Debates of 26 Feb 2010

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:30 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 24th February, 2010.
Pages 117 --
Hon Members, in the absence of any corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 24th February, 2010 is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
We move to the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 25th February, 2010 -- Corrections --
Pages 1 6 -
Mr William O. Boafo 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, page 6, paragraph (5). I notice that among the entourage of Her Ladyship the Chief Justice, was an Appeal Court Judge, Mrs. Henrietta Abban. But here it is stated that Her Ladyship the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court. So I would like to draw the Table Office's attention to that.
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Was it not Justices of the Supreme Court?
Mr Boafo 10:30 a.m.
No, it is stated here: “Justices of the Supreme Court”, not “Superior Courts”, because there was a Court of Appeal Judge.
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
All right. Except
that the whole court, system is the Supreme Court, is that not it?
Mr Boafo 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think in the Supreme Court you cannot invite -- to sit in the Supreme Court.
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
What I was saying was that, normally, we call the whole court system the Supreme Court and probably, that covers the Justices who came.
rose
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
What do you think, Hon Member for Sekondi?
Mr Boafo 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we call it the Supreme Court of Judicature but here, it is Supreme Court; that is the court itself, not the entire -
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
So you want us to put: “Justices of the Superior Courts”? What is the correction?
Mr Boafo 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the correction is that the attendance of an Appeal Court Judge should be reflected.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as far as this House is aware, those who attended yesterday's delivery of the Message on the State of the Nation by the President were the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court. [Interruption] Well, that is what he is saying, I am not aware.
Prof. Mike A. Oquaye 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, basically, we speak of Superior Courts and Inferior Courts; that distinction makes life easy for everybody and the “Inferiors” are the Magistrate and Circuit Courts. Then from High Court, you belong to the “Superior” and there are a number of consequences which of course,
lie in the bosom of My Lord with regard to this.
So if there were Superior Court Judges, we should simply use that and save ourselves unnecessary trouble, because my Hon Friend has identified somebody who did not belong to the Supreme Court. So if we use “Superior Court of Judicature”, we are safe. I believe that would save us a lot of trouble.
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Before the Leader Speaks, I do know that our invitation cards go to the Supreme Court Judges, because there is lack of space for all the judges. So if one Appeal Court Judge comes; well maybe, he was using the Supreme Court's invitation because we have a limited number of seats and that is why we always send to the Supreme Court Judges --
Yes, Leader?
Mr Cletus A. Avoka 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I entirely agree with you. The practice is that we invite the Chief Justice and Supreme Court Judges. Now, if for any reason, any other Superior Court Judge comes, High Court or Court of Appeal -- fortunately for us, we do not indicate the names of the personnel who come. So we still presume that they are coming under the canopy of Supreme Court Judges. So we just indicate that the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court.
Dr A. A. Osei 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the
idea of correcting this is to reflect the fact and the fact is that an Appeal Court Judge was in this House. We cannot deny that.
All he is saying is that, instead of saying Justices of the Supreme Court, there was an Appeal Court Judge - so if you use “Superior” then it will reflect the full facts. What is the problem with that? We cannot deny the fact that one Appeal Court Judge was here. [An Hon Member: We did not see.] We did see. Maybe, your eyes were closed. We did see.
Madam Speaker, we should be accurate to reflect what happens in this House. If we did not catch something that occurred and he is correcting it, I think we should be transparent enough. What is wrong with that? This House should reflect what actually happened? “Superior” will cover the problem.
Mr Joseph Y. Chireh 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, since I entered Parliament and every year that we had this occasion, I see from the High Court upward to the Supreme Court Judges file and sit there. What is the practice for us in the House? Are we inviting Superior Court Judges or only Supreme Court? You cannot restrict it to Supreme Court because you are inviting Judges to be part of this.
If the Chief Justice decides that all High Court Judges or Appeal Court Judges should join her and they are here, we must reflect that in our Votes and Proceedings because other Superior Court Judges were here. If it is a practice in this House that other Superior Court Judges come here, we should not today limit it to the Supreme Court, that I think will be wrong.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, on formal occasions, this House invites the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court. We never invite Justices of the Superior Court generally. So if we are talking about practice, it is the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court. If for any reason, the Chief Justice decides to let one or two non-Supreme Court
Justices appear with her or him, fine. But as far as this House is concerned, they appear as Justices of the Supreme Court. That is the point.
Mr Avoka 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I entirely
agree with the submission by the Hon Member for Sekondi. The practice is that, we invite the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court Judges. If for any reason a High Court Judge or a Court of Appeal Judge comes, as I said, they are not officially invited, they just accompanied the Chief Justice. So that is why we do not indicate names of the Judges.
We cannot be faulty because nobody can say that Justice ‘A' attended, he is a High Court Judge, but we did not acknowledge that. We do not acknowledge the attendance of High Court and Appeal Court Judges. So the practice is that the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court. That is all. I pray that we do not over-stretch this matter because that is the practice.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Except that Hon Boafo was looking at the wording of paragraph 5 which says that
“Her Ladyship the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court attended to the House”
and he is saying it was not only Justices of the Supreme Court who attended. That is my problem. Is that not it, Hon Boafo?
Mr Boafo 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, precisely so. I am not asking for correction of what is the practice. I am asking for the correction of what actually happened in the House yesterday. The practice may be there but what actually happened in the House yesterday was the fact that it was not Supreme Court Judges alone who attended to the House but Mrs Justice
Henrietta Abban, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, was among the Justices who came yesterday.
Mr Stephen K. B. Manu 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, let us bring this debate home. We normally invite Ministers to come and answer Questions. If a Minister is unable to come and his Deputy comes, in the Votes and Proceedings, it is stated who actually appeared to answer the Questions.
So if the practice is that we invite Supreme Court Judges and yesterday, for some reasons unknown to us, somebody else who is not a Supreme Court Judge appeared, what is wrong for us to state that ‘X' was with the Supreme Court Judges? I do not see anything wrong with that. We are correcting what actually took place and not what should have been the case.
Mr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the House invited the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court Judges and they attended. The House, for example, has invited the Minister to answer Questions. He has come with his Chief Director and technical people. We do not write the proceedings of the House and include them as being in attendance.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Order! Order!
Mr Pelpuo 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, if they are here as strangers, you do not go and write them in the proceedings or else we should go back and record the names of all the security people who came there, guarding them, including the Chief Directors and others and that will be cumbersome. So Madam Speaker, let us allow the convention to go on. We have
established convention here, let it go on.
Prof. Oquaye 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, respectfully, an invitee is not coterminous with attendee. The person invited is not necessarily always the same as he who attended or she who attended. When you are recording minutes, and in fact, this is minutes, you really report on the actuals, not on what was supposed to be.
Assuming the Chief Justice is invited, in her absence, we know that the most senior Judge of the Supreme Court acts and if at that time she is not able to come, shall we record in our Votes and Proceedings - we should report who actually attended, in what capacity? This is the fact about minutes and that is why I say in recording minutes, you record actuals and an invitee is not coterminous with attendee.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Member, what about the correction? That brings us to what to put. “Her Ladyship the Chief Justice and Justices of the Superior Courts”, is that what you were advocating?
Prof. Oquaye 10:40 a.m.
Yes. And all lawyers here know that distinction. So if we say Superior Courts, we are free because that was the reality and the actual.
Mr Avoka 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we did not invite Justices of the Superior Courts, that is the fact. We invited Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court. Madam Speaker, you invited Chairmen and General Secretaries of various parties. I remember the Chairman of the NDC was sitting behind the General Secretary. Have we indicated here that the Chairman and General Secretary of the NDC, Dr Kwabena Adjei and Asiedu Nketia were present because they were sitting there. The former President of Ghana, H.E. J.J .
Rawlings was in the Public Gallery. Did we include here that the former President was there, even though we invited him officially? Let us maintain our convention, the “Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court”, finished.
Mr Charles. S. Hodogbey 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, actually, we are not supposed to record everybody who attended yesterday's function because the Chief Justice even came with her aide-de- camp. Are we saying we should also record the name of her aide-de-camp? All the various High Commissioners and Ambassadors who came, do we have to record all of them? So what the Minority is saying cannot be taken.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
I am sorry, the last sentence. So what was your conclusion?
Mr Hodogbey 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, yesterday, different groups of people were invited. The Chief Justice came with her aide-de-camp but her aide-de-camp was not recorded here. The various groups of people who were invited could not be recorded, therefore, to differentiate whether a High Court Judge was among the people -- the discretion as to who the Chief Justice should invite is left to her. We do not have to differentiate who came and who did not come.
Dr A. A. Osei 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, with respect, I do not know whether Hon Members are tired from yesterday's Session or not. I am surprised that we are splitting hairs over truth. In the programme, we were asked to rise when the Chief Justice and her entourage came in. It is a fact. We used the word “attended”. An Appeal Court Judge was part of the Chief Justice's entourage. Changing the word “Supreme” to “Superior” attests to what actually happened. I am surprised the Majority Leader is talking about NDC
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
I think the correction is in order. Let us put “Superior Courts” to cover all the people who came because Supreme Court Judges are Superior Court Judges. We correct that by putting Superior Courts. Any other correction on page 6?
Page 7. . .
Mr Boafo 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, page 7, paragraph 8, line 2. The word “state”, the first letter “s” is not in capitals. I am asking for correction for consistency of expression. Paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 are consistently maintained. “State”, capital “S”.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Paragraphs 8, 9 and 10.
Mr Boafo 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, paragraph 8, the expression “state” starts with a small “s” but if you come to paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12, they have used the correct expression capital ‘S'. So for consistency of expression, I am asking for correction on paragraph 8.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
I think you are right. So we put capital “S” in paragraph
8.
Page 8.
Mr Evans Paul Aidoo 10:50 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, sorry to take you back to page 6. Number 4, under item 4. I was present yesterday and my name has been listed
among those who were absent.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes, you were here. Clerk, take note.
Mr Moses A. Asaga 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, again, page 6, number 8, I was in attendance but I have been marked absent. My name is there as absent but I was present. Moses Asaga and then Mr John Tia who is taller than me was also here but his name is absent. [Laughter.]
Mr John Gyetuah 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the same page 6, number 2. Hon Edward Doe Adjaho, he was here. I am talking about Mr First Deputy Speaker, but he has been marked absent. Yesterday, he was here.
Dr Matthew O. Prempeh 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think Madam Speaker noticed my good presence in this Chamber yesterday. [Laughter.] I am not asking a question, I am stating a fact. Madam Speaker noticed my goodself here yesterday and I do not know how come my name -- when His Excellency was giving the State of the Nation Address, I have been listed as absent. I need your help, so it may not be said that I refused to attend His Excellency's speech. I was here.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
To be noted, please, Clerk.
Mr James K. Avedzi 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, page 6, item 13. Hon Joe Gidisu, Minister for Roads and Highways was present yesterday in the House but he has been marked absent.
Dr Prempeh 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, Hon
K. T. Hammond was very, very much present in this House yesterday. I do not know -- Hon Barton-Odro -- NDC was here yesterday.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
There seems to be so many mistakes.
Mr Boafo 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the same page, paragraph 4 (12). Mr Fuseini Inusah, he was also present in the House but -
Dr Joseph Annan 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, going back to page 5 -- sorry to take you back. The following Hon Members were absent with permission. I distinctly saw Hon Juliana Azumah-Mensah, she was also here in a great kente cloth.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
I think I saw her. Noted.
Mr Evans P. Aidoo 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the same page 6, number 24. Hon Donald D. Soditey, Member of Parliament for Sawla/Tuna/Kalba was here. He was present but has been marked absent.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Noted.
Mr Iddrisu Sulemana Ibun (Baba) 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my name is spelt Iddrisu Suleman Ibun Baba. My status in this House has been changed but the House has not recognized changed status, I want to bring it to your notice. I attended the holy pilgrimage and that changes my status from the normal “Mr” to “Alhaji”. [Laughter.]
Madam Speaker, I have not finished. I am taking this opportunity to inform the House that I have dutifully performed the Hajj and my status has accordingly changed. I am now known as Hon Alhaji Iddrisu Sulemana Ibun (Baba).
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Clerk to note.
Dr Prempeh 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the
Hon Member of Parliament for Yendi - [Interruptions] - the Hon Member of Parliament for Yendi cannot be right. The people living in the Holy Land of Mecca are not called Alhajis when they even go there everyday. It is something
Dr Prempeh 11 a.m.


to do particularly with our West African sub- continent, that everybody who goes on the Hajj is called Alhaji. How many people living in Saudi Arabia who have performed the Hajj are called Alhajis?

So he has to write, Madam Speaker, to your goodself to consider it whether you will be gracious and magnanimous enough to consider that thought. It is not anywhere.

Thank you, Madam Speaker -- Have you gone to court to change your title?
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Well, I thank
Mr Pelpuo 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my Hon
Friend was of course out of order because he could not tell somebody who has announced his name that he was wrong. He has announced that he has acquired a new title and I agree with him that it is a practice in the West African sub-region and being a practice in the West African sub-region and we are within the West African sub-region, the Hon Member from Yendi is perfectly right.
He may have been right by saying that in order to officialise it the more, he could communicate to you officially by writing. Indeed, I agree that this House is also a very official channel by which we can communicate such ideas and he has officially and formally done that. So Madam Speaker, I think my Hon Friend from Yendi is right.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Well, I thank all
of you but everybody is entitled to what name they say they are entitled to. When it comes to titles, degrees and other things, we want a letter because then everybody can come here and say he is an Alhaji and even Dr Akoto can come and say he is an Alhaji - [Laughter] - and he may not be. So can he write? Because Professor
[Emeritus] wrote to us with evidence, so now we included it in his title.
So Hon Member for Yendi, write and prove to us that you are an Alhaji and then we will change it. [Interruptions.] I think we have finished this matter.
This House, if we have a topic, we can take days over it but we have a work schedule. So, can we move to another thing. I think the correction on page 6 was even finished.
rose
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Have you got a
correction on page 6?
Mr Gyetuah 11 a.m.
Yes, Madam Speaker.
That is on page 6, number 28, “Zigah Albert Kwesi”; he was present yesterday but as portrayed by my Hon Member, Dr Prempeh that Hammond Kwabena Tahir was here, he was not present yesterday. I met him just at the entrance and immediately the House was adjourned, I even enquired from him why he did not come - he was not here.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
I hear Hon Hammond was really not here.
Dr Prempeh 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I will
not like to engage in a battle of words with my Hon Friend. He claims truthfully he saw Hon K. T. Hammond, the lists that we bring here are not attendance in Chamber - they are attendance in Parliament and my Hon Leader who just left us, Hon A.S.K. Bagbin explains that Parliament includes the precincts and compound, and car park and even if Madam Speaker decides to convene under a tree - what are you telling this House? Have you read your Standing Orders? What is Parliament? Come again and come better.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, actually, the attendance is to reflect attendance in the Chamber; this is because Hon Members may just decide to go and sign downstairs and not engage in the business of the House. The practice is that it is attendance in the Chamber. That is why when sometimes some Members do not even sign, once they are in the Chamber, it is reflected. I am sure the Marshal's table takes account of all these. So in this case, the Hon Member is not actually right.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Fortunately, Hon
Bagbin is here. Can you help us with this? The attendance in the Chamber is what reflects here, is that so?
Mr A. S. K. Bagbin 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
thank you for the opportunity. Hon Dr. Prempeh referred to the Standing Orders where there is a definition about the precincts of the House or Parliament which includes the Chamber, the lobbies, the galleries and the grounds, that is the definition of Parliament. But when you are talking about the Votes and Proceedings and record of attendance, we have had some different views.
Some of us insisted that attendance of the House means attendance in the Chamber and that is what should be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings and it is so ruled by the late Rt. Hon Peter Ala Adjetey. Members later on fought gallantly to say that if you attend committee meetings and that is not in the Chamber, you are doing Parliamentary business and that it should be recorded as having attended the Sitting of the House.
That again got the support of the former Speaker Rt. Hon Sekyi Hughes. So these are the two positions but that became difficult because the Clerk-at-the Table had difficulty in recognizing those who attend parliamentary proceedings. So they had a problem in recording it and I
think that the proper thing to do is to talk about attendance in the Chamber, not at committees where some committees are sitting in Ada and some committees are sitting outside the country and how would you recognize that the person is attending parliamentary proceedings?
So I think that the attendance here should be a record of those who appear in the Chamber and is seen as participating in the proceedings in the Chamber, not committees and not the precincts of Parliament. So I support Hon Papa Owusu-Ankomah's position.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Boafo, before
I come to the Majority Leader because we must make a ruling on this today.
Mr Boafo 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I entirely agree with Hon Papa Owusu-Ankomah and the Hon Minister. To substantiate my support for them, it is clear that if you want to show anywhere that you were otherwise attending to parliamentary business and you were at a committee meeting and you produce the Votes and Proceedings as evidence, your name would appear in the Votes and Proceedings as a person who participated in a committee meeting.
So it is not necessarily the appearance of your name under the first pages that is evidence of your presence in the House. But I think that the presence in the House should be confined to the Chamber. This will encourage us to come to the Chamber and contribute meaningfully towards the business of this House.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Last word from the
Hon Leader on this matter. That is you, Hon Avoka.
Mr Avoka 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I entirely
Mr Manu 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, parlia- mentary work, in fact, it has been said and with your permission, I beg to quote --
“The worst MP you can ever have is that who is always glued to his seat in the Chamber.”.
That is the worst MP you can ever have.
Madam Speaker, parliamentary work is not - [Interruption.] Let me listen to Madam Speaker, please.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, because you were quoting, I thought you could help us with who said that. Or, was it your own -
Mr Manu 11:10 a.m.
I quoted myself. [Laughter.]
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Then carry on.
Mr Manu 11:10 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Parliamentary work is not only done in the Chamber. Parliamentary work is done within the Chamber and outside the Chamber. So if one comes to work and by virtue of the nature of his work that day, he is in a committee meeting and does not come into the Chamber, are we saying the person did not attend Parliament and therefore, his name should not appear as having attended Parliament? I, on this basis, disagree with the suggestion by the Hon Majority Leader that we should bring the attendance register into the Chamber.
It was not left at the Mails Room without reason, so let us maintain keeping it at the Mails Room so that you sign there and if you have any other assignment outside the Chamber, you can conve-niently go and perform it because parliamentary work is not restricted to the work done in and only in the Chamber.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, this is just to comment on a statement by the Hon Member for Ahafo Ano South.
Madam Speaker, yes, it is correct that committee meeting is part of parliamentary business. However, over the years, it has been emphasised that, you have to come into the Chamber and then leave for a committee meeting. Because of that, at a certain point in time, the Hon Member for Nadowli West would agree that we said that committee meetings should take place after adjournment. So, yes, it is appreciated.
However, we cannot stay in the Chamber throughout. Some of us may
be here for two or three minutes and leave, definitely, we have attended upon the business of the House, the Votes and Proceedings is the recording or minutes of proceedings in the House -- the Chamber.
As regards the attendance register, I am sure Leadership can discuss these matters and when they are agreed, they can have a further discussion with Madam Speaker on it.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
I do not know whether we should carry on. I have got the two sides. So let me look at the procedure -- the rules and rule now. We have got two rulings of former Speakers. One, we have been told by Hon Bagbin -- he said one thing, another said one thing and I am going to support one of them.
The register is marked by the Clerks in this House because Hon Members did not agree to sign any register, that is my information. So, the Clerks-at-the-Table produce names of people who come here, however short period of time they spend here, it is reflected. What is reflected in the Votes and Proceedings is supposed to be the facts of what happened.
Like was said before, that, in the House, we did correct it to say the Chief Justice came with people, not particularly Supreme Court. So, it is normally what happens in the House and that is, the list is taken from those who come to this House at all.
As for the people who are doing parliamentary work and had travelled to international conferences, they had permission. They have already asked for permission. Those who are not here for other matters also have asked for permission but this attendance reflects those who come to this House. We have a Supplement at the back which also reflects those who attend committee meetings and it is my view that we should keep it that way. We must record those who
come to this House and those who attend committee meetings after proceedings here to encourage us to come and join in debates.
I think, in this way, I will choose Hon Peter Adjetey's ruling, that you come here. If you do not come here, of course, you have permission to stay out and if you go to committee meetings, it is after you come here, so that it should reflect those who come here.
So the objection by the Hon Member that he did not see Hon K. T. Hammond in this House, means he was not in the House, so he was absent. Clerk to take note.
Shall we move on; have we finished with the Correction of the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 25th?
rose
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Is it on the Correction of Votes and Proceedings?
Dr Ahmed Y. Alhassan 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to correct an inaccuracy which was stated by the Hon Member for Manhyia (Dr Opoku Prempeh). In trying to correct the Hon Member for Yendi, he tried to create the impression that Hajj was performed by those who are in Saudi Arabia everyday. He used the word “everyday”. Hajj is not performed everyday by those who are in Saudi Arabia, but it is performed every year and it is about twice in a year -- the junior Hajj and the real Hajj. So that is just what I wanted to put on record.
rose
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Is it another correction?
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Member. I have taken note of your advice, thank you very much. In which case, shall we move on.
Hon Members , the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 25th February, 2010 as corrected is adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, we move to Correction of the Official Report of Thursday, 18th February 2010.
Any corrections? [Pause.] Hon Members, in the absence of
any corrections, the Official Report of Thursday, 18th February, 2010 is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.

Hon Members, in the absence of any corrections, the Official Report of Friday, 19th February, 2010 is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Mr Benito Owusu-Bio 11:20 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, in the Official Report of Friday, 19th February, column 1094, Question 385, “Mr Benito Owusu-Bio”, Madam Speaker, my name has been spelt wrongly. The “Owusu” is “u”at the end of it and not “Owuso”.
Thank you.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
To be noted, thank you. So we have finished with that.
Now, we have the Business Statement for the Week. Hon Majority Leader, can we have it?
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 11:20 a.m.
Chairman of the Business Committee/ Majority Leader (Mr Cletus Apul Avoka) 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Committee met
yesterday, Thursday, 25th February, 2010 and arranged Business of the House for the Sixth Week ending Friday, 5th March,
2010.
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:20 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Question(s)
Madam Speaker, the Committee has programmed the following Ministers to respond to specified Questions during the week:
No. of Question(s)
i. Minister for Roads and Highways
7
ii. Minister for Information
1
iii. Minister for Health
5
Madam Speaker, motions may be debated and thei r consequent ia l Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
Debate on the Message on the State of the Nation
Madam Speaker, a motion to thank H.E. the President for his Message on the State of the Nation, which H.E. delivered on Thursday, 25th February 2010, will be moved on Tuesday, 2nd March 2010 and the debate may continue on subsequent days during the week. Hon Members are therefore, urged to participate actively in the debate after the motion has been moved.
Madam Speaker, depending on the volume of business during the seventh week, beginning 9th March, 2010, the debate on the motion to thank H.E. the President for his Message on the State of the Nation may continue through the said seventh week.
Madam Speaker, in order to ensure that as many Hon Members as possible make their contributions, the Business Committee has recommended the following time allocations:
(i) Mover of motion = 20 minutes
(ii) Seconder of motion = 15 minutes
( i i i ) Other Hon Members = 10 minutes each.
Conclusion
Madam Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2), the Committee submits to this Honourable House the
Business of each Sitting and the order in which it shall be taken during the week.

Questions --

* 2 1 7 . N a n a A b u - B o n s r a (Fomena): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Akrokerri town roads will be re- constructed.

*218. Mr John Gyetuah (Amenfi West): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the road from Sureso to Samreboi would be tarred in view of the socio-economic potentials in the area.

*219. Mr John Gyetuah (Amenfi West): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Samreboi-Prestea highway would be tarred.

*221. Mr Frank Boakye Agyen (Effiduase Asokore): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the roads in the Sekyere East District capital will be improved to suit the status of the district capital.

*222. Mr Herod Cobbina (Sefwi Akontombra): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the re-construction of the Tano Bridge at Nsawora Edumafuan will commence.

*223. Mr Herod Cobbina (Sefwi Akontombra): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the wooden bridges on the following feeder roads in the Akontombra District will be replaced with concrete bridges: (i) Kabiesue, (ii) Kojobi, (iii) Ackaakrom, (iv) Abraham, (v) Atwakan.
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:20 a.m.
*224. Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto (Kwadaso): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the tarring of the following roads in the Kwadaso Sub-Metro in Kumasi will commence: (i) Kwadaso town, (ii) Nsema town, (iii) Apire town.
Statements
Laying of Papers --
(a) Annual Progress Report on the Implementation of the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy 2006 2009 for the year 2008.
(b) Annual Report of the Judicial Service of Ghana for the year
2008/2009.
(c) Report of the Auditor-General on IT Mapping Exercise at key MDAs, MMDAs and Educational Institutions between October 2006 and March 2007.
(d) Report of the Auditor-General on the Audit of the Information Technology Systems of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Co- operation and NEPAD.
Motions --
(a) Adoption of the Report of the Joint Committee on Finance and Roads and Transport on the Loan Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the African Development Fund for an amount equivalent to fifty-three million, five hundred and ninety thousand Units of Account
(UA53,590,000.00) [equivalent to US$80.35 mi l l ion] to partially finance the Awoshie- Pokuase Road and Community Development Project.

(b) That this Honourable House thanks H.E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to this Honourable House on Thursday, 25th February 2010.

Committee Sittings.

Questions --

*339. Ms Esther Obeng Dappah (Abirem): To ask the Minister for Information why Ghana Television's reception in Abirem and its environs is so poor and sometimes non- existent and what is being done to remedy the situation.

*349. Mr Stephen Yakubu (Binduri): To ask the Minister for Health when the Binduri Health Centre will be upgraded to a polyclinic or hospital. *446. Mr George Boakye (Asunafo South): To ask the Minister for Health when the Nobekaw and New Sawereso CHIP Compounds in the Asunafo South Constituency will be made functional.

*447. Mr Kwasi Ameyaw- Cheremeh (Sunyani East): To ask the Minister for Health whether actuarial analysis relating to one- time payment of insurance premium has been done and what were the findings.

*448. Mrs Elizabeth K. T. Sackey (Okaikoi North): To ask the Minister for Health when Achimota Hospital will be given an ambulance.

*458. Mr Justice Joe Appiah (Ablekuma North): To ask the Minister for Health when it would be expedient for a suitable polyclinic to be constructed to serve the constituents of Ablekuma North as well as others close by.

Statements

Motions --

Third Reading of Bills --

(a) Alternative Dispute Resolution Bill, 2009.

(b) That this Honourable House thanks H.E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to this Honourable House on Thursday, 25th February 2010.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Plants Bill, 2009.

Committee Sittings. Thursday, 4th March 2010

Questions --

*196. Dr Kojo Appiah-Kubi (Atwima Kwanwoma): To ask the Minister for the Interior what the Ministry is doing to assist the people of Nwenso I in the Atwima Kwanwoma District in the Ashanti Region whose houses and house roofs have been destroyed as a result of severe rainstorm.

*281. Mr Kofi Frimpong (Kwabre East): To ask the Minister for the Interior what measures the Ministry is putting in place to curb the current spate of armed robbery, car snatching, and murders in the Kwabre East Constituency.

*360. Mr John Agyabeng (Agona East): To ask the Minister for the Interior when the Divisional Police Headquarters building project at Agona Swedru would be completed.

*361. Mr Theophilus Tetteh Chaie (Ablekuma Central): To ask the Minister for the Interior what measures have been put in place to ensure improvement in the service conditions of the Ghana Police Service with regard to accommo- dation and remuneration.

*362. Mr Ernest Attuquaye Armah (Trobu-Amasaman): To ask the Minister for the Interior when a police station will be provided in the Oduman Ablekuma area of the Ga West District.

*363. Mr Justice Joe Appiah (Ablekuma North): To ask the Minister for the Interior what stringent measures the Ministry has initiated to bring to book the perpetrators of the innocent Ghanaians who were recently butchered in broad daylight at Agbogbloshie, a suburd of Accra.

Statements

Motions --

That this Honourable House thanks H.E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to this Honourable House
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:20 a.m.
on Thursday, 25th February 2010.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Intestate Succession Bill, 2009.

Committee Sittings.

Questions --

*234. Mr John Baloroo Doughr (Lambussie): To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when Piina Senior High School, Piina town and Karni town will be supplied with potable water.

*327. Mrs Catherine Abelema Afeku (Evalue Gwira): To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing if there is any plan to rehabilitate and/or re- construct the Axim sea defence wall.

*368. Mr Daniel Botwe (Okere): To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing what immediate plans the Ministry has put in place to ensure regular water supply to the people of Okere Constituency.

*369. Mr Robert Sarfo-Mensah (Asunafo North): To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when construction works on Mim-Feteagya drainage works will be completed.

*370. Mr Simons Addai (Techiman South): To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing what plans the Ministry has to expand the Tanoso Dam and extend water from the dam

to newly- developed areas of the Techiman Municipality.

*371. Mr Theophilus Tetteh Chaie (Ablekuma Central): To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing what measures the Ministry has put in place to ensure that the forceful ejection of occupants of the Nkrumah flats in Laterbiokorshie does not occur in the future.

*372. Mr George Boakye (Asunafo South): To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing what plans the Ministry has to solve the serious drainage problems facing the people of Kwapong in the Asunafo South Constituency.

Statements

Laying of Papers --

(a) Annual Report of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands for the year 2007.

(b) Annual Report of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands for the year 2008.

Motions --

That this Honourable House thanks H.E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to this Honourable House on Thursday, 25th February, 2010.

Committee Sitting.
Mr William O. Boafo 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, looking at the business schedule for Wednesday, 3rd March, on page 2, item 3 -- motions, Madam Speaker, we have listed for that day the Third Reading of Bills and the Bill in question is the
Alternative Dispute Resolution Bill, 2009.
Madam Speaker, we are yet to take the Consideration Stage of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Bill. So I think this needs correction before the Third Reading.
Mr Avoka 11:20 a.m.
I think it was quite presumptive that by Wednesday, next week, we would have completed the Consideration Stage. So depending on what happens on that day, we would advise ourselves. We take note of his intervention.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Members, I take it that the Business Statement as presented is adopted. We move to Questions -- Hon Minister for Educa- tion. The first Question stands in the name of Hon K. A. Twumasi, Member for Nkoranza South. Hon Member, ask your Question please?
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:30 a.m.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION 11:30 a.m.
Minister for Education (Mr Alex N. Tettey-Enyo) 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the construction of the 6-unit classroom block with 3-Seater KVIP toilet block each for Machinmabre D/A Primary and Nkoranza SDA Primary were awarded on contract to Messrs Mensah Bonsu Group Limited in April 2006 and were due for completion in January, 2007 at a contract sum of GH¢68,310 for each project.
Mr Twumasi 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister indicates that the delay was caused by several factors; he mentioned lack of accessibility which is debatable because for Nkoranza SDA Primary, the school is located in the district capital, very close to the main road, so I cannot see how that place can be inaccessible. For Machinmabre, maybe, one can understand, but then, what are the other factors that caused the delay of the execution of the two projects?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have not been to the site and the reports available indicate the content of the Answer I have given. We have taken the problems holistically and that is why we mentioned that there are several problems, and the most important one, is perhaps, the delay in paying for the projects. As I have indicated, the Ministry is looking for resources to complete the projects.
Mr Twumasi 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, it may interest the Hon Minister to know that the cumbersome nature of processing and mode of payment by BADEA actually influenced the delay and therefore, that
should guide him as the Hon Minister in charge of the Ministry. The next time that the Ministry is dealing with the BADEA funds, maybe, they would have to consider that. But I want to know from him when the BADEA contribution got exhausted.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, these events were events which took place in and around 2006. I will therefore, seek information and come back to answer this supplementary question.
Mr Twumasi 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am very interested in this BADEA-funded projects because, not only that two schools in my constituency were supposed to benefit, but we have a number of schools across the length and breadth of this country which are victims of such delay because of the mode of payment.
I would want to know from the Hon Minister if he would consider re-packaging such uncompleted projects in the Ministry - the documents are there to guide him to ensure that they are expeditiously completed so that the country can have the benefit.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Member is speaking from his rich experience as an Hon Deputy Minister for Education and therefore, I will accept his advice. The former Deputy Minister should know that I will accept his suggestion and work upon it, but he should know that we are in the new era with the strength to negotiate and re-negotiate.
Mr Theophilus T. Chaie 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, this project was supposed to have started in April 2006 and then completed in January 2007, the same person who asked the Question was then the Hon Deputy Minister for Education. I want to find out from the Hon Minister what accounted for the delay in this particular project.
Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Minister, he is asking you a question, do you know it?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have not got the answer right now.
Dr Francis B. Dakura 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister for Education whether the repackaging of such projects like the type my Hon Colleague from Nkoranza mentioned -- whether the repackaging of such projects and their completion would not be affected by the current state of the GETFund that we are told is on its knees.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, definitely, we would weigh the demand of this repackaging against the available funds as of now.
Mfensi D/A Primary School Block (Construction)
Q. 384. Mr Benito Owusu-Bio asked the Minister for Education when a new classroom block will be constructed for Mfensi District Assembly Primary School, whose existing classroom block has been destroyed by rainstorm.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the classroom block at Mfensi Primary School was hit by rainstorm about two years ago. Attempts by the District Assembly to secure funding from the Social Investment Fund to rehabilitate it did not materialize. The Ministry has inspected the damage to the building and considers it proper to re- construct the school block. The Ministry has, therefore, approved the award of contract to re-construct the school as an emergency project under GETFund funding.
Mr Owusu-Bio 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Minister says the award has been approved and that the school block would

be re-constructed as an emergency project. Madam Speaker, as we speak now, three classes, that is primary one, primary two, primary three, are attending classes in church buildings.

Madam Speaker, I put in this Question about 13 months ago and the Hon Minister is saying that they are now going to construct the school on an emergency basis. Madam Speaker, I want to know from him how soon would they start the construction.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Minister, he says, how soon?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, though the Question might have been asked several months ago, it was brought to my notice only recently and I have made enquiries and sent officials to inspect the project. As the Hon Member is saying, we need an urgent attention to the state of that school block, that is why we have approved the award and it will be duly awarded and the contractor would come to site to execute the job as soon as possible.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
No other questions,
can we move to the next Question, the same Hon Benito Owusu-Bio? Can you put your Question now?
School Projects in Atwima Nwabiagya Constituency
(Completion)
Q. 385. Mr Benito Owusu-Bio asked the Minister for Education why the following school building projects initiated in 2007 by the GETFund have not been completed:
( i ) Bokankye D/A pr imary (6-Classroom Block),
(ii) Amadum Adankwame D/A primary (3-Classroom Block),
(iii) Worapong D/A Primary (3-Classroom Block) (iv)

Abuakwa Roman Catholic JSS (3-Classroom Block).
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the construction of the 6-unit classroom block for Bokankye District Assembly Primary was awarded on contract to Messrs Albof Enterprise, Kumasi. The contractor started work in October, 2008 and was due to have completed the project by 30th June, 2009 at a contract sum of
GH¢69,987.25.
The project has been delayed mainly due to delay in payment for work done. The project has so far been executed to gable level and is now expected to be completed within four months.
With regard to the second project, the construction of the 3-unit classroom block for Amadum Adankwame District Assembly Primary was originally awarded on contract to Messrs Osokonoo Enterprise on 31st August, 2007 for completion within three months. The contract was terminated on 10th September, 2008 for non-performance and poor quality work.
The contract was subsequently re- awarded to Messrs Kin-Nakita Company Limited on 12th December, 2008 for completion within twelve weeks. The project has taken so long because of delay in payment for work done. However, the block work has been completed and the new expected completion date is 30th June, 2010.
The project for Worapong District Assembly Primary was awarded on contract to Messrs Ntoa-Agyei Construction Works in August, 2007 for completion within seven months at a contract sum of GH¢81,050.91. The project has been delayed mainly due to delay in payment for work done. The project has reached the roofing level. Efforts are being made to bring the contractor to site to complete it.
The project for Abuakwa Roman Catholic Junior School is being funded by the Department of Urban Roads as part of the rehabilitation and expansion of
the Sunyani road which necessitated the relocation of the school block. Information gathered by the Ministry indicates that the project would be completed by the end of March, 2010. The Ministry would monitor progress on the project to ensure its completion.
Mr Owusu-Bio 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he has kept on repeating himself. Under the first school block, he said that, and I quote:
“The project has been delayed mainly due to delay in payment for work done.”
Under (III), that one too:
“. . . the project has taken so long because of delay in payment for work done.”
Then the next one too,
“the project has been delayed mainly due to payment for work done.”
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Member, put your question now.
Mr Owusu-Bio 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, when is he going to pay them to enable them complete this work?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the GETFund is currently, as we are sitting here, meeting the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on reports arising out of this kind of what the Board described at a consultative/stakeholders forum held at Sogakope over the weekend referring to a kind of profligate spending --
[Interruptions] -- Yes, these are the words - “profligate spending by the GETFund during the years 2006 and 2007.
The Report is there, and the PAC is meeting the GETFund right now. I was even surprised that one single consti- tuency was given four projects around that time - [Interruptions.] So after the current repackaging of the utilization of expected revenue for the GETFund, these projects would be completed.
Mr Owusu-Bio 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want the Hon Minister to show us projects that were executed by GETFund that were profligate. Also I want the Hon Minister to indicate to us whether those schools -- [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Ask your question.
Mr Owusu-Bio 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, that is my question, please, whether those schools that have been mentioned here are not needy schools and whether those schools are not populated. Madam Speaker, Atwima Nwabiagya is a highly populated district in Ghana here, so it is wrong for the Hon Minister to say that one constituency -- [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Member, order! You are not supposed to debate the Hon Minister. Ask your question.
Mr Owusu-Bio 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am not supposed to debate but the Answer that came from the Hon Minister, especially as an Hon Minister for Education, was wrong - [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Member, you are out of order. The rules say you are not - Ask your question.
Mr Owusu-Bio 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I will ask my question. Madam Speaker, what the Hon Minister said, can I take it from him that he is no more going to continue the construction of these schools? Since he said that - [Interruptions.] Yes.
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
It is a question; he has asked you a question. Answer the question.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have not said that. I have indicated that as soon as the re-packaging of resources is completed and the formula put before this august House is approved, we would proceed in completing these projects. We are surely going to work on them; we have a responsibility to do that and we would do so.
rose
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Have you not finished your three questions? All right, put your last question.
Mr Owusu-Bio 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to know from the Hon Minister -- he mentioned profligate projects. Can he please, mention any of the profligate projects to us?
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
I thought he was quoting from a report. Did he not say that? Yes, Hon Member, he said the report used those words. So is that an answer to the question, which had already been posed? He had already said that the report even said that. So what is the question on it?
Mr Owusu-Bio 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am not privy to that report, that is why I am asking him. He said that there is a report which says most of the projects were profligate. So I want him to mention those - [Interruptions.] Yes, the spending is on the projects.
Mr Owusu-Bio 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, can the Hon Minister mention the profligate projects that were mentioned in that report, in his report?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I did not make mention of profligate projects. I referred to the expression of the report which was tabled at a consultative stakeholders' meeting at Sogakope over the last weekend, which indicated a period of profligate spending; and I repeat, profligate spending on the part of the GETFund. [Interruptions.]
Dr. Ahmed Y. Alhassan 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I wanted to ask the Hon Minister for Education whether he would consider liaising with the Hon Member who posed the Question to identify alternative sources of funding to complete those projects.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I would come out to meet the Hon Member for the two of us to find the way forward.
Mr Manu 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, since we in this House are not privy to the report that the Hon Minister referred to, could he tell us if the profligate spending mentioned in that report covered the schools mentioned in this Question?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:50 a.m.
I think the Hon Member is only doing an inference of the Question that has been put to the Hon Minister in asking that question. If that is the case, then I also believe that, these four projects awarded during that time were among the many projects awarded during the period which the GETFund could not pay for.
Mr S. I. Iddrisu (Baba) 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, in their attempt to harass the Hon Minister for Education, our Hon Colleagues from the other side are not being fair to themselves. They know that
- [Interruptions.] Yes, they are aware-
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Ask your question?
Mr S. I. Iddrisu (Baba) 11:50 a.m.
My question is that, who is behind the so-called excessive, kuluulu - [Interruptions] -- and profligate spending? Yes, kuluulu is dishonest spending. The report is there for everybody to see. Why are they trying to harass somebody for problems that he never caused? [Interruptions]
I am asking the question; who is behind this excessive expenditure leading to this so-called profligate spending; who was behind it?
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Who are you asking, the Hon Minister?
Mr S. I. Iddrisu (Baba) 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am asking the Hon Minister for Education to tell us who was responsible for all these profligate spending and kuluulu dishonesty?
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
But would he know? Anyway, Hon Minister, he is asking you a question, what is your answer?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think with your permission and indulgence, I can only provide an answer to the spending during that time; I do not think I would be party to other descriptions about the mode of spending. I do not want to be party to that. [Laughter.] The spending was done by the GETFund Administrator and his board of trustees during that time.
Mr Joseph B. Aidoo 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
before I ask my supplementary question, the Hon Member who asked the last question made certain -
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Well, I stopped that. I said he should just go on with the question.
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, with the greatest of respect - [Inter-ruptions.]
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
I think I stopped
all those things; I said, “go on with your question”. In other words, do not make a statement, and maybe, I would put that to you too. Ask your question.
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, for the purposes of the record, the words he used - [Interruptions.] Of course, I would ask my question. But you must know that -- [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Order! Order!
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:50 a.m.
When the atmosphere of this Chamber is fouled, we have to make sure that such foul is removed from the House. There are certain words which come out on the floor of the House and then pollute the entire Chamber. Madam Speaker, to say that kuluulu and - [Interruptions.] They are very unparliamentary; they should not even appear here. This House is a very respected House and we must all observe some level of decorum. Anyway.
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Member, do you not think that is why I stopped that line of arguing and -
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:50 a.m.
He went on repeating; so he should have withdrawn; that is the practice of this House. If you say anything that is offensive -
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
All right, we want it expunged from the record. Hon Member, -- [Interruptions] -- the said word kuluulu, I think was quite unparliamentary and so can you just withdraw those words?
12 .00 noon
Mr. S. I. Iddrissu (Baba) 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, with due respect to your Chair,

before I withdraw the kuluulu -- he used it, it means he knows the meaning. But Madam Speaker, I am withdrawing the word kuluulu even though I have not given meaning to it. But if I should withdraw it just from the abstract then I withdraw it. Otherwise, I was thinking that he would ask me to provide the meaning to the word kuluulu. If he would allow me, Madam Speaker, I could explain what kuluulu means.
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
I do not think
the impression that Ghanaians have of kuluulu, we need an explanation. But he has withdrawn that word. We do not want that word here. Kuluulu is not a parliamentary word and I accept your withdrawal. It should be expunged from the records.
Thank you.
Yes, ask your question now?
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:50 a.m.
My question is, what
aspect of the award of these projects in the Atwima District merits excessive spending as alluded to by the Hon Minister?
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Member, so
at that time, was he there as a Minister? You are asking him to tell you certain facts which - But if he knows, let us go to him, maybe, he knows.
Mr J.B. Aidoo 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Actually, he was
asked of his view and we do not normally ask for a Minister's opinion. But I let that question go because it was his opinion.
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.


Does he think that if this says this, then it is this, which were not real facts? So if we follow from an illegality and ask another - Ask another question. Put it in another way because he asked for his opinion. Opinion is not accepted from the Hon Minister but he did say it, and if we are going to proceed from there and use opinion evidence to ask further questions, then we are digging into the same quagmire.
rose
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Yes, Hon Akoto. I
will come to you, Hon Member.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, with
respect, I believe the Hon Minister knows better than that. He has been a Member of Parliament for a while. This report he is quoting from is not in front of us, so he should stay away from quoting the report, unless he is willing to give us copies so that we can refer to it.
So I think that he should withdraw that he is quoting from the report. That will be fair. Otherwise, he is disadvantaging all of us from participating in the Questions and Answers. As long as the report is not available to us, it should not be referred to. Those are the rules of the House.
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Minister, I
think, yes, there is a report but since it is not before the House, to quote from it and expect not to be engaged in the contents, is rather asking too much. So just stick to it that there was a report, which was discussed.
So I agree that if you tell us the facts of what is in the report, then they will ask you these questions and it is not before them. All you know is that there was a report which is being discussed, is that not it? Even then the Committee is still
looking at the report, is that not it? Have they finished looking at the report and they have held that it was that? The Public Accounts Committee is still looking at the report, is that not so?
So if they are still looking at the account, then you could mention a report. But do not let us go into the facts because we do not have them before us. We do not know what was said and to take your word only that profligate - Let us not stick to the report. Let us take it that there is a report. What they are asking is that you do not go into the details of the report they have not seen.
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
thank you and now to my question. Is the Hon Minister aware that these four schools are schools under trees? Is he aware and if he is aware, would he consider them?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am not aware.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 11:50 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, I know these were projects that were awarded in 2007, some meant to be completed within three months, others within seven months. In 2007, they were not completed; in 2008, they were not completed; in 2009, they were not completed. We are in the fourth year, 2010. I want to know from the Hon Minister what help he can give to save the situation for the interest of mother Ghana.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I
did not get the last part of the question.
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Member,
repeat your question.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
the question is this: These projects were awarded in the year 2007, some meant
to be completed within three months, others within seven months. In 2007; they were not completed. In 2008, they were not completed. In 2009, they were not completed. We are in 2010, which means, it has taken four years to complete projects that were meant to be completed within three months. What help can the Hon Minister give to complete this project to save mother Ghana?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the central point is whether steps are being taken to resume work on these projects and that has been indicated in my Answer in respect of all the projects.
What I will do may be to focus on the execution of these projects through my officials and ensure that the supervision, through the consultants is effective to make us now accomplish the construction that is awarded on these school projects.
Dr Prempeh 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, for
the four projects, the Minister said in the Answer, for the first project --
“The project has delayed mainly due to the delay in payment for work done.”
For the second project --
“The project has taken so long because of the delay in payment for the work done.”
For the third project
“The project has delayed mainly due to delay in payment for work done.
Madam Speaker, I am sorry to say that the same report that the Minister said profligate spending, which I agree with him, it may be, it is not his words. But that report also says that the current Government owes the GETFund GH¢80 million that it has not paid. This was for only 2009.
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Member, have we not finished? Hon Member, when you talk about a report, I think we have already said that we do not have this report here, so do not use a report which we have not got.
Dr Prempeh 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I thank you that you do not want us to go into that report.
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
It is not that I do
not want to go into that report. It is not right that we do not have a report here but both sides are using it. We have not got it before us. If you were wrong, how would we know?
Dr Prempeh 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
No, you are not.
Dr Prempeh 12:10 p.m.
The Ministry or for that matter, a government in power cannot be responsible for a contractor's inability to perform. Is the Minister saying that if the contractor does not perform on a contract awarded this year, I should use it to a benchmark for his level of efficiency? The Minister should come back and address Ghanaians and not provoke us - [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Are you attacking
the Hon Minister personally?
Dr Prempeh -- And not use words that
will endanger the harmony in this House. Please, Mr Minister --
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
I have not got your
question. Can you -
Dr Prempeh 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the GETFund is owed eighty million Ghana cedis, the District Assemblies Common Fund is owed two quarters, the National Health Insurance Scheme is owed one hundred and fifty million Ghana cedis. All 2009 arrears - [Interruption.] Madam Speaker - [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
I am constrained
to rule Hon Prempeh out of order. He is
Dr Prempeh 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am
asking a question. With such huge arrears outstanding, is the Minister standing by the Answers he has given, that the work could be completed in four months?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
the condition I laid as a premise for my Answer is that currently, we are undertaking re-packaging of the utilization process of GETFund resources, which will create the basis, stability of conservation of resources for release in payment of work done. And I hope if we succeed in doing so and bring out a credible formula for the utilization of the funds now, we will be able to accomplish the tasks ahead.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Last question.
Dr Osei 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, when does
the Minister intend to bring this formula to this House?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, as
soon as possible. [Laughter.] Before the House rises for the Easter recess.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Minister, do
you know when the House is rising for Easter?
Thank you.
We move to the next Question which stands in the name of Hon Ben Abdallah Banda, Offinso South. Honourable, put your question?
Namong Senior High School 18-unit Classroom Block
(Abandoned)
Q. 387. Mr Ben Abdallah Banda
asked the Minister for Education why
the 18-unit classroom block for Namong Senior High School has been abandoned.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the construction of the 18-unit classroom block was awarded on contract to Messrs Fred Unitrade Company Limited and the contractor started work in October, 2008. The project was scheduled for completion within twelve months at a contract sum of GH¢861,502.22. The project has been delayed for some time because the contractor could not mobilize enough funds to continue work on the project after he had brought work up to the floor level. The contractor has returned to site and the project is now expected to be completed by September, 2010.
Mr Banda 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister for Education, out of the contract sum, how much has been paid to the contractor.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I
have not got the figure here now.
Mr Banda 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in the
Minister's Answer he did indicate that the project was delayed for a while due to lack of funds from the side of the contractor. May I respectfully find out from him when the contractor returned to the site?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
my information is that he returned to the site a month ago.
Mr Banda 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in the Minister is saying that the contractor is scheduled to complete the work by September 2010. What measures is he putting in place to make sure that the contractor meets the deadline?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I expect that the contractor would work assiduously and that the work would be
supervised effectively, and that payment for work done will be made promptly.
Mr A. C. Ntim 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, may
I find out how much money has been paid to the contractor as mobilization?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I
have no information to that effect.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Thank you, Hon
Minister.
The next Question stands in the name of Dr Kojo Appiah-Kubi.
Can we move on then? Hon Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, Ablekuma Central?
New Abossey Okai Primary School -- Classroom Blocks
(Provision)
Q. 390. Mr Theophilus Tetteh Chaie asked the Minister for Education when new classroom blocks would be provided for the New Abossey Okai Primary School at Mataheko, since Government has committed itself to abolishing the shift system.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
the Ministry of Education has noted with concern, the negative effect of the shift system on teaching and learning in our schools and is taking steps to redress the situation. The shift system is basically due to the inadequacy of classroom infrastructure to accommodate the large number of pupils in the catchment area.
The system is mostly found in the urban centres where there are large populations of pupils and inadequate school infrastructure at the basic school level.
The Minis t ry i s developing a programme for phasing out the shift system.
The Ministry has also noted the efforts of some District Assemblies to help address this challenge and commends the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, in particular, which has indicated its desire to construct classrooms in schools with the shift system. This programme may cater for New Abossey Okai Primary School. Nevertheless, the school would be considered along the others in the implementation of the government policy.
Mr Chaie 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, apart from the challenge that this school faces, you have what we call encroachment on the school's land, dilapidated school blocks, activities of footballers and wee smokers, no toilet facilities and the school needs walling as well. It is very sad. Last year, I decided to spend my GETFund in providing toilet facility for the school.
As I speak to you now, the Sub-Metro has not given me the opportunity to carry on with the project. I want to find out from the Minister what he can do or the assurance that he can give me to ensure that this particular toilet facility is actually carried out.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker I am learning of the predicament for the first time. I will liaise with the Metropolitan Assembly and my Regional and District Education Officers to find a way of addressing the issue in the quickest possible time.
Mr Manu 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, talking
about abolishing of the shift system in our schools, could the Minister tell us how many schools in the country are in this category of schools?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the statistics are there. Unfortunately, I have not got the figures here. I need notice to provide the answer.
Mr Fritz Frederic Baffour 12:20 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, I will like to ask the Hon Minister what plans they have put in place to secure land for the construction of the enlarged classrooms to prevent the shift system. When that is going to be done, most of the pupils will not have a classroom while the construction is being done.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, development of the present site of the schools concerned is the primary motive. Where land should be acquired, the Ministry will surely liaise with the communities affected and their traditional authorities to facilitate the acquisition of land for the new structures that will be put up.
Mr Boafo 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I will like
to know from the Hon Minister when they are going to complete the development of a programme for phasing out the shift system and how long its implementation will take.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, how long the implementation will take place may be difficult to say now but we have the statistics. The statistics are available and we are working out the programme for the first phase, which should start this fiscal year.
Dr. Dakurah 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, to the
best of my knowledge, I am aware the school in question, in my Colleague's constituency has had 1,000 pupils for the past 10 years. Madam Speaker, I will want to find out from the Minister what can be done in the very immediate future to deal with the situation where there is not a single toilet facility that caters for the over 1,000 pupils.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the questioner is addressing a different issue. However, I have information to give to him, and that is, Government has a policy programme that the Ministry is working to implement with regard to the provision of toilet facilities in schools, where at the moment, we do not have these facilities, and when it comes to the implementation, schools in Accra and elsewhere will be catered for.
Maj (Dr.) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed
(retd): Madam Speaker, I will like to ask the Hon Minister whether there is space in the first phase of the programme for inclusion of the cluster of schools at Kanda, the cluster of schools at Nima, the cluster of schools at Maamobi, which are all in the East Ayawaso Constituency.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I
am not sure what proportion schools in Kanda and Nima make of the general pool of schools that will be catered for. But I am sure we will be fair, we will deal fairly with the schools in and around Nima and Kanda.
Mr A. K. Agbesi 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
the issue of shift in our schools is a basic one and I want to know from the Minister whether in an area where there is no land for expansion whatsoever, the Ministry will consider putting up storey buildings to house these schools in order to abolish the shift system.
I am referring to a situation in Ashaiman where we have l8 schools which run shift but have no area to expand. Will the Minister consider putting up storey buildings for such areas so that the children can attend school in those storey buildings?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I
thank the Hon Member for Ashaiman. The Ministry will take that into consideration.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Yes, Hon Members, we have finished with Question time.
Hon Minister, thank you very much for coming to answer our Questions.
There will be no Statements. We move to the Commencement of Public Business.
Hon Leader of the House, Laying of Papers.

Laying of Papers - item 6 (a) - Chairman of the Committee.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, as a
Ranking Member, I want to lay it on behalf of the Chairman.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
All right.
PAPERS 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Item 6 (c).
Mr Avoka 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, items 6
(c) is not yet ready to be laid. We will

take it on Tuesday.
Mr Boafo 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, we would
have like to make a comment on item 6 (c).
The Bill, Intestate Succession Bill, is a very fundamental law so far as our social structure is concerned, and we are afraid that enough publicity has not been given to this Bill to ask for inputs from the public. It is as equally important as the Right to Information Bill which apparently was laid but now it has been put in the public domain inviting memoranda from the public before we continue debate in this House.
We will like to urge the House to accept a proposal that further consideration by the public should be taken into account before the report is even laid in the House. A public advertisement, an advertisement in the public media inviting the public to submit memoranda to the relevant committee should be encouraged.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Leader, I think
it is in the right direction.
Mr Avoka 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the
Business Committee will take note of it and advise itself accordingly.
By the Chairman of the Committee -
Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their ammunition and other related materials.
Mr Cletus A. Avoka 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, this brings to an end the Business of the House for today. With your permission, I will beg to move, that we adjourn until Tuesday, 2nd March, 2010.
Mr W. O. Boafo 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, as the available Acting Minority Leader, I
second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 12:30 p.m.