Debates of 28 Mar 2014

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:35 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 27th March, 2014.
Dr Owusu A. Akoto 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yesterday, there was a joint Committee meeting between Food and Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs and Gender and Children with Oxfam and the women farmers of this country. Mr Speaker, that was not captured in the Votes and Proceedings.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
I am sure the Clerk or the Secretary to the Committee had not submitted the report of the meeting to the Table Office. When it is done, it would reflect in subsequent publications.
  • [No correction was made to the Official Report of Tuesday, 18th March, 2014.]
    • Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Members, before I call on the Chairman of the Business Committee to present the Business Statement, I will want to make this brief statement.
    BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 11:35 a.m.
    Majority Leader/Chairman of the Business Committee (Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor) 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, your Committee met today, Friday, 28th March, 2014 and arranged Business of the House for the Tenth Week ending Tuesday, 1st April,
    2014.
    Mr Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 56 (2), the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows:
    Arrangement of Business
    Statements
    Mr Speaker, pursuant to Order 70 (2), Ministers of State may be permitted to make Statements of Government policy. Mr Speaker 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.
    Briefing by the Chairman of the Electoral Commission
    Mr Speaker, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission has been rescheduled to attend upon the House at the Committee of the Whole on Monday, 31st March, 2014 to brief Parliament on preparations towards the conduct of the pending District Assembly Elections. Hon Members are entreated to take note and avail themselves at the briefing to actively participate in the deliberations.
    Mr Speaker, the House is expected to adjourn sine die on Tuesday, 1st April
    2014.
    Conclusion
    Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this Honourable House, the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

    Statements

    Consideration Stage of Bills --

    Trademarks (Amendment) Bill, 2013

    Excise Duty Bill, 2013

    Committee of the Whole --

    House to be briefed by the Chairman of the Electoral Commission on preparations towards the conduct of the pending District Assembly Elections.

    Committee sittings.

    Statements --

    Committee sittings.

    The House is expected to adjourn sine die,
    Dr Anthony A. Osei 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have had the occasion to draw the attention of this House to the outstanding matter of the Report of the Committee of Selection, which you happen to be the Chairman. This issue is very important to me as the Ranking Member for the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs. This is because up till now, we do not have a substantive Chairman and that is adversely affecting the work of the Committee.

    Mr Speaker, eventually, the item was put on the agenda for yesterday, under item number 5 but it never came up for discussion and today, it comes under item number 9. Given the importance of this subject to us as members of the Committee, I would want us to devote some time to this item before we rise. I know Monday is preoccupied with the Electoral Commission and so on. So, I am praying that we find some time today to discuss this issue.
    Mr Kofi Frimpong 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have two issues. One of them is to say --
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Kofi Frimpong, we are discussing the Business Statement.
    Mr Frimpong 11:45 a.m.
    It is the Business Statement: yes. [Laughter.]
    Mr Speaker, I would want to thank you for your concern about the issue I raised and for the level that it has reached. Mr Speaker, I would want to entreat you, that it should not stop at that place and that the real action is taken on it to pacify my people.
    Number two --
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Is that part of the Business Statement?
    Mr Frimpong 11:45 a.m.
    Yes, it is Business Statement. [Laughter.]
    Mr Speaker, we are supposed to rise on the 1st of April and 1st of April is the Fools' day. I do not know whether we are aware. So, I would want to know whether Members of Parliament are not going to be fooled on the 1st of April. I would want you to assure us that we are really going to rise on that day and on a good note.
    Mr George K. Arthur 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, you made a referral to the Inspector- General of Police (IGP). As the Hon Chairman for the Committee on Defence and Interior, I would want your advice and direction on this issue. I know we cannot summon the IGP to this House to answer any Question. I would want to know whether the IGP is under --
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Member, you are out of order.
    Mr Kobina T. Hammond 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Mines and Energy of the House is not in today. He has mandated me to bring to your attention a very serious issue or a ruling that took place yesterday but which he believes and I also think might not need a substantive Motion for Mr Speaker to reconsider. That is the matter in respect of --
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon K. T. Hammond, that is not about the Business Statement presented before us. If you have any issues or any intention of bringing any Motion, you may consult the appropriate authority.
    Mr Hammond 11:45 a.m.
    This is not a question of Motion. It does not involve any Motion at all. It is simply bringing to the attention that the day before, you had ruled that, that particular Agreement be referred to the Finance Committee and that the Mines and Energy Committee of the House to be included. Subsequent to that, the Speaker ruled again that the Committee on Mines and Energy be taken out.
    The point is, it is all about oil, gas and everything at that place. So, how can the relevant Committee be taken out of it? That is what I have been asked to bring to Mr Speaker's attention.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Were you here when the application was made to change the referral?
    Mr Hammond 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is why I said it was my Hon Chairman who was here, who heard it and who asked me to bring it to your attention because --
    Dr Kunbuor 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I guess we need to do things a bit properly. The Hon Chairman of your Committee was not here when the application was made. He subsequently called me and raised this concern and I asked him to return and come and meet Leadership and the Speaker and some explanation would be given for the need of that application. I have not met him and he has not indicated anything.
    So, he could not be sending him to come back to get a reversal of the matter when he has not sought leave of the Leadership for an explanation that I did not think I could give him on phone.
    If you check the Official Report of yesterday, when it is ready, you would see almost all the arguments. The matter was extensively commented on, on the floor before the application was granted. So, the Official Report will guide you on what went into it.
    Mr Justice J. Appiah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is my fourth time --
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Joe Appiah, on the Business Statement?
    Mr J. J. Appiah 11:45 a.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, this is the fourth time I am commenting on the House Committee. Ever since the inception of the House Committee, we have met only once. May I crave your indulgence to read from the Standing Orders --
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Joe Appiah, if you want the House Committee to meet before we rise, it is a legitimate concern-- raise the point. There is no need to quote Standing Orders on this matter. Please, there is no
    need to quote Standing Orders on this matter. If you want the House Committee to meet before we rise, say so, so that it can be accommodated in the Business of next week. It is a straightforward matter.
    Mr J. J. Appiah 11:45 a.m.
    So, I cannot quote, Mr Speaker?
    Mr Speaker, I am talking about the Job 600 project. We are going on recess. Members of Parliament are still transacting business in their car boots and on our lap. The House Committee is there to help us know when these projects would be completed.
    Mr Speaker, I would want Leadership to apprise Members of Parliament of what is happening on the project -- this is a very legitimate question.
    Dr Kunbuor 11:45 a.m.
    I am very sure the Hon Member is aware that the House Committee was to meet yesterday and he is equally aware of the developments of yesterday and we have decided that the House Committee would meet on Monday, 31st March, 2014. We have advertised these sufficiently. We are having all the consultations with the technical people.
    We have received some of the documentation but not all of it. This is because we would want to take a definitive position with the House Committee, specifically on the Job 600 and the role that they are expected to play. But most of the advice would come from the technical people who are on the project. The furnishing is one aspect of it. The civil works are another aspect but the two are connected. So, there have been a series of development --
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Even there is the electronic aspect.
    Dr Kunbuor 11:55 a.m.
    Precisely. So, we would definitely get the House Committee members abreast with this development on Monday. I have been discussing with your side of the Leadership, particularly the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon Naa Torshie Addo on this matter and the appropriate date for that meeting.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Members, that brings us to the end of the consideration of the Business Statement.
    The Business Statement is accordingly adopted.
    Hon Members, Question time. We have the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways in the House to respond to Questions from Members. We start with Question 4 (a) standing in the name of the Hon Member for Adaklu.
    URGENT QUESTIONS 11:55 a.m.
    MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 11:55 a.m.
    HIGHWAYS 11:55 a.m.
    Minister for Roads and Highways (Alhaji Amin A. Sulemani) (MP) 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Ho-Adaklu-Sogakope road is located in the Ho, Adaklu and North/ South Tongu Districts. The road forms part of route R28 linking the National Route N1 (Accra-Elubo) from Ho, the Volta Regional Capital through Adidome to Sogakope. The total length of the road is
    85 kilometres. Thirty kilometres of the stretch were upgraded into a double bituminous surfacing in 2010 and are in very good condition.
    Current Programme
    The remaining 55 kilometres of the road are being tackled under emergency and were intended to serve as an alternative route to the north and south of the eastern part of the country upon closure of the Adomi Bridge for repairs.
    The work commenced on 17th June, 2010 and was scheduled for completion on 16th June, 2011. The works are divided into four lots.
    The works under Lot 1 are being undertaken by Messrs Ussuya Ghana Ltd. The progress of the works is 41.91 per cent.
    Lot 2 is being undertaken by Messrs Progressive Modern Co. Ltd. The progress of the work is 43.91 per cent.
    Lot 3 is being undertaken by Messrs Jah Nicof Ltd. The progress of the work is 76.47 per cent.
    The Lot 4 work is being undertaken by Messrs Rolider Limited. The progress of the work is 85 per cent.
    The project completion was rescheduled to 17th June, 2013 for Lots 1, 2 and 3, and 31st December, 2013 for Lots 4. The delay of the project is due to persistent payment delays. A new completion date is being assessed, taking into account the payment delays.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Yes, any supplementary questions?
    Mr Agbodza 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, would the Minister agree with me that, the failure to complete the Ho-Adidome road prior to shut down of the bridge has exacerbated the plight of motorists who normally use
    the road and it is also creating a major vehicular-pedestrian traffic within my constituency? We have a situation where heavy vehicles plying the road generating a lot of dust while recording fatalities on the road since the shut down of the road.
    Alhaji Sulemani 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I indicated, it was anticipated that works on that part of the road would have been completed to serve as an alternative road once the Adomi Bridge is shut down. But the road is motorable; it is not as if the road is not. I have indicated that part of it has been rehabilitated and the 55 kilometres also under rehabilitation. It is the state of the road that my Hon Col- league is not comfortable with. But it is motorable.
    Closing the Adomi Bridge was a necessity. The truth of it is that, some timbers under the bridge were falling out and there could have been a national disaster. So, closing the bridge was a necessity.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Ms Ursula G. Owusu 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Minister, when they realised that the Adomi Bridge needed to be rehabilitated, what steps were taken to provide an alternative route which was easier and cheaper than the ferry.
    In his Answer right now, he said that timbers were falling off under the bridge and if they had subjected the bridge to routine maintenance, they would have been able to resolve that problem before it reached the crisis position which necessitated the entire bridge to be closed down. When did they realise that the bridge needed rehabilitation and what steps were taken to rehabilitate it before it reached the crisis situation we are in now?
    Alhaji Sulemani 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Adomi Bridge had undergone some minor rehabilitation much earlier. The truth is that, the bridge is more than fifty years old and the normal designs which should have been done to carry out major repairs or even changing the bridge -- so when it was realised that the bridge had weakened, we had to look for a facility to be able to rehabilitate it and along that facility, we have created the Senchi ferry crossing where we have provided ferries for crossing.
    The Adaklu road which my Hon Colleague asked about, has been in existence; the surface as I said -- the road is motorable; it is not as if it is completely closed.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Member for Afadzato South?
    Mr Joseph Z. Amenowode 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to know from the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways whether he is aware that, because of the consistent rains, and the heavy traffic, the roads are in need of repair and whether he would give the users of that road an assurance that they would have a permanent road maintenance team there, so that the road is constantly ready for use during this period until the work is finally completed on the tarring.
    I am talking of the untarred portions of the road which are always not motorable. This is because of the rains and heavy traffic, whether the Minister can assure us that he has a maintenance team there to be working on it until it is tarred.
    Alhaji Sulemani 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, from my Answer to the Question, I indicated that the entire stretch is on contract. When a road is on contract -- we are paying for it. So, we would not have a mobile team on it. The contractors would be asked to make the road motorable while they work.
    Mr Amenwode 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I know there are contractors on the road but what assurance is the Minister giving us that he would make them know what to do. This is because the contract has been awarded but the road is still bad. I have seen their trucks there but the road is bad. The Minister should give us an assurance that he would ensure that they do the proper thing to get the road motorable until the period is over.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Hon Minister?
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I went on that road for an inspection and as I indicated, it was during the rainy season and we noticed that parts of the bridge were really bad. The contractors would be asked to continue to make the road motorable while they carry out their scheduled contract work on the road.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Minister, in an Answer to an earlier question, told us that the bridge is over 50 years old and should have been replaced long ago. They realised that the timbers have started falling down.
    Can he tell us what his Ministry was doing when it knew that the bridge had to be replaced, and yet waited for the timbers to start falling down for it to become almost a national disaster as he has put it, before they shut the bridge down?
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as indicated in the earlier answer, some repair works were carried out on that bridge early on and at that time, the magnitude of the damage was not really detected -- but some remedial measures were put in place until it became clear that the bridge needed complete rehabilitation. That is why we went in to look for funds to do the rehabilitation.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Hon Members, I would take the last two supplementary questions.
    Hon Members for Ho Central and Nsawam-Aboagyiri.
    Mr Benjamin K. Kpodo 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has told us that the road is on contract; that is true. But the contractors are not on site currently because they do not have money. Is he aware that the contracts -- [Interruptions] -- is he aware that the contractors are not on site because they have not been paid? Would the Minister approach the Ministry of Finance to make special credit facility payment available to the contractors, so that works can continue?
    The total distance from Adidome to Ho, which is untarred, is 21 kilometres and the same continues from Biakpa to Fume. These are all abandoned because of lack of funds.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe in my Answer, I did not miss that point.
    I indicated that the contractors were not working because of lack of payment. I am aware that they are not working because they do not have money.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Last question on this issue.
    Yes?
    Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I heard the Hon Minister say that delay in the completion of the road is due to late payment. I wish to know from him what -- and Mr Speaker, we have heard these reasons over and over again -- non-availability of funds and late payments. What specific actions are being taken by the Minister to ensure that funds are released on time? Again, Mr Speaker, generally, we have this situation of --
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Hon Member, ask your question.
    Mr Annoh- Dompreh 12:05 p.m.
    Yes, we have a situation in our country where --
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Ask your question.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have asked. It is just a top up. We have this situation in our country where when construction of a road delays and then it leaves in its wake, the effect on farmers and road users.
    Is the Minister considering a stop-gap measure where when road construction is delayed, is as a result of project being stalled, a temporary measure is put in place to ensure that the effect of the delay on the ordinary man is reduced?
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I really do not understand his question. Can the Hon Member ask the question again?
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    His question is that when there are delays, what measures do you put in place, so that the motorists and the users of the road do not suffer unduly?
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
    Well, Mr Speaker, once contracts are awarded, we expect the contractor to take full control of the road. In construction, the contractor is expected to take safety measures like watering the road and other things to make sure that they are continuously motorable.
    So, Mr Speaker, I would ask my agency heads to ensure that contractors who are working on roads keep them motorable while their contract period is running.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    The next Question stands in the name of the Hon Member for Akatsi South.
    Akatsi town roads (Completion)
    Mr Bernard Ahiafor asked the Minister for Roads and Highways what steps were being taken to complete the construction of the overdue Akatsi town roads to prevent flooding as the rainy season approaches.
    Minister for Roads and Highways (Alhaji Amin Sulemani) 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Akatsi is the capital of the Akatsi South District. The road network in the town is in fair to poor condition.
    Current Programme
    Mr Speaker, 5.7 kilometres of the Akatsi town roads are currently under construction. five kilometres of drainage works have been completed and the contractor is awaiting payment to return to site. The works are behind schedule. However, the Ministry has requested the contractor, Messrs Africa Modern Builders Limited to increase his progress to ensure he carries out the remaining works on the project.
    Mr Ahiafor 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Minister for Roads and Highways whether he is aware of the status of the roads now and the period scheduled for the completion of the project.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister?
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am aware of the condition of the roads in Akatsi as I indicated. I went on an inspection round the town roads. I indicated that the contractor has some issues with payment and that is why he is currently not working. The agency is asking the contractor to move to site.
    We are also in talks with the Ministry of Finance to assist the contractor to move back to site.

    12. 15 p. m.
    Mr Ahiafor 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my question regarding the scheduled period for the project has not been answered. The project was to be completed by November, 2012 and the Minister was at Akatsi in 2013 and has seen the status of the roads. I would want to know the steps being taken and the period to have that particular road completed? [Interruptions.]
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Order! Order!
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, when contracts are awarded, we give periods for completion but a lot of factors come into play and sometimes we are unable to attain the period. One of them is about resources. If the contract or is not paid, which is an issue from us, it is normally difficult for the contractor to adhere to the time.
    In addition to that, there are other factors of rain. But in this particular case, it is a question of funding. As I said, we are working with the Ministry of Finance to assist the contractor to complete the project. There is no way without funding, the contractor would be able to complete the project within the schedule period.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    The next Question stands in the name of the Hon Member for Mpraeso.
    Nkawkaw-Atibie trunk road (Maintenance interventions)
    Mr Seth K. Acheampong asked the Minister for Roads and Highways what urgent maintenance interventions the Ministry would put in place to ensure the safety of the numerous tourists and inhabitants who would use the Nkawkaw to Atibie trunk road during the Easter holidays, in view of the deplorable condition of this road, which continues to cause accidents.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
    Background
    Mr Speaker, the 9 kilometres Nkawkaw- Atibie road forms part of the Nkawkaw- Mpraeso-Adawso trunk road. The section is located on the winding slopes of the Kwahu mountains. It is generally in a poor condition.
    Current Programme
    The contractor maintaining the road has been instructed to regravel washed out parts urgently and also repair structures on the slopes. This is to make the road safe for commuters, especially during the Easter holidays.
    Mr Speaker, the road has been given out for re-construction. The Ministry of Roads and Highways is awaiting a commencement warrant from the Ministry of Finance for works to begin.
    We have actually asked the contractor who would do the reconstruction to mobilise to site while the Ministry of Finance procures the commencement certificate. In the meantime, there is a contractor who has been doing the routine maintenance, and we are asking him to keep the road motorable for the purpose of the Easter festival
    Mr Acheampong 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Answer of the Minister, he says they are waiting for the commencement warrant to come from the Ministry of Finance. At the same time, he is telling us that he has asked the contractor to mobilise to site.
    Mr Speaker, listening to the Minister answer Questions here today, all the answers dealt with are on availability of funds. How would the Hon Minister assure the House of this warrant and when would it arrive, so that we can see some work at the site?
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Hon Minister?
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Answer I gave, I mentioned two different sets of contractors. One contractor would go to site now to keep the road motorable and that would be under the Road Fund Maintenance Programme. But the real construction would come under the Ministry of Finance which is Government of Ghana (GoG). And that is what we are waiting for, for the commencement certificate.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Peter W. Pepera 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Minister, if he is aware that when it comes to Easter, the eyes of Ghana and that of the whole world -- British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Cable News Network (CNN), all come to Kwahu during Easter for paragliding? Is the Minister aware that when they come, they would have to actually ply the roads? So, at least, the remedial works should be done prior to April 18th in order to avoid disgrace.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have been to Mpraeso on two occasions and I did not meet my friends, both Members of Parliament (MPs) there. I know the road very well and as I indicated, we are asking somebody to move to site now to make it motorable and ensure that it is safe for the purpose of the travelling public now.
    But our plan is to have that road reconstructed, which has been a major-- I have gone there to meet the chiefs and people on this road and we are working with the Ministry of Finance to get the contractor, Sonitra, to move to site and reconstruct it.
    Thank you.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Hon Members, we move to the next Question.
    Bridge on River Bisaa (Completion)
    Q.61. Mr John Gyetuah asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the only bridge on River Bisaa, linking communities like Attaala, Berekum, Ohiampenika, Kwao and other communities on the Nkekenso Junction to Ohiampenika feeder road would be completed to enhance economic activities in the area.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the bridge over river Bisaa is located in the Wassa Amenfi West Distr ict of the Western Region. The span of the bridge is 39 m.
    Current Programme
    The bridge was awarded for construction under an ACROW/GoG bridges programme in April, 2011. The contract has been terminated as a result of non-performance by the contractor. At the time of termination, one abutment had been constructed while the other was at foundation level.
    Future Programme
    The outstanding works have been repackaged and DFR is negotiating with a new contractor to complete the works.
    Mr Gyetuah 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Minister, considering the deplorable state of the road, coupled with the problems of the bridge, access to health has become a major issue in the area.Therefore, hardworking cocoa farmers in the area are wallowing in serious problems. I would want to find out from the Minister what measures he would put in place to ameliorate the problem.
    Mr Alfred K. Agbesi 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Minister did not get the question.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Very well. Kindly repeat the question.
    Mr Gyetuah 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker. I would want to find out from the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways, considering the deplorable nature of the road coupled with the bridge problem, access to health has therefore become a major issue. In the interim, what measures he can put in place to ameliorate the situation?
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is a steel bridge,and as I indicated, one apartment has been finished, and works on the other side are almost at an abutment stage. Until the abutments have been done, the bridge cannot be inaugurated. So, presently, there is no way we can inaugurate the bridge until we have done the abutments to support the steel structure. We will try to speed up the construction of the other apartment, so that we can inaugurate the steel bridge.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Gyetuah 12:05 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    According to the Minister, the outstanding works have been repackaged and the Department of Feeder Roads is negotiating with a new contractor to complete the project. Would he be kind enough to tell the House the time frame within which the negotiation will be completed?
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have repackaged the works and we are negotiating with a contractor to carry out the works. About the time frame, it is contingent on so many factors. In the Western Region, there is so much heavy rainfall, coupled with issues of delay of payment. So, I would not be able to give a specific time when the work would be completed.
    Thank you very much.
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Question number 62.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    You have exhausted your supplementary questions. [Interruption.] Very well!
    Mr Gyetuah 12:25 p.m.
    Thank you.
    Mr Speaker. I would want to find out from the Minister whether the Ministry has put in place measures to sanction contractors who are not performing in this regard.
    Last year, a pregnant woman who was in labour gave birth and she had to be carried in the improvised hammock to cross the river before we could get a vehicle to carry her to Samreboi to give birth. This is a very worrying situation. So, I would want to find out whether there is a measure to put in place by the Ministry to sanction contractors who are not working to expectation.
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Minister?
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in contract administration, when a contractor is not performing to the desired level or requirements, the contractor is warned to either speed up works or to ensure that he works according to specifications. If he persistently does not do the right thing, the contract is terminated and such contractors are blacklisted. So, those are the sanctions; they are blacklisted and are not awarded contracts in future.
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Question number 62, Hon Member for Akatsi North?
    Ho - Denu Road (Speed ramps)
    Q.62 Mr Peter Nortsu-Kotoe asked the Minister for Roads and Highways what plans the Ministry had to construct speed ramps on the Ho-Denu Road to stop the rampant pedestrian accidents leading to several deaths on the highway.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Ho- Denu road is a bituminous surface road in a fair condition. It has a total length of 100 kilometres. There have been reports of accidents around settlements along the road, precisely near Ave-Dakpa, Dzodze and others.
    A comprehensive safety audit has been carried along the road from Ho-Denu- Havedzi in the year 2013. The outcome of the study indicates over-speeding as the course of accidents. A solution to the problem was the construction of speed calming devices around the settlements.
    It is an emergency situation and is being considered under the 2014 Budget.
    Mr Speaker, we are normally compelled to put speed ramps but as a matter of policy, speed ramps should not be constructed on highways. It is a collective indiscipline from all of us that is creating this. We construct roads at a very high cost and put speed ramps on them and damage the roads again?
    Mr Speaker, we need to continue to educate ourselves on the use of our roads, particularly the speed which kills so many of us.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Nortsu-Kotoe 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he said
    “It is an emergency situation and it is being considered under the 2014 Budget.”
    Mr Speaker, I know that this Parliament has always approved the budget for the Ministry for the year 2014 and this was not mentioned in the Budget. How is the Ministry going to finance the project in
    2014?
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, that was why I said it was an emergency situation, and once it is an emergency situation we will certainly provide the funds to do it. That is why it is an emergency, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Nortsu-Kotoe 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister mentioned that safety audit was conducted. I would like to find out whether the audit revealed that within 12 years, 39 persons were killed in Ave- Dakpa including 29 school children, and what steps would he take as an emergency issue to remedy the situation, so that lives are no longer lost.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the earlier Answer, I indicated that we realised that accidents occur a lot along the road as a result of speeding. That is how we came up with the study that we need to do something to calm speeding on that road. So, we are certainly very much concerned and that is why I used the word “emergency” here. We would construct speed calming devices on that road as a matter of urgency.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Nortsu-Kotoe 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in 2004, the people of Ave-Dakpa, in their frustration, had to construct their own speed ramps. They were forced at gun points to remove them. The chief and the Assembly member were taken to court. But for the intervention of the Member of Parliament, who is now the Speaker, these men would have been jailed. If in their frustration, they do that again, would the Ministry have the moral courage to take them to court?
    Thank you.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not a lawyer but we must differentiate between morality and law. When somebody breaks the law, morality does not come in here, the law would be applied. I am not a lawyer but the lawyers may advise me, that there is no difference between morality and crime. So, I would advise that as much as possible, we should do things that are right and as I indicated earlier, it is a collective responsibility and indiscipline from all of us, that is resulting in these accidents.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:25 p.m.


    It has been a major consent of the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Ministry of Transport on the use of the roads and the recklessness of drivers that is leading to loss of lives in this country. It is a major issue that this House must take on board and help to educate our citizenry on.

    I would want to plead with my Hon Colleagues, that the chiefs should not do anything that would break the law. This is because if they break the law, now that the Speaker is not a Member of Parliament, I do not know how he would be able to get them out of it.
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Question number 63, Hon Member for Nsuta-Kwamang Beposo?
    Road from Oyoko to Banko-Nsuta (Construction of 17 km)
    Q.63 Mr. Kwame Asafu-Adjei asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the construction of the 10 kilometre road from Oyoko to Banko-Nsuta would be completed.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Oyoko-Banko-Nsuta road is a gravel road in a fair condition. The road has been under construction to upgrade it to bituminous surfacing in stages. Stage 1, which involved the execution of earthworks and culvert construction has been successfully completed.
    Current Programme
    The road is currently undergoing the contract under stage 2 to provide concrete drains and sealing of the entire road. The project is about 43 per cent completed. The contractor moved out of site due to
    financial constraints. The contractor has promised to move to site as soon as the situation improves.
    Mr Asafu-Adjei 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Minister when the contract was awarded. If he says “fair condition”, what does he mean by that?
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:25 p.m.
    We have our road mix where we refer to them as bad when they are really bad; “fair” when they are motorable but not the state which you and I would like and “good” when they are those on which we would speed and kill ourselves, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Asafu-Adjei 12:25 p.m.
    When was this contract awarded? That has not been answered. Anyway, I would go ahead and ask the subsequent questions.
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Order! Order!
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not know two of the things the Hon Member mentioned. My geography is not that very good, so, I do know how short it would be to the North and Brong Ahafo. But I do not know that the BOT is a policy under our public private partnership programme. We study the road and if it would be viable enough, we would see how we can put it up for investors to come in.
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Member, your last supplementary.

    Mr Asafu-Adjei Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if he is aware of the economic benefits this road will bring to this country if it is constructed. This is because before you get to Ejura, you have to pass through this road. Before you get to Amanteng, you have to pass through this road, and all these roads, these markets are noted for food crop production and processing.
    Alhaji Aminu Sulemani 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, generally, roads are supposed to help improve or increase economic activity. So, I know that is the function of a road. As for that matter, I know, that the road has a very major economic input if it is well constructed.
    Mr Speaker, I know that.
    Bolgatanga-Bawku trunk road (Completion)
    Q.64. Mr Noah Ben Azuri asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the construction of the Bolgatanga- Bawku trunk road would be completed.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Bolgatanga-Bawku road is a 78 kilometre bituminous surfaced road in a poor condition. The road is currently being improved in phases starting from the worst section.
    Current Programme
    The section of the road between kilometre 12 and 24.5 is currently under partial reconstruction. Progress of work is about 30 per cent. The contractor is expected to complete work by July 2014.
    Future Programme
    The remaining stretch of the road is being studied up to Polmakom for engineering design after which the
    Ministry will source for funds for its implementation.
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Member for Binduri?
    Mr Azure 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, most people plying this Bolgatanga-Bawku road keep on lambasting politicians because they feel politicians use four-wheeled drive vehicles and they do not feel the shaking of their bones neither do they feel the pinch of their suffering.
    I would want to know when precisely this would be over to save the heads of politicians and to also enhance the socio- economic activities of these people.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I happen to have lived a major part of my life in the Upper East Region and I know the road my Hon Colleague is talking about and its socioeconomic importance to the people of the Upper East Region. It is a connecting road to our neighbours in Togo and Burkina Faso at a point. As I indicated, we are working round to get the necessary funding for the implementation of that road project. Presently, there are consultants on the road designing the road for us to source the necessary funding.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Azure 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to know whether the Hon Minister can brief this august House on the estimated cost for the completion of the entire road.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have indicated that we are doing engineering designs on the road. It is after a road has been designed that you can cost it. So, I am afraid, I would not be able to give any cost for the completion of that road at this juncture, until we have finished with the design of the road and costed it.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Have you finished with your supplementary questions? Your last supplementary?
    Mr Azure 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker. I need some clarification from the Minister. From the Answer to the Question, he said the progress of the project is about 30 per cent. I would want to know whether it is the entire project, and if not, what is the percentage of progress required for the entire road to be completed?
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the 30 per cent is in reference to the section that is being worked on. That is between kilometre 12 and kilometre 24.5. That is the percentage I am referring to, not the entire road.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Cletus A. Avoka 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as the Hon Minister rightly observed, the Bolgatanga-Bawku road connects to two other countries, Burkina Faso and Togo. It also has the heaviest haulage truck. In view of this, would the Ministry consider asphalting the road, so that it can last at least, five to 10 years rather than this piece- meal approach which may not be sustainable?
    I would want to know whether the Ministry will consider asphalting the Bolgatanga-Bawku road, so that it can take care of the heavy haulage, the distance and then the two countries.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, asphalt is not a panacea for very durable roads. We have roads that were constructed in this country long before some of us were born with double surfacing and they are still standing the test of time. It is an issue of the construction. So, whether we can construct double surface dressed or asphalt, is dependent on the kind of construction that goes on. Asphalt is not
    the panacea durable roads. It is just the kind of road that is constructed.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Last question?
    Mr Ignatius B. Awuah 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, taking it from the answer the Minister just gave, is he saying that the Bolgatanga- Bawku road would not be asphalted? I would want to know from him.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have not said that. The Hon Member wanted to know whether we would not asphalt the whole Bawku road instead of piecemeal construction, and I am indicating that presently, the works going on are not asphalt. But I indicated that it is not only asphalting road that makes a road durable. We have seen asphalts that have failed within two years and there are roads that have been double surfaced which are still being used.
    There are many examples of them. When we have designed the road and we have sourced the funding, it will determine the kind of works that would be done, whether we would asphalt it or double surface it.
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Question number 66, Hon Member for Asante Akim Central?
    Mr Seth K. Acheampong 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Question on behalf of the Hon Member for Asante Akim Central.
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Member, you do not ask the Question on behalf of, unless the person has authorised you to do so. Has he authorised you?
    Mr Acheampong 12:35 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker. He authorised me through a conversation on telephone. He is indisposed at the moment.
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Very well.
    Mr Acheampong 12:45 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Konongo-Praso road (Completion)
    Q66. Mr Seth K. Acheampong (on behalf of Mr. Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi): asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Konongo to Praaso road would be completed.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Konongo-Praaso feeder road is part of the Konongo-Dwease-Praaso-Dicksonkrom feeder road which is 25.0 kilometres long. It is an inter district road cutting across Asante Akim Central and Asante Akim South respectively.
    Current Programme
    The first 16.48 kilometres were awarded in three phases for up-grading to bituminous surface. However, the contracts have been terminated due to non performance after the demise of the contractor.
    Future Programme
    The works have been repackaged to be re-awarded on contract by September,
    2014.
    Mr Acheampong 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the second paragraph, the Hon Minister makes it clear that the contract was terminated. I would want to find out from him when the termination was effected?
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not have the exact date here but I can research and give him the information.
    Mr Acheampong 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Minister how much of the works had been done in terms of progress, before the contract was terminated -- the time of the termination.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not immediately have that information available for him here on the works that were done. Once the contract is terminated, we would have to evaluate it and find out exactly how much work was carried out.
    Mr Acheampong 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the second paragraph, the Hon Minister clearly advised us that the project was being awarded in phases. The entire stretch, Mr Speaker, is 25 kilometres. I presume that once it is going to be repackaged, I would want to find out from the Hon Minister whether the repackaging is going to take care of the entire 25 kilometres.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the repackaging involves the existing contract, which we have terminated.
    Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    He is asking whether the repackaging would deal with the whole 25 kilometres.
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it would deal with the 16.48 kilometres that we have terminated; not the entire 25 kilometres.
    Mr Speaker 12:45 p.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.
    Hon Members, I have admitted one Statement. The Hon Member for Nkawkaw --
    Mr Eric Kwakye Darfour (NPP -- Nkawkaw) 12:45 p.m.
    I thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to make a Statement on the 2014 edition of the annual Kwahu Paragliding Festival, which coincides with the Easter festivities. This year's Good Friday falls on the 18th of April. As is the practice, tourists and revellers will besiege the Kwahu Ridge from the 14th through to the 22nd of April.

    Mr Speaker, this interesting sport requires a higher elevation, preferably a mountain, as a starting ground. It also utilises a flying device akin to a parachute. The pilot sets off from the higher ground and is propelled by the wind power as a result of the altitude into the sky. The pilot may carry a passenger along with him on the device.

    The pilot, with his companion, can stay in the sky, balancing the wind power and direction for hours. It is said, that, the sense of ecstasy and bewilderment felt as one soars over the mountains, the trees and the towns on the Ridge as well as below the Ridge, cannot be described by words.

    Additionally, the sport requires a perfect landing site where the device can be manoeuvred for safe landing, all to the

    delight of the pilot and the passenger and equally to the admiration of the onlooking crowd. The Nkawkaw Sports Stadium is used as the landing site and to accommodate the crowd.

    Mr Speaker, planners of the festival chose Kwahu Atibie, precisely on the apex of the Odwenanoma Mountain as the take-off ground. A tourist receptive centre was built. The festival, since its official inception in 2005, has attracted thousands of tourists from all over the globe. Notably, pilots and tourists have come from Canada, America, Asia, Europe, Australia and South Africa to participate in this annual festival.

    Mr Speaker, the festival is organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts. The popularity and level of patronage are immense.

    The paragliding sport has added a new dimension to the Easter festivities which arguably, have over the years been well attended and enjoyed in the Okwahu traditional area.

    The economic benefits derived during the festivities, inuring to the District Assemblies, hotels, telecommuncation companies, restaurants, various manufacturing companies, food vendors and many more, cannot be over- emphasised.

    However, Mr Speaker, there are challenges militating against the smooth organisation of the festival. Firstly, the road from Nkawkaw leading up the hills to the Atibie town is virtually impassable. Again, the stretch of road linking Atibie to the paragliding site which is the take-off ground is in such a bad shape that one wonders whether the Ghana Tourism Authority (G.TA) and Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts are indeed, in charge.

    Mr Speaker, the paragliding festival has come to stay. The new dimension it has introduced to tourism in Ghana and Easter festivities in Kwahu are tremendous.

    Ghana stands to gain if the Government can play its proper role by improving the road network to the site.

    Mr Speaker, from the 14th of April to the 22nd of April, all roads will lead to the Kwahu Ridge. I urge the Government to at least, give some level of attention to the road up the Ridge before the commencement of the festivities.

    I take this opportunity to invite Hon Members, particularly your goodself, Mr Speaker. I urge you to be bold and enjoy an enchanting ride on the paragliding device.

    May I again take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to urge the organisers to work closely with the security agencies to ensure that adequate measures are put in place to safeguard the security of revellers and tourists. The general public is equally reminded to be cautious and not to over indulge even as they enjoy themselves.

    I thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    Hon Members, I will take two comments on this Statement.
    Yes, Hon Member for Abetifi?
    Mr Peter Wiafe Pepera (NPP -- Abetifi) 12:45 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Statement.
    Mr Speaker, to begin with, I will echo my Hon Colleague's invitation, for Mr Speaker himself to come up to Kwahu -- he has been invited to Easter and we would host him in grand and royal fashion.
    But Mr Speaker, that is not just an altruistic statement, we know that the road maintenance, which we have been promised before Easter, if they hear that the whole Mr Speaker is coming, we are 100 per cent sure it would be done.
    This is because, Mr Speaker, we asked a Question earlier and we have been promised that apart from the remedial works, Sonitra is coming to do the actual road. But then, I hope this time, they would actually carry out the work.
    Mr Speaker, we in the Kwahu alliance, we remember that in November 2012, shortly before the election, the machines came and were parked at the Nkawkaw Sports Stadium. And soon after the election, the machines vanished, much to the chagrin and consternation of the chiefs and people of Kwahu.
    So, Mr Speaker, that is why we reiterate that we would very much like you to come and I also invite the Hon Majority Leader and his Deputy, the Hon Member for Ashaiman. If they come in full force-- In fact, I will even invite my Hon Colleague from the top of Ghana, Hon Ayariga. He should also come. If such a high-powered delegation comes, we know for sure that the road would be done.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Members, in view of the issue of roads raised, I will call on the Hon Minister for Roads -- [Laughter] -- and Highways to make a comment.
    Minister for Road and Highways (Alhaji A. A. Sulemani) 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I heard him inviting us to attend festival, and he also alluded that some machinery which were parked there around November 2012, disappeared after the elections.
    Mr Speaker, I think in my Answer to the Question on the Nkawkaw-Atibie road, I indicated that we are waiting for a commencement certificate from the Ministry of Finance. With our new financial system, if we do not have the certificate, the contractor will not be able to get his payments.
    Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    But what support can you give between now and the time that the event will take place?
    Alhaji Sulemani 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I indicated earlier when I answered the Question that we were sending a contractor there to carry out some remedial works, to make the road safe for all of us, including you, who will be going up there for the festival. [Hear! Hear!]
    Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Statements.
    At the commencement of Public Business.
    Dr Kunbuor 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if you could take item number 8 --
    Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Members, item numbered 8 on the Order Paper, Motions.
    Hon Attorney-General, and Minister for Justice?
    BILLS -- THIRD READING 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Dr Kunbuor 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, item numbered 7.
    Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Members, presentation of Papers.
    PAPERS 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, are we taking item number 7(b)?
    Dr Kunbuor 12:55 p.m.
    No! We will have to defer it. I have been advised on some aspects of it.
    Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    What about item 7(c)?
    Dr Kunbuor 12:55 p.m.
    We will defer 7 (c) to Monday. We have received some documentation but it has to be assessed; so we will --
    Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    What about item 7 (d)? Is the Report ready?
    Dr Kunbuor 12:55 p.m.
    No, Mr Speaker, it is not ready.
    Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Very well.
    Dr Kunbuor 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is also another matter that has been drawn to my attention in relation to item number 7(d), so, we will have some discussions subsequently.
    Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Very well.
    So, what item do we take now?
    Dr Kunbuor 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was thinking we could proceed to the Motions in item numbers 9 and 10.
    Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Item number 10?
    Dr Kunbuor 12:55 p.m.
    Item number 10. Sorry, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minority Chief Whip?
    Mr Daniel Botwe 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, they are in the process of distributing their Reports and we should not appear to be rubber stamping something we have not even received and perused. We have not received all the Reports, we should wait till we have received all the Reports.
    Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Which of the Reports have you received?
    Hon Members, this is a Committee of the Whole; this is your own Report of the whole House. So, all that we need to do is to find out whether the recommendation is consistent with what you discussed at the Committee of the Whole, so that we can put the Questions on them. However, I agree with you that in cases where the Reports are not ready, we cannot take them.
    But where the Reports are ready, since we have discussed these matters extensively at the Committee of the Whole, we can take those Reports that are ready, then we defer those Reports that are not ready to Monday.
    Dr Kunbuor 12:55 p.m.
    Based on the calendar, this arrangement was made. You would remember that we had to shift a number of substantive things to Monday. This is because we were preparing to get this formula through today.
    I am aware that all the Reports are ready; two are with Hon Members and the other two are currently being distributed. I have asked that those that were left in the pigeon holes be brought to the Chamber and then distributed.
    Mr Speaker, I am saying this in the light of the discussions at the Business Committee today, that Monday would be when almost all the substantial matters, would be concluded. This is because on Tuesday, it would just be for the House to adjourn sine die.
    Mr Speaker 1:05 a.m.
    Hon Minority Chief Whip, can we not take those ones that the Reports are ready? These are our own Reports -- the Reports of the whole House; it should not create any problems for us. They are Reports of a particular Committee.
    Hon Minority Chief Whip?
    Mr Daniel Botwe 1:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I agree to some extent, but I am still of the opinion that we can defer this to Monday, so that Members can also peruse all the three Reports. We can take them on Monday. For only 43 Members to discuss the Reports, is not the best.
    Dr Kunbuor 1:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have noticed the veiled threat. So, let us hear the Hon Member for Sekondi and then I make --
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 1:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I agree with the Hon Minority Chief Whip.
    On Monday, it may be that we do not have a tall order of business. I am appealing to Leadership to try, so that we start Sitting at 10.00a.m. Once we are Sitting, I am sure we could take these Reports within the maximum of an hour, then we could move on to other business.
    Mr Jospeh Yieleh Chireh 1:05 a.m.
    If we look at the time we started today and the previous day's, it is not good for this House that we start very late --
    Mr Speaker 1:05 a.m.
    Hon Member, get in touch with your Leadership and find out what is causing the delay. You see, it is based on certain issues -- we cannot disclose certain issues on the floor of the House -- we cannot disclose everything. I get here very early -- before most of you. So, you should find out the reasons for the delay. When Members are raising legitimate issues, I have to address them before entering the Chamber -- they ought to be addressed.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 1:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I said Monday because I take note that through your goodself and the Leadership's efforts, all matters would have been resolved. I do not expect that there would be any intervening matters that will delay Sitting on Monday. The sense I get from Hon Members is that all matters have been addressed.
    Mr Speaker 1:05 a.m.
    Indeed, that is why I keep on appealing to you if you can take some of the Reports today. These are Reports of the House. They are not Reports of a particular committee. They are Reports of the Committee of the Whole. Most of the key issues have been addressed at the Committee of the Whole. All you need to do is to see whether the Reports reflect the conclusions and recommendations of the House.
    If those recommendations and the conclusions are consistent with the decisions or discussions at the Committee of the Whole, we just put the Questions. We are masters of our own procedure. We can put Questions on those matters and then defer the rest of the business to Monday. We need to make progress. Do not forget that you have scheduled to meet the Electoral Commissioner on Monday.
    Dr Matthew O. Prempeh 1:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I speak on my own behalf with regard to the National Health Insurance formula. The Report is ready, and it is here.
    Ordinarily, I would say I do not mind the House discussing it. Taking cognisance of what happened last year and what has been identified in the Report, I would plead that if we are going to discuss these things this afternoon, the Hon Minister for Finance should be here -- The reason I am saying so is that -- particularly the National Health Insurance--
    Last year, the Report identified the funding gap and the House resolved that
    the Ministry of Finance should fund the gap. What we realised this year is that it has --
    Mr Speaker 1:05 a.m.
    Hon Member, if that is one of the recommendations that we have made, we can use the other tools of the House to bring the Hon Minister for Finance -- So, if that is the Report and we have adopted it, then the House will do the necessary follow-up by bringing the Hon Minister for Finance to the House to address those issues. This is because the House was not doing a follow-up -- That is the problem that we are facing in this House.
    The Committee can do a follow-up based on the recommendations of the Committee's Report.
    Hon Members, let us take those Reports that are ready and then let me put the Questions on them.
    Dr Kunbuor 1:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, to address the Hon Member's concern, he is aware that yesterday there was an undertaking made by the Hon Minister to give us some detailed information in terms of the schedule and how most of these issues would be addressed.
    We expect that by Monday, we should be following up on those details; that is for implementation. But the adoption of the Report as decision of the House before it can be implemented, is the process we want to undertake now.
    Mr Chireh 1:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, when I was making my intervention, I pleaded with Hon Members who wanted us to postpone this to Monday to understand and let us take at least, the two that are ready now, so that it makes the work on Monday lighter. I related the business we have done to the time we started. So, I still think that these are not controversial Reports; we debated at length yesterday. So, it is only proper that we take them, clear the way, so that on Monday, it will be lighter -- and in fact, on Tuesday, we can even close earlier than is stipulated.
    Mr Speaker 1:05 a.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Member for Nadowli/Kaleo?
    Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin 1:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I totally agree with you that we can take Reports that are ready because it is just a few minutes after 1.00 p.m. As you said, we are masters of our own procedures. Yesterday, we were all present and we did a detailed discussion of these things. What I would want Hon Members to know is that -- and they all already know it -- procrastination is the thief of time and the monkey says that what is in the stomach is his, but what is still in the mouth is not his.
    Mr Speaker 1:05 a.m.
    So, you have that proverb in Nadowli/Kaleo? We also have it at our end, that is why I am asking you.
    Mr Bagbin 1:05 a.m.
    You see, we also have it and I am sure in Takoradi, it is also there and in Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah is aware of it. So, once it is still at the Motion level, we have not moved and we all insist that they disburse these funds early enough for us to carry on with some activities in our constituencies.
    So, it is important that we pass them on. We do not know what will happen on Monday or whatever. So, let us take them today and then we can take the rest on Monday.
    Mr Speaker 1:05 a.m.
    So, Hon Deputy Majority Leader, which one are we taking first?
    Mr Alfred K. Agbesi 1:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, item number 10.
    Mr Speaker 1:05 a.m.
    Very well.
    Item number 10 -- where is the Hon First Deputy Speaker? Hon First Deputy Speaker, item number 10 on the Order Paper -- Motion.
    Hon Second Deputy Speaker to take the Chair --
    MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
    MOTIONS 1:15 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ebo Barton-Odro) 1:15 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80 (1) which require that no Motion shall be debated until at least, forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion is moved, the Motion for the 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 may be moved today.
    Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh (NDC -- Wa West) 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
    Yes, item number 11.
    Proposed formula for the disbursement of the National Health
    Insurance Fund, 2014
    Chairman of the committee (Mr Ebo Barton-Odro) 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts 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.
    Chairman of the committee (Mr Ebo Barton-Odro) 1:15 p.m.


    Mr Speaker, In so doing, I wish to present the Report of your Committee.

    Introduction

    The proposed formula for disburse- ment of the National Health Insurance Fund for the year 2014 was laid before the House on Tuesday, 26th March, 2014.

    The Hon Speaker, referred the proposed formula to the Committee of the Whole for consideration and report in accordance with Standing Order 196 of the House and article 103 (3) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

    Reference documents

    The Committee during its deliberations referred to the following documents:

    i. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

    ii. The Standing Orders of the House.

    iii. The National Health Insurance Act 2012 (Act 852).

    iv. The proposed formula for 2014.

    Acknowledgement

    The Committee sought clarifications on the proposed formula from the following officials of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA):

    i. Mr Sylvester Mensah, Chief Executive Officer

    ii. Mr Nathaniel Otoo, Deputy Chief Executive Officer

    iii. Mr Alex Odoi Nartey, Deputy Chief Executive Officer

    The Committee is most grateful to them.

    Background

    The Government of Ghana through the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) has planned its policy strategy of the essential components of the GPRS as the strategy to deliver accessible and affordable healthcare to all residents in Ghana, especially the poor and vulnerable.

    In achieving the above strategy, the National Health Insurance Authority introduced a district-wide mutual health insurance scheme to enable access to basic healthcare services without paying cash at the point of the service used/ delivered.

    The introduction of the National Health Insurance Act 2012 (Act 852) brought the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) into being to secure the implementation of a National Health Insurance policy. Consequently, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) was established under section 39 of Act 852 and mandated the Council of the NHIA to be responsible for the management of the Fund.

    Object of the Fund

    The object of the Fund is to pay the health care services of members of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)

    For the purposes of implementing the object of the Fund, Section 40 (2) of Act 852 stipulates that the monies from the Fund shall be expended as follows:

    To pay for the health care costs of members of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

    To pay for approved administrative expenses in relation to the running of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

    To facilitate the provision of access to healthcare services.

    To invest in any other facilitating programmes to promote access to health services as may be determined by the Minister in consultation with the Board

    Sources of funds for the NHIF

    Section 41 of the National Health Insurance Act, 2012 (Act 852)

    i The National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL).

    ii Two and a one half per cent (2.5 per cent) contribution to SSNIT Pension Fund.

    iii Funds allocated by Parliament.

    iv. Moneys that accrue to the Fund from investments made by the Authority.

    v. Grants, donations, gifts and any other voluntary contributions made to the Fund.

    vi. Fees charged by the Authority in the performance of its functions.

    vii. Contributions, made by members of the Scheme.

    viii. Monies accruing rom the National Insurance Commission under Section 198 of the Insurance Act, 2006 (Act 724)

    General analytical review of 2013 receipts and payments receipts

    For the year 2013, a total amount of GH¢ 1,128.76 million was approved. This amount was made up of the following:

    GH¢ 917.86 million expected to come from the SSN1T/ NHIL.

    GH¢ 92.90 million expected to come from other receipts.

    GH¢ 118 million expected as additional inflows to be financed by the Ministry of Finance (Funding Gap).

    Of the GH¢917.86 million budgeted for, only GH¢750. 78 million was released by the Ministry of Finance to the Authority as at the end of March, 2014.

    Payments

    On accrual basis, total expenditure for the year 2013 amounted to GH¢975.79 million against an annual budget of GH¢ 1,128.76 million.

    Net cash position

    Net cash position of the Authority as at the end of the year 31st December, 2013 was GH¢2159.92 million.

    Comparative analysis of collections and receipts

    The Authority budgeted GH¢917.86 million as NHIL/ SSNIT collections for 2013. However, the collection reports stated that a total amount of GH¢831.45 million had been collected by the revenue agencies for 2013.

    Out of the collection, only GH¢75O.78 million was received by the NHIA for the year 2013 (GH¢498.48 million was paid by the end of December, 2013, GH¢102 million paid in January, 2014 whilst GH¢150.30 million was received in March, 2014).

    Review of investment performance and positions in 2013

    Investments of the Authority are in fixed deposits with banks. As at January
    Chairman of the committee (Mr Ebo Barton-Odro) 1:15 p.m.
    1, 2013, the principal value of the Fund was GH¢19O.16 million, but this balance decreased to GH¢159.92 million at the end of 2013.
    The decrease in the values of the investment portfolio was largely due to disinvestments of investment income which was applied against the payment of claims.
    Acceptable international practice requires that for an insurance scheme to be sustainable, the scheme should have an investment cover of at least 18 months. Currently, the Fund investment balance provides cover for only two and a half months. This situation poses serious threat to the sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
    General projections underlying the 2014 allocation
    The following revenue projections underline the NHIF allocation and budget allocation for 2014.
    Budget receipt
    The Authority expects to receive a total amount of GH¢1,036.40 million in 2014 from NHIL/SSNIT and other sources to be able to execute its mandate in 2014. The composition is as follows:
    Levies from NHIL and SSNIT
    On the basis of MOFEP Budget Statement for 2014, the National Health Insurance Fund is expected to realise an amount of GH¢926.61 million from NHIL and SSNIT contributions in the year 2014.
    Premium from informal sector
    The Premium from informal sector is budgeted at GH¢43.99 million. This represents an average premium of GH¢12.5O per member for an active membership of 3,518,433 for the informal sector in 2014.
    Interest income from investment
    The Authority expects to earn total interest income of GH¢28.80 million from its investment portfolio.
    Processing fees and other income
    The Authority expects to earn a total amount of GH¢37.00 million on processing fees, provider credential fees, motor insurance fees, and sale of tender documents.
    Funding gap
    The funding gap is GH¢299.63 million. This is expected to be financed by Government from its contingency vote for
    2013.
    Registration coverage
    The population of Ghana in 2013 is estimated at 26.16 million; and the projection for 2014 is 26.69 million. Current registration figures indicate that active membership was 9.78 million and that constituted 36.6 per cent of the population.
    The Authority plans to intensify efforts through massive membership campaigns and policy reforms to encourage enrolment and renewal of membership. It is therefore estimated that 40.3 per cent of the population or 10.75 million would constitute the active membership of the NHIS in 2014. This is about 10 per cent increase over the active membership base in 2013.
    The allocation of the fund is therefore based on the assumption that 10.75 million of the population in Ghana will access benefits under the scheme in 2014.
    Average premium per head
    Average premium rates per member (informal sector) in 2013 was GH¢10.58. In 2014, it is planned to strengthen controls over the CPA system in order to improve premium collections and accountability, and also reduce leakages. It is expected that the average premium per member would increase to GH¢12.50
    .
    Average claim bill per active member
    The average claim bill per active member in 2012 was GH¢74.12. In 2013, the cost rose to GH¢74.84 per active member. For 2014, the Authority projects a medical inflation of 14% and this is expected to increase medical cost and tariff in 2014.
    SPACE FOR TABLE - PAGE 4 -

    The Authority also plans to pursue vigorous cost efficiency reforms in 2014 and this is expected to yield cost savings of 6.5per cent in claims for 2014. Claims cost is therefore projected at GH¢79.77 per member in 2014.

    Determination of allocation of funds

    Based on the above allocation formula and the objectives of the fund, the following criteria for the allocation of the fund as described by Act 852 shall be applied;

    Subsidies for the exempt group

    For the purpose of implementing the object of the Fund, section 77 (2) of Act 852 stipulates the setting aside of some monies from the Fund to provide for health care for the indigents, and by extension, the exempt group.

    Act 852 exempts the following groups from paying premium and thereby enjoins the Authority to make premium payments on behalf of the exempt group to cover their health care cost.

    The exempt groups are;

    i. Indigents

    ii. Under 18 years of age

    iii. Pensioners under the SSNIT Scheme

    iv. Aged (70 years of age and above)

    v. SSNIT contributors

    vi. Pregnant women

    vii.Persons with mental disorders

    Premium of contributors to the SSNIT Pension Scheme are to be paid from NHIF by virtue of the payments of 2.5 per cent of SSNIT contributions to the NHIF. The rest are also exempt by law (Act 852).

    Summary of proposed allocastion of funds for 2014

    The proposed allocation of funds to various Activities is stated in the Table below:

    Observations and recommendations

    Bridge financing facility

    The Committee observed that the Authority had borrowed an amount of GH¢118 million from the banks to augment its operations.

    It was explained to the Committee that the facility was more of a bridge financing facility and it was procured due to the late releases of funds by the Ministry of

    Finance. The Chief Executive of the Authority explained that the Ministry of Finance authorised the Authority to procure the facility and indicated that the Finance Ministry would cater for the interest on the facility. The Authority was to repay the facility with the releases from Ministry of Finance.

    He further informed the Committee that currently the Authority had paid part of the facility and was left with a balance of GH¢44million.
    Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh (NDC -- Wa West) 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion, but in doing so, I would like to make a few comments about the Report.
    First of all, the attention of the Hon Minister was drawn to section 52 of the National Health Insurance Act, which requires some reporting of whatever is accrued on regular basis, and that activity is for him and the Hon Minister for Health to keep this House posted of all developments.
    It is not good that nothing is done to a law that has not been passed. So, that has to be urged on so the Hon Ministers make sure that they report as per the section of that law in terms of the financing gap.
    Again, the House needs to be engaged how this is to be done, and not just that every time we call on the Hon Minister, that ends it. We need to make sure that we actively support any measure the Hon Minister is taking, for us to bridge the gap. Otherwise, the sustainability of the whole Scheme is at risk, and we all know that we do not want this Scheme to collapse. That is why we should make those efforts.
    I would even suggest for us as a House, to look at the possibility of adding something or taking some aspect of the Act that we have passed recently to support this National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). If not, we would have a problem.
    Honestly, we also need to have on regular basis the Scheme Managers to tell us about how the previous formulae we have approved have been implemented. Of course, the releases have been a problem. But if subsequently, the releases have been given, how were they used to address the outstanding payments?
    SPACE FOR APPENDIX 1
    CONT. - PAGE 18 - 1.15P.M.
    Mr Benjamin K. Kpodo (NDC -- Ho Central) 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. I wish to support the Motion as moved and seconded. But I will like us to look at the total budget for the Scheme, which amounts to GH¢1,336 billion for the year in question.
    You will see that there is a funding gap of GH¢299.63 million which we expect to come from the Ministry of Finance. We want to interrogate the Ministry's budget to see whether that has been provided for in the 2014 Budget.
    We also realised that the main sources of revenue for the Scheme would be from the contributions of the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). These are all dependent on what revenue comes in. Often, we say quickly that funds have not been released on time, funds have not been released in full, and yet there is even this funding gap.
    I think we all need to watch the revenue sources and see whether these are really generated before we begin to ask for full disbursement.
    Last year, it was on record that the expected revenue of GH¢16 billion fell short by about three (3) billion. When you take the amount due to NHIL, Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) for that particular year, it is less than the GH¢3 billion , and therefore, we should be very careful how we implement the budget that we have for the National Health Insurance Scheme.

    That notwithstanding, Mr Speaker, I support the Motion which has been moved, and call on the House to approve the budget with those observations.

    Thank you.
    Mr KwakuAgyeman Manu (NPP -- Dormaa Central) 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to contribute to the Motion and urge my Hon Colleagues to support it. But I would want us to take notice of a few issues that I have actually noticed. They are the formula and the budget that were presented to us yesterday -- [Interruption]
    Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh -- rose
    -- 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    Hon Member, do you have a point of order?
    Mr Akandoh 1:25 p.m.
    Exactly so, Mr Speaker.
    If you could take a look at our Hon senior Colleague, he is improperly dressed -- for your direction Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    Can I seek the advice of the Leadership? Hon Member, I am seeking the advice of the Leadership.
    Is the Hon Member improperly dressed?
    Mr Manu 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I wish to contribute to the Motion and I would urge my Hon Colleagues to adopt the Motion.
    I would want us to take notice of some of the issues that have been captured in the Report. If you look at the expenditure defined for 2014, there are certain details we should take a second look at. The National Health Insurance Authority intends to spend so much outside the actual co-mandate of service delivery with the National Health Insurance Fund.
    Mr Speaker, if we look at one of the expenditure line items that have been introduced -- And we are looking at instant identification cards and authentication system.
    Under that item, we have biometric ID cards four million of them -- we are budgeting GH¢32 million for. And when we look at another item that has been described as nationwide ICT system, we have earmarked GH¢8.8 million for the production of two million magnetic identification cards. I think strongly that these two items seem to be duplications in the budget.
    Apart from this, we are doing claim processing centres. Per details of the cost of the claim processing centres, we are purchasing 200 computers and accessories at 0.4 per cent and per unit cost is close to about GH¢2,000 cedis per one of the computers. We are purchasing four vehicles, each unit cost is GH¢200,000. I do not know which type of vehicles we are actually purchasing for the claim processing centres.
    Mr Speaker, these are a few items the Committee should have explained, to convince us that we are going to get value for money for these procurements and the efficiency of the budget itself in terms of the items I think are being duplicated.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    Deputy Majority Leader ( Mr Alfred K. Agbesi): Mr Speaker, the item numbered 12 on the District Assemblies' Common Fund for the year 2014.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ebo Barton-Odro) 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80 (1) which require that no Motion shall be debated until at least, forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion is moved, the Motion for the 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 may be moved today.
    Mr Dominic Azimbe Azumah (NDC -- Garu) 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Agbesi 1:25 p.m.
    Item number 13.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    MOTIONS 1:25 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ebo Barton-Odro) 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for distributing the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) for the year 2014.
    Mr Speaker, in doing so, I pray to present the Report of your Committee.
    Introduction
    The formula was laid before Parliament by the Hon Majority Leader and Minister for Government Business, Hon Benjamin B. Kunbuor on Wednesday, 26th March, 2014 in accordance with article 252 (2) of the 1992 Constitution and section 7 (a) of the District Assemblies' Common Fund Act, 1993 (Act 455).
    Mr Speaker referred the proposed formula to the Committee of the Whole for consideration and report.
    The Committee of the Whole met on Thursday, 27th March, 2014 and deliberated on the proposed formula and reports accordingly.
    Background
    Parliament is mandated by article 252 (2) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and the District Assemblies Common Fund Act, 1993 (Act 455) to make provision for the allocation of not less than 5 per cent of the total revenue of Ghana to the District Assemblies' Common Fund for the implementation of developmental programmes in the Metropolitan, Municipal and Distr ict Assemblies (MMDAs).
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ebo Barton-Odro) 1:25 p.m.
    As at now 7.5 per cent of the total tax revenue of Ghana is allocated to the District Assemblies' Common Fund.
    By the provision of section 7 (a) of the District Assemblies' Common Fund Act 1993 (Act 455), the Administrator of the Fund is to propose annually for the consideration and approval of Parliament a formula for sharing the Common Fund.
    Acknowledgment
    The Committee during its deliberations on the Formula met with the Hon Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Administrator of the Distr ict Assemblies' Common Fund, Mr Kojo Fynn as well as officials from the District Assemblies' Common Fund.
    The Committee was grateful to these persons for their immense contributions to our deliberations.
    References
    In considering the formula, the Committee made references to the following documents:
    i. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
    ii. The Local Government Act 1992 (Act 462).
    iii. The District Assemblies' Common Fund Act 1993 (Act 455).
    iv. The Standing Orders of Parliament.
    v. The 2013 Report of the Committee of the Whole on the
    proposed formula for sharing District Assemblies' Common Fund.
    vi. The 2014 proposed formula for sharing of the District Assemblies' Common Fund.
    Principles underlying the formula
    The Committee was informed by the Administrator that the guiding principles in choosing the factors and corres- ponding indications in developing the DACF formula remained the same as in
    2013.
    In developing the formula, the ‘'Basic Needs'' approach to development was adopted and considered as a factor in the Formula with the following as its indicators:
    Health Service.
    Education Service.
    Water coverage.
    Tarred roads coverage.
    Under the above factors, those who have more facilities get less in order to bridge the development gap between the MMDAs.
    Additionally, the formula also takes into account other factors such as:
    i. Responsiveness.
    ii. Service pressure.
    iii. Equality.
    iv. Reserve.
    Source of data
    The Committee was informed that data for the determination of the formula is obtained from central sources. This is to prevent MMDAs from influencing the data used and also to prevent falsification.
    Population
    The Committee was informed that the Administrator obtained the data on population from the Statistical Service. The population data used is that of the 2010 Population Census.
    Education
    The Committee was also informed that the data on education was obtained from the Ministry of Education. Data required included education facilities, pupil and trained teacher population. The data on education covered all the MMDAs except the new districts where data is shared between the new and the old districts.
    Health
    The data on health was provided by the Ministry of Health. The data provided includes health facilities such as Public Hospitals, Clinics, Health Posts and CHPS Compounds as well as doctors and nurses population.
    The data on health sector continue to pose challenge due to the fluide nature of human resource professional in that sector, thereby creating disparity between the data and the reality.
    Also some of the health facilities do not have a common point for co- ordinating data as some are under Ghana Health Service and others under Mission Health deal with the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG).
    Internally generated funds
    Local Government Account Unit of the Controller and Accountant-General's Department provides data on MMDAs internal revenue collection.
    Water coverage
    The Committee was further informed that data on water coverage was sourced from the Community Water and Sanitation Agency and Ghana Water Company. Community Water and Sanitation provided data on rural water coverage and Ghana Water Company Ltd. provided that of urban water coverage.
    Tarred roads
    Tarred roads data was obtained from Departments of Urban and Feeder Roads. Highways data is excluded as most of the MMDAs have highways passing through them.
    Application for 2014
    The Committee was informed that the 2014 Budget allocation included some Priority Interventions Programme (PIPs) under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development which is applied to the two main modes of transfers.
    (a) Indirect transfers
    In order not to interrupt planned programmes of MMDAs, a portion of the Fund is set aside to be transferred indirectly to the MMDAs though the Priority Intervention Progrmmes (PIPs) such as School Feeding, Sanitation and Waste Management, Sanitation Guards and National Borehole Programmes.
    (b) Direct transfer
    The remaining Fund would be applied to the formula for equitable distribution in 2014.
    Weighing scenario
    Mr Speaker, the Committee observed that the different weighing scenarios presented by the Administrator were as follows:

    SPACE FOR 2014 PROPOSED

    WEIGHTING - PAGE 6 -

    1.25P.M. SPACE FOR 2014OBSERVATIONS OF THE

    SCENARIOS- PAGE 7 -
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ebo Barton-Odro) 1:25 p.m.


    Observations

    The Committee observed that the total allocation to the DACF increased from 1,149,286,950 in 2013 to 1,369,764,728 in 2014. An increase of about 19.18 per cent.

    The Committee further observed that allocation to priority intervention increased from 333,000,000 in 2013 to 400,000,000 in 2014 representing an increase of about 20.12 per cent.

    Reserve Fund increased from 126,421,565 in 2013 to 143,825,296 in 2014 representing an increase of about 13.77 per cent.

    The Committee further observed that Indirect Transfers increased from 689,865,385 in 2013 to 825,939,431 in 2014. This represents an increase of about 19.72 per cent.

    The Committee observed that the DACF owes beneficiary institutions for both third and fourth quarter of 2013 due to non-release of funds by the Ministry of Finance and this situation has negatively impacted on the growth and development of MMDAs.

    The Committee further observed that data provided for water and roads may not be realistic for some MMDAs, especially the newly established ones as fresh data was not available at the time of preparing the formula and the Adminis- trator was compelled to share the same data between the old and the new MMDAs. This situation does not augur well for equitable distribution.

    Recommendations

    The Committee wishes to recommend to the Ministry of Finance to consider the issue of release of funds very serious as

    SPACE FOR 2014 - PAGE 8 -

    the matter borders on infringements on the laws of Ghana. The Minister for Finance should therefore, ensure that this statutory obligation is fulfilled by the timely payment of all arrears due to the Fund.

    The Committee also recommends to the Administrator of the Fund to ensure that realistic data is provided by the central sources to enable the Fund share the available resources fairly and equitably for equitable development.

    Conclusion

    Mr Speaker, having carefully considered the proposals for the sharing of the DACF for 2014, the Committee recommends for the approval Scenario C of the Weighing Formula as the basis for the distribution of an amount of one billion, three hundred and six-nine million, seven hundred and ninety-four thousand, seven hundred and twenty-eight Ghana cedis (GH¢1,369,794,728.00) allocated to the District Assemblies' Common Fund in the 2014 Budget.

    Respectfully submitted.
    Mr Dominic A. Azumah (NDC-- Garu) 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and in so doing, I wish to make a few comments.
    As a country we have come very far in our decentralisation programme. We are embarking on three key components of the system-- the political decentralisation, physical, and of course, financial decentralisation. The most critical part of it is our ability as a country to support or empower the Assemblies to deliver in the programmes assigned to them.
    Mr Speaker, having gone this far, year in, year out in this House, we have been calling on Government to take a very critical look at the quantum of money that goes to the Assemblies. We have been urging that from 7.5 per cent, where
    Mr Barton-Odro 1:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, before you move any further, I would like to correct an error which appears in the Report.
    The final figure, as per the Report, talks about GH¢149, 286,950. That is the figure for 2013, and not 2014. The 2014 figure is GH¢1,369,765. So, I would like to amend the records, so that-- It is in the Report. The original Report or formula that was brought to us has this figure and not the 2013 figure.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    The Hon Member who seconded the Motion, you seconded the original one but it has been amended, what do you do to the amended one?
    Mr D. A . Azumah 1:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I second the amended Motion.
    Question proposed.
    Mr Isaac Osei (NPP -- Subin) 1:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to make two small points. The first one, I think when the Hon Chairman of the Committee of the Whole was talking about the weighting scenario, you correctly described it as a weighting scenario. But in the Report, paragraph 8.0, it says, “weighing scenario”, and I think that should be corrected, since we are capturing the entire Report.
    So “weighing” should be changed to “weighting” because it is really a question of weights. Then in the first line, the “different weighing scenarios” should be changed to “weighting scenarios”.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to agree completely with the recommendations of the Committee regarding the use of realistic data because that would determine the incidence of funds. I say so with respect, especially to the new District Assembly areas. Yesterday, I only mentioned the Kumasi Metropolitan and the Asokore-Mampong Municipal Authorities.
    But it is the same problem that we discovered there; that is the replication of the weights for both road usage or tarred roads and the educational infrastructure.
    That applies to other areas, where they have just been replicated even though the division may bring up new scenarios. So, that aspect should be taken serious by the District Assemblies' Common Fund, so that they can have realistic data. This is because some of the areas may well be under service if we assume that the figures that have been put in this Report are correct.
    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I urge Hon Members of this august House to approve the Report of the Committee of the Whole.
    Mr Joe K. Gidisu (NDC-- Central Tangu) 1:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my point is just to buttress the earlier one raised by the Hon Member who spoke.
    Mr Speaker, it is serious when you go into the details of the statistics that went into influencing the sharing of the District Assemblies' Common Fund based on the basic needs which are outlined under health service, education service, water coverage and tarred roads coverage.
    Mr Speaker, for some of the districts, for example, my own district, Central Tongu, this is because we were formally joined to North Tongu, you would realise that if it is in terms of health service locations, if it is nine they put for North Tongu, they would put the same nine for Central Tongu, which should not be the case.
    In the same way, if you come to potable water facilities, I would want to draw the case of Adaklu, for example, which is far away from any river source, it is supposed to have more potable sources than those of us who are still complaining but near the River Volta. So, you see this inequality in terms of statistics that have influenced the distribution of the Fund.
    On that score, I would equally want to seriously appeal to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to liaise effectively with the Distr ict Assemblies, and the Municipal Assemblies in capturing adequate and accurate data which would go a long way to influence the fair distribution of the Fund.
    Otherwise, we would not be doing justice to a lot of the under privileged districts and municipalities when it comes
    Mr Kwame A. Govers Agbodza (NDC- -Adaklu) 1:35 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to add a few words to what my two senior Colleagues have already said.
    Mr Speaker, yesterday, I was shocked when I saw the kind of data that were contained in the District Assemblies' Common Fund Report. Mr Speaker, this House is a serious House, and anybody who has been tasked to provide data to it should do a better job.
    The data was a bit lousy, in a sense that- [Interruption] -- Lousy is just to say it is a bad data and it is not an insult at all -- In the sense that they cannot tell me that Adaklu has got 55 per cent water coverage.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    Hon Member, do you have a point of order?
    Mr Chireh 1:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my point of order is that the word “lousy” is not parliamentary. He should withdraw that and still make his contribution. I plead with him.
    Thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    Hon Member?
    Mr Agbodza 1:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I can get to a dictionary and get the definition of “lousy”. It says that you have not paid enough attention. It is questionable data; it is not an insult at all, and I stand by my word and I am not going to withdraw it unless you ask me to withdraw it.
    Mr Speaker, if I can continue --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    I will only ask you to continue.
    Mr Agbodza 1:45 p.m.
    Thank you very much.
    Mr Speaker, I would say that this country spends a lot of money to pay people to provide services to this country and if we even complain about how much 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the resources go to pay civil servants and public servants and everybody and the best we can get is for somebody to sit in an office and tell me that Adaklu has got 55 per cent water coverage, I am sorry, that is a lousy data and should never come to this House again.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Ameyaw-Cheremeh?
    Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh (NPP-- Sunyani East) 1:45 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to support the Motion.
    At the start of every fiscal year, the District Assemblies are required to budget for the ensuing year. They get assurances from the Office of the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund where he indicates to them the budgetary provision for the Fund and they use it as a basis to prepare their budgets. Then the formula is approved.
    In the course of the year, funds are either not released or under-released. When it happens, whether released or under-released, it affects the programmes of the District Assemblies.
    It is not a good thing for us to be talking about two quarters already in arrears -- Third quarter and fourth quarter
    -- 1:45 p.m.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, do you have a point of order?
    Mr Benjamin K. Kpodo 1:45 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    The Hon Member is saying that Government has taken the money and applied it for a different purpose.
    I believe that he is misleading the House.
    The fact is that, when we are calculating what is due to any of these statutory bodies, it must be based on the actual and the Government has reported early on that not all the taxes budgeted for have been collected. So, what basis is he using to say that the money has been collected and not given out?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    Hon Ameyaw-Cheremeh, would you continue?
    Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh 1:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe that my Hon Colleague has misunderstood me. Even if Government collected one pesewa, it is supposed to pay 7.5 per cent of that pesewa to the Distr ict Assemblies. If Government projected to raise one million Ghana cedis for the Distr ict Assemblies and Government did not realise that, whatever Government got, it must pay the 7.5 per cent. Government has failed to do that --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    Hon Ameyaw-Cheremeh, there is one thing that you said. I do not know whether you will want to look at it again. You said that, it was a percentage of total tax revenue - - I do not think that it is a percentage of the total tax revenue. The total tax revenue includes custom duties -- It is the percentage of the tax revenue as provided for under the Act, not the total tax revenue in the country. I do not know whether the Hon Majority Leader would want to assist us.
    Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh 1:45 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    Yes?
    Mr Ignatius B. Awuah 1:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to differ.
    Mr Awuah 1:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rest my case.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    I know you were about to raise -- [Laughter.]
    Yes, Hon Member -- But do not let us digress and start a debate on taxation, please.
    Mr Charles Obeng-Inkoom 1:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was just trying to draw the House's attention to page 5 of the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) formula report that was given to this House. To say that under -- [Interruption]--No, I was just making a correction of the issue. He raised the issue about total tax revenue; that is the point.
    Mr Speaker was trying to correct him. -- [Interruption] --Very well.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    Hon Member?
    Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh 1:45 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, what I was trying to draw attention to was that, the moneys must be paid to enable the District Assemblies to carry out the mandate that the Constitution and the law have given them.
    Mr Speaker, on that note, I would want to say that in 2014, the approach must be different. It should not be business as usual, where Parliament approves the formula and moneys are not released.
    Thank you so much.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    Is that the end of the contribution on the matter?
    Deputy Minority Chief Whip, I was coming to the end --
    Mr Ignatius B. Awuah (NPP-- Sunyani West) 1:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Motion.
    Mr Speaker, the spirit of the DACF is to release moneys to the Distr ict Assemblies to initiate projects and programmes at the local level. But the issue of priority intervention project is actually defeating the spir it of financial decentralisation. I would therefore, want to urge the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, if really the intent of the decentralisation is to be carried out to move away from that.
    This is because if you look at school feeding, which is going to take about GH¢200 million, sanitation which is also going to take about GH¢ 145 million, sanitation guards, which is also going to take GH¢30 million.These are programmes which are going to be implemented at the local level. So, why should the moneys be centralised and the work be done at the local level?
    I think that for want of proper supervision and what have you, I would want to believe that, if the moneys were transferred to the local level, it would ensure that, people who are responsible to effect this payment, would also be responsible to make sure that at least, those who are to do the work do it diligently and we have value for money.
    Mr Speaker, apart from that, as it was rightly observed by my Colleagues from Sunyani East Constituency, the DACF is a function of tax revenue. But Mr Speaker, there is no system in place especially at our level in Parliament that ensures that whatever is transferred from Ministry of Finance to the DACF is the exact
    proportion of the tax revenue which was raised and that has been transferred.
    Mr Speaker, why am I saying so?
    In the first and second quarters of 2013, the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) which was transferred; we had the same figure transferred. I do not want to believe that, we can have a situation where the total revenues which were collected in the first and second quarters were exactly the same. Certainly, there would be differences. So, if there were differences, how come that the transfers were the same?
    So, I believe that, there should be a system in place which would monitor the total tax revenues which are generated and then its relation to that which is also transferred to the DACF.
    On that note, Mr Speaker, I support the Motion that the formula be carried.
    Thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    Majority Leader.
    Dr Kunbuor 1:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, you can put the Question on this matter but just to correct one impression in relation to the national intervention in terms of local resources.
    The policy objective is to transfer means and competence to the local level. So, when we limit it to financial resources, it becomes a problem.
    Quite often, what is going down to that level would have actually started as a local request that found itself to the national level and then, it got prioritised because no development activity takes place outside a local area.
    What I think the Hon Member is concerned about is the fact that, they do not allow the highest political authority in the district to decide what their development priorities are, then attach
    financial resources to them. I think that has been the challenge over the years. So, I guess that he was not saying that seemingly, national projects cannot be, funded from the District Assemblies Common Fund but it must be a priority need of the local level even if he finds expression at the national level.
    I am saying this because, time and again, the Hon Ministers and State officials receive large bodies of petitions from the local level, requesting that they think that this particular intervention is a priority for the area.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
    Majority Leader?
    Dr Kunbuor 1:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we just take the last item Report on the GETFund so that we would have -- [Interruption.]
    Yes, in less than five minutes, we should be able to finish that. That is because, that particular formula is very important for Members of this House for a number of reasons.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
    Motion number 14, Chairman of the Committee.
    MOTIONS 1:55 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ebo Barton-Odro) 1:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1) which require that no motion shall be debated until at least, forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the motion is given and the date on which the motion is moved, the motion for the adoption of the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for the distribution of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for the year 2014 may be moved today.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Barton-Odro) 1:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for the distribution of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for the year 2014.
    Introduction
    In fulfilment of the provisions of section 8 (2) of Act 581 of the Ghana Education Trust Fund Law, 2000, the Distribution Formula for monies expected to accrue to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for year 2014 was laid in Parliament on Wednesday, 26th March, 2014 and referred to the Committee of the Whole for consideration and report.
    Subsequently, the Committee met on Thursday, 27th March, 2014 and considered the referral.
    The Committee expresses its appreciation to the Hon Minister for Education, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku- Agyemang and the GETFund Administrator, Mr Sam Garba for providing clarifications on the proposed formula.
    References
    The Committee in preparing its Report referred to the following documents:
    i. The Ghana Education Trust Fund Act, 2000 (Act 581)
    ii. The Formula for the distribution of Proceeds of the GETFund for year 2014.
    iii. The Standing Orders of the House.
    Background information
    Section 8 (2) of Act 581 provides that the Board of Trustees of the Fund should annually submit to Parliament for approval, a Formula for the distribution of funds to the following sub-sectors of Education:
    i. Tertiary
    ii Second Cycle
    iii. Basic
    iv. Other related Agencies of Education.
    In arriving at the 2014 formula for the distribution of the Fund, the Board was guided by the following principles as stipulated in section 8 (3) of the Act:
    i. The promotion of the study of Mathematics, Science, and Technology.
    ii. The advancement of female education.
    iii. The reduction in the high level of illiteracy in historically- disadvantaged areas.
    iv. The promotion of computer, vocational and technical educa- tion and training.
    v. Equitable allocation of funds to the Districts at the Pre-Tertiary level of Education.
    Observations and recommendations
    Disbursement of accruals for year 2013
    The Administrator of the GETFund, Mr. Sam Garbah, informed Hon Members that the disbursement of accruals from the 2.5 per cent VAT was extremely slow in year 2013. As a result, the management of the Fund was extremely challenging.
    Mr Garbah indicated that as at December, 2013, only an amount of one hundred and eighty-five million, seven thousand, three hundred and thirty-three Ghana cedis, thir ty-six pesewas (GH¢185,007,333.36) out of an approved amount of six hundred and ninety-one million, four hundred and fifty-seven thousand, two hundred Ghana cedis (GH¢691,457,200.00) was released to the Fund.
    Currently, payments to GETFund for year 2013 are in arrears of 62 per cent while accumulated claims on the Fund are in excess of three hundred million Ghana cedis (GHc300,000,000.00). Outstanding unpaid accruals to the Fund also amount to three hundred and forty-three million, three hundred and fifty-nine thousand and ninety-nine Ghana cedis, fifty-two Ghana pesewas (GH4343,359,099.52).
    The Committee expressed grave concern about the irregular release of monies to the Fund which has resulted in a huge accumulation of claims from beneficiaries.
    The Committee as a matter of urgency requests the Hon Minister for Finance to release approved monies to the Fund to enable it meet its outstanding obligations.
    Projected accruals for the 2014 fiscal year
    The Committee was informed that for the 2014 fiscal year, the total projected accruals from the 2.5 per cent VAT receipts to the GETFund is seven hundred and thirty-nine million, four hundred and forty- seven thousand, twenty-four Ghana pesewas (GH¢ 739,447,000.24).
    Priority programmes and projects to be undertaken this year, include the following:
    i. Construction of 200 day senior high schools;
    ii. Provision of basic education infrastructure (schools under trees);
    iii. Construction of pipeline projects;
    iv. Promotion of ICT through e- Learning; and the
    v. Provision of scholarships.
    The percentage distributions to the various subsectors of education and other related areas are as follows:
    Tertiary -- 23.38 per cent
    Second Cycle -- 40.58 per cent
    Basic -- 16.97 per cent
    Others -- 16.97 per cent
    Contingencies -- 2.10 per cent.
    Allocation to the tertiary sub-sector
    The tertiary subsector has been allocated a sum of one hundred and seventy-two million, nine hundred thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢172,900,000.00) for the provision of infrastructure and facilities.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Barton-Odro) 1:55 p.m.


    The Committee observed that special allocations have been made to the Colleges of Health Sciences: KNUST; the University of Ghana; University for Development Studies and the University of Cape Coast for the provision of infrastructure and facilities to facilitate teaching and learning.

    The Committee was informed that an amount of eight million Ghana cedis (GH¢8,000,000.00) has been allocated to the University of Health and Allied Sciences to commence the construction of a Science laboratory complex to train medical students and those in other allied health sciences.

    An amount of five million Ghana cedis (GH¢5,000,000.00) has also been earmarked for ongoing construction works of the new public university in the Eastern Region. Furthermore, a provision of three million Ghana cedis (GH¢3,000,000.00) has been made for the construction of academic facilities at the Dormaa Campus of the University of Energy and Natural Resources.

    In fulfilment of Section 2 (6) of Act 581, an amount of twelve million Ghana cedis has been allocated for the administration of scholarships. The Committee noted that the phenomenon of irregular release of monies to the Fund has greatly affected the payment of fees and allowances of Ghanaian students on scholarship, pursuing post-graduate studies abroad.

    The Committee once again urges the Ministry of Finance to ensure the timely release of monies to the Fund for prompt disbursement to beneficiaries.

    Allocation to second cycle

    A sum of three hundred million, thirty- three thousand Ghana cedis, forty-two

    pesewas (GH¢300,033,000.42) has been allocated to second cycle education.

    In line with Government's policy of increasing access and expanding facilities at the secondary level, an amount of two hundred and twenty-one million, eight hundred and fifty thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢221,850,000.00) has been allocated for the construction of community day senior high schools in selected districts and communities. This amount represents 30per cent of the projected accrual to the Fund for year 2014.

    The Administrator of the Fund informed the Committee that the GETFund Secretariat did not specify the number of schools to be constructed with the allocated amount because the Ministry of Education is currently working out the number of schools to be constructed with the amount.

    The Committee also noted that a sum of twenty-two million, one hundred and eighty-three thousand Ghana cedis, forty- two Ghana pesewas (GH¢22,183.000.42) has been allotted for the completion of projects such as classrooms, dormitories, kitchen/dinning halls and science laboratories to ease the pressure on the demand for classrooms, furniture, and other facilities.

    The significant role of ICT in today's economy cannot be over emphasised. To this end, the Fund has allocated a sum of thirty million Ghana cedis (GH¢30,000,000.00) to support the E-schools/ICT programme at the secondary level.

    Allocation to basic level

    The Committee noted that an amount of one hundred and twenty-five million, five hundred thousand Ghana cedis (GHc125,500,000.00) has been earmarked

    for the provision of infrastructure and facilities at the basic level. Out of this amount, seventy-five million Ghana cedis (GH¢75,000,000.00) is to cater for the completion of ongoing projects under the schools under trees programme.

    Vocational and technical education

    As part of Government's effort at promoting Vocational and Technical Education, an amount of seven million Ghana cedis (GH¢7,000,000.00) has been allotted for the procurement of equipment and the rehabilitation of some Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

    The Committee expressed the opinion that not much attention is being paid to vocational and technical training. The Committee was informed that quite a large number of vocational and technical institutions operate under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations while a considerable number of vocational and technical institutions are privately owned.

    However, the Minister for Education indicated that her Ministry through the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) provides some assistance to vocational and technical institutions. To give the needed attention to vocational and technical training, Hon Members proposed that Act 581 should be amended to make adequate provision for vocational and technical training.

    MPs emergency projects

    Hon Members were informed that a sum of fifteen million, five hundred and fifty thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢15,550,- 000.00) has been proposed for Members of Parliament to undertake development

    projects and the monitoring of GETFund projects in their constituencies. Each Member, is expected to receive a total amount of forty-eight thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢48,000.00) for Education-related projects and eight thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢8,000.00) for the monitoring of GETFund projects.

    Conclusion

    The Committee has examined the distribution formula for monies expected to accrue to the GETFund for year 2014 and is satisfied with the rationale for the proposed allocations. The Committee therefore, recommends to the House to approve the distribution formula for an amount of seven hundred and thirty-nine million, four hundred and forty-seven thousand Ghana cedis, twenty-four pesewas (GH¢739,447,000.24) to be released to the GETFund Secretariat for distribution to the critical areas of the education sector.

    Mr Speaker, we dealt with vocational and technical education and the Minister for Education gave us the assurance that there would be some co-ordination since quite a number of the vocational institutions are under some other Ministries and the rest of them are with private entrepreneurs. So, we look forward to getting that exercise carried out.

    Respectfuly submitted.
    Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 1:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and I have a few comments.
    Mr Speaker, one of them is that under- - If we look at the formula, under the Ministry, a number of institutions have
    Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 1:55 p.m.


    been listed and the amounts earmarked against a few of them would not make any impact.

    I hope that the Ministry itself in its own budget, not based on the GETFund, could have budgeted for those institutions.

    They are very important -- the Ghana Library Board -- quite a number of other agencies which play a critical role in education -- and I believe that if we need to support them, we should let the formula reflect the need to support them. If not, the Ministry itself should budget appropriately.

    On this note, I urge all of you to vote for the Motion.

    Thank you very much.

    Question put and Motion agreed to.

    Resolved accordingly.

    Majority Leader?
    Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor 1:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that we adjourn the House to Monday, 31st March, 2014 at 10.00 a.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
    Minority Chief Whip?
    Mr Daniel Botwe 1:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    ADJOURNMENT 1:55 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 2:00 p.m. till Monday, 31st March, 2014 at 10.00 a.m.