Debates of 5 Mar 2010

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:45 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 4th March, 2010.
Pages 1,9 --
Prof. (Emeritus) S. K. Amoako 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, if you look at page 9, under “Opening,” the time is “9 10:45 a.m.
25 a.m.” and when you look at page 10, under No. 4, “Closing,” “The meeting was adjourned at 9.00 a.m.” If the meeting started at 9.25 a.m., they could not have adjourned at 9.00 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
No. So what is
the proper time of adjournment? How do we get the proper time of adjournment?
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think members of the Committee can tell whether they started before 9.25 a.m. or they adjourned after, maybe, 10.00 o'clock or something.
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Members of the
Committee, anybody here who attended? Yes, “In Attendance” -- Hon Abdul- Rashid Pelpuo, you attended -- he is not here. Mr. Robert A. Apodolla -- Clerk, your people attended -- what time did they close? [Pause.] I am informed 9.55 a.m. was the closing time. Hon Member, 9.55 a.m., is that all right? If there is no objection, it is 9.55 a.m. then.
Mr William O. Boafo 10:45 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, on top of page 11, “(xii) -- Alhaji Ibrahim Dey Abubakari”; the name appears twice under the row of “Members in Attendance”, on page 10, the same name appears as (xii).
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Yes, that is true.
Mr Boafo 10:45 a.m.
The same page 11, Madam
Speaker, at the bottom, “(xxi) -- Mr John Aidoo, representing Kafui & Associates, External Auditors”. Madam Speaker, it is a bit misleading, “External Auditors” of where, the Parliamentary Service, or any of the bodies which attended to the Committee? It is misleading, so if it could be corrected, their true representations made clear.
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Yes, Clerk to note. So we cross out one of the “Alhaji Ibrahim Dey Abubakaris” It is the same person, is it not?
Mr Boafo 10:45 a.m.
I think so, Madam
Speaker.
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Clerk to note.

Votes and Proceedings of Thursday,

4th March 2010 as corrected is adopted as the true record of proceedings.

Hon Members, we move to the Business

Statement for the week.

Hon Majority Leader?
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:55 a.m.
Majority Leader (Mr Cletus A. Avoka) 10:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Committee met yesterday, Thursday, 4th March, 2010 and arranged Business of the House for
the Seventh Week ending Friday, 12th March, 2010.
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:55 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Question(s)
Madam Speaker, the Committee has programmed the following Ministers to answer specified Questions asked of them during the week:
No. of Question(s)
i. Minister for Education
6
ii. Minister for the Interior 6
iii. Minister for Health 1
iv. Minister for Roads and Highways 7
Total Number of Questions 20
Madam Speaker, in all, four Ministers are expected to attend upon the House to respond to twenty (20) Questions during the week. The Questions are of the following types.
i. Urgent -- 1
ii. Oral -- 18
iii. Written -- 1
Statements
Madam Speaker may allow Statements duly admitted to be made in the House.
Bills, Papers and Reports
Madam Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House for consideration and those already before the House may be taken through the various stages. However, Bills which are of urgent nature may be taken through all the stages in one day. Papers and committee reports may also be laid. The Business Committee urges committees with referrals to expedite action on them.
Madam Speaker, it is envisaged that the Ghana Boundary Commission Bill, which is before the Committee now will be taken under a certificate of urgency during the course of next week, probably, on Wednesday.
Motions and Resolutions
Madam Speaker, motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
Debate on the Message on the State of the Nation
Madam Speaker, debate on the motion
to thank His Excellency the President for his Message on the State of the Nation will be concluded on Wednesday, 10th March, 2010. Hon Members are once again being urged to participate actively in the debate during the week.
Madam Speaker, the Business Committee also wishes to urge Chair- persons of committees to schedule committee meetings such that they are held after adjournment. This suggestion, if taken, will enable Hon Members of such committees to avail themselves of participating fully in the debate on the Motion to thank H.E. the President for his
Message on the State of the Nation.
We are saying so, so that it does not also give the public the perception that Hon Members are not in the Chamber to debate the State of the Nation Address. That is not the issue. Normally, many of us are in various committee meetings and the public may not appreciate that there are other businesses of the House that engage the attention of Hon Members. So they think that while debate on the State of the Nation Address is in progress, then everybody should be in the Chamber.
It is against this background that we would want to appeal to Hon Chairmen, Ranking Members and Hon Members of committees that they can schedule their committee meetings after two o'clock or three o'clock so that, at least, many of us are available in the Chamber to participate in the debate.
Extended Sittings of the House
Madam Speaker, the Business Committee, having regard to the state of Business of the House and the recommendation to conclude the debate on the State of the Nation Address on Wednesday, 10th March, 2010, do recommend an extended Sitting on Tuesday, 9th March, 2010.
Indeed, yesterday, we had an extended Sitting after the normal hours and I want to use this occasion to thank Hon Members who stayed up to late afternoon -- up to about 4.00 p.m. or thereafter, for the extended Sitting, at a very short notice. We are grateful to you all.
Today, there will be no extended Sitting because of the fact that it is a Friday and Hon Members have engagements in
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the House is expected
to rise on or by the 24th of March, 2010. I recall that initially the House was to rise on or by 26th of March. But in view of other commitments and developments, it may be shortened by a day or two. So, we are sensitising Hon Members that it is possible that we will rise on or by 24th of March, 2010.
In this vein, extended Sittings are also
being recommended whenever necessary in order to complete business of the House.
So, between now and when we break,
on the 24th of March, 2010, we expect that occasionally, we will have extended Sittings if the need arises.
Conclusion
Madam Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2), the Committee submits to this Honourable House, the Business of each Sitting and order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

Questions --

*431. Mr George Boakye (Asunafo South): To ask the Minister for Education what plans the Ministry has put in place for the large army

of basic school leavers who are unable to continue their education to the senior high school to make them productive.

*432. Mr Benito Owusu-Bio (Atwima Nwabiagya): To ask the Minister for Education how the first batch of “one-laptop-per child” were distributed to school pupils and when the exercise will be completed.

433. Mr Charles S. Hodogbey (North Tongu): To ask the Minister for Education how many tertiary institutions (universities/university colleges) are currently operating in the country and of this, how many are public, private or foreign affiliates.

*465.Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzra (Ho West): To ask the Minister for Education when forensic audit will be conducted on Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to ascertain its true indebtedness.

*466. Mr Stephen M. E. K. Ackah (Suaman): To ask the Minister for Education when Dadieso Senior High School will be provided with boys and girls dormitories to provide accommodation for the high increase in the school's enrolment. *467. Mr Kwasi Ameyaw- Cheremeh (Sunyani East): To ask the Minister for Education what plans the Ministry has to establish a senior high school at Atronie in the Sunyani Municipality.

Statements

Laying of Papers --

(a) Report of the Committee on Cons t i tu t iona l , Lega l and Parliamentary Affairs on the Intestate Succession Bill, 2009.

(b) Report of the Committee on Lands and Forestry on the following:

Annual Report of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands for the year ended 31st Decem- ber, 2004.

Annual Report of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands for the year ended 31st Decem- ber, 2005.

Annual Report of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands for the year ended 31st Decem- ber, 2006.

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.

[Continuation of Debate] Committee Sittings.

Statements

Motions --

(a) Third Reading of Bills --

Alternative Dispute Resolution,
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:55 a.m.
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.

Committee Sittings.

Urgent Question --
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Manhyia) 10:55 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Health what measures the Ministry is taking to prevent the perennial deaths caused by cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in the three northern regions.
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
Madam Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Yes, thank you, Hon Majority Leader.
Alhaj i Mohammed-Mubarak
Muntaka: Madam Speaker, I rise to ask the Hon Majority Leader and Hon Chairman of the Business Committee -- this House is most likely to rise on 24th March, 2010 as stated by the Business Statement.
Madam Speaker, we have a mandatory duty to perform by way of coming through the Constitution, article 252 (2) -- that has to do with the formula for the District Assemblies Common Fund, the same with the GETFund and also same with the National Health Insurance Authority Fund through Act 650.
Madam Speaker, we have barely three weeks or maximum four weeks to go. The business of next week does not advertise that we will be working on these formulas. I would want to find out from the Hon Chairman of the Business Committee what is preventing these formulas from coming on because this is the month of March and the first quarter of 2010 is almost ending.
Is it implying that the agencies, the National Health Insurance Authority,
the GETFund Administrator, and the Common Fund Administrator are not spending? If they are spending, on what authority are they spending?
I believe that we need to expedite
action to bring these formulas for approval so that it will enable us to do the right thing.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Yes, Hon Leader?
Mr Avoka 11:05 a.m.
I appreciate the concern raised by my Hon Colleague. I will sensitize the heads of department of those institutions and ensure that they bring the formulas before we rise.
Dr Matthew O. Prempeh 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think i t goes beyond sensitization. This is an obligation; so sensitization is too soft a word for me because, last week, I happened to have met the Deputy Majority Leader and I highlighted this same issue my Hon Brother just did. It is just not right for the first three months of the year to go and then we are going to sensitize, as if we are begging them to bring it. It is very, very inappropriate here.
Madam Speaker, you have admitted, your goodself, an Urgent Question, weeks now, which is to do with the Metropolitan Police of London and the Ghana Police Service concerning seized motorcycles that have varnished on the shores of this country.
Madam Speaker, it is a burning issue and if we are not careful, Ghana will be seen as a country where stolen goods are laundered by the security agencies in the country. I can just not understand when four weeks now and next week the Minister for the Interior is in the House --
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
I have not said so. [Laughter.] I will be calling on the Leadership. Majority Leader?
Mr Avoka 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, when I said that I will sensitize the heads of department involved, it is a diplomatic language that I used, short of saying that I will order them to bring the formulas for consideration. I expect that he appreciates this term, that I would sensitize them; that I will ensure that they bring it. It is just a diplomatic language.
With regard to the Urgent Question that he referred to, my attention has not yet been drawn to it. I think that he can appreciate the fact that I am new and then there are a lot of outstanding matters. I will look at this after this and then I will get back to the House appropriately.
Mr Alfred K. Agbesi 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I asked an Urgent Question on the outbreak of fire in the country. That Question is about three, four weeks old now, but it has not been scheduled.
Madam Speaker, I made a Statement on this floor on the consequences of fire outbreaks in the country. I made the Statement with the view that the Foreign Affairs Ministry got burned down, the Electoral Commission also got burned down, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) got burned down, in fact, the former President's house got burned down.
Madam Speaker, these are very serious
matters and I made a Statement expecting that it would be treated as very urgent for us to know the preparedness of the Ministry of the Interior -- when any fire breaks out, what they would do.
Madam Speaker, if this Question is not scheduled for questioning, then I want to call upon the Leadership, the Business Committee to schedule the Minister for the Interior as a matter of urgency to appear before this House to tell us how prepared they are, when there is a fire outbreak; how they can solve the problem, because all the instances I have mentioned, it appears that things were out of hand.
Madam Speaker, I am even worried whether we are safe in this House when there should be a fire outbreak.
Madam Speaker, it is of much concern for me and I want the Hon Minister for the Interior to appear before us, to tell the whole country how prepared that Ministry is regarding fire outbreak in this country.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Yes, as for wanting the Minister to come, he will come when he is invited properly. But I will ask for your comments, Majority Leader.
Mr Avoka 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I share his concern, that the rampant fire outbreaks, more so affecting sensitive installations, are of national concern to all of us. I recall that when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration was gutted, a committee was set up and they have presented a report to Government.
I am also aware that there are committees working in respect of TOR and the other areas where there were fire outbreaks. So nobody is hiding any information; I think that we have a collective responsibility to ensure that the Ghana National Fire Service is up to its task of fighting these fires in the country.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Yes, the Hon Member for Akropong, Mr Boafo.
Mr William O. Boafo 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, last week I had the opportunity to draw your attention to the Report on the Intestate Succession Bill and I made a submission to the effect that the purpose of the Bill is to change fundamentally, the apportionment of percentages among the various beneficiaries and this is affecting the extended family to a large extent and it is equally something which is going to affect our social structure and as such ,we need to give time to the public to provide us with inputs.
Madam Speaker, on the business arrangement for next week, on Tuesday, the Report of the Committee will be laid before Parliament; that is page (1), item (1) (iii) (a).
Madam Speaker, on Friday, we are taking the Second Reading of the Bill. Madam Speaker, I do not think that between Tuesday and Friday, the public will have sufficient time to provide any inputs to the Committee. So I am urging the Leadership to take this into account and reschedule the Second Reading to another date so that we can advertise in the Papers, inviting the public to provide
their inputs for a meaningful debate in this House.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Yes, Hon Leader?
Mr Avoka 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have no objection.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have no objection in principle to a committee holding public hearings. But that is a decision of the Committee. I do not know whether the Hon Member is a member of the Committee. We have the Chairman, we have the Ranking Member; it ought to be consensual.
So I am surprised, I do not know whether they have not completed their work, because until they have submitted their Report, the House cannot take any decision thereon in a form of recommen- dation.
In any event, scheduling it is tentative; if the Committee believes that it is important to hold public hearings, which I believe it is, having regard to the importance of this Bill, it is for the Committee to decide as a way of pro- ceeding to deal with the Bill and report thereon to the House. [Interruption.] No, the House can recommend only when a report has come and the House thinks that there is the need for the Committee to do further work.
So I would urge the Hon Member to discuss the matter with the Committee; if he is a member of the Committee, I do not know -- and then the Chair and the Ranking Member, they are all here.
Mr Boafo 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am not a member of the Committee and my submission was to the effect that the
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
But you are not a member of the Committee?
Mr Boafo 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, no, I am not a member of the Committee.
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
So you do not know what they have done so far?
Mr Boafo 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I do not know but I am just -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Member, can you find out, like he said, liaise and put your suggestions because by then, maybe, they would have done what you are urging.
Thank you.
Mr Boafo. Madam Speaker, very well.
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think that whatever it is, it is a Committee of this House and we have every right to advise that in this particular instance, a public hearing be heard and that is the point that he is making. I do not think that it is prerogative -- it is your Committee. It is the Committee of the House, it is your Committee and we can make a recommen-dation to them that they should have public hearing.
This is where I disagree with my Hon Good Friend here that -- it is not premature at all. It is on advice. They can take it on advice and if they decide not to do it, we can direct as a House that this must be done. If he wants to come by a motion, fine. But whatever it is, I think that it is his right and privilege to suggest that this be heard in public. I do not think that it can be cowed into saying that this is done only by the Committee. It is a Committee of this House and the rules governing committee meetings are quite clear. They can decide, we can also advise --
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
You can only advise when you know what has happened there. Can you not? Are you a member of the Committee, Hon Hackman? Do you know where they have reached? Like I said to him, if he knows, then he will discuss with them and they are prepared to listen.
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, what normally happens in this House all these years is that, we leave things to the last minute and then they tell you there is not enough time to do “A, B, C, D”. This is just a precursor and he is saying that if it is not, then I think it is proper to have a public hearing. I do not see anything wrong with it. I do not have to be a member.
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Hackman, nobody ruled him out --
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I was just opposing Papa Owusu- Ankomah. I am opposing my Hon Dear Friend, who happens to be my personal adviser too.
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
So a suggestion could be made to see whether what has to be done and has not been done, we do the right thing and we move ahead?
Mr Avoka 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I just want to beg that we should not belabour the point. As Hon Papa Owusu-Ankomah rightly mentioned, we have a Chairman of the committee, Ranking Member and other members and before they even bring a report here, they have stakeholder consultations. They would have met interest groups and the public.
They invite the public to submit memoranda. At the end of the day, if there is the need for public hearing, your committee will recommend to this House that given the nature and the public interest in the matter, then they would
rather prefer a public hearing. We are jumping the cart if we begin leaving the Committee out, who are more conversant and knowledgeable on the facts and issues to recommend that we start with a public hearing when the Committee has not made a recommendation to that effect.
So we should not pre-judge the matter. We should leave it to the Committee and if they come out and think that there is the need for such a thing to happen, then we will look at the issues.
So I think we can go ahead and do business.
Mr Joe Ghartey 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I will not belabour the point but just by everybody talking about it -- It is a joint Committee. I am a Ranking Member of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the other committee is the Committee on Gender and Children; so the Report, if any, should be a Report by the joint-committee. On the Business Statement, it says that Report of the Committee on Cons-titutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs but it is a joint Committee -- Madam Speaker referred it to a joint Committee.
Mr Avoka 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I
appreciate that.
Mrs Gifty Ohene-Konadu 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think this Bill is very critical as far as women of this country are concerned. As the Ranking Member rightly said, it was referred to the joint Committee -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Member, why is it only women in this country? It affects both men and women, this Intestate Succession Law.
Mrs Ohene-Konadu 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, it was referred to both committees, but I do not think -- It affects both men and
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
You are a woman and you are speaking for them.
Mrs Ohene-Konadu 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I support the Hon Member that we should be given adequate time to look at the Bill because the Gender Committee was not adequately represented. I think we were invited only once to the meeting and I think that we need some time to look at the Bill to exhaust every possible -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
I think as has been decided, when we see the Report and it is inadequate, then we could order that it goes back -- the inadequacy will be pointed out by us. We could all point it out and then do it. So we will do the right thing, I think.
Mrs Ohene-Konadu 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, especially when it is not by the two committees because it should be the work of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Committee on Gender and Children but it is not so. So I think we would have to re-look at it.
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Yes, we have not seen the Report so when we see it, all these things would be aired out, I think and we will give time when it is important.
Dr Prempeh 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, to bring us back to this issue, on Thursday, the Business Committee has scheduled the Minister for the Interior to look among other Questions, one that I find on current spate of armed robbery, et cetera which I think is very, very important, is Question
218.
Would the Hon Leader assure this House that two weeks ago, assured us that in the course of the week, Urgent
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Member, while we do not individually canvass for our Urgent Questions, yes, you could urge him if he could do it.
Yes, Hon Member, we have a lot of Urgent Questions which are scheduled but he is asking whether that particular Question -- you could fit it in that particular Question. Could you?
Mr. Avoka 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I cannot vouch as at now. I cannot and I do not think it would be fair to the Ministry that they are preparing to come and answer Questions and at the same time, within a short time, they impose an Urgent Question on them.
You would normally have to look for information from outside the national capital. Maybe, some information may be required to come from some region or district somewhere and it takes time. So we should give them ample notice to come and do justice to the Question. It is not a matter of the Hon Minister appearing physically and answering a Question but the content of the Question must be such that it would satisfy the aspirations of this House and Ghanaians. So I do not think that we should take a shortcut to these matters. They must follow the right path.
Having said that, I want to make a
correction raised by my Hon Friend the former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice. My information is that the Intestate Succession Bill was referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, it is a single Committee. But the Property Rights of Spouses Bill is a joint Committee of Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Committee on Gender and Children and not the Intestate Succession Bill
Thank you.
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Prempeh, it is because Ministers must be given time to find facts for the House, that it takes a little longer than may be we assume.
Dr Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I thank you for your patience. Standing Order 64, I think was explicit and I think Standing Order 64 (2) and with your permission, I read:
“Notice of intention to ask a Question shall be given by delivery of the Question in writing at the Office of the Clerk (Table Office) on a day not later than 10 Sitting days (exclusive of any Saturday and Sunday or Public Holiday) before the day on which the Sitting commences at which it is proposed to ask the Question.”
If we take our Standing Orders for anything it is worth it, this Question, Madam Speaker, two weeks ago, the Majority Leader in the House promised -- it is captured in the Hansard, that the Question is of such nature, that it should be brought in during that week. The Hansard captures it all. So if three weeks down the line, after three weeks on the word of the Majority Leader and it is still being said that we have not given enough time -- Majority Leader, I want you to look at it and come again but I will leave

that for Madam Speaker during the week.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
I think, Majority
Leader, look at the matter and when there are Urgent Questions, we try to fast- track them.
Thank you, Honourable.
Any other matter on the Business Statement for the week?
Hon Members, the Business Statement as presented, is adopted then.
Thank you.
We move now to Question time.
Hon Members, there are 7 Questions to be responded to by the Minister for Roads and Highways. I hope Hon Members will be mindful of the time, especially supplementary questions and as agreed, if it is constituency-specific, then three supplementary questions coming from the Hon Member who asked the Question will be asked and then we move, until we finish the State of the Nation Address, so that we are within time.
The Minister is here. Welcome, Hon Minister?
The first Question stands in the name of Hon Nana Abu-Bonsra (Fomena).
Dr Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, Nana Abu- Bonsra asked me to ask the Question on his behalf because he had an urgent situation to deal with in his constituency. In fact, he wrote his subsequent questions -- supplementary questions down for me as well, so if you would allow me.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
That is helpful. Yes, can you put the Question to the Hon Minister?
ORAL ANSWERS TO 11:25 a.m.
QUESTIONS 11:25 a.m.
MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 11:25 a.m.
HIGHWAYS 11:25 a.m.
Minister for Roads and Highways (Mr Joe K. Gidisu) 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, Akrokerri is one of the many towns in the Adansi West District of the Ashanti Region. Sections of the town's roads are paved. However, most of the paved sections are in a poor condition. The roads require improvement. However, due to budgetary constraints, the reconstruction of the roads cannot be immediately undertaken.
The improvement of the roads will be considered alongside other roads when planning for the 2012 programme is undertaken by the Ministry.
Dr Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, in view of the fact that the reconstruction is going to be planned during the 2012 election year period, what immediate maintenance programme does the Ministry have to make the roads motorable?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we
have regular maintenance programmes for those roads and before the serious programmes are outlined for 2012, we will be doing some specific interventions as and when they become necessary.
Dr Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I
think after describing the roads as poor and coming later to tell us “specific interventions”; that is the answer I wanted. What specific intervention till that major reconstruction programme begins? Considering the fact that there is a mobile maintenance unit located in
Dr Prempeh 11:25 a.m.


the Ashanti Region -- unfortunately, I have been told they have been re-located somewhere else by yourself.

The mobile maintenance unit in the Ashanti Region, could he instruct them to do this specific patchwork before the reconstruction or is it true that he has re- located it to a region elsewhere?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
the mobile maintenance units do not work on town roads as such and for that matter there is no regional allocation to those mobile maintenance units. As the name implies, they are mobile; so for the Akrokerri town roads, where necessary, would not demand the attention of the mobile maintenance unit but the normal maintenance processes that we have in the Ministry.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Any third question?
Dr Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my
third question is , there are a lot of roads around that need the mobile maintenance unit, is it true that it has been located outside the region?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, though the question is not related to the Question under focus, I want to use the opportunity to inform the House that we have two mobile maintenance units; one for the northern sector and the other for the southern sector.
The one for the northern sector is still in the northern sector and the other for the southern sector is also in the southern sector. So for the Hon Colleague, trying to find out the location of the mobile maintenance unit, which he himself admits is mobile, then they will not be static at a particular point.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
The next Question
stands in the name of Hon John Gyetuah (Amenfi West).
Sureso to Samreboi Roads (Tarring)
Q. 218. Mr John Gyetuah asked 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.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Sureso-Samreboi road is 34.5 kilometres long. The road is located in the Amenfi West District of the Western Region. It is an engineered road and in a fair condition. The road has been programmed for improvement in phases.
Twenty-three (23) kilometres of the road from Sureso towards Samreboi were rehabilitated to gravel sub-base in two phases.
The third phase which consisted of the last 11.5 kilometres of the road was awarded for rehabilitation in 2007. The contract commenced in June 2008 and is expected to be completed by the end of March, 2010.
The works are 85 per cent complete. The completed works consist of the construction of twenty-five (25) culverts, the filling of the culvert approaches and the laying of 3.6 kilometres of gravel sub-base.
Madam Speaker, the future pro- gramme -- On completion of the entire road to the gravel sub-base, bitumen surface treatment would be undertaken in phases. This activity will be considered alongside other roads in subsequent periodic maintenance programmes of the Ministry.
Mr Gyetuah 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, according to the Minister's estimation, the work is almost 85 per cent complete. May I find out from him whether the 15 per cent will be completed as stated in the

Answer, the time schedule?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, all things being equal, that is our programme for that sector and we are working to achieve that target within the period left.
Mr Gyetuah 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the
Hon Minister has indicated in his Answer -- the last paragraph of page 10, that, and Madam Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote:
“On completion of the entire road to the gravel sub-base, bitumen surface treatment would be undertaken in phases.”
I want to find out from him when, in his estimation, that sort of programme or project will be started this year.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
the Hon Colleague's immediate past question found out when we would be completing the 15 per cent of work and that is outstanding. Until the 15 per cent of work is completed, we will not be getting into the bitumen surfacing of the road. So let us first clear the 15 per cent work that is outstanding and as stated, we will take it on board with other maintenance projects of the Ministry.
Mr Gyetuah 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
the Samreboi area is the second largest producer of cocoa in the country. Unfortunately, last two years, when cocoa roads were selected for tarring, that particular sector of the road was not considered. The Hon Minister is saying that when 15 per cent of the road works with regard to the rehabilitation is completed, they will start. I am asking whether he will consider the area as
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
the Hon Colleague noted that the area was not captured under the cocoa roads project. It has to be made clear that the allocations for cocoa roads are limited in terms of the budgetary provisions from the COCOBOD and for that matter, not all cocoa roads will be captured within the same period.
I just want to indicate that we are exploring more resources from the COCOBOD to see how they can even take some syndicated loans specifically for cocoa roads, and if this goes through, it will go a long way to improve the budget situation of the Ministry in terms of cocoa roads.
However, Madam Speaker, I want to assure my Hon Colleague that, as he noted, the Western Region and for that matter, the Samreboi area is under focus in terms of our priorities and we will come to those roads at the appropriate time.
rose
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Are you asking
a question? Are we breaking our own decision?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, no. It relates to this particular road.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Will the Hon Minister consider
having discussions with Samatex, the major industrial establishment in this district, which has already indicated its preparedness to use its own resources to support the road sector in this area?

Will he consider having discussions with Samatex in terms of providing a solution to the lack of good roads in this area?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
I have had time to go into discussions with that particular company and they expressed concern that their resources are already exhausted in terms of the maintenance works they are undertaking in that area. And I want to use this platform to congratulate them for doing a very good job in trying to maintain not only the roads that lead to their industrial establishments but most of the roads in that area.
What they are even requesting is the possibility of the Ministry giving contracts in terms of the road maintenance to them. We are considering this. So, I just want to assure my Hon Colleague that we have identified them as our partners in development and maintenance of roads in that area and we are seeing how best the Ministry could strengthen them through the allocation of some of the maintenance of those roads in that area.
Samreboi-Prestea Highway (Tarring)
Q. 219.* Mr John Gyetuah asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Samreboi-Prestea Highway would be tarred.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the 69 kilometre Prestea-Samreboi trunk road is an Inter-Regional Road with route number (IR3). The road is located in the Amenfi West District of the Western Region. It is a gravel road with a greater portion in a fair condition.
Current Programme
The Ghana Highway Authority will undertake a periodic maintenance contract in 2010 to cover the road. The works will cover the following:
Treatment of all soft spots between kilometres 20 and 31
Construction of 29 No. culverts between kilometres 0 and 31 and
Regravelling of 31 kilometres of road.
It is envisaged that the critical sections of the road will be completed before the major rainy season.
Future Programme
It is envisaged that the entire 69 kilometres will be tarred in phases as and when budgetary provisions permit.
Mr Gyetuah 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister has stated in his Answer that the work will be started as early as possible. Considering the area -- the road links Ellembele District, Evalue Gwira District -- and as I speak now between Nkwanta, that is one of my communities over there, to Prestea, just 18 miles, people have to travel over a hundred miles before they get to Prestea.
We are aware of the climatic conditions of the Western Region. The torrential rains actually start in April, so I want to find out from him whether he will fast-track the processes so that we will see smiles on the faces of the people over there.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we have already awarded this contract. What is left is for the Regional Ministers and our Directors to take the contractors to task in terms of their effectiveness on those stretches, and I want to call on my Hon Colleague,the Hon Member of Parliament also that he has that singular responsibility. He should identify those
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:35 a.m.


contractors that are assigned to roads in his constituency and follow up with their performances on those roads so that it can serve as a feedback to us which we can take up at the Ministerial level.
Mr Gyetuah 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways for his preparedness actually to help us.
In terms of the road sector, he is talking about, he is saying that treatment of soft spots will start from kilometres 20-31. I want to find out from him where it is starting from. Is it starting from Samreboi or Prestea?
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Minister, have
you got the question?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
No.
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
You did not get the
Question? Hon Member, kindly repeat the question.
Mr Gyetuah 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
according to the Answer given, he says that Ghana Highway Authority will undertake -- I am talking of paragraph two of page 11-- a periodic maintenance contract in 2010 to cover the road.
The works will cover the following:
Treatment of all soft spots between kilometres 20 and 31
Construction of 29No. culverts between kilometres 0-31
Re-gravelling of 31kilometres of road”
I want to find out from him whether it is starting from Samreboi or Prestea.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, Prestea is the reference point for the
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Member, your last question then.
Mr Gyetuah 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I heard the Hon Minister in his Answer saying the road has already been awarded. I do not want to engage him in any debate or anything of the sort. So I want to thank him.
I know definitely that they have written for sole-sourcing and this has not been completed. So I want to find out from him when exactly the road will be awarded.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we are sure the work on the road will start before the end of the first quarter, which will be by the end of April.
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Thank you.
The next Question stands in the name of Hon Frank Boakye Agyen, Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore.
Roads in Sekyere East District (Improvement)
·
Q. 221. Mr Frank Boakye Agyen
asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when roads in the Sekyere East District capital would be improved to suit the status of the district capital.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, Effiduase is the district capital of Sekyere East District in the Ashanti Region. The other main town in the district is Asokore. The roads are in a fair condition but with potholes and edge problems.
Current Programme
Currently, the Ghana Highway Authority has awarded a contract to patch the potholes and carry out edge repairs on the entire paved section of the town roads. Routine maintenance works will

be carried out on the gravel sections of the road in 2010.

In April of 2006, a contract was awarded for the improvement of the Effiduase town roads. The contract was to have been completed by December 2007. The contract had delayed as only 33 per cent of the works have been completed. The contract has been recommended for termination.

The Asokore town roads were also awarded in January 2007 for improvement. The contract commenced in April 2007 and was expected to have been completed by March 2009. This contract had also delayed as the contractor completed only 12 per cent of the works. The contract has been recommended for termination. Future Programme

After the termination of the contracts, the remaining work will be re-packaged and re-awarded in the fourth quarter of

2010.
Mr Agyen 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I do appreciate the Hon Minister's Answer, except to ask whether the Minister's repackaging which according to him will include re-awarding, can be done before the fourth quarter in view of the urgency.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, this road has been followed seriously by the Omanhene of the area and my Hon Colleague behind the scenes. We can assure that the repackaging is being done. And I want to use this platform to indicate that the arrears we have on the road fund which hinge on the effective payments of some of these works, we are trying to clear. Immediately after the clearing, we will have a clean slate, which will enable us to repackage those roads and effective execution of those contracts will be supervised.
Mr Agyen 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want the Hon Minister to inform this House whether or not the road improvement will include bituminous treatment when it is finally awarded.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I will say, yes, but it will be phased out in order to be taken up by our budgetary constraints.
Mr Agyen 11:45 a.m.
Thank you very much.
rose
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
This is a cons- tituency-specific Question, so only three questions from the original --
Mr C. S. Hodogbey 11:45 a.m.
I was wondering, Madam Speaker, since all these have been cancelled -- I would like to know the contract values of the two contracts before the termination and the re-packaging.
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
I suppose I allowed one question on this side of the House, so let us allow that question and we balance the equation. Answer the question even though it is constituency- specific.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I will not be able to give the figure outright as to the total cost of those contracts.
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
The next Question stands in the name of Hon Herod Cobbina, Member of Parliament for Sefwi Akontombra.
Mr Stephen M. E. K. Ackah 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Member to ask the Question is not in Parliament now, and he called me to ask the Question on his behalf with your permission.
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Yes, you can ask.
Reconstruction of Bridge at Nsawora Edumafuan
(Commercement)
Q. 222. Mr. Stephen M. E. K. Ackah (on behalf of Mr. Herold Cobbina) asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the reconstruction of the Tano Bridge at Nsawora Edumafuan would commence.
Mr. J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Tano Bridge at Nsawora Edumafuan is a 5.6 metre single lane reinforced concrete bridge. It was rehabilitated in 2007. The bridge is structurally sound. There is no immediate plan of adding another lane. This may be considered when the traffic level increases.
Mr Ackah 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he said the bridge was rehabilitated in 2007 and therefore, it was structurally sound and there was no plan for an additional lane now. And in his last sentence, he said, “This may be considered when traffic level increases”. How does he reconcile this when he knows that the Sefwi Wiawso- Akontombra highway is under construc-tion and the bridge we are talking about is also located on this road and it will definitely increase traffic when it is completed?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
there is a difference between maintaining the motorability of a road and the volume of traffic on that road.
Yes, we are rehabil i tat ing the
Akontombra-Wiawso road, but for now, we feel that the single lane of that bridge is sufficient to carry the current volume of traffic on that road.
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Any other question?
Mr Ackah 11:45 a.m.
No, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Members, we move to the next Question which again stands in the name of Hon Herod Cobbina.

Wooden Bridges in Akontombra District (Replacement)

Q. 223. Mr Stephen M. E. K. Ackah (on behalf of Mr. Herod Cobbina) asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the wooden bridges on the following feeder roads in the Akontombra District would be replaced with concrete bridges:

(i) Kabiesue

(ii) Kojobi

(iii) Ackaakrom

(iv) Abrahamkrom

(v) Atwakan.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
K a b i e s u e , K o j o b i , A c k a a k r o m , Abrahamkrom, Atwakan are communities located in the Sefwi Akontombra District of the Western Region.
Kabiesue is linked by the partially engineered Kabiesue Junction-Kabiesue feeder road. River Assin crosses the road at kilometres 1.3 from the Kabiesue Junction. There exists a 4 metre span log bridge across the river.
Kojobi is linked by the Asantekrom Junction-Kojobi feeder road. River Aframesu crosses this road at kilometres 4.2 from the Asantekrom Junction. The existing log bridge across the river is 7

metres long.

Ackaakrom is linked by the Bonwire- Ackaakrom Junction-Ackaakrom feeder road. River Fiafa crosses this road at kilometres 2.2 from the Bonwire side. The existing log bridge across the river is 12m long.

Abrahamkrom is linked by an un- engineered feeder road which is 1.3 kilometres. The inventory taken for the needs of the road reveals that there are water crossings with logs to cross these sections. Six culverts of sizes not exceeding 1.8 metre diameter are required.

Atwakan is linked by an un-engineered feeder road from Atwakan Junction to Atwakan which is 4.2 kilometres long. River Nikoko crosses this road at kilometres 3.0 from the Atwakan Junction. The existing log bridge across the river is 5 metres long.

The conditions of the log bridges on these roads are weak and the logs require replacement.

Madam Speaker, our future programme for this road will demand engineering studies will be conducted in 2010 on all the river crossings. Based on the outcome of the studies, the appropriate sizes of concrete box culverts will be included in the 2011 and 2012 programmes for their replacement.
Mr Ackah 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am happy the Hon Minister has been able to identify all the rivers with the log bridges, but having identified that some of these bridges are weak and it is upon these bridges that most of these villagers travel, when exactly within the year, as he is saying, will this sort of assessment be done so that the concrete bridges can be given to these communities?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I just want to indicate that the responsibility for the maintenance of some of these structures lies with even the District Assemblies. In the interim, as we are planning for the eventual replacement of these log bridges, the District Assemblies also have the singular responsibility of making sure that they are safe for use by the communities until we come back to replace them as outlined in my proposal for 2011 and 2012 Budgets.
Kwadaso, Nsema, Apire Townships Roads (Tarring)
Q. 224. Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the tarring of the following roads in the Kwadaso Sub-Metro in Kumasi would commence:
(Ii) Kwadaso town (ii) Nsema town (iii) Apire town.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:55 a.m.
Kwadaso, Nsema and Apire town are all located in the Kwadaso Sub-Metro of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly in the Ashanti Region.
Out of the total 7.8 kilometres of Kwadaso town roads, 3.78 kilometres is gravel surfaced with concrete drains. In 2006, 1.1 kilometres along the Siloam Hospital road was awarded for minor rehabilitation. The contractor abandoned the project after primer seal work in 2009.
The road is being used as a diversion for the Sunyani road which is currently under construction.
Future Programme
The contractor on the Sunyani road

would be instructed to carry out routine maintenance works on the entire road network.

The road network will be prepared and packaged for surface dressing in 2011.

Nsema town

The Nsema town has 5.7 kilometres of road network of which 1.6 kilometres were awarded for surfacing in 2007. The contractor abandoned the site in 2009 after completing 80 per cent of the drainage works. Future Programme

Sections of the road network will be prepared and packaged for rehabilitation next year. In the interim, routine maintenance works will be carried out this year.

Apire town

The Apire town has 6.9 kilometres of roads and has been programmed for routine maintenance works this year.

The 1.4 kilometres main road through the town will be included in the 2011 programme for rehabilitation.
Dr Akoto 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, un- fortunately, I cannot ask any question because the document that we have in front of us is only half of the Answer, and I will suggest that the Hon Minister comes again at the appropriate time when we have the right Answers here. It is not an Urgent Question, and what he is saying is not captured in the document, and I can only ask a supplementary question if I have a full Answer in front of me.
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Member. I think that is the end of Question time.
Hon Minister, thank you very much for coming to the House to answer our
Dr Akoto 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I was making a proposal and I need an answer from him.
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
I thought you sat down.
Dr Akoto 11:55 a.m.
No, I did not. I am saying that I am not able to ask my supplementary questions because half of what he was saying is not captured in the document. Half of the Answer to my Question does not appear in the Order Paper. So he was reading something which the House is totally unaware of.
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
But you could still ask him if you think there is a question that is not answered. You could ask it since it is a supplementary question.
Dr Akoto 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the point I am making is that, he is answering my Question but his Answers are not captured here in the Order Paper, so I cannot even follow what he said. Half of his Answer is not on the Order Paper. [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker, on page 13 of the Order Paper, it starts somewhere in the middle, it does not begin with his Answer and that is the point I am making.
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Is it from page 12?
Dr Akoto 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, page 12 goes to page 13 and that is under Question number 223. So it goes into the Answer for my Question; so it means half of his Answer is not appearing here.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Minister, did you read your Answer from the Order
Paper? The objection is that the Answer you read had things which are not in this yellow paper. I do not know from where you read.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, then it is the Table Office which would have to answer that question because the Ministry submitted the full Answers to the Questions that have been brought; if they are not captured in the working documents of the House then the Table Office would have to clear the situation.
However, my Colleague listened to me in terms of those things that we are doing from the Ministry's point of view. If he has any supplementary questions, based on the Question that he asked, I do not think it is what we will write for him to read that would enable him know what supple-mentary questions to follow up with on the problem in his constituency.
Dr Akoto 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, there is
a reason these Answers are given before hand on record, and we have to do the proper thing. He cannot just say that though half of his Answer is not recorded, I have to respond to just the oral Answer. It is just not on.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Yes, I think we have located that there is a problem. We will reschedule the Question then quickly. Hon Leader, we need to reschedule this Question as quickly as possible so that the Answer that is provided could be printed.
Mr Avoka 12:05 p.m.
Very well, Madam Speaker, we shall do so.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member, I think we will reschedule the Question then.
Mr Akoto 12:05 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Minister. The Question will come and then we will print your Answer correctly in the Order Paper.
Thank you for coming.
Hon Members, we now move to Commencement of Public Business and the Laying of Papers -- item 6.
PAPERS 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Leader, do we move to motion No.7?
Mr Avoka 12:05 p.m.
Yes, Madam Speaker, we can take motion No. 7, then after that 8.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Yes, the Chairman of the Committee, you may move your motion now.
Mr A. K. Agbesi 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am a member of the Committee and the Chairman is not in the House, and I seek your permission to move the motion on behalf of the Chairman.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Yes, any objection to that?
Mr Kofi Frimpong 12:05 p.m.
Yes, Madam
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
In which case, you are asking what is the reason for his not being here?
Mr Frimpong 12:05 p.m.
Yes, they have not given us any reason. And it seems they are not serious about government business -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
I think they are. Let us listen to the reason he is not here.
Yes, why is the Chairman of the Committee himself not here?
Mr Agbesi 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Chairman of the Committee is not well and the Vic-Chairman has also asked permission to be in his constituency on an official duty, hence their absence from the House. Madam Speaker, that is why I seek permission to move the motion on their behalf.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Member, somebody is sick, another one is on permitted absence. So if it is just moving the motion, we cannot --
Mr Frimpong 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker. I wonder why the front bench is being hostile to me. Indeed, you know the right things that we do in the House. So if the Chairman is also not around and we do not have tangible reasons, and the Vice- Chairman is not around, and the Speaker asked whether there was an objection and I raised an objection, what is wrong with that? I am saying that we must take government business seriously.
The Order Paper is there, and the Leadership must make sure they arrange for the Chairman or Vice-Chairman to
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Thank you very much for permitting it. But I would like to say that I am glad you have moved to the front bench where a lot of patience is required. [Laughter.]
Mr Avoka 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, Hon Sumani Abukari, Member of Parliament for Tamale North is the Chairman of the Committee. Hon Members can appreciate how he is committed to the affairs of this House, in the attendance of this House. He is always here. But he has been taken ill -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Yes, we have agreed.
Mr Avoka 12:05 p.m.
Then the Vice-Chairman has been summoned to his constituency for an urgent matter. Hon Agbesi is a member of the Committee. So to suggest to the public that we are not taking government business seriously is most unfortunate. I do not expect an Hon Member of this House to say that another Hon Member of a committee who wants to move a motion on behalf of a committee is incompetent and that it is only the Chairman or the Vice-Chairman who can do business in this House. It is unfortunate and he should mind his language.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Except that he has already agreed that he should move it. Can we move it?
Mr Frimpong 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker,

first and foremost, the excuse should have been given by the Leadership and not the Hon Member who was trying to move the motion. He should have given us the reasons they are not around. And for somebody to stand up to say what the Leader should have said, I thought I must draw attention to it. There is nothing wrong with that, and the public knows what is going on here. The public come and they know the number of Hon Members on their side who are present and they know how serious they are taking government business. It does not take me to tell the public how serious they are with government business.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Yes, thank you.
Kindly move the motion then. Permission has been granted.
MOTIONS 12:15 p.m.
APPENDIX 12:15 p.m.
Mr Kofi Frimpong 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
Question proposed.
Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed
(retd.): Madam Speaker, I am a member of the Committee and first and foremost, I wish to speak in support of the motion, and in doing so, commend Hon Members of the Committee for doing diligent work on this Report, and also to say that the issue of small arms and ammunition in our sub-region, especially in Ghana, evokes a number of issues.
Firstly, these are instruments that are used to ensure that there is peace and stability in every nation. At the same time, these are instruments that are used, as it were, to wage wars, create mayhem in conflict situations. It is the instrument used mostly by armed robbers when they perpetrate attacks on innocent citizens. At the same time, these weapons are either manufactured in the country illicitly or they are imported through the backdoor even though there are people who are licensed to bring them in and do genuine business. The armed forces and other security services also have permission to import these weapons and ammunition from time to time to either replace old ones or just to increase their stocks.
The irony is that those who manufacture them locally do so without licence. This is a lost opportunity for the country because if we were to license them and regulate their activities, we may very well be in a position to ensure that countries within the sub-region which require these weapons will import or buy from Ghana.
But the issue is a very controversial one and I think that there should be a public discussion on the matter to determine whether it would be in the interest of the nation to license those which have the technical know-how to manufacture these weapons in the country so as to create the
Mr Kofi Frimpong 12:15 p.m.


jobs that all of us are talking about for our youth and also to generate wealth for our people.

Madam Speaker, on this note, I hope that all of us will support the ratification of this very important Convention.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim (NDC -- Tain) 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to support the motion, but I have a few comments to make.
Madam Speaker, looking at where this Convention is coming from, Ghana is regarded as a beacon of democracy in the West African sub- region and most member States in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have taken the leniency of Ghana to be our weakness.
We are adopting this motion today; it is going to be a convention for the whole ECOWAS sub-region and my concern is this - we have members of the ECOWAS Parliament here and that Parliament is supposed to be the mouthpiece of the ECOWAS sub-region. The sentiments I want to put across is, when they meet in ECOWAS Parliament, they should send the sentiments of Ghanaians that we have been signatories to most of the conventions and protocols and our citizens are suffering from most of these conventions and protocols simply because we would adopt them because we are law- abiding. But some of the member States do not go by some of these conventions and protocols.
Madam Speaker, I want to cite just one or two instances. I represent the good people of Tain. We have the ECOWAS protocol of free movement of goods and services. Madam Speaker, Fulani herdsmen with powerful ammunition, most of which are illegally imported into this country, are harassing the good people
of Tain.
Madam Speaker, even though there is the protocol for free movement of goods and people, I think the good intention of it was not that because we are law abiding, we should not possess those tools or that people or citizens from other countries should come into our country with these ammunitions, brutalise our people and disturb our happiness here.
Madam Speaker, secondly, just January this year, there was a protocol that the whole ECOWAS sub-region should have this axle-loading and those things. We have it in Ghana because we are law abiding. Niger has it. If you go to Burkina Faso, they have the facility but they do not implement it. You go to Mali, the facility is there but they do not implement it.
You go to la Côte d'Ivoire, they do not implement it. And because of the suffering drivers are going through, now most of the importers do not bring their goods to the Tema Harbour. They have diverted them to la Côte d'Ivoire and Lome.
rose
Madam Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Joe Ghartey 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, my Hon Colleague is talking about very weighty matters. He is making statements of fact that this country has this and that country has that. May we, please, know his source?
Madam Speaker, we share his
sentiments. But one Parliament talking about other sovereign countries, if he does not have the source, then perhaps, he can spare us that -- He should not go on that angle, otherwise, he should state the source so that we can support him if

he has the information.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:25 p.m.
Thank you very much. I think as a senior Hon Colleague, he has every right to correct me. But the sentiment is that much as we are law- abiding, we should not be made to suffer for that.
Madam Speaker, with these few words, I would urge the Hon Members of the ECOWAS Parliament, that when they go into their Sitting, they should put these matters across so that if we are doing it, then all of us must do it. If we are not doing it, then all of us must not do it.
Madam Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Yes, last one?
Hon Member, are you contributing?
Dr A. Y. Alhassan 12:25 p.m.
Yes, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 12:25 p.m.
We have no time today. So, please, be brief.
Dr Ahmed Y. Alhassan (NDC -- Mion) 12:25 p.m.
I thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to support the motion.
Madam Speaker, it is good that we have this Convention to be ratified by the Parliament of Ghana. And just to say, that the Convention being ratified by us is timely. I get worried each day about the quantity of small arms that are smuggled into the country. And these small arms are found in the hands of, if you would like, people who ought to be law-abiding, but because they wield arms, they tend to be very aggressive and disturb the peace in the country.
Indeed, in many instances, some of these arms are used for armed robbery
and other crimes within the sub-region. And if we have some laws that all of us in the sub-region will obey and take concrete measures to control, I think it will be a step in the right direction.
Madam Speaker, I also think that we have to have a complete moral rethink of our own actions, as leaders in society. Because a lot of the time when some of the people use these arms to commit crimes, it is the criminal that is grabbed but where the arms are got from, to be used in causing crime, are usually not pursued.
It will be proper if our security services can make, within the ambit of this Convention, efforts to trace where some small arms are illegally acquired so that we can have, if you would like, a slow- down in the quantity of arms that may be smuggled into the country to create disturbances among the citizenry.
With these few words, Madam Speaker, I support the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Madam Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Majority
Leader, item 8 -- Resolution?
Mr Avoka 12:25 p.m.
The Hon Minister for
the Interior is available to take motion number 8.
Madam Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Minister for the Interior, you may move motion number 8.
RESOLUTIONS 12:25 p.m.
Mr Al fred Agbes i (NDC -- Ashaiman) 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Madam Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Members.
We now move to item 9.

Where did we end last time?

Alhaj i Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka -- rose --
Madam Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Asawase?
Alhaji Muntaka 12:25 p.m.
Thank you, very much, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 12:25 p.m.
No, your name is not on the list.
Alhaji Muntaka 12:25 p.m.
I was trying to catch your eye before you started talking about item 9. Madam Speaker, it has to do with item 9. Yesterday, on this very motion, the media houses made some report which I felt ought to be corrected.
The impression was created by the media houses that this side of the House was deliberately bringing Hon Ministers who were not Members of Parliament to come and support the motion because we were incapable of supporting the motion of our own Government.
Madam Speaker, I believe, yesterday when this issue came up, the Constitution of this country was quoted. Article 111, with your indulgence, Madam Speaker, I repeat the quotation:
“The Vice-President, or a Minister or Deputy Minister who is not a member of Parliament shall …”

“. . . be entitled to participate in the proceedings of Parliament and shall be accorded all the privileges .”

“. . . of a member of Parliament except he is not entitled to vote . . .”

So, the only limitation is about voting. Therefore, if members of the Executive who are Ministers find their way onto the floor and deem it fit to make a contribution, Madam Speaker, I do not think they are doing anything wrong. It is their right.

Nobody on our side -- I want to state on authority -- nobody on our side has extended an invitation to any Hon Minister to come here to help us.

So, Madam Speaker, I want you to sound a word of caution, at least, to the media that their job is to be fair, balanced and accurate. Please, they should be fair to us but not to create the impression that we are inviting people from the Executive to come and beef up our debate simply because we cannot carry it. I do not think this was right. And I would seek your indulgence to rule on this.
Mr. Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Yes, Hon. Minority Chief Whip?
Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah 12:35 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I implore you to look at Standing Order 93 (3) and with your indulgence, I quote:
“It shall be out of order to attempt to reconsider any specific Question upon which the House has come to a conclusion during the current Session, except upon a substantive motion for rescission.”
Madam Speaker, I recollect that
yesterday, you had an occasion to make a ruling after Hon Isaac Asiamah brought up this matter on a point of order against the Hon Minister for Justice and Attornney- General when she started making her contribution. So, as far as this House is concerned, you have made a ruling. I do not understand why the Hon Member wants to reintroduce this matter on the floor of Parliament. That is specifically what the Standing Order says, that unless one wants to challenge it, then one should come by a substantive motion. Otherwise, it offends Standing Order 93 (3).
Mr Avoka 12:35 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the point that the Hon Muntaka is making is this -- It is not to revisit the ruling; that was sorted out. But the one-sided report given by the Press without adding that when the issue was raised, when the challenge was made, we responded by referring to the Constitution as a result of which you

ruled on the matter so that there would be balanced reporting.

But the report came out to say that the issue was raised, castigating us for inviting Hon Ministers to come and speak without adding that you responded and drew the attention of the House to the provisions of the Constitution under article 111.

So we are talking about the one-sided report that did not reflect the proceedings of the day. It is not about the ruling. We are concerned about the one-sided report that did not address the response of this side of the House that they are at liberty to come here and contribute to debates. We are talking about the one-sided report. It is not that we are against the ruling or revisiting the matter.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:35 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I do not know whether the Hon Member for Asawase was raising a question of privilege. I do not know. If it is a question of privilege, then he is out of order in terms of our Standing Orders.
If he wants to contribute, he can contribute to prove to the media that he is capable of supporting this issue whatsoever. I do not know, I think that he is asking for the Speaker to rule -- to rule on what? Is he raising a question of privilege? Then he must come properly. If he wants to raise a question of privilege, fine, but to say that the media has not been fair in their reportage at this stage is totally out of order.
Mr Avoka 12:35 p.m.
Madam Speaker, it is a mere observation that the Hon Member for Asawase made. He is not seeking a ruling of this Honourable House. That is out of the way. It was just an observation about the one-sided report that took place with respect to yesterday's proceedings but not a ruling. We do not expect a ruling from Madam Speaker on the matter.
Thank you.
Madam Speaker 12:35 p.m.
So as not to waste

any more time, I will just say that, thank you, Hon Muntaka; and ask that you engage the Leaders of this House to engage the Press. That is a matter for them and that is why they are Leaders of this House and they must engage the Press if there is anything like that. But I would not be able to rule on any matter like that.
Mr Isaac K. Asiamah 12:35 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I believe as Parliament, we should have respect for the media. They determine what news is. They determine what they should write. Parliament should not be seen as dictating to the media --
Madam Speaker 12:35 p.m.
That is why I ruled the way I did.
Mr I. K. Asiamah 12:35 p.m.
We should give much respect to the media and the opinion of the Press. It is very important we do not send bad signals out there that Parliament is trying to gag the media; the media has every right to report whatever they observe here. So that is the exclusive right of the media, and it should be respected as such. It is very important we send that clear signal to Hon Members here that they have no right whatsoever to tell the media what they should report on. That is their exclusive right.
I thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Except to say, Hon Asiamah, that you all know that when the Speaker rules on an issue, we do not revisit it. So I have ruled that they should engage and talk to the Press.
So now, we move on to the list. I was told that the last time, we finished on this side of the House. So the Majority side would start, is that not it?
Hon Member for Sege?
MOTIONS 12:35 p.m.
Mr Alfred W. G. Abayateye (NDC -- Sege) 12:35 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to support the motion to thank His Excellency the President for the State of the Nation Address which he delivered effectively on Thursday, 25th of February, 2010.
Madam Speaker, I would like to hammer some issues which H.E. talked on, which I think we need, as a nation, in order to sit up.
In His Excellency's Address, on page 8, he made a comment which I want to re-echo. Under “MONEY IN OUR POCKETS”, His Excellency stated:
“We took over a run-down economy characterized by unbridled spending and far too much sole-sourcing that did not offer value for money.”
Madam Speaker, this is a statement which we have to take note of and to encourage and to thank the President for holding the bull to the horn. He was specific; he was authoritative; and I want to say this to support it. Madam Speaker, he held the bull by the horn. I re-echo, he held the bull by the horn. He called a spade a spade and not a “big spoon”.
Madam Speaker, it would interest you to note that I have a document in my hand, and I want to be specific on issues with how the GETFund was handled in the past two, three years.
Madam Speaker, the period --
Madam Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Member, the motion is to thank the President for the State of the Nation now addressed. Why are you going back to two or three years, how the thing was handled?
Mr Abayateye 12:35 p.m.
Madam Speaker, His
Mr Abayateye 12:35 p.m.


Excellency the President stated and with your permission, I quote:

“We took over a run-down economy characterized by unbridled spending and far too much sole-sourcing that did not offer value for money.”

Madam Speaker, this is a fact and we need to thank the President for not calling it a “big spoon” as it were.
Mr Joe Baidoe-Ansah 12:45 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, the Hon Member just said that the source of the GETFund has been exhausted. Madam Speaker, what he said is not true and I challenge him to bring his evidence before this House or else he withdraws and apologizes to the House.
Mr Abayateye 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I said the resources of the GETFund at a specific period have been exhausted -- [Inter-ruption --] Yes. If the resources had not been exhausted, the projects which had begun for about four years now would have been completed. I have a document in my hand, a source from the GETFund which states and I beg for your permission to quote -- because the money has been “chopped waa waa”:
“An allocation for GH¢11.6 million for vehicles and buses -- and there was a payment of GH¢13.891 million with a variance of GH¢2.2 million” --
“Chopping waa waa”. They had been given one cedi and they had spent three
Madam Speaker 12:45 p.m.
What report is that?
Mr Abayateye 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker, scholarships of GH¢48.560 and the payment of GH¢74.473 -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Member, what report are you quoting from?
Mr Abayateye 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker, this is the document produced by the GETFund at a consultative forum held from the 18th to 20th of February, just two weeks ago at Sogakope on the state of the GETFund from 2001 to 2008. They have exhausted the money in the GETFund and the projects have not been completed. Therefore, if the President says that this is what is happening, the facts are there for them to check up.

Again, if you refer to the State of the Nation Address as given by His Excellency the President, page 13, and with your permission, I beg to quote:

“Let me also mention that in view of reports I have received, I have ordered an investigation into the utilization practices of the GETFund

in the past.”

Madam Speaker, this is the state in which we are. Things were not being done properly, and Mr President was bold to mention it.

Another area I would like to comment on is that of governance. I want to mention
-- 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Member, we are thanking His Excellency the President for the State of the Nation Address. And are you speaking to the motion? He said that, so are you thereby thanking him for saying it?
Mr Abayateye 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker, yes, I am thanking His Excellency the President for being bold to say what is happening. Mr President ought to be encouraged for speaking the truth. He is saying that the situation he inherited was this -- Yet he has been able to put things in order and this is what we are going through. Because of the state of how moneys were embezzled and things were not handled properly, projects which were started in 2004 and 2006 and which should have been completed, have not been completed. And because “chop chop waa waa”--
In the area of governance, I would like us to thank the President for what he has done. At least, His Excellency's tenure has been able to see that we organise stakeholders' conferences on decentralization, which have been held. There were two Parliamentary consul-tations on decentralization, which were held in Koforidua. There was a decentralization, workshop held at Akosombo, all to improve governance -- [Interruptions.] Oh, you keep quiet and sit down.
MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Order! Order!
Mr Abayateye 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we need to thank the President for taking a bold step. There has been the establishment of the Constitutional Review Committee for effective governance; there is the plan which is almost approaching for the construction of offices for Members of Parliament in all the 230 constituencies -- [Interruption.]
Mr Osei-Prempeh 12:45 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr Speaker, the Hon Member who is speaking on the floor is grossly misleading himself and sending a bad message -- In fact, from the language he is speaking -- the language itself and the facts and whatever he is saying, it is just so bad. To say that “to put the horse to the horn” -- [Interruptions] -- “to put the bull to the horn” -- What kind of language is that? And he goes on to say that because work has not been completed, it means we have “chopped money waa waa”. What kind of thinking is that?
The Hon Member is the Vice-Chairman of the Finance Committee. He is supposed to know some accounting and finance. I believe that some young ones are out there listening to us and if he sends the message that this is the way Members of Parliament think, it is very unfortunate and therefore, he must withdraw because his conclusions are so distasteful and he must withdraw them.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Member for Sege, please, continue.
Mr Abayateye 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, for my Senior Hon Colleague, I would like him to know -- [Interruption.]
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Member, please, now that I say continue, continue with your argument.
Mr Abayateye 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, one other aspect I would like us to thank His Excellency the President for, is this -- His Excellency the President is able to state with facts and I am giving a specific example where a quote of -- [Interruption.]
Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Vice-Chairman has consistently and deliberately misled the nation and this House. He is churning out venom that there is mismanagement. There is a clear difference between overspending and mismanagement. If he does not have any facts that there is mismanagement, please, he should not put it to this House.
Secondly, he says that he wants to thank the President for good governance. Has he ever heard of the name “Yakubu, Yaoza, Majid Alhassan, Mohammed Dagbana, Alhassan Shaibu and Imoro Gundana?” These are boys who have been locked up in Tamale cells without trial --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Member, that is not a point of order.
Hon Abayateye, you may, please continue.
Mr Abayateye 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, again, I am saying that we need to thank His Excellency the President for taking a bold step. He is not self-centred, he is not self- conceited. Issues which bother him, he has decided to sacrifice.
We were in this country when an award
was created for Heads of State by a sitting President. His Excellency the President has realised that personal interest should be above the national interest, hence,
Mr Opare-Ansah 12:55 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr Speaker, the Hon Member for Sege read extensively from a document he purports to be a report from the GETFund on its own activities. Would he be kind enough to avail that document to the House, so that the rest of us who are not privy to the contents of that document, will be able to read it and then address our minds to it and make meaningful contributions? So can he make copies available to the Table so that they make copies for us?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Member, kindly avail the Clerk of a copy and you are entitled to proceed.
Mr Abayateye 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the document from which I am quoting is in the -- I will make the whole booklet available to them when I go downstairs right now to the Public Accounts office and I will bring it here so that they make photocopies and give them to everybody to know that “chop” had happened -- [Interruptions.]
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Member, the proper procedure is that the moment you finish, you table it. So, just go by that and do not tell us what you want to do. The proper procedure is, you finish your contribution, you table it and then the appropriate steps would be taken by the appropriate person.
Please, continue.
Mr Abayateye 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I will do that. Thank you very much.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member, for your contribution.
Mr Kobina T. Hammond (NPP
-- Adansi Asokwa): Mr Speaker, I am happy to contribute to the motion on the floor of the House.
Mr Speaker, immediately after the President had given his Address to this House, there were comments about the President not having said anything and the radio stations and the newspapers took it up. I am not sure the import of that statement was that he did not say anything at all. Of course, he was here and he spoke to the extent of what is public in this book. I think the whole idea was, what did it really contain? The gravamen, the content, what was it?
Mr Speaker, the President said at page 3 of his Address that he can confidently say “So far -- Much better”. We do know that there is this -- to put it mildly -- difficulty between him and his founder, the founder of his party, the NDC and publicly the founder has made the whole world to understand that taxi drivers, market women, everybody is suffering. And let me buttress with just one episode, what his founder has been arguing about.
Just after the Address, I decided to abandon my car and hail a taxi. I presented myself as an NDC member, an NDC official and argued on their behalf. The driver was so rude to me, I was astounded. How could he be so rude? In fact, he went to the extent of telling me that if I as an NDC member was enjoying whatever, I could go to hell and leave the rest of the country -- they were suffering -- “Go and tell Mr. President, if Mr President thinks that so much, much better or so far, so much better . . .” That is what the taxi drivers are talking about and that is what they believe.
Again, Mr. Speaker, one of the Hon Members on the other side was on air, I heard him say that he was not happy the President did not talk about what they had
Mr George K. Blankson 12:55 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, my senior Hon Colleague opposite there is misleading the House and at the same time, confusing Ghanaians by saying that he boarded a taxi and he appeared to be an NDC person. It is an impersonation and it is a criminal offence --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Member, that is no point of order.
Hon Hammond, please, proceed. And for both sides of the House, I will insist that Hon Members should be allowed to contribute -- both sides.
Mr Hammond 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am worried about my Hon Brother and Colleague --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Hammond, please, continue.
Mr Hammond 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am continuing without crossfire.
Mr Speaker, the President should be told that the “So far -- Much better” agenda is perceived by the taxi driver the way I have described.
Another supplementary issue.
Mr Speaker, the President had told the House that we as Members of Parliament - he wants to help. And one of the ways in which he wants to help is to establish constituency offices for us.
Mr Speaker, I think on my own behalf, and a good chunk of Hon Members who have spoken, are with me -- I think we want to say thank you to His Excellency the President but no -- he should first give us offices in Accra.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Hon Hammond, you have four minutes to make the main contribution.
Mr Hammond 1:05 p.m.
I will operate within it; do not panic at all, Mr Speaker.
The gravamen of the whole statement, Mr Speaker, was that with the discovery of oil in the country, the Government was going to ensure that the economic take-off, so much talked about, is going to start. Everything in this statement, the economic development of Ghana hinges on the oil that Kufuor's Administration made sure was discovered.
Indeed, the President gives himself credit, at the end of it. I think the two years that he has got to go, he would have a credit and say that it will be the legacy of Atta Mills Presidency. To start with, that will be misleading the people. He will have no credit in that instance. He gives credit to former President Kwame Nkrumah. My reading has not taken me much to what former President Nkrumah did by way of making sure that oil is discovered in the country. But I know everything about how oil was discovered in the country and he has no credit in it and he must not take any for himself.
Mr Speaker, if that is it, and he tells us
about the diamond, bauxite and everything are all based on this -- Number one, quite a bit of the language used in there is not new. Sometimes one gets the impression that it is regurgitation of John Agyekum Kufuor's statement.
On the occasion when we went to VALCO and indeed, I also got the
impression the other day that, the other side of the House does not even know that VALCO has been purchased for the people of Ghana. For your education, the President and the Government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) did purchase VALCO for the people of Ghana for its economic and industrial take-off. That has all been done. So that statement there is not new, it is attributable to President Agyekum Kufuor and he should have been so credited.
The point I want to bring to their attention, Mr Speaker, is that if you have all this oil that you are happy about, and the international world is watching. This is what the international world is telling Ghanaians -- “if your oil puts you on the platform of economic development, you become a synoger. We are all watching you,” this is what the international world is saying.
One from the Wall Street Journal, a very reputable newspaper, indeed, this is what [Interruptions]-- You can shout as much as you want, I take it very seriously any statement written by the Wall Street Journal --
Mr Speaker, I would take you to what it
said, and please, government should take good note of it.
Mr Speaker, this is what -- and I will give a copy, it is reproduced in one of our local newspapers but the credit is there. Credit -- Wall Street Journal, 18th February, 2010 and he said this:
“President Obama headlined his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa last July with a stop in Ghana.
Speaking to the Parliament in Accra” this is what he said, “Mr Obama praised the country's growth and its example that development
depends on good governance.
Listen to what he says;
“Eight months later, Ghana's government is turning the nation into a cautionary tale for foreign investors.”
Mr Speaker, it then cites an example; he said:
“Exhibit A is the case of Kosmos Energy. . .”
And then he goes on to deal with what the government is dealing with Kosmos.
Mr Speaker, he goes on to say here [Interruptions -- ] Hon Members, listen, it is very important. Mr Speaker, on Wall Street Journal, what is happening in Ghana today -- “That's the kind of official thuggery . . .” expected of certain countries which name I will not mention, but not countries like Ghana.
Mr. Speaker, it goes on to cite further example, it says this 1:05 p.m.
“When Kosmos began its project under the then ruling New Patriotic Party, the business environment seemed relatively stable with adequate protections for foreign investors. Under Ghana law, consent for a deal such as the one between Kosmos and Exxon can't be unreasonably withheld, delayed or denied. Such contract protection began to dissolve in January 2009, with the election of the leftist National Democratic Congress.”
Listen to what they said about the current government.
“By April 2009, the deal was on the rocks, as Ghana's government set up a ‘review committee' . . .”
even though the Vice President John Mahama has said this.
Mr Speaker, exhibit 3, also talks about Vodafone and then the conclusion is this 1:05 p.m.
“Attracting foreign investment has been a pillar of Ghana's develop- ment strategy, with the government pitching itself as the “Gateway to Africa.”
It goes on to say --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Hon Member, you will wind up and then submit that document.
Mr Hammond 1:05 p.m.
I will submit that. Mr Speaker, it is important we conclude it by also drawing attention to this particular one in which an influential in America has also come up to literally accuse the present Government of thievery and gangsterism.
Mr Speaker, the other day we had the occasion to ratify an agreement in this House and in the process, I identified some difficulties. Madam Speaker, who sat in the Chair had indicated that we should come back to that issue. But for some reason, the Minority did not attend.
Mr Speaker, I drew attention to an anomaly, I did indicate that a certain company, minority shareholder in the gulf company which had two per cent interest in there. The Deputy Minister for Energy, on the other side of the House, Moses Asaga got up to tell me that their interest was a paid interest. Mr Speaker, I have it on authority that that statement that was made on the floor of this House pettily untrue and that it is a carried interest. I want that to be evidenced - the Hon Minister to come to this House and tell this House if --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Hon Member, you know the proper way of getting the Hon Minister to the House
Mr Hammond 1:15 p.m.
I will conclude Mr Speaker. But as I said, this is the gravamen of this statement. It is about the energy, the oil and everything and part of it is this contract that has been signed, in which we are being told that a company which has two per cent share in it has a paid interest. It turns out to be untrue.
The whole world has to know, if at this age, they are talking about transparency on the floor of the House, and we are being told actually what it takes, somebody has to rectify it and bring it to the floor of the House.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Hon Member, you will have to take your seat now and please, hand over that paper to the Table.
Mr Hammond 1:15 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Hon Members, we have ten contributors for today, we have had only two and we will insist that there will be the least of interruption and every Hon Member will have ten minutes by this clock.
I thank you.
Hon David T. Assumeng, Member of Parliament for Shai Osudoku.
Mr David T. Assumeng (NDC -- Shai Osudoku) 1:15 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity to contribute
in support of the motion to thank the President of the Republic for his State of the Nation Address.
Mr Speaker, I am happy that Hon Members of Parliament are here, and every day we move round the precincts of Parliament, and Mr Speaker, we have all been seeing a living testimony which was promised by the President in his last State of the Nation Address.
Mr Speaker, I am referring to the Job 600 accommodation. Mr. Speaker, the President came to this place and announced to us that this accommodation will be rehabilitated and lo and behold, after going round the precincts, you will see serious work ongoing. So Hon Members of Parliament should be grateful and appreciate this effort of the President that at least, some work is ongoing. People are even surprised but I am saying that the President promised and he has fulfilled it; there is work going on at the place, so Hon Members should appreciate this effort of the President.
Mr Speaker, the President again announced that he was going to set up offices for Members of Parliament in their constituencies. Mr Speaker, who will not believe this when there is a living testimony? Who will not believe that this effort of the President to set up offices for Members of Parliament will not materialize when today you go out and can see that work is ongoing on the “Job 600” accommodation?
Mr Speaker, this edifice will as well serve as offices for Hon Members of Parliament in Accra. Mr Speaker, I want Hon Members of Parliament, to at least, give praise where it is due.
Mr. Speaker, the President again agreed that the numerous on going affordable housing schemes that are scattered all over the country shall be completed. Mr
Mr David T. Assumeng (NDC -- Shai Osudoku) 1:15 p.m.


Mr Speaker, this delegation will come back to this nation to seal the deal. And Mr Speaker, we all know that there is a great shortfall in the housing sector in this country, so if the President is saying that “we are going to nail the coffin”, it means that the President has identified that the shortfall in the housing sector is a deadly issue that must be nailed in the coffin.

Mr Speaker, these are things that we must agree to and I am happy that the President, as a father of the nation, has come to this place to wholeheartedly give out what he thinks is right for this nation.

Mr Speaker, I can equally equate the State of the Nation Address given by the President to the statement or the speech made by Martin Luther King Junior in his “I have a dream” speech to the people of the United States of America. [Interruptions.] I am saying that the statement delivered by our President to us here can be equated to the speech delivered by Martin Luther King Junior in his “I
Prof. Dominic K. Fobih (NPP -- Assin South) 1:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to associate myself with the State of the Nation Address delivered by the President which is titled “Partners in Vision” to this House on the 25th February, 2010, and also to thank His Excellency the President for keeping to his faith by establishing the Constitutional Review Committee and also organising the National Conference on Decentralisation as promised in his first State of the Nation Address.
However, the President's promise to deliver monthly addresses to the nation has never materialised and that is something we must take note of.
Mr Speaker, on page 2 of the Address, the President states and with your permission, I quote:
“. . . we promised an Agenda of Change for a better Ghana . . .”
And he goes on to say that:
“. . . So far much better.”
We on this side of the House think otherwise and I believe many Ghanaians share the same view. With us “so far so
bad” and much better is expected of the administration. Indeed, the President's slow pace, or slow before acting, which is borne out of fear of making wrong decisions if he hastens up is not helping the country in any way, and we must be reminded that he has seriously twenty months to go to make effective governance and therefore, he should rather hasten up so that Ghanaians will benefit from his Administration.
On page 8 of the Statement, paragraph 2, the President again raises a question which is constantly asked by many Ghanaians to him and again, I quote:
“Where is the money in our pockets that you promised?”
In the President's written Speech, we see that he again, with the quotation, said: “. . . here too real change is happening”; yet in his extempore speech, he denied having said so, and in my opinion, this is a serious thing because there is a conflict between what is written, what he has sat down and reflected and written for Ghanaians and what he himself intuitively is saying before this House.
If a President is denying the fact that by the effectiveness of his Adminis- tration, money would rarely go into people's pockets, then it means that we should not have any hope in the Administration. Because all that we expect the Government to do, is to initiate policies and programmes that would really enrich our pockets so that we can live a decent life.
So by the President's denial of even the Statement, or abdication of his responsibility as our leader who will create the necessary wealth in our pockets, he is, indeed making Ghanaians feel a sense of hopelessness and also lose confidence in the system that he is running.
If really the President believes that a real change is happening as I have referred to in page 8, line 5 of his Address, why
cannot the President not convincingly and affirmatively accept the challenge that, yes, they promised that they would put money in our pockets because by their efficient and effective administration, they would introduce policies that would really create the necessary wealth for us? Indeed, it seems that nothing is really happening and I believe that is why when confronted with some shouts, he lost track and created that inconsistency.
Again, the President mentioned the
distribution of free uniforms to some schools in Awutu District in the Central Region. Mr Speaker, the true fact is that, out of the GH¢17.1 promised in the 2009 Budget Statement, only 50 uniforms were supposed to have been presented to some schools in Awutu District, and this even comprised 25 uniforms for boys and 25 for girls.
The reaction of the people then was that, these were over-sized and under- sized uniforms which could not even fit the school children. And then one wonders why this should happen and then begin to ask a number of questions. How were the pupils identified that their measurements could not be taken, and we had over-sized and under-sized uniforms presented to these school children?
Then we also asked, were there not some tailors and seamstresses in Awutu District to sew the dresses, when in fact they need jobs? And where did these uniforms come from, that it took almost a year after the promise in the first State of the Nation Address before even two schools in Awutu District were presented with some of these uniforms? I believe, with this snail pace that is happening in all sectors of the Administration, the promise that the President is making that by the end of this year, all schools in Ghana would be given school uniforms, is again going to be a mirage and I believe we should not take him seriously on that.
Again, in his Statement the President intends to provide free education to
disabled children and I am surprised, I am really astonished as to what the President really means by “free education for disabled children” -- because disabled children of primary school age are also children like all other children in Ghana and they are entitled to all the benefits that government has bestowed on basic education level children. So I wonder whether these children that he is referring to -- the disabled children are not covered by some of our policies that we have initiated in the basic sector. Like our policy of free education -- Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE), are they not covered by this policy?
Are they also not covered by the Education For All Goals, the EFA Goals? Are they also not covered by the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in education? Are they not covered by some of the initiated policies like the Capitation Grant, Free School Feeding and now, the Free School Uniform and the 10 free-exercise books?
So what is special then about the disabled children? Perhaps, the President needs to define what he means by “free education for disabled children” because in my opinion I find it difficult to -- [Inter- ruptions.] Many parents need to be told the content of this.
Now, the President again talks about
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
Order!
Order!
Prof. Fobih 1:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this promise is premised on what was said by the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning in this year's Budget
-- 1:25 p.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
Hon
Member, you will now conclude. I am watching the time closely.
Prof. Fobih 1:25 p.m.
I am a Ranking Member,
so I should be given extra time.
This is premised on what the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning said in his Budget Statement in 2010, where the Government plans to build 165 structures of such schools. Mr Speaker, I believe this target is unrealistic because in the 2009 Budget, Government recognized that the NPP Government built 377 of such schools, made up of 236 unit- classrooms and 147 three-unit classrooms in addition to 250 others, making a total of 627 primary structures.
Even with this pace, we did not even claim that we were going to eliminate totally, the schools under trees within that short time -- because in their first time in office, the NDC won office -- By their policies --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
Hon
Member, you would give your concluding sentence.
Prof. Fobih 1:25 p.m.
These things came into
being and therefore, they claim that they would eliminate them within this short time when in fact, we made it a priority attention when we came into office and therefore, we did a review which showed that about 5,227 such schools exist in this country and should be given attention.
I also want to say that when it comes
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
Hon
Member, I am afraid the time is up, please.
Prof. Fobih 1:25 p.m.
All right.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
‘And in conclusion . . .”
Hon Member, because the next person's time is being eaten into -- Please, conclude.
Prof. Fobih 1:25 p.m.
I will conclude, Mr.
Speaker, very soon.
We were able to give Nissan Patrol vehicles to Principals of Training Colleges and we were also able to give 140 vehicles to headmasters and headmistresses of senior high schools for the first time, in all cases, instead of just travelling by passenger vehicle or trotro to Accra to transact their official businesses and so on.
We were also able to enhance the reward that is given to the ‘Best Teacher' by introducing a housing scheme and also the second winner given a big car for that matter --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
Very well, Hon Member, I am afraid this House should not be guillotined.
Prof. Fobih 1:35 p.m.
Finally, Mr Speaker, I conclude that our record is clear and loud and that a lot of the things that the President seemed to have said, some of them, most of them happen to be just continuation even two years into office. And some of them were promises which have been made in his first State of the Nation Address and have never been
fulfilled even up to this second year.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Thank
you, very much, Hon Member.
Prof. Fobih 1:35 p.m.
And therefore, some of
the statements cannot be taken seriously.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
We would have to put some order on some of these things.
Prof. Fobih 1:35 p.m.
I, however, thank H. E. the President for making the Statement.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
The next contributor is Hon Richard Lassey- Agbenyefia, Hon Member for Keta.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Hon Member for Ledzokuku? Is the Hon Member for Ledzokuku in the House?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Hon Member for Kintampo South?
Some Hon Members 1:35 p.m.
Absent!
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
The Hon Member for Ho West?
Mr Emmanuel K. Bedzra (NDC --
Ho West): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the motion ably tabled by the Hon Member for Garu-Tempane (Mr Dominic A. Azumah ) and seconded by the Hon Member for Esikadu/Ketan (Mr Joe Ghartey).
Mr Speaker, the President fulfilled his
constitutional obligation by coming to this House to deliver his State of the Nation Address in accordance with articles 34(2)
and 67 of the 1992 Constitution.
Mr Speaker, the President was on top
of the day, which clearly shows that he is the better man for Ghana. [Interruptions.] He has delivered his speech, gave some promises and hope to Ghanaians just as he did in his maiden Address last year.
Mr Speaker, in his maiden Address,
the President promised Hon Members of this House that he was going to give us Research Assistants and the President has fulfilled just that. [Hear! Hear!] This alone shows that he is a credible man, a man of integrity and a man of his word.
Mr Speaker, one cannot talk about basic human rights as espoused in article 34 (2) of our Constitution, which informs us that the President must come to this House to report to the House about all steps he is taking to ensure the realisation of policy objectives stated in Chapter 6 -- that is the Directive Principles of State Policy. This basic human right -- includes the right for us to have shelter, the right for us to have food, clothing, et cetera.
His Excellency, the President came

Mr. Speaker, this clearly shows that
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon
Samuel Obodai?

Mr Samuel K. Obodai (NPP --

Agona West): Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to add my voice to my Hon Colleagues in thanking His Excellency for delivering the State of the Nation Address to this august House.

I see this Address as being a wonderful

address -- [Hear! Hear!] -- Wonderful in the sense that it is full of surprises. [Laughter.] Negative surprises -- [Interruptions] -- Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleagues do not want me to continue but I will continue. [Laughter.]

Right from the beginning of his

delivery, His Excellency the President did not recognise the presence of some important dignitaries like the Chief Justice.

She was sitting closest to him while he was standing delivering his speech, yet he did not recognise her presence, neither did he recognise the presence of any member of the Judiciary.

Mr Speaker, the surprise number two that I observed was about what he stated in page 2, the third paragraph and with your kind permission I want to read it:

“As part of that challenge, I made a commitment to do away with the style of politics that mistook democratic transfer of power as an opportunity to wreck vengeance.”

Mr Speaker, we were all in this country last year and we saw and heard of the arrest of some members of the previous Government and sent to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and when people started complaining, the responses that we heard were that even during the previous Administration, that was, during the New Patriotic Party's (NPP's) Administration, some Hon Members like Hon E. T. Mensah, Hon Kenneth Dzirasah also suffered the same fate.

If His Excellency should tell us that he is committed to the fact that he is ensuring that the style of politics that mistook democratic transfer of power as an opportunity to wreck vengeance, then it surprises me a lot.

Mr Speaker, another surprise is, His Excellency -- [Interruptions.] I am saying that another surprise is; listen well -- is that, His Excellency appreciated the seriousness of being slow in his action; he really appreciated the seriousness. Mr Speaker, but I know that even when your child's teacher reports to you that your child is slow in class, you would try your best to talk to your child to change for the better. And here is the case we have

the President of the land appreciating the seriousness of being slow.

Mr Speaker, yet he went on to caution his Ministers to be time conscious What surprised me was that he said he would ask the organisers of programmes that invite Ministers to such programmes to take them on. He knows that he is slow, so he cannot take them on; so organisers should take them on.
rose
Mr Obodai 1:45 p.m.
Oh, Aidoo, won so tena ase na me nkasa! [Laughter.] Mr Speaker -- [Interruption.]
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Since the Hon Member on his feet insists that he would rather recognise the person standing, I now recognise the person standing.
Mr J. B. Aidoo 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the rules of debate -- Order 86 (1) -- and with your permission I quote:
“A Member desiring to speak shall rise in his place and address the Chair only after catching Mr. Speaker's eye.”
Mr Speaker, every Member in this House has a place and the Hon Member is not rising in his place. At the moment, he is hiding behind some pillar --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Member, having risen in his place, what does the rules say as to where he should speak from?
Mr J. B. Aidoo 1:45 p.m.
He should speak from his place --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Please, read, read. He rises in his place, he is seen and then --
Mr J. B. Aidoo 1:45 p.m.
And address the Chair, only. But where he is, he is not
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
That Order does not say, therefore, that the Member must necessarily only speak from his or her place or a certain particular place.
Hon Member, please, conclude; you have two minutes exactly. I am going by the clock.
Mr Obodai 1:45 p.m.
Oh Mr. Speaker --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Member, kindly conclude.
Mr Obodai 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, one other serious issue that bothers me so much is about the fact that His Excellency made an indication that from hence, all users of the VVIP Lounge would go through the humiliating body checks. Mr. Speaker, I see this as a way of downgrading the Presidency. [Interruptions.]
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Order! order!
Mr Obodai 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he even stated that, he himself. Mr Speaker, I want to know from you that would you ever -- [Interruption.]
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Member, you address me but you cannot know from me. So kindly go on.
Mr Obodai 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, would you ever ask your security man in your House --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Member, you are not allowed to ask the Speaker questions. [Interruption.] Just go on and conclude.
Mr Obodai 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, would it ever happen that a landlord, living in his own house asks his own security man, who is
a watchman in his house, to conduct a search on him whenever he is going out? [Interruption.] This, I see as a populist talk --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
“And so in conclusion”, Hon Member.
Mr Obodai 1:45 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, it would be very, very odd to see our President standing before a security man at the airport that “I, President J. E. A. Mills, I am travelling to the United Kingdom (UK), so search me before I go”. Very, very odd. Is he saying that if the Pope is visiting Ghana, he would go through such a humiliating body checks at the airport? Is he saying that if officials from the United Nations -- if President Obama is coming to this country and he uses the VVIP lounge, he would go through that humiliating body checks? Mr Speaker, I think that --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Member, you may now conclude so that I call the next person.
Mr Obodai 1:45 p.m.
This is a flagrant breach of etiquette in diplomatic circles and this can easily trigger diplomatic routs; therefore, the President must come out properly on this matter so that Ghana, as it has been built by the NPP Administration, the good name that has been created -- [Hear! hear!] -- would be maintained.
On this note, Mr Speaker, I have not finished. But in conclusion, I was expecting His Excellency the President to talk about the Cerebro Spinal Meningitis; he never mentioned it. Look at such a serious thing which has taken, as we speak today, about 57 lives and he did not mention even a word to allay the fears of our people living up North. Mr Speaker, His Excellency must be sensitive, very, very sensitive to issues that bother on the good people of this country.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Darko-Mensah.
Mr Kwabena O. Darko-Mensah (NPP -- Takoradi) 1:55 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to support the motion ably moved by Hon Dominic Azumah and seconded by Hon Joe Ghartey.
I believe that we are all happy the President --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
If the Hon Majority Leader wants to expand his list, he may kindly have it duly submitted.
Mr Darko-Mensah 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we were all happy when the President came to the House for the State of the Nation Address. Unfortunately, the President made some statements, I do believe, that do not form a good premise for the speech that he made.
Looking at the NDC Manifesto, page 18, the NDC stated categorically before coming to power that Ghana is a nation in distress. On page 42, they mentioned again that the state of the economy of Ghana is in a state of paralysis, that is page 14, paragraph 4.
I, therefore, find it strange that the President keeps making the same statement before he makes his assumptions. For instance, on page 8, he goes on to say --
“We took over a run-down economy characterized by unbridled spending and far too much sole-sourcing that did not offer value for money.”
If you go to page 5, it goes on to say that the
“. . . the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning outlined the challenges we were facing in
tackling the unsustainable budget deficit, the arrears and unpaid bills and crippling judgment debts.”.
The question you ask yourself is, if a person was aware the country was in crisis, the state of the economy was paralyzed, how then do you expect the same person who has been voted to come and solve the same problem still complaining about that problem. In fact, if you look at the NDC Manifesto, page 42 --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Hon Members, having regard to the state of business in the House, I direct that Sitting be held outside the prescribed period as provided by Standing Order 40 (3).
Hon Member, you may continue.
Mr Darko-Mensah 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if you look at page 42 of the NDC Manifesto, it is clear that the NDC was looking at a single digit inflation, exchange rate stability, a balanced Budget with a deficit not exceeding 3 per cent in any given year. So you ask yourself, if the NDC had been voted into power to come and implement their own manifesto, what is their business comparing with the performance of the
NPP?
In fact, they have to compare with their own manifesto to show Ghanaians that they are implementing it for a better Ghana and not for a bitter Ghana. So far these statistics, you will come to realize that they have not been able to achieve any of these statistics.
Moving forward, you would come to realize that if the economy the NPP left for the NDC at the GDP growth rate of 7.3 per cent and recently, the statement issued by Mr Duncan of the Ghana Statistical Service, that the 2008 GDP of this country was under-valued by 30 per cent, then clearly, it shows that, the deficit of 14.5 per cent that was calculated by the NDC, in actual fact, is a surplus of 15.5 per cent and not the 14.5 per cent.
So the NDC does not have any basis
Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho (NDC -- Abokobi-Madina) 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to add my voice to all Hon Members in thanking His Excellency for discharging not only a constitutional duty but also being frank, honest in humility. Mr Speaker, for want of time, I would want to limit myself to aspects of the economy, industry, trade, infras-tructure and a bit on tourism.
Mr Speaker, it has been said over and over that the NDC under the President came and met an economy which we could not be proud of. It was not that His Excellency the President was saying it but it was a fact supported by all the reputable organisations that deal as far as Economist of the world is concerned.
I am referring to the World Bank,
Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho (NDC -- Abokobi-Madina) 2:05 p.m.
So I am not talking out of the blue, I am talking --So the President said on page 3, paragraph 3 of the Message and Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote:
“I and the new administration promised to cool the overheated economy and revive the declining currency --”
Is it true or not? Was it done? The overheated economy, was it not cooled? The declining currency, was it not arrested? Is the cedi not appreciating? Businessmen can now plan ahead and know that in six months time, if I do this, I can do that.
Mr Speaker, let me just give you a small statistics here. With all the problems that were still going on and the hullabaloo, in the agricultural sector, under President Mills, only last year, investment in that sector amounted to US$100 million. Go to the GIPC, go and take it, the last quarter, I am not talking out of nothing.
Building and construction rose from 22 per cent under the same quarter under the NPP to US$48.8 million. I am not saying that NPP, did not do anything but please, let us give credit where it is due. Under the NPP in 2007, 2008, we are saying that yes, the economy grew at 7.3 per cent. Yes, but that was the time that the average African growth was 5.5 per cent. We are

We are using it to do work and create employment. So, Mr Speaker, it is true that yes, the economy, there were problems. The NPP took it. In 2007, we were all proud but let us also agree that things went bad in 2008 and in the quest of the NPP to win power, they overspent, they over-borrowed and they did not use prudent -- They were just out of order.

Now, Mr Speaker, job creation -- People talked. My Hon Brothers were talking, “Where are the jobs? They said they would put money in people's pockets.” Even those who promised at Swedru rallies that, let me quote in vernacular, I will translate it.

“Ye yen naekase kwaen. Ye bekyere mo na mo de mo nsa hye mo mmotoam akoto sika sa, enye kwaen.” Literally, we are not going to eat roads. We are coming so that when you put your hands in your pocket, it goes to touch money.

It was a phrase that was said to mean that the environment will be such that you can do your own business. When they said they would put money in your pocket, at least, the President did not say that Ghanaians are lazy because they do not want to work and that is why they do not have money, no. He did not say that. He said, yes, we need to create the environment such that there can be jobs. “Hotel Moving Big” is just at the corner under tourism. Three thousand jobs to be created under it.

There are so many other projects lined up. Let us be fair and say that, ‘Look, yes, times are hard but under Professor Mills,

we are seeing the light.” This is a man who has come and instead of you praising him -- The surprises that my Hon Brother got up and said, I am not --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Hon Member, you would say your concluding words.
Alhaji Sorogho 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was coming to --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
I have deliberately extended it, you were making very interesting contributions.
Alhaji Sorogho 2:05 p.m.
That is interesting. Is it more than 10 minutes?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
You have gone more than 10 minutes but it is all right. Just conclude. I have been -- please.
Alhaji Sorogho 2:15 p.m.
Well, Mr Speaker, I just want to say that I thank you very much and to say that yes, times are hard, but let us all be frank and give credit to where it is due. This is a man who is a father, he did not come chasing -- and the surprise is that, some of the old people thought that by this time, they would have been chasing them. That is why he said he is surprised; anyway, that surprise can continue.
I thank you very much and urge all Hon Members --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
Hon Woyome.
Mr Kobla M. Woyome (NDC -- South Tongu) 2:15 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the wonderful opportunity to contribute to the motion that this Honourable House thanks His Excellency the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which

he delivered to this Honourable House on Thursday, 25th February, 2010, which was ably moved by the Hon Member for Garu/Tempane, Mr Dominic Azimbe Azumah on Tuesday, 2nd March, 2010 and seconded by the Hon Member for Esikadu/ Ketan, Mr Joe Ghartey.

Mr Speaker, I would want us to fit this wonderful delivery by His Excellency the President into a special context. I would want to begin with as we are all focusing our minds on the situation that existed when His Excellency the President took office and where the previous Govern- ment left off.

By your indulgence, I will be reading certain portions of my note to buttress various points I will be raising.

His Excellency the President and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government assumed power when there was heightened anxiety and insecurity in the global economy. Mr Speaker, we know about the famous economic downturn or the credit crunch situation that occurred.

Mr Speaker, institutions of global economies and financial managements were under enormous stress, hence the case of Ghana that depends on some of these countries and institutions for budgetary support, could not easily access funds.

Mr Speaker, other impacts include the volatility in commodity prices, reductions in foreign aid and in remittance flows from citizens working abroad who have lost their jobs as a result of the problems that existed in those developed countries.

Of course, this, I will say Mr Speaker, the previous Government enjoyed so much from these remittances and we heard about some of the good messages in whatever

addresses that they were churning out at the time, were all applauding our dear brothers and sisters living in those developed nations -- who have had to continue to remit some funds to their relations in this country and of course, Ghana benefiting so much from that.

Mr Speaker, the Government inherited an economy characterised by the following and with your indulgence I would want to quote a few figures -- Fiscal deficit, meaning the excess expenditure over revenue was GH¢2.5 billion in 2008. This was over 15 per cent GDP, later counting further to about 24 per cent GDP.

Mr Speaker, these were really great challenges for any new government to really have a smooth take off.

The external deficit or balance of payments for 2008 was estimated at GH¢3.42 billion, also about 18 per cent of GDP. Here too, what do we see? We have spent more money on foreign goods and services than we have earned.

Mr Speaker, the rate of inflation accelerated from 12.7 per cent at the end of 2007 to 18.1 per cent at the end of December, 2008. In the space of two years, that is between 2006 and 2008, our stock of external debt increased from US$2.2 billion to US$3.9 billion.

Mr Speaker, obviously, the effect would definitely be felt by a new government that had just taken office.

Mr Speaker, the overall national debt increased to US$7.6 billion in 2008, fromUS$5.3 billion in 2006. This is in spite of the over US$5.0 billion debts relief which we enjoyed as a nation since 2001.

Mr Speaker, the last sharp decrease in value of the cedi against major foreign currencies uncounted by Ghanaians in the early part of the year 2009 was due to the delayed effect of very high and

excessive spending, coupled with major trade imbalances experienced in 2006.

Mr Speaker, a new Government taking office, definitely, cannot run from the challenges at the time and will definitely have to devise a strategy to overcome most of these challenges and would need the support of all of us -- whether you are NDC or NPP to be able to overcome the challenges.

Mr Speaker, we are aware of the figure 7.3 per cent growth in the GDP as the previous regime really came up with. But then we have to really look at the context in which some of these figures are coming. Because I am aware that GDP growth could be measured through one of the three components as follows -- general expenditure will be a yardstick; general income could also be looked at; and then general output in the economy could also be looked at. But in this country and the data available for the measurement of this particular indicator, we use expenditure.

Mr Speaker, the expenditure approach was what was used to determine the GDP growth. The aggregate of expenditure of service, agriculture and industry is what is generally collated and used in determining the growth.

Therefore, how do we interpret the 7.3 per cent growth? Therefore, what I think is this, the growth of 7.3 per cent of GDP over the 5.0 per cent which was the average for the entire African Continent, is something that we need to look at.

Of course, we might have done well but it is all because of the excessive expenditure that definitely propelled that figure to be realized. That is also one area that we need to look at; it could not have been sustained by any new government in power. Because arrears, excessive expenditure or deficit has to be financed and you need to devise a strategy to be

able to raise the needed revenue or come out with the strategy of getting over that through some collaboration with our development partners. We are all aware of the situation we live in today in the world.

Mr Speaker, one year of His Excellency the President and NDC Government's stewardship to Ghanaians, in overcoming the myriad of challenges including unsustainable budget deficits, the arrears and unpaid bills and the crippling judgement debts, came about through the taking of bold and difficult measures to achieve fiscal consolidation and macro- economic stability --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Hon Member, if you will, please, conclude.
Mr Woyome 2:25 p.m.
Thank you, Mr
Speaker.
Mr Speaker, the President should be praised for devising a credible arrears clearance strategy that would not put excessive pressure on current and future budgets. That we ought to watch and see that this is a Government that is really up with the needed immediate tools and men to deliver on the promises we gave Ghanaians.
Mr Speaker, to effectively engage the
private sector -- [Interruption] -- which is widely recognized to be the engine to propel the accelerated growth of the Ghanaian economy, the policy direction of Government to develop the framework for public private partnership should be highly commended by all, more especially by the operators in the sector. This would go a long way to accelerate the socio- economic development of the entire country.
Mr Speaker, I will want to conclude
by saying that, notwithstanding the challenges of stabilizing the economy and the cedi against all major currencies,
-- 2:25 p.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Hon Member, you do not seem to be concluding. Will you say your last statement?
Mr Woyome 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would
want to conclude by also saying that His Excellency the President ought to be commended for the establishment of this strategic buffer company to really help in providing the needed food security for this country.
On this note, I want to thank you and
thank His Excellency the President for the wonderful delivery on that day.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:25 p.m.
The
last contribution will come from Hon Prof. [Emeritus] S. K. Amoako.
Hon Member, you have ten minutes.
Prof. (Emeritus) S. K. Amoako
(NPP -- Akim Abuakwa North): Mr.
Speaker, I think I will even try to make it in less than ten minutes.
But thank you for the opportunity to comment on the second State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President.
Mr Speaker, being the second State of the Nation Address, I cannot help but to compare it with last year's State of the Nation Address. I will describe the Address of 2009 as a good one, much better than the Address of this year. This is not because last year's speech was of an excellence standard but because I did not expect much from the President having been in office for only a few months. But this year, I expected the President to give us a very comprehensive State of the Nation Address but it fell short of my expectations.
Mr Speaker, because of time, I will
want to limit myself to issues dealing with education. The President touched only seven short paragraphs on education even though education takes about 35 per cent of our national Budget and that in my opinion, was a big disappointment.
Again, the President said he was not touching on education because it has been captured in the national annual Budget. That again, in my opinion, was a disappointment because there is a difference between a budget and the state of the nation address.
If anything, a budget is an economic document which is only an estimate or assessment or projections of the expenditure for the year. But the state of the nation address is supposed to be an assessment of the performance of the Government for the year. So for the President to say that many of these things have been captured in the Budget, did not impress me.
Mr Speaker, let me take the issues that
were addressed by the President. In fact, I did not see any policy initiative affecting education in the State of the Nation Address and even the President could not expatiate on the policies that were started by the NPP Government.
Mr Joseph Y. Chireh 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
on a point of order. Mr Speaker, the point is that the Hon Member on the floor is talking about what the President said in relation to the Budget and the State of the Nation Address. For the education of everybody, a budget statement is a policy statement; there was an economic and financial policy statement of government, which was made. The State of the Nation Address is to indicate what has happened and what is happening. It is, therefore, not proper for the President to go into details about what we are going to do in education and agriculture, which have already been outlined in the Budget, so that is the rationale.
So he is misleading this House by saying that the President did not go into details about education, he did it; the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning did that and he, as a member of one of the committees, would have gone into detail. So I think that he should correct himself and go along.
Prof (Emeritus) Amoako 2:25 p.m.
Mr.
Speaker, I think this is an unnecessary intervention and I will not even comment on it.
Prof (Emeritus) Amoako 2:25 p.m.
Mr
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Order!
Order!
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 2:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, take the free supply of textbooks and uniforms. The President said the supply of free uniforms had started in some districts in the Central Region and that it would cover the whole nation this year. In my opinion, that is very over-ambitious because if you could not cover even two regions in one year, I wonder how he can do ten regions in one year.
But be that as it may, let me also state that the school uniforms we were promised -- we were told that the school uniforms would be sewn by local tailors and seamstresses. Now, what we see is that the whole thing has been centralized in Accra and even NDC Regional Ministers have refused to take the uniforms because they were not sent into their regions -- that is a fact, check it. [Interruptions.] The Upper East Regional Minister refused to take the uniforms that were sent to him because they were sewn in Accra. It is supposed to be decentralized and it is not --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 p.m.
Order!
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 2:35 p.m.
I will appeal

Mr Speaker, another dimension of the free uniform is something that I am trying to appeal to the Government -- Again, the schools are refusing to take the uniforms because --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 p.m.
Hon Members, I want us to be -- if you want to make such statements, check on them. I am keeping a close eye on the clock, because that is an insinuation and kindly watch such statements. Ten minutes is not gone and I mean exactly that, please.
Please, continue.
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 2:35 p.m.
Now, talking about -- [Interruptions] -- No, I have not finished. I was referring to the free supply of school uniforms. Now, what you have to know is that, it is only one type of uniform that the Government is supplying. The mission schools are refusing to take the uniforms because they are not going according to their colours. The Methodists want yellow uniforms; the Presbyterians want green uniforms, the Catholics want white uniforms but they are giving only chocolate uniforms to all schools. That is unacceptable by the parents and you should take note of that.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 p.m.
Hon Member, kindly begin to wind up.
Prof (Emeritus) Amoako 2:35 p.m.
I will wind up.
Mr Speaker, the biggest disappoint-ment
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 p.m.
Hon Member, you will now wind up and conclude.
Prof. (Emeritus) Amoako 2:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have a lot more to say but because of time, I will end by supporting the motion to thank the President for his second disappointing State of the Nation Address.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 p.m.
We are just about to adjourn but I would want to know if the Leadership has anything special to say at this time.
Mr Avoka 2:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think this brings us to the conclusion of the debate for today, with nothing special to add, or to request for.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 p.m.
Thank you very much, Majority Leader.
Minority Leader?
Mr Opare-Ansah 2:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe
we have done a very good job this week and we would like to encourage Hon Members to try and stay through the extended Sitting that we have proposed for next Tuesday's Sitting. If you look round the House now, you would realize that we have only a handful of Members left and that, as we said earlier in the day, is not good for our image.
So we would appeal to Members to try and stay longer and that is why I know Hajia Boforo has been working in the background to ensure that their welfare is catered for when we stay longer. So on that note, I believe we can end proceed- ings.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 p.m.
Hon Members, the House will stand adjourned till Tuesday, 9th March, 2010 at 10.00 a.m.
ADJOURNMENT 2:35 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 2.40 p.m. till Tuesday, 9th March, 2010 at 10.00 a.m.