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Madam Speaker

Hon Members, we have the Official Report of Friday, the 2th of March, 2012.
Any corrections?

Madam Speaker, I have some correction on column 2078, paragraph 2. Madam Speaker, the correct thing should read:
"Madam Speaker, let us go to the expenditure. In eight years, the figures released by the Bank of Ghana -- President Kufuor spent GH¢3 1.24 billion."
It is not "GH¢43 1.24 billion". That should be the correct figure there.

Madam Speaker

So you take out the "I" at the end?
Mr Nitiwul No, you take out the "4." So it is "GH¢3 1.24 billion"; and "In three

years President Mills has spent GH¢35 .1 1 billion." That one is correct, but the first one is wrong; it is "GI-I ¢31.24 billion".

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker

Any other corrections? [Pause]

Madam Speaker

Leader, is item (3) coming on?
Mr Cletus A. Avoka Madam Speaker, due to circumstances beyond the control of the Hon Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, she has requested that she be programmed to appear before the House to answer her Questions either tomorrow or Thursday.
She is out of the jurisdiction of Accra now. In the circumstances we will take item numbers 5, 6 and '7 in that order. I apologize for the hitch.

Madam Speaker

Item number 5 -
Presentation of Papers-

Mr Avoka

Madam Speaker, with your kind permission, I would want to apply for the Minister of State at the Office of the President to lay the Paper under item 5 for and on behalf of the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning.

Madam Speaker

Is it 5(i) and (ii)?

Mr Avoka

That is so -- items 5(i) and

DrAnthony A. Osei

Madam Speaker, before we go on to the next one, I would need your guidance, so that we can clear some matter.
The Paper has some request for waiver of taxes to some unknown entity. We do not know who the request is for. So I think that Paper cannot be said to be ready to be laid. It is just a blank request to an unknown entity and I believe it is not proper.
Madam Speaker".Yes, Hon Leader, item 5(ii) -the tax waiver--
Mr Avoka I appreciate that. I thought that the "and" there refers to the companies that are involved in the earlier agreement, that is, where the major loan" agreement, the 115 million US dollars is. It is a known company that is going to do

the work. That is why it is an "AND" there. So it is not standing on its own and therefore, the company is unknown.

Dr A. A. Osei

Madam Speaker, I think that it is better it is corrected before we lay it, so that we know for sure this company, rather than saying that we should assume. It is not obvious. So I will crave your indulgence to allow the Hon Minister of State to amend it, so that we can lay it properly; otherwise, it will become contentious later.

Madam Speaker

Leader, can you do it now or you want it - 5 (ii), "can you do something now or should we stand it down?

Mr Avoka

Yes. But I would want to explain that, first, it is a loan agreement and then a consequential or complementary request for a tax waiver in respect of the equipment that they will be buying to -

Madam Speaker

That is accepted but let us put it properly then; put it in items (ii) properly.

Mr Avoka

You mean, we should delete the "and" and let -

Madam Speaker

Whether you delete it or not -

DrA. A. Osei

Madam Speaker, if the Hon Majority Leader will crave my indulgence, I will assist him.

Madam Speaker

Yes. Assist the House.

Dr A. A. Osei

Madam Speaker

All right. If we get -that rendition, then I think we can lay it.

Mr Avoka

I thank you, Hon Member for Old Tafo.

Madam Speaker

Yes; so the proper rendition would be read when you lay it.

Mr Azumah

Madam Speaker, I do not know Whether the amendment done holds or I need to add to it.

Madam Speaker

Well, the Hon Leader has agreed to it. Let us lay it. The Clerk will read the proper rendition before we refer it.

Mr Azumah

Very well.
By the Minister of Stare (Mr Dominic A. Azumah) (on behalf of the .Minister for Finance and Economic Planning) -
(ii) A request for waiver of taxes and duties on equipment/ materials to be imported or purchased locally by Befesa Desalination Development Ghana Limited amounting to thirty million, three hundred and twenty- seven thousand, three hundred and thirty United States dollars (US$30,327,330.00) spanning the twenty-five (25) year contract duration and corporate taxes amounting to forty-tWo million, five hundred thousand United States dollars (US$42,500,000.00) spanning the first ten (10) years of operation.

Dr A. A. Osei

Madam Speaker, I will crave your indulgence to add, because it is a matter of Ghana Water Company Limited, and it would be useful that the Committee on Works and Housing be enjoined to assist us. It is a complicated

transaction involving not a loan but a guarantee. So I think the Committee on Works and Housing will assist us in our work.

Madam Speaker

So we refer it to the joint Committee on Finance and Water Resources, Works and Housing for consideration and report.
Hon Leader, we have finished with item 5(i) and (ii).

Mr Avoka

Madam Speaker, we will be doing item number 6 -the Motion dealing with the Third Reading of the Veterans Administration, Ghana Bill, 2012.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Minister for the Interior is in the Chamber and with your kind permission, I would want him to step into the shoes of the Hon Minister for Defence to take the Motion for and on behalf of the Hon Minister for Defence.
Thank you.

Mr Avoka

Madam Speaker, we will take item 7 on page 2 and with your kind permission, I will respectfully apply for the Hon Deputy Minister for Education, Mr Mahama Ayariga to move the Motion for and on behalf of the substantive Minister.

Minister for Education)

Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that the University of Professional Studies Bill, 2011 be now read the Second time.
Madam Speaker, in moving the Motion, I beg to state the objectives for seeking to enact a legislation to establish what used to be the Institute of Professional Studies or what is still the Institute of Professional Studies into a University of Professional Studies.
Madam Speaker, the Institute was originally established to serve as a platform for promoting professional studies in the areas of marketing, accountancy and other professional fields and essentially, they used to award certificates, diplomas and degrees of existing institutions local or international, who are awarding such degrees for different professional disciplines.
Madam Speaker, in 1999, a law was established to give them a tertiary status but they still functioned effectively as promoters of other people's degrees and diplomas until in 2008 when then His Excellency President Agyekum Kuffuor granted them a charter which enabled them to also award degrees.
They have evolved to a point where there is a need to clarify their status and establish them, properly speaking, as a university that can on its own award degrees based on its own programmes and also have a clear governance structure which is consistent with the various governance structures that we have been running our various universities.

Madam Speaker, it is for this reason that it has become imperative that we do pass a legislation establishing them as a university and hence, this Bill Which seeks to enact into law the University of Professional Studies Bill, so that we have a properly set up university in accordance with all the other practices that we have in terms of public universities.

Madam Speaker, the Bill sets out the objectives; it also sets out the governance structures and deal with all the other issues that generally we have catered for in the establishment of the university.

Madam Speaker, for these reasons, I urge this House to support the Motion to have the Bill now read a Second time-

Question proposed

Vice Chairman of the Committee (Alhaji Iddrisu Dawuda) (on behalf of the

Chairman of the Committee)

'Madam Speaker, I rise to support the Motion on the floor and to present the Report of the Committee to the House.
1.0 Introduction .
Pursuant to articles 103 and 106 (4) of the 1992 Constitution and Orders 125 and 186 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, the University of Professional Studies Bill, 201 l was referred to the Select Committee on Education on 15th November, 2011 for consideration and report in accordance with Order 126 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
2.0 Deliberations
In considering the Bill, the Committee held a Stakeholders Forum on 13th February, 2012 to seek views on the proposed Act. The Committee also benefited from written memoranda and oral submissions presented by interested groups and individuals.

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The Committee is grateful to the Deputy Minister for Education, Hon Mahama Ayariga, Prof J. S. Djangmah, the Executive Director, National Council for Tertiary Education, the Executive Secretary, National Accreditation Board, personnel from the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice and the other stakeholders for their inputs. Gratitude also goes to Prof. I oshua A larbi, the Rector of the Institute of Professional Studies and his team for providing clarifications on some areas of the Bill.
3.0 References
The Committee made reference to the following documents:
a. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
b. The Standing Orders of Parliament.
c. The EducationAct, 2008 (Act 778)-
d.The Tertiary Institutions (Establishment and Accreditation) Regulations, 2010 (L.I. 1984)
e. National Accreditation Board Act, 2007 (Act 744).
f. National Council for Tertiary EducationAct, 1993 (Act 454).
g. The University of Ghana Act, 2010 (Act 806)-
h. The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Act, 1961 (Act 80).
i. The University of Cape Coast Law,
1992 (P.N.D.C.L. 278).
j. The Polytechnics Act, 2007 (Act 745).

k. The University for Development ‘Studies Act, 1992 (P.N.D.C.L.279)

1. The draft University of Professional Studies Bill, 2011.

m. The Institute of Professional Studies Act, 1999 (Act 566)

n.Memoranda and written presentations by stakeholders.

4. .0 Background information

The Institute of Professional Studies received a tertiary status in 1999 by an Act of Parliament (Act 566). Following successful teaching and learning outcomes for the various courses and programmes being run by the Institute, His Excellency, President John Agyekum Kufuor, the then President of the Republic of Ghana, issued a Presidential Charter that empowered the Institute to award its own degrees, diplomas and certificates.

In line with its elevation to the tertiary status, the Institute subsequently modified its courses and programmes to be able to produce professionals who are well equipped with requisite knowledge and life skills for the competitive business environment.

The Committee was however, informed that the seemingly narrow definition for "institute" in terms of scope of professional and academic programmes an "Institute" should run was derailing efforts at expanding the current programmes to reflect its new status as a tertiary institution mandated to provide quality higher education. Also, the new mandate of the Institute has necessitated the empowering of the governing body and principal officers legally to be able to discharge their duties in accordance with international best practices.

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It is in the light of the above justification that this proposed Bill has been submitted for consideration and passage by the House.
5.0 The Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of the Bill is to establish the University of Professional Studies to ensure the integration and optimization of academic and professional programmes that are taught at the Institute of Professional Studies. It also seeks to empower the governing body and the principal officers in the pursuit of their duties and functions to ensure international best practices.
6.0 Divisions of the Bill
The Bill is divided into four main sections under the following subtitles:
The University
Administration
Financial and Miscellaneous matters
7.0 Highlights of the Bill as presented in the accompanying Memorandum
Clause 1 establishes the University of Professional Studies as a body corporate with perpetual succession. Clause 2 allows the university to establish other campuses outside the current campus elsewhere within the country and clause 3 empowers the university to award its own degrees and other certificates. The aims of the university as specified which include the provision of higher education through teaching and research and to provide extension and consultancy services.

Clause 5 to 28 deal with administrative matters. Clause 5 establishes the governing body of the university which is a Council consisting of a Chairperson and ten other persons appointed by the President in accordance with article '70 of the Constitution.

Clause 6 specifies the functions of the Council, which is to ensure the implementation of the aims of the university, proper allocation and efficient use of the resources, among others.

Clause 7 provides for the tenure of members of the Council. A member of the Council other than the VlC6 Chancellor and Pro Vice Chancellor is appointed for a four- year term, renewable for another term only. Council member who is absent from meetings of the Council for twelve consecutive months ceases to be a member.

Clauses 8 and 9 require members to disclose any interest in a matter under consideration by the Council Allowances for members of the Council have been provided in clause 10. Clause ll spells out the general powers of the Council.

The principal officers of the university are the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor and the chairperson of the governing body, clause 12. The appointment and functions of the Chancellor and Vice- Chancellor are provided for in clauses 13 and 14 respectively. Clause 15 provides for appointment of the Pro Vice- Chancellor.

Clauses 16, 17 and 18 establish the functions of an academic board of the university and a Professorial Advisory Committee to be set up to advise the academic board in the discharge of its functions.

Clause 19 is on the appointment of a Registrar of the university by the Council, who will be responsible for the general

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administration of the university and clause 20 enjoins the Council to appoint a Director of Finance and other staff of the university.
Clause 21 authorises the Council to make arrangements for the internal organization of the university to include the establishment of schools, faculties, hostels and the institution of fellowships.
Clause 22 to 32 deal with financial and miscellaneous provisions, the sources of fund for the university which shall include subventions from the government, hostel fees, grants is provided for in clause 22. Clause 23 establishes the internal Audit Unit of the university in accordance with the Internal Audit Agency Act, 2003 (Act 65 8). Clause 24 establishes Students' Representative Council of the university, the Statutes.
Clauses 25 and 26 provide for the enactment of a Statute for the university to carry into effect the provisions of this Act including the appointments, conditions of service, procedure for meetings and the calendar of the university.
Clause 27 establishes the Convocation of the university and clauses 28 and 29 provide for the accounts and audit as well as the annual reporting on the performance of the university. Clause 30 is on the interpretation and 3 1 repeals the Institute of Professional Studies Act, 1999 (Act 566) and transfer the rights, assets and liabilities to be held by the Institute of Professional Studies to the University of Professional Studies to be established by this Act.
However, the Bill saves rules, regulations, notices issued and actions

taken under the repealed law as provided in clause 32.

8.0 Observations

8.1 Justification for the proposed transformation

The Committee was informed that the decision to upgrade the institute into a fully-fledged public university is to place the institute on a higher level of professional and academic excellence in line with the global demand for quality education which would also reflect its current status and mandate as a tertiary institution with the power to award its own degrees, diplomas and certificates.

The new status also calls for restructuring and strengthening of the current governing body and the principal officers to be able to discharge their functions in accordance with international best practices.

Again, the narrow definition for "institute" in terms of scope of professional and academic programmes an "Institute" should run is hampering effort by the authorities to expand the current programmes to reflect its new status as a tertiary institution mandated to provide quality higher education.

8.2 Ultimate aim of the university

The Committee noted in the accompanying memorandum (paragraph 3, line 4) that the ultimate motive for the transformation of the institute into a fully- fledged university is to be able to produce qualified professionals equipped with knowledge and life skills for the competitive business environment.

It was however, observed under clause 4 (aims of the university) that this core aim of the proposed transformation is not

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explicitly stated. Members of the Committee were of the view that the transformation should not bring much deviation from the current focus of the institute. It was therefore recommended that clause 4(1), paragraph (a) be accordingly amended.
The Committee was of the opinion that placement of emphasis on "professional education" would ensure that the institute when transformed into a university, would still be committed to producing professionals to serve the various sectors of the country.
8.3 Oath of Office by principal officers of the university
It was noted that provision was not made in the Bill to allow the principal officers of the proposed University of Professional Studies swear an Oath of Office as consistent with other university laws passed by this House.
The Committee was of the opinion that actions and inactions of these principal officers could greatly enhance or undermine the integrity of the university. It is, therefore, proposed that prior to the assumption of office, these principal officers consisting of the Chancellor, the Chairperson, members of the University Council, the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar be made to swear an Oath of Office.
9.0 Proposed amendments
l. Long Title -/Amendment proposed -- delete and insert a new Long Title as follows:
"An Act to 'consolidate and transform the Institute of Professional Studies into public

university and to provide for related matters."

2. Re arrange clause 2 to 4 as follows:

"Clause 2 - Aims of the University

Clause 3 -- Campuses of the University

Clause 4 -Awards of degrees".

3 . Clause 3 -/Amendment proposed - subclause 3 (l) - delete and insert "The university shall award its own degrees, diplomas and other certificates including honorary degrees."

Clause 4 - Amendment proposed - subclause 1(a) - insert "higher professional" before "education".

Clause 4 -Amendment proposed - 2 (a), line l, delete, "Despite- subsection (l)"

Clause 4 -Amendment proposed - subclause (2), paragraph (a), line 2, delete "citizens" and insert "the country".

Clause 5 -- Amendment proposed -subclause (1), delete and insert the following:

"The governing body of the university is a Council consisting of -

(a) a chairperson nominated by the President,

(b) the Vice Chancellor,

(0) three persons nominated by the President,

(d) one elected representative of the University Teachers Association of the University,

(e) one elected representative of the Convocation,

(f) one elected representative of the Professional Bodies of Accounts and Marketers,

(g) one elected representative of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce,

(h) one elected representative of the University of Professional Studies Alumni,

(i) one elected representative of the Teachers and Education Workers Union,

(j) one elected representative of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Senior High Schools,

(k) one representative of the National Council for Tertiary Education,

(l) one representative of the undergraduate students of the University elected by the Students' Representative Council, and A

(m) one representative of the post graduate students of the university elected by the Graduate Students Association."

8 Clause 5 -/Amendment proposed -add new subclauses (3) and (4). to read as follows:

(3) The President, in making the appointments under paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (1), shall

have regard to the academic qualifications-, leadership qualities, gender, expertise in finance, management, knowledge and relevant experience

(4) The Chairperson of the University Council shall preside at the Congregation and other ceremonies of the university in the absence of the Chancellor."

9. Clause 6 -Amendment proposed . - subclause (1), add the following new paragraphs after paragraph (a):

"(i) determine the strategic direction of the university, and monitor and evaluate policy implementation;

(ii) "ensure the creation of an environment of equal opportunity for members of the university without regard to ethnicity, sex, race, religious belief or political affiliation."

10. Clause 6 -/Amendment proposed -- subclause (3), delete.

11. Insert a new clause after clause 6 as follows:

"Establishment of committees

(1) For the. purpose of achieving the aims of the university, the Council may establish standing or ad hoc committees made up of members or non-members of the Council and assign them functions that the Council considers appropriate.

(2)A committee comprised entirely of non-members shall be advisory."

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12. Clause 7 -/Amendment proposed - subclause (1), line 2 - delete "four" and insert "three".
13 Clause 8 -/Amendment proposed -subclause (2), delete "fifty per cent of the membership of the Council" and insert "eight".
Subclause (6), delete "and a representative of the National Council for Tertiary Education" and insert "and" after "Registrar".
14 Clause 11 -- Amendment proposed -- Insert the following new subclause before subclause (1):
"Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Council shall have power to do or provide for any act or thing which it considers necessary or expedient in relation to the university."
15 Clause 12 - Amendment proposed -
"Principal officers of the univer- sity
(1) The principal officers of the university are
(a) the Chancellor,
(b)the Vice Chancellor, and
(c)the Chairperson of the Council.
(2) Prior to the assumption of office, the principal officers of the University shall swear the Oath of Office as prescribed in the Constitution and modified in the Schedule."

16. Clause 13 - Amendment proposed - delete and insert the following:

"Chancellor of the university

(l) There shall be a Chancellor of the university who shall be appointed by the Council and takes precedence over the other officers of the university.

(2) The criteria and modalities for the nomination and election of the Chancellor shall be prescribed-by the Statutes of the university.

(3) The Chancellor is the head of the university and takes precedence over the other officers of the university.

(4) The Chancellor shall hold office. for a term of five years and is eligible for reappointment but shall not be appointed for more than two terms.

(5) The Chancellor shall preside at Congregation, meetings and ceremonies of the university at which the Chancellor is present.

(6) The Chancellor may attend the meetings of the Council.

(7) The Chancellor shall confer on qualified persons, degrees, diplomas and certificates awarded by the university in accordance with this Act and procedures prescribed by the Statutes.

(8) The Chancellor may delegate functions under subsection ('7) by directions in writing to the University Council."

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17. Insert a new clause after clause 13 to read as follows:
"Vacancy in the Office of the Chancellor
(1) The Office of the Chancellor shall become vacant up on
(a) death,
(b) resignation, or
(c) removal from office.
(2) The grounds and procedures for the removal from office of the Chancellor shall be contained in the Statutes of the University.
(3) Without limiting the functions of the Chancellor, where the integrity and welfare of the university are threatened by any matter, the Chancellor may in consultation with the Council intervene."
18. Clause 14 - Amendment proposed - subclause (2), line 2, delete "appointment instrument" and insert "letter of appointment".
19. Clause 14 -Amendment proposed - subclause (4), delete and insert the following:
"The Vice Chancellor is responsible to the Council for maintaining order and ensuring efficient administration of the university."
20. Clause 14 - Amendment proposed - subclause (5), line l, after "perform" insert "such" and before "prescribed" insert "as may be".

21. Clause 15 - Amendment proposed - delete subclause (2) and insert the following:

"(2) The Pro Vice Chancellor shall attend a Council meeting but shall not vote at the meeting."

22. Clause 15 -Amendment proposed C - subclause (3), line 1, after "assigned" insert "such" and in line 2, delete "University".

Clause 15 - Amendment proposed - add the following new subclauses and re-number the entire clause:

"(i The Pro Vice Chancellor shall hold office for a period of three years and is eligible for re- appointment for another term only.

(ii) The Pro Vice Chancellor shall, before assuming office, take the Oath of Office as specified in the Schedule."

24. Clause 16 -Amendment proposed - delete clause 16 and insert the following:

"Academic Board

16. There is established by this Act an academic board of the University which is answerable to the Council."

25. Insert a new clause on the composition of the Academic Board after clause 16 as follows:

Composition of the academic board

(1) The academic board consists of

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(a) the Vice Chancellor of the University who is the chairperson,
(b) the Pro Vice Chancellor,
(c) Provosts and Deans,
(d) Directors of School and Institute,
(e)Heads of academic depart- ments,
(f) Heads of departments of the university,
(g) Director of the Business Development Centre,
(h)Director of Quality Assurance,
(i) the Librarian of the university, and
Q) the Registrar of the university.
(2) The academic board may establish standing and adhoc committees for the purpose of carrying out its functions under this Act and as determined by the Statutes."
26. Clause 17-Amendment proposed - paragraph (i), delete "presentation" and insert "representations" after "make".
27. Clause 19 - Amendment proposed - delete the clause and insert the following:
"(1) The Council shall appoint a Registrar for the university.
(2) The Registrar shall hold office on the terms and conditions

certified in the letter of appointment in accordance with the Statutes of the university.

(3) The Registrar is the Secretary to the -

(a) Office of the Chancellor,

(b) Council, and

(c) Academic Board.

(4) The Registrar is responsible to the Vice Chancellor for the day- to-day administration of the affairs of the university.

(5) The Registrar is the chief operating officer of the university under the Vice Chancellor.

(6) The Registrar may perform any other functions provided in the Statutes of the university.

(7) The Registrar shall before assuming office take and subscribe the Oath of Office set out in the Schedule."

28. Clause 20 - Amendment proposed -Subclause (3), delete "Director of Finance" and insert "of the Director of Finance" after "Duties".

29. Clause 20 -- Amendment proposed -- subclause (4), delete and insert a new clause on "Appointment of other staff" after clause 20 as follows:

"Appointment of other staff

The Council may appoint other staff as may be necessary for the effective performance of the functions of the university."

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30. Clause 21- Amendment proposed -- delete subclause (l) and insert the following:
"(i) (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Council may make arrangements as it considers appropriate for the internal organization of the university including:
(a) the establishment, variation. and supervision of academic divisions, faculties, schools, centres, departments, institutes, hostels and other bodies in the campuses in Accra or elsewhere;
(b) award professorships, promote lectures; and
(c) award fellowships, bursaries, exhibitions, scholarships, prizes, honorary degrees and other awards."
31. Clause 21 - Amendment proposed - subclause (2), delete.
32. Clause 21 - Amendment proposed -- delete subclause (3) and insert the following:
(3) The university may -
(a) enter into an agreement or relationship with another institution whether academic or non-academic and within or outside the country, and
(b) incorporate within the University another institution or body, taking over the property rights, privileges and liabilities of that institution or body.

33. Clause 21 - Amendment proposed - insert a new subclause (4) as follows:

"The Council shall exercise the powers referred to it in subsection (l), only after consultation with the academic board matters which in the opinion of the Council are academic matters."

34. Clause 22 - Amendment proposed - add new subclauses as follows:

"(2) Any sum of money received by or on behalf of the university shall be paid into a bank account of the university opened by or on the authority of the Council.

(3) For the avoidance of doubt, moneys received by or standing to the credit of an establishment of the university shall form part of the funds of the university as defined under this Act."

35. Clause 24 -Amendment proposed - delete the clause and insert as follows:

"Student governance

(1) The university shall have a Students' Representative Council.

(2) The Students' Representative Council is responsible for representing students duly admitted and registered to study at the university.

(3) The constitution and other governing instruments of the Students' Representative Council shall

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(a) be drawn up by the students subject to the approval of the academic board, and
(b) conform to this Act, the Statutes of the university and any other rules, regulations, directives and edicts duly issued by the university and are void otherwise.
(4) The Statutes of the university may grant the Student's Representative Council representation on appropriate bodies and organs of the university.
36. Insert a new clause on Matriculation after clause 24 as follows:
"Matriculation
(l)A student admitted to the university shall take the Matriculation Oath and sign the Matriculation Register.
(2) A student who fails to sign the Matriculation Register may be prevented from graduating by the university."
37. Insert a new clause on dispute ' settlement after the Matriculation clause as follows:
"Dispute settlement
(l) There is established by this Act a body to be known as the University of Professional Studies Appeals Board.
(2) The Appeals Board shall hear and determine on appeal the following matters on -

(a) acts or omissions in contravention of this Act or the Statutes enacted by the Council;

(b)breach of employment contracts by the university;

(c) the promotion of persons duly employed by the university;

(d) grievances by students against the university related to welfare and discipline; or

(e) any other matter or dispute referred to the Appeals Board by the Council.

(3) The Appeals Board consists of

(a) a President who is a retired justice of the Superior Courts

of Judicature or a lawyer qualified to be so appointed,

(b) two lawyers of at least ten years standing at the Bar who are persons of high moral integrity one of whom is a woman,

(c) two persons who are not legal practitioners or employees of the university who are persons of high moral integrity one of whom is a woman.

(4) The President of the Appeals Board or the President's alternate .and two other members constitute a panel for the hearing and determination of a case or matter before the Appeals Board.

(5)The President's alternate shall be appointed by Council from outside the membership of the

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Appeals Board after the appointment of the President of the Appeals Board and the President's alternate shall have the same qualification as the President.
(6)The Council shall establish the rules and procedure which govern -
(a) the operations of the Appeals Board;
(b)the appointment and remuneration of its members;
(c)the functions of the President's alternate;
(cl) the establishment of the secretariat of the Appeals Board; and
(e) any other relevant matter.
37. Insert a new clause on anti- discrimination after clause 27 as follows:
"Anti-discrimination -
(1) Without limiting the power of the university to adopt affirmative action policies from time to time, the university, an organ or a body of the university, a principal officer, staff, agent or servant of the university shall not discriminate against a person on the basis of that person's religion, political affiliation, gender, ethnic origin, disability, race, "colour or social or economic status to determine whether that person is to be -

(a)admitted as a student of the university; "

(b) registered as a student of the university;

(c) permitted to graduate from the university;

(d) appointed as an academic staff or other staff member;

(e) promoted as an academic staff or other member; or

(D granted any advantage, privilege or other benefits accorded all other persons.

(4) For the purposes of this section, "discrimination" means to treat persons similarly situated, differently, solely on the basis of the grounds stated in subsection

39. Insert a new Schedule as follows:

Madam Speaker

Hon Members, order!
Hon Members, pursuant to Standing Order 127, a full debate shall arise on the principle of the Bill on the basis of the explanatory memorandum and the Report of the Committee.
Yes, Hon Members may make their contributions if any.

ll.45 am.

Prof. Dominic K. Fobih (N PP-Assin- South)

Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me the chance to contribute to the Motion on the floor and in doing so, I would like to make a few comments.
First, I observed that the institution is seeking a change in name and status but as we know, this institution is well-known for its professional training as an institute. And now that it is becoming a university institution,' it is my hope that its good name would be sustained and that the texture of their professional training programme will not be unnecessarily altered.
So, if they combine' academic training with the professional they are used to in the past, one would expect that the programmes would not become as a university now, just academic, like what the standard universities are doing, but will maintain its speciality in professional training by emphasising more as in the Committee's Report, is blackened or emphasised - The professional component of the training programme to make their professionals special in a way.
One can also observe that status change does not necessarily go with just a change in name or an enactment of a law only, but what other things go to make this a special or a new institution. By this, I mean_we should not just put an old wine into a new bottle and think that it is a new wine. Just merely accepting the change in terms of the passage of the law or the name as a university institution now, will not make much difference if the pro ducts of this institution remain as they were when it was awarding diplomas and other certificates.
We should rather also focus attention on its infrastructure and make sure that it

has the necessary facilities to make it what it takes to be a university institution. We should equally pay attention to the staffing, the quality of staffing that will enrich its programmes to meet its new goals and aspirations. We should equally also think of the library and other supporting facilities that make it special.

I think if we pay attention to all these, apart from helping it to acquire the legal status of a university, we will be helping it to shape its professional and academic programmes to merit the new status that it now deserves. There is no dispute that this institution merits the consideration we are giving to it as a university institution. I can only support it and wish it well in the years ahead.

With these few comments, I support the Motion.

Mr Charles K. Hodogbey (NDC - North Tongu)

Madam Speaker, I support the Motion but I have some few comments to make.
The current name, "University of Professional Studies," when it was called IPS, has produced several intelligent and excellent professionals including accountants and managers. The perception of an "Institute" in the minds of people that when an institution is called "Institute," it is not at a university level; is not true.
I think we struggled over this at the Committee level and realised that most important, very excellent institutions all over the world including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Indian Institute of Technology have produced excellent and extremely excellent people- But for our standard in Ghana, to say because the institution is being called "Institute" and therefore, the name should be changed to university, as I said earlier, we snuggled over it.

It means, a day will come when GIMPA now very popular, the name "GlMPA" be erased and be brought with a university name. I would want to appeal that the issue of having labelled an institution, "Institute" should not be in our minds to claim that because it is not a university, therefore, they cannot perform. The most important thing is the product and the programmes that, that university runs.

I thank you for the small opportunity. Thank you.

"Mrs Eugenia Gifty Kusi (NPP - Tarkwa-Nsuaem): Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the floor.

Just as my Hon Colleague who has just spoken said, IPS has been with us for all these years. In fact, when I was in the university, the students in IPS were collaborating a lot in most of the programmes. In the 4th paragraph of this Report, it reads that the institution was issued with the Presidential Charter that empowered it to award its own degrees, diplomas and certificates.

So, what we are doing today is a matter of course; it is something that we need to do for this institute to attain its status and that befits it. This is because it has done a lot for this nation by producing qualified people to man the various disciplines that it has really brought forth. I really support this Motion because, I think it will be one of the best universities; it has already been doing a lot of work and it has really made the whole international body to recognise it.

I support this Motion and I would want to urge all Hon Members to ensure that we pass this as early as possible-

In paragraph 8.2, it says that the -

"ultimate aim of the university is to produce qualified professionals equipped with knowledge and life skills for the competitive business environment."

Minister for Communications (Alhaji Haruna Iddrisu)(MP)

Madam Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to associate myself with the Motion and to indicate strongly that while I agree with earlier comments made by my Colleagues, the impression being created as if it is just a matter of change in name, should not be the notion as this august House considers the Report of the Select Committee on Education on the University of Professional Studies.
It goes beyond change in name. It is a question of status, that IPS subject to the Presidential Charter, which was issued, can now on its own, award degrees in areas of professional training.
We need not go far; our very able Hon Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, I disagree with his politics but I respect his professional competence and he is a product of the Institute of Professional Studies. What we are seeking to do, is to allow the Institute of Professional Studies to train more competent hands in the area of accounting, management and others.
Madam Speaker, my caution is that IPS should not slip like many other universities have done in terms of what should be their primary focus. If the mandate is to train professionals in the area of management and accounting, let it be their mandate and focus.

We have seen instances today, Madam Speaker, that the University of Science and Technology which was established primarily to promote science education in Ghana, has drifted away and is focusing more on the humanities and many other areas which essentially should not be. This is because even as a country, we need to be closing the gap between the number of people we train in science against those we train in humanities.

I beg even to add that there are many of our young graduates today complain of growing unemployment. I think that it is about time that our universities tailored their training to the needs of industry while maintaining the academic pedagogical training that they give to those who seek to be in those institutions.

I think that this Bill is appropriate and, it should have our support.

Madam Speaker, I am particularly impressed at the infrastructure development that has taken place in the last few years at IPS. Thanks to the Ghana Education Trust Fund and thanks to Ministers for Education who recognised that IPS, like any other institution would be offering opportunities to many of our young people.

I am told Madam Speaker, that today, 60 per cent of qualified applicants to our tertiary institutions are unable to gain admission. It means that access remains a fundamental problem and we need to expand access to a higher learning in Ghana, whether it is the University of Ghana, University of Science and Technology, University of Cape Coast or any other public tertiary institution. We need to deal with three problems: access, relevance and quality.

The quality of higher education is being bemoaned even by persons within

Mr Stephen K. B. Manu (NPP - Ahafo- Ano South)

Madam Speaker, I rise to support the Motion and in doing so, I have a few observations to put across. Madam Speaker, as I listened to Hon Members who have contributed to the Motion, particularly the last Hon Member, I get the impression that he has been misled by the name of the institution that we are talking about. Madam Speaker, this became my concern when the Bill was being worked upon at the Committee level.
The name of the institution as we have it is University of Professional Studies. If you listen to the name and you were not part of the discussion that went on, you would go to think that that university is going to be solely for professional training. But, Madam Speaker, the opposite is the case.
In fact, we were told by the administrators of the institute, that the percentage of persons reading

professional courses in the institute is rather of a very low percentage and that as the Hon Minister for Communications put across, his fears are rather what is existing in the institute that many of the- courses being handled in the institute are rather non-professional.

When we were going to name the institute as University of Professional Studies, I had my misgivings about the name but somehow, we were made to accept, grudgingly though, by some of us that the name 'professional studies' was a brand name and that it was going to be a brand for the university to attract students and other international recognition. So we had to kowtow to such explanation.

So I will reiterate the point - [Interruptions] - kowtow - that is what some people pronounce as koto but the word is "kowtow". It is a Japanese word and it is "kowtow", you "kowtow" - if you have taken lessons in judo or karate, you will know - [Laughter]

Corning back to what I was saying, I would like to reiterate a point made by the Hon Minister for Communications that, today, it has become a norm for our institutions of higher learning to be thinking more about moneys that will come into their institutions by the numbers of students that they admit. That is the reason behind what he said, that today, University of Science and Technology as it started and became Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, is now doing more humanity courses than science-related courses.

I will like to sound a word of caution that our new baby, the University of Professional Studies being born today, would stick to its mandate as spelt out in the Act to be, that they will concentrate

Madam Speaker

Thank you Hon Member.

Minister for Tourism (MsAkua Sena Dansua)(MP)

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the floor.
Madam Speaker, I would want to commend the Rector of the Institute, now going to be transformed into a university - Professor Joshua Alabi, for his high leadership role in growing the Institute over the years.
Madam Speaker, those of us who are of age will appreciate the fact that - [interruptions] -those of us who are 50 years plus - [Interruption.]

Ms Dansua

Hon Asiamah, you are not - so sit down - [Laughter]

Madam Speaker

HonAsiamah, if you are not matured, please, sit down - [laughter]

Mr I. K. Asiamah

Mr Speaker, I think my beef is the fact that indeed, she mentioned age fifty and maturity and I was

going to find out whether indeed, age has got anything to do with maturity. That is my concern - though I am below 50 years, I am one of the most capable Members of Parliament in this House - [Uproar] - and she knows it.

Madam Speaker, when she was the Minister for Youth and Sports, I gave her a hell of time - she knows it -

[Laughter] And by the Constitution of Ghana, above 18 years, you' are matured to take any decision and of course, at age 21 and above, you qualify to enter this august House.

So, please, let us I give some recognition to young Members of Parliament and let us know that we are also here ably representing our constituents.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms Dansua

Madam Speaker, I am not in any way saying that Hon Asiamah is not qualified. I am saying that he is not yet 50 years old; that one is a fact. He is not 50 years old yet, so when I am referring to over 50 years, he should not rise up to talk.
Madam Speaker, those of us who have been familiar with the history of IPS, at least, would observe that over the past 10 years or so, the institute has seen a lot of growth, especially in terms of infrastructure and also admissions.
These, I would ascribe in part to the leadership that the Rector and his colleagues are providing in the institute presently.
I would want to encourage them that with the transformation from the institute into a university, I hope that they would still continue to give the right leadership that they have offered in the past to the university and ensure that in terms of content and training ' and also infrastructural development, the university continues to grow.

Prof. Aaron M. Oquaye (NPP- Dome- Kwabenya)

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity
Madam Speaker, this is a very, very important institution that We are talking about. Its reputation continues to grow and among other things, as an academic, it is one of the institutions I really respect so strongly, not only in Ghana but actually in Africa.
Madam Speaker, accountancy is a very complicated course and it has got a lot of dimensions internationally; This is because of professional jealousy and guarding their own reputation, and yet the institute has stood the test of time and they deserve to be congratulated.
Madam Speaker, as We make this a full university, we must be very, very mindful of defining the parameters of its mandate clearly, so, that it would continue to be an institution of excellence. There is a college which Madam Speaker definitely knows, the Imperial College in London- It -is humbly called college by the whole wide world; everybody knows that when it comes to science and technology, it is Imperial College.
All the wonderful discoveries on this earth about science and technology, we refer to the Imperial College. Imperial College has stood faithfully within the parameters of its mandate from day one.

Madam Speaker, it pains my heart to see the KNUST become a general university and I must put it on record. It was the dream of the first President of this Republic that it would become a technology institute of excellence. When you do not operate within the parameters of your mandate, you have a lot of troubles. When they started doing all kinds of courses, at one time they wanted aVice Chancellor and then the lot appeared to be falling upon an Arts Professor.

There was big trouble in KNUST, simply because it was that day they rose up to say that you cannot have an Arts man as a Vice Chancellor, it has to be a science and technology man. But they sat back while this happened, and the person having risen to a certain seniority, it appeared he was the most qualified.

So, Madam Speaker, there are a lot of difficulties when you come to mix up your mandate and I would want that from the word 'go', this institution must clearly know that it is and continues to be so. It is known particularly for accountancy and accountancy-related activities.

Madam Speaker, our District Assemblies are struggling today because the accountants are not there to service them. Our Parliament, to all our Ministries, we do not have enough of those people who are called really 'chartered qualified accountants' in so many dimensions. In fact, there is a dirge of qualified personnel in that particular profession.

I would pray, and I would want it to be well defined in the law that we are going to pass, that this university will be a university of accountancy and accountancy-related- activities primarily.

Madam Speaker, the oil in Norway has got reputation for accountability, probity and in fact, the whole process of accountability in the modern world has got to do with accounting and computer- related, computer-based applied accounting. Unfortunately, we do not have it.

We would be very glad if they would be very conscious of this and establish accountancy-related computer-backed, computerised hi-tech accountancy propelled by ICT, then their mandate would be clear and everyday, they would be working and dreaming and visioning within the parameters of this particular mandate.

Madam Speaker, as a University of Professional Studies, we all know from medicine, to law, to architecture, to so many other professions, we want it to be clear; that is why We are expressing what we are expecting them to do. We are expecting them to be a professional institute, a university of excellence, specialising in accountancy-related activities, to ensure that there is specialisation in that particular area.

Madam Speaker, if they were to do this, they would serve this nation very well.

I thank you very much.

Mr Emmanuel K, Bedzrah (NDC - Ho West)

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Madam Speaker, those of us who grew up in Madina and the environs of IPS, know that this institute started primarily to train students and young people who are interested in accountancy and business management to obtain

professional certificates from various institutions from outside.

Today, IPS has trained a lot of professionals' in management and accountancy and I believe that we have some of them in this House, especially the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee who is doing extremely well, being a product of IPS.

Madam Speaker, the institute will soon, When' the law is passed, become a university. But the Committee's Report has in paragraph 8 (2) stated that, and Madam Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote:

"It was however observed under clause 4 (aims of the university) that this core aim of the proposed transformation is not explicitly " stated. Members of the Committee were of the view that the transformation should not bring much deviation . ."

Most of my Hon Colleagues have spoken about it, that the institute or the university so soon to be, should not deviate from its core mandate and that, when we come to the passing of it, we should make sure that we have the core mandate stated there as the Hon Second Deputy Speaker stated.

In addition, Madam Speaker, I believe that when we talk of professionals, professional certificates are awarded by professional institutions like the Ghana Institute of Architects, Ghana Institute of Surveyors, the Dental and Medical Council and the rest. They award professional certificates, and we do -not have only one profession in this country.

My problem with the University of Professional Studies is that, are they going to award professional certificates

Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah (NPP - Afigya-Sekyere West)

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, clearly, I find it most appropriate that we should have this Bill for consideration in the House.
As has already been mentioned, I did study at the Institute of Professional Studies so-many years ago.
Indeed, Madam Speaker, as a tertiary institution, IPS has already made its mark.

Mr Ampofo K. Twumasi

On a point of order.

Madam Speaker, the Hon Colleague said he studied there so many years ago. Some of us are interested in the period. So, how many years ago?

Mr Kan-Dapaah

Madam Speaker, I can assure you my Hon Friend knows it already. But just for the sake of emphasis, I studied there in 1978, which means, Madam Speaker, that I am not quite as young as the Hon Member who just spoke. Madam Speaker, I was there in 1978 and 1979.
Madam Speaker, as I was saying, following the grant of a Presidential Charter, it has in fact, been issuing its own degrees, its 'own diplomas and its own certificates.
In fact, today, Madam Speaker, IPS runs a couple of Masters Programmes and awards its own degrees in these areas. In fact, if I may add, I happened to be a ' teacher of one of these programmes.
Most past students would have preferred to retain the name IPS. To us, IPS has become a symbol of accountancy and marketing education in the country and we are very proud of that.
We do also know that there are institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) which ranks among the best universities in the world and yet, there is no "university" in their names.
In the case of IPS, some practical problems have come up, especially, now that the school is not only training people for the external professionals examinations. It used to be the practice for IPS to prepare students not to write its own examinations but to write the examinations of the professional bodies like the ACCA, Ghana CA and so on and so forth. Following the grant of the Charter, this has changed and IPS is now issuing its own certificates.

Mr Kan-Dapaah

Madam Speaker, I do not find anything wrong with that, I think it is most appropriate that we do that. In training accountants and marketing executives for our country, we definitely need a blend of the professional accountants, those who study to write the professional examinations and also those who go in for pure academic qualification that seems to be the trend in every country and I think it is appropriate that we do that also in our country.
I do share the concerns that some Members have made, that, in transforming ourselves from IPS to a University of Professional Studies, we should not deviate from the current focus of the institute, rather, we should seek_to improve upon the performances such as to have IPS or the new University of Professional Studies as a centre of excellence in business education, especially in accountancy, auditing and marketing.
Madam Speaker, I will also want to add my voice to comments that have been made that we need to mention for commendation, Prof. Joshua Alabi.
Madam Speaker, he used to be one of us. I remember he used to sit at the back there and was- very, very famous for heckling. He has now ended up as the Rector of the university and I would want to say that he has made all of us very proud.
If you look at the quality of programmes that they run today, the infrastructural development that continues to go on at the university, the general atmosphere at the university; when you put all these things together, I believe it is appropriate that we should congratulate the Rector, Prof. Joshua Alabi for what he has done for IPS.

Madam Speaker, in saying this, I have the specific authority of the Old Students Association to commend him in this respect. When we become a university, that is one of the reasons - [interruption] - Madam Speaker, I would want to urge Hon Members that this is - [Interruption.]

Papa Owusu-Ankomah

On a point of order.
Madam Speaker, the Hon Member for Afigya-Sekyere West unfortunately, is trying to mislead the House. IPS is already. a tertiary institution. What this Bill seeks to do, is only to change the name from "Institute" to "University".
So it is actually a tertiary institution.

Mr Kan-Dapaah

Madam Speaker, I thought I had earlier said that, but coming from the former Minister for Education, we can only congratulate him that he sees IPS already as a university.
Madam Speaker, if I may add, the Hon Member did play some role in granting IPS the Charter that it has today.
On that note, Madam Speaker, I would want to thank you for the opportunity and to ask Hon Members to support this Bill in its entirety.
I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam'Speaker

Hon Members, I think it is time now to close the debate and then put the Question.

Madam Speaker

Hon Member, were you going to contribute?
AIhaji Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo (NDC - Wa Central): Madam Speaker, I would want to say a few words about the Bill but before that, I would want to crave your indulgence to announce to my Hon Colleagues that Social Security and National Insurance'"Trust (SSNIT) has

Madam Speaker

come to pitch camp with us; they have opened an office here temporarily to deal with Members of Parliament who have problems with their SSNIT contributions. S0 those of us who want to know how much we have contributed so far - whether we have paid our students loans. If you took a loan, as a student, whether you have any problems with the SSNIT, you are required to use the office out there to deal with the problem. They are here for a few days to serve Members of Parliament.

Madam Speaker, having said that, I would want to also contribute to support the Bill. This is because this is a very, very important Bill that is transforming a tertiary institution which was otherwise called "Institute of Professional Studies" to the University of Professional Studies. As we all know, what used to be called "Institute of Professional Studies" concentrated mostly on professional non- academic courses but today, we have a larger scope, a more extensive scope for the university, which will now deal with both academic and non academic courses.

Madam Speaker, this will be and it is in response to the changing world, where we are meeting more challenges as a country, where young people are challenged more and more with thinking higher and providing services which are more skilled and more determined to address problems of the world.

Madam Speaker, it is important that this university answers the questions of today's problems in this country and it can happen that way if the university itself does not structure itself to respond to the challenges of the day. So I see this to be a very, very important advantage to us as a country and to all young people who

want to accept the challenges of redirecting their thinking and discovering their new potentials and addressing themselves to the big challenges of the day.

Madam Speaker, the institute that today has already sloughed itself from one that was wholly dependent on State. funding to one that is partly supporting itself and as a result, you can find lots of structures rising up there. So the challenge to the University to make sure - I heard some Hon Members of Parliament talking about infrastructure already taken on by the university itself. And I think that this is a new beginning.

So Madam Speaker, I would want to encourage the leadership of the university to take advantage of the new law that-is being discussed and will he passed very soon, to add impetus and momentum to the present situation they. find themselves. The university will now have a bigger responsibility, bigger scope, greater challenge and young people are advised to see themselves in this challenge, so that they can be part and parcel of the new definition of the university as we see it.

Madam Speaker, with these few words, I would want to call on my Colleague Members of Parliament to support the Motion, so that we can have this Bill passed.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

A Madam Speaker: Hon Ayariga, can you wind up?

Mr Mahama Ayariga

Madam Speaker, I am indeed, very grateful to Hon Members for their overwhelming support for this Motion.

Mr Mahama Ayariga

Madam Speaker, in rounding up, I would want to draw attention to two very critical concerns expressed by Hon Members of this august House. Madam Speaker, 1 think that it is important to know that the movement and pressure for the addition of "University" to the name, is largely based on the demand of the institute.
So this is something that the institute wants and I believe it is also for the reason of dealing with the perception that generally, we have about people who get diplomas and other certifications from the institute vis- a-vis those who are perceived to be coming from our traditional universities.
I remember that during the meetings with the leadership of the institute, Members of the House were particular, changing the name from "University" to "Institute" but the Rector and the Lecturers insisted on having "University of Professional Studies" instead of "Institute of Professional Studies" which Members overwhelmingly advocated for. But Madam Speaker, let us do their bidding because that is what they are interested in.
Secondly, Madam Speaker, I think it is important to know that this is not a mere ceremonial exercise. This is because when the institute existed as I said at the beginning, it was merely a platform for running the programmes of mostly external degree and diploma awarding institutions in the various professions.
What we are doing today is enacting into law a university that will on its own have the domestic mandate to award its own degrees in the various professions.
We are correcting some anomaly that took place in the past. I do not want to stir controversy but I think that there is some problem with the grant of a Charter to the institute to award degrees. I think a

neater way of going about it is what is being done today which is enacting a law establishing it as a public university which will award its own degrees.

Lastly, Madam Speaker, I have also listened to the concerns of Hon Members regarding the issues of maintaining or sticking to their mandate. Madam Speaker, we at the Ministry will continue to urge the various universities as much as possible to stick to their mandate because the public in financing them, clearly had a clear objective in setting up and therefore, we will continue to urge them to stick to their mandate.

On that note, Madam Speaker, I thank Hon Members and beg to move, that the University of Professional Studies Bill, 201 1 be now read a Second time.

Question put and Motion agreed to.

Resolved accordingly.

Madam Speaker

Hon Pelpuo, what is next?
Alhaji Pelpuo Madam Speaker, we, under normal circumstances, could have moved to item number 8 concerning the creation of the new District Assemblies but the Leadership is in consultation over it. So I will crave your indulgence either we move to the Presidential Transition Bill, 2010, which is on page 11 or if we could adjourn briefly and wait for the Leadership to come.

Madam Speaker

Hon Member, I think We move to the Presidential Transition Bill, 2010 and the Chair will be taken over by the Hon Second Deputy Speaker.

Alhaji Pelpuo

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Debates of 13 Mar 2012

PRAYERS

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT

PAPERS

BILLS -THIRD READING

BILLS - SECOND READING

SCHEDULE

OATH OF OFFICE

BILLS - CONSIDERATION STAGE