Debates of 11 Feb 2016

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 10th February, 2016.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Members, we move to item number 3 on the Order Paper -- Question time.
[Pause] --
The first Question is Question number 498 standing in the name of the Hon Member for Nsawam-Adoagyiri.
Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing is taken ill, so, he has accordingly directed his Hon Deputy Minister in charge of the sub-sector to come and Answer the Questions for and on his behalf.
If I may, with your kind leave and the indulgence of my Hon Colleagues, call on him to come and do so for, and on behalf of the Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Whip?
Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if it is about ill-health, there is very little that we can do. So, I agree that he answers the Question on behalf of the substantive Hon Minister.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Deputy Minister to answer the Questions on behalf of the Hon Minister.
Question number 498 by the Hon Member for Nsawam-Adoagyiri.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:10 a.m.
MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, 11:10 a.m.
WORKS AND HOUSING 11:10 a.m.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, is the Hon Deputy Minister aware that the project had two phases and that Government has cancelled the second phase of it?
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Please, rephrase your Question.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am seeking to know from the Hon Deputy Minister, if he is aware that, the project in question had two phases, and that Government has cancelled the second phase of it?
Mr Edusei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the project is supposed to be in two phases. The first phase has been completed and Government has not cancelled the second phase. We are looking for funding to complete it -- the rehabilitation of the old plant.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with much respect, I crave your indulgence to make a text reference to an Answer given by the Hon Deputy Minister to a similar Question given last year.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, ask your Question.
The rules allow you to make a refe- rence, but it depends on how you ask it.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am making a text reference to the Hansard of Wednesday, 11th November, 2015, column 420, paragraph 3, and with your kind permission, I beg to quote:
“Mr Annoh-Dompreh: Mr Speaker, could the Hon Deputy Minister tell this House how much was provided by Government as counterpart funding to the €11 million provided by the Belgium Government?
Mr Edusei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to crave your indulgence again to get more information about the counterpart funding from the Govern- ment. This is because, as I stand here, I do not have the information….”
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, precisely, you should just read the relevant portion and use it to lay the foundation and ask the Hon Deputy Minister the Question.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I take a cue.
Mr Speaker, the relevant portion is this, and I beg to quote 11:10 a.m.
“Mr Edusei: Mr Speaker, I would like to crave your indulgence again to get more information about the counterpart funding from the Government. This is because, as I stand here, I do not have the infor- mation.”
Mr Speaker, the Question is, how much counterpart funding was provided by the Government to complement the €11 million provided by the Belgium Government to support this water project?
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
That is not a supplemen- tary Question. I will allow you to rephrase it. You asked a specific Question, then you moved to the issue of the fact that

the project was in two phases, and that they have cancelled the second phase. But the Hon Deputy Minister says that they have not cancelled it. So, ask your Question. We are not talking about counterpart funding. That is not the issue.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my second follow-up Question. Can the Hon Deputy Minister tell this House, what temporary and long-term measures have been put in place to ensure that, we resolve this water crisis affecting the good people of Nsawam-Adoagyiri and its environs?
Mr Edusei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, currently, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the National Security have provided water tankers to supply water to the people that are affected in Nsawam- Adoagyiri so that they will get enough potable water to drink.
GWCL is undertaking the dredging of the bed of the Densu River so that we would be able to impound more water, when we get enough water above, the water pump could pump more water to the treatment plant and that would be treated for the people of Nsawam to get potable water to drink.
Mr Speaker, some of the long-term measures that we are taking is to construct, in future, an off river reservoir. This would be able to store more rain water. So, when we have this kind of crisis, we can use that water to feed the treatment plant so that we can get potable water for the people to drink.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister said the second phase of the project has not been cancelled. Can he tell us when the second
phase of that project will begin and the possible cost implication of that project?
Mr Edusei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I earlier mentioned that, the second phase was not continued right away after the first phase because of unavailability of funding.
But we are still sourcing for funding so that we can go on to the second phase, which includes the rehabilitation of the old plant. This is to ensure that we boost the capacity of that particular substation to supply enough water for the people.
Alhaji Ibrahim Dey Abubakari 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we just learnt that the sources of water to Nsawam-Adoagyiri have com- pletely dried up. So, I wanted to know how the expansion would take place when there is no water.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
I did not get the Question.
Alhaji Abubakari 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my Question is that, we just learnt from the television that the sources of water to Nsawam-Adoagyiri have completely dried up, so, how is he going to carry out the expansion that he is talking about?
Mr Edusei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, to the best of my knowledge, the Densu River is not completely dried. It is at the low level but not completely dried out.
Dr Anthony A. Osei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister said; “we are sourcing for funds”. By that, I hope he meant the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing?
Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Deputy Minister if he has been given the mandate by the Ministry of Finance to source for funds for the Government?
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
He did not say that he has been given the mandate to source for funds.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, he said; “we are…” which means the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well.
Mr Edusei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the “we” I used means the Government, which I am part of.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Members, this is a constituency specific Question, so, I will take one from each side. I have opened up a lot.
Hon Member for Ho West and then the Hon Member for Nkoranza North.
Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister in his Answer said that they were taking steps to increase the impoundment by dredging the river. I would want to know when the dredging will take place?
Mr Edusei 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yesterday, I visited the site and at the time I got there, the excavator was there and it is working as we speak now. So, the dredging is ongoing and hopefully, it would be completed very soon.
Thank you.
Maj. Derek Oduro (retd): Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister mentioned that NADMO has water tankers that could supply water to the people of Adoagyiri- Nsawam. I would want to find out from him, when is he going to appeal to NADMO or order them to supply water to the people of Adoagyiri-Nsawam area; because if a specific order or an appeal is not extended to them, they would not do it?
Thank you.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Members, the last Question on this issue is from the Hon Second Deputy Minority Whip.
Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister in his Answer said that, the second phase is yet to begin. I would just want to know from him what the component of the second phase is. This is because, in his Answer, he said that the project is almost complete. I would want to know the make- up of the second phase.
Mr Edusei 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the basic component of the second phase is to rehabilitate the old treatment plant which had not been in a very good condition and has not been able to generate water to its capacity. The basic component of the second phase is to rehabilitate the old plant we had, in addition to the new one that we have done.
Thank you.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Members, Question number 499; the Hon Member for Yilo Krobo? [Pause.]
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Question time.
Hon Deputy Minister, we thank you for attending upon the House to respond to Questions.
At the Commencement of Public Business -- Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Bagbin 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the item numbered 5 is not ready to be laid. We are having a last scrutiny of the Instrument because of the legal position on laying and consideration of Instruments.
The Committee is having pre-laying scrutiny of the Instrument, and I am told that they would finish today. So, during the course of the day, we would come back to that item.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, the Minerals Develop- ment Fund Bill, 2014, at the Consideration Stage.
Hon Chairman of the Committee, which clause are we dealing with?
BILLS -- CONSIDERATION 11:20 a.m.
STAGE 11:20 a.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho) 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, clause
30.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Have you resolved the issues with clause 30?
Alhaji Sorogho 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we have resolved it and decided to abandon the definition of an ‘Officer' because it is no longer necessary to define the ‘Officer.'
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
So, you are withdrawing the amendment.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:20 a.m.
I am withdrawing the amendment.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Who is your Hon Ranking Member?
Alhaji Sorogho 11:20 a.m.
Hon K. T. Hammond, but I cannot immediately locate him though I have been trying to do so this morning.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Who is the Hon Deputy Ranking Member?
Alhaji Sorogho 11:20 a.m.
The Hon Deputy Ranking Member is Hon Edward Ennin.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Have you made the application to withdraw?
Alhaji Sorogho 11:20 a.m.
It has been agreed that we withdraw.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Very well.
Amendment withdrawn by leave of the House.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Members, have they put the Question on clause 31?
Alhaji Sorogho 11:20 a.m.
There is no amendment.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Please, there is no amendment, but have they put the Question on clause 31? Hon Members know that I was not the one handling this Bill, that is why I am asking you, So that we would know what to do.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the next amendment is only on the Long Title then I would be requesting for a Second Consideration Stage because, there are further amendments which we have already done.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 30 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 31 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
The Long Title?
The Long Title -- An ACT to establish the Minerals Development Fund, to provide financial resources for the benefit of mining communities, and for related matters.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, Long Title, line 2, delete “communities,” and insert “communities”.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Member, it is a drafting issue -- so, I direct the draftsperson to look at whether there should be a comma.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
The Long Title as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of the Consideration Stage of the Minerals Development Fund Bill, 2014.
Mr Bagbin 11:30 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
If we could take item number 12?
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources? [Pause.]
Hon Second Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.
Mr Bagbin 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, since this is a procedural Motion, I was trying to seek your permission to allow an Hon Deputy Minister to move the Motion for, and on behalf of the Hon Minister. It is a procedural Motion that is taking us to a Third Reading.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Very well.
Item number 12 -- Hon Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development?
MOTIONS 11:30 a.m.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move that, the Minerals Development Fund Bill, 2014, be taken through a Second Consideration Stage --
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Member, under which Standing Order are you coming?
A Motion has been moved, it ought to be seconded and then I would put the Question.
The Hon Majority Leader says that it is a procedural Motion.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I did not check.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Any seconder?
Alhaji Sorogho 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Members want to know which Motion you are seconding -- [Interruption.]
Very well.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Item number 13 on the Order Paper -- Motion.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as a matter of procedure, the Hon Chairman of the Committee rose up and I guess he wanted us to take the Bill through a Second Consideration Stage. That is what he indicated.
We had finished with the Consideration Stage and if indeed, he wanted us to go through a Second Consideration Stage, I thought he could have sought refuge under Standing Order 130. Now, the same person seconds the Motion for the Third Reading --
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
No! It is not for the Third Reading. It is to pave way for the Third Reading. That is why it is a procedural Motion.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
A procedural Motion to pave way for the Third Reading --
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
This is because if it is not due for the Third Reading, he would not have the opportunity to arrest the Third Reading, and, move for the Second Consideration Stage.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, that is what I do not agree with.
Mr Speaker, the provision is that, where there is doubt, the Speaker can give us the direction.
There is no doubt at all in Standing Order 130.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
You do not only read one portion. I am not saying there is doubt. I did not use the word “doubt”. It is the Speaker who interprets the Standing Orders.
A doubt provision is another one and interpretation is another one. Read rules 5 and 6.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this is clear language. But I would not debate Mr Speaker, who I know, should also not descend into the arena of debate.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Well, that is what all my predecessors did. I agree entirely with my predecessors and I will follow accordingly.
So, you are completely out of order and wrong.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would bow to the Chair, even though I disagree with the Chair.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
But you have no option on this occasion.
Item number 13
Chairman of the Committee (Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho) 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that the Minerals Development Fund Bill, 2014 be taken through a Second Consideration Stage in respect of clause 21 (2) (d) and clause 21 itself.
Mr Speaker, the reason is that --
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Please, there are two stages. Take your time.
You would have to move, that the Bill passes through a Second Consideration Stage, in respect of specific clauses. I would ask you which clauses and you would mention them.
I would have to put the Question first and if the House agrees that it should pass through a Second Consideration Stage, you then move the amendment.
In respect of which clause?
Alhaji Sorogho 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, clause 21 (2) and 3 (d)
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
What do you mean by 3 (d)?
Alhaji Sorogho 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, subclause 3(d) [Pause.]
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Subclause 3 (d).
Alhaji Sorogho 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, 3 (d) -- is the distribution of the percentages -- [Interruption] -- [Pause.]
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
What is at subclause 3 (d)?
Alhaji Sorogho 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, subclause 3 (d) -- the distribution of the percentages, we made provision of two per cent for the Management of the Fund not knowing that, clause 25 had taken care of that. So, it became necessary to re-allocate that two per cent. So, the Committee -- [Interruption.]
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
But is 3 (d) dealing with sources of fund?
Alhaji Sorogho 11:40 a.m.
No, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
You said subclause 3 (d) and it is dealing with sources of fund.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, clause 21(3) (d) --
Dr A. A. Osei 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Motion that just passed was the one you read but it is not the one that he is trying to amend. So, I am wondering if we should not rescind our decision so that we are clear in our minds. I agree with you because you read it but he was not listening to you so he did not hear about that. I think we should rescind it and go back properly. We have voted for it so we cannot go back and amend it.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Referring to clause 21(3) (d) --
Yes, but you mentioned clause 3 (d) --
The first one, you said clause 21(2) but you never mentioned clause 21(3) (d). You never mentioned that in the Motion that you moved.
Hon Majority Leader, do you want us to pass this Bill today?
Mr Bagbin 11:40 a.m.
That is so, Mr Speaker. My attention was drawn to the fact that, there was the need for the Bill to go through a Second Consideration Stage in respect of clause 21(3) (d). That is the only one that is to go through a Second Consideration Stage. But in his presentation, the Chairman of the Committee was not too clear, so, you put the Question on two clauses: Clauses 3 (d) and 21(2) --
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Yes. So what do we do now, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Bagbin 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, what the Hon Chairman would have to do is to withdraw his earlier submission and that would collapse, then we can --
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
So, let me get the point from you. Are we taking clause 21(2) or only clause 21(3) (d)?
Mr Bagbin 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, clause 21(3) (d).
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Chairman of the Committee?
Alhaji Sorogho 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think there was lack of clarity in what I said. What I sought to do was to --
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Please, withdraw and move the proper Motion and let me put the Question.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I withdraw the first Motion --
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
But let me find out from you because, the Hon Majority Leader, who is in charge of Government Business is saying that, it is clause 21(3) (d). You are adding clause 21(2). So, if you have withdrawn it and you are making the application, make it clear and let us be sure of the clauses you are passing the Bill through, in terms of Second Conside- ration.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, by your leave, the first proposal is withdrawn and in its place --
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
It is accordingly withdrawn.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, under clause 21, there are two amendments; subclause 3 (d) is --
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Subclause 3 (d) deals with percentage.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:40 a.m.
Exactly, Mr Speaker, subclause 3 (d) deals with perentage.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Yes. So, which is the second one?
Alhaji Sorogho 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the subclause 3 (d) is in respect of the allocation which is given to the Minerals and Mining Commision.
Mr Speaker, the other one deals with where the amount is indicating “not more than”. You would not see it here because, it was a further amendment that was proposed by Hon Haruna Iddrisu and it was accepted. So it is not here. It was proposed to amend this one, and that is why we are not getting it very clear here.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Please, Hon Chairman, we have records. We do not need to have it here to understand what you would want to do or the amendment you would want to move. I just would want to be sure of which clauses we are passing the Bill through. That is all I would want to get from you.
So, if it is a new subclause in the earlier Consideration Stage, which is not cap- tured, tell the House. We have records of that day to refer to.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, what I am saying exactly is that, it is a new subclause which was not captured in the original Bill.
The first amendment deals with clause 21(3)(d) and the second one is an amendment, which was a new subclause, which was added and agreed to by the House on the 9th of December, 2015.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would plead if we could first take the clause 21 (3)(d).
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, I will now put the Question that the Minerals De- velopment Fund Bill, 2014 is taken through a Second Consideration Stage in respect of clause 21 (3) (d) and in respect of a further amendment to clause 21 taken by this House on the 9th of December,
2015.
Any seconder?
Mr Mathias Kwame Ntow 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Members, Second Consideration stage.
Yes, Chairman
BILLS -- SECOND 11:50 a.m.
CONSIDERATION STAGE 11:50 a.m.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 21 (3) (d), which has been further amended to “12”, delete and insert
14.
It is now
“14 per cent of moneys shall be allocated to supplement the additional budget of the Minerals Commission”.
Mr Speaker, the reason is that the Minerals Commission is the actual --
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Tell the House where you are taking the 4 per cent from, so that at the end of the day, we would have 100 per cent. Tell the House where you are taking the 4 per cent from. Refresh the memory of the House.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, what we see here has been re-distributed and the percentages were taken from the Minis- try's main allocation. The Ministry plays
only a supervisory role, so, what the Ministry was given, the House agreed to that here. Two per cent was added to the Minerals Commission and then two per cent was made available to run the Fund.
Mr Speaker, when we come to clause 25, allocation has already been made for the running of the Fund. So that two per cent is added to the Minerals Commission's allocation to bring the total percentage to
14.
Mr Speaker, it brings the total to 100 per cent.
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Very well.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, could the Hon Chairman tell us the source of funding for the clause 25 he is talking about? If it is the same source then it is not additional. So, it is not clear.
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
That is why I posed the Question and he said that they have taken two per cent somewhere and taken another two per cent, and that is how they got the four.
At the earlier Consideration Stage of the Bill -- and if you look at the earlier distribution during the Second Conside- ration Stage and you do the addition, you would get 100 per cent.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
Now, the two per cent from clause 25, what is the source? [Interruption.] I understand the first two per cent adds to the 12, but the second two per cent, he said allocation has been made for it in clause 25; from where?
Alhaji Sorogho 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if we read clause 25, it says that and with your permission, I quote:
“the administrative and other expenses related to the manage- ment of the Fund shall be charged on the Fund.”
Alhaji Sorogho 11:50 a.m.


That comes after everything is done.Then the percentage which is allocated, the 10 per cent out of the total Fund, is what we are now distributing.

So, it does not add it at all. That is taken care of before the distribution. It is not part of the 100 per cent that we are distributing.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if that is true, then we are not allocating 100 per cent; we are allocating 98 per cent. [Interruption.] From his explanation, if we charge it to the Fund and we have taken 2 per cent, there would be only 98 per cent left for distribution. Therefore, he cannot talk about allocating all the 100 per cent, unless he is allocating the 98 per cent which constitutes 100 per cent, otherwise, we have to be very careful.
When we charge 2 per cent to the Fund, we are left with 98 per cent. So, we can only distribute 98 per cent, of which we say 12 per cent has been taken.
Otherwise, the arithmetic is not right.
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Chairman, do you get the point? Based on your explanation, the Hon Member of Parliament for Old Tafo is raising that concern.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if we go back to clause 21, the total amount, it says that 50 per cent of the moneys shall be allocated to the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands. Twenty per cent of moneys shall be allocated to the Mining Community Development Schemes which this Bill creates.
Ten per cent of the moneys shall be allocated to supplement the operating budget of the Ministry. So, we are reducing that operating budget of the Ministry from the 10 per cent which was earlier amended.
Further, it says that 10 per cent of moneys shall be allocated to supplement the operations of the Minerals Commission. In the earlier amendment, we took two per cent to and added it to the Minerals Commission; we took two per cent and added it to the Geological Survey Department, then, we gave the Ministry only four per cent, which means that there was still two per cent left, and that is the two per cent that we would like to add to the Minerals Commission.
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
So, it all adds up to 100 per cent?
Alhaji Sorogho 11:50 a.m.
It adds up to 100 per cent exactly.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
For clarity, it would be good to tell us the current distribution so we are sure, because it appears that there is a problem. What he gave us does not add up to 100 per cent. We have 50, 20, and 10 thus far. That makes 80. So, if he could give us the current distribution so that we would know that it is not additionality, because the way he is reading it, it sounds like there is additionality.
When we charge two per cent, we are left with 98 per cent.
Alhaji Sorogho 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not know, but it is as if we are going back. When we got to the distribution, we went through all this. If he would want me to recap, I am prepared to do that, because I just ended at the 10 per cent. We go down and there is another 5 per cent; and again there is another 5 per cent. That would bring the total to 100 per cent.
So, we are only doing the redis- tribution; taking that of the Ministry, cutting it down by 6 per cent and re- distributing that. It does not exceed 100. It is exactly 100 per cent.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, that is why I am saying he should give us the current distribution so that we know that it is 100 per cent.
If we rush it and make a mistake, it would be difficult to come back and change it. If what he is saying is true, then there has to be a current distribution that includes the 2 per cent in clause 25, I would like some clarity; otherwise, there would be double counting.
Mr Speaker noon
Hon Members, I have the Votes and Proceedings of that day in front of me here, and I think that the point that the Hon Member for Old Tafo is making is very legitimate.
This is because the amendment of clause 21 (3) (d) which has been agreed to by the House, standing in the name of the Hon Minister for Employment and Labour Relations states, and I beg to quote:
“Amendment proposed -- Subclause (3), paragraph (d), line 1, delete “ten” and insert “not more than twelve”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Speaker noon
“Not more than” -- So, clearly, there is a problem.
Clearly, there is a problem and we need to take our time because, if we say 14 per cent or 12 per cent, it is different from saying “not more than”… At the end of the day, we must have our 100 per cent. In the Bill, they are very specific, but when “not more than” is introduced, it brings a completely new dimension. I do not know
-- noon
Mr Bagbin noon
Mr Speaker, I would want to plead that we rather do not move this amendment now. We would need to do that in the presence of the Hon Minister to be sure that, the figures agree with that of the Ministry before we accept it.
So, with the leave of the House and your kind permission, I pray that the Hon Chairman withdraws the proposed amendment and that, we adjourn the discussion until the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources comes to the House. I believe we can get him to the House possibly by tomorrow, so that we can take this Bill through the Second Consideration Stage.
Mr Speaker noon
Yes, I agree with you, but I think that it is a matter that the House can handle. I have gone through the Votes and Proceedings of that day and I think it is rather the Hon Chairman who is misleading the House.
This is because, if you look at subclause 3 (d), they used the word “not more than.” So, if it is being taken through a Second Consideration Stage, reference must be made to all these clauses and corrected. You do not only mention subclause (3) (d).
The problem is to get it properly captured on the Order Paper, then, it can be taken tomorrow.
Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin noon
Mr Speaker, it is time for us to call the House into a joint Caucus Meeting to brief Hon Members on very important issues.
So, if we may at this time move, that the House do adjourn till tomorrow, when we can continue with the Business of the House at 10.00 o'clock in the forenoon to pave way for us to hold the Joint Caucus Meeting to deliberate on the issues that clearly touch Hon Members in this House.
Mr Speaker noon
Hon Members, it is a very important briefing. So, I will urge all of you to be around to listen to the Leaders.
Hon Majority Leader, have you moved the Motion?
Mr Bagbin noon
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Daniel Botwe noon
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT noon
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 12.04 p.m. till Friday, 12th February, 2016 at 10.00 a.m.