Debates of 7 Dec 2009

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:35 a.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon Members, we have in our midst some Hon Guests from Senegal on a study visit. I have the pleasure to introduce to you Hon Members of the Committee on the General Economy, Finance, Planning and Economic Co- operation from the National Assembly of Senegal. They are:
Mr. Bocar Sedikh Kane -- Leader of the Delegation
Mr. Moussa Diao -- Member of Parliament
Mr. Abdourahmane Bocoum -- Member of Parliament
Mr. Lamine Dia -- Member of Parliament
Ms Mously Diakhate -- Member of Parliament
Mr. Amadou Diarra -- Member of Parliament
Ms. Nene Mariene Kane -- Member of Parliament
Mr. Amoussou Timothee -- Secretary
Hon Members, on your behalf and on
my own behalf, I wish them a successful study visit and a happy stay in Ghana.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 3rd December 2009.
Pages 1-7.
In the absence of any corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 3rd December, 2009 is adopted as the true record of proceedings.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:35 a.m.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Johnfiah 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the
Hon Minister has given the indications that the upgrading of Agona Nkwanta Health Centre to a district hospital is the Ministry's priority and that when funds are available, they will make sure that this is done.
My supplementary question is premised on the Budget Statement that was presented to the House a few weeks ago, that is next year's Budget. At paragraph 517, which is at page 177. (bullet point 3), and with your permission, I quote:
“Upgrading of 3 Health Centres to District Hospitals with funding from OPEC”;
I wish to ask the Hon Minister if he can give assurance to this House and by extension, to the people of Ahanta West that when these funds that are being sought from OPEC are on hand, that of Ahanta West will take priority of -- they will consider it for it to be done next year.
Dr. Kunbuor 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
projects that are funded by donors are normally specific to some communities and it is normally based on the agreement, so it will be difficult for me to give an assurance to the House that we can vire the specific OPEC funds for other hospitals.
But in the particular case of the district hospital at Agona Nkwanta, it is a statutory requirement; the Ministry has no choice in the matter. Once a district has been created, there must be a district directorate of medical services just like you have a District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme and that is why all the new districts that have been created and do not have district health facilities have been put on the priority list. Not all of them would be found in the flagship projects in terms of policy interventions in the Budget but they are definitely part of the capital investment agenda of the Ministry.
Mr. Johnfiah 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the
Answer that the Hon Minister gave stated: ‘when Funds are sourced'; but right now, he is saying that the OPEC Fund is project specific and he is not sure. I will just want to plead that Agona Nkwanta being the district capital, is centrally located.
Now, we have another nearby facility at Hemang Denkyira Hospital like he
indicated but sometimes accident victims, when they are being conveyed from the Agona Nkwanta Health Centre to Dixcove Hospital, die on the way and that is why it is necessary that we ensure this is done. So I will appeal to him that as soon as funds are available, he make it a priority.
Thank you.
Madam Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon Minister, it is
an appeal to you.
Dr. Kunbuor 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we will take the appeal quite seriously.
Madam Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon Members,
Mr. Johnfiah 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, if you
want me to ask the third one, I will --
Madam Speaker 10:35 a.m.
The Hon Member
behind you wanted to asked a question.
Dr. Kofi Asare 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, in
the Hon Minister's answer to the supple- mentary question, he said that it is because the Ministry has no alternative but to establish district directorates of health services; that is true but that is different from what the Hon Member is asking for -- a district hospital.
The Hon Member is asking for a district hospital but we are talking about establishing district health administration, that everyone has to have.
But does every district have to have a district hospital? And in this particular case, he was asking about a district hospital and when he is going to build it. But I find a contradiction in his answer; could he come clear? Every district, yes, must have a health administration but does every district have to have a district hospital and in his case he is going to build
Dr. Kunbuor 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, what I really meant in my Answer when I referred to a district health facility in relation to the directorate is because you cannot separate the facility from the directorate. Legally, it is the directorate that links up to the district health facility and I am emphatic in saying that a district hospital is a statutory requirement and it has to be provided once a district has been created. The only difficulty is whether the district hospital has to be located at where the district directorate is located but it is statutory that a district hospital has to be provided.
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
The next Question
stands in the name of Hon Stephen Kunsu, Kintampo North).
Yes, Hon Member, ask your Question now?
Mental Health at Primary or Community Levels (Decentralization)
Q. 163. Mr. Stephen Kunsu asked
the Minister for Health what measures the Ministry was putting in place to decentralize mental health at the primary healthcare or community level.
Dr. Kunbuor 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, in the past, mental healthcare had been concentrated at big institutions as we have with our three psychiatric hospitals. This trend has, however, changed and the modern concept of mental healthcare is community care. This, we intend to pursue as a Ministry. We are, therefore, not going to build any more big institutions.
In the past fifteen years, it has been the policy of the Ministry to have psychiatric wings at all regional and district hospitals. However, this has not been easy to achieve because the policy was not backed by any

legislation, among other reasons.

The Ministry intends to overhaul mental healthcare to de-emphasize institutional care and rather place emphasis on community care. By this, every regional and eventually, every district hospital will have mental health wings of up to 20 beds. These will be manned by Medical Assistants in Psychiatry (MAPs) and a programme is starting this year to train these MAPs at the Kintampo Rural Health Training Institute.

This aside, every district will be served by community psychiatric nurses and community mental health officers. Again, a programme to start training community mental health officers is starting at Kintampo this year and a programme to train community psychiatric nurses will also start very soon.

In addition to the psychiatric wings at the regional and district hospitals, the Ministry will, over time, build 3 No. 50-bed psychiatric institutions in the middle and northern belts of the country so that patients who may require long stay care will not need to travel all the way to Accra, Pantang and Ankaful to receive such care. Three rehabilitation centres will also be established across the country to give some handiwork training to patients who have been treated and require rehabilitation for full integration into their respective communities.

In addition, drug rehabilitation centres will be established and one such centre has already been put in place at Pantang, for the rehabilitation of drug addicts.

All these packages mentioned above are captured in the new mental health law that has been drafted to give a legal backing to these plans. This Bill is currently receiving some fine-tuning at the Attorney-General's Department and in the coming days ahead, it shall be ready to go to Cabinet. We pray that when it gets

to Parliament, the Hon Members will act speedily on it for these de-centralization measures to be imple-mented.
Mr. Kunsu 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, may I know from the Hon Minister whether any budgetary allocation has already been made for the training of the medical assistants in psychiatry?
Dr. Kunbuor 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, this
was actually provided for in the 2009 Budget arrangements and also some donors that are interested in this particular area. Indeed, when I say we have actually commenced the training, it started actually in October this year and the first batch of students are at Kintampo.
Mr. Kunsu 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon
Minister mentioned that three rehabilitation centres will also be established across the country. Now, may I know whether the Ministry has identified these centres?
Dr. Kunbuor 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as I
speak now, there is a team that is actually dealing with the specifics outside the three that have been mentioned in relation to the middle and northern belts. I will be prepared to come to this House when that team has completed this specific site inspection and give the House the details.
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Well, since this one
is not constituency-specific I will allow two questions from either side.
Mrs. Frema Akosua Osei-Opare 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, in the Answer of the Minister, he indicated that the Mental Health Bill is almost ready for Cabinet. Can the Hon Minister assure this House that the Bill will be laid before we go on recess or as one of the first Bills we shall receive in January when we resume?
Dr. Kunbuor 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, when all the necessary consultative processes have taken place, the Bill will be laid as a matter of urgency. Perhaps, the background that the Hon Member needs to know is that this Bill did go before Cabinet in April 2008 and Cabinet recommended that they needed to consolidate a number of aspects of it and integrate it within the entire national health service framework that was to come.
That was why it was sent back to the Ministry and that redrafting was done and that is why it is currently with the Attorney-General's Department. Should we receive it from the Attorney-General's Department, we will lay it urgently before this House.
Mr. C. S. Hodogbey 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, currently, there are several mentally deranged persons in the cities, in the towns and all over the country. Until these centres are built, what is his Ministry doing to arrest the situation? [Inter-ruptions.]
Dr. Osei 10:45 a.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I am not sure in what capacity the Hon Member of Parliament who just spoke is saying there are people mentally deranged all over. This is a very specialized area and so only competent people can say people are mentally deranged. So unless he claims to be a psychiatrist, he should not call people mentally deranged. They are alleged to be mentally deranged but he must be emphatic. [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Let us hear why he says that -- he may have a reason.
Mr. Hodogbey 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Member knows that when one goes round Accra now, there are a lot of people who are mentally disturbed -- [Laughter] -- in the streets, so I will like to know from the Hon Minister, until these centres are put in place, what is his Ministry doing
to arrest the situation?
Dr. Osei 10:55 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Member is even making it worse. He said “all of us know that when you go around. . .” -- Is he saying that he is one of them -- [Laughter.]
Madam Speaker 10:55 p.m.
Well, except that I
think when you see people on the streets, you may be able to know that some are mentally deranged or you will not?
Dr. Osei 10:55 p.m.
They may appear to you but
to be categorical and say that they are mentally deranged is very serious. It is a medical definition and we should not profess ourselves to be experts when we are not. Because if I use his criterion, I may be tempted to say that he is one of them -- [Interruptions] -- which will be completely false. [Laughter.] I have no competency to do that.
Madam Speaker 10:55 p.m.
Hon Member, I
Mr. Hodogbey 10:55 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am
Madam Speaker 10:55 p.m.
Well, I think you
have given the explanation.
Mr. Hodogbey 10:55 p.m.
Those are the people
rose
Madam Speaker 10:55 p.m.
Hon Minister, I think the question is, what are you doing about these people?
Dr. Kunbuor 10:55 p.m.
Madam Speaker, part
of the question was attributed to my own knowledge, but Madam Speaker, with the greatest respect, I am not entitled to any presumption that if anybody who is found on the street or is particularly naked, is a mental case. In that context, I will not be in a position to draw that conclusion.
What I can say is that there are a number of rules and regulations and competent institutions that handle what we will consider to be mental difficulties of people we find in the streets. We will try to liaise with the appropriate Ministries, particularly the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and other allied agencies to see what can be done to this situation that the Hon Member has raised.
rose
Madam Speaker 10:55 p.m.
Hon Member, I
thought you stood up or you do not have any more questions?
Mrs. Osei-Opare 10:55 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
in the Hon Minister's Answer to the earlier question I asked, he said there is an understanding or some sort of proposal to consolidate all health-related laws. Now, I want him to elaborate whether we are waiting for that to happen or he is assuring this Honourable House that the Mental Health Bill will be laid as such for us to consider and expedite action as he has urged the House to do.
Dr. Kunbuor 10:55 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
the Mental Health Bill will be laid. Actually, we did have consultations with parliamentary leadership and we were informed that the House will be Sitting
essentially for seven weeks and there were other pending matters and that was one of the reasons why the Mental Health Bill was deferred because it had not reached Cabinet yet.
But there are two very essential things that actually confront us on this Bill; one: we have to meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards on integrating mental health with the normal health delivery system. It is believed to be an abuse of the fundamental human right of mental health patients if they are segregated into compounds of people suffering from other medical conditions.
There is also the difficulty because of the years of neglect of mental health in which they are equally asking for some level of autonomy so that they can run their programmes and policies consistently. How to balance integration with autonomy is one of the major challenges that both Cabinet and this House will be called upon to consider.
Mr. Emmanuel K. Bedzra 10:55 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, said the training of community psychiatric nurses will start soon. I want to find out from him how soon will this be.
Dr. Kunbuor 10:55 p.m.
On the specific case
of the community psychiatric nurses, the curricula is being developed and immediately they are ready, it should commence next academic year.
Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway 10:55 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he did say that the trend is to integrate the psychiatric units with the district and regional hospitals but then he has also stated that:
“. . . .the Ministry will, over time, build 3 No. 50-bed psychiatric institutions in the middle and northern belts of the country . . .”

Can he reconcile the two, please?
Dr. Kunbuor 10:55 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
from the technical advice on this matter, the mental conditions that patients send to these centres vary. There are some that will go through normal Out Patient Department (OPD) like any other ailment. There are others that will be required to be detained and yet there are others that will need to be referred. What we are dealing with is not the contradiction but to also integrate and have a referral system within the mental health situation.
So if you were to have a mental health problem in the district and the person is to be detained, you will need these bedding facilities. It could happen at the regional level but should you decide that more specialist attention is required, such a person has to be moved to a bigger facility which will be, in essence, a specialist referral point.
Madam Speaker 10:55 p.m.
The next Question stands in the name of Hon Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Hon Member for Bantama.
Dr. M. O. Prempeh 10:55 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
Hon Cecilia Dapaah is out of the country on parliamentary business and with your permission, I would like to ask the Question on her behalf.
Madam Speaker 10:55 p.m.
She asked you, of
course?
Dr. Prempeh 10:55 p.m.
Yes, Madam Speaker.
[Interruptions.] Because I come from the constituency as well and I am also a doctor -- [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
All right.

North Suntreso Health Centre (Upgrading)
Dr. Kunbuor 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Health has already upgraded the Suntreso Health Centre to a hospital and has subsequently resourced it with equipment and senior health professionals to provide quality services to the people.
The Ministry is, however, aware of the
need to provide additional infrastructure to make the hospital function more effectively in meeting the health needs of the communities it serves. Further upgrading would be done as soon as funds are available.
. Dr. Prempeh: Madam Speaker, there are only two paragraphs in the Answer to this Question and they contradict in terms.
In one paragraph, he says it has been upgraded, and in another paragraph, he says it will be upgraded further.
In paragraph 157, page 178, bullet point 11, of this year's Budget --
Statement that has been read, talked about a number of polyclinics, clinics that are going to be upgraded in light of the maternal mortality statistics in this country.
The Suntreso Hospital takes about a third of the Komfo Anokye Hospital's maternal or hospital deliveries, and in that sense, the numbers. The upgrading has started long ago and it has not been finished, there is no male ward and there is no female ward. Still it did not find expression in this year's Budget, whereas other hospitals came later this year and have found expression; when would he finish the upgrading of the Suntreso Polyclinic?
Dr. Kunbuor 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Suntreso Hospital happened to be a very peculiar health facility, given the catchment area and the type of ailments that actually go to it. I am particularly happy that the Hon Member has noticed that it is taking a large load of the patient population from the Komfo Anokye Hospital. So the upgrading of the upgraded Suntreso Hospital would be done in the context of its peculiarity, but if it were to be like any other hospital in terms of the catchment area, one would say that the upgrading has already been done.
Dr. Prempeh 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to know from the Hon Minister, if the upgrading had been done and there is no male and female wards, then what was really done?
Dr. Kunbuor 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, there is, indeed, a ward, perhaps, the wards are not separate, to be talking about the fact that one is male and one is female. But I do know that some partitioning work has been done there to keep the two sets of gender patients relatively separate from each other. But there is, indeed, a ward in Suntreso.
Dr. Prempeh 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the ward, whether it is the children's ward, psychiatric ward, post-natal ward or an adult male or adult female ward, the Hon Minister should come back and tell us. For a hospital that caters for a third of Komfo Anokye Hospital's delivery number and this year being another year and dedicated to maternal mortality, other hospitals have come to by-pass Suntreso in the upgrading of their maternal mortality facilities. I want to know from the Hon Minister when North Suntreso would see, at least, its midwifery section upgraded.
Dr. Kunbuor 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I can see my Hon Colleague is very passionate about this matter and I would
say immediately -- not as soon as -- immediately funds are available, the issue would be dealt with.
Dr. Prempeh 11:05 a.m.
None

Mr. Frederick Opare-Ansah -- rose
-- 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Member, I thought you had three supplementary questions? We are sticking by the rules, so let us move on to the next Question. This is constituency-specific, so the three supplementary questions -- it was decided by you the Leadership that -- unless you have a particular question.
Mr. Opare-Ansah 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I believe we put in those rules to enable us expedite the consideration of the Budget. But since the principles of the Budget have been approved -- [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
I thought you meant for the time of the Budget. We would go back after the Appropriation Bill is passed. I think the date is 18th of this month, it is in the -- [Interruptions.] I think the Hon Dr. Prempeh is correct, next year we would go back.
So the next Question stands in the name of Hon John Agyabeng.
National Health Insurance Scheme (Current State)
Q. 165. Mr. John Agyabeng asked the Minister for Health what was the current state of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Dr. Kunbuor 11:05 a.m.
The National Health Insurance Scheme of Ghana was esta- blished by National Health Insurance Act 2003 (Act 650) complemented by the National Health Insurance Regulation
2004 (L.I.1809).
Current State Membership Coverage
A total of thirteen million, eight hundred and forty thousand, one hundred and ninety-eight (13,840,198) persons have been registered with the Scheme since 2005, representing 67 per cent of the total population of Ghana (2004 population estimates). The Scheme has produced twelve million, one hundred and forty-six thousand, five hundred and twenty-six (12,146,526) ID cards, representing 87.8 per cent of registered members.
Total number of indigents registered is three thousand and nine, one hundred and ten (309,110) while seven hundred and twenty-one thousand, one hundred and sixty-three (721,163) pregnant women have been registered as new members under the Free Maternal Care Policy since July 2008.
Claims Payments
From January 2009 to October 2009, the Authority has released an amount of GH¢248.44 million to the schemes for the purposes of meeting claims payment.
NHIS ICT Platforms
The NHIA is implementing a common ICT platform that would enhance portability, standardization, member authentication, finance and supply chain, and claims administration. In this regard, scheme sites, provider sites and NHIA sites will be hooked unto the platform. Currently, a total of 870 sites have been hooked up, comprising all 145 district schemes, 714 provider sites, and 11 NHIA sites which include 10 regional offices and one head office. In line with the goal of improved portability, NHIS is providing uniform ID cards to its subscribers, about 4,500,000 ID cards have already been produced.
Mr. Agyabeng 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister whether he is aware that most of the service providers have not been paid and this has led to the refusal of some of the service providers attending to card members of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Dr. Kunbuor 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, indeed, we have heard these concerns that have been raised both in and out of this House; we are carrying out investigations on the very specific allegations in relation to the schemes.

We have now had an entire rundown from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the National Health Insurance Authority on when exactly monies were released from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to the NHIS, when it was released from the NHIS to the regions and eventually to the schemes. I do know that most of the issues that are coming up have to do with a backlog that dates back to 2007 which is being brought on board and is handled.

So Madam Speaker, indeed, yes, the concerns have been raised but they are being addressed.
Mr. Agyabeng 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Minister whether he is aware that the Scheme is trading with some of the private banks through Treasury Bills and this has led to the failure at the Scheme to pay promptly to the service providers. If he is not aware, I want to find out whether he is prepared to go into this issue.
Dr. Kunbuor 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we certainly have heard a number of these allegations. We have investigated others and on preliminary findings, we have found that the situation is not entirely accurate. But there are four that we think there is some credibility in the story, but this has to do with official laws of banking and confidentiality. The processes have
been put in place to ensure that we actually get to some of these specific issues and other investigative bodies will be handling that.
If we look at the issue and allegation of trading in Treasury Bills, that is one that cannot be hidden and eventually we are going through the appropriate channels to make sure that there is entire full disclosure from all the banking institutions that handle monies meant for the providers.
Mr. Agyabeng 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I
want to find out from the Hon Minister whether he is aware that the approval this House gave to the formula for the disbursement of the Scheme's funds this year, some institutions were supposed to be allocated some money. As I am speaking, some of these institutions, if not all, have not received their funds they are supposed to receive. I want to find out from the Minister whether he is aware, and if he is, why Parliament approved a formula and the Scheme has refused to disburse the funds using the formula.
Dr. Kunbuor 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I did
not get the Hon Member right. Is he talking of disbursements by the Authority or the schemes?
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr. Agyabeng 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
the formula that came to this House,

the disbursement was meant for certain institutions including the money for payment of claims and others. And what we want to know, what we are aware of is that some of these institutions, if not all, have not received the money they are supposed to receive from the Secretariat for the year and the year has already ended.
Dr. Kunbuor 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have
to be candid with the House by indicating that in terms of cash flows, all is not too well with the National Health Insurance arrangement and we certainly will be calling particularly on the Committee on Health of this august House to assist the Ministry as one that deals with policy to begin to engage a number of the issues. But if Hon Members are interested, we have now had a full rundown in terms of what is happening in relation to cash flows and what have you.
In the specific case of the formula,
the formula is anticipatory of revenue. When we approve a formula and we say GH¢490 million will go for sanitation, the money is not sitting at the Authority to be disbursed, it comes in in trickles and for implementation purposes, you have to structure it in such a way that you keep meeting those commitments.
We have also found out that in relation to the delay in the releases that go, there are some few institutions that have not been handled in relation to these matters. But we are quite clear that as we prepare to bring the next formula, these would be issues that would be taken on board to ensure that we have a very smooth and functioning releases.
Mr. Wisdom Gidisu 11:15 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he did indicate that the National Health
Insurance Authority had commenced electronic claims submission and vetting on pilot basis in partnership with Mamobi Polyclinic. I want to know from him, when would this come to an end purposely for it to be extended to rural areas.
Dr. Kunbuor 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, with
the greatest of respect, I could not get the real thrust of the Hon Member's question.
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Member, can you explain your question?
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
in the Hon Minister's Answer he did indicate that the Authority had commenced electronic claims submission and vetting on a pilot basis in partnership with Mamobi Polyclinic. I want to know from him, when will this facility be extended to the rural areas?
Dr. Kunbuor 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as
soon as the pilot is completed and has been evaluated and is proved to be very efficient.
Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I wonder whether the Hon Minister would indicate how effective the monitoring of the whole system is because, for example, I have been registered twice in my house, I have still not received my card and a lot of service providers are also claiming that they have not been paid.
Now, if you have a good monitoring system then you would be able to follow up all these little issues or sometimes major issues. I wonder what mechanisms he puts in place, effective monitoring and for that matter, the correcting system for the Scheme.
Dr. Kunbuor 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, part
of the problem that makes monitoring very
Alhaji I. D. Abubakari 11:15 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, may I know from the Hon Minister whether he is aware that there is confusion between the Mutual District Health Scheme and the National Health Insurance Scheme? As at now, some of the districts are still operating and this is the reason why the issue of the cards is a problem to the NHIS. So when are they phasing -- Madam Speaker, I place emphasis on “when” -- out the District Mutual Health Scheme so that we have complete National Health Insurance Scheme in the country to remove this confusion?
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Minister, did you get the question? He says “when are you phasing out?”
Dr. Kunbuor 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I
thought I did but the tale end has to do with the fact that when will it be done and I thought I had answered that there is some legislative reform that will be coming before the House, and when that happens, this will be taken on board.
Mr. Daniel Botwe 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, would the Hon Minister, please, clarify paragraph two of his Answer. He said that a total of 13,840,000 persons had registered with the Scheme since 2005. He goes on to say that the Scheme had produced 12,146,000 ID cards. Producing ID cards does not necessarily mean that the people have received the cards. The fact that they have produced the cards -- Is the Answer saying that 12 million people have received ID cards or it is just that the agency of the Scheme has produced the cards?
Dr. Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
indeed, the 12 million are cards that have been produced. Some of them have been received; some of them are still being sent out from the production centre and yet
rose
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Members, the
last supplementary question.
Dr. Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
I thought you could give
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Let us try it.
Dr. Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Thank you, Madam
Speaker.
We are in worrying times. From the north of the country to the south, people's national health insurance cards are being rejected because the service providers are not being reimbursed.
When the Supplementary Budget
was read, the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning told the nation that more money had been given to the
National Health Insurance Scheme than they even requested -- [Uproar] -- Madam Speaker, I am the Hon Deputy Ranking Member -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Yes, the question.
Dr. Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, it is
serious, instead of shouting, let us listen to what is happening to our National Health Insurance.
The Hon Minister for Finance and
Economic Planning told us that more money had been given to the National Health Insurance than was budgeted for in the Supplementary Budget.
Some Hon Members 11:25 a.m.
Ask your
question.
Dr. Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
You can shout higher. If
you get over the phones, you will hear me.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member,
ask the question.
Dr. Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
If Parliament says that we are being undermined and Parliament should be taken seriously by the management of the National Health Insurance refusing to disburse GH¢3 million for emergency services in Korle- Bu, then it is worrying. When will the Hon Minister take charge of the National Health Insurance Scheme such that directors will not be appointed without the knowledge of even the Council?
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister, the question has been put now.
Dr. Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I did
Dr. Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.


indicate from the onset that one has to be candid with the House by saying not all is well with the Scheme as it is managed, and the people of this country need to know.

I am receiving in my office a lot of

information in relation to some of these concerns that are being raised. And in the interest of this country, it will not matter what will happen but I will not hesitate to actually put in place an investigative body that will be an arbiter between the allega-tions of providers and the claims of the Authority. The providers consistently say they are not being paid, the National Health Insurance Authority consistently says they have received more than enough funds to cater for the interest.

I hope when that time comes, Hon Members of this Honourable House will be invited to join us because this is such a major national project that we cannot handle.

I would also want you again to take a

closer look at section 10 of the National Health Insurance Authority Act, where the Hon Minister's responsibility is to give directives on policy of a general nature. I have seen the interpretation to that standard provision in other jurisdictions by the courts of law. The interpretation that we have put in it here in Ghana at various levels is highly subjective and as part of the legislative reform, we will try to clarify this particular thing so that we will see how the Ministry sits with the Authority.
rose
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Member, I
thought I was taking two questions from either side and we have finished that one. What is the point?
Dr. Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, one
important question.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Yes, it is an
important matter. Yes, last question.
Dr. Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, would
the Hon Minister be minded to instituting an inquiry into the National Health Scheme and Authority as at now? This is because when constituents of his and mine have paid and cannot get access with their health cards, it is worrying and matters of health cannot be posted till tomorrow; they must be dealt with today.
What is he going to do immediately to institute inquiry into what is going on in the Authority?
Dr. Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as
we stand now, we have both mixed speculations and facts.
The Ministry is considering all the
issues and once we are clear in our mind that it is in the interest of this country for an inquiry, it will be done.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
The last Question
stands in the name of Hon Tanko Abdul- Rauf Ibrahim, Member of Parliament for Yagaba-Kubori.
Kubori Health Post (Renovation)
Q. 166. Mr. Tanko Abdul-Rauf Ibrahim asked the Minister for Heatlh when the contract for the renovation of the Kubori Health Post was awarded and when it was expected to be completed.
Dr. Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the contract for the rehabilitation of the Kubori Health Centre was awarded in October 2008 and the project was expected to be completed by April 2009. Currently, work has come to a temporary halt due to a delay in payment to the contractor for
Mr. T. Abdul-Rauf Ibrahim 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I would like the Hon Minister to tell the whole House where the source for funding of that particular project is coming from. Which institution is providing money for the renovation of that particular project?
Dr. Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Kubori Health Centre has been one that has been mixed. I do know there was initially a GOG commitment to it. I did know that there was funding that came from the OPEC Fund but was not specifically earmarked for it. But I do know it is also one of the contracts that have been awarded for which legal con- sideration is going, as to whether it should be re-awarded or not.
In fact, what is stalling it is that, it has been recommended that it ought to be given to the second highest bidder in accordance with the Procurement Act. But the contractual arrangements are still being reviewed and we intend to bring it back on board soon.
Mr. T. Abdul-Rauf Ibrahim 11:25 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he indicated and with your kind permission, I quote:
“. . . work has come to a temporary halt due to a delay in payment to the contractor for work done.”
And to the best of my knowledge. Madam Speaker, the contractor submitted an interim payment certificate somewhere last year October. Can the Hon Minister tell us why the delay in honouring that payment certificate?
Dr. Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, issues
have been raised in relation to that certificate. And there are more specific
issues between the contractor and the Ministry whether any payment was effected in November. These matters are still being investigated and I would not want to mislead this House by giving a definite position. But should we get the facts as they stand, we will let this House know. 11. 35 a.m.
Mr. T. Abdul-Rauf Ibrahim 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Kubori Health Centre takes care of the health needs of the people of Yagba/Kubori Constituency; it is the only health centre in that constituency and since October last year, the roof has been taken off and has not been replaced, making the health centre non-operational as at now, and the people are in difficulty as far as health needs are concerned. Can the Hon Minister assure this House and the people of Yagba/Kubori that very soon, as indicated in his Answer, the clinic would come back to normalcy to serve the people of the area?
Dr. Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Kubori Health Centre happens to be one of the six facilities that I am to visit very soon. They have to do with, first of all, the nature of the contracts that were awarded and whether the contracts have been abandoned. In the particular case of Kubori, there is an additional request that we visit the community to assess the needs of the anti-snake serum. And immediately this information is available, Madam Speaker, we would let the Hon Member know.
rose
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
That is the third question.
Mr. Fuseini 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
You are giving it to the Hon Member?
rose
Mr. Fuseini 11:25 a.m.
Hon Member, in your absence last week, it was decided that if the Questioner has three questions -- [Interruptions] -- No, he has asked two.
Mr. Dery 11:25 a.m.
Three.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Three? Well, then the Hon Member is right.
Mr. Dery 11:25 a.m.
He read the thing; he asked on payment, the sources and asked whether he would get the assurance; three.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Well, in the same spirit I allowed the Hon Member -- [Laughter] -- can I allow one here?
Mr. Dery 11:25 a.m.
That is so, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Fuseini 11:25 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for indulging me. Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister, in his Answer said that the Ministry was considering re- awarding the contract for the construction or renovation of the Kubori Health Centre. Can he tell us what has agitated the mind of the Ministry in reconsidering the award of the contract for the Kubori Health Centre?
Dr. Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I was not very definite on the issue of re-award; it would be predicated on the findings that we get. But we must admit that there are some difficulties with some contracts at the Ministry of Health and Kubori is not an isolated case. And we want to have a clearer picture and that would indicate to us the line of action to take; possible re- award, not being excluded.
rose
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Members, that is the end of it; we agreed -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Osei-Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, there is some ambiguity in the answers he has given. In the printed Answer, he says that and with your permission, I quote:
“We are working very hard to make payment to the contractor and very soon work will resume on the project.”
At somewhere, he said that the contractual arrangements are being reviewed and that the contract is going to be re-awarded. The ambiguities and conflicts are there. If we take what he said on the printed Answer and the two other answers he has given, it means that what is on the paper cannot be the truth. He must clarify that.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Minister, they need clarification.
Dr. Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker., the tail end actually talks about work coming to a temporary halt. That does not exclude the fact that there has been difficulties with the contract; it does not also exclude the fact that there would have been some difficulties in the payment schedule and whether payment was done at all. The commitment of the Ministry however, at the end of the day, is to ensure that work resumes, whether by the previous contractor or actually by a re-award.
The Question that was asked and was referred to as the Answer was not what was here, but it was an answer to a supplementary and the supplementary was what talked about the difficulties and challenges with that particular contract, which we indicated could lead to a re- award. So there is clearly no conflict in these answers.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Minister, we thank you very much for attending upon this House to respond to our Questions. We hope you would come again when we ask you.
Thank you.
rose
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Member, is it about Question time, because Question time is ended?
Mr. Manu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, it is related to Question time - [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
It is ended.
Mr. Manu 11:25 a.m.
If you would indulge me; it is a difficulty I have about Question time that I want some clarification about.
Gradually, Madam Speaker, a conven- tion is being instituted, that when Questions are constituency-specific, other Hon Members are not allowed to ask supplementary questions; I find that Madam Speaker, with the greatest respect, to be a little anomalous.
Madam Speaker, I stand here as an Hon Member for Ahafo Ano South but I hail from Zabzugu/Tatale District; that is where I come from. So if there is a Question on Zabzugu/Tatale District and I rise and I am told that because I am representing Ahafo Ano South, I cannot make a contribution, I do not think it is entirely correct.
In the first place, we are here representing constituencies, but we are at the same time representing Ghanaians and whatever concerns Yagba/Kubori Constituency must concern every Ghanaian. And as people representing the people of Yagba/Kubori in this House, I think we should be given the chance to ask questions. Even from the Answers that the Hon Minister may provide, a matter may come up that needs a further question that may not occur to the originator of the Question.
So I want us to revisit that convention that is being established here. If we can amend the convention, I think it would be good and better for Ghanaians as a whole.
I thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Thank you Hon
Member; it was a decision taken by both sides. We can always change the convention or even the rules, depending on the work schedule. And this is just to last till after the Budget. I do not know whether you were here two weeks ago. But if you were not, it was a decision taken by the House in order to expedite work that we would do. So you are perfectly right; Questions would be asked, but this is just a temporary measure.
Mr. Manu 11:25 a.m.
To the extent that it is a temporary thing, to accommodate the Budget debate, I am so much for it.
I thank you.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
I thank you too for your understanding.
Now, we are moving to item 5 -- Laying of Papers. Hon Member, 5 (a).
PAPERS 11:25 a.m.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, item 5 (a), before I lay it, there is a little typographical error here: “Annual Budget Estimates of the Judicial Service for the Year 2010”, not “2009”.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Thank you. I hope Hon Members have made the necessary correction; 5 (a), it is ‘2010', not ‘2009'.
By Mr. E. T. Mensah (on behalf of Majority Leader) --
Annual Budget Estimates of the Judicial Service for the year 2010.
Referred to the Judicial Committee.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member,
what about 5 (b)?
Mr. E. T. Mensah 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
the reports are not ready with regard to 5 (b) so I crave your indulgence that we stand down laying of all, that is from 5

(i) to 5 (v).

Thank you.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
All right. So 5 (b)
(i) to (v) stood down.
MR. SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
BILLS -- CONSIDERATION 11:45 a.m.
STAGE 11:45 a.m.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Members, item 6, Interpretation Bill at the Consideration Stage. Clause 4. [Con- tinuation of debates.] This amendment was deferred for further consultation. Chairman of the Committee, what is the position after the relevant consultation?
Chairman of the Committee (Mr.
I. A. B. Fuseini): Mr. Speaker, indeed we consulted extensively on this matter but just this morning, the Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice has submitted comments on the enacting formula. We did not make enough copies to go round all the Hon Members and we think that in fairness to all Hon Members of the Committee, we stand down that provision so that we can consider the comments of the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice. So I crave your indulgence that we stand down clause 4.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Thank
you very much, Hon Member and Chairman of the Committee.
Clause 5 -- This amendment was also deferred for further consultation. Chairman of the Committee, what is the position, please?
Mr. Fuseini 11:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, we are
proposing that a new clause, subclause 5 be added to clause 5 because we have considered the provisions of clause 5 of the Bill and we think that this is a carry-over from the C.A. 4 and finds place in this Bill, except that we did not have a certification reserved for the Speaker after the Bill has been considered by Hon Members of Parliament and the Speaker is forwarding same to the President for his assent.
We are therefore, proposing that a new provision be inserted after subclause 4 of clause 5 to read:
“Where the Bill was passed in accordance with the relevant provisions of article 108 of the Constitution, the Clerk shall, before causing the copies to be presented to the President, submit them to the Speaker who, if satisfied that the power to pass the Bill is conferred on Parliament in accordance with the Constitution, shall sign on each copy a certificate in the Form set out in the First Schedule.”
Mr. Speaker, this is our proposal.
Mr. W. O. Boafo 11:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the amendment proposed by the Hon Chairman of the Committee is an insertion of a new subclause (5) and we have not debated it. I am opposed to the insertion of the new subclause (5).
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Chairman of the Committee, in view of Hon Boafo's proposal, what will be your point of view?
Mr. Fuseini 11:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, Hon S. K. Boafo's proposal goes to clause 5 so that will affect even the subclause that we are trying to insert. And we did point out to him that the provision of clause 5 which is on public and private Acts is a carry-over from C.A. 4. It was his submission and
view during the conciliation period for us to have saved clause 5 under the old Act but that would be the only provision that will be saved under the old Act. So in order to provide a one-stop shop, as it were, for all pieces of legislation in C.A. 4, it was thought prudent to bring those provisions in that Act, C.A. 4 which will survive the amendments and incorporate same in the new Inter-pretation Bill so that when looking for any provision at all, that is part of the Interpretation Act of Ghana, you can find it in this Bill. So the Conciliation Committee as a whole rejected the proposal of Hon S. K. Boafo when we met.
Mr. W. O. Boafo 11:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the first place, I am not “S. K. Boafo”.
Mr. Fuseini 11:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am so sorry, “W. O.” I am so sorry.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon W. O. Boafo?
Mr. W. O. Boafo 11:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the objection to clause 5 and the new insertion is to the effect that clause 5 does not deal with interpretation. Clause 5 deals with process of authentication and it does not add anything to aid its construction. That is why I am objecting to its insertion in the Interpretation Bill.
The clause 5 originates not from C.A. 4, the Interpretation Act but it rather originates from C.A. 7 which is, Acts of Parliament Act. And a closer examination of all the provisions in C.A. 7, which is Acts of Parliament Act, deal with structure of Act of Parliament and process of authentication.
My contention is that if there is the need to do anything at all with regard to the form and the process and the authentication of any Bill or Act of Parliament, that should find its place in a revised Acts of Parliament Act and not an Interpretation Act. This is my basic objection. A closer examination of clause
Mr. W. O. Boafo 11:55 a.m.
5 in its entirety, subclause 5 (2) is found in C.A. 7 (2). Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I would like to read clause 5 (2) under Interpretation Bill:
“An Act shall bear at the head Short Title immediately followed by the Long Title describing the scope of the Act.”
Mr. Speaker, if you go to C.A. 7, which is the Acts of Parliament Act 1960, section (2) reads:
“Every Act shall bear at the head a Short Title immediately followed by a Long Title describing the provisions of the Act. This deals with the structure of an Act of Parliament and not an aid to Interpretation and should not find its way in an Interpretation Act.”

Mr. Speaker, if you go through the various subsections of clause 5 -- [Pause] -- if you look at clause 5 (3) of the Interpretation Bill, you will find its corresponding rendition in section 5 (1) of C.A. 7, that is, Acts of Parliament Act. The Interpretation Bill reads as follows:

“As soon as a Bill is passed by Parliament, the text of the Bill as passed shall be signed by the Clerk to Parliament to the Government Printer who shall print four copies of the Bill on vellum paper or on a paper of enduring quality and send the copies to the Clerk.”

Mr. Speaker, under the C.A .7 section 5 (1), it is in pari material substantially.”

“As soon as a Bill has been passed by the National Assembly, the text of the Bill as passed shall be sent by the Clerk of the Assembly to the Government Printer who shall print four copies thereof on a vellum or

on a paper of enduring quality and send the copies to the Clerk of the Assembly.”

Mr. Speaker, this is in pari material with the provisions in C.A .7. And it does not talk about aid to interpretation or construction of statutes. It deals strictly with the process of authentication which should be a subject of a different Act. Mr. Speaker, here we are concerned with the subject matter of an Act of Parliament so that if we are researching, we know where to find the law.

Mr. Speaker, I can go on and on because subclause 4 of the Interpretation Bill is found in section 5 (2) of the C.A. 7. Then subclause 5 (5) of the Interpretation Bill is found in section 7 (2) of C.A. 7. Mr. Speaker, subclause (6) of the Interpretation Bill is found under section 7 (1) of C.A 7. And subclause (5) of the Interpretation Bill is found under section 14(1) of the CA. 7. Mr. Speaker, subclause 5 (9) of C.A. 7 is found under section 10 of CA 7.

So Mr. Speaker, the contention is that we will like the Attorney-General to consider amending, if she wants to update the provisions of Acts of Parliaments Act, to rather amend the Acts of Parliament Act which set out the structure of an Act of Parliament and process of authentication, rather than incorporating it in the Interpretation Bill. It has nothing to do with interpretation at all.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon
Member, he is arguing strenuously that if this is not a matter of interpretation, then it is misplaced in considering an Interpretation Act; it deals more with matters of the structure of the law rather than its interpretation. I think we could get this well slated and then you could argue this out very well.
Yes, Hon Chairman of the Committee?
Mr. Fuseini 11:55 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, that was
the argument and that argument has

been made before, but this Bill is an Act to revise and consolidate the laws relating to the operation, construction and interpretation of enactments and for related matters. This is what the Bill is seeking to do.

Secondly, Mr. Speaker, when this Bill is passed into law, it would repeal C.A. 7, and we are saying that in C.A. 7, there are certain provisions that are important; that find constitutional expression and we must save those provisions. We do not want to save those provisions in C.A. 7. In order to deal with the related matters, we incorporate those provisions in the new Bill; the Bill becomes a one-stop shop for you to refer to matters in C.A. 7 and in the old CA 4 and other related enactments that will be repealed by this Bill. That is what, Mr. Speaker, we are doing.

Indeed, the provisions of clause 5 are very, very important for our work in this House; in relation to the procedure for doing our business in this House. And that will seek to confirm whether or not when we were considering pieces of legislation or Bills in this House, we went by the procedure laid down by law, that could be part of the related matter.

Mr. Speaker, we are saying that by reason of the fact that C.A. 7 will be non- existent after this Act, and by reason of the fact that those provisions that we are saving under this Bill are important and material for the determination of whether the processes for passing a Bill have been complied with or not, we need these provisions here. And that is why we have even gone further to provide for a lacuna for the certification of the Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we oppose the amend- ment.

Thank you.
Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh 11:55 a.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I beg to oppose the amendment.
I believe the Chairman of the Committee has answered it properly. The basic mistake the Hon Member is making is thinking that Interpretation Bill should contain only matters on interpretation.
But in fact , even the exist ing Interpretation Bill contains some basic principles of law, which is allowed. Therefore, I believe that it is right for these sections to be part. If you look at the CA.. 7, some portions of it have been captured in the Constitution -- the pardon, the Presidential Assent and others. And as he said, the CA 7 is going to be repealed and therefore, it is essential to capture the other parts of it in the Interpretation Act.
Mr. Speaker, the preamble to the Interpretation Act says -- it deals with the construction and other things which will help Parliament or anybody who is interpreting the Act to interpret it in its whole sense. Therefore, it is proper that these portions are captured in this Bill if C.A. 7 is going to be repealed. I do not find any problem with it, and as I have told my learned Colleague, I believe that it would not cause any harm having them in the Interpretation Act. Therefore, I believe that the amendment is misplaced and ought to be dismissed.
Mr. Boafo 12:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Chairman of the Committee in his contribution referred to the Long Title of the Act and I think he was relying on the “related matters” -- [Interruption.] Mr. Speaker, for “related matters” I will urge my Colleagues rather to consider the construction of eusdem generics that for related matters you cannot bring in strange items. All other things that can be brought in must be related to Inter-pretation, must be related to the operation, construction and interpretation of the enactment but not the validation and the structure of the
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee, you may go back. What is your position on 6 (ii), clause 5 amendment proposed under 5, add a new subclause as follows, “where the Bill was passed in accordance with . . .” and continuing.
Mr. Fuseini 12:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have read
that provision. That is clause 5, subclause (5). We are proposing that that provision should be inserted because we realized that when the Speaker is forwarding Bills passed by Parliament to the President for assent, there is no certification attached, whereas in all other cases, the Clerk has some work to do, some certification to do on Bills. So we said that we must create that provision to give the Speaker the power to certify that the Bill has been passed in accordance with law. So we are proposing that that should be part of the new clause, clause 5.
Mr. Osei-Prempeh 12:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I thought that we will deal with the amendment proposed by Hon Boafo before we come to that, because if his
amendment succeeds, there will be no need for this again. So let us finish with that before we come -- If that is defeated then we proceed with the proposed amendment.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Very
well. The proposed amendment by Hon Boafo has been duly moved. It has been duly debated by Members - [Pause] -- The secondment? So if it can be formally seconded by anyone, then we can put the Question. the amendment has not been seconded - (ii) amendment proposed; Chairman of the committee -- so that we proceed.
Mr. Avedzi 12:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
move, a new clause 5 be inserted after clause 4 of the Bill to read:
“Where the Bill was passed in accordance with the relevant provisions of article l08 of the Constitution, the Clerk shall, before causing the copies to be presented to the President, submit them to the Speaker, who, if satisfied that the power to pass the Bill is conferred on Parliament in accordance with the Constitution, shall sign on each copy a certificate in the Form set out in the First Schedule.”
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon
Members, the amendment is for the consideration of the House.
Mr. Ebo Barton-Odro 12:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I rise to second the motion.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
And
in doing so, will you want to make any argument in support?
Mr. Barton-Odro 12:05 p.m.
My Lord, I think that this is a very important aspect of the Interpretation Bill that has been laid before this House. We need to make sure certain processes or procedures are complied with, so that it will put it beyond
all reasonable doubt.
Mr. O. B. Amoah 12:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the Hon Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, being a seasoned lawyer, apparently thinks he is still in court. Because he was referring to you as “My Lord”, it should rather be “Mr. Speaker” -- [Interruptions] -- We are not in court, so you cannot be referred to as “My Lord” -- [Laughter.]
Mr. Barton-Odro 12:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon
Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, you really did not need to second this motion. At this stage the motion is moved and it is for the consideration of the House. I thought you were going to help us with appropriate argument and justification -- If not, if there are others, I want to call them but I thought I will give you that pride of place first.
Mr. Barton-Odro 12:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
actually the justification is what I put across, that we need to set down certain procedures, so that if they are complied with, it puts everything beyond doubt and that is the importance of this Act.
Mr. Osei-Prempeh 12:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
basically I am not opposed to it but I have concerns about the language.
Mr. Speaker, article 108 (a) of the Constitution says that 12:05 p.m.
“Parliament shall not, unless the bill is introduced or the motion is introduced by, or on behalf of, the President --
(a) proceed upon a bill including an amendment to a bill, that, in the opinion of the person presiding, . . .”
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee, these little matters regarding clause 5, do we stand them down so that you together with your members, bring us a format that you all agree on. We are talking from two ends of the same Committee so that we can make progress with regard to other clauses and then when you reframe it and other papers
Mr. Fuseini 12:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that when we were having the conciliation session or the winnowing session, my Hon Senior was not present. When a Bill comes before this House, I agree with him that the Speaker will have to satisfy himself or herself that the Bill conforms to article 108 of the Constitution. The Bill then is introduced and then it goes through all the stages in this House. In going through the stages, certain provisions of the Bill might change in substantial detail.
What this provision is seeking to do is that when the Bill is finally submitted after it has gone through all the stages to the Speaker, the Speaker must again make assurance double sure that indeed, in Parliament, we complied with article 108. That is what the Bill is saying.
So, yes, the Bill comes in; first instance, Mr. Speaker, you satisfy yourself that the Bill conforms with article 108. It goes through First Reading, Second Reading, Consideration Stage, and it is passed. We are saying that before you submit it to the President for assent, you must again make sure that in those stages that it passed through in Parliament, it still conformed to article 108.
Mr. Speaker, I do not see anything materially different from the provisions that we have put here.
Mr. Boafo 12:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am opposed to this but I have to comment on what he said. I think what he is saying is the right thing which needs to be done because assuming that after the certification by the Speaker, it goes through the discussion
Mr. Boafo 12:15 p.m.


period, through the Consideration Stage and certain extensive amendments are made, what happens?

So we have to wait until the tail end then the Speaker would know what we have done in the House before he gives a certificate to enable the President to give his assent.
Mr. Ambrose P. Dery 12:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have been out of touch, out of this House. Just listening to the arguments so far, especially between the Chairman and the Ranking Member, I was just wondering if some of these fine-tunings could not have been done outside plenary.
Yes, the argument that the Hon Chairman has made is valid, but one can still state that without talking about the power. One can say it just conforms with article 108 and that settles it. Because it would be quixotic for anybody, the Speaker to sit down, go through all the stages of a Bill, only to say in the end that they had the power because we are supposed to deal with that as an issue.
Having said that, there is a lot of winnowing to be done. For instance, I was just looking at this document from the Attorney-General's office which fortunately, the Hon Chairman says we can defer. I was wondering if most of these could not be done, maybe, giving the Committee one more time to go and fine- tune it. We have a tall list of amendments and if we have the Hon Chairman and the Hon Ranking Member continue to argue, I think that is not the best. It is going to keep us running round in circles, especially because they do not disagree funda-mentally but it has to do with presen-tation.
I do not know how amenable the Hon Chairman is, but if we are to look at what has come from the Attorney-General's

Department, maybe, the lawyers in the House should move together and go and assist the Committee to do a final winnowing and then we get these things sorted out.

Mr. Speaker, this is my humble proposal.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 12:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to support the presentation by Hon Dery that in view of all the discrepancies, we stand this down and give them another chance to go and do the final winnowing and come back to this House.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
I think we will take the good points raised by these Hon Senior Members and we would move on to clause 18.
Chairman of the Committee, this was also deferred for further consultation. What is the position on this amendment, please?
Clause 18 -- Publ icat ion and commencement.
Mr. Fuseini 12:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 18, subclause (3), after paragraph (b), at end of the phrase “that Proclamation”, add “or other statutory instrument”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 18 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 29 -- Service of documents.
Mr. Boafo 12:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 29, subclause (2), paragraph (c), line 2, after “abode” insert “occupation, vocation”.
Mr. Speaker, this amendment is being sought only to expand the provisions in clause 29 (2) (c). The present rendition
limits the service of the document to place of abode or business. But the amendment is being sought to include “place of occupation' or “vocation”. So the full rendition would be “place of abode, occupation, vocation or business”.
Mr. Speaker, the concept of a “place
of business” suggests a place where somebody is operating for profit. So if the person lives in a place other than a place where he is operating from for profit, that must be taken into account just as we have in the rules of court about “service of documents”. So this is just to extend the rendition in clause 29(2)(c).
Question proposed.
Mr. Osei-Prempeh 12:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, will
our Hon Colleague show us the difference between “the place of business” and “vocation”? I believe they are superfluous. It says that “a place of business”, that is where he carries on his vocation or his job, and I believe the amendments are not necessary. They are just encumbering the clause.
Mr. O. B. Amoah 12:15 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I believe the proposed amendment is not fatal to the particular provision. It is just for better clarification. I do not think it would harm anything if we add “vocation and abode”. “Business” as in business but if, for instance, you are in a school and that is your place of vocation, are we saying that would be your business?
This is because if we say “business” it restricts it, whereas if we say “vocation”, vocation extends beyond business. A typical example is in a school where they would have to be served; is that one's place of business or one's place of vocation? Or even in a church, is it a place of business?
So I believe accepting this proposal will not be fatal to the clause in any way.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr. Boafo 12:25 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 29, subclause (2), paragraph (e), item (i), before “person” delete “a” and substitute “an adult”.
Mr. Speaker, this is being proposed in
order to demonstrate that the document cannot be served on any person at all in the premises but it should be served on an adult person. Mr. Speaker, this is to be consistent with clause 29 subclause (2), paragraph (c), line 1, and it says:
“. . . by leaving it with an adult person at that person's usual . . .”
So when we come paragraph (e), it only mentions “that person”; so we want to ensure consistency in language and that is part of construction of statute. I am talking of consistency in language.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr. Boafo 12:25 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 29, subclause (2), paragraph (e), item (ii), line 2, before “person” delete “a” and substitute “an adult”.
Mr. Speaker, it is the same explanation, it has to do with consistency in language.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Members, it follows from the last amendment.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 29 as amended ordered to stand as part of the Bill.
Mr. Osei-Prempeh 12:25 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, if I am right, you did not put the Question between clauses 18 and 29.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Just for the sake of clarity -- [Pause.] Hon Member, I am told they had earlier been taken.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
Clauses 30 to 43 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 44 -- Time.
Mr. Fuseini 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 44, subclause (2), delete “particularly” and insert “particular”.
Mr. Speaker, there is a typographical error where the word “particularly” has been used to describe a day, and we are saying that that should be deleted and substituted with “particular” to read “on a particular day”. That is our amendment.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Members, it is a straightforward amendment.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr. Fuseini 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
move, clause 44, subclause (3), lines 1 and 2, delete “to begin on, or”.
Mr. Speaker, so the provision would read 12:35 p.m.
“Where in an enactment a period of time is expressed to be reckoned from, or after a particular day, that day shall not be included in the period”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr. Fuseini 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 44, subclause (5), lines 2 and 4, before “Sunday” insert “Saturday.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr. Fuseini 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
move, clause 44, subclause (6), lines 2 and 4, before “Sunday” insert “Saturday.”
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr. Fuseini 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
move, clause 44, subclause (7), line 2, delete “six days” and insert “five days, Saturdays.”
We are recognizing that we have five working days and Saturday should not be counted as part of the working days. That is the amendment.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 44 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 45 -- Statutory Boards.
Mr. Fuseini 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg
to move, clause 45, subclause (2), paragraph (a), delete “chairman” and insert “chairperson”.
Mr. Speaker, I think that this is gender neutral and it is consistent with modern- day practices. That is the amendment.
Question proposed.
Mr. P. C. Appiah-Ofori 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the word “chairman” does not refer to a man or a woman; it has nothing to do with gender. So if he wants to amend it because he thinks it is about gender, then it is wrong. When one uses the word “chairman”, a woman can be a chairman
and a man can be a chairman.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am not opposing the amendment but I think we have to put it in perspective. The Queen's English up to today is “Madam Chairman” or “Mr. Chairman”; it is the Americans who have made it “Chairperson”. We can live with it but this whole thing is not because of gender. So I support my Hon Colleague.
Mr. Ambrose P. Dery 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I
think the amendment that is being proposed by the Chairman of the Committee is right, germane and current and I think that we should put it so that we have “chairman” changed to “chairperson”.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon
Dery, what is your conclusion?
Mr. Dery 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, my conclusion
is that the amendment should be carried; I am in support of the amendment.
Mr. Speaker, I think that my Hon Friend E. T. Mensah and I have been through all these, it is internationally accepted, and it is a trend that we must respond to. Although we know that the normal interpretation is saying that the reference to man includes a woman, that notwithstanding, it is better to put “Chairperson”. It is the same way that a reference to a woman includes a man. So why do we go for that? Let us go for “chairperson”, it is gender neutral.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the only aspect that I disagree with is the issue about the “chairman” being current. When you go to England -- I have attended meetings there and there was a woman who was referred to as “Madam Chairman”. We know that the English Language has gone through certain process in the American jurisdiction with their spellings and other things.
So the point that is being made is that, around here, we talk about gender as if it
Mr. S. K. B. Manu 12:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
it has been said that whoever chases fashion chases the wind. If we tend to be following what is current, we shall never be stabilised. It has also been said that the theatre for the proper study of man is man; this does not mean man with the male organ. Man, as it is known from creation, connotes persons with the male organ and persons with female organs. It is just that man comes from the word “human”.
So if we say “chairman”, we need not say we have to -- Why do we not then say “chairwoman”? If we want to be - Please, this kind of thing that they bring from out there and we always tend to moderate our lives as they do over there is what is keeping Africa down, because they are always ahead and we try to catch up and that is why they describe us as “developing”. Until we catch up with them, we are still developing.

Why do we not find our own way of developing? If we say “chairman” and the person there is a woman, what is wrong with it? Will the Heavens come down on us? So I am against the amendment. I say that “chairman”, and whoever is there will qualify to be the chairman. Whether it is somebody with the female organ or the male organ, the person will be a chairman, and I am against the unnecessary amendment.
Mr. Dery 12:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thought
that this will not be carried this far. But

let me add that matters of sex is not that clear. There are hermaphrodites in case some people do not know, and if you get there then it is neither a “he” nor “she”.

But Mr. Speaker, I think that we all

agree that without prejudice to the general interpretation, when Madam Speaker is in the Chair, we do not address her as Mr. Speaker. Indeed, those who want us to go the way that the Hon Majority Chief Whip is saying, that because it is done in England we should do it, we rather think that we should do it our way; and our way is to say “person” instead of “chairman.”
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Members, I think I will now put the Question -- [Interruption.]
Mr. E. T. Mensah 12:45 p.m.
But Mr. Speaker, for the records, if Madam Speaker is in the Chair, we do not address her as “Mr. Speaker”. Even where the language came from, they do not address a woman as “Mr.” -- “Madam Speaker,” or “Madam Chairman”, or “Mr. Chairman”. That was what we said and that is what is being canvassed. It is their language, it is the language that we are learning and that is what it is.
Mr. Boafo 12:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, if I may refer
to clause 41 (1 ) (a) and (b), it says:
“Words in an enactment importing male persons include female persons and female persons include male persons.”
Mr. Speaker, I do not see the need for this amendment.
Alhaj i Mohammed-Mubarak
Muntaka: Mr. Speaker, I am surprised that my Hon Colleagues are thinking that this amendment is not necessary. Mr. Speaker, I believe that if this thing written there was said to be “chairwoman”, Members would have insisted that it was
changed. So in a society where a lot of attention is paid to gender, I believe that as a responsibility, as a House, let us begin to make it clear to our society that yes, women also matter.
Here we are not saying that make it “chairman” or “chairwoman”; we are saying that we should just change it to “chairperson” . I do not see why we should be finding it too difficult to change it from “chairman” to a “chairperson” when we know that the “person” would cover all this argument and rest all this unnecessary debate. So Mr. Speaker, I think this amendment is very, very necessary just to make it a “person” and it covers everybody without any argument.
Mr. Appiah-Ofori 12:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
word “chairman” is neither masculine nor ferminine. It does not say that it is a man or a woman, it is a word. So “chairman” should stay, we should not alter it.
Mr. Dery 12:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, let us deal
with the law as it stands now. Let us go to clause 41 (1) which says:
“Words in an enactment importing:
(a) male persons include female person and female persons include male persons.”
I want to tell this House that these two are inadequate because it does not tell us where hermaphrodites are-- [Inter- ruptions] -- Yes, and we have persons who are hermaphrodites. But let me go forward. Second:
“Words in an enactment importing persons include male and female persons.”
And indeed when you use “person”, it goes beyond male and female persons to hermaphrodites. So the “person” is the
appropriate word to use in this, so let us effect the “person”.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 12:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, when Hon Muntaka was making the intervention, he said when anybody is referred to as “chairwoman” -- There is nothing like “chairwoman”. Number two, those of us who raised the issue -- that is Hon Balado and P. C. Appiah-Ofori and I - we did not object to the amendment but we said, let us put things in context because of the reason that was given. It was the reason which brought about these arguments, that let us create the impression that those who are talking belong to the past like it came out.
We are saying that we are very current, and we are saying that the English Language has owners. I can corrupt Dagari, one can corrupt Ga, but when one who is speaking the real Ga or the real Dagari makes a mistake, we draw his attention to it. The Hon Balado said something which was very important -- When God said, “let us create man”, He said, let us create man in our image.
He did not say, “let us create man and woman”. And when later a woman was to be created, He said, “I will give you a companion”. So that is the point that is being made. Mr. Speaker, we do not oppose it but we are saying that -- because it is the Americans who brought the “chairperson”; they have corrupted quite a number of things. Even their spellings, if you answer questions in the English jurisdiction and you use their spelling, you would make a mistake.
So put the Question, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon
Mensah is saying he does not intend to oppose the amendment and he does not intend that this Parliament be seen as gender insensitive. So Hon Members, I
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
There is another amendment to clause 45.
Mr. Boafo 12:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 45, subclause (3), line 1, delete “alternative” and substitute “alternate”.
Mr. Speaker, this is also in respect of consistency of language. Mr. Speaker, a look at clause 45 (2) (b), the expression used is “alternate appointment” --
“The power to appoint an individual person as an alternate member to act in the place of the member in respect of whom the alternate appointment is made.”
Mr. Speaker, under subclause (iii), the expression used is “an alternative member”. We are advocating for consis- tency of language.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr. Fuseini 12:45 p.m.
Mr.Speaker, I beg to move, clause 45, add a new subclause as follows:
“(9) Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (5) shall cease to apply if :
(a) ten years or more have passed since the end of the sentence or the date of the publication of the report of the commission or committee of inquiry, or
( b ) t h a t p e r s o n h a s
been pardoned”
We think that there must be an end to the suffering of a person found liable under provisions of the law.
Mr. Boafo 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to support the proposed amendment in the sense that the proposed insertion is consistent with article 94 (5) of the Constitution. It is just in in pari material with article 94 (5).
Question put and amendment agreed
to.
Clause 45 as amended ordered to stand
part of the Bill.
Clause 46 - Definitions.
Mr. Fuseini 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
move, clause 46, page 30, definition of “Gazette” delete and substitute “Gazette means ‘the Gazette published by order of the Government”.
Mr. O. B. Amoah 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I wish the Hon Member who proposed the amendment would explain further because I believe it is for good reason that the meaning of Gazette on page 30 has been expanded to include extraordinary issue and the supplement of the Gazette.
Mr. Fuseini 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, we have so limited the definition because when you look at the extraordinary issue or the supplement, they are both Gazettes but they are Gazettes of a different form. So, we have just given Gazette a generic use to cover the extraordinary issue and the supplements. So, any Gazette published by Government whether it is extraordinary or a supplement is a Gazette. And that is how we have seen it so that we do not bother ourselves with going to find out whether this is an extraordinary issue or a supplement, provided it is published as
a Gazette of Government.
Question put and amendment agreed
to.
Mr. Fuseini 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
move, clause 46, page 30, definition of “Majority Leader”, delete.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Clause
46, Hon Chairman of the Committee, there is another amendment.
Mr. Fuseini 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
move, clause 46 page 30, definition of “Minority Leader” delete
Mr. Speaker, this amendment is sponsored by my goodself and Hon William Ofori Boafo that we delete the definition of “Minority Leader” from the definition list.
Mr. Boafo 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
support the proposed amendment. And in so doing, Mr. Speaker, the most important thing is that both the Majority and the Minority Leaders are not persons who are recognised by the Speaker for that purpose. So, we leave it to the definition under the Standing Orders.
Question put and amendment agreed
to.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon
Chairman of the Committee, there is another amendment under clause 46.
Mr. Fuseini 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to
move, clause 46, page 31, definition of “proclamation” delete “proclamation” and insert “declaration”.
It reads “a proclamation means a proclamation” and we are saying that that second “proclamation” should be “declaration” to read:
“. . . declaration made by the President under the public seal.”
“Proclamation” means we delete the word “proclamation” and insert “declaration made by the President under the public seal”.
Question put and amendment agreed
to.
Clause 46 as amended ordered to stand
part of the Bill.
.
Clause 47 -- Assignment of Ministerial
Responsibilities.
Mr. Fuseini 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg
to move, clause 47, line 1, delete “Notwithstanding” and insert “Despite” .
Mr. Ebo Barton-Odro 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I am really at a loss as to the difference, seriously. I think that “Notwithstanding” should be maintained.
Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that “Notwithstanding” is a better legal knowledge than “Despite”. So I believe that we retain “Notwithstanding” and reject the amendment.
Mr. Dery 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, “despite” displays a flamboyance that is foreign to legal terminology. I think “despite” should be discarded. I believe my brother, the Hon Chairman of the Committee, is not against that. “Despite”, no, there is nothing legal

about it, please.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Chairman of the Committee?
Mr. Fuseini 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, that is the difficulty in which we find ourselves. In modern day drafting, the drafters tell us that that is the modern language; we use “Despite” But obviously, Mr. Speaker, with our prejudices, we are conversant with the word “Notwithstanding”. That was why, Mr. Speaker, in introducing this amendment, I said “your Committee had agreed that we should substitute the word”. But if the House is minded to still go on with the old way of formulating their this things --
rose
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
I think I am putting the Question.
Question put and amendment negatived.
Clause 47 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clauses 48 to 51 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 52 -- Repeals.
Mr. Fuseini 12:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, clause 52, paragraph (a), delete “1972” and insert “1982”.
Obviously, the PNDC was not the government in 1972.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Hon Members, I shall now put the Question -- [Interruptions.] Pardon? [Pause.] (xxxi)?
Mr. Boafo 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, this proposed
Mr. Boafo 1:05 p.m.


amendment would depend on the fate of clause 5; that is, it would depend upon the fate of clauses 4 and 5 of the Interpretation Bill which have been stood down.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Well, it would remain stood down then?
Mr. Boafo 1:05 p.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
The First Schedule.
First schedule --
Mr. Fuseini 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the First Schedule actually deals with clause 5 which has been stood down. We would crave your indulgence -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
It has all got to do with the same -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Fuseini 1:05 p.m.
So that we would stand that down together with clause 5?
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Hon Members, we cannot deal with the Long Title because we have a major aspect still stood down for the Committee to work thereon and report to the House. [Pause.]
Well, that brings us to the end for now, so far as this Bill is concerned.
Mr. O. B. Amoah 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, there is a proposed amendment to Schedule II.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Yes, we shall take that when we have finished with those other matters we have stood down; I do not think you were here then.
Mr. Boafo 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, there is also a proposed amendment to the Preamble, which must also be taken together with clause 4.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
That is so.
Mr. Boafo 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is our plea that when we are taking clause 4, we take
it with the Preamble together so that the argument would be holistic.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee, I think we agreed on these modalities?
Mr. Fuseini 1:05 p.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. We agreed that when considering the Schedules to the Bill, we consider them alongside clause 4 and clause 5.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Leadership, any indication at this stage?
Mr. E. T. Mensah 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, having come to the end of Business on this floor, the next item would be committee sittings; some committees are already sitting and others want to join them. I, therefore, move that this House do adjourn till tomorrow, 10.00 in the forenoon. I so move.
Mr. Ambrose P. Dery 1:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 1:05 p.m.