Debates of 18 Mar 2014

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:40 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Members, I am pleased to announce the presence in the House of a distinguished delegation from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament of Zambia.
They are in the country to share experiences with their Ghanaian counterparts and to particularly acquire best practices in the management of our extractive industry.
Headed by the Chairman of the Committee, the delegation comprises of 14 members including the Auditor-General and the Deputy Accountant-General of the Republic of Zambia and their staff.
Hon Members, I introduce to you, members of the delegation as follows:

Hon Vincent Mwale -- MP, Chairperson

Hon Milambo Austin -- MP

Hon Mweetwa Cornelius -- MP

Hon Zimba January -- MP

Mr Chilambwe Aubrey -- (PAC)

Mr Chiwota Stephen -- (PAC)

Ms Anna Chifungula -- (Auditor - General)

Mr George Phiri -- (Principal Auditor)

Mr Godfrey Daka -- (Assistant Director)

Mr Joe Mwanza Ukwimi -- (Deputy Accountant- General)

Mr Manunga Elijah -- (Senior Accountant)

Mr Chembe Mkunshya -- (Accountant)

Mrs Kalyangile N. Namaambo -- (Chief Internal Auditor)

Mr Jackson Phiri -- (Senior Internal -- Auditor)

Hon Members, on your behalf, I wish them pleasant stay in the country and fruitful deliberations.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:40 a.m.
  • [No correction was made to the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 14th March, 2014.]
    • Dr Anthony A. Osei 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, column 1402, first paragraph, wherever we see “per cent,” it should be “billion cedis” and not “per cent”-- All those numbers of “10.5 billion”, “2.5 billion” et cetera.
    At column 1403, the contribution attributed to me is a similar type of error. The percentages should be changed to billion cedis.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Very well I direct that the necessary corrections be effected.
    Dr A. A. Osei 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, on the statement by Mr Fiifi Kwetey -- he is not here, but I am quite clear that he did not say GH¢20.5 billion; it could not have been. GH¢20.5 billion refers to the amount of total tax revenue, not the compensation package.
    So, I do not know where they captured this from. Unfortunately, he is not here. This is because we were debating the numbers and I brought it to his attention.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Well. Table Office, please, take note and possibly confer with him, so that you can effect the necessary corrections.
    Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, column 1433, the last paragraph, line 6, it reads: “paragraph 730 of 193.” It should be, “of page 193.”
    Also, column 1435, the last paragraph, the fifth line, “Coming from this hospital”, should read, “having worked in a district hospital.”
    Also, column 1436, the last but two paragraphs, the sixth line, it starts with “on the whole world”; “on” should be replaced with “in”, “in the whole world.”
    Then between “which” and “US$5,000.00,” should be inserted “is”, “which is.”
    The ninth line, “going to expand our hospitals but would not ensure …” “but” was omitted. Then the next line, after “ensure” delete “but”. It should read: “but would not ensure that there is value-for- money.”
    Finally, column 1437, the second paragraph, the fourth line; it reads: “portfolio of GH¢20 million”. It should read: “GH¢800 million”.
    Then the last but one paragraph, first line: “So every step has to be taken”, not “has been taken.”
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Table Office, please, take note and effect the necessary corrections.
    Any more?
    An Hon Member 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, column 1356, paragraph (2), line 5, the word there, “pleading”. should be replaced with “bleeding.” “ The Assemblies are bleeding” and not “pleading”.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Thank you. Table Office, please, take note.
    Hon Members, in the absence of any further corrections, the Official Report dated Tuesday, 11th March, 2014, with the
    Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am coming under Order 72 of our Standing Orders and with your indulgence and that of the House, I beg to read. It says as follows:
    “By the indulgence of the House and leave of Mr Speaker a Member may, at the time appointed for statements under Order 53 (Order of Business) explain a matter of personal nature or make a statement on a matter of urgent public importance. Any statement other than a personal statement may be commented upon by other Members for a limited duration of time not exceeding one hour. The terms of any such proposed statement shall first be submitted to Mr Speaker.”
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:40 a.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, I heard you say “Questions” and so I was thinking that you had not admitted any Statement I looked at your face and -- it looked as if you were taken aback.
    I would want to know whether the Hon Majority Chief Whip has submitted a Statement which you have admitted. Normally, when an Hon Member is making a Statement he does not refer to the Standing Orders. This is because the Statement would have been admitted by
    Mr Speaker. If the Hon Majority Whip would want to do something contrary to our Standing Orders, he may expressly say so and request the indulgence of Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, I think you are right. Precisely, what I believe he trying to do was to seek the Speaker 's indulgence to make a Statement. He had not done specifically that. So we will give him the opportunity to seek the Speaker's indulgence to make a Statement.
    Alhaji Muntaka 10:40 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker. That is why we must always have in the House the likes of Hon Papa Owusu-Ankomah. [Interruption.]
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Hon Member for Old Tafo, are you up on a point of order?
    Dr A. A. Osei 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is not only by leave of Mr Speaker but the indulgence of the House is also needed. I do not know if he sought the indulgence of the House to do that. That matter he is talking about is urgent. He should seek our indulgence and see if we would want to indulgence him. He has not done so yet. So, please, he should do the proper thing.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Well, he is doing just that. He is going through the process.
    Alhaji Muntaka 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, as my Hon Colleagues rightly mentioned, that was what I was trying to do. But I thought that the House needed to hear what the issue is, to enable them understand and appreciate whether we should move on. That was why I wanted to give a gist of what I wanted to do, so that if we agree, then I could move.
    I have discussed it with my Hon Colleagues opposite and we have all
    agreed in principle for it to be raised. But I would have to raise it on the floor, if I say I would want to come with a Statement and you do not know exactly what I want to talk about,it will be difficult for the House to accept for me to carry on. So that was what I was trying to do.
    Like I rightly mentioned from Order 72, I would want to seek the indulgence and the leave of the House to raise this issue of the University of Ghana, which is currently going on and that has raised a lot of public concern. I thought as a law- making body, we passed the law, and I needed to draw your attention to some of the issues that even came up in 2010, where we raised these issues. If it is permissible, I will take the opportunity to make some few comments, we would look at them and maybe, take a direction from you.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I distinctly recall that the brouhaha relating to the University of Ghana's decision to take tolls in respect of the use by the public of its road was referred by you to the Committees on Education and Roads and Highways to investigate and report.
    I again distinctly recall, even though I do not remember the precise date, that you recalled that referral on the basis that the matter was pending before the Supreme Court and thus we stood the risk of infringing our Standing Orders. I do not know whether the matter has been disposed of by the Supreme Court.
    I do not know whether Mr Speaker is now privy to information indicating that it is no more pendente lite. If the situation has not changed, much as I agree with the Hon Majority Chief Whip that it is a matter of public concern, I will think that a Statement in like nature which will also be commented on by Hon Members faces the same problem that the referral faced.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
    Very well.
    To the best of my knowledge I am not aware of the fact that that matter has been dealt with by the Supreme Court . But I believe that the tolling aspect, which was the subject matter put before the Supreme Court, has been abandoned by the authorities in the university. I am aware that there is a new dimension. If we could listen to him, I probably would be in a position to take a decision one way or the other.
    Alhaji Muntaka 11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to refer this House to the Official Report of Thursday, 22nd July, 2010.
    Mr Speaker, when we were dealing with the Bill on the University of Ghana -- with your indulgence and that of the House, permit me to read what I said that day with regard to this law. Mr Speaker, this is what I said in the Hansard -- column 2982:
    “Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 3(2) delete.
    Mr Speaker, the reason is that it reads 11 a.m.
    A person who is not a member of the university shall not enter the premises of the university or have access to the facilities or privileges of the university without the permission of the University”.
    This is what I wanted us to delete.
    “Mr Speaker, I think not to enter, is honestly, taking it too far. This is because as I stand here, I am a product of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) but a Member of Parliament. If I have other business in terms of supervision, which is a role of a Member of Parliament, by this subclause, I cannot enter the University of Ghana. I think this is taking it too far. These are higher institutions of learning.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
    Hon Member, can you come with the points that you are raising?
    Alhaji Muntaka 11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am building some background.
    When you look at the law that they are operating, it clearly states who is a member.
    Today, even some of the members are restricted entry into the university. Why am I saying this, Mr Speaker? If someone is a student, he still has to get a sticker. If someone is an alumnus, he has to get a sticker. Meanwhile, the law clearly states who is a member, who is entitled to the privileges and who can have access to the place.
    Yet, Mr Speaker, even now as we Sit, an Hon Member of Parliament cannot have access even though these are his constituents, these are the people who voted for him or her, the person cannot have access to the university by virtue of this “no sticker, no entry” rule.
    Mr Kweku Agyeman-Manu 11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want some clarification. My Hon Colleague is getting me confused. He is talking about restriction and then he said that you can come with the sticker. I do not think that that is restriction. It is permission on condition; so, he should try and get me convinced about what he is actually talking about.
    Alhaji Muntaka 11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is the problem. The problem is to say that some persons must have stickers before they can have access; that is restriction. If you do not have the sticker, you will not be able to have access. Today, we have people who have their children attending school there, and they cannot have access. Mr Speaker, you and I cannot equally pass through.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
    Can we have some Order, please? Let us have some Order.
    Alhaji Muntaka 11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, as we speak now, I believe as a House, we need to look into this issue critically and probably, get in touch with the authorities. This is because I believe all over the world -- I have had the privilege of travelling in and around Harvard, you do not have such restriction. We should not allow this kind of restriction to prevail at the University of Ghana because it will not serve the collective interest of us as people in this country.
    I would be very grateful if this House takes this matter very serious, so that we would be able to deal with this matter once and for all.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, at the risk of making personal allusions, I would want to state that probably, it is because the Hon Majority Chief Whip was out of the jurisdiction for some time and returned a couple of days ago, that he has had his facts wrong.
    Alhaji Muntaka 11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am coming on a serious point of order.
    My Senior Colleague knows very well that it is not right for him to make reference to “I have been out of the jurisdiction”. If he cares to know, with technology today, no matter where you are, you can keep abreast what is happening even in the House. If he cares to also know, I have not been away for long. So, I think that it is not fair for him to use that description on me.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I withdraw it and apologise to my Hon Colleague.
    But Mr Speaker, he has got his facts completely wrong. Mr Speaker, there was a public announcement about four weeks ago by the university authorities, to the effect that they were re-organising the use of entrances to the university as a matter of security and stated that everyone entering the university should come through the main gate -- that is the Okponglo entrance.
    Mr Speaker, you were at the university in the l970s. That was the main entrance and even at a certain time, after 10 o'clock, they closed the gate. There was no other entrance. What they stated was that if any member of the public, if any member of the university wishes to use any other entrance apart from the main entrance, then the university's permission must be sought -- I think through the Public Estate Director or something and that you have to take a sticker. So, for the Hon Member to say that you cannot have access to the university, is incorrect.
    If we are concerned about it, we can engage the university authorities. But to give the impression that what the university seeks to do is restricting access to the university, is incorrect. At any time you enter the university, go through Okponglo.
    As I was saying, I live at Golf Hills. If I have to use the Okponglo entrance, I have to take a detour of over two kilometres, which may involve an hour. So, what it says is that if I want to use the Achimota entrance, I should seek permission, apply and get a sticker, pay a fee, then I can use that entrance without restriction.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:10 a.m.


    Mr Speaker, let us not forget the history behind what is happening. When the Committee was meeting, I said that what has happened is due to lack of coherence in government policy; the university was granted permission to use its own resources to asphalt its roads. I asked the question. “Is that the proper use of internally generated funds of the university, to use it to construct roads?” Mr Speaker, what the university is doing, is seeking to promote a serene atmosphere. All that it says is, use the main entrance.

    And what happened at the time? Some rambos without due process went and demolished property on the university's premises. No one has said anything about it. So, this should be a lesson to Government, that when any action is being considered, when any policy is being taken, we have to thoroughly debate the matter --
    Alhaji Ibrahim D. Abubakari 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to know from my Colleague whether they used IGFs or borrowed the money to do the roads?
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, IGF or borrowed money, it did not come from Government and it was not a grant. I am saying that -- [Interruption.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Members, can we have some order?
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the university said it took a loan to develop its roads and I am saying that Government policy should not even have permitted the university to do that. It is the President who appoints the Chairman of the University Council. The university is a public corporation. So, if a Government decides not to influence policy making, that is the outcome.
    I agree with the Hon Colleague that it creates a traffic jam, inconvenience to the public, but if the matter had been handled in a better way, I do not think this would have happened.
    I am saying that, Mr Speaker, this matter will generate debate. I do not have a problem if the referral which was withdrawn, will be reinstated same, except that the Committee will not be dealing with tolling but with the rationale behind the new guidelines for entry into the university. That is all. You enter through the main gate and you exit through the main gate. That is all.
    We all agree that it has created a problem but when rambos go about demolishing properties of universities without recourse to law, that is what happens.
    We must as much as possible, as a country create an environment where we can debate and arrive at a consensus in the interest of the generality of the people of this country. Ramboic style can never promote consensus building in this country. This is the biggest lesson we must learn from what has happened.
    I will appeal to the Hon Speaker to refer the matter to the joint Committee on Education and Roads and Transport. I do not even think Roads and Transport is necessary because this has purely to do with the exercise by the university of policies to regulate its own internal affairs.
    I thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the matter at hand is a serious public one. Over the last two days, there has been something that many Ghanaians has been worried about. They have been commenting on it and it is right that the Hon Member raised it.
    I agree perfectly with the Hon Member that the source of the problem is what
    happened to the budget of last and even this year when Government decided that agencies can borrow on their own balance sheet. That is why that problem has come. I do not see how the University of Ghana could be bold enough to go and take a GH¢7 million loan to make roads if Government did not give them the permission. That is the problem.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minister for Education, do you have a point of order?
    Mr Ablakwa 11:10 a.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, the Deputy Minority Leader suggests that Government gave express permission to the university to borrow. I would want to state for the records that working at the Ministry of Education, we did not receive any notification. We have not granted any approval. The University of Ghana acted on its own. They did not come for approval.
    It is important that he makes his point without roping us in. I had wanted to make an earlier point when Hon Papa Owusu- Ankomah said that Government decided not to influence policy.
    If you look at Act 806, the University Council is independent -- the University Council of the University of Ghana does not take direction from the Government. They are independent. The Chairman of
    the Council does not take orders from Government. Act 806 is very clear and this House passed the Act in 2010. So, please, leave Government out of this.
    Mr Nitiwul 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, first of all, either the Hon Member was not listening to me or he is rushing too early to defend Government.
    I said that the source of the problem was the fact that Government allowed agencies to borrow on their own balance sheets. That was what I said. And the Minister for Finance was here to answer a Question on the role of the university and actually confirmed it. The agencies can borrow on their own balance sheet. The University of Ghana does no more need their authority once it has been passed in the budget.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Hon Member, can we go straight to the meat of the matter?
    Mr Nitiwul 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I agree that the problem has come and we need to solve it. We need to solve it because as a Member of Parliament today, I would want to visit my constituents at the University of Ghana, and unless I pay the GH¢400, I will not be able to do that.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe the Hon Deputy Minority Leader is not giving the right information to the House. If you want to use any other entrance apart from the main entrance, you must seek the permission of the university by applying for a sticker at a fee.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Hon Members, I will want to suggest that we veer off that area. Let us discuss the matter itself. If at the end of it, directions are given for this House to liaise with the
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.


    management of the university, all these issues would be sorted out. So, in the meantime, let us deal with the problem itself.
    Mr Nitiwul 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the information I have could vary from what the Hon Member has. But let us leave it at that. The problem is that the people of Ghana-- [Interruption.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Order! Hon Members, Order!
    Mr Nitiwul 11:20 a.m.
    The people of Ghana who are visiting the University of Ghana are complaining. They are complaining that if they do not have a sticker, they will have to pay GH¢400 before they can get access. Yesterday, five Members of Parliament were turned away at the University of Ghana even though the university authorities knew they were passing through to do parliamentary duties; they were turned away as Members of Parliament. Very unfortunate. That in itself is a problem and we all know what the law says.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not want to appear to be defending the university. But let us get the facts right.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Hon Members, let us have some order! Hon Members, order, order!
    I have directed that we leave that subject matter for the opportunity to be given for management to meet with this House, either through a committee or whatever means, then these issues would be discussed at that level. Before then, let us leave these matters out, and then deal with the subject matter itself.
    Mr Nitiwul 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I said I agreed. Originally, the proposal would have been to allow Leadership plus the Minister for Education and the Committee on Roads and Transport to look at this and come like we suggested, to use --
    But Mr Speaker, I agree with the Hon Member. If it is expanded to include the Committee on Roads and Education, it would help us -- joint Committee on Education and Roads, Transport can look at this matter critically. It has nothing to do with tolls. So, it is not at the court.
    Nobody can say it is at the court, it is the issue of tolling the roads of University of Ghana that is at the court. So, Parliament can look at this particular matter, liaise with the authorities at the university and come up with an applicable, amicable solution, a workable one of course, that would allow people to be able to go into the university in and out. We can find a middle ground on this particular matter Mr Speaker.
    So, in my view, I agree that we should look at it quickly and give ourselves a time line in sorting out this problem. This is because we cannot allow that to continue.
    I live very close to the university and every day, every time, there are long queues; people are complaining, people are almost always beginning to have fisticuffs and I do not think it is good for us as a country. We should look at it and solve the problem. Whatever information we have as individual Members of
    Parliament, the truth of the matter is that the people of Ghana are not happy about what is going on, and the tendency is that it can split into other public institutions. Other universities can start, other public organisations can start. So, we should be able to find a solution to this problem quickly, so that we can move forward with it.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    I will take one last contribution from the Hon Deputy Majority Leader and then I will direct.
    Mr Alfred K. Agbesi 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
    Mr Speaker, the issue that has been raised by the Majority Chief Whip is of much public concern.
    Mr Speaker, this morning, I listened to some parents and people who have their wards at the University of Ghana, complaining about the decision of the university and what to be done to bring the matter to an amicable solution.
    Mr Speaker, the issue is that the University Council has taken a decision and members of the public are not so happy about.
    Mr Speaker, this House is the House of the representatives of the people and the matter has come to our attention; since we represent the people, we must bring our concerns to the attention of the University Council, to take a second look at the decision that they have taken.
    Mr Speaker, I listened this morning to one Hon Member of this House, Hon Alhaji Amadu Sorogho, Member of Parliamnet for Madina who also complained that yesterday he and other Members of Parliamnet were coming to this House to attend a committee meeting
    and when they reached the spot, they were asked to go back and take another route. They did not like the situation and that it took them sometime to come to the House to perform official or parliamentary duties.

    Mr Speaker, yesterday some parents were one way or the other restricted in sending their wards to school and they have raised their concerns.

    Mr Speaker, the issue has been raised and the Majority Chief Whip has also quoted the Hansard, showing when the Act was being passed, assurances were given by Professors, that, that aspect of the law would not be used.

    Today, if it is being used, Mr Speaker, then my suggestion is that we need to bring the law back to this House to take a second look at it and if necessary, an amendment be procured in that direction.

    Mr Speaker, the issue is serious; members of the public are being restricted and restriction is something which we should not condone.

    Mr Speaker, I would want to say that, using your good office, the university authorities, the Ministers for Education and Roads and Highways should be brought together with Leadership to find a solution to this matter.

    Mr Speaker, I would want to plead that we bring this matter to a close for our people, the members of the public to understand that we care for them and that the university should not be a republic onto itself.

    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the occasion.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Well.
    Thank you very much.
    Hon Members, we could go on and on ad infinitum.
    I get the sense of the House and therefore, I would want to direct that the Minister for Roads, together with the Minister for Education should liaise with the Committees on Education as well as Roads and Transport to specifically find an amicable solution to this problem.
    It has nothing to do with the tolls and I repeat, it has nothing to do with the tolls, which is the subject matter before the Supreme Court. So, I would want to give that directive, so that within two weeks from today, we can get the report.
    Hon Minister for Roads and Highways.
    Alhaji Aminu A. Sulemani 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, as you rightly said , it has nothing to do with the tolls. The university has been directed to stop the tolling. So, it has nothing to do with the tolls.
    I would want to agree with Hon Papa Owusu -Ankomah, that we should be looking at the issue concerning the management of entry and exit of the University of Ghana; it has nothing to do with roads at this point.
    The University of Ghana's issue has nothing to do with roads because there are no tolling. So, we should look at their regulations now. I think that this matter should fall only squarely with the Minister for Education. The Minister for Roads and Highways should not come in there.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Yes, est abudante cortella (for the avoidance of doubt and the exercise of extreme caution), we want the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways to be part of it.
    Very well,
    Hon Members, thank you very much for your contributions.
    Now, Hon Deputy Majority Leader, Questions?
    Mr Agbesi 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have come to Question time-- item number 3 Mr Speaker, on the Order Paper.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Is the Minister for Education available?
    Mr Agbesi 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, no.
    We have a correspondence from the Hon Minister that she is out of the jurisdiction and has asked the Hon Deputy Minister for Education to stand in for her and answer the Questions.
    At this stage, I would want to ask for permission and the indulgence of the House for the Hon Deputy Minister to answer the Questions.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Leader.
    Mr Nitiwul 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think the Hon Minister has taken pains to write to Parliament officially and fortunately, I met her at the Airport when she was leaving. So, I believe that we will not have any problem to allow the Hon Deputy Minister to answer the Questions on her behalf.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Very well. Hon Deputy Minister.
    Now, the first Question stands in the name of Hon Solomon Namliit Boar (Bunkpurungu).
    ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:30 a.m.
    MINISTRY OF EDUCATION 11:30 a.m.
    Minister for Education) 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry has an elaborate plan to improve and provide facilities in all senior high schools and technical institutes with the view to making second cycle education more accessible and attractive.
    As part of the implementation of this plan, contracts have been awarded for the construction of 300-students capacity dormitory blocks for both Nakpanduri and Bunkpurugu Senior High Schools.
    Contracts have also been awarded for the construction of two bedroom semi- detached quarters for four (4) teachers in both schools. The contractors for both projects have been introduced to sites. Work has started on the projects at Nakpanduri while the contractor working at Bunkpurugu is mobilising to go to site.
    The GETFund is providing funds for both projects.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, a follow-up question.
    Mr Boar 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Deputy Minister when the Nakpanduri Senior High School project would be completed and when the contractor for the Bunkpurugu Senior High School project will complete mobilisation and move to site.
    Mr Ablakwa 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, my understanding is that by December, the Nakpanduri project will be completed. With the Bunkpurugu project, the contractor was expected to move to site in January. The consultant tells us that the contractor delayed. He has therefore, written to the contractor; he has raised a first query. I am told the industry practice is that after three queries, if he does not move to site, the contract would have to be re-awarded. So, the first query is gone and we expect that this two-month delay would be solved and the contractor would be expected to move to site any moment from now.
    Mr Boar — rose —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Yes.
    Mr Boar 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the two senior high schools are using mud structures as dining halls. These mud structures can only take hundred students at a time during meals. So, in effect, they go to the dining hall in turns.The two senior high schools have the population of at least, not less than thousand, five hundred. My question is, when will the two senior high schools be provided with dining halls to at least, improve the lives and activities with regard to education in the area?
    This is because if you get there during meals time, it is a pathetic situation, where they will have to wait and move to the dining hall in turns and it disrupts academic work.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minister.
    Mr Ablakwa 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is why we talked about the elaborate plan that the Ministry has. We actually call it the Secondary Education Improvement Project. We have been in talks with the World Bank and they have indicated that they will be supporting us to embark upon this project. We have done an assessment of all the existing public senior high schools -- about five hundred and thirty of them.
    We have the report in terms of the needs assessment of these senior high schools and once we roll out the Secondary Education Improvement Programme, which will begin this year, we will be able to support senior high schools like the Hon Member's to address some of these accommodation difficulties.
    Mr Boar 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, my last Supplementary question.
    Does the Hon Deputy Minister know the name of the contractor who is supposed to move to site and has so far failed?
    Mr Ablakwa 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not have the name here but I can provide that at a later time to the Hon Member.