Debates of 10 Nov 2010

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:30 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:30 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 9th November,
2010.
Page 1…14 --
Mr William O. Boafo 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
on page 14, paragraph 14, line 3, where it is stated that the absence of the President was not fully disclosed -- the period was not provided -- “stated period”. If I may read the whole - the entire paragraph:
“14. The First Deputy Speaker recalled the earlier communication from H. E. the President notifying the House of his absence from the country for the stated period and indicated that in accordance with article 60 (11) & (12) of the constitution, Madam Speaker would subscribe to the Oaths.”
Mr Speaker, without being specific as to
the period that he would be absent, it gives the impression that his Excellence the President has already left. Any outsider who picks the Votes and Proceedings -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
I was
thinking that they used the phrase “recalled the earlier communication”. And if you look at page 7, paragraph 10 -- The Communication from H.E. the President
Mr Benito Owusu-Bio 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
on page 14 --, yesterday, I deliberately absented myself from the swearing-in of Madam Speaker as the Acting President. But I have been observing -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon
Member, we are on the Correction of Votes and Proceedings, so which page?
Mr Owusu-Bio 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page
14 of the Votes and Proceedings also has yesterday's Sitting in it -- Yesterday's Sitting for the swearing-in of Madam Speaker is also in it. So, it is relevant that at least, my being absent must be captured.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Member, what are you correcting?
Mr Owusu-Bio 10:40 a.m.
I was absent during
the swearing-in of Madam Speaker -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon
Member, you are out of order.

Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 9th November 2010 is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Mr
Speaker, this is just an observation on the events of yesterday. As we all acknowledge, it was a novel situation and as I indicated, uncharted waters. But Mr Speaker, any time a Speaker had been sworn-in to assume the office of the President, immediately after the event of swearing-in, the Speaker has to exit the Chamber because he or she cannot preside as the Speaker since he or she becomes the
Acting President.
Yesterday's event was different, because she was sworn-in to await the departure of the President to take effect today. The Speaker then remained in the Chamber and because the Speaker was in the Chamber, my thinking was that, the Speaker could be in the Chamber while we had the First Deputy Speaker presiding.
I would want to believe that in future, if anything should happen on the same orders, then Mr Speaker, I would suggest that the Speaker, because she would still be the Speaker, should then assume the Chair to preside for the remaining portion of the business of the House, that is, if she chooses to be in the Chamber, as indeed, it was yesterday. Otherwise you cannot have the Speaker who was not the President yet in the Chamber while the First Deputy Speaker presides.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Members, I do not intend making a ruling on this matter but -
Mr Cletus A. Avoka 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
admittedly, this issue was discussed informally and we agreed that the proper thing to do was what the Hon Minority Leader has indicated. So we would take note of it.
Mr Ambrose P. Dery 10:40 a.m.
Thank you, Mr.
Speaker. I think that is the point - that is why when you were exiting, the Speaker was the last; she was still in the procession as the Speaker, just that you did not allow her to come back to the seat.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker,
I am wondering whether Leadership expects us to take a decision, that is why it is being brought on the floor of the House. I am of the view that this is a matter that could be discussed probably among yourselves. It is a matter of procedure, unless of course, we are being asked to give our comments and take a decision
- [Interruptions] - yes, then anybody is entitled to comment on it. Is that it? If that is what the Business Committee wants, fine. I am just making this observation unless a decision has been taken by Leadership and it is being announced to the House --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon
Member for Sekondi, I entirely agree with you. That is why I thought that we could not take a decision on this matter and so that ends the comment from the two Leaders.

Hon Members, in the absence of any correction, the Official Report of Thursday, 4th November, 2010 is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.

Hon Members, we also have the Official Report of Friday, 5th November,

2010.

Hon Members, in the absence of any correction to the Official Report of Friday, 5th November, 2010, it is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.

Hon Members, Question time - Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.

Hon Joseph Kofi Adda, Member for Navrongo Central.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Hon Member is not available now because of certain circumstances beyond his control. My understanding is that he has authorized the Hon K. T. Hammond to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Has he authorized him to ask the Question?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Yes, Mr
Speaker. That is what I said.
URGENT QUESTIONS 10:50 a.m.
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE 10:50 a.m.
Mr Hammond 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, first, can
the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice confirm that it was one of the current partners at the Jubilee Fields called Anadarko which instigated the original investigation into the affairs of EO Group and KOSMOS?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon
Member, re-ask the question; let me get your question well.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
my question was, can the Hon Minister confirm that it was one of the members of the current Jubilee Field operators, specifically Anadarko which instigated the investigation by the American authorities into the activities of the EO Group and the Kosmos Company?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Are you
asking whether she is aware?
Mr Hammond 10:50 a.m.
Can she confirm?
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I
have already stated that contents of the Mutual Legal Assistance requests are confidential and at this point in time, I cannot take questions as to the nature of the investigations, how it was instigated and so on.
Mr Hammond 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice indicate to this House, the basis for the ongoing investigation into the affairs of the EO Group and the KOSMOS Group in the country by the CID or the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, investigations are ongoing by the CID into the activities surrounding the acquisition of the 3.5 per cent carried shares of the EO Group and related companies by the CID. That is all I can say presently.
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, knowing the American Legislature, in my opinion, it is very difficult to accept that the contents of the Mutual Legal Assistance is confidential even to the Legislature. So would the Hon Minister be prepared to lay before us a copy of it for the House, for the sovereign Parliament of this Republic? This is because, as far as I understand, the contents with these things rest not with the Legislature.
The ratification comes here and also between their Congress and their Senate, nothing is confidential as far as this is concerned. So will the Hon Minister be prepared to lay before Parliament a copy of that agreement? We are entitled to it. We are the sovereign legislative body of this country. I want to know.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Member, you know Ghana's Parliament is not sovereign. Ghana's Parliament is subject to the Constitution and therefore, it is not sovereign.
Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
we are sovereign even under the Constitution. Of course, we are under the Constitution sovereign; we do not owe allegiance to anybody.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, while I, of course, do have copies of the Mutual Legal Assistance request from the United States Department of Justice, I do not believe that it is within my power presently, to lay this before this Parliament. Indeed, Mr Speaker, if I may say a further word on this.
There is an ongoing arbitration in respect of some other matter and within that, we are tempted to lay some aspect of the Mutual Legal Assistance request and we were not dealt with lightly because even disclosing in court contents of Mutual Legal Assistance request can be prejudicial to an ongoing investigation.
Mr Isaac K. Asiamah 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
the Hon Minister knows that at the centre of the controversy in the KOSMOS issue is the carried interest or shareholding of the EO Group, that is KOMOS. There is another of the same arrangement between an illustrious son of Ghana, Mr Kofi Esson and Tullow Energy.
Can the Hon Minister tell us why they do not find it prudent or necessary to investigate the Esson-Tullow arrangement but rather concentrated on EO Group and KOSMOS, if, indeed, the motivation to harass EO Group was not politically motivated?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Member, your question is inadmissible.
Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon Minister tell us whether the scope of the investigation by the United States Justice Department included the 3.5 per cent shareholding of the EO Group which is being investigated in Ghana?
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have already said that Mutual Legal Assistance requests are by nature confidential. I can disclose that the nature of the acquisition of the 3.5 per cent carried interest is being investigated by the CID in Ghana.
Mr David T. Assumeng 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon Minister inform the House, who the shareholders of this EO and KOSMOS are? Can she inform the House and Ghana - I mean the nature of shareholding --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Member, that question is inadmissible -- It is a matter of official record. That document came to Parliament and this House worked on it. It is in the public - It is an official publication, in my view. It is an official publication, therefore, your question is inadmissible.
Several Hon Members -- rose --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
I will take two more, except the Hon Leaders want to ask questions. That will also guide me. Then I will take -
Hon Members, I do not intend unnecessarily dragging this matter.
Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, would the Hon Minister tell the House whether she intends to undertake the same investigations that she is currently undertaking into the KOSMOS and EO Group into the Tullow/ Esson arrangement?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Member, this is not a supplementary question. You are talking about a different investigation altogether. That is not a supplementary question; it is inadmissible.
Hon Minority Leader, do you have any question?
Dr Anthony A. Osei 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, would the Hon Minister tell this House, under what circumstance she can make this so-called confidential document available to this House -- she said it is confidential and some of us are wondering that there might be some circumstances under which this body, Parliament, should be able to see it? So under what circumstances, at least, in camera -- I cannot believe that
there is absolute confidentiality where this Parliament - So if she can assure us that she will investigate into that possibility. Can she assure us?
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, possibly when investigations are completed into the entire matter. Mr Speaker, with your indulgence, it would be under strict confidentiality as well.
Mr Alfred W. G. Abayateye 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Minister, under whose term of office, I mean the Hon Minister or the Hon Deputy Minister, was this KOSMOS Agreement entered into?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Your question is inadmissible. [Uproar.]
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, regarding the Question relating to the nature of the investigations, the Hon Minister is telling us that because of the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA), she is unable to make disclosures. Would she admit that investigations had started much earlier before the passage of the MLA, and because of that she cannot plead that because of the fact that we now have the MLA, she cannot make disclosures? Would she admit that investigations started before the MLA was passed?
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu 11 a.m.
I would naturally admit that, Mr Speaker. But I will tell the Honourable House that the scheme, Mutual Legal Assistance, has always existed between member countries, between national authorities of member countries. In this case, between the Ministry of Justice, which is the designated and always has been the designated National Authority of United States of America and United States Department of Justice, via the Department of State as the designated National Authority of Ghana. We have dealt with Mutual
Legal Assistance request, definitely, since independence.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the question is, the arrangement as existed before the passage of the Act by this House, could only be said to be informal. So the Hon Minister cannot hide under that to tell the Honourable House that she cannot make disclosures. [Interruptions.] Mr Speaker, knowing that, would she tell the House the nature of the investigations that were initiated before the passage of the Act?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Members, with the greatest respect to all of you, the Question is very clear. The Question is talking about the outcome of the investigation by the Justice Department of the United States of America. And any other supplementary question should relate to the outcome of that investigation, otherwise, we would be breaching the rules. Hon Members, we would be breaching the whole rules.
The Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice?
.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Mutual Legal Assistance requests are based on reciprocity. Within the Mutual Legal Assistance request, one of the basic tenets -- and indeed, it was contained specifically within this Mutual Legal Assistance request. It was further reiterated when members of the Press got hold of some snippets of information emanating from the MLA request. It was reiterated again by the GAJ that Mutual Legal Assistance request by the very title, “Mutual” connotes, binding obligations of confidentiality. It was requested and it was given by the Government of Ghana.
Thank you.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the investigation which was commenced related to the shareholding within the EO and the KOSMOS Group; a similar thing obtains in the other one, Tullow. I am asking whether further to that, because the Ministry would want to pursue due diligence to see that everything was done rightly, would the Hon Minister not want to do so for the other operators in the Jubilee Fields?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Do you want to do investigations on the other operators of the Jubilee Fields? That is the question.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I can confirm that all investigations undertaken by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) which are ongoing have included investigations into each and every acquisition by each and every company in the Jubilee Fields. So, yes, the Tullow and the carried interest were investigated. Each and every company has been questioned and investigated by the CID of Ghana.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have the investigations in respect of these [Interruptions] -- being concluded -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Members, order! Hon Members, order!
Hon Minority Leader, how many questions do you intend asking? Under our rules, the Hon Member who asked the main Question is not entitled to more than three supplementary questions. But because you are the Minority Leader, I have allowed you to ask three questions, to be equal to the Hon Member in whose name the Question is.
Since you are the Hon Minority Leader, I have relaxed the rules in your favour. I
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.


just want to have an idea because other Hon Members have risen on the other side of the House but I do not intend to call any Hon Member on this matter. That is why I have decided to only limit it to you. So how many questions do you intend asking?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would not want to say legion, but I will not be long.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, you know the rules and you are very, very conversant with the rules. I know you are very, very conversant with the rules, but kindly ask your last question; that will give you four, which is more than the Hon Member who asked the principal Question.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if you want to apply the letter of the Standing Orders, there is nowhere that it restricts us; there is nowhere that restricts us -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
But you know that we have developed the practice where any other Hon Member apart from the Hon Member asking the principal Question, asks only one question?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, you do know that in established democracies and Parliaments, the Leader is normally allowed to ask at least, six questions. Mr Speaker, you know that very well?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
I do not
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
I do not want to believe that you want to close your eyes on this obvious truth. But the question that I asked the Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice, I think
she comprehended, she understands and she wants to give an answer to.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Did you
get the question? Please, ask the question again.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the question was - The Hon Minister said the other operators “have all been investigated”. That is the phrase she used and it was in the past; she said “they have all been investigated”. I want to know whether they have closed the investigations and what is the outcome of those investigations? [Interruptions.]
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu 11:10 a.m.
Investigations
are ongoing, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon
Members, that brings us to the end of the Urgent Question. We will now move to Question number -
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
You
are standing after your Leader? Hon Deputy Minority Leader, you know that you must assist the Chair. You are in Leadership; you must always give me the indication early enough that you want to ask questions for me --
Mr Dery 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to know if the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice is the competent authority to give information and answer questions in respect of CID? I want guidance from you whether she is the right person to do so. That is what I want to know from you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
My
personal view on the matter is that she is not because the CID is not under her jurisdiction.
Mr Dery 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, that is why
Mr Avoka 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the learned Attorney-General and Minister for Justice is saying that as a matter of fact, she is aware that it is being investigated by the CID. She has not indicated the details of the investigation for you to say that she is not in charge.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Mr
Speaker, with respect, that is the difficulty the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice is creating for herself, because she just informed us that those operators had been investigated. Now, she goes back to say that, “Oh! investigation is continuing”. Mr Speaker, she is telling me that manka saa. She is on record and the Hansard will bear me out that, that is what she said. [Interruptions.] That is the difficulty she is creating for herself. [Interruptions.]
ORAL ANSWERS TO 11:10 a.m.
QUESTIONS 11:10 a.m.
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE 11:10 a.m.
Mr George K. Arthur 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I know recidivists are those who go to the prison and then re-appear, but they are confined or mixed up with those who have their first time in prison. Before all
these remand prisoners' cases are dealt with, do you have any plans of maybe, separating the recidivists from the newly cases of remand prisoners?
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
that actually is the Ghana Prisons Service which is not under the Ministry of Justice. However, if I am permitted to make a remark about the current system of recidivism or the current system of confining prisoners, Mr Speaker, it is not the best. And we have been involved very actively in a wholesale review of the entire criminal justice system.
We are reviewing the entire criminal justice system and not only aimed at the decongesting of the prisons. The problems within the criminal justice system which may or may not lead to recidivism are systemic and they must be dealt with as such.
Merely moving courts to the Nsawam Prisons or to the Kumasi Prisons cannot be the only answer and we are taking active steps to undergo an entire review of the system.
Mr G. K. Arthur 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, from the statistics of the cases that the Hon Minister has dealt with, I think those prisoners who have been discharged outnumber those who have been sentenced and granted bail. I thank the Hon Minister very much for the good work that she is doing and the past Government, for starting the project, that is in 2007.
But may I know whether the Hon Minister has considered the regional level, where maybe, she could make sure that every region has some of the cases brought up, to maybe, release them or jail them or do something about it? This is because I realised last Wednesday, when they had their sitting, some of the cases that came, the next two days, they appeared at the
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, we are indeed, moving to the regions. There is a pilot project being undertaken in the Kumasi Central Prisons. We then intend to move to the Western Region. However, the main problem is with Nsawam, and if I may, Mr Speaker, just to say, as I have said already, it is not only merely reducing the numbers. Currently, what we have is approximately 1,450 prisoners on remand at Nsawam.
The figure fluctuates; we get the statistics every six months. Indeed, I would venture to say that according to the statistics, we have even recorded more remand inmates within the period of the Justice for All Programme, which goes to show that the problem is systemic; it cannot be solved only by the Justice for All Programme and that is what we are desperately trying to address within the next two years.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this problem that the Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice is talking about has been with us for a long time and she has said that they were reviewing the criminal justice system. Will she consider advising Government to set up a commission to review the entire criminal justice system? A commission instead of an administrative body composed of various players in the criminal justice system -- Set up a commission, a presidential commission as was done in the United Kingdom (UK) some years ago as a way to deal comprehensively with
this problem.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, a review of the criminal justice system has started in an ad hoc manner with the institution of a high-level dialogue which brings together the major policy players. Presently, with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), I am commissioning a consultancy into the way forward in establishing, first of all -- that is within my direct remit -- a strengthened prosecution service which would --
As you are well aware, the prosecutions in Ghana are done at the lower courts by the Ghana Police Service prosecutors. This system has not been satisfactory and this is one of the many factors which have led to the high number of remand prisoners.
Whether or not we would actually establish a presidential commission, presently, I would say that the high-level dialogue which consists of Her Ladyship the Chief Justice, the Inspect-General of Police, myself, the Director-General of Prisons, is able to look at the problems after we have received the reports from the consultants within the next few months.
I hope that this would give us fresh impetus and enable us to identify the exact problems and see how we can move forward on the actual implementation of the review.
Mr Charles S. Hodogbey 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my question to the Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice is, recent reports have shown that there are increases of Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS cases and other diseases in our prisons. From her own statement, about 1,400 prisoners are on remand in Nsawam alone.
I would like to know from her, when these prisoners are released or when they are there, even the main prisoners, does she give them any kind of training
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Member, I am not sure whether that is a supplementary question. The last leg of your question, if you can put that one directly to the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice -- the last leg of your question, I might consider admitting it.
Mr Hodogbey 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to know what programme the Minister has for those who are released? Is any kind of training given to them to adjust to our environment?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Member, she is not responsible. The Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice is not responsible for that. I would take one more and then we move to the next Question.
Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, from the Hon Minister's Answer, I notice that justice for all is actually justice for all in the prisons, not all people remanded. Yesterday, I visited a police station at Tema and I encountered people who have been in police remand for over two years. May I know whether there is a programme to go into police stations to deal with people who are not tried, not convicted but remanded for as long as two years or more.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this is what I alluded to earlier, in that the problems are not of physical structures; the problems are systemic; the problems have to deal with offences under the Criminal Offences Code, which are non-bailable.
If you look, Mr Speaker, the majority, indeed, 90 per cent and above, of the remand inmates, whether in police cells or in the prisons themselves, are there for armed robbery, for murder, manslaughter, defilement, rape or narcotics. You do not find many cases of petty theft and these are non-bailable offences.
We have to as a nation take a critical look at some of these offences. For instance, if I may, Mr Speaker, when the police do a swoop on narcotics and they find people with one or two wrappers, it is still a non-bailable offence; sentence is a minimum of 10 years in prison.
These are some of the issues we have to look at as a people, so that people who are held in police custody as well as in the police cells -- and some of them have been there for longer than the two, three or four years. This is within my personal knowledge as a lawyer. And they are there because of the system of prosecution. The systematic problem involved with the police investigators, with the police prosecutors, with the courts unable to keep track of those who are on remand.
So the issues are numerous and complex and that is why we have called for a study into the system in order to be able to address these loopholes. Presently, the Justice for All system does not address those who are in police cells, to the best of my knowledge. They address those, presently, who have been there for five years and thereafter, three years on remand or more.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon
Members, Question Number 659 standing in the name of the Hon Member for Jaman South.
Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, I thank you very much for attending upon the House to answer
Questions.
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE 11:30 a.m.
Minister for Defence (Lt-Gen. J. H Smith (retd)) 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces is now a very popular choice for young people and I am happy for this trend. It is very keenly contested and that allows us the opportunity to stick to our stringent criteria to recruit only the best. Generally, we have little difficulty maintaining a regional as well as gender balance because the number of applicants always outstrip our requirements significantly.
In the Ghana Armed Forces, recruitment policy generally requires 90 per cent male to 10 per cent female in all three services. A second requirement is that, each region should exhibit the appropriate gender mix as well through all three services, that is, Army, Navy and Air Force. Out of an upper limit of 300, the Navy has recruited 180 males and 35 females and the Air Force has 104 males and 25 females, also out of a quota of 300. In both cases, the regional spread is impeccable. However, since the Question is confined to the Ghana Army, Mr Speaker, I will therefore, focus on that.
In the 2009/2010 General Recruitment Exercise, the Ghana Army was given a quota of 900, made up of 90 per cent male and 10 per cent female. These recruits are
expected to be taken in two batches of 450 each. At the moment, 391 males and 60 females are undergoing training.
Mr Speaker, the second batch of 534 is currently undergoing medical examination, out of which 450 will be shortlisted for training in January, 2011. It is hoped that any shortfalls in the regional quotas in the first batch will be addressed. The extra one person in the first batch may be regarded as a trivial detail for our purposes today. It is a human organization and a small measure of flexibility may be permitted provided it does not derail the primary goal of regional and gender balance.
The percentage chosen for each region is based on the population census figures of Ghanaians between the ages of 15 and 29. For instance, Greater Accra is 19.3per cent, Upper West is 2.7 per cent and Volta is 8.2 per cent. During the process of recruitment, which consists of aptitude test, medical examinations and so on, the figures undergo many slight changes. But the final tally is accurate in terms of regional and gender balance.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your attention.
Mr Afful 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, could the Hon Minister tell this Honourable House how the regions of which the applicants hail from are determined for the purposes of ensuring a regional balance?
Lt -Gen. Smith (retd): Mr Speaker, I have the figures here for the entire exercise and if I would be permitted, I would give the figures to the august House.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon
Members, I would prefer that that information is laid and made available to us instead of the Hon Minister giving the full details. I would suggest that that information is laid on the Table and be

made available to the House. But Hon Members can ask any questions generally.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
I believe the House should be helped to ask relevant questions. If the details are not going to be overly cumbersome, then I would suggest that the Hon Minister reads the details to us so that relevant and informed questions could ensue from the details of the -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon
Minority Leader, the Parliament of Ghana will Sit tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. When we get the information and we want to do any follow-up, it would be taken. But reading all those things one- by-one - That is why I have ordered that it should be made available. If there is the need for a follow-up, it would then be taken.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect, you know the process of filing Questions and of admitting Questions. And just as you cited that it would be available tomorrow and the day after, you know as a matter of fact that it is practically impossible to file Questions which would ensue from the details that we would have to apprise ourselves of tomorrow and the day after. So if it is not going to be cumbersome -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Members, I have directed. He should answer the Question and make the information available. He should answer the Question. If he can look at the Question and answer the Question filed, he should look at it and answer the Question and make the whole document available to Hon Members. He should answer the Question in terms of where the people hail from, that is, the Question from the Hon Member for Jaman South. He should answer his Question and make that document available to us. That is the
point I am making.

Lt-Gen. Smith (retd): Mr Speaker, thank you very much.

I have got the breakdown here, region by region, and I am going to leave that for the House to take a look at later. Do you want me to -- [Interruption.] It is no big deal. Mr Speaker, I will first give the quota, the percentages. Greater Accra, by our calculation, the percentage is 19 per cent, Ashanti, 19 per cent, Brong Ahafo, 10 per cent, Eastern Region, 10 per cent; Western Region, 10 per cent; Northern Region, 9 per cent; Central Region, 8 per cent; Volta Region, 8 per cent; Upper East Region, 4 per cent; and Upper West Region, 3 per cent.

For the 450 that are training at the moment, 19 per cent for Greater Accra Region, we had 201 presented for medical examinations and out of that 156 passed, 45 failed. Their quota, actually, out of the 450 should be 86. It means Greater Accra has gone over and in the second batch this will be taken care of. I hope I am clear. Ashanti Region, 19 per cent; we presented 64 for medical examinations, 46 passed, 18 failed. Their quota, out of the 450 is 86 and this will be made up in the second batch. Brong Ahafo Region - 10 per cent; presented 57 for medical examinations; 41 passed, 16 failed; their quota is 45. The rest will be made up in the next batch. Eastern Region, 10 per cent, presented 45, 36 passed, 9 failed; their quota is 45.

We will make it up in the next batch. Northern Region, 9 per cent; 48 presented for medical examinations; 33 passed, 15 failed; the actual quota is 41, and we will make it up in the next batch. Central Region 8 per cent; 44 for medical examinations, 31 passed, 13 failed -- quota 36. Volta Region, 8 per cent; 57 presented for medical examinations; 39 passed, 18 failed; the quota is 36.

Upper East, 4 per cent; 25 for medical examinations; 25 passed; 0 failed; the quota is 18. Upper West - 3 per cent, 28 for medical examinations, 18 passed, 10 failed and their quota is 14.

Mr Speaker, that will be all.

Thank you.
Mr Afful 11:50 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.

That is the Question.

Lt. -Gen. Smith (retd): Mr Speaker, on the forms that we sell to the applicants, there is a column that says:

“Where would you like to appear before the Recruitment Committee?”

So, the person indicates that he or she wants to appear before the team in the Greater Accra Region, Upper East Region, Upper West Region or whatever region one wants to appear.
rose
Some Hon Members 11:50 a.m.
Sit down! Sit down!
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon
Member, I did not -
Hon Members, I recognize people when they are on their feet. I did not see the Hon Member on his feet, that is why I called the Hon Member for Juabeso. He was not on his feet.
Mr Afful 11:50 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Your last supplementary question.
Mr Afful 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, is the Hon Minister aware that in view of the Answer that he has provided, the ratios given, his Answer no longer holds, since there are persons originally from other regions who have been captured under different regions? In fact, analysis of the detailed list, which I have a copy, indicates that the Volta Region which was supposed to have 8.2 per cent was actually given 30 per cent of this current recruit - [Uproar.]
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Member, you are referring to a document that is only known to you, so I do not see how I can allow that question.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think if a Member asks a question and the information is based on the document, as the Hon Minister himself is obliged to do, we request that if it is information that we all have to tap into, then that document be laid; but to say that “because only you are having it, I will not permit you”, Mr Speaker --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Member, he is the Minister for Defence; he is giving an official information to this Honourable House. The Hon Member did not even tell us what document he was quoting and he is contradicting the figures given by the Hon Minister for Defence -

Hon Members, please, sit down. He is talking about 8.2 per cent; he is talking about 10 per cent. So, what the Hon Member has to do in asking the question is to say that he is using the document, the information provided by the Hon Minister. He did not say that; he said that the document before him -- Hon Members, let the Hon Member ask his question again.
Mr Afful 11:50 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can the Hon Minister provide us with the detailed list of the recruits? I am talking about the 451 recruits including shown hometowns and regions. Can he provide that?
Alhaji Sumani Abukari 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest respect to the House and my Hon Friend, I think that my Hon Friend is treading on very delicate, very dangerous grounds. If he wants hometowns and such details -- Are we saying that I, Abukari Sumani from Tamale cannot choose to make my hometown in Accra? [Interruption.]
Is he saying that if a person comes from a particular region and lives in another region, he should not state that region as his region? Why is he asking for names and hometowns and all those things? Please, this is a united Ghana; let us not try to partition the country into hometowns and race and tribes and what not. Please, let us be careful about that.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Members, I will not encourage any question that is likely to thread on issues of ethnicity. So, if Hon Members want certain detailed information, there are other mechanisms that are available to this House which we can -
Mr Sampson Ahi 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the procedure being used at the moment to recruit people into the Ghana Armed Forces can allow people moving from
one region to another to be recruited. What is the Ministry doing to ensure that quotas given to regions, people who hail from that region actually benefit and that people from all over the nation will not be allowed to be recruited as if they come from that region but they do not come from the region?
Lt-Gen. Smith (retd): Mr Speaker, let me throw some light on this. We have ten regions and we set up ten recruiting teams. And the teams move to the regions at the same time, so the exercise is conducted the same day in all the regions -- Another fact is that, we are talking about regional and gender balance, not ethnic, not ethnic, please. As the Hon Member said, if one is a Ga and you live in the Upper East Region and chooses to appear before the team in the Upper East Region, that is the person's right. [Interruptions.] It does not necessarily mean that in Accra all the people who will be recruited are Gas. No.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Members, I will take two more questions on this, then I will close --
Ms Gifty Klenam 11:50 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to quickly ask two questions in one.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon Minister confirm to us whether none of the 351 recruits of the first batch currently undergoing training failed the army recruitment exercise and based on the -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Member, ask your question -
Mrs Gifty Klenam 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, based on the Answer to the Question he gave us, paragraph 2 of the statement indicates here that only 10 per cent recruitment policy is given to women. May I know why it is so?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon
Minister, if you understand the question, kindly answer it.
Lt. - Gen. Smith (retd): Mr Speaker, that is the policy that prevails within the Ghana Armed Forces.
Ms Gifty Klenam 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I asked two questions - [Interruptions.] I need the answer for the first one. Mr Speaker --
Mr Haruna H. Bayirga 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Minister's Answer, he said as far as the regional quota was concerned, with the current recruitment, those that are under training, there is some shortfalls as far as regional quotas are concerned. He said that will be taken care of in the next recruitment. Will he make that available to us as soon as they finish recruitment? Will he make the list available to this House so that we know that, that has already been taken care of?
Lt-Gen. Smith (retd): Mr Speaker, I have the figures for the next batch here. Upper West Region, we will be taking 10; Upper East Region, 9; Northern Region, 49; Brong Ahafo, 49; Central Region, 41; Volta Region, 33; Eastern Region, 54; Western Region, 64; Ashanti Region; 126, and Greater Accra, 16.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of -
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think as per your earlier directive, the Hon Minister would lay the documents on the Table for us so that we know the details of what it is. I see him tucking the documents under his ampit ready to leave but he is required to leave the documents. But a question to the Hon Minister -- The Hon Minister says that they are obliged to conform to regional and gender considerations and not ethnicity.
Mr Speaker, the Constitution provides in article 35 (3) and with your permission, I beg to quote:
“The State shall promote just and reasonable access by all citizens to public facilities and services in accordance with the law.”
Mr Speaker, article 35 (5) provides further and with your permission, I beg to quote:
“The State shall actively promote the integration of the peoples of Ghana and prohibit discrimination and prejudice on the grounds of place of origin, circumstances of birth, ethnic origin, gender or religion, creed or other beliefs.”
Would the Hon Minister tell us that in the recruitment process, they have no consideration of religious inclinations of the people that they - and even ethnic as proclaimed explicity by our Constitution? Is he telling us that he has nothing to do with that?
Mr Avoka noon
Mr Speaker, from the Hon Minister's answers, they have taken on board the concerns expressed by the Hon Minority Leader as provided for in the Constitution. It is not part of the policy to go about saying, “What tribe are you?” There are thousands of tribes in this country, so to think that we can degenerate - [Interruptions.]
To think that this country can degenerate into ensuring that if there are 500 tribes in Ghana, then every tribe must be considered in the recruitment, even if sometimes you do not qualify, is a dangerous thing. So what they are talking about is what the Hon Minister has said - regional integration. They go to the region, assuming that there is a balance in the region, and then they recruit the
Mr Avoka noon


I think that what the Hon Minister has done is in line with the provision of article 35 of the Constitution that the Hon Minority Leader has indicated and that to go beyond that to request on the ground that he is stating now will be dangerous.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Mr Speaker, I do not know the purpose of the intervention of the Hon Majority Leader in this at all. He is completely out of order. What is the import of his intervention? -- Completely out of order. What is the purpose of his intervention?
Mr Speaker, let the Hon Minister answer the question.
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Members --
Lt-Gen. Smith (retd): Mr Speaker, I just want to remind the House that we are talking about the Ghana Armed Forces of this country and the security of this country. I would like to say in an answer to the Hon Minority Leader's question that I am conforming with the current policy within the Ghana Armed Forces. That is the current policy.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Mr Speaker, the current policy, if indeed, what the Hon Minister has told us is true, cannot run counter to the Constitution. He knows that; so for him to say that it has nothing to do with ethnic considerations, I am appalled and he cannot foundation this creed on the Constitution. Mr Speaker, I will go beyond that --
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Members, the Question is talking about gender and regional balance and therefore, any question on ethnic is not really - Yes, it is not consistent with the Question that
has been asked.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Mr Speaker, with respect to the Chair, any supplementary question can go on the lines of the Answer given by the Hon Minister, as per Standing Order 69.
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Members, the Constitution that you have quoted, even that is not - If you look at article 17 of the Constitution - I have decided not to talk about constitutional matters because that is not my duty here.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Absolutely.
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
That is not my duty but if an Hon Member wants to question the constitutionality of an act, the proper forum is there for the person to go. What the Hon Minister is saying is that, ethnicity is not considered because they are talking about regional balance. If you are talking about ethnicity, it means a whole lot of things.
He is not also saying that they are discriminating - They are not discriminating against anybody because he does not come from a particular region because according to him, if you are a Ga - According to his Answer, if you are a Ga and you decide to go to the Upper West Region, you would be considered in Upper West quota; that is the point that he made.
Hon Members, we should not do anything that will send the wrong signal to the Armed Forces of Ghana and as much as possible -
Mr Avoka noon
Mr Speaker, it is very, very important -
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Members, we have far exceeded the one
hour allocated to Question time; we have far exceeded it.
Mr Avoka noon
Mr Speaker, it is very important for us to passionately look at this issue and let everybody in this country know that the Answer given by the Hon Minister for Defence is consistent with the provisions of the Constitution.
Mr Speaker, for the avoidance of doubt, my Hon Good Colleague, the Hon Minority Leader did not read the whole portion of the Constitution. Let me refer him to article 35(6)(b) which says and Mr Speaker, with your permission, I quote:
“Towards the achievement of the
objectives stated in clause (5) of this article, the State shall take appropriate measures to --
b) achieve reasonable regional and gender balance in recruitment and appointment to public offices;”
“Regional and gender balance”; it did not say, “tribal balance.” That is considered in the Constitution and this is what he said -- “regional and gender balance.” He did not say “tribal balance” or “ethnic balance”, that the Hon Minority Leader is trying to foster.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Mr Speaker, with respect to the Hon Majority Leader, that is, if he was attentive enough to listen to what I said, I never used the word “tribal”. Did he hear me? If he were listening, I never used the word “tribal”. I quoted the Constitution for him. I quoted the Constitution for him which was about ethnic origin. Did he hear that?
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Members, you know that Question time does not allow us to be arguing; it does
not allow time for argument; you know that. You are not supposed to argue; the rules are clear.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Mr Speaker, I agree with you. That is why I questioned the intervention of the Hon Majority Leader which has no place.
Mr Speaker, the other question that I may want to ask the Hon Minister - Is he aware, because he talked about people who went through the process, passed the examinations and then underwent medical examinations and so on? The successful ones who passed the examinations then went through medical examinations; that is what he has told us.
Is he aware that 67 of those who wrote the examinations failed and yet he has recruited them into the Ghana Armed Forces? Is he aware? [Interruption.] Is he aware, and that they have been given regimented numbers and they are undergoing training? Is he aware? [Interruptions.]
Mr Speaker, for the avoidance of doubt, I would table this document. The Hon Minister is saying - He should answer the question. Is he aware?
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Minority Leader - [Interruption.]
Lt. Gen. Smith (retd): Mr Speaker - [Interruption] Mr Speaker - [Pause.]
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Minister, answer the question.
Lt-Gen. Smith (retd): Mr Speaker, I watched closely the recent recruitment exercise and I do not believe that what the Hon Minority Leader is saying, is right.
Thank you.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Mr

Speaker, the document is here for his elucidation and if it turns out to be true, he would have lied to this country because he says that he does not believe it. It is here; we would further investigate it.
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Minority Leader, you are a Leader of this House.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end
of Question time. [Some Hon Members: No, no.] That brings us to the end --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Mr Speaker, with respect, the Hon Minister has to table his own document, so we can compare and contrast. You have given the directive; let him table the document [Interruption.] Is he questioning the decision of Mr Speaker? Mr Speaker has directed. Did he hear Mr Speaker? [Uproar.] He directed.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Question time is over.
Mr Bagbin noon
Mr Speaker, I just want to ask this question -
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Minister, I did say that Question time is over.
Mr Bagbin noon
Question time is over?
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Yes, Question time is over.
Mr Bagbin noon
Mr Speaker, in view of the interest generated by this whole issue, I thought that the House should request that the Hon Minister brings to this House the recruitment for the past 10 years so that we can go through it together and see what
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Members, order. Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, you are out of order.
That brings us to the end of Question time.
Hon Minister, you would make your information available to the Table Office.
Hon Members, I have admitted one Statement - Hon Minister, I have discharged you but make the document available to the Table Office.
Hon Members, I have admitted one Statement and that Statement, there would not be any comments. The Hon Minister for Western Region -
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to obey the directive that you have given. But along the line you requested the Hon Minister to table his document and then you seemed to have changed it to say that he should make it available to the Table Office. Mr Speaker, there is one way of making data or information available -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, when I gave the order, you Hon Members said the Hon Minister should answer the Question. Yes, I saw the sentiments and I decided to respect your sentiments. Now, the Hon Minister has answered the Question and I have given an order that the Hon Minister should make the document available to the Table Office.
Hon Minister for Western Region -- Hon Member for Ketu North.
Mr J. K. Avedzi 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I
just overheard Hon Hackman Owusu- Agyemang made a remark that “you Mr Speaker, you are not correct”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, did you make that comment?
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, did you call me to speak?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Have you made that comment?
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 12:10 p.m.
Have you called me to speak? You have not called me to speak, so why are you asking me that question?
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 12:10 p.m.
Did you call me to speak? You did not give me the floor, so what is your problem?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Have you made any comment like that?
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, did you call me to speak?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Are you asking me questions? You have been in this House for a long time and you know the rules.
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 12:10 p.m.
Yes but you have not called me to speak.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
You have been in this House for a long time and you know the rules.
Hon Minister for Western Region --
STATEMENTS 12:10 p.m.
Minister for Western Region (Mr Evans Paul Aidoo) (MP) 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the late Nana Kwabena Aduhene, a politician and a traditional ruler in the Sefwi area.
Mr Speaker, I wish to state that this Saturday, 13th November, 2010, the people of my Constituency, Sefwi-Wiawso and also of Akontombra, Bia and Juaboso, will be celebrating the life of a trailblazer in the pre- and immediate post-independence political history of my constituency and indeed, the whole of the Sefwi-Wiawso Traditional Area.
Mr Speaker, this Saturday is the day we will lay to rest Nana Kwabena Aduhene, also known as W. K. Aduhene, who died on 15th May, 2010.
Nana Aduhene schooled at St Augustine College in the forties and became a professional teacher. He taught in several schools in the Sefwi area, including the establishment of the Juaboso Catholic School. Nana Aduhene was the first Member of Parliament of the Sefwi- Wiawso Constituency, which I currently represent.
In his time, he represented a much larger area which currently includes the constituencies of Juaboso, Bia, Akontombra and Sefwi-Wiawso. Nana Aduhene became a Member of the Legislative Assembly in 1951, representing the Sefwi-Wiawso Area on the ticket of the Convention People's Party. He won all the other elections that he contested from 1954 until 1966 when the CPP Government was overthrown.
Nana was also a Deputy Minister of Defence in the Nkrumah Government. He was placed under protective custody by the National Liberation Council (NLC) and spent more than one year in detention without trial. After he was released from protective custody, Nana Aduhene set
Minister for Western Region (Mr Evans Paul Aidoo) (MP) 12:10 p.m.


himself to supporting the youth of the area to achieve high education and pursue a life imbued with love of country and the local community. He became a role model, and I must say that even my contemporaries, young as we are, benefited from his wisdom and good counsel.

Later in his life, he was enstooled as Chief of Aboduam, in the Sefwi-Wiawso Traditional Area. During the Fourth Republic, that is, from 1977 to 2000, he served this country as an active member of the Council of State.

Mr Speaker, being a chief, the official performance of traditional rites will begin today, 10th November, 2010. However, he will be laid in state for public viewing on Friday, 12th November, 2010 at Sefwi Aboduam, after which there will be the burial ceremony. The final funeral rites will take place on Saturday, 13th November, 2010 at Sefwi Aboduam. He was 83.

Mr Speaker, as we celebrate the life of the foremost member of our community, I, on behalf of my constituency and fellow Members of Parliament from the Wiawso Traditional Area, would like to welcome every Member of this House to Sefwi Aboduam to celebrate with us.

May he rest in perfect peace.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
I was not going to take any comment but I will allow you to do so.
Mr Joseph B. Aidoo (NPP - Amenfi East) 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am going to be very brief.
The late Nana Aduhene is an illustrious son of the Western Region. Mr Speaker,
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Thank
you very much, Hon Member for Amenfi East.
That brings us to the end of Statements in the nature of a tribute.
Hon Members, at the Commencement of Public Business -- Presentation of Papers -- Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning?
PAPERS 12:20 p.m.
BILLS - THIRD READING 12:20 p.m.
Mr Cletus A. Avoka 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have a lot of committee works to be done. In fact, some of the committee members even started their proceedings at ten o'clock but we stopped them. So, with the time reading around 12.30 p.m. now, I beg to move, that we adjourn proceedings for today until tomorrow at ten o'clock in the forenoon.
Mr Ambrose P. Dery 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 12:20 p.m.