Odekro | What has your MP done for you?

Madam Speaker

Hon Members, I am happy to welcome you back to the House after the Christmas recess. The Lord has answered our prayers for an eventful but peaceful recess and once more brought us back to complete work for the last lap of our four- year mandate. I believe you all had a good and restful holiday.
This Meeting and subsequent ones within our tenure will be bu.sy and demanding of us. A lot of work will be referred to the House for consideration. Being a political campaign period for the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, the usual fervour for clamouring for public attention by your respective political parties will undoubtedly be high. As the political barometer of the country will be

naturally charged, let us all be circumspect in our discourses as opinion leaders and Members of Parliament.

Already, there are simmering indications of this thick, politically charged cloud moving round us but at least, thankfully, not in the House. Let us at least, bury the political hatchet once we are in the House, since our overriding concern, as I always say, is the national interest.

We must be the forerunners preaching the peace and the need for the consolidation of the democratic culture and all that it entails to the people of Ghana. Importantly, we must, as usual, disagree if need be but co-operate to carry out the business of the House at all times.

I hope my Leaders in particular have already taken very good note of my appeal. They must do well to carry all along as a body with a common purpose.

The maturity and professional competence of the Clerk and his staff and indeed, the Press Corps here will be needed throughout this period of intense political activity. I fervently pray that the good Lord will give us strength and candour to start and conclude the Meeting to His Glory and to the admiration of all Ghanaians.

Madam Speaker

Let us now move to the Official Report- and we have four of them. So, let us start with the Official Report of Tuesday, 13th December, 2011.
Any corrections?

Mr Cletus A. Avoka

Madam Speaker, column 3131, under my name, the next paragraph reads:
"Many Motions are ready for debate this morning but with your kind permission, I would want us to take Motion number 9 out of ten." They have put in here "ten". alt is "out of turn".
It is not number "ten".

Madam Speaker

All right. Hon Members, the Official Report of Tuesday, 13th December, 2011 as corrected, is adopted as the true record of proceedings.

There will be no Statements today.

We move to the Commencement of Public Business- Item 4 -

Madam Speaker

Yes, Hon Member?

Dr A. A. Osei

Thank you. Madam Speaker, and Happy New Year.

Madam Speaker

Thank you.

Dr A. A. Osei

Madam Speaker, before we rose from the last Sitting, there was an issue about the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning bringing some information for us to approve, which never came. We approved the Appropriation Bill and rose without dealing with that particular issue.
I would want to find out from the Hon Majority Leader what the status of that particular issue is. Every time we raise it, they will say "we would discuss it". It was never discussed and it was never resolved.

Madam Speaker

Hon Leader, let us finish with this small bit before we move on.
Any comments you wish to make?
I know it does not come with the -- but if you can give us any help.
Mr Avoka Madam Speaker, I thought the Hon Member for Tafo would spare me and the House the ordeal of the request that he is making this morning against the backdrop that we have gone on Christmas recess, we had New Year, some of us have gone through primaries and this is the first day that we are coming to meet. So, to make a request as to the demands of the last Meeting, when we have just come from a conflicting mood of Christmas, New Year and primaries-- I think he can spare us that ordeal.
I would take note of it and now that we have commenced business, we would look at the issue that was uncompleted, so that we can address the concern that he is raising. But for today, it is not the day to make demands, having regard to the circumstances we have gone through. We have just started. I have not made contact with the Hon Minister for Finance and Economic Planning sufficiently to be able to respond to this.
Having said that, I -

Madam Speaker

In other words, you are saying that you would meet with him and discuss the issue?
Is that what you are really saying‘?

Mr Av0ka

Exactly so. I am saying that we would revisit the matter he has raised subsequently. But it is too early in the day for me to make a statement on that request.

Madam Speaker

There is the promise to -

Dr A. A. Osei

Madam Speaker, I sympathize with my senior Colleague and Leader of the House.
Madam Speaker, there is only one worry that I have. There are too many rumours of imp ending reshuffle -

Madam Speaker

Do we deal with rumours here?

Dr A. A. Osei

No, that is the point. Madam Speaker, this is Why I wanted the issue resolved before these rumours become a reality, so that the persons we are holding responsible can do their job at the time that we Wanted them to do their job. We do not want to visit this type of task on any new person. So if the Majority Leader becomes a new Finance Minister- [Laughter] - he would have to go through the motion of - [Interruption]

Mr Avoka

On a point of order.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Dr Akoto Osei is going into further complications. He is going-into further difficulties or challenges. I have already enumerated Christmas, New Year and the primaries and as if that is not enough, he is adding run1our-mongering to it - [Laughter] - - And this House, with the greatest respect, does not depend on rumours to transact our business.

Dr A. A. Osei

Madam Speaker, these are not rumours -

Madam Speaker

Are they not?

Dr A. A. Osei

At least, we know one Minister is not in position. We know one.

Madam Speaker

But that is not a rumour, it is in the papers.

Dr A. A. Osei

That is not a rumour. It started out as a rumour and today in the newspapers, we are told of a second possibility. So we_ are not dealing with rumours here. It could be two. At least, there is one vacancy - [Interruptions] - I do not know if the President has accepted the resignation. So I will not go there. So the fact is that, there is a reshuffle, not rumours. So I used the word "rumour" advisedly but factually, there have been changes.
So we do not want to visit the sins of other people on others. It Will do us a favour if we clear this matter very quickly, then we can be rest assured that - But Madam Speaker, with all due respect, it was a constitutional matter and that was my worry.

Madam Speaker

Well, that was why we got him to promise that it would be done very quickly and I think your appeal really is that we should do it very quickly.

As for the rumours, we are not bound by them nor are we bound by the fear that somebody will not be there to do that work. But I do appreciate and I am sure the Leader appreciates that he should do it quickly.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Madam Speaker, I sympathize with the Majority Leader when he says that negotiating the contours of primaries takes a lot of tact. And so those of them who have negotiated the bumps, the ridges and furrows of the primaries need to be congratulated. Madam Speaker we were even going to create space and time to congratulate those of them who have scaled the hurdles, avoided the thorns and thistles and came up triumphant. I thought we were going to have time to congratulate them, maybe, in due time.
But Madam Speaker, this issue is very critical. As the Hon Member for Tafo, who is a Ranking Member for the Committee on Finance has said, it is a constitutional imperative. Indeed, the Majority Leader promised that because it is a constitutional imperative, it had to be done before the Appropriation Bill was approved by Parliament. He said to us -- it was not a promise, it was a pledge - that we were going to have to do it before we approved the Appropriation Bill. Nothing like that came and given the exigencies of the time, We approved of the Appropriation Bill and exited.
We are here again and we are beginning anew financial year. It is a first day all right but what is right is right, what is Wrong is wrong. We need to attend to that,-and I would want to crave his indulgence to make the necessary contacts, so that at least, we have it before the week expires. I think it is very important.

Mr Avoka

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the concerns expressed and I am not playing down the request that was made. I was just praying that today being the first day and having regard to the exigencies of the situation, we can do Without the demands for today.
Madam Speaker, having made that observation, let me also say that before we go to item number 4, let me seize the opportunity to welcome Hon Members

back to the House and to congratulate those Hon Members of the NDC who were able to win the primaries and to urge those who did not make it not to lose hope. It is normal when you go to an election to Win or to lose. So losing a primary is not the end of 0ne's political ‘career. I think that there are other challenges and chances that would come in the future.

So we welcome everybody to the House. We congratulate those who made it and those of us who did not make it, there is room for improvement in the future. We still urge them to co-operate for the work of the House and Government.

Madam Speaker, item number 4(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) Will be done by the Chairman of the Committee who is in the Chamber today.

Mr Avoka

Madam Speaker, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee are not in the Chamber, but a very able member of the Committee would

Madam Speaker

Yes, Leader?

Mr Avoka

Madam Speaker, item number 5 has been advertised to draw the attention of Hon Members on the exigency of passing this Bill. I envisaged that given its importance, we should have some winnowing process to be able to narrow the issues, so that we can debate on the Bill. So it is not actually intended to be started this morning. But the purpose is to let all Hon Members know, so that those who are interested would join us, the Winnowing Committee, to look at it.
May I also add, Madam Speaker, that there are other Bills that are outstanding. So I would want the committee Chairpersons, Ranking Members and the entire committee members to note, that the Veterans Administration, Ghana Bill, 2010 is a Bill we should be looking at one of these days. Then the intestate Succession Bill would also be looked at, and then the College of Education Bill, 2011 would also be considered.
It is anticipated. that we would look at these three Bills, just before the State of the Nation Address sometime in the middle of February.
So I would want to urge committee Chairpersons and Ranking Members to take note and try to co-operate with the Business Committee, so that we can

expedite action on these Bills. So this Bill, the Presidential (Transition) Bill, will not be heard today; we would rather invite those who have filed amendments to meet me in the office, so that we can start the winnowing at 2.00 o'clock. The time is 11.00 o'clock now; we would make it 2.00 o'clock, when we would start winnowing.

Mr Ambrose P. Dery

Madam Speaker, the Leader of the House has referred to the Intestate Succession Bill, and I thought that we would also have the Spousal Rights Bill. I think that they should go together because they are related.
Also, I wish to caution that in dealing with these Bills, we should take the situation in the various Ministries into consideration, because some of these Bills are going to come under the Attorney- General and they appear to be in a state of flux at this time.
So maybe, we need to draw the attention of His Excellency the President, so that these things can be crystallized for us to make meaningful progress.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah

Madam Speaker, it looks as if business for the day is coming to an end. It is characteristic of Parliament that during the first week, not much business is done. But you have indicated that this is an election year. So I am urging the Hon Majority Leader, even in this state of uncertainty that we find ourselves in, to ensure that at least, we start serious business in respect of the Bills that he has referred to.
I heard him suggest 2.00 o'clock; it is now 11.00 o'clock. Will those interested in the winnowing stay three hours doing nothing here? I thought he would suggest even immediately after adjournment. So I am urging him to expedite action on all these matters, because the President himself has stated that he is going to

Madam Speaker

Yes, Leader, I think the Hon Member has made a good point. When you say 2.00 o'clock, what should happen in the interim? [Interruption.] I am quite sure Hon Isaac Asiamah is in the House. I have heard his voice.

Mr Avoka

Madam Speaker, the issues raised by the Hon Member for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah are well founded. We actually have a short Meeting, like you indicated earlier and we have a lot of business to undertake. So time is of essence to our programme during the course of this Meeting. We appreciate that one. Today is the first day and as he observed, normally, the first days have their own challenges.
But if I can rely on the Winnowing Committee members, we can start the Winnowing at 12.00 o'clock, the time now being ll o'clock, so that we can Work for an hour or two and adjourn rather than go late into the night as we have been going through in the past. S0 the Winnowing Committee will meet at 12 o'clock in my office and then we can advise ourselves whether We are having it there or upstairs.

Dr Matthew O. Prempeh

Madam Speaker, I would want to bring to the attention of the House that there are serious issues that have been referred by

your good self to specific committees to work on, that for the last two and a half years, meetings have not been called. Madam Speaker, I am talking in relation to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). When some of us raised the issue of ECG here, you referred it to a specific committee.

Madam Speaker, not even a single meeting has been held and this year being an election year and the Ministry of Energy itself is having problems with the energy producers, the transmitters and distributors and exposes on air, Parliament must not be seen to be a toothless bulldog. Two and a half years!

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker

I thought the Hon Leader did. say that the committees should work very hard. I said so too, and what is left to be done, they should present it quickly. Maybe, Hon Leader, you could bring home the facts to the committees, so that we work on them. That is why I did say we have so much to do this year. Matters referred to the committees should be brought so that we could deal with them rather than start new things and refer them when the old references have not even been finished with. So probably, you would take note of the electricity thing and -

Mr Avoka

Yes, we will take note of that. All outstanding referrals would have to be revisited, timeously dealt with and brought to the House for deliberation. We would urge committee Chairpersons and members to expedite action with regard to matters that have already been referred to them while we continue to do business.

Mr Joseph B. Aidoo

Madam Speaker, the Hon Member for Sekondi urged the Hon Majority Leader to attach seriousness to Government Business of the House.

Mr Aidoo

Madam Speaker, as I speak now, we have as many as 50 Hon Members attending to the House on this side of the House. Madam Speaker, only 20 -

Madam Speaker

Is it a point of order? Let me take a point of order -- Yes, carry on.

Mr J. B. Aidoo

Madam Speaker, I am only making an appeal. My appeal is that, much as we should attend Government Business with all the seriousness, we should also be attending upon the House for Business to flow. As I speak now, we have 50 Hon Members of the Minority being present and on the other side, I could not even count 20 Hon Members. They are not up to 20 and it is a serious concern. If this should go on, we cannot do any business in the House -- [Interruption] - 23 is less than half of the Hon Members on this side of the House.
This is a very harmless appeal I am extending to the Hon Majority Leader, to urge the Majority Members of the House to be in the House always.

Mr Gbediame

Madam Speaker, with due respect, I do not want my Hon Colleague to be playing to the gallery. He knows that during the time they were having their primaries, the same issue that he is raising was there. While others have finished with their primaries, others are also yet to go through their primaries and we should be fair to our side. Being an Hon Member of Parliament who has gone through primaries, he should know what he is talking about.

So we are equal to the task and we would prove to them that we would be ready to do Government Business. Therefore, he should take note of that.

Madam Speaker

Thank you very much, Chief Whip.

Mr J. B. Aidoo

Madam Speaker, I am surprised by the response of the Chief Whip. Madam. Speaker, he is the Chief Whip of the Majority Side -

Madam Speaker

That is why he says he has taken note of what you said and he would be acting to bring the Hon Members -

Mr J. B. Aidoo

Exactly so. But" Madam Speaker, the Business of the House is paramount and therefore, he cannot use the primaries as an excuse to sort of, hold -- [Interruption] - He cannot use the ongoing primaries. In my opinion, a greater part of the primaries has been done and so he has no excuse whatsoever to tell us that the fact that Hon Members are not attending upon the House is because of the primaries.
I would have wished that he came up with a more convincing reason for all of us to accept for Hon Members not attending upon the House, particularly on the Majority Side.

Madam Speaker

What do you think is a more convincing reason other than that there is a primary and you yourself have suggested there are going to be changes‘? What is a more convincing reason that you --

Mr J. B.Aid00

Madam Speaker, amore convincing reason is that he should urge Hon Members of his side to come to the House without any excuse whatsoever.

Madam Speaker

That was what he just said Well, I do not think it is an excuse. He was just appealing to this side that yes, your point is well taken, we would see to it. But that it happened when you were doing your primaries and asking you to have a bit of compassion. I think that was all that he was saying. But he has promised that work would carry on.

Dr Prempeh

Madam Speaker, I totally agree with your observation that when it was our turn some of us did not even come to the Chamber - [Interruption]

Dr A. A. Osei

No, no, no. Madam Speaker, a point of order Madam Speaker, I am on a point of order.

Madam Speaker

Hon Osei, I will hear you after Hon Prempeh.

DrA. A. Osei

N0 Madam Speaker, a point of order.

Madam Speaker

Point of order, yes?

Dr A. A. Osei

Madam Speaker, he is misleading the House. We held our primaries when we were on recess, so we could not have been coming here. We were on recess.

Dr Prempeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I withdraw that part of my statement.
Madam Speaker, my only worry is that during the response of the Hon Majority Chief Whip, he made a statement that does not augur well for this House.

Madam Speaker

What did he say?

Dr Prempeh

Madam Speaker, he said Hon Members should prove to them that they are prepared to do Government Business. Yes. When the Hansard comes, Madam Speaker, We will refer you to this.

The Hon Majority Chief Whip in charge of Government Business is telling this House that till Greater Accra Region finishes with its primaries, there is no Government Business. Madam Speaker, that is the only region - [Interruption] - till they finish. It is a dangerous statement to be accepted on the floor of this House.

I accept that maybe, primaries, people might -- but look, Madam Speaker, there are Greater Accra MPs in the House. Hon Fritz Baffour is in the House, Hon Tetteh Chaie is in the House, Hon Nii Nortey Duah is in the House and the Hon Member for Shai Osudoku is in the House. So Madam Speaker, I may accept the reason he has given but some part of his statement, he has to withdraw it. Hon Tettey-Bnyo is in the House Madam Speaker. So he has to withdraw that part of the statement.

You cannot hold Government to ransom because of a few primaries left to be done. We are here to do Government Business. We are prepared for Government Business. The Hon Majority Chief Whip cannot hold the President to ransom. [Interruption.] Why does he want to become the Minister?

Mr Gbediame

Madam Speaker, thank you.
I do not want him to quote me out of context

Madam Speaker

Hon Member, it was only that bit he was complaining about.

Mr Gbediame

Yes. I am saying, that he should not quote me out "of context. What I am saying is that we are equal to the task; We would ensure that Hon Members are always here to do the job; we would do our work to the satisfaction of everybody.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Sampson Ahi

Madam Speaker, I Believe; having returned from the Christmas and for that matter the New Year, most of my Hon Colleagues opposite want to be heard that they are around - [Interruption] - yes. This is because most of the issues that they are raising, I do not see them. What the Hon Majority Chief Whip sought to do, and it is true that their primaries were held when we were on recess but the campaign took place when we were Sitting.
And most of the time we could count five or ten Hon Members. I remember the Hon Minority Leader, when there was a serious opposition in his constituency against him, three to four days, he was not here.
So it is part of the game. So in the long run, the Chief Whip is trying to say that people, having gone through the prin1aries,'it is just normal that it will take some time for us to organise till they come. That is the simple thing that he is saying. Apart from the fact that they want to be heard that they are around, I do not see what they are talking about.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah

Madam Speaker, just to say that the last statement made by the Hon Member for Juaboso is most unacceptable. We are serious Hon Members of Parliament and nobody comes here just to be heard. To suggest that points that were raised by Hon Members were just because some Hon Members wanted to be heard, is very offensive and insulting.
I am urging you, Madam Speaker, to call upon him to withdraw and apologise, particularly when his Leadership saw the sense in what we are saying. I repeat, the Leadership saw the sense and wisdom in what we Were saying.

For him to say that we just came here to be heard, I personally find it most offensive and l am urging you to call upon him to withdraw that statement and apologise.

Madam Speaker

Hon Member, I think that a point has been taken about that sentence, that some people are just here, and they are making these points to be heard. I think you have to withdraw that part. Just withdraw it.

Mr Ahi

Madam Speaker, I will withdraw it but before that - [Interruption.] My Hon senior Colleague said that the Leadership saw the sense in What they were saying, so they were quiet. I do not take instructions from Leadership before I speak. [Interruption.] Yes, this point must be made clear.
I am a Member of Parliament, representing the good people of Juaboso and I do not take instructions from Leadership before -- and what I said was that I do not see what they were talking about. But if my senior Hon Member and some of my Hon Friends have taken offence, I withdraw it.

Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyernang

Madam Speaker, the Hon Member for Juaboso has a penchant for leading himself into more and more problems. The rules of this House are quite clear. The Leadership is there to lead the House. It is not as if the Leadership would in anyway vet what he said. But by all means, Madam Speaker, you have said many a time that once you have agreed with Leadership, that is the norm of the House and Parliament work by procedure. But this young man --[Interruption]

Mr Avoka

On a point of order.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Senior Member, Hon Hackman is not keeping faith with our Standing Orders. You refer

Mr Owusu-Agyemang

Madam Speaker, adjectives exist to be used and by all means, I will not equate him to your good self. You are a fourth time Hon Member of Parliament and I am sure you know what I am referring to.
But Madam Speaker, the Hon Member of Parliament who says things like "The cedi is appreciating the dollar" you do not expect anything good from him. [Laughter:]This is a very serious thing. How can we expect anything good from him? So please, take your time, let us go according to the rule of the game.
But for whatever reason, whether you have won your seat or not, just keep your peace, so that we can let the work of the House go on. I do not think we want to take any more intervention from him, so he should hold his peace. And please, whatever he says, he should say it, so that we can all understand and does not tell me that "The cedi is appreciating the dollar". This . is because I do not understand that language. You do not understand, we do not understand, so he should speak the language that we can understand.

Madam Speaker

Yes, Hon Members, let us move on then.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, the last intervention from you.

Mr Dery

Madam Speaker, I just wanted to draw Hon Members' attention to the admonishing - your speech that

you gave that we should try and co- operate on both sides and try to be civil in What we are doing. I think it is in that vein that I am concerned that the Hon Member for Juaboso pointed at the Hon Minority Leader and said that he remembered that the Hon Minority Leader was absent for four days.

I thought the Hon Majority Leader was going to actually draw the attention of the Hon Member to do something about that statement that he made. It is a wild allegation and I do not think that such interventions would do us any good for this Session.

I would appeal that as we communicate on both sides, we try to be civil and not be particular.

But in the case of the Hon. Member for Juaboso, he attacked the Hon Minority Leader and I expect the Hon Majority Leader to do something about it. I will not go beyond that

Madam Speaker

Well, I will let sleeping dogs lie because the Hon Minority Leader is in the House and he did not think it was a matter to take too much objection to and in which case, he has accepted your advice. We should be cordial and let work continue. If he said somebody was not in the House for a day or two, it happens to everybody and I do not think it is a matter that the Hon Minority Leader will take too much issue with. This is because we are all never here every day of the Meeting.
So Hon Minority Leader, I think you did ignore that and I appreciate your -

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Madam Speaker, I really did not think that it was worth responding to because the two things that he said were incorrect.
First of all, he said I was facing some challenge in my constituency. Madam Speaker, I entered this House in 1997. It was the first time that I came via a contest.

Madam Speaker

Thank you, Hon Minority Leader.
Let us now move on, so that we can get some job done with winnowing of the law.
So Hon Leader, would you move a Motion -

Mr Cletus A. Avoka

Madam Speaker, having exhausted matters on the Order Paper for today, and the request for the Winnowing Committee to meet at 12.00 o' clock, with your kind indulgence, I beg to move, that the House do now stand adj oumed until tomorrow at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Madam Speaker, my attention has been drawn to a very crucial matter that the Black Stars are playing their match today and the Hon

Members in the Committee wanted to put in a word of encouragement to them. I understand the match is for today, so without attempting to arrest the Motion, if maybe, we can have five or ten minutes to have some words of encouragement from Hon Colleagues in the House. Maybe, one or two and then the Motion could be made and I will second it, with your indulgence, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker

While I would not really object to it, we know the procedure for making this statement. If it is just for as you say, a minute or two, Without going into any details - You know Statements have to be checked and vetted? I would say, let us give whoever is going to say so; it is a matter of national interest - three minutes. Three minutes to finish with What he has to say -

Madam Speaker

Hon Member, I hope you keep this directive -

Mr I. K. Asiamah

Madam Speaker, thank you. Maybe, even less than that.

Madam Speaker

That will be better.

Mr I. K. Asiamah

Madam Speaker, thank you.
Today is a crucial day for the senior national team, the Black Stars. Indeed, this country, for the past 3 0 years, we have not been able to win the African Cup of Nations and this is our sincere, of course, our clearest conviction that this time round, the Black Stars should do us an honour by bringing home the gold. So we are expecting gold from the Black Stars.
Today is a gargantuan encounter against Botswana. One would expect that indeed, the Black Stars will start on a brighter note by assuring the whole nation that indeed, we are going to lift the gold for Mother Ghana. So, that is our conviction. We pray and we hope for the Black Stars.

Mr I. K. Asiamah

Indeed, we urge all stakeholders, Ghanaians -- we are going to offer our prayers as usual. We expect Government to continue to provide the right incentives and bonuses for the senior national team. We expect the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to provide the right direction and supervision and indeed, the technical handlers to come out with the best of technical decisions.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker Thank you, Hon Asiamah.

Shall we now go back and get the Minority Leader to second the Motion for an adjournment?

Mr Avoka Madam Speaker, the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Youth and Sports will want to comment on that.

Madam Speaker

Well, it is going to be short.

Mr Raphael K. Ahaligah

Madam Speaker, while the Hon Ranking Member has just made a comment on the Black Stars, I would like on behalf of Ghana to make the same, to wish the Black Stars very, very well played game today We all know that the Black Star represent this country. They have all the techniques, the acumen and the necessary impetus to push this country through the game today. We wish them a very good luck to win for this country.
Thank you very much.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Madam Speaker, just a very happy observation. When the Hon Majority Leader signaled that he wanted the Vice Chairman of the Youth and Sports Committee to make a contribution, I was

looking round to see who that person was. It is rather, I do not know whether to call it ironical or paradoxical. We have this situation of 60-year old teenagers chairing the Youth and Sports Committee.

Before seconding the Motion, the Hon Member for Sekondi raised some important points about committees being timeous with their consideration of referrals to them and the Hon Majority Leader himself has spoken about that. I may also want to urge that the referral to the Committee charged to deal with the matter of the Fulani herdsmen, may also have to be taken very seriously for the report to come to Parliament as early as possible.

This is because the unfortunate situation still persists. Having said that, may I urge my Colleagues - because of this assurance that we have from the Government Chief Whip that the Majority side is capable of handling Government Business and they will prove equal to the task, I would plead with my Colleagues that they, as sympathisers, should not weep more than the bereaved. Now that We have an assurance from the Majority Chief Whip, that they are capable of rising to the occasion and discharging Government business in the House, we leave that to him. We leave it for them.

I thought we should not have had to begin on this note, this being the first Sitting of this Meeting. But if that is his disposition, we will leave them to discharge their Government business.

On that note, I beg to second the Motion moved by the Hon Majority Leader.

Madam Speaker

Hon Majority Leader, any matter?

Mr Avoka

Madam Speaker, I wanted to raise a point of clarification before the Hon Minority Leader concluded the seconding of the Motion.
What the Chief Whip said did not mean and intend to say that one side of the House is capable of accomplishing

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Madam Speaker,.with respect to the Majority Leader, he was struggling to tell us what the Chief Whip was trying to say. I was just quoting what he said, not what he was trying to say and on two occasions, he said "we on this side, we are equal to the task and that we are capable of handling Government business"
He stressed these things and that is why I am saying that as sympathisers, we should not be weeping more than the

bereaved. But I do know that all of us, as individuals in this House, not even caucuses, we are enjoined to be in the House to transact business. I do know that. It is a matter of common knowledge but when he stressed this on two various occasions, I thought that we should all be taking the cue.

But as a Chief Whip, he should be singing the tune of collaboration and co- operation and not at this early hour be saying that "we on the Majority side are capable of handling Government business and we are equal to the task and we will prove that we are equal to the task". That is what I said and that is what he said, I have not paraphrased what he said.

Mr Gbediame

Madam Speaker, I think I made the statement when Hon Aidoo made a statement referring to our side not being serious with Government business. In trying to respond to that, I said, as a Chief Whip, I would see to it that our side, which he is complaining of, is brought to do Government business as is usual.
But if they misunderstood what I said -I am not known to be very antagonistic to anybody in this Chamber. I think everybody will bear me out. So if it was misunderstood, I am sorry. All I was trying to say is that, as far as our people are concerned, I will make sure that we are in the House to do the usual business.
Thank you.

Madam Speaker

Yes, the Motion has been moved and seconded.
Question put and Motion agreed to.

Debates of 24 Jan 2012

PRAYERS

WELCOME ADDRESS

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT

PAPERS

ADJOURNMENT