Debates of 21 May 2015

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:40 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:40 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings Wednesday, 20th May, 2015.
Page 1 …13 --
You are up? Sorry.
Mr Emmanuel K. Bedzrah 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was here yesterday in person, but my name has been captured under the absentees.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
What page is that?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Page 11?
Mr Bedzrah 10:40 a.m.
Page 7.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Page 7?
Mr Bedzrah 10:40 a.m.
Page 7, number 49.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
All right. Table Office, please, take note.
Page 11, 12, 13…
Mr David T. Assumeng 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sorry to draw you back to page 8.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Page?
Mr Assumeng 10:40 a.m.
Page 8, number 67.
Hon Oppon-Kusi David -- yesterday, the Committee on Works and Housing had a meeting and he was in attendance, and so -- I think he was in.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
I cannot hear you.
Mr Assumeng 10:40 a.m.
Yesterday, the Committee on Works and Housing held a meeting and he was in attendance; so, he was present yesterday.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Who was in attendance?
Mr Assumeng 10:40 a.m.
Hon Oppon-Kusi David -- number 67.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
We were talking about presence in the Chamber.
Mr Assumeng 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my understanding is that, since he was there, he might have been in the Chamber.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
We are talking about presence in the Chamber.
Mr Alexander K. Afenyo-Markin 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am a little confused. Is it the case that if somebody comes to Parliament and he has a Committee meeting and he goes into that meeting straightaway, he would be considered to have been absent?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
The Hon Member himself said he presumes, that he is speculating and that is not what we go by. So, I do not --
Mr Afenyo-Markin 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, but you thereafter ruled that you were talking about presence in the Chamber.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
We are talking about presence in the Chamber. If it is a Committee meeting which is also recorded then that is a different matter. Otherwise, we are talking about presence in the Chamber. You would see that Committee meetings have also been captured. Yes, so they are two different categories.
Hon Members, in the absence of any further corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 20th May, 2015 are hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, we have one Official Report for Thursday, 14th May, 2015.
Any corrections or amendments?
Yes, Hon Member?
Dr Stephen (Nana) Ato Arthur 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sorry to take you back and I thank you for the opportunity.
The Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises has been in workshop since Tuesday and we have all been marked absent here. I thought we were out with permission; I am surprised that we have all been marked absent.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Well, [Pause.]
Very well.
Hon Members, there has been a ruling on this particular issue before and the ruling was to the effect that, after the Committee has cleared the matter with the Speaker, they should find ways and means of getting the Table Office to become aware. Otherwise, there would be no way that they would get to know that something like that is happening. So, as
you have pointed out, it could be captured appropriately.
So, I think we have to go by our existing ruling; so, probably, we would add it to the amendments or the correction of Votes and Proceedings. But I believe that next time round, the procedure should be complied with to the letter.
Dr Arthur 10:40 a.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:40 a.m.
So, as directed, subject to the corrections, the Votes and Proceedings for Wednesday, 20th May, 2015 are hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Now, we are on the Official Report for Thursday, 14th May, 2015.

In the absence of any corrections, I direct that the Official Report for Thursday, 14 th May, 2015 is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings for that day.

Hon Members, we move to Question time.

In this respect, I will skip the first Question and move to the second and the third because the Hon Member asking those Questions would have to carry out some urgent assignments as soon as he has finished with his Questions. So, we will start with Alhaji Habibu Tijani Mohammad -- Hon Member for Yendi.

What I am saying is, I am not going according to the order, so, we are taking his first, so that after he has finished with his, he would have time and leave the Chamber and go and carry out the assignment.

So, the first Question, that is 249, stands in the name of Alhaji Habibu Tijani Mohammad -- Hon Member for Yendi.
ORAL ANSWERS TO 10:50 a.m.
QUESTIONS 10:50 a.m.
MINISTRY OF POWER 10:50 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Minister?
Sorry for not inviting you to occupy your chair before the Question was asked.
Minister for Power (Dr Kwabena Donkor) 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Kpalgigbene and Choo communities form part of the on- going SHEP projects currently being implemented by the Ministry. High Voltage, Low Voltage and sub-station works have been completed in the communities. Customer services installation is ongoing and expected to be completed during the second quarter of this year.
Bunbon forms part of the ongoing project being executed by Hunan Construction Engineering Group Corporation of China phase 3. Overall work in the community is 40 per cent complete.
Kuni, Kulkpene and Kpalsonado communities have been earmarked to benefit from the upcoming SHEP-5 project in the Northern Region. Procurement of materials is underway and installation
works are envisaged to commence in the last quarter of this year.
Kpachiyili and Kpanjamba communities have been earmarked to benefit under a new electrification project in the Northern, Eastern and Volta Regions, to be executed by Hunan Construction Engineering Group Corporation of China. Feasibility study has been completed and value for money assessment is currently ongoing. The execution of works is expected to commence in the first quarter of the year
2016.
The remaining communities namely: Bini, Kpugli, Bogni, Kuga, Gbetobu, Gundowagri, Kpaku/Dagbanja and Paansiya do not form part of any of the ongoing electrification projects. The communities would be considered in subsequent projects when funding becomes available.
Alhaji H. T. Mohammad 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, for Kpalgigbene and Choo, a lot of houses have not been covered because the total number of poles supplied to the area was not more than 70. What can be done to improve the coverage?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Minister?
Dr Donkor 10:50 a.m.
The experience is that, normally, a survey is conducted quite often, a year or two before project implementation, and it is the number of habitats available that are counted at the time. If additional houses have since been built, then the Ministry would look at it and capture it under the various intensification projects that we are undertaking.
Alhaji H. T. Mohammad 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with reference to the Minister's Answer, when would the rest of the 60 per cent of work to be done in Bunbon be covered?
Dr Donkor 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the project is ongoing and that we have imported some materials and as soon as they are in -- the contractor has not totally disengaged. The contractor is still within the area and would continue with the rest of the works.
Alhaji H. T. Mohammad 10:50 a.m.
Hon Minister, when exactly should the good people of Bini, Kpugli, Bogni, Kuga, Gbetobu and Paansiya expect work to commence?
Dr Donkor 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the desire of the Ministry and for that matter, of the Ghanaian State, is for us to achieve universal access, which is technically defined as 90 per cent, or more. We are currently around 76 per cent, which is the second highest penetration in sub- Saharan Africa. The expectation is that by the year 2020, we would have achieved universal access.
Mr Speaker, we are working on some projects and as soon as those projects are funded through the various processes in Parliament and in Cabinet, we would continue to electrify the rest of the country.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
These Questions are constituency-specific. So, let us move to the next Question, which also stands in the name of Alhaji Habibu Tijani Mohammad, Member of Parliament for Yendi.
Hon Member, you have the floor.
Electricity Supply to settlements in Yendi Municipality
Q250. Alhaji Habibu Tijani Mohammad asked the Minister for Power when electricity supply from the national grid
would be extended to the following new settlements of Yendi town in the Yendi municipality: (i) Walyapala, (ii) Mendogu, (iii) Kalbila, (iv) Sikafuo, (v) Gamanzi, (vi) Saasigli, (vii) Guntingli.
Dr Donkor 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Kalibi/ Nindogu and Saasigli were completed under the SHEP-4 programme in 2010.
Woriyipala forms part of the ongoing SHEP project for which high voltage works have been completed. Outstanding works in the community will be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2015.
The remaining communities, namely; Mendogu, Sikafuo and Gamanzi do not form part of any of the ongoing projects and would be considered in our subsequent projects when funding becomes available.
Alhaji H.T. Mohammed 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, is the Minister aware that the contractor working on the Kalbila, Saasigli and Nindogu project has abandoned the site and so, the works are hanging? Can he please make his checks again?
Dr Donkor 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, our records indicate that the programme was completed in 2010. If there is any other information to the contrary, the Ministry would be grateful for him to provide us with that information, so that we can follow up.
Alhaji H. T. Mohammad 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, when exactly would the funding be secured for the good people of Mendougu, Sikafuo, Gamanzi to also enjoy the national electricity grid?
Dr Donkor 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry could only work on securing funds. As to the approval of funds, be it loans or budgetary allocations, this House is the master, and we would continue to work towards sourcing funds, but the final approval would rest on this House.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes, is there any further follow-up question, Hon Member?
I wonder why he (another Hon Member) would want to come in; it is constituency-specific.
Yes, Hon Second Deputy Minority Chief Whip?
Mr Ignatius B. Awuah 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is true that the Questions are constituency- specific, but the Answers given by the Hon Minister require further explanation, and in that case, I would want to believe that any Hon Member who is not satisfied with the Answer given by the Hon Minister, has the right to ask for clarification. That is why we should allow for one or two interventions.
Mr Speaker, I personally made an application that we should cut this Question time short, but sometimes, we also need the details to make well informed decisions.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes, Hon Second Deputy Majority Chief Whip?
Mr Ahmed Ibranim 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was just trying to remind my Hon Colleague of the gentleman agreement which even led to this Question being asked earlier. If the Hon Member is alright with the Question and the Answer, we could move on to the next Question, then we might excuse him to go and executing whatever he wants.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Very well
Hon Members, we will move on to the original first Question, which stands in the name of Hon Kennedy Nyarko Osei, Member for Akim Swedru.
Connection of some towns in the Akim Swedru Constituency to the
national electricity grid
Q.231. Mr Kennedy Nyarko Osei asked the Minister for Power when the following towns would be connected to the national electricity grid: (i) Adinkrom, (ii) Otwereso Praso, (iii) Yawdensukrom, (iv) Kroboase, (v) Mensakrom, (vi) Apoli Ningo, (vii) Ofosukrom, (viii) Oforikrom.
Dr Donkor 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Oforikrom and Adinkrom communities have been captured to benefit under an upcoming electr ification project for which engineering surveys have been carried out to determine the quantities and the loan amount required.
Ofosukrom and Kraboase communities have been captured to benefit under another upcoming electrification project in the Eastern, Volta, Ashanti, Western and
Central Regions, to be executed by China International Water & Electric Corporation (CWE). Pre-feasibility studies have been completed for the project.
The remaining communities, namely; Otwereso Praso, Apoli Ningo, Yawdensu- krom and Mensakrom communities do not form part of any of our projects. However, we plan to include them in future electrification projects.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, is there any follow-up questions?
Mr K. N. Osei 10:50 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
The Hon Minister, in his Answer, said engineering surveys had been completed in those areas, that is, Oforikrom, Adinkrom, Ofosukrom and Kraboase. I would want to find out from him if he could give time-lines. This is because the people of this area are eager to be hooked on to the national electricity grid. This House is a house of records, so, I would want him to tell us when this project specifically would be carried out. That is what I would want to hear from him.
Dr Donkor 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as much as I would have loved to specifically tell him when this project would be completed, I am unable to do that because as at this stage, it is the pre-feasibility study that has been carried out. The feasibility study would also have to be carried out depending on the results of the pre- feasibility study, and then contract award processes would follow.
Unfortunately, these processes would take time and they go through other entities other than the Ministry. So, I would plead with the Hon Member to give
us a bit more time, allow us to complete the processes and when the contract is awarded, I would then be in the position to be very specific when the contractor's completion period would be.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr K. N. Osei 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister, in his Answer on Otwereso Praso, Apoli Ningo, Yawdensukrom and Mensakrom, said that there had not been any engineering survey in those areas, and that he would plan to include it in any future electrification project.
I would want to find out from him whether he is aware that, in the year 2008, these towns -- Otwereso Praso, Apoli Ningo, Yawdensukrom and Mensakrom were all supplied with electricity poles and were about to be connected to the national electricity grid? Apoli, which is the main town, two kilometres from Apoli Ningo and Beposo were all earmarked to be connected to the national electricity grid.
I am lost here. Could he just let me know how come these electricity poles were supplied if there were no engineering works done in that area?
Dr Donkor 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not aware. I would find out the validity of the statement when you give me time.
What I know is that, under the Tebian Electr ic Apparatus Stock Company Limited (TBEA), projects which financing terms are currently being discussed with the Ministry of Finance, have been captured, but I am not aware that in the year 2008, electric poles were sent there. I would find out and contact the Hon Member.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well. Any further supplementary question?
Mr K. N. Osei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would urge the Hon Minister to find out. Termites are now eating the electricity poles which have been abandoned; so, he should go and check immediately.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, we will move on to the next Question, which stands in the name of the Hon Benito Owusu-Bio of Atwima Nwabiagya North Constituency.
Connecting towns in the Atwima Nwabiagya North Constituency to the
national electricity grid
Q.286. Mr Benito Owusu-Bio asked the Minister for Power when the following towns in the Atwima Nwabiagya District would be connected to the National Electrification Grid:
(i) Boahenkwaa No. 1, (ii) Boahenkwaa No. 2, (iii) Achina, (iv) Adagya, (v) Worapong.
Dr Donkor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Achina community forms part of the ongoing SHEP projects currently being implemented by the Ministry. Installation works for High Voltage, Low Voltage and sub station works have been completed and forty-four (44) meters installed in the community. However, the transformer installed in the community has been established to be defective.
The Ministry is making the necessary arrangement for the replacement of the transformer to enable the community enjoy electricity supply. This is expected to be completed by the end of the second quarter.
The remaining communities, namely; Boahenkwaa No. 1, Boahenkwaa No. 2, Adagya and Worapong do not form part
of any of the ongoing electrification projects. The communities would be considered in the subsequent projects when funding becomes available.
Mr Owusu-Bio 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister 's Answer, he said that the transformer installed in Achina has been established to be defective. That is correct but I beg to ask him how long it takes to replace a transformer which is defective.
Dr Donkor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, transformers and other materials under SHEP and our other electrification projects are area-specific. We order a specific number of transformers and materials based on the bill of quantities submitted.
Mr Speaker, in a situation where we do not have any spares in our stores, we place orders. As we speak, we have placed some orders for transformers and other accessories and that is why we believe that by the end of the second quarter, these materials would have arrived and we would correct that deficiency.
Mr Speaker, we regret that it happened. Unfortunately, we do not have spares in our stores at the moment.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Owusu-Bio 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister said that it would be by the end of the second quarter. But as we speak, the second quarter is left with about 40 days. So, I would want to ask him if the transformer is going to be replaced within these 40 days.
Dr Donkor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I hope the 40 days is not symbolic of the 40 days ritual in our Akan calendar. But we intend replacing the transformer within the agreed period, which is the end of the second quarter.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, are you through?
Mr Owusu-Bio 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, the last question on the Order Paper stands in the name of Hon Robert Sarfo-Mensah, Member for Asunafo North.
Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague, Hon Robert Sarfo-Mensah has requested that I ask the question on his behalf.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well. Permission granted.
Electricity to Communities ((Extention)
Q. 288. Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu (on behalf of Mr Robert Sarfo-Mensah) asked the Minister for Power when electricity would be extended to the following communities:
(i) Asukese, (ii) Kyirikasa, (iii) Ebetoda, (iv) Peterkrom, (v) Suntreso, (vi) Mireku, (vii) Adututu, (viii) Boakyekrom, (ix) Kwabenagyam.
Dr Donkor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Asukese community forms part of the ongoing electrification project being funded by the US EXIM Bank and executed by Weldy Lamont and Associates. High Voltage,
Low Voltage and sub-station works have all been completed in the community. Customer service registration is currently underway. Works in the community will be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2015.
The remaining communities, namely; Kyirikasa, Ebetoda, Peterkrom, Suntreso, Mireku, Adututu, Boakyekrom and Kwabenagyam communities do not form part of the ongoing electrification projects and would be considered in our subsequent projects when funding becomes available.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I know that the Hon Minister is aware that Weldy Lamont and Associates' project has run out of funds and they are requesting for extension of time and some more money of about US$8 million. In this respect, how would the Hon Minister reconcile this with the completion of this work by 2015?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Dr Donkor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Weldy Lamont project has not run out of funds but some technical issues have arisen, which are more legal, that even though the House approved the loan agreement, the commercial terms were not approved by the House. And arising out of the ISOFOTON judgement, the US EXIM Bank and other funding bodies believe that the commercial agreement should be brought to Parliament and approved for further funding to be released.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry is preparing to do this through Cabinet and then bring the commercial agreement to Parliament. Once that is approved, we would be able to assess the funds that are already in the loan agreement.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, your second follow- up question, if any.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister, in his Answer, actually categorised the communities into two. For the communities of Kyirikasa, Ebetoda, Peterkrom, Suntreso, Mireku, Adututu, Boakyekrom and Kwabenagyam, the Hon Minister said that they do not form part of the ongoing projects and would be considered in the subsequent projects when funding becomes available.
Can he mention to the House what specific projects are ahead of us for which he is waiting for funding?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Dr Donkor 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry has extensive plans of covering the whole country with grid-connected electricity, except in areas where it is technically unfeasible. Therefore, we rolled these out in a systemic manner.
Mr Speaker, currently, as I stated, in rolling out further projects, we are also looking at national equity. Some parts of the country are extremely covered by electricity to a high percentage whereas other parts of the country fall below the
lower average. So, whereas we planned to achieve universal access by 2020 in terms of execution, there is a priority placed on areas that have the least coverage while we do not totally leave out the areas that have far higher coverage than the national average.
Therefore, in next year's Budget Statement, we would be making a request through the Ministry of Finance to this House for additional funding in order to cover some of the areas that have not been covered.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, your last follow-up, if any?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 11:10 a.m.
No, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
You are alright?
Hon Members, this brings us to the end of Question time.
Hon Minister, thank you for attending upon this House.
You are discharged.
Yes, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 11:20 a.m.
I am sorry, Mr Speaker. I know we are to move to Commencement of Public Business, but I have just been informed by the Chairman of the Finance Committee that the Paper to be laid is not ready.
Mr Speaker, as we discussed in the Leadership meeting before now, there are some urgent Caucus meetings that we have to have after today, so we would like to urge our Hon Colleagues who are
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Members, but for the introduction of the Caucus meetings, I would have insisted that we continue with the Consideration
Stage of the Bill. This is because my reliable information has it that, yesterday, a lot of work was done at the winnowing, and I remember being told that Hon Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh played a very important role at the winnowing.
He was not the only person, of course I do not want him to be swollen headed. But we need to do a lot more work at the winnowing, so that on Friday, that is tomorrow, we can do a little on the Consideration Stage of the Bill and move forward.
Hon Majority Chief Whip, have you moved the Motion?
Alhaji Muntaka 11:20 a.m.
Rightly so, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
And it has been seconded? [Pause] Very well.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 11:20 a.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 11.25 a.m. till Friday, 22nd May, 2015 at 10.00 a.m.