Debates of 22 Mar 2013

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:30 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
We would start with the Correction of the Votes and Proceeding of Thursday, 21st March, 2013.
Page 1 … 8 --
Nana (Dr) Ato S. Arthur 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 8, paragraph 7(a), line 4, “Deutche Bank”. The spelling is wrong. It should be “Deutsche”.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Very well.
Mr James K. Avedzi 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 8, the request for waiver of stamp duties amounting to €1,970,000.00. Mr Speaker, the document that is given to us reads: “€197,000,000.00”. So, I do not know which of them is correct. I think that the one in the document is correct. So we should amend the figure and make it “€197,000,000.00” but not “€1,970,000.00.”
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Member, how do we go about it? That was what was referred.
Mr Avedzi 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe that maybe, it is a typographical error. When they were typing “€197,000,000.00”, they typed “€1,970,000.”
Dr Anthony A. Osei 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, there are two issues here. If the stamp duty is 10 per cent, then the waiver of the stamp duty amounting to €1.97 is correct. This is because the value is €197,000,000.00. So if it is 10 per cent of it, then this amount is correct. So, the way it is written here would be correct. If you see the Paper, the facility is €197,000,000.00 and 10 per cent of that would be that amount.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
What was referred to was the waiver, not the amount in terms of the loan amount or whatever?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the document states “the waiver of stamp duty on €197,000,000.00 facility” and 10 per cent will amount to “€1.9” --
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
So, what is here is correct.
Page 9 …10 --
Mr Avedzi 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 10, the name of the Minister for Finance is wrongly spelt, “Mr Seeth Emmanuel Terkper”. Seth is not with “ee. ” So, it should be corrected.
Page 11 …28 --
Mr Avedzi 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, let me take you back to the page 8 again. The waiver, 10 per cent of 197,000,000.00 should be 19,700,000, not 1, 970,000.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Member, you know this was what was on the Order Paper yesterday and this was what was referred to? So, I do not know how to go about it. This was actually what was referred, the figure on the Order Paper. The Committee is yet to report.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Memorandum that we have here states the waiver of stamp duty on GH¢197 million facility. That was what should have
been stated on the Order Paper. In the Votes and Proceedings, what is stated is not exactly what is in the memorandum. This is because if you look at what is in the Memorandum, it states:
Hon Members of Parliament are respectfully invited to consider and approve the waiver of stamp duty of 1 per cent on an offshore loan facility of …”
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
One per cent?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:30 a.m.
Yes. They purported to take the one per cent.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Not 10 per cent?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is one per cent.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
It is one per cent?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is one per cent. But I am saying that when a document is referred to the House, we should just refer to what the document says. We should not try to interpret it in another way. That is the point I was making. So, the reference is the waiver of stamp duty on GH¢197 million facility. As to how much is involved, it is the Committee that would determine it.
Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Votes and Proceedings, as we all know, are minutes of the proceedings that usually take place a day before. Most at times, Mr Speaker, the Order Paper gives the lead.
Yesterday, the Order Paper captured what is in the Votes and Proceeding and so, that is what is reflected, even though, in fact and in truth, the Order Paper did not correctly reflect what was on the Memorandum.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
So, now that the information has come to our attention or the attention of the House, what do we do? That is why I would want to get --
Mr Bagbin 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we leave it until we get the report of the Committee and that would correct the error and that would be what we would capture in our minutes. But as of now, we are just capturing what took place yesterday and that is correct.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, actually --
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
But you made a very important point that in future the Table Office should capture what is in the document?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:30 a.m.
Yes. That is all.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Yes. They should not go doing calculations. That is not their responsibility.
Hon Members, which page are we?
Page 26…27 --
Mr Alfred K. Agbesi 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 27, the Special Budget Committee, the Report starts from page 26 to 27. Mr Speaker, I was in attendance but my name is absent.
Ms Sarah A. Safo 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, I would like to take you back to pages 20 and 22 on the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Mr Speaker, column 2 --
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Which of the pages?
Ms Safo 11:30 a.m.
Page 20, Mr Speaker. I remember clearly that Hon James Agalga was present at the meeting but his name is not captured. So, if it can be effected on pages 20 and 22.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Very well. I learn it has been captured.
Ms Safo 11:30 a.m.
Very well, Mr Speaker.
Maj. Derek Y. Oduro (retd): Mr Speaker, yesterday, the Business Committee met but it has not been captured in the Votes and Proceedings.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
It means that they have not submitted their minutes to --
Maj. Oduro (retd): Mr Speaker, I am even surprised that the Hon Deputy Majority Leader who chaired the Committee failed to comment on it. He rather made a comment on a different committee that met -- even though he chaired that Committee.
Mr Agbesi 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, for the records, that Committee is chaired by the Hon Majority Leader. But he was absent and he asked me to go. But because I am not a member of the Committee, we allowed Professor Gyan-Baffour --
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
The Business Committee is at page 23. It is captured. Hon Member for Nkoranza North, page 23, the Business Committee is there.
Page 28 . . . 29 --
Mr Benjamin K. Kpodo 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Finance Committee met yesterday but it is not captured in the Votes and Proceedings.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Yes. It means that they have not submitted their report to the Table Office. I am sure, subsequently, it would reflect in the Votes and Proceedings.
Ms Safo 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the earlier omission I drew your attention to, with your permission, if we could go back. The Hon Member is a member of the committee, but under item 2, “The following Hon Members were present”, his name is not captured there. I do not believe that he is a friend to the Committee; he is a member and he should be captured at such.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Where is Hon James Agalga? Well, if indeed, he is a member of the Committee, then the Hon Member is absolutely right. [Hear! Hear!]
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 21st March, 2013 as corrected are hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
  • [No correction was made to the Official Report of Friday, 15th March, 2013.]
    • Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Hon Members, item number 3 on the Order Paper -- Business Statement for the ninth week. Chairman of the Business Committee?
    Mr Agbesi 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman is absent. I, therefore, seek your permission to present the Report of the Business Committee on his behalf.
    Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Very well.
    BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:50 a.m.
    Arrangement of Business
    Statements
    Mr Speaker, your goodself may admit Statements to be made in the House by Hon Members and Ministers of State.
    Bills, Papers and Reports
    Mr Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House for First Reading and those of urgent nature may be taken through the various stages in one day in accordance with Order 119. Papers and committee reports may also be presented to the House.
    Motions and Resolutions
    Mr Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
    Statutory Funds
    Mr Speaker, the Business Committee takes this opportunity to inform Hon Members that the formulae for the Statutory Funds may be presented to the House on Tuesday, 26th March, 2013. The formulae are (i) the proposed formula for sharing the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF)
    for the year 2013; (ii) the proposed formula for the distribution of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for the year 2013; and (iii) the proposed formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to Licensed District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes for the year 2013.
    Mr Speaker, the Committee of the Whole is therefore, expected to meet on Tuesday, 26th March, 2013 to discuss the formulae. The Motions on the formulae may be taken on Wednesday, 27th March,
    2013.
    Mr Speaker, the Business Committee therefore, urges Hon Members to take note of the proposed date for the meeting of the Committee of the Whole and participate in the discussions accordingly.
    Sitting of the House on Monday/extended Sittings
    Mr Speaker, the Business Committee wishes to inform Hon Members that the House would Sit on Monday 25th March, 2013. Sittings of the House would also be extended beyond the prescribed period during the week. Hon Members are once again, entreated to take note of these arrangements and be punctual in the House.
    The House is expected to rise sine die on Wednesday, 27th March, 2013.
    Conclusion
    Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this Honourable House, the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

    Statements

    Presentation of Papers --

    (a) Report of the Appointments Committee on H.E. the Presi- dent's nominations for deputy ministerial appointments.

    (b) Report of the Auditor-General on the multi-donor budgetary support programme funded special audit of selected flows in the Government of Ghana Accounts covering 2008 and 2009 financial periods.

    (c) Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (public boards, corporations and other statutory institutions) for the year ended 31st December,

    2010.

    (d) Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Ministries, Departments and other agencies of the Central Government) for the year ended 31st December, 2011.

    (e) Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Consolidated Fund) for the year ended 31st December, 201 1.

    (f) Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General on the manage- ment of claims by the National Health Insurance Authority.

    (g) Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General on the manage- ment and distribution of anti- retroviral drugs in Ghana.

    Motions --

    (a) Adoption of the Report of the Appointments Committee on H.E. the President's nominations for deputy ministerial appoint- ments.
    Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:50 a.m.
    2013.
    (Minister in Charge of Govern- ment Business in Parliament)
    (c) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢14,612, 471,227 for the service of Other Government Obligations for the year ending 31st Decem- ber, 2013.
    (Minister for Finance)
    Committee sittings.

    Statements

    Presentation and First Reading of Bills Appropriation Bill, 2013

    Presentation of Papers --

    (a) Proposed formula for sharing the district assemblies' common Fund (DACF) for the year 2013.

    (b) Proposed Formula for the Distr ibution of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GET- Fund) for the year 2013.

    (c) Proposed formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to Licensed District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes for the year 2013.

    (d) Report of the Finance Committee on the Appropriation Bill, 2013

    Motions --

    Second Reading of Bills Appro- priation Bill, 2013

    Consideration Stage of Bills

    Appropriation Bill, 2013

    Third Reading of Bills Appropriation Bill, 2013

    Committee of the Whole to consider the formulae for the Statutory Funds

    Committee sittings.

    Wednesday, 27™ March, 2013

    Statements

    Presentation of Papers --

    (a) Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for sharing the District Assem- blies' Common Fund (DACF) for the year 2013.

    (b) Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for the distribution of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GET- Fund) for the year 2013.

    (c) Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to Licensed District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes for the year 2013.

    Motions --

    (a) Adoption of the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for sharing the

    District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) for the year 2013.

    (b) Adoption of the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for the distr ibution of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GET- Fund) for the year 2013.

    (c) Adoption of the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to Licensed District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes for the year 2013.

    Committee sittings.

    The House expected to rise sine die.

    Mr Speaker, we would want to announce to Hon Members that at 1.00 p.m. today, after the House proceeds on break, we shall have a meeting to discuss urgent matters affecting Hon Members, particularly those of the Fifth Parliament. So, Hon Members should take note that during the break, there would be a meeting and when we come back, we shall announce to Hon Members the outcome of the meeting.

    Mr Speaker, we submit to the House the order in which business shall be taken during the week.

    Mr Speaker, the Committee therefore, submits its Report accordingly.
    Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon Deputy Majority Leader.
    Hon Members, any comment?
    Hon Member, we all have it. Do you want to go through it? Time is not on our side.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Deputy Majority Leader for giving us the business for next week.
    Mr Speaker, first, he talked of a break. I am trying to find out what break there is on the Order Paper. I do not see any where
    -- 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    What he is trying to say is that when Sitting is suspended.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Business Committee expects us to believe -- I would want clarification -- It is because we are unable to complete our work today -- That is the implication I get but I think he could have done us a bit -- He has not explained why we could not have met on the formula today. Sitting could have been suspended and we could have been meeting on them till midnight, whatever.
    So, he could have done us some good. This is because some people have also programmed that if we are rising on Friday, then we are going to proceed for certain important things in our constituencies. Now, we have to revert our travels abroad and so on and so forth at a -- It is very costly to some of us and I wonder who is going to take care of these additional costs that are being imposed on us for something that we did not do.
    So, if he can give us some explanation, then we may see how to approve the Business Statement.
    Mr Agbesi 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, last week, when the Chairman of the Business Committee presented the Business Statement for this week, he informed us that the Business Statement that would be presented this week would indicate whether we will be rising today or not and that is captured in this Business Statement for next week.
    Mr Speaker, the House will rise next week in accordance with what the Chairman of the Business Committee informed us last week, that it shall be
    contained in this week's Business Statement. So, this Business Statement informs us that next week Wednesday the House will rise and that is exactly what the Hon Leader told us last week.
    Dr Richard W. Anane 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, paragraph (3) sub paragraph (1), (iii) the proposed formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to Licenced District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes for the year 2013.
    Mr Speaker, last year, the last Parliament passed a law on the National Health Insurance Authority and that law does not recognise this, which the House is going to be seized with. So, I do not really understand what we are going to do.
    Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    Hon Dr Anane, you are right. The formula has not yet come to the House, so I think that the Committee just put that one there as a guide. That is my understanding. The document itself has not come to the House. If it has come, maybe, it would come to me or the Clerk. The Clerk has not informed me that he has received a report on any of those Statutory Funds in the House as of now.
    Dr Anane 11:50 a.m.
    Very well, Mr Speaker.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
    If it is not before the House, then why is the Business Committee proposing that -- and they are very specific. It is not known to the House, said the Speaker. But the Business Committee is so sure that they have put it here. Can he explain it to us?
    Mr Agbesi 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we expect that the Report would reach the House for discussion; that is why we have programmed it. The House would rise on Wednesday, that is after the Appropriation Bill has been passed. Mr Speaker, if that is not done before we proceed on recess, it only means --
    Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    The point being made is that, if you have not received it, why have you programmed it? But look at the explanatory memorandum attached to the Business Statement, paragraph (3), it says “…may be presented to the House on Tuesday” -- “may be.” That is what they have captured.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes, I understand. But the point the Hon Ranking Member is raising is that they are specific on what is coming, which does not exist. That is the point -- the proposed formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to -- It is non existent. So, how does the Business Committee, knowing something like this, put it there for us to look at? What is happening to them? [Laughter.]
    Mr Agbesi 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are programming the work of Parliament and we expect that it would reach us before the day we have programmed.
    Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, the point being made is that, what you have programmed does not exist in law. So, why are you programming what does not exist in law? That is the point being made by Hon Dr Anane and Hon Dr Osei.
    Mr Agbesi 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the fact that the thing is not here does not mean that we cannot programme it -- [Laughter.] How?
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah noon
    Mr Speaker, whatever it is, something would come in respect of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which we will be dealing with. I am certain that is what the Business Committee intended to convey with this. So, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader, I am sure, understands the point. Whether it is subsidy, it is whatever, it is something relating to NHIS.
    Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul noon
    Mr Speaker, the Business Committee actually programmed the Statutory Funds --
    Mr Speaker noon
    I thought the Hon Member for Sekondi had resolved the matter?
    Mr Nitiwul noon
    Maybe, the wording could be excused, but obviously, something in respect of the NHIS would actually be there.
    Maj. Oduro (retd): Mr Speaker, I am surprised at the Hon Deputy Minority Leader and Hon Muntaka, the two of them have sat down for the Hon Deputy Majority Leader to be bombarded this way. This is because all of them were at the meeting. Look at how he has found himself in hot waters and they are all sitting down looking at him. So, I am surprised, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker noon
    Hon Member, you are out of order. You have just informed the House that you are a member of the Business Committee.
    Mr Justice J. Appiah noon
    Mr Speaker, I would be grateful if the Leadership would tell us the time of resuming. This is because it is not captured in the Business Statement.
    Mr Speaker noon
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, did you get the point? I did not get it.
    Prof. G. Y. Gyan-Baffour noon
    Mr Speaker, the point is that the Hon Member wanted to know when the House is coming back. That is in your bosom, it does not lie with them.
    Mr Speaker noon
    Hon Member, that is why at the conclusion they said that “the House is expected to rise sine die.”

    Hon Members, that brings us to the end of the consideration of the Business Statement for the ninth week.

    The Business Statement is accordingly adopted.

    Hon Members, I have admitted two commemorative Statements and we have agreed with Leadership that Statements would be made but no comments would be taken on them.

    One is on the World Tuberculosis Day and the second is on the World Water Day. So, I would start with the Hon Member for Offinso North to make the Statement.
    STATEMENTS noon
    Mr Collins A. Ntim (NPP -- Offinso North) noon
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to make a Statement on the menace of tuberculosis.
    Mr Speaker, 24th March each year has been designated as World Tuberculosis (TB) Day. World TB Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the burden of TB worldwide and the status of TB prevention and control efforts.
    Mr Speaker, World TB Day provides the opportunity for affected persons and
    Mr Speaker, 2013 is the second year of a two noon
    None

    Zero deaths from TB

    Universal access to TB care

    Faster treatment

    A quick, cheap, low-tech test

    An effective vaccine

    A world free of TB.

    Mr Speaker, we have entered the second year of the two-year “Stop TB in my lifetime” World TB Day campaign. At a time when partners are calling for zero TB deaths, we need to make a stronger statement that the world's failure to stop deaths from TB is outrageous.

    Mr Speaker, TB is airborne and it is fatal. World Health Organisation estimates that -- every day, four thousand (4,000) people lose their lives to TB. Mr Speaker, statistics about TB is horrendous. TB is among the top three causes of death for people aged 15 to 44.

    Mr Speaker, TB is an infectious disease that is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB primarily affects the lungs, but it can also affect organs in the central nervous system, lymphatic system, and circulatory system among others. The disease was called “consumption” in the past because of the way it would consume from within anyone who contracted it.

    Mr Speaker, when a person becomes infected with tuberculosis, the bacteria in the lungs multiply and cause pneumonia along with chest pain, coughing up blood, and a prolonged cough. In addition, lymph nodes near the heart and lungs become enlarged.

    Mr Speaker, as TB tries to spread to other parts of the body, it is often interrupted by the body's immune system. The immune system forms scar tissue or fibrosis around the TB bacteria and this helps fight the infection and prevents the disease from spreading throughout the body and parts of the body to other people.

    If the body's immune system is unable to fight TB or if the bacteria break through the scar tissue, the disease returns to an active state with pneumonia and damage to kidneys, bones, and the meninges that line the spinal cord and brain.

    Mr Speaker, TB is generally classified as either latent or active. Latent TB occurs when the bacteria are present in the body,

    but this state is inactive and presents no symptoms. Latent TB is not contagious. Active TB is contagious and in this condition, T. B. can make one sick with symptoms. TB is a major cause of illness and death worldwide, especially in Africa.

    Mr Speaker, when it comes to the spread of Tuberculosis, I can say that we are all at risk of course, including your, goodself. Mr Speaker, Offinso North Constituency, my own constituency used to have a zero prevalent rate. But now the insurgence is very outrageous. The disease is spreading from person to person through tiny droplets of infected sputum that travel through the air.

    Mr Speaker, let me pay glowing tribute to all health workers in Ghana for their efforts to curb the spread of TB. According to Dr Frank Bonsu, the TB control campaigner at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, health workers are at greater risk to contracting TB yet they do not have any risk allowance as part of their conditions of service.

    Mr Speaker, I was happy to learn from Dr Frank Bonsu, that his team of health personnel has put up a surveillance system to detect early cases for immediate attention and medication.

    Mr Speaker, in spite of the fact that the disease is highly contagious and all human beings are at a risk, funding to curb it has been very low with the exception of global fund and subsidies from the State, health workers have to struggle with inadequate facilities to help victims of the disease. The disease calls for series of tests at the hospital.

    Mr Speaker, Tuberculosis may be suspected on the basis of a chest X-ray test or pictures or a positive skin test that indicates exposure to the bacteria. Sputum examination for presence of the organism is a very strong evidence of the disease.
    Mr Speaker 12:10 p.m.
    Hon Member, thank you very much.
    Hon Member, a brief comment.
    Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah (NPP -- Berekum East) 12:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Statement made by my Hon Colleague from Offinso North.
    As my Hon Colleague said, tuber- culosis used to be a very deadly disease in Ghana but fortunately, since the National Tuberculosis Control Programme started its activities, Ghana has seen a drastic improvement in the management of tuberculosis.
    The infection rate of the disease has seen a drastic reduction from over 134 cases per a hundred thousand people in the year 2004 up to the current state of 86/ 100,000 people in the last count in the year 2010 and with the improved levels, the number is still reducing. However, there is a new disturbance coming from the insurgence of the HIV/AIDS disease. This is because of the fact that people with HIV/ AIDS have reduced immunity.
    There is a new phenomenon where people with the inactive form of tuberculosis are having reactivation of the disease and this is now leading to a gradual increase in the new cases of tuberculosis.
    It is our hope that the support from the HIV/AIDS Control Programme in screening all people of HIV/AIDS for tuberculosis will help to treat most of the people who get tuberculosis from HIV, so that we can still have the numbers coming down. Mr Speaker, there are still a lot of people who do not have a lot of education as far as how people are able to come into contact with tuberculosis.
    Mr Speaker, I would entreat the media and all agencies involved to continue with the education. People must know that we always have to have highly aerated rooms so that we do not put our rooms in a very stuffy nature, so that we will be able to have higher cases of tuberculosis.
    Secondly, people who cough for more than two weeks should try and see a doctor for them to be checked. There are instances whereby people have this disease but they would not seek a doctor's
    attention and by the time they get to a hospital, they are in an advanced state and they might have also infected a lot of people in their community. It is our hope that people in Ghana would become more alert and then through this, we can help reduce the incidence of tuberculosis in the country.
    With these few words, I support the Statement.
    Thank you for the opportunity.
    Mr Speaker 12:10 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon Member. Hon Member for Ada?
    World Water Day
    Mrs Comfort D. Cudjoe Ghansah (NDC -- Ada) 12:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am on my feet to make this Statement in commemoration of World Water Day.
    Today is World Water Day. It is time for us again to take a careful look at water and how essential it is to human existence. Water is so paramount that no living thing can do without it.
    Water bodies in this counrty are treated with no regard to their usefulness and without considering the unpleasant consequences our actions have on us.
    Our water bodies are heavily polluted and destroyed. Our dependence on water is immeasurable and cannot be glossed over.
    We depend on water in our daily chores. We use water for cultivation of crops; and fishes that our water bodies produce for our required protein intake cannot be over-looked.
    The destruction and neglect of Wasaku stream at Wasakuse in my constituency, Ada, has paralysed the town of Wasakuse.
    The dredging of Wasakuse stream, which I have recently initiated, is yielding positive results as life has returned to the town.
    Mr Speaker, it behoves all of us to protect our water bodies, and to do so, is to introduce punitive measures in our legal system.
    Mr Speaker, I end here by saying “no water, no life as water is life.”
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Statements.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, which Papers are ready to be laid -- All of them?
    Mr Agbesi 12:20 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker, all of them.
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Members, at the commencement of Public Business-- Presenation of Papers.
    Hon Members, item 5(a) by the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
    Mr Agbesi 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we seek your permission for a member of the Committee to lay the Paper as the Chairman is not available.
    PAPERS 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Item number 5(b) -- by the Chairman of the Special Budget Committee.
    Mr Agbesi 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I seek permission to lay it on behalf of the Chairman.
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Are you a member of the Committee?
    Mr Agbesi 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker -- [Pause.]
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, get a member of the Special Budget Committee to have it laid.
    Mr Agbesi 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Hon Michael C. Boampong, a member of the Committee will lay it on behalf of the Chairman.
    Mr Michael C. Boampong (on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee) --
    Report of the Special Budget Committee on the annual budget estimates of the Electoral Commission (EC) for the year ending 31st December, 2013.
    Report of the Special Budget Committee on the annual budget estimates of the Audit Service for the year ending 31st December,
    2013.
    Report of the Special Budget Committee on the Annual Budget Estimates of Parliament for the year ending 31st December, 2013.
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Item number 5(c )?
    Mr Agbesi 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, item 5(c ) is not ready at the moment.
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    That is why I asked you earlier whether all the Papers were ready and you said all --
    Mr Agbesi 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, that was the understanding at the beginning but now it has been found out that it is not ready.
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Anyway.
    BILLS -- FIRST READING 12:20 p.m.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I come under Order 75. I would want to know if sufficient copies are available for distribution.
    Mr Terkpeh 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have sufficient copies.
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Yes, I have been informed that there are sufficient copies.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:20 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr Agbesi 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we would want to seek your permission to take Motion 16 out of turn. Mr Speaker, the Minister for Transport is billed for an assignment in Brong Ahafo at 1.00 o'clock. So, we would want to seek your permission to take the Motion out of turn for her to go early.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if the Minister is trying to get there at 1.00 o'clock, she should go and come back on Monday. There is no point in trying to kill herself to get to Brong Ahafo at 1.00 o'clock. We would wait for her. How would she get there at 1.00 o'clock?
    If that is the reason the Hon Deputy Majority Leader is giving us, she would not get there at 1.00 o'clock. Mr Speaker, let us spare the Minister this ordeal of rushing to be in the Brong Ahafo Region at 1.00 o'clock, please.
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Are you the one who has mentioned 1.00 o'clock?
    Mr Agbesi 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes, she definitely has to go and do the programme and --
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Hon Members, let us start and see how it goes and if there is nothing controversial in the Report or in the estimates, then we take it. Let us start and see how it goes.
    ANNUAL ESTIMATES 12:20 p.m.
    Minister for Transport (Mrs Dzifa A. Attivor) 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢187,086,535 for the services of the Ministry of Transport and its agencies for the year ending 31st December, 2013.
    Some of the agencies are Ghana Railway Development Authority, Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana Airport Company Limited, Metro Mass Transit Limited, Ghana Technical Training Centre, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the National Road Safety Commission.
    Mr Speaker, in so doing, let me highlight the major expenditure of the Ministry and its subvented agencies for the year 2013 under the various budgetary items.
    Compensation -- GH¢5,687,717.00
    This is to meet the salaries and other emoluments for personnel of the Ministry and its subvented agencies.
    Goods and Services -- GH¢51,682,
    275.00
    This is to cover administrative, monitoring of projects and programmes and other expenses, as well as special projects such as the Volta Lake Enhancement Project.
    Assets -- GH¢129,716,543.00
    This will cover expenditure for infrastructural development of the sector, such as:
    reconstruction of the Sekondi- Takoradi sub-urban railway line which is ongoing;
    rehabilitation of railway stations along Asoprochona- Accra and Achimota- Nsawam Railway Lines;
    consultancy services for the reconstruction of the Western Railway Line;
    upgrade of the Tamale Airport for which Parliament approved US$100 million for the project;
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Michael C Boampong) 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion to approve the estimates of the Ministry of Transport for the 2013 fiscal year and in doing so, I present the Committee's Report.
    Introduction
    In fulfilment of article 179 of the 1992 Constitution, the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government for the 2013 financial year was presented to the House by the Minister for Finance on Tuesday, 5th March, 2013.
    In accordance with Orders 140 (4) and 189 of the Standing Orders of the House, the budget estimates of the Ministry of Transport were referred to the Committee for consideration and report.
    During the consideration of the Budget Estimates, the Committee met with the Hon Minister for Transport, Mrs Dzifa Attivor, the Chief Director of the Ministry, heads of agencies and key officials of the Ministry and the schedule officers from the Ministry of Finance.
    The agencies under the sector Ministry are as follows:
    (i) National Road Safety Commission.
    (ii) Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority.
    (iii)Government Technical Training Centre.
    (iv) Metro Mass Transit Ltd.
    (v) Inter-City Transport Company.
    (vi) Volta Lake Transport Company.
    (vii) Regional Maritime University.
    (viii) Ghana Shippers' Authority.
    (ix)Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.
    (x) PSC Tema Shipyard.
    (xi)Ghana Railway Development Authority.
    (xii) Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.
    (xiii) Ghana Maritime Authority.
    (xiv) Ghana Airports Company Ltd.
    The Committee appreciates the contributions made by the Hon Minister
    for Transport and officials who attended upon the Committee during the consideration of the budget estimates of the sector Ministry and lauds them for their co-operation.
    References
    The Committee used the underlisted as reference materials during its deli- berations:
    (i) The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
    (ii) The Standing Orders of Parlia- ment of Ghana.
    (iii)The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the 2013 financial year.
    (iv) The draft annual estimates of the Ministry of Transport for the 2013 financial year.
    (v) The report of the Committee on the 2012 estimates for the Ministry of Transport.
    Vision of the Ministry of Transport
    The vision of the Ministry of Transport is:
    “to create an integrated, modally complimentary, cost effective, safe, secure, sustainable and seamless transportation system responsive to the needs of society, supporting growth and poverty reduction and capable of establishing Ghana as a transportation hub of West Africa.”
    Mission Statement
    In order to realise the above vision, the Ministry's mission is to
    “provide leadership and guidance for the development of Ghana's transportation system through effective policy formulation, market regulation, asset management and service provision.”
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Michael C Boampong) 12:20 p.m.
    Policy objectives
    The Policy objectives of the Ministry of Transport are:
    (i) Establish Ghana as a transpor- tation hub for the West African sub-region.
    (ii) Create and sustain an efficient transport system that meets the user needs.
    (iii)Integrate land use, transport planning, development planning and service provision.
    (iv) Create a vibrant investment and performance-based management environment that maximises benefits for public and private sector investors.
    (v) Develop and implement a comprehensive and integrated policy, governance and institu- tional framework.
    (vi) Ensure sustainable development in the transport sector; and
    (vii) Develop adequate human resources and apply new technology.
    Performance in 2012 fiscal year
    Railway sub-sector
    The rehabilitation and extension of the Accra-Tema sub-urban railway line from Tema Harbour to Tema Japan Motors (Community 1) was completed and rail services made accessible to commuters.
    The rehabilitation of Sekondi-Takoradi railway line commenced while mainte-

    nance of existing lines were carried out in the neighbourhood of Achimota where a culvert has been constructed.

    The development of a Railway Master Plan is nearing completion. An interim report by the Consultants has been submitted to the Ministry.

    Aviation sub-sector

    The Phase III of the rehabilitation work at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) progressed. Work on a new bay to accommodate wide bodied aircraft continued.

    The Ministry held bilateral air service negotiations with eight countries including Botswana, Canada, Kuwait, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Australia, Lebanon, Yemen and Singapore.

    Besides, bilateral air service negotiations were also held with Mali while preparatory meetings had been held with Iran and South Africa.

    The number of international airlines operating to Ghana increased to 26 as the end of December, 2012.

    Maritime sub-sector

    The installation of a Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) to provide surveillance on our coast line and the Volta Lake commenced.

    To improve safety on the Volta Lake, people from the communities along the Lake were engaged for training as Life Guards. The number of Lifeguards increased from 2,300 in 2011 to 6,100 under the Volta Lake Enhancement Project.

    This has resulted in drastic reduction in the number of accidents on the Volta Lake. A contract for the award of the construction of four ferries was done and works are ongoing.

    Road Transport Services

    The National Road Safety Commission, implemented the Road Safety Strategy III (NRSS III). The emerging issues arising from the current road traffic crash data as a result of the use of motorcycles for hire and reward (the “Okada”), passenger empowerment and pedestrians' safety have been incorporated in the work plan.

    The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) commenced its programme of the digitisation of documents and this has resulted in reducing fake vehicle and driver licensing documents by 50 per cent.

    The Government Technical Training Centre (GTTC) continued with the training of students for the automobile industry. Fifty (50) GTTC students were put on the job training in motor firms while 300 commercial drivers and 476 corporate drivers were trained to enhance driver performance on our roads.

    Performance for 2012 (January - December)

    Summary of 2012 Budget: Releases and expenditure for the Ministry of Transport and its agencies.

    TABLE 1: Approved budget against disbursement for 2012 fiscal year

    SPACE FOR TABLE 1 - PAGE

    15 - 12.20P.M.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Michael C Boampong) 12:20 p.m.
    larger vessels so as to improve the turnaround time of vessels in the Port. The Project is ongoing and is expected to be completed by June, 2015.
    Takoradi Port Expansion Project
    The Takoradi Port expansion works which include oil service facilities to serve the supply vessels that ply the Rigs and an extension of the existing breakwater and construction of additional quay length to create additional harbour basin for the berthing of ships is underway. Construction work of a dedicated bulk cargo jetty for the handling of manganese, bauxite, cement and oil and reclamation of the sea to create operational areas for the oil and gas activities would be continued for completion by December,
    2015.
    Aviation sub-sector
    Kotoka International Airport (KIA) Terminal Building Expansion Project
    The KIA terminal expansion is part of the KIA Phase III Rehabilitation Project. The objective of the project is to among other things, increase the capacity of the airport to meet its passenger handling safety as well as security requirements in order to meet its operational demands. Among the detailed facilities to be provided and improved are:
    (a) A new enlarged departure hall.
    (b) A new concourse building to accommodate 6 (six) new boarding gates with holdrooms and boarding bridges.
    (c) Retail and concession spaces.
    (d) Airline lounges.

    (e) Expanded halls for arrival, immigration and baggage claim area.

    This project is estimated to cost US$200 million and would commence this year and expected to be completed by

    2015.

    Tamale Airport Upgrade Project

    Parliament recently approved US$100million for the rehabilitation and extension of the runway, as well as a Master Plan for the development of the airport.

    Major works at the existing facility would be undertaken in order to upgrade it into a fully-fledged international airport to serve as alternate airport to KIA.

    Kumasi Airport Rehabilitation Project

    The passenger throughput has increased significantly and therefore the airport needs expansion. Infrastructure works including the rehabilitation of the runway and installation of Aeronautical Ground Lighting (AGL) would be undertaken to make night operations possible.

    Road transport services sub-sector

    Establishment of a National Road Transport Authority (NRTA)

    A recent study identified the need to look holistically at the issue of road safety by considering the range of issues contributing to the current state of affairs.

    The establishment of a NRTA as a regulatory body for the road transport services sub-sector to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, safety, quality and overall affordability of road transport services in Ghana would be pursued.

    Acquisition of landed property for the Government Technical Training Centre

    (GTTC)

    Plans to acquire a landed property for the above-mentioned training centre are ongoing. Maximum efforts would be made this year to surmount problems bedevilling the land acquisition for the Centre.

    8.6 Implementation of the NRSS III

    The NRSC launched a ten (10) year National Strategy dubbed “the National
    Mr Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi (NPP -- Ejisu) 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to support this Motion.
    Mr Speaker, safety on our roads has been a concern of all including all Governments. And in spite of the efforts of the various Governments and the sectors that are related to safety on our roads, especially the National Road Safety Commission, carnage on our roads is still high. Averagely, we lose 2,000 people on our roads per year.
    Unfortunately Mr Speaker, the allocation for the NRSC , when you refer
    to page 2 of your Report, it is only GH¢1.45 million. Of course, there are some other funds that the NRSC gets from the Road Fund and some non-governmental organisations. Mr Speaker, at the meeting with the Ministry, the total is around GH¢5 million.
    Mr Speaker, but this becomes worrying when one compares this situation to the commitment of the Government in ensuring safety on the Volta Lake in the project that has been named “Volta Lake Enhancement Project”. Mr Speaker, this year, 2013 Budget, GH¢30 million has been allocated to that project. Last year, 2012
    Mr George K. Arthur 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, just to do some correction to a statement he made.
    He used the word “impounded”. That the Okada has impounded the challenges of the roads. It is “compounded”. Just to correct for the record.
    Mr Owusu-Aduomi 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I said “compounded”. [Interruption.] Al- though I did not attend Achimota School, I know it is “compounded”. [Laughter.]
    Mr Speaker, I believe the Government should have another look at the allocation to the Ministry of Transport. This is because there are a lot of infrastructural needs in terms of railways, in terms of aviation and also labour rationalisation of Ghana Railway Company.
    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity and asked my Hon Colleagues to support the Motion.
    Mr Theophilus Tetteh Chaie (NDC -- Ablekuma Central) 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to support Motion numbered 16, that this House approves the sum of GH¢187, 086,535.00 for the services of the Ministry of Transport for the year ending 31st December, 2013.
    Mr Speaker, the transport sector plays a very significant role in our socio- economic development as a nation.
    This year the sector brought a budget of GH¢358,390,582.00 and the Ministry approved a ceiling of GH¢187,086,535.00. We also have an extra budget which are in arrears in the sum of --
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague and dear Friend just said that the Ministry brought a budget of GH¢358 million and the Ministry of Finance gave them a ceiling. Mr Speaker, he is misleading this House. The President of the Republic of Ghana has approved GH¢187 million; the Minister is only conveying the message from the President. The Minister cannot usurp the powers of the Executive Presidency. So, please, correct yourself.
    Mr Chaie 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, let me move on; I would just ignore him. Mr Speaker, the railway sector is one area that as a country or as ministry, we really need to look at. If you look at the extra budget that the Ministry needs to support its activities properly, we have an issue here where we need a training vessel for the Regional Maritime University and this vessel is something that is actually needed by the Maritime University.
    They need an amount of GH¢10 million, outstanding payments of ticket refund for stranded Ghana International Airline passengers and these are huge challenges. An amount of GH¢2 million.
    Deferred payment of duties, taxes and GCNET charges for goods imported under the Government of India line of credit facility -- an amount of GH¢1,500,000. Outstanding arrears for wooden slippers supplied to the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL)-- an amount of GH¢944,152,000.74. Outstanding debts
    owed to GRCL, to GOIL, is GH¢33,053.71. Indebtedness to Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) -- GH¢2,592,846 and then the Road Safety and Traffic Management Project -- forty million Ghana cedis.
    Mr Speaker, there are a whole lot of arrears owed by the transport sector and once the Hon Minister for Finance is here, it is my appeal -- These are debts that expanse from the time of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government and so on and so forth and -- [Interruption.] Yes, that is it.
    Mr Speaker, in my view, the salaries of workers and the social security contributions of workers are very paramount. Most of them are getting to the age of retirement and these huge amounts need to be settled.
    As a country, we need to prioritise. We have numerous problems. But then we need to take the Ministries one by one and try as much as possible and solve some of the immediate needs of those Ministries.
    So Mr Speaker, once the Hon Finance Minister is here, I believe that, maybe, in the next Supplementary Budget, adequate resources should be provided for the Transport Ministry so that they can undertake their activities.
    Mr Kofi Brako (NPP -- Tema Central) 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, to support the Motion ably moved by the Hon Minister for Transport.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Transport as we all know, is a very important Ministry as far as the nation is concerned. This nation at the moment is at the low middle income group.
    Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Hon Members -- Hon Minister, do you want to wind up or I should -- Do you want to do a winding up?
    Mrs Ativor 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to thank Hon Members for their positive contributions.
    I have taken note of the issues concerning our road safety as compared to the safety on our lakes. I have also taken note of the positive comments as far as the rail infrastructure is concerned because without that we cannot attain our middle-income status.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry has already initiated a programme to remove the illegal charges that are taking place at the ports.
    On that note, I thank the Honourable House for its support.
    Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Hon Members, that brings us to the end of the debate. I will put the Question now.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved:
    That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢187, 086,535.00 for the services of the Ministry of Transport for the year ending 31st December, 2013
    ANNUAL ESTIMATES 12:40 p.m.
    Minister for Food Agriculture (Mr Clement C. Humado) 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢292,479,722 for the services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the year ending 31st December, 2013.
    In so doing, Mr Speaker, I would like to give some highlights on the performance of the sector in 2012 and then move quickly to the programme and budget for 2013.
    Mr Speaker, the agricultural sector performed creditably in the year 2012 and posted positive growth rates for the sector and all the sub-sectors except forestry and logging.
    The crops and the livestock sub- sectors posted positive growth rates and these have contributed immensely to the food security needs of the country during the year 2012. Surpluses in roots and tuber sub-sectors are now being channelled as raw materials into industry.
    Mr Speaker, progress was also made on the distribution of subsidised fertilizers as well as the revival of the cotton industry, the improvement in the seed base of agriculture as well as irrigation and the setting up of agricultural mechanisation centres and the implementation of the Youth in Agriculture Programme.
    I would like to move now to the outlook and strategies for 2013. For 2013, there has been a slight change in the structure of the Ministry. The Fisheries Directorate has been hived off and ceded as a separate Ministry and that has left two sub-sectors under the control of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture namely, the food crops and the livestock sub- sectors.
    Therefore, this year, our strategic focus will be on increasing food production to ensure national food security, provide raw materials to feed agro industry and also to contribute towards export and foreign exchange earnings.
    The target crops for this year are rice, maize, soya, sorghum and millet as well as cotton. Particularly for rice, we are now
    Minister for Food Agriculture (Mr Clement C. Humado) 12:40 p.m.


    aiming this year to achieve 65 per cent of the domestic demand in order to reduce the volumes imported annually.

    Mr Speaker, we will also continue with the subsidised fertilizer distribution and we are targeting a total of 180,000 metric tonnes for distribution this year as well as reviewing the mechanisms of distribution to ensure efficiency and to reduce abuses.

    Mr Speaker, under irrigation, we will initiate the Accra Plains Irrigation Project by the end of this year, as well as continuing the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes that were started last year especially in the Fumbisi Valley and also in the lower Volta area, east of the Volta and other schemes in the Greater Accra and Volta Regions. We would also continue with the establishment of Agricultural Mechanization Service Centres (AMSECs) in the remaining districts in the country.

    Finally, we have also programmed to work on the legal framework to support and regulate the private sector as well as programmes and projects being undertaken by the public sector. We are targeting the enactment of the Seed Policy and Commodity Exchange Bill, which will eventually lead to the establishment of the commodity exchange by the end of the year.

    Mr Speaker, we also programme to open up opportunities for credit facilities for the private sector through the Export Development and Agricultural Invest- ment Fund (EDAIF) as well as the out- grower value chain fund.

    In conclusion, I beg to move, that the sum of GH¢292,479,722 be approved for the operations of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and its agencies for the year ending 31st December, 2013.

    Question proposed.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Ahmed Y. Alhassan) 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion ably moved by the Hon Minister for Food and Agriculture.
    Introduction
    The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2013 financial year was presented to Parliament, by the Minister for Finance, Hon Seth Terkpeh, on Tuesday, 5th March 2013 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.
    Pursuant to Orders 140 (4) and 176 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, the Speaker, referred the draft Estimates of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs for consideration and report to the House.
    Deliberations
    The Committee met on the 18th and 19th March, 2013 and discussed the draft Estimates. Present at the meetings were the Hon Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Clement Kofi Humado, the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr M. T. Abisa-Seidu and the Directors, Co- ordinators and representatives of the 23 directorates and departments of the Ministry.
    The Committee extends its appreciation and gratitude to the Hon Minister and his staff for their input during the deliberations.
    Reference
    The Committee referred to the following documents during its delibera- tions.
    i. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
    ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament.
    iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2013 financial year;
    iv. The 2012 annual budget estimates of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
    Mission Statement
    The mission of the Ministry of Agriculture is to promote sustainable agriculture and thriving agri-business through research and technology development, effective extension and other support services to farmers, fishermen, processors and traders for improved human livelihood.
    Review of performance for 2012
    Livestock sub-sector
    A Livestock Demonstration Centre was established at Weija during the year under review and about 5,000 small-scale farmers received training and livestock production technologies from the Centre. In addition, 5,687 brooded cockerels were raised and distributed to 250 farmers at a subsidized rate in 25 districts in the Ashanti and Brong- Ahafo Regions.
    A total of 1,884 of breeding stock of sheep, cattle, pigs, rabbits and goats were also supplied to 1,500 farmers to increase productivity. Further to the above, 100 grandparent pigs were also imported for multiplication and distributed to pig farmers across the country.
    Crop sub-sector
    During the year under review, 44,000 cashew clones were produced for cultivation in 2,500 new cashew farms.
    Within the same year, 28,297 farmers produced 13,790 mt of seed cotton and 5,383 mt of lint. A total of 118 acres made up of 108 of cassava and 10 acres of sweet potato were established as community demonstration/multiplication sites in 64 districts in all the regions.
    The construction and refurbishment of a Biotechnology Laboratory at the Crop Research Institute (CRI), Fumesua, in Kumasi was completed. New equipment and screen houses were also provided to a number of Institutes under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CS1R) under the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP).
    Fertilizer and Seed Subsidy Programme
    The Ministry also recorded significant success under the fertilizer and seed subsidy programme. In all 300,000 farmers benefitted from 170,000 mt of fertilizer and 20,000 kg of improved seeds of maize, rice and soybean.
    Agricultural mechanization
    In addition, an average of five (5) tractors with matching implements, maize shelters and water pumps were provided the Agricultural Engineering Services Centres throughout the country. One hundred and fifty (150) units of 50HP Cabrio compact tractors were imported and distributed to smallholder farmers.
    Also, 400 tractor and combine harvester operators were trained in proper handling, operation and maintenance of machinery and equipment. To enhance value addition and also reduce post- harvest losses in tomato value chain, the Ministry established a tomato-processing factory in Techiman in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
    Extension services
    During the year under review, 111 community demonstration sites for root and tuber crops were established in 64 districts in the 10 regions. In addition,
    170 Farmer Based Organisations (FBO) were sensitised, trained and clustered along the agricultural value chain to form district networks in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West and Brong-Ahafo Regions.
    Irrigation development
    According to the Ministry, Phase II of the rehabilitation works on the Tono Irrigation Scheme was about 90 per cent complete as at the end of December, 2012. This brought current irrigable land under the scheme to l,850 ha. Rehabilitation works on the Tanoso, Weir and Ave Afiaden-yigba projects were also completed resulting in an additional 84 ha of arable land available to farmers at these irrigation sites.
    Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP)
    A number of activities were executed under the above Programme. A total of 45,000 ha of land was cultivated in 2012 out of which 210,000 mt of grains was produced. In addition, 450 youth were trained in aquaculture and 50 floating cages constructed and ready for distribution to 250 youth in six (6) districts namely, South Tongu, Krachi East, South Dayi, Upper Manya Krobo, Lower Manya Krobo and Fanteakwa. One million (1,000,000) fingerlings were also distributed to 1,000 young fish farmers. In the same year, 500 youth were trained in pig and poultry production.
    Outlook for 2013 fiscal year
    Some of the planned programmes and activities of the Ministry for 2013 are as follows:
    Irrigation development
    The Ministry will commence the implementation of the Accra Plains Irrigation Project covering an area of ll,000 ha. Work will also commence on the construction of four (4) dams at Mprumen in the Central Region and at Koori, Zuedem and Tankasa in the Builsa District of the Upper East Region. Feasibility studies will be undertaken on the design
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Ahmed Y. Alhassan) 1 p.m.
    expressed concern about the arrangement considering the fact that Ghana has the resources and the required varieties to produce enough yellow maize for local consumption and possibly for export. The Committee therefore recommends that as a matter of priority, the Ministry institute policy measures to encourage farmers to produce yellow maize locally.
    Extension services delivery
    The Committee was informed that the extension service officer-to-farmer ratio in the country currently stands at 1:1500 as against the global standard of 1: 500. This implies the country needs to triple its current extension staff strength in order to meet the global requirement. The inadequate number of Extension Officers, coupled with lack of logistics such as vehicles, poses a serious challenge in providing extension services to farmers across the country. The Committee recommends that efforts be made to train and engage more extension officers.
    Ageing of MoFA Staff
    The Committee was informed that about 50 per cent of MoFA Staff in the three northern regions are due to retire within the next two (2) years. The Committee found this situation quite alarming and recommends that as a matter of urgency, the Ministry should commence the process of filling the vacancies when they fall due.
    The Ministry should also improve on its succession planning and human resources deployment to ensure that a greater percentage of staff do not retire at the same.
    Sustenance of donor funded projects
    The Committee noted that there were a number of donor funded Projects under the Ministry that were at various stages of completion. The Committee however observed that many donor-funded projects fail when they are handed over to the respective Ministr ies after completion. The Committee was assured by the Hon Minister for Food and Agriculture and his staff that the Ministry would put in place measures to ensure that the gains from the projects are sustained after the handing over.
    Application of standard grading and weighing systems
    The Committee observed that in spite of the development of standards for grading and weighing of agricultural commodities, the application of the standards were not encouraging. The Committee therefore recommends that MoFA, in collaboration with relevant bodies should enforce the standards as best practice that enhance commodity trade and agri-business transactions.
    5.10 Low publicity by the Ministry
    The Committee noted that awareness creation by the Ministry on showcasing its activities and products to farmers and the public was quite low. For instance, it was observed that the CSIR and Agriculture Faculties/Departments in the various universities have developed improved varieties of crops but farmers rarely knew about these developments.
    The Committee recommends that the Ministry steps up its public relations efforts to create awareness amongst farmers, the general public and the rest of the world, on these products.
    Capacity of Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate (PPMED)
    It was reported that the capacity of the PPMED to develop, implement and monitor the Ministry's policies was quite low. The Committee believes that achieving the sector goals set out in the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA) as well as other development frameworks such as the Medium-Term Agriculture Sector Investment Plan (METASIP) is dependent largely on the effectiveness of PPMED.
    The Committee, therefore, recom- mends that as a matter of priority, the Ministry should take steps to build the capacity of the Directorate to effectively deliver on its mandate.
    Conclusion
    The Committee has thoroughly scrutinised the budget estimates of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for 2013 fiscal year and was of the view that subject to the recommendations above, the policies and programmes outlined for the year could achieve the sector goals set out in the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA) and the Medium-Term Agricultural Sector Investment Plan (METASIP).
    The Committee accordingly recom- mends to the House to adopt this Report and approve the total sum of two hundred and nine-two million, four hundred and seventy-nine thousand, seven hundred and twenty-two Ghana cedis (GH¢292,479,722) to enable the sector undertake its planned programmes and activities for the year 2013.
    Respectfully submitted.

    Ranking Member of the Committee (Dr Owusu A. Akoto): Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion which is before us, and in doing so, I have a few comments to make.

    Mr Speaker, last week, using this platform, I drew your attention and that of the House's to the fact that, the growth in agriculture in this country is not satisfactory, especially it is lagging behind the economic growth of the country as a whole. Over the last five to six years, if you look at the figures, it is very obvious that the under performance in agriculture is something that needs to be tackled in order to accelerate growth to the level that would be able to fulfill the objectives set for the sector.

    Mr Speaker, the figure of GH¢292 million which has been allocated to the sector this year, is, in my opinion, not enough to be able to bring the growth of agriculture, not even to the level of the target set in the Medium-Term Agriculture Sector Investment Plan (METASIP), which is the framework within which we are developing agriculture in this country.

    METASIP has a growth target of six per cent and Mr Speaker, this target has not been achieved in the last three, four years. And not only that, even the budget's own target of 4.9 per cent for this year falls below the METASIP with six per cent.

    I do not even believe, Mr Speaker, that the 4.9 per cent would be achieved given the meagre resources which have been allocated to agriculture. What makes it worse Mr Speaker, is, if you go to page 6, paragraph 5.2 “Fertilizer and Seed Subsidy” with your permission, I beg to quote from the Committee's Report:
    Mr Bright E. K. Demordzi (NDC -- Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro) 1 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion on the floor. Mr Speaker, I would like to make some few comments with regard to the Report of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs.
    Mr Speaker, the first one is with regard to the performance of the agriculture Sector. It is a fact that there is a reduction in the performance of the agriculture Sector with regard to the target set in the METASIP. But the point is that, if you look at the details, the sub-sector, the fall in the performance of the sector is due to the reduction in the forestry sub-sector which is about 18 per cent. But the crop
    sector, which is key, has improved tremendously. That is about 5 per cent -- The crop sector as projected has increased by 5 per cent. So, it is not as if the agriculture sector is not performing per se, but there are some problems with regard to the forestry sector, which is causing the reduction in the performance of the agriculture sector.
    Mr Speaker, with regard to the fertilizer subsidy, from 2008, the Government of Ghana started implementing the policy on fertilizer and that has increased tremendously. In 2008, about 42,000 metric tonnes of fertilizers have been subsidised. And as at December, 2012, 170,000 metric tonnes of fertilizers have been subsidised in this country and that shows a tremendous increase from 42,000 to 170,000 metric tonnes and it has reached over 300,000 farmers in this country.
    That is a significant improvement with regard to the policy of subsidising fertilizers for our farmers in this country.
    Mr Speaker, fertilizers have not only been subsidised but in 2012, the seed component was added as well and this has improved the performance of the agriculture sector with regard to the food crop sub-sector. If you look at the fertilizer application rate across Africa, Ghana is one of the lowest.
    For example, fertilizer application rate in Ghana is about 8 kilogram per hectare, while in the sub-Sahara Africa and Latin America, they are talking about 99 kilogram per hectare. What it means is that, we are far below the international standard with regard to fertilizer application in this country.
    That is why it is very imperative that the Government must find a way of increasing the fertilizer application rate in order to increase the yield of agriculture in this country.
    Mr Speaker, from 2009 up to today, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has increased the agricultural mechanization from zero to eighty- four in 62 districts of this country. Generally, from 2007, about 2,500 farmers per tractor but with the setting up of agricultural mechanization centres, as we speak now --
    Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon Member, move to the estimates --
    Mr Demordzi 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is clear that the NDC Government is really putting agriculture ahead -- [Interruptions]
    Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon Member, conclude.
    Mr Demordzi 1:10 p.m.
    I will conclude by saying that one of the key issues with regard to the agriculture sector is the setting up of special laboratory for testing of pesticides and other chemicals. I am appealing to the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Food and Agriculture --
    Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon Member, you have spoken enough about the general policies in the budget.
    Mr Demordzi 1:10 p.m.
    In that regard, I wish to urge the House to support the estimates of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
    Thank you for the opportunity Mr Speaker.
    Mr William Agyepong Quaittoo (NPP -- Akim Oda) 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion on the floor.
    Mr Speaker, the GH¢292.5 million proposed for the running of the activities of the Agriculture Ministry has already been touted to be too small, looking at the rate at which agriculture is declining in this country. Mr Speaker, out of this budget, it is gratifying to note that only 45.7 per cent is coming from GoG, that is Government of Ghana -- A whopping 46.7
    Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon Member, this House does not approve money in terms of estimates for the Ghana Cocoa Board.
    Mr Quaittoo 1:10 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker. But I will like to make some few comments on cocoa.
    Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon Member, the estimate does not relate to cocoa. This is about estimates to the various sectors. So, if the estimates do not cover a particular sector, it will not be relevant to the debate.
    Mr Quaittoo 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, what if I quote from the Budget Statement?
    Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon Member, we have estimates to specific MDAs, the amounts which are the subject matter of the Motion is for specific areas and the COCOBOD is not one of the agencies that we are making appropriation to and therefore, it cannot be brought in because it would not be relevant to the debate.
    Mr Quaittoo 1:10 p.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker.
    Mr Joe K. Gidisu 1:10 p.m.
    On a point of order.
    My Hon Colleague is still leaving in the illusion; he was the immediate past Special Assistant to the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, so he is still living with that illusion; he thinks that it should be brought here -- [Interruptions] -- Was he not the Special Assistant to the Chief Executive?
    Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon Gidisu, the Hon Member is a new Member of the House and he asked for permission to make contribution on the cocoa sector and I told him that the appropriation does not relate to the cocoa sector and therefore, the matter should end there. You cannot impugn an improper motive to the Hon Member. Hon Gidisu, withdraw that.
    Mr J. K. Gidisu 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, for that ignorance on his part, I withdraw it.
    Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    You seem to know the Hon Member very well?
    Mr J. K. Gidisu 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, very well.
    Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon Member, continue.
    Mr Quaittoo 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Speaker, unfortunately, I am not the immediate past Special Assistant to the Chief Executive of Ghana COCOBOD -- [Interruptions.] I was sent out of that office some two years ago but I served in that office before. I resigned from COCOBOD to be in Parliament -- [Hear! Hear!]
    Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Colleague, the Hon Joe Gidisu made a statement and you called on him to withdraw it. Then he comes with an even more serious indictment, that for the ignorance of the Hon Member, he with- draws the statement. Mr Speaker, --
    Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Did he use the word “ignorance”?
    Several Hon Members: Yes, he did!
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
    This is not acceptable.
    Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon Member for Central Tongu, did you use the word “ignorance”?
    Mr J. K. Gidisu 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, for not knowing the procedure --
    Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Did you use that word? Hon Member, please, withdraw it and apologise to him.
    Mr J. K. Gidisu 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I withdraw it.
    Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    You cannot refer to a Member of the House as ignorant. Withdraw it and apologise to him -- [Interruptions.] Hon Member, I did not hear you use that word. If I had heard you, I would have immediately called you to order. Hon Member, you have with- drawn it. Have you apologised?
    Several Hon Members: No!
    Mr Speaker Apologise! Hon Member, apologise, please.
    Mr J. K. Gidisu 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is withdrawn with the accompanying apology.
    Mr Quaittoo 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, let us take a look at yellow maize production in Ghana. Last year, the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) imported yellow
    maize for the consumption of poultry farmers in Ghana. Mr Speaker, I believe strongly that this should not be the mandate of NAFCO. In the sense that NAFCO is always crying for space in their stock houses and so, if it should spend Ghana Government's money, which of course, is a private company, to import yellow maize for use by farmers, I think that the prices will be way above what the farmers can afford.
    We are proposing that yellow maize be considered as one of the maize that will be grown in Ghana, so that it becomes cheaper than we realised in 2010 up to 2012. Mr Speaker, let me also talk a little about fertilizer distribution --
    Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    And then you move to estimates.
    Mr Quaitoo 1:20 p.m.
    Yes, I am on the estimates.
    Mr Speaker, fertilizer distribution alone in Ghana, last year, we spent over US$50 million importing fertilizer, which amounts to almost GH¢100 million. This year, it is going to be the same.
    Fertilizer does not really get to the farmers at the grassroot level. Formally, we were using the coupon system in distributing the fertilizer but now, what we are doing is invoicing.
    By invoicing, the invoices are given to private companies; they send this fertilizer to the regional and district levels and it is left there. The farmer is expected to take a car from his village to the district or regional level to pick the fertilizer.
    Mr Speaker, at that level, once the fertilizer is left there, it becomes anybody's business. So, the subsidy that we are talking about does not really get to the
    Mr Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, conclude.
    Mr Quaittoo 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister realising that the budget proposed for him is woefully inadequate, he mentioned that the budget for fertilizer was so huge that they are thinking about cutting some budgetary areas to make way for other activities to be taken. The advice is that the budget for fertilizer should not be touched because it is only by fertilizing our farms that we can get our production increased.
    On this note, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the debate.
    Mr Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon Member.
    Before I put the Question, I want to find out if the Hon Minister would want to wind up, briefly.
    Mr Humado 1:20 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    First of all, I would want to thank the House for the very interesting debate on the Motion. Very relevant key issues have been raised and we will take them on board as a Ministry and try to incorporate them into our programmes for this year.
    On the issue of growth rate, it has already been explained; what remains within the Ministry now, is food crops and livestock. And I would want to assure the House, that the Ministry would do all it can to ensure positive growth rate for this sub-sector.
    We shall also work with the other Ministries -- Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the new Ministry of Fisheries and Aquacultural Development to ensure that positive growth rate are posted in these sectors as well.
    On the budget, I have listened very attentively to my Hon Colleague from Kwadaso and the issues that he raised, we will take them on board. We have already discussed that at the Committee level and we are finding the alternative options for financing fertilizer subsidies and also subsidies on seeds.
    The yellow maize issue - It was imported last year to reduce the pressure on white maize but we are reviewing the operations of NAFCO to ensure that they are cost-effective and efficient.
    I would like to assure the House that all the comments that have been made would be taken on board and I thank them for the very keen debate that has ensued following the Motion.
    I thank them also for supporting the Motion, that the sum indicated would be approved for the operations of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the year ending 31st December, 2013.
    Mr Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Members, that brings us to the debate.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved:
    That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢292,479,722 for the services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the year ending 31st December, 2013.
    Mr Agbesi 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, most of the reports are at the printing stages now --
    Mr Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Some indication from Leadership; you know there was an understanding?
    Mr Agbesi 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we want to suspend Sitting for one hour for the House go into Committee of the Whole.
    Mr Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Members, the House is suspended for one hour. We will come back exactly at 2.30 p.m. prompt.
    Hon Members, thank you very much.
    1.25p.m. -- Sitting suspended.
    4.30 p.m. -- Sitting resumed.
    MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Members, item 8, Minister for Education.
    ANNUAL ESTIMATES 1:20 p.m.
    Mrs Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang (Minister for Education) 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honorable House approves the sum of GH¢4,412,695,383 for the services of the Ministry of Education for the year ending 31st December, 2013.
    Mr Speaker, the amount is required to be disbursed to the Ministry's activities in respect of the following:
    Compensation.
    Goods and services.
    Assets; and social intervention programme
    Mr Speaker, the sector will implement its programmes through the three main agencies. Here there are:
    The Ghana Education Service for pre-tertiary programmes,
    the Ghana National Council for Tertiary Education; and
    the Non-Formal Education Division which is charged with the responsibility of functional literacy programmes.
    Other implementing agencies include the following:
    National Service Secretariat;
    Ghana Library Board, Ghana Book Development Council;
    the National Commission for
    UNESCO;
    National Inspectorate Board;
    the West African Examination Council and a few others.
    The amount when approved by this august House, will facilitate the implementation of the Ministry's key objectives and programmes. These are to increase equitable access to education, improve, quality of teaching and learning, bridge the gender gap in access to education, increase access to persons with disabilities and as well improve the management of education delivery and deepen accountability.
    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I wish to beg the august House to approve the amounts submitted.
    Thank you very much.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Chairman?
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Mathias A. Puozaa) 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion ably moved by the Hon Minister for Education. With your permission, I will read out— [Interrup- tion]
    Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh — rose—
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Member for Sunyani East, do you have a point of order?
    Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of quorum.
    We require one-third of our membership to be able to do business. I have checked, we need 91 Members for business to continue. We are less than than 91 in the Chamber at the moment. So, I rise to seek your direction in that respect.
    Thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, what order are you coming under?
    Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Standing Order number 48, if 1 may read it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    1 will be very grateful if you read it.
    Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it reads:
    “Standing Order 48 (1). The presence of at least one-third of all the Members of Parliament beside the person presiding shall be necessary to constitute the quorum of the House.”
    “48 (I). If at the time of sitting a Member takes notice or objection that there are present in the House, beside the person presiding, less than one-third of the number of all the Members of Parliament, and after an interval of ten minutes a quorum is not present, the person presiding shall adjourn the House without Question put until the next Sitting day.”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    The time is 4.28 p.m. Standing Order 48 (2) gives us ten minutes. The bell should be rung and at 4.38 p.m. if we still do not have a quorum, I shall adjourn the House without Question. The time is 4.28 p.m. we give ourselves up to 4.38 p.m. I think I can hear the bell being rung.

    Hon Chairman, continue.
    Mr Puozaa 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I continue
    with my assignment.
    Markin — rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, do you have a point of order?
    Mr Afenyo- Markin 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes
    -- 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Under order?
    Mr Afenyo- Markin 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, under Standing Order 93 (2) with respect.
    Mr Speaker, 91
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    91 what? What is your point of order?
    Mr Markin 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, 91 (a).
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    What is your point of order?
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with respect, the Hon Chairman says that he is supporting the Motion. I would want to know whether he is supporting or seconding because he said he was supporting.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, Hon Chairman proceed. “Support”, “second”, it is semantics.
    Hon Chairman, proceed.
    Mr Puozaa 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Education has been allocated a total amount of GH¢4,412,695,383 for its programmes and activities for the year 2013.
    Introduction
    The Hon Minister for Finance, Mr. Seth E.Terkpeh presented the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2013 financial year to Parliament on Tuesday, 5th March, 2013 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution. Pursuant to Order 140 (4) of the Standing Orders of the House, the Speaker referred the annual budget estimates of the Ministry of Education to the Committee on Education for consideration and report.
    The Committee subsequently met with the Hon Minister for Education, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and her technical team on Monday, 18th March, 2013 and considered the referral.
    The Committee is grateful to the Hon Minister and her technical team for their co-operation.
    Reference documents
    The Committee referred to the following documents during its delibe- rations:
    i. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
    ii. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.
    iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Govern- ment of Ghana for the 2012 financial year.
    iv. The 2012 annual budget estimates of the Ministry of Education.
    v. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2013 financial year.
    vi. Ghana Education Trust Fund Act, 2000 (Act 581).
    vii. Ghana National Service Scheme Act, 1980 (Act 426).
    viii. National Council for Tertiary Education Act, 1993 (Act 454).
    Mission Statement
    The Ministry exists to formulate and implement policies that would ensure quality and accessible education to all Ghanaians to meet the needs of the labour market, and accelerate the acquisition and equipping of all Ghanaians with requisite skills to achieve human development, good health, poverty reduction, national integration and international recognition.
    Implementing departments and agencies
    The policies and programmes of the Ministry are implemented by the following departments and agencies:
    a. Ghana Education Service (GES).
    b. National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE).
    c. Centre for Distance Learning and Open Schools (CENDLOS).
    UNESCO 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Agbesi 4:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is a House of records. If he is making a statement, it must be supported and backed. Where is his evidence? Could he back it? He should not say “go and check”. Go where? He should give us the basis upon which he is making his statement, then everything would move on.
    Mr Owusu-Boateng 4:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think the Deputy Majority Leader is somebody in Government. If they have distributed exercise books in the past four years, then he should also --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, the onus does not lie on the person who is challenging the accuracy of your information to prove, the onus lies on you who is alleging to prove and the manner in which you prove in this House is by stating the source, and if it is possible, if it is a document, by laying it on the Table. So, I think that he asked you a reasonable question. What is your source?
    Mr Owusu-Boateng 4:40 p.m.
    Thank you, Sir.
    My source is Educational Management Information Systems. They have been compiling information for the Ministry of Education so far --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    What is “Educational Management Information System”? What is that, with respect?
    Mr Owusu-Boateng 4:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Educational Management Information Systems (EMIS) is the official compiler of statistics for the Ministry of Education and that is the source that I am quoting from.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, so, you mean that the report of EMIS, do you have the page number and the year, or is it the whole report, if you can help us?
    Mr Owusu-Boateng 4:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the current one. I do not remember the page number but the current one --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, I think that since this is a House of record, let us do the honourable thing and exclude that part.
    Mr Owusu-Boateng 4:40 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker. I exclude that portion.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Which portion is that?
    Mr Owusu-Boateng 4:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the fact that school textbooks have not been distributed since --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Thank you, continue.
    He has excluded that portion. Is it acceptable to you Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr Agbesi 4:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have no problem if he is withdrawing that portion -- [Interruption]
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Deputy Majority Leader, sorry, please -- I am speaking to the Deputy Majority Leader and getting answers from the Back- benchers, is not acceptable.
    Deputy Majority Leader, is it accept- able to you?
    Mr Agbesi 4:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he has withdrawn the statement, so, it is acceptable to me.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Thank you.
    Will you proceed?
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Acting Minority Leader, do you have a point of order?
    Mr Awuah 4:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is just to remind you that you gave us ten minutes for the -- [Interruption] -- Mr Speaker, fortunately, in the Chamber, we have a clock there and when you mentioned ten minutes, I looked at it and now, the ten minutes have past.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Hon Acting Minority Leader, as you can see, I wear glasses, and so, the clock up there, even with the best of efforts, I cannot see. There is another clock here which I am looking at, so, do not worry.
    Hon Member, would you proceed?
    Mr Owusu-Boateng 4:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, affordability at the secondary level is increasingly becoming difficult for most children in this country. The reason is that the range for current school fees for 2012/2013 academic year in this country ranges from GH¢500.00 to GH¢800.00 per term for a boarding school student --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, I think that now, you would be going to conclude. But your last statement as well; what is the source?
    Mr Owusu-Boateng 4:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think it is common knowledge, school fees -- [Interruption] -- I pay bills every term for students and if anybody who knows [Interruption] -- School bills range from GH¢500.00 to GH¢800.00, except that people do not want to face up with the truth -- [Interruption] -- The source is school bills. If you have children in secondary schools, you would know that every child pays between GH¢300.00 and
    Mr Kwasi A. Gyan-Tutu 4:40 p.m.
    On a point of order.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague is clearly misleading this august House and we would want him to withdraw the statement. As a matter of fact, he is alleging that if you have a child, you would know this. What about if I do not have a child? We are just asking a simple question for him to give us the source. If he does not have the source he should please, honourably withdraw it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, let me rule on this matter.
    As the Deputy Majority Leader is well aware, there are some matters in court for example, which do not demand further explanation; they are what we call notorious facts. For example, if I say that there is an Independence Square in Ghana, in court, I would not have to lead evidence to prove that there is an Independence Square.
    According to the contributor, he says that boarding fees are GH¢300.00 to GH¢500.00 and the other Hon Member said that what if he did not have a child? I thought he was going to say he had a child the fees are different because he is saying that anybody who has a child knows that school fees are within this -- I think this is a notorious fact. Unless you have other information, then we should just proceed, please.
    Let us proceed fast. I am doing something. I am managing something here. So, let us try and proceed fast.
    Thank you. Please, continue.
    Mr Owusu-Boateng 4:40 p.m.
    So school fees are high and children are finding it difficult to pay.
    Mr Speaker, another issue that I would want to touch on is the ten training colleges that the Government intends to build --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, we are talking about the estimates; this is not about policy. I know that you have so much very good information, so I would take your last but one point, then you conclude.
    Mr Owusu-Boateng 4:40 p.m.
    Well, three of the schools would be built with a budget each of GH¢2.6 million and I think it is very inadequate. Mr Speaker, GH¢2.6 million is most unlikely to put up a very good teacher training college when we have space to get much more students admitted in the existing 38 training colleges that --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    So, in conclusion --
    Mr Owusu-Boateng 4:40 p.m.
    In conclusion -- Well, somebody has given me a copy of school fees --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    I have ruled in your favour as far as school fees are concerned.
    Mr Owusu-Boateng 4:50 p.m.
    So, in conclusion we should support the budget -- [Interruption.]
    Mr Agyeman-Manu 4:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, on a point of information.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:50 p.m.
    Hon Member, are you yielding to Hon Agyeman-Manu?
    Mr Owusu-Boateng 4:50 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:50 p.m.
    When you yield to him, I will not take you again. Do you agree? And Hon Agyeman-Manu this is not the chance for you to contribute; just on that point of your information, very quickly, then we know what to do.
    Mr Agyeman-Manu 4:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am just giving information; school fees. This is a bill from Presbyterian Senior High School, Berekum. Mr Speaker, the name of the student on this bill is “Osei Agyemang Paul”, General Arts 1, Senior High School form 2. Among the fees -- [Interruption.]
    Mr Agbesi 4:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am on my feet on a point of order, on relevance. What is the relevance of what he is reading to the debate on the floor? We are considering the estimates of the Ministry of Education. He is reading the bill of a student of a certain school. Mr Speaker, that is not relevant to the estimates of the Ministry of Education.
    Mr Agyeman-Manu 4:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, what I am doing is to support my Hon Colleague to provide the source of the assertion that school fees are high, and they are high. And I think I have the privilege to do so.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:50 p.m.
    Hon Acting Minority Leader?
    Mr Awuah 4:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think the issue raised by my Hon Member from Tain was that the Hon Member -- What is the name of the constituency? [Interruption] -- That he should support his assertion that school fees are high with figures and documentation. And indeed, that is what Hon Agyeman-Manu is doing. So, what

    Hon Agyeman-Manu is doing is not totally out of line in terms of what we are doing here, because the point of order was made on the point raised by the Hon Member.
    Mr Agbesi 4:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I raised a point of relevance on the basis if you say school fees are high, the word “high” and the word low are relative. You can never get school fees at any year at any time being the same. So, you cannot get up and say school fees are high. What are you comparing it to say that this is high this year and this is low that year?
    No, the issue is that you are saying that school fees are high; at every point in time, there could be school fees, and they could be high depending upon what you are comparing it with. That was why I said that mere reading of a bill did not solve the problem. Compare it and say that this is higher than that; then it can be relevant to that.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:50 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader and Hon Acting Minority Leader, I have tried to do the impossible and I regret that at 4.46 p.m. more than ten minutes after the question of quorum was issued, I have not been given information and that tells me that we have a quorum now. In the -- [Interruption.] I am asking the Clerks- at-the-Table to tell me whether we have a quorum; if not, I have no option than to go according to Order 48 (22). [Pause.]
    We have two numbers --
    Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 4:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with the greatest, of respect I thought I heard you say you wanted the Clerks-at-the-Table to crosscheck the numbers for you once again. I was going to ask if you would not continue while the Clerks try to do the crosschecking to ascertain the true number for you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:50 p.m.
    Hon Muntaka, you know I have a special liking for you? But I have checked from the Clerks-at-the-Table and two of them counted. One got 78 and one got 81; both of the numbers are below the 90. I think that education is quite important and I would be happy if the Speaker himself is in the Chair on Monday, fresh and nice.
    I am very sorry but I have no option but to come under Order 48 (22) and say when the question of quorum was raised at 4.28 p.m. I gave ten minutes and after

    ten minutes, I waited for another ten minutes. The time is now 4.58 p.m. I have been informed by the Clerks-at-the-Table that there are either 78 or 81 in the House; 82 people in the House now as I see my Hon Friend Mr K. T. Hammond entering the House. I have no other option than to adjourn the House without Question until the next Sitting.
    ADJOURNMENT 4:50 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 4.48 p.m. till Monday, 25th March, 2013 at 10.00 a.m.