Debates of 4 Jul 2014

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:20 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 3rd July, 2014.

Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 3rd July --

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu — rose
-- 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Yes.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 14, the Business Committee meeting, noticeably, it was presided over by the Vice Chairman of the Committee, the Hon Alfred Kwame Agbesi. He presided because the substantive Chairman had to be at another meeting. I noticed that, on the list of Hon Members present, Hon Dr Benjamin Bewa-Nyog Kunbuor's name has been added. Indeed,
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
The Chairman's name is deleted accordingly.
The way you made your submission is very convincing.
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 3rd July, 2014 as corrected are hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Item number 3 on the Order Paper, Business of the House for the 5th week?
Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor 10:20 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:20 a.m.
Majority Leader/Chairman of the Business Committee (Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor) 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Committee met yesterday, Thursday, 3rd July, 2014 and arranged Business of the House for the Fifth Week ending Friday, 11th July, 2014.
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 56 (2), the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows: Arrangement of Business Question(s)
Mr Speaker, the Committee has programmed the following Ministers to respond to Questions asked of them during the week:
No. of Question(s)
i. Minister for Youth and Sports -- 1
ii. Minister for Education -- 2
iii. Minister for Health -- 6
iv. Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing -- 4
v. Minister for Roads and Highways -- 6
Total number of Questions -- 19
Mr Speaker, in all, five (5) Ministers are expected to attend upon the House to respond to nineteen (19) Questions during the week. The Questions are of the following types:
i. Urgent -- 3;
ii Written -- 1;
iii. Oral -- 15
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.
Conclusion
Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this Honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

Questions --

80. Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Nsawam-Adoagyiri): To ask the Minister for Youth and Sports what plans the Ministry has to empower the National Youth Authority towards addressing the problem of unemployment confronting the youth in the country.

*99. Mr Johnson Kwaku Adu (Ahafo Ano South West): To ask the Minister for Education what plans the Ministry has to fence Mankranso Senior High School, the only public Senior High School (SHS) in the District.

*100. Mr David Hennric Yeboah (Afigya-Sekyere East): To ask the Minister for Education when the S.D.A. College of Education at Agona-Ashanti will be given accreditation.

Statements --

Presentation of Papers --

Report of the joint Committee on Finance and Roads and Transport on the Commercial Agreement among the Government of the Republic of Ghana, Lonrho Ports Ghana Limited and Atuabo Freeport Ghana Limited in respect of the Ghana Oil and Gas Freeport Project.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Customs Bill, 2014

Plant Breeders Bill, 2013

(Continuation of Debates)

Committee sittings.

Urgent Question --
Mr Wisdom Gidisu (Krachi East) 10:20 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Health whether the Ministry has any immediate plans to extend mobile clinic services to island communities in the Krachi East Constituency and other communities along the Volta Lake.
Questions --
*101. Mr Robert Kwasi Amoah (Achiase): To ask the Minister for Health when the Achiase Health Post will be renovated and possibly be upgraded to the status of a district hospital.
*102. Mr Francis Adu-Blay Koffie (Prestea /Huni Valley): To ask the Minister for Health when the Bogoso Clinic will be upgraded to a polyclinic status.
*103. Mr Francis Adu-Blay Koffie (Prestea/Huni- Valley): To ask the Minister for Health what plans the Ministry has to construct a new ultra-modern government hospital at Prestea.
*104. Mr Ben Abdallah Banda (Offinso South): To ask the Minister for Health how many CHIP Compounds have been constructed in the Ashanti Region from January 2011 to December 2013, their locations and sources of funding.
*105. Mr Hennric David Yeboah (Afigya -Sekyere East): To ask the Minister for Health when the Agona Government Hospital will be provided with a theatre.
Consideration Stage of Bills --
Customs Bill, 2014
Plant Breeders Bill, 2013 (Continuation of Debates)
Committee sittings.

Urgent Question
Mr Benito Owusu-Bio (Atwima Nwabiagya North) 10:20 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when the Owabi Village shall be resettled to prevent any disaster.
Questions --
*123. Mr Matthew Nyindam (Kpandai): To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing what steps the Ministry is taking to solve the water problem in Kpandai Senior High School.
*124. Mr Kwame Asafu-Adjei (Nsuta- Kwamang/Beposo): To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing what measures the Ministry has put in place to repair the overhead reservoir that has broken down for the past 20 years at Nsuta.
*125. Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson (Awutu-Senya East): To ask the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing when water supply will be extended to the following communities within the Awutu-Senya Constituency: (i) C. P. (ii) Akweley (iii) Amuzukupei (iv) Bigman Town.
Statements
Motion --
Adoption of the Report of the joint Committee on Finance and Roads and Transport on the Commercial Agreement among the Government of the Republic of Ghana, Lonrho Ports Ghana Limited and Atuabo Freeport Ghana Limited in respect of the Ghana Oil and Gas Freeport Project.
Consequential Resolution
Consideration Stage of Bills --
Customs Bill, 2014
(Continuation of Debates)
Plant Breeders Bill, 2013
(Continuation of Debates)
Committee sittings.

Urgent Question --
Mr Augustine Collins Ntim (Offinso North) 10:20 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways what measures have been put in place by the Ministry to ensure that the section of the asphalted road between Darso-Nkenkaasu along the Techiman-Kumasi Highway that has developed dangerous array of potholes, claiming several lives through regular accidents in the Offinso District, are sealed.
Questions --
*134. Mr Kwame Twumasi Ampofo (Sene West): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the contractor on the Atebubu, Kwame
Danso, Kwadwokrom roads will go back to site.
*135. Mr Robert Kwasi Amoah (Achiase): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways what plans the Ministry has to make the Cannan-Anamase -Bieni Cocoa Station - Achiase link road motorable in order to link up the communities mentioned to the rest of the town.
*136. Mr Francis Adu-Blay Koffie (Prestea - Huni Valley): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways whether the Ministry has any plans of terminating the contract awarded to Rega Construction on the Bogoso/Insusaiden road and re- award it to another contractor.
*137. Mr Anthony Osei Boakye (Atwima-Nwabiagya South): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Sofo Line interchange and the road to Abuakwa will be completed.
*138. Mr James Cecil Yanwube (Tatale/Sanguli): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the road between Zabzugu Town through Tatale Town will be upgraded and tarred.
Statements
Consideration Stage of Bills --
Customs Bill, 2014 (Continuation of Debates)
Plant Breeders Bill, 2013 (Continuation of Debates)
Committee sittings.
Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2), and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee respectfully submits to this Hon House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Respectfully submitted.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Any comment before we adopt the Business Statement?
Yes, Hon Maj. Oduro (retd), Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North?
Maj. Derek Oduro (retd): Mr Speaker, last week, I made a request that the Hon Interior Minister be brought to this House to brief the whole House on the situation in Bimbilla where a number of people have been killed including the overlord of the place.
Mr Speaker accepted it and the Leader said it would be given space. Today, it has not reflected anywhere yet, by and by we would be going on recess, and we do not know when the Hon Minister would be invited to brief the House.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Dr Kunbuor 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker will remember that on that day, I was not at the Business Committee as the Hon Minority Leader indicated because, that was a day for Cabinet, and my information is that, the Question admitted by Mr Speaker is still on its way from the Table Office to the Committee. So it was not actually brought to the attention of the Committee on the day in question. We will take all the necessary steps to locate where, in the pipeline, it is blocked.
Maj Oduro (retd): Mr Speaker, it was not a Question; it was a request I made on the floor of Parliament here for consideration. It was not a Question that I posed, Mr Speaker.
Dr Kunbuor 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Table Office would have to formally inform the Committee on this matter. But as I am saying, whatever the processes are, if we do not get it from the Table Office in the draft, it normally becomes a challenge, but we would follow it up and make sure that it is rectified.
Mr Justice J. Appiah — rose --
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Yes.
Mr Appiah 10:20 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, statutory payments like the District Assembly Common Fund, the NHIA Fund, the GETFund --
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Is it part of the Business of the House?
Mr Appiah 10:20 a.m.
Yes.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Where?
You may be raising a legitimate point but that is not the tool to use. There are different tools at your disposal to make this known. But not when the Business of the House --
We have performed our statutory duty; the formula was brought here and we have approved it. If you have to follow up to see that it is done, other tools are available, not the Business of the House. If it has not been brought to the House to be approved, then you can ask when it is going to be brought, then the Business Committee will programme it.
rose
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Let me hear your voice, I have not heard your voice for some time now.
Mr Akyea 10:30 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, I think the Business Committee should make something very novel for this House, in terms of the Business for this House. I am tempted to believe that they could pencil the President to come and answer Questions once a month.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Member, you are out of order.
Look at the Constitution and see whether that is possible.
According to Article 111 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, the only person that could take part in the proceedings of the House is up to the Vice President, but definitely not the President.
It is a Constitutional matter; the President cannot come. I can tell you on authority that, on a few occasions when even the President wanted to come to the House, Hon Members and the Leadership stopped the President from coming, because, if you look at the Constitution, he had no business to do on those occasions. I can give you a very good example; the Hon Minority Leader did champion that thing, so please—I know the British system where the Prime Minister goes to the House of Commons because he is a Member of Parliament.
Mr Akyea 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would not want to press home my point, but in the absence of the President, is it possible to have the Business Committee pencilling the Vice President to come and Answer very serious Questions relating to serious national issues --
Dr Benjamin Kunbuor —rose --
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Dr Kunbuor 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I guess that the processes are not one and the same. There is a difference between a Minister who, on his own volution, comes to the House, very much like the Vice President, to join the debate on the floor of the House, he would be accorded all the privileges of Hon Members.
It is a different procedure when it is at the instance of the House to invite a Minister to come and Answer Questions. This is because the consequences in both situations are not the same.
If the Vice President's spirit moves him sufficiently and he opts to come to the House to join the debate, the Hon Member might use that opportunity to press home what his position is, but it would be difficult to actually bring the President under the processes we bring Ministers of State to come and answer Questions.
Secondly, the Hon Member would know that, there is no very clear specific constitutional mandate for the Vice President, so anything he would be saying here would be in relation to the exercise of executive authority of His Excellency the President and it could get very messy.
Ms Grace Addo —rose --
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Ms Grace Addo 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I filed Questions a long time ago. I just would want to alert the Business Committee that if it was because they knew that I was indisposed that was why my Questions were not programmed, by the grace of God I am back so they; should programme my Questions and let me respond for my people to also know that I am for them.
Dr Kunbuor 10:30 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Member, I am happy that you have recovered and you are back. We would take note of it.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
The last comment on the Business Statement.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity. Mr Speaker, with much respect, last week, I brought to the notice of the Business Committee the need to invite the Hon Minister for Finance to brief this House on Questions relating to payments of statutory funds.
Mr Speaker, I got the response from the Business Committee that a Question had been filed to that effect. As I speak, I am not in the position to tell whether that
Dr Kunbuor 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, important as the Hon Member's request is, I think we have to keep close to our Standing Orders and try and verify from the normal channels whether the Question has been admitted or not.
Mr Speaker, if the Question had not been admitted or it is still being considered by Mr Speaker, the Business Committee cannot on its own programme it for the House.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Member, whoever filed that Question, I cannot recollect. I worked on a number of Questions and I cannot remember all of them off hand. As I speak now, apart from a few areas where there are problems with the Questions that I would want Hon Members through the Clerk of the Table Office to arrange for those Hon Members to come and see me, almost all the Questions on my table have been cleared.
Whoever filed those Questions should do a follow up through the Table Office to find out the status of that Question, if indeed, that Question has been filed.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am grateful.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of the consideration of the Business Statement for the fifth week ending Friday, 11th July, 2014.
The Business Statement is accordingly adopted.
Hon Majority Leader?
Dr Kunbuor 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if we could take Item number (4) on the Order Paper
-- 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Very well —[Pause.]
Dr Kunbuor 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we know we did have on record that, the Hon Member was on leave and returning at a particular date. He has been recalled and he has resumed duty and he is available in the House to answer the Question—
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Question *129.
Hon Member?
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:40 a.m.
MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 10:40 a.m.
HIGHWAYS 10:40 a.m.
Minister for Roads and Highways (Alhaji Amin A. Sulemani) 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Barekese-Fufuo-Adugyama feeder road is17.8km and is located in the Atwima
Nwabiagya District of the Ashanti Region. The road is currently in fair to poor condition.
The road was awarded for rehabilitation up to sub-base level in 2006, but had to be terminated in 2013 and repackaged for bitumen surfacing in phases.
The first phase of 7km was awarded for bitumen surfacing in 2014.
Currently the project is at sub-base level and is expected to be completed by April 2015.
Mr Owusu-Bio 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister did not finish reading the Answer; there is a current programme and a future programme, if he can address that.
Alhaji Sulemani 10:40 a.m.
Sorry, Mr Speaker,
Routine maintenance will be carried out on the remaining 10.8km this year.
The 10.8km section will be programmed for bitumen surfacing after the completion of the first phase of 7km.
Mr Owusu-Bio 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Minister when the routine maintenance on the remaining 10.8 -kilometre road will begin since we are past six months of the year and we are only left with six months; we are in July, so when will this begin this year?
Alhaji Sulemani 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we normally programme the routine work in such a way that we avoid the rains before we carry out the routine work. If it is raining, you cannot do reshaping and other things on the road, so we wait until either the beginning of the rainy season or immediately after the rainy season -- So we will carry out the routine work as
soon as we feel that the conditions are right on the ground.
Thank you.
rose
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Have you not exhausted your supplementary Questions, is there one more?
Mr Owusu-Bio 10:40 a.m.
One more.
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Very well, ask.
Mr Owusu-Bio 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister said that, they have to consider, the rains but we all know when the rains will end, so when will it start? When will the Ministry do the routine maintenance -- two months, three months' time, when?
Alhaji Sulemani 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we would package the work very soon and start the routine maintenance. We have a package where we do all of them, not only on that road. We have a period for routine maintenance works on our roads. .
Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister in his Answer said the original contract was terminated and repackaged for bitumen surfacing in phases. When he says in phases, is it in terms of specific works to be done or phases in terms of years that specific work has to be done?
Alhaji Sulemani 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this has reference to road length; we phase the road.
Mr Awuah 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my Question perhaps was not understood by the Minister. What I am trying to ask is, if he says in phases, is he talking about phases in respect of specific works to be done? For instance, is it phases in terms of culvert construction or phases in terms of, say, this year we are doing seven - kilometres, next year we are doing the additional kilometres? I would want to know.
Alhaji Sulemani 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I understood his Question very well and I answered that; I was talking about phases in road length, that is why we are doing the first phase of seven kilometres. When we finish that, we will continue with the next phase of the remaining road. That was what I said; I understood him very well.
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Members, before we move to the next Question, Hon Minority Leader, are you ready? Just five minutes.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am having a discussion. Is it in respect of what the Clerk --
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
The Statement.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Yes, I am discussing with my Colleagues to see the appropriate thing to --
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
I would want to hand over the Chair to the First Deputy Speaker before we move out to pay our last respects to our departed former Colleague, Hon Kojo Armah. You can do it now for just five or two minutes, then we can observe a minute's silence before I hand over the Chair to the First Deputy Speaker.
Hon Minority Leader, two minutes.
STATEMENTS 10:40 a.m.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (NPP -- Suame) 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to say a few words in respect of our departed Colleague, the Hon Kojo Armah.
We entered Parliament together in 1997 with the Hon Kojo Armah. He represented the Convention People's Party (CPP) at the time and he represented the good people of Evalue-Gwira. He had been a long serving activist of the CPP before we
entered Parliament in 1997 with him. He joined us in the Minority Caucus at the time as a matter of principle.
Mr Speaker, as our Standing Orders provide, the parties in Minority would usually come together to constitute the Minority Caucus and Hon Kojo Armah, at the time he joined the then Minority Caucus, the total number was 67 out of 200. He was a very diligent and conscientious member of the Minority and he was a committed CPP member.
When he lost his seat in the elections of the year 2000, the succeeding administration which was headed by former President Agyekum Kufuor found it worthy to appoint him as the District Chief Executive for the area where he hailed from.
Mr Speaker, he discharged his duties so well that it enabled him to reclaim the seat that he had lost in the elections of the year 2000. In that regard, he was able to come back to Parliament in 2005 to represent the Constituency once again.
The Hon Member was personally a friend of mine; I considered him as a Senior Colleague and I called him Uncle. Until his demise, we remained very close.
Two weeks before he transitioned, I had had some discussions with him and we had programmed to meet in my office on the Thursday after the discussion. I travelled up country to Tamale and Bolgatanga and upon my return to Accra, I saw in a newspaper that I had taken to glance through, the picture of the Hon Kojo Armah. I was wondering what had happened, only to read that he had transitioned.
Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor 10:50 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to join the Hon Minority Leader to say a few words on the departure of somebody that we had known in this House as a very senior politician.
I used to refer to him as the grandfather of the backbench because of the inspiration and guidance of his years of political experience that he had offered to Hon Members of this House at the time he was here.
I remember my usual interaction with him was to always refer to him as the Hon N(C)PP and he used to insist on saying that, the CPP would always go into alliance but they never sacrificed their ideology.
Mr Speaker, I had the opportunity to work very closely with him when I was the Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee and at some point, he was one of the regular people who guided the Committee on a number of Regulations that came before the House.
I remember him more significantly because he was one of the Hon Members who did not belong to either side of the two dominant shades of political opinions in this House who made himself available at most of the funerals, even to very distant places any time we lost an Hon Member.
Hon Kojo Armah certainly was a father figure in the politics of this country, particularly, during the Fourth Republic. Those who had the chance to meet and interact with him closely, as the Hon Minority Leader has said, he was an inspiring figure, regardless of whether one belonged to his political party or not.
After he had left Parliament, I had met him at a number of places, and one of the things he kept telling me was that, we should try and institutionalise an arrangement for the post-parliamentary traumatic experience. He had said those things passionately that after somebody has passed through this House, and if the House has equally passed through the Hon Member, it becomes important in our
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Members, as tradition goes, let us observe a minute's silence in his memory.

May his soul rest in perfect peace, Amen.

Oral Answers to Questions

(Continuation from Col. 1033)

Question number 130.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.
Culvert Bridge on the Bonsua- Worapong Road (Replacement)
Q130. Mr Benito Owusu-Bio asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when
the broken culvert bridge on the Bonsua- Worapong road would be replaced before the rains start again.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Minister?
Alhaji Amidu Sulemani 10:50 a.m.
The Bonsua- Worapong feeder road is 7.7km long. It is engineered and is located along the boundaries of the Offinso Municipality and Atwima Nwabiagya District.
There is a culvert, located at km2.5 which has been undermined due to its inadequate capacity, causing the culvert to be toppled during heavy downpours.
Apart from this culvert, there are other water crossings which are critical including other drainage problems which need to be addressed on the road.
The situation on the road would require full rehabilitation rather than just the replacement of the culvert at km 2.5.
The road would be rehabilitated under the Ghana Cocobod Road Rehabilitation Programme this year.
The Engineering studies have been completed and awaiting funds to enable the road to be awarded for its rehabilitation.
Mr Owusu-Bio 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my fear was that, the people of Worapong were going to be cut off. As we speak now, it has happened. Mr Speaker -- [Interruption] the people cannot come to Offinso, neither can they come to Nwabiagya because the river has broken its banks and the entire road is flooded. This has even led to the death of one of the inhabitants.

Mr Speaker, what is the Hon Minister and his Ministry doing to link the people of Worapong and Adagya to the rest of Ghana?
Alhaji Sulemani 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I said, we have programmed this road under the Ghana Cocobod Road Programme. Presently, as I indicated, the culvert cannot carry the water, that is why the flooding is there. With the present circumstances, we would wait until the water recedes. Mr Speaker, I can assure the Hon Member that we would work on the culverts.
MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:02 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, any more supplementary Questions?
Mr Owusu-Bio 11:02 a.m.
Yes. Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister just said that he is assuring me, that he would work on the culverts. Mr Speaker, is it in his handing over notes?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am answering the Question on the floor of the House, my staff are here, and they would capture the response. As I indicated, we in the past paid a lot of attention to water crossings and whenever there were any problems with bridges and culverts, we moved there quickly to restore them. As I indicated, I can assure him that we would rehabilitate this one under the Road Fund. Whether it is in my handing over notes or not, it would be carried out.
Mr Owusu-Bio 11:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister just said that, they were going to rehabilitate the road under the Road Fund. But the Answer from the Hon Minister which is captured on the Order Paper stated that they were going to rehabilitate the road under the Ghana Cocobod Road Rehabilitation Programme this year. So which is which?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have indicated that the whole road needs to be rehabilitated. But the Hon Member has given a scenario where the culvert is in such a situation that the two communities have been cut off, and I am assuring him that, one of the priorities of the Ministry is to ensure that we rehabilitate any problems with culverts and bridges. So we would pick on the culvert as priority and rehabilitate it. That is all that I am saying, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:02 a.m.
Hon Members, we move on to the next Question which stands in the name of Hon Frederick Opare-Ansah of Suhum.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 11:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I -- [Interruption.]
Mr Ignatius Awuah 11:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not know whether you want to restrict the Questions to the Hon Member who asked the Question. This is because I saw a Colleague standing up and wanting to ask a supplementary Question.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:02 a.m.
Well, I thought the Question was constituency - specific but if a Member wants to ask a question, fine.
Hon Member proceed.
Mr William A. Quaittoo 11:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minster's Answer, he said that the bridge would be constructed under the Ghana Cocobod Rehabilitation Programme this year and Ghana Cocobod's financial year starts in September to August every year. So, if the Hon Minister is saying it would be done within this year, is he telling us that this culvert was budgeted for in the 2014 financial year of Ghana Cocobod?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I certainly do not know the financial year of the Ghana Cocobod but I can assure the Hon Member that we have held discussions with the COCOBOD and we have packaged roads for rehabilitation this year.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:02 a.m.
Hon Members, we move on to Question number 131 which stands in the name of Hon Frederick Opare-Ansah.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member has asked me with your permision to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:02 a.m.
Go ahead, Hon Member.
Portions of Suhum Town Roads (Tarring)
*131. Mr Annoh-Dompreh (on behalf of Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah) asked the Minister for Roads and Highways what the Ministry is doing about tarring the remainder of the Suhum town roads.
Background
Alhaji Amidu Sulemani 11:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Suhum town roads comprise a number of roads totalling about 10km in the Suhum Municipality of the Eastern region. They are made up of both paved and unpaved roads in fair condition.
Current Programme
The roads have been programmed for pothole patching and grading of gravel surfaces under our 2014/2015 road maintenance programme.
Future Programme
Engineering studies would be carried out in the area this year, that is the future programme.
Upgrading of the gravel section to bituminous surfacing may be considered as part of the implementation of the outcome of the engineering studies.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:02 a.m.
Any follow up Question?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:02 a.m.
Rightly so Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, does the Hon Minister appreciate that the neglect of the Suhum highway roads is indeed facilitating the quick destruction of the Suhum township roads? If he does appreciate that, what stop gap measure is he putting in place to ensure that, as we wait for the execution of that project, something is done in the interim?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as my Hon Colleague is aware, the road in question is on contract but due to a number of challenges, the contractor is not on site. Presently, the Ministry has directed the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to try and work on that portion to make it motorable and they are presently on site working on that portion.
We have also been in touch with the Ministry of Finance and hopefully, we would be getting some money for the contractor who would be going back to site and carry out works to at least finish one carriage way of about 8km of road that the Hon Member is talking about.
Mr Speaker, I do appreciate the issue.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is sad that even regular maintenance work has stopped and I want to put it to the Hon Minister that there is no work ongoing --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:02 a.m.
Hon Member, please ask Questions.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, is the Hon Minister aware that even regular maintenance work has stopped?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think I made it clear from the beginning to my Colleague that, the road is on contract, and due to certain challenges, the contractor has moved out of site. When the road is on contract, it is the duty of the contractor to keep the road in good shape.
So, I have said that he has moved out of site due to certain challenges which we are addressing to have him go back and fix the road.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, your last follow-up Question.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:10 a.m.
Yes, rightly so, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, I am aware that somewhere last year, the Minister toured the region. After touring the region, what conclusion did he come to? Is it that the people of Suhum are experiencing better roads or the roads are poor?
Respectfully, what conclusion did he come to?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I certainly have not toured only the Eastern Region, but I have gone to the length and breadth of this country to see the real situation on the ground. [Interruption.]
Mr Speaker, nobody has hidden that fact from the citizens that we have challenges with our road network in the country. I have made it clear that even our existing roads need maintenance. I have not hidden that fact from anybody. So, I am aware of the situation of the roads, and we are doing everything possible to rehabilitate them.
Mr Atta Akyea 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Minister whether or not there is a contract which this contractor should respect in terms of time lines, when under the contract is he supposed to complete this Suhum road, because it is a long standing problem, dating back to the time that the late Professor Atta Mills assumed office.
Are there time lines at all, relating to the completion of the contract?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am glad that my Colleague is a lawyer and he knows contract administration. There are time lines, but there are conditions that must be met by both sides. I have indicated that there have been challenges on our side, in terms of meeting the demands on our side of the bargain. As such, we cannot pin down the contractor with the time lines, when in contract administration, we are also expected to do certain things that we are not doing.
That is why I am telling the Hon Member that we are just liaising with the Finance Ministry, to mobilise some resources, so that we would settle some of our indebtedness, for him to carry out one of the carriage ways on the road.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Banda 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister, what punitive measures are in place in the contract to ensure that the contractor does his work according to the dictates of the contract?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, could you please repeat your Question because apparently, he did not hear you well.
Mr Banda 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my Question is; what punitive measures are in place, according to the contract, to ensure that the contractor does his work, in accordance with the dictates of the contract?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have made it clear that it is not only the contractor who defaults. I have made it clear that we have had some challenges in settling some of his claims. So, it is not the question of punitive measures for a contractor. It is a question of us, trying to mobilise and settle some of his claims.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Minister, if failure on the part of government to perform its portion of the contract comes with extra cost to the people of Ghana, if it does, what in his opinion is he going to do to facilitate the total completion of the project, since they are beyond the time lines?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, certainly, it would cost the country when the contractor has submitted claims and we are unable to pay because it attracts interest. So, it would be cost to us.
Mr Speaker, that is why I am saying that we are working with the Finance Ministry, to see how we can raise the
necessary resources to carry out one carriage way of the road.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well, Hon Members, we --
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Quaittoo 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister is telling us that the Government has challenges meeting their part of the contract, and in his candid view, is it not an admission of failure of this National Democratic Congress (NDC)?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, you are out of order -- [Laughter.]
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Alexandar K. Afenyo-Markin 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like the Minister to clarify a point he made in an earlier Answer. He did say that, he had toured the length and breadth of this country. Specifically, I would want to know from the Minister, what he means by the length and breadth of this country. I ask that because he has not been to my constituency where most of the roads are in a deplorable state.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, I do not see how relevant this Question is --
Mr Afenyo-Markin 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is, and with your special leave, he has made a statement of fact, so he should explain the “length and breadth of this country” to us, because in my own constituency, which is part of the “length and breadth” of Ghana, he has not been there. He needs to clarify what he means by “length and breadth of this country”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well,
Hon Minister, please answer the Question.
Alhaji Sulemani 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have been to Winneba, in the course of my duty of work.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, have you been to Winneba?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:10 a.m.
Yes, I have been there, Mr Speaker. I have been there twice. [Uproar.]
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Members, we move on to the next Question.
This Question stands in the name of Hon Frederick Opare Ansah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Suhum.
Suhum Municipality Roads ( Tarring)
*132. Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (on behalf of Mr Frederick Opare -Ansah) asked the Minister for Roads and Highways what the Ministry is dong about tarring the following roads in the Suhum Municipality: (i) Suhum - Ateebu (ii) Suhum-Adarkwa-Nankese (iii) Akorabo-Oboatumpan (iv) Akorabo - Simatare (v) Brondensuso-Obomena Nkatekwan-Oboatumpan (vi) Kukua - Asarekrom - Afanso Dedewa.
Alhaji Sulemani 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it looks like my Hon Colleague comes from the area, but he has challenges with the pronunciations, so I would certainly not attempt to pronounce the names of the communities-- [Laughter]-- but I just want to say that with the roads he has mentioned:
Background
Suhum - Ateebu, Suhum - Adarkwa - Nankese, Akorabo-Oboatumpan, Akorabo-Simatare, Brondensuso-
Obomena Nkatekwan - Oboatumpan and Kukua - Asarekrom-Afanso Dedewa roads have a total length of 64.65km and are located in the Suhum Municipality.
Current Programme
All the roads have been programmed for routine maintenance in 2014.
Future Programme
Engineering studies will be carried out on all the roads and based on the outcome of the studies the priority roads will be selected and considered for tarring in
2015.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, any follow-up Question?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, these communities mentioned, are predominantly farming communities. I would want to know from the Minister, if he appreciates that the neglect of these roads is indeed undermining the country's efforts towards securing food security? This is because the food items produced on the farms --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Please, go to your Question.
Mr Annoh -Dompreh 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, what is the Ministry actually doing to ensure that , these roads are sorted in time to ensure that food items are carted to Suhum Municipality?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I like his choice of words, “appreciate”. As a Ghanaian, I appreciate good things, but I would want to say that I have indicated that the roads have been programmed for routine maintenance that would facilitate the carting of food this year.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Any more follow-ups?
Mr Annor-Dompreh 11:20 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
I also wish to know from the Minister, whether he knows that currently poor citizens have to bear the cost of buying fuel into heavy duty vehicles to plough feeder roads, and if he does know this, what is the Ministry doing to ensure that such a burden is taken away from the poor citizens of this country?
Thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Hon Member, please, repeat the Question.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is sad that now, and I hope the Minister is listening attentively, poor citizens of Ghana have to contribute money for fuel to be purchased --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Member, I thought early on, you wanted to find out, if he knew that this was the state of affairs; now you are changing it a little.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am trying to buttress the Question well for the Minister to appreciate the context in which I am putting the Question, which is exactly what I am doing.
Poor Ghanaians have to buy fuel into articulated vehicles to plough feeder roads. I wish to find out from the Hon Minister, if he is aware of this, and what is he making of this, and what is the Ministry actually doing to take the burden off the ordinary Ghanaian?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Very well, Hon Minister?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not getting my Colleague very well, but if he is talking about vehicles, that comes under the Ministry of Transport; I only deal with roads.
Thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Very well.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Isaac Osei 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister has indicated to us that, all these roads have been programmed for rehabilitation. We all know that he has also been programmed to exit the Ministry, which he is now representing. Would he assure us that, all these roads he has talked about would be stated, and the actions he claims would happen would be stated in his handing over notes to the next Minister?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think I am not the Ministry, the Ministry is there and certainly, whatever Answers I have given, these Answers were prepared by the Ministry and they woud be there for whoever would come to carry out the works.
Thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Yes, Hon Members, we would move on to the late Question on the Order Paper, Question number 133 in the name of Hon Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover.
Creation of Additonal Access Roads (Tema Manhean)
Q.133. Mr Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus- Glover asked the Minister for Roads and Highways what effort the Ministry was making to create additional access roads into Tema Manhean to avoid heavy traffic congestion on the old road.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Background
Alhaji Amidu Sulemani 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Tema Newtown is predominantly a fishing community located to the South East of Tema. Notable towns in this catchment area include Tema Manhean, Bankuman and Zinginshore. It shares boundaries with the Gaa Lagoon to the east, VALCO to the north, the Chemu Lagoon to the north-west, and the fishing harbour to the south.
Mr Speaker, there is only one major road that links Tema Newtown to other parts of the Tema Metropolis. With the increasing industrial and commercial activities in and around Tema Newtown, traffic volume has also increased. Mr Speaker, this development is causing unbearable delays to movement of people, goods and services within that enclave of the Tema Metropolis.
In order to solve this traffic jam and ensure free movement of people, goods and services, the Department of Urban Roads (DUR) identified three different alternative routes early last year (2013) of which the most feasible one would be selected for construction.
Mr Speaker, the first route identified was from Mankoadze roundabout, towards the east, through the Industrial Area and across the Chemu Lagoon to Tema Newtown. It was observed that although it was the shortest (about 1.7km to be constructed) among the three routes, this route was not feasible because a section of the route passes through the property of Global Haulage Company which is being used as a truck terminal.
Mr Speaker, the second route identified was from TOR through VALCO to Tema Newtown. This route was found to be the
second shortest (about 2.9km to be constructed) among the three routes. The issue with this route was a section passing through the premises of VALCO. Considering the strategic importance of VALCO, it was suggested that the management of VALCO should be contacted to work out how best to tailor in the proposed road to the premises of VALCO in order not to affect its operations.
Mr Speaker, the third route identified was through the TOR - Kpone road, turns to the south at Aluworks, through VALCO park and then through Tema Newtown cemetery to Tema Newtown. This route was found to be the longest (about 5.0km to be constructed) among the three routes and possibly the one with minimal interruption with private installations.
DUR is currently undertaking further studies to select the most feasible of the 3 options.
We wish to note that all the three routes have possible impact on private properties. However, the Ministry will initiate engagements with all stakeholders and expect the support of the chiefs, my very good Friend, and political heads, in order to expedite action and get the project programmed for 2015.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, your first follow-up.
Mr Titus-Glover 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am happy the Minister admits that there is huge traffic congestion on the old road, which is leading to loss of human lives.
May I respectfully ask our Minister, whether these three possible routes that he is talking about, as part of the visitation across the length and breadth of this country, he has visited these three places that he is mentioning in this House?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I did not get him well.
Mr Titus-Glover 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, what I said was that, the Minister said and admitted in his Answers that, there is huge congestion on the old road, affecting both commercial activities and vehicular traffic and all that.
I would want to find out from the Minister, as part of his visitation across the length and breadth of this country, these three areas that he has mentioned to us, has he personally visited these three places to really see physically what he is telling us in this Chamber?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:20 a.m.
It is because I know the situation that is why I have the Department of Urban Roads to do the studies; if I had not been there, I would not have known the situation, so I would not have ordered this studies; it is because I am aware of this situation, that is why I have ordered the studies.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Yes, your second follow-up.
Mr Titus-Glover 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, when you look at the third option; that is from the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) area towards Kpone, between these two places, there is the GOIL premises, there is the old Wahome, in-between these, there is another huge traffic congestion, because there is an old one between the VALCO roundabout to the TOR premises; another old huge traffic congestion. So when the Ministry wants to extend the access to the area, it is even going to worsen the situation.
I would want to find out from the Minister, with all due respect, this is a very
serious thing; what is his Ministry going to do about that situation?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have made it clear in my Answer that, to construct the road through all the three routes would have impact on property. That is why I indicated that we would have to do more engagement with them: the politicians, the opinion leaders in the area and the property owners. We have to engage them to see which one would minimise cost for us.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Member, your last follow-up.
Mr Titus-Glover 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on the second option, where they want to connect through VALCO into Tema Manhean, the Hon Minister is admitting in his statement that he is going to impede the operations of VALCO. I totally disagree, Mr Speaker.
I would want to put it before the Hon Minister, what effort is he making to engage VALCO because one, VALCO is no more an island; it belongs to the people of this country. When we look at the enormity of people who are dying every day, the shortest way to solve this problem is through part of the Chemu Lagoon; it is not going to affect operations at all.
I would want to find out from the Hon Minister what effort he is going to make to invite VALCO, myself and the Assembly to sit down to make sure we resolve this matter?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Member, I thought he has indicated in the Answer that, he would be getting in touch
with the stakeholders like your goodself and others so that you arrive at a consensus on how to solve the problem. Anyway, I would let him Answer.
Hon Minister, please answer.
Alhaji Sulemani 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to state again, that I have indicated that all the three routes have challenges, that is why in the concluding part of my Answer I said:
“We wish to note that all the routes have possible impact on private properties. However, the Ministry will initiate engagements with all stakeholders and will expect the support of the chiefs and political heads…”
And I specifically mentioned him “my good Friend”.
“… in order to expedite action and get the project programmed for
2015”.
So, we would need his support and other stakeholders to choose among the three routes the best that can bring minimal impact.
Mr Titus-Glover 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, time is of essence; my people are dying every day. I would want to find out, when is this engagement going to start? As we speak now, if you go and look at the old road, pregnant women are being carried in taxis as ambulance. This is the situation we have found ourselves in. I would be grateful if he can tell this House the time that he wants to engage. When?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Member, you have exceeded your supplementary Questions, but never- theless, I would allow it.
Hon Minister, go ahead and answer.
Alhaji Sulemani 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think this is the opportunity for the engagement. I expect my Hon Member from this Sitting, to start engaging his Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) and other stakeholders and they can invite us. This is the beginning of the engagement, Mr Speaker.
Mr Henry Quartey 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I appreciate the Answers that the Hon Minister has given, but then if I may repeat the question my Hon Colleague asked. Specifically, he said when is he going to engage the stakeholders?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the “when” specifically cannot be told on this floor of the House. We have schedules, we have to go and look and write it down. Should I say tomorrow? That is why I told him that, I am expecting my Hon Colleague to be part of the process now. From this House, we can start together and start the processes. That is the “when”.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if it pleases you, I would like to know from the Hon Minister, the Hon Member asked whether the intensity of the traffic situation in Tema, the Hon Minister as part of his visitation has been there to physically witness it. The Hon Minister in an Answer said that he knows about the situation.
There is an ambiguity there that I would like the Hon Minister to clarify, whether in his Answer that he knows the situation means he knows it through a report or that he has been there to know of the suffering of the people? I would want clarification; no ambiguity.
Alhaji Sulemani 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have been there not once or twice. I am always around there.
Ms Safo 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out respectfully from the Hon Minister. He seems to be everywhere at the same time and I wonder how he has been able to do that. [Interruption.] It means probably he has not been anywhere so he should clarify. Every question that is asked, he would say ‘I have been there'. Is he everywhere all the time? So when really was he there?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
I wonder how you can answer this question, but over to you, Hon Minister.
Alhaji Sulemani 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Minister for Roads and Highways is supposed to be in charge of roads, so we move round to see the situation on the ground. [Interruption.]
Mr Awuah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon the Minister said that the project would be programmed for 2015. Currently, as a nation, we are implementing Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Budget. This project has not surfaced in any of our budgets, so, how is he going to programme it for 2015?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have indicated that we are studying the situation to programme it for 2015. So, it would not stop; we would programme it for 2015.
Mr William O. Boafo 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister which portion of the premises of VALCO would the second option road pass through and to what extent would it impact on the strategic operation of
VALCO?
Alhaji Sulemani 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I certainly have not studied in details the various sections of VALCO, but I know that it is impacting on VALCO's property.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Members, this brings us to --
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Papa Owusu-Ankomah?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, you said this is the end of Question time?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Pardon me?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was wondering whether this is the end of Question time or you are still --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Yes, I was going to announce it until you got up, so if you have --
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:30 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is just an inquiry.
I recall that the Hon Minister, the last time, stated on the floor of the House that he was on leave as a Minister for Roads and Highways but was at the Upper West Region. It is a matter of interest. I wanted to know whether he has resumed as the Minister responsible for Roads and Highways with concurrent authority and responsibility for Upper West Region.
Alhaji Sulemani 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I asked for leave and I have been asked to resume on the 2nd of July, 2014. I have resumed, I have not handed over at the Ministry of Roads and Highways. I resumed from my leave at the Ministry of Roads and Highways. I took my leave from the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:30 a.m.
So, you are not in Upper West Region?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Members, I think this brings us to the end of Question time. Hon Minister, thank you for attending upon this House. We are very grateful. [Hear! Hear!]
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 11:40 a.m.
Hon Speaker, with your indulgence, if we can take item number 6 on the Order Paper.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Item number 6, Chairman of the Committee?
MOTIONS 11:40 a.m.
Chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr James Klutse Avedzi) 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move that, this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the On-Lending Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the Ghana Water Company Limited for an amount of forty-eight million, one hundred thousand United States dollars (US$48.1 million) to finance Parts B and D4 of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project under the Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Development Association for a grant equivalent to one hundred and fifty million United States dollars to finance the proposed Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project
(GSWP).
Mr Speaker, in doing so, I present your Committee's Report.

Introduction

The request for approval of the On- Lending Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the Ghana Water Company Limited for an amount of forty-eight million, one hundred thousand United States dollars (US$48.1million) to finance Parts B and D4 of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project under the Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Development Associa- tion for a grant equivalent to one hundred and fifty million United States dollars (US$150 million) to finance the proposed Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project (GSWP) was presented to the House by the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance Mr Forson, Cassiel Atto Baah on Tuesday, June 24th, 2014, in accordance with article 181 of the 1992 Constitution.

Mr Speaker referred the request to the Finance Committee for consideration and report in accordance with Order 169 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.

The Committee was assisted in its deliberations by the Hon Minister for Finance, Mr Seth Terkpeh and officials from the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing and considered the referral. The Committee is grateful to the Hon Minister for Finance and officials from the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing for attending upon it.

Reference

The Committee referred to the following documents at its deliberations:

The 1992 Constitution of Ghana:
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Any seconder?
Dr Anthony Akoto Osei (NPP - Old Tafo) 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion. It is important to note that, the Ministry is doing this in fulfilment of articles 181 and 181(2) of the Constitution that, if Government wants to lend to any public institution it must be laid here and approved by us.
Secondly, Mr Speaker, this is not a loan in the sense that Government got the grant back in 2013. It has not been the practice of the Ministry of Finance to ordinarily inform Parliament when we get grants. But I may want to suggest to the Ministry that, for our information, it may be useful that when grants come, they inform us so that we keep track. But as the Chairman said, that grant came with the condition that we on-lend to Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing and Water Resources and Local Government and Rural Development, and it is in fulfilment of that legal obligation that the Ministry is coming here.
So, there are no issues except that, we argued a bit about the terms of lending. It is free money so to speak, but the Ministry tells us that, they want a commercial organisation like Ghana Water Company to practice as a commercial entity.
Even though the loan is in dollars the interest rate is Bank of Ghana policy rate which as of now, I believe, is 18 per cent. But the repayment is in cedis, so all the risks on the exchange is being given to Ghana Water Corporation.
Now whether or not they can manage the exchange risk is a different matter. I know that, right now the balance sheet of Ghana Water Company is not the best, but I also know that, the Ministry must make them commercially accountable, so we must find a proper balance when we are doing this.
If it were say Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), I would not have a problem at all, but as I know, if you look in the books of Ghana Water Company it is not the best, but we need to encourage such State organisations to begin to be commercial in their operations so that at least, Government can benefit from this. Of course, as the Ministry says, the Ministry, in anticipation of the Ghana Infrastructure Fund wants all these monies to come there so that it can be ploughed back into further infrastructure.
I am hoping that, in this case, a reasonable appeal would be that, given the financial situation of Ghana Water Company Limited, that when re-payments come in, the Ministry would be prepared to recommend that, since Ghana Water Company qualifies under the definition of infrastructure that we would push these monies towards them so that they can begin to clean their books to enable them to go out on their own to, as it were, borrow on commercial terms.
Mr Speaker, the Chairman has proposed the amendment and I think it is important that we keep that in mind. They would pay back in cedis, so if we are not careful somebody who does not want to do well can say that, it is in dollars so pay dollars,
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Very well, Hon Members, it has been moved and seconded that we adopt the Report. It is subject to debate on the floor.
Yes, Hon Member for Sekondi.
Question proposed.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah (NPP -- Sekondi) 11:50 a.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, this Report also gives this House an opportunity to consider the management of these State-Owned Enterprises. Mr Speaker, here, Ghana Water Company Limited is being given a substantial amount as a loan. How would they manage the money in terms of oversight? Is it the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing which is examining the accounts of Ghana Water Company? I ask this because, all these State-Owned Enterprises are owned by us as a nation.
However, in terms of the oversight of its work, there is a lot that is left to be
desired. At this stage, Mr Speaker, with your permission, I would refer to Order 184 of the Standing Orders and with your permission, I would read in extension:
“184 (1)The Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises, composed of twenty Members, shall review and study on a continuing basis the operation of State Enter- prises with a view…”
For purposes of emphasis I repeat:
“with a view to determining their economy and efficiency and also deal with matters relating to Employment and Social Welfare generally.
(2) It shall also be the duty of the Committee:
(a) to examine the reports and accounts of public enterprises and in the context of their autonomy and efficiency whether their operations are being managed in accordance with sound business principles and prudent commercial practices;…”
It appears in my view, Mr Speaker, that, over the years, we may as a House not have been able to do this to the level required of us when it comes to oversight. So now that we have been told to approve this on-lending facility I am urging this House to take this oversight very serious.
Mr Speaker, so we have State Enterprises; some of them, I know that for instance Ghana Water Company, because of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, may be dealing more with Ghana Water Company Limited but they are not dealing with that in the context

of whether their operations are being managed in accordance with some business principles. This is because there has never been a report in this House by that Committee on the works of any State- owned enterprise; I mean the Ministry of Employment, and Labour Relations, and this is an area where we have had a lot of leakages.

We hear complaints when it comes to Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG); when it comes to Ghana Water Company Limited; National Petroleum Authority (NPA), et cetera. We must ensure that in terms of financial oversight, we move to another level and my worry is that, increasingly, it seems the people of this country do not see Parliament as constituted, very able to exercise oversight over these Agencies and even the Executive.

As we move ahead, I am urging this House to re-dedicate ourselves to the powers conferred upon us by the Constitution through our Standing Orders, to exercise financial oversight which is probably one of the major roles of legislature all over the world and particularly in Africa where culturally we give the impression that Executive authority is akin to kingship.

“Do not touch it; our father” and so on. And where even heads of State- owned institutions sometimes never get the scrutiny that is placed on them like Minister for instance get. So you would find a state-owned enterprise under a particular Ministry, the chief executive flying first class and the Minister would be flying business class.

So let us deal with this matter seriously. I am expecting that the Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises would be periodically inviting these Agencies to come and then they

examine their accounts. But of course, we must ensure that the relevant resources are given to the Committee to enable them to effectively exercise their oversight.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr David T. Assumeng (NDC -- Shai- Osudoku) noon
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and thank the Finance Committee for presenting this report to the House.
Mr Speaker, my initial worry has been the fact that this was not a joint referral because I think that since the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing is going to pilot this project together with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, I believe that the Committee should have been involved. Nonetheless, I think they have done a good job. But I think that we take some of these things into consideration when we are doing referrals so that details would be coming up in the Report.
Mr Speaker, I did my background check on some beneficiaries of this facility and I am very happy to inform the House or the people of this country that, some of the districts that would be benefiting, include the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, the Tema Metropolitan Assembly-- I think my Hon Friends on the right side of the House would be very happy that the Tema Metropolitan Assembly would be involved in this facility. Ga West Municipal Assembly shall also be a beneficiary; the Ga East Municipal Assembly shall also benefit from this facility as well.
Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly would be benefiting and Adenta Municipal Assembly would be benefiting as well. Ashaiman Municipal Assembly would also be benefiting so the people of Ashaiman would be happy that at least there is going to be some relief in terms of the provision of water and sanitation to that area.
The new Municipal Assembly, which is the La-Nkwantanan-Madina Municipal Assembly shall also be benefiting from this facility. Ga Central Municipal Assembly would also be benefiting; Ga South Municipal Assembly shall also be part and then La-Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly would be benefiting as well.
Mr Speaker, I think this is good news and as espoused by my Hon senior Colleagues from the other side, I would want to assure them that the Committee on Works and Housing would be taking keen interest in the monitoring of this facility. This is because in my view, this is a facility. that is going to be paid by the people of this country, even though Ghana Water Company is supposed to take the lead. So, we would make sure that, this project is implemented well and we would get value for money for this country.
Just as the Hon Ranking Member for Finance said, I believe we would want to encourage some of these enterprises to be up and doing so that they would break even and support the economy. We cannot just continue to throw money into their operations without getting the needed results. We are going to encourage them to be up and doing -- to sit up, block the loopholes and with this I am speaking to the Ghana Water Company Limited that they should do well to block the loopholes so that, at least the wastage in the system would become a thing of
the past. I believe that the Electricity Company of Ghana would also take this advice on board.
Mr Speaker, I am grateful that we have this facility. This is a facility that must be embraced by all. These are some of the areas that I think the Ministry of Finance should be looking into to get money for us to build up some of our Agencies.
Before I take my seat, I would want to reassure that your Committee on Works and Housing would take keen interest in this facility and make sure that, the districts that are going to benefit would benefit and the people of this country would be happy so that water shortage would become a thing of the past especially, during this era of His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama.
I support the Motion and I think that the whole House must collectively approve this facility for the benefit of us.
Thank you, Mr Speaker for the opportunity.
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Two last contributions and then I would put the Question.
Mr Henry Quartey (NPP -- Ayawaso Central) noon
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

I would want to humbly find out from the Hon Minister of Works and Housing, bearing in mind as Hon Members of Parliament who have oversight roles and responsibilities, representing our various constituents as mouthpiece, this has not come to our notice --
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Member, if you listened to the last contributor, he made the same point that he thinks in future, the referral should be to say Committee on Works and Housing as well as the Finance Committee. So that point was adequately made.
Mr Quartey noon
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, but then he said that he is privy to an information as the Chairman that his Committee members are not aware of. He is mentioning beneficiaries, we are not aware of it -- [Interruption.]
Mr Speaker, I think that the House should guide us that in future, committees should be made aware --
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Member, I normally do not want to interrupt but he said he has done his own background checks; that is what he said. And the information that he got from his background check was what he furnished the House with.
Mr Quartey noon
Mr Speaker, did he do his background check in his private capacity or as the Chairman of the Committee, that is what I would want to know.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Yes, Hon Member, go on.
Mr Benjamin K. Kpodo (NDC -- Ho Central) noon
Thank you, Mr Speaker for giving me the opportunity to support this Motion.
Mr Speaker, I would like to make reference to the debt management policy which the Hon Minister for Finance has been emphasising of late. We have all complained about the high debt to GDP ratio, which has led to the downgrading of the country and some other financial institutions. Indeed, this morning, I heard on the radio that, Ghana Commercial Bank
(GCB) has also been downgraded. Mr Speaker, if we want to give better credence to --
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Yes, Hon Member, are you up on a point of order?
Dr A. A. Osei noon
Yes, Mr Speaker, we have a Report in front of us about an on- lending facility to Ghana Water Company Limited and my Hon good Friend is talking about a radio station announcing that GCB has been downgraded. What is the relevance here? He should address his mind to the Committee's Report. There is nothing in this report about that.
So please, let us go to the Report so we can follow you.
Mr Kpodo noon
Mr Speaker, I have to lay the foundation for what I am coming to say. My point is that, in order to give further credibility to this on-lending arrangement between the Ministry and even Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), we would need to include into the agreement a kind of ESCROW facility, which will enable the lenders to know that surely this debt would be refunded.
When we introduce such forms of agreements into the on-lending Agreements, we would give credibility to the Agreements that we have been having. In fact, some companies have done this and what I would want to emphasise is that, we need to give a lot of credibility to people who lend us money. I would want that in such on-lending agreements, such provisions should be made to assure our facility providers that the loans we take can surely be refunded; and then they would be able to take it off the public debt so as to reduce the downgrading that we have been having as a nation.
I know of Ghana Airports Company having done this and it is very effective.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Members, this brings us to the close of the debate. I shall put the Question.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
I indicated earlier that I was taking two more contributions and we have exhausted that.
But Hon Members, I want to draw your attention to the fact that while we are adopting the Report, we should take into consideration item number (6) in the Report on page 5 which proposes some amendments. So the presumption is that if we adopt the Report, it means we are adopting or granting the amendments so that the contract would be amended accordingly.
Yes, Hon Second Deputy Majority Whip?
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, rightly so, that is why I thought that maybe you are going to give more chance for some Committee members to make contributions.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Very well, I would allow two more, one from either side.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Alexander K. Afenyo-Markin (NPP -- Effutu) 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to add my voice to the contributions made so far in support of this facility.
Mr Speaker, most of the points have been well made and articulated, I would not like to belabour. But from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) experience, I would situate my recommendation on the need for the sector Ministry to do a proper oversight.
Mr Speaker, the Boards of such Agencies cannot be that independent to the extent that, the Ministry cannot supervise them. This facility, although its a grant from the financiers, it has to do with our credibility; our image as a country. There is the need for Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to set the pace by making sure that it works to repay.
Mr Speaker, the next point I would like to add is the indemnity clause which I raised, which ought to be properly stated in the Agreement. This is because, if we do not indemnify this facility as it is, we do not know the debt situation of GWCL. We do not know their exposure; we do not know the number of companies that they are indebted to who might sue. So, if we indemnify this facility no Agency and no individual would take advantage that there is some funds in the accounts of GWCL, to take advantage and do what they would want to do by going in to execution.
Lastly, I am happy that after Ghanaians referring to “Kufuor gallon” and “Mahama gallon” -- [Uproar] -- today, there is a lasting solution and the unanimity with which this House is supporting this facility, it goes to tell the general public and to all of us that, if Government comes out with a good initiative, all of us would support it. But not when loans are being procured to buy sanitary pads, that may not be supported.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Members, regarding that last bit you are out of order.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:10 p.m.
Very well, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, having stated this, I would like to encourage the Government to come out with good initiatives that would be embraced by all of us, but not initiatives
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Simon E. Asimah (NDC -- South Dayi) 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and urge all Members to do same.
Mr Speaker, if you look at the sanitation issues in this country, one would say that it is not the best. The communities, the Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies that have been mentioned, the garbage generated daily is about 1800 tons per day and that is why I support the Motion. It would deal with the garbage issues of this country, these communities and the metropolitan areas.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Order! Order!
Mr Asimah 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, finally, I want to talk on the water aspect. The communities that have been mentioned would now have regular flow of water -- [Interruption] -- But I would want to sound a caution, if you look at it, with regard to the Kpong water supply, we need to know the communities they are serving and which communities these other facilities are going to serve.
Mr Speaker, I would also want to point to the fact that, the non-revenue water that we are experiencing in the water sector, especially, from the GWCL needs to be looked at. Yes, I support what Hon Papa Owusu-Ankomah said that the water company must buckle up, must pull up its socks and begin to reduce to the non- revenue water in the water sector.
Before I sit down, I would also want to make a point that the loan that had been taken and given to GWCL, there is time for us to begin to look at how GWCL should begin to pay back these loans; because it should not be shifted to the Government of Ghana (GoG). It is an institution which has taken a loan thus rendering services and receiving money. So we need to investigate how GWCL uses money that comes to them. This is because the communities manage the water system, they pay for it and they are able to expand it. Why do we continuously go for loan for GWCL and GWCL would not be able to pay for the loan taken?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Members, I think we have exhausted the contribution list.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Yes, Hon Second Deputy Majority Whip?
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can take the Resolution numbered (7) on the Order Paper.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Yes, item number (7) -- Resolution
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister for Finance is unavoidably absent, due to that, we would want to crave the indulgence of the Speaker and the House to allow the Deputy Minister for Finance who is also an able Member of this House, to take the Resolution on his behalf.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Yes, Hon Dan Botwe?
Mr Dan Botwe 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have no objection.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Very well, Hon Deputy Minister?
RESOLUTIONS 12:10 p.m.
Minister for Finance) 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move that,
WHEREAS by the provisions of article 181 of the Constitution and sections 3 and 7 of the Loans Act, 1970 (Act 335), the terms and conditions of any loan raised by the Government of the Republic of Ghana on behalf of itself or any public institution or authority shall not come into operation unless the said terms and conditions have been laid before Parliament and approved by a Resolution of Parliament;
PURSUANT to the provisions of the said article 181 of the Constitution and sections 3 and 7 of the Loans Act, 1970 (Act 335), at the request of the Government of the Republic Ghana acting through the Minister responsible for Finance, there has been laid before Parliament the terms and conditions of the On-Lending Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the Ghana Water Company Limited for an amount of forty-eight million, one hundred thousand United States Dollars (US$48.1 million) to finance Parts B and D4 of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Sanitation and
Water Project under the Financing Agreement between the Govern- ment of the Republic of Ghana and the International Development Association for a grant equivalent to One hundred and fifty million United Stated Dollars to finance the proposed Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project (GSWP).
THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE 12:10 p.m.
Mr Dan Botwe 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Yes, Hon Akoto Osei?
Dr A. A. Osei 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would not want to take you back, and we cannot go back. But since the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing is here, I was hoping that he would speak on the matter but he passed by and I noticed that he was not called at all. But he came prominently to speak to us. Unfortunately, we did not allow him to say any word, so if you can allow him a few minutes to say something on this.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
I think we have past that stage. I am sorry if you did not catch my eye.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, today being Friday and we have on the Order Paper about four Committees that have scheduled to meet after adjournment. I
would want to seek your indulgence and beg to move the Motion for adjournment to enable these Committees to go and have their meetings, for Hon Members to finish and proceed to their various constituencies for us to meet next week.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Any seconder?
Mr Dan Botwe 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 12:10 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 12.21 p.m. till Tuesday, 8th July, 2014 at 10.00 a.m.