Debates of 25 Feb 2015

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Members, Question time.
We would start with the Urgent Question standing in the name of the Hon Member for Bekwai.
The Hon Minister for Transport is here to respond to your Questions.
Hon Member for Bekwai, you have the floor.
URGENT QUESTION 11 a.m.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT 11 a.m.
Minister for Transport (Mrs Dzifa A. Attivor) 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in 2009, the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, zoned the country into six (6) and assigned the following six (6) private companies to remove disabled vehicles on the highways within their zones to minimise the incidence of related- road crashes:
i. Ruttchen Trucks Ghana Limited, Accra-Accra-Kumasi-Sunyani Highway and adjoining links
ii. Traffic Management Signs and System Limited Accra -- Accra- Winneba- Cape Coast-Takoradi- Elubo road corr idor and adjoining links
iii. Sarkozy Limited, Accra -- Accra- Tema-Ho, Hohoe, Jasikan, Aflao road corridors and adjoining links
iv. Abu and Serwaa Katakyie Limited - - Techiman-Kintampo-Tamale- Bolgatanga road corridor and adjoining links
v. Umarib Ghana Limited, Accra -- Tamale-Bolgatanga-Navrongo, Bolgatanga-Bawku road corridors and adjoining links
vi . Day and Nigh t Towing Company Limited -- Kumasi- Techiman, Kumasi- Obuasi road corridors and adjoining links
Mr Speaker, these companies commenced operation using a system where they towed disabled vehicles on “service on call” or, in some cases, compulsorily towed disabled and abandoned vehicles and surcharged the owners of the vehicles with the cost of the towing. They were subsequently joined by the Road Safety Management Services Limited which operated nationwide.
Mr Speaker, the towing companies complained of difficulty in collecting the cost of towing from vehicle owners. In some cases, vehicles towed to police stations are picked up by owners with no record of payment. Other vehicle owners also complained of high cost of towing. These made it difficult for the companies to recoup their investments and pay their workers, leading to the withdrawal of their services.
However, Regulations 102 and 105 of Road Traffic Regulations L.I. 2180 have provided for the registration of service providers for commercial towing services and payment of a levy known as “Road Safety Fees” annual ly by vehicle owners to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). As per the Regulations, 85 per cent of the fund shal l be uti l ised to pay for towing services and other road safety-related works.
Mr Speaker, the “Road Safety Fees” have been approved by Parliament.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Minister, the practice of the House is that, you send responses to Questions and those are the Answers that are printed on the Order Paper. I am getting signals and you are entitled to amend your Answers but you must let the House know while responding to the Question. I am getting signals and I do not want to -- [Pause.] Very well, it is an Urgent Question.
Hon Minister, you are right, continue.
Mrs Attivor 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the “Road Safety Fees” have been approved by Parliament. Considering, however, that the service is capital intensive, the NRSC is working with a Transaction Adviser to package it as a Public-Private- Partnership (PPP) Project. The Tran- saction Adviser is expected to complete the assignment by 30th June, 2015.
The ultimate objective is to ensure a sustainable operation of towing services in the country, backed by effective regulation and payment systems. The project will be subjected to existing procurement and PPP procedures for engaging the private sector and is expected to be completed by 1 s t September, 2015.
Mr Speaker, in the interim, the NRSC has met the leadership of eight (8) major towing companies in the country; comprising the seven companies mentioned above and Global Haulage Company Limited, to discuss the project comprehensively, but most importantly, interim measures have been put in place to prevent related road crashes. The meeting concluded that the companies should continue to provide the “service on call” to remove disabled vehicles or other dangers and use the Police Administration system to collect the charges from the vehicle owners.
Mr Osei-Owusu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, at the very concluding part of the Hon Minister's Answer, she says that, towing companies would use the Police Administration system to recover service charges. May I know whether she intends to jettison Regulations 103 to 107 which regulate the use and payment for towing services as provided by this House?
Mrs Attivor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the implementation of the project was very daunting, that was why we decided to engage the services of a Transaction Adviser (TA). In the interim, we would want to make sure that our roads are safe. We do not intend to violate the Regulations that have been passed by this august House but we need to ensure that our roads continue to be safe until the TA completes its work.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member for Bekwai, supplementary question.
Mr Osei-Owusu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not know whether you understood the answer.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, that is why you have supplementary question. That is why I have called you to ask your supplementary question.
Mr Osei-Owusu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the laws were passed by this House with the active participation of the Ministry -- the Regulations -- What are her plans to implement the Regulations? That is why the first Question was “What plans do you have to roll out the implementation”? I would still want to be further informed, Mr Speaker. What is the programme of action by the Ministry to ensure that towing companies are registered under the Act; fees are paid under the Act and vehicles that are disabled are promptly removed from the public roads?
Mrs Attivor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in my first submission, I mentioned the engagement of the services of a TA to see us through the implementation procedure. The TA is supposed to complete the assignment by 30th June, 2015 and by 1st September, 2015, we should be able to roll out the plans for the removal of disabled vehicles.
Mr Osei-Owusu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am aware that Road Safety Management Services Limited is one such company which, according to the Answer provided
for the next Question, is supposed to have nationwide operation.
Mr Speaker, I travel round the country frequently; I enjoy driving. Mr Speaker, I have not seen any one of those listed here as operating anywhere. I would like to find out from the Hon Minister, how she is ensuring that vehicles that are disabled today are removed; to assure me of my safety as I travel at odd hours -- mornings and late at night.
Mrs Attivor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is true that the Road Safety Management Services Limited is part of the companies that have been mandated to provide the services. But as I have already indicated, because of the payment challenges, they have decided to withdraw their services. I am aware that, Traffic Management Signs and Systems Limited, Sarkozy Limited and Abu and Serwaa Katakyie Limited are still providing services of towing of disabled vehicles.
Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, how does the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) owe the Road Safety Management Services Limited? The Hon Minister said because of resource challenges, they have withdrawn their services. How much do you owe them?
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
It is not the Ministry -- Anything, Hon Minister?
Mrs Attivor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as per the Regulation, 85 per cent of the fund shall be utilised in paying for towing services and other road safety-related works. We were still going through the process of approval so, the Road Safety Manage- ment Services Limited were working on “service on call.” I think they were not able to collect their charges so they withdrew their service.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, the Hon Minister's Answer to the Question posed by Hon Osei-Owusu --
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, we are not on that Question. We are on the Urgent Question even though I admit that there is a relationship. But because one was admitted earlier and this one was an urgent one, that is why there is a problem. Ask a question on the Answer provided so far by the Hon Minister.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister mentioned seven companies. I wish to know what motivated the choice of these companies and not any other companies.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Please, what do you mean by ‘motivation'? Are you talking about the criterion used? Is that what you are asking?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:10 a.m.
Rightly, so-- the criterion.
Mrs Attivor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the companies were selected by the implementing agency. I do not know the criterion that they used. I can check and let him know later.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Last question. Hon Member for Dome/ Kwabenya?
Ms Sarah A. Safo 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, if she does not know the criteria, would she be kind enough to tell this House whether these companies were selected based on the Procurement Act?
Mrs Attivor 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I indicated earlier that I would check with the National Road Safety Commission and provide the details.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I kindly wish to provide the answer to the last question.

NRSC went through the procurement process through the tender process to get the companies that are doing the towing services.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Members, let us move to the next Question. Question numbered 276.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:20 a.m.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT 11:20 a.m.
Minister for Transport (Mrs Dzifa A. Attivor) 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, currently, seven (7) companies are on the service providers list of the NRSC for towing of disabled vehicles from the highways and other public roads.
These companies include:
i. Ruttchen Trucks Ghana Limited:
Operational Area: Accra-Kumasi- Sunyani road and adjoining links
ii. Traffic Management Signs and System (TMS&S) Limited:
Operational Area: Accra -Winneba- Cape Coast-Takoradi-Elubo road corridor and adjoining links.
iii. Sarkozy Limited:
Operational Area: Accra-Ho, Hohoe, Jasikan, Aflao road corridors and adjoining links.
Minister for Transport (Mrs Dzifa A. Attivor) 11:20 a.m.


iv. Abu and Serwaa Katakyie Limited:

Operational Area: Techiman- Kintampo-Tamale-Bolgatanga road corridors and adjoining links.

v. Umarib Ghana Limited:

Operational Area: Tamale- Bolgatanga- Navrongo, Bolgatanga-Bawku road corridors and adjoining links.

vi. Day And Night Towing Company Limited:

Operational Area: Kumasi-Techiman -Kumasi-Obuasi road corridors and adjoining links.

vii. Road Safety Management Service Limited:

Operational Area: Nationwide

The companies tow disabled vehicles from the road to the nearest police station and surcharge the owners of the vehicles with the cost of the towing.

But as indicated in my other response, the companies are facing challenges in the collection of service charge. Hence, the appeal to them to continue with their services until the new arrangements for payment from the ‘Road Safety Fees' is completed.
Mr O. B. Amoah 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister in her Answer, the last paragraph, said that the new arrangement for payment from the Road Safety Fees would be completed. Can she tell the House what the new arrangements for the payment of Road Safety Fees are?
Mrs Attivor 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I indicated earlier, we are working with the Transaction Adviser to help us implement the towing services. The Road Safety Fee
is incorporated in the Regulations, that is 85 per cent for payment for towing and other related road user fees.
Mr O. B. Amoah 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, the Hon Minister has not provided the Answer I demanded. This is because she is saying new arrangements for payments are being made. We would want to know the new arrangements.
In the Answer she has provided, she has not given us the new arrangement they are making for the payment of the Road Safety Fees.
Going on, can the Hon Minister tell this House why the approved Road Safety Fees which have been collected by virtue of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2206, 2013 have not been disbursed? Because this House passed L.I. 2206 -- Fees and Charges Instrument in 2013 for all road users; vehicles, bicycles and motorbikes to pay a certain amount of fees based on the vehicle to be disbursed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the Road Safety Commission. Can the Hon Minister tell this House why this has not been done and why the money has not been disbursed?
Mrs Attivor 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, there were implementing challenges so we have engaged a TA. When the work is completed, we would effect the provisions in the Regulation.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Member, your last supplementary question.
Mr O. B. Amoah 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister whether the Government has made any investment in the towing services and if so, in this respect, how much has Government put in?
Mrs Attivor 11:20 a.m.
Government has not invested in the services of the towing of vehicles. As I have already indicated, we are working with the TA to give us the modalities, after which we would see our way clear.
Dr Matthew O. Prempeh 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, is the Hon Minister for Transport telling this august House that, what her Ministry proposed through the Ministry of Finance to come and collect specific fees for specific purposes, it had not been done? If it had not been done, why had it not been done?
The responsibility lies with her Ministry so why had it not been done and why has she not reported to Parliament that the money she has collected on behalf of Ghana has not been utilised? Parliament did not pass the L. I. on Fees and Charges for a TA to decide after Parliament has decided. What work did you do to bring those Fees and Charges -- Mr Speaker, that is the issue.
Mrs Attivor 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we were having implementation challenges and it was the Ministry of Finance that directed that we should use the services of the TA.
Prof. George Y. Gyan Baffour 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Minister how much has been collected up to this point, and where is that money?
Mrs Attivor 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, no money has been collected.
Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover: Respectfully, Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Minister if she is comfortable with the performance of these towing companies. Their performance has become death traps and further congestion on our roads. The disabled vehicles are kept for more than a day or two, creating further congestion and accidents.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Member, you are soliciting her opinion and it is against the rules of the House. However, I would allow you to rephrase your Question.
Mr Titus-Glover 11:20 a.m.
Thank you very much. Hon Minister, how do you evaluate the performance of these towing companies on our roads?
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Your Question again.
Mr Titus-Glover 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am asking the Hon Minister how she evaluates the performance of these towing companies on our roads.
Mrs Attivor 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the National Road Safety Commission has a monitoring and evaluation section and I believe that is the reason we have come to the conclusion that we are having implemen- tation challenges, for which matter we have to engage the TA to help us.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Members, let us move to the next Question.
Question numbered 364, Hon Member for Keta?
Keta Beach Landing Site (construction)
Q364. Mr Richard Quashigah asked the Minister for Transport when construction of the Keta Beach Landing Site would begin.
Mrs Attivor 11:30 a.m.
The development of the Keta Fish/Beach Landing Site is part of 11 fishing landing sites planned for execution under the CDB Facility by the Central Government.
However, because of the current challenges of accessing the CDB facility, we are exploring alternative funding sources for development of these landing sites, including the Keta Fish/Beach Landing Site.
Mr Quashigah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to find out from the Hon Minister if it is possible to know these alternate funding sources she raised.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
We would move to the next question. Question numbered 365, standing in the name of the Hon Member for Okaikoi Central.
Ghana's Domestic Air Carriers
Q. 365. Mr Patrick Y. Boamah asked the Minister for Transport whether Ghana's domestic air carriers were air worthy in terms of international aviation standards.
Mrs Attivor 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, aviation standards in Ghana are not different from the world standards as Ghana is a signatory to the Chicago Convention. Standards in Ghana are, therefore, in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO's) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).
The Ghana Civil Aviation Regulations (GCARs), including the one that covers Airworthiness of Aircraft (L.I. 2000) were all derived out of the ICAO SARPs.
Qualified Ghana Civil Aviation Safety Inspectors are trained in international institutions and amongst other foreign Inspectors. Therefore they abide by international best practices in carrying out their duties.
Mr Speaker, the Authority prepares an annual inspection programme which covers the oversight of the continuing airworthiness status of Ghana registered aircraft.
Also, unplanned inspections, that is, ramp inspections, station facility inspections, et cetera, are carried out throughout the year which covers the air worthiness status of Ghana registered aircrafts.
All major maintenance checks on Ghana registered aircrafts which contribute to their air worthiness status are carried out in foreign countries. These Maintenance Organizations (AMOs) are approved by the foreign Civil Aviation Authorities and validated by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority. Therefore maintenance works are also carried out to international standards.
Mr Boamah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, how frequent do the inspectors check on our domestic air crafts to ensure that the operators have complied with their maintenance schedules.
Mrs Attivor 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I have already indicated, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, which is in charge of the safety of our air worthiness, prepares annual inspection programmes which are used for air craft inspection.
Mr Boamah 11:30 a.m.
Hon Minister, is there any -- [Interruption.]
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Member, please address the Chair.
Mr Boamah 11:30 a.m.
Very well.
Mr Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister whether there is any age limit on aircrafts operating within our domestic flying zones.
Mrs Attivor 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not sure the age of an aircraft determines its air worthiness. It depends on the frequent safety standards they go through. There is no age limit.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Member, your last supplementary question.
Mr Boamah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to refer the Hon Minister to the Business and Financial Times newspaper dated Monday, 3rd November, 2014, the Acting Deputy Director-General -- Technical issues of the Ghana Civil Aviation said this and with your kind Permission I beg to quote:
“We want to look at what's happening in other jurisdictions. Nigeria for example has a cap of 18 years and below. If an aircraft is over 18 years in Nigeria, it won't get an operating certificate”.
That is the statement made by Mr Martey Boye Atoklo, Acting Deputy Technical Director-General. Can you furnish this House with the report on the incident that happened on Starbow and Antrak?
Thank you.
Mr Bagbin 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Question that has been posed for the Hon Minister, is to ask the Minister for Transport whether Ghana's domestic air carriers are air worthy in terms of international aviation standards or not? That is a general question.
Now, if my Hon Colleague wants to ask a question on Starbow specifically, he is entitled to do so and the Hon Minister will get the appropriate answer. But as at now, this supplementary question is not a “supplementary” question but a substantive question, and I think it is out of order and should not be allowed.
Mr Dan Botwe 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the question is about domestic air carriers and to the best of my knowledge Starbow is a domestic air carrier. I have been very surprised that in preparing to answer this question, there was not any attempt to assess domestic air carriers because it is about the safety of domestic air carriers. If we are talking about specific carriers, questions could have been asked about any of the carriers in the country.
It is up to the Hon Minister to say that Parliament should give her time to furnish the House with an answer. It certainly cannot be a wrong question to ask.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Members, there are rules governing supplementary questions.
Yesterday, our attention was drawn to Standing Order 69:
(1) ……a supplementary Question must not be used to introduce matter not included in the Original Question”.
He was talking about the incident with Starbow. As I sit here, I do not know what incident it is about, whether it relates to air worthiness or not. If the Hon Member wants to rephrase the question, I would allow him. He is a young Member of Parliament (MP). I would listen to it and I may admit it -- otherwise, we would divert attention and go to all the domestic airlines operating in Ghana. Once we open the window for Starbow, the next one would be on another airline.
Mr Boamah 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for your direction.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know if the Hon Minister is satisfied with other airlines operating within the domestic airspace?
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
It is an opinion Hon Members. the Hon Member is soliciting the opinion of the Hon Minister, and the rules of the House will not allow it. Let us look at the rules.
Hon Member, your last chance.
Mr Boamah 11:40 a.m.
Very well.
Mr Speaker, I would want the Hon Minister to assure this House that the domestic airlines are air worthy.
Mrs Attivor 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to assure this august House that, per the standards of the ICAO, which Ghana Civil Aviation Authority uses, our domestic airlines go through certification, standardisation, and frequent checks. They are air worthy.
Mr Justice Joe Appiah 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to crave your indulgence to quote from the Hon Minister's Answer:
“Also, unplanned inspections, that is, Ramp Inspections, Station Facility Inspections, et cetera are carried out throughout the year which covers the air worthiness status of Ghana registered aircrafts”
Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Minister how often they inspect these ramps, because they are very serious. I would want to find out if it is monthly or weekly, just to give us — How often do they inspect these ramps?
Mrs Attivor 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, these inspections are done either on monthly basis or randomly.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to know from the Hon Minster, how she reconciles what she just said with her earlier answer relating to the age of the airline, where she said, the age of the airline is not a factor, as compared to the Chicago Convention, which among other things state clearly that, age is, indeed, a factor?
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Do you have a copy of the Chicago Convention there? [Laughter.]
What you need to do is to quote the relevant portion of the Chicago Convention as your foundation, and then your question.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not have it with me immediately, but I am very conversant —[Interruption.]
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Members, the Hon Member made a categorical statement, that the Chicago Convention states that age is a factor. I would want to know which portion of the Chicago Convention
-- 11:40 a.m.
Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, you are putting the Hon Member in a very hot spot. He would remember that the Chicago Convention says this, but he may not remember the exact spot— [Uproar.]
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, what he should have done was to ask the Hon Minister whether under the Chicago Convention, age was a factor.
Mr Nitiwul 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, he was coming to ask, then —[Interruption.]
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Member for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, your question.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would indeed, furnish the Table-Office with the specific section of the Convention —[Hear! Hear!] I am just trying to find out how the Hon Minister would reconcile her earlier Answer, where she was quite emphatic by saying that age is not a factor against the Chicago Convention, which states among other things that indeed, age is a factor. That is my worry.
Mr Bagbin 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I did not hear the Hon Minister say that age is not a factor. She said, age is not a determinant. The two are different, and she said that it is the usage — the number of mileage that is — [Interruptions] — Please, the Hansard would bear me out.
She did not say that age is not a factor. That is not the answer she gave. She is talking about “determinant” not “factor”, so the Hon Member should, quote her properly and then ask his question.
Mr Botwe 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think the Hon Majority Leader should allow the Hon Minister to answer the question.
Mr Speaker, we are aware that when Hon Ministers come to the House to answer questions, they come with the support of their technical team. I have just seen that they have sent a note to her, and she is in the position to answer it.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Minority Chief Whip, I admit Questions, and there are rules governing admissibility of Questions. The Hon Member for Nsawam- Adoagyiri says specifically that, a Convention states that age is a factor, and I asked him which section of the Convention says so.
Mr Botwe 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the technical team supporting the Hon Minister, who understand this Convention, have just sent her a note and she is in the position to answer.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Member, can you quickly rephrase your question and let me —
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest respect to your high office, if your high office would kindly allow me, I would want to file an Urgent Question, particularly in this context, related to this matter. But to this end, I wish to just step down the question for the mean time.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Let us get this point clear. Hon Minister, did you say, it is not a “factor” or it is not a “sole determinant”? What exactly did you say?
Mrs Attivor 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, ICAO Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) do not specify age limits, rather, it is recommended that, aging aircrafts must be inspected more frequently.
Mr Speaker, the maintenance programme for the specific aircraft takes care of the inspection and maintenance schedule.
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Members, let us move on to Question number 366.
Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Benito Owusu-Bio was to ask this Question but he has to attend a meeting somewhere and upon your indulgence, if I could ask the Question on his behalf?
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
It is not a matter of my indulgence, you know what to do.
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may I ask your permission with respect to --
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
It is not my permission that matters.
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 11:50 a.m.
With the greatest respect, may I seek your leave to ask the Question on behalf of --
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
It is not my leave that matters. [Laughter.]
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Benito Owusu-Bio, in his absence, had asked me to ask the Question on his behalf. If Mr Speaker would indulge me, I would ask the Question.
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Go ahead.
Current status of Ghana Civil Aviation Lands at Adentan
Q. 366. Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi (on behalf of Mr Benito Owusu-Bio) asked the Minister for Transport what was the current status of the Ghana Civil Aviation Lands acquired by the Government years ago in Adentan.
Mrs Attivor 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, by an Executive Instrument No. 214 of 1980, a parcel of land at Adenta-Accra of 614.42 acres was compulsorily acquired under State Lands Act 125 of 1962. The Government has fully paid compensation to the pre-acquisition owners.
The land was acquired for the purpose of a Remote Receiving Station for the Civil Aviation Authority.
Currently, the Authority has a transmitting station and staff bungalows on the land. With the upgrade of the navigational systems, the Authority is geared towards introducing a new technology of Wide Area Multilateration (WAMLAT) and relocating its High Frequency (HF) radios to the LA Nkwantanang/Ashalley Botwe Lands.
As a result of dwindling developable lands in Accra, there have been several requests to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Lands Commission for the release of the land to the pre-acquisition land owners. Some Government institutions, including the Adenta Municipal Assembly, have expressed the need for portions of the subject land for development.
Consequently, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in consultation with the Lands Commission and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, submitted a memorandum to Cabinet to enable the Ministry re-zone the area.
Cabinet, after considering the memorandum on proposal for re- designation of the subject site, directed the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to prepare a Land Use Plan. Following the Cabinet directives, the Land Use Plan was prepared and subsequently approved by the Adentan Municipal Assembly.
My Colleague Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources appeared before the House and gave Government's position on the current state of the Adenta Land.
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, following from the Hon Minister 's Answer, I refer the Hon Minister to paragraph four of the Answer, in which the Hon Minister for Transport tells this House that a number of applications were made to the Ministry for the release of the land, including the pre-acquisition land owners. I would want to find out from the Hon Minister whether the option of releasing the land to the pre-acquisition land owners was given any consideration?
Thank you.
Mr Bagbin 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this is the Hon Minister in charge of Transport and not the Hon Minister in charge of Lands and Natural Resources -- [Interruption] -- No, she answered the area relevant to her Ministry. The process the Hon Member is talking about cannot be initiated at the Ministry of Transport, it has to be done at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, through the Lands Commission. So, this is not the appropriate Minister to direct the supplementary question to.
In any case, I would want to know whether the authority given to him to ask this Question on behalf of the Hon Member who is absent included the authority to ask this supplementary question. [Interruption.] This supplementary question is not relevant.
Mr Nitiwul 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the authority to allow and disallow a Question is yours. It is not myself, not the Hon Majority Leader and not any Member of Parliament. So, he has asked the question and we are looking up to you to --
I am saying the Hon Minister is very capable of answering the question because she was actually walking to go and answer the question.
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Members, the point raised by the Hon Majority Leader is a very legitimate one. Unfortunately, I find it difficult to agree with him on this occasion, because the Hon Minister herself had put it in her Answer, and to the extent that she put it in the Answer, she has opened herself up for questions of what she has provided in the Answer.
I agree entirely with you Hon Member, but because she has put it in the Answer -- They are issues concerning land and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources -- She has opened herself up.
Mrs Attivor 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was going to say that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is in charge of allocation of lands. That was what I was going to say in the first place.
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if I may be privileged to hear what the Hon Minister said. I did not get the import of --
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
She said the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is in charge of Lands.
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not sure I am satisfied --
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Your next supplementary question. [Laughter.]
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 11:50 a.m.
For the fact that Mr Speaker has asked me to move on, I will.
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Member, your question again?
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister told us in paragraph six of her Answer that, there is a Land Use Plan. Following a Cabinet directive, the Land Use Plan was prepared and subsequently approved by the Adentan Municipal Assembly. I would want to find out from her the intended purpose for the use of this land.
Mrs Attivor 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Answer in the paragraph six was submitted to me by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was waiting to know from you whether you are satisfied with the answer.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect, I asked because the Hon Minister had provided the Answers in the Order Paper and she is a Cabinet Minister. I therefore expect that if I ask anything relating to what she has said, in respect of what Government had directed and what not, she must not be pushing the answer or running away from her responsibility to another Ministry. I think she has the information and she must bring out the information. She is just being evasive.
Mr Bagbin noon
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Transport is here. She did not run away to anywhere.
The Hon Minister for Transport did not push the answer. She answered the question. She has not pushed it anywhere. She is here and has not run anywhere. So, how can the Hon Member say she is running away from the question?
Mr Speaker noon
Hon Members, that is why we have supplementary questions. If an Hon Minister gives an answer to a question, it is for you to pursue the Hon Minister. That is why the Hon Member, in whose name the Question stands, is given three opportunities to ask questions before I call on other Hon Members.
So, your last supplementary question.
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi noon
Mr Speaker, I would want to know from the Hon Minister for Transport who the intended beneficiaries of this land are?
Mrs Attivor noon
Mr Speaker, I do not know. [Laughter.]
Dr Nana A. S. Arthur noon
Mr Speaker, the second paragraph of the Answer states:
“The land was originally acquired for the purpose of a Remote Receiving Station for the Civil Aviation Authority…”
Now, at the last paragraph, it states; there is a “Government position on the current state of the Adentan Land.”

You do not understand the question?
Mr Speaker noon
Hon Ato Arthur, your question again.
Dr Arthur noon
Mr Speaker, my question is that, originally, the land was for Remote Receiving Station for the Civil Aviation Authority. Now, we are told that Government has given its position on the current state of the land. How does the Hon Minister for Transport situate the
Dr Arthur noon


purpose for which it was acquired, the Remote Receiving Station, into the current Government position on the land?
Mr Bagbin noon
On a point of order. Mr Speaker, the question is not clear because -- [Interruption.] Please, I thought my Hon Colleague would have asked first about the current Government position. When that is made known, then he would now try how to reconcile. But he has not heard of the current Government position -- [Interruption.] He has not.
That is not the question. [Interruption.] The Hon Member was not listening. He said we should reconcile the earlier one in paragraph (two) with the current Government position.
What is the current Government position? He does not know.
Mr Speaker noon
Hon Ato Arthur, you have not laid sufficient foundation for your question. So, please, ask your question again.
Mr Nitiwul noon
Mr Speaker, I believe the Hon Majority Leader is just being unfair because I have never seen this kind of -- [Interruption] -- Yes. Mr Speaker, an Hon Member has asked his question, he is directing the Hon Member as to how to ask the question. The question is directed at the Hon Minister for Transport. It is left with the Hon Speaker to give directions. If the Hon Minister says she did not hear or did not understand, then the Hon Speaker can give further directions.
For the Hon Majority Leader to say, well, he should have asked this before asking that, I do not get it.
Mr Speaker noon
Hon Members, my understanding of what the Hon Majority Leader is saying is that, any Hon Member can rise on a point of order when a question is asked and the Hon Member
believes that, that question is not consistent with the rules of the House in terms of asking a question.
Hon Members, I have not heard the Hon Minister stating the current Government position. [Interruption.] Where is it? Current Government position? Please, you are out of order. [Laughter.]
Hon Ato Arthur, state the current Government position that you believe the Hon Minister has alluded to and ask your question. [Interruption.] State the current Government position that you believe the Hon Minister has alluded to in her Answer and then ask your question.
Mr Nitiwul noon
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister said in the last paragraph that the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has told this House the current Government position. So, this House is aware of the information.
Mr Speaker noon
Hon Member, if you go in that angle, then I would disallow it. This is because the rule is that, if the information is in any public document, then you do not ask. If you go there, then the question cannot be admitted.
Mr Nitiwul noon
Mr Speaker, that is why he did not ask for that information. He already knows. So, he is building on the fact that we already know the information to ask her a further question based on that which she alluded to here. If he had asked again, then you would have said that the answer is already here so why are you asking her again.
Mr Speaker noon
So, he should repeat the current Government position --
Mr Nitiwul noon
No, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker noon
He should repeat the current Government position and then ask the --
Mr Nitiwul noon
Mr Speaker, it is in this Hansard. It is there. So, this House is aware. That is why I did not ask for the position. He knows it.
Mr Speaker noon
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, I agree with you that the Answer is there in the Hansard.
In December, the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources was here. So, he should state it and ask the question.
Hon Ato Arthur, we are waiting for you.
Dr Arthur noon
Mr Speaker, respectfully, the Answer is that Government has a position on the current state of Adentan lands and I believe the Hon Minister for Transport should know the Government position. My question is this, she is the Minister responsible for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority falls under her Ministry and the Remote Receiving Station is meant for Civil Aviation Authority.
How does this Remote Receiving Station fit into the current Government position? This is the question.
Mr Bagbin noon
Mr Speaker, let us go back to our Standing Orders.
Standing Order 68 (5) and (6) --
“(5) No Member shall address the House upon any Question, nor in asking the Question shall any argument or opinion be offered.
(6) When any Question has been asked and answered no debate on it shall be permitted.”
Mr Bagbin noon


I raised the objection because you quoted paragraph (two) which is very clear.

“The land was acquired for the purpose of a Remote Receiving Station for the Civil Aviation Authority.”

That is clear. Now, we are talking about current Government position but he has not told us what that current Government position is. [Interruption] -- You cannot ask a question in vacuum. He should state the current Government position in the Answer -- [Interruption] -- It is not here. He should read the current Government position and if it is different from what she has read, then he can ask the question on how she can reconcile.
Mr Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Members, in admitting this Question, I was very clear. The Question that was asked of the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources for which he came to the House in December last year to answer --
The Question standing in the name of the Hon Member for Adentan is:
“To ask the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources whether the Aviation land at Adentan, which was compulsorily acquired by the Government is being used for the purpose for which it was acquired and if not, whether title to the land has been reverted to the allodial owners.”
That was the Question. Based on that Question, a lot of questions were posed that day by Hon Members on both sides of the House and the Minister answered them.
In admitting this Question, to be very honest with you, I was limiting myself to the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) because the Hon Minister was responsible for the Ghana Civic Aviation Authority.
Unfortunately, the Hon Minister would have ended the Question there, but she went on and brought in land matters which opened the issue up. But most of the questions which we are asking now are in the Official Report of that day. The information is available to this House.
Hon Dr Ato Arthur, I am giving you the last chance. And that would be the last question on this matter. This is because Hon Members, this issue of the Adentan land has come to this House as an Urgent Question and I gave enough opportunity to Hon Members on that day.
Dr Arthur 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hansard dated 17th December, 2014, column 4112. Mr Speaker, this is what the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Nii Osah Mills said:
“Secondly, Mr Speaker, the purpose for which it has been re-zoned is mixed. It will be used for commercial purposes -- Housing. As we know in Ghana, we have different types of housing; we have high rise, medium and perhaps, for those who can least afford, more affordable housing -- It will be for a mixed use.
We also have malls, supermarkets and it will be, in a sense, take-off from the airport city aspect. It will be an iconic project indeed, Mr Speaker.”
So Mr Speaker, respectfully, this is the position of Government on the current use of Adentan land.
Now my question is, the Remote Receiving Station for the GCAA, is it still going to be part of the use of these Adentan lands?
Mrs Attivor 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, currently, the Authority has a transmitting station and staff bungalows on the land. With the upgrade of the navigational systems, the Authority wants to introduce a new technology. The GCAA continues to use the land as a receiver station, even with the new land use plan. About 250 acres have been allocated to the GCAA for that purpose.
Mr Speaker 12:10 p.m.
The last question; Leadership. [Interruption] -- It is because you are part of the Leadership.
Mr Ignatius B. Awuah 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know from the Hon Minister the original purpose for which the land was acquired, and whether that purpose has changed, which has merited the need to re-zone the land.
Mr Speaker 12:10 p.m.
The question is disallowed; Standing Order 67 (h) states:
“A Question shall not be asked the answer to which is readily available in official publications.”
The answer is available in an official publication, Hansard is the official publication. The answer for that purpose is there.
Dr Matthew O Prempeh 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Answer provided by the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to the House on the use of the land; column 4110 --
Mr Speaker, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resource states 12:10 p.m.
“Mr Speaker, I have sighted a document which is the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) that was used to acquire the land in 1961. It is now called Adentan Valley; 140 acres have been allocated to a business centre…”
The largest business centre, by this Answer, in the whole world; 140 acres.
Mr Speaker, 120 acres have been allocated to a business hub. [Interruption] -- I am quoting so that I can -- 140 acres to a business centre and 120 acres to a business hub; interesting. And another 150 acres of land has been allocated for a shopping mall. The largest shopping mall in the world, as we speak, does not even cover up to 50 acres.
Mr Speaker, it is left with 204 acres out of that. The Hon Minister for Transport just said in the dispatch box that 150 -- [Interruption] 250 acres.
Mr Speaker, the figures just do not add up. From what the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources gave us in column 4110, it is 410 acres, which is an outstanding 204 acres out of the 614.42 acres.
Mr Speaker, if the Hon Minster for Transport said in the dispatch box that 250 acres is being allocated to a Remote Sensing Centre, the figures do not add up. How does she reconcile her answer with what the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has said?
Mr Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Member, she cannot answer for the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources; she can answer for herself. So, her answer is -- She mentioned 250 acres. Yes, so her answer is 250 acres.
Dr Prempeh 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, is it 204 acres of the Remote Sensing Centre, or 250 acres as she said?
Mr Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Minister, is it 204 acres or 250 acres?
Mrs Attivor 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the information I have is 250 acres.
Mr Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Minister, we thank you very much for attending upon --
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, when I came to Leadership, you gave the chance to the Hon Deputy Minority Whip.
Mr Nitiwul 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to thank you. But I have some short information which would interest --
Mr Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Very well.
Mr Nitiwul 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Minister that being the Minister in charge of Aviation and Transport in particular, of which GCAA is under her Ministry, when they asked her the owners of the commercial properties that would be built on, or the people who have been allocated those commercial properties, she said she did not know.

This is because the land was for GCAA which is under her Ministry and that land is being re-zoned. She is in Cabinet and she is saying she does not know. Is that what she wants to tell this House? That she does not know about it and that she does not care to know?
Mr Bagbin 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minority Leader sought your permission to give information. Is this the information? This cannot be an information. But Government lands are not under the Ministry of Transport. The ministerial responsibility is with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, but the Lands Commission is the one that is in possession of Government lands and not the Ministry of Transport.
Mr Nitiwul 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am amazed about what he has said. The Minister for Transport should have interest in the properties of Ghana Civil Aviation. It does not matter whether it is land, aircraft or whatever. She should have interest in it. I do not want her to leave this House. And that is why I said it was an information, to give Ghanaians the impression that, even when lands were redistributed, the Hon Minister did not know the owners. It is not good for her, yet she could believe, if she wants.
The Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources promised this House that, he would supply the list and we would demand the list; using whatever parliamentary approach that we have. We are not asking her, we would demand that list and the list would come. I am asking her whether she really wants to tell the people of Ghana that she does not know the people who bought that land.
Mr Bagbin 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague is shifting grounds. Now, he has shifted to talking about interest. We are indeed, talking about the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources not having interest in the lands and now he has landed differently. He is now talking about interest and the people of Ghana. He should ask his question clearly and he would get a clearer answer. We know that,
in terms of title and possession of the land, it is in the hands of the Lands Commission and not the Ministry. If he is talking about interest and the rest, yes, because they have properties on it, they would have interest; but what interest? There are many issues involved, his information is not clear. He has to go and come back again.
Mr Nitiwul 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not want us to be going back and forth. The Hon Minister just told us that she does not know the people who apparently have bought the lands or who the lands have been allocated to. I just want her to confirm to this House whether it was a slip of tongue or she really meant it. This is all that I asked.
Mr Bagbin 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is no evidence in this House that the land has been sold, as he used the word “bought”. There is no evidence anywhere, that the land has been sold. So, why is he asking the Hon Minister to confirm or deny that the land has been sold?
Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Members, we need to be fair to ministers when they appear before us. The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources was in this House and responded to Questions from Hon Members in relations to the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority's land at Adentan. We subsequently ordered that he should provide some information, or come back to brief the House.
Hon Members, I would want us to leave it like that. If the Business Committee would want to programme him, let him come. I cannot recollect the orders that were given that day, based on the sense of the House.
Hon Members, to be fair to the Hon Minister, she is not responsible for land matters in the country. The only error was because she introduced it in her Answer. That was why I allowed the question but it should be a limited question and it should be limited to what she has put into the Answer. To go beyond it is to treat it as if she is the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources. I think subsequent questions are going beyond the information that the Hon Minister has provided in her Answer as Minister for Transport.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
Mr Nitiwul 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader is trying to impute -- I would not use the word “bad motive”. But in this House, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has told us that there are new owners. Let me read it for him. Maybe, he was not here. I have the official records here.
Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Give us the date and the column.
Mr Nitiwul 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is 17th December, 2014, column 4119 on Urgent Questions and with your permission, I read:
“Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu: Mr Speaker, so would the Hon Minister tell us, who are the new owners of the parcel?”
Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Minister?
Nii Osah Mills: Mr Speaker, there is not one owner. There are a number of owners, or a number of applicants who have applied . . .”
So Mr Speaker, the man said that there are new owners. If one does not buy land, he does not own it.
Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Members, this is Question time and I am bringing Question time to an end for now.
rose
Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Yes, would you want to correct a record?
Mr Osei-Owusu 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes. A statement put out by the Hon Majority Leader; if it is allowed to pass as the general position of the law, it would inflict our record with some inaccuracy. The Hon Majority Leader said that, Government lands are in the hands of the Lands Commission. I would wish to put on record that not all Government lands are in the hands of the Lands Commission.
Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Bagbin 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague used a term, “in the hands of”. I did not use that term.
Mr Speaker, clearly, when Government acquires a land, there is title document to it and it is specified in the title document. We are talking specifically about this land and the title document is with the Lands Commission. I have sight of it. I was the Board Chairman of Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.
Dr Prempeh 12:20 p.m.
That was long ago.
Mr Bagbin 12:20 p.m.
I am saying on record that the title document in the acquisition is with the Ghana Lands Commission. The Hon Member can cross-check.
Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Members, we are limiting ourselves to the records.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not know why Hon Members would want us to get involved in this matter. The position of the law is clear. It is the Constitution, article 285(1)(a) which says that:
“There shall be established a Lands Commission which shall, in co- ordination with the relevant public agencies and governmental bodies, perform the following functions --
(a) on behalf of the Government, manage public lands and any lands vested in the President by this Constitution…”
So when we talk about ownership, why not refer to the Constitution and save this House all these trouble. We do not need any argument on this.
Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
I agree with you.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Question time.
Hon Minister for Transport, we thank you very much for attending upon the House to respond to Questions from Hon Members.
You are discharged.
Hon Majority Leader, at the Commencement of Public Business.
Mr Bagbin 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there are some matters that the House agreed to discuss in a Committee of the Whole and we also have information that the Organising Committee for tomorrow's function would still need some time to put some things in order in the Chamber.
Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, you have the floor.
Mr Bagbin 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, for us to constitute the House into a Committee of the Whole -- So, it is for us to constitute the House, not to adjourn.
Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, let me get the point clear; are we having a joint caucus or we are having a Committee of the Whole?
Mr Bagbin 12:30 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. We are having a joint caucus.
Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Member for Sekondi?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we went through this last Friday and the Hon Majority Leader emphasised that we were going to have a Committee of the Whole. If that is the case, you would just suspend Sitting because the Mace does not have to move. When the House is adjourned, the Mace is taken out of the Chamber.
When Sitting is suspended, the Hon Deputy Speaker comes and reconstitutes the House into a Committee of the Whole. Then after that, the House stands adjourned.
Mr Speaker, I am inclined to believe that this is a matter for joint caucus but the Leader of Government Business stated emphatically that it was a Committee of the Whole and who am I? We are all mere --
Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Yes, that is why I was asking for the clarification. If it is Committee of the Whole, I would then suspend Sitting and leave for the Hon First Deputy Speaker to take over and preside over the Committee of the Whole; after which he would properly adjourn the House. The Mace would not be taken away; it would be slanted as we do at the Consideration Stage.
So, the Leader says it is a Committee of the Whole and it has been captured in the Business Statement of last Friday; so, so be it.
Accordingly, the House is suspended. It would be desolved into a Committee of the Whole, which would be presided over by the Hon First Deputy Speaker.
12:34 p.m. -- Sitting suspended.
1.32 p.m. -- Sitting resumed.
MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr A. S. K. Bagbin 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this House do adjourn till tomorrow at 10.00 o'clock in the forenoon.
Mr Dominic B.A. Nitiwul 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 12:30 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 1.35 p.m. till Thursday, 26th February, 2015 at 10.00 a.m.