Debates of 16 Jun 2015

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:35 a.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Members, I have the pleasure to introduce to you a delegation from the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges, Powers and Ethics from the Parliament of Tanzania who are on a five- day official visit to Ghana.
They are here to learn our practices and procedures regarding Members' privi- leges and immunitities. The visit is also intended to create the platform to deepen the already cordial relations between the two Legislatures.
The delegation comprises the following:
Hon Brig. Gen. Hassan Ngwilizi (retd) -- Chairman
Hon Capt. John Chiligati (retd) -- Vice Chair
Hon Said Amour Arfi -- Member
Hon Riziki Omar Juma -- Member

Hon Augustino Masele -- Member

Hon Rev. Israel Yohana Natse -- Member

Hon Betty Eliezer Machangu -- Member

Mr Yona Peter Kirumbi -- Asst. Clerk

Mr Matamus Fungo --Asst. Clerk

Hon Members, on your behalf, I wish them a pleasant stay in the country and fruitful deliberations.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Member for Old Tafo constituency, under what Standing Order do you come?
Dr A. A. Osei 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I just would want to crave your indulgence. As we were looking on the television screen, I saw a familiar face, my good Friend, Hon Totobi Quakyi, sitting back there. So, I thought he was a member of the delegation. [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Member, you are out of order. [Laughter.]
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 5th June, 2015.
Page 1, 2, 3…
Mr James K. Avedzi 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 3, item 3, sub item 9; “Avedzi James Klutse” I was present on Friday but I have been marked as absent with permission. So, I plead if that correction could be effected.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Very well.
Page 4, 5. . .
Mr George K. Arthur 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe the Hon Members on the Minority side were given permission to go and conduct their primaries. So, I do not understand why they must be captured as absent. I believe they should have been captured as present.
Mr Speaker 11:35 a.m.
Page 6 -- [Laughter] -- Page 7
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, having been absent from the House for some time, I have not really consulted the other Votes and Proceedings. But I noticed that in this issue, I have been captured as having been absent, and as my Hon Colleague said, I believe an application was submitted to the House. In particular, I went behind the curtain and submitted an application in respect of my humble self. But it does appear that I have been captured as absent with no further explanation and I thought that was most uncharitable to me.
So, I would believe the proper thing be done.
I thank you.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Very well.
Page 8…10.
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 12th June, 2015 as corrected be adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, we have two Official Reports for correction. We would start with the Official Report of Wednesday, 10th June, 2015; any correction?
Mr Alexander K. Afenyo-Markin 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, column 1075, paragraph 3, the last but one sentence. It starts from and with your permission, I beg to quote:
“Somebody can disagree with me, but if we want to count the day…”
There is “from” before “the day” which has been omitted.
If you come further down to the next paragraph,the word “calculated” is supposed to be “counted”.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, any other correction?
Mrs Comfort Doyoe C. Ghansah 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my name is spelt wrongly in the Official Report.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, the Official Report of Wednesday, 10th June, 2015 as corrected be adopted as the true record of proceedings.
We now move to the Official Report of Thursday, 11th June, 2015.
Mr Avedzi 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, from column 1123 up to column 1185, the various Committee names have not been indicated on the tables. So, one would not know -- For instance, the first one, which is the Finance Committee, is not indicated. If you go to the next page, the Committee's name is not indicated. So, one would not know which Committee the tables are referring to. So, if that correction could be made.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
You are right.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:45 a.m.
Further to that, Mr Speaker, column 1134 -- it may be true for other columns, but I think that the Clerks- at-the-Table should take note that there is a designation of an Hon Ranking Member without a deputy; it may affect some others. So, if they could take note and make the appropriate corrections.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Very well.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, just in respect of the same subject matter, and since this is a House of record, one would further suggest in respect of what the Hon James Avedzi has said, that reference be made to the Standing Orders on the specific Committees as referred to in our Standing Orders, to accompany each of the Committees so named in this particular document.
So, when we get to the Finance Committee, we should appropriately report for purposes of record throughout. I am sure it would run through every other thing.
I specifically refer to Order 151 of our Standing Orders. Even if it is a generalised comment to open the statement, it should be done.
Thank you.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, the Official Report of Thursday, 11th June, 2015 as corrected be adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to, with your kind permission, request that we vary the order of Business in accordance with our Standing Orders, and allow the Hon Minister for Health to make the Statement that we summoned him to make before this House, before we get to item number 3, which deals with the Urgent Question.
I think with the indulgence of my Hon Colleagues, we would accordingly vary the order of Business for today.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, instead of taking Questions, we would move to item number 5, which deals with Statements.
We have the Hon Minister for Health in the House to brief us on the Phase I Ebola Vaccine Trial in the Volta Region.
Hon Minister, you have the floor.
STATEMENTS 11:55 a.m.
Minister for Health (Mr Alexander Percival Segbefia) 11:55 a.m.
Background
Mr Speaker, I appear before this august House in response to your summons for me to brief Parliament on the Ebola vaccine trials in Ghana.
Mr Speaker, the summons followed the Statement by the Volta caucus on the floor of the House in which it expressed some reservations on Ebola vaccine trials in the Hohoe District of the Volta Region. While the concerns may have been specifically related to proposed trials in the Hohoe District, there is no gainsaying the fact that the issue has assumed a national dimension and understandably so, given the fear and trepidation that Ebola disease causes in all of us.
Mr Speaker, the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) last year caught Africa, and indeed, the whole world unawares and totally unprepared. It t r aumatised and decimated many communities in fellow West African countries namely Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Mr Speaker, at the height of the epidemic last year, African leaders and especially leaders of the ECOWAS sub- region made urgent appeals to the international community and the World Heal th Organisation (WHO) in particular, to assist, not just in relief operations, but more importantly, in finding a cure or vaccine for the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease(EVD.
His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, our own hardworking President, who was at that time Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), provided inspirational leadership, helping to garner international support to deal with the epidemic. Ghana became the operational base of the international relief operations and President Mahama even took the bold decision to visit Ebola-stricken West African countries as an expression of deep concern and manifestation of brotherly love and human solidarity.
Mr Speaker, in response to urgent appeals from leaders in our sub region and the cries of all our peoples, the WHO rallied around pharmaceutical, research and development companies that had prospective candidate medicines and vaccines, some of which were being administered as tr ials on medical personnel who had contracted the disease while working as volunteers in some disease-stricken areas in West Africa.
Mr Speaker, in October 2014, the WHO facilitated a meeting of the African Vaccine Regulatory Forum (AVAREF) in South Africa to consider how to accelerate the process of approving prospective candidate medicines or vaccines. Given the urgency of the situation, participating countries agreed to undertake joint reviews of clinical trial applications in order to reduce the time usually taken to
process applications. The final decision whether to approve clinical trials or not, however, rested with the regulatory agencies in individual countries.
Mr Speaker, subsequent to the meeting in South Africa, the WHO wrote to regulatory bodies of Ghana and four

other West African countries, namely Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroun and Mali, notifying them of the intention of Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK), one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, to submit a candidate vaccine for clinical trials in our respective countries.

The WHO subsequently convened a joint review meeting in Geneva on the 14th and 15th of December last year which was attended by a number of international health regulatory bodies including Health Canada, Swissmedic, European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the USA Food and Drugs Administration.

Mr Speaker, following the Geneva meeting, GSK submitted an official application on December 17 to the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority for authorisation to conduct clinical trials. In February 2015, the FDA received another application from Johnson and Johnson to conduct clinical trials in Ghana. Similar applications were made to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda by Johnson and Johnson.

Mr Speaker, the FDA derives its mandate for the regulation and approval of clinical trials from Part 8 of the Public Health Act of 2012, Act 851. Indeed, since 2004, the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), as it was then known, has built capacity to regulate and monitor clinical trials in Ghana.

Mr Speaker, it is very important to note that since 2004, the FDA (or FDB for that matter) has dealt with 54 applications for
Minister for Health (Mr Alexander Percival Segbefia) 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the engagement of the community, including issues of compensation to participants, is the responsibility of the Researcher, and the FDA's role is to ensure the Researcher complies with what they have stated in their protocol and this can only happen after approval has been given by the
FDA.
The monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the study is carried out by the FDA and the Ethics Review Committee of the Ghana Health Service throughout and after the study.
Mr Speaker, the clinical trial phase I of the Janssen Research and Development, subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson is to assess the safety and tolerability of its vaccine.
There are two vaccines involved: a prime vaccine and a booster vaccine, the combination of which provides protection against the virus.
Mr Speaker, as I stated earlier, the countries to be involved in the proposed Phase I trial by Johnson and Johnson are Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.The decision to use the Onchocerciasis Chemotherapy Research Centre (OCRC), Hohoe for the Ghana Clinical trials was made by the Principal Investigator.
Mr Speaker, I have sought to provide as much information as possible so as to give Hon Members and the good people of Ghana enough insight into the issue of the Ebola vaccine trials that has generated so much discussion.
Mr Speaker, Part 8 of the Public Health Act 851 of 2012 does not ascribe any specific role to the Ministry of Health where clinical trials are concerned. I
believe the framers of the law did so in order to isolate matters of scientific clinical nature from political control. Nonetheless, in the case of the Ebola vaccine trials, a different approach was taken bearing in mind the intense public fears of the Ebola disease.

In this respect, at the very onset, the FDA duly notified the Ministry of Health as soon as applications for Ebola trials were received. And here I refer to the application from GSK and Johnson and Johnson . It i s on r ecord that my predecessor and the Hon Deputy Minister were both briefed by the FDA.

The Hon Deputy Min ister was actually assigned oversight responsi- bility to monitor the processes. On my assumption of responsibility barely a month ago, I facilitated two roundtable meetings (precisely on the 4th and 10th of June 2015) which were called to discuss some concerns raised by some senior scientists and researchers.

Indeed, Mr Speaker, the FDA Governing Board, concerned with public sensitivities surrounding the Ebola disease and fears that clinical trials of vaccine could generate among Ghanaians, and conscious thus of the need to be pro-active, set out a plan for stakeholder engagement preceding any formal approval for Ebola vaccine trials.

Mr Speaker, I must concede that implementation of the programme for stakeholder consultations and community engagement has not been as thorough as one would have expected. Consequently, I took the decision to announce the suspension of commence- ment of clinical tr ials to allow for

adequate time to reach out and assure all concerned that under no circum- stances wil l the Min ist ry, or the Government for that matter, approve of any clinical trials that will undermine the health and safety of residents of Hohoe in the Volta Region and the people of Ghana as a whole.

Mr Speaker, I have noted the ongoing debate within the scientific community on aspects of the Ebola disease, including possible origins and vaccine trials. That ongoing debate is what drives scientific pursuits and discovery. What is of immediate importance is to build safeguards for vaccine trials even as we are guided by history. It is in our enlightened self-interest as a country to contribute to the global quest for an Ebola cure or vaccine.

Mr Speaker, there are var ious ongoing studies and trials on Ebola in many places around the world. There is one study, for instance, involving 59 people which began last November in the US, Canada, Germany and Gabon. We are told the vaccine was developed by the Canadian Government and is licensed to two US companies.

The US National Institutes of Health has also reported that an Ebola vaccine is being tested in Bethesda, Maryland in the USA. Surely Mr Speaker, it will be sad to describe all those participating in the quest to find an Ebola vaccine or cure in other parts of Africa and in the distant places of Europe and North America as guinea pigs.
Mr Speaker, from the foregoing, the following conclusions can be drawn 12:05 p.m.
1. Ebola is still a major public health, social and economic th reat to West Afr ica in particular and Africa and the world in general. Until the last case of Ebola is found and dealt with, there is still a clear and present danger of spread.
2. The epidemiological history of Ebola in East and Central Africa points to the return of the epidemic even if this current wave is overcome. I t wi l l therefore be prudent for us all to do our part to find permanent medical solutions in the form of vaccines and medications to overcome Ebola, and to minimise its adverse effects.
3. Ghana has led efforts in West Africa to fight and defeat Ebola -- by the examples of His Excel lency President John Dramani Mahama visiting the three affected West African coun tr ies to break their isolation on 15th September 2014; His Excel lency the Presiden t's speech , on 25, September 2014 at the United Nations calling for the world's support and attention; and the hosting of UNMEER in Ghana.
Finally, Mr Speaker, let us remember that Ghana contributed 42 health workers to the African health worker cadres that went to the three affected countries to assist in fight ing the disease. We have to do our bit to support the development of a safe and efficacious vaccine against this disease, this is because we will potentially be
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Members, before I open the floor, I would want to refer you to the Standing Order under which the Hon Minister came, and it is Order 70 (2):
“A Minister of State may make an announcement or a statement of government policy. Any such announcement or statement should be limited to facts which it is deemed necessary to make known to the House and should not be designed to provoke debate at this stage. Any Member may comment briefly, subject to the same limitation.”

Hon Members, the floor is now opened for comments on the Statement made by the Hon Minister for Health.

Hon Member for Ho West?
Mr Emmanuel K. Bedzrah (NDC -- Ho West) 12:15 p.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker, for the opportunity and for allowing the Hon Minister for Health to brief the House when we brought the Statement concerning the Phase I trial of Ebola.
Mr Speaker, our worry, initially, was the insufficient information given out to our people, especially in the Volta Region, as he re-iterated. He has come to inform us that there would be sufficient public education and information out there.
Mr Speaker, one of the reasons we made the Statement was precisely to bring the Hon Minister to allay our fears. I went to the web page of the World Health Organisations (WHO) and I noticed that the first trial, Phase I trial is supposed to be done in Ghana by the first quarter of the year 2015, while the second trial is also supposed to be done in Ghana by the end of the same first quarter in the year 2015, without consultation with the stake- holders.
This brought sharp criticism and information from our constituents, and as representatives of the people, they wanted to find out from us what was going on.
Mr Speaker, one of the issues that also came up was a stakeholder meeting between the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences as the Hon Minister mentioned. Senior scientists and academics met with the Hon Minister and came with strong suggestions. In their press conference which was held last Friday and in their press release, these concerns have not been addressed.
Mr Emmanuel K. Bedzrah (NDC -- Ho West) 12:15 p.m.


One of the issues that came up, and Mr Speaker, with your permission if you would permit me to read one line of their statement -- it is a short statement. It says on page two of their statement that:

“However, it is to be noted that the Phase 1 trial of GSK vaccine in Europe produced an adverse event, namely, prolonged bleeding. In 10% - 15% of the vaccinated population. This is a serious adverse event that calls for extreme caution in approving clinical trials, both Phase I and Phase II, in the country.”

Mr Speaker, if senior persons in academic circles and scientists would come out with a statement like this, then there is a need for us to be cautious in our dealing with this vaccine.

Finally, Mr Speaker, we made this Statement on the floor and we all contri- buted in good faith as representatives of the people. But last Friday, we had a senior research fellow who went on air and took the Parliament of Ghana to the cleaners, speaking in a language that I cannot bring to the floor of the House. We are the representatives of the people and we have been mandated to bring issues of national interest to this floor. We brought it, and one Prof. Alex Dodoo took us to the cleaners.
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Member for Old Tafo?
Dr Anthony A. Osei (NPP -- Old Tafo) 12:15 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
As my Hon Colleague just said, discussions of Ebola are very emotive. So, I can see why my Hon Colleague from the Volta Region is very emotional. I read Prof. Alex Dodoo's statement and I decided to dismiss it, knowing that the Hon Minister was going to come and provide more information on it.
Mr Speaker, I have two points that I want addressed by the Hon Minister. Specifically, following the press conference of the so-called scientists -- I do not know them that is why I said “so- called”. But it is in the statement they made and the Hon Minister read one section from that. It would have been good if the Hon Minister would have addressed some of those concerns.
Mr Speaker, let me take you to the last but one paragraph, their conclusion. Mr Speaker, with your kind permission, I would want to read:
“In conclusion, the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences wishes to state its firm position that, subject to satisfactory answers to the issues it has raised, and considering the gaps in our knowledge and state of preparedness, it would be unsafe to undertake the proposed EVD vaccine clinical trials in Ghana.”
I wish the Hon Minister would have helped us by addressing that particular conclusion. Now, presiding over these meetings, as he said, on June 4t and June 10 with these eminent scientists, when they come to this conclusion, he has to help us by either disabusing our minds or confirming what they said. This is
because, when I read the conclusion and did not see him address that directly, I became worried. So, he might take that into account and find a way to address it.
Finally, on the issue of implementation. Clearly, he has conceded in this House that it was poorly done. We need to be assured that whoever is in charge of implementation is taken on. This is too serious to push under the rug and say that it was not done properly. Who is responsible and why did they not do it? These are the kinds of things that would assure us and all Ghanaians that, at least, after his concession there is a follow-up reaction. But we did not hear anything about it.
The information is good. It has assuaged some of us who are not scientists about what is happening. But we cannot accept the fact that somebody is not held responsible for the lack of implementation.
I am informed that the implementation was carefully planned. I am informed that somebody decided that, “Oh, we would not do it.”
Finally, there was an allusion in Parliament last week about the possibility of a Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) involved in a conflict of interest on this matter but I did not hear him on that matter. It was mentioned in this House. Is the person in charge of the Public Health Department of the institution in charge of this? I did not hear him address that point, and Mr Speaker, this could be very serious. Why are they there?
He is a full-time MCE; and how could they be in charge of a full-time institution? [Interruption.] It is true; it was told in this House. If that happened, I did not hear him address it. I would be glad if such
issues were addressed to bring our emotions to a stable level. Right now, it is not fully stabilised, but we hope that he would do that in our interest.
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Minister for Volta Region?
Minister for Volta Region (Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso) 12:25 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I stand to confirm that the Ebola vaccine trial has not started in the Volta Region as the Hon Minister for Health has said. Last Wednesday, we had a stakeholders' meeting where a member of the team briefed all District and Municipal Chief Executives and heads of department in the region on what the trial is about.
What we realised was that, the people of the Volta Region have not been sensitised as the Hon Minister has said. Let me also assure Hon Members of this House that the trial would not start in the Volta Region until our people are sensitised.
Mr Speaker, we also talked about how much is to be given to each individual that would be used for the trial. They have not got to that stage yet. What they said was that because it is a genuine trial --
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Minister, if they have not got to that stage how come that the GH¢200.00 and the mobile phone was in the news? You should tell the House. Who invented the GH¢200.00 and the mobile phone? You should let the House know. If nobody has been promised a mobile phone and GH¢200.00, let the House know but just do not say that they have not been given. That is not sufficient information to the House.
Ms Ntoso 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member said that the District Chief Executive is a full time Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and the leader of the
Ms Ntoso 12:25 p.m.


team. Let me correct that; she is not the leader of the team. She is a medical doctor and the MCE for the area. She is a member of the team and not the leader of the team.

Mr Speaker, we do not have any idea about the GH¢200.00 and the mobile phone that was talked about or promised. They had to go through a screening exercise where healthy elderly people that they were talking about would have to be selected before even the trial is done. So, I do not know where the GH¢200.00 and the mobile phone are coming from.

Mr Speaker, this is what I have to say. I am not aware of the GH¢200.00 and the mobile phone -
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Minister, you are not in charge of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) but you are in charge of the region. So, when you say that you are not - It is not everything that happens in the region that you get to know, so, do not put yourself into trouble.
If you have not been briefed, yes, then you are right to say that nobody has briefed you. It is safer; but if you are not careful, you would be defending the indefensible. So, make statements that limit you to your area of jurisdiction.
Ms Ntoso 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what I was saying was that I have not been briefed about the GH¢200.00 and the mobile phone that are being talked about. I have no idea.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Members, the Hon Minister has tried as much as possible to limit himself to facts and I want Hon Members in their comments to limit themselves as much as possible to the facts of the Statement, because at the end of it, I would invite the Hon Minister to
respond to some of the issues that have been raised.
Dr Matthew O. Prempeh (NPP -- Manhyia South) 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, a lot of confusion has gone on about the lack of understanding of the Ebola vaccine trial in this country. The scientists themselves are confused.
Mr Speaker, until the Hon Minister's Statement, there are two trials purportedly going on in this country at the same time. One by GSK, which is the Phase II trial and one by J&J, which is supposed to be the Phase I trial.
Mr Speaker, I would have wished that for starters, the Hon Minister would have told this House who represented Ghana at the World Health Organisation, Ebola Conference which was organised on September 29 and 30. If we know who represented Ghana, we might begin to understand why Ghana has become a country where these trials are going on.
Mr Speaker, the reason I am saying this is that, for far too long technocrats attend these conferences, bind Ghana to certain things that the Ministry is not even aware of. It is currently what is happening under the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) with Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) that the Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology would talk about later and this is exactly what has happened. Somebody attended a conference somewhere, accepted Ghana as a candidate country for commercial entities to come in and do these trials.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister should have made us aware of who is on the Institutional Reform Committee or Board that approved this trial in Hohoe. Who are the members of that committee? One may also ask,who are the members of the Ethics Committee that approved this trial?
Yes, they may not have any direct control but if they claim they do not have any direct control, how then do they suspend the trial and on what basis?
Mr Speaker, not only that. We want to know who are the members of the MDA Clinical Trials Committee who approved these two trials -- GSK and J&J to be undertaken in this country at the same time.
Mr Speaker, what are the benefits to this country; financial, technology wise, and everything. We want to know; it would start to explain why these things are going on.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister should have told this House the difference between Phase I and Phase II and we would have realised that the Phase 1 trial being undertaken, or supposedly to be undertaken in Hohoe has not been done anywhere.
Actually, when one goes to the WHO sites and even J&J, they are now thinking about Kenya which is probably the first country. Other countries have been recruited based on another seminar they have attended in September and Ghana has decided to accept it.
Mr Speaker, so it is imperative that, this House gets to know more. When Phase I trial was being undertaken, there was nothing, no data is known about that. Do we have a biohazard laboratory in this country to deal with supposedly anything
that could happen? Is Hohoe Hospital the hospital in Ghana here that could deal with that?
Mr Speaker, recently, even the bird flu had to be taken outside the country for further tests. Which laboratory in this country -- FDA does not have that laboratory. Which laboratory is going to analyse the tissue samples of the tests that they are going to do?
Mr Speaker, I have been informed by those who know in the scientific community that it would be taken outside this country.
Mr Speaker, a Phase I trial involves -- no wonder it is done in very big countries with stronger laboratories and things. Are we sure we could do the human tests that have to be done and associated with Phase 1 trials here? Which laboratory is going to do it? Or we are going to take samples, put them in bags, and take them out of the country? And who owns that data?
Mr Speaker, to help science, we should all be involved as a country for it to grow. But when somebody who claims to know goes on air to denigrate Parliament as if he knows more than anybody in this country, I think he has to be brought -- Prof. Alex Dodoo has to be summoned to the Privileges Committee to let him inform us, if he thinks he knows more than everybody, so that we could confront him there. He is not here so I would leave his matter aside.
But I would crave your indulgence that in giving instructions, Prof. Alex Dodoo, who we all know was appointed at the time to be the Chairman of the Board of FDA and we do not know what happened. We could all confront him at the Privileges Committee so that we all mind our speech outside this.
Dr Matthew O. Prempeh (NPP -- Manhyia South) 12:25 p.m.


Mr Speaker, I want to put on record, that even in the United States of America, a purely economic transaction was stopped by the House of Congress when great Dubai Port decided to buy the New York Port. That was a pure commercial economic reason but they pleaded on national interest of the US.

Even if they are going to do a Phase 1 trial, Ebola has no treatment so far. All the trials that they do in Ghana that they are talking about live with us.

Malaria trials are here, Ivermectin trial is already here. This country has not even had a single case of Ebola, so the people of Hohoe would like to know how Hohoe was chosen on a disease that has not reared its head in this country.

Mr Speaker, there are more questions that I do not want to encumber the scientific community with by saying they cannot do scientific trials here, but science cannot operate within a vaccum that it is pure science.

Mr Speaker, after all, when they go to Hohoe, it is not scientists that they are going to administer these vaccines on. They are ordinary human beings that you and I should be responsible for as representatives of the people.

Mr Speaker, it just cannot be right that this same Hohoe Chief Executive who gave an undertaking as a scientist, that, she is going to resign as a Municipal Chief Executive by December is still at post and is still a Principal Investigator in Hohoe for this trial.

Mr Speaker, there are conflicts of interest. There are serious conflicts of interest.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Member, the Hon Minister informed the House that the principal investigator is Prof. Binka.
Dr Prempeh 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is a principal investigator. In Hohoe, when they convened the chiefs, was Prof. Binka there? Was Prof Binka in Hohoe?
Mr Speaker, I hope you would refer this matter to the Committee on Health so that we can all go there and talk, because how this thing has been managed is even worse than the application of the -- and do we have a vaccine yet? No, Mr Speaker.
When the Hon Minister spoke, he said there is no vaccine trial. Experimental things are going to be tried, they are not even vaccines yet. In the strict meaning of a vaccine, what is going to be done in Hohoe is not a vaccine trial, because it is not a vaccine. It is a candidate vaccine, am I right?
So, Mr Speaker, if we are even going to limit ourselves to facts, in the Hon Minister's own prepared Statement, he alleged, even though it has been crossed out GH¢ 200 and mobile phones. The Hon Minister intended to tell this House that it was not true, and so it has been cancelled. It is here Mr Speaker, we can all read.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Please, limit yourself to what the Hon Minister has said, and not what maybe by virtue of your privileged position you -- once he has cancelled it, it is cancelled. It is not before the House.
Dr Prempeh 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, you and I know that as Members of Parliament we have to protect the people of Hohoe and the citizens of Ghana, and as representatives I do not buy the idea that, the Hon Minister says the FDA can do what it likes. The FDA cannot do what it likes.
If the FDA can do what it likes, where is the Hon Minister's locus in suspending this trial? Mr Speaker, the most dangerous one is that, the Hon Minister says they are going to start giving information on 18th June, 2015.
By Act 851, Mr Speaker, and I read, section 171, under Health Information, reporting and notification;
“The Minister may by Legislative Instrument provide for details in respect of notification and reporting of public health events.”
Has the Hon Minister even brought an L. I. to this House to enable us know how this event should be reported? It is in the Public Health Act.
I think what the Hon Minister needs to do is to get serious technical people who are not conflicted in his Ministry to advise him on what is happening with drug trials.
I support drug trials, I support vaccine trials, I support trials that would bring the advancement of medicine in this country, but it should be done in knowledge. It should be done with serious information, and it should be done when the pre- requisites are here in this country.
We do not have a biohazard laboratory. We do not have a lot of things.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Member, please wind up.
Dr Prempeh 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to wind up, but this is of a serious concern that I would plead in sitting down, that you refer this matter to the Committee on Health and any other Committee that may so desire, to fully investigate this thing so that it comes with a better Report to
the House before any trial, if it is allowed to continue is allowed to continue in this country.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Members, I intend taking three Members from each side. I do not know whether the Majority and Minority Leaders would like to contribute. If they are contributing, then, I would take one from each side, and then I would come to the two Leaders.
Hon Majority Leader, what do you say to that?
Mr Bagbin 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that is right. We would be contributing -- in fact, commenting on what has been presented.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Very well.
So, the last Member before the Leader from the Majority side -- Hon Minister for Employment and Labour Relations.
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to associate myself and commend the Hon Minister for Health for the Statement on the Ebola epidemic, and indeed, Mr Speaker, to assure this august House and the people of Ghana that there has been no Ebola trial in Ghana. In my view, that is very important.
Mr Speaker, the World Health Organisation (WHO) itself recently came under heavy criticisms at the G-7 forum, when the G-7 leaders themselves through Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany admitted that they failed the world.
I agree with Hon Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and I would like to draw attention to just two important issues. One, the ethical quandary of an Ebola trial and why we need to be more cautious and restraining as a country in proceeding with a trial. I would put it in the form of a question.
Dr Prempeh 12:25 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr Speaker, the names he is mentioning are drugs, they are not the trials. I agree with him that the GSK Phase I and Phase II are drug trials that were happening in Guinea, but what we are talking about are viral trials which are totally different.
Mr H. Iddrisu 12:45 p.m.
Whatever it is, I am saying that -- [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker, I am saying that there is a race for drugs and vaccines for Ebola, and that there is no proven treatment or vaccines for Ebola, and that Ghana be cautious by staying away.
Mr Speaker, let me conclude by saying that Hon Members should look at the facts as are presented by the Hon Minister and support the measures as he so announced. We should, as a country, continue to pray as we are doing, that Ghana remains free from Ebola. We should take those preventive steps that we need to take, and Mr Speaker, like I said, even the WHO has come under criticism.
It took them more than six months to declare this as a public health epidemic, and that was worrying for the rest of the world, and they need to concede that even as a country -- and I am sure that my Hon Colleague, Mr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, would help me again, my science in this area is narrow.
We are also reliably informed that Ebola is not mutating enough to become super virus, therefore even the fear that we have can be measured against that particular incident which I know the United States of America Institute of Health is looking at.
I would want to commend the Hon Minister. But Mr Speaker, we need your strong guidance on this matter.
To the professed expert on his subject, Mr Speaker, I only hope and pray that his malicious, wicked and objectionable attack on this august House with those misleading comments was not meant to create fear and panic in this country. This is because, if we say we do not have Ebola and he is announcing and incentivising people to be associated with it, it is a very good source for the creating of fear and panic in this country. I think it is only appropriate that we support the Hon Member's comment and call him to order.
With this comment, I associate myself with the Statement, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Members, before I -- Hon Second Deputy Speaker, do you want to speak?
Mr Joe Ghartey 12:45 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
I am taking the last one before I move to the Hon Majority and Minority Leaders -- [Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo: Gender balance! Gender balance!] --
Hon Second Deputy Speaker?
Mr Joe Ghartey (NPP -- Esikadu/ Ketan) 12:45 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I apologise to my good Friend who was urging gender balance. I am sure that next time I would give my space to her willingly.
This is a matter which is of great concern for various reasons. Mr Speaker, first of all, what happened in Parliament last week was that Parliament had the opportunity to raise concern about an issue, and then did what was right in my sight and in the sight of a lot of people, by inviting the Hon Minister to come and brief the House on the matters which were raised. Indeed, the Hon Minister has come today to brief the House, and Mr Speaker,
that is what this business of democracy is about.
Mr Speaker, we, as Hon Members of Parliament, have a duty and a responsibility to raise matters of concern in the House. Indeed, a lot of us also play very important roles by going to our radio stations in the morning et cetera. But our primary responsibility is to raise these matters of concern within the House, within the parametres and within the rules that we are allowed to raise, thereby giving the Hon Minister and the Executive the opportunity to explain themselves.
Mr Speaker, one writer commenting on what happened last week said, and Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote:
“My heart bled when I listened to the conversation on most of our media -- radio, print and TV. It was so disheartening. I was further disgusted by the sickening ignorance exhibited in Parliament yesterday as I listened to sound bites of Hon Members.”
Mr Speaker, my heart bled when I read it. Assuming for the sake of argument that all of us were wrong, does that mean that we do not have a right to talk? Mr Speaker, assume for the sake of argument that we were wrong-- Yes, we were ignorant -- assuming for the sake of argument that we were ignorant, does it mean that we do not have a right to speak? Does it mean that Hon Members of Parliament cannot raise issues unless they are right or unless it is within their professional expertise?
Mr Speaker, indeed, it is my heart that bled when I read what I read. But of course, we live in a democracy and I defend the right of that honourable Ghanaian to make those comments; he can make those comments if he wants to.
Mr Joe Ghartey (NPP -- Esikadu/ Ketan) 12:45 p.m.


But Mr Speaker, we find comfort in the fact that, we are in good company; we are in very good company, we admit that we are not experts in the area. My Friend the Hon Minister himself is a lawyer like me.

But Mr Speaker, that Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) are on our side. They have also raised concerns. Indeed, they met the Hon Minister on June 3, 2015, and raised nine (9) issues of concern; various issues. Mr Speaker, if the GAAS has the best scientists in our country, they are the people who have risen to the pinnacle of their profession and if they are on the same side as Parliament, then Mr Speaker, we are a good company.

We must sing the hallelujah chorus. Mr Speaker, we must be proud of what we did, and we should continue as a House to question matters which should be of concern to Ghanaians, that is our responsibility and we should continue to exercise it.

Mr Speaker, having said that, I have always wondered why in Acts of Parliament, we usually have a clause which says that, “the Minister or the Ministry will have policy direction”. I have wondered about that clause. I have said to myself that perhaps, it was fenced against the basic principles of corporate governance that the Boards of State organisations must have the capacity as Boards of all organisations to take decisions in the best interest of the co- operate body.

But increasingly, in our Acts of Parliament we have a clause which says that “policy direction shall be given by the Minister”. Mr Speaker, today, I have understood why it is for these reasons; it is for reasons such as these that public

corporations do not become independent constitutional bodies. They are not independent of the Executive, they are subject to the Executive, regardless of what we put in the laws. So, today is the situation where the Hon Minister can take refuge under that very clause and give policy direction to the Foods and Drugs Authority (FDA). They are subject to the Minister; they are under him. They are not an independent constitutional body, they are under the Executive and they must take control over them.

Mr Speaker, I will refer Hon Members to page 20 of the Daily Graphic, the story is on the meeting between the Hon Minister and the GAAS, which was held on the 4th of June, 2015.

Mr Speaker, they raised nine issues of concern; the inclusion of children in the trials, the vaccine composition, et cetera. The Hon Minister had the opportunity to address the House and he addressed some of the issues. But perhaps, he would be good enough to recount these nine issues that they raised since he was part of that meeting and address the issues for us.

Mr Speaker, having said that, I conclude by saying once more that I am very proud to be a Member of this august House.We shall continue to exercise oversight we shall continue to speak our minds and we shall not be quelled by criticism.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader?
Hon Members, this is not going to be the end of the matter even from the Hon Minister's own Statements. So, we would make consequential orders and based on that we would follow-up.
Hon Minority Leader?
Minority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 12:55 p.m.
Thank you very much - -[Interruption.]
I thank you dear Hon Colleagues for the commendation.
Mr Speaker, I was not in the House last week -- [Several Hon Members: Where were you?] -- I was otherwise engaged elsewhere -- [Laughter.] But Mr Speaker, I heard later in the evening of the very day that you had this discussion in the House about the various strands that came out and I was struggling to follow the debate on the floor.
Today, I have some fulfilment about the Statement that the Hon Minister has come to read to the House, and I am pleased to a large extent, by what I have heard.
Mr Speaker, let me begin my comments with the issues that the Rt. Hon Speaker himself raised, that is in respect of Standing Order 70 (2).
“A Minister of State may make an announcement or a statement of government policy. Any such announcement or statement should be limited to facts which it is deemed necessary to make known to the House and should not be designed to provoke debate at this stage. Any Member may comment briefly, subject to the same limitation.”
Mr Speaker, I think the wording of this provision comes with no ambiguities. So, I was a bit surprised when the Hon Minister set himself out by alluding to a President, who is very hardworking, and
whose leadership is very inspirational. I was wondering what connection there was, between that and the statement of fact that he was supposed to give us.
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I thought that you were still in the victory mood? [Laughter.]
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, indeed, I am in a victory mood, but I must remain very scrutinous of what statement is made on the floor of this House.
Mr Speaker, having said that, the Hon Minister had submitted some facts to us. He says that the rationale for conducting the trial in Ghana takes into consideration the fact that, Ghana borders the affected countries. I am wondering what statement of fact this is.
Does Ghana border Sierra Leone, does Ghana border Liberia, and does Ghana border Guinea? I ask this because the Hon Minister is telling us that the reason for bringing it to Ghana was because Ghana borders the affected countries.
Mr Speaker, I do not know whether there is a tongue of Ghana, jutting into Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone. Maybe some geographical evidence would be needed from the Hon Minister.
Mr Speaker, the other matter that I would want to relate to, is in respect of a statement that apparently came from the Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa, which was quoted by some of the media houses. I want to quote him, from the Hansard of 10th June, 2015, column 1047, paragraph 3. He says:
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:55 p.m.
“Fortunately, as a Government, we are told that so far there have been no political approvals. We are told all the approvals have been at the technical level. The Ethics Committee of the Ghana Health Service and the Food and Drugs Authority are yet to get to the Ministerial level and to the Cabinet for governmental approval.”
Mr Speaker, how do we reconcile that to the Statement given by the Hon Minister here, that he had to intervene personally as an Hon Minister? Hon Ministers and Hon Deputy Ministers, if they are not well briefed, should not hurriedly jump into any boat and commit Government, or make statements that they have scant knowledge about.
It is important that these things are stopped, at least, not in this House. If they want to do it outside, then let them do it, but not in this House. When the Hon Minister himself is so concerned that he had to take some steps, he comes into this House, and has scant knowledge about what is going on, and he comes to say that no such thing has been done.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister, also says to us that the application by Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) is still under consideration. Then in another breath, he is telling us that they were implementing the programme.
Mr Speaker, with your kind permission I beg to quote from the third paragraph of page nine of his Statement. He says;
“Mr Speaker, I must concede that implementation of the programme for stakeholder consultations and community engagement has not been as thorough as one would have expected.”

So, Mr Speaker, I would want us to be very careful about this. This is because the Hon Minister is telling us that, he concedes that because of the fact that he has been thorough -- he took the decision to announce the suspension -- he announced the suspension of the clinical trials. That is what he told us. So, at least, he had started with the implementation, yet, he is saying that the application is under consideration.

Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister also informed us on the first paragraph of page 11 of his Statement, that potentially, Ghana was going to be the greatest beneficiary, when the efforts are successful.

Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister also states on page 12, that for the avoidance of doubt, he wants to say that even before the sensitisation starts, he says, and I quote;

“let me state categorically that the trial has not started anywhere in Ghana.”

He wants to re-assure us that the trial has not started anywhere in Ghana. I think that is --

So, I just want to say that I would want to know the implications of these matters that I have raised. Otherwise, as I have said, the Hon Minister should provide some enlightenment. There are a few things that he has said that he further has to shed light on.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Majority Leader (Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin) 1:05 p.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker. I must say I was part of the process in getting the Statement to the House and giving the House the opportunity to say a word on this very important issue.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, I was taken away by other official business and I was not present when the House had the opportunity to listen to the Statement. But Mr Speaker, I would want to take this opportunity to commend the House highly for the Statement and the comments therefrom by Hon Members of the House.
Mr Speaker, I also want to commend the Hon Minister for responding to our request to come and give us a statement on the status of the implementation of the alleged Ebola vaccine.
Mr Speaker, it is important for us to emphasise that governance has changed tremendously and our brothers and sisters who are not active participants should be very cautious when they want to swim in unknown waters.

Mr Speaker, the people of Ghana are very, intelligent people and they decided to mandate Hon Members of this House to represent them and to continue to ensure that the ultimate goal is the welfare of all of us in Ghana.

Mr Speaker, one of the functions of the House is to act as a voice of the people. It is for us from time to time to articulate the views of our people so that those views and concerns could be taken up by the appropriate authorities and action would be taken, to ensure that the ultimate good of a country is what the objective of governance is.

So Mr Speaker, I heard the reaction of Prof. Alex Dodoo who, when I was Minister for Health, worked with me and I would not want to go into his areas of controversy. But it is sad that he did not have sufficient information even about the process of approvals and trials of the vaccines but rather decided to take Parliament on. This is because clearly, from the Statement that the Hon Minister made this morning, even senior scientists have raised issues and as a result of that, they had to hold meetings with the Ministry on the 3rd and 4th of June, 2015.

Mr Speaker, I am not sure he was part of that meeting, but if he was; then it meant that he slept throughout and he did not know what happened there.

Again, Mr Speaker, it is clear from the Statement of the Hon Minister that enough public education has not been undertaken, therefore if Parliament decides to raise this matter for the Ministry which is overseeing the sector to rather focus more on the public education before a decision is taken as to whether to continue with the programme or not, I do not think Parliament did anything wrong or that Hon Members were ignorant.
Dr Prempeh 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was bringing the Hon Majority Leader 's attention to the fact that even what they would import is not a vaccine. It is a candidate vaccine; it is not a vaccine. When they finish all the trials and it is approved, then it becomes a vaccine.
Mr Bagbin 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Statement made by the Hon Minister, if I may quote says:
“Let me also state that, we have not even given approval for the importation of any such vaccines”.
That is what I was referring to; whether by his description, “candidate” or “prospective”, what is important is that it is a vaccine.
Mr Speaker, I would want to end my comment, once again, by saying that this is what democracy is about, this is what Parliament is called upon to do and we commend the Hon Minister for coming to give us the information. We would carry it on and ensure that we are certain about the side effects, efficacy and the usefulness of the whole candidate vaccine before it is applied to the good people of Ghana.
Mr Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Hon Members, first of all, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Hon Minister for responding to the call of the House by making the Statement this morning. The Statement has clarified a number of issues, but there are still a number of issues that ought to be clarified.
I am happy that in his own Statement, he said that he would like to work with the select Committee on Health on the matter. I must say without any sense of apology to anybody that I am very proud that a Statement on this matter was made in the House last week.
In fact, if anybody reads the statement of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, it is very clear from the press statement they have issued that the House did the proper thing. For the records, I would like to read certain relevant portions of that statement into our records here and then Ghanaians would judge who is more ignorant; whether Professor Dodoo or this House - [Hear! Hear!] .
Just reading part of the Press Statement;
“It was confirmed at the above -- mentioned meeting between the President and the Technical Committee of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences and Staff of the Ministry of Health, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and expert advisers and the principal investigators in the GSK/NIH Phase II trial, that the process for the approval of the Phase II clinical trial of the GSK Ebola virus disease test vaccine had not been concluded. Our firm understanding was that the approval process will continue to take into account the concerns and issues raised by the Academy.
In the course of the meeting, it was mentioned that approval had already been given to an application for a separate Phase I trial in Hohoe, the subject matter of the statement of a test vaccine with a different construct from the GSK test vaccine, which latter had been the focus of concern of the Academy.
This came as a shock to the Academy representatives at the meeting, as nothing had been said anywhere previously about a separate Phase I clinical trial application, let alone its approval. The Academy's representatives therefore refused to discuss that matter.
However, it is to be noted that the Phase I trial of the GSK vaccine in Europe, this is where the Hon Member for Ho West referred to in his Statement produced an adverse event, namely, prolonged bleeding, in 10 - 15 per cent of the vaccinated population. This is a serious adverse event that calls for extreme caution in approving clinical trials, both Phase I and Phase II, in the country.
Then they went on to say;
“In conclusion, the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences wishes to state its firm position that, subject to satisfactory answers to the issues it has raised, and considering the gaps in our knowledge…”
These are Fellows saying;
“…the gaps in our knowledge and state of preparedness, it would be unsafe to undertake the proposed EVD vaccine clinical trials in Ghana.”
These are Fellows of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences and then Prof Dodoo is telling this House that we are ignorant. He should go and challenge his professors in his field.
Hon Members, I have been invited to refer this matter to the Privileges Committee. [Hear! Hear!] I have been very slow since I became a Speaker to refer matters to the Privileges Committee. [Pause]
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I know that we are the masters of our own rules. However, since an invitation is being made, being grounded on our own orders;

two of them, the first, the Hon Member for Ho West, the Majority Leader and my good brother Hon Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh.

Mr Speaker, Order 73 (1) provides, and I take your leave to read;

“A Member may, at the time appointed for Complaints of Contempt of Parliament under the provisions of Order 53 (Order of Business) bring to the House any complaint of contempt of Parlia- ment, provided…”

Mr Speaker that is the caveat.

“…he has previously notified Mr Speaker.”
Mr Speaker 1:25 a.m.
Read 73 (2).
MrAfenyo-Markin 1:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
“In urgent circumstances such complaints may, with Mr Speaker's prior permission, be made at a time other than that appointed for it.”
With the greatest respect, reading them together, it still requires that you are at liberty to vary or set aside. I am only trying to -- [Interruptions] Reading them together, with the greatest respect, I am only seeking your guidance as to whether the mere mention of the need to bring him before the Privileges Committee is sufficient under the circumstances of our own laws. That is my humble application seeking your guidance.
Mr Bagbin 1:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is important that my Colleague the Hon Member for Effutu learnt that even though in this House we are masters of our own
Dr A. A. Osei 1:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want Hon Members to understand the context in which Hon Afenyo-Markin made his request. Mr Afenyo-Markin is a lawyer, nevertheless, in the House, he does not know the full consultations that go on. He came in and he was not aware that there have been several consultations as is always done.

We were all in the process of educating ourselves on House procedures. If you are not part of the Leadership or you are not a Mugabe, there are certain things that you would not know.
Mr Speaker 1:25 a.m.
Hon Members, he is not opposed to the issue of referral to the Privileges Committee and for me that is the most important thing.
Dr A. A. Osei 1:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, you would recall that during the debate, he sought your attention several times to make a contribution yet he never got the chance. So, this was his opportunity to make -- So, with all due respect to Hon Members, I think he did it without malice to the subject.
Mr Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Hon Members, I have listened to you on the floor on this matter and I think that I would exercise my discretion in favour of the call to refer Prof. Dodoo to the Privileges Committee of the House. [Hear! Hear!] I am doing so because I have carefully listened to the Minister for Health and some of the issues that he raised are not different from some of the issues that Hon Members raised on the floor of the House.
I have also read the press statement from the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences. Some of the concerns they have raised are not so different from some of the concerns raised by Hon Members on the floor of the House.
Hon Members, even in this House, where we are legislating and performing a constitutional duty and the public whom we represent here, are not in support and think that there is no sufficient information to them, we suspend proceedings to re- engage them. I did that with regard to the Plant Breeders Bill, where I had to suspend the Consideration of that Bill to re-engage the people of Ghana before we proceeded further with the Consideration Stage of that Bill.We would continue to do so to engage the people.
Hon Minister for Health, I thank you very much for suspending the process and I would want to tell you that, if you had not done that and Hon Members of this House, from both Sides have seen me to bring a Bill under Certificate of Ugency to pass it and to restrict some of

the powers vested in the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) -- So that the Ministry can have full responsibility and if need be, Parliament can be briefed at certain intervals on these matters.

If the Fellows of the Academy themselves have certain reservations, the experts' reservations, I do not know why we should not. In any case, when the law that they are referring to is passed by us although we are not experts. Everything we do here, when we need to fall on experts, we fall on them before we do it. We would refer him accordingly.

Maybe, he has some information which we do not have and he would help the House in that direction so that together, this House can take the right decision with regard to the vaccine trial.

The second directive I gave is with regard to the issue raised by the Hon Minister in his Statement about the involvement of the Select Committee on Health in this matter and I think that it is very important. This House works through its Committees and therefore, I agree entirely with the Hon Minister that the Health Committee should work with the Hon Minister on this matter and within two weeks come back to the House and brief us on the outcome. So that if the House can take any decision -- One month or two weeks? Which one is better? -- [Interruption] -- One month, two?
rose
Mr Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Manhyia South?
Dr Prempeh 1:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am pleading with you that one month should be enough. Two weeks would be too short and this is because there are a lot of briefings we need to do and we even have to advertise our briefings publicly before we sit. Mr Speaker, one month would give the Hon Minister enough time to also brief us well so that we can inform the House --
Mr Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, you are in charge of Government Business. What do you say?
Mr Bagbin 1:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree with those who believe that the two weeks is on the low side. I do not think the Ministry together with our Committee would have done enough work to be able to report to the House. At the same time, one month is on the high side.
I am also looking at the work load of the House, one month from today, would be around the 16th of July, 2015 and by then, the House would have had some more work to do from the Ministry of Finance and so, we would not have Business space for that kind of Report. So, I think that three weeks should be sufficient for them to report to the House. And I would want to get the sense of the House and say that -- [Interruption] -- I think three weeks.
Mr Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Hon Members, three weeks. The Committee should try and engage the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in their work.
Hon Minister, we thank you, but if you have anything to say, I would relax the rules for you.
Mr Segbefia 1:35 p.m.
No, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Very well.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
Mr Nitiwul 1:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, am I to believe that we are concluding everything that has to do with this matter within the three weeks period including the matter we have just referred to the Privileges Committee? Is that my understanding?
Mr Speaker 1:35 p.m.
No, that is a different matter.
Mr Nitiwul 1:35 p.m.
There is no time line. Is that it?
Mr Speaker 1:35 p.m.
No, we would let the Committee do their work and report to the House.
Mr Nitiwul 1:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, one of the reasons I asked that question is that we have had so many referrals including the infamous Anyidoho one which has been left. That is why people do not fear and mind what they do to this House --
Mr Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, you very well know that when we make referrals to a Committee, ordinarily, we do not put a time line on it and this is because we want the Committee to do their work and report. But if in this case, it is the feeling of the House that we should give the Privileges Committee a time limit to submit the report, I do not have any objection to it.
But I believe this is a very important matter and that the Committee on Privileges would report within the shortest possible time.
Hon Minister for Health, we thank you very much. You are discharged.
Second Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.
Very well. Yes, the Hon Minister has Questions to answer.
Mr Bagbin 1:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would now take item numbered 3, which is an Urgent Question. I think it is important the Hon Minister answers the Urgent Question and if possible some of the Questions under item numbered 4 before we can take a bow.
Mr Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Very well. Hon Members, Question Time. We would start with the Urgent Question standing in the name of the Hon Member for Effutu.
URGENT QUESTION 1:35 p.m.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH 1:35 p.m.
Minister for Health (Mr Alexander Segbefia) 1:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Winneba Medical and Trauma Hospital was built using a Mixed Credit facility. 35 per cent Grant from the Dutch Government and 65per cent concessional loan from the Government of Ghana. The Hospital was handed over in 2011.
The siting of the hospital at Winneba was to strategically provide emergency services to victims of road traffic accidents along the newly constructed Accra-Cape Coast segment of the Trans-ECOWAS highway.
The hospital currently has an Orthopedic Surgeon and a Pediatrician. There were two Obstetrician Gynaeco- logist there as well but left last year to do fellowship training at Korle-Bu.
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service has identified one of the newly qualified surgeons from the College of Physicians and Surgeons to be posted to the Winneba Trauma Hospital. Additionally. Plans are actually far advanced to affiliate the Trauma Hospital with the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital to enable teaching of medical students to take place in Winneba.
This will bring additional specialists by that design. Consultants and Post-
Graduate Resident Doctors would therefore, have to be at the Trauma Hospital. It would also maximise the use of the new equipment and bed capacity of the hospital.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in an interaction with the hospital Administrator, he indicated that they need as a referral centre, a minimum of 25 Medical Doctors, two Gynaecologists, two Paediatricians and two Maxillofacial Surgeons. A minimum of two Internal Medical Specialists or Physician Specialists, two Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctors with three nurses, an Ophthalmologist and Optometrist because the facility is a secondary referral facility.
MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER IN 1:46 p.m.
THE CHAIR 1:46 p.m.
Mr Afenyo Markin 1:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my question to the Hon Minister is, when would these specialists be provided because, there are various departments which are well equipped and according to the Administrator, the medical equipment are under lock because we do not have any of these specialists.
But, the Hon Minister's Answer was not very specific as to when these specialists would be posted there. This is because it is a matter of urgent requirement.
Mr Segbefia 1:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is acknowledged by the Ministry that actually, there are facilities that are not being used and some are actually new. So, we are fully alive to the fact that we need to get doctors to use them.
Mr Speaker, the simplest way of dealing with the concerns the Hon Member raised, is the process which I have just mentioned, which is, to affiliate the Trauma
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:46 p.m.
Is that your last supplementary question?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:46 p.m.
No, that is my second supplementary question. I only asked the first supplementary.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister in his Answer, has told this Honourable House that the hospital was handed over in 2011 and we are in 2015. We are talking about four years by calculation. As we speak,
although the hospital is a secondary referral facility, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), which is supposed to provide accreditation has still not given accreditation. Although the Administrator confirms having paid and filled all the forms—They said they paid GH¢1,000 to NHIA and they are supposed to give them their accreditation so that Ghana Health Services would then be fortified in attending to all their medical needs, this has not been done.
Mr Speaker, if I got the Hon Minister right, he said, they are putting in certain measures to ensure that specialists are posted there. But, there are basic specialists or medical officers who are required to man a facility like the Trauma Hospital we have in Winneba. If four years down the line, the Ministry is yet to get a Gynaecologist and a Paediatrician to go there, then there is a problem.
This is because there are departments that are not being operationalised because they do not have the experts.
Mr Speaker, my question is, when? It is a matter which time is of essence.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:46 p.m.
So, what is your question?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am laying sufficient background. I know the Hon Minister is new. So I am just giving sufficient background because I had a lot of interactions with the Administrator and the Director before coming here.
Mr Speaker, my question is when, specifically, would it please the Hon Minister to provide the facility, at least, a minimum of these specialists to man the Trauma Centre?
Mr Segbefia 1:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if it pleases me, it would be tomorrow, but unfortunately, it is just not me. The
situation is what I have outlined. Actually, I spoke to the Hon Member before my vetting and he had brought this issue to my attention, so I know it is a matter that is close to his heart and I know the difficulties that exist.
Mr Speaker, there are other issues with regard to that particular matter, but I can assure him that it is something that we would definitely look at. It is being considered. Affiliating the hospital to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital is very important. I am not aware of the other aspects of the NHIA accreditation and therefore, cannot comment on that.
But, now that he has brought it to my attention, it is something that I would also look into, but as to a specific time, I can only tell him the processes and procedures we are working on.
Mr Speaker, we know we lost two of our Gynaecologists and we are looking to get them replaced. But, there is a raft of doctors the Hon Member has mentioned, especially, I know one that deals specifically with trauma, and that is the key in this particular issue. I promise that I would be looking into it to ensure that, they get a good trauma doctor there when we deal with the placement and that their affiliation processes are also expedited which would actually solve most of the problems that he raised.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister tells us that there is a Traumatologist and that is the case. However, with respect to the object of the facility, it is supposed to take care of some of these accident victims and I am bringing to the attention of the Hon Minister that, although the Traumatologist is there, he is idle. According to the Administrator, he virtually does nothing because the
equipment for orthopaedic treatment that are supposed to be delivered to them are still not available. So, although about six months ago, this specialist was posted there, he comes, sits in the office and does nothing. All accident referrals are made to Korle-Bu -- [Interruption] -- and we know the rate of accidents on the highway — people die on daily basis.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know from the Hon Minister, when is he going to provide or see to the dispatch of those medical equipment to enable the Traumatologist to begin operations.
Mr Segbefia 1:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is a slight deviation from the Question I was meant to answer, because I have moved now from staff to equipment and on the equipment side, I am aware there are facilities that have been ordered and there is a company that is also equipping hospitals currently within the Ministry of Health.
Mr Speaker, I am also alive of the fact that, actually, there is some state-of-the- art equipment in Winneba, I stand corrected. But there is some state of the art equipment in Winneba and that is the reason we would need more doctors to go in there and use that equipment.
I was not aware that there was also equipment lacking in the Trauma Centre; that is a separate issue that is now being raised and I have heard the Hon Member. We shall take it on board.
Thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member.
Markin—rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
You have finished your three supplementary questions.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:55 p.m.
No.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
You have finished them. [Interruption.] All right.Your last supplementary question?
Mr Bagbin 1:55 p.m.
None

Yes, Hon Bagbin?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought you have given me the --
Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader has given me the opportunity to take the floor.
Thank you, Hon Majority Leader.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister assured us of specialists who would soon be posted there though he still did not give the date. I am only drawing his attention because issues of health are very essential and the people are suffering.
Now, the hospital informs me that there is no nurse in charge of -- this word- anaesthetics or anaesthesia -- anaesthesia nurse, is that it? [Interruption] There are no, nurse anaesthetics -- you know I am a lawyer. Mr Speaker that is your fatherland.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
My father is a nurse anaesthetists or what?
You said that is my fatherland.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, your father comes from Winneba.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Yes, it is my father's constituency.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:55 p.m.
Yes, your father's hometown and you see the way --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
I did not see anything. [Laughter.]
Hon Member, the Hon Member did not deal with the matter because of where it was located. I am confident that if the trial was being done in Winneba, he would have attached the same importance to it.
Ask your Question.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am learning some medical terms.
Mr Speaker, the facility has no Nurse Anaesthetists. I would like to know from the Hon Minister for Health when a specialist in that field would be posted there because according to the Administrator, they need a minimum of five.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Five of what?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:55 p.m.
They need a minimum of five nurses in anaesthesia.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
What is the name of their profession. How are they described? [Laughter.]
It is for the records, it is important.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, five nurses who have specialised in anaesthesia.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
And they are known as?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:55 p.m.
They are known as -- [Laughter.] Nurse Anaesthetists.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Thank you.
Continue.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:55 p.m.
So, Mr Speaker, I would want to know from the Hon Minister specifically, because with this one, he should not play on words; when? It is very urgent; people are in pain and are suffering. So, I beg Mr Speaker, when?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
When what?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:55 p.m.
When would the Ministry post these professionals to -- [Laughter] -- The Winneba Trauma Hospital? I am referring to the Nurse Anaesthetists.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Very well.
Minister for Health?
Mr Segbefia 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am slightly confused as to which nurses I am supposed to be looking for; Nurse Anaesthetists; Nurses Anaesthetics, is that it? [Interruption.]
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Nurses who have specialised in anaesthesia.
Mr Segbefia 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this was not one of the questions that was put up as Urgent Question.
I know that this is a specialised area and nationwide, actually, there is a shortage of nurses of this nature. They are involved predominantly in surgical operations and for that reason, we have a limited number of those professionals. We are trying to increase the number in terms of training and issues of that nature.
The point is that, I cannot give a specific date or time because as I said, it is a national issue. But if they do not have
any at all, then it becomes obviously a priority. It means that actually, you cannot conduct operation unless a doctor is going to perform that function. Therefore, we would then look at it as a priority, but I cannot give any timeline at this stage.
Thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Hon Members, with regard to the Business in the House, I direct that Sitting be held outside the prescribed period as provided under Standing Order 40 (3).
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Yes, Hon Gifty Kusi, I saw you on your feet?
Mrs Eugenia G. Kusi 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Minister that a hospital like that needs a Paediatrician and a Gynaecologist but they are also not available.There is none. We know that women and children form a greater percentage of the population in Winneba and the hospital is even along the road where a lot of accidents happen.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon Minister for Health tell us when he can post specialists like that to the Winneba Trauma Centre?
Thank you.
Mr Segbefia 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in view of the large infrastructural changes that are going on in the health sector in terms of hospitals, clinics, district hospitals among others, there is a drive to increase the number of people who are trained as nurses and for that matter, health workers.
That also goes in line with the fact that there is also a drive to increase their numbers because of the number of Community Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound that we
Mrs Kusi 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is a problem with the training of the specialists because I have heard that when it was started, doctors received their salaries even if they were on training. But now that has been stopped and the specialist training is being jeopardised.

People are now trying to go outside and the brain drain is starting. So, I would want the Hon Minister to look at that.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
I think this is a substantive question.
Mrs Kusi 2:05 p.m.
It is not a question. I would just want to draw his attention to it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
All right. Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Bagbin 2:05 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is not a question; she is trying to give information but she has been misinformed. This is because I was at the Ministry of Health in 2012 and part of 2013. The policy is to try to get the right mix of medical professionals.
Now, we are short of medical and nursing anaesthetists as we talk. So, Government would give scholarship to those areas that we are short of professionals, but when the Medical Doctors decide that they want to specialise in a chosen field which is not within Government's programme, then they would have to sponsor themselves.
One could realise that many of them went into one area while we needed specialists in other areas like we are talking about. We do not have Trauma Anaesthetists in the whole country. You could count on your fingertips the number of medical Anaesthetists we have in the country. So, the information that she has given is not part of the Question. [Interruption] -- She has just given information and I am trying to respond to that. [Interruption.] But she is not the one who asked the Question.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, are you up on a point of order?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:05 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. [Interruption.] Questions are asked of --- She followed up on a Question that had been asked. [Interruption.] Mr Speaker, this is Question Time --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
But she did not ask a question. The Hon Member for Tarkwa-Nsuaem did not ask a question.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, an Hon Minister may be asked Questions and he may be responsible for that sector as provided for by Standing Order 62 and with your permission, I beg to quote:

Can I finish? This is because Questions do not relate to question as he thinks.
rose
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:05 p.m.
But can I finish? He cannot rise on a point of order against a point of order. -- [Laughter] --
Mr Speaker, I beg to quote 2:05 p.m.
“…to public affairs with which they are officially connected…”
Hon Members could also ask Questions but in this case the Hon Majority Leader has not been asked any Question as provided for by Standing Order 63. So, I do not see why he jumps in and goes on this path.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
He jumped in on the basis of residual knowledge.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:05 p.m.
Residual knowledge? [Laughter]-- Well, we would leave it at that.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, every time --
Mr Bagbin 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is not a matter of he rising and I also doing same. It is just to correct the impression because if she had asked a question, I would be completely out of order, but she said she was giving information.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
But it was within Question Time.
Mr Bagbin 2:05 p.m.
Yes, it was within Question Time and I also have that information which I would want to respond to the issue that she has raised and that was exactly what I did. So, that was actually out of the Standing Orders.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Thank you. At the same point, I was wondering what was happening. You were turning the Question Time to something else. But anyway, it is all in good spirit.
We shall go to Question number 302, standing in the name of Hon Kofi Frimpong.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Before you ask the Question, I thought there was going to be a follow- up. The Hon Minister said that Cape Coast is affiliated -- [Interruption] -- No, I would not allow you to ask a question.
Afenyo-Markin -- rose --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
No, please. The Hon Minister said when Cape Coast is affiliated to Winneba to facilitate that -- I thought somebody was going to ask when that would be done but nobody asked. I am not supposed to ask.
So, Question number 302?
Mr Kwaku Asante-Boateng 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Kofi Frimpong is indisposed and he has asked that I ask the Question on his behalf.[Interruption.]
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Hon Members, Order! Order!
Mr Asante-Boateng 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity -
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Bagbin 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are told that Hon Kofi Frimpong is indisposed. What does he mean by he is indisposed? [Interruption.]
He contested the parliamentary primaries and I just want the nature of indisposition.
Mr Asante-Boateng 2:05 p.m.
He is not feeling well.
Mr Bagbin 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he not feeling well does not mean indisposition. If you are not feeling well, that does not make you indisposed. [Interruption.] Is he saying he is ill? But “not feeling well” does not mean one is ill.
Mr Asante-Boateng 2:05 p.m.
He is sick. [Laughter.]
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, “not feeling well” may mean that a person is sick even though it is not necessarily that. So, what is the problem with the Hon Majority Leader? Mr Speaker, afflictions come by hours and minutes. [Laughter.]
Mr Bagbin 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader might look at the meaning of sick. [Interruption.] Yes, “not feeling
well” does not necessarily mean that one is sick. “Sick” is different from “ill”. [Interruption.] There is a vast difference.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not know what the Hon Majority Leader is talking about. I have said that the person may be sick. I am not saying that he is sick. May be, he should have listened to me carefully and not jumped into conclusions.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
So, I have accepted it. He is not feeling well -- [Laughter].
Yes, Hon Member?
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 2:05 p.m.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH 2:05 p.m.
Minister for Health (Mr Alexander P. Segbefia) 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this has come to the attention of the Ministry of Health and we are seeking funds under a special arrangement to construct an additional ward to shore up the deficit.
The expansion has not been captured in the 2015 Budget. However, in line with Government's policy to provide every District with a District Hospital as a first referral point, the Ministry of Health is currently seeking concessionary funding to provide a fully functional hospital for Kwabre East District as part of the Ministry's Capital Investment Plan.
Mr Asante-Boateng 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to know from the Hon Minister where the Ministry has got to in seeking this concessionary funding.
Mr Segbefia 2:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as the Hon Member would know, this has not been the only issue at Kwabre East. We have a number of other issues which have been on the table in terms of concessionary funding, but we had to wait till the issues with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had been fully exhausted; and they have now been fully exhausted.
So, we are in talks with the Ministry of Finance which would then be in the position to tell us when that is going to occur. I am not in possession of that information at this stage.
Thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
Thank you. Hon Member? [Interruption.] Your microphone, please?
Mr Asante-Boateng 2:15 p.m.
We have asked a specific Question, Hon Minister and I would appreciate if some timelines could be given to the Answer.
Thank you.
Mr Segbefia 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I had indicated that it is actually not part of the 2015 Budget Statement. If it had been part of the specific budget, I could have given specific timelines.
Unfortunately, because it is part of the concessionary facility that we seek to obtain, we are subject to what we can get. That was always subject to --
I know that we are looking forward to getting that funding some time this year, but I cannot actually put a time on it at this stage. We are subject to what the Ministry of Finance says.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Asante-Boateng 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Minister if he could specifically tell us where exactly he is seeking that concessionary funding from.
Mr Segbefia 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, at this stage, my understanding is that, we are seeking concessionary funding from a number of sources. We have those projects to deal with. Therefore, it would be amiss of me to give him a source now, only to find out it comes from a different source, which could become another issue.
It is important to note that facility is one of the issues that is going to be looked at once the concessionary funding is available. I would not go any further to indicate which facility because we are not seeking it from just one source.
In any event, that could have been a more appropriate question for the Ministry of Finance, as to what the Hon Minister for Finance is going to allocate where. I would not have that specific information at this stage.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Question 349 which is in the name of the Mr Kwaku Asante-Boateng, Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim South.
Juaso District Hospital (Provision of needed facilities)
Q. 349. Mr Kwaku Asante-Boateng asked the Minister for Health when the Juaso District Hospital would be provided with the needed facilities and equipment to befit the status of a District Hospital.
Mr Segbefia 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this has come to the attention of the Ministry of Health and was captured under the TB Case Detection Programme with support from the Dutch Government. The focus was to provide digital X-rays for the facility under the package. The Agreement currently is awaiting parliamentary approval.
Mr Asante-Boateng 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to seek clarification on the Agreement in paragraph 1 of the Answer that the Hon Minister gave, as to whether the Agreement is already in Parliament, or it is yet to be submitted to Parliament.
Mr Segbefia 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I apologise to the House.
As to whether it has been submitted from Cabinet to the House, or if it is on its way to Parliament, I have not verified; I do not have an answer.
It is believed that at the time it was passed at Cabinet, it should already have been here waiting for parliamentary approval. I would endeavour to get the answer to that specific question. My understanding was that it was here.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Asante-Boateng 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would appreciate if the Hon Minister
could subsequently inform the House as to whether the Agreement has been submitted to the House, or it is yet to be submitted, so that a proper follow-up could be made. If it has been submitted, when was that done? If not, when would that be done?
Mr Segbefia 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I can only confirm that the Ministry of Finance has submitted it to Parliament. As to when it was done, I cannot say; but it has been submitted to Parliament by the Ministry of Finance.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Hon Member, I believe this is your --
Mr Asante-Boateng 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this would be my last supplementary question.
Mr Speaker, by the Answer provided, I realised that the Hon Minister said that they are currently seeking funding to provide some basic facilities for the hospital. They include:
“1. Rehabilitation of existing Wards and OPD.
2. Equipping of the on going construction of the Accident and Emergency Unit.
3. Construction and equipping of a new CSSD, Laundry, Kitchen, a Physiotherapy Unit…”
Mr Speaker, it would interest this House to know that we still need some basic facilities. We cannot wait for this construction work and the seeking of funding to provide all these. We lack basic equipment like a biochemistry analyser and an X-ray machine. Let us put the bigger items aside.
When could we get a basic item like a microscope and a biochemistry analyser for the hospital?
Mr Segbefia 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, they are two separate issues. The first issue has to deal with the basic equipment he has talked about, which are the digital X-ray machines and other facilities. That matter is waiting for parliamentary approval here.
Mr Speaker, but as part of the assessment of the hospital that was carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Health, the other items have actually also been identified as issues that have to be dealt with. That is what we are seeking the facility for now, to deal with those other aspects.
So, they are not one and the same; they are two separate items.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Hon Gifty Kusi?
Mrs Gifty E. Kusi 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, from what the Hon Member said and from the Answer given by the Hon Minister, there are certain basic items that the hospital needs to operate, even though money is being looked for these major ones.
I know that from the Budget Statement, there are some emergency funds attached to the Hon Minister's office, which the Hon Minister could use to provide basic items for the hospital to function before the major ones are procured.
So, I would want to ask the Hon Minister if he could assure the House that he could use part of his budget to ensure that the hospital would get those basic items to function
Thank you.
Mr Segbefia 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I could simply assure the House that we would look at all issues dispassionately and make sure we can assist wherever we can.
It is, however, important to know - And I think it is common knowledge that budgets, perhaps, were not what they used to be. Budgets are very tight and all allocations go to what they are streamlined for. In actual fact, there is a big difference between a budget and what we actually end up obtaining.
So, there is also that caveat which I think year- on -year, has always created a discrepancy. I am yet to still find that extra budget that I am supposed to have to deal with extra issues. I would love to know where it comes from but that is not the issue. As I understand it, we have more requests than our budgets actually allows and we find difficulty in trying to meet our budget.
So we employ regulatory means to ensure that we deal with issues. Whatever we can find, we would assist with on that matter.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Hon Dr (Nana) Ato Arthur?
Dr Stephen Nana Ato Arthur 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, from the Hon Minister's Answer, Government is presently seeking funding to provide these facilities for the hospital. I am not very much satisfied with the Answer -- Some basic bio-chemistry analyser, hospital beds, et cetera. When exactly would the Ministry be able to provide these facilities?

Are you the Hon Minister? Are you the Hon Speaker?
Mr Segbefia 2:25 p.m.
I believe the items that have been mentioned are captured within the first paragraph of the Answer that I gave namely; the focus was to provide digital x-rays -- that was the focus.The Agreement which is brought to the House for parliamentary approval, however, captures the very basic items that he has talked about.
One believes that, once we have gone through the Cabinet stage and we are able to get parliamentary approval, of course the Ministry of Finance has passed it on - this is a loan or a facility which would definitely come through and we can therefore facilitate it.
It is not the case, like the second set of items, where we are now going to facilitate, get the items to Cabinet, then go to the Ministry of Finance to see if we can get it through. So, the two are separate.The basic items we talked about are in the first issue that deals with parliamentary approval and once Parliament approves, we should be in a position to give those basic facilities.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Thank you.
I think the next Question is Question number 350 but before that Question is asked, Hon Minister, in your Answer there are three acronyms. One is TB that everybody knows stands for Tuberculosis; another is OPD which I guess is Out-Patient Department; and the third one is CSSD. What is that?
Mr Segbefia 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am in the dark as you are. I shall find out and let you know shortly.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Thank you very much.
I am sure that next time you will make sure that in the Answer, the full and the -- the people in the medical profession think that some of these their acronyms --
Mr Segbefia 2:25 p.m.
I am reliably informed that it is the Central Sterile Services Department.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Central Sterile Services Department -- and you were informed by --
Mr Segbefia 2:25 p.m.
I was informed by my Hon learned Colleague.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:25 p.m.
All right.
Hon Gifty Kusi --
Mr Segbefia 2:25 p.m.
Hon learned lady.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:25 p.m.
She is the technical advisor to the Hon Minister. Yes, it is the same.
Mr Segbefia 2:25 p.m.
The word used here is Central Sterile Supply Department.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:25 p.m.
All right. So next time, if we could have the benefit of the full word, it would be very good for us.
Question number 350 in the name of Mr Kofi Okyere-Agyekum --Fanteakwa South.
Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah 2:25 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
With your kind prior permission, I have the authority to ask this Question on behalf of the Hon Member who is currently tied down in his constituency to attend to very urgent matters.
Upgrading of the Osino Health Centre into a Hospital
Q.350. Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah (on behalf of Mr Kofi Okyere-Agyekum) asked the Minister for Health when the Osino Health Centre would be upgraded into a hospital.
Mr Segbefia 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Osino is under the Fanteakwa District and has a fully-fledged District Hospital located at Begoro, which serves as a referral point for all the subdistricts. The Ministry would need to assess the Osino Health Centre in conjunction with the Ghana Health Service to determine what needs to be added on. This would primarily be determined also by the population growth and the patient attendance to date. This would be captured in our Capital Investment Plan for 2016-2017 for implementation.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Hon Member?
Mr Amoako-Attah 2:25 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
As part of the Hon Minister's Answer in paragraph 1, he has duly informed this Honourable House that, Begoro has a fully-fledged District Hospital which serves the sub district.
I would want to know from the outfit of the Hon Minister, whether it has come to their knowledge that the hospital has no emergency department. Currently, the hospital's only generator is unserviceable. The hospital has only one doctor at post and water supply to the hospital is very erratic and unreliable.
I would want to know from him, how the District Hospital at Begoro can be described as a fully-fledged district hospital to serve the community?
Mr Segbefia 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I take the points mentioned by the Hon Member entirely on board. However, the essence of the Question was an upgrade of the Osino Hospital and not the status of Begoro Hospital, even though in my Answer, I was relying on the Begoro situation. It is therefore imperative on the Ministry of Health to ensure that the facilities in Begoro which have obviously deteriorated to a certain point are dealt with. But once that is done, technically, it would serve the purpose of a District Hospital that serves the sub district areas.
For us to upgrade the Osino Hospital, we have to look at the numbers that actually use it and we also have to determine what needs to be added on in terms of the services it provides. That is the main thrust of the Question that was put.
As to the facility of the District Hospital having problems, I take the points on board; we would look at it. But the first point of call would be to upgrade that and then go through the process of looking at what Osino requires in order to see whether we have to upgrade it or just add a few facilities. That would be done for Osino in 2016/2017.
The other factors that have been mentioned about Begoro have been noted and we would see how best we can facilitate the rehabilitation of some of these issues.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Amoako-Attah 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the second paragraph of the Hon Minister's Answer specifically says and with your kind permission I would beg to quote;
“The Ministry would need to assess the Osino Health Center in conjunction with the Ghana Health Service to determine what needs to be added on”…
Mr Segbefia 2:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is safe to say that it would be done in sufficient time to deal with it in the 2016 - 2017 Capital Investment Plan for the Ministry. I cannot give any more specific timeline than that at this stage. But the intention is to do this assessment and have it in the Capital Investment Plan for 2016 - 2017.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Amoaka-Attah 2:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would only want to conclude with the comments the Hon Minister provided in his Answer; the last sentence. Again, Mr Speaker, with your kind permission, I beg to quote:
“This would be captured in our Capital Investment Plan for 2016- 2017 for implementation.”
This statement is heart-warming and reassuring and I would want the Hon Minister to note that we are going to follow it with an eagle eye. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 a.m.
Hon Minister, that is not a question --
Mr Amoako-Attah 2:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, that is why I said that I would conclude the Question time with this comment. Thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 a.m.
Thank you.
Question number 351 standing in the name of Mr Kofi Brako, Hon Member for Tema Central.
Tema General Hospital (Construction of Maternity Building)
Q.351. Mr Kofi Brako asked the Minister for Health what plans were in place to complete the construction of the maternity building at the Tema General Hospital which commenced some five years ago.
Mr Segbefia 2:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the project got stalled due to lack of funds. However, funds have been allocated in the 2015 capital investment budget of the Ministry of Health towards the completion of the maternity project. Presently, the Ministry of Finance is processing outstanding claims due the contractor for payment.
Additionally, plans are far advanced to redevelop the entire hospital under a turnkey arrangement. Feasibility studies have been conducted. Client/User-Client review of the proposal has taken place. However, the financing terms provided by the proposer is not concessionary as required by the Ministry of Finance and he has been requested to resubmit for consideration.
Mr Brako 2:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Minister how much has been allocated towards the completion of the project in the Capital Investment Budget that he mentioned in the 2015 Budget.
Mr Segbefia 2:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately I do not have the specific amount. [Pause.]
I am told the amount is GH¢500,000, half a million Ghana cedis.
Mr Brako 2:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to draw the attention of the Hon Minister to what transpired this year between January
and April 2015. I would want to inform this House that between this short period 22 mothers lost their lives while giving birth. That works up to about five women dying within a month; it also works up to one lady or a wife dying within a week while giving birth at the Tema General Hospital.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister how soon the claims due the contractor would be paid to enable him return to the project site and continue to complete that particular Maternity Ward project?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 a.m.
Hon Minister?
Mr Segbefia 2:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, all that I can say is that, this matter is being expedited by the Ministry together with the Ministry of Finance. Tema has a specific space in terms of how the Ministry views it because of the number of people and of communities that it actually services. We have Ashaiman; we have Tema itself and Hon Afotey Agbo's constituency as well.
All these communities feed into Tema and that is why it has been identified that there is a real need to actually rehabilitate that particular hospital. There is also a need to build another hospital possibly in the Ashaiman area to take some of the pressure off what is happening in Tema.
I fully sympathise with the situation that the Hon Member finds his constituents in and I can only offer my condolences to the families that have lost mothers and possibly some of the children, as he has enunciated. It is not an acceptable position. However, as indicated, steps are being taken to ensure -- I cannot give specific timelines but Tema, as I have enunciated, is very high
up on the list in terms of what we want to do in that particular catchment area.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 a.m.
Hon Member, I think this is your last supplementary question.
Mr Brako 2:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, having listened to the Hon Minister, I know he is new at the Ministry, so I would take his word for it. But I would like to inform him that Tema, as he rightly said, serves a number of districts and the hospital is in dire need of complete rehabilitation.
I realised that in the Hon Minister's Answer, the second paragraph, he said they are making attempts to really build a new hospital in Tema. But the conclusion, thereof, is not really interesting and nothing to write home about. I would want the Hon Minister to tell us here and now, what exact plans they have in trying to put up a new modern hospital in Tema?
Mr Segbefia 2:35 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my understanding is that there is the need to rehabilitate and add to the Tema General Hospital. That is separate from the building of a completely new hospital, which might occur in different districts.
What I can say is that the maternal mortality rate is a very big issue, it is one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that we have.
It is true that we have an accelerated fund of 42.1 million euros that has just been added to the Budget for the sake of maternal mortality. As to whether it has to go to Capital Projects or other aspects; it is a matter under consideration. But some money has come in and Tema is high on the list with regard to how we can assist to deal with some of these issues.
It is also correct that there is a group called the Cimex Healthcare Group which has now submitted a further proposal to
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Minister.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 a.m.
Hon Gifty Kusi?
Mrs Kusi 2:35 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
As we heard from the Hon Member, the rate at which women are dying,I would want Hon Minister to assure us that he would curtail this unnecessary deaths of women by going straight to Tema General Hospital, calling the contractor and whatever it takes -- Maybe, within the week the contractor would go back -- because as we heard, what the Hon Member said -- the Hon Minister is moved himself. So, I know the Hon Minister is going to do something about it, please.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:45 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Mr Segbefia 2:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I take all the points. That has been set on board.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:45 p.m.
Hon Member for Klottey Korley?
Nii Armah Ashietey: Mr Speaker, from the response of the Hon Minister, the delay in the completion of the project has been due to lack of funds. I understand from his Answer that, some funds have been allocated under the budget for this year to complete the ward.

Mr Speaker, under our decentralisation programme, Metropolitan, Municipal and Distr ict Assemblies (MMDAs) are responsible for the development of their areas. Therefore, I would want to find out from the Hon Minister, when they are doing some of these projects, they do not involve the MMDAs? Tema Metropolitan Assembly for example is quite a resourceful Assembly, and I would want to urge the involvement of the Assembly to financially support the effort of the Ministry to get the project completed to get value for money.
Mr Segbefia 2:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the records are clear. Just for clarification, I had indicated that there was a facility of almost GH¢32 million that has been made available for maternal care under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). I did not specifically say it was for capital projects. I said that we are going to try to make sure that we could use it in the Tema area. This is because, some of these funds are earmarked.
Until I know what the funds are earmarked, as, one cannot put his hands on his heart and say this is going here, but we are going to do everything possible to ensure that some of those funds get to the Tema General Hospital under the maternal health care system because of what is happening in Tema. So, I would want that clarification to be made.
As to the issue of the MMDAs being involved, it is a point that has been made, and I believe that in some cases, per its consultation, although not enough, sometimes, it is not enough for consideration across board, and on a number of issues, it would be nice to consult with the Parliament or the Member
of Parliament (MP) for an area before one enters it or embark upon other issues. So, consultation is crucial, and I would take the point that he has made and we would see how best we could begin to involve others when we are dealing with how we allocate projects in particular areas.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:45 p.m.
Hon Amoakoh-Attah?
Mr Kwasi Amoakoh-Attah 2:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, it states in his opening statement that the project got stalled due to lack of funds.
Mr Speaker, repeatedly, it is a worrying situation in our nation that we commit huge sums of moneys into such projects only to leave them half way, and until completed, the nation does not derive any benefit from it.
I would want to find out from the Hon Minister whether his Ministry had adequate and full proofed plans towards the financing of this project before it was commenced?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:45 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Mr Segbefia 2:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not have the history of the financing of that particular project, whether this was a project that was begun under the Government of Ghana (GoG) financing or there was a loan facility that was put in place to deal with it. So, I do not have the historical basis at this stage to indicate what has happened over the last five years why the particular project was stalled.
All I could say to my Hon Colleague is that, I am doing my utmost best to ensure that that project comes to completion as soon as possible within the parameters under which I work at the
moment. On the basis of what I have given on the history, I have given with regard to the facilities that are going on at the moment.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:45 p.m.
Hon Dr (Nana) Ato Arthur?
Dr Stephen N. A. Arthur 2:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, some five years ago, a project which was a maternity block to be constructed in Tema got stalled because of lack of funds. What was the contract sum at the time that it got stalled, and how much was owed the contractor?
Mr Segbefia 2:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with due respect, I do not know whether within the body of the Question one would have inherently believe to have the financial figures as part of the Question. Unfortunately, I do not at this stage have the financial figures, and I do not want anybody to give me any guess work. It is always best to get the right figures, if possible. [Pause]
Mr Speaker, I am told that they started the hospital with the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) funds, and the Ministry was then weaned off it, and we were going to use GoG funds to complete it. That has led to the stalling of the project. It is an explanation and not an excuse.
Dr Arthur 2:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the project was started with the HIPC. What was the contract sum, and how much had they been paid? If the project was started with HIPC, is HIPC the contract sum? I do not understand this. Mr Speaker, could the Hon Minister come again?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:45 p.m.
Hon Member, the question demands a yes answer, but perhaps the Hon Minister would not be in the position to give the answer now.
Dr Arthur 2:45 p.m.
I take a cue, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:45 p.m.
Question number 385, which stands in the name of Hon Mohammed Salisu Bamba, the Hon Member for Ejura-Sekyedumase.
Ejura-Sekyedumase (Establishment of Nursing and
Midwifery Training Institute)
Q385. Mr Mohammed Salisu Bamba asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry had any plans to establish a Nursing and Midwifery Training Institution in the Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality.
Mr Segbefia 2:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Health does not currently have plans to establish a Nursing and Midwifery Training School in Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipal.
This is due to both financial and human resource constraints. Additionally, the Ministry is now concentrating on improving existing schools rather than stretching the limited resources establishing new ones.
The Ministry currently has enough schools in each region to adequately resource all the health facilities. Thus, this would not adversely affect health care.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:45 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Bamba 2:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, looking at the second paragraph, the Hon Minister said that, they do not have plans of establishing new schools, instead, they want to improve the institutions that they already have. I would like him to tell us specifically what they are doing to improve the existing schools?
Mr Segbefia 2:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is a plan to try and rehabilitate the schools. There are some in the pipeline which we want to bring on stream. We also want to be sure that the different -- because some are just nurses, others are midwives in midwifery schools and health assistants.
There is also the process to try and actually create an agency out of the training schools because of the numbers and the way in which they are going.That is a matter that is soon to go before Cabinet and subsequently to this House.
Mr Speaker, there are plans afoot to strengthen and deal with the training schools that exist.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Bamba 2:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in paragraph three, the Hon Minister said that they have enough schools that do not warrant the establishment of new schools. May I know how many schools he considers enough in each region? How many do they have in the Ashanti Region that do not warrant a new one in Ejura Sekyedumase?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
Hon Minister?
Mr Segbefia 2:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I could give that answer in writing if it pleases the House. I know they are in the region of 70 or possibly 80 and they are spread across all the regions of the country. The reason I know is because I am looking at the documentation that is going to try and make them an Agency. So there are quite a few of them dealing with different aspects. But instead of giving him guess work, it would be much better for me, if with your leave, I could give him that answer in writing, dealing with the numbers that are involved. But they are quite a number.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
I do not know whether this is a follow up question or we should treat it as a substantive Question. How many midwifery schools are in Ashanti Region?Is that the question?
Mr Bamba 2:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the question is how many they have in the Ashanti Region that they think they do not require new ones?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
I think it is a relevant question. This is because the answer says that there are enough schools in each region so I think it is a question an Hon Member could ask. What is enough? I believe that is what he is asking.
Mr Bamba 2:55 p.m.
Exactly, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
I would direct that the Hon Minister provides the House with the written Answer. The written Answer would be on how many schools there are in the Ashanti Region but the second part of his question is “what is enough”? Five? Two?
In fact, I was tempted to disqualify the question, until I read the Answer where it says that “the Ministry has enough schools in each region …”
So once he is asking,”what is enough?”it is not irrelevant. I think his question is in two parts. The second part asks how many schools you have in the region. Please, supply that in writing but “what is enough”, supply it now.
Hon Minister, what is enough?
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 2:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think the question the Hon Member asked was two in one and we are privileged when you gave the Hon Minister the indication that he should go and give us the number of midwifery schools in the Ashanti Region.
Mr Speaker, it is after furnishing us with the number that we would know that this is the number the Hon Minister says is enough. So I think you should spare the Hon Minister until he provides the number of midwifery schools we have in the Ashanti Region, then the other question could be answered from there.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think the Hon Minister could well take cover under the request by the Deputy Chief Whip, but on my own I wanted to ask another question. This is because I realised that --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
Just before you ask the question, I think the Answer that the Hon Minister gave was that, there are currently enough schools in each region. So perhaps he would supply Parliament with the number of schools in each region in writing.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
The “enough” part?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, [Laughter] it seems you have pre-empted it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
No I have not.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the question that I wanted to ask the Hon
Minister is that the Question itself reads 2:55 p.m.
“To ask the Minister for Health whether the Ministry has any plans to establish a nursing and midwifery training institution in the Ejura Sekyedumase Municipality.”
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister's Answer talks about the now situation. It says that 2:55 p.m.
“… the Ministry of Health does not currently have plans to establish a Nursing and Midwifery Training School in Ejura Sekyedumase Municipal.”
The second paragraph:
“This is due to financial and human resource constraints. additionally, the Ministry is now concentrating .
. . .”
So, it is talking about the short-term response. My question is, do they have any plans, medium-term or long-term to establish a Nursing and Midwifery Training Institution in the Ejura Sekyedumase Municipality? This is because the Answer is the now situation. We do not have it now. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, that is the medium term and the long term, do they have any such plans?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
Hon Minister?
Mr Segbefia 2:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe that in my Answer, I indicated that there was the process of actually getting these institutions now to become Agencies and it is these Agencies that would look at the requirement of the nation as a whole. It would look at the placements and decide what the way forward is. So the immediate position is to get the agencies in place and then they would then come up with a proposal for the Ministry of Health, put as an agency under it and map up the way forward in the future.
And they would then be in charge of affairs to deal with how many schools, where, and for what basis. And whether we should even have nurses and midwifery together , or we should have them as separate entities as we go along.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
Thank you.
Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is an application on the sidelines, and I think I have heard.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
Hon Member for Lower Manya Krobo.
Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi 3:05 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am a little confused about the Answer that has been provided.
Is the Hon Minister saying that there are no plans because there is no money, or we have enough that is why we do not have plans to establish them?
The Answer here is that, it is due to financial and human resource constraints. Then the next paragraph says,”the

Ministry currently has enough schools in each region”.

As for “enough”, it depends on one's ability. But my question is, is it because we do not have what it takes to build the new schools or it is because we have enough?
Mr Segbefia 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am beginning to wonder whether I should not have answered no and left it -- [Laughter] -- I would not have had any further questions to answer on this issue, because I think that quite clearly, language is the tool by which we play in this House. Once we have the word “enough”, anything goes and that is where this issue has arisen.
Maybe, we should have said we have adequate numbers for now to deal with the issues of nursing. It does not take account of the future; we are a growing country and a growing economy. The point is taken.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
Hon Gifty Kusi?
Mrs Kusi 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker you, have asked the Hon Minister to come back in two weeks --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
Not to come back.
Mrs Kusi 3:05 p.m.
All right.
So, if he is providing that answer to us I would like him to tell us about the “enough” bit; that he should tell us the number of schools we have and whether what the schools are bringing to the nation is enough.
By that, we would know that every hospital or clinic, or health centre needs this number of nurses. If the need is satisfied, then it is enough.
Could he break it down and tell us that, for instance, Ashanti Region has 40 schools and they churn out 200 students a month and this is the requirement that hospitals need, that gives us satisfaction that what we have is enough. But if they are not providing -- What every set-up requires of staff then --
So, in his analysis to us he should let us --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
Thank you.
That is a major exercise you are asking the Ministry to embark on, more of the State's observation with emphasis on the health sector, mid-wifery and nursing.
I do not know whether the thinking was that the question was to go into that much detail. I think fundamentally, when we ask Hon Ministers to provide some information in written form, it is not an opportunity for the Hon Minister to embark on a major statement; it is just some information.
So, I will still restrict the information to the number of schools. Then he asked the Hon Minister whether he had the -- What I heard him say, the last answer, I think he withdrew the “enough”. He said maybe, he should have said “no”, instead of “enough”.
The Hon Minister has humbly withdrawn the “enough”, this is because “enough” is subjective. It would engage us till tomorrow morning. So, I think the question -- He should just focus on the number per region. If we want to debate or to use the words of the Hon Minority
Mr Alfred Agbesi 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is past 2.00 p.m., so the House is in your hands.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
Yes, but there is only one Paper to be presented. So, if that Paper is available, we will present it and then we adjourn.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
All right.
At the Commencement of Public Business -- Yes? We have item number
6.
Mr Alfred K. Agbesi 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item number 6, Presentation of Papers, unfortunately, the Paper is not ready to be presented, and since it is past 2:00 o'clock. We leave the House in your hands for adjournment.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
Thank you. [Pause.]
Yes?
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Leaders of Government Business who are responsible for Public Business are indicating to us that there is no Public Business. Who am I to contradict them? So, if there is no Public Business, then the House may have to stand adjourned.
ADJOURNMENT 3:05 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 3.12 p.m. till Wednesday, 17th June, 2015 at 9.00 a.m.