Debates of 6 Nov 2014

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:05 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 5th November, 2014.

Mr Speaker, yesterday, I effected a change in respect of Hon Wg. Cdr. Francis K. Anaman (retd), that he was on parliamentary duty outside but he has still been marked absent.
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Member, has he passed through the process of being granted permission?
Maj. Oduro (retd): Mr Speaker, for that, I do not know. What I know is that he is on Government assignment outside the jurisdiction.
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Well, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we have a ruling on this matter. This is officially the minutes of the Sitting of the House and therefore, it captures those who attend the Sitting, that is, those who are present in the Chamber.

Mr Speaker was very clear on that during the time of Speake Peter Ala Adjetey. And so, if you are on a committee and the Committee is sitting outside or travelled even on official duty, you are absent from the Sitting and that is what they capture. Even though it is a committee which is performing some function outside or one is gone on an official travel, you are still absent from the Sitting and therefore, they will put there: “Absent with permission.” That is, if you pass through the official process.

Maj. Oduro (retd): Mr Speaker, this one is “Absent”; it is not “Absent with permission.”
Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Member for Nkoranza North, check your records whether permission had been granted to the Hon Member. When you check the records and he had been granted permission, it will be corrected accordingly. This is because when a committee travels and does not get the permission, it is another matter. So, the Clerks-at-the-Table will check the records and based on their findings, the records will be amended accordingly.

Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 5th November, 2014, are hereby, as corrected, adopted as the true record of proceedings.

I further direct that the Clerks-at-the- Table should find out the status of the Hon Member whom the Hon Member for Nkoranza North had referred to, to find out whether he had received official permission to travel outside the House.

Very well.

Hon Members, we start with that of Tuesday, 15th July, 2014.
  • [No correction was made to the Official Report of Tuesday, 15th July, 2014].
  • [No correction was made to the Official Report of Wednesday, 16th July, 2014].
  • [ No correction was made to the Official Report of Thursday, 17 July, 2014] .
    • rose
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Muntaka
    Alhaji Muntaka 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am really very sorry but before you move to the Official Reports, the Votes and Proceedings, on page 9, the second paragraph --
    “The Rt. Hon Speaker reminded the House that on Thursday, 19 th September, 2013, he assumed…”
    I thought it was “he performed”.
    And then the third paragraph,
    “The Rt. Hon. Speaker informed the House that in consultation with…”
    But here, it says --
    “The Rt. Hon Speaker informed the House that Leadership in consultation…”
    I thought that “in consultation” should come with “Leadership”.
    Mr Speaker, I just wanted to draw your attention.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Yes, I get the point there.
    Table Office to take note.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Hon Member, we now move to the Official Report of Friday, 18th July, 2014 --
    Dr Anthony A. Osei 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, column 2525, first paragraph, the amount should be in billions of cedis, not in dollars. It should be “1.6 billion Ghana cedis”, not dollars, as it is showing now.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Very well.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:15 a.m.
    Also column 2526, it is a similar thing. The amount should be 6.1 billion cedis and 7.8 billion Ghana cedis respectively.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    So, in both columns where the dollar appears should be Ghana cedis?
    Very well.
    Any other correction?
    Yes, Hon Member for Tema East --
    Nii Daniel N. Kwartei Titus-Glover: Mr Speaker, respectfully, I would want to draw your attention to column 2040, third paragraph where it is captured --
    “Mr Speaker, these were the days when he was the engineer of Tema Oil Refinery.”
    The correction is “Tema Fannery, a subsidiary of Mankoadze Fisheries”. That should be the right words to be captured, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Very well.
    Any other correction?
    Hon Members, the Official Report of Friday, 18th July, 2014 as corrected, is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.


    Hon Members, we now move to the Official Report of the Emergency Meeting of Wednesday, 1st October, 2014.
  • [No correction was made to the Official Report of Wednesday, 1st October, 2014.]
    • Mrs Ursula G. Ekuful 11:15 a.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker.
    At column 126, the second paragraph, line 2, let me start reading:
    “Mr Speaker, I believe that we are all labouring under certain . . .”
    It says “belabouring”. It should be “labouring”. The “be” should be deleted. And “under a certain”, an “a” should be inserted there.
    “…a certain misapprehension that the entire project is about resurfacing.”
    And then the last but one sentence in that paragraph --
    “…have not had any period maintenance activities?”
    So “period” should be “periodic”. And after “maintenance activities” the word “for” should be deleted. So it would read:
    “…have not had any periodic maintenance activities over long periods of time.”
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Very well.

    Hon Members, the Official Report of the Emergency Meeting of Thursday, 2nd October, 2014 as corrected, is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.

    Hon Members, item 3 on the Order Paper -- Question time.

    Hon Members, we have the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development in our midst to respond to Questions from Hon Members.

    11. 25 a.m.
    ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:15 a.m.
    MINISTRY OF LOCAL 11:15 a.m.
    GOVERNMENT AND RURAL 11:15 a.m.
    DEVELOPMENT 11:15 a.m.
    Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (Mr Julius Debrah) 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry, recognising the need to build the capacities of the newly created District Assemblies, set aside one million Ghana cedis as seed money for establishment of each of the Assemblies.
    Consequently, an initial amount of one hundred thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢100,000.00) was released to purchase equipment and furniture for the start-up of each of the new District Assemblies.
    The Ministry also purchased vehicles for official use by District Chief Executives of the 46 newly created districts. The 46 vehicles cost eighty-six thousand, three hundred and thirty Ghana cedis, forty-six pesewas (GH¢86,330.46) each.
    The remaining balance is being used to construct administration blocks for each of the District Assemblies.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Supplementary question, Hon Member?
    Mr Ussif 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister whether the contract for the construction of the administration block has been awarded.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Hon Minister, did you get the question?
    Mr Debrah 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, about 18 out of the 46 have already been awarded.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Hon Minister, I did not get the question, that is why I asked you whether you got the question. If you did not understand the question, let him repeat it. But if you have, then you can go ahead and respond to it.
    Mr Debrah 11:15 a.m.
    Sorry.
    Mr Speaker, can I have the Hon Member repeat the question?
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Very well.
    Mr Ussif 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister whether the contract for the construction of an administration block has been awarded for the Mamprugu Moaduri District.
    Mr Debrah 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would need to double check on this -- [Uproar.]
    Mr Ussif 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to refer the Hon Minister to the budget -- that was on the 16th of November, 2011. Paragraph 810 of the 2012 Budget, page 183 and with your permission, I would like to quote the then Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Hon Dr Kwabena Duffuor:
    “Madam Speaker, as part of NDC's commitment to deepening demo- cracy and local government development, 42 new districts have been created and one million Ghana cedis as start-up capital per district has been provided to meet their initial infrastructural needs.”
    Mr Debrah 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, what I said was that, the processes involved in awarding the contracts to the 46 newly created districts have started. As I speak, 18 of them have been awarded. The processes are still ongoing and as and when we award the rest, we would let you know.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Yes, your last supplementary question?
    Mr Ussif 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister whether Mamprugu Moaduri District is part of the 18 contracts that have been awarded and what is the cost per the construction of the administration block. Also when is the construction going to begin?
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Hon Member, we would allow the question of whether the district is part of the 18.
    Mr Debrah 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the minimum cost of each administration block is GH¢1.4 million. I have doubled checked, and his is not among the 18 which have been awarded now.
    Mr Ignatius B. Awuah 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister just said that the minimum cost of one of the projects is GH¢1.4 million Ghana cedis. We also know that the promise made to the district was one million Ghana cedis for every distr ict and out of this a hundred thousand Ghana cedis was for the start- up and eighty-six thousand Ghana cedis was for the vehicle, which means that what
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Hon Minister?
    Mr Debrah 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is true that when we add up the figures we would realise that when we take the initial one hundred thousand Ghana cedis that was used to purchase the equipment and the vehicle, the remaining is not up to the 1.4 million Ghana cedis. Our thinking at the Ministry is to start with the project, and as we move on, we would look for the additional funding to complete.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Hon Member for old Tafo?
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want clarity on the first paragraph of the Hon Minister's Answer; he said they set aside GH¢1 million each, that is the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
    Can the Hon Minister tell us if all this GH¢42 million was set aside or that it was given to them in tranches? This was in the 2011 Budget . So, the earliest they could have got the money was 2012.
    So can the Hon Minister tell us as he speak if they have the big balance sitting somewhere? Can he tell us that?
    Mr Debrah 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is my brief but I would want to double check whether the money is seated somewhere and let the Hon Member know.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Minister for Defence?
    Dr Benjamin B. Kunbuor 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to know from the Hon Minister whether a seed amount of GH¢1 million is supposed to be used for every aspect of development in these new districts.
    Mr Debrah 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the thinking at the time was that, they should give each of the districts the initial seed capital of GH¢1 million.
    Naturally, the things involved in the formation of a district are quite enormous. But they thought if they started with it moving forward, we would be able to look for funding to take care of other aspects of the whole district set up.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Minority Chief Whip?
    Mr Daniel Botwe 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, may I know from the Hon Minister when the project for Mamprugu Moaduri District will commence?
    The district in question is Mamprugu Moaduri District. The constituency is Yagaba-Kubori but the district in question, per Question 176, is Mamprugu Moaduri District.
    Mr Speaker, the Minister said it is not part of the first 18. So, I would want to know when that for Mamprugu Moaduri District will commence.
    Mr Debrah 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is the second processing of another batch of about 23 that is just going through the procurement process. As soon as that is out, I would let the House be informed about it.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Members, the last question.
    Alright, Hon Minority Chief Whip --
    Mr Botwe 11:35 a.m.
    With the greatest of respect, when the House says “when” --
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Well, I will indulge you. This is because you are in Leadership.
    Mr Botwe 11:35 a.m.
    When the House asks the question “when” Mr Speaker, we deserve a definitive answer.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Minister, he says he wants a definite answer; he says his question is: “When?”
    Mr Debrah 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would have loved to but it is a process and so, I need to consult with the consultant properly, so that I can give a definite time to the House.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Members, the last question.
    Hon Ayorkor Botchwey?
    Ms Shirley A. Botchwey 11:35 a.m.
    Thank you very much Mr Speaker for recognising that there must be gender balance.
    Mr Speaker, per the Hon Minister's Answer, the assumption is that the monies are not with the Metropolitan, Municipal and Distr ict Assemblies (MMDAs), but rather lodged somewhere in the Ministry. I would like to find out the procedure for the District Assemblies to access these monies.
    My reason for asking is -- If a District Assembly finds suitable accommodation, what would they have to go through to access that money to pay for it?
    Thank you.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Member, the money is not there. This is because based on the question by Hon Baffour-Awuah, which was to know how they are going to look for more to top-up to complete the administration block, it presupposes that they even have to look for more funding to make up for the amount for the administration block.
    But I would allow you to rephrase the question. Ask again.
    Ms Botchwey 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, my question is based on his Answer, which says that the money has been set aside. So, my assumption is --
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    You know the Hon Member for Old Tafo asked that question and a certain answer was given. So, we have past there -- on record.
    Ms Botchwey 11:35 a.m.
    From his Answer Mr Speaker, he said that the money was sitting somewhere, but he did not tell us where.
    Therefore, it means that the money, at least, GH¢800, 000 per District Assembly is lodged somewhere. I would want to find out from the Hon Minister how or what the procedure is for my District Assembly, for instance, which is a new one, to access the GH¢800,000 set aside for us.
    Thank you.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Minister?
    Mr Debrah 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the money being described as “set aside” was meant for the construction and setting up of the Distr ict Assemblies but it was not specifically made available, whereby people could access and rent premises on their own.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Well, I have seen the sense of the House. I will take one more.
    Hon Collins Ntim?
    Mr Collins A. Ntim 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Minister, what is the maximum amount for the cost of constructing the administration and if there is any possible variation that warrants the differences in the amounts.
    What are the maximum amounts and the possible variations that warrant the differences in the figure given?
    Thank you.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Minister?
    Mr Debrah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, per the brief from the consultant, we have the minimum -- other factors may play in certain areas where topography could bring in a lot of variation. So, the information I have now is the minimum they are looking at; it is going to be difficult to peg the maximum per building.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Ameyaw- Cheremeh?
    Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister indicated that 18 of the projects are ready for execution.
    Forty-six new districts were created; what is holding the Ministry back from awarding the contracts for the 28 other districts that were created at the same time, whose monies have also been set aside?
    Mr Debrah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I indicated early on, the award processes are ongoing and they have called for tenders; they need to go through evaluation, et cetera.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Members, we move to the next Question standing in the name of the Hon Member for Chereponi.
    Provision of a permanent administration block
    (Chereponi District Assembly)
    Q.177. Mr. Namoro Sanda Azumah asked the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development when the Chereponi District Assembly would get a permanent administration block.
    Mr Julius Debrah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry intends to provide suitable office buildings for District Assemblies that lack administrative blocks. As a result, since 2013, the Ministry commenced the procurement processes for the construction of some office buildings for the 46 District Assemblies which were created in 2012.
    Mr Speaker, efforts are being made to consider other districts which lack permanent administration blocks, includ- ing the Chereponi District Assembly.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Any supplementary questions?
    Mr S. N. Azumah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister whether he is aware that all the decentralised departments are scattered all over the Chereponi town. Mr Speaker, if yes, what measures is he taking by way of intervention to ensure effective administrative work? This is because scattered decentralised departments would not bring effective administrative work.
    Thank you.
    Mr Debrah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes, I am aware but it is part of the teething problem in establishing new districts. We are working hard to resolve it.
    Mr S.N. Azumah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the second paragraph of the Minister 's Answer, he said:
    “Mr Speaker, efforts are being made to consider other districts which lack permanent administration blocks, including the Chereponi District Assembly.”
    Mr Speaker, I would want to find out how soon these efforts would materialise.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    How soon?
    Mr Debrah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, as soon as practicable -- [Pause.]
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Members, that brings us to the -- sorry.
    Hon Member?
    Ms Botchwey 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he says efforts are being made - May I know from him, what efforts his Ministry is making? This is because I have a District Assembly that does not have a permanent office building. So, I am interested in knowing the efforts that he is making.
    Thank you.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    She would want to know the efforts that you are making.
    Ms Botchwey 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is so vague an Answer -- “efforts are being made”.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Member, you are out of order. That is why we have supplementary questions. If an Answer is provided by a Minister and you are not satisfied, you pursue the Minister with a supplementary question. That is why I recognised you to ask your question, so that you can get clarification on the floor of the House.
    Ms Botchwey 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am sorry. I therefore, seek clarification from the Hon Minister on efforts that his Ministry is making to consider the other districts that lack permanent administration blocks as his Answer says.
    Thank you.
    Mr Debrah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the lack of administration blocks has featured in almost all my discussions with people who could be of assistance. But as you know, we have been aiming at trying to complete the 46 that we have already touched to give us the confidence to move on.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Your last question, Hon Deputy Minority Whip?
    Mr Baffour Awuah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he was quite specific on the efforts they are making for the 46 newly created District Assemblies. But then he says efforts are being made to consider other districts which lack permanent administration blocks.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to know from the Hon Minister if he could give us an idea of the number of District Assemblies that fall within that category.
    Mr Debrah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, there are quite a number of them. For instance, in 2007, 32 District Assemblies were established -- between 2007 and 2008, which do not have office premises.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Minister, we thank you very much for attending upon the House to respond to Questions from Hon Members.
    At the Commencement of Public Business -- Hon Majority Leader, before we move to the laying of Papers, the item 5 (b), the Committee is supposed to advise the Speaker. We normally do not lay the report. You advise me and I inform the House. So, who put that thing on the Order Paper? No advice has even come to me -- you advise me and I inform the House of your advice.

    But why should you go and even lay the advice when the person you were supposed to advise has not even been told anything? So, whom are you advising?

    Hon Majority Leader, I do not know -- you are in charge of Business, so-- You are the Chairman of the Business Committee.

    Mr Speaker, this was definitely done at the blind side of the Leader. You would recall that the memorandum for the approval for the agenda for this week was approved before we went on recess. It was not resubmitted for consideration by us. That is why some of these things are done at the blind side of the Leader.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Members, the presentation of Papers by the Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.
    Hon Majority Leader, are you still the Chairman?
    Mr Bagbin 11:45 a.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, the process has been put in place but I have not yet been changed and it is also proper that there are some unfinished businesses that I need to complete before I can formally hand over to the new Chairman who has been proposed, so that the Business of the House would not be impeded or delayed.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    You will want to manage the transition smoothly?
    Mr Bagbin 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is so.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Very well.
    So, is that Paper ready to be laid, 5a (a)?
    Mr Bagbin 11:55 a.m.
    That is so, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Very well.
    PAPERS 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, are we going to start item 8?
    Mr Bagbin 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have a request from the Committee that they would want to do the informal process of winnowing, looking at the number of proposed amendments to the Customs Bill, 2014 and the proposal is for the Committee, together with the other members of the Winnowing Committee to meet today to do the winnowing, so that it could be properly done for tomorrow.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Yes, the Chairman and then the Ranking member of the Finance Committee --
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Ranking Member of the Finance Committee?
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Majority Leader talked about a request from the Committee to do some winnowing. It is probably a good idea. I am the Ranking Member of the Committee and this is the first time I am hearing that the Committee is requesting for winnowing. [Inter- ruption.] It is a good idea, but as a Ranking Member, I do not even know how the request was made. So I am at a loss.
    Now, the Chairman wants to start with some clauses and at the same time, would want to do winnowing. So I am not sure what the Committee --
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Members, if there are some clauses that are not con- troversial and they are known to the Committee members, is it possible to start them or we just do the winnowing and start tomorrow? Those are the two views on the floor of the House. Let us decide which one we want.
    Yes, Hon Yieleh Chireh and then the Hon Deputy Minority Leader.
    Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the issue that the Chairman of the Committee is bringing is very difficult. The Leader has already indicated what we should do.
    Now, if he says we should take some of the clauses, this House ought to know those clauses that are not contentious. But I know that the moment he raises an issue on the clause, Hon Colleagues would, even on the spur of the moment, try to amend those same clauses.
    I believe the better thing is that all those who have filed the amendments should be urged to come to the Committee for winnowing and if they agree, they drop them rather than saying we should start now.
    If we start now, there would be amendments coming on the spur of the moment and that is very dangerous.
    Hon Dominic B. A. Nitiwul -- rose --
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
    Mr Nitiwul 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to support the position taken by Hon Yieleh Chireh.
    The Leader has already given the direction the way forward. I believe we should allow all those who have filed the amendments to go to the winnowing and let us look them. We may think it is not contenting but a Member sitting somewhere has a serious problem with that clause.
    So, Mr Speaker, let us do the winnowing and then maybe, if we are not able to finish, we could continue tomorrow and on Tuesday we would start with full vim. By that time the Ministry of Finance would have done what they are expected to do.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Members, I believe that would be neater. We adjourn and then the Committee can meet and start the winnowing, so that from tomorrow, we could start the consideration of the Bill. I believe that is a compromise position as indicated early on by the Majority Leader.
    ANNOUNCEMENTS 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Members, I have just received a Communication from His Excellency the President.
    COMMUNICATION FROM THE 11:55 a.m.
    PRESIDENT 11:55 a.m.
    OFFICE OF PARLIAMENT 11:55 a.m.
    PARLIAMENT HOUSE 11:55 a.m.
    ACCRA 11:55 a.m.
    PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC 11:55 a.m.
    OF GHANA 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, you have raised some constitutional matter which needs further probing into.
    You indicated to us that when you have the Communication and when the House is in Session, you communicate same to us. So, is it being implied that when the House is in Session, is it not in Session?
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    When the House is not Sitting, I will find a way of informing the Leaders when I meet them. That is the normal practice; we inform them. But this announcement cannot be made if the House is not Sitting because I cannot read this Communication if the House is not Sitting.
    But when the House is Sitting and I receive it -- the Constitution says inform Mr Speaker when the House is Sitting. When I am informed, I also inform you. But when the House is not Sitting and I meet the Hon Minority Leader, I inform him --
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is where the issue is.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Yes.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.
    So, when you do not meet me and then the Communication comes --
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Or when I call him and he picks the phone --
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.
    “When you call him and he picks the phone”, then you inform him?
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Yes, and I have always informed him whenever I receive the Communication -- [Interruption]-- I always inform you when I receive it.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter because there is a backlog of travels --
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, we can explore that matter later, but for now, I have informed you.
    Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in view of the request of the Finance
    Committee, which has been accepted by the House and a number of matters that have been referred to committees, I beg to move, with your permission and the indulgence of my Colleagues that the House do adjourn to tomorrow at 10.00 a.m. when we reconvene to go on with the Business of the House.
    Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    ADJOURNMENT 11:55 a.m.