Debates of 11 Dec 2013

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:15 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:15 a.m.
Item number 3 on the Order Paper -- Statements.
Hon Members, there is a Statement in memory of the late former President of South Africa, Mr Nelson Mandela.
STATEMENTS 10:15 a.m.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah (NPP -- Sekondi) 10:25 a.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to make a few comments on the commemorative Statement on the death of an African and global icon, the late President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
The life of this great man is a lesson in leadership; leadership which placed the interest of the nation above self; leadership that was prepared to compromise to advance the cause of the people but then, not sacrificing principles thereby.
Mr Speaker, the life of the late Nelson Mandela teaches us that we must price honour and virtue above the rank of position and fortune.
It also teaches us that as leaders, we must bow out of the scene when the applaud is loudest and be convinced that even without us, once we have played our part, others will follow. The love that he got from people is exemplified in the genuine outpouring of grief on the occasion of his death where majority of the countries in this world flew their flags at half mast in his honour.
Mr Speaker, when we die, people are not going to ask about the wealth we leave behind, but our legacy would be enshrined in the hearts of people and we would be assessed on the basis of the extent to which our life positively influenced the lives of others.
Mr Speaker, often times, in leadership, one is maligned and vilified; one is mistreated. It takes a man of courage to place everything behind him and then embrace his former enemy. Let us ask ourselves, had Mandela not adopted the spirit of reconciliation, where will South Africa be at the moment? It was the spirit of reconciliation that is evinced, that has brought the South Africa we know today where whites, blacks and yellow people live in one rainbow nation.
There is a lot that leaders in Africa can learn from the life and times of Nelson Mandela. It is my hope that having left the world, Africa and her leadership would emulate his life and example. Let us know that there is life after leadership. Often times, people are asked: When you leave the presidency, what would you do? When you leave Parliament, what would you do? When you cease to be an Hon Minister, what would you do? When you cease to be the Chairman of your party, what would you do? Nelson Mandela teaches us that we can positively affect the lives of others even after we leave office, and let us learn from this.
Mr Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon Members, I have received a list from your Hon Leaders and I am going strictly according to it.
Deputy Minister for Information and Media Relations (Mr Murtala M. Ibrahim) (MP): Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to also add my voice to the memory of this iconic son of the continent of Africa.
Mr Speaker, Nelson Mandela's role in liberating the people of South Africa from the bondage of so-called colonial rule or the most dehumanising system of governance ever known to mankind in the name of Apartheid, is something that several years to come, people would not forget.
Classical historians would tell you about the class system in India, but I believe that the class system in India is no match to what the people of South Africa experienced several decades ago.
We should also not forget to remember the other people who fought alongside Nelson Mandela when he was tried and unjustifiably convicted in the Rivonia Trial. There were other seven people who were with him and who were described as his co-defendants. They include Walter Sisulo, Govan Mbeki, who was then the Chairman of the ANC and happened to be the father of the second black President
of the Republic of South Africa, in the person of Thebo Mbeki.
We should also not forget that the struggle to liberate the people of South Africa was not done purely by only blacks. There were other white people who appreciated the challenges confronting the South African people and contributed significantly in that struggle.
Mention can be made of Denis Goldberg and even after he was released, after he denounced, if you like, the arm struggle and was deported to Israel. Because of his love for the struggle and liberation of the South African people, he moved from Israel to London and worked in the main office of the ANC. He supported ANC in any way that he could.
So, we need to state that the struggle was not only a struggle by black people from the bondage of so-called white minority who segregated the people, it was a struggle against principle. It was a struggle for liberation for mankind, and that is why you have such people who were whites, who also contributed in that struggle.
Mr Speaker, Ahmed Kathrada, at the age of 17 years, was also one of the people who were convicted alongside Nelson Mandela. Ahmed Kathrada had an Indian descent and at that age of 17 years, it tells one that the struggle was not only limited to the aged, young people contributed in that struggle and it ought to be identified and acknowledged.
It is significant to make mention of Raymond Mhlaba and also make mention of Elias Motsoaledi and Andrew Mlangani; these were heroes who fought alongside Nelson Mandela.
Mr Speaker, as a people who went through that struggle, I think that in commemorating the death of Nelson Mandela and sending this tribute, it should remind us of our own struggle in this country. We cannot forget the 1948 riot in which many of our countrymen were unjustifiably killed on the streets of Accra because they were not fighting for money, they were fighting to liberate their people.
We cannot also forget the struggles of Yaa Asantewaa and others. That tells us that the struggle to liberate this continent of Africa was not a struggle that was predominantly a struggle for men. Women contributed significantly to that struggle and we ought to acknowledge that.
Mr Speaker, having looked at the struggle to liberate the people of South Africa to which Nelson Mandela undoubtedly must take the credit, it should remind us of the struggle of the continent of Africa in which we succeeded in politically liberating it. But the question I ask is: Have we gone far in politically liberating the continent economically? I think that, that is the challenge before us. As young people who are getting into politics, what do we need to do to liberate this continent of ours economically?
It is significant also to remember that just some few years ago, Nelson Mandela was identified and known as a terrorist by the United States of America and I think he was removed from the list of terrorists just some few years ago. It is refreshing that at the time that they were commemorating the death of this great person, we had an American leader who is a black man and that, in my view, is significant.
To see the President of America, who for the first time in the political history of that State having a black President, attending that funeral alongside other leaders or past leaders of America -- I think it is significant.
I can understand sometimes when people are dehumanised, people are vilified and after their death, they become heroes. Notable of such is Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. As a young person, when I grew up, I read certain books about Dr Nkrumah and I thought he was such a beast, a terrorist, a corrupt person. When I read the Dark Days in Ghana, I wept in my room as a level 100 student of the University of Ghana.
I wept because I was asking myself whether, indeed, we had lost it as a people and whether we would have the opportunity to reverse, if you like, the way the pendulum swings, so that we can begin to see the challenges confronting us and how we can forge ahead as a people to liberate this continent.
I have read Mandela's statements in which he said, for the fact that the people of South Africa, indeed, recognised the significant role that he played and the fact that they wanted him to be the first President, he would have declined being the President of South Africa at that time and made mention of his age.
He thought that at that age, he did not have the capacity to rule South Africa. But he admitted that he had to do it because the people demanded that he became the President and he wanted to do it to serve as nothing but a symbolical aspect of it. So, it is significant for us to understand that the age was very important and Mandela at the age of 70 would not have been the President of South Africa; he
Dr Owusu A. Akoto (NPP -- Kwadaso) 10:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to pay tribute to the person I call the greatest hero Africa has ever produced.
Mr Speaker, at the peak of the campaign to release Mandela, I was in England and all kinds of activities were held to draw the world's attention and put pressure on the apartheid South African Government to release Mandela.
The greatest activity that was held under this scheme was the Wembley Stadium event, under the title: “Free Nelson Mandela,” and I was part of the crowd; and indeed, Mr Speaker, you could tell from the hundreds of thousands of people within the stadium and its environment that the people were genuinely asking for this great African to be given his freedom.
On freedom day, I remember, like yesterday, it was a Bank Holiday in England and I had gone to a friend's house for a meeting of the alumni of Opoku Ware Secondary School. We just could not believe our eyes when we saw the television pictures of Mandela walking out of prison. That is an impression which would stay with me forever. This is because it meant that, indeed, this great African had, under the pressure from the world, been released by his captors, the apartheid South African Government.
Mr Speaker, when Mandela came out of prison, the debate was the strategy to fight apartheid, whether by peaceful means or force of arms. Mandela came out of prison and he stood on the side of a peaceful means to liberate the people of South Africa from the bondage of apartheid. This brings me to the debate which was then raging in Africa among the leadership on the methods to use.
Of course, some leaders were vowing for violence to overthrow the South African Government, and others like the great Prof. Busia opted for dialogue. I am glad to say that dialogue prevailed and it was that got the freedom for the people of South Africa.
Some of us have very personal experiences about State dictatorship and taking away freedoms from individuals of the State. It, therefore, comes as a personal experience to see how this great man actually suffered for 27 years in prison, all in the hope that his people would be liberated.
Mr Speaker, I would like on this occasion, again, to add my voice to those of my Hon Colleagues to pay tribute to the great hero Africa has ever produced.
Deputy Minister for Education (Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa) (MP): Mr Speaker, I am very grateful for the opportunity to support this very important Statement ably made by the Leader of this House.
Mr Speaker, yesterday, we all witnessed the overwhelming and unanimous solidarity that the world expressed at Johannesburg's FNB Stadium, where over 100 current and past leaders and ordinary people of the world gathered to eulogise the life and legacy of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
Mr Speaker, Mandela defeated apartheid, but in the process, he has also defeated long-held stereotypical views about African leaders, about the African character and about the African spirit. Mandela proved that good can be found in every man no matter his race, no matter his background, no matter his religion or sex.
As we celebrate the dismantling of apartheid, we ought to remember that there is also an economic and social battle to be waged. The celebration of Mandela should not put us to sleep but it should rather energise us for the battles ahead.
Mr Speaker, an analysis of South Africa's census indicates that black South Africans are still far behind white South Africans. In 2001, white-led households earned US$17,000; by 2011, it had shot up to US$30,000, and yet, black South Africans largely remain impoverished. Another study, the South African Reconciliation Barometer, also revealed that less than 40 per cent of South Africans socialise with people of other races.
Just 22 per cent of white South Africans and a fifth of black South Africans live in racially integrated neighbourhoods. Schools remain heavily segregated. Only 11 per cent of white children go to integrated schools and just 15 per cent of black children attend integrated schools. This shows that the battle is not over.
Apartheid today has worn many masks and the oppressor has taken different forms, be it with unfair world trade, be it with the United Nations political architecture, be it with the ongoing global agriculture subsidy debate, there is the need for us to remember that there is an unfinished business which we have to rededicate ourselves to.
Mr Speaker, as we praise Tambo, as we praise Sisulu, as we praise Winnie, as we praise Biko, we must not forget the proud reputation that this country, Ghana, also has. It was our own Cpt Kojo Tsikata (retd) who joined forces with other African soldiers in the celebrated battle of Quito Quanavale in 1987 and defeated the South African apartheid forces. That, according to many historians, was the most damaging blow to the brutal South African apartheid machine.
Mr Speaker, when Madiba was invited to his house for dinner, the prosecutor who had argued in the Revonia Trial that Mandela should be hanged to death, Madiba was teaching us that tolerance should go beyond superficial smiles and handshakes.
When Madiba wore the number 6 jersey of the Springboks being the captain's jersey in a game that had been reserved strictly for white South Africans, Madiba was teaching us to use sports to unite and heal wounds. That is why it is most despicable that African sportsmen are still being racially taunted in Europe.
When Madiba directed his Ministers not to sack white civil servants in their Ministries, he was teaching us that we must give trust a chance in nation- building.
Mr Speaker, as we speak, the embalmed body of Madiba in glass is being taken through the principal streets of Pretoria, South Africa over the next three days before he is finally laid to rest on Sunday. May all those who see Madiba's funeral cortage, either at close range or across the world through the powerful lenses of the media, be reminded that it can take one man to make a difference and that between good and evil, God has never been neutral.
I thank you for this opportunity, Mr Speaker.
Mr William O. Boafo (NPP -- Akwapim North) 10:55 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the commemorative Statement made by the Hon Leader of the House.
Mr Speaker, throughout the major part of his life, Nelson Mandela suffered, struggled, was humiliated, but at the end of the day, he became victorious. All these manifested in the political arena.
Mr Speaker, Nelson Mandela was motivated by the blatant suffering, discrimination, injustice and servitude of his own people. This happened under the notorious apartheid regime.
Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for a long period of time -- 27 years. But the imprisonment did not discourage him. He was not daunted by his incarceration at all. Rather, it offered an opportunity to inspire his people and this also manifested in the series of unrests which took place in South Africa.
Mr Speaker, his incarceration led to protests against educational segregation, with some youth and young people involved in the demonstration, who suffered at the deadly hands of the apartheid regime.
Mr Speaker, his incarceration equally provided a fertile ground for a different level of the democratic process in South Africa, in which most of the countries in Africa are benefiting as of today. His incarceration prepared the ground for the eventual emancipation of the black race in South Africa from the hardships imposed on them, poverty imposed on them, segregation and humiliation imposed on them by the apartheid regime.
His incarceration and eventual freedom culminated in the reconciliation of the South African nation. Now, we see that South Africa is more democratic than ever before and we can attribute it to persons like Nelson Mandela.
Mr Speaker, Nelson Mandela's life was without borders and people in Africa and the entire international community have benefited from his examples -- his example of resilience, fairness, justice and the fight for freedom. There is no doubt that in honour of what he has done for the people of South Africa, a memorial had been created and built for him in Soweto. The memorial demonstrates the life of Mandela from cradle up to the time that he left this earth.
Mr Speaker, equally close to this memorial, is another memorial depicting the struggle which they went through for the termination of educational segregation.
Mr Speaker, it is, therefore, heartening, that yesterday we all saw a number of Heads of State and Government who were present during his funeral and also across the world, millions of sympathisers who were glued to their television sets to witness the funeral of Nelson Mandela.
Mr Speaker, this is a man who lived and died as a colossus of freedom and justice. He is also a man who is an example of honesty and dedication in politics. He will continue to serve as a role model for most politicians, not only in his country and not only in Africa but the world at large.
We thank God for his life and what we all are going to benefit from it.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Ms Laadi A. Ayamba (NDC -- Pusiga) 10:55 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I rise to associate myself with the Statement made in commemoration of the death of the former President Mandela, popularly known as Madiba.
Mr Speaker, I first learnt about Mandela when I read a book titled “Cry the Beloved Country”. I was then in the training college, T1, in 1977. Mr Speaker, I was so sad, so disturbed that there was a country on this continent where it was expected that blacks should be for themselves and rather another race, if I may put it that way, that were the whites, had taken over and blacks were pushed into areas where they referred to as having only red earth. I was so sad to the extent that I wondered when and how this country would be liberated.
When I read about Mandela and his sense of humility, tolerance, his spirit for peace and love for his country, I thought of my own country Ghana and believed that one day, we would all be united living peacefully and working together. Little did I know that I would be, at least, a leader in the Parliament of Ghana and to make a Statement.
Mr Speaker, in 1979, when the revolu- tion was brought about, Nelson Mandela was one of the people who inspired me before I joined it. Throughout my life in the revolution, I tried as much as I could, to emulate the peace, tolerance and sense of humuor with which Nelson Mandela was working.
Mr Speaker, when Mandela was released from prison after serving not less than 27 years, I could not believe myself, when he took his decisions. I thought he was going to prosecute people, there were going to be a lot of people who would go
into prison and that there would not be any tolerance for people who were involved in mishandling and manhandling South Africans. I was surprised when he took a different decision.
Mr Speaker, I wondered, I asked myself so many questions. But when we came to partisan politics, I told myself that, yes, I think Mandela was right. And for now, he has but left us with a whole basket full of things to emulate as politicians.
We, as leaders, should learn to be patient, we should be tolerant, we should be peaceful, we should accept one another and work as such. Our leaders, for that matter, especially our Presidents, should not forget the fact that no matter which length we go, it is this same country that we are working for and thinking of.
Mr Speaker, I wish Mandela a peaceful rest and my condolence to the people of South Africa.
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Members, there are a number of Hon Members who have indicated that they would want to contribute, so our comments should be very brief, so that I can accommodate as many Members as possible within the time allocated to Statements under our rules.
Mr Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover (NPP -- Tema East) 11:05 a.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to add my voice to the Statement made by the Leader of the House, eulogising Nelson Rolihlahla Madiba Tata Mandela.
Mr Speaker, this was a man of wisdom. Mandela was an institution; he was a symbol of peace; he was a peace-maker and he demonstrated this to the fullest.
Mr Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover (NPP -- Tema East) 11:05 a.m.


Mr Speaker, as I sat on my bed quite recently on Thursday, when he died and I watched from the screens of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Cable News Network (CNN), someone who was described years ago as a terrorist, today, all over the world, he is being idolised and I ask myself questions.

One thing I would not forget, Mr Speaker, is the fact that Mandela had an opportunity to make money for himself. As a lawyer at that time, he could have gone into practice to make money for his family but he decided that the majority of his people in South Africa were more important than himself and he decided to choose the most difficult path.

Mr Speaker, when he came out of prison, a lot of people, particularly from the majority black people thought it was pay-back time. But as he held the hand of both black and white to demonstrate to his people that what was past was past. “Let us forge together as one South Africans to see how best we can deliver our people.”

Mr Speaker, at one time, when the pressure was so intense on the Government of South Africa, particularly Pit Botha, he decided to give him a conditional release. But this is what Mandela said, and as we watched some of the clips by the daughter Zinze -- she said and I beg to quote:

“My father's freedom cannot be separated from his people, therefore, take your release.”

And he decided to stay in prison.

Today, Mandela is gone. We need to have someone in Ghana who can get up and speak and the whole of the country will listen to him. It is important in the geo-politics of our country today and we do not have one yet.

Mr Speaker, while landing, let me say that we have appreciated Mandela. We need to develop more Mandelas in this country, so that tomorrow, after they have come and gone, young politicians as we are, would not speak vile, attacking ourselves left, right and centre.

I thank you very much for the opportunity.
Mr David T. Assumeng (NDC -- Shai- Osudoku) 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this was a man of reconciliation, and the question I would want to ask is: What lesson can we as a nation learn from the legacy of this great man of Africa?
Mr Speaker, I would want to urge that we, as a nation, must begin to think about the winner-takes-all politics in Ghana. As a nation, we must begin to rethink about the winner-takes-all politics. This is because in my view, I think it is not serving the best interest of the development of this country.
Mr Speaker, I would want to see a day not too long, from 2016 thereabout, when we can see a President, for example, like John Dramani Mahama -- [Hear! Hear!] -- in the seat of government and then we can equally have as his Cabinet Minister, a Statesman like Hon Papa Owusu- Ankomah.
Mr Speaker, I am passionate about this appeal -- or where we can even have as the Chairman of the Council of State in the person of Nana Addo Danquah Akufo- Addo -- [Hear! Hear!] Mr Speaker, I believe that if we begin to think about this arrangement, this country would move faster. So, as a legacy of reconciliation, I am proposing that we should think about our constitutional arrangement, whereby -- [Interruptions.]
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Members, let us have order in the Chamber.
Mr Assumeng 11:15 a.m.
We should think about our constitutional arrangement, whereby we can have an all-inclusive government to lead the country forward in a faster rate of development.
I would therefore, want to join the leaders and all to send a word of condolence to the people of South Africa and say that, as a legacy we in Ghana should rethink about our winner-takes all politics and think about an all-inclusive government.
Mr Alexander K. Afenyo-Markin (NPP -- Effutu) 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
Today, Members of this House have joined leaders of the world, Africans, ordinary people in sharing their thoughts about the man Mandela. In adding my voice to all that is being said, I would want to respectfully relate the happenings of South Africa to Ghana.
Mr Speaker, just as it is being said, it came at a time that it took an individual's effort, decision to bring unity, to bring about true reconciliation and to bring about peace. We, as a nation, were confronted with a similar situation and we are all aware that it took an individual's understanding of the true meaning of peace to enable all of us, Majority and Minority, to Sit here with you, Mr Speaker, well placed in the east of this Chamber to preside over our Assembly.
This is no less a person than Nana Addo Danquah Akufo- Addo. [Hear! Hear!] Mr Speaker, he thought about his country and expressed love and demonstrated it
-- 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
I gave you two minutes. You have exhausted your two minutes.
MrAfenyo-Markins 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would round up.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, may I say that a great nationalist, Ghanaian, an African, in his fight for democracy, unfortunately, died in prison-- J. B. Danquah. Mandela was a lucky man .
Mr Speaker, may the souls of all those who have departed in their fight for freedom and democracy rest in perfect peace.
Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Haruna Iddrisu)(MP) 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to comment on the Statement, ably made by the Majority Leader and I should thank him for bringing Mandela onto the floor of this House and for giving us an opportunity to eulogise a man who has been so celebrated by the world.
I am not surprised at the struggle for superlatives by world leaders and even by Members of Parliament to describe the potiem persona of Nelson Mandela.

But that notwithstanding, Mandela, the conqueror is gone. Mandela, the unifier is gone. Mandela, the reconciler is gone. What are the political legacies?” This will be the theme of my contribution to the Majority Leader's Statement.
Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Members, the last two contributions.
Minister of State (Alhaji Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo) (MP) 11:15 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to this very historic Statement ably made by the Leader of the House.
Mr Speaker, we witness the death of Mandela and a man who symbolises liberation, an iconic figure who we cannot forget in the life of the African and the life of the world. He was not just a man who fought and liberated his people, he was a man who fought and liberated the world from the conscience of a situation where we could not compromise our beliefs.
Mr Speaker, in answer to a Question by a Member of Parliament, the then Home Secretary in the South African regime, indicated that about 700 people decided to change colour because the thinking of the ordinary person at the time was to change colour from black to white or from an Indian to white was the way to go. It was simply to dehumanise the human person and to question who we were.
Mr Speaker, I think that the death of Mandela and the life of this man have brought us great lessons that we all have to learn. First of all, we can learn that in the face of the greatest challenge, the truth will always dominate. Secondly, we can also learn that leadership is not just about
the leader at all, it is about the people. Indeed, Mandela demonstrated very, very clearly that he was the man for everybody to look at and praise but the people he led and the people who he fought with.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would want to say that Ghana was at the forefront of the liberation fight. We fought against apartheid. We fought against colonialism. We fought for struggling people of this country and it is unmistakable that the Majority Leader made this Statement and that Parliament itself is contributing to our desire for Mandela to remain in the minds of our people and for the great lessons he has brought onto this world to be guiding principles for us to live by.
I would like to conclude by saying that we are with the people of South Africa, may this great man be at the right side of God and may his people continue to give us the kind of leadership and to give to themselves the kind of leadership we can all benefit from and may his death and life be a lesson to all of us. All the people of the world, all the people of Africa, that we can have leaders who can be self- sacrificing, who would want to step down when the time comes.
Minority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 11:25 a.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity to associate myself with the eulogy to the memory of Nelson Mandela.
The significance of Nelson Mandela does not lie in the liberation of Black South Africa from economic doldrums. Mr Speaker, that could not be achieved in the five years of his presidency. So, people who look to Nelson Mandela as the
redeemer to liberate the blacks from economic doldrums, would be dis- appointed.
Mr Speaker, at the formal launch of his auto-biography in December, 1994, seven months after he had been inaugurated as President, and that event occurred in Johannesburg, the then Mr Nelson Mandela, in his usual humorous self, joked that there were such difficulties of his office that he sometimes wished to be in the relative tranquil of prison. Mr Speaker, the burden of transforming South Africa into a fully- fledge democracy after centuries of apartheid was herculean.
The entire system Mandela inherited, Mr Speaker, was constructed to serve the interest of the White Minority. Apart from Parliament, all the other institutions -- the civil service, the business class, security forces, the tertiary institution, the media, the stock exchange, even agriculture, all were controlled by the white minority. Yet, Mandela was smart enough to acknowledge that the future of South Africa at that time and indeed, in the foreseeable future depended on the capital, the expertise and experience of the whites.
Like our own Dr KwagyirAggrey, Mandela acknowledged that for harmony to be achieved in the construct of any piece of music, indeed, in the construct of any sound socio-political economy, one needed the combination of black and white keys of the keyboard.
However, Mr Speaker, that philosophy of Mandela was what some black South Africans construed as failure on his part. They felt disappointed and they felt let down by Mandela. Madiba was not perturbed, he remained focused.
Mr Speaker, apartheid they recognise was gone, but they still had serious financial challenges. But we must all
Minority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 11:25 a.m.


acknowledge that it is difficult to uproot apartheid in one decade or even in two decades after several years of practice of the system.

Mr Speaker, Mandela, as an individual, had his own weak points. But which of us, human as we all are, does not have his own foibles? He was selfless and that comes without question. He was a man of profound integrity. Mr Speaker, that again, comes without any question.

The array of world leaders that witnessed the inauguration of President Mandela in 1994 and the gathering of all manner of leaders and ordinary people in South Africa yesterday, the day before yesterday and even today, should tell everybody that Mandela, indeed, was the greatest political colossus who had struggled in the continent of Africa. It comes without any question.

Mr Speaker, the lessons that Mandela impacted to Africans, indeed, to the world are -- selflessness, humility, fairness, resilience, reconciliation, dialogue, consensus-building, leadership by example and not by mere rhetoric as many African leaders do pretence. Mr Speaker, one important lesson that he bequeathed to us is that, nobody, no one individual is a repository of wisdom, knowledge and experience.

As we mourn the man, as we mourn his transition with his family, as we mourn with the people of South Africa, one can only pray that Nelson Mandela enjoys the peace and tranquil that he so much yearned in his life after life.

May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Members, on behalf of the House, I extend my sympathy and condolences to the good people of South Africa and indeed, the family of Nelson Mandela.
Hon Members, furthermore, I direct that a copy of the Statement made by the Hon Majority Leader and the comments thereon, be forwarded to the High Commission of the Republic of South Africa in Ghana for their attention.
Hon Members, should we now observe a minute silence in his honour?

May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Hon Members, at the commencement of Public Business -- Hon Majority Leader?
Dr Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we will defer item 4(a) and then proceed from item 4(b).
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Members, item 4(b) -- by the Chairman of the Committee?
PAPERS 11:25 a.m.
Dr Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have been advised that item 4(e)(i) and (ii) is not ready. So, we go to Motion number 5.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Members, we defer the laying of the rest of the Papers and we move to item number 5 on the Order Paper.
Motions -- Minister for Government Business in Parliament?
MOTIONS 11:35 a.m.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 11:35 a.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I know the Majority Leader wears two hats in the Chamber; he has a dual personality, he is the Majority Leader and Minister for Government Business in Parliament.
Mr Speaker, I am wondering whether this exercise in the performance of this duty, whether indeed, he is doing so as Minster for Government Business in Parliament or as Majority Leader? I thought he was doing so as Majority Leader and Leader of the House, not in his capacity as Minister for Government Business in Parliament.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, why do you hold that view? I would want to understand why?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:35 a.m.
First of all, Mr Speaker, that has been the convention, that is number one; number two; the intention is not to put these Commissions under the armpit of a Minister.
Mr Speaker, that is why we have over the years allowed the Majority Leader and Leader of the House to undertake this enterprise. So, as I am saying, it is the same person -- I am only recognising the personality who is undertaking this enterprise and I think that he should be doing so in his capacity as Leader of the House.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, is it the practice that a non Minister moves the Motion, which involves charge on the Consolidated Fund? Is that the practice?
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.


I thought he was moving the Motion because he is the Minister, because this is a charge. Hon Members, so, you see the Special Budget Committee that deals with the independent constitutional bodies -- the Chairman -- that is where we asked the Majority Leader to be the Chairman and you are the Ranking Member.

As a result, he submits the report of the Committee but does not move the Motion in those areas. So, Leadership may have to sit down and try to clarify this position. I know where you are coming from. But I think that this is a charge on the Consolidated Fund and the practice in the House is that, in respect to that, it is normally moved by -- Hon Members, who moved the Motion for the Judiciary?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it has been the Majority Leader, in his capacity as the Leader of the House, who had done so. It explains why even when the former Majority Leader, Hon Bagbin --
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
I would want to be assisted. Who moves the Motion for independent bodies like the NCCA and the rest?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is the Majority Leader and Leader of the House, not any Minister. You cannot subsume the Judiciary in the armpit of a Minister. That is why it is done by the Majority Leader and Leader of the House and not in his capacity as a Minister.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe that this matter can be well addressed by Leadership after today's Motion. But it has always been done by the Majority Leader, in his capacity as the
Leader of the House because the constitutional bodies are independent constitutional bodies. They are not part of the Executive. That is why we developed that practice. Because the independent constitutional bodies have no locus in Parliament in plenary. So, for instance--that is why we deal with District Assemblies Common Fund -- So, if we could discuss it later.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Members, why is Majority Leader moving the Motion on the NCCA and he submits the Committee's Report? It is because he chairs the Special Budget Committee? There is a problem. So, he moves the Motion again and submits the Committee's Report as the Chairman of the Special Budget Committee. Yes, because the Special Budget Committee is chaired by the Majority Leader under our rules. I think that there is a problem and I agree with you that Leadership should take a look at it.
Before I come to the Majority Leader, Second Deputy Speaker.
Mr Joe Ghartey 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, while Leadership is looking at that, I would want to point out that, the Labour Commission is not an independent constitutional Commission. It does not fall into the same category as NCCA, CHRAJ and so on. The Labour Commission is a statutory Commission under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
It is not an independent constitutional body, it is an independent statutory body.
Mr Ghartey 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am saying that while they are looking at that, they should consider the fact that in my respectful view, independent constitu-
Dr Kunbuor 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have taken a cue from what the Hon Member for Sekondi has said but I did seek some guidance from the Standing Orders and I was quite clear in my mind that if I were to move this Motion, there would be no express provision of our Standing Orders that will be breached.
I also do know that some practices and customs must have developed over the years and that the wider tenets of democracy and good governance would entail that we should try as much as possible not to be putting the heavy feet of the Executive on otherwise independent bodies.
I guess that can be cured at the appropriate time with consultation with Leadership. So, if that will not offend the Hon Minority Leader seriously, I might proceed to move the Motion just to conclude on the remarks I was making in relation to this Motion.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Have you concluded?
Dr Kunbuor 11:35 a.m.
That is so. I saw the Minority Leader nod his head, so, I went further to conclude my submission.
Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Z. Amenowode) 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion and in so doing, present the Report of your Committee on
Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises on the 2014 Annual Budget Estimates of the National Labour Commission.
Mr Speaker, I present your Committee's Report.
Introduction
The Honourable Minister for Finance Mr Seth Emmanuel Terkpeh, in accordance with article 179 of the Constitution, presented the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2014 fiscal year to the House on Tuesday, 19 th November, 2013.
Pursuant to Standing Orders 140(4) and 184 of the House, Mr Speaker referred the draft Annual Budget Estimates of the National Labour Commission to the Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises for consideration and report to the House.
Acknowledgement
The Committee met with the acting Executive Secretary, Mrs Bernice Welbeck and officials of the National Labour Commission and deliberated on the 2014 draft Annual Estimates of the Labour Commission. The Committee is grateful to them for the information and support they provided during deliberations on the Estimates.
In considering the draft Annual Estimates for the Commission, the under- listed documents were used as reference materials:
1. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
2. The Standing Orders of Parliament of Ghana.
3. The 2013 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Z. Amenowode) 11:45 a.m.


Activities for 2014

The funds allocated would be committed to the following activities:

Promote the use of dialogue among the social partners in the management and/or handling of industrial relations to effectively minimize labour agitations.

Promoting the rights, responsibilities and duties of both employers and employees.

Will improve efficiency in its service delivery through effective and speedy facilitation of industrial disputes and disagreements.

Promote the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in the settlement of industrial differences.

Promote good faith negotiations at the enterprise level to ensure reduction in labour agitations.

Ensure prompt enforcement of its decisions, awards and orders in the Law courts where parties fail to comply.

Respond promptly to appeals against its decisions, orders and directives.

Engage social partners in labour to chart effective means to addressing both employers and employees' concerns.

Strengthen the capacity to manage industrial disputes effectively.
SPACE FOR TABLES - PAGES 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Members, at this stage, we are looking at the details. We have passed the stage of policy debate. We are looking at the figures; the details of the estimates. So, as much as possible, your contributions should be directed to the estimates, so that we make progress.
Dr Stephen Nana A. Arthur (NPP -- Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abrem) 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
I rise to support the Motion on the floor, that is, the approval of the sum of GH¢2,378,174 for the services of the National Labour Commission for the year ending 31st December, 2014.
In doing so, Mr Speaker, let me refer you to the strategic role that the National Labour Commission plays, as far as labour relations are concerned in Ghana.
Mr Speaker, the NLC is to develop and promote a peaceful and harmonious industrial relations environment, through the use of alternative dispute resolution practices within the context of the law. In 2013, the Commission settled 173 out of 224 cases, that is, between January and August.
However, the same year, there were 14 strikes. Mr Speaker, we have just been told that cumulatively, over one million
workers were involved and the strike lasted between minimum one week and maximum three months. Man hours lost were between 56 and 672 hours per employee, calculated on eight hours basis.
Mr Speaker, the total loss of productivity hours was between 56 million and 672 million. This is unacceptable and it is unprecedented. But as a nation, Mr Speaker, are we worried about these unacceptable practices in the labour front? I am asking this because the Commission received GH¢387,199 in 2013, out of GH¢754,043 and this translates to only 51 per cent of their budget.
Mr Speaker, and to add insult to injury, for their goods and services, they received only 20 per cent. How will this Commission carry out its work in accordance with high technical standards?
No wonder, from paragraph 670 to 690, under the heading “Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations” in this Budget Statement, nothing was mentioned about the National Labour Commission as though the Commission has no link with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.
Mr Speaker, in the year 2014, the budget for NLC has been proposed to increase by 14 per cent on that of 2013. Although this is woefully inadequate, my prayer is that the Commission would receive their releases timely, otherwise, this problem of man hour loss during the period of strike is likely to suffer.
Mr Speaker, the fact that the economic management of the country is best achieved when there is genuine social dialogue among the social partners, I would recommend that the Commission, in conjunction with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, continuously engage social partners in labour to address both employers and employees' concerns.
Dr Stephen Nana A. Arthur (NPP -- Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abrem) 11:45 a.m.


Again, as a nation, Mr Speaker, it is important to begin to quantify total loss of productivity hours due to industrial strikes. When this is realised, we would all recognise the strategic role of the National Labour Commission and it would also stimulate the discussions about social partners, what they do constructively in policy- making around the question of labour. Let us all commit ourselves to strengthen the capacity of NLC to manage industrial disputes in Ghana effectively.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I would ask that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢2,378,174 for the services of the National Labour Commission.

Thank you very much.
Mr Joseph Nikpe Bukari (NDC -- Saboba) 11:45 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to support the Motion, that this House approves the sum of GH¢2,378,174 for the services of the National Labour Commission for the year ending 31st December, 2014.
Mr Speaker, the National Labour Commission over the years, has played a critical role in ensuring that we have a peaceful labour front and that every worker continues to discharge his or her work without any intimidation from any of the employers or any group of persons.
But Mr Speaker, we live in a country where continuously, workers have come to take the position, that any time they have disputes with their employers, the only tool they can resort to, is by strike action and they get what they want. So, we have to critically look at the National Labour Commission and see how best we can resource it to be able to handle these strikes and ensure that we continue to have a peaceful labour front.
Mr Speaker, the National Labour Commission recorded about 14 strikes, eight of them, we were told, were from the Public Service workers over the implementation of the Single Spine Salary. If you look at the cumulative hours that were lost to the State, we, as a country, still pay people who go on strike for not working; and we are not bold to say that we would also demand from them that anytime they are on strike, they should pay themselves.
With this background, we believe it is proper that we look at the Labour Commission, give them enough resources to be able to employ the needed commissioners to be able to quickly resolve whatever disputes we have in our labour front, so that they do not degenerate into strikes, since we cannot be bold to say we would not pay people for going on strikes. We should see to it that there is always a speedy resolution to issues that are brought to the Labour Commission for them to quickly settle.
Mr Speaker, even though the said amount looks not so huge for them to do their work, we would say that over the years, they have been able to manage, so that we have a peaceful and a harmonious labour front. I would want to say that this House should approve the said amount for them to continue to do a good job for us to have a peaceful labour front.
Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu (NPP -- Dormaa Central) 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am looking at the performance of last year's budget and under “Compensation”, GH¢387,000 out of GH¢754,000 was actually released. Even what was released which was way below the allocated amount, the whole lot could not be spent. So, we were left with GH¢63,580.
Then the Report goes ahead to say that there were no releases to pay for allowances for commissioners, car maintenance and newly engaged staff. So, the GH¢63,000 left, what are they going to use that for? Seriously, I believe they could have used that one to either pay the newly engaged staff half-way or whatever it was and not to come to report to us that they did not release all. The little that was released, they still have some left and some things have been left undone. Mr Speaker, that is quite unacceptable.
Mr Speaker, if you look at goods and services, the release on that allocation was just about 20 per cent, and that goes to underscore or probably, explain why we could not have peaceful industrial environment or atmosphere in the country this year. I believe this year marks one of the years we have recorded most numbers of sit-downs and str ikes and I am beginning to believe that since their work was sort of incapacitated by the non- release of the amounts allocated, it would have had some input into the number of strikes that we had.
So, as I support the Motion, I would urge the Ministry of Finance to do quite well and try to release the amount if we are anticipating a very cordial, peaceful atmosphere for industrial relations.
Mr Philip Basoah (NPP -- Kumawu) 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion for the approval of the sum of GH¢2,378,174 for the services of the National Labour Commission.
Mr Speaker, the National Labour Commission, as we are all aware, has the mandate to facilitate and settle industrial disputes in accordance with the Labour Act, (Act 651). In order for the
Commission to effectively perform its functions, we need to ensure that their capacity is always strengthened to ensure speedy resolution of disputes.
Mr Speaker, the funds allocated to the Commission in 2013 were committed to solving complaints from individuals, workers' organisations, trade unions and employers. Mr Speaker, the major problem that the Commission has been embattled with had always been the strike action of the labour force.
Mr Speaker, 14 strikes were recorded; out of that, eight of the them were embarked upon by the Public Service workers and that is related to the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure. Mr Speaker, the minimum man hours lost during the period of strike is 56 hours and the maximum is 672 hours. Mr Speaker, there has always been the loss of productivity when it comes to strike actions and the nation loses greatly.
Mr Speaker, this means that the nation loses greatly when she becomes engulfed with incessant strikes. The problem that the Commission faces is the untimely release of funds. Even in some cases, they do not have any release. The Commission could not perform its core mandate of educating and sensitising stakeholders on the labour law due to non-release of funds.
Mr Speaker, it would shock you to hear that the Commission could not train its staff in this 2013 fiscal year because of non-release of funds. Some of the strikes were due mainly to the lack of understanding of the labour law.
Mr Speaker, if funds are released to the Commission on time, there is no doubt that some of the strikes by the public workers cannot be averted. Mr Speaker, this year,
Dr Kunbuor 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to use the opportunity to thank Hon Members for the support of the Motion and without any other comment, I would want to correct the records because this is also a forum of record. That the relationship that exists between this appropriation and possible delays in draw- down to the Labour Commission, is by all intents and purposes, very remote from industrial actions emanating from health, education and other sectors.
So, Mr Speaker, it could not be for want of the amount of the appropriation in 2013 that was not made available that the industrial actions in those agencies took place.
I am saying this because the demands of the labour front are very serious and varied. If we were to limit it to what does not exist, that any industrial action that has taken place was because the Labour Commission did not get its releases, I guess it will be far from the truth.
So, I just wanted to correct that impression and thank Hon Members.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢2,378,174 for the services of the National Labour Commission for the year ending 31st December, 2014.
Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves -- [Pause.]
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, my understanding from you is that the next item to be taken is item number 9?
Dr Kunbuor 12:05 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. Actually, the Hon Minority Leader is asking whether it was laid. Mr Speaker, I laid them. In fact, the Special Budget Committee Reports that came yesterday were laid by me and the Hon Member for Wenchi (Prof. George Yaw Gyan-Baffour) drew my attention that three reports could not be laid and that they should be brought today. So, they were actually laid by me yesterday.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Members, if you look at page 8 of the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 10th December, 2013, this Report has been laid. Whether it has been distributed to Hon Members, is another matter. But I know it had been laid.
Dr Kunbuor 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I guess that we should correct it. Actually, the Hon Member for Wenchi has sent it to me as a draft but as it happened in other years, he used to sign it. My attention has just been drawn to the fact that he did not sign it. He intended that I should sign.
So, that error would be corrected.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, given the schedule of activities, we thought that we should agree for it to be laid yesterday.
But even beyond that, the copies have not been made available to anybody.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Yes, that is another matter. That is the most important point. Copies should be made available to Hon Members before we can take this Motion. It has to be laid before it is distributed. It has been laid but it has not been distributed.
Dr Kunbuor 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, actually, Motions numbers 10 and 11 are in the same situation. So, I would like to defer them and we could move to Motion under item 13.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Members, item number 13 on the Order Paper.
Dr Kunbuor 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have had consultations with my Hon Colleague, the Minority Leader, that the Hon Minister for Finance is unavailable and he has actually
handed over the Ministry to the Hon Minister for Food and Agriculture. So, he would be moving the Motion on behalf of the Hon Minister for Finance.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Minister for Food and Agriculture, item number 13 -- Motion.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 12:05 p.m.
Minister for Finance)(MP) 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢6,548,479 for the services of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) for the year ending 31st December, 2014.
In so doing, permit me to highlight just a few of the programmes of the NDPC for the year 2014.
The Commission would develop a planning model to guide long-term development planning, establish special development zones to address peculiar development challenges and finalise the national long-term development policy framework.
The Commission would also prepare the 2013 National Annual Progress Report and the National Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, as well as review the national core indicators to monitor the implementation of the National Development Policy Framework.
Mr Speaker, for the implementation of the above programmes, an amount of GH¢6,548,479 is being sought for the 2014 fiscal year.
Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr James K. Avedzi) 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion, and to present our Committee's Report.
Introduction
Following the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December, 2014 by the Minister for Finance, Hon Seth Emmanuel Terkpeh on Tuesday, 19th November, 2013, the 2014 Annual Estimates of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) were referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report in accordance with article 179 of the Constitution and Order 140(4) of the Standing Orders of the House.
The Committee met and discussed the estimates with the Director-General of the NDPC, Mrs Regina O. Adutwum and a technical team from the Commission and the Ministry of Finance. The Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, Mr George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan was also in attendance to assist the Committee.
The Committee expresses its gratitude to the Hon Deputy Minister, Director - General of the Commission and the technical team for attending upon the Committee to assist with the deliberations.
Background
The National Development Planning Commission ((NDPC) was established under articles 86 and 87 of the 1992 Constitution with a mandate to advise the President on development planning policy and strategy. The legal frameworks relating to NDPC are further elaborated in the National Development Planning Commission Act, 1994 (Act 479), which
formally establishes the NDPC under the Office of the President, and the National Development Planning (Systems) Act, 1994 (Act 480), which makes the NDPC, the national co-ordinating body of the newly-established Decentralized Develop- ment Planning System in Ghana.
NDPC therefore, exists to advise the President of the Republic of Ghana (and Parliament upon request) on development policy and strategy, to prepare and ensure the effective implementation of approved National Development Plans and Strategies and co-ordinate economic and social activities country-wide in a manner that will ensure accelerated and sustainable development of the country to enhance continuous improvement in the living standards of all Ghanaians.
Goal and objectives
The goal of the Commission is to promote and sustain accelerated growth and poverty reduction towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals and middle income status. To achieve this goal, the Commission has identified seven policy objectives, namely:
Strengthen economic planning and forecasting.
Reduce spatial and income inequalities across the country and among different socio-economic groups.
Strengthen policy, planning and monitoring and evaluation process for equitable balance and socio economic development.
Enhance development communication across the public sector and policy cycle.
Improve the responsiveness of the Public Service in service delivery.
Enhance institutional arrangements for sectorial collaboration on poverty reduction.
Promote and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of performance in the Public Services.
Perfomance in 2013
The Commission, during the year 2013, achieved among others, the following:
Prepared a draft vision document to provide a long-term framework to guide development planning and strategy for the country.
Prepared a National Long-Term Infrastructure Plan to address the challenge of inadequate and depreciating infrastructural facilities which constitutes a key obstacle to attaining socio-economic develop- ment.
Prepared a successor National Medium-Term Development Frame- work (2014-2017) to the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA 2010 - 2013).
Developed planning guidelines for the preparation of both Sector and District Medium -Term Development Plans.
Monitored the implementation of strategies to achieve the policy objectives in the GSGDA 2010-2013 and produced 2012 Annual Progress Report:
Prepared a national monitoring and evaluation manual to assist MDAs and MMDAs improve upon their M&E function and address identified weaknesses in M&E reporting.
Provided technical services to members of programme/project steering/implementing committees/ Boards of MDAs, Metropolitan, Municipal, District Assemblies, civil Society Organisation and private sector.
Summary of budget allocation and performance in 2013
In the year 2013, the National Development Planning Commission was allocated an amount of eight million, nine hundred and ninety-four thousand, seven hundred and thirty-four Ghana cedis
(GH¢8,994,734.00).
Below is the expenditure returns for the period ended 31st October, 2013:
Space for Table 1: page 4 - 12.05 p.m.
Mr Alexander K. Afenyo-Markin (NPP -- Effutu) 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the NDPC is an important body to aid -- Mr Speaker, in supporting the Motion on the floor, I wish to make a few observations --
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Member, are you an Hon Member of the Committee?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
You know, I made the point earlier that we were considering estimates and as much as possible, our contributions should relate to the estimates. The policy itself has been debated by the House for over a week.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.


So, I would want us to, as much as possible raise issues with the estimates and link them with your submission. This is because if you are only going to raise observations which have already been captured by the Committee, then the rule of repetition comes in. We would make progress.

You saw the way the Hon Member for Dormaa Central (Mr Agyeman-Manu) made his contribution? He limited his contributions to the Estimates.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, being so guided, I am exceedingly grateful.
Mr Speaker, in that respect, the NDPC needed a technical staff of 55 but staff at post are only 15.
Mr Speaker, we are raising issues of funding for the effective functioning of this body. Mr Speaker, if you look at the budget allocation of GH¢6,548,479, the body is woefully underfunded. The technical staff that are needed to support operations to come out with the medium- term policy, which is expiring by 31st December, 2013, would not in any way-- looking at the number of staff supporting its operations, enhance the realisation of the objectives of the body.
Mr Speaker, with these, it is my wish that the Ministry would have a second look at the budget allocation, so that the body is properly funded.
Finally, there is no direct ministerial oversight on the activities of the NDPC; so, it becomes difficult for us to even monitor and keep track of whether they are in line with whatever they are doing. That ought to be checked to ensure proper accountability and transparency.
Mr Speaker, with these words, I thank you and I support the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢6,548,479 for the services of the National Development Planning Commission for the year ending 31st December,
2014.
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, we will take the Ministry for Information and Media Relations.
Dr Kunbuor 12:15 p.m.
That is so, Mr Speaker.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 12:15 p.m.
Minister for Information and Media Relations (Mr Mahama Ayariga)(MP) 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢100,120,293 for the services of the Ministry for Information and Media Relations for the year ending 31 st December, 2014.
Mr Speaker, for the health of our democracy, the progress of our civil society and the proper functioning of our markets, a two-way free flow of reliable information between the Government and populace, is essential. That is the object of this Ministry and our core mission is to create an informed free and prosperous society.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry is essentially a service oriented Ministry, working with independent State media houses and private media houses to facilitate the free flow of reliable information in our society.
Mr Speaker, I would want to highlight a few key issues. The Ministry has an oversight over a number of agencies, including the Information Services
Department, the Ghana News Agency, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI), the Ghana Publishing Cor- poration, the New Times Corporation and others. Mr Speaker, most of these independent State-owned media are striving towards greater efficiency to be able to raise internally generated funds to augment whatever Government is giving them. There are a few challenges though, but some of them have proved very effective in this regard, especially the Graphic Communications Group Limited but others still significant State support.
Also, the Information Services Department needs a lot of support to be able to service our various Distr ict Assemblies and government agencies.
Mr Speaker, let me also highlight, that the 2012 Media Development Fund was largely expended to support the media, including the provision of laptops and other support.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, the Ministry is working to establish a Board of Trustees to manage the 2013 Media Development Fund when it is ultimately released to us.
Mr Speaker, on that note, I urge Hon Members to support this Motion.
Question proposed.
Mr Herod Cobbina (on behalf of the
Chairman of the Committee) 12:15 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to support the Motion.
Mr Speaker, I present the Committee's Report.
Introduction
The Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Information and Media Relations (MoIMR) were referred to the Select Committee on Communications for
consideration and report in accordance with Orders 140 (4) and 182 of the Standing Orders of the House. This followed the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for 2014 to the House by the Minister for Finance, Mr Seth Terkpeh, in accordance with article 179 of the Constitution and Order 140 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House.
The Committee met to consider the referral and was assisted by the Deputy. Minister for Information and Media Relations, Hon. Felix Ofosu Kwakye, accompanied by officials of the Ministry and its agencies as well as officers from the MoF.
Reference documents
i. Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992.
ii. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.
iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Govern- ment of Ghana for the 2012 financial year.
iv. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Govern- ment of Ghana for the 2014 financial year.
v. Report of the Ministry of Information and Media Relations on its approved releases and expenditure for 2013.
Mission Statement and medium-term objectives
The vision of the Ministry of Information and Media Relations is to achieve “a free, united, informed and prosperous society with good governance through Development Communication (DevCom).”
Chairman of the Committee) 12:15 p.m.


xiv.Started the development process for an all-news, content management website (kaseebo.com).

xv. Turned out thirty (30) students in the BFA degree programme.

xvi.Successfully held the 2013 NAFTI Film Lectures which celebrated a renowned Ghanaian film-maker and increased the number of student intake by 40 per cent.

xvii. Continued the expansion of NAFTI's infrastructure in order to turn it into a full-hedged University of Media and Creative Arts (UMACA). This was by increasing the number of lecture halls and recruiting more lecturers.

xviii Organized certificate courses in video production for 30 participants.

xix IGF was increased by 10 per cent despite constraints

Centralised database of films increased for access at terminal and lecture rooms.

Expectations for 2014

The strategic orientation of the Ministry of Information will be pursued through the following activities in 2014:

Presentation and passage of Bills

The Ministry intends to facilitate the expeditious passage of the following Bills into Law:

Right to Information Bill

Broadcasting Bill

Development and Classification of Film Bill

The passage of the Right to Information Bill will empower citizens to obtain information from public institutions to achieve transparency to enhance our democratic values. The Broadcasting Bill, when it becomes Law, is expected to sanitise broadcasting in Ghana, while the Development and Classification of Film Bill is expected to provide a strong regulatory framework in the film industry.

Accelerate information flow and delivery through activities such as:

80 Meet-the-Press series

4 Policy Fairs

30 Town Hall meetings

10 regional tours

Weekly media appearance by key government officials

26 Ghana Development Dialogue series

These activities will enable the Ministry reach out to over ten million Ghanaians at the national, regional and distr ict levels with information on government policies and programmes. Specifically, the town hall meetings are expected to deepen decentralization by encouraging public officials at the grass- roots level to provide information on their stewardship to their people.

Re-branding Ghana

Organisation of Africa Media Summit

100 publications about Ghana in major journals

Online publications on Ghana's economy, democracy and strategic interests and opportunities.

These activities are expected to showcase Ghana to the investment community as the preferred investment destination.

Acelerate information flow and delivery through operations such as:

Continue the live coverage of national events

Rabilitation of Radio One and Two transmitter sites

Establishment of 20 district FM stations across the country in collaboration with MMDAs public education campaigns

These activities are expected to increase information flow and promote national cohesion through balanced media reportage and inclusiveness at all levels for development.

Review of TV Licensing (Amendment) Law, 1991 (PNDCL 257)

This is aimed at enhancing the revenue- generating capacity of the state broadcaster to attain self -sufficiency.

Improvement in film and television production:

Increase student intake for the degree programmes

Transformation of NAFT1 into a first class Media Arts University under the Ministry of Education

The migration from the Ministry of Information and Media Relations would enable NAFTI, inter alia, access the GETFund in order to address a number of challenges the school is facing. These include the lack of adequate infrastructure educational and teaching materials as well as challenges related to high attrition.

Budget estimates for 2014

To achieve its targets for 20l4, the MoIMR and its Departments/Agencies have been allocated a total amount of GH¢100,120,293.00 for its activities. Of this amount, GoG is GH¢62,385,693.00 and IGFs, GH¢37,734,601.00.

SPACE FOR TABLE 2 - PAGE

8 - 12.15P.M.
Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah (NPP -- Suhum) 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion, that this House approves the sum of GH¢100,120,293 for the services of the Ministry of Information and Media Relations for the year ending 31 st December, 2014.
Mr Speaker, let me start by commending the Committee on a very good work done. It was scrutinous enough during its deliberations which brought a very important matter to the fore and if Mr Speaker would permit me, I would refer us to page 9 of the Committee's Report, where reference is made to the Media Development Fund which was approved as part of the budgetary approval process of this House for 2012.
Mr Speaker, during the Committee's proceedings, it came to light that the one million Ghana cedis which was deposited in this Fund and which was envisaged by that budget to be managed by a Board of Trustees and also to be further funded from other sources, as was spelt out in that budget, had mysteriously been disbursed through some other process by the Ministry.
Questions were put to the Deputy Ministers present at the Committee's proceedings and to say the least, the explanations that were given were not very satisfactory. Indeed, the Committee then
requested that full transparency be brought to the Committee in terms of the membership of whichever body that was in charge of the disbursements, the minutes of those meetings which were held that led to those moneys being disbursed. Indeed, the Committee was told that about 952 laptops were procured utilising this one million Ghana cedis.
Mr Speaker, a quick arithmetic will show then that each laptop cost over GH¢1,000. I am an IT person and I do not know which kind of laptops were procured that would cost that much and questions were raised as to who determined the needs of the Media for the Ministry to have gone ahead to do that particular exercise.
But Mr Speaker, this brings to light the importance that we, as a House, would have to attach to what we do in terms of approvals of such funds in future. I am sure if we had taken our time to request that the Ministry for instance, brings to the House, proper statutes for us to review and approve, which would go for the management of these funds, this anomaly would not have occurred. So, I would not lay the blame solely at the foot of the Ministry. Of course, they have to carry the bigger brunt of it.
But I would also like to draw attention to the fact that when we are presented with budgets and we have these budget line items in there, we should scrutinise them properly and if it requires that Parliament in approving these budgets, approves those amounts with the necessary caveat asking that the Ministry brings to the House, the necessary documentation or the necessary pieces of legislation that would go to govern the administration of these funds before they are utilised. I think that is what we have to do.
On that note, I support the Motion on the floor.
Mr Kwaku A. Kwarteng (NPP -- Obuasi West) 12:25 p.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to speak to this Motion.
Mr Speaker, we are seeking to allocate over GH¢100 million to the Ministry of Information and Media Relations and its departments and agencies; and if the proportions of the 2013 expenditures of that Ministry is anything to go by, it means about 67 per cent of this money would go to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). A significant amount of that would also go to NAFTI and the other agencies.
Mr Speaker, what became evident at the Committee's deliberations was that, GBC and the other agencies should be able to operate without government subvention. The need for this is more urgent now than ever and I would explain why? If you look at the expenditure patterns of all MDAs for 2013, something unusual is happening in national finances and it is this: For almost all MDAs, our expenditures are almost entirely on compensation, item 1. In many, many of the MDAs, assets and goods and services had virtually no allocation, yet we are told that we missed our deficit target.
What this means is that, because we want to cut cost and avoid expenditures, which we can avoid for now, we are spending on just wages, we are still unable to meet our deficit target. If this continues, it means in the future, we would even be unable to pay wages. That is the unusual thing happening in national finances.
This is the time to look at our expenditure structures and downsize them. It is evident that the only way we can deal with the current fiscal challenges is to look at agencies that can exist without government subvention, and I think the Minister, with the support and
urging of this House, should critically consider making GBC, NAFTI and the other agencies operate without government subvention.
With this, I reluctantly support the allocation.
Ms Ursula G. Owusu (NPP -- Ablekuma West) 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I also reluctantly support these estimates and the Report of the Committee and have a few comments to make.
The Budget talks about the establishment of a Broadcasting University in paragraph 361 to build the capacity of the Media. In my view, at this era of scarce resources, is that the best use for scarce resources in establishing a Broadcasting University or we can achieve the same purpose by building the capacity of existing training institutions to enable them operate better? NAFTI could be a case in point. By relocating it under the Ministry of Education, it might be possible to get the GETFund financing to enable it expand its operations and train more people, and that should be an area of focus for the Hon Minister to also consider.
The Media Fund for 2013, this year, has also not been released and the allocation for goods and services for many -- In fact, the entire Ministry and many of the MDAs as has been evident through the deliberations of this House, also were not released.
If we continue to pay compensation and we do not provide the recurrent expenditure needs of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), then what we are doing is paying people for no work done. This is because we are not giving them the facilities they need to work with, and that is what we saw this year in the disbursement of funds
approved by this House. If we are going to see the same thing in the disbursement of funds under the 2014 Budget, we are going to throw more good money at people and pay them for doing no work. This is because we would disable them from working by not giving them the facilities that they need to work with.
I would urge the Ministry of Finance to ensure that what we are doing here does not become an exercise in futility, in that we all waste precious time to debate these estimates and at the end of the day, no disbursement is made and so, workers cannot work. We cannot continue to work that way.
Finally, the Information Services Department (ISD), which is the key agency under this Ministry, has also been severely hampered in the performance of its duties by the inability to also provide them with the resources to operate. They have been operating under the benevolence of District Assemblies, whom they have had to fall on, to help them maintain and fuel their vehicles and provide them with the resources that they need to work, because they were not provided with “goods and services” allocation under the budget.
We cannot continue to do that. They are the “vehicle” the Ministry uses to disseminate Government information to the general populace and so, we ought to be serious about equipping them to do their work.
Now, even for the Ministry itself, it came to light during the Committee's deliberations that the washrooms on the first floor are in a thoroughly deplorable state, letting off pungent odours, which make it extremely offensive, considering the fact that the “Meet-the-Press” series is held across the corridor from there, exposing the entire nation to public ridicule.
If the face of the Ministry of Information and Media Relations itself is -- I have even run out of words to describe what is currently going on -- That is also because the “goods and services and assets” were not released to them.
Mr Speaker, I would want to urge you to impress upon the Hon Minister and the Ministry of Finance to -- They are branding Ghana, that is one of the activities they are going to undertake this year -- to rebrand Ghana. If the Ministry of Information and Media Relations, which is at the fore front of it, is putting our worse foot forward; what image would we be portraying to the world when people visit the Ministry and are met with this pungent odour? I think we can do much better than that, and charity must begin at home.
With these few words, I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Members, I intend to put the Question, but I want the Hon Minister for Information and Media Relations to wind up before I do so.
rose
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Members, I manage the House in a way that when an Hon Member speaks from one side, I expect to see another Hon Member on his feet.
But when you wait and I call three Hon Members in a roll from one side before others get up, I find it difficult to manage the House.
I would take one of you --The Hon Deputy Northern Regional Minister. It should relate to the estimates.

Deputy Minister for the Northern Region (Mr Bashir F. Alhassan)(MP): I thank you Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the debate and to urge support for the approval of the estimates of the Ministry.

Mr Speaker, it has often been said that “When the landlord has spoken eloquently about the history of his house, you do not go asking the tenant for confirmation.” [Laughter.]The Hon Minister did justice to the issue here and I would want to add a bit to what he has said.

I would like to urge that, inspite of the great job that was done to anchor our media -- because, our media practitioners are facing very grave challenges and difficulties -- Some do not even have pen and paper -- I can tell you, Mr Speaker. Such is the gravity of the challenge --
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Limit it to the estimates.
Mr B. F. Alhassan 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am saying this because of sometimes, the lack of resources to enable the Ministry to do more. I am aware that they have given computers and other items to some sections of the media to work with. But if they are empowered more financially, I am sure they can do more. Like the saying goes: “Somebody who gives you a piece of his roasted yam, if he should pound fufu, you will eat and drink soup” [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker, I would like to also touch on the Information Services Department which is are playing a very important role in disseminating --
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Members, we are debating the estimates; we are dealing with the estimates, so as much as possible, I want Hon Members to make comments about the figures -- the allocations.
Mr B. F. Alhassan 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, this one has a direct implication on the estimates --
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Let me hear you and after that you wind up.
Mr B. F. Alhassan 12:35 p.m.
This is because in the year, the quantum of funds allocated to the Ministry was less than five times what the Ministry needed to do its work. That is why I am saying that if it comes out that more resources can be made available to the Ministry, it can resource the Information Services Department, so that in turn, it would be able to empower its functionaries across the country to undertake the important dissemination of information timeously across the country.
There are times when a lot of misinformation gets to the ground before the actual information comes out. So, while that misinformation gets entrenched and then you send Information Officers to go down and give the people the right information, the harm would already have been done. So, like the saying goes “if it has to take the goat to bite to drive away the hyena, it is the shame of the dog.” We should make sure that we give them the money to do the work before the damage is done and for us to go and undo the damage.
Mr Speaker, I would also like --
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Conclude.
Mr B F Alhassan 12:35 p.m.
In conclusion,Mr Speaker, I would want to say that it is important for the Ministry to increase its oversight responsibility over important institutions like the Graphic Communi- cations Group Limited, the Ghanaian Times Corporation and the Ghana News Agency (GNA), and others which are financially self-sustaining.
This is because, I remember, only in recent times, the workers of the Corporation -- called on the Government to endeavour to exercise its responsibility in meeting the needs and aspirations of the people.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Minister, wind up.
Mr Ayariga 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me thank Hon Members for the overwhelming support for this Motion, that it be unanimously passed.
Mr Speaker, on the issue of the National Media Fund, I do take on board the recommendations of the Committee and Hon Members of this House. The problem we have had is that, it was announced and an allocation was made and the issue has been whether we should establish by law, a Fund in the nature of GETFund or some of the other Funds, or that we should retain it as a pure internal administrative exercise in terms of how it should be expended.
We initiated the process and invited all the associations of media houses -- Private Newspapers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), Ghana Independent Broadcasting Association (GIBA), Ghana
Journalists Association (GJA). All of them were asked to send representation, so that we would set up a Board of Trustees and then they would administer the use of the funds. It is building on how we manage the administration of the 2012 Fund.
What we did was to invite the leaders of the various associations, who, together, identified as their major challenge, the need to facilitate the work of individual journalists. It was their recommendation that the basic tool that they needed were laptops which Government was giving to students and other organisations.
But journalists never had these tools and yet, they needed those ones with internet modems, so that when they go out to the field, they could gather their stories, type them in there and file them in real time without having to run back to the offices to be able to report.They saw that as a very basic tool that every journalist must have.
So, they actually took the decision that we should acquire laptops and make them available to them. When we did purchase them, they came and decided on how they were going to share them. I was never involved in the decision who got what in terms of the laptops.
But as I indicated, we have received nominations from all of them and once the 2013 release is made available, we would commission the Board of Trustees and they would continue to administer the funds.
On the issue of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Mr Speaker, we do acknowledge the fact that GBC could be more efficient. But you know that GBC is a public broadcaster and so, Government would have to continue to provide support to GBC even as we urge them towards greater efficiency. Also, on the issue of a broadcasting university, it is part of an initiative by GBC to raise funds
Mr Ayariga 12:45 p.m.


because internally, they have the infrastructure to run a training centre and so, they are thinking of establishing it as a commercial entity that would draw on their internal resources to provide training to people, especially given the expanding private media that would need the expertise to be able to staff their various media houses. So, it is part of an effort to harness the internal capacity of GBC in terms of human resources, impart that as knowledge, commercialise it and be able to raise funds for GBC.

Lastly, Mr Speaker, on the state of the Ministry of Information and Media Relations building, and the issues arising thereof, I do not know the last time that the Hon Member visited the Ministry. These issues are being addressed and I am sure that the reports that we had in the media in the past regarding some of these issues, would not happen again.

Lastly, with regard to the urge that we should exercise greater oversight on the Graphic Communications Group Limited, New Times Corporation and GBC, let me draw the attention of Hon Members to the fact that by our very constitutional arrangement, the State-owned media houses are independent and not subject to the oversight of the Ministry of Information and Media Relations. I receive text messages, calls and complaints by people when they feel that the State- owned media are not reporting appropriately on the State and its institutions -- but that is what we have to live with.

We designed a constitutional arrange- ment that sought to guarantee the independence of the media and neither of my colleagues nor me are about to violate that constitutional arrangement. But I believe that we would continue to urge

them towards greater professionalism and greater accuracy in terms of the reportage of what Government is doing.

On that note, Mr Speaker, I thank Hon Members for giving a clear indication of the overwhelming support that they would give to this Motion.

I urge you to vote overwhelmingly for the Motion.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Members, that brings to the conclusion of the debate. I will now put the Question.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢100,120,293 for the services of the Ministry of Information and Media Relations for the year ending 31st December 2014.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Members, item number (7).
Mr Albert K. Agbesi 12:45 p.m.
-- rose --
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Member, you have an application to make?
Mr Agbesi 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we want to seek the indulgence of the House for the Hon Deputy Minister to move the Motion as in item (7).
Mr Daniel Botwe 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have no objection to that.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Very well. I know the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has taken permission to travel to South Africa.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minister, item number (7) -- Motions.
Mr First Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.
A Hon Member: Who is he?
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ambassador Quartey, a retired and a successful career diplomat [Interruption.] In fact, as a Member of Parliament, I have carried out a lot of missions with him, and indeed, when I had to represent this Parliament to work on the Protocol dealing with the Pan-African Parliament, I was on that delegation with Ambassador Quartey. He is a known face, and for a very long time, he was our permanent representative at the African Union.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 12:45 p.m.
Mr Agyeman-Manu Kwaku 12:45 p.m.
On a point of order.
Mr Speaker, I would want to draw your attention to the fact that there is no Finance Minister here, and that is against the conventions and things that we do here.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Member, you are right. But the Hon Majority Leader informed the House that the Minister for Finance himself has travelled and that the Hon Clement Humado, who is a Cabinet Minister, is representing him. He was in the House some few minutes ago. We would find out where he is while we continue deliberating.
An Hon Member 12:45 p.m.
He is in the tea room. [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Members, it would have been different if there was no representation at all from the Ministry [Interruption.] Yes, I agree, that -- Hon Humado was here and he moved the Motion on behalf of the Minister for Finance -- The Hon Majority Leader informed the House to that effect that he had discussions and consultations with the Hon Minority Leader.
If immediately he is not in the House, it is different from not coming at all. So, on that basis, I would allow the Hon Deputy Minister to move the Motion while we locate him.
Hon Deputy Minister, move the Motion.
Hon Member, please, go and locate Hon Humado.
MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Order! Hon Members, let us have some order, please.
Ambassador Quartey: To diversity and expand tourism for economic development by promoting Ghana through the Missions and consulates; to develop the brand Ghana, the land of the Black Star; to leverage economic and technological opportunities for the benefit of Ghanaians, through the influence of bilateral and multilateral cooperation activities; to contribute to the development of a competitive, creative arts industry to optimise the potential impact of migration for Ghana's development.
Mr Speaker, these are in line with Ghana's foreign policy objectives which continue to earn the respect of the world at large.
I shall be grateful for the support of Hon Members and I thank you for your kind indulgence.
I beg to move, Mr Speaker.

Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Emmanuel K. Bandua) 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion, and in doing so, I beg to present your Committee's Report.
Introduction
In accordance with article 179 of the Constitution and Order 140(1) of the
Standing Orders of the House, the Minister for Finance, Hon. Seth Terkpeh presented to Parliament the 2014 Budget and Economic Policy Statement of the Government of Ghana on Tuesday, 19l November 2013.
Pursuant to Order 140(4) of the Standing Orders and article 103(3) of the Constitution, the estimates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration were referred to the Committee for consideration and report.
The Committee met on Wednesday, 4th December, 2013 to consider the estimates and hereby reports as follows:
Reference
The Committee made reference to the following documents:
(i) The 2013 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana
(ii)The 2013 Estimates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration
(iii) The 2014 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government
(iv) The Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
(v)The Standing Orders of the House
Mission of the Ministry
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration exists to advise the government on the formulation of the Foreign Policy of Ghana and implements its objectives in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.
In pursuance of this Mission, the Ministry has set for itself a vision to establish “a well-resourced Foreign Ministry capable of establishing, developing and sustaining international goodwill, solidarity and support for national development”.
Agencies under the Ministry
The Ministry relies on the underlisted Agencies in the pursuit of its mission:
The Headquarters
Ghana Diplomatic Missions abroad
Three subvented organisations:
Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD)
National African Peer Review Mechanism-Governing Council
(NAPRM-GC)
All Africa Students' Union
(AASU)
Pursuant to the mandate of the Ministry, these agencies have the responsibility of handling specific operational functions including formulating and executing Ghana's foreign policy, in order to achieve the country's foreign policy objectives; organising intensive monitoring of activities, undertaking sensitisation and dissemination exercises on the African Peer Review Mechanism; training Foreign Service Officers and other public servants in international affairs and diplomacy; and fostering co-operation among African students and educational institutions.
Overview of the performance of the Ministry in 2013
The Ministry was allocated a total sum of one hundred and ten million, two hundred and twenty-nine thousand and forty-nine Ghana cedis (GH¢110, 229,049.00) for the effective performance of its mandate for the 2013 financial year.
With this allocation, the Ministry was able to make significant achievements, albeit with some difficulties.
2013 Achievements
Completion of office building
The Ministry completed its head office complex in April, 2013 and took occupancy of it later in that month.
Opening of Mission
The Ministry finalised all arrangements for the opening of its Vatican Mission which was on schedule to be operationlised.
Renovation
The Ministry made significant progress in processing part payment of the cost of renovating the Chancery of the New York Mission.
Good neighbourliness
Cognisant of the need for the concerted efforts of all countries in the West African sub-region to address common challenges to development in the sub-region including the growing menace of terrorism, trafficking in small arms and weapons, drugs and children across national frontiers, the Ministry continued to make the pursuit of peace and security in West Africa a high priority in the conduct of Ghana's foreign policy.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Emmanuel K. Bandua) 12:55 p.m.


Delays in release of funds

Also, delays in the release of funds to the Ministry equally affect its functioning in a number of ways. The Committee noted that such delays in releases often affected the very image of the country negatively, as such delays invariably result in delayed settlement of rents and related charges to local property owners and utility charges to local councils. In some cases, such delays in releases had led to court cases and the payment of fines by Missions of the Ministry in the past.

Passport processing

The Ministry was unable to undertake its scheduled expansion programme to implement the processing of biometric passports at the Ghana Missions abroad

due to the non-availability of funding. This, the Committee noted, would amount to significant pressure on the future activities and other programmes of the Ministry, as more resources would be needed to complete the process, given that the 2015 deadline for the eventual switch off to the machine readable Biometric Passport regime was fast approaching.

Outlook for 2014

In 2014, cognisant of its mission to assist in the formulation and implemen- tation of Ghana's Foreign Policy in the most efficient and cost-effective way, the Ministry intends to continue to assist government to deepen relations with our immediate neighbours, expand the frontiers of existing markets for Ghana's exports, attract investment into the

various sectors of the economy and enhance consular protection and assistance to Ghanaians who are domiciled abroad.

Specifically, the Ministry intends to:

(a) promote and sustain political and economic interests abroad while promoting favourable perceptions about Ghana among principal political and economic actors;

(b) promote the diversification and increase in the volume of exports through the promotion of Ghanaian products on foreign markets;

(c) assist in making ECOWAS more effective by coordinating participation in meetings of the sub-regional body and providing reports on those meetings while promoting the implementation of its Protocols;

(d) ensuring the articulation of Ghana's position at all levels of international politico-socio- economic discourse for the promotion of international peace, security and sustainable development;

(e) pursue the safety and welfare of all Ghanaian citizens abroad at all times whilst mobilizing them to assist in national development;

(f) set up biometric passport processing centres in selected

Ghana Missions abroad and further establish on-line application systems for biometric passports and visas;

(g) develop the Ministry's human resource capacity through recruitment and training for efficient delivery;

(h) prioritise and complete on-going projects of refurbishing and equipping Ghana Missions abroad;

(i) establish a website for the Ministry; and

(j) implement Annual Audit and Procurement plans as well as reports of the Auditor- General.

2014 Programmes to be pursued by the Ministry

In conformity with the tenets of the programme-based budgeting, which is consistent with the Public Financial Management Reform Agenda and which underpinned the presentation of the 2014 Budget, the list of the Ministry's intended activities are encapsulated in three main programmes with identifiable indicators to measure performance.

The programmes are Management and Administration, International Coopera- tion and Passport Administration. To effectively ensure a result-oriented budget management, the said three programmes have been divided into sub- programmes, each under the direct control and supervision of the various cost centres of the Ministry.

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Chairman of the Committee (Mr Emmanuel K. Bandua) 12:55 p.m.


Table 4: 2014 Allocations to the Programmes of the Ministry

Observations and recommendations Insufficient budgetary allocation

The Committee observed a huge increase in the 2014 budgetary allocation to the Ministry as compared to that of the 2013. The one hundred and fifty-three million, nine hundred and fifty-three thousand and twenty-nine Ghana cedis (GH¢ 153,953,029.00) allocated for the year in question, represented about 40per cent increase on the 2013 allocation levels of one hundred and ten million, two hundred and twenty-nine thousand and forty-nine Ghana cedis (GH¢ 110,229,049.00).

Nonetheless, the said leap in alloca- tion, still falls short of the estimated

amount of one hundred and seventy-six million, seven hundred and forty-one thousand, nine hundred and twenty-four Ghana Cedis, ninety-two pesewas (GH¢ 176,741,924.92) that the Ministry requested to be able to implement its programmes and sub-programmes outlined for the year in question.

Table 5 gives a clearer picture of the budgetary requirements of the Ministry for the year under consideration and the GoG ceiling for the various heads. Some programmes and sub-programmes of the Ministry will undoubtedly, be negatively affected as a result, the Committee observed.

Table 5: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration: 2014 GoG approved ceilings

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Chairman of the Committee (Mr Emmanuel K. Bandua) 12:55 p.m.


Capital expenditure

The Committee further observed that the approved ceiling for the non-financial assets of the Ministry was fifteen million, six thousand, eight hundred and seventy- eight Ghana cedis (GH¢15,006,878.00) which represented 54 per cent of the total requirement of twenty-seven million, five hundred and ninety-seven thousand, six hundred and ninety-eight Ghana cedis, ninety-two pesewas (GH¢27,597,698.92) for the 2014 financial year.

Again, the Committee noted that the said amount was not sufficient to meet the capital expenditure of the three programmes of the Ministry within the year. The Committee was informed that the Ministry had an outstanding liability of about three million, eight hundred and fifty- four thousand, one hundred and eighty-four Ghana cedis (GH¢3,854,184.00) in respect of the refurbishment of the New York Chancery building and the renovation of the Adu Lodge.

Besides, the total amount required for the Passport Administration Expansion projects alone amount to about fifteen million, five hundred and fifty-seven thousand, three hundred and forty-three Ghana cedis, forty-two pesewas (GH¢15,557,343.42) which is far more than the seven million, ninety-six thousand, seven hundred and twenty-seven Ghana cedis (GH¢7,096,727.00) earmarked for the non-financial assets expenditure under the Passport Administration Programme.

Internally generated funds (IGFs)

The Committee observed that the Ministry had extensive capacity to generate substantial internal resources to augment the perennially low GoG allocations.

The Missions of the Ministry were noted to have the capacity to generate more IGFs through their consular services. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of the areas under their jurisdiction remain un-served or underserved at best.

The reason for this is largely due to the lack of funds occasioned by not only inadequate budgetary allocations but also due to delayed remittances and, in most cases, the outright non-release of significant portions of the goods and services component of allocation to the Missions.

More so, in the particular case of Passport administration, there is an arrangement by which all receipts on applications get lodged directly into the Consolidated Fund which is under the control and supervision of the Ministry responsible for Finance and which is supposed to release the Ministry's portion for its continuous development.

However, the Ministry responsible for Finance has a habit of failing to credit the Ministry with its 25 per cent share of such receipts and this does not augur well for the retooling and equipping of its productive machinery for purposes of generating more and more IGFs.

The Committee sees this development as a recipe for the total under performance of the income generation capacity of Central Government and therefore, the entrenchment of poverty.

As a remedial measure, the Committee recommends that a proper assessment be made of all the revenue generating machinery of Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the annual projected receipts indicated as part of their budgetary allocations which moneys should be lodged directly into their authorised accounts. This way, the

Committee is convinced that total Government expenditure on MDAs will be drastically reduced while MDAs in turn will have easy access to their moneys to be able to undertake useful activities that further enhance their revenue generation capacities and wean them, progressively, off Central Government funding.

In the particular case of improving the IGF capacity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Committee recommends that, while the Ministry responsible for Finance explores the modalities for implementing the afore- mentioned recommendation without any set back, efforts should be made to release all the allocated funds for the year under consideration without the usual delays.

Subsequently, the Committee recom- mends that practical steps be urgently taken to increase the Ministry's IGF retention rate to 50 per cent and further arrangements made for its timely release.

These would enable the Ministry expand its capacity to produce more passports on demand and also extend consular services to all un-served areas for the ultimate benefit of the Ghanaian citizenry.

Implementing the initiatives of the Ministry

Establishment of the Diaspora Support Unit

The Committee observed with satisfaction the decision by the Ministry to transform the existing Diaspora Support desk into a full-fledged unit of the Ministry with the objective of proactively providing useful services to Ghanaian residents abroad. The Ministry, in extending the frontiers of economic

diplomacy, recognizes the potential role of Ghanaian citizens abroad in sharing good pieces of information about Ghana with their foreign acquaintances to attract them to invest in Ghana and therefore, intends to use this Unit to provide very important information and services to Ghanaian citizens abroad.

The Committee welcomes the initiative noting its potential in attracting Ghanaians domiciled abroad to return to their roots to invest while enticing them to also recommend Ghana to their foreign friends and partners and thereby promoting foreign direct investment into Ghana.

Introduction of new biometric passports

In much the same vein, the Committee welcomed the Ministry's initiative of introducing new biometric passports within the year under consideration to improve the security qualities of the Ghanaian Passport while enabling its universal acceptance at all airports in the world, especially, during the eventual global switch to the biometric passports regime.

The Committee was particularly enthused about the plan to introduce the National Identification Number as a requirement for acquiring biometric Passports, a development which the Committee found to be positive as it would encourage Ghanaians to seek to register with the National Identification Authority (NIA) and by that prevent foreigners from acquiring Ghanaian Passports.

The Committee expressed the concern that the Ministry would be able to work with the NIA without any difficulty in order not to render Passport acquisition unnecessarily difficult and excessively time consuming.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Emmanuel K. Bandua) 12:55 p.m.


The Committee, accordingly, recommends to the Ministry responsible for Finance to ensure the release of all the approved budgetary allocation to enable the Ministry successfully implement these noble initiatives which have the potential to bring the country both social and economic gains.

Conclusion

In the light of the foregoing, the Committee recommends that the House approves the sum of one hundred and fifty-three million, nine hundred and fifty- three thousand and twenty-nine Ghana cedis (GH¢153,953,029.00) made up of one hundred and forty-one million, two hundred and seventeen thousand and forty-nine Ghana cedis (GH¢141,217,049.00) and twelve million, seven hundred and thirty-five thousand, four hundred and seventy-eight Ghana cedis (GH¢ 12,735,478.00) from GoG and IGF sources respectively to enable the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration implement its programmes and sub-programmes for the 2014 financial year.
Mr Isaac Osei (NPP -- Subin) 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask Hon Members to support the Report of the Committee and to approve the estimates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Mr Speaker, permit me to make a few observations. The over view of the 2013 performance, I think, is indicative of the malaise of the budget. In the budget, you will see that there is the perennial issue of under-allocation. Secondly, there are problems with the releases of the funds so allocated. Not only do we have delays in the releases of the funds, but the funds so released, are insufficient.
Mr Speaker, this really, is a basic problem that the managers of our economy face. The problem has to do with the over-estimation of revenues which make it impossible for adequate allocations to be made and for releases also to be made.
With respect to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, there is an additional problem and it is the problem of exchange losses. You would notice that many of the sums allocated for the payment of salaries of our staff abroad have to be made in foreign exchange but the exchange rate depreciation over the last few years clearly indicates that the Ministry would require more cedis in order to pay for the same amount of United States dollars or whatever currency that they are changed into.
I believe that in the preparation of the budget, an exchange risk factor has to be placed in, in future to minimise the risk to the Ministry.
Mr Speaker, there is also a problem which I believe the Ministry is not unaware of, and that is the problem of the issuance of new passports. The requirement for us to change our passports to conform to international standards in 2015 is a dream because everybody holding a Ghana passport today, will have to change passport.
It does not matter whether you have got the new so-called biometric one; it is not the full one; you would have to change it and I believe the Ministry has to undertake the process of educating the public here as well as get the missions abroad to also educate Ghanaians abroad that even if you take a passport today, you will notice that there is an expiry date, which is very short and you will be required to have another passport. So, the education of the public, I think is vital.
Especially, now that we are linking the national identity cards with the passports, it is imperative that the Government also does something on the issuance of national identity cards in order to minimize the associated problems.
Mr Speaker, I believe my Hon Deputy Ranking Member may want to make other comments.
I urge my Hon Colleagues to support the Motion.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Members, it is up to the side to decide. So, once they have chosen him, he can go ahead.
Nii Lantey Vanderpuye: Mr Speaker, supporting the Motion for the approval of the sum of GH¢153,953,029 for the services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, I would also want to support the call for the utilisation of the resources of the Ministry in taking care of our Missions abroad.
Visits to some of the Missions tell us the difficulty they have with settling issues of rent, renovation and other services at the Ministry. Some of them think that it is better for us as a nation, to be able to make attempts at acquiring these properties instead of continually paying huge sums of money as rent to owners of those properties. Indications all over point to the fact that in situations where the nation has taken steps to acquire these properties, it has been more beneficial.
I think to cut down on expenditure on the part of the Ministry and to save some money, we should be looking at a policy of acquiring almost all our missions outside.
Two, they have a difficulty, sometimes, meeting the expenditures and recurrent expenditures of their staff and I think in approving the estimates for them, I would ask that in the next supplementary budget we take a look at the Ministry's difficulty in settling arrears and also meeting their day-to-day expenses.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Member, is it on a point of order?
Mr Baffour Awuah 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on a point of order.
My Hon Colleague just made mention of the fact that in the next supplementary budget, we should consider giving the Ministry enough money to manage the Missions.
Mr Speaker, nowhere in the budget was it indicated that we were going to have a supplementary budget and nowhere in the discussions on the floor has there been anything on supplementary budget. So, I do not know whether he is taking the role of the Finance Minister in pre-empting the coming of a supplementary budget even ahead of time.
Mr Baffour Awuah 1:05 p.m.


Nii Lantey Vanderpuye: Mr Speaker, it is premised on the fact that it was indicated by the Chairman that what they asked for, they did not get. So, if there should be a supplementary budget -- I think that settles my good Friend's --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
So, it is conditional, right?
Nii Lantey Vanderpuye: Yes, Mr Speaker.
With this little observation, I would want to support the Motion for the approval of the stated sum for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Yes, Hon Adwoa Safo.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member, are you standing on a point of order?
Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo (NPP -- Dome/ Kwabenya) 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have not spoken and he has risen on a point of order.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion for this Honourable House to approve the sum of GH¢153,953,029 --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
You proceed with your submission.
Ms Sarah Safo 1:05 p.m.
I urge the Honourable House to support and to approve the said amount.
Mr Speaker, at the Committee level, certain observations were made in respect of the estimates and with your permission, I would like to go into a few.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister told us what the vision of the Ministry is and as part of it, she said she intends to establish a well-resourced Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and to develop and sustain international goodwill of Ghana. To ensure or carry out this dream and vision, they need money and for that matter, we ought to approve the said amount.

That was what was released. The Ministry requested for the sum of GH¢179,622,437.39. The difference in this figure brings us to GH¢33,199,144; that was what was not released for the Ministry. If, indeed, we want to carry Ghana across the borders. If, indeed, we want to promote good neighbourliness as indicated by the Minister,then we ought to take the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Ministry serious in allocating the estimated sum that they requested, rather than cutting it by 35 per cent.

Mr Speaker, again, something came up at the Committee level, which has to deal with the internally generated funds (IGFs) retention of the Ministry. We were told that, as it stands now, only 25 per cent of IGFs are retained by the Ministry. Even that, it is paid into the Consolidated Fund before it is released. This causes a lot of problems for the Ministry in carrying out its duties when what comes from the Government of Ghana is actually flushed to a maximum extent.

So, we are all proposing, and it was agreed at the Committee level, and it is a proposal for this House, that we ought to move from the 25 per cent to at least, 50

per cent retention at source for the Ministry, so that it is paid directly to the Ministry and not into the Consolidated Fund before the Ministry of Finance releases it. This has been causing a bit of time lapse.

Mr Speaker, in winding up, I would want to say and re-emphasise the point already made by my Hon Ranking Member on the issue of the passport. We were told by the Hon Minister at the Committee level that as we know, as being the tradition, if you want a Ghanaian Passport, the prerequisite document to prove your true identity as a Ghanaian, is the birth certificate.
Mr Kwame G. Agbodza 1:05 p.m.
On a point of order.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Colleague just said that at the Committee meeting, they shared a concern and the Minister agreed that non-Ghanaians are holding Ghanaian birth certificates more than Ghanaians. Can she actually say that that was what the Minister said or it is her own paraphrasing?
Ms Safo 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe that those were not my words and the Hansard captured me correctly.
What I said is that many non-Ghanaians are holding Ghanaian passports, not birth certificates.
Mr Speaker, in proceeding, what was agreed at the Committee level or what the Hon Minister indicated to the Committee members, and I believe he was not at the Committee and the Chairman is here to testify -- It was said that in curbing such a problem, they were linking the National Identification Authority to issue a Ghanaian with a national identification card and that would be a prerequisite or a condition precedent for holding a Ghanaian passport.
Mr Speaker, we are already aware of the problems or the bottlenecks of the National Identification Authority. So, we urged the Hon Minister to ensure that in curbing the problem, we do not have a situation where we create a backlog of subsequent problems of Ghanaians not being able to access Ghanaian passports because they are not able to get the national identification card.
Mr Speaker, in summing up, I would want to urge this Honourable House, in the light of the points already enumerated, to approve the said amount.
In concluding, Mr Speaker, I would want to quote a very instructive quotation by a former President of the United States of America, John F. Kennedy, and this can be found in a book titled: “Quotations of John. F. Kennedy”, page 21 to 22. Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote:
“Domestic policy can only defeat us; foreign policy can kill us. For this purpose, foreign policy is not to provide an outlet of our sentiments or hope or indignation. It is to shape real events in the real world.”
Mr Speaker, so, if, indeed, Ghana wants to be seen as shaping the world and being part of shaping the world, then we ought to take our foreign Missions and Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Ministry serious.
On this note, Mr Speaker, I support that we approve the Motion.
Mr Alfred K. Agbesi (NDC -- Ashaiman) 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I also beg to support the Motion and urge Hon Colleagues to support massively the amount requested for the Ministry.
Mr Speaker, on page 20 of the Report, it is captured under 4.12 -- Capital Expenditure. Mr Speaker, this year, September, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliamentarians from Ghana were asked to visit the Ghana High Commission in Abuja.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:15 p.m.
On a point of order.
Mr Speaker, with respect to my Hon Colleague, if one is on his feet talking, that person must not only be heard talking, he must also be seen. As it is, we are not seeing anybody; nobody is visible.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I can see him and I can see you. --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, is like somebody driving in the night with his lights off. You ask him and he says, “Oh, I can see you”. It is for the person to say that he can see. It is for the other people to identify the person.
Mr Speaker, the difficulty is that once an Hon Member is making a submission, the audios are capturing what one is saying and the visuals should also be capturing. Now, they are not functioning. And they are an integral part of what we do here.
So, if I may appeal to the Chair, if we can suspend Sitting for a brief while and then we can move on. Not adjournment -- Mr Speaker, I am not calling for adjournment, I am calling for suspension.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
In the meantime, Hon Deputy Majority Leader, can you just conclude your submission?
Mr Agbesi 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can complete this one and see what happens.
But the point I was making was that, the Ghana Mission building in Abuja is in a very bad situation. The staff have to be living in one side of the building because the roof of half of the building has caved in. Any rain at all, floods the building and they cannot do -- All their files are damaged and if one wants anything from the library, one cannot easily get it.
Indeed, the situation was such that the Hon Minority Chief Whip had to lament to the Chancery that if that was the condition that they were working, it was indeed, very bad. Mr Speaker, my plea here is to the Ministry, that they should take a second look, an immediate look at the building in Abuja, so that the staff can actually work for the interest of Ghana.
I believe my Hon Colleague, the Hon Minority Chief Whip is anxious that this building should be renovated as early as possible because he was the one who led the delegation there and he said that, no, this one, when he comes home, he would go to the Hon Minister. And I am told he went to the Hon Minister and she promised -- Hon Minister, I am only appealing seriously that please, take a look at the building in Abuja.
On this note, Mr Speaker, I thank you, very much.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
In respect of the intervention raised by the Hon Minority Leader, I would like us to put the Question, then after that, suspend Sitting until we get the light back.
Hon Members, I would put the Question.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢153, 953,029 for the services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration for the year ending 31st December, 2014.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Hon Members, we will suspend proceedings for one hour.
Hon Members, the House has been suspended -- not adjourned.
1.20 p.m. -- Sitting suspended.
2.55 p.m. -- Sitting resumed.
BILLS -- CONSIDERATION 1:15 p.m.
STAGE 1:15 p.m.
Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your indulgence, I would seek your leave to propose that it should read, and I beg to move --
“The monies disbursed from the Equity Finance Account shall be applied for the placement of equity in a company engaged in export trade, export oriented manufac- turing activity, agriculture related to agro-processing and agro-processing.”
Mr Speaker, we put together an expert committee which was Chaired by Dr Oteng Gyasi, a very respected Ghanaian private sector person, supported by the former Government draftsperson. In their considered opinion, after having travelled to South Africa to study from the Industrial Development Fund of that country and others, they think that the focus of EDIF -- And Mr Speaker, why this Equity Fund is important is the very reason for which the law is being revised.
If any Ghanaian company was in distress today, in agriculture or agro- processing, Government is not able to make an intervention with EDIF. We think that if this is approved and the Fund is properly managed, any company that requires Government support and intervention, can come to the Equity Fund. But subject to the work of the Due Diligence Committee, I accordingly submit, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
All right. Hon Minister, can you repeat the rendition, so that it can be properly captured. Please, repeat the new rendition.
Mr H. Iddrisu 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move that:
“The monies disbursed from the Equity Finance Account shall be applied for the placement of equity in a company engaged in export trade, export-oriented manufacturing activity, agriculture related to agro- processing and agro-processing.”
This is the intendment.
Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, here, it says agro-processing and re- processing.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
All right. Hon Members, by implication, you are withdrawing the amendment on the Order Paper and substituting it with what has been rendered by the Hon Minister. So, leave is granted to withdraw the amendment as placed on the Order Paper and for it to be substituted with what the Hon Minister put out.
Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, rightly so, I beg your leave to withdraw the amendment as advertised on the Order Paper and to replace it with the new amendment proposed by the Minister responsible for the sector.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Application granted. Are there any comments on the new rendition, otherwise, I put the Question.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 25 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 31 -- Chief Executive.
Alhaji Sorogho 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that: clause 31 delete and insert the following:
“Appointment of Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive:
(1) The President shall in accordance with article 195 of the Consti- tution, appoint for purposes of the Fund:
(a) a Chief Executive; and
(b) a Deputy Chief Executive.
(2) The Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive shall hold office on the terms and conditions specified in their letters of appointment.”
Alhaji Ibrahim D. Abubakari 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to make a further amendment, that we can appoint a Chief Executive but I think it is not necessary we have a Deputy Chief Executive. Any of the line managers can act when the Chief Executive is not there. A Deputy Chief Executive, in my view, is not necessary, looking at the nature of the Fund.
We can have a Chief Executive or any of the line managers or the Director of Finance and Administration can act whenever the Chief Executive is not there. I think we should look at it that way.
Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover: Mr Speaker, your Committee did look at some of these issues that came up as to the possibility of some of the line managers acting in the absence of the substantive Chief Executive. But upon a lengthy discussion, looking at the pros and cons, because now, we are expanding the scope and operations of EDIF and there is the need to have a permanent Deputy Chief Executive Officer in his absence.
There is the possibility of friction -- because all these line directors or managers are there and one may think that it is my duty maybe, to be acting in his absence here and there. But the possibility is that, let us avoid all those frictions and allow a permanent Deputy Chief Executive Officer, who would be acting in his capacity when he is indisposed or out of the country, and there is the need for him to take charge.
So I think that, yes, that was an issue that we looked at but we felt that indeed, the scope and currently, how we are
looking at EDIF tomorrow, there is the need to have a permanent Deputy Chief Executive Officer and we think that that is good for EDIF.
Alhaji Abubakari 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think we will even get more friction when there is this Deputy Chief Executive. Most often, it turns out to be -- Look at most organisations in practice and looking at the nature of the Fund, we give more power to the Chief Executive. If we think that we can spell out as is done in the Driver, Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA), the Director of Finance and Administration would act whenever the Chief Executive is not there, or the most senior of them would act whenever he is not there. That gives more power to the Chief Executive.
So, I think that the Deputy Chief Executive is not necessary. He is going to cause more conflict in the future, especially personality conflict and I think we should look at it well.
Mr Mathias K. Ntow 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think as rightly said by my Hon Colleague, you will find that these days, activities of an institution like EDIF should not be limited to the office. With the two deputies, at least, if one is at the office, the other one should be on the field for operational duties. Now, if the Chief Executive is not there, there should be somebody substantive to take care of whatever is going on in the office and even outside the office.
So, Mr Speaker, I think it is very, very important that we get a deputy who can also operationalise the activities of the Fund for it to be able to perform creditably for the benefit of the people of this country.
Mr Speaker, again, it is not only on the export, developing of agriculture, brand, all these things are inclusive in the activities of the EDIF, which need to be taken proper care of.
Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover: Mr Speaker, one more point. In fact, initially, we were looking at two deputies, one in charge of credit and projects and one in charge of finance and administration. But upon further consideration, we realised that we could shelve one and maintain one for now.
So, we think that it is still proper and good that we have the Deputy who will be looking at the projects and credits because what is important now is that, we look at experience of the Business and Assisted Fund years back where the abuse of this Fund was so much.
Therefore, putting it in perspective, the new EDIF that we want to look at now, let us have some of these experienced hands who would be working in the absence of the Chief Executive, supported by the Board, to make sure we make EDIF succeed. Initially, it was two deputies but upon a further discussion and all that, we decided that we will let one go for now.
Mr Joe Ghartey 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when you look at State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) or statutory corporations, which have responsibilities that are like the one we are seeking to set up, you will notice that they do not have Deputy Chief Executives -- Ghana Promotion Invest- ment Centre (GIPC) only has a Chief Executive; it does not have a Deputy Chief Executive. The Free Zones Board only has a Chief Executive.
They do not have a Deputy. Indeed, I suspect that all the statutory corporations that are under the Ministry of Trade and Industry do not have Deputy Chief Executives. If there is a policy change that is now seeking to introduce Deputy Chief Executives as a new introduction into our governance structure for SOEs,
Mr Joe Ghartey 3:05 p.m.


perhaps, we must be told the justification because this is something that is coming out of the blue. The arguments that are being made on both sides make sense. But our general policy as a nation up to today, has been that, for these major statutory corporations, we do not have a Deputy Chief Executive. So, if we are going to have a Deputy Chief Executive now, if we are just told why they think that this is a special case or it is a new policy direction, it will help us take a decision.
Alhaji Sorogho 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me first correct my Second Deputy Speaker who just spoke and tried to rush out, that it is not true that we do not have Deputy Chief Executives --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
No, he is not rushing out.
Second Deputy Speaker, get ready to take the Chair.
Alhaji Sorogho 3:05 p.m.
So, there was a signal from you to him that he should --
Mr Joe Ghartey 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that I do not have many opportunities these days to ask people to withdraw statements but this is one such opportunity. So, he should withdraw the statement and apologise to me. [Laughter.]
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
Very well. Hon Chairman, withdraw it.
I have given you a signal.
Alhaji Sorogho 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he is moving out. I do not know why he has just asked a question and I get up to answer and he is moving out.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
Hon Chairman, I gave him a signal.
Alhaji Sorogho 3:05 p.m.
So, I did not know that Mr Speaker had given him a signal. If
I had known, I would not have said that. I did not know. This is because I did not know, that is why I said it. So, it is withdrawn.
But I still would want him to know that it is not true that we do not have Deputy Chief Executives for BOST. In fact, as we talk now, the example that he gave, a Deputy Chief Executive has already been appointed for Free Zones Board. Yes, it is there; so, if he does not know and he now wants to know, I would want to let him be aware.
Number two, the reason is very simple. It is being suggested that we should allow one of the Directors to act. The examples that were given are not institutions that are managing public funds. This is an institution that Ghanaians have entrusted funds to them to manage and for that reason, you cannot just compare them with others like the Free Zones Board, like the Investment Promotion Centre, which promotes -- no.
There is a statutory deduction, a levy that Ghanaians pay and these moneys are all entrusted into the hands of EDIF to manage. So, we will not sit down and just compare them to any other institute; no. We need to make sure that whatever we are having, it is protected.
Number three, we debated a lot on this. It came out clearly that from examples, immediately the Chief Executive is out, there are four Directors, all of them parallel. Now, the tendency is to look for the senior person to act. Unfortunately, the senior person here is determined by the length of stay and not by competence. So, it happens that because a person is older there, he is asked to act while there is somebody who is junior but who has all the expertise and knows what is right.
So, to cut off all these, what we are saying is that “a Deputy Chief Executive appointed by the President with all the qualities” and so, in the absence of the
Chief Executive, he acts. We have gone down to even assign functions. So, if they just give us small time, we go down to the next amendment, the functions of the Deputy Chief Executive are there clear, so that it does not conflict with the Chief Executive at all. I think that this is something that we must all support.
Dr Kunbuor 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have been listening to the debate and following it partially on whether you need a Deputy Chief Executive, I have seen that there is a lot of confusion about administration and corporate governance.
A Director of a corporation is a completely different material from a Chief Executive whether as deputy or substantive. Their roles and responsi- bilities are completely different in corporate governance and that is why you should not run into the temptation that a most senior Director can automa- tically act in the position of a deputy, particularly when the person is likely to have his source of appointment, discipline and promotion coming from a different entity altogether as against a Chief Executive who is appointed under article
195.
So, I think that it is a normal corporate practice we have had in relation to these State institutions as the Hon Second Deputy Speaker said. I thought the argument was initially whether you should have one or two, but it is necessary that you have a Deputy Chief Executive.
In fact, for those who have been involved in corporate governance, you would realise that there is always a power of policy that is given and quite often, the substantive Chief Executive stays with the issues of policy and directly at that Executive level is a technocrat who is his
deputy, who actually makes the engine of the corporate entity to run and there are many, many reasons you must have a Deputy Chief Executive.
Mr Ghartey 3:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I had risen to come and take over but once you have recognised me, I would want to make a small point.
What the Common Fund Administrator, if the only reason or the major reason is because there is a deduction from statutory funds and therefore, there should be a deputy, then perhaps, the GETFund Administrator and the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator also need Deputies.
I understand what the Majority Leader is saying, even though I do not agree with everything he says. But I understand the point he is making, that perhaps, in some situations, a deputy is useful. But that has not been our policy. Our policy has been that in several of these institutions, we do not have a deputy. So, I am saying that if there is a policy and the Free Zones Board -- we have not amended the law.
The Free Zones Act has not been amended. If a deputy has been appointed, then it means the deputy has been appointed administratively, not by amendment.
Now, we are putting it into law. In any event, even if you do not have it in the law, some may argue that if you do not have it in this Act, you can still appoint. Some may make that argument. In fact, when you say that the function of the deputy is stated here, is even the most dangerous thing I have seen in my life.
For example, a Deputy Minister -- His job is to assist the Minister. Do not give a deputy separate functions, so that he seems to think that he has authority by himself; he is a deputy on his own right.
Mr Ghartey 3:15 p.m.


A deputy who is a deputy, his job is to assist his substantive Minister and act in his absence, not something that is different. He cannot be given a different role.

But Mr Speaker, these are matters that are matters of policy. I would not split hairs over it. If the thinking is that there should be a deputy, I will rest my case. I have made my point. I will come and take over the Chair, put the Question, Mr Speaker.
Dr Kunbuor 3:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have appreciated situations in which people would want to draw the parallels in governance between the political governance and corporate. This argument has come time and again in constitutional reviews, should the Vice President be given any function and the idea is that it is no. This is because the Executive authority is not capable of divisibility and that has always been understood. When you come to a technical corporate entity, the rules become different.
We do not look at it as he asserting authority, but he is also taking responsibility for which he can be sanctioned and there is a link between the Chief Executive and the Deputy Chief Executive. So, regardless of whatever specific functions he might be performing, he would still have to report to it and you have a similar situation.
You would find in the Constitution that because of the technical nature of the Armed Forces, the Chief of Defence Staff, who by all intents and purposes, is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), has been given constitutional function for a very specific reason because of the technical judgement that is required and he takes responsibility for that. That is why I think
that it really would not help to have a deputy in this situation who takes responsibility for his technical decisions. This is the context in which I am looking at it.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:15 p.m.
Hon Minister, I would like you to speak last if you would permit me.
Mr Daniel Botwe 3:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is difficult to take clause 31 without looking at the functions of the Deputy Chief Executive, and that makes it even more serious or dangerous. If you permit me to read under functions of the Deputy Chief Executive, you would see that in defining the functions -- “assist the Chief Executive in the performance of the functions of the Chief Executive and other functions related to finance, adminis- tration and operation of the Fund” as if the Chief Executive does not have any other functions to play.
If you say “assist the Chief Executive” that is fine. But once you add these things, you are giving some extra functions to the Deputy Chief Executive --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:15 p.m.
We are yet to get there.
Mr Botwe 3:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am just using this to explain the dangers in having even the Chief Executive. Even if you have it, it goes into the intent of next one. You would see that in (c) “perform any other functions determined by the Board”. It is not even determined by the Chief Executive. So, we are going to have a Chief Executive appointed directly by the President, his functions are determined by the Board. So, immediately, you are creating a situation which he is going to undermine the Chief Executive.
I am saying that it would make more sense -- Much as I agree that we have not reached there, I would want to lay the dangers in it and even if we are going to have a Deputy Chief Executive, I think giving him functions directly from the Act would be dangerous. Let us say that he would act in the absence of the Chief Executive, then administratively, we can put down functions for him to perform.
But to put all that in the Act and then say that he has direct powers from the Board, not even from the Chief Executive, that can be dangerous. That is why maybe, people are expressing fears of even having
-- 3:15 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:15 p.m.
Mr. Second Deputy Speaker to take over.
MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Dr Kunbuor 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was saying that I have seen you change your colours and I am sure you definitely have also changed your position on these matters. [Laughter.]
But actually, the substance of the argument we are raising, if you look at it here, there is no real function that a Deputy Chief Executive can originate himself. There is none.
The first one is that he is assisting the Chief Executive. The second one is that, he acts in the absence of the Chief Executive. The third one is that he performs functions assigned to him by the Board. The Chief Executive is a member of the Board. So, you explain to me how a member of the Board can allow somebody who that
Board is given power to usurp his functions?[Interruption.] What I am saying is that, the governing council-- And we have come across this in our course of making law so many times. I cannot mention the name of the situation, but the reality about it is that, when a Board is supposed to perform some functions in addition to directing people, what they should do, the Executive arm of Government cannot take over that responsibility.

I guess so, because if it were to be something that would go against a constitutional provision or another statutory provision, that I would listen. But it does not hurt any other existing law in this country as it stands. If anything, it amplifies what exactly what you want to do with that Deputy Chief Executive.
Mr Assibey-Yeboah 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out why it is not sufficient to end at say “Assist the Chief Executive of the performance of the functions of the Chief Executive”? If it goes on further to say “another functions relating to finance…” I think that is problematic.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
Hon Members, I stand corrected. But I think we have not come to that clause yet; we are just using it for the purpose of arguing or understanding clause 31.
Dr Kunbuor 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, why we are making it that way is that, if you were to give a ruling now and then there is a proper amendment, that one automatically becomes consequential. That is the context. It looks like the Chairman is really minded to drop the other two and leave it as a general ombudsman clause.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
So, to some extent, we are combining the two since we are masters of our own rule? All right.
Alhaji Abubakari 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am glad you have pointed it out that in the Free Zones Act, there is no Deputy Chief Executive, it is just an administrative position. This is because when you go through the Bill, there is no provision for Deputy Chief Executive; even in the Ghana Free Zones Act, it is there.
But I am saying this because like my Leader said earlier about administration, with this, we are going to increase bureaucracy in reporting. Now, you have to report through the Deputy Chief Executive and then to the Chief Executive and all these create bureaucracy.
I think that we should drop the Deputy Chief Executive to make it more -- Now, people are going to make the organisational chart flat instead of the vertically long organisational chart and that is why I think that the role of the Deputy Chief Executive is not necessary.
Mr Boafo 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think the creation of the position of Deputy Chief Executive is in order, notwithstanding the line Directors. This is because for purposes of pragmatism, if the Chief Executive is not around and you ask one of the Directors to take over, like the illustration made by the Chairman of the Committee, he would not be as familiar with the position of the activities of the Chief Executive as the Deputy himself, so
that he would not be advised by the Secretary to the Chief Executive what to be done in the circumstance for work to flow easily.
If we go to the private sector, this particular position is in abundance. We have Deputy Managing Director, Operations, Deputy Managing Director, Finance and Administration but we do not see any conflict in those situations. Why do we try to prevent it from introducing it into the public administration in the country?
So Mr Speaker, I think it is a good policy; we are not here to make a restatement of the laws, we are here to introduce innovations to the laws. If we feel that there is the need to have a Deputy Chief Executive, we should go ahead. Parliament, we are not bound by the previous laws at all. We can create and recreate.
Alhaji Sorogho 3:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to propose a further amendment to answer or cure the fears that are being entertained.
Mr Speaker, it would read --
“The Deputy Chief Executive shall -- assist the Chief Executive in the performance of the functions of the Chief Executive.”
And to delete “and other functions related to finance, administration and the operations of the Fund”. This is because these are the very operations that the Chief Executive will be working on any way. So, there is no need to specify them here. But to still maintain --
“(b) act in the absence of the Chief Executive; and then
(c) perform any other function determined by the Board.”
Mr Speaker, the Chief Executive is a member of the Board and in fact, he is the one who operationalises the functions of the Board. And so, there is no way he would go and give any function to the Deputy to supersede his powers. So, that one, I think it --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:25 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader.
Dr Kunbuor 3:25 p.m.
Actually, if it is presented that way, then the purpose of the amendment will be defeated. This is because the use of the words “other functions” have been repeated -- “and performed any other function”. So, if you are taking out the fact that he should perform other functions, then you cannot retain the one that is here in terms of what the Board will direct him to do. So, we can just leave it at where the amendment is and take out the (c). (b) can still be retained because it is actually part of it.
Alhaji Sorogho 3:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would end it --
(a) “to assist the Chief Executive in the performance of the functions of the Chief Executive;
(b) act in the absence of the Chief Executive.”
We will delete (c).
Mr Kobina T. Hammond 3:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, number one, I do not understand why there should be any difficulty in the decision to create a deputy managerial or deputy director's post. There is no difficulty.
Mr Joseph B. A. Danquah 3:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think my Hon Colleague is misleading the House by saying we are creating a position called Deputy Director. There is no position being created as Deputy Director.
Mr K. T. Hammnond 3:25 p.m.
He said what “directing”? I did not hear what the Hon Member said. All right. He says the Deputy Chief Executive - fine:It does help to create some employment anyway.
I am not so sure about the difficulties in outlining the functions of this person. It is completely unnecessarily. If you look at all the statutory or the conventions that give functions to deputies, it is simple.
The functions of a deputy is really to step into the shoes of the substantive when the person is not immediately available. So, you would see that in all these corporate matters and whatever, even at political level, the functions allotted to the substantive by the head, if it is political by the President, if it is corporate by the Board, is to be exercised by the Chief Executive and if the Chief Executive is absent, automatically, the Deputy steps in.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:25 p.m.
Hon Members, order! Let us listen to him.
Mr K. T. Hammond 3:25 p.m.
Chief Executives do not operationalise any functions of the Board, they operate within what they have been allocated by the Board. The point I would want to reiterate is simple -- Let us create the position of the Deputy Chief Executive and all other things shall be added unto that position without us necessarily enshrining it into the law.
Thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:25 p.m.
Hon Members, there is this muttering and chattering that I do not appreciate, especially in the afternoon. I do not want to mention names but there is an Hon Colleague I am looking at who is still mattering and chattering and he is my friend.
Thank you.
Mr H. Iddrisu 3:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
I have followed the debate on whether there ought to have been the creation of the office of the Deputy Chief Executive. Mr Speaker, rightly so, when I engaged the Parliamentary Committee, I indicated to them that this was an omission by the draftsperson and indeed, it was a policy decision to create the position for two Deputy Chief Executives, one responsible for finance and administration and for operations.
But in the wisdom of the Committee and to keep the purse dignified, the Committee recommended that we should create only one office of a Deputy Chief Executive to assist the Chief Executive in the performance of his duties. Mr Speaker, having said that, I rather will support the Chairman but with your indulgence, seek your leave to further improve what he has proposed.
My first issue is whether we are to use “a Deputy Chief Executive” or “the Deputy Chief Executive”.
My honest submission would be that, it should be “the Deputy Chief Executive”. So, substitute “a” for “the”. Mr Speaker, in (a), it should read; “assist the Chief Executive in the performance of his duties under this Act” instead of saying and repeating functions of the Chief Executive again having mentioned “Chief Executive”.
Mr Speaker, the second which has to do with (b) is a practical experience, apart from policy decision. Only yesterday, when we had to meet with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade and Industry-- the Chief Executive of EDIF is out of town -- I had a difficulty who within the line management managers was to support me in getting us discuss some of the budgetary positions and practical conflicts have always arisen even at EDIF whether it is the senior most person who should take over in the absence of the Chief Executive.
Mr Speaker, because it is a management function as the Majority Leader said, there are times that approvals have been given and you need to do disbursement. In his absence, he needs somebody to support him in the disbursement of the funds.
With that Mr Speaker, I associate myself with it and support the deletion of “perform any other function determined by the Board”, so that we would take them together.
I accordingly submit.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:25 p.m.
Can we have the rendition of what you are suggesting?
Mr H. Iddrisu 3:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, (a) will read:
“Functions of the Deputy Chief Executive --
The Deputy Chief Executive shall --
(a) assist the Chief Executive in the performance of his duties under this Act; --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:35 p.m.
Hon Minister, can you look at page 13, clause 32 of the Bill? Clause 32 of the Bill is -- Functions of the Executive. So, perhaps, we should use that to guide ourselves -- Functions of the Deputy Chief Executive. But the terminology should be -- Assist him in the performance -- [Interruption] -- We are talking first about the heading.
This is, Functions of the Chief Executive but when it comes to this, it says-- Functions of Deputy Chief Executive. There is no “the”; the T-H-E is not there.
Mr H. Iddrisu 3:35 p.m.
I agree with you Mr Seaker but it depends on how we want to capture the headnote, whether we want to combine Chief Executive with Deputy Chief Executive. Administratively, the draftsperson can take care of that because we have a headnote which says: “Chief Executive” and we want a new headnote which says, “Deputy Chief Executive” to be accompanied by functions of the Chief Executive and functions of the Deputy Chief Executive.
So, my rendition will read --
“The Deputy Chief Executive shall assist the Chief Executive in the performance of the functions under this Act”--
“(b) Act in the absence of the Chief Executive.”
Then it ends there. So, the “and” would be deleted accordingly.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:35 p.m.
So, Hon Members, I am putting the Question on clause 31 as amended, which talks about the appointment of the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive and the second one, which talks about the functions of the Deputy Chief Executive.
Dr A. A. Osei 3:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, clause 32 which you just read to us talks about the functions of the Chief Executive. But in clause 31, do we want to bring in the functions of the Deputy Chief Executive before the Chief Executive?
Alhaji Sorogho 3:35 p.m.
No! You were not here when we started the clause 31. We went through the clause 31. Because it has a relationship with clause 32, we went straight and combined that one and so, it is now taking the two. So, clause 31 comes first before clause 32.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:35 p.m.
Hon Chairman, listen carefully to what he is saying. Clause 32 now is “Functions of the Chief Executive”. We agreed to clause 31 as “Functions of the Deputy Chief Executive”.
The question the Hon Member is asking is that in a Bill, do we have the functions of the Deputy Chief Executive before the Chief Executive? We do not. It is after --[Interruption] --
Yes, Hon Boafo --
Mr Boafo 3:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if you look at it, it says, “A new clause”. So, it is up to the draftsperson to insert it in the appropriate place. It does not matter that it should follow clause 31. It is a new clause.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:35 p.m.
All right. I will put the Question.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 31 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Dr Kunbuor 3:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was thinking that you could give a further direction that the draftsperson should re- arrange the sections to give some consistency.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:35 p.m.
Thank you. That is just what I was about to say. I do not know whether reading of minds has become one of your virtues now. So, the clause 31 as amended stands part of the Bill. I direct that the draftsperson re- arranges the numbering so that the clause relating to the Chief Executive comes before the clause relating to the Deputy Chief Executive.
Clause 32 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Dr A. A. Osei 3:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not sure what this clause is meant for especially, if it is the appointment of the Board and the President is going to appoint the Chief Executive and the Deputy. I think the Board should be allowed to appoint other staff to perform the functions; not the President again. What kind of staff are you talking about? The accountant should be appointed by the President? I think that is too much. [Interruption] It may have been in the old Bill but it is not proper.
Mr H. Iddrisu 3:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not share the position of the Hon Ranking Member on Finance and if he appreciates the import of article 195 of the Constitution, embedded in it is delegated authority. And under article 195 of the Constitution, particularly 195 (2), with your indulgence, I beg to read:
“The President may, subject to such conditions as he may think fit, delegate some of his functions under this article by directions in writing to the governing council concerned or to a committee of the council or to any member of that governing council or to any public officer.”
So, once it is the appointment of other officers and reference is made to article 195, I get the crux of what he is coming to do that you do not leave all these matters for the presidency. But best practice, I am sure it would come through the Board. So, article 195 (2) does support the position of this delegated authority.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:35 p.m.
Before I had the opportunity to put the Question on clause 32, I was spirited to clause 33, so, let me put the Question on clause 32.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 32 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 33 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 34 -- Borrowing Powers.
Alhaji Sorogho 3:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 34, delete.
Mr Speaker, the Committee, after a lengthy deliberation, thought that there was no need at all to confer these powers to the Board because it was not there to borrow and lend money. So, there was no way that functions can ever be operationalized. So, the entire clause 34 should be deleted.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 34 is accordingly deleted.
Dr Kunbuor 3:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am just trying to look at the consequences of deleting the clause. After you delete it, there are some consequential things in re- arranging the sections. Otherwise, we would not have a section 34 when the Bill comes out because it has been deleted and you have not ordered a re- arrangement.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:45 p.m.
I believe that the draftsperson would re-number them accordingly. After we have finished with the Second Consideration Stage, the re-arrangement would be done. I direct that the draftsperson re-numbers them accordingly.
Chairman of the Committee, I think we are on clause 35?
Alhaji Sorogho 3:45 p.m.
No advertised amendment to clause 35, Mr Speaker.
Mr H. Iddrisu 3:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, just to improve clause 35, if you would indulge me. It should read:
“The Board shall keep proper books of account and proper records in relation to them in the form approved by the Auditor-General”.
Just for purposes that -- I have looked at consistency with other legislations that we have passed.
Dr Kunbuor 3:45 p.m.
Yes, there is a technical problem there. Why they have always rendered it as “books of accounts” and “proper records” is because the two are different. Books of accounts are supposed to be proper; you can never have anything that you call accounting which is not proper; then they call it incomplete records. But when you come to records, records are not governed; the preparation and compiling records are not governed by such rules. So, you need proper records, but for accounts --
Mr Sorogho 3:45 p.m.
So, it means no advertised amendment to clause 35, Mr Speaker.
Mr H. Iddrisu 3:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am satisfied with the Leader's explanation and accordingly abandon my position.
Dr A. A. Osei 3:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am confused. I thought --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:45 p.m.
I am confused because I have not recognised you. I do not know why you are speaking.
Dr A. A. Osei 3:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, unless I got him wrong; I thought he was offering an amendment that would read: “shall keep proper books of account and records”. When it comes to records, what does he mean by proper records? What is proper? The statement said “books of records must be proper”. But how can you say a record is proper?
Dr Kunbuor 3:45 p.m.
That is why you qualify it because I said the basis for preparing accounts is governed by set rules, whether it is GAT or this, it is accrual or it is any or those things. But when you come to records, the keeping of records, records are so varied. You do not have internationally accepted rules in terms of how records should be kept. So, when you say that records should be properly kept, the legal interpretation is that it should be adequate in detail, it must be authenticated-- a number of legal reasons that we use to assess proper records.
Dr A. A. Osei 3:45 p.m.
In the form to be approved by the Auditor-General, I can see the proper books of account from what he said. But as for proper records, I do not think it should exist -- How do you define “proper”? The legal interpretation, who is going to put it? You and I cannot put it.
Dr Kunbuor 3:45 p.m.
Actually, if you go to the National Records Office and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board and see the classification of records; you would see incomplete records, you would see authenticated records. Then they draw the line and say these are proper records. Then you come to incomplete records, and you come to a number -- If you go, you would see the way these things are kept.

So, immediately you use the term “proper records”, they know what type of document would have qualified as “proper records” and what would not be a proper record. And I am taking that in contrast distinction with accounts which are governed by very, very clear rules. That you cannot say you are preparing accounts and you do not follow those procedures.

So, I said that you do not need “proper” to qualify accounts, but you need “proper” to qualify the type of records that you want them to keep.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:45 p.m.
Majority Leader, just a clarification. So, if you do not follow the clear accounts rules and you prepare accounts, what are those accounts described as?
Dr Kunbuor 3:45 p.m.
In fact, if you are a professional accountant and you go and you do not follow any laid down rules in preparing accounts, they are for all intents and purposes, not accounts and your conduct amounts to professional misconduct.
Mr J. B. Adu Danquah 3:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there could be improper records, there could be incomplete records and by so doing, the opinion that would be proffered by the auditors would be a qualified opinion. So, the way it has been drafted or the way it has been scripted, is appropriate. This is because when you proffer an opinion as an auditor, you would say that proper records have been kept. So, please, let us keep it there; there is a reason they kept it the way it is.
Mr Boafo 3:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe Mr Speaker is fully aware of this expression; it is not a new one. You would find it in the Companies Code when we are dealing with companies accounts, what type of accounts and records should be circulated
to shareholders. And if you come to the definition of what is “proper records” or “proper accounts”, we would fall on the accountants' manual, which would indicate what is meant by “proper accounts”. So, there are sources to identify meanings and we cannot exhaust those sources in this legislation.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:45 p.m.
On that note of explanation of accounting by a lawyer, let me put the Question. Not to say that there is anything wrong with it, there is legal accounting.
Clause 35 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 36 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 37 -- Public forum.
Alhaji Sorogho 3:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 37 -- delete.
Mr Speaker, the reason is that, a public forum is an administrative activity which would not be in the Bill. If you want to organise the public to know what is happening, why should we put it in a Bill. It is an administrative forum that you want information to go out. It is the view of the Committee after a lengthy deliberation that it should not find its way in the Bill.
Dr A. A. Osei 3:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect to the Chairman, his reasons are not cogent enough. Originally, when this Bill became an Act, there is a reason this was put in there, to make sure that there is some accountability, not administrative. Unless Government policy is to change this. This is a policy statement, that is why it was there -- [Interruption.] What do you mean? No. Please, when you get your chance, you say it.
I am not buying your argument. There is a reason this was put there. The public must know what EDIF -- You know a lot has happened there. So, there is a reason this was put there, to ensure that there is accountability, transparency and all that. So, I think he should keep it in there; there is a reason. As a Member of Parliament (MP), if you do not know, then it is serious; that is why it needs a forum.
Mr Titus-Glover 3:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to assure my senior that there is nothing to entertain at all. This is because this issue of his argument came up at the Committee level. If we want to call stakeholders meeting that forms part of EDIF, it is the duty of the public relations section to invite all these stakeholders. [An Hon Member: How?] Hold on. Part of the directors, including the management and Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism can be part of this stakeholder's meeting.
We need to let the people know what EDIF is doing. What have we done? For example, before we even went to Tamale to look at this Bill, there was a stakeholder's meeting. And at that meeting, the technical committee of EDIF were there, members of the Board of EDIF were there, the Board of Directors were there and some administrative officers of EDIF including myself. And the stakeholders, those coming from the sectors that form part of EDIF were all there.
Mr Speaker, we do not need to put the invitation of stakeholders to a meeting to discuss what EDIF is doing into this Bill. Initially, the idea came but we discussed at length that there was no need to let it be incorporated as part of this Bill and running it administratively. So, Mr
Speaker, I would want to assure my senior that we did a thorough work and we felt that it is purely an administrative function, where the public relations department of EDIF can take care of this responsibility and run it very well.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:55 p.m.
I do not know whether the Minister wants to speak now after Hon J. B. Danquah.
Mr Joseph B. A. Danquah 3:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think there was a good reason clause 37 was deleted. Because if you read it, in the Bill, this whole function had nothing to do with the Board, had nothing to do with the Chief Executive. It was all situated with the Minister and therefore, it became very apparent that if the Board or the Chief Executive, or the administrative arm of the Fund found it necessary to convene any form of meetings, stakeholders or forum, then it should be left to the administrative and executive wing of the Fund, and not to be situated with the Minister, or with the politician.
That is how the basis was arrived at. It did not say that there was no need for a forum, or it was not said that there was no need for a stakeholders meeting or anything. But to have it situated with the Minister determining, the Minister arranging, the Minister doing all the things, then it was not really necessary to put it in the Bill and in the Act and in the law. That was the reason it came to the fore that it must be deleted. The Hon Minister was present and I think he understood the basis and reasons for it.
Mr H. Iddrisu 3:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me refer to the Headnote and probably, the content itself. Maybe, the Headnote should have read; “Public-Private Dialogue”, and it would have read in clause 37, (1):
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:55 p.m.
Hon Minister, when I saw this, my mind immediately came to what is in the provisions in the laws on petroleum that deal with some kind of civil society group engagement. So, I thought that the purpose was transparency, but now, what I am hearing from you is that, the purpose is not transparency or it is both. This is because I did not hear that, part of it. Do you want to talk about that -- because you seemed to focus only on the dialogue aspect, the direction, but is it also transparency?
Mr H. Iddrisu 3:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I specifically used the word “transparency,” maybe, it escaped you. I did. I said for accountability purposes and for us to appreciate at every time what the Fund is being used for and what the engagement with the private sector has been and would be into the future--
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:55 p.m.
Hon Dr. Assibey-Yeboah, you are now the acting Minority Leader or you are just sitting there? Oh, the Chief Whip is there? Sorry. So, you are the deputy, acting Minority Leader, so let the others speak before you speak. Now, you are on the front row, so you will speak last.
Mr Joseph B. A. Danquah 3:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, listening to the Minister, if he wants accountability, the best form of accountability is through reporting. He could have quarterly reports, monthly reports, annual reports of the activities that the Fund is undertaking. The Act gives him the mandate to direct on policies any time. So, this actually does not need to be legislated in terms of public-private relationship or public-private meetings, or public- private dialogue. It needs not come into the Act.
If he wants accountability, as I have said, reporting of the activities of the Fund, he can bring it any day and therefore, we should not belabour the point. Mr Speaker, I believe the Minister would agree with this.
Mr Emmanuel K Bedzrah 3:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree with the Chairman that it should not be legislated. But what I would want to proffer is a compromise amendment that he should move to clause 38, where a Minister would make Regulations instead of having it as part of the law, so that we can have it as:
“The Minister can make Regulations that there would be public-private dialogue as well as accountability dialogue.”
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:55 p.m.
So, Hon Members, when we come to clause 38, I would invite Members to -- So, start thinking about a friendly amendment, so that if it is accepted, then it is adopted.
Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah 3:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not think leaving this in the Bill causes any harm, so I would rather, we have it in the Bill. But I will go with the Minister and propose that we have the heading as “public-private dialogue”. Then in the clause, instead of the Minister convening the dialogue, maybe, the Board or the Chief Executive would.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:55 p.m.
So, Mr Chairman, what is the sense of the House now?
Alhaji Sorogho 3:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I still stand strongly by the amendment proposed. This was after a lengthy consultation. Mr Speaker, we are thinking that the Regulation that is going to come can cure this. There is no need to put a “public forum” in a law. We are saying delete it -- the Hon Minister himself was there and so, I do not see why -- [Interruption] -- Yes, it should just be deleted.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:55 p.m.
On that note, let me put the Question. I think the sense of the House, I stand corrected, is that, even though it is going to be deleted, it would be brought in as a Regulation. I do not know whether --
Dr A. A. Osei 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Chairman keeps saying “after a lengthy deliberations at the Committee”. If the Committee can do it by itself, why does he not keep it there? He brings it to the House, so that we debate it. So, he should not keep saying “after a lengthy discussion”. That is why we are here.
Alhaji Sorogho 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I withdraw “after a lengthy discussion.” It is the opinion of the Committee that it should be deleted and we want the entire House to support it.
Dr A. A. Osei 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was trying to be convinced by the Chairman. The Hon J. B. Danquah was saying because it is the Minister, we are giving too much power to him, so, I thought -- [Interruption] -- He said that. He said it is a “political tool”. What harm can this do? [Interruption.]
Mr J. B. Danquah 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague is misleading this House. I never used the words “political tool” in my deliberation, neither did I say that the Minister is wrong. All I said was that if you read the whole clause 37, it had nothing with the administration or the executive. It had everything to do with the political actor. That is all I said.
Dr A. A. Osei 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was waiting for the Hon Chairman to convince me the harm that would occur if it is kept in there. He has not convinced anybody. He said “delete”, so, I thought maybe, he found it so harmful, but there is no defect that he is curing. It is harmless.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:05 p.m.
Hon Chairman, this is not table tennis, a dingdong between you and the Hon Member. Let me put the Question. When I put the Question, then after, we would see what the House thinks.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:05 p.m.


Clause 37 is accordingly deleted.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:05 p.m.
We have a new clause but we would skip that and go to clause 38. We would come back to it.
Alhaji Sorogho 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish that we do not skip it because I am deleting the entire clause. After deliberations, it was pointed out to us that there are other laws which have already taken care of that. The Criminal Act and other Acts have already taken care of that. So, I am seeking your leave to withdraw the entire amendment. I mean the Criminal Code.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:05 p.m.
It is the Criminal Act. There is no code any longer. You are right; it is the Act now. All the codes have been changed to the Statute Law Revision.
Dr A. A. Osei 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought the Chairman early on had said that after he has deleted clause 37, he would bring it under Regulations. Is that it?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:05 p.m.
There is a new clause (vi) and he is withdrawing that. He is withdrawing the whole of that, the new clause. What the Chairman is saying is that, it is provided for in other laws. So, that is what he is withdrawing and I do not think you have any objection to that.
You have withdrawn the new clause, that is item (vi). So, (vii), clause 38.
Mr Boafo 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if I heard the Hon Chairman right, he said that the proposed amendment is taken care of by the Criminal Offences Act. Under the Criminal Offences Act, there is no offence
like misapplication of money. We know misappropriation. I do not think there is an offence called “misapplication of fund”.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:05 p.m.
I am sure the offence is taken care of. That is even one of the reasons he is withdrawing, because he wants criminal law to be taken care of under the Criminal Act.
Clause 38 -- Regulations.
Alhaji Sorogho 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 38, delete and insert the following:
“Regulations
(1) The Minister may, on the advice of the Board by legislative instrument, make Regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Regula- tions may provide for:
(a) the forms required under this Act;
(b) the format for the reports of the accounts;
(c) the review of the percentage of money distributed to the accounts of the Fund;
(d) regulation of accounts esta- blished under the Fund;
(e) forms for application to the Fund;
(f) conditions for the grant of an application;
(g) matters to be contained in policy guidelines and ma- nuals issued by the Board;
(h) designated financial institutions for the development and promo- tion of exports;
(i) the terms, conditions, duties and obligations of desig- nated financial institutions, equity financing schemes and fund managers; and
(j) risk sharing.
Dr Ahmed Y. Alhassan 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I had a look at this particular section. I was just wondering what the (a) stood for, “the forms required under this Act” when (e) is “forms for application to the Fund”. Whereas (e), is qualified, (a) does not seem to be qualified. So, I thought that if they meant the same, then (a) would be redundant.
Alhaji Sorogho 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, can he come out clearly? Because I did not understand the import of --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:05 p.m.
What he is saying is that, when you look at paragraph (a), it says “the forms required under this Act”. When you look at paragraph (e), it says forms for application to the Fund”. But he is saying that a form for application to the Fund, is a form required under the Act. So, why do we have (a) and (e)?
Alhaji Sorogho 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this was what the Ministry brought to us and in order not to take anything out, we thought if it is not going to harm anything, we could leave it. But if it is a repetition and it means the same thing, I do not have any problem if we delete (e), and it is not going to affect the import. It is (e), “Forms for application to the Fund”.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:05 p.m.
Hon Chairman, I thought that the Ministry
brought the whole Bill and you have made so many amendments. But to say that this is what the Ministry brought, so you do not want to take anything out of it, then what should we do to all the amendments that you have moved?
The Ministry brings you a proposal and you as Chairman of Committee leads your Committee to accept or not. So, do not worry about the Ministry. Now, the ball is entirely in your court. So, do you say you will remove the (e)?
Alhaji Sorogho 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I seriously do not have any problem if I have to move for the deletion of (e) which seems to be the same thing as “the forms required under this Act”; and it goes down to say that: “ forms for application to the Fund”.
Mr Speaker, they could be different types of forms, that is why I hesitate to withdraw it.
Dr Kunbuor 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I guess that (a) actually addresses it, (e) can actually be brought in when the specific form in the Schedule has been designed and you then describe it as a form for the application to the Fund and that would tally with what forms are, required under the Act. So, this paragraph ( e ) can be moved to a specific form which is for application to the Fund. I believe if it is done that way, it should not be a problem.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:05 p.m.
So, we would take the (e) out?
Hon Minister, I think we should bring this conversation on (a) and ( e ) --
Mr H. Iddrisu 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are, rightly, if only you would recognise me. I do not intend to take more than a minute.
Mr H. Iddrisu 4:05 p.m.


Mr Speaker, ( e ) can just be improved-- “Application Form to access the Fund”. Then maintain it as it is and still leave (a) standing.

Mr Speaker, to access EDIF today, you will have to fill a very cumbersome form. We intend through regulations to reduce it. Why must you fill 25, 27 pages in order to be able to access the Fund? But this --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:05 p.m.
Hon Minister, is it not the form required under the Act? You would still have the power to redesign your forms. Let us take (e) out, if you do not mind, Hon Minister.
Dr Kunbuor 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I guess the problem is that the Bill has not come with the Schedule. This is because the Schedule should have indicated the nature of the forms under the Act and then we would have then specified it under the Schedule.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:05 p.m.
Does it create a problem in terms of the Regulations?
Dr Kunbuor 4:05 p.m.
No! If we take it out, then it makes it easier for the Schedules subsequently to be handled --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:05 p.m.
This is because the Schedule would then be part of the Regulations or part of the Act.
Dr Kunbuor 4:05 p.m.
That is so.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:05 p.m.
Or part of the Act.
Dr Kunbuor 4:05 p.m.
In the Regulations.
Mr Benjamin K. Kpodo 4:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think this amendment, (a) to (j) suffer from the same challenges which caused the deletion of the entire clause 37. We are
legislating everything into law, even managerial practices. Now, when one talks about the format for the report of the account, is it going to be different from the normally accepted standard of reporting or when you say the regulation of accounts established under the Fund? Is it going to be different from what is normally done to funds of accounting? So, I think we could remove the whole of subclause 2 (a) to (j), so that we do not legislate everything into the Bill.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:15 p.m.
I will put the Question, that clause 38 as amended and amendments that have been proposed by the Chairman and the Minister by the deletion of (e) and re- numbering. If I put that Question and the Question is not clear, then maybe, I will come to yours.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 38 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 39 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 40 -- Interpretation
Alhaji Sorogho 4:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 40, definition of “co- investment”, delete and insert the following:
Dr Kunbuor 4:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sorry that after your ruling on this matter, I should not have come back to it. But once we are in the Consideration Stage, I hope you can oblige me.
I am thinking that there should have actually been a further amendment to subclause (2) of clause 38 which says:
“Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Regulations shall provide for…”;
And not “may provide for”so that, at least, there is a compulsion to start with these minimum Regulations.
Mr Speaker, I say this because we have a large number of Regulations where the general provision which gives a discretion to provide Regulations have been there and no Regulation at all has actually been passed. One that immediately comes to mind is the Legal Services Board, and since that Act was passed, till today, there are no Regulations.
So, when you want the minimum to operationalise the Act, you must make that one compulsory, so that paragraph (a) or subclause (1) can await the discretion. But let us make this minimum requirement compulsory.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:15 p.m.
I think we have relaxed the rules. We could have asked you to go for the Second Consideration Stage, but we have obliged you.
Hon Chairman? Before the Chairman comes, let me just ask the Hon Majority Leader -- [Interruption.] If you put “shall” there without a sanction and a Minister comes and does not do it, does it breach anything? I am just saying whether we can improve it further or -- You have become a Minister and the “shall” is there but you have not done it. Can you be asked a question?
Dr Kunbuor 4:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in fact, that is the kind of situation that comes up in litigation. Then it provides a challenge for application for judicial review, whether by way of mandamus, to compel the Minister to bring the Regulations. This is because
you have had situations in which you find it difficult to implement the policy in the absence of Regulations, but it is discretionary and because of that, the Regulations have not been made. But if you make it mandatory, then somebody can challenge and compel the Minister to make sure the Regulations are brought.
Mr H. Iddrisu 4:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I associate myself with the proposal of the Hon Majority Leader.
In my particular case, there is already a committee which is working on the Regulations to support this subsequent one to its passage by Parliament.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 38 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
MR SPEAKER
Mr Speaker 4:21 p.m.
Yes?
Dr Kunbuor 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Second Deputy Speaker was about putting the Question on clause 39 when you assumed the Chair. That is where we have reached.
But I did also see the Hon Member stand up, so I will --
Mr Speaker 4:21 p.m.
I have been advised that we are moving on to clause 40.
Dr Kunbuor 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he did not put the Question on clause 39.
Dr A. A. Osei 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is not en t ir ely cor rect because, he indulged the Hon Majority Leader and we wen t back to clause 38. [Interruption]. I am saying the Speaker amended the Rules, so that we could go back to clause 38. I got up and he did not call me and he put the Question on clause 38. That is why I was up on clause
38.
Mr Speaker 4:21 p.m.
He put the Question. I heard him put the Question on clause 38.
Dr A. A. Osei 4:21 p.m.
He had put it earlier but he came back. So, if you will allow me.
The difficulty I have with the Hon Majority Leader is that, if we put “shall” and the Regulations are not ready, the Bill cannot be implemented.
Mr Speaker 4:21 p.m.
Hon Member, is it “may” you use or “shall”?
Dr A. A. Osei 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he proposed “shall”.
Dr Kunbuor 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not think this is a major issue as a matter of policy. We had two subclauses on clause 38, one was “may” which was for general Regulations and then subclause (2) was again “may” for very specific Regulations. So my view was that, why do we not make the specific Regulation compulsory? But if you want to leave both at “may”, I do not have a problem with it.
Mr Speaker 4:21 p.m.
I think that we should use “may”, and that would also be consistent with the other enactments that we passed in this House.
Alhaji Sorogho 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we may leave it at “may”, because we use the word “may” for the other enactments that we have already passed. So, if we can just leave it at “may”, it would be better.
Mr Speaker 4:21 p.m.
So, the amendment has been withdrawn?
Alhaji Sorogho 4:25 p.m.
Yes, the amendment is withdrawn.
Mr Speaker 4:25 p.m.
So, the original rendition in the Bill has been restored?
Alhaji Sorogho 4:25 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 4:25 p.m.
In terms of the “may”?
Alhaji Sorogho 4:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as amended.
Mr Speaker 4:25 p.m.
As amended?
Alhaji Sorogho 4:25 p.m.
Yes.
Mr Speaker 4:25 p.m.
Very well. Is the Question put on clause 39?
The Table Office is telling me that the Question has been put on clause 39.
Alhaji Sorogho 4:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there was no advertised amendment and so Mr Speaker put the Question on it. So, that one has been agreed.
Mr Speaker 4:25 p.m.
Then, I will now move to clause 40.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was keenly listening to proceedings when the Majority Leader came back after the Question had originally been put on clause 39 and called for a re-visitation and a relaxation of it and then the presiding person agreed. Then he invited the Majority Leader who then suggested a substitution of the word “may” for “shall” and it was agreed upon, and I called my Hon Colleague that we should be careful.
Mr Speaker 4:25 p.m.
It should be “may”.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:25 p.m.
That it should be “may”, so, I called Hon Dr Akoto Osei; so, let us re-visit it.
Mr Speaker 4:25 p.m.
That is what we have just done.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:25 p.m.
You have done it? [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker 4:25 p.m.
Yes
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is fair.
rose
Mr Speaker 4:25 p.m.
Yes, Hon Boafo. We are moving to clause 40.
Mr Boafo 4:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I need some explanation from the Chairman of the Committee on clause 39. Why should it take a whole enactment to dissolve the Board? The Board was appointed by somebody. I do not think the Board was constituted by an Act of Parliament; that person can dissolve the Board.
Mr Speaker 4:25 p.m.
Hon Members, he is raising a very important point. Before you respond, I would want your view on it. If the previous enactment is repealed, automatically, all the people holding office under that previous one -- So, that is the normal rendition we find in an enactment that that law is repealed. But you do not say that the Board is specifically repealed; it is not the best practice.
Automatically, this law is coming to repeal; the previous enactment and that is the repealing clause. If you make provision, it takes care of the people holding offices under previous enactment.
Mr Boafo 4:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your permission and flexibility, may I propose the deletion of clause 39, which I have not made any advertisement on?
Mr Speaker 4:25 p.m.
The House put the Question on this clause and has it been endorsed? So, now that we are --
Mr Boafo 4:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is why I am invoking your flexibility on this issue.
Mr Speaker 4:25 p.m.
Why do you not take it at the Second Consideration Stage? We must be very careful with this flexibility, otherwise, we may run into difficulties. The Question has been put, so, if it were at the Second Consideration Stage, it should not take more than 15 minutes. The Rules are very clear, we have put the Question on this one, so, it can only be taken under Second Consideration Stage.
The Hon Member is proposing that we should delete clause 39 from the Bill completely and he has a case -- [Pause.] I am saying that we should take this at the Second Consideration Stage.
Clause 40 -- Interpretation
Alhaji Sorogho 4:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 40, definition of “co - investment” delete and insert the following:
‘“co-invest means an investment entered into by two or more parties to an equity Fund management”
Mr Joe Ghartey 4:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the difficulty I have is that, I have not come across this word “co-invest” before. So, is it our creation? Since we have defined it, are we adding a word? This is because “to co-invest”, whatever it means, is not the same as “co-invest”. I do not know whether this word is known in the English Language. If it is a verb, “to co-invest” -- I do not know; I am confused. It is not a word that I am aware of. If it is not an English word that I am aware of, we cannot be using it in our Act.
Mr Speaker 4:25 p.m.
Why are you deleting “co-investment” and replacing it with “co- invest”, Chairman of the Committee?
Alhaji Sorogho 4:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know you take timing when they are not on their right -- I was just trying to go back and look at where the word “co-invest” was used, and that was what I was trying to do. When we deliberated on it and -- [Interruption]-- Page 16.
Mr Speaker 4:25 p.m.
Page 16; where have you used the word “co-invest” in the Bill? Show us. Please, guide the House. [Pause.]
Hon Minister, this is your Bill, where did you use the word “co-invest”? Hon Minister for Trade and Industry, do we have the word “co-invest” in your Bill?
rose
Alhaji Sorogho 4:25 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, clause 24(2):
“An equity Fund manager shall co- invest in any business provided in the regulation”.
We are to define what “co-invest” means. [Interruption.] Yes, exactly so. When you go to the amendment which is proposed, it says that “co-invest” means an investment.
So, we are now defining “co-invest” to mean that “it is an investment entered into by two or more parties to an equity Fund management”. If you situate it in that context, it makes sense. Apart from that, it is very difficult because you cannot use “co-investment” there.
Dr A. A. Osei 4:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not know if the Hon Chairman is getting excited. All we have to do is to say “an E Equity Fund Manager shall invest”; whether it is co-investment or not, it is an investment. He should not say “co- invest” when the word “co-invest” does not exist. We should use “shall invest in any business”; that is all.
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
The point the Hon Member for Old Tafo is making is that, if you use the word “invest”, does it prevent the so-called “co-investment”? It does not. That is the point that he is making, because it is giving you the power to invest without limiting you.
Ms Sarah A. Safo 4:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, to add to what has already been said by Hon Dr Akoto Osei, there is no English word --
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
Are you relying on Hon Akoto Osei?
Ms Safo 4:35 p.m.
No, Mr Speaker. He started the argument --
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
Are you relying on the fact that it is not there?
Ms Safo 4:35 p.m.
No! There is no such word as “co-invest”.
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
Then say so.
Ms Safo 4:35 p.m.
That is what I am saying.
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
But when you say according to him--
Ms Safo 4:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker is not heckling the Member of Parliament, I believe? [Laughter.]
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
If the intent and purpose for putting the word “co-invest” is to portray the fact that there are two or more investors, then I think the proper expression is, “joint- investment” and not “co-invest” -- [Interruption] -- No! If he wants to use “co-investment” where there is no such word like that. But if the intent and purpose for which he is putting “co-investment” is to explain that there are two or more people who are investing, then the proper expression is “joint-investment”, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
Hon Members, if you use the word “investment”, does it prevent any other sort of investment? In my view, that is the fundamental question. So, if that word in the Bill is creating a problem, why do we not do away with it and just use the word “invest”?
Alhaji Sorogho 4:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if I am to go by that, then I would come under the Second Consideration Stage, because we have already passed clause 24 --
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
Yes.
Alhaji Sorogho 4:35 p.m.
When we get there, I will make the corrections.
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
So, you would withdraw the amendment for now?
Alhaji Sorogho 4:35 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, I will withdraw the amendment for now.
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
There is another amendment under clause 40.
Alhaji Sorogho 4:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 40, definition of “designated financial institution”, line 2, delete “recognised” and insert “licensed”
It became clear that it is not just “recognized institutions”. An institution can be recognised but may not be licensed to operate such activity. So, the word “licensed” is more appropriate than “recognition”. “Recognition” does not apply here.
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
Hon Members, this is a straightforward amendment.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 40 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clauses 41 and 42 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Long Title --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, before we get into the arena of the Long Title, I just wanted to know the definition of “project means a strategic intervention to achieve the object of the Fund approved by the Hon Minister.”
Mr Speaker, the project --
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I would suggest that since we have agreed, especially in view of the point raised by the Hon Boafo and then the issue of “co- invest”, we necessarily have to go through a Second Consideration Stage. So, we should flag those areas and address them at the Second Consideration Stage.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am just selling the idea to the Committee; whether they would not consider taking that on board. This is because an intervention to achieve the object of the Fund is what we are referring to as “the project”. What is the “strategic intervention”? What intervention qualifies to be described as “strategic” and what intervention qualifies to be described as “unstrategic”? And so, I am selling the idea to the Hon Chairman, whether he would not consider that at the Second Consideration Stage.
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
It is a legitimate concern.
Hon Chairman, take that on board, so that we can spend about 5 to 10 minutes to pass this Bill through a Second Consideration Stage.
Hon Members, I will put the Question on the Long Title.
Dr A. A. Osei 4:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yesterday, we talked a lot about --
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
Hon Members, I have called the Long Title -- we are on the Long Title.
Several Hon Members -- rose --
Dr A. A. Osei 4:35 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, I am just bringing something to the attention of --
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
Before I put the Question on the amendment?
Dr A. A. Osei 4:35 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, before you put the Question.
Alhaji Sorogho 4:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we took it this morning and after a lengthy discussion, we agreed and passed it. He was not here by then, it has been taken care of.
rose
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, we have agreed in principle that we have to pass this Bill through a Second Consideration Stage. There is no amendment in respect of the Long Title, and I am putting the Question on it. All those areas can be flagged for the Second Consideration Stage.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman is giving some indication that the matter that has been raised by the Hon Member for Old Tafo was addressed in the morning. I was not available; I was not here. But I would want to see how it finds expression in the Long Title and if it does not, maybe, whether to look at it during the Second Consideration Stage. Just that I was not there.
Dr Kunbuor 4:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what happened was that, the proposal that was recommended by the Hon Member was eventually what they came back to and accepted.
Mr Speaker 4:35 p.m.
The point being raised by the Hon Minority Leader is that if it does not find expression in the Long Title, does it cause harm to the Bill? If it does not, then we put the Question on it. If an Hon Member believes that it will cause some harm, then we may have to file the necessary amendment but I do not believe that it would cause any harm.
Dr Kunbuor 4:35 p.m.
Yes,Mr Speaker. We all know the legal effect of a Long Title, particularly when you put “and related matters”. It normally cures a number of these issues. So, I do not believe that anything would be lost if the particular agro-industry issue is not captured here. It is a related matter and I believe that it is adequately captured.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour 4:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, agro- processing is actually an industr ial activity. So, if it is “agricultural and industrial development”, it covers agro- processing.
Mr Boafo 4:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that was the point I got up to make but he has covered it.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not believe this omnibus provision of “related matters” should cater for it.
Mr Speaker, the very Memorandum talks about that, and let us look at the first paragraph.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote the fourth sentence 4:35 p.m.
“Act 582 was amended in 2011 by the Export Development and Investment Fund amendment Act 2011, (Act 223), to expand the scope of application of the resources of the Fund to include the development and promotion of agriculture related to agro-processing industry.”
So, it is pivotal. But Mr Speaker, it finds expression again --
Mr Speaker 4:45 p.m.
But if it finds expression in the enactment, I think that nobody can disregard the clear terms of the clause in the Bill.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:45 p.m.
Absolutely. But Mr Speaker, I will leave it to the Committee; and not further litigate this matter. Maybe, you can take it during the Second Consideration Stage.
Dr Kunbuor 4:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this issue is doubly amplified because as Hon Prof. Gyan-Baffour has indicated, if agro- industry is agricultural and it is industrial, and we are trying to regulate agricultural as industrial development, in-between it falls within it as a related matter.
Mr Speaker 4:45 p.m.
Hon Members, I will put the Question.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
The Long Title ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr Speaker 4:45 p.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of the Consideration Stage of the Export Trade, Agricultural and Industrial Development Fund Bill, 2013.
Dr Kunbuor 4:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if we could take Motion numbered 9.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES 4:45 p.m.
Minister for Government Business in Parliament/Majority Leader (Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor) 4:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢26,982,410 for
the services of the National Commission for Civil Education for the year ending 31st December, 2014.
Mr Speaker, the National Commission for Civic Education is known to be performing a number of significant constitutional functions and for the particular year in reference, they are going to undertake a number of public education exercises, that will deal with issues of governance. They would also be dealing with issues of the role of the District Assembly and will be sensitising the public on the upcoming district level elections, together with all other awareness creation measures.
It is in this light, Mr Speaker, that this appropriation is being sought.
Question proposed.
Dr A. A. Osei 4:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was not here in the morning but I heard the Acting Minister for Finance was here. I do not see him in the House.
This matter should not keep on re- occurring. We should not joke with this matter. It is 5.00 o'clock and the Hon Minister for Finance is not here. [Interruption.] No, I am not asking for adjournment. I just noticed that in view of the assurances he gave us-- Why? The House has taken a decision.
Mr Speaker 4:45 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, you know that the House has taken a decision that you should get the representatives of the Ministry of Finance here when we are considering the estimates. So, if you would want to make a special appeal, you can make it, but they need to be here; they must be here.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to plead with my Hon Colleagues that time is well spent and we have indulged ourselves up to now; May we take just this one and adjourn, whether or not the Acting Minister appears.
That is an appeal to my Hon Colleagues.
Mr Speaker 4:45 p.m.
In fact, that was what I was also going to suggest because we are behind schedule. So, we take this one and then we adjourn.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour 4:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion, and in doing so, submit the Committee's Report to the House.
Introduction
The Minister for Finance, Hon Seth Terkpeh presented the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December, 2014 to Parliament on Tuesday, 19th November, 2013 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.
Pursuant to Order 140(4) of the Standing Orders of the House, the draft Annual Budget Estimates for the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) were referred by the Speaker to the Special Budget Committee for consideration and report.
The Committee met with the Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei and officials from the NCCE and the Ministry of Finance and discussed the estimates.
Reference documents
The Committee referred to the following documents:
i. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
ii. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.
iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2013 financial year.
iv. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2014 financial year.
v. The 2013 Annual Budget Estimates for the National Commission for Civic Education.
Strategic policy objectives relevant of the Commission
The National Medium-Term Development Policy Framework (NMTDPF) contains six policy objectives that can find expression in the broad policy objectives of the NCCE. These are to:
a. expand and sustain opportunities for effective citizenry engage- ment;
b. strengthen and promote the culture of rights and responsibilities;
c. promote social accountability in the public policy cycle;
d. enhance public education on level aid, justice delivery and adminis- tration;
e. work towards improving internal security for human safety and protection; and
f. instil a sense of duty and civic responsibility (patriotism).
Vision and mission of the Commission
The vision of the Commission is to be an effective independent governance institution delivering civic education to all Ghanaians and working towards sustaining Ghana's democracy. The mission is to promote and sustain democracy and inculcate in the Ghanaian citizenry, the awareness of their rights and obligations through civic education.
Performance review of 2013 Budget
An amount of eighteen million, one hundred and three thousand, one hundred and forty- nine Ghana cedis (GH¢18,103,149.00) was allocated to the NCCE for its planned
programmes for the 2013 fiscal year. The breakdown of the allocation was as follows:
GH¢
Compensation (Salaries and Allowances) -- 14,397,402.00
Goods and Services -- 2,239,897.00
Assets -- 1,465,850.00
Total -- 18,103,149.00
The Committee noted that as of August ending, a total amount of GH¢20,094, 191.53 had been released to the NCCE by the Ministry of Finance. The approved allocation for 2013 as against actual releases is shown in Table 1.
As shown in Table 1, an amount of GH¢14,397,402.00 was allocated to the NCCE for the compensation of its employees. As of August ending, actual releases for employee compensation was GH¢19,441,613.58 thus, indicating an overrun of 35 per cent of the 2013 allocation for employee compensation. The overrun, as explained to the
Committee, was due to unrealistic budgetary allocation which was not commensurate with expenditure on employee compensation.
For goods and services, an amount of GH¢652,559.95 representing about 29 per cent of the approved budgetary allocation of GH¢2,239,897.00 had been released to
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the NCCE as August ending while up-to- date, nothing has been released for expenditure on assets.

Irrespective of the above, the Commission performed relatively well in the delivery of its planned programmes and activities. Some key achievements of the NCCE in year 2013 are as follows:

i. Under its Citizen Week Programme to inculcate civic responsibility in citizens at an early age, the Commission achieved a coverage of 1.2 million pupils in 4,000 basic schools while 3000 tree seedlings were also planted in the process.

ii. The Project Citizen Programme on Public Policy issues was successfully re-launched to help to expand the number of participating schools. A national board of patrons was also inaugurated for the Project Citizen Programme. The re- launch afforded twenty-two selected civic education officers from all the regional offices of the Commission to be trained as trainer of trainers for Project Citizen Programmes.

iii. The second Annual Democracy Lecture themed, “Advancing Together and National Cohesion following the 2012 Elections” was successfully held at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) where His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, advocated for national peace and unity. The programme was attended by over 2,000 participants. Millions of Ghanaians were also reached

through the print media and live telecasting of the lecture on the electronic media.

iv. As part of activities marking the 20thAnniversary of the 1992 Constitution, a media engagement programme was organised to sensitise about 30 senior Editors and representatives of both print and electronic media houses and members of the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) on the role the of the media in promoting a healthy and stable democracy.

v. As part of measures to promote peace, political tolerance and avoid conflict following the Supreme Court verdict on the Election Petition, the Commission proactively sought funding to undertake over 90 community engagement programmes in possible flash point zones across the country.

Outlook for 2014

The main focus of the Commission in 2014 will be on the need to strengthen the foundations of our democracy. Some planned programmes to that effect will include extensive public education drive on:

1. Separation of powers between the three arms of government and the roles of different arms and institutions of state, such as, Parliament, Council of State, Judiciary and others).

2. The role of District Assemblies, that is work, structure and improving participation of People with Disabilities (PWDs) in local governance.

3. The upcoming District Assembly Elections and Referendum on the entrenched provisions in the 1992 Constitution.

4. The declining role of chieftaincy institutions in a modern democracy.

5. Corruption and national development.

6. Public awareness on the prevalence of early/forced marriages in the country.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour 4:45 p.m.


electoral petition, only 29.13 per cent of the goods and services votes was released to fund these programmes. The Committee further noted that, but for the resourcefulness of the Commission to solicit for donor support from the European Union, its community engagement programmes could not have been realised.

The Committee further noted that no releases were received by the NCCE for its expenditure on assets for the 2013 fiscal year. According to officials of the NCCE, this situation had a great impact on the acquisition of logistics such as vehicles, cinema vans and motorbikes for the implementation of civic education programmes and the completion of a regional office accommodation at Ho, among others.

Aside the non-release of some requests, the Committee noted that the epileptic nature of the releases for the implementation of the programmes and activities of the Commission also affected its work.

Considering the fact that most of the programmes of the Commission are time- bound, late or irregular releases of funds affects the implementation of planned programmes and sometimes defeats the purposes of the programmes. The Committee therefore, entreats the Ministry of Finance to endeavour to adhere to the established cash release plan for the proper implementation of the programmes of the Commission.

Inadequate allocation for 2014 goods and services and assets expenditure

The Committee was informed by the Commission that the 2014 goods and services allocation of GH¢2,316,308

representing 48 per cent of the budgetary requirement will leave each NCCE district office with just about only GH¢300.00 per month to cater for administration expenses, rent, utilities, vehicle maintenance, fuel and programmes. Again, only 15 per cent of budgetary requirement for expenditure on assets was allocated for 2014.

The Committee is of the view that, the allocation would not be adequate to fund most of the laudable programmes set out by the Commission. As usual, the Commission would have to solicit support from donor partners, thereby further compromising its independence. Inde- pendent governance institutions such as the NCCE need to be adequately resourced to maintain its integrity.

Additional resources needed for voter education on District Assembly Elections and Referendum

The Committee noted that District Assembly elections and possibly, referendum on the amendment of entrenched provisions in the 1992 Constitution would be held in 2014. The Commission estimates that, additional resources of about two million Ghana cedis (GH¢2,000,000) would be required for voter education, referendum and peace- building exercises.

The Committee was also informed of the need for additional resources amounting to nine hundred and eighteen thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢918,000.00) for the rental of official accommodation, furnishing and vehicles for two new deputy chairpersons in accordance with the provisions of article 71 of the Constitution.

In the view of the Committee, these are constitutional requirements which should have been provided for in the 2014 Budget. The Committee therefore urges the Ministry of Finance as a matter of

urgency, to make special arrangements for the allocation of additional resources to the Commission to cater for the following:

a. An additional amount of two million Ghana cedis (GH¢2,000,000.00) for voter education on the District Assembly elections and referendum.

b. An amount of nine hundred and eighteen thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢918,000.00) for the rental of official accommodation, furnishing and vehicles for two new deputy chairpersons.

Voter and electoral education

The Committee noted that presently, voter and electoral education is carried out by the Electoral Commission concurrently with the NCCE. In the opinion of the Committee, the NCCE has the expertise and laid- down structures for carrying out civil education in the country. Thus, a major aspect of voter and electoral education should be the preserve of the NCCE and not the Electoral Commission. The mandate of the Electoral Commission should be restricted to the administration of elections.

The Committee is of the view that if the role of the NCCE and the Electoral Commission in voter and electoral education is clearly demarcated, it will enable appropriate resources to be allocated to each of the institutions by the Ministry of Finance to ensure effective voter and electoral education.

In the light of the above, the Committee has agreed to meet the NCCE and the Electoral Commission to try and agree on which aspects of voter and

electoral education each of the two institutions should be responsible for. Conclusion

The NCCE plays a major role in the democratic dispensation of the country. It is therefore critical that the NCCE is adequately resourced to enable it carry out its mandate effectively and inde- pendently. In the opinion of the Committee, the budgetary allocation to the Commission for year 2014 is inadequate. Thus, additional funding should be allocated to the Commission by the Ministry of Finance to enable it carry out its planned programmes in fulfilment of certain constitutional provisions.

As regards this, the Committee recommends to the House to approve the sum of twenty six million, nine hundred and eighty-two thousand, four hundred and ten Ghana cedis (GH¢26,982,410.00) for the National Commission for Civic Education for the 2014 fiscal year.

Respectfully submitted.
Minority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 4:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not intend to take any long time.

Mr Speaker, the Majority Leader --
Mr Speaker 4:45 p.m.
You are the Ranking Member.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is no Ranking Member of the Committee.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:45 p.m.
There is no Ranking Member, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 4:45 p.m.
You are the Vice Chairman.
Mr Kyei-mensah-Bonsu 4:45 p.m.
Well -- [Laughter.] Mr Speaker, unfortunately, I could not be at the committee meeting. But it did not stop the Committee from raising these critical issues because moneys have been given them and they are telling us that they engaged 4,000 schools across the length and breadth of this country in this exercise. The least the Committee ought to have done was to have asked for the list of schools, the input and the output.
Mr Speaker, I am not too sure that the Committee of which I am a member anyway, is doing us any good service by ignoring such pertinent issues.
Mr Speaker, the Commission has also indicated that, continuously, they engage citizens in awareness creation on issues relating to good governance. When have they done so? How do they do that and where have they been doing that? We should know.
rose
Mr Speaker 4:45 p.m.
Hon Cobbina, do you have a point of order?
Mr Cobbina 4:45 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
I only want to give clearance to the Minority Leader --
Mr Speaker 4:55 p.m.
That is not a point of order. Do you want to yield to him? [Interruption.]
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he is a gentleman. If he wants to provide information, I do not need his information. [Laughter.] I would not yield to him.
Mr Speaker 4:55 p.m.
Hon Member, that is what the Rules -- If you are going to provide information, he must yield to you before you can.
Mr Cobbina 4:55 p.m.
I am coming under a point of order, please.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he cannot be a chameleon. He has come under a point of elucidation; he has been ruled out because I am not yielding, and now he is shouting, that he is coming under what? Mr Speaker must recognise him first.
Mr Speaker 4:55 p.m.
Hon Member, take your seat.
Minority Leader, please, continue.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect to him, let me yield to him.
Mr Speaker 4:55 p.m.
I thought that you would finish, then I would take him --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, because he changes --
Mr Speaker 4:55 p.m.
So that he can make his contribution, then I put the Question?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:55 p.m.
He changed his tune and said he was coming under a point of order.
Mr Cobbina 4:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when you talk about the NCCE, they did a lot of education in all the schools in my district.
So, I believe it is in consultation with all districts in the country that they came out with this number; that is my thinking. So, really, the NCCE is doing well in the districts.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if I may remind the Chair, yesterday when a Member alluded to events in his constituency, the Chair ruled that, to the extent that it was not verifiable by anybody else apart from the Member making the assertion, we should not entertain it in the House.
So, I would proceed.
Mr Speaker, but seriously, I think the Committee ought to have furnished this House with further and better particulars about the activities of the Commission.
Be that as it may, I do not intend to oppose the request and the allocation made to the Commission except to urge that they should intensify their activities and do better than they have been doing thus far.
Mr Speaker 4:55 p.m.
Thank you very much. Hon Members.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢26,982,410 for the services of the National Commission for Civic Education for the year ending 31st December, 2014.
Mr Speaker 4:55 p.m.
Hon Members, it is past 2.00 o'clock and I intend to adjourn the
House -- [Interruption.] There are implications who adjourns the House after 2.00 o'clock. There are implications under our Rules who adjourns the House after 2.00 o'clock.That is why I am saying it is after 2.00 o'clock.
Hon Leaders, if you do not have anything to say, then I intend adjourning the House.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not have anything to say, except to transmit the observations of the generality of our Hon Members, that the arrangements for the post-2.00 o'clock Sitting was most bizarre and I hope that the people in charge of those arrangements would do a better job in the days ahead.
Dr Kunbuor 4:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would follow up through the usual channels to find out what was bizarre. This is because, I was not even aware and have not been a beneficiary of the post-2.00 o'clock arrangement. So, if something has been done at all and it is bizarre, d we only need to correct it.
Mr Speaker 4:55 p.m.
Hon Members, on that note, the House is accordingly adjourned till tomorrow at 10.00 o'clock in the forenoon.
Hon Members, I thank you very much for your support.
ADJOURNMENT 4:55 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 4.59 p.m. till 12th December, 2013 at 10.00 a.m.