Debates of 2 Jul 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.
Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 30th June,
2010.
Page 1 … 12 --
Mr Joseph B. Aidoo 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
page 12, the joint Committee of Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, Lands and Forestry, Environment, Science and Technology and Works and Housing held a discussion with a visiting delegation from AWEPA and AGRA. Madam Speaker, for Hon Members of the Committees, certainly, they will understand AWEPA and AGRA, but for those of us who are not Hon Members of these Committees, the acronyms here would become very difficult for us.
So, I would plead that next time the full descriptions of these institutions or organizations are captured when presenting such information to us-- because at the moment, we do not know or understand what AWEPA is and what AGRA is. I am just drawing the attention of the House to this.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
No, but why should you wait for next time? Why can we not correct it now?
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, if Hon Members of those Committees could help us address this issue.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Leader, what do AWEPA and AGRA stand for? If the Chairmen of the Committees are here, can they help us?
Minority Leader, AWEPA - what does
it mean?
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, AWEPA is the acronym for the Association of West European Parliamentarians for Africa. That is AWEPA. Today, because the iron curtain has come down, they are not using any longer the term “Western” to describe the Association even though they have retained the “W” in the acronym. So now, it is the Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa. That is what it means.
Madam Speaker 11:05 a.m.
So, we should take out the “E”? And do you say AWPA?
What about the AGRA?
Mr Simon E. Asimah 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, AGRA is the acronym for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.
Madam Speaker, on the same page, item 2 (v), “Ms Cecila Abena Dapaah”, I think the “ i ” before the “a” is omitted. So if that could be inserted. The name is “Cecilia”.
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto 11:05 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the same page, item 2 (viii), the surname is “Akoto”. So, it is “Owusu Afriyie Akoto” and not “Akoto Owusu Afriyie”.
Madam Speaker, page 10, item 1, “The Committee met on Thursday, 30th June …” 30th June was a Wednesday and not a Thursday. So if that correction could be made --
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Any correction on
page 13?
The Votes and Proceedings of 30th June, 2010 as corrected is the true record of proceedings.

We move on to item 3 then,
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:15 a.m.
Arrangement of Provitions
Question to Ministers
Madam Speaker, the Committee has programmed the following Ministers to answer Questions asked of them during the week:
No. of
Question(s)
i. Minister for Defence
-- 1
ii. Minister for Chieftaincy, and Culture --
1
iii. Minister for Environment, Science and Technology -- 2
iv. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice -- 5
v. Minister for Education --
6
vi. Minister for Finance and Economic Planning -- 6
vii. Minister for Roads and Highways -- 8
Total Number of Questions -- 29
Madam Speaker, in all, seven Ministers are expected to attend upon the House to
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:15 a.m.


respond to twenty-nine (29) Questions during the week.

Statements

Madam Speaker may allow Statements duly admitted by your goodself to be made in the House.

Bills, Papers and Reports

Madam Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House for consideration and those already before the House may be taken through the various stages. Papers and committee reports may also be laid.

Motions and Resolutions

Madam Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.

Sittings on Mondays/Extended Sittings

Madam Speaker, the Business Committee once again reminds Hon Members that Sitting on Mondays will continue in the week under consideration and in the subsequent weeks. Extended Sittings will also be held whenever necessary during the week.

Madam Speaker, the Business Committee once more urges committees to schedule their meetings such that they are held at periods that may allow Hon Members to be available during plenary session for the conduct of business before the House. Committees with referrals are also urged to expedite work on them and submit their reports for consideration since the House is expected to rise by 23rd July, 2010. Private Member's Motion

Madam Speaker, the Business Committee has programmed a Private Member's Motion duly admitted by your goodself. The Motion is expected to be moved and debated during the week and it stands in the names of the following Hon Members:

(i) Mr Edward M. Ennin (Member for Obuasi),

(ii) Mr Kwame Twumasi Amporfo (Member for Nkoranza South)

(iii) Mr Joseph Kofi Adda (Member for Navrongo Central).

Conclusion

Madam Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2), the Committee submits to this Honourable House the Business of each Sitting of the week and the order in which it shall be taken during the week.

Questions --

*488. Mr Benito Owusu-Bio (Atwima Nwabiagya): To ask the Minister for Defence the current state of military land acquired at Nkaakom in Atwima Nwabiagya District and when compensation shall be paid to the landowners.

*592 . Mr S tephen Kunsu (Kintampo North): To ask the Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture what the Ministry is doing to help expedite the settlement of the numerous chieftaincy disputes pending at various courts in the country.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Economic and Organised Crime Bill, 2009.

Committee Sittings.

Questions --

*453. Mr Kwasi Ameyaw- Cheremeh (Sunyani East): To ask the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology what measures Newmont Ghana Limited has instituted to ensure that the cyanide spillage that contaminated the stream that serves as a source of drinking water to people does not recur and what action Government has taken against Newmont Ghana Limited.

*537. Mr Ekow Payin Okyere Eduamoah (Gomoa East): To ask the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology what measures the Ministry has put in place to alleviate the fear and panic of the people of Nyanyano as a result of the recent earth tremor.

*283. Mr Ben Abdallah Banda (Offinso South): To ask the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice whether the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) has the power to prevent people they invite to their office for interrogations from allowing their lawyers to sit through the interrogations.

*489. Mr Ben Abdallah Banda (Offinso South): To ask the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice what steps the Ministry is taking to computerise the recording systems in the District and Circuit

Courts in Ghana.

*490. Mr Ben Abdallah Banda (Offinso South): To ask the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice when will the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) be provided with a Law School in order to minimise the pressure being mounted on the Ghana Law School.

*491. Mr Augustine Collins Ntim (Offinso North): To ask the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice when the Ministry is going to provide the newly created Offinso North District with a district court.

*492. Mr Kwasi Ameyaw- Cheremeh (Sunyani East): To ask the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice when will sitting judges who qualify be sponsored to undertake post-graduate studies in specialised fields under a scheme of “study leave with pay”.

Laying of Papers --

Report of the Finance Committee on the 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.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Economic and Organised Crime Bill, 2009.

Continuation

Committee Sittings.

Questions --
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:15 a.m.
*569. Mr George Boakye (Asunafo South): To ask the Minister for Education what measures the Ministry has put in place to ensure adequate supply of qualified teachers to schools in the rural areas in particular and Ghana in general.
*570. Mr Benito Owusu-Bio (Atwima Nwabiagya): To ask the Minister for Education when a new 6-classroom block will be constructed for Gyankobaa D/A Primary School, since the old structure which they are currently occupying has become a death trap.
*571. Mr Francis Adu-Blay Koffie (Prestea/Huni Valley): To ask the Minister for Education when a school bus will be provided for Huni Valley Senior High School.
*572. Mr Kwasi Ameyaw- Cheremeh (Sunyani East): To ask the Minister for Education what practical steps/measures the Ministry has taken or is taking to ensure that all districts in Ghana have District Directors of Education.
*573. Mr Ben Abdallah Banda (Offinso South): To ask the Minister for Education what criteria were used for the supply of the Government's school uniforms to the basic schools in Ghana.
*574. Mr Augustine Collins Ntim (Offinso North): To ask the Minister for Education when the Offinso North District will benefit from the Government's policy of one vocational/technical school per district.
Statements.
Consideration Stage of Bills --
Economic and Organised Crime Bill, 2009
(Conclusion)
Committee Sittings.

Questions --

*113. Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul (Bimbilla): To ask the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning the total quantum and cost of fuel consumed by the Office of Government Machinery from 8th January, 2009 to 31st May, 2009.

285. Mr Simon Osei-Mensah (Bosomtwe): To ask the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning the size of the economy and reserve position as at the end of December

2008.

331. Mr Kwame Anyimadu- Antwi (Asante Akim North): To ask the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning how much money has accrued to the State from the Communications Service Tax between April, 2008 to September,

2009.

332. Mr Kwame Anyimadu- Antwi (Asante Akim North): To ask the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning why allowances and/or salaries to beneficiaries of the National Youth Employment Programme has not been regular. *392. Mr Charles S. Hodogbey (North Tongu): To ask the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning what measures are being put in

place to protect depositors in the country in the wake of increasing establishment of banks and other financial institutions.

*394. Mr Dominic B.A. Nitiwul (Bimbilla): To ask the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning the total quantum and cost of fuel consumed by the Office of Government Machinery from 1st June, 2009 to 31st October, 2009.

Motions --

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.

Second Reading of Bills --

Savannah Accelerated Development Authority Bill, 2010

Third Reading of Bills -- Economic and Organised Crime Bill, 2009

Private Members' Motion --

That this Honourable House expresses concern on the recently announced increased electricity and water tariffs and calls for its immediate re-consideration.

(Mr Edward Ennin)

(Mr Kwame Amporfo Twumasi)

(Mr Joseph Kofi Adda)

Committee Sittings.

Questions --

*326. Mr Stephen Kwaku Balado Manu (Ahafo-Ano South): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways why work on the tarring of the Fawoma - Sabronum road has stalled.

*409. Mr Daniel Botwe (Okere): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when sections of the road between Abonse and Aseseoso in the Okere Constituency, which has been washed out will be repaired.

*410. Mr Daniel Botwe (Okere): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the contractor working on the Awukugua bypass in the Okere Constituency will move to site to continue work.

*411. Mr Daniel Botwe (Okere): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Apirede Trom feeder road will be tarred.

*412. Mr Kwame Amporfo Twumasi (Nkoranza South): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when work on the Akumsa Domase Nkwabeng Akuma Abountem road will be re- started after its suspension since the beginning of the year 2009. *413. Mr Benito Owusu-Bio ( A t w i m a - N w a b i a g y a ) : To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when speed ramps shall
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Any comments on the Business Statement?
Mr Kwame Amporfo Twumasi 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as indicated by the Hon Majority Leader, I want to draw his attention to the arrangement of my name on the second page of the sheet. The name
is “Kwame Amporfo Twumasi” (Nkoranza South). The same goes with page 3 on the same title - Private Member's Motion, it is consequential.
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
So, the “Kwame Amporfo” is correct - “A-M-P-O-R-
F-O?”
Mr Twumasi 11:15 a.m.
Yes, Madam Speaker, that is correct.
Madam Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Thank you.
Any other comments on the Business Statement?
Mr John Gyetuah 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I just want to find out from the Hon Majority Leader, with regard to Questions tabled by Hon Members.
According to Standing Order 60 (3),
“A Minister shall not take more than three weeks to respond to a question from the House.”
But it looks as if most of the Questions tabled are over six months without any Answers. This is not the first time, so I just want to find out from the Hon Majority Leader what they can do actually to improve upon the situation with regard to Questions posed.
Mr Avoka 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I was engaged in consultation with my Deputy so, I did not hear him well. If he could kindly repeat his request.
Mr Gyetuah 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker my issue is about Questions asked by Hon Members of Parliament, with regard to Hon Ministers who are supposed to answer such Questions. And Order 60 (3) -
“A Minister shall not take more than three weeks to respond to a question from the House.”
But some Questions stay in the books for over six months without any Answers. So, I just want to find out from the Hon Majority Leader what kind of measures
can be put in place so that this thing would be a thing of the past.
Mr Avoka 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, he is not specific but I do not know which Minister or Ministry he requested or he referred the Question to. Unless I link up with the Table Office, I would not know because my attention has not been drawn to it. But we can investigate and find out when the Question was sent to the Ministry and why there is delay, if there is any at all. We can investigate and report to the House on Monday.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:15 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Majority Leader got up and presented the Business Statement for the Seventh Week, that is, for next week.
On the Votes and Proceedings, page 10, for the “Business Committee”, we have eight Hon Members who were marked as present. I thought that we had a higher number. But we have recorded here eight (8).
Madam Speaker, our Standing Orders provide as per Order 160 (1) that the Business Committee is composed of 20 members and the quorate number to transact Business is one-third. But for a decision to be taken so that this Statement would be seen and deemed to be coming from the Business Committee, we should have the requisite number present to vote for the Statement.
That is why I said that, I thought we had many more members there than the eight. Otherwise, clearly, it cannot be said to be the decision of the Business Committee. As we are aware, the Standing Orders provide that at committee levels, the rules in the House equally apply.
So, I just want to draw the attention of the Hon Majority Leader that if, indeed, there were many more people, which I think there were, their names should reflect. Otherwise, this cannot be

deemed to be coming from the Business Committee because in that case, he would be telling us that they did not have the requisite number to decide on the meeting.
Mr Avoka 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, arbitrarily, that is true but my Hon Colleague knows we have always insisted before we start any meeting at the Business Committee, on a quorum. That has been our practice.
Madam Speaker will recall that, I am also the Chairman of the Committee, so if you look at page 10, item 2, “The following Hon Members were present”, you will think that there were only eight Hon Members but I am supposed to be added to them to make nine and I was present on that day.
I also agree with him that we were more than 10 that morning who participated in the deliberations. Maybe, one or two Hon Members did not sign their names and that is why there is an oversight. Otherwise, we formed the quorum before we started the Business.
We will draw the attention of the Clerk to this so that they will be more vigilant in the future to ensure that any Hon Member who attends has his name in there.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader was right.
As I said, we had the quorate number
to transact business but by this, it means that we did not have the number to take decisions; that is all that I am saying. I am saying that if the list needs to be corrected to include those of them who added to the number to exceed the number required to take decisions, let that be done.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:25 a.m.


As for him saying that we had the quorate number to transact business, yes, I have admitted to that. But the point is that by what has been captured here, it suggests to everybody that we did not have the number to take the decision, which he has presented to this House as coming from the Business Committee.

That is all that I want sanitised.
Mr Avoka 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, indeed, another correction to make on that is we met on Wednesday, 30th June, not on Thursday. [Interruption.] It was corrected?
Thank you very much.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
We will look into
the number of members who were present again and correct it.
Hon Majority Leader, the undertaking is that we will look at the number of members including you who were there for correction.

Hon Members, the Business Statement is adopted. We now move to Questions. Minister for the Interior?
Mr Doughr J. Baloroo 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to ask for permission to ask the Question on behalf of my Hon Colleague, who is in his constituency to do other constituency works.
ORAL ANSWERS TO 11:25 a.m.
QUESTIONS 11:25 a.m.
MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR 11:25 a.m.
Minister for the Interior (Mr Martin Amidu) 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, one robbery was recorded in the last quarter of 2009. In January 2010, two (2) robberies and two attempted robberies were recorded as follows in the Binduri Constituency:
(i) N a r o u g u ( r o b b e r y o f a motorbike) - 9th January, 2010
(ii) Atoba (attempted robbery of cattle) - 9th January, 2010
(iii) Kpalwegu (attempted robbery of cattle) - 26th January, 2010
(iv) Kukparigu (robbery of money and murder) - 30th January,
2010.
Madam Speaker, between January and February 2010, four (4) suspects were arrested in these areas that suffered robberies as a result of intensified police and military patrols, tip-offs from the public and relevant intelligence. Since February, 2010, no robbery has been reported in the Binduri Constituency.
The police and the military are still patrolling all the vulnerable areas of the constituency to forestall any further robberies.
Mr Baloroo 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, there is evidence that after the February robbery there were subsequent robberies in the constituency that he may not be aware of.
I want to know from the Hon Minister what measures they are actually putting in place to curb these robberies.
Mr Amidu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, there
have not been any robberies in that area since February. Indeed, even this morning, before appearing to answer the Question, I tried to find out from the Regional Commander whether between yesterday and this morning there had been any and he said, “not at all”.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Put it to him what robberies. Bring it to his notice.
Mr Baloroo 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think between February and now, there were some robberies concerning cattle in the said constituency, at Binduri. So, I want to know from the Hon Minister what concrete measures his Ministry is taking to prevent these robberies in the constituency. The patrols are not enough to curb them.
Mr Amidu 11:25 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I still insist that since February to date there has not been any reported case of robbery within the Binduri constituency.
Madam Speaker 11:25 a.m.
What about the second part of the question? There were other robberies and he is asking, what measures other than patrol? I think this goes with the Question.
Mr Amidu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as of now, the method of combating robberies in the Binduri Constituency and other places within the Bawku Municipality has been through military and police patrols. This is because that is a big area. As I indicated from the Hon Member's Question the other time, we are unable to provide Binduri Constituency with a police station. So, patrols come from Bawku and undertake those patrols there, and that is the measures put in place by the police.
Fortunately for us, the patrols have been so effective that there have not been
any robberies. Indeed, even in connection with the four robberies, four suspects were arrested, who are being processed for court.

Security for Hon Members (Provision)

Q. 514. Mr John D Baloroo (on behalf of Mr Stephen Yakubu) asked the Minister for the Interior what plans the Ministry has to provide Hon Members of Parliament with security especially in their homes.
Mr Martin Amidu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Police Parliamentary Protection Unit, under the command of the Ministries Police District provides security for the Leadership of Parliament, which includes the Hon Speaker, First and Second Deputy Speakers, Majority and Minority Leaders, their Deputies, as well as the Chief Whips.
The police has, however, no ability to provide security for the homes of all the two hundred and thirty (230) MPs because of human resource constraints affecting the Ghana Police Service at the moment. The Police Administration will need not less than four hundred and sixty (460) police personnel to be able to effectively carry out the task of providing personal security to the homes of all Members of Parliament.
The Police Administration may be able to discharge the duty of providing personal security to the residence of MPs when there has been appreciable increase in the number of police personnel. Currently, we have a police strength of 23,228 and hope to recruit a further 8,640 by the year 2012. The Police Administration will keep the desire of Hon Memberes to be provided with security especially, in their homes in view until it is able to commit personnel to such duties.
The Police Administration, however,
Mr Alfred K. Agbesi 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Answer provided at page 8 states;
“The Police Administration will keep the desire of Hon Members to be provided with security especially in their homes in view until it is able to commit personnel to such duties”.
I want to know from the Hon Minister, whether security at the homes of Hon Members of Parliament (MPs) is a desire or it is a necessity, which the Ministry must perform because they are saying that “it is a desire of MPs”. I want to know whether it is a necessity which the Ministry must consider.
Mr Amidu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the provision of security to every Ghanaian is a necessity and this includes Hon Members of Parliament and it is the wish of the Ghana Police Service that in view of the special duties being performed by the Hon MPs, it could have sufficient policemen to provide them with immediate personal security. Unfortunately, it is unable to do so due to the factors I have enumerated.
Mr Joseph B. Aidoo 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, in the last paragraph of the Hon Minister's Answer, he says;
“The Pol ice Adminis t ra t ion however suggests that Members of Parliament who experience any special threat to their personal safety and security or whose situation needs special attention should contact the District Police Commander under whose jurisdiction they reside for necessary security assistance”.
Madam Speaker, about two and a half weeks ago, I had an armed robbery threat to my house and I reported the incident to the District Police Command; I even informed the Hon Majority and the Minority Leaders -- Madam Speaker, to my astonishment, the police patrol at the Sakumono area is given 13 litres of fuel for 24 hours patrol.
My question is, would the Hon Minister consider increasing the amount of fuel given to the police patrol vehicles to enable them carry out effective patrolling in these communities?
Mr Amidu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am surprised that the Sakumono Police says it has only 13 litres of petrol. To the best of my knowledge, and I think the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP))is here, the Police Administration tries to provide enough fuel for each district to be able to discharge their duties.
We are hearing this for the first time and I think the best answer I will give is that, I will let the Deputy IGP find out whether there is a problem with Sakumono and the situation will be rectified, if, indeed, they use 13 litres of fuel for the number of hours which has been alleged.
Mr David T. Assumeng 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, sometime ago, I made a request to the Hon Minister for Defence to organize some basic training for Hon Members of Parliament. This request has not been seen to up till today. I want to find out from to the Hon Minister for the Interior whether it is possible to offer basic training for self-protection for Hon Members of Parliament. I think that it is very, very important for us to be security conscious.
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Minister, a suggestion has been made, what do you say to that?
Mr Amidu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I believe that offering training for Hon Members to be able to secure themselves is a possibility. But in these matters, which touch on Members of Parliament, I am sure my Ministry would rather prefer that they be discussed with the Leadership of the House so that if it is necessary, the appropriate feasibilities and all that would be worked out.
Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think we must thank the Hon Minister for admitting that given the nature of the work of MPs, we deserve some police protection.
Madam Speaker, talking about numbers and therefore, the logical problems involved in providing police protection to so many Hon Members, does the Hon Minister appreciate that we are only 230 and that if he is able to provide police protection to well over 170, probably, 200 District Chief Executives (DCEs), he should be able to provide police protection to MPs, the nature of whose work he has just admitted demands police protection? -- [Interruption] --
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Order! Let us listen to the Hon Minister.
Mr Amidu 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the DCE's are located in district capitals of this country. The police districts under which they live, raise the police strength and its ability to contain the situation. So that is easier done. We have 230 Hon Members of Parliament concentrated within the capital of Accra. So when we are talking about personnel strength, we are looking at the personnel strength within the vicinity where the protection will be offered.
My Hon Friend knows very well the problems which the Ministry of the Interior faces when it comes to Accra and number of men. We have to deploy at
short notices, so it has not been possible for us to provide --As I said, we are keeping it in view because we feel it is necessary and as soon as we hit a target which makes it feasible, I am sure it will be done. But he, more than anybody understands the difficulty, otherwise, I am sure he would have provided this security long time ago.
Mr William O. Boafo 11:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we thank the Hon Minister for the Answer he has provided. But looking at paragraph 2, the last sentence, there is the figure of 460 and I presume that is intended to cover day and night. Would he consider it possible to provide us with night protection only to 230 Hon Members and also consider the possibility of directing the police to instruct those on patrol to identify and frequent the residences of MPs while they are on patrols?
Madam Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Minister, a suggestion has been made.
Mr Amidu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I am sure when these Questions were brought to us, the Police Administration considered the various scenarios, and I believe sincerely that if the police could give night security in each Hon Member's house, they would have provided it.
The impression I was given was that, with their strength at present, spread over the country in several conflict areas, they will not be able to provide security in the personal residence of Hon MPs.
But I will discuss it with them and if it will be possible, you can be assured that I will support the idea because everything will have to depend on the logistic strength.
Madam Speaker, with police patrols,
Mr Ambrose P. Dery 11:45 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, would the Hon Minister agree with me that his Answers that were given, were given without basic data or information that the police would have come to a conclusion as regards the MPs? Because, he did not know the distribution of MPs as far as their residences are concerned. We are not in one area and certainly, if we give him that information, it will now be possible for him to come to a conclusion the areas that Hon Members are residing and whether the strength will support guard for those MPs in that area.
So, I want to know if he agrees with me that he did not have that basic information and therefore, the Answers he is giving might not necessarily be based on facts. He is talking about Sakumono, but now, Sakumono is not the place that most MPs live. The MPs are not there, so he might need information as to where MPs are resident to be able to come to a conclusion whether they have the strength at the various districts to meet that demand.
Mr Amidu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I must
admit that the police might not have the data on the locations where the MPs are living. And just this morning, in a discussion with the parliamentary security, before we came here, even we asked that question whether they could provide that
data and they said they were also in the process of gathering the data of where each Hon Member lives. So, when we get the particulars, we will take the decision, which is necessary as a follow up action.
Alhaj i Mohammed-Mubarak
Muntaka: Madam Speaker, in his answer to a previous question, he said the ease with which the Ministry is able to provide District Chief Executives police protection is because they are located at the districts.
Currently, if you look at the distribution of Hon Members of Parliament, some are living in Adenta District, others are living in Accra Metropolitan Area, others are living in Tema Municipal Area, others are living at Efutu Senya District, that is around Kasoa, meaning that Hon Members are also equally distributed across some districts within Greater Accra.
Would he consider that at the various districts -- if within central Accra, it is difficult -- the districts would provide MPs security to just show concern? Since he claims that it is serious and they attach so much importance to it, would they start with the districts so that they would later look at a mechanism to take care of those who are concentrated within Accra?
Mr Amidu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I have just said that there is a mapping exercise going on and it will be done by the Police Administration in collaboration with the parliamentary security to map out the locations where MPs are. Once the data is got, the Police Administration, if it is unable to provide direct personal security, will increase the level of patrols in these areas.
Mrs Irene N. T. Addo 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think the statistics that the Hon Minister gave to us earlier is not altogether true. Of the 230 Members of Parliament, I believe that some of them are Ministers, others are in the Leadership and they have already assigned them policemen.
So, the rest that are left are still not up to 230. So maybe, if he looks at that, he would realise that he will still have enough to provide for us.
I also want to call his attention that I am the Hon Member of Parliament for Tema West, and I continue to house according to my statistics, over 100 of the Hon Members of Parliament here. Although they are not living in the flats, they are still in my constituency and I have the data for that.
So, if he would be able to liaise with me, immediately, we can provide some security to that number and then we can continue with the rest. I think I house the greatest and then I house over 200 of the staff of the Parliamentary Service as well.
Mr Amidu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
the security of the Hon Members of Parliament, as I said, is important to the Ministry.
Madam Speaker, we propose that the exercise about the security of Members of Parliament should be undertaken in conjunction with the parliamentary security so that the mapping of the areas where Hon Members of Parliament are would be known and the arrangement for their security, will be organised jointly by the Police Administration with parliamentary security. So, I would urge my Hon Sister, to give the details to the parliamentary security. The Police Administration will get in touch with them, they will follow up and locate the places and whatever is immediately possible, will be done.
rose rose
Madam Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Members, we
have so many Questions for today. let us move to the next Question.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister has stated in the third paragraph of his Answer -- he has indicated to us, and if I may, I beg to quote:
“Currently, we have a police strength of 23,228 and hope to recruit a further 8,640 by the year 2012.”
Madam Speaker, the construction “by the year 2012”, means after 2011. It means that you could have the recruitment completed even by January 2012. Now, considering the fact that in 2009, recruitment into the Ghana Police Service was scrapped for lack of accommodation, we were told in this House. It was scrapped ostensibly for lack of accommodation.
Given that, he seems to be telling that within one and a half years from now, they are capable of recruiting 8,640. Now, can he tell us the accommodation that they have provided to house the 8,640 that they intend recruiting between now and after the expiry of 2011, since he himself has told this House that, for lack of accommodation they have had to scrap recruitment in 2009?
Mr Amidu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, this year, the police intends to recruit about 2,150, thereabout, and these are projections. Because we did not recruit last year, we are hoping that this year, we would be able to recruit over 2,000, which would start as part of the Government's job creation. The target is that, by the end of 2012, we should be able to hit the target of 8,640. It is anticipated that within this projection
Madam Speaker, this year 2010, the
Police Administration will recruit a little over 2,000 personnel because it is feasible for us to get some accommodation for them. As we did not recruit last year, our numbers are getting down. So whether we like it or we do not like it, we have to make provision for their accommodation.
Mr Amidu 11:55 a.m.


So, it has been factored in the Budget. It is hoped that in 2011, another 3,000 plus would be recruited and then in 2012 -- the projection is that should the loan facility for building accommodation for security personnel go through, there will be an allocation of a certain percentage to the Ghana Police Service.

So, these are projections based on

the accommodation which we expect to be given. So, the statement I made are projections; they are not cast in gold. Because if it happens that we do not get the accommodation, we may recruit but it may not be 3,000. If this addendum will be sufficient for the Hon Member, that is why we stated the number.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, it does mean then that talking about “by the year 2012”, he meant the “end of year 2012. That is what he meant.
Madam Speaker, in the event
that the intended construction of the accommodation to the police does not materalise, or maybe, we do not get there, what are the plans for accommodation such that he will now be able to recruit - as he himself has said, because he could not recruit last year, he intends to recruit for this year, 2,100. But certainly, even if we consider that the houses will be on stream, by the close of year, they would not have built the houses. So, what concrete plans does he have by way of providing accommodation for the 2,100 plus that he intends recruiting this year?
Mr Amidu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I told
this House when I was here previously that the police anticipates to complete a number of uncompleted projects within this year. I also told this House that the police have factored into their budgetary allocation for this year and next year,
certain amount for accommodation. It is within this perspective and the fact that we anticipate the Korean Housing Scheme, that the Police Administration has made these projects.
So, we anticipate our budgetary allocation, we anticipate the building of new houses, and we hope that because of the difficulties we have in meeting the mandate of the Ghana Police Service under the Constitution, this Honourable House will be gracious enough to look at the loan agreement that is going to be brought here. And for us to be able to secure our country, the loan agreement would be approved with whatever amendments this House deems necessary.
So, I am optimistic, I am hoping that the loan agreement would be approved; I am hoping that the requisite accommodation would be provided for the Ghana Police Service and I am hoping that the Police Administration would be able to meet this target. Should it happen that we do not meet those targets, we would have to scale down the recruitment. But I do not think we would scale them down so drastically. This should be the answer I can give, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Thank you.
Shall we move to the next Question?
Hon Ekow Payin Okyere Eduamoah.
Fire Station for Gomoa East District (Provision)
Q.515. Mr Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah asked the Minister for the Interior when Gomoa East District would be provided with a fire station.
Mr Martin Amidu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Ghana National Fire Service has earmarked three (3) strategic areas in the Central Region for the establishment of fire stations in the immediate future.
Gomoa Afransi in the Gomoa East District is one of them.
The Ghana National Fire Service is to contact the Gomoa East District Assembly to provide a modern purpose - built office and residential accommodation, to enable it provide the personnel and equipment for the operation of a fire station in the area. The provision of a fire station will therefore, depend on the ability of the District Assembly to provide the necessary infrastructure as indicated already.
Mr Eduamoah 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I
must appreciate the piece of information given by the Hon Minister. But frankly, that does not answer my Question.
Madam Speaker, if you looked at my
Question, the import is “when”. I am aware of the effort being made by the Hon Minister but I am asking when that effort will benefit my constituency. So, I want to ask, when is the Gomoa East going to have a fire station?
Mr Amidu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, when an office structure and accommodation is made available to the Ghana National Fire Service in Gomoa East.
Mr Eduamoah 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
I also have a problem here. The Hon Minister indicated that the provision of the fire station will depend on the ability of the district to provide the necessary infrastructure. I want to know whether this is a tradition for the district to provide or it should be provided by the Ghana Fire Service.
Mr Amidu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the
Ghana National National Fire Service is one of the decentralised organisations. And it has always been the tradition for the District Assembly to provide the office accommodation and then accommodation for personnel. That is what I met there and that is what obtains, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Yes, let us move
on to the next Question then, from Hon Augustine Collins Ntim of Offinso North.
Fire Tender for Nkenkaasu
Fire Station (Provision)
Q.516. Mr Augustine Collins Ntim asked the Minister for the Interior what steps the Ministry was taking to provide a fire tender to the fire station at Nkenkaasu in the Offinso North District.
Mr Martin Amidu 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, Nkenkaasu Fire Station was allocated a fire tender in 2002. However, on 21st April, 2007, the fire tender was involved in a motor accident and was beyond repairs, which has left the station without a fire tender to date.
Government has recognised the need to equip and strengthen the capacity of the Ghana National Fire Service throughout the country. Consequently, efforts are being made to secure new fire tenders. The Nkenkaasu Fire Station will be considered alongside other requests already received when the tenders were procured.
Mr Ntim 11:55 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister, in his Answer, in the last paragraph, did indicate that efforts were being made to secure fire tenders for the Ghana National Fire Service.
Madam Speaker, may I find out
from him to what extent is his Ministry making efforts towards equipping the Ghana National Fire Service and more specifically, towards providing logistic equipment to Nkenkaasu Fire Station, apart from the procurement of the fire tenders.
Mr Amidu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Member's Question to which I just gave an Answer, relates to fire tenders. Generally speaking, the Ministry, in conjunction with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), will make budgetary provisions for the needs of the GNFS, which is then brought to this House for approval. So those are routine matters.
But insofar as fire tenders are concerned, measures have already been initiated to get fire tenders for the GNFS. That is why I have stated that when they are procured, Nkenkaasu will be considered alongside other stations which have made applications to be provided with a fire tender.
Mr Ntim 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, may I
find out from the Hon Minister, before the procurement of the fire tenders for Nkenkaasu Fire Station, what interim measures will his Ministry put in place to ensure that the perennial bushfires that engulf Offinso North are minimized, if not completely averted.
Mr Amidu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the GNFS and the Regional Commander in the Ashanti Region have got a programme to educate people on the hazards of bushfires so as to prevent us from creating the situation where there are bushfires. They are also educating people and training fire brigades. So in the absence of a fire tender, the GNFS will continue with its other duties until such time that they can have a fire tender to support them in the discharge of their duties.
Mr Ntim 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, may I
find out from the Hon Minister, whether he can tell us the details of the capacity development effort that has been earmarked specifically for the Nkenkaasu Fire Station in the Offinso North District?
Mr Amidu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, since this question of development efforts for Nkenkaasu is not part of his Question, I think I will rather crave his indulgence if he would ask a separate Question, then we can come and answer that. This is because I did not prepare for development efforts of Nkenkaasu area for this purpose.
Mr Ntim 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am just quoting from the Answer provided in the last paragraph:
“Government has recognised the need to equip and strengthen the capacity of the Ghana National Fire Service throughout the country.”
Madam Speaker, the question seeks to find out what specific capacity development effort has been earmarked by his Ministry towards the Nkenkaasu Fire Station in the Offinso North District.
Mr Amidu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the development effort earmarked by my Ministry is that, Nkenkaasu Fire Station tender, having been involved in an accident beyond repair, we are expecting fire tenders soon and Nkenkaasu will be considered alongside requests from other places - This is because if we have, let us say, one hundred fire tenders, we would have to consider where they must go to. If we have sufficient fire tenders, Nkenkaasu will definitely have one. But if we have a limited number, we would have to distribute the fire tenders within the resource.
So that is why I said Nkensaasu's request will be considered alongside other stations. There will be a yardstick for doing so and if Nkensaasu is a priority for the GNFS at that time, we will provide one. But we should look at it within the context of limited resources. So my answer should be looked at within the context of limited resources. We are not going to get unlimited supply of fire tenders. So that is the way we are trying
to treat the Nkenkaasu problem.
Mr Kwame A. Twumasi 12:05 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, I want to know from the Hon Minister how many fire tenders his Ministry is anticipating to take delivery of.
Mr Amidu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, there
are a lot of things in the pipeline. I do not like giving figures when the things have not materialised. At present, there is an Exim India Credit Facility on-going. The bids have just closed and the valuations are being done. We would expect about seventy-five fire tenders if everything goes well with that.
We also have an Exim-American Credit in which we expect about a hundred tenders if everything goes on well without trouble. That is why I said there are plans to procure fire tenders and these are the tentative figures I can give you right away, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Can we move to
the next Question then?
Dr Owusu A. Akoto 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, Hon Owusu-Bio is bereaved and he is not here with us. He requested that I ask the Question on his behalf, if Madam Speaker would permit me.
Madam Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Yes, go ahead.
New Fire Tender for Nkawie Fire Station (Provision)
Q. 517 Dr Owusu A .Akoto (on behalf of Mr Benito Owusu-Bio) asked the Minister for the Interior when the Nkawie Fire Station in Atwima - Nwabiagya District would be provided with a new fire tender.
Mr Martin Amidu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Nkawie Fire Station was allocated a fire tender in 2002. The fire tender is currently weak due to old age. The Nkawie Fire Station will also be considered alongside other similar requests already received when the new fire tenders are purchased.
Dr Akoto 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am glad the Hon Minister is accepting that the tender is weak due to old age. It is not actually weak, it is disabled due to old age. It has broken down, and I am hoping that the numbers he mentioned of expected fire tenders, hundred and seventy-five -- that Nkawie would be given priority when these tenders arrive. Can he assure us that priority would be given to Nkawie station when we receive the next batch of fire tenders?
Mr Amidu 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the
Ministry of the Interior and the GNFS would want to give every fire station a fire tender. What I can assure you is that, when the tenders are received, we will weigh the necessity for each area to have a fire tender and if Nkawie falls within it, I can assure you, Nkawie will be given a fire tender.
Mr Joseph B Aidoo 12:05 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the fire tender in question is just about eight years old, if I am right. In the Hon Minister's Answer, he said, “the Nkawie Fire Station was allocated a fire tender in 2002”. Madam Speaker, he went on further to say that, “the fire tender is currently weak due to old age”. Could he tell us what the Ministry or his office is doing about the weak nature of this tender while the Nkawie Fire Station awaits a brand new fire tender.
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
I thought the answer was that it is not weak but even broken down. But let us put it to him.
Mr J. B. Aidoo 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, he did not indicate that it is broken down; it is only weak. If it is weak, it means something could be done about it for it to work. So what are they doing about that?
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minister.
Mr Amidu 12:15 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon
Madam Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Minister, I think the House thanks you for attending to answer our Questions. Thank you.
We now move to item (6) - the Hon Minister for Education.
BILLS - FIRST READING 12:15 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon
Majority Leader?
Mr Avoka 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we will
take item (7), that is District Assembly Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2010, at the Consideration Stage.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Very well;
Chairman of the Committee.
BILLS - CONSIDERATION 12:15 p.m.
STAGE 12:15 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Dominic A . Azumah) 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, at the last Sitting, we were able to clear clause 1 and we moved to clause 2. Mr Speaker, after consultations with the Leadership and all those who were interested in filing amendments, we have come to a conclusion and I would want to give you the rendition before I move the amendments and give a copy to your --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Is the rendition still different from what has been printed on the Order Paper?
Mr Azumah 12:15 p.m.
In some areas, it is just a combination. The rendition, in fact, it was detected that while we agreed that the formulation should stay, especially as we were deleting (2), we did not make provision to empower the Commission to mount platforms; we only gave that provision to candidates. So, we decided that we could insert in a phrase which reads:
“The Commission may mount platforms for candidates seeking elections to District Assembly Elections and local government units.”
That is to give power to the Commission to mount the platforms, even though there
is a provision in (2) giving it to individuals, and that is the candidates.
Again, in the last of the formulation which is on the penalty, on (6); I just want to give you the background before I move it. It gave that an organisation associated with a political party that contravenes sections 1 and 3 commits an offence. But when we looked at it, we realised that an organisation associated with a political party has not been penalised for, if given that permission, cannot be penalised for breaking the rule. So we decided to redefine it in such a way that it covers all the stakeholders.
So an organisation associated with the political party that contravenes sections 1 and 3, or an organisation associated with a political party which mounts platforms without the approval of the Commission, commits an offence and is liable to summary conviction -- That is the only addition we have made to that. So I now want to move subsection (2), amendment proposed -- You did advise that we should take them step by step.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
But let me get the new rendition with me so that as you move, I am also with you. [Pause.]
Mr Azumah 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if I can read the rendition and give it to you --
Mr Azumah 12:15 p.m.
So we have exhausted clause 2 (6) -- Mounting of platforms --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Chairman of the Committee, we have about six subclauses. So before you even start correcting the ones we have, let me know the ones that you are going to amend, as printed on the Order Paper and which ones are going to be moved
in the form as they appear on the Order Paper, so that our concentration would be on those clauses that you are going to further amend.
Mr Azumah 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are going to move (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5). But when it gets to (6), there is an amendment to it.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
So are you suggesting that the amendment would only be subclause (6)?
Mr Azumah 12:15 p.m.
Subclause (6), Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
But the other ones would be in the format in which they appear on the Order Paper?
Mr Azumah 12:15 p.m.
As they appear on the Order Paper.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Very well.
Mr Azumah 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move -- Indeed, Mr Speaker, we have exhausted this particular clause and you put the Question. So I may want to move to subclause (2), which came out of the debate that subclause (1) shall not apply to a candidate seeking election to a District Assembly or to a lower government unit.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Chairman, once it is here, for the avoidance of doubt, let me just put it so that we know we have taken the whole of clause 6 today.
Mr Azumah 12:15 p.m.
Very well. Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 2 delete and insert the following:
“The District Assembly Elections Act, 1994 (Act 473) is amended by the deletion of section 6 and the substitution of;
6. Mounting of Platform
(1) A po l i t i ca l pa r ty o r an individual shall not mount a platform or cause a platform to be mounted for the purpose of supporting or not supporting the election of a candidate to a District Assembly or to a lower government unit.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Members, the exercise we are embarking on is to delete the whole of clause 2 and substitute what has been put there and the subclause (1) of the new rendition is what has just been moved by the Hon Chairman of the Committee. I will put the Question on subclause (1).
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Azumah 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 2 sub-clause (2)
“shall not apply to a candidate seeking election to a District Assembly or to a lower government unit”.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe there is just a small omission. For (1), the last line, between “lower” and “government”, there should be “local”; “lower local government unit”. And the same then will apply to (2).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon
Members, in the subclause (1), there is an omission. It should read “lower local government unit”. Yes, move the clause (2), we have corrected it. Table Office to take note accordingly. You have moved the subclause (2), any comment?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
for the avoidance of doubt, if we can just use the construction in the Constitution, even though I know the use of the word “a” and “any” in the circumstance, are of the same effect. I believe if we use the
language in the Constitution, which is “any”, it would be better.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
So the
sub-clause (1) that we have already moved, the draftsperson should take note of it. It is the same principle that applies to that subclause (2), so I will now put the Question.
Question put and amendment agreed.
Mr Azumah 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 2, subclause 3 ---
A n o r g a n i s a t i o n n o t associated with a political party, may with the prior written approval of the Commission, mount a platform but the platform shall be for the common use of the candidates standing for election.
Mr J. B. Aidoo 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have always had a problem with this particular subclause and I want to raise my own objection to it in the sense that, Mr Speaker, it is very, very difficult to identify an organisation that is not associated with a political party. It is an exercise which even, left to the Electoral Commission, would be extremely difficult to execute.
Mr Speaker, at the committee level, I raised this matter with reference to a well-known organisation in Ghana, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), of course, openly recognised, and openly known to be associated with a particular political party in this country.
Mr Speaker, if this subclause is allowed, it will create problems for our District Assembly and lower local government elections. For which reason, I would urge this House to consider a further amendment to this Bill by deleting this subclause (3) and subsequently or consequentially subclauses (4), (5) and
(6).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon

Member, we are on subclause (3), so let us take it one at a time. But let me get the point you are making. If you say the organisation that you know is identified with a political party, is that a ground to disqualify that organisation from mounting a political platform? Is that not a ground for disqualifying that organisation from mounting a political platform, unless the point you are making, I do not get --
Mr J. B. Aidoo 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the difficulty is not with identifying that particular organisation as being associated with a particular political party. The difficulty would be with the Electoral Commission having the strength to refuse such an organisation. Mr Speaker, if I am pressed further, I may even name an organisation.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Member, you know that it is not advisable; we do not want the situation where one Hon Member will mention an organisation then another Member will also mention another organisation and it will not but let us get the mischief that we want to cure here. So you are opposed to the amendment?
Mr J. B. Aidoo 12:25 p.m.
Exactly, in the sense that the Electoral Commission will find it extremely difficult refusing certain organisations that may be tagged as non- partisan but openly known to be very partisan and that is where my worry lies.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the very basis of the argument by my Hon Colleague, the Member for Amenfi East, is that the situation is not wholesome where you have organisations that openly identify with political parties to sponsor candidates at the lower level. His difficulty though is that the Electoral Commission may have some difficulty in carrying this out.
Mr Speaker, let us leave it to the Electoral Commission, if in the practice of it, they have difficulties, they will come to
Parliament for amendment. But I think we all do agree that it is not the best where you have political parties disabled to sponsor candidates at that level of governance. And then groups openly associated with certain political parties then turn round to do what the political parties are not required to do.
So let us leave the implementation to the Electoral Commission once we pass the law, and I believe if there are difficulties, they will come back to us.
But Mr Speaker, I do recollect vividly that the other day when it came up for debate, I cited one example and there was a chorus of examples from the floor here.
[
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Member for Manhyia, then the Majority Leader.
Dr Matthew O. Prempeh 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not surprised that any difficult issue that politicians should deal with, we tend to second it to an organisation that virtually becomes very difficult to account. I am totally against this. We are starting to undermine the democracy that we have built in this country. On what basis should the Electoral Commission determine for the Parliament of Ghana, without us knowing what goes into that determination, who should mount a political platform? What do we mean by “any organisation”?
Mr Speaker, if we find ourselves as a civil society organisation, an NGO funded by other countries mounting platforms, what do we do? We close our eyes like ostriches? Mr Speaker, this is very serious. I am coming to give an example -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Member, all what is being done, in fact we have passed through the Second Reading, where the principles were canvassed very effectively on the floor of the House. But we are talking about a particular amendment, and we are at the Consideration Stage and I want you to avert your mind to the amendment.
Dr Prempeh 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have had the opportunity of discussing this particular issue with my Hon Friend, the Chairman of the Local Government Committee. It is not convincing enough. If the Electoral Commission was supposed

to have linked ‘something' on this House, the criteria by which they would consider an organization fit to mount a platform, then we could support it.

Mr Speaker, I am going to give a practical example. I am going to give one. As an Hon Member of the Appointments Committee, we had the Electoral Commission (EC) signing a letter to us that one, they had done a permanent insertion in the Register for a member somewhere. When subsequently this same appeared before the Special Budget Committee and they were asked to prove through their Constitutional Instrument (C. I) of the law, what is meant by permanent insertion, they could not. They said there was nothing like that. The E C is not a neutral party in political organisations in this country. It does not support any political party. I mean, it is not a neutral party as well.

For this Parliament to grant the E C the power for an organisation to mount a political platform in this country without the knowledge of Parliament, is wrong. I would only agree if the E C so gets such a letter, comes to Parliament for approval. We cannot sit in this country and let foreigners come and run our local government system for us. What is the provision here to prevent a foreign government from coming to sponsor an NGO to come and mount political platforms in this country?

Mr Speaker, this infringes on the fundamental rights of the citizens in this country, that we do not know who is mounting a platform in our local government level. Please, let us not behave like ostriches in this House. It is a serious assault on democracy. Where is it going to end? If the most interested political parties are even prevented, how much more an NGO or civil society

organisation? The only interested political parties - we are transparent, whether National Democratic Congress (NDC) or New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Member, wind up. You have made your point.
Dr Prempeh 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am ending that, please, Leadership of this House, no matter your good intentions, that intention should not be left with E C to decide for us who mounts a political platform.
Mr Avoka 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I equally have some concern over this rendition. I think the principle is to ensure that we do not have NGOs that are subtly manipulated by a political party trying to mount platforms, et cetera. So I would prefer that instead of “may” in the second line, it should be “shall”, so that until one gets a written approval, one cannot go ahead to mount the platforms.
Otherwise, the way we have captured it here, it would be a formality of notifying the EC to go ahead to mount platform and we know that there are some NGOs that are more political than political parties. Like the point that the Hon Member for Manhyia raised, there are some NGOs --
They would spring up suddenly in the name of NGOs but they are being funded by some political parties or some interest groups and then if we leave it like this, the idea is that we have notified the Electoral Commission because it is ‘may', it is not mandatory; and they will go ahead to mount the platform and they will make sure they will organise their people to be there in their numbers. They will give short notice; we cannot also allow the people to be there -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon
Majority Leader, have you seen the clause there, that is “with the written approval”? The “may” is there - The most important controlling phrase there is “the written approval”. The “may” there is not giving any discretion at all to the NGO. If one does not get the written approval, one cannot mount a platform but if one gets a written approval, one may mount.
But I agree with you. In my opinion, the important point raised by Hon Members -- and I want all of us to address our minds to it -- is that people can hide under this clause to do all sorts of things. I think that the time has come; we should not pretend. The Hon Minority Leader also made the point earlier and that is why all these periods, we try to see how we can improve upon the amendment so that we are also not in breach of article 248 of the Constitution. So Hon Majority Leader, continue.
Mr Avoka 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, so the point I am making is that, for the avoidance of doubt and to take the concerns that he has expressed, let us put the “shall”. With the greatest of respect, I do not think the “may” is just written. It is the whole gamut of the E C consenting or not consenting. They say, “may with the prior written approval”, What about if at the end of the day, they do not get it and they say it is not obligatory but it is discretional?
The E C can say, “all right, go ahead”. So I think that it should be forcibly put there to scare away all those mushroom NGOs that would spring up the last minute and undermine the principle of this law and the local government system.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon
Majority Leader, as the man in charge of government business, I told you that my personal position on this Bill is that, let us build a consensus before we take it and I was informed that there was
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe the further amendment being proposed by the Hon Majority Leader, with respect to him, is ill-placed. This is because if we exclude the approval that the organization is required to seek from the EC, we could then read that provision as this:
“An organisation not associated with a political party may mount a platform but the platform shall be for the common use of the candidates standing for the election.”
Now, if he says that we should delete the word “may”, it would then read:
“An organisation not associated with a political party shall mount a platform but the platform shall be for the common use of the candidates standing for the election”.
Mr Speaker, the organization may decide to mount a platform or not. That is where the “may” comes in. But when you decide to mount the platform, then you are required to seek the written approval of the EC. That is what it means. That is why I am saying that with respect to the Hon Majority Leader, I believe the effect of his amendment is not the intent that he is signalling and so, maybe, if he considers it again, he may decide to drop it.
But Mr Speaker, beyond that, if people
are arguing that that provision is not necessary, we should determine for ourselves what mischief would exist if we delete this. What mischief do we want to cure? The mischief is that if we say that if we delete it, do they mean that any NGO could decide to mount a political platform? They can do that. If we delete this, that would be the import that the NGO can do that.
But we are saying that if we provide the
ground for an NGO to mount a platform, what of - because the constitutional provision is directed against political parties. We could have organisations affiliated to political parties which may not be political parties themselves, which may then come and do the mounting of the platform.
We are saying that we should also direct this -- as would be done against the political parties -- against any organisation that identifies with a political party that may otherwise want to use the opportunity that is now being denied the political party to advance the cause of people that may, in their view, be supporting a political party. That is what we want to prevent. That is why we have that provision.
Mr Speaker, I believe it is in sync with the principle and that we should adopt it. As I said, my only little addition is to have the re-engineering of that construction, as I have already indicated, and I believe we can go on.
I thank you.
Prof. Mike A. Oquaye 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am totally against subclause 3. Mr Speaker, it would lead us to constitutional waters. And it would be a quagmire for trouble if it is maintained.
Mr Speaker, if you look at article 248 -
“(1) A candidate seeking election to a District Assembly or any lower
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Prof. Oquaye 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if we do that, I am saying that we shall be undermining our Constitution - the spirit and letter of that Constitution, the spirit and letter of the law itself -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Minister, are you on a point of order? I thought you would wait and respond. Very well, you have the floor.
Mr Chireh 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in this debate, we must follow what we should be doing in Parliament. A Committee presented a Report, Second reading has gone through; we are on the Consideration Stage. So I would like to plead with my Hon Colleagues if they have a rendition or they are against the phraseology of the clause, they should say so. This argument of constitutional flaws and all that, we have passed that and I am saying -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Minister, we are at the amendment stage. He says that he is opposed to the amendment and he is giving reasons why he is opposed to the amendment. He
Mr Avoka 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I appreciate your intervention. And I was even of the opinion that if you look at subclause (4), it is virtually a repetition of subclause (3). So we could conveniently delete subclause (3) and then in subclause (4), we might just need to add the last few words or sentences in the subclause (3).
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Mr Avoka 12:45 p.m.
For example, it can read like this:
“An organisation not associated with a political party shall before mounting a platform apply to the Commission for approval and shall mount the platform according to the terms of . . .”
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Second Deputy Speaker?
Mr Avoka 12:45 p.m.
I am just - He should let me land and then - I am towing his line.
Prof. Oquaye 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have not finished my argument. It is no more a matter of even making amendments or adjustments.
Mr Speaker, I am respectfully saying this NGO participation is a non-starter; it should not come on.
I would want to respond to my friend, the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development that when we raise a constitutional or any fundamental issue at any stage, whether it is even the Consideration or whatever, it will hold because of the argument we are making. One cannot technically say we have passed that stage.
In fact, Parliament will continue to even review where necessary before it is too late, when it sees that it has taken a step that needs to be looked at again. So, I would want my Hon Friend to know that he cannot come and tighten the hands of this Honourable Parliament in terms of, “we have passed that stage already”. What stage?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Second Deputy Speaker, all that he is saying is that, we should limit ourselves to the amendment. But again, that is why I said that if it is a constitutional matter, it can be raised at any time.
Hon Second Deputy Speaker?
Prof. Oquaye 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am also adding, apart from the fundamental constitutional issue, that we must advise ourselves as to the dynamics of the
NGO world, the motivations. We pass a law like this and we would see a whole gamut of NGOs springing up, political parties in guise, creating all manner of problems at the local level. Would the right thinking members of the society in Ghana not ask that, “Parliament, why did you make this law at all to bring about this confusion?” So, in all these matters, we must seek expert advice. We must know the dynamics of the NGO world, we must know the various interests that underpin NGO activities-- political, social, cultural, economic, religious.
Mr Speaker, one may mount a platform as an NGO. The local people for various sectional interests, one gets there and one would see that, actually, that platform is faction and then there will be another faction coming to protest against that factional platform; it will bring only confusion.
So, what I am saying is that, if they want to help as an NGO -- and this is something they have been doing all along -- we have constitutional bodies which are given constitutional mandate. The Constitution also perceives this activity as an individualistic issue.
An indiv idual campaign and participates in District Assemblies, period. If some organisation is an NGO, whatever NGO it is, they may well go and donate in cash and kind to the EC to maximise its capacity to perform its constitutional mandate. They cannot take over that function, and any attempt to delegate, to abrogate, will be an assault on the Constitution of the Republic.
Mr Speaker, it is not a matter of dotting ‘i's ‘and crossing ‘t's'. It is a matter of this matter being taken out, if we want this Bill to see the light of being a law.
Mr Avoka 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, taking a cue from your intervention and his submission,

I will suggest that we defer the matter. As soon as we break this morning or this afternoon, I would want to meet the Hon Second Deputy Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader, then Hon W. O. Boafo and the Hon Member for Manhyia, who had earlier raised - [Interruption] - Then I will also meet the Hon Chairman -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
What about the Hom Member for Amenfi East?
Mr Avoka 12:55 p.m.
And the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development in my office so that we address this matter and report --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
What about the Hon Member for Amenfi East?
Mr Avoka 12:55 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, the Hon Member for Amenfi East would join us. So we will meet as soon as we go down to address this matter and report on Monday.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Members, if there is an opportunity for us to do further consultation, so that we pass a Bill, that will be acceptable to all of us. I think that is the proper thing to do. On that basis, I will want us to defer -
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Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Boafo, are you opposed to the suggestion?
Mr Boafo 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I quite appreciate the advocacy by the Hon Second Deputy Speaker, the thrust of which is to advocate that our Constitution is static. But I believe our Constitution is a living organism and it moves with times and if we find deficiencies in the operation of the institutions set up by the Constitution, we are called upon to restructure and find remedies and it will be in tune with the spirit of the Constitution.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Member for Akropong, can we introduce a Constitutional Instrument based on an Act of Parliament?
Mr Boafo 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is what is in the parent Act under section 10. [Interruption.] Please, allow me to finish, I have not landed. The Hon Member is not the Speaker. Mr Speaker is here and he has not asked me to sit down.
Mr Speaker, under section 10 of the parent Act, Act 473, the Regulations, it is provided that the Commission shall by Constitutional Instrument make regulations for the effective performance of its functions under this Act.
I think there is still room for us to come with Constitutional Instrument to define what we meant by “an organisation not
associated with a political party” and that will help us; we have to move forward. It is not a static Constitution; it is a living organism.
Prof. Oquaye 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order because - [Interruption] Now, a point of correction, otherwise, we would be seriously misled.
Deficiencies have been observed. These have been brought about by operational constraints. What are they? They are constraints in cash or kind. When there is a constitutional body given a certain work to do and they have constraints by cash or kind, we do not take over their function. If we are well-meaning, we assist them to perform their constitutional functions, otherwise we will be soon mortgaging everything to people with money.
This is the quintessence of this argument
and none of these will change it because we all know it has been happening. Those operational problems are there and I did mention that in my main argument -- in cash or in kind. If there is any well- meaning NGO, let it bring those cash or kind contributions to the EC to perform its constitutional function and we are home and dry.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, the Hon Majority Leader has suggested something, so I thought that we should go and meet and sort out this issue in his office but we are going back to the point.
But, yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree that we may have to have further deliberations on this, so we will step it down. Maybe, when we go to do that, it may become necessary for us to do a tidier job on this. For instance,
even though I have already argued that we adopt it, maybe, subject to some modern modifications, I have now come to realise that if we talk about Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), that are not those associated with a political party, I believe we are talking about those associated with a political party in this country.
But clearly, there may be some NGO's that are also associated with a political party outside Ghana and they may be championing their own political agenda. In this country, they may not have noticeable engagement with political parties but behind the scene, they will be projecting their own political ideology. Do we allow such organisations to mount political platforms even though they may have their own political agenda?
Again, if you look at the original
Act which we are seeking to amend, the portion that we have deleted, spoke about involvement of the EC in providing platforms. Today, what we are doing is to oust the role of the EC in mounting platforms. We have perhaps also not considered that.
Again, if you look at the original provision, no candidate is required to make a deposit to the Commission. By what we are doing, are we now going to provide space for NGOs which want to mount platforms to maybe, attract some fees from some of the candidates?
So I agree that perhaps, we have not exhausted all the considerations for which reason, we may step it down and then go to do serious business on it and hopefully, come to the House on Monday, or latest, on Tuesday to do this. Because I noticed that the Hon Minister really needs this for the impending District Assembly Elections, but of course, we must do a

tidy job on it before we bring the curtain down on this.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of the matter.
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Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Hon Members, we are going to meet on this matter -
Prof. Oquaye 1:05 p.m.
Point of serious
information to this House.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
You are a very senior Member of this House, so I will indulge you.
Prof. Oquaye 1:05 p.m.
An Hon Colleague
has just whispered something which has triggered my mind back. Mr Speaker, Mrs. Katriku is an expert on NGOs. I co-editored a book with her for the Consortium of NGOs. Mr Speaker, we sought in the interest of Ghana to have an NGO law passed to regulate NGOs. Mr Speaker, respectfully, I was at the centre of that issue, and they refused. I want it to appear in the Hansard of this Honourable House.
The NGOs refused to be regulated by the laws of this land and to have a law regulating NGOs; it is on record. Mr Speaker, when we open this floodgate and they start coming in and mounting platforms, what kind of self- respect do we have as a people? I am speaking on authority; they refused and it has not happened till today. So Mr Speaker, these are matters we must seriously take into account when we open the floodgate.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Hon
Members, I think that the Hon Majority Leader has opened -- and he has been supported by his Colleague opposite, the Hon Minority Leader. I do not want us to take any further comments on this matter
since we are going to go into it.
But when you go, I will not be there with you to find out the definition of “organisation” that you are talking about. It is not in the Bill and it is not also in the parent Act. What is the definition of “Organisation”? So these are some of the things that when you go, you should try to look at.
Mr Avoka 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I just want to
crave your indulgence and request humbly that we invite the EC to be part of this meeting plus your goodself.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Hon Members, I will make myself available in the interest of the Honourable House.
Well, that brings us to the end of Consideration Stage. At this stage, Hon Majority Leader, we are in your hands.
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Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Hon Members, we have passed Consideration Stage so no comments can be taken, the Mace is now upright but Hon Member for Abetifi?
Mr Pepera 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, actually, mine is not part of the Consideration Stage, but when we mention the Hon Members to meet to consider this, I noticed that the Member for Abetifi is absent. So I just want to have it said that I am officially invited to come to that meeting because I am very interested in this particular topic.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, I do not think you have no objection to him participating in your meeting which you have called?
Mr Avoka 1:05 p.m.
No.
Mr Pepera 1:05 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Cletus A. Avoka 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, today is Friday and there is a special event later in the day. Besides, we have already indicated that a group of ours will be meeting to look at the Local Government (Amendment) Act that we are talking about, and the time is already past 1 o`clock. I know we would have had to go on until 2 o'clock but in view of the circumstances that I have enumerated, I beg to move that proceedings of today be adjourned until Monday next.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in seconding the motion proposed by the Hon Majority Leader, he himself referred to a special event later in the day. Mr Speaker, by design, I should think whenever in adjourning we have asked for prayers to be said for the Black Stars, they have emerged triumphant.
Mr Speaker, may I plead with Hon Colleagues that today's event is a more herculean task than they have been confronted with that far. May I plead that Hon Members say a prayer, each one of us, for the Black Stars before the appointed hour so that God, in His wisdom, will grant them courage and strength to overcome this hurdle. Mr Speaker, I believe it is surmountable and with God on our side, we should be able to accomplish the task.
I thank you, Mr Speaker, and I beg to second the motion.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Minority Leader; we shall all keep on praying until the appointed time.
Question put and motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 1:05 p.m.