Debates of 14 Feb 2014

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11 a.m.
  • [No correction was made to the Official Report of Wednesday, 12th February, 2014.]
    • Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
    Business Statement for the Fourth Week. Chairman of the Business Committee?
    Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to crave your indulgence
    Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
    Very well.
    BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 11 a.m.
    Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka (on behalf of the Chairman of the Business Committee) 11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Committee met yesterday, 13th February, 2014 and arranged Business of the House for the Fouth Week ending Friday, 21st February, 2014.
    Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 11 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 Local Government and Rural Development -- 2
    ii. Minister for Finance -- 2
    iii. Minister for Roads and Highways -- 5
    Total number of Questions -- 9
    Mr Speaker, in all, three (3) Ministers are expected to attend upon the House to respond to nine (9) Questions during the week.
    Statements
    Mr Speaker, pursuant to 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 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 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.
    Message on the State of the Nation
    Mr Speaker, H.E. the President of the Republic will deliver a Message on the State of the Nation on Thursday, 20th February, 2014, in accordance with article 67 of the Constitution. Hon Members are accordingly entreated to attend upon the House punctually for the event.
    Statutory Funds
    Mr Speaker, the Business Committee hereby informs Hon Members that the presentation to the House of the following formulae for the Statutory Funds has been rescheduled to Tuesday, 18th 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, let me amend the Business Statement by saying that, there would be a Committee of the Whole as agreed in Leadership meeting today after adjournment.
    Mr Speaker, the Committee of the Whole is therefore, expected to meet on Tuesday, 18th February, 2014 to discuss the formulae. The Motions on the
    formulae may be taken on Wednesday, 19th February, 2014. The Business Committee therefore, urges Hon Members to take note of the proposed date for the meeting of the Committee of the Whole and participate in the discussions accordingly.
    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.
    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 --

    *44. Mr Bright Edward Kodzo Demordzi (Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro): To ask the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development what plans the Ministry has towards the resolution of a boundary dispute between Ga South Municipal Assembly and Awutu Senya East Assembly.

    *45. Mr Frank Boakye Agyen (Effiduase 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

    Presentation of Papers --

    (a) Proposed formula for distributing the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) for the Year 2014.

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

    (c) Report of the Committee on Health on the Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and NMS Infrastructure Limited (United Kingdom) for the design, construction and equipping of seven (7) district hospitals and provision of an integrated IT System by NMS Infrastructure Limited.

    (d) Report of the Committee on Health on the Commercial Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and Bouygues Bailment International of France for the the design, construction, procurement and installation of equipment for the upgrading and major rehabilitation of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital at Ridge, Accra.

    Consideration Stage of Bills --

    Trademarks (Amendment) Bill, 2013

    Plant Breeders Bill, 2013 (Continuation)

    Committee sittings.

    Questions

    *42. Mr Benjamin Komla Kpodo (Ho Central): To ask the Minister for Finance what action the Ministry of Finance has taken on the proposal summiteed to it by the Ministry of Health for the funding and

    development of the teaching hospital in Ho that will be used by the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS)

    *43. Mr Philip Basoah (Kumawu): To ask the Minister for Finance what necessitated the sale of the Government of Ghana's share in SG-

    SSB.

    Statements

    Presentation of Papers --

    (a) Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for distr ibuting the Distr ict Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) for the year 2014.

    (b) Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for the disbursement of the National Health Insurance Fund for the year 2014.

    Motions --

    (a) Adoption of the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for distributing the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) for the year 2014.

    (b) Adoption of the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for the Disbursement of the National Health Insurance Fund for the year 2014.

    Consideration Stage of Bills --

    Trademarks (Amendment) Bill, 2013

    Plant Breeders Bill, 2013 {Continuation of Debate)

    Committee sittings.

    Message on the State of the Nation

    Questions --

    *31. Mr John Gyetuah (Amenfi West): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the following feeder roads will be rehabilitated: (a) Kwabeng - Nyame Nnae (b) Nyame Nnae - Nkwantanum (c) Asankrom-Oda - Fordjourkrom (d) Gonukrom Kamaso-Kamaboi -Kwawdobuakrom.

    *32. Mr John Gyetuah (Amenfi West): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the following feeder roads will be rehabilitated: (a) Nkekenso Junction — Benafie (b) Bena Nkwanta-Ohiampenika (c) Bokakore-Fordjourkrom (d) Asankran Breman-Afiena.

    *33. Mr Kennedy Nyarko Osei (Akim Swedru): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways what the current status of the following roads are: (a) Akim Oda-Awisa (b) Akim Swedru to Apoli (c) Akim Swedru- Akotsi.

    *39. Mr Bright Edward Kodzi Demordzi (Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways what plans the Ministry has towards the construction of the Old Bortianor - Kokrobite Tuba Junction road and the Amanfro Junction — Amanfro Top town road.

    *59. Mr Matthew Nyindam (Kpandai): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the roads linking Salaga and Kpandai, Buya through Kpandai to Wulensi and Salaga to Gulibe Quarters will be constructed.

    Statements

    Motions --

    (a)Third Reading of Bills --

    Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill, 2013

    (b) Adoption of the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for distributing the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) for the year 2014.

    (c) Adoption of the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for the disbursement of the National Health Insurance Fund for the year 2014.

    (d) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Health on the Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and NMS Infrastructure Limited (United Kingdom) for the design, construction and equipping of seven (7) district hospitals and provision of an integrated IT System by NMS Infrastructure Limited.

    (Consequential Resolution)

    (e) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Health on the Commercial Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and Bouygues Batiment International of France for the the design, construction, procurement and installation of equipment for the upgrading and major rehabilitation of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital at Ridge, Accra.

    (Consequential Resolution)

    Committee sittings.
    Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon Majority Chief Whip.
    Hon Members, any comment?
    Mr Isaac K. Asiamah 11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, page 1,Tuesday, 18th February, 2014, “Consideration Stage of Bills -- Plant Breeders Bill, 2013”. Mr Speaker, I remember when we came, for a good reason, you decided that there should be a broader consultation on this very important Bill. But Mr Speaker, there seems to be a misconception out there, that even this House had dealt with it and we passed the Plant Breeders Bill.
    Mr Speaker, I think you can re-echo it for Ghanaians to know that, for a good reason, you allowed for a broader consultation, so that Ghanaians would be on board. I think it is very important that we stress this point again. This is because some media houses this week have attacked this House that we have gone ahead to pass it without their input.
    Mr Speaker, let us --
    Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
    Hon Member, if a media house decides to swim in its ignorance, that should not be your worry.
    Mr I. K. Asiamah 11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is why I would want this House to re- emphasise that indeed, we have not passed it and that it is being considered by this House. So, we still engage the public, we are still at the consultation stage, we are involving all stakeholders. I think it is better that we stress this point.
    Alhaji Muntaka 11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, with regard to the Plant Breeders Bill, if my memory serves me right, the day before yesterday, the Committee did a live telecast with almost all the persons who were interested and who were invited with some experts and they dealt with it at length. If I could recollect, for over one and a half hours, it was a live discussion. Most of the concerns that were raised were asked and we had experts to take them through.

    So, I would say, yes, there was some argument with Leadership that Mr Speaker would be briefed, so that next week, before we start, he would make some statement the level of discussions that have gone on. But I can tell the House that serious discussions had been held, live telecast was done on it, just to educate the general public, and I think that on this thing, we are ready to continue with it as programmed.

    But Mr Speaker would make some statement with regard to that next week before we start.
    Mr Mahama Ayariga 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, following your directive that there should be a broader public sensitisation regarding the issues of the Plant Breeders Bill, our Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Attorney-General's Department, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Public Affairs Department of Parliament did organise a live session where all stakeholders were brought into the Committee room for about one hour and a half prime time on GTV.
    We went through all the issues and I think there is sufficient appreciation of exactly what the issues are in relation to the Bill.
    I think fundamentally, there was some misunderstanding of what the Plant Breeders Bill is all about. A misconception based on a perception, that it is about genetically-modified organisms, which matter has already been dealt with by the Bio-Safety legislation which this Parliament has passed.
    I think at this stage, the public does appreciate that the Bill is essentially about the protection of the rights of plant breeders.
    Mr Speaker, I believe that we can proceed and if there are concerns, they would know how to intervene to influence the final outcome.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    I believe that before we proceed, I am expecting a report from Leadership about the outcome so far. This is because, if that has been done, the Hon Member would not have raised the issue that he is raising. I was informed by the Hon Majority Leader that consultations have taken place, and that they would brief the House and this would pave way for us to continue with the process.
    Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, this issue raises, in my view, the attention this House pays to the kind of public discussion that goes on in the media. The discussions have nothing to do with what is happening in the House. But press houses and the people they invite are continually attacking the integrity of this House, insulting Hon Members.
    Last night, I had an encounter with a gentleman; it took me 15 minutes to persuade him that what he is talking about had nothing to do with Parliament. But before we started, he said he hated Parliament and Members of Parliament. These are the kinds of statements that are going all round; this is because some people are deliberately misinforming the public.
    I think our Public Affairs Department should be up and doing about the way the public image of Parliament is taking a nose-dive. It is not helping the House at all.
    Mr Justice J. Appiah 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, last two weeks, I drew the House's attention to the House Committee --
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Hon Member, we are discussing Business Committee; you are out of order.
    Dr Matthew O. Prempeh 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the vacuum that has been created by the lack or by the paucity in our discussion on the Plant Breeders Bill, is what we are suffering as a backlash.
    Mr Speaker, in all fairness and in truthful, saying the Plant Breeders Bill --
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Hon Member, I made the point that we were not going to proceed and that before we proceed, Leadership would brief the House on steps taken so far. So, let us wait for Leadership of both sides to brief the House, and if the House is satisfied that sufficient consultations have taken place,we can then proceed.
    So, let us wait for Leadership to brief the House on this matter. This is only a programme for next week.
    Dr Prempeh 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is because an Hon Member rose and spoke about the backlash of Parliament. And I am saying that, the backlash on Parliament is because of lack of or paucity of discussion of the issue.
    Mr Speaker, I, as a Member of Parliament, would stand here and say nobody can convince me in person that this issue has got nothing to do with the references people are making. So, maybe, we have to have a better platform to discuss this issue and also inform the public. This is because, if we as members of parliament are not sufficiently informed about this issue, we just cannot --
    This is because I have sufficiently delved into it and it has everything to do with --
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Hon Member for Manhyia South, if you are not convinced, that does not mean that the law cannot be passed? If you use that yardstick, that means we cannot pass any law in this House.
    You are an Hon Member of the House, you have the opportunity to file any amendment that you want. But if you feel strongly about something, you have other means -- you have a number of tools at your disposal that you can use to get the House onto your side.
    Mr Asamoah Ofosu 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am coming under Order 160 (1) and (2) and 161(2) of the Standing Orders of this House. Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Chief Whip and Acting Leader and Acting Chairman of the Committee for the time being has presented the Report of the Committee.
    Mr Speaker, the next thing is to move a Motion for its adoption. But we seem to have been debating issues of the Report. I think we are not falling within Standing Order 160 (1).
    Mr Speaker, Order 161 states 11:15 a.m.
    “The recommendations of a Com- mittee shall be presented to the House in the form of a report.”
    Mr Speaker, that has been done.
    The next thing is to move a Motion for its adoption, but we seem to be debating it. It is after the Motion has been moved, that we go to consider what is in the report. We are not only discussing the Report but bringing extraneous matters.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, strictly speaking, what the Hon Member is saying is in line with our Standing Orders. But Mr Speaker, you would agree
    with me that, over the years, we have been dealing with these matters not formally. My Hon Colleague has registered his presence in the House today -- [Laughter] -- And I hope that he would continue registering his presence. [Laughter.]
    Mr Benito Owusu-Bio 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have gone through the Report of the Business Committee and I have realised that again, the Report of the Committee on Selection on the re-composition of Committee membership is missing. Mr Speaker, this has been missing for the past seven months and I am really surprised. What is keeping this Report of the Committee of Selection?--
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    I thought you were going to declare your interest before raising the matter?
    Mr Owusu-Bio 11:15 a.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker. In Parliament there is nothing like “Acting Ranking Member” -- [Laughter.]
    Mr Speaker, the substantive Hon Ranking Member is here but he is not currently the Hon Ranking Member. Mr Speaker, this is long overdue.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    I think it is a legitimate point.
    Hon Majority Chief Whip?
    Alhaji Muntaka 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe the comment is right. It was scheduled for this week, but due to some challenges for Leadership to meet and iron out all the differences, it has been pushed to next week. And it shall truly appear in the Business Statement for next week. So, we would take note to plan it for next week.
    So, Mr Speaker, we would ask the Table Office to capture that as an amendment for it to be taken next week, hopefully.
    Mr Nitiwul 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was just going to say that the point the Hon Member raised is really something that Parliament should have considered long time. He is right in raising that point because he has been raising it privately with us almost every time and he is right.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    This is the second time he has raised it on the floor.
    Mr Nitiwul 11:25 a.m.
    So, if we can clear it quickly next week. It is very important.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Members, I have seen a draft. We will look for time to schedule a meeting for the Committee of Selection next week, to determine and resolve this matter once and for all.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise with respect to item number 4 on the Business Statement and in relation to Standing Order 75.
    Mr Speaker, this matter, I keep raising. We are expected to look at the formula on Tuesday, but at least, I do not know about the rest of my Hon Colleagues. I do not have copies of these Papers; so, we come on Tuesday and we are expected to read voluminous documents and approve the formula.
    This is not good for us; Order 75(1) is very clear; why do we not have the Papers? If they are not ready, they should not have been laid. These are two very important documents that we are expected to read. They have been laid but we do not have copies. The Hon Majority Chief Whip, Mr Speaker, does not even know that they have been laid and he is the Majority Chief Whip.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Members, have you laid it? I have not seen a copy. Let us find out whether it has been laid in the first instance.
    Alhaji Muntaka 11:25 a.m.
    It was programmed to be laid this week but the challenge was that, there were not enough copies, so, it was scheduled that it should be done on Tuesday. The laying would be on Tuesday and we would make sure that every Member then gets a copy. So, that is one of the major challenges that it was not laid.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    What the Member for Old Tafo is saying is right. He is asking that, how can you lay it on Tuesday. The Committee of the Whole takes it also on Tuesday, then you report. I think you can adjust your programmes next week to accommodate his concerns.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:25 a.m.
    Let me remind him of his own Business Statement.
    “Mr Speaker, the Committee of the Whole is therefore expected to meet on Tuesday, 18th February, to discuss the formula.”
    And you expect us to come on Tuesday, as if we are so brilliant, we can pretend that --
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Member for Old Tafo, you have made your point and I have shared your sentiments with you. I have directed that the Business Committee should take your concerns on board.
    Alhaji Muntaka 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we would take the necessary steps to take the concerns on board. But Mr Speaker, if you look at what we have advertised, we would be doing the presentation on Tuesday, and we would take the Motion on Wednesday. So, we would look at the
    -- 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Member, the point he is making is that, before they can make a meaningful contribution on that Tuesday, they must have the documents.
    Alhaji Muntaka 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we will take the necessary steps to adjust and make room for that to be done.
    Thank you.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Absolutely.
    Mr Justice Joe Appiah 11:25 a.m.
    -- rose --
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Joe Appiah, no House Committee this time.
    Hon Members, that brings us to the end of the Business Statement for the fourth week. Subject to the concerns of the Members, the Business Statement is adopted for the fourth week.
    Dr Anthony A. Osei 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, my senior Colleague raised a point about a Motion “at any time”. I have not heard a Motion by anybody at any time --
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    You have got the response from the Hon Member for Sekondi. But you may move the Motion.
    Alhaji Muntaka 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe that our Standing Orders are very clear when it comes to the Business Statement. Mr Speaker, I refer us to Standing Order 56(1); it says and with your permission, I beg to quote:
    “Every Friday the Chairman of the Business Committee shall make a statement in the House of the business arranged for the succeeding week, but where the first week of a Meeting commences on a day earlier than Friday, he shall make a statement of the business arranged for the remainder of the week, if
    possible on the day of the com- mencement of the Meeting”.
    You can see clearly that in our Standing Order, when it comes to the business of the week, it is a statement that is made and that is what we have been doing and practising over the years. So, there is nothing about a Motion because the Standing Orders are very clear.
    Dr Anthony A. Osei 11:25 a.m.
    I am surprised at the Hon Majority Chief Whip; you do not read one Order without looking at Order 161(2). Can you look at Order 161(2)? You, Majority Chief Whip, instead of helping us to understand the Standing Order, you are trying to set it aside. You are encouraging some of us to also be rebellious.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Members, there is a specific provision for purposes of Business Statement. Strictly speaking, it is not a typical report, that is why it does not come like a Motion, otherwise, we would have had a Motion filed.
    This is a specific provision dealing with the Business Statement. A necessary extension would ask that, is it a report of the Business Committee? If it is a report, then, maybe, the Order 161(2) that the Hon Member referred us to might be brought in.
    This is a specific provision and it did not use the word “report”. Order 56 used the word “statement”. So, that is a specific provision dealing with the Business Statement for the week. It is a specific statement. They did not use the word “report” in Order 56. If they had used the word “report”, then you would have to read it together with Order 161(2) to get the net effect of the meaning attached to it. They used the word “statement”. This is not a “report”.
    Alhaji Muntaka 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, to further buttress what you have just said, if you look at what we are holding, it is clear, we said that “explanatory memorandum on the Business Statement”. Mr Speaker, this House is also guided by precedence. So, I think your guidance is accurate and right. We cannot look at the Business Statement in respect of Order
    161.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Business Statement. Business Statement accordingly adopted.
    ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:35 a.m.
    MINISTRY OF ATTORNEY- 11:35 a.m.
    GENERAL AND JUSTICE 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Osei-Owusu 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to congratulate the Attorney General and her team for the steps taken so far.
    I would want to find out in the case of Waterville when she says the case is still pending. It does not tell exactly what specific process is pending. Can she please, tell us which process?
    Mrs Appiah-Opong 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, now that the Court of Appeal has paved the way, we have to continue with our legal strategy. I do not want to discuss the legal strategy that we have adopted before the courts. This is because this will amount to telling our opponents what we are about to do.
    We are taking other steps but we cannot discuss our legal strategy. I am sure that the Hon Member would not want us to arm our opponents with any information on the strategy we are taking. But from the steps we have shown, we are acting, and we would continue briefing the House.
    Thank you.
    Mr Osei -Owusu 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, there was a Motion for judgement in default of defence before the stay of proceedings. I would like to know the status of that Motion after it had gone to Court of Appeal and back. Is that Motion the next step sought? Has the defence been filed? -- This one does not disclose that information.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Did you get the question? Please, can you ask your question again?
    Mr Osei-Owusu 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like the Hon Minister to tell this House, as of the time Isofoton was going to the Court of Appeal, there was a process pending, that is the Motion for judgement in default of defence. What is the state of that process?
    Mrs Appiah-Opong 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, that application could not be moved and as Hon Member knows, in every application for judgement in default of defence, there is a search attached, stating the time when the search is conducted and the result. So, that application, obviously, had lapsed. This is because the search was done at the time and he cannot move it. It has become an irrelevant application.
    Mr Osei-Owusu 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am trusting my professional colleagues to take the appropriate legal steps. However, would she apprise the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of this House properly; what is the progress of this case? Will she give that assurance to the House?
    Mrs Appiah-Oppong 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have absolutely no problem doing that. We will brief them quarterly.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Members, I want to draw your attention to our rules. The matter is pending before the Court. So, if you want to ask any question, you must bear that fact in mind, otherwise, I will evoke the rules of the House. So, you should bear that in mind and the type of questions that you ask.
    The Hon Member who asked the question -- because he is a lawyer, he was able to navigate his way through in such a way that his question did not prejudice the parties to the litigation and he has done very well in the questions that he has asked. I am just informing the House.
    Mr Kweku A.Kwarteng 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I refer the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to paragraph (3) of her Answer in respect of the steps taken to enforce judgement in the case of Martin Amidu v. the Attorney-General in respect of the Waterville matter. In the said paragraph, the Hon Attorney-General claims that on the 17th day of August, 2013, Waterville, acting through its solicitors, entered conditional appearance in a commercial court. It was on the 17th of August, 2013.
    By the 5th of September 2013, the fourteen-day rule had lapsed, and the Attorney-General had the option to go to court to seek for judgement in default of
    Mr Speaker, my question is this 11:45 a.m.
    Why did the Attorney-General sleep on her rights and went for -- [Interruption.]
    Mr Speaker, my question to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice is 11:45 a.m.
    Why did we fail to file for judgement in default of defence but waited for Waterville, on the 17th of October, to file their application.
    Mrs Appiah-Opong 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, as we clearly indicated, the conditional appearance was filed during the vacation. When you read C.I. 47, which is the High Court's rules, time does not run filing pleadings until after the vacation, which started --[Hear! Hear!] -- when the courts resume.Therefore, on the 5 th September, we could not have filed the defence because time does not run for filing pleadings.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Members, I will take the last question from Leadership on this matter.
    Hon Members, the Question is asked for the steps that have been taken; she has informed the House. The Minister went further to say that she is ready to brief the Committee on quarterly basis. If Leadership has any questions, they should ask, otherwise, I will discharge the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Oh, sorry. Hon Boafo, sorry, I did not see you on your feet earlier.
    Mr Boafo 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, may I find out from the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice whether entering of appearance is part of pleadings?
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Members, I will not take that question. I will not admit that question.
    Whether something is a pleading or not, has nothing to do with the steps that the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has taken in this matter.
    Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, page 10, the 7th point raised by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and with your permission, I beg to read:
    “On the 22nd of November, 2013, not having received a statement of defence from Waterville, this Office, …” That is the Attorney-General's Office, “... filed an application for Judgement in Default of Defence, which was fixed for the 4 th of December, 2013.”
    Then at point 8, she informs:
    “My office could not move the application for judgement in default of defence because Waterville had on the 21st day of November, 2013 filed in the High Court an Application for Stay of Proceedings Pending Appeal, which was fixed for the 4th day of December, 2013.”
    General and Minister for Justice does not require any briefing from the
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, address the Chair. Ignore everybody and address the Chair.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, with respect, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice does not need --
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, you should address the Chair.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes. The question is to the Attorney- General and Minister for Justice.
    Mrs Appiah-Opong 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think the Hon Minority Leader is asking whether we were not aware that an application had been filed on the 21st of November by Waterville.
    Is that the question?
    Mr Speaker, applications are filed in the courts and therefore, we are not privy to the filing of applications until we are served.
    As at the 22nd of November, we had not been served with any application and we had conducted a search which showed that they had not filed a defence. So, as at 22nd November, we were not aware that they had filed this application. We filed our application and we were subsequently served with the Motion for stay of proceedings.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    The former Hon Minority Chief Whip, the Hon Member for Suhum, I will give you a privilege.
    Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, reading through her response to the Question, I noticed that she had copiously made use of the US dollar currency. [Laughter.]
    Mr Speaker, in view of the recent directive by the Bank of Ghana, would she help this House -- because some of us, based on the recent directive, have even refused to think in foreign currency terms.
    So, the figure she has listed here has no meaning to us at all. Can she apply her mind to the current exchange rate and give us the figure in Ghana cedis?
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Member, I will not admit that question because this judgement was given before the directive. [Uproar!]
    Mr Opare-Ansah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Answer is today and the directive is in force. I would want the figures as of today's Bank of Ghana exchange rate.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, flowing from the Answer that the Question was filed before the directive -
    - 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    The judgement was given in dollars.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am saying then that would anybody be right, having lodged his or her money in the bank before the directive to insist that he will take the money in dollars?
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    That is not a question for the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice; it is a question for those who gave the directive.
    Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Question time.

    Hon Members, I have admitted one Statement standing in the name of the Hon Member for Atwima-Nwabiagya South Constituency.

    Hon Member, you may make your Statement.
    MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
    STATEMENTS 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Anthony O. Boakye (NPP -- Atwima-Nwabiagya South) 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, today, 14th of February, is Valentine's Day. This historic day is being observed in countries all over the world, including Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, other health benefits of cocoa powder and chocolate are 11:45 a.m.
    1. Reduce the risk of heart attack as it helps to relax the arteries and suppress clogging of the blood vessels and artery blockage.
    2. Cocoa drinking, at any time, reduces listlessness and eases depression.
    3. It acts as a mood enhancer, energy booster and as mild aphrodisiac.
    Mr Speaker, with these and many more health benefits for cocoa consumption, the Government, together with the support of COCOBOD, should help make the price of cocoa powder and chocolate much more affordable to Ghanaians. It will also be extremely helpful if cocoa drink, at least, once or twice a week, becomes part of the School Feeding Programme for the kindergarten and class one pupils.
    Mr Speaker, to conclude, I wish all fellow Members of Parliament, parliamentary staff, all visitors at the Gallery and my constituents at home, a Happy Valentine's Day.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Ms Freda Akosua O. Prempeh (NPP - - Tano North) 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, today is 14th February and it marks the day of Valentine, a time to express our love, a time to seal our friendships and all that.
    It looks like we are losing something significant about Valentine's Day. The issue of marriage is so symbolic. Mr Speaker, marriage is one of the best institutions that one can ever have in his or her lifetime but it looks like nowadays, marriages are on the rocks. A lot of people are going through a lot of problems in their marriages.
    Mr Speaker, Valentine's Day is also a day to reflect on the symbolic nature of marriage and I would take this opportunity to urge all married couples to renew their love, rekindle their friendship, and bring some love flavour into their marriages.
    Mr Speaker, whether it is an agape love, an intimate love, whatever kind of love that it is, this is a time for us to express our love to one another. This is the time for us to seal our friendships and this is the time for us to renew our marriages.
    Mr Isaac K. Asiamah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think the education should be quite clear. The young ones are in school learning, so, why would we encourage them to go into early marriages? The young ones are learning. So, they should concentrate on their studies, acquire skills and knowledge that would be more profitable than encouraging them to marry at these young ages.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Asiamah, what is the definition of a young person under the Children's Act? Could you tell the definition of a young person?
    Mr I. K. Asiamah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is why her emphasis on young should be defined first, so that we would be clear. But when she says; “young ones”, my understanding of “young ones” is those smaller ones who are in school and who are studying. That is why I am saying that word should be used and used cautiously.
    Ms Prempeh 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I share Hon Asiamah's view and I understand the point from where he is coming. Young people are supposed to concentrate on their education and all that.
    But as much as you concentrate on your education, you will definitely come out of school and you will start working and within a certain bracket, you are still considered to be a young person. When you get to that point, that is what I am talking about, that we should encourage them, that they should settle down, they should marry and have a family and ensure that there is so much happiness and love within the family. That is what I am talking about.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to caution my Hon Colleague. I am a Catholic and some of us Catholics sometimes encourage our young ones to go and become Priests and Nuns. So, if she just says marriage -- You encourage them to go and marry; we will have trouble in the Catholic Church. So, she should be very careful.
    Ms Prempeh 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is a special call and it is not everybody who is a Catholic, who has that call. I can recollect Hon Baffour Awuah, Hon Sabi and Hon Robert Sarfo, they went through it but they could not end it, so, maybe, they did not have the call at the time. [Laughter.]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Baffour Awuah, this is a very serious charge. She says you went through it but you did not complete. What did you go through?
    Mr Ignatius B. Awuah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not know whether my Hon Colleague from Tano North knows what it takes to become a Catholic Priest and whether she knows very well the kind of training some of us had. To the best of my knowledge, I had my normal ‘O' Level and ‘A' Level education through the normal system. So, I do not know whats he means by me going through --
    Ms Prempeh 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, he went through the seminary. I do not want to go into it.
    Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member who made the Statement is going out of the Chamber and I believe he should have been here for Hon Members to contribute.
    Mr Fritz F. Baffour 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I object a bit to the Hon Member for Sunyani East saying that he went through the normal education system. I do not think the Catholic education system is abnormal. [Laughter.]
    Ms Prempeh 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to conclude by this quote by Ursula K. le Guin. She says that --
    “Love does not sit there like a stone. It has to be made like bread being made all the time and made new.”
    I would want us all to take this opportunity to renew our love, our friendships this morning.
    On this note, I would like to thank Hon Ashie-Moore. Last year, on this same day, he gave us chocolates. Today, he has gone beyond that and has given all the female Members of Parliament flower and chocolate and inviting us for lunch this afternoon.
    We say thank you very much and I wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day and I hope the other men in this House will appreciate the women in the House and emulate Hon Ashie-Moore.
    Mr Noah B. Azure (NDC -- Binduri) 11:45 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to the Statement my Hon Colleague has made today.
    I would want to add some types of love that we have. Sometimes, when we are talking of love on Valentine's Day, people think that Valentine or love is just the love that we call erotic love or eros love and people just think that, that is sexual love. We have what we call agape love and this love is unconditional love and this love is love that is given by God and that is the first thing.
    When you go to the Bible, in John 3:16, it says:
    “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
    And then we should also practise this love.
    There is yet another love, that is storge love and this love is a love that is parental love, that is showing affection to the family, or to your children.
    We also have this philias love and this love is the love that is for the friends, love
    that is for your brothers and this is the love we talk of, brothers and sisters love and I think that we should practise this love too.
    Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member, in contributing, is attributing that people are thinking that the love that we are talking about is sexual love and romantic love and I wonder where he got that from. This is because people are just speaking to love which is inclusive of what he is just saying. So, why is he attributing it to that? I think he is misleading the House. So, we are talking about love, we are not restricting it to romantic or sexual love.
    Thank you.
    Mr Azure 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is why I am saying that it is the perception. That is why I am bringing the other love. It was based on that love-- Even with this erotic love that is sexual love, that people, indiscriminately go about having sex and this brings about street children that we have. This brings about children that no one has responsibility for loitering everywhere. At times, it can also lead to some kind of diseases. So, we would want to urge that -- At least, the Bible admonishes us -- [Interruption.]
    Dr Hanna L. Bisiw 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not in agreement with our Hon Member when he says that children that we have out there that are not being taken care of is because of probably some of this love. It is true that -- [Interruptions.] The kind of love that he is referring to -- [Interruption.] Intimate love which has
    Mr Azure 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that I made myself very clear that some; I am not saying all children. I said some of the children. That is what I said.
    Let us continue and I would want to say that we should try to educate the children, especially those who are of school-going age --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Member, I believe you want to conclude by saying that, you are concluding.
    Mr Azure 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, so, I would want to add my voice, that today being Valentine's Day, when we are celebrating it, it should not only be limited to sexual love.
    Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    I will take one more from each side and I will want to be assisted by Leadership. They should direct who I should see. I should take two more?
    The Minority Leader has directed me, that I should take two more from each side. I would be grateful if I could be given a list also by Leadership. Which two should I take? There are about 30 people standing --
    You are constant. You can even sit down. With your red, you are constant.
    Hon Minority Leader, who should I take?
    Ms Esther Dappah Obeng (NPP -- Abirem) 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Statement on the floor of the House.
    Mr Speaker, in the olden days, among certain cultures, a man could just see a beautiful woman and carry her to his tent, hut or house to be his wife. The man could carry more than one, maybe, two, three women into his house to be his wives. The concept of marriage was therefore, being distorted and St Valentine, being so wise, thought he would formalise marriage.
    So, this Valentine celebration that we are having, is about marriage, not sex. [Interruption.] Mr Speaker, not sex out of wedlock. That is what I mean.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Hon Member, marriage is in the Bible. Is it not? Or it is St Valentine?
    Ms Obeng 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, what I am saying is that, God instituted marriage, but in the olden days, it was not formalised. People could just see a beautiful woman, carry her into his home to be his wife. St Valentine thought it wise to formalise it and that is why we have weddings and in our culture, the way that we perform our marriage ceremony.
    So, Mr Speaker, the point that I am making is that, it looks as if some of us are going back to the olden times where people used to live together, what we called partnership or living together, producing children without formalising the marriage.
    Mr Speaker, my advice to our younger generation is that, they should keep themselves both men and women -- Keep themselves, respect themselves and wait for their husbands as God has purposed it to be.
    Dr Hannah L. Bisiw (NDC -- Tano South) 12:15 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement made by the Hon Colleague.
    Mr Speaker, today is Valentine's Day and Valentine, from its inception, is about love. If you read about it, it is more about love or union of the relationship between a man and woman. We have come very far from that time; we live in a very dynamic world; so it keeps changing.
    The Hon Member who made the Statement spoke so much about our chocolate drink and all the benefits that come with it. I think that as we celebrate today, we should also demonstrate that love for our nation. We should demonstrate that love for our health and by demonstrating the love for our health, we would be thinking of the love for our local cocoa drink as the Hon Member who made the Statement alluded to.
    We should also, by loving our health, know that if we put on our minds that Valentine is all about getting intimate, in doing so, we may be contracting some sort of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). So, if we love our health, we should be cautious in what we do today.
    We should also love our fellow human beings. We should love what we do in our country, love one another and love the job we do. I feel that if we express love in that wider form, we would be in a position to better even love our spouses,
    love our partners, whether they are partners, in courtship or partners that we live together as a Common Law wife or Common Law husband.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to conclude by wishing all the men in Ghana, and a special one for you, Mr Speaker -- [Uproar]-- and those from my constituency a Happy Valentine's Day. For the ladies, I wish every woman, every lady -- [Interruption] -- This is because he is special -- Every lady, a cautious Happy Valentine's Day. We should be cautious not to fall prey to sweet words. As we go about, we should remember that once upon a time -- [Interruption.]
    Dr Matthew O. Prempeh 12:15 p.m.
    On a point of order.
    Mr Speaker, after listening to the wonderful, brilliant rendition from our Hon Friend and ending with caution love, was she talking about love in Agape or love in eros? This is because I do not know how you can caution love in Agape love.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Hon Prempeh, this is a question of who the hat fits --
    Dr Bisiw 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if my good Friend had allowed me to end, he would have known that I was referring to the eros love; that is the intimate love. That is why I said I wish every lady a cautious Happy Valentine. We should remember that once upon a time, not very long ago, we had an advertisement in Ghana saying “if it is not on, it is not in.”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    I will take the last one.
    Mr Joseph Cudjoe (NPP -- Effia) 12:15 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement on the floor.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Hon Member, we are talking about Valentine, but you want to give us the history of chocolate?
    Mr Cudjoe 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, exactly. This is because Ghana has launched a National Chocolate Day, that is today. So, we seek to understand what chocolate is.
    Mr Speaker, the 2000 years history of chocolate has it that, expert to say that chocolate means any product made from cocoa. So, whether it is in a powder form, in the general cocoa beverages we know, they all form part of chocolate. I think that anytime we talk about chocolate, our minds are adverted to the chocolate bar, the one I hold in my hand here and that is erroneous.
    I emphasise that chocolate means any product made from cocoa. So, when Ghana
    launched National Chocolate Day, we were not talking about consumption of bar of chocolate as in this form.
    Mr Speaker, yesterday, I was at the Cocoa Clinic to take a result of my routine medical check which I underwent there. When I had passed everything and I was convinced that I was medically fit, right in front of me was a poster which outlines benefits of cocoa consumption.
    Fortunately for me, for the past eight years I have been consuming cocoa products and for which reason, I would like to share with the House these benefits. [Interruption.] Yes. At the Cocoa Clinic, the poster was there.
    Mr Speaker, the first benefit is that cocoa products have anti-oxidant benefits; that is prevention of cancer. I think the medical experts would attest to that.
    Dr Kwabena Donkor 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member says we declare the National Chocolate Day; Mr Speaker, mere declarations do not affect change. Have we increased our processing capability in the country since its declaration or it just remains a lip- service?
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Cudjoe 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the second benefit like I said, is that, it reduces blood pressure and thirdly, it delays physical sign of aging. Mr Speaker, it also minimises discomfort and pain associated with menstruation.
    Mr Speaker, the outline of the benefits go on to say that it also minimises pain associated with menopause and then it
    goes on to say it has aphrodisiac effect. Then, it prevents stroke by improving blood circulation and fights dental decay.
    Mr Speaker, these benefits have been endorsed by Prof. F. K. Addai of the University of Ghana Medical School and it is part of the information disseminated by Ghana Cocoa Board by the National Committee for Promotion of Cocoa Consumption.
    Mr Speaker, in the House right here, under my observation, we saw chocolate in circulation and we were consuming it. There is abundance of literature on how to eat the chocolate bar. You can go on the internet to search and move to the level of expertise where you would enjoy chocolate and understand why it has been touted as the food of the gods.
    Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it looks as if my Hon Colleague on the other side of the House is giving us a bed and a tree story. This Statement was on Valentine. Now, he is educating us on how to consume chocolate and the aphrodisiac effect of chocolate just to increase Hon Members' appetite for chocolate. I believe he should come back to Valentine; we are contributing to the Statement on Valentine, but the aphrodisiac effect of chocolate and all those things --
    Mr Cudjoe 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, when you gently rub and you use the heat in your mouth to melt the chocolate, and at the same time, you are conscious of the smell from chocolate -- [Interruption.]
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to caution my Hon Colleague to be very careful. He is not a medical practitioner. Offering these medical related things can lead some people into trouble. So, I think he has to stay in the area that he is most competent in; the finance area and leave the medicine to people like Hon Matthew Prempeh to tell us if it works.
    This is because something that is empirically verifiable, some Members may be tempted to practise what he is talking about and if something happens to them, what are we going to do?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Which part of it? The one that the Hon Member says you should roll your tongue and be careful about --
    Mr Cudjoe 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, when you go by this process and enjoy --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Have you finished?
    Mr Cudjoe 12:25 p.m.
    Yes, I am rounding up.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Member, once you roll it, then that is the end.
    Mr Cudjoe 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, once you go by this process, and enjoy --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    I will want to know the process.
    Mr Cudjoe 12:25 p.m.
    That is the process of eating chocolate --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    I understand, but you said you roll it and what happens?
    Mr Cudjoe 12:25 p.m.
    You press it against the roof of your mouth and use heat to melt it before swallowing and then Mr Speaker, you keep the aroma in mind. Mr Speaker, when you enjoy chocolate this way, you
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Member, you should be concluding.
    Mr Cudjoe 12:25 p.m.
    When all of us have enjoyed this and the whole Ghana, we are enjoying chocolate, we can imagine how processing factories would want to set up here for us to start even exporting chocolate products from our land.
    Mr Speaker, what I have done is to use the opportunity of Valentine's Day to dovetail our National Chocolate Day Celebration as part of promoting cocoa consumption.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Thank you. I cannot think of a better time to bring this discussion to a close.
    Hon Muntaka, any indication?
    Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as we agreed to have a Committee of the Whole and you can see we have advertised a lot of committee meetings; I beg to move, that this House do adjourn until Tuesday, the 18th of February, 2014 at 10.00 o'clock in the forenoon.
    Mr Daniel Botwe 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    ADJOURNMENT 12:25 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 12.35 p.m. till Tuesday, 18th February, 2014 at 10.00 a.m.