Debates of 10 Jul 2013

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:16 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:16 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
Hon Members, Correc- tion of the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 9th July, 2013.
Page 1 ... 13 --
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:16 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sorry to bring us back to page 9. There appears to be a repetition. “Section 14 of Act 754 amended ... (4)(a)(i)”. You will see that having lifted the “shall” up in the second line, it has been repeated in (i).
Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
(i)? That is correct. Table Office to take note.
Page 14 ... 17 --
Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah 11:16 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 17, item 3 (ii) and (iii), I see two former Hon Members of Parliament. One is described as a “Former MP” and the other as a “Former Hon MP”.
Is one more honourable than the other?
Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
There is item 3(iii); the other one is which one?
Mr Opare-Ansah 11:16 a.m.
Mr Speaker, item 3(ii) is “Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Former

MP” and (iii) is “Former Hon MP”. What qualifies one to be “Former Hon -- ?
Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
Well, I do not want to answer for the Committee, so --
Mr Alhassan Mumuni 11:16 a.m.
Thank you very much Mr Speaker --
Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
But we have “Former MP” against both of them. [An Hon Member: “Hon”.] “Hon”; very well. I see.
Yes, Hon Member, which page?
Mr Mumuni 11:16 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 16. I am Hon Alhassan Mumuni. Under Committee on Defence and Interior, they have written “Mr Mumuni Alhassan”. On page 2, when you look at the attendance, for the sake of consistency, even though I am the only Hon Mumuni now left in Parliament, I think that --
Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
So, it should be “Alhassan Mumuni”?
Mr Mumuni 11:16 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
Clerks-at-the-Table to take note. He is “Alhassan Mumuni”, not “Mumuni Alhassan”.

Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 9th July, 2013 as corrected, are hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
  • [No correction was made to the Official Report of Thursday, 4th July, 2013]
    • Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Members, Question time.
    Maj. Derek Y. Oduro (retd): Mr Speaker, I have a very small observation but a very serious one.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Member, unless it is a privilege-- Under what Standing Order are you coming? Is it under privilege?
    Maj. Oduro (retd): Mr Speaker, just give me the privilege. [Laughter.] Just give me the privilege, so that --
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Well, I will listen to your first sentence.
    Major Oduro (retd) : Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, we have a number of exits to this Chamber -- about three of them including yours. Almost all the time, these exits are locked with key. They are meant for the purposes of emergency when Hon Members should move through them.
    Mr Speaker, we have on a number of times --
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Member, yes, you have drawn our attention to it. Please, I will take the matter up with the Leadership, the Clerk and the Marshal. Tomorrow, Leadership will make a statement on this matter.
    Major Oduro (retd): Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Members, we have the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing in the House to respond to Questions filed by an Hon Member.
    ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:25 a.m.
    MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, 11:25 a.m.
    WORKS AND HOUSING 11:25 a.m.
    Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing (Alhaji Collins Dauda) 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing requested the Hydrological Services Department to assess the erosion problem at Kojokrom, Aprutu, Nkwadum and Bopa when the problem was brought to our notice.
    Mr Speaker, the Hydrological Services Department studied the problem and noted that major gullies had developed in various parts of the communities as a result of storm run-off. In some instances, the gullies pose great danger to buildings as they tend to undermine their foundations.
    Mr Speaker, the Hydrological Services Department has proposed the cons- truction of concrete drains to tackle the erosion problem.
    The Ministry will implement the project when funding is available.
    Mr Cobbina 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the second opportunity.
    In the course of the assessment of the cost of the projects, the cost was not shown in the written Answer. I would like the Hon Minister to tell me how much the project in total will cost the nation and when actually the Government will start implementing the project.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Members, we now move to the next Question.
    Small Town and Sanitation Systems for towns in Sefwi Akontombra
    (Provision)
    Q.5. Mr Herod Cobbina asked the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when the following towns in Sefwi Akontombra would be provided with small town water and sanitation systems: (i) Ackaakrom, (ii) Kojokrom, (iii) Essase-Denwuakrom, (iv) Aprutu, (v) Nkwadum-Besibema.
    Alhaji Dauda 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) has population thresholds for determining the technology option for rural water provision.
    These are as follows:
    Mr Speaker, apart from Aprutu which has a population of 2,010 and accordingly qualify for small towns water supply, the other six (6) communities do not qualify for now. The other settlements have the following populations:
    Ackaakrom -- 557
    Kojokrom -- 1,770
    Essase -- 1,205
    Dewuakrom -- 1,012
    Nkwadum -- 1,919
    Besibema -- 314
    Mr Speaker, over the years, standard practice has been developed for selecting communities which desire small town water systems. The practice is that, a community applies to the Distr ict Assembly which will then nominate them for consideration when there is a project in the area.
    Records available at CWSA indicate that Aprutu has not yet applied for a small town water supply. As a member of the Assembly, the Hon Member may wish to get the district to prioritise Aprutu for this type of facility.
    SPACE FOR TABLE - PAGE 4 -

    Mr Speaker, it is useful to mention that each of these communities has a water supply system as indicated below.

    Ackaakrom is currently served by three (3) boreholes, one of which is fitted with a mechanised solar pump.

    Kojokrom is served with two (2) boreholes, one of which is fitted with a solar pump.

    Esaase is served with two (2) boreholes.

    Dewuakrom has one (1) hand-dug well.

    Aprutu is served by two (2) boreholes.

    Nkwadum is served with two (2) boreholes.

    Besibema has two (2) boreholes, one of which is a mechanised solar system.
    Mr Cobbina 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, if you read the Answer given by the Hon Minister, the thresholds given here are not on population purposes, they are on voter registered population. Ackaakrom has two polling stations; the first polling station, JSS, has 735 and then the second one, Roman Catholic, has 639. The figure here was 557.
    Mr Speaker, Kojokrom has two polling stations. If you look at all of them, just like the Answer indicates -- apart from Aprutu -- if you look at the population, for not using the population on the voter register, all these communities qualify under the third option technology.
    So, I am appealing to the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing to, as a matter of urgency, consider
    including all the communities in the future programmes for full mechanised small town water system with steel/concrete overhead tank/tanks and standpipes/ household connection for all these communities. This is because if it is based on the population, then they are qualified.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Member, are you making a statement or you are asking a supplementary question?
    Mr Cobbina 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is an appeal I am making to the Hon Minister. This is because if you look at the population that he used for the Answers
    -- 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Member, are you asking a supplementary question?
    Mr Cobbina 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, please, I am asking a supplementary question.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing to consider all these commu- nities: Ackaakrom, Kojokrom, Essase, Dewuakrom, Nkwadum, Besibema in the selection of the small town water supply since they qualify under the Ministry's threshold for supplying communities with water.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Minister, did you get the question?
    Alhaji Dauda 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, records available at the Ministry, is what we have provided in the Answer. But in view of the intervention made by the Hon Member of Parliament for the area, I take note of that and I will apply to the Akontombra District Assembly for an update of the population.
    Indeed, if it is confirmed that these communities have populations well over what we have here, we will update our records and then we will follow the process of selection.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Question time.
    We move to --
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Yes?
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, you have announced the end of the Question period, so, I would want to crave your indulgence to raise a matter. Maybe, when you hear me, you can decide --
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    You want to raise --
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, a matter that can assist the House in the conduct of its business.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Minister, you are discharged.
    Hon Members, I am very careful not to open the floodgate because the danger is that, once you open the floodgate or you give the chance, which is not consistent with the rules of the House and another person wants to do the same thing and you do not allow him to do it, then it may be one of bias. So, I do not know. If it is a Statement you are making, the rules are clear.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, normally, I know your answer is, you would want to hear a little first and then you decide. Since you have not heard it --
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Very well. Let me --
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is just to assist the House. I know that for about four weeks, we have been talking on Closed session or joint Caucus. Mr Speaker, you know we are rising next week? I would want to bring the attention
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, do you have any response to the issue raised?
    After that, I will call the Hon Majority Leader.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not know the nature of the worry of my Hon Colleague. But we would need further and better particulars about the nature of his worry. But if it is one of -- [Interruption] -- general considerations -- Mr Speaker, I have had some discussions with the Hon Majority Leader and indeed, your goodself before we came to this Sitting.
    We have a planned programme to address these concerns, if indeed, they are the concerns that affect him or the concerns that he wants to raise. I am not too sure whether I can enter into his head and then decipher something.
    But if it is the one relating to the general considerations, we have had serious discussions and I can assure my Hon Colleague that between tomorrow and Friday, we certainly would come to some firm determination on those matters.
    Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, we have had some discussions on some of the concerns that we are anticipating might be those that create the worry for the Hon Member. I agree entirely with the Hon Minority Leader on this matter, that consultations are far advanced.
    The only thing I can add is that, this House, like all physical environments, has a chemistry, climate and temperature. So, Leadership would always be taking all
    these things into consideration and depending on how these climatic conditions persist, it can slow and it can also hasten how we can address this. But I think we have gone quite far on it.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:35 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    I would be glad to provide further and better particulars if they so wish about the climate and so on and so forth.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Members, I have admitted one Statement for today on the occasion of the celebration of World Population Day, which falls tomorrow.
    Dr Kunbuor 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I wanted to crave your indulgence just to have the Ad Hoc Committee on Special Budget withdraw for twenty minutes to address a matter in my office and come back to the House while the Statement is being taken.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Special?
    Dr Kunbuor 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, article 181 Ad Hoc Committee.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Minister of State at the Presi- dency?
    STATEMENTS 11:45 a.m.
    Minister of State (Mrs Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah) 11:45 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity.
    Mr Speaker, World Population Day is celebrated annually on 11th July to draw attention to pertinent population issues that impact on development. This year marks the 24th of Ghana's participation in this important global event.
    The global theme for this year 's celebration is “Adolescent Pregnancy” and calls for the need to focus on the development of adolescents and youth, who, until quite recently, have not attracted much attention in development programming.
    Adolescents face a lot of challenges in this country. The theme for this year's population day, a celebration that focuses on adolescent pregnancy, is timely and calls for sober reflections in analysing the challenges in order to find lasting solutions. According to a 2004 study authored by the Guttmacher Institute, 12 per cent of adolescent females of age 15- 19 years and one per cent of their male counterparts have ever had a child in Ghana.
    The same study reports that one in 10 births occurs among adolescent mothers. Similar findings have been reported in the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys
    (GDHS).
    Mr Speaker, it will be recalled that the population of the world reached 7 billion on 31st October, 2011 and is still increasing at a natural rate of 1.2 per cent per annum. The situation in Ghana is not very different since our population keeps increasing by 4 per cent annually.
    Mr Speaker, adolescent child bearing in Ghana has been a function of early entry into sex, early marriage and little or no contraceptive use. This has also been the result of the difficulty of adolescents and young people in accessing accurate reproductive health information and services in Ghana. Unfortunately, it is
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Statements.
    Hon Members, we move to item number 6. At the commencement of Public Business.
    BILLS -- CONSIDERATION 11:55 a.m.
    STAGE 11:55 a.m.
  • [Resumption of debate from 09/07/ 2013]
    • Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Where is the Chairman of the Committee, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
    Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, he was in the Chamber with the Hon Minister. I have just sent for them to be called. They are at the corridor; they will be coming now. [Pause.]
    Mr Speaker, where we are, the amendments are not in the name of the Hon Chairman.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Member, this Bill has been referred to the Committee and if you do not have the Chairman and his Ranking Member in the House at the time that the Bill is called, it is not the best.
    Alhaji Muntaka 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, they were just conversing -- they are in now. Sorry, Mr Speaker for the -- [Pause.]
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Which clause are, we on Hon Chairman?
    Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are on clause 26, xiii.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    The amendment stands in the name of Hon Kobena Woyome and Hon Kofi Brako.
    Alhaji Sorogho 11:55 a.m.
    Exactly.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Member, move the amendment. Or was it moved yesterday?
    Mr Brako 11:55 a.m.
    Yes.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Chairman of the Committee, why was the debate deferred?
    Alhaji Sorogho 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it was deferred because there were two amendments, one was withdrawn and there was the need for us to reach a compromise. So, it was deferred for us to go and further clarify.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Have you done that?
    Alhaji Sorogho 11:55 a.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Have you arrived at a compromise?
    Alhaji Sorogho 11:55 a.m.
    Yes, we have arrived at a compromise.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    What is the nature of the compromise?
    Alhaji Sorogho 11:55 a.m.
    The nature of the compromise is that, we are reserving that the -- the opposition was coming from the Chairman but after the winnowing, we agreed that we should allow it to go. So, we are allowing that one to be added to “areas that are reserved for only Ghanaians”.
    Mr James K. Avedzi 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that the Hon Chairman has forgotten to add the few amendments that we made to it. It should read “freight forwarding and customs house agency duly licensed under SMCD 188”. So, he has not added that portion to it.
    Alhaji Sorogho 11:55 a.m.
    That is what I am looking. Mr Speaker, the new rendition will read as follows, with your permission, will now stand as:
    (e) “Freight Forwarding and Cus- toms House Agency duly licensed under the Customs House Agency Act 1979 (SMCD188) --
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Members, would it not be better for us to just qualify the “freight forwarding” with “licensed? We just qualify the “freight forwarding” with “licensed”. Because, then they will go and look at the law that deals with licensing and that resolves the matter. “Freight forwarding and Customs House Agency”.

    If you put “licensed”, they will go and look for the law that deals with licensing and that deals with the matter.
    Alhaji Sorogho 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we were advised that with the new Bills that were reviewed, you need to mention the entire Act for clarity sake.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Chairman, there should be only one law regulating licensing of this business. So, when you qualify that it should be licensed, they will go and look at the law that deals with the licensing, but I do not know it is for the House to decide.
    Hon Member for Suhum, then the Ranking Member.
    Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, if I read the beginning of clause 26, it says;
    “a person who is not a citizen or an enterprise which is not wholly owned by citizens shall not invest or participate in any;”
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    He has a point.
    Hon Chairman, why do you even bring the law? Is it necessary? In my view, all these areas you have mentioned, there should be some laws regulating them but you have not referred to their laws. If you are going to operate a taxi, there are laws that you have to comply with. So, explain to the House why we need to -- If there is a special reason in the case of freight forwarding we have to mention the law, let us know.
    Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it appeared that the Hon Chairman was opposed to this amendment from the beginning and I do not understand why he is trying to make it so difficult.
    Mr Speaker, it is clear what the amendment seeks to do and the amend- ment simply says that we should include freight forwarders and custom agents to
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Members, I would want to have this matter deferred because I have looked at the law they themselves are quoting. My attention has just been drawn to it. It is not “Agency”; it is “Customs House Agent”. It has been defined in the law. So, we need to look at the law we are referring to, so that when we mention it, it will be clear what we are talking about.
    So, should we defer it, so that we look closely at that law?
    Alhaji Sorogho 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the first place, the amendment is not even standing in the name of the Chairman. The amendment was moved by the two
    -- 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Hon Member, your Committee is in charge of the Bill. So, if your input can enrich the law we are passing, what is wrong with that? That is the only reason I am calling you.
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are dealing here with activities and not the legal status of any institution. It is the activity of freight forwarding and customs house that we are dealing here and not whether it is a legal entity or not. So, in all the others, what we see is that, the sale of goods, the operation of that, the printing of that, and here, it is freight
    forwarding getting involved in that activity that is only reserved for Ghanaians. So, I think we do not need the word “licensed” to preface the entire clause. It has to go the way it is.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Hon Members, in order for us to make progress, I would want to defer this matter -- [Interruption] -- Why? Hon Members, when we pass the law, this will not be the end. The Officer presiding over the House must be clear that the law itself is consistent with other laws of the land. So, that is the reason I am trying to -- This is because the Chairman said we should add a certain law to the amendment.
    The Hon Member for Suhum (Mr Opare-Ansah) has raised a very important issue. I have gone to look at the law and the law did not even mention freight forwarding at all; it only talked about customs house.
    But the Hon Member for Wenchi made a very important point that we are not even talking about the legal aspect. So, these are some of the things I would want to look at and then we would know the proper terminology to use. That is the reason I am deferring it.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Hon Member for Suhum, what is your problem?
    Mr Opare-Ansah 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have only solutions, no problems at all.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Let us move to the next amendment.
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the same vein, after clause 26(e), there is a further amendment to include all aspects of pool, betting business and lotteries except football pools. Mr Speaker, that was also to be reserved for Ghanaians.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, I am going according to what is on the Order Paper.
    The next amendment stands in the name of the Hon Member for Manhyia South.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member -- Chairman of the Committee, you are a senior Member of this House. If you have agreed on something, you do not just be sitting at your place and be talking without catching the Speaker's eye.
    Some Hon Members -- Teach him!
    Mr Owusu-Bio 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is currently in another meeting by this House. Hon Dr Prempeh is in another meeting --
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    So, that meeting is more important than his own amendment?
    Mr Owusu-Bio 12:05 p.m.
    No, Mr Speaker. They just called him out to attend and so, he has asked me to move the amendment on his behalf, with your permission.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 26 , subclause (1), add the following new paragraph:
    “(e) production, supply and retail of sachet water;”
    Mr Opare-Ansah 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if the proposer of the amendment would indulge me, I would like to further amend his amendment to include “bottled water.”
    Mr Speaker, my reason being that, there is currently in this country, adequate capacity and facilities for the production and distribution of bottled water. I cannot at this point in our development as a nation, imagine us importing bottled water into this country when there is
    technology and ample capacity and ample natural sources of water that we can bottle for us to be looking at importing bottled water into this country.
    Mr George Aboagye 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was going to say that it is not about importa- tion, it is about production.
    Mr Opare-Ansah 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is even worse. What is so special about production of bottled water that Ghanaians cannot do by themselves that we need foreigners to be participating in? If Ghanaians can produce sachet water, why can Ghanaians not also produce bottled water?
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Hon Member, that is another matter. If you know that you are self-sufficient in the production of sachet water or bottled water in your country, you can use other regimes to impose import duties and all those things to raise revenue and to discourage people.
    Mr Kofi Frimpong 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise in support of what the Member of Parliament for Suhum said. Mr Speaker, we are in a country --
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Hon Members, I have an amendment before me. Let me put the Question and if any Member wants to file another amendment, let that Member do so.
    Mr Kofi Frimpong 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we want to add the “bottled water” so, let me land --
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Hon Members, I want to put --
    Mr Kofi Frimpong 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, you called me, so, let me finish.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Yes, if you want to file an amendment with regard to “bottled water”, file it for the House to debate.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Joseph B. A. Danquah 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am a little confused on the Question that was just put. Mr Speaker, I had your leave to --
    Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Hon Members, the amendment is before me and I have put the Question on it. The Ayes have it; the amendment is carried.
    Mr Opare-Ansah 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker --
    Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Hon Member, do not worry, I am not putting the Question on the entire clause 26 today because of the issue with regard to -- Yes, if anybody wants to bring an amendment to improve upon the Bill or to add anything, he or she is at liberty to do so. At the end of the day, it is the House as a House, that would take the decision.
    So, this is a very important Bill. As I indicated earlier, let us be sure that we know what we are doing.
    Mr Danquah 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 26, subclaluse (1), add the following new paragraph:
    “(g) procurement and internal retail and distribution of finished pharmaceutical products.”
    Mr Speaker, actually, it is supposed to be --
    “importation and internal retail and distribution of finished pharma- ceutical products.”
    Mr Speaker, as I rise to move this amendment, I would want to make a very ideolo-gical and nationalistic statement on this particular amendment.
    Mr Speaker, what we are talking about here is that the Ghanaian becomes the sole vehicle by which, imported pharmaceutical products enter our market.
    Mr Speaker, why do I say so? It is because we have enough capacity as locals, as indigenous entrepreneurs. When it comes to importation, the Ghanaian knows how to import when it comes to distribution, the Ghanaian knows how to distribute when it comes to retail, the Ghanaian knows how to retail. Moreover, the Ghanaian has built the capacity to the extent that now, they are doing manufacturing.
    So, you have companies like “Ernest Chemists”, “Tobinco”, “Kama”, “Kina- pharma”, “Danpong”, “Adepa”, all of these pharmaceutical companies are indigenous companies that have enough capacity to import, retail and to distribute.
    Mr Speaker, moreover, at the Committee meeting, we were told by the sponsors of this Bill -- GIPC-- through the Hon Minister that the pharmaceutical sector is a strategic sector and therefore, they are taking a view to make sure the Ghanaian develops adequate capacity henceforth.
    The other reason is also that, Mr Speaker, it is not by chance that today, when you ask “who is the richest African?” they say Alhaji Aliko Dangote --
    Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Hon Member, you have moved your amendment. Limit yourself to the --
    Mr Danquah 12:15 p.m.
    All right, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, I am giving the basis and the reasons the amendment and-- [Interruption] -- Mr Speaker, I will make it very short --
    Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Hon Member, we are not debating the principles of the Bill. You are moving a specific amendment.
    Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Hon Members, my attention has been drawn to the decision of the House yesterday and I refer you to Standing Order 128(4) and (b) --
    “At the Consideration Stage of a Bill the House may make such amendments as it considers fit, provided that the amendments (including new clauses and new schedules) comply with the following conditions:
    (b) they must not be inconsistent with any clause already agreed to or any decisions already come to by the House;”
    The House has come to the decision that they would limit it to retail -- [Interruption] -- Hon Member, clause 26 -- Retail of finished pharmaceutical products -- [Interruption] -- Please, let me --
    Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    “Retail of finished pharmaceutical products” -- That was the decision taken by this House yesterday. It is in your own Votes and Proceedings.
    If you want to add, you cannot do so now. You have to wait to pass it through a Second Consideration Stage but not at this stage. What should have happened yesterday was that, the two amendments should have been taken simultaneously and Question put on the two and the one which is adopted by the House, then that is it.
    But if you were there and you did not take advantage to move your Motion yesterday and the House has taken a decision that we want to limit it to retail, the rules of the House are very clear. The doors are not open to you at this stage
    -- 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Danquah 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, please, I would want to explain what happened.
    Yesterday, your Hon Deputy asked that -- actually he called me to move the amendment. I was the first person he called. Then the Hon Chairman said his amendments were before mine, so the Hon Chairman moved h is amendments.
    rose
    Mr Danquah 12:15 p.m.
    When it got to “freight forwarders”, there was this confusion, so Mr Speaker asked that we all go back and come today, so that I move my amendment. This was because Hon Papa Owusu-Ankomah made reference to the fact that I had an amendment in my name --
    Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Hon Member, please, all that I am saying is that, the door is not shut to you. All that I am saying is that, at this level , you cannot. You see, you would have the opportunity -- otherwise, we would be having two clauses in the Bill, one saying that we should limit it to the retail, and another saying that we should
    include -- [Interruption] -- Absolutely. We should add “procurement” and --
    All what I am saying is that, under our rules, you cannot move this amendment now; it is inconsistent with the decision taken by the House yesterday. And I referred you to the relevant Standing Orders. I am saying that what you can do now --
    rose
    Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Hon Member -- [Inter- ruption] -- Hon Member, the Question was put -- [Interruption] -- Hon Member, the way you are taking interest in this Bill, make sure that all the Bills that come to this House you take that same interest in them. Otherwise -- Have got the point that I am making.
    Mr Danquah 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my point is that yesterday, the amendment that was moved by the Hon Chairman, was to do with dropping his “internal distribution” and keeping “retail”. That was what he moved. Then your Hon Deputy Speaker said I could move my amendment. So, Mr Speaker, I was just moving my amendment on importation --
    Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Hon Members, the amendment before me is “procurement, internal retail and distribution of finished pharmaceutical products”. The House came to a decision yesterday on retail of finished pharmaceutical products. [Interruption] Yes. Clause 26 -- [Inter- ruption.] -- Please, look at page 13 of the Votes and Proceedings --
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    I am saying that as at this stage, you cannot do it. Yes, Hon Member for Wenchi --
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, what happened yesterday was that this one was approved by the House. So, if we do what he is actually suggesting now, we will have two clauses which are the same. So maybe, we will have to take it at the Second Consideration Stage and he will wait until that time, so that he brings it up.
    But yes, there was a view yesterday that it was very critical to look at the importation. This is because, according to the Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional integration, there was a concern about whether we would want to throw those who are already investing in those areas away or not. And we agreed that we were not going to do that; so, we were going to find a way in clause 43 to do that.
    So when we come to the Second Consideration Stage, I think we can resolve that issue. So, I think for now, maybe, we can --
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Member, if you want to, I would advise you. Let me give you my advice free of charge.
    If you want to file your proposed amendment and it comes in this form and I am presiding, I am not going to take it. You should go back and look at your rules and file the proposed amendment properly -- if you want it to be taken by the House. The proposed amendment should be “procurement and internal” and should end there.
    Mr Danquah 12:25 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is well taken.
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    The Hon Member is my friend.
    Alhaji Muntaka 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, you have given your guidance to him. But Mr Speaker, if you do not mind, I would say that you relax the rules, allow him to propose the further amendment, so that you put the Question. This is because yesterday, this was deliberated upon for more than one and a half hours -- [Interruption] -- All these issues were raised and at the end of the day, the House took a decision.
    I do not know why he is coming through another method. If he wants, you can relax the rules and allow him to move his further proposed amendments and then the House can take a decision again.
    Mr Opare-Ansah 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think you have already given a clear direction and even the Hon Member duly accepted and thanked you, for us to move forward. I do not think the matter is in contention anymore.
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Members, I will defer putting the Question on the entire clause 26 because of the deferments and then we will make progress.
    Clause 27 -- Enterprises eligible for foreign participation and minimum foreign capital requirement
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 27, subclause (1), paragraph (a), line 2, delete “fifty” and substitute “two hundred”.
    Mr Speaker, the Committee came to the conclusion that the fifty thousand was too small. Ghana has moved forward and so two hundred and fifty thousand should be appropriated. It was unanimously accepted by all of us.
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    So, what will be the new rendition?
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the new rendition for clause 27, subclause (1), line
    2 --
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Yes, after the amendment, how will it read?
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker --
    “In the case of a joint enterprise with a partner who is a citizen, invest foreign capital of not less than two hundred and fifty thousand United States dollars in cash or capital goods relevant to the investment or a combination of both by way of equity participation and the partner who is a citizen does not have less than thirty per cent equity participa- tion …”
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    That is precisely why I want you to read it because your new amendment will read “two hundred thousand” and not “two hundred and fifty thousand”. That is why I want you to read the new rendition. You have mentioned “two hundred and fifty thousand”, meanwhile, you are deleting the “fifty”.
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is delete “fifty” and substitute with “two hundred”.
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Yes, once “fifty” is deleted, “fifty” is no longer in existence. You should have said before “fifty” insert “two hundred”.
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think the amount should be “two hundred” -- delete “fifty” and substitute “two hundred”.
    So, the amount should now be -- from “fifty thousand”, it is now “two hundred thousand.”
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Is it that the Committee wants “two hundred thousand” or “two hundred and fifty thousand”?
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:25 p.m.
    “Two hundred thousand”.
    Mr Boamah 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am seeing the denomination in dollars. I do not know whether the legal tender in this country is United States dollars -- whether we should retain the dollars or state the cedi equivalent of the United States dollars. That is what I would want from you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Member, we are at the Consideration Stage, so move the amendment you want to move, to make your point which is a very important one. So, move the amendment to reflect the point that you have made.
    He is making a very important point.
    Mr Boamah 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that -- the legal tender in this country is the Ghanaian cedi and I am seeing that under clause 27(1), the amendment being proposed by the Hon Chairman of the Committee is for the retention of that same denomination, which is the United States dollars. But Mr Speaker, I believe we trade in cedis and whoever is coming -- I hereby move, that the right word or denomination should be Ghanaian cedi.
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Member, let me put the Question on this amendment. I find wisdom in it.
    All that the Hon Member for Okaikoi Central is saying is that, it should be cedi equivalent of two hundred thousand United States dollars. That is all the point that he is making. Why? Do you not want your own currency? That is the point he is making, which amounts to the same thing anyway. So, I would put the Question on your amendment and then, we will insert “cedi equivalent of”.
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am opposed to that. The main reason is that, when we say the cedi equivalent of two hundred thousand United States dollars -- assuming the rate is 2:1, that is four hundred thousand cedis, one can acquire that locally here and use it to show --
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Who tells you that he cannot acquire --
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:25 p.m.
    What we want them to do is to bring in foreign direct investment and that comes in with foreign currency. So, the equivalence should not come in at all. Otherwise, we defeat the purpose. So, I think it should still stay at the dollar, otherwise, we cannot get it as a foreign currency.
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Ranking Member, you have explained the rationale behind it. When the Hon Chairman moved the amendment, he did not tell the House the rationale. But what is in this Bill to show that, that is what you want to achieve?
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this law is about promoting foreign direct investment as well as local investment. That is the basic thing. The heading of clause 27 is minimum foreign capital requirement.
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    I would want to know, how would we ensure as lawmakers that this money was not generated from within. That is the point. And if that is what you want to do, then there is a point here. You must put it here in black and white. My experience is that, people have been abusing this provision all along.
    So, if that is what we want, then you must file the necessary amendment to reflect this point, so that the transfer and all those things can be added to the application that they will submit. Are you getting the point I am making? Other than that, the point made by the Hon Member for Okaikoi Central is very good.
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:35 p.m.
    In fact, I think we need to put this on hold because we need to actually find a way that these moneys coming in through the Bank of Ghana pass through some processes. Otherwise, they will come in here and change it on the black market and use it. I think that is something that we have to do. Yes, I agree with you.
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Absolutely, that is the point.
    Mr Aboagye 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that instead of saying “invest a foreign capital” we can say “remit an amount of . . .”.
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Members, we have all been around for a very long time and we know what happens. Let us use this opportunity now to clear this matter once and for all.
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, can we not use the Regulations to go deep into what we want to do? I thought that we could leave the law as it is but when we get to the Regulations, we can specify in detail how we want the money to come, so that we can follow the trend. Else, it would be very difficult getting words that would not fit into this law. But when the Regulations are done, they can take care of all these. [Interruption.] Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Owusu-Bio 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am opposed to the amendment and my reason is that the amount stated as minimum -- US$200,000 -- is too low; it is on the low side. It is woefully inadequate, to use our own language.
    Mr Speaker, I propose that we make it a minimum of US$500,000. US$200,000 for foreign participation over here in Ghana? That is not investment. We need more than that.
    Mr Richard M. Quashigah 12:35 p.m.
    Thank you so much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity.
    First of all, I would want to --
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Members, let us take the issues one by one. Now, some Hon Members are raising concerns with the figure US$200,000. What is the position of the House?
    Mr Quashigah 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am of the view that US$200,000 is appropriate, in the sense that we are trying to promote foreign investment and if we are going to peg it so high, we definitely would be discouraging foreigners coming in to invest.
    My second leg has to do with the proposal that it should be in cedi equivalent. Now, we must be consistent with our own laws. We are saying that whatever we do, should be in the Ghanaian cedi. And if we are going to do that, why must we then have in some Regulations that when people are coming to invest in Ghana, it should necessarily be in dollars?
    I think that we must be consistent and that is the reason for which I would suggest that we use cedi equivalent, so that if it is US$200,000, it must be US$200,000 equivalent in cedis. This is because, clearly, we would be inconsistent with what we ourselves are preaching.
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Members, the amendment says US$200,000 minimum capital for a foreigner. So, I --
    Mr Isaac K. Asiamah 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportuntity.
    I support the proposed amendment --
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Of US$500,000 minimum?
    Mr I.K. Asiamah 12:35 p.m.
    Of US$500,000. My reason being that, I do not think we can be coming to this House almost every time changing the figures. So,m let us fix a reasonable figure, so that it can stand the test of time.
    Also, Ghana is now emerging strongly as an oil economy and we should not be entertaining such small amounts from people who are coming to invest in this country; it is unacceptable.
    Mr Baba J. M. Ahmed 12:35 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
    Even though I agree with my Hon Friends from the other side that the amount should be edged up, I do not think that we should go up to US$500,000. I think that we should move it to US$250,000. This is because when you take it too high, as much as we would want to ensure that we protect the economy, you cannot also take it to a level where you would discourage people from coming. So, I think that we should move it to US$250,000.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Member. Yes, you are a businessman, so, let me hear from you.
    Mr Ken O. Agyapong 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, the figures we are mentioning here, we are joking. If they are -- minimum participation, we are talking of US$200,000, when we are taking a loan with an interest of 26 per cent and they are coming from outside with an interest of two per cent?
    Mr Speaker, we should raise it -- US$1 million, US$2 million, yes. That is what we need. If not, what we are doing here, they would knock us out of business any time.
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister, let me hear from you.
    I will decide whether finally, I will put the various proposals to the House for the House to decide. But let me hear from you first.
    All right, Hon Chairman.
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think Hon Members would have to take their time and read the entirety of the clauses. This is because this is a joint ventureship and it is saying that -- [Interruption.]
    rose
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:35 p.m.
    Sit down!
    It is saying that the minimum a Ghanaian must --
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Member, it is unparliamentary to tell another Hon Member to sit down.
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I withdraw it and I apologise to my Hon Brother. [Interruption.] All right.
    Mr Speaker, if you read it, clause 26 reserves certain enterprises for Ghanaians only. Under it, we are saying that in case somebody wants to come in, he must only come through joint ventureship and that the minimum for a Ghanaian must be 30 per cent. If a foreign investor brings US$200,000, 30 per cent of US$200,000 is -- A Ghanaian can easily come in because he can raise US$30,000, US$40,000, US$50,000 to be able to qualify to join the foreigner.
    Mr Speaker, when you go to clause 27, it says that the foreigner would have to bring US$1 million, like what they are saying. If you go to clause 27, the US$1 million is there but because we have not reached there, that is why we are saying that. But this is to allow Ghanaians to be able to raise the 30 per cent.
    Even this one, Mr Speaker, when we met, a lot of those who came said that it would be difficult for a Ghanaian to be able to raise the 30 per cent. And this is
    Mr Justice J. Appiah 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the private sector is the engine of growth and I would suggest that US$1 million would be very appropriate in the sense that the private sector is the engine of growth. So, I believe that the US$1 million would work and it would work very perfectly. Yes, US$1million -- because the US$200,000 is the least, the minimum, it cannot work in this country.
    Ghana is the beacon of hope for Africa and we need to project Ghana as a business entity in this country. So, I would suggest US$1 million, that is, the minimum.
    Mr Kobena M. Woyome 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, mine is to add to the submission by the Hon Chairman of the Committee -- because I know the difficulty of local businessmen raising 30 per cent of any equity into getting the totality of the capital needed for an investment. For that reason, I think that because of the partnership we are talking about here, it is not about what the investor has to come if it is coming as a sole investor in this case, without requiring any partnership.
    In that case, the Hon Chairman again, clearly indicated a minimum of US$1 million or I think US$1 million and above.
    I think it is clear and it is all right under the circumstances. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to get somebody coming in to partner the Ghanaian into any meaningful ventureship. I think this is something we need to look at. Other than
    that, if we raise it, how are we going to get our local partners partnering the foreign investor?
    MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
    Mr Frimpong 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the argument is as if we are forcing some people to partner the foreigners. If you are a local businessman and you do not have enough money as much as is needed to partner somebody with one million dollars, then stay where you are and do your business. We are talking of serious business people.
    Mr Speaker, if a foreigner is coming with only US$200,000, one car alone is more than US$200,000. So, what we are saying is that we need very serious Foreign Direct Investors (FDI) to come in with a lot of money and when they come, they will get their colleagues who are also equally serious, who have their capital. And here we ask our banks to look for those people who can partner them and help them.
    This is because you tell them that we need people with small amount of money to partner FDI, how do we make the private sector the engine of growth?
    So, I believe that the quantum at the Committee level, we have all agreed. But after that, thinking over it, we saw that the amount is too small and that we need to get very serious businessmen coming in to partner with very serious businessmen in Ghana. It is by so doing
    -- 12:45 p.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    So, what figure are you proposing?
    Mr Frimpong 12:45 p.m.
    So, I am suggesting that US$500,000 will do or even US$1 million.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think we should think through what legislation that we are crafting. Let us look at what we have done in clause 26 and I would want us to consider clause 26 (1) (b). We are talking about the operation of taxi or car hire service in an enterprise that has a fleet of less than 25 vehicles. Beyond, that is the point of entry.
    Mr Speaker, what we have not talked about in respect of clause 26 (b), because in clause 26 (b), we have categorised specific vehicles, taxis and car hire service. We are not talking about buses. We are not talking about trucks. We are not talking about coaches. What it then means is that; yes, I am not bringing a taxi, I am not bringing a salon car for rental services. But I am bringing a coach, these long buses; the person brings just one
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    Hon Quashigah, is it on a point of order?
    Mr Quashigah 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to point out that the Hon Minority Leader is out of order, in that, clause 26 has already been deferred some few minutes ago and we were talking about clause 27. I would have thought that the Hon Minority Leader would have been discussing issues that had to do with clause 27 but he is still discussing clause 26. I think that clause 26 has entirely been deferred.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    I believe it has been deferred but we will eventually get back to it. So, if he wants to make reference to portions of it to inform our consideration of this another clause, we could permit that to be done.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, well, the Hon Majority Leader and I and a few others just exited the Chamber to discuss some matters of importance to the House. I have not been around for a few moments. But to the extent that we have not exorcised clause 26, it is still part of the Bill before us and I think my Hon Colleague will have that understanding.
    But the point I am making is that, the Government that is sponsoring this Bill into this Parliament is giving us some indication even if we decide to tinker with that. He is giving us some indication that this is the threshold, and I am talking about the threshold figure of 25 vehicles and here, we are talking about a person coming into joint partnership. Yes, I understand we are at clause 27.
    But I am only saying that it should give us an indication into what to do. Clause 27 is telling you about a person who is not a citizen of this country, what business he may participate in and I am saying that you must read this in tandem with clause 26. If he does, the point I am making is that, for clause 26, they talk about cars
    -- 12:45 p.m.
    Alhaji Muntaka 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader said that he walked in because they were away for some time. If he takes his time to look at (a), the clause 27 (1) (a) is talking about joint partnership. The reference that he was making with clause 26 is a situation where you are going to own, as a sole owner; that was where the gap was beyond a fleet of 25 cars.
    He should just look at (a); the (a) is where you are going to be in a joint partnership; (b) is where a person wholly owns-- why this Bill and the Committee is talking about US$200,000 is because a Ghanaian must partner and the Bill is mindful of the one who is to partner. If it is one million dollars, that means, 30 per cent and if you go further to clause 27, it
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am sorry that the Hon Majority Chief Whip indicated that I have not read it carefully. Clearly, he does not understand the import of clause 26 (b). He rather does not understand it. He has a problem.
    Mr Speaker, what is clause 26 talking about? Can he, please, listen? Clause 26 is telling him, it is not about sole ownership. Please, read clause 26. It says that you cannot participate in a venture that has a number of vehicles which is less -- the number which is less than 25. You cannot participate in that. So, if the number is more than 25, you cannot participate in that. Do you understand? So, clearly, you do not understand what you are saying.
    Mr Speaker, so, when he said that I must take my time to understand, clearly, he does not even understand what clause 26 is about. But I will move on.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, I would like you to tone down a little as far as this issue is concerned.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is the path that he has bid for himself. He is my friend; I will not be caustic with him. But when he gets up to talk, he must at least, understand the trajectory that we are creating and not interject.
    But Mr Speaker, let me go on. The point is that if it is less than --
    Alhaji Muntaka 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect to the Hon Minority Leader. We can call for the Hansard. I said because he was not in the Chamber, he did not follow the argument up to where we are and I was saying that he should draw his attention to (a), (a) is talking about partnership.
    The understanding that I am talking about has nothing to do with his capacity to understand what he is saying. But the way he is making reference to me, he is portraying as if I do not even have the capacity to understand and I take offence to that because we have all time to make progress. And I am saying that because you walked in, you were not there to follow the argument.
    So, if you could take your time to understand where we are and I was drawing attention to -- not in his capacity to think and appreciate what is happening. But his reference to me with the issue, I do not understand -- is talking of my capacity to understand which I thought is wrong and he knows that.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, clearly, those who live in a glass house should not be throwing stones. He started
    by saying that I should take my time to understand and then he went on to say that clause 26 is about sole ownership, in other words, sole proprietorship. And I am saying that, that is not the import of clause 26.
    Mr Speaker, but let us move beyond that because I would not attack the person of the Hon Majority Chief Whip. He knows that. He knows that I would not do that. [Interruption.] Hon Fiifi, stay and make that contribution; do not be moving away. Stay and --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, can we leave that area and then just move on?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I guess that is in the lighter vein.
    Mr Speaker, the point I am making is that, if we are saying that people cannot participate in a venture that has a number of vehicles up to 25, we should then look at the cost of 25 vehicles.
    That is why I am saying that, that should be the compare; that should be the basis. If we are saying it is US$50,000; if we are saying it is US$100,000 -- if we are saying it is US$200,000, in my view, that should be the measure.
    I am saying that if you read clause 26 carefully, it has excluded buses. What it means is that, you could then bring in one coach or two buses and then set up your own business. That is why I am saying, we should juxtapose this with the intent captured in clause 26(1)(b) and that should suggest to us that we should raise the threshold. That is why I agree that it should be raised.
    The Committee is proposing US$200,000. I think US$200,000 is on the low. This is because, Mr Speaker, if you divide the US$200,000 by 25 vehicles -- What are
    we suggesting? We are talking about US$8,000. In my view, today -- US$8,000 -- we are talking about second hand vehicles. But the investor coming from outside bringing coaches, if he decides not to deal with us, should be able to bring some quality product. That is why I agree with the Committee raising the threshold. But I believe the US$200,000 is even not enough. I think that we should go higher.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, can you give us an idea? What figure are we talking about?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, anything between US$400,000 and US$500,000, in my view, would be alright.
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to explain --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    I will come back to you after we have taken some contributions.
    Mr Mathias K. Ntow 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I really share the concern of the Hon Minority Leader and our Hon Colleagues who have also contributed. In fact, this issue came up at the Committee level and we were divided. Some were even saying it should be more than one million or two million dollars for somebody who is coming from outside to invest.
    But Mr Speaker, let us look closely at the object of the Bill, and with your indulgence, I would want to read just the first paragraph:
    “The object of the Bill is to revise the law relating to investment promotion and to establish the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) as the government agency responsible for the encouragement and promotion of investments and for creating a congenial environment for invest- ments in Ghana.”
    Mr Opare-Ansah 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if you look at the preamble of clause 27 (1) carefully, it is obvious that it has everything to do with clause 26. Mr Speaker, let me read with your indulgence:
    “A person who is not a citizen may participate in an enterprise other than an enterprise specified in section 26…”
    So, clearly, right from the onset in addressing what is contained in clause 27, you have to advert your mind to what pertains in clause 26.
    Mr Speaker, a number of areas have been reserved in clause 26 for sole Ghanaian participation or indigenous participation, and what we are seeking to do, is to allow for non citizens to join forces with citizens to get involved in other enterprises beyond what has been specified in clause 26.
    Mr Speaker, if we are seriously looking for investment to enter into this country to do business in much more serious areas, then we cannot be looking at what the proponents talked about US$50,000 and now, what the Committee is also talking about US$200,000.
    Mr Speaker, as for the concern of the Hon Member who just spoke and others who feel that if you raise the bar too high, the Ghanaian participant, because of the 30 per cent equity participation, he is supposed to have in there, would suffer; I disagree.
    I have been a witness to business deals in this country, where although a foreign direct investor is taking over, say, 80 per cent of a business, he still comes to an agreement with the local partner that in contribution of equity, the local partner is not even going to put in even one Ghana cedi. That is the beauty of business t ransaction .
    If the one coming from abroad is seriously interested in entering our market -- And everybody across the globe would now tell you that Africa is the last frontier. If you have money in the United States (US), in Europe, in the Asia now, everybody is looking at entering Africa, and where better than Ghana where seemingly we have good political and economic atmosphere. Thanks to former President Kufuor's very good works that he started in the days gone by.
    Mr Speaker, it is clear that, that would not create any barrier at all. So, I would support the argument being proffered by the Hon Member for Atwima-Nwabiagya South, to raise it up to, at least,
    US$500,000.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Members, we must appreciate the fact that we cannot go on ad infinitum. So, there must be a cut-off point.
    Dr Kunbuor 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not really making a contribution to it, but just to crave your indulgence because today is a very, very special day for this country. The courts have just taken judicial notice of the Satellites match at semi finals and they are adjourning to enable them also solidarise with our footballers.
    I guess that as an arm of Government, it is also important that much as this debate is quite interesting, we should be anticipating that Hon Members would want to retire at the earliest possible time to enable them watch this match. For those who have weaker heart and cannot watch it anywhere, they can watch it in the comfort of their homes.
    So, I would want to crave Mr Speaker's indulgence that we take that into consideration for the rest of the Business for today.
    Mr George Boakye 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, sometimes, the mistake we make when we go on investment promotion or when we plan an investment promotion, is the self belief and also the fact that we think Ghana is the most special country in the world. You are going to 200 or more countries to attract them or to get their attention with regard to your country. Now, imagine Ghana goes to China to look for a facility and within the next month the United Kingdom is also there looking for a facility.
    We go for three billion cedis and they also go for it and they get the same thing. The idea that Ghana is politically stable and all that, is all nice. But so many countries also are investment ready to attract investors and there are different categories of investments. Some are medium, some are small, some are big time investors.

    Now, if a Ghanaian meets somebody, perhaps, a young tourist who has come here and he wants to invest, he gets interested but the man has anything around US$200,000 and the Ghanaian young business person could get a facility from his bank around US$60,000, they should be able to join venture.

    So, we do not have to make simple arithmetic calculations of what is in clause 26 (a), because when you do that, the quantification is easy but practically, on the ground, we are talking of people coming together to do business and we should allow various categories of people to come together to do business.

    It is true if you take the arithmetic; yes, clause 26 (1) (b) is clear. But we should not be talking about one million and all that. Ghanaians have to raise money from the banks. How many people will be able to go to the bank and secure facilities -- [Interruptions] -- But anybody should be able to do business. Mr Speaker, anybody should be able to do business across the country. It should not be the preserve of a few property owning capitalists.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Hon Agyarko, and then to the Minister and then we close this debate.
    Mr Emmanuel K. Agyarko 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to admit that there is an object for doing this; it is to attract investment. But Mr Speaker, in doing this, I think what we must be talking about is the quality of the investment.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to take off from where the Minority Leader left off and let us do a little arithmetic.
    We are saying that if anybody wants to do car hire business, the minimum is, he must have more than 25 cars. Mr Speaker, if he is a Ghanaian, he is allowed
    to do anything but if he is a foreigner, it must be 25 or more. Mr Speaker, 25 cars, even at 10 or 12 or US$15,000.00 we are talking at about US$300,000 to US400,000.00. So, I think that it makes arithmetical sense that we push this up, otherwise, we are still within what we ourselves as Ghanaians should be able to do.
    Mr Speaker, I am not too sure but if anybody establishes a small pharma- ceutical factory, a small food processing factory, anything less than four hundred, five hundred thousand dollars may be able to give you that factory. But Mr Speaker, we need to begin to ask about the quality of the product, the quality of the investment.
    Therefore, I think if we are using the example of the taxi, if it comes up to four hundred and we say, we want to reserve it for Ghanaians, then Mr Speaker, I think it stands to reason that if we are asking somebody to come in and do a joint venture, then that threshold of two hundred or two hundred and fifty is within what we can do.
    The proper thing to do is to raise it up, probably, if it is not one million at the minimum, half a million dollars, I think it will be appropriate in the circumstances.
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have with interest followed the debate on the proposition articulated by the Chairman of the Committee on Trade and Industry and Tourism. Mr Speaker, permit me to state that Ghana is not the only place to do business.
    The intention of this legislation is to make Ghana relatively competitive and as a destination of choice. Therefore, in any decision that we must be guided that we do not want that investor to decide
    tomorrow that he prefers to invest in Rwanda or in Benin, or in Mali rather than in Ghana. And therefore, in determining the figure, policy recommendation was for even US$50,000 because under PNDC Law 116, the minimum capital requirement was reduced from US$60,000 to
    US$10,000.
    For commercial or trading activities involving purchasing or selling of goods, the minimum requirement was pecked at US$300,000 and today, that has been increased to one million dollars and that is a significant increase. Now, at the time and I am sure I stated this during the Second Reading -- Ghana today, is not Ghana yesterday.
    With our democratic credentials very secured, investment climate, the management of the economy whether we like it or not, has improved over the years. But ultimately, we want to make Ghana a relatively competitive place to do business, not just in Africa but in the world. So, I would plead with Colleagues, in pegging the figure, we might be mindful of two things.
    One, we want to attract foreign direct investment. Part of the germane of this Bill is to get local participation in the investment drive of this country.
    We should not close the opportunities for them. For instance, if we say two hundred thousand, if you read further down, there is a requirement of 30 per cent equity. So, we are stating that for joint ventures, you must necessarily have a Ghanaian participate in that particular activity and transaction. That used not to be the case, so, we are getting somewhere.
    For those businesses that we decided that it must remain Ghanaian, maybe, I just shared the example of retail trading, we eventually noticed that I am relating clause 27 to clause 26, that our retail markets, whether Kumasi market,Accra or where-
    ever, was being flooded now with foreigners taking over retail businesses. And Mr Speaker, I would use foreigners here appropriately without referring to a particular country. You now see some foreigners -- Our women used to travel to some foreign countries to bring some goods to sell.
    Today, they travel themselves, hold their bags in their armpits, forgive my language, and they do, the petty trading that our Ghanaian women used to do, denying them of their bread, denying them of economic activity.
    So, the decision was that, make it the exclusive preserve of Ghanaians, that petty trading can only be done by Ghanaians. In respect of clause 27, we are increasing what used to pertain in 1994, maybe, from ten thousand today to hundred or two hundred thousand, from three hundred thousand to one million and I think that we can start that for now.
    This is because ultimately, our objective is to carry Ghanaians on board, even as we search for foreign direct investment and we should agree to figures that our own Ghanaian counterparts may be able to quote; maybe I will share this practical examples. I would invite my Colleague Opare-Ansah to pay attention. When we decided in communication to issue --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Hon Minister, he is Hon Opare-Ansah.
    Mr H. Iddrisu 1:05 p.m.
    My Hon Colleague Frederick Opare-Ansah.
    We decided that 30 per cent will be reserved for Ghanaians. When the figure was finally determined, we had to go through two options because in many of those cases, the Ghanaian participation was lacking. This is because they could not raise the minimum equity requirement
    of 30 per cent that Government so reserved for a Ghanaian player in it.
    So, I will plead that we start with -- At least, it used to be -- It was even fifty as recommended by us. The Committee, in its wisdom, guided by this debate, up it to two hundred thousand dollars and I will plead with Hon Members. Mr Speaker, for your guidance, that we are now at Consideration Stage, we are not debating the principles, we should stick unto the matters and you would take a decision as you wish.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with respect, since the Hon Minister would want us to compare, would he be kind enough to tell this House the auction figure that he is talking about? The amount, because he is talking about Ghanaians not being in the position to raise the 30 per cent. So, what was the figure that the Hon Minister was talking about so that we can compare?
    Mr H. Iddrisu 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I will get in touch with National Communications Authority (NCA) and get it; I do not have it off head. Mr Speaker, part of my oath to this House is to be honest and sincere. I want to give an honest and a sincere figure, not a guess figure as the Hon Minority Leader is leading me to do.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Ranking Member, the last contribution.
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think the mood in the House here indicates that Hon Members are trying to find out the rationale behind that US$200,000. Why not US$100,000; why not US$250,000; why not US$500,000? That is what we are trying to look at here and that is why the Minority Leader was trying to make some calculations.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
    Hon Members, we can move on to the next item but looking at the issue raised by the Hon Majority Leader, I do not know if we --
    Alhaji Sorogho 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the rest are not controversial, so, we can just -- We met this morning and --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
    Very well.
    Alhaji Sorogho 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the next one is clause 27 -- Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 27, subclause (1), paragraph (b), line 2, delete “two” and substitute “five”.
    So, the amount becomes 500,000 instead of the 200,000. So, we are going up.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Alhaji Sorogho 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 27, subclause (5), line 2, delete “ten” and substitute “twenty”.
    So, Mr Speaker, it will read:
    “An enterprise referred to in subsection (2) shall employ at least, twenty skilled Ghanaians”.
    Mr Opare-Ansah 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague and I had been debating the need for that number. Why not the percentage but a discrete number? My worry is that, in this era of technology, it is a trading enterprise but it could set up virtual trading sites and other mechanisms and may not require that size of employment although they may be doing a significant amount of business.
    So, why are we restricting it to a specific number and what if it grows so big that they can employ two thousand people and the law says, at least, twenty, so they employ 21 people and bring in over one thousand, nine hundred and something foreigners and they still satisfy the law? So, I think it might be prudent if we consider substituting a percentage there instead of the discrete number.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
    Hon Chairman of the Committee, how do you respond to that?
    Alhaji Sorogho 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are talking of “skilled Ghanaians” and depending upon the type of work one is doing, it may involve 90 per cent unskilled and only 10 per cent skilled. And we are saying that out of that 10 per cent skilled, bring twenty.
    If you want us to talk about percentage, Mr Speaker, I do not have any objection to that but I think that the immediate Act that we are trying to amend talked about “ten” and we are saying that; no, we will be using figures; ten is on the lower side, let us add 100 per cent, so twenty. empirical evidence.
    Mr H. Iddrisu 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I ordinarily would wish that what is in the Bill was maintained and not even increased to “twenty” because clause 27 (2), if you look at subclause (5) “An enterprise referred to in subsection (2) . . . ” So, with your indulgence, let us go to subsection
    (2):
    “despite subsection (1) a trading enterprise that is principally engaged in the purchase and sale of goods shall not be only owned by a person who is not a citizen but shall operate by way of a joint venture with a partner who is a citizen” .
    That is, you are targeting small and medium scale. If you up it to the “twenty” the enterprise may not be able to absorb that number because labour comes as a cost to them. So, I would think that what we even have originally as “ten” for a small medium-scale enterprise, should be enough.
    Mr Danquah 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, clause 27 (4), I proposed an amendment but it was not captured on the Order Paper, so I would want to move it if you so permit.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
    Hon Member, let us finish with this one.
    Mr Danquah 1:15 p.m.
    You have come to (5). I was talking about subclause (4).
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
    -- [Pause.] I believe we can come back to subclause (4); let us clear this one. It has been debated. I want to put the Question and then we can come back, nothing stops us.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Opare Ansah 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, was this with regard to my proposed amendment or the original amendment?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    We are looking at the original; if the original was rejected, then we would want to look at other options.
    Mr Opare-Ansah 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Orders at the Consideration Stage are that when there is an amendment proposed on the original amendment, the Question is put on the proposal to the amendment. That is what I thought you were doing.
    Mr Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    No! Hon Member, we have cleared that hurdle; let us move on.
    Now, let us go back to subclause 4, the amendment proposed by Hon J. B. Danquah. Can you read it over to the hearing of Hon Members, so that we take a decision?
    Mr Danquah 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that clause 27, subclause (4), new paragraph be added --
    “That a person who is not a citizen but who engages in a trading enterprise shall wholly own that trading enterprise if that person invests in that trading enterprise not less than US$3 million in cash relevant to the investment or a combination of both by way of equity capital”.
    Mr Speaker, the basis for this amend- ment is that, we were proposing that there should always be a 30 per cent joint ownership when one is doing trading in the country with a million dollars as a minimum capital, and it was raising a lot of concern in the business environment.
    So, my proposed amendment is that, one can wholly own a trading enterprise if one increases the minimum capital requirement.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Chairman of the Committee, how do you respond?
    Alhaji Sorogho 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I oppose the amendment. The very reason is that clause 26 reserves certain enterprises to Ghanaians.
    Mr Speaker, is he here saying that anybody who is able to raise this amount, can just go into any trading at all? Mr Speaker, it is not about money per se. Mr Speaker, we are looking for employment for Ghanaians and so, because of that the law has been crafted in such a way that various clauses deal with various aspects. And we are saying that there are certain areas, that if one is not a Ghanaian, one cannot go. So, I think that this cannot be supported.
    The other one has been moved from US$300,000 to one million dollars and so, Mr Speaker, this is not an amendment that I can support. This morning, we were at the winnowing but he did not even mention it to any of us at all.
    Mr Danquah 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think my Chairman has not understood me --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    If you will give me some time, I will let the Hon Minister respond and then, I will get back to you, so that you can take the two views together.
    Mr H. Iddrisu 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would persuade my Colleague to abandon his proposed amendment. If you go to the fourth paragraph of the accompanying Memorandum, “for commercial or trading activities involving purchasing and selling of goods, the minimum requirement was pegged at US$300,000”.
    That was in 1994. But with this new Bill, we are upping that to US$1 million as a requirement as an investment and that should be sufficient. To raise it to US$3 million, as I indicated earlier, we need to be relatively competitive.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, how do you respond to that?
    Mr Danquah 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think the Hon Chairman and Hon Minister have not understood me. Mr Speaker, it is saying that I would want the Hon Minister to pay attention, please.
    It is says that if one wants to engage in trading enterprise and one is a non- citizen, then one needs to raise a million dollars and then also have equity of 30 per cent in addition. That is what this is saying and that is creating a lot of issues in the market place. So, even this amendment, I run it through the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and what they said was that if that is the case, the main thing is to increase the minimum capital requirement and then the person would not need to have the 30 per cent equity.
    So, if he brings the US$3 million, then the non-Ghanaian is free to wholly own his trading enterprise. That is what this means. I think they did not understand the import of this amendment. That is what this amendment says.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    But Hon Member, do you not think that would be a very cunning way of edging out Ghanaians?
    Mr Danquah 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are forcing the equity of 30 per cent and they would have one million dollars. So, imagine today, the person has a US$10 million investment and we are saying that the Ghanaian should have 30 per cent, how are we going to enforce or how are we going to do the valuation? It is not an easy process.
    So, if for instance, I am in a steel business or I am in a commodity trade business and my turnover or my investment today requires US$100 million and we are saying we want 30 per cent to go to a Ghanaian, how are we going to do the valuation to get to the US$30 million or the US$60 million? It is not easily enforceable.
    However, if the person's minimum capital requirement is in excess of US$3 million, then he can wholly own that enterprise. That is the import of this amendment. But if we leave it at one million dollars and we want 30 per cent, it would be very difficult to enforce, and it would create a lot of confusion.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    All right. Hon Ranking Member, can we take your input in this regard?
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not so sure about my position on this. I have not read through it very carefully, I have not been listening very carefully.
    But I think what he is trying to say here is that, the one million dollars is on the low side and we need US$3 million. But I am not getting the import correctly if he can actually repeat it.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    Well, it is all right.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think if I understood my Hon Colleague well, the problem that he is anticipating is
    that a foreigner or a non-citizen comes for a trading enterprise; he raises about US$5 million; it is required that Ghanaians be attached to this enterprise and that they contribute 30 per cent. But we have a difficulty for the Ghanaians raising the 30 per cent equity and he is saying that in that case, the non-citizen shall wholly own that trading enterprise. I think that is the problem that he is anticipating.
    I am not comfortable with him saying that the enterprise shall wholly be owned by the non-citizen. The use of the word “shall” is even a problem to me and I thought that maybe, if he says “may” then some discretion could be given to the authority that would be monitoring this.
    But clearly, we could also have problems as the Hon Minister himself alluded to in respect of the example that he gave. When the amount involved was US$5 million, we could not have Ghanaians coming in for the equity shares; so in that case, what is to be done? I think that if we can have a structure of this to still give some discretion to the authority that would be monitoring --
    For instance, if he had said that the person “may wholly own it subject to the approval of the monitoring authority” I would not have a problem with that because that then would allow some room in such a situation.
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 1:35 p.m.
    I am sorry, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, I think the Hon Member's point is that there is no clause that allows a foreigner to wholly own a trading concern. And he is trying to put in a new clause that will allow a foreigner to own 100 per cent in trading but that amount should be pegged at three million; that is the import of his argument.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    Hon Members, I think that we can break at this point; I have to take all of them together.
    Right, the amendments proposed for clause 27, have we gone through all of them? Not yet?
    Alhaji Sorogho 1:35 p.m.
    Last one; Mr Speaker, last one.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    The time is 1.35 p.m.; that is my problem. I believe we can continue tomorrow.
    So, this brings us to the end of the Consideration Stage for today. We will continue tomorrow.
    Hon Majority Leader --
    Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor 1:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we certainly appreciate the times and the need for us to take a break. But it is also important that we take note of the level and volume of work of the House. It is becoming clear that between the whole of yesterday and today, only two clauses of the GIPC Bill, 2013 have been taken.
    I just hope that, that is being done to improve the quality of the Bill because every businessman knows that time is of essence -- [Interruption] -- I am saying, I just hope that it is with the intention of
    improving the quality; that is my hope. And we need to take a closer look at it, so that if there are opportunities for us to speed up with what we are doing, I think it would be in the interest of this House.
    Mr Speaker, I am saying this because I have taken note of even the Supreme Court Judges who have drawn attention to the fact that they do not feel happy that they come, they are paid and they do not really see exactly what they do on those particular days because of technical arguments. And we must be taking a cue from that as well.
    So, with this, I beg to move, that this House do adjourn till tomorrow.
    Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to assure the Hon Majority Leader, that his hope is not a feline one; it is not a feline hope. Really, this House is fully in charge of our responsibilities and we are doing what is right.
    Mr Speaker, it may appear as if time is being “wasted”; but I think that what we are doing, would really further enrich this Bill.
    Mr Speaker, I remember that yesterday, I even raised some concern about citizenship and the Hon Majority Leader said that well, “citizenship” had been defined in the Constitution. The Hon Minister and the Hon Second Deputy Speaker --
    Mr Speaker, I have perused the Constitution; there is nowhere that “citizenship” has been defined. [Interruption.] I have perused it -- really, it is “a citizen of Ghana”; and that is why I said we should employ that cons- truction. Maybe, we would take it at the Second Consideration Stage.
    But Mr Speaker, all that we do is to add value to the Bills that come before us. So, let the Hon Majority Leader have that blessed assurance that nobody is purposed to derail -- but this House should also not be stampeded. We should not be railroaded into doing what otherwise, would turn out to be improper piece of legislation. Let us do what is right and I believe the nation would hold this House in high esteem.
    Mr Speaker, on that note, I beg to second the Motion for adjournment moved by the Hon Majority Leader.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    ADJOURNMENT 1:35 p.m.