Debates of 7 Feb 2014

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:05 a.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Members, I have the pleasure to introduce to you delegation comprising representatives of the Executive, Parliament and the Judiciary of Uganda who are on a five- day official visit to Ghana.
The delegation is on benchmarking tour to study best practices and share experiences on our legal system.
The delegation includes:
1. Hon Justice Steven B. K. Kavuma (the Ag. Chief Justice of Uganda)
2. Hon Fred Ruhindi (Minister of State for Justice and Constitutional Affair)
3. Hon Justice JothamTumwesigye (Justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda)
4. Hon Steven Tashobya (Member of Parliament and Chairman Legal and Parliamentary Affair Committee)
5. Hon Medard Seggona (Member of Parliament and Member Legal and Parliamentary Affair Committee)
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:05 a.m.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 11:05 a.m.
Majority Leader/Chairman of the Business Committee (Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor) 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Committee met yesterday, Thursday, 6th February, 2014 and arranged Business of the House for the Third Week ending Friday, 14th February, 2014.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:05 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Question(s)
Mr Speaker, the Committee has programmed the following Ministers to respond to Questions asked of them during the week:
No. of Question(s)
i. Minister for Energy and Petroleum -- 1
ii. Minister for Transport -- 1
iii. Minister for Local Government and Rural Development -- 2
iv. Minister for Food and Agriculture -- 2
v. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice -- 1
Total number of Questions -- 7
Mr Speaker, in all, five (5) Ministers are expected to attend upon the House to respond to seven (7) Questions during the week.
Statements
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 70(2), Ministers of State may be permitted to make Statements of Government policy. Your goodself may also admit Statements to be made in the House by Hon Members in accordance with Standing Order 72.
Bills, Papers and Reports
Mr Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House for First Reading and those of urgent nature may be taken through the various stages in one day in accordance with Standing Order 119. Papers and committee reports may also be presented to the House.
Motions and Resolutions
Mr Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
Statutory Funds
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee takes this opportunity to inform Hon Members that the following formulae for the Statutory Funds may be presented to the House on Thursday, 13th February, 2014. The formulae are: (i) the proposed formula for the disbursement of the National Health Insurance Fund for the year 2014; and (ii) Proposed formula for distributing the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) for the year 2014.
Mr Speaker, the proposed formula for the distribution of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for the year 2014 may be presented in due course.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11:05 a.m.
Attendance upon the House by Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protec- tion
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee is liaising with the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection to determine an appropriate date on which the Minister would attend upon the House to apprise the Committee of the Whole on the head- porters (“Kayayei”) phenomenon. The scheduled date would be communicated to the House in the next Business Statement.
Conclusion
Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this Honourable House, the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

Questions --

*54. Mr Frank Boakye Agyen (Effi- duase/ Asokore): To ask the Minister for Energy and Petroleum when electricity supply, per the National Grid, will be extended to Bouya in the Effiduase Asokore Constituency.

*60. Mr Yaw Afful (Jaman South): To ask the Minister for Transport when the Sunyani Airport will be reha- bilitated.

Statements --

Questions --

*44. Mr Bright Edward Kodzo Demordzi (Bortianor-NgleshieAmanfro): To ask the Minister for Local Govern-

ment and Rural Development what plans the Ministry has towards the resolution of boundary dispute between Ga South Municipal Assembly and Awutu Senya East Assembly.

*45.Mr Frank Boakye Agyen (Effi- duase Asokore): To ask the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development how soon the Sekyere East Distr ict will be upgraded to the status of a Municipal Assembly.

Statements --

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill, 2013

Committee sittings.

Questions --

*40.Mr Kwame Asafu-Adjei (Nsuta- KwamangBeposo): To ask the Minister for Food and Agriculture what number of tractors and accessories were imported to Ghana from India in 2008.

*41.Mr Stephen Kunsu (Kintampo North): To ask the Minister for Food and Agriculture when the Asantekwaa Irrigation Project in the Kintampo North Constituency will be completed.

Statements --

Presentation of Papers --

(a) Proposed formula for the disbursement of the National Health Insurance Fund for the year 2014.

(b) Proposed Formula for distributing the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) for the year 2014

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill, 2013

(Continuation)

Committee sittings.

Questions --

*35. Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu (Bekwai): To ask the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice what steps the Ministry is taking to enforce the judgements in the following cases:

(a) Martin Amidu vrs (i) Attorney- General (ii) Isofoton & ANR

(b) Martin Amidu vrs (i) Attorney- General (ii) Waterville & ANR

Statements--

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Trade marks (Amendment) Bill, 2013

Committee sittings.

Mr Speaker, the Business Committee takes this opportunity to inform Hon Members that the following formulae for the Statutory Funds may be presented to the House on Thursday, 13th of February, 2014. The formulae are the proposed formula for the disbursement of the National Health Insurance Fund for the year 2014 and the proposed formula for distributing the District Assemblies Common Fund for the year 2014.

Mr Speaker, the proposed formula for the distribution of the Ghana Education Trust Fund for the year 2014 may be presented in due course.

Mr Speaker, the Business Committee is liaising with the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection to determine an appropriate date on which the Minister would attend upon the House to apprise the Committee of the Whole on the head potters, alias “kayayei” phenomenon. The scheduled date will be communicated to the House in the next Business Statement.

Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee respectfully submits to this Honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.
Dr Matthew O. Prempeh 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to ask of the Business Committee that item 2 (d), Motions and Resolutions. There are Motions that have been given to the Table Office and which have been outstanding for some time and I thought when we had space around this time, some of the Motions could have been programmed to be taken. Unless, if it does not happen that way and we rise, people then are pushed to attract signatures that are very worrisome for the working of the whole House.
So, I would want to enquire of the Chairman of the Business Committee what plans -- I know one has to do with the capitation as pertains in the Ashanti Region as of now. When these Motions are going to be scheduled -- We do not want the situation that when we rise, people collect signatures to bring us back on emergency list. According to Standing Order 79, if the Speaker has any amend-
Dr Kunbuor 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member would know that this matter certainly has not come before the Committee and it is expected that it is still under consideration and at the appropriate time that the committee is duly informed that the Statement has been formally admitted, it definitely would be put on the business for the week. I would advise that further consultations on the matter should take place between the Hon Member and the appropriate pesons.
Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Members, the matter has left my table. It is with the Clerks-at-the-Table.
Dr Kunbuor 11:15 a.m.
Very well. We would ask for the guidance from the Table Office to guide the Business Committee on this matter.
Mr W.O. Boafo 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Leader when he would schedule the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill for Second Reading.
Dr Kunbuor 11:15 a.m.
I guess that this is a matter that you would have to liaise with the Committee appropriately. I am aware that the report is still going through a number of consultations at the Committee level.
Mr Patrick Boamah 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, all Business Statements that I have looked through has under (ii) -- Statements. Mr Speaker, I am suggesting to the Business Committee that since you admit Statements to be made on this floor, they
should liaise with your office to at least, schedule some of the Statements that you have admitted, which due to lack of time, Hon Members who want to make it cannot be given the opportunity to read those Statements on the floor -- Mr Speaker, I believe it would allow Members to make very good contributions to those Statements which often time, you give directives to some State institutions or agencies to act on.
Mr Speaker, I believe Statements that you have admitted must be advertised, so that the Member making the Statement would be aware of when those Statements are going to be read to enable other Members make adequate contributions --
Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Member, your suggestion is not consistent with the rules and practice of this House. For example, if a Member brings a Statement this morning and he says that it is urgent, how can you capture it in the Business Statement or a Member brings a State- ment after the Business Committee has met and there are provisions for Urgent Statements that have to be taken as a matter of urgency? So, the practice and the rules of the House find it difficult to accommodate this kind of suggestion that you are making.
Mr W.O. Boafo 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the --
Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Members, let us have order in the House.
Mr W.O. Boafo 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have just cited the Report of the Constitutional Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill and I am wondering whether it is intended to be withdrawn, in view of the explanation given by the Leader of the House.
Dr Kunbuor 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yes. The Report did come to our attention after the Business Committee's meeting and since we are masters of our own rules, we can find some appropriate way of taking the matter after consultation with Leadership.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Members, as much as possible, let our comments be related, to the Business Statement presented, because that is the Business Statement presented by the Committee. If you have a matter that you think has not been advertised or is not in the Business Statement, look at the rules and then get the proper person to talk to. If it is about Questions, you may check from my office or the Table Office.
If you have Motions, find out from the Table Office where you submitted those Motions for them to clarify where it has reached. Otherwise, you would be forced to bring the Chair unnecessarily into the discussion because part of the admission involves me, when I finish, I submit it to the Clerk's Office and tell them to get in touch with the person in whose name the Motion stands.
Dr Matthew O. Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on the Business Statement for today, there are pre-programmed Statutory Funds for next week Thursday. Mr Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of the Business Committee if it is not already on their radar, that there are a lot of outstanding funds that Hon Members are worried about --
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Member, when the time comes --
Dr Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
This is for 2014 --
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Member, if the time comes and we are discussing the formula, you can raise those matters.
Hon Member for Old Tafo, I saw you on your feet.
Dr Anthony A. Osei 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, what I was going to raise was related to what my Hon Colleague started, but from a different angle for Parliament to consider
for the future, not when it comes to the formula.
These Funds are statutory. I have noticed that in the last few years, we, as a House, have sat there and let somebody -- I do not want to use the words -- illegally flout the rules.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Member, we are not discussing -- that is the programme, When the funds come, you can make the necessary suggestions and input to improve the way the formula is handled in this House.
Dr Anthony A. Osei 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the issue is not the formula, the issue is the law and what we are not --
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
The issue is whether they are informing us that these formulae may be brought to the House next week.
Dr A. Osei 11:25 a.m.
No, no! The issue is that, we, as a House, have given some time limit for these funds to be disbursed, there have been. Last couple of years, we have kept talking about it, that we should revisit it, every time we say refer to Leadership and then we gloss over it. They come with a formula,then we forget it. I am raising it for our own discussions, that we should do something about it, not always deferring the matter.
It means that we are not performing our oversight functions and I am very much worried about it.
As a Member of this Sixth Parliament, I think that our record on this matter is not the best and since 2013 is gone, I do not want to start the New Year repeating what we have been doing in the past. So, I just thought that as a Sixth Parliament,we needed to resolve to settle this matter once and for all.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Last comment, Hon Deputy Minority Leader.[Laughter.]
Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is just in relation to what the Hon Member said. I was going to say that maybe, after that, just give one or two opportunities to others.
Mr Speaker, without using the word that he was drawing your attention to, seriously, what the Hon Member is saying, is a serious matter.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Members, what are we discussing?
Mr Nitiwul 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, at any point in time, especially, once a matter has been moved, someone can draw the attention of the House --
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Do you want the formula to be brought to the House?
Mr Nitiwul 11:25 a.m.
The formula can be brought and it would be brought but when you are --
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
And when it is brought, then you can make all sorts of suggestions and a report would be properly laid and debated.
Mr Nitiwul 11:25 a.m.
Yes.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Why do you not wait for that time? Because all these comments would not help in any way at this stage. There is nothing about the Fund before us now. It is only programming for the formula to be brought. So, all the comments that you have been making are of no moment.
Mr Isaac Asiamah 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have gone through it and I am wondering when the Committee on the Whole would meet to discuss very important issues that affect Members of Parliament before the 20th March.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Dr Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have always told my Hon Colleagues that if you are being sent as a babysitter, do not start asking of the name of the baby. When you arrive there, you will know the name of the baby. I am very sure that some matters are House matters and those matters are better discussed elsewhere than at the plenary.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, item number (4) -- “attendance upon the House by the Minister . . .” I was just asking the Majority Leader, if it is on the date that the Hon Minister is coming or earlier, some other matters can be put on the agenda. This is because it is an opportunity for the Committee of the Whole to meet with regard to what he said. So, I am wondering if other matters can be tabled for that time.
Dr Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker is aware that Leadership is having some consultations on the Committee of the Whole meeting. There are some auxiliary matters that we are awaiting from the Parliamentary Service Board, so that we can adequately inform Members on the state of affairs.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of the consideration of the Business Statement for the Third Week ending 14thFebruary, 2014.
Business Statement accordingly adopted.
Dr Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we had to invite the Hon Minister for Health out of a function and I would like to crave your indulgence if you could take the Addendum item to enable her go and continue with her official assignment.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Are you referring to the item on the Order Paper Addendum?
Dr Kunbuor 11:25 a.m.
That is so,Mr Speaker.
Mr Nitiwul 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, that is alright.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Very well. Hon Members, we want to vary the order of business and move on to the Order Paper Addendum - presentation of Papers by the Hon Minister for Health.
PAPERS 11:25 a.m.
Dr Anthony Osei 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, since it is about design and so forth, I thought maybe, the Works and Housing Committee ought to be joined. This is because it is about structural issues and I am not sure the health people -- I think this is very important.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Members, we have already approved the loan agreement with regard to this matter.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:25 a.m.
The contract involves designs and so on and so forth, I have seen it.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Members, if I am minded to add any Committee at all, it should be Finance; but they do not want to be added. So, my earlier reference to the Health Committee remains.
Hon Members, Question time. Hon Members, we have the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways to respond to Questions from Hon Members.
I call on the Hon Member for Amenfi West.
URGENT QUESTIONS 11:35 a.m.
MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 11:35 a.m.
HIGHWAYS 11:35 a.m.
Minister for Roads and Highways (Alhaji Amin A. Sulemani) 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Nyamedikan-Prestea road forms part of the Samreboi-Prestea road which has a total length of 69 kilometres. Culverts have been constructed on the first 31 kilometres from the prestea end and approaches filled; 29 kilometres from Samreboi are being rehabilitated by the Department of Feeder Roads and work is about 72 per cent completed.
Engineering studies are currently on- going on remaining nine kilometres, that is the portion between - We are doing the road from Samreboi and from Prestea and the middle, there are nine kilometres that we have not tackled.
Engineering studies are currently on- going on the remaining nine kilometres for the construction of draining structures and re-gravelling of the remaining section.
Mr Gyetuah 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is true that the length from Samreboi, 29 kilometres, has been awarded on contract to Legna Construction Limited which is working on it. But the nine kilometres, took the intervention of my goodself from my District Assemblies Common Fund and that of the District Assembly and the cocoa buying agencies. Would the Hon Minister tell the House the immediate steps
Alhaji Sulemani 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I indicated, the total length of the road between Nyamedikan and Prestea is 69 kilometres.
Presently, 31 kilometres have been worked on. Twenty-nine kilometres from the Samreboi portion have also been worked on to an appreciable level -- about 72 per cent. We are currently undertaking engineering studies on the remaining nine kilometres. We are far advanced and as soon as we get the estimates involved in the construction of the culverts, we will commence work on the nine kilometres too.
Mr Gyetuah 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister, the length from Samreboi to Nyamedikan, that one is on course, there is a river in the Mumuni Camp town called Abubli, which has not been included in the programme. The contractor says it is not part of it. And if that one is also not reconstructed, it is going to create a problem in the area. So, I would want to find out from the Hon Minister whether that particular river, the steel bridge at Samreboi on River Abubli can be included in the programme.
Alhaji Sulemani 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, certainly, the names he is mentioning, I would need time to find out what he had mentioned but I would certainly do that.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
This is a constituency-
specific Question. But, Hon Member, I would take your question and then move on.
Mr George K. Arthur 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the number of artillery roads that join that road. May I know whether the contract was mainly on the Samreboi-Prestea highway or there were other artillery roads that were considered?
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Member, that is not a supplementary question. The specific road has been mentioned in the Question and your question must be limited to that stretch of the road that has been mentioned.
Hon Members, we move to the next Question standing in the name of the Hon Member for Afigya Sekyere.
Collapse of Bailey Bridge on Agona Afigya Trunk Road
Mr Hennric D. Yeboah asked the Minister for Roads and Highways whether the Ministry was aware of the collapse of the Bailey bridge between Km 4.0 and Km5.0, near Abrakaso on the Agona- Boaman Afigya Trunk Road.
Alhaji Sulemani 11:35 a.m.
The bridge in question is located at km 0.4 on the Agona-Boaman feeder road, which is 15 kilometres in the Sekyere South District of the Ashanti Region. The span of the bridge is 40 metres.
One of the abutment walls of the bridge appears to be settling owing to scouring. The Department of Feeder Roads has identified the problem and is taking immediate steps to address it.
Mr Yeboah 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know from the Hon Minister when will the Department of Feeder Roads start working on it because it is the most dangerous bridge in Ghana now.
Alhaji Sulemani 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Roads and Highways and its agencies take issues on bridges very serious. So, now that it has come to our attention, we will address it immediately.
Mr Yeboah 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the bridge is weakened. Would the Hon Minister instruct the engineers to do something now, otherwise, tomorrow, we might hear something very bad.
Alhaji Sulemani 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am assuring my Hon Colleague that we attach a lot of importance to bridges. So, as much as possible, any bridge that is deteriorating anywhere in the country, we try to work on it. We will work on this bridge as soon as -- I have often said that in science, there are a lot factors so “when” is not a very -- But we will work on it. It is not a one-day work so the question “when” does not come in.
Mr Yeboah 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, will the Hon Minister tell us when he will start working on the access road leading to the town since when they start working on this road, the road will be closed and the access road leading to the city is in deplorable state.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Member, that is not supplementary. We are talking about Bailey bridge.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
I thought this was a constituency-specific Question?
Mr Nitiwul 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Very well.
Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want the Hon Minister to tell this House, now that he says he is aware, whether there are plans to ensure that it is quickly fixed for cars to use it because that is more important.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Minister, I think that the essence of the Question is that the bridge is a threat to the life of the people who use that bridge. So, the House wants to know the steps you are taking to remedy the situation.
Alhaji Sulemani 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I indicated, our bridges division will move to site and whatever they will need to do to make the bridge safe while they rehabilitate it, they will do so.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Question time.
Hon Minister for Roads and Highways, we thank you very much for attending upon the House to respond to Questions from Hon Members. We are most grateful.

Hon Kofi Frimpong, you must go strictly according to the rules of the House. And I have sent a message to you through the Hon Minority Leader and the Clerk to Parliament on this matter.
Mr Kofi Frimpong 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, you know I am a senior Hon Member of the House. [Hear! Hear!] I know the rules and regulations very well and I am going to stay within the rules and regulations. - - [Hear! Hear!] There is no cause for alarm.
STATEMENTS 11:45 a.m.
Mr Kofi Frimpong (NPP -- Kwabre East) 11:45 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to make this Statement on the
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Kofi Frimpong, is that in your Statement -- [Laughter.]
Mr Frimpong 11:45 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Frimpong, look! -- [Laughter.]
Mr Frimpong 11:45 a.m.
Unfortunately, the demonstration by the citizenry culminated in the use of extreme force against them by the Buffalo Unit of the Ashanti Region Police, otherwise, referred to as SWAT Unit of Kumasi.
Mr Speaker, the Police in the area who had earlier been notified of the intended demonstration were protecting the demonstrators until their counterparts from Kumasi arrived at the scene and started firing rubber bullets and other ammunitions. In addition, they also used tear gas.
Mr Speaker, in the ensuing melee, about 60 people were injured while many were traumatised. Several of the injured were hospitalised while others were treated and discharged.
Mr Speaker, the demonstrators were within their constitutional right to demonstrate and did not breach any law since they gave the required statutory notice to the police and the police agreed to the date.
Mr Speaker, a spokesperson for the police has subsequent to the incident stated that the police intended to quench the burning tyres that had blocked the road. If indeed, the police intended to quench the fire from the burning of tyres by the demonstrators, they should have
used water cannons instead of tear gas, rubber bullets and ammunition.
Mr Speaker, what is most unacceptable and must be condemned was when the police in their persuit of fleeing demonstrators attacked a cluster of schools where some of the demonstrators had taken refuge. Not even the pleadings from the teachers could calm the police in their quest to teach the demonstrators a lesson. This resulted in the pupils running helter-skelter and some children collapsed from the effect of the tear gas in particular.
As of today, as I speak, less than 40 per cent of the pupils have returned to the school -- This is because they are traumatised.
Mr Speaker, some of the demonstrators were chased to the Chief's palace. The 90 year old Chief of Kenyasi is severely traumatized as a result. May I call on the Inspector-General of Police (I.G.P.) to investigate this matter with the intent to bringing any perpetrator of the extremities to book.
Mr Speaker, while we all commend the efforts of the police in curbing crime, especially recent incidents of armed robberies, a glow of extreme force against defenseless citizens should not be countenanced.
Mr Speaker, it is not the best when the police adopt brute force when dealing with innocent citizens who do not mean any harm but rather seek to draw the attention of authorities to the deplorable nature of their road which has been a source of worry for some time.
Mr Speaker, the people of Kenyasi do not deserve this and that is why I call on the I.G.P. to act immediately to stop the police from engaging in such commissions anywhere else.
While wishing all those residents and the police who were injured a speedy recovery, it is important to state Mr Speaker, that nothing justifies the use of brute force by the police when dealing with unarmed innocent citizens as happened at Kenyasi especially when the people do not mean any harm but rather seek to draw the attention of authorities to their plight.
Mr Speaker, on behalf of the people of Kenyasi and Kwabre East, may I reiterate my request for a speedy investigation into this rather unfortunate incident at Kenyasi.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Members, the Hon Member who made the Statement has called for an investigation by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and I think that the proper thing to do is to support his call. I want to refer the Statement, if the House would agree with me, to the IGP for speedy investigation. When the outcome of the investigation comes, then I would discuss with Leadership what to do. If the House agrees, we will end it here and then I do the referral -- [Hear! Hear!]
Hon Members, I direct that the Statement be forwarded to the Office of the Inspector-General of Police for a speedy investigation of what happened at Kenyasi and report to the House within two weeks.
Hon Members, at the Commencement of Public Business --
Dr Benjamin Kunbuor 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we would take item 6 and I would crave your indulgence, in the absence of the Minister, we could get one of the Ministers in the Office of the President or my goodself to lay the Paper.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Which of the Ministers from the Office of the President?
Dr Kunbuor 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Alhassan Azong is here.
PAPERS 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Chairman of the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Com- mittee, what is your problem? I know we have referred a lot of matters to your Committee, but I have been informed that that is the Committee that has been handling this matter.
Hon Majority Leader?
Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the light of the large number of Committee meetings that are scheduled and the fact that the Order Paper has been exhausted, I would like to move, that the House be adjourned to Tuesday, 11 th February, 2014 in the forenoon.
Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am shaking my head, but my boss is just walking in, so, I would defer it to him to second the Motion.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
A Motion has been moved for the adjournment of the House.
Some Hon Members 11:45 a.m.
No!
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have just had a signal from the Deputy Leader that the House at this stage may not be adjournable -- [Laughter.] But looking at the face of the former Majority Leader and the heads of the three wise men -- [Laughter] -- Mr Speaker, I would want to second the Motion for adjournment.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Members, the delegation from Uganda is going to meet the joint Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Judiciary Committee and we are getting close to that time.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 11:45 a.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 11.55 a.m. till Tuesday, 11th February, 2014 at 10.00 a.m.