Debates of 18 Mar 2015

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:35 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:35 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of the Votes and Proceedings.
  • [No correction was made to the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 17th March, 2015.]
    • Mr Speaker 10:35 a.m.
    We also have the Official Report of Thursday, 12th March, 2015 for correction.
    Any correction?
    Hon Member for Ablekuma North?
    Mr Justice Joe Appiah 10:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, on the cover page, the Motions, “State of the Nation Address”, was captured as “State of the National Address”.
    Mr Speaker 10:35 a.m.
    Very well.

    Hon Members, the Official Report of Thursday, 12th March, 2015 as corrected, is adopted as the true record of proceedings.

    Question time.

    Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr Alfred K. Agbesi 10:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are expecting the Hon Minister for Food and Agriculture. This morning, we made all efforts to contact him but we were unable to get him on phone. We are expecting him in the House, knowing very

    well that there are Questions for him to come and answer.

    Mr Speaker, I do not understand why he is not here at this time.
    Mr Speaker 10:35 a.m.
    Hon Member for Sekondi?
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is the responsibility of the Leadership of the Majority to facilitate the Business of this House. Indeed, if the Hon Deputy Majority Leader is saying that just this morning, he tried contacting the Hon Minister for Food and Agriculture, it is unacceptable. He should have done this yesterday. He should have had a good reason to give to this House.
    Mr Speaker, does it mean that Government does not take the Business of this House serious? At least, if the Hon Minister is not around, his Chief Director or his deputy should be able to tell us something. But just to say that he has been making an effort to get the Hon Minister for Food and Agriculture -- And what is even more unacceptable is the fact that he, the Hon Minister, is a Member of Parliament and he knows the Business of this House.
    Mr Speaker, Hon Members have had Questions scheduled for so long and there is no good reason for the absence of the Hon Minister. It is most unacceptable. In fact, yesterday -- [Interruption] He is on his way -- he is almost here? Why then is the Hon Deputy Majority Leader giving us this information? He should have told the House that the Hon Minister is on his way but he said that he had called him and he could not get him on his phone.
    Mr Speaker, I am sorry to say that the Hon Deputy Majority Leader should be up to scratch on his schedule. He is the pro tem Leader of Government Business and he should be able to assist this House rather than tell us that he had not been able to get the Hon Minister. He is not doing his job properly.
    That is all I could say. All of a sudden, I see that the staff from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture have left the Chamber. Are they there? Where is the Hon Deputy Minister? Is one of the deputies here?
    Mr Speaker 10:35 a.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr Agbesi 10:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was very clear when I made that statement. As of yesterday, the Hon Minister was aware. He had sent the Answers to the Questions, and we were all aware as of yesterday, that he was coming. This morning, I tried to call him on my phone, and he did not respond. So, in that situation, as we entered the House, the only alternative was to find out. And I am told right now that he is parking his car to come in. The Hon Deputy Minister is just telling me.
    So, at the time I got to my feet, the Hon Minister did not pick his phone. The Hon Minister did not respond to his phone.
    Dr Anthony A. Osei 10:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, with respect to the Hon Deputy Majority Leader, I think it is not fair to this House for us to be given an excuse like “he is parking his car”.
    Business in this House starts at 10.00 a.m. Mr Speaker has been in his office
    Mr Speaker 10:45 a.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, you are in charge of Government Business in this House, as has been pointed out by the Hon Member of Parliament for Sekondi.
    Where is the Hon Minister now?
    Mr Agbesi 10:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, to the best of my knowledge, the Hon Minister is just around Parliament House, and very soon, he would be in.
    Mr Speaker, it is not my fault that he is not here at 10.00 o'clock.
    I would like to apply that we alter the Business and then take other items while we come back to the Business advertised as Questions.
    Dr A. A. Osei 10:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not know if there has been a decision for only the Hon Minister to answer the Questions. There is an Hon Deputy Minister right here. I thought he was going to apply, but it looks like he is insisting that the Hon Minister should come and the House should wait for him. I think it is not fair to us.
    Is he saying that the Hon Deputy Minister is not capable of answering the Questions? Is that what he is saying?
    The Business of the House should flow; there should not be a vacuum -- that is why Deputy Ministers are appointed. So, if he is late, the proper thing to do is to allow the Hon Deputy Minister, whom I believe is capable to answer the Questions, so that this House will not be seen as being treated with contempt. That is why we appoint Deputy Ministers.
    Mr Speaker 10:45 a.m.
    Hon Member of Parliament for South Tongu?
    Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome 10:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thought that before one came over to respond to Questions, one needed to be prepared. The person scheduled is the Hon Minister. So, I thought that once the Hon Deputy Leader has indicated -- and of course, we just spoke to him, that he is around the precincts, he would soon be here to respond to the Questions. We should just accept it.
    Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah 10:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, our job here as Parliament is to provide oversight to the work of the Executive.
    Mr Speaker, one of the means of providing this oversight is through Questions. If Hon Ministers are scheduled to answer Questions here, it is about time they took the Business of Parliament serious. A Minister cannot decide on his own when to attend to a parliamentary call.
    So, Mr Speaker, I would just like to make an application and also to say that the plea made by my Hon Colleague on the other side, that we move on to some
    other item and then maybe, later, reconsider Questions, should not be taken at all. This is because if anything at all, Mr Speaker, your good office should write to the Hon Minister responsible and ask him why he was not available to answer the Questions at the set time. This would serve as a deterrent to all other Hon Ministers.
    Mr Speaker, it is about time the House was taken serious when it comes to issues with the Executive.
    Thank you.
    Mr Speaker 10:45 a.m.
    Hon Members, I am a bit confused. Normally, we meet every morning, and one of the reasons of the pre-Sitting meetings is to discuss matters that are coming up on the floor of the House, so that if there are any rough edges to iron out, we do so before coming.
    This morning, when I met the Hon Leaders from the Majority side, they did not give the slightest indication to me that the Hon Minister for Food and Agriculture would be late. On the contrary, they gave me the assurance that he would be coming.
    That was the assurance I was given. I was surprised with regard to the turn of events. But I hope that this will not happen again.
    Mr Agbesi 10:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, while you were talking, the Hon Minister walked in.
    Mr Speaker, with your permission, the Hon Minister is in the House and we would like to call upon him to answer the Questions.
    Dr A. A. Osei 10:45 a.m.
    So, is he withdrawing his earlier application? He had an application and Mr Speaker has not responded to it
    Mr Agbesi 10:45 a.m.
    In the circumstances -- [Interruption.]
    Dr A. A. Osei 10:45 a.m.
    So, he would like to withdraw it ?
    Mr Agbesi 10:45 a.m.
    We would like to withdraw the earlier application for us to go on.
    Dr A. A. Osei 10:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have no objection to the withdrawal.
    Mr Speaker 10:45 a.m.
    He made an application regarding Order 53(2), and then the Hon Deputy Minority Chief Whip opposed the application. But the application was still standing. So, he has withdrawn it.
    Now, let us make progress.
    Mr Awuah 10:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that the most important thing is us getting the Hon Minister to answer the Questions. So, if now he is in, business can go on as usual.
    Mr Speaker 10:45 a.m.
    We start with Question number 321.
    Hon Member for Ejura Sekyedumase?
    ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:55 a.m.
    MINISTRY OF FOOD AND 10:55 a.m.
    AGRICULTURE 10:55 a.m.
    Minister for Food and Agriculture (Mr Franklin F. F. Kwetey) 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, before I give the Answer, let me profusely apologise for my delay in reaching here.
    There was another equal assignment and that is why I delayed a bit. I am so sorry.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has the mandate to train middle-level personnel for the agricultural sector. The Ministry, as a policy, has decided to upgrade all the five agricultural colleges to diploma awarding institutions. A formal request has been sent to the National Accreditation Board (NAB).
    The NAB has inspected all the facilities of Ejura Agricultural College. The NAB indicated that there was the need to improve the infrastructure at Ejura Agricultural College before the college could be accredited to run the diploma programme. The areas of concern are:
    Inadequate number and quality of the teaching staff.
    Small sized library with outdated books.
    Inadequate classroom accommo- dation (has only three class- rooms).
    Inadequate residential accommo- dation for tutors and students (halls).
    No science laboratory.
    Efforts made to address inadequacies
    The Ministry has undertaken a number of measures to address the inadequacies at the college. These include:
    The Ministry has collected forms from the NAB for upgrading from certificate to diploma awarding institution. These forms are being filled and
    Minister for Food and Agriculture (Mr Franklin F. F. Kwetey) 10:55 a.m.


    will be submitted with the requested documents soonest.

    In terms of staffing, the Ministry has posted an experienced Director from Kwadaso Agricul- tural College to Ejura as the Principal. He was greatly involved during the accredita- tion process at Kwadaso. He is expected to bring his r ich experience to bear on the accreditation process at Ejura Agricultural College. The college now has a teaching strength of fifteen (15), a total of seven (7) tutors, representing 46, have Master's degrees.

    The Ministry has put in place a systematic programme for further training and capacity building of the teaching staff. Currently, one tutor is in Australia undertaking a two-year Master 's degree programme. Seven of the tutors have participated in short courses in China, South Korea and Holland. These foreign courses have given them the needed exposure.

    The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has donated a quantity of assorted books to improve the stock of books at the college's library. The FAO has promised to regularly supply books to the college.

    The Ejura Agricultural College, through its collaboration with AGRA-UDS, has received a quantity of science equipments for science practicals.

    The Ministry has applied to the GETFund Secretariat for support in respect of the construction of

    classroom block and halls of residence for tutors and students. The negotiations have gone very far.

    In our effort to get funds for the upgrading of the Ejura Agricultural College, the Ministry always has a budget line for this activity in its annual budgets. Unfortunately, funds for investment activities have not been forthcoming.
    Mr Bamba 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister indicated that the school had no science laboratory, but went on to say that AGRA-UDS had collaborated with the Ejura Agricultural College, and they gave them science laboratory equipment. Could the Hon Minister tell us where he expects the equipment to be kept since the school has no science laboratory?
    Mr Kwetey 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I did indicate that the Ministry is having a number of discussions with a view to resolving the issue of infrastructure at the college. Clearly, one of those critical infrastructure has to do with the science laboratory. But in the meantime, when we have offers that come from organisations in relation to equipment, we obviously, would have to keep those equipment. It means that for now, those equipment will not be in the laboratory functioning, until we have that laboratory ready, where we can install all the equipment received.
    Mr Bamba 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, can the Hon Minister give specific timeline when they intend to submit the forms that they have taken from the National Accreditation Board NAB?
    Mr Kwetey 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I prefer not to go with specifics, but just to indicate that we take this issue as a very pressing one. Therefore, we will work assiduously to ensure that we get an answer as soon as possible.
    Mr Bamba 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, since the budget line the Hon Minister has been providing -- is not forthcoming -- does he have any intention of sourcing funds from a different angle since the project is so important?
    Mr Kwetey 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the point is with the fact that, generally, at least, over the last two years, we have seen the constraints that have affected the whole national budget -- largely because of the difficulties that we had in 2013 and 2014.
    Our hope is that, from 2015, as things stabilise, we will have a lot of funds available, not just for various items, but also for the investment items. So, once that is due, we should be in a position to -- we cannot make any direct promise relating to external funding. This is because, we also have constraints at the moment in terms of external funding. I believe as a House, we are all collectively working towards better debt sustain- ability. So, we cannot make a promise relating to external funds.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister, in his Answer, on page 20, bullet point 6, said the Ministry of Food and Agriculture had applied to GETFund Secretariat for support in respect of the construction of classroom blocks and halls of residence for tutors and students. The negotiations had gone far.
    What is the stage of the negotiations? The GETFund, according to the statute governing it and the formula, only takes care of educational institutions under the Ministry of Education, and not institutions under other Ministries like Nursing and Midwifery Training Schools.
    So, I would want to know, when was this application made, and at what stage is the negotiation, in terms of undertakings or assurances by GETFund to support the
    Ministry in respect of the construction of a classroom block for Ejura Agricultural College, under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
    Mr Kwetey 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, what we can indicate is that, as far as we are concerned, we are making efforts to get funding for institutions that also have something to do with education. This is because education is broad. What we are providing in our various colleges are critical as far as the manpower training of the country is concerned.
    So, we make applications to as many institutions as possible that we feel we can get support from. One of those institutions is the GETFund. Whether GETFund will at a certain stage tell us that they cannot do it because it is not part of their mandate, we have not reached there yet. As far as we are concerned, our application is being looked at by them, and we await the conclusion of the discussions.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is the background information. I was more concerned about negotiations having gone far. I wanted to know what the stage of the negotiations is. This is because, the Hon Minister said it had gone very far.
    So, it is not really just applying -- no, they had negotiations and it has gone very far. What is the stage of the negotiation?
    Mr Kwetey 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, our under- standing is that, ordinarily, when an application is submitted, it is either directly rejected or it is being considered. In our discussions with GETFund as of now, our application has not been rejected outright. That was the indication we were given, that though discussions are proceeding well, we wait for a conclusion of the matter with the GETFund.
    Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Nkoranza North?
    Maj. Derek Oduro (retd): Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister, on page 20, gave an Answer to the Question, and said that before the college could be given an accreditation, certain problem areas must be resolved. One of them is the small size library, and the outdated books.
    Now, he is telling us that the Food and Agriculture Organsation (FAO) has donated some books, and has promised to regularly supply books to the college. What effort is the Ministry making to open or expand the library, since it is so small and especially if we are going to get books from the FAO? How is he going about expanding the library to accommodate the books that the FAO is bringing?
    Mr Kwetey 11:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we mentioned the general infrastructural investment that needs to be done. The FAO initiative is the beginning. Ordinarily, what we do is to have indications exactly about the volumes that we are going to have.
    That gives an indication about what expansions need to be done. I would say that FAO has clearly indicated that they want to do a bit more. So, generally, as part of the whole efforts we are making at getting investment in order to be able to take care of this particular school to make it ready for proper accreditation, we definitely have in consideration, the need for us to do an expansion of the library to accommodate the additional numbers of volumes of books, that we feel would be necessary, in order for it to have the minimum requirement.
    Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah 11:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, at page 20, he indicated that a formal request had been
    sent to the National Accreditation Board. I would have thought that a formal request would have involved the filling of forms. But he comes back later with point one, under efforts being made to address the inadequacies, and says they had now collected forms, which were being filled.
    Therefore, I would want to know how the formal request was made.
    Mr Kwetey 11:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the formal request has to do with placing a request at the level of the NAB for an upgrading to be done as far as this particular college is concerned.
    The forms have to do with the processes subsequent to the application. That means, you are giving details that you need to make available to the NAB. Those forms represent those additional details that are now being supplied.
    So, the formal request is the beginning of the process, but from that process, until the final accreditation is done, there are a number of other details that need to be provided, and those are the details that we are providing through the forms.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is clear that the Ministry is making efforts to fulfil the objective of this upgrade. But does the Ministry have the timeline for it to complete this objective?
    Mr Kwetey 11:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we know that often times, timelines sometimes are a bit difficult to mention directly, because invariably, they are sometimes affected by budgetary constraints.
    So, often times, we might wish to complete this as soon as possible, but if it is that we have a difficulty sometimes with the budgetary approvals and so on, then it becomes quite difficult to be able to keep
    these timelines. What we can indicate is that, we clearly would want to work closely with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that we get the necessary budgetary approvals in order for us to accomplish this very important project.
    Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
    Hon Members, I will take the last two supplementary questions, so that we can make progress.
    Mr Mustapha Ussif 11:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Minister when the forms were picked from the NAB.
    Mr Kwetey 11:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in terms of the specifics of the date, I do not have it right here, but it is something that I can easily provide, if the Hon-- because “when” means what particular timeline, and I would want to be very specific. So, I cannot supply that detail, if the Hon Member demands.
    Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
    Yes, the last supplemen- tary question.
    Mr Anthony Osei Boakye 11:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am a bit baffled to learn that an agricultural school, that is science- based, is producing students with no science knowledge. This is because the Hon Minister said that there was no science laboratory in the school.
    What kind of students are we producing for the country and for the world?
    Mr Kwetey 11:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the issue about infrastructural challenges are not just in this particular school, but in many other schools across the country. It is one that I think all of us Hon Members know about. It simply has to do with the gradual need to improve infrastuctrue across the length and breadth of all our academic
    institutions, and not just in terms of education -- but across many other institutions as well.
    So, as much as it may not be the ideal situation, I would say that really, the answer lies in us working hard in order to get the necessary resources. So, should we make sure that every institution, not just those that concern agricultural colleges, but across the country is provided with all the requisite infrastruc- ture in order for us to have the best quality of human resource.
    Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
    Hon Members, we move to Question number 363, standing in the name of the Hon Member for Achiase.
    Citrus fruits in the country (Marketing)
    Q. 363. Mr Robert Kwasi Amoah asked the Minister for Food and Agriculture steps taken to address the problem of marketing of citrus fruits in the country.
    Mr Kwetey 11:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry has written a letter to the Clerk's Office, to make a request, that this particular Question is strictly best addressed to the sector Ministry in charge of trade, both internal and external trade.
    This is because marketing really falls within the domain of the Ministry in charge of trade. But then, since some parts of that Answer could also be provided by the Ministry, we decided to simply limit our Answer to the issue relating to what we would do to ensure that, especially, the quality of what is produced, is at a level that would make it easy for trade.
    But since the particular emphasis has to do with what is being done relating to the marketing, our suggestion is that, the Ministry of Trade and Industry is best to answer issues relating to marketing.
    Mr Kwetey 11:05 a.m.


    So, Mr Speaker, with your indulgence, I would just provide Answers that specifically have to do with what we have done about the quality of the produce. The main challenges --
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Hon Minister, let me get it right. Are you amending the Answer to the Question or you are responding to the Question as it relates to your Ministry? I want to know exactly what you are doing, because I am not too clear.
    You are right when you said that it was not -- if you say that you can, but says that it is not your Ministry's function or responsibility, then it is an Answer.
    I have seen that you have provided an Answer. Is it the Answer that you are going to use or you are amending the Answer that you have provided, so that we are sure exactly what we are doing. If supplementary questions come, I will know the ones to admit and the ones not to admit.
    Mr Kwetey 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we just felt that out of respect to this Honourable House, since the Question was addressed to us, we wanted to explain that preamble, then provide an Answer to the issue of production as opposed to marketing. I stand really to be guided, whether I could go ahead with the production aspect and allow the trading and marketing side to be dealt with by the Ministry that is supposed to be in charge. That is why I explained in the preamble. I am looking for guidance from you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Awuah 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, with all respect to the Hon Minister, the Question was about marketing; it was not about production. So, if the Hon Minister thinks
    that the Question was not well directed, then perhaps, he should make a special application to your goodself, so that at least, the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry is then directed to come and answer the Question. But as it is now, what he is going to provide would not meet the expectation of the Hon Member who asked the Question.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Hon Members, we know that if a Question is directed at you and you know that it is not within your mandate or responsibility, you respond and that is an Answer. But the Hon Minister has provided an Answer. If he had just responded that the Question should be directed to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, that would have been an Answer. That Answer itself would come with supplementary to see whether they are only interested in the production of the citrus and not interested whether the citrus is marketed. But now, there is an Answer which has been put on the Order Paper. That is the challenge.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, with respect to your goodself, if you would guide us here, because we were anticipating asking questions on the marketing part. Now, this Answer constraints us to deviate from what we were hoping to do. So, even though there is an Answer, it would not adequately address the concerns that had been raised by the Hon Member here and some of us who wanted to learn more about marketing.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Hon Member for Old Tafo, it is a very simple thing. People have come; I have seen it throughout my 20 years in this House as a Member of Parliament, where Hon Ministers come and they correct Answers. They come and take the leave of the House to amend Answers. That is why I asked him, if the Hon Minister is amending his Answer that he has provided, he should tell us, so that
    I will know the kind of supplementary questions that I will admit.
    If he is going by this Answer, he should inform the House, then we will know what to do. That is why I was trying to make it very clear in our mind what we are doing, so that if there is any directive or guidance that I can give, I will be in a better -- but in terms of marketing, his Ministry is not the proper Ministry to refer the issue to.
    He should tell us -- if we have an Answer here, which is still on the Order Paper and therefore, forms part of the records of this House, then it becomes problematic for the Chair to do anything about it. We have to go with the Answer here. Unless he made a formal application to amend or withdraw it.
    Mr Kwetey 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the light of your guidance, I wish to withdraw this Answer and re-submit the Answer that would lead the House to bring the particular Ministry that can best address the issue of marketing.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Hon Members, the Hon Minister has withdrawn the Answer. So, you cannot put something on nothing. There is no Answer before us.
    Let me hear you, Hon Member.
    Mr Assibey-Yeboah 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, this whole idea that marketing is not even part of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, is untrue. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is directly involved with marketing activities. So, for the Hon Minister to suggest that marketing is in the purview in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is not entirely correct.
    Mr Agbesi 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, as you have directed, the Hon Minister has withdrawn the Answer to come back appropriately. So, I appeal to our Hon Colleagues to
    accept that the Hon Minister has withdrawn the Answer and at the appropriate time, the right Answer would be brought.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Hon Minister, when you are withdrawing the Answer and responding to it that it should be re- directed, you must be very careful how you draw the line. This is because we have been in this country where the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has taken steps to make sure that accessible roads are worked on to bring the food- stuffs to the market and all those things. There are issues. So, I am waiting for your Answer.
    We will give you the benefit of the doubt. But whichever Answer you bring, there will be room for supplementary questions.
    Now, you have withdrawn it and I have agreed that it should be withdrawn, but when you are bringing your Answer, make sure that you draw the line carefully. This Question, when it was put before me, I took one week to work on it before admitting it. There is a very thin line.
    Mr Kwame Asafu-Adjei 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am surprised about the attitude of the Hon Minister. He is aware in terms of local production, the next chain is marketing and processing, and it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. But when it comes to international trade, then it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. So, I am surprised at the attitude of the Hon Minister.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Hon Member, please, I called you because I do not want to appear as if I wanted to gag anybody. That is why I called you. There is no Answer before us now. The Hon Minister is coming back, and so, when he comes back and you have a supplementary question, you will have the opportunity of asking the supplementary question. But as of now, there is nothing before us.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.


    Hon Minister, thank you very much for attending upon the House to respond to Questions from Hon Members.

    Continuation of Question time -- is the Hon Minister for Power here?
    Mr Agbesi 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister is not in the House. He has indicated that he wants the Questions to be re-scheduled for him. This is because he has indicated that he wants to come and answer the Questions personally. He had been out of the jurisdiction; he just returned and that is the basis upon which he has asked that we should re-schedule time for him. The Questions that have been asked of him, he is taking them personally to come and answer them. Mr Speaker, that accounts for his absence in the House.
    Mr Awuah 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Power is a Member of this House, and for him to say that he personally wants to come here and answer the Questions himself, I think it is a respect that he wants to show this House. We know of some Hon Ministers who, even when they are available, do ask their Deputy Ministers to come and answer Questions. We have raised issues about that. So, if he says he is coming here personally to answer the Questions, I think it is something we should accept and give him the chance to do that.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Yes, but make sure you re-programme him to answer these Questions before we go on recess.
    Mr Agbesi 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we shall do that before we go on recess.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    He should be programmed for next week to come and respond to the Questions.
    At the Commencement of Public Business, Hon --
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want your guidance.
    I believe when the Hon Minister came last Wednesday to talk about the Statement, the Hon Majority Leader assured Hon Members that following the discussions, there would be some information provided to the House on Wednesday.
    It is Wednesday as far as I know, and thus far, we have not heard anything yet. So, I am wondering if the Hon Deputy Majority Leader is in a position to update us on what Leadership told us on Wednesday or we are to wait till a later time. At least, he should give us some information.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Member for Old Tafo, you know that we cannot discuss those issues now? We are at the Commencement of Public Business. I will suggest that we look for an opportunity by close of day today for a briefing that you are demanding from the Hon Deputy Majority Leader, and by extension, from the Hon Minister.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:25 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    At the Commencement of Public Business, Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr Agbesi 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, with your permission, if we can take item number 7, which is the debate on the State of the Nation Address.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Members, item number 7 on the Order Paper -- Motions.
    Hon Second Deputy Minority Whip?
    MOTIONS 11:25 a.m.
  • [Resumption of debate from 17-3- 2015]
    • Mr Ignatius B. Awuah (NPP -- Sunyani West) 11:25 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Motion in thanking the President for coming to this House on 26th February, 2015 to deliver his Address on the State of the Nation.
    Mr Speaker, I would also want to state that I am using this opportunity on behalf of my caucus to offer an official response to the President.
    Mr Speaker, the President alluded in his Address that he was coming under article 67 of the Constitution --
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Second Deputy Minority Whip, what do you mean by “official response”? A number of Hon Members of this House have been debating this matter from your side. Does it mean that those positions are not official? These things are going on record. Are you winding up the debate for the Minority side? Is that what you are doing?
    If you make that statement, then you will be drawing a distinction between “official” and “unofficial”. Should we take
    other responses as unofficial? If you are winding up for your side, say so, so that we will be clear exactly what we are doing.
    Mr Awuah 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am winding up for my side. That is not to say that other views by Hon Members on my side are not important. They are equally important.
    Mr Speaker, as I said, the President alluded to the fact that he came here under article 67 of the Constitution, which mandates him at the beginning of a Session, to deliver a message on the state of the nation. But I would want to believe that the actual content of the Address should have contained in article 34(2), which states among other things, that the President should, particularly mention what efforts he is doing to ensure that the rights of individuals are adhered to, especially in the areas of right to work, good healthcare, education. He is also expected to talk on the health of the economy among many other things.
    Mr Speaker, when the President came here last year, he talked, dwelling on four thematic areas -- investing in people, a strong and resilient economy; vigorous infrastructural development and transparent and accountable governance.
    I was expecting him to have used the same thematic areas this time round, but he deviated from them and perhaps, chose to present his Address, using a different formula altogether.
    Mr Speaker, in my view, and of course, from our side, we believe strongly that the Address presented by the President is not an actual reflection of the situation of this country.
    Mr Awuah 11:25 a.m.


    Mr Speaker, that is why His Excellency the President's Address did not reflect the escalating cost of living, lowering standards of living, rising inflation, increasing interest rates, weakening currency, cholera outbreak, high utility tariffs, arrears build-up for District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). Even our contributions to pension funds are also in arrears. And of course, Mr Speaker, the almighty dumsor dumsor or edum dum edum dum as we are witnessing in the country.

    Mr Speaker, if I may be more specific, if we take the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or the economy -- Mr Speaker, under the economy, I would want to first take the

    GDP.

    When the President came here last year, 2014, he mentioned that the economic fundamentals of this country remained strong and the mid-term prospects were good.

    I was expecting that coming a year after, he would either re-echo the same thing or even reinforce it. But the President, this time round, was silent on that. Why? This is because, when he came here last year, the GDP had grown over seven per cent. He comes a year after and GDP growth had gone down to 4.2 per cent. It is something that he can never

    pride himself of and therefore, he decided to be silent on that.

    Mr Speaker, the President, sadly, at the beginning of the year, went to Germany and in a meeting with an industrialist, said that GDP growth for 2015 was projected to be at five per cent following from last year's GDP growth of 7.1 per cent.

    Mr Speaker, I do not know where the President was getting his figures from or whether the President was not telling the people he had met the true situation of the economy of this country. Mr Speaker, GDP growth from his own Minister for Finance's Statement to us was said to have grown by 4.6 per cent last year, and this was even reviewed downwards to 4.2 per cent.

    It is also projected that for the year 2015, GDP is going to grow at 3.9 per cent and it is being reviewed downwards to 3.5 per cent. So, I do not know where the President had the 7.1 per cent and the five per cent from. Maybe, the President should come again.

    Mr Speaker, if the President came here last year with a proud GDP growth of 7.2 per cent and a year after, his GDP growth is 4.2 per cent, then I now understand why he could not pride himself and why he could not say that he is building a strong and resilient economy.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Minister for Finance?
    Mr Terkper 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to correct the impression that is being given to this House and the nation that
    somehow, the President did not present a true picture in relation to certain statistics.
    Mr Speaker, this is a very important statement. Ordinarily, I would not have -- I have been coming to the House and allowing the debate to flow.
    Mr Speaker, we have addressed this issue on the floor of the House, even in the presentation of the budget and we pointed out to Hon Members, that when it comes to the actual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in numbers, it is the responsibility of the Ghana Statistical Service. That however, does not preclude the Ministry of Finance to do its projections as and when events happen in the economy.
    It does not also prevent institutions as has been the practice from time immemorial by institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), based on information we provide, to do their own projections. So, there is nothing like a single reference point when it comes to this.
    I think that the debate can be put into context without creating the impression that somehow, the President did not present a true picture or was inconsistent.
    Thank you very much.
    Mr Awuah 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not want to be taken off guard by the intervention of the Hon Minister. But let me simply say that even with the Hon Minister presenting his budget, he does so on behalf of the President. So, we take the Budget Statement as an official document of the President. You present an official document to the House, you go out and
    do not quote what you presented to the House and then you quote a different figure altogether. So, which one should we take?

    Mr Speaker, when the President came here last year, inflation was at 12.5 per cent. He comes a year after and inflation is at 16.5 per cent and he is quiet about that because he is building a strong and resilient economy.

    In 2008, the NPP Government left a total public debt of GH¢9.5 billion. This figure has within six years ballooned to GH¢76.1 billion in 2015. What is so sad about this figure is that, it does not even include the undisbursed portions of the China Development Bank (CDB) loans, the Kasoa and Circle Interchanges loans, the IMF bailout, which we have just concluded -- that is the US$940 million bailout and many other loans which are yet to be disbursed.

    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has indicated that this year, they would be going for one billion dollar Eurobond. So, all these, in addition to the domestic financing, which the Ministry is seeking for this year, would shoot our public debt to well over GH¢90 billion. If you look at the average annual growth in our debt structure, it is well over 116 per cent per annum. In fact, within the six years that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been in power, our total debt has gone up by 701 per cent.
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Can you withdraw that?
    Mr Awuah 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I humbly withdraw that. But that is a fact.
    Last year, when the President came here, the debt per capita was 2,200. Within a span of one year, it has risen from 2,200 to 3,000. What is even more worrying is not the debt per se but the interest servicing of the debt. In 2014, our interest payment was about four times our revenue from oil. Let us all recollect how we touted ourselves when we found oil -- we thought most of our problems were going to be solved.
    But the revenue we make from oil -- four times that figure is even less than our interest payments for last year. Even this year, our projected revenue from oil is going to be less and it would mean that we would need more oil revenue to be able to service our debt -- perhaps, six times our oil revenue.
    Mr Speaker, this year, our interest payment is projected at GH¢9.6 billion and it may even be higher. This GH¢9.6 billion interest servicing is even higher than the total debt we had in 2008. I recall that when the late President -- may his soul rest in peace -- Prof Mills came to this House in 2009, he described our GH¢9.5 billion debt as “ôpipipiipii huu haa”. [Laughter.]He could not even mention it. Today, interest on loans alone, is even more than the ôpipipiipii huu haa. This interest on loans together with our loan repayment of 2.9 projected for this year, sadly enough, becomes our number one expenditure item on our budget.
    Hitherto, personal emolument, item 1, had been our number one expenditure item. But today, interest servicing alone, in addition to loan repayment, has overtaken personal emolument as our number one expenditure item. We are actually moving into dangerous grounds, because if we are not very careful and we continue to borrow with the speed at which we are borrowing, a time would
    come when all the revenue we generate in this nation would be eaten up by interest payment and loan repayment.
    Mr Speaker, we are almost in Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) now. [Interruption.] Unfortunately, we may not have the opportunity to opt for the HIPC initiative, because now, we are a lower middle income country. What is even more worrying is the fact that some West African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Liberia have agreed to use one currency.
    In order to make sure that all the countries have sound financial or economic standing before the Eco is roped in, they have agreed on certain criteria that all these countries should have. Unfortunately, for two years in succession -- 2013 and 2014, Ghana has lost all the convergence criteria. Indeed, we lost all the four primary convergence criteria in 2013 and lost the six secondary convergence criteria in 2013 --
    Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Member, I just want to crave the indulgence of the House to have these two Papers laid before the Hon Minister takes leave of the House. I will give you time to continue with your submission.
    Presentation of Papers; item number 5 (i) by the Minister for Finance.
    PAPERS 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Whip, kindly continue.
    Mr Awuah 11:45 a.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, as I was saying, for 2013 and 2014, Ghana lost all the ten convergence criteria to qualify to be a member of the West African Monetary Zone. We are members, but the criteria for us to meet in order to qualify to participate in the Eco, we lost all of them for two years in succession.
    Mr Speaker, the sad aspect of it is that Ghana is the seat of the West African Monetary Zone, and of course, we are in high contention for even the headquarters of the West African Central Bank. So, if we are in contention for the headquarters of the West African Central Bank and we are not even meeting the convergence criteria, what message are we sending to our other sister countries? The sad aspect of it is that, even war torn countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone and even The Gambia are meeting some of the criteria. And we, who have been blessed with peace are not meeting it.
    Mr Speaker, let me veer off to the area of energy. The President made a quote from the late President Mandela. What he said was:
    “The greatest story of living lies not in never falling, but rising every time we fall.”
    Mr Speaker, I would want to say that some falls are avoidable. Sometimes, you do not even need to fall, let alone to fall and rise.
    The President said he was not going to manage the energy problem but he was going to fix it. Who else was the President expecting to fix the problem, but himself? He has the mandate of Ghanaians to rule this country for four years. Is the President expecting Nana Akufo-Addo, the Opposition Leader to come and fix the problems? Certainly not.
    He is not expecting Mr Abu Sakara of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) to solve or fix the problem. Neither is he expecting Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom to solve the problem. Not even Akua Donkor is he expecting to come and solve the problem -- [Laughter.] -- The buck stops on him squarely and he cannot pass it to any person. So, it lies within his domain to solve the problem. [Interruption.]
    An Hon Member 11:45 a.m.
    Four years.
    Mr Awuah 11:45 a.m.
    Thank you for the correction.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Member for Shama, do you have a point of order?
    Mr Essilfie 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, rightly so.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Do you have a point of order?
    Mr Essilfie 11:45 a.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    What is your point of order?
    Mr Essilfie 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, my point of order is that, my senior Colleague and the Hon Leader of the House, is referring to the former President Kufuor as “Kufuor”. I do not think it is proper. For the lay people in the gallery, if is he calling President Kufuor's name, he should accordingly address him as President Kufuor and not “Kufuor”.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Well, I am enjoying it because while the Minority is praising President Rawlings, the Majority think that President Kufuor should be given his due. That is very good.
    Hon Member, continue.
    Mr Awuah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I take the intervention in good faith and I would like to thank my Hon Colleague for that correction. His Excellency former President Kufuor.
    Mr Speaker, what is even worse is that, his Excellency former President Kufuor came here, but sadly enough he was not
    even acknowledged. He came and sat here and he was not even acknowledged. So, which one is worse?
    Mr Speaker, I will continue.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minister?
    Mr Ablakwa 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am most grateful.
    A statement has been made which seeks to mislead this House.
    Former President Kufuor was not here on 26th February, 2015 during the State of the Nation Address. It was the Opposition Leader, Nana Akufo-Addo who was here and was duly acknowledged. Please, the Hon Member should not mislead the House.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Please.
    Mr Awuah 11:45 a.m.
    Thank you for that correction --
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Kofi Frimpong?
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Members, on a more serious note, was former President Kufuor here on that day?
    Mr Awuah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I take the correction in good faith. I have been told he was not here.
    Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    So, have you withdrawn that?
    Mr Awuah 11:55 a.m.
    Yes, I withdraw that and also want to put on record that the Presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo was rather here.
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Very well.
    Mr Awuah 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, so, if the NDC, for some reasons, were to leave power now, what would we credit them for, especially in the energy sector? They have only added two megawatts. For six years, they have added only two megawatts of energy to the system and that has to do with the wind powered solar energy at Navrongo.
    Mr Speaker, in the area of health, I would want to applaud the President for the effort he is making, especially in providing the facilities for curative health- care.
    But Mr Speaker, what is lacking is our effort in preventive healthcare. This is because if we do not prevent some communicable diseases from occurring, then we would have to provide more facilities to take care of people when they are sick. But some of these sicknesses can be prevented.
    Mr Speaker, last year, Ghana recorded the worst cholera case in 30 years, over 2,000 people suffered from cholera, out of which 205 lost their lives. The President failed to mention this in his message on the state of the nation. Perhaps, it was not important to him. But the President had the luxury of travelling to some other sister countries which had problems with Ebola, and each of these countries lost less than even 200 of their citizens. Is the President saying that his own citizens are of less importance to him as compared to the nationals of other countries?
    Mr Ablakwa 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am most grateful.
    The Hon Deputy Minority Chief Whip has categorically said that, the President visited Ebola affected countries where the death toll in those countries was not even up to 200.
    Mr Speaker, for the records, the President visited the three most affected countries -- Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, and the death toll in those countries averages 4,000. So, the Hon Member is misleading the House. The Hon Member said that the death toll in these countries did not even get to 200 and yet thousands of people had died in Ghana from cholera. It is a statement of fact he made, which is misleading.
    Mr Awuah 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am happy he said that the death toll in the Ebola affected countries averaged 4,000, but he did not say—Yes, one can have a country recording as many as 8,000 and another recording as low as 50. If one calculates the average, one would get the 4,000 that the Hon Member is talking of. So, his intervention, in my view, is not important.
    Mr Speaker, I will continue —
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Chief Whip, the point that he is making is that, if you take the total of all the three countries as against the 2,000 — the backdrop of the general statement that you made, that those who lost their lives to cholera -- You were very specific to say 200. That is what he responded to as not factually correct.
    Mr Awuah 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, while I was specific with the Ghanaian case, he used averages, but averages may not necessarily reflect actuals --
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Members, it will be in the interest of this House and this country if you veer away in bringing other countries into our debates here. It will not be the best within the framework of
    ECOWAS, especially so, when the President is currently the Chairman of ECOWAS. So, Hon Deputy Minority Chief Whip, if you can veer away from that area and then we make progress.
    Mr Awuah 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I will take your counsel.
    Mr Speaker, the President came to the House at a time when the arrears in the National Health Insurance Levy are averaging seven months —
    Mr Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Member, I am adding 10 minutes. You have exhausted your 30 minutes, but I am giving you additional 10 minutes.
    Mr Awuah 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I will try to keep within that time.
    Mr Speaker, the President mentioned that subscription levels in the National Health Insurance Scheme has risen to 27 million. I do know that the population of this country is far below 27 million. I would also want to believe that we do not have 100 per cent enrolment. So, where did the President get the 27 million figure from? I do not know whether he was referring to attendance rate or something of the sort. But I want to believe that whoever gave the President those figures did a disservice to the President.
    Mr Speaker, the President spent quite some time on infrastructural development. On infrastructure, I do not know whether the President was in a contest of numbers, whether he wanted Ghanaians to know that he was doing more roads and therefore, should be applauded.
    Mr Speaker, the President mentioned roads which are not existing in this country [Hear! Hear!] Last week, the Minister for Roads and Highways was also here and I challenged him, there is no such road in Brong Ahafo by description -- Gawso-Kukuom junction road.
    Mr Speaker, there were repetitions of roads he mentioned. I have been a Regional Minister for the Brong Ahafo Region before and so, I know the road conditions of that region very well.
    Mr Speaker, the President mentioned that they were going to work on Prang- Kintampo road, and also mentioned that the Prang-Abease road would be worked on. Prang-Abease is a subset of the Prang-Kintampo road; so, if the President is working on the Prang-Kintampo road, why does he mention Prang-Abease road at the same time? Who was the President deceiving?
    Mr Speaker, the projects enumerated by the President also exposed the NDC for not doing anything in the roads sector for the six years running. When I was a Regional Minister in the Brong Ahafo Region, we initiated the Drobo-Sampa road. Before I left office, the 51-kilometre road was left with only four kilometres to be completed. It is so sad that the President comes to this House after six years and tells us that he is now going to do the four kilometres that were left. What was he doing for all the six years?
    Mr Speaker, on the Wenchi-Sampa road, the first portion of it -- Wenchi- Nsawkaw was constructed by the NPP Government. The second portion, Nsawkaw-Namase was also started by the NPP Administration, and when we were leaving office, we had built the road up to Mendje and it was left with only three kilometres to Namase. The President comes to this House after six years and says that they are going to do the road from Nsawkaw-Namase, a distance of only three kilometres left.
    Mr Speaker, what has the NDC Government been doing all this while?
    Were they sleeping? The President said that he is going to do the single largest intervention in the roads sector, come this year, through 2019, and that he is going to invest GH¢1billion.
    Mr Speaker, GH¢1 billion is just around US$300 million. Maybe, the President was not well informed, because even in his own Government, between 2009 and 2012, they had used US$1.9 billion to construct 652 kilometres of roads. So, if US$1.9 billion gave us 652 kilometres of roads, and he is saying that he is going to invest GH¢1 billion and that would be the single largest investment, then we do not know what the President was talking of. This is because what they have already invested in the roads sector far outweighs this particular figure that he is quoting.
    Mr Speaker, let me just give you some facts and then you would know which of the various Governments have been prudent in investments in the roads sector.
    Between 2005 and 2008, the NPP Government used GH¢1.28 billion and was able to construct 4,413 kilometres of roads —[Hear! Hear!] So, if the NPP Government used GH¢1.28 billion to construct 4,413 kilometres of roads and the NDC Government used GH¢1.9 billion to construct 652 kilometres of roads, you can tell which of the two Governments has been more prudent in its expenditure in the roads sector.
    Mr Avedzi 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am surprised the Hon Member is making a comparison at different time points. If former President
    Mr Avedzi 12:05 p.m.


    Kufuor constructed the Cape Coast road at the time and the price was US$91 million, it is not the same time that the Kasoa interchange is being constructed. They are different time periods.

    In fact, five years from now, he will not give his children the same amount of money he gives them to go to school because there are different time periods. So, he cannot compare the cost of the construction of the Cape Coast road and the Kasoa interchange at this time. He cannot do that.
    Mr Awuah 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not know whether he was debating me or he was coming out with a point of order. But Mr Speaker --
    Mr Awuah 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I will give him a more recent one.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    You have one minute more.
    Mr Awuah 12:05 p.m.
    The N1 Highway has four lanes on each side of the road. It has two interchanges and five footbridges. The cost of the N1 Highway is US$110 million. Mr Speaker, the Kasoa interchange -- [Interruption] -- Of course, I am quoting the figures in a more stable currency. Mr Speaker, the Kasoa interchange, as I said, is costing this nation US$170 million. That tells you how prudent the Mahama-led Administration is.
    Mr Speaker, this takes me to the issue of good governance.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Your time is up. I added ten minutes to what we have agreed on because you are winding up for the Minority. That was why I added ten
    minutes. So -- [Interruption] -- You have no time. [Laughter.]
    Hon Second Deputy Minority Whip, I will give you one minute to conclude.
    Mr Awuah 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, from what I have demonstrated, if the President really wants to fight corruption, if the President really wants us to have value for money, then he should watch his procurement department, the agencies that are doing procurement on behalf of government. That is where the crux of the corruption is coming from.
    There is so much sole-sourcing and there is so much restrictive tendering. This is actually not in the interest of this nation.
    Mr Speaker, I submit.
    Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr Alfred K. Agbesi (NDC -- Ashaiman) 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to contribute to the Motion to thank the President for his delivery to this House.
    Mr Speaker, a lot has been said concerning the President's State of the Nation Address. The issues that have been raised in respect of this State of the Nation Address are numerous but basically, the issues have been on the economy, energy and infrastructure.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, the President, in his Address, traced where we came from and where we are going. The President was candid with this House in accepting the situation in which we find ourselves but he nevertheless proposed solutions to the problems.
    The President told us that there were times when this nation was on its knees when even our neighbours used to refer
    to us as a nation where we queue for toilet paper. At times, we even had to procure uncooked kenkey, so that we were not left behind. The President was so frank with us and analysed the problems of the nation and suggested solutions on how we can come out of these problems.
    Mr Speaker, we need to thank the President. He was very objective and all the issues that have been raised, particularly on energy, he has answers to all of them. As a nation, we have to face the reality that there are times we cannot avoid facing challenges and as human beings, if we face challenges, we must be able to provide an antidote to them.
    Mr Speaker, much has been said on the issue of energy and the President was very clear that these times are different from the times past. The demand for energy and the use of energy, both domestic and industrial, have increased. People now use it to charge their phones. Even school children have to charge their phones.
    The demand for energy is so great, to the extent that we cannot meet the population increase, hence having all these challenges but the President has told us that we knew where we came from in 1983. We know what has happened. All our past leaders have tried to manage this problem but he, John Mahama, will fix this problem as we go along.
    He did not only say so. He gave us the programme which would lead us to solving the problem. I will refer to page three of the State of the Nation Address; the President said and with your permission, I beg to quote:
    “Following power purchase agreements entered into with several Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and plants that VRA is
    currently working on, we expect, starting from this year and over the next 5 years to inject 3,665 MW of power into our power transmission grid.”
    Mr Speaker, this is a man who has seen the problem, made plans and is ready to fix the challenges that face the country.
    Energy is one of the issues that have affected almost every aspect of our lives and if we can, as the President has provided, that in the next five years, this energy problem would be solved. The only thing we can say to that man is that Mr President, you have our support and that go ahead and solve the problem that you have identified.
    Therefore, Mr Speaker, the generation programme which the President has put in place should tell us that all the noise we are making, the plan to overcome all these problems or challenges, is just near. What is needed is for our Hon Colleagues on the other side of the isle to know that the President is not resting at all.
    Mr Speaker, much has been said about the economy. All that is said is that we are borrowing too much. Mr Speaker, nobody can progress without funds. As a human being, if you do not have funds, you go and procure. If we are borrowing, the issue should be, what we are using the loans for.
    Mr Speaker, let us get into the system. Ghana is faced with water problems which the President has solved. Go to Adentan, which used to be a place where water was a problem. Today, the residents of Adentan are happy; they are celebrating the President. Why can we not also do the same?
    Mr Speaker, the loans are not just for taking sake, but it is because we need
    rose
    Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Hon Member for Old Tafo?
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader is grossly misleading this House.
    He said that, “Yesterday, residents of Kumasi were marching”. Mr Speaker, I am a resident of Kumasi but I was not marching. He should say that, “Some residents”; he cannot say that all the residents were marching. Mr Speaker, 400 people were bussed from all around -- he
    Mr Agbesi 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, some residents of Kumasi, including the constituents of the Hon Dr Akoto Osei marched. Indeed, I recognised some of them coming from the Hon Minority Leader's constituency.
    Mr Speaker, as I said, the loans which we get are for good projects -- infrastructure, schools, water et cetera. We can see things physically in the constituencies where our Hon Colleagues come from. Instead of praising the President, they are rather saying that we are taking too many loans. Mr Speaker, the loans are for projects which our own Hon Colleagues demand.
    Most of the time, Mr Speaker, on Fridays, our Hon Colleagues put Questions to the Minister for Roads and Highways. They demand roads in their constituencies. Roads must be constructed with funds, which when taken, must attract interest. Once the loans are taken, interests must automatically come. The point is that we are putting the loans to good use, which is reflecting in themselves.
    Mr Speaker, the President deserves a lot of applause and I call on my Hon Colleagues, that they should praise the President and give him more power for him to continue working.
    Mr Speaker, on education, our Hon Colleagues are surprised that the programmes we put in place to get every region a university is on course. Today, all the regions of Ghana have public universities -- some are ongoing.
    My Hon Colleague coming from the Brong Ahafo Region is aware that we are constructing a university there. My Hon Colleagues from the Volta and Eastern
    rose
    Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Hon Second Deputy Minority Whip?
    Mr Awuah 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague on his feet just made a statement which is factually incorrect. He said that all the regions of Ghana have public universities.
    Mr Speaker, I would just want him to mention the names of the public universities in the Upper East and Upper West Regions.
    Mr Agbesi 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the University of -- [Interruptions] -- Mr Speaker, this is not time for Questions. [Laughter.]
    The University of Health and Allied Sciences in the Volta Region is being taken care of. Mr Speaker, the University of Energy and Natural Resources in the Brong Ahafo Region and the University of Environment and Sustainable Development in the Eastern Region -- Mr Speaker, some of these projects are ongoing and we need more funds to get them done.
    Mr Speaker, as I have said, and as the President came to this House to tell us, a lot has been done in the area of health. Mr Speaker, I do not need to mention them all. We are all aware of the various hospitals which are being built for all of us.
    If you go to the University of Ghana, a 600-bed hospital is being built. The Ridge Hospital, the Police Hospital and the
    Military Hospital in Kumasi are being built. All Ghanaians are aware and we can see them.
    Mr Speaker, apart from the hospitals which we are building, we also have distr ict hospitals which we are constructing with the loans that we have acquired. Mr Speaker, go to Dodowa, Fomena, Kumasi, Abetifi, Garu-Tempane, Sekondi, Takoradi, Nsawkaw and Konongo --
    rose
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Old Tafo?
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that the Hon Deputy Majority Leader should spare the President what he did not say.
    The President did not say that he was constructing a 500-bed hospital in Kumasi. [Interruption.] That is what the Hon Deputy Majority Leader just said.
    Mr Agbesi 12:25 p.m.
    I have referred him to the 500-bed military hospital in Kumasi. That was what the President said -- [Interruption]
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is not in Kumasi. It is in Afari.
    Mr Agbesi 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, apart from that hospital and the district hospitals that I have mentioned, the President also came to this House and mentioned the health centres and polyclinics that are being constructed. To mention a few, there are health centres at Pokukrom, New Jejeti, Gwollu, Funsi, Sang, Northern Buipe, et cetera,
    We are all aware; we live in these constituencies, we see them and yet we complain that we take loans and interests are accruing. Could we take loans without interests when the hospitals are being built for us?
    rose
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Member for Sekondi?
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader is talking about the President, hospitals and so forth. I agree with him that the President made that statement and to say that when we go to our constituencies, we should be seeing these. I would refer to page 17 of the Address and I beg to quote:
    “Mr Speaker, additionally, work is at various stages of completion on 13 distr ict hospitals … These include a 120-bed facility each at Dodowa, Fomena, Kumawu, Abetifi, Garu-Tempane, Sekondi …”
    For Sekondi, I can say [Interruption] -- it says and I beg to quote:
    “…Takoradi where the old European hospital is being refurbished.”
    I can say that the old European Hospital is not being refurbished as of now; and in Sekondi, there is no land even for a hospital to be started.
    There are problems. I know that they have been earmarked. [Interruption] -- Yes, the land that was secured cannot be used because the gas pipeline is passing through it. So, the President has not been well briefed. [Interruption] -- Please, he says and I beg to quote:
    “Mr Speaker, additionally, work is at various stages of completion on 13 district hospitals …”
    I am saying that nothing has been done, and could not be at any stage of completion. It has not even been started. I am saying the President ought to be well briefed. [Interruption] -- It is at the stage of completion when money is available.
    Mr Speaker, I am being told that when it comes to the National Democratic Congress (NDC's) Administration, when money is available for a project, the project is at the stage of completion. If the Hon Deputy Majority Leader would comfirm --
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Member for Sekondi, that is not on record. You cannot respond to something which is not on record.
    Mr Agbesi 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the President told us and I beg to quote:
    “… and in Takoradi where the old European Hospital is being refurbished.”
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, he is not complaining about Takoradi; he is complaining about Sekondi.
    Papa Owusu-Ankomah 12:25 p.m.
    Even in Takoradi, as of now, nothing has started, and I am saying that as a fact.
    Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Member for Sekondi, with regard to the Takoradi one, I believe the Hon Minister came to respond to a Question on the floor of the House some
    time ago. But if it is about Sekondi and you are saying that there is a problem with the land, maybe, that is an information that you have made available.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr Agbesi 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the President is a listening and caring President. If the people of Takoradi say they want a hospital, the President will build it for them. What is their problem? We shall build one for them; they should not worry.

    Mr Speaker, it is said that the Government is not promoting rule of law. Mr Speaker, I would want to say that the President is “Constitution compliant”. We have just had the Supreme Court coming out with a ruling involving the Electoral Commission and the District Assembly elections. The President looked on for the Supreme Court, the Court which is mandated to interpret the Constitution to come out.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is unfortunate that the Hon Deputy Majority Leader is giving the impression the President could have done something when the Supreme Court was sitting. I think he has to be careful. He said the President stood cool. Did he have a choice? When the Supreme Court is sitting, the President does not have a choice like him and me.
    He has sworn to defend the Constitution. But if he creates the impression that he could have been hot, I think he is misleading the House. He did not have a choice. He had to sit cool like him and me. He should not give anybody the impression the President could have done something. It would be very dangerous for this nation.
    He did what the Constitution requires him to do, nothing more and nothing less. He had to be cool and not hot.
    Mr Agbesi 12:25 p.m.
    Thank you.
    The President was cool and the decision was given. This is a man who would want to see to it that the rule of law prevails. This is a man who even if he is challenged, would say, let the law speak. So, to suggest that the President is not promoting rule of law, is completely unacceptable.
    Mr Speaker, if one goes to the Supreme Court premises, around the Cocoa Affairs area, one would see a 34-court complex -- [Hear! Hear!] -- which is nearly completed and the courts would start using them. This is the President who vowed that the infrastructure for the Judiciary must be provided -- [Hear! Hear!] -- And he is providing it. For our Hon Colleagues to say the President is not promoting rule of law, is again, untenable.
    Mr Speaker, we are in a constitutional era. Things that somebody would think could not be done, the President thinks that they must be done. Very soon all of
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:35 p.m.
    I think that it would be wrong for him to give the impression that it is the President who is building offices for Parliament. Mr Speaker, it is not the President building them. It is Parliament House, which is independent of the Executive. The President cannot build offices for the --
    Mr Speaker, you are the Speaker of this House, could you confirm that it is the President?
    It would be dangerous for the President to be doing that for Parliament. Then there is no independence.
    He is a leader of this House. The leaders went and negotiated for Parliament. After negotiating on our behalf, you come here to tell us that it was the President.
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Members, the process involved the Executive. The loan that we are using to refurbish the place was laid by the Hon Minister for Finance in this House. Therefore, it would be difficult to completely separate the role of the Executive. But I did not get the exact words that he used. To be very fair, in all these matters, it would be very difficult to exclude the Executive completely from --
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I agree with you -- involvement. But he said, “The President built”. The President cannot do that. It would be unconstitutional. It “involved” --
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Members, why are you debating this matter? You know that the process of going to negotiate for the loan and all those things was done by the Executive and brought to the House by the Finance Minister. This House approved it. In fact, the civil works are being supervised by the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, which is an appointee of the Hon Minister.
    The civil works at the Job 600, for the records, are under the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing. The furnishing component is being done by the Parliamentary Service Board. It is a joint effort. So, do not debate. Let us make progress.
    Mr Agbesi 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the direction.
    Mr Speaker, social protection --
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    You have two minutes more.
    Mr Agbesi 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the President has informed us that there is the need for any Ghanaian who works for the nation --
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    The two minutes to the 30 minutes. I added 11 minutes to that of the Minority. If you want more time, let me know.
    Mr Agbesi 12:35 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker; give me more.
    Mr Agbesi 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the President has informed us that there is a programme called Social Protection for the Aged and the Vulnerable in Society. Under this programme, free national health insurance is given to people who are aged, vulnerable and orphans. This is a laudable
    project by a man who is concerned about the welfare, interest, and development of people who have served the nation and are old and must be helped. If one does not like this one, what again does one want?
    Mr Speaker, I think that in all things, we need to appreciate this President for him to come and tell us more.
    Mr Speaker, I would say finally that while my Hon Colleagues on the other side were debating this Address, they posed the question, “What is the state of the nation?” Some said that the President was very subjective in giving his Address but I say that he was very objective. He looked at what is the state now and told us what he is going to do to improve upon all that is happening.
    Mr Speaker, the state of the nation as I understand and as my Hon Colleagues understand at the other side, is the condition or situation or set of circum- stances that pertains at a given time. Our President has gone round and seen our roads. He has seen the situation pertaining to water, education and energy.
    He came back home and analysed and said that if he took those steps, Ghanaians would have freedom. And so, today, what we have now is that the President is going to solve and fix all our problems.
    He has given himself time and I believe sincerely that by this time next year, my Hon Colleagues sitting on the other side would realise that the President did not come here just to promise or use words. He is actually going into action to solve the problems for us and my Hon Colleagues on the other side would be happy. This is because they are always doubting. They should not continue to be “doubting Thomases” because the President's programmes are real and he is going to continue with them.
    Mr Awuah 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to do a small retraction.
    Yesterday, in contributing to the Motion, the Hon Member for Tema East, Hon Titus-Glover made a statement, which was factually incorrect and he has asked me to retract it on his behalf. [Interruption.] He referred --
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Members, please, allow him.
    Mr Awuah 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he stated that the Hon Member for Anlo, Hon Humado is standing trial for his involvement in the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepre- neurial Agency (GYEEDA) case. He later found out that that statement was not correct and has asked me retract it.
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Very well.
    Thank you very much.
    Mr Agbesi 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as the Hon Second Deputy Minority Chief Whip was withdrawing the matter, I saw my Hon Colleague, Hon Titus-Glover on his feet and I think that he wanted to render a personal apology to Hon Kofi Humado --
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Members, it is alright. An Hon Member made a statement and found out that it was not true and he has corrected it for the records, that we should end it there. It has been corrected.
    Hon Members, I direct the Hansard to delete that part of the statement when they are working on the Official Report for yesterday.
    Hon Leaders, I have to take your view on this point. We have concluded the
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.


    debate virtually but Standing Order 86 (4) (c) says:

    “No member shall speak more than once to any Question except --

    in the case of the mover of a substantive motion wishing to reply,”

    The Leaders have spoken. I do not know whether the Hon Deputy Majority Leader has spoken for the mover of the Motion. If so, then I would just put the Question.

    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, what is the position?
    Mr Agbesi 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the mover has agreed.
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Members, that brings us to the end of the debate on the State of the Nation Address, which was delivered by His Excellency the President on Thursday, 26th February, 2015 in this Honourable House.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved:
    That this Honourable House thanks His Excellency the President for the message on the state of the nation, which he delivered to Parliament on Thursday, 26th February 2015.
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr Agbesi 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with your permission, let us go to item 8.
    Mr Awuah 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, at your pre- Sitting meeting, I think we came to some agreement. I do not know whether there has been any change with regard to the agreement we had over there. Because the understanding was that we would hold
    on to item 8 for some discussions and then take it tomorrow.
    So, I do not see why my Hon Colleague is calling for that particular item.
    Mr Agbesi 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my attention was drawn to the fact that --
    Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    Hon Members, we cannot discuss those matters on the floor. We can take item 8 and hold back item 9.
    Let us take item 8, and then we can defer item 9.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker, please take the Chair.
    Hon Members, item number 8 on the Order Paper.
    MOTIONS 12:45 p.m.
    Chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr James K. Avedzi) 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Develop- ment Association (IDA) for an amount of thirty-two million, four hundred thousand Special Drawing Rights (SDR32,400,000.00) [US$50.00 million equivalent] being additional financing for the Social Opportunities Project.
    Mr Speaker, in doing so, I present your Committee's Report.
    Introduction
    The request for approval of the Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Development Associa- tion (IDA) for an amount of thirty-two
    million, four hundred thousand Special Drawing Rights (SDR32,400,000.00) (US$50,000,000.00 equivalent) to finance the Social Opportunities Project was presented to the House by the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, Mr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, on Wednesday, 1st October, 2014 in accordance with article 181 of the 1992 Constitution.
    Mr Speaker referred the request to the Finance Committee for consideration and report in accordance with Order 169 of the Standing Orders of the House.
    The Committee was assisted at its deliberations by the Hon Deputy Ministers for Finance and Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson and Mr Alexander John Ackon respectively, officials from the Ministries of Finance, Local Government and Rural Development and Gender, Children and Social Protection.
    The Committee is grateful to the Hon Deputy Ministers and officials from the three Ministries for their assistance.
    Reference
    The Committee referred to the following additional documents during its deliberations:
    The 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
    The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.
    Loans Act 1970 (Act 335).
    Background
    The Government of Ghana in 2010, secured US$88.6 million credit from the World Bank to support the implementation of the Ghana Social Opportunities Project (GSOP). The project was designed against
    the backdrop of wide poverty gap across the regions, greater exposure to risks and seasonal unemployment, food, fuel and financial crisis, gaps in the draft National Social Protection Strategy and the need to increase support for Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP).
    The project was therefore, designed to help make a significant contribution to mitigate the adverse impact of global financial, fuel and food crisis by expanding income earnings in some of the poorest communities in Ghana, expanding social support to critically vulnerable groups and rationalise and strengthen social protection framework, so that in the event of any future economic crisis, these safety net programmes would be expanded to mitigate the sufferings of the poor and the vulnerable groups.
    The project has proved to be one of the effective social protection interven- tions and has therefore, seen the need for additional activities and restructuring to sustain the gains. The project has been redesigned and this request is to provide additional funding required to support the continued implementation of the project.
    Justification of the request
    Mid-year review of the Ghana Social Opportunities project highlighted the need to scale up the LEAP and Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW) and to establish a harmonised social protection monitoring and evaluation framework. There is also the need to develop a national social protection policy that gives basis for assessing government progress on spending and impact of social programmes across the country.
    To this end, the additional financing will provide the needed resources to help establish a data base of beneficiaries of
    MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
    Mr James Cecil Yanwube (NPP -- Tatale Sanguli) 12:48 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion. In seconding the Motion, I would like to say a few things about the loan in particular.
    This is another loan that we have to take and it marvels me because all along, we have been crying about these loans. This time round, we have to take some more loans.

    I have to be against it because if we have to take loans and loans, we would one day get to a point where we do not have anything left for our national development.

    So, the thing is that we would have to be very careful about how much loans we take.

    My second reason is that, it is for our Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty Implementation and Capacity Building (LEAP) Project. My understanding of the LEAP Project is that, we usually take loans to support some vulnerable people. My concern is whether we are serious about the loans, because each time we give some paltry monies to these vulnerable persons and I do not think it makes any significant impact on their lives.

    Maybe, we would have to make sure that this time round, the component going to the projects is a bit bigger than what is going directly to support the individual LEAP Project.

    My other comment is about the interest charge, which is 1.25 per cent. We also have commitment charges of about 0.5 per cent, a service charge of 0.75 per cent. In total, it looks like they are a bit too high for that kind of loan.

    Maybe, we would have to think about it and if we have to cut down some of these terms, we will do.

    In that same way, we would have to --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:48 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Chairman to the Committee?
    Mr Avedzi 12:48 p.m.
    On a point of order.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member made a point that he is adding up the interest rate, the commitment charge and the service charge, to say that it is on the high side.
    This is the standard IDA facility under the World Bank, and therefore, if he adds up all, he would be wrong. This is because the 1.25 per cent interest rate is on the withdrawn balance, and the commitment fee is on the unwithdrawn balance. So, he cannot add all and say it is on the high side. This is the standard IDA facility.
    I would just like to draw his attention to it.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:48 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not think it takes away from what he said. The interest rate is on the withdrawn credit balance and the service charge is also on the withdrawn credit balance. The two together is 2 per cent. That was all he was saying.
    Yes, it is the standard, but his point is that the interest rate is 1.25 per cent and 0.75 per cent on the withdrawn balance. It may be standard IDA; there is nothing wrong with that. But he is stating a fact.
    Mr Yanwube 12:55 p.m.
    So, Mr Speaker, these are the few points that I would want to raise. If the Chairman has any other thing to say, then he must say that. I think the interest rate is a bit too high for us.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    I have been instructed that the Rt. Hon Speaker has said that we should defer item 9 on the Order Paper.
    Mr Agbesi 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we can then go to item 10 and defer item 11, as we have just done. [Pause.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, can you come again?
    Mr Agbesi 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we should take item 10, so that the Resolution would be deferred.
    Concessional Loan Facility between Government of Ghana and Republic
    of Korea
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr James K. Avedzi) 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Concessional Loan Facility between the Government of Ghana and the Government of the Republic of Korea, acting through the Export-Import Bank of Korea for an amount of US$67,234,000.00 for the Implementation of Prestea Kumasi Power Enhancement Project.
    Mr Speaker, I present your Committee's Report.
    Introduction
    The request for approval of the Concessional Loan Facility between the Government of Ghana and the Government of the Republic of Korea, acting through
    the Export-Import Bank of Korea for an amount of sixty-seven million, two hundred and thirty-four thousand United States dollars (USD67,234,000.00) for the implementation of the Prestea-Kumasi Power Enhancement Project, which was presented to the House by the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, Mr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson on Friday, 27th February, 2015, in accordance with article 181 of the 1992 Constitution. Mr Speaker referred the request to the Finance Committee for consideration and report in accordance with Order 169 of the Standing Orders of the House.
    The Committee was assisted in its deliberations by the Hon Deputy Ministers for Finance and Power, Messrs Cassiel Ato Baah Forson and Mr John Abdulai Jinapor respectively and officials from the Ministries of Finance and Power.
    The Committee is grateful to the Hon Deputy Ministers and officials from the two Ministries for their assistance.
    Reference
    The Committee referred to the following documents during its delibera- tions:
    The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
    The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.
    The Loans Act, 1970 ( Act 335).
    Background
    The transmission network in Ghana has operated mainly on 161 kV transmission line transporting power from the Akosombo and Kpong Hydro-electric power stations to the major load centres across the country. Though some
    Mr James C. Yanwube (NPP -- Tamale/ Sanguli) 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and in seconding it, I would like to reiterate the point I made earlier.
    The loans and the loans and the loans, it looks like we are borrowing too much. But this is a case where we would want to solve an essential problem and what we are looking at is to find a way of curing the dumsor, dumsor. [Interruption.] If the intention is to end the dumsor, dumsor,

    then we must accept whatever you propose. But what it is, is that, the dumsor, dumsor is continuing a bit too long and we want some kind of solution to that, almost immediately.

    Apart from that, we are always saying that we have to borrow on the balance sheet of so, so and so. The Government would still be part of the same system that would have to repay the loan if something happens or if the company does not repay the loan. So, whatever it is, we are still saying that Ghana Government is borrowing.

    So, as for the borrowing, there are no two ways about that. We are still borrowing and I am wondering whether our loans limit is not becoming too much for this country to bear. [Interruption.] So with that --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Hon Member, please, address the Chair.
    Mr Yanwube 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with that, I would want to end my contribution.
    Question proposed.
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, just a slight information.
    The Report is in two parts, so to speak. The first is to adopt the Report for Ghana Government to borrow from the International Development Association (IDA). Then there is a second part which Ghana Government is loaning to GRIDCo, the On-lending Agreement.
    In the Order Paper, even though we are going to defer, we have a Resolution for the first one, but there is no Resolution for the On-lending Agreement, which must also come separately. So, this Report is in two parts.
    The adoption of it does not automa- tically mean the second Resolution is there. But I noticed that the second Resolution, which should have been put here also as maybe, 13 is gone. So, I just
    want to bring the Clerk's attention to it. We would defer the Resolution, but there has to be a new one for that On-lending Agreement.
    I thank you.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Very well. Point well taken.
    Table Office, please, take note.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr Alfred K. Agbesi 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there are other items on the Order Paper but there is the need for some further consultation before we take them.
    At this stage, Mr Speaker, I would want to, with your leave, beg to move, that the House do adjourn to tomorrow at 10.00 o'clock in the forenoon.
    Dr Anthony A. Osei 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and in so doing, remind the Deputy Majority Leader that he was directed by the Speaker to say something about an issue, and that is why we are adjourning now, so that the Leadership will brief the House either in Committee of the Whole or joint Caucus or whatever -- we were directed. So, he should not think that we are just leaving. We are adjourning for the Leadership to do what they were directed.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, what are you asking for? What kind of meeting --
    Mr Alfrd K. Agbesi 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am moving for the adjournment of the House, so that Leaders would meet a team coming from the Auditor-General's Department to enable us be in a position to brief the House as early as possible, probably, tomorrow in the morning. So, I am asking and moving that the House do adjourn at this stage.
    Mr Awuah 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is true we are to meet a team from the Ministry of Finance and the Auditor-General's Department. We have not met yet. So, if
    we should even meet now, we would not have much to tell Hon Members. We would just plead that we adjourn, while Leadership holds that particular meeting and then early tomorrow morning, we will brief them.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    This is the reason I wanted to know, specifically what Leadership is asking for.
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Speaker's directive was very clear. The Speaker ruled that these matters cannot be discussed here. So, at some point in time, Leadership should meet with the rest of the Members of Parliament (MPs) and tell us something. That was his directive.
    If you are saying that you have nothing to say, it is a different matter. His ruling was that, you tell us something today but in a different forum. That is what he directed. I am surprised.
    Mr Agbesi 1:05 p.m.
    We are aware of the direction of the Speaker, that is why we are asking for an adjournment to meet, so that we have something to tell the House.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, to meet with who? Or is it the House meeting?
    Mr Agbesi 1:05 p.m.
    No! Leadership will meet first. There is a team coming to meet with Leadership, so that we will be able to finalise the discussion with that team, so that tomorrow, we can brief the House.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Hon Member for Wa West?
    Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that the Hon Deputy Majority Leader has done the right thing. The direction is for us to adjourn and for the Leadership to engage the Auditor- General, so that they will have something to brief the rest of us. We cannot ask the Leadership to brief Hon Members on anything until this meeting is held.
    I would plead with the Hon Member, the direction Mr Speaker gave was very clear. Mr Speaker did not say that we should argue on this floor of the House.
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with respect, you should not be misquoted. He did not refer to any meeting between Leadership and the Auditor-General. He said these matters should not be discussed here but at some point in time, “brief them”.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Finance was here and there was some communication between him and the Clerk. He advised that Leadership should go to Mr Speaker, so that they would have something to tell us. So, if they have not gone to Mr Speaker, he should say so, but not to say that they will meet the Auditors. They need to consult Mr Speaker, because he has information that they do not have.
    We should have suspended Sitting for him to go and consult, Mr Speaker and come back. Five minutes consultation with Mr Speaker would have been better. The reason is that, last week, Leadership told us that come today, they would report to us. That is what they told us. So, if they do not have the information, they should have, at least --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Very well. I think that what is happening is that, from what I glean from the response from the Hon Deputy Majority Leader, it looks like they would have to meet with the Auditor- General and Hon Minister for Finance before they can meet Hon Members. So, if they are asking for some more time up to tomorrow, I think it is in order.
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with respect, maybe, Leadership may not be well informed on this matter. This is because, the Hon Minister for Finance has conveyed some information to Mr Speaker today. The Hon Majority Leader, maybe, has not briefed the Hon Deputy Majority Leader -- [Interruption.] He is not here.
    This morning, on the floor of the House, Mr Speaker communicated something to the Hon Minister for Finance, which should come from our Leadership. That is the point I am raising. So, they should have contacted him and passed it on. It is not with the Auditors.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Member for Wa West?
    Mr Chireh 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, you should adjourn the House and we should second the Motion, so that whatever it is, he should contact the Leadership to ensure that the right thing is done. We are debating the issue here, which should not be the case.
    Whatever transpired between the Hon Minister for Finance and Mr Speaker, would not be the basis for this long debate. Adjournment is the first thing. I plead with you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Hon Members, I do not want us to drag this matter beyond its limit. I direct that the Leadership should have whatever consultations they need to have either with the Hon Minister or Auditor-General or Mr Speaker, so that they would be well informed and be in the position to meet with Hon Members to address the concerns raised.
    It has been moved and seconded, that this House stands adjourned till tomorrow at 10.00 o'clock in the forenoon.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    ADJOURNMENT 1:05 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 1.16 p.m. till Thursday, 19th March, 2015 at 10.00 a.m.