Debates of 19 Mar 2015

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 12:55 p.m.
Some Hon Members 12:55 p.m.
Committee of the Whole.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Members, we shall move into the Committee of the Whole but let us -- [Hear! Hear!] Let us first deal with the Votes and Proceedings.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 12:55 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Members, Correction of the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 18th March,
2015.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Members, we have one Official Report and that is for Friday, 13th March, 2015.
Mr Kobena M. Woyome 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the front page, the Second Reading of the Bill should be “Chieftaincy (Amendment) Bill, 2013” but not “Chieftaincy (Agreement) Bill, 2013”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
I am sorry, I am not following.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Yes, thank you very much.
Table Office, please take note.
Hon Members, the Official Report of Friday, 13th March, 2015 as corrected, is adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, this House shall now move into the Committee of the Whole. After the Committee of the Whole, we will move back into plenary.
I direct that the Gallery be cleared. For the information of members of the media, after the Committee of the Whole, we will reconvene in plenary and continue with business as usual.
1.03 p.m. -- Sitting suspended.
1.55 p. m. -- Sitting resumed.
MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Second Deputy Majority Whip, where are we? I do not think we can take the Questions because the Hon Ministers have left the Chamber.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think there is an Order Paper Addendum and if we can lay that Paper.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Which of the Order Paper Addenda? We have Order Paper Addenda 2 and 3. Which one are you referring to?
Mr A. Ibrahim 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am referring to Order Paper Addendum 3.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, at the Commencement of Public Business -- Presentation of Papers.
Hon Minister for Finance?
Dr A. A. Osei 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am asking the Leadership if there is consensus. They did not even converse. They should be talking to them. After all, this going round, are we taking unilateral decisions with our Leadership? We are not aware. Mr Speaker, this is the problem. [Interruption.]
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Members, Order!
We have the Resolutions which will not be taken. We will deal only with Motions and not the Resolutions, so that we can show our good faith and when they also respond appropriately, we will know how to deal with the Resolutions.
Hon Minister for Finance?
Mr Joe Ghartey 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, are we still in Closed Sitting -- [Interruption] -- The pressmen have not been invited but --
That is the Press Gallery. We have the Press Gallery here. If we are dealing with such important matters -- I have also seen that there is another Reporter. I think that when you see an empty Press Gallery, it should be of concern to every Hon Member of Parliament. So, I was wondering whether the Clerks have invited the Press back, not the ones here but at the Press Gallery. There is nobody there.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Mr A. Ibrahim 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to seek your permission for the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance to lay the
Paper on behalf of the Minister for Finance.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Yes, what do you say?
Dr A. A. Osei 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought he sought your guidance, so, I do not want to pretend I am the Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Deputy Minister?
PAPERS 12:55 p.m.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree to the direction of my Leadership to have the Paper laid. But it has serious implications that we may consider at the Committee level. This is because the laying of this Paper effectively changes the budget which we have approved. The Deputy Minister for Finance is aware.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Well. Hon Member, I do not begrudge you but I believe that at the Committee level, all issues could be raised. For now, it is referred to the Finance Committee.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there are preliminary issues which ought to be discussed here and I am raising them for now.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
What I mean is that, it has been referred to the Finance Committee. When the Committee is meeting on the matter, all these issues could be raised. But at this level, there is very little we can do.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want your Speakership and Hon Members to be thinking about these constitutional problems that may come by. The Committee may meet but we may need guidance from others. That is why I would want to bring your attention, so that your Speakership would even begin to look at it.
This is because it may be that if you look at it properly, you may guide us properly next week and that is why I am raising it now.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
You let the Committee come with its Report. When the Report is laid and it is time for it to be moved, we will address all these issues. Let us not jump the gun, please.
Hon Deputy Majority Whip?
Mr A. Ibrahim 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we come to item-- 5(b) on the main Order Paper -- Presentation of Papers.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Is it item 5 (a) or 5(b)?
Mr A. Ibrahim 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item number 5(b).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Members, in the light of the state of proceedings, I direct that this House Sits beyond the prescribed time in accordance with Standing Order 40 (3).
Mr A. Ibrahim 2:05 p.m.
Once again, Mr Speaker, I would want to seek your permission for the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance to lay the Papers on behalf of the Hon Minister for Finance.
Deputy Minister for Finance (Mr Cassiel Ato Forson) (on behalf of the Minister for Finance) --
(i) Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT and NHIL, ECOWAS Levy, EDIF, Inspection Fees, Withholding tax and other related taxes amounting to six million, twenty-four thousand, eight hundred and twenty-three United States dollars and eight cents (US$6,024,823.08) on project materials and equipment to be procured domestically or imported for use in the implementation of the Contract Agreement between Government of the Republic of Ghana and China Jiangxi Corpora- tion for International Economic and Technical Co-operation (authorised by the Chinese Government) under the China- aided Stadium Project in Cape Coast.
ii) Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT and NHIL, ECOWAS Levy, EDIF, inspection fees, withholding tax and other related taxes amounting to eight hundred and nineteen thousand, seven hundred and fifty United States dollars (US$819,750.00) on project materials and equipment to be procured domestically or imported for use in the implementation of the Contract Agreement between Government of the Republic of Ghana and China Gansu Interna- tional Corporation for Economic
and Technical Co-operation under the China-aided New Century Career Training Institute Expansion Project at Dansoman.
(iii)Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT and NHIL, ECOWAS Levy, EDIF, inspection fees, Withholding tax and other related taxes amounting to fifty-one thousand, six hundred and thirteen Ghana cedis and thirty-seven Ghana pesewas (GH¢51,613.37 [VAT/ NHIL]) and two hundred and sixty- eight thousand, two hundred and sixty-one United States dollars (US$268,261.00 [Customs duties]) on project materials and equipment to be procured domes-tically or imported for use in the implemen- tation of the Contract Agreement between Government of the Republic of Ghana and China Geo- Engineering Corpora-tion under the China-aided Basic School Project at Otuam and Arkra in the Central Region.
Referred to the Finance Committee
Mr A. Ibrahim 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item number 5 (c)
By the Chairman of the Committee --
(i) Report of the Committee on Mines and Energy on the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Bill, 2014.
(ii) Report of the Committee on Mines and Energy on the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and Africa and Middle East Resources Investment Group Llc (Ameri Energy) for the installation of ten (10) GE TM 2500+ aero derivative gas turbines, operate,
maintain, transfer and provision of support services.
Mr A. Ibrahim 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item number 5 (a).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development?
Mr A. Ibrahim 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, once again, I would like to seek your kind permission and the leave of the House for the Hon Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to lay the Paper on behalf of the Hon Minister.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development?
By the Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (Mrs Benita Sena Okity-Duah (on behalf of the Minister) --
(a)Fisheries (Amendment) Regula- tions, 2015.
Referred to the Subsidiary Legislation Committee.
Mr A. Ibrahim 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to seek your kind permission for the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance to withdraw a Paper that was laid in this House on the 18th of November, 2014.
Mr Cassiel A. B. Forson 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to seek the leave of the House and your goodself to withdraw the Public Procurement (Amendment) Act, 2014 which was laid on the 18th of November, 2014. This is due to errors that we have identified in the Act and we would come back to present a new one.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Very well. Leave is granted. [Pause.]
Mr Gabriel K. Essilfie 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to seek your guidance on item 5 (a), because you have referred it to the Subsidiary Legislation Committee -- [Interruption.] Let me address the Chair. I thought that, at least, the leadership of the Committee on Food and Agriculture who have an oversight responsibility over the fisheries sector would be made part of the referral, so that we would know what is happening in our Ministry.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Hon Member, Regulations are within the ambit of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee. So, they deal with these matters. [Pause.]
Hon Member, you may refer to Order 166 of the Standing Orders and you will see the necessary provisions.
Mr Essilfie 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I understand that but I was just seeking your permission, so that the leadership of the Committee on Food and Agriculture, at least, the Chairman and the Ranking Member could be part of it.
Dr A. A. Osei 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my good Friend knows that any Member of Parliament can attend the proceedings of any committee. However, Regulations are always referred to the Subsidiary Legislation Committee. The Hon Member can go to the meeting of the Committee at any time, in his capacity as the Chairman; I do not see any problem.
But to seek the permission of the Speaker for the Chairman and the Ranking Member to go, it is not normal -- He can go. I am not sure why he wants to seek the Speaker's permission. He does not need the Speaker's permission to go the Committee.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Very well.
Thank you very much.
Mr A. Ibrahim 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague on the other side is right and I would refer my able Chairman to Order 77. So, he should take a cue from that.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Thank you.
Any more business?
Mr Agbesi 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is this Motion, item 10 but I am informed that the Hon Speaker has invited the Committee in charge for further discussion on the matter. [Pause.] So, if we could take item
10.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Very well.
By the Chairman of the Committee.
Dr A. A. Osei 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Paper was just laid. We do not even have copies of it [Interruption.] When was it distributed? This is not a simple matter. This is a serious decision of purchasing a barge which has implications. We do not have the Paper and we have not read it and he wants us to take it through? If we have an emergency, we should allow people time to read it.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Order! Order!
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, how do you respond?
Dr A. A. Osei 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, these are matters of great importance. We should allow people time to read it, so that at the appropriate time, we can debate it properly. It is not a simple matter. So please, let us not go into the debate now. He should look round.
Mr Agbesi 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, earlier, my attention was drawn to the fact that the copies of the Report were distributed but if my Hon Colleague says they have not got copies, it is only fair that we should --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Hon Members, let us have it deferred to tomorrow, by which time copies would have been made available to Hon Members.
Mr Agbesi 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we leave the House in your hands.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Hon Members, I direct that this House stands adjourned to tomorrow at 10.00 ‘o clock in the forenoon.
Thank you for your cooperation.
ADJOURNMENT 2:05 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 2:15 p.m. till Friday, 20th March, 2015 at 10.00 a.m.