Debates of 14 Dec 2009

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:40 a.m.

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:40 a.m.

Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report.
We start with the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 11th December, 2009.
Pages 1 - 31?
Hon Members, in the absence of any corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 11th December, 2009 is adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Member for New Juaben South (Ms. Beatrice Bernice Boateng) just indicated to us that she has been marked as absent without permission. [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
At what page?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, on page 5, number 13. Indeed, she was away but she sought permission before travelling outside and she was away for about almost two weeks. It may appear that she is being marked continuously as being absent without permission while she was away. But indeed, she sought permission. So if the Table Office could consider that and effect the necessary

corrections.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Member, when you say ‘absent', does it mean with or without permission?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, item 3 on page 5, provides the list of Hon Members absent with permission. Item 4 says “The following Hon Members were absent”. By extension of reasoning, it means those listed below were absent without permission.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Yes, the Table Office should take note.
Mr. D. T. Assumeng 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have the same problem. Number 9, page 5; I have also been listed as absent but I was away on an official visit and I sought permission, so I thought I should be marked “absent with permission”.
Dr. A. A. Osei 10:50 a.m.
Sorry, Madam Speaker, with your permission, I would like to take you back to page 28. Madam Speaker, the Committee on Defence and Interior, item No. 2, xiii, there is one “Mr. Osei Akoto Anthony” listed on that Committee. I am not sure there is any Mr. Osei Akoto Anthony on that Committee, so if they can correct it.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
You are referring to page 20?
Dr. Osei 10:50 a.m.
Page 28.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
28?
Dr. Osei 10:50 a.m.
28.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Ahaa! All right.
Dr. Osei 10:50 a.m.
“Attendance” for the Committee on Defence and Interior, the last but one name, there is listed one “Mr. Osei Akoto Anthony.” I am not sure in this
House there is any “Osei Akoto Anthony”.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Is there “Anthony Osei Akoto”?
Dr. Osei 10:50 a.m.
“Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei.”
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
I think they were referring to you.
Dr. Osei 10:50 a.m.
I attended that meeting.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
All right, Clerk-at- the-Table, the name is “Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei”; effect the correction.
Mr. Joseph Osei-Owusu 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the proceedings on Friday, 11th December, 2009 do not reflect that the Committee on Roads and Transport met at all. But we did meet on Friday with the Ministry of Transport and it does not appear anywhere in the Votes and Proceedings.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes, Clerk to note.
Mr. G. K. Essilfie 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am sorry to take us back to page 5. Page 5, I am listed as being absent from the House, but actually, I was in the House and left for the Committee on Food and Agriculture meeting, so I should not be marked absent.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Number what?
Mr. Essilfie 10:50 a.m.
Number 19 under item 4.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
All right.
Mr. Kojo Adu-Asare 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, on the same score, the Committee on Food and Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs met at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture on an official assignment, but it has not been
listed here as it is supposed to.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Thank you.

Hon Members, in the absence of any corrections, the Official Report of Monday, 30th November, 2009 is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.

Question time -- Leader, is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration here? We have one Question for him.
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Minister is not yet available. I am expecting the Minister himself. Well, we had a chat on it and he preferred that he himself would come and do it today. If it is not today then it meant his Deputy -- So I am expecting the Minister himself to be here. [Pause.]
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Leader, do you want us to move on and stand this down, or is he in the premises?
Mr. Bagbin 10:50 a.m.
Well, Madam Speaker, I think we would have to stand it down and move on to the -- I am not sure you have admitted any Statement, if you have, then we go to Statements, if not, we go to Public Business which is very crucial at this time.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
No, I have not admitted any Statement, so we move on to item 5 -- Laying of Papers.
PAPERS 10:50 a.m.

Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
(iii)?
Mr. Bagbin 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have just been told that (iii) and (iv) are still before the Committee. They are not ready, so they cannot be laid.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
So we move on to (b) then.
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration for the year 2010.
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Committee on Roads and Transport on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Roads and Highways for the year 2010.
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Committee on Roads and Transport on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Transport for the year 2010.
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Committee on Communications on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Communications for the year 2010.
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Committee on Communications on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Information for the year 2010.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Item 5 (f), Report of Joint Committee on Lands, Forestry and Mines and Energy.
Mr. G. K. B. Gbediame 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Report is not yet ready.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Item 5 (g)?
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Special Budget Committee on the Annual Budget Estimates for the year 2009 of the following:
Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)
National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE)
National Media Commission
(NMC).
Mr. Ambrose P. Dery 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have just seen that what they are talking about is for 2009 but I do not think we are dealing with the Budget for 2009. That is item 5(g). So, if it is 2009, I think it is dead because we have finished it.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Leader, is it
2009?
Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have just drawn their attention that it is 2010; not 2009 for all the Reports there; we are dealing with 2010.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
The Report is laid and it is for distribution.
Mr. Frederick Opare-Ansah 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have been trying to catch your eye for a little while but unfortunately, I could not catch your eye.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Yes, I am now calling on you.
Mr. Opare-Ansah 11 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker, items 5(b) and 5(c), my attention has been drawn by the Hon Ranking Members on our side that we have just been given draft copies and they are not sure the Reports are actually ready for laying. They just got draft copies and they are still perusing them.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
I do not know -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Opare-Ansah 11 a.m.
Items 5(b) and 5(c), the Reports on Foreign Affairs and Roads and Transport.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Leader, items 5(b) and 5(c), you have laid them but they say -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Opare-Ansah 11 a.m.
Item 5(b) is the Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and item 5(c)(i) is the Report of the Committee on Roads and Transport. The Hon Ranking Members are saying they just got copies and they are now going through and so they are not ready.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Member, we are not going to discuss it today. It is just laid.
Mr. Opare-Ansah 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the normal practice is for the Committee to agree that the Report is ready and then the Hon Chairman signs with the Clerk and then it is laid. But if one side has just seen a copy and have not even finished -- You can see the Hon Ranking Members on our side still perusing the document. They have not even gone through it fully. So, I am not sure that the Hon Chairman can say that the Report is ready.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
I do not -- Hon Member, it has already been laid for distribution, what do we do?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think the thing that is normally done is that, after the consideration of the
Estimates, the leadership of the committee would put together a report. Normally, the committee will meet to discuss the draft report. We all do know that given the exigencies of the time, it may be difficult for the entire committee to meet.
Leadership -- at least the Hon Chairman, the Hon Vice Chairman, the Hon Ranking Member and the Hon Deputy Ranking Member could meet to peruse the draft.
Thereafter, if there is an agreement, then it is brought to the House to be laid. But in this case, I have just learnt that a draft has been given to the Hon Ranking Member for Foreign Affairs right here, he is perusing the document and then somebody purports to lay the document as having come through the Committee. Certainly, that cannot be allowed.
The Hon First Deputy Speaker is saying that there is something called kangaroo laying -- [Laughter] -- But Madam Speaker, seriously, I think there should be some arrangement to have, at least, the leadership agree before it is laid. I think we should be seen to be doing better diligence than it has been advertised.
So if we can stand down items 5(b) and 5(c), we can always come back to them. I do not think we have to disagree but let us do the proper thing.
I thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
If you say we should stand them down, you mean after they have been laid, we could still stand them down?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, what we have to do is to withdraw that farce that has been done. Once the Hon Members have agreed that they have not been worked on by, at least, the leadership, then the Hon Chairmen cannot

just stand up and say that they are laying them. We all do know that we are under pressure, that is acceptable but at least, the leadership should peruse them and agree before they are laid.
Mr. Francis Y. Osei-Sarfo 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Ranking Member was not in. I contacted the Hon Deputy Ranking Member and we agreed upon what I did.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Well, we -- [Interruption.]
Mr. F. Boakye Agyen 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, can I react?
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Yes.
Mr. Agyen 11 a.m.
My Hon Chairman informed me that the Report was going to be laid. And I told him I just had a draft report --and it is a fact that what we have is a draft. So, I am at a loss when my Hon Chairman said I agreed that it should be laid. It is a draft report. In fact, it is written boldly at the back “Draft”. My Hon Chairman also has a draft report. [Laughter.]
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
In this case, Hon
Minority Leader, when the Report is ready they could come and withdraw this and then substitute it or lay the proper Report.
I do not find it easy to stand it down once we have dealt with it. But I am not against withdrawing it and laying the proper Report at a later stage.
Mr. Bagbin 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think it was a difficulty in catching your eye timeously enough to prevent us from laying the Reports. I would say that, in the circumstances, we will withdraw the laying. It is possible we can withdraw the laying; it is not proper to lay them since they are not ready. If they are not ready for laying, they cannot be laid. So we
will withdraw the laying and when they are ready we will come back and lay the proper Reports.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
They can withdraw at any stage? Do they want to withdraw now?
Mr. Agyen 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we will withdraw it and lay it later.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
You withdraw what? Can you state it fully then we will? You mean you are withdrawing item 5(b)?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, he is the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. So he can only withdraw the purported document which he is alleged to have laid. He can withdraw that; that is 5(b), then we come to 5(c).
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Hon Leader, if you have no objection, I agree it should be withdrawn; that Report is withdrawn.
Mr. Bagbin 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the 5(b) was for the Chairman for Foreign Affairs and he is purported to have withdrawn the draft Report that was alleged to have been laid. Now, we would go on to the 5(c) and they are two reports from Roads and Transport Committee.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
So you are withdrawing that one, too?
Chairman: Yes, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
All right, permission granted; withdrawn.

We were on item (g) and a correction was made; that the estimates are for the year 2010. Has it been read, Clerk?
Ms. Cecilia Abena Dapaah 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we have not even received copies of the drafts yet, all of us. I am the Ranking Member and I believe we need time to, at least, read through and make sure everything is fine. I am just holding a copy of the draft Report.
Mr. D. T. Assumeng 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, this draft was ready as far back as 7.00 o'clock and I handed it over to her, and I thought by now she would have finished -- They have also finished with the real Report. So I thought that that lady agreement between us would hold because it is ready now. [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
She says she had
Mr. Assumeng 11:10 a.m.
I do so, Madam Speaker.
Mr. C. S. Hodogbey 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I stand against the use of the words “that lady”. The Hon Member for Shai- Osudoku used the words “that lady” which is very unparliamentary. [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member,
“that lady”, we do not use --
Mr. Assumeng 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, what I said was, “lady agreement”. In fact, I should have said “gentleman agreement”. But because she is a lady I said “lady agreement”. If that is wrong, then I do not know.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Well, does the lady take objection to it? [Interruptions.] She did not hear? All right. We thank the Hon Member, but the lady did not even hear. [Interruptions.] So we move on. Thank you anyway for drawing our attention.
We are on item (i); have we finished with (i)? No. It would be laid later. So item (j); we are on (j) -- Committee on Health? Hon Leader, item (j), is it being laid or not? Yes, Clerk?
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Committee on Health on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Health for the year
2010.
Dr. Matthew O. Prempeh 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Committee is going to meet this afternoon to complete it and my Hon Chairman knows we are meeting this afternoon. So it cannot be laid.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Chairman, is that so? [Laughter.]
Maj. (Dr.) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (retd): Madam Speaker, we agreed yesterday in Swedru that the Committee's Report be laid this morning. We agreed on it yesterday, Madam Speaker. So I
Dr. Prempeh 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, obviously, my Chairman himself knows that we are meeting this afternoon. So we would crave your indulgence to allow us to complete the Paper and do so tomorrow.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
All right. That one too, is stood down. Yes, Hon Leader?
Mr. Bagbin 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, may I say this. I know Hon Members are aware that we have tried in such matters to lay the Papers and get Hon Members to finally append their signatures to them so that by the time we come to the motion, the Papers are distributed to all Hon Members to go through and then we debate them. Now, the way things are going on, the usual thing of notice would be deficient and we would be bringing more Standing Orders to ask for permission for a motion to be moved because we have not given the requisite notice.
So it is a plea to Hon Members that if it is just a matter of appending signature, if they have agreed on the Report, but just the matter of the Chairman not appending signature, we could forgive that. But if it is just that it has not been agreed upon, then definitely, we cannot lay those Papers. So just a plea to Hon Members; if that is the only issue. But if we have not agreed on them, then as a committee, we would allow them to go back and agree before they lay them.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think the principle behind what the Majority Leader is saying is acceptable. Under pressure, we do that but the point is, even if it is laid this morning, we would certainly have to set aside the relevant Standing Orders when
we come to deal with the motion today.
The point being articulated by my Hon Colleague is that, yes, there was an agreement to do so this morning. But it was dependent on the readiness of the Report and then its being made available to leadership for their perusal and agreement and then it would be laid.
So far, the other legs of the initial agreement had not been followed. That is the point that he is making; and as I said, if it is ready and it is laid in the afternoon, we would still have to set aside the relevant provisions in the Standing Order -- If we have to consider them today.
We agree that if we have it and we have some reasonable time to consider it maybe, one, two hours, we could still do them today. But if the Reports are not ready, nobody can just get up and then bow to the Chair and signal that they have been laid when the Committees themselves have not agreed with the drafts of the Reports. That cannot be done.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, I appreciate the point except to urge that we lay them very quickly; the ones we have stood down, if even it is later in the day, so we can have the work schedule moving.
So we stand (j) down. What about (k)?
Mr. S. M. E. K. Ackah 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we have just been given the draft, so I think we would lay it properly at the appropriate time.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
What about (l)?
Mr. A.K. Agbesi 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the leadership of the Committee has not finalized the Report. So we will lay it later.
Dr. A. Y. Alhassan 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
the Report will be ready later in the day.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Defence and Interior (n)?
Mr. Bagbin 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Committee on Defence and Interior indicated to me that the Paper would be ready to be laid tomorrow and not today, so both n (i) and (ii) are not ready. We agreed on tomorrow.
What about (o)?
Mr. Stephen Kunsu 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Report cannot be laid today because it is not yet ready.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
If I may urge, we lay the Reports as quickly as we can.
Hon Leader, I was appealing that the Reports that we have stood down be laid as quickly as possible, maybe, up to tomorrow so that we can carry on; in which case, we move to motion 6 -- Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture, can you move your motion?
Mr. Bagbin 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Report has just been laid by the Chairman but the Minister is not aware the motion is to be moved today and he is not available. So we would have to shift that motion to tomorrow.
We have the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning and his Deputy. I had a discussion with the Minister for Finance and his Deputy just a few minutes ago here and both of them are here to take their motions. So I think we should get them to come and move the motions, the financial reports and then we debate those. I have just asked that they should call him and his Deputy to come in so that we can take those.
In the meantime, we could finalise our debate on the Interpretation Bill which is left out with just a few areas to resolve. So we will go to item 27 and finish up with that.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Leader, if we are moving to item 27, then we will change seat and the Hon Second Deputy Speaker would continue. I thought we could finish a few of the motions.
Hon Leader, is the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning here?
Mr. Bagbin 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning is in, so we could take motion Nos 7, 8, 9 -- The three motions could be taken today. So we could take motion No. 7.
CONSIDERATION OF ANNUAL 11:20 a.m.

ESTIMATES 11:20 a.m.

Minister for Finance and Economic Planning (Dr. Kwabena Duffuor) 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢1,495,167.00 for the services of the Public Services Commission (PSC) for the 2010 fiscal year.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin) 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, in seconding the motion, the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for next year 2010 was read and presented to the House on the 18th day of November 2009.
Madam Speaker, the portion on the Public Services Commission was referred to the Special Budget Committee and the Committee met officials of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to deliberate on the Estimates.

Madam Speaker, we looked at the relevant law, that is the Constitution, the Standing Orders and also last year's financial statement together with the 2010 Budget Statement. The mandate of the Public Services Commission is as stated in the Report of the Committee.

1.0 Introduction

The Minister for Finance and Economic Planning presented the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2010 to the House on Wednesday, 18th November 2009 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.

Pursuant to Order 140 (4) of the Standing Orders of the House, the Speaker referred the draft Annual Budget Estimates for the Public Services Commission (PSC) to the Special Budget Committee for consideration and report.

The Committee met with the Chairman of the Commission and officials of PSC and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) to discuss the said estimates.

2.0 Reference Documents

The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana:

The Standing Orders of Parliament of Ghana:

The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2010 Financial Year: and

The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2009 Financial Year.

3.0 Mandate of the Public Services Commission

The PSC exists to safeguard and promote integrity, accountability and competence in the Public Services in Ghana through the rendering of advisory, consultative, regulatory and supervisory services.

In pursuance of this, the PSC envisions to become an autonomous body whose advice and opinions are respected and recognized as authoritative and indicative of best practices in human resource management and development. Ultimately, the Commission aims to ensure compe-tence and professionalism while ridding the Public Services of corruption, nepotism and favouritism.

The PSC hopes to actualize or execute this mandate through the following objectives:

promote the development of manpower, increase and sustain opportunities;

e s t a b l i s h a n d m a i n t a i n a computerized personnel information system in the Public Services;

rationalize and define structures, roles and procedures for performance management in the Public Service;

ensure the expeditious resolution of grievances of public servants; and

strengthen the institutional capacity of the PSC to fulfil its constitutional mandate.

4.0 Performance in 2009

The Public Services Commission in 2009 undertook the following:

organized a stakeholders workshop on new performance review and appraisal instrument;

finalized an instrument developed to capture and analyse data on performance levels within the

Public Services; and

held discussions with Ministers of State and Government appointees on effective handling of human resource management within MDAs.

5.0 Outlook for 2010

The Commission intends to focus on its statutory functions to enhance service delivery to client organizations and the general public. To this end, the Commission plans to among others: develop a comprehensive human resource policy for MDAs;

pursue the new performance review and appraisal systems with the view to making public servants appreciate the need for them to be appraised;

create a comprehensive database on all public servants; and

conduct research on critical issues affecting the smooth imple- mentation of the human resource management function of the Public Services.

6.0 Estimates for 2010

An amount of GH¢1,495,167 has been allocated the Public Services Commission for 2010, a decrease of GH¢400,560 or 21 per cent compared with the 2009 figure of

GH¢1,895,727.

The breakdown by Item is as follows:

Comparative Estimates for 2010 and

2009

The 2009 P. E. figure of GH¢1,628,365 included salary-related allowance which should have been captured under administration. The 2010 P.E. accordingly captured only salaries for the Commissioners and officials of the Commission with the salary- related allowance properly put under administration, hence the huge variation between the P.E. for the two years.
Prof. G. Y. Gyan-Baffour (NPP -- Wenchi) 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to support the motion numbered 7 that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢1,495,167.00 for the Public Services Commission for the 2010 fiscal year.
As the Hon Majority Leader rightly stated, the overall allocation for the Public Services Commission has dropped by 21 per cent in absolute terms. If you factor
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Thank you.
Minority Leader (Mr. Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think I just want to follow on the wings of what the Hon Member for Wenchi has indicated.
I believe that the Public Services Commission has been left in the lurch in this budget. This is because apart from the indication that the real value or the real amount allocated to the Commission comes to about 62 per cent of the allocation in 2009; if you go backwards to 2008, it still comes down in a most profound way and that certainly is not going to provide any incentive to the workers there. We do know for a fact that the Public Services Commission does not generate any resources internally, so if one peruses the budget, there is nothing for the Commission by way of IGF. The Commission does not have any allocation from the HIPC Fund; there is no support from MDRI and there is not a pesewa from donors to the Public Services Commission.
The Hon Majority Leader alluded to the

age of the vehicles for the Commission. It does appear that there are two policies operating side by side in this country regarding the age of assets and property. If they are for the Ministries, we apply a different yardstick. For departments, agencies and commissions we apply another yardstick.

Madam Speaker, the vehicle that is being used by the Chief Director at the Commission, we have been told, is over 12 years. Yet for the various MDAs, when Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Chief Directors in those Ministries use vehicles, they do not go beyond five years. They are then replaced for them.

Madam Speaker, it is no wonder that many people are leaving the Commission for other greener areas, so we should be very serious in looking at these rather orphaned commissions, departments and agencies. As we have noted, this amount is not going to carry them anywhere.

Madam Speaker, it is pathetic, as we have been told, for the Public Services Commission (PSC), the core function is service delivery and yet for the entire year their service vote is GH¢15,600 --fifteen thousand, six hundred Ghana cedis and that translates to less than GH¢1,100 every month. Madam Speaker, what do we expect the Commission to do with this? Even printing of papers, what can GH¢1,560 or so do for the entire Commission in a month?

Madam Speaker, what is worth doing is worth doing well, and we expect that the Hon Minister, if he comes with his mid-year review, would come and report to us what the PSC has been able to do with less than GH¢1,100 every month, to deliver what service?

Madam Speaker, with this observation,
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Member.
Dr. Duffuor 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I would
like to thank Hon Members for their contributions. We all know that the Public Services Commission as a body is a very useful one. And therefore we will look at the inputs they have given this morning, and when we come here for the mid-year review -- if we do -- we will inform this Honourable House of what we have been able to do for them.
Madam Speaker, thank you very much.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:40 a.m.
-- rose --
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Minister, I think -- [Interruption] -- Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, just to remind the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning -- I know you want to put the Question, and when the Question is put, I do not want any arrest to be effected, which is why I just want to signal my uncle, the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning that when it comes to debating these motions, it has been the tradition in this House to invite the officials from the departments, agencies or commission to be with him in the Chamber.
I have just noticed that the officials from the Commission are not here with us in order for them to listen to our inputs. So, it is just to remind the Hon Minister, but otherwise, as you said, I have nothing
against it.
Mr. Bagbin 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, yes, we do so, but that is done by Parliament. Because we programme the business, and therefore, we indicate when the Minister and the MDAs should appear before us. So, in fact, the Hon Minister is not the one to be held responsible, it is Parliament -- [Interruption] -- It is true; the Clerk's Office usually gives indication as to the business that would come the next day and invite the relevant Ministers and the rest to appear before the House.
So, that is the business of Parliament. They are not here, that is true; if they were here, they could have assisted us because they will listen to the concerns that are raised by Hon Members. But once they are not here, they will have access to it through the Official Report, and therefore, that should not be a ground for opposing or rejecting the estimates. I believe we will send the message to them, particularly, the rest of the other Ministries so that the relevant MDAs will be available when we are debating their budgets.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, it seems that the fault is with this House.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, that intervention, as I indicated, was not meant to object to or oppose the motion. That is not what I said.
May I also emphasize that, it is not the business of Parliament. If the Ministry of Information, for instance, is being invited, the Hon Minister has to be here. For us to go behind the Minister and invite the directors and officials of the Ministries, that is not the convention in the House.
We invite the Hon Minister and he will come with the Chief Director and other senior officers of the Ministry; it is not for us to go behind the Hon Minister and invite those people. Madam Speaker, I do not think that is the tradition.
However, as I said, the purpose for
raising this observation is not to object or oppose the motion, but what is right is right and what is right must be done.
Mr. Bagbin 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my Hon Colleague is fighting a losing battle -- [Laughter] -- There is good reason why we put this Commission under the Special Budget Committee. It is not like the normal MDAs, so they deal directly with us, not through the Hon Minister. That is why I am saying that we should have invited them to be here.
But the Ministers usually come with their Directors under their Ministries, but this is Public Services Commission, which we isolated from the normal MDAs for the attention of Special Budget Committee. So we deal with them directly. We have taken his concerns, but we will go to Item 8, which is still for the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to move the motion.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
No, Hon Member, we have not finished with item 7, have we? Have we put the Question on 7? You took it from the Hon Minority Leader that it is decided. Well, I still have to put the Question.
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Members, I will now put the Question.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honouralbe House approves the sum of GH¢1,495,167.00 for the services of the Public Services Commission (PSC) for the 2010 fiscal year.

Annual Estimates Electoral Commission
Minister for Finance and Economic Planning (Dr. Kwabena Duffuor) 11:50 a.m.


Madam Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢21,633,009.00 for the services of the Electoral Commission for the 2010 fiscal year.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin) 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, in seconding the motion that this House approves the sum of GH¢21,633,009.00 for the services of the Electoral Commission, I present the Report of the Committee.
1.0 Introduction
The Minister for Finance and Economic Planning on Wednesday, 18th November, 2009 presented the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2010 Financial Year to Parliament in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution. Pursuant to Order 140 (4) of the Standing Orders of the House, the draft Budget Estimates for the Electoral Commission (EC) was referred to the Committee on Special Budget for consideration and report.
The Committee met with the Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Mr. David Kanga and officials from the Commission and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and discussed the draft budget estimates. The Committee wishes to acknowledge with thanks, the contributions of the Deputy Chairman of the Commission and other officials who attended upon the Committee.
2.0 Reference
The Committee referred to the following documents during the consideration of the estimates:
The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana;
The Budget Statement and Eco- nomic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2010 Financial Year.
The Budget Statement and Eco-
nomic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2009 Financial Year.
3.0 Mission Statement
The mission of the Electoral Commis- sion is to advance the course of democracy and good governance for enhanced de- velopment of Ghana by institutionalizing free, fair and transparent and credible elec- tions to the acceptance of all stakeholders.
4.0 Performance in 2009
The main activities undertaken in 2009 included the following:
recruited officers for the newly created districts and also trained 40 officers at GIMPA in public admin- istration;
conducted two (2) by-elections in Jirapa and Cheriponi Constituen- cies;
awarded contracts for the construc- tion of a district office and a ware- house in Akosombo; and
continued with the construction of its Greater Accra Regional Offices and national stores complex.
5.0 Outlook for 2010
The Commission, for financial year 2010, seeks to undertake the following activities;
conduct the District Assembly and Unit Committee Elections and all by-elections that may come up in the course of the year;
conduct a pilot biometric registration of voters;
update the voters register and an exhibition of the register;
Complete the construction of the Greater Accra Regional Offices and national stores complex and four district offices; and
construct one incinerator for each region for the burning of used and unused ballot papers.
6.0 Estimates for 2010
For the implementation of the above activities, an amount of GH¢21,633,009 has been allocated the Commission. The amount represents an increase of GH¢14,541,019 or 205 per cent over the previous years figure of GH¢7,091,990. Over huge variation results from an allocation of GH¢10,000,000 to part finance this year's District Level Elections.
The breakdown is as follows.
Comparative Table for 2010 and 2009 7.0 Observations
7.1 District Level Elections
The Committee was informed that the District Level Elections will be held in 2010. A total amount of GH¢67,000,000 will be required for the conduct of the said elections. Of this figure, an amount of GH¢10,000,000 has been provided for in the 2010 Budget. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning is anticipating donor support to make up for the difference.
The Committee observed that whereas an amount of GH¢55,833,546 was released for the 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, the budget for the District Level Elections is estimated at GH¢67,000,000, a difference of about GH¢11,000,000. The Committee was informed that the conduct of the District Level Elections is more expensive than that of the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. A. S. K. Bagbin) 11:50 a.m.


This, the Electoral Commission noted, results from the high number of candidates involved in the District Level Elections. The number of vacancies for the Unit

Committees is 16,000 and that for the District Assemblies is 5,000. The Electoral Commission, therefore, requires 16,000 different slates for the Unit Committee Elections and 5,000 different slates for the District Assembly Elections compared with 230 slates for Parliamentary elections hence the higher expense.

The Committee noted that the number and membership of unit committees are on the high side and that some unit committees are unable to get the required number of persons to constitute the committees. It is

the view of the Committee that the costs of the District Level Elections were known to MOFEP before the preparation of the 2010 Budget. The Ministry should have therefore made provision in the Budget for the item rather than having to finance them through donor support and contingency.

The Committee therefore recommends that the Electoral Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, should review the unit committee systems

(11.50 a.m. -- P. 2)

with the view to recucing the number of unit committees. That will also help reduce the cost of the elections. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning should however make an undertaking to meet the request of the Electoral Commission and make funds available in a timely manner for the effective and efficient conduct of the elections.

7.2 Electronic Registration

The Committee was informed that the Electoral Commission intends to introduce electronic or biometric voter registration. This process will involve the electronic capture of names, pictures and thumbprints of voters as part of efforts to clean the voters register. A pilot project will therefore, commence this year and this will involve the training of personnel, and a test-run of the software.

The Committee recommends that MOFEP should release funds to the Commission in a timely manner to enable it implement this important activity.

7.3 Office Accommodation

The EC is enjoined by Act 451 of the 1992 Constitution to establish presence in all the regions and districts of the country and to ensure that all electoral materials are properly stored and secured.

The Committee, in its Report to the House on the 2009 Budget Estimates of the EC, informed the House that four (4) of the Commission's regional offices are in deplorable state and required urgent renovation. The Committee further indicated that most of the Commission's district offices are in rented premises without adequate storage facilities.

Unfortunately, the Committee noted that an amount of GH¢842,259 approved by this House for investment purposes for 2009 was not released by MOFEP. The Committee was informed that a certificate of commencement of work for the construction of a regional office in

Sapeiman in the Greater Accra Region was yet to be approved.

The Committee further observed that work on only 12 out of 15 district offices commenced in 1999 was completed in 2007. The Committee noted that even though the EC's entire investment vote of GH¢842,259 was not released for 2009, only GH¢796,000 has been allocated for investment (Item 4) for 2010.

It is the view of the Committee that the above development will seriously affect the EC's phased programme to provide permanent office accommodation in all districts. The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation that urged MOFEP to provide the EC with the necessary funds to enable it provide permanent office accommodation in all regions and districts. 8.0 Conclusion

The Commit tee , a f te r carefu l examination of the draft estimates, accordingly recommends to the House to approve the sum of twenty-one million, six hundred and thirty-three thousand and nine Ghana cedis (GH¢21,633,009) for the Electoral Commission for the 2010 financial year.

Respectfully submitted.

Question proposed.
Prof. G. Y. Gyan-Baffour (NPP -- Wenchi) noon
Madam Speaker, I rise again to support the motion numbered 8 as appearing on the Order Paper for today on page 4.
Madam Speaker, as stated by the Hon Majority Leader, again, there is a perception here that the Electoral Commission's allocation for 2010 has gone up by even over 200 per cent. The comparison is between a year where we did a mid-term election or some elections with the local government and a year when we did not do any election. So they are
actually comparing apples and oranges.
Madam Speaker, as rightly stated, the local government elections require about GH¢67 million to do and only GH¢10 million has been earmarked by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning with a shortfall of about GH¢57 million, which indeed, exceeds all the contingency votes and the Service. So it is very difficult -- I am sure the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning will know how to do it and where to get that money from.
Madam Speaker, while we actually say that the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning should give us an undertaking that he is going to get this GH¢57 million, we also entreat the House itself as well as the Electoral Commission to look at the unit committee membership, which is usually very much on the high side. At times you go there and you need five people and only two people will come in to try to be on that committee. If that can be brought down, the cost of these elections will also be lowered.
So, it is up to the House to also re-look at this unit committee arrangement with the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development -- I am sure he is listening, or is he relaxing? -- [Laughter] -- so that he can actually look at the composition to reduce the cost on the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning. Because it is actually clear from what we are seeing here that resources needed for the local government elections far exceed what we use in doing the national elections.
Even though I am not saying one is bigger than the other, I think we have to look at the cost involved in the process. Madam Speaker, whether we like it or not, let us face the facts and do not let us hide it because during the last election, this country was close to war. Therefore, let us prepare ourselves to avoid any chaos and
Mr. Moses Aduko Asaga (NDC -- Nabdam) noon
Madam Speaker, I rise to support the motion for approval of the sum of GH¢21,633,009.00 for the Electoral Commission for this fiscal year.
I think that the Electoral Commission deserves more resources. Even though ten million has been approved for the District Assembly Elections, I am very much convinced that the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning will be able to support them further on their budget. We are looking for other sources of funding to be able to meet their demands.
Again, an Hon Member should not compare 2009 figures with 2010 or 2008, in particular, because that was a national election year and therefore, resources that they needed could be ten times what they
Mr. Ambrose P. Dery noon
Madam Speaker, I fail to understand how I have become a subject of a submission by Hon Asaga on a motion that relates to the budget of the Electoral Commission. I would want to advise him to withdraw his comments immediately to enable us to continue because I think it is a very, very unfair comment. I am not part of his submission and I do not know what he was talking about. If he does not withdraw, I may be forced to take it to the next step.
Madam Speaker noon
Hon Asaga, can you enlighten me about what you said about him?
Mr. Asaga noon
Madam Speaker, I just said Hon Ambrose Dery was supporting my case. [Laughter.]
Madam Speaker noon
Hon Dery, he was praising you.
Mr. Dery noon
Madam Speaker, that is not true. He said that I was showing signs of my frustration and that is not a praise. I am not part of the submission. I have not made any input -- the input from the Ranking Member here has been one of support, so what is my frustration? That is what he should withdraw.
Madam Speaker noon
Yes, what were the signs of frustration? You may be right or wrong.
Mr. Asaga noon
Madam Speaker, maybe, to settle it, I withdraw those comments.
So on this note, I support the motion and all other Members should support it.
rose
Madam Speaker noon
Hon Member, he has supported the motion.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour noon
Yes, Madam Speaker, I know that but these are very serious issues that need to be looked at.
I said that during the last elections, we were close to war -- I never said it was chaotic. What I am saying is that, let us prepare ourselves to avoid chaos in 2012. I never alluded to chaos in 2008, if even there was. What I am saying is that let us try to resource the Commission to avoid any future chaos. In fact, the Commission should be resourced in such a way that it will not have any hitch in the electoral process.
So I think what my Hon Friend is saying here is that -- He is just misleading everybody and actually misquoting what I said and so if he has withdrawn that portion of it, I am all right with it. But if he has not, he should withdraw it because I did not say that. I think the right words were that we were close to war and that does not mean it was chaotic. If that is what he means by “chaotic”, fine. But I did not say that it was chaotic.
Madam Speaker noon
Hon Member, it appears that what you said referred to 2008 but he was referring to 2012 election.
Mr. Asaga noon
Madam Speaker, but 2012
is too far away. How can I be starting my first year and you are pre-empting 2012 -- [Laughter.] Oh, it is too early to be feeling the heat in opposition. I was there for eight years.
Madam Speaker noon
He wants you to withdraw, anyway. He used the “word” “war” and I think “war” is more serious than “chaotic”. So if anything, he should be withdrawing the word “war”, that we were at war. Nobody was at war.
Let us finish with your case then maybe, you take him on, on the word “war”.
Mr. Asaga noon
Madam Speaker, my case
on chaotic, that is withdrawn; then “war” should also be withdrawn.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour noon
Madam Speaker, I did not say we were at war. I said that we have to be honest to ourselves that we were very close to war. So if he says we were at war, it is very different from that.
Madam Speaker noon
Hon Gyan-Baffour, he is correcting you that we were not even close to war. He said we were not close to war.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, that is a perception. If I perceive it that way, he cannot say that he cannot perceive it that way because he did not see it. I saw it and that was my perception. We should not kid ourselves that this country was at peace with each other; it was not. We were -- people were fighting each other. You know it very well.
Mr. Asaga 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I think that saying that we were close to war is what I do not think is a good commendation for Ghana and for the Electoral Commission. So I think we were nothing close to war; there was an election, a party won and a party lost, that was all. So what was close to war?
Mr. E.T. Mensah 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to appeal to my Hon Friend to drop that thing. Is he saying that in 2000 when we did the second round, we were close to war as well? [Some Hon Members: No!] That is it! So there is no need for him to bring such a perception into approval of the Estimates for the Electoral Commission, there is no need. He has just thrown in a red herring.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker -- [Interruption.]
rose
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Haruna Iddrisu, yes? You want to comment on this? Yes, that is why I said “comments”.
Mr. H. Iddrisu 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I would want to contribute to the motion -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
All right. Let us finish with this first.
Mr. H. Iddrisu 12:10 p.m.
All right. When you resolve the confusion.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am not talking about 2000. If it was close to war, that is his perception; it is his perception. I agree with his perception; I am not against that.
Mr. Asaga 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, there was nothing close to war and he must withdraw it because the international community and everywhere in the world, they are praising Ghana for the way we conducted our elections peacefully. So for him to be saying that we were close to war, I do not know whether the Hon Minister for Defence -- Did the Hon Minister for Defence pull out troops or was there a state of emergency? I do not know where that war was coming from, yes.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I will not go in there. When I say something is close to, it does not mean that it was war. It has to be very clear. That was my perception and he cannot deny me that perception that we were very close to it. So what is his problem? After all, even during certain elections his section declared a jihad; what is jihad? Is that not a war?
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Gyan-Baffour, I am dwelling on this issue. You can see that I am stretching and wasting time on this issue. He has withdrawn something he said. I think he said ‘war'. ‘War' is too -- When everybody says we had a peaceful
election all over and then you say ‘war,' he says -- maybe you could use another word for ‘war'.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, if the use of the word ‘war' actually affects somebody, what I would say is that it was close to anarchy.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Are you agreeing with him?
Mr. E. T. Mensah 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the issue is simple. This is not a statement on elections. We are approving a budget, so if you throw in something which is not necessary, the best thing to do is -- [Interruption] Electoral Commission -- but not on elections. It is not a statement on elections but approval of the budget estimates of the Electoral Commission.
So for my Hon Friend who was at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to be throwing these things in, I think that is our concern. It can be his perception all right but our concern is that it is out of place. When he goes on and talks about something else -- it is full of tension, he cannot talk about - but that should not even be brought in.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Member, even though we are approving the budget, we are approving the budget of the Electoral Commission and that is why elections and results and things come in. But I think he has changed the word ‘war'. It was close to -- I do not know whether ‘anarchy' is accepted by -- or you need a lesser word.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I believe the Hon Member for Wenchi had made a very intelligent contribution to the motion for the approval of the estimates for the Electoral Commission and I believe the course that we are traversing, we are watering down on the importance of the contribution that
the Hon Colleague has made.
I pray you to bring this matter to a closure because a person talks about perception and I have never known in this House that if a person alludes to perception, then he is called upon to withdraw the perception. It has never been known in this House.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
He said ‘war.'
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Yes. Madam Speaker, he said that in his view we were close to war. That clearly, is his perception.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
But was it right?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, but in any event, as I have said, the man has withdrawn and I do not see the need to go on this journey. Perception -- a person being called upon to withdraw on his perception -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
We did not call him to withdraw. We said he should use another word.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, but he has already withdrawn. [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
He has used another word. I think it should be acceptable.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
So my plea is for us to go on.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Asaga, I will accept the word; we will go on. Who was on his feet? We have finished. We need two more. No, Hon Asaga spoke on the
right side so, yes, one more from the left side and the right, then we will be closing.
Mr. K. Agyeman-Manu (NPP -- Dormaa West) 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to contribute to the motion on the floor and to urge my Hon Colleagues on both sides of the House to support the motion.
Madam Speaker, I do not know what undertaking the Hon Majority Leader was talking about that we expect the Hon Finance and Economic Planning Minister to give us or the assurances that the Hon Gyan-Baffour, the Member of Parliament for Wenchi was also talking about.
Madam Speaker, we are looking at activities to be undertaken by the Electoral Commission and the Hon Majority Leader dwelt so much on the constitutional obligation on the Electoral Commission to conduct District Level Elections.
Clearly, one can easily see within the figures that the amount allocated to the Electoral Commission, the entire amount does not even give 50 per cent of what is needed for the District Level Elections alone. That gives a very good indication that the other activities to be undertaken by the Electoral Commission would never be done, especially the electronic registration piloting.
Even there, the Report says that the Commission intends to -- And when you are seeing clearly that there is no money allocated to it, I was expecting that as the Report analysed how much was needed for the District Level Elections and how much was actually allocated for that, we will also see a similar situation of this very, very important activity -- the electronic registration, that how much was asked for or requested and how much was allocated.
Mr. K. Agyeman-Manu (NPP -- Dormaa West) 12:10 p.m.


Nothing has been mentioned on that. All we are saying is that the Commission intends to do that without any specific allocation.

Madam Speaker, my fear is that when it comes to cutting activities in the Budget because of lack of funding, the activities that we intend to do are those that suffer and I am very much afraid that if we are not careful, this activity will never be undertaken in 2010. But we are waiting for a very free, fair and very transparent elections come 2012. So without the piloting of electronic registration, where do we stand when we talk about transparent elections in 2012?

Madam Speaker, I will urge the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to tell this House in his so-called undertakings or assurances he is going to give us, how much will be allocated to this particular exercise and let him insulate that figure such that we would never vary that figure to do any other activity apart from this specific activity.

Madam Speaker, I will take my seat and urge all my Hon Colleagues that we support this motion on condition that the assurances that the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning is going to give takes into consideration my humble plea.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Minister for Communications (Mr. Haruna Iddrisu) 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to associate myself with the adoption of the motion for the approval of GH ¢21,633,009.00 for the Electoral Commission for the 2010 financial year.
In doing so, Madam Speaker, let
me assure my Hon Colleagues that Government is committed to strengthening and resourc ing a l l i ndependen t constitutional bodies established under the 1992 Constitution, be it the Electoral Commission, the National Media Commission, the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice or the Serious Fraud Office and it will reflect not just in nominal allocations to them, but in real allocations.
Madam Speaker, permit me to refer to page six of your Committee's Report and I am aware that the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning has been directed to deal with this particular issue in respect of the investment shortfall for the 2009 fiscal year. That out of an investment of GH¢545,784,000 from the statistics available to me, only about GH¢39,000 of it was released, leaving a shortfall of about GH¢505,947.
If this is done, as I believe the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning will respond to it, then work can commence not just on the Greater Accra Regional office but also on the 12 others of the 15 district offices that were commenced.
Madam Speaker, may I refer you to page five, paragraph 7.2 of your Committee's Report and with your indulgence, I quote:
“The Committee was informed that the Electoral Commission intends to introduce electronic or biometric voter registration.”
Madam Speaker, I am happy to announce that the South Korean Government is ready to support Government in this direction. What Government is cautious about is that the Constitution does not allow the Electoral Commission to be subject to the directive or control of any institution.
As you may recall, His Excellency the President met with the leadership
of the Electoral Commission upon his assumption of office and the issue of electronic or biometric voter registration was discussed, and the South Korean Government has been requested to deal directly with the Electoral Commission as an independent institution to see how the facility -- our transition from this manual process with its attendant problems, particularly the issue of impersonation can be eliminated if we go that way and I am sure that they will be using ICT to leverage how we ensure free, fair and transparent election.
May I in conclusion, once again, assure my Hon Colleagues that even though 2012 may appear farther from the 2010 financial year, Government remains committed to the conduct of transparent elections. Indeed, if it means that new ballot boxes assures this, Government is equally discussing that with some of our partners and that would be done.
With this, Madam Speaker, I associate myself with the motion.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Thank you.
Hon Leaders, any contributions? We have had two from both sides and now we will conclude the debate.
Yes, Hon Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.
Minority Leader (Mr. Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 12:20 p.m.
Thank you very much Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker, as has been said, the budget for the Electoral Commission, if one considers the fact that we are going to have District Assembly Elections in all the districts in the country at a go, then one realizes that the allocation to the Commission is not adequate.
Madam Speaker, the point has been made that we need really to educate our citizens all the more, given the circumstances of the elections conducted
in 2008. If one comes to look at the two following elections that we have had, the one at Akwatia and the one at Chereponi, Madam Speaker, we will be deceiving ourselves if we do not own up that the tensions that were generated almost exploded on us. I do not think that anybody will dispute this fact.
Yes, one cannot blame the Electoral Commission for lack of education; maybe, when we come to consider the allocation for the NCCE, perhaps we will be talking more about that. But I do not think that anybody can pretend that nothing untoward happened at Akwatia, that nothing untoward happened at Chereponi.
Madam Speaker, we are growing in our democratic experiment, but if there are hiccups and bumps, we should live up to it and try to effect remedial measures such that come 2012, we do not witness them again. The good thing is that, the District Assembly Elections are supposed to be non-partisan and yet we all do know the partisan political undercurrent in the Assembly elections. We cannot run away from that, unless we want to behave like ostriches, which I believe we are not. So let us own up to this and as I said, try to effect remedial measures.
The Assembly elections involve more elections than the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections that we conducted. So I believe we should juxtapose the quantum of allocation to the Assembly elections and that to the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.
Madam Speaker, i f we do the comparison, you would come to the realization that for this year, it has been quite low. Madam Speaker, we may compare what happened in 2008 with what happened four years ago when we had Assembly elections. I believe that would provide a better clue.
Minority Leader (Mr. Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 12:30 p.m.


Madam Speaker, I agree with the Deputy Ranking Member who alluded to the Unit Committee Elections which will be following on this. Madam Speaker, it is a truism that if anybody goes anywhere to the various units, you will never find more than two people who are active participants in this local governance administration at that level. So why do we continue to hold elections to elect five people, knowing that three will be non- functional. So I believe we may have to apply our minds to it.

There has been talk to review and amend the relevant laws, we have not come around that, but I believe the time has come for us to do serious introspection to know and to ascertain for ourselves whether what we have been doing thus far has been useful to us. It comes at a considerable expense but do we have to go through that ritual knowing very well that less than 50 per cent of the people we elect will be functioning as such?

Madam Speaker, the Assembly elections, we also do know that some electoral areas are overburdened and I cite my own case -- the Konom-Bremang Electoral Area has as many as 29 polling stations. During the elections, five more were created; we have temporary booths -- five of them, so altogether, we have 34 polling stations and one Assembly member may have to bear the burden of representing that number of people.

Indeed, for Konom-Bremang Electoral Area, the voting populace there alone is in the region of 40,000, which is, I believe, higher than the number of voters in the constituency of, I guess, the Hon Majority Leader and I believe he would not dispute that fact. That does not in any way mean that -- [Laughter] -- Madam Speaker,

but it is a serious thing that we may have to look at.

The Budget for the EC -- I believe the Budget was in an advance stage of preparation when their offices were engulfed in flames. I do not know whether they factored the cost of refurbishment into this because I believe it is going to be a very high figure, I do not know. Unfortunately, because I was tied down somewhere, even though I am the Ranking Member of the Committee, I could not be there to solicit some opinions from the Electoral Commission officials. I do not know whether the Deputy Ranking Member who was there and effectively presided would be able to tell us.

I know the Hon Majority Leader as the Chairman of the Special Budget Committee went there on occasions; I do not know whether he can give some guarantee about the cost of refurbishment -- I think I get the signal from him that it has not been factored in and if it was not, it is something that we would have to look at because we cannot allow the situation where the cost of the damage would not be borne by this budget.

Madam Speaker, finally, we are witnesses to the piloting of the National Identification Project. Madam Speaker, I believe sincerely that we should have a collaboration between the Authority and indeed, the EC because if we had effective collaboration between the two --

Madam Speaker, while I was talking, a Colleague, an Hon Minister of State entered, the Hon Nii Laryea Afotey- Agbo. Madam Speaker, he is not properly constituted at all and I believe, as a Minister of State, he should be showing better example to other people in this House. Madam Speaker, my Hon Colleague is not properly constituted and he should
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member, I will now call on the Minister to sum up.
Dr. Duffuor 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank this august House for their submissions, contributions and all the inputs.
The Ministry has been holding meetings with the officials and all the Commissioners
of the Electoral Commission about the activities they intend to undertake during 2010 fiscal year and we at the Ministry know that we will be able to provide adequate funding for all those activities.
I thank you, Madam Speaker. Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢21,633,009.00 for the services of the Electoral Commission for the 2010 fiscal year.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Leader, are we going on or are we going back to Question time?
Mr. Bagbin 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I want
to propose that we take the Question which stands in the name of Hon Justice Joe Appiah, the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North, directed at the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. We had stood it down early on because the Hon Minister had not reached here, but according to the Hon Minister, he was caught up in some urgent matter which he had to execute before coming to the House. So he duly apologized and I think that we should take that before we move to the motions again and that is the Question on page 1, under item 3.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, you are welcome.
The Question stands in the name of Hon Justice Joe Appiah, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North.
Hon Member, can you ask your Question?
Mr. Justice Joe Appiah 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I thank you very much and the Leadership of this House for bringing this Question today.
Mr. Justice Joe Appiah 12:30 p.m.


Madam Speaker, this Question has been advertised three times, this is the fourth time and I was nearly disappointed this morning when the Hon Minister was not in.

Madam Speaker, once again, thank you for your good leadership.
ORAL ANSWERS TO 12:40 p.m.

QUESTIONS 12:40 p.m.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 12:40 p.m.

AND 12:40 p.m.

REGIONAL INTEGRATION 12:40 p.m.

Mr. Appiah 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, delays in issuing of passports are still rampant. Will the Minister consider using the data for the National Identification Exercise to expedite action, and also would he be able to make it easy for every eligible Ghanaian to own a passport without delay?
Alhaji Mumuni 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the process to begin the issuance of the biometric passport is on course. The equipment is being installed as I speak now. There is an Executive Instrument which has been laid in Parliament to mature, I believe, in the course of this
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
week and that would entitle the Passport Office to charge the authorized fees and all of these, I believe, when they are put together, we should in the next few weeks be coming out with a biometric passport.
Mr. Appiah 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, may I crave your indulgence to read an extract from the Ghanaian Passport:
“These are to request and require in the name of the President of the Republic of Ghana all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford him or her every assistance and protection of which he or she may stand in need.”
Madam Speaker, I now want to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration what mechanisms are in place to relieve Ghanaians of their predicaments when they encounter problems.
Alhaji Mumuni 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I believe the Hon Member is talking about Ghanaians who have travelled outside the country and are in some kind of distress; yes, certainly, as he has just read out, the passport really is an appeal by the State of Ghana, represented by the President to anybody to whom it is presented to offer whatever assistance and courtesies that there would be.
But beyond that, we have our diplomatic missions abroad and we have the consular sections and part of their mandate really, is to extend to Ghanaian citizens who are in distress, some assistance and relief as well as other courtesies.
But as you can understand, we have 53 missions across the world but in some regions, we are not very well represented and Ghanaians by our nature, are practically everywhere -- Ghanaians are travelling everywhere and in areas where we do not have diplomatic representation,
they may encounter certain difficulties. But certainly, for the areas where we have our missions, it is a special directive to all our officers to extend courtesies and assistance to Ghanaians who find themselves in some distress.
But again, as you would appreciate, we do not have the wherewithal, we do not have all the resources to really be able to make Ghanaians who travel outside comfortable.
However, within the constraints of our budget in the Ministry, we do definitely extend help and assistance to Ghanaians whether they are stranded or they find themselves in some kind of distress.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member, the third question.
Mr. Appiah 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, from the Minister's Answer, he says:
“Ghana, as a member of the Internat ional Civi l Aviat ion Organisation ((ICAO) is under obligation to begin using machine readable passports with biometric data by April, 2010.”
Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if the current passport booklets would be used alongside the biometric passports.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Alhaji Mumuni 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, as the Hon Member said, it is a requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) that all member countries should by April, 2010 migrate to the machine readable biometric passport. We are actually on course to do that. But clearly, as it is evident, when by 2010, there is a period, a grace period, so to speak, where we would have to interface
the current generation of passports with the machine readable passport, we will have to phase out gradually.
But our determination is that we would want to move very quickly even above schedule to accomplish this because we understand the value it has for us in terms of eliminating fraud. This is because these are security-enhanced passports -- the biometric passport. It is difficult to duplicate it. As of now, duplication of Ghanaian passport and multiple acquisitions are quite a serious problem with regard to passport administration.
So, we would want to progress very
quickly and migrate to the biometric machine readable generation of passports.
Ms. Beatrice B. Boateng 12:50 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, I want to first congratulate the Hon Minister for the arrangements he claims to have put in place for now. In his answers, he kept on saying we have special arrangements; I would want him to convince us, to tell us specifically, what arrangements he has put in place especially for the other regions that are not going to have the centres now.
Again, for the Missions abroad, if these
arrangements are taking consideration of the fact that by April, 2010, the issuance of these current passports will be no more. I need the confirmation from the Hon Minister.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Alhaji Mumuni 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I
would like to assure the Hon Member that we have actually put in place adequate arrangements to ensure that we will comply
Mr. Andrews Adjei-Yeboah 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to know from the Hon Minister how the problems that are associated with getting passport can actually be eradicated because a lot of what has been written here are very nice. How do we get assurance that all human-induced problems that prevent individuals from getting their passports fast and therefore resorting to middlemen, “connection men” and all these things can be abated?
Alhaji Mumuni 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
clearly, we believe that every citizen who has the business of having to travel is entitled to receive a passport and receive it speedily and conveniently and at a reasonable cost. But somehow, some people, for whatever reason, choose to go through middlemen, oftentimes the
Alhaji Mumuni 12:50 p.m.


excuse that the system is cumbersome, it is inaccessible and they end up paying several times over the official fees to be charged.

Of course, with the over-centralisation

sometime ago in Accra, of passports processing and issue, this clearly was probably accountable for a lot of it. But as I just demonstrated in this Answer, the decision was taken sometime ago to decentralise so that we will use the Immigration Offices in the regional capitals as the collection points and the initial vetting and processing, so that they will handle them and hand them over to the Passport Office for completion.

It has worked in some cases but in many areas, it did not quite work. But we believe that we are putting all of these behind us with the introduction of the biometric system and that clearly will require the applicants to personally attend at the processing centre for their biometric data to be captured. And we have decided that there will be seven work stations across the nation, conveniently located so that they will be accessible to most people in many parts of the country.

Certainly, with that, we are expecting that we will eliminate the middlemen. We will also eliminate the incidence of fraud and multiple acquisitions.
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
We would have one
question each from the Hon Leaders and we will move on.
Yes, Hon Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:50 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, I have two questions. The first one is in respect of the last
paragraph of the Answer given by the Hon Minister as captured on page 11 of the Order Paper. He says:
“Initially there would be seven (7) application centres in Accra, Tamale, Ho, Sekondi/Takoradi, Kumasi and Sunyani and the Passport Office.”
He has not told us the reason for the setting up of the seven centres. I noticed that the seven are all regional capitals and it means that seven out of ten regional capitals have been covered leaving Cape Coast, Koforidua and Wa.
Madam Speaker, considering the fact
that people from Central Region could easily access Accra or Sekondi/Takoradi and from Koforidua people could easily reach Accra -- From Wa, it is difficult to get to Tamale. And if one has to get to Sunyani to hit Wenchi, Techiman before making the detour to Sunyani -- Would the Hon Minister consider adding at least, one so that we have a centre at Wa for the time being because otherwise, they will be greatly imperilled? Would the Hon Minister consider that?
Alhaji Mumuni 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I think this is a brilliant suggestion and we will definitely take it on board. This is because clearly, we recognise the difficulty of the people in Wa having to access any of the centres here. I think that the nearest would be Tamale. The whole idea was that Tamale would cater for the three northern regions. But we do recognise the real difficulty of having to travel from Wa to Tamale. Clearly, we had to work within a certain limited budget and that is what dictated the present choice. It is not the best really, and we accept that, yes, it would inconvenience our citizens in that part of the country and we would
definitely take on board this suggestion and we would see what best we can do.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the other question is, the issuance of ECOWAS passport has been in the pipeline for a very long time and I know that it was scheduled once again for 2009. I understand it is now being shifted to 2010. If that is true, if we would have to go this way by the issuance of these new passports which are going to come at a considerable cost, what would be the status?
First of all, I want to know the status of the issuance of the ECOWAS passport and also to follow up to ask, if indeed, it is going to be issued in 2010, what then would happen to our own national passport which would come at tremendous cost to the nation?
Alhaji Mumuni 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the present arrangement is to have one passport that would combine both the ECOWAS and the national. So we are now going to have just one passport; on it you would see ‘ECOWAS Passport' it is actually Ghana Passport, but with ECOWAS on it, right on the cover. As a matter of fact, we have given out samples. Maybe, the Hon Member has not seen it; I will see if I can get him a copy just to show him that we are incorporating the two, really.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, half question.
The national passport carries an appeal from the Head of State for the country that is being visited to open his or her frontiers to the visitor. I think one of the difficulties was who was going to be the -- I mean, I am talking about the officer to make
Alhaji Mumuni 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am not on very sure ground in responding to this question; I would rather -- I wish I could get back and do a little research and inform the Hon Member. My Director of Passports is actually here and that aspect of the passport eluded me; I did not quite verify whether a passport would continue to come out in the name of His Excellency the President of the Republic or now that there is the ECOWAS dimension whether there would be a multinational kind of appeal also. But I would verify that and supply the information.
Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Minister, for coming to answer our Question. I hope next time you would come as early as you can.
MR. FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr. Bagbin 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, we would move to item (11) -- the motion for the Budget Estimates for the Ministry of Energy for the 2010 fiscal year.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Very well. Hon Minister for Energy -- Hon Majority Leader?
Mr. Bagbin 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, sorry, I did not recognise the Hon Deputy Minister for Energy. I want to seek the permission of Mr. Speaker and the indulgence of my Hon Colleagues to allow the Hon Deputy

Minister for Energy, on behalf of the Hon Minister for Energy to move the motion number (11).

The Hon Minister called this morning to inform me that he was caught up in some matter and had to rush to Kumasi for a function and whether I could excuse him and plead for his Hon Deputy Minister to move the motion on his behalf. I did tell him that I would try to do that and I am simply just craving the indulgence of the Honourable House to allow the Hon Deputy Minister to move the motion.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, ordinarily, I would not object to this, even though I do not know the method of the arguments being given by my Hon Colleague, the Majority Leader, because he just said that he has been caught up in a function in Kumasi. Whatever function it is, which is of superior importance, I do not know. But that is another matter.
My worry, however, is that, I do not see many of the Committee members here. The Hon Chairman is here, but the Ranking Deputy -- Oh, the Deputy Ranking is here. Well, Mr. Speaker, I think in the circumstance, we could allow that. But I believe the Majority Leader, next time would have to give us a better reason -- [Laughter] -- rather than saying that -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
He is saying that the reason given to him is the reason that he is relaying to the House. [Laughter.]
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1 p.m.
That he has been caught up somewhere in Kumasi; certainly, that is not convincing and persuasive enough. But let us indulge him
and knowing that the Hon Deputy Minister is a Colleague of ours, let us indulge him.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Very well. Hon Deputy Minister for Energy, item (ii).
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 1 p.m.

Minister for Energy) 1:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢329,783,764.00 for the services of the Ministry of Energy for the 2010 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, the mandate for the Ministry of Energy is to formulate, monitor and evaluate policies for the provision of secure, safe and reliable supply of energy to meet Ghana's developmental needs in an efficiency, competitive and environmentally sustainable manner.
For the fiscal year 2010, the Ministry intends to undertake a lot of projects intended to strengthen our transmission, distribution and generation networks. Mr. Speaker, as you know, we are currently beset with power outages that continue to haunt our business because of a lot of factors including overloaded and obsolete networks.
The Ministry, as a matter of urgency, would focus in the 2010 Budget on actions aimed at upgrading the transmission and distribution systems to ensure that Ghanaians have access to uninterrupted electricity.

Mr. Speaker, the 2010 Budget will also focus on rural electrification. One progress we have made as a country has

to do with this policy. The process started nineteen years ago. It has been continued by successive governments and we are currently about 65 per cent access to electrification.

The Ministry in 2009, undertook a study to know the impact of electrification on the people of Ghana and the Report clearly indicated that some communities have more access than others. We, for example, noted that the three northern regions were below the national average. The focus on the 2010 Budget will make sure that we bring fairness and equality in accessibility to electricity.

On renewable energy, the Ministry

is vigorously pursuing the promotion of renewable energy, technology -- solar wind and mini-hydro -- to maximize the country's energy needs and also to ensure that we bring renewable energy at a high percentage in our energy mix.

Mr. Speaker, on petroleum, the plans

for the production in the jubilee field continues as scheduled. I am happy to report that the FPSO which will be used for the production will be ready and sail to Ghana by the end of March of next year. Production is intended to start by the end of 2010. The plan is to make sure that there is preparedness of production for the Jubilee Field and appraisal of the two other fields in the Deep Water Tano and West Cape Three Point contract areas.

There is also a focus on the establishment of a gas gathering and processing infrastructure to ensure optimization of natural gas resources from the Jubilee Field.

The Minis t ry wi l l a l so focus establishment of a framework to ensuring transparency and accountability in relation to oil and gas revenues as well as complying with extractive industries transparency initiative. This would be in line with the Government's policy to ensure transparency, ensure that the revenue from oil is managed well and
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. M.A. Asaga) 1:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to second the motion and to submit the Report of the Committee for Mines and Energy on the Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Energy for the 2010 financial year.
1.0 Introduction
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the 2010 financial year was presented to Parliament by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, on Wednesday, 18th November, 2009 in accordance with article 179 of the Constitution. The draft budget estimates for the Ministry of Energy were referred to the Committee on Mines and Energy for consideration and report pursuant to Order 188 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
Sittings
The Committee held two sittings to deliberate on the referral. In attendance were the two Deputy Ministers, Hon Dr. Kwabena Donkor and Hon Emmanuel

Armah-Kofi Buah, the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr. W. K. Kemevor and other heads of agencies of the Ministry of Energy and officials of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning

(MOFEP).

The Committee acknowledges with thanks, the inputs of the Deputy Ministers and all officials who attended upon it.

References

The following documents were referred to during the discussions:

i. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana

ii. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana

iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Po l icy o f the Government of Ghana for the 2010 financial year.

iv. The Budget Statement and Economic Po l icy o f the Government for the 2009 financial year

4.0 Departments/Agencies of the Ministry

The Ministry of Energy has supervisory jurisdiction over 11 agencies. These are as follows:

i. Energy Foundation

ii. Energy Commission

i i i . G h a n a N a t i o n a l P e t r o l e u m C o r p o r a t i o n

(GNPC)

i v. N a t i o n a l P e t r o l e u m Authority (NPA)

v. Volta River Authority (VRA)

vi. Electricity Company of Ghana

(ECG)

v i i . B u l k O i l S t o r a g e a n d T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Company Limited (BOST)

v i i i . G h a n a C y l i n d e r Manufacturing Company

(GCMC)

ix. Tema Oil Refinery (TOR)

x. Bui Power Authority

xi. Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo)

All the above-mentioned agencies are self-financing and therefore, do not receive direct Government subvention for their operational and administrative activities. They nonetheless receive Government support for specific programmes. This is done through direct budgetary support or through Government guaranteed loans and other facilities.

5.0 Ghana's Energy Sector Vision

The vision of the energy sector is to achieve universal access to modern energy forms by 2020 and to become a net exporter of oil in West Africa by 2015.

6.0 Mission Statement

The mission of the Ministry is to formulate, monitor and evaluate policies for the provision of secure, safe and reliable supply of energy to meet Ghana's developmental needs in an efficient, competi t ive and environmentally sustainable manner.

7.0 Medium Term Objectives of the Ministry

In order to achieve the above mission, the Ministry of Energy has set for itself, the following objectives for the medium term:

i. to increase access to adequate, reliable and economically priced modern forms of energy supply;

i i . to diversify the national energy mix including the use of environmentally friendly indigenous sources of energy;

i i i . t o ensu re the e ff i c i en t management of the energy sector;

iv. to ensure productive and efficient use of energy; and

v. to promote private sector participation in the energy sector.

8.0 Overview of the 2009 Approved Budgetary Allocation to the Ministry of Energy

The Ministry of Energy was allocated a total sum of GH¢317,243,469 for its activities for the 2009 financial year. The breakdown of the sources of funding is as follows:

i. Government of Ghana -- GH¢6,070,589 (1.91 per cent)

ii. Donor support - - GH¢286,172,880 (90.21 per cent)

iii. Mul t i la tera l Debt Rel ief I n i t i a t i v e ( M D R I ) - - GH¢25,000,000 (7.88 per cent)

The Allocation per Expenditure Item is Provided in the Table below:

*The variation in Item 2 was as a result of direct release of GH¢130,137.40 from MOFEP for the payment of salary-related allowances.

9.0 The Ministry's Achievements in 2009

The Ministry of Energy in 2009 undertook the following Projects and activities:

1. the completion of 126 megawatts Tema Thermal 1 Power Project

(TT1PP);

2. t he i n s t a l l a t i on o f 49 .5 megawatts Tema Thermal 2 Power Plant (TT2PP) which is about 95 per cent complete;

3. signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Brazilian Government for the development of a 90 megawatts Juale hydro project;

4. an assessment of the National Electrification Scheme (NES) to determine the accessibility rate of electricity in the various regions and districts in the country;

5. approval of the phase 1 plan for the development for the Jubilee Field; and

8. a total of 240 communities were connected to the national electricity grid under the National Electrification Scheme.

Outlook for 2010

For the 2010 financial year, the Ministry of Energy would focus on actions aimed at upgrading the transmission and distribution systems while stepping up rural electrification to ensure increased access to electricity by household and industry.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. M.A. Asaga) 1:10 p.m.


10.1 Power Sub Sector

Power Generation Capacity Expansion

communities under SHEP-4 will be completed;

iv. connection of 106 communities to the National Grid to be financed by the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Develop- ment (EBID); and

v. connection of 79 communities in the Ashanti and Eastern Regions to the national grid which is to be financed by BNP Paribas Bank.

10.3 Renewable Energy

The Ministry is to vigorously pursue the promotion of renewable energy technologies (solar, wind and mini hydro projects) to maximize the country's energy needs. Also, solar electrification projects in schools, security services and health centres will continue.

10.4 Petroleum

The following key projects and activities are expected to be undertaken in the petroleum sub-sector:

i. start-up of oil production from the Jubilee Field and appraisal of the two other fields in the Deep Water Tano and West Cape Three Points Contract Areas with a view to developing these fields.

ii. the establishment of a gas gathering and processing i n f r a s t ruc tu re to ensu re optimization of natural gas resources from the Jubilee Field as well as other fields in the Tano/Cape Three Points basin;

iii. establishment of a framework for ensuring transparency and accountability in relation to

oil and gas revenues as well as complying with Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) principles;

iv. lending the needed support to local industry to participate in the production requirements of oil and gas development activities;

v. development of a strategic plan for the provision and improvement of infrastructure for the benefit of communities near the oil and gas fields;

vi. development of environmental protection plans for the oil and gas sector; and

vii. developing an LPG programme aimed at ensuring nationwide availability of the product at affordable prices to reduce reliance on firewood. Also bulk storage depots are to be expanded for security of petroleum products while rural kerosene distribution implemen- tation project will continue and enhanced.

11.0 Allocation for the 2010 Financial Year

The Ministry of Energy has been granted a total sum of GH¢ GH¢329,783,764 to execute the above activities for the 2010 financial year. Out of the total amount, GH¢6,097,303 representing 1.85 per cent is expected to come from GoG while GH¢293,686,461 representing 89.05 per cent is expected to come from donor support. The remaining GH¢30,000,000 representing 9.1 per ent is expected to come from MDRI. The breakdown of the Budgetary Allocation for the Ministry for the 2010 financial year is presented in the Table below:

12.0 Observation and Recommendation

12.1 Electricity Accessibility

In order to increase the power generation capacity of the country and to ensure efficient and reliable supply of power for the country, the Ministry intends to undertake the following projects in 2010:

i . t h e c o m p l e t i o n a n d commissioning of the 49.5 megawatts Tema Thermal 2 Power Project (TT2PP).

ii. commencement of the 132 megawatts combined cycle power project to be sited near the VRA Thermal Power Plant in Aboadze; and

iii. operationalization of the 125 megawatts Osagyefo Power Barge.

1 0 . 2 I n c r e a s e d A c c e s s o f Rural Communities to the National

Electricity Grid

In order to accelerate the pace of expansion of access to electricity, the Ministry plans to undertake the following ongoing and new projects:

i. extension of electricity to about 800 communities will commence under a credit facility by China International Water and Electric Corporation

(CWE);

ii. extension of electricity supply to about 1,200 communities will also commence under a financing agreement by US Exim Bank;

iii. extension of electricity to 200
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. M.A. Asaga) 1:10 p.m.


The Committee was informed by officials of the Ministry of Energy that a recent assessment on the progress of the National Electrification Scheme revealed that national accessibility rate for electricity is about 65 per cent which is one of the highest in Africa.

This remarkable ach ievement notwithstanding, the study noted that accessibility in the three northern regions (Northern, Upper East and Upper West) was lower than the national average. Accessibility in the three regions range between 28 per cent and 30 per cent.

The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Ministry of Energy should as a matter of urgency , secure additional funds to accelerate electrification in the three regions to prop them up to be at par with the national average.

12.2 Cost Recovery

The Committee observed that the three power utility companies (VRA, GRIDCo and ECG) are currently underfunded and this is affecting the quality of service delivery.

It was noted that the current tariff for VRA of GH¢0.0602 kWh was approved in November 2007. This was equivalent to US$0.0635 kWh. The over 50 per cent depreciation of the cedi between November 2007 and October 2009 has eroded the value of the current tariff, which is now equivalent to US$0.0414 kWh.

The devaluation of the cedi coupled with an increase in the thermal mix and the attendant rising crude oil prices, put severe strain in the financial position of the VRA and other utility companies.

The Committee further noted that Government has over the years provided support to the utility companies in an effort to absorb the gap. Part of the support is in the form of crude oil imports and the

The Committee recommends that the power utility companies should provide the Committee with a comprehensive report on their expansion and refurbishment programme.

12.5 Technical and Financial Audit -- Osagyefo Power Barge

As captured in the 2010 Financial Policy of Government, the refurbishment of the Osagyefo Power Barge progressed. This notwithstanding, GNPC is in the process of conducting a technical and financial audit on the facility to determine the extent of work done. The operationalisation of the Barge, the Committee noted, will go a long way to improve the country's power generation capacity.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr. M.A. Asaga) 1:10 p.m.
Improvement of Infrastructure
The Committee observed that the five utility companies would require about US$ 636,630,000.00 and GH¢143,083,300.00 to re-tool and also expand existing infrastructure to cater for increasing demand.
The breakdown is indicated in the Table below:
The Committee, however, observed that no provision has been made in the current Budget to support the five companies.
In view of the above, the Committee is urging MOFEP to explore all avenues to secure adequate funding for these utility companies to improve upon their infrastructure to ensure better service delivery.
12.4 Power Outages
The Committee registered its dissa- tisfaction about the frequent power outages in the country. Officials from ECG informed the Committee that the power outages are as a result of overloaded and obsolete network systems which require urgent replacement. The officials noted that funds secured through the sovereign bond were inadequate to complete the re- tooling and expansion programme by the three utility companies.
The Committee noted that the Government has over the years approved a number of loans for purposes of improving power prior generalization transmission and distribution. The Committee, however, observed that despite these huge investments in the sector, the quality of service has not seen any significant improvement.
financing of other major projects of the companies. It was noted, however, that the 2010 Budget Statement made no provision to absorb the funding deficit. The Committee was informed that VRA would require a tariff of GH¢0.154 to break even.
The Committee recommends to the
Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning and Energy to draw up a programme to clear the debt of the companies. In addition, the Committee wishes to appeal to the PURC to review the tariffs for the utility companies to reflect current economic conditions.
The Committee is urging GNPC to make available, the report on the technical audit on the Barge to relevant stakeholders, particularly Parliament.
12.6 Revenue from Saltpond Oil Field
T h e C o m m i t t e e n o t e d w i t h dissatisfaction that revenue from oil produced from the Saltpond oil fields was not disclosed in the 2010 Financial Policy of Government.
It is the view of the Committee that
the proceeds should have been explicitly

disclosed to signal Government's intention of being transparent in the administration of oil revenues when the country begins commercial production in 2010. The Committee, however, requested and was granted detail information on the number of barrels produced from the field and the amount realized. A total of 92,284 barrels were lifted this year and an amount of US$5,495,864 was realised.

The Committee is therefore urging MOFEP and the Ministry of Energy to be transparent and disclose information on revenue from oil to Parliament in future.

12.7 BOST Under-recovery

The Committee was informed by officials from BOST that an amount of US$50 million is due the company as a result of underrecovery of cost. This has negatively affected the operations of the company. The company, as a result, is unable to execute its core mandate of maintaining strategic fuel stock nationwide.

The Committee noted that in addition to providing strategic fuel stocks, the company currently stocks fuel for operational purposes at some of its depots following the successful completion of its expansion programme.

It was revealed that BOST will require an amount of GH¢83,000,000.00 to replenish its depleted stock across the country. It was further revealed that the scrapping of the strategic stock levy since 2005 and the non-revision of BOST margin from its current GH¢0.15 has affected the financial health of the company.

T h e C o m m i t t e e a c c o r d i n g l y recommends that the Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with MOFEP, should

take appropriate measures to assist BOST replenish its stock to avert any national disaster. The Committee is also urging the National Petroleum Authority to restore the strategic stock levy as well as revise the BOST margin to reflect current economic reality to enhance efficient service delivery by BOST.

13.0 Conclusion

Considering the important role of energy in alleviating poverty and accelerating growth and development, and having carefully considered the Ministry's justifications for the Budget Estimates for 2010, the Committee recommends that the House approves the sum of three hundred and twenty nine million, seven hundred and eighty-three thousand, seven hundred and sixty-five Ghana cedis (GH¢329,783,765) for the Ministry of Energy for the 2010 financial year.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
The motion is moved and seconded but before I open the floor, I have realized that there is a problem with the figure. While the Hon Minister moved for GH¢329,783,764.00 ,the Committee's Report is talking about GH¢329,783,765.00, a difference of one, so which one is the correct figure before I open the floor. Let us tidy up the figure and then we -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Asaga 1:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think the figure of the Committee is the right one and that is what is captured in the Order Paper, which is GH¢329,783,764.00.
Mr. Asaga 1:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes, so we will just amend our little figure; I think it
is just a significant figure.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
Very well, so you amend your Committee Report accordingly to reflect the motion moved by the Hon Minister which is on the Order Paper as item 11. Very well, motion moved and seconded and it is for the consideration of the House.
Question proposed.
Mr. Edward M. Ennin (NPP --
Obuasi): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion on the floor.
On the issue of the Osagyefo power barge, the Ministry of Energy claims that work is in progress but reports reaching the Committee indicate that work has come to a standstill and most of the employees have been laid off. So I will urge the Hon Minister to visit the site, maybe go there with the entire Committee members to verify the situation.
On the issue of the power outages, we have all witnessed that previous governments have pumped in so much funds to improve power generation and distribution in the country. But yet we have seen no significant improvement in terms of quality of service. The erratic outages this morning in Parliament attest to the poor service. So I will again appeal to the Ministry of Energy to do something about that.
I will also touch on the cost recovery. The Committee also noted that a number of Ministries, Departments and Agencies are heavily indebted to ECG and VRA and this is worsening the financial health of these utility companies. I will appeal to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to take steps to pay off these debts of these MDAs to enable the companies perform efficiently.
Mr. Speaker, with these few words, I will urge Colleague Members to
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Mrs. Gifty Eugenia Kusi (NPP
-- Tarkwa-Nsuaem): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity.
I also want to support the motion but my stake is page 10 of the Committee's Report, the first paragraph:
“ It was noted, however, that the 2010 Budget Statement made no provision to absorb the funding deficit.”
We all know that times are hard but the Ghanaian public needs a little cushioning. We cannot say that because there is no money people should suffer, suffer and suffer unduly. You have not made any provision to, at least, help. The previous governments had been doing by giving a sort of -- some money to VRA and other companies to ensure that they meet their costs. You cannot just cut it like that. Once you start -- [Interruption] you said “no, I am not going to give any money”. At least, you can reduce it gradually but giving no money is going to bring a lot of hardship.
So the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, please! -- And I think that they should really sit down with the President and say that Ghanaians need a little help. They can stop it eventually but they cannot just stop abruptly and say that “we are not giving any subsidy” They are saying that their tariffs have not been increased, if they increase tariffs now to the extent that we cannot absorb, it will be very, very problematic.
Mr. Speaker, please, they should do something about it because Ghanaians are suffering too much.
Thank you.
Mr. Christopher Addae (NPP -
Bibiani/Anhwiaso/Bekwai): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to

contribute to the motion on the floor, which is to approve the budget for the Ministry of Energy for the fiscal year 2010. But before I do so, let me register my personal displeasure and I suppose that of the Committee over the absence of the substantive Hon Minister at budget hearings and the approval of budget.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
Hon
Member, let us address the particular motion before us. Your complaint might be legitimate but you remember that the Hon Majority Leader took permission but the Hon Minority Leader had expressed reservations on that matter already. I think we have moved from there so let us debate the substantive matter. It would have been different if the issue had not cropped up at all. The Hon Minority Leader has expressed his reservations on that point already, so we cannot go back to be repeating the same point.
Mr. E. Addae 1:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, that is
my observation.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
But you
have a Leader.
Mr. E. Addae 1:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, yes --
Mr. Asaga 1:20 p.m.
On a point of order. The point of order is the fact that even the Hon Majority Leader did not mention in the excuse that he had gone to a funeral, so he is misleading the House and I think he must withdraw the statement. This is because nobody mentioned that, his excuse for not being here was to attend a funeral. I mean he is making the whole thing look like a joke ,so he must withdraw it.
Mr. E. Addae 1:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the fact
that the Hon Mijority did not mention the specific reason for his absence, does not mean that I cannot mention it. [Interruptions.] What prevents me from mentioning it? [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
Hon
Members, let us listen to the Hon Member on the floor and then if there is any need to make any direction, I will make it.
Mr. Christopher Addae 1:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
what I am saying is that, the Business of the House is a serious one and therefore the Hon Minister must attend upon the Business of the House, that is all I am trying to say.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. J. Yieleh Chireh 1:20 p.m.
On a point of
order. The point of order is that the Hon Member is saying that last year, the Hon Minister did not -- or for this year's Budget, that is 2009 Budget, the Hon Minister chose to attend a funeral.
I think that the Hon Minister is not here to defend himself.
In any case, I also do not think that that is an issue that should be brought to the House. It will depend on the relationship that you have. If the Hon Minister did not attend and he officially told the Committee that he attended a funeral, fine, but he did not do so. So I think that the Hon Member, even though he is concerned, he should not let this be part of the record that the Hon Minister chose to go to a funeral instead of attending to the Committee.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
Hon
Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, I thought that the point is that, maybe, he has some information to show that the Hon Minister had gone to a funeral. So I thought that if anything, we should ask of him to substantiate. If what
he is saying is true, then he is not out of order. Because I thought that you may ask him to substantiate. If it is not one of substantiation, then he is in order.
Mr. E. Addae 1:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, this is
a fact and I have just stated it. It is the reason that was given in April this year. Gradually we are looking -- [Inter- ruption.] -- Yes, that is the reason. At the Committee, that was what was stated for his absence. It is Hon Gifty who really asked that question.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Hon Members, sit down. All of you should sit down. The Hon Member on the floor is saying that the Hon Minister, instead of coming to the House, went to a funeral. I gave the chance to the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, and he said that even if he had personal knowledge he should not have mentioned it on the floor. But that is not the issue, the issue is that, is it a fact?
If it is a fact, then the Hon Member is right. But if it is not a fact, then somebody would have to tell us that it is not a fact, and therefore, the Hon Member is misleading the House. Nobody has produced any other evidence to the contrary. So I will give a chance to the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, the last chance on this matter.
Mr. Chireh 1:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want the Hon Member to substantiate this statement by naming who gave that excuse and whether he himself, after the person gave that excuse, also verified? Otherwise, it is not the case.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Hon Member, they are asking you to substantiate. Who told you that the Hon
rose
Mr. E. Addae 1:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, you need to -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Hon Members, a Member makes a statement -- [Interruption] -- Hon Deputy Minority Whip, you know very well that the statement was made by him, and he made a categorical statement that the Hon Minister had gone for a funeral, if you have the information, provide it to him.
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
But he is the one who made the statement. If he has not got the facts to substantiate then he knows what to do. If he has the fact, let him substantiate it.
Prof. Oquaye 1:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, before an Hon Member goes to the level of asking for substantiation, he or she must lay a foundation. The foundation is laid in this manner; the person making the objection would say that it is wrong. What you are saying is incorrect. It is not to be presupposed, so you must premise your statement with that. Then when you have said that it is not correct, you challenge the other person to substantiate. Otherwise, everybody can simply get up and ask for substantiation, substan-tiation, and we will not make progress. [Interruption.]
The rule in Parliament is that, you make an assertion that what is being said, to the best of your knowledge, is false. Then you challenge the other party to make his substantiation, then we make progress. So if you are really serious, premise it by saying, this is not true, it is not in the Hansard, it cannot be in the Hansard, it is baseless, and for that matter you call
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Hon Second Deputy Speaker, you are right. That was why at first, I ruled that he was in order. Then the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development came back to do the very thing that you just said. You were not here at the beginning when he started. [Interruption.] Were you here? [Interruptions.] You were not in your seat, but you were somewhere listening. Very well.
The point is that they were saying that the information that they provided was that the Hon Majority Leader who took permission for the Hon Minister never mentioned that. And he was here when they were taking the permission; he never raised the point to the contrary. So, now, on that basis, we agreed that the Hon Deputy Minister should move the motion.
The Hon Minister was caught up somewhere in Kumasi, that was the information that we were given. So there is an information that had been given. Now, the Hon Member went on to say that in actual fact the man was at a funeral. [Laughter.] That was what the Hon Member on the floor was saying, that he went to a funeral.
Very well, Hon Deputy Minority Leader.
Mr. Ambrose P. Dery 1:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, what the Hon Member said was that, he referred to an earlier -- the first Budget -- the Minister did not appear before the Committee for the reason that he was bereaved and went to a funeral. So, he is not talking of this instance. And actually, he is saying that the reason was given
at the Committee for his absence then. I believe that is the position, not this occasion.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Yes, Hon Members, I heard the Hon Member did mention that 2009; I also heard him talk about April and I also heard him talk about Committee, and also heard him talk about the current situation. We are talking about three scenarios, so the only thing I want to find out from him is whether it is the current one or the 2009 one, then we can make progress.
Mr. E. Addae 1:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, but I said clearly that it was 2009.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Very well. Not the current -- [Interruption.]
Mr. E. Addae 1:30 p.m.
Not today.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Very well, continue.
Mr. E. Addae 1:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, but it was just to emphasise the point that he has been absenting himself from serious parliamentary business. That is all the point I wanted to make -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Hon Member, you see, I agree entirely with you. If you had made that statement, I would have shared sentiments. You see, but you did not start that way. It is the “funeral” that you brought that landed you into points of order. But continue and make your submission.
Mr. Christopher Addae 1:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, because you are a member of the Committee, I am sure you know what happens there -- [Interruption.]
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, do you have a point of order?
Mr. Buah 1:30 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, I think that we are talking about the 2010 Budget Statement and we are talking about “presence” today. I am surprised that the Hon Member will be making reference to my Hon Minister's presence in the previous Committee's meeting.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Hon Member -- [Interruption]--
Mr. Buah 1:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important that I make this point because the implication here is that, the Hon Minister is not a serious man, that the Hon Minister does not take this House seriously. I think that this is very offensive. The Hon Minister is working very hard. It is about we respecting our Hon Ministers and the hardwork that they do for the country.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Hon Member, really, that is not a point of order. [Laughter.] I thought that in winding up, you could have told the House that the Ministry takes this House seriously.
Mr. E. Addae 1:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, if they will allow me, I will just make my contribution.
Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to look at the area of petroleum. We all have been told that come 2010, oil production would begin in the country, and that the Government is committed to ensuring that the gas associated with the production of oil will be utilized.
It has been stated in the Budget and the Committee observed that if the gas processing infrastructure is really going to be in place, by the time that the Ministry knows oil production is going to start, that then will save the country a lot of money. But the fear is this; is the infrastructure for the processing and development of gas going to be ready by the time the production of oil begins?
That is the biggest question that I want the Hon Minister and therefore, the Hon Deputy Minister who is listening -- [Interruption] -- that is why I wanted the Hon Minister to be here, and therefore, the Hon Deputy Minister who is deputizing for him, and listening, should take note and assure us and assure the country that -- [Interruption.]
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Hon Majority Chief Whip, I will only entertain strict points of order. We have a very tall order today on the Order Paper. So, are you on a point of order? If so, let me listen to you.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 1:40 p.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Hon Deputy Ministers are very important in all Administrations all over the world. He is not an Assistant Minister, he is a Deputy Minister; so if the Hon Minister is not available, he is here, he will take note
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
Order!
Let us listen to the Hon Deputy Minority Leader.
Mr. Dery 1:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think we
are all aware that we have a very serious business and have a tall order. Such lectures given by the Chief Whip on the Majority side, we can do without.
The man is making a statement, let him finish; if he is out of order, we call him to order but such banalities being expatiated on pontifications is not going to help us. So Mr. Speaker, I will propose that we take only strict points of order and they should tell us the basis by the rules and not these sorts of interventions. We need to pass this Budget by 18th and I think that it is in the interest of the country for us to do that.
Mr. E. T. Mensah 1:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the
issue I raised was not out of order. The man was strictly out of order because we have the Hon Prof. Gyan-Baffour here. He used to be a Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning and he was always here and we did serious business with him. Never did we say that he was not relevant. And that I was trying to explain to him.
We only confuse things in this country. Hon Deputy Ministers are not Assistant Ministers; they are not. So Hon Members who do not understand it, do not work with their Ministers; you have to work with the Hon Deputy Ministers so that when they are not there, the country will not come to a standstill. Nobody is indispensable and that is why you do not just take one Hon Minister.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
Hon
Members, I will take the Second Deputy Speaker and I will give my directions in this regard.
Prof. Oquaye 1:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I stand
with a certain amount of regret and this House vis-a-vis the Executive should be taken very seriously and I think a lot will depend on what we ourselves say.
Mr. Speaker, I pray that we do not ever hear again in this Honourable House that once an Hon Deputy Minister is here, the Minister need not be. Mr. Speaker, it cannot be [Interruptions.] No, I am quoting from his words and they are in the Hansard that
“Once a Deputy Minister is here the Minister need not be”;
It is wrong. And the Hansard will clearly bear me out because, as my Hon Friend said it, I wrote it down. I pray that he will not continue to interrupt because it is a very serious matter.
An Hon Minister of State, an Hon Deputy Minister, a person who is not a Cabinet Minister does not take the Cabinet Oath. Of course, Hon Deputy Minister's position is a very serious position and we all respect it. But we must not appear to be confusing ourselves. There is a whole difference between any person and the person who takes the Cabinet Oath. And this Honourable House would not be misled into equating the same.
Mr. Speaker, as much as possible this Honourable House will continue to insist that an Hon Minister comes and so on and so forth. And we will also continue to accommodate as much as
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
Hon
Members, I think that I will end this matter here so that we make progress. I think that basically we are all saying the same thing. It is important.
Ordinarily, we want Hon Ministers to be here. But if for some reason, the Hon Minister is not here, there should be very good reason the substantive Minister is not here. That was why the Hon Majority Leader did the noble thing by taking permission from this House to the effect that we can grant audience to the Deputy Minister.
My position is that, as much as possible, let us have Ministers in this House, and if for any reason they are not available, very good reasons must be given why Deputies must act for them on the floor.
Thank you very much.
Hon Member, continue.
Mr. E. Addae 1:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I just
talked about the production of gas from Cape Three Points.
But Mr. Speaker, this year's Budget has been silent on the West Africa Gas Pipeline Project. We all know how important, how serious, how critical the West Africa Gas Pipeline Project is to this country. Nothing whatsoever was said about that. It is a project that is very dear
to the hearts of Ghanaians and so much money has been pumped into it.
Strategically, in terms of energy development, energy requirements, the West Africa Gas Pipeline Project plays a very crucial role. So to leave it out of the Budget raises a lot of questions, and that must be looked at.
In any case, what is the current status of that project? Are we going to get that gas from Nigeria or not? Most of the power generating stations that have been built were built in anticipation of gas flouring from Nigeria. The Asogli Plant is almost completed, it is now a white elephant. How is it going to be powered? And there are so many other generating stations which would use the Nigerian gas; when is the gas coming?
Mr. Speaker, let me now go and talk about something that is very, very dear to my heart and that is the development of a strategic plan for the provision of infrastructure for the communities within the oil and gas producing area.
Mr. Speaker, we just do not need a strategic plan. I am calling on the Government, I am calling the Minister to, as a matter of priority, set up a fund to be managed by an authority so that the communities in the area where we are going to produce gas and oil will not suffer.
Mr. Speaker, you may not be aware
but I am, that currently land around Cape Three Points is being speculated on and people are buying land in anticipation of further development in future. Mr. Speaker, what this means is that the natives, the local people who live there and will see the gas and oil production will remain poor and then the end result will be that they will resort to violence.. Mr. Speaker, we may take a cue from Nigeria.
Mr. E. Addae 1:40 p.m.


The current Administration has set up a whole Ministry now to look at Niger Delta because of the problems they inherited some decades ago. Mr. Speaker, we should not fall into that trap. That is why I am calling for the setting up of a fund to look at the community and its problems in future so that we can resolve the problems before they rise.

Mr. Speaker, you know that Western Region is a region most endowed with natural resources. In fact, Ghana is carried on the back of the Western Region. Mr. Speaker, but what does Western Region get? What does Western Region get in return? The best comes from the West but the worst goes to the West.
Mr. Asaga 1:50 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, my Hon Colleague is going to create tension in this House. Every region is carrying this nation on its back. It is not just the Western Region. So he should not be making such a statement as “Ghana is riding on the back of Western Region”. Every region is contributing -- [Interruption.]
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
Hon
Member, once again, we should avoid some of these statements. Every region is important in this country.
Hon Member, conclude.
Mr. E. Addae 1:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I am sure
nobody is drawing me into a conclusion that I never intended. I did not say there is any region in this country which is not important. I am saying that in terms of contribution per region to this country's resources, everybody knows it is Western Region which leads and that cannot be
denied. It is a fact.
Currently, Western Region produces 50 per cent of our cocoa. [Hear! Hear!] Currently, Western Region produces 40 per cent of Ghana's gold. [Hear! Hear!] Mr. Speaker, I would not want to wait but what I am saying is that, this time round -- [Interruption.]
rose
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
Hon
Minister, do you have a point of order?
Mr. Chireh 1:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have a point of order.
First and foremost, the Member who is on the floor is raising the issue that a fund be set up immediately for the communities from where the oil or the gas will be exploited. But the Minister and the Committee he is referring to -- The Committee is talking about a strategic plan. If you do not have oil, you have not got the gas, you have not sold anything, you have not in any case identified the real problems of this find that you are talking about; you are talking about, a fund to establish a fund immediately I think that what he is doing is misleading this country, he is misleading the House. I would also wish that he toned down on his language. Anybody who is talking about Nigeria's example, et cetera --When they hear it from we the leaders, you cannot be surprised, those gangs will start springing up.
In any case, as I am saying, he should not be the one asking for improper things to be done. We are leaders and we must plan, we must strategise. At no point will the people whose lands produce these things will not be catered for. But to say immediately -- with what funds are you going to introduce such a thing? I believe that he should tone down the language.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
Hon
Member, I think the Hon Minister is right. You should tone down on your
language. You can make your point without offending people's sensibilities. So kindly tone down on your language.
Mr. E. Addae 1:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, thank
you. Is it my pitch, is it my actions or my language?
Mr. First Deputy speaker 1:50 p.m.
Hon Member, continue. I have directed you on this matter so that we make progress.
Mr. E. Addae 1:50 p.m.
Thank you very much. But I wanted him to know that I have not used any serious language here. [Inter- ruption]
M r. F i r s t D e p u t y S p e a k e r :
Hon Member, kindly conclude your contribution.
Mr. E. Addae 1:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is said
in a proverb that when your friend or your neighbour's beard is on fire, you better put aside some water in case your beard catches fire too.
Mr. Speaker, if Nigeria's example is so ominous, that is the more reason Ghana should learn and never go there. So I am suggesting that there should be a fund as a matter of priority and he is putting words into my mouth saying “immediately”, I did not say “immediately”. I said that as a matter of priority, an authority should be set up and whenever the fund is ready, it should be put in it”. I am not saying today.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
Hon
Member, can you wind up?
Mr. E. Addae 1:50 p.m.
I am winding up. Mr.
Speaker, so what I am saying is this: we should make sure we take care of the area where the petroleum, the gas and others are going to come from and we shall have peace and enjoy the benefits of the gas.
Finally Mr. Speaker, let me talk about
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
Hon
Members, considering the state of business of the House, I direct that Sitting be held outside the prescribed period in accordance with Standing Order 40 (3).
Continue and conclude.
Mr. E. Addae 1:50 p.m.
The Committee noted that there is a financing gap between the cost of production and the sale of energy. That money, ordinarily, comes from government but as the Chairman read out, that gap, this year, has not been factored into the Budget and therefore the consequence is that the utilities are going to be compelled to increase tariffs. Is that what we want in this country, given our already overburdened financial situation? The Government should come up and make good that difference so that at least there would not be any need for a call for upward adjustment of tariffs.
Mr. Speaker, I think with these few comments, I wish to support the motion and urge Hon Members to do so.
Thank you very much.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Hon Minister, kindly wind up.
Mr. Buah 1:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Hon Members for their contributions, comments and input. I have taken note of all the observations made and I will make sure that we inculcate that at the Ministry of Energy.
With that said, I urge Hon Members to vote for the motion.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
Thank
you very much, Hon Deputy Minister of Energy.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.


Resolved:

That this Honourable House a p p r o v e d s t h e s u m o f GH¢329,783,764.00 for the services of the Ministry of Energy for the 2010 fiscal year.
Mr. G. K. B. Gbediame 1:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon Minister is ready for the motion numbered 10 for the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
Item 10 on the Order Paper.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 2 p.m.

Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (Mr. Joseph Y. Chireh) 2 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this august House approves the sum of GH¢215,960.00 for the services of the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator for the 2010 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, this money is required for the Administrator to be able to, first of all, update records, do research on a few things to enrich the formula before it can be brought here for the sharing of the Common Fund.
It is also important, because the Administrator will require to network with all Assemblies to be able to get information about how the main Common Fund itself is utilized. That is why I will urge Colleagues, knowing the very difficult task he has, to approve this amount of money for the services of the Common Fund Administrator's Office.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Chairman of the Special Budget Committee. [Pause.]
Any member of the Committee can do it.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour 2 p.m.
Mr. Speaker,
the Hon Chairman is not here and he has asked that I should present the Report on his behalf.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Very well.
Prof. G. Y. Gyan-Baffour (on behalf
of the Chairman of the Special Budget Committee): Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion and in doing so, I would like to present the Report of the Committee.
1.0 Introduction
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2010 was presented to the House on Wednesday, 18th November, 2009 by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.
Pursuant to Order 140 (4) of the Standing Orders of the House, the draft annual budget estimates of the Office of the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) was referred to the Special Budget Committee for consideration and report.
The Commit tee met wi th the Administrator and his staff and discussed the said estimates.
2.0 Reference
The Committee referred to the following documents:
The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2010 financial year
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2009 financial year.
3.0 Mandate of the Administrator
The Office of the Administrator of the DACF exists to equitably distribute part of the national tax revenue to the District Assemblies for development. This is achieved through:
developing an agreed sharing formula for approval by Parliament;
administering and distributing monies allocated into the Common Fund to the District Assemblies in accordance with the approved formula; and
ensuring fairness, equity and transparency in the distribution and administration of the Fund.
In pursuing these goals, the Office of the Administrator of the DACF has set for itself the following objectives:
establishing a comprehensive system for monitoring and evaluating releases to District Assemblies (DAs);
ensuring the effective utilization of funds to generate growth and reduce poverty; and
undertaking periodic impact assessments of the Fund on development and poverty reduction in the various districts.
4.0 Performance in 2009
The following activities were executed in 2009:
expenditure data was collected, collated and analyzed;
submitted the 2009 formula for the sharing of the DACF to Parliament for approval;
shared the DACF to all MMDAs;
continued with the computerization of the process of capturing expenditure returns and supplementary budgets from districts;
conitored the impact of the Fund; and
organized workshops for DCEs and key Assembly staff to accelerate g rowth and in f r a s t ruc tu ra l development.
5.0 Outlook for 2010
The Office of the Administrator of the DACF will undertake the following activities during the year:
networking of the systems at the Office of the Administrator of the DACF to enable interaction with systems set-up by District Assemblies;
share the DACF to all MMDAs;
upgrading the DACF's website; and
updating and improving the process of collecting data from DAs and incorporating the data into 2010 census.
6.0 Estimates for 2010
To enable DACF implement the above activities, an amount of GH¢215,960 has been allocated for 2010. This represents an increase of GH¢33,610 or 18 per cent over the previous year's figure of GH¢182,350. The breakdown is as follows:
Comparative Estimates for 2010 and
2009
7.0 Observations
The Committee observed that an amounts of GH¢4,730 and GH¢15,840 have been allocated for Items 3 and 4 respectively for the Administrator. The Committee was however, informed that the Administrator may not undertake any
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.


investment activity this year. On the other hand, the amount of GH¢29,675 allocated for Item 2 was noted to be inadequate to cater for the activities under the said Item for the Administrator.

It was noted that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning vired the total amount of GH¢20,570 which it allocated to Items 3 and 4 as stated above. The Administrator expressed fears about the release of the said GH¢20,570 if allowed to be captured under Items 3 and 4.

The Committee, therefore, wishes to recommend that Parliament should grant approval of the total amount of GH¢50,245 to the Administrator as the allocation for administration as submitted by the Office of the Administrator of the

DACF.

The Committee further wishes to recommend that the Administrator should put in place mechanisms to track releases from the DACF to the District Assemblies and actual disbursement by the latter for development and poverty reduction- related activities.

8.0 Conclusion

The Committee, after a careful examination of the draft estimates, accordingly recommends to the House to approve the sum of two hundred and fifteen thousand, nine hundred and sixty Ghana cedis (GH¢215,960) for the Office of the Administrator of the District Assemblies' Common Fund for the 2010 financial year.

Respectfully submitted.

Question proposed.
Mr. K. Agyeman 2 p.m.
None

Dormaa West): Mr. Speaker, I am not seriously going to contribute to this motion. But unfortunately, I stood up on a point of order; I wanted to make a contribution on the energy matter and I could not catch your eye .

Mr. Speaker, we are leaving out a very
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Hon
Member, you know you are out of order. We have concluded that matter. You know you are completely out of order. I called you, I said, “Motion moved and seconded, it is for the consideration of the House.” If there is no contribution on this motion, I would put the Question.
Chairman but I have my own contribution to make.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
But
the practice is, having been elected to present the Committee's Report as the Hon Chairman said you should do on his behalf, I doubt whether you can now go on to express views which may even go contrary to the Committee's Report that you have presented. I have not come across that practice before and having been elected to present the Committee's Report, it is a bit of a problem.
Hon Members, any contribution on
motion 10?
I would put the Question on that. Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢215,960.00 for the services of the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator for the 2010 fiscal year.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 2 p.m.

Minister for Education (Mr. A. N. Tettey-Enyo) 2 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of one billion, seven hundred and twenty-nine million, four hundred and fifty thousand, eighty-eight Ghana cedis (GH¢1,729,450,088.00) for the services of the Ministry of Education for the 2010 fiscal year.
The breakdown of the Government of Ghana (GOG) and donor allocation to the entire Ministry by item is as indicated on pages 6 and 7 of the Report of your Select Committee on Education.
Mr. Speaker, the sector has three major implementing agencies, namely 2 p.m.
i) Ghana Education Service (GES) responsible for pre- ter t iary educational programmes;
ii) National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) in charge of tertiary education programmes; and
iii) Non-Formal Education Division ( N F E D ) c h a rg e d w i t h t h e responsibility of functional literacy programmes.
There are eight other implementing agencies under the Ministry of Education.
Mr. Speaker, at the basic education level of the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry will continue with educational sector development under the new Education Strategic Plan (ESP 2010- 2020) which has incorporated all the programmes under the new education reforms that will facilitate the attainment of targets of universal primary completion by 2012 and universal basic education by 2015.
Specifically, the sector will apply various interventions including the payment of capitation grant, provision of free school uniforms and exercise books to basic schools, and the construction and furnishing of additional classrooms to increase access to and participation in quality education in the ensuing fiscal year. Serious efforts will also be made to bridge the gender gap in access to quality education.
Mr. Speaker, it is the avowed aim of the Ministry to work towards reduction of regional disparities in education in the country. Towards this end, impetus will be given to the decentralisation of educational management to ensure the
Prof. Gyan-Baffour 2 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I said that I was just standing in for the Hon
Prof. Gyan-Baffour 2 p.m.


2.00 P.M. P.4

collection of reliable data for decision- making. In order to ensure adequate supply of teachers in the country, the District Sponsorship Scheme for Teachers will continue to be the reliable means of ensuring the supply of teachers to schools in deprived areas.

Mr. Speaker, at the secondary education level, efforts would be made to enhance the quality of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) for the placement of qualified Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) graduates into senior high schools and address the challenges that have confronted the system since its inception. In addition, Government will make a special effort to expand access to secondary education by providing additional infrastructure at this level.

Mr. Speaker, at the tertiary level, Government will strengthen and develop the capacity of the regulatory bodies, review the curricula of polytechnics to refocus on technical and practical oriented programmes.

Government will also assist both faculty members and students to acquire skills through practical industrial attachment in order to ensure that we achieve competency-based training in our institutions. Resources made available under the Teaching and Learning Innovation Fund (TALIF) will continue to be used to promote change and innovation in teaching and learning.

Mr. Speaker, some of the new initiatives to be implemented by Government will include the Deprived/Rural School Teacher Incentive Package, School Uniforms for Basic Schools, Free Exercise Books, renovation of selected Science Resource Centres, and the establishment of universities in the Volta and Brong

Ahafo Regions.

It is envisaged Mr. Speaker, that these initiatives will improve the quality of education and make it more responsive to the needs of the country.

Mr. Speaker, I now have the pleasure to move for the approval of motion number 12 on page 5 of the Order Paper in the sum of one billion, seven hundred and twenty-nine million, four hundred and fifty thousand, eighty-eight Ghana cedis (GH¢1,729,450,088.00) for the services of the Ministry of Education for the 2010 fiscal year.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Minister for Education.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr.
M. A. Puozaa): Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion ably moved by the Hon Minister for Education in which this Honourable House is being asked to approve the sum of GH¢1,729,450,088.00.
In so doing, Mr. Speaker, I present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
Following the presentation of the 2010 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government by the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Hon Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, on Wednesday, 18th November, 2009, and subsequent motion for its adoption, the Annual Budget Estimates for the fiscal year 2010 of the Ministry of Education was referred to the Committee on Education for consideration and report pursuant to Orders 140 (4) and 186 of the Standing Orders of the House and article 179 of the Constitution.
1.1 Deliberations
The Committee, in considering the Estimates met with the Sector Minister, Hon Alexander Tettey-Enyo, and his Deputy, Hon Dr. J. S Annan and the technical teams from the Ministries of Education and Finance and Economic Planning. The Committee is grateful to them for their clarifications and co- operation during the deliberations.
2.0 Reference Documents
The following documents were used as a reference guide during the Committee's deliberations:
(a) The 1992 Constitution of Ghana
(b) The Standing Orders of Parliament of Ghana
(c ) The Budge t S t a t emen t and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2010 Financial Year.
(e) The Draft Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Education for 2009 Financial Year.
(f) The Mid-Year Review of the 2009 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana;
(g) The Draft Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Education for 2010 Financial Year.
3.0 Mission Statement and Objectives
3.1 Mission Statement
The Ministry's mission is to provide relevant education with emphasis on science, information, communication
and technology to equip individuals for self- actualization, peaceful co-existence as well as skills for the workplace for national development.
In fulfilment of this mission, the Ministry intends to be guided by the following values:
a. Quality education.
b. Eff ic ien t management of resources.
c. Accountabil i ty and trans- parency.
d. Equity.
Consequently, the Ministry seeks to achieve the following ultimate objectives:
i. to enhance quality of teaching and learning;
ii. to increase access to and participation in education and training;
iii. to upgrade and extend technical and vocational, agricultural and business education and training;
iv. to promote good health and environmental sanitation in schools;
v. to strengthen governance, p l a n n i n g a n d r e s o u r c e m a n a g e m e n t w i t h i n t h e education sector;
vi. to promote and extend pro- vision of science and technology education and training;
vi i . to improve the qual i ty and relevance of academic and research programmes;
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.


viii . to promote and extend pre- school education;

ix. to provide girls with equal opportunities to access full cycle of education; and

x. to identify and promote educa- tion programme that will assist in the prevention and manage- ment of HIV/AIDS.

4.0 Departments and Agencies

The Ministry of Education implements its policies and programmes through the following departments and agencies under the Ministry:

i. Ghana Education Service

ii. National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE)

iii. National Service Secretariat

iv. West African Examinations Council (WAEC) ( National Head Office)

v. Ghana Library Board

vi. Non-Formal Education Division

vii. Council for Technical, Vocational E d u c a t i o n a n d Tr a i n i n g

(COTVET)

viii. Ghana Book Development Board

ix. Nat ional Commission for
UNESCO 2:10 p.m.

SOURCES 2:10 p.m.

-- 2:10 p.m.

GET FUND 2:10 p.m.

HIPC 2:10 p.m.

MDRI 2:10 p.m.

DONOR 2:10 p.m.

IGF 2:10 p.m.

Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Members, before I propose the Question, I want to get clarification from the Chairman of the Committee.
Chairman of the Committee, your last sentence under Conclusion, the GETFund must come here and the formula must be brought for us to approve as a House. So if you are urging that we should release it, are you saying therefore that they should not bring the formula for the House to approve it? I want to be sure of that concluding part of your Committee's Report before the debate starts.
The law says there is a particular method by which the money should be released, but you are now hiding it under your Committee's Report, that it should be released to them. What do you say about that before the debate starts? Would you expunge that part from the Committee's Report?
Mr. Puozaa 12:20 p.m.
We will do that since
the GETFund has not yet presented its statement to the House.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Abso-
lutely, because the formula has not been laid, it must pass through the process for approval. So when you put it in the Committee's Report here that they should
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.


release it, it creates a certain impression as if we are going to use this method to approve the money for the GETFund.
Mr. Puozaa 12:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the point
is well noted and I would plead with the House to exclude this part and accept the rest of the Report.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
So they
should exclude the GETFund component of the Conclusion?
Mr. Puozaa 12:20 p.m.
Yes, please.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Very well
and thank you very much, Chairman of the Committee.
Question proposed.
Ms. Beatrice Bernice Boateng (NPP -- New Juaben South) 2:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to support the motion on the floor. Mr. Speaker, before I finally say the last word, I want to make a few observations.
Mr. Speaker, we realize that education
-- we are told, is the bedrock of every development in every country, but looking through the Report and especially the outlook for 2010, from item (i) to (xv), you would realize that a host of things have been stated as what we need to achieve at the end of 2010.
When you talk about the school, the pupils and the students are at the centre but who helped them to achieve their goals, it is the teachers. But when you go through all these, you do not come across much that is said about the teacher.
My worry is that, my records might not be correct but if you take the census of the Hon Members in this Parliament,
I believe we would get more than 60 per cent who are teachers, and I think that it is for us to think of our fellow teachers who are on the field working. This is woefully always forgotten.
Item 6 talks about subsidy of GH¢100 for the teacher in the rural area who is pursuing rural education: the question is, what about the others who have not got the chance to pursue distance education now but have accepted to work in the rural areas? Are they forgotten?
Aside that, are we saying that it is only the teachers in the rural areas who are working? What about the numerous teachers who are in the urban areas and cities working? What do we think about them?
If my memory serves me right, just this morning, I have heard all over that teachers are on a sit-down strike; why are they on a sit-down strike? It is because we are not thinking of them and we are not even thinking of the importance of the work that they are doing. I think something seriously needs to be done if really we want to succeed as a country that wants education as pivot for development.
Mr. Speaker, let me also go to the
“Observations” because there is not much time.
In the “Observations”, when you come to paragraph 8.1.2, my Chairman men- tioned that there was a large disparity between students studying the humanities and the sciences and then he went further to talk about the ratio of male students against female students. They are almost at par but in concluding, the Committee strongly recommends that efforts are made to accelerate the pace at which sciences and technologies are done.
What about the gender disparity, the male and the female? We seem to say that we want to encourage women as well. But
if in our Report, nothing is said about this disparity of gender, then we are not being fair to the gender issue.

Mr. Speaker, talking about rented school premises, it is good we discovered this and have seen that it causes a lot of waste to our financial resources. But I must say that O'Reilly Secondary School might be the only school that is in rented premises. I urge the Committee and for that matter, the Ministry to do all it can to find out how many of these schools are in rented premises so that we are able to do justice to them. Otherwise, we will just tackle a portion of it and leave the rest.

Now, on item 8.4 -- Provision of

free school uniforms and exercise books. In talking about free school uniforms, I believe we are talking about the fact that by the end of the year 2010, we might be able to cover all children in the country who might need school uniforms and not just the one million that we have been talking about.

Again, the school uniforms, we should remember that about three or four years ago, the unit schools had used a lot of means to get the Government approve of their uniforms. In talking about school uniforms, I suppose that they are considering both the school uniforms for the unit schools, as well as the public schools because they are all school children who need to be catered for.

Free exercise books -- Soon after

the presentation of the Budget, I had the chance to go round some of the schools that I was working in, and I never saw one exercise book in there. I want to believe that, just as the Report says, sooner or later, the exercise books that are supposed to be there would be sent to these schools and they should be adequate

enough to help learning and teaching go on successfully.

Mr. Speaker, let me also talk about the non-formal education sector. We have talked about the number of recipients of this facility but we have to find out whether we have enough classes in the whole country that are catering for these, because I have done my own research and found out that we cannot even count about 20 classes that are catering for the number of recipients that we are talking about over here. If we are able to ascertain that we have such number of classes, then we would be justified to say that this money should be pumped into the system.

Mr. Speaker, I have seen something that

looks a bit odd, I stand to be corrected; that is, item 8.9. I have read that under MPs' Identified Constituency School Projects, it was observed that 5 million out of HIPC allocation -- I know HIPC allocation is HIPC allocation and we have something for education; why are we combining these? I stand corrected, but I think that HIPC should be taken separately and then GETFund or whatever that goes strictly to education should also be considered separately.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot about Ghana Library Board and for that matter mobile libraries. They said they are operating in almost all the regions. Maybe, I need to go further to find out which areas they are operating in because for Eastern Region, I have gone through a lot of the places and I have not seen any of these operating. I need to be told in which areas these are operating.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, let me say that

the earlier we considered the teacher, the better for all of us. It is the teacher who has made all of us and it is sad for us to forget about the teacher. Whatever funding that we are asking for, the teacher should be paramount in there. And talking about the teacher, we are talking
Ms. Beatrice Bernice Boateng (NPP -- New Juaben South) 2:30 p.m.


about the remuneration that should be made attractive, we are talking about accommodation, we are talking about vehicles, we are talking about other incentives that would make it lucrative for people to go in there.

Otherwise, we would have our teachers in the classrooms, but for them to deliver as we expect, that might not come. I believe that this has been heard and the teachers would be considered as it is required because if education is expensive we should try ignorance, and if we get the teacher out of education, we cannot call it education.

On this note, Mr. Speaker, I want to add my voice to that of the Committee and also urge all Hon Members to support the approval of the amount of GH¢1,729,450,088.00 that has been approved for the Ministry and to say that the funding gap that has already been told should also be considered when the time comes.

Thank you very much for your attention, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. T. T. Chaie (NDC -- Ablekuma Central) 2:30 p.m.
Thank you Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the motion on the floor of the House, urging Hon Members to also support the approval of the budget of the Ministry of Education.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion of the approval of the sum of GH¢1,729,450,088.00 for the services of the Ministry of Education for the 2010 fiscal year. In supporting this motion, Mr. Speaker, I would like to look at the outlook for 2010 and specifically, the provision of essential services such as water and improved sanitation.
Mr. Speaker, one problem that we face
as a country in terms of education delivery is the fact that most of our basic schools lack toilet facilities. In fact, I am very, very glad that the Ministry of Education has included this project in this year's budget. It is my hope and prayer that they would facilitate this project that they have inculcated in the budget to enhance education delivery in the country.
The issue of schools under trees is
also a priority that Government intends to pursue vigorously. Here, I would like to urge the Hon Minister for Education to ensure that some of the schools that we see under trees, which are always shown to us on television, should be a thing of the past.
Therefore, Government should ensure that the funding gap that is needed for the Ministry to facilitate its work is given to them so as to ensure that these projects are carried through.
The issue of our universities or some
of our universities, in fact, hiding some of the Internally Generated Funds (IGF) that they generate, is a big worry. In fact, during the Committee meeting or the budget hearing, we expressed our disgust as to the issue of IGF being under-declared by some of our universities and here, I would like to urge the Hon Minister to take this matter up. This is because if we look at the number of students in these universities and then at the sort of IGF that they declare, and compare these big universities to the smaller ones and the IGF that they declare, it clearly shows that the truth is not being told and I do not think as educational institutions, they should indulge in such practices.
Mr. Speaker, I will also like to thank the Ministry for paying the arrears -- it is
very very important. Education delivery should be very timely. The release of resources should be very timely. And most of our schools face this issue of non- payment of Capitation Grant on time, and in fact, I must commend the Government for making sure that all arrears have been cleared.
Then also on the issue of the free school
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Hon
Member, start winding up.
Mr. Chaie 2:30 p.m.
In conclusion, Mr.
Speaker, I urge the House to support the motion on the floor.
Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh (NPP - Nsuta-Kwamang/Beposo) 2:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the motion and in doing so, make these observations.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon Minister spoke at length about the need for teachers -- Unfortunately, in the 2009/2010 academic year, admissions to the teacher education institutions were basically cut. I have spoken to a number of principals and they said that the enrolment had to come down.
Mr. Speaker, we need teachers. As I speak now, if you go to most districts, including my own, pupil teachers are being employed to fill the vacancies in schools. I believe that no Ghanaian pupil deserves to be taught by a pupil teacher at this time and age. So, we should make efforts to train more teachers for the schools. And if it is so, why then do we
cut admission into the training colleges?
There are many people who were qualified but who could not get admissions into the training colleges. I believe that the Ministry needs to look at this issue very critically. I want to believe the fact that the teacher trainee allowances are not paid promptly.
As at now, those who were recruited in September have not had their allowances paid at all. I do not know whether their allowances are going to be paid or not. But if we need the teachers, then we need to motivate them right from the time they are being trained. It is only through this that they will find that they are very useful to society and we need them and we can get the best out of them.
Mr. Speaker, today, let me just talk
about something which bothers my mind. It is about the maltreatment of children by some teachers, especially in the private institutions. Just this morning, I was reading something in the newspaper (shows copy of a newspaper) about a teacher who inserted ginger in the private part of a three-year old pupil. Mr. Speaker, these things should not be allowed in our schools.
I believe that the Inspectorate Division of the Ministry of Education must sit up and monitor these behaviours, especially in the private schools because we send our children there for their safety, not for people to maltreat them, to defile them and do all sort of things to them. This is quite unacceptable in this modern day and age in the 21st Century.
Mr. Speaker, with these few comments, I support the motion.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
I would
want to call on the Hon Minister for
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.


Education to wind up. Especially, the Hon Member for New Juaben South mentioned item 8.9 and in your winding up, you should address it. It is on page 10 of the Committee's Report.

Very well, Hon Minister for Education,

kindly wind up.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 2:40 p.m.
I thank you, Mr.
Speaker.
I rise to wind up the debate on this motion to give approval to the sum mentioned in motion number 12 in respect of the Ministry of Education.
Mr. Speaker, I have taken note of the
observations made, especially the one you have referred to, mentioned by the Hon Member of Parliament for New Juaben South. We will see to the separation of the utilisation of the HIPC funds from the rest of the funds made available to Hon Members of Parliament for their identified projects in the constituencies.
We have also taken note of the
conditions and salaries of teachers and especially the sense of urgency in motivating teachers to give of their best in the service of this country.
Indeed, the Budget Statement itself is very explicit on Government's intention to continue implementing teacher- incentive packages, especially those related to the motivation of teachers in rural and deprived areas of the country and Government's intention to give special incentives to teachers in strategic areas like science, mathematics, ICT and others, that require a lot of motivation to make the teachers perform their best.
We have also noted the proposals made to the Ministry of Education to make the
implementation of the Budget in terms of the “schools under trees” very effective.
We have also listened to proposals on the effectiveness of the distribution of school uniforms and exercise books. I wish to assure Hon Members of this Honourable House that the exercise books are being moved into the schools in the country. You will find them whenever you visit these schools. Again, they are very attractive exercise books.
I would also assure Hon Members of the House that the manufacture of the school uniforms is on course and that very soon the first consignment made available and being distributed, will be inaugurated.
We have taken note of the need to implement the programmes in respect of non-formal education, the functional literacy programmes.
Indeed, I want to assure Hon Members of this House that we have noted all the contributions they have made. We want approval of this motion to be able to run very fast with the implementation programme. And we would like to appeal for your support, if the need arises, for further appropriation to be made in respect of the Ministry's services.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Thank you very much. I would now put the Question.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved:
The this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢1,729,450,088.00 for the services of the Ministry of Education for the 2010 fiscal year.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Whip?
Mr. Gbediame 2:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, in the morning, item 5 (b) was to be laid. There was a little problem. My information is
that it has been resolved and the Hon Chairman is ready to lay that Report.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Which page?
Mr. Gbediame 2:40 p.m.
Page 2, item 5 (b).
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Item 5 (b), Committee on Foreign Affairs?
Mr. Gbediame 2:40 p.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Yes, where is the Hon Ranking Member? We do not want the situation where it will be laid and then on the floor, we will have another problem tomorrow morning. [Pause] Very well, we will give you the benefit of the -- Yes, who is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee on the Minority side?
Yes, have you resolved your problems with the Committee's Report?
Mrs. Irene Naa Torshie Addo -- rose
-- 2:40 p.m.

Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Tema West?
Mrs. Addo 2:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I believe we are supposed to lay it tomorrow.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
But if the problem -- [Interruption.]
Mrs. Addo 2:40 p.m.
Actually, the problems have been resolved, so we could lay it now.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Very well. Item 5 (b), by the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
PAPERS 2:40 p.m.

Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Laid accordingly for distribution.
Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Chief Whip?
Mr. Gbediame 2:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, it is after
Mr. Gbediame 2:40 p.m.
We hope so.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Anyway, Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
Mr. Ambrose P. Dery 2:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think I agree with you that we should not have a tall order if we are not ready. But having said that, I believe that he probably was implying that you could adjourn till tomorrow. All I would have to add is that, all the outstanding issues should be deferred till tomorrow, including the Interpretation Bill which is at the Consideration Stage.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Very well, it is after two o'clock, so adjournment is at the discretion of the Chair.
Mr. Dery 2:40 p.m.
That is so.
Mr. First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
But given the kind of business that we have, we the Chair, we have also programmed ourselves for today. The way it is going, you are also disturbing the programme that the Speaker and her two Deputies have also drawn to Sit here to preside over the Business of the House.
Anyway, the House is adjourned till tomorrow at ten o'clock in the forenoon.
Thank you very much for your co- operation.
ADJOURNMENT 2:40 p.m.