Debates of 3 Jan 2013

MADAM SPEAKR
PRAYERS 11:40 a.m.
WELCOME ADDRESS 11:40 a.m.
Madam Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Members, as usual, let me welcome you back to the House. This will be my last welcome address to you. Being my last welcome address to usher you into the tapering end of this Parliament, it has been my wish to see you all here this morning hale and hearty as usual. But as you know, the unexpected has come our way again, in that we have lost one of our Members.
We would start work correcting the Votes and Proceedings. When we get to Statements, we have decided to open the floor to pay a tribute because this is our last day and observe a minute silence in honour of our late Colleague.
So this is just to welcome you back to the House after the short recess. This Sitting is also going to be a very short one and it is my hope that God will continue to see us through to the very end.
Once again, welcome, Hon Members.
Let us then move to item 2, Correction of Votes and Proceedings.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Item 3 -- is Statement.
Hon Majority Leader, Statements. This is where I think we should pay a tribute to -- Even though we have not been officially written to, we have heard that we have indeed, lost an Hon Member. Since this is our last Meeting, I think we should take the opportunity today to pay a tribute to our fallen Colleague, Hon Henry Ford Kamel.
Mr Cletus A. Avoka 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I agree with you. Maybe, we start with observing a minute's standing for him and after we have done that, then the tribute. We can take a few minutes, maybe, two or three contributions from each side for the tribute.
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, are you in favour of the fact that we pay a tr ibute today instead of tomorrow? Tomorrow will be the State of the Nation Address. Hon Leaders will address the House and Hon Speaker might also finish up and then we move to the Banquet Hall. So, I think today is the proper time when we can all contribute. If you agree, shall we do it today?
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:50 a.m.
Madam Speaker, I think it is most appropriate. My difficulty really was that Parliament has not been communicated to with respect to the unfortunate transition of our Colleague. I think you have made the observation that unofficially, you have
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
I think so. We need time to pay an adequate tribute. So let us do it today before we move on to Public Business and then everybody can just chirp in. We have time today rather than tomorrow. Anybody who wishes to participate before we observe a minute silence.
STATEMENTS 11:50 a.m.
Mr Simon Edem Asimah (NDC -- South Dayi) 11:50 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
I am paying this tribute in honour of our dear Colleague, Hon Henry Ford Kamel who passed on on the 25th of December, 2012.
Hon Ford Kamel entered Parliament in 2004 having served as an Assemblyman in his constituency and also as a member of the Constituency Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Buem Constituency of the Volta Region.
Hon Kamel was educated at Ho Polytechnic and in Parliament, he served on a number of committees. Among these are Lands and Forestry, Works and Housing subcommittee and all other committees on which he played a major role. He was appointed Deputy Minister
for Lands and Natural Resources and later as a Regional Minister for the Volta Region, a position he held until his untimely death on the 25th December, soon after he won in his constituency as Member of Parliament-elect.
As a Regional Minister, Hon Kamel was gentle, sociable, hardworking and a great unifier. He played major roles in bringing about peace in the Volta Region, especially during the conflict in Hohoe, where he was very instrumental in bringing about peace among the Zongos and the Hohoe people.
Furthermore, Hon Kamel did all he could to unify the chiefs of the Volta Region from the north to the south. He also did all he could to solve many teething problems that bedevilled the Volta Region. I remember when there was a case in South Dayi and it was reported to him, he wasted no time in dealing with the issue by bringing it to the attention of the President. He was such a nice man, very gentle, ever ready to listen to everybody, whether young, old, educated or non- educated.
Hon Kamel's contribution to the development of the Volta Region, especially to the Buem Constituency is something that cannot be forgotten. His untimely death has created a huge vacuum in the Volta Region and it would be through prayers of all to have a replacement for Hon Kamel.
I am paying this tribute to Hon Kamel on behalf of the Volta Caucus, the people of the Volta Region and the whole nation.
With these few words, Madam Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to pay this tribute to our departed brother, father, uncle and Colleague Member of Parliament.
May his soul rest in perfect peace .
Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan (NDC -- Mion) 11:50 a.m.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to pay a tribute to a very fantastic Member of Parliament, who rose very quickly through the ranks to become the Volta Regional Minister. I knew Ford Kamel personally as far back as the 1980s when I was a teacher in my old school, Ghana Secondary School in Tamale and he was also a sixth form teacher in the same school. Indeed, it is in Ghana Secondary School that he met his wife, who has given birth to their children, so to speak.
Ford Kamel was a very likeable person, very approachable, very gentle and extremely hardworking. Indeed, he was somebody who was a very good mixer, mainly because he had a multi-cultural upbringing. He was born in Tamale. It was after the death of his father that the mother moved with them to the Volta Region and so many of us from the Northern Region always counted him as one of us any time we had issues.
Indeed, when we came together in 2005 as Members of Parliament, I had a very personal relations with him, where we could discuss our respective families to the point of tears because Ford Kamel was a very emotional person.
In good times, he could be witty, he could be funny and make you laugh for a very long time. He was also a very generous person and very interested in results each time it was an issue to discuss. Indeed, his death on Christmas Day was a shock that I really wish I could deny but the Almighty Allah, whatever He wills, no mortal can postpone or change. Whatever God wills to happen, it happens that very moment.
Ford Kamel's loss to us, his wife and children, is a clear case of a very vibrant and useful life that has been cut short. We all mourn him and wish him well in the Heavens. We pray that his soul rests in perfect peace with his Lord.
I thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 11:50 a.m.
I thank you, Hon Member.
Ms Beatrice Bernice Boateng (NPP -- New Juaben South) 11:50 a.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to add my voice to the tribute to somebody I had known as a brother, as a friend and as a Colleague.
I met the late Hon Henry Kamel Ford in Parliament in 2009 when I came here. I found him to be so reserved, such that it was difficult for me to approach him like I approached other people. After he had been appointed Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, I was to go to that Ministry for an information -- when I got there, I did not meet the Hon Minister but I was led to his office.
I did not even know that was his name but when I met him and had a chat with him, after about twenty to thirty minutes that I had left the office, I told myself that I had met a gentleman. I had met somebody who cares; I had met somebody who was so respectful, such that I told myself he was going to be a brother and a friend from then. I saw him to be a very gentleman, very sociable, well mannered, respectful, approachable, unassuming, et cetera.
Anytime I came to the House, wherever I met him or wherever I saw him, I had to walk to his table, exchange greetings with him, have a little chat before I came to my seat and he also did the same to me.
I remember when he was going to be vetted for the last post as the Regional Minister, some of his constituents came around and I was surprised he called me and he introduced me to all of them, including the wife and children and said “You meet a very good friend and a
sister”. I heard one of them whispering, “But she is an NPP”. He said “Yes, but over here, we do not do that; she is my sister, she is my everything”.
Since he went to the Volta Region, I never stopped calling him. Every forth- night, I called him. At a point, for about three months, I never, saw him, so I called him and said, “My brother, what is it?” And he said “Oh, I am battling with a little sickness but I will be all right”. I enquired and he said “I have a little blood pressure”. I said, “My brother, the earlier you continued taking your medicine, the better for all of us”.
Then he said, “I will do that”. I got shocked when I heard of his demise. What else can I say? Should I say, gone too soon, called home? I am short for words to describe his demise. Here we are this morning paying a tribute to a brother, a friend and a Colleague. All I will say is that his time has come. Ours will come but when? None of us knows. We need to pray to God, that He gives us the heart to do this work, the stressful work that we have decided to do. We need to pray to God for God's guidance and direction.
Finally, let me wish all of us, especially his close family, my sympathies, and to the people of his region and all other associates of the late Hon Henry Ford Kamel. I pray to God that He keeps the family safe until the time he is put to rest.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity.
Mr Alfred W. G. Abayateye (NDC -- Sege) 12:10 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for this opportunity to contribute to the tribute to our late Brother.

I entered Parliament the same day with the late Hon Henry Ford Kamel. We all happened to come with a background as bankers, so we knew ourselves before we entered here. Members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus would take note that in our first term, 2005 to 2008, as the Caucus Accountants, I can say we did something and in the end, when we were going home, each of us had some little money.

I am saying it here today in memory of the late Hon Henry Ford Kamel that, that idea we had and we each contributed a little money and invested it in Gemini Life Insurance Company (GLICO) and at the end, we had some money. That idea was conceived by the late Hon Henry Ford Kamel and myself. The two of us sat down and said it was difficult to get money but we could do something. We had the idea, we shared it with Hon James K. Avedzi, we took it to the Leadership and they accepted it and we invested the little contributions we made in GLICO and when we were going home, we had some money.

The late Hon Ford Kamel was a man full of new initiatives and innovations. [Interruptions.] The late Hon Ford Kamel was a man who, when one saw in one moment, the next time, he was full of new ideas. I had been with him; we knew each other and I am testifying that Ghana has lost a gem -- Again, the Ada Traditional Area sent a delegation to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources; I happened to be in a team with Hon Alexander Narh Tettey-Enyo (Member for Ada)

When the chiefs came and we went to meet the Minister, Hon Collins Dauda -- by then he was not in. The way the late Hon Henry Ford Kamel received the delegation, had time with us and spoke to us, when we got out of the place, the chiefs asked us. “Are you saying he is also one of you?” We said “Yes”.

The late Hon Henry Ford Kamel was a man one could approach. When one got to him and he was not in the right mood to receive one, he would say: “My brother,
Mr Alfred W. G. Abayateye (NDC -- Sege) 12:10 p.m.


can we fix a new time?” I am sharing this because we have lost someone. A man who even, when he was annoyed, he would be smiling. It was difficult for one to see the late Hon Ford Kamel grimacing. Today, such a person is not with us.

The late Hon Ford Kamel went to the Volta Region as a Minister and we always spoke on phone. He said: “Mr Gbordjor, when are you coming”? I said: “I will come when the time is due”. Today, my Brother is no more; we are not seeing him again and Ghana has lost something.

My sympathies go to the wife and the three daughters. My sympathies go to his town, Guanman Traditional Area and Guanman in particular. My sympathies go to the Buem Constituency, the Volta Region and especially to Parliament because we have missed someone. The future of the late Hon Henry Ford Kamel was bright; he happened to be the first to have a Ministerial appointment from the Guanman Traditional Area and therefore, the prospects were good and he was a role model to all even those of us who are older than him. Man proposes but God disposes.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
Mr Joseph K. Nayan (NPP -- Nkwanta North) 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the death of the late Hon Henry Ford Kamel, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Buem and the former Regional Minister for Volta Region, came to me as a shock. The late Hon Kamel entered Parliament with me on the same day and he was known to be very gentle, peace loving, sociable and collective. The last time I met him before his death, was on the 6th of December, 2012, when there
was a problem in my constituency, where the NDC and NPP clashed on the 5th of December, 2012. On the 6th of December, 2012, he came to the constituency to talk to some chiefs, opinion leaders and the youth.
When he came, he did not say because he was coming from the other side of the political divide -- He invited me to go round with him and talk to the chiefs.
The late Hon Kamel was known to be somebody who was not very political. I am saying not very political because he did not discriminate and we have actually lost a great man. The Volta Region has lost a great man; Ghana has lost a great man; Buem Constituency has lost a great man and we will ever remember him.
May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Mr Gershon K. B. Gbediame (NDC -- Nkwanta South) 12:10 p.m.
Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I also join my Hon Colleagues to pay a tribute to the late Hon Henry Ford Kamel.
The late Henry Kamel becomes the fifth person or fifth Member of Parliament that we have lost in the life of this Parliament and it is very sad. Madam Speaker, for those of us who come from the Volta Region, especially from the northern part of the Volta Region, see his death as a great blow to us.
This is because we know how hard- working he was and the programmes that he had instituted to actually improve the living standard of people in the Volta Region.
Madam Speaker, I do not know how many adjectives we can use to describe the personality of the late Hon Kamel. Many have said he was very gentle, hard- working, unassuming and the like. I think any adjective can be used to describe a person will equally go to describe the person we are talking about. In my view,
he was a personal friend, a family friend and he was a special friend to my last born who is 11 years old. Indeed, on the 23rd of December, 2012, two days to his departure, we had a meeting at Ho and he hosted the meeting.
After the programme, some of us had a reception in his bungalow. He asked of my small boy and he said that we should have come with him and he would have detained him to spend the New Year with him.
If he sat down with my 11 year-old boy and they were chatting, you would know the type of person we are talking about.
The late Hon Ford, when we were going to conduct the primaries in 2008, he never informed me that he would be coming. In the middle of the voting, I just saw my Hon Brother in and his presence lifted my spirit and it was not surprising that at the end of the day, I won the primaries overwhelmingly.
We owe a lot of gratitude to him and his family. It is very painful, but like the saying goes, “When death holds something, there is no power that can snatch that person from his hands.” But in everything, like the Bible admonishes us, we should give thanks because God knows best.
We cannot understand why at the prime age of 51, after struggling to go through these hectic primaries and finally the main election, he should die at the point when he did not have the opportunity of even being sworn in as a new Hon Member of Parliament. But who are we to question God? God knows best. He brought us to this world and He knows the time that He would call us back home.
It is our prayer that at this point in time, the Good Lord would comfort his wife, his three daughters, his immediate family, the people of Ghana, the people of the Buem
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member.
Prof. Aaron M. Oquaye (NPP -- Dome- Kwabenya) 12:20 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to say a few words with regard to this tragedy.
Madam Speaker, we all know the deceased Hon Member as very committed to the business of this Honourable House. Despite the fact that he also had a Ministerial position in the region, he was able to combine the two as much as he could.
We have seen a few deaths more than usual this last year and we pray that it should be a trend that definitely should not continue. It is our prayer and wish that the Good Lord should r id this Honourable House and those in authority over State and governance of such misfortunes and tragedies.
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
rose
Madam Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Yes, can we hear from the Hon Minority Leader first? Hon Minority Leader, any tribute?
Minority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 12:20 p.m.
Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to say a few words in memory of our departed Hon Colleague.
The Late Hon Henry Ford Kamel just about finished his second four-year term as an Hon Member of Parliament. He contested the seat in his constituency on the ticket of the NDC, once again, and for
the third consecutive time, won the election to represent his people. This third term election he obtained in the recently held general elections.
I personally, first encountered the Hon Colleague on the Committee of Lands and Forestry, where he served as a member and later, when some adjustments were made in the Committee, as a Deputy Ranking Member of the Committee. As Hon Members have alluded to, he was a man of very calm demeanor and disposition, very gentle and humble. It is no wonder that his Colleagues, especially, those of the Hon Members from the Volta Region, acknowledge that he was very instrumental in resolving conflict in the Volta Region.
He had some great inner calmness in the face of even adverses and I believe all politicians need to have that kind of inner calmness in order to help us overcome our respective problems.
Madam Speaker, the suddenness of his transition still remains a mystery. His life had just started glittering, but lo and behold, today, he is no more.
We pray for a peaceful rest for his soul and also pray to God to grant fortitude to his spouse and the family that he has left behind. May God grant him eternal rest.
Madam Speaker, I thank you.
Alhaji Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo (NDC -- Wa Central) 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I also rise to pay a tribute to a Friend, a Brother who was dear to me, who had demonstrated a lot of commitment to work, who had shown that he could be friends to all manner of people and be fair to them as well.
Madam Speaker, I met this gentleman, Hon Ford Kamel, when I came to the House the first time in 2005. He had also
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Members, I thank you for your tributes.
Let us now be up and standing to observe a minute silence in memory of our dear departed Hon Colleague.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Yes, Hon Pelpuo?
Dr A. A. Osei 12:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, before the Hon Deputy Majority Leader speaks, I would want to be guided. At the beginning, I thought I heard you say that today may be your last Sitting?
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Except for tomorrow.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:30 p.m.
I think you said the last welcome address and tomorrow we are supposed to Sit for the State of the Nation's Address.
Madam Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Yes.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:30 p.m.
Which presumes that we would not have any other business tomorrow except the State of the Nation's Address. We are about to be presented with Papers and committees are supposed to meet today to prepare reports for a meeting. When? This is because Parliament stands adjourned on the 6th of January, 2013.
The Business Statement last time did not indicate that we were meeting after the 4th of January 2013, so Hon Members have made plans to be away until the 6th. of January.
So if we can get guidance from Leadership. What is the purpose of having to hold meetings for which it cannot come back to the House for deliberation and having committee meetings which were supposed to start at 10.30 a.m. on matters that are not going to come back? What are we trying to do? Aside from that, as Hon Majority Leader knows, there are
issues -- [Interruption.] We rose when? You know what I am talking about?
Some Hon Members 12:30 p.m.
Yes.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:30 p.m.
Moreover, Members have come back from a long holiday vacation, nobody is speaking about anything except to come back and do Resolutions; what is this? Parliament must be properly informed, so that we can do our work properly. But if there was something earlier before we rose for the election, which we have not seen and then the rising, which we have not seen, then you are expecting Members who are tired -- some of us are sick.
As the Hon Deputy Majority Leader said, we ought to be going to the hospital. This Sitting here is imposing a serious health hazard on us.
The House Committee chaired by Hon Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo is not speaking to the issues and he is about to rise to tell us that we should be taking the Report of the Finance Committee. Please, let us treat Hon Members with due regard for our work. You will attest that we have done a lot of work this Sitting. Please, do not impose anymore hardships on us, knowing our health conditions and according to our constituents, they are expecting us to come and pay them a visit.
Some people are exiting for good, including Hon Albert Kan-Dapaah, Hon Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Hon John T. Akologu, Hon Cecilia Abena Dappah and they are thinking about some serious issues. I think you get my drift?
I thank you very much.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Deputy Majority Leader, I think if you have any answers for him, it will help the House. Any answers?
Alhaji Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo 12:40 p.m.
Yes, Madam Speaker, I do agree with my Colleague. We have a lot of issues to discuss. Again, I also agree with him the fact that there are committee meetings scheduled for today and you do not know what reports they are going to present and to who they are going to present them. But the truth is that, it is the committees that will decide whether they want to have a meeting or not. I do not think it is the plenary that will decide that.
The programme is already on; the committees will go if they think that there is need for them to meet to do anything, they will go ahead and meet. But I agree that we have come to a critical point where we do not have to add so much onto ourselves. We have done so much work -- campaigning, running round and all that and we need to come to a point where we can rest.
But Madam Speaker, we have before us, laying of reports and I will crave the indulgence of my Colleagues and your own indulgence that we go ahead with the programme in front of us, the order of business in front of us and lay them.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, it appears my Hon Deputy Majority Leader is not adverting his mind to the Paper that is going to be laid. If you look at page 20, there was a committee meeting on the Paper that is going to be laid; that committee has not met. And I thought that, as I was talking, he will seek counsel to move us into a higher level of consultation to see the way forward but he is insisting on Papers to be laid when the committee has not even met.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
I thought that as we come to them, that is items 4 (a), (b) and (c), then we will know whether the reports are ready.
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I think the point that the Ranking Member and the Hon Member for Tafo is making is quite relevant to our present situation and circumstances. I think the best thing that can happen or maybe, the worse, is to make sure that we rise properly and end up properly.
Madam Speaker, there are so many things hanging in this Paper. In my view, the only thing that we must be doing today and then go into a caucus or Closed Sitting, is the one about the accommodation for the new Members of Parliament, which is about the Job 600. That is the only thing which is important. Everything Madam Speaker, that will not happen today lapses; it is not as if we are going from one year to the other. The whole Parliament is dissolved. So what is the use of putting all things?
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Order! So we can hear the Hon Member.
Mr Owusu-Agyemang 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, there is so much noise and I cannot even hear what you are saying. We have to go into a joint caucus and decide on certain things that we must do.
Madam Speaker, I cannot see how we can start business and half way, we leave them hanging. And so, let us do the ones that we can for the young people, the new ones coming in; let them proceed and get Job 600 done for them. It has been on the Order Paper, Madam Speaker, for more
rose
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
I was going to leave the Chair for the First Deputy Speaker but what were you going to say?
Mr Avedzi 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, the Reports that were laid on the 21st of December, 2012, which we could not take the Motions before Parliament rose on that day, we have them ready here for the Motion to be taken today. There are also reports ready but could not be laid that same day.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Member, he is not talking about what you have done and what you were not able to do. He is only saying that in view of the time, it is past 12 noon and also the fact that we need to prepare the place for tomorrow. Are you
saying we can finish with all these Resolutions today? That is all he is saying.
Mr Avedzi 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I think we can finish with the five Motions that we have today; the reports are ready.
Madam Speaker, the term of this Parliament is ending; what do we do if we do not take these things today? Are we going over the process all over again or we will accept --
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Yes, we have to start again.
Mr Avedzi 12:40 p.m.
We have to start the whole process again? So Madam Speaker, I will plead with Colleagues that those reports that are ready, we take them today and those that are not ready, we carry them to the next Parliament.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Isaac Osei, before I leave the Chair, let me hear you.
Mr Isaac Osei 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, with due respect, I think the Hon Ranking Member for Finance articulated the position, which is shared by both sides of the House when he spoke about matters concerning Members of this House. I think those matters are so important.
When the Hon Deputy Majority Leader was speaking, he failed to address those issues and I think it is important that we look at what the Hon Member for New Juaben North indicated, that we go into joint caucus to discuss this matter and to know the position of Leadership on this issue.
I do not think we will lose anything if we pass on what was supposed to be discussed today to the next Parliament. I do not think this is the time for us to discuss anything of a substantial nature; let us discuss the issue which affects people here.
I thank you Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Alhaji Pelpuo, you never addressed the issue that was raised about other matters which are important. We are leaving; some of us are not coming back and they say you have not addressed that matter. When do you intend to address the matter and meet with them before we leave here tomorrow? Before then you start talking about today's business and finishing with it. Can you answer that for him? It concerns all of us, including you.
At this stage, I will ask the First Deputy Speaker to take the Chair because I have a meeting.
Alhaji Pelpuo 12:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I thought that it would be a logical step to take just after we have finished with today's business to go into a joint caucus meeting to discuss these things. So I was imagining that --
  • [MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER IN THE CHAIR.]
    • Alhaji Pelpuo 12:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there has been some concerns raised that there are some House issues we have not discussed fully. But my point is that, because we have some businesses in front of us, some of which can be addressed now, I thought we could take them, including the Third Reading of the Health Professionals Regulatory Bill -- [Interruption] -- And then logically, we could then move into a joint caucus and discuss these things that border so much on our welfare.
    So, I propose that whatever we can do now, we do and subsequently, we can have a joint caucus meeting and address those pertinent issues that are so dear to us.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, first of all, the issue that my Colleague, the Deputy Majority Leader alluded to, has already been dealt with. On the Votes and Proceedings for today, if he cares to
    look at it, page 48, Motion listed as item number 32 -- The Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Bill, 2011 has already been read the Third time. So, it appears it was a mistake that it appeared here; that is the first thing.
    Now, the second thing is, Mr Speaker, there are Papers scheduled for presentation. Now, we are being told that three of them appearing on today's Order Paper, pages 20 and 21 have been listed for consideration by the Committees. Even before the Committees meet, the Papers have been listed to be laid.
    Mr Speaker, the other time, we had cause to bemoan this kind of procedure. Matters relating to financials, you crowd them and you want us, this House -- do you want us to do any diligent job? Mr Speaker, it happened the other day and you had to order the freezing of an amount which was proposed to be approved by this House.
    We must be seen to be doing serious work in this House. This House does not exist at the pleasure of anybody. Let us be seen to be doing a diligent job. Yes, it may be a good programme or project but the correct thing must be done.

    There are serious outstanding matters which are supposed to be brought to a conclusion tomorrow. Leaving Parliament the other time, we could not finish.

    Mr Speaker, let me even add this one listed as item number 4 (c), the Parliamentary Service Board is programmed to sit on it today. We have not sat and no decision has been taken, that one has been listed. Much as we all appreciate that we need the furnishing of
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, what do you say to what the Hon Minority Leader has just said?
    Alhaji Pelpuo 12:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, just like any one of us here, there is the need for us to address these very pertinent issues he has alluded to. But these are also critical times in which time is a constraint. There are very serious outstanding matters, and I remember very clearly that in discussing the then Report, which led to the listed Motion number 15, the expectation was that we would spend one Sitting to go through these Motions numbered 15 and 16.
    So, I am thinking that even though we have these problems about time and constraints of time, we could take those issues that can be overtaken by time, Motions numbered 15 and 16. My
    attention has been drawn by the Chairman of the Finance Committee that those are things that are likely to suffer some lapses if we do not take them -- [Interruption.] So Mr Speaker --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, the Minority Leader is suggesting that there are outstanding matters to be dealt with and they would want the House to go into caucus for these to be discussed; that is why I was asking you whether that would be feasible or it would not. If it would not be feasible, tell us that it would not. If it is feasible, tell the House that it is.
    Alhaji Pelpuo 12:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not have any new information at all regarding the issues we are going into a joint caucus meeting on. So that is how come I am not able to go in that direction to discuss the issues that we are all interested in. I do not have any new information about that. But what I am looking for is a situation where the business before us, we can address those issues that do not have any controversy about them -- [Interruption] -- So, Mr Speaker, I would want to crave the indulgence of my Hon Colleagues that we take Motion number 10 and address it -- [Interruption.]
    Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu 1 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am just finding it very, very difficult to appreciate what our Friend, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader is trying to do in the Chamber today.
    Mr Speaker, undisputedly, the work of this House has always been done on consensus building. Clearly, majority of us sitting here would want us to go in one direction. Yet, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader is insisting that we should go his way when Hon Members in the House
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Let me find out from Leadership, whether they have made an arrangement for an extended Sitting. This is because in trying to suspend the House, one has to take into account the time --
    Mr Owusu-Agyemang 1 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this issue of external Sitting, as for that one, I do not think it becomes a very critical point because you remember --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Hon Member for New Juaben North, the last point made is that the Hon Deputy Majority Leader has no information to give and the suggestion has come from the floor that we should suspend Sitting, so that he goes to look for the information
    and come back to inform the House. That is why I asked the question whether -- because if one looks at the time, it is almost one o'clock and that is why I posed that question.
    Mr Owusu-Agyemang 1 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if you had listened to me, you would have heard my argument. What I am saying is that, while I agree with what Hon Agyeman-Manu has said, I am saying that the arrangements having not been made should not necessarily, sort of, side pass the decision -- because the last time we were here, you remember, we Sat for four continuous days, no arrangement was made. We survived it.
    So, I do not see why we can use the issue that arrangements have not been made, so we cannot suspend Sitting. We can go and come back. Mr Speaker, what it means is that, we are going to have lunch and then come back to make sure that the thing can be addressed.
    But most importantly, Mr Speaker, I think tomorrow -- Madam Speaker tells us and the programme is the State of the Nation Address. We are ending the life of this Parliament. It is important that we end it properly; we do not have to get saddled with all these things. The rules are quite clear. What we do not handle, it rolls over to the next one. So, we cannot carry -- What I am saying is that, Mr Speaker, let us learn to do things properly.
    The Leadership must understand that when the life of a Parliament is ending, then adequate arrangements, Mr Speaker, are made to make sure it is ended well. But where there are loose ends, we need to tie them. Why go into new business? Mr Speaker, it can be done subsequently. Nobody is stopping it, especially with the composition of the Parliament that we have. Nobody will stop it.
    Mr Owusu-Agyemang 1 p.m.


    Mr Speaker, you know very well, some of us may even have to go and see whether we want an Hon Adjaho or Dzirasah, or something. But that is by the way and all this had to be canvassed. It is part of the job that we must do. So, Mr Speaker --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    You are out of order on that point.
    Mr Owusu-Agyemang 1 p.m.
    I withdraw that point, Mr Speaker -- [Laughter.]
    Mr Speaker, so, importantly, let us end this Parliament properly, by making sure that the rough edges are cleaned, the “is” are dotted, the “ts” are crossed and then we move on. This is so simple that the Hon Deputy Majority Leader must understand.
    Mr Speaker, on that note, I beg to move, that we suspend Sitting of this House for a period of two hours and then go for lunch and come back.
    Mr Avedzi 1 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to plead with Hon Members -- [Uproar] -- We all know that the issues that we are all talking about are in the interest of the whole House. The information I would want to give out is that, the facility that is before us, which the Committee has reported on, has time limits and if we do not take this facility today and it runs into the next Parliament, by the time the new committees would be formed and for these issues to be referred to those committees and their reports come back, we would lose the facility.
    So, I would want to plead with Hon Members that we can excuse the Hon Deputy Majority Leader to go and fish for the information as we go on and work on these facilities, so that we do not lose
    the facility -- [Uproar]. -- Mr Speaker, this is the plea I am asking Hon Members, that this is in the interest of this country. The facilities are about water and electricity. [Mr Owusu-Agyemang: How do you lose Fidelity Bank facility?]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee, I have taken the sense of the House into account. There are only two issues before me now to determine; whether to adjourn the House to tomorrow or to suspend Sitting, so that you go and fish for the information and come and inform them. Those are the two matters before me.
    These are financial Resolutions and there are constitutional figures we need to approve. So, when one side of the House is taking a position and you cannot push them -- you cannot push them at all. They are not prepared to take your plea. So, you cannot push them. That is why I wanted to find out from the Hon Deputy Majority Leader who is in charge of Government Business -- they want to give you time to go -- whether there is an extended Sitting or not and with the arrangement so made, so that you can go and fish for the information and come and inform them, then they can continue to do business or I adjourn the House till tomorrow.
    These are the only two things before me. I have taken the sense of the House into account. I have taken the mood of the House into account. So, it is over to the Hon Deputy Majority Leader to tell me something, then I would know how to proceed.
    Alhaji Inusah A. B. Fuseini 1 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think you have rightly captured the sense of the House. Indeed, when Hon Akoto Osei was speaking, I was totally in tandem with him because these are matters -- today and tomorrow will effectively bring this Parliament to an end. And we have been in this House long
    enough to know that when Parliament rises, the attendant matters, the consequential remuneration becomes a problem. That is why we have all said that it is in our interest, as a House, to ensure that these matters are brought to a close before the House is dissolved.
    So, that is why I was taken aback when I heard the Hon Deputy Majority Leader say that he did not have information; because the information is really critical.
    What I think we should do, and this is my humble plea -- what I think we should do is to allow the Hon Deputy Majority Leader to find the information and come to give it to us. This is because we do not want a situation which happened in 2009, where payment was made into some account and then letters were issued directing us not to spend any pesewa from those accounts. We do not want that situation.
    That is why we are all apprehensive and I agree with them, to be honest with you, that we are apprehensive because we have seen it before.
    So I think that, Mr Speaker, my humble suggestion is that the Deputy Majority Leader -- indeed, these House matters are important to us, all of us. They are matters that will see us go home well. So the Deputy Majority Leader should find the way to bring that information that will comfort us and know that tomorrow, when we are rising, we will be rising on a good note.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Alhaji Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, judging from the mood of the House and the attendant issues that are coming up, even if we decide to suspend this House -- it is important for us to think about adjourning rather than suspending.
    Mr Speaker, we have a Board meeting, that is going to take place this afternoon. This Chamber is to be prepared for the
    Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as we were told, and as some Hon Members indicated earlier, I think the outstanding matters shall have to be addressed, whether today or tomorrow; they shall have to be addressed before we exit. So, it is important that the Deputy Majority Leader undertakes to go and pursue whoever, wherever and bring us something concrete.
    If it is not going to be possible today because he has already moved for an adjournment, then certainly, tomorrow, before the President or perhaps, after the event -- because before the delivery of the State of the Nation Address, the whole place would be jammed up and it may not be pleasant that we discuss these matters. So we should have some behind the scene meeting after the event and discuss these matters.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you and in that regard, I beg to second the Motion for adjournment.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    ADJOURNMENT 1:10 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 1.13 p.m. till Friday, 4th January, 2013 at 10.00 a.m.