Debates of 4 Dec 2014

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Hon Members, I have been informed that the upgrading of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) system in the Chamber is ongoing and, therefore, there is the likelihood of interference with the microphones in the Chamber.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of the Votes and Proceedings.

Hon Members, we also have the Official Report of Tuesday, 25th November, 2014 for correction.

Any correction?
rose
Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Yes?
Mr Isaac Osei 10:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a few corrections on behalf of Hon Dr Anthony Akoto Osei.
In column 1226 --
Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Where is the Hon Akoto Osei?
Mr Isaac Osei 10:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, he is at a meeting now and he has asked me to do this. He is in the Finance Committee meeting.
Mr Isaac Osei 10:55 a.m.
Column 1226, it is the second paragraph, the word is “macroeconomic stability” not “micro”. So, we have two “macros” in that particular --
And then where it starts: “Mr Speaker, the evidence speaks for itself. On the first issue of microeconomic stability” -- Then the last paragraph, before “Some Hon Members”, there is also “micro”, which should also read “macroeconomic stability.”
Then in column 1227, the last paragraph, he was talking about deceleration; it is either --
Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Which one?
Mr Isaac Osei 10:55 a.m.
Column 1227, last paragraph.
Mr Isaac Osei 10:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is either “6.9 per cent or 4.6 per cent”.
And throughout that and column 1228 there are a few areas where the percentage is missing.
Then in column 1229, last but one paragraph, the sentence is “For three years in a row…”
Finally, the third paragraph --
Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
I cannot find the last one that you just mentioned. The column 1229 -- which paragraph?
Mr Isaac Osei 10:55 a.m.
Last but one paragraph, column 1229, line 4 -- “in a row”.
Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Very well.
Mr Isaac Osei 10:55 a.m.
Then in column 1233, the sentence is “we must avert ourselves” not “advert ourselves”.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Any other correction? [Pause.]
Hon Members, the Official Report of Tuesday, 25 th November, 2014, as corrected is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Item number 3 on the Order Paper -- Business Statement for the Sixth Week.
Chairman, Business Committee -- Hon Majority Leader?
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:55 a.m.
Majority Leader/Chairman of the Business Committee (Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin) 10:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Committee met on Wednesday, 3rd December, 2014 and arranged Business of the House for the Sixth Week ending Friday, 12th December,
2014.
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 56 (1), the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows:
Arrangement of Business
Question(s)
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee has decided not to invite Ministers of State to attend upon the House to respond to Questions during the week. This is to enable the House concentrate on the Annual Budget Estimates for the 2015 fiscal year and other equally important business which needs to be approved before the House rises on Friday, 19th December, 2014. The Business Committee will reconsider its decision on Questions
in subsequent weeks when the state of business of the House is expected to change.
Statements
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Order 70 (2), Ministers of State may be permitted to make Statements of Government policy. Mr Speaker may also admit Statements to be made in the House by Hon Members in accordance with Order 72.
Bills, Papers and Reports
Mr Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House for First Reading and those of urgent nature may be taken through the various stages in one day in accordance with Order 119. Papers and committee reports may also be presented to the House.
Motions and Resolutions
Mr Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
Submission of committee reports on estimates of MDAs and other institu- tions
Mr Speaker, committees are entreated to expedite work on the estimates of MDAs and other institutions and report on same in good time for consideration at plenary. A schedule has therefore, been prepared to guide committees on dates for submission of the reports (schedule is attached). Committees are accordingly entreated to work within the proposed time frame.
Mr Speaker, Hon Members may note that the schedule of business for the week under consideration is tight. The schedule may however, be varied to accommodate any committee reports on the estimates which may be ready for consideration during the week.
Majority Leader/Chairman of the Business Committee (Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin) 10:55 a.m.
Sitting of the House on Monday/extended Sittings
Mr Speaker, as proposed during the presentation of the Business Statement last week, the Business Committee reminds Hon Members that the House is scheduled to Sit on Monday, 8 th December, 2014.
Mr Speaker, depending on the exigencies of the state of business, the House may have extended Sittings to enable the completion of scheduled business.
Conclusion
Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this Honourable House, the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

Statements

Presentation of Papers--

(a) Report of the Committee on Mines and Energy on the Petroleum Commission's Annual Public Report on Petroleum Resources and activities for the year 2012.

(b) Report of the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(c) Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and

Regional Integration for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(d) Report of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General's Department for the year ending 31 st December, 2015.

(e) Report of the Committee on Judiciary on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Judicial Service for the year ending 31st December,

2015.

(f) Report of the joint Committee on Lands and Forestry and Mines and Energy on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(g) Report of the Committee on Finance on the Annual Budget Estimates of the National Development Planning Commis- sion for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(h) Report of the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the year ending 31st December,

2015.

(i) Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Defence for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(j) Report of the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture on the Annual Budget Estimates of the

Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(k) Report of the Special Budget Committee on the Annual Budget Estimates for the year ending 31st December, 2015 of the following:

i. Audit Service.

ii. Public Services Commission

(PSC).

iii. National Media Commission

(NMC).

iv. District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator.

(l) Report of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aqua- culture Development for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

Motions --

(a) That this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament.

(Moved on Wednesday, 19 th November, 2014 by the Hon Chairman of the Committee, Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin and seconded by the Hon Vice Chairman of the Committee, Papa Owusu-Ankomah)

(Continuation of debate)

(b) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident (1986).

(c) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on the Convention on Assistance in the case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency (1986).

(d) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (1997).

(e) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on Environmental Challenges in Ghana.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Customs Bill, 2014

(Continuation of debate)

Intestate Succession Bill, 2013.

Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2013.

Youth Employment Agency Bill,

2014.

Committee sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a) Report of the Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises on the Annual Budget Estimates of the National Labour Commission for the year ending 31st December, 2015.
Majority Leader/Chairman of the Business Committee (Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin) 10:55 a.m.


Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a) Report of the Special Budget Committee on the Annual Budget Estimates for the year ending 31st December 2015 of the following:

i. National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE).

ii. Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice

(CHRAJ).

iii. Electoral Commission (EC).

(b) Report of the Committee on Communications on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Communications for the year ending 31st December,

2015.

(c) Report of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(d) Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Interior for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(e) Report of the Committee on Roads and Transport on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Roads and Highways for the year ending 31 st December, 2015.

(f) Report of the Committee on Finance on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Finance for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(g) Report of the Committee on Finance on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Government Machinery for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

Motions --

(a) That this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament.

(Moved on Wednesday, 19 th November 2014 by the Hon Chairman of the Committee, Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin and seconded by the Hon Vice Chairman of the Committee, Papa Owusu-Ankomah)

(Conclusion of debate)

(b) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢19, 546,785 for the services of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs)

(c) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢2, 899,648 for the services of the National Media Commission for the year ending 31st December,

2015.

(Minister for Finance)

(d) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢125, 527,610 for the services of the Audit Service for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(Minister for Finance)

(e) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢12, 656,582 for the services of the Public Services Commission for the year ending 31st December,

2015.

(Minister for Finance)

(f) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢222,850 for the services of the Office of District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(Minister for Finance)

(g) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢72,514,577 for the services of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development)

(h) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢2,700,476 for the services of the National Labour Commission for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(Minister for Finance)

(i) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢43,787,365 for the services of the Ministry

of Employment and Labour Relations for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(Minister for Employment and Labour Relations)

(j) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢799, 615,234 for the services of the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(Minister for Energy and Petroleum)

(k) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢243, 399,833 for the services of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation for the year ending 31st December 2015.

(Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Inno- vation)

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Customs Bill, 2014 (Continuation of debate)

Intestate Succession Bill, 2013. (Continuation of debate)

Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2013. (Continuation of debate)

Youth Employment Agency Bill,

2014

Committee sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a) Report of the Committee on Finance on the Annual Budget
Majority Leader/Chairman of the Business Committee (Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin) 10:55 a.m.
Estimates of the Ghana Revenue Authority for the year ending 31st December, 2015.
(b) Report of the Special Budget Committee on the Annual Budget Estimates of Parliament for the year ending 31st December,
2015.
(c) Report of the Committee on Finance on the Annual Budget Estimates of Other Government Obligations for the year ending 31st December, 2015.
Motions--
(a) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢463, 103,420 for the services of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing for the year ending 31st December, 2015.
(Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing)
(b) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢43,631,694 for the services of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for the year ending 31st December, 2015.
(Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection)
(c) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢6, 740,437,383 for the services of the Ministry of Education for the year ending 31st December, 2015.
(Minister for Education)
(d) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢3, 068,244,628 for the services of the Ministry of Health for the year ending 31st December, 2015.
(Minister for Health)
(e) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢33,296,543 for the services of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts for the year ending 31st December, 2015.
(Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts)
(f) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢361, 652,706 for the services of the Ministry of Transport for the year ending 31st December 2015.
(Minister for Transport)
(g) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢183, 831,356 for the services of the Ministry of Trade and Industry for the year ending 31 st December, 2015.
(Minister for Trade and Industry)
Consideration Stage of Bills --
Customs Bill, 2014 (Continuation of debate)
Intestate Succession Bill, 2013. (Continuation of debate)
Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2013. (Continuation of debate)
Youth Employment Agency Bill,
2014.
Committee sittings.

Statements

Motions --

(a) Third Reading of Bills --

Youth Employment Agency Bill,

2014

(b) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢29,356,503 for the services of the National Commission for Civic Education for the year ending 31st Decem- ber 2015.

(Minister for Finance)

(c) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢24,429,260 for the services of the Com- mission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(Minister for Finance)

(d) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢35,700,455 for the services of the Electoral Commission for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(Minister for Finance)

(e) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢298, 635,991 for the services of the Ministry of Communica-tions for the year ending 31st December,

2015.

(Minister for Communications)

(f) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GHA¢411, 821,430 for the services of the

Ministry of Food and Agricul- ture for the year ending 31st December 2015.

(Minister for Food and Agricul- ture)

(g) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢1, 195,558,180 for the services of the Ministry of Interior for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(Minister for the Interior)

(h) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢931,657,410 for the services of the Ministry of Roads and Highways for the year ending 31st December 2015.

(Minister for Roads and High- ways)

(i) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢705,388,052 for the services of the Ministry of Finance for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(Minister for Finance)

(j) That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢453,889,073 for the services of the Office of Government Machinery for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

(Minister of State at the Office of the President)

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Customs Bill, 2014 (Continuation of debate)

Intestate Succession Bill, 2013. (Continuation of debate)

Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2013. (Continuation of debate)

Committee sittings.
APPENDIX 10:55 a.m.
O 10:55 a.m.
SPACE 10:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Thank you very much Hon Majority Leader.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Kwadaso?
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, tomorrow is Farmers' Day and we have tabled Questions for the Minister for Food and Agriculture, which are of great importance to the four million farmers of this country. They have been on and off the Order Paper for the last five weeks.
Mr Speaker, I see that next week there is no provision for asking those Questions, although the Leader of the House assured us last week that he was going to bring these Questions for the Minister for Food and Agriculture to come and answer.
Mr Speaker, these are very major issues of concern to farmers; we are talking about fertilisers --
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Member, you have made your point. Are you asking a Question?
Dr O. A. Akoto 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to express my concern about the fact that --
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Member for Kwadaso, you have made your point.
Dr O.A. Akoto 11:05 a.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Yes, the Hon Member for Shai -Osudoku?
Mr David T. Assumeng 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee proposed that on Tuesday, the Motion on the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament be moved.
Mr Speaker, I am still proposing and of the strong opinion that we must have a Committee of the Whole to discuss issues pertaining to the Code.
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
I am not getting the point you are making. What point are you making?
Hon Majority Leader, do you get the point he is making?
Very well.
Mr Assumeng 11:15 a.m.
Thank you very much.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Member for Sekondi?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, from the Business Statement read by the Chairman of the Business Committee, various committees would be very busy, probably, from today, as the Finance Committee is.
But Mr Speaker, the condition of some of the conference rooms is so insalubrious as not to condut efficient work -- the committee rooms one and two; I am coming from there. Over the past months, the air conditions have not been working. I would not have been raising it on the floor --
Mr Speaker, yesterday, I informed the Majority Chief Whip who was there, but I am constrained to raise it on the floor of the House, to engage Mr Speaker 's attention to that. In such insalubrious conditions, how could committee's work effectively to meet the dates set for the completion of their reports?
I say this because it is worrisome and nobody seems to tell you anything.
That was why I left the committee meeting, because I wanted to raise it on the floor of the House.
Mr Bagbin 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the concern of the Hon Member for Kwadaso is very genuine and the Committee stated that during the course of the week, we would try and get space. Because of the pressure of work on the committees, we thought it
would be difficult. But he is right to keep on drawing our attention to it and so, we would try and find space for that Question to be asked.
It is very genuine -- I am a farmer myself; a food crop farmer -- So, it is in my interest to get the Hon Minister to answer that Question on the issue of fertiliser.
The issue whether we should have a Committee of the Whole first on the Report of the Ad hoc Committee on the Code of Conduct is for Hon Members to decide. If that would be the better way to go, why not? We could do that but what we presented are the main principles. The details as we stated could come in the manual.
So, we could meet as a Committee of the Whole, to look at it. Hon Members already have copies of the Report. I believe we could have a Committee of the Whole to look at other items too, including this one if Hon Members would be present.
On the issue of the state of the committee rooms, the House Committee met on Monday and this was one of the issues that we deliberated upon. In fact, we are requesting a report on various areas under our mandate from the Clerk and his Directors, the state of affairs of so many things in the House. We singled out the issue of not only the committee rooms but even the sanitary conditions of the House for special attention.
Mr Speaker, this morning, the Majority Chief Whip drew my attention to the issue that was raised on the air conditioners, and we are taking measures to make sure tha t at least, they are put in the condition to enable them work while we look for a permanent solution. We do not think that the brand of the air-conditioners they
Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Member for Subin Constituency?
Mr Isaac Osei 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe the Business Committee is right in seeking Hon Members to debate this Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament (MPs) openly. We must have sent a signal to the public that Parliament is ready to regulate its own actions and we would want to do it publicly. After all, every Hon Member has a copy of the Code of Conduct and the Committee's Report; and I believe if we have any issues at all, which we feel should be discussed in private, one can see the Chairman of the Committee.
So, I believe we should just have an open debate on it; let the public see that we are ready to regulate ourselves and to put this Code of Conduct in place.
Mr Bagbin 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to assure Hon Members that this Report would be debated publicly and we are not going to prevent any Hon Member from making any input that is meant to get a consensus on the ethics, values, principles and beliefs, that we would want to be the core code to regulate this profession that we have opted for.
Hon Members must know that though we cannot behave like Pompey's wife, representing people, means a lot. At least, we must lead by example and so, whatever that means, it would have to be captured in very clear language. So, it would be debated publicly and we are calling on Hon Members to pay attention to it -- because after we have approved of the Code of Conduct, our conduct would be measured by the Codes. We are putting in place a committee to process complaints and we would exact sanctions -- I do not want to say punishment-- sanctions against Hon Members who are found wanting. So, it is a serious item that Hon Members should pay particular attention to.
We would plead with our Colleagues, our brothers and sisters in the media, to give it extensive coverage, so that Ghanaians would know what we have decided for ourselves, measure us by that conduct and report complaints to the appropriate committee for action to be taken. I am spending time on it because it is a serious item. So, I thank you very much for it.
The Committee of the Whole would not in any way prevent the public debate of this Report.
Thank you very much.
Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Thank you very much Hon Majority Leader.
Business Statement for the Sixth Week accordingly adopted.
Question time.

We start with Question number 233
Dr Kojo Appiah-Kubi 11:15 a.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker -- the Hon Osei-Mensah is on an equally important assignment at the Economic Community of West African
State's (ECOWAS) Parliament and has therefore asked me to ask this Question on his behalf, and I wish that you would indulge me to ask it on his behalf.
Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Very well, go ahead.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:25 a.m.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION 11:25 a.m.
SHS 11:25 a.m.
Minister for Education (Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang) 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the 3-storeyed 9-unit 3-bedroom staff quarters at Jachie/Pramso Senior High School was awarded on contract to Messrs Attachy Construction Limited in December 2008, and this was expected to be completed in December, 2009 at a contract sum of GH¢639,323.00. The project has delayed due to irregular funding. However, the project is now at about 70 per cent level of completion and the contractor has been directed to complete the remaining work by June,
2015.
Thank you.
Dr Appiah-Kubi 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister for Education, in her response, stated that the contract had been delayed
due to irregular funding. Can she tell us what the irregular funding is and where the source of the new funding is going to be from?
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the meaning of the “delayed funding” simply is that the project could not be completed within the stipulated time of 12 months. This has not been done and the delayed funding [Interruption.]
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Members, let us have order.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
It has not been done because funding has not been regular. This is because of challenges with releases. What is going to happen is that, we have prioritised all uncompleted buildings within the Ministry and also with Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
We are looking at the levels of completion of projects beginning with 90 per cent and above and completing as we move downwards, and this assures us that by June 2015, we would be able to complete this structure that is 70 per cent complete.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Yes, your next supple- mentary question? [Interruption.]
Very well.
Yes, Hon Minister, he wants to also know of the source of funding, whether it is the Government of Ghana (GoG) or any other.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this particular project, I believe, was awarded under the GETFund and therefore, from the same source, we will ensure that the building is completed and is ready for use.
Thank you.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Yes, your next question?
Dr Appiah-Kubi 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker -- [Pause]
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Member for Manhyia South Constituency, is that your seat? [Laughter.]
An Hon Member 11:25 a.m.
A coach.
Dr Appiah-Kubi 11:25 a.m.
The Minister for Education is also receiving some coaching from --
Yes, she mentioned that the source of funding is the GETFund. Is there any line item in the budget or in the budget of the GETFund?
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Member, I will not admit this question. You know that the formula for the --
Dr Appiah-Kubi 11:25 a.m.
No, Mr Speaker. I am asking this question because I am aware that the Minister for Education has submitted a letter to the GETFund for the payment of some judgment debts. And I do not know how --
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Member, please! [Laughter.]
Dr Appiah-Kubi 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want my Hon Colleague to continue with the supplementary question, please.
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister for Education, in her Answer, told this House that by June 2015, this project would have been
completed. That means that they are already working, and the Hon Member's question is, if the Minister says it is GETFund, and in GETFund's money that this House appropriates, we did not find that line item for this secondary school, how then is GETFund going to provide the money to finish it in June 2015?
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Member for Manhyia South, I am not admitting that question. [Laughter.] We know that for the next financial year, 2015, the formula will be brought to the House and when that time comes for us to look at that formula, we can find out whether it is there. Because it has to come to this House before it can be assessed. That must come to this House.
Dr Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, you are right, but the Minister, in her own Answer to this House, just now, is saying that it is there. So, by 2015, the project will be completed. She did not say that when the GETFund appropriation formula comes, that line item will be found. That is why the Hon Member wants to find out from the Minister since she is --
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Minister, what did you say in response to an earlier answer?
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Members wanted to know where the funding was coming from and I indicated the source of funding.
Dr Prempeh 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it was based upon that answer, which gave the date of June 2015 and I am asking, will the Hon Minister indicate whether given the irregular funding from the GETFund, which she claims is now becoming regular, will it not suffer the fate of judgment debt payment by GETFund?
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
You are completely out of order.
Hon Members, we move to the next Question --
Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 11:25 a.m.
— rose --
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
Mr Nitiwul 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister for Education tells us in her Answer that the project was awarded in December, 2008. She again said that the project has delayed due to irregular funding.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
Pardon?
Mr Nitiwul 11:25 a.m.
Will the Minister really tell this House that because of lack of funding, from 2008 to now, they cannot finish with the project?
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, does the Hon Member want me to assure him that whatever it is [Interruption.] All right, you want a response from me?
Yes, I said it is lack of funding and from your submission, every item on the GETFund budget has been released. What is happening is that we have a number of projects under the GETFund and all of these require our attention. The project was supposed to be completed in one year and I believe there was a reason for it.
One would have assumed that by awarding the contract in 2008 and saying that it will be completed in one year, perhaps, there was funding for it. But there was not enough funding to have assured in 2008 that in one year the project will be completed; that was not the case.

Whatever it is, by the time the project was awarded, if we are saying it should be done in one year, it presupposes that we have the funds secured to complete the project in one year — that was not the case.

So, this project has delayed as a result of inadequacy of funds allocated in 2008 for its completion in one year and therefore, this explains the delay. Currently, we are at 70 per cent of the completion of the 3 storeyed-9 unit 3-bedroom staff quarters and we are projecting that by June, 2015 the project would be done.

11. 35 a.m.
Mr Nitiwul 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister may not —
Mr Nitiwul 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it cannot be my last supplementary question —
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Your last supplementary question —
Mr Nitiwul 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, you are directing me that I have just two supplementary —
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Please, your last supplementary question — we want to make progress.
Mr Nitiwul 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is still the same supplementary question.
The Hon Minister says that the source of funding is GETFund and the project was awarded in December, 2008. And I am saying that, for the whole of 2009, Government does not owe GETFund, 2010 Government does not owe GETFund up to 2013, and so all monies that were supposed to be released to pay for these projects have been released to GETFund —[Uproar] —
What is this man shouting for?
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, you have the floor—address the Chair.
Mr Nitiwul 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
I am saying that all projects that were awarded in 2008, 2009, were awarded because this House approved the formula, and in the formula, there was funding for GETFund to pay. Why have they not paid for these projects up till now, even though they have collected the money in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 —
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, do you want to answer the question yourself?
Hon Minister?
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it sounds to me like, the Hon Member who asked the questions has even answered them himself.
Mr Speaker, we know very well that if you look at the number of projects under GETFund and the amount that accrued to GETFund, it is not feasible that each project would be completed, otherwise, we would not have thousands of projects spread all over the country that we are trying to complete.
Therefore, this particular project is among the projects that we wish to complete by June, 2015. If he says that Government does not owe GETFund any amount and so on and so forth, we also know the sluggish nature of dis- bursements into the GETFund accounts.
Sometimes, there are other extraneous reasons; it can even be delay in the submission of certificates, disaffection with the work done and so many other things that account for the delay of a project -- sometimes even when monies are available.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Question number 234, standing in the name of Hon Member for Ahafo Ano North — [Pause.]
We move to Question number 294 standing in the name of the Hon Member for Atwima Kwanwoma; Hon Dr Kojo Appiah-Kubi.
Provision of School Bus (Atwima Kwanwoma Senior High
School)
Q. 294. Dr Kojo Appiah-Kubi asked the Minister for Education when the Ministry would provide the Atwima Kwanwoma Senior High School with a school bus.
Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is the policy of the Ministry to ensure that all senior high schools have buses to enhance their smooth operations.
As part of the implementation of this policy, an exercise has been conducted to ascertain the number of schools without buses. However, due to budgetary constraints, the Ministry has phased the procurement of these buses.
The Ministry has already procured and distributed buses and pick-ups to some senior high schools. So far, 327 vehicles made up of 242 buses and 85 pick-ups have been distributed to 327 senior high schools. 68 other senior high schools have received both buses and pick-ups for their smooth operations.
Atwima Kwanwoma Senior High School will be considered along with so many others in the next phase of the programme which is expected to commence mid next year.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Member, your supplementary.
Dr Appiah-Kubi 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister, in her response, made reference to the existence of a bus policy, which the Ministry has started implementing with the distribution of buses to some schools. Can the Minister educate the people of Ghana on the criterion used in selecting potential beneficiary institutions and also the criterion used to distribute these vehicles?
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
Excuse me; I did not get the second part of his question— if he does not mind repeating.
Dr Appiah-Kubi 11:25 a.m.
I can do that once again. The second part or the whole —
Prof Opoku-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
No—just the second part. I got the criterion —
Dr Appiah-Kubi 11:25 a.m.
The criterion used to select the potential beneficiary institutions and also the criterion used in distributing these buses to the specific schools. She said they have distributed some buses to certain schools; what was the criterion that they used in the distribution —
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
In the selection?
Dr Appiah-Kubi 11:25 a.m.
Not only in the selection —and in the distribution — there are two things that I would like to know.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, maybe, I can answer the question on criterion for selection, and maybe come to the criterion for distribution. I do not quite get it.
In terms of selection; we look at many things. One has to do with location of schools, the equipment that the school already has the population of the school, the age of the school -- some of them do not even have alumni to support them.
We therefore look at all of these in order to be able to award.
Another criterion we use is -- because the science centres are located in regions and in certain schools, we look at the distance between the school and that particular resource centre to be able to allocate.
Mr Speaker, in terms of mode of distribution -- does the Hon Member mean how the vehicle is sent to the school? I do not get that question.
Dr Appiah-Kubi 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if I may —
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Your supplementary question.
Dr Appiah-Kubi 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister said she did not —
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Your next supplementary question.
Dr Appiah-Kubi 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Minister, the criterion that she narrated, if she were to use it in the distribution, then I would want to believe that Atwima Kwanwoma Senior High School should definitely have been one of the beneficiaries. This is because it is located in a rural area and it is a fairly new senior high school that has recently been absorbed into the Ghana Education system and the population is relatively high. It is a newly absorbed school and also a science centre. So, I am at a loss why Atwima Kwanwoma —
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Your question, Hon Dr Appiah-Kubi?
Dr Appiah-Kubi 11:25 a.m.
Let me ask.
Mr Speaker, since the school does not have any vehicle and it is located in a rural area, the head teacher does not have any vehicle herself and has to travel or walk to the main road before she can even get a taxi for business errands on behalf of the school.
Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang 11:45 a.m.
First of all, let me thank you for your readiness to partner with us in solving this particular problem. We can have a conversation later.
But I agree with you that yes, schools such as these need support and in fact, all schools need support. If you look at the number of secondary schools we have in this country and the number of buses in the system, definitely, there are a number of schools that are in the same category as that school and as said in the Hon Member's submission, this is a newly absorbed school.
We know that the newly absorbed schools normally come with a number of challenges and sometimes we need to prioritise those challenges. When a newly absorbed school, for example, does not have a science laboratory, we think it is a serious matter. So, we know the bus is also important and we may err on the side of the learning facility.
But I hear the point raised by the Hon Member and we are very interested in ensuring that every secondary school has what it needs, so that headmistresses do not have to walk and get taxis and so on.
Thank you very much.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Your last supplementary question.
Dr Appiah-Kubi 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I also thank the Hon Minister for assuring me her readiness to hold discussions with me on the issue of providing temporarily, a used bus or any other vehicle for Atwima Kwanwoma Senior High School.
I thank you, Hon Minister.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Question time.
Hon Minister, we thank you very much for attending upon the House to respond to Questions from Hon Members.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Members, this is a very serious House. If an Hon Member has a Question advertised, when I call the Hon Member, the Hon Member should be on his feet or if he has authorised somebody, the person should do so as Hon Dr. Appiah-Kubi did on behalf of Hon Osei-Mensah.
When I called the Question, nobody was on his feet, absolutely, nobody was on his feet and nobody could give any excuse to the House.
This should guide us for the future.
Mr Osei-Owusu 11:45 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the very right admonishing. We should be up and doing as Hon Members of the House and I urge that today, you would be magnanimous and forgive me --
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
I would let you ask the Question but no supplementary. -- [Laughter.]
Mr Osei-Owusu 11:45 a.m.
All right. Very well.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Minister?
Hon Member for Bekwai, let us hear you. I am not going to tolerate this thing in the future. When an Hon Member has a Question and he is not here, he should ask somebody to ask the Question on his behalf. When I called Question 234, nobody was on his feet.
Mr Osei-Owusu 11:45 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your magnanimity this morning.
Unapproved Senior High School Fees
Q234. Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu (on behalf of Mr Kwasi Adusei) asked the
Minister for Education whether the Ministry was aware that some senior high schools were charging unapproved fees and if so, what the Ministry was doing about it.
Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I apologise, please. I thought I had been discharged, so I was on my way out.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
It is true. I discharged you earlier.
Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang 11:45 a.m.
Thank you very much again for this very important concern, which is a concern of the Ministry as well.
Mr Speaker, it is the policy of the Ministry to ensure access to quality education in the country. Over the years, efforts have been made to overcome any obstacle that may work against the realisation of our policies in this regard.
To overcome challenges mitigating against access to education, the Ministry takes the following steps, among others,
to prevent the charging of unapproved fees in our schools:
A committee has been established to standardise the charging of fees in all schools in the country. This committee is made up of the Ghana Education Service, the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), Parent-Teacher Associations, the Ministry of Education and significant others.
This committee makes recommenda- tions on approved fees to be charged by schools every year for eventual approval of the Ministry. Heads of schools and the general public are notified of these approved fees.
For instance, the approved fees to be charged by heads in the 2014/ 2015 academic year have been circulated to all the major stake- holders including the heads in a letter dated September 2, 2014 and further publicised on the Ministry's website for information of the general public. Below is a summary of the approved fees to be charged in the 2014/2015 academic year;
SPACE FOR APPROVED FEES 11:45 a.m.
Mr Osei-Owusu 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, you have been very magnanimous this morning because this is a very serious matter.
I wish to ask the Hon Minister, whether she is aware that notwithstanding all these measures contained here, training colleges, for example, students that they have had to support, have a fee component, 90 per cent of which is not part of the government charged fees.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Where have you moved to? I thought the Question was about senior high schools (SHS); why are you bringing in colleges of education?
Mr Osei-Owusu 11:45 a.m.
Very well, Mr Speaker.
Colleges of education are tertiary; but Mr Speaker, even in SHS there are about 50 to 60 per cent component of fees that parents pay that are outside the approved fees.
Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang 11:55 a.m.
We are aware that the system still needs perfection and perhaps with permission, I would like to explain one or two things.
The structure is this; if for any reason there is any fee that is to be charged outside of established list, the head must write to the district office and the District Office would have a conversation, it follows at the regional office, before it comes to the Ghana Education Service, (GES) before it comes to the Ministry because the Ministry is the supervising body.
What happens sometimes is that - and with all due respect and acknowledgement of the efforts Parent- Teacher Asso- ciations (PTA) make -- PTAs do not have the mandate to enforce charging of fees. PTAs can suggest and before the process can go through, we need to know why a certain amount is being charged and for what project.

Sometimes, we go to the schools as I do and we see three, four or five projects being run by the PTA at the same time. What we advise is that, they should phase these projects out and complete them one after the other.

What also happened was that, once approval was given -- In the past, there was no time limit -- so once approval is given for a project to be charged to the student bill, they just continued without any let.

What we have done this year is to say that once approval is given, it must have a time limit. We are not giving more than one year and in six months' time, we must know how much money has been collected and how that money has been expended.

We need financial reports and progress reports on the projects, to be able to monitor the rest of the year and to agree or not agree whether we need an extension. These are some of the measures that we are putting in place now. We are also continuing with the public education of PTAs -- parents and teachers and so on.

When an individual decides to give a gift to the school, we are very happy. What we do not want to happen is that, those extraneous costs are the reason somebody has been sent home. So, we are aware that the system is not perfect; we are aware, currently, of people who are charging outside of the system; we have collected the data and will follow due process.

Mr Speaker, due process sometimes takes time, but it is the best way to go, so that people are not wrongfully accused or sanctioned. And as we did last year, so are we going to continue.

We are urging the heads of institution to cooperate with us because there is no joy in curtailing somebody's work but arbitrariness - one person deciding and

applying to everybody, that is not something the Ministry will condone.

Submitted, Mr Speaker.
Mr Osei-Owusu 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, not- withstanding the admonishings and appeals to heads of institution, the fees that we continue to get as parents and guardians -- many of us Members of Parliament (MPs) support students who are not related to us in any way.
The fees are above the approved ones. May I know what practical measures the Ministry will take to ensure that in the incoming year, we would not come back here and discuss plans and programmes and that they would be curtailed?
Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is my wish too that this is curtailed, but we need strategies to curtail them. I have shared some of the strategies with you. I know that is why I am there and that is why I have proposed the strategies and we would implement those strategies, evaluate them and ensure that they work.
Thank you very much.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Yes, your last supplemen- tary question on this matter.
Mr Nitiwul 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want the Hon Minister to confirm to this House that from the table on the approved fees, for a female or male day student, if you take out the PTA dues, the person would be paying GH¢320.5 and if you are paying for 365,000 students, then you would have to spend GH¢106,182,500.00. Would she confirm that? [Interruptions.]
Mr Speaker, can I repeat the question for the Hon Minister?
I said from the table she gave us, each student -- If we talk about PTA dues, each student is supposed to pay GH¢320.5. That is what she has put there, as payable per term. If we multiply that by 465,000 students, then per term, anybody sponsoring, whether it is the Government, that is, if I want to give them free education --
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, why are you doing multiplication?
Mr Nitiwul 11:55 a.m.
I am doing multiplication because --
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
I want to know why you are doing multiplication.
Mr Nitiwul 11:55 a.m.
Is it wrong to ask her that question?
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Please, you know that the rules --
Mr Nitiwul 11:55 a.m.
I have decided to sponsor 365,000 students --
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, take your seat.
Mr Nitiwul 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have decided to sponsor 365,000 students; I will give them free education for this particular first term.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, take your seat. I just want to find out from you why you are doing multiplication because -- [Interruptions.]
An Hon Member 11:55 a.m.
It is there.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
The multiplication is there?
Mr Nitiwul 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, each student is paying GH¢355.5. What I did was to take out PTA dues.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Are you listening to me? Our rules do not allow for hypothetical questions. The GH¢355.5 is there. I have seen it.
Mr Nitiwul 11:55 a.m.
The GH¢355.5 is in this year's Budget Statement. Mr Speaker, if you want me to review what I am doing --
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
So, do not use “if”.
Mr Nitiwul 11:55 a.m.
All right, Mr Speaker.
In the Budget Statement, the Government is giving free education to students this year -- 365,000 of them; they have budgeted GH¢42 million and I am saying from their own figures, Government would have to spend GH¢106, 982,500.00. Could she confirm that to us? That is all I asked.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, please, ask your question again because it presupposes that to educate the girl child, that is the only amount involved.
Some Members: No!
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Yes. These are the fees, the figures are also in the Budget Statement and you are doing the multiplication but you are holding other factors -- You are not including -- Please, go straight and ask the question.
Mr Nitiwul 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Minister, from the figures she has given us, these are the approved fees for 2014/2015 academic year; that is the approved fees. And for each term, every student is to pay GH¢355.5 per day. If you take out -- I would not take out - - I want to ask her, from her own figure, how much would 365,000 students pay per term.
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
I want to find out whether our rules allow for this question. [Uproar.]
Hon Members --
Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang 11:55 a.m.
Thank you very much.
You would notice --
Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
Wait, Hon Minister. Take your seat. There is a rule against anticipation. Yes, there is a rule in this House against anticipation and you know very well that if the matter is brought to the House within a reasonable time, then
Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Government is very clear about the amounts being absorbed. In the Hon Member's submission, with all respect, he referred to Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) dues only. He took out PTA -- please, he should have taken out uniforms, but he did not. The list of items does not include uniforms. So, I was surprised that he took out only the PTA.
What I have here is admission fee, submission fee, entertainment fee, library, Students Representative Council (SRC) fee, examination fee and so on, totalling GH¢114,000,000 and that is where we got our GH¢42,000,000 from.
Submitted, please.
Mr Nitiwul 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
I would want to find out the multiplication -- But she has told us it is not free education, anyway. It is half free education from what she has said. So, I thank her very much.
Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang 12:05 p.m.
There are so many costs in education, unless we are told that we will pick the pocket money and the chop boxes, trunks, the provision and all of that -- [Interruption.]
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Members, let us have order!
Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang 12:05 p.m.
We have been very clear in what we are picking -- [Interruption]-- That is why you are laughing and you are not even listening.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Minister, thank you very much for attending upon the House to respond to Questions from Hon Members.
You are discharged.
Hon Members, tomorrow is Farmers' Day and in commemoration of the day, I have admitted a Statement to that effect.
I will call the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs to make the Statement and then after that, Hon Anthony Osei Boakye would also read a Statement. All other people would be guided.
rose
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Please, if you want to make an application to change the order of Business under Order 43 of our Standing Orders, you are allowed to do so. No application has come to me but if you want to make the application, I would allow you to do so.
Mr Bagbin 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your kind permission and the indulgence of my Hon Colleagues, I would want us to lay some Papers before we go to the Statements, so that we can vary the order of Business according to Standing Order 53.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Very well.
The rules of the House allow us to vary the order of Business under Standing Order 53, unless somebody has a strong objection.
Hon Minority Chief Whip, do you have any objection to the application?
Mr Daniel Botwe 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have no objection.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, we move to item number 6 on the Order Paper.
PAPERS 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Members, which committee handles these matters?
rose
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Yes?
Mr Haruna Iddrissu 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I could indulge you, one would have wished that this referral was to the joint Committee on Poverty Reduction and Finance because what is incorporated in the co-ordinated plan would have future budgetary implications. Therefore, if there is no objection, one would think that it should go to the joint Committee -- It is a suggestion -- instead of just Committee on Poverty Reduction.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Bagbin 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to differ from my Hon Colleague, the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations. Just because it is co-ordinated, it involves so many sectors. In fact, a number of the Chairmen of committees have come requesting to be part of the consideration.
Mr Speaker, this is referred to a special committee on poverty reduction and all Members have the opportunity to attend the meetings. It is just that the Committee is leading and then again, the report would be submitted to the House for debate and we would have the opportunity to improve on it.
So if you have to include the Committee on Finance, then you would have to include Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs; we may have to include Committee on Energy; we may have to include all of these. So, I think your initial referral was the right thing to do and we should stay with that referral.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Members, the Paper is referred to the Committee on Poverty Reduction for consideration and Report.
By the Minister for Finance --
(iii) Fiscal Support Agreement and Security Package Term Sheet
among the Government of the Republic of Ghana, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, ENI and Vitol in respect of the Development of the Sankofa and Gye Nyame Oil and Gas Project.
Referred to the joint Committee on Finance and Mines and Energy.
Hon Members, we go back to Statements --
rose
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Yes -- or should we lay item 6 (b)?
Mr Bagbin 12:05 p.m.
That is so.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Your application was --
Mr Bagbin 12:05 p.m.
My attention has been drawn to the Reports on 6 (b) (i) and (ii) which are ready. So, we can just lay them. The rest are not ready.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, by the Chairman of Finance Committee, item number 6 (b) (i)?
By the Chairman of the Committee --
(i) Report of the Finance Committee on the Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Development Association for an amount equivalent to forty-four million Special Drawing Rights (SDR 44,000,000) [US$68.0 million equivalent] to finance the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Improvement Project.
(ii) Report of the Finance Committee on the Grant Agreement between the Government of the Republic
of Ghana and the International Development Association (acting as administrator of the Health Results Innovation Trust Fund) for an amount of five million United States dollars (US$5,000,000) to finance the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Improvement Project.
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Very well. We go back to Statements.
MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
STATEMENTS 12:15 p.m.
Mr Gabriel K. Essilfie (NDC -- Shama) 12:15 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to make this Statement, congratulating our gallant farmers and fishers on the occasion of the 30th National Farmers' Day, which falls on 5th December, 2014.
Mr Speaker, the National Farmers' Day is celebrated each year on the first Friday of December, to honour our gallant farmers and fishers. The event acknowledges the vital position farmers and fishers occupy in the nation's socioeconomic develop- ment. In particular, it acknowledges the role farmers and fishers play in feeding our growing population, providing raw materials to the nation's industries, and contributing substantially to the nation's foreign exchange earnings.
Mr Speaker, the climax of the celebration of this year's National Farmers' Day is taking place at Sefwi Wiawso in the Western Region on Friday, 5 th December, 2014.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Members, there is another Statement on the same subject matter standing in the name of Hon Anthony Osei-Boakye, Hon Member for Atwima-Nwabiagya South Constituency.

National Farmers' Day -- 2014
Mr Anthony O. Boakye (NPP - Atwima-Nwabiagya South) 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the 30th Farmers Day celebration will take place tomorrow. Friday, 5th of December 2014 at Sefwi-Wiawso, with all its fanfare, as usual. As we are all aware, this important event is celebrated annually in appreciation of our dedicated and hardworking farmers and fishermen throughout the country.
Speaker, it is certainly a joyous occasion to be selected as award winners, but these awardees form just a small percentage of the labour force in the agricultural sector, which is the largest employer of the country and the highest foreign exchange earner, which contributes about 40 per cent of our national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Mr Speaker, that re-enforces the fact that agriculture is the key to the economic transformation of our country, which we so much desire.
Mr Speaker, having emphasised the importance of agriculture to our economic developments, we need not pay lip service to this all important sector any more. The nation has to come to terms with this reality and do everything possible to sustain agriculture.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Hon Members, we will now go to contributions from Hon Members -- two from each side of the House.
Hon Kwame Asafu-Adjei, Member for Nsuta-Kwamang/Beposo submitted a Statement to Mr Speaker but he has decided that he should contribute instead of making a full Statement.

Is he in the Chamber?
Mr Kwame Asafu-Adjei (NPP -- Nsuta-Kwamang/Beposo) 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would also like to congratulate our farmers and fishers for their ability to feed this nation.
Mr Speaker, the National Farmers Day Celebration was instituted in 1985 and on the threshold of Ghana's emergence from precarious droughts of three successive years of forest fires and the return of a million of our countrymen to a patchy and a desolate countryside. Mr Speaker, it would interest you to note that to date, these are over 30,000 award winners.
We ask ourselves what would we do with these award winners in the agriculture development. Mr Speaker, I believe the best way to use these award winners is for all of us -- Government, the private sector, to have tracks of land and also
make available these lands to these award winners so that in localities where they live, they would be able to associate themselves with upcoming or incoming students of agriculture. They would be able in the absence of extension officers, use these award winners as extension officers in providing the necessary advice to up and coming agricultural farmers.
Mr Speaker, it would also interest you to know that this country has really moved from providing award winners with machetes and wellington boots. This, since 2001, Government is now building farmers' houses to the tune of over US$200,000 and the house is built at a location of the farmers own choice. In other words, if a farmer decides to put up a house in Kumasi or Accra, the Government would surely do that.
Mr Speaker, also, I think this is an event which we do not play politics with. In that, the selection is done by professionals through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture -- not everybody can be selected. Professionals from the University of Ghana, Legon and the Ministry are put in place to select the best farmer.
Mr Speaker, for agriculture to move the way we want it, it is about time we put in enough money. What we are putting in currently is not enough for us to be able to reach where we want.
Secondly, one of the areas which is not helping us in agriculture, is the roads. If a farmer produces his foodstuff, and is unable to reach the market -- It is about time that Government put in money or the Ministry for Food and Agriculture and Ministry of Roads and Highways coordinate their activities, so that food would move from the farming centres to the marketing centres, so that those of us
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Member, if you want to contribute, you have the floor.
Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah (NDC -- Ho West) 12:35 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity. I also thank my Hon Colleagues, who contributed and made Statements to commemorate the Farmers Day, which is coming on tomorrow.
Mr Speaker, I believe that most of us are coming from a farming home, and our fathers have been able to support us throughout our education as a result of their peasant farming, which has seen us through to where we are today. Therefore, when an occasion like this comes, it is worth commemorating, and worth commending those who deserve the awards for our Farmers' Day.
We also want to thank the Government for not shirking its responsibility, but for its continuous support for farmers. The 2015 Budget has shown that farming, or agriculture is on the increase or is coming
up, and therefore, we know that any country that has food sufficiency, would develop.
Mr Speaker, there is one thing that I have been thinking about, which all Hon Members or Colleagues should consider. That is, as Members of Parliament, if we can consider investing our ex gratia or our end of service benefits into agriculture, I believe that the 275 -- if it is even a hundred acre of cocoa farm that we all decide to cultivate, we would have 275,000 cocoa farms produced by Members of Parliament, and that would also increase the acreage of cocoa or production of cocoa or any agriculture product in this country.
With these few words, Mr Speaker, we would want to congratulate our gallant farmers.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Yes, Hon Ranking Member for the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, you have the floor.
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto (NPP -- Kwadaso) 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, may I congratulate my two Hon Colleagues, the Chairman of the Committee on Food and Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs for a wonderful statement, and so, do I congratulate my Hon Colleague from Atwima Nwabiagya South for his contribution.
Mr Speaker, tomorrow is Farmers' Day, and that is the essence of these interventions. The point, as the Hon Asafu-Adjei reminded us, the Farmers' Day has been celebrated every year, since 1985. Religiously, every year, we set aside a day to congratulate our farmers. In my view, what is important is not paying this lip service but to entool the farmers to do the work, so that they can make their rightful contribution to the people of this
country, and that is where we are falling short.
Mr Speaker, I would like to remind this House, that the budget that we have just debated is allocating only 1.1 per cent of total GH¢40 billion to agriculture and fisheries. In my view, that is an indictment on agricultural policy in this country. We need to entool and empower our farmers, so that all farmers and fishermen -- so that all these huge imports flooding our country on the landscape of our consumers, would be curtailed.
Mr Speaker, before this administration took over six years ago, our food import bills were less than US$6 million. The President came to us here on February, 25th and confessed that our food import bill had risen to US$1.5 billion. Mr Speaker, US$1.5billion, and I can project that in the next five years, if the trends continue, we would be using almost all our foreign exchange to import food into this country.
It shows one that there is something wrong with the agriculture of this country, and we have to be honest, and not be political about this. That is the reality facing this country, and therefore, we need to put more resources into agriculture. The 1.1 per cent of our total budget, which has gone into fisheries and agriculture, Mr Speaker, is the lowest that this Government, within six years, has allocated. Does it mean a priority for agriculture? No! Not at all.
In fact, if you take account of inflation, the amount allocated for 2015, is far less than what was allocated last year, and it means that resources are actually being taken out of agriculture and fisheries into other sectors, which is a very unfortunate situation. It is not going to help us; it is
just going to aggravate the situation. Mr Speaker, we are talking about promises made.
Last year in the budget, Mr Speaker, I think it is in page 53 of the 2014 Budget, we allocated 180,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers to be imported into this country. We never imported one bag. I ask myself, where is the money which was allocated for the 180,000 metric tonnes? Where is the money because it was part of the Appropriation Bill. So, if the Government did not import one bag of fertiliser into this country, then what happened to the money?
Mr Speaker, it is an issue that we have to use this Farmers' Day to ask the Minister for Finance, who is still in charge of our finances in this country, to ask the President of the Republic, who is still in charge of affairs of this country, what happened to the money which should have gone to the farmers? In the same vein Mr Speaker, I am asking -- the bonuses of three years for cocoa farmers and I calculate --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Member, I believe this is a commemorative Statement, and if you are contributing to it, you need not bring out contentious matters, which are likely to attract points of order and so on. As much as possible, we are celebrating our farmers and our fishermen and we want to encourage them to do more for this country, and that should be the line to tow.
Dr O. A. Akoto 12:35 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your intervention, but I feel passionate about this, that if you bring a Budget to this House for approval and for appropriation, and you have made an allocation for 180,000 metric tonnes -- [Interruption.]
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader, are you up on a point of order?
Mr Bagbin 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, clearly, the contribution being made by my good Friend, the Hon Member of Parliament for Kwadaso is against the rules, because it is provoking debate, and you do not provoke debate when a Statement is made. You comment on the Statement by our rules.
The second point is that, the Hon Member is aware that when there is an appropriation and the item is not utilised, the money, if generated, stays in the Consolidated Fund. So, when he is constantly asking the question: “Where is the money?” We are miseducating and misinforming the public, as if somebody can easily have access to these monies.
But you know that with Government money, there are processes, procedures, approvals and all those things. So, it is creating a wrong impression , and it is our duty as Members of Parliament, to educate the public about these things. But do not ask those questions as if somebody had misappropriated or illegally taken the money. So, when you say; “Where is the money?” If the money was generated, then it would be in the Consolidated Fund.
Dr Akoto 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Leader of the House is somebody I respect, and I take his points.
I will just conclude.
There are two other issues that I would want to raise, which are to do with cocoa farmers. Their bonuses for 2011, 2012 and 2013, up till today, have not been paid. These are issues on the lips of the cocoa farmers as to when they will be paid.
Mr Speaker, in my estimation, it is worth about GH¢100 million. And poor cocoa farmers cannot do without that money. So, in order to add to their celebration, it would be good to get an announcement from the Government when the outstanding bonuses will be paid.
But at the same time, Mr Speaker, our fisher folks -- I am sure many of them voted for them and Hon Essilfie -- are bereft of their basic input, which is premix fuel.
Mr Speaker, I do not come from the coastal area, but any time I have interactions with any group related to fisheries, that is the issue which comes up. It recurs time and again in our newspapers, on television and all over the place. So, that is another area that we need to pay attention to. Give sufficient premix fuel to our fisher folks, especially during the fishing season, from June to October, so that they can fish and give us good protein to eat.
On this note, I would like to congratulate the farmers and fishermen of this country.
Mr Speaker, I am very grateful for your time.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Last contribution. None from the Majority's side? No! Let us take this one.
Yes, Hon Member, you have the floor.
Mr Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng (NPP -- Obuasi West) 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to join my Hon Colleagues in congratulating our farmers for the good work they do for this country.
Tomorrow is an occasion to recognise their effort, and it is, as my Hon Colleagues have indicated early on, an arrangement that has existed for some time.
Mr Speaker, it is important that as we recognise the efforts of our farmers tomorrow, we also examine our own policy consistency relating to farming and our farmers.
The best recognition, Mr Speaker, which we can give our farmers, is to provide them with the support they need in order that they will do for us what they already do and more.
Therefore, when the Government announced in the recent Budget Statement that economic activities and investments in agriculture would decline from 5.3 per cent to 2.9 per cent, I found it very worrying. It is inconsistent with our own determination as a country, to support agriculture and our farmers.
Mr Speaker, if you look at the figures closely, this decline in projection reflects a certain weakness in agriculture generally. The 5.3 per cent growth we registered provisionally in 2014 came mainly from forestry and logging.
We know that when we speak of agriculture, we look primarily at food security for our people. Therefore, when crops declined in 2014 -- and it will decline more in 2015, it tells us that we ought to do more in agriculture.
As we congratulate our farmers, we take the advantage to also tell Government
that they ought to do well. This is because so far, the performance has been unsatisfactory.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Statements.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr A. S. K. Bagbin 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have referred a number of items to committees to consider. We want to adjourn, and give an opportunity to Hon Members to attend committee meetings to be able to report from next week.
With the kind permission of my Hon Colleagues, I beg to move, that this House do adjourn till tomorrow in the forenoon.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Not tomorrow, Monday.
Mr Bagbin 12:35 p.m.
Sorry. Tomorrow is Farmers' Day. On Monday, 8th December,
2014.
I am a farmer.
Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 12:35 p.m.