Debates of 4 May 2010

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:05 a.m.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE 11:05 a.m.
PRESIDENT 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Members, I have received a correspondence from the President and I shall read it to you:
“30th April, 2010
The Rt Hon Speaker Office of Parliament Parliament House Accra
Right Hon Speaker,
Absence from Ghana
In accordance with article 59 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, I write to inform you that I will be absent from Ghana from the morning of Mon- day, 3rd of May, 2010 to the evening of Monday, 3rd of May, 2010, during which period I shall attend the investiture of H.E. Faure Essozima Gnassingbe in the Republic of Togo.
During my absence from Ghana, the Vice President H.E. John Dramani Maha- ma, shall, in accordance with article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in my stead.
Kindly accept, Right Honourable, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Sgd.) PROF. JOHN EVANS ATTA MILLS
OF GHANA 11:05 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Members, we now go on to Correction of Votes and Proceedings dated 24th March, 2010.
Pages 1 - 12.
In the absence of any corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 24th March, 2010 is adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, we shall not correct any Official Report today. So we move on to item (34); the Business Statement for the Special Meeting.
Hon Majority Leader, item (3)?
Mr. Cletus A. Avoka 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, let me rspectfully join you in welcoming Hon Colleagues back to the House on this Urgent Business that we are going to do.
Madam Speaker, even though I indicat-
ed on the 24th of March, on the day that we were rising that there was a possibility of us being recalled. At that time, I did not know or inform the House when exactly we were to be recalled. It was sometime last week that the announcement came.
So I want to take this opportunity to commend Hon Members that notwith- standing the short notice that was given to us, many of us have been able to attend to the House and to Government Business today. We commend them.
Madam Speaker, it is the prayer of Leadership --
Mr. Avoka 11:05 a.m.
-- Madam Speaker, this House will submit a memorandum on the proposed amendment to the Constitution to the Constitutional Review Commission. So it is also the intention of Leadership that between now and Friday we would be able to put a team in place for this august House so that the team can make the necessary proposals for the consi-deration of all of us for onward submission to the Constitutional Review Commission.
Thirdly, before I read the Business
Statement, I want to inform Hon Colleagues that we are aware of the outstanding House matters or welfare matters affecting us. So it is our contemplation between today and Friday, before we rise, that we would be able to get the necessary information and feedback to address some of these outstanding matters that bedevil us before we go on break so that we know what we are entitled to or what is in store for us.
Having made these observations,
Madam Speaker, I would now want to present to the august House, the Business Statement for the Special Meeting ending 7th May, 2010.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:05 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Statement(s)
Madam Speaker may allow Statements duly admitted to be made in the House.
Bills, Papers and Reports
Madam Speaker, Bills may be presen- ted to the House for consideration and those already before the House may be taken through the various stages. Madam Speaker, a number of Agreements and other Papers may be laid and referred to the appropriate committees for con- sideration and report.
Motions and Resolutions
Madam Speaker, motions may be debated and thei r consequent ia l Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
M a d a m S p e a k e r , t h e H o u s e i s e x p e c t e d t o r i s e Sine Die
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:05 a.m.


on Friday, 7th May, 2010.

Conclusion

Madan Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2) and subject to Order 53, the Committee submits to this Honourable House, the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week. Tuesday, 4th May, 2010

Statements

Presentation and First Reading of Bills --

(a) Internal Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2010.

(b) Engineering Council Bill, 2010.

(c) Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2010.

Laying of Papers --

(a) Commissions of Inquiry (Practice and Procedure) Rules,

2010 (C. I. 65).

(b) Court of Appeal (Commissions of Inquiry) Rules, 2010 (C.I.

66).

(c) Public Utilities (Termination of Service) (Amendment) Regu- lations, 2010 (L. I. 1964).

(d) Credit Agreement between the Government of Ghana and Raifeinsen Zentralbank Oster-reich Aktiengesellschaft (Central Bank of Austria) for an amount of €7,495,000.00 for the up-grading and enhancement of Technical and Vocational

Training Centres.

(e) Preferential Buyer's Credit Agreemen t be tween t he Government of Ghana and the Government of the People's Republic of China acting through the Export-Import Bank of China for an amount of US$260.00 million for the construction of the Kpong Water Supply Expansion Project.

(f) Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) for an amount of UA5,199,718.00 for the partial financing of the construction of, and the supply and installation of equipment for the Bekwai District Hospital under the Health Services Rehabilitation Project III.

(g) Supplier's Credit Financing Agreemen t be tween t he Government of Ghana and STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Limited for an amount of US$1,525,443,468.00 for the construction of 30,000 units of houses under the Security Services Housing Project.

(h) Credit Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the China EXIM Bank for an amount of US$102,000,000.00 for the f inancing of the Na t iona l E l ec t r i f i c a t i on Scheme (Northern Regional Electrification Project).

(i) Supplier 's Credit Facility Agreemen t be tween t he Government of Ghana and the China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE) for

an amount of US$90,000,000.00 for the financing of the National Electrification Scheme (Upper West Regional Electrification Project).

(j) Request for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner to waive tax arrears and penalties owed by the Social Investment Fund (SIF) of an amount of five hundred and seven thousand, fifty-eight Ghana cedis and sixteen pesewas (GH¢507,058.16) being arrears and penalties assessed for the period 1991 to 2004.

(k) Report of the Joint Committee on Local Government and Rural Development and Roads and Transport on the Centre for Urban Transportation Bill, 2009.

Committee Sittings.

Statements

Laying of Papers

Motions --

Second Reading of Bills --

Centre for Urban Transportation Bill, 2009.

Committee Sittings.

Statements

Laying of Papers --

(a) Report of the Finance Committee on the Credit Agreement between
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:05 a.m.
the Government of Ghana and the China EXIM Bank for an amount of US$102,000,000.00 for the financing of the National Electrification Scheme (Nor- thern Regional Electri-fication Project).
(f) Report of the Finance Committee on the Supplier's Credit Facility Agree-ment be tween the Government of Ghana and the China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE) for an amount of US$90,000,000.00 for the financing of the National Electrification Scheme (Upper West Regional Electrification Project).
(g ) Repor t o f the F inance Committee on the Request for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commis-sioner to waive tax arrears and penalties owed by the Social Investment Fund (SIF) of an amount of Five hundred and seven thousand, fifty-eight Ghana Cedis and sixteen pesewas (GH¢507,058.16) being arrears and penalties assessed for the period 1991 to 2004.
Consideration Stage of Bills --
Centre for Urban Transportation Bill, 2009.
Committee Sittings.

Statements

Laying of Papers

Motions --

(a) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Credit Agreement between the Government of Ghana

and Raifeinsen Zentralbank Osterreich Aktiengesellschaft (Central Bank of Austria) for an amount of €7,495,000.00 for the upgrading and enhancement of Technical and Vocational Training Centres.

[Consequential Resolution] (b) Adoption of the Report of the

Finance Committee on the Preferential Buyer's Credit A g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e Government of Ghana and the Government of the People's Republic of China acting through the Export-Import Bank of China for an amount of US$260.00 million for the construction of the Kpong Water Supply Expansion Project.

(c) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) for an amount of UA5,199,718.00 for the partial financing of the construction of, and the supply and installation of equipment for the Bekwai District Hospital under the Health Services Rehabilitation Project III.

(d) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Supplier's Credit Financing A g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e Government of Ghana and STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Limited for an amount of US$1,525,443,468.00 for the construction of 30,000 units of houses under the Security Services Housing Project.

(e) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Credit Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the China EXIM Bank for an amount of US$102,000,000.00 for the f inancing of the Na t iona l E l ec t r i f i c a t i on Scheme (Northern Regional Electrification Project).

(f) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Supplier's Credit Facility A g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e Government of Ghana and the China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE) for an amount of US$90,000,000.00 for the financing of the National Electrification Scheme (Upper West Regional Electrification Project).

(g) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner to waive tax arrears and penalties owed by the Social Investment Fund (SIF) of an amount of five hundred and seven thousand, fifty-eight Ghana cedis and sixteen pesewas (GH¢507,058.16) being arrears and penalties assessed for the period 1991 to 2004.

Third Reading of Bills --

·

Centre for Urban Transportation Bill, 2009.

The House expected to rise Sine Die.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Leader.
Any comment on the Business Statement?
Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, just a preliminary observation relating to the initial matters raised by the Hon Majority Leader.
I would want to believe that when he said that the House may have to form some committee to respond to the entreaties of the Constitutional Review Commission, I should think that he actually meant a special or an ad hoc committee for us to deal with this matter.
The second thing is in respect of the
welfare matters. I would want to believe that he will activate the House Committee to deal with these matters because they are very urgent and very pressing. The Majority Leader is the Chairman of the House Committee and so I am reminding him of his responsibility to this House to deal with this urgent business.
Madam Speaker, on the other matters
which he raised, I am sorry to observe that -- I believe we are not acting in concert with the provisions of our own Standing Orders. Madam Speaker, article 112 (3) of our Constitution is clear on what to do in these matters of a special recall of Parliament. Indeed, Standing Order 38 (1) reinforces what ought to be done in such circumstances, and Madam Speaker, with respect, let me read of Order 38(1) which is just a rehash of article 112(3). Madam Speaker, Order 38(1) says:
“The Speaker shall, pursuant to clause (3) of article 112 of the Constitution, upon a request of fifteen per cent of Members of
Parliament summon a Meeting of Parliament within seven days after the receipt of the request, except that the meeting shall commence not later than seven days after the issue of the summons.”
Madam Speaker, what I mean is that even where Hon Members make a request that there should be a Special Sitting, the agenda would be known to the House before your goodself instructs the Clerk to summon Parliament.
Madam Speaker, again, if one considers Order 32 (2) 11:05 a.m.
“Not latter than fourteen days before the commencement of a Meeting the Clerk shall give written notice of the Meeting to each Member, except when Parliament is adjourned to a specified date which is not more than fourteen days from the date of such adjournment, or in cases of emergency in which case the Clerk shall give notification by such means as the urgency of the matter requires.”
“The urgency of the matter” -- Madam Speaker, so before coming, we ought to have known what matters we were going to consider so that Hon Members will come here better prepared and focused. I am not in any way blaming the Clerk in this respect. I am talking about how we arrange business in the House and the Majority Leader is supposed to be the Leader of the House and the Leader of Government Business in the House.
So before they transmitted the message to your goodself that we ought to meet in this Special Meeting, Hon Members ought to have known beforehand the agenda. So that as I said, we would come prepared. But we are ushered here not knowing what it is that we are going to discuss except for
Madam Speaker, again, Order 33 (1) says 11:40 a.m.
“The Clerk shall send to each Member a copy of the Agenda for each Meeting, if possible, fourteen days before the Meeting, and shall, whenever the circumstances require, circulate a Supplementary Agenda.”
Madam Speaker, the agenda of Parliament is the business that is to be conducted by Parliament. So these things ought to be done so that we are not ushered in here to do something and later be accused of having just been summoned to rubber-stamp what the Executive might have proposed. I believe that what is right ought to be done in a right manner.
Madam Speaker, the point being made
is that the Majority Leader has already explained -- he has apologized that these things were not known. In particular, even summoning -- this morning as many as seven of our Hon Colleagues called and wanted to know when it is that we are going to finish business, today or tomorrow, and I told them that indications given to me suggest that we may go to Friday and they were surprised.
We are on holidays, people have made their own programmes and if Parliament should be summoned, then at least, the announcement that went out should have told us that we were going to be here for about four days. Again, it was not done, it was only mentioned that Parliament was being summoned to meet today. Certainly, it cannot be the best.

I am saying this, Madam Speaker, not to find fault with the Clerks, because they will act upon information that is supplied to them. All that I am saying is that, these are things that we could easily have avoided; let it not be repeated next

time round.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Thank you Hon Member.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:40 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I do not intend to reiterate what the Hon Minority Leader has said, but having heard him and having heard the Hon Majority Leader, as a member of the Finance Committee, I would like to seek your guidance since the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning is here.
The Majority Leader indicated that the relevant Committee should find out how urgent the matters are. As I looked at the Business Statement, there are at least, seven facilities that we are supposed to consider. I think it would be useful for the Hon Minister to apprise this House of the nature of the urgency so that when we meet, we will have some reason to look at -- We are expected to come back with the Report, I believe on Thursday or Friday.
Some of our members are not even here in order for me to be able to engage them properly; it would be helpful, at least, on my part, if the Hon Minister could indicate to us the various facilities -- which ones, so that when we meet, we will be able to consider them in that respect.
Madam Speaker, I thank you.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Member, you mean the nature of the urgency after we have met or before we met?
Dr A. A. Osei 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, on the Order Paper, the Hon Minister is supposed to move seven Papers today; six of them Credit Agreements. And before we leave here, it would be good -- otherwise, where are we moving to -- In fact, three of them were brought to the House before we rose

but we decided to wait till we come back. At that time, it was not considered urgent, so what has necessitated us coming back under this certificate of urgency? Maybe, he might have some cogent reasons I am not aware of. I think it would be useful to us --
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member.
Mr Stephen K. B. Manu 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise to fall out from the Hon Majority Leader -- He just told us about some articles that are going to be amended, and has called on the House to find a committee that would work towards those amendments. I would like to know what are the articles involved and who came up with them. Is that committee the Hon Majority Leader is referring to restricted to working towards those selected amendments or we can go beyond those selected amendments?
rose
Mr Manu 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, in other words, the terms of reference of the committee must be known --
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Member, shall we finish with him, then I shall call you.
Hon Member, yes, have you finished?
Mr Manu 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have not finished.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
I was going to interrupt you because all that the Hon Majority Leader said was that they were now going to form a committee. So these facts will not be known at this stage. I was even going to suggest that well, the Leaders, put your heads together, quickly form your committee and get your memorandum ready. So, the questions you are asking as to which of the rules are
going to be changed, they will not know at this stage, will they?
Mr Manu 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am asking this because not everybody will be part of the committee. But I want to believe that everybody, once he has something, can send it to the committee. So, if we know, then we will be able to send something to the committee members.
That aside, the Hon Majority Leader also talked about House Committee issues; he called them welfare matters. I would like to assure him that I stand here as a very energetic member of that Committee poised to work and waiting for the meeting to be convened by the Chairman of that Committee.
Madam Speaker, I thank you.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Yes, thank you very much.
Yes, Hon Doe Adjaho.
Mr E. K. D. Adjaho 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I thought that he was clearly out of order; but the response that you have given has actually clarified the issue. If the Hon Member had actually listened to both the Hon Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, he would have realised that we are now going to put in place an ad hoc committee where known Members of the House can make an input before it is then finally presented to the Constitutional Review Commission as the position of this House.
So, Madam Speaker, your response earlier has clarified the matter.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
I was also going to say that the Leaders should come together and form that committee and prepare a memorandum because the Cons-titutional Review Commission would descend on us any day. And when they do so, then they should publicize for Hon Members, and any Member could send a memorandum
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am very concerned about this Special Meeting that respectfully you have convened for this House. And I have looked through the Business Statement, and I am sorry to say that I do not really see any urgency about these matters. I feel strongly about this matter, having been in government.
Madam Speaker, this House just does not Sit at the will and pleasure of the Executive branch of Government. [Interruption] -- Madam Speaker, the Executive branch of Government has a representative who steers its affairs in this House. He knows the schedule of Business of this House, when we Sit, when we adjourn sine die. And it is important that the Executive ensures that its Business is ready for this House.
Indeed, if it was really necessary for this House to be summoned, then we might as well have abridged the time we know will be coming by a week. So that instead of just saying 25th, we come 18th. Now, we are going to Sit for one week, dealing with what, loans, et cetera? I do not think that this ought to continue -- [Interruption] -- Madam Speaker, my Hon Colleagues opposite can murmur, but we are talking about this House, not different sides of this House.
After all, we are on recess, we have scheduled businesses for ourselves as Members of Parliament, and if we are coming to this House, probably, because of the need to declare a state of emergency that is really serious. But just for us to deal with this pedestrian matters, loans, commissions of inquiry, practice and --
[Laughter] -- these are things that elapse after 21 Sitting days. There is no urgency whatsoever.
Madam Speaker, I am appealing to you to exercise your authority in a manner that will convey a certain message to the Executive, that if they have business and they know the calendar of the House, let them deal with their business in such a manner that the calendar of the House would accommodate it, not vice versa.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader.
Mr Avoka 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, let me
seize the opportunity to comment on some of the issues raised by my Hon Colleagues. And I think that the most critical one was the issue of the necessity for this recall.
Hon Members would recall that there are a number of matters, if we look at item -- [Pause] -- C, “Report of the Joint Committee on Local Government and Rural Development and Roads and Transport on the Centre for Urban Transportation”, which was only a matter that we were to conclude before rising, which we did not.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning is here, and he has come, so that he will be able to explain to the House, this august -- [Interruption.] -- House on the urgency of some of these matters.
The Hon Member for Sekondi was a member of the Executive and he knows that some of these credit loans are time- bound that if you are not able to complete
within a certain time, you lose the facility. The Minister for Finance and Economic Planning was able to obtain those facilities that are time-bound and therefore, it is well for us to come back and do these things together. So, let me assure all Hon Members that every Hon Member here, whether from Minority side or Majority side, is a busy fellow.
We are all busy people, including Madam Speaker, and the re fore , considering not just the inconvenience but the cost involved in bringing Hon Members back to this House. If it is not important, Government will not on the spur of the moment invite Hon Members to come back at a huge cost and the huge inconvenience. So it is important for us to understand that.
As far as the issue on the consti- tutional review is concerned, the matter is very clear, very simple, that this House has to submit a memorandum -- Parliament has to submit a memorandum to the Constitutional Review Commission. So what I am trying to say is that the Leadership of this House will put a team in place. In fact, we have been thinking of eleven or thirteen members so that we will be very compact and effective -- from both sides of the House. Hon Members are at liberty to submit information or areas of interest where they want the Constitution to be amended to this committee.
Then the committee after the period that we give it, will submit a report to this august House. We will look at it and if there are areas we think that we should change before the submission, we shall do so. So nothing is going to be secret. Everybody's concerns as far as the new Constitution is concerned, will be taken on board. So, as for that, Hon Balado should not worry. It is going to be transparent and all shades of opinion will be taken on board.
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I was one of the Members of Parliament who called Hon Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu this morning and asked him. Truly, I was under the impression that we were meeting only for one day. I called this morning and I said we had disrupted our old schedule for one day, then he told me it was for one week. Of course, we also have businesses of constituency and others that we must see too.
But one thing that I note from the Business Statement, that was by the way, is the fact that on presentation and First Reading of Bills, we have Internal Revenue (Amendment) Bill, Engineering Council Bill, Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (Amendment) Bill -- goes on and then Commission of Inquiry, Court of Appeal, Public Utilities -- all these cannot be said to be time-bound.
Then if you go down, on the list, the Business Statement itself, after laying, there is nothing. He is not asking us
Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I
was just reminding our Senior Colleague that on Thursday we are expected to lay committee reports and on Friday, adopt Resolutions. So, it is not just laying of Papers. The presumption is that it would be referred to committee, and that is why I raised the issue that we were expected to come back with reports and then adoption of motion so, it is on this agenda. Maybe, he has not looked at it.
M r O w u s u - A g y e m a n g : N o !
[Laughter.] I yielded as per the rules. The rules are quite clear. I can yield. I yielded as per the rules but I was not referring to the credit arrangement, I was referring to the six items here. I was referring specifically to the Internal Revenue (Amendment) Bill, Engineering Council Bill, Public Utilities Regulatory Com- mission (Amendment) Bill, Commission
of Enquiry Bill, Court of Appeal Bill and Public Utilities -- that is what I said ,so you did not get it right. I said that once it is laid, there is no place where it is indicated that we are going to do something.
I want to support the Hon Member from Sekondi that really, to disrupt an adjournment which is sine die, then we must have solid grounds for coming. But while we are here, we will do business. But next time round, the Leader will make sure that he does not bring us here, giving us too much hassle.
Mr Alfred K. Agbesi 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
on the Business Statement, if you look at the business for Tuesday, 4th May, 2010, you see the items under Laying of Papers, items (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) and (i).
Madam Speaker, these are touching on very important things for this country. You realized that there is going to be a loan agreement for the construction of the Kpong Water Supply expansion project. This is a very, very important issue and everybody knows about the importance of water, and when Parliament is recalled to consider a loan for water expansion for this country, nobody can say this is not an urgent matter.
Reading through all these items, you see that we have important things to be discussed, for a decision to be taken. When loans are going to be contracted for the supply of electricity, water for all of us, our constituencies -- these are all very urgent matters. Our people need water, they need light and we need to take decisions as early as possible and this is the reason we should come here under a certificate of emergency. These are all matters which need to be considered now. We need not to delay because they are very necessary.
I disagree with the Minority Leader

who says that these are not urgent matters. They are very, very urgent.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Madam Speaker, with respect to my Colleague, the Hon Member for Ashaiman, I believe if he wants to take issues with a contribution from a Colleague, he must then endeavour to listen and listen well.
Nowhere have I indicated that matters before us are not important. I am surprised he jumps at this and he is making such a statement. I do not want to believe that he is playing to the gallery. It is a very unfortunate statement from my Colleague; he must learn to listen and listen well before he criticizes.

Madam Speaker, I think what we need to know is that what is before us now is the Business Committee's Report. If we approve of it then we go to the next stage of the Laying of the Papers, sequel to what the Member for Sekondi has said. Madam Speaker, I would draw our attention to Order 75 (2), that after Papers have been presented, that is once we come to this, once we approve of the Business Committee's Report and the Papers are being laid, we require of the Ministers who will be laying the Papers because we did not have the agenda beforehand, to then explain to this House the import of
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon


Minister, will be required to explain in detail the considerations informing any of the Papers, the importance of them in the first place, and the urgency and then we will see whether or not to go along with him.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.
Madam Speaker noon
Yes, Hon Leader, finally.
Mr Avoka noon
Madam Speaker, we are together. We all agreed, that it is important and that is why we have been brought back to this House today. So the next step is that we adopt the Business Statement like my Hon Minority Leader has indicated -- [Pause] -- Madam Speaker, my proposal is that we adopt the Business Statement as has been represented, then we come to the next stage of Laying of these Papers where the responsible Minister will only bow, then the issue whether the matter is urgent or not will be determined at the committee.
It is the committee that will bring a Report to this House and indicate to Hon Members the urgency of each of these matters before it. That is the practice and then we will debate.
Madam Speaker, without much ado, I thank Hon Members for the concerns they have raised. The issues that they have raised are well noted, we will take them on board and then we can let the work of the day progress.
Thank you.
Madam Speaker noon
Any other matter on the Business Statement before I sum up?
Mr C. S. Hodogbey noon
Thank you, Madam Speaker I think all the comments in the debate are valid but let me make this statement; the Business Committee takes directives from the Administration in power -- whatever business we discuss in this House, the urgency is determined by
Madam Speaker noon
Hon Members, can he finish? He has the floor, when he finishes then somebody else -- [Interruptions] -- we seem to want to stop him.
rose
Madam Speaker noon
Is it a point of order?
Dr Prempeh noon
Yes, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker noon
Hon Dr Prempeh, what is the point of order?
Dr Prempeh noon
Madam Speaker, I am listening to my senior Colleague but for my good Friend, “American-man”, Hon Hodogbey, to make statements as “it does not make sense”, I think he should be made to withdraw the statement and apologise to this House because no external power determines what this House does. The House determines its own agenda, not the Administration. Madam Speaker, I sincerely believe that he should be made to withdraw “it does not make sense” - that what the Minority is saying does not make sense.
Madam Speaker noon
What does he mean? It does not make sense to him?
Dr Prempeh noon
It is unparliamentary. Madam Speaker, it is very un-parliamentary to use such words to describe the whole Minority.
Madam Speaker noon
Maybe, let him explain himself. It does not make sense to him or it does not make sense?
Dr Prempeh noon
Madam Speaker, I beg, if you allow this gentleman to get up on

his feet again - [Laughter] - there will be disorder in this House.
Madam Speaker noon
Yes, I want to hear - Honourable, he said you said “it does not make sense”. What does not make sense?
Mr Hodogbey noon
Madam Speaker, I am referring not to the person making the statement but the statement itself. As I said -- I shall repeat. The Business Committee does not determine --
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Do not repeat it because an objection is being taken. I do not want a repetition. Let us finish this point of order. He says that it does not make sense, it is unparliamentary. Can you use another word?
Mr. Hodogbey 12:10 p.m.
Yes, what I was referring to -- Madam Speaker, I said from the beginning that all the debate is very valid. But whether the urgency of any business in this House -- The Business Committee itself does not create business for the House. The business comes from the Administration in power. So to the Business Committee, therefore, if the Administration is able to send business to the Business Committee, the Administration ought to determine whether it is a very urgent business to be discussed or not.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Member, you used the words “it does not make sense” and that is what objection was taken to. It is most “unparliamentary”. Please, withdraw “it does not make sense”; because we make sense here. We are supposed to make sense here.
Mr Hodogbey 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, if the words I have used, “it does not make sense” is an - If some Hon Members have taken that as an insult, then I withdraw it --
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Yes , t ha t is unparliamentary, so thank you for withdrawing it.
Yes, Hon Members, let us move on; he has withdrawn the words you complained of.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, before we conclude on the Business Statement, my Hon Colleague who just spoke said that the urgency of any matter, because it comes from the Administration, is determined by the Business Committee. Madam Speaker, he is misleading himself. He is totally wrong; he is totally out of step with the business in this House. The urgency of any matter is determined by the relevant committee. He should know this basic rule in this House.
It is here in the Standing Orders, if he cares to read, he will know and he should not blandish it to me; if he cares to know he will know. Madam Speaker, if he is not capable of reading, he should tell us and somebody will read and interpret it to him. But clearly, he is wrong when he says that the urgency of business is determined by the Administration or by the Business Committee.
Madam Speaker, can we make progress?
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Yes, yes, let us move on, please. Let us make progress. The urgency is decided by the committees, that is clearly stated in the Standing Orders --
Mr Pelpuo 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I assumed that the matter had come to a certain conclusion after you gave the Hon Majority Leader to summerise and to thank everybody for contributing. So we thought that the matter would have ended there but he got the opportunity
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Sometimes, I do not end the matter where you think I should end it. Sometimes, I want to hear everybody's view --
Mr Pelpuo 12:10 p.m.
So Madam Speaker, we are urging you to let us --
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Yes, I am going to finish with this matter. You know we were dealing with the Business Statement and Hon Members have a right to comment on the Business Statement and that is why I wanted to hear every comment because we have to adopt the Business Statement and so I could not prevent any Hon Member who wanted to comment on it.
But as it is, I think we have finished the comments and if the Hon Leader has taken note of the concerns that when Parliament is asked to come back after a recess, the matter must be urgent and must be seen as urgent and he says he has taken note -- So we are happy.
Now, we are here, we will work; with the next one, we will see that the matter is urgent and if you will please, let us move on and adopt the Business Statement.
When it comes to the Minister presenting the Papers, he will have the chance to talk about it in committee.
So do we adopt the Business Statement? If so, the Business Statement is adopted.
Thank you, Hon Members -- and then we move on to - [Pause] -- There will be no Statements. Item 5 -- Presentation and First Reading of Bills. Item 5 (a), the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning?
BILLS -- FIRST READING 12:10 p.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, as I indicated, given the special nature of this Meeting, I thought that the Hon Minister, upon Laying the Paper would apprise this House in a very brief and concise form, the import of the Paper that he is presenting. [Interruptions.] Yes, Madam Speaker, during the Laying of Papers, he could do that. Madam Speaker, for the elucidation of the Hon Majority Leader, may I read Order 75 (1) which says:
“As soon as sufficient copies of a Paper for distribution to Members have been received in the Office of the Clerk notice of the presentation of that Paper may be placed on the Order Paper, and as soon as Mr Speaker announces “Papers for Presentation”, the Paper shall be deemed to have been laid on the Table.”
Order 75 (2) says:
“If so desired by the person present ing a Paper, a shor t explanatory statement may be made by him upon its presentation.”
Madam Speaker, that precisely is what I am saying, that given the exigencies and special circumstances of this time -- Madam Speaker, we are not in normal times, that is why I am saying that, if it is possible, the Hon Minister may apprise this House in a very brief and concise

form, the intendment of the Paper.

Madam Speaker, is there any sin in this? And for those people who do not know, they should read their Standing Orders --
Mr Avoka 12:10 p.m.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Even though this is not a normal practice in the life of this Parliament, I have earlier indicated that the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning is here and he will be able to explain to the understanding of the House the urgency of the matter. He could have done so at the committee stage but the recommendation will come back here.
So if it is the pleasure of Hon Members through Madam Speaker -- I think it is Madam Speaker who will request that the Hon Minister gives an explanation about the urgency of the matter and that authority is in your bosom.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Well, according to Hon Members, this is an urgent Meeting and things have been curtailed, so if the Hon Minister could quickly talk about the content of the Bill, I think it will please everybody. I know that in committee he will have to elaborate further but here -- Hon Minister, what is the gist of the --
Dr Kwabena Duffuor 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the object of the Bill is to amend the Capital Gain Tax which is now 5 per cent. We want to raise it to 15 per cent.
Madam Speaker, the Capital Gain Tax was tagged at the rate of 10 per cent until the enactment of the Internal Revenue Act, 2007 which reduced this to 5 per cent. We have done some consultations among investors, business people and we have looked at the Capital Gain Tax throughout the African Continent and our 5 per cent is on the lower side; it is ridiculously low.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
The Hon Minister has now given us a gist of it.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Furthermore, the Committee is to determine whether the Bill is of urgent nature to be taken through all stages in one day in accordance with Order 119.
Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, item 5(b)?
Mr Avoka 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing himself is not available in the House today, but the Hon Deputy Minister, Hon Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (retd) is in the House, and with your kind permission, I pray that he be permitted to present the Bill on behalf of the substantive Minister.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Has he got per- mission to present the Bill? The Hon Minister is not in the House. It is just a

presentation of the Bill.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister is a very good and diligent Member of this House, we may want to accord him respect. But we thought that when Government said that this is a very urgent business, the urgency should find expression in the conduct of the Hon Minister; and the Hon Minister does not find it to be urgent. Madam Speaker, that is where we are; but because of the respect that we have for the Hon Deputy Minister, we want to hear him attempt to present the Bill and let us see how he goes. [Laughter.]
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, can you present item 5 (b)?
Engineering Council Bill
An Act to establish the Engineering Council to regulate the practices of engineering and to provide for related matters.
Presented by the Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing (Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (retd)) (on behalf of the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing) - Read the First time; referred to the Committee on Works and Housing -
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in line with what we have just established, may the Hon Deputy Minister explain to us in a very short and concise form what it is that this is supposed to achieve --
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I have taken note of what you have just said but we are hard pressed for time, we do not want to move into next week again. We have to go to committees
and prepare reports and come and approve them by Friday. And I thought that at the committee level, this matter would be thoroughly trashed out because the Minister is not here. The first one, the Hon Minister himself was here. If you would not mind, can we just present it and read it for the First time and then give the explanation further?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, ordinarily, I would not want to challenge any indication that you give at all except that it is the entire House that has been summoned for a purpose and this business is coming from the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing.
Madam Speaker, in our tradition, if an elder or a chief is unable to attend to a cause and he delegates a credible person to represent him, we say that “he has spat into his mouth”. So the Hon Minister has spat into the mouth of the Hon Deputy Minister and he should be able to explain to us the intendment of this. We are not asking him to tell us that it is urgent and so on; what is the intendment of this? That is what we require. Indeed, Madam Speaker, we are covered by the blood of Order 75 (2); there is no escape route, so let him do this and we would be home and dry.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Member, I wonder whether you have a copy of the Bill with you? Have you got a copy? Has everybody got a copy of the Bill?
Some Hon Members 12:20 p.m.
No.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
You do not?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, we do not have copies yet and it is for this reason that I am telling him just to give us an indication of what it is, just in a brief, concise form as the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning has just done.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
You are therefore referring to Order 75 (2) which says: “If so desired . . .”? Who desires it? Is it the House? [Interruptions.] I do not mind but I thought we should move ahead and have some work done today. But if he can give us a short explanation, that would be in order. Are you ready to explain to us?
Mr Avoka 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, with the greatest respect to you, if we are to follow the provisions or the contents of the Standing Orders, Order 75 (2) says and I beg to quote:
“If so desired by the person presenting a Paper. . .”
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Yes, I think I got the whole thing now. The “desire” must be by the person presenting the Paper. If he were the Minister, it would be easier, would it not? But if it is somebody standing in to just present it - He does not desire it, you desire it.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the language, the spirit and the tenor of this construction - If the Hon Majority Leader reads this -- [Inter- ruptions.] Madam Speaker, why are we here? We are here to transact business and that is why we have been recalled. Madam Speaker, I quoted Orders 75(1) and 75 (2)
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
which says:
“As soon as sufficient copies of a Paper for distribution to Members have been received in the Office. . .”
Madam Speaker, we do not have it and as far as we are concerned, nobody knows what is contained in there. So the person laying the Paper, because this is a special recall of the House, it behoves him to explain so that all of us would be apprised.
After today, if it is not done and we rise and go to the house and you were asked by your wife -- Hon Majority Leader, if you were asked by your wife what business did you do in connection with the Paper that was laid by the Hon Deputy Minister on behalf of the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, what would you say?
Madam Speaker, he would not have anything to say and that is why I am saying that it serves the fullness of this House if the Hon Minister or the Deputy Minister in this case, could just explain in a brief form to us.
Madam Speaker, what is the import of Order 75(2)? Is it at the whims and caprices of the Minister? Is it? Is that the understanding of the Hon Majority Leader? Madam Speaker, clearly, he is on the wrong track if that is his understanding. If that is his under-standing, he would be on the wrong track. And I believe the Hon Dr Mustapha is a capable person -- [Interruptions] -- The man has risen to do that.
Madam Speaker, let me remind the Majority Leader, you have given a ruling and by this conduct, he seeks to challenge your ruling. [Laughter.] He seeks to

challenge your ruling by this conduct. So Madam Speaker, if you can go back to your own directive and let the Hon Deputy Minister just explain to us in a brief form so that we move on.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.
rose
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Yes, Hon First Deputy Speaker, I ask these things so we can all help in coming to the correct position.
Mr Adjaho 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I think that Standing Order 75 (2) is very clear - the discretion is vested in the person presenting the Paper. It is for him and him alone, if he so desires, to give any explanation, so that when we call on him and he says that he is desirous of explaining then he can explain.
Madam Speaker, the argument started with the fact that this is an urgent Bill. Madam Speaker, but that is again governed by the Constitution which has been captured in the Standing Orders, and that is article 106 (13). In terms of the urgency of it, it is the committee -- And if we start determining the urgency of the matter on the floor, then what is the committee coming back to tell us again? [Interruptions.] Please, listen. So Madam Speaker, the issue now is that there are two things.
If it is a matter or urgency in relation to the Bill, it is for the committee -- If it is a matter of explanation, it is for the person presenting the Paper; it is his and his discretion alone to offer that explanation and no other person's desire. It is not the desire of the Hon Minority Leader, it is not and it cannot be.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
If I had even found out whether he desires it or not --
Mr Adjaho 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, absolute- ly, we can find out from the person presenting the Paper if he so desires. You are right, Madam Speaker. The position being taken by the Hon Minority Leader as if it is his right, Madam Speaker, is wrong. [Laughter.] It is for him, so it is wrong when we ask him. Madam Speaker, so when the Chair asks him, he must say “Yes, I am prepared to offer explanation or I do not desire to offer any explanation at this stage”. It is his and his alone.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
We have to move step by step, that is what I think. Hon Deputy Minister, are you going to give us a brief? Are you prepared?
Maj. (Dr )(Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (retd): Madam Speaker, first and foremost, I wish to state that the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing is outside attending a conference on water -- [Interruptions] -- and as soon as he returns, he will be in the House as he regularly does.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Well, since he is not prepared to talk on it, let us refer it to the committee for a full explanation by the Minister when he comes.
rose rose rose
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Yes, I have seen three people up - Hon Oquaye, I will -
Prof. Oquaye 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in my opinion, there is a very, very important fundamental issue of interpretation here. Madam Speaker, that which a person --

“(a) has the liberty to do before a competent authority necessarily commands reciprocity so that the competent authority can ask (a) to do that which originally he has that liberty to do.”

Madam Speaker, it is very, very important. The Minister, or a Minister in laying a Paper has that liberty to make an explanatory statement. But Madam Speaker, it necessarily invokes that reciprocity that the august House before whom he or she has that right can also now say “Mr Minister, it is our desire that you give us that explanation” -- [Uproar.] Madam Speaker --
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
No. Hon Member, I do not want you to go on, that is not what the words say. You are importing certain things into the wording of subclause (2). The right is not in us, it is in the person presenting the Paper.
Prof. Oquaye 12:30 p.m.
Very well, Madam Speaker, one would have thought that it must be two ways --
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
I think I will rule now - [Some Hon Members -- Yes!] I have heard enough and I think I can rule.
rose rose
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
I am taking all these things to help me to rule but I think I have heard enough.
Yes, Hon Dery?
Mr Dery 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. Madam Speaker, we should consider Order 75 (2) in the context of Order 75 (1). Order 75 (2) cannot stand by itself and Order 75 (1) is quite clear that there should be presentation of the Paper before it becomes desirable or otherwise, to explain or not. And Order 75 (1) says that --
Mr Dery 12:30 p.m.


“As soon as sufficient copies of a Paper for distribution to Members have been received in the Office of the Clerk notice of the presentation of that Paper may be placed on the Order Paper, and as soon as Mr Speaker announces ‘Papers for Presentation' the Paper shall be deemed to have been laid on the Table.”

Madam Speaker, in my view, the issue is whether copies are there and it is deemed to have been laid -- [Interruptions] -- Oh! why, I am asking -- Madam Speaker, I am addressing the Chair.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Yes?
Mr Dery 12:30 p.m.
Then it is only subsequent that that Order 75 (2) becomes operative. So when I entered, I heard the argument on Order 75 (1). If Order 75 (1) has been satisfied then Order 75 (2) can kick-start.
rose
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Last word from you, Hon Member?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:30 p.m.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. To correct the erroneous impression created by the Hon First Deputy Speaker, Madam Speaker, I have never stated that it is for the House to demand a desire from the Minister or Deputy Minister. That is not what I said at all. I am surprised the Hon First Deputy Speaker is not even listening and so he can enter into those wrong conclusions.
Madam Speaker, the point I made is
that this is a Special Sitting. I recognize the fact that ordinarily the desire should emanate from the Minister or Deputy Minister in this case. But I said that given the exigencies of this time, the fact that we
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
He wants to raise a point of order.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
Disregard him. [Laughter.] Madam Speaker, the point I am making is, we ought to have been served with notice of the agenda; we were not served. We come here unprepared; the Hon Majority Leader then announces the agenda just this morning. Madam Speaker, what is more compelling for the Hon Minister, after laying the Paper, is to tell us what it is about. As for the urgency -- and I hope the Hon First Deputy Speaker is listening --
As for the urgency, we are all clear in our minds that the urgency is established by the committee and I have never called on him to establish the urgency for that. He did not hear that is why he said that I required of him to establish the urgency, I never did so. His first submission was wrong.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Yes, I corrected that. I did say that you were referring to the Standing Order. When he mentioned that I said you were only quoting the Standing Order, I thought we had finished with that.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I was not referring to what you said, but to what the Hon First Deputy Speaker said. And I am saying that because of the special circumstances of this time, if he got up and he -- If he cannot do that, he will tell us and we will move on. We
cannot extract it from him.
But I thought that the proper thing to do in these circumstances will be for the Hon Deputy Minister, or the Hon Minister, as the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning agreed and briefed us in a brief form, to tell us what it is that the Bill is intended to do -- as crystal clear as that. And for anybody to pick any issue with this is really baffling. But Madam Speaker, I rest it at this point, if they want to halt it here, so be it.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Yes, can I rule now? I think we are wasting too much time on this matter.
Yes, Hon Members, this is not an ordinary Sitting; it is an extra-ordinary Sitting and there are circumstances which must be taken into account. Maybe, this will impress upon the Hon Leader that when they are laying Papers, they must make sure that the Minister himself comes. Because there are times that even any Hon Minister is asked to lay a Paper for a subject matter different from that of the Hon Minister. And this will be some of the problems that we face. So, I think we are all learning.
If the Hon Minister himself were here, then I would not have any difficulty at all, but I am sure then he would also have no difficulty at all in briefing us. But this is an Hon Deputy Minister who has just stood in. And even he did say that he will reserve it for the Hon Minister to come -- which means that he is not that prepared to talk about it. He is a new Hon Deputy Minister and he stood in for the Hon Minister and that is why I do not think we can press him too much.
That is why I was looking at Standing Order 75 -- like the Hon Second Deputy
Speaker referred to Standing Order 75 and also the Hon Deputy Minority Leader -- Yes, Standing Order 75 (1), (2) and (3) go together but they are in pieces. You will see that once the thing has been presented and once it has appeared on the Order Paper, it is there, then the others follow.

Thank you, Hon Members.

So, we are at a stage where we are now going to refer it.

Referred to the Committee on Works and Housing.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
I have no doubt that the Hon Minister will go there and acquit himself creditably.
Yes, we are on item 5(c); now Hon Minister of State at the Office of the President?
PAPERS 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
With regard to the Bill also, the Committee is to determine whether the Bill is of an urgent nature to be taken through all the stages of passage in one day in accordance with Standing Order 119.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, when you called for the Paper to be laid in respect of item number 5(c), the Hon Minister of State at the Presidency got up and bowed. Madam Speaker, in what capacity did he do that? Because the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) is an independent body, it is like the Electoral Commission and if they bring a Paper here, it should ordinarily be the Hon Majority Leader who should lay the Paper on their behalf and not the Hon Minister of State.
I know the Hon Minister of State has some connection there. [An Hon Member: He is a Board member] -- [Laughter] -- He is a Board Chairman or so, but Madam Speaker, it does not fall on him to lay the Paper because it is an independent body. May he tell us in what capacity he laid that Paper?
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I do not think you saw the memorandum to the Bill, that is why you raised it -- You are perfectly right. He signed it. [Laughter.] And that is why he is presenting it.
So, I think that has been answered.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, not satisfactorily at all because it makes it worse.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Because you asked
in what capacity and I said that --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
So, in what capacity did he even sign the Bill?
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
He is an Hon
Minister, you know.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, he is a member of the Board, in what capacity did he sign the Bill?
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
And an Hon Minister of State, is that not it?
Mr Likpalimor 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am not a member of the Board. I am a Minister of State at the Office of the President and the Commission is under my office, that is why I am presenting the Bill. It is under the Presidency.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Members, I thought we had finished with item 5(c); I had already referred it. So I am prepared to move on to item 6.
Yes, item 6?
Dr A. A. Osei 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the PURC is an independent Commission. It is true that their budget falls under the Office of the President, but to say that he is in-charge of the Commission --
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
I did not hear the words “in-charge”.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:40 p.m.
It cannot be under his office; it may be his schedule. He cannot have supervisory authority over an independent body like that. It may be his schedule but he cannot be a supervising Minister.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Minister, is that what you meant? Hon Minister, they are wondering what your role is in respect to the Commission? Did you say it was under your schedule?
Mr Likpalimor 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, it is
under the Presidency and I am the schedule Minister working on it.
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Yes, Hon Members, item (6) now; Papers to be laid?
rose
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member, are you going to lay a Paper?
Mr Adjaho 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to find out from you whom you have -- I did not listen to you when you were doing the referral.
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
A little louder, please.
Mr Adjaho 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, this Bill, when it was introduced into this House in 1997, it was the Joint Committee of Works and Housing and Mines and Energy -- I had the privilege of chairing the Joint Committee. It is on that basis -- because there are certain technical details that require the attention of the two Select Committees and I thought that, if we can refer it to the Joint Committee of Mines and Energy and Works and Housing. They worked on the main Bill; they actually worked on the main Bill when this Bill was introduced in 1997 or 1998 or thereabout.
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
You want me to, in the order, to refer it to whom? Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and which committee?
Mr Adjaho 12:50 p.m.
No, Madam Speaker. I am suggesting -- The main Bill, when it was introduced in the 1990s, was worked -- because the two areas that they would be looking at is the area of water and the area of electricity, and they are the ones who worked on the parent Bill in 1997/98 thereabout. The Committee on Cons- titutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs did not come in at all and that is why I am suggesting that since they worked on the parent Bill and they have gained some
expertise in the area of water and in the area of electricity, it is better to refer it to that Joint Committee; they worked on the main Bill when it was introduced and this is an amendment to the main Bill.
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I believe the Hon First Deputy Speaker, Mr Adjaho is right. Indeed, I had the privilege of working with them too and the schedule is water and electricity. So it is water and energy.
I think that, like all Bills, the two Ministries are the ones which are charged with this responsibility. The fact that it is a regulatory body, I do not think that the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs comes into this at all. We have always dealt with them and so I want to support the First Deputy Speaker that it should go to the Joint Committee on Works and Housing and Energy.
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Are you leaving out the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs? Is it not a Bill?
M r O w u s u - A g y e m a n g : T h e Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs does not come in at all; they do not come in, in this instance at all.
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
All right, let me check. Yes, Clerk? [Pause.]
Mr Avoka 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, we have no objection, and these are all your Committees. So if the appropriate committees -- [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
You may not have an objection; I want to be sure that I am right when I accept that. [Pause.] Well, my advisor is telling me he has checked the records. The Committee on
Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs did handle that matter, and that he has checked the records. So if you want a Joint Committee, there is nothing wrong --
Mr Adjaho 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I worked on that Bill. The Hon Member for Afigya/Sekyere West (Mr Albert Kan- Dapaah) was then the Ranking Member on the Committee on Mines and Energy. The then Hon Member for Ablekuma North, (Mr Kwamena Bartels) was the Ranking Member on Works and Housing and we worked on that Bill.
Madam Speaker, these are sectors that these Committees have been dealing with over the years. Other Members of the then Joint Committee are in this House. So I am very clear about it and it would be better -- In any case, they have been dealing with these security companies already. Those two Select Committees have been dealing with those two Committees.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon First Deputy Speaker is correct in the position. As he said, at the time, Hon Kwamena Bartels was then the Ranking Member for Works and Housing and he was at the meeting. Equally so, Hon Kan-Dapaah was also the then Ranking Member for Mines and Energy. Madam Speaker, if one goes for the parent Bill, one would realise that many of the amendments that were proposed at the time were sponsored by my goodself as a member of the then Committee on Works and Housing. That was how we handled it.
So I am surprised we are being told that it was the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Madam Speaker, with respect, that is not what my memory tells me at all. It was two committees that handled them and I believe that it would not take anything
away from the Business of the House if we make the referral to the two Committees as a Joint Committee.
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Well, if that is so, then I will amend what I said earlier that it goes to the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee. Then it should go to the Joint Committee on Works and Housing and Mines and Energy.
Are you then suggesting that we are going to have 40 people to deal with this matter or is it only the Ranking Members? With due respect, this sort of thing, we never get --
Mr Adjaho 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, it is the Joint Committee on Mines and Energy and Works and Housing.
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Yes, I mean the number of people. I am prepared to restrict it to the Ranking Members of these Committees.
Mr Adjaho 12:50 p.m.
No, Madam Speaker. The whole Committee --
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Of 40 people?
Mr Adjaho 12:50 p.m.
Yes, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Well, I hope you would work quickly on this, because we are in urgent times. Then I will refer it to the Joint Committee on Works and Housing and Energy.
Now, can we move on to item (6).
By the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning --
Cred i t Agreemen t be tween the Government of Ghana and Raifeinsen Zentralbank Osterreich Aktiengesellschaft (Central Bank of Austria) for an amount of €7,495,000.00 for the Upgrading

and Enhancement of Technical and Vocational Training Centres.

Preferent ia l Buyer 's Credi t Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the Government of the People's Republic of China acting through the Export-Import Bank of China for an amount of US$260.00 million for the Construction of the Kpong Water Supply Expansion Project.
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to respectfully take you back. I believe that I have worked on this one except if the Finance Committee is only going to discuss the financial aspects. I believe that the input of the Committee on Works and Housing would be very vital in this particular project and I believe it can go to a Joint Committee on Finance and Works and Housing, otherwise, everything that we do -- and this thing has been made over and over again -- everything would then go to the Committee on Finance.
But the Joint Committee, the most important aspect of this particular project is not so much the financing as the technical details. So I think it can go to the technical committee, Madam Speaker. That would be more productive than only giving it to the Committee on Finance. So I want it for Finance and then Works and Housing, please.
Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
Are you referring to 6 (a) (ii)?
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 1 p.m.
Yes Madam Speaker, I was referring to 6 (a) (ii).
Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
Yes, it is all right. Let us hear from -
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, we are guided by our Standing Orders. I know the Hon Member for New Juaben North is very passionate in this position. Unfortunately, that position is not supported by the provisions of our Standing Orders. And with respect, Madam Speaker, I will refer to Order 171 (1). The last time he raised this matter, I referred to the same Standing Order. I am hoping that after today, he will always refer to this Standing Order.
Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
Order what?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 1 p.m.
Order 171
(1):
“When a Loan Agreement or an international business or economic transaction that requires the authorization of Parliament through a resolution is laid before Parliament it shall be the duty of the Committee on Finance to examine the Agreement or transaction and make recommendations to the House.”
The provisions are clear, unambiguous and do not require any interpretation. However, at the discretion of Madam Speaker, another committee can be added. But my experience has proved that when these matters are referred to joint committees, they do not facilitate the business of the House.
That is my experience and my experience in these matters, Madam Speaker, is quite substantial. So I believe that this matter should be left to the Finance Committee to deal with.
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, with the utmost of respect -- I did say that with the utmost of respect and with your indulgence, the Member for Sekondi has forgotten the fact that in these issues, we have to have a holistic approach to them, so we bring the technical aspect
Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
I have taken your point.
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 1 p.m.
Madam

Speaker, when these things go to Cabinet, there is always the joint committee one. Indeed, Madam Speaker, when this document is submitted to Cabinet it is the technical Ministry that submits it to Cabinet and not the Finance Committee or it is a joint memorandum to Cabinet by Finance and the Works and Housing Committees. And so, it makes sense to do that. I do not know why he wants to be the know-it-all of the whole situation. I think it is not right.
rose
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 1 p.m.
Sit down, sit down, I have not finished. So if it were a joint committee, a joint memorandum, then it must be done by the joint committee. I really have the strongest objection to this particular project to be handled only by the Finance Committee.
Thank you very much.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I agree that you will need a technical input but this is not about the technicality or the -- it is about a loan agreement, Simplicita. That is the mistake the Hon Member is making. When it goes to Cabinet, Cabinet must be certain that the loan that is being taken is justified by the technical assessment, that is all.
Madam Speaker, this Order 171 (1) did not come out of the blue, it is grounded in article 181 of the Constitution which deals with loans. And I even referred to article 181 (3). It says:
“No loan shall be raised by the Government on behalf of itself or any other public institution or authority or otherwise than by or under the authority of an Act of Parliament”.
That Act of Parliament is the Loans Act. And in the Loans Act, it is the Finance Minister who is authorized to present loans for consideration before Parliament. And so, Madam Speaker, when the Hon
Member -- and if you read the entire article 181, you are left with no doubt that this is really a Finance matter. Article 181 (7) even goes further to say that and with your permission, I quote:
“The Minister responsible for finance shall, at such times as Parliament may determine, present to Parliament any information concerning any discrepancies relating to --
(a) the granting of loans, their repayment and servicing.”
A supply credit agreement is basically a loans agreement. It does not require the technical expertise, that is, you have to determine the length of a pipe or whether it should go six feet into the ground.
When you bring the other committees, that is where they are interested, and this is what unduly delays the work of the committee because you deal with matters that are real and not germane to the matter under consideration by the committee. So I respectfully agree with the Hon Member for New Juaben on this matter. However, in this particular case, really, adding Committee on Works and Housing will not assist us in determining whether to agree to this loan or not.
I thank you.
Mr Avoka 1:10 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I just want to intervene and say that nothing prevents the Finance Committee or any other committee that a matter has been referred to them from seeking an expert opinion or technical opinion from any person, groups of persons or institutions. Nothing prevents the committee from consulting any fellow, some fellow outside their

group in order to enhance the report that they are going to bring.

However, Madam Speaker, as the Hon Member for New Juaben north indicated, it is possible for you to say that having regard to the matters in discussion, the Chairman of the Committee on Works and Housing and Ranking Member can join them to do this work so that we can move forward. My position is that work must progress and we should not be bugged down by some of these rules to be able to delay the work. So technically, yes, the Hon Member for Sekondi is right and as I indicated, it is possible for the Finance Committee to seek an opinion outside their group to help them to prepare the report.

Nothing prevents them from doing that. Whether it is technical or whatever, they can do that, they have the authority to do so. For the avoidance of doubt, if this House feels strongly that in the circumstances -- then we can just add the Ranking Member and the Chairman of the Committee for Works and Housing to the Finance Committee and then they will do the work.
Madam Speaker 1:10 p.m.
Why do you add
them if you suggest that they could go to them for advice?
Mr Avoka 1:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, my
advice is that, it goes to the Committee on Finance but we can co-opt the Chairman and Ranking Members of the Committee on Works and Housing to help them.
Madam Speaker 1:10 p.m.
I think I have heard
enough. I will rule now.
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 1:10 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, I believe that for some strange reason, this objection to your technical committee joining them is important. Madam Speaker, if we are going to
Dr A. A. Osei 1:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I
am surprised my Hon Senior Colleague is spending a lot of time on this matter. Nobody objects to any other so-called technical people assisting any other committee but the object of the Finance Committee is not about works and housing.
When it comes to the floor of this House, the so-called technical people have the chance to bring their technical expertise. We are not talking about loan terms. We are not talking about the construction of a dam or anything. In any case, who said that the members of the

Committee on Works and Housing have technical expertise in the building of a dam? The technical people belong to the Ministry. If we choose to, as the Leader says, get the Chairman and the Ranking Member or the Ministry's technical people, so be it.

The problem is having a big problem in terms of quorum. If we bring the entire two committees and we are going to discuss terms of the loan, not how we construct a bridge -- that is what is going to be discussed at the Committee on Finance [Interruption.] It is related but we can go to the Committee on Works and Housing and discuss the cons-truction of a bridge.

The question is whether the loan is proper for Ghana or not, that is all. In any case, when it comes here, you would have the opportunity. You want a committee consisting fifty people to discuss simple financial terms. If we do not get the quorum, then what happens? In any case, we work by our rules.

My Hon Senior Colleague has talked about the rules. As the Hon Majority Leader of the House said, nobody has an objection to inviting the Ranking Member and the Chairman there but it would not be discussing so-called technical -- but in any case, what is a technical matter? Do we really know about building of a bridge? We are talking about terms of a loan and the Loans Act requires the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to do that, otherwise, every facility would have to be referred to the joint committee.

If the House chooses to change the Standing Orders, so be it. As of now, these are the rules we work with. I do not see why we should spend all this time talking -- But you have spent a lot of time -- But you have got up three times and talked about the Finance Committee people not knowing what it is -- It is not

correct. I object to the language he was using about the members of the Committee on Finance. It is not proper -- as if we know it all.

Who told him we know it all? We have never said we know it all. We are going by our rules and he as a Senior Hon Member should respect the rules.
Madam Speaker 1:10 p.m.
We are wasting too much time.
Prof. G. Y. Gyan-Baffour 1:10 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, the main issue here is this. Normally, Bills like this are brought here jointly by the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning and then the sector Minister. When we go to the committee meetings, the sector Ministers are invited alongside the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning. Both of them bring their technical people. So when it comes to technicalities, the Ministries, either of Education or Health, are there, so they actually resolve the technical issues. So I do not think there is any problem with technicalities, when it comes to the Committee.
The main issue here is to approve of the loan and when we approve it, the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning brings it. When members of the Committee want to know anything technical, they ask the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing and he resolves the issue.
The joint committees are not critical in actually arriving at decisions. So I do not see why we should belabour it. But I agree with the Majority Leader that maybe, we could invite the Ranking Members of the other committees to come and sit in there. I think we should not belabour this issue but just allow the system to work as it has been working in the past.
Madam Speaker 1:10 p.m.
We will have the last word from the Hon Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu. I am ready to rule.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
Madam
Madam Speaker 1:10 p.m.
Order!
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, the fact that it is a loan agreement and in that context, it requires us to refer to the Committee on Finance, is not in doubt. But Madam Speaker, the other issue relating to whether or not we may come to it in a joint committee, I think that we would not be in breach of any provision, because if we look at the remits of the Select Committees, we would realize for instance, Standing Order 177:
“The Committee on Lands and Forestry composed of eighteen Members shall examine all matters relating to lands and forestry generally.”
Madam Speaker, so if there is a loan agreement that relates to lands or it relates to forestry, we would not be in breach if it goes to the Committee on Finance and as well the Committee on Lands and Forestry to work together with them. We would not be in breach of any provision in the Standing Orders.
Madam Speaker, if we come to the other committees, Health, Order 178 1:10 p.m.
“There shall be a Committee on Health composed of twenty Members, which shall have referred to it all matters . . .”
The operative words are “all matters”. So if it is a loan agreement, it is a matter relating to Health and it could refer to them so that jointly they consider same. Because as we do know that at the level
Madam Speaker, if we come to the other committees, Health, Order 178 1:20 p.m.


of the Executive, the memorandum for whatever loan would be generated by the sector Minister before it goes to the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning.

If it is Education, it would be generated by the Hon Minister for Education but it would be for the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning because everything must be harmonized and synchronized to take it to Cabinet and also pilot same in Parliament. It does not mean that they have the exclusive remit.

So, Madam Speaker, I believe if we would not be wrong, if we should say that the Committee on Works and Housing should also consider this. Madam Speaker, because after all, Order 180, which also relates to Works and Housing says that:

“The Committee on Works and Housing shall be composed of eighteen Members, to which shall be referred matters relating to public works and housing generally.”

This loan relates to public works -- the construction of a dam, it relates to public works. So we will not be in violent breach of any of our Standing Orders if we said that they should act in concert with the Finance Committee to determine for us the loan agreement before us. Madam Speaker, because after all, the Committee on Finance will be looking at just the terms and conditions. The terms and conditions of what? The terms and conditions relating to the construction of the dam or the expansion of the dam.

The matter has already gone before the Committee on Works and Housing, so it will help us. It will even help the business of this House, rather than maybe, the Committee on Finance saying that, “well, we are happy with the terms and conditions”. But the Committee on Works
Madam Speaker, if we come to the other committees, Health, Order 178 1:20 p.m.


and Housing then comes to say that, “no, having considered the works, we believe that this loan is too high or maybe, it is too low for this project”. They could come to that so that we harmonize.

Madam Speaker, I think it is within your discretion, you have listened to many arguments, if you want it to be the Committee on Finance alone, you can determine it for us, we will refer it to the Committee on Finance. If it should be a joint committee, we can also do so.

The Hon Majority Leader is proposing some hybrid consideration, that is not very well known to this House, but maybe, given the exigencies of the House, it may be worth considering. I would want to say that that proposal is fraudulent. I would not want to say that, but we may tolerate it and move along.

Madam Speaker, so as I said, we have listened to many arguments, you can make your ruling and then we move on.
rose
Madam Speaker 1:20 p.m.
Hon Member, thank you. I have heard from so many people, and this will help me to make up my mind. I have read article 181 which deals with loans. It talks about the Finance Committee which will consider the terms of the loans.
Then I have also looked at Order 171 (2), which specifically states that when it is a matter of loans, it goes to the Committee on Finance. The cumulative effect of these two positions is that, it goes to the Committee on Finance.
But that does not preclude getting advice, if necessary, because if you say that we should add other committees to the Finance Committee, will the Committee on Finance also go to other specific Select Committees and other agricultural committees for an input, should an order like that be made? Of course, if they need the services, they could always go to the Finance Committee for help.

I do not think that the Committee on Works and Housing can make any input into the loan agreement as it affects the terms of the loan and that is why I would be bound by Order 171 (2) to refer it solely to the Committee on Finance.

So thank you Hon Members. Shall we now go on then? We have finished with item 6 (a) (i), and we were on item 6 (a) (ii) -- Clerk, have we finished with 6 (a) (ii)? -- [Interruption.] -- Is the Hon Minister here?

We now move on to 6 (a) (ii), where is the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning -- [Pause] --
Mr Avoka 1:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning has just stepped out -- [Interruption]-- Yes, he is coming back. I was going to ask the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to stand in for him.
Madam Speaker 1:20 p.m.
Yes. Hon Finance Minister, 6 (a) (iii) -- By the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning --
Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) for an amount of UA5,199,718.00 for the partial financing of the construction of, and the supply and installation of equipment for the Bekwai District Hospital under the Health Services Rehabilitation Project III.
Referred to the Finance Committee.
Dr A. A. Osei 1:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the
unit of the credit was not mentioned, it is important.
Madam Speaker 1:20 p.m.
Yes, UA 5. What
does UA5 -- [Interruption] -- UA 5,199,718.00 -- [Interruption] -- UA is
Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu 1:20 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, I noticed that the Bekwai is not clarified. There is Sefwi Bekwai. In order that there will be no mistake, may I remind Hon Members that we are referring to Ashanti Bekwai; the notice should refer to Bekwai, Ashanti, so that there is no mistake in future --
Madam Speaker 1:20 p.m.
I think the UA is separate from the 5,199, is it not so?
Mr Osei-Owusu 1:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
I am talking about the Bekwai District Hospital. There is Sefwi Bekwai and there is Bekwai, Ashanti. In order that we do not have any confusion in future, may I ask that this Bekwai be clarified as Bekwai, Ashanti to be sure --
Madam Speaker 1:20 p.m.
Hon Minister,
Bekwai District Hospital, he says he does not want the addition of the Health Services -- [Interruption.] But that is the loan that has been agreed upon -- [Interruption.] You wanted the Sefwi Bekwai, or what do you want to add? [Interruption] -- Bekwai, Ashanti. Hon Member, yes?
Mr Gershon K. B. Gbediame 1:20 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, I think the statement is clear enough. We are talking about Bekwai District Hospital, and there is only one Bekwai District in this country.
Madam Speaker 1:20 p.m.
Is that so? Hon
Member, there is only one Bekwai District Hospital.
Mr Osei-Owusu 1:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
I want to believe that we are clear in our mind that we are talking about one Bekwai -- those of us here -- which is in Ashanti Region. But there are several Bekwais which in future, maybe, not here, because those of us here may not be the implementers. Somebody may be confused, so if you clarify it for avoidance of doubt, please.
Madam Speaker 1:20 p.m.
I do not know
whether it is here that we have to correct it or at the Committee, I do not know. Hon Minister, this is a loan agreement which talks about Bekwai District Hospital, and he is saying “Ashanti” should be added. I do not know whether that can be done.
Dr Duffuor 1:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, we are referring to the Bekwai District in the Ashanti Region.
Madam Speaker 1:30 p.m.
In Ashanti. Well, it is on record that is Ashanti.
Can we now move on to 6 (a) iv.
By the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning --
Supplier 's Credit Financing Agreement between the Government of Ghana and STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Limited for an amount of US$1,525,443,468.00 for the construction of 30,000 units of houses under the Security Services Housing Project.
Credit Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the C h i n a E X I M B a n k f o r a n amount of US$102, ooo,000.00
Mr K. T. Hammond 1:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am so grateful. I tried to catch your eye when we got to item 6 (b) (i), those to be laid by the Hon Majority Leader, specifically the (i), that is where I tried to draw myself to your attention and -- I was simply trying to find out if there is an error here and that there was supposed to be an amendment to some existing procedures or there is really no procedure at all and this is the first one to be made.
Considering the fact that some people have already been charged under some procedures, under some commission of enquiry and they are going to court -- I am just wondering, is it an amendment to the existing one or there has never been an existing one?
Madam Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Hon Member, what
does it say? B (i).
Mr Hammond 1:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
it says that Commissions of Inquiry (Practice and Procedure) Rules, 2010 (C.I. 65). But I was just wondering if this is an amendment or some error in that one.
Madam Speaker 1:30 p.m.
I have it here.
There is no error.
Mr Hammond 1:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, there
is no amendment, so it is the first one to be made in the country.
Madam Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Well, that is what is
here and that is the Paper I have.
Mr Hammond 1:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, all
right, I just wanted it on record.
Thank you very much.
Madam Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Thank you too.
Hon Members, I think we have now exhausted the agenda for today. Any

indications as to adjournment?
Mr Cletus A. Avoka 1:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
you will recall that a lot of matters have been referred to the various committees to handle, so I beg to move, that the House do now stand adjourned until tomorrow at ten o'clock for us to do business.
I will appeal to Committee Chairmen, members, Ranking Members to meet their respective committees, those whose referrals have been made to them so that they can expedite action. If it is possible to have your reports even tomorrow or next tomorrow, you should endeavour to do so, so that we can expedite action.
Dr A. A. Osei 1:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
Mr Avoka 1:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I entirely
agree with him. I think it is an oversight. There should have been provision for them to meet this afternoon or later in the day at their discretion. So even though it is not stated in the Order Paper, I want to entreat the Committee Chairman and Ranking Member to rally their members, so if they can start their meeting today, it will be all right. He is perfectly right.
Madam Speaker 1:30 p.m.
I think you are
meeting, whether it is there or not. Hon Member, you will be meeting. It is not there, but I have referred it and you are expected to bring the report.
Dr A. A. Osei 1:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, once
you have directed, we shall oblige.
Madam Speaker 1:30 p.m.
So I think the
quicker you meet the better.
Were you moving for an adjournment? You had moved for an adjournment, had you?
Mr Cletus A. Avoka 1:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
I have done so.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:30 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, the First Deputy Speaker is urging me to do the natural thing. I do not know what the natural thing is. I will second it given what we have seen today. In the absence of nothing, bad is good, so I will second it.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 1:30 p.m.