Debates of 17 Dec 2015

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Majority Leader and Leader of the House (Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin) 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢140,611,756 for the services of the Audit Service for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
Mr Speaker, the Audit Service as we all know, is one of the critical agencies of Government, that support governance in the country, particularly with regard to making sure that we utilise our resources prudently.
Mr Speaker, this year's allocation as usual, falls short of the programmes and activities that have been lined up for the Audit Service. Mr Speaker, the acting Chairman of the Committee will be drawing our attention to some of these areas, which were put across to the Committee by the officials from the Audit Service.
Mr Speaker, it is important that, in our review, we do everything possible as a country, to bring the Audit Service,
particularly the Auditor-General under the purview of Parliament. This is because Parliament is an arm of Government that leads in overseeing the Executive to ensure that the resources we put at the disposal of the Executive are efficiently, effectively and prudently utilised to the best interest of the people. Therefore, usually, to have the Auditor-General appointed by the same person that is going to audit, creates some problems -- sometimes compromises their effec- tiveness.
But what is more important is their allocation. Mr Speaker, we increased the number of District Assemblies; we have established many more institutions, thereby increasing the workload of the Service. Unfortunately, this is not commensurate with the resources that we give to the Audit Service.
So, Mr Speaker, this was brought home to the Ministry of Finance and some understanding was reached, which the acting Chairman will be putting across.
Therefore, it is with this that I beg to move, that we approve the sum of GH¢140,611,756 for the services of the Audit Service for the year ending, 31st December, 2016.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Thank you very much.

Acting Chairman of the Committee (Prof. George Y. Gyan-Baffour):Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and in doing so, I would like to read your Committee's Report.

Introduction

The Hon Minister for Finance, Mr Seth Terkper presented the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December, 2016 to Parliament on Friday, 13th November, 2015 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.

Pursuant to Order 140 (4) of the Standing Orders of the House, the Budget Estimates of the Ghana Audit Service were referred to the Special Budget Committee by Mr Speaker for con- sideration and report to plenary.

Deliberations

In considering the referral, the Committee met with one of the Board members, Mr Kodwo Ahlijah and two Deputy Director-Generals, Mr Blessed Baffour Atta (F&A) and Mrs Roberta Amissah Appiah (CAD). Other officials of the Audit Service and the Ministry of Finance were also present.

The Committee extends its profound appreciation to them for their invaluable input during the deliberations.

Reference documents

The Committee referred to the following documents during deliberations:

a. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

b. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.

c. Letter from H.E. the President on 2016 Budget Estimates of the Audit Service.
SHOWING EXPENDITURE TREND AS AGAINST THE APPROVED BUDGET 12:15 p.m.
Mr KwakuAgyeman-Manu (NPP-- Dormaa Central) 12:15 p.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
I rise to contribute to the discussion we are having on the annual estimates of the Audit Service.
I have only one or two issues to talk about. The inadequate funding and resources to the Audit Service is becoming a very huge problem for our fight against corruption and issues of transparency.
If you pick the Auditor-General's Report on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for 2014, the Auditor- General, in his transmittal letter to the Speaker of Parliament, says that they have been starved of funds to the level where his staff use their pocket money, their disposable income, to buy fuel, do maintenance and go and audit State agencies.
Mr Speaker, if an auditor is going on site with his own resources, what type of audit do you envisage would come out of that work? Definitely, we are compromi- sing on issues of transparency and our fight against corruption. I do not understand why we cannot give this very important institution its independence by giving them the resources they need to do their work efficiently.
The problem has not been only one year. Even what has been allocated and approved by Parliament, they do not get the releases as has been captured in this particular Report by the Special Budget Committee. Releases are not frequent, reliable and they do not even know when it would come. So, how can they embark on implementing their workplan to any satisfactory level.
Mr Speaker, I believe that Parliament in exercising its oversight responsibilities should put all the pressure that we can on the Minister for Finance, Cabinet and maybe, His Excellency, the President of
the country, to give the Audit Service the priority that it needs if we want to do any serious work about corruption.
The Auditor-General remarks again in his transmittal letters attached to almost all his reports, that it looks like people who are managing our resources have thrown away the instructions, regulations and laws that guide them in managing our finances and therefore, there are no rules operating any longer.
The frequency of irregularities is just going high and the quantum of embezzlements and several infractions against the Financial Administration Act, Financial Memoranda and several issues, are all captured in the Auditor-General's Reports that are coming to us of late.
Mr Alban Bagbin 12:25 p.m.
On a point of order.
Mr Speaker, I did hear the Hon Chairman of the PAC say that “in his position as the Chairman of the PAC, he is the only person who works closely with the Auditor- General”. Mr Speaker, that is definitely untrue.
As the Leader of this House, I work closely with the Auditor-General and sometimes on weekly basis, to ensure that that department, as I mentioned earlier -- I did advise that it was important we put the Auditor-General under the purview of Parliament, so that we can insulate it for it to be able to perform its duty objectively without fear or favour. He cannot be auditing the person appointing and disappointing him.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 12:25 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Majority Leader.
Mr Speaker, since we are singing the same chorus, I would not respond to my Hon Majority Leader's assertion. But I would still want to maintain that, I am one among the few who work very closely with the Auditor-General.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Well, Hon Member, that is acceptable. -- [Laughter.]
Mr Agyeman-Manu 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are singing the same song. It is like we are weeping and crying for adequate resources for the Audit Service. Without that, anybody who stands outside and talks about the fight against corruption and transparency and those things, may come to nothing.
Mr Speaker, it is actually reflecting in the irregularities that the auditors are reporting to us. They need resources to work with and they need resources to give us reports, to do follow-ups and make sure that recommendations that we adopt in the House are actually implemented.

Mr Speaker, with these words, I would want to urge my Hon Colleagues to join me in asking for more resources for the Audit Service.

Mr Speaker, I thank you so much for the opportunity.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Yes, Hon Minister for Employment and Labour Relations
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations (Mr Haruna Iddrisu)(MP) 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to associate myself with the Motion and without hesitation, to join my Hon Colleague in asking for additional resources to support the Audit Service.
Mr Speaker, in doing so, it is to appreciate the watchdog role the Audit Service plays as one of the institutions responsible for assisting in combating and reducing abuses relative to the use of public resources and public funds.
Mr Speaker, in doing so, let me refer you to the last paragraph of 9.1 on page five of your Committee's Report:
“The Committee continues to observe reduction and delays in the release of funds for the implementa- tion of set programmes of the Service. These persistent problems cause some of the Services' constitutional, statutory and professional audits to fall in arrears….”
Mr Speaker, these are for my emphasis, and it means that, the Auditor-General -- Having quoted this, Mr Speaker, let me now refer you to article 187 (5) of the 1992 Constitution, which provides that:
187 (5) “The Auditor-General shall, within six months after the end of the immediately preceding financial year to which each of the accounts mentioned in clause (2) of this article relates, submit his report to Parliament and shall, in that report, draw attention to any irregularities in the accounts audited and to any other matter which in his opinion ought to be brought to the notice of Parliament”.
Mr Speaker, my emphasis is “shall, within six months”. It means that, it is mandatory. This House, together with the Executive, including the Ministry of Finance, should appreciate that we are in want of observance of this constitutional provision by not making timely and adequate releases to the Audit Service. It means that we are possibly walking on a possible infringement on provisions of the Constitution.
Mr Speaker, what is important is that, apart from the time limit, we need to get the Public Accounts Committee's work. Again, even in this august House, we have to redefine what our roles are per the recommendations of the PAC and we must be seen, as the Constitution requires, in terms of a committee always named by this august House to implement recommendations of your Committee, the Public Accounts Committee.
Mr Speaker, we also work closely with the Audit Service and I am encouraged by the innovations that have been introduced. The innovation of ICT technology is now being used for purposes of audit.
I think that we need to encourage them and support more, so that they are able to
institutionalise it across the country, that they can continue with the ICT in- frastructure for purpose of supporting their work.
Mr Speaker, there is a Government committee working on payroll fraud and I should commend the Auditor-General and his men who would do the due diligence in terms of us confirming who ought to be on the payroll, which has done some extensive work, particularly relative to the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I support that we should make additional resources available and allow for the Auditor-General to be able to carry out periodic and timely audits of all institutions.
Mr Speaker, suffice it to say that, in article 187 (2), the Auditor-General also in looking at public accounts, is charged to look at that of universities and other institutions. I think that they are lagging behind and we must encourage them to work with speed. But certainly, they cannot work with speed if they do not have adequate financial support.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I associate myself with the Motion.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Very well.
Thank you very much.
Yes, the last contribution.
Mr Samuel Atta Akyea (NPP -- Abuakwa South) 12:25 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Mr Speaker, essentially, we should all support this constitutional body, so that it would be able to discharge its responsibility and be the pioneer of probity and accountability, which is enshrined in the Constitution.
Mr Speaker, and when you go to article 187 (9), it provides and I beg to quote 12:25 p.m.
“A person aggrieved by a dis- allowance or surcharge made by the Auditor-General may appeal to the High Court.”
Mr Speaker, we have sometimes been lambasted that we are toothless bulldogs. But look at how proactive the Constitution is -- that the Auditor- General can actually come with serious findings against institutions. It has been elevated to an administrative tribunal to some extent. If one is dissatisfied with the findings of the Auditor-General, he or she would have to go to the High Court to question it.
So, we expect the Auditor-General to be up and above its duty in terms of these provisions of the Constitution and ensure that those who are treating our finances as they please, are dealt with and findings are made against them. And when they would not want to respect what has been done and they would want to appeal, it is up to them.
Mr Speaker, I think we demand proactivity from the Auditor-General and they would all the time be resourced. We would approve it, but what next? What next is that when one has good money, it should be up and above the functions.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Members, I said that was the last contribution.
Minority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I begin my contribution borrowing from the conclusion of the Report from the Committee, in which they have stated on page 8 and I beg to quote:
“Article 35 (8) of the Constitution enjoins the State to take steps to eradicate corrupt practices. The Audit Service acts as the watchdog for protecting the public purse through its audit functions to ensure accountability, good governance and propriety on the part of public officials. It is therefore, imperative that this very important institution is adequately resourced and within reasonable time to enable it carry out its constitutional mandate effectively.”
Mr Speaker, again, like I indicated when we were debating the annual estimates for National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the same affliction affects the Auditor-General.
Mr Speaker, I noticed that for the Auditor-General, we have an allocation of GH¢140,611,756 as against the GH¢125,427,610 for last year. That represents an increase of just about 12 per cent over the previous allocation. Again, as I indicated, if we index this against the inflation in the year, there is a slide back of 17.4 and we would just increase it by a percentage of 12 per cent — We have not done anything. We are imperilling the Service.
Mr Speaker, the Audit-Service is a service-driven entity and for compensa- tion, we increase by just 15 per cent. We have not spoken about the increase in salaries across board meant for them but it is 15 per cent for them.
Mr Speaker, again, if we index it against inflation, that is a slide back in the net earnings of the employees. So, we should be looking at this. The minimum should be the baseline established by the inflation index. Otherwise, we are not improving their lots.
Mr Speaker, the Service also contracts other organisations and groups to help them in auditing the books of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). For last year, we made an allocation of GH¢14,784,434 and for this year, we are making an allocation of GH¢14,496,057. What does it mean?
What it means is that, we have brought down the allocation with respect to goods and services last year as against this year. We purposed to enhance the performance of the Service or to bring it down? We cannot understand these things.
Mr Speaker, if we want to help the Ghana Audit Service, I guess the Ministry of Finance would have to be much more proactive than they have been doing.
Mr Speaker, the Ghana Audit Service, as the Committee has noted, is mandated by the Constitution to take steps to eradicate corrupt practices and the Audit Service is a tool for Parliament in the business of overseeing the Executive and other constitutional creatures.
Mr Speaker, the Constitution provides in article 187 (4) and (5) and I beg to quote:
“(4) The public accounts of Ghana and of all other persons or authorities referred to in clause (2) of this article shall be kept in such form as the Auditor-General shall approve.
(5) The Auditor-General shall, within six months after the end of the immediately preceding financial year to which each of the accounts mentioned in clause (2) of this article relates, submit his report to Parliament and shall, in that report, draw attention to any irregularities in the accounts audited and to any other matter
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Members.
I think that quite a number of very pertinent issues have been raised but before I put the Question, I would like the Ministry of Finance to take note of the constitutional provision which sets time lines, so that the Audit Service can be
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would have to go to item number 12 of the Order Paper and then we can go to item number 19.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
So, we are looking at item number 12 -- Yes, Hon Members, item 12 -- Motions-- by the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2016
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development
Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (Alhaji Collins Dauda)(MP) 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢228,655,075 for the services of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
Mr Speaker, this amount is made of GH¢23,707,875 of Government of Ghana (GoG) and GH¢204,947,200 as donor contribution.
Mr Speaker, deepening local governance and decentralisation in the country for enhanced citizen participation, is one of the reasons for which the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is asking this House to approve this sum for us.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry would also continue her collaboration with the Ministry of Finance to finalise the Local Government Lending Agency Bill aimed at enabling MMDAs to access funds on the capital market. The eighth and ninth Functional Organisation Assessment Tool, commonly called FOAT Assessment for the performance of the 2016 - 216 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies for the years 2014 and 2015, respectively, would be conducted for both the District Development Facility and the Urban Development Grant.
Mr Speaker, in addition, a total of GH¢150 million based on FOAT VII specifically for the year 2013 and GH¢93 million also based on FOAT VI for 2012 would be transferred to MMDAs.
Mr Speaker, a total of 1,240 youth would also be given formal training in technical and vocational education in the various Community Development Vocational and Technical Institutes (CDVTIs) in the country.
In addition, the Ministry would continue to pursue strategies aimed at securing accreditation from the National Accreditation Board (NAB) for Rural Development College (RDC) at Kwaso in the Ashanti Region to run programmes leading to the award of diploma and degrees in Community Development and Social Protection.
Also, the curricula of the various CDVTIs would be revised to include child and family welfare for child protection at all levels.

Mr Speaker, the implementation of 252 ongoing sub-projects aimed at boosting rural growth and development would be continued. Additionally, 242 sub-projects would be initiated under the labour intensive public works.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry would also continue to pursue programmes aimed at enhancing urban growth and develop- ment. The construction of additional cells at Oti Landfill Site in Kumasi and the construction of town roads, drains, streetlights, toilets and other community upgrading projects for Tishiegu and Moshie Zongo in Tamale would be completed.

Also, the Ministry would continue the supervision and monitoring of the construction of the Kotokuraba Market in Cape Coast and the Kumasi Central Market and Kejetia infrastructure.

Mr Speaker, sanitation management remains a critical challenge to the Government. Therefore, the Ministry would continue to roll out the Community Level Total Sanitation (CLTS) Programme to increase the number of open defecation free communities. The Ministry would collaborate with the Fidelity Bank to provide micro-credit for the construction of households and public toilets in the Greater Accra Metropolitan area.

Also, 10,000 households and 110 institutional toilets would be constructed in all the Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies in the Greater- Accra Region. Additionally, the Ministry would continue to pursue the National Sanitation Day Programme for improved sanitation awareness, attitudinal and behavioural change to ensure cleaner communities in this country.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry would roll out the Tour of Hope Programme. Already, three zonal stations have been established and equipment deployed to Tamale, Sunyani and Cape Coast. The objective of the Tour of Hope Programme is to improve accessibility and mobility and enhance socioeconomic development in rural areas through the construction and rehabilitation of farm roads.

Mr Speaker, I humbly request that the House approves the sum of GH¢228, 655,075 for the services of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the year ending 31st December, 2016 financial year.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Dominic Azimbe Azumah) 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and in so doing, present the Report of your Committee.
Introduction
On Friday, 13th November, 2015, the Hon Minister for Finance, Mr Seth Emmanuel Terkper, in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 140 (1) and (2) of the Standing Orders of the House, laid before Parliament the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure of the Government of Ghana for the 2016 fiscal year.
The Rt Hon Speaker, in accordance with Order 140 (4) of the Standing Orders, referred the draft annual estimates of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development for consideration and report.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Dominic Azimbe Azumah) 12:55 p.m.
The Committee met on Thursday, 10th December, 2015 and considered the annual estimates of the sector Ministry in accordance with article 179 of the Constitution and Order 181 of the Standing Orders of the House.
Acknowledgements
During the deliberations on the estimates, the Committee met with the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hon Collins Dauda, the Deputy Minister, Hon Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, the Chief Director, heads of the various departments, agencies and projects of the Ministry. The Committee is grateful to these persons for their invaluable contributions.
References
In discussing the estimates, the Committee made reference to the following materials:
a. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
b. The Standing Orders of the House.
c. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Govern- ment of Ghana for the 2016 financial year.
d. The 2016 Draft Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Local Govern- ment and Rural Development.
e. Report of the Committee on the 2015 Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
Vision of the Ministry
The Ministry's vision is to “achieve a sustainable, equitable economic growth and poverty reduction through citizen participation and accelerated service delivery at the local level within a decentralised environment”.
Mission of the Ministry
The Ministry is mandated to ensure good governance and equitable deve- lopment of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) through the formulation of policies, monitoring and evaluation.
Broad Policy Objectives
The following are the broad policy objectives of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development:
i. Ensure effective implementation of decentralisation policy and programmes.
ii. Ensure effective and efficient resource mobilisation, internal revenue generation and resource management
iii. Strengthen policy formulation, development planning and monitoring and evaluation processes for equitable and balanced spatial and socio- economic development.
iv. Mainstream Local Economic Development (LED) for growth and local employment creation.
v. Promote resilient urban infra- structure development, mainte- nance and provision of basic services.
vi. Create an enabling environment to accelerate rural growth and development.
vii.Accelerate the provision of improved environmental sanitation facilities
Performance Review of 2015 Budget
In the year under review, Parliament approved an amount of two hundred and ninety million, nine hundred and eighty- three thousand, nine hundred and seventy- two Ghana cedis (GH¢290,983,972.00) from a combination of Government of Ghana (GoG) and donor sources for the

operations of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development well as its fepartments and sgencies.

As at September, 2015, the Ministry had expended two hundred and seventeen million, three hundred and twenty-one thousand, four Ghana cedis and sixty- seven pesewas (GH¢217,321,004.67) representing 74.68 per cent of the total amount approved by Parliament.

2015 Allocations as Reviewed

The breakdown of the budgetary allocation and expenditure returns of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the year 2015 as at September were as follows:
TABLE A 12:55 p.m.
TABLE B 12:55 p.m.
TABLE C 12:55 p.m.
TABLE D 12:55 p.m.
TABLE E 12:55 p.m.
TABLE G 12:55 p.m.
TABLE H 12:55 p.m.
TABLE I 12:55 p.m.
Mr Kwabena Appiah-Pinkrah (NPP-- Akrofuom) 1:05 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Report of the Committee on Local Government and Rural Develop- ment.
The Budget Statement for the Ministry as presented by the Hon Minister for Finance indicates three broad areas of coverage, that is, Compensation of employees, Goods and Services and Assets.
Mr Speaker, a review of the 2015 Budget allocation and disbursement reveals that the allocated sum of GH¢194,609,783 earmarked for Assets was not disbursed. This came from donor support. Unfortunately, it was not disbursed.

Meanwhile, projects to be funded by the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), which are coming out of the District Development Facility (DDF) have been stalled and delayed. This is unfortunately creating confusion, frustration and despair at that level. It is giving an unfortunate indication that the District Assemblies are not working and they are not capable. It is not about that it is about the fact that funds, which are supposed to flow, are not flowing.

The 10 per cent, which has become the responsibility of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) has affected all MMDAs since the amount is deducted from all total sums of the 216 districts.

Mr Speaker, unfortunately, not all districts enjoy the DDF every year; but every year, all districts have to pay out of the 10 per cent. If a particular Assembly does not qualify for a particular year, what it means is that, it would not enjoy the 10 per cent that was deducted from their funds.

Mr Speaker, I am asking that the Hon Minister for Finance reconsiders that decision and ensure that the Government of Ghana (GoG) pays the money directly from its accounts rather than from the DACF, which reduces the capacity of the districts to perform their functions.

We need to rectify the argument that all District Assemblies benefit from the capacity building component. It does not hold water just because I have to benefit from the capacity building programme, it does not mean that I should contribute the 10 per cent. Compulsory contribution is dangerous; it is not fair.

The Ministry of Finance should be held responsible for meeting its own responsibility in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that it signed with the development counterparts or the donor community.

Mr Speaker, another critical issue that came up at the Committee hearing was the need to allow two troubling agencies of the Ministry to have the opportunity to utilise a given percentage of its own internally generated funds (IGFs) to conduct their own businesses. The agencies include the Department of Births and Deaths, and the Department of Parks and Gardens.

The Department of Births and Deaths in 2015, was allocated GH¢200,000 for Assets. It was never used because it has no resources to do that. Funds were not transferred to them; it was not given to
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
Before I allow any further contribu- tions, I will call on the Hon Chairman of the Committee to please, look at the last page of the Report, under paragraph 11.0 - Conclusion. Look at the figure in words as against the amount in figures. There is a “nine” there in words, which does not appear in the figure. How do you explain that?
Mr Azumah 1:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, you are quite right. The “nine” should be out. It should rather be “and seventy-five”. The word “nine” should be deleted.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
Very well.
Thank you.
Mr Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi (NPP- -Odotobri) 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢228,655,075 for the services of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the year ending 31st December, 2016. Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would want to draw the attention of the House to some issues concerning the budget allocation to the Ministry.
Mr Speaker, in 2015, out of the total amount of over GH¢290.9 million, about 34 per cent of that amount was from donor funds. In 2016, Mr Speaker, out of the amount, which I have already mentioned, 90 per cent is from donor funding.
At the Committee meeting, Committee members were worried because of the importance of the Ministry to the governance of this our dear nation. We cannot continue to rely on donors for the running of this important Ministry.
We wish to appeal to the Ministry of Finance and to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, that GoG funding should be seen as a very crucial and important aspect of the running of the Ministry.
Mr Speaker, there is another unfortunate issue that is happening at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Develop- ment. If we look at environmental sanitation, the goals by the Ministry towards that particular core centre has been reducing since 2014. In 2014, the percentage was 31 per cent; in 2015, it reduced to 18 per cent; and in 2016, it is 15 per cent.
We all know how the sanitation conditions in the country is, as of now. If the budget for the Ministry, which is supposed to support the environmental sanitation is reducing, then we have a
problem. We also wish to suggest to the Hon Minister that, attention should be given to environmental sanitation, so that what we heard some time ago, that Ghana is the seventh filthiest country in Africa, should not be taken lightly.
Mr Speaker, if we look at the trend, as we reduce the goals towards environ- mental sanitation, it re-emphasises why we are not doing so much in terms of the fight against waste and poor health conditions.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague said something about the Department of Births and Deaths, but I would just want to make some simple comment on that.
Mr Speaker, we are all aware of the importance of the Department of Births and Deaths Registry. It is quite unfortunate that, year after year, we have been asking the Ministry of Finance to allow the Department of Births and Deaths Registry to retain part of the internally generated funds (IGFs).
Mr Speaker, in my view, the Depart- ment, if well-resourced, can generate a lot of revenues but because they are not resourced either from the Ministry of Finance or within the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, nobody is giving much attention to the Department of Births and Deaths Registry.
Mr Speaker, it is our humbly appeal that, if the Minister for Finance would agree with the Committee's recommen- dations, that more than 50 per cent or maybe, 60 per cent of the IGFs of the Department would be retained, for them to buy modern equipment. Even the office accommodation, which houses the Registry, is bad and at the Committee meeting -- I would like to commend the
Hon Minister -- he was so keen in making sure that the Births and Deaths Registry would get something better to work with in 2016 -- and I can see the Hon Minister smiling.
Mr Speaker, as a Committee, we want to take the Hon Minister by his words, what he told us at the Committee meeting which is so important to us.
Mr Speaker, there is another interesting thing, which even though was discussed at the Committee meeting, but our Report did not capture that and that is about 1,500 trained environmental health officers who are supposed to be recruited to support the Ministry's fight against poor en- vironmental sanitation.
Mr Speaker, the unfortunate thing is that, these 1,500 trained environmental health officers are still at home. At the Committee meeting, we questioned why they are still not recruited to support the Ministry's effort in fighting poor environmental health.
Mr Speaker, we were told that, the Ministry of Finance is not ready to give the financial clearance for them to be recruited and I think as a nation, even if we have been asked by any other institution, not to recruit anybody, these 1,500 trained environmental health officers should be given the financial clearance to be recruited, so that the fight against the poor environmental practices would be a thing of the past.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, there is so much stress on the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF). The District Development Fund, which is a donor facility, the Government of Ghana is supposed to contribute 10 per cent to that Fund, so that, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), who, through the performance assessment qualify for this facility, would get the money to support development at the district level.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Hon Member, can you begin to conclude?
Mr Gyamfi 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
In this particular instance, the Common Fund Administrator has been tasked to pay the 10 per cent from the District Assemblies Common Fund and in our view, we believe it is because of this that we still have the 2012 DDF not disbursed as of now.
This is because the 10 per cent counterpart funding was nowhere to be found to pay for this particular DDF funds to be released.
So Mr Speaker, as we move forward as a nation, let us find another source where we can contribute the 10 per cent counterpart funding.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Yes Hon Deputy Minority Whip?
Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah (NPP -- Sunyani West) 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the floor.
Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would want to say that one of the Ministries that has its work reflecting in almost every day life of the Ghanaian, is the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. In particular, I would want to mention the Births and Deaths Registry.
Mr Speaker, in this country, we spend a lot of money getting data on Ghanaians and as we speak, after every four years, getting to elections, there is a call for a new voters register. We also shave the National Identification Authority (NIA) also gathering data.
Mr Speaker, the missing link is that, even at birth and at death, when we are supposed to have a common data, which more or less would let everybody be on board, be you an old person or a young person, is the Births and Deaths Register.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, this important Registry is less resourced and what is even sad is that, this is one department which generates income or revenue in the performance of its duties. Unfortunately, all the revenues generated are paid into the Consolidated Fund and they do not have access to the funds which they generate.
Mr Speaker, in Twi, there is this proverb; “Ye di nam ena eyi nam”, meaning that, you would have to use a small fish as a trap before you can get even a bigger fish.
Mr Speaker, what I am trying to say is that, how come that this agency generates revenue but they are not allowed to retain some of the revenue generated? We had an assurance from the Hon Minister that, he would take it up with the Ministry of Finance.
Fortunately, the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance is here, and we would want him to listen, so that at least, the Births and Deaths Registry would be allowed to use a portion of the revenue that they generate as IGFs. It is done for so many other organisations but why not the Births and Deaths Registry?
Mr Speaker, one other issue that I would want to raise is that of donor support to the Ministry. It is so sad that, out of a total budget of GH¢290,983,972.00 allotted to the Ministry, ¢243,262,229.00 is coming from donor sources.
So, it means that, without the donor support, that Ministry is dead and gone, nothing would be going on there. This is because what is left would be just 17 per cent of the total fund that the Ministry wants.
Mr Speaker, we cannot depend solely on donor support to run our Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. We should be able to generate revenue to support that place.
Mr Speaker, before I resume my seat, in the year 2015, we had an appropriation to the Ministry for School Feeding Programme.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, for the year 2016, that was not featured here, because, we are told that the School Feeding Programme has been hived to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. I do not have a problem with that, but at least, for the 2015 performance, it should have reflected.
Mr Speaker, this is because, the Appropriation was done to the Ministry and one would have expected that, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development would account to us on how those moneys were used, but we are told that it was the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection that used it.
So, there is no way the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development can assess the performance of School Feeding Programme for 2015.
Mr Speaker, I would want to caution that, perhaps if there is somebody somewhere who thinks that the exercise of Parliament in appropriating figures to Ministries is not that important, then that person should rethink.
This is because I do not see why Parliament appropriates money to a particular Ministry and someone sits somewhere and then allocates that money to another Ministry for the execution of its functions. It is something which is very serious and should be looked into.
Mr Speaker, on this note, I would want to appeal to this House to approve the sum for use by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the year 2016.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
This brings us to the end of contribu- tions.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢228,655,075 for the services of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Alhaji Muntaka 1:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we should take item numbered 19 on page 9 of the Order Paper.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Question proposed.
Hon Chairman of the Committee (Mr Dominic A. Azumah): Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and by so doing, I present the Committee's Report.
Introduction
On Friday, 13th November, 2015, the Hon Minister for Finance, Mr Seth Emmanuel Terkper, in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 140 (1) and (2) of the Standing Orders of the House, laid before Parliament the estimates of revenue and expenditure of the Government of Ghana for the 2016 fiscal year.
The Hon. Speaker, in accordance with Order 140 (4) of the Standing Orders, referred the draft annual estimates of the Local Government Service to the
Committee on Local Government and Rural Development for consideration and report.
The Committee met on Monday, 14th December, 2015 and considered the Annual Estimates of the sector Ministry in accordance with article 179 of the Constitution and Order 181 of the Standing Orders of the House.
Acknowledgements
During the deliberations on the Estimates, the Committee met with the Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hon Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, Dr Callistus Mahama and his officials and the acting Chief Director for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Head of the Local Government Servic. The Committee is grateful to these persons for their invaluable contributions.
References
In discussing the estimates, the Committee made reference to the following materials:
a. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
b. The Standing Orders of the House
c. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2016 financial year.
c. The 2016 Draft Annual Estimates of the Local Government Service.
e. Report of the Committee on the 2015 Annual Estimates of t h e Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
Vision of the Service
To achieve the status of decentralised public administrative system with capacity to support the initiation and implementation of policies and plans for accelerated economic growth, poverty reduction and improved quality of life of the citizenry.
Mission of the Service
To support Local Government to deliver value for money services through the mobilisation, harmonisation and utilisa- tion of qualified, human capacity and material resources to promote local and national development.
Broad Policy Objectives
The following are the broad policy objectives of the Local Government Service:
i. Ensure effective implementation of decentralisation policy and programmes.
ii. Strengthen policy formulation, development planning and Monitoring and Evaluation processes for equitable and balanced spatial and socioeconomic develop- ment.
iii. Improve the policy environment and institutional capacity for effective human capacity development and employment policy management.
iv. Improve availability of quality data for policy formulation, analysis and decision-making.
v. Enhance labour productivity across all sectors.
Performance Review of 2015 Budget
In the year under review, Parliament approved an amount of nine million, four hundred and thirty-eight thousand, seven hundred and seventy Ghana cedis (GH¢9,438,770.00) from a combination of Government of Ghana (GoG) and donor sources for the operations of the Local Government Service Secretariat (LGSS).
The 2015 allocation for the Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) and Metropolitan, Municipals and District Assemblies (MMDAs) were captured under the budget of Government Machinery and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development respectively.
As at September 2015, the LGSS had expended two million, six hundred and twenty-eight thousand, seven hundred and sixteen Ghana cedis and eighty-five pesewas (GH¢2,628,716.85) representing 28 per cent of the total amount approved by Parliament.
2015 Allocations as Reviewed
The breakdown of the budgetary allocation and expenditure returns of the Local Government Service for the year 2015 as at September were as follows:
Space for Table A Table A 2015 Budgetary Allocation LGSS
SPACE FOR TABLE A - PAGE 5 - 1.25P.M.
TABLE B 1:25 p.m.
TABLE C 1:25 p.m.
TABLE D 1:25 p.m.
TABLE E 1:25 p.m.
TABLE F 1:25 p.m.
Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh (NPP -- Sunyani East) 1:25 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
For the year 2015, the Local Government Service was allocated the total sum of GH¢9,438,770. As at September, the outturn shows that only 28 per cent of the allocated sum had been paid or released to the Local Government Service.
We all know that, this is a very new and young Service and my belief is that,when you give birth to a child, you nurture the child to grow and become a responsible adult. I do not think we are giving the Local Government Service that kind of treatment, because this is the time that we need to give every support to the Local Government Service to develop and become an enviable Service that would take care of the administrative setup of our District Assemblies.
I think that Government needs to do more and when we allocate funds in the Budget Statement for the Local Government Service, the funds must be released to them to enable them work as expected of them.
Mr Speaker, much to our dismay, this is a Service that does not even have sufficient accommodation for itself. The year under review, a paltry sum of GH¢500,000 was made for investment. Now, not even a pesewa was released. So how do we expect the Local Government Service to house itself and to plan for all the 216 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) that we have in this country? I think it is not a very good spectacle and we need to do more to ensure that the Service grows.
Mr Seaker, we observed that particularly District, Municipal or Metro Coordinating Directors are often transferred. Some explanations were given
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Yes Hon Deputy Minority Whip, after that I will take the Hon Member, then we bring the contributions to a close.
Mr Ignatius B. Awuah (NPP -- Sunyani West) 1:35 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the floor.
Mr Speaker, for the first time in our budgetary practice, the Regional Coordinating Councils were moved from Government Machinery to Local Government Service.
Also included in the budget are the various budgets of all the 216 MMDAs in Ghana. When asked how they ascertained the figures of the various Distr ict Assemblies, the representative of the Ministry of Finance to the Committee said that the figures of the various Assemblies were received when they had the regional budget hearing.
This, he confirmed, was held in September, at a time when most of the Assemblies had not even been inaugurated -- and in October when most of the Assemblies had not even elected their presiding members, let alone to have their budgets to approve.
So Mr Speaker, this raises a serious constitutional issue because the Assemblies' budgets are incorporated in the national budget. Meanwhile, some of the Assemblies themselves had not approved of their budgets. How then do we work on the figures when the
Mr Gershon K. B. Gbediame (NDC -- Nkwanta South) 1:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I also rise to add my voice to the Motion, that the said amount be approved for the Local Government Service.
Mr Speaker, being a new institution that is standing on its own, in my opinion, human resource development is vital in order to ensure that judicious use of the various allocations to the Distr ict Assemblies are well utilised. In particular, I am talking about paragraph 8.1.2 of page
7:
“The Service also had an objective to establish Distr ict Works Departments in all MMDAs and above all, to train and build the capacity of Local Government Service staff.”
Mr Speaker, the Distr ict Works Departments at the various Assemblies are important. This is because they have to build the capacity to be able to ensure that the structures that are being built and all other projects that are being carried on by the Assembly meet the standards, and we also have value for money. Therefore, we are calling on the Ministry of Finance to really increase their allocation, being a new institution, so that they can build capacity.
Mr Speaker, as one of the members of your Committee, who toured the five districts in the northern part of the country, we realised that a lot needs to be provided at these Assemblies in order to give the necessary services that would
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Hon Members, I will put the Question.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Minority Leader (Mr Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu) 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is just two things.
The first one relates to the issue of moneys that are made available to the Ministry but which are not stated in the budget, as my Colleague, the Hon Member for Sunyani West stated. Apart from its effect on the GDP, which would then tend to be understated, the much more important consideration for Parliament is that it short changes Parliament from overseeing the application of those funds.
This is because once they are outside the budget stream, it becomes difficult for Parliament, if Parliament is not tracing and tracking those allocations, to oversee the appropriations to those sectors.
Mr Speaker, this is the difficulty. They might be applied for a good cause but Parliament should be positioned to be able to exercise its legitimate responsibility over the application of the funds and once they are not stated, how does Parliament get involved? It is something that should not be encouraged at all. Everything should be disclosed. A good feature of any budget is availing all records to Parliament to enable Parliament trace and track the use of those allocations.
Mr Speaker, secondly, I think that should be a prime concern of Parliament. We are dealing with a composite budget. We are dealing with a bottom-to-top approach of allocations, in particular relating to the Ministry that is in charge of decentralisation and ensuring that governance is taken to the doorsteps of the people. Now, we have a situation where Assemblies are to approve of their budgets, which are to be taken to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for onward transmission to this House.
Assemblies are not properly constituted, so, who approved of those budgets at the level of those Assemblies, which did not have presiding members? We had situations where the Ministry issued the directive that,when the Assembly did not have a presiding member, they could elect one of their own to preside to approve of the budget.
Mr Speaker, it should be told to the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development that, that action was unconstitutional and he could not purport to do what is not granted to him by the Constitution. So, we should be careful. What was done by the Hon Minister has the potential of throwing overboard, the allocation to the entire Local Government Services.
This is because he has no authority to do what he did and he should be told. I do not know what the attitude of the Chairman is going to be on this, that he did not have the constitutional authority to do what he did; he asked them to do that and the Assemblies purport to have forwarded their budgets to him on that false premise.
Mr Speaker, it is dangerous. They would go and reverse it. I heard the Hon
Member for Asawase say that, they would go and reverse it, after they have done the approval?
Mr Speaker, we should be careful of what has been done. I think it is a breach of our Constitution. The Hon Minister should not have done what he did and as far as I am concerned, we should right it before this House approves of the allocation to the Local Government Services. We cannot do that. Parliament cannot approve of this. This is because the premise is unconstitutional --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, except that I do not have the facts or evidence to support what you are saying, so, you have left me in a lurch.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect, the Hon Minister is here. He can tell us what he did.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Very well. I will like the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development to wind up and respond to the issues raised.
Alhaji Dauda 1:45 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to wind up.
Mr Speaker, I would like to indicate that I have taken note of their concerns and I also recognise the passion with which the Hon Minority Leader advocated his concerns. We would continue to collaborate with all stakeholders until we make Ghana a better place for all of us.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Members, I believe that in the fullness of time, this matter could be pursued by tabling Questions or using our oversight responsibility to get to the root of the matter.
So, I will pray that I put the Question, then we could make some progress.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect, Parliament has the power of the purse function. This is not oversight responsibility. It is the power of the purse function of Parliament, which we are dealing with now. It is not about the application of the allocated funds which Parliament would have to trace and track their use to assure ourselves that the moneys allocated have been appropriately applied. That is not the issue.
The issue is who has the authority to generate the budget from the Assemblies for our consideration and approval?
With what the Hon Minister did, we are suggesting to him strongly that, it was a palpable breach of the Constitution. He did not have the authority to do what he did and if he admits that he has erred, then we have to come back. This is because we here should not be seen to be condoning an impropriety.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
I agree with you, Hon Minority Leader. But what I am saying is that, as of now, we can, at an Executive Committee meeting, for example, take a decision to get him to appear before this House to brief us on certain issues, so that we could see our way clear. But for now, I will plead with you that we let matters rest, put the Question and subsequently, we could -- These are serious matters.
For example, if it is true that certain internally generated funds (IGFs) are not being captured under the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it is serious. It creates some kind of problems for our economic wellbeing.
So, we could look at this seriously, if we give him the opportunity to appear before us and to lay bare the details. For example, which are the IGFs we are talking about specifically. Then the Ministry of
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not too sure of the Executive Committee that you are referring to, but be that as it may, I am convinced and persuaded that what was done by the Hon Minister in respect of directing the Assemblies which were not properly constituted to submit budgets, is a veritable breach of our Constitution.
For that reason, if the Chairman is minded to have us approve of this, for the records, I would want to submit that those of us on the Minority side would not want to be part of the approval of the allocation for the Local Government Services.
Mr Speaker, it is a veritable impropriety and I would not want us to condone impropriety. If the rest of the House feel that they should approve of it, that is their business. But we, like Pontius Pilate on this occasion, would wash our hands off it. It is a veritable impropriety, we want to restate that we would not be part of it.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, that is yours as of right but we have debated it and I will put the Question.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢441, 835,122 for the services of the Local Government Service for the year ending 31st December 2016.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Alhaji Muntaka 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, could we take item number 7 on page number 6 by the Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection.

ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2016

Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection (Mrs Oye Lithur (Nana) 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢49,520,377 for the services of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
Mr Speaker, under the year in review, we made some remarkable achievements. We have got Cabinet's approval for several policies such as the National

Gender Policy, the Children Policy. We have also finalised with the Affirmative Action Bill, which we would submit to Cabinet by the 22nd of December, 2015.

Mr Speaker, the National Social Protection Policy has also been approved by Cabinet. This was done on 10 th December, 2015. The Justice for Children policy has also been approved by Cabinet.

We submitted and defended our report on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) before the United Nations Committee. We have also submitted a Children's Amendment Bill.

Mr Speaker, we have set up a Central Adoption Authority and have also laid before this august House, The Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoptions.

Mr Speaker, we have cut the sod for a new social welfare school that is relocating to Madina and have received an institutional authorisation certificate from the National Accreditation Board.

Currently, we have 148,980 beneficiary households on the Livelihood Empower- ment Against Poverty (LEAP) operating in 188 districts. We disbursed GH¢3.9 million to support 10,274 households after the June 3rd flood. We have also initiated a comprehensive audit for the School Feeding Programme.

Mr Speaker, our financial performance and our programmes for 2016 are outlined in the Motion Paper, and I beg for it to be adopted.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move accordingly.

Question proposed.
Chairperson of the Committee (Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba) 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and so doing, I present the Report of your Committee.
Introduction
In accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana the Honourable Minister for Finance, Mr Seth Emmanuel Terkper, on Friday 13th November, 2015, presented the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2016 fiscal year to the House.
Pursuant to Standing Orders 140(4), 175 and 184 of the House, Mr. Speaker referred the Programme Based Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to the Joint Committee on Gender and Children and Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises for consideration and report to the House.
The joint Committee presents its Report to the House for the consideration and adoption.
Acknowledgement
The joint Committee met with the following to deliberate on the 2016 Programme Based Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection:
1. The Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection -- Mrs. Oye Lithur (Nana)
Chairperson of the Committee (Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba) 1:55 p.m.
2. The Chief Director, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection -- Mr. Kwesi Amo- Himbson.
3. Directors and officials of the fol- lowing Departments and Agencies:
a. Ministry headquarters
b. Department of Women
c. Department of Children
d. Department of Social Development
e. Directorate of Social Protection
f. Ghana School Feeding Programme
g. Ministry of Finance
The Committee is grateful to them for their contribution during deliberations on the Programme Based Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for the 2016 fiscal year.
Reference documents
In considering the Programme Based Budget Estimates for the Ministry, the underlisted documents were used as reference materials:
1. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana
2. The Standing Orders of Parlia- ment of Ghana
3. The 2015 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Govern- ment of Ghana.
4. The 2015 Programme Based Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection
4. The 2016 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana.
6. The 2016 Programme Based Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
7. Budget review reports from the Ministry and its departments.
Mission Statement
The Mission of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is to:
a. achieve gender equality and equity;
b. facilitate the enforcement of the rights of children; and
c. promote the integration and protection of the vulnerable, excluded and persons living with disabilities.
Strategic Policy Objectives
The strategic policy objectives of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection are based on the National Medium-term Development Policy Framework contained in the Government Shared Growth Development Agenda
(GSGDA) II (2014-2017).
They are as follows:
1. Develop a comprehensive social development policy framework.
2. Make social protection more effective targeting the poor and the vulnerable.
3. Ensure a more effective apprecia- tion of and inclusion of disability issues in national discourse.
4. Promote gender equity in political, social and economic development systems and outcomes.
5. Enhance funding and cost effectiveness in social protection delivery.
6. Safeguard the security, safety and protection of the rights of the vulnerable in society, especially the girl-child and women.
7. Promote women's access to economic opportunities and resources including property.
8. Promote effective integration of gender consideration at all stages and in all dimensions of data production and the creation of statistical knowledge.
9. Protect children from direct and indirect physical and emotional harm.

10. Safeguard citizen's rights and entitlement and eliminate human trafficking.

11. Ensure effective integration of persons with disability into society.

12. Improve availability of quality data for policy formulation, analysis and decision making.

13. Enhance public awareness.

14. Empower women and mainstream gender into socio-economic development.

15. Rationalise and define structures, roles and procedures for state and non- state actors.

Review of the 2015 Performance of the Ministry of Gender, Children And Social Protection

Funds Allocated for the 2015 Fiscal Year

For the implementation of activities for 2015 fiscal year, an amount of GH¢43,631,694 was allocated. Out of this amount, GoG was GH¢23,725,775, IGFs were GH¢15,204 and donor funds were

GH¢19,890,715.

Table 4: 2015 Budget Allocation

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Chairperson of the Committee (Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba) 1:55 p.m.
A five-year strategic plan was developed to facilitate the upgrading and affiliation of the School of Social Work to the University of Development Studies.
A total of 1,925 elderly persons were registered in Ashanti (Asawase), Eastern (Akropong) and Volta (Ho, Keta) regions as part of the NHIS biometric registration exercise initiated in 2014. The Ministry also launched the “Eban” welfare card which will allow elderly persons to board Metro Mass transit buses nationwide at a 50 per cent rebate.
Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Programme
To address the concerns in respect of protection of victims, the Human Trafficking Legislative Instrument was submitted to Parliament. The Ministry also signed a Child Protection Compact Partnership Agreement with the US State Department to support Ghana to fight Child Trafficking in Greater Accra, Volta and Central Regions; and proposals for implementation are being evaluated.
The Domestic Violence Legislative Instrument was finalised and a national campaign to “End Early Marriage” was launched. In 2016, the legislative Instrument (L.I) will be submitted to Parliament for consideration. A new Human Trafficking National Plan of Action was also initiated.
Inclusion of Persons with Disability Programme
The Ministry in collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority developed a
draft Ghana Accessibility Standards in built environment with the objective of making the environment disability friendly.
In line with the UN Convention on the Rights of PWDs, the Ministry developed a proposal for the amendment of the Persons with Disability Act (Act 715) 2006. A draft Affirmative Action Plan on representation of PWDs in the district assemblies was also submitted to the Office of the President for consideration.
School Feeding Programme
The Ministry submitted a National School Feeding Policy to Cabinet for consideration. The programme is currently providing one hot and adequately nutritious meal to 1,693,698 pupils in 4,881 schools per each school day. The programme provides ready market to farmers and provide jobs to about 20,000 caterers and cooks nationwide.
In 2016, the School Feeding Programme will be expanded to cover 3,000,000 pupils nationwide. To facilitate transparency and accountability in the management of funds, a comprehensive, financial and performance audit will be conducted in addition to the institution of an electronic payment system to contractors.
Outlook For 2016
The Ministry has been allocated an amount of GH¢49,520,377.00 for its activities for the 2016 fiscal year. Out of the amount allocated, GH¢20,956,956.00 will be provided by government of Ghana (GOG). GH¢28,508,684.00 will be from development partners and GH¢54,737 will be from internally generated funds (IGFs).

Table 3: 2016 Budget Allocation to the Ministry

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Table 4: Allocations by Departments

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CAPEX 1:55 p.m.
NHIA 1:55 p.m.
Mr Joseph Zaphenat Amenowode (NDC-- Afadzato South) 1:55 p.m.
Thank you,Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to support the Motion ably moved by the Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection.
Mr Speaker, I would comment on the Social Protection Programmes as undertaken by the Ministry and I would like to state again that social protection programmes, as we all know, are for the vulnerable in society. So, whatever we do as a nation to support them inures to our development as a total nation.
I would like to look at one very important Programme -- the School Feeding Programme. The Ministry informed us that as at 4th August 2015, the Ministry was given an Executive directive to take over the operations of the School Feeding Programme. This was for a reason, that it would become part of the total social protection package.
We are informed that currently, the Programme provides for about 1,693,000 pupils, and has the plan that by the end of 2016 they would be providing for about three million pupils.
With this, we would urge the Ministry of Finance to ensure that it provides the necessary funding for the project, because it is not enough to say that “we would provide for three million pupils” if the service providers would not be paid on time.
We received an assurance from the Ministry that all efforts are being made to change the system where they are paid through the District Assemblies. They are now developing a system where they would be paid through the e-Zwich system and the Mobile Telecom Network (MTN), as the same Ministry has already experimented with under the LEAP. We hope that this new system would make the Programme more effective.
Mr Speaker, another very important programme, which I would like to comment on is the LEAP, which is one of the key programmes of the Ministry. I commend
the Ministry for its efforts at trying to cover as many households as possible.
Currently, we are informed that they cater for 144,980 households, with plans to extend it to 250,000 households by the end of 2015. Just as I commented on the School Feeding Programme, this would need timely release of funds and proper payment modalities, so that the effect of the Programme would be felt by the vulnerable whom we think need support.
Mr Speaker, there are a few constraints with this. We noted that most of the time releases that are earmarked to the Ministry, are not released on time -- even where they are released, getting it out of the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) becomes a problem. We would pray that this is rectified, so that releases are timeously made available to the Ministry.
Mr Speaker, there is one worrying thing we observed, which is that, under the purview of the Ministry, we have the Department of Social Welfare that takes care of schools under them, where we were informed that contracts awarded for the rehabilitation of such schools like the one at Agona Swedru, a bungalow at North Labone, a Day Care Centre at Madina Social Welfare -- contracts awarded in 2012 have still not been paid.
We would urge the Ministry of Finance to do whatever is necessary to pay the workers, because we were informed that the Ministry had given commencement letters as far back as 2012 and up till now, we owe the contractors an amount of GH¢112,588. We think this is not the best.
Mr Speaker, on this note, I would like to conclude and say that I support the release of the amount of GH¢49,520,377 for the operation of the Ministry in the 2016 fiscal year.
Thank you.
Mr Henry Quartey (NPP -- Ayawaso Central) 1:55 p.m.
Thank you very much,Mr Speaker.
I rise to associate myself with the Motion to approve the sum of GH¢49,520,377.00 for the services of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
Mr Speaker, I have made some observations. Between 2014 and 2015, the Government of Ghana's component for CAPEX has not been provided at all, it is rather donor concentration on capital expenditure.
Mr Speaker, I would like to move on to challenges of the Ministry. With your kind permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to refer to page 14 of the Committee's Report, paragraph 8.1, which I read as follows:
“It was realised that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is still faced with the problem of office accommodation, inadequate logistics and requisite number of staff to execute the mandate of the Ministry.”
Mr Speaker, if you would recall, just about a week ago, I craved the indulgence of the Rt Hon Speaker to invite the Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development to appear before the House to explain to us why moneys appropriated to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development are used by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
Mr Speaker, I listened to the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development and it did not appear in his report, how the disbursement of the School Feeding Programme was done.

Mr Speaker, currently, we have 216 districts across the country under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. Hitherto, they had the oversight responsibility of managing the School Feeding Programme.

Mr Speaker, judging by the challenges stated by the Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, it is clear that they do not have the logistics to play the oversight role and responsibility of the management of the School Feeding Programme.

Mr Speaker, again, in the Report, it is not captured anywhere how the disbursement to the caterers were made on the School Feeding Programme. Mr Speaker, this is a serious issue. There are two Ministries -- One of them, in whose care moneys were appropriated to be disbursed, does not include in its Report, how the moneys were disbursed.

The other one, per the Executive directives of the Chief of Staff in August, 2015, begins to disburse money. Mr Speaker, here we are again, considering appropriation of moneys to them and they cannot account for those moneys. It is not stated anywhere in the Report.

Mr Speaker, once again, I crave your indulgence to invite the two Ministers to come and explain to us. This is bad governance and it is not good for us.

Mr Speaker, I would like to refer to page 15 of the Committee's Report. If you would recall, I stated in the debate of the Budget Statement, that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, after taking over the oversight responsibility of the School Feeding Programme, decided to go against the status quo by paying caterers via MTN mobile money transfer.

As we speak, the Ministry still owes most of the caterers. There are outstanding balances to be paid. The year is coming to an end. Again, there is no report. There is nothing to show how much has been paid, what is left and how much has been retired; nothing. What is the plight of those caterers?

Mr Speaker, in 2015, GH¢43,631,694.00 was appropriated for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. In 2016, they are asking for GH¢49,520,377.00. Mr Speaker, the interesting part here is, are they still managing the School Feeding Programme? If they are, where will they get the money to disburse?

Mr Speaker, before I continue, the sector Minister is here. I am sure Hansard has this on record.The Minister for Finance said categorically here that his Ministry is fully aware that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is still in charge of disbursement of funds to the School Feeding Programme. May I crave your indulgence for the sector Minister to confirm or deny this before I continue?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
No!We do not go about it that way. Please, make your contribution.
Mr Quartey 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I will continue.
In our meeting, contrary to what the Minister for Finance said, the Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection told us that her Ministry was disbursing the money. So, among the Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development, Gender, Children and Social Protection and Finance, who is right? Where is the money that was disbursed?
How much was disbursed? How much has been retired? -- before we appropriate funds for them in 2016.
Mr Speaker, it is a very serious and interesting matter. I believe that as Hon Members of Parliament, one of our responsibilities is to ensure that we guard the purse, the taxpayers money.
Mr Speaker, if moneys can be disbursed without recourse to this House for us to play our oversight role, then with the greatest respect, we will only be rubber stamping figures here.
Mr Speaker, I would still want to crave your indulgence for us to understand this particular process --We need clarity. In doing so, you can direct that the Ministry should wait and allow the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Develop- ment, which has logistics to disburse funds for the School Feeding Programme to do so and they, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection can take over gradually.
This is because, if the intention is to check gaps in the procedures of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, then I think that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, with the greatest respect, is doing worse. They cannot see; they do not have offices in all the 216 districts that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has. How are they able to pay caterers remotely via MTN mobile money transfer without knowing who the caterers are? They have stated their challenges here.
Mr Speaker, I would want to wind up and hope the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection will treat the School Feeding Programme with the urgency that it deserves and go by the status quo to ensure that the plight of the caterers are taken into account.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
Mr Dominic. A. Azumah (NDC -- Garu) 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, just to make a few comments on the Report. Firstly, I would like to commend the Ministry for making an attempt to have a performance audit of the School Feeding Programme. The Programme is very laudable. It increased the numbers from a meagre figure of 420,000 in 2006 to 1.6 million beneficiaries. I am sure it certainly has helped a lot in rural schools.
Again, the Ministry has introduced electronic payments which are in three different categories -- E-zwich, MTN mobile money and Ghana Post. They apply whichever is more appropriate in a particular community. It started working. In our rounds in some of the districts, it was evident that it was the best way of making payments.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Hon Member, is it a point of order?
Mr Baffour 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague who just spoke said that the beneficiaries of the School Feeding Programme have increased from a meagre figure of 420,000 in 2006 to 1.6 million.
Mr Speaker, the target, according to the NDC Manifesto, was to extend school feeding to cover all schools in Ghana. So, if they have not been able to cover all schools by 2012 -- [Interruption] and they are at 1.6 million, why should they be applauded?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Hon Member, just relax. I do not think that is a proper point of order. If for example, you were against the figures he quoted, you could. But if they set themselves the target and they are not able to achieve it, that is another matter altogether.
Mr Azumah 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I tried to draw attention to payments, especially for the School Feeding Programme, come from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF). As and when there is a quarterly release, the Administrator of the Fund transfers portions of that to the School Feeding Programme Secretariat for payments to be made to the caterers.
Mr Speaker, my only concern is that, there are normally delays in the release of the funds from the Ministry of Finance to DACF. Subsequently, this affects the payment to these caterers who might have used their moneys or taken loans from banks to provide the meals and expect payments to be done.
Now that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has taken over, there must be a way to strategise the payments, so that there are no delays.The Ministry of Finance should
find an appropriate way of getting these moneys transferred to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in a timely manner, so that payments can be made to the caterers. Otherwise, we would still fall back to the earlier place where when there are delays for a few months at the DACF level, it affects the caterers who provide these services.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection should take on board this serious concern and see how we can straighten that. Otherwise, Mr Speaker, all the steps taken by the Ministry to streamline the School Feeding Programme is welcome and we urge the Hon Minister to proceed on that line.
On that note, Mr Speaker, I thank you so much.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
At the end of the day, I will give the Hon Minister the opportunity to address the issues that have been raised.
Mr Abena Osei-Asare (NPP -- Atiwa East) 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion on the floor. In doing so, I would like to specifically refer to page 8, section 7.3 of the Report.
Mr Speaker, the Livelihood Empowe- rment Against Poverty (LEAP) is one of the social interventions started by the NPP Administration under the able Govern- ment of President John Agyekum Kufuor. Its main aim is to reduce poverty and enhance the potential of the poor to contribute to national development.
Mr Speaker, for three consecutive years, we have requested for the list of beneficiaries of LEAP but this has not been given to the Committee. Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister always uses article 18 (2) as the excuse for not giving this list to the Committee.
Mr Speaker, with your indulgence, I would like to read article 18 (2) of the Constitution. It reads:
“No person shall be subjected to interference with the privacy of his home, property, correspondence or communication except in accordance with law and as may be necessary in a free and democratic society for public safety or the economic well- being of the country for the protection of health or morals, for the prevention of disorder or crime or for the protection of the rights or freedoms of others.”
Mr Speaker, I do not see any conflict here. In accordance with the law, Members of Parliament are supposed to monitor these programmes to avoid ghost names getting onto the list and also to eliminate duplication.
Mr Speaker, we are all here to help to see to it that the Programme runs efficiently. That is why we are pleading with the Hon Minister to let us have the list to help her.
Now, the Programme is growing. The number is going to increase from 150,000 to 250,000 beneficiaries. That is a lot. We can make the work easier if we are allowed to see the list and help to eliminate duplication or ghost names on the list.
Mr Speaker, that notwithstanding, I would like the House to approve the budget of GH¢49,520,377 to enable the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection carry out its activities in 2016.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Hon Members, I will -- If the Hon Minority Leader would want to make a contribution, I will allow him. After that, I will let the Hon Minister wind up.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, since three Hon Members have spoken from the other side, if the Hon Member could be granted space.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I was not looking at it from that angle; I was just asking for contributions.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the convention and practice in the House, as you know, are that you try to equalise as far as contributions are concerned. So, I would just want to indulge you if you could grant him a little space.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Member, I will give you some time to make a contribution but be brief as much as possible.
Mr William A. Quaittoo (NPP -- Akim Oda) 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Committee mentioned that the School Feeding Programme has been moved from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
Mr Speaker, it beats my mind why we would do this. The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has offices at the district level all over the country. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection does not have any such district or even regional offices --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Hon Member, this issue has been raised by an Hon Member. The Hon Minister will address it. I do not think we need to keep repeating ourselves.
Mr Quaittoo 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, can I go on?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Yes!
Mr Quaittoo 2:25 p.m.
Why will the Hon Minister pay beneficiaries of School Feeding Programme through MTN mobile money transfer instead of the banks? How do we take the taxes of those who are paid?
Mr Speaker, if Hon Members are not aware, that is the situation now. At least, in the Eastern Region, I know that they are paid through MTN money transfer.
I do not see why we should do that. Why would we prevent somebody from receiving his or her money through the bank but rather through MTN mobile money transfer? How do they account for their internal revenue returns? If the Hon Minister would address all these issues, I would be so glad.
Minority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, just a few observations.
The attention of the House has been drawn to how wobbly the School Feeding Programme has become because of the epileptic releases from the District Assemblies Common Fund to the Programme.
Mr Speaker, at the very inception of this Programme, we had support from the Danish Government and also from Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) benefits. We understand that the Danish support has now been withdrawn or come to an end. But what of the HIPC reliefs? They could be used to really support this otherwise, noble cause.
Why should we solely depend on releases from the District Assemblies Common Fund such that when there is a famine at the District Assemblies Common Fund, it means that the Programme would also go hungry? I am not too sure that is the way to really expand the frontiers of the School Feeding Programme. So, we should look at that.
The second thing is in respect of grants that are given to the so-called witches. Mr Speaker, on page 16 of the Committee's Report and I guess they were deriving their strength from the Ministry. That is under bullet 8.3, the third line. Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to read,
“751 witches in the Gambaga, Kukuo, Nabuli Kpatinga Leli-daberi and Ngnani-Yendi also received social grants…”
Mr Speaker, may I know from the Hon Minister if officially the country accepts that, the people who have been put there are witches? This is because that is what they have stated here that witches have been identified and they are paying them some grants. Is it the case that, officially, the Ministry recognises those women as witches? We should know!
Mr Speaker, the bullet point that I am alluding to, 8.3, states that, the Committee was informed that 150,000 households in 188 districts and 4,072 communities in 10 regions received social grants under the LEAP programme in 2015. We want to know from the Hon Minister, what the definition of a “household” is.
It is important because you are giving them GH¢44. A household, as I do understand it, to mean, is the people. I am talking about the traditional conventional definition of a household, which refers to the family members who eat from the same pot.
If that is your definition of a household and you are telling us that, you are giving them GH¢44 even the nuclear family, which is not referred to in the definition of a household, the average size in Ghana is six members. So, for six people, you are giving GH¢44? I am not sure that this would be the point to begin from.
Mr Speaker, in paragraph 753, the Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministry indicates to us that they gave out GH¢ 3.9 million to the June, 3rd flood and fire disaster victims in Accra. Government itself has made available some allocations to this same group directly.
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has also made some donations to this same group. Mr Speaker, we want to know as a nation, how much has been given to these people. There are four groups that we have made donations to and every one of them is quoting huge figures.
So, as a country, how much did we allocate to these victims of the June 3rd flood and fire disaster? How much? My own computation is that, it is in excess of GH¢ 10 million from these four sources. How much? Is somebody being truthful with Ghanaians?
Mr Speaker, the fourth issue -- the list of beneficiaries. It is important for Parliament to know. How can anybody hide under the umbrella of article 18? Article 18 is in respect of Property Ownership. I do not know whether indeed, that is what the Hon Minister is telling the Committee. But if that is what she said, she cannot hide under that provision in the Constitution to say that she would not avail the list.
We need to know, so that we will be assured that this is not being done according to the Gospel of patronage. Parliament needs to know.
So, Mr Speaker, Parliament should demand it as a matter of right from the Hon Minister to submit the list of beneficiaries to this House, so that we would be able to even crosscheck whether indeed, it is true.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, please, address the Chair and ignore the asides.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we need to know whatever criterion was used, where they are and for Parliament to have the full list. Now, we are being told that, you are going to further expand it, that is it. I am not too sure that this whole business is even sustainable. Providing fish for the people when you have to be teaching them how to fish. Is that the way to go if we want to fight poverty? [Interruption.]
But you see, if there is an emergency situation and you respond to it, you want to make it a livelihood matter? That is why you have christened it, “Livelihood Empowerment”. Mr Speaker, we should be careful; it is an emergency matter to deal with a situation, which the nation felt that we need to sort out immediately.
But beyond that, there should be a time table to wean them off, provide them with facilities to be able to stand on their own. Do you think they are going to have to
live on this eternally? We would not be doing justice to them.
Mr Speaker, so, I am waiting for the Hon Minister, I want to hear from her and I will take it from there.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:35 p.m.
Very well.
Before I call upon the Hon Minister to wind up, I want to make it clear that, the issue regarding provision of list so on and so forth, fine, it is all in order. But we know the procedure we should use.
We have the procedure available to us So, we can use it. But in the meantime, I will allow the Hon Minister to wind up and take into account the concerns raised by Hon Members.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Mrs Lithur 2:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am grateful for all the contributions made on the floor of this House.
I would first start by addressing some of the issues and questions that have been asked and raised. In terms of the School Feeding Programme, the fact that we have oversight and how much money was spent, during the policy hearings before the Ministry of Finance and during the parliamentary hearings before the joint Committee of Gender and Social Welfare, we submitted the accounts and reports on the school feeding.
The Hon Member was present; maybe, he left before that was done. If it is not in the Report, that is a report of Parliament and not of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. The accounts and projects implemented were discussed and submitted.
Mr Chairman, in terms of the electronic -- sorry -- Mr Speaker, in terms of the electronic payment, it is not true that it is MTN paying and that most of the caterers
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:35 p.m.
On a point of order.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister keeps referring to you as “Mr Chairman” and I thought that when she was corrected in the first instance, she would take a cue and make good progress. But she keeps relapsing and addressing you as “Mr Chairman.”
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:35 p.m.
Hon Members, I believe she can be forgiven, she is not a Member of Parliament, so, it is not easy.
Mr Lithur 2:35 p.m.
Like I said, all the issues are noted, just to announce to this august House that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development are working together to implement the Ghana School Feeding Programme.
Presently, we are doing a Performance and Financial Audit and though some donor partners pulled out, they are all coming back because they realised that this Government is serious about its social protection agenda and its social democratic agenda. So, World Bank, UNICEF and Department for International Development (DFID) are going to support the School Feeding Programme. We have taken cognisance of all the issues raised, have noted and will review and address those issues.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable approves the sum of GH¢49,520,377 for the services of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
Alhaji Muntaka 2:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, could we take item number 8 on page 7, that is the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:35 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, item numbered 8, Motion by the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2016
Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (Mr Mahama Ayariga) (MP) 2:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢274,215,152 for the services of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation for the year ending 31st December 2016.
Mr Speaker, it is meant for the running of a number of agencies under the Ministry and for the main Ministry's activities. These agencies include Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Town and Country Planning Department and National Biosafety Authority.
Mr Speaker, as is well known to this House, this Ministry is responsible for overseeing the management and protection of the environment, main-

streaming science and technology in our development efforts, dealing with the issues of spatial development and human settlement as managed by Town and Country Planning Department and biosafety management.

We appeared before the Committee and explained our various activities to them and I believe that the Hon Chairman of the Committee would accordingly present the Report of the Committee.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Simon E. Asimah) 2:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and in so doing, present your Committee's Report.
Introduction
On Friday, 13th November 2015, the Minister for Finance, Mr Seth E. Terkper presented to Parliament the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government for the 2016 financial year in accordance with article 179 (1) of the Constitution.
Pursuant to Orders 140 (4) and 185 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, Mr Speaker referred the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) to the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology for consideration and report.
Deliberations
The Committee met on Monday, 14th December, 2015 and considered the budget estimates. The Hon Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and
Innovation, Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Deputy Minister, Dr Alfred Sugri Tia and the technical team from the Departments and the agencies under Ministry as well as officials from Ministry of Finance were in attendance to assist the Committee in the consideration of the budget estimates.
The Committee is grateful to them for their attendance and inputs.
Reference documents
The Committee referred to the following documents during the delibera- tion on the budget estimates:
The 1992 Constitution
The Standing Orders of Parliament
Environmental Protection Agency Act,1994(Act 490)
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Act,1996 (Act 521)
Atomic Energy Commission Act, 2000 (Act 588)
National Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act
831)
the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2016 financial year
the Report of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on the 2015 Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
Ministry of Environment. Science. Technology and Innovation (MESTI)
Mission
MESTI exists to promote sustainable development by deepening and streng- thening market driven research and
development for sound environmental governance, science, technology and Innovation through intensive awareness creation, collaboration and partnership.
Vision
The vision of the Ministry is to attain sustainable development through the utilisation of science, technology and Innovation for wealth creation and sound environmental governance in a modern and competitive economy.
Core functions of the Ministry
Provide leadership and guidance for Environment, science, technology and innovation within the broad sector of the economy through sound policy formulation and implementation
Ensure the establishment of the regulatory framework and setting of standards to govern the activities of science and technology and the management of the environment for sustainable development
Promote activities needed to underpin the standards and policies required for planning and implementation of sound scientific and technological development activities
Ensure the co-ordination, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of activities of environment, science, technology and Innovation while fulfilling national benefits-sharing commitments
Set out the parameters required for programmes on environment, science, technology and human settlement in consultation with the National Development Planning
Commission (NDPC) in guiding the District Assemblies as the planning authorities at the local level
Analyse and co-ordinate all planned programmes as well as budgets in the environment, science, technology and innovation sector of the economy for purposes of achieving a single integrated management system
Initiate, simulate and co-ordinate research including the continuous development and review of policies, laws, rules and regulations in the environment, science, technology and innovation sector of the economy, and
Ensure effective environmental management and governance, in line with the functions of Act 490, with the EPA as the main implemen- ting agency and MESTI playing an oversight, co-ordination and facilitating role
Policy objectives of the Ministry
In pursuance of its core functions, the Ministry has adopted the following policy objectives as captured in the GSGDA II:
Promote the application of science, technology and Innovation in all sectors of the economy
Strengthen the appropriate institutional framework to promote the development of science and technology research
Promote sustainable extraction and use of mineral resources
Promote green economy
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Simon E. Asimah) 2:35 p.m.


Reduce loss of biodiversity

Reduce pollution, poor sanitation and vulnerability of coastal communities

Mitigate the impacts of climate variability and change

Streamline spatial/land use planning system in Ghana

Facilitate ongoing institutional, technological and legal reforms in support of land use planning and human settlements develop- ments

Strengthen the human and institutional capacities for

effective land use planning and management. Ensure that practices in the Oil and Gas industry are consistent with Ghanaian and international standards of environmental sustainability

Departments and Agencies under the Ministry:

Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA)

Ghana Atomic Energy Commission

(GAEC)

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Town and Country Planning Department (TCPD)

National Biosafety Authority (NBA)

Performance review of the 2015 Budgetary allocation

Table 1: Status of 2015 Budget Implementation - Composite by Budget Programmes

SPACE FOR TABLE 1 - PAGE 9 - 2.35P.M.

Table 2: Expenditure from January to September 2015

SPACE FOR TABLE 2 - PAGE 10 - 2.35 P.M.

Key achievements In 2015

Management and administration programme

A National Biosafety Authority has been established to address public concerns on biosafety and related biotechnology issues. The Authority has prepared guidelines to address Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) concerns in the future.

The Ministry revamped the Mathematics, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme in 2015 with funding from GETFund. Currently about 4,000 students from the senior high, technical and tertiary institutions will be awarded with bursaries ranging from GH¢300 to GH¢1,500.

The Ministry has also established technology development, innovation,

marketing and transfer centres in five research and development institutions, namely, the University of Ghana, CSIR, GAEC, Ghana Technology University and Kumasi Polytechnic. These centres are earnestly marketing and transferring the shelved technologies to the private sector in the country.

Other innovative technologies are being supported to be further developed for the market. In 2015, the Ministry held a technology fair to showcase some of the technologies developed by these institutions, which included a solar wheel chair by Kumasi Polytechnic and game application by Ghana Technology University.

Research and development programme

Under the implementation of the policy on the use of the local building materials
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Simon E. Asimah) 2:35 p.m.


The Committee observed that the Ministry in 2015 revamped the Mathe- matics, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme (MASTESS) with funding from GETFund and developed a website to ensure easy access by students to the public. In the 2016 financial year, the Ministry would continue to promote the programme by awardingscholarships to students with bursaries ranging from GH¢300 to GH¢l, 500.

The Committee recommends that the Ministry of Finance should release the funds provided to enable the Ministry carry out this very important programme.

Conclusion

The Committee considers the mandate of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation as cardinal in the nation's economic growth and development. However, the Ministry is constantly burdened with delays in the release of funds and inadequate funding, especially for Research and Development Programmes.

The Committee accordingly recommends the approval of an amount of two hundred and seventy-four million, two hundred and fifteen thousand, one hundred and fifty- two Ghana cedis (GH¢274,215,152.00) for the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation for the Financial Year ending 31st December,

2016.
Mr Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko (NPP -- Ayawaso West Wuogon) 2:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for recognising me.
Mr Speaker, I would want to contribute to the Motion, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢274,215,152 for the services of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation for the year ending 31st December, 2016 --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:45 p.m.
Hon Member, just hold on.
Hon Chairman of the Committee, look at your figure vis-a-vis what is on the Order Paper. Is the last digit “3” or “2”? -- [Pause] --
Mr Asimah 2:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think it should be “152”. -- [Interruption] -- We had this challenge with some of the figures and so, at the Committee level, we agreed on “152”--
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:45 p.m.
Very well. And so, the figure in the Report is amended to “152”
Yes, Hon Member, please continue.
Mr Agyarko 2:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in rising to support this Motion, there are a few comments I would want to make.
It is important to mainly understand that the mandate of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, is key to the development of this country. Indeed, the agencies that come under this Ministry and some in their functions, let us take the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) -- Their activities affect virtually every activity of all of us; whether it is in agriculture or health or food production and food security.
However, I think that over the period as a nation, we have not been paying the necessary attention to this Ministry and it reflects in the budgetary allocations. For
example, in the 2015 fiscal year, apart from Compensation that was about 75 per cent executed, Goods and Services provided for by Government of Ghana was only 50 per cent. Indeed, it was not a very big figure; it was about GH¢6 million. Out of that, only about GH¢3.2 million which represents 49 per cent has been executed.
Mr Speaker, the agencies that come under this Ministry are service agencies; CSIR -- they need money to buy equipment and chemicals. If their budgets are not executed properly, what it amounts to is that, we are paying highly- skilled and highly-trained professionals their salaries only to go to the office and sit down.
Indeed, much of their budget has come from internally generated funds (IGFs). In 2015, a good 31 per cent of their budget is from IGFs, and a big percentage is also coming from donor funding. It has been that if the IGFs are not coming like it has happened this year, out of the GH¢65 million that was budgeted, as at the end of the third quarter, only 50 per cent was available. It means that they really and truly cannot function properly.
Mr Speaker, in the area of capital expenditure (CAPEX), Government of Ghana's (GoG) budget was GH¢650 million. It is sad to note that, at the end of the third quarter, not even a penny had been released. I would begin to wonder how a research institution can buy equipment if they do not have any money released to them for capital expenditure.
Mr Speaker, the only bright spot it appears, has been money that has come out of donor funding. One would wonder that in a lower middle income country, in an oil economy, if the bright spot in your budget is donor funding, then it does not speak too well for all of us.
We would want that a lot more is done for the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation. I must say that in spite of these difficulties, there have been some very bright spots. One of them is on page 7 of the Report, that under Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -- Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote:
“35,000 tree seedlings were planted on degraded lands especially in the northern savanna zones including awareness creation programmes.”
Mr Speaker, this is a good programme and we would want to commend the Ministry and its agencies for doing this. It is unlike 2012, when in an attempt to do the same, GH¢33 million then, about US$15 million was wasted and we did not get anything out of this. Indeed, this year, it is projected that 45,000 of this would be done, particularly when climate change has become the most topical issue in the world. I do hope that we would find the money for the agencies to do this.
Mr Speaker, in rounding up, in the presentation by the Hon Minister, one of the agencies under the Ministry -- the EPA-- has been built to be weaned off Government budget completely.
Mr Speaker, nowhere in the world are regulatory agencies expected to pay for themselves. Indeed, it is alright to ask service organisations-- One of the agencies that has been asked to pay for itself, for instance, is the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). They provide service to the public and it is all right because the public pays for the service. But in the case of the regulator, like the EPA, it stands between the public and the Government to ensure public health and safety.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:45 p.m.
Thank you very much.
rose rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:45 p.m.
Hon Member, it is the Hon Member's turn. After her, you are next.
Dr Bernice Adiku Heloo (NDC -- Hohoe) 2:55 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
I beg to contribute to the Motion on the floor of the House.
Mr Speaker, I would like to draw your attention to two main issues. The first one is the inadequacy of the current Budget given to the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation. Even though it has seen an improvement over the past Budget, I believe that the Ministry would require more in view of all that have occurred at COP21 in Paris, where the Ministry will be taking on activities in the areas of mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
Mr Speaker, my second issue is about the slow as well as the late releases of funds to the Ministry. This is especially in the area of capital expenditure. This has affected most of the capital activities of the Ministry.
Mr Speaker, I will call on the Ministry of Finance to ensure a timeous release of funds to the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation so that they can take up activities planned for the year.
Mr Speaker, I end my contribution by supporting the approval of GH¢274,215,152 for the services of the Ministry..
Mrs Ursula G. Owusu-Ekuful (NPP— Ablekuma West) 2:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to register my concern at what appears to be wilfully causing financial loss by the Ministry of Finance. This is because we are witnesses to the fact that despite making provision for payment of compensation to all categories of workers, the Ministry has presented a budget which across board, appears to be that “Goods and Services” is not catered for.
So, as has been earlier noted, we are making provision to pay public employees to do nothing because we are not providing them with the resources they need to do the work, which has been entrusted in their hands.
Mr Speaker, if that is not wilfully causing financial loss to the State, then I do not know what it is. The Ministry is aware that all categories of workers are disabled from performing their functions because provision has not been made in “Goods and Services” for them to do their work, yet the Ministry is happily paying those categories of workers, so, they will sit there and do nothing—
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
Hon Member, you are looking at the Actus reus. Have you looked at the mens rea?
Anyway. Go on.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful 2:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the mens rea can be deduced from the Actus reus. They know that the workers cannot work because they have not been provided with the opportunity of the resources to work and yet they are paying them. So, in effect, we are allowing them to be paid for no work done. When it comes to agencies and Ministries like the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation — We all saw what happened during the June 3rd disaster and how it turned focus on the fuel stations round the country. And the Minister himself had to go on a fact- finding tour, closing down filling stations.
Mr Speaker, if all those things were not catered for in the budget now, they had to find the money from somewhere to do that. They have come here, and 50 per cent of the budgetary allocations for “Goods and Services” were not provided for in the 2015 Budget.
We are doing the same thing in 2016, knowing that it would be impossible for them to perform if they are not resourced. And for almost every Ministry, De- partment and Agency, whose estimates
have been looked out in this House, the story is the same. So, what are we doing? Should we continue to deceive ourselves that we are going through the Motions to pass a budget, knowing that all manner of workers would be disabled from working, even though we are expending money to pay their salaries?
Mr Speaker, I think we ought to take another look at the processes we are engaged in here —So, we are not just going through the fore, knowing that we are all tickling ourselves and laughing.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢274,215,152 for the services of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
Alhaji Muntaka 2:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, before we proceed on the annual estimates, we have two Papers that we want to lay, so that they would be distributed.
Item 4 (f) (i) and (ii) on page 4 of the Order Paper, thus the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
So, are you talking about item 4 (f) (i) and (ii)?
Alhaji Muntaka 2:55 p.m.
Rightly so, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
Very well.
PAPERS 2:55 p.m.
Alhaji Muntaka 2:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can take item 9 on page 7 of the Order Paper.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2016
Ministry of Food and Agriculture
Minister for Food and Agriculture (Mr Fifi Fiavi F. Kwetey) 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to respectfully move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢501,501,708 for the services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the year ending, 31st December, 2016.
Mr Speaker, in doing so, I wish to signal that the Ministry, during the year in review, got approximately 60 per cent of the budget that was approved and was released as at the end of September, 2015.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry, in other respects, provided technical support for some irrigation projects, including support given to Wienco Ghana Limited and Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) to deliver the initial 400 hectares of the Sisili-Kulpawn irrigation projects in the West Mamprusi District.
We distr ibuted some 77 SAME - tractors, 49 power tillers and 20 rice harvesters as a way of supporting rice production in the country.
Mr Speaker, in terms of the outlook for 2016, the Ministry intends to produce a total of 3,057 metric tonnes of certified seeds to farmers and in addition, 50,000 yam planting materials and 3,000 suckers of plantain are targeted for production.
Mr Speaker, the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) is also providing technical support for the feasibility study of 20,000 hectares to the Pwalugu multi purpose dam. We also, in recognition of the importance of irrigation, are working in a public private partnership with interested partners in order to support irrigation across the country.
Mr Speaker, in terms of fertiliser subsidy, the Ministry has worked extremely to ensure that the 2016 fertiliser programme goes unimpeded. The expectation is that we will be able to have 180,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers delivered on time in order to support agricultural production for the year.

Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Gabriel Kodwo Essilfie) 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion moved by the Hon Minister for Food and Agriculture, to approve the sum of GH¢501,501,708 for the services of the Ministry for the year ending, December 31, 2016.
Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would like to present your Committee's Report.
Introduction
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the year ending 31st December, 2016 was presented to Parliament by the Minister for Finance, Hon Seth E. Terkper, on 13th November, 2016 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.
Pursuant to Orders 140(4) and 176 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, Mr Speaker referred the estimates of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to the Committee on Food, Agriculture and
Cocoa Affairs for consideration and report to the House.
Deliberations
The Committee met on 14th December, 2015 and examined the draft estimates of the Ministry. Present at the meeting were the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon Fifi Fiavi Franklin Kwetey and his two deputies, Hon Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan and Hon Dr Hanna Louisa Bisiw, as well as the Chief Director of the Ministry, Ing. J. K. Boamah.
Directors and project co-ordinators of the following directorates and projects under the Ministry were also present:
i. Human Resource Development and Management Directorate.
ii. Statistics, Research and Informa- tion Directorate.
iii. Crop Services Directorate.
iv. Ghana Irrigation Development Authority.
v. Grains and Legumes Develop- ment Board.
vi. Roots and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Project.
vii.Export Marketing and Quality Awareness Project.
viii.Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate.
ix. Women in Agricultural Develop- ment (WIAD).
x. Veterinary Services Directorate.
xi. Animal Production Directorate.
xii. Agricultural Extension Services Directorate.
xiii.Agricultural Engineering Services Directorate.
xiv.Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate:
The Committee is grateful to the Minister, his deputies and the officials of the Ministry for their insightful inputs and clarifications.
Reference materials
In considering the sector's estimates, the Committee was guided by the following documents:
i. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana
ii. The Standing Orders of Parlia- ment
iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Govern- ment of Ghana for the 2015 financial year
iv. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Govern- ment of Ghana for the 2016 financial year
v. The Medium Term Expenditure Framework for 2015-2017 for the Ministry of Food and Agricul- ture
vi. The Medium Term Expenditure Framework for 2016-2018 for the Ministry of Food and Agricul- ture.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Gabriel Kodwo Essilfie) 3:05 p.m.
Review of performance for 2015
Financial performance for 2015 (Gh¢ million)
Table 1: 2015 Financial Performance
SPACE FOR TABLE 1 - PAGE 2 - 3.05 P.M.
The Committee observed that an amount of GH¢142,565,000 out of the revised sector budget amount of GH¢238,494,000, representing 59.8 per cent had been released as at September, 2015.
Programme performance for 2015
Food security and emergency prepare- dness programme
In order to increase access to the use of certified seeds (such as rice, sorghum, cowpea, soyabean, groundnut and citrus) 42.5 mt of foundation seeds were produced.
Under the enhanced access to quality rice seed initiative, 200mt of improved rice seed were distributed to 10,000 farmers in the Volta, Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions to increase productivity.
The Ministry also provided technical support to WIENCO and SADA to deliver the initial 400ha Sissili Kulpawn Irrigation Project in the West Mamprusi District with cowpea being grown on 50 hactares of the project's land as test crop.
To boost local rice production, 77 SAME tractors, 49 power tillers, 20 rice threshers, 11 rice reapers and 6 rice mills with their respective components were assembled and sold to farmers under the Japanese Grant Assistance Programme. In addition, 100 units of Cabrio tractors with multi components were assembled for sale to farmers on hire purchase.
The Ministry through GIDA also provided technical support for the feasibility study of 20,000 hactares of the Pwalugu multipurpose dam. The rehabilitation of Adiembra, Tordzinu and
Baafikrom irrigation schemes were completed. In addition, the rehabilitation of the other irrigation schemes earmarked for the year are at various stages of completion. These are Agorveme (20%), Volo (36%), Afaode (20%), Dordoekope (95%), Koloe-Dayi (70%), Tokpo (77%) and Ekotsi (20%) schemes.
The Ministry led the establishment of Irrigation Technology Transfer Units (ITTUs) at two Agricultural Colleges and in one community. The ITTUs are demonstration models to showcase latest irrigation technology using ground and surface water resources.
Approximately 7,500 hactares of land out of a target of 10,046 hactares was developed and cropped under the irrigation and flood recession scheme and water conservation methods. This was expected to yield 165,665mt of rice, maize, onions, pepper, tomatoes and leafy vegetables under the schemes in the 2015 cropping season.
One hundred greenhouses were installed for vegetable production throughout the country. MoFA in collaboration with the private sector initiated establishment of three (3) Greenhouse Capacity Building and Training Centres at Dawhenya (GAR), Libga (NR) and Ohawu (VR).
Increased growth in incomes programme
To increase guinea fowl production and livelihood, 320 out-grower farmers were given hands- on-training in improved Guinea fowl production and received 1,600 (eight-week old) grower birds as a start- up stock for production in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions.
To achieve the target of increased pig production from 682,000 in 2014 to 730,000, in 2015, about 700 start-up stocks were
distributed to farmers at a subsidized rate for the production of pigs.
The Ministry also cultivated 6 hactares of land at Ejura Sheep Breeding Station with Stylosantheshamata to reduce the negative impact of climate change in communities experiencing overgrazing.
Under the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme, superior breeds of 650 sheep and 450 goats were procured and distributed to 90 farmers in the Central, Western and Eastern Regions.
Marketing of agricultural produce and products programme:
Phytosanitary inspections and certification of certain commodities were carried out to attest that consignments meet phytosanitary import requirement. Accordingly 202 import permits and 9 phytosanitary certificates were issued.
Facility inspection and audit of Tapioca factory for export to China was conducted. Two facilities for cassava companies were inspected of which one company was approved to export Tapioca to China.
Cotton Development Board was inaugurated to regulate the activities of the cotton industry. The Ministry in collaboration with the private sector established 2,500 hactares of cotton farms.
Management of land and environment programme
Sixty-three communities in 10 districts of the Upper Regions were supported to implement various sustainable land and water management technologies under the Sustainable Land and Water Management Project (SLWMP). Under

this project, over 104,000 tree seedlings were planted by 5,000 farmers in 2015.

Under the adaptation of Agro Eco System to Climate Change (AAESCC) project, 16 communities in Northern and Brong Ahafo regions were supported to implement various climate change adaptation interventions. These included training of 1,200 farmers in seed production, training of 1,000 firefighting volunteers in collaboration with Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), promotion of agro-forestry and soil fertility management technologies to 16 communities.

The Ministry collaborated with the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) platform to develop the Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) and Food Security Action Plan to operationalise the National Climate Change Policy.

Science and technology in food and agricultural development programme

The Ministry produced 16 million doses of ND1-2 vaccines out of a target of 32 million for the control of Newcastle disease in poultry. A total of 5,750,000 doses were also distributed countrywide;

In order to manage Avian Influenza outbreak, the Ministry destroyed a total of 37,143 birds in 18 affected farms in three regions, disinfected some farms and paid compensation to some farmers; and

The Ministry in collaboration with CSIR, released five new hybrid maize varieties (SikaAburo, Kunjor-Wari, Suhudoo, Warikamana and Kpari-Faako) and six new cassava varieties were recommended for release.

Outlook for 2016

Food security and emergency prepare- dness programme

In 2016, the Ministry intends to produce a total of 3,057.5mt of certified seeds (r ice, cowpea, soybeans and groundnuts) for farmers. In addition, 50,000 planting material of yam and 3,000 suckers of plantain are targeted for production.

An electronic targeting system in the distribution and payment for fertiliser and seed will be introduced on pilot basis in some selected regions with the aim of improving transparency and account- ability in the use of public funds while enhancing farmers' access to fertiliser and seed.

The Ministry will complete the ongoing rehabilitation of irrigation schemes in Agorveme (20%), Volo (36%), Afaode (20%), Dordoekope (95%), Koloe-Dayi (70%), Tokpo (77%) and Ekotsi (20%).

Increased growth in incomes programme

As part of government's effort to boost local production of poultry, the Ministry intends tosupport commercial poultry (broiler) farmers by providing subsidised inputs (maize, vaccines and drugs). The target for the year is estimated at 45,000 metric tonnes of poultry meat. In addition, 1,500 farmers in five regions will be supported with 30,000 brooded cockerels.

The Ministry intends to also support 90 farmers with 450 animals of superior breed quality under the West Africa Agriculture Productivity Programme.

Marketing of agricultural produce and products programme:

The Ministry will collaborate with the private sector to support cotton farmers to produce for exports and also facilitate

the manufacture of prototype of the flash dryers for the production of high quality cassava flour for the pastry industry.

Management of land environment

The Ministry will expand the SLWMP to 46 new communities to implement SLWM technologies for increased productivity. The Resilient Landscape for Sustainable Livelihood (RLSL) will implement farmer field schools on major crops such as cereals and dry season vegetables in the 10 selected communities.
Mr Kwame Asafu-Adjei (NPP -- Nsuta/Kwamang/Beposo) 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to associate myself with the Motion on the floor to support the agricultural sector with the sum of
GH¢501,501,780 --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
The figure is “GH¢501,501,708” and not GH¢501,501,780.
Mr Asafu-Adjei 3:05 p.m.
Sorry. GH¢501,501708 -- Mr Speaker, thank you for the correction.
Mr Speaker, by so doing, I would like to ask what is the present state of agriculture in Ghana? By the figures submitted in your Committee's Report, it shows that the agricultural sector currently is in “disray”. Why am I saying that, Mr Speaker?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
The word is “disarray.”
Mr Asafu-Adjei 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, sorry. It is in disarray.
Thank you for the correction.
Mr MahamaAyariga— rose --
Mr Asafu-Adjei 3:05 p.m.
Sit down.

Mr Speaker, why am I saying this? [Interruption.] Mr Speaker, it is so because the microeconomic conditions do not favour the private sector to invest in agriculture. What are these micro- economic conditions? The high rate of inflation, the high rate of interest and the massive public sector borrowing which has clouded the private sector in helping to raise interest rates.

Mr Ayariga—rose—
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member, is it on a point of order?
Mr Ayariga 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member made a categorical statement that agriculture in Ghana today is in “disree” - - [Laughter.] Assuming that he is saying that fit is in disarray, that is an unfounded statement because he goes on to give us his reason -- a microeconomic situation that does not support the private sector.
Mr Speaker, anybody who knows agriculture in Ghana knows that it has been founded on smallholder farming activities -- peasant farming activities. It has not largely been a commercial endeavour based on private sector investments. If looking into the future as a country, we would want to woo the private sector to want to go into large scale commercial agriculture and have new targets that we have not met, that is a different matter.
But to say that agriculture currently is in “disray” because private sector investment is not forthcoming because of microeconomic indicators, is an inaccurate
statement about the state of agriculture in our country.
Mr Asafu-Adjei 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would still repeat - It is in disarray. The reason being this, if you refer to the Committee's Report, page 4, paragraph 3.2 reads; and Mr Speaker, with your permission, I would like to read:
“The Ministry also cultivated 6 ha of land at Ejura Sheep Breeding Station with Stylosanthes hamata to reduce the negative impact of climate change in communities experiencing overgrazing”.
Mr Speaker, we have more than 5,000 sheep nationwide -- Even if Ejura Sheep Breeding Station which is a Government institution will cultivate six hectares of Stylosanthes hamata -- I have problem pronouncing that; you can correct me, please.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
Hon Member, continue --
Dr A. Y. Alhassan— rose --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minister?
Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Friend seems to have challenges with the pronunciation of the scientific name -- It is Stylosanthes hamata.
Mr Asafu-Adjei 3:05 p.m.
Thank you.
Dr Alhassan 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is a grazing plot for an experiment station and that is why it is six hectares. And the number of sheep in the country runs into millions and not in thousands.
Mr Asafu-Adjei 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is not correct. I have been there myself and this is a public institution taking over private sector activity.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
Hon Member, did you hear him well? He said the number of sheep in the country is not in hundreds or thousands but that in millions - That is what he is saying.
Mr Asafu-Adjei 3:05 p.m.
Even if it is in millions, what they are cultivating is not enough to feed the sheep. That is what I am driving at.
Dr Alhassan 3:05 p.m.
It is an experiment breeding station to produce breeding animals for the public and the six hectares is just to take care of the breeding animals; it is not meant to produce feed in commercial quantities for farmers and that is just to set the records straight.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
Very well.
Mr Asafu-Adjei 3:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he is right, that it is government farm but what I am saying is that it should not be the work of the Government. It should be private institutions which should take care of this project. This is because if the economy is good, then the private sector will be in position to do what the Government is doing. The Government should leave it to the private sector to do it.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:05 p.m.
Hon Member, are you sure that if the private sector goes into this, the ordinary farmer will be in a position financially to --
Mr Asafu-Adjei 3:05 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, and they will even do it better than the public sector. This is because whatever is produced there -- We are close to Christmas -- What are they going to do with the sheep? It will go somewhere into public hands. But if it is done by the private sector, Ghanaians will benefit. We
will get more sheep to consume instead of the public sector managing it.
Mr Speaker, the other issue I would like to draw your attention to has to do with the Report as on page 4, which talks about poultry -- Increased Growth in Incomes Programme. As a part of Government's efforts to boost local production of poultry, the Ministry intends to support commercial poultry broilers farmers by providing substance input -- maize, machines and --
Mr Speaker, in the 2015 Budget Statement, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture promised poultry farmers that they would give them an amount of GH¢38 million. To date, how much have they released? They have not released even a penny to the poultry farmers. So, I am not convinced that they would achieve the objective of what they have put in or written here --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:15 p.m.
Hon Member, you have quoted a figure and you say you do not know how much has been released. So, how do you do the comparison? Your research should have taken you further to find out how much was released, then, you can make the comparison.
Mr Asafu-Adjei 3:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, nothing has been released to the farmers and they are repeating the same thing. So, what is the guarantee that they would really give this money to the poultry farmers? All that I am saying is that the target they have set here is not achievable.
Mr Speaker, the most serious part of this statement has to do with cocoa. I was surprised that the Ghana Cocoa Board
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:15 p.m.
Hon Member, you are saying you are surprised but you are an Hon Member of this House and it was this House that approved the figure. So, should that be a surprise to you?
Mr Asafu-Adjei 3:15 p.m.
No, Mr Speaker. All that I am saying is that we should not have approved the loan because they were using US$1.8 billion dollars to buy 850,000 metric tonnes of cocoa but they ended up buying 740,000 metric tonnes.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:15 p.m.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minister?
Dr A. Y. Alhassan 3:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the discussion on the table is the estimates of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture but my Hon Colleague is veering into COCOBOD issues and he is not drawing the parameters properly.
Well, we are not asking for a loan such that COCOBOD's loan should be a subject imported into the debate. I do not know whether my Hon Colleague could stop misleading the House.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:15 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member, begin to wind-up.
Mr Asafu-Adjei 3:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not misleading the House because COCOBOD has a programme in this 2016 Budget Statement. They would come here and ask
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:15 p.m.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minister for Finance?
Mr Cassiel A. B. Forson 3:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Colleague is misleading this House. It is important for us to correct this for the record.
Mr Speaker, the US$1.8 billion COCOBOD loan is for the purposes of buying 660,000 metric tonnes and not 850,000 metric tonnes. Often times, we confuse the collateralised sales to the target. They are two different things; the 850,000 metric tonnes is the target but the 660,000 metric tonnes is what they actually collateralised for and that money is to buy cocoa up to 660,000 metric tonnes and not 850,000 metric tonnes.
Thank you.
William Agyapong Quaittoo -- rose -
- 3:15 p.m.
Mr Asafu-Adjei 3:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the target set was not achieved. So, what did they do with the remainder of the money? That is why I am saying, it was unnecessary --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:15 p.m.
Hon Member, were you up on a point of order against the Hon Member who has the floor? [Interruption] -- No! We do not go on a point of order against a point of order.
Please, Hon Member, proceed with your submission.
Mr Asafu-Adjei 3:15 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I must repeat that it was unnecessary for the COCOBOD to come here and ask for additional US$300 million while they have US$100 million reserved.
Again, COCOBOD has a subsidiary company called Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC) and they have cocoa processing agencies --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:15 p.m.
Hon Member, I will want you to wind up. You have had enough time.
Mr Asafu-Adjei 3:15 p.m.
I will wind up Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for adding my voice to the Motion in approving the sum of GH¢ 501,501,708 to support the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:15 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢501, 501,708 for the services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:15 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Chief Whip -- [Interruption] --
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Alhaji Muntaka 3:15 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker -- [Interruption.]
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, recognition after the fact -- [Interruption] -- This is ambush but well, I would take it like that. [Laughter.]
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:15 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Alhaji Muntaka 3:15 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
We take item numbered 6 on page 6 of the Order Paper, that is the Ministry of Power.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:15 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, item numbered 6 on the Order Paper by the Hon Minister for Power.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2016
Ministry for Power
Minister for Power (Dr Kwabena Donkor) 3:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢884,269,444 for the services of the Ministry of Power for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
In so doing, Mr Speaker, I would want to reiterate that the Ministry, in the next fiscal year, would be intensifying work to enhance generation, transmission and distribution of power.
The Ministry would also be working on the promotion and intensification of the use of renewable energy in our generation mix. We would also be continuing the institutional restructuring that has begun in the sector.
Mr Speaker, there would also be policy enhancement to ensure that power becomes available both in the present and the future for socioeconomic growth.
Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho) 3:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and in so doing, present your Committee's Report.
Chairman of the Committee (Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho) 3:15 p.m.


Introduction

The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2016 Financial Year was presented to Parliament by the Minister for Finance, Hon Seth E. Terkper under the authority of His Excellency the President on Friday, 13th November, 2016 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.

Consequent to this, the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Power for the 2016 Financial Year were committed to the Committee on Mines and Energy for consideration and report pursuant to Orders 148 and 188 of the Standing Orders of the House.

Deliberations

The Committee met with the Hon Minister for Power, Dr Kwabena Donkor, his deputy, Hon John Jinapor and officials of the Ministry to consider the estimates. Officials of the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Volta River Authority (VRA), Energy Commission and the Ministry of Finance were in attendance to assist in the deliberations.

The Committee is grateful to the Hon Minister and the Officials for their attendance and for providing clarifications to issues raised at the meeting.

Reference Documents

The Committee referred to the under- listed documents during its deliberations:

i. The 1992 Constitution

ii. The Standing Orders of Parlia- ment

iii. The Renewable Energy Act, 2011 (Act 832)

iv. The Energy Commission Act, 1997 (Act 541)

v. The Volta River Development Act, 1961 (Act 46)

vi. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of the Republic of Ghana for the 2016 Financial Year.

Agencies under the Ministry of Power

The Ministry of Power comprises the Headquarters and the underlisted Agencies:

i. The Energy Commission

ii. The Volta River Authority (VRA)

iii. The Bui Power Authority (BPA)

iv. The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo)

v. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)

vi. The Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo)

vii.The Volta Aluminum Company

(VALCO)

viii.The VRA Resettlement Fund.

Vision and Mission of the Ministry

The vision of the Ministry of Power is to ensure secure and sustainable energy supply for Ghana and beyond.

The mission of the Ministry is to formulate, monitor and evaluate policies for the provision of secure, safe and reliable supply of energy to meet Ghana's developmental needs in an efficient, competitive and environmentally sustainable manner.

Strategic Objectives of the Ministry

In line with the above mission, the Ministry has adopted the following strategic objectives:

i. Increase power generation capacity from 2845.5 MW to 5,000 MW by end of 2016

ii. Achieve universal access to electricity by end of 2020

iii. Develop a non-congested transmission system by end of

2016

iv. Increase the renewable energy supply in the national energy mix to 10 per cent by 2020

v. Improve and modernise distribu- tion infrastructure for efficient service delivery and reduce system loses to 21 per cent by end of 2016

vi. Ensure the effective utilisation of gas for power generation

vii.Ensure maximum participation of Ghanaians in the power industry.

Key Achievements of the Ministry in

2015

Some of the key achievements of the Ministry for the year 2015 are as follows:

Power Generation

Regarding power generation, the Ministry achieved the following:

i. Completed expansion work on the 110 MW TICO power plant and mechanical completion of the 220 MW Kpone Thermal Power Project.

ii. Pursued installation works on the 360MW Sunon Asogli expansion project.

iii. Completed 90 per cent of works on the expansion project to add 38 MW to the existing 49.5 MW Siemens Plant being undertaken by the Volta River Authority

(VRA);

iv. Commenced works on the 250 MW Ameri and the 225 MW Karpower Projects.

PowerTransmission

Under its power transmission programme for the year 2015, the Ministry achieved the following:

i. Completed Prestea-Bogosu 161 kV line

ii. Completed 95 per cent of works on the Tumu-Han-Wa 161kV line

iii. Completed 50 per cent of works on the Kpandu-Kadjebi 161kV line and Wa and Tumu sub- stations

iv. Commenced works on the design and survey for the installation of the Prestea-Kumasi 33 kV line.
Chairman of the Committee (Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho) 3:15 p.m.


relating to scaling up renewable energy programme, the financial guarantees for the AKSA Fast-Track Power Project and the Phase II of the 225 MW Karpower Ship Project.

Retention of Critical Staff of the Energy Commission

The Committee noted that the low remuneration levels of officials of the Energy Commission continue to affect the capacity of the Commission in the performance of their functions. Con- sequently, the Commission has lost competent staff to local and foreign energy institutions.

For instance, the Officials of the Commission revealed that professionals of the Commission has reduced from sixty- five (65) in 2013 to fifty-one (51) currently in 2015 due to low remuneration levels indicating that an average of four (4) professional staff leave yearly. In view of the gravity of the situation, the Committee urges the Ministry to take appropriate steps to improve compensation package to retain and attract competent staff.

Conclusion and Recommendation

The Committee has duly considered Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Power for the 2016 Financial Year and wishes to recommend to the House to adopt its Report and to approve the sum of eight hundred and eighty-four million, two hundred and sixty-nine thousand, four hundred and forty-four Ghana cedis (GH¢884,269,444.00) for the activities of the Ministry of Power for the 2016 Financial Year.

Respectfully submitted.
Mr Kobina Tahir Hammond (NPP-- Adansi Asokwa) 3:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion.
Mr Speaker, the figures given to the once Ministry of Energy, which is now split into two, tend to sound rather highfalutin. When it comes down to the bare details, Mr Speaker, one would not get anything. When we think about it, in the 2015 fiscal year, the Ministry was allocated, on paper, a staggering figure of
GH¢842,168,538.15.
Mr Speaker, could you believe that it was 26.83 per cent that was what was eventually disbursed by the Government? One can now understand part of the reason this “dumsoralisation” has become a phenomenon. With this sort of situation, we are not going to get out of this mess.

I see my Hon Colleague is up.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:25 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, is it on a point of order?
Mr Forson 3:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is a point of information.
Mr Speaker, the word “donor” there does not mean it is a grant. It is only a description. The amount there is a Central Government loan for the purposes of financing capital expenditure. This is just for information.
Thank you.
Mr K.T. Hammond 3:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not sure. Does that refer to the 2015 amount or the current one? [Interruption] -- It is both of them. So, in the end, the loans do not materialise.
Mr Speaker, we do not get anywhere. As my Hon Colleague just indicated, about GH¢769 million of the allocation, representing about 87 per cent, is obviously going to come from that source. Mr Speaker, where does that take us to?
Mr Speaker, I see that the Ministry would be doing a lot of work on renewable energy. I did indicate some time back that under this Government, they have been able to put up a renewable power source, which amounts to about -- There has been a debate -- Whether it is 2.5 megawatt or 2 megawatt. I had argued that that is the only thing they have been able to contribute to install capacity.
Mr Speaker, what has horrified me recently is that, I have come to learn that even this 2 megawatt or 2.5 megawatt cannot see at night. Apparently, this plant only functions in the day time when there is sunlight or sunshine and everybody can see -- that is when this 2 megawatt or 2.5 megawatt renewal solar system functions.
In the night, when one would have thought that it could be triggered or pressed into action, so that we have some light, it does not see or work; it does not function at night. Mr Speaker, you see the hopelessness -- [Interruption] -- Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Chief Whip said “esewora”; “ese me ni wo mieno”. You see the hopelessness of the situation, Mr Speaker --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:25 p.m.
Hon Member, can you please, address the Chair?
Mr Hammond 3:25 p.m.
I am grateful, Mr Speaker. [Interruption.]
Mr Speaker has not asked me to explain, so, I choose to ignore you.
Mr Speaker, there are serious concerns. I see a bit of an AKSA Fast-Track Power and quite a few fasttrack powers. I think the House would be taking lessons on whether we encourage fast track activities on power generation anymore.
Mr Speaker, essentially, I support the Motion, but I entreat the Ministry of Finance that for Christ's sake, they should try and give this essential Ministry money, 26 per cent disbursement -- Mr Speaker, is really not much to write home about and does not help much.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:25 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Mr Mustapha Ussif (NPP--Yagaba/ Kubori) 3:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to also contribute to the Motion, that this House approves an amount of GH¢884,269,444.
Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would like to refer the House to the observation the Committee made during our deliberation on the estimate. Mr Speaker, the Committee observed that in paragraph 463 of the 2015 Budget Statement, the Government brought a budget to this House to connect 1,500 communities to the national grid to allow the country to have 80 per cent accessibility to energy.
Mr Speaker, the same Ministry came to this House, in paragraph 517 of the 2016 Budget Statement, that only 550 communities were connected. Yet, in paragraph 517, the Ministry is telling us
Dr Donkor 3:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member may not have access to all the information. Therefore, making conclusive statements on part information is not helpful to this House.
Mr Speaker, under the Ghana Energy Access Programme, the appropriate software has been provided to the Ministry and it is being used. Capturing projects have lagged behind in the past. So, projects which had been completed were not captured. With the acquisition of this new software, we were able to capture every single project that has been completed and that accounts for the 80.5 per cent accessibility.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Ussif 3:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I still doubt the Hon Minister because I have both Budget Statements in my hands here. The 2015 Budget Statement says that we were supposed to do 1,500 communities to allow us to get 80 per cent accessibility. The 2016 Budget Statement said we would be doing 560 communities. [Interruption.]
Alhaji Amadu Bukari Sorogho -- rose
-- 3:25 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:25 p.m.
Hon Chairman, wait for your turn. Allow him to make his contribution.
Mr Ussif 3:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yet they got 80 per cent accessibility; that is where my question is. Why do they tell the House they would do 1,500 communities to allow us to get 80 per cent, when they come to this House to tell us that they have done only 550 communities? Yet, the accessi- bility rate that they have achieved and the
accessibility rate they projected had not been completed in the communities. That is my worry. They have not completed the communities they said they would do --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:35 p.m.
Hon Member, your point is made and he has explained it. So, you go on.
Mr Ussif 3:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would also want to add my voice to what my Hon Ranking Member just said, that it looks as if this Government is not taking the energy issue serious.
Why should an amount of ¢842 million be budgeted and this House approves it for them to utilise ¢ 842 million, yet only 26 per cent was released by Ato and his Company. What is their problem?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:35 p.m.
Hon Member, please, when you are referring to an Hon Member of this House, use the appropriate expression, you do not say, “Ato and his company” [Laughter]-- Can you use the right expression?
Mr Ussif 3:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I withdraw the word, “Ato” but my Hon Colleague, Deputy Minister for Finance and the Ministry of Finance released only 26 per cent to the Ministry of Power.
This shows that we are not taking the energy issues serious. Mr Speaker, the power sector should be taken serious because that is the major concern of all Ghanaians. We approve and they do not release. What do they want us to do? Do they want us to continue sleeping in darkness, industries to collapse and people should continue dying?
Mr Speaker, we cannot take this any longer and with these few words, I support that, we approve the Budget Statement
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:35 p.m.
Thank you very much for your very few words.
Yes? The last contributor?
Mrs Gifty E. Kusi (NPP -- Tarkwa- Nsuaem) 3:35 p.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the floor.
Mr Speaker, I would want to draw the attention of the House to page 9, column 11.5 - Retention of Critical Staff of the Energy Commission.
Mr Speaker, the Report says that due to low remuneration, some officials have left to foreign energy institutions and out of 65, only 51 are currently at post due to low remuneration.
Mr Speaker, what is happening? Our country needs these experts and if we allow them to go, what are we doing to our country? I think this should be taken very serious so that the 51 would be there and not leave due to the same reasons.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry should tell us what it is going to do to ensure that, the staff remain at post.
Mr Speaker, as for the release of funds, the Government promised to end dumsor and if funds are not being made available, I think Ghanaians are witnesses to the fact that this Report is public and they would see that even the money that is needed to solve the situation is not being released.
So, that one, we all have to know that the Government is not doing what it is supposed to do. Where is the money? Why are they not using the loans that
they have contracted to do the work and we have been sleeping in perpetual darkness?
Mr Speaker, I would want the Ministry to assure us -- And recently, there was an increase in tariffs. Is it going to end the dumsor as promised or we are still going to sleep in darkness? It is my worry.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:35 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Yes, Hon Minister, after that the Hon Minister for Power will wind up and then we will put the Question.
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations (Mr Haruna Iddrisu (MP) 3:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much. I would endeavour to make my comments and contributions as brief and short as an old woman's dance.
Mr Speaker, I would associate myself with the Motion but to say that the debilitating power crises have conse- quences on economic growth, job creation, social and academic life, while I know that, Government is engaged through the Ministry in some efforts to end it.
Mr Speaker, I would like to emphasise that critical to getting a resolution of the continuous shortage in terms of generation and transmission, it is for us to take a critical look at the tariff regime and if we want to attract independent power producers in this country, we certainly are not attractive enough as a country in terms of how much we produce.
Mr Speaker, if you look at their cost of production and how much consumers would pay for it, all these increases in generation are better accelerated if we
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations (Mr Haruna Iddrisu (MP) 3:35 p.m.
fasten our reforms within the energy sector - inefficiencies in the sector, illegal connections, all these must be eliminated.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:35 p.m.
Hon Ranking Member, is it on a point of order?
Mr Kobina T. Hammond 3:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on a point of order. [Laughter.]
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:35 p.m.
Very well.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Minority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 3:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not really get up to contribute but I think my observation in respect of the point raised by the Hon Minister for Employment and Labour Relations.
Mr Speaker, the truth of the matter here is that, there is very little inefficiency in the communication sector, for instance. But in the generation and distribution of power, as we speak today, we all do know what electricity is generated, even at this time of national need, that goes waste and if we are advocating that, we should pay upfront, which is what I believe that
ultimately, it should be prepaid. I believe in that project.
Mr Speaker, we should cut out the waste to the barest minimum before we are able to introduce it. This is because you cannot tell me that as we speak today, about 20 per cent. So, electricity that is generated -- [Interruption.] is about 18 per cent. So, if I say, it is about 20 per cent, it is about the same thing. Hon Chairman, 18 per cent is close to 20 per cent of electricity that is generated goes waste and is unaccounted for. It is non- tariffed.
Mr Speaker, so, for now, it is non- tariffed. If we say it should be prepaid, then it is going to be worked into the system. That is the difficulty, which is why I am saying that we should cut out waste to the barest minimum.
Mr Speaker, it is not possible anywhere to have zero per cent of non-tariffed generation but certainly, in the serious dispensations and jurisdictions, you can have maybe, to the level of about 5 per cent. That may be acceptable.
Mr Speaker, so, that is what I am talking about. We should ultimately be working ourselves to that point but before we do, we must cut out the waste. The unaccounted for generated power that is not ultimately going to the households and industry, is something that provides us with sufficient money in order to do what is right.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:35 p.m.
Can we listen to the Hon Minister for Power?
Please, wind up in addressing the issues and concerns raised.
Dr Donkor 3:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to thank you for the opportunity and also thank Hon Members of this august House for considering the Motion.
Mr Speaker, in winding up, I would want to state that, on this very day, US$85,800,000.00 is being sought to increase coverage of electricity to 556 communities and that, usually, for any Budget Statement, it is an estimate and that it is also work in progress.
So, whereas, we would have loved to report to the House that all the communities mentioned in the previous budget to be captured have been completed, Mr Speaker, in the real world, there are various levels of completion and we would work assiduously to ensure that all the communities that have been earmarked for electrification, get their electrification at the appropriate time.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:45 p.m.
Hon Members, if you do not have the floor, please, keep quiet.
Dr Donkor 3:45 p.m.
Losses are made up of both technical and commercial, and one of the surest ways of reducing commercial losses is pre-payment, so, that you do not have the issue of someone consuming power and at the end of the month, you bill him and he says he is cash-strapped, therefore, he is unable to pay -- especially our Ministr ies, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). In fact, we are moving all MDAs onto prepaid metering.
The Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Finance are currently on pre- paid metering. So, it is important that this House expresses the need to reduce
commercial and technical losses. But technical losses arise out of under investments and therefore, as we seek, more resources to invest, it is going to be important that tariffs set, reflect the cost of operation.
I thank you, Mr Speaker, and also thank the House for the opportunity.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:45 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢884,269,444 for the services of the Ministry of Power for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Whip?
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 3:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think we would have to bring proceedings on the annual estimates to an end for the House to move into Committee of the Whole, to meet the Electoral Commission for the briefing on the 2016 General Election.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:45 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe that what the Hon Deputy Whip for the Majority Caucus meant was that we should suspend further consideration of the annual estimates. This is because if he says that we should bring it to an end today, then it means that after the Committee of the Whole, we may not do anything.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:45 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, I direct that this House moves into the Committee of the Whole to meet with the Electoral Commission. Subsequently, we will come back and then we can take a decision.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:45 p.m.
Hon Members, I will want to thank you for your cooperation.
Hon Members, this plenary stands adjourned to tomorrow at 10.00 o'clock in the forenoon.
ADJOURNMENT 3:45 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 7:17 p.m. till Friday, 18th December, 2015 at 10.00 a.m.