanwhile, the registered population was 1,678, obviously there would be a problem -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Hon Member, ask your supplementary question.
Mr. Nitiwul 10:55 a.m.
My question is that, based on the population, he gave an indication as to the coverage area of 230 per cent and 58 per cent based on the population he has given us. I just want to ask, with the inconsistencies, will he agree to withdraw and come back to this House? That was what I asked.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
I overrule that question.
Hon Member for New Juaben.
Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, this is the House which the whole nation looks up to and if facts are presented, which demographically cannot be sustained by simple arithmetic, then it is necessary that it is pointed out.
I think when mistakes are made and Ministers are corrected, they should
take it in good faith. And I think with the utmost of respect to you, Sir, it is a bit high-handed to rule people out of order because of figures. The figures determine the mode of the question and my distinguished Majority Leader is saying that -- what he is saying would not catch, demographically and mathe-matically.
So the young man has got a point and I think we must encourage them to point out to them that there are mistakes in the Answer of the Minister and that is it. He should go and correct the figures.
Mr. Speaker, next time, please, allow us to say what we want to say.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Hon Member, I entirely agree with some of your observations; if there is a mistake, there is a mistake but you can use questions to point out that there is a mistake. The way they are going about it is not within the rules. You can ask the Hon Minister whether he is aware that the figure for this place is so and so, so that you pursue it from that angle. But not to get up and make some derogatory comments about the Answer provided by the Minister. The Chair will not take that.
Mr. Dery 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Minister what is the source of his figure of 641 as the population of Nakpale.
Mr. Abongo 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that this answer will answer for the question that was also posed by my Hon Colleague at the back. Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) have their own counting methods, so the population stated here does not refer to national population census, they have their own counting methods and these figures are
provided by CWSA.
Dr. Kojo Appiah-Kubi 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, can the Hon Minister tell us the method used by CWSA to count the people in the area?
Mr. Abongo 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, before a project is undertaken in a particular community, CWSA have their own method of doing population count within the delineated areas to be served. I am not in a position to state the specific methods that they use in determining the population counts.
Mr. Dery 10:55 a.m.
Hon Minister, are you aware that the Ghana Statistical Service is the authentic source of population figures for all areas in Ghana?
Mr. Abongo 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am quite aware but then the Hon Member should understand that CWSA have a way of delineating coverage areas and so counting the population of a town will probably not be the determining factor as to what population that needs to be served or covered with water.
Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want the Hon Minister to clarify this for me. Is he saying that for planning purposes in his Ministry, they do not have regard to the certified national statistics which is acceptable but rather use their own configuration to arrive at figures? Is that what he is telling this nation? I want to know.
Mr. Abongo 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that the CWSA will definitely to some large extent depend on national population. But however, because of the spatial nature of settlement and because of probably the already existing facilities in some communities; if for instance, you have to provide a small town system, you might
not be considering the population at the peripherals because they probably could have been served with borehole systems.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 10:55 a.m.
One more question and then we move to the next Question.
Mr. F. Opare-Ansah 10:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, may I point out to the Hon Minister, on page 6, paragraph 3, starting from the middle of the second line, that indeed, what he stated is that,
“. . . Zabzugu /Tatale District with a population of 641 inhabitants. . ..”
I cannot see how this is different from the population as stated after a census, so the Hon Minister would do us good if he agrees that the numbers being referred to here and based on the fact that the Member of Parliament from the area is telling him that these are not the right numbers, he would agree to go back and actually revise the numbers with respect to this and probably reconsider his description of the required services in this area as being superfluous, uneconomical and a waste of scarce national resources.
Mr. Dery 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want the Hon Minister to tell us the population of Nakpale as recorded by the Ghana Statistical Service. [Interruptions.] Mr. Speaker, in the Hon Minister's answer to my earlier question, he agreed that the Ghana Statistical Service is the authentic source for population figures and I am now asking if he knows the population of Nakpale as far as the Ghana Statistical Service is concerned. That is all.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Minister, do you know the figure from the Ghana Statistical Service?
Mr. Abongo 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would need notice from you to come back another
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Question number 202, Hon Member for Techiman North?
Ms. Cecilia Abena Dapaah 11:05 a.m.
None

Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu -- rose
-- 11:05 a.m.

Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Now, there is trouble. Two people are on their feet, so I do not know who received the authority from the Hon Member. [Interruption.]
Ms. Cecilia Abena Dapaah 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon Member is absent and he has requested me to seek your approval to ask the Question on his behalf, and he provided a back up in case I also fall out.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Very
well. Go ahead.
Aworowa Water Project (Completion)
Q. 202. Ms. Cecilia Abena Dapaah (on behalf of Prof. Christopher Ameyaw- Akumfi) asked the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when the water project for Aworowa would be completed.
Mr. Abongo 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Aworowa-Akrofrom small town water supply scheme is designed to serve a population of 10,200 inhabitants in the communities of Aworowa and Akrofrom under the Techiman Municipal Assembly. The project is part of the second phase of the IDA financed small towns water supply schemes of the National Community Water and Sanitation Programme (NCWSP) in six regions of Ghana. The total cost of the project is GH¢977,664.61.
Mr. Speaker, construction started
early this year, precisely on the 15th February, 2009. It is scheduled to be substantially completed by the end of the year and partially handed over by the 31st December, 2009. The overall status of the project to date is 80 per cent completed. Latest by December, 2009 the communities of Aworowa and Akrofrom should be enjoying safe potable water.
Ms. Dapaah 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the Hon Minister's second paragraph of his Answer, he said:
“. . . it is scheduled to be substantially completed by the end of the year and partially handed over by the 31st December, 2009.”
I want to find out from the Hon Minister when the final handing over will be made.
Mr. Abongo 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon Member knows very well as she was a Minister in that Ministry that they would normally have to go through sensitization programme for handing over and testing the facilities and it is only after they are satisfied with everything, the performance of the system that the facility is handed over.
Ms. Dapaah 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I believe my Hon Colleague knows very well that this Question is for the benefit of the inhabitants of Aworowa and not the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bantama or substantially the Member of Parliament (MP) for Techiman North only.
Mr. Speaker, I want to also find out whether the projection for the population who are going to benefit from the water project is current or a projection was made into the future.
Mr. Abongo 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would need a substantive Question to answer this.
Ms. Dapaah 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I do not know but I wanted to do -- Can I give a point of information? If it is not allowed,
I would go on to the third supplementary question.
Mr. Speaker, the overall status of the project to date is 85 per cent completed. To date means what? Is it this week? Was it last week? Is it next week or it is today?
Mr. Abongo 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, since the filing of the Answer.
Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing whether he is considering inviting the Member of Parliament for Techiman North, Hon Prof. Ameyaw- Akumfi to the partial handing over ceremony since he was very instrumental in getting the project to the constituency.
Mr. Abongo 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I will extend my invitation to him.
Mr. Agyeman-Manu 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would want the Assurances Committee to take note of this assurance.
Mr. Francis Addai-Nimoh 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I will like to know or find out from the Hon Minister what activities consti-tute the remaining 15 per cent of the outstanding works which he is so sure that the December deadline is achievable?
Mr. Abongo 11:05 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have not captured the specifics of the project items in the Answer.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Minister, thank you very much for attending upon the House to answer Questions. You are discharged.
Hon Members, we also have the Hon
Minister for Trade and Industry in the House to answer questions.
Question Number 153, standing in the name of the Hon Member for Ashaiman (Alfred Kwame Agbesi).
MINISTRY OF TRADE AND 11:05 a.m.

INDUSTRY 11:05 a.m.

Minister for Trade and Industry (Ms. Hannah Tetteh) 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes, this is a very long Answer but I have endeavoured to provide as much infor- mation as possible.
Mr. Speaker, the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) is located in the industrial seaport city of Tema, east of the capital city of Accra. It covers a land area of approximately 600 acres. Currently, the cost of building a new smelter of the size of VALCO is about $800 million.
VALCO was initially jointly owned by Kaiser Aluminium and Chemical Corporation (KACC) -- 90 per cent and Raynolds Metals - 10 per cent, Alumi- nium Company of America (ALCOA) later acquired Reynolds' Metals -- 10 per cent shares. In October 2004, the Government of Ghana accepted to purchase the 90 per cent shares of KACC. ALCOA sub-sequently sold its 10 per cent shares to the Government of Ghana in June 2008. So it is now a wholly owned Government enterprise.
The smelter is the direct result of the Volta River Project which saw the construction of the Akosombo Dam and VALCO. VALCO provided the economic justification for the construction of the Akosombo Hydro Electric dam to give meaning to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's vision for an Integrated Aluminium Industry and an industrialized Ghana.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Well, I think Hon Members do not have objection but ordinarily, the Answer that you print there is what you read. It appears Hon Members are not adverse to that position, so I will take the sense of the House and direct that you proceed in that direction.
Ms. Tetteh 11:15 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the VALCO smelter consists of a self-contained reduction facility that includes a private dock, raw materials storage area, carbon anode manufacturing and a value-adding metal casting facility. The reduction process is accomplished by means of five pot lines -- one hundred pots per line for a total of five hundred (500) pots.
The construction of the VALCO Smelter began in 1964, with the first aluminium poured in 1966. Actual commercial operations commenced in March 1967 with three pot lines in operation. The fourth pot line was constructed and put in service in 1972. The fifth and final pot line was constructed in 1977. The maximum designed capacity of the smelter is 200,000 tonnes per year with all five lines in operation.
VALCO produces aluminium of world- class quality by electrolytic reduction of alumina (derived from bauxite) to meet the entire Ghanaian (local) demand and for export. Most of the aluminium produced is converted into value-added products like billets (for the manufacture of aluminium doors and window frames), rolling ingots (for the manufacture of aeroplane parts, beverage cans) and foundry ingots and sows (for the manufacture of electrical wires, roofing sheets, cooking utensils,
et cetera).
Why VALCO is currently shutdown
VALCO's history of shutdowns is attributable to inadequate supply of electric power. However, the current shut down which occurred on January 3, 2009 was mainly due to the effect of the global economic meltdown. As a world- class facility operating in both the local and global commodity (metals) markets, events on these markets have a direct impact on the company.
As may be recalled, the global aluminium market began deteriorating when key customers/players in the banking/financial, automotive and housing markets started defaulting on their obligations in late 2008 stirring a crisis in the financial market.
The result, among others, was a drastic reduction in the demand for aluminium, the metal used in the housing and auto industry and this led to a soaring of inventories of primary aluminium products on the world market. The interplay of the forces of demand and supply thus caused prices to fall significantly because supply had outstripped demand.
Consequently, the London Metal Enterprise (LME) -- aluminium price which is used worldwide as a benchmark -- which was about $3,071 in July 2008 slumped to about $1,490 a metric tonne by December, 2008. This situation made it uneconomical for VALCO to continue to operate. Therefore, on January 3, 2009, the facility, like several others around the globe, had to shut down to re-start when conditions improved.
The January 3, 2009 shutdown unfortunately, compelled VALCO to declare a sizeable number of its highly- skilled employees redundant. The plant currently has 60 employees, about 75 per
cent of whom are security and firemen.
All major and sensitive equipment have been properly de-commissioned and protected so that they can be used again in the foreseeable future. The sensitive de- commissioned equipment are periodically serviced to preserve their integrity so that they can be easily commissioned once a decision is made to restart.
Plans to reopen the facility
The conditions that triggered the shutdown in January 2009 have since improved considerably. Aluminium prices have recovered from the low of $1,200 a metric tonne (January 2009) to an average of $1,947/mt (spot price as at October 27, 2009); and $2,010.50/mt (which is the 3 months average price).
Again, low water level in the Akosombo Dam due to drought or low rainfall which had in the past led to insufficient electric power and hence triggered shutdowns or capacity reduction in VALCO, fortunately, is not the case today.
The favourable rainfall patterns of 2008 and 2009 have seen the lake level rise above two hundred and seventy feet (270) and still rising. Additionally, the Bui Hydro Electric and Independent Power Producing (IPP) Projects would help to significantly improve the energy supply outlook in the country.
The combination of a reasonably good metal price and the improved energy outlook puts VALCO in a favourable position to restart the smelter facility so Ghana can continue to reap the full benefits that an operating VALCO makes possible.
VALCO currently has in stock substantial amounts of major raw materials to get the plant running for at
least 3 months before replenishments are required. It is estimated that at least two months will be required to hire employees, train and re-train them and to re-commission the equipment before actual manufacturing operations start.
Impact of VALCO operations on Ghana's economy
At a long-term metal price of $2.500/ tonne, the smelter operations alone would reap revenue of at least $500 million at full business potential. VALCO's operations would inject revenue of about $300 million into Ghana's economy through VRA Power Purchases, Income Tax/ VAT, VALCO Fund, Property Rate, Port Charges, Local Purchases, Indirect Labour (Local Contractors), et cetera.
Additionally, the following benefits are derived from VALCO's operations:.
The VALCO plant employs directly over 1,200 Ghanaians; there were 2,100 Ghanaian employees in 1981; It is a major source of raw material to rolling mills -- Aluworks, rod mills -- Western Rod and allied companies in Ghana; West Africa and is a foundation for the ever-growing aluminium product factories in the country;
Opportunities for establishment of new downstream industries (Extrusion, Alloy rims and other fabrication plants, et cetera);
Expertise-sharing regarding world- class safety standards, work ethics, Organizational, management and Maintenance expertise;
Significant contribution to the development of health and education at all levels through regular cash donations to the VALCO Trust
Ms. Tetteh 11:15 a.m.


Fund.

It is obvious from the foregoing that a properly-positioned VALCO holds a significant place in Ghana's economic transformation agenda -- massive employment-generation through rapid industrialization via the Integrated Aluminium industry, significant growth in GDP, alleviation/eradication of poverty from our society, optimization of the use of gas from our current oil find, among others.

Indeed, the current generation of Ghanaians and our leaders have a unique opportunity to strategically harness our natural resources of bauxite and other key resources as electric power to transform our economy for the greater good of our people. It has been done in other parts of the world and Ghanaians are capable of doing same.

However, Mr. Speaker, because the cost of energy is key to the operations of VALCO, oversight responsibility for VALCO has been given to the Ministry of Energy. I am aware from my Colleague, the Minister for Energy that a study has been commissioned to determine the viability and the most cost-effective way of putting into place the Integrated Aluminium and Bauxite Project.

I am also aware that these studies are expected to be completed by the end of this year at the latest. We are hopeful, therefore, that by the end of the first quarter of next year, 2010, we should be in a position to provide more concrete information on the exact date for start-up of VALCO.
Mr. Agbesi 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to know from the Hon Minister what arrangement was put in place during this
Mr. Agbesi 11:15 a.m.


shutdown to take care of the workers, because most of them who have families, who have to pay school fees - what arrangement was put down that while this factory is closed down they would still be in existence.
Ms. Tetteh 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, when a factory is shutdown and the workers are declared redundant, they are paid their terms of severance as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement. And therefore, once they are paid their severance benefits, then the employment relation-ship between them and the company has come to an end. The company can exercise the option to re- engage them at a later time. But from the time of their departure from the service of the company, the company does not have a direct obligation towards them.
Mr. Agbesi 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon Minister tells us the number of employees in 1981 and then the number generally that is employed in VALCO. I want to know from her, when VALCO comes back to continue, how many people would be employed in there.
Ms. Tetteh 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that requires me to anticipate a situation and with the greatest of respect to the Hon Member, I do not think I am in a position to do that. It would be a decision of management at the time.
Mr. W. O. Boafo 11:15 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on page 10, under “Plans to Re-open the Facility,” second part of paragraph 2, where the Minister enumerates the favourable conditions which could trigger the reopening of the facility; a reference is made to the Bui Hydroelectric Project which has not even commenced. And they are saying that among other things that Bui Hydroelectric Project has helped to significantly improve the energy supply -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Member, the outlook is there. So ask another question.
Mr. Boafo 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, on the same page, about the benefits Ghana stands to gain from the operations of VALCO. Reaping revenue of at least $500 million is mentioned and revenue injection of about $300 million is also mentioned. I would like to know from the Hon Minister if this is what we are getting or we are going to get out of VALCO and why are they delaying in the re-opening of the facility.
Ms. Tetteh 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in my response, I indicated that that was a projection and that the key issue was the supply and cost of power.
I also indicated that my Hon Colleague, the Hon Minister for Energy has commissioned a study. When, as you referred to in the response provided to the Question, we talked about the favourable energy outlook. The assump-tion is that with the combination of both hydro and gas generated electricity, the cost of power will come down and therefore, VALCO will be an economically viable entity to operate.
We must make sure that we do not find ourselves in the same situation that caused the shutdown of the plant. And so, we are taking the necessary preparations to make sure that we have the provision to allow it to start work and to start work on a sustainable basis.
Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, let me thank our lady for a brilliant Answer and the most comprehensive that I have seen in this House for some time. Congratulations. But I would like to put a supplementary question to her.
In view of the many positive accruals that will come to the nation as a result of the reactivation of VALCO, would she agree with me that it was a very right decision of the administration of the previous Government to purchase VALCO and not let it die?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:25 a.m.
You want
her to express an opinion? I overrule the question.
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I will put it differently.
Will the Hon Minister agree that we have to keep VALCO in order that all the positive accruals come to the nation by way of assets? Will that also be soliciting an opinion -- [Laughter.] I think this is a fair question, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, my in- law is out of order. Since soliciting opinion of the Hon Minister -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
You are out of order. You are not the Speaker.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker called me.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Yes, I called him.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 11:25 a.m.
And I come under Standing Orders 68 (5) and 69 (1) and Mr. Speaker, I would read Order 68 (5):
“No Member shall address the House upon any Question, nor in asking the Question shall any argument or opinion be offered.”
And 69 (1):
“As soon as a Question is answered in the House any Member beginning with the Member who asked the
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:25 a.m.
I have earlier on ruled; the earlier question is not different from the second question that the Hon Member has asked.
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
The third attempt.
Mr. Speaker, I just thought our very distinguished lady would agree with me one government succeeds another. But anyway, that is by the way. Let me move away from that one.
I think she agrees with me on that one that it was a very good decision on the part of the NPP Government to do what they did.
But Mr. Speaker, I wonder why our lady says that there would be need to hire employees, train and retrain them. I assume that they are already there; most of them are there. So, there will be no need to train and retrain them and what have you. I hope there will be no victimising vis-à-vis their going back to the plant. I would like to get the impression that these training, re-training and rehiring sometimes come with them in their wake some kind of victimisation which we are trying to avoid in this country. Am I right in this suggestion from her Answer?
Ms. Tetteh 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, most businesses today believe in the process of continuous improvements. And therefore, when people have been off the job for a while, it is appropriate that when they are going to restart, they are as it were familiarised once again with the operations of the business to make sure that they continue to do the right thing.
On the specific question of “allegations of victimisation”, Mr. Speaker, it is the intent of this Government to ensure that VALCO and other businesses are managed professionally. And I am quite sure that at the time the management will base the hiring decision on the competence of those who have applied for the positions.
Thank you.
Dr. M. O. Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, quoting from the Hon Minister's Answer “Additionally” -- that is the operative word -- “Additionally, the Bui Hydro Electric Dam and Independent Power Producers have helped . . .” zero from Bui Dam and zero from Independent Power Producers, as we speak, and she still claims that they “have helped”. But that is not my question.
She has gone further to claim, in her own response, that VALCO, at full operation will generate revenue of at least $500 million --
Hon Member: The question.
Dr. Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
AblekumaNorth -- [Interruption.]
She has further gone on to claim that operating at full potential, $500 million revenue will accrue to the nation. At what cost of energy price will that -- and how has she factored that into that $500 million to this nation?
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:25 a.m.
The cost of energy price is not a supplementary question. Ask another question.
Yes, Hon Member for Navrongo Central.
Mr. J. K. Adda 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, she gave us the theory of laying off workers and re- engaging them. I would like to know from her, what were the terms reached when the employees of the VALCO were laid off.
Also given what she said on page 9 of the Order Paper, that most of the VALCO workers are highly skilled, why would she then on page 10 say that they would have to re-engage workers and train them? Is she telling us that those who are highly skilled and were working for VALCO would not be re-engaged?
Ms. Tetteh 11:25 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, when workers are declared redundant - and I used the word “redundant” -- it means the contract of the employment has come to an end. And therefore, if they are going to be re-engaged, they will be reengaged on completely new terms.
Now, as to the exact terms of severance, I am not in a position to provide that information at the moment.
However, I would like to believe that the conditions are as contained in their conditions of service which are normally negotiated between the employees who are represented by union and the employer.
Regarding the issue of getting the skilled workers back and the need for training and retraining, once again, Mr. Speaker, when people are laid off, it does not necessarily mean that they continue to be unemployed. Some of those workers may have found gainful employment elsewhere simply because of the level
of skills that they have. And while this is speculatory, some of them may not necessarily want to come back to work in VALCO.
At the time when VALCO is reopened, the company will have to re-engage staff or alternatively hire new staff. That will be a decision and responsibility of management at the time.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Last
supplementary question,. Hon Member for Afigya-Sekyere West, Mr. Kan-Dapaah. We have now exceeded the one hour allocated for Question time.
Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah 11:35 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, can the Hon Minister confirm to us whether the views that she has expressed in her Answer to the House this morning represent the position of Government on this important subject and in particular whether the Ministry of Energy shares these very, very positive views?
Ms. Tetteh 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I showed my Answer to the Minister for Energy before I came to this House this morning. This is because I had no intention of representing a situation that is not the view of Government. Also because I know that currently the Ministry of Energy has oversight for VALCO. If he had any serious reservations about the contents of my response, I believe he would have let me know; that was not the case.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Minister, thank you very much for attending upon the House to answer Questions from Hon Members.
Hon Members, at the Commencement of Public Business: Laying of Papers:
PAPERS 11:35 a.m.

Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Reports duly laid for distribution to Hon Members.
By the Majority Leader --
Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Public Boards, Corporations and Other Statutory Institutions) for the period ended 31st December 2005.
Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Pre- University Educational Institutions) for the year ended 31st December
2005.
Referred to the Public Accounts
Committee.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Members, Motions - Item 6, Hon Majority Leader.
Mr. Bagbin 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to plead that we move Motion No. 6 to tomorrow in view of the fact that the Hon Minister, as I indicated yesterday, is out of the jurisdiction on official duty and we got instructions to discuss with the Deputy Minister to see whether he would be able to do it tomorrow.
But I have not discussed that with my Hon Colleagues on the Minority side to see whether it would be feasible being a Member of Parliament, that is, the Hon Member for Cape Coast, Mr. Martin Oduro -- So I want us to shift it to tomorrow for us to consult and come to a compromised situation before we permit that to be done.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have nothing against the decision. Yesterday the Deputy Minister for Justice and Attorney-General was here with us in the stead of the substantive
Minister. If he has his hands firmly on the Bill, then he could take charge of it, otherwise, as is usual, if there is a substantive Cabinet Minister who is also well positioned to attend to the issues before us, that could also be done. So we will dialogue on it to see the way forward.
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, well, in the circumstances, I want to beg to move, that we adjourn to tomorrow -- I know we have programmed to have a Committee of the Whole meeting tomorrow. So I would want us to adjourn at this stage to allow committees to continue with the business that has been referred to them. So I beg to move, that we adjourn to tomorrow 10.00 a.m. where we would continue with the Business of the House.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:35 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to second the motion.
ADJOURNMENT 11:35 a.m.