Debates of 4 Nov 2014

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:10 a.m.
WELCOME ADDRESS 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon Members, let me welcome you to the Third Meeting of the Second Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic. I thank the Almighty God for seeing to your wellbeing during the long recess and bringing you all safely back to House this morning. It is my prayer that the Almighty God will continue to extend His hand of favour and divine mercies over this House during the course of this Meeting and the period thereafter.
Hon Members, in fulfilment of the pledge made by the Parliamentary Service Board, which I Chair and the Leadership of the House, to deliver a completely re- configured Chamber by 31st of October, 2014 to enable the House resume its Sittings in the first week of November 2014, it is my pleasure to welcome you to a newly reconfigured and refurbished Chamber.
Minority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 10:20 a.m.
If Mr Speaker may indulge me, I may just want to say a word.
Mr Speaker, I would also use this opportunity to thank all of us for the collective efforts that have culminated in what we see today.
Mr Speaker, the setting today provides the Parliament of Ghana a real parliamentary ambience -- the tables, the ICT gadgets and the chairs all combine to provide us with the perspectives of a real Parliament.
The colour of the chairs, the backrest in particular may be a veritable impediment to those of us who would want to further enhance the creativity of God Almighty.
Mr Speaker, I speak in particular of those of us who are used to body works. In particular, adding to what should be the natural colouration of their hair.
Mr Speaker, I believe the colour of the backrest will be quite hostile to such people who engage in that exercise - [Laughter]-
Mr Speaker, again, our lady folks -- I do not know how we are going to confront that reality -- the cream colour may not really inure to the benefit of most of them.
But Mr Speaker, all told, I would want to believe that this new setting would provide us with an opportunity for a new beginning.
The Parliament of Ghana has often been in want of some resources that should really help us to do our work as Members of Parliament. This, in my view, represents a first bold step. Let us see how we are going to continue in this and all those stakeholders -- You have mentioned the names of some of them Mr Speaker, in particular the people in charge of the nation's finances. We would want
Minority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 10:20 a.m.


them to assist us to move the quality of performance of this House forward. So, let them stand by us in good partnership. The Members of Parliament would want to be facilitated to be able to do their work. Often times, people make some cynical comments about what we do in Parliament. They do not understand that we lack some basic facilities to enable us do good work in Parliament. I want to believe that from now on, starting from where we are, we should not leave this arm of Government in limbo; they should stand ready to assist us to move to a new level.

Mr Speaker, I know he knows what I mean. Even though I know he is quite saddled with serious matters these days, he still understands the statement that I have made. I would want the Minister for Finance and the other major stakeholders to come together, so that we would be able to get ourselves out of these pressing difficulties confronting Hon Members of Parliament, in order for us to be liberated to sufficiently attend to the matters of State.

Mr Speaker, having said that, I would want to say that from now on, we must be timeous in our responsibilities. Beginning from today, I have seen that you wanted to register strongly that this is a new day, a new dawn and a new beginning.

Mr Speaker, let us resolve to do what is right, so that the people of this country would have tremendous benefits from our outfit.

Thank you very much for this opportunity.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Majority Leader (Mr Alban S.K. Bagbin) 10:30 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker for the opportunity to add a word in welcoming my Hon Colleagues from a rather very long recess.
But as can be seen by all, the long recess was for a good cause and we can see a new face of the Parliamentary Chamber and it is the prayer of all of us that this would be a good beginning for us to try as a country, to invest in Parliament as the bulwark of democracy in society. I hope and pray that this would not be a nine day wonder, and that we would move from here to try and construct a befitting Parliament for Ghana. This is a construction for an international conference and therefore, not particularly suited for a Parliamentary Chamber.
Mr Speaker, be that as it may, your goodself, Mr Speaker, with all those you have mentioned, have done a good job and we need to applaud your efforts, with that of the Leadership. I have just inherited it without making any contribution apart from coming to inspect and to take over this plush chair through the indulgence of my Hon Colleagues. [Interruption] I am forever grateful and indebted to all of you for accepting me to come back as the Majority Leader of Parliament —[Hear! Hear!]
Mr Speaker, since I am not going to die, I am going to do something before I die. This is because I believe in the Holy Bible, that I would be one of those that would be left to rise up, body and soul—
[Laughter]— and so those calling on me to do something before I die, should reconsider their position.
Mr Speaker, let me also add that I am grateful to all of you for the show of friendship and love when I was taken ill and the Hon Members that trooped to see me during the two days that I had a check- up at the 37 Military Hospital. Unfortunately, it was aired that I collapsed in Parliament. That is not true. By His grace, I am under the rock and collapsing is not part of me. I will not by His Grace collapse in Parliament.
Mr Speaker, I would want to plead with Hon Colleagues not to attempt to change the arrangement that has been put in place. This is because it is computerised and so, if Hon Members change the Sitting arrangement by removing their name and moving to another seat, definitely, one would be heard from another Hon Member's seat. So, please, do not attempt to circumvent and subvert the very pensive decision that has been taken by Leadership.
Hon Members should not forget that with the new Standing Orders that would be placed and approved by this House, we would have a different composition and arrangement for the House. So, this is just temporary and I am sure that by the first quarter of next year, we may, with your support, pass the new Standing Orders and we would have to reconfigure and rearrange the Sittings of Hon Members. As of now, Hon Members should not attempt to change what has been done now.
Mr Speaker, we have just a very short Meeting -- just for seven weeks. We have a lot to do and Leadership is doing everything possible for us to focus on the 2015 budget. The others may not find
much expression. We would try as much as possible to give more space for debate of the budget and for us to scrutinise it and try to use some of these occasions to recover our lost glory. It is important that our oversight functions and represen- tation as a Legislature, which are found lost as an arm of Government to the Ministry of Finance --
We must not forget that we also play a representative role, which has not been properly captured in our conditions of service —[Hear! Hear! ]-- and we have to do that in this year's budget and ensure that Hon Members are in constant touch with their constituents who voted for them to come and represent their interests here. That is something that we have to do.
Mr Speaker, with your kind support, we would try and urge the Ministry to capture this aspect to enable Hon Members perform, so that this type of new wind of negative change that is taking place in the world does not have any expression in this country.
Let me just end by drawing the attention of Hon Members once again to the fact that these are very sensitive equipment and as much as the contractor, the consultants and their team would be supporting us in maintaining them, we also have as Members to be very careful, very diligent and very disciplined in their use. We will take this afternoon and possibly Friday, to go through a detailed presentation and tuition of how to use these equipment.
I must say I was sad when I heard some negative comments last night about the fact that Members have not been taken through this tuition while we are re- opening today. I do not know how Members could have been taken through this when they were in their constituencies
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Thank you, very much, Hon Majority Leader.
Hon Members, I have just received communication from His Excellency, the President.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 10:40 a.m.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE 10:40 a.m.
PRESIDENT 10:40 a.m.
OFFICE OF PARLIAMENT 10:40 a.m.
PARLIAMENT HOUSE 10:40 a.m.
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC 10:40 a.m.
OF GHANA 10:40 a.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought after the Communication you posed a question and I guess you wanted by that to elicit some response from us and I believe people are ready with their responses.
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Very well, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Thank you, very much, Mr Speaker, for indulging me.
First of all, the Constitution provides that whenever the President is about to
travel, he should communicate same to the country through you, the Speaker.
Mr Speaker, while we were on recess, several travels were embarked on by --
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Is that part of the response to the question I posed, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. That is because it is important that the nation knows, through you and this House, where the President went to. It is only fair and proper that we get to know where he went to, so that we properly capture it as such.
Mr Speaker, I do not want to follow the path of others, including His Excellency in his earlier life when he was trailing the former President wherever he was going and saying that he was changing planes in the air. I do not want to follow that path at all. -- [Laughter.] But Mr Speaker, if we are to go there, one would know the mileage that he has accrued. I do not want to go there and I am not going there. -- [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker, the issue that you raised, that it is constitutionally provided that in the absence of the President and the Vice President, Mr Speaker should assume the position of acting President. To that extent, it is necessary that even if it is going to be for eight hours or programmed to be for eight hours, the right thing should be done. Perish the thought, if anything happens there, Mr Speaker will continue and maybe, your kingdom may last longer than the eight hours.
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
You know, Hon Minority Leader, my point is that if he is going away
for a week or two, that is very clear. But we have to be liberal, if the opportunity comes for this country to look at the Constitution again, we need to be very liberal if it is a matter of a few hours. I agree entirely with you -- in fact, the Supreme Court has ruled on this matter. My views are neither here nor there. But it is an area which we need to take a second look at when the time comes for us to amend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana one day.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we are not there yet. Since we are not there, the Constitution should hold supreme. And in the eight hours, anything could happen, which would require the intervention of the acting President. The Hon Haruna Iddrisu is here with us. You never know what may happen. For him, to elicit a rapid response from the Presidency and with you there, the two together, I believe some progress will be made.
Dr A . A. Osei 10:40 a.m.
On a point of order.
Mr Speaker. I was listening to my Hon Leader talking about acting President. Mr Speaker, I am looking at the Constitution. I do not see anywhere mentioned as “acting President.” It says, “performing the functions of the President.” So, if we are not careful, we might be creating a new position that is not known in the Constitution. I would want to advert your mind to it. If you assume acting President, there may be two Presidents.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, a person acting as the President must not necessarily be referred to as “acting
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:40 a.m.


President.” Mr Speaker, there is a world of distinction. You will be acting as the President. So, on that occasion, yes, I guess, maybe, I do not want to say that it was a slip of jaw or tongue but indeed, you will be acting as President and you will be performing the functions of the President. At that time, you will be performing the functions of the President.

But then, in the absence of the President and the Vice President, what is the designation of the person holding the fort for the President? Mr Speaker, this is a distinction without difference and so, I believe that they will keep it to themselves. The important thing is that, you can walk to the seat of Government and perform the function and I believe that if you have to go there, the Majority Leader and I, will be ready, assisted by our Whips to accompany you.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
In fact, I will invite the Majority and the Minority Leaders to accompany me. [Laughter.]
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, let us do what is right, not knowing what could be done in the void if you allow a void to be created. There should be somebody responsible and in charge at any given time.
Thank you very much.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Bagbin 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, clearly, the duties and functions of Presidents these days often take them out of the jurisdiction and I agree with the Minority Leader.
A few years ago, we criticized such conduct. But as is often said, the young shall grow.
I would want to add my voice in commending you for being called upon constitutionally to assume the duties of
the President and perform the functions of the President of the Republic of Ghana in accordance with article 60, subclauses 11 and 12 of the 1992 Constitution. We are proud of you and will definitely pray that you discharge your duties diligently and that, you are not going to act as the President but you are for those hours, the President of Ghana.
So, it was not a slip of the tongue or the jaw but a slip of the mind and I believe the Minority Leader cleverly tried to maneuver out of this trap that he was caught in. We are happy and do not call for such circumstances to be giving you this opportunity and we pray that in future, more opportunities will be granted for you to continue to serve mother Ghana.
We have your abled deputies to assume your seat and the work of Parliament will not be interrupted. And so, we will pray that you perform your duties well and return to preside over Parliament.
Once again, congratulations.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Members, I do not intend taking further comments on this matter, let us make progress.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday 2nd October, 2014.
Page 1.
Mr Samuel Atta Akyea 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought by reason of the prominence of the presidency, you will do the higher one first before you continue with the Business of the House. This is because as a matter of fact, there is now a power vacuum constitutionally. So, I thought you would take immediate steps --
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
No! It is tomorrow.
Mr Akyea 10:50 a.m.
Oh, I see, I understand.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
It is tomorrow, 5 th November, 2014.
Mr Akyea 10:50 a.m.
Very well.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Members, page
1…9.
Hon Minister?
Mr Haruna Iddr isu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I did not have the privilege to listen to the Statement of the Hon Papa Owusu- Ankomah in the tribute in memory of the late Mrs Gladys Asmah. I believe that she served the Republic as a Minister of State and I noted that the Statement just recognises her as a Member of Parliament for Takoradi from 1997 to 2008. Since this is a House of record, it will be important that we add that she was a Minister of State.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Are you talking about the year? [Pause.] Very well. I also thought that with regard to the year, it should be January, 2009.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, sometimes when these things are done, I am left in a bit of quandary. The reason is that the point we are at now is Correction of Votes and Proceedings. I do recollect that when the Hon Papa Owusu -Ankomah was called upon to speak in that regard, he had no prepared statement but he got up and spoke.
The thing is, if an omission is made in this regard, can it be inserted in respect of a statement that has been made when we come to the place of Correction of Votes and Proceedings? What the person said, if it is incorrect and a new matter has to be introduced, can you introduce it when you
are correcting the Votes and Pro- ceedings? I accept that it was an omission but how do we capture that?
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, you are absolutely right because it is what the man said on the floor that day that will be captured here. I have just looked at the Official Report of that day and the “Minister” was clearly indicated. So, the Hon Minister is right; it has to be captured as such. If you look at the Official Report of 2nd October, 2014, column 236, it is there.
But the principle is, what the person said is what is supposed to be captured; we cannot add anything that has not been said on the floor of the House. The Minister on this occasion is right.
Page 10…14 --
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for your indulgence. It is just for the purpose of elegance. If you read page 14, paragraph 12, Motions, that pursuant to clause 2 (b) of article 124 of the Constitution, it should rightly read -- If even not for this purpose -- It should be article 124 (2) (b) of the Constitution. [Pause.]
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Minister, it is the same thing.
Yes, Hon Member?
Page 15 ……. 32 --
Mr Alhassan Mumuni 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 8, number 12, the name there is “Alhassan Mumuni”. I have just gone through some rebranding, coming from Mecca. So, I would want your guidance on how the rebranding would reflect --
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Member, inform the Clerk. If there is a change in your title, you do not do it on the floor of the House. You should officially inform the Clerk.
Mr Mumuni 11 a.m.
I wanted guidance how I should proceed.
Dr Matthew O. Prempeh 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this issue of fighting Alhaji and Hajia -- Mr Speaker, the last time I passed through Saudi Arabia, I thought everybody would be called Alhaji and Hajia but only to find out that, that is an honourable divine title for those who have engaged in the pilgrimage.
Mr Speaker, it is for anyone who has gone on the pilgrimage. We have more people in Saudi Arabia who have gone on the pilgrimage than in Ghana but you do not hear the title Alhaji or Hajia. Mr Speaker, before you allow Hon Members who have gone on the pilgrimage and those of us who have gone to Jerusalem on pilgrimage to change our titles, you should formally set up a committee to investigate --
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Member, you are out of order.
Hon Members, let us make progress.

Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 2nd October, 2014 as corrected be adopted as the true record of proceedings.

Hon Members, we have a number of Official Reports for correction. We will take them one by one.
rose
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Alhaji Sorogho 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we got the Hansard, just about one hour ago. I wish if you will agree, we shelve it, so that we go through it and make the necessary corrections tomorrow or the subsequent Sittings. To take it today, we cannot go through it and be able to do the kind of justice that we are supposed to do.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Let me hear from the Leadership and get the sense of the House. Do we defer it to tomorrow?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe the suggestion that my Hon Colleague has made makes a lot of sense.
Dr A. A. Osei 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with your guidance, when my good Friend, Hon Alhaji Sorogho was speaking, the name “Bedzra” showed up here. So, maybe, they should take note and reconfigure -- Bedzrah's name showed up here.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Bagbin 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, our attention has been drawn to that and we will try and rectify it. This is a notice to all, that those who sit at places and put on the microphone and shout, your name will appear and it will be noted down for disciplinary action.
So, it is not a threat; it is a fact. It is a reality. I am just drawing your attention, so that you are not caught -- being my good son.
Mr Speaker, the issue raised by Hon Sorogho is quite key. We need time to go through the Official Reports to see what happened on those days. They are quite many; they have just been given to us. If we decide to take them tomorrow, it would be in good order. I support it.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Very well. Hon Members, the consideration of the Official Reports is deferred to tomorrow.
Hon Members, Question time.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Bagbin 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we have this Urgent Question standing in the name of Hon Justice Joe Appiah, the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North to the Minister for Energy and Petroleum.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, as a result of some urgent national matters, the Minister for Energy and Petroleum had to leave this country to attend to these issues in South Africa and he did indicate to me that he was mandating his deputy to come and respond to the Question.
In fact, the issue that took him out had to do partly with the dispute between Ghana and la Cote d' Ivoire on the boundary dispute. And so, it is so important that he had to rush out of the country last night. So, I would just want to plead with my Hon Colleagues to indulge the Deputy Minister for Energy and Petroleum to answer the Urgent Question for and on behalf of his Minister.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, do you have anything to say?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, not very much really, except looking at the Urgent Question standing in the name of Hon Justice Joe Appiah, I get the impression that the urgency of this Question has been lost.
Mr Speaker, I get the impression that this Question was filed a long time ago. Notwithstanding, since the Deputy Minister is here, we would want to listen to him. But I would want to emphasise that in this regard, if Urgent Questions are asked --
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
The Questions were asked the very last week that the House was rising. You are right, but it was asked the very last week the House was rising.
Hon Deputy Minister for Energy and Petroleum?
We start with the Urgent Question standing in the name of the Hon Member for Ablekuma North.
Mr Justice Joe Appiah 11:10 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the privilege given me to ask this Question. I really congratulate you very much and the Leadership of this House and especially, the ABK Consortium for giving us a facelift in this House. This House has taken a nice shape and I really congratulate all of you.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, are you asking a Question?
Mr J. J. Appiah 11:10 a.m.
I wish to congratulate you and the Leadership for this nice edifice. This is too much.
URGENT QUESTIONS 11:10 a.m.
MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND 11:10 a.m.
PETROLEUM 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister?
rose
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, do you have a point of order? I saw you on your feet.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. The issue has been extinguished now, so I would not --
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Continue!
Mr John Abu Jinapor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the recent fuel shortages experienced nationwide was caused by the following factors: Foreign exchange losses experienced by the Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs); unavailability of foreign exchange cover; unpaid under recoveries owed the BDCs and alleged fuel hoarding in the anticipation of price increment and panic situation.
Foreign exchange losses
Mr Speaker, foreign exchange losses arising from the disparity between the National Petroleum Authority's (NPA) assumed forex rate in the ex-refinery price determination and that of the Bank of Ghana's (BoG) actual transaction rate in funding oil imports from July, 2011 to December, 2013 were not paid to the BDCs. Additionally, the cedi depreciating rapidly also increased the outstanding amount significantly.
Unavailability of forex exchange cover
Mr Speaker, the unavailability of forex cover from the BoG also affected the supply of petroleum products into the
country. This led to some commercial banks increasingly scaling down funding for petroleum products imports while others totally withdrew their support funding and establishing letters of credit.
Non-payment of under recoveries
Mr Speaker, there are outstanding under recoveries owed the BDCs due to the subsidy on petroleum products from 2011 to 2013. This led to liquidity challenges on the part of the BDCs to be able to source and procure normal volumes of crude as they used to. BDCs therefore, brought in smaller cargos than before. Some oil companies in anticipation of price increment at times decided not to sell.
This led to some panic situation where consumers obviously resorted to panic buying. The Ministry is taking steps to avoid a future occurrence of this scenario.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry, through the Ministry of Finance, has released an amount of US$ 150 million as part payment for the forex losses due to BDCs. The Ministry has had urgent meetings with the BoG to prioritise letters of credit for oil imports and to ensure availability of forex cover to cover these importations. Steps are being taken to mitigate the effect of forex losses on ex-refinery pump prices.
In this regard, BoG has set up a committee comprising commercial banks, BoG, BDCs, NPA and the Ministry of Finance to work assiduously to ensure the clearance of backlog lost forex cover for BDCs. The committee is also tasked to come up with mechanisms to curb delay of forex cover for oil going forward.
The Ministry, together with the Ministry of Finance and NPA, is discussing with the BDCs on payment plans for the outstanding under recoveries that were incurred as a result of provision of subsidies from 2011 to
2013. Ernst and Young, a consultancy firm has been contracted by the Ministry of Finance to validate the total forex losses claims that had been submitted by the BDCs. The consultant is about to finalise a draft report on its work for further submission to stakeholders.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, supplementary question.
Mr J. J. Appiah 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, what negative factors brought about the heavy indebtedness to the various oil marketing companies?
Mr Jinapor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I indicated, I gave a chronology of the factors that were the cause of the shortages. Whether they were negative or positive, it would be quite difficult to determine. To say that they are negative, I am unable to state which ones are negative or positive except to state that, these were the factors that occasioned the shortages of the petroleum products.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr J. J. Appiah 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not convinced but I would carry on.
What has the Ministry put in place or engage Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to handle our crude oil, instead of importing refined products from outside the country? What measures are they taking to revamp TOR instead of importing -- [Interruptions] --
I am asking the Hon Deputy Minister what measures they are putting in place to revive TOR instead of importing refined products from outside the country.
Mr Jinapor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, may I appeal to the House that
we are given time to give a full dossier on the steps that we are taking. This is quite a major question and I will be unable to delve into it immediately.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr J. J. Appiah 11:10 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, what pragmatic steps --
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, address the Chair.
Mr J. J. Appiah 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, what pragmatic steps is the Hon Deputy Minister taking to protect our stock of oil being smuggled outside Ghana?
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, this is not supplementary. I will give you the chance to ask another question.
Mr J. J. Appiah 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, there is an allegation that most of our petroleum products are being smuggled outside Ghana. What pragmatic steps would he take in case it comes to him?
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, your supplementary question must flow from the Answer or something directly relating to the main Question. The issue of smuggling has not come either in your Question or the Answer that has been given by the Deputy Minister.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Old Tafo?
Dr A. A. Osei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in his Answer, the Deputy Minister talked about the Government having paid US$150 million of a certain amount of debt or what he called, “under recoveries”. Could he tell this House the total stock of under recoveries outstanding as of now?
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister?
Mr Jinapor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as at 31st August, 2014, outstanding under recoveries amounted to GH¢400,000,000.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister should check his amount because if he has paid a US$150,000,000, even, times three, that is GH¢450,000,000.00. So, the 400,000,000.00 stock cannot be correct. You owe a certain amount; you have paid GH¢450,000,000.00 and you are saying that the total stock outstanding -
- 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, what is your question?
Dr A. A. Osei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I asked the Hon Deputy Minister to give us the stock of the total debt out of which they paid US$150,000,000 and he says GH¢400,
000,000.00.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
So, what is your supple- mentary question?
Dr A. A. Osei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am saying that simple arithmetic, if you owe “X” and you pay 450,000,000.00 --
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, you know that at Question time, you are not supposed to argue. Hon Member, you can use the Answer provided to ask a supplementary question, I will allow you.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am giving him the chance to correct himself. Maybe, he did not check it. You have paid GH¢450,000,000.00, so, the total outstanding altogether cannot be GH¢400,000,000.00 -- That is all.
Mr Jinapor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my understanding of the question was the current outstanding and that is what I gave. As I said, we paid US$150,
000,000.00. Beyond that, we have commissioned Ernst and Young to do a proper audit of all the claims that have been put forward. There are different figures that came up and we thought that we had to get an independent Auditor to commission to do that for us. And so, once that is ready, we will make it available to the House.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
How many supplemen- tary questions do you want to ask?
Dr A. A. Osei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, just to seek clarification.
Would it be fair to say that until the audit is finished, they are admitting a
150,000,000.00?
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
That is what he said.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I just want him to clarify. As of now, from his statement, we can conclude that at the minimum, they are owing GH¢850,000,000.00.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Members, I will take the last question on this matter.
Hon Member for Manhyia South.
Dr Matthew O. Prempeh 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, would the Hon Deputy Minister confirm that at the peak of that crisis, he came out to say he was redefining the focus of Bulk Oil Storage and Trust (BOST) and Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to start petroleum crude oil processing. BOST to start crude oil storage to boost our reserves. What has happened to that?
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
I am not getting the question.
Dr Prempeh 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, at the peak of the crisis, the Minister for Energy and Petroleum said to the nation that the focus of BOST was being redefined, so that they got back to their mandate of storing
emergency petroleum products and also TOR to restart crude oil refinery, so that that shortage would not happen. What steps have been taken in that direction?
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Well, you are importing something that has not been said on the floor of the House into the Question but if the Hon Deputy Minister has something to say, I will let him do so.
Mr Jinapor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may I say that we would need notice in respect of this question, so that we can prepare well to come and answer it.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes -- gender -- Hon Gifty Kusi.
Mrs Gifty E. Kusi 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Deputy Minister whether the fuel shortages was the cause of the rampant load shedding because they cannot power the turbines of the thermal plant. Was it because the fuel shortage was causing their inability to power the turbines in the thermal plants?
Thank you.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
That is a substantive Question. It is about fueling the thermal plant.
Hon Members, let us move on to --
rose
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister, in his Answer, has indicated to us that they had to pay US$150,000,000.00 of the outstanding debt. He tells us that there are various figures being bandied about that explains
why they have engaged some consultants to validate the actual indebtedness; he said there were two or three figures; Mr Speaker, what is the total outstanding out of which the US$150,000,000.00 has been paid and from when to when?
Mr Jinapor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I did indicate, the US$150,000,000.00 was not controversial at all. All of us agreed that the US$150,000,000.00 was not in dispute and so, we had to settle that. There were other claims that we thought should be audited and that is what we commissioned Ernst and Young to do. So, once that is ready, we will make that available.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the question to the Hon Deputy Minister is clear. He said to us that there was some total amount that had been mentioned but it needed to be validated for which they had contracted some consultants to do the job for them. They would cite the period from 2011 to 2014, they had made some part payments, of US$150,000,000.00. I am asking, what is the total stock of indebtedness out of which they have settled a US$150,000,000.00 and what is the total for which they want to validate the claims being made by them.
Mr Jinapor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sure that we are on the same wavelength. This is because what I said was straightforward -- US$150,000,000.00. No problem with that. We have settled that. There are other claims which are outstanding under recoveries as of 31st August -- But let us do a proper audit and come to a finality and once that is ready, we will make that available.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Members, we now move to Questions number 113 standing in the name of Hon Isaac Kwame Asiamah.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:30 a.m.
MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND 11:30 a.m.
PETROLEUM 11:30 a.m.
Mr I. K. Asiamah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to read a portion from what the Hon Deputy Minister just read, the first paragraph:
“The first batch of customers within the Beposo community has been connected and are enjoying power”.
Mr Speaker, that is absolutely wrong; it is not true. As we speak, nothing has happened at Beposo. The Answer is wrong. I just called the Assembly Member and he says nothing has happened there. I was there last month. From all indications, it is clear that it is about a year or so that he was referred to. But as we speak, Beposo is not enjoying any power. So, I would want that to be corrected.
Mr Jinapor 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this is the information we received from the technical team. However, with the information he has given us, we will take it up and work with him and the team and ensure that if there are challenges --
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
When will you provide that information? Ultimately, it is the Hon Minister and his Deputy who take responsibility before this House and not the technical people.
Mr Jinapor 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to state that within fourteen (14) working days, we should report to you. If you so agree.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Within?
Mr Jinapor 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, fourteen working days.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
I will give you one week.
Mr Jinapor 11:30 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr I. K. Asiamah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, he has indicated that the engineering surveys in the communities to determine the loan amount required with the financiers -- When was that completed? And when do we expect work to commence?
Mr Jinapor 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the contract sum is US$180 million, and the contract was completed on the 8th February, 2012.
Mr I. K. Asiamah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, just that I have only one opportunity but I would want to box two into one, if it would be permitted.
May I know how many communities will benefit from my constituency. This is because as we speak, I have about one hundred and fifty (150) communities without electricity. Atwima-Mponua has about five hundred and seventeen communities. So, that is it.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Member, you asked a specific Question and he mentioned specific communities in the Answer.
Mr I. K. Asiamah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, since he indicated that they had done engineering surveys in the constituency, maybe, he has those records.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Member, you mentioned specific communities in the Question that you posed to the Ministry.
Mr I. K. Asiamah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the last issue they are supposed to deal with -- He said that the two towns -- Bedife and Achiase Adupri were not listed, and that due consideration would be given in future.
Mr Speaker, what future is he referring to?
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister?
Mr Jinapor 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I indicated, Bedabuor, Abompe, Huntado, Apatratom, Kokrobiko, Ataso, Nwirem, Apenimadi and Mpanwe are those which have been captured for this phase. For the other communities, as and when we continue with the Rural Electrification Project, we will capture them. I cannot give a precise date in respect of when we are going to commit to this. But the other ones, that was what I gave.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Members, these are constituency specific Questions. We are running out of time and I will want us to move to the next Question.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not know whether I heard the Hon Minister right. When the Question was posed about when the facility was going to be approved, he mentioned the date, that it was secured in 2012. I would want to believe that it was just a slip. When exactly is he talking about? He spoke about 2012.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister?
Did you not get the question?
Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my question or his question?
Mr Jinapor 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I did not get his question well. The follow-up question was what I got right and that was what I answered to his satisfaction. So, that is not an issue again.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Members, we will move to the next Question, number 117.
Hon Member for Ablekuma-North.
Adulteration and smuggling of fuel
Q117. Mr Justice Joe Appiah asked the Deputy Minister for Energy and Petroleum whether the Ministry was aware of adulteration of fuel for profit in some parts of the country and the smuggling of petroleum products out of the country. If so, what measures were being proposed to combat the situation?
Mr Jinapor 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, price differentials between the primary petroleum products (diesel and gasoline) and some petroleum products like kerosene, premix fuel and marine gas oil (local) as a result of earlier government subsidies on these products made petroleum products adulteration a lucrative illegal business.
Adulteration of diesel with kerosene is a significant contributory factor to reasons kerosene does not reach the rural
folks in the country. In some reported cases of engine malfunctioning, adulteration is also a contributory factor.
This practice of petroleum product adulteration causes government to lose tax revenue and incur other financial losses in the form of misapplied subsidies in excess of GH¢ 50 million annually.
Measures being taken:
To address the issue of petroleum product adulteration, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), with support from the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and with the approval of its governing board, took a decision to introduce the concept of petroleum product marking with the following objectives:
To enable NPA as the regulatory body monitor the quality of fuel by marking petroleum products.
Help Government of Ghana combat adulteration of petroleum products as well as recover fiscal tax revenue from the sale of petroleum products.
To prevent the smuggling of petroleum products.
Subsequently, the Authority sought and obtained clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in respect of the environment safety and health and consideration for the adoption of fuel marking activity in the country.
A draft legislative instrument was sent for the consideration of the Parliament of Ghana culminating in the passage of L12187, National Petroleum Authority (Petroleum Products Marking Regu- lations, 2012) and the establishment of the Petroleum Products Marking Scheme
(PPMS).
Petroleum Product Marking is a modern technology being used by regulatory bodies worldwide to monitor fuel quality, among others in the petroleum industry.
It is a proved technology for addressing adulteration of petroleum products, hence providing a reliable way
of monitoring the quality of petroleum products and ensuring that the consumer gets value for money spent on the purchase of the petroleum products at the retail outlets and ultimately protected against sub-standard fuel resulting from illicit mixing.
The implementation of Ghana's Petroleum Product marking scheme commenced in February 2013 and has been successfully implemented nationwide with strict field monitoring exercises by the personnel of the National Petroleum Authority. The success of the scheme is evidenced by the drop in the station failure (adulteration/dilution) rate from 33 per cent at inception to seven(7) per cent as at December, 2013.
This drop in the failure rate translates to an estimated revenue recovery of about GH¢17m per annum in tax revenue and a significant savings on subsidies. The full execution and the enforcement of the programme will benefit the people of Ghana and a further estimated revenue recovery of G¢33 million per annum.
Combating smuggling of petroleum products out of Ghana
The fuel marking technology will be used to check petroleum products smuggling across the country's borders.
The National Petroleum Authority is making plans in collaboration with neighbouring countries that have also embarked on similar programmes.
The Republic of la Cote d'Ivoire and Togo embarked on petroleum products marking in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
In such collaborations, petroleum products at consumption points in neighbouring countries will be randomly tested for the presence of markers used in marking petroleum products in Ghana and similarly test products at Ghana's consumption points for presence of markers used in neighboring countries.
Additionally, the security and Immigration Officers at border towns are
constantly reminded and empowered to check and curtail smuggling of petroleum products.
NPA will soon engage stakeholders in border towns, that is, Town Planning Department and Environmental Protection Agency to determine locations, proximity, guidelines of siting petroleum retail stations close to border towns.
Mr J. J. Appiah 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may I crave your indulgence to read from the Order Paper --
“To enable the NPA, as the regulatory body, monitor the quality of fuel by marking petroleum products.
Help Government of Ghana combat adulteration of petroleum products as well as recover fiscal tax revenue from the sale of petroleum products.
To prevent the smuggling of petroleum products.”
I would like to ask the Hon Deputy Minister, what pragmatic steps the Ministry has taken against offenders who smuggle and continue to adulterate our petroleum products?
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister?
Mr Jinapor 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the NPA has the mandate to sanction defaulting stations and defaulting Ghanaians. The NPA has been doing that. So, if the Hon Member wants a list of the offenders and the exact punitive measures that were taken against them, if we are granted the opportunity, we would avail that to the House.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Appiah 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Deputy Minister what steps he would put in place to protect our stock of oil or to prevent the smuggling of our petroleum products.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
The Question again?
Mr J. J. Appiah 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I asked
the Hon Deputy Minister about the pragmatic steps they have put in place to protect our stock of oil from being smuggled and also to protect our petroleum products.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Is it different from the response that he has already given?
Mr J. J. Appiah 11:40 a.m.
To protect the stock of our oil --
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Please, reframe the question.
Mr J. J. Appiah 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker,I am asking the Hon Deputy Minister the steps they are taking to protect the stock of our oil from being smuggled outside this country.
Mr Jinapor 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with your kind permission, may I state that, that is exactly what I have gone through in answering this Question.
One key element has to do with marking. So, if the Hon Member wants me to rehash it, marking. is one of the steps that we are pragmatically putting in place to deal with that situation.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Members, Question number 150, standing in the name of the Hon Member for Sissala East.
Extension of electricity supply
Q. 150. Ms Alijata Sulemana asked the Deputy Minister for Energy and Petroleum when the Ministry would extend electricity supply from the national grid to Yigantu, Tanla, Kwapun, Wuru, Nitalu, Tanviallu and Bichemboi.
Mr Jinapor 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker,Tanka, Kwapun, Wuru, Nitalu and Tanviallu were earmarked to be connected to the national electr icity grid under the China International and Electric Corporation (CWE) US$90 million credit facility for selected communities in the Upper West Region.
The communities could, however, not be connected to the electricity grid due to shortage of funds during the implemen- tation of the project. The Ministry will consider these communities in sub- sequent electrification programmes for the Upper West Region.
Ms Sulemana 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may I know if the Ministry has immediate plans to continue with the rural electrification project? If they do, how early would that be, since these communities feel discriminated against?
Mr Jinapor 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I would like to assure the Hon Member that we do have immediate plans to expand rural electrification in the country, and I would like to assure you that we will consider these communities once we begin with the project.
Ms Sulemana 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to know when that would be.
Mr Jinapor 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we are still in discussion with some selected companies that have expressed interest. So, we would communicate to you in due course as and when we come up with the dates.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Question number 151--
Hon Member?
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister on three different occasions has assured Hon Members who are questioning some aspects of the Min ist ry's administration-- He said “I would like to assure you.” In what capacity?
Mr Speaker, I am reminding him that he is not a Minister. He is a Deputy Minister who assists the Minister --
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
But he has been authorised by the Hon Minister to respond to the Questions.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:40 a.m.
He has not said so. Is the assurance coming from the Minister or --
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
The Hon Majority Leader said so this morning on the floor of the House.
Anyway, Question number 151?

LPG promotion in Sissala Constituency

Q.151. Ms. Alijata Sulemana asked the Deputy Minister for Energy and Petroleum when the rural LPG promotion would cover the Sissala East Constituency.
Mr Jinapor 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the rural LPG promotion programme is aimed at rural areas where LPG usage is low. To date, 13,000 pieces of six (6)kg cylinders and cook stoves have been distributed in four districts (Tano-South, Ajumako-Enyan- Essiam, Central Gonja and Tolon) as at October, 2014, out of a target of 50,000 for the year. Budget constraints from the Ministry of Finance have stalled the project. We have therefore, not been able to cover most of the districts targeted for this year.
Beneficiary districts targeted for the current phase of the project were selected following an initial survey conducted by the Energy Commission (E C) on LPG usage in Ghana. We still hope to get funds to enable us procure the cylinders and cook stoves with accessories and resume distribution in districts targeted in the current phase. We will then extend the project to other districts including Sissala Constituency which might be covered after a reconnaissance survey of these districts.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Ms Sulemana 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, what criteria did they use to select their beneficiary communities? Can he tell the whole House?
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister?
Mr Jinapor 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I indicated, we were targeting rural areas where LPG usage is low. That is the main criterion for determing the constituencies, districts and communities that were to benefit.
Ms Sulemana 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to say that their criterion was wrong. This is because anybody in Ghana knows that charcoal burning is the main livelihood of the people of the Sissala East Constituency and they did not find it necessary to include Sissala East District.
Anyway, my follow up question is, how soon should we expect to benefit from the LPG promotion?
Mr Jinapor 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, As I indicated, we are in constant communication with the Ministry of Finance. This has to do with budgetary allocation. So, learning from the Hon Minority Leader, on behalf of the Hon Minister, I would want to assure the Hon Member that once we receive funding from the Ministry of Finance, we would be willing to include her constituency.
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Yes, last question.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if I heard -
- 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Is it a constituency- specific question?
Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
Yes, it is an issue of the budget.
May I know from the Hon Deputy Minister if the amount in question was ever approved by Parliament? If so, it is not an issue of the Ministry of Finance. He made a statement that they are awaiting funds from the Ministry. Was it approved by this House?
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister?
Mr Jinapor 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, it was approved. But beyond the approval, there is also the issue of the releases. Having done 13,000, it is stalled a bit. So, once the funds are released, we would be willing to continue.
Thank you.
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Members, last Question for the day, standing in the name of the Hon Member for Nsawam- Adoagyiri.
Connection of communities to national electricity grid
Q. 167. Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh asked the Deputy Minister for Energy and Petroleum what plans were underway to connect the following communities and towns to the national electricity grid: (i) Bowkrom (ii) Asante Kwaku (iii) Afumkrom (iv) Panpanso (v) Akraman.
Mr Jinapor 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Bowkrom, Asante Kwaku, Afunkrom, Panpanso and Akraman communities have been earmarked to benefit from an upcoming electr ification project for selected communities in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Central Regions.
The Ministry has just completed engineering surveys in the communities in order to determine the cost estimates for the implementation of the project.
The results of the engineering surveys have been obtained and are currently being processed. The Ministry has initiated the necessary approval processes for the Loan and Commercial Agreements. It is expected that the project in these communities will commence in
2015.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with your kind permission, I would take the Hon Deputy Minister to his own Answer.
“The results of the engineering surveys have been obtained and are currently being processed. The Ministry has initiated the necessary approval processes for the Loan and Commercial Agreements.”
I wish to know from the Hon Deputy Minister, if he can be specific in terms of the Loan Agreement that the Ministry is considering -- the name of that Loan Agreement.
Mr Jinapor 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as indicated, engineering surveys have been completed in 349 beneficiary communities which are to be connected under the first phase of the project.
The indicative terms and conditions under the credit facility is being offered by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), and this has been forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for assessment.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to know from the Hon Deputy Minister again, is the Ministry telling us that they cannot complete such a project without another loan? I would want to know from the Hon Deputy Minister if the conclusion is that this project cannot be completed without another loan facility.
Mr Jinapor 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we are talking about a total number of communities of 350. That is quite a huge number and so, you would want to secure the necessary funding for that and that is why we are looking at this facility. We believe that it is a prudent decision to go for this facility to connect about 350 communities, including the communities that the Hon Member has talked about.
Thank you.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, I would like to know from the Hon Deputy Minister whether initial plans were not considered. This is because from his own answers, obviously, this came up along the line. Is it a question of the Ministry not considering or thinking about this alternative and then suddenly coming up with this alternative?
Mr Jinapor 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, may I kindly state that there is no alternative. This is what we want to do as a Ministry. It is a project and these are the communities that we have earmarked under this project. So, this is the best way we believe we should go about this matter.
Thank you.
Mr Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Question time.
We thank the Hon Deputy Minister for attending upon the House on behalf of the Hon Minister to respond to Questions from Hon Members.
STATEMENTS 12:10 p.m.
Minister for Defence (Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor) 12:10 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to make this Statement as part of the global commemoration to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.
Mr Speaker, this year, 2014 AD, marks the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War which started in 1914 and ended in 1918. Correspondingly, each year, from now up till 2018, will mark a centenary of an aspect of the First World War.
Already, events are underway in all parts of the world to mark this historic event. It is, indeed, a sorrowful reminder to the world about the harrowing effects of armed conflicts.
The underlying factors and causes that led to the First and Second World Wars had nothing to do with Africa, yet the African Continent was not spared the devastation caused by these wars. Millions of Africans fought alongside their colonial masters in the two (2) world wars.
Millions of men and women from British Colonies like Canada, the Indian Sub- continent, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, the Far East and from across Africa fought alongside colonial British Forces in World Wars I and II.
The Gold Coast Regiment raised a total of five battalions for service during the First World War. The Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) of which the Gold Coast Regiment was a part played significant roles in the First and Second World Wars. As part of the 81st and 82nd Divisions of the Allied Forces, the RWAFF was in Burma in the battle of Myohaung where they routed the Japanese and captured their communication nerve centre. In the Second World War, the Gold Coast Regiment took part in the battle of Elwak in December 1940, the battle of Juba River in February 1941 and the battle of Uaddara in May 1941.
Mr Speaker, besides the commitment of the human resources, Ghana or the then Gold Coast had her fair share of logistic contributions to these wars. Takoradi, the harbour city, in the Western Region of Ghana, was one of the most important wartime bases for the Royal British Air Force. In the 1940's, the first shipment of a dozen Hurricane jet fighters and Bristol Blenheim bomber aircraft arrived by sea in large wooden crates from the UK to be re-assembled and flown to North Africa and the Middle East, thereby avoiding the heavily patrolled air and sea routes through the Mediterranean.
Between 1940 and 1943, over 4,500 British Blenheim bombers, Hurricanes and Spitfire jet fighters were assembled in Takoradi.
Minister for Defence (Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor) 12:10 p.m.


Between January 1942 and October 1944, some 2,200 Baltimore bombers, Dakotas and Hudsons aircraft arrived from the United States of America (USA) and were ferried in similar fashion.

Mr Speaker, memories of the vital contributions made by the men and women from Ghana who fought in these wars have perhaps, grown dim. Even though majority of Ghana's world war veterans are deceased today, a pat on the back of the few that are alive today and a word to the memory of those who have departed, indeed, would give the assurance that Ghana is worth dying for.

It is for this reason that the Ministry of Defence considers it a national obligation to seek the welfare of all veterans.

In the 1930s, Mr Speaker, the ex- Servicemen Union was formed to champion the interests of soldiers who had fought in the First World War. Then later, the colonial administration instituted the Gold Coast Legion to cater for the needs of the war veterans. We all remember the sad event of 28th February, 1948 Christiansburg cross-roads shooting incident in which our compatriots Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey-Lamptey laid down their lives to hasten our struggle for political independence.

After independence in 1957, the Ghana Legion Act (No. 6) of 1960 was passed, making the Ghana Legion the sole representative of ex-servicemen and war veterans affairs in the country and this was reinforced in 1974 by the Legion Decree.

Mr Speaker, the desire to give better treatment to our veterans, led to the Ghana Legion being transformed into the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) and now, the Veterans Administration, Ghana (VAG). By the Veterans' Administration

Act, Act 844 2012, VAG has become a statutory body in the Public Service of Ghana and mandated to handle all matters related to the welfare of all veterans in Ghana.

Mr Speaker, on 11th November every year, the world celebrates the end of the First world War and this event is known as Remembrance Day or Poppy Day. The red artificial poppy has been adopted since 1921 to be worn in remembrance of that day. Throughout the world, the Poppy is associated with the remembrance of those who died in order that the world might have peace.

The poppy became a symbol of remembrance for some interesting reasons related to the First World War.

The western part of Belgium saw some of the most concentrated and bloodiest fighting of the First World War. There was complete devastation. Buildings, roads, trees and natural life simply disappeared. Only the Poppy survived, flowering each year with the coming of the warm weather. This brought a sense of life, hope, colour and reassurance to those who were still fighting.

Interestingly, the seeds of the poppies can lie in the ground for years without germinating, and only grow after the ground has been disturbed. Also, the brilliant red colour of the poppy, makes it an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled in the war.

Mr Speaker, I urge all Hon Members, public officials, corporate Ghana, ladies and gentlemen, the media and the general public to embrace the wearing of the red poppy, especially a few days to 11 th November to serve as a reminder that war and all armed conflicts are detrimental to human development.

My appeal is that, we all join hands to commemorate the death of all those, both military and civilians, who sacrificed their lives in the two world wars and all internal and external peacekeeping operations.

During the periods towards Remembrance Day, artificial poppies are distributed by the Veterans Adminis- tration, Ghana, in return for donations towards the raising of funds to support the veterans, especially those who need special treatment, particularly the destitute, aged, the hospitalised and widows. There are three (3) categories of Veterans in Ghana. These are:

War veterans, that is the demobilised survivors of the First and Second World Wars.

Gold Coast Veterans, that is those who served in the Gold Coast Regiment during the post-war period from 1946 to 1956.

Military Veterans, that is those who served in the Ghana Armed Forces and have honourably been released.

The first two categories are wholly maintained by the Veterans Administration and are housed in Amasaman, Kumasi and Tamale. Presently, there are over six hundred war and Gold Coast Veterans in the country. Some of these are destitutes with no known relatives outside their nuclear family. The main source of revenue for the Administration is monthly contributions by members who are in receipt of pension. Those who do not receive pension contribute nothing.

Apart from providing services to all veterans, the Administration is also engaged in revenue generation activities to further its objectives. These include

operation of guest houses, event centres and halls, a block making factory and the sale of poppies.

This year 's Remembrance Day Celebration is being marked with the following events:

A military band concert by the Ghana Armed Forces in collaboration with the Veterans Administration which took place last Thursday. This was held on 29th October, 2014.

Radio and Television programmes featuring veterans is underway

A float to be organised by the Veterans Administration

Grand Remembrance Day Celebration on 11th November 2014 to be organised by the State Protocol department and The Regional Co-ordinating Councils in conjunction with the Ghana Armed Forces and VAG.

Mr Speaker, it is unfortunate that in spite of the ravages of war as history has recently attested, we still have wars with us today.

The numerous peacekeeping opera- tions our soldiers are engaged in today, both inside and outside the African Continent are aimed at contributing to the restoration of peace in the world.

Let us pass the message round that war does not resolve but rather escalate conflict and leaves in its trail unnecessary suffering and destruction.

Lastly, Mr Speaker, I would once again urge all Hon Members, public officials, corporate Ghana, personnel of the media and the general public to patronise the Red Poppy. Wear the Red Poppy to remind ourselves that the resolution of a dispute by armed violence is obnoxious and must be avoided at all costs.

Thank you for the attention.
Mr Fritz F. Baffour (NDC-Ablekuma South) 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the insightful Statement made by the Hon Minister for Defence on the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, which in modern time, is known as the “eleven-eleven”. He has given us a brief of the circumstance that led to the two world wars. But those two world wars affected Ghana or what was then called the Gold Coast deeply and actually invoked the changes that created this friction.
Ghana participated in the Gold Coast Regiment of all West Africa Frontier Force as he mentioned; took part in the First World War and in the Second World War. In the aftermath of the Second World War, after over a 108,000 Gold Coasters had returned from the combat areas in the far east, the middle east and also in the Asia sub-continent.
They came back with the knowledge that they were equal to be officers who were then Europeans. This is because they had seen them in combat; they performed better than them in combat, and therefore, their contribution to Ghana was that they should be on even keel, and that led to the momentum that created the state of Ghana on March 6th, 1957.
We must take note that these heroes were not looked after as much as we should have; we did not treat them as heroes. But today, we recognise their worth because 60 years later or just under 60 years later, we are a nation that is sustainable. “Eleven-eleven” is very potent to our memory because the Second World War created a new world; a world where hope and peace became an aspiration for mankind. The United Nations (UN) was formed after the 1945. The UN Charter which Ghana signed was very much part and parcel of the aftermath
of the world war, and we also know very well that the institutions that we respect in this country called the Armed Forces stem its strengths and policies from the participation and the tradition that were garnered from the Gold Coasters who participated in the war. Even with the ceremonies that we have, are derived from Ghana's participation in the war and that first global war that our troops' contribution to.
We know that as a result, our troops and the training of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) had engendered the praise that we have and contributions that we have made to peacekeeping in the world. So “eleven-eleven” is not something that we just recognise to celebrate as the end of the major contributory factor into some of the best thing that have happened to our country today.
I would like to plead with all of us here that every one of us as Members of the House should have poppy, so that we would show that we support our veterans and the contributions they made to the world order.
So, on that note, I would like to congratulate the Minister for Defence for his Statement, and congratulate all the veterans and all those who participated in the Armed Forces and contributed to the peacekeeping through the whole world.
Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Second Deputy Speaker?
Mr Joe Ghartey (NPP-Esikadu/ Ketan) 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity.
As we remember our war veterans and remember our heroes and the various contributions that they have to where we are today, I associate with Members who
spoke earlier, especially when they talked about the linkage between the First World War and the Second World War, and how the Second World War and how the defence to the Second World War led to our own independence.
Mr Speaker, indeed, it was after the Second World War that we started as a nation, but ordinary people of Ghana, the soldiers of the then Gold Coast started to become emancipated from mental slavery. They realised that they were the same as other people regardless of the colour or their skin. What Emperor Haile Selassie said at the UN that the colour of the man's skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes, became apparent to the soldiers who decided on 28th February to march down the road so close to us and created the event that led to our independence.
Mr Speaker, as we salute all our veterans and also remember them, and thank them for the contributions that they have made for us, there is one matter of little concern that perhaps, I can use this occasion to bring up. All over the world, nowhere have I come across a situation where war memorials are changed. It is because of the respect that we have for our veterans. I started practising as a lawyer some 25 years ago. Mr Speaker, you did a little longer, and we all recollect that the name of that street that passes in front of our court is the 28th February road, and that was why the court was known as the 28th February Road Court.
Mr Speaker, the name has been changed. It is with much regret, because I have a lot of respect for the new name, and for the person who bears the name of the road. So, it is with much respect and regret, that I stand up to use this occasion to urge that the High Street's name should
be changed back to the 28th February Road, and the new name of the High Street, with the greatest of respect, as just a measure of justice to our veterans who marched on 28th February road and lost their lives-- Private Adjetey and company. Today, we no longer recognise them in the manner that it was decided that they should be recognised.
Mr Speaker, as I rise to associate myself with all the contributors on their excellent intervention, I urge all of us here to look at the way in which we name national edifices and the way in which we change them as well, and also to urge that the High Street must be reverted to its former name being the 28th February Road. This is because we respect our veterans and it is in memory of them.
Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Member for Anlo?
Mr Clement Kofi Humado (NDC -- Anlo) 12:20 p.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement ably made by the Minister for Defence to commemorate the centenary event of the First World War.
Indeed, growing up, I had a grandfather who had been a war veteran, and who used to tell me about the events of the First and the Second World Wars. It was until I visited the Gambia where I saw a war memorial, a huge cemetery that I came to terms with the role that the Gold Coasters played in the First and the Second World Wars.
Mr Speaker, in the Gambia, they have a very big war memorial cemetery, and when I entered that cemetery, I counted not less than 16 names that were obviously of Ghanaian origin. A number of them came from Ga-Damngbe; the majority came from the northern areas of the country, and these are Gold Coasters whose remains are lying in the foreign land. I believe they are documented as far as Ghana is concerned.

Mr Speaker, on this occasion, I would want to urge the Minister for Defence to let the Ghanaian Consulate in the Gambia, or the Embassy in Sierra Leone to visit that war memorial and take stock of the number of Gold Coasters that Ghana had lost in the Royal West African Frontier Force whose remains lie there. I believe families in Ghana do not even know of or not aware of where they are.

Mr Speaker, on an occasion like this we need to pay tribute to the fallen heroes and also the survivors of the Second World War who are with us. I would want to thank the Minister for Defence for the Statement that he has made and for the elaborate programme that he has rolled out for the commemoration of this event in Ghana today.
Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of -- Statements --
Hon Majority Leader, at the Commencement of Public Business, are we starting the Bill today, so that I can leave the chair to my deputies? That is why I am asking. Or you may want to have the orientation?
Mr Bagbin 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is appropriate for us to take an adjournment. The Committee will be leading us tomorrow to consider the Customs Bill and my understanding from the Chair and the sense of the House is that we should take an adjournment today and come back properly tomorrow to continue.
I have not consulted my Colleague, the Hon Minority Leader on this. So, I will want to hear from him before I can respond fully to your question.
Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Let me hear from the Hon Minority Leader before I call Hon Isaac Osei.
Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Leaders, there are two Members who want to say something and I want to hear them. Hon Isaac Osei and the Member for Manyhia South?
Mr Isaac Osei 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wanted to have the sense on when Members would be schooled in the use of the gadgets before us. Is it going to be this afternoon?
Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon, Member, the earlier the better and the discussion I had early on with the Clerk and the Leadership was to have it today after adjournment. It is better we start now but I am just hearing a new proposal -- I do not know --
But if we can start something today, it will be better for all of us, so that we can start using the gadgets in good time. But
the Hon Minority Leader is also raising another equally important matter, but that is a different issue. We should start something today: I will urge the Leaders, if we can start something today.
Mr Issac Osei 12:30 p.m.
With due respect, the matters raised by the Hon Minority Leader should take precedent.
Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
I do not have any objection; it can be done, once it is part of the orientation; it is how we schedule our time.
Hon Member for Manhyia?
Dr Matthew O. Prempeh 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am rising to bring to your attention and that of the Leadership that last Saturday an important national exercise was undertaken, which was the Sanitation Day and the clean up of our communities and which the Minister has informed us that it is going to be the first Saturday of every month.
As leaders in our various constituencies and communities and as representatives of the people, the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development should be urged to come and share the whole idea and the whole policy with this House, so that as we go on with our representative roles and go into our various communities, we can serve as the fulcrum for the people to rally round and undertake these exercises.
Mr Speaker, for far too long some of these government policies are decided, agreed and implemented without Hon Members' involvement. So, I would plead with you that we should come and get involved. In my constituency, they were asking me to come out and do that work.
Mrs Irene Naa Torshie Addo 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, back to the arrangement in the House, I must say that the computer that
is in front of you does not allow me to see you. In fact, at one stage, I said to the First Deputy Speaker that the Speaker was out and we are having proceedings and he said, “no, he is actually behind the computer.” It is proper; we must have that confidence that you are always here with us. So, if there is a way that it can be moved. This is because your presence in here is very important.
Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Kofi Frimpong, see me in my lobby because you have created a small problem for Parliament. See me in my lobby; I do not want to mention the matter on the floor of the House.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Bagbin 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Members simply assisted Leadership in giving the details of why we are trying to adjourn now. We are trying to adjourn for two key reasons; one is for us to build a consensus on the package for this short Meeting; we have to agree on the items and the accompaniments. The other is, we have to undergo the orientation which is starting from today, so that from tomorrow Members will better be applied to the new equipment before them and then any other business.
We are lucky that our Colleague, the Minister for Finance is here with his deputy, so we can agree on some of these things and then --
Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Members, in view of the fact that we would be meeting in caucus after adjournment, is it necessary? If it is a caucus issue, then we should leave it for the caucus, so that the Leaders could move for the adjournment, so that those matters would be taken in caucus.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was going to ask him to just move for an adjournment, so that we move into caucus. That is all.
Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, let me just listen to the Hon Member for Wenchi, then you move the adjournment Motion. It should not be a caucus issue.
Prof. George Y. Gyan-Baffour 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not interrupting the Majority Leader. My Chief Whip was actually right when she said that this thing is an --
Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
We have taken note.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, not taking note but make sure that when the thing is made flat, you read from it and see your face -- to see how you feel about certain things. Otherwise, there are times that your mood actually determines what we say. So, Mr Speaker, it should be done immediately.
Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Very well. It is an important observation.
Hon Majority Leader, you may now move the Motion for adjournment.
Mr A. S. K. Bagbin 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have no problem with Hon Members admiring your face. So, that one is accepted.
I can assure Hon Irene Naa Torshie Addo that that would be taken --
Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
And the Hon Member for Wenchi.
Mr Bagbin 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, and the Hon Member for Wenchi that space would be given for them to continue to admire the face of the Speaker.
Mr Speaker, with this, I beg to move, that this House do adjourn till tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. for us to continue the business of the House.
Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in rising to second the Motion, it is important it is stated that it is for reasons of the fact that the chair on which the Speaker sits must never be empty when the House is in Session. So, Hon Members would want to assure themselves that there would be somebody occupying the chair.
Mr Speaker, it is not for mere admiration of your face. That could be part of the perspective of certain people. But Mr Speaker, it is important that we assure ourselves that there is somebody in the chair.
Having said that Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion moved by the Majority Leader.
Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Members, before I put the Question, I would want to remind the Committee that the House has put in place to advise me with regard to the replacement of the former Majority Leader on the Parliamentary Service Board, to come and give me the advice.
As of now, I have not received any advice from them. Fortunately, the Chairman of the Committee is in the House and I would expect that as early as possible he comes to me, so that we could have the full complement of the Parliamentary Service Board.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 12:40 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 12:34 p.m. till Wednesday, 5 th November, 2014 at 10.00 a.m.