Debates of 20 Nov 2014

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon Members, since I came to my Lobby, the power has been put out for about four times. It looks like we have a problem. I learnt it has affected the Meeting. So, we may have to suspend Sitting now and when things are settled, we would continue with the proceedings.
I thank you very much.
10.17 a.m. -- Sitting suspended.
11.25 a.m. -- Sitting resumed.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon Member, Correction of Votes and Proceedings.
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Mun- taka 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we would be grateful if you could take the Questions on the Addendum Order Paper.
We have the Deputy Minister for Education standing in for the substantive
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Have you informed the Hon Members in whose names the Questions stand?
Alhaji Muntaka 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I spoke to my Hon Colleague opposite on the floor of the House and I have spoken personally to some of the Hon Members in whose names the Questions stand, that this is what is going to happen and we would want to crave the indulgence of our Hon Colleagues to allow the Hon Deputy Minister to --
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon Majority Chief Whip, let us take these matters one by one.
You know, today, we are supposed to have the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways in the House to respond to Questions. Now, you want to swap that with that of the Minister for Education. That was the reason you gave on the floor of the House. But the Questions stand in the names of certain Hon Members. Have you discussed this matter with them?
Alhaji Muntaka 10:10 a.m.
Rightly so.
Mr Speaker, I believe, my Hon Colleague, Titus-Glover is here, he would attest to the fact that I spoke to him. The other Colleagues on my side of the House would also attest to the fact that I spoke to them earlier about the changes and the reasons for the changes.
This is because the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways, if you look at the Business Statement read on Friday, was scheduled to come tomorrow. But the circumstances changed and he was scheduled for today. The Hon Minister for Education and her two deputies, none of them would be in town tomorrow.
So, we discussed it yesterday and got the understanding that the Ministry of Education should keep its place as per the original Business Statement that was read last week. That agreement was understood and sealed by the Leadership. Unfortunately, I believe because of the time we closed yesterday, the Table Office could not make those changes and had to do that only this morning.
So, I have got my Hon Colleagues who would be affected by these changes to understand the changes that have been made. I am sure we are on the same page, knowing that the Hon Minister for Education would be answering Questions this morning and not the Minister for Roads and Highways.
Thank you very much.
Mr Ignatius B. Awuah 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I got here this morning and I have been trying to organise my Hon Colleagues to ask the original Questions, only to know that there has been an Addendum. I tried getting those Hon Members who have been listed on the Addendum. I got some of them but not all. I do not know, whether in the course of the deliberations, they would join us. Otherwise, it would be a big injustice to them. This is because originally, it was advertised that tomorrow they were going to have those Questions and all of a sudden, they are supposed to have them today.
This would be a lot of inconvenience to them, I think so, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon Members, the rules are very clear. The Business Committee brings business for the week and it is adopted by the House. Therefore, if you want to vary, you have to pass through the same process. That is why I am trying to get the sense of the House. If the sense of the House is that, we should take them, fine, we will take them and make progress.
Otherwise, it will be a precedent that anybody can then change the business programmed for the day and it will not be a good precedent. But if you can find a way and arrive at a certain compromise, it will be an exception rather than a rule.
Is the Hon Member for Tolon here?
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
What about the Hon Member for Manso-Adubia. Is he here?
Some Hon Members 10:10 a.m.
No!
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
What about the Hon Member for Tano North?
Some Hon Members 10:10 a.m.
Yes!
Mr Awuah 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, fortunately, Hon Yaw Frimpong is here and Hon Owusu-Bio and Hon Wahab are also here. [Interruption.]
Alhaji Muntaka 10:10 a.m.
Hon Freda A. Prempeh too is here.
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Very well.
Alhaji Muntaka 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest respect, I just wanted to state a fact.
If you look at the Business Statement that was read on Friday, today was meant for the Minister for Education and all our Hon Colleagues who were to ask Questions and who had the Business Statement knew very well that the Hon Minister for Education would be in today.
When we came in this morning that the Order Paper had brought roles from tomorrow to today, an issue we were able to resolve yesterday - that should not be so.
So, Mr Speaker, I am sure my Hon Colleagues who are to ask Questions of the Minister for Education did not know about this until this morning. Mr Speaker, I am not trying to find excuses that if the person is not here, it is because the person
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Chief Whip has raised a very major issue.
The import of what he is saying is that someone, other than the Business Committee or Mr Speaker, had changed the order of business for the week. That is the import of what he is saying. If that is correct, it is a very serious matter.

No! that is the point. This is because the Hon Majority Chief Whip said the Business Statement we adopted scheduled the Minister for Education for today. But he came in this morning and someone, without notice to him, had changed the order. So, he sought to reinstate that with an Order Paper Addendum. If that is what is happening, then it is a serious matter.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Majority Chief Whip, you need to clarify the point. This is because my understanding was that --
Alhaji Muntaka 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest respect, I would say if that is the impression that has been created by my statement, then I am very sorry. That is not what happened.
Everything that happened did not happen from the Office of the Clerk, but it was with the involvement of the
Leadership that those changes were made. We had challenges and it was reverted to the original. So, it was not that the Office of the Clerk decided to do it on their own, and we sought to correct it. Everything that was done was in consultation with the Leadership. Unfortunately, we had a challenge and we had to revert to the original.
Mr Speaker, that is what happened.
Mr Awuah 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, even though I am a junior member of Leadership, I do not really recall when the Leadership met and took that particular decision.
That notwithstanding, as he rightly said, the original programme was set out by the Business Committee, and I do not want to believe that Leadership can just, at will, vary the Business, which had already been programmed by the Business Committee.
Mr Speaker, I have consulted with my Colleagues, who were supposed to be here to ask their Questions and the feedback I am getting on the ground is that, they are not prepared for the Questions today. If anything at all, we would have to keep to the original programme, and that would be tomorrow.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
So, it means we are taking the Questions -- because if the explanation is that the original programme for the week was to take the Minister for Education on Thursday, that is today, and that has been reinstated, then it is in order to take the Hon Minister.
My earlier understanding was that it was the other way round. But based on the issue raised by the Hon Member for Sekondi and the clarification provided by the Hon Majority Chief Whip, I think that we need to - Because nobody can change the Business Statement without at least, the Leadership of both sides being involved and informing the Members of Parliament of both sides of the House.
So, Hon Members, Question time.
Hon Minister for Education?
Alhaji Muntaka 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we would want to crave your indulgence and that of the House, for the Hon Deputy Minister, who is our Colleague, to answer the Questions on behalf of the Hon Minister, who is out of the country on a national assignment.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Dr Matthew O. Prempeh 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker
-- 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Member for Manhyia South, I expected the Hon Member for Sekondi or Old Tafo to move to that seat.
Dr Prempeh 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I concur. The Hon Member for Sekondi or Old Tafo can move to that seat.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Anyway, Hon Member for Manhyia South, let me hear you. [Laughter.]
Dr Prempeh 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was just wondering if the Hon Deputy Minister is sufficiently briefed on these policy matters. This is because these are serious policy matters on how boarding status are awarded in this country and other things. He does not attend Cabinet meetings. My problem is that when Cabinet Ministers are absent, their fellow Ministers who are Cabinet members, who swore the oath of Cabinet and Cabinet secrecy are privileged at the end of discussions and Cabinet tables -- I do not know if the Hon Deputy Minister --
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Member, are you taking objection to the Hon Deputy Minister?
Dr Prempeh 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my last statement would see whether the objection -- [Laughter]
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Members, we have the Hon Deputy Minister in the House to represent the Hon Minister for Education and to respond to Questions by Hon Members.
We will start with Question 157.
Mr Awuah 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I rightly said, Hon Wahab Wumbei Suhuyini, Member for Tolon is not here, but he did ask that if anything at all,we should ask his Hon Colleague for Yendi to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Member for Yendi, you have the floor.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:35 a.m.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION 11:35 a.m.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Member, are you on a point of order?
Dr A. A. Osei 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have an Order Paper Addendum, and the Answer to the Question starts with “Mr Speaker” but the Hon Deputy Minister started with “A school which is.”
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Member, are you varying the Answer? This is because I have also taken notice of the fact that the first sentence has not been read. [Interruptions.]
Mr Ablakwa 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I read: “A school which is to be considered for absorption” --
Dr A. A. Osei 11:35 a.m.
But there is a paragraph before that. That is what we have.
Mr Ablakwa 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sorry about that.
Mr Speaker, schools that apply for boarding status are taken through laid- down procedures/criteria to ensure that they meet certain minimum requirements.
A school which wishes to be considered for absorption as a boarding school must have acquired the following by the time of inspection:
a) At least, one large, well- ventilated, permanent dormitory
block capable of accommodating three quarters (3/4) of the student population. Each block must have a set of bathrooms, toilet facilities and permanent lighting and water supply systems.
b) In the case of mixed schools, there must be separate dormitory blocks for boys and girls sited at least 100 metres distance apart, with facilities described in (a) above. The dormitory blocks must be the property of the school.
11: 44 a.m.--
[Power outage.] [Uproar.]
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Members, let us have order in the House.
Yes, Hon Member for Sekondi?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe these outages are seriously disrupting business in the House. I do not know whether it is due to the electrical connections within this Chamber or it has something to do with the general power outages in the country.
I will plead with you, Mr Speaker, to cause an investigation to be made into this matter for the Leadership to brief Hon Members. This is because it is certainly not the best.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Member for Sekondi, I entirely agree with you.
This morning, when I entered the Chamber, I had a similar experience. I asked that the matter be corrected before entry.
I have been briefed that from yesterday, we were on generator when the Minister for Finance was here -- [Interruption] -- That is because we did not want the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) power outages to affect us during the presentation. As a result, undue pressure was put on the generator yesterday. There was some mini explosion within the generator --[Uproar.]
This morning, when we had the problem, we were advised by ECG that we could continue using our generator while they sought out their lines because they had problems with them.
I went back to my office. Later I was called by the Clerk that the situation had been stabilised. That was why I came for us to continue with proceedings in the House.
I entirely agree with you. A few months ago, Hon Members will recall that when the Minority decided to hold a press conference, in the course of the meeting, there was a power outage. I immediately asked the Clerk to present a report to me on what caused it.
I was given an assurance when the report came, that there was a problem with the generator, but they had addressed it. I gave copies of that report to the Hon Majority and Minority Leaders. I am surprised about these developments.
I agree with the Hon Member for Sekondi , that this is the time for us to set up an investigation into this matter, so that Hon Members of the House can be properly briefed.
We cannot, as a House, continue this way. It is unacceptable --[Hear! Hear!] Therefore, if the House will agree with me, I will let the Hon Majority and Minority Leaders, the two Chief Whips -- [Interruption], and then the Hon Kofi Frimpong -- [Uproar.]
We want a lady. Yes, one lady.
Alhaji Muntaka 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, we would want Hon Georgina Nkrumah Aboah to be added from our side.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Yes, and then, -- I think that the six will be alright.
On Tuesday, the House will meet at a Committee of the Whole. We want to be properly briefed on what is happening -- from the Ad hoc Committee that I have just appointed.
Hon Members, thank you very much.
Hon Members, the light has come on. Let us --
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Henry Quartey 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may I humbly suggest that a member from the Works and Housing Committee be part of the Committee that you have selected.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Why not Mines and Energy, but Works and Housing Committee?
Mr Quartey 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, one from the Committee on Works and Housing and one from Committee on Mines and Energy.
Dr Prempeh 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, before the Committee meets, you can order the Volta River Authority (VRA). There are a lot of stand-by generating units in tankers sitting across the State House that cause distribution generation. There are so many of them sitting in Obuasi. They should provide one immediately before the Ad hoc Committee finishes and finds out the problem.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Members, that is another matter. I will take it up and address the issue.
Hon Deputy Minister, you have the floor.
Mr Ablakwa 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
c) each dormitory block must have a qualified, properly appointed housemaster or housemistress with permanent accommodation tion either within the dormitory block or close enough to be able to exercise his or her supervisory role effectively.
d) Apart from the housemasters or housemistresses, there must be a senior housemaster and/or senior housemistress for mixed school or single-sex schools, respectively.
e) The school must have a large and adequately furnished dining hall capable of accommodating more than the current number of students in boarding.
f) The dining hall must have an adjoining kitchen to facilitate the serving of prepared food with as little exposure as possible to
contamination by dust, flies, et cetera and to ensure that students can have their meals even in stormy weather once they manage to enter the dining hall.
g) There must be a qualified matron and a staff of cooks and pantry hands operating in a hygienic environment, furnished with at least, the basic tools and equipment to enable them maintain appreciable standards of service.
h) The kitchen must have the following features apart from the cooking and serving areas:
i. A furnished office for the domestic bursar (if available).
ii. A furnished office for the matron.
iii. A changing room for the cooks, furnished with chairs and lockers (to keep their bath and toilet articles, handbags, et cetera.)
iv. Bathroom and toilet facilities.
Mr Speaker, to ensure that these requirements are met, a team of inspectors from the GES is sent to the school to assess the available facilities after which a report is submitted to management for consideration.
Mr Speaker, a large number of schools apply every year for absorption into the boarding school system. However, upgrading a school into a boarding status has financial implications for Government and if not managed properly, may overwhelm Government's ability to manage and run the schools. In line with
this, upgrading of schools into boarding status is planned and implemented in phases.
Currently, a number of schools have been inspected and recommended for upgrading into boarding status but are awaiting approval due to budgetary constraints.
Tolon Senior High School will be considered alongside others for inspection and absorption in the next phase when funding is secured.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Supplementary questions.
Hon Members, time is far spent. We need to try as much as possible to do a lot of work today. So, go straight and ask your questions. This is a constituency- specific Question. I will limit it to the Hon Member who asked the Question on behalf of the Hon Member in whose name the Question stands.
Alhaji Mohammed 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may I know from the Hon Deputy Minister, whose duty is it to provide the facilities as mentioned in his Answer in (a), (b), (e) and (f)?
Mr Ablakwa 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, our checks indicate that Tolon Senior High School is a public school. So, the responsibility is that of Government.
As I speak, there is a dormitory project that has been started by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), but it has not been completed yet.
If it were a private school, then it would be the responsibility of the private investor to provide these facilities, which would be inspected, and management would consider the application for absorption.
But once it is already a public school, Government would have to provide these facilities. We have begun by the provision of a dormitory which is under con- struction by the GETFund.
Alhaji Mohammad 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may I also know when exactly this inspection will take place to assure the good people of Tolon of Government's seriousness over the issue.
Mr Ablakwa 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the understanding I have is that the plan is to have the dormitory under construction now completed. Once that is completed, then the team of inspectors would visit the school. So, the completion period, we learnt is the second quarter of 2015. It would be after the second quarter of 2015, all things being equal.
Alhaji Mohammad 11:55 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Member, your last supplementary question.
Alhaji Mohammad 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, exactly when would this funding be secured?
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister?
Mr Ablakwa 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I indicated early on, there are two considerations. The first one is the timetable. There is quite a backlog of these applications, and then the second consideration is financial. The indication is that if by the second quarter of the year, the contractor working on the dormitory completes it, then we would have to address those in the queue.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, Question number 158.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Chief Whip?
Mr Awuah 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would just like to find out from the Hon Deputy Minister --Yesterday, we had the Budget Statement for 2015. He is talking of when funding is available. I would want to know from him, in considering their budget for 2015, did they make any provision for such schools?
Mr Ablakwa 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we have made provision under two aspects -- The main Government of Ghana funded projects and then the secondary education improve- ment project, which is a US$156 million World Bank supported project.
We also intend to make provision under the GETFund formula, which this House would be considering soon.
Mr Awuah 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister, in his Answer, also stated the number of conditions that need to be met before a school is granted this boarding status, which include the provision of a dormitory. But in this specific case, he said that the dormitory under construction needed to be completed before the school was granted the boarding status.
I would want to know from him which one comes first? This is because if the
school is not granted a boarding status, how would Government fund a boarding house for the school? He should explain that.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister?
Mr Ablakwa 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the construction must come first because this is criteria established and that is the policy -- that the school needs to meet these laid down criteria. The school must have these facilities. If the school does not have the facilities, then the policy is to discourage granting approval for absorption as a boarding school.
So, the first thing to do, is to make sure that these facilities are available. That is why, although Tolon Senior High School has not been given boarding status, there is an ongoing dormitory project as they meet these criteria, so that after we have provided these facilities, Tolon Senior High School can qualify for absorption.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Question number 158.
Construction of two-storeyed dormitory, Tolon Senior High School
Q. Alhaji Habibu Tijani Mohammad (on behalf of Mr Wohab Wumbei Suhuyini) asked the Deputy Minister for Education when construction works on a two-storey dormitory building for Tolon Senior High School would be completed.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the 2-storeyed dormitory block project for Tolon Senior High School was awarded on contract in March, 2008 at an original contract sum of GH¢ 287,528.45. The project has delayed mainly due to the revision of the scope of work which has increased the contract sum from GH¢287,528.45 to GH¢482,096.69. The scope of work was expanded to include the following;
Fence wall to create the court yard.
Overhead water tank.
Underground water tank.
Additional sanitary facilities.
However, the project is now at 90 per cent level of completion and the contractor is expected to complete the remaining work by the end of the year.
Alhaji Mohammad 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may I know from the Hon Deputy Minister, at whose request was this revision made?
Mr Ablakwa 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my understanding is that the request came from the management of the school. That is the information I have from the Ministry.
Alhaji Mohammad 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may I know, what was the original date of completion of the original design, that is, the first contract before the revision was made?
Mr Ablakwa 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not have information on the first contract, that is, the 2008 contract. But I can check and come back to this House with the answer.
Alhaji Mohammad 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may I know from the Hon Deputy Minister, who is the contractor working on this project, and was he the original contractor of the project before the variation?
Mr Ablakwa 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I said, I gave scanty information on the 2008 contract -- the contractor, the conditions and the terms of engagement. I would
wish that I am given more time to find out these answers for the Hon Member.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
I direct that you make the information available to the Member in whose name the Question stands.
Hon Members, let us make progress. These are constituency issues.
Let us move on to Question number 178-- time is far spent. If we are not careful, we would not be able to do any Public Business today. So, I am pleading with the House, let us make progress.
We move on to Question number 178.
Hon Deputy Minority Whip, I will allow you to ask one question. Then we will move on to the next Question.
Mr Awuah 11:55 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
The Hon Deputy Minister, in his Answer, stated that the original contract sum was revised due to the scope of work which was expanded to include fence wall,
to create the courtyard, overhead water tank, underground water tank and additional sanitary facilities.
Mr Speaker, the original project is a two- storeyed dormitory. But looking at the revision of the sum, the new contract sum, the additional sum is about 80 per cent of the original cost.
I would like to know from him if the original contract sum for the construction of a two-storeyed building has to be upgraded by an additional 80 per cent of the original cost, just for the addition of these things that I have just mentioned. Does he in his own opinion, think that the new costing is fair?
APPENDIX 11:55 a.m.
O 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Whip, you cannot solicit an opinion from a person in asking a question. I will give you the chance to rephrase it.
Mr Awuah 12:05 p.m.
Thank you
Mr Speaker, I will rephrase the question.
I would like to know from the Hon Deputy Minister why the sum was revised at about 80 per cent of the original cost based on the afore-mentioned reasons:
“Fence wall to create the courtyard
Overhead water tank
Underground water tank; and
Additional sanitary facilities”.
I would want to know from him whether there were some additional considerations apart from the ones stated here.
Mr Ablakwa 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the first contract was awarded in 2008 and this is a contract still being executed in 2014, which is about six years down the line. So, I believe that apart from these facilities -- the fence wall, the overhead water tank, underground water tank, and additional sanitary facilities, we would also have to take into consideration the period and work out for inflation and all of that. But these are matters that I could get further details on from our Works Department at the Ministry and provide answers at the appropriate time.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Question number 178, Hon Member for Manso-Adubia. You have the floor.
GETFund Infrastructural Project -- Manso -Adubia Senior High School
Q.178. Mr. Yaw Frimpong Addo asked the Deputy Minister for Education why the Manso-Adubia Senior High School had not benefited from any GETFund infrastructural project.
Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa 12:05 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry has an elaborate plan to improve and provide facilities in all senior high schools and technical institutes with the view to making second cycle education more accessible and attractive. Every year, provision is made in the Ministry's budget including that of the GETFund to cater for senior high schools and technical institutes. In allocating resources, emphasis is placed on deprived institu-tions such as community schools with major infrastructural deficits.
Due to lack of adequate GETFund resources to cater for all schools in the country at the same time, the implementation of projects in schools are normally done in phases. Manso Adubia Senior High School has not benefitted yet from GETFund projects because the school is to be considered among others in subsequent phases of GETFund projects.
I am happy, however, Mr Speaker, to mention that the school is one of 125 senior high schools selected to benefit from quality improvement under the US$156 million Secondary Education Improvement Project (SEIP) funded by the World Bank.
Mr Addo 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out when this project would be started and when it would be completed.
Mr Ablakwa 12:05 p.m.
The Secondary Education Improvement Project has started and according to the programme we are working with, we have just begun selecting the consultants. We would be moving in the next two weeks to advertise for contractors to now put in their bids. So, we have started the process and looking at the programme, we expect that by the first quarter of 2015, actual construction would have begun in these selected 125 schools.
We have already identified the schools and the heads have been informed. We know exactly what we are going to do. The quantities have been taken and so, we are in the procurement phase, currently.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Your last supplementary question.
Mr Addo 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am a bit surprised at the last bit of the answer. This is because before I asked this Question, I had consultations with the authorities of the school and they did not seem to know anything about this new development.
However, I would want to know from the Hon Deputy Minister if he could tell this House some of the components of this new project.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Did you get the question?
Very well.
Mr Ablakwa 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the components of the quality improvement under the Secondary Education Improvement Project include the following:
Training of Science, Mathematics and ICT teachers
Provision of ICT package for schools
ICT equipment maintenance
School environment improvement
Co-curricular activities support including Mathematics and Science Clinics
School field trips
Staff team building and management training
Renovation and provision of furniture
Science and Technology equipment and renovation
Teaching and learning materials
Guidance and counselling, and other improvements as the school might find necessary.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Question number 179, Hon Member for Tano North.
Ms Freda A. O. Prempeh 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, before I ask this Question, I was programmed to ask the Question tomorrow. Unfortunately, I just walked into the Chamber and saw that I have been programmed to ask the Question today. At least, we should have been notified of the change.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Member, we are over that issue. Ask your Question.
Ms Prempeh 12:05 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Upgrading to boarding status-- Bomaa Senior High School
Q.179. Ms Freda A. O. Prempeh asked the Deputy Minister for Education when Bomaa Senior High School would be made a boarding school.
Ms Prempeh 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Deputy Minister whether he is aware that Bomaa Senior High School has already put in an application and has gone through all the so-called necessary procedure. This is because, from the Answer he gave, it gives me the indication that he did not even crosscheck to find out the current status of the application.
Is he aware of the application from Bomaa Senior High School?
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister?
Mr Ablakwa 12:05 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
In preparing for this Question, we went through the records and we saw the application. Bomaa Senior High School is actually in phase three in terms of the inspection timetable which exists at the Ministry and we would have to complete the first and second group inspection processes, after which we would come to the third group and that is where Bomaa Senior High School is.
So, yes, we are aware of the application. But as I said earlier, there is quite a queue and she would have to bear with us.
Ms Prempeh 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Deputy Minister exactly when the inspection for the phase three would take place.
Mr Ablakwa 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, our projection is that, this inspection would take place by the middle of 2015.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Member, your last supplementary question.
Ms Prempeh 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, from the Deputy Minister's Answer, he said:
“As indicated above, a school which wishes to be considered for absorption as a boarding school is taken through laid down pro- cedures/criteria to ensure that they meet certain minimum require- ments.”
I would want to find out from the Deputy Minister whose duty it is to ensure that minimum requirement is met. Is it the Government or the school? Who does it?
Mr Ablakwa 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, since Bomaa Senior High School is a public senior high school, it is largely the responsibility of Government. But there have been instances where Hon Members of Parliament and District Assemblies supported the Ministry if they have started projects and we welcome such support when they exist. But it is largely the responsibility of the Ministry of Education.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Very well.
I was going to the next question but Hon Member for Sekondi.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want the Deputy Minister to tell the House the policy of the Ministry on boarding schools. I ask this because Government says it is building community
day secondary schools. So, there must be a policy on boarding schools, not based merely on applications. There must be a policy. What is the Government's policy on boarding schools?
Mr Ablakwa 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Govern- ment's policy on boarding school, I believe, has not changed since the Hon Member left the Ministry of Education.
The policy is that, our second cycle institutions are allowed to exist in two categories -- a boarding school and a community based school, and the policy is to encourage both to co-exist. The boarding school system would continue to run and they serve their purpose. The community based schools are also encouraged to run by Government and they also serve their purpose.
Provision of buildings for schools under trees
Q.187. Mr Benito Owusu-Bio asked the Deputy Minister for Education when the following schools which hold classes under trees would be provided with school buildings: (i) Atwima Koforidua D/ A School (ii) Atwima Akropong R/C School (iii) Owabi D/A School (iv) Asuofia D/A School.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, from 2010, Government has provided funding for the construction of Schools Under Trees Projects. The aim of this project is to eliminate the phenomenon of schools being operated under trees. It is also aimed at increasing access to basic education as well as improving the quality of basic education. In line with the initiative, a total of 432 classroom projects awarded in two
phases between 2010 and 2011 are under construction with funding from GoG. A total of 155 of these projects have been completed and handed over while the remaining are at various levels of completion.
Allocations are also made under the GETFund Financing Programme for schools under trees. Under this, a total of 1,632 projects are being implemented in all the ten regions across the country. Many of these projects have been completed and handed over with the remaining at advance stages of completion. Atwima Nwabiagya District benefitted from three (3) of these projects, which have been completed at Akwapim Primary, Asakraka Primary and Kotokuom Primary Schools.
Mr Speaker, as indicated above, the programme is being implemented in phases and it is my hope that Atwima Koforidua D/A School, Atwima Akropong D/A, Owabi D/A School and Asuofia D/A School in the Atwima Nwabiagya North Constituency will be considered along others in the next phase.
Mr Owusu-Bio 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this Question, in fact, was asked by myself about six months ago as an Urgent Question. Then, the pupils were being tormented by rains because they were always under the trees when it rained. As we speak now, there has been a new year and there has been more enrolment to the extent that the number of pupils under trees has doubled.
In the Hon Deputy Minister's Answer, he is saying that, and with your per- permission, I beg to quote:
“Mr Speaker, as indicated above, the programme is being implemented in phases and it is my hope…”
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Member, you have asked your question.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minister?
Mr Ablakwa 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought the Hon Member would have at least, acknowledged that we have done three solid schools under this schools under trees interventions. And really, what we have found out is that, anytime we construct these schools under trees, it allows for other schools under trees phenomenon to be addressed, in that, enrolment goes up. Because under a tree really, you cannot have too many students, so enrolment would normally increase. And to have had three already, we had expected that the situation in his constituency, certainly, would have improved, which unfortunately, he is not acknowledging or giving credit to. But he seems to be suggesting that, the situation is rather worsening in these four communities.
The policy is that we want to totally eliminae these schools under trees. So, the hope here is a very strong one because - - [Interruption] -- the figures are here -- under GETFund 1,632 -- [Interruption.]
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, ignore everybody and address the Chair. He is not satisfied with the use of the word “hope.” He says it is not reassuring; that is the essence of his question.
Mr Ablakwa 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the objective of this intervention is to eliminate all schools under trees. So, certainly, this is a very strong hope. He can attest that in
his constituency , three have already been carried out. So, he can be rest assured that we would continue to eliminate all schools under trees.
rose
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Member, you have not exhausted your supplementary questions. That is why I am calling you. The rules are clear; you must exhaust your questions before any other person is recognised.
Mr Owusu-Bio 12:25 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, for the Hon Minister's information, Kotokuom Primary School is not in Atwima Nwabiagya-District. The Hon Deputy Minister claimed that he has already provided three for my district, but for his information, Kotokuom is nowhere in the Atwima Nwabiagya-District. And Mr Speaker --
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
What about the other two? You are providing information to the House, so you may --
Mr Owusu-Bio 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the other two are in my district but Kotokuom is not in my district.
And Mr Speaker, the issue is not about “we will consider them in the next phase”. The issue is that, as we speak now, there are more than 2000 pupils sitting under trees -- [Interruption] -- Two thousand pupils sitting under trees in my constituency. If he is waiting to consider them for the next phase, I do not see how they would survive under the harmattan weather.
So, when is he going to provide school blocks for them, so that they are not in the harmattan during the harmattan season?
Mr Ablakwa 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as I said earlier, the elimination of schools under trees programme is still alive and ongoing. Every year, we take on board more of
these. We have assessed all the schools under trees. They are roughly three thousand five hundred. Currently, we have eliminated 60 per cent as per the numbers we have at the Ministry of Education.
So, once this Question appears to be an urgent one, we want to assure the Hon Member of Parliament that we would come and have a look, and as this particular Session of Parliament considers the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), we would try and give special consideration to this situation, seeing that he paints a rather worrying picture.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Your last supplementary question?
Mr Owusu-Bio 12:25 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Will the Deputy Minister consider a temporal structure, so that at least, it would provide a shade for them in the interim?
Mr Ablakwa 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the budget for the Ministry does not have provision for temporal structures. We only go in to carry out full elimination of these schools under trees. So, I can only answer that, we would give an urgent and more special consideration. We do not have a budget line for temporal facilities.
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with regard to the four communities including Asuofia -- he happens to be my Member of Parliament because I had my first house there.
I would want to ask the Deputy Minister whether he is aware that the Otumfuo Education Fund has built a number of classroom blocks at Asuofia Community for the cluster of schools there.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Deputy Minister, are you aware?
Mr Ablakwa 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not aware. I am hearing this for the first time.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Member for Sekondi, last question?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:25 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, the first line in the Deputy Minister's Answer says;
“Mr Speaker, from 2010, Govern- ment has provided funding for the construction of Schools Under Trees Projects”.
My question is, is the Deputy Minister aware that Elimination of Schools Under Trees Project started in 2007 when I was the Minister for Education?
So, 2010 cannot be correct.
Mr Ablakwa 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have attended some sessions, workshops and conferences where Ministers for Education -- and I would say Provincial National Defence Council PNDC Secretaries have indicated that they also started some form of elimination of schools under trees. I remember the late Harry Sawyerr once made that remark.
This Answer is in response to the current efforts by this Government in terms of the designs and the rationale, the concepts; it started in 2010. So, this current intervention should be distinguished from other previous interventions carried out by former Ministers for Education.
rose
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, let me take Hon Asiamah, then I will take you and we will conclude the Question time.
Mr Ablakwa 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this list of projects that I have mentioned is from the GETFund database. I have a lot of trust and credibility of that database under the leadership of Comrade Sam Garba. I would not doubt these statistics. So, I am sure we can check out, probably, visit his constituency if he wishes to ascertain.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Please, check and make the information available to the Hon Member.
Hon Minority Leader, the last question on this matter?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister is informing us that since 2010, they have designated this special effort, thus the elimination of schools under trees, which the Deputy Minister confirmed that the original seven hundred that they started with in 2010,
were projects that had been started in 2007 and 2008, the contract of which were suspended and repackaged for reconstruction in 2010. That provided the original figure, seven hundred, which he begun with. Would he confirm that?
Mr Ablakwa 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the schools under trees intervention is carried out by the Ministry on one hand and by GETFund. So, I would want to know which of the agencies or institutions he is referring to.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:25 p.m.
Well, Mr Speaker, I believe the Deputy Minister knows that GETFund is not a Ministry -- they subsume whatever they do under his Ministry. Does he know that? So, it is the totality that I am referring to.
Mr Ablakwa 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, from the records that I have sighted at the Ministry, all these projects started from the scratch. I am not aware of any repackaging and re- awarding of any contract. I am honestly hearing this for the first time.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, would the Hon Deputy Minister admit that since 2011, apart from the 700, what the Ministry and the GETFund have initiated totals 983, as we speak today. Would he admit that? So, it cannot be true that they have since 2010 started and are still constructing 1,632 (one thousand, six hundred and thirty-two). The total in their record is 983. Where did he get the 700 from, if it is not from the 2007 and 2008, which they abrogated and started again?
Mr Ablakwa 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe that these questions are interesting. This is because the Hon Papa Owusu-Ankomah has said the school under trees started under him as the Minister for Education, and the understanding was that he executed 700. And the Minority Leader is
also saying that these 700 were not constructed after all, and that we have repackaged, abrogated contracts and re- awarded them.
I think that these are matters that we can look into further. But in terms of the numbers that I have provided, I can stand by them. They are very credible. We have mentioned every distr ict and every community where these schools can be located.
I have seen the entire database. They are verifiable. So, we have exceeded 900 long ago. We are approaching two thousand, as you can see. The GETFund has done 1,632. The Ministry has awarded 432 of these schools under trees projects.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there should not be any disputation about that. I would refer him to his own Budget. He should go and check page 644 of the 2014 Budget. We must be truthful to ourselves and in any event, I did not say -- [Interruption.]
Or we must be factual instead of saying we must be truthful to ourselves -- But we can discuss this.
Mr Speaker, the point I would want to make is, he said to me that I said that we did not construct the 700 at all. I did not say so. I said they were at various stages of construction which were abrogated in 2009. So, I never said that it never got constructed -- various stages of construction.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Is it a supplementary question, because you are taking us somewhere?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is tied to schools under trees project.
The President said they were bringing back on stream beginning this year, 2014, the kindergarten system to mainstream it.
Could he tell us if indeed, that has been done?
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
It is not a supplementary question, but if you have the information, provide it to the House.
Mr Ablakwa 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am very happy to answer this question. Actually, that has been done; the policy now for basic education is that, kindergarten is now part of primary education; it has been mainstreamed. So, kindergarten to junior high school (JHS 3) is what we refer to as basic education. So, the mainstreaming has been carried out.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Members, thank you. Hon Deputy Minister, thank you for attending upon the House to respond to Questions from Hon Members.
Hon Members, we move to the original Order Paper.
At the Commencement of Public Business -- Presentation of Papers by the Chairman of the Committee.
PAPERS 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Members, we move to item number 8.
MOTION 12:35 p.m.
Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (Ms Hanny-Sherry Ayittey) 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1), which require that
Mr Gabriel K. Essilfie 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
We move to item number 9 -- Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Develop- ment?
rose
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, since the Minister was moving a Motion to set aside the relevant provisions of our rules and procedure, and to encourage us to deal expeditiously with the matter before us, I thought the Minister would avail herself of Order 3 -- [Interruption]
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, you may be right, but as of now, I have put the Question and it has been adopted by the House. But --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I got up but you were engaged elsewhere --
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Oh! Then sorry, I did not see you. We have passed that stage now -- [Laughter.]
So, let us move on but when we get to the Second Reading, you may raise those issues.
Hon Minister?
BILLS -- SECOND READING 12:45 p.m.
Minister for Fisheries and Acquaculture Development (Ms Hanny-SherryAyittey) 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 2014 be now read a Second time.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
You should tell us why we should read it a Second time.
Ms Ayittey 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the purpose of the Bill is to amend the Fisheries Act 2002, Act 625, to respond to international concerns about widespread illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices being undertaken by Ghanaian fishing vessels which threaten the country's fisheries, food security, employment generated from fishing activities and the country's million-dollar fisheries trade with countries worldwide.
These international concerns have resulted in the country being given a yellow card by the European Commission in November, 2013. To avoid a ban on the importation of fish and fishery products from the country into the European Union, there is the need for the country to amend the Fisheries Act 2002, Act 625 to introduce a series of corrective measures.
The Amendment Bill provides for the implementation of the International Fisheries Conservation Obligations of the Republic.
It also makes provision for the imposition of dissuasive sanctions on a person who engages in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Gabriel Kodwo Essilfie) 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion and in doing so, I would like to present your Committee's Report.
Mr Speaker, the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was presented and read the First time by the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in Parliament on Wednesday, 15th November, 2014 and referred to the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs for consideration and report to the House in accordance with article 106 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 176 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
Mr Speaker directed the Committee to determine whether or not the Bill is of an urgent nature pursuant to article 106 (13) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 119 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
Deliberations
The Committee met on the 6th and 17th November 2014, with officials of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and the Fisheries Commission and considered the Bill.
In attendance at the meetings were the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon Hanny-Sherry Ayittey, the Deputy Minister, Hon Bernita Sena Okity-Duah, the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mrs Rebecca Amooh Aboagye; Mr. Mike Acheampong, Chairman of the Fisheries Commission, Prof. Martin Tsamenyi, Policy and Legal advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, representatives of the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General's Department and other staff of the Ministry.
The Committee is grateful to the Minister and her deputy, Professor Martin Tsamenyi, representatives of the Fisheries Commission and Attorney General's Department and other officials of the Ministry for their inputs and clarifications.
Reference materials
The Committee was guided by the following documents:
i. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana
ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament
iii. The Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625)
iv. The Cotonou Agreement ( June,
2000)
Background and purpose of the Bill
In November 2013, the European Commission (EC) expressed concerns about increased incidents of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing by Ghanaian flagged fishing vessels.
These concerns resulted in Ghana being given a “yellow card” pursuant to the Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 establishing a Community system to prevent IUU fishing.
A “yellow card” represents a warning to the affected country to take corrective actions to avoid progressing to the “red card” zone. Currently, because of the “yellow card” tag, export of fish products from Ghana go through rigid and unnecessary scrutiny which ends up affecting the shelf-life and price of the products.
A “red card” connotes a total ban on export of fish and fish products from the affected country to the EU market.
European Commission has given Ghana up to 31st December 2014, to promulgate the necessary laws to deal with IUU fishing, noncompliance of which a “red card” would be issued to Ghana.
The corrective actions include (i) enhancing fisheries legislative framework; (ii) adoption of a National Plan of Action against IUU fishing; (iii) adoption of a
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Members, if you look at the memorandum of the Bill and indeed, the Committee's Report, it is clear that they have issued a yellow card to Ghana on this matter and therefore, as much as possible, let us try and finish with this Bill in good time.
I will therefore, as much as possible, want us to relax the rules, so that we can pass this Bill in good time.
rose
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Yes?
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka (NDC-Asawase) 12:45 p.m.
, I rise to support the Motion --
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
I thought where you were sitting, you should allow others to speak.
Alhaji Muntaka 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I just wanted to reiterate a concern which I remember we very recently discussed, and the Leader of the House mentioned to almost all the Ministers in the presence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration that we should not wait until it is so close for these international treaties, before we start running to rectify them.
As much as possible, we would take this opportunity to remind our Colleagues who have similar things that need to be done, to bring them to the House in good time, so that we do not have to be running to try to just meet a deadline.
With these few comments, Mr Speaker, I will urge the House to support the Motion.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Member for Old Tafo, I thought you were on your feet? I thought you wanted to move from finance to fisheries?
Dr A. A. Osei 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was going to be on my feet until I saw the Hon Majority Chief Whip.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Very well. You have the floor.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was going to agree with you that, given what has been said, we should proceed. But it is unfortunate that, when such an important thing is being approved by the House --
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
My Friend, that is why we are -- why? You agree with me.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is why I am saying we would be willing to relax the rules for the purposes of the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Develop- ment and her Deputy Minister, since they are my good friends; we would be willing to relax the rules for them.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Thank you very much. Let me hear the Hon Member for Effutu.
Mr Alexander K. Afenyo-Markin (NPP- -Effutu) 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you so much that it has pleased you to give me this opportunity to make a contribution.
Mr Speaker, in response to similar international concerns, this House enacted Act 625 and followed up with the Legislative Instrument (LI) to allow for the enforcement of the regulations.
Mr Speaker, I am from a fishing community and I am sad to bring this to the attention of the House, that as part of the enforcement, severally, navy officials, policemen and enforcement officials from the Fisheries Commission go round the fishing communities, seize the nets of our fishermen, and at the end of the day, they do not get them back.
Mr Speaker, I took the opportunity to visit their offices to find out what the challenge was, and I only realised that, whereas there is this particular net, which is a monofilament net, which when you use for marine fishing, is illegal -- When you use it for inland fishing, it is legal. The reason is that, when you use it for marine fishing, it leads to ghost fishing, and it also destroys the propellers of some vessels.
Mr Speaker, we know that the fishing industry in Ghana is very informal. Therefore, in responding to international concerns and thereby enacting laws, we must ensure that within our own set-up, there is that education, that our people would appreciate the effects of the law, else, what is happening to our fishermen in Winneba, Shama, Sekondi and Keta -- those who have been able to raise some funds are now having boats or vessels - would have similar challenges, and the response would not be very palatable for Government.
So, much as I support the need for this amendment, I would want to urge the Hon Minister, that when it gets to enforcement of the law, the fundamental thing to be done is to ensure that there is proper education.
Our people understand and appreciate the law. If you go all out like the way the enforcement unit of the Fisheries Commission is doing, where they just seize everything of the people in our communities -- they have nothing. They are unable to pay for children's school
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Anlo?
Mr Clement Kofi Humado (NDC -- Anlo) 12:55 p.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to comment on the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 2014.
I also come from a constituency where marine and lagoon fishing are key activities.
I have gone through the amendments and I think they are in the right direction, not only to meet the international requirements, but they would at the same time also improve the standard and the quality of fisheries products for our population in Ghana as well as enhancing the management of marine fishing.
But beyond that, when I looked at the Report of the Committee, paragraphs 4.5, it states that:
“The corrective actions include
(i) enhancing fisheries legislative framework;
(ii) adoption of a national plan of action against IUU fishing;
(iii) adoption of a system of dissua- sive sanctions;
(iv) adoption of a fisheries ma- nagement plan; and
(v) improving weaknesses in the monitoring, control and sur- veillance system.'
Mr Speaker, in my view, the amendments are in the right direction but we also need to focus on the fifth provision which has always been the problem in the earlier Act.
The way the Fisheries Commission is structured in the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, it is difficult for them to do the enforcement unless through the security agencies and by the security agencies, specifically the Navy and the Air force. These are the security agencies that are expected to enforce the Fisheries laws in order to minimise the incidence of the IUU.
In the past, I have been looking at this issue very carefully. I know that we have provided some equipment and logistics to the Navy, but I am not sure about the budgetary aspect.
Is the Fisheries Commission budgeting for the operations of the security agencies and making available these resources to them or it is the security agencies that must budget for ensuring the surveillance of the system through their normal budget?
I believe we need to look at some of these details to ensure that the security agencies are on top of their jobs. So far, I know they have been doing their best but we still have incidences of this nature.
In my constituency, almost on weekly basis, we have fights between the local fishermen and the industrial fishing boats and this is not the best. So, I believe apart from satisfying the legal requirements to meet the international standards, we also need to look at the implementation aspect of the law to ensure that our security agencies are really on top of the enforcement.
I also believe that the stakeholders, that is, the industrial fishing vessels -- my experience with them is that they are very stubborn. I would not mince words. Some of them know what they are doing is wrong and yet they do it and go away with impunity. So, I believe we need to sound another round of caution to these fishing vessels to obey the Ghanaian laws and regulations on Fisheries; and I believe if we tackle these two issues very effectively, we would make some improvements in the implementation of the new Fisheries (Amendment) Bill.
With these few comments, I support the amendment as proposed by the Committee.
Thank you
Mr William Agyapong Quaittoo (NPP- Akim Oda) 12:55 p.m.
Yes, Thank you Mr Speaker --
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
After you, the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture.
Mr Quaittoo 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to speak on this Motion.
I should say that we would rather have to congratulate the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development for coming to this House at this particular time with this Bill. The ban started somewhere in July this year and they had had to go to the international scene to contract an expert to come out with these laws that conform to the international laws.
I am only saying this in reaction to my Hon Senior Colleague who said that such laws would have to come to the House early, so that we would not have to rush
through it. I am saying that the Ministry of Fisheries and Acquaculture Deve- lopment has done well within this short time coming out with this Bill for us to discuss it.
Mr Speaker, another fear that was also shared here is that we are only doing something to conform to the international laws and probably, neglect what our fisher- folks would have to go through in doing their business.
I would want to assure the House that this Bill considers or gives right to the Minister in consultation with the Commission to also come out with certain rules and regulations that would help our local industry to move on and not to do anything in contravention with the international laws.
Mr Speaker, considering this Bill, we had all the experts at the meeting and the international lawyer who drafted the Bill.
The local experts were all there to explain the issues to us and we believe strongly that when this Bill is passed, we would not have any situation where Ghana would be found contravening the international laws and so it would go a long way for the international community to lift the ban.
Thank you very much Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Thank you very much for your brevity.
Hon Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture?
Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture (Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan): Thank you Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to support such an important amendment to an Act that is so crucial to the fishing industry in our country.
Alhaji Seidu Amadu (NDC -- Yapei/ Kusawgu) 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, any industry that contributes about 4.5 per cent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth cannot be taken lightly. For that matter, the fishing industry in Ghana is so important that whatever it is that needs to be done, we must make sure that we manage the resources in a sustainable manner to do it.
But Mr Speaker, what I do not understand about this Report, particularly looking at item 4.1, it appears there is so much emphasis being put on unreported, and unregulated fishing by Ghana flagged vessels. But we all know that the African coast is normally invaded by foreign trawlers and foreign fishing vessels that we cannot even have control over.
Mr Speaker, not too long ago, there was a conflict between Morocco and Spain; the reason being that Spanish vessels
keep invading Moroccan waters to fish illegally.
Not too long ago, France vessels also monitored the fishing activities of Russian vessels along the coast of Senegal. The Senegalese did not even know that such foreign vessels were fishing in their waters and all the revenue they were making were taken to Russia.
In Accra, the late Prof. Mills used to complain -- may his soul rest in peace -- about pair-trawling and I think we should take a decision as a country to make sure that we prevent pair-trawling in this country.
Now, you will ask yourself, who regulates these activities? And these are ships that do not carry Ghana flags? They are just foreign vessels that enter the waters and fish illegally, take the catch away and all the revenue is lost to our country. So, in my view, instead of EU putting emphasis on ships or vessels that carry Ghana flag, what are we doing to those foreign invaders who take advantage of the lack of capacity of our Government and marine police to protect our shores, invade our resources and take them away without any revenue to this country?
So, whereas I support the amendment to this Motion, there is a need for us in the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to look or to take pragmatic measures to make sure that we capacitate agencies that are responsible for monitoring our shores, to prevent some of these illegal vessels from entering our waters and devastating our resources. The fishing industry is something that we need to protect; it is something that we need to manage in a sustainable manner because of the big employment prospects it offers to a lot of people.
Mr Speaker, we should not only be looking at vessels that carry Ghana flag, but in my view, my concern is that what are we doing as a nation to make sure that these invaders who continue to raid our resources without any contribution to our GDP and without offering problem to our people are well controlled?
With this Mr Speaker, this amendment is in the right direction and we need to give it the support that we need, so that we can contribute to sustaining our vision with our resources.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of the debate on the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
The Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2014 was accordingly read a Second time.
Mr Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Hon Members, we move to Motion number 10.
Hon Minister?
Suspension of Standing Order 128 (1)
Ms Ayittey 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 128(1) which require that when a Bill has been read a Second time, it shall pass through a Consideration Stage, which shall not be taken until at least, forty-eight hours have elapsed, the Consideration Stage of the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 2014 may be taken today.
Mr Gabriel K. Essilfie 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
BILLS -- CONSIDERATION 1:05 p.m.
STAGE 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.
Mr Essilfie 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 1, subclause (1), line 1, delete “may” and insert “shall”.
Mr Speaker, the rationale behind the amendment is that the Committee was of the view that international fisheries conservation and management measures are binding on Ghana and therefore, critical for the players in the industry. It should therefore, not be left at the discretion of the Minister and therefore, we decided to change the “may” to “shall”.
Mr Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Before I put the Question, Hon Members, what is the best international practice?
Chairman of the Committee?
Mr Essilfie 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, based on consultations and discussions at the Committee meeting and with their consultants who have the experience, what we were informed was that the best practice would be that we make it something that the Minister ought to do and not something that the Minister may have to do and that is why we changed that.
Mr Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Asuogyaman?
Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw 1:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the question you asked the Hon Member was; what was the best practice and not what would the best practice be.
Mr Speaker, I think in that respect, my Hon Colleague has not been able to answer that question and I would say that let us flag it and get information on best practice, so that --
Mr Speaker 1:15 a.m.
Hon Members, in this era that we are expanding the boundaries of democracy and transparency, would it not be better if we put an obligation on the Minister to publish it other than the Minister exercising a discretion to publish or not to publish? I just want to be sure, maybe, it might be — I think it is better to impose an obligation on the Minister.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
1.16 p.m.—
MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:15 a.m.
Chairman of Committee?
Mr Essilfie 1:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 1, subclause (2), line 1, after “may” insert “on the recommendations of the Commission”.
Mr Speaker, the reason behind it is that the Committee noted that article 269 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana places the respon- sibility for regulation and management of fisheries resources on the Fisheries Commission. The proposed amendment is therefore, to ensure that the Commission is not left out in the determination of the conditions necessary to give effect to international fisheries conservation and management measures.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker I need a little clarification with respect to — We have “illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing”. I must concede that I do not have the parent Act with me and therefore, I stand corrected whether there were specific definitions for these. But I do not think within the context of what we are trying to do, putting illegal, unregulated and unreported together, we would be able to achieve the desired purpose.
This is because unreported fishing is something that must stand on its own and perhaps, attract whatever penalty it may be.
Mr Speaker, illegal and unregulated — yes, I agree — Those ones go together but you cannot add “unreported” as well. Then in that case, that specifically would mean, an unreported fishing.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:15 a.m.
It will do us all good if we have the parent Act. This is because this is just the subheading and it is possible that the subheading takes care of “illegal, unreported and unregulated”. If the Chairman of the Committee or the Minister has the parent Act—
Minority Leader, could you be of assistance? If we can get the parent Act, it would be useful — or the Minister has it?
Mr Essilfie 1:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the terminologies being used here as far as “illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing” is concerned—These terms are the international standards. Based on the European Union (EU's) regulations, require that these terms — Exactly what we do and the regulations conform with these and so, we are basically putting in the Act —
It is an international standard practice that we have to put in — “illegal, unreported and unregulated” terms are required and the “unreported” actually is defined by those standards.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:15 a.m.
Chairman, when you look at the last page of the Bill that we are considering, it gives us an interpretation. For example, it says
-- 1:15 a.m.
Dr A. A Osei 1:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought the Chairman would take us to the parent Act so that we know what it is -- because it must be in the parent Act —
Some Hon Members 1:15 a.m.
No! It is not.
Dr A. A. Osei 1:15 a.m.
Then we have to look at it.
Mr Essilfie 1:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, although it is not in the parent Act, when the amendment—this “illegal, unreported and unregulated” are defined -- and if you go to page 3, we have “illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing”— which is the amendment—Section 88 A; defining what constitutes illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and so, it does not need to be defined again.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, now, it is clear that it is not even part of the parent Acts. I am then more fortified to press home my argument.
Mr Speaker, if you look at section 88 A — The definition there is very broad. You have; “for the purpose of this Act, a fishing vessel is presumed” and so, even the supposed offence would be based on presumption —to be engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, if it is shown that contrary to” and then the list A-O.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:15 a.m.
I thought that was what gives lawyers jobs to do.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, that is so but not at the expense of perhaps, the one who cannot afford.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:15 a.m.
Allright. Thank you. That was just an aside.
Mr Bernard Ahiafor 1:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if we are looking at “illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing” as separate words and as such, we want to give it separate definitions then we may not get the impulse of the law — IUU, that is illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and what section 88 (A) is doing here, is to explain and give all the activities that would constitute the “illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.”
So, what other definition do you need apart from what is contained in section 88 (A), which is explaining the activities that
would constitute the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
I am with you almost all the way but there is a --
Please, sit down.
Is there a difference between -- There can be legal fishing, which not unreported or every illegal fishing is unreported or unregulated. Are they three different things? Or where there is one of a necessity, there should be the other two.
Mr Paul Derigubaa 1:25 p.m.
I think this is an international terminology and it is lack of this that our fishes are not accepted outside Ghana borders. So, any definition, revision or law that does not reflect these terminologies and recom- mendations, would simply make our laws insufficient to be accepted internationally.
If you look at unregulated, you can have an illegal fish but it is regulated. If you look at regulated and you look at illegal, that can also be unregulated. And so, the issue is that these are combined to give a meaning that individually they would not make meaning in the definition.
So, it is put in as a terminology to explain the conditions or the requirements which are just what we are looking at.
Indeed, these things are in the interest of Ghana, in the sense that it is not only the matter of the international requirement but they are also required of our own local fish management. If you look at it, if you take a fish like tuna, there is a depth that they have to fish. If the depth goes below that, it is unregulated or illegal and so, these are terminologies which come in a volume.
You cannot separate them one by one and analyse them as our friend, the legal guru wants us to understand.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
Thank you.
I think we cannot proceed ad infinitum on this matter. Should I take just two more Hon Members, then I will take the Hon Chairman of the Committee, and move on.
Mr Humado 1:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, one of the main objectives of the amendment is to conform to international practices. At the international level we call something, the Blue Oceans and this is how the illegal, unregulated, unreported (IUU) is couched in their documentation. I believe that to a large extent, we should follow the practice at the international level but where we need to make provisions for specific local implementation, I believe when we come to the regulations, this may probably cause some amendment of the regulations.
I think at that stage, we can take care of what my Hon Member is saying but as much as possible, let us conform to the international regulations.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
Thank you. I will put the Question.
Hon Minority Leader, do you have anything to add? Then I will put the Question.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, not really, as we have heard, this whole Bill is being prosecuted in response to international protocol and because of that we should respect the terminologies that they have crafted, other than that, one could make a distinction as my Hon Colleague is making in respect of the illegal and unregulated fishing from unreported fishing. And indeed, even conjunction ‘'unreported and unregulated'' would not be regular.
However, because you are responding to the treaty or protocol, if that is how
they have crafted it, Mr Speaker, my submission is that we cannot do otherwise but to adopt same even though by our own constructions, we would find some problems with this. But it responds to some international protocols. So, let us adopt it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
I was hoping that, that particular international convention treaty or law that we rely on would be brought to our attention. But I take the Chairman of the Committee's word that we are conforming to international best practices and international law.
Is it the 1982 United Nations Con- vention of the Law of the Sea and other Treaties and arrangements to which the Republic is a party?
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
Hon Akoto Osei, I want to put the Question.
Dr A. A. Osei 1:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, just a clarification.
All that the Hon Chairman said was: “these are international best practices”. I thought he would cite that particular convention or practice, so that we would move on. This is because he is giving room for us to perceive that it is their own construction. If this is how the EU has defined it, then it will be straightforward to say “as indicated in so, so and so”. It would be more explicit. Then, we do not have to go to this -- I was asking him --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
Who is “him”?
Dr A. A. Osei 1:25 p.m.
The Hon Member for Winneba?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
Hon Akoto Osei, you know the Speaker also comes from that constituency, and I take offence if you do not even know the name of the constituency. He is not an Hon Member for --
Dr A. A. Osei 1:25 p.m.
Effutu --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
Yes.
Dr A. A. Osei 1:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sorry. I noticed that all the Hon Members from the fishing communities including the Speaker are very eager with this Bill. So, I am encouraged.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
But that is why the Rt. Hon Speaker asked me to come --
Dr A. A. Osei 1:25 p.m.
I know. And then the Hon First Deputy Speaker is from Cape Coast fishing area has left.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
And the Hon Minister also is from Cape Coast. So, we are all --
Dr A. A. Osei 1:25 p.m.
So, if we have that, I think it will help.
Mr Afenyo- Markin 1:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have done a check.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
I have not recognised you Hon Member. Resume your seat.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
I will allow you a second, then I will put the Question.
From the indication of the House, I know which way the response will go. So, you have your say and the House will have its way.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:25 p.m.
Very well.
Mr Speaker, I have done a quick check on the terminology “illegal, unreported and unregulated”. Under the EU laws, we have IUU.
Mr Speaker, fortunately for me --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
What is IUU, please?
Mr Afenyo Markin 1:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is “illegal, unreported and unregulated” fishing.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
All right.
Mr Afenyo Markin 1:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it appears from the findings which I got from Wikipedia and the European Union websites on this illegal fishing, that although the terminology is broadly used, its meaning is disjointing. I have here -- They have defined what “illegal fishing” is under “illegal, unreported and unregulated”.
So, it means that yes, you use it broadly but when it comes to the definition of each, you cannot use one for the other and you cannot perceive same conjunctively.
So, my concern that I raised for which they were saying it is an “international standard” -- yes, it is an international standard but what we have by way of international definition is disjointing, is not conjunctive. In our laws, what we have here, under section 88 A, we have used it and given broader definition, which makes it conjunctive and that is not what the international law he is referring to says.
Unless you have it before you -Mine is in a softcopy form I just used my phone to check. It is disjointive.
Dr Ahmed Alhassan 1:25 p.m.
I think a good compromise would be to leave the parent Act as it is and then in the regulations, this can be further elaborated and then we know what is illegal, what is unreported and what is unregulated. If that will go down well with the legal system.
Mr Ahiafor 1:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have to look at section 88(A) very carefully:
“For the purpose of this Act, a fishing vessel is presumed to be engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing if it is shown that, contrary to the conservation and management measures applicable in the fishing area concerned --
(a)the fishing vessel has been used to fish without a valid licence, authorisation or permit issued by the flag State or the relevant coastal State;
(b) the owner,. . .”
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Hon Member, so is it ilegal, unreported or unregulated? Is it illegal?
Mr Ahiafor 1:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is why I am saying that the way it is carved here, in giving “A” to “O”. Whatever activity that is here will be referred to under the IUU as illegal, unreported and unregulated. Until the activities described in A to O --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
We had reached a compromise until you stirred the hornet's nest again. Hon Member, A to O, is it each of them or the three or one can be -- The compromise we reached was, when we come to the regulations, then we will use them to expand further but when you go on this path, then immediately, three people stand up. The Minority Leader is permanently on his feet because --
Minority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are bogging ourselves down in the consideration of section 88 A, that is the
proposed insertion. We are not even there yet; we are still at section 45 A. Can we finish with that and if we finish and we get there, we will see how to cross the bridge. We are not there yet --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
On the Order Paper, we are now at item (ii). Am I correct?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:35 p.m.
Yes, still to do with clause 1. That is why I am saying that if we could limit ourselves to one, let us finish with it and then when we are through with that, the proposal being proffered by my Colleague, the Member of Parliament for Efutu would then come up and then we will discuss it.
That is one proposal. Another proposal could be for instance, maybe, relocating the definition to the interpretations column; that is also another matter. We cannot have some inconsistencies between the Act itself and the Regulations. So, if we have to do it and maybe, we have some difficulty, I guess between today and tomorrow, we can have the suggestions from my Colleague, reconciled with that of the draftspersons and then we come clean on it, maybe, tomorrow.
But we are not there yet, Mr Speaker; as I am proposing, can we deal with one first?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
So, I will put the Question on (ii).
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Essilfie 1:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 1, subclause 3, line 3, delete “country” and insert “Republic”.
Mr Speaker, this amendment is being proposed because the Committee noted that the parent Act, Act 625 used “Republic” which was defined under the interpretation section, section 140. The proposed amendment is therefore, meant to ensure consistency and avoid ambiguity.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
The amendment is for the consideration of the House. [Pause.]
Chairman of the Committee, I just checked what the Statute Law Revision Commissioner said. And when you look at Volume One of the Laws of Ghana, the green book, the Statute Law Revision Commissioner says:
“The terms Ghana, State, Country and Republic, have been used in various statutes. A distinction could be made using “State” or “Ghana” to stand for the geographical entity called Ghana and using “Republic” to stand for the legal entity. It is possible that the distinction may cause confusion. Thus, to make it user friendly, in the present edition, for the sake of consistency, “Republic” where appropriate, has been used in place of “Ghana” or “State””.
So, I am correct.
Now, we will use “Republic” instead of country or State. So, I will put the Question.
Question put, amendment agreed to.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
For those who are interested, I was reading from the prefix to the Laws of Ghana Revised Edition and I was reading from page (vii), the second paragraph.
I will put the Question on clause one.
Clause 1 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Clause 2.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I got up and unfortunately, I could not catch your eye.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Sorry, Minority Leader.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:35 p.m.
The sub- section (3), the one that we just dealt with, subsection (3), I would want the Chairman to consider that. It appears in all other areas, wherever we have mentioned “master, owner or operator”, we have included “charterer” yet it is only in (3) that we do not have that word added. I thought it was an omission. So, if he can apply himself to it, it may be necessary to include the rest, so that it will read:
“(3) The master, owner, charterer or operator of a fishing vessel entitled to fly the flag of Ghana…”
That is how the construction is.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee?
Mr Essilfie 1:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I accept the proposal.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I want to put the Question on the proposed amendment, that is the inclusion of “charterer”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, another amendment?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:35 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. This is because this is a law applicable in Ghana; we rather should talk about the Ghana cedi equivalent.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Where is that, please?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:45 p.m.
The last but two lines in subclause (3):
“…to a fine of not more than two million United States dollars and not more than two million United States dollars.”
I was tught that we could rather use --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
There is nothing known as “Ghana cedi dollars.”
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:45 p.m.
I am saying the Ghana cedi equivalent of not less than --I think that will be better.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Yes, Chairman of Committee?
Mr Essilfie 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, inasmuch as I agree with the Hon Minority Leader, I think this issue came up at the Committee's meeting and the decision was made to leave it that way. This is because in the parent Act, we did not use the cedi equivalent and we wanted to conform to that, with the proposal that there is going to be a comprehensive amendment to the whole Act and then that will come in.
But in the parent Act, we did not use it; we left it at dollars and not with cedi equivalent.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
This is the first time -- I stand corrected. But I have seen Hon Atta Akyea here. The fine in Ghana is foreign currency. I do not know whether the other laws - Because our currency is the cedi. Yes, I am surprised -
Mr William Agyapong Quaitoo 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we raised this issue and debated it extensively and what came up was that, the parent Act itself has all punitive measures quoted in the United States dollars. And since we are only considering
1105Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 2014 -- 20 November, 2014 Consideration Stage 11061103 Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 2014 -- 20 November, 2014 Consideration Stage 1104
sections -- We are amending certain sections. So, we could not have said cedis here where other parts of the parent Act will have United States dollars.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Yes, the Chairman of Committee?
Mr Essilfie 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the argument being made is valid but if you go to the parent Act, if you go to 88 (3) -- prohibited fishing methods, it says that a person who lands, sells, receives or possesses fish taken by a means which contravenes subsection 1 (a) and who knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the fish has been so taken, commits an offence and is liable on certain condition to a fine of not less than US$250,000 and not more than US$2,000,000 in respect of a local industrial or semi -industrial fishing vessel or foreign fishing vessel.
Now, if we are going to use cedi equivalent here in the amendment, then we are not conforming to the parent Act. This is because when we were passing the parent Act, then this issue should have come up to make sure that the cedi equivalent could be quoted in here.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Dr Akoto Osei?
Dr A. A. Osei 1:45 p.m.
I am surprised the Hon Chairman, who is a member of the Finance Committee, who knows the laws of the Bank of Ghana prohibit this, unless we are given specific approval by Bank of Ghana.
The fact that somebody did not pay attention to the parent Act --We must be doing the right thing. The Bank of Ghana has told us -- And we are all Legislators. The Bank of Ghana Act, as lawmakers, requests that we do not quote in foreign currency. So, he does not have to say that because the parent Act -- That is not it. We must do the right thing. So please, let us not have recourse to -- What
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Dr Osei, which section of the Bank of Ghana Act?
Dr A. A. Osei 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not recall right now but given time, I will --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
We will give you a copy. No! It is a serious matter. We will give you volume two, so that you look at it.
Dr A. A. Osei 1:45 p.m.
Sorry, the Foreign Exchange Regulations Act which was issued recently, re-emphasised that Bank of Ghana usually does it in notices. In the last notice, they re-emphasised this that unless they have given one permission, one cannot charge in dollars.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Osei-Owusu, I saw you standing, and as a Ranking Member for Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, it is good to recognise you. But the Hon Member first.
Mr B. Ahiafor 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with due respect, if we look at section 88 (3) (a), the amount is quoted in dollars and for purposes of consistency, section 88, the amendment that we are making, if it is talking about cedi equivalent, then it means that we would have instances where the punishment would be in dollars and in other instances, it would be -- But the section 88 is not talking about cedi equivalent; it is talking about dollars,
simplicita. If the amendment that we are proposing, we talk about cedi equivalent, then it means that one punishment would be talking about dollar, simplicita; one would be talking about dollar and cedi equivalent of the dollar.
Mr Speaker, there should be consistency in the law. So, based on the fact that we are not amending section 88, it will still stand in the law as it is, the amendment would be in dollars, so that it would conform to section 88.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
But Hon Members, we cannot --
Mr Ahiafor 1:45 p.m.
But we are not changing --
Mr Speaker, with due respect, we are not amending section 88 --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Members, we cannot, on the basis of consistency perpetuate illegality -- If it is illegal. So, consistency or the fact that we have done it before, does not by itself lend itself to us in terms of a defence. But I am not passing judgment on it. I am not sure of the position. I am finding out myself.
Yes, Hon Atta Akyea?
Mr Akyea 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what Hon Dr Akoto Osei is trying to postulate is the position of the law that in transactions, we should not quote in dollars. But the Supreme Court has also held that where transactions are quoted in dollars, it would not be illegal provided always, there is an explanation that that quantum of money can be paid in its cedi equivalent
I think it is the farmers' case in which they made those analyses that for some good reasons, some transactions can be quoted in dollars. If there is a proviso that in trying to pay up, one could pay the cedi equivalent, that would not make that arrangement illegal because there are several transactions that would never be in cedis.
To say that if we do not quote any service or contract or material in dollars, then we would be depriving ourselves of dollars as a nation. So, the Supreme Court widely held in that case that one could state transactions in dollars but for one to give it legality, one should always add that the discharge of that obligation, which is quoted in dollars, can be made in its cedi equivalent.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Atta Akyea, I appreciate where you are coming from but I believe the farmers case -- [Pause] -- Had authority to do with legislation; the Farmers case dealt with contract interparty, private arrangements where it can be quoted in dollars
But having said that, I think the thinking behind this was because of the people whom this Act deals with. This Act deals with local fishing vessels as well as a lot of foreign fishing vessels which transact their business in dollars.
Hon Joe Osei-Owusu?
Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am looking at the memorandum, the first paragraph. The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Fisheries Act, 2002 to respond to international concerns about widespread illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices being undertaken by Ghanaian fishing vessels, which threaten the country's fisheries, food security and so on.

Please, read the memorandum, the first paragraph, line 3.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
The first page.
Mr Osei-Owusu 1:55 p.m.
I wonder how we can put Ghanaian fishing vessels or operators of them in a Ghanaian court and purport to charge them, if they are found guilty, to pay fines in a foreign currency. This is totally unacceptable.
If we look at it critically, it is only intended to charge people huge sums of money. If we so desire, we can convert the amount we intend to charge, from the equivalent of the cedi in our mind and put them here either in penalty unit or --But, it is totally illegal to charge fines in our Ghanaian law in the cedi equivalent.
We are not talking about international trade here; we are talking about penalising Ghanaian vessels that would be deemed to have breached laws made in Ghana. Mr Speaker, I think that the appropriate legislation should be in the cedi.
Thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister?
Dr A. Y. Alhassan 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought that, they might be Ghanaian vessels but they are being guided by international laws, in this particular case. The context of the amendment is to adapt to international situation. They may be Ghanaian vessels, but they are operating under a universal law. That is why some of these charges can be stated in standardised currency which is the United States dollar in this particular case.
The other issue is that, the sea is seen as a global resource and that is why some of these regulations are meant to guide the entire resource globally but indigenised, so that people can be legally taken on when they break the international law. This is my understanding.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member at the back?
Mr Asafu-Adjei 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think we put into consideration the word, “international”, because we feel the fisheries industry has a deep linkage with international communities and when fines or charges are defined here, it should conform to international standards.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Hon Chairman, I will tell you what I am minded to do. I will listen to two or three more.
Mr Essilfie 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, mine is to seek your guidance.
Is it against the laws in Ghana that when one is fined in dollars, one can pay in cedi equivalent? One can do that. So, it is not necessary to put it in. Once I am asked to pay a fine of US$100,000, the law does not preclude me from paying it in cedi equivalent. So, is it necessary to put it here? I do not think so. Is it illegal for me to pay in cedis?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
I will tell you my inclination. This Report is not too complicated a document. We wanted to finish it today but the matter that has been raised here -- If we are doing something that is illegal, we cannot continue doing it and we should not be seen -- The future would not judge us kindly. Before we go on, that is why we introduced the Act to do with fines and penalty units, so that we state the fine in penalty units.
I have a difficulty also -- What you just said, strictly speaking, if we state in dollars, then we must pay in dollars. If we pass the law as it is, then we must pay in dollars. If we pay in cedis, we have breached the law. The law does not say - The question I will ask you in return is that, why do we not say “or of the cedi
equivalent” just to sort it out? But the question is not -
As a country, we have moved from the stage of stating exact figures now, we state penalty units. The whole idea of stating penalty unit is that we do not have to keep on amending the law because the values change.
I am minded to let us all have another look at it. This is because, when we are passing a law and there are suggestions that it is potentially illegal and Hon Members are mentioning farmer's case and so on -- Supreme Court decisions, people are mentioning Bar notices -- they are mentioning things that we do not have ready access --
In spite of all these red flags-- And they may just be red flags. But would it not serve us better if we have a look at all of that and convince ourselves that we are not breaching the law? This is because for us to be passing a law which imposes a fine in US dollars -- I understand the thinking. Do we have the authority?
The fact that it is throughout the Act -- Perhaps, the Act was wrong, to start with. Is this not an opportunity for us to just quickly amend every reference to US dollars to cedi equivalent, for example, where simple amendment -- I do not know. I do not have a ready answer. I am sure that the Hon Member would give me the answer.
Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not have the answer.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Then I will not recognise you.
Mr Osei-Ameyaw 1:55 p.m.
Please do. I would want to make a point.
From what you are saying, then there could be an issue with the parent Act in terms of its legality. By deferring it, are we deferring it because of a possible illegality by this House by virtue of the creation of the parent Act by referring to the US dollar that has been used?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
I think that is the presumption of legality but now that it has been raised, perhaps, we should look at it. I will not want to conlude on whether it is illegal. I have not looked at the various things that have been told us. But we would all help --
Mr Osei-Ameyaw 1:55 p.m.
That is why I am asking -- Are you referring it to a body or an entity where we have to look at?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
No! I am not referring it. I want to defer it, so that tomorrow -- [Interruption] --
Hon Member, having regard to the time and the state of business, I direct that the Sitting be held outside the prescribed period as stated under Standing Order 40
(3).
Hon Member, I am not referring it; I am deferring it, so that all of us would look at it, bring our heads together, maybe by tomorrow, we would have an answer. The Hon Chairman of the Committee would get up tomorrow and tell us that, this is the position and we would all go along with it.
Who is the Ranking Member? Hon Ranking Member, can we have the benefit of your reaction on this matter?
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have been sitting quietly listening. It looks to me that we would have to contend with the issue about the local currency. It is the law that we have to transact business in the local currency and it is the Ghanaian courts which would be prosecuting these cases. So, I cannot, for myself, see how any Judge would say that someone should pay in US dollars without any reference to the local currency.
So, I agree with you, Mr Speaker, that maybe, we should sleep on this and come back to the issue again.
Thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Hon Chairman of the Committee?
Mr Essilfie 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not really have a problem with putting in “and or its cedi equivalent”. We can do that. The only thing is that, as long as it is alright to the House that you are doing clause 88 A without proviso about cedi equivalent, the parent Act puts it in dollars, then that is fine. I do not have a problem with it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Hon Chairman, there is a difference between US$1 million -
Sit down, please.
I have never understood why in Parliament, when the Speaker is addressing an Hon Member, he or she must sit down. Normally, when somebody is addressing a person, the person stands. But anyway, the Hon Minority Leader will tell us that later on.
There is a difference between US$1 million or its cedi equivalent and the cedi equivalent of US$1 million. If it is illegal to quote fines in dollars, then rather, the US$ 1 million or its cedi equivalent, we would prefer “the cedi equivalent of US$1 million”. We may prefer that. But I do not know whether we would lose anything by sleeping over it.
Hon Chairman, would we lose anything by sleeping over it, and we take it first thing tomorrow, so that you discuss with your - If you agree that you want to change this clause, then perhaps, tomorrow, you can quickly change the whole line, any reference in the Act. Do you understand what I am saying?
If you come to the conclusion that this is illegal -
Are you raising a point of order against me?
The reason you resume your seat when the Speaker is speaking is that, in Parliament, when you rise up, it means you want to raise a point of order and you cannot raise a point of order against the Speaker. I am sorry; you will have to resume your seat.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I guess we are arriving at some consensus that we better do further consultations on this. As regards what my Hon Colleague, the Chairman said, when we construct it this way, we can then indicate that the entire Act should be reviewed in the context of this amendment.
Indeed, as we do know, the Law Review has been undertaken by Justice Crabbe, has taken care of all these. So, we should not have any worries that this would be an island unto itself. My Colleague, the Hon Member for Old Tafo is reminding me that it seems the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development rather has allowed itself to be swimming in the world of dollars; because the first paragraph of the memorandum, they are saying to us that:
“The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625) to respond to international concerns about widespread of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices being undertaken by Ghanaian fishing vessels which threaten the country's fisheries, food security, employment generated from fishing activities and the country's million dollar fisheries trade with countries worldwide”.
Everything is dollar. So, we are rating everything in dollar terms. Perhaps, that is why they are migrating to even dollars in punishment. But if we go to the parent Act, we realise that if royalties or taxes have to be paid, these payments are cedi rated; and why is it that when fines are to be introduced, we are talking about dollars? We need to be consistent.
Mr Speaker, I think the Hon Chairman can help us, by linking up with the draftspersons to put us in a better shape tomorrow when we come to deal with it.
While at it, maybe, we also look 88 ahead of time, when we meet, we would be able to take everything in a very short time and complete it tomorrow.
Mr Ahiafor 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support what the Hon Minority Leader has said, because dollar is in the parent Act throughout. If you look at section 88 (b), it talks about dollars; section 87 (b), it talks about dollars; 88 (a), it talks about dollars; section 89 is also speaking about dollar; section 92 (a), is also talking about dollars.
These sections are before us for amendment. So, we have to avoid the situation where a section would say cedi equivalent of so, so and so dollars, while the other sections, when the punishment is being applied, it would only be dollars.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Thank you.
Hon Members, when you take the Laws of Ghana Revised Edition, Volume (4), in volume (4), we find the Fines (Penalty Units) Act, 2000 (Act 572) and the preamble says:
“ An Act to provide for fines in enactments to be expressed in terms of penalty units to provide for the amount of fines in existing enactments to be converted into penalty units and to provide for related matters”.
Please note, “to convert the fines in existing enactments, into penalty units”. Then it goes on to say that:
“Where in an enactment provision is made for the imposition of a fine as the penalty for the contravention of a provision in the enactment, the amount of the fine shall be expressed in terms of a number of the penalty units”.
Now the next Act of the volume is the Fisheries Act. Even though this Act tells us that it is converting all fines into penalty
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Osei-Owusu 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if we may refer to the dates --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
The Fines and Penalty Units Act was passed in 2000. The Fisheries Act was passed in 2002; the revision was done in 2004. So, when the revision was being done, it should have taken care -- But if the revision did not do that, maybe, there is a reason. So, what I would do is that, of all the arguments that have been made today, the one that persuades me most and sounds most pleasant to my ears at this stage, is the suggestion by the Hon Ranking Member who says that we should sleep over it and come back the next day.
So, I defer the matter; we would all sleep over it; we would discuss it after here and sleep over it and tomorrow, the Hon Chairman would tell us which way we should go, taking into account all these various -- This is because it is very interesting.
The Statute Law Revision Exercise - the Commissioner retained the dollars. There may be a reason for it and also we would take advice from the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General's Department.
Thank you. We may proceed. So I have deffered clause (1).
Hon Chairman, we have taken some amendments to clause (1) but because of this matter that has been raised, we will move to clause (2). Am I correct?
2. 15 p.m.
Mr Esilfie 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought we had finished with clause (1).
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
We have relaxed the rules. So, after we finish with clause (1) -- The Hon Minority Leader suggested another amendment; he said we should add something, and we took that amendment.
It means we are re-opening the matter and then we used that to bring in this dollar question as well. So, we had re- opened the matter on clause (1). Even though we had taken clause (1), we relaxed the rules and came back to clause (1).
Hon Minority Leader, am I correct? So, I can defer clause (1) now.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:05 p.m.
Right. Mr Speaker, while we are at that, even the body of clause 1 (3) that we are deferring, if you read it, I have a problem with it. The imposition of this “of it”.
The “master owner”, now, we have included “charterer” or “operator of a fishing vessel entitled to fly the flag of Ghana” or “a fishing in the fishy waters in the country in accord with an access agreement” which the person might have secured legitimately, contravenes the condition imposed under subsection (2) being imposed by the Hon Minister, now commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to pay a fine of what we are talking about, the equivalent of
US$9,000,000.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Hon Ranking Member, I urge you to quickly meet after Sitting with all the various Hon Members, who have shown such interest, and have brought useful suggestions, so that tomorrow when we come we can quickly bring it to a complete end.
I defer clause 1. So, clause 2.
Clause 2 -- Section 88 A of Act 625 inserted.
Mr Essilfie 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 2, subclause (2), line 3, delete “which amounts to a serious violation”.
Mr Speaker, the reason for that is that, we noted that “serious violation” was not defined under the interpretation section. The Committee therefore, could not determine what constituted serious violation under the Bill. Also, based on that, we consulted the Attorney-General's Department, and their position was that, removing that would not really change the whole intent of the clause. So, we decided to move that out.
A violation is a violation. So, there is no need to make it a “serious violation”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Essilfie 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 2, subclause (2), paragraph (b), lines 3 and 4, delete “within twenty months of the first conviction”.
Mr Speaker, the reason for the amendment is that, the Committee was of the view that there should not be any time limit for an offence. If a person commits an offence, and we are saying within a certain time frame, twenty months, if the person commits another offence, then we are giving the person room to commit that offence and that there should be no time limit.
If a person commits the offence and he or she commits it again the second time, then the necessary penalties should be assessed.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Essilfie 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 2, subclause (2), paragraph (c), lines 3 and 4, delete “within thirty-six months of the first conviction” and in line 7, after “Registry”, insert “by the competent authority”.
Mr Speaker, the reason is that, first amendment for taking out within thirty six months of the first conviction is basically consequential to clause 2, and therefore, there is no explanation, just that, “consequential” is the same thing.
The introduction of “by the competent authority” is to give clarity to the respon- sible agency.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee, thank you.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Essilfie 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 2, subclause (3), line 4, delete “which amounts to a serious violation”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 2, as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 3 -- Section 139 of Act 625 amended.
Mr Essilfie 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 3, subclause “(4)”, paragraph (a), line 2, delete “country” and insert “Republic”
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Essilfie 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 3, subclause “5”, paragraph (b), line 4, at end, delete “and”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 3 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 4 -- Section 140 of Act 625 amended.
Mr Essilfie 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 4, add following new interpretation:
“closed area” means any area or depth of the sea where fishing activities are not permitted for a specified period”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 4 as amended ordered to stand pat of the Bill.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
I believe that should bring us to the end of the Consideration Stage for today, while we go and consider what we have deferred. Am I right, Hon Chairman?
We have come to the end of the Consideration Stage.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Ms Hanny-Sherry Ayitey 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, the Motion that --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Hon Chairman of Committee, I was just about to congratulate you for a good job, but
for what you have just done, is misleading the Hon Minister. I have to take back my congratulation.
I was just about to congratulate you that for every clause, you gave an explanation. Sometimes, some people mention the clause, and there is no explanation. So, I was just about to congratulate you, then I saw you, giving wrong advice. [Laughter]- So, now, should I redraw my congratulations, or should I subject it to good behaviour? Anyway, I congratulate you all the same for a good work done.
I think it is after 2 o'clock now, so the discretion to adjourn, thankfully, lies in my bossom.
Yes, Hon Joseph Osei-Owusu?
Mr Osei - Owusu 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the other issue is that we could, based on the Standing Orders, ask you to heed to, and you may be compelled but we respect your discretion to adjourn. We would not push you to decide otherwise. I a gree with you entirely.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
If there is another matter that you will want to bring to my attention, then I am all ears.
Mr Osei- Owusu 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with all due respect, I respect your decision that the matter should come to a close.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Hon Joseph Osei-Owusu, what will I do without you? I know you respect my decision.
ADJOURNMENT 2:05 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 2.25 p.m. till Friday, 21st November, 2014 at 10.00 a.m. .