Debates of 28 Jan 2010

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:20 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:20 a.m.
We move to Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 27th January, 2010.
Pages 1 - 12.
Hon Members, in the absence of any correction, the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 27th January, 2010 is adopted as the true record of proceedings.
We move on to correction of the Official Report of Wednesday, 27th January, 2010. [Pause.] -- Any corrections?
Hon Members, in the absence of any correction, the Official Report of Wednesday, 27th January, 2010 is hereby adopted as true record of proceedings.
We move on to Questions. Is the Hon Minister for Education here?
Hon Members, the first Question stands in the name of Hon John Bennam Jabaah, Member of Parliament for Zabzugu/ Tatale.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:20 a.m.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION 10:20 a.m.
Minister for Education (Mr. Alex Narh Tettey-Enyo) 10:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, it is the policy of the Ministry to ensure that all senior high schools have buses to enhance their smooth operation. As part of this policy, an exercise was conducted to ascertain the number of schools without buses.
However, due to budgetary constraints, the Ministry has phased the procurement of buses and hopes to complete the exercise as soon as possible. The Ministry has already procured and distributed 199 buses and 139 pick-ups to some senior high schools. The process of procuring for the next phase has begun.
Zabzugu and Tatale Senior High Schools will be considered along with others as part of the implementation process.
Mr. Jabaah 10:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to know if the Hon Minister would be kind enough to give Zabzugu/Tatale priority since it is one of the deprived areas.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 10:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the
Hon Minister will do so.
Madam Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Yes, the next
Question.
rose
Madam Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to ask this supplementary question. [Interruptions.] He was asking a supplementary question? Oh! I am sorry, I did not recognise that he was -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
He has not finished the three supplementaries. Yes, your second supplementary.
Mr. Jabaah 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, can I know from the Hon Minister, if he can be very specific because he said they have started the process -- how long would it be; by the end of this year, this month or when? Can he be very specific?
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the process has begun and we hope by June, we would be able to distribute the fleet of vehicles available.
Mr. Jabaah 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, can I have assurance from the Hon Minister that the two schools in my constituency would be considered?
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Member has my word that Zabzugu and Tatale would be duly considered. [Hear! Hear!]
Mr. Jabaah 10:30 a.m.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to ask him the questions and thank you, Mr. Minister, for coming over.
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member? I thought the Hon Minority Leader wanted to ask a question.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, when you called the next Question, I thought the Question had not been exhausted, because the specific Question was when the buses would be provided for Zabzugu and Tatale High Schools.
The relevant Answer just said that Zabzugu and Tatale Senior High Schools would be considered along others as part of the implementation process, which was no answer at all. But the subsequent questions have indeed drawn the relevant answers from the Hon Minister and so I would not want to proceed.
Mr. Alfred Agbesi 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to know from the Hon Minister whether the schools without buses need to put in applications to the Ministry before they are given because my school, Ashaiman Secondary School, has been without a bus and we have put in application for years.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we have on record the list of needy schools but the Hon Member can put up a reminder if he so wishes.
Mr. Dominic Nitiwul 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I just want to find out from the Hon Minister; he says he has a list of all the needy schools. What is the criterion he is going to use in selecting the needy schools? Would it be the distance or the nature of the schools? The first batch he wants to give the buses to.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, some of the areas of concern are what the Hon Member has already indicated. But others are the extent of the challenge facing the schools and the fact that applications were made in a certain order, some of them coming up about two
Mr. Charles Hodogbey 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I would like to know from the Hon Minister, his predecessors used technical education as one of the criteria for the selection of buses for schools. Is he also using that criterion where schools with technical education are provided first?
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, yes. Addressing the needs of technical and vocational institutes and schools is one of the foremost considerations we want to give to the supply of school vehicles. It is still on the agenda.
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
The next Question stands in the name of the Hon Member for Asunafo North, Mr. Robert Sarfo-Mensah.
Maj. Derek Y. Oduro (retd): Madam Speaker, the Hon Member is on committee assignment and he has asked me to ask permission from you to ask the Question on his behalf.
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Yes.
National Education Forum (Outcome)
Q. 286. Maj. Derek Y. Oduro (retd) (on behalf of Mr. Robert Sarfo-Mensah) asked the Minister for Education what had been the outcome of the National Educational Forum organized by the Ministry of Education recently to deliberate on the length of the senior high education in the country and how much it cost the nation to organize the forum.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, upon assumption of office, the new Administration charged the Ministry of Education to organize a stakeholders' forum on the duration of senior high school education in the country. The outcome of the forum was communicated in a memorandum to Cabinet for policy approval for the reversal of the duration of the senior high school education from four years to three years.
Cabinet accepted the proposed reversal to three years and indicated that school enrolment for the 3-year programme should commence in September, 2010. Cabinet has also approved the implementation plan for the reversal to three years.
A total amount of fifty-three thousand, six hundred and sixty-seven Ghana cedis (GH¢53,667) was spent on the organization of the forum to cover expenses on the following:
1. Conference Auditorium
2. Lunch/Refreshment
3. Honorarium to various committee members
4. Stationery
5. Consultancy for preparation, moderation, documentation and reporting.
Maj. Oduro (retd): Madam Speaker, we all heard the contributions by the stakeholders at the forum. Yet Government has gone ahead and has approved the report of the committee. I want to find out from the Hon Minister, the assertion by the headmasters and headmistresses concerning the inadequacies of the infrastructure, even with the four years, how sure is he that the implementation can go ahead by this 2010?
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as I have already indicated, a report on the forum was duly submitted to Cabinet and Cabinet accepted from its study of the report, that it would support the reversal of the four-year duration to a three-year duration and approved the implemen- tation plan which has already begun. Enrolment for a three-year programme starts from the next academic year. As to assurances about the programme taking place, I want to repeat that the reversal will take place and it is on course.

Maj. Oduro (retd): Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister has outlined the cost and items under which the expenditure was made. I want the Hon Minister to tell us, this item 5 list, particularly item 2 -- Lunch and Refreshment -- if he can tell us how much it cost the committee.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, item 2 -- Lunch and Refreshment -- It cost GH¢21,600.00. [Interruptions.]
Maj. Oduro (retd): Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister was too fast in mentioning the figures, I want him to come again. [Laughter.] He was very, very fast and we did not hear him. I did not hear the Answer.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Honourable, he has answered your second -- [Interruptions] -- you did not hear him?
Maj. Oduro (retd): No, Madam.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Minister, the Hon Member said he did not hear
-- [Interruptions.] If he did not hear, can you repeat it? Yes, Hon Minister, the question was on item 2 -- Lunch and Refreshment.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I said the amount was GH¢21,600.00. This expenditure was made on about 1,000 participants.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Yes, your third supplementary, please.
Maj. Oduro (retd): My third supplementary is that -- the second question I asked, I wanted the Hon Minister to tell us the breakdown, particularly, the tea aspect, the refreshment aspect. [Interruptions.] So now that he has told us that they spent ¢210,000,000.00, I want the Minister to come out with the rest of the items. He did not fully answer the question.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
I think your

Maj. Oduro (retd): Madam Speaker, my supplementary question was that he should give us a breakdown of the five items listed here, particularly this one. I mentioned the tea because it is part of refreshment and that was how I came out with the tea. So he should itemize the rest; he should give us the breakdown of the rest.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
You mean items 3, 4, and 5?
Maj. Oduro (retd): Yes, Madam.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Minister, the question is, you have finished with item 2; he said 3, 4 and 5. Can you give the breakdown?
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am sorry, I have not got the details here. [Interruption.] The items as I have already categorized with their respective figures is what I have at the moment. I need further notice to be able to provide the details.
Mrs. Gifty E. Kusi 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Question I want to ask is, we want a breakdown of conference auditorium; that is one, honorarium to various committee members; stationery and consultancy for preparation. The Hon Minister had the answer for 2 and I saw him looking at a paper. I expected him to give us the details of the five items.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Well, I thought he said if you give him notice, which means he has not got it here.
Mrs. Kusi 10:40 a.m.
The Hon Member was asking for the cost.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Yes, he gave the cost.
Mrs. Kusi 10:40 a.m.
Yes, so if he can give us the breakdown.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
He says the breakdown, if you give him time he will bring it to you because we cannot force him to give us wrong details. Can we? So I think if you give him notice -- he has promised to bring it if -- I will take a question from this side of the House first.
Mr. James K. Avedzi 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I wanted to catch your eye and then ask for clarification as to whether the Hon Member who just spoke had turned herself into an auditor -- [Interruptions] -- The Hon Member asked for the total cost of the conference which the Hon Minister provided. If she asks him for the details, that is the job of the auditor. [Interruptions.] So I need to find out if she has turned herself into an auditor.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Well , Hon Members, even though he provided the total cost, when he was asked of item 2 he mentioned the cost and that led on to the others. But if he has not got the others, then he would provide it if they want it.
Mr. Avedzi 10:40 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wanted your direction on that aspect.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Well, yes, that came from a supplementary question and he was able to answer.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, when Hon Ministers encroach upon the privileges of Hon Members, you protect the House and you protect Hon Members. Madam Speaker, honestly, Hon Ministers who appear before the House and then attempt to give insufficient information, the protection resides in your Chair, particularly, in the interest of this side of the House.
Madam Speaker, the Question that was put, if you look at the latter part of it, it was very clear how much it cost the nation and I believe that the Hon Minister prepared enough to come and answer this Question. The Hon Member wanted to know how much it cost the nation to organize the forum. So for him to come here and tell us that he does not know how much it cost in terms of honorarium and how much it cost in terms of stationery, it means that he has not answered the Question.
Therefore, Madam Speaker, do we take it that because he has not answered the Question we set everything aside and then request that the Hon Minister comes another time to answer the Question fully? Otherwise, Madam Speaker, he would be encroaching upon the little privilege we have here at Question time.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Yes, I see your point but we are bound by the Standing Orders which say, you ask a Question, the Hon Minister comes, he gives his Answer and you cannot debate it. But if you want
further details, you invite him and he will come and Answer.
But I do not think we can constitute ourselves into checking the Answer he brought when the Standing Orders say that once he has given the Answer, we accept it.
Of course, like you said, you can invite him again to bring those particulars which he did not bring. That is the way I see it rather than to try and get the veracity of what he says or to check whether it is true or not. The Standing Orders say that once he has given his Answer, you cannot debate it. But I agree, you ask him to come again, ask another question for the particulars.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I agree entirely with you but then when Hon Ministers are asked Questions they are given time. And the time in essence is to enable them to prepare fully to come and then give sufficient answer to the House.
Madam Speaker, I can see that the Hon Minister is holding a piece of paper and I can believe -- [Interruptions] -- Madam Speaker, if you look at item 2, when the Minister was asked about the breakdown, offhand he gave the figure for item 2. [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Maybe that
interested him enough for him to prepare.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, is the Hon Minister trying to tell us that he came here with half-baked Answer?
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Well, he can come again. Can he not? I think if you are minded you should take up the matter again.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we are all watching because when Hon Ministers come here to give us Answers, we appreciate the Answers they give. And we want to believe that when they come here to give Answers, the Answers should be sufficient for the House and not in the terms that we are seeing today where he knows the Answer but he would not want us to give it.
Madam Speaker, I will just rest my case here.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Maybe, at this stage, I could advise that when you ask your Questions you make them specific like the cost and the breakdown. It will help.
Mr. Bagbin 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my Hon Colleague was completely out of order and you actually drew his attention to it but he continued. Our Standing Order 68 (5) and (6) are very clear on that and with your permission, I quote:
“(5) No Member shall address the House upon any Question, nor in asking the Question shall any argument or opinion be offered.
(6) When any Question has been asked and answered, no debate on it shall be permitted. ”
They are very clear on that and I do not see why he would be doubting the Hon Minister. When he had the Answer, he readily gave it. He has asked another one and he says he has not got it now and that he needs notice and that one, he is doubting it. He then went into some debate, even with Madam Speaker. This is not fair. The Standing Orders do not permit that.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we are all living witnesses in this House. When the Question was asked of the Hon Minister, he was sourcing the
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.


Madam Speaker, since we can all attest to the fact that the Hon Minister sourced the Answer from the White Paper he was holding, we believe that the contents would be relevant to this House. Let him lay this document that he is holding.

L e t h i m l a y t h e d o c u m e n t . [Interruption.] Madam Speaker, let the Hon Minister lay the document and we will know whether or not he has the Answer or he does not have it. Madam Speaker, he should lay it. He should not keep it to his chest, he should lay it.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Member, since the rules do not permit laying of the paper he brings because the Answer is already in the -- That is what he read. Is that not it? So I think the matter would be solved if next time you ask specific questions, because I am sure the person who asked the Question had in mind these matters, only he did not put them and allowed room.
rose
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Member, are you asking the Minister a question?
Mr. C. S. Hodogbey 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, before I ask the Question, I would need your clarification on the issue of giving the cost of the various items given there. Assuming that the Hon Minister is able to give the cost and the Hon Member who asked the Question continues asking him to tell how much of coffee, tea bags and all that, would he be able to provide that? I would like to get that clarification
from him.
Five items have been listed, if he had given answers to the cost of all the five items and the Hon Member asks who are the consultants and how much have they got, would the Hon Minister be able to provide that?
Therefore, if the Minister has been able to provide the total cost, the issue is how much cost was involved? Would the Minister have been able to do that? I want your clearance on that before I ask my question.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes, why should he not be able to provide the name of the consultants who was paid or even the breakdown from which he compiled his Answer?
Mr. Hodogbey 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my question is, in today's Daily Graphic, there is an issue on the four-year term for the senior high school. I would like to know from the Hon Minister, assuming that this had been implemented, would the system been able to absorb, in terms of infrastructure to provide all the classrooms necessary and other needs for the four-year system if it had not been reversed?
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Minister, a question has been asked, are you clear with the question?
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I hardly understand the Question.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Then he will put it again. Hon Member, put the question again.
Mr. Hodogbey 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I said that, in today's Daily Graphic the issue of the four-year system for the senior high school has been attacked that most of the schools or all the schools never had the infrastructure to absorb the four-year system. So I am asking, if it had been implemented would it have posed a problem for the current Administration?
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Is it not a matter of opinion you are asking? I think you are asking his opinion that supposing it had been implemented, does he think it would not put -- so ask another question if you have.
Mr. Yaw Owusu-Boateng 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister, what was the relevance of this committee since it was stated in their Manifesto clearly that they were going to implement a three-year secondary education?
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as I said in my Answer, a stakeholders' consultation was required and that was why the forum was conducted and it is also part of the Manifesto.
Mr. Bagbin 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, could the Hon Minister tell this House what was the length of the senior high school education recommended by the Anamuah-Mensah Committee that delved into this -- [Interruption]-- It is on the supplementary question -- What was the length recommended by the Anamuah-Mensah Committee, the length of the senior high school education in the country?
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Minister, he says what was the recommendation? Do you know it? [Interruption] -- [Some Hon Members: It is a leading question.]
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Well, I do not think this is a court for which we stop a leading question, but if he does not know, it is different, if he knows -- [Interruption.]
rose
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, with respect, the Hon Majority Leader is clearly out of order in this question. Our rules are very clear and the rules as per Order 67 (1) (h) -- He is talking about the recommendations of the Anamuah-Mensah Committee's Report, and the Hon Majority Leader knows that our rules prohibit such a question because Order 67 (1) (h) says:
“a Question shall not be asked the answer to which is readily available in official publications.”
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Member, does that Order also refer to supplementary questions or the main Question? If it had come in the main Question, I would have picked this up.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, with respect to the Chair, a question is a question and the rule does not make any distinction here, in this case, between a substantive Question and a supplementary question. The Hon Majority Leader knows that.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
No, Hon Member, I just wanted clarification on whether anything that affects the main Question for which the Speaker must permit also affects a supplementary question? I do not see anything to that effect clearly here, but that does not mean -- [Interruption] -- Yes, Hon Member, can you help us?
Mr. Bagbin 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader together with the
Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, if the Hon Majority Leader knows the answer, he says it is three years. Why is he asking the Question? [Laughter.] Madam Speaker, insider trading under any circumstance is unacceptable. You know the question, you have given the answer; why are you spending the time asking this question?
Besides, he is sort of soliciting and that is not allowed under the rules. That is tantamount to insider trading -- [Laughter] -- so he cannot ask that question. If he knows the answer then he should spare us and let us move on. He has provided the answer himself. As has been said, one cannot do that under the rules of the House, so we can move on and let him have his peace of mind.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I believe, as per the Answer given by the Hon Minister:
“A memo has been submitted to Cabinet on the proposal . . .”
That really is not an official publication and the Hon Majority Leader knows this very well. [Interruption.] He should read the answer, that is what the Hon Minister has told us, that it is not an official publication.
Madam Speaker, my substantive question to the Hon Minister is, he says upon assumption of office, the new Administration charged the Ministry of Education to organize a stakeholders' forum on the duration of the senior high school education in the country. That is the unambiguous Answer provided by the Hon Minister -- the opening statement. Madam Speaker, the question is -- of course, we all do know that the new Administration is a product of the NDC. The NDC has stated in their Manifesto, and I beg to quote:
“An NDC Government shall address the deficiencies and weaknesses in a bold and comprehensive manner. In this regard, an NDC Government shall . . .”
Madam Speaker, the operative word is “shall” --
“We will revert the current senior high school duration of four years to three years . . .”
M a d a m S p e a k e r, t h a t i s t h e unambiguous statement of the NDC Manifesto. Madam Speaker, the operative word is “Shall” and not “may” or “might”. In the circumstance, what was the justification in setting up the Committee in the first placed? And the Question is filed to the Hon Minister responsible for Education and not the Hon Majority Leader. [Interruption.] The Question is to the Hon Minister -- [Laughter.]
Mr. Bagbin 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, just on a point of order. Actually, the Government is not just the product of NDC; it is a product of the country -- [Uproar] -- yes, of the country. The people voted for the party to take over the mantle of government, so it is the product of the country, not just the party -- [Interruption] -- [Some Hon Members: We did not vote for you.] You voted for me -- [Laughter.]
Madam Speaker, it is the Administration of Prof. Mills -- [Interruption] -- that is, his government or you do not know that? Madam Speaker, I think that after obtaining the mandate of the people, every party that is in government is entitled to iron out what the people have asked him to do, and that is what was done. So this question of what is the justification does not arise. You know it.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I was surprised, I do not know whether the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing-designate and the Majority Leader now intends to take over the responsibilities of the Hon Minister for Education. A question was asked and he attempted to give the answer, probably, he has forgotten himself, the earlier he leaves, the better for the House; his mind is elsewhere -- [Laughter.]
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Minister -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I did not get the Hon Member clear. He should kindly come back. [Laughter.]
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, thank you. Clearly, if the Hon Minister for Education allows himself to be infected by people who want to invent instruments of revocation, that is where
he will find himself. He will end up not hearing.
Madam Speaker, the ques t ion that I asked is, the NDC which this Administration is a product of, has stated clearly in their Manifesto that, they will revert the current senior high school duration and the word they used is “revert”, they did not even say reverse, they said they will revert, whatever that means -- only they can -- the Minister for Education can explain to us. “Revert”, not reverse.
They say they will revert the current senior high school duration of four years to three years. That they shall do that, they will, in other words, they will do that. Now the Hon Minister is saying that ooh, after assumption of office they charged the Ministry to organize the stakeholders' conference and I am asking him, what was the basis for that? Since they told us that they will do that willy, nilly why set up the Committee?
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I
will attempt an answer because I thought the issue was very clear. If Government decided to revert, which means going back to a former practice of educating our youth for three years and the President of the time sets up a committee and a report was made to the Government. It was decided that, in spite of the report the three-year duration should remain -- Government decided to make it four years. However, determined as Government is and in view of the principles of good governance, there was need for stakeholders' consultation. That was the action Government took to go back to the people on whose behalf a previous government set up a whole committee sitting for months to come out with the decision of the society. Therefore the order was given for us to confirm some of the reasons which made the previous government accept a four-year duration against its own Committee's
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:10 a.m.


Report? There was good reason for going back to the people to consult them. Your Government decided on your behalf -- [Interruption] -- the Government of the people of Ghana. So listen to my direct words.

The Government of the people of Ghana, our Government of the day decided to turn aside the Committee's Report. The Committee was appointed by the Government itself, so you go back to put back to the people, the decision which was made and then the reasons why the White Paper decided otherwise. That is a basic way in good governance.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
On a
point of order. Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister was a Ranking Member for the Committee of Education of this House. Would he tell us what his own position was in this House because I am aware that he supported, as the Ranking Member, the four-year duration of this House. Would he tell us what his own position was at that time, maybe he might have changed his mind but would he tell us what his own position was?
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
I am not sure whether it is a permissible question. I suppose this one, you could put to him outside -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I will do that. But my final question.
The Minister, if I heard him right is saying that Cabinet has approved and indeed they have started implementing. They have started implementing the three- year school.
Is the Minister aware that the four- year duration ensued from an Act of
Parliament? And since the Act has not been repealed, on what basis are they implementing the three-year scheme? On what basis? It ensued from an Act of Parliament and he was part of the passage of that Act, so on what basis are they implementing the three-year school when the Act has not been amended or repealed.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Minister, that
is a question for you.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as
I stated in my Answer, Cabinet accepted the proposed reversal to three years and indicated that school enrolment for the three-year programme should commence in September 2010. Cabinet has also approved the implementation plan for reversal to the three years as part of the implementation plan. We are aware of the legal constraints and at the moment, an Amendment Bill to Act 778, Section 1, sub- section 3 is before Cabinet and will soon be brought to this House for the necessary action to be taken.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
I think it is a
legitimate question flowing from the answer and it has been answered.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, with respect to you, the matter is before Cabinet, it has not come to Parliament, no amendment to the Act has been effected but they are implementing it. On what basis? The Minister went further to say that it is being implemented. That is what he added to it. Let the Minister answer. On what basis are you implementing?
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, thank you very much. One would have expected the very active Minority Leader at least to recognize and commend Government. I heard him a couple of days ago saying that Government was not keeping faith with its Manifesto promises. Indeed in the area of education and per the
Answers the Minister has given, we are keeping faith with our pledge.
Madam Speaker, if you will indulge me in an earlier related matter. If you read the Minister's Answer, he sought policy approval from Cabinet and Cabinet gave policy approval to its implementation.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Honourable, ask your question now.
Hackman Owusu-Agyemang: Madam Speaker, it would seem that inasmuch as there is an Act which stipulates that the Senior high school would be four years, it has not been amended. Is he right to make a categorical statement that they would implement it from September 2010 without amending that particular portion they are implementing?
Madam Speaker, is the Hon Minister assuming that this is a rubber-stamp House and so whatever he brings we would approve for him to start implementation without amending the law, which makes it illegal?
Is he saying that he expects this House to approve it as a rubber stamp before they implement it? If not, then are they not in breach of the laws of this nation to start implementing something which is regulated by law? I want an answer.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Minister can you explain.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, nobody, and I think Government itself is not yet in breach of any law. As I have stated, a memorandum was submitted on the process of implementation. This was accepted by Cabinet. I have not said that we have implemented or we
Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 11:20 a.m.
In the supplementary answer he said he was implementing -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:20 a.m.
Yes, it is on course -- [Interruptions] -- including amendment to the law, that is what I mean.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Minister,
I think that is all they needed. They needed clarification of that. Cabinet has approved the implementation and you have explained. That is what they needed explanation from, which I think you have just done but left on its own, they were entitled to ask that question.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, that is why I am explaining that -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
You have. I said you have answered the question.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:20 a.m.
The strategy that has been produced for the implementation is being followed. And I am saying, as a way of explaining, what is taking place, that there is this major issue of amendment to the Act, which, truly speaking, is on course. A draft Bill is at the moment placed before Cabinet and very soon if approved, that draft Bill will be put before this House for the necessary action to be taken.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Yes, last question on this so that we can move on. There are other Questions.
Ms. Beatrice Bernice Boateng 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I just want a clarification from the Hon Minister. In his Answer to the Question, he stated tha,t and Madam Speaker, with your permission, I quote:
“. . . upon assumption of office, the new Administration charged the
Ms. Beatrice Bernice Boateng 11:20 a.m.


Ministry of Education to organize a stakeholders' forum on the duration of senior high school education in the country. The outcome of the forum was communicated in a memorandum to Cabinet for policy approval for the reversal of the duration of the senior high school education from four years to three years.”
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Madam, ask your question.
Ms. Boateng 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my question is, from his answer, it presupposes that at the conference it was agreed that there should be a reversal but it was not done. It was a stalemate. So from where did he get that information to be giving? In addition to that, looking through my budget for Education, it is stated that approval has been given and implementation was starting. So from the latter answer that he is giving, where are we getting to? Which way are we getting to? Is it not a breach as some Colleagues are saying?
Thank you Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister, I think the question is -- she is asking, where is the three-year recommendation coming from?
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, there are two aspects to the question. First of all, the means of presenting the report to Cabinet. There was no stalemate -- [Interruptions] -- at the forum. The forum report indicated all the viewpoints expressed at the forum as an advice to Cabinet. And Cabinet in its wisdom, took the best decision out of the collation
of viewpoints from the stakeholders who attended the forum and others who submitted written memoranda to the Committee that worked at this forum.
The other side of the Question is about where we are. And where we are is that, policy approval has been given for the reversal. There is a major hurdle to take in order to implement this decision fully, that is the legislative position which requires an amendment to section 1, sub-section 3 of Act 778. That is being done. So the position is that we are taking the strategy of implementation through due course, therefore, the next decision to be made on this process is the amendment of the Act which will soon happen in the course of our current Meeting of this House.
Several Hon Members -- rose --
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Yes, I said shall we move on? We have spent so much time on one Question. I will take the last comment or question from -- [Inter-ruption.]
Prof. Dominic K. Fobih 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I will like to ask the Hon Minister for Education that the use of the word “reversed” -- the duration of the 4-year SHS education to three years and the law, Act 778, are they not in conflict, considering the fact that in the law, it states that the duration of the SHS will be four years. This is what the law says and the law has not been amended and in the Budget it says Government “reversed”, they used the past tense “reversed”.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
the responsibility of every Government is to do its duty by the people. Governments come and decide that in the interest of the people, a three-year duration should be made four years. Another Government may come, which in the light of other considerations, is empowered to reverse
that decision and do what it could do.
As to the point of conflict with the existing Act, Government is aware of it, therefore, steps are being taken to amend that part of the Act that will not make it possible for the implementation plan to be followed. And that is where we are now and what is being done, Hon Members.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Members, I think we have flogged this Question, we have three more Questions and we have already spent -- [Interruption.]
rose
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Member, more Questions are going to be asked.
Mr. Hammond 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate that more Questions might be coming; I have not the slightest intention of contributing to those. This is quite critical, Madam Speaker. The point that is made is that, does he realise that there is a law which specifically says four years and then they come to this House with the Budget and say that it has been reversed? Now, the Hon Member is asking, does he appreciate the import of that? Or we should take it for granted that this is a law-breaking Party /Government?
Is that the statement the Hon Minister is making in this House or what? He has not dealt with it, so Madam Speaker, let him deal with it.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister, he has asked a question.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I do not understand Hon K. T. Hammond's question. If he is enquiring whether the word “reversed” means, we are breaking
the law, we are explaining that a policy change has been approved by Cabinet.
Mr. Bagbin 11:30 a.m.
The Question here talks about “proposed reversal”. Madam Speaker, there was a law before it was amended to run the four years. How was it done? They should tell the people. The law is a policy and there is a process -- [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Members, I think the Leader is right, the Question is specific -- [Interruptions.]
Mr. Hammond 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, just the last question-- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
You will ask a supplementary question based on the -- but now we are going into all sorts of -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Hammond 11:30 a.m.
I was even wondering
whether my good Friend is now speaking as the Majority Leader or as an ordinary Member of the House.
.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
We shall see soon. I
think the Answer will come in due course.
Mr. Hammond 11:30 a.m.
We will deal with
that later. If he is an ordinary Member then he should move backwards, he should not be sitting where he is.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
I think we move on to the next Question which stands in the name of Hon Stephen Ackah, Hon can you ask your Question now?
Mr. S. M. E. K. Ackah 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, this Question was asked several months ago and I am happy to announce that the Project is now completed so I beg that we stand the Question down.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Thank you very much. We move on to the next Question
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the establishment of the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) has given a new impetus to the drive to promote TVET in the country.
Strategies have been put in place to implement the policy of “one district, one technical and vocational institute” programme including their absorption of some of the numerous private sector TVET institutions. Another strategy is to upgrade the existing institutes.
In line with this policy, ten (10) faith-based and two community-based technical and vocational schools have been recommended for absorption into the Public Education System in districts without any TVET institution.
Due consideration will be given to Ayensuano Constituency in the Suhum- Kraboa-Coatal Districts alongside other districts without TVET institutions as soon as funds are available.
Mr. Ayeh-Paye 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to know from the Hon Minister what criteria his Ministry is using in selecting some of the districts over others.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:30 a.m.
The policy is that we should have, at least, one technical or vocational institute in every district of this country. That is the basis. So where there is not, that district qualifies for its establishment, but because of the financial constraints, we are going at it in phases and therefore, Ayensuano will be considered.
Ayensuano Constituency is part of the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District, so we will make sure that that district gets a Technical, Vocational and Education Training Institution (TVET)
Mr. Ayeh-Paye 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Kraboa-Coaltar section of the Suhum- Kraboa-Coaltar District is very deprived and the contractor working on the Dobro- Apedwa Junction road that passes through Nsawam and Suhum is having a facility in Kyekyewire, which is part of the Ayensuano Constituency. The chiefs and elders in the community are in consultation with the Chinese company for the constituency to take over the facility soon after the completion of the road.
I also want to know from the Hon Minister -- we want to convert this facility into a technical, vocational training centre; what can his outfit do to help Ayensuano Constituency to facilitate our position on this facility?
I also want to know whether the acquisition of this facility can put Ayensuano Constituency over other districts in selection of this our programme.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, this is a long question but I think I have the gist of it. If the constituency has certain facilities to place at the disposal of Government to enable Government to establish TVET institution in that constituency, let the Ministry have that request in writing and we will give that request due consideration.
Mr. Ayeh-Paye 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
in the NDC Manifesto, I do not know whether it is the first edition or the second edition, but the Manifesto is having a policy of having one technical and
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
the policy on the table now is not a new policy, it is an old policy accepted by the new Government to follow because it is a good one.
It is in line with Government's general policy of promoting TVET, of advancing the development of technical education in this country. So he cannot find that policy expressed in that way in any NDC Manifesto. It comes within the general purview of Government's intention to promote technical and vocational education and training. It is a good policy, we are addressing it. As for the number of institutions or areas which require attention of Government, this is Government business and we would allow Government to address the issue.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Minister, there
is another Question for you.
Hon Asamoah Ofosu, Member of Parliament for Kade, can you ask your Question?
Mr. Asamoah Ofosu 11:40 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, I have had the opportunity to read the Answer provided by the Hon Minister in the Order Paper and since the content of my Question is not too different from the one asked by the Hon Member for Zabzugu/Tatale (Mr. J. B. Jabaah) -- the Answers are virtually the same. But for the purposes of having the opportunity to ask
a supplementary question, I shall proceed to ask the Hon Minister.
Asuom Senior High School (Provision of Bus)
Q. 328. Mr. Asamoah Ofosu asked the Minister for Education when Asuom Senior High School will be provided with a bus.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I will willingly oblige to repeat the Answer.
Madam Speaker, it is the policy of
the Ministry to ensure that all senior high schools have buses to enhance their smooth operation. As part of this policy, an exercise was conducted to ascertain the number of schools without buses. However, due to budgetary constraints the Ministry has phased the procurement of buses and hopes to complete the exercise as soon as possible. The Ministry has already procured and distributed 199 buses and 139 pick-ups to some senior high schools. The process of procurement of buses for the next phase has begun.
Asuom Senior High School will be considered along with others as part of the implementation process.
Mr. Ofosu 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as I earlier stated, this Question is not too different from the first Question that was asked, but in the supplementary question from the Hon Member who asked the earlier Question, the Hon Minister went ahead to give a firm promise to prioritise Zabzugu/Tatale Senior High School in the next phase of distribution of buses.
I do not know whether the Hon Minister would want to give me that assurance as was given to my earlier Hon Colleague. I am saying this based on the fact that before the 7th of January, 2009, I was the Deputy Minister in the Eastern Region and the list of schools that were submitted to the Ministry as needy schools to benefit from the buses
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Member, ask
your question now?
Mr. Ofosu 11:40 a.m.
So I want an assurance
from the Hon Minister that Asuom Senior High School would be prioritized.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to confess that I inherited a list full of errors -- [Interruptions] -- and I think it is on that account that Asuom Senior High School was bypassed; restitution will be done. I want to give the Hon Member of the House the assurance that Asuom Senior High School will be considered along with others as part of the implementation process, to correct that mistake.
Mr. Ofosu 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think
that will be all for the Hon Minister.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Minister, I
think we have come to the end of the Questions for you and we thank you very much for attending upon the House to answer our Questions.
Thank you once again.
Hon Members, we move to item 4 --
Statements. I have admitted a Statement from Hon Joseph Akati Saaka, Member of Parliament for Bole/Bamboi. Is Hon
Saaka here? Hon Member, your Statement, please.
STATEMENTS 11:50 a.m.
Mr. J. A. Saaka (NDC -- Bole- Bamboi) 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity. My Statement is on the scourge of Fulani herdsmen in Bole/ Bamboi Constituency.
Madam Speaker, during the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era, alien Fulani herdsmen invaded Northern Ghana with droves of cattle.
The PNDC Government realizing the imminent destruction of the fragile vegetative cover of the savanna grassland by these herdsmen and their cattle with the concomitant effects of accelerating the desertification of Northern Ghana and the intensification of the harmatan which we all experienced recently even in Accra, acted with dispatch by organizing “Operation Cow Leg” to flush them out in a very humane way.
The scourge of the Fulani herdsmen has reared its ugly head in the Bole/Bamboi Constituency again. In fact, I believe it is not Bole/Bamboi Constituency alone which has experienced the influx of these alien herdsmen. Other consti-tuencies all over Ghana may be facing the same problem like Bole.
Consequently, I want to plead with the Ministries of the Interior and Defence to shepherd these herdsmen to our land borders so that they can go back to where they came from.
Time and space will not allow me to enumerate all the reasons why these Fulani herdsmen must be shown the way out. It will be sufficient to enumerate a few of the atrocities of the Fulani herdsmen
1. These herdsmen and their cattle account for eighty-five per cent (85%) of the degradation of the northern savanna grassland through overgrazing.
2. If it was only the effects of overgrazing the land we had to contend with, I will be the first person to suggest ways of re-vegetating the grasslands. But they have not stopped at just overgrazing our land. They have the impunity of trespassing the poor farmers' farms, leaving behind them a trail of destruction.
Within hours, their cattle eat up all stocks of food items representing the poor farmers' whole year's laborious drudgery on the farm. Within this hour, the Fulani herdsmen and their cattle deprive the poor farmer and his family of a whole year's food stocks thereby reducing the poor families to the most scrawny individuals whose lot is absolute penury.
To add insult to injury, these poor farmers have no one to turn to in their moments of distress when their farms are devastated by these herdsmen.
When the poor farmers' farms are vandalized by these Fulani herdsmen, there is nobody to help them make any claims on these Fulanis because the farmers claim that (I cannot confirm this claim) some traditional authorities and law enforcement agencies collude with these Fulanis to frustrate their claims for compensat ion for the
destruction of their food items.
3. These Fulanis and their cattle also pollute the water sources of the villages. These water bodies are the only sources of drinking water for the villages. The cattle defecate into the water and the poor villagers have nothing to say because if they dare complain, a gun will be pointed at them.
4. The Fulanis not only degrade our vegetation, destroy our farms, and pollute our water bodies, but also rape our women. The poor farmer is now compelled to accompany his wife to fetch water for household use if the stream or dam is a little distance away from the village. As for our women going to the farm by themselves, no man will risk it these days for fear of these women being raped by Fulani herdsmen.
5. The Fulani herdsmen who roam the bush fully armed, do not stop at raping our women. The spate of armed robberies on the highways in the three northern regions is largely the handiwork of these Fulani herdsmen.
Cattle rustling is one other scourge of the Fulani herdsmen. In fact, the list of atrocities by the Fulani herdsmen against our people is endless.
My plea therefore to the authorities is that something must be done about the scourge of the alien Fulani herdsmen.
Something must be done sooner than later. If nothing is done immediately, I forsee a fratricidal outburst in Bole/ Bamboi in the very near future.
Dr. A. Y. Alhassan (NDC -- Mion) 11:50 a.m.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Statement ably made by the Hon Member for Bole/Bamboi. I think that most of the points that he has raised in the Statement cannot be over-emphasized.
Many of us as Hon Members of Parliament have other experiences in our own constituencies. Personally, during this last recess as I embarked on a tour of my constituency, not less than 15 communities reported to me the toughened nature of Fulani herdsmen and to what extent they were damaging their whole year's harvest on their farms -- Sang, Kpabya, Palari, Nyentoo, Sakpe, Tijo, the list goes on. In many of these instances, the communities were not reporting for the first time, which clearly indicates that the problem has been lingering for a very long time.
Madam Speaker, the breeds of animals
that the Fulani herdsmen are running around with in our bushes are very large breeds and they consume a lot of food when they decide to visit various farms.
What is also scary is the fact that the Fulani herdsmen or some of them have become so hard; they have corrupted our communities because they control a lot of resources and they begin to bribe people who are supposed to take decisions within the communities and that is beginning to threaten stability of the farming communities in which most of our farmers live.
There is also a difficulty in the fact that the animals are beginning to distort our farming system by virtue of running down
our vegetation within the farming areas.
Madam Speaker, what is also disturbing, is the fact that the Fulani herdsmen are armed to the teeth, to the extent that peasant farmers who visit their farms in order to take away these animals from their farms are threatened with guns, et cetera to the extent that some of the farmers are compelled to take the law into their own hands to fight back and in certain cases, either limbs have been lost or lives have been lost completely.
I think that some of the Fulani herdsmen are becoming a nuisance and it is time as a nation we took a very bold decision to get our laws to bite the Fulani herdsmen who are not prepared to abide by the laws of the land.
I recommend that we have a national debate of all who are concerned with this problem so that we can come out with a national strategy to welcome Fulani herdsmen and to take them out when it is not necessary for them to be around. Some of the Fulani herdsmen are really becoming a menace.
Madam Speaker, I think the problem travels beyond the borders of our country because a good number of them are coming from neighbouring West African countries. So I think that the conclusion of such a national debate should be carried to the ECOWAS Commission so that we can have a complete regional solution to this very difficult problem. If this is not done, I foresee a situation where Ghana, acting in isolation, may compel other countries to take other negative measures against some of our citizens who live in their countries.
So I recommend a regional solution or sub-regional solution so that we can end the menace that many Fulani herdsmen
are posing to our agricultural system and our security as a nation.
I thank you very much for the opportunity.
Mr. K. T. Hammond (NPP - Adansi Asokwa) noon
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker, this Fulani matter is becoming a very serious development, at least, in Ghana, but I know there is an ECOWAS protocol. My understanding of that human beings within our sub- community. I do not understand that to include the movement of cows and goats and sheep -- [Interruptions] -- It is not true. I do not understand it to include those. Madam Speaker, why should we allow a menace of this magnitude to torment the country? [Interruptions.]
rose
Mr. Hammond noon
Wo nso wontena ase, eh!
Madam Speaker noon
Yes, Hon Minority
Leader?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Madam Speaker, since my Hon Colleague is saying that he knows about the protocol of the sub-region, that is the ECOWAS Treaty relating to the free movement of human beings, goods and services, it includes animals. He says he does not understand whether it includes the movement of animals. It does include animals. What they call “transhumance”. So, that is the information that I wanted to supply to my Hon Colleague. He may continue with his own debate.
Madam Speaker noon
Thank you, Hon Minority Leader.
Mr. Hammond noon
Madam Speaker, you just heard my Hon Leader. It includes goods and human beings. Does he classify cattle as goods? Transhumans? In what form does the cattle take the shape of humans -- tranhumans?
Madam Speaker noon
You have been told it includes.
Mr. Hammond noon
I am sorry, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker noon
We are being educated and we take it in good stead, is that not it?
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Madam Speaker, I thought my Hon Colleague thought that what I had said “transhumance” he understood it to mean “h-u-m-a-n-s”? it is not that. It is “transhumance” with “c-e” at the end; “transhumance”. That includes human beings accompanying animals to cross the border. That is what it means.
Mr. Hammond noon
Madam Speaker, thank you. Let it include cattle, the pigs and all of them.
Madam Speaker, was the intendment of this to allow these creatures come to the respective countries and devastate our vegetation?
I am getting increasingly alarmed. During the time when we were at the Ministry, these matter continually fell on our table. I am beginning to wonder, are we not looking -- [Interruptions] -- Are we not looking at a situation where we will one day wake up from our sleep and see a marauding armed, whether soldiers or whatever form it takes, right down
from Bawku, Hamile, the borders, Togo, invading this country and our security forces may be sleeping in their beds?
I am anxious because I thought that this is a situation of such a national dimension that by now, the security forces would have been awakened to its devastating consequence. How come that we see the onward march of these Fulani guys with their arms, their guns, maybe they are armed to the teeth.
We allow them to penetrate our borders and they come as deep as the Afram Plains and the surrounding areas and, of course, we are now talking about the immediate northern territories. I am concerned that the security forces of the country became anxious about this menace.
Madam Speaker, I draw the analogy
again. If it was an evading force and these guys simply are masquerading under the pseudonym of Fulani herdsmen, they are an evading force. Let us send a message to the security forces.
I am not sure whether the immigration authorities themselves can do much. The last time when I gave a speech at Fosu, there was a question of whether to arm them with slip guns or whatever. So, the Immigration guns do not seem to have a lot of that.
What about the military? What about the police force? I think we should inform them, if they are not immediately aware, that this thing is posing a security threat to the lives of our friends or families around those places. And it is time that we tackle it and tackle it effectively.
Not a day passes when you do not read about a killing. They have become so bold, so audacious that they come in there, if you do not allow them to destroy your farm, they kill you. How many of
us would we allow them to kill before a very serious and concerted effort is made to make sure that this menace is curbed? The security forces must wake up. We have had enough of these Fulani guys. We have had enough of this Fulani business.
I f my Hon Leader thinks that transhumance is the movement of cows and goats and cattle, they were not asked to come and destroy our forest and deforest the country. If our vegetation had been the same as where they were, will they be coming to our country to look for food and come and kill our relatives like that?
Madam Speaker, let the security forces take note of that.
Thank you, for allowing me to
contribute.
Madam Speaker noon
Thank you, Hon Member. I take it that you are urging that we bring it to the notice of the authorities. That is what we are doing.
Mr. Hammond noon
Precisely, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker noon
I get that feeling. I
thank you.
rose
Madam Speaker noon
I would come to you. Shall I take one from this side?
Mr. C. K. Humado (NDC - Anlo) noon
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement ably made by the Hon Member for Bole/ Bamboi.
Indeed, the problem of Fulani herdsmen
crossing over into Ghana has been with us for a very, very long time. I remember that even as a young professional working in
Mr. C. K. Humado (NDC - Anlo) 12:10 p.m.
The ECOWAS protocol on trans- boundary movement of animals, which is also called transhumance, actually allows movement of animals across borders but subject to certain regulations and control measures. And I think that is where we need to put our emphasis. The illegal movement of animals across boundaries outside the ECOWAS protocol framework is what the problem is.
The Hon Member has already
enumerated the problems associated with this illegal or influx of animals, such as the social conflicts of destruction of farms, loss of lives, rape of women, et cetera. I think that where we need to tackle the problem from, first of all, will be at the ECOWAS level.
When you read the protocol on transhumance, it states that there must be a tracking mechanism for animals in the sub-region. In other words, every cattle owner needs to be identified, first by country -- that is, if you are in Burkina Faso, part of your identification number refers to your country; it refers to your geographical location within the country and the herdsman's identification. This enables animals to be tracked from country to country and if it comes to Ghana we need to enforce that animals must cross through designated quarantine stations of this country.

Animals cannot just cross the bush from one country to the other; we need to
Mr. C. K. Humado (NDC - Anlo) 12:10 p.m.


enforce that they pass through quarantine stations. In the north for example, we have the Mognori Quarantine Station which handles some of these animals.

Secondly, they need to be registered before they enter the country. After the registration, they need to be shown areas where they can be confined to. They must not be allowed to go anywhere in the country and do as they wish. We need to regulate the movement of these animals.

Part of the veterinary regulations refers to livestock movement permits. Before an animal is moved from one area to other, the owner of that animal must have a livestock movement permit. All these regulations are not being enforced and that is why we are having some of the problems we are having today.

In my mind, I think the District Assemblies, especially in the northern areas of the country need to sit with the landowners to plan areas where such Fulani herdsmen can graze their animals. We need to determine these areas and confine them into those areas.

We need also to determine the numbers of livestock that can be permitted in every district through this Fulani livestock movement and we do not need to have more population of animals than the carrying capacity of the land, otherwise it results into soil erosion, loss of soil fertility and other related matters.

Madam Speaker, I think that our Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Food and Agriculture and the security agencies also have a role to play in solving this problem.

I agree that we have an E C O W A S protocol which creates the framework for regulating the movement of such animals. But I think that beyond that, we need
Mr. S. K. B. Manu (NPP - Ahafo Ano South) 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to contribute to the Statement made by the Hon Member for Bole/Bamboi.
Mr. G. K. B. Gbediame 12:10 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, he never said that they started coming in during the PNDC era. He said, during the PNDC era there was an “Operation Cow-Leg”, which tried
to control the movement of these cattle in the country, not that it was during the PNDC era that the animals came into this country.
Mr. Manu 12:20 p.m.
I would not want to go into that one, because we are both saying the same thing then -- [Interruptions.] What I am saying and what the Hon Member said was that, during the PNDC days the Fulanis were coming and that led to “Operation Cow-Leg” and I am saying that even before the PNDC days the Fulanis were coming. [Interruptions.] I am not talking about “Operation Cow-Leg”. What I am saying is that they coming down to Ghana and the south of the Sahara is not considered an alien territory as he called them “Alien Fulani Herdsmen”.
This issue was raised at the ECOWAS Parliament and members from those countries where these herdsmen come, told us that their people do not consider Ghana, Burkina Faso and other place as alien territories. They consider them as part of their territory because long before independence their grandfathers used to follow that trajectory with their herds of cattle. So the children growing up and taking over the rearing of the cattle follow those routes that their grandfathers used.
Hence when you call them “alien herdsmen”, they do not accept that. But they do not also say that we should not regulate their activities. This is what brings in a political statement -- what was made sometime, that there is no alien in this country. So I want to re-visit that and say that we should not be calling them “Alien Fulani Herdsmen”. We can say “Fulani Herdsmen”, simplicita, so that we do not enter into those areas of either somebody is alien or not alien, because that fact has been established.
Madam Speaker, I see this problem
to be a problem that cannot be solved by one sector. It is a multi-sectoral activity that can arrest the problem and by this I mean the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Environment must come together and liaise with their foreign counterparts outside and our Heads of State, the Presidents, at their Heads of State summit to bring up this matter for discussion at that level so that we would all see the problem as a problem engulfing the sub-region.
This is because at the ECOWAS Parliament, we have come to designate some countries as countries that have the potential of producing food enough for the sub-region and Ghana is one.
If you take a country like Niger, because of the weather conditions there, they cannot have the potential to produce enough food. But if we who have that potential to produce the food to feed Ghanaians and even those outside through exports are not allowed the environment to produce the food and these animals come from those areas to destroy the food we are producing here, which would eventually benefit people in those countries where they do not have the potential to produce food, then we shall be contributing indirectly towards the food shortages in the sub-region. So it must be tackled multi- sectorially so that we can find a lasting solution to this problem.

Madam Speaker, as we talk about the Fulani herdsmen and their cattle devastating the lands and the crops in the North, let us talk about what happens in Accra city. I witnessed a spectacle one day around Opeibea traffic light. There was a troop of cattle. In fact, they did not
Mr. Manu 12:20 p.m.


have anybody following them and the bull amongst them turns to be their master.

What it does is, it comes in the middle of the road and automatically blocks traffic and it gives a sign to the others and they would all cross before he moves ahead. I have witnessed this and I have studied that bull on more than four occasions. [Interruptions.] [Some Hon Members: Eh, eh!] -- People are saying eh, eh! Have they not met them around that area? [Interruptions.] If they have not, I have and I have studied them because I have interest in -- [Interruption.]
Mr. Joe Ghartey 12:20 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I hope that my Hon Colleague would not think that I am interrupting him. But he asked a question, “Have I not met them?” I want to answer him, “No”, I have not met them. I stay at East Legon and I pass there everyday; I have not met them. So if he can give me the time and so on, I would try and see them tomorrow.
Mr. Manu 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the time is when he was in the Ministry of Justice and was not coming out; that was the time. When we were moving around he was in the Ministry; that is the time. [Laughter.]
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I do not see the reason for my Hon Colleague, the Hon Member for Esikadu/Ketan, to doubt what the Hon Balado Manu is saying.
Madam Speaker, I can attest to the proficiency of Hon Balado Manu in the
English Language. He chose his words very carefully. He did not describe the cows as a herd of cows; he said a troop of cows and who can dare him in this enterprise? [Laughter.] Madam Speaker, I can vouch for Hon Balado Manu that what he is saying is correct.
Mr. Manu 12:20 p.m.
I used the word “troop” because if they are moving, they move like soldiers -- [Laughter.] That is why one would come in the middle of the road, block the road for others to cross. If you have any experience with the military going to war -- [Interruptions.] Oh, yes. If they want to determine where the enemy is, they allow one soldier to run across and if he is shot then they would know where the enemy is. In fact, this is military tactics; oh, yes. So that big bull acts like their master and that is what it does. So if we are concerned about - [Interruption.]
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 12:20 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, if Hon Balado Manu is insisting on this description, is he trying then to say that the cows were armed? [Laughter.]
Mr. Manu 12:20 p.m.
I would say yes. [Laughter.] They are armed with their teeth and tongues and horns and they can do damage to anybody who interrupts them with their horns, and when they get to your land and to your crops, they do damage with their teeth and tongues just as a military man would do damage to you with the gun. So in that perspective, they are fully armed.
Madam Speaker, my point is that we are talking about the Fulani herdsmen who operate in the northern part of our country, fair enough. Let us talk about our herdsmen who rear cattle in the city of Accra, the Millennium City, leave them unaccompanied and they have the potential of causing accidents around the Opeibea Traffic Light. Madam Speaker, I believe that we must begin to see the
Mr. G. K. Arthur (NDC -- Amenfi Central) 12:20 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for allowing me to add my voice to the Statement made by the Hon Member.
Madam Speaker, I think the most painful aspect of life is not being shot or being imprisoned or amputated but being raped. What I see is that, some of these women who go through this mess, raping, in fact, it haunts them for life and sometimes when you look at the type of man who is going to rape you, you look at the structure, the smell --[Inter- ruptions.] I am not a woman so I have not experienced it but in my own genuine opinion or when I put myself in their shoes I can see it is very painful and Madam Speaker, you can bear me out -- [Uproar.]
Madam Speaker, if you have ever experienced this -- [Interruptions] Sorry, Madam Speaker. What I am saying is that any woman who has ever experienced this can attest to it that it is very painful; it haunts you for life. It is not a one-day show where you have to forget the next day. For life, you can never forget about it.
Madam Speaker, what I am saying is that our frontiers have become so porous that anybody just enters our country, comes and does anything. They do not reciprocate the good hospitality which we give to them. They just come, you give them the best of your service and they pay you back in the devil's coin.
Let us look at these Chadians who came. For so many years, these Chadians have invaded our streets, going begging. You cannot tell whether they do not have
any job to do -- the numerous employ- ments that are existing -- they will not go anywhere, they only beg.
Mr. J. B. Aidoo 12:20 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, the rules of this House demand that we speak to relevance.
The issue is about Fulani herdsmen, and I will want to crave the indulgence of my Hon Member from Amenfi Central to speak to the issue and not indulge in matters about Nigerians coming to Ghana, and then streetism. These are not the issues before us at the moment. So he must speak to the Statement.
Mr. G. K. Arthur 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I think I was on line with the Statement because -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
I think he has a point there.
Mr. G. K. Arthur 12:20 p.m.
Yes. Madam Speaker, thank you very much.
These Fulanis are not Ghanaians. Some are from Niger, Burkina Faso and the neighbouring countries and I was talking about those strangers who enter the country and do anything they like. That is why I was mentioning Nigerians and the Chadians.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Let us leave the
names out.
Mr. G. K. Arthur 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker ,
thank you. Then I withdraw the mentioning of the Nigerians and the Chadians.
What I am saying is that there are
Mr. Ghartey 12:30 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, even though he has withdrawn the names and we are grateful for that, we must be careful not to fan xenophobia. Indeed, to say that they are nationals who enter the country and do anything they like -- Ghanaians also enter other countries and do anything they like. There are Ghanaians who break the law; there are non-Ghanaians who break the law in Ghana and outside Ghana.
I believe that, especially in this era of globalization, the global village where we are trying to live as one people, especially in West Africa where it is imperative for Ghana to expand its frontiers -- our companies today are operating in Sierra Leone. Regimanuel is operating in Liberia. People from Sierra Leone are coming to hospital here. When somebody gets sick in Sierra Leone Parliament, he comes to Korle-Bu. Our heart centre is one of the best in West Africa - the foremost in West Africa. So we must be very careful.
Our school -- when you go to Ghana International School, Galaxy and so on, there are people coming to our universities. So, in fact, the benefit of ECOWAS, the benefit of us recognizing the rights and liberties of other people are even much, much greater than the little problems that we face. Xenophobia is very dangerous. At least, xenophobia is what led to the killing of six million Jews and indeed the holocausts was celebrated yesterday or two days ago.
So much as we have identified this
Mr. G. K. Arthur 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the best comes from the West but indeed the worst goes to the West. [Laughter.]
Mr. Ghartey 12:30 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, this “Worst comes from the West” is a new statement and I am sure that if the people of Western Region hear it they would not be too happy. I only know that in the Western Region, we say that “The best comes from the West.” “The best goes to the West.” We do not know about the “worst that comes from the West”.
Mr. G. K. Arthur 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, let me go to the point that he has raised.
The problem with these Fulanis is not only associated with the Northern Region alone. Even in the Western Region where we did not see these cattle which were not common then, nowadays we see them. In fact, the only animals that we mostly saw in the Western Region were sheep and goats. But these days even the sheep and the goats were not going to the farms.
These days these Fulanis have trespassed and brought their cattle even to the Western Region, destroying cocoa, maize and coffee farms. So I think it is not only a problem which is associated with the Northern Region. If any action is being taken on these cattle or the Fulanis, I think they must extend it to other parts of the country to make sure that these Fulanis
do not take the law into their own hands.
Madam Speaker, with these few words, I support the Statement.
rose
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Well, I will be
calling you but if you could be short. We have a lot on the list.
Mr. Adamu Daramani-Sakande (NPP -- Bawku Central) 12:30 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Statement by the Hon Member for Bole/Bamboi.
It appears the issue of Fulani herdsmen is bothering on xenophobia, bigotry and prejudice from most of the statements that I am getting and even in the media of late. It is very important that, as we make Statements in this House, we are very, very cautious, particularly in this era where these kinds of sentiments have led to incalculable damages across the sub-region.
It is very clear and everybody who is aware of that particular group of herdsmen would know that some of them are being put basically in charge of cattle belonging to Ghanaian businessmen, some of them even politicians - [Interruption.] -- I could provide if you want me to.
When you make such sweeping statements about nomads, basically people of nomadic origins who historically have moved across the West African sub- region, that being their lifestyle and you look at the history of people who have been nomads in the persecution that they have undergone under various regimes all across the world, one would be very cautious.
I would implore this House that references to the Fulani herdsmen who may not necessarily be Fulanis anyway -- We should be very cautious. In making that Statement, let us pay particular attention to the statement that was made by the Hon Member for Essikadu/Ketan (Mr. Joe Ghartey) that, it is very important that we do not stoke these flames in an era with passionate issues such as involving criminal activities by a sub-section of a particular group.
Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to associate with this Statement.
Mr. Felix Twumasi-Appiah (NDC -- Sene) 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I also wish to associate myself with the Statement ably made by my Hon Colleague and in doing so I want to tow the line the Hon Member who spoke last has taken.
I do necessarily think that most people in Parliament here who have a problem with these Fulani men necessarily do any in-depth investigation before certain comments are made on the floor of this House. An impression should not be created as if these Fulani herdsmen are just flying in some aircraft and land here without anybody seeing them.
Madam Speaker, they come even through certain approved routes and owing to the ECOWAS convention of free movement of persons and goods, our law enforcement agencies, mindful of that convention, most invariably allow them to enter here And like he rightly put it, most of these cattle, I can confirm, are not almost always for them. Some of them come here seeking for greener pastures like we also do in other countries and then come and take care of the cattle of some of our prominent businessmen which I think my Hon Colleagues are all aware of here.
Madam Speaker, they also do not come here, even if they come with their own
Mr. Felix Twumasi-Appiah (NDC -- Sene) 12:30 p.m.


cattle, just appropriate to themselves the lands and other areas that we are talking about to go and feed their cattle.

Madam Speaker, it is on record that even most of our prominent chiefs will call them and take something from them. Some of them even pay royalties to these chiefs or for these lands that they operate on. So we should not be making sweeping statements.

I think that as Hon Members of Parliament, what we can do, and I may have problems of this nature in my constituency, is to look at the root cause of some of these problems. This is because if even a Fulani herdsman comes here and a sub-chief or a chief could give him land and take royalties from him, what you are doing is you are legalizing the so-called illegalities here in this country.

So I believe that as Hon Members, we have what it takes as members of our various District Assemblies and as members of our respective communities to look into some of these matters well and ensure that, at least, we bring some sanity but not to stand aside and then “demonize all of them” when we know that some of them will come here and take care of cattle that belongs to some prominent people in society.

There are some of these jobs that our own community members may not want to do for lack of knowledge or for lack of appreciation and some of these people come here and assist us to do these jobs.

So Madam Speaker, I want to support what my Hon Colleagues said that we should not be making blanket statements, by saying that all Fulani herdsmen enter here illegally. Some of them come through the approved ways, come to seek for employment and some of them are

even legalized here by payment of dues, royalties and what have you to our chiefs or elders to allow them to operate in this country.

I want to also add to the appeal by the Hon Member who made the Statement that we should also approach the security agencies and ensure that if there are any lapses, if the so-called herdsmen are using unapproved routes, they tighten their belts and ensure that, at least, people do not just enter here when they do not deserve to be here or when they are not properly checked.

Madam Speaker, with these few words, I also want to associate myself with the Statement.
Dr. Kofi Asare (NPP - Akwatia) 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to associate myself with the Statement made by my Hon Colleague from Bole/ Bamboi.
Madam Speaker, the destruction of farmland by cattle is not only limited to these Fulani herdsmen. In Ghana, there was a time when cattle was mainly reared in the North. But as we move in the country, in Eastern Region, Brong Ahafo and the forest areas, it has become a habit. It is now a phenomenon that we get a lot of cattle being reared in these forest areas. The destruction that they are causing to farms in these areas is great and it is something that we should be looking at.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture should have a look at rearing cattle in our forest areas because those of us who are doing a bit of farming in those areas are suffering. These cattle are not owned, I believe, by Fulanis but Ghanaians who cannot find pasture in these areas. This is because the North, I believe, is getting a bit drier to be able to feed the amount
Dr. Kofi Asare (NPP - Akwatia) 12:40 p.m.
of cattle we have there and so they are moving down South.

Until some definite and deliberate action is taken, we are going to have a situation where our farmlands will be destroyed not by Fulani cattle, but by cattle owned by Ghanaians. I believe it is time that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture took a policy as to where we can rear cattle in this country, and how much can be contained on a certain area so that our forests and our farms are protected.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Thank you. Hon
Members, I thank you, especially Hon Saaka for the Statement. Hon Members have made useful and important contributions and the feeling I get is that we refer this matter to the appropriate authorities for investigation and necessary action.
If I am correct, I hereby direct that the Statement made by the Hon Member and comments made thereon be brought to the urgent attention of the Hon Ministers for the Interior, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and Food and Agriculture for investigations and appropriate action.
Thank you.
Hon Members, this brings us to the end of Statement time and we move to Commencement of Public Business -- Laying of Papers --
Hon Member, laying of papers, item 5. Yes, is it coming on? [Interruption] -- Yes. So item 5 (i).
PAPERS 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Members, are we going on with item 6?
Mr. E.T. Mensah 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, items 6 and 7 are to be stood down since they are not ready. [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
I tem 8 --
Committee sittings.
Mr. E.T. Mensah 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, Committee sittings -- I therefore beg to

move, that this House stands adjourned till tomorrow at ten o'clock in the forenoon.

Thank you very much.
Mr. Joe Ghartey 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 12:40 p.m.