Debates of 19 Oct 2010

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10 a.m.
Hon Members, the Writ of Election in respect of the Atiwa Constituency by-election has been received from the Electoral Commission and I intend to read it to the House.
WRIT OF ELECTION 10 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10 a.m.
Hon Amoako-
Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah 10 a.m.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 10 a.m.
So welcome to our fold.
Mr Amoako-Attah 10 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 10 a.m.
We are happy to have you.
Mr Amoako-Attah 10 a.m.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 10 a.m.
Hon Members, I am sure the Leaders will like to put in a word or two of congratulations to the latest Hon Member of the House. I will call upon the Hon Minority Leader for just a few words of congratulation before we continue with the rest of the programme.
Minority Lerader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 10:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to welcome our Colleague, the Hon Amoako-Attah, who has just been sworn in as the Hon Member of Parliament for Atiwa Constituency. But before then, Madam Speaker, today being the first day of Parliament recovenning, I plead with you to give me a little space to welcome Colleague Members of Parliament first and end on the note of welcoming the newly- elected and newly-
CERTIFICATE PAgE 4
Minority Lerader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 10:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, Parliament is reconvening after what is supposed to be its longest recess in the year. As usual, it is my privilege to say a few words of welcome to Hon Members on this first day of the Third Meeting of the Second Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Republic.
Madam Speaker, I know you have not had much rest because of the rather packed agenda which engaged our attention and efforts during this period from August to October. Nonetheless, it being the first day to commence formal business in the Chamber, it is still relevant to welcome you and the rest of my Colleague Members of Parliament, to continue from where we left off.
Madam Speaker, the major issue which occurred during the recess was the recall which led to the swearing-in of Madam Speaker as acting President. That, indeed, was in fulfilment of article 60 (11).
When the political history of Ghana comes to be chronicled, it would be said that the first woman to act as President was the then Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo. [Hear! Hear!] The date was Friday, October 15, 2010. This House would be happy to know exactly how long the call to duty lasted and the major decisions which were taken by Madam Speaker in her capacity as the President. Notwithstanding, it is worth recognizing significant milestones as this one. As the saying goes, one must be thankful to God for little mercies.
Rt Hon Speaker, congratulations once again.
While we are at this, it is important to reflect on the hurried call-up and the rapidity of the response which it engendered. Never mind the fact that there had been an earlier occasion when

the Speaker ought to have been sworn-in as President which even did not happen.
Madam Speaker, the Constitution provides in article 59 10:10 a.m.
“The President shall not leave Ghana without prior notification in writing, signed by him and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament.”
Article 60 (8) provides for the Vice- President to act as President whenever, for any reason, the President is unable to perform his functions. And article 60 (11) provides for the Speaker of Parliament to fill in if the first two citizens of the Republic are unavailable.
The point at issue is the time of transmission of the communication from the President or the Vice-President to the Speaker before they leave the jurisdiction. I am aware that in the particular instance, the Rt Hon Speaker was programmed to travel on the very day that she received the communication regarding the absence from the country of the Vice-President, who himself was acting in the stead of the substantive President. The question is, if the Speaker had travelled just a day earlier, what would have been the situation?

Mr Joe K. gidisu -- rose
Madam Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon Member, I gave Leadership the chance to say something. Let us hear him out but very quickly. You remember that he was not here, on the 1st of October, and that may
be the reason he is referring to that. So we give him a few more minutes.
Hon Member, I said that I had varied the programme and given the leaders a few minutes to congratulate - So I appreciate that he was not here on the 1st of October. So let us give him the latitude - Really, if it is in praise of women for acting, you can see that I will not stop him.
Let us give him a few more minutes.
Thank you.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:10 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
It being a first day, and my Hon Colleague being a seasoned Member of the House, immediately he intervened, I sat down and I thought in response, he should also have sat down
Madam Speaker, the other salient issue is whether in these ICT times, the absence of the President or the Vice from the geographical jurisdiction of Ghana could be described as “inability to perform the functions of his office”. Fortunately, the review of the Constitution is ongoing and perhaps, this should engage our attention.
Madam Speaker, the circumstances in which we poceeded on recess on August 3, 2010, certainly, were not the best. I would want to believe that the trust and confidence that we are cultivating will be carried to higher levels because if indeed, confidence and trust are broken, the work in Parliament becomes difficult. I would want to believe that this is not what we want in this House and we should have greater co-operation and that certainly should be foundationed on trust.
Beyond these observations, Madam Speaker, I believe we have had some fruitful rest and have attended to the various pressing needs of our constituencies with all diligence.
Madam Speaker, while congratulating the newly-elected Hon Member for Atiwa, Hon Amoako-Attah, who would be representing the people of Atiwa Constituency following the demise of the late Hon Kwasi Ankamah, I pray that he would learn fast and contribute to the growth of this House and the country at large. Given his background as a lawyer, with considerable experience and as a long-serving presiding member of a District Assembly, I have no doubt he is capable of rising to the occasion.
Madam Speaker, I cannot mention the Atiwa Constituency without again expressing my disappointment and utter disgust at the manner of the conduct of that particular by-election and the violence that arose ostensibly out of the security lapses.
Aside the 1992 Elections, we have had four national elections involving Parliamentary and Presidential candidates. Undoubtedly, there have been challenges. Clearly, however, we have been making significant progress and that is why the events at Akwatia, Chereponi and Atiwa are worrying. Let us resolve as a nation to put these disturbing events behind us and rise above such bestialities, otherwise, they may yield the wrong signals for us come 2012.
Madam Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon Leader, I think we will have time for this kind of thing. The idea was a few minutes to congratulate him. So let us stick to the topic. I hope the Hon Majority Leader does not also go to Tain when we come to this point. However, there will be a time for this, so if you could just cut it short and congratulate the Hon Member -- at this stage, we will find time for the other matters that you have raised.
.Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu: Madam
Madam Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Order! Order! I
thank you for agreeing to cut the matter. We will take time to address these other matters.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:10 a.m.
Absolutely.
Madam Speaker, they are critical for the survival of our democracy and somebody says “to me”, -- [Interruptions] -- to all who care to know and who are major stakeholders in the democratic march of this country, everybody should be concerned --
Madam Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Yes.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as I was saying, we have witnessed incidents that were not very good at Chereponi and at Akwatia we almost approached the zenith. These are red flags that as a nation we cannot ignore. That is, regardless of the pretentions to the contrary. The world is looking at Ghana.
Madam Speaker, the nine (9) weeks ahead of us would bring with it various challenges and difficulties and will test our capabilities as law-makers and representatives. I would urge Hon Members to see these challenges and difficulties as opportunities to prove to the dear people of this nation, some of whom have become very critical and even cynical, that we can rise to the occasion and discharge our duties to satisfy the national interest.

Madam Speaker, the days ahead would provide us the prospect to discuss and consider some very important Bills, loan agreements and the Budget. Of particular significance are the Petroleum
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:20 a.m.


Exploration and Production Bill and the Petroleum Revenue and Management Bill. In discussing these Bills and issues at our various committee meetings and here in this Chamber, we should endeavour to be very diligent, very patriotic, eschew negative partisanship, as well as cheer leading and bear in mind that posterity would never forgive us should we make any wrong decision on any of the critical matters which otherwise have the potential of contributing to transform our economy in a very significant way.

Madam Speaker, in our quest to ensure that we have a productive Session, I will entreat my Colleague Members of Parliament to be time conscious as we have done today, punctual and participative in all activities of the Chamber, including the various committee meetings, so that substantial progress would be made by the close of the time.

May I also urge Government to be mindful of the Parliamentary Calendar, so that issues can be tabled on time and not rushed through when Parliament is about going on recess.

Madam Speaker, we look forward to serving in a Parliament where the contributions and interventions of Hon Members can be expressed constructively and freely, without fear or favour and debates would be conducted in a well informed, diligent, business-like and decorous atmosphere. Sometime, we overplay heckling to the extent of drowning very important points being made. Let us be mindful of this.

Madam Speaker, may I extend a very warm welcome to our friends in the media. These are times that they have to hang in here in the House a bit longer in order to have a fuller grasp of proceedings, given the crowded calendar that we would have. Most of them are progressively improving;

we must pat them on the shoulders and urge them to strive harder for greater achievements. A few of them however, on a few occasions, have engaged in speculative adventurism. Let us entreat them to watch it.

To our staff and personnel who lubricate the work of Parliament, I would urge them to continue this great service to both God and country and position themselves for the heavy task ahead.

Madam Speaker, to the Clerk and his able Deputies, we can only trust that they would continue to be very dutiful in the course of parliamentary work and offer their best when they are called upon.

It is my prayer that the Almighty keeps us safe and strong till we rise as we have projected on the 17th of December, but perhaps, as usual, maybe, plus one or two days.

Madam Speaker, I thank you very much for your indulgence.
Madam Speaker 10:20 a.m.
I thank you very much Hon Minority Leader.
I will now call upon Hon Majority Leader, hoping that he would keep the time, not more than five minutes because this is just to congratulate the Hon Member as we agreed.
Majority Leader (Mr Cletus A. Avoka) 10:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I just want to observe that today is a family reunion day, in the sense that we are reconvening Parliament to do business. So I believe that today is a happy day and ceremonial speeches should not touch on controversy that would invoke debate. I think that is the principle of today's intervention by the Leadership of this House. [Hear! Hear!]
Madam Speaker, having said so, I want
to join my Colleague, the Hon Minority Leader in welcoming Madam Speaker and Hon Members, the Clerk and staff and our dedicated press and media men and women to the august House.
Madam Speaker, we thank the good Lord for bringing all of us safely back to this august House without any casualty. We are grateful to the Lord.
Madam Speaker, even though we were on break for about two to three months, I wish to put on record that many Members either on their own or with regard to their committee work, were busily engaged in the work of this august House during the break. I am aware of many committees touring the various regions of this country to sensitise stakeholders and the populace about certain matters that are before this House.
They sacrificed their time, energy and constituency work to be able to do this for mother Ghana. Some Members even had to travel outside the country at very short notice to be able to undertake responsibilities for and on behalf of this august House. To all Hon Members who have been involved in these tasks during the break, we are grateful to you all.
Madam Speaker, l e t me a l so congratulate you for being sworn-in as the first woman acting President of the Republic of Ghana on 1st October, 2010. [Hear! Hear!] No matter how short the period was, it was eventful, it was symbolic and you did your duty to the best for mother Ghana and more particularly, for Members of this august House.
Madam Speaker, this is going to be a short period between today and when we rise sometime in December, the 17th December. Maybe, if we have to extend
beyond that, it might not be more than two, three days before we rise. So, Hon Colleagues, we have a big schedule; we have a big task ahead of us; we have a large volume of work ahead of us but we have very little time.
This period calls for co-operation from all of us; a call for dedicated service to this country and a call for partriotism and commitment in our work. I want to appeal to Hon Members that we should be up to the task, like we have been in the past or before and that by the time that we rise in December, everybody in Ghana would know that yes, this is the Parliament of the people and for the people.
Madam Speaker, if I may recount some few events that we have before us, some important matters that we have before us, they include: one, Bills already presented to the House and pending at the committee level. There are twelve (12) Bills that are pending before the House now and the most important ones include the Freedom of Information Bill, the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill, Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, just to name a few. They are very, very important matters that are pending before us.
There are thirty-six (36) Bills that are ready for presentation to this august House during the period. There are thirty-three (33) Instruments that are to be laid before this House for consideration. Other Papers and Reports to be laid are about thirty- eight (38) during the period. There would be seven hundred (700) plus Questions - over seven hundred Questions that Hon Members have asked of Hon Ministers to be answered before this august House. Out of that, ten (10) of them are Urgent Questions for Hon Ministers to answer.
WELCOME ADDRESS 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Majority Leader.
We now move to the programme and I will have to welcome Hon Members to the House. Much of the work has already been done and I thank the Leaders. But I have to welcome you.
Hon Members, it is my pleasure to welcome you back from recess to commence yet another Meeting of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic. This Meeting promises to be a hectic one. As
you are aware, the Parliamentary calendar schedules the Minister responsible for Finance and Economic Planning to present to the House, the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the year 2011 during this Meeting.
The House's legislative role in the consideration of the Government's Financial Policy and Budget Statement is well known to Hon Members. But I want Hon Members to be wary of the considerable load this process and the other legislative business scheduled for this Meeting would place on them in order for them to prepare adequately for the tasks ahead.
Indeed, the alacrity with which Hon Members responded to the recent emergency recall of the House should once again be revisited and commended. I hope Hon Members would attend to the work of the House during the Meeting with the same enthusiasm and a keen sense of duty.
As Members may have noticed, the scaffoldings around the Chamber Block are still in place. They may detract from the aesthetic beauty of the House and even pose a nuisance to Hon Members and visitors to the House. But be that as it may, I assure Hon Members that the greater part of the re-roofing works has been completed and that very soon, the remaining works would be completed by the contractor. The safety of all my Hon Members is fully assured by the Chair.
Hon Members, the long awaited three- storeyed office block for Parliament has now been completed and I am informed, Leadership and officers of the Parliamentary Service who have been assigned offices there have taken

occupation. I believe Hon Members who have not been around for a while may have difficulty locating the offices of their leaders as well as other relocated offices, most importantly the Table and Finance Offices. I hope the Clerk's Office has provided Hon Members with information on the direction of the relocated offices for their ease of access.

It is my fervent hope that works on the

tower block (Job 600) are also completed on schedule to enable all Hon Members get decent office accommodation to enhance their work in the House.

I also want to inform Hon Members of the distribution of Laptops to all Members of this House - [Hear! Hear!] -- which is very imminent. Laptops for every Member of this House and hope that they would help you in the discharge of your duties and will be put to good use. And if I may add, that you will take care of them because that is all we have. Everybody will have one and that is that.

Hon Members, I hope and pray that the Almighty God will guide and bestow on us, good health and divine wisdom to discharge our mandated duties to the benefit and admiration of all Ghanaians.

I thank you.

Shall we now move to item 3, the Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report and we will start with the Votes and Proceedings of 3rd August,

2010.

Votes and Procedings and the Official Report
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Pages 1, 2 --
rose
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, thank you for recognising me out of turn.
I am very sorry, Madam Speaker, we can barely hear you. There is too much noise in the Chamber.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Members, I am glad this is coming from one of you. There is too much noise. Can we minimise it so that we can all hear what is happening?
So, at this juncture, may I say that, your microphones, if you noticed, the heads of your microphones - most of them which were not working have been changed. Please, put them to very good use. And do not bang on them as you speak. It is very costly.
At this stage, can I appeal to you to lessen the noise?
I thank you Hon Member, for drawing this to my attention.

Hon Members, in the absence of any corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 3rd August, 2010 is adopted as the true record of proceedings of the House.

We are now going to correct the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 1st October,

2010.

Page 1 -
Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we do not have copies of the said Votes and Proceedings.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Friday, 1st October,
2010?
Mr Opare-Ansah 10:40 a.m.
We do not. This
is Tuesday, 3rd August, 2010. That is the only one any of the Leadership here has.
Thank you.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Members, if we do not have copies, we have to step down this matter and then ask the Clerk to serve all of you with copies. So, we cannot correct this today.
In which case, we move to the next item, which is correction of the Official Report. Let us start with correction of the Official Report of - Well, before I go further, have you been served with the Official Report of 3rd August, 2010?
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
No? What about 26th July, 2010?
Some Hon Members 10:40 a.m.
No.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
You do not have copies of 1st October, 2010 and 26th July,
2010?
Well, we will defer this to tomorrow.
Clerk, can you serve them with copies?
Well, the next item will be Statements but I have not admitted any Statement yet.
rose
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Yes, is it to do with the correction of Votes and Proceedings? That is what we are on.
Mr Ofosu 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I need your guidance.
Mr Ofosu 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, getting to the close of the last Sitting -
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Of what date?
Mr Ofosu 10:40 a.m.
That is before we left here on 3rd August, 2010.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Yes?
Mr Ofosu 10:40 a.m.
I gave notice of a Question which was advertised. But on the day the Question was scheduled for the Hon Minister for Education, Mr Alex Tettey- Enyo, to answer in respect of preparedness of his Ministry to receive the first year students of Kade Senior High School, the Hon First Deputy Speaker who sat in for you, said the Answer was not ready and that the Hon Minister would be made to answer it at a later date.

Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister for Education is here; I do not know whether he has seen it and when he intends to answer the Question --
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Member, shall I cut you short?
Item 4 says “Statements”; it does not mean Statement from -
Mr Ofosu 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I thought you just indicated that you had not admitted any Statement?
Mr Ofosu 10:40 a.m.
So, in the absence of that, I wanted to know from your high office, when you would call upon the Hon Minister to answer, as to his state of preparedness because the children are already in the piggery. And I do not know for how long they will be there.
Mr Avoka 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, our very good Friend is completely out of order. He knows what to do if he wants the Hon Minister to come and explain to this House the position of providing these facilities. This is not the time for it. He is a very senior Hon Member here and I am surprised that he is -
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Well, he said he wanted advice. Shall I give him the advice now?
Yes, Hon Member, we are dealing with item 4; “Statements”; there means the written Statement which you want to read to the House, which I have not -
Yes, the direction is that you can either go to the Table Office to find out why the delay or wait till Question time next time. But I think the earliest time is when you go to the Table Office to find out what has happened to your Question.
rose
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Has it to do with item 4, where we are not?
Mr Opare-Ansah 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, there is a major error on the Tuesday, 3rd August 2010 Votes and Proceedings and I would crave your indulgence to point it out to you if you would allow me - it is a major thing.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
I do not know whether having sat here, we have finished with it and having confirmed it, we can now go back to it. If it was minor, it will not disturb me but “major” -
Mr Opare-Ansah 10:40 a.m.
It is major. If it were minor, I would probably have gone to the Table Office to discuss it. If you hear me out, you can make a determination whether it is right.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Once I hear you out, since it is so major, then you will push me to make a determination. That is why I am asking whether the procedure is right.
Mr Opare-Ansah 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, if you looked at page 23, item 31, the last line states that the Minority group “withdrew from the Chamber at 10.15 p.m.”
Madam Speaker, the record does not state that the Minority group returned. However, if you continue to items 40 and 41, you will find Hon Anthony A. Osei being present here seconding Motions. That I believe, is very erroneous and could be corrected.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
You mean he was not in the House? He did not come back?
Mr Opare-Ansah 10:40 a.m.
He was not here, so he could not have been seconding Motions. The record says the Minority group withdrew from the Chamber at 10.15 p.m., in item number 31 of page 23.
Now, when you go to pages 28 and 29, items 40 and 41, they have Hon Anthony A. Osei actually seconding the Motions.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Is Hon J. K. Avedzi here? Who seconded those Motions?
Well, I think it is quite important. Hon Minority Leader, were you here on that day?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we withdrew from the Chamber at the time stated. And subsequent to that, as has been captured by the Votes and Proceedings, the Hon Ranking Member for Finance is alleged to have seconded the Motions. I think that is what he is drawing attention to.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Yes.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
So I guess

the Table Office would look at that and effect the correction.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
I think we should examine and then correct it. Maybe, they got the name wrong or maybe, he came back, we do not know. [Pause.]
Yes, I think Hon Member, if you go to the Table Office, it will be done.
Thank you very much for bringing it to my knowledge.
Now, we move to item (5), the Laying of Papers. Is the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development here?
rose
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, has your question got to do with Statements?
Mr Assumeng 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I want to raise an issue of national importance, which borders on Hon Members of Parliament. If you permit me, I will do that. So I need your permission - [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Shall we finish the list then, since this has nothing to do with item (4)? So shall we lay the Papers, then we will have a little time before adjournment?
Mr Assumeng 10:50 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
All right. Yes, Hon Leader, I think we will lay the Papers; we do not have much time.
Mr Avoka 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, unfortunately, is not available. He has gone to Castle for
Cabinet meeting. I would be grateful if permission is granted the Hon Minister for Information to lay the Paper for and on his behalf.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader, he is asking that somebody else should lay the Paper. It is a formality; it has always been granted. [Pause.] So shall I take it that Hon Minority Leader is agreeable? He has applied to get somebody else to lay the Paper and --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, ordinarily, I would not have anything against it. But the point is, this is something that is outstanding that ought to have been done earlier, which is now being done. Would the Hon Minister be able to tell us the purpose for these Regulations, these Instruments?
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
When you lay an Instrument, yes, should the purpose be -
Mr Avoka 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, with all due respect to the Minority Leader, this is not the stage where the Minister has to canvass arguments in favour of the Paper; this is not the stage. So with all due humility, if the Paper can be laid. In fact, the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development was in my office yesterday in the evening. He is so committed to this document. I recall he would have met some of the Clerks and some of our Hon Colleagues. But it is due to matters beyond his control he is in Cabinet because he has to do something there. That is all. [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Order! Order! Well, Hon Leader, you have all talked about the urgency and the importance of these matters. So, let us try to have our Ministers as much as possible here. But I think you will agree that somebody can
lead the -
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, yes, without doubt, I know the Minister responsible for Local Government and Rural Development; he is a very diligent Hon Member of this House and I know if he had time, certainly, he would be here. But for the Majority Leader to say that “with all due respect to the Minority Leader, this is not the time,” clearly, he is off-track.
What is the import of Order 75 (2)? Order 75 (2), what does it say? In presenting a Paper to this House, if so in laying the Paper, if so desired, the person may offer a short explanatory statement for his elucidation. So if he does not know - [Interruption.] He says it is not true. Can he read it for his understanding? Please, so if he does not know, he should not criticize. [Hear! Hear!]
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Happily, the person who is the Minister is not here. But we have all taken note of that section.
Thank you for bringing it to our attention. [Interruption.] No, he has already said he has no objection and we cannot rescind that decision.
Yes, Hon Leader, I think he has already given his assent. So let us lay the Paper; we do not have much time about these things.
PAPERS 10:50 a.m.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, Standing Order 75 (1) states that as soon as sufficient copies of a Paper for distribution to Members have been received in the Office of the Clerk, notice of the presentation of that Paper may be placed on that Paper. And Madam Speaker, the Constitution, article 11 (7) and Order 77 (b) say that:
“Any Orders or Regulations made by any person or authority pursuant to a power conferred in that behalf by the Constitution or any other law,
(b) shall be published in the Gazette on the day when they are so laid before Parliament . . .”
So I believe it is a contemporaneous event; it is laid at the same time as published. But my appeal to the Majority Leader is to ensure that in respect of these Regulations, they are made available by the close of the day. We have had many occasions where some of these important Papers are laid and Hon Members do not have copies. I am particularly concerned about the first Instrument which talks about creation of electoral areas.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes, Hon Leader, I think this is an advice that should be taken seriously, in view of the sections he
has read, that it should be published when it is laid and that they should get copies.
rose
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Member, is it on the same matter, because I think we have finished -
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 10:50 a.m.
Yes, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
We have finished with it. If it is another advice and it is to the same effect, the Majority Leader has taken due note of it.
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my Hon Colleague here spoke about the Papers of today. But my concern is, extending his argument and pleading with you is that many a time, even the press are able to refer to documents which are supposed to have been laid in the House when I do not as a Member of Parliament, have copies. So I want to stress the fact that -- I have pointed out this before and I want to do it again, that in future if the documents are not ready, then we may be forced not to allow them to be laid.
The Standing Order is very clear. People talk about energy this, energy that but I do not have the document and I am supposed to be an Hon Member of Parliament. So I think that the Leader should take good care of it and make sure that the documents are indeed, given to us, made ready, laid and then we can go ahead, just as the Standing Orders say.
That is all that I want to say. It is difficult to take a situation where references are made to documents which are supposed to have been laid but which
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Leader, I think that this is an advice which should be well taken; that even they should have seen it before and that --
rose
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Member, is it on the same matter? The advice is that it is laid but they would prefer Papers to be served on them even before we lay them. And then the law to be followed by putting them in the Gazette and things, otherwise, these are matters which go to delay our work.
Mr Addul-Rashid Pelpuo 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, advice well taken. But it has to be very clear that by the convention of this House, when Papers are laid, we proceed to make them available to all Hon Members. And by the Standing Order my Hon Colleague quoted, 75 (1), when a Paper is made available to the Clerk's Office and he feels there are sufficient copies, then he causes the Paper to be laid.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
But why should there be insufficient material? If he has it, he has to make copies for the Members of Parliament.
Mr Pelpuo 11 a.m.
Yes, it is not the Majority Leader who will do --
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
We pass every matter through the Leader and I think the Clerks are here too, they are listening; so you are right. But we do not go to individual Clerks, we go to the Leader
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.


and his Deputy to see that it is done. So that is all that I can say about the matter. As soon as Papers are laid and there are sufficient copies, they should be made and distributed and it will aid the work of this House. So like the Leader said, the advice is well taken and I support it.

Thank you and shall we move on then. Have we laid the other Paper, Unit Committee Regulations, 2010 (C.I.18), (a) (ii)?

Have we finished with (a) (ii), Leader?
Mr Avoka 11 a.m.
Yes, (a) (i) and (ii) have been laid. It is now left with (b).
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Yes, the (b). Is the Minister for Energy here or . . . ?
Mr Avoka 11 a.m.
Unfortunately, he is at Cabinet meeting and I would plead that we allow the Minister for Information to lay it on his behalf.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Well, Hon Tia, we still have to wait for them to give their assent; they have now.
By the Minister for Information (Mr John T. Akologu) (on behalf of the Minister for Energy) --
Energy Efficiency Standards and Labelling (Housing Refrigerating A p p l i a n c e s ( A m e n d m e n t ) Regulations, 2010 (L.I. 1970)
Referred to the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation --
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
I hope that these Reports will come in quickly and that this has been urged upon us.
Leader, we have finished with it.
Item 6 is the sittings of the committees. Are you aware of the matter that Honourable was going to raise?
Mr Cletus A. Avoka 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, today being the first day, I will invite Hon Colleagues to have a Committee of the Whole meeting shortly after adjournment. We have several other committees that have outstanding matters to deliberate, and I would appeal to committee Chairmen and Ranking Members to be able to invite their committees to put their acts together so that we can have the Reports in time for debate.
Without prejudice to any other matter, I beg to move, that we adjourn proceedings for today until tomorrow, so that the committees can do some work.
Thank you.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Well, we have
reached -
rose
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Member, he has moved the Motion for adjournment and all we need now is seconding it.
Mr J. B. Aidoo 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, it is an observation; it is important.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Can we do that after a Motion has been moved and has not been seconded under the rules?
Mr Ambrose P. Dery 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I beg to second the Motion but ask the Leader to tell us what kind of meeting we are having after this, whether
it is just a meeting of Hon Members of Parliament or it is Committee of the Whole? But I second the Motion, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Members, I will put the Question again; I hope you will listen properly. You have an important meeting after the adjournment, a Closed House. It is going to talk about salaries, a lot of things, I know.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 11 a.m.