Debates of 18 Dec 2015

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:55 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 17th December,
2015.
Page 1…24 --
rose
Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Hon Minister for Employment and Labour Relations?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 10:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sorry to draw you back.
On page 14, in respect of Motions for the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in particular and probably, for the Audit Service, I know that the Hon Deputy Speaker, on your behalf, gave some direction. I do not know whether it is not appropriate that it reflects here.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
I do not know whether that is a correction.
It is not a correction but something that was decided on the floor, that it would be taken up. Is it a decision?
Hon Member for Sekondi?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 10:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is not a decision but as we are talking about the minutes, that is what it is supposed to be. Anything that is important, is noted in the minutes. I was not here yesterday, so, I do not know what he is refering to. But I guess it must be something important.
Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Very well.
I direct that the Table Office inserts that point into the Votes and Proceedings.

Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 17 th December, 2015 as corrected, are adopted as the true record of proceedings.

We do not have any edition of the Official Report for today, so, we move on to the Business Statement for the Ninth Week.

Chairman of the Business Committee?

Deputy Majority Leader?
Mr Alfred K. Agbesi 10:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee met on Thursday, in the absence of the Hon Chairman and I, as the Vice Chairman. The Hon Majority Chief Whip presided over the meeting. So, in this circumstance, I seek your permission for him to present the Business Statement to the House.
Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Hon Minority Chief Whip, Business Statement for the Ninth Week.
Sorry, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 10:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought you were calling someone else. Sorry, I did not know you were referring to me.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:55 a.m.
Chairman of the Business Committee ) 10:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Committee met on Thursday, 17 th December, 2015 and arranged Business of the House for the Ninth Week ending Tuesday, 22nd December, 2015.
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 56 (1), the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows:
Arrangement of Business
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee urges all Hon Members to commit themselves to the business programmed for the week ending today, Friday, 18th December, 2015 to enable the House complete the scheduled business and rise sine die as expected.
However, if the exigencies of the state of business in the House demand, any item of business left outstanding on the Order Paper of Friday, 18th December, 2015 shall be programmed for the next Sitting day, Monday, 21st December, 2015 in accordance with Order 55. Contingent upon the state of business on Monday, the House may adjourn sine die on or before Tuesday, 22nd December, 2015.
Question(s)
Mr Speaker, having regard to the constraints of the House, the Business Committee has not programmed any Minister of State for Question time next week.
Statements
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Order 70 (2), Ministers of State may be permitted to make Statements on Government policy. Your goodself may also admit Statements to be made in the House by Hon Members in accordance with Order 72.
Bills, Papers and Reports
Mr Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House for First Reading and those of urgent nature may be taken through the various stages in one day in accordance with Order 119. Papers and committee reports may also be presented to the House.
Motions and Resolutions
Mr Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
Conclusion
Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this Honourable House, the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Motions --

a) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development on the Annual Report of the District Assemblies Common Fund for the year 2014.

b) Adoption of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General on the
Chairman of the Business Committee ) 10:55 a.m.
Regulation of Residential Homes for Children (Orphanages) by the Department of Social Welfare
(DSW).
c) Adoption of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Management of Petroleum Funds for the period of May, 2011 to December 2012.
d) Adoption of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Performance Audit Report of the Auditor- General on the GETFund-Funded Infrastructural Projects in Public Tertiary Institutions.
e) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the 2013 Reconciliation Report on the Petroleum Holding Fund.
f) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs on the Convention for the Establishment of the Fishery Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) and the Headquarters Agreement for Ghana to Host the Fishery Committee.
Consequential Resolution
Consideration Stage of Bills--
Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2015.
National Disaster Management Organisation Bill, 2015.
Minerals Development Fund Bill,
2014
Committee sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

Motions

Third Reading of Bills --

Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2015.

National Disaster Management Organisation Bill, 2015.

Minerals Development Fund Bill,

2014

Consideration Stage of Bills

Committee sittings.

The House expected to adjourn sine die
Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Tema East?
Mr Daniel N. K. Titus-Glover 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I heard the Hon Majority Chief Whip saying that they could not programme any of the Hon Ministers to come and answer Questions on Tuesday, next week.
But I recalled that last week, when my Hon Colleague, Mr Henry Quartey raised the issue about the School Feeding Programme and the fact that the House appropriated an amount of money to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development -- that was later -- under a directive of the Chief of Staff, sent to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, I raised an objetion.
I raised this issue when your Hon First Deputy Speaker was in the Chair, thinking that now that we were going into the new week respectfully, an arrangement would be made for the two Hon Ministers to tell us, considerating what Hon Henry Quartey said. You even asked why the appropriation that was given to the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry under an authority or letter from the Chief of Staff was taken away.
Mr Speaker, we have approved --
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
I did not say that. When you are making a point on the floor, do not draw the Speaker into it.
Mr Titus-Glover 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would not draw you into it but --
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
That was not what I said. I just summarised the point made by the Hon Member for Ayawaso Central, that it was the gravamen of his submission, and asked the Hon Minister for Finance if he had any response to the issues being raised. That was all that I did.
Mr Titus-Glover 11:05 a.m.
Respectfully, Mr Speaker, not to challenge you, but I recall him asking for you to give your ruling to invite --
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
I did not give any order for any Minister to be invited on that matter. I did not. You can check that day's edition of the Hansard.
Mr Titus-Glover 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the matter is not resolved.
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
There are ways of pursuing this matter, but I did not give any order. If an Hon Member of the House would like to pursue this issue, there are ways of pursuing it. And it is your right to pursue it.
Yes, Hon Member for Old Tafo?
Dr Anthony Akoto Osei 11:05 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, this is to the Business Committee. Yesterday, some Papers were advertised on the Order Paper on about six or seven contracts. But they were not laid. They are not in today's Order Paper, and there is no indication that we are carrying them forward.
May I know from the Business Committee why they put them there in the first place and they have been withdrawn without telling us the circumstances under which they are no longer being advertised?
The contracts from Electricity -- there are about six or seven Papers. They were advertised yesterday to be laid, but they were not laid. We would have thought that they would come here. They are not here. So, I read the Business Statement. There is no indication that they would be looked at, which suggests to me that somebody has taken a decision that they are no longer before the House.
Mr Speaker, may I know what is happening?
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Are you referring to those ones that have been referred to the Committees for consideration and report, or those that have not been laid at all?
Dr A. A. Osei 11:05 a.m.
Those that have not been laid at all.
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Yes, so, if they have not been laid, they have not been laid.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am saying that they were laid for us to prepare yesterday. They were not laid, which is fine. They are not in today's Order Paper.
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Somebody brings his business and the person -- If they have not been laid, they have not been laid.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:05 a.m.
All I am asking is that because they have brought it to our attention, we are expecting that if it is not today, it would be in next week's Business Statement --
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
No! It does not work that way, Hon Member for Old Tafo. If you were referring to those ones that have been laid, you would be right. This is because once it is laid, it becomes a property of the House, and then anybody could ask when they would bring the Report. But if the thing has not been laid
-- 11:05 a.m.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:05 a.m.
Once it is advertised, our attention is drawn to it to prepare. Somebody took a decision to advertise it.
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
There was one particular one that I said should not be laid.
Very well.
Is there any explanation? He would like to know whether you are taking them off or you would like to pursue them.
Alhaji Muntaka 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was trying to get the Table Office to give us some explanation, because it was not discussed at the Business Committee, that it should be removed from the Order Paper.
When he mentioned it, I quickly looked. I was also surprised that it was not there. I have no information, but I would definitely check and get the information to my Hon Colleague why it was not advertised on today's Order Paper. It was not a subject of discussion at the Business Committee.
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Any other comment? Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, first, on this matter that has been raised by the Hon Member for Old Tafo, once a Paper appears on the Order Paper, it means that it has come before the Business Committee. And if for any reason, it is not laid and it cannot be programmed subsequently, the onus then would lie on the Business Committee to inform the House about the status of it. It is not that if it is not laid, then it is not laid.
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, you know that there was one particular item that they were trying to lay yesterday, and I thought that there was a problem with it?
The Hon Member for Old Tafo was not specific. He was making a general Statement. So, in my follow up, I asked him whether it was the one that I asked that it should not be laid or it should be corrected and laid.
So, he should just be specific about the Papers that he is talking about. He only talked about electricity and all those things. There should be titles to those documents. So, he should be very specific about those documents, then we would know the documents that he is talking about.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I referred to all those on pages 3 and 4, on yesterday's Order Paper. That was what I was referring to.
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
I do not have yesterday's Order Paper before me.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:05 a.m.
I would be glad to have one given to you.
Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Yes, if you have them, tell them, so that they would know exactly
--.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hansard would know that I referred to it.
Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
There was one particular one that I said they would, and they said they would not pursue it. They would work on it and bring it back. So, when he was talking generally, I was not sure of what he was talking about.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, when we probe further -- I am not too sure whether -- Maybe, because he was speaking fast, you did not hear, but he was emphatic and said that beyond that on pages 3 and 4, those ones were not laid. That was when you said that if they were not laid then they were not laid.
That is why I am saying that perhaps, you did not hear what he said, otherwise, if the documents come before us and they disappear, the Business Committee owes this House an explanation. This is because the matters would have gone before the Business Committee before they were programmed in the first place, anyway.
Having said that Mr Speaker, the other matter relating to the Business Committee's Report, the Presiding Member, that is the Majority Chief Whip, indicated to us, and in the Report that he read, clearly, in paragraph one, and it says that the Business Committee met and arranged the business of the House for the Ninth Week ending Tuesday, 22nd December, 2015.
Then in the third paragraph, he comes to tell us that the Committee urges all Hon Members to commit themselves to the business programmed for the Ninth Week ending Friday, 18 December, 2015 to enable the House to complete the scheduled business and rise sine die as expected.
How do we reconcile the two? If he knew, and he was convinced and
persuaded that the House was going to rise today, why did he then programme for the week ending Tuesday, 22nd December, 2015?
In any event, having said so, then he comes to the third paragraph and says “However, if the exigencies of the state of business in the House demands, any item of business left outstanding on the Order Paper of Friday 18th December, 2015 shall be programmed for the next Sitting day, Monday, 21st December, 2015...”
He does not even talk about Tuesday. He says it shall be programmed for the next Sitting day, which is Monday, in accordance with Order 52.
We are left in a quandary how matters should be programmed, but I think that we were all very sure that it was not going to be possible to rise today. So, maybe, we should have prepared ourselves sufficiently that we would be rising on Tuesday, 22nd December, 2015.
Unfortunately, the Presiding Member is not a Christian, so, he should not be in a hurry to go anywhere. He should have prepared our minds that we would be rising on Tuesday. Mr Speaker, looking at his face, how he has become very pensive all of a sudden, I do not know what is going on in his head.
Mr Speaker, if matters go before committees, it is for them to determine whether they are of urgent nature.
Now, item number 2 (c) on the Business of the House -- Bills, Papers and Reports -- With your kind permission, I beg to read:
“Mr Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House for First Reading and those of urgent nature may be taken through the various stages in one day…”
Alhaji Muntaka 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader was supposed to be in this meeting, but for whatever reason, he was not there.
He was supposed to have looked at the draft Report of this Committee but he did not. Coincidentally, it has been signed by the Hon Majority Leader, not me.
Yesterday, the major challenge we had was, looking at what we were able to do two days ago, we were confident that if we were able to repeat same yesterday, it would have been possible for us to rise today.
We debated this for a very long time at Committee level, to see whether it was possible. We looked at the business before us, and we thought that if we were able to do what we did two days ago, it could be possible for us to rise today. That was why this narration came.
Mr Speaker, when the Hon Minority Leader was reading, he chose to stop at a point and it was surprising for me. This is because, if he had read further, we said, we may rise sine die on or before Tuesday, 22nd December, 2015. We were not emphatic about Monday. We all gave room, so that whatever be the case, we would have up to Tuesday.
Next time, the Hon Minority Leader should try to be at the Committee meeting, so that when such things come up, he may help us to put them in the best of form.
Mr Speaker, with regard to item number 2 (c) -- I was very surprised; I do not know where the Hon Minority Leader started from this morning. This is something that has been part of the Business Committee's Report since I came to this House, including times that the Hon Minority Leader has helped draft the report.
If today, he is saying that all what he has been reading should be changed, maybe, it is good to do so. As the former Hon Minority Leader, Mr J. H. Mensah said, “Only the wise sometimes change their minds.” Maybe, he wants us to have change. We can look at it when we meet at the Committee, but this is the way I have always seen the “Table at Clerk” draft this particular section. His concerns and suggestions could be taken on board in the next Committee meeting.
Mr Speaker, basically, it was to give room for us to either rise on Monday or Tuesday.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, when you hear the Hon Member who presided refer to the staff here as the “Table at Clerks” then, we know that there is something wrong with him -- [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Majority Chief Whip, did you refer to them as “Table at Clerks”?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, let us excuse him. I believe it was a slip.
Mr Speaker, in all seriousness, we should leave it open. That is, if that is what has been happening. I have looked at it and this is the first time I have looked at it. If that is what we have been doing, that will be incorrect. Let us leave it to the committees to determine. Let us not appear as if we are teleguiding the committees to do --
I am not too sure of whenever this began, but if it is an age-old thing, we can still do better and have a second look at that. Otherwise, Mr Speaker, I do not have anything. Since there is nothing for Monday and Tuesday, let us look at it and be emphatic about it, so that all outstanding matters, especially the consideration of the estimates would be pushed to Monday. I know that for today, we may have to adjourn early, given the exigencies of the time.
Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Members, so far, I have not been impressed about the rate at which we are going with the disposal of the budget estimates. Indeed, I am putting the whole House on notice that on Monday, I will evoke Standing Order 148 and put the Question on all outstanding matters, so that the Appropriation Bill can be laid for us to scrutinise and pass it. I am informing the House that on Monday, I will evoke Standing Order 148, if we are still going at this pace.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, should we take the Questions now?
Mr Alfred Agbesi 11:15 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
I will limit it to the person in whose name the Question stands. I will not take any supplementary question from any person. We have business to do.
Mr Agbesi 11:15 a.m.
Very well, Mr Speaker.
In that case, we will apply to vary the order of the business a bit.
Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
I have admitted one Statement and I will take only one comment.
Hon Member for South Tongu?
STATEMENTS 11:15 a.m.
Mr KobenaWoyome (NDC -- South Tongu) 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to make this Statement on the sudden departure and burial of the late Charles Kumi Gyamfi I, the Guantoahene of the Benkum Division of the Akuapem Tradition Area, popularly known as C.K. Gyamfi, former player of the Black Stars, a coach and an administrator.
Mr Speaker, today will go down as one of the solemn days in Ghana football as we mourn and bid farewell to C.K. Gyamfi, an illustrious son of the land, who, not only excelled as a footballer, a coach and a chief, but also contributed immensely to the development of football in Ghana and Africa.
C.K Gyamfi, Mr. Speaker, was a Ghanaian footballer and a coach, who as a player, became the first African to play in Germany. When he joined Fortuna Düsseldorf in 1960, and became the first coach to lead the Ghana National Football team, the Black Stars to an Africa Cup of Nations victory for the first time in the history of Ghana.

Mr Speaker, the late C. K Gyamfi started his football career in 1948 with Koforidua Sailors and moved to Ebusua Dwarfs from 1948 to 1949. He played for Kumasi Asante Kotoko for five (5) years from 1949 - 1954.

He also played for Kumasi Great Ashantis (1954-1956), Hearts of Oak (1956- 1960) and Fortuna Dusseldorf in Germany (1960-1961) where the fans gave him the nickname “Thunder” for his shooting power. This is the man, Mr. Speaker, I am talking about.

Undoubtedly, Mr. Speaker, Coach C.K Gyamfi could be described as one of the most successful coaches of our time. As coach of the Ghana National Football team, he won the African Cup of Nations three times (1963, 1965 and 1982), making him, until equalled by Egypt's Hassan Shehata, the most successful coach in the competition's history.

Mr Speaker, C. K Gyamfi was also the coach of the Ghana National Football team at the 1964 and 1972 Olympics tournaments.

At club level, he coached a number of teams in Africa and finally retired in 1993 at Ashanti Goldfield Football Club.

Mr Speaker, until his death, the football legend was a chief, with the stool name “Nana Gyamfi Kumi I” and a patron of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana

(SWAG).

Indeed Mr. Speaker, Ghana has lost a true son of the land whose contributions to the development of soccer will always remain with us. It is my hope that other coaches and players in the football and sports fraternity will emulate the great example of the only C.K. Gyamfi in Ghana soccer.

I am happy to state that, the people of Ghana recognised and appreciated all his selfless services to football development and thus honoured him while alive with the Order of the Volta (Civil Division) as well as the African Merit Order of Achievement Award.

Nana Gyamfi Kumi, you have done all that a citizen could do for his country.

Rest in perfect peace

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Where is the Hon Ranking Member for the Youth and Sports Committee? Where is the Hon Deputy Ranking Member?
Mr Kwadwo B. Agyemang 11:25 a.m.
I am a member of the Committee.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Are you a member of the Committee?
Very well. Last comment.
Mr Kwadwo B. Agyemang (NPP -- Asante Akim North) 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Statement by the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
The late C. K. Gyamfi has paid his due to the development of football in Ghana, Africa and the world entirely. He played his part as a footballer, a coach and as an administrator; he helped in diverse ways in promoting sports in Ghana.
Mr Speaker, my worry is how Ghana treats its Statesmen. There are a lot of former sportsmen and women and former footballers who tr iumphed during Olympics and other activities. After their time of serving the nation, you cannot hear of them again.
Some are bedridden, hospitalised and others live in slums. The nation has not taken care of them. It now becomes an issue when somebody tries to stand and fight for the nation.
We would use this opportunity to call on the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Presidency to take a look at how we take care of our former heroes and national assets. How social security is going to cater for them if they are no more actively participating in sports.
As I speak now, there have been promises made to the 1972 winning team which brought the African Cup to Ghana, that have not been honoured. They were promised to be catered for. They were promised homes and now, the State has not honoured those promises.
Mr Speaker, we are calling upon the Ministry, that it is time Government instituted a Fund that would be in place. We have been drumming this point; we have been calling for the institution of a Sports Fund.
We would take this opportunity, now that another hero has fallen -- we would use his demise to call for the establish- ment of a Sports Fund. When our people are not actively participating in what we know them to be doing for the State, their future would be secured.
Mr Speaker, this is the reason now, when somebody is called to play a role, especially our footballers -- to go and play for the nation, they bargain. They call for prices because they know this is the time that the nation can support them. When they are no more, the nation looks down on them.
In conclusion, I would ask Government that the much touted Sports Fund should be put in place, so that we can take good care of our heroes.
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Statements.
May we stand up and observe a minute's silence in memory of the late C. K. Gyamfi?
Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
May his soul and that of the deported rest in peace.
Hon Members, Question time.
I was going to vary the order of business but we will take the Questions. Beyond the Hon Member in whose name the Question stands, I will not take any supplementary question.
Item number 4 (a) -- Hon Member for Ho Central.
Mr Agbesi 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with your permission and the indulgence of my Hon Colleagues, we would want the Hon Deputy Minister for Communications to answer the Questions on behalf of the Hon Minister who is on assignment outside Accra.
URGENT QUESTIONS 11:25 a.m.
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS 11:25 a.m.
Minister for Communications) 11:25 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has four television
Mr Kpodo 11:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to know from the Hon Deputy Minister how much is owed the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Mr Speaker 11:35 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister?
Mr Sarpong 11:35 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
The outstanding liabilities owed by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to the ECG goes as far back as four years ago. The outstanding liability at the moment is GH¢ 720,000.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Kpodo 11:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this thing has been on for a very long time. I would like to ask the Hon Deputy Minister when the repayment arrangement would be concluded properly, so that power can be restored to the transmission station --
Mr Speaker 11:35 p.m.
He has already answered that question. Your last supplementary question.
Mr Kpodo 11:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Deputy Minister whether he is aware that the internally generated funds (IGFs) in Ho, which could be used to pay for some of these bills are all sent to Accra.
Mr Sarpong 11:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that, just two days ago, on Wednesday afternoon, I met with the GBC to look at their operations and also to discuss outstanding liabilities, not only owed to ECG but to other institutions. The issues of the IGFs being generated at various regional stations, came up for discussion at the meeting.
Indeed, it was agreed that the regional stations should not -- because of misuse and other challenges that we had faced in the past regarding the use of IGFs at the regional levels, should all be sent to Accra and a plan for regional discharge of all obligations made from Accra. It is for that reason that no IGFs are retained in the regions.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:35 p.m.
Second Question, 4 (b)?
Drastic reduction in radio transmission hours in the
Volta Region
Mr Benjamin Komla Kpodo asked the Deputy Minister for Communications what had accounted for the drastic reduction in radio transmission hours in the Volta Region by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.
Mr Sarpong 11:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, apart from the outstanding liabilities owed by the GBC to the ECG resulting in some of the transmitters not working as expected in particular, the one for Amedzofe and Akatsi as already indicated, there are also signal challenges to the Volta Region.
Mr Speaker, I am happy to say that the digital terrestrial television transmission infrastructure is currently on course and it is expected that when done, signal transmission in the Volta Region would significantly improve. And that would result in an improvement in radio services in the Volta Region as well.
Mr Speaker, the reduction in radio transmission as indicated, is as a result of certain challenges between GBC and ECG. I am happy to say that negotiations are ongoing and by the end of the month, it would have been finalised and issues concerning disconnections resolved by the beginning of January, 2016. And that hopefully, would bring some relief to the people of the Volta Region in terms of radio and television transmission.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Kpodo 11:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the response has indicated that there is transmission in Kete Krachi but not in the other places. I want to ask the Hon Deputy Minister whether he is aware that transmission is taking place in Kete Krachi and its environs because the District Assemblies have taken up the payment of the electricity bill to the ECG in the area.
Mr Sarpong 11:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there have been various discussions between the GBC and the many Ministr ies, Departments and Agencies. I am not surprised that the District Assembly in Kete Krachi has taken the initiative of
supporting the GBC to resolve some of its challenges within the Volta Region. It is not only in the Volta Region, in the northern part of the country as well as some western parts of the country, this same arrangements have been made.
Mr Speaker, I know this is ongoing and it is going to take place in other places that the Assemblies, and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies are working together with the GBC to resolve some of the challenges arising from revenue that is being generated by GBC and its inability to meet its obligation to keep the signals running all the time.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:35 p.m.
Hon Member, your last supplementary question?
Mr Kpodo 11:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Deputy Minister why there are times that transmission is restored and soon after certain events, it is cut off. Like today, in Ho, there is a Government for the people programme. So, there is transmission. But I am sure that after the event, it would go off. Why?
Mr Speaker 11:35 p.m.
Please, rephrase your question. It has not happened. So, if there is any particular situation where that thing has happened, you should cite it. The example that you are giving has not occurred for the basis for the Hon Minister to know. So, if you have a typical example, you should cite it.
What happens if I admit the question and it turns out that after the “accounting to the people”, transmission is not cut off. So, please, rephrase the question and ask.
Mr Kpodo 11:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that since the Hon Deputy Minister for Communications has given a time frame within which the negotiations would be
Mr Kpodo 11:35 p.m.


concluded, such that power can be restored to the transmission stations in the region, so that the blackout will stop, we will take him for his word. I am satisfied.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, we thank you very much for attending upon the House to respond to Questions on behalf of your Hon Minister.
At the Commencement of Public Business, Hon Deputy Majority Leader, what do we do?
Mr Agbesi 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, presentation of Papers, item 6. In that wise, we take --
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, I want you to guide the Chair; which of the Papers are ready to be laid? If it is all, let me know.
Mr Agbesi 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we take 6(e) (i) and (f). Only those ones are ready for now.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Members, item number 6 on the Order Paper-- Presentation of Papers by the Chairman of the Committee. Item 6 (e) (i) -- Hon Deputy Majority Leader, when you want a Paper to be laid, find out who is going to lay it before you inform the House, that we are going to lay a Paper.
Mr Agbesi 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am very sorry.
He came to me and said that he was ready to lay the Paper, otherwise, I would not have asked. He was just here and even moved to the frontbench to say that he was ready.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Members, in order to save time, do we have any member of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs to lay that Paper on behalf
of the Chairman? That is subject to the fact that the Report is ready.
Yes, Hon member, are you a member of the Committee?
Mr Moses Yahaya Amadu 11:45 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Member, is the Report ready?
Please lay the Paper on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee.
I have been informed by the Clerk that the Paper is ready to be laid.
PAPERS 11:45 a.m.
Mr Agbesi 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, item number 13-- Motions.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, before I call the Hon Minister to move the Motion.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, for item 6 appearing on pages 2 and 3, there are still outstanding Reports that are yet to be laid. I just want to plead with the
Committees to endeavour to finish with the Reports in order for us to have them to lay today, so that reclining into the weekend, we might have time and space to look at these matters.
The situation where Reports are laid, then we give ourselves a few minutes to consider whether it is decent. So, if they could be entreated to have these Reports laid today, we could look at them over the weekend, study them and then when we come on Monday, we would be able to do
-- 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
I agree entirely with your concern.
Deputy Majority Leader, please, take that concern of theirs and get those Chairmen and Ranking Members of those Committees to get those Papers finalised and laid, so that Hon Members could have access to those Reports, to enable us take them on Monday.
Mr Agbesi 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, well noted. We would take it on board.
Mr Speaker 11:45 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, item number 13 on the Order Paper-- Motions.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2016
Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) (MP) 11:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢47,925,146 for the services of the
Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
In doing so, I would like to say that the breakdown largely would be Compensa- tion, GH¢29,657,445; Goods and Services, GH¢2,174,121; 0 for Capital Expenditure and internally generated funds (IGFs) would be GH¢16,093,580.
The Ministry, in 2015, launched the first ever National Employment Policy to ensure the establishment and functioning of a National Employment Co-ordinating Council, which is targeting vulnerable groups, employment of young people, persons with disabilities, in particular women.
Mr Speaker, our challenge for 2015 was a very turbulent industrial atmosphere with many worker groups embarking on strike actions. Therefore, our main focus was to stabilise and ensure industrial peace and harmony in the country. I am happy to know that for the first time in many years, Government, together with its social partners in labour, negotiated record time increases in public sector wages across time ahead of budget, with 10 per cent increases.
I am also particularly happy to know that for the first time since 2010 in post- Ho, categories 2 and 3 allowances, which had been outstanding, would now be paid effective this year to all deserving workers. We remain committed to implementing and completing the process of the Single Spine Pay Policy.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Zaphenat Amenowode) 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to support the Motion, seeking that this Honourable House approves the said amount to the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations for its activities for the 2016 financial year.
Mr Speaker, in so doing, I present your Committee's Report --
Introduction
The Hon Minister for Finance Mr Seth Emmanuel Terkper in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and Standing Order 138 on Friday 13 th
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) and 184 of the House, Mr Speaker referred the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to the Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises for consideration and report to the House.
Acknowledgement
The Committee met with the following persons to deliberate on the 2016 Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations:
1. The Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Hon Haruna Iddrisu.
2. Directors and officials of the following departments and agencies:
a. Ministry Headquarters
b. Labour Department
c. Department of Factories Inspectorate
d. Department of Co-operatives
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Zaphenat Amenowode) 11:55 a.m.
SPACE FOR PROGRAMMES AND COST CENTRES (2) - PAGE 9 - 11.55A.M.
Proposed Performance for 2015
The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations proposed to commit the funds allocated in the 2015 fiscal year to the following activities:
Job Creation and Development Programme
The Ministry recognised the incidence of unemployment as a threat to national security and proposed to implement various employment creation interventions to address the unemployment challenge.
In 2015, the Ministry proposed to ensure the mainstreaming of Ghana Youth employment and Entrepreneurial Agency (GYEEDA) in the administrative structures and revise GYEEDA modules in
accordance with the new law and apply a new ‘Triangular Model' that links beneficiaries to skills development institutions, and viable cooperative societies to enhance their employment opportunities.
The Ministry was also to strengthen and revamp the Graduate Business Support Scheme (GEBSS) and provide entrepreneurial/business development skills to 4,000 unemployed graduates.
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) was to develop an instrument on the new Public Service- Wide Performance Management System to facilitate its implementation. It was to enjoin employers to pay for work done and compensate for increases in the productivity of employees.
Skills Development Programme
The Ministry was to revamp its demand-driven vocational and technical employable skills training programmes to equip artisans with requisite skills needed by industries. Under this, it proposed to train a total of 47,809 persons in various trades.
The Ministry was again to ensure the implementation of the National Employ- ment and Labour-Intensive Public Works Policies through its coordinative functions and establish the necessary structural frameworks that will ensure effective and efficient implementation.
Labour Administration Programme
In the 2015 fiscal year, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) proposed to establish a Public Service- Wide Performance Management System with effective rewards and sanction mechanisms that will ensure high productivity in the public services.
The Commission in 2014, produced a report on the harmonization and standardisation of categories 2 and 3 allowances. A capacity and readiness assessment was conducted for 8 subvented agencies to be weaned off government subvention.
The Ministry was to continue to pursue the strengthening of the Occupational Safety and Health System to protect workers from industry injuries and fatalities. The Ministry proposed to finalise the draft Occupational Safety and Health Policy to replace the obsolete Factories, Offices and Shops Act (1970), Act 328 and propose the promulgation of legislative instrument with appropriate power to address occupational safety and health issues in all sectors.
The Ministry was also to collaborate with domestic and external partners to implement the National Plan of Action on the elimination of worst forms of Child Labour. It was to ensure that children were not unduly exploited in economic ventures that may have adverse consequences on their health and education especially in the cocoa, fisheries, quarrying and mining sectors of the economy.
Regulatory Service Programme
The National Pensions Regulatory Authority was to build a robust integrated pensions management and compliance system by acquiring ICT infrastructure for office automation, and undertake on site monitoring and supervision in line with international standards.
2015 Financial Performance by Programmes
Table 4: Summary of MELR 2015 Budget Performance by Economic Classification as at September, 2015
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Table 5:Summary MELR 2015 Budget Performance by Programme as at September, 2015

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Funds allocated for the 2016 Fiscal Year

Funds Allocated for 2016

The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations has been allocated an amount of GH¢47,925,145 for its activities for the 2016 fiscal year. Out of the amount provided, GH¢31,831,566 was from GoG and GH¢16,093,580.00 from Internally Generated Funds.

Breakdown of 2015 Budget Allocation

The breakdown of the allocation is captured below:

Table 6: Table on 2016 Budget Allocation

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Table 7: MELR 2016 Budget Allocation by programme and Sub-programme

SPACE FOR TABLE 7 - PAGES 14 &15 - 11.55 A.M.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Zaphenat Amenowode) 11:55 a.m.
Performance for 2015 and Projected Performance for 2016
The following constitutes the performance for 2015 and projected performance for 2016:
Management and Administration Programme
A draft Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Policy Bill was revised and submitted to the Attorney General's Department for advice. A draft Labour- intensive Public Works (LiPW) Policy and Implementation Plan was also revised and submitted to Cabinet for approval.
The Ministry will launch the LiPW and OSH Policies and initiate processes to establish a National Occupational Safety
and Health Authority. It will also collaborate with the Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development and Roads and Highways to strengthen the implementation of existing Labour- intensive Public Works Projects to provide employment opportunities for the poor.
Job Creation and Development Programme
The Ministry continued with policy development to promote job creation and reduction of decent work deficits. A total of 47,000 youth were engaged under various modules of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA). The Department of Cooperatives organised 600 economic groups across sectors into vibrant cooperative societies, audited 305 and
SPACE FOR TABLE 7 CONT. -PAGES 14-15 - 11.55A.M.

trained 200 artisans in various employable skill categories.

In 2016, the Ministry will strengthen the Graduate Entrepreneurial Business Support Scheme (GEBSS) to create more job opportunities for young graduate entrepreneurs to establish and grow their businesses.

Skills Development Programme

To address the skills mismatch challenges to national development, the Ministry collaborated with the Ministry of Education in rebranding TVET.

The Skills Development Agencies namely, Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI), National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), Integrated Community Centre for Employable Skills (ICCES) and Opportunity Industrialisation Centre, Ghana (OIC-G), trained in total 15,051 youth in various vocational trades.

Furthermore, the NVTI tested 24,883 candidates in vocational skills, ICT and secretary-ship. In addition, 2,425 master- craft persons were trained, accredited 384 vocational schools and 3,643 informal apprenticeships registered. To enhance productivity, 377 employees in both the private and public sectors were trained in management development skills.

In 2016, the Ministry will train 15,453 youth in technical and vocational skills, organise testing and certification for 43,320 candidates in vocational skills, ICT and secretary-ship to meet emerging trends. A total of 750 persons will be trained in management development skills to enhance their productivity.

Labour Administration Programme

The Ministry acquired computers and accessories, installed a server and trained district labour and research officers in STATA analysis with the aim of establishing a functional Labour Market Information System (LMIS).

The Ministry developed Terms of Reference (ToR) and procured consultants to develop a framework for the LMIS and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan.

The Labour Department conducted 196 establishment inspections to ensure the enforcement of law on standards and regulations. Additionally, the Department facilitated the employment of 3,941 jobseekers, issued 15 Collective Bargaining Certificates and addressed 167 labour complaints. In 2016, the Ministry will revamp its Public Employment Centres in selected districts.

The Ministry, through the Department of Factories Inspectorate inspected 1,633 registered factories, registered 345 new ones, conducted 67 safety and health talks and also conducted 42 industrial hygiene surveys.

The Ministry, together with other key stakeholders held a Consultative Tripartite meeting, as a follow up to the implemen- tation of the recommendations of the Ho Forum on the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP). A Communique issued from the consultations came out with recommen- dations for addressing emerging challenges associated with the implementation of the

SSPP.

The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) submitted migration report of four remaining public institutions yet to be migrated onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) to the Parliamentary Select Committees on Finance and Legal Affairs. The Commission
Mr Benjamin Kofi Ayeh (NPP -- Upper Denkyira West) 11:55 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to associate myself with the Motion on the floor. Mr Speaker, I do so, with a little comment on especially the Youth Employment Agency.
Mr Speaker, looking at the number of abled bodied young men and women in our country who do not have jobs and are looking for one -- besides, its a national security threat.
It is really disheartening to know that though laudable programmes have been introduced, especially this Youth Employment Programme, yet it is taking us all this while to have the programme fully rolled out.
The Bill was passed somewhere last year, and to be told that the programmes and the various modules that come under it have not been rolled out because of administrative impediments, like the Legislative Instrument (L.I) which has not been passed, for which reason, the programmes have not been operationa- lised, is really disheartening.
Mr Speaker, I wonder why it is taking the Ministry all this while to have this exercise carried out -- even as we begin this new year and they have good plans to recruit about 104,000 youth. Looking at what they have on paper to address this issue of (L.I), leaves me wondering
how serious the Ministry is taking this issue.
I was expecting this Instrument to have been brought before this House, so that if anything at all, we can start the year -- 2016 with this modules taking off. But there is nothing before this House and that leaves me wondering whether even by the first quarter of next year, we can get these programmes off the ground.
Mr Speaker, another major challenge they claimed to have stalled the implementation of this programme is inadequate capacity of the existing staff to execute the mandate of the Agency. I find it difficult to accept this excuse, considering the difficulties and challenges our youth are going through looking for jobs.
Mr Speaker, in the process, even though the Youth Employment Agency was supposed to have received a budget of GH¢369.6 million in 2015, only GH¢202 million was released. The GH¢42.194 million that was supposed to have been released from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), was not released.
The Ministry of Finance was also supposed to have released about GH¢32.8 million to this Agency, and that was also not released. The little that was even released to them, about GH¢125 million. was again recalled by the Ministry of Finance.
Mr Speaker, interestingly, as the Hon Minister said, this Agency took over a liability of about a hundred and eleven million from the Ghana Youth Employment

Entrepreneurial Agency (GYEEDA). Once the Ministry of Finance had taken their funds away, I expected them to have paid off these debts, yet they did not do that and they have left that with the Agency to grapple with.

Mr Speaker, as we begin the year 2016, it is my hope that the Ministry will do all that it takes to roll out the programme as envisaged.

Mr Speaker, another thing that I want to talk about is looking at the programmes they brought before the Committee — the wages that are going to be given to the people who would be recruited -- the figures for some of them are nothing to write home about. For example, if we take the model like, Community Education Teaching Assistants, each person will be going home with about an average of just GH¢324 per month.

I think that is not good enough. I am wondering how these young men and women will be able to deliver as they are expected to teach our children on a salary of about GH¢324 — [Interruption]—Yes, we may call it allowance, but I believe if we can perhaps, have a second look at the numbers, that is, instead of going for quantity, if we can at the same time look at the quality.

If we can recruit some few numbers, pay them well, get them well motivated to deliver on the job, we would be better off as a country than employing hundreds of them and paying them or pretend to be paying them and they also pretending to be working.

Mr Speaker, as the Hon Minister said, the Ministry has a number of agencies under their control and most of them are normally deprived of resources, especially the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), the Integrated Community Centre

for Employable Skills (ICCES) et cetera. Last year, I called for some financial and legal re-engineering to make much of the funds available to some of these agencies that otherwise, would have gone to just the Youth Employment Agency alone. I am glad to know that the Hon Minister has taken that on board and has agreed to assist NVTI.

Mr Speaker, it is my prayer that they will assist the other institutions that are equally tasked to help train our youth.

Mr Speaker, another institution that also appeared before your Committee was the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI). For all these years, I think these institutions have been crying to wean themselves off Govern- ment subventions. I wonder why it is taking the State all these years to let them go.

Compared to the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), I believe if these institutions would be allowed to go off Government subventions — strategically, looking at even where they are located —
Mr Speaker 12:05 p.m.
Hon Member, wind up.
Mr Ayeh 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if they are allowed to go, they can improve on their performance and increase their enrolment as well.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity.
Minority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Mission Statement of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations is crystal clear in its position, that the Ministry exists to promote decent jobs and ensure harmonious labour relations in Ghana.
Minority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 12:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to place emphasis on that aspect of their mission statement; “To promote decent jobs and ensure harmonious labour relations in Ghana”. The strategic policy objectives include, enhancing labour productivity, and enhancing and promoting harmonious labour relations.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry is supposed to be the arrow head in these endeavours. But come to think of it, for 2015, the total allocation to the Ministry was GH¢43,787,365 and they are going to be allocated, for 2016, GH¢47,925,145. This translates to about 6 per cent increase in the allocation to the Ministry.
Mr Speaker, much more importantly, for Employee Compensation, whereas for 2015, they had GH¢30,242,193, the allocation is GH¢31,840,167 for 2016. That represents an increase of a mere GH¢1,597,974, which translates to just about 5.2 per cent increase in the allocation made last year as against this year.
Mr Speaker, that certainly, would not be encouraging. It does not provide sufficient incentive to the workers there, and they are supposed to be behind the Hon Minister in ensuring that the Mission Statement of the Ministry is achieved.
Mr Speaker, so, they would, in pursuing the agenda of the Ministry, be wearing dark clouds on their foreheads. They are not sufficiently motivated — 5 per cent increase in the allocation. I do not see how anybody can justify this.
Mr Speaker, there are some matters that perhaps, the Hon Minister may want to shed some light on for the elucidation of Hon Members of this House. This is because, in crafting the budget, one must

be as transparent and accountable as possible. We need to do some reconcilia- tion to see where there are shortfalls, that is much against the previous years' allocations et cetera. It is difficult to match the symmetry in 2015 and 2016 allocations.

For instance, if we look at the last year's allocation to the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), under “Skills Development”, we had an allocation to the NVTI which amounted to GH¢11,664,082.

Mr Speaker, we are not too sure whether that one is for this year. We have Vocational Skills Training and Testing, and there is a total allocation of GH¢21,059,328. Is it the case that the NVTI amount has been subsumed in that one, or how has it been catered for?

Mr Speaker, I ask because we have opportunities in the Opportunity Industrialisation Centres (OICs) — there is a specific provision for them in 2015 -- and 2014. But they are not covered here. I do not know where they are. I guess they will still be under Vocational Skills, Training and Testing and that is how come we have the GH¢21,059,328.

Mr Speaker, there should be that symmetry, so that we will be able to really compare and contrast.

Mr Speaker, as it is, it is really difficult for anybody to see what is meant by these allocations.

Mr Speaker, I also see for 2015, Integrated Community Centres for Employable Skills. When you come to 2016, you do not find it. I do not know where it is or is it the case that that programme is not being continued? And I thought that for clarity sake and because Parliament should be positioned to trace and track these allocations, they needed

to have come with better explanations but we are not seeing it.

Mr Speaker, for Management Skills Development and Productivity, for last year, the allocation was GH¢2,739,354. For this year, Management Skills Development and Productivity, we have GH¢1,691,026 -- a huge climb down. What explains that? So, Mr Speaker, certainly, this would include Compensation -- What is happening? Before we are able to approve this, some light would have to be shed on these matters, so that we are better positioned in critiquing the allocations to the Ministry.

Mr Speaker, the other point I would want to make is that, under skills development provided for last year -- this year's skills development programme is not properly disaggregated. So, we are not too sure of what we are doing there. We have only two segments, whereas for last year, we had four -- What is happening?

Nobody knows whether they are collapsing some into just one segment or one compartment. They need to explain to us, so that we would be able to follow the allocations as they have designed it this year as against the design provided last year.

Mr Speaker, these are some initial obversations that I have and perhaps, the Hon Minister for Employment and Labour Relations may want to explain to us before we approve of the budget.

Thank you.
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
I do not know whether I should call the Chairman of the Committee because the analysis the Hon Minority Leader is making is coming from his
Report. So, if the Chairman can say some few words before I call on the Hon Minister to wind up. This is because I have noticed that all the comparative analysis that we have done, I have taken note and it is from the Report of the Committee.
Mr Amenowode 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my information is that, the allocations were under programmes. So, there were like three programmes, that is Skills Develop- ment -- we have an allocation for it and then the departments that benefit from Skills Development are allocated under that. So, that was the --
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Chairman, if you look at page 8 of your Report, we have Skills Development and under that, we have NVTI -- Allocations have been made. And then we have the Integrated Community Centre for Employable Skills -- Allocations have been made.
Now, the Hon Minority Leader is saying that we still have the Skills Development there but we do not have these institutions.So, he is asking -- In the Report, we have ¢2.7 million allocated to Management Development and Pro- ductivity Institute (MDPI) and it is now GH¢1.6 million including compensation, which is GH¢931,004.
In 2015, we had GH¢1.5 million and these are basically statutory payments -- salaries among others. These are in your own Report. So, if you could give some explanation. If you cannot, then let me call the Hon Minister to do that.
Mr Amenowode 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to say that the individual breakdowns were submitted to the Committee but we were looking at the programmes, so, that could be available if requested for.
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
You have put it in the Report and once you put it in there to do
Mr Amenowode 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what the Hon Minority Leader is asking for, I would say that it is available and it would be provided. But we just lumped them up under the programmes.
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Minister for Employment and Labour Relations?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me thank you.
I have noted that it was more of a style of the Committee because the Ministry and its agencies submitted all those relevant documents that the Hon Minority Leader talked about.
But Mr Speaker, while thanking Hon Members for their comments, I would like to assure the Ranking Member that I have finalised and forwarded same to the Attorney-General's Office, the Legislative Instrument (LI) for vetting and for the purpose of getting it through Parliament's Subsidiary Legislative Committee to support the operationalisation of the Youth Employment Agency.
Mr Speaker, I also assure this august House that January, we would begin recruitment of persons into Youth Employment. This is the first time that their budget is being subjected to parliamentary scrutiny. We have respected the provisions of the Youth Employment Act and their income and expenditure were attached for the scrutiny of your Committee.
Mr Speaker, we would launch the first one, which is Youth-In-Health Assistant Training somewhere early February, which we would seek to recruit 20,000 young people into that programme.
Mr Speaker, let me also assure my Hon Colleagues that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission worked very well in bringing many people into the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) except to bring itself and Parliament -- those are the institutions that we need to deal with in terms of who belongs to where.
Mr Speaker, for NVTI and skills development, we have decided that yes, like many Ministries and Departments, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations is constrained by budgetary allocations and timely release of funds like all other entities. But we have decided that the Youth Employment Agency Act under its functions allows flexibility to support the NVTI to scale up its skills --
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
Hon Minister, the question is that how much have you made as allocations to NVTI if it still exists as an institution?
Mr H. Iddrisu 12:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, for this year, from youth employment, NVTI will receive a grant of GH¢10 million to support its operations, but that would not be charged to the Consolidated Fund. That is why you may not see the numbers. For instance, other releases would go to the Youth Enterprise Support and that is the reason I indicated that we would not use only private service providers. We have Government institutions --
Mr Speaker 12:15 p.m.
I will just want you to clarify one point for me.
We have NVTI in the Committee's Report for 2016, we are not clear how much allocation is going to NVTI and all these matters are issues of oversight, so that we will know that we have given NVTI
this amount of money. That is why the Hon Minority Leader is raising the question. We would want to know, for example, how much you are allocating under the Skills Development Fund here in the budget and how much of the money is going to NVTI, if any at all.
Mr H. Iddrisu 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would make the paper available to you and to the Hon Minori ty Leader but we indicated --
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
It is not to me and the Hon Minority Leader --
Mr H. Iddrisu 12:25 p.m.
To the House.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
We need to know. He has raised an issue and I think it is a legitimate concern. How much are we providing for NVTI? The Chairman says he has the information -- the Hon Minister says he has the information -- let us get the information, so that I can put the Question.
Mr H. Iddrisu 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we submitted them to your Committee through the Chairman and the members. So, let me liaise with him and make it available.
Thank you.
Mr Amenowode 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, like I said earlier, we have the programme here but if -- [Interruption] -- what the Hon Minority Leader is saying -- it is our fault because they have provided the various things and we lumped them under programmes. So, it is available and if you give us some few minutes, we can get that and report back. [Pause]
That is, if it would be brought back after the approval because that is the sum total of it though -- But for the individual breakdowns, we can immediately after this, bring it back.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Members,I am taking up the matter raised by the Hon Minority Leader for very good reasons. You did your comparative analysis and you said that a certain amount was allocated to NVTI. If NVTI still exists as an organisation and you are not telling the House how much you are allocating to them but you said that you are putting it under programmes - programme is meant for a purpose.
Mr Amenowode 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the information is available here. NVTI is allocated GH¢ 14,797,093 as their budgetary allocation for 2016.
Mr Speaker, I think this is the allocation to NVTI alone out of the other skills development programmes.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Do you have the rest of the allocations? Give them to the Clerks- at-Table, so that I can put the Question.
Mr Amenowode 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, they are also available to the Clerks-at -the-Table.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I intend putting the Question. I think they have the information. It has been provided by the Hon Minister. It is the style that they have taken to present the Report.If you want to do comparative analysis, you must make sure that it is clear on the face of the record because you cannot go and be comparing XYZ for 2015 and 2016 and then you only mention X and omit Y and Z and put it under a broad headline. It does not come out clear on the face of the record.
Mr Amenowode 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, well noted. It would not be repeated.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I guess if we would want to do serious and diligent work, we cannot even take the shell that is provided us because,
Mr H. Iddrisu 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I commit to the assurance and also to assure this august House, that NVTI, in addition to constrained allocation from the Ministry of Finance, would receive additional grant support for skills training.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Minister, for now, the issue is not the quantum. The quantum is another issue but the other issue is that the allocation to some of these
institutions that appeared in the 2015 allocation, which are not here in this Report. So, I will put the Question, then you should make the information available to the Clerks-at-the-Table.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢ 47,925,146 for the services of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations for the year ending 31st December,
2016.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, what item are we taking?
Mr Agbesi 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Report for the approval of the estimates for the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts is ready. So, if we could go to item number 8 on page 3.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Do we have any Report to be laid before I move to the Motion?
Mr Agbesi 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, they are ready now; maybe, later in the day.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Which item is ready?
Mr Agbesi 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, later in the day because --
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, item number 8 on the Order Paper -- Motions.

Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Agbesi 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, 3 o'clock.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
3 o'clock?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is not possible. I thought we might even be adjourning at 1 o'clock but because we did not start early. Perhaps, we may go to 1.30 p.m. But certainly, not 3.00 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Very well, we will adjourn at 2 o'clock.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, 1.30 p.m. would be alright.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
The normal time; 2 o'clock.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are not in normal times. So, the normal time cannot apply.
Mr Speaker 12:25 p.m.
Hon Members, item number 8 on the Order Paper.
Hon Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts?
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2016
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu- Agyare) 12:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢38,918,393 for the services of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts for the year ending 31st December,
2016.
Mr Speaker, the House's consideration and approval of the Budget would enable the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and our 14 implementing agencies continue to carry out core programmes, notably, management and administration, tourism product develop- ment, tourism research and marketing, tourism quality assurance and culture,
creative arts and heritage management, which are crucial for the delivery of the Ministry's mandate.
Mr Speaker, the sector's budgetary allocation for 2016 fiscal year is GH¢ 38,918,393 out of which GH¢ 28,761,706 is from Government of Ghana (GoG) and GH¢ 10,156,687 is internally generated funds.
Mr Speaker, the prospect of 2016 for the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts is good. Priority intervention for the medium-term 2016-2018 for the sector would focus on increasing the sector's contribution to GDP and foreign exchange earnings as well as sustainable employment and incomes.
Furthermore, the Ministry would develop and promote pro-poor policies and programmes to drive a robust domestic tourism countrywide. This is to stimulate domestic enterprises for employment creation and revenue generation in the communities.
Mr Speaker, in this regard, I would like to move the Motion for the Hon Members of this august House to consider and approve the Ministry's budget, which is GH¢38,918,393 for the implementation of the above programmes.
Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr George K. Aboagye) 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢38,918,393 for the services of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
Mr Speaker, you referred the 2016 Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts to the
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:35 p.m.
On a point of order.
Mr Speaker, in supporting the Motion, the Hon Chairman should get the figure right. It is not GH¢393,000; it is GH¢393. The amount is GH¢38,918,393. It is not
GH¢393,000.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Members, let us get the figure right.
The Committee's Report is talking about GH¢33,918,393, but the Hon Minister 's Motion is talking about GH¢38,918,393. Let us get that clarified.
Mr Aboagye 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Report here says that for 2016, it is GH¢38,918,393. That is the amount for 2016.
Mr Speaker, I think the GH¢33,918,393 is a typographical mistake.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Chairman, how did you arrive at GH¢33,918,393?
Mr Aboagye 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is a typographical mistake.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
I have checked the micro ceilings from the Ministry of Finance and it is GH¢38,918,393.
Mr Aboagye 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is GH¢38,918,393 in the same document, but I think the amount in paragraph 5.4.2 is a typographical mistake.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Committees must be very careful. We know the frontiers of democracy continue to expand and people are raising a lot of questions and issues. If our attention had not been drawn to it, this would have gone into the records.
Mr Aboagy 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we apologise.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Mr Chairman, even in the Report, the GH¢38,918,393 is there. So, how come in the conclusion, it becomes
GH¢33,918,393?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is not only in the conclusion. On page 7, they still stated GH¢33,918,393.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
But if you look at Table 2, they have the GH¢38,918,393 and all the tables on page 7.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, but in the conclusion, he still talks about
GH¢33,918,393.
Mr Aboagye 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are sorry. We would read the correct one; it is a typographical error.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Please, correct the Report.
Mr Aboagye 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I crave your indulgence that the Hansard Department notes the error.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Yes, please correct it by indicating that wherever there is “GH¢33,918,393” in the Report, it should read “GH¢38,918,393”. The other figures are right; it is only the GH¢33,918,393.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is a “GH¢33,918,393” on page 3, which is correct. So, it does not mean that wherever we have “GH¢33,918,393”- -
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Where is it?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is on page 3, paragraph 5.2. That is the budget allocation for the previous year. That one was GH¢33 million. It looks like they imported it.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
I am talking about the current year. [Laughter] -- Anyway, you are right.
Mr Aboagye 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we apologise for the mistake and crave your indulgence to get the Hansard Department to also acknowledge and correct the figure accordingly.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Members, on page 7 of the Committee's Report, the “GH¢33,918,393” should read “GH¢38,918,393”. So also is the case for the conclusion part of the Committee's Report on page 14.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think there must be a problem then with table 4 on page 8. This is because that total amount should come to “GH¢38,918,393” and not “GH¢33,918,393”.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Member, but under that one, they put the source as the 2015 Budget Statement Estimates. Look under the table for the source; but the figure looks more like the 2016 figure. Have you seen the source?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that one is correct.
Mr Aboagye 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the light of the error that we have noted and the apology --
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Are you sure it is -- Let us find out from the Committee; the table 4 -- is it for the 2015 or 2016?
Mr Aboagye 12:35 p.m.
It is for 2015 Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Hon Chairman, but the 2015 figure is not --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is not GH¢33,918,393.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
Absolutely. [Pause]
Alhaji Muntaka 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would want to crave your indulgence, because of the time management, please, stand this down while they correct the figures.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
When people go to court, would they consider the time limit? Let us correct our records.
Alhaji Muntaka 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I said they would be doing the correction together with the Hon Minister in charge.
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
The Hon Chairman is the one supporting the Motion. If he does not finish seconding it, I cannot give the debate to the floor. That is the rule of the House. It must be moved and seconded before I open the floor. So, if the one seconding and submitting the Com- mittee's Report -- there is a problem with the Committee's Report, he must correct it before I can open the floor.
Alhaji Muntaka 12:35 p.m.
Mr Speaker, you are right. I was looking at the time we agreed to stop, and there are two other Hon Minsters who are waiting; so, if we could buy that time while we are doing this, so that they could correct the figures and come back. This is because if they try to correct it on the floor --
Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
This is a very simple matter. There is a table 4 in the Committee's Report and we want to find out if that table is for 2016 or 2015.
The source there says 2015 Budget Statement, but when we look at the figures for 2015, those are not the figures for that year. They cannot be for 2016. Meanwhile, they put the source there as coming from the 2015 Budget Statement.
So, I want them to clarify for us, so that we know whether it is for 2015 or 2016. It is so fundamental to the Motion, that we are moving. This is because this is the
Mr Boniface G. Adagbila 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am the MP for Nabdam.

Mr Speaker, as an Hon Member of the Committee, I remember that in the Hon Minister's presentation, this table and the allocations for each of the departments and agencies in the Ministry were for 2015. I remember that one.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
How do you then reconcile page 3 of your Committee's Report with this figure you are giving on page 8 if it is the year 2015?
Mr Adagbila 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister introduced that to support previous performance and if you add the total for the year 2016, looking at Table 2 for example, on page 7, the sum total comes to GH¢38,918,393.00, which also flows to Table 3. So, for the year 2016, we are looking at GH¢38,918,393.00. That, I remember quite well.
rose
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Are you a member of the Committee?
Mr Titus-Glover 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am the Deputy Ranking Member of the Committee.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Deputy Ranking Member?
Mr Titus-Glover 12:45 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
The table in question originated from the documents the Ministry gave to us and it is headlined; “Ministry Approved Budget for 2016 -- Cost Centres”. It is a 2016 Table and it is here.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
What is the total there?
Mr Titus-Glover 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is GH¢38,015.00 --It is GH¢38,115,000. But the breakdown are the same here.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
They are not the same.
Mr Titus-Glover 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, for example, when you look at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the total is GH¢1,768,34.00 and then you come to the Ghana Tourism Authority, the figure is GH¢11,297,540.00 --
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
And what is the total?
Mr Titus-Glover 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the total here is GH¢38,918,393.00 but because of the correction that the Hon Minority Leader and your goodself made, it gives us the GH¢38,918,393.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Absolutely, so. That can only be for the year 2016.
Mr Titus-Glover 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is what I am saying.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
But your Committee's Report is saying 2015.
Mr Titus-Glover 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are sorry.
Mr Aboagye 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have noted the errors and we crave your indulgence to render an apology --
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Hon Chairman, so, at page 8, we should put 2016 as the source?
Mr Aboagye 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Very well.
Please, proceed.
Mr Aboagye 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, then we should change the figure to GH¢38,918,393.00.
Mr Speaker 12:45 p.m.
Please, kindly proceed.
Mr Aboagye 12:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I present the Report again as corrected.
Introduction
Mr Speaker, the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2016 financial year was presented to the House on Wednesday, 13th November, 2015 by the Hon Minister for Finance, Mr Seth Emmanuel Terkper.
Mr Speaker, referred the 2016 Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MTCCA) to the joint Committees on Trade, Industry and Tourism and Youth, Sports and Culture for consideration and report in accordance with article 179 of the Constitution of Ghana and pursuant to the Orders 140 (4) and Orders 159 and 187 of the Standing Orders of the House.
In considering the Annual Estimates, the Committee met with the Hon Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, her technical team, mthe departments and agencies under the Ministry.
Reference Documents
The following documents served as reference guide during the Committee's deliberations:
i. 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
ii. Standing Orders of the House.
iii. 2016 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.
iv. 2016 Programme Based Budget Estimates.
Background
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MTCCA), through Executive Instrument (E.I. 2013) provides a firm and stable policy environment for effective mainstreaming of Ghanaian culture into all aspects of national life and to ensure creative economy to the tourism industry.
It exists to create a conducive environment for sustainable growth and development to enable it contribute enormously to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through effective and efficient use of appropriate policies, plans, programmes and projects. It is also to develop and sustain public-private-partnership with the diaspora for resource mobilisation and investment.
The Ministry is to facilitate the interface between the Government and its implementing bodies in tourism, culture and the creative industries as well as international civil society partners and groups. It has oversight responsibility over fourteen (14) Agencies and Subvented Organisations namely:
i. Ghana Tourism Authority
ii. Hotel Catering and Tourism Training Centre (HOTCATT)
iii. Ghana Tourism Development Company
iv. National Commission on Culture
v. Bureau of Ghana Languages
vi. Ghana Museums and Monuments Board
Mr Aboagye 12:45 p.m.
Ghana Tourism Authority facilitated Capacity Building Workshops for seven hundred and ninety-eight (798) industry practitioners in food and beverage, customer care and housekeeping operations to improve service delivery.
The Hotel Catering and Tourism Training Institute organised capacity building workshops nationwide which trained eight thousand (8,000) hospitality service providers to improve service delivery in the industry. The Travel Trade Enterprise Regulations has been prepared and submitted for approval by Parliament.
The Accommodation Enterprise Regulations and the Catering and Entertainment Enterprises Regulations has also been prepared and submitted for approval by Parliament.
Culture, Creative Arts and Heritage Management
For the frrst time in forty (40) years, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts opened the Museum of Science and Technology extension for a public exhibition from 26th to 30th January,
2015. The exhibition sought to educate Ghanaians on industrial technology and to showcase local products. The event also gave the youth the platform to exhibit their talents and creativity. The museum is now opened to the general public.
With support from the Japanese Counter-Value Fund, the National Commission on Culture organised training programmes in traditional arts and handicrafts production for three thousand (3,000) Ghanaian youth in the ten (10) Regional Centres for National Culture and the Community Youth Cultural Centre, at Kawokudi in Accra.
Outlook for the Ministry
Financial
2016 Budget for the Ministry
In 2016, the Ministry was allocated a total amount of thirty-eight million, nine hundred and eighteen thousand, three hundred and ninety-three Ghana cedis (GH¢38,918,393) for its operations. Table 2 provides the allocation by economic classification. Compensation constitutes about 68 per cent of the total budgetary allocation.

Table 2: Budget for 2016 by Economic Classification

SPACE FOR TABLE 2 - PAGE 10 - 12.45P.M.

Table 3 gives details of allocation to the various programmes with Culture, Creative Arts and Heritage Development taking about 66 per cent of the total allocation.

Table 3: Cost of 2016 Programmes

SPACE FOR TABLE 3 - PAGE 10 - 12.45P.M.

Table 4 shows budget allocation by cost centres

Table 4: Budget allocation by Cost Centres

SPACE FOR TABLE 4 - PAGE 11 - 12.45P.M.
Mr Daniel N. K. Titus-Glover (NPP-- Tema East) 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I equally rise to support the Motion for the approval of the budget estimates for the Ministry of Tourism,Culture and Creative Arts and urge my Hon Colleagues to approve the sum of GH¢38,918,393.
Mr Speaker, I have a passion for tourism, and for that matter, we all know that tourism plays a very crucial role in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of our country.
In the goal of the Ministry, it says that to develop Ghana as an internationally competitive and high quality destination where tourism, culture and creative arts industry, would contribute to employment creation, poverty reduction, conservation of the country's cultural, historical and environmental heritage.
Mr Speaker, this is a beautiful goal but to sustain this goal, it goes with cost. In 2014, tourism contributed almost US$2,066,500,000. By the end of this year, they are estimating US$2,275,200.00.
We can only succeed to make these amount of moneys if the releases for the Ministry are on time. When you go through your Report, Mr Speaker, on page 4 under Table 1 -- under Goods and Services in 2015, GH¢1,438,328.01 was approved in the Budget Statement for 2015
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Please, take me out.
Mr Titus-Glover 12:55 p.m.
[Laughter] -- Where we would want to promote your culture and in Tema East, my Kpledzo -- the local economy needs to be boosted.
Again, under Tourism Product Development -- Mr Speaker, I beg to quote:
“Organise sensitisation seminars/ durbars for traditional rulers and opinion leaders for conservation of community based eco-tourism”.
Mr Speaker, you know that we revere our traditional authorities so much. I am a Ga and we revere our traditional authorities so much. So, there is the need for us to carry this sensitisation to our people. If you go to Indonesia, right from the airport, you would see how they showcase their tourism, through the taxis to the hotels and even their market places.
Why can we not spend money to make sure that the tourism that we have, which is the fourth foreign exchange earner for our country, is successful.
Mr Speaker, we have money to do other things like branding of buses but I think that if these moneys can be used in the tourism industry, I am hopeful that we can rake in more money to support this economy. I am very grateful but I think that in the mid-year review, the Ministry of Finance should try as much as possible to see how best they can up their financial support to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.
Thank you very much for the opportunity.
rose
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Yes, I will want to hear from you because you have been on your feet for some time now.
Mr Osei-Mensah 12:55 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, I wish to contribute to the Motion on the floor and before I do that --
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Are you contributing?
I thought you were drawing my attention to an error but if it is not an error, then let me go to the majority side and then come to you.
Mr Osei-Mensah 12:55 p.m.
No! It is an error, Mr Speaker.
Look at Table 4, item 7 of the Report, the amount there is even far larger than -- About twice the total budget for the Ministry. It is GH¢6,696,3097.00 -- It is even higher than the budgeted figure.
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Page 4?
Mr Osei-Mensah 12:55 p.m.
Table 4 on page 8. Look at item 7 -- We have GH¢6, 696,3097.00, which is higher than the total budgeted figure of GH¢33,918,393.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Chairman, there is a problem on the Report -- Table 4, item 7. What is the correct figure? Correct it.
Mr Aboagye 12:55 p.m.
The correct figure is
GH¢696,309 ,07 --
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
No! If you make it GH¢696 -- Then you do not have
GH¢3097.
Mr Aboagye 12:55 p.m.
Yes, it is a mistake --
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
So, give us the correct figure. When you go to your Committees you have to be more diligent than you are doing now.
Hon Member for Tema East, what is the correct figure?
You are the Hon Deputy Ranking Member -- They have raised an issue on page 8 -Table 4, item 7 GMMB --
Mr Aboagye 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is
GH¢6,696,309.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that cannot be true because you have GH¢5,026,097.00 and then you have GH¢1,067,000.00 and that will give you --
But there is a GH¢750,000.00. So, are you saying that is GH¢6,696,309 -- Certainly not true.
It must be GH¢6,963,000 --
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Members, we can get this figure by adding the various --
If you add Compensation, Goods and Services, IGFs for Goods and Services and IGFs for Capital Expenditure, you would get a figure. Please, can somebody do that for us?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it must be GH¢6,963,000. The first 6 must be taken out.
That is even wrong.
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Alhaji Muntaka 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when you add the figures you would get
GH¢6,855,097.
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Mr Osei-Mensah, is that correct?
Mr Osei-Mensah 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if you add those figures, it is correct but my fear is that, if you add all of them, I do not think you would get it -- If we change it to that figure and add the total -- So, look at it again.
Mr Speaker, maybe, you can go ahead while we work on the figures. When we get the correct figure, we would inform the House.
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Very well. Let us proceed.
Hon Member, your contribution and then we would correct the Report and put the Question.
Mr Simon Osei-Mensah (NPP -- Bosomtwe) 12:55 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion on the floor.
Tourism is an important sector of the economy, however, serious attention has not been given to this particular Ministry. Over the years, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts always had about the lowest budgetary allocation or budgetary appropriation and it does not help the Ministry very much.
I think the country should take a second look at this particular Ministry because most of its capital expenditures are also related to other Ministries. For instance, road network, which is under the Ministry of Roads and Highways. If one takes electricity, it goes under the Ministry of Energy, and Communication goes under a different sector altogether.
I think as a country, we might have to look at this and if possible, come out with a policy in which such Ministries that are linked directly with the development of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, would have a certain percentage of their investment budgets to develop infrastructure to these particular centres.
This is because, most of our tourism sites -- Mr Speaker, if you have noted, are located at areas where poverty is very high. As we develop tourism in these areas, we are developing the economies of the people in the area.
If we can say that every year, 10 per cent of the investment budget of the Ministry of Roads and Highways should go into the development of roads to tourism sites and of the Ministries of

Energy and Power to allocate certain percentage also towards the development of electricity in these areas, it would speed up the development in these areas.

Mr Speaker, this year, for instance, I remember that the Hon Minister came into my constituency, Kuntanase to establish a tourism office. The question I asked myself was, alright, we thank her for establishing it there, but when one gets to the Lake, there is no receptive centre, and so, people would go to the Lake but cannot get any place to rest but just stand at the bank of the Lake, watch it for some 30 minutes and just leave.

So, while we are looking at tourism, I do not think it would be quite easy to increase the investment budget of tourism, but what we can do is to link the development of that Ministry to other related Ministries, so that these Ministries would help support the development of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.

The other one I would want to find out is that, they have been given the IGFs figure for the year 2015, and the performance there is almost 90 per cent. Unfortunately, we are not told which areas the moneys were spent. And they go ahead and complain about Goods and Services. What about if the IGFs were used on Goods and Services? Therefore, we should have been given the areas where the IGFs amounts were spent.

This is because, the performance there is the highest for the year 2015, which is almost 90 per cent. However, we do not know the details. We were only given a box figure as the amount that was spent. We need to know the breakdown, so that we can have better appreciation of their financial difficulties.

Mr Speaker, as much as I agree that from the main Government sources, the performance in the capital expenditure area is very low of just about seven per

cent; the performance of the Goods and Services area is also low, which is about 38 per cent but they need to give us the breakdown of the utilisation of the IGFs so that we can have total appreciation of their situation as far as the finance of the Ministry is concerned.
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
I intend putting the Question, but Hon Member for Dormaa Central, let me hear from you.
Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu (NPP -- Dormaa Central) 12:55 p.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
I am a member of the Committee, and I am only trying to assist in calculating the number.
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Agyeman-Manu, but you are the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the figure for the grand total shall be
GH¢38,810,393.0.
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Member, but if you go to the micro ceilings, on item 21 of page 205 of the Budget Statement, Appendix 4A, under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the figure we have there is GH¢38,918,393.00 and you know that this is the one that is likely to find expression in the Appropriation Bill. So, if you are saying that you have added them up and the figure does not tally with this, then I cannot put the Question on the Motion.
We have to sort it out with the Ministry of Finance and get the right figure before I can put the Question.
Do you have your Budget Statement there?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, no.
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
If you look at page 205, Appendix 4A: MDA Expenditure Allocation -- 2016, you would see the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts under the subheading of economic and that is the amount there. So, we would have a challenge. We are dealing with figures and the figures must be correct.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not contending with the figure you are quoting from the budget.
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Member, but your addition.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 12:55 p.m.
On my addition, I do not know whether any other person has added it up. I have done it correctly.
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Hon Chairman of the Committee, have you done any addition? If you added the figures in the last column, what figure would you get?
You have to first give us the real figure for the Ghana Museums and Monu-ments Board (GMMB) and their total. Then you add them up to get the overall total in the last column. Without the right figure, I cannot put the Question. I might have to defer the decision.
Mr G. K. Aboagye 12:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the figure for the Board is GH¢6,855,097.00, and now, the total figure comes to
GH¢38,810,393.00.
Mr Speaker 12:55 p.m.
Very good. What we need to do is that, I will not put the Question. Debate is concluded, we have to sort it out with the Ministry of Finance. [Interruption.]
I will let you say it. I am also saying mine. Mine is that, we need to reconcile this figure with the Ministry of Finance. The Hon Deputy Minister is here, but I will allow her to do further consultation
Mr Agyeman-Manu 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what I wanted to suggest is, why do you not put the Question, then we do the reconciliation thereafter?
Mr Speaker 1:15 p.m.
When one goes to the appropriation figure, the figure that the House has approved is what should find expression in the schedules to the Appropriation Bill. If the figures change, then it means that we would have to move a Motion for recession to change the figure again. It would go through a whole process altogether, which I would not want us to.
We would conclude the debate. All we need to do at the end is to put the Question, then we can pick that final figure into the Appropriation Bill.
Hon Minority Leader, we will want to listen to you now, then I will call the Hon Minister to wind up.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Committee, in the conclusion of its Report, said to us that and I read with your permission:
“The joint Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism and Youth, Sports and Culture, having cautiously examined the 2016 Budget Estimate…”
Mr Speaker, I was wondering what the basis of the caution is. I now see that, indeed, they needed to be cautious -- [Interruption] -- With all that is happening with the allocation and the scrutiny that the Committee was supposed to have exercised in going through the estimates of the Ministry.
Mr Speaker, more importantly, the Committee has made an observation. They said they noted that the Goods and Services vote of GH¢2,144,038.00 for the Ministry and all its 14 agencies is already constrained. I read from paragraph 3 of page 12:
“… is already constrained with previous years commitments and arrears and provision of general administrative services…”
Mr Speaker, so, I thought the Committee would furnish us with better details relating to this, how much is encumbered out of the GH¢2,144,038.00. They just gave us a broad indication that a substantial portion is already committed. The amount itself is nothing to write home about but they are indicating to us, that that amount is already encumbered or at least, a substantial portion of it. They should tell us how much of it is encumbered.
Mr Speaker, for capital expenditure, there is no allocation whatsoever for 2016 but for 2015, they had an allocation of one million Ghana cedis, out of which only GH¢70,000.00 was made available. They indicated to us that just seven per cent of the entire allocation was made available to them. What happened and on what business was the capital expenditure allocation programmed for in the 2015 Budget?
Mr Speaker, and is it the case that the programme does not require any continuation? I think nothing has been said about that. So, I would want the Chairman of the Committee to clarify the
situation for us. This is because we need to know whether it is indeed, a project that has been left hanging. If it has been left hanging, how is it to be continued? We need further and better details about this from the Chairman of the Committee.
Mr Speaker, the other one relates to the correction which we have already made or we are still struggling to make. Could the Chairman throw some light on that issue?
Mr Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee?
Mr Aboagye 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there were projects that had been started but moneys allocated were not disbursed: Commission on Culture and so on. So, as noticed, GH¢1 million capital expenditure was approved in 2015. However, as he said, seven per cent--
Mr Speaker 1:15 p.m.
What did you spend the seven per cent on? Is it an ongoing project for which no allocation was made for this year or it has been used for -- [Interruption.]
Mr Aboagye 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the seven per cent was spent on the Commission on Culture? But even that, the project was not completed and is still not completed. So, there was the need to allocate some moneys for capital expenditure this year, which has also not been done. It means that project is going to be hanging this year and we cannot do anything about it because there is no allocation. It would remain uncompleted.
Mr Speaker 1:15 p.m.
The second clarification is that the Goods and Services vote is constrained and we want to know by how much. Give us a raw figure. It is your own Report -- page 12, under Budget
Allocation, paragraph 6.3. There is a statement there, that he wants clarification on the extent of the constraint.
It is on the third paragraph on page 12.
Mr Aboagye 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes. It says:
“The Committee further noted that Goods and Service vote of GH¢2,144,038.00 for the Ministry and all its fourteen (14) agencies, is already constrained with previous years commitments and arrears and provision of general administrative services…”
Mr Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Constrained by how much?
Is it the entire amount?
Mr Aboagye 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the entire amount is constrained. Again, it is due to no disbursement.
Mr Speaker 1:15 p.m.
It is alright. You can take your seat now.
Hon Minister, do you want to say anything?
Mrs Ofosu-Agyare 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to thank Hon Members for their contribution and interest in tourism, culture and creative arts in Ghana. We hope that we would be able to work together with their assistance in 2016.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of the debate. Putting of the Question is deferred until we are sure of the exact figure. I think that is the proper thing to do.
Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
Mr Agbesi 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we could take item 18 -- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Mr Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Item number 18, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2016
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (Ms Hannah Serwaa Tetteh) 1:15 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢300,893,183 for the services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
Mr Speaker, this amount of money is essentially made up of the allocation from the Ministry of Finance to our Ministry and also the internally generated funds (IGFs) of the Ministry, which is what we would use to execute our mandate, subject to the approval of this House, in the year,
2016.
Mr Speaker, the allocation from the budget is in the sum of GH¢234,085,340.00 and we are anticipating to raise GH¢66,807,843.00 from the internally generated funds.
Mr Speaker, when we refer to the internally generated funds, we are essentially referring to funds generated from consular services at our missions abroad and also funds generated from the issuance of passports here in Ghana.
The budget of the Ministry would cover the expenses of the headquarters, 57 Ghanaian diplomatic missions and consular posts abroad, and three subvented organisations, namely, the
Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy, the National African Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council and the All Africa Students Union.
Mr Speaker, the mandate of the Ministry is to ensure that we advise the Government and we also support the implementation of the foreign policy of Ghana and achieve our objectives in the most efficient and cost- effective manner.
We work together with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and we are essentially the interface between Government machinery, missions that are located in Ghana and missions abroad.
Mr Speaker, the activities of the Ministry focus essentially on working in the headquarters to be able to support our general foreign policy objectives representing the Government of Ghana at multi-lateral fora, and also regional organisations of which we are members, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU).
It also involves new policy initiatives -- Not so new because it is about two years old now -- Of reaching out to the Ghanaian diaspora through the Diaspora Affairs Bureau that we have created, the provision of consular services to Ghanaians resident abroad through our missions abroad and also facilitating visits from Government departments and agencies abroad, co-ordinating visits of foreign dignitaries who are coming to Ghana and working to support and promote bilateral relations between Ghana and other countries through the interventions of joint commissions.
Mr Speaker, our budget this year, is an improvement on that of last year insofar as we have an increase in the amount that
has been allocated for salaries and wages. However, when it comes to the issue of Goods and Services and Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), you would see, Mr Speaker, that as a matter of fact, we have not had an improvement.
If we look at employee compensation for 2015, we received a total of GH¢173,343,480.00 and for 2016, we anticipate to have GH¢221,908,595.00, but this is more as a result of exchange fluctuations as opposed to a real increase in salaries and wages.
When it comes to Goods and Services, we have actually had a 50 per cent reduction. We did not have an allocation for CAPEX from the budget, but we anticipate that we would use internally generated funds generated by the missions to support some CAPEX expenditure, especially with regard to some renovations in our missions abroad, which are critical just to maintain the buildings and some of the equipment that we have established.
Mr Speaker, we hope in the year 2016, to be able to reach out to Ghanaians in the diaspora through our Diaspora Affairs Bureau and through our diaspora policy. We hope to be able to provide consular services in all our missions and improve the provision of passports, which has always been a very big issue as far as the Ghanaian community at home and abroad is concerned.
We also hope to ensure that Ghana is represented adequately and our voice is heard in all international fora where it would be necessary to do so.
Mr Speaker, on that note, I beg to move, that this House approves the sum of GH¢300,893,183.00 for the services of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
I beg to move.
Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bandua) 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion, and in doing so, I present the Committee's Report.
Introduction
In accordance with article 179 of the Constitution and Order 140 (1) of the Standing Orders for the House, the Minister of Finance, Hon. Seth Emmanuel Terkper presented to Parliament the 2016 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana on Wednesday, 18th November, 2015.
Pursuant to Order 140 (4) of the Standing Orders of the House and article 103 (3) of the Constitution, the Estimates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration were referred to the Committee for consideration and report.
The Committee met on Wednesday, 16th December, 2015 to consider the Estimates and is grateful to the Chief Director and the technical team who assisted the Committee in its deliberations in the absence of the Hon Minister who was outside the country on an official assignment. The Committee hereby reports as follows:
Reference Documents
The Committee made reference to the following documents:
(i) The 2016 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Govern- ment of Ghana
Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bandua) 1:15 p.m.
Table 3 and Figure 3 compare the 2015 and 2016 total budgetary allocations to the Ministry whiles Tables 4 and 5 illustrate the variance in the comparison between the 2015 and 2016 ceilings in respect of GoG and IGF sources respectively
Table 3
Comparisim of the 2015 and 2016 Budgetary Allocations to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration
SPACE FOR TABLE 3 - PAGE 16 - 1.25P.M.
Figure 3
SPACE FOR FIGURE 3 - PAGE 16 - 1.25P.M.

Table 4

Comparisim of the 2015 and 2016 GoG Allocations to the Minisstry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration

SPACE FOR TABLE 4 - PAGE 17 - 1.25P.M.

Table 5

Comparisim of the 2015 and 2016 IGF Allocations to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration

SPACE FOR TABLE 5 - PAGE 17 - 1.25P.M.
Ms Sarah A. Safo (NPP -- Dome/ Kwabenaya) 1:15 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
I rise to support the Motion and in doing so, I would want to go through a number of things that were discussed at the Committee level --
Mr Speaker 1:15 p.m.
You know the rule on repetition?
Ms Safo 1:15 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Very well.
Ms Safo 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in adding my voice to the Motion on the floor, we would very much agree that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration plays a very important role in protecting the image of this country internationally. For that matter, there ought to be enough funding for its activities in the various Missions and agencies.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry was able to make a number of achievements which included promoting good neigh- bourliness, organising a three-day needs assessment workshop for the Diaspora Affairs Bureau, promoting international relations and making sure that our Consular Services in other countries perform. They also made an achievement in the areas of economic diplomacy and passport administration.
Mr Speaker, these achievements which have been enumerated do not mean that we were able to exhaust all our targets for the year 2015. This was as a result of the fact that we were cash-strapped in a number of ways.
In 2015, the budget allocation was GH¢271,324,509.00, which was supposed to be the allocation for the Ministry. But
the actual release that went to the Ministry was 72.8 per cent less the sum that I mentioned, Mr Speaker. That clearly tells us that the Ministry was cash-strapped in performing some of these functions, which are very vital to the promotion of the image of Ghana internationally.
Mr Speaker, this negatively affected the Ministry, especially in the area of its dream of establishing or developing a Regional Passport Application Centre. They were not able to find money for the accommodation for such a Centre.
So, we plead with the Ministry of Finance that in cutting down the moneys which go to the Ministries, they should look at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration carefully because it is a very important Ministry.
Mr Speaker, again, there were delays in the releases. There were cuts, and to add more injury to it, they were not made on time. The last release affected the procurement of goods and services for the Missions abroad.
Mr Speaker, we know that our Missions out there will need certain basic goods to operate. If these releases are not made on time -- Our citizens abroad need to access these Missions for certain services but the basic needs are not there -- I do not think that it is good for a country like Ghana.
Mr Speaker, there were delays in payment of compensation for our foreign Mission staff. With the issue of fluctuation in our currency, if it does not go on time -- sometimes it gets there and the value has depreciated. We would then ask ourselves whether we are motivating our staff in our foreign Missions to work harder or they toil and work in the name of Ghana and at the end of the day, the motivation does not come on time. They have families and responsibilities.
Mr Speaker, this year's allocation of GH¢300,893,183.00, which has been allocated to the Ministry, although there has been a slight increase in the allocation as compared to that of 2015, we still believe that it is woefully inadequate. For some of us, the increment is insignificant. It should be more than what they are getting. Mr Speaker, the increase is 10.9 per cent. We want an increment in the years ahead of us.
Mr Speaker, in concluding, I would want to support the Motion and urge this Honourable House to approve the sum of GH¢300,893,183.00 for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Thank you, Mr Speaker for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Hon Minister, please, wind up if you want to, otherwise, I will put the Question.
rose
Mr Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Hon Member for Okaikwei Central, two minutes.
Mr Patrick YawBoamah (NPP -- Okaikwei Central) 1:15 p.m.
Very well, Mr Speaker.
I am a member of the Committee and I have --
Mr Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Yes, that is why the Committee's Report is here; I have looked at it.
Mr Boamah 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I will speak to the Report. I have two very important points.
One, passport application or it issuance, features prominently in the Report of the Committee. If you look at paragraph 3.0, rolling out online passport application --
Mr Speaker, I saw an advertisement in the newspapers inviting international firms to bid for the issuance of passports. One of the qualifications was for those companies to have a seed money of US$100 million.
Mr Speaker, my point at the Committee level was that it immediately shuts the door on local companies, which would be interested in putting in such a bid.
Mr Speaker, secondly, there was a publication in which the South African High Commission and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration had an issue with Ghanaians who have applied for visas to travel to South Africa. This was where our passports were rejected because they were not machine readable.
It created a lot of issues and most Ghanaians encounter a lot of problems in acquiring South African visas. The reason was that they gave notification to our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration as far back as November, 2014 and they waited for one year before they responded. That is why we encounter such problems.
Mr Speaker, people go to South Africa for business and medical care. I think the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration must take a look at that.
Mr Speaker, I would talk on morale within the Foreign Service -- [Interruption] -- Please.
Mr Speaker 1:15 p.m.
Your last point -- [Laughter.]
Mr Boamah 1:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, economic diplomacy is the thrust of the President's foreign policy. We believe that the Report and the summary we got from the Ministry did not capture what the President has achieved in that regard.
Mr Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration?
Ms Tetteh 1:45 p.m.
Thank you very much,Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to respond to some of the issues and wind up.
Mr Speaker, on the advertisement that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration put out inviting expressions of interest for the upgrade of our passports and to provide passport application services across, what we said was that companies which wanted to participate should have a turn-over -- not capital. Turn-over is not the same as capital. Turn-over means the amount of business they have been able to generate in a year.
The reason we did that Mr Speaker, was because by our cost estimate, which, with the greatest of respect, I do not want to disclose on the floor of the House because we are in the procurement process -- Mr Speaker, by our cost estimate, there would be a significant amount of money required for that company to be able to make available upfront in order for us to be able to implement this project, which is a Build- Operate-Transfer (BOT) Agreement.
In other words, there is not going to be any funds from this budget that is going to be used to support the upgrade
of that passport process. The company is expected to pre-finance over a period of time and that will be part of the negotiation between the Ministry and the company. They will be able to recover their investment and at the same time, be in a position to provide upgraded passports to our citizens.
For that reason, looking at the amount of money that would be required to do this, so that we are not compelled to come back to Parliament to ask for any kind of financial assistance or a Government guarantee, we wanted to ensure that the company would have the wherewithal, so that if they did not have that finance themselves and also needed to borrow in order to execute the project, the strength of their own balance sheet should be sufficient for them to be able to do so.
Mr Speaker, it is not a question of not wanting to include Ghanaian companies. It is about making sure that whoever becomes our partner in this process has the capacity to be a partner. Especially, knowing very well that we do not have any budgetary allocation for carpet; knowing very well that the allocation made in this budget from our IGFs is not intended to execute this project. Mr Speaker, it is important to provide that clarification.
Mr Speaker, we have about three different passports that are currently in circulation. There is one that has certainly come to an end at the end of this year. We even mentioned that in our budgetary hearing last year. Mr Speaker, the handwritten passports, are no longer valid. So, if one attempts to apply for a visa with that passport, it certainly would be rejected.
What we refer to as “black passport” is still valid but for a limited period of time. What we have as our “green passport”,
which is what most people have at the moment, with the barcode, is a biometric passport which is valid for visa applications in all the Missions.
Mr Speaker, what we want to upgrade to, is the next level of passport technology, which the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has requested us to do within a period of two years, which is the chip embedded passport. The process for which we have invited the expressions of interest is to enable us upgrade to the chip embedded passport.
It is important for Ghanaian citizens also, when they want to apply for visas to travel abroad, to make the necessary enquiries. The biometric passports that we are currently issuing have been in the system for the past five years. It is not something that we started last year or even two years ago. Sufficient time and opportunity have been given for people to be able to change from the old passport to the new biometric passport. We would encourage them to do so.
Mr Speaker, having said that, I must crave the opportunity for the Ministry and the Committee on Foreign Affairs to be able to come together for us to provide greater detail on the work that we have done over the last couple of years, which perhaps, cannot be encapsulated in one or two hours of a budget hearing, so that we are better informed of the things we have done to promote economic diplomacy, which we have, in order to be able to facilitate the development of our country.
Mr Speaker, on that note, once again, I beg to move, that this House approves the budget. I would very much appreciate the support of Hon Colleagues to do so.
Mr Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Minister.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable House approves the sun of GH¢300,893,183 for the services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
Mr Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Annual estimates for the Ministry of Communications.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, before we transit to the Ministry of Communications, we have some information given to us by the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises in respect of the issues that we raised. You thought that they had settled it but Mr Speaker, they have rather worsened it. The information that you gave is not the best at all.
Mr Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I will suggest that we hold on. I withdraw my earlier directive, that it should be captured in the Hansard. We will get the Hon Minister, the Hon Chairman and the Hon Ranking Member of that Committee before we take a final decision on this issue.
Thank you very much for drawing my attention to this.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:45 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Mr Agbesi 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to draw your attention to -- Yesterday, the Maritime Pollution Bill was handled in the House and referred to the Committees on Roads and Transport, Environment, Science and Technology.
Mr Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Yesterday, the Hon Deputy Minister for Transport was here.
Hon Members, I have been briefed on this matter.
Mr Agbesi 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yesterday I was not in the House.
Mr Speaker 1:45 p.m.
I have been briefed on this matter and the information is that this Bill came to the House and it was withdrawn because the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation wanted to take their portion out of it. That was why it was withdrawn.
Now that they have done that, I think they should not have got themselves so much involved in the current Bill before the House. On that basis, I withdraw the referral to the joint Committee and rather refer it to the Committee on Roads and Transport for consideration and report.
Mr Agbesi 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, annual estimates for the Ministry of Communica- tions, item number 24.
Mr Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, permission was taken for you earlier in the day, so, go ahead and move the Motion.
Hon First Deputy Speaker, come and take the Chair -- [Interruption] I thought after this, we would take one more.
Hon Majority Chief Whip, do you not want more estimates to be taken?
Alhaji Muntaka 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not want to breach the -- I know we will be here on Monday. I would want to keep the promise between the Leadership.
Mr Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, item number 24. Hon Deputy Minister for Communications, you have the floor.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2016
Ministry of Communications
Deputy Minister for Communications (Mr Edward A. Sarpong)(on behalf of the
Minister for Communications) 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢292,861,427 under the sector 's account code 26 of the medium-term expenditure framework estimates for the Ministry of Communications for 2016.
Mr Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Minister for Finance, in your absence, we had a problem with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts' figure. I have a problem with the micro ceiling for the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.
The Hon Deputy Minister for Finance was here. The total we got is different from what is in your micro snap 205 of the Budget Statement. I directed that you should do further consultation and give us the right figure, then I can put the Question on Monday.
I thought that I should inform you, now that you are here. I know of course, that your Hon Deputy Minister would have informed you but now that you are in the House, I would want to draw your attention to it. If we do not get the right
figure, it would be difficult to put the Question on the Motion for that Ministry.
Mr Seth E. Terkper 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would get back to the House.
Mr Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Deputy Minister, continue.
Mr Sarpong 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the amount of GH¢292,861,427 is the budgetary estimate for the Ministry of Communica- tions for 2016.
It is made up of GH¢74,398,566, representing 25per cent, made up of compensation. Goods and services is GH¢ 81,942,992, representing 28 per cent; and GH¢136,519.869, representing 47 per cent for capital expenditure.
Government of Ghana is financing our total budget with GH¢75,020,826, internally generated funds -- GH¢ 71,404,332; and from the development partners -- GH¢ 146, 436,267, representing 26 per cent, 24 per cent and 50 per cent respectively.
Mr Speaker, in moving the Motion, I wish to inform you that the Ministry of Communications has oversight responsi- bility for sixteen Government agencies that assist in the implementation of policies related to operational and regulatory administration of the communication sector.
Ten of the sixteen form part of the sector's budget, while the remaining six are financially independent and self- funding, operating under other relevant laws of the Republic and not reported as part of the Ministry's budgetary framework.
The approval of the estimates will enable the Ministry and its agencies undertake programmes and activities for the development of a reliable and cost effective communication and technolo- gical infrastructure and services during the fiscal year beginning 1st January, 2016 and ending 31st December, 2016.
Mr Speaker, in September this year, the United Nations launched the new Sustainable Development Agenda to end poverty, protect the planet and to ensure prosperity for all.
The ICT's contribution to the attainment of the objective is indeed, enormous. It implies an acknowledgment of the enabling capacity of ICT in all sectors of development and a commitment to the deployment and application of the technology accordingly.
On our part, the Ministry of Communi- cations is facilitating the vision of Government to create the necessary enabling environment through the development of policies and programmes that would promote sustainable development through the provision of efficient, cost effective and accessible communication infrastructure.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry will continue to provide the needed support to make modern technology beneficial to every citizen and to improve the quality of life by making it possible to create, access, utilise and share information and knowledge to achieve their full potentials.
In pursuit of this, the Ministry of Communications is also guided by the aspirations of Government in the four key areas, namely, putting people first, a strong and resilient economy, expanding infrastructure and a transparent and accountable governance.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Albert Abongo) 1:55 p.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to support the Motion and in doing so, I present to the House, the Committee's Report,
Introduction
The draft Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Communications for 2016 was referred to the Select Committee on Communications for consideration and report, pursuant to Orders 140 (4) and 182 of the Standing Orders of the House.
This followed the presentation to Parliament of the 2016 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government by the Minister for Finance (MoF), Mr Seth E. Terkper, in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 140 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House.
The Deputy Minister for Communi- cations, Hon Edward Ato Sarpong, with a
technical team from the Ministry, its departments and agencies, as well as officers from the MoF, assisted the Committee during its deliberations.
Reference Documents
The Committee had recourse to the following documents
The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
The Standing Orders of the House
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2016 financial year
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2015 financial year
Report of the Ministry of Communications on the actual releases and expenditure of the Ministry of Communications for 2015 (January - October).
Report of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communications on the 2015 Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Communications.
Vision and Mission of the Ministry
The Ministry of Communications (MoC) has the core responsibility of initiating and developing national policies aimed at achieving cost effective information and communications infrastructure and services, for the enhancement and promotion of economic competitiveness in line with the policy guidelines of the Medium Term National Development Policy Framework (MTNDPF) 2014-2017.
TO 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Hon Members, we know that ordinarily, we adjourn the House at 2.00 p.m. I did not extend it by invoking Standing Order 40 (3). This is because the House agreed in the Business Statement adopted for this week, that it should Sit beyond the normal Sitting hours. That was why I did not invoke Standing Order 40 (3) to extend Sittings. The House agreed that we should have extended Sittings. I will therefore, want to put that on record.
Mr Ken O. Agyapong (NPP -- Assin Central) 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion on the floor and in doing so, I would only point out a few problems some agencies encountered during our meeting.
First of all, I would suggest that the Ministry of Communications should be called the Ministry of Communications and Technology. I say so, because the Ministry of Communications has about 16 agencies under it and they are all performing technological works. Therefore, it would be in the right direction to put everything under that Ministry.
I say that because we want the Government to know the importance of this Ministry. We find other Ministries getting GH¢800, GH¢600 and GH¢400 million, yet an important Ministry like this was allocated GH¢292,861,427. I think it is woefully inadequate. Therefore, we appeal to the Ministry of Finance to consider that the Ministry of Communications is very important, especially with today's technology.
Information Communication Technology (ICT) is the world and the world is ICT and in Ghana, it is the Ministry of Communi- cations, which is responsible for the development of information technology.
Mr Speaker, when you take the Ghana- India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, this agency controls or provides ICT for almost all students, companies and individuals in this country. However, Goods and Services which were released to this agency was GH¢18,000 and because of that the Director-General refused to bring the estimates. But we insisted that they needed to bring it for us to see how they spent the GH¢18,000.
For an important agency like this, I do not think that if we give them GH¢18,000 for their Goods and Services, they would be able to work. The Hon Minister is here and I am surprised that he did not talk about his own problems. When you do not talk about your problems, nobody would help you.
An amount of GH¢750,000 was allocated for CAPEX and not even a cedi was released to the Ministry.This cut across all the agencies as well. What it simply means is that, we are paying -- As for the compensation, the Government did well by paying the salaries but what was it paying these workers for? The Government pays them to be idle because they do not have the tools to work.
rose
Mr Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Hon Member, are you a member of the Committee?
Very well.
Alhaji Bashir F. Alhassan (NDC -- Sagnarigu) 1:55 p.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker, Hippopotamusly”-- [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Brief comments with little proverbs.
Alhaji B. F. Alhassan 1:55 p.m.
Thank you,Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to support the Motion.
Salt is not in a hurry to advertise itself. If it is in the soup and you taste it, you would confirm it yourself. If you have no appreciation of who you were and where you were yesterday, you cannot appreciate who you are and where you are today, let alone have an appreciation of what you intend to be and where you would be tomorrow --
Mr Speaker 1:55 p.m.
You have one minute more. [Laughter.]
Alhaji B. F. Alhassan 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am setting the stage, a foundation to land.
Mr Speaker 1:55 p.m.
One minute more.
Hon Members, I will like to put -- Let me say this. In estimates, that is where we devote a lot of time to policy. When it comes to estimates, we look more at the figures and try to align them with the policy which you have debated on. If you are not very careful, you will open the floor to a repetition of policy. That is why when the Hon Majority Leader raised the issue with the figures, I devoted a lot of time to have it resolved.
Nobody has raised any matter so far. I have listened to the Hon Chairman and the Hon Ranking Member and there is no issue. I have looked at page 205 where we have the micro ceilings for the various
MDAs and we have not seen any discrepancies there; the figures are correct on the Order Paper and I am in the mood to put the Question. I am being very honest with you. So, one minute.
Alhaji B. F. Alhassan 1:55 p.m.
I was just laying the foundation to point out the fact that --
Mr Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Your foundation has consumed your two minutes.
Alhaji B. F. Alhassan 1:55 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Communications plays a vital role in our national development effort, so, no effort should be spared to give them the requisite level of resources to perform to public expectations. It is in this regard that --
Mr Speaker 1:55 p.m.
Hon Member, conclude.
Alhaji B. F. Alhassan 1:55 p.m.
I see some of the activities of the Ministry, especially in this Budget Statement where efforts are made to retool and revitalise a number of institutions to perform to the public's expectation. One very important area has been the Meteorological Services Department, which needs the requisite level of resources.
I am happy that in this budget, provision is being made to train more than 50 people in the various areas.
We are in a country where over 60 per cent of our people are dependent on agriculture. A lot of the forecasts more or less, sometimes are not as accurate as we would like them and this has had serious ramifications for agriculture.
In many instances, when the weather predictions failed, farmers were not able to get the right time for planting and as result, we had mass crop failures, which had an effect on the incomes of farmers, which adversely impacted on the incomes of families. This has a cyclical effect on
poverty levels. So, I am happy that in this Budget Statement, provision is being made tSo ensure that that requisite level of training would be given.

It is important that we take every step to ensure that we have national food sufficiency. It is a critical matter of national urgency, that we should devote ourselves to attain, and the attempt to retool the Meteorological Services Department to be able to perform that function to public expectation, would be one more thing that we do.

Mr Speaker, one more --
Mr Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Hon Member, your last sentence, please. I have given you --
Alhaji B.F.Alhassan 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Committee's Report, there is reference to attempt to wean some of those agencies off Government's subvension. “You cannot live by the bank of a river and wash your hands with spitting”. It is important that those that have the potential to generate more revenue should not still be kept on Government subvension.
I think that the requisite laws, policies and Legislative Instruments (L.Is) that we need to empower them to perform to public expectation must be given to them.
Mr Speaker, I would want to use this opportunity to urge the House to impress upon the agencies that are necessary in government to expedite action on the fetters that hold them from unleashing their potential, so that they can function to public expectation and then wean themselves off Government subvension.
Mr Speaker, I support the Motion for the adoption of the estimates of the Ministry.
Mr Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Tano North?
Ms Freda Akosua Prempeh (NPP -- Tano North) 2:15 p.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the floor --
Mr Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Hon Member, it should be very brief.
Ms Prempeh 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would be very brief.
Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would want to add my voice to the fact that the amount of GH¢292,861,427 is woefully inadequate for the Ministry of Communi- cations to deliver on its mandate.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Com- munications has 16 agencies and statutory bodies. During our Committee meetings with the agencies, it came to light that almost all the agencies had basically the same problems. And the problems stem from inadequate budgetary allocation and delay in the release of funds.
Mr Speaker, you would realise that all these agencies need money to run and execute their duties. But when you go through all the agencies, you would realise that, in almost all, there were late releases of funds and in some agencies, some moneys were not even released at all. It is very difficult for one to understand and accept the fact that you put up an agency, allocate money to it, but you do not release moneys to it to run and yet you expect it to deliver.
Mr Speaker, when you take the Meteorological Services Department for instance, they are still housed in a dilapidated structure, using obsolete equipment to work. And you can
Mr Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Hon Member, please, conclude.
Ms Prempeh 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it also came to light that the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have failed to pay the National Information Technology Agency (NITA). So, they owe NITA a lot of money.Meanwhile, Government is not even releasing money for NITA to work with. The excuse being given is the fact that the Ministry of Finance is not releasing its part of the budget to the MMDAs to pay NITA. We asked the Minister for Communications to also intervene.
Mr Speaker, the Committee also observed that the Broadcasting Bill had also taken too long and impressed on the Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation (GBC) to expedite action on it.
Mr Speaker, it would interest you to know that --
Mr Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Hon Member, conclude.
Ms Prempeh 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in concluding, I would like to reiterate the fact that the Ministry of Communications is a vital part of national growth and development and therefore, the Ministry must be adequately resourced to carry out its mandate.
Mr Speaker, I pray that this House approves the amount of GH¢292,861,427 to the Ministry of Communications to enable them deliver on their mandate, though it is still woefully inadequate.
Mr Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Thank you very much Hon Member for Tano North.
Yes, Hon Member for Kwesimintsim?
Mr Joe Baidoe-Ansah (NPP -- Kwesimintsim) 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to bring to the notice of the House, that when the Hon Minister was making his contribution, he said that there were some agencies whose budgets were not here.
Mr Speaker, this is not the first time I am raising this matter. But these are issues that are contravening the Constitution of this country. For example, the National Communications Authority (NCA). These are State institutions. NCA is a regulatory body, and can never spend money without the approval of this House, but it has been going on for a while. Whenever we bring it up to the attention of the Hon Minister, he does not seem to do anything about it. So, I would want to urge the Hon Minister --
Mr Speaker, I would want to say that it is in contravention of article 179 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Ghana. It says and with your permission, I beg to quote:
179 (2) “The estimates of the expenditure of all public offices and public corporations, other than those set up as commercial ventures -
(a) shall be classified under programmes or activities which shall be included in a bill to be known as an Appropriation Bill and which shall be introduced into Parliament to provide for the issue from the Consolidated Fund…”
Mr Speaker, it looks like they have been contravening this, and so, I would want to bring it up to the notice of the House, that they have to do something about it.
Mr Speaker, in the Budget Statement that the Hon Minister for Finance presented, they also failed to add the internally generated funds (IGFs) to the overall IGFs that was captured by the Ministry. So, I would want to bring it up --
Mr Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Hon Member, is it the point you are making, that the Ministry has IGF?
Mr Baidoe-Ansah 2:15 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. The NCA.
Mr Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Hon Member, are you talking about NCA?
Mr Baidoe-Ansah 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, NCA, which is under the Ministry. They did not bring their IGFs to be captured by the Ministry of Finance, which is also against the Constitution.
Mr Speaker, when the Hon Minister appeared before the Committee, they made us aware that they had tendered for some digi-boxes for the digital migration. But
they seemed not to have a formula for the distribution of those boxes. I would suggest that those boxes are used as incentives for people to pay television licences. This is because if there is no formula and we do not adopt this formula, then it would be done in a way that would call a lot of things into question.
Mr Speaker, I would ask that the Ministry take on board my new formula to ensure that they use the digi-boxes in moderation for all people who pay for television licences.
Mr Speaker, one other thing that came up is the fact that there was an agreement that the television licences must have a particular formula, that apart from the State broadcaster, other broadcasting stations should be allowed to have some actions based on what they do. That is, if they are airing some programmes that fall within the public broadcast definition.
Unfortunately, it looks like it is not happening because there was a court case that looked at the law, which really gave everything to GBC.
Mr Speaker, I would urge the Hon Minister, that as soon as possible, they should come back to this House with a formula embedded in law, so that all other broadcasting stations that broadcast in the public interest would also benefit from this.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Hon Members, before the Hon Deputy Minister winds up, the Report of the Committee does not talk about e-Parliament.
Mr Sarpong 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me just confirm that the e-Transform Project is made up of the following components: e- Education, e-Immigration, e-Judiciary, e- Procurement, e-Health and e-Parliament. So, e-Parliament is adequately catered for under the e-Transform Project.
Indeed, the process to implement the e-Parliament project is ongoing. We are working with the ICT team of Parliament to get it done. And so, it is appropriately captured.
Mr Speaker, I have taken note of the suggestions on the issues raised by the Hon Member. I have taken note of the concerns around the National Communi- cations Authority. We will work with the appropriate bodies and ensure that the right thing is done -- going forward. But the concerns have been well noted.
Mr Speaker, I am sure I have answered both questions.
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the conclusion of this debate.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢292,861,427 for the services of the Ministry of Commu- nications for the year ending 31st December, 2016.
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, what is the indication?
Mr Agbesi 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest respect, the Hon Chairman of the Committee is currently in the House to lay the Paper on item number 6 (d), at page 3 on the Order Paper, which was earlier called to be laid. I crave your indulgence to lay that Paper,
PAPERS 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, any other Paper ready for laying?
Mr Agbesi 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is so.
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
What about the point raised earlier by the Hon Minority Leader, that the committees in charge of the rest of the Reports should get them ready for us to lay, so that Hon Members can have those Reports against Monday?
Mr Agbesi 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have already indicated that the point is well said and we will take it on board. We will particularly take those that have been laid today on Monday, so that the Papers can
—
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
I will seriously suggest that let these committees put the Reports in the pigeonholes of Hon Members if they are ready.
All Hon Ministers who have business to transact in this House, especially with regard to their Ministries' Annual Estimates must be here on Monday by 10:00 in the forenoon.
Mr Agbesi 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, again, item number 6 (a), we want these Papers to be laid. There are some Hon Members of the Committee who are in the House and can lay them, so that we can facilitate them.
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Which of the Papers at item number 6 (a)?
Mr Agbesi 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item number 6 (a) (i), (ii) and (iii).
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, item number 6 (a) (iii) cannot be there — when did we lay the Appropriation Bill for us to lay the Report? We have not laid the Appropriation Bill. So, why are you counting that —
Mr Agbesi 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, sorry. We can lay item number 6 (a) (i) and (ii).
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, by the Chairman of the Committee.
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Please, these are for the records. You are not the Chairman.
Make a statement that you are laying it on behalf of the Hon Chairman, so that the record would be captured properly.
Mr Kpodo 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to lay the Paper on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee.
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Have you concluded work on these Reports?
Mr Kpodo 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes.
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Very well.
By Mr Benjamin Komla Kpodo (on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee)
-- 2:25 p.m.
Mr Agbesi 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the House is in your hands.
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Minority Leader, do you have anything to say before I adjourn the House?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, not really.
My worry is that there are no other Hon Members of the Finance Committee around to maybe, confer with them to assure ourselves that the Reports are ready. That is my only worry.But I would not want to doubt the integrity of the Hon Member who rose to lay the Papers on behalf of the Committee. So, let us take it like that and we will see what happens on Monday.
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Very well —
Is there any problem?
Alhaji Muntaka 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, fortunately, the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Lands and Forestry is also here, but because of what the Hon Minority Leader said, he wanted to plead that he could also lay that Paper, so that we can take all of them on Monday.
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Which item?
Alhaji Muntaka 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item number 6 (b).
By the Chairman of the Committee--
Report of the Joint Committee on Lands and Forestry and Mines and Energy on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the year ending 31st December 2016.
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, you are the Vice Chairman of the
Committee on Special Budget. What is the status of those Reports?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know they met with the National Media Commission but I was not present at that meeting. I am not able to tell whether that Report is ready. I was not there yesterday. I was here throughout and the arrangement was for the Hon Majority Leader to be with Hon Prof. George Yaw Gyan-Baffour to oversee those matters. I stayed here.
Mr Speaker, I am not able to tell whether the Reports are ready. In the circumstance, I will not commit myself to purport to lay any document at all on behalf of the Committee.
Mr Speaker 2:25 p.m.
Hon Members, those of you who have congress, I wish you all the best.
ADJOURNMENT 2:25 p.m.