Debates of 15 Jun 2010

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:05 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 11th June, 2010.
Page 1 … 6 -
Mr Francis Adu-Blay Koffie 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, page 6, number 30, I was here on Friday but my name has been recorded on the absentee list.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Page 7 … 10 - [Pause.]
Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 11th June, 2010 as corrected is adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, we have two Official Reports, one of 9th June and another, 10th June. I hope you have them.

Hon Members, in the absence of

any corrections, the Official Report of Wednesday, 9th June, 2010 is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.

We have the Thursday, 10th June 2010 Official Report.

Any corrections?
Mr Emmanuel K. Duut 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have got the 9th June Official Report but the 10th June one is not there. I believe, as they were delivering into the pigeonholes, it was not yet ten o'clock so those of us who came earlier, perhaps, do not have the 10th June one. Because I have the 9th June Report but I do not have the 10th June. I do not know whether it is just me or others who also came in early. We would not like to be penalized for coming early.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
If you do not have the 10th June Report, we would leave that. Any other person who does not have the 10th June one?
Mr Joseph B. Aidoo 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, 10th June 2010, column 613 -
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
That is 10th June, have you got it?
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have it.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Have you all got the 10th June?
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, those of us who came in early -- I came in at a quarter past nine (9.15 a.m.). There was nothing; only the Local Government Legislative Instrument (L.I.) was there. I think it was done subsequently so I suggest that we take it the next time.
I think we get disadvantaged by coming in early, which is not what it should be really. We should get the advantage -
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Sometimes if it is
sharing of something, it is an advantage, is it not? [Laughter.] Yes, of a cake or something. So shall we postpone this to the next day? And in which case, we move on to Questions.
Hon Members, Question time is for one hour. Let us start; it is 11.13 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader to ask the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways -
Mr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo) 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, he is present to take the Questions.
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Leader, I notice we have so many Questions.
Mr Pelpuo 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, yes.
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
But you realize we have one hour, do you not?
Mr Pelpuo 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, at the last Business Committee meeting, we realized these were constituency-specific Questions and we want to request that apart from the Hon Members who are asking the Questions, others, because they are not of general application, we could just allow the Hon Members who are posing the Questions to pose their Questions and then we move on to others.
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Well, these are matters that should have been considered at our meeting when the other side will hear and it will be argued before we come here. Our rule says it is one hour and nothing else. But sometimes, yes, for certain very good reasons, we restrict it -- for certain very good reasons. I do not know.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, this is the first time I have - The other day, it was discussed before we came here. What do you say?
Mr Ambrose P. Dery 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. I think as a matter of principle, we will try to go by what the Hon Deputy Majority Leader has said except to caution that Hon
Ministers should stick to their Answers and not make statements that will provoke other interventions. Subject to that, I believe we can keep the time and that is to your discretion.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Well, it is always a good thing to stick to Answers, relevant answers. It is never a good thing to speak too much. So I think that is a good advice.
In any case, Hon Dery, I thought these were matters - That is why we meet in the mornings. Why do we come here and then -- If it is agreed, we need not to waste more time.
Mr Dery 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I totally agree with you that we should take these matters up, but we will try to see how we can work together to ensure that we have sanity in the House. That should be the right thing to do. The discretion is yours, Madam Speaker.
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, sometimes, it is very difficult to delimit the boundaries of a constituency-specific Question. Last week, for instance, a Question was asked about the Takoradi, Tarkwa -
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Well, may I come in here. I thought my ruling then was “constituency-specific” meant for the Questioner.
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:15 a.m.
For the Questioner, exactly -
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Because I see where you are going. [Laughter.] And that is why I want to impress upon the Leaders that these are not matters - The rule says one hour but when you do go out of the rules to say constituency-specific, then they meant for the Questioner. Do you envisage a Question being asked by somebody who does not come from that constituency?
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:15 a.m.
Exactly.
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
It has not happened before, has it?
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, it happened last week. The Questioner asked a question on a trunk road -- on a trunk road in the Western Region. We had about four constituencies through which this particular road traverses. Now some of us who were affected had wanted to ask supplementary Questions but we were -
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
But you did not ask the Question.
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, because I did not ask the Question, I was barred.
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
No! No! Because you did not ask the Question, my ruling on the matter was that the three Questions come from the actual Questioner; that was the ruling. But if the Leaders agree, you talk to them about it, and if it borders on another and they say, yes, then we go on.
But I want to impress upon the Leaders that this particular way of asking Questions, we do not often employ it. We should not because it is against the rules and the feeling I get in the House is that, a lot of people do not fancy that kind of way.
If it is one hour, and it is finished in one hour, the Answers are printed but let us not do this too often. Because I do not know the reason for doing this today. I do not know but you have agreed and maybe the House has agreed.
Mr Dery 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think the rules are supreme and as much as possible we should try to abide by the rules.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:15 a.m.
MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 11:15 a.m.
HIGHWAYS 11:15 a.m.
Minister for Roads and Highways (Mr Joe K. Gidisu) 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Kpedze-Honuta road is a 15-kilometre gravel road and a section of the regional route number R91. It is in the Ho Municipal area of the Volta Region. The road was reshaped under the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) 2009 routine main- tenance programme.
Future Programme
The road is to be upgraded to bitu- minous surfacing under the 2011 road maintenance programme.
Kpedze-Anoe-Kpoeta
Background
The Kpedze-Anoe-Kpoeta road is 11.2 kilometres long. It is located in the Ho Municipal area of the Volta Region. It is engineered and in fair condition.
Future Programme
The Ministry will consider the resurfacing of the road alongside other
roads when planning for future bitu- minous surface activities.
Meanwhile, routine maintenance activities would be carried out on the road this year.
Dzolokpuita-Bame
Background
The 16.5-kilometre Dzolokpuita-Bame road is located in the Ho Municipal area of the Volta Region. It is a gravel road in fair condition.
Current Programme
The procurement process to upgrade
the road to a bituminous surface is currently underway. The advertisement inviting tenders was published in The Ghanaian Times of 21st May 2010.
Abutia Kloe-Juapong
Background
The Abutia Kloe-Juapong road is 34.8 kilometres long. It is located in the Ho Municipal area of the Volta Region. It is engineered and in fair condition.
Current Programme
The Abutia Kloe-Juapong road has been divided into two sections for resurfacing.
The first section of the road from Abutia Kloe to Kisiflui which is 14 kilometres is programmed for bitumen surface treatment this year with funding by the Government of Ghana. The project is currently under consideration for award by the Regional Tender Review Board.
The section from Kisiflui to Juapong which is 20.1 kilometres is being
Mr Bedzrah 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, for the sake of time, I yield my supplementary question to the Hon Member for North Tongu.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
No, you do not give - It means you are calling the people to speak and that job is not -
Mr Dery 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, that is totally unacceptable. If he does not want to exercise his option, he should leave it to Madam Speaker. He cannot usurp the functions of Madam Speaker.
Mr Bedzrah 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, no further question.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Yes; that is better. I guard my work very jealously.
So we move on to the next Question.
Overgrown Roadside Bushes Routine Clearing
(Policy)
Q. 314 Mr Kwabena Owusu- Aduomi asked the Minister for Roads and Highways what policy the Department of Feeder Roads had for routinely clearing overgrown bushes on road sides to improve safety of the motoring public, especially on paved feeder roads.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
That is not a constituency-specific Question.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Department of Feeder Roads has a policy of undertaking routine maintenance on all engineered paved, earth and bitumen surfaced roads, at least, once in a year. This includes the clearing of road side vegetation to improving sight distance to ensure the safety of the motoring public and pedestrians, and this, as I noted, is an annual affair.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister has indicated that the Department of Feeder Road's policy of clearing roadside vegetation is, at least -- emphasis on the words, “at least”, once in a year -- and I want to know from the Hon Minister whether the Department of Feeder Roads cuts grass six or twelve times a year. He said, “at least”, so it is open. I wanted to know whether the Department cuts grass six or twelve times in a year.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I said, “at least once a year”, and for that matter the minimum amount is a year depending on the vegetative cover of the area under focus.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, that is why I wanted to know from the Hon Minister whether it is six or twelve times in a year.
Madam Speaker, does the Hon Minister agree with me that frequency of cutting grass ought to be specific in order to monitor performance rather than being open, such as, “at least, once in a year”?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I do not agree with him.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
then I want to put it to the Hon Minister that the Department of Feeder Roads has
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Member, I do not see any difficulty with the Question so -- Hon Minister, he asked, “Do you have a policy?” That is the Question. [An Hon Member: Madam Speaker, this is not a question.] This is because you said, “at least once a year”. Is that a policy?[Interruption.]
Hon Minister, what is the answer? What is the policy?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I noted that there is a policy and in the subsequent answer, I told him that depending on the vegetative cover -- For example, in the savannah belt while it may not be very prudent or very necessary to cut the grass very regularly, as is not so as in the forest belt.
So, when I said, “at least once a year”, it means that in some areas, where necessary, to improve sight as well as safety measures, would depend on the vegetative cover at that time. But we make sure that, at least, once in a year, we do that.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Yes, your last question?
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) cuts grass on our trunk roads starting from March to every other month and that is specific. Department of Feeder Roads - the Hon Minister is saying they cut grass, “at least, once in a year”, and that is why I was not convinced. And I am still not
convinced that the Department of Feeder Roads has a policy of cutting grass.
Madam Speaker, I want to request
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Order! Well, Hon Member, he says, “once a year”, is that not a -
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, he says, “at least, once a year”; it can be two times, it can be three times, it can be four times or even twelve times. So, that is open and that is not a policy.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Member, the policy is that, “at least, once a year”. It means “not more than once a year”, is it not? The policy is that “not more than once a year”. [Interruption.] Put it to him.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, if he says, “at least” -- [Uproar.]
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Order! Let us get the answer. Yes, have you finished? You have finished?
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I put a request that it seems to me that the Department of Feeder Roads has no policy on cutting grass and -
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
The policy is “at least, once a year”.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I wanted to pass it through you that the Hon Minister should go back and check and then come back to this House and answer the Question properly.
Mr E. T. Mensah 11:25 a.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I was just going to ask the Hon Member to desist from arguing because he was arguing and making a request instead of asking a question. He
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Order!
Mr E. T. Mensah 11:25 a.m.
That is my point; that he is totally out of order. He should be ruled out of order. [Uproar.]
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Order!
11. 35 a.m.
Mr Dery 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think my Hon Friend, Hon E. T. Mensah is just introducing a red herring; if he has not asked a question, you have not permitted it and it should end there. So I think that his statement is a useless -
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Let us go on with the question.
Mr Hodogbey 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I just want to refer to Order 68 (6) to the last Hon Member who asked the Question, if you will permit me to read --
“When any Question has been asked and answered no debate on it shall be permitted.”
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon “America
man” we have finished that question. [Laughter.] If you have any other question you take it. The question is closed. Do you have your own question to ask?
Mr Hodogbey 11:25 a.m.
No.
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I know of a number of bituminous feeder roads in the Western Region, specifically Wassa Akropong Saamang and Wassa Akropong Afansie that have not seen any bush-cutting over the past two years. [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Order! Let us hear the question.
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:25 a.m.
The question is, what is the Hon Minister going to do about these feeder roads in accordance with the policy that he has indicated to us this morning that, at least, these feeder roads should have bush-cutting once in a year? The roads I am talking about have not seen any bush-cutting over the past two years. [Interruptions.] I go to my consistuency every week.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, these are decentralized activities to the districts and therefore, we expect that the feeder roads directories; which are under the District Assemblies will have to take this up. It is not a responsibility that we at the national level would direct. We only monitor and if it is not being done, I think your District Feeder Road Engineer should be made answerable and we will make sure -- But as he has mentioned, we will follow up to see that it is done. But it is a decentralised activity.
Mr Kofi Frimpong 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, would the Hon Minister, therefore, agree with the Hon Member who asked the Question that the Ministry has no policy as regards the cutting of these grass on the feeder roads? According to his Answer, it is a decentralized policy, so it is the local engineer -
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Member, you are now debating the Hon Minister; ask your question.
Mr Frimpong 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my question is, would he agree - [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Order! Order!
Mr Frimpong 11:25 a.m.
Would the Hon Minister, therefore, agree with the Hon Member who asked the Question that the Ministry has no policy as regards the cutting of grass on the feeder roads? Because there is a road -
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
I thought we had moved on from that Question and he had said the policy is “once in a year”. So if you are critical of the policy, it is different from he having no policy; but let us put it to him.
Hon Minister, let us answer the question; he says you have no policy. Would you agree that there is no policy?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I noted that there is a policy and the minimum number is once in a year. That is the policy. If we want to extend it beyond that, it is subject to the vegetative area under focus.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Any more question? We have a lot of Questions.
Mr Addai-Nimoh 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister admits that there is a policy and the policy contains a list of activities which are undertaken, at least, once in a year. May I find out from the Hon Minister -- Besides the roadside vegetation clearing, could the Hon Minister outline the other activities which are contained in that policy which are undertaken, at least once in a year?
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
I thought he was asked about a policy of cutting the weeds on the road -- Then ask him if there are other policies and then let him admit or deny; then we carry on.
Mr Addai-Nimoh 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister in his Answer, the last statement, he says:
“The policy includes the clearing of roadside vegetation to improve sight side distance to ensure the safety of the motoring public and pedestrians,”
I am just trying to find, out of curiosity what are the other activities contained in that policy?
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Minister, that
is the question, any other policies?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I noted that that is part of the routine activities we carry on our roads and the feeder roads in particular. The Question was specific on roadside bush cutting and that is why I limited my Answer to the roadside bush-cutting.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Shall we move on to the next Question then; it stands in the name of Hon Major Derek Yaw Oduro (retd) -- Member for Nkoranza North.
Maj. Derek Oduro (retd): Madam Speaker, the Table Office always disorganizes my name: The word “Retd” comes last. The way it is going, if we are not careful, they will prefix my name with “Retd”. The word “Retd” comes last; my name is Maj. Derek Oduro (retd). So the Table Office should take note. I have corrected this thing so many times.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Yes, thank you.
Nkoranza-Busunya Atebubu Roads (Tarring)
Q. 317. Maj. Derek Oduro (retd) asked the Minister for Roads and Highways what plans the Ministry had to tar Nkoranza-Busunya and Busunya- Atebubu roads.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker: the 94.7 kilometres Nkoranza-Busunya- Atebubu road is gravelled, surfaced and located in the Nkoranza North District of the Brong Ahafo Region. It is part of the regional route number R47. The km 0-10 of the road was regravelled in 2009 and is in good condition. Two kilometres of the Busunya town roads are currently being upgraded to bituminous surfacing.
Current Programme
Works are currently being procured to construct critical culverts to solve the drainage problem between Asekye to Atebubu. Bids were opened on 7th June
2010.
Future Programme
A programme is currently being prepared to carry out spot improvement works on the road from Asekye to Atebubu under the Ghana Highways Authority's (GHA's) 2011 routine maintenance programme.
The road will be considered for tarring when all the spot improvement works aimed at providing all-year access are completed.

Maj. Oduro (retd): Madam Speaker,

the Hon Minister said 10 kilometres out of 94.7 kilometres has been regravelled in 2009. In fact, it started in 2008 and stopped in 2009. How many kilometres of the road was awarded on contract? Madam Speaker, 10 kilometres had been done but I want to find out the extent of kilometres that was awarded to the contractor.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, from our records, if the road is 94.7 kilometres and we have taken up the first 10 kilometres, then by virtue of that it is the first 10 kilometres that are being gravelled and the others are for the setting up of culverts, as I noted, after which we will continue with the regravelling of the other sections.
Maj. Oduro (retd): Madam Speaker, if that road, the Nkoranza Atebubu road is part of the regional routine maintenance schedule, when was the last time that they performed maintenance on the rest of the portion from 10-kilometre to

94.7-kilometre?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, it is not only regravelling of the road that makes it motorable. I noted that there are some very critical culverts which have just been advertised for works to be done on them, and it is part of making the road motorable. So in terms of regravelling, yes, we have done the first 10 kilometres, but there is the need to improve on the drainage works which involve the construction of those culverts.
Maj. Oduro (retd): Madam Speaker, he has not answered my question. I am asking about the last time maintenance activity was performed from 10-kilometre to 94.7-kilometre. That is the question I am asking. When was the last time -- because during some parts of the year, the road becomes a “no-go” area. So when was the last time that his Ministry even visited that place? That is the question I am asking him.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we would have to take note of the fact that in the same Nkoranza North District, there are other road networks that will receive -- or that needed attention. So we need to plan in terms of our budgetary constraints. And we noted that, earlier, the regravelling was done up to the first 10 kilometres.
Now, we have programmed the road and I noted the bids were opened only in the first week of this month and the setting up of those critical culverts is indeed, very necessary to make the road eventually more motorable than gravelling it in the present state. So in that wise, I want to say that, yes, it is only this year that we have gone back to do those maintenance works on them.
Maj. Oduro (retd): Madam Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister -- He said some critical points such as
culverts on the roads are being considered and have even been given out -- it has passed through the bidding process. I want to find out whether the bridge on River Fia which is close to Asekye was considered as one of the critical points because every week it takes about two or three lives.
I want to know whether it has been captured or considered as one of the critical points because we have been calling on the Ministry to take note of that. So I want to know whether it has been taken care of.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, our engineers at both the district and regional levels identified through their regular visits and inspections those critical points that need culverts. I am very sure they would have captured the portion that my Hon Colleague is talking about, and he can find out. If there is any limitation as to identifying that portion as part of the critical areas, he can raise it with us for consideration.
Lambussie, Mapaala, Hamile,Sina Dendee, et cetera Roads
(Commencement of Work)
Q. 318. Mr John Duoghr Baloroo asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Ministry would work on the following roads in the Lambussie Constituency:
(i) Lambussie Mapaala Hamile
(ii) Sina Dendee
(iii) Zinmuopave Busiayaa
(iv) Gberkuo-Konsi
(v) Completion of Kanguol-Buli road.
Mr. Joe K. Gidisu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the road is rather Lambussie-Nabaala- Hamile. The 20-kilometre Lambussie- Nabaala-Hamile road is located in the Lambussie District of the Upper West Region. The road consists of two sections. The first section from Lambussie to Nabaala is 10 kilometres long. It is un- engineered and in in very poor condition.
The second section from Nabaala to Hamile is also 10 kilometres long. It is partially engineered. The road is in fair condition, that is, critical drainage structures have been constructed.
Future Programme
Both the un-engineered and partially engineered sections will be improved in stages. This will commence with spot improvement activities to provide all- weather access.
This will, however, be considered alongside other roads when planning for future spot improvement activities throughout the country.
Meanwhile, routine maintenance activities will be carried out on the road this year.
Sina-Dendee
Background
The Sina to Dendee road forms part of the Suke Suggo-Sina-Dendee-Koro feeder road which is 13.3 kilometres long. It is located in the Lambussie District of the Upper West Region. The section from Sina-Dendee is 2.2 kilometres long.
Mr Baloroo 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I would like to know from the Minister t, is he aware that to get to Nabaala from Lambussie, you first of all has to get to Nandom. Lambussie to Nandom is about 10 kilometres before you can go down to Nabaala which is another 9 kilometres. So, what is his Ministry doing to help alleviate this suffering from my people?
Anytime we have to visit our people. we have to travel, at least, 20 kilometres to get to Nabaala which is just 10 kilometres, as he said.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I share the sentiments of my Hon Colleague just because of the fact that, as I noted in the Answer, that section is un-engineered and definitely during the rainy season in particular and most part of the year, it cannot be accessible. So as I noted, we will take it up on programme so that it will reduce the travelling distance and time between those communities along that route.
Mr Baloroo 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I would like to know from the Hon Minister, when specifically these projects would be carried out.
Also, to find out from him, Sina and Dendee are twin villages and there is a stream dividing them. In the rainy season, the people of Sina, to get to Dendee, or from Dendee to Sina, have to first of all
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, one of the major activities in the Ministry now is to see how best to improve upon the river points at various areas in the country. Some of them only need box culverts, others may need steel bridges. We are aggressively pursuing putting those crossing at those river points.
As I noted, that road is un-engineered. Part of the re-engineering or the engineering activities along that road would mean improving on the drainage system which will demand putting the appropriate crossing point there to reduce the present travelling time as he has noted.
Mr Baloroo 11:55 a.m.
Hon Minister, it is clear that the road networks in my district are completely neglected. The Gberkuo- Konsi road, there is a big river and Konsi is almost like an island. Children from Konsi must wait to get to the age of nine before they can go to school because of the river. In the rainy season, you must be able to swim; even a child have to swim across to go to school. So with this plight, I am actually pleading and trying to find out from the Hon Minister what immediate solution his Ministry can provide to these people so that these innocent children can get to school easily.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, three months ago, I was in that region and confronted with a similar situation in the Jirapa area. I think this is the first time that he is drawing our attention especially
to this problem. Just as we are doing at other places, we would specifically look at this to improve the school time and for that matter education in that area.
rose
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
You have finished your three questions, have you not?
Mr Baloroo 11:55 a.m.
The last question, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
All right.
Mr Baloroo 11:55 a.m.
Hon Minister, the road between Kanguol and Buli, there is a river called River Hakyaga -- [Interruption] - The contractor escavated a pit and it is a trap. About two people died through drowning around the same spot. A parent also died at the same place. He sent food to his ward at the Pina Senior High School on a bicycle and when he was coming, he got drowned. He was there for weeks.
Hon Minister what would your Ministry do immediately to help us? If not, this rainy season, I am afraid we are going to lose some of my constituents.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, from the comments of the Colleague, it seems that that spot has been identified as an accident-prone area during rainy season. I think it is incumbent on the District Assembly to put in measures to, at least, see how best they can circumvent the travelling distance, no matter how long it would be, rather than allowing people to travel that distance
But as he noted, we would take note of it and see how best we can improve on the crossing point there either through a
Mr Joe Gidisu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Aboabo bridge project is located in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District of the Western Region.
Current Programme
The Aboabo bridge project was programmed under the Ghana/Dutch Bridges Project Phase 2 in 2007. The contract commenced in October, 2007 and was scheduled for completion in May, 2008. The contractor has completed clearing, erection of 2No. bridge abutments and filling to approaches. This constitutes about 75 per cent of physical progress of the contract.
The outstanding work is the assembling and launching of the steel deck.
The contract has delayed as result of certain contractual problems. Notably among them were: delay in payment of compensation to cocoa farmers, flooding of the catchment area of the bridge and delay in payment to the contractor for work done.
Currently, al l issues raised as constraints have been resolved. The contract completion period has been extended to December, 2010.
The contractor has been instructed to re-mobilize to site for the completion of the outstanding works.
Mr Addae 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want
to find out from the Hon Minister -- in his Answer, there are three notable reasons why the project has delayed, among them is the payment of compensation to farmers. I want to find out from the Hon Minister who should be responsible for the payment of compensation to farmers.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the payment of compensation to farmers under any road project is done by the Government and it goes through a process. For example, from the Department the Valuation Board takes charge of Feeder Roads, and eventually the amount is determined and payment is made.
Mr Addae 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, may I
know from the Hon Minister why in this particular case, the Department of Feeder Roads did not factor the payment of compensation into whatever calculations they did and asked me, the Member of Parliament to pay the compensation, which I did with my Common Fund?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am not aware of the assertion being made by my Hon Colleague, because under normal circumstances, individuals as Hon Members of Parliament are not expected to use their resources to pay compensation under those circumstances.
Mr Addae 12:05 p.m.
In this case Madam Speaker, will the Hon Minister find out and come back to the House and also give me the assurance that, the money would be repaid into my account with interest?
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
How would he find out? You tell him.
Mr Addae 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the compensation has been paid by me. And so, there should be a refund. I wanted the
Mr J. K. Gidisu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I think my Hon Colleague Member of Parliament for the area will know very well that, under no circumstance is an individual, not even the District Assembly called upon to pay compensation. I do not know under what circumstances that he, not even the District Assembly was called upon to pay. This is an issue he can take up with me after the session so that we look at how best to address it.
Mr Addae 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister should know that, I am not an ordinary individual; I am a Member of Parliament and I care for the people and if a project is delaying due to payment of compensation, Madam Speaker, I think it is only proper that I intervene to pay the compensation and then later get the money back when it is due. And so, it is because of the concern that I have for my people, that is why I captioned my question, “the project has been abandoned”. The project has been abandoned for about two and a half years now, Madam Speaker. [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Member, number one, you have finished your three questions; number two, he has invited you to come and talk about it. So, I think that is the proper way to go about it.
Can we move on to the next Question?
Rehabilitation of Road Works -- Asante Akim, Bosome Freho and Adansi Asokwa Constituencies
(Suspension)
Q. 320. Mr Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi
asked the Minister for Roads and Highways why the ongoing rehabilitation works on Obogu-Ofoase-Gyadem-Bodwesango- Adansi Asokwa road that runs through Asante Akim South, Bosome Freho and Adansi Asokwa Constituen-cies had been suspended.
Mr Joe K. Gidisu 12:05 p.m.
The Obogu- Ofoase-Gyadem-Bodwe-sango-Adansi Asokwa is a 67.4-kilometre gravel road linking the southern part of Ashanti to Central and Eastern Regions at Assin Fosu and Akim Oda respectively.
The upgrading of the road to bituminous surface was awarded in November, 2008 at the cost of GH¢40 million for completion by November 2011.
The project was however, suspended due to funding constraints.
In May, 2010 the Ministry gave approval for the upgrading of the first 30 kilometres. The contractor has mobilized to site and work is currently in progress. The remaining 37.4 kilometres will be upgraded in phases.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to know from the Hon Minister, whether the cost of any of the works that would be done from May, 2010 that he gave approval for work to resume, would be higher than if the works had been allowed to continue last year, 2009. Will he tell this House that, the decision to suspend this on-going project has been cost effective?
Mr Joe Gidisu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the circumstances under which the contract was awarded were such that budgetary constraints would not have allowed us to effectively discharge the work and we felt that for effectiveness, we noted among a
lot of our reactions here that, the delay in execution of contracts was the non- payment to contractors.
So, if we feel at the ministerial level that, going on with the project that would not give us the opportunity to pay the contractor regularly and it is just proper and prudent enough for us to slow down the work by way of suspending it until now when our budgetary provisions would allow it to go on.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am not convinced, but I want to ask the Hon Minister, by July, 2009 during his tenure of office, the Department of Urban Roads awarded contracts on sole sourcing to the tune of over GH¢42 million. So, how is he reconciling with this issue - funds constraints -- that this project, because there were no funds, has to be suspended, whilst by July, 2009 last year on sole sourcing, the Department of Urban Roads only awarded contracts to the tune of GH¢42 million. I want the Hon Minister to explain.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the reference the Hon Colleague is making is not on one particular stretch of road. That should be very clear. It is not on one particular stretch of road and those roads are very, very critical. One would have to look at the situation and we are saying that, the circumstances under which the contract was awarded, unlike what we did in 2009 by awarding the contract he is referring to, at least, we had contingency plans for them, unlike that time when there was no such contingency plan made for the payment for those contracts.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
the Hon Minister keeps on saying; “that circumstances under which this contract was awarded”. I know this project was advertised, eligible contractors were
allowed to tender and evaluation reports were prepared.
So I do not know what circumstances were surrounding this project that the Hon Minister is talking about, because the procurement law was adequately followed. I want the Hon Minister to tell us what circumstances led to this decision?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the bottom line is the budgetary level of the Ministry at the time that the contract was being awarded. And the Hon Colleague knows very well that, that was not the only project that was awarded at that time. However, I just want to say that, now that we have taken off with the project, our budgetary provision will not make it suffer any delay.
Mr Ofori-Kuragu 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker. as noted by my Hon Colleague, this vital road runs through my constituency and I would like to know from the Hon Minister, how much is the new contract sum? That is, for the first 30 kilometres that has been re-awarded and how many phases he plans to award the remaining 37 kilometres.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I will not be able to be very specific. What I would want to say is that, the situation with regard to the contractor that was working on that road and the certified amount up to date, we can confirm at another time when brought back or behind the scene to clarify the situation more specifically.
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
The two of you, finish your questions. You asked three more questions. You have asked the question because the question says “constituencies” and you say it lies within your constituency. So, you had one
question; you do not have three questions.
Mr Ofori Kuragu 12:15 p.m.
This is not a question, this is just a plea to the Hon Minister to take a second look at this particular road as it runs through, at least, three regions; and try and award the second phase as well so that the job can proceed accordingly.
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minister, he made a suggestion.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, we very much appreciate the concerns of the Hon Colleagues and there are quite very important communities along that road and more especially bringing the three regions together, there is no cause why we should not give it the priority attention that we have just started with.
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Honourable, you do not have more than three questions. What is the question, is it a suggestion?
Mr Richard A. Adiyia 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he mentioned that the project was suspended due to funding constraints. When was the project suspended, Mr Minister? And do we have resources to complete the 30 kilometres that is under contract now?
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Minister, please do you have an answer to the question?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, this contract was terminated in 2009 when we took inventory of the projects we had on hand as against the budgetary level of the Ministry. For now, yes, we have made provision for the continuation of the project or the execution of the project. That is why my Hon Colleagues
will confirm, if not now, later, that work will be moving according to schedule and the situation that their apprehensions now will be overcome.
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Thank you; shall we move to the next Question?
Hon Kwasi Anno Ankamah, Atiwa.
Ms Gifty Klenam 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, with your permission, the Hon Member has asked me to ask the Question on his behalf.
An Hon Member 12:15 p.m.
Where is he?
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Honourable, I think
Colleagues will like to know where he is.
Ms Klenam 12:15 p.m.
He is ill.
Anyinam-Kwabeng-Abomosu Road (Routine Maintenance)
*321. Ms Klenam (on behalf of Mr Kwasi Annoh Ankamah) asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Ministry would carry out routine road maintenance on the Anyinam-Kwabeng- Abomosu road.
Mr Joe Gidisu 12:15 p.m.
Anyinam-Kwabeng- Abomosu road is located in the Atiwa District of the Eastern Region. This road is under 30 kilometres. It is a bituminous- surfaced road and in fair condition.
Current Programme
The Anyinam-Kwabeng-Abomosu trunk road, and as I noted, is 28.0 kilometres long and was awarded with the Nkawkaw-New Abirem and Nkawkaw town roads for pothole patching works as one lot for completion by December 2010.
The contractor is currently working on
the Nkawkaw-New Abirem and Nkawkaw town roads. After the completion of these roads, work will begin on the Anyinam- Kwabeng-Abomosu stretch.
Ms Klenam 12:15 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I want the Hon Minister to be specific and go by his word.
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
What is the question?
Ms Klenam 12:15 p.m.
I want the Hon Minister to be specific on the day that he is going to get the work done on the road.
Mr J. K. Gidisu 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I noted that, we have packaged a number of those road stretches into one lot and as at now, the contractor, for con-venience, is working on the first aspect of the stretch but the whole stretch is to be completed by December this year. So, if he is now working on the Nkawkaw-New Abirem and the Nkawkaw town roads, it is that we have at least some six months more, if not around that, for the end of the contract period which I am very sure, looking at the rate of work, the patches on that road would be completed before the end of the year.
rose
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Is this not a consti- tuency-specific question?
Mr Samuel Ayeh-Paye 12:15 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, on the Minister's Answser -
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
No, no. no, I asked you a question. Is this not a cons-tituency- specific question; No. 321? I thought we agreed that when it is conhstituency specific -
Mr Ayeh-Paye 12:15 p.m.
Yes, Madam Speaker, there is confusion here. I want the Hon
Mr Ayeh-Paye 12:15 p.m.


Minister to be clear in his Answer. Madam Speaker, the first paragraph of the Hon
Minister's Answer, it reads 12:15 p.m.
“Anyinam-Kwabeng-Abomosu road is located in the Atiwa District in the Eastern Region. The road is 51.0 kilometres long . . .
then you come to paragraph 2 and he said the
“Anyinam-Kwabeng-Abomosu trunk road which is 28.0 kilometres long. . .”
I want to find out whether it is the same road, if not, is the trunk and the road here making any difference?
Mr J. K. Gidisu 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, my answer, if the Hon Colleague who asked the question will recollect, I corrected the 51.0 kilometres to the 28 kilometres. I did not read the 51 kilometres and for that matter, it is an error in terms of the initial presentation but I corrected it in my presentation.
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Thank you.
The next Questions are 313, 315 and
316.
Hon Members, in respect of these three Questions standing in the name of the Hon Alhaji Abdul-Karim Iddrisu, the desired answers indicated by the Hon Member on the Question form were written.
In accordance with Standing Order 64 (4), the Clerk's Office has really communicated in writing to the Hon Member the responses from the Hon Minister.
Hon Members, pursuant to the specified Standing Order, I hereby direct that the Answers to Questions 313, 315 and 316 be printed in the Official Report of today's proceedings.
WRITTEN ANSWEWRS TO 12:15 p.m.
QUESTIONS 12:15 p.m.
MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 12:15 p.m.
HIGHWAYS 12:15 p.m.
Mr Joe K. Gidisu 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the culvert is located at kilometres 5.6 of the 13.6 kilometres Afayilli Junction-Yong Junction road.
The road is close to the Nanton Kurugu dam site in the Savelugu/Nanton District of the Northern Region.
Current Programme
As part of the programme to improve the road, the culvert will be reconstructed under the Millennium Challenge Account funding. The contract commenced in February, 2010 and is expected to be completed in eighteen months.
Zoggu to Dawelugu Road (Rehabilitation)
Q. 315. Abdul-Karim Iddrisu asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the road from Zoggu to Dawelugu which is in a very bad state wouldbe rehabilitated.
Mr Joe K. Gidisu 12:15 p.m.
Madam Sopeaker, the Zoggu to Dawelugu road should read Zoggu-Savelugu-Tampion. The road is 13.2 kilometres long and is located in the Savelugu/Nanton District of the Northern Region. It is engineered but in poor condition.
Current Programme
A contract has been awarded for the spot improvement of this road as part of a package under the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) this year. The contract commenced in February, 2010 and is expected to be completed in eighteen months.
Nanton to Savelugu Road
Q. 316. Alhaji Abdul-Karim Iddrisu asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the road from Nanton to Savelugu which is in a very bad state would be put in good shape.
Mr Joe K. Gidisu 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker: The 15.9 kilometres Nanton-Savelugu road is part of the regional route number R91. It is located in the Nanton District of the Northern Region. It is in poor condition.
Current Programme
The reshaping of this road has been programmed under the 2010 routine maintenance programme of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA). The bid for the award of the contract was advertised in the dailies on 9th June, 2010.
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
That takes us to the next Question, but it is a different Minister. Hon Minister, thank you.
The next Question to be answered is by the Minister for Communications.
Hon Minister, if you are here can we
have your attention?
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS 12:25 p.m.
Minister for Communications (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Postal service remains an important aspect of the nation's communications infrastructure and for which reason efforts are being made to modernize its operations.
It is also the policy obligation of the Ministry of Communications, under the Universal Access obligation to support the Ghana Post Company Limited to provide post offices for all newly created Districts. This programme also covers rehabilitation and equipping of existing post offices with ICT facilities to enable Ghana Post improve upon postal service delivery in the country.
In this regard, Madam Speaker, Ghana Post has been requested to programme the upgrading of Paga Postal Agency to the status of a post office in the ongoing postal modernization exercise.
Mr Alowe 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I would further like to find out from the Hon Minister whether he is aware that the postmaster is the only employee of Ghana Post at that postal agency? He is the postmaster, he is the cleaner, he is the messenger and there are no toilet facilities,
Mr H. Iddrisu 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am aware that Ghana Post has a number of challenges and it is not proven in the last few years to be a profitable undertaken. I am aware that, since 2003 Ghana Post has not even been able to pay dividends to Government of Ghana as a public limited liability company. That means that they are not doing well as a going concern. We have taken a number of decisions to revamp Ghana Post to situate it in terms of new businesses, for instance, sale of passport forms and related matters.
Specific reference to Paga. I also do believe that Ghana Post is oversized and Government would do the appropriate restructuring as and when it is appropriate and necessary.
Mr Alowe 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I would further like to ask the Hon Minister, considering the appalling situation at that postal agency and considering also the fact that Paga is the gateway of Ghana to Burkina Faso, is there any urgent steps that he would be taking to address this situation in the interim while we wait for the upgrading exercise?
Mr H. Iddrisu 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I take note of his concerns. Indeed, I may be travelling to Burkina Faso tomorrow and I have requested that my return visit is arranged through Paga so that I will do an inspection of the post and other things in the Upper East Region before proceeding to the Northern Region. So, I would have a look at the facility when I am returning on Saturday.
Mr Alowe 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I thank him for his answer. May I now ask my last supplementary question in relation to the upgrading exercise.
I want to find out the timeframe his Ministry is giving to Ghana Post to come up with a programme for the upgrading and in his own mind when he wants to see the programme completed.
Mr H. Iddrisu 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, this year, we have got - I would not even say for the 2010 fiscal year. For 2009, we had one million Ghana cedis for Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) allocation to support the construction of new post offices. We have identified ten centres in the ten regions of Ghana and procurement processes are ongoing. As soon as they are completed, work will commence on those selected areas.
I am also aware for the Upper Region,
for instance, Lambussie,Filsy, Wenchegey. In the Volta Region, Jasikan, Papase and Kpasa and in the Western Regionm, Juabeso and Half-Assini post offices will also be considered for the purpose of upgrading.
Madam Speaker 12:25 p.m.
You have finished your three questions, thank you.
We have already finished our one hour but it seems to me that the next two Questions are important and the Hon Minister is here so let us extend the time a little. But if we could really be brief because we have a lot of work.
The next Question stands in the name of Hon Simon Osei-Mensah, Bosomtwe.
Mr Ayeh-Paye 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Member has asked me to ask the Question on his behalf. He is indisposed.
Registration of SIM Cards (Legal Framework)
Q. 481. Mr Samuel Ayeh-Paye (on behalf of Mr Simon Osei-Mensah) asked the Minister for Communications under which legal framework is the ongoing
registration of SIM cards being carried out.
Mr H. Iddrisu 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, registration of SIM cards is a common practice in the telecom world. It is mandatory in countries such as India, South Korea and now Nigeria, South Africa, United Kingdom to mention a few.
Madam Speaker, in Ghana the requirement for the registration of SIM Cards is provided for in section 8 (2) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 Act 775 (1), under the Head notes “Obli-gations of Operators of Electronic Communications Networks and Communications Services” and provides as follows:
“The Authority may authorize a network operator or service provider to disclose lists of its subscribers, including directory access databases, for the publication of directories or for other purposes that the Authority may specify.”
In this regard, Madam Speaker, the rationale for the registration exercise as per section 8 (2) and 68 of Act 775 is therefore to enable operators obtain a database of their subscribers. The National Communications Authority deems such operational information necessary and/ or relevant to help eliminate the growing incidence of anonymous threats and insults emanating from phone calls made from mobile phones whose owner's identity is unknown.
The registration will therefore help enhance security and fight crime. At the same time fraud, crime and threats perpetrated by unidentified callers would be curtailed through the SIM card
registration.
It must also be stated that the privacy of the consumer is paramount in this exercise. Madam Speaker, clauses 13 (7) and 17 of the Mobile Cellular Licence requires the licensees or operators to use any such personal information obtained from or about users/subscribers only in connection with the operation of their licensed networks or provision of their licensed services, among others. They can only share such personal information with other operators or affiliates with the consent of the subscribers.
However, per Clauses 16 (1) and 23 (1) of Schedule 3 of the Mobile Cellular License, the Licensee is obliged to comply with requests by the Authority to enable the Authority carry out its mandate under the Act, which includes the protection of consumer interest.
It is important to stress that one advantage that would accrue from the registration of SIM card is that it would facilitate the deployment of Mobile Number Portability (NMP) that allows mobile phone users to retain their numbers, while shifting to a different service provider to have choice and better quality of service.
‘
Mr Ayeh-Paye 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, is it possible that data from this current registration could be used by individuals or organizations?
Mr Iddrisu 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, maybe for purpose of elaborating let me just complete what was in the written Answer.
It is in this context Madam Speaker, that the National Communications Authority (NCA) has directed that with effect from June 30, 2010 all new mobile SIM Cards will have to be registered in the name of
Mr Ayeh-Paye 12:25 p.m.
Madam Speaker, is it possible that the Military, the National Security or para-military organizations can go to any communication company or network operators to obtain information about a subscriber without the consent of the individual?
Mr Iddrisu 12:35 p.m.
Madam Speaker, that is legally untenable. Under the laws, you only can give out subscriber information with the consent of that subscriber. I can understand the apprehension because the initial directive on the registration of Sim Cards emanated the National Security when they were concerned about the growing incidence of unanimous crime, and trends that emanated from these messages.
But on the quiet, the Ministry of Communication and the National Communications Authority, was already working quietly to undertake this particular exercise and it is in the interest of subscribers that we know who owns a particular number. It has become very common in Ghana, somebody sends you an insulting text message, you want to reach back to the person, all you are told is that, number not available or network not available.
Indeed, it is not new, even those on postpaid give out their names and
addresses.
The assurance I can give is that we will protect such personal data and no agency nor National Security shall be allowed to use such information without the consent of the subscriber.
Mr Justice Joe Appiah 12:35 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to ask the Hon Minister if there is a secret device that has been brought into this country to monitor the phone calls of subscribers.
Mr Iddrisu 12:35 p.m.
Madam Speaker, there is no specific device. I came before this august House before Parliament rose in December, to request that Parliament determined a ceiling for the termination of all international inbound calls to Ghana and to determine that ceiling at 0.19 cents. This House accordingly gave meaning to an amendment to the Electronic Communications act, allowing us to set that minimum. It has become very common in Ghana today that all of us receive calls from abroad as if they were domestic calls.
They either come in 026, 024, 027 or 020. That is fraud associated with what we call the re-routing of calls or call bypass which leads to loss of revenue to the state. It is estimated that Government loses Five Million Dollars a month as a result of that fraudulent bypass of calls. So, what Government has done in order to generate revenue to undertake meaningful development is to set a minimum of 0.19 cents.
The maximum of 0.13 cents will be held by the operators. So there is no mechanism; all we are doing is to determine the signal transfer point. If a call is going to hit Ghana, all international calls must come on the +233 number, that is Ghana's sovereign code. But if you have a call come in on 024, 026, 027, it means
they are declaring those international calls as domestic calls yet the revenue emanating from international calls is twice or thrice a domestic call.
So, it will give them an opportunity to under declare their revenue to which the state loses, Government loses.
Therefore we are saying that we want to check fraud emanating from the termination of all international inbound calls in Ghana and we accordingly came to this House, to give us the legal mandate to proceed with it. I am aware that some apprehension have been raised that we want to tap into peoples' conversation, Madam Speaker, neither do I want my phone conversation to be monitored or tapped in.
The equipment is passive and indeed when we came before this House, there was a brilliant amendment which came from this side of the House which said that, the equipment to be used shall not have the capacity to monitor data or content. Therefore the argument that an equipment is being used is neither here nor there and it is not legally tenable. Indeed, this House only strengthens section 18 (2) of the Constitution which guarantees privacy of communication.
The inclusion of section 25 (a) as was amended only reinforces article 18 (2) of the Constitution, therefore Government has no intention to monitor or tap into the conversation of any Ghanaian but we remain determined to check the fraud associated with international inbound traffic into Ghana.
Mr Charles Hodogbey 12:35 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he said the Electronic Communications act of 2008 will come into effect on June 20th 2008, that is 18 months from the passing of the act. Then in the Hon Minister‘s own
same statement, he said, however, existing subscribers will have a period of about 18 months from the said date to transit to the new regime.
My question is, now if you go to the streets, people are peddling SIM cards. You can buy SIM card anywhere even go across the border. I want to know how effectively the Ministry is going to control those who have the SIM card across the border to come in here to register so that the fraud and other things will be stopped.
Mr Iddrisu 12:35 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Electronic Communications Act is operational and functional. What I indicated was that the National Communications Authority exercising its mandate under the act has directed that henceforth, all SIM cards be registered in Ghana. Today, we have a teledensity of 67 percent, meaning that about twelve to fourteen million Ghanaians have access to mobile phone numbers.
It will not take a day or two to get those numbers registered, therefore, we are implementing this in two phases. Effective 1st June, all new SIM cards must be registered before they are activated. Existing SIM cards, you have up to 18 months to regularize your registration.
As I indicated, tomorrow, if you are not satisfied with the services provided by MTN or Vodafone or Zain or Tigo or Kasapa, you are free under our mobile number portability initiative which I believe we should be launching latest mid- 2011, we are adopting the regulations before the end of this year. So we have only opened two chapters, one for existing subscribers and one for new subscribers to abide by the directive of the National Communications Authority.
Mr Joe Baidoe-Ansah 12:35 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I would want the Hon Minister to confirm whether in the midst of robberies,
that is, armed robberies and other issues that border on peoples' addresses. They have asked private companies, private companies without Data Protection Act from the sovereign Parliament of Ghana to go ahead and collect information on people. I want the Hon Minister to confirm whether his Ministry has given that authorization for private companies not backed by any data act to collect data; personal data on people mandatorily.
Mr Iddrisu 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Communication is unaware of any activity of a private entity undertaking this exercise. What we do know is that the mobile operators themselves have embarked on, per the directive of the National Communications Authority, the mobile networks have themselves initiated the process of making sure that their subscribers or customers are registered with them.
And Madam Speaker, we cannot do mobile number portability if subscribers are unwilling to share their personal data. The beauty of this exercise is that, we are not looking for too much information, just your name and probably a picture may be sufficient for this purpose. So the Ministry has not engaged any private company to undertake this exercise. The operators themselves are doing it.
Madam Speaker, at the World Telecom Development Conference that I had the privilege to attend with the Hon Dan Botwe, when he listened to the policy statement for various countries, he got reports about SIM card registration from other parts of the world including some of our neighbours in the sub-region.
Mr Wiafe Pepera 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Minister, is he aware that embarking on this registration exercise before the Interpretation Act is in place is rather putting the cart before the horse? And secondly, with the caller ID
withheld, the business of tracking people from their number would not make any difference in any way.
Mr Iddrisu 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker, let me deal with the latter part of his question. The growing phenomenon of caller ID being withheld became very fashionable with the Ghanaian; I do not think that it is appropriate. It is important that people know who is placing a call and to take a decision whether to answer or not to answer that person in respect of the privacy of communication. But it became a very fashionable thing that every Ghanaian wanted the number withheld for some unknown reasons.
Madam Speaker, the second part of his question, let me assure this House that before the end of this tenure of Parliament and I mean this Session, this year we would bring before this House a Data Protection Bill. I am in touch with the learned Attorney-General who is putting finishing touches to the Bill for onward submission to cabinet and then to Parliament.
We have completed the draft but we
want to be satisfied with its contents before we proceed. But nonetheless, when you give out information on your National Health Insurance, we are already doing it, it is not protected, so Government will make sure that a law comes to protect all data being held.
Mr J. B. Aidoo 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Minister in his answer has quoted Act 775 - the Electronic Communications Act and Madam Speaker, specifically he said -
“the Authority may authorize a network operator or service provider to disclose list of its subscribers including directly accessed data bases for the publication of directories or for other purposes
that the Authority may specify.”
Madam Speaker, this Law in effect does not compel anybody to register - any SIM card user to register. It is a compulsion on the operators to disclose subscribers.
Madam Speaker, can the Hon Minister tell us specifically which law is mandating Ghanaians or SIM card users to register with these network operators? Can he be specific - which law - because this law as I see it does not compel anybody to register.
Mr Iddrisu 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker, mobile subscribers and users do not walk on their own, they belong to networks. The law is categorical that mobile operators are expected to comply with the directives of the regulatory authority. The authority has accordingly requested them to provide database of their subscribers; failure to do so, we will not hesitate to sanction them.
Madam Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Yes, Hon Members, can we move on to the last Question?
Mr Robert Sarfo-Mensah 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Member is unavoidably absent and he has asked me to ask the Question on his behalf.
Madam Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Yes, all right.
Mr Sarfo-Mensah 12:45 p.m.
Thank you Madam Speaker.
Operationalising the Community Information Center in Kukuom in the
Asunafo South District
Mr Robert Sarfo-Mensah (on behalf of)
Q. 482 . Mr George Boakye (Asunafo South): To ask the Minister for Communications when the Community
Information Centre in KuKuom in the Asunafo South District will be made operational.
Mr Iddrisu 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the
construction of Community Information Centres (CICs) is a major policy initiative of the Ministry of Communications to provide ICT infrastructure and services to benefit the under-served and un-served communities throughout the country to help bridge the digital gap.
Under the programme, all 230 constituencies are progressively being provided with a fully connected CIC including the Community Information Centre at Kukuom in the Asunafo South District.
Madam Speaker, currently the physical infrastructure for Kukuom CIC has been completed. The Kukuom CIC is among a list of twenty (20) CICs each of which will be provide with Ten (10) desktop computers, One (1) scanner, One (1) network printer, One (1) server, Power Backup system to supply electricity for up to 4 hours during black outs, One (1) network switch, Local Area Network and Internet Connectivity by the end of October 2010.
The equipment will be supplied and installed for use under the supervision of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC).
Madam Speaker, the CIC will therefore be fully operational under the care of the District Assembly before November 2010.
Mr Sarfo-Mensah 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in the Minister's answer, Asunafo South is considered under served and un-served as far as ICT infrastructure and other services are concerned. Meanwhile the facility which is going to serve the whole district will be provided with only ten (10) desk top computers. Will the Hon
Minister consider increasing the desk top computers to about thirty (30) so that the community can be well served because this is the only facility which is going to serve the whole district?
Mr Iddrisu 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I accordingly note his request for us to consider increasing the number of computers to be made available.
However, Madam Speaker, we do have an obligation to every constituency and to every community information center. As and when we do have some other resources - fortunately for us, funds into the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) is regular and we may be advised accordingly to increase the number from ten (10) to maybe fifteen (15) to twenty (20), depending upon the budget of GIFEC in that particular year.
Mr Sarfo-Mensah 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I think it is the Hon Minister who considers where and when to send various items and facilities. So, could he be specific to this august House when he intends increasing the number of computers for Asunafo South District.
Mr Iddrisu 12:45 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the determination of where a Community Information Center is not a determination of the Minister for Communication; it is a decentralized function. We normally will write to the Regional Coordinating Councils to request the District Assemblies to give us specific size.
Indeed, for this year, we will be establishing ten Regional Resource Centers in all the ten regional capitals of Ghana to facilitate access to the internet and other connectivity.
I concede that there is a huge gap between rural Ghana and urban Ghana in terms of that connectivity. You may per a letter addressed to the Minister or the Regional Minister this raise as to the significance of you having one of the
Centers in your area and we would give it the necessary consideration.
Madam Speaker 12:55 p.m.
I think this is the end of Question time and we thank the Hon Minister for Communications for coming to answer our Questions.
The next will be Statements and the Chair will be taken over by the Second Deputy Speaker.
MR. SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Hon Members, Madam Speaker has admitted one Statement by the Hon Member for Odododiodioo, Hon Jonathan Nii Tackie- Kome. He may make the Statement.
Mr Pelpuo 12:56 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, it looks like the acceptance of the Statement to be read has not been communicated to the Hon Member who wanted to make the Statement. Leadership itself is not aware, so, possibly, he may be absent because he is not aware. So, could we step it down so that, maybe, tomorrow we can give him the opportunity to make it?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Hon Members, at the Commencement of Public Business - Laying of Papers.
Mr Pelpuo 12:56 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Public Accounts Committee report is not ready and so we could also take it tomorrow as well.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, should we move on to item 6?
Mr Pelpuo 12:56 p.m.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. On that score, we could move to item 6.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Thank you. Item 6 - Mutual Legal Assistance Bill, 2009 - At the Consideration Stage.
Mr Pelpuo 12:56 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, Hon William Ofori Boafo has got a lot of amendments to this Bill but at the moment, he has a committee meeting so we have sent for him and while we wait, could we go on with those the Hon Chairman proposed?
Mr Dery 12:56 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I think that we can do a better job on this if we do a lot of consultation. Hon W.O. Boafo has brought 20 amendment proposals and I am the Ranking Member. We met on it and he proposed as the practice has been, that we winnow. I have communicated that to the Leadership on the other side.
Normally what you have is that the Chairman of the Committee will liaise with the Ranking Member and we come to an agreement before the Hon Minister is invited. Immediately I saw the Hon Minister I was alarmed because we had not discussed this matter. So, it is good that we do a good job on this and as proposed by the Ranking Member, we need to meet and winnow.
When we meet and winnow and we are ready she will be invited to come. This is the best way to go about it. This is the discussion that the Leadership has had with Hon W.O. Boafo. So, for the other side to say that they are waiting for Hon W.O. Boafo, I think they are trying to usurp the function that does not belong to them because we held our meeting on our side and we are proposing a winnowing of the proposed amendments.
I am so sorry that the Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice has been invited here before this kind of agreement which, normally, should happen between Leaderships on both sides before you invite the Hon Minister.
Mr Pelpuo 12:56 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I just consulted the Hon Chairman of the Committee and he thinks that it is important we take this opportunity to do winnowing of the Bill but as he suggested, he had sent an information to us regarding the situation we are going to find ourselves in this Bill.
But the major problem raised was the absence of Hon W.O. Boafo and we thought we could cure that problem by sending for him but as it is, it looks like he is not even here himself, he cannot be found and so I want to suggest that we go with what the Hon Chairman has proposed, that we do some winnowing within today and then it will be brought back as and when it is necessary.
Mr. Dery 12:56 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity. I think that we should be realistic. We expected that both the Majority and the Minority Leaders would have been in Parliament today; they have not been able to come today so, for me, the earliest we can do the winnowing should be tomorrow. We cannot do it today in the absence of the two leaders whom we expected yesterday, so I would - They are coming in today.
So, I would propose that we do the winnowing tomorrow; that is the earliest we can do the winnowing and then we can take it from there.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, definitely, even looking at numbers and so on, you will realise that at a time like this we have to come to a certain understanding before we can proceed with this kind of business. So, I think you may as well come to an understanding with your Hon Colleague so that we progress on the basis of your understanding.
Mr Pelpuo 12:56 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. At this juncture, we need lots of cooperation to
deal with this Bill. It has a lot of public interest, so rather than having a division as to when to do winnowing, when to lay it and everything, I think that it is important we go along that same line, that we allow enough space and I know tomorrow has enough space for us to do both winnowing and go on to do the rest of it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Leaders, when will you consider the appropriate time that will given enough space as per the Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:56 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the practice of this House has been for us to adjourn unfinished business from day to day. So, this matter will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper. If we are in a position to start, we start. If not, it goes to Thursday and thereafter. I do not think we need to quibble over when we will complete the winnowing except that, probably, we must endeavour to complete it as soon as practicable.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
In the light of that, Hon Deputy Majority Leader, any further indication?
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, you want to make a point first?
Mr Dery 12:56 p.m.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to state the commitment of the Minority to see to this Bill. We have cooperated the last time that the reading took place; we made our inputs. We are committed to getting this thing sorted out. That is apart from the fact that at a professional level we I am interested in this sort of thing. So, I can assure the Majority side of our cooperation.
As Hon Papa Owusu-Ankomah has said, let us leave it to tomorrow; it stands adjourned from day to day and then Leadership will get together and see the
way forward. When we meet, we will then communicate to the Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice when she should come. But as for the adjournment till tomorrow, I think that should be the standard practice according to the rules and I think I agree with that.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Thank you for the assurance of co-oporation. Hon Minister.
Mr Bagbin 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, just to add that it is important that at the winnowing stage, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice is represented. It is important for them to be there at the winnowing. The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice herself could be there or her deputy or somebody dealing with the drafting of the Bill to be able to lead and tell Members why they opted for this provision that way or the other.
It is not when they finish the winnowing that they invite her to come to the House. The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has to participate in the winnowing, that should be made clear.
Mr Dery 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am totally in agreement with what the Hon Minister has said. I was talking of inviting her to plenary but as the practice is, we are going to do the winnowing in the background in our various offices and we would agree on the day and communicate to her.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Thank you very much Hon Deputy Minority Leader. Deputy Majority Leader, any further indications?
Mr Pelpuo 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do agree with the direction of thought in the House and I particularly agree with the Member for Sekondi who thinks that the details of these should come out later. But the principle that we adjourn business for
today until forenoon tomorrow stands. I so move.
Mr Dery 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I second the motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 1:05 p.m.