Debates of 24 Feb 2015

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:10 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Members, we are sorry for the late start. The Table Office had some challenges, and that caused the delay in the start of business for today.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings --
rose
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, you have just communicated some information to us, and I am at a loss. I do not know what the nature of the challenges you are referring to are.
You have indicated to us that --
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
We did not get the Order Papers in good time.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
The delay in the printing of the Order Papers?
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
All right.
Mr Speaker, even though we now have them, we do not have the full complement of the Order Papers.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, it is coming in the form of an Addendum Order Paper. It is part of the challenges I referred to.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Very well.
Mr Speaker, what is the nature and character of the challenge?
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
You know that you cannot question the Chair.[Laughter.]
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 20th February, 2015.
  • [No Correction was made to the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 20th February, 2015.]
    • Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Members, Official Report of Tuesday, 17th February, 2015 for correction.
  • [No correction was made to the Official Report of Tuesday, 17th February, 2015.]
    • Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Members, we also have the Official Report of Wednesday, 18th February, 2015 for correction.

    Hon Members, Question time.

    Hon Members, we start with Question number 262.

    Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration?

    11. 20 a. m.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Bagbin 11:10 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, with your kind leave, I would want to pray that we alter the Order of Business, to lay some Papers, since they are now distributing the Answers to the Questions.
    This is to give space for them to finish distributing the Answers, so that we go to Question time. We should just lay these Papers in this interregnum, and then move to Question time.
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Members, the rules of the House allow us to vary the order of Business, unless somebody has an objection to take.
    Hon Members-- [Pause]-- Standing Order 53 (2):
    “By leave of Mr Speaker the Order of Business set out in the Order Paper may be altered on any particular day.”
    Hon Members, we move to Commencement of Public Business; Presentation of Papers, item number 5.
    Is that correct?
    Mr Bagbin 11:10 a.m.
    Very much so, Mr Speaker.

    I am explaining his absence now. [Laughter.] His Deputy is here, and I am asking for permission for his Deputy to lay the Report on behalf of the Hon Minister for Finance. [Interruption.]

    Where is he?

    Mr Speaker, at the time you called me, the Hon Minister for Finance was not present.
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    That is right.
    Mr Bagbin 11:10 a.m.
    So, I was requesting for permission for the Hon Deputy Minister, who was present, to lay the Paper on his behalf. [Interruptions.]
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, given the fact that the Hon Minister for Finance had entered the Chamber, the Majority Leader should not have just got up to ask permission for the Hon Deputy Minister to lay the Paper on his behalf, not assigning any reason for that enterprise that he wanted to embark on. [Interruptions.]
    Is that what you wanted to do? But you said you wanted to ask permission for him to do that. Simpliciter. But Mr Speaker, I guess we can go on.
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Members, Presentation of Papers; item number 5 (a), by the Hon Minister for Finance.
    Mr Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, while we have not yet entered the arena of Public Business, if there is any Statement, why should we not take it? That is, if there is, instead of just hopping in and out. If there is any Statement, we can take that one first.
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, why are you in a litigating mood this morning?
    Mr Bagbin 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader wants to take over my role. He is not aware of the reasons I have asked of your kind leave to vary the Order of Business for this Paper to be laid.
    We are only laying item 5(a). After that, we would proceed to do the Business as it follows. So please, there is a good reason why we are doing that. You supported me, but now you are raising questions about Statements.
    Mr Kyei- Mensah- Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, with respect to the Chair. First of all, I am not embarking on any litigation. Second, we have not yet entered the arena of Public Business, so I was only asking if there was a Statement, while we were not there yet, we could take it, instead of entering Public Business, and hopping out again --
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    In fact, that is why he made the application under Standing Order 53(2). Actually, it was Question time, and I invited the Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. There upon, the Hon Majority Leader made the application, which you did not object to, and we moved to that item.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
    Well, Mr Speaker, already, we have started a bit late, so I guess we would not want to further prolong this matter.
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Very well.
    Presentation of Papers, 5 (a).
    PAPERS 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Are we laying item 5(b)?
    Hon Majority Leader, once we have Presentation of Papers, are we laying 5(b)?
    Mr Bagbin 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, no.
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Very well.
    Mr Bagbin 11:10 a.m.
    We would now move back to Question time. I see that they have finished with the distribution of the Answers, so we can take the Questions now.
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Members, the first Question on the Order Paper, Question number 262 stands in the name of the Hon Member for Jaman South.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Member, do you have a Point of Order?
    Mr Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am a bit baffled by what is done in respect of item number 5(a) -- Presentation of Papers.
    The Annual Report of the Public Procurement Authority is supposed to be for each year. So, I was expecting to hear; “Annual Reports of the Public Procurement Authority for the years 2012 and 2013.”
    But Mr Speaker, it is “Annual Report”, and it is in respect of the years 2012 and 2013. So, I wanted to know whether it is Report or Reports, and if it is one Report, what explains it?
    If it is Reports also, what explains it? This is because it is supposed to be yearly.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, if they are calling it a “Report”, it would not be correct. The law requires that each year, a Report should be brought on the year. The fact is that --
    Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Members, please, we are laying a Report.
    When the Committee meet, these are matters to be handled at the Committee level, then when you bring your Report and you have taken notice of it against the backdrop of the enabling legislation, then you could come to the floor and we would debate it.
    So, the Paper has been laid, I have referred it to the appropriate Committee for consideration and Report. When the Report comes, then we can go into these matters.
    Question number 262, Hon Member for Jaman South.
    ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:30 a.m.
    MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 11:30 a.m.
    AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION 11:30 a.m.
    Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (Ms Hannah S. Tetteh) 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to give a bit of background to this Question and I think it would help with the Answer.
    a. The actual incident that occurred
    A group of West African nationals, including some forty (40) Ghanaians, departed the shores of Senegal on 22nd July, 2005 and landed on the shores of The Gambia on the morning of 23rd July, 2005. There was no ship waiting to transport the group to Europe from The Gambian waters as they had expected, so members of the group were made to believe by the organisers of the trip that the whole arrangement was a scam perpetrated on the unsuspecting travellers by one Captain Taylor (nationality unknown) and Lamine Tunkara, a Gambian National. The passengers were subsequently murdered in mysterious circumstances.
    b.Discussions with The Gambian Government on compensation
    A joint UN/ECOWAS Fact-finding Team indicated that, Ghana's delegation took the decision to accept the entirety of the Report on the grounds that the findings, conclusions and recommenda- tions of the Report were consistent with the principles of justice, international law and human rights norms. Due conside- ration was also given to the urgent need to bring succour to families of the deceased and the disappeared as well as the restoration of Ghana's traditional and historical relations with The Gambia.
    On its part, The Gambia side welcomed the Report to the extent that it had established that the Government of The Gambia was not responsible for the deaths and disappearance of the West African nationals who were found on its territory and that the plethora of reports in the media on the incident lacked credibility. The Gambian side, however, questioned the capacity of the panel that made the conclusions and recommendations that were arrived at and submitted that the panel had acted outside its mandate.
    Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (Ms Hannah S. Tetteh) 11:30 a.m.


    c. The amount finally provided

    The Government of The Gambia finally paid a total amount of five hundred thousand US dollars (US$ 500,000.00) for the organisation of the funerals, burial of the victims and payment of some compensation to families of the victims of this unfortunate incident. The breakdown of expenditure, following a process of verification and identification of next of kin and subsequent payment of compensation is as follows:

    a) US$500,000.00 @ GH¢1.401 =

    GH¢ 700, 500.

    b) Funeral expenses and compensa- tion = GH¢ 420,330. This amount included GH¢270,000 paid to 27 beneficiaries @ GH¢10,000 each.

    d.Claimants/ Family members of deceased Ghanaians who received compensation and amount paid

    From the records that we have at the Ministry, according to a Memo sent to Cabinet by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on 16th August, 2010, forty-four (44) family members of the deceased, the missing and presumed

    dead, and two (2) survivors appeared before the Committee for screening. In undertaking the screening exercise, the Committee considered evidence adduced by the claimants in furtherance of their attempt to establish family connections and other ties with the victims.

    e. Process of verification of claims for compensation

    Provision was made for 31 people but only 27 people were identified and verified for payment on 10th December, 2010. Meanwhile,

    Two (2) unidentified and

    Two (2) claims not verified

    f. Payment made to Government of Ghana Chest

    A total amount of GH¢280,170 was returned to Government chest.
    Mr Yaw Afful 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, since the Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration had provided us with the background of the payment of this GH¢ 500,000.00, I have in my hand an itemised expenditure that was given to us in 2011. I would like to quickly read that to the hearing of Hon Members:
    SPACE FOR ANNEX II - PAGE 3 - 11.30 A.M.
    I believe that is how we arrived at the
    GH¢ 420,329.00
    Looking at the Hon Minister's Answer, on (F) she did indicate here that GH¢280,170 has been returned to Government chest.
    Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
    Hon Member, I think I have given you enough time to lay foundation. What is your question?
    Mr Afful 11:30 a.m.
    My question is, this money, we all know was meant for burial and compensation to the victims of those killed in The Gambia. The last time the Hon Minister came here, we were told 30 people had been identified and paid GH¢10,000. So, if additional family members have not popped up, why then did the Ministry put the money in Government chest, instead of giving it to the thirty (30) individuals that had already been identified.
    SPACE FOR ANNEX II CONT - PAGE 3 - 11.30 A.M.
    Ms Tetteh 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member referred to the Hansard of 10th November, 2011, when my predecessor, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni was answering Questions on this matter and indeed, in the breakdown that he just read out, it indicated that, payments had been made to 27 persons and payment to three persons was pending. This is because, the claimants and their relations needed to be verified. I am informed that their relationship to the deceased could not be verified, hence no payments were made to those additional three persons.
    Mr Speaker, yes, the money, to the best of my knowledge, and based on the records available at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, was meant to be paid as compensation and also to take care of the expenses associated with the burial of the deceased persons.
    There was some lack of clarity about the numbers that were actually involved. The United Nations (UN) investigation established that there were about 60 West African nationals and that also is reflected in the Answer that was previously given by Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, who were unfortunately, killed in The Gambia and were the passengers on this tr ip. Previously, there had been some disparity in the public discussion on the numbers. There had been two survivors of this incident who had come to give evidence and suggested that indeed, there had been forty-four Ghanaians.
    But when it came to the actual establishment of how many Ghanaians there were, we actually received eight bodies in Ghana and so we had an issue, where there were those who we knew were dead, six who we could identify, and two who we could not identify. There were those presumed dead, there were those who had disappeared and there were
    those who had survived. So, provision had to be made to take care of those claims that could be ascertained.

    Mr Speaker, like all monies that are paid to the Government of Ghana, they are kept within what we generally refer to as Government chest. We acknowledge that there is this amount outstanding that is available for the payment of any further claims. So, it is not the case that the money is lost because we have indicated that, not all the monies were paid and this is a specific amount that was returned to chest.
    Mr Afful 11:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, per the Hon Minister's Answer, I do not think we would ever have a closure to this killing in The Gambia. I strongly disagree with the Hon Minister's Answer number (F) here; that is, returning this cash to Government chest. I believe this money needs to be repatriated to the thirty (30) individuals that were identified.
    My Question to the Hon Minister is, will she consider getting the cash from Government chest and give it back to the thirty individuals who have already been identified here?
    Some Hon Members 11:40 a.m.
    Coach.
    Ms Tetteh 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to assure my Hon Colleagues that I do not need anybody to teach me my job as a Foreign Minister. However, on the specific question that was raised by the
    Hon Member, whether indeed, we should make this money available to the beneficiaries that we positively identified -- Their number is not thirty, they were twenty-seven (27) that were positively identified -- And perhaps, the two persons who were the survivors of the incident.
    Mr Speaker, it is something that we can review and take advice on. Indeed, if after a reasonable period of time, there are no new claimants, then, in order to end to the matter, it is something that we are open to consider.
    Thank you.
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    You last supplementary question.
    Mr Afful 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe when this incident happened, our Friends on the other side of the House, I believe at that time, were on our side here. They claimed at that time that, those slaughtered were more than the number indicated here. The Hon Minister has been at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration for about two years, has she satisfied herself that the number of people that were killed in The Gambia were actually eighty and not forty-four as said by most of our Hon Colleagues on her side.
    Ms Tetteh 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not think that was the Question the Hon Member asked, neither do I think that it is directly connected. However, my response to it is as follows; This matter was investigated by a Joint UN/ECOWAS team, and based on the facts that they established, we took certain positions. I have no reason or information to contradict the Report that I have received. As of today, it is on the basis of the Report of that fact-finding team that we have taken all subsequent decisions.
    Mr Isaac Osei 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in this hallowed place, the President, then Hon John Mahama, Ranking Member for Foreign Affairs, asked a Question. With your kind permission, I beg to quote from Hansard of 2nd March, 2007, column 1029. It states:
    “I would like to ask the Hon Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD what the value of a Ghanaian life is, and whether he puts warm diplomatic relations with Gambia higher than the lives of forty-four of our citizens murdered extra- judicially?”
    Then, he went on to say that you can take it to ECOWAS, the African Human Rights Court and so on and so forth.
    Only last week, His Excellency the President was wining and dining with President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Gambia.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to know from our Hon Minister whether His Excellency the President puts “the warm diplomatic relations” with The Gambia higher than the 44 Ghanaians he said had been murdered, and whether as ECOWAS President, he has taken this matter up.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Bagbin 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker -- [Interruptions]
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Order! Order!
    Mr Bagbin 11:40 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    The Question that has been posed for the Hon Minister to respond to is:
    “To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration whether the funeral donation/ compensations received from the Gambian Government in respect of the Ghanaians killed in Gambia in 2005 has been fully disbursed”.
    Mr Speaker, the Question is very clear and that is what the Hon Minister has responded to. It is talking about donations and whether they have been paid.
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon Members, if you disregard the Chair, I will evoke the rules of the House. At least, a Leader is on the floor of the House. Let us listen to him.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Bagbin 11:40 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for reminding my Hon Colleagues that this is a House of order. [Interruptions.]
    Mr Speaker, I will encourage you to start naming Members -- [Interruption.] I will mention your name now -- [Laughter]-- to lay the grounds for Mr Speaker to name you and by the Standing Orders, I will move the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, the supplementary question being posed now is outside the ambit of the Question that has been posed. Apart from that, Mr Speaker, the question was prologued with a lot of statements that have nothing to do with the substantive Question.
    Mr Speaker, I am happy he ended up with that statement, by saying that the President acted in his position as the President of ECOWAS. So, Mr Speaker, this supplementary question should not be allowed; it is not proper and it is outside the ambit and that should not be permitted.
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
    11. 50 a.m.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I agree with the Hon Majority Leader that this indeed is a House of order. Equally so, should it be construed as a House of rules, and that there are rules and procedures that bind us in the conduct of our business.
    Mr Speaker, the Standing Orders are clear. Order 69 states 11:40 a.m.
    “As soon as a Question is answered in the House any Member beginning with the Member who asked the Question may, without notice, ask a supplementary Question for the further elucidation of any matter of fact regarding which the answer has been given, but a supplementary Question must not be used to introduce matter not included in the Original Question”.
    Mr Speaker, the original Question includes Ghanaians killed in The Gambia and the Answer of the Hon Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration relates to that. So, if a question ensues and the Hon Member asks, what number of Ghanaians were concerned, how can anybody say that it is outside the ambit of the Question?
    Mr Speaker, that is the gravamen of the matter? The question that is being posed by the Hon Member for Subin relates to the number of Ghanaians killed, as simple as that. It cannot be outside the confines of the Question posed.
    He says that whereas the Hon Minister says it relates to forty Ghanaians, the current President, in his earlier life as the Hon Ranking Member on Foreign Affairs, insisted that the number was forty-four. He was talking about reconciliation of the figures. How can the Hon Majority Leader say that it is outside the ambit of the Question?
    Mr Speaker, it is spot-on and with respect, the Chair would not have any cause to rule this matter out of order.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Bagbin 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague has fortified my objection. Even if the question is about the number that has already been responded to by the Hon Minister, clearly the Hon Minister has stated the number and referred to the Report that established the number.

    Mr Speaker, I thought that my Hon Colleague, the Minority Leader, clearly stated that, this is also a House of rules. This is a House of rules. When he was putting across his case, I was quiet and I was listening to him. Now, I am responding to him, and he is heckling and

    pointing fingers and shouting. He wants to outshout me -- [Laughter] -- It is my turn, not his.

    Mr Speaker, I insist and I want to urge you that you disallow this supplementary question.
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon Member for Subin, ask your question again.
    Mr Isaac Osei 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker --
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon Member, go straight and ask the question.
    Mr Isaac Osei 11:40 a.m.
    Yes, I would certainly do that. I said in the Hansard of 2nd March, 2007, column 1029, President Mahama, then Hon John Mahama, Hon Ranking Member for the Committee on Foreign Affairs asked this Question of the Committee:
    “I would like to ask the Hon Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and New Partnership for Africa's Develop- ment (NEPAD), what the value of a Ghanaian life is; and whether he puts warm diplomatic relations with the Gambia higher than the lives of forty-four of our citizens murdered extra-judicially?”
    Mr Speaker, I further said that, Hon John Mahama said that, you could take to Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU) and to the AU Human Righ ts Commission --
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    I want to get your question so that I can make a ruling if the need be. So, Hon Member for Subin, let me get the question.
    Mr Isaac Osei 11:40 a.m.
    Furthermore, I said that, the President is now Head of ECOWAS and he himself said that we could take it to ECOWAS so, I would want to know whether he places the lives of the forty- four Ghanaians, who he said had died or had been murdered higher than the warm diplomatic relations that we have.
    Also, Mr Speaker, three numbers have been mentioned; forty-four, thirty and eight. So, the import of the question is, whether the President wining and dining with The Gambian President, he is putting the lives of Ghanaians lower than our diplomatic relations with --
    Mr Speaker, also, I do not think that the Hon Majority Leader should stop the Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, one of the best Ministers that we have, from answering this simple Question.
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon Members, I have listened to the objection raised by the Hon Majority Leader and the response from the Hon Minority Leader. Indeed, that is why I gave the chance to the Hon Member to ask the Question again. The issue that he raised is with regard to the value of the lives of Ghanaians.
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon Member for Dormaa Central, last person --
    Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu 11:40 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker. In the Hon Minister's Answer, she stated that a total amount of
    GH¢280,170.00 was returned to Government chest.
    Mr Speaker, over the last several months, the Consolidated Account of Ghana has shown deficit cash balances in our balance sheet, meaning Ghana is in the “red” for the past several months. Mr Speaker --
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon Member, what report are you referring to?
    Mr Agyeman-Manu 11:40 a.m.
    I am referring to the Report on the Financial Statement of the Public Accounts on the Consolidated Fund of the Republic of Ghana --
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon Member, have you reported to the House on that Report?
    Mr Agyeman-Manu 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker --
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Please, have you reported to the House on that Report?
    Mr Agyeman-Manu 11:40 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, for your information, this Report has never been referred by yourself to the Committee. This is a Public Accounts that is published by the Controller and Accountant-General on monthly basis. By privilege, I received a copy, it is given to several other people in this country. So, it is a public document.
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon Member, I am sorry, I have not seen that Report. Hon Member, please --
    Mr Agyeman-Manu 11:40 a.m.
    The thing is in deficit so, I want to find out, if people pop up tomorrow morning, how she would pay them.
    Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
    Hon Member for Dormaa Central, the Hon Minister, in answering the Question, says that she is responding to questions based on official record in
    her Ministry. That report has not been prepared by the Hon Minister, therefore, the Hon Minister cannot answer a question and be held responsible for a Report that she has not prepared.
    There are other tools available for you to pursue that matter as to who should be held responsible for the Report that you are referring to. The truth of the matter is that, she is answering Question for which she is responsible and she is basing the Answer on the records available to her and she clarified that. She is not the author of that Report.
    Hon Members, if the Leadership has any questions, on this matter they should ask.
    Hon Member for Suame and Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
    Mr Speaker, in the Answer of the Hon Minister, she sets off by telling us that some 40 Ghanaians who departed the shores of Senegal landed on the shores of The Gambia. So, she relates to a specific figure; 40 Ghanaians. In between the two paragraphs, thus A and B, the Hon Minister inserted a sentence which is not on the Order Paper. She said to us that:
    “The passengers were sub- sequently murdered in mysterious circumstances.”
    In other words, all the 40 passengers -- You have said some 40 Ghanaians so the 40 -- The Hon Majority Leader should remove the beam in his eyes when he talks about heckling.
    Mr Speaker noon
    Hon Majority Leader, do you have a point of order?
    Mr Bagbin noon
    Yes, Mr Speaker, I have a point of order.
    The Hon Member for Suame; and suame means carry me. So, I was trying to carry him by drawing his attention to the Answer which says;
    “A group of West African nationals, including some forty (40) Ghanaians…”
    “Including”, so the total of the group is not 40 but more than 40. So he should not be stating that it is 40 because we drew his attention to the fact that it was more than 40, it was the whole team that was murdered.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
    Mr Speaker, I do not know whether the Hon Member for Nadowli/Kaleo was listening to me. I said that in between the two paragraphs, the Hon Minister having stated that the number included some 40 Ghanaians, then inserted a sentence in between paragraphs A and B that “the passengers were subsequently murdered in mysterious circumstances.”
    So, who were murdered in mysterious circumstances? The group, including the 40 Ghanaians? So, I do not know what is giving cause for this, if he was indeed, listening to what I was saying.
    Now, the Hon Minister in paragraph C, then relates to 45 family members of the deceaseds, the missing and presumed dead and the two survivors who appeared before the team for screening. In the penultimate paragraph, she now tells us that provision was made for 31 people but only 27 were identified and verified.
    Having made the categorical statement that 40 Ghanaians were murdered, why do you tell us that you made provision for
    31?
    Mr Speaker noon
    Hon Minister, why not 40 but 31?
    Ms Tetteh noon
    Thank you very much. Mr Speaker. The paragraph that the Hon Minority Leader was referring to regarding 45 family members being screened is actually paragraph D and not paragraph C. He quoted C?
    But let me respond to the issue. At the time that this incident occurred, there was lack of clarity on the numbers. It was alleged that 44 Ghanaians had been murdered. Indeed, the Question that was referred to in the earlier Hansard of 2007, referred to that number.
    Subsequently, we had a joint United Nations (UN)/Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Investigation. That joint UN/ECOWAS investigation established that perhaps there were about 60 people who were on that vessel. Of the 60 people, it was presumed, based on the evidence again that was adduced before that fact-finding mission, that about 40 of them were likely to have been Ghanaians.
    I am saying that because this investigation took place some years after the incident actually occurred. Therefore, the whole point of establishing the facts of the matter and being able to establish what happened, took place a long time after the event.
    When it came to the repatriation of bodies, we actually had eight bodies sent back to Ghana who were identified as Ghanaians. Out of the eight, we could only specifically establish the identities of six.
    Notwithstanding, we had about 45 people who had put in claims that they had relatives who were among the deceased. And based on the accounts that were provided by the Ghanaian survivors, it was presumed that even if you have not been able to identify and recover bodies, there may have been a greater number who you would presume dead.
    So, based on the possible facts and information available, there was positive identification of 27 persons in respect of whom compensation claims were paid even though initially provision had been made for a larger number. The three who were also being verified could not be positively verified as relatives of the deceased and so the committee at the time ended up not paying them any money at all.
    Mr Speaker, I agree that there is some lack of clarity on the numbers but from the records available and form the best investigation we had, which was done by an impartial body id est the UN/ECOWAS joint team, these are the facts that they had established. That was what we had to work with and it is on that basis that payments were made.
    So, I appreciate the fact that there are difficulties about differences in the number but as I stated earlier, we had to deal with the information that was obtained from the investigation because that is the best information we have as to what actually happened in this matter.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, even the number 27 that is given by the Hon Minister in respect of paragraph E, “Process of verification of claims for compensation”. Now, the antecedent of that paragraph is in paragraph D where she talks about 45 family members of the deceased, the missing and presumed dead who appeared before the committee for screening. I would want to believe that the screening is what yielded the verification.
    So we are not talking about verification of the deceased. The 27 does not relate to the people dead but to the families, that is what she meant.
    Mr Speaker, can the Hon Minister confirm or deny what I am saying because that is the face value.
    Ms Tetteh 12:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have a list here of the names of the victims whose bodies were actually repatriated and also those who were presumed dead. This list is also reproduced in the Official Report of 10 th November, 2011 which was previously provided to this House by my predecessor, Hon Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni. It is the same document that I am referring to. It is available in the records of this House, the Official Report of 10th November, 2011.
    Mr Speaker, in that list, there were 31 Ghanaians -- Well, there were as a matter of fact, 29 Ghanaians identified by name who were among the dead or presumed dead. There is also over here note of two unidentified bodies because I did inform the House in my earlier Answer that eight bodies were returned; but of those eight bodies, we were not able to identify two.
    So, of the 29 people who were actually listed as dead or deceased, we were able to confirm that 27 of their relatives -- So 27 out of this number were able to go through the process of vetting, established that they were claimants who were to be paid on behalf of the deceased. And if you look at the Official Report of the 10th of November, 2011, it also gives the names of those who received the payments in respect of those deceased persons.
    I can give the list to the Hon Minority Leader if he has -- [Interruption.] No, look at the previous page.
    Hon Minority Leader, if you look at the page I was referring to; item number 24, they have put in a column there “Two unidentified deceased Ghanaians”; that is number 24 so for that, we do not have the names. But for all the others in the first column, names of victims, you would see that there are names of Ghanaians and
    besides them they got the classification either “deceased” or “presumed dead” and it is in respect of those persons that the compensation was paid.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister is a very experienced Diplomat and she knows that in diplomacy and in such cases, once you are not able to retrieve the bodies, the account to provide is that they are missing. But she has made a categorical statement that they were murdered in mysterious circum- stances yet, in the same breath, she is saying that she has no reason to doubt the conclusions of the committee. So, on what premise is she able to make the categorical statement that the 40 people were mysteriously murdered?
    Mr Speaker 12:10 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister?
    Ms Tetteh 12:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in my previous answer, and indeed, in the paragraph (b) column, I referred to a UN/ECOWAS Fact Finding Report. I did not table the Report. However, that Report gave the indication that there were a number of West African nationals, including possibly 40 Ghanaians who were murdered in mysterious circumstances.
    It is on that basis that we have a list of people who we asked for in respect of six of whom we actually received bodies and in respect of the others, we received indication that they were among that group and they were presumed dead. It is on that basis that I am making this statement, Hon Minority Leader. If you want to continue to belabour the point, we can do so but the fact still remains that there were a number of Ghanaians who were murdered in mysterious circumstances.
    We had an independent international body to conduct an investigation and on the basis of that investigation, it was established that the people died.
    Notwithstanding the fact that the people had died in mysterious circum- stances which presumes that indeed, they were murdered, we had a situation where
    Ms Tetteh 12:10 p.m.


    we identified a number of Ghanaians and based on that, claims of compensation were made and they were paid.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, I do not intend to belabour the point as the Hon Minister wants to suggest.
    Mr Speaker, I am just quoting her own words because in that report, they said the people were presumed dead and today, she has stated the same language that they were presumed dead. Now, if compensation had been paid to people who were presumed dead, I have no worry at all about that. But I am just going on the path of her own indication to us that some people were dead, their bodies were flown in and identified. The rest were presumed dead. To the extent that they have not yet been accounted for, she is presuming them to be dead; that is all right.
    But then she goes on to make a categorical statement that they were murdered in mysterious circumstances when there is no proof and she herself has alluded to the fact that she has no reason to doubt the report. This is my only worry and I am asking how she reconciles the two statements. As to whether they paid compensation or not, that is not my worry at all.
    Ms Tetteh 12:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the report of the UN/ECOWAS Fact Finding Team established that a number of Ghanaians died in circumstances that certainly did not indicate that there was any legality to their death. [Interruption.]
    Are you not waiting for the answer to your question? Mr Speaker, he ought to sit down and wait for the answer to his question.
    Mr Speaker 12:10 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, you cannot leave the Chamber at this point.
    Ms Tetteh 12:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the report indicated that there were approximately 40 Ghanaians who were on that trip. It also indicated that these people died under circumstances which suggested that indeed, the way in which their lives ended was not lawful and so I have referred to that as murder.
    We were only able to recover, years after the event, in 2010, an event that took place in 2005 eight bodies of which we identified six of them. As far as the others are concerned, because we were not able to retrieve the bodies in view of the accounts that were heard by the fact - finding team and the report they received, we presumed that they were dead. On that basis, we made payments to the next of kins.
    Mr Speaker, that is the response to the question.
    Mr Speaker 12:10 p.m.
    Hon Minister, we thank you very much for attending upon the House to respond to Questions from Hon Members.
    You are discharged.
    Question number 297; Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr Agbesi 12:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we would want to ask permission for the Hon Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection to answer the Questions on behalf of the Hon Minister who is out of the jurisdiction.
    Mr Speaker 12:10 p.m.
    Hon Member for Okere, and Hon Minority Chief Whip?
    Mr Botwe 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have no objections to that.
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister? -- [Pause.]
    Yes?
    MINISTRY OF GENDER, CHILDREN 12:20 p.m.
    AND SOCIAL PROTECTION 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Nyindam 12:20 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker. Will the Ministry gladly furnish me or the House with the names and the amounts for beneficiaries in the four mentioned communities? If yes, when and if no, why? [Pause.]
    Mr Ackon 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe the beneficiary households and the amounts paid per the 34th cycle is what I have just mentioned and with your kind permission I would repeat; Jam Kwanta -- 59 households -- [Interruption] -- All right, Mr Speaker, then I would furnish him with the list of beneficiaries -- he wants specific names of the beneficiaries which can also be produced at the appropriate time.
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    But Hon Member, if it is true that your District is benefitting from it, then your Question is problematic. He said he would furnish you with the information. Hon Deputy Minister, would you furnish him with the information? -- [Interruption.] Yes?
    Mr Nyindam 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, for proper monitoring and evaluation, I would want to find out from the Ministry the steps they are taking to inform Hon Members of Parliament in the disbursement of these resources?
    Mr Ackon 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much. Apart from the Committee, what we have done at the Ministry is to furnish every Hon Member of Parliament with the cycle of payment so that they would be abreast with it and monitor it.
    We have been doing this -- [Interruption] -- We have been sending letters to the various pigeon holes to inform Hon Members of Parliament of the payments we do, but we need to follow up. The last one was done just last month.
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Hon Members, let us move to the next Question.
    Question number 357 -- Ayawaso Central.
    Hon Ignatius Baffour Awuah -- rose --
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Yes?
    Mr Awuah 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have a small supplementary question.
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Very well. Go ahead.
    Mr Awuah 12:20 p.m.
    In the introduction to the Hon Deputy Minister's Answer, under (ii), he says that one of the objectives of the LEAP programme is and with your kind permission I beg to quote:
    (ii) To increase access to healthcare services among children below 5 years of age, the aged (65 years and above without productive capacity) and people with severe disability;
    Mr Speaker, I would want to know how they provide this healthcare because I also do know that these group of persons are exempted from payment of health insurance premium. So, are they not duplicating what the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is also doing?
    Mr Ackon 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, exactly so.

    Yes, we ensure that they are fully registered.
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Hon Members, the last Question stands in the name of the Hon Member for Ayawaso Central.
    Disbursement towards the LEAP programme
    (2013-2014 Financial Year)
    Q.357. Mr Henry Quartey asked the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection how much was the total sum of
    money being disbursed towards the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme during the 2013 - 2014 financial year.
    Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister?
    Mr Ackon 12:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in January this year, a total of six million, seven hundred and fourteen thousand, six hundred and sixty-six GH¢6,714,666.00) Ghana Cedis was paid to LEAP beneficiaries in the 34th cycle payments across the country. Eighty-eight thousand, nine hundred and thirty two GH¢88,932) beneficiary households were paid.
    The amount, Mr. Speaker, also included four months arrears of 11,926 new beneficiary households which were added and paid in January, 2015.
    Mr Speaker, in the 35th cycle (March, 2015) payments will be made to 90,785 beneficiaries. A total amount of GH¢5,554,992.00 will be disbursed.
    The projected breakdown for the rest of the payments for 2015 is as follows:
    May payments -- GH¢5,554,992.00 to 90,785 beneficiary households.
    July payments -- GH¢9,874,992 to 150,785 beneficiary households
    September payments -- GH¢9,874,992 to 150,785 beneficiary households
    November payments -- GH¢9,874,992 to an estimated 150,785 beneficiary households
    Mr Speaker, the total estimated amount payable this year is GH¢47,449,626.00. This amount will be spent only if the estimated number of beneficiaries targeted are
    Mr Ackon 12:20 p.m.


    registered. This total amount excludes a possible increase in grant to households that may come as a result of negotiations currently underway with the Ministry of Finance. An average of GH¢36 per beneficiary household per month was used to calculate the grant for the new additions in 2015.
    Mr Quartey 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Answer of the Hon Deputy Minister, he stated and with your permission let me quote the figure; “that they have paid an amount of GH¢6,714,666.00 and hopefully, by the end of March, 2015 they would have paid an additional GH¢5,554,992.00”. Mr Speaker, it means that all things being equal, by March, 2015, they would have paid an amount of GH¢12,269,658.00
    Mr Speaker, may I find out from the Hon Deputy Minister whether this amount was captured in their 2014 Budget Estimates and whether it was approved by Parliament? If not, how, where and who is approving this amount of money being disbursed?
    Mr Ackon 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the earlier Budget of 2014 and thereafter, it was placed under the Ministry's budget as Goods and Services. But we protested, so eventually, it is being operated under the Ministry of Finance. So, it is not directly under our budget now.
    Mr Quartey 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, may I respectfully find out from the Hon Deputy Minister whether his Department or Ministry has regional offices across the country, which are well equipped and resourced with trained personnel? Do they have data of, if you like, the destitutes or the poor and needy in this country?
    Mr Ackon 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, under the Ministry, it is operated by the Department of Social Welfare. Every District has a Social Welfare Office. In terms of capacity building, they have all been brought up substantially to be able to execute that mandate. But beyond that, they also operate with committees at the community level and that is how we operate. They are well resourced to be able to deliver on their mandate.
    Mr Quartey 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in a series of meetings that we had with the Hon Minister, she had said categorically that, they do not have enough computers and software to be able to determine how many destitutes are in this country.
    I would want to find out from the Hon Deputy Minister, knowing very well that most Members of Parliament in this House have no idea in their respective constituencies who actually are benefiting from this exercise, knowing very well that the street naming exercise is still ongoing, how were they able to identify these people and by which criteria are they disbursing these amounts of money?
    Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Hon Member, the criteria has been answered in the first Question; Question 297. The Hon Deputy Minister gave out the criteria based upon which people qualify for LEAP. So, the answer is already there.
    Mr Quartey 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rephrase my question. There was a criteria --
    Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    I would implore you to ask your last supplementary question.
    Mr Quartey 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to know the criteria; if the Hon Deputy Minister or his substantive Minister could furnish this House with the names of all the beneficiaries of this exercise.
    Mr Ackon 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, every social welfare office has total records of all that we do in the various Districts, and if you contact them, they would supply you with the targeted beneficiaries. So, it is actually available.
    Mr Quartey 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I seek your guidance to let the Hon Deputy Minister supply this House with the names of the beneficiar ies of the exercise. [Interruption.]
    Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Hon Member, I do not have any objection to what you are asking, but the volume of the papers that would be used. So, if you go to the Social Welfare Department and you do not have the information, let my office know and I would give the necessary directive through the Clerk to Parliament.
    Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Hon Member for Tarkwa- Nsuaem; last person.
    Mrs Gifty E. Kusi 12:30 p.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker.
    In the Hon Deputy Minister's Answer, he said in the last paragraph that and with your kind permission, I beg to quote:
    “the amount would be spent only if the estimated number of beneficiaries targeted are regis- tered”.
    I would want to find out whether they have any problems with the registration exercise because a lot of people want it. Is it that people are not coming? I do not understand.
    Mr Ackon 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the process is such that after getting the report from the Ghana Living Standard Survey of the Ghana Statistical Service, after the enumeration of the communities so targeted, it goes through what is called the Proxy Mean Test (PMT) and from that
    perspective some qualify and some do not. We have targeted, but as to why subjecting them to the test they would all go through, we cannot tell. But continuously, we shall be doing it till we reach our target.
    Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Whip?
    Mr Ignatius B. Awuah 12:30 p.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, Hon Henry Quartey's Question wanted to know the disbursements which were made in 2013 and 2014.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister, in his Answer did not relate to 2013 and 2014, but mentioned some disbursements that were made in January 2015.
    I would just want to know from him whether no disbursements were made in the said years.
    Mr Ackon 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, disbursements were made. The January payment is the last cycle payment of 2014. Indeed, disbursements were made for that year. If you want the production, we could follow up on that one.
    Mr Awuah 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I just want to know from the Hon Deputy Minister if, indeed, disbursements were made. This was the crux of the Question; why were the figures not provided?
    Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister?
    Mr Ackon 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, disbursements were made throughout the whole year and indeed, the interesting thing is that we are up to date with all payments.
    Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister, make that information available because they are talking about 2013 and 2014.
    Mr Ackon 12:30 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. It would be done.
    Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Very well.
    Mr Awuah 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am asking this because, from the answer provided for --
    Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    I have made the order that they should make that information available.
    Mr Awuah 12:30 p.m.
    All right, Mr Speaker.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Yes?
    Mr Nitiwul 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am glad that you made the order that -- The Question that the Hon Member asked has not been answered.
    Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    That is what we have just sorted out.
    Mr Nitiwul 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, even with what he brought, I would want to find out why the disparities in the figures? This is because in the first Answer, he said that GH¢ 6,714,666.00 was paid to 88,932 LEAP beneficiaries. That would give each beneficiary just GH¢75.50 in simple arithmetic terms.
    Then for payments in May, it is GH¢61 which is lower than the GH¢75.50. Therefore, payments in July was GH¢65.40 which is also a bit higher than the payments in May. Why are there disparities?
    Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister the last question on this matter.
    Mr Ackon 12:40 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
    You are going to experience this if you do straight division and averaging. The criteria are three. Generally, for the payment terms, we pay for one household of 24, if there are two in the household, it is 30, if it is three, it is 36, and four and above, it is 45. So, it will depend on the number registered in the household whether they are four, three or two in the household. So, depending on those differences, you would get those averages. If the four is more, it is likely you would go higher, but if the one is more, it will be lower, so that one would happen. It depends on the number of cases in the household.
    Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister, we thank you very much -- [Interruption.]
    First Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.
    MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister is walking away. Can he come back [Interruption.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Pardon me? I thought Mr Speaker had discharged him.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, can you call him back? He is hurrying away, can you call him back?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Order! Order!
    Hon Members, I was here and I heard the Rt Hon Speaker discharged him.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, no! The Rt Hon Speaker thanked him. He did not discharge him.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister, the Hon Minority Leader would like to ask you one question and I would want to give him the opportunity to do so.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you very much.
    But I guess the Hon Deputy Minister would have to be told that, if he is not discharged, even if he is thanked he cannot leave the seat. But the question --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Bagbin 12:41 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker. Just to set the record straight. I have no problem with your ruling, I cannot challenge your ruling but just for the records. After thanking the Hon Deputy Minister, the Rt Hon Speaker discharged him. The official records would show that he was discharged [Interruption.]
    Have you seen him yourself? I heard him.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Very well; Hon Majority Leader, thank you.
    Hon Minority Leader, you can ask your question.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, sometimes the Hon Majority Leader elevates himself to another realm, so he heard it. Most Hon Members did not hear the discharge sentence, but I will go on.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister in relating to the schedule of releases for 2015 indicates to us that the 35th cycle, that is March 2015, payments would be made to 90, 785 beneficiaries. That is what he said.
    But then he goes further down to tell us the breakdown and indicates to us that it is rather May. Which is which? Is it May or March?
    Mr Ackon 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, for the purpose of explaining, in the cycle of six times in a year, which is done every two years and which is a cycle per every two months, what it means is that the one for November and December have been paid in January. Payment in January and February would be made in March, March and April would be paid in May and that is the sequence I have actually explained on the Order Paper. That is the effect.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, how many households are going to benefit from the 2015 payments?
    Mr Ackon 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if you look at what we have done, there is a targeted number of beneficiaries and the first one given is to beneficiaries as of now. And we did say there was some addition because we are targeting more households to come on it. Now, when we target and you go through the proxy means test and you qualify, it implies we would add on.
    So, our target is about 150, 000 for the middle of this year and we want to get that one. But if we go through the test and we do not get them, we would increase the number that qualified.
    So, if you look at the best scenario of 150,766 for November payments, we are expecting that we would be able to roll on the numbers which would take us to 150, 000 households. So, the maximum for December, if we get it, November would be 150.000 households. Now, we wanted to go to 100,000 but we were able to get 88,932 as stated here.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, how much at the end of the day is intended to be paid to such beneficiaries?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Very well. Hon Minority Leader, this would be your last question.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am talking about cumulatively and the Hon Majority Leader says that it is in the Answer. It is not there that is why I am asking him.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister, please, answer the question.
    Mr Ackon 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as has been explained, the categories are three. And unless you put all together, the value is there. What it means is that, if for the whole year, somebody with a single household is a beneficiary it will be 24 multiplied by 12, if there are two in the household, it would be 30 multiplied by

    Mr Speaker, I do not really get it.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, these are livelihood support programmes for households which are really down the ladder and you want to lift them up to a certain level. That is why I am asking that cumulatively, over one year, how much is intended to be paid?
    Mr Ackon 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Having gone through the various categories of a single household to four or more, what we have done is that the average of that will equal GH¢36.00 per month and average of all that put together.

    Total beneficiaries is what has been stated there; 88,932 for the total households. We are targeting 150,000 eventually and for the payment, we have to lift single household and multiply current 24 by 12 to get the year. That is what we need to arrive at, so we have to categorise them into single, double, triple and above so that we can get each one -- [Interruption]-- Exactly. About 36 on the average if you put all together. We want to get 44 which we are now talking about. [Interruption.]

    Putting all together it is 36 on the average.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I asked the question because, he said 36 but on the average, it equals to about 32 per month. And the average household size in Ghana is about four. Does he believe that lifting them up, GH¢36.00 is adequate to lift up four people per month? GH¢32.00 per month for four people in a household?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minister?
    Mr Ackon 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, rightly so. I am not saying it is adequate, but what I am saying is that the Hon Member's concern is right and it is such that a household is supposed to be four but not all households benefit from the four categories. In any case, the highest per four in the household would be 45. But for all you may know, a normal household may get one person in one of the categories. So, that is the picture.
    We are trying to go to 44 on the average but we are also very well concerned. If we are all together and say that we should go more than that, we would advance that. But for now, that is where we are.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon Deputy Minister for attending upon this House. You are discharged. Now, you are discharged. [Laughter.]
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, I think the order of proceedings by the Order Paper was revised, so we would now move to Statements.
    Mr Agbesi 12:50 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Hon Members, there is one Statement which stands in the name of Hon Richard M. Quashigah, Member of Parliament for Keta Constituency.
    STATEMENTS 12:50 p.m.
    Mr Richard M. Quashigah (NDC-- Keta) 12:50 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity given me to make this Statement in commemoration of the 49th Anniversary of the Overthrow of the Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, which falls today, Tuesday, 4th February, 2015.
    Mr Speaker, today, marks exactly 49 years since the overthrow of a true leader, a liberator, the first President of the Republic of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. This act was perpetrated by a group of military and police men led by key figures such as then Col E.K. Kotoka, Maj. A. A. Afrifa and Inspector-General of Police, Mr J.W.K. Harlley. The files of the US Central Intelligence Agency declassified in 1999 showed that the USA had been trying to influence people to overthrow President Kwame Nkrumah since 1964.
    Mr Speaker, according to declassified files of the CIA, these men received adequate support from the CIA of the USA. This was because, Dr Kwame Nkrumah's Government posed a great threat to the United States and her interests, due to the strong socialist leaning of the Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah in the heat of the Cold War.
    Mr Speaker, the emergence of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah onto the political scene in the Gold Coast reenergised the fight against colonialism. Thus his appearance and subsequent leadership positions within the major political forces in the country namely, United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), and later the Convention Peoples' Party (CPP) at that time brought immerse and sustained pressure onto the British colonial powers leading to the granting of internal self-government and independence in 1954 and 1957 respectively.
    Mr Richard M. Quashigah (NDC-- Keta) 12:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Ghana under the Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah saw unprecedented progress both domestic and international.

    On the political front, Mr Speaker, he began the move to give assistance in diverse ways to dismantle colonial rule in Africa, advocated Pan-Africanism, to fight neo­colonialism on the continent. He was the architect of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). He became a symbol of hope and emancipa- tion for blacks and all oppressed peoples everywhere in the world and many others.

    He also demonstrated strong support to the United National Organisation (UNO) and Non-Aligned Movement.

    Mr Speaker, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah in his quest to promote economic development, embarked on major infrastructure projects as toolss to accelerate the economic development and growth of our dear Motherland. He built factories and industries in Ghana, the Tema City Harbour, new roads and expanded the Civil Service. Again, he believed that development is promoted and sustained through a secured, sustained and available source of power.

    This conviction became his driving force to construct the Akosombo Dam to provide electricity for industrial activities both for Ghana and the neighbouring States.

    Mr Speaker, he was a man of full commitment to the wellbeing of the masses. This he confirmed when his Government took over multinational corporations in the Ghanaian economy, through nationalisation policies leading to the

    creation of more jobs in the economy and increased wages. He set-up the main Ghana Shipping Line -- The Black Star Line to cater for the import and export needs of the country.

    Socially, Mr Speaker, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah was a man with strong commitment to providing social amenities to improve the lives of Ghanaians. It was in this direction that his Government constructed a number of new hospitals and pipe-borne water extended to many communities.

    Mr Speaker, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah believed in education as an instrument to enhance socio-economic development. This he did by maintaining the colonial educational structures geared towards European degrees and values. He introduced free basic education for all children in Ghana by abolishing school fees at this level.

    He expanded education by building more schools to increase enrolment in Teacher Training Colleges to train teachers as well as several secondary schools which today, we refer to as high schools. Mr Speaker, the overthrow of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah on the 24th February, 1966 was received differently both within and outside Ghana.

    According to those who un­supported the 1966 Coup, dictatorship, economic mismanagement, shortage of essential commodities, pre-occupation with Pan- African Affairs, suppression of liberties and freedoms of individuals as well disregard of traditional institutions were the main reasons that occasioned the February, 24th 1966 Coup.

    Mr Speaker, achievements of the Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah are still evident in the country as they continue to be the fulcrum around which current development drives revolve.

    Mr Speaker, in recognition of the above, the late President John Evans Atta Mills -- May his soul rest in peace, instituted the Founder's Day in honour of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah to be observed on every 21st September in appreciation and recognition of his contributions to Ghana and the world at large, especially the African continent before his overthrow.

    Mr Speaker, I pray that this august House takes necessary steps to give legal backing to the Founder 's Day to be captured in the National Holiday Act.

    Mr Speaker major national and international institutions in appreciation of the roles played by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah in promoting world peace and freedom have also honoured him.

    Mr Speaker, it was in this light that Dr Kwame Nkrumah became an international symbol of freedom, as the leader of the first black African country south of sahara to shake off the chains of colonial rule. In the year 2000, BBC Africa Service listeners voted him the African of the Millennium.

    Mr Speaker, in this vein, a statue was erected in the premises of the Africa Union Complex in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, in honour of this illustrious son of Ghana.

    Mr Speaker, on this, note, l call on all Ghanaians to reflect on the ideas and contributions of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah to see how best we all can come together to help build a better Mother Ghana.

    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Thank you very much.
    Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu (NPP-- Bekwai) 1 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity and I congratulate my Brother, the Hon Member for Keta for his eloquent Statement.
    Mr Speaker, it is true that the first President of the Republic of Ghana Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah had many strengths as a leader. He did so much in his time. Indeed, as an anti-colonial agitator and freedom fighter, so to speak, he was excellent. He exhibited excellent leadership and clearly defined his vision: “Self-government now”; such a clear and eloquent definition of what he wanted.
    That is what leadership is all about; identifying your vision and moving towards it.
    Mr Speaker, Ghana achieved independence eventually, of course, not without the contributions of his predecessors, the people who had predated him; those who had invited him into the country and those who had actually employed and paid him, until he eventually broke away from the UGCC and formed the CPP. And with the CPP, won the election to become the President of the country. He also did a lot of infrastructural work as eloquently demonstrated by the Hon Member who made the Statement.
    Mr Speaker, unlike some people, I would never say that the first President gave Ghana only a flag, an Anthem and Independence. He did a lot of infrastructural work and a lot of good to this country.
    However, in the course of achieving all these, that are identified as strengths,
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Hon Member, are you up on a Point of Order?
    Mr Baffour 1 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker. When we are contributing to a Statement, we are not supposed to say things that are debatable. That is what he is doing. He is making a lot of debatable allusions.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Hon Member, could you restrict yourself? This is because this is a Commemorative Statement and we do not want to get it degenerating into a debate.
    Mr Osei-Owusu 1 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Friend has not pointed out any one statement which he wishes I withdraw. But all I am saying is that, there is evidence on record that during the presidency of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, constitu- tionalism, which means restraint of State power of the person who holds it was put in abeyance and that the State power was used unrestrainably to deal with dissents and so on.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to conclude by saying that, the late Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah had done so much for the country, in the course of Indepen- dence, at the very beginning of his presidency but by the time he exited, regrettably he had virtually become a dysfunctional leader. Let us learn from the good things he left for this country but let us also remind ourselves of the mistakes that led to his demise and avoid falling into that same pit.
    I thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Thank you very much. Anymore contributions?
    Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP -- Nsawam-Adoagyiri) 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. Just to say a few words in identifying with the Hon Member who made the Statement.
    Mr Speaker, Dr Nkrumah was an illustrious son of the continent. He blazed the trail towards the achievement of independence. He ensured that Ghana stood tall among the Comity of Nations, and Ghana became admirable in the sub- region.
    Mr Speaker, on occasions like this, I am careful as to what I should say about Kwame Nkrumah but respectively, I regret a few things though. Dr Nkrumah spoke about empowering the Ghanaian and the African, for that matter. To this end, he started the free education enterprise in the Northern Region. One would have thought that governance is a continuous process and in this time, we would have even done better than Dr Nkrumah did and envisaged.
    This is because, then Dr Nkrumah did not have the opportunity of getting revenue from oil. But what do we see now?
    Free education has become a mirage. Back then, Dr Kwame Nkrumah was very confident and ensured that it was started, and he blazed the trail.
    So, as we celebrate Dr Nkrumah, there are a number of things that I think we are unable to do or support and ensure that these things are done. These things I regret, notably the motorway.
    Mr Speaker, look at the nature of the motorway. It is regrettable that more than 50 years down the lane, the legacies of

    Kwame Nkrumah, the relics of Kwame Nkrumah are left in the shadows.

    So, as we celebrate Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah with passion, as how the Hon Member delivered this Statement, it is important that governments that have come and gone bow their heads in shame, because the things that Dr Kwame Nkrumah stood for, we have not been able to support them enough.

    Dr Kwame Nkrumah talked about our ability to add value to raw materials produced in Ghana. Today, what do we see? There is an unbridled export of raw materials of our country to the developed countries. There is a certain passion with which State enterprises are being sold. So indeed, if we wish to celebrate Dr Kwame Nkrumah and his achievements, it is important that we reflect on the achievements of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and follow his good works.

    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank the Hon Member who made the Statement and I thank you for the opportunity.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Thank you very much. Can I hear Hon Fritz Baffour?
    Mr Fritz Frederic Baffour (NDC-- Ablekuma South) 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Statement ably made by the Hon Member of Parliament for Keta.
    Mr Speaker, it has been a long debate since the overthrow of Dr Kwame Nkrumah on 24 February, 1966 as to his impact on Ghana and his legacy. All my Hon Colleagues who have contributed have spoken about the immeasurable work that he did in this country, raising the living standards, the quality of life for people who had been under the yoke of colonialism for hundreds of years.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Thank you very much.
    Hon Baidoe-Ansah?
    Mr Joe Baidoe-Ansah (NPP-- Kwesimintsim) 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is very important that we discuss Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and his role in the development of this country.
    Mr Speaker, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah was a great man who helped to get our country through independence and also started the development effort that any Ghanaian Head of State has ever started. In fact, he was the pioneer Head of State.
    Mr Speaker, it is unfortunate that his end came the way it did. Mr Speaker, it is unfortunate that the constitutional effort was overthrown, but did Ghanaians learn anything from the overthrow of Dr Kwame Nkrumah?
    It looks like we did not. In fact, another constitutional Government in 1981 was overthrown by Ghanaians. Ghanaians hailed it. We did not learn anything from it.
    In 1972, they did the same; we hailed it. And it has continued till this day. Mr Speaker, I hope that with this Statement and with the understanding that it was wrong for Dr Kwame Nkrumah to be overthrown, all those who contributed and did not learn from the overthrow of Dr Kwame Nkrumah would be ashamed for not learning anything from the overthrow of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I am done.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Thank you very much.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
    Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul (NPP-- Bimbilla) 1:20 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I am glad that my Hon Colleague
    made this Statement. I guess the rationale is to let the people know that what happened on February 24, 1966 and by extension 1972, 1979 and 1981 were not good and should never happen again, and that they were mistakes. I guess that is the rationale why he made this Statement, because I cannot understand why we as citizens would think that one is good, the other is bad.
    I believe that all coup d'états are bad. But we have a system where half of this House is sitting here because of what happened in 1981. That is the truth. We now have a whole political party emerging out of what happened, from a coup d'état.
    So, we must be really careful as a nation where our priorities lie. That is the truth. I believe that what is not good for Peter is not good for Paul; and what is good for Peter is good for Paul.
    Mr Speaker, I would have been very happy if my Hon Friend quoted the speech made by Lt Gen. Emmanuel Kwashie Kotoka on that fateful day. I did not even know until I heard it being played today on a radio station, when he said, “I have taken over the reins of this nation”.
    I did not know that he was the leader of the coup d'etat. This is because they always say that it was led by Colonel Albert Kwesi Ocran, Maj. A. A. Afrifa, Lt Gen. Joseph Ankrah, Inspector -General of Police J.W. K Harlley, Mr Anthony Deku and Lt Gen. E. K. Kotoka.
    This is because I had not been taught in history; I did not look at that history lesson. But it was today that I got to know that the real leader was Lt Gen. Kotoka.
    Mr Speaker, I am not sure the airport was named after him because of that; it was because of his death. But would Dr Kwame Nkrumah be happy that the airport was named after Lt Gen. Kotoka? We have a Convention Peoples' Party
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan, are you up on a point of order?
    Dr A. Y. Alhassan 1:20 p.m.
    Yes.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Some Hon Members 1:20 p.m.
    How?
    Dr A. Y. Alhassan 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not think the political party emerging out of a coup d'etat is a statement of fact, it is not a statement of fact. So Mr Speaker, the Hon Member should withdraw it. No political party has emerged out of a coup d'etat.
    Mr Nitiwul 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I say -- and I stand by that fact -- that without Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings staging the coup d'etat of 1981, removing Dr Hilla Limann
    from Government and forming his own party, there would not be National Democratic Congress (NDC) -- [Uproar.] -- This is because NDC came out of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) -- [Uproar] -- Go and check your constitution.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Order! Order!
    Mr Nitiwul 1:20 p.m.
    Go and check your own constitution -- [Uproar] -- It is the truth -- [Uproar.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Members, order! -- [Uproar]
    Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader, you have the floor.
    Mr Agbesi 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker -- [Uproar.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, you have the floor. Proceed.
    Mr Agbesi 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, a nice Statement has been made -- [Interruption]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Members, can we have some order?
    Mr Agbesi 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, a Statement has been made bringing to our attention the important role Dr Kwame Nkrumah played in this country. It is for us as citizens to glorify him and stick to what the Statement has called us to do.
    Mr Speaker, a statement has been made by the Hon Deputy Minority Leader, which has been challenged. I believe that it is for us to go strictly according to what has been said in the Statement. The Hon Member said that no political party has been formed out of a coup d'etat. That is the challenge. I believe that for us to move forward, we should just accept that. That
    is not the position and I appeal to my Hon Colleague just to take the point and maybe, withdraw that aspect, so that the House can move on.
    Mr Speaker, he has not produced any evidence on this floor that shows that a political party has emerged out of a coup d'etat. On this note, I would ask my Hon Colleague to take it on board --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
    Mr Nitiwul 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, unless the Hon Member is telling me that the NDC was not formed out of the PNDC. This is because the PNDC was formed out of a coup d'etat -- [Uproar] -- Unless the Hon Member -- [Interruption.] I do not know why you would want to run away from your history -- [Uproar.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Order! Order!
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
    Mr Nitiwul 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I said, I am very clear in my mind that if I read the history of the NDC, their manifesto and constitution, it will be very clear that it was formed out of the PNDC, which existed because of the coup d'etat -- [Uproar] -- Unless that is not -- If he said it is not a fact, I will withdraw -- [Uproar.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, let us not move into any arena of debate. I believe the Statement that was made by the Hon Member for Keta was meant to celebrate the late Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. I do not think we should veer into areas where we are likely
    to get the whole thing degenerating into debate.
    So, as much as possible, Hon Deputy Minority Leader, I would want you to move away from the area that would move us into debate.
    Mr Nitiwul 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Hon Member for bringing out the positives of Dr Kwame Nkrumah. I learnt so much in school as a young boy about Dr Kwame Nkrumah and I am happy.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, the area which has generated debate is the area where you alleged that a particular political party has emerged out of a coup d'etat. That is the area of contention; that a political party in this country has emerged out of a coup d'etat -- [Uproar.]
    Mr Nitiwul 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thought you asked me to move on and I have done so. But if you have brought me back, I would want the Hon Member and the NDC to tell the people of Ghana whether they did emerge from the PNDC or not. If they did not, then I would move on; if they are saying they did not emerge -- This is because I was concluding and you said, no -- [Interruption.]
    Mr Agbesi 1:20 p.m.
    We said, no.
    Mr Nitiwul 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if they did not emerge from the PNDC, they should let us know -- [Uproar.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Order! Order!
    Mr Nitiwul 1:20 p.m.
    I moved on, Mr Speaker, but you have brought me back.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Yes, I brought you back because of the debatable issue that you raised. So, if you are not prepared to withdraw, then we would bring the whole proceedings to an end. It is a debatable issue.
    Mr Nitiwul 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if what I stated is not factual, I withdraw it. But if it is a debatable issue, as you said, and I should move on, I have moved on --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Very well.
    Once you have withdrawn, we are all right. Let us move on. Conclude your statement.
    Mr Nitiwul 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I said that -- [Uproar.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon Members, it has been withdrawn, what is your problem?
    An Hon Member 1:20 p.m.
    He has not withdrawn.
    Mr Nitiwul 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I said that the NDC emerged from the PNDC which was formed out of a coup d'etat -- [Uproar] -- If it is not a fact, Mr Speaker, then you can make your ruling.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    It is debatable and that is why I have asked you to withdraw.
    Mr Nitiwul 1:20 p.m.
    Should I withdraw because it is debatable?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Yes.
    Hon Member, we are dealing with a Ceremonial Statement and as far as it is concerned our rules do not allow for debate, and for this reason, I am asking you to withdraw.
    Mr Nitiwul 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I respect the Chair, so I take it out.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Very well. Thank you very much.
    Mr Nitiwul 1:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as a people, we must be very careful. As I said, if our principle is “A”, then it should be “A”. If our principle is “B” today, it must continue to be “B”. If we are condemning a coup d'état today, tomorrow, we must continue to condemn all coup d'états.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Thank you, Hon Member, for your contribution.

    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, where do we stand?
    Mr Alfred Kwame Agbesi 1:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker - - [Interruption]
    The Business for the day, Mr Speaker, includes some items which are not ready to be taken. So I beg to move, that the House adjourns till tomorrow, Wednesday, 25th February, 2015 at 10.00 in the forenoon.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Very well.
    Any seconder?

    Order! Order! Can we have some order?
    Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 1:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    I thought that we did not have time and that was why we closed that interesting debate. I beg to second the Motion.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Very well.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    ADJOURNMENT 1:30 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 1.35 p.m. till Wednesday, 25th February, 2015 at 10.00 a.m.