Debates of 7 Jul 2010

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 12:10 p.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Members, I
regret to formally announce the passing of Member for Atiwa, Hon Kwasi Anno Ankamah. As some of you may be aware, he was taken ill sometime ago and had to seek treatment outside the country but sadly passed on on the 1st of July, 2010.
His family members came this morning to announce his passing on and Hon Members will be informed of the final funeral rites when the family makes the necessary arrangements.
I invite Hon Members to be up and standing as we one observe a minute silence in his memory.

May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Mr Cletus A. Avoka 12:10 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, this is a special announcement that I would want to convey to the House. Madam Speaker, we have arranged and it is my pleasure to inform Hon Members of this august House that the management of the national team, the Black Stars, will be bringing the players to this august House tomorrow at 12.00 o'clock midday for us to interact with them and then to commend them for the role they have played in advertising Ghana in the FIFA ongoing World Cup Tournament. So, tomorrow
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Leader.
Mr Avoka 12:10 p.m.
So, Hon Members should
come in their numbers. We do not want them to come and there will be an empty chair anywhere. We should come.
Madam Speaker, let me also add that we are starting late today again just because of the fact that we had an impromptu invitation following the death of our Hon Colleague. The family members came this morning and we could not allow them to be sitting for the whole morning until we close at 2.00 o'clock, in view of the distance that they had come from in the Eastern Region.
Madam Speaker invited the Leadership of the two sides and then we met them for some time and that accounted partly for our lateness. We are very sorry.
Thank you.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Thank you Hon
Leader.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Members, we move to the Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 6th July, 2010.
Page 1…6 -
Mr Kwame A. Twumasi 12:10 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, I was present in the House yesterday. I have been -
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
What page?
Mr Twumasi 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, page 6, number 39, under item 4.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
All right. You were present.
Mr Twumasi 12:10 p.m.
I would be happy if the correction is effected.
Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Thank you. Any more corrections on page 6?

Hon Members , the Votes and

Proceedings of Tuesday, 6th July, 2010 as corrected, is adopted as the true record of proceedings.

Shall we move on to the Official Report of Tuesday, 29th June, 2010?

Any correction in the Official Report?
Mr Joseph B. Aidoo 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, two corrections. The first one, column 1531, and then the third paragraph under my submission, the last word, it should be “presented”, and not “represented”.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
“Presented”, all right. Yes?
Mr J.B. Aidoo 12:20 p.m.
[Pause.] Madam Speaker, I have just missed my other correction. Maybe, I will give space for -
rose
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Yes, Hon Hackman?
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, on the Official Report , it is not a correction though but I thought it would be the most appropriate time to make it.
I did see in your Office a compilation of the Official Report and subsequently, little notes in our pigeonholes telling us that they
are available for sale. Madam Speaker, I think that most people lose their Official Reports but when they come bound in that way, they are useful for posterity, because we represent constituencies and even keeping them in the constituency libraries or the library of that particular town, would help.
So, Madam Speaker, I want to commend you and your people for putting it together. But really, it is part of the working tools of Parliament and I would have thought that Parliament - [Pause] -- Parliament would make this available to Hon Members and compile at least, from January 7th to the end of the Session, so that we can have this.
After all, when you leave as a Member of Parliament, you want to preserve something for your constituency, for the library, and sometimes, eventually, who knows, in this country, we shall be having libraries of Presidents and libraries of Members of Parliament. Although people tend to insult us but whatever it is, I believe that it should not be beyond Parliament to make this available to Members of Parliament rather than make it a commercial enterprise, where one has to pay for it. I believe it is part of the tools that we use.
I would like to commend you and then respectfully request that this be made available to all Members of Parliament for one term -- the term that you serve as a Member of Parliament, if it is all compiled, it would be very useful. So while commending you, I would like you to loosen your purse a little to see whether you can accommodate us in this respect. Because, I mean, the one I saw is only two months, so it is plenty of volumes we would get and I think that it would be good if Parliament would make it a tool of reference.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Yes, thank you, Hon Member. Your suggestion will be considered. [Hear! Hear!]
Yes, can we continue?
Mr J. B. Aidoo 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am back to my correction. Column 1585, the second paragraph, second line under my contribution, the phrase in quotes should be “criminal offence”, not “criminal offences”,
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
All right, thank you.

Hon Members, the Official Report of Tuesday, 29th June, 2010 as corrected, represents the true record of proceedings.
ORAL ANSWERS TO 12:20 p.m.
QUESTIONS 12:20 p.m.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION 12:20 p.m.
Minister for Education (Mr Alex Narh Tettey-Enyo) 12:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, each academic year, the Ministry of Education implements its plan to ensure that existing vacancies for teachers are filled with the products of the initial teacher training colleges and the universities.
It is the policy of the Ministry and the GES to deploy newly-trained teachers, first and foremost, to fill actual vacancies in deprived/underserved schools before considering other areas. This is circulated in a guideline sent to all Regional and District Directors of Education.
The problem, however, is that the total number of vacancies declared annually usually far outstrip the total number of newly-trained teachers and teachers returning from further studies. For example, in 2010, a total number of 33,185 vacancies have been declared as against a total number of 8,625 teachers who are expected to fill these vacancies.
Steps taken to reduce the gap include the Untrained Teacher Diploma in Basic Education (UTTDBE) Programme. This programme has led to 12,000 pupil teachers in five regions, namely, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions qualifying as trained teachers and are serving in rural communities. The UTTDBE programme is ongoing and the other regions are expected to complete their programme next year. The rotation will continue and this would further reduce the teacher deficit in the basic schools.
Mr George Boakye 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
the problem of lack of teachers, especially in the rural communities is a serious one, which requires emergency solutions. To enable the Hon Minister appreciate the problem, I would like to cite some few examples before I go on to the question.

For example, in my constituency, there is a school called Wejakrom Junior High School; there is no teacher in the school and the school has unofficially been closed down.

Then Anum Local Authority (LA) Primary School, there is no teacher and the school has unofficially been closed down. Anwiaso, there is only one teacher; then Boafoyeana school, there is only one teacher. I think this is serious. So I would want the Hon Minister to tell the House what emergency plans he has to solve these problems in order not to place the children in a disadvantageous position.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am sure the Hon Member of Parliament has asked another Question; it is similar to his original Question. But now, he is asking the Minister to refer to emergency situations. The emergency programme we have now is the Community Teaching Assistants that we are implementing under the modules prepared for the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) and that is the only emergency remedy we have at the moment. We may be thinking of others.
Mr Boakye 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he said in 2010, 33,185 vacancies were declared and there were 8,625 teachers to fill these vacancies. So, in effect, there is a shortfall of about 24,000 plus vacancies and looking at the teacher-pupil ratio as we have now, it would take years before we would be able to get teachers to fill all these vacancies.
I would therefore want to find out from the Hon Minister whether he would consider a proposal that was put forward by Prof. Okonjo some time ago, about this double intake system in the training colleges. If this should be feasible, would he consider it?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the proposal to increase the number of
training colleges has been on the drawing book for many years. Studies carried out in the past to examine the effectiveness of this approach indicated that with the rate of graduation or production of teachers through the initial teacher training colleges, it would not be wise to increase the number of training colleges.
The factor affecting the system of supply and demand is the attrition rate of teachers. Teachers migrating to other professions, teachers leaving the country, the exodus of teachers for the so-called greener pastures and other conditions of service that make it uncomfortable for many of the trained teachers to remain in the Service.
So, all along, the steps being taken are focused on increasing the quota of the teachers being trained in the current number of training colleges, providing the incentives and machinery of securing the retention of teachers appointed to the schools, particularly in the rural areas.
Among these measures are the sponsorship system; the system whereby District Assemblies sponsor a number of teachers and enter into agreements with them, memoranda of understanding to get them back into the schools in the various District Assembly areas. Incentives like financial support for distance learning to encourage teachers to remain in school and seek higher education.
The incentives for the payment of special allowances to teachers undertaking what we now call the strategic subjects like Mathematics, English Language and Science. The incentive like the best teacher award, the study leave which is skewed towards encouraging people in the rural areas taking appointment, first of all and then remaining there to do their work.
There are a number of incentives which are supporting the need to have a growing number of teachers coming out of
Mr Boakye 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I did not say the training colleges must be increased. What I said was the Prof. Okonjo once proposed that there should be a double intake system in the training colleges, so that in the course of one year, you have two streams.
But my final question is that, some District Assemblies have been able to assist NYEP teachers to do the UTTDBE course and they have come out as professional teachers.
But as I speak, these teachers are at home; they have been dismissed. Would the Hon Minister not consider absorbing them as a way of helping to solve some of these emergencies?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the question is not very clear to me. I would like the Hon Member to repeat it.
Mr Boakye 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, my question is this, some District Assemblies have assisted teachers who were engaged in the NYEP as teaching assistants to do the UTTDBE Programme; they have completed. So the assumption is that, they are now certificated teachers but they have been dismissed by the NYEP; they are now at home and I am saying that they can be useful if they are absorbed into the system. So would the Hon Minister consider this?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in fact, that proposal is already an issue which the Ministry of Education is working on and in a document recently
produced by the Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, we have been able to get a training manual and a system of exiting, which would properly prepare these two - years' service teaching assistants to be able to really qualify to be admitted into the teacher training colleges.
So, consideration is being given to the proposal of a proper exit and an in-service training for these teaching assistants who will then qualify. But I will not understand why the District Assemblies have really sponsored people for the past two years or so and they have not been able to contact the District Directorates of Education for these people to be properly taken through the process of engagement. Even if they are fully-fledged trained teachers, they will be useful as pupil teachers and they will be taken on under that item of employment in the Service.
Mrs Akosua Frema Osei-Opare 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in the Minister's Answer, both on the sheet and what he has just said, it seems to me that there is a crisis in terms of teachers for our pupils. Would he not admit that by the very basic principle of education, it is better to have the senior secondary school graduands who were community education teaching assistants under the NYEP to continue giving instructions to our pupils while they go on this path of trying to streamline things and trying to give them education, rather than have empty classrooms with our pupils just sitting there with nobody teaching them?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, my Hon Colleague has made a proposal rather than a question. But let us turn it into a question.
The answer to this is that, this proposal is already considered and it is being implemented. Under the Community Teaching Assistance Programme now, those who have exited could be considered if they have an academic qualification

equivalent to a credit and three passes in four subjects to enable them to effectively teach the pupils to be assigned to them.

So it is an arrangement which we have taken on to engage some of them, especially those graduands from the senior high schools who have a good academic background and some experience to re-enter under the current two-year programme with which we have even developed a training manual and an in- service training programme for them to update their knowledge and skills.

So, his proposal has been considered and it is being implemented.
Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, if you look at the expected number of trained teachers who will be filling vacancies in 2010, we have 8,625; if we have thirty-eight teacher training colleges, that works out to just about 230 on the average. And this is an intake for the last three years, 2007.
Will the Hon Minister indicate to us what the level of intake is right now, so that three years hence, his 8,625 could be improved?
If the figure is hovering around 8,000 and 10,000, from what he is going to give us, what practical steps ought to be taken at the teacher training level, so that these numbers could be increased?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the
figure quoted here is indeed, the number of trained teachers coming out in one particular year. And it is true that this is quite low and that we should find ways and means of increasing the number.
For the ensuing academic year, those colleges that have facilities and that can undertake an expansion in the enrolment depending on their proposals, have been granted permission to increase the intake and we are expecting that by so doing, the average population of teachers coming out of the initial training colleges, will be
around 10,000 -- from the initial teacher training colleges.
Mr Emmanuel A. Gyamfi 12:40 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, I thank God I have now caught your eye.
I want to ask the Hon Minister, Amansie Central District Assembly sponsored over 150 pupil teachers to go through the UTTDBE Programme. Out of this figure, 75 have completed and only 31 of them have been recruited.
The 30 who have completed the programme are still at home in Amansie Central District. Will the Hon Minister, as a matter of urgency, give assurance that these participants who have gone through the process and have completed will be employed as early as possible to fill the classrooms which are empty in the district?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I
will inform the Ghana Education Service (GES) about that peculiar situation in his area. But I will also advise him to contact the District Directorate for immediate action to be taken on this issue. It is a peculiar phenomenon in his particular area.
Thank you.
Mr E. A. Debrah 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, from the Answers given by the Hon Minister, it looks as if there is a gap between the demand for trained teachers and the supply for trained teachers. The Hon Minister says it is not prudent for the number of training colleges to be increased but he has given a proposal for existing training colleges to increase their intake. [Interruption.] I want to know from him when the demand and supply situation as it exists now in the teaching field will
Mr E. A. Debrah 12:50 p.m.


even itself out?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
the issue of deficit has been with us for years. The discrepancy between originally submitted number of vacancies, sometimes unrelated to the Pupil/Teacher Ratios (PTRs), which is just a demand for more teachers to be posted to one particular area has been with us for many years. And all over these years, we have been trying to improve upon the situation to secure the return of teachers and have a more equitable means of distribution of trained and untrained teachers.
So, I would want to assure the Hon Member of the House that the steps I have already enumerated and further ones that we may come across and design, would be used to continue narrowing the gap between actual demand and existing population of trained and untrained teachers who should go to the schools and keep the pupils there comfortable.
Mr Simon E. Asimah 12:50 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he said that those training colleges that had dormitory space and classroom space would be allowed to increase their intake. I want him to assure this House that the quota given to training colleges this year, that is, 2010 admission, would not adversely affect the intake of students into Peki College of Education because they have written a letter requesting an increase in the quota that has been given to them. If the Hon Minister is saying now that they would be allowed to increase their intake, I would want him to assure this House that the letter written to the various training colleges would not stand, some variations could be made.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
I have already given that assurance but I
want to repeat that the applications were submitted by the individual institutions and they have been considered on that merit and that only last week, the GES Council confirmed the policy direction and we have indicated at the Ministry that we have no objection to their decision.
Mr J. B. Aidoo 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, in the
Hon Minister's Answer, he has indicated that the total number of vacancies are 33,185 and for this year, 2010, the number of teachers expected to fill vacancies are 8,625. That leaves a gap of 24,560. Madam Speaker, under the NYEP, 20,000 teachers have been sacked, granting that these teachers are untrained.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister has also indicated in his Answer that we have 12,000 pupil teachers who have undergone training under the UTTDBE. Could he tell us the basis for sacking the 20,000 teachers under the NYEP, when the Ministry needs 24,560 teachers?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 12:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
the term “sacking” is a misnomer. They have been exited. [Interruptions.] That is it. It is a new word. [Laughter.] That they came in two or three years ago and now they are going out and they have been exited. That does not mean that some of them cannot be re-engaged.
Mrs Osei-Opare 12:50 p.m.
On a point of order. Madam Speaker, I just wanted to clear the air that under the NYEP, the Community Education Teaching Assistance Programme, there was developed a programme of in-service- training to be undertaken and indeed, was started by the same GES so that as they teach -- during the vacation time, they are brought and given some tutorship so that they can go back and perform their duties better, in a way that allows the children to have continuous access to people who are instructing them but at the same time, building the capacity of those who are to teach them. Therefore, Madam Speaker, this manual he is talking about is not new.
It is also an upgrade or GES has developed a new one. But the principle, let me explain -- the principle is that GES developed a programme and in fact, the documentary evidence exists that they were taking the teaching assistants through a regular training programme. Therefore, please, let the world know that there was something done. If they have come to improve upon it, we thank them for that development.
Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Well, I take it as a
point of correction. Is it? Carry on then with your answer.
Have you finished answering the
question posed by Hon Aidoo? I thought you were at it when a point of order was raised.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I was at it and he brought about an analysis between the demand of teachers and the difference, I mean those expected. And I wanted to draw his attention to the earlier Answer that I gave that, yes, it is true that there is a deficit but we are relying
Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
Yes, last question.
We have so many Questions, but we have not finished with that one. Is it a question?
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister seems to think that when you have a new acronym, then there is an improvement. [Laughter.] I am yet to understand that. I just want to understand clearly from the Hon Minister about the exiting of the people that have been employed to assist.
No matter what it is, we, those of us who are Gold Coasters, know that when we started, we did not have trained
Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
What question do
you want him to answer?
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 1 p.m.
Madam
Speaker, I am asking him, in view of what I have said, whether he will consider bringing back those that he exited and using them, at least, to fill the vacancies, the empty schools that are available. That is what I am asking.
Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
That is a question, yes.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker,
the Ministry will consider that and in
collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, work out a common platform for the implementation of this proposal. But I can assure the Hon Member that by exiting a cohort or a group of personnel such as the CETA, it does not mean that some of them who were not actually prepared to go on to the training colleges could not find their way back into the classroom by any other means.
They could be re-engaged as pupil teachers; they will apply and be engaged as pupil teachers under the new terms of their engagement as pupil teachers. The exiting procedure was a not unknown to them. The Ministry made sure that they were told that it was a temporary thing, it is not a situation where his daughter or son will remain as a teaching assistant without any programme for him or her to enter even into the first profession that one can think of -- the teaching profession. They were not being prepared in that manner.
So, that group has gone out and new ones are engaged. Twenty thousand and more of them, they are being engaged.
Now, we have a manual for doing what he proposing and I am surprised that Colleagues are even doubting whether there is such a programme for moving the group of teachers that we are now engaging and training them, giving them in-service training, proper education to expand their knowledge and improve upon their skills, so that they can conveniently be taken on in the colleges of education.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister has told us that the people involved were not sacked but have been exited. I thought the Hon Minister was going to inform us that those people have exited but he says that they have been exited. What is the distinction between sacking and the term that he used: “have been exited”? What
is the distinction between the two? And if he may also go further, perhaps, could he also provide the distinction between those two and redeployment.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the
term “exited” is being used as a technical word. [Laughter.] Under the terms of the engagement, we speak about being exited and it is not a matter of grammar. It is not a matter of verbs taking the direct action. It is about a technical term being used to engage and exit, and this is exactly the expression I have used. He can refer to the document and see the expression there.
Madam Speaker 1:10 p.m.
Than you. Shall we move to the next Question? Hon Benito Owusu-Bio.

Six-classroom Block for Gyankobaa D/A Primary School

in the Atwima Nwabiagya District (Construction)

Q. 570. Mr Benito Owusu-Bio asked

the Minister for Education when a new 6-classroom block would be constsructed for Gyankobaa D/A Primary School, since the old structure which they were currently occupying had become a death trap.
Mr Alex N. Tettey-Enyo 1:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the District Assemblies have responsibility for providing infrastructure for basic schools under their jurisdiction. However, the Ministry, realising the herculean nature of this task, has over the years been supporting the District Assemblies in this regard. This year, the Ministry is supporting District Assemblies with the reconstruction of twenty-five (25) very deprived schools in the country and Gyankobaa D/A Primary School in the
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 1:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, over the years, the District Assemblies have been responsible for basic education but have not really considered it a priority in terms of providing basic education infrastructure. I just want to ask, what the Hon Minister or the Ministry of Education, being the Sector Ministry responsible for Education generally, is doing to ensure that the District Assemblies come alive to this particular responsibility?
Madam Speaker 1:10 p.m.
Yes, what are you doing?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I am overhauling the question to see whether this is a proposal to us or a real question seeking my opinion. But since the District Assemblies are under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the process of looking at the decentralisation is ongoing, we will in the course of time, decide on what arrangements we can make or what pressures we will bring to bear upon the District Assemblies to undertake their statutory obligation.
Mr Godfrey T. Bayon 1:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, information available to all of us is that there are more than three thousand (3,000) under-tree schools in the country. But by the Hon Minister's Answer, we are made to know that twenty-five (25) schools would be reconstructed. I want to find out whether these 25 schools are included in the under-tree schools.
Madam Speaker 1:10 p.m.
Hon Minister, did you get the question?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the 25 schools I have referred to, are in a separate category. I quote:
Mr Bayon 1:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, how old is the Gyankobaa D/A Primary School; how old is the structure?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, from the tone of the question, I have not been to site and so, I do not know. But from the tone of the question, it is an old structure - very old structure -- like the type in which I was educated at Akuse when I was in primary school - thick walls.
Madam Speaker 1:10 p.m.
Thank you. Shall we move to the next Question?
The Chair would be taken by the Hon Second Deputy Speaker.
1.17p.m. - [MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER

School Bus for Huni Valley Senior High School (Provision)

Q. 571. Mr Francis Adu-Blay Koffie

asked the Minister for Education when a school bus would be provided for Huni Valley Senior High School
Mr Alex N. Tetty-Enyo 1:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is the policy of the Ministry of Education to ensure that all senior high schools including technical institutes, have buses to enhance their operations. As part of the implementation of this policy, an exercise was conducted to ascertain the number of schools without buses.
However, due to budgetary constraints, the Ministry could not supply buses to all schools. The programme has been phased and we now have a phased procurement of buses and the Ministry hopes to complete this exercise as soon as possible. In this regard, the Ministry has placed an order for eighty-five (85) Eicher buses and fifty-six (56) Mahindra Scorpio Pickups for distribution.Huni Valley Senior High School will be considered alongside others in the implementation of the programme.
Mr Koffie 1:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, may I know from the Hon Minister whether he would consider giving Huni Valley Senior High School a bus or a pick-up?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry will consider providing either a bus or a pick-up or both . [Interruption.]
Mr Koffie 1:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, may I know when these buses would arrive and when they will be distributed?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the
Hon Member is compelling me to disclose something that I would have hidden. The buses and pickups have arrived. I am seeking funds to clear them from the port.
Mr Koffie 1:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Answer,
the Hon Minister only mentioned senior

high schools. Some of us do not have any senior high schools in our constituencies but rather vocational or technical institutions. May I know whether they have considered the vocational and technical institutions?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
technical institutes as a component of senior high schools are being considered under this programme. Perhaps, later, we would look at the other levels of institutions.
Directors of Education for Districts
(Steps/Measures Taken)
Q.572. Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh asked the Minister for Education what practical steps/measures the Ministry had taken or was taking to ensure that all districts in Ghana had District Directors of Education.
Mr Alex N. Tettey-Enyo 1:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ghana Education Service has received applications for the next round of interviews for promotion and appointment for the grade of District Directors of Education. An interview has been scheduled for shortlisted candidates by the end of July, 2010. Currently, there are thirty-one (31) vacancies which would be filled after the interview.
Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh 1:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister says that some applications have been received. I want to find out from him whether the vacancies were advertised before the applications were received.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the
vacancies were advertised in a system known to us at the Ministry as ‘internal advertisement'.
Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh 1:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
according to the Hon Minister's Answer, as of now, there are 31 vacancies, which means that, 31 districts out of the 170 districts do not have District Directors of Education. I want to find out from him, for how long these vacancies have existed. For how long?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think
these vacancies and more have existed for the past three years and I know also that, in the course of time, some interviews were conducted. But those affected have not been served with their appointment letters, which we are working on currently. Therefore, the vacancies have existed for three years or more and we are trying to hold the interviews as fast as possible to fill these vacancies.
Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh 1:20 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, the Hon Minister says that in the past some interviews were conducted but the interviewees who qualified to be appointed as District Directors either refused or failed to assume post. What assurance does he give to this House that after the interviews scheduled for the end of this month, the proposed Directors would take up their appointments?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is difficult for me to give an assurance because these promotions and appointments are personal to the personnel concerned, and they may accept or reject the offer and they are free to do so. But I strongly hope that with the influence that I can bring to bear on their decisions, the majority of them will accept the postings and report with haste.
Supply of Government's School Uniforms to Basic Schools in Ghana
(Criteria)
Q. 573. Mr Ben Abdallah Banda asked the Minister for Education what criteria were used for the supply of the Government's school uniforms to the basic
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Government's programme of providing school uniforms to basic schools in the country is targeted at deprived districts. In this regard, the Ministry, with the help of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Regional Co-ordinating Councils and the District Assemblies, identified sixty-six (66) deprived districts.
Other areas considered deprived in each region also benefited from the supply of 2,000 pieces of uniforms each. A total of 340,000 pieces of uniforms were supplied to basic schools in such areas. In all, 1.6 million pieces of uniforms have been planned for distribution countrywide.
Mr Banda 1:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has indicated that the programme is targeted at deprived districts, and he also went ahead to state that they came out with the deprived districts with the help of the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry, the Regional Co- ordinating Councils and so on and so forth. Will he tell this Honourable House what criteria were used in identifying these deprived districts?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, for the past, many years, government programmes of development require that if these interventions were targeting those who deserve the intervention, then, we should look at those who deserve it and by that we mean those who are deprived, to be made the priority beneficiaries of the intervention. Because of this policy, there have been negotiations and discussions about which districts are really deprived and therefore, we have a list of deprived districts with the Ministry of Local
Government and Rural Development.
We have a list of deprived districts under the programme funded by the World Bank, DFID and USAID negotiated and agreed upon between the partners and the Ministry of Education. The Ministry also thought it expedient under the current exercise to consult the Regional Co-ordinating Councils (RCCs) and that was done.
Indeed, that was the source of the additional identification of deprived areas, not under the term ‘districts' because it is obvious that even in districts not declared as deprived, you will have pockets of communities which are terribly, acutely deprived in Greater Accra, even in the metropolis of Accra. Therefore, due consideration was given to the focus of depravity and provisions were made accordingly.
So I would like to have notice if he
wants to have the full list of the districts identified by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, World Bank, USAID, DFID or any other development partner, so that he will get a clearer picture of what we mean by ‘deprived areas' as well as ‘deprived districts'.
Mr Banda 1:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he stated that 66 districts were classified as deprived districts and other areas were also identified as deprived areas. May I find out from him what the regional distribution of the 66 deprived districts is?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am
sorry, I do not have it here now.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi 1:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
this promise of supply of uniforms -- I hope my brother Hon Alex is with me -- came from the 2009 Budget. In other words, it has taken us a year to implement this. Mr Speaker, if you look at the figures that the 1.64, which is the

figure which appeared in the Ministry's Budget, 340,000 have been supplied. The performance rate is about 20 per cent.

Will he indicate to the House in clear terms, how this can be accelerated so that in the shortest possible time, deprived areas in my consistency, for example, will also take advantage of this generosity on the part of the Hon Minister?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the manufacturers of the material for the production of the uniforms are still producing and supplying to us for us to sew the uniforms and I think we will take his advice and find ways and means of accelerating the production, and really bringing pressure to bear on the textile manufacturing company, which already we are doing anyway.
But they also have challenges which they communicate to us any time they are affected, by failure of power, energy shortage, printing oil and so on and so forth. But we will take the Hon Member's advice and accelerate the pace so that we will serve the underserved areas in due time.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi 1:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
will the Hon Minister be kind enough to give us targets? By the middle of next year, for example; what will be the target figure, with firm assurance to our folks in the deprived areas that in such and such month they should expect uniforms in their areas?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, our
target is that by the close of the calendar year, that is, by December this year, the supplies should have been made, completely.
Mr Bayon 1:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to know from the Hon Minister how he intends to deal with the nikabuka and the overall condition of the uniforms that are supplied to the children. By that,
I am talking of the oversized nature of the uniforms, because they are not sewn locally.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we
have four sizes; small, medium, large and extra large; so four sizes. It is unfortunate that an error was made in sending the wrong size, perhaps, to the children in his area; we will sit up and look at the distribution again and ensure that the proper size is sent to places where you cannot really say whether they are large or small.
Mr Joe Baidoe-Ansah 1:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
would the Hon Minister confirm that the policy of supplying school uniforms to school children in the deprived areas is based on information that there are kids in this country that do not have school uniforms because their parents cannot afford, and that they are going to be given one school uniform each to be won every day for the three years? Can he confirm that that is the policy?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is no such policy and therefore, I cannot confirm what the Hon Member is saying.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Hon Member, would you want to explain?
Mr Baidoe-Ansah 1:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, then I would want to know from the Hon Minister what informed the policy to supply one school uniform for one school child and for how long they will be supplying the next to the same school child.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:40 p.m.
What informed -- Mr Speaker, this current intervention is that, it is known that in certain areas of the country, parents have not been able to provide their children with the proper
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
The
last question on this.
Mr Samuel Johnfiah 1:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
may I know from the Hon Minister how often a child would receive a uniform. Is it a one-time supply to an individual?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, for the present Administration, it is not going to be a one shot intervention.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:40 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, the Hon Minister has in the last sentence, said:
“…1.6 million of pieces of uniforms have been planned for distribution countrywide.”
That is 1.6 million pieces of uniforms. Mr Speaker, as has been pointed out, the 340 pieces represent just about 22 per cent of the targeted figure, so that in itself is a woeful performance by any indications. The Hon Minister refers to 1.6 million pieces and he is talking about 2010.
Mr Speaker, but in 2009 when the President spoke about it, he did not talk about pieces of uniforms, he spoke about pupils that they are going to provide school uniforms to 1.64 million pupils, so already there is a discrepancy. The President spoke about 1.64 million. Indeed, the Budget said 1

million, subsequently, the President said 1.64 million pupils, which is why the Budget line in education provided for 1.64 million; pupils. Now, he is telling us, “oh! it is 1.6 million pieces” not talking about pupils. How does he explain the discrepancy?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I
am providing information to this august House about what the reality is on the ground, from the Budget Statement to where we have reached now,” and that the plan we have is to produce 1.6 million pieces of uniforms for distribution.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we thank the Hon Minister for being candid and forthright. Of course, this should tell anybody that there is a disconnect between what the President told the nation and what he (the Minister) is telling us today.[Interruption.]
But Mr Speaker, the information the
Hon Minister is providing us relates to 2010 and we are halfway through 2010. But the information that was boldly given to this nation by His Excellency the President was to the effect that this was going to be done in 2009 -- [Interruption.] Mr Speaker, the Hon Fritz Baffour, his intervention, I will not comment on.
But Mr Speaker, is the Hon Minister
aware that the President promised the delivery to 1.64 million pupils in 2009 and that the performance that he is talking about relates to 2010? Again, if you go to the 2010 Budget, there is a different provision and yet for the two years, this is what they have done. Mr Speaker, would the Hon Minister respond to this?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the provision made for the 1.64 million pupils is working out now to the provision of uniforms to 1.6 million pieces because it is one uniform for one pupil, now, for the budget year in which we are. Therefore, the money appropriated is being used
to provide this number of uniforms for distribution.
This is the academic year which extends to 2010, and for purposes of explaining the challenges which we have, which the Hon Member for Techiman raised, whereas we would have liked to move the provision and distribution faster, the textile company is always communicating to us the impediments in its way and therefore, we are not getting the textiles at the rate at which we have planned to execute this programme within its original timeframe.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:40 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, I thank the Hon Minister very much for being very forthright once again with us. The Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development just shouted across that promise and fail is part of Government. [Laughter.] I do not know whether he agrees with that.
But Mr Speaker, the critical question is,
much as I appreciate these challenges, is the Hon Minister telling this country that the President did not know of this before he made the promise for 2009?
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, well,
I consider the Hon Minority Leader's enquiry as one seeking my opinion on an issue which he is already very knowledgeable about. Government policy is being implemented in the best way possible, and I do not think we have departed from the pledge made by His Excellency the President. We are working to implement to the letter, Government's intention of supplying 1.6 million children with uniforms.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
Thank you. Question number 574, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Offinso North?
Mr Banda 1:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member for Offinso North has travelled outside the country on a parliamentary duty. He has therefore asked me to seek your permission, and ask this Question on his behalf.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
Well, you are their cousin constituency, you may proceed.
Vocational/Technical School for Offinso North District
(Benefit)
Q. 574. Mr Ben A Banda ( on behalf of Mr Augustine Collins Ntim) asked the Minister for Education when the Ofinso North District would benefit from the Government's policy of one vocational/ technical school per district.
Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo 1:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the establishment of the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) has given a new impetus to the drive to promote Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) in the country.
As a first step, COTVET has been requested to develop strategies towards the implementation of the policy. Pending the full development of the plan, the MOE has started the process of absorption of some private TVET institutes in the districts.
In this regard, ten (10) faith-based and two community-based technical and vocational schools have been recommended for absorption into the public education system in districts without any TVET institution.
Due consideration will be given to the Offinso North District alongside other districts without TVET institutions as soon as funds are available.
Mr Banda 1:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister, in the second paragraph of his Answer, spoke about development of some strategies in order to ensure the implementation of the policy by COTVET. May I respectfully find out from the Hon Minister when would these strategies be fully developed in order to ensure the rapid implementation of the policy.
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the COTVET is working very hard in producing the strategic plan before the next academic year begins and I hope they would be able to achieve that target.
Mr Banda 1:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the last paragraph of the Hon Minister's Answer, he said that Offinso North District would be provided with one when funds are available. We all know that the Government of the day has a four-year mandate. Would he tell this House, specifically, when would Offinso North District be provided with the vocational institution within this four-year period? [Interruptions.]
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
Order! Order!
Mr Tettey-Enyo 1:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am unable to confirm when exactly this would be done, but hopes that it would be as soon as possible, and that would be done not because of the restraint of this present tenure of government but because Offinso needs a technical/vocational institution.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Minister. We thank you very much for attending to the House and answering Hon Members` Questions. You are discharged.
Hon Members, that ends Question time.
At the Commencement of Public Business - item 5 - Laying of Papers - Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
Mr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo 1:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Majority Leader just stepped out and I want to seek your permission to lay the Paper.
PAPERS 1:50 p.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
Item 6 - District Assembly Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2010 at the Consideration Stage.
BILLS - CONSIDERATION 1:50 p.m.
STAGE 1:50 p.m.
  • [ R e s u m p t i o n o f d e b a t e f ro m 02/07/2010]
    • Mr Dominic A. Azumah 1:50 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, before I move the amendment, let me say that clause 2, subclauses (3) (4) (5) (6) and (7) have gone under very close scrutiny; consultations have been done with all interested parties, and we have all agreed on the rendition as it is now.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 2, add the following 1:50 p.m.
    “(3) An organisation not associated with a political party but desirous of supporting elections at the District Assembly or lower local government units shall place at the disposal of the Commission, support in cash or in kind, for the purpose of mounting a platform for the common use of candidates seeking election to a
    District Assembly or to a lower local government unit.”
    Mr Speaker, I am moving this amendment to allow organizations that are not associated with political parties and who are ready to support the Electoral Commission EC to conduct elections at the District Assembly level to make those facilities available to them for the use of the EC.
    Mr Speaker, I so move.
    Mr William O Boafo 2 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we saw an earlier draft which contained a reference to material and human resource support for the Electoral Commission from organizations. The current rendition purports to remedy the mischief which we foresaw in the earlier rendition. But it appears that one aspect of our fears has not been dealt with, and that is the reference to support in cash or in kind.
    Mr Speaker, if you stretch the meaning of “support in kind”, it could embrace human resource support; that is provision of personnel. In order to overcome the fear inherent in that expression, I am proposing that we prefix “support” with “material”, so that it would control both “in cash” and “in kind,” -- “material support in kind or in cash”. So that it would do away with any overstretched interpretation of “in kind” to embrace the provision of human resources.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon Members, with regard to the time and the state of business in the House, I direct that Sitting be held outside the prescribed period.
    Yes, Hon Chairman of the Committee, the Hon Member for Akropong (Mr. Boafo) is simply suggesting that for the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, between “Commission” and “support”, we put there “material support”. If you do
    not have any difficulty, we move forward.
    Mr Azumah 2 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are absolutely in support of that; “material support”, it would make it quite clearer for anybody to understand.
    Mr Ambrose P. Dery 2 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I wanted to propose a further amendment to make it clearer. After the “material support”, I want to suggest that we insert “which the Commission shall apply to support its programme of mounting a platform.” Because it is not as if without the support from organisations, the Commission cannot organise a platform. But we are saying that organisations can support the Commission in cash or in kind to support its programme in mounting platforms.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Shall we get that rendition clear; just a moment.
    “An organisation not associated with a political party but desirous of supporting elections -
    Mr Dery 2 p.m.
    “ ... which the Commission shall apply to support its programme of mounting a platform --”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon Member, where do you want us to put that phrase?
    Mr Dery 2 p.m.
    That is after “in cash or -
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Very well; I am still reading. We have not got to the point yet; just to let Hon Members get clear what you are bringing on board.
    “... supporting elections at the District Assembly or lower local government units shall place at the disposal of the Commission material support in cash or in kind which the Commission shall apply in mounting a platform for the common use of candidate.”
    Is that what you want?
    Mr Dery 2 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am saying that “shall apply to support its programme”, the Commission's programme, it is not the financiers' programme.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    If I may please take the Hon Member's contribution, then I would come to Leadership.
    Mr Emmanuel A. Owusu-Ansah 2 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, while accepting the proposal made by the Deputy Minority Leader, I think if we can formulate it this way, it would capture what he wants to say and it would shorten the matter as well;
    “... for the purpose of assisting the Commission to mount platform for the common use of candidates.”
    I think that captures his intention and it also makes the formulation a little simpler.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon Members, I just wanted us to get clearly what has been said.
    Hon Minority Leader, you want to come in at this stage?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I understand the principle underpinning the further amendment being proposed by the Deputy Minority Leader. In the original Act that we are amending, mounting platforms is the business of the Electoral Commission. We have deleted that portion and we are now saying that
    -- 2 p.m.
    Mr Joseph Y. Chireh 2 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, you would recall that in the original amendment, we were seeking to make an individual or an organisation be able to mount a platform. But due to the consideration that we all gave to this, and the concerns that were expressed, the current rendition still mandates only the Electoral Commission to mount a platform with support from any agency. The second issue of the Electoral Commission applying this material support, we should trust that they are the ones who say they want the support.
    We should also trust the Electoral Commission, when they receive such support, to apply it for the purpose of mounting the platform. If we had allowed individuals or organisations to mount the platform, then that would be the need for us to re-state it as the function of the Electoral Commission. As it stands now, it really captures that, it is only the Electoral Commission and I remember that Mr Speaker, you were very clear on this issue and you did not want any intrusion on the duties imposed on the Electoral Commission. So it is dutifully captured.
    But if we want to ensure that whatever material support is given to the Electoral
    Commission, they shall use it, that is also a matter we should think clearly. We cannot legislate all the details; in fact, they brought the amendment to get the support. I believe there should also be a monitoring system; if the support is given to them, they would apply it or not apply it. But if we go ahead to say that they shall use it, maybe, we have to look at it and if it is still a great concern to him, we would need to add a sub-paragraph if necessary. But I believe that currently as it is captured, it is only the Electoral Commission that must do so.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Hon Members, I think you are virtually speaking the same language. If you may put your heads together so that a formulation will come, we would be better off.
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 2:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much. I am rising to associate myself with the further amendment which was suggested by the Hon Owusu-Ansah and also to seek your indulgence to further amend. I have some difficulties with the use of the words “an organisation not associated with a political party”. Mr Speaker, I would prefer that we say -- if we want to say “non-governmental organisation (NGO)”, let us say so. But the reality in Ghana is that I have some difficulty if we say “An organization not associated with a political party”. What are we referring to historically, even today? Mr Speaker, so I think that when the group is meeting, they should also look at the opening of this particular clause.
    Mr Pelpuo 2:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think the meaning of clause 3, giving the right to organisations to support elections and still making the Electoral Commission, the sole organisation for mounting of platforms is punctuated by subclause (4). So I think if you read the two together, there will be no need for the kinds of
    additions we are asking for.
    The two of them just give a clear meaning that even though organizations are supporting Electoral Commission who would use the material support given them, the Electoral Commission - the same organisations cannot directly mount their own platforms. So it is clear that when they give the support, they will use it for that.
    Mr Dery 2:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think we just have to be patient and get through this. But just a point. I want to comment on what Hon Haruna Iddrisu has said. Because this “organisation not associated with a political party” -- [Pause]-- if you look at the definition at subclause (7), it says:
    “For the purpose of this section, an organization is an entity interested in local democracy or development”.
    A civil society; so why do we just state it there as such? But because of “not associated with a political party” -- what is the interpretation? Supposing I am part of an organisation and I am a member of a political party, does that make the organisation to be associated with the party? All those organizations would have - it is a difficult concept anyway.
    But Mr Speaker, all I just wanted to say is that, I want a rendition that would make it clear that the responsibility of the Commission to mount a platform is not limited to the support of the organisations here. That is the point we want to make.
    But if we leave it this way, it would look like, if the support does not come, then where is the residual responsibility for them to mount a platform? That is all I am trying to say and not that the organisations would mount the platform but that the Commission's mandate of mounting platforms goes beyond the support it might get from an organisation or not. That is the point I want to be made clear.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    And in fact, from what Hon Dery is saying, that responsibility is not even residual, it is the primary before any residual thing comes. So whether money is coming or not, they should do it. But they are facilitated further by other -- Chairman of the Committee.
    Mr Azumah 2:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I listened carefully to the various contributions and if you look at section (2) of the parent Act, it says that --
    “District Assembly Elections shall be organized by the Electoral Commission referred to in this Act as the Commission”.
    So the sole purpose of organizing elections for the sole purpose of mounting a platform, we have now gone further to even include candidates. So that captures that.
    Now, with the rendition he proposed, I think we can be comfortable with it and it reads, if I can get it clear:
    “that an organisation not associated with a political party but desirous of supporting elections at the District Assembly . . .”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Hon Chairman of the Committee, please, go slowly, I want to capture you.
    Mr Azumah 2:10 p.m.
    Very well, I want to go slowly.
    “An organisation not associated with a political party but desirous of supporting elections at the District Assembly or lower local government units shall place at the disposal of the Commission material support in cash or in kind which the Commission shall apply for the purpose of mounting a platform for the common use of the candidates seeking election to a District Assembly or to a lower local government unit.”
    I think that it captures all the sense that we have been discussing here.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Hon Chairman of the Committee, if I get Hon Dery right, all that you have said is right but it does not say that the Electoral Commission has a function to perform for which someone can now come and help. And somehow, I think he wants that to be captured so that in effect, all assistance would be consequential upon what you primarily have a duty to perform. So I can see you are all basically agreeable, but I think it is a matter of rendition that will capture all these together.
    Mr Boafo 2:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the reference to section 2 of the parent Act is that, the District Assembly Elections shall be organised by the Electoral Commission, does not embrace mounting of a platform. The general elections, the Electoral Commission is in charge or organising it for us but their role does not extend to mounting of a platform for political parties. I think the main idea is to empower the Electoral Commission because the parent Act under section 3 (1), paragraph (b) and with your permission, I will read it:
    “No candidate seeking election to a District Assembly or any lower local government unit shall use a platform which has not been mounted by the Commission for promoting or canvassing his election.”
    The current Bill has deleted this section 3(1), paragraph (b). And the advocacy is to seek an enabling power of the Commission to mount a platform, not any implicit power; we want an express enabling power. We do not want to make a law here to encourage litigation. We do not want to make a law here to buy or procure litigation. It must be very clear; that is why the Hon Deputy Minority Leader is canvassing for such an enabling
    power.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    So that Hon Members, there should be a foundation that should be precedent to what subclause (3) is seeking to do. Once you lay that foundation, I think we are in business.
    Mr H. Iddrisu 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I essentially agree with the very last rendition read by the Chairman, but my difficulty again is the word “but” in the first line; it is redundant and accordingly, for neatness purposes, should be deleted.
    Mr Chireh 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the rendition the Deputy Minority Leader first suggested was putting the emphasis on the use of the material support. But what they are proposing now, indeed, at one stage of the amendment, we agreed that we should still give that function to the Electoral Commission. Once that is agreed, it should be a subclause to the present rendition.
    As we are saying, if the drafters are listening to us, they should make it the first responsibility and then subsequently, the others, when we are given exemption, can be captured. So as far as I am concerned, the rendition can be, first of all, that the Electoral Commission shall mount platforms -
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    So it is now a matter of formulation and I believe Hon Members can come out.
    Mr Dery 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think I am now on the same wavelength with the Hon Minister. What we are proposing is that we have a section before (3) which should read:
    “The Electoral Commission shall mount a platform for the common

    use of candidates seeking election to District Assembly or to a lower local government unit.”

    Then following that we can then say:

    “An organisation can then support .”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Hon Dery, in the circumstances, if for the sake of the record, I think we all know how far we have got now. You would just put this in extenso and then we see if it is agreeable to by the Chairman of the Committee. The introductory subsection, then we come to what we are now handling.
    Mr Dery 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, before subclause 3, insert a clause which should read, with your permission:
    “The Electoral Commission shall mount a platform for the common use of candidates seeking election to a District Assembly or to a lower local government unit.”
    We then follow up with this.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    We would go it step by step. Hon Chairman of the Committee, your comments on that amendment.
    Mr Azumah 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, clearly accepted --
    “The Electoral Commission shall mount a platform for the common use of candidates seeking election to District Assembly or to a lower local Government Unit.”
    It is perfectly accepted.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Hon Members, who would give us the formulation of the advertised amendment, Chairman of the Committee or?
    Mr Azumah 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, having
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, because of the construction that we have adopted as proposed by the Deputy Minority Leader, we may not even have to add “which the Commission shall apply”, then that would be consequential. Even though if we maintain it, it makes it neater. It does not provide any doubt, so it could either be there or be deleted.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Hon Members, I will now put the Question then and I think we have come very, very far.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Azumah 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 2, subclause 4, subsection (3) shall not operate to empower an organisation to directly mount a platform for a District Assembly or to a lower local government unit.
    Mr Boafo 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe the purpose of subclause (4) is to debar the organisations from mounting the platform entirely. But you have introduced a word “directly” and the introduction of one word and the exclusion of the other means that --
    So I am proposing that we delete “directly”.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Or shall we include “indirectly”?
    Mr Boafo 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we delete “directly”.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee, do you want to say “directly” or “indirectly” or you move directly or simply that: “shall not operate to mount a platform.”
    Mr Azumah 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we would accept Hon Boafo's proposal to delete the word “directly” so that it would read:
    “Subsection (3) shall not operate to empower an organisation to mount a platform for a District Assembly or to a lower local government unit.”
    Mr H. Iddrisu 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, for purpose of clarity, if we take subclause (4) as ably communicated by the Chairman, the emphasis is on “directly mount a platform for a District Assembly”. There is no link to elections, yet we are talking about mounting platforms specific to an election. So I will further say that after the words “government unit” we qualify them with some words relating to an election.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    So it should be
    “a platform for election for a District Assembly or to a lower local government unit.”
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this relates to District Assembly Elections. Already, subclause (1) has spoken about mounting of platforms for purposes of election.
    Subclause (3) also talks about mounting a platform for the common use of candidates. Obviously, subclause 4, in that context, can only refer to mounting of platforms for purposes of election. So really, I do not see the difficulty.
    My problem is that we are making Consideration Stage of Bills too tortuous. It is a torture. Some of us Sit here, put “and” here, add this, I do not know. Why?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    By necessary implication, approach, but there is also the approach for the avoidance of doubt.
    Mr Chireh 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, for the avoidance of doubt, I think that what we should really do is to insert “mount a platform for candidates seeking election to a District Assembly or to a lower local government unit”, which will be consistent with what we have been providing for. It should just follow the same method. I suggest that.
    So it should now read:
    “Subclause (3) shall not operate to empower an organisation to mount a platform for candidates seeking election to a District Assembly or to a lower local government unit.”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    I think
    that is clear.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Azumah 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, before I move subclause (5), we would introduce a new clause after subclause (4) and the draftsperson might re-arrange it --
    “That Electoral Commission shall mount a platform for the common use of candidates seeking election to District Assembly.”
    Mr Speaker, my attention is that we have taken that clause already, so it is for the draftspersons to arrange it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    That has been done.
    Mr Azumah 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move,, clause 2, subclause 5 --
    “A political party or an individual who contravenes subclause (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units.”
    This is in conformity with the original formulation.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, you may continue with the rest.
    Mr Azumah 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move clause 2, subclause 6 --
    An organisation that contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units”,
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 2 subclause (7)
    “ For the purpose of this section an organisation is an entity interested in local democracy or development.”
    Mr Owusu-Ansah 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    subclause (5). It reads that:
    “A political party or an individual
    …”
    My problem is with the political party. If the political party contravenes the law, how are we to prosecute the political party? I would rather think that all principal officers of a political party should be made liable. That is the Chairman, the Secretary and the vice Chairman, whoever should be made rather liable but not the political party as a unit.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    So, can a corporate -- Hon Members would want to consider the situation whereby a corporate body may be criminally liable and the law itself has already predetermined who is criminally liable in terms of the principal officers whenever a corporate body is found liable. So, maybe, you may want to consider that.
    Mr H. Iddrisu 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to support Hon Owusu-Ansah and probably, to request the Chairman of the Committee to give further explanation why this particular subclause (5) is being mooted. If somebody flouts the law, for instance, in Atwima District Assembly, that individual or person, we are referring to him as that individual; he may also even belong to a political party. Now, who are we holding responsible, at what level for that action of that individual who belongs to a larger body called a political party? So, we should not necessarily dismiss the concern that he has raised.
    The additional issue is that, we are creating a statutory offence and I have some difficulty with it. The Constitution is clear, it does not want to encourage the practice where we will reduce District Assembly Election into partisan election but we are only seeking to cure this by creating a statutory offence and creating liability. So, if they can explain further to justify the amendment, then we will be able to appreciate the why of subclause (5) as it has been proposed.
    Mr Chireh 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the explanation is simple. Indeed, in the original Act, the provision is there, which makes it an offence for a political party to mount the platform. So, we must repeat it. Because we are deleting that portion and trying to give exceptions for individuals who are candidates and the organisations that we have defined to be able to do so. So, we absolutely need to retain what was originally in the parent Act.
    He raised the issue of a political party. Indeed, political parties, like any corporate body, when they offend, it is the principal office holders who are hauled before the courts and given any sanction if necessary. I know that my Hon Friend has practised in the courts and he knows that we cannot arrest all the members of a political party. We can arrest only those who are office holders and those who flout the laws will be punished accordingly to the corporate laws of our country. These are the two explanations and I think they are in order.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Hon Minister, I think your Hon Colleagues agree with you basically but they want to be very sure that there are no unnecessary problems created by the application of this criminal element.
    Mr H. Iddrisu 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much for your concluding remarks which serve as a useful guide. Additionally, once we say, “commits an offence”, it means, we have to go to court to establish this.
    Mr Boafo 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I quite agree with the Hon Minister because it is only an imposition of a fine; we are to not talking in terms of imprisonment. If we are talk in terms of imprisonment, then we can break it down or leave the Bill and look for the real culprits in the political party or the organisation. But Mr Speaker, I am thinking of a higher or a more severe sanction.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Hon Boafo, if I get you well, you said, it is not talking about imprisonment?
    Mr Boafo 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, so far as the sanction under subclauses (5) and (6) are concerned, they are only talking about imposition of penalty units and not an imprisonment. I would like to propose that in the case of an individual, we retain
    the 250 penalty units but in the case of political parties and an organisation, we increase it to 1,000 penalty units, by way of higher deterrence.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    So Hon Boafo, is it a matter of the quantum or the principle underlying Hon Iddrisu's position? Is it the size of the punishment that is the issue or his underlining principle per se?
    Mr Boafo 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is the size of the punishment, the degree of deterrence.
    Mr H. Iddrisu 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, once they have been able to establish that this particular provision was contained in the previous Act, which we are still working on, I have no further difficulty in associating myself with it. But in default, what happens to the political party or that individual if we want to end at the level of a fine? What do we do if the fine is ignored?
    Mr Dery 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that
    the law on corporate bodies is clear on whom we execute the judgement against. So that settles it.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my attention has just be drawn to an omission. The subclause (5) that we are dealing with now -
    “A political party or an individual who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence.”
    Mr Speaker, we had a place for an individual to contribute; that is what we have agreed on - [Interruption] - That is what we have agreed on. All right. So I was wondering whether we have lost that one out. But if it has been captured, then I am all right. Otherwise, I thought that
    while it has been captured on the sanctions column, no opportunity has been provided for it. Now that I have been reminded, I guess I am all right.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, do you have a concluding remark? Otherwise, I will put the Question
    - 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Azumah 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Friend Boafo proposed that in the case of an individual who flouts the law, the two hundred and fifty (250) penalty units be maintained; but for a political party, he proposed one thousand (1,000) penalty units. Yes, we did discuss this matter with the Electoral Commission and the draftsperson and they thought that it is a deterrent they are trying to put in place and so the 250 penalty units was quite a heavy thing.
    I do not know how they arrived at that, anyway. So it is left for the legal team to advise; if the 250 penalty units will still be maintained, it is all right; we have no problem about it --
    rose
    Mr Azumah 2:40 p.m.
    But we did discuss it with them and they said we should still maintain the 250 penalty units.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    All right, so I will put the Question - Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader -
    Mr Pelpuo 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think it is good you are putting the Question. I wanted to support the position.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Very well. Then I will put the Question with regard to the amendments of clause 2, sub-clauses (5), (6) and 7 -
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thought you put the Question on sub-clause (4) earlier -
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    I beg your pardon, Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 p.m.
    You have put the Question on subclause (4); I thought you were going to put the Question on subclause (5) now, then we can go to subclause (6). Because I have a small amendment to subclause 6 - [Interruption] - So if you can do so for subclause 5, then we can come to subclause (6).
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, you may -
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in respect of subclause (6), taking a cue from subclauses (4) and (5) above, where subsections have been defined, I thought that since we are dealing with a sanctions column, we may specify the subclause that they are referring to. And I thought in this case, it refers to subclause (4). So --
    “An organisation that contravenes subsection 4 commits an offence.”
    I thought that is better than just stating “this section.”
    Mr Chireh 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is a drafting style. Once you are referring to “this section”, we are dealing with, there is no harm in specifying the subsections which apply to this matter. It would not be possible to specify them now because the numbering may change. So the draftsperson should take note and where the offence is, he specifies the section. I agree entirely with that.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Very well. I will then put the Question.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Finally, subclause (7). It has been read already; is there any - Yes, Hon Boafo -
    Mr Boafo 2:40 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, the subclause (7) is not clear as to the definition or the interpretation of an organisation. As a matter of fact, the organisation that we have is an organisation not associated with a political party. But here, they are referring to a mere organisation, with an entity interested in local democracy or development.
    Mr Speaker, there is a problem here and I keep on reiterating the point. When you come to look at what should constitute an organisation not associated with a political party, a lot of issues could arise. Is it because the membership reflects a current or former officials or founding members or patrons or cadres of a political party? Or is it because there are foot soldiers? Or is it because it is indirectly funded by a political party?
    Also is it because by its previous activities, social or otherwise, we can link that particular organisation with a political party? Or are we saying that a foreign organisation, which at its base is associated with a political party is ineligible to help, like Fredrich Ebert Foundation?
    Mr Speaker, the other issue is, is it any organisation at all not associated with a political party, which the law would embrace even if in the authorised objects of the organisation, there is no reference to its encouragement of civil education or promotion of civil liberties and so forth? Or are we saying that we are going to encourage mushroom organisations
    immediately after the passage of this law? People would go and regis ter
    organisations; are they all going to be admitted? These are questions which I am posing to the Hon Chairman to give an answer to enable us support sub-clause
    ( 7 ).
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Hon Minister, in subclause (3) which Hon Members have favourably considered, I think there is a clear consideration of what kind of organisation we are looking for - non-political, desirous of supporting elections and so on. Then, this is bringing another -- I do not know whether it is definition or distribution. Would you want to have a second look at that?
    Mr Chireh 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in fact, what he said, he introduced an amendment which is very correct; that is, “an organisation is one not associated with any political party”. That is the kind of qualification we should put - not associated with a political party. And then the rest of the subclause would be, “for “the purposes of this section an organisation is an organisation not associated with any political party and interested in local democracy or development”.
    Now, he raised the other issue of what would distinguish an organisation that is affiliated to a political party elsewhere, not necessarily this country. But Mr Speaker, you will recall that based on your support for this Bill and the recommendations you made, we then said that because of that likelihood, they should not be encouraged to mount a platform or have control over the process.

    If such institutions are there, for the neutrality of these elections and for

    the purposes for us to control our own elections, this material support in cash or in kind must be passed on to the Electoral Commission, thereby insulating this political influence which will be coming from outside.

    The rendition now is for us to qualify the “not associated with” in this definition. But the concerns he has raised are the ones we are saying; if we have mushrooming of organisations, it is the duty of the Electoral Commission to screen and identify those which are not associated with political parties. But if a member of a political party belongs to a church, for example, and the church says, “look, we are prepared to give this amount of money or provide sitting arrangements for the platform”, there again, we cannot use one person because in that same church, there will be other members of the church who would belong to other political parties and therefore, they tend to cancel out --

    So, the concern here is for us to liberalise this in line with encouraging but not saying that “mushrooming.” “Mushrooming” may be a way we are afraid of but the law is to make sure that such mushrooming organisations do not have political association or affiliation.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:50 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee, just to address your mind to - Will you lose anything if you abandon subclause (7)? Does subclause (7) help in any way?
    Mr Azumah 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, originally, we did not have subclause (7) at all but for the purpose of making things quite clear --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:50 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, before subclause (7), you must have understood the kind of organisation you are talking about, otherwise, everything a priori would have been futile.
    Mr Azumah 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, initially,
    that was my position, very firmly, that once we identify a party not associated with a political party, it was sufficient not to even give a definition to the “organisation”. That was my original position but as contributions came on the floor, Hon Members thought that it was reasonable to give a definition to “organisation”, but from the way you are presenting it, I do not think we can lose anything if we drop subclause (7) completely; I do not think so.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:50 p.m.
    Thank you very much. Now that that amendment has been abandoned, I will put the Question on clause 2, subclauses (3), (4), (5) and (6).
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Boafo 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have just noticed something which we would like to draw the draftsmen's attention to --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:50 p.m.
    Hon Member, you may continue.
    Mr Boafo 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, under the parent Act, section 7, we have a penalty clause provision and it reads as follows:
    “Any political party organisation which contravenes subsection 1 of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding ¢5 million.”
    For what we have done this morning in respect of sanctions against political parties and organisations, which may try to mount platforms for candidates, we do not see how this can sit in with the earlier provision -- the penalty units and the specific amounts stated under other sections.
    Mr Azumah 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think he has a case. It must be in conformity
    with what we have just approved, so the rendition could read:
    “A political party or organisation which contravenes subsection (1) of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units.”
    I think that it would be consequential to what we have already moved.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:50 p.m.
    Hon Boafo, does that satisfy your query?
    Mr Boafo 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 2 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Clause 3 -- section 7 of Act 473 amended.
    Mr Azumah 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 3 -- delete
    Mr Speaker, this amendment is just to delete the proposed clause by the drafters and maintain the original formulation since we wanted the Electoral Commission to be in-charge of the mounting of platforms.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 3 deleted from the Bill.
    Long Title --
    Mr Boafo 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, a careful reading of what we have done today and one would see that we went beyond the District Assembly Elections. We considered elections at the lower local government unit and if that would be reflected in the Long Title.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:50 p.m.
    Very well. For which reason you will want the rendition to add -
    Mr Boafo 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, Long Title, line 2, after “District Assembly” insert “and Lower Local Government Unit Elections”. The new rendition will be --
    “District Assembly and Lower Local Government Unit Elections.”
    Mr Azumah 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is quite right. Mr Speaker, we propose,
    “An ACT to amend the District Assembly Elections Act, 1994, Act 473 (1) in order to facilitate District Assembly and Lower Local Government Unit Elections and to provide for related purposes.”
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    The Long Title as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    Hon
    Members, that brings us to the end of the Consideration Stage.
    MOTIONS 3 p.m.
    Mr Azumah 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    BILLS - THIRD READING 3 p.m.
    Mr Pelpuo 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, at this
    juncture, we would have logically moved to the next item but it does appear that we have done enough for the day and I would suggest that with your discretion, we adjourn until forenoon tomorrow.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Leader, anything to tell us?
    Mr Dery 3 p.m.
    No, Mr Speaker, it is in
    your bosom to adjourn if it is 2 o'clock.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    Hon
    Members, the House will stand adjourned till tomorrow at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
    ADJOURNMENT 3 p.m.