Debates of 10 Dec 2010

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:35 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 9th December, 2010.
Page 1 . . . 4 --
Mr Ambrose P. Dery 10:35 a.m.
Madam
Speaker, page 5 (4), that is, “The following Hon Members were absent” - number 9. As far as I can remember, Hon Asiamah was here yesterday.
Madam Speaker 10:35 a.m.
All right. Thank
you.

The Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 9 th December, 2010 as corrected is adopted as the true record of proceedings.

We do not have the Official Report.

So we move straight to the Business Statement for the week.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:35 a.m.
Majority Leader/Chairman of the Business Committee (Mr Cletus A. Avoka) 10:35 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Committee met on Thursday, 9th December, 2010 and arranged Business of the House for the Ninth Week ending Friday, 17th December,
2010.
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:35 a.m.


Arrangement of Business

Question(s)

Madam Speaker, the Committee has again not programmed any Minister to answer Questions during the week under consideration.

Madam Speaker, this recommendation is expected to afford the House much time to consider the Estimates of Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, 2010 and other Business before the House.

Statements

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

Bills, Papers and Reports

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

Motions and Resolutions

Madam Speaker, Motions may

be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.

Reporting Schedule on Estimates of MDAs

Madam Speaker, the Business Committee urges committees to take note of the schedule for the submission of reports on the Budget Estimates of Ministries, Departments and Agencies and work within the time frame.

Madam Speaker, the Business Committee, mindful of the need to

thoroughly debate the Budget Estimates of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies for the year 2011, has decided on time allocation to Hon Members for the debate as follows:

Leadership, Chairpersons and Ranking Members of Committees -- Ten (10) minutes each

Other Members - Five (5) minutes each

This is to enable as many Hon Members as possible the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Estimates.

Madam Speaker, the Business Committee, however, urges Hon Members to endeavour to be as brief as possible and also avoid repetitions during their presentations.

Sittings of the House on Mondays and extended Sittings

Madam Speaker, the Business

Committee, having regard to the state of Business of the House, recommends that the House Sits on Monday, 13th December, 2010. Sittings may also be extended beyond the prescribed period during the week.

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Madam Speaker, the Business Committee takes this opportunity to remind Hon Members of the programme for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols scheduled to be held at the forecourt of Parliament on Wednesday, 15th December, 2011 at 6.00 p.m. and entreat Hon Members to participate in the ceremony.

Conclusion

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

the week.

Presentation of Papers --

(a) Annual Budget Estimates of the Parliamentary Service for the year 2011.

(b) Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Defence for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

(c) Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of the Interior for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

(d) Report of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

(e) Report of the Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Tourism for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

(f) Report of the Committee on Finance on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Revenue Agencies for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

(g) Report of the Special Budget Committee on the Annual Budget Estimates of Parliament for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

(h) Report of the Committee on Finance on the Annual Budget Estimates of Other Government Obligations for the year ending 31st December, 2011.
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:35 a.m.
Motions --
(a) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢8,777,644 for the services of the Commission on Human Rights and Adminis- trative Justice (CHRAJ) for the year ending 31st December, 2011

(b) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢25,399,946.00 for the services of the Elec tora l Commission for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

( c ) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢7,858,498.00 for the services of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

(d) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢2,125,293.00 for the services of the National Media Commission (NMC) for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

(e) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of G H ¢ 8 1 0 , 1 2 2 . 0 0 f o r t h e services of the National Labour Commission for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

[Minister for Finance and Eco- nomic Planning.] (f) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e

House approves the sum of GH¢178,559,490.00 for the services of the Ministry of

Finance and Economic Planning for the year ending 31st December,

2011.

(g) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢20,954,538.00 for the services of the Ministry of Justice for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

(h) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢405,495,572.00 for the services of the Ministry of Energy for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

(i) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢177,443,578.00 for the services of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

( j ) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢98,337,463.00 for the Services of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the year ending 31st December 2011.

[Minister for Lands and Natural Resources].

(k) That this Honourable House adopts the Report of the joint Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture and Foreign Affairs on the African Youth Charter.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, 2010.

[Continuation] Committee sittings.

Statements

Motions --

(a) Third Reading of Bills --

Petroleum Revenue Manage- ment Bill, 2010

(b) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢987,475,507.00 for the services of the Ministry of Health for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

(c) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢1,983,217,447.00 for the services of the Ministry of Education for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

(d) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢5,476,064.00 for the Services of the National Development Planning Commission for the year ending 31st December,

2011.

[Minister for Finance and Economic Planning].

(e) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢45,919,856.00 for the services of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

[Minister for Youth and Sports].

(f) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢18,173,336.00 for the services of the Ministry of Transport for the year ending

31st December, 2011.

[Minister for Transport.] ( g ) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e

House approves the sum of GH¢15,039,993.00 for the services of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture for the year ending 31st December,

2011.

( h ) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢1,371,123.00 for the services of the Public Services Commission (PSC) for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

[Minister for Finance and Economic Planning].

( i ) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢30,582,509.00 for the services of the Audit Service for the year ending 31st December,

2011.

( j ) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢218,916.00 for the services of the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator for the year ending 31st December

, 2011.

(k) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢1,228,869.00 for the services of the Judicial Service for the year ending 31st December,

2011.

( l ) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢32,861,104.00 for the
Madam Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:35 a.m.
services of the Ministry of Information for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

Committee sittings. Wednesday, 15th December, 2010

Statements

Motions--

( a ) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢205,480,761.00 for the services of the Ministry of Defence for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

( b ) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢221,550,587.00 for the services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

( c ) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢301,933,392.00 for the services of the Ministry of the Interior for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

( d ) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢17,225,167.00 for the services of the Ministry of Tourism for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

( e ) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of

G H ¢ 1 8 7 , 2 5 9 , 7 7 9 . 0 0 f o r the services of the Revenue Agencies for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

(f) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢28,985,489.00 for the services of Parliament for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

( g ) T h a t t h i s H o n o u r a b l e House approves the sum of GH¢1,257,689,807.00 for the services of Other Government Obligations for the year ending 31st December, 2011.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Engineering Council Bill, 2010.

Committee sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a) Report of the Committee on Finance on the Loan Agreement between the Government of Ghana and Commerzbank AG of Belgium for an amount of eight million, seventy-one thousand, nine hundred and sixteen euros (€8,071,916.00) for the supply of 50 VDL Jonckheere buses and spare parts under Belgian Government Concessionary Finance for the Metro Mass Transit Limited.

(b) Report of the Committee on Finance on the request for waiver of Stamp Duty on offshore syndicated receivables- backed Trade Finance Facility of US$1,500,000,000 for 2010/2011 Cocoa Purchases by Ghana Cocoa Board.

(c) Report of the Committee on Finance on the request for waiver of tax and duties amounting to US $20,794,637.00 on goods and services to be implemented in the Anglogold Ashanti (Ghana) Malaria Control Project in the three northern regions.

(d) Report of the joint Committee on Finance and Health on the Financing Agreement between the Government of Ghana and Opus7 s.r.o Limited of Austria for an amount of four hundred and forty-two million euros (€442,000,000.00) for the supply of 200 ambulance cars, 50 mobile clinics, 2 air ambulances, 10 educative mobile units, construction of 12 district hospitals and technical training in Ghana.

Presentation and First Reading of Bills --

The Appropriation Bill, 2010.

Motion --

Third Reading of Bills --

Engineering Council Bill, 2010.

Committee sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

Report of the Finance Committee on the Appropriation Bill, 2010.

Motions -- Second Reading of Bills --

The Appropriation Bill, 2010.

Third Reading of Bills --

The Appropriation Bill, 2010. Consideration Stage of Bills --

The Appropriation Bill, 2010.

Committee sittings.

Madam Speaker, let me remind Hon Colleagues about the programme on Wednesday, 15 th of December, 2011 -- that is, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols that will take place here at the forecourt of Parliament House.

Madam Speaker, on that day, we will close at about 5.00 p.m. to allow Hon Members to attend the programme at 6.00 p.m. So we entreat all Hon Members to be available for the Carols night.

Madam Speaker, in the light of the heavy schedule we have before us from now until we rise on the 21st of December, 2010, we encourage and appeal to Hon Members to try to co-operate with Leadership so that we can have this our schedule through.

Thank you.
Madam Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Leader.
Any comments on the Business Statement for the week?
Hon Members, Business Statement as presented, is therefore adopted.
We have got presentation of Papers - we move to Commencement of Public Business.
Leader of the House, are the Chairmen of the committees here?
Mr Avoka 10:35 a.m.
Yes, Madam Speaker. Some of the Chairmen are ready to lay their reports and maybe, at the close of the day, they will distribute them to Hon Members.
Madam Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Shall we then say item 5 (a)?
Mr Avoka 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, item 5 (a) and item 5 (h) are available. The rest will be deferred until Monday.
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Shall we then lay item 5 (a)
PAPERS 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon Leader, I thought you were going to lay a report of the investigation?
Mr Avoka 10:45 a.m.
Madam Speaker, you
recall that some few weeks ago, you asked Leadership to investigate the complaint that was lodged or raised by the Hon Member for Sekondi (Papa Owusu- Ankomah) with regard to the University of Ghana Act. I am happy to inform Madam Speaker and this august House that the Committee's Report is ready and has been submitted to Madam Speaker.
With your kind permission, I would like to lay the Report for the information and consideration of this august House.
By the Majority Leader -
Report of Leadership on the text variation in some provisions of the University of Ghana Act, 2010 Act 806 contrary to the decision taken by the House.
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon Leader, are
we moving on to the --
Mr Avoka 10:45 a.m.
Yes. Madam Speaker, we
will do item 11, page 3. We will continue with the debate on Petroleum Revenue Management Bill this morning.
Madam Speaker 10:45 a.m.
Hon Members, we
will continue with item 11 - Petroleum Revenue Management Bill at the Consideration Stage.
The Chair will be taken by the First Deputy Speaker to continue.
  • [10.40 a.m. -- MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER IN THE CHAIR.]
    • BILLS - CONSIDERATION STAGE 10:45 a.m.
    Mr Avoka 10:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, if I may
    apprise the House of the proceedings of yesterday.
    We decided to debate the clauses we deemed contentious first, therefore, we took clause 5 and completed that one. We were on clause 17 when we adjourned. We do not need to open the debate on the clause that was moved by the Hon Minority Leader; we might just ask him to refresh our memory of the amendment he proposed yesterday and then let somebody respond and we take the vote.
    We do not need to go over the debate again like we did yesterday. We had debated it extensively and we cannot go through the debate or the Motion process again.
    Mr Ambrose P. Dery 10:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    just to add to what the Hon Majority Leader said.
    I was actually on my feet at the time we were to adjourn and the understanding was that I would continue with my submission in support of the Hon Minority Leader's proposed amendment, which is at page 12
    (xliv), which the proposed amendment is supposed to affect paragraph 10, which reads as follows:
    “Paragraph (a), delete and insert the following:
    “the Petroleum Development Fund as part of the consolidated national budget.”
    Mr Speaker 10:45 a.m.
    If so, let us continue
    with your -
    Mr Dery 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, Hon Joe

    Madam Speaker, the argument is simple; what we have under the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill is that, the revenue from the Bill is supposed to be in three main components: one, going to the Heritage Fund; two, going to the Stabilisation Fund and the component of the revenue that could go to support the Budget is what, by the Bill, at clause 17 (a), is supposed to be paid into the Consolidated Fund. This amendment is supposed to cure a defect, namely, that if the money is paid into the Consolidated Fund, it would be difficult for us to trace it to the projects that the money is supposed to be used to execute.

    So, just as we have in the GETFund where we know that when money goes into the GETFund, it is for educational projects, and we have made a lot of progress. This amendment is proposing that the amount that would go to the Budget should be put in a Petroleum Development Fund. The development, namely, that is the component of the revenue that will be used for the development in the following year.

    Mr Speaker, Hon A. S. K. Bagbin yesterday said, well, we could decide

    to change the name to “Special Project fund”; that is neither here nor there. The important thing is that, clearly, in the Budget, the Hon Minister bemoaned the fact that because funds are allocated entirely, it is difficult for the Ministry to be able to get funding for certain special or important projects. The response is simple, that if you think any project is special, make it part of the Budget, let Parliament approve, so that we can ensure that the money is used for that purpose.

    Moreso because under this Bill, we have clause 22 which sets out the areas where these revenues should go. So, we should not make clause 22 a useless piece of legislation. If you put it there and yet the money goes into the Consolidated Fund. And we know as a matter of practice, that Ministers normally vire sometimes, move resources from one area to the other. Then we could end up with a situation where we allocate these moneys, they get into the Consolidated Fund, and they are subject to be vired at the discretion of the Minister and in the end, we would not have achieved the goal of dealing with those projects.

    So all that we are saying is that, let that amount of money be transferred to this Fund and when the Minister comes before Parliament, he would then tell us those projects and activities that would be funded by the oil revenue and then we can trace them, we can give an account of it.

    Mr Speaker, it is all because of the peculiar nature of oil that is forming and it is the kind of resource that we want to ensure that we those who live, utilize it responsibly and that those unborn have a share of it, that is why we have this Bill in the first place. So the issue of creating a number of Funds is neither here nor there.

    Mr Speaker, indeed, by article l79, clause 2 (a), it is clear there that it is expected that apart from the Consolidated
    Mr Dery 10:55 a.m.


    Fund, It is stated “. . . or such other appropriate Funds . . .” So we think the amendment is supposed to ensure that we have this Fund, that will ensure that the money allocated for the projects that would be stated in consonance with article 22 and approved by this House, actually, the money would go to those projects.

    Madam Speaker, in just a few words, we think that this amendment should be adopted, otherwise, we are going to have oil revenue -- then the Holding Fund is useless because after you have created the Fund, once the money leaves the Holding Fund and it goes into the Consolidated Fund, it gets lost. And I do not think there is anybody here who can deny the fact that the moneys, which go to the GETFund, if it had been left in the Consolidated Fund, we are not sure that those moneys would have been used for the projects and we would have achieved the economic development that we have achieved.

    Mr Speaker, finally whatever the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning says, that there is difficulty, after all, it is subject to those funds that we have made all the progress that we have made in Ghana. Real progress; we are now at middle income level. So what is the difficulty?

    The difficulty simply is that, it is limiting the discretionary movement of resources and I think we should be interested in that, so that any time the Minister or Government wants resources to be used for certain projects, they need to come to us and we will approve, so that we can effectively exercise our oversight responsibility.

    Mr Speaker, it is for these reasons that I support the amendment by the Hon Minority Leader.

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Joseph Y. Chireh 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I want to oppose the amendment and I am opposing the amendment not because I do not believe in the principles that they are espousing but that what they are seeking to do, if you look at the original provision, it talks about putting the money as part of the Budget. This same amendment they are making is saying the same thing. Now, why am I saying so? They are saying that we should set up a Fund and that Fund should go into a consolidated national budget.
    The point that has to be made is that - the arguments they are making, in law-making, you must make a specific command to somebody to do something. The Constitutional article that they are citing says that we should have programmes and activities for each budget that is approved by this Parliament.
    Therefore, if they want the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to isolate resources coming from the oil and specifying projects that are undertaken every year from the money from the oil, the decision that can better be amended to accommodate this is clause 22.
    In which case, it says that all moneys meant for the budget of every year should have a specific project identified and programmed, otherwise, you are going to talk about two systems of approvals, that is, you bring a budget in which the oil money is included, after you have approved it, then the Parliament of Ghana again Sits down to approve projects meant for specifically that. So the amendment we are seeking to do, is not to be able to cure the thing.
    Again Mr Speaker, the issue has to be clarified in a certain way. We have been setting up things and if you look at the wording of this Fund -- Petroleum Development Fund, are we going to develop petroleum? No. We have in this Bill different aspects of the oil money coming, then we have Stabilisation Fund, we have Heritage Fund - the money that
    will go into the budget.
    The point that I am making is that, unless you want to develop petroleum, the title itself is not right. That is why I am saying that if we want to ask the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in presenting the Budget here, to indicate that this year, so much money from the oil is going to be added to the Budget. But in this respect, we want specific roads, education or health facilities to be done. Until that are indicated in the Budget, we do not approve. You can give that command. You are restating the same thing here if you just leave it at that.
    On the other hand, the suggestion I will make to those who want to amend this Motion is to first of all say that all oil revenues coming here for approval must be matched with specific projects or areas of concern. And that one is a command to a Minister and it is this House which will approve that.
    But if you amend this clause the way we are doing it, we are simply just setting up a Fund and that does not mean that when you have put money in that Fund, automatically, you will have specifications of activities of programmes or the specific areas that you want us to develop. I am still saying that we should retain clause l7 as it is - when we get to clause 22, it is important then for us to specify and not even indicate any priority areas.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Dery 10:55 a.m.
    Just to make a correction.
    Mr Speaker, we want to make it clear that we are not saying that there must be a separate budget for those activities to be funded by this. Indeed, if you look at page 15 (lx), we are taking care of what he is talking about, that when the activities are presented, they will tell us the programmes to be funded by the
    Budget. We are also not adverse to the change of the name. The important thing is that we just want a source - but when we come to the Appropriation, we will pass an Appropriation and indicate the various funds in one Appropriation. It is not going to be separate Appropriations.
    Mr Speaker, I just wanted to clarify these points.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:55 a.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I think the arrangement initially was that the Hon Majority Leader was even saying that because more or less you concluded the debate, we should not reopen the debate and take the vote. Then he amended to say that let us take one to re-hash, then after we take the Vote -
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
    Hon
    Members, thank you very much. What I intended doing is that these clauses we are taking are controversial; clauses - they are controversial, that was why we have taken them out of turn to see whether after dealing with all of these clauses, they will pave way for it.
    I have asked the Table Office to advise me whether we have the required number to take a Vote. Otherwise, if somebody raises the issue of division or head count, we will have --

    Alhaj i Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka: Mr Speaker, yesterday, this argument went front and back. But I just want to say that the principle that was being pursued by the Hon Minority Leader in his amendment, like I said yesterday, is good. But if we can advert our minds to the Bill itself, when you look at clause 2, it states clearly that we are going to have a Petroleum Holding. Account and this one is going to be at the Bank of Ghana in a separate account. So it clearly even says from this clause 2 that that money is not going to be like the general revenue

    that we have been having. And if you then advert your mind to clause 22, even though we are yet to get there, the usage, I believe that the principle we are pursuing talks more about its usage.

    At clause 22, we are talking about how it can be used and where it should be used. I think if he could leave the amendment because the name in actual sense does not mean anything aside what we want to use it for. Since in clause 22, we would be looking at how to use it, I think it would be most appropriate to send it there rather to give because this Bill has talked about Petroleum Holding Fund and Stabilisation Fund.

    If we are not careful, we will have too many names. But in actual sense our aim is to make sure that these monies are dedicated and spent for specific projects. I think that can be well captured when we get to clause 22.

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Dr Anthony A. Osei 11:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    before I address the matter raised by my Hon Colleague on clause 2, creating an account per se at the Bank of Ghana, does not meet the requirement that my Leader is trying to bring.
    Yes, the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development talked about making some changes in clause 22, but the essence of the Hon Minority Leader's submission is that, if it goes to the regular Consolidated Fund, money is fungible and you and I may not be able to properly monitor and evaluate it.
    But the Constitution in article 179 (2) allows for the creation of a separate Fund; we are all treating this because oil is special; so we wanted to focus on this aspect of it such that we would be able to monitor and evaluate.
    As to the projects, it can come later but the whole idea is that you want the Appropriation Bill to capture both the normal estimates and revenue that you use the tax revenue for as well as this special Petroleum -- Now, as to the choice
    of words, the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing (Mr A. S. K. Bagbin) says you can call it “Special Projects Account.” There is no problem with that, but you want to isolate it so that come every year, you and I can go to the Appropriation Act and look at that line that says “Special Projects Fund”, what is it for? Aside from looking at the normal Appropriation Act.
    Right now, part of the reason we always have the auditor's report is that, we are not able to properly monitor what goes into the Consolidated Fund. It is fungible. We do not want it to be fungible. We want all of us to say this is petroleum revenue and it is meant for A, B, C, D. The A, B, C, D will come later, but the creation of that fund allows you to see that well. That is the essence of the Leader's submission. So clause 2 does not address that deficit. Clause 2, the issue about people creating funds, I think -
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
    Hon
    Member, wind up.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, yesterday
    before we rose, my good Friend, Hon Joe Ghartey had offered a friendly amendment. I do not know what happened to that, whether you admitted it or not. I just need to be guided on that, if not, I wanted to bring our attention to that also because in that clause, he was seeking to add - because people were saying that we do not have anything like a national budget, he wanted the words “As part of the estimates of the revenue and expenditures for the Government of Ghana” just so that the spirit of the Constitution can be well captured. That was a friendly amendment but I did not hear any discussion on that.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
    Hon Members, the figure given to me from the Table Office is that we are 95 in the House -- 49 from Majority and 46 from the Minority. I am not going to waste my time on this matter, I am going to take
    Estimates because when I call it and they call for a head count, we will not meet the constitutional requirement. When we continue talking, it will be an exercise in futility.
    Any time we have the number, I should be advised, otherwise, we would not be doing any business in this House and we would not make any progress.
    So Hon Majority Leader, what item on the Estimates are we going to take?
    Mr Avoka 11:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, then we
    can take Motion number 6 on page 2. Motions numbers 6 and 7 are ready for us to take.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
    Item 6 on
    the Order Paper, Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development.
    Mr Dery 11:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I appreciate
    the legality of what you have said but first of all, I thought that if we could not even take a Vote, we could continue the arguments - [Interruptions] -- on the other clauses so that we can take the Vote at the appropriate time.
    Mr Speaker, do not let us say that we cannot discuss if we do not have the number and people start raising quorum here. We will be in a complication. So if we cannot take the Vote now, we can nevertheless argue the other clauses and when we have the number, we decide to take the Vote. But if we start saying that we do not have the number, therefore, we cannot debate, then we are encouraging people -- please, we would complicate our work.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
    Hon Member, you have made a very good point. I do not have any objection to it. That is another way of looking at it. But the point is that -- you know these are controversial clauses where the House could not agree on any position? So there
    is the likelihood that people will call for a division. So if you think that we should take -
    Mr Avoka 11:05 a.m.
    I understand him to be
    saying that it is possible for us to have the debate and defer the decisions so that we can debate clauses 17, 22 and the rest. And at the right time that we have the numbers, we can then take the Vote on them and that might also save us.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
    Hon Members, do you know the difficulty with that decision [Interruption.] Hon Members, order! Hon Members, order!
    But this is an amendment of a Bill. One clause that can affect the other; one amendment can affect the other. So if we are not very clear in disposing of a particular matter completely and we move on to another one, we will also be debating in vacuum.
    Hon Deputy Minori ty Leader, otherwise, your suggestion is a very good one.
    Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh 11:05 a.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, we all know that Friday is not a good day for attendance in this House. So I would suggest that we defer the contentious ones to Monday or Tuesday when the House would be full. There would be no need debating and deferring the decision on them and coming back to them.
    There are plenty of amendments which are not contentious, we can take them smoothly so that we reserve the time for that. I do not believe that it is proper to debate and defer decisions on them and come back when we have the numbers. It will be drawing us back; I do not think it is proper.
    Mr Dery 11:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that I take your point that because they are related, maybe, it might affect the other ones. So I leave it to you.
    CONSIDERATION OF ANNUAL 11:15 a.m.
    ESTIMATES 11:15 a.m.
    MINISTRY OF LOCAL 11:15 a.m.
    GOVERNMENT AND RURAL 11:15 a.m.
    DEVELOPMENT 11:15 a.m.
    Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (Mr Joseph Y. Chireh) 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢226,237,907.00 for the services of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the year ending 31st December, 2011.
    Mr Speaker, the Committee has already considered the allocations and I will only beg to make a few remarks about the programmes for the year ahead.
    2. The sector allocation as provided within the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for the 2011 financial year is detailed as follows:
    GoG -- GH¢77,168,156.00
    Donor contribution -- GH¢73,331,341.00
    Social intervention programmes -- GH¢75,738,410.00
    Work Programme for 2011
    3. The objectives, outputs and activities of the Ministry are captured in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for the 20112013 fiscal years and the Budget Estimates for 2011 financial year.
    4. Mr Speaker, to deepen political,
    administrative and fiscal decentralisation i n Ghana and t o r e - a f f i rm the Government's commitment to the
    policy of decentralisation that takes into account people's participation, a national stakeholder consultation on decentralisation was organized and Cabinet has approved a Comprehensive Decentralisation Policy and an Action Plan and the Ministry is poised to pursue vigorously all the things that would make sure that our country is more decentralised with fiscal decentralization getting the due attention that it should do. For the year 2011, the implementation of the Action Plan will commence.
    5. Assessment of MMDAs per- formance in 2009 using the Functional Organizational and Assessment Tool (FOAT) will be conducted and allocation and disbursement of funds relating to the 2009 performance assessment to the MMDAs will be facilitated under the District Development Facility.
    6. Mr Speaker, the Ghana School Feeding Programme will continue in 2011 with the aim of attaining the key objectives of contributing to poverty reduction and improving food security in deprived communities in the country.
    7. Mr Speaker, to improve sanitation service delivery at the various MMDAs, the Ministry will continue to build the capacity of MMDAs through increase awareness in hygiene and sanitation, enforcement of sanitation regulations/ legislation and also strengthen monitoring and valuation of sanitation services in MMDAs.
    8. Mr Speaker, for the year 2011, the Local Government Service will establish
    Human Resource Units for all MMDAs to ensure the management of over 33,000 personnel to be transferred from the Civil Service to the Local Government Service. In addition, 25 District Works Departments in some selected MMDAs in five (5) regions will be established.
    9. Mr Speaker, I humbly request that the House approves the sum of two hundred and twenty-six million, two hundred and thirty-seven thousand, nine hundred and seven Ghana cedis GH¢226,237,907, for the 2011 fiscal year.
    Thank you.
    Question proposed.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Dominic A. Azumah) 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion and in doing so, present the Report of the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development.
    1.0 Introduction
    On Thursday, 18th November, 2010, the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 140 (1) and (2) of the Standing Orders of the House, laid before Parliament the Estimates of revenue and expenditure of the Government of Ghana for the 2011 fiscal year.
    The Rt. Hon Speaker in accordance with Order 140 (4) of the Standing Orders, referred the draft Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development.
    The Committee met on Thursday,
    2nd December, 2010 and considered the Annual Estimates of the sector Ministry and in accordance with article 179 of the Constitution and Order 181 of the Standing Orders, reports.
    2.0 Acknowledgements
    During the deliberations on the Estimates, the Committee met with the sector Minister, Hon Joseph Yieleh Chireh, heads of the various Departments, Agencies and projects of the Ministry and officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. The Committee is grateful to these persons for their invaluable contributions.
    3.0 References
    In discussing the Estimates, the Committee made reference to the following materials:
    a. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
    b. The Standing Orders of the House;
    c. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2011financial year.
    d. The 2011 draft Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development; and
    e. Report of the Committee on the 2010 Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
    4.0 Mission of the Ministry
    The Min is t ry i s manda ted to ensure good governance and balanced development of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) through the formulation of policies on governance, decentralization and rural
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Dominic A. Azumah) 11:15 a.m.


    For the year 2011, it is the intention of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to undertake a number of projects and programmes with its budgetary allocation. Included in the plans and activities for 2011 year are:

    1 . The implementa t ion of the Comprehensive Decentralisation Action Plan.

    2. The establishment of a Secretariat to support the activities of the Inter- Ministerial Co-ordinating Council. The Council would facilitate cross- sectoral implementation of the decentralisation policy.

    3. The facilitation of the allocation and disbursement of funds relating to the 2009 FOAT performance assessment to the MMDAs.

    4. The facilitation of the annual assessment processes by carrying out the 2010 performance assessment.

    5. The establishment of Human Resource Units of MMDAs to ensure the management of over 33,000 personnel to be transferred from the Civil Service to the Local Government Service.

    6. The re-targeting of beneficiary pupils by the Ghana School Feeding Programme using the selection criteria.

    7. The evaluation of the end of the existing phase of the Ghana School Feeding Programme and the beginning of the redesigning of next phase.

    8. Implement the Sanitation and Water For All (SWA) Compact Document.

    9. The validation of final draft document of the National Urban Policy with selected stakeholders and subsequent submission to

    Cabinet for approval.

    10. The construction of sewerage treatment plant at Legon which will continue with the provision of pumping stations at PRESEC, IPS and Legon.

    To carry out its activities in the year 2011, the Ministry has been allocated an amount of two hundred and twenty-six million-two hundred and thirty-seven thousand, nine hundred and seven Ghana Cedis (GH¢226,237,907.00).

    Of this amount, an amount of seventy- seven million, one hundred and sixty- eight thousand, one hundred and fifty-six Ghana Cedis (GH¢77,168,156.00) is from Government of Ghana sources while seventy-five million, seven hundred and thirty-eight thousand, four hundred and ten Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 75,738,410.00) is from HIPC source for Social Intervention Programmes.

    The donor component of th is Budget is seventy-three million, three hundred and thirty-one thousand, three hundred and forty-one Ghana cedis

    (GH¢73,331,341.00).

    Breakdown of 2011 allocations

    The breakdown of the budgetary allocation for the sector Ministry for the 2011 financial year is presented in the Table C as follows :

    9.0 Outlook for 2011

    9.1 Local Government Service

    The Local Government Service was created to secure effective decentralisation of professionals from the Civil Service to the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

    For 2011, the Service will among others commence the establishment of Human Resource Units in all MMDAs. This will ensure that over 33,000 personnel to be transferred from the Civil Service to the Local Government Service are well managed. The Local Government Service will also vigorously pursue the integration of all the decentralised departments as departments of the District Assemblies.

    9.3 Births and Deaths Registry

    The Births and Deaths Registry is

    mandated to register and certify all births and deaths occurrences in Ghana. This ensures that accurate and reliable information on all births and deaths in Ghana are provided.

    Included in the 2011 plans of the Registry, is the plan to expand the computerisation of the registration process with the installation of computers, scanners and data capture software in two

    regional offices in the Upper East and Upper West Regions. The Registry will also seek to refurbish its Statistics Unit in the Head Office.

    9.4 Ghana School Feeding Programme

    The Ghana School Feeding Programme began in 2005 as an initiative to among others reduce hunger and malnutrition in pupils attending public schools and improve enrolments and retention levels in these schools. The programme has over the years been jointly funded by the Government and DANIDA.

    In 2011, the programme will commence the evaluation of the project and begin processes for the redesigning of the next phase. The Ghana School Feeding Programme will also undertake a re- targeting exercise of beneficiary pupils using the selection criteria.

    9 .5 Department of Community Development

    Table C -- 11.15 a.m -- page 11
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Where is the Hon Ranking Member for Local Government and Rural Development?
    Dr Anthony A. Osei 11:25 a.m.
    Point of information, Mr Speaker.
    In the Report, I just want to be sure we are talking about Social Intervention Programme (SIP) amount of 75,738,410. However, on page 266, I do not get 75,738,410; which means that the appropriation that they are requesting will be a little off-track and I want to know why. This is because we are debating a wrong figure. The SIP -- Social Intervention Programme, if you go to page -
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Member, I thought we would get the Hon Ranking Member from the Minority side to speak - they can take that thing on board and then they would respond to it. But there is some discrepancy between the Budget figure and the figure that is in - it is a very valid point. But let us hear the Hon Ranking Member; they have taken note. So they will respond to it. Who is the Ranking Member?
    Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh (NPP - Sunyani East) 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion requesting this House to approve the sum of GH¢226,237,907.00 for the services of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the year 2011.
    Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would want to focus on 2010. In the year 2010, this House approved the sum of GH¢233,811,799.00 for the services of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and its agencies. As at September ending, the actuals recorded is that the Ministry expended the sum of GH¢129,163,538.76. It is quite worrying that this House approved the sum of over GH¢233 million and as at September only the amount of GH¢129 million had been received by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
    Not only is there a disparity between the approved sum and the actual but there is also some disparity between the amount
    Mr Alfred K. Agbesi (NDC -- Ashiaman) 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to make contribution on this Motion and to urge other Hon Members of the House to support the Motion. I want to make a few observations on this Report of the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry.
    It is stated that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly has discontinued its landfill project in Kwabenya, meaning that the problem of landfill area and disposal of waste in the system have come up with a problem.
    The Committee went further to say that there should be private partnership agreement towards the management of waste in the country. I want to say and urge the Ministry to pursue the matter very seriously. Management of waste in the country is a real problem. Sometimes,
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    One more.
    Mr Stephen K. B. Manu 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I cede my opportunity to the Hon Member for Odotobri as a member of the Committee. I am not.
    Thank you.
    Mr Emmanuel A. Gyamfi (NPP -- Odotobri 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank my Senior Colleague, Hon Balado for the opportunity. I have a few observations about the Report.
    Mr Speaker, it is a laudable idea that we need to encourage the Ministries to be up and doing and also be very cautious about usage of utilities. It is advocated by the Government that Ministries should be asked to pay for their utility bills, which is very laudable. But if we are not careful, we will corrupt most of the MMDAs. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has started the pre-paid metering and at the committee meeting, most of the MMDAs - the agencies were very, very surprised about the way and manner the ECG is going about the exercise.
    Unfortunately for some of the agencies, they do not have enough resources to pay for the bills. For the Birth and Death Registry, it was such that when they reported, they had to stop working for almost a day without electricity. And we all know the important role this particular agency is playing in terms of issuing of birth certificates and other documents.
    So, I will plead with the Hon Minister that we should take this issue very seriously. Not only the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development but the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, that by next year, the release to the MMDAs for the payment of the utility bills should be done as smoothly as possible so that it will not create any problems for any MMDAs which want to perform its mandatory function.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I need to be guided but looking at who is here, this is the first time I have seen us debate Estimates for the Ministries and not a representative of the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning is in the House to take notes. We are working eventually to the Appropriation Act, not even a Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning is here -
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    I entirely agree with you.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is unacceptable. We should suspend it and have them come back to do their work. It is not the best.
    Mr Avoka 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, as much as I appreciate what my Hon Colleague has said, we had earlier given an indication that yesterday and today, the emphasis would be on Petroleum Revenue Management Bill -
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, the Bill is in their name. The Bill is in the name of the Ministry,
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, something is happening and we need to take note. I have had an occasion to make certain observations to some members of the Executive. My appeal is for His Excellency the President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills to put his foot down. Certain things are happening which are most unacceptable. He should give direction.
    Thank you very much.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Minister for Communications, what do you want to say? You want to speak? He was on the floor but it was not really a point of order.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:45 a.m.
    No, Mr Speaker, my point was that continuation of the debate does not serve the Government's interest if the Minister or his representative is not here. Because at the end, they have to keep track of all these numbers to -
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    The sentiment of the House has been rightly captured.
    Hon Member, continue.
    Mr Gyamfi 11:45 a.m.
    Thank you very much.
    Mr Speaker, I was on retargeting and we are all aware of the benefits that we are getting from the School Feeding Programme in terms of increase in enrolment and retention of children in school.
    I think what we need to do is to find
    Mr Chireh 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am rising on a point of order. The President did not make such a promise and even if he wants to go closer, he should look at the Manifesto. He cannot say every school child. It is not possible that we will say so. It was classified and the thing is targeted at kindergarten and primary schools only.
    Mr Gyamfi 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think it
    is important that we take this particular School Feeding Programme seriously. Everybody is for it and we are not saying something that is for or against a particular government. What I am saying is that, it is important for us to continue the programme. We need to look for the resources and for the benefit of all school children in Ghana, we have almost about 9 million school pupils in Ghana as I am speaking. We only have 670,000 of these school pupils being fed by the School Feeding Programme and the retargeting is not a solution to get more institutions or children being on board. That is my concern and as such, we need to be very serious about the way and manner we are handling this particular School Feeding Programme.
    Mr Speaker, by the end of the administration of the NPP Government. about 593,000 school pupils were being fed. As I am speaking now, Mr Speaker - [Interruptions] -- by this figure, if 670,000 pupils are being fed now, it means that the Government has been able to add only 77,000 pupils to the programme and in my opinion, it is not enough as a country and the benefits that we are getting from the School Feeding Programme. So I
    will plead with Government to take this programme very seriously and look for the necessary resources to -
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Member, kindly wind up.
    Mr Gyamfi 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, Hon Members were disputing what I was saying. I have the document here to prove what I said.
    On page 72 of the “Manifesto for a Better Ghana Agenda 2008” and Mr. Speaker, with your indulgence, I beg to quote:
    “We shall review the framework for the implementation of the School Feeding Programme and in particular, streamline and strengthen the operational and delivery capacity of the programme.

    Mr Speaker, we are in the second year of the NDC Administration and we only have 77,000 out of about 9 million Ghanaian pupils in primary schools enjoying this particular facility.

    Mr Speaker, I will not waste much time but to suggest, if they do not want the advice, that Ghanaians are looking up to the Government to deliver on this particular promise.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Minister, wind up. But in so doing, try and give us the exact figure, the amount that

    you want because my attention has been drawn to another figure. Let us know what the real figure is that you want this House to approve for you. My attention has been drawn by the Table Office to another figure and we want to be sure.
    Mr Chireh 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much. The Ministry's budget is captured in the estimates properly and in fact, the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo (Dr Anthony A. Osei) who raised the issue, we showed him the other additions that were made to get what he was objecting to and he accepted.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    What figure did the Hon Member for Old Tafo give?
    Mr Azumah 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, if I can just clarify the air. He was looking at the Social Intervention Programmes (SIP) and he indicated that he found GH¢50 million for School Feeding Programme and GH¢20 million for sanitation. He did not go down to realise in the Budget that there was an extra GH¢4,987,000 provided for the compact . If you total the three, it comes to the correct figure of GH¢75,897,410. So that is the correct figure being used and he has accepted it.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Very well. I have a correspondence from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the figure they have here is GH¢150 million. The letter is dated 26th November, 2010 and the Table Office has drawn my attention to it. So, I will fail in my duty not to draw the House's attention to it.
    So, we need to reconcile the figures before I put the Question. There is a letter dated 26th November, 2010 and the figure for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is GH¢150,499,497.
    I hope the Hon Majority Leader and the Hon Minority Leader have a copy of that correspondence?
    So, the matter ought to be clarified. If it cannot be reconciled, we defer the Question to be put. I do not know but if you are sure - because this is dated 26th November, 2010.
    Mr Azumah 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we had the presence of the officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning who had the paper and these figures were reconciled with him and that is how we arrived at the GH¢226 million. So this letter you are talking about did not come to the attention of the Committee.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Do you see why the officers from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning should be here to assist the House? Do you see the importance of the officers from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning being here to assist this House? Well, I cannot put the Question, so I defer it.
    What is the next item, Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think it is a very important development. It goes to the very pivot of our debate in the House. And as you rightly noted, it would be important for the officers of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to be here to help us in the reconciliation because if we should go to the next item, we are going to suffer the same problem.
    Mr Speaker, drawing from what you yourself said regarding when we came to debating the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, when we thought that we could go on and hold the Vote in abeyance, Mr Speaker, in the circumstance, I believe that we cannot proceed because
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.


    the others are equally affected. So, in the circumstances, we cannot proceed. I would in the event propose -
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Members, I will suspend the House for 30 minutes --
    Hon Members, please, I am in the Chair. If the Hon Minister is in, he should draw my attention to it; it should be put on record. He should not be signalling me. Am I a magician to be Sitting here and seeing what is at my back? [Uproar.] If the Hon Minister is around, he should officially draw my attention to it.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, there indeed, appeared in the House an official of the Ministry but not the Hon Minister. He is not the Minister or any of his Deputies who came in. The Deputies are not here, the Hon Minister is not here, there was an official who entered and exited but not any of the -
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    They were signalling me when I said we should suspend for 30 minutes.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe the better thing to do is to suspend for some time, maybe, about 30 minutes and look at developments. I think that is the way to go.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Let us suspend the House for 30 minutes and get clarification on these matters so that we do the proper thing in this House.
    Hon Members, the House is accordingly suspended for 30 minutes.
    11.58 a.m. - The Sitting was suspended.
    12.35 p.m. -- Sitting resumed.
    Mr Cletus A. Avoka 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it appears that we have some challenges as far as some of the figures concerning the Budget Estimates. So in consultation with my Colleagues, we propose that it is better we adjourn and reconcile our figures before we adopt the Motions in respect of the Budget Estimates.
    In the circumstances, I beg to move, that this House now adjourn until Monday, l0.00 in the forenoon.
    Mr Speaker, even though we are adjourning, people can attend to their committee meetings, to be able to complete their Budget Estimates.
    Thank you.
    Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, while agreeing with the Majority Leader, I think that what we have before us poses a great difficulty for even the committees to go and continue -- on what basis? Because the figures that we have appear to differ from what have been given us. I believe that ultimately, the ceiling may be the same. If even it is going to be the same, we need to do a lot of reconciliation, which is why we need the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning and the officials from the Ministry to help us in this reconciliation exercise before we can proceed and do any meaningful work. I hope that we can use the remaining part of this day to do that to enable the committees on Monday, to report meaningfully to us, so that we can transact business accordingly.
    I beg to second the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Question put and Motion agreed to
    ADJOURNMENT 11:55 a.m.