Debates of 16 Jul 2010

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:27 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:27 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:27 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of 15th July, 2010.
Page 1 … 6 -
Alhaji Collins Dauda 10:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
Hon Evans Paul Aidoo is said to have been absent for yesterday. But Mr Speaker, he was here with us in the Chamber yesterday.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:27 a.m.
I saw him
yesterday even having a chat with Hon Dr Prempeh.
Pages 7, 8, 9.
Dr A. A.Osei 10:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this is
just for your guidance. On page 8, with respect --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:27 a.m.
Yes?
Dr A. A. Osei 10:27 a.m.
There was a Motion to
withdraw - that is my understanding - and it was seconded but it is not recorded that it was seconded.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:27 a.m.
You do
not need to second, under Standing Order 82. It was withdrawn under Standing Order 82.
Dr A. A. Osei 10:27 a.m.
All right, thank you.
Mr Benito Owusu-Bio 10:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
yesterday, I was present but my name has appeared as absent. Sorry to take you back, anyway.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:27 a.m.
Very well.
Table Office should take note of that.
Alhaji Ibrahim D. Abubakari 10:27 a.m.
Mr
Speaker, let me take you back to page 6. Alhaji Amadu Sorogho was here yesterday but he has been put as absent.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:27 a.m.
Very well.
Table Office should take note.
Mr Ambrose P. Dery 10:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
I would want to seek your guidance on the matter of the leave to withdraw the Motion yesterday. Admittedly, it came under Order 82. My understanding is that it was a Motion, and it was seconded. If it was not a Motion, that is a different matter. Then there was no need for the Hon Ranking Member to second it. But if it was a Motion and it was not seconded, then it cannot appear in the Votes and Proceedings pursuant to Order 81.
But I want your guidance as to what it was. If it was not a Motion, then there is no problem with that. That is what I seek your guidance on.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:27 a.m.
My
understanding is that, it was a Motion. A Motion which was duly seconded and the rule says that if it is seconded, then you can do so with the leave of the House. And the leave of the House - that is why you take a few comments from the floor, especially from the Leadership to get the sense of the House. And then the person who has to do that should be the person who moved the Motion. And that was what the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee did because the Motion was in his name.
Have I - very well.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:27 a.m.
Mr
Speaker, I think the issue really which he was trying to articulate was whether or not, you need a Motion to withdraw a Motion. And I think the Standing Orders really do not talk about that. So the person just gets up and begs leave of the House to withdraw. So, it does not require a Motion. If it requires a Motion, then that Motion may have to be seconded, which is to mean that the secondment that was done by the Hon Member, really, was not necessary. Until he was called to do, he should not have done so.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:27 a.m.
Absolutely.
Except that he is the Hon Ranking Member of the Committee - I called him to make a comment because he is the Hon Ranking Member of the Committee.
Mr W. O. Boafo 10:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it
appears under paragraph 8, that the Motion was withdrawn, in accordance with Standing Order 80 (2). But I believe it is Standing Order 82.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:27 a.m.
Yes, I
agree with you. So, Table Office, it is not Standing Order 80 (2) but Order 82. So, you are right.
Dr A. A. Osei 10:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 7, the
last paragraph -- just so, we all understand your directives. Is it to be interpreted to mean that all you are asking is that the matter be sent back to the Committee and that the Joint Committee reconsiders it? And that it is not being sent back to the Executive; it is just to the Committee.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
For now, that was the Motion on the Order Paper and it was withdrawn. And the directive, as I agreed with Leadership yesterday was
that it be sent back to the Committee. Let us see where it goes. I believe, in all the process, there will be consultation with both sides of the House. That was my understanding yesterday.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
I think the way it has been captured here, the direction is that the “Committee on Works and Housing be added to the Finance Committee for the joint consideration of the Agreement . . .” It is made to appear like nothing is going to happen to the Agreement. And I think, as you said, and related to the discussion that went on before, clearly, the import is more than looking at the Agreement again. But of course, with the understanding that we have, we will leave it at that.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Yes, we
should leave it there. And we all agree that what has been recorded is what actually transpired yesterday on the floor. So the record here is correct as to what transpired and the directive that I gave. However I know where you are coming from.
Mr Boafo 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with regard
to the same paragraph 2, I believe what was brought before us for consideration was the Report of the Committee. And in the deliberation over the Report of the Committee, the issues on Agreements came up. So I believe the recording should rather be reconsideration of the Report of the Committee, because we did not only mention one Agreement as of concern to us. We mentioned about three or four; the Suppliers' Credit -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon
Member, there is only one Agreement that was duly laid and it was one Report. It is that Report which was before us and which was on the Order Paper. It was what was on the Order Paper yesterday that has been withdrawn. So there is nothing - that is
Mr J. B. Aidoo 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 10,
the Business Committee met yesterday 15th July, 2010 at 9.30 a.m. and the meeting was adjourned at 9.45, indicating that they spent 15 minutes. Mr Speaker, if you look at the Business Committee's Report, it is well loaded. So, if they spent just 15 minutes in determination of the Business for the Ninth Week, then we must really commend the Business Committee for the way they handled this matter with great dispatch. I am just drawing the attention of the House to this fact. They have really done a good job.
Mr Ambrose P. Dery 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to acknowledge the rather generous commendation from my Hon Colleague. However, what he should remember is this, when the Business Committee has not got a quorum, it can start discussions in committee. What it registers is when it has quorum and therefore, work could have been done generally and it is ratified within those 15 minutes. So, it was not magic; it is really business.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Osei First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Very
well. Hon Members , the Votes and
Proceedings of Thursday, 15th July, 2010 as corrected, be adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Mr
Speaker, I think the conclusion that we came to with respect to what transpired here, relating to the withdrawal of the Motion on the STX facility is very relevant. Mr Speaker, I say so because rather interestingly, the major newspapers captured it as if the President had ordered that the Motion be withdrawn. If you look at the Daily Graphic, if you look at the Evening Eye newspaper, they are all saying that the President ordered that we did withdraw the Motion. But clearly, that was not what transpired.
So it is important that they understand the processes of what transpired in the House. I believe by the questions that have come up, the Press would know what really transpired in the House, in the particular case of the withdrawal of the Motion on the STX facility.
Mr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo 10:40 a.m.
Mr
Speaker, I think the Hon Minority Leader is right. When I saw the caption in the Daily Graphic, I was wondering whether it was the President who came to this House to withdraw the Motion. The Motion was the property of this House. The document became the property of this House as soon as we admitted it. When the Hon Minister made his presentation, it convinced Hon Members of Parliament to take that position.
So it was a decision taken by the House, so it should be reported as such.
If it was reported in any instance that an external somebody had made a statement and which had a place in Parliament and which convinced Hon Members of Parliament and they took a decision, that decision did not belong to the external person who made that statement. So, I think it should be properly situated in this respect.
Mr Dery 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I just want
to agree with the Hon Deputy Majority Leader and to add that some media houses carried the story yesterday that we had passed the Education Bill, which is quite erroneous. What transpired here yesterday was the Second Reading of the Bill and an argument based on the principles.
So, it should go out there that we should be careful the way these things are carried because it would be ludicrous when the public has been informed that we have passed it, only to hear the next time that the same Bill is at the Consideration Stage.
So we would plead that the media
houses do take care when they are reporting these things and report them accurately.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Very well. I think the Motion was formally withdrawn by the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee in whose name it stood.
But there was a statement earlier by the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing and that is what I believe, before the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee did the withdrawal. I think that that is where the confusion might be coming from, maybe, from the statement of the Hon Minister for Water Resources,
Works and Housing. But officially, it was withdrawn by the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee.

Hon Members, in the absence of any correction, the Official Report of Monday, 12th July, 2010 be adopted as a true record of proceedings.

Item 3 on the Order Paper - Business Statement for the Ninth Week.
Mr Pelpuo 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon
Majority Leader is unavoidably absent and I would seek your leave to present the Business Statement on his behalf.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:50 a.m.
-- 10:50 a.m.
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Manhyia) 10:50 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Health how the Ministry is dealing with the emerging global problems associated with the H1N1 vaccination in Ghana.
Mr Hennric David Yeboah (Afigya Sekyere-East) 10:50 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when potable water supply will be provided for Agona District Hospital and Agona town to ensure the effective operation of the hospital and the community.
Questions --
*438. Mr Kojo Adu-Asare (Adenta): To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing why the East/West Interconnection Project which was inaugurated in 2008 to ease the perennial water shortages in the Adenta Constituency and its environs has failed to serve its purpose.
*493. Prof. (Emeritus) Samuel K. Amoako (Akim Abuakwa North): To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing what steps the Ministry is taking to provide affordable housing for workers in Ghana. *494. Prof. (Emeritus) Samuel K. Amoako (Akim Abuakwa North): To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing what measures have been taken to control flooding, especially in Accra in the face of the rainy season this year.
*495. Mr Ekow Payin Okyere Eduamoah (Gomoa East): To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when Nyanyano community will be provided with pipe-borne water.
Motions --
Second Reading of Bills --
University of Ghana Bill, 2010
Consideration Stage of Bills --
Economic and Organised Crime Bill, 2009.
Committee Sittings

Questions --

*527. Mr Ben Abdallah Banda (Offinso South): To ask the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development what steps the Ministry is taking to deal with the perennial destruction of the Kumasi central market by fire.

*528. Mr Augustine Collins Ntim (Offinso North):To ask the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development measures being put in place by the Ministry to have Afrancho market in the Offinso North District operationalised. *529. Mr George Boakye (Asunafo South): To ask the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development what measures the Ministry has put in place to ensure that 2 per cent of the District Assemblies' Common Fund meant for the disabled is disbursed to them by the various Metropolitan,
Mr Hennric David Yeboah (Afigya Sekyere-East) 10:50 a.m.


Municipal and District Assemblies.

Laying of Papers --

Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Savannah Accelerated Develop- ment Authority Bill, 2010

Committee Sittings --

Questions --

* 4 5 3 . M r K w a s i A m e y a w - 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.

*475. Mr George Boakye (Asunafo South): To ask the Minister for Employment and Social Welfare what plans the Ministry has put in place to improve conditions in ICESS schools to make them

more responsive to the needs and aspirations of the unemployed youth.

*591. Mr Justice Joe Appiah (Ablekuma North): To ask the Minister for Employment and Social Welfare about the labour strength of this country as at January 2009.

Motions --

Third Reading of Bills --

Economic and Organised Crime Bill, 2009.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Education (Amendment) Bill, 2010

University of Ghana Bill, 2010

Committee Sittings.

Questions --

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 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 have 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.

*395. Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah (Atwima Mponua): To ask the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning how much has been realized from the Communication Service Tax since its introduction last year and the breakdown of what the amount collected has been used for.

*396. Mr Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi (Odotobri): To ask the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning how much was collected as receipt from the Communication Talk Tax for 2009 fiscal year and how much was used to support the National Youth Employment Programme.

*397. Mr John Agyabeng (Agona East): To ask the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning what measures are underway to increase cocoa production from 750,000 metric tonnes to one million metric tonnes by 2012.

Laying of Papers --

Report of the Committee on E n v i r o n m e n t , S c i e n c e a n d Technology on the amendment to the Convention on the Physical

Protection of Nuclear Material

(CPPNM).

Report of the Committee on E n v i r o n m e n t , S c i e n c e a n d Technology on the Convention on Nuclear Safety (1994).

Report of the Committee on E n v i r o n m e n t , S c i e n c e a n d Technology on the African Nuclear- Weapon-Free Zone (Pelindaba) Treaty.

Report of the Committee on E n v i r o n m e n t , S c i e n c e a n d Technology on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Report of the Committee on E n v i r o n m e n t , S c i e n c e a n d Technology on the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management

(1997).

Report of the Finance Committee on the Agreement between the Government of Ghana and Fr. Lürssen Werft GmbH and C ompany KG of Germany for an amount of US$37,867,500 (€28,050,000) for the purchase and refurbishment of two former German Navy Fast Attack Craft Type S143, setting- to-work of the ships, delivery and installation of weapons, supply of inventory and spares, training of crews and the transportation of the ships to Ghana.

Report of the Finance Committee on the Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and Commerzbank AG of Belgium for an amount of €8,210,129.00 for the supply of the second batch of 50 VDL Jonckheere buses and spare parts under Belgian Government
Mr Hennric David Yeboah (Afigya Sekyere-East) 10:50 a.m.
Concessionary Finance.
Motions --
Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

Committee Sittings.

Questions

*416. Mr Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah (Fanteakwa): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways what measures are being taken to complete the bailey bridge over River Odede, between Aborso and Dede Sewerako.

*418. Mr Ben Abdallah Banda (Offinso South): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the following roads will be tarred:

(i) AbofourKyebi

(ii) KyebiBrekum

(iii) KyebiBrahabebome (iv) KyebiAhwerekrom

(v) AhwerekromAnyinasusu.

*421. Mr Kwasi Ameyaw- Cheremeh (Sunyani East): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways the measures the Ministry is taking to construct the undone part of the ring road in Sunyani.

*422. Mr Robert Sarfo-Mensah (Asunafo North): To ask the

Minister for Roads and Highways when the Goaso town roads will be tarred.

Motions --

Third Reading of Bills --

Savannah Accelerated Develop- ment Authority Bill, 2010.

Education (Amendment) Bill,

2010.

University of Ghana Bill, 2010.

Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Agreement between the Government of Ghana and Fr. Lürssen Werft GmbH & Co. KG of Germany for an amount of US$37,867,500 (€28,050,000) for the purchase and refurbishment of two former German Navy Fast Attack Craft Type S143, setting- to-work of the ships, delivery and installation of weapons, supply of inventory and spares, training of crews and the transportation of the ships to Ghana.

Consequential Resolution

Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and Commerzbank AG of Belgium for an amount of €8,210,129.00 for the supply of the second batch of 50 VDL Jonckheere buses and spare parts under Belgian Government Concessionary Finance.

Committee Sittings.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Very well. Hon Members, any comments on the Business Statement for the ninth week?
In the absence of any comments, the Business Statement for the 9th week ending Friday, 23rd July, 2010 is accordingly --
Mr Yaw Owusu-Boateng 10:50 a.m.
Mr
Speaker, there was a Question that I asked and it was advertised on the 17th of March; it appeared on the Order Paper but up to today the Question number 477 has never been asked. I want to find out why it had been eliminated.
Mr Pelpuo 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we will try to find out what happened but the normal thing is that when Questions are admitted, you find them listed. But if they are not admitted, you would not find them listed and it is Madam Speaker who does admit Questions. However, this concern will be -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
The Hon Member is saying it has been admitted and it was put on the Order Paper. If Madam Speaker had not admitted it, you will not find it listed or advertised on the Order Paper. So try and get in touch with the Table Office and find out what happened.
Mr Pelpuo 10:50 a.m.
Yes, we will get in touch with them and find out exactly what has happened and if it has been left out inadvertently, we will list it.
Thank you very much.
Dr Anthony A. Osei 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
earlier, there was some issue that came up. The Business Committee brought an issue regarding some overpayment and under- payment of End of Service Benefits (ESB) to Hon Members of this House. A committee was formed to deal with it. We are getting ready to rise and that matter is still hanging. May I know from the Business Committee if there has been any further movement in this direction because it is in the public domain, et cetera. It will be important that before we rise, I think we bring closure to that matter so
that Hon Members would know what is the way forward.
Mr Pelpuo 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we are still waiting to receive some concrete information on it. I will really need some information from maybe, the Executive.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Members, when you raised it I was a bit taken aback, whether the committee was formed on the floor to deal with it or it was done at Leadership level.
Dr A. A.Osei 10:50 a.m.
I thought it was through Madam Speaker?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Was it brought to the floor?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it was just mentioned and Madam Speaker said she was leaving it to the Leadership. We have met and put together a small committee, but really, it is not meant for the consumption --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
For the floor?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Perhaps, appropriately, at the Committee of the Whole meeting, we could discuss it.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Members, in view of the fact that the Hon Member is concerned about this matter, let the Leadership get the committee to bring the report for our discussion next week, so that we will see how to discuss it; if we have to do it at the Closed Sitting of the House, we will discuss it. The committee was not formed on the floor, so I do not expect the report to come on the floor of the House.
Mr Pelpuo 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we can go to the Questions.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of the consideration of the Business Statement for the ninth week ending, Friday, 23rd July, 2010.
Hon Members, I want to come under Standing Order 53 (2) and go to Public Business and have those Papers laid quickly, then we come to Question time -- just the laying of Papers. So we move to item number 7 on the Order Paper --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I noticed that for item number 7, we want to know from the Majority Leadership if the First Reading of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill is going to be done. Mr Speaker, I think where we have got to, we need to be very transparent in this House.
Last week, when the Business Committee met, this Bill was not ready. You would recall that it is one of the reasons the Majority Leader called for an extension of this Meeting and we really debated the matter, whether or not this House would be able to consider this matter during this Meeting. I think at the end of the day, we agreed that we may allow it to be laid and referred to the relevant committee.
But because we had no indication last week, in fact, the previous week, when we had the Business Committee meeting, the understanding was that if it came, then the Business Committee, at least, the Leadership, would be informed and then we would be programmed.
Mr Speaker, then we wake up and you see that the thing has been advertised; it is certainly not the best. For that reason, it was not captured in the Business Statement of last week. If it had come and had to be laid, nobody would want to stop it but at least, for building trust and confidence in this House, we must know.
You cannot just wake up and spring a surprise on your Colleagues, it is not done.
So I would plead that the Majority Leadership would be mindful of this and not allow this. I am talking about Leadership of the Majority at the level of the Business Committee, so that next time round, we continue in the business of building trust and confidence. This, certainly, is not the best, notwithstanding,
Mr Speaker, having voiced out this grievance, it is not in any way to suggest that it cannot be laid but at least, let us do the right thing and learn to respect Colleagues across the political aisle.
Mr Pelpuo 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minority Leader's concern is worthy of note. Indeed, we agreed that as and when the Bill is brought to the notice of the House, we will definitely consider it during the week. We, however, did not define the way by which the consideration will be done. But I think it is important that like he said, we build trust, build bridges across the aisle and also we can see little things very important as big things. So I suppose it is taken note of and I am happy that it is not going to stall business and we will go on with it but for the future, we will ensure that these things are done the way in which we will all be happy.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
When I saw this advertised yesterday on the Provisional Order Paper, I thought that the necessary consultations had been done. So when I saw it this morning, I was not really surprised, thinking that the necessary consultations had been done with the Business Committee. But I think it is good to do these consultations. It is in the interest of the House.
Mr Dery 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minority
Leader, after stating the position said that nevertheless, we would agree that it be laid. My only concern is that, the Deputy Majority Leader, in his response or comments, wanted to create the impression that there was no way the consideration

should take place. There is no lacuna in that and I am happy that you have put it right that that is how it should be. So we would in future expect that we go back to the convention. But let us go on.
Mr Pelpuo 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am at a loss at what my elder Brother has just said. I said that nevertheless, I am happy the way it all ended. He had said that nothing was going to stop it from going -- Because he was not going to stop it from - and I am happy about that. I am just expressing my satisfaction with how things happened.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon
Deputy Majority Leader, in your response, you made a statement to the effect that you agreed as a Business Committee that when the Bill comes to the House, the necessary consultations would be done, except that how it would be done, was not clear. So that is what the Hon Deputy Minority Leader is responding to that there is a way of doing it. There is a way of doing that consultation. That is the point -- by maybe, talking to the Leadership of the Committee.
Hon Member, I think we have belaboured this point.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think the Majority Leader has put it in perspective. But clearly, how are Bills brought to the House? They are brought to the House when the Business Committee programmes them. So if he says that the process was never defined, what other process was he thinking of other than the Business Committee? Certainly, it should have been rooted through the Business Committee.
But the understanding was that if it comes, then some consultation would be done so that the Business Committee would not meet. So if he fails to do the consultations and brings it, then certainly, it is suspicious. That is all that I am saying.
I am happy that at the end of the day,
he has come to the realization that proper consultations ought to have been done. That is all the point I made. So we could move. One would perhaps, even want to ask, “where is it?”
The draft of the Bill that I have seen, which was brought to the House, we have a bold print, “Draft Bill”. I do not know whether we have considered Bills in this House with the bold print “Draft Bills”, unless of course, there is another one that has come just today. The one that came previously, printed on A4 sheets is “Draft Bill”. I have not seen in my life in this Parliament that Bills have come to this Parliament and we have the bold print “Draft Bill”. But let us see how it goes, maybe, after laying it, the proper thing would be done for distribution.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon
Minority Leader, let us see what type of Bill it is after it has been laid. But I have been informed that it has been properly gazetted for the 14 days as is required by the law. So let us see what happens.
Presentation and First Reading of Bills
- Minister for Energy.
Mr Pelpuo 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we are
asking Alhaji Collins Dauda who is also a Minister of State to lay the Paper on his behalf.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Where is
the Minister for Energy? That is what you have to tell us before you ask for leave.
Mr Pelpuo 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister
is absent. We tried to get him today but it looks like he is out of town, that is why we are requesting that -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
- 11 a.m.
BILLS - FIRST READING 11 a.m.
PAPERS 11 a.m.
-- 11 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Item 8
(b) - By the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning.
Mr Pelpuo 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it follows the same reason that we were unable to secure the presence of the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, so we invited Hon Collins Dauda, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to lay the Paper on his behalf.
By the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (on behalf of the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning)--
( i ) Agreement be tween the Government of Ghana and Fr. Lurssen Werft GmbH & Co. KG of Germany for an amount of US$37,867,500 (€28,050,000) for the purchase and refurbishment of two former German Navy Fast Attack Craft Type S143, setting-to-work of the ships, supply of equipment, inventory and spares, training of
crews and the transportation of the ships to Ghana.
Referred to the Finance Committee.
(ii)Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and Commerzbank AG of Belgium for an amount of €8,210,129.00 for the supply of the second batch of 50 VDL Jonckheere buses and spare parts under Belgian Government Concessionary Finance.
Referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I know that it is not for nothing that a Minister may hold fort for his Colleague Minister. That is why at Cabinet, if a Minister is not there, another Minister of Cabinet, rank is allowed to hold the portfolio for the Minister who is absent.
Mr Speaker, now that we are about to rise, it may become important for this House to be apprised of the reasons underpinning the laying of a Paper.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Members, 5b (iii).
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, you have been mentioning 5b, it is 8b
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Sorry, 8b (iii). We all make mistakes. Thank you very much.
By the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (Alhaji Collins Dauda) on behalf of the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning --

(iii) Buyer's Credit Agreement

between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and Poly- Technologies Inc. of Beijing, China, for an amount of one hundred million United States dollars (US$100,000,000.00) for the procurement of strategic equipment to re-equip the Ghana Army and the Ghana Air Force and also improve barracks accommodation for the soldiers.

Referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
8(c) (i) - Chairman of the Committee -
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Why? Are you the Chairman? The same rule that applies to the Ministers is also applying to the Members -
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the difference is that in this case, he is a member of the Committee -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
No, but
at least, he should get up to say that the Chairman is not there and that he wants to lay it on behalf of the Chairman that is on the lighter side.
By Mr Benito Owusu-Bio (on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee) -
(i) Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Ministries, Departments and Other Agencies of the Central Government) for the year ended 31st December, 2005.
(ii) Report of the Public Accounts
Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Ministries, Departments and Other Agencies of the Central Government) for the year ended 31st December, 2006.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I just need your guidance on this matter and also to appeal to the Leaders of Government Business. By Order 75 (1), we are told that as soon as sufficient copies of the Paper for distribution - lately, when the Papers are laid, we do not seem to find them in our pigeon-holes to allow Hon Members to do proper work on them. So I am just appealing that they are made available so that we can begin to look at them seriously.
I thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well, Table Office, make sure that you take note of that.
Maj. Derek Y. Oduro (retd) - rose -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Members, we now go back to Question time.
Yes, Hon Member -
Maj. Oduro (retd): Mr Speaker, I want to raise concern, in fact, very serious concern about the way the loan Agreement -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, you are out of order. Go to the Committee and raise the concerns that you have. We are only laying it; at the laying stage, no comment is taken apart from what the Hon Minority Leader did - referring to the Business Committee that it has not been programmed. If you have any concern about the document, you go to the Finance Committee and make it known to them.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, if you talk to the Hon Minority Leader or the Leadership, they will give you some explanation. I know where you are coming from. But again, that is precisely why you cannot also discuss it. Do you see?
Maj. Oduro (retd): Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
Hon Members, Question time - the Hon Minister for the Interior - the first Question is an Urgent Question, standing in the name of the Hon David Oppon-Kusi.
URGENT QUESTION 11:10 a.m.
MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR 11:10 a.m.
Minister for the Interior (Mr Martin Amidu) 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the case, the subject matter of this Answer, involved one, 110 bags of cocoa which were to be off-loaded at the Takoradi Port for export but were diverted from the port at
Takoradi, dishonestly received and sold to suspects, who resold them to other person(s) on or around 23rd June, 2006.
Six hundred and ten (610) bags of the cocoa were sold by a particular suspect to another suspect in the Ofoase/Ayirebi Constituency in the Eastern Region at a price far below the official price. Nine persons were eventually arrested and arranged before the Magistrates Court, Takoradi, in the case of The Republic v. Ernest Boahen and 8 Others in April, 2008. The docket was submitted to the Attorney-General's Office for advice.
Upon the advice of the Office of the Attorney-General, three accused persons were charged for the offences of conspiracy to steal and stealing in The Republic v. Alhaji Habib Mohammed and 2 Others. The six other suspects were accordingly discharged for want of prosecution. The three accused persons who were charged were admitted to bail but they failed or refused to honour the terms of the bail by making themselves available for their trial. Their sureties could not also be traced from the addresses they provided.
M r S p e a k e r, a f t e r a b o u t t e n adjournments, it became clear to the court that the accused were unlikely to voluntarily appear to stand their trial. The court then issued a bench warrant for their arrest on Tuesday 23rd October, 2008 and adjourned the proceedings sine die. The police have since been unable to execute the bench warrant.
The three accused persons who are still at large, are Habib Mohammed, Ernest Boahen and Abi Zayeed Teye. Anybody who knows the whereabouts of any of the accused persons who are fugitives from justice, should kindly inform the police to enable them to be arrested for justice to be done in this matter.
Mr Speaker, the Police Administration wishes to assure this Honourable House that no effort will be spared in ensuring that the due process of law takes its course in this case.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Oppon-Kusi 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the case which is the subject mmatter of my Question happened in January, 2010 and so the Hon Minister cannot be talking about the same thing. Can tell me which case he is referring to? This is because -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon
Member, you have already asked the Question.
Hon Minister, he wants to know which case you are referring to.
Mr Amidu 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, from his Question, the police in the Western Region interpreted it to mean this case which happened, involving 1,110 cocoa bags. His Question never stated the year in which the offence happened. It is a Question at large and if there are more than one case of that nature, the police got what they thought was the Question and that is the Answer I have given.
Mr Oppon-Kusi 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I did
not specify the date because I am not aware that this kind of stealing has been going on several times. I am only aware of that situation. So if the Hon Minister can tell us how many of such cases have occurred, then I can tell him that this particular case happened in January of this year. It is fresh and it involves 600 bags. So I do not know which case he is talking about. But the case I am talking about. happened in January, 2010 and it is very fresh. So he should please, come back and brief this House properly.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Member, I did not get your question to call on the Hon Minister to answer. So, what is your question? Let me get the question.
Mr Oppon-Kusi 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my
Question is that, 600 bags of sealed cocoa beans in the Western Region meant for export to Japan were diverted to Asabidie in my constituency. Some of the youth were patriotic enough to report the matter to the Regional Minister and the District Chief Executive; and it was this year. So, my Question is about the case which happened this year. I am not aware of any case that happened in 2006.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon
Member, you know how to ask supplementary questions to get the answer you want; it is not by making statements. So you know the issue that you talked about.
In your Question, you mentioned a particular village. Hon Member, come with a supplementary question.
Mr Oppon-Kusi 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, is the Hon Minister aware that in January of this year, 600 bags of cocoa were diverted to Asabidie and that this case was reported to the Regional Minister, to the Police and to the District Chief Executive?
Mr Amidu 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, since the
Question I was asked to come and answer appears to have been a Question at large, the Answers I have relate to the one which happened in 2006, in the same constituency.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon
Minister, the Question admitted by Madam Speaker, talks about a particular village. So, is yours also from the same village? I think that will clarify this position.
Mr Amidu 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Answer
from the Police Administration related to cocoa smuggled from the Ofoase/Ayirebi Constituency. This was the only fact
which they got and because the Question was so general, we assumed that that was what it was related to. But he is now particularising it to a year which is not part of the Question. So, I crave your indulgence Mr Speaker -- it will be unjust for us to be accused of failing to answer the Question when indeed, he intended that the Answer must relate to a particular year. But he asked a Question at large, from his supplementary question.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is difficult to comprehend that the Hon Minister would say that the Question is at large when it relates to Asabidie in the Ofoase/Ayirebi Constituency. He is relating it to Ofoase/Ayirebi Constituency, an incident that had happened there in 2006. But the Question relates to Asabidie Police Station, so it cannot be at large.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon
Minority Leader, I agree with you that a particular village has been mentioned. That is why the Hon Member, in whose name the Question stands, should through supplementary questions, narrow down the issue so that we are very, very clear.
Hon Member, there is a way of asking
the question to narrow down to the particular 600 bags of sealed cocoa that you are talking about.
Mr Oppon-Kusi 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I will repeat what I said earlier; “is he aware that in January this year 600 bags of sealed cocoa meant for export to Japan were diverted from Takoradi to Asabidie in my constituency?” Six hundred (600) bags, specifically -- That is my first supplementary question.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
That
is your second supplementary. Are you aware, Hon Minister for the Interior?
Mr Amidu 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not
aware.
Mr Oppon-Kusi 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to ask the Hon Minister whether he has been told that a truck belonging to Adwumapa Buyers - [Interruption.]
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon
Members, order! Let us hear the Hon Member on the floor.
Mr Oppon-Kusi 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I
want to ask the Hon Minister whether he has been told that a truck belonging to Adwumapa Buyers and cocoa sacks marked with the inscription of Adwumapa Buyers were found at the scene of the incident and that that truck was taken away to the police station at Akim Oda.
Mr Amidu 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, there is no
way the Hon Minister for the Interior will know specifics about details of cases that happen in locations far away. And since the Question did not give me the inclination to try to find these spots, I will say I am not aware.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon
Member, your last supplementary.
Mr Oppon-Kusi 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, at this
point, may I then ask the Hon Minister to go and get proper briefing and come back to this House.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon
Member, that is not a supplementary question. I thought you were going to ask a supplementary question.
Mr Oppon-Kusi 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, now that he has been made aware, is the Hon Minister prepared to come back
and answer the Question specific to the incident?
Mr Amidu 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is my responsibility to answer Questions asked by Hon Members of this House. So, now that he has clarified it, it is my responsibility to come back and answer it.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon
Members, he has --
Mr Oppon-Kusi 11:20 a.m.
Thank you, Mr
Speaker --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon
Member, you have exhausted your supplementary questions. The Hon Minister's answer is that given the particulars you have provided, he will do the necessary checks and come back.
That ends the matter.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
I will take
two more supplementaries so that we close this chapter.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
listening to the Hon Minister and the Hon Member who asked the Question, it appears there is a serious problem in that constituency. If the Hon Minister is citing an instance from 2006 and the Hon Member who asked the Question is citing an instance in 2010, it means there is a problem there.
Will he consider setting up a committee to go and carry out an investigation at Ofoase [Interruption] whether Ofoase or Ayirebi or Asabidie -- and bring out a solution to that problem? Because we cannot sit down for four years for that thing to be happening. Can he consider doing that?
Mr Amidu 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not
know whether I am to set up a committee in respect of the case that happened in 2006 or the one which happened in 2010. I think that the circumstances narrated do not really demand the setting up of a committee. It is just a matter of requesting the Police Administration to follow up this investigation and give us a report.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Yes, the
last supplementary on this.
Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister, from all that he has said this morning, he clearly indicates that he has deviated completely from answering the Question that was asked. Mr Speaker, he has assured the House that he will come back with the proper Answer.
Mr Speaker, may I know when exactly the Hon Minister will make himself available to answer the appropriate Question?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon
Member, your question is out of order.
We move to Question number 283 standing in the name of the Hon Member for Offinso South.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:30 a.m.
MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR 11:30 a.m.
Minister for the Interior (Mr Martin Amidu) 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the BNI or an officer of the BNI, when he exercises his police powers of arrest, restriction or detention of a person suspected of crime, is legally obliged to inform the person of the reason for his arrest, restriction or detention and of his right to a lawyer of his choice.
Consequently, where the person invited for interrogation is arrested, restricted or detained (actual or constructive) during the period of invitation, he has a right to the presence of a lawyer of his choice throughout any interrogation, then or thereafter.
Mr Speaker, however, the BNI or any of its officers has no legal obligation to permit the lawyer of a person it invites for investigations to sit through any interrogation when the invitee has not been arrested, restricted or detained by the BNI.
Consequently, the BNI may interrogate a person (whether as a witness or a suspected perpetrator of crime) as part of a pre-arrest investigation process either at the scene of crime or some other place without the presence of his lawyer if at that stage of the pre-arrest investigation the BNI is only gathering evidence of crime to enable it make up its mind whether or not to arrest, restrict or detain a suspect or suspects for the crime.
Furthermore, when the BNI invites a person for interrogation in the performance of its statutory function of collecting, collating and evaluating intelligence relating to national security for dissemination within the Government, it is not obliged to permit the presence of the person's lawyer during the interrogation.
Mr Banda 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has made two very serious and
significant statements in his Answer. The first statement made, is to the effect that if a suspected perpetrator of a crime is invited by the BNI as part of a pre-arrest investigation, the BNI is not obliged to allow his lawyer to be with him. That is the first statement.The second statement he made, is to the effect that if the BNI is collecting, collating and evaluating intelligence relating to national security for dissemination and a person is invited to that effect, the BNI is not obliged to let him have access to his lawyer.
Mr Speaker, the BNI was set up by an Act of Parliament, that is the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 1996, Act 526. What it means is that the powers and the functions of the BNI are defined and circumscribed by the Act. It, therefore, means that if the powers and the functions of the BNI are not predicated on the Act, they cannot arrogate to themselves those powers and functions.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon Minister tell this Honourable House, which part of the provisions of this Act says that when the BNI arrests or invites somebody as part of their pre-investigation exercise or is collating and evaluating intelligence, the BNI is not obliged to inform such a person of his right to a lawyer of his choice?
Mr Amidu 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, there is no
provision in the Act which says that.
Mr Banda 11:30 a.m.
If there is no provision
in the Act, may I find out from the Hon Minister whether if a person is invited by the BNI and pursuant to that invitation, the person goes to the BNI office and he is within the confines of the office of the BNI -- will he say that that person cannot either be arrested, restricted or detained and if not, under what circumstances can a person be invited to the BNI office and the person will not either be arrested, restricted or detained?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
That
question is hypothetical, Hon Member -- because it is not relating to something specific. But if the Hon Minister wants to answer, he may do so.
My view is that it is hypothetical - [Pause.] I ruled that it is hypothetical. Under our Standing Orders, you do not ask questions that are hypothetical and clearly, that is a hypothetical question.
Mr Banda 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, not quite long ago, two officials in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Administration in the persons of Mr Asamoah-Boateng and Mr Kwadwo Mpiani were invited to the BNI office by the BNI. With respect to Mr Asamoah- Boateng, he was arrested and detained till the following day. As regards Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, he was arrested in the morning and released on bail around 10.30 p.m. On either of these two occasions, these two officials were denied access to their lawyers. Will he say, as a matter of law, that that was a violation of their rights to a lawyer of their choice?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon
Member, you are soliciting the opinion of the Hon Minister and it breaches the rules. You are asking for his opinion and his opinion might be right or it might be wrong in another legal person's opinion.
Mr Banda 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, that is the reason I used the phrase “as a matter of law”. That goes to presuppose that I am not seeking his opinion on what the law says. But what I am asking is to the effect that as a matter of law, what does the law say with respect to this circumstance?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon
Member, when you asked the question as to which part of the law says what, he said in his second paragraph, he found it legitimate and so he came back and answered that it is not in the law. That was the response he gave, that it is not in the law. He responded. That was a specific question that relates to the Question and to the law establishing the BNI. But the subsequent ones are really soliciting opinion on the matter.
Maj. Derek Y. Oduro (retd) - rose -
rose rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon
Members, I do not want us to drag this Question for long. We have a lot of Questions programmed for today.
Maj. Derek Y. Oduro (retd): Mr
Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister -- If a person is invited to the BNI for interrogation, is he given a caution statement to write?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
That
is hypothetical. Hon Member, that is a hypothetical question.
Mr Justice J. Appiah 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
may I crave your indulgence to read part of the Answer to the Question. It states:
“Consequently, where the person invited for interrogation is arrested, restricted or detained (actual or constructive), during the period of invitation, he has a right to the presence of a lawyer of his choice throughout any interrogation, then or thereafter.”
Mr Speaker, I want to ask the Hon Minister for the Interior what stringent measures he has taken against the BNI officials who arrested the poor iced-water

seller and who later died at the BNI cells. This poor iced-water seller was not allowed to look for counsel of her choice.
Mr Amidu 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not see
how the case of this unfortunate person he is referring to relates to the Question on the floor of the House. This is because I was never asked to find out whether persons had been victims of this provision. So it would not be fair for me to be asked to answer that question as supplementary to this one.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
I uphold
your objection. I will take the very last one on this
matter.
Mr William O. Boafo 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
I would like to find out from the Hon Minister, what is the basis for excluding right to counsel when BNI is gathering evidence at the scene of crime or intelligence in respect of national security issues, since even at the Supreme Court, when classified matters are being considered by the Supreme Court and the court is cleared, counsel are allowed to sit in? What is the basis for the BNI exclusion?
Mr Amidu 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the BNI Law
does not contain circumstances under which the BNI may allow counsel to sit or not to sit. That provision is contained in the Constitution and that is the basis that binds everybody. And the provision requires that the fellow must be arrested, restricted or detained. So if the BNI is doing anything which does not involve arrest, restriction or detention, it needs not allow the lawyer of a person to sit in. It is as simple as that.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Member for Sekondi, I will take the last supplementary question from you.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
would the Hon Minister then agree with
me that when a person is invited by the BNI or asked questions by the BNI at any place or at any time, he is entitled to refuse to answer these questions if he wants his lawyer to be present but the BNI insists that his lawyer's presence is not necessary? Would he then agree with me?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon
Minister, you may answer the question even though it is hypothetical.
Mr Amidu 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the moment
the person indicates that he wants a lawyer, it means the invitation is closed and the BNI will have to comply. The moment the person indicates otherwise, it ceases to be an invitation. But as long as the person does not indicate otherwise, the invitation is opened; what happens is between them.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon
Minister for the Interior, thank you for attending upon the House to answer our Questions. You are discharged.
We now have the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
Question number 509 stands in the name of the Hon Member for Prestea/ Huni Valley.
MINISTRY OF LANDS AND 11:40 a.m.
NATURAL RESOURCES 11:40 a.m.
Mr Koffie 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Minister's Answer, three areas - that is, Prestea, Japa and Kutukrom were mentioned. I know that all the concessions in Prestea have been given out to Golden Star, including where the chief's palace is situated. Can he mention specifically the Prestea zone which is being demarcated for the small-scale miners or the galamsey operators?
Alhaji Dauda 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I really do not know the exact site where this blocked- out area is in the Prestea area.
Mr Koffie 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my last supplementary - When did the licensing procedure start and when are they going to end?
Alhaji Dauda 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it started in 1989 when we promulgated the first law in trying to facilitate the licensing of galamsey operations in the country.
Prof. Dominic Fobih 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister, who takes responsibility for the environmental hazards that take place when this official assignment is given to galamsey groups.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Minister? [Pause.]
Prof. Fobih 11:50 a.m.
Who takes on the environmental responsibi l i ty for rehabilitating the land when you assign
Prof. Fobih 11:50 a.m.


such areas to galamsey groups?
Alhaji Dauda 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the responsibility to rehabilitate the area lies in the hands of the operators or the people who hold the licence. Of course, their rehabilitation exercise is supervised by the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Prof. Fobih 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if I am right, we have two categories here - galamsey and small-scale operators. I think the Hon Minister is referring to small-scale operators; I am talking about galamsey operators who are not properly organised.
Alhaji Dauda 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as my Hon Colleague is aware, galamsey operation is illegal and therefore, I am not too sure who has the responsibility of rehabilitating the areas they have degraded.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
The question is, he is referring to those who have been licensed.
Prof. Fobih 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if I may throw more light on that. Galamsey operators are not officially licensed and they are not well organised. So when the Ministry is recognising them now and assigning areas to them, then we want to know how the environmental care will take place.
Alhaji Dauda 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we are encouraging the illegal operators, popularly known as the galamsey operators, to take licences. So as soon as they take the licence, their activities are being monitored by the Minerals Commission and the EPA, and first and foremost, the licence holders have the responsibility of rehabilitating the areas they have destroyed, of course, under the supervision of these State agencies.
Return of State Lands in the Greater Accra Region
to Owners.
8510. Jonathan Nii Tackie-Kome asked the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources what steps Government was taking to return to the owners all State lands in the Greater Accra Region which were not being used for the purposes for which they were acquired.
Alhaji Dauda 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this is very high on the Government's agenda. The process has already begun to return some lands to the original owners in the Greater Accra Region. This includes the following:
The Ministry has handed over 60 per cent of the southern portion of the land acquired for the Nungua Farm lands to the original owners.
Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) have been signed with the original owners to return 50 per cent of the land acquired for the Accra Training College and 50 per cent of the land acquired for Social Welfare at Madina and Ogbojo.
The Ministry has also decided to return 50 per cent of the land acquired for the West Africa Secondary School to the original owners. Unfortunately, the customary owners could not agree on who should represent them to sign the Memorandum of Understanding. As soon as the customary owners agree on their leadership, the handing over process will be concluded.
In order to complete the exercise, Government has begun an inventory of all the sites acquired in the region. This will facilitate the process.
Nii Tackie-Kome: Mr Speaker, while appreciating efforts of Government to release parts of these lands already developed, most of these lands have, contrary to article 20 (6) of the Constitution,
been developed by private developers. Will Government consider reversing such titles to the allodial owners?
Alhaji Dauda 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, indeed, the constitutional body that has the right to lease out Government lands to individuals is the Lands Commission. And therefore, if such individuals have their titles given to them by the Lands Commission, it may be very difficult for me to give back these lands to the original owners.
Nii First Deputy Speaker: Last supplementary.
Mr Tackie-Kome 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the last paragraph of the Hon Minister's Answer indicates that an inventory of all sites acquired in the region is ongoing. Can the Hon Minister assure this House how soon this exercise will be completed in view of the fact that most of these lands are still being encroached upon by private individuals for private purposes?
Alhaji Dauda 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am unable to give a specific date when this exercise will end. It is in progress and we are doing our best to finish it up, so we can carry out the exercise of returning lands to the landowners.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I heard the Hon Minister state that for some of the lands which had been given to institutions, the agreed principle of release will be 50 per cent to the original owners and 50 per cent for the institutions. Mr Speaker, is the Hon Minister aware of a minimum acreage for institutions, in which case, if the original size is about 120 acres, and they are releasing 50 per cent, then they will be going below 80 acres? Is he aware of this arrangement to have 80 acres at least, given to the institutions?
Alhaji Dauda noon
Mr Speaker, in taking this decision of returning 50 per cent, for instance, to the West African Secondary School, the issue my Hon Friend was taking into consideration -- Indeed, the institution was involved in the process of taking that decision. And it was based on that that a Memorandum of Understanding was made.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi noon
Mr Speaker,
what did the 50 per cent -
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
You are
entitled to one supplementary question but I will allow you because this is quite important.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi noon
What did the
50 per cent come to?
Alhaji Dauda noon
Mr Speaker, I need to
check from the records. I certainly cannot provide that here and now. I need to check from the records.
Mr Haruna H. Bayirga noon
Mr Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister -- he mentioned inventory of all lands. In any case, I was surprised he never mentioned Atomic lands. But can he make inventory of all lands available to this House so that we will know that they are actually working on them?
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
He is
saying it is in the process; it has not been completed. So, ask the question around that answer.
Mr Bayirga noon
All right Mr Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister what he is doing about Atomic lands.
Alhaji Dauda noon
Mr Speaker, the Atomic lands are part of the sites acquired by Government. And certainly, they are part of the areas that the inventory will cover.
Mr C. S. Hodogbey noon
Mr Speaker, the issue of returning lands to landowners - I would like to know from the Hon Minister, when Government is acquiring these lands, does it pay compensation for the lands. If so, why should they be returned to the landowners?[Interruptions.]
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Let me hear the question again, then I will decide on it.
Mr Hodogbey noon
Mr Speaker, my question is, in the Legislative Instrument, when Government is acquiring these lands, does it pay compensation for the lands? If so, why should the landowners be requesting the return of the lands to them?
A l h a j i D a u d a : M r S p e a k e r,
Government can acquire lands and it does so by paying compensation after the conclusion of the acquisition. However, all acquisitions must indicate specifically what Government wants to use the land for. In an event where Government does not want to use the land for the purpose for which the land was acquired, Government may return the land to the owner and in which case, the landowner pays back the compensation to Government. That is the arrangement.
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Yes, Hon
Member for Manhyia, the last on this Question.
Dr Matthew O. Prempeh noon
Mr Speaker,
I want to draw the Hon Minister's attention to the fact that there are public lands, there are vested lands and there are lands that are also just being administered. I can
see where the problem lies with vested or acquired lands. What is his Ministry doing to release lands that are neither public nor vested but just administered to rightful owners, for example, Kumasi Part I.
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Your question is not a supplementary one. We are talking about the Greater Accra Region but you are now in the Ashanti Region. It is not a supplementary question but we will allow it.
A l h a j i D a u d a : M r S p e a k e r, unfortunately, the example he gave in respect of Kumasi Part I does not fall in the category he raised. Kumasi Part I is a vested land.
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Members, Question number 511, standing in the name of the Hon Member for Agona East.
Land Administration Project (Current Status)
Q. 511. Mr John Agyabeng asked the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources about the current state of the Land Administration Project.
Alhaji Collins Dauda noon
Mr Speaker, the Land Administration Project is in its last year of implementation. The project development objective is to undertake key institutional and policy reforms and undertake key land administration pilots to lay the foundation for a sustainable land administration system that is fair, efficient, cost-effective and guarantees security of tenure.
Mr Speaker, key achievements of the project so far, include noon
The pa s sage o f t he Lands Commission Act, 2008 (Act 767) which has merged four of the public land sector agencies.
Establishment of eight land registries to provide for land registration services in each region.
Pursuant to point 2 above, the establishment of the land registries has led to a reduction in the time used for processing land transactions.
Establishment of 37 Customary Land Secretariats throughout the country to improve customary land administration.
Support to the Judiciary by way of funding the automation of the land courts.
The establishment of a new Geodetic Reference System for surveying in the southern part of the country.
Scanning of the Accra Land Registry Records to convert them into digital formats.
Mr Speaker, ongoing activities include noon
Piloting of Customary Boundary Demarcation in ten (10) customary areas. These are Gulkpegu in the Northern Region, Builsa in the Upper East Region, Asebu in the Central Region, Anum in the Eastern Region, Sogakope in the Volta Region, Wasa Amenfi and Wasa Fiase in the Western Region, Ejisu and Juaben in the Ashanti Region and Dormaa Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region.
Piloting of Systematic Land Title Registration in eight (8) areas, six (6) in Accra and two in Kumasi. The areas include Cantonments, Osu, Dansoman, Kaneshie and North Kaneshie in Accra, Nhyiaso,
Danyame, Patase, North and South Suntreso in Kumasi.
Procurement for Architectural Consultants for the design and construction of a new head office building for the New Lands Commission has reached the tendering stage. Submission of tenders closes on the 16th of July,
2010.
Capacity is also being built for staff of the land sector agencies, the Ghana Institution of Surveyors and the land based departments at
KNUST.
Mr Speaker, this first phase of the project will end on 31st December, 2010
Mr Agyabeng noon
Mr Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister what has happened to the contract awarded in 2008 for procurement of equipment for the establishment of five permanent geodetic reference stations in Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, Bolgatanga and Tamale.
Alhaji Dauda 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I will need notice of this question.
Mr John Agyabeng 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in
the Hon Minister's Answer, he is saying that the project implementation is coming to an end. I want to find out from him whether he can assure the House about the institutional reforms under this project; whether the project can be completed by 31st December, 2010, since the Land Bill has not even gone to Cabinet. We wanted to find out from him whether he is sure of completing the project implementation by the end of 31st December, 2010.
Alhaji Dauda 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, clearly, we will not be able to complete all the things we proposed to do under the project. The project started in October, 2003 and up to date, there are some outstanding issues to be dealt with. As a result, we are talking to the World Bank for a second phase of this project. That is in earnest and isha Allah, we will have the second phase to complete the outstanding issues.
Mr Agyabeng 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to
Alhaji Dauda 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the process is that the World Bank has to accept to give you a second phase before the funding is provided. So as we speak, there is no funding but we are working to have the second phase.
Mr Benito Owusu-Bio 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister-- this Land Administration Project was supposed to help streamline the various land sector agencies. As we speak now, these agencies still have their various challenges, especially the various bottlenecks that are making their smooth running very, very difficult. For instance, lack of donors, lack of staff and a whole lot of problems. What is the Hon Minister doing about it?
Alhaji Dauda 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I appreciate the fact that the land agencies have their challenges. But I do not think this project was to take over the running of these land agencies completely. This is a project that is to support Government to straighten up some of the bottlenecks in the sector. Therefore, besides the projects, Government has a duty or the State has the duty to also fix up these difficulties or challenges. So I agree that even though the project is running, we still have our challenges. We are doing our best to resolve the challenges.
Unused State Lands to Original Owners (Status)
*512. Mr John Agyabeng: asked the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources the status of government plans to return some State lands not being used for the

purposes for which they were acquired to their original owners.
Alhaji Collins Dauda 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, a nationwide inventory of State lands is being carried out on pilot basis to identify lands acquired over the years and to know their state of development before decisions could be made on which lands to return to the owners. The inventory has been completed for the Central Region and recommendations are being compiled for consideration by Government. The inventory is also currently ongoing in ten (10) districts in three regions; they are:
Yilo Krobo, Manya Krobo, Suhum Kraboa- Coaltar and Birim South, all in the Eastern Region;
Atwima Nwabiagya, Sekyere West, Amansie East in the Ashanti Region; and
Sunyani Municipality, Wenchi and Techiman Districts in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The consultants have submitted their final reports which Government will review for implementation.
Mr Speaker, Government will not, however, wait for all inventories to be completed before making decisions. As and when the reports are reviewed, Government will take decisions on which lands to retain and which lands to return.
Mr Agyabeng 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister is aware that the inventory has been completed since 2008. And Government in 2008 took a decision to return some of the lands, especially the Ghana Atomic Agency Commission area, West Africa Secondary School, Odorgonno Secondary School. I want to find out from him, since 2008, what is his Ministry doing to add more of these
lands or return some of these lands to the original owners, because he himself is aware that the inventory has been completed in 2008.
Alhaji Dauda 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I recognise that for some of the sites, the inventory has been completed and as I indicated in the answer to one of the questions, in the case of West Africa Secondary School, we are ready; an Executive Instrument will be issued to complete the process. That is what is left for some of the cases.
But for some of them, for instance, West Africa Secondary School, we had difficulty having a memorandum of understanding with the landowners because there were counter - claims and therefore, we needed to hold on until they resolve the impasse. I am happy to announce that last week the landowners for West Africa Secondary School came to my office, giving an indication that they have been able to resolve the impasse and therefore, will proceed to conclude that transaction.
Mr Agyabeng 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, though
decision to return some of these lands in the Greater Accra Region was made in 2008 - that is why I want to find out from the Hon Minister, what plans he has for the other regions where the inventory has been completed.
Alhaji Dauda 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as I indicated in the Answer, Central Region for instance, the inventory is completed and a recommendation is made. It is just fair that we put in place, Lands Commissions at the various regional levels; it is just fair that we put this report before the Regional Lands Commissions to make them aware of what is there. And based on their recommendations, in addition to the recommendations of the inventory exercise, Government will be
in a position to take a decision that will be sound and will not create problems for us.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Question No. 534, the Hon Member for Asante Akim North?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member has gone on parliamentary duties. So if I may ask a Colleague to just ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Member, has he received the authority to ask the Question on his behalf? You know that that is key under our rules, that you must receive the authority; you must be authorised to ask the Question on the person`s behalf.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have been in direct touch with him and he asked that the Question be asked. Unfortunately --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Whom has he authorised?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
I am saying that he asked me to have somebody ask the Question on his behalf and unfortunately, I lost out. So when you called the Question -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
The Hon Minority Leader would ask the Question.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect, may I ask the Hon Member for Bantama to ask the Question?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
So he authorised you and you also authorised her? [Laughter.] Anyway, we will relax the rules for the Question to be asked.
Yes, the Hon Member for Bantama.

Trepassing of Concession of

Owere Mines Limited

*534. Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah (on behalf of Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi) asked the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources what measures had been put in place to prevent illegal miners from their trespassory acts within the concession of Owere Mines Limited.
Alhaji Collins Dauda 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, under the 1992 Constitution and the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), Government grants minerals rights to qualified individuals and companies. Once such minerals rights are granted, the holder is required to work within the laws of Ghana to secure the area under the minerals rights and also perform the obligations under the agreement. Thus, where there are instances of illegal operations, minerals rights holders are required to report and take reasonable steps within the law to protect their rights.
In the particular case of Owere Mines Limited at Konongo, management of the Company made efforts to stop illegal operations within their mining lease area by closing most of the sites except that around Kokoase. Much as they tried to put a stop to the operations, they could not and therefore, had to appeal to the Minerals Commission for assistance.
Because of the security threat posed by the illegal activity, the Minerals Commission directed the company's request to the National Security Sub- Committee on Lands and Natural Resources. It was further referred to the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) for necessary action.
On our part, after a series of meetings between the Minerals Commission and
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, may I know from the Hon Minister, as per the penalty-made paragraph of the Answer, who is going to bear the cost of the geological investigation at the Bomfa area?
Alhaj i Dauda: The Minera l s
Commission has made an appeal to Owere Mines Limited to fund it.
I thank you.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
somebody's land is being encroached; you identify the encroachers and then you are saying that you are appealing to the property owner to help resettle the encroachers. Is that the right thing to do, Mr Speaker.
M r F i r s t D e p u t y S p e a k e r :
Hon Minority Leader, what is your question?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am asking the Hon Minister, the property allocated to Owere Mines Limited is being encroached by illegal miners and the Hon Minister informs us that they are looking at an area yet to be investigated for assignment to the artisanal miners. And I am asking, who pays for that activity? The Hon Minister tells me that it is the rightful owners and I am asking if he considers this appropriate.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Do you
consider it appropriate?
Alhaji Dauda 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I consider it appropriate so long as there is a mutual understanding between the Minerals Commission and the management of Owere. There was a meeting as part of the way of dealing with the situation.
First of all, I indicated that it is the responsibility of the mining rights holder to protect his area. What we are doing is to provide an alternative, where it is our belief that we could move these illegal operators from their site and based on the negotiations, they agreed to fund that project with the view that these illegal miners will be relocated to the place by licensing out the place to them.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, does the Hon Minister not consider this arrangement as encouraging illegal occupation of lands otherwise assigned to identified corporate bodies ? That is because, as has said, it is the responsibility of any property owner to protect that property. But where property is being attacked or encroached upon and it becomes difficult for the owner to protect and the owner reports to the security agencies and he is being told to enter into an agreement to have encroachers relocated, that certainly encourages illegality.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon
Minister, are you not encouraging illegal miners to encroach on people's property?
Alhaji Dauda 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are
not by any measure encouraging illegal activity. We are rather encouraging legality in the sub-sector. Mr Speaker, their presence in the Owere Concession presently amounts to an illegality. What we are proposing, in addition to the security action, is to provide a licence for them, that will regularise their activity. So we are not using this option as the only way of dealing with the situation. The security agencies would deal with it and we are saying that as an alternative, let us do this so that we can license them out and make them legal, regularise their activity. So we are rather doing this to promote
legality in the sub-sector.
Prof.Fobih 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to
ask the Hon Minister what the Ministry is doing with the galamsey operators' appeal to the Ministry to intervene with such a company so that the fallow areas where they are less endowed, at least, are given to them to operate under their ambit.
Alhaji Dauda 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is
precisely for this purpose that we are appealing to them to provide some funding for some geological investigation to be done in the Bomfa area where we could license these galamsey operators to carry out their small-scale mining activity.
Prof. Fobih 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the areas
that Owere is supposed to support the Geological Survey Department to investigate or explore are new areas but it takes time to do exploration and then even to discover something before the allocation is made. But in the meantime, people are losing their daily bread because of their supposed illegal activity and we want to relocate them. What do they live on while this exploration and the likelihood of even discovering something is there?
Alhaji Dauda 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the report
to us is that there is illegal activity on Owere Concession and we have made a report to the Regional Security Council of the Ashanti Region, which I believe would take action on that. In addition to that we are also investigating the area around Bomfa for allocation to these small-scale miners. As to what happens to the lives of the illegal operators, Mr Speaker, I beg to say that that should not be so much of my concern.
I thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Question time.
We thank the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources for attending upon the House to answer our Questions.
Hon Members, Madam Speaker has admitted one Statement, which we should have taken three days ago but I used my discretion in trying to give priority to Public Business, so we were not able to take it. I will take the Statement now and there will not be any comments.
Mr Pelpuo 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sorry to come in at this time. But just before you admit the Statement, I want to correct a presentation I made here when I made reference to the Daily Graphic front page banner headline talking about the President ordering the withdrawal of the Motion here. My attention has been drawn that it is not the Daily Graphic that had the banner headline. I am sorry about that. It is another newspaper. I want to put this on record.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, who is making the Statement on behalf of Hon Balado?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member for Ejisu Juaben (Mr Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Balado, as I said, was supposed to make a Statement earlier but because of the decision we took to give priority to Public Business, he was not able to make it and he is out of the jurisdiction.
STATEMENTS 12:30 p.m.
Mr Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi (on behalf of Mr S. K. B. Manu (NPP - Ahafo-Ano South) 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Mankranso Senior High School is the only one in the Ahafo-Ano South District of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The school has a population of 1,128 made up of 644 boys and 484 girls. This school was established in 1991.
Mr Speaker, on Sunday, the 4th day of July, 2010, the students, the school authorities, parents and other stakeholders of the school experienced a s hocking and pathetic spectacle. At about 4.00 p.m., smoke was detected on the roof of one of the rooms in the boys' hostel. Mr Speaker, on detecting this, an alarm was raised but before anything could be done about the situation, the smoke had turned into an inferno.
Mr Speaker, the district does not have any Fire Service stations of its own. It shares the services of the Ghana National Fire Service personnel from Ahafo- Ano North, which lies about forty-five kilometres west of the district.
Mr Speaker, the authorities reached out to the Ghana National Fire Service personnel after a lot of “the number you are calling is currently not available. Please, try again later.”
Mr Speaker, after some forty minutes, the Ghana National Fire Service personnel managed to arrive from Tepa, thanks to the good nature of the MankransoTepa road built during the Kufuor Administration.
Mr Speaker, with their arrival and adding to the efforts that the people around were putting in to put off the fire, they managed to bring down the gutting fire.
Unfortunately, however, Mr Speaker, one of the rooms and the personal effects of the students, the beds, mattresses and everything in the room have been burnt

to ashes.

Mr Speaker, as I speak to you, the students who were on mid-term holidays have come back but due to the problem of accommodation, they have been asked to go back home for a few days to allow the authorities some space to put up temporary structures to accommodate them before they come back.

Mr Speaker, when I visited the scene on the 6th July, 2010, the spectacle was awful and pathetic . The poor students complained about having lost everything, including their books, trunks, chop boxes and their contents.

Mr Speaker, without making a long speech, I would like to use this opportunity to appeal to the Ministry of Education to turn an urgent attention to the school.

Mr Speaker, of urgent need to the school includes a dormitory block for the boys, mattresses, beds, food items of all kinds and school uniforms, among others.

I also wish to appeal to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to come to the aid of the school as a matter of urgency, to restore the lost hope of the school.

I further appeal to philanthropists and well meaning Ghanaians to come to the aid of the school to salvage the students, authorities, parents and teachers from the already deplorable situation of the school that has been rendered more hopeless with this fire outbreak.

Thank you Mr Speaker, for allowing me to make this Urgent Statement on behalf of the Mankranso Senior High School.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Statements.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, if you
have been properly briefed - if you have not been properly briefed, then I will call the Deputy Minority Leader.
Mr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as we have all observed, today being Friday and the fact that we have covered a lot within this very short time, I would request that we adjourn and I beg to move.
Mar Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu: Mr Speaker, before seconding the Motion, just to make a couple of observations and by that making an appeal.
Mr Speaker, for item number 8 on the Order Paper, that is Laying of Papers, item number (b) under 8, appearing on page 3 of the Order Paper.
Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, three Papers were laid and I was just about to appeal that given the circumstances of this week, would it not be worthwhile in addition to the referral that has been made to the Finance Committee in respect of these three facilities, that we could join the Committee on Defence and Interior to the first one, Transport to the second and Defence and Interior the third. So that they will look at it comprehensively to avoid the pitfalls that we have suffered in the course of last week and this week?
Mr Speaker, it is a humble appeal.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I have consulted those who have looked at the document and they say that it is more to do with terms and conditions. And so for now, I will suggest that let us limit it to the Finance Committee. But that will not prevent us from changing our minds if there is any development. For now, that is the advice I have - it is basically terms and conditions.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would not want to question your directive. But Mr Speaker, if we consider
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Yes, I have got you and I appreciate where you are coming from because of previous experience. That is why immediately you raised the issue, I tried to find out from them the details and I was informed that it is basically terms and conditions, so we should leave it at that.
Deputy Majority Leader, do you want to say something?
Mr Pelpuo 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, you have already made your ruling but I think it is a worthwhile consideration except that I would urge that along the line, if need be, as you have suggested, we can come back here and include those other Committees.
Thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Have you seconded the Motion?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
Mr

Speaker, I have not. I just wanted to make this intervention so that we clear it before I did.

Mr Speaker, “along the line,” and the line is very short. Between now and the time that we will go on recess, “the line” is very, very short. And so, as I said, I thought it was an innocuous suggestion -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
It is very long. We will wait for you to return - [Laughter.]
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
So Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion for adjournment.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Well, Leadership can consult on these things. I do not have any - but Leadership can consult on this matter later. You are the masters of procedures when it comes to these matters.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, very well. Except to remind that on the Order Paper, we should be going on with the Consideration Stage of the Economic and Organised Crime Bill. We are not doing that because having travelled far in the winnowing process, we want to appeal to Hon Members who are interested, especially the Chairman and Hon W. O. Boafo to join us in prosecuting the winnowing. So that we see where we can get to before - at least, if we could do some two hours on it, I believe it will be of considerable service to the House.
Mr. Speaker, as I said, I beg to second the Motion.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Very well. Thank you very much.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 12:40 p.m.