Debates of 12 Jul 2013

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:25 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Members, we also have the Official Report of Tuesday, 9th July, 2013 for correction.
Ms Ursula G. Owusu 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Official Report for Tuesday, 9th July, column 1401, paragraph (c) should read; “…including voice, video or “data” not date. So “date” should be changed to “data”.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Very well.
Ms Owusu 11:25 a.m.
And Mr Speaker, column 1415, the second paragraph, it should read; “Now, I think he has qualified it or their agents”. It says “they are”; it should be changed to “their agents”.
Column 1414, third paragraph, Mr Speaker's name is spelt wrongly. It should be “Speaker” not “Apeaker”.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Very well, Hon Member, thank you very much.
Hon Members, the Official Report of Tuesday, 9th July, 2013 as corrected is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:35 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Statements
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Order 72 of the Standing Orders, your goodself may admit Statements to be made in the House by Hon Members. Ministers of State may be permitted to make Statements of Government policy in accordance with Order 70 (2).
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 of the Standing Orders. 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.
ICT Training Programme for Members of Parliament (MPs)
Mr Speaker, the ICT training programme for Hon Members, which began on Monday, 8th July 2013, is scheduled to end on Monday, 15th July, 2013. All Hon
Members are entreated to avail themselves at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) to participate in the closing session of the training programme.
The House is expected to rise sine die on Friday, 19th July 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) Annual Report of the District Assemblies Common Fund for the year 2012.

(b) Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Consolidated Fund) for the year ended 31st December, 2012.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Bill, 2013 (Conclusion)

Committee sittings/joint Caucus/ Committee of the Whole.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a) Report of the Committee of Selection on changes in the membership of committees.

(b) Report of the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation on the Internal Revenue (Amendment) Regulations, 2013 (L. I. 2202).

(c) Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Agree- ment between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) for the establishment of an ACBF Regional Office in Ghana.

Motion

Third Reading of Bills --

Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Bill, 2013

Private Members' Motion --

-- That this Honourable House expresses concern about the recent spate of fire outbreaks especially at markets and other workplaces and calls on the Government to brief this House on the outcome of ongoing investigations.

(Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey)

(Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah)

Committee sittings.

Statements

Motions --

(a) Adoption of the Report of the Committee of Selection on changes in the membership of committees.

(b) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Agreement between the
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:35 a.m.
Government of the Republic of Ghana and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) for the establishment of an ACBF Regional Office in Ghana.
Consequential Resolution
Committee sittings.

Statements

Motion --

-- Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Subsidiary Legisla- tion on the Internal Revenue (Amendment) Regulations, 2013 (L.

I. 2202).

The House expected to rise sine die.

Mr Speaker, the ICT training pro- gramme for Members of Parliament would end on 15 th July, 2013 and all Hon Members are entreated to avail themselves at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) to participate in the closing session of the training.

Mr Speaker, in accordance with Order 160 (2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee respectively submits to this Honourable House, the order in which the business of the House shall be taken during the week.
Mr Isaac K. Asiamah 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have gone through the Business Statement and every day, we have committee sittings.
Mr Speaker, we are in the Second Meeting of the First Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic. Mr Speaker, committees sit almost every time;
we sit, deliberate, we plan and we programme for the Meeting.
Mr Speaker, our major concern is about funding of committees -- Mr Speaker, this is so critical to the work of Parliament. How do we conduct our oversight responsibility as Parliament when committees are under funded?

The Executive has everything at its disposal to do its work. But Parliament is constraint, it is under funded. Parliament should rise up to the occasion. This is my ninth year in this august House and this is the time that I have witnessed the greatest challenge ever to funding of Parliament. This is unfair and I urge Parliament to stamp its authority.

Mr Speaker, you should use your good office to urge the Executive to provide funding to Parliament. Mr Speaker, Parliament is broke -- is broke. Parliament is broke and this is highly unacceptable. I have been elected here to provide proper oversight and what is happening to Parliament? Mr Speaker, it is very sad to our democracy that Parliament, the people's representatives are denied access to funding.

We are supposed to check the Executive and how do we check them? Mr Speaker, this is a deliberate attempt by the Executive to constraint us, so that we cannot provide proper oversight over their activities. We should check this trend; we should check it. If we do not check it, this House can never work.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Member, you are entitled to make your comments but the rules are very clear that you cannot impute improper motive. So, to the extent that you are trying to impute improper motive, you have a number of tools that you can use to get answers to the issues that you are raising. So, withdraw that part where you are imputing improper motive.
Mr I. K. Asiamah 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, for your advice and with the respect, I have for you, I will withdraw it.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Member, that is what the rules say.
Mr I. K. Asiamah 11:35 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, I do so humbly. But the perception is being created and not only that -- our working here, we are feeling it. We are feeling it that indeed, we do not have the requisite resource -- funding to work and as a Member of Parliament, I have every legitimate right to voice out my feeling if I am not given the r ight tools and equipment to deliver as expected. [Hear! Hear!]
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Member, you have made your point
Mr I. K. Asiamah 11:35 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think you have already addressed it. The Hon Member made a point about how his committee should be funded. Then he jumped to Parliament as an institution and he talked about how Parliament is broke and I think you have addressed that.
But that frankly, is not a statement that should be coming from the Hon Member, especially when he does not have the basis -- he does not have the information and I think that word Parliament is “broke” without any background, without any information, should be withdrawn.
Mr David T. Assumeng 11:45 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, on the ICT training for Hon Members, as far as I am aware, the first batch of Members had their training at GIMPA. Now, you are saying all Hon Members should be there. Are we now grouping all Hon Members to go to the last one or because the first batch had theirs, they are out of the training?
Dr Kunbuor 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I guess that they had circulated -- Some names had actually been taken and broken into the two sessions; so, they certainly are aware. But for the closing session, we expect that all Hon Members who would be interested or have had that training can just join for the ceremony. But for the 15th July, 2013, the Hon Members involved are aware.
Ms Shirley A Botchwey 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I see on the Business Statement at page 1 for Wednesday, 17th July, 2013, the Motion that I filed. But my Motion is different from what has been documented here. This is not what I am seeking to present to the House.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Member, you are absolutely right. But look at your Standing Orders, I expect the Table Office which admits Motions -- And I have the right to reject, amend or accept -- and I get advice from the Clerks-at-the-Table. They advised me and I was expecting that they would show the outcome of the advice to you and that is one of the reasons the Motion has delayed.
I expected that before it is advertised, they would have informed you on the challenges with the original Motion and for you to say, no, you want it in that form or not. This is because I do not want to reject it completely.
Ms Botchwey 11:45 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will contact the Table Office and see how we intend to proceed.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
I have just referred you to Standing Order 79(4):
“Every notice shall be submitted to Mr Speaker who shall direct that it be printed in its original terms or with such amendments as he shall direct, or that it be returned to the Member submitting it as being inadmissible.”
It is on that basis -- and also the Motion raises certain legal issues and challenges, and based on that, I decided to do it in that form. But as I said, I expected them to inform you in the form that I directed before it was properly submitted to the Business Committee for programming. So, if you get in touch with them, you would get the information that you require.
Dr Anthony A. Osei 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on the matter that my Colleague raised early on, I would want to take it from a different angle. I believe that sometimes, it is how information is communicated or otherwise, that we get into this fix.
I am aware, for example, that your Finance Committee has been provided funding for the year. But the information was given to the Chairman and myself but other committees do not even have that information. We were given copies and

Hon Members said they wanted to know, so, we printed it for them. I do not believe that it is a secret that Hon Members should know how much has been allocated to their committees for the year, then they can plan. But if the information is not known, then there is no way of planning.

So, I would want to urge the House that if there is a budget for each committee formally, committee members should know, then they can decide -- [Interrup- tion] -- At the time that I got mine, my Deputy Minority Leader was not even aware that that information was available.

Mr Speaker, if the Deputy Minority Leader is not aware about committee funding, it means somebody is not communicating well and I plead that on such matters, let us find a way to ensure that Hon Members have the information. If it is inadequate, yes, we can deal with that.

The second point is that, how the budget was even made, we do not know. This is a budget for Members of Parliament; we should have an input in how our budget is prepared. This is the way other Parliaments do it.
and I do not see anything here, that is why I would want to raise it again. We are expecting to rise next week
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Member, were you here when he made the amendment today? Were you here when he made the amendment?
DrA. A. Osei 11:45 a.m.
Which amendment? -- [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
The amendment to the Business Statement; were you here? Hon Member for Old Tafo, were you here?
Dr A. A. Osei 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I sincerely apologise. If I were here, I did not listen. On the face of the “pink sheet”, I was not here -- [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Members, I do not want to say this but because the Hon Asiamah said it. It is too harsh to say Parliament is broke. We have challenges but Parliament is not broke.

Hon Members, every committee has a budget and every matter -- I am a believer in committees and I have made the point very clear that the House operates through its committees. I have made the point very clear.

Hon Members, some of the challenges that we are facing in the House, I can tell you honestly, come from Hon Members themselves.

Hon Members, we need to have proper sitting on this matter and we would give you the details. Indeed, as a result of this, the Parliamentary Service Board that I have chaired, has carried on certain reforms and brought certain things in place to check some of those things and at the Closed Sitting, we would make those information available to Hon Members.
Dr Kunbuor 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, just for purposes of the record, it certainly is not true that Hon Members do not have an idea of what has been allocated to committees -- [Interruption] -- Mr Speaker, the Special Budget Committee that actually handled the Appropriations for committees was chaired by Prof. Gyan-
Baffour. When the appropriations were finished--there is a booklet that is available on almost all these specific allocations that have been made.
The reason I am saying this is that, I have time and again cautioned that, let us not push welfare matters too much on the floor and that by the time we go to the joint Caucus and then the Committee of the Whole, almost all these things would be ironed out.
We just concluded the last part of the discussions in relation to some of these specific matters. If the Committee of Selection had actually sat, you would have seen that the information would be at one place and it would be made available to Hon Members. But when an appropriation is made and it is supposed to constitute knowledge to all the beneficiaries, it should be understood. The figures are not a secret; they are there and they were approved by this House.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Members, just not to stretch the information being provided by the Hon Majority Leader, I have been advised by the Clerk that the Budget Manual with regard to the allocations has been given to the leadership of both sides of the House; it has been given to all Committee Chairmen and it has been given to all the caucus leaders. That is the information that the Clerk has just given me.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the issue raised by the Hon Member for Atwima Mponua has brought to the fore the importance of holding Closed Sittings as Mr Speaker has suggested, periodically, so that some of these matters may be aired. And I would propose that the joint Caucus, which is really to discuss welfare matters, preceding the joint Caucus, we
could have a Closed Sitting or a Committee of the Whole, so that these matters can be discussed. They are not welfare matters to be discussed at joint Caucus; they are matters affecting the Business of this House, except that these are not matters which may be necessary for the general public to know. This is because they are in-house matters.
So, I am suggesting to the Leadership, probably, after discussing with Mr Speaker, if we have a Closed Sitting or a Committee of the Whole to precede the joint Caucus, so that some of these matters may be discussed.
Mr Speaker, just to confirm what the Hon Member for Old Tafo said,we were at the Finance Committee when the Hon Chairman and Hon Ranking Member were given a certain booklet and I said, what is this booklet? And they said, oh, it is the Budget Appropriation and I said, then we should know and they told us.
So, when we come as you suggested, to the Committee of the Whole and Closed Sitting, then probably, we would know whether it would not be -- [Interruption] -- Well, if it is not too expensive for Hon Members who are interested in having to know, to also be given access to this thing -- that is all. But certainly, at plenary like this, to be bold discussing these matters in detail, may not really help because we may then not have the opportunity to discuss these matters informally.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague, Hon Asiamah has brought a very important issue to the fore of the House. But Mr Speaker, I need your guidance; this is a House of record. For him to go categorical that Parliament is broke, I think that he should withdraw it.
This is because the wheels of this House have not and cannot run to a halt. Parliament is functioning and functioning effectively; the committees are working and working effectively albeit with a challenge. If he is making a request for improved funding, nobody has a difficulty with it.
But to make a public statement that this House is broke, I do not think that that is proper and I would urge that Mr Speaker, he withdraws the words “Parliament is broke” and associate himself with the rest of his comments.
I thank you.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Asiamah -- yes, Hon Deputy Minority Leader, I have made a comment on that matter but he made a very important point that it is a House of record.
Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is true you made a comment. I would not have made a comment; I actually wanted my Hon Colleague to make the statement that he wants to make.

What Hon Asiamah said is not the fact that we are not aware that committees have a budget. He is talking about the releases; he is not talking about the budget.

We all know that we have a budget. Maybe, you may not even know -- [Interruption] -- we all know that the committees have a budget. Whether we know the quantum or not, is another --
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Members, it would be in the interest of this House to discuss these things in Closed Sitting. But I can tell you that Parliament has received its releases up to May, to the best of my knowledge -- [Interruption] -- Yes, up to May. June, I know the release letter -- I have been advised by the Clerk that they have given us the release letter but Parliament has received its releases up to May. June, I have been advised that they are processing it.
Hon Members, I would want to put that on record -- [Interruption] -- Hon Members, if you at a particular time -- [Interruption] -- Hon Members, there are things you need to know and the former Hon Leader of the House has made suggestions and I agree with him. But I made the point and he endorsed my view that we should have a Closed Sitting.
Hon Member, on this matter, please, withdraw the word “broke”; withdraw, please.
Mr I. K. Asiamah 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yourself, you ruled on the matter.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Yes, but withdraw it. They want to hear it coming from your mouth.
Mr I. K. Asiamah 11:55 a.m.
But Mr Speaker, you ruled.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Member, I was coming to that anyway,if he had not suggested it. If he had not suggested it, I was going to ask you to withdraw it anyway.
Mr Nitiwul 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, you have ruled that he should withdraw the word “broke”; obviously, he will withdraw that word. But Mr Speaker, he says the Parliament is challenged, which is true -- financially --
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Member, they are two separate things, please.
Mr Nitiwul 11:55 a.m.
So, that is what he means.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Yes, so, I say he should withdraw -- [Interruption] -- He should withdraw the word “broke”.
Mr I. K. Asiamah 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to substitute it with the words “seriously financially challenged” --
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Member, in view of the fact that we have received our releases up to May and only June is in arrears, will you qualify your “challenge” with “serious”?[Interruption.]
Hon Asiamah, please, do what is right, so that we can make progress, please.
Mr I. K. Asiamah 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I speak as an Hon Ranking Member; so what I am saying is -- the money might have been released but we do not have it. As a Ranking Member --
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Member, please, withdraw the word “seriously” and let us make progress.
Mr I. K.Asiamah 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I withdraw it.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Very good and thank you very much.
Hon Members that brings us to the end of the Business Statement --
Several Hon Members -- rose --
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Yes, Hon O. B. Amoah --
Mr Osei B. Amoah 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to make a few comments regarding the Business Statement.
Mr Speaker, Tuesday, 16th July, 2013 (b) -- Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana. I think the year is “2011”, not “2012”. As far as we are aware, 2011 has not been laid in Parliament -- [Interruption] -- 2011 has not been laid, consolidated --
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Member --
Mr O. B. Amoah 11:55 a.m.
Yes, consolidated, 2011 has not been laid, and I do not think 2012 is ready. So, that correction should be made. Then Wednesday -- Report on the Committee of Subsidiary Legislation -- Mr Speaker, if you look at the Order Paper, page 2, (6)(a), it is talking about L. I. 2203 but item 2(b) of the Business Statement is talking about L.I. 220.
Indeed, Mr Speaker, the situation is that a new L.I. is to be laid today and it is the same L.I., which is to be withdrawn and laid today. We cannot be having a report on L.I. on Wednesday, 17th July, 2013 as has been put here. That correction should be made.
Mr Benito Owusu-Bio 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to make a comment on page 1 -- Wednesday, 17th July, 2013, on the Report of the Committee of Selection on changes in the membership of committees.
Mr Speaker, this particular Report and its appearing on schedule for the various weeks, has been postponed for -- I think this is about the sixth time. Mr Speaker, if this happens --
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Member, I know why you are raising the issue, so, you sit down; do not worry; your promotion will come. [Interruption] -- Let us concentrate on the Business Statement.
Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am referring to the issue raised by the Hon Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee and the fact that there is listed on today's Order Paper, L.I. 2203 and then in the Business Statement an L.I. 2202.
Mr Speaker, if my memory serves me right, during the course of the last Parliament, the issue of L.l.s and C.I.s, basically, subsidiary legislation coming to this House, and already having Gazette
numbers, was ruled upon not to be right. So, Mr Speaker, I would want your guidance what this House is supposed to do. Are L.I.s and C.I.s supposed to come to this House with numbers before we deal with them? Or are they supposed to be laid and then go and get Gazetted and
-- 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Members, Papers are being laid. When we get there -- when the report comes and we are debating, then we would raise all the issues. For all you know, the Committee may, in their report, raise these matters for debate. So, let us see the Paper -- Yes, I know what you are talking about. This is a new Parliament. [Laughter.]
Mr O. B. Amoah 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I did not get your ruling on the issue that I raised. This is because I said that it appears a mistake has been made. The Legislative Instrument (L.I.) is to be laid today, meanwhile, we are expecting a report on Wednesday and they are different numbers.
The impression is that the old one is to be withdrawn and the new one laid today. And if that is the case, it means what is put there on Wednesday, 17th July, 2003 should not be the case if you compare the Order Paper with what is in the Business Statement.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Yes, this morning at the Speaker's Lobby, my attention was drawn to the fact that a certain L.I. is going to be withdrawn and another one laid. So, you are right.
Hon Majority Leader, you are the Chairman, do you have anything to say?
Dr Kunbuor 12:05 p.m.
Yes, we would accept the amendment. It is just because of the sequence in the Order Paper. So, we would take the amendment accordingly.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of the Business Statement. It is accordingly adopted for the Eighth Week ending Friday, 19th July, 2013 with the necessary amendments of course.
Question time -- Hon Minister for Roads and Highways?
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 12:05 p.m.
MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 12:05 p.m.
HIGHWAYS 12:05 p.m.
Minister for Roads and Highways (Alhaji Amin A. Sulemani) (MP) 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the road in question is a feeder road located in the Kadjebi District of the Volta Region.
The Department of Feeder Roads (DFR), Mr Speaker, does not have a programme to upgrade the road to a bituminous surface this year. The road has, however, been programmed for routine maintenance in 2013. The first ten kilometres were completed in March, 2013. Work on the remaining stretch is yet to commence.
Mr Speaker, engineering studies will be carried out on the road. The outcome of the studies will determine the appropriate intervention that needs to be undertaken subject to the availability of funds.
Mr Ofori 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is true that the first ten kilometres have been done. May I know from the Hon Minister whether routine maintenance goes with maintenance of bridge and culverts on the road or is just shaping of the road?
Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know why the Hon Member -- There are some roads with culverts along the stretch that we have already maintained and we programmed to fix them alongside the remaining section.
Mr Ofori 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this community being a cocoa growing area in the Kadjebi District in the Volta Region, would the Hon Minister consider programming this road under the 2014 Cocoa Roads Programme?
Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would look at our budget and see whether there will be room for it in 2014.
Status of Asato road
Q. 8. Mr Joseph Kwadwo Ofori asked the Minister for Roads and Highways why the road construction from Asato in the Kadjebi District to Akposokubi in the Biakoye Districat had stalled over the past six years.
Alhaji Amin A. Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Asato-Akposokubi feeder road is 8 kilometres long and is located in the Kadjebi District of the Volta Region.
The Asato-Akposokubi feeder road is a road, which when developed, will connect the Nkwanta-Kadjebi trunk road to the Worawora-Danbai trunk road. The road traverses steep mountainous terrain, and requires large capital investment for its construction. The Department of Feeder Roads (DFR) therefore, pro- grammed the construction of the above road in stages.
Mr Ofori 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, from the Hon Minister's own Answer, it shows clearly that the road is an important road since it links Nkwanta and Kadjebi trunk roads as well as Worawora and Danbai. Would the Hon Minister consider reviving the road in due course?
Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is certainly the desire of Government to ensure that all roads are constructed. But as I indicated in the Answer, this is a road that needs a lot of funding which we cannot easily meet from the budgetary allocation. That is why I indicated that we are looking for a funding source. If we get the funding, we would add this important road.
Mr Ofori 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, may I know from the Hon Minister, whether costing or engineering work was done on the road before award was done in 2003 as indicated.
Alhaji Sulemani 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, naturally, for a road of that nature
engineering works would have been done before the award was done.

Potholes on Hohoe Trunk Road

Q. 2. Mr Joseph Kwadwo Ofori asked the Minister for Roads and Highways what short-term measure the Ministry had to address the potholes on the main trunk road from Hohoe through Jasikan to Kadjebi.
Alhaji Sulemani 12:15 p.m.
The Hohoe-Jasikan- Kadjebi road is a surface treated road in a fair condition. It is about forty-five (45) kilometres long.
The road has been programmed for pot- hole patching under our 2013 routine maintenance programme. The contractor is currently on site and work is about 50 per cent completed.
The contractor is expected to complete patching the entire road before December,
2013.
Mr Daniel K. Ashiaman 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to add my voice to the Question my Hon Brother has just asked because from Hohoe-Jasikan to Kadjebi, which is part of the eastern corridor road, is the heart beat of the people and they always expect us to do something there. So, may I find out from the Hon Minister when Hohoe-Jasikan-Kadjebi will be given on contract as part of the eastern corridor road project?
Alhaji Sulemani 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, presently, there is a Question standing on that issue. But the Hon Member may give me notice on his question.
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Minister, if it is part of the Eastern Corridor Road Project, he is asking when it will be awarded. That is the essence of --
Alhaji Sulemani 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that portion of the road is not presently given on any contract.
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Very well.
Status of the eastern corridor roads contract
Q. 10. Mr Emmanuel K. Bedzrah asked the Minister for Roads and Highways the status of the eastern corridor roads contract.
Alhaji Amin A. Sulemani 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the eastern corridor road is a stretch of road from Tema in the Greater-Accra Region through Asikuma, Hohoe and Nkwanta in the Volta Region, Yendi, Gushegu in the Northern Region and terminates in the Upper East Region at Kulungugu.
Presently, three sections of the road are under construction. They are Asikuma-Have (45 kilometres), Dodo Pepesu-Nkwanta (46 kilometres) and Nkwanta-Oti Damanko (50 kilometres).
Meanwhile, on the Oti Damanko- Nakpaduli which is (209 kilometres) section, the Government is yet to finalise the arrangements for a Brazilian loan for its construction.
The Asikuma-Have section of the project is 25 per cent completed. Earthwork is completed for thirty (30 kilometres) out of the forty-five (45 kilometres). Concrete work within the thirty (30 kilometres) stretch is also complete.
For the Dodo Pepesu stretch work is 40 per cent completed. Earthwork is completed for twenty (20 kilometres). Concrete work within the twenty (20 kilometres) is ongoing.
Nkwanta-Oti Damanko is also 25 per cent completed. On this stretch, earthwork is 100 per cent completed. Concrete work is ongoing.
Mr Bedzrah 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister if he is aware that the contractor on the Asikuma- Have section of the road is no longer working and that the work has been abandoned.
Alhaji Sulemani 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the contract is on as far as I am aware. Sometimes contractors on site have challenges with funding and that is why sometimes they break, waiting for us to make some payments to them.
Mr Bedzrah 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Minister when exactly that contract is supposed to be completed, that is, the Asikuma-Have section of the road and the Dodi-Pepesu stretch which is also about 40 per cent complete. When is the contractor expected to complete those projects?
Alhaji Sulemani 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when we award contracts, we attach timelines to them. But construction work or road construction is not an event; it is a process. In the course of work, a lot of factors come up that prevent us from realising the project within the time stipulated.
I inspected the road in question -- the Pepesu section, and even though it is European Union (EU) funded, it rains frequently there and the contractor has delayed as a result of that. I have just given the reason the Asikuma-Have Junction has been delayed.
rose
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Your last supplementary question.
Mr Bedzrah 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, even though I was not satisfied with the completion date, I would still continue.
I would like to ask the Hon Minister whether the contractor is on schedule with the project.
Alhaji Ibrahim D. Abubakari 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want the Hon Minister to confirm to me whether the Bimbilla- Salaga road and the Kpandai-Salaga road are part of the eastern corridor roads.
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Member, that really is not a supplementary question but I would admit it to the extent that the eastern corridor has been mentioned.
Alhaji Abubakari 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my question is, I would want the Hon Minister to confirm whether the Bimbilla- Salaga road and the Kpandai-Salaga road are part of the eastern corridor roads project.
Alhaji Sulemani 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in my Answer to the Question on the eastern corridor, I defined the eastern corridor as starting from Tema through Nkwanta to Nakpanduri and ending at Kulungugu and I think where he is talking about, is a branch. So, certainly, it is not part of the eastern corridor roads.
rose
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Last supplementary question, Hon Member for Ho Central.
Mr Benjamin K. Kpodo 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, back to the Asikuma Junction to Hohoe project. At the commencement of that
project, we were informed that there was dedicated funding for the project. So, when the Hon Minister says they are facing challenges about funding, I think he may need to further clarify that for us.
Alhaji Sulemani 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is a Government of Ghana (GoG) funded programme, so, I am not exactly sure when he said they had dedicated funds for it. Certainly, there are budgetary allocations for the road but I do not know what he means by “dedicated funds”.
Closure of Adomi/Senchi Bridge for rehabilitation
Q. 11. Mr Emmanuel Bedzrah asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Adomi/Senchi Bridge would be closed for rehabilitation works to begin.
Alhaji A Sulemani 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Adomi Bridge is located in the Eastern Region of Ghana on the N2 route. The bridge spans over the Volta River. It has a total length of three hundred and thirty- eight metres (338 m). It is a five-span bridge having its central span two hundred and forty-five metres (245 m) suspended by hangers connecting to an arch.
In 2008, a major defect developed on the Adomi Bridge as a result of a transverse beam that cracked. The crack was repaired and since then a weight restriction of twenty (20) tonnes has been imposed on the bridge.
Mr Speaker, the Government of Ghana has secured funding from the Austrian Government for the rehabilitation of the Adomi Bridge. Messrs Bilfinger MCE GmbH of Austria has been engaged to undertake the rehabilitation works. The site works will take twenty-two (22) calendar months.
Currently, the contractor has mobilised to site and is undertaking the construction of the site camp located on the west bank upstream of the Adomi Bridge.
The Adomi Bridge will be closed to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic during the rehabilitation works.
To ease the inconvenience to be caused to motorists and pedestrians, the Government of Ghana has secured funding for the procurement of two (2) ferries to be sited at Senchi. The ferries are currently being manufactured in The Netherlands.
The bridge will be closed to traffic when the ferries are commissioned for operation.
Mr Bedzrah 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has informed this House that the contract will take 22 calendar months but he has not informed us when the contract was awarded for it to take 22 months. Can the Hon Minister tell us when the contract was awarded and when the 22 months will end?
Alhaji Sulemani 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I certainly did not anticipate that he will be asking for further and more particulars, so, I do not have that answer here.
Mr Bedzrah 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, these questions are on “yellow sheets” and not “pink sheets”; that is why I did not ask for further and better particulars.
But Mr Speaker, I would like the Hon Minister to give us a date when the ferries will arrive. I am asking this question because I ply that road. That is where I pass to my constituency and the bridge
is gradually collapsing. I would want to know when these ferries will arrive. They have been ordered and they are being manufactured but we want to know when they would arrive, so that we will tell our people, they should be rest assured, the ferries will come and the road will be motorable.
Alhaji Sulemani 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the ferries are under construction in the Netherlands and I have the assurance they would be finished, but I cannot tell exactly when the ferries will be in Ghana.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Minister, thank you very much for attending upon the House to respond to Questions. You are discharged.
Yes, Question number 12-- Is the Hon Minister here?
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister is indisposed. I went to the Ministry and I was told a letter was written to the Chief Director to this august House informing us about the Hon Minister not feeling well and that if this House and your goodself can do her a favour, maybe, next week, when she is well, she will come and answer the Question.
The Hon Deputy Minister too has travelled to Abuja for an African Union (AU) Conference, so, if you could do the Ministry a favour and give them maybe, one week to attend upon the House to answer the Question.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, you assured the House yesterday. You gave an assurance to the House yesterday, that the Hon Minister for Health will be in the House to respond to Question number 12.
Mr Agbesi 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, indeed, I gave the assurance. Unfortunately, nature has not permitted her to be present. She is not well. We are told that she has broken her leg and so, she is not here. That is the message the Hon Deputy Majority Whip has given to Parliament.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
You assist the Hon Majority Leader as far as Government Business in this House is concerned. Before you programmed or gave notice to the House that the Hon Minister is coming, it meant you had done your background checks, you were sure that she would be coming before you even put it on the Provisional Order Paper.
Now, this Question was on the Provisional Order Paper. It was on the Order Paper yesterday. You gave the assurance yesterday that the Hon Minister will come today to answer Questions; the Hon Minister is not here. Please, I am not going to take this from the Ministry of Health again. This should be the first and the last.
Mr Agbesi 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we will do well to convey the sentiments of the House to her. As I said, it is unfortunate; just do us a favour. Next week, we are sure that she would be well and attend to the House -- [Laughter.]
Mr Bedzrah 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader has not assured us when the Hon Minister will come to this House to answer the Question.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Yesterday, when he assured us, was he able to deliver?
Mr Bedzrah 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as the Chairman of the Government Assurance Committee, I would want to use my powers to invite the Hon Deputy Majority Leader -- That is on the lighter side.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Well, he has promised that next week, this Question would be taken and I have sent a strong word, so, that should be enough for now.
Hon First Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.
Hon Members, there is communication from His Excellency the President.
ANNOUNCEMENT 12:25 p.m.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE 12:25 p.m.
PRESIDENT 12:25 p.m.
THE RT HON SPEAKER 12:25 p.m.
OFFICE OF PARLIAMENT 12:25 p.m.
PARLIAMENT HOUSE 12:25 p.m.
ACCRA 12:25 p.m.
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC 12:25 p.m.
OF GHANA 12:25 p.m.
Dr Kunbuor 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we could take item number 6 (a) but I would like to crave your indulgence for the Hon Deputy Minister to take all the necessary procedural steps in relation to laying the Paper on itme 6 (a).
Mr Cassiel A. B. Forson 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the leave of the House to accordingly withdraw the Internal Revenue (Amendment) Regulation, 2013
(L.I. 2202).
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
The L.I. is accordingly withdrawn and the referral to the Committee is equally withdrawn.
Dr Kunbuor 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can now take item number 6 (a).
PAPERS 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Item number 6 (b)-- Minister for Energy and Petroleum?
By the Minister for Energy and Petroleum
-- 12:35 p.m.
MOTIONS 12:35 p.m.
Majority Leader (Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor) 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80 (1) which require that no Motion shall be debated until at least, forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion
is moved, the motion, that this Honourable House constitutes an ad hoc committee to study proposals and recommend to the House the appointment of an Auditor to audit the accounts of the Office of the Auditor-General may be moved today.
Deputy Minority Leader (Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul) (on behalf of the Minority Leader): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Item number 8?
MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:38 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Dr Kunbuor 12:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would like to make a slight amendment to Motion numbered 8 by taking out “study proposals and”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:38 p.m.
Very well.
Composition of an ad hoc committee to recommend an Auditor to audit
accounts of the Office of the Auditor- General
Majority Leader (Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor) 12:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House constitutes an ad hoc committee composed of the following Hon Members to study proposals and recommend to the House the appointment of an Auditor to audit the accounts of the Office of the Auditor- General:
Dr Anthony A. Osei (NPP -- Old Tafo) 12:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as the Leader of Government Business said, this is a constitutional matter, which has not been done for quite a while. But curiously, when both of them got up, they spoke about the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and the Ranking Member.
There is another prominent Hon Member; they have not told us his credentials. So, I think in fairness to him and to us, we should know the reasons that Hon Alfred Kwame Agbesi is chairing this Committee, so that we can feel inclined to support the Motion.
Some Hon Members 12:38 p.m.
He is a lawyer.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, being a lawyer is not enough; there are many lawyers here. So, I would crave the indulgence of the --[Laughter.]
Dr Kunbuor 12:38 p.m.
I guess that this is a very obvious matter that is well known to the Hon Member.
But on a more serious note, it is important that you normally have the representation of Leadership on such important constitutional committees.

So, we certainly can assume that, gradually, the law also resides in his bosom by dint of age.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, once the Hon Leader has given such description of my neighbour, Hon Agbesi, I urge all Hon Members to support the Motion.
Mr Joseph Y. Chireh (NDC -- Wa West) 12:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to add my voice to the Motion that has been ably moved by the Hon Leader and seconded by the Hon Deputy Minority Leader, that we should ask this three Hon Members with proven expertise in law and accountancy to make a recommendation for us to appoint from so many people as Auditor to audit the Office of the Auditor- General.
As you know, those who guard and those who keep guard, they themselves must be guarded.
So, this constitutional provision, which requires Parliament to appoint an Auditor to audit the Office of the Auditor- General is an important function. I would urge the members of this Committee to work diligently to bring a recommendation that can meet the approval of all of us.

Mr Speaker, somebody is distracting me from behind.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Go ahead.
Mr Chireh 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if I would address him first and continue.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
No, Hon Member. You have to address the Chair.
Mr Chireh 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I will ignore him.
Mr Speaker, it is important that in doing this job, we also urge the Auditor-General to get his books ready -- get his accounts properly prepared just that he and his officers require of all public institutions to do the same. They should not wait and after we have appointed an Auditor, then they start to put their books in order.
On this note, I urge all Hon Members to vote for this Motion and for us to constitute this Committee.
Mr David T. Assumeng (NDC -- Shai- Osudoku) 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in supporting the Motion, I would want to urge the House to look beyond the recommendation and the appointment This is because the Report of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) should be considered serious, so that as soon as the recommendation is made and the appointments are made, the end result must also be implemented.
rose
Dr A. A. Osei 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the issue is relevance. We are not talking about Reports of the Public Accounts Com- mittee. We are talking about appointing an Auditor to audit the Auditor- General. There is no Public Accounts Committee Report involved here, so, I am not sure why he is going there.
Mr Assumeng 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was just urging the House to look beyond-- I am saying that the Committee will be doing recommendations and after there would be appointments and I am saying that after the appointments, we should not just leave it there. We should also look at the findings that would come to this House.
Mr James K. Avedzi (NDC -- Ketu North) 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion and urge the House to approve the ad hoc committee that is being put up in order for them to recommend to the House for the selection of an Auditor to audit the accounts of the Auditor General.
Mr Speaker, I just observed and also I would want to urge the Committee that in their recommendation they should indicate the term period of the audit because it is not clear whether they are going to audit one year accounts of the Office of the Auditor-General, two years, or three accounts. The time period of the audit should be indicated; so, if it covers five years, they should have it in the Report that the account that is going to be audited covers this number of years.
Also, if we can give the Committee a time within which the recommendation should come to the House for approval -- Mr Speaker, I am aware that 19th of this month, the House will go on recess. I do not know whether their Report is supposed to come to the House for
approval before we go on recess or it will come after we come back in October. So, let us state clearly what they are supposed to do, when they are supposed to submit the Report, for us to take the decision on.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, I do not know if you have some response to the two issues raised.
Dr Kunbuor 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have taken note of the concerns. Actually, the intention of Leadership is that this Committee will expedite action and we will be able to have the name and the Report of the Committee before we rise. But because of the uncertain nature of when Leadership meets, we would find the appropriate place to put this matter.
There are some further consultations that we will need to do with other members who might not necessarily be members of the Committee to make an input into this particular exercise because of the length of time that has been involved and we will be in touch with the Chair of the Committee and the members to address those specific matters by next week.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
What was the issue concerning the period of auditing?
Dr A. A. Kunbuor 12:45 p.m.
That will be taken on board. There is a general terms of reference that has been given and that can be incorporated, Mr Speaker.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on two matters -- If it is a constitutional matter, then they should cover all the periods that we have not done because it is a constitutional matter. Secondly, I plead that we should not rush the Committee because of procurement procedures, so that they do not just do selective tendering. It is a very important thing we
are asking them to do. So, I plead that, yes, it is urgent but let us make sure that - - Just because we are in a hurry, we may force them to break our laws. I think it is important that they do a thorough job, send letters for expression of interest -- It is an important job -- I will be happy if when we come back in October, they have recommendations for us to move on; they will have enough time to cover, do the proper due diligence, so that we do not just get any auditor.
The third thing we want to consider, Mr Speaker, is that, as you are aware, this same Auditor- General appoints just about every Auditor in this country to audit accounts of some other institutions. So, the interesting thing that we are asking him to do, just about every serious auditor I know, he has appointed them to audit institutions. So, potentially, we may be asking him to go outside the country to avoid an apparent conflict of interest. So, we need to look at that very seriously.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
I believe your point is well taken but I believe the Committee will consider all these issues at the appropriate time.
Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the absence of any other Business, I beg to move, that the House adjourns to 10.00 o'clock in the forenoon --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Your Motion has not been put.
The Committee, made up of HonAlfred Kwame Agbesi, Hon Kwaku Agyeman- Manu, Hon Ihrahim Dey Abubakari (Alhaji) therefore, constitute the Ad Hoc Committee to present a report to this House with regard to the appointment of an Auditor who would audit the Auditor- General.
Yes, Hon K.T. Hammond, I thought you were up?
All right. Yes, Hon Majority Leader --
Mr K. T. Hammond 12:45 p.m.
Actually, Mr Speaker, I was wondering if Hon Agbesi is an Auditor or an Accountant -- I thought he was an Ashaiman Lawyer -- [Laughter.]
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Member, the issue was raised by one Hon Member and it has been addressed. At the time, you were not in the Chamber.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the absence of any other Business, I beg to move, that the House be adjourned to the 16th of July, 2013 at 10.00 in the forenoon.
Mr Dominic B.A. Nitiwul 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to
ADJOURNMENT 12:45 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 12.53p.m. till Tuesday, 16th July, 2013 at 10.00 a.m.