Debates of 15 Jul 2014

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:40 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:40 a.m.
  • [No correction was made to the Votes and Proceedings of Monday, 14th July, 2014.]
    • Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    We have the Official Report of Wednesday, 9th July, 2014 for correction.
    Mr Daniel Botwe 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have not taken the Official Report of 8th July, 2014. [Pause.]
    Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Hon Daniel Botwe, is it your case that we have not corrected the Official Report of 8th July, 2014?
    Mr Daniel Botwe 10:40 a.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker. I have it here and I have an issue with something—
    Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Very well.
    I will check the records, because we corrected the Official Report of 11th July yesterday.
    I will ask the Clerk to check the records for me so that we can take it tomorrow. Let us do that of 9th July 2014, because I do not have the Official Report of 8th July 2014 with me here.

    Mr Patrick Y. Boamah — rose —
    Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Mr Boamah 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, column 1186, line six of the fourth paragraph;
    “The state will also benefit in a way or in some form of taxes. So we cannot absorb.”
    Mr Speaker, the word is supposed to be “absolve” and not “absorb”.
    Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Any other correction?
    Hon Members in the absence of any further corrections, the Official Report of Wednesday, 9th July, 2014 as corrected is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
    Question time -- Hon Majority Leader?
    Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I asked the Majority Chief Whip to contact the Minister for Health but I have not sighted her yet. I would crosscheck and perhaps we could move to item number (5) and come back —
    Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    No -- We have Question time before we start Public Business but we do not know where the Minister responsible for Health is. I have received information from the Office of the President that, Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (retd) should take temporal responsibility for the Ministry pending the approval of the Minister for Health designate — a matter pending before the House.
    Dr Kunbuor 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was just informed that, there are some changes that have been made and we wanted to get clarification.
    Mr Speaker, could we stand it down so that —
    Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, you are the Chairman of the Business Committee, in programming this, did Parliament get in touch with the Ministry?
    Dr Kunbuor 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we did, but there seems to be some changes that have taken place between the day before yesterday and yesterday in that Ministry, that is what we are trying to clarify.
    Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, are you suggesting that we defer it while we wait for him?
    Dr Kunbuor 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I hear he is just entering. There was a communication which I heard was addressed to Mr Speaker on the circumstances under which that Minister is taking responsibility for the Health Ministry, so we could stand it down — I hear he has just entered.
    Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Very well —[Pause.]
    Dr Kunbuor 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think he is in —[Pause.]
    Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
    Hon Members, Question time.
    As I indicated earlier, I have been informed from the Office of the President that Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Mustapha Ahmed (retd) takes temporal responsibility for the Ministry of Health, pending the approval of the President's nominee for that Ministry, a matter currently before the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
    That is the information I have received.
    Mr Dominic B.A Nitiwul 10:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is very interesting.
    Mr Speaker, we have had Commu- nications from the President regarding about fifteen people involved in the recent reshuffle. I would want to find out from the Hon Majority Leader, whether the case of the acting Minister for Health is an isolated one or it is done for all of them, because yesterday Mr Mahama Ayariga seemed to be acting as the Information Minister and the Minister for Youth and Sports.
    This is because he was answering Questions, making Statements, setting committees and then relaying information in both Ministries on behalf of Government.
    Mr Speaker, all I want to find out is; where is Hon Hanny-Sherry Ayittey? She was the Minister and supposed to be pushed to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development. If that is so, where is the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculure Development; Mr Nayon Bilijo, is it that an isolated case?
    Dr Kunbuor 10:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I remember that Hon Members requested that beyond the Communication from His Excellency the President, on nominations for approval in this House, the President should, through administrative means, also inform the House which Minister at any particular point in time has responsibility for any Ministry.
    I was directed by Mr Speaker to get in touch with the presidency on this matter and that has since been done. That is the basis of the communication on this matter to indicate that Hon Maj. Dr Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed (retd) is having responsibility for health as of now.
    Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
    Hon Members should know that the law is very clear. The Hon Member is a Minister of State and as a Minister of State, the President can assign him to any Ministry to hold any portfolio at any time. He has satisfied all the conditions that anybody has to pass through to become a Minister, duly approved by this House.
    How he is holding that Ministry that is the information that has been communicated to my office.
    As for the other questions you were raising, we are not there yet. Now, we are only dealing with the Ministry of Health.
    Dr Kunbuor 10:50 a.m.
    I know that Hon Bilijioe has a very strong affiliation with the Hon Deputy Minority Leader but that information can be obtained through the normal channels of communication.
    Mr Nitiwul 10:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not using my privileged relationship with Hon Bilijoe in finding out. But on the basis of principle I asked a simple question, the assignment or the other responsibility given to my Hon Friend opposite Hon Maj. Dr Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed (retd), is it an isolated case or it is that it is meant for all those who have been affected?
    What is happening to the Ministry of Roads and Highways? What is happening to Hon Inusah? What is happening with Hon Bilijoe? What is happening to all of them? That is what we are asking. Why this particular one; because you are asking us to allow him to come and answer Questions --
    Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Leader, that matter can be taken at another level. But at this time, it is Question time and the Hon Minister is qualified to respond to Questions. All the other issues you are raising can be taken up at a
    different level. As of now, the issue under discussion is whether he is competent to answer Questions for that Ministry, and the answer is yes.
    Dr Kunbuor 10:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I guess that history is very interesting. In this House we had raised two very important questions. One was the status of a Senior Minister unknown to the Constitution, and the second one had to do with a Minister for Finance that was not the Minister for Finance. These matters have come before this House. [Laughter] -- And the answer we have had is that, that is the prerogative of the President.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
    Hon Member for Old Tafo?
    Dr Anthony A. Osei 10:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader was trying to convey some information which is inaccurate. For the records, the former President in the last three months assumed responsibility for the Ministry and delegated his powers to my good self. That is for the record.
    On the matter of the Senior Minister, a senior Minister is a Senior Minister --
    Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
    But what is the difference? There is no difference; it is the same.
    Dr A. A. Osei 10:50 a.m.
    There is distinction.
    Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
    There is no distinction. There is absolutely no distinction, it is the same. The value is the same. [Laughter.]
    Dr Kunbuor 10:50 a.m.
    In fact, we wanted to know where in the Constitution was the designation “Senior Minister.”
    Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
    Hon Members, let us make progress. It is Question time.
    The first Question stands in the name of the Hon Member for Effiduase/Asokore.
    URGENT QUESTIONS 10:50 a.m.
    MINISTRY OF HEALTH 10:50 a.m.
    Mr Agyen 10:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have in my hand a letter written by the Hon Minister for Health, Hon Hanny-Sherry Ayittey on April 14, 2014. In that letter, directives were that -- I am sure the Table Office has a copy therefore Mr Speaker, with your permission could I read a portion of the letter?
    Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
    Very well.
    Mr Agyen 10:50 a.m.
    In that letter titled “RE:
    MECHANISATION OF TEMPORARY 10:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
    Your question?
    Mr Agyen 11 a.m.
    My question is that, what happens to workers in the accounting sections, the labour section, those who provide services like electricians, clerks and other services who are not providing nursing services? Are they covered by this letter, will they be terminated?

    Maj. (Dr) (Alh) Ahmed (retd): Mr Speaker, the letter the Colleague read is self-explanatory. It captures exactly the Answer I provided and this letter was written in response to a request from the health facilities for the Ministry of Health to absorb all these casual workers. When the Minister wrote to them to provide the list, it turned out that they provided a list of over 6000 casual workers contrary to the figure that the Ministry had.

    On re-evaluation, only 328 of such staff were found to possess the requisite skills and qualifications that are required and desired by the Ministry, therefore a letter seeking financial clearance had been written to the Ministry of Finance seeking clearance for these categories of workers to be absorbed. In the meantime, the Ministry has directed the health institutions to as it were, continue to engage those whose services they think they need and pay them from their IGF, prior to they having sought clearance from the Ministry.

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Agyen 11 a.m.
    In any case, the last sector of the Minister's Answer indicated that other workers who are not in this category are not affected but as of today, there is
    no instruction to that effect. However, Mr Minister, is it not a total breach of the law as indicated by the Labour Act that, after six months' engagement as a casual worker, a worker must by all means be considered a permanent worker, therefore put on the payroll?
    Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
    Reframe your question. You are asking for his opinion of the law, the rules of the House do not allow it.
    Mr Agyen 11 a.m.
    What I am asking is that, would the Minister agree with me that, by terminating workers who have been on the payroll from IGF for more than six months without engaging them as permanent workers; is the Minister not infringing on the laws of this country?
    Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
    Hon Member, it is the same thing. Check the rules; you can reframe it to achieve the same purpose. I will give you the last chance.
    Mr Agyen 11 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    What is the Minster going to do to comply with the law to avoid infringing on the rights of workers?
    Maj. (Dr) (Alh) Ahmed (retd): The letter the letter Hon Member has read seems to answer the question he has asked. The casual workers were engaged by the health facilities without recourse to the Ministry, therefore, when it came to the notice of the Ministry that this has happened, a directive was sent to them to ensure that they regularise their appointments by issuing them with contracts where they need those workers.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
    Your last supplementary question.
    Mr Agyen 11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, given the opportunity, would the Minister inform the
    health institutions to retain those workers without them facing the sack?
    Maj. (Dr) (Alh) Ahmed (retd): Mr Speaker, the Ministry will liaise with the National Identification Authority to do a biometric registration of all the staff who are in the employment of the Ministry of Health with the view to validating them and ensuring that people who are not supposed to be receiving pay are removed.
    Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
    The next Question stands in the name of the Hon Member of Akim Oda -- Urgent Question.
    Nursing Trainees (Allowances)
    (b) Mr William Agyapong Quaittoo asked the Minister for Health when the allowances of the 2012 and 2013 batches of nursing trainees would be paid since a considerable number of these students were being sacked from school for non- payment of school fees.
    Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd):Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Health attached a copy of payment made from January to December, 2013 and from January to April, 2014. Total payment is GH¢140.00 million (one hundred and forty million Ghana cedis). The list obtained from the Accounts Department contains so many irregularities and several unknown organisations receiving students allowances.
    Mr Speaker as a result of the irregularities in the payment schedule, it has become expedient to reconcile the names of students against their various institutions. Some trainees have been on government payroll since 2001, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, a letter has been written to the Principals (Trainee Institution) to provide the following data:
    Mr Quaittoo 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I want to know from the Hon Minister if he is aware that these Nursing trainees and some Nurses Associations were on the streets last week demanding that their allowances for the period that he has mentioned, therefore their allowances should be paid?
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Minister?
    Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Yes, Mr Speaker, I am aware.
    Mr Quaittoo 11:10 a.m.
    So, Mr Speaker, based on the Answer given, who are really the
    [MAJ. (DR) (ALHAJI ) AHMED (RETD)] students or the Nurses Associations who received these monies that he is talking about? He said some monies have been paid, the students are saying that they have not been paid.
    As a Member of Parliament, a number of students are being sacked from school and I have been compelled to go and pay their fees to go back to school. If he is saying he had paid them and they are saying that they have not received these monies -- [Interruption] -- I care about Ghana so I would have to pay it. so, Mr Speaker, he is saying that -- [Interruption.]
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Member, address the Chair.
    Mr Quaittoo 11:10 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    All the students are saying that they have not received any monies but he is saying that monies have been paid. Who are really the people who received these monies?
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Minister?
    Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr Speaker, a response has been written to the students or the trainees. We have met with the leadership and discussions and negotiations are still ongoing.
    Mr Quaittoo 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, if this is so, would the Minister recommend or maybe inform the Heads of these institutions probably to be lenient with the students and not sack them from school, because they are duly due for some monies to be paid to them so that they could use that to pay their school fees? Some of them are even struggling to pay their registration fees and they are all being sacked from school while they are due for these monies. Could the Minister tell us that he would inform the Heads of these schools to stop sacking the students from school?
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Minister?
    Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr Speaker, I think this is a very worthy proposal, it would be considered.
    Thank you.
    Mr Kwasi A. Gyan-Tutu 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister, if he is aware that some Health Assistants Training Colleges have not got the relevant financial clearance to enable their students get into the employment of the Ministry of Health? A special mention can be made of the Seikwa Health Assistants Training College, which is in my constituency.
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    I am not too sure whether that is a supplementary Question.
    Mr Yaw Owusu-Boateng 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, Hon Minister, when does the Minister expect the feedback from the Principals so that those who deserve to be paid are paid?
    Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr Speaker, the Principals have been given a deadline to submit the list. The deadline is July 11.
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Members, we continue with Question number 106.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Member, you are asking a supplementary Question.
    Mr Owusu-Boateng 11:10 a.m.
    He is telling us the deadline was July 11 but today is July 15, what is happening?
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Deputy Minority Leader?
    Mr Nitiwul 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, following from his Question, the Minister says that the
    deadline has elapsed. He is here four days after the deadline has elapsed and he is not giving us the information the Hon Member is asking for.
    So, what is the response from the Principals since the deadline has elapsed? He gave them a deadline to respond, what is the response from them?
    Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr Speaker, my Colleague has a very genuine question and concern. Indeed, the deadline has passed, the responses have started coming in -- [Interruption] -- It is my expectation that by the end of this week all the responses would have been received and we would take note of those principals who have delayed.
    Mr Nitiwul 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe that once the Minister knew he was coming to this House and know the deadline had elapsed, he should have ensured that we have all the information. But we can forgive him of that --[Interruption] -- it is true. We can forgive him, but he should have --[Interruption.]
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Leader, what is your Question?
    Mr Nitiwul 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, my question is to find out from the Minister what assurance he is going to give to the students in respect of their arrears? Are they giving them assurances that genuinely qualified students would be given their arrears when they have done all the pruning down and all their checks and feel that these are genuine students, would they pay them all their arrears so that if people are paying their school fees they know that government would pay their monies?
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Minister?

    [MAJ. (DR) (ALHAJI) AHMED (RETD)]Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): I would ensure that the various officers who are responsible for concluding these checks do it in good time so that the students can get their allowances paid.
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Question number 106.
    ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:10 a.m.
    MINISTRY OF HEALTH 11:10 a.m.
    Mr David Yeboah 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Answers are all r ight to me, no supplementary Questions.
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Question number 107, standing in the name of the Hon Member for Nabdam.
    Nabdam District Anti-Snake Serum (Provision)
    Q.107. Mr Boniface Gambila Adagbila asked the Minister for Health what sustainable measures were in place for the provision of anti-snake serum for prompt access by victims of frequent snake bites in the Nabdam District
    Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Hon Minister?

    Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr Speaker, the average demand for anti- snake serum in the Upper East Region is 1,150 vials which is fairly matched with supply of 1,066, given that not every snake bite would require treatment with anti- snake serum. However, the Ministry acknowledges the dwindling supply situation in the Nabdam district of the Upper East Region; hence in 2014 allocation of anti-snake serum had doubled as compared to last year.

    The Ministry has also developed treatment protocols supported by structured training programmes country wide and it is being used for managing snake bites. The Ministry therefore intends to increase access by adopting the following pragmatic measures.

    1. Reprioritising within its budget in 2015 and beyond to increase the allocation for anti-snake serum

    2. Intensifying training at both pre- service and in-service levels to implement treatment protocols for managing snake bite at all levels of care

    3. Reduce wastages through improved supply chain manage- ment

    4. Encourage local manufacturers to enter into the manufacturing of anti-snake venom in the medium term

    5. Explore other treatment options such as the use of herbal preparations in the medium term
    Mr Adagbila 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the issue of snake bite in Nabdam is a critical matter. It would even interest you to know -- [Interruption.]
    Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Hon Member, ask your supplementary Question.
    Mr Adagbila 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, from the response, I appreciate the efforts made and the effort that would be made. However, what is the Minister doing in terms of providing infrastructure like refrigerators for storage for the serums if even they are supplied at the right time?
    Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Well, you were not talking about storage, but Hon Minister you may answer.
    Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr Speaker, the current policy is to ensure that there are adequate stocks in the central and regional medical stores, as well as in the district hospitals where they have refrigeration facilities to store the anti- snake venom.
    Mr Adagbila 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, Nabdam constituencts would want to know quantities that were specifically supplied during this period.
    Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    For which period?
    Mr Adagbila 11:20 a.m.
    This year; January to date.
    Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Hon Minister?
    Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr Speaker, I have given figures of the regional supply to the Upper East Region. What quantity was sent to the various districts, is a factor of the incidence of snake bites in the various districts.
    Mr Adagbila 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think it is possible to get specific figures for Nabdam and I would be very grateful.
    Finally, I would want to know if the Ministry of Health intends to develop the local content in terms of treating victims. For example, in the Ministry of Health programmes, we have something like Traditional Birth Attendants who handle birth issues in the localities. Can we have a similar programme of developing and training people in the local areas to be able to handle snake bites as and when it occurs?
    Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    That is not a supplemen- tary Question. We move to the next Question number 108.
    Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
    Mr Nitiwul 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, let me read the fourth paragraph of the Minister's Answer:
    “However, the Ministry acknow- ledges the dwindling supply situation in the Nabdam district of the Upper East Region; hence in 2014 allocation of anti-snake serum had doubled as compared to last year”.
    First, how many vials anti-snake serum were supplied for last year and this year, how many have been supplied? Once he has stated this, he should know the Answers. How many were supplied last year and how many are being supplied this year to Nabdam?
    Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Hon Minister?
    Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr Speaker, I have the regional figures but I do not have it segregated into districts yet. We are still doing that. With regard to the supplementary Question asked by the Hon Member for Nabdam, the Ministry is developing the protocol for engaging --
    Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Hon Minister, when I have ruled out a Question then you are responding to it.
    Mr Nitiwul 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I appreciate his difficulty with the -- The Question was Nabdam specific but you has the regional figures but he does not have the Nabdam figures and he said they were doubled. What figure had been doubled? He does not know the figure so what has doubled? Tell me the figure that was doubled!
    Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
    Hon Minister?
    Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr Speaker, it was the regional figures which were doubled but I would provide the Deputy Minority Leader with the figures as soon as possible.
    Mr Nitiwul 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, let me read again for the Minister's own appreciation of his Answer. It is not the regional figures. It was the Nabdam figures that were doubled. That is what he told us.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to read;
    “However, the Ministry acknow- ledges the dwindling supply situation in the Nabdam district of the Upper East Region; hence in 2014, allocation of anti-snake serum had been doubled as compared to last year”.
    So, it is the Nabdam supply that has been doubled. What was the figure? What was he doubling? He was telling us it was doubled so what figure did he double?
    Maj. (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd): Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minority Leader is pushing me to go into technical details. I am not very competent to give the technical details now -- [Interruption] - Not figures. We are talking about clinical as well as public health figures and I would need to consult with the Regional Director to segregate the figures for me.
    Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Hon Members, let us move to the next Question; 108. Hon Member for Dormaa East.

    Dorma East District Hospital (Provision)

    Q. 108. Mr William K. Sabi asked the Minister for Health when the Dormaa East District would be provided with a District Hospital?

    Maj (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd.): Mr Speaker, It is the Ministry's policy to provide a district hospital in every district, both old and new. Such a hospital would be sufficiently equipped to effectively handle patients referred to it by the various health centres and clinics in its catchment area. The Ministry is in the process of sourcing for funds for such projects and as soon as funds are available, the Dormaa East District will be provided with a District Hospital.
    Mr Sabi 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Dormaa East District was created in 2007. The District had a big health centre but just last year, a polyclinic has been constructed. The issue is, if it was due to lack of resources, what prevented the Ministry from rather expanding and upgrading the health centre to a hospital level rather than to put up another facility which is almost at the same level as the existing one?

    Maj (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd.): Mr Speaker, the nomenclature for different types of health facilities would determine whether it would be called a clinic, polyclinic or a hospital. For a district hospital, it must come with all the departments that go with a hospital, therefore this is the first stage that has been done for the district and I believe as I said in the Answer, it is the policy of ensuring that every district in the country is equipped with a district hospital. Therefore as soon as funds are available, this facility would be provided for the Dormaa East district.
    Mr Sabi 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think I have a challenge with the Answer. I agree with the fact that there are different nomenclature for the different levels of the health provision. The Hon Minister's Answer to my first Question was lack of resources, therefore he was seeking more resources in order to be able to establish different district hospitals. There was existing --
    Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Hon Member, ask your Question I think you have laid sufficient foundation.
    Mr Sabi 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, my next Question is how many districts in the country lacked district hospitals and what are the criteria for the selection of district hospitals?
    Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Strictly speaking, it is not a supplementary Question. But Hon Minister, if you have the Answer you may provide it.
    Maj (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd.): Mr Speaker, I would need notice for a comprehensive Answer, thank you.
    Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Hon Member, have you exhausted your supplementary Question.
    Mr Sabi 11:30 a.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Very well, Hon Deputy Minority Whip.
    Mr Ignatius Awuah 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister in his Answer said that the Ministry is in the process of sourcing for funds for such projects and as soon as such funds are available Dormaa East would be provided with a district hospital. I would just want to know from the Hon Minister, what stage in the fund sourcing process they have reached?
    Maj (Dr) (Alhaji) Ahmed (retd.): Mr Speaker, the process is far advanced, thank you.
    Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    That brings us to the end of Question time.
    Hon Minister, we thank you very much for attending upon the House to respond to Questions from Members [Hear! Hear!].
    At the Commencement of Public Business -- Hon Appiah-Kubi, tomorrow if you are still minded of making the Statement, I would give you the floor, but reflect on it carefully.
    Hon Majority Leader.
    Dr Kunbuor 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we can take item six.
    Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Hon Members, Presenta- tion of Papers, the following Papers would be presented.
    PAPERS 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Item 6(b)(i), Minister for Finance.
    Dr Kunbuor 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would ask for your leave for the Deputy Minister for Finance to lay the Paper on behalf of the Minister for Finance who is attending to some matters and would join us soon.
    Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Very well.
    By the Deputy Minister for Finance (Mr George K. Ricketts-Hagan) (on behalf of the Minister for Finance) --
    Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Development Association for an amount of Sixty-four million, two hundred thousand Special Drawing Rights (SDR 64,200,000.00) [US$97.0 million equivalent] to finance the proposed Ghana e-Transform Project.
    Referred to the Finance Committee.
    By the Deputy Minister for Finance (Mr George K. Ricketts-Hagan) (on behalf of the Minister for Finance) --
    Annual Report of the Investment Advisor Committee for the year
    2012.
    Referred to the Finance Committee.
    Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Item 6(d)
    Dr Anthony A. Osei 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am surprised my Hon Chairman of the Committee is bowing. Yesterday, he and I discussed a draft but I have not seen the final draft and the Ranking Member for the Committee of Road and Transport had not also seen it. I do not know how that Paper can be ready for it to be laid. It is not ready.
    Mr Avedzi 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am surprised at what the Ranking Member is saying. When we looked at the draft the corrections were effected and, they printed it. I signed it and it was distributed. I do not know why he wants to see the draft again after it had been corrected. I have also corrected it and he wants to see it again.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is a reason why I needed to see it. There were serious disagreements on the contents so, he cannot just sign it and say that it is the final draft. This is not an individual thing.
    Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Hon Members, I would defer this matter for some few minutes so that you can sort it out and we can have it. -- [Pause.]
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon Chairman of the Committee, have you discussed the draft with your Ranking Member?
    Mr Avedzi 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I did.
    He had the draft, we discussed it here, and in the concluding portion, we said it is by Majority decision, and by that alone, it is enough, which means that, he is against the entire agreement, and that is the concluding portion of what we are referring to the House. So, I do not know what he wants to discuss again.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is unfortunate that my Chairman wants this matter closed. He walked here, and I told him that the conclusion was wrong, and I reminded him that there were other serious flaws but he walked away angrily, that if I am not in favour, then he was going away.
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon Members, you know that if it is a Majority Report, then it is a different matter, in that case, the Committee is split on issues, so in that case, unless there is something that you think should be included in the Report, the Report must be laid.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, precisely so.
    Mr Avedzi 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon ranking Member said that it is a Majority decision and if it is a Majority decision, then he does not have the right to correct anything again , because he is already against it . So, what does he want to put into it if he is against it? -- [Interruption]
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Have some of their views or disagreements been captured in the Report?
    Mr Avedzi 11:40 a.m.
    We have captured some of their views, yet they say they are not part of that agreement.
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Let me listen to the Hon Majority Leader.
    Dr Kunbuor 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am a Member of the Committee, and I have attended a number of the meetings, just to try and find a way in which some consensus could be built around the issues. I have had occasion to caution that
    Reports that come, saying that the Minority has done this or the Majority has done this, is not good enough. I advised that they can indicate clearly, that some Members of the Committee have strong reservations on very specific points, and let that come to the House.
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon Members, the point is that, if it is a consensus Report, then in that case you have to insist that everything is captured. But clearly, if at the Committee, there was a split, therefore there are disagreements, then on the floor, everybody states his question, and the Hansard captures everything that would be stated on the floor of the House, and that would state everybody's position.
    If it were a consensus, I would have deferred the matter, but if the Committee is divided, then it would be very difficult unless you can say that there is a misrepresentation of what happened at the Committee. I think the Report must be laid. If there is misrepresentation, it can be corrected on the floor of the House. So, already if there is no consensus about the matter, then the Report must be laid.
    The consequences of that is already clear. Let me listen to the Majority Leader, and I would come to you.
    Dr Kunbuor 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, let me clarify
    a number of positions. We are going to have a novel situation where a Committee's Report would come with the minutes of proceedings. They had insisted that we should stay with our Standing Orders, and on this particular issue, to show the extent of strong views that people have held, that one of the Reports should be accompanied by the proceedings. That is the context in which this matter stands.
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon Members, we are rising on Friday. That is the proposal coming and I would want the Committee to look at this so that we can lay that Report before the close of day today. If there is anything to be looked at, [Interruption]
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is important that as a House, we do not begin to engage in practices that are not normal to the House. Mr Speaker, the facts are the following; the Chairman of the Committee walked to my side of the House yesterday, a couple of issues were
    raised, and one of them was that the conclusion was inaccurate, that is number one. I started bringing his attention to the fact that the Report does not fully capture what happened.

    What the Leader of Government Business is saying is that, the Chairman of the Committee can physically walk away and present a report. If the final draft had been made available to me, I would not have had a problem. I have not seen it, that was the end of our discussion and I am saying that we should not encourage such practices. This is not how we are supposed to work in this House. A Chairman cannot arrogate to himself the authority of speaking for the Committee --
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Neither can a ranking Member also do that. It is for the Committee to decide. Neither the Chairman nor the Ranking Member can do that, but at the end of the day, it is the signature of the Chairman that would be on it. The rules are very clear on it. Hon Members, look at Standing Order 210.
    Hon Members, I would want us to --
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, let me hear from you.
    Mr Nitiwul 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think we have taken a lot of time as a Committee
    -- 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon Members, let us have Order.
    Mr Nitiwul 11:40 a.m.
    We have taken a lot of time as a Committee to look at these things over a long period. Of all the times that I have attended the Committee meetings, we have
    worked as a unit, of course, there were little disagreements, and sometimes major disagreements, concerning certain things, but that is in the interest of the Nation. It has nothing to do with whether it is this side of the House, or the other side of the House, it is completely out. It was just about what really is in the interest of Ghana itself, that is the disagreement.
    I think your guidance was good; that we should not lay it, but the two of them should look at it and confer, and by the close of the day they can lay it. That would help all of us, instead of attempting to lay it, because I have just asked him, and he says the conclusion is wrong.
    Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Dr Kunbuor 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is a difference between matters that are substantive, and matters of procedure. We are at the stage of laying a paper, which is a matter of procedure, and we cannot introduce substantive disagreements which are bound to come up at the plenary. I am saying that if a procedural step is to be taken, we do not arrest it by introducing substantive matters, except a procedure for laying a report has been breached.
    Mr Speaker, there is no indication in the submission, that any procedure of laying a Report has been breached here. This is the issue that we have, so we do not want to jump the gun. After the Paper is laid, it is opened for anybody to indicate what the disagreements were.
    Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    Hon Members, in actual fact, I do not see any problem with this matter. When the Committee is divided, it does not end there; everybody comes to
    the floor of the House to express their views on the floor of the House. My own view is that, as much as possible, I do not believe in arresting laying of Papers because, if what is contained in the document is not good, it would emerge finally on the floor of the House.
    Where somebody says he or she has not seen the Report, as a Member of the Committee, that is another matter, and as Members of the Committee, they have to see the Report; at least they have to see the draft Report. Even if they disagree, they should not see that Report the first time on the floor of the House; irrespective of whether they agree or disagree, at least they should see it.
    Dr Kunbuor 11:50 a.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker, I just wanted your guidance on this matter. I find it a bit difficult that somebody has a difficulty with the content of a report he or she has not seen, because what we are hearing now is that there are some things that were not captured in the Report. If one has not seen the Report, how would he or she indicate what is in it?
    Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    Yes, Hon --?
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am a Member of the Finance Committee and I can say that when it comes to the meetings of the Finance Committee, I have been fairly regular, and in respect of this current matter, I have not missed a meeting.
    Mr Speaker, the practice of the Finance Committee has not been that all Members of the Committee should have a look at the Report. We have always let the Leadership of the Committee, that is: the Chairman and the Ranking Member; having a sense of what went on in the meeting, to come out with the Report.
    So Mr Speaker, if the Ranking Member states that he has not seen the Report --
    Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, would you have any objection if I asked the Chairman of the Committee and the Ranking Member to go back and confer for some few minutes and come back for the Report to be laid?
    Dr Kunbuor 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would not have any objection to your discretion in this matter. All that I wanted to indicate was that I am very happy about the position taken by --
    Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    Let us have some order!
    Dr Kunbuor 11:50 a.m.
    The Hon Member for Sekondi.
    Mr Speaker, I have had occasion in this House to plead with the House why we should not go down that line. I am happy that we are beginning to see the repercussions of it. There is a good reason why we have moved together in this House, and I spent not less than five minutes on the floor entreating and pleading with Members to avoid this issue of numbers.
    Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    Hon Chairman, are you opposed to the idea of you and your Ranking Member going to confer for some few minutes and come back and lay the Report? I would want that Report to be laid, so that Members can have copies and look through it for an informed debate on the floor of the House; I would want that Report to be laid today. Do you have any objection to that?
    Mr Avedzi 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in agreeing with your suggestion, I would just want to put it on record that, what really went on before we came out with the final Report was that, at the Committee level, we disagreed on one major issue, which has been captured adequately in the Report.
    Mr Speaker, the conclusion did not say “Majority decision”. When I asked that we give a copy of the draft to the Ranking Member on Friday, which was given to him, we looked through it over the weekend. I approached him yesterday and asked him of his comments. He said, he did not agree with the conclusion which did not capture the Majority decision.
    I told him that was not the position at the Committee level, because there was no indication at the Committee level that it was by Majority decision, but he said, no!, it should be by Majority decision, so I said all right, if he was taking that decision, that it is a Majority decision, we would capture it in the Report, which we did, so it is now by Majority decision.
    Mr Speaker, he went further to say that, there were other areas that, he did not agree to. I told him I would not allow that because, he said it was by Majority decision; that is the point that should be made clear to all of us.
    Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    Hon Chairman and the Ranking Member, please, I would allow you to go out for some few minutes and come back and have the Report laid. Please after that, if you do not agree, come and lay the Report; the rest would be a matter of debate on the floor of the House.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, you have allowed the Chairman -- [Interruption] -- to recount what happened.
    Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    Hon Member for Old Tafo, the reason why I gave the floor to the Chairman was because of what you recounted transpired yesterday. When he wanted to respond, it was only fair for me to call him.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, what he said was not all correct -- [Interruption] -- this is a House of records.
    Mr Speaker, the issue is not whether or not there is a disagreement. This House has a way of doing business. When I read the draft, I started from the conclusion. My point was that, the Report did not fully capture accurately what occurred.So, some amendments needed to be made; whether we disagreed or not was irrelevant. Since yesterday, I have not seen what has been signed. So, is that unfair to see --?
    Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    Hon Ranking Member and Chairman of the Committee, go and confer and come back, and have the Report laid.
    Hon Akoto Osei?
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, are you directing me?
    Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
    I said go and confer with your Chairman.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
    So, you are directing me?
    Mr Speaker noon
    Hon Majority Leader, item 6(e). Is it ready to be laid?
    Dr Kunbuor noon
    No. It is not ready, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker noon
    Item 6(f) which is being captured as second (d). By the Chairman of the Committee?
    Dr Kunbuor noon
    Yes. It is ready. It is an error; the second (d), it is supposed to --
    Mr Speaker noon
    It should be 6(f). He has corrected it. I said second (d) but it should have been an (f). I made the point earlier that he said it should be (f).
    rose
    Mr Speaker noon
    Who is laying the Report? Are you the Chairman? You should correct it to read: “Leader of Delegation”. It should not be “Chairman of the Committee”.
    Alhaji Muntaka noon
    Mr Speaker, your First Deputy Speaker is the Leader of Delegation and he is preparing to -- so I am doing that on his behalf.
    Mr Speaker noon
    Very well. But correct it; it should be: “By the Leader of Delegation”. It should not be “By the Chairman of the Committee”.
    Alhaji Muntaka noon
    Rightly so, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this is corrected to read “By the Leader of Delegation” and not “By the Chairman of the Committee”.
    By Alhaji Mohammed M. Muntaka (on behalf of the Leader of Delegation ) --
    Report of the Parliament of Ghana's Representatives to the Pan-African Parliament on the fourth Ordinary Session of the Third Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament held from 10 th-19 th March, 2014 in Midrand, South Africa.
    Mr Speaker noon
    First Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.
    MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Dr Kunbuor 12:03 p.m.
    When he Mr Speaker was presiding, he asked the Hon Chairman and the Hon Ranking Member of the Finance to go and have some consul- tations on a number of Reports that are to be laid. My attention has been drawn to the fact that, they have returned to the Chamber and if we may find out from them what the position is so that we can proceed to lay the Papers.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
    Very well. Hon Chairman of the Committee, I am to find out from you whether you were able to arrive at any arrangement?
    Mr Avedzi 12:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I said early on, the issue of the Hon Ranking Member is that the Conclusion should read: “by majority decision” and that has been adequately captured in the Report. A copy has been given to him and he confirmed that one, but he still insists that he wants to read the entire Report. That is the position we are now.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, a copy of the Report has just been handed over to me; I do not know what is in there. So, I am here to read it so we can tell you what has happened. I just got it.
    Dr Kunbuor 12:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I indicated early on, the procedure for laying has nothing to do with the substance. Even if he reads it subsequently and disagrees, he has his remedy at the plenary to raise all the concerns. But the procedure for laying, which was the precondition under consultation has been satisfied; he has received a copy. He might have his disagreement with the content but that is for a later period.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader is taking a path that does not help the business of this House. If the idea is to lay it irrespective of whether or not Members of the Committee have seen it or not then one can just go to the Committee and bring a report.

    If this is the way we want to proceed then there is no point for me having the Report. If that is what he wants to do, there is no point.
    Dr Kunbuor 12:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Standing Orders and procedures of this House have to be respected. The question I have raised is whether there is any rule or procedure in laying a Paper that has been breached. The Hon Member is not indicating that to me and he is still raising issues of substance and those issues of substance would come at the plenary. We are not shutting him out on anything; if there is anything on procedure in laying a Paper that has been breached, let him say it and then we can look into that.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have not raised --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
    Hon Members, let us strike a compromise. I know the rules are there, we are bound by the rules, but let us give ourselves some latitude. Let us give him about five to ten minutes to have the opportunity of going through it, at the end of the day we make some progress. Is that all right?

    Hon Majority Leader?
    Dr Kunbuor 12:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I guess we can take item 6(e)(i) and (ii) while we give the Hon Ranking Member the five minutes to go over the Report.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
    By the Chairman of the Committee, item 6(e)?
    Mr Avedzi 12:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, item 6(e)(i) and (ii) are not ready.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
    Very well.
    Dr Kunbuor 12:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we can take Item 7.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
    Very well. Item 7, Minister for Finance?
    MOTIONS 12:03 p.m.
    Mr James K. Avedzi 12:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Dr Kunbuor 12:03 p.m.
    Item 8, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
    Minister for Finance?
    BILLS -- SECOND READING 12:03 p.m.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
    Is it on a point of order?
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:03 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker. I would want to crave the indulgence of the Hon Majority Leader. This is another one for the Finance Committee. I cannot be following the Hon Deputy Minister and be reading, so if we can go to another item and come back, it would help us. This is for us.
    Dr Kunbuor 12:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not going to define the Hon Ranking Member's priorities. He should decide what his priority is, but Mr Speaker has not reversed his decision that we be given five minutes to go through the document.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minister?
    MOTIONS 12:03 p.m.
    Mr George Ricketts-Hagan 12:03 p.m.
    In doing so, the object of the Bill is to establish an infrastructural Fund that is wholly owned by the Republic of Ghana to mobilise, manage and invest in a diversified portfolio of infrastructural project in Ghana for national development. It is expected that this Fund, when passed, will support the continued growth of infrastructure to a level befitting Ghana as a lower middle income country. Furthermore, the quality of infrastructure services also needs improvement to sustain rapid urbanisation and industrial growth.
    Thank you.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
    Any seconder?
    Mr James Avedzi (NDC -- Ketu North) 12:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to support the motion and in doing so, I present your Committee's Report.
    Introduction
    The Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund Bill was presented to Parliament and

    read the first time by the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, Mr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson on Tuesday 17th June, 2014 and referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report in accordance with Article 174 (1) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 169 and 125 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.

    Pursuant to the referral, the Committee met with the Hon Minister for Finance, Mr Seth Terkpeh, Officials of the Ministry of Finance and Attorney General's Department and deliberated on the referral.

    The Committee is grateful to the Hon. Minister and the Officials for attending upon it.

    Reference

    The Committee referred to the following documents at its deliberations:

    a. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

    b. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.

    c. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2014 Financial Year.

    d. Interpretation Act, 1960 (CA 4)

    Background

    In its quest to ensure a reliable and sustainable funding and accelerate infrastructure development throughout the country, the Government in the 2014 Budget Statement and Economic Policy proposed the establishment of an Infrastructure Fund.

    Ghana, as a middle income country has realised an impressive growth from 5.1 per cent in 2003 to 14.4 per cent in 2011 and 7.1 per cent in 2012 and also has an advanced infrastructure platform when compared with other countries in the region. The country in recent time spends approximately GH¢3.12 billion (appro- ximately 7.5 per cent of GDP) every year on infrastructure.

    However, to support continued growth and also to raise it to the infrastructure endowment levels of other middle-income countries in the region, the country faces annually, an efficiency and funding gap in infrastructure of GH¢4.5 billion (US$1.5 billion). Further, there is limited fiscal space to provide public sector financing for infrastructure projects since the country is currently faced with the task of optimising its debt stock and reforming its debt management.

    The Government therefore recognises that public funding alone will not be sufficient to meet the financing gap, has identified Private sector participation as one of the options to address this financing gap and to improve the quality of infrastructural services. It is in this regard that the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, which will partner with the private sector to finance critical infrastructure projects, is being established.

    The establishment of the Fund will also enable self-financing projects to be taken off the Government's debt stock and managed as commercial projects, thus freeing up debt capacity.

    Purpose of the bill

    The Bill seeks to establish an Infrastructure Fund that is wholly owned by the Republic of Ghana to mobilise, manage, coordinate and provide Financial Resources for investment in a diversified portfolio of infrastructure projects in Ghana for national development.

    Division of the bill

    The Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund Bill, 2014 is divided into four parts with thirty-four (34) Clauses.

    Clause 1, establishes the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, as a body corporate with perpetual succession with the power to acquire and hold property.

    The object of the Fund is provided for in clause 2.

    Clause 3 empowers the Fund to create sub-funds, affiliates or subsidiaries in other jurisdictions in furtherance of its objects.

    Clause 4 guarantees the independence of the Fund.

    Clause 5 provides for the sources of moneys for the Fund whiles clause 6 caters for the bank account into which moneys for the Fund would be paid.

    Clause 7 provides for the location of the head office of the Fund.

    Composition and functions of the governing body of the Fund are provided for in Clauses 8 and 9.

    Clause 10 specifies the duties and liabilities of the members of the Board.

    Tenure of office of members of the Board is provided for in clause 11.

    The standard or provisions on meetings of the Board, disclosure of interest, establishment of committees and allowances for members are provided for in clauses 12, 13, 14 and 15 respectively.
    Mr Alexander K. Afenyo-Markin (NPP- - Effutu) 12:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was on my feet earlier. Unfortunately I could not get the benefit of your attention. Respectfully, Mr Speaker, in the Report, the Chairman referred to paragraph 2.0 which is a reference, and 2.0 (d), Interpretation Act 1960 (CA 4). Mr Speaker, it has been repealed. We now have Act 792, so I do not know why we are still -- I wanted to draw -- CA 4 has been impeached.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, can you take note of that? Would you want to effect an amendment or correction?
    Mr Avedzi 12:03 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker, it should be amended accordingly.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:03 p.m.
    The Interpretation Act, (d), and it should reflect accordingly in the Report, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee, how do you respond to that?
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah -- rose —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Sekondi.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker I would like to contribute to the debate
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
    Very well, then we take it that the amendment has been effected. Alright, go ahead and contribute to the debate.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:03 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Second Reading of the Bill -- the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund Bill. I do not oppose in principle to a law Government proposes —
    Mr K. T. Hammond -- rose —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
    Hon K.T. Hammond, are you up on a point of order?
    Mr K.T.Hammond 12:03 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker, on a fundamental one. Mr Speaker, we see on page one of the Report that, they made reference to the Interpretation Act of 1960, that is what my Hon Colleague talked about.
    Mr Speaker, my submission is that, by the reference to a law which has long been repealed, this whole document is tainted. This is because all the materials and documents that may have been placed before them may have been interpreted by reference to the repealed document. So where do we stand with this Report?
    Mr Speaker, I invite you to make a ruling that this document be taken back for the right law to be consulted and to ensure that the references that have been made are in tune with the proper interpretation of what is supposed to be done. We cannot have a document which is dealt with by reference to documents which indeed have been consigned to the confines of history. It is of no use, Mr Speaker. This document is not fit for its purpose.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, I believe that the necessary amendment has been effected so let us make some progress.
    Hon Papa Owusu-Ankomah, please proceed.
    Hon Member for Sekondi, you have the floor.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I said, I do not have a problem with Government setting up a fund for any purpose. However, in respect of this Fund and the sources, I have a major problem.
    Mr Speaker, this Fund is supposed to have as its major source, 2.5 per centum point on the Value Added Tax and with your permission, I refer to page 5, bullet point 6.2. It says:
    “The Committee noted during its deliberations that a number of sources of money have been earmarked as sources of funding for the Fund. These are the revenues accruing to the State from the 2.5 per centage point increase in
    VAT…”
    Mr Speaker, you would recall that, during the time when we debated the amendment to the VAT Bill, the then Deputy Minister for Finance, Hon Ato Forson proposed before the Third Reading that we should increase it. I made a point that that matter had never been the subject of debate, even at the Committee level. And this was an amendment to a Government Bill being brought by Government. However, the House in its wisdom agreed to it. So, what it means is that, at the time, the intention was to impose a levy for infrastructure and it is reflected here.
    As it is presently, even a Constitutional Fund, the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) is in arrears. The Ghana Education Trust (GETFund), the National
    Health Insurance Authority and the Road Fund are all in arrears. Government has not given us any explanation. What this is designed to do, is to allow the Government, to as and when it pleases, decide which Fund to which it should allocate money.
    Mr Speaker, part of the Bill states that within 30 days after it becomes due, the 2.5 per cent increase should be deposited in the Fund. I am saying that, we should not continue with this farcical process of enacting bills and Government does not comply with it; it does not even respect Parliament; and it never explains to us.
    If we are being told that we have problems with our revenue, then I am suggesting that probably at the amendment stage I am going to propose -- The fact that sources of fund should be funds allocated by Parliament, I have no problem. But insofar as, as a major plan of this Bill, the 2.5 per cent VAT imposed after the Second Reading without debate in this House, is going to be the major source of funding, I am opposed to it.
    Mr Speaker, it also continue with the Annual Budget Funding Amount
    (ABFA) --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Dr Kunbuor 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with the greatest respect to the Former Leader of the House, I should not rise on a Point of Order. But the first point is that, this is not the first time and it is not under one government that Statutory Funds have been in arrears. Perhaps, we might just be talking of degree.
    The second point is that, a law is not made to suit a particular situation. Unless the reasoning is that every government in this country has recklessly handled this matter, the law should be forward looking and not backwards.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:20 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Hon Majority Leader shares a different opinion. He is entitled to it. I am not misleading this House in any way. I am advancing a point of argument. He is advancing a contrary. I am sure he has a lot of time in his position as a Leader of the House to respond to the points I am raising.
    Mr Speaker, I do not think that with the experiences that we have, Parliament should tie its hands when it comes to allocation of funds. No. it should be possible at any time when government brings its Budget for us to decide that, for a year we are not going to allocate any money from GETFund to GIF. It should be possible.
    If we agree to this, what it means is that, we are tying the hands of the House indefinitely, until any government proposes an amendment to the Bill. I am saying that, with our experiences, we should not encourage this.
    We are talking about the ABFA; the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA) states how the ABFA should be utilised. It says that every year the Government should bring proposal for the ABFA for Parliament to approve.
    When we approve this Bill in this form, it means that, we are also tying our hands. I do not believe that at this stage
    in our history, we should unnecessarily tie our hands when it comes to the allocation of resource as Parliament, particularly when article 108 has been interpreted to mean Parliament does not need to go even through a Private Member's Bill or Motion to make any law or proposal which would amount to the Consolidated Fund of this country.
    For this reason, I am opposed to this Bill as it stands because of the sources of funding. I urge this House to also bear this in mind and not accept the Bill as far as the sources of fund are concerned.
    Mr Speaker, when it comes to the Consideration Stage, I intend to propose an amendment which would not tie this House's hands in terms of the allocation of funds to the Ghana Infrastructure Fund and also to let the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, as far as the use of the ABFA is concerned, to maintain Parliament's oversight.
    It is important as a House, bearing in mind the experiences, not to whittle down the little oversight power that it has when it comes to our finances. We should not just give the Executive room to as it were deal with the finances anytime as it deems fit. Let it be an annual responsibility of this House through the Budget to regulate the uses of the Funds of this country.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Yieleh Chireh?
    Mr Joseph Y. Chireh (NDC --Wa West) 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much for allowing me to participate in the debate of the Second Reading of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund Bill.

    I whole-heartedly support this Motion and I would want the whole House to support it.

    Indeed, I know people say they are opposed to some aspects of it and that they would bring amendments at the appropriate stage. But it is very important for us to have this Bill passed into law because if you look at the first page of the memorandum, in the third paragraph, it states very clearly-- and with your permission, Mr Speaker, I would want to quote it. It says:

    “Furthermore, Ghana is currently faced with the task of authorising its debt stock and reforming its debt management and hence there is a limited physical space to provide public sector financing for infrastructure projects. To meet the growing needs of our infrastructure investments, the role of the private sector, financing in infrastructure development, is critical. This has necessitated the establishment of the Ghana Infrastructure Invest- ment Fund, which will partner with the private sector to finance critical infrastructure projects. The establishment of the Fund will go to also enable self-financing projects to be taken off the government debt stock and managed as commercial projects, thus freeing up debt capacity.”

    I think that this is the reason why we should all support this. No matter what it is, a government needs space to continue to borrow money and in many countries commercial projects are undertaken by self-financing organisations. This Fund, if it is established, must look at the possibility of on-lending money to these commercially viable self-financing bodies to team up with the private sector.
    rose
    Mr Chireh 12:30 p.m.
    Now, for the issue of those who say that we should not touch the Petroleum Revenue Management Act in terms of the sources of funding, that is a debatable issue. What is it for? It is the ABFA, and the ABFA in any case is at the disposal of the Executive. So, if the Executive says let us simplify the Fund arrangement, why should anybody oppose that?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Sekondi, are you up on a point of order?
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:30 p.m.
    That is so, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, the Hon Member for Wa West is not articulating the exact points I made. I never said that the ABFA should not be touched; no. What I said was that it should be decided by Parliament and that Parliament's hands should not be tied on what proportion is going to be allocated for any fund at any one time. So let governments -- not only this Government but all subsequent governments -- come to Parliament through the Budget annually to ask Parliament for appropriation in respect of that Fund.
    Mr Chireh 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity again.
    My argument is that we can decide every year to do the Budget and allocate through Parliament. They have brought a simpler formula, one which we are going to decide as Parliament that this is easier to handle. As far as I am concerned, the issue is for us to agree that, not to have yearly approaches to this matter is simple: it is in the formula.
    It makes the work of Parliament easier and for us to be able to oversee the Executive because if we have a fund and we approve of a formula; if you have and decide how the money is to be used, we will have a lot of time to then find out how the monies are being used. Mr Speaker --
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not intend to stop the Hon Member from his contributions. But the Hon Member is misleading this House. In respect of all the other funds, every year there is a formula that is brought to this Parliament for allocation and it is in that respect that we exercise considerable oversight. There is nothing like that in respect of GIF.
    Mr Chireh 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I looked at the Committee's report on page 5, talking about the Earmarked Funds. Of course, we all know that the principal reason for the Ministry of Finance to exist and for Parliament to be there is to sit down every year and look at the resources available and decide where they are going. It is not a good thing, as some would argue, to have a formula decided even before it comes to Parliament. [Interruption.] That is exactly my argument. That Parliament's work has been made easier. These are determined by the formula. The formula is approved by us.
    Can we imagine Parliament going into the details of how some of these funds are to be administered if they gave arrangement in a Budget? It would be difficult. So, my view is that no matter what the issue is about earmarking, this particular Bill is not just about earmarking, it is ensuring that whatever is earmarked is used to partner other agencies. Particularly the private sector, in order to produce what we all need in this country to have good roads, to have good hospitals, and in fact an advanced level of telecommunication and what have you.
    As for borrowing, I hear my Hon Friends opposite arguing that we should not borrow more money. I do not see what the problem is. Who lends money to a poor person who cannot pay? Nobody. So long as the people are prepared to lend us the money and we know we can manage
    it -- they also know -- they are not people who are not sure of what they are doing --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Hon Member, would you address the subject matter of the Report as much as possible?
    Mr Chireh 12:30 p.m.
    I am addressing the subject. My point is that, as far as I am concerned, this is going to free us, give us more space to be able to borrow more to develop this country. So long as it is for development, so long as it is for roads that every Friday we would ask the Hon Minister to answer Questions on, to provide water for poor and rural people, I would say we should free the space by establishing this Fund and reduce the national debt stock, which people are ready to show as something which is bad. It is not bad. When we borrow and we invest properly, our people will be happy.
    On this note, I urge all Hon Members to vote for this Motion for the Second Reading of this Bill.
    Prof. George Y. Gyan-Baffour (NPP - - Wenchi) 12:30 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this debate.
    Mr Speaker, just as the Hon Member quoted, with your permission I will also quote from the same source, page 2 -- Background, the last paragraph.
    “The establishment of the Fund will also enable self-financing projects to be taken off the government debt stock and managed as commercial projects that stream up debt capacity.”
    Mr Speaker, this is a very clever way of hiding government debt. What the Hon Minister seeks to do, is to borrow money and hide it under a vehicle. This
    vehicle is to be owned by the Government fully and wholly owned by the Republic of Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, that debt is a contingent liability on Government. Assuming that that company fails to pay, automatically, Ghana Government will have to pay. So to come in here and push debts under a vehicle like that is another way of trying to throw dust in the people's eyes.
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, what the Government will come to tell the people of this country is that “our debt Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio is manageable, therefore let us go and borrow.” That is the whole scheme that is being perpetrated here and I think we should vote against that.
    Mr Speaker --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, are you up on a point of order?
    Dr Kunbuor 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is misleading the House. When the objectives of a Bill are stated, one can only interrogate the objectives that are stated and not to introduce objectives that have not been introduced in the memorandum. There is no indication that anybody intends to hide the real debt stock by way of the memorandum.
    I am saying this because, the Hon Professor Colleague of mine knows that, the risk of all debts are not the same, and that the risk and the level of exposure of each debt are very contingent on a number of factors that some cannot be
    Dr Kunbuor 12:40 p.m.


    foreseen. How would anybody by any imagination know that this is auto- matically a risky arrangement and then try to hide it?

    Mr Speaker, the simple objective fear which is put in very clear language is simply to freeze except to say that there is no other entity or private enterprise that is profit making in this country. The private sector -- at least, people are in line with the private sector and are making profits and paying taxes on those profits. So to let it look like it is a groomy picture in which all these would eventually bounce back to Government is not the real position of the Bill.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is very clear in the Bill that the object include freeing up debt capacity. That is to say that, if the Government is going to borrow GH¢100,000,000.00 and out of that, GH¢20,000,000.00 goes to this vehicle, the Government still has GH¢ 20,000,000.00 to borrow. That is what they are trying to do, and that is why I am saying that, it is an attempt to hide it, but whether it is owned by the Government or by a vehicle that has been created by government, it is owned by Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, because of the fact that excessive borrowing is not good for this economy, whether it is obvious or hidden, no tr ick should be used to permit government to do this; to borrow uncontrollably.
    Mr Speaker, my conclusion is that, the Government has to be mindful of that. They would come back to tell us that the debt Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio is low, therefore let us go and borrow. But whatever one does, one would still have to pay, and Ghanaians are the ones who are going to pay.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minster, do you have a point of order?
    Mr George K. Ricketts-Hagan 12:40 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker, precisely. Not only is the Hon Member misleading the House, he is misinterpreting the paragraph that he read. It says that and with your permission I quote:
    “The establishment of the fund would also enable self-financing projects to be taken off the government debt stock and managed as commercial project, thus freeing up capacity.”
    The idea is not an innovative way of hiding Government debt. It is an innovative way of financing infrastructure projects without putting burden on Government.
    These are projects that can pay for itself, what we call the bankable project. If planned and financed properly, we can escrow revenues from the project to pay for itself, which is something that we have not done well in the past.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think I understand what the Hon Deputy Minister is saying, but one can do that without creating any new vehicle. We have been borrowing to construct roads which are self-financing. Under the
    current arrangement, why, are we not paying back? We are generating money to pay back, so we do not need any vehicle to do what he wants to do. It can be done with the existing vehicle using the existing instrument.
    Mr Speaker, I would conclude by saying that, the Government would come back --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Dr Kunbuor 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, just for the records. We need that vehicle. We have seen how President's Special Initiatives (PSIs) were implemented in this country on garments on which money were given to those PSIs, and nothing is there to show for it in terms of profitability. That is why we need to be able to free this space to make sure that what happened on the PSIs on garments never repeat itself. So this is an improvement.
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there are many funds created in this country, and none of them is working; the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) is not working, all these funds are not working. Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) is a fund that is not working. So, to create a fund does not mean that it can work.
    Mr Speaker, when the people who are handling it are honest, wherever one puts it, it would work. It is honesty, sincerity and fairness that would do the thing and not a new creation where one creates some institution for people to go there and squander more resources. That is not where it should go.
    Dr Kunbuor 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I agree with him perfectly, but one cannot put honesty in the law. That is the issue. That type of value cannot be captured in words in the law. It is about public education and people being nationalistic and patriotic.
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, what the Hon Majority Leader is saying is that we should all pack and go home because if we cannot make a law and bring in honesty, we cannot do anything. So, we should forget about all that we are doing and go home because if people are not honest, no matter what the laws that we put across --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, please conclude.
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to conclude by saying that if we do not take care, the Government would come next year, repackage all the debts and say that the debt GDP has fallen so, allow us to go and borrow. That is all that they are seeking to do, but that is dangerous for this economy and we should all vote against this Fund that is being created under this condition.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Hon Members, I would take two more contributions.
    Alhaji Amadu Bukari Sorogho 12:40 p.m.
    None

    Yes, Hon Member?
    Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho (NDC -- Madina) 12:40 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Debate.
    Mr Speaker the purpose of the Bill is straight; establishing infrastructural fund, which is also wholly owned by
    Ghanaians. I wanted to ask a question, anybody can answer that question.
    Mr Speaker, I have been a Member of Parliament (MP) for more than 11 years. If one takes the Order Paper and scrutinise the Questions, both Urgent and Regular Questions, 96 per cent of these Questions are Questions that asked the Government -- it could be National Patriotic Party (NPP), it could the National Democratic Congress (NDC) -- the Ministers, by Members of Parliament either about roads, water, hospitals, electr icity, one infrastructure or the other.
    Mr Speaker, as a campaign tool, a lot of my Hon Colleagues would go and promise; “we would do this”, “we would do that” -- Governments upon governments, Presidents upon presidents would campaign --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Sekondi?
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is making a sweeping statement. He said majority of Hon Members of this House go about promising. I do not know where he gets his facts. If he goes about promising, as a Member of Parliament, that he is going to build Hospitals, it is his business, but he cannot be making this statement, when he knows that it is not the responsibility of the Member of Parliament to provide roads and to provide hospitals.
    He is making a sweeping statement. He has no basis for making that statement, and he must withdraw it and say that he, as a Member of Parliament for Madina said he was providing the roads in his constituency. He should say it instead of attributing it to the Hon First Deputy Speaker and others.
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is my good friend. He promised his constituents in Sekondi a fishing harbour. The Hon Member for Sekondi, Hon Papa Owusu-Ankomah --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, I do not want us to go down that lane. The point has been made and indeed it is true that it is not the responsibility of Members of Parliament to be providing these things. So, if you have any evidence to back the statement you made earlier, please provide. If you do not have, withdraw and we make some progress.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member mentioned my name so he should withdraw it. Hon Member for Madina, do not mention my name. He says I have been promising fishing commu- nities, outboard motors or whatever. How? I have never done that.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, let us hear from you.
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:50 p.m.
    Thank you very much.
    I forgot the outboard motors but he got up himself and brought it up that he also promised outboard motors. I am not going there. I never mentioned outboard motors; if he knows he is not part of those who promised, I withdraw.
    I would want to assure him that, if you take the Questions that are asked by the majority of us here; they ask the Ministers of the various infrastructural Ministries to either --
    This morning we witnessed it, where the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing was forced to give specific dates of when this is going to be done. This is because they think that it is something that bothers and -- that is also true -- the constituents.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    But Hon Member, the mere fact that Members put these Questions implies that they are not responsible for carrying out those projects. So, we want to find out from the respective Ministers when these things would happen.
    So, let us avoid that area and make some progress, Hon Members.
    Please go ahead.
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:50 p.m.
    Thank you. It is a clear-cut issue. All I would want to say is that these are areas that are very important to the existence of us as a country to enjoy the lower middle income status that we have attained; so infrastructure plays a major role.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Baffour Awuah?
    Mr Awuah 12:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague just said that the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing was here this morning. But to the best of my knowledge that Minister was not here this morning, it was the Minister for Health who was here.
    So, I just want to put to him --
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:50 p.m.
    Thank you very much for that correction. You know he was just in that Ministry and came down and in trying to make my point very clear, I slipped. So, thank you very much for that correction.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Hon Member, can you begin to wind up?
    Alhaji Sorogho 12:50 p.m.
    They end up for ten years, and what is the result. The result is that the cost is tripled and so if today, we have a fund that is being established to solely manage and construct infrastructure development, all of us should be happy and praise that government for bringing this.
    I had made up my mind that I was going to Court if such a fund had not been envisaged and established. Seriously speaking, Mr Speaker, I had made up my mind that for all these problems that we are having -- a hospital here -- if you go through the Questions, each Member of Parliament wants something in his or her constituency. How can we do that? We rely on the Consolidated Fund yet it is not fourth coming.
    So, Mr Speaker, I would want to praise this government for bringing this fund and to urge all of us to come out strongly and support it, then make sure that we monitor it so that we can all enjoy the benefits that such a fund brings.
    I thank you very much for the --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Yes, the last contributor.
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Dr Kojo Appiah-Kubi (NPP -- Atwima Kwanwoma) 12:50 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the floor of the House.
    In doing so, I would like to associate myself with the call by Hon Papa Owusu- Ankomah, to reject this Bill.
    Indeed, I would also want to call upon my Hon Colleagues to reject it because this Bill would not lead to any major
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Hon Members, Order!
    He has the floor, let us hear him.
    Dr Appiah-Kubi 12:50 p.m.
    Why are these funds not leading to improvements in infrastructure in this country?
    If we cannot let these Funds lead to major improvements in infrastructure development of this country, why then do we need to create another fund.
    Mr Speaker, I also believe that the creation of this Fund would not bring about any improvement because it is not the creation or the lack of Fund that is hampering the infrastructural develop- ment of this country, but rather the inability to create physical space that is rather hampering infrastructural develop- ment of this country.
    Another issue that I would like to raise is that let us look at the objective of this fund. If you would allow me, Mr Speaker, paragraph 6 (1) says that:
    “The long-term objective is to facilitate investment projects that significantly enhance the economic competitiveness of the country by improving economic output and/or productivity.”
    Let us ask ourselves, how the sources of this Fund are going to enhance physical space. Are there any new things that are going to add up to widen the physical space of this county, no. We are just shifting resources and I do not think that doing so would lead to any improvement in infrastructural develop- ment.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Thank you very much. Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
    I indicated that he was the last contributor but since you belong to Leadership, I am giving you the opportunity.
    Minority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 1 p.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, I think it is important to state for the records that, any Member of Parliament or Parliamentary Candidate who goes about in his electioneering campaign promising to deliver infrastructure to his constituents, is rather uninformed or uninitiated about the functions of Parliament and indeed Parliamentarians.
    Mr Speaker, the second thing is about the rational for the Bill. We are told in the Report-- That is bullet point 6.1, that the purpose of this Bill is to create a special purpose vehicle that is capable of raising and mobilising funds from the private sector to finance the country's infrastructural deficit.
    I would want to believe that, it is intended to address the country's infrastructural deficits and not to finance the deficits. I guess the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance would agree with me that, it is indeed a wrong construction.
    Mr Speaker, as for the Majority Leader who would not be patient and was butting in occasionally, talking about Presidential Special Initiatives (PSIs) that we have seen in this country, Mr Speaker, I would want to remind the Hon Majority Leader that, recent creatures should register on his radar, rather than going back into history.
    I believe that other creatures would register on his radar: Why he chose to go to the Stone Age, I cannot tell; The Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) and the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) are there for him to cite.
    Mr Speaker, because he feels so uncomfortable, he is saying I should address you. But when he was addressing this matter, he was looking straight into the face of the Hon Colleague.
    Mr Speaker, there are vehicles that have been created in this country, including creatures known as Judgement Debts and Financial Engineering which have siphoned State money into private pockets. We should be worried.
    Mr Speaker, coming to the purpose, we are told in a memorandum -- And let me establish that in principle, I am for this vehicle. I remember when it was cited in the Budget, I said it was something good that as a nation, we should pursue.
    We are told that the country already spends approximately US$1.2 billion on infrastructure which is equivalent to approximately 7.5 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Mr Speaker, we are also told that beyond that, we would still require at least, the equivalent of US$1.5 billion per annum to address our infrastructural deficit.
    Now, what is the anticipation? What do we intend to achieve by this? What amounts are we looking at and what about its mobilisation and what is it going to add to the US$1.2 billion that we spend every year on this?
    I felt that we should have been given some clue about the anticipations; you are spending the equivalent of US$1.2 billion which is GH¢ 3.12 billion and that is insufficient. That translates into just 7.5 per cent of our GDP. Now, with this new creation and creature that you are proposing, how much do you intend to mobilise to enhance the levels that we have as a country? We are not told, and I
    think it is a tragedy because you recognise that there is a deficit which you would want to address; you would want to redress the imbalance in the system, and you are proposing this vehicle. Now, you are not telling us the anticipation of how much it is going to generate.
    So, as to how it is going to help this country, you are not in the position to tell us. I think that it is a very undesirable work that has been foisted on us. I thought the sponsors of this Bill ought to have positioned themselves to boldly tell us what anticipations --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Hon Member, are you up on a point of order?
    Mr M. M. Ibrahim 1 p.m.
    Yes!
    Mr Speaker, the Minority Leader made statements that are not absolutely factual. This is a House of facts and I least expected such a statement to be made because he would have crosschecked. In any case, GYEEDA was not created by this Government, but was created in 2005/
    2006.

    GYEEDA is the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), if he cares to know GYEEDA is the same -- And in any case, Mr Speaker, all the allegations of corruption and other things that they are talking about with regard to GYEEDA are things that happened under NYEP. So, for him to rise to say that GYEEDA is a recent creation is absolutely

    not accurate. [Interruptions] -- And he does not have any shred of evidence that someone is siphoning money.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, your point is made.
    Hon Minority Leader, please, proceed.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would not respond to sheer propaganda here.
    In any event, I was not attributing the setting-up of GYEEDA to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Administra- tion. I only talked about what is more recent; if he has ears to listen to what I said. Mr Speaker, I do not respond to such fuming. Mr Speaker, I would move on and disregard these entrants into my --
    Mr Speaker, the third matter that I would want to talk about is with the reformation of debt management. Mr Speaker, we would want to provide the avenue for some borrowing to be done using this special purpose vehicle. To the extent that the vehicle is going to be only government owned. Certainly whatever comes in would be a burden on Government. Mr Speaker, I am aware that it is part of the reformation of debt management that Government is talking about.
    But, let us face it; debt is debt, regardless of the coloration that we give it; debt is debt. Let us not mislead ourselves into thinking that because we are creating this special purpose vehicle, the burden would be lifted off the shoulders of Government.
    The burden would still be on the shoulders of Government. Let nobody deceive this country. The debt would be on the country and tax payers. That is why I am saying that debt is debt.
    Mr Speaker, at the very outset of this year alone, we were told we were going to need GH¢6.2 billion to service debt for this year. It has gone up already and that we are now looking at a figure in the region of about GH¢8.4 billion.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader, is it on a point of order?
    Dr Kunbuor 1 p.m.
    Yes, I am not particularly comfortable with the sweeping statements by the Hon Minority Leader that debt is debt. Debts are of different kinds. There is bad debt and there is doubtful debt, and there are debts. A bad debt and a doubtful debt are not the same as ordinary debts.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe that to the extent that he acknowledges that both constitute debts and they are not spelt differently, Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader would have to admit to what I have said. This gymnastics would not help him at all, and I think that it would be better for him as the Majority Leader because I knew --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Dr Kunbuor 1 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, regrettably, I am certainly not involved in any gymnastics. I am only drawing the Minority Leader's attention to a more scientific way of analysing things. You do not look at the whole of something and say that is the thing. You disaggregate and look at the individual components and that is when you could get the proper understanding. [Hear! Hear!]
    So, looking at debt simpliciter does not give you an idea of what it is but that some of those debts are bad and some are doubtful. That is a more scientific analytical approach, and it is not gymnastics.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader is known for his theories. This is a House for reality. [Interruption] -- It is a House for reality; he should not bring his theories here. When we talk about financial manage- ment, it does not have anything to do with the theories you propound yourself.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, can we veer off that area, so we can make some progress?
    Dr Kunbuor 1:10 p.m.
    In fact, the reality is that theory is not for everybody; only a trained mind can handle theory. [Hear! Hear!]
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
    A disorientated mind would clinch the theories -- [Hear! Hear!] A disorientated mind would clinch the theories.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, please, let us make some progress; continue with your submission.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, tell him not to interfere when I am on the floor.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Please, let us make progress.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, restrain him; if he restrains himself, I would restrain myself. [Interruption] -- I should cease fire; you began it. Now, you are calling for ceasefire? I would do it
    -- 1:10 p.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, please, let us address the Report.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
    Absolutely!
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    The subject matter of the Report --
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
    Absolutely Mr Speaker --
    As I was saying --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Order! Order!
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
    We are talking about debt management and as I was saying, in this particular case, debt is debt to the extent that we relate it to our GDP ratio. [Interruption] -- When we are relating our debt stock to our GDP ratio, we do not go with a fine comb to say that this is bad debt; this is unserviceable and this is so and so.
    Mr Speaker, let people not get into this matter; if it is not for them, they should not enter the frail. But I think it is important that we look at this because I think that we need further and better particulars. As I have said, in principle, I think that it is a worthy course but the structure that is being given to us today, certainly, is not the best and if we have to go and further propose some amendments, I think the House would be ready to do just that.
    As I have said, in principle, it is a worthy course but the structure is not the best. Let us look at further improving it and if we do that Mr Speaker, I think it would be of great benefit to this country.
    Thank you for the opportunity.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Thank you very much. Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Dr Kunbuor 1:10 p.m.
    I am particularly happy that this Bill has generated so much interest. If I had my doubts about the importance and significance of this Bill now, I am more convinced that this Bill
    Dr Kunbuor 1:10 p.m.


    should become an Act of Parliament. I say so for very good reasons. I have tried to see in the face of evidence that, this Bill is not about debt management, yet, the focus here on a very tangential issue to the Bill has come. The objects of the Bill are stated very clearly and it has nothing to do with debt but there are very good reasons that it has generated such an interest.

    I am saying this with evidence --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, is it on a point of order?
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:10 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker; I have not spoken and I was not going to speak but the Hon Majority Leader said, this Bill is not about debt management. With your permission, if I may quote from the memorandum; paragraph 3:
    “The establishment of the fund will also enable self-financing projects to be taken off the Government's debt stock and managed as commercial properties, thus, freeing up debt capacity.”
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Dr Kunbuor 1:10 p.m.
    I can agree with the Hon Member but I am saying that this Bill is a Bill on the Ghana Investment Fund and not a Bill on managing Ghana's debt. That is what I mean by that.
    Significantly, Mr Speaker --
    rose
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I said, I was not going to speak but I would want to assist him. It is not Ghana Investment Fund; it is Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund. [Laughter.]
    Dr Kunbuor 1:10 p.m.
    Thank you very much for your correction.
    Mr Speaker, as I indicated, I have seen similar Bills come to this House and those Bills were not only fought on the floor of the House, they were fought in the streets and almost every special location only for those who had fought those Bills at those locations to turn round after a few years to say that Bill is the most wonderful thing and started taking the benefit of it. -- [Hear! Hear!] -
    That is why I am convinced that, in a few years down the line, anybody that is fighting this Bill would not advocate when circumstances change that this law should be repealed; they would ask that it should be more enhanced. That is the more reason I think this Bill is in its proper place and this is the right time.
    The second thing Mr Speaker is that, when we become a middle income country --
    Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu -- rose
    -- 1:10 p.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, for the records, I am not sure anybody who has spoken has said that the Bill should not be supported. Everyone who has expressed some objection is talking about the structure that it is now in; the current structure, but in principle, I have not seen --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, one or two Hon Members have clearly indicated that it should be rejected.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is because of the structure but in principle, I think anybody who has spoken to it supports it. That should be the clear line of definition.
    Dr Kunbuor 1:10 p.m.
    In fact, Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader was not patient. My next point was that I am not sure exactly whether our friends opposite support this Bill or they do not support it. This is because I have heard people making proposals in rejecting some aspects of the Bill. I have heard yet a few courageously say; this Bill is not in the interest of this country.
    If I am laying my bed to lie on it, you do not decide where I put the pillow. So, you wait till the Consideration Stage and you can come with your amendments to show how it should be restructured but for now, we are dealing with the objects, the significance and the relevance of this Bill.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Ranking Member of the Committee?
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not sure what the Hon Majority Leader is saying; this is the House of Parliament which has several different political people here. He said if he is laying his bed; so, is he saying that everything that comes here is his bed and we should allow him lay it?
    Is that what he is saying? He should be very careful about his choice of words.
    Dr Kunbuor 1:10 p.m.
    Thank you very much. As a professional lawyer, I am trained well to know how to choose my words and mark it; I chose those words very cautiously. I am saying that, what we are dealing with now is the objectives of the Bill that is informed by policy and that policy is the preserve of Government.
    At that particular stage of the Bill, it is National Democratic Congress' bed; it is the Government of Ghana's bed and we would decide how we would lay the sheets and the pillow --
    Dr Kunbuor 1:10 p.m.
    I am not going to run away from the fact that, this is a policy of a Government that belongs to a political party --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Sekondi?
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, of course, it is the Government that is bringing this Bill but when it comes to the floor, we go according to our Standing Orders. To refresh our memory as a House with your permission, and to let the Leader of Government Business know that it is not really just talking because it is Government Bill; no!
    It says, Mr Speaker, Standing Order 127
    (1):
    “On a motion being made that a Bill be now read a Second Time, a full debate shall arise on the principle of the Bill on the basis of the explanatory memorandum and the report from the Committee.”
    Mr Speaker, if you look at this Report, the Committee is quite exhaustive, it has made amendments and it is not a National Democratic Congress (NDC) Committee.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Order! Order!
    Dr Kunbuor 1:20 p.m.
    I am particularly very happy, but I know that the Business on this floor at some point was left on the shoulders of only one side of this House and at that time, it was in Parliament. On what basis did we abdicate some duties at some point on a purely flimsy political challenge?
    Some Hon Members 1:20 p.m.
    Yes.
    Dr Kunbuor 1:20 p.m.
    We carried on the Business of this House as Parliament, so it cannot lie in anybody's mouth now for him to say that when it comes to holding an opinion, the only person who cannot hold an opinion is the Majority Leader. I am entitled first as a Member of Parliament to hold my opinion and I know when to hold my opinion as the Majority Leader. I am making this contribution not as a Majority Leader but as an Hon Member of this House.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Sekondi?
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not by any stretch of imagination saying that the Majority Leader should not have an opinion; no. He cannot have an opinion in vacuo. An opinion must be informed based on the Standing Orders. I
    was just correcting him that when it comes to the Second Reading, it is based on principles, explanatory memorandum and the Report of the Committee which is a report of a Committee of the House and not an NDC Committee. That was all I was saying; I know he is here to champion Government Business; that is his job. I do not begrudge him, but please, let us know that in this House --
    Dr Kunbuor 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I guess that you would attribute that word NDC to the Hon Member from Sekondi. In all my submissions, I never referred to any NDC [Uproar.] I indicated that the Government and party [Interruption.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Order!
    Dr Kunbuor 1:20 p.m.
    I said Government and party; I am not prepared -- You can go and check the records. I said Government and party. [Interruption.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Members, Order!
    Yes, can you begin to wind up?
    Dr Kunbuor 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, on a more serious note, I can take precaution from the Hon Former Leader of this House and let us take all those other issues as on the lighter side.
    But what is significant is that, as a middle income country, it becomes very imperative that with population pressure and increase demands on infrastructure, we need to find a different way of handling our infrastructure funding. This is because, one of the issues that we know in this country is not the fact that
    the infrastructure gap exists, but that the ability to fund that gap inclusive has been a major challenge and it is in that line that this particular Bill is forward looking and is beginning to address a number of issues.
    Mr Speaker, we do not need to go into details; this Bill sells itself and I entreat every Member of this House to support the Bill.
    Thank you.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Thank you very much.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, do you have some closing remarks to make before we put the Question?
    Deputy Minister for Finance (Mr George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan): Mr Speaker, I would like to use the opportunity to thank Hon Members for the good job that they have done on this.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker; that is all I have for now.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Members, I will then put the Question.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    The Infrastructure Investment Fund Bill, 2014 was accordingly read a Second time.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Dr Kunbuor 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker did refer a matter that was pending and I would want that we take it and then we proceed.
    I have seen the Hon Ranking Member and I am sure that he read them.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Ranking Member, I believe you had time to read through the Report?
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think it has been made clear that the Business of the House is at the behest of the Hon Majority Leader, so you can go ahead.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Very well.
    Dr Kunbuor 1:20 p.m.
    Well, it is because I am the Chairman of the Business Committee in this House so indeed, the Business always has a leader; it is not in any negative way so we can proceed; Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    What is the item number?
    Dr Kunbuor 1:20 p.m.
    The item number is 6 (d); “D” for David?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Yes, item number 6 (d).
    PAPERS 1:20 p.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Ranking Member?
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, may I remind the Leader of Government Business that even though I got a copy, I am not sure the Paper has been distributed so you can take steps to do that.
    Dr Kunbuor 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, shall we take item number 9?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Item number 9, by Chairman of Committee.
    MOTIONS 1:20 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr James K. Avedzi) 1:20 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 Finance Committee on the Credit Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and VTB Capital plc, London (as Arranger and Facility Agent) for an amount of three hundred million United States dollars (US$300 million) for the Ghana Armed Forces Peacekeeping efforts undertaken by the United Nations Organisation and other agreed uses may be moved today.
    Mr Fritz Frederic Baffour 1:20 p.m.
    I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr Alfred Agbesi 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, item number 10.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Yes, Chairman of the Committee?
    Government of Ghana/VTB Capital Plc, London Credit Facility Agreement
    for the Ghana Armed Force Peace Keeping
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr James K. Avedzi) 1:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Credit Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and VTB Capital plc, London (as Arranger and Facility Agent) for an amount of three hundred million United States dollars (US$300 million) for the Ghana Armed Forces Peacekeeping efforts undertaken by the United Nations Organisation and other agreed uses.
    Mr Speaker, in doing so, I present your Committee's Report.
    Introduction
    The Credit Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and VTB Capital plc, London (as Arranger and Facility Agent) for an amount of three hundred million United States dollars (US$300 million) for the Ghana Armed Forces Peacekeeping efforts undertaken by the United Nations Organisation and other agreed uses was presented to the House on behalf of the Hon Minister for Finance by the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, Mr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson on Thursday, 13th March, 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 Defence, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, Hon Deputy, Minister for Finance, Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, Officials from the Ministry of Finance and Ghana Armed Forces. The Committee is grateful to the Hon Minister, Deputy Minister and Officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Armed Forces for the assistance.

    Reference

    The Committee referred to the following additional documents during its deliberations:

    The 1992 Constitution of Ghana;

    The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana; and

    Loans Act, 1970, (Act 335).

    Background

    Ghana's involvement in Peacekeeping Operations dates back to the 1960s with the deployment of her first troops as part of the UN Peacekeeping Operations in the Republic of Congo. The Ghana Armed Forces after its first experience has continued to contribute troops to United Nations Peace Support Operations (UNPSO) across the globe. Ghana is currently the twelfth (12 th) largest contributor of military personnel to the UNPSO worldwide and has provided personnel for seventeen major Peace Support Operations (PSOs) under the auspices of the UN, the AU and the

    ECOWAS.

    Invariably, Ghana has almost always been the first to respond to an SOS or Crisis Call from the UN, AU or ECOWAS. A case in point is the South Sudan situation. The GAF has therefore, earned the international acclamation of being among the finest peacekeepers the world over and immensely contributing to global peace.

    The proceeds of the loan would be used towards the funding of Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) participation in the peacekeeping efforts undertaken by the United Nations. It would be used to re- equip the GAF to enable them provide equipment, logistic and transport support for emergency United Nations Peacekeeping Operations especially in South Sudan and Mali.

    The Facility would also be to support the upkeep of personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces on existing peacekeeping missions (DR Congo, Lebanon and Liberia). Presently, Ghanaian Peacekeeping personnel in L'a Côte D'Ivoire are being moved on an emergency basis to South Sudan. An Engineer and Aviation units are also being established in Mali.

    Justification for government action

    The present demands of the Wet Lease System in UNPSO requires a Troop contributing Country (TCC) to launch its contingent into a Mission with sufficient quantities of Equipment, Logistics and material as well as being able to sustain such a force in the Area of Operations. It has always become a daunting task to provide for such military hardware thereby creating shortfalls which invariably have their effect on the conduct of operation.

    Under the Wet Lease arrangement UN reimburses Ghana for personnel, major equipment and self-sustaining tools deployed in the mission area.

    The loan would be used to finance the procurement of equipment including air assets (Helicopters) and other logistic material to re-equip the Ghana Armed Forces to enable it participate in the United Nations Peace Support Operations particularly, in the emergency entry into South Sudan and Mali. Part of the facility will also be used to support the upkeep of personnel in existing peacekeeping operations as well.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr James K. Avedzi) 1:30 p.m.
    SPACE FOR SPACE - PAGE 6 -

    Observations

    Urgency of the facility

    The Committee was informed that the Credit Facility is urgently required to finance the procurement of military equipment for the Ghana Armed Forces in various peacekeeping operations. The urgency, the Committee was informed, emanates from the deployment timelines given by the United Nations for Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to deploy in South Sudan and Mali.

    Secondly, TCCs are to suffer a deduction of the Troop Cost reim- bursement for dysfunctional or un- serviceable Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) in the Mission areas. This policy is to take effect from 1st July, 2014 and the deadline for deployment is 1st April, 2014.

    This means that Ghana is behind time for deployment and if Ghana fails to meet the deadline, the country would lose the position to other countries.

    Further, there is the need to re-equip the contingents in the exiting missions to avoid this deduction on Troop Cost reimbursement.

    Importance of the facility

    Commenting on the importance of the Facility, the Minister for Defence stated that, the Facility is needed to enable Ghana participate meaningfully in UN peace- keeping missions in Mali and South Sudan. The Minister explained that there has been an expansion in the platform of the Ghana Armed Forces under the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

    According to the Minister, Ghana has been requested to contribute about 850 battalions to the UN peacekeeping operations in South Sudan as part of UN Wet Lease Programme.

    As part of the programme, Troop Contributing Countries are expected to use their own military arsenals for the peacekeeping operations while the UN reimburses them for the cost of maintaining the equipment and troop maintenance. In this regard, Ghana Armed Forces troops accordingly need to be re- tooled and revamped to meet the UN standards and requirements.

    The Committee was further informed that, participating in UN peacekeeping operations greatly enhances Ghana's international image because a high operational performance will win respect in the United Nations. Further, participating in UN Peacekeeping Operations under the Wet Lease has an advantage of a sustained reimbursement inflow to the participating country.

    The cost of participation would therefore be redeemed over time and the nation also earns foreign exchange. The Ghana Armed Forces will also acquire varied training experiences at no cost to the Government.

    Financing peacekeeping operations

    Briefing the Committee on how peacekeeping operations are being financed, the Minister for Defence stated that the current arrangements under UN Wet Lease Missions require the participating country to provide its own equipment and support troop upkeep for the first three months of operation before UN reimburses for maintenance of equipment and troop upkeep for the duration of the mission.

    The Committee was further informed that upkeep of men in peacekeeping mission hitherto was financed through a Facility from Fidelity Bank. However, high interest cost and the difficulty of raising the needed funds to pre-finance the upkeep of Men in peacekeeping missions
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Any seconder?
    Mr Fritz Frederic Baffour (NDC-- Ablekuma South) 1:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion that the Report of the Finance Committee be accepted.
    Mr Speaker, it is important to say that after the deliberations of the Finance Committee, my Committee on Defence and Interior has had the opportunity to discuss—
    Dr A.A Osei —rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Hon Member for Old Tafo, I believe you want to say that the Hon Member referred to the Committee as his — it is an error.
    Mr Baffour 1:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it was an error and I actually corrected myself.
    Mr Speaker, the Committee on Defence and Interior has had the opportunity to look at the Report and has actually discussed it with the Finance Committee.

    Mr William O. Boafo — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Yes Hon Member?
    Mr Boafo 1:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not aware that the Committee on Defence and Interior has met to separately discuss this Report. The referral was to the Finance Committee and we were co-opted to help the Finance Committee — just few Hon Members; the leadership of our Committee were co-opted, since that time, I do not know when the Chairman convened a meeting of our Select Committee to discuss this matter.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Chairman.
    Mr Baffour 1:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I said I had the opportunity to discuss it with the Finance Committee and he was present as a leader. I did not say that I convened a meeting of the Committee to discuss this. So, I stand to be corrected, please.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    Very well. Go ahead.
    Mr Baffour 1:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I had the privilege of your Committee on Defence and Interior to travel to South Sudan to look at the circumstances in which our troops were operating under the UN mandate in that country. It was an eye opener. There were problems with the transfer of equipment which were resolved with the Government of South Sudan. I went to visit the troops with the Hon Deputy Minister for Defence.
    We went to Bentiu, Rumbek and were in Juba. Our troops are doing a heroic job, protecting the lives of over a hundred thousand internally displaced persons and refugees yet, the equipment that they have --
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 1:40 p.m.
    On a point of order.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member for Yunyoo (Mr Joseph B. Naabu) is interrupting the contribution of the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Defence and Interior. I would want to appeal to you to call him, thereafter, to contribute because we want to hear his contribution. He should not distract the Hon Member's attention.
    Mr Baffour 1:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I can assure you that I am not disconcerted at all by background noise.
    I had this opportunity to visit the troops in their areas of operation in Bentiu, Rumbek and in Juba and as I said, they are protecting the lives of innocent citizens of South Sudan. Before I continue, I would like to remind Ghanaians that at our independence, Dr Kwame Nkrumah equated our independence as being meaningless unless it was linked to the total liberation of the continent of Africa.
    If the oldest country, the first country to have its independence south of the Sahara is assisting, under the UN mandate, the newest country in Africa, then we should be applauded and supported and we should do the right thing. That is to get our troops who are in the areas of operation, who are well equipped -- they have to be very well equipped. We need the items that have been listed in this Report. We understand the technical terms have been discussed at length.
    If there are even variations or dissent on that, we should also keep in mind that, we have fighting men and women in that area and that they have to be protected. Any nation worth its salt has got to ensure that if its troops are embarking on a mission of support, a mission to help a new nation come into being and sustain its self, then we have to do the right thing.
    Mr Baffour 1:40 p.m.
    We have to adopt this Report and ensure that the Motion is carried -- that we get the right funds for equipping our troops. This is because what I saw there, though the morale was high, the equipment are not up to scratch.
    We know that there is a wet-lease scheme by the UN that would help us recover or mitigate the cost of the loan apart from paying. So, it is important today, that we the Parliament of Ghana give support to the men and women of the Ghana Armed Forces in their duties as UN peace-keepers.

    Question proposed.
    Dr Anthony A. Osei (NPP -- Old Tafo) 1:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to start from where the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee ended. We must do the right thing.
    Mr Speaker, I am an Hon Member of the Defence and Interior Committee and it pains me that we do not want to do the right thing. Mr Speaker, all the foreign missions need assistance and this has been the problem for a long time. But as he said, we must do the right thing.
    Mr Speaker, you would recall that, this Report was supposed to be laid before we rose the last time. We do not know what happened. Some of us are informed that, some ‘important' people here found some problems so they wanted the Attorney-General to advise government on this matter and the Attorney-General did. After that, what has happened? Somebody said, we are ignoring your advice.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to use the Committee's Report and later on, I would want to table the letter from the Attorney- General -- [Hon Member: No, read it.] -- No, I would come to it. So, that we will know why we think that the Government should think through it and not just think that they can vote for it and be doing themselves a favour.
    Mr Speaker, why are we against it? We abstained because we would want to do the right thing.
    Mr Speaker, first and foremost, let me take you to page 8 of the Committee's Report -- on the matter for financial arrangement for repayment. Mr Speaker, factually speaking -- and I think the Hon Chairman also noted that -- that all the receivables that will come 2014 to 2018 will not be sufficient to service the debt.
    The US$30 million that was put here for 2009 to 2012 -- if you multiply it by four, it will not be enough to service a loan US$300 million at an interest of libor -- So, let us agree that receivables would not be sufficient, so government would have to find additional resources in three years; not five, in three years to pay over 300 and eighty something million in three years. Mr Speaker, the terms of the loan are onerous for this nation. It is as simple as that.
    Mr Speaker, the second point is the expenditure outside Appropriation as it is noted by the Committee. Mr Speaker, very often, most of us think that, when we approve of a loan here, we give authority for them to spend. No!
    Mr Speaker, with your permission, let me read 1:50 p.m.
    “The Committee noted that though the Ministry is requesting for approval of an amount of US$300.00 million, the 2014 Appropriation allocated only GH¢144.00 million
    under CAPEX for the Ministry of Defence. The Committee held the view that the amount currently being sought for is outside the Ministry's appropriation and requires further parliamentary Authorisation in line with ….”
    “The Deputy Minister for Finance, however, explained that this expenditure was not anticipated at the time of the appropriation of the 2014 Budget and promised the Ministry's preparedness to seek the needed parliamentary authorisation through a Supplementary budget to allow the utilisation of the facility.”
    Unless, of course, the Deputy Minister is telling us that tomorrow he is coming for authorisation, then even if we approve of this loan, it cannot be spent for this year 's Appropriation. We would be exceeding it.
    Mr Speaker, these are the reasons that we say we must do the right thing. The Hon Deputy Minister must do the right thing before we approve of this loan.
    Mr Speaker, let me go to the terms and conditions of the facility. Mr Speaker, VTB Capital Limited is 61 per cent owned by the State of Russia. It is the lender, it is the arranger, it is the facility agent. One company. Mr Speaker, let us do the right thing. It is the lender, it is the arranger, it is the facility agent. It is charging us two per cent, that is six million dollars - to do what? Six million dollars.
    Mr Speaker, this facility agent, arranger, and lender is charging us 1.85 per cent -- US$5.5 million as upfront fees. So, as soon as we approve, somebody gets US$11.5 million. To do what?
    You mean, the Government of Ghana, with all these experts, the Deputy Minister, the Governor, need somebody to charge us US$11.5 million to manage this loan?
    Mr Speaker, the Government must do the right thing.
    Mr Speaker, if we default, two per cent. Mr Speaker, the interest rate is six months libor plus seven.
    Mr Speaker, do you know what it means? It is 7.2 per cent dollar rate. This Government must do the right thing, this Parliament must do the right thing. The grace period is two years, repayment in three years, so the maturity is five years. What it means for the simple mind like ours is that, after 2016, this Government must find over US$300 million, that is over $100 million a year just to service this loan.
    Mr Speaker, there is no question about the fact that those in Mali, South Sudan, Lebanon need to be helped but you see, part of this loan is for recurrent expenditure here. Let me take you to the Committee's Report. This is not just for the South Sudanese troops; you do not need to borrow $70 million to buy petrol in Ghana, that is a recurrent expenditure. I would want to take you to page 6 of the Committee's Report;
    “Free deployment training support”.
    Mr Speaker, all those items are recurrent expenditure. Do we need to borrow dollars to buy petrol for the troops here, not in South Sudan, Mali or Lebanon? Do we need to borrow dollars for recreational training here in Ghana? This is a recurrent expenditure that must be sustained. We want money for our troops outside but let us do the right thing. Look at this, feeding in Ghana, please. Colleagues, let us think this through. We would want to borrow US$70 million to feed people here in Ghana, not in Lebanon, Mali or South Sudan; that is not correct.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Hon Member, are you up on a point of order?
    Alhaji Sorogho 1:50 p.m.
    Rightly so.
    Mr Speaker, I am surprised that the Ranking Member is holding this very Report which was discussed at the Committee level and to which Papa Owusu-Ankomah, the former Attorney- General and Minister for Justice, concluded that the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice can only give an advice and that during his time, such advice was given and he did not take it and that there is no law binding and that the advice given by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice is only an advice.
    This very Report that he is are holding, we exhausted it and I am surprised that after the conclusion, the same Report is being branded here as a justification -- as if this Report has never been discussed. I am not surprised because this is a majority decision; it is not unanimous. I know already, the point was well made, that we are not going to allow it, we will not support it.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Order! Order!
    Hon Member, please, proceed with your submission but begin to wind up.
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:50 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I shall not be distracted. Clause 3.2 -- Monitoring.
    “We note that this provision is a departure …”.
    This is the Attorney-General of the Republic of Ghana.
    “…from the usual financing arrangements where the lender monitors the activities of the borrower to ensure that the proceeds of the loan are used exclusively for the purpose for which the facility was advanced. The provisions of this clause raise concern especially so where the agreement provides in clause 3.12 that the facility is for a specific purpose and any other matters agreed between the parties…”
    What any other matters means, is difficult to ascertain in the circum- stances.”
    This is our Attorney General and Minister for Justice. Mr Speaker, she goes on further,
    “We note however from clauses 18.21 and 18.22 that the borrower is obliged to provide when requested…”
    Mr Speaker, let me go to the next objection, clause 5.55 -- Automatic Cancellation 1:50 p.m.
    “The parties should agree that in the circumstances that the facility or part thereof is cancelled due to non-utilisation. The borrower will have to --”
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon Member, having regard to the state of business in the House, I direct that the Sitting be held outside the prescribed time or period in accordance with Order 40(3) of the Standing Orders of this House.
    Please, proceed.
    Dr A. A. Osei 2 p.m.
    It says.
    “The parties should agree that in the circumstances that the facility or the part thereof is cancelled due to non-utilisation, the Borrower would have the opportunity to request for extension of time to utilise same.”
    This is a good advice from our Attorney-General and Minister for Justice that we should put this clause in the Agreement.
    Mr Speaker, clause 18.3.1 -- Notification of Default -- it is suggested that specific time lines are agreed upon by the parties regarding the notification to the Lender, this would ensure certainty. This is the advice of our Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, advising Government to include this in the contract.
    Arbitration -- What separate agreement is related to the Agreement at which a dispute may arise? She is raising a question. 37.1.3, Jurisdiction; it is suggested that, the provisions of clause 37.1 should be applicable to all the parties on the principle of reciprocity. This is proper language from the Attorney- General and Minister for Justice, since the parties to the Agreement have equal rights.
    Mr Speaker, this letter is coming from no other person than the Chief Legal Adviser to Government, that we should protect ourselves, as my Colleague said: do the right thing to protect the people of Ghana.

    Mr Speaker, I sought your permission to quote the right -- [Interruption.] -- clause 23.8.1. Mr Speaker, by the way, I want to table this so that it forms part of the records. Colleagues have photo- copies so they can refer to it.
    Mr Speaker, with your permission, I would like to reads clause 23.8.1 2 p.m.
    Neither the Facility Agent, which is VTB Capital nor the Arranger, which is the VTB Capital is responsible for the adequacy, accuracy or comple- teness of any information, whether oral or written, supplied by the Facility Agent, that is VTB or the Arranger that is VTB or any other person and given in or in connection with any financial document or any other Agreement or document.
    Mr Speaker, we are paying six million dollars as management fee. 5.5 million dollars --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon Member, please, begin to wind up. I gave you this opportunity because you are the Ranking Member.
    Dr A. A. Osei 2 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am winding up.
    As I said, as a member of the Interior, Defence and Finance Committee, I think that, like the Chairman of Defence Committee said, we must do the right thing-- [Interruption.] The right thing is when the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice of the Republic advises you, you take notice.
    Mr Speaker, when the Attorney- General and Minister for Justice -- in fact, I am surprised because the Paper was not laid at that time for this same reason.
    Mr Speaker, I think that this House should withdraw this loan, seek the advice of the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, so that you and I at some point in time, posterity would not look at us as having caused financial loss to the State.

    This is non-partisan, our troops need to be protected but not under this circumstance.
    Mr Dominic A. Azumah (NDC -- Garu) 2 p.m.
    Thank you so much, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, I am on my feet to support the Motion on floor and to make few comments.
    Mr Speaker, as clearly stated by a previous Hon Member who spoke, the role Ghana plays in peacekeeping is so important that, when it comes to this House, we should reflect soberly, think through it and grant them what they are looking for.
    When Mali was in crisis and ECOWAS invited the Member States to intervene through any other means, Ghana decided to participate, and I can say for sure that as a member who was in the group of a special committee established by ECOWAS to visit Timbuktu, Gao and Bamako to assess the situation, I was amazed when the French forces informed us that, but for the timely intervention of the Ghanaian forces on the Aviation Sector, the rebel forces would have completely ran overTimbuktu all the way into Bamako.
    That it was the sheer bravery of the Ghanaian team that actually made the difference and they were exhibiting that
    with all the challenges at hand. The French forces thought that this is a force which we should support.
    Mr Speaker, Nigeria is the highest contributor to the forces in Mali, after Ghana. But I can tell you the way Nigeria is handling their men on the ground is quite different from that of Ghana.
    So we must do everything as a country to protect these men while they are on the ground. And this is why this facility is very important-- to provide them with logistics, to provide them with equipment for their own upkeep is quite critical.
    Mr Speaker, when it comes to these issues, technicalities can be said but the bottomline is the success of the forces on the ground.
    Mr Speaker, one critical issue of the Report, and I thought that all the long talk by my Colleague, the Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance was simple-- how are we going to pay the loan? That was the question I thought he was going to help us get an answer.
    The Report also says that, it is envisaged that the total re-imbursement from the United Nations would be used to repay this loan. Whatever amount we would have wasted or used for this facility, we were going to get re-imbursement from the United Nations and that is what is going to be used to repay the loan. What is his worry about?
    I thought that, we should not try to turn things round. I think that the Ranking Member should not throw dust into our eyes.
    Clearly, if we were going to take responsibility in paying --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, is it a point of order?
    Dr A. A. Osei 2 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with all due respect to my Senior Colleague, I think he should withdraw those words. ‘Throwing dust', that is unparliamentary!
    Mr D. A. Azumah 2 p.m.
    Without wasting your time, I withdraw and say you are misleading us.
    Dr A. A. Osei 2 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he completely misquoted me.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon Member, he has withdrawn it.
    Dr A. A. Osei 2 p.m.
    No. Apart from that, he is misquoting me. He is not adverting his mind to the Committee's Report. When I was speaking, he did not listen.
    Mr Speaker, from 2009 to 2012, from the proceeds, what was left was thirty million and I reiterated in the statement that, all the proceeds are not enough to retire the debt. He should advert himself to the facts. That statement --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Hon Member, have you looked at it vis-à-vis the equipment that would be supplied, therefore, the possibility of an enhanced --
    Dr A. A. Osei 2:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am very familiar with this issue.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Very well, Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr Agbesi 2:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think our Colleague should cool down. The Hon Member has withdrawn, so please, let the
    debate roll. He has withdrawn. Why are you still fighting him?
    Dr A. A. Osei 2:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I cannot fight my senior Colleagues. I would want them to read the Report and understand it the way we all do.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Very well, Hon Member?
    Hon Minister, I would give you the opportunity to -- I want you to listen to all the debate so that at the end of the day, you can respond to issues that you want to --
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Mr D. A. Azumah 2:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, again, there is this provision that, the long life span of the military hardware would enable the equipment to be used in the home country after the termination of the UN mission.
    If for any reason we are raising a loan to procure these things and we are going to use them to support our sisters to come out of their crisis and at the same time, it would be beneficial to our country when they return home, then everybody should support this innovation.
    I am only urging them to soberly reflect and agree that our men on the ground need our support. We should not risk their lives. We should provide them with these equipment and let them accomplish their mission and return home safely to engage in supporting our security network.
    I thank you so much, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Hon W. O. Boafo?
    Mr William O. Boafo (NPP -- Akwapim North) 2:10 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the floor of the House.
    Mr Speaker, it is necessary for us to make it clear from the inception, that, so far as the project regarding international peacekeeping operations involving our Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is concerned, we are totally in support of the project.
    In the year 2000, we provided sufficient money to re-equip and replace obsolete equipment in the various operation areas -- [Interruption] -- We did it in 2001 and 2007. We are totally in support of the operation and we admire and appreciate the role that our GAF are playing in this particular field. We are proud of them. When we hear about their feat, we can raise our heads; we do not bow our heads so far as they are concerned.
    Mr Speaker, our problem is that, in the first place, we do not seem to appreciate the urgency in the whole affair except maybe only one place; that is the Somalia operation.
    Mr Speaker, if you consider the Lebanon operation, we are there already. We are only converting from a dry list to word list. We have been in Ivory Coast for so long a time. As for Democratic Republic of Congo, we have been there since the days of President Nkrumah.
    Mr Speaker, if you consider Liberia, we have been there for so long, so we do not see any urgency apart from the Somalia one. Having regard to the amount involved in the Somalia operation, it is our anticipation that, the Government can do something about it. The Government can raise money other than this particular loan and provide for Somalia, then take their time to arrange for a transparent and more credible facility to support the other areas.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Hon Member, is it on a point of order?
    Mr Baffour 2:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is on a point of order. My senior Colleague is misleading the House. We do not have troops in Somalia. We are in South Sudan.
    Mr Boafo 2:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he had the opportunity to travel to South Sudan that is why he is so precise about that thing.
    Mr Speaker, that is the only area we consider our troops to be at risk because it is a new area. All the other areas, we are there already and they have the equipment. It is only a question of replacement, so that we could earn more and we can take our time to look for a more credible and transparent facility.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Hon Members, order! Order!
    Mr Boafo 2:10 p.m.
    If you look at the clause 11 of the Agreement, you could see that it is not transparent because even the fees which are required to be paid to the arranger who is at the same time the lender and facilitator, that fee is to be determined by a fee letter. It is not determined in the Agreement. It is hidden somewhere and we are not made to know what amount they are going to pay to them as fees at all. These are some of the areas which would require transparency.
    Mr Speaker, this is an august House and we should not overlook some of these things at all. It is our wish that, the Government takes its time. They are going to build a peacekeeping village; there is no urgency about that; they are going to buy uniforms, feed them, buy helicopters, buy aircraft -- there is no urgency about
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs?
    Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (Ms Hannah Serwaah Tetteh) (MP) 2:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to lend my support to this Motion requesting the approval of the Facility of the Republic of Ghana is taking US$ 300,000,000 from VTB Capital for the
    GAF.
    Mr Speaker, as you would see from the Committee's Report, when you look at the details of where the funds are going to be deployed, there is indeed a request for funding from the United Nations for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MI- NUMSMA), pre-deployment training support, rehabilitation and expansion of pre-deployment training facilities for peace support operations.
    Mr Speaker, what that says is that, we have put our military officers in harm's way and for this House to suggest that we should take our time, while they are there, ill equipped, while we continue to argue about the details, because some people do not want our soldiers to be equipped. It is a message that we should send to the GAF that there are perhaps people who think about their welfare much more than others.
    Mr Speaker, the theatre of conflict in South Sudan is dangerous. It is an active theatre of conflict. Mali is in a theatre of conflict. The Middle East and the situation and the instability in the Middle East is an active area of conflict. Equipment and ammunition --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Order! Order!
    Ms Tetteh 2:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, ammunition is consumable. In other words, in the life of the peacekeeping operations it means to be replenished and replaced. Are we suggesting that because we equipped them in 2000 and something, all of that ammunition should have lasted until today so we should wait? They should stay in harm's way for as long as we decide that we still are going to be quibbling over the details.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to refer you to page 8 of the Report because --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Leader, are you up on a point of Order?
    Mr Nitiwul 2:20 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, two people from this side have commented on this Report.
    Not one of them has sought to suggest that the armed forces should wait at the Pleasure --

    Mr First Deputy Speaker Order! Hon Members, let us have some order. Hon Members, can you resume your seats?
    Mr Nitiwul 2:20 p.m.
    That the Armed Forces should wait and should be equipped at the pleasure of somebody. Mr Speaker, what the Hon Member said is that, this loan would be the worst loan this Parliament would ever contract, even the transaction fees we do not know yet, you pay six million --
    Mr Nitiwul 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, she is misleading the House. Nobody said that the Armed Forces should wait. We said look for a clean loan and let us all as a House pass it. That is what they said.
    Ms Tetteh 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, once again, I would like to refer you to the Report. It said the deadline for deployment is 1st April, 2014. What is today's date? The troops have deployed to South Sudan, we have a battalion in South Sudan today.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to refer you to page 8 of the Report and it talks about financial arrangements for repayments; it says;
    “…The Deputy Minister of Finance informed the Committee that, the Ghana Armed Forces has projected to receive a total amount of US$446,484,693.05 as proceeds from GAF peacekeeping operations between 2014 and 2018…”
    Mr Speaker, the information provided shows that indeed, the facility can pay for itself.
    rose rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, do you want to make a contribution?
    Mr Daniel Botwe 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Ranking Member has been on his feet for a long time and for heaven sake he should have been listened to.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Hon Member do you want to make a contribution?
    Mr Botwe 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, whiles we are at it, I think --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Do you want to make a contribution? If you want to make a contribution I would allow you.
    Mr Botwe 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thought you would want to listen to what I want to say, but if you think I do not have to make a comment, fine. But I thought that you would want to listen to what I have to say.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    No, is it a contribution or a point of order?
    Mr Botwe 2:20 p.m.
    If I do not speak there is no way you would know it is a contribution or a point of order.
    Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah (NPP -- New Juaben South) 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, inasmuch as we support our troops, I do not think we should go for any loan, more so a loan under such onerous terms.
    Mr Speaker, we have before us today a loan agreement for three hundred million US$. VTB Capital in its first dealing with the Ghanaian people is only supplying part of the loan.
    As we speak, we do not know the profile of the other lenders. They have to be properly identified, Mr Speaker, who exactly are the other lenders? What if they are people who we do not want to do business with? What if it is laundered money? What if it is drug money? Mr Speaker, we do not know the credit rating of the other lenders, we have not seen their latest annual report, neither have we seen their audited financial statement.
    Mr Speaker, the cost of borrowing does not make sense under current inter- national credit conditions. Here we have a loan agreement for which the interest rate is libor plus seven per cent. Mr Speaker, let us take note of the following; the CDB loan which has a tenure of 15 years was for libor plus 2.95 per cent. Yesterday, we considered the Cocobod syndicated loan which was at libor plus 0.6 per cent, for the simple reason that it was for a tenure of less than one year. Here we have a loan with a tenure of five years, and in financial terms, the shorter the tenure the lower the interest rate, and the interest for this Facility is libor plus seven per cent.
    Mr Speaker, it is instructive to note that, in the Attorney-General's (AG) response to the Finance Minister, in clause 8, and with your permission I would like to quote, says --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, it has been laid before the Table. The Hon Member extensively -- [Interruption.] Please, please, otherwise we cannot make progress -- [Interruption.] Hon Member, the Ranking Member was given the opportunity to read extensively from that letter -- [Interruption.] The letter is before us, we have it here, do we need to go over it again? I do not think so. Hon Member you
    can continue with your submission, but it has been referred to it extensively.
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was trying to refer to the advice from the AG and to draw attention to the fact that the AG who would ordinarily proffer legal advice strayed into the interest rate being charged for this Facility, and with your permission, I beg to quote --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, we have a copy of the letter, I do not see why we should be repeating this whole thing. [Interruption.] We have a copy of the letter here. The letter to all intents and purposes has been made available to us.
    Mr Nitiwul 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I crave your indulgence to make one simple fact clear. It is not all the facts from that letter that the Ranking Member read out. In fact, the area the Hon Member is capturing now is very important for us as a country. I plead that you listen to him and if he is repeating something, then you can caution him. If you do not listen to him --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Leader, what was the purpose for making it available to the Table office? So that you would have the benefit of the whole letter --
    Mr Nitiwul 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is true, but it is about strategy.
    Mr Alfred Agbesi 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that taking the sense of the House, the debate should be allowed to proceed. Let us allow the debate to proceed, let
    Hon Members -- [Interruption.] Mr Speaker, I think at this stage I wish to appeal to you that after one contribution, from each side of the House, you should put the Question since the House is virtually divided on issues.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, we are not there yet; Hon Member, go ahead with your submission.
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 2:30 p.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, the AG in clause 8 -- on interest and with your permission I beg to quote; it says;
    “…the provisions of this clause should be reviewed by the Debt Management Division of the Minister of Finance and the appropriate advice given by the Division…”
    Mr Speaker, even the Attorney- General is concerned about the interest rate. When the ranking Member was speaking, he mentioned some fees that are being charged in connection with this loan. We are confronted with upfront fees of US$ 5.5 million, and we are also confronted with management fees of US$ 6 million. Mr Speaker, VTB is charging us management fees, for managing its own portfolio. If you put the two together, that is US$ 11.5 million.
    Mr Speaker, without mincing words, this is ‘chop' money for somebody and his friends. [Uproar]-- This Facility is a fraud being perpetuated on the Ghanaian people. I would not be part of this, we would not be part of this, so stand up as Hon Members of Parliament and be counted in this instance. [Uproar]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Order! Order!
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 2:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in conclusion, let us put it on record that we on this side, support our troops, but we would not go for any loan just in the name of supporting our troops so we would not be part of this approval. Thank you. -- [Uproar]
    Mr Nitiwul 2:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker -- [Uproar]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Leader, please go ahead.
    Mr Nitiwul 2:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Hon Members, can we have some Order? Can we have some Order in this House?
    Hon Deputy Minority Leader, please proceed.
    Mr Nitiwul 2:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much for your kindness, and for bringing Order to this House.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Chief Whip?
    Alhaji Muntaka 2:30 p.m.
    On a point of order Mr Speaker, the rules of this House are very clear. Every one of us has every right to oppose or to speak his mind. But the last thing the Standing Orders of this House would tolerate is for someone to say it is “fraudulent,” simply because they do not agree with it.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to plead with you, for the sake of our records and for the sake of the procedures of this House, that the Hon Deputy Minority Leader, and the Hon Member who spoke, early on, Dr Assibey -- withdraws the use of the word; “fraudulent”. Mr Speaker, we should all remember that what goes around, comes around.
    Mr Speaker, to use those words is unparliamentary and they must withdraw those statements. They may point out their disagreement, but they cannot say it is fraudulent.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Leader, what do you say to that?
    Mr Nitiwul 2:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, first of all, my Colleague was not even listening to me. In fact, he believes that he was listening to me, but I believe he did not hear what I was saying. Mr Speaker, I said we would not and let me repeat, we would never;
    whether from our Government or your Government support a loan that looks “fraudulent” . Unless somebody wants to tell me that “looks fraudulent” is the same thing as “it is fraudulent”. I did not say that.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Leader, I believe that whether you used the expression “looks fraudulent” or “fraudulent”, I do not think it is very parliamentary. [Uproar]
    You know, the use of the word; “fraud” is very strong, so I would prefer that you would redraw that aspect of it.
    Mr Nitiwul 2:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we would want to be here and make our points, and if using the word “looks fraudulent” is what is going to block our opportunity, I withdraw that one.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Deputy Majority Leader, you have the floor.
    Mr Agbesi 2:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is not only the use of the word “fraudulent” that is offensive to this side of the House, but Dr Assibey -- Yeboah has said that this loan is somebody's “chop” money, and it is a fraud. We are insisting that these two words, “fraud”, and “this loan is somebody's ‘chop' money” must be withdrawn. We strongly object to these words -- [Interruption]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Hon Members, let us have some Order. I think that the Hon Deputy Minority Leader has redrawn that statement , and Hon Dr Assibey -- Yeboah is also not in the House, but I would direct that the words that he used, be expunged from the records. [Uproar]
    Mr Nitiwul 2:30 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Order! Order! Order!
    Hon Members, Order!
    Let us have absolute quiet in this House, otherwise, we would not have any progress in this House. Hon Deputy Minority Leader, please try to conclude.
    Mr Nitiwul 2:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would plead with you that I have just started, and I thank you very much for the Order.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Hon Member, let us restrict ourselves to the contents of the Report.
    Mr Nitiwul 2:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, when the terms of the loan, as espoused by Dr Assibey -- Yeboah and the ranking Member are very bad and are in effect the highest in our history, when the Attorney -General (AG) has written to say that please tread cautiously and stop, and the Government thinks that they can go ahead with their majority in Parliament --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Leader, please conclude.
    Mr Nitiwul 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in conclusion, the military should know that they have a responsibility in this country to ensure that civilians are disciplined. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader, after him, the Hon Minister for Defence and then, the Hon Minister for Finance.
    Mr Alfred Agbesi (NDC -- Ashaiman) 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
    This is a facility that is going to support the Armed Forces in their peacekeeping efforts. We are saying that this is a laudable facility and all of us - Ghanaians -must support this Facility for our Armed Forces to go and do their job. Anybody who thinks that this is not good and that they would not support it, they are not in favour of the Ghana Armed Forces; and they must be seen in that light.
    Mr Speaker, in the Report of the Committee, it is stated that, it is an urgent request being made because, the Armed Forces need to go to Sudan and Mali as a matter of urgency, to see to it that there is peace, and everything goes on well in those countries.

    Mr Speaker, there is nothing we can say than to say that this laudable effort of the Government in trying to secure this loan to see to the peacekeeping effort of the Armed Forces is laudable and must be supported. Anybody who says that they are not going to support this loan, Mr Speaker, are not for the interest of the Armed Forces. So, I say this loan must be approved for the Armed Forces to do their job.
    including
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Hon Minister for Defence, you have the floor.
    Minister for Defence (Mr Mark O. Woyongo) 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to allay the fears -- [Interruption] -- in the House that reimbursements from the UN cannot take care of this loan as indicated in the Committee's Report.
    Mr Speaker, between 2009 and 2012, we made an income of US$ 216,927,000.00. That was at a time that the equipment holding of our men on the platforms was degraded, and as such the UN would only pay if the equipment is found to be working efficiently.
    Mr Speaker, with the new equipment that we are procuring, we will be maximising revenue from the UN, and I have no doubt that we will be in a position to repay this loan.
    Let me also say that, there is a lot of competition in peacekeeping. Countries like Pakistan, India and Bangladesh are doing peacekeeping as a business, and it is helping them to equip their military, and I think that we can do the same thing. That is why the Ministry of Defence is establishing a committee to review our operations and peacekeeping operations so that we can maximise the revenue from the UN.
    Mr Speaker, let me also say that with this competition, there are countries which are standing by to take over from Ghana in Mali: Pakistan is standing by to take over from Ghana in Mali. There are other countries which are also standing by in case we fall out in South Sudan. I think this is a golden opportunity for us and I want to crave the indulgence of the House to approve this facility.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister for Finance?
    Mr Seth E. Terkpeh 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I wish to support the passage of the loan by the House in order that as the Minister for Defence has indicated --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Hon Ranking Member, are you up on a point of order?
    Dr A. A. Osei 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I tried to catch your attention when the Deputy Majority Leader was speaking. He is a Deputy Majority Leader; he knows the rules of this House, to impute improper motivate to an Hon Member is unparliamentary. He said, with your permission, I beg to quote:
    “If you are not in favour of the loan, you are against the military.”
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, you did not catch my eye at the time, but I think -- Please, let us have some order, let us have respect for the Chair please.
    Hon Member, you did not catch my eye, but it is a valid point that you have made.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, could you please withdraw that portion of your statement -- which made reference to the fact that anybody who did not support -
    - 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Agbesi 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, withdrawn.
    Dr A. A. Osei 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it should be expunged from the records of the House.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Yes, that is exactly what it means.
    Yes, Hon Minister for Finance?
    Hon Members, if we will have some order in this House, we will make a lot of progress, but with this kind of noise, it is difficult.
    Yes, Hon Minister for Finance?
    Mr Terkpeh 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to urge Hon Members to give approval to this agreement because, many of the points that have been raised on the floor were raised at Committee, and we did respond. We do respect, nonetheless, the right of Hon Members to raise them on the floor of the House.
    Mr Speaker, I deem it unfortunate that VTB Capital Plc is described in very unpalatable terms because, VTB Capital plc, which is providing the finance and is leading the syndication is a London registered bank. We all know the rigour it
    takes to be registered to do business in London, therefore, it is quite unfortunate when Hon Members of the House with financial background describe the bank in those terms.
    I would have wished that, they informed the House with respect to the quality of the institution that we are talking about.
    Mr Speaker, VTB Capital plc last year, did ledgers and acquisitions to the tune to US$22 billion. It also led acquisition in other markets to the tune of about US$17 billion, and indeed the Rosneft deal involving China Rosneft and British Petroleum BP Plc. was adjudged the best major transaction globally in 2013.
    VTB is a bank that is quoted on Bloomberg, it is quoted on Reuters therefore, we wish to dispel the notion that has just been given that somehow, the country is dealing with a bank that has no reputation. This is a bank of international reputation.
    Mr Speaker, may I also state that it is well known that the market conditions under which we negotiated the China Development Bank (CDB) facility is no longer the case today. The markets were in crisis at the time; libor margins were very low. Therefore, for anybody to be comparing the libor markets, capital markets today with the markets in 2010/ 2011 would certainly not be giving the House and the nation the right picture.
    Mr Speaker, let me also state -- [Interruption]-- I am talking about margins; I am talking about libor margins -- Even the libor rate three years ago is not the same as the libor rate today. The libor rate was much lower back then than today.
    Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 2:50 p.m.
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, I would just want to draw your attention and supply some information to the Hon Minister. As at the time that Ghana went for the CDB loan, libor was 0.5 per cent. Today, it is 0.25. In fact, it was far higher at the time they went for the CDB loan than now. So, it cannot be true that libor was lower at that time.
    Secondly, Citi Bank Group has just been fined US$7.5 billion or US$7.8 billion. [Interruption.] So, it does not matter how big you are. I hope Lever Brothers rings a bell in his head; it does not matter how big you are. But nobody was describing VTB as fraudulent; nobody was describing them like that. The Hon Member said that the other -- it is in the syndicated loan -- banks that were contributing, we had no knowledge about them.
    That is what the man said. He never talked about the Russian Bank.
    Mr Terkpeh 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was just going to that point. The point that a bank can fail, the point that a bank can have information wrong is precisely the reason we gave for banks giving disclaimers, which was contested by the Hon Member when he spoke and other Hon Members. It is for the same reason that banks give disclaimers, because they deal with a large variety of people who make presentations, and we did explain.
    Indeed, Mr Speaker, there was an instance where our own Central Bank provided information to the Committee and included a disclaimer, and I defended and explained the reason that we cannot expose the Central Bank, our Bank of Ghana for giving categorical statement.
    Yes, I do agree that it does not matter the size of the bank; you cannot be exact when you are dealing with the markets and we did explain this point. But the point I was making, Mr Speaker, is that there is no way in which the regulators on a market like London, even if there was no information, would consciously approve of drug dealers becoming part of the syndication. That is the point I wish to correct; VTB was described in those terms and that is what I wanted to correct.
    Mr Speaker, I just wanted to dispel these notions in order that Ghanaians can feel comfortable when they are supporting their military. This is a facility which is well designed as my Colleague the Hon Minister for Defence said, to position our military to perform. Rather than take short term expensive facilities, we want to look at long-term and provide them with the support with which they would be able to perform. Their operations on the field depend on the solid financial resources to enable them provide the equipment.
    I therefore, urge Hon Members to support the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr Agbesi 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, item number
    11.
    RESOLUTIONS 2:50 p.m.
    Minister for Finance (Mr Seth E. Terkpeh) 2:50 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 Credit Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and VTB Capital Plc, London (as Arranger and Facility Agent) for an amount of three hundred million United States dollars (US$300 million) for the Ghana Armed Forces Peacekeeping efforts undertaken by the United Nations Organisation and other agreed uses.
    THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE 2:50 p.m.
    HEREBY RESOLVES AS 2:50 p.m.
    Mr James K. Avedzi 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Agbesi 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, item number
    12.
    Mr Nitiwul 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that the Hon Majority Leader himself should be here on this very matter because there are some things that we need to discuss with him.
    Mr Agbesi 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this morning, we agreed that we were going to have Extended Sitting and we are ready. [Interruption.] The facilities are down there, so Mr Speaker, we take item number
    12.
    Prof. George Y. Gyan-Baffour 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, considering the mood in the House, I think it would be a good idea to suspend and come back tomorrow. [Interruption.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:50 p.m.
    Hon Members, allow him to land.
    Prof. Gyan-Baffour 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, what is going on in the House is not something that people out there would want us to do. I am very well sure that when we continue, it would continue. So, Mr Speaker, let us close for the day and then come back tomorrow to discuss these issues.
    Mr Nitiwul 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, when the Minority Leader was leaving I was not here. He told me that the two of them agreed that they should close at 3 o'clock. That is why I said that the Majority Leader should be here, because there are some issues we need to agree on. They have used their majority on two issues today, we do not want a third one, so let us close. Tomorrow, we will discuss. If we want to continue as the Majority you can continue, but I do not think it is fair or it is good for us.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Chief Whip?
    Alhaji Muntaka 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe that our Colleagues must try to keep the good faith that we normally negotiate in the morning. Mr Speaker, it was agreed that because we are all planning towards Friday, the load is heavy, so we must as much as possible try to clear today's order paper. That was why I was instructed to go and make the necessary arrangements so that food would be provided. Mr Speaker, we have done that.
    It will not be fair after we have done all this, to truncate what we wanted to do.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to plead with you that, we keep to the arrangement and see how far we can go with the items on the Order Paper.
    Thank you.
    Mr Daniel Botwe 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, no impression should be given that whether Members will work or not is because of food. The most important thing is that we did agree that we will close at 3 o'clock. That was the agreement we had, that we are closing at 3 o'clock. It has nothing to do with food. Please, the Majority Chief Whip should not give that impression. In any case, nobody has said he is hungry.
    Alhaji Muntaka 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am sorry if that impression is created because I am talking about food. I am only saying that because, normally the understanding is that Hon Members would need to be able to go and take lunch. If we are having Extended Sitting -- But I will be very grateful if my Colleague the Minority Whip would admit we gave ourselves up to 4.30 p.m. That was what we agreed upon. We gave ourselves up to 04:30 p.m to see how far we can go.
    Mr Speaker, we are taking part of the time to talk about whether to proceed or not. We could have proceeded. So, Mr Speaker, I would like to plead with you to proceed and then we will see how far we can go by 4.30 p.m.
    Thank you.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    You see, Hon Members, I have a problem. Since Leadership cannot agree on what they themselves came to, it is difficult for me to take a decision one way or the other. I would prefer that Leadership will assist the Chair to take a decision one way or the other.
    Mr Agbesi -- rose —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr Agbesi 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as a matter of fact, this morning, we agreed to have Extended Sitting, and we were asked to provide the facilities for that purpose, which we have done. Nobody agreed to close at 3.00 p.m.; we agreed that we were going to have Extended Sitting for what was provided for to be done. That is what we agreed upon this morning.
    Mr Speaker, I think we have to keep to what we agreed to this morning.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Sekondi?
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am an ordinary back bencher of this House. I am not aware that we were going to have an Extended Sitting. When the Hon Majority Leader and Chairman of the Business Committee was presenting the Business Statement last Friday, he did not give any indication about that. However, that does not mean that we cannot have an Extended Sitting.
    Under the circumstances, I believe that if it is something that is coming to our attention now, at least, Leadership can say that, well, from tomorrow we can have an Extended Sitting. Parliament normally adjourns at 2.00p.m. If for any reason we have to extend it, like we are having a debate and we want to conclude, it is understandable. But at this stage, for the Deputy Majority Leader to foist upon this House an Extended Sitting up to 4.30 p.m. I do not think he is being fair to us.
    We are all interested in pursuing business for the people of this nation, but at least, let us respect other Hon Members of this House, that is all. It is an appeal; After all Sitting is voluntary on the part
    of an Hon Member, so the House can continue. But I am urging Leadership under the circumstances, to let us defer the Extended Sitting to tomorrow, and probably Thursday and Friday.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    Mr Avedzi 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to appeal to Hon Members that, now that we have business on the floor, let us do the business. We have been complaining all the time. If we come here and there is no business, we complain. Today, we have business, let us do it. I would want to appeal to all Hon Members, let us do the business. We have business today, let us do it.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    Hon Members, I want to direct that we bring proceedings to a close. Tomorrow, we can go ahead, have the Extended Sitting and deal with business. I think it is only fair.
    ADJOURNMENT 3 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 3.06 p.m. till Wednesday, 16th July, 2014 at 10.00 a.m.