Debates of 13 Feb 2013

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:50 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 12th February, 2013.
Page 1 … 12 --
Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 12, under “Committee on Government Assurances”, numbers 24 and 25, the Hon Minority Leader actually made some amendments to the list but they have not been captured here. The 24 should read “Hon Moses Eninn, Member” and the 25 should read “Hon Osei Kennedy Nyarko, Member.” So the Hansard Department should capture that.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
But where did they get the “Acheampong” from?
Mr Nitiwul 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think the Whips originally submitted that name but he made the amendment on the floor.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
But the list that I had yesterday, it was vacant; so it was on the floor that the Hon Minority Leader made the correction?
Mr Nitiwul 10:50 a.m.
And the corrections he made were on these two names. So, the Hansard Department should capture that.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Very well.
Page 13?
Mr Murtala M. Ibrahim 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 10, number 5, the name is “Muhammed”, not “Mohammed” -- the “o” should be “u”.
Dr Anthony A. Osei 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, sorry to take you back. I would need some clarification.
On page 5, item number 155, the name is “Kunbuor Benjamin”. On page 8, item 10 (c), I have “Dr Benjamin Bewa-Nyog Kunbuor”. Mr Speaker, is that the same person we are talking about? [Some Hon Members: Yes.] -- So, we should be consistent, so that we know. He is our Leader. If he is the “Benjamin Kunbuor” then we know. But this “Bewa-Nyog”, he is my good Friend, he never disclosed that to me. [Laughter.]
Dr Benjamin Kunbuor 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I guess the Hon Member is right, that we should be consistent both in terms of the spelling and the rendition. So, if he wants to use “Benjamin Kunbuor” he can use it consistently. If he wants to use the “Bewa-Nyog”, which is a mouthful and many people are struggling with it, we can make it consistent as well.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Page 14 --
Mr Solomon Namliit Boar 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, please, let us go back to page 10, “Standing Committees”, and just under that we have “the Finance Committee”. The “Committee” is spelt wrongly. There is no second “e”. It should be added to the “Committe”.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Thank you.
Page 15. . .17 --
Mr Mutawakilu Adam 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 17, number 6, the name is “Mutawakilu Adam” not “Adams”. The “s” should be removed.
Mr Alexander K. Afenyo-Markin 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on the same page 17, “The Committee on Members…” There is supposed to be double “e”. It is only one “e”.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Page 18 --
Dr A. A. Osei 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 17, “The Committee on Members Holding Offices of Profit”. Is there no Deputy Ranking Member? It is not indicated and I would want to know if it is an oversight or it is just -- And the Ranking Member should be on the Minority side. So I do not know if the Majority wants to take all the positions. There is something that does not appear right.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
On a more serious note, do we need a Ranking Member on this Committee?
Dr A. A. Osei 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, that is why I am asking because it is weird.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Member for Sekondi, do we need a Ranking Member on this Committee?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, since the Chair of the Committee is a Member of Parliament even though he is a Deputy Speaker, you have to have a Ranking Member. It is only where probably, Mr Speaker is chairing a Committee. Mr Speaker does not belong to either side; Mr Speaker belongs to all of us, so, for that reason, we do not need a Ranking Member.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, who is the Deputy Ranking Member?
Dr Kunbuor 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, well, I guess in this matter, we would do the consultations with the Whips. But I guess the name is there; it is just that it was not indicated.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Once you put the Ranking Member there, he must have a Deputy Ranking Member. That is the point being made.
Dr Kunbuor 11 a.m.
That is so, Mr Speaker. We would do the consultation and communicate it to the House.
Mrs Della Sowah 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Committee of Privileges, number 12 --
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Which page are you talking about?
Mrs Sowah 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 18. Mr Speaker, the “Della” does not have an “h” at the end.
Mr Kwame G. Agbodza 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 17, number 12, it should read “Hon Agbodza Kwame.” My first name is “Kwame” and “Govers” is indeed, my name, but it is spelt “G-o-v-e-r-s”, not “G- o-v-e-r-n-s”.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Very well.
Mr Noah B. Azure 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in my name, “r” is missing there. It should be “A-z-u-r-e”. This is on page 17, number 13 -- and the order should be “Noah Ben Azure”. That is the order of my name.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Very well. Table Office to take note.
Mr Sualihu D. Alhassan 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 13, number 16, “the Public Accounts Committee”, the “Dandaawa” is spelt wrongly. The alphabet “a” is omitted. The “Dandawa” is spelt as “D-a- n-d-a-a-w-a”. So “a” should be added before the “w-a”.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
All right.
Page 19 . . . 22 --
Mr Daniel K. Atta-Boafo 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, please, on page 21, an extension of the “Committee on Gender and Children”, number 24, the name should be “Hon Attah-Boafo, Daniel Kingsley”,
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Thank you.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Page 23, 24 --
Mr Afenyo-Markin 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity once again.
Mr Speaker, with respect to item (B), “Special or Ad Hoc Committees”, I realise that we have only one item, which is “Poverty Reduction Strategy Committee”. Mr Speaker, but you will see that it is “Committees” and I seek your guidance whether -- Since there is only one committee there under the “Ad Hoc Committees”, is there supposed to be “s”? The English Professors may -- This is because we have only one item there.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
That is not the name of the Committee. There is a group of committees that may come under that called “Special or Ad Hoc Committees”. They are neither Select Committees nor Standing Committees. But I believe that they should have just added “Poverty Reduction Strategy Committee”. That is what they should have done for the avoidance of doubt. They should have put there “Poverty Reduction Strategy Committee”.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, when the Committee was created, it was meant to be added to the Standing Committees. It was an ad hoc committee. An ad hoc committee by its definition

ceases to exist after performing its task and members become functus officio. This is not the intendment of the Poverty Reduction Committee; it is supposed to be added to the Standing Committees.

Mr Speaker, if I may add, with respect to the Petitions Committee, can we take a definite decision on it if we have to include it in the Standing Committees. This is because it was an earlier Parliament that agreed to add it to the number of Standing Committees that we have in the House.
Dr Kunbuor 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I guess that the context in which we are having this is because it is either a special or an ad hoc. They have not specified whether the Poverty Reduction Strategy Committee is ad hoc or special. So, you cannot categorize it.
Secondly, when these new committees are introduced and you do not reflect them in the Standing Orders, you need to be a bit careful.
So, we should rather work at amending our Standing Orders and include these in the appropriate situations instead of just assuming that they are.
Well, in the particular case of the Special Budget, I am sure the Hon Minority Leader knows what happens.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Members, I think the point is that these ad hoc committees are given specific tasks or assignments and once they finish with the assignment, they cease to exist and that is the distinction that the Hon Minority Leader is making.
But you may go back and find out, when it was created, whether it was meant to be like that or not and then we can do the necessary consultation and know where to classify it.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if we speak of the “Committee on Poverty Reduction Strategy”, probably, the House may have to consider a new name for it. Insofar as we have Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy I and II (GPRS I and II) and now, we do not have any document titled as such but there is still a
document akin to that in respect of which this Committee ought to exercise oversight. So, probably, as we go along, the Leadership may have to think about the name.
Dr Kunbuor 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I guess that what has happened with the GPRS I and II is that it has actually been consolidated into the Shared Opportunities Growth arrangement and the main thematic area is still poverty reduction. So well, we can think about it in the future.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Pages 25 . . . 31 --
Alhaji Habibu Tijani Mohammad 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 29, correction of name -- “Mohammed Habibu Tijani”, it is 17, the spelling is “. . .mmad” and not “. . . .mmed”.
Thank you.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Page 30 --
Mr John Gyetuah 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may I take you back to page 18, “Committee on Privileges”, “Hon Gyetua, John”, the “h” is omitted.
Mr Alex Adomako-Mensah 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I will take you back to page 26, “Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs”, number 8. The name is “Hon Adomako-Mensah, Alex”” not “Adomanko Alex Mensah”.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Very well.
Pages 31-33.
Mr Charles Obeng-Inkoom 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my name is “Charles Obeng- Inkoom”, Agona West Constituency. Mr Speaker, under “Committee on Defence and Interior”, page 34, my name appears under number 9. The name is “Obeng- Inkoom, Charles”.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Very well.
Mr John Kwabena Bless Oti 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, number 6, --
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
What page?
Mr Oti 11 a.m.
Page 33. It is “John Oti Kwabena Bless”.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
So what is your surname?
Mr Oti 11 a.m.
The surname is “Oti”.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may I plead that some of these things could be dealt with if the Member approached the Table Office. This is because I notice that most of these corrections that are being suggested, if you look at the attendance, the names have been spelt correctly there. Unfortunately, when you come to these tables relating to the committees, maybe, there is some mix-up there.
So if they juxtapose those names as appearing on the committee list with how they appear on the attendance, probably, they could be corrected. So if they could relate to the Table Office, these things could be synchronized. We do not need to be repeating these things. I think it is a prodigal waste of our time, with respect.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Well, I agree to some extent with you, except that where there are two names that look alike, you have to be sure that you are the one on the committee. That is the only reason for indulging Hon Members to make sure that they are the ones on those specific committees. But I agree with you that if it is only a matter of spelling or correcting names, where you know that, that is your name, then there is no need for us to pass through all these rituals.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Page 36 --
Nii Emmanuel Ashie-Moore: Mr Speaker, my name is Ashie-Moore Nii Emmanuel, page 34, number 3, it has been spelt “Moore Ashie”. The correct spelling is “Ashie Moore Emmanuel Nii”. The same thing occurred on page 11.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
But the suggestion being made is that, if it is only your name which has not been properly spelt, you should just approach the Table Office, for them to get the proper rendition, so that we can save some time. That is the suggestion coming from the floor and I think it is a good suggestion. What I would take is, when you think that your name as approved yesterday by the House is missing on the list, those are the ones that I would allow on the floor. If it is a spelling mistake or some other thing, you approach the Table Office for correction.
Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, mine is an omission on page 35, Committee on Foreign Affairs, “Patrick Boamah”, the “Yaw” is missing.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
It is the same.
Mr Boamah 11:20 a.m.
Very well.
Mr Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have a challenge and I would want your guidance or some clearance. Where you have two names appearing on two different committees, and on one committee, the name is spelt wrongly, either an omission of one letter and in another committee, it is spelt wrongly again, and sometimes you wonder whether --
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Approach the Table office and give them the right name.

Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 12th February, 2013, as corrected, are hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.

We do not have any Official Report today for correction.

We would move straight to the commencement of Public Business.
Dr Kunbuor 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we would take item number 4.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Very well.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:20 a.m.
Before you move into Public Business, Mr Speaker, I would need your advice.
Now that you have appointed your Committees on Finance and Works and Housing, may we have an idea when the matter of our offices is going to be --
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Member, you should see me in the Speaker's Lobby.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:20 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
PAPERS 11:20 a.m.
Dr Kunbuor 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want us to defer item numbers 5 and 8 on the Order Paper for some further consultations.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Are we deferring all those items dealing with the Pan-African and ECOWAS Parliaments?
Dr Kunbuor 11:20 a.m.
That is so, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
So, we move to item number 11. Is that correct?
Dr Kunbuor 11:20 a.m.
Yes, that is correct.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Chairman of the Committee, what I would want you to do, is to take item number 11 together with item number 13, to suspend the Standing Order, so that the two Reports are debated together.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we have a programme of activities, the Majority Leader submits a request, that we should hold on to this without proffering any explanation. Can we hear from him,what has occasioned this?
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Well, I thought you had discussed it among yourselves.
Mr Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was late in entering the Chamber, so I do not know. I was not at the pre-sitting meeting; if any discussions had gone on, then, I am sorry.
Dr Kunbuor 11:20 a.m.
Well, thank you.
If he had joined us at the Leadership meeting briefly with the Speaker -- I was also there subsequently later but the matter was raised with the Speaker that it should be differed. We are sorry; we should have communicated it personally to him when he entered the Chamber. His Deputy Chief Whip was with us then, when we took up this matter.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I guess it being the first time, I would take it like that but I thought the entire House ought to be informed. I would not proceed.
Dr Kunbuor 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I guess that a statement like, we would need further consultations on external delegations of this nature, is sufficiently diplomatic and does not itemise the specifics of the consultations that need to be done. I am sure the Hon Minority Leader has time and again needed some additional time to do further internal consultations.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Chairman, what I want you to do is that, you move Motion numbers11 and 12 together, so that we debate the Fourth and Fifth Reports together. But I would put two Questions. Do you understand?
Mr Ebo Barton-Odro 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker --
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
You are going to suspend the Standing Orders in relation to the Fourth and Fifth Reports and then you would move the two Motions together and at the end of it, I would put two Questions.
rose
Mr Barton-Odro 11:20 a.m.
Very well, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
I hope I have not confused you?
Mr Barton-Odro 11:20 a.m.
No, Mr Speaker.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ebo Barton-Odro) 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that --
rose
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Member, have you been approved?
Mr H. Iddrisu 11:20 a.m.
By this House? Mr Speaker, yes. We are awaiting swearing in.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
So you are not yet a Minister?
Mr H. Iddrisu 11:20 a.m.
I am a Member of Parliament.
Mr Speaker 11:30 p.m.
I just would want to know what title I should use to address you. That is why I am asking you.
Mr H. Iddrisu 11:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am a Member of Parliament for Tamale South.
Mr Speaker 11:30 p.m.
Whether I should call you Member of Parliament for Tamale South or I should call you Minister for Trade and Industry. That is why I am asking the question.
Mr H. Iddrisu 11:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, “Member for Tamale South. Mr Speaker, I need your guidance.”
Mr Speaker, I do not think it is right for you to merge your Questions. Per our Standing Orders, once it is a procedural Motion, that the First Deputy Speaker is moving, on its merit, Mr Speaker, you must put the Question on each of them as an itemised item in accordance with our Standing Orders. But I respect the fact that you are with authority to guide this House. But procedurally, we think that we should go one after the other.
Mr Speaker 11:30 p.m.
Hon Member, I explained. The Question would be different but in order -- This is because I had to call the Appointments Committee to the floor of the House to move the Motion and I thought that it could save some time and after I have adjourned the House, they can go back to do their business. So I thought that we could take it. In fact, the rules of the House allow it and I am totally within my rules and we have done it several times; this is not the first time. But I just want to be sure that the person moving the Motion understands what I am trying to suggest.
If he does not understand, then he can take it one by one. But if he understands exactly what I want to do, then he can and at the end of it, I would put two Questions on the issues. That is the point I am making.
Hon Chairman, if you do not follow me, then let us take it one by one.
Mr Barton-Odro 11:30 p.m.
Hon Speaker, I understand perfectly what you are asking for and I think it is in order; so I would do it that way.
Mr Speaker 11:30 p.m.
I would want to save the time of the House, so that the Appoint- ments Committee goes back to continue with its work. That is all.
Mr Barton-Odro 11:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are grateful.
Suspension of Standing Order 80 (1)
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ebo Barton-Odro) 11:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80 (1) which require that no Motion shall be debated until at least, forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion is moved, the Motion for the adoption of the Fourth and Fifth Reports of the Appointments Committee on H.E. the President's nominations for ministerial appointments may be moved today.
Mr Afred K. Agbesi 11:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
MOTIONS 11:20 a.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ebo Barton-Odro) 11:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts the Fourth and Fifth Reports of the Appointments Committee on H.E. the President's nominations for ministerial appointments.
1.0 Introduction
His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama communicated to Parliament for prior approval, the nomination of the following persons, among others, for appointment as Ministers and Regional Ministers pursuant to articles 78 (1) and 256 (1) of the 1992 Constitution:
1. Ms Hanny-Sherry Ayittey -- Minister-designate for Health
2. Mr Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah -- Minister-designate for Youth and Sports
3. Dr Henry Seidu Daannaa -- Minister-designate for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs,
4. Mr Kwesi Ahwoi -- Minister- designate for the Interior
5. Hon Mark Owen Woyongo -- Minister-designate for Defence
6. Hon Eric Opoku -- Minister- designate for the Brong-Ahafo Region.
Mr Speaker, in accordance with Order 172 of the Standing Orders of the House, referred the nominations to the Appoint- ments Committee on Tuesday, 29th January, 2013 for consideration and report.
The names of the persons nominated were subsequently published in the media in accordance with Order 172 (3) of the Standing Orders of the House and memoranda were invited from the public on the nominees
2.0 Reference documents
The Committee referred to the following documents during its deliberations and public hearing of the nominees:
a. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
b. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.
c. Curricula Vitae of the nominees.
3.0 Procedure
On appearing before the Committee, the nominees subscribed to the oath of a witness and answered questions relating to their records of office, the positions to which they have been nominated and issues of general national concern.
4.0 MS HANNY-SHERRY AYITTEY --
M I N I S T E R - D E S I G N AT E , 11:30 p.m.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH 11:30 p.m.
MINISTER-DESIGNATE, MINISTRY 11:30 p.m.
OF YOUTH AND SPORTS 11:30 p.m.
MINISTER-DESIGNATE, MINISTRY 11:30 p.m.
OF CHIEFTAINCY AND TRADI- 11:30 p.m.
TIONAL AFFAIRS 11:30 p.m.
-DESIGNATE, MINISTRY OF THE 11:30 p.m.
INTERIOR 11:30 p.m.
MINISTER-DESIGNATE, MINISTRY 11:30 p.m.
OF DEFENCE 11:30 p.m.
DESIGNATE, BRONG AHAFO 11:30 p.m.
REGION 11:30 p.m.
MINISTER-DESIGNATE FOR 11:30 p.m.
EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR 11:30 p.m.
RELATIONS 11:30 p.m.
- - M I N I S T E R - D E S I G N AT E , 11:30 p.m.
MINISTRY OF TOURISM, CULTURE 11:30 p.m.
AND CREATIVE ARTS 11:30 p.m.
DESIGNATE, MINISTRY OF 11:30 p.m.
FISHERES AND AQUACULTURE 11:30 p.m.
DEVELOPMENT 11:30 p.m.
GREATER ACCRA REGION 11:30 p.m.
M I N I S T E R - D E S I G N AT E , 11:30 p.m.
WESTERN REGION 11:30 p.m.
Mr Alfred K. Agbesi (NDC -- Ashaiman) 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and to urge this House to also support the Report of the Appointments Committee.
As indicated, both the Fourth and Fifth Reports have recommended to this House the approval of all the 11 nominees by consensus. And it shows that your Committee, after listening carefully to their presentations before the Committee, was convinced that they all performed well and that they must be approved by consensus.
On Ms Hanny-Sherry Ayitey, she assured the Committee and the country that she will make sure that the Western Region, the Eastern Region, Upper East and Upper West Regions are provided with adequate regional hospitals. That followed a persistent question to her why some regions have not been provided with regional hospitals.
She also followed up by saying that she will also make sure that all the regions of Ghana are also given district hospitals. That indeed, shows that apart from the regional hospitals that will be given to the regions, the districts will equally be given district hospitals. This shows that
Mr Alfred K. Agbesi (NDC -- Ashaiman) 11:40 a.m.
healthcare is at the bottom of the policy of administration of this Government.
I would want to urge that since both Reports have recommended that these nominees after creditably performing to the satisfaction of the Committee be approved by consensus and appointed, it shows that we have nothing whatsoever against them, that the Committee is satisfied that the only thing left is for this House to approve them for them to be sworn in to begin the work of His Excellency the President.

Question proposed.
Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin (NDC -- Nadowli-kaleo) 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to add my voice in supporting the Motion, that Hon Members should approve the Presidential nominees for various ministerial portfolios.
We have no doubt that these are men and women of good quality and of vast experience, and I believe that the mix of age and youthfulness is also something that we have to commend His Excellency the President for. This is because that is the best way forward. We need the vibrancy of the youth, we need the enthusiasm of the youth, so that we can blend them with the wisdom of the aged, and I think that is what we have here on our plate.
I would want to particularly pray that these Ministers be given some time in their various Ministries to make an impact. We
are having a serious problem in the health sector because Ministers are not given enough time to change what is happening in the sector. I was there for effectively only eight months and that sector is really, as I told them, and they truly accept, a jungle, nothing is well aligned there. We have a proliferation of agencies and institutions under the various laws, having different degrees of independence and autonomy with various leaders of different styles.
There are no conditions of service, yet you have 72 different professions with 72 different associations. Therefore, it takes a bit of time for a Minister to be on top of the sector. Unfortunately, in the past four years, we had four Ministers. There is no way that the Minister can change things because it takes time to understand what is on the ground then for you to make some initiatives to make a difference.
So, I am praying that my very good Sister, Ms Hanny Sherry-Ayittey be given some time to stay in the Ministry and make a difference.
Papa Owusu Ankomah 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sorry. He is a wise man, so he speaks in parables. [Laughter.]
Mr Bagbin 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am surprised that my Colleague, the Hon Papa Owusu- Ankomah is contesting the choice of the word “authority”. I do not know whether the President is not an authority --
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
I learnt that on his side, he is also one of the wise men. [Laughter.]
Mr Bagbin 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is good that we emphasise this point and try to encourage stability in the various Ministries and as much as possible, support our Colleagues who have now been given the opportunity to lead the various sectors to do their best. Once we make progress, it inures to the benefit of all irrespective of your colour.
So, I seriously support the Report and the Motion and urge all my Colleagues to do so.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Fritz F. Baffour (NDC -- Ablekuma South) 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion on the floor.
The nominees appeared before your Appointments Committee and according to the Report, they performed creditably. From what I have read and observed, the nominees are competent in the jurisdictions that they have been selected to work in.
But I would want to make a point here of the President's innovation, a novel nomination of a person who is visually impaired. It has brought about some controversy from certain traditional quarters, but it is an innovation worth supporting. This is because we have people who are capable despite the fact that they are impaired physically, and the President's innovation has opened the door for more appointments of that kind.
Dr Daannaa is a very capable person, he is a brilliant technician in terms of
chieftaincy and cultural affairs in this country and therefore, what has been done is, as I have said, an innovation worth supporting.
I am also looking at the new Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts. It is long overdue that culture and the creative arts be added to tourism. This is because they are at the hub of that industry, and in dealing with the industry itself, we have to have some degree of control or authority over culture and creative arts.
But I would like to appeal to the Government that we have to put our money where our money is. Our investment in culture and the creative arts is woeful and therefore, if we have decided to take these on in a way that would benefit the country in putting tourism, culture and the creative arts together, we should look at the budgetary allocation and the financial support for that particular Ministry.
But overall, I would want to ask my Colleagues to vote in support of the President's nominations because they are worthwhile and I think it would help our “Better Ghana Agenda” progress.
On that note, I would like to thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
I would take the last contribution.
Nii Lantey E. Vanderpuye (NDC -- Odododiodioo): Mr Speaker, permit me also to support this Motion in relation to the nomination by H. E. the President to various ministerial positions.
Mr Speaker, I would want to single out for mention, the Minister-designate for Youth and Sports -- [Interruption] --
rose
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Member for Kumbungu, do you want to make an intervention?
Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni (NDC -- Kumbungu) 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am truly grateful to you.
Mr Speaker, I wish to align myself with my Colleagues who have expressed support for this Motion and to say that all of the nominees have demonstrated not just skill but ability and they deserve the nomination by H. E. the President.
Mr Speaker, I would like to particularly focus on the nomination of Dr Henry Seidu Daannaa and also Madam Sherry- Ayittey because of their backgrounds and the circumstances from which they come.
Mr Speaker, I have heard a lot of very good vibes since the nomination of Dr Daannaa but nobody has suggested that his nomination is because of the fact that he is a disability person, it is an act of charity, or an expression of humanitarian compassion. Everybody has agreed that here is a gentleman who is eminently qualified, has excellent academic and professional credentials and comes to the job with an excellent track record of public service.
Nevertheless, Mr Speaker, his nomination brings to the fore the issue of minorities, the issue of persons who are disadvantaged, the vulnerable and the disabled.
The statistics are indicating that ten per cent of our population are in that category and the disabled alongside the disadvantaged and vulnerable persons hover around the periphery of the Ghanaian society and economic life, and it raises the urgent agenda of mainstreaming disabled persons into national life, and I think that this nomination is really a demonstration of
the determination of this Administration to carry out this essential job of mainstreaming disabled persons into the social and economic life of our country.
It is quite clear that by their circumstances, they are in serious danger of political and social exclusion and therefore, it is important to take urgent action to ensure that that does not happen.
Similarly, on the issue of Madam Sherry- Ayittey, clearly, a woman of quality, with demonstrable track record, I have worked with her in Cabinet and elsewhere and there is no question about the fact that she is eminently qualified for the position. Nevertheless, her nomi- nation is also a testimony of the Government's determination to empower women, not as an act of charity but as a categorical imperative because women, clearly, we all admit, are half of the population.
But we must also go further to admit that women, apart from being half of humanity, also give birth to the other half and in fact, they nurture the other half. So they are very central and therefore, when we empower women, we are really achieving what really should be a more inclusive and integrated development of the entire humanity.
Mr Speaker, with these words, I would like to throw my weight behind this Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Speaker noon
On your behalf, I congratulate all of them.
Dr Benjamin Kunbuor noon
Mr Speaker, in the absence of any other matter, I beg to move, that this House be adjourned to tomorrow at 10.00 a. m.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Mr Speaker, in seconding the Motion for adjournment, I would want to know what we have done. I see some two documents signed by one “Ebo Barton Odro” and then there is another one also signed by the same “Ebo Barton Odro”. In the Votes and Proceedings, I see Hon Ebo Barton- Odro, “Barton-Odro” hyphenated. In these documents, I do not know whether they are referring to different people.
Mr Speaker, may I also know --
Mr Speaker noon
Hon Minority Leader, you know you are out of order? We have finished with “Correction of the Votes and Proceedings”; we have finished with the Motion and we have put the Question. So clearly, the rules of the House are not on your side.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Mr Speaker, on this occasion, I would want to imagine that the rules could be made elastic -- [Interruption] -- Mr Speaker, for the records, just so that we know whether it is the same person. And then Mr Speaker, I also notice that “Brong Ahafo” sometimes comes with a hyphen; in these Reports, it does not come with hyphen.

But Mr Speaker, more seriously, the lamentations of the one of the wise men, the Hon Alban Sumani Kingsford Bagbin, who related to what happened at the Ministry of Health, I thought the Constitution was clear on this, that those of them who are fortunate to be nominated by the President, in accord with article 76 (2) of the Constitution, are supposed to assist the President in the determination
Mr Speaker noon
I guess it is a very nice way of participating in the debate through the backdoor -- [Laughter.]
Dr Kunbuor noon
In fact, Mr Speaker, I think he should come upfront and do so properly.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT noon
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 12.06 p.m. till Thursday, 14th February, 2013 at 10.00a.m.