Debates of 13 Dec 2010

MADAM SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:30 a.m.
ANNOUNCEMEN TS 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Members, we have some visitors in our midst today. It is the Zambian Committee on Reforms and Modernisation, on a study visit to this Parliament. They are here to understudy our parliamentary system and I have the pleasure to introduce them to you:
1 . M r s F a u s t i n a B w a l y a Sinyangwe -- MP, Chairperson
2. Hon (Brig. Gen.) (Dr) Brian Chituwa -- MP, Minister of Local Government and National Housing
3. Hon Ernest Chitumwa Mwansa -- MP, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole House
4. Hon Stephen Katuka -- MP
5. Mr Edward Kasoko -- MP
6. Mr Yamfwa Dingle Mukanga -- MP
7. Mr Happy E. Phiri -- Principal Clerk (PRP)
8. Mr Basil Hamusuku -- Programme Accountant

Hon Members, I, on your behalf, wish them a pleasant stay in the country and fruitful deliberations.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 10th December,
2010.
Page 1. . . 8 --
Prof. (Emeritus) Samuel K. Amoako 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, a little typographical mistake on page 8, under item 9. The sentence under the second paragraph, “Question proposed: debating arsing”. The spelling of “arising” is wrong. I suppose “debating” should also be “debate”.
Mr Ambrose P. Dery 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, there appears to be a problem of numbering on page 8. We have two “9”s; “9” for “Motion” and “9” for “Adjournment” and I suppose that the “Adjournment” should be “11”.
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
So that we have “9”, “10” and 11? Is it “11” that you are substituting?
Mr Dery 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, it should be “11”.
Dr Ahmed Y. Alhassan 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, page 12, item 3, “In Attendance,” 3. (v), the name “Mr Arz Salifu”. The “Arz” are initials and should be “A. R. Z Salifu”.
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Page 13 .... 17--
Dr Alhassan 10:30 a.m.
Madam Speaker, on page 17, there appears to be a numbering problem again under “Judiciary”.
The “Attendance” is 2 and then “In Attendance” is 3.
Madam Speaker 10:30 a.m.
The Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 10th December, 2010 as corrected is adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, there will be no Statements today.
Mr Gershon K. B. Gbediame 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, there is the Official Report of Monday, 29th November; I do not know whether we can take it.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Yes, Hon Members, you have the Official Report? If you have, I will wait for mine and then we correct it. I was not served with any Official Report.
Mr Gbediame 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, maybe, we can suspend it now and do it tomorrow.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
All right. Because it seems that some other people are not -- Yes -- All right.
We now move to item number 4 - At the Commencement of Public Business.
What is the next item?
Mr Gbediame 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, item 4 (a) and (b) that is, Reports of the Committee on Employment, Social Welfare, State Enterprises are not ready.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
What about the rest ?
Mr Gbediame 10:40 a.m.
So we go to (e).
Dr Anthony A. Osei 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I do not know if we can go to item 4 at all. The fundamental problem that occurred on Friday has not yet been resolved. If we try to go to item 4, we may have to deal with - I mean, as we speak,
only a few people have copies of the letter from the Minister. I checked last night and there were some differences among other Ministries; and we should not be doing things in a haphazard manner.
Mr Dery 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we adjourned the last time because we wanted clarification on a letter that had surfaced here and appeared to have figures which differed from the Budget. So we want to know from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning the status of that letter vis-à-vis the figures in the Budget, so that we can advise ourselves.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, if the Minister is here to brief us.
Mr Gbediame 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Minister himself is not here, but the Deputy is with us and I am sure he is capable of explaining to the House what the figures are about.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Yes, if we would have him, he would explain.
Mr Dery 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Deputy Finance Ministers, especially Hon Seth Terkpeh has been here all along. So I believe he can fill in the space.
Madam Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Members, so we progress very quickly. Since you are here, you may answer the issues raised for them.
Mr Seth Terkpeh 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, to begin with, on behalf of the Hon Minister, we wish to apologize to the House for the lack of information that led to the situation on Friday.
Madam Speaker, the Budget Statement
Mr Seth Terkpeh 10:40 a.m.


at page 263, appendix (8) (b), gives the total for the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as GH¢6,481.3 million. Madam Speaker, out of this figure, an allocation of GH¢308.5 million on page 263 was made for the Social Intervention Programmes (SIPs). This is because the SIPs as with other expenditure items like low road arrears, contingency and others, are normally transferred or released centrally from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to the MDAs.

Following further discussions after the Budget was presented, an amount of GH¢7.9 million was also added to the allocation for Parliament and this was duly communicated.

Therefore, Madam Speaker, if you adjusted for the figure GH¢308.5 million and the GH¢7.9 million for these two items, subtracting from the figure that is shown in the Budget Estimates, you would arrive at GH¢6,180.7 million which is what was stated in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning's letter.

Madam Speaker, the explanation therefore, is that the communication to the MDAs which includes Parliament, was meant to get, as the letter indicated, their allocation for cost centres that are under their control; and it excludes any other items which had been included in the Budget as communicated, otherwise, to the House.

Therefore, that communication and any that had come to the House previously had different purposes. One is a communication to the MDAs for purposes of clarifying to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning with respect to cost centres which fall under them and then if it is added to what is controlled centrally, as I have explained, you would get the figure that is shown in the Budget at appendix (8).

Madam Speaker, this is the explanation for the apparent difference that led to the -- So the figures in the Budget are as stated and as communicated to the committees.
Dr A. A. Osei 10:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I can appreciate my Hon Colleague's explanation, and he is probably right. The difficulty is that, except for he and I and a few people, if you do not put it in simple language, not all of us can follow what had happened.
Effectively, what he is saying is that in the letter that was communicated, a column was taken out. When we go to the Local Government, the difficulty the Speaker had was, he had the letter that says 150 but in the Budget, their total amount is 226, which includes the column on page 263.
So the thing to do is to say that except for Parliament, we should be looking at this book - [Book waved to the House] - so that effectively, I would want to ignore this letter. If we do not, there would be confusion. So I plead that we go straight and except for the Office of Parliament, where an addition has been made, we all follow this book; then the numbers would add up. This is because if we do not, then the total budget would not add up. So I plead that we ignore this. If we start going to this, it would bring total chaos. So I plead that we are allowed to use this book as was read by the Hon Minister and all the numbers and the columns would be there, except for Parliament. If I go by this, then adding, subtracting would bring total chaos.
Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the letter that we are talking about, as the Hon Deputy Minister explained, was to guide MDAs in their allocation of resources. It was not addressed to the
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Well, he did not say withdraw; he said “ignored”; is it not? In other words - Hon Minister, you are saying that same thing. Are you not? He says, let us work from the Budget --
Mr Chireh 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I will yield to the Chairman of the Commmittee.
Mr James K. Avedzi 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think the letter is a communication from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to the MDAs; so Parliament is served as an MDA, not Parliament as an institution. So we are not going to ignore the letter because it is relevant to the Office of Parliament for that communication; so we cannot ignore the letter.
In dealing with the Estimates, we are going to rely on the Budget Statement for the Estimates. But Parliament would take that letter because there is a communication to Parliament that additional funds have been allocated to Parliament. Therefore, for Parliament's figure, we would not depend on the Budget, but we would depend on the letter because Parliament has been served as an MDA.
Mr Dery 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I find it difficult that we are trying to create a problem for a solution. This House adjourned the last time to clarify a situation in respect of this correspondence. The explanation today is simple. It was directed at MDAs and therefore, we should not expect the figures in the Budget to tally with that. So for purposes of our passing the Budget here, except in respect
of the figure for Parliament -- It is as simple as that. What is the complication?
rose
Mr Dery 10:50 a.m.
So we move forward. Why are we trying to create a problem for a solution? We have clarified it. So now, Madam Speaker, I think we should move forward.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes, any input?
Mr Gbediame 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, now that the issue has been clarified, I think we are prepared to take the Laying of the Papers. So we go to (e).
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Item 4(e) - what about the others? You said you could not lay (a) and (b), what about (c) and (d)? Are you going to lay (c) and (d)?
Mr Gbediame 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, (a), (b), (c) and (d) are not ready. So we start from (e).
Thank you.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
All right.
Mr Gbediame 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Chairman is not here but a member of the Committee is here and the Report is ready,
rose
Mr Gbediame 10:50 a.m.
I want to crave your indulgence and that of the House. He is a member of the Committee and our convention here allows that a member of the Committee can lay the Report.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, an application has been made to get the Vice Chairman to lay the Report. I do not see any objection; yes.
PAPERS 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes, (g) -
Mr Gbediame 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, (g) is not ready.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
(g) is not ready? All right; what about (h)?
Mr Gbediame 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, for (h), the Chairman is not here and I do not have any word from him; we can skip that one also. (i) is ready -
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
You say the Chairman is not here?
Mr Gbediame 10:50 a.m.
The Chairman for Lands and Forestry is Hon Albert Abongo
- 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes, but the last one, the Chairman was not here but you got somebody to lay it.
Mr Gbediame 10:50 a.m.
Yes, but I do not have any indication that the Report is ready -
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
All right. Then say so. Yes, so with (h), the report is not ready? All right. Then we go to (i) -
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Committee on Education on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Education for the year ending 31st December, 2011.
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, as much as I appreciate the fact that the Leadership and the Business Committee are in charge of this, I think that it is necessary that at least, they ask the Clerks to check. I was quite shocked to see here a proposed laying of a Paper by the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs; we have not met; we have not even met. So check - [Interruption.]
I am trying to say that it should not even be on the Order Paper at all; we have not even met. So the Leadership must check with the Clerks to see whether it is there. It is not because it is there; you produce it verbatim and we have a long sheet and so on. There is no need for any answer; we have not met and so it should not be here at all. That is all there is to it.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes, and that is why it was not laid, was it not?
Mr Edward K. D. Adjaho 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Member for New Juaben North is right up to a point. But the point is that what the Clerk's Office has captured on the Order Paper is the Business Statement that this House approved last Friday. So that if the Hon Members of the various committees are not ready, they should inform the Table Office and they would remove those items from it.
So it is no longer the problem of the Clerks or the Table Office. It is the problem for the members of the committee, the Chairmen and the Ranking Members, when they know that, to liaise with the Table Office and inform them that they are not able to meet; they are not ready, then the Clerk's Office will . . . Otherwise, they do not have power to remove those items when the House has approved to programme those things for today.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
Mr Stephen K. B. Manu 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, ordinarily, Mondays are not Sitting days for Parliament. We accepted to Sit on Mondays because of the volume of work that we have. However, coming here to witness what is going on, tends to defeat the purpose for which we are here today.
I therefore, would like to suggest that if we do not have any work to be done, if there is no Business to be carried out as is being displayed here, then we better close for Hon Members to go and attend to other businesses of theirs.
I thank you very much.
Madam Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Member, we have already taken the decision to meet on Mondays. There is so much Business. If you look at this Order Paper, you will see it is a very full paper; so we are coming to the Business. But let me hear from him -
Mr Gbediame 10:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, a number of Papers have been laid and other Motions are to be taken. Therefore, for him to say that we do not have Business to do today is beside the point. [Interruption.] So Madam Speaker, the Chairman for
Lands and Forestry is now in and he says the Report is ready.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Which one?
Mr Gbediame 11 a.m.
That is (h).
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the joint Committee on Lands and Forestry and Mines and Energy on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the year ending 31st December, 2011.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
4(i)?
Mr. Gbediame 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the 4 (i) has been laid.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
So, therefore, 4(j)?
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture for the year ending 31st December, 2011.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
4 (k)?
Mr Gbediame 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, my information is that 4(k) is not ready. But 4(l) is ready.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Can we lay 4(l) then?
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Committee on Roads and Transport on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Transport for the year ending 31st December, 2011.
Mr Gbediame 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker,

the Motion numbered 5 was moved last Friday, the debate was carried on and it was left with the Hon Minister to wind up when we had this issue of difference in figures. So I will crave the indulgence of the House to allow the Hon Minister to wind up and then the Question can be put.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
All right. Then we will continue.
Wind up then, Hon Minister.
CONSIDERATION OF ANNUAL 11 a.m.
ESTIMATES 11 a.m.
Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 11 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank all Hon Members for the contributions that they made and I also promise that all the suggestions that were made for us to carry out decentralisation and ensure fairness in many of the - [Interruptions.]
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
I have been informed that we need him to wind up now.
Dr A. A. Osei 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Balado Manu was making a certain point. We are about to vote on a Motion and we do not have even one half of the House here -
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
No, we have not reached there; have we?
Dr A. A. Osei 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, we are getting there. That is why --
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
We will cross the bridge when we get there.
Dr A. A. Osei 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, so when we get there, I should raise it?
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Yes, of course, raise it.
Dr A. A. Osei 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, to avoid this -
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
You do not know how many people are going to come in, between now and the winding up.
Dr A. A. Osei 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, before we get to the Vote?
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Yes.
Dr A. A. Osei 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, all right.
Mr Chireh 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I thought this man was my Friend but the way he is behaving -- I thought you were my Friend but why are you doing that? Anytime I am talking, he gets up on a point of order. [Laughter.]
I thank everybody once again for the kind of support you have given us and I will now say, approve the correct figure of GH¢226,237,907.00 for fiscal year 2011 for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and its agencies.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
We are getting to
the crucial part. Have we got half? If we have half, we can -- [Pause.] Let us finish the counting and see the number we have here. This is because you have said that we did not have enough people and I want to know the number here.
Dr A. A. Osei 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I was going to quote the right Standing Order for the record.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Well, yes, quote it while we do the counting.
Dr A. A. Osei 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, Standing Order 109 (1) --
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Standing Order
109 (1)?
Dr A. A. Osei 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I do not mind us continuing the debate but I am worried that we will take decisions on this important document without Hon Members being here; that is my concern.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
I will not do that. I will be advised by the Clerk and your goodselves. Standing Order 109 (1), yes, we need half of all Hon Members. Is it not? Do we have half?
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon (Dr) Osei, I have counted and we do not have half the numbers here. So if we cannot take a decisions -- we have closed the debate and we have got to the stage where we are about to put the Question but we do not have the numbers; we can defer it, whether later on or another day.
Mr Gbediame 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker. There are other Motions which are also ready to be taken. Therefore, we can suspend the putting of the Question and take the Motions, debate them and when we have the numbers, you can put the Question.
Madam Speaker 11 a.m.
That is the only way to go then. Yes, that is the only way but we cannot wait for the whole --
Mr Dery 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, meanwhile, the Whips should try to call Hon Members to come and make up the numbers. That is the more important thing to do.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
Madam Speaker, what we are dealing with is
Government Business. What we are dealing with is an approval of the Estimates of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies under the Executive arm of the State. It is, therefore, important that at least, the Majority side has its membership present. This situation is not the best; it is not the best and it undermines governance in this country.
Madam Speaker, there are certain matters that some of us will not take kindly to. Last Friday, I wanted to go and discuss this matter with the First Deputy Speaker. It is in the interest of this country that we say these matters; it is not for partisan advantage. And I will repeat, it is important that the President puts his foot down. I said it last Friday and I am repeating it. It does not give a good impression of the state of governance in this country.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, a very important matter has come up. What do you say?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
as important as the issue by the Hon Papa Owusu-Akomah is legitimate, I just want to assure that some of our Members are attending the Committee of Transport meeting at La Palm Beach Hotel and probably, other meetings.
Madam Speaker, my only disagreement with him is that, elected Members of Parliament from both sides, whether Majority or Minority, have the duty to be responsive to the calling of exercising their duties as Members of Parliament. That is just the only correction I wanted to make and not narrow only to the Majority side.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Members, do we need to belabour this issue?
Mr Sampson Ahi 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I
agree entirely with what Hon Papa Owusu- Ankomah said but where I disagree with him is the fact that all of us know that the Executive is a different institution and Parliament too is a different institution. So to say that the President should put his foot down to ensure that Hon Members of Parliament come to Parliament House, I do not agree.
For the President, he is in serious control of affairs of the nation but what is happening here has nothing to do with him. It is not the President who should go round to individual Hon Members of Parliament and call them to come and attend to parliamentary duties.
So I agree that as Members of Parliament, we urge that Members should take the business of this House seriously. To extend it or to call the President to whip Hon Members to come to the Chamber, is misplaced.
Thank you.
rose
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, last word from you.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:10 a.m.
Thank you
very much, Madam Speaker.
The Hon Member for Juaboso -- In fact, we are dealing with a political, party in Parliament and the leader of that political party, incidentally, is the President. It has to do with party discipline. It is important and I am saying this not just out of turn. It is an indication of certain things that have been happening and it is important that we do this.
After all, we have been in government; I have been a Minister before. I was at a conference at Oxford when I was summoned by the Chief of Staff to leave everything I was doing and fly back down to Ghana because of parliamentary business. Madam Speaker, we have been in government, we have experience in these matters and it is important to note that the President works in tandem with Members of Parliament (MPs).
So if MPs are not coming to Parliament promptly, nothing stops the President from convening a meeting and talking to them. It is important.
Madam Speaker, the Majority Leader is the Leader of Government Business and the Budget is the most important government business in this country, at least, in this Parliament. It is the most important. So when you seek to give the impression that when some of us talk about these things, we just want to gain undue partisan advantage. I beg to differ. Let us learn from these things.
This argument is not going to lead us anywhere and some Hon Members will agree with me that I have been saying this privately to Hon Members of Government for the past one month or so. When I say these things, it is not because I seek partisan advantage or I am stretching things unduly to the Executive. We have Ghana incorporated to manage and we all have to play a part but the President is both the captain and the coach.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Members, I will not be truthful if I did not say that both myself and the other Deputy Speakers have agonised over this problem of late coming, not coming, not being able to finish our job for the day, even though we ourselves have increased working time. We have agonised over it; we have done our best. Maybe, our best is not enough because still we do not have the numbers.
But before I finish, I will also count, maybe, in the interim when we would have made up and this interruption will be very advantageous. But, yes the problem is there. We have said here collectively that the problem is there; we have said here collectively that we do not go to committee meetings before we finish with work here.
It is not followed. I do not know where to put the blame. Is it on the Whips? Is it on Leadership? Is it on the whole House? is it on the Speaker?
Well, the President, if I may come in here. I did read that he had issued a direction that nobody travels outside Ghana before we finish with the Budget. I did see it - I am not speaking for him but I saw it in the Papers. Probably, we all did see it and I must say I do not know what the Leaders are doing but I will call upon the Leader finally to tell us. This is
because if you have Whips, tell us what you have been doing to get Hon Members here.
Mr Gbediame 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think that the observation is right. However, the circumstances are too demanding because of the time limit we have. Madam Speaker, you can bear me out that when we were calling for reports to be laid, a number of them were not ready. And if we want to be meeting at afternoon time, we will not be able to finish. That is why sometimes the committees try to work behind the scene.
Madam Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, the decision of the House which you formulated has been that we come here and finish with business and then it is after we close that the committees meet. It does not seem like you are following it. Who is responsible for the whole House - now, is it not the Leaders? The Chair cannot come down and whip Hon Members.
Hon Member, any other thing to add to what I have said?
Mr Manu 11:10 a.m.
Madam Speaker, what I
want to add is that, you asked a question, “where do we lay the blame?” The blame can only be laid at the doorstep of the Leadership of the House, particularly the Majority side. I have here a text message sent by the Minority Whip inviting us all to Parliament. Can we say that the same was done from the other side - [Interruptions] - If it had been done and they are not heeding, then there is an internal problem on that side.
Madam Speaker, the impression being created is this that the Majority side was only interested in the collateralisation. [Laughter.] During that time, Madam Speaker, you can attest to the number of Hon Members from that side who were here; they came to vote massively -- 97 against 87. Today, where is the 97?
Mr Manu 11:10 a.m.


Madam Speaker, the Majority side must be told in clear language that they have to be seen to be pushing Government business to fruition, other than that they have no business inviting us here to come and while away time.

I thank you, Madam Speaker, and I hope they would take this and work with it and walk their talk.
Mr Adjaho 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker,
whenever the House has this type of challenges, what we try to do is to get the Leadership of both sides to negotiate and talk on this matter. There are two options; either the Leaders of both sides go and talk and come back and advise the House what -- [Interruptions] -- or they come to tell us something. But I do not think that we should continue discussing this matter on the floor of the House. Sufficient points have been made on this matter.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Member, I
do agree with you but that we should not discuss it in this House -- it is part of our responsibility; it is part of our problem. It was raised in this House and I could not kill it.
Mr Dery 11:20 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I would rather we continue discussing or we suspend Sitting for about an hour and then we can all collectively discuss the matter among ourselves. This is because if we leave now, I am not sure that it will contribute - let us clear the galleries and then discuss to find a solution to this
matter.
Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Members, I thank you. I will not adjourn the House just for Leadership to go and confer.
If we do not have the correct number to take decisions, we will defer the matter. Maybe, after closing, the Leadership will make sure that we have all Members of Parliament (MPs) here. And for that matter, the number to enable us to take decisions is half the House; it does not have to come from one side of the House alone; everybody should make it a point to come so that either “Aye” or “Noe”, we have it done.
So, I will not stop proceedings; we will continue but I will urge Leadership to take the matter up and let us finish this year with the work that is before us.
I thank you for raising the matter.
  • [Continuation of debate from Col. 3028]
    • Mr Gbediame 11:20 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, it is upon this note that I want to suggest that we take Motion number 6. The Hon Minister for Women and Children's Affairs is in the Chamber and she is ready with the Motion.
    Madam Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    All right. Let us
    take Motion number 6.
    ANNUAL ESTIMATES 11:20 a.m.
    Minister for Women and Children's Affairs (Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah) 11:20 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢13,337,093.00 for the services of the
    Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs for the year ending 31st December, 2011.
    Madam Speaker, this amount is made up of the following 11:30 a.m.
    P e r s o n a l E m o l u m e n t i s - -
    GH¢1,583,538.00;
    Administration -- GH¢348,860.00,
    Service, GH¢ 864,144.00, Investment/ GoG; GH¢489,110.00,
    Donor -- GH¢10,037,071.00; and Internally Generated Funds (IGF) -- GH¢14,370.00 making up the total of
    GH¢13,337,093.00.
    Madam Speaker, the mandate of the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) is to initiate and formulate policies and promote gender mainstreaming across all the sectors that will lead to the achievement of gender equality and empowerment of women, the survival and development and the growth of our children as well as the protection of the right of women and children.
    The Departments and Secretariats that operate under the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs are: Department of Women, Department of Children, the Domestic Violence Secretariat, the Human Trafficking Secretariat and the Early Childhood Care and Development Secretariat.
    Madam Speaker, the Ministry's 2011
    Budget has been prepared to ensure that upon successful implementation, there will be steady and significant improvement to the achievement of gender, equity and equality as well as women's right and the survival, protection and development of the child as captured in your Committee's Report.
    Madam Speaker, the total planned
    budget for the Ministry for 2011 is GH¢15,016,912.00 compared with the total approved budget of GH¢13,337,093.00. Now, when you compare that our planned Administration was GH¢2.1 million -- Our ceiling was only GH¢348,860.00. The Service was also drastically reduced from GH¢2,849,202.00 to GH¢864,110.00.
    Madam Speaker, it must be reiterated that the reduction of our planned budget will greatly affect the overall deliverables in line with the outcomes set out for our Ministry.
    Madam Speaker, I urge this Honourable
    House to approve the total budget estimates of GH¢13,337,093.00 for the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs and its Departments in order to undertake its programmes and activities for the year
    2011.
    Thank you, Madam Speaker.

    Question proposed.
    Chairman of the Committee on Gender and Children (Mr Sampson Ahi) 11:30 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, I rise to support the Motion and to present the Report of the Committee. 1.0 Introduction
    1.1 On Thursday, 18 th November, 2010, the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, presented the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the 2011 financial year to the House. This was in fulfilment of article 179 (1)
    Mr Emmanuel K. Bedzrah (NDC - Ho West) 11:30 a.m.
    Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me the opportunity --
    Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    I will call you.
    Hon. Members, I have been advised that Leadership of the House, Hon Chairpersons, Hon Ranking Members of the Committees will have 10 minutes and other Hon Members will have five minutes, so we will quickly finish with our work.
    So Hon Member, you have five minutes. Or are you an Hon Chairperson?
    Mr Dery 11:30 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, I just wanted your guidance. The Hon Minister had moved on that side, Report presented by the Hon Chairman and we thought our Hon Ranking Member should --
    Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Well, I think I did not see him early enough.
    Mr Dery 11:30 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, he was actually standing even before you did see him and you asked him to sit down.
    Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Never mind, I will come to him definitely; I will come to him. This is because I had already called this Hon Member and I did not think it was right to ask him to sit down. He will come next.
    Mr Bedzrah 11:30 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, it is true, he was not standing; I stood before him, so I caught your eye.
    Madam Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Never mind; we will all have our say.
    Mr Bedzrah 11:30 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, the issue of gender and women affects all in this country, more especially, women and children. I have a little observation as regards the allocation made to the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs.
    The allocation of GH¢13 million to the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs was supported by just GH¢3 million from the Government sector. The rest of the GH¢10 million will come from the donor funding, which I believe, is not in the best interest of this country. I believe that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, next time round, will give more funding from the Government sector to the Women and Children's Affairs Ministry.
    I also want to urge the Hon Minister for Women and Children's Affairs that the human trafficking aspect of their outlook for 2011 will be taken on board. Also, the 25 centres that will be built or constructed in our various communities will also come on board.
    With these few words, Madam Speaker, I thank you.
    Ranking Member of the Committee (Mr Yaw Owusu-Boateng): Madam Speaker, I rise to support the Motion on the floor.
    i b e l i e v e t h e a m o u n t o f GH¢13,337,093.00 is woefully inadequate for MOWAC. The reasons are that, if we live in a society, I think what we should seek to do is to strengthen the weak and the vulnerable rather than those who are doing well. If you look at the number of children as well as women in the society, they form about 70 per cent or more of the

    population. As a result, we need to give them more funds so that they will be able to perform their activities.

    Women and children are important because they are the group that replaces society. They are a backbone to our economy because most of the small-scale farmers in this country are women.

    It is also important that we give sound education to our women and children, so that they become not only global citizens, but as Dr Aggrey put it, “You educate a woman you aducate the whole nation”.

    We also need to improve upon the situation because infant mortality and women who die in our hospitals are so many that there is the need for us to support these women and children to get things moving in our society.

    If you look at the Budget itself, you will find out that more than half of this GH¢13 million is being funded from donor sources. What is Ghana Government doing? We need to give more to the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs so that they will be able to do their activities which include child trafficking and others.

    With these few words, I support the Motion.
    rose
    Mr Joseph B. Aidoo (NPP - Amenfi East) 11:40 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity.
    Madam Speaker, not long ago, the President was on record to have said that next year would be an action year. And as politicians, our words ought to be backed by our deeds.
    Madam Speaker, if you look at the
    provision for the Ministry, particularly in respect of Administration, in respect of Services, and then in respect of Investment, these are the areas that will bring the action -- The Services and Administration areas to enable the Minister to move; Administration to meet utility expenditure and also buy equipment.
    Madam Speaker, if you look at the request, that the Ministry needed out of the over GH¢2 million for Administration, only GH¢348,000 had been given. If you take Services, the Ministry was looking for over GH¢3 million and only GH¢864,144.00 was given.
    Madam Speaker, if you even go back to the year 2010, the situation was very sad. This is because if you look at the approved budget for Administration and then for Services for 2010 -- Services, we had GH¢1,282,311.00 that was approved and GH¢529,123.70 was released. This is just a little over half of that amount. And in respect of Investment, it was again just about one-third that was released to the Ministry.
    So if you are saying that next year should be an action year, we were expecting that enough money would have been given to the Ministry for it to really act. But as it is, I am afraid, the Ministry cannot deliver on the promise that it had given to the country.
    Madam Speaker, even though I am urging Hon Members to support the Motion in approving of the provisions for the Ministry in respect of Service and then Investment as well as Administration, the amount given is woefully inadequate. Therefore, we will urge the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to look at other areas in respect of contingency, if that could be possible, to assist the Ministry for it to perform.
    With this, I support the Motion.
    Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Thank you.
    Dr Matthew O. Prempeh (NPP - Manhyia) 11:40 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, I am tempted to rise and not support the Motion. The amount of money that has been allocated to this Ministry is a disgrace to this country. This is a Ministry that looks after over 50 per cent of the population of the country. We talk about maternal mortality in this country and we think it is only hospital services. When the woman who is pregnant cannot get access to funding to look after the children or move to the hospital for treatment, it is part and cause of maternal mortality. [Interruption.]
    rose
    Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Is it a point of
    order?
    Mr Avedzi 11:40 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, I have a point of order. The point of order is that the Hon Member is misleading the House. He says that this is the Ministry that looks after over 50 per cent of Ghanaians, which is not correct. This allocation to the Ministry is not going to look after 51 per cent of Ghanaians. He therefore should correct himself.
    Dr Prempeh 11:40 a.m.
    Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am tempted to say that we have not heard from my Hon Friend, so he wanted his voice to be heard.
    Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Order! Order!
    Carry on, you have five minutes.
    Dr Prempeh 11:40 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, the
    issues affecting children in this country are urgent. For two years now, Madam Speaker, we have been looking in the
    budget to see what concrete support the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, through the Office of the President has given to support women and children in this country. There are no small loans again being administered by the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs.
    Madam Speaker, the sad thing is that the total budget of the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs is less than the Administration vote for the Office of National Security. The Office of the National Security Administration vote is GH¢17 million, Service is GH¢15 million. Do we have our priorities right in this country? Stand up and be counted and do not starve the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs of funds.
    Thank you, Madam Speaker.
    Mr George Kuntu Blankson -- rose
    -- 11:40 a.m.
    Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Kuntu.
    Mr Blankson 11:40 a.m.
    I rose on a point of

    MD: But it is past.
    Mr Blankson 11:40 a.m.
    Yes, he said something
    which was derogatory.
    Mr James K. Avedzi (NDC --
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:40 a.m.
    I just want to be
    guided. We are debating a Motion on Women and Children's Affairs, except for the Hon Minister who spoke, everybody who wants to speak is a man. I plead that we allow our women to participate in the debate.
    Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    I have not lost sight of that; I will come to all the women.
    Mr Avedzi 11:40 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, I am
    saying that I am urging the House to approve the allocation of GH¢13, 337,093 for the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs for the activities of running the Ministry for the year 2011.
    Madam Speaker, if you listen to the
    contributions from Hon Members, it is revealed that this allocation is insufficient for the running of that Ministry. This is for the fact that the resources available to Government or the resources available to us as a nation are not sufficient for us to meet all the needs of all the sectors of our economy.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:40 a.m.
    On a point of order. Madam Speaker, the Motion on the floor has nothing to do with collateralization. The Hon Member is finding a backdoor to raise an important matter , which should not be bipartisan. I think he ought to be guided. This matter has been voted on, so we move on. But if he takes the lead to go that direction, then we would be forced to meet him boot for boot. [Interruptions.]
    Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Order! Order! Hon
    Member, restrict yourself.
    Mr Avedzi 11:40 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, I do
    not think that he is trying to threaten me because I am speaking my mind as a Member of Parliament, who is
    representing the people of Ketu North. I am saying that we do not have enough as a nation and for that matter, if God has blessed this country and given us some resources, we should not go -
    Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    I have already said,
    we should not talk about collateralization, which we have finished with.
    Mr Avedzi 11:40 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, it is on
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:40 a.m.
    On a point of
    order. Madam Speaker, the Hon Member for Ketu North is out of order.
    Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    What order ?
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:40 a.m.
    Standing
    Order 95 and with your permission, I read:
    “(1) It shall be out of order to anticipate a Bill by discussion of a motion dealing with the subject matter of the Bill on a day prior to that appointed for the consideration of that Bill.
    (2) It shall be out of order to anticipate a Bill or a motion by discussion of an amendment to it.
    (3) In determining whether a discussion is out of order on the ground of anticipation regard shall be had by Mr Speaker to the probability of the matter in anticipation being brought before the House within a reasonable time.”
    On account of what I have read, Madam Speaker, I am urging you to rule the Hon Member for Ketu North and Chairman of the Finance Committee who is proposing many amendments among others to the Bill out of order on the ground that he is anticipating debate on the Bill, which is presently under consideration.
    Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    You are right. That is another leg. I have already ruled him out, to stick to the Motion. However, that is another addition.
    Mr Avedzi 11:50 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, I have
    taken note of what the Hon Member has said -
    Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    Thank you.
    Mr Avedzi 11:50 a.m.
    But I am only urging Hon Members that, when it comes to the point that Government is finding means of raising revenue for the running of this country, we should all give support to Government.
    Ms Cecilia A. Dapaah (NPP - Bantama) 11:50 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to support the Motion on the floor of the House.
    Madam Speaker, I believe we should all remind ourselves of the mandate and vision of the Ministry referred to as MOWAC. Their vision is to ensure a harmonious functioning in a society in which equity and equality between the sexes are guaranteed. And where the survival, protection and development of the child are assured. Their mandate is to initiate and formulate policies and promote gender mainstreaming across all sectors that would lead to the achievement of gender equality and empowerment of women. There are other things added to it.
    Madam Speaker, I believe we are losing as a nation, the vision for which this Ministry was established. If you look at the 2011 Annual Budget Estimates, the Ministry has been allocated GH¢13,337.093.00 and the breakdown is as follows:
    Government of Ghana - almost
    Minister for Local Government and Rural Development(Mr Joseph Y. Chireh)(MP) 11:50 a.m.
    Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the debate.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
    On a point of order. Madam Speaker, we are in the process of trying to approve a certain amount. But “the Hon Minister says “the amount that has been approved”. Then why debate? If you have already approved it, why debate? It is a recommendation from the Committee.
    Mr Chireh 11:50 a.m.
    Thank you very much. This my Hon Friend, he does not want me to speak in Parliament. Anytime I am on my feet, he has one point or the other against me. I now do not know what to do. [Laughter.] Please, can he supply me the words he wants me to use? [Laughter.] I would take note of what he has said.
    But more importantly, when we are looking at the Budget of this Ministry, our purpose should not be how much it gets. Indeed, we should subject the whole Budget to how gender sensitive it is, whether all the Ministries have components in their budgets dealing with women issues, children issues. That is how we should look at it.
    Indeed, I know that over the years, there have been workshops and seminars to enable us take the Budget totally and find out how much it is going to benefit women and children. If we do so, we would realise that indeed, we need to budget more for women and children's interest in our various Ministries.
    For instance, when somebody raises the issue of child mortality, women undergoing so many things, we should look at the Ministry of Health's budget; how much has been put there to support women when they are pregnant and the rest of them. Again, you look at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and find out -
    Ms Shirley A. Botchway (NPP - Weija) noon
    Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to support the Motion on the floor. [Interruption.]
    Madam Speaker, when we met with the Ministry, it was quite clear that for the past two years and more, there has always been a shortage in the amount that has been approved for them. Last year, in 2010, an amount of GH¢8,518,670 was approved; less than half of that amount was released - donor funds that were promised, only about 30 per cent of that amount was released to them.
    We sought to find out why this was so, and it was quite clear from the interaction that we lacked the capacity to access donor funds. Therefore, we made some suggestions to them and we hope that in the coming years, the Hon Minister would do what she can to enhance the capacity in order to access these funds.
    I say this because in 2011, the bulk of the amount that has been approved, out of the GH¢13 million, about GH¢10 million of that amount is going to come from donor funds. Therefore, if we do not enhance their capacity, it is going to

    be difficult for them to carry out all the programmes and activities that have been outlined in the Report, that they are going to be carrying out in 2011. All those programmes that have been outlined are very, very important. You have human trafficking, domestic violence, child labour issues and all the like.

    I would also like to encourage the Ministry to put the Children's Park like my Hon Colleague said, to better use so that they can generate more internally generated funds (IGF). It is extremely important that since that is the only source of IGF, they should find ways and means to improve on their IGFs.

    All in all, Madam Speaker, we believe that the amount that has been given or approved for the Ministry from Government is very inadequate; it is just over three million. And even that, we know if we are not careful, all of that amount would not be released to them. So we urge Government to do something about the Budget during the mid-year review because they have so many things outlined for the coming year.

    Also, one of the major areas that I think Government should be looking at, maybe, not even for Investment, Item 4, is to look at where to get some money to give to the Ministry to build a Ministry. This is because where they are housed right now is not conducive for the kind of work that they do.

    In any case, all their staff are not housed under one building - the Department of Women is somewhere else, the Department of Children is somewhere else and it makes it extremely difficult for co-ordination between the Ministry and those two departments. It would be good if we could have all the departments and agencies under the Ministry in one building.

    I hope that Government would look at this very, very carefully and favourably provide them with a building because they need to recruit for their work to be more efficient and effective. Unfortunately, this is not happening because although they need a hand to help in the Ministry, they just cannot afford because they do not have the space for extra staff.

    With these few words, Madam Speaker, I would like to urge Hon Colleagues to approve the Report and the Estimates for the Ministry but in doing so, also having an eye on the mid-year review, where hopefully, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning would top up, so that they can be more effective.

    I thank you for the opportunity.
    Dr Kofi Asare (NPP - Akwatia) noon
    Madam Speaker, I rise to support the Motion on the floor.
    Madam Speaker, I think it has been said how low the amount is. From point seven (0.7) of the national Budget in 2008, it came to point three (0.3) last year and this year, one does not know what percentage of the national Budget has been given to the Ministry. I am sure it would be less than 0.01 per cent.
    The amount of GH¢10 million from the donor funds, Madam Speaker, is even targeted at a programme. So that alone is already, as it were, used up because it is going to a specific programme. Therefore they do not even have room to manoeuvre and one wonders how they are going to perform their duties this year.
    The other worry that I have, Madam
    Speaker, is that this year's Budget, very inadequate, yet has been skewed towards the headquarters. If you look at the amount given for Services, of the GH¢864,144.00 that was allocated for Services in the Ministries, GH¢468,000
    Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah (NPP - Suhum) 12:10 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I rise to add my voice and to support the Motion for the adoption of the Report of the Committee on Gender for the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs for the 2011 financial year.
    Madam Speaker, Hon Members who spoke previously have all spoken about the less than adequate provision of the budgetary allocation to the Ministry. One
    thing which I would like to comment on, is the fact that quite apart from the smaller quantum involved here, less than 25 per cent of that amount is actually being provided by the Government of Ghana. The other sources are either the donor funds or internally generated funds (IGFs).
    Madam Speaker, as we are very much aware of, donor funds do not usually flow as smoothly and timeously as one expects them to. And that is going to further slow down the work of this Ministry.
    Madam Speaker, the other very important point I want to note is the fact that the Government of the day rode to power on the back of promises that it carried in its Manifesto for election, 2008. Let me refer us to page 75 of the NDC Manifesto, which has been titled “Manifesto for a Better Ghana 2008”. [Interruption.] And I am hearing some cries from the other side; I do not know if they have abandoned their Manifesto. This Manifesto says, and with your permission, I quote from page 75:
    “We shall separate sector res- ponsibilities for children from that of women.”
    As the saying goes in Akan, woanya biribia amma wase a, wo nsan mmo no krono.
    To wit, if the NDC Government is unable to fulfil its promise of separating the responsibility of children from that of women, why then let the combined Ministries suffer the double jeopardy of such a heavily reduced budgetary allocation? I believe the intention of this particular pledge for the people of Ghana, for which they voted for the NDC Government, was to bring focus and better attention to the two segments of society, that is women and children.
    So one would have expected that if the

    Government is unable to live up to this promise and pledge, it would have actually found space to find ways of increasing the budgetary allocation and indeed, not leave over 75 per cent of even the meagre allocation that it has made to donors and internally generated funds to fund that particular provision.

    This is a call on Government to try to live up to the promises that it has given to the people of this country and not necessarily by publishing books such as the Green Book that it has currently come out with.

    Thank you Madam Speaker.
    Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
    Hon Member, thank you very much. I think at this stage, we conclude the debate on this Motion and what is left is to put the Question, but I am not sure we have half the numbers. Do we have?
    Hon Members, congratulations; we have half of the numbers, now we can put the Question.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:10 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, the Hon First Deputy Speaker, I do not know whether he is in the Chair or not; he says “we have”. He has not counted the number of people here and he is ruling from over there -- this is against our rules.
    Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
    He probably has. I have been counting too but I am not sure.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:10 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, more people have gone out since -
    Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
    This is because you know, the Clerk is organising over this and we are counting, we keep counting. So, we will go on if we have the numbers.
    Clerk, do we have the numbers? Well, I take it. Clerk has informed me that they are still counting, so we could go on with the next Motion and then when we have the complement, we put the Question but before then, the Minister will wind up.
    Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah 12:10 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity to thank Hon Colleagues for their suggestions, support and agitation for my Ministry to have more resources . I know that I have been at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for the past couple of months; I have been going there and they have promised me that they will try and have a good look at the Ministry to see if they can increase the budget or give us some assistance when the supplementary allocation comes.
    So, we know that 51 per cent of the population, as my Hon Colleagues have said, plus our children, we definitely need more than what we have been given. And we hope that will be done in future for us.
    Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
    Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
    Thank you Hon
    Minister.
    Hon Members, I will not put the Question now; we do not have the numbers.
  • [Continuation of debate from Col. 3028]
    • Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
    we will move on to Motion number 7 and I call upon the Hon Minister to move it.
    Minister for Roads and Highways.
    Mr Blankson 12:10 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, in the absence of the Minister for Roads and Highways, we want to passionately appeal to you, so we crave your indulgence for the Hon Deputy Minister to present the Report on behalf of the Hon Minister.
    Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
    It is a Motion to be moved and debated, so we do not waste too much time.
    Mr Dery 12:10 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I think in principle,we will allow, except that I thought the Hon Minister was around. But we would allow him.
    Madam Speaker 12:10 p.m.
    Thank you Hon Memeber for the co-operation.
    ANNUAL ESTIMATES 12:10 p.m.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:20 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, with respect, we have been trying to listen to my good Friend, the Hon Deputy Minister, to see if he has a paper which is different from the Committee's Report. He is throwing out numbers that are not known in the Committee's Report. So I do not know whether it is a special report that he is reading because what we have here for example, he talked about request of 2 billion. It is not here. So, we do not know what Motion he is moving. It is very confusing.
    That is why I was trying to catch your attention to find out. Is it a report that he has written for himself or does it follow
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:20 p.m.
    Madam
    Speaker, I believe that we should have some decorum in this House and I believe that the Hon Dr Osei is completely out of order.
    The Hon Deputy Minister is moving the Motion on behalf of the Minister and he is sharing with this august House, his challenges in terms of the request that he has made. If you go to the final figure
    he is mentioning, unless that is different from what is in the Budget Statement, I do not think that he should interfere. He was almost done and I do not think that the Hon Deputy Minister was making any comment which is out of place.
    I think that he should allow him; when the Committee -- he is just moving the Motion, which would be backed by the Committee submitting its report. And when the Committee's Report is read, it may support or disagree with some of the issues. But there is no disagreement as far as the figure is concerned, so he should allow the debate to flow.
    Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Well, he thinks he has seen some discrepancy. But I agree with that. When we second the Motion
    and present the Report, maybe, things will either be clarified or not.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:20 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I am surprised that the Hon Minister is saying that I am not being decorous. Madam Speaker, I have been paying attention to what he was reading, so that I can follow the debate. If he was not following and he could not hear what was going on, he should say so.
    Madam Speaker, if they want us to come and Sit here and not listen to anything that goes on -- that is why my people brought me here. He should advert his mind.
    Madam Speaker, when he used to be on this side of the House, he used to do worse than I am doing now. I do not know what he is talking about. Madam Speaker, he has to be very careful as a Minister and a good Friend. I respect him. When I am doing my job he should allow me to do my job.
    Madam Speaker, he said he was moving on behalf of the Minister. The question I was asking is, when you are using figures like two billion, it is no where in the Committee's Report. So it is confusing. Where is it from? If you had told us that he was reading something submitted by the Minister, I would not have any problem. But he is looking down and reading - I cannot follow him.
    Madam Speaker, it is important that we follow what he is doing. I have been a Deputy Minister, and when we come here, we are briefed. Sometimes, they will give wrong things but we have to know what we are talking about. So Madam Speaker, he should not use that type of word again and I object to it and he should withdraw it. Madam Speaker, I am not Dr Osei Akoto here. I do not know who he was referring to.
    Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Well, if there is no
    Dr Osei Akoto, then you should not have any breach with it. But Hon Minister I think we are decorous here - withdraw that, so that we carry on.
    Mr H. Iddrisu 12:20 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I have no difficulty withdrawing the use of the word “decorous” but I did not specifically tie it to any person. I just said that this House must be conducted with decorum and I still stand by it. It is part of the requirement of our Standing Orders that business in this House is conducted with decorum. Madam Speaker, I am particularly concerned because he has been in the shoes of Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and shepherded budgets. Madam Speaker, it is not out of place for a Minister of State to say that I requested for GH¢400 million; I was given GH¢300 million of that amount and then he says he is giving discrepant figures. I have a difficulty with that.
    Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Well, Hon Member, you said that you did not mean it personally. Does it mean you cannot withdraw it?
    Mr H Iddrisu 12:20 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I have withdrawn it and I have only added that since when have Ministers submitted committee reports? The Minister is moving his Motion. If he wants the details of the Committee's Report, he should wait for the Chairman of the Committee to do so.
    Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Yes, it was easy to say that without adding that we have to be decorous. This is because under my -- we are decorous. Yes.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:20 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I do not know why--
    Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    He has withdrawn it.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:20 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I do not know why Hon Haruna Iddrisu
    Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Yes, as I have said, let him finish moving his Motion; let us have the Report of the Committee and then we see what all this is about.
    Hon Minister, have you finished moving your Motion?
    Dr Quaye-Kumah 12:20 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, in conclusion I urge that this Honourable House to approve the total Budget Estimates of GH¢335,960,763.00 for the Ministry of Roads and Highways and its agencies in order to undertake its programme and activities for the year
    2011.
    Question proposed.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Michael C. Boampong) 12:30 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I support the Motion and in doing so, I would like to draw the attention of all Hon Members to the Committee's Report, page 10; the heading is “MDA Planned Budget 2011 Against Approved Ceiling
    (GH¢000)”.
    Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu 12:30 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, these corrections that the Chairman is making, does he want to tell the House that he did not go through the Report to make these corrections before laying it in the House? Meanwhile, he has signed it.
    Mr Boampong 12:30 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, we read through as you are saying, but corrections can be made anytime provided you find them. So, before the Report is laid, I think I can make the corrections.
    Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Well, we all make mistakes. So if he is correcting it --
    Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    But why all these corrections? Why all these corrections today? I know we all make mistakes --
    Mr Boampong 12:30 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, it was now that we discovered those mistakes.
    Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    But Members of Parliament (MPs) have to look at it.
    Mr Boampong 12:30 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I support the Motion and in doing so, I wish to present your Committee's Report - [Interruption.]
    Mr Dery 12:30 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, you asked the Chairman the reason for these corrections and we all want to hear but he is not responding to that. We want to know the reason for the corrections.
    Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Hon Member, it is not one thing you have corrected, you corrected whole figures in two columns. Yes, you can correct anytime but you must note that they have to study this and come and debate it, is it not? So, why so many mistakes? Is it just additions and subtrations?
    Mr Boampong 12:30 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, there were typographical mistakes.
    Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Say so, then they will understand you.
    Mr Boampong 12:30 p.m.
    And the last item, instead of “78.09” it should read “81.71.”
    Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    All right. Hon Members, the Report has been corrected.
    Mr Boampong 12:30 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, in presenting the Report, I wish to read the Committee's Report.
    1.0 Introduction
    In fulfilment of article 179 of the 1992 Constitution, the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government for the 2011 Financial Year, was presented to the House by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning on Thursday, 18th November 2010.
    In accordance with Standing Orders 140 (4) and 189 of the House, the Annual Budget Estimates for the 2011 fiscal year of the Ministry of Roads and Highways was referred to the Committee for consideration and report.
    The Committee met on the Estimates with the Hon Minister, Joe K. Gidisu, the Acting Chief Director, representatives from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, agency heads and officials from the Ministry of Roads and Highways. The Committee acknowledged their presence at the meeting and is grateful for their co-operation.
    The departments and agencies under the Ministry are as follows:
    (i) Ghana Highway Authority (GHA);
    (ii) Department of Urban Roads (DUR);
    (iii)Department of Feeder Roads
    (DFR);
    (iv)Koforidua Training Centre;
    (v) Road Fund Secretariat;
    2.0 Reference Documents
    The following documents were referred to by the Committee:
    (i) The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
    (ii) The Standing Orders of Parliament; and
    ( i i i )The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the 2011 financial year.
    3.0 Vision
    The vision of the Ministry of Roads and Highways is
    “To provide and maintain an integrated, cost effective and sustainable road transport network responsive to the needs of users, supporting growth and poverty reduction”.
    4.0 Mission
    In order to realise the above visions, the Ministry's mission is --
    “to formulate the requisite policies, monitor and evaluate programmes and projects to ensure the provision of affordable, integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable road transport network that will meet the economic, social and environmental needs as well as national and international standards.”
    5.0 Performance of the Road Sector in 2010
    Mr Boampong 12:30 p.m.
    5.1 Road Traffic Regulations
    The Ministry has developed a new road traffic regulation and has submitted it to Cabinet to replace the 1997 Road Traffic Regulation L.I. 553 in line with current trends in road safety. The regulations are to operationalise the Road Traffic Act 2004 (Act 683) in conformity with International Conventions and ECOWAS protocols on road transport.
    5.2 ECOWAS Regional Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme
    As part of the implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme, Government has acquired a 57.27 acre parcel of land at Paga for the construction of a joint border project between Ghana and Burkina Faso to enhance the free movement of goods and services within the ECOWAS sub- region.
    5.3 Ghana Highway Authority
    5.3.1 Axle load
    A total of 14 permanent weighbridge stations (PWS) and eight high speed weigh-in-motion stations to check and control axle loads and provide accurate statistics on overloading were constructed at strategic locations on the trunk road network.
    5.3.2 Routine and maintenance \works
    The Authority carried out routine and periodic maintenance works on 10,947 kilometres and 444.36 kilometres, representing 98 per cent and 121 per cent respectively of the approved programme for the year. Further, partial reconstruction, upgrading and rehabilitation of roads, including town roads of 810.13 kilometres were executed.
    5.3.3 Development projects
    Substantial progress was made on the following major construction and re-construction works: Anwiankwanta- Yamoransa, Ho-Fume, Asankragwa- Enchi, Achimota-Ofankor, Sogakope- Adidome-Ho, Kumasi-Techiman Phase
    II and Berekum-Sampa roads. In addition, work progressed on the Tetteh- QuarshieMadina road.
    5.3.4 Tolling of roads
    To reduce leakages and modernise the toll collection process, the Ministry is piloting an automation of two key toll collection plazas, namely, the Tema Motorway and Kasoa. This will be replicated at the other toll points in the country. 5.4 Department of Feeder Roads
    5.4.1 Routine and periodic maintenance
    Under the Feeder Road Programme, 5,149 kilometres of feeder roads were completed and periodic maintenance comprising regravelling and spot improvement rehabilitation works of 521.8 kilometres was executed. Some of the feeder road projects completed are: upgrading of Asempaneye-Adumasa valley farm track, surfacing of Juaho- Twabidi Phase II, rehabilitation of Pokuase-Nsakyi and Wamfie Nsokor town roads. Others are Kpandai, Assin Fosu and Nsuaem-Kyekyewere town roads.
    5.4.2 COCOBOD programmes
    T h e C O C O B O D - f u n d e d r o a d programmes in the Eastern, Volta, Western, Central, Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo Regions involving re- shaping and spot improvements are ongoing. In addition, bituminous surfacing of 63.6 kilometres length of feeder roads has been completed in cocoa producing areas under the Cocoa Road Improvement Project (CRIP).
    5.5 Department of Urban Roads
    5 . 5 . 1 R o u t i n e a n d p e r i o d i c maintenance
    The Department of Urban Roads completed a total of 3,550 kilometres of
    routine maintenance. In addition, periodic maintenance works in all 20 Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies were executed.
    5.5.2 Development projects
    Ongoing development projects undertaken and at various stages of comp le t i on , i nc lude t he Urban Development Project involving the expansion of the Odaw Bridge and construction of flyover bridges on the Graphic Road, the construction of Giffard and Burma Camp roads in the Accra East corridor and Accra Central Business District Phase II.
    Other urban road projects undertaken include Oforikrom-Asokwa bypass and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital- Abuakwa roads.
    It can be observed from Table 1 above, that with the exception of disbursement on Services (Item 3) and donor funds, all other items of expenditure would be above
    target, especially when projections are made to the end of the year 2010. Only GH¢168,090.00 (representing 19 per cent) of the approved budget of GH¢900,000.00 has been released for service activities. Expenditure of donor funds has also achieved about 24 per cent.
    6.0 Outlook for 2011
    The Government will continue to pursue its objectives of improving access through better distribution and integration of the road network system.
    6.1 Transport Sector Project
    Government in pursuance of its objective of improving access and mobility on our road network, the first phase of the improvement and rehabilitation of feeder roads to support focused and commercial agriculture award growth poles will commence. The rehabilitation work on the Asawinso-Ayamfuri road will also commence. Physical works for the rehabilitation of the Gifford Road and Burma Camp Roads 1 and 2 will commence in the second quarter of 2011.

    12.30 P.M. -- TABLE 1 - PAGE 5
    Mr Boampong 12:30 p.m.
    6.2 Urban Transport Project
    The construction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) pilot route in Accra and the improvement of traffic management facilities in Accra and Kumasi will be undertaken.
    6.3 West Africa Transport and Transit Facilitation Project
    Rehabilitation works on the Buipe- Tamale, Agona Junction-Elubo and Fufulso to Sawla roads will be undertaken to improve mobility. In addition, the construction of joint border projects between Ghana and Burkina Faso will commence at Paga, at Noepe for Ghana/ Togo border and at Elubo-Noe for Ghana/ Cote d' Ivoire border.
    6.4 Electronic tolling of roads
    As part of measures to improve revenue generation into the Road Fund, the electronic tolling of roads which was piloted on the Accra-Tema Motorway will be expanded to cover other major roads, such as Kumasi-Techiman, Apedwa- Kumasi, Winneba-Cape Coast and Bamboi-Wa roads.
    6.5 Public Private Partnership
    Government will continue the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Scheme in the financing, construction and management of road infrastructure. Discussions are far advanced with three private companies for Motorway Overpass at Teshie Link junction, the concrete overlay of Accra- Tema Motorway, dualling of Accra- Kumasi road and the dualling of Accra- Cape CoastTakoradi road projects.
    6.6 Axle-load control

    The implementation of the law on Axle -load limits as provided in the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act, 683) will be intensified to forestall premature failure of the road network and the consequent cost of rehabilitation.

    6.7 Ghana Highway Authority

    6.7.1 Maintenance of Road Asset

    The Authority will shift its present focus of upgrading and rehabilitation of roads to routine and periodic maintenance to enhance and protect Government investment in the provision of road infrastructure.

    6.7.2 Maintenance, Improvement and Development Works

    The Ministry will carry out a total of 11,199 kilometres routine maintenance and 6,635 kilometres of periodic maintenance activities on the trunk road network. About 201 kilometres of minor rehabilitation works will be undertaken while major development works for over 200 kilometres of road project will be continued.

    The major development works include; Tetteh-Quarshie-Madina, Bamboi-Tinga, Akatsi-Agbozume, Techiman-Apaaso, Asankragwa-Enchi Dadieso, Berekum- Sampa, Kpando-Worawora-Damba Phase III, Wenchi-Sampa Phase II, Bomfa Junction-Asiwa-Bekwai, Nkawkaw by-pass, Achimota-Ofankor, Nsawam- Apedwa, Nsawam by pass, Kwafokrom- Apedwa dual carriage, Tarkwa-Bogoso- Ayamfuri and Akatsi-Dzodze Akanu roads.

    Other key projects are eastern corridor road project, Western oil enclave, Tarkwa-

    Bogoso-Ayamfuri, Ayamfuri-Asawinso, Fufulsu-Sawla, BuipeTamale, Dodo PepesoNkwanta, Takoradi-Agona Junction, Agona JunctionElubo, Elubo- Asemkrom, Benchema Junction-Osei Kojokrom, Assin Praso-Bekwai road and AtebubuKwame Danso-Kejeji roads.

    In addition, the following roads have been awarded for construction in 2011; Wa-Han, Twifo Praso-Dunkwa, NavrongoTumu and BameDzulokpuitaKpedze.

    6.7.3 Bridge Programme

    The rehabilitation of the Adomi Bridge will commence while feasibility studies and design for the Lower Volta Bridge at Dorfor Adidome will be undertaken. In addition, the construction of 6 bridges on the Wa Walewale road and a new bridge on the Dunkwa-Twifo Praso road will also commence.

    The Ghana Highway Authority will also continue and complete the construction of the Birim, Ochi, Asuboni, Amenfneso, Nimpini, Sissily, Kalangumua and Pra River bridges.

    6.8 Department of Feeder Roads

    6.8.1 Maintenance and rehabilitation works

    The Department of Feeder Roads will undertake the reshaping and routine maintenance on 26,223 kilometres of engineered feeder roads. Rehabilitation and construction of short and medium span steel bridges, box culverts and side drains

    will also be undertaken.

    Some of the ongoing feeder road projects to be completed during the year are: Bortinanor-Kokrobitey, Abrem-Agona- Essiam, Wegbe-Alavanyo-Nkonya, Akropong-Tumfa-Ekorsu, Asokore- Mampong-Parkoso-Apurade, Tunkro- Fiema and Bunkprugu, Asankragwa and Winkongo-Tongo Zuarungu town roads. 6.8.2 Cocoa Roads Improvement Programme

    Ghana COCOBOD has made available an amount of US$200 million for the rehabilitation of roads in cocoa, coffee and sheanut growing areas. The programme will cover roads in the six cocoa producing regions namely, Eastern, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central, Volta and Western as well as some selected areas in Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.

    6. 8. 3 District Capital Road Improvement Programme

    The District Capital Road Improvement Programme will be continued in the year 2011. Under these projects, 2 kilometres of roads will be rehabilitated in each of the chosen districts. Some of the beneficiary district capitals include Dodowa, Odumase, New Abirem, Kpetoe, Bogoso, Zabzugu, Garu Tempane and the district capital of Wa West.

    6.9 Department of Urban Roads

    6.9.1 Maintenance and rehabilitation works

    The Department of Urban Roads will continue to undertake routine and periodic maintenance works on at least,
    Mr Boampong 12:40 p.m.
    12.30 P.M. - TABLE 3 - PAGE 11

    The Committee further observed that the sector would shift its present focus from upgrading and rehabilitation of roads to routine and periodic maintenance.

    It is the view of the Committee that these measures will enhance and protect the huge investment made by the Government of Ghana in the provision of road infrastructure.

    The Committee further noted that most of the haulage trucks that ply the northern section of the country from the Port of Tema often breach the axle load regulations. The trucks overload above the stipulated axle load and the situation

    has contributed to the deterioration of our roads.

    The Committee is happy that the Ministry has considered the issue to be one of its priorities and has decided to intensify the implementation of the law on axle load by installing permanent axle load stations, high and low speed weigh- in-motion equipment and effective axle load monitoring on the trunk road network to address the problem.

    The Committee also expressed worry about the fact that most contractors' payments have been delayed due to the inability of the Employer (Government of Ghana) to pay within the period stated

    in the Conditions of Contract.

    It is the opinion of the Committee that interest on delayed payment and the consequent huge arrears put a lot of financial burden on the Government. This situation needs to be addressed by the Government.

    The Committee also noted that the Department of Urban Roads (DUR) would establish five new road units, commence the third year activities under the Urban Transport Project and also start with the Awoshie-Pokuase-Nsawam road project, among others.

    However, the Committee was worried about the fact that compensation alone takes 30 per cent of the budgetary allocation of the department.

    It is the view of the Committee that the DUR is supported financially to enable the agency carry out its activities.

    The Committee further noted that allocations made by the Road Fund Secretariat to the National Road Safety Commission was low, having regard to their objectives.

    It is the view of the Committee that a special case be made to the Road Fund Board by the Ministry to review the allocation given to the National Road Safety Commission to enable the Commission meet the challenges it is facing in the execution of its programmes.

    The Committee also observed that the Ghana Highway Authority and other agencies have been constrained over the years with inadequate financial resources for execution of their planned works.

    This situation which had been recurring followed onto the 2010 fiscal year. The

    problem has led to low achievements in their maintenance activities and a build up of expenditure arrears which management of the agencies have found very difficult to deal with.

    It is the opinion of the Committee that the Ministry takes urgent steps to address this problem.

    8.0 Conclusion

    To enable the Ministry execute its programmes, the Committee recommends to the House for approval the sum of GH¢335,960,762.00 (three hundred and thirty-five million, nine hundred and sixty thousand, seven hundred and six-two cedis) for the activities of the Ministry of Roads and Highways for the financial year of 2011.

    Respectfully submitted.

    Ranking Member of the Committee (Mr Samuel K. Obodai): Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to support this Motion.

    Madam Speaker, I am actually not very happy with the fact that the Hon Minister himself was not present today to move his Motion because most of the concerns, I had wished that he would have been here himself to - [Interruption.] In any case, I believe that the sentiments will be duly carried to him by the Hon Deputy Minister.
    Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, you have five minutes.
    Mr Obodai 12:40 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I am the Ranking Member.
    Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    10 minutes but do not waste it.
    Mr Obodai 12:40 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, when the Estimates came before the Committee, we realised that payment from the National Road Fund to the National Road Safety Commission was on the lower side. It came out clearly that during the 2010 allocation to the National Road Safety Commission, the amount was around GH¢1.6 million, a little above GH¢1.6 million but in the 2011 Estimates, it has rather been reduced to a little above GH¢1.3 million.
    During the 2010 Budget, it was also clear that the National Road Safety Commission was then under the Ministry of Roads and Highways but there was a change and they are now under the Ministry of Transport.
    In the 2011 Estimates, we also realised that the amount that the National Road Fund is realising this time is higher because of the increase in the toll. Now that the amount is higher, the allocation to the National Road Safety Commission is rather low; it is reduced. This is a clear indication of the fact that because the National Road Safety Commission does not belong to the Ministry of Roads and Highways any longer, they have decided to give them anything that they feel should go to them.
    Madam Speaker, when it came to the last disbursement to the National Road Safety Commission, some committee members visited the National Road Safety Commission, that was during last year and we realised that disbursement was not flowing. Upon further investigations, it came out clearly that cheques that were to be signed by the Hon Minister to them were taking quite over two months.
    Cheques that were to be signed to be given to the National Road Safety Commission to enable them perform their duties were kept there for over two months. When the Hon Minister was asked

    about the delay, he said the activities of the National Road Safety Commission were no longer a priority to him because they were no longer his children. Madam Speaker, it was clear that the Hon Minister saw the National Road Safety Commission's activities as more cof a cost than a developmental issue --

    Madam Speaker -
    Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Yes, five more minutes.
    Mr Obodai 12:40 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I think that the Hon Minister must know that the activities of the National Road Safety Commission are very, very important to this nation. When you go to other jurisdictions, even the Road Safety Commission is not placed under any Ministry. It is solely taken care of by the Vice President of the State.
    Madam Speaker, the National Road Safety Commission had their last programme where they invited His Excellency the Vice President and in his submission, he did indicate that it was time the National Road Safety Commission was given not less than five per cent of the allocation from the National Road Fund. So if the Hon Minister at this time is allocating only 0.76 per cent, not even one per cent to the National Road Safety Commission, then you can just think of the number of deaths, the accidents, the causes of these accidents.
    Madam Speaker, I will call on the Hon Deputy Minister to carry these sentiments to the Hon Minister.
    Last year, during the budget allocation, the Committee did indicate that the allocation to the National Road Safety Commission was low. There and then, we all decided and agreed on an increase and it was effected. This time round, the Hon
    Minister is claiming that he will have to go and consult his Board members before he comes back to this House. Is it because the Commission is no longer under his Ministry?
    Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Finish up.
    Mr Obodai 12:40 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, when we look at the Report, it also indicates that the urban transport -- and when we went through the Budget, all the reports on urban transport were brought under the Ministry of Roads and Highways. Meanwhile, we were in this House when the Bill on urban transport came through the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry.
    So if issues affecting urban transport should be reported under the Ministry of Roads and Highways, then I see this as a misplaced priority. And one cannot understand why the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development should own this urban transport system and the monetary aspect should be handled by the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
    Madam Speaker, I will call on the Hon Minister that inasmuch as he is seeking for this approval, he should ensure that all the agencies that are under his Ministry and those that draw some funds from his Ministry and which do not belong to his Ministry, are taken care of accordingly.
    Talking about the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), it is also suffering the same fate. Even allocations that should be made from the Road Fund to DVLA are not done and therefore, we call on the Hon Minister to ensure that all these are done because the fact that they do not belong to his Ministry, does not mean
    that they should not perform their duties.
    On this note, I thank you and ask the House to approve of the requested amount for the Ministry.
    Mr John Gyetuah (NDC - Amenfi West) 12:50 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the floor, that has to do with the approval of GH¢335,950,762.00 for the services of the Roads and Highways Ministry.
    Madam Speaker, the road sector is, indeed, very significant insofar as the development of this country is concerned. With the setting in of torrential rains, I believe most of the roads have gone very bad; they have deteriorated. Therefore, we need a significant amount of money to rehabilitate the roads. Therefore, the amount allocated to the Ministry of Roads and Highways is, indeed, very meagre. I believe that in the mid-year review, some would be added.
    Madam Speaker, with regard to the Road Safety Commission, a meagre amount was actually allocated to them and my Colleague Ranking Member alluded to it. The Minister actually accepted that he would collaborate with them and ensure that a certain percentage is added to it so that they can do their work effectively. [Interruption.] Indeed, we were all there together, they cannot harass me in this way.
    As committee members, we are aware about the collaboration between both sectors. I side with him with regard to the road traffic crashes that continue to take a higher toll on the lives of the people as well as the properties of this country.
    Madam Speaker, I want to give statistical figures about the Annual Road
    Safety Commission's Report of 2009 with regard to road traffic that had actually killed people in this country. It is very important.
    Madam Speaker, in 2001, 1,660 people died through road crashes. 2002, 1,665; 2003, 1716; 2004, 2,180 perished; 2005, 1,779; 2006, 1,856; 2007, 2,043 perished. In 2008, 1,938 perished and in 2009, 2,237 lives were lost, and the total, according to the report, is 16,758. From my calculation, it is wrong. We lost 17,080 people in these particular road crashes. So I believe that the Minister actually accepted in good faith that he would add some amount to the allocation so that they would be able to work very hard.
    I am also happy that the Cocoa Board has been able to secure some loans which are about GH¢200 million. The amount has been allocated to rehabilitate roads in. the cocoa growing areas as well as the coffee and sheanut areas. It is, indeed, a very good one. Madam Speaker, when you get to the cocoa growing areas, it is sad that most of the roads are deplorable.
    As I speak, I am even happy that the Minister has been there; he knows what is going on there and that he is taking measures to ensure that those problems are addressed. In the north western part of the Western Region, where the bulk of cocoa actually comes from, we are seriously disturbed by roads which are very deplorable. The Samreboi area, which is in my constituency, my district, is the highest producer of cocoa.
    But in the previous years, like eight years ago, when cocoa was to have been considered even though that is where the bulk of cocoa comes from, not even a single kilometre of road was tarred. But I am happy that I saw the advertisement just about two days ago that about 10 kilometres of the road have been advertised for surfacing. So I am very grateful to the Minister for Roads
    and Highways for the work that he is doing. I know that about €83 million has been secured to construct the Tarkwa to Ayamfuri road and other areas. I hope that the bulk of the resources will go to the north- western where the bulk of the country's cocoa is produced. I hope and pray that the Minister will do that. I believe that. In your Committee's Report, it has also been stated that -
    Madam Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Yes, five minutes
    is up.
    Mr Gyetuah 1 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, it has
    also been stated that the bureaucratic processes involved in processing certificates for contractors is also a toll on the contractors. This was raised at the Committee level. I hope and pray that the bureaucratic process would be improved so that contractors' certificates will be processed on time, so that they get their monies.
    Another issue I am adding to it is that, Madam Speaker, with regard to supervision, the engineers as well as the consultants who are supervising the contractors are collectively blameable. I heard that on the roads which are going to be constructed, supervision will be tightened so that contractors will do a very good job that will actually stand the test of time.
    Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity.
    Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang
    (NPP - New Juaben North): Madam Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity.
    I hardly normally speak on Budgets but on this particular issue, I would like to add my voice to the fact that the Roads and Highways Ministry and the state of our roads are in such a situation that we really need to give them top most priority in order to facilitate economic development.
    Madam Speaker, I would like to touch on a few things and I will keep within the five minutes.
    Road architecture is poorly handled in this country, to the extent that sometimes you do not even know where you are going and how many miles you are supposed to travel. That is the problem for all of us.
    Madam Speaker, again, I would like
    to talk on the speed with which roads are constructed in this country. Ordinarily, roads which would take not more than six months to construct, take about three, four years in this country. And frustration of the people -- Tetteh Quarshie-Madina way, the Achimota way, Madam Speaker, wherever you look, you find that the road contractors, the road companies do not work diligently and nobody pushes them to make sure that the frustrations of the average Ghanaian are not carried to excesses. Road rage is always the order of the day.
    Madam Speaker, I do not see how a company engaged in constructing a very serious road can also not work on Saturdays, on Sundays and sometimes even close at 1 o'clock. Madam Speaker, it is only because we Ghanaians do not take the Ministries or the contractors to court and ask for reimbursements. Sometimes they divert a road and your business collapses completely and nobody is concerned about it. I believe that there is absolute need for us to make sure that these ones are done as quickly as possible.
    Madam Speaker, I would like to touch on the quality of construction of our roads. Most of the time, you find that they cannot even carry the axle load that we have. Especially if you want to be a gateway to West Africa, then obviously, we do need to take these into consideration and make sure that these roads are well done.
    Again, repairs -- Repairs which can
    be small potholes, which can be repaired in a matter of minutes are left to become gaping potholes and then sometimes cause accidents.
    Again, Madam Speaker, on most of these roads, the citizens of the villages or the towns through which these roads pass make road blocks on them. I almost killed myself a couple of weeks ago when I was not expecting it in the night and there were these rails.
    I think that the Minister for Roads and Highways must also take good care of that and make sure that any construction which is not authorised, should be scraped off. I do not think people can take it into their hands and then make road blocks wherever they want to do it.
    Having done Madina to Mamfe nro0a, I was expecting that Mamfe-Koforidua road will continue. It is a beautiful road and I believe that governments have perpetual succession, so they must continue then from Mamfe to Koforidua.

    Madam Speaker, finally, I would like to talk about the transport sector. Sometimes you do not know whom you have to refer your concerns to, whether to my friend the Minister for Transport or to the Minister for Roads and Highways both of whom are my very good friends. Sometimes I have difficulty and I believe that we need to clearly delineate the responsibilities of some of these companies.

    But having said that, Madam Speaker,

    Ghanaians are crying for good roads, they are crying for expeditious execution of roads. Take the Spintex road, sometimes it takes about two hours to do it. Last time I was coming to Parliament; I wanted to be here very early, it took me two and a half hours to come from East Legon to the House. This is unproductive and I believe
    Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
    I thank you.
    Hon Members, let us conclude the debate on this one. We have a lot of Motions. Today's list is so long and we have to go through them. We have had two or three from both sides. I think we should conclude the debate on this. If it is agreed, I will revisit the issue about numbers in putting the Questions.
    Yes, Leader, were you going to -- [Pause.] Yes, winding up! Yes, yes.
    Dr (Nii) Quaye-Kumah 1 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, before I conclude, I would like to make some few corrections again.
    My Hon Ranking Member indicated that the Minister said the Road Safety Commission was no longer under his ambit, so he could not be bothered about anything that happens there. The Minister has never said that anywhere. It is misleading; he is misleading the House. The Minister has never said that.

    Secondly, he did mention that the contribution towards the National Road Safety Commission was 0.76. It is not 0.76, it is 0.97; so he has once again misled this House.

    However, I would like to thank

    Members for the suggestions they brought up --

    [Thumping of microphone]--
    Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
    No, who is
    pounding on the loudspeakers?
    Some Hon Members 1 p.m.
    “Obodai”.
    Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
    Hon Member, do
    not do it; we have to change the heads every so often.
    Dr (Nii) Quaye-Kumah 1 p.m.
    It has all
    been noted and we will carry them all on board.
    Thank you very much. I would urge Hon Members to support this Motion and approve of it.
    Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
    Yes, I think we
    must conclude debate on this matter.
    The question again about numbers
    when Question is put - Hon Dr Osei is here - you quoted the Standing Orders, the wording of the Standing Orders 109:
    “No Question for decision in the House shall be proposed for determination unless there are present in the House not less than one-half of all the Members …”
    We have on our Register today more than one-half of Members but you may not, maybe, have them all in the House. And so, what is the definition for “in the House”? If they are here, they will not sit 24 hours like I do for three hours running; they will get up to do other little things. But from the Register, we have half of the Members. So I think that in which case, we can go on with the Question. What do you think?
    Dr A. A. Osei 1 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I stand by your direction.
    Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
    Well, I will like
    your comments on “in the House”, because I do not -
    Dr A. A. Osei 1 p.m.
    Yes, I would not want
    to argue with the Speaker.
    Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
    No, no!
    Dr A. A. Osei 1 p.m.
    So I go by - Madam
    Speaker, it is all right.
    Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
    Because it seems
    like if we are going to say people Sitting here, we will never have any work done. But I am informed by the Clerk that more than half the Members have signed in. What do you say, Leaders? If we can carry on, I will put the Question. We are not doing any work now but it seems like we have people here, more than half.
    Yes, Hon Leader, what is your stand on this?
    Mr Gbediame 1 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I
    think we have the numbers that are more than half, where we can take a decision. So you can put the Question.
    rose
    Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member,
    were you going to say something?
    Mr J. B. Aidoo 1 p.m.
    [Interruption.] Oh!
    Let me speak my mind.
    Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
    Order! Let us hear
    him. He is going to support it, maybe.
    Mr J. B. Aidoo 1 p.m.
    Let me speak my
    mind.
    Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
    Yes?
    Mr J. B. Aidoo 1 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, much as I agree with Colleague Members, I also want the Leadership, particularly the Whips, to take note that last week, when we took clause (5) of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, the Whips were able to mobilise most Hon Members to the House -- [Interruptions] -- [Some Hon Members: Both sides] -- Yes, so what is the difficulty now for not getting Members here for us to take important Votes? In the event that the
    voice response, for instance, calls for a head count, there would be some problem somewhere and that is why it is always important that we have Members here to take such - it is very, very important. The Motions we are taking are very, very important and that is why we are here. So you should get everybody here.
    Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
    Well, those who
    think it is that important would be in the House by now to contribute. Sometimes they are in the premises but they do not really think that their presence - I do not know but my interpretation is “in the House”. Since physically it is impossible to be Sitting there for three hours running but they would be in the precincts; if we could decide, agree, we should take decisions -- otherwise, this is our last week.
    rose
    Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Hackman,
    are you supporting it?
    Mr Owusu-Agyemang 1 p.m.
    Madam
    Speaker, I am supporting it but with a caveat.
    Madam Speaker, elsewhere, when the Vote is to be taken, like in the House of Commons, they press the button and all the MPs in the House run, they virtually run there to vote. So while I agree with you this time, we should not give comfort to the Leadership and the Whips from their responsibility and say that people are around the House, so they can vote. We signed up -- I remember very well the NDC, the Minority, took us to court to say that the numbers that we had were not right.
    So really, we are giving in because of deference to Madam Speaker. But the Whips -- and he is a Chief Whip -- should do their work and bring the people here, and when it is time to vote, then those who are in the Chamber are those -- that is what is relevant and not anything else.
    So Madam Speaker, because of our grace to you we would agree but I do not think that they should take comfort in that at all.
    Madam Speaker 1 p.m.
    No, I think - like you said, they should not take comfort. They should rush, like you said, “run to the House”. That is what is normally done. I am not sure your people would run, they might walk.
    Anyway, we have almost spent half the
    day and let us take some decisions if Hon Members are here. Then shall I finish up with Motion number 7 on which we have just debated and concluded by putting the Question now?
    Question put and Motion agreed to. Resolved:
    That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢335,960,762.00 for the services of the Ministry of Roads and Highways for the year ending 31st December, 2011.
    Madam Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon Members,
    in the spirit, can we go back to Motion number 5; we deferred it, so that we could have some work done today? What was left, Hon Members, was the Question. So shall I put the Question on Motion number 5 -
    Madam Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Did we finish with item number 7; we finished it?
    Yes! Yes, Hon Member, are we going
    to -
    Mr Gbediame 1:10 p.m.
    Motion number 8 - the
    Hon Deputy Minister is in to stand in for the Hon Minister. So if I may crave the indulgence of the House and your kind
    permission for the Hon Deputy Minister to move that Motion -- Government Machinery.
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:10 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, out of curiosity, Office of Government Machinery is the Office of the President and there are Ministers of State in the Office of the President who came to defend them; it was not the Hon Deputy Minister who came to defend them. It was the Minister of State, Hon Azong who came to talk about this particular item. So it would be difficult for the Hon Deputy to do so. It would be better if the Hon Minister of State - [Interruption] - Mr Azong, yes. He should be running here, he should be running, not walking.
    Madam Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Any bells to be ringing for him? Yes, is the Hon Minister here?
    ANNUAL ESTIMATES 1:10 p.m.
    Madam Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Page?
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:30 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, page 16 onwards --
    “The Chief Executive Officer of the Micro Finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) informed the Committee that the Personal Emolument Vote of the centre has not been released to the Centre”.
    When I questioned further, “so has anybody been paid”? She said, “yes.” I asked, “how?” She said, “Moneys that we are supposed to lend out to people.” We have not authorised that here. So I do not know how they could have done that.
    I prefer that she never said it so that it is not captured here.
    M a d a m S s p e a k e r , s h e s a y s cumulatively, they have collected GH¢12 million. In the meantime, she is going to request somebody to sign GH35.5 million for her to loan out. Madam Speaker, who is that “somebody”?This is because no where in the Office of the Government Machinery is GH¢35.5 million being allocated to them. Is she going to use the GH¢12 million she has collected to do that? Is she going to borrow money? Now that they are already using some of the money to pay their employees, how much money is going to be left?
    Madam Speaker, this is a very serious matter and I think the Minister of State should take note and make sure that this GH¢35.5 million, if it cannot be found, then it means they cannot handle their responsibilities. Madam Speaker, it is not captured here but she also talked about the fact that collection rate of the loans is not very good and we need to work on that.
    Madam Speaker, one of the most important things that most of us do not talk about is the efficiency that is being exhibited by staff members at MiDA. Madam Speaker, the report they gave was a very enlightened experience for
    most Committee members.
    MiDA is living up to its expectation and all of us need to be paying attention - I believe two days ago or last weekend, the Board of MiDA was meeting in Washington to decide whether or not Ghana could become eligible for the second tranche. Madam Speaker, this is something that all of us, as MPs, must support. The amount involved in the first one is US$547 million as a grant to the Government of Ghana.
    Now, for the Government to be eligible, of course, they have to meet certain criteria. But I think this is something that is a worthy cause and from the way they are going, it looks like they might be able to use all the allocations sometime next year and we need to commend them and their staff for doing a very important job at MiDA. Parliament needs to support the Government by making sure that whatever is necessary we do to make sure Ghana becomes eligible for the second tranche. This is because we could be getting more money so that almost all the nice things they are doing can be continued.
    Madam Speaker, finally, in terms of the Regional Co-ordinating Councils, when you look at the Estimates, you find out that some small regions, relatively speaking, get more money than bigger regions. So we were trying to find out what is the formula for the allocation. And the formula, Madam Speaker, really depends on where one is located as a region and how many “officials” pass through.
    So, for example, if one is in the Ashanti Region, then people going back and forth to the North, to Accra -- you will happen to get more because-- for example, Upper East Region is getting more than the Volta Region and we were wondering how this was done. But basically, it looks like they have become protocol agencies.
    So they need to have enough money to
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah (NPP - Sekondi) 1:30 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I rise to contribute to this debate and to support the Motion, that the sum of moneys specified be approved for the activities of the Office of Government Machinery for next year. However, I just wish to make a general comment in respect of the agencies, bodies or institutions classified under the Office of Government Machinery.
    Madam Speaker, under “Observations”, it is stated that the Office of Government Machinery exists to provide administrative, managerial and technical services to the Presidency of Ghana. That is supposed to be the mission of all those agencies classified as belonging to the Office of Government Machinery.
    However, we will want to note that probably, not all the agencies can be said to provide administrative, managerial and technical services to the Presidency of Ghana. It is important that every agency in terms of accountability has ministerial oversight. I do not know whether the Ministers of State in the Presidency have oversight for some of these agencies.
    If that is the case, we do not know
    as a House; probably, it has to do with the internal arrangement of the Office of the President. But my experience in Government seems to be that, most of these agencies, in terms of oversight, do not have the political oversight being exercised. Furthermore, in some cases, we even have direct conflict of authority.
    For instance, when it comes to the Ghana Investments Promotion Centre, we have the Ministry of Trade and Industry supposed to be the Ministry responsible for trade and industry and thereby promoting investment. We also have GIPC We may have GIPC offices in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA) and you have trade attaches in those places. So sometimes, it leads to duplication of functions and unless we have the persons involved in those activities collaborating, we realise that structurally, we give room for a lot of conflicts. So we need to consider these things very carefully.
    If you look at MASLOC, it is located in the Office of the President. One would expect that having responsibility for giving out loans in respect of funds given to it by Government, it will be located under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for purposes of efficiency. However, it is located in the Office of the President.
    We also have National Pensions Regulatory Authority.
    Even though the law has set up a three tier National Pensions Authority (NPA), we have not actualized it. I have had a lot of requests coming from outside Ghana seeking to know whether the private pension scheme is in place for people to invest. Sometimes someone asks: “Oh, the Pension Act, the Regulations, I understand, is now in Parliament.” I would want the Hon Minister in winding up to brief us on the status of the Pensions
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah (NPP - Sekondi) 1:40 p.m.
    Regulations and when we intend that we will actualize it.

    African Fund for Bio Fuel Development, it could easily come under the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology. So, I am urging Government to have a look at the agencies under the Office of Government Machinery, look at the mission of Government Machinery and then try to re-align some of the agencies. If Ministers of State in the Presidency are to take responsibility for them, then of course, Parliament should be informed, so that when it comes to accountability, we know whom to ask because we cannot bring the President to Parliament to answer Questions.

    If we are asking questions about public sector reform and there is a Minister of State who has responsibility for it, then let Parliament know so that in the exercise of Parliament's oversight, we know whom to ask in respect of when it comes to some of the works of these agencies.

    Having said this, Madam Speaker, I am urging the Hon Minister to note these things closely. A lot of times, we make observations during this general Budget debate and we come the next year and we repeat it. I am serving notice that in respect of the issues that I have raised, after the first quarter of next year, I am going to pursue them most vigorously, using the avenues available to me as a Member of Parliament.

    Having said this, I wish to thank Madam Speaker for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this debate.
    Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (Mr Joseph Y. Chireh) (MP) 1:40 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I wish to make a few comments about this Report and in doing so, I wish to first of all , say
    that the Office of Government Machinery encompasses a number of institutions and sectors that could, by themselves, stand alone. But it is also for good reason that we do not separate them and create other bureaucracies which will make running of government even more complex.
    The idea of ensuring that there is proper accountability for the resources that are allocated can always be pursued. However, there is always a continuing programme of public sector reform, and as we go through it, where there is the need for some of these institutions to be separated from the Government Machinery itself, that will be pursued.
    Many institutions that come directly under the Government Machinery also belong to sectors and sometimes, some lobby and say, let us put them under the Presidency. The moment we do that, we are not likely to get the attention that otherwise, we would have. But as we continue to reform the public sector, these issues will keep coming up.
    The amount involved is huge, also because we have the Presidency itself and it is important that when you look at institutions like the National Security Council, which comes directly under the President and the reference that was made here that because a Minister has been given additional responsibility, the budget for the National Security should have gone to the Ministry of the Interior. Really, is neither here nor there but is it more where it is now?
    This is because that Minister is under the National Security Council and the President is the Chairman of the National Security Council. By security arrangement, if we had a sole Minister for National Security as we had in the previous regime, there would be no argument as to ministerial responsibility. But this one, it is not strictly the same.
    The difference is that, he has been
    rose
    Mr Chireh 1:40 p.m.
    My Friend again has started. [Laughter.] Madam Speaker, I wanted to raise these issues and thank you for the opportunity you have given me to contribute to the debate.
    Madam Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    Hon Members, we have more things to do today. Maybe, I will call the last person - the Leader to finish up before we wind up and then we move on. We have two more Motions; we have that of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill; we have a lot of things here.
    Mr Ambrose P. Dery (NPP -- Lawra/Nandom) 1:40 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I do appreciate the constraint of time but it is also important that we speak to some of these issues. I thought the Hon Prempeh was going to be given the chance and then I have some comments to make on Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) that I think are very important.
    Madam Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    That is why I called you.
    Mr Dery 1:40 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I support the Motion subject to these serious observations that I would like to make.
    If you look at the Report, you will
    see clearly at page 5, 3.1 that SADA is part of the Office of the President. Then you go to page 6, under 3.2, “Allocation to Departments and Units under Office of the President”. And then you have at the bottom of it Savanna Accelerated Development Authority, allocation -- GH¢0. First of all, we have been told that there appears to be some balance from the administrative allocation for last year, that was GH¢1.87 million for Administration and that what is left is GH¢0.79.
    Madam Speaker, SADA is not just an afterthought in the scheme of things of this Government. SADA was expressly promised, declared as part of the package to convince Ghanaians to vote the Government to power. Therefore, in the Manifesto at pages 76 and 77, they talked of allocations to SADA of GH¢200 million seed money and then GH¢100 million every subsequent year for 20 years and that, once it is established, a donor conference will be organised and GH¢200 million will be raised to support the Authority and its activities.
    Madam Speaker, what we have in this Budget is a mere GH¢25 million which is woefully below what has been promised. What is worse is that we are told that GH¢15 million of that is put under agriculture and GH¢10 million of that is put under roads and highways.
    Madam Speaker, SADA is supposed to be an affirmative action approach, something additional to bridge the developmental gap between the three northern regions, northern part of Volta Region and northern part of Brong Ahafo Region.
    Therefore, when we begin to make such a meagre allocation and furthermore, put them under existing Ministries, the danger is that we cannot even trace where this 15 billion and10 billion is going to be. So it makes the situation even worse
    Madam Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    Thank you.
    rose
    Madam Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Let us have one from each side, quickly, five minutes each and then we wind up.
    Mr John Gyetuah (NDC - Amenfi West 1:50 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion that is on the floor.
    Madam Speaker, it has already been alluded to by some Hon Members who spoke earlier that Government Machinery actually encompasses a lot of institutions. I believe that is true.
    Madam Speaker, according to your Committee's Report, talking about the Scholarship's Secretariat - When you get to the Scholarship's Secretariat, looking at the officials, they are so burdened with lack of office space and I believe that I want to plead with the Ministry or the Office of the President to ensure that a very good office accommodation is built for the Scholarship's Secretariat for them to do their work.
    Indeed, looking at your Committee's Report, we could not even see these MASLOC loans that have been given to other people who have not been able to pay. We do not know when these loans were actually given to them. They were proffered to them in the previous administration. About GH¢35 million is with the people and I believe that only GH¢12 million has been retrieved. It is vital for us to actually retrieve those moneys that have been given to them, so that other people will also enjoy.

    Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity.
    Dr Matthew O. Prempeh (NPP - Manhyia) 1:50 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I would like to -
    Madam Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Before you go on - wait.
    Hon Members, considering the state of business in the House, I direct that Sitting be held outside the prescribed period in accordance with Standing Order 40 (3).
    Yes, five minutes.
    Dr Prempeh 1:50 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I want to bring two matters to your attention.
    The Report ending from where the Hon Deputy Leader started, talked about GH¢25 million for SADA, where GH¢15 million is in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and GH¢10 million is under the Ministry of Roads and Highways. Madam Speaker, no where in the Budget is that catered for.
    Besides, page 266 of the Budget Statement allocates GH¢25 million to SADA under the Office of the President. Paragraph 932 of this Budget Statement tells us that SADA is going to be funded by the District Assemblies Common Fund, National Health Insurance Trust Fund and GETFund. So where is the double accounting coming from? Where is the GH¢25 million coming from? The people in charge of the Budget should come straight to Parliament and tell us the truth.
    In this Budget Statement, there is no GH¢15 million in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for SADA; in this Budget, there is no GH¢10 million in the Ministry of Roads and Highways for SADA. In the same Budget, there is GH¢25 million in the Office of the President for SADA. In the Estimates, appropriation, there is zero
    amount. That is the inconsistency in the Budget that has been given to us. I do not want to believe it is azaa. No! Madam Speaker, I do not share that view. It is a poorly executed job.
    The second point is about the Ghana AIDS Commission. It is very serious. You made a referral last year on the change to the Ghana AIDS Commission Bill. Unfortunately, it was referred to the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation instead of the Committee on Health. But Madam Speaker, it is getting tonnes and millions of dollars from outside and starting from or ending from or continuing from where Hon Papa Owusu-Ankomah spoke, this is the only Commission in this country not given to a ministerial office to supervise.
    The Energy Commission is under the Ministry of Energy; the Lands Commission is under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources; the Forestry Commission is under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission is under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. But the Ghana AIDS Commission lacks supervision.
    During this year, a lot of issues about malfeasance have been labelled. No parliamentary committee is in charge and we have to look at these things. This is because they go directly against our supervisory role. So Madam Speaker, while we are looking at this Budget, we must do a comprehensive work, not just approve of Estimates.
    Madam Speaker, thank you very much.
    Mr Azong Alhanssan 1:50 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, I wish to acknowledge the contributions of Hon Members from both sides of the House and urge them to approve the Estimates of Government Machinery to the tune of GH¢292,921,220 for the year 2011.
    Question put and Motion agreed to. Resolved:
    That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢292,921,220.00 for the services of the Government Machinery for the year ending 31st December, 2011.
    Madam Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Hon Members, it is time to change over.
    Mr Gbediame 1:50 p.m.
    Madam Speaker, the
    Hon Minister for Communications is in the Chamber and I want to request that you take Motion number 9.
    Madam Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Thank you.
    The Chair will be taken by the Hon First Deputy Speaker.
    1.56 p.m. -- MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
    ANNUAL ESTIMATES 2 p.m.
    Minister for Communications (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) (MP) 2 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢29,547,558.00 for the services of the Ministry of Communications for the year ending 31st December, 2011. [Interruptions.]
    Mr Speaker, the Report has been
    distributed. If they have not got it, maybe, they can check from their pigeon holes.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon
    Deputy Whip, do you have the copy of
    your Report there? Do you have any member of the Committee here?
    Mr Dery 2 p.m.
    Yes, I have a copy of the -
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon
    Member, you have a copy of the Report there?
    Mr Gbediame 2 p.m.
    Yes, it has been distributed this morning.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    There are a
    few who have not finalised everything --
    Mr Gbediame 2 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    Report has not been distributed. That is it. Are you talking of finalisation or distribution?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon
    Member, you heard me say that. Have you finalised the -
    Mr Herod Cobbina 2 p.m.
    We have not
    finalised it.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon
    Members, let us get the principles right. If the Report has been distributed, we take it; if it has not been distributed, then we cannot take this Motion. So I want to know the true state of affairs.
    Mr Gbediame 2 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my
    information was that it had been distributed but rightly on the floor -- I think that for the avoidance of any doubt, you can defer it to tomorrow.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon
    Members, I think that was what I was going to do. But I also want to plead with Hon Members, that if you really want to rise in this House on 21st December, 2010, then I think that we have to do more than
    we are doing now.
    Mrs Catherine A. Afeku 2 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I wanted to throw light on what happened. I am surprised the Vice Chairman is actually misleading this House that everybody has a copy. He was the first person they gave the draft copy to this morning, including a copy for the Ranking Member, while they go through. I just got a message from our Clerk that they are collating the copies, so they would bring them in five minutes. And for him to actually tell the House that everybody had a copy, I am quite surprised. We want to take the Motion today because we want to finish with the business of the House.
    So I just conferred with my Ranking Member -- let us do the Health Motion, defer it for the next five minutes, so we take the Communications. That is why the Hon Minister rushed back. But for the Vice Chairman to mislead this House, that is quite unfortunate. The printing room is running back and forth just to get it ready so we take this. So we want the House to know that it is in the process; it will come if we give ourselves at least, ten minutes, we will take the Communications one. The Vice Chairman should know that a draft is not the same as the finished report.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon Members, I think that if the Report is not ready and the Minister for Health is not here, then we may have to adjourn the House.
    Hon Members, if theReport, as we
    have been told by the Hon Member for Evalue Gwira, is the state of affairs, then we cannot take the Motion. But let me hear from -
    Mr Gbediame 2 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, like I
    earlier said, you can defer the Motion on Communications. When I checked on the Committee on Health, the Chairman said

    the Report was not ready, so we cannot take it now. But looking at the amount of work that the committees still have to do and giving ourselves that 2 o'clock the committees should meet and look at their Estimates.

    I want to use this opportunity to appeal to Chairmen and Ranking Members and of course, all members of those committees who have outstanding Estimates to look at, they should use this time to do that, so that we can have enough work to do.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon
    Majority Chief Whip, you see, all the Chairmen of the committees are from your side. As far as these subject matters are concerned, they are all from your side. If you really want business to proceed, you must make sure that before you leave the House this evening, get all your Chairmen who have Motions, who have Papers to present tomorrow, so that you know which Papers are ready and which Papers are not ready. So it is very important that you should be among the last people to be leaving this House if you really want this House to rise on 21st December, 2010.
    Hon Members, on that note, the House
    is accordingly adjourned till tomorrow at 10.00 in the forenoon.
    ADJOURNMENT 2 p.m.