Debates of 18 Feb 2016

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:10 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings.
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon Members, we do not have any Official Report for correction today. So, we would move on to Questions.
Question time; yes?
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would crave your indulgence and that of the House for the Hon Deputy Minister for Health to answer the Questions on behalf of the Hon Minister, who is out of the country on an official assignment.
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if he is out of the country, it should not be a problem.
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Very well. [Pause.]
We would start with Question number 481, standing in the name of the Hon Member for Tano North.
Ms Freda Akosua O. Prempeh 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, before I ask my Question, I requested for a written response and as of now, I have not received any response. I do not know whether the Table Office has received anything from the Hon Minister.
Alhaji Muntaka 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in fact, I tried calling my Hon Colleagues to inform them that we got the Answers very late and they are being run on the Order Paper Addendum. They will bring them soon. So, we would try and get them for her.
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Why did we get the Answers very late? Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Alhaji Muntaka 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yesterday in the evening around 5.30 p.m., we got a letter from the Ministry of Health informing us about the absence of the Hon Minister and that they wanted the Hon Minister himself to come. We had to argue that since the Hon Deputy Minister is around, we would be happy to receive him --
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon Member, the Hon Minister's absence is a different matter but the Answers.
Alhaji Muntaka 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it was after this that we agreed that they should bring the Answers and that we would welcome the Hon Deputy Minister. That was why the Answers got here late. By the time they got here, they had already printed the Order Paper.
Mr Speaker 10:10 a.m.
Hon Majority Chief Whip, should the Answers be based on whether a Minister or Deputy Minister is coming to answer the Questions?
Alhaji Muntaka 10:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect, they wanted to seek permission not to come and answer the Questions -- they did not come with the Answers. Until we cleared it with them that we could accept the Hon Deputy Minister to answer them --
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Is that what the rule says? Hon Majority Chief Whip, that you must seek permission whether the Hon Minister or his Deputy is coming before you send the Answers? Is that what the rule says?
Alhaji Muntaka 10:20 a.m.
No! Mr Speaker, I am only giving the background why it delayed. We received it late last night; that is why the printing delayed, but now the Order Paper Addendum is in for our Hon Colleagues to follow.
Mr Nitiwul 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am happy that the Addendum is in but this is becoming one too many. You have a Business Statement that was read last Friday and it listed the Questions that would be taken for the ensuing week.
These Questions are given to the various sector Ministries to prepare the Answers. So, for anybody to wait till the day just before the Questions would be asked, and in the evening send the Answers, is unhealthy.
The Answers are even worse than the Questions. It is as if somebody prepared them over the last five minutes. I am surprised. When I say over the last five minutes, I know it is not over the last five minutes. I mean somebody sat down yesterday, and for some reason, prepared the Answers. Three and four lined Answers for almost all of them.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon Member, as for the nature of the Answers, it is a different matter. This is because those are the Answers they provided. So, when we start, that one is a different matter.
I agree with you entirely. Hon Majority Chief Whip, you know this House is a House of record.
The coming of the Hon Minister or Hon Deputy Minister has nothing to do with the Answers. I thought you were going to concede that there was a delay and you are sorry that the Answers were not in early, then we make progress. But trying to defend the indefensible --
Alhaji Muntaka 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought I ended with an apology and I said that it was unfortunate that it delayed.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Did you apologise?
Alhaji Muntaka 10:20 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, I did. We are very sorry. Under the given circumstances, we would continue to do the best that we could to ensure that this is avoided.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, he has apologised on behalf of the Ministry, so, let us make progress.
Hon Members, Question number 481.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:20 a.m.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH 10:20 a.m.
Ms Prempeh 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to ask the Hon Deputy Minister, again, when did it come to their attention that the Tano North District Health Directorate was being housed in a metal container?
Dr Bampoe 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Tano North District Health Management Team office issue is not an isolated one. There are quite a number of District Health Management teams that do not have offices and we have a standard plan for making sure that all the District Health Management teams have offices.
For Tano North, we have slated that for our 2017 budget, we would make provision for this to be upgraded. In the meantime, we want to talk to the District Assembly to make sure that if it is possible, some temporary accommodation be given, as we work on the permanent solution.
Ms Prempeh 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am surprised that the Hon Deputy Minister is telling us that it is not surprising that a whole directorate is being housed in a metal container. This is a situation where the last time I visited the office of the Health Director, unfortunately, we lost her over the weekend when she came to the office to work and was returning to Bechem.
This was because none of them lives within the district. She lived in Bechem and the former lived in Sunyani and they had been commuting from Sunyani. They did not have residential accommodation.
As I speak with you, the former director was housed by the St. John of God Hospital and he is being ejected. They have vaccines and they store them in the office of the Acting Director. And he is telling me that they are going to --
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon Member, your Question?
Ms Prempeh 10:20 a.m.
I would want to find out from the Hon Deputy Minister, when is he going to talk to the District Assembly to find suitable accommodation for the District Health Directorate because it is a very serious situation.
Dr Bampoe 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I identify with the urgency of the situation. Like I said in my previous answer, we are going to speak to the District Assembly at the earliest possible time. We have already made provision to put a substantive amount of money to cover this in our 2017 budget. At the shortest possible time, we would speak to the District Assembly to see if we could have some temporary arrangement.
Ms Prempeh 10:20 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, would you consider --
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
I thought that you had exhausted your three supplementary Questions.
Ms Prempeh 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this is the third one.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Very well.
Ms Prempeh 10:20 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I would like to find out from the Hon Deputy Minister whether he would consider renting an apartment for them to use as an office. This is because I do not know how the District Assembly is going to find accommodation for them because they do not have any spare room to offer.
Dr Bampoe 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, without having the specific details of what is happening there, I would not be able to give an answer about whether we can do a rental. However, if we do this consultation, I am prepared to come back and provide information on how the consultation went.
rose
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon Members, I thought this is constituency specific Question -- Hon Deputy Minority Leader, so that we could make progress.
Very well, Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
Mr Nituwul 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we should make progress but there are some interesting details that are coming out. He said that, without knowing exactly what was going on on the ground, he could not give details. Is he saying that when the Question was filed and given to him, they did not take time to find out exactly what was happening there to come and give us the details here, yet he came to answer the Questions?
Dr Bampoe 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, that was not what I said. What I said was that, we would consult with the District Assembly to see if there is scope for them to help with the provision of a temporary accommodation. What we know for now is that, we are going to provide funding for a substantive office in our 2017 budget.
However, we need to make temporary arrangements and that is why we would consult with the District Assembly before we would know what to do before 2017.
Mr Nitiwul 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Answer he said that they are liaising with the District Assembly to provide -- When he said he did not know what was happening there, in his consultation with the District Assembly, what did they tell him was happening there?
Dr Bampoe 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we do not yet have the concrete details about whether the District Assembly would be able to support us at the present time. So, we are still talking to the District Assembly and
when we have more information, we would share it with this august House.
Yamfo Health Centre (Upgrade to status of Polyclinic)
Q. 482. Ms Freda Akosua O. Prempeh asked the Minister for Health what plans the Ministry had to upgrade the Yamfo Health Centre to the status of a polyclinic.
Dr Bampoe 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Health is aware that the population of Yamfo is growing and it will require a bigger facility.
The Ministry has programmed to provide a polyclinic for Yamfo. Yamfo has been slated for a concessional funding submitted to the Ministry of Finance.
Ms Prempeh 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I asked the same Question last year and I was given the same Answer -- [Laughter] -- So, I would want to find out what has happened between last year and this year.
Dr Bampoe 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, initially in 2013, we sent to the Ministry of Finance a request for some funding to provide the polyclinic. Unfortunately, it was rejected because of the reasons of non- concessionary loan.
We have various facilities that we have submitted to the Ministry of Finance for consideration and when they become available, Yamfo would definitely be considered for a polyclinic.
Ms Prempeh 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Deputy Minister how soon we should expect this funding to come through so that Yamfo Health Centre would benefit from a polyclinic status?
Dr Bampoe 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this is outside the remit of the Ministry of Health and so, I would not be able to give timelines. It is within the ambit of the Ministry of Finance.
Ms Prempeh 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Deputy Minister, whether in the interim, while we are waiting for them to go through those processes, they would provide Yamfo Health Centre with some hospital equipment.
I requested for that last year and I was given the assurance but up till now, we have not received anything. So, would he consider it now, by giving us some hospital equipment while we wait for funding to upgrade the Yamfo Health Centre into a polyclinic?
Dr Bampoe 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, indeed, Yamfo is going to benefit from some health equipment under the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Acceleration Framework.
We have already received the equipment and we are doing some of the distr ibution. So, in a very short while,Yamfo would receive its allocation of health equipment.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Question 483 -- Hon Member for Jaman North.
Mr Yaw Afful 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member of Parliament in question is not here at the moment, and he has asked me to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Very well.
Health facility at Sampa (Upgrade)
Q. 483. Mr Yaw Afful(on behalf of Mr Stevens Siaka) asked the Minister for Health what plans the Ministry has to upgrade the health facility at Sampa, in the Jaman North District, to the status of a district hospital.
Dr Bampoe 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is Government's policy to provide every district with a district hospital as a first referral point at the district level. In line with this policy, the Ministry of Health is currently negotiating for concessionary funding to provide a district hospital for Sampa in the Jaman North District as part of the Ministry of Health's Capital Investment Plan.
Sampa is currently ranked fifth in the Brong Ahafo Region for the upgrading of facilities into a district hospital. As soon as funds are available, Sampa will be considered.
Mr Yaw Afful 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am tempted not to ask a follow up Question. This is because any time we ask a Question of this nature, the Answer is the same -- “when funds become available”. So, I am very sure any question I am going to ask the Hon Deputy Minister, the answer is going to be “when funds become available”.
That said, I believe my Hon Friend asked this Question because recently, there are several cases reported in Jaman North about--
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Member, please, ask your Question.
Mr Yaw Afful 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Deputy Minister when he thinks funds are going to be made available for the upgrade.
Dr Bampoe 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is on record that 13 district hospitals are already in various stages of completion. It is also on record that there are various financing facilities with the Ministry of Finance that are being considered for use to build district hospitals. Some of these are from Odelca in Austria, NMS Infrastructure, Sinohydro of China and Turkish EXIM Bank.
When any of these becomes available, Jaman would be considered for a district hospital.
Mr Yaw Afful 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, so, the Hon Deputy Minister is basically telling us that Sampa would not be considered until all the loans that he just mentioned are approved?
Mr Speaker, recently, there has been a case of meningitis in Sampa and I believe that was part of the reason my Hon Colleague asked this Question.
Let us assume that if those loans are --
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Member, you cannot assume. Ask your question.
Mr Yaw Afful 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Sampa is ranked fifth on the list. Can he please tell us the number one, two, three and four in that order?
Dr Bampoe 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the ranking is in this order; first is Sene, second is Atebubu, third is Bechem, fourth is Goaso and fifth is Jaman North, Sampa.
Mr Yaw Afful 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not have any further questions.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Members, Question number 504.
Yes, Hon Member for Fanteakwa South?
New Regional Hospital (State)
Q.504. Mr Kofi Okyere-Agyekum asked the Minister for Health what was the state of the new Regional Hospital for the Eastern Region which was expected to begin in 2013.
Dr Bampoe 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to indicate that technical and financial proposals were received from a prospective investor for the new Eastern Regional Hospital. These proposals were submitted to the Ministry of Finance.
Unfortunately, the Ministry of Finance did not accept the terms on the basis of non-concessional facility. We are still exploring other sources of funding for the start of the new regional hospital.
Mr Okyere-Agyekum 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know from the Hon Deputy Minister, who the prospective investor was, and when his proposal was submitted?
Dr Bampoe 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the prospective financier was Quantum Solutions of Spain, and that fell through. So, we are now looking at US Exim Bank.
Mr Okyere-Agyekum 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know the state of negotiations with the new financier. He said Quantum Solutions of Spain or the US Exim Bank and when does he think the construction of the hospital would begin?
Dr Bampoe 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this is within the realms of the Ministry of Finance and so, I would not be able to tell exactly where the status of the negotiation is. But I would want to assure this House that, it is the policy of Government to ensure that there is a regional hospital in every region.
In that regard, the Regional Hospital in Upper West, Upper East, Eastern, and Kumasi in the Ashanti Region are already at various stages of completion and we would make sure that the Eastern Regional Hospital is also brought to life.
Mr Okyere-Agyekum 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the construction of the Eastern Regional Hospital was in the 2013 Budget Statement. It was also repeated in the 2014 Budget Statement.
Dr Bampoe 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, please, I did not hear the Question.
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Member, would you give us the paragraph — I believe you are prepared; that is why you looked at the 2013 and 2014 Budget Statements. For the records, can you give us the paragraphs of those budgets, where they have been captured?
Mr Okyere-Agyekum 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the budget is an official publication and it is captured in it. So, anybody can click to find out.
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Member, unfortunately for you, I admit the questions. So, if I want you to lay foundation before I allow the Deputy Minister to answer the question — I do not know whether it was in the budget.
Mr Okyere-Agyekum 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is in the budget.
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
And I believe that you have done your homework and that is why you knew that it was in the 2013 and 2014 Budget Statements, and I would want you to help the House, for me to be sure that what you are saying is true.
Mr Okyere-Agyekum 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not remember the paragraph but I will communicate it to you.
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
You do not remember?
Mr Okyere-Agyekum 10:40 a.m.
But I will communicate it to the House — [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, the Hon Member asking the question says he cannot remember the paragraph whether it was there. Provide the information if you have it.
Dr Bampoe 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, much as Government's priority is to provide regional hospitals in each of the regions of Ghana, there is also the debate of whether the funding should be concessionary or commercial, and that is of overriding concern to the Ministry of Finance. So, we are doing whatever we can to make sure that we get the proper financing to undertake this project.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am grateful for your kindness.
Mr Speaker, I wish to know from the Hon Deputy Minister, if by his answer, he is telling us that this Government cannot fund a regional hospital for the good people of Eastern Region without resorting to a concessionary facility?
Dr Bampoe 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, there are clear examples where Government has provided health facilities. We have done it in the Volta and the Central Regions, and it would definitely be done in the Eastern Region — [Pause.]
Mr Kennedy Nyarko Osei 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Deputy Minister whether he is happy that a region with a population of over three million has no regional hospital, and as a sector Deputy Minister, he is happy that the region has no regional hospital?
Dr Bampoe 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this hospital would definitely be provided. Whether I am happy or not, definitely, I am not happy. That is actually my region. So, as it has been done in the other regions, Eastern Region would also have a regional hospital.
Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we have heard from the Hon Deputy Minister about which regional hospitals are being put up, and in different stages of completion — from Wa to Kumasi to Sunyani, and even in Accra — [Interruption.]
Mr Speaker, even in Accra, three very huge hospitals; the Ridge Hospital, the Police Hospital —
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
Hon Member, your question?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am just finishing my foundation — and the Legon Hospital.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Deputy Minister — we now know that we are recruiting doctors who we do not have money to pay. Nurses are not being posted because we do not have budget for payroll. Who and who are going to man these hospitals after completion, and what provisions have we made in the medium-term, to pay these people who are going to work in these hospitals?
Mr Speaker 10:40 a.m.
That is not a supplementary question.
The last question on this matter.
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh 10:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the 2013 Budget, any allocated funds for the Koforidua Hospital was repeated as continuing project in the 2014 Budget. Is the Hon Deputy Minister saying that, that was all propaganda?
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Member, what is your question?
Dr Prempeh 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, just like the Ashanti Regional Hospital, the Eastern Regional Hospital was mentioned in the 2013 Budget as a project that was going to be started in 2013.
Mr Speaker, it was repeated in the 2014 Budget as a continuing Government project. My question is, where is the money?
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
That question is inadmissible.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the question to the Hon Minister is:
“What is the state of the new Regional Hospital for the Eastern Region which was expected to begin in 2013?”
Mr Speaker, the answer from the Ministry as read by the Hon Deputy Minister is that, they have received technical and financial proposals from a prospective investor.
Mr Speaker, the issue now is, what happens to the allocation contained in the Budgets of 2014 and 2015?
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, in order to help the Chair know whether the allocation was there, I need to be guided whether it was actually put there. As I sit here now, I do not have any evidence before me whether it was actually in the 2014 or 2015 Budget Statement.
The way the Hon Member who asked the question was so specific, I thought that he could help the House by just making reference to the relevant
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect to the Chair, you are the singular person responsible for admitting Questions. And you admitted this Question -- I would want to believe that you read through the Question.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
I did.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
And you knew the gravamen of the Question and you admitted it?
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Yes.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the premise of this is that, the Budget Statement for 2013 mentioned that this project would be started and that an allocation was made to that effect.
Mr Speaker, if the issue as you are saying is that, you do not have the Budget Statement before you and so you are not able to ascertain, I have some difficulties. This is because the Budget Statement is an official publication and to say that --
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, at times, I admit certain Questions for the Ministers to come and say that yes, it is not there at all. At times, I do admit some of the Questions. It does not mean that every Question I admit -- at times, I just admit them.
This is because it deals with the health of the people. So, I was expecting the Minister, for example, in his Answer to say whether there was anything in the 2013 or 2014 Budget Statement when he was providing his Answer.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I saw you --
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Anyway, if you want to ask a question, please, do ask your Question. I wanted to be guided by the 2013 or 2014 Budget Statement.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
The guidance was what I was trying to provide. But if there is still no clarity, it may be pursued some other time.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Very well.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
I believe the Minister on his own volition could also come with further and better particulars.
Mr Speaker, for now, regional hospitals have been built and some have been pencilled down to be built. The Answer provided by the Ministry is that, with respect to the regional hospital for Eastern Region, technical and financial proposals have been received from a prospective investor.
Is it the case that from now on, the policy of Government is to rely on prospective private investors before hospitals are constructed in those areas where we do not have them?
Dr Bampoe 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, that is not the policy of Government. It is the policy of Government to provide these health facilities by whichever legitimate means necessary and one of them is by this funding with the loan which fell through. So, as we go forward, we would ensure that funding is provided for the Eastern Regional Hospital to be built.
Thank you.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, is it the case then that the development of some hospitals could be stalled because
private investors cannot be sourced whereas in others, the Government of Ghana (GoG) may provide funding?
Dr Bampoe 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my answer to this question would be guided by history and experience and to my knowledge, none of the health facilities being built so far have financing.
Thank you.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, for very strategic reasons, when I am asking the questions, I do not want to look into the face of the Deputy Minister and he understands why.
Some Hon Members 10:50 a.m.
Why?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, -- [Laughter]-- the question that I proposed is premised on this. So, how many experiences would you want to get going forward?
Mr Speaker, and I see a slim macho person behind the Minister who would want to convert himself into a coach. [Laughter.] If he would recline into his seat and liberate the Hon Deputy Minister to answer the question. [Laughter.] -- I believe the Deputy Minister is very capable of answering the questions.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
So, what is the question, please?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
The question is how many such similar experiences would the Hon Deputy Minister want to confront himself with before coming to the conclusion that they would not have to rely on private investors to build hospitals?
Alhaji Muntaka 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think the Hon Minority Leader knows the rules of this House.
This question requires a proper notice and he knows if he wants to get answers with regard to all other projects that are being challenged because of funding or being in private hands or whatever, he has to do what is proper but he cannot come and --
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Members, in the Hon Deputy Minister's supplementary response, he has raised these matters and to that extent, it is a legitimate question. [Hear! Hear!]
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for a Daniel who had come to judgement. [Interruption.]
Alhaji Muntaka— rose --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Two things; either the Hon Muntaka was not listening to the answers provided by the Deputy Minister or he purposed to arrogate to himself the powers of the Speaker. The Hon Muntaka is not in the position to admit questions. He does not.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
And Mr Speaker, because I have the floor, can you tell the Hon Muntaka to sit down? [Laughter.] I have not finished my submission and two people cannot be standing. [Interruptions.]
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, you have the floor.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
And he was talking across the aisle and not speaking into the microphone and he knows that he cannot do that, Mr Speaker. And that is why he restricted himself to that.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, now the question as I said --
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Majority Chief Whip, do you have a point of order?
Alhaji Muntaka 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect, I take serious offence to the Hon Minority Leader saying that Mr Speaker should order me to sit down. He knows the rules of this House and he is upstanding and making his submission.
Now, if I think that I have an objection to what he is saying, I can be on my feet. It is not for him to create an impression that when somebody is speaking, no other Hon Member can stand.
Mr Speaker, what I feel offended about is that, he cannot purport to say whether I was not listening to his question or I did not know what he was talking about.
I have every right as a Member of Parliament to raise objections. Mr Speaker made a ruling and I agreed with the ruling of Mr Speaker. But for the Hon Minority Leader to move on to purport that I was not listening or I was not paying attention is an offence.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Majority Chief Whip, are you taking objection to the fact that he said you should sit down or because he said you were not listening; which is which, or you are taking offence at both issues? [Laughter.]
I would want to know which one exactly because you have raised two issues. So, I would want to be clear in my mind.
Alhaji Muntaka 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my objection is first for the Hon Minority Leader to have authorised you or asked you to ask me to sit down -- [Uproar.] Because it is part of the rules of this House that when he is speaking, I can keep standing.
Secondly, the reason I was standing was because of the comment he made that I was not listening or did not understand what he was saying; he cannot think for me. That was why I stood up and he could not say I should be asked to sit down -- he knows the rules of this House.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I have made a ruling on the Hon Member's point of order but he said he is not happy with your response after my ruling.
What do you say to that?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think it gets back to the basis.
First of all, I never said that he did not know what he was talking about and he was attributing that to me. It then goes back to whether or not he was listening carefully to what I said. [Laughter.] I never said that, but he says that I said so.
Mr Speaker, on a more serious note, the issue that I raised --
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Members, you are in Leadership and you should know when you take certain things as a joke and when you take certain things seriously. I believe that this should be taken on a lighter side. “Oh, sit down! Sit down!” we all say that in the House to one another. I believe that it is on that light note that he said those words.
With regard to the fact that you were not listening, however, because you raised a point of order, that was not fair. It was not fair for you to say that the Hon Member was not listening.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if he was not listening is a difficulty, then he was not following. [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Member, withdraw that part. He said that he was not happy when you said that he was not listening.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
I withdraw that one and substitute it with, “he was not following”. [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker, per your ruling, deducing from what the Hon Minister himself said, it is part of it, so I was right in raising it. He said I do not have the right to do that. So clearly, Mr Speaker, maybe, he was not following the trend. Is this offensive?
Mr Speaker, because he is a Whip and you said that maybe both are incorrect or maybe he takes offence, even though I believe it does not offend the rules, in deference to him, what do I substitute it with?
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Is it in deference to the Chair or to him? I am the one giving the order.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, both; to you and to him. Mr Speaker, what word would he be comfortable with?
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, you are out of order. Hon Minority Leader --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, clearly, he was not religiously following what was going on --
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, that is not the point. I have made a ruling.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Thank you very much. I respect your ruling.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
So, you do not go back. It was unnecessary.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I will trace my steps back. [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Very well.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Question as it stands, is to the Hon Minister.
Dr Bampoe 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, a lot of factors go into the consideration of financing for health facilities as it goes for other facilities. It is precisely the reason we do not want these projects to stall, that the Ministry of Finance does the due diligence.
Some of the other instruments that we have used to construct projects include Public Private Partnerships (PPP) like the Urology Centre and the Diagnostic Centre, all at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
Mr Speaker, it is always the reason we are careful to start with these projects so that once the Ministry of Finance gives the go ahead, we are completely sure that halfway through the project, we would not be starved of funds.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Question numbered 505 -- [Pause.] Hon Member for Salaga North?
The Kpalbe Health Centre (Upgrading into Polyclinic)
Q. 505. Mr Mumuni Alhassan asked the Deputy Minister for Health when the Kpalbe Health Centre would be upgraded to a polyclinic.
Dr Bampoe 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry is aware of the population increment in the area. It has therefore been considered as part of the four-year Capital Investment Plan. As soon as the Ministry secures funds, the facility will be upgraded to a polyclinic accordingly.
Mr M. Alhassan 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the interim, what would the Ministry do to improve the health service delivery of the people in the area since the only Senior Health Officers we can find in the constituency are midwives?
Dr Bampoe 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the substantive solution is to provide them with a polyclinic. Before that however, we would consider that this health centre is provided with some equipment under the Millennium Development Goals Acceleration Framework (MAF) which has been distributing some equipment even as we speak.
Mr M. Alhassan 11 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am all right.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Question was to ask the Hon Minister when the Kpalbe Health Centre would be upgraded to a polyclinic.
The Hon Minister told us and I beg to quote:
“…the Ministry is aware of the population increment in the area. It has therefore been considered as part of the four-year Capital Investment Plan. As soon as the Ministry secures funds, the facility will be upgraded to a polyclinic accordingly.”
Mr Speaker, is it the case that an area must attain a critical population mass for it to have a polyclinic? If that is the case, what is the size of the population that an area must attain to have a polyclinic?
Dr Bampoe 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, for an area to be considered for a polyclinic, the population size must be about 30,000. In that regard, this Government has provided more than 15 polyclinics even as we speak.
The Upper West Region has five polyclinics; Northern Region has five polyclinics; Brong Ahafo Region has five polyclinics; Central Region will have 10 polyclinics; Western Region will have five and Greater Accra Region will have five polyclinics.
This is because of the increase in population size and the Ministry of Health's drive to make sure that we are in line with the 30,000 people per polyclinic policy that we have set.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the population size in my constituency is over 200,000. Would the Hon Minister consider serving Suame with a population of over -- with a polyclinic? [Interruption.] Tafo has a population size of over 150,000 and that is why I am asking the Hon Minister whether he would consider providing a polyclinic to Suame, especially, considering the fact that on the Suame road, until one gets to Offinso, there is no public hospital?
Indeed, even the Offinso one is owned by the Catholic Church. Will the Hon Minister consider that, given the accident rate on that road which is traversed by the Hon Member for Asawase, who has farms on that road as well as the Hon Minister for the Upper West Region?
Dr Bampoe 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, indeed, that is already under consideration and we will look into that.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Question time.
Hon Deputy Minister for Health, thank you for attending upon the House to respond to Questions from Hon Members.
At the Commencement of Public Business --
Alhaji Muntaka 11:10 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, item number 5 (a) on the Order Paper is ready for laying and we have the Hon Minister in the House to do that.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Members, Presentation of Papers -- item number 5 (a) on the Order Paper by the Hon Minister for Employment and Labour Relations.
PAPERS 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
The Hon First Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.
Alhaji Muntaka 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to crave your indulgence and that of the House to come under Standing Order 53 to vary the order of business. This is to allow us take the items on the Order Paper Addendum and for the Hon Deputy Minister for Health to lay the Paper on behalf of the Hon Minister.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, Order Paper Addendum -- Presentation of Papers by the Hon Deputy Minister for Health on behalf of the Hon Minister for Health. [Interruptions.] No! Permission has been asked for him already.

By the Deputy Minister for Health (Dr Victor Asare Bampoe on behalf of the Minister for Health) --

Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service) and Oldelft Benelux B.V. of The Netherlands for the procurement of medical equipment in the sum of eighteen million, eight hundred and forty-two thousand, three hundred and thirty-five euros (€18,842,335.00), to support the project for the acceleration of tuberculosis case detection in Ghana.

Referred to the Committee on Health.
Alhaji Muntaka 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we would be grateful if we could take item number 13 on the original Order Paper.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Is item number 5 (c) on the Order Paper ready?
Where is the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Roads and Transport?
Alhaji Muntaka 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Reports are not ready to be laid.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well; so, what is the next item?
Alhaji Muntaka 11:10 a.m.
Item number 13.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Members, item number 13 on the Order Paper -- National Disaster Management Organisation Bill, 2015, at the Consideration Stage.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member for Manhyia South?
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
I think the Hon Members of the Finance Committee -- I cannot see the Hon Chairman and the Hon Ranking Member; the Hon Ranking Member has just entered.
Dr Prempeh 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is the Committee on Education that is handling that Bill.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe that the Committee on Education is in a workshop outside the House right now. So, there is no -- I am a member of that Committee, but I got the information too late.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well.
The National Disaster Management Organisation Bill, 2015 at the Consideration Stage.
The Hon First Deputy Speaker takes the Chair.
MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:14 a.m.
Hon Chairman of the Committee, is it the first time we are taking a bite at this Bill? [Interruption] -- Very well; then in that case, we would deal with clause 1.
BILLS -- CONSIDERATION 11:14 a.m.
STAGE 11:14 a.m.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:14 a.m.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, I have not been able to have any consultations with the Hon Chairman of the Committee. The suggestion that I am about to proffer should go to the root of this Bill.
Mr Speaker, it seems that this body must not be a mere organisation; it should be an Authority. As I have said, unfortunately, I have not had any discussion with the Hon Minister for the Interior.
I would have suggested that for the headnote for clause 1, we delete “organisation” and subst itute “Authority”. But as I said, maybe, it is something we may have to discuss before we proceed. This is because an organisation is just a group of people formed into a society or union.

Mr Speaker, it is a policy issue and that is why -- As I said, I have not had any discussion with the Hon Minister or the Hon Chairman of the Committee. I thought that we should have a serious reconsideration of it.
Alhaji Muntaka 11:14 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to plead with the Hon Minority Leader, in that sense, if we could stand it down because it is a major policy issue, whether it should be an organisation or an Authority. This is for that particular
aspect to be stood down for consultation to be done with the Ministry. When we get a clear understanding of what they would want or if they prefer to take the “Authority”, we could deal with that instead of trying to deal with it now on the Floor.
Mr James Agalga 11:14 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would agree with the Hon Minority Leader. There is the need for us to have consultations as a House with regard to what form the organisation should take, even though we originally thought that we should have a Service. Mr Speaker, due to certain considerations, we thought that it is all right to allow the organisation to remain so.
Mr Speaker, I would want to suggest however, that in order to save time, we deal with the proposed amendments while we do the consultations with regard to what form the organisation would take. We can do that; but proceeding to deal with the amendments now would not be fatal to our having those discussions subsequently.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:14 a.m.
Mr Speaker, certainly, if we are changing the structure, that is really the foundation of the Bill, the whole philosophy is going to change.
Mr Speaker, I am surprised that after so many years, we are still talking about an “organisation”. It is an emergency agent or authority; multi-sectorial. I would have thought that was what would have been the structure. This is because it involves almost all the other Ministries, security agencies, et cetera.
Mr Speaker, taking this amendment would be an exercise in futility if at the end of the day, we are going to decide that it is an Authority. If it is an Authority, the structure itself must change.
It also has to do with our whole philosophy. Is it to manage disasters or it is to deal with emergencies?
We do not have disaster management organisations these days. If one goes to the United States of America, it is emergencies; we do not have disaster management organisations there. It is more of putting it on a wall footing.
Certainly, if the Hon Minority Leader suggests that it ought to be an Authority, I believe we do not have to go through these amendments. It is something that may merit some further considerations -- decisions. Of course, we can decide, but Government itself must think through what it desires to achieve with this present organisation.
Mr Speaker, my suggestion, in the light of the Hon Minority Leader's issue, is to stand it down and, discuss it comprehen- sively. Fortunately, I have had the opportunity in serving as the Minister for the Interior and I have no doubt in my mind that, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) should not be an Agency under the Ministry of the Interior.
I even said that, it must be a National Emergency Authority to deal with emergencies where it can decide to mobilise when it becomes necessary.
Mr Speaker, this gives us an opportunity to think through this. That is my suggestion.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:14 a.m.
I indicated that I will recognise the Hon Member for Bekwai after that, I will come to you.
Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I align myself with the sentiments expressed by the Hon Member for Sekondi, and prior to that, the Hon Minority Leader. The critical thing is to first decide, as a policy, whether we will change what it is now or not.
Mr Speaker, as soon as we decide to change and make it an Authority, the management structure including the functions we have declared for it now may have to change.
So, I think it will be proper at this stage to suspend discussion on this matter and firm up the decision as to which direction we want to go. We can, re-organise after that. What I am not sure of is, whether we can effect the structural changes of the Bill, having it in our possession as a House, or we should send it back to the Ministry.
That is a decision, I believe Leadership, in consultation with the Committee, can come to and assist us in going forward.
Alhaji Muntaka 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, all the suggestions that are coming up are great. My worry is, looking at the stages that we have passed and where we have reached -- It has gone through Cabinet. Government has decided that, this is its policy; it was brought to this House and we debated the policy and approved of it. Now, we are at the Consideration Stage and these ideas, as excellent as they may be, are coming up.
Mr Speaker, I am at a loss as to how we will be able to deal with it here. This is because this is what the Government policy is; we could be making suggestions but until that is accepted, this is what the Government has brought to us and we have taken it through some Stages already.
That is why I am of the view that, this is something that could be for further discussion and consideration.For now, however, this is what is before us.

Mr Speaker, I heard someone shout “We reject it”. That takes us where we divide the lines but that is not necessary. I am of the view that it is better to build this consensus outside here. We need to be able to move ahead with what we have for now and after today, we will try and organise a meeting to deal with it.

Mr Speaker, our own rules do not allow us at this stage to try to impose what we want in trying to change the whole structure.

Mr Speaker, this is because the rules of this House are very clear. We have gone through the First and Second Readings where we approved the policy direction as regards this Bill. Now, we are at the Consideration stage where these wonderful ideas are coming up. I do not know whether at this stage, we will really have the mandate to say that we do not want to consider it now but we should go back and work at it.

We should rather pick the discussions so that if we are able to build consensus and agree to the changes, the Hon Minister can always come and withdraw the Bill, go back and put it in a manner that we all want with the suggestions that are coming up and then it will be dealt with.

Mr Speaker, to arrest it at this stage is my difficulty. I do not know, within our rules, how we will be able to proceed.
Mr William Ofori Boafo 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I appreciate the proposal to have the name amended to Authority but my problem is that, those advocating for such a change have not been able to establish before Mr Speaker, that they have studied the Bill and they feel that, if we change the name into Authority, it will affec t the functions in this way or that way. For example, Clauses “a”, “b”, “c” and affect the composition in this way; clauses “5”, “6”, and so on.
Mr Speaker, my problem is that, the change of the name being proposed is not related to the provisions of the Bill. It is just advocated that we should change the name. How do we change the name? Let us know that the change of the name is going to affect the substance of the Bill; that way, we will be doing some very good job here.
But just saying that we should “change the name”, and then we abandon what we have decided to do now, I do not think we will be doing justice to the Committee and the House.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister for Roads and Highways, you were up.
Alhaji Inusah A.B. Fuseini 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, just to reiterate that -- Yes, there might be good reasons why some Hon Members believe that there should be a change of name.
Mr Speaker, the procedure for introducing Bills into this House is very clear. This is not a private Member's Bill; it is a Bill emanating from Government. That being the case, the accompanying memoranda went through Cabinet and Cabinet considered the memoranda originating from the Ministry of the Interior and then approved the Bill to be forwarded to Parliament.
Mr Speaker, that is a policy decision and we cannot be seen to be introducing policy inconsistent with the policy initiated by Government. Government says, NADMO must be an Organisation, and consistent with the previous practice.
Mr Speaker, indeed, to change it into a Service or Authority would have other consequences which have not been considered by Cabinet and if it is our view that it should be changed into an Authority, the discussion ought to have been at the Committee level so that they could have referred the matter back to the Ministry and then to Cabinet.
But having approved the policy decision in the First Reading, the procedure is clear that we have to go on with the Bill.
Mr Speaker, the procedure is clear; we have to go on with the Bill. We have approved the policy behind the Bill and so we have to go on and look at the substantive provisions supporting that policy.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am surprised the Hon Minister says that is the procedure. In this House, it is the Speaker who makes these determinations but he is saying that it is our determination.
Mr Speaker, when I listened to the Hon Deputy Minister for the Interior, I heard him say that consultations need to be done. He did not say whether he agreed or not. So, let us allow him time to do these consultations and if it is such that they want to continue this way, we move on.
As has been stated, if the consultation leads to a change of heart, the proper thing would be done and it would be withdrawn. He requested that consultation be done but those consultations have not been done. I do not know, but it could be that --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Minister, is it on a point of order?
Alhaji Fuseini 11:30 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.

That is what he said; I heard him. This is a point of order.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Can we have some order, please.
Alhaji Fuseini 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, a policy cannot be a function of the Legislature. When students are in this House listening to our debate, and Hon Akoto Osei seem to suggest that policies can originate from this House is grossly misleading.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Very well.
Could we hear from the Hon Akoto Osei?
Dr A. A. Osei 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in my opinion, when we are in plenary and he says students are here -- He must speak the truth. I never said what he purports me to have said. He is my good Friend, but Mr Speaker, in my opinion, he should withdraw that Statement. I did not say that policy emanates from this House. He know I did not say that.
If he said that on the political platform, I would not mind. But he is in an august House. An Hon Minister playing to the gallery and he says students are here. He is my Friend and so on a soft note, I ask him to stop misquoting me. It is not fair for a Friend to be playing this game.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Very well.
You did not say that. But did you impute that?
Dr A. A. Osei 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, he could impute something from what I said but he cannot misquote me.
Mr Speaker, this has happened before, not too long ago, when I used a certain word and some Hon Members heard something else and insisted that I withdraw. I would say the same. My God tells me that the truth is the truth.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Well, Hon Minister, he says he did not say that. What is your response?
Alhaji Fuseini 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if only he is running away from what he initially said. I listened to him. Clearly, his first statement was that, “I seem to say that policy emanates from somewhere but here we regulate our own affairs”. That was an extension of the argument that policy originates from this House.
Mr Speaker, if he says that is not what he meant -- In fact, the devil himself has no way of knowing what is in the minds of people. If that is not what he intended, I withdraw.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Very well.
Yes, Hon Member, you have the floor.
Dr A. A. Osei 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, he is my good Friend. [Interruption] -- He knows why.
Mr Speaker, my first statement was that he implied that judgement of procedures were determined by this House. I said, that is why we have the Speaker. That was my first statement.
So, he got it wrong. But being an Hon Minister and a good Friend, I accept.
What I tried to say was that, unless I misunderstood what the Hon Deputy Minister said -- he said he needed some consultation. And I thought we would allow him room for that. I suspect he would come back and say this is what policy is.
The issue never arose in Committee even though it has been raised before. The impression some of us had at the Committee was that this was the way the Government wanted to go.
My understanding is that, a suggestion has come up and they are willing to consider it. If that is the case, in my opinion, a day's consultation would not hurt. And if it would be confirmed that this is the way Government would want it to go, we can continue our amendments.
If they hold these consultations and it turns out as something else, we would have wasted our time going through all the amendments. That was my plea.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Sekondi?
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, actually, even raising this issue of “Authority” would not necessarily be in conflict with the principle behind this Bill.
This is because the Memorandum clearly states that Government itself has identified weaknesses in managing disasters because the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) finds it difficult to get the participation of other Agencies and communities. And that is why it is introducing this Bill.
What some of us are saying is, if that is the mischief that this Bill is supposed to cure, then probably Government might
not have gone far enough. It should consider elevating the Organisation to the status of an Authority. That necessarily has legal and legislative consequences. Let us not box ourselves into a corner at this stage.
After all if it is deferred to one week, it does not ruin anything as long as at the end of the day, we together with the Executive would have come out with a legislation that can meet the challenges of the time and be of full benefit to this country and its people.
So, to the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways, nobody seeks to arrest the Consideration of the Bill. Nobody is challenging the principle behind the Bill. What we desire to do is to offer ourselves an opportunity to enrich this enactment. I am sure he would agree with me.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Yes, could we hear from the Hon Deputy Minister and we would see the way forward.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minister?
Mr James Agalga 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, inasmuch as I earlier conceded to us having further consultations, I raised a caveat which was that the Consideration should nevertheless continue. I said this on purpose because the object of the Bill is very clear.
We have gone through the stage where the object of the Bill was debated in this House and approval granted. That is why we are now at the Consideration Stage.
In respect of Government's policy decision on this matter, there is no ambiguity. The policy decision of Government is that we should re-enact the existing legislation and have the NADMO to continue to be an Organisation.
Alhaji Muntaka 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would just like to refer us to our own rules. We cannot do what we are doing now. Order 128 (2); Mr Speaker, with your permission, I read:
“At the Consideration Stage of a Bill the House shall not discuss the principle of the Bill but only its details.”
Mr Speaker, I believe that our rules are very clear. Whatever we wanted to do was to enrich the Bill but we cannot at this stage try to use the principle to stall what we are doing. That is why we are saying that, in the spirit of co-operation, let us continue with the amendments, looking at the details, which is where we are at the Consideration Stage.
Mr Speaker, the issue of the principles and the policies, we could pick them up. I have always insisted that if it is accepted by Government, they would simply come and withdraw this one and re-lay a new one. Mr Speaker, but at this stage with the greatest respect, per our Standing Orders, we cannot spend time doing what we are doing now. We have to go with the details because we are at the Consideration Stage.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, could you respond to what the Hon Majority Chief Whip has just referred to?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe all this effort is to help sanitise the Bill that is before us.
First of all, it must never be construed that anybody wants to arrest the Consideration of the Bill. That is not the intention. I believe it is to further enrich the process. What purpose would it serve
if after going through, or perhaps getting midway, upon reflection, it is deemed appropriate to have an Authority? What purpose would it serve? It would be a prodigal waste of the time of this House if we went ahead merely on the pretext that because it comes from Government, we should not tinker with it.
In any event, Mr Speaker, this would not be the first time. There is a precedent. In the Consideration of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, what happened? There was a categorical statement and an amendment reversed it. It was a policy from Government that the resource was not going to be used as a collateral. A “U-turn” was made which went to the bottom of it. It was a policy reversal which was effected by this House.
Mr Speaker, what am I doing? I am proposing an amendment; and I said, the amendment would have far-reaching consequences. That is why I asked that in that case, could we have a rethink? That is all the proposal that I submitted to the House.The Hon Chairman said that we had been meeting in the corridors so why did I not bring this matter to his attention?
Mr Speaker, I concede. But I must also say that I had not really apprised myself of this until just about three or four days ago. I have spoken to people in Government -- some Hon Ministers, including even with respect, the Rt Hon Speaker. We all thought that maybe, we should have thought through it better.
I am just bringing it up so that, maybe, the House would be seized with it. Is it the case that it should go back, or do we just allow ourselves to rail-row through it? I could sit down and allow whatever is intended to be done to be done. But I do
not think that would be the right way to go. That is why I am coming with this humble suggestion.
Mr Speaker, with respect, if we agree, the very shape and character of the Organisation or Association or Authority or Council may change. The remit may change. That is why I am passionate about this. However, as the Hon Majority Chief Whip said, if it comes to that then the lines would be drawn -- What lines would be drawn?
Mr Speaker, I believe that at the Consideration Stage we should consider this House as one institution. That explains why in most cases, aside the Committee's recommendation, amendments that are proffered are even from the Opposition; and this is not the first time it is happening, just so to enrich it.
It is for the body of Parliament as a whole. We should not recline to undue partisanship by just saying that,” Well, if it comes to that, then lines would be drawn”. If lines would be drawn, then do your Bill.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I do not think he was talking about partisanship. He was expressing an opinion.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I quoted the exact words he said.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, he was expressing an opinion, making reference to the Standing Orders. I do not think we would want to impute that to mean partisanship.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
As I was saying, the purpose of this is to help us. If we could have a think- through for one day -- If we recline and the position still is that we should do the
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Member for Wa West?
Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
We should not be talking and arguing about procedures. The suggestion that was made earlier by the Hon Deputy Minister was for further consultation.
Again, this is not a principle we are talking about. We could change so many words in this Bill as we go along. There is still opportunity even at the end of it all to change the title of the Bill.
The opportunity still exists, because as we go along with the amendments at the Consideration Stage, we could still have the opportunity of saying that, having considered all these things, at the end of it all, why do we not change the name?
So, it is still possible and we should not split hairs about it. Let us go ahead and make sure we move as fast as we can, because the Bill has been in the House for so long.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Hon Members, we would have the last contribution.
Mr Agbesi 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader has made a proposal which he says is an amendment.
Mr Speaker, if it is an amendment, we could still go on, debate his proposed amendment and then we would come to a conclusion on whether to accept it or not, whether the House would go with his amendment or not. So far as the proposers of the Bill are concerned, however, this is the manner in which they would want it to go. Any Hon Member could bring an amendment and it would be debated as we have done with his now.
Let us move on that line, consider his amendment and see whether at the end of the day that is what we would want for the House.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, at this point, I would like to take a middle of the road kind of stance. We have gone through the various stages up to this point in time, and I believe that it would not hurt us too much if we give ourselves a little time, for the Ministry of the Interior to liaise with Cabinet and to find out if the proposal that it should be an Authority would hold.
The distinction is very clear. If it is an Authority, certain issues being dealt this Bill will defer from what we have as an Organisation.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.


If Cabinet still feels that it should be an Organisation and we get the information, we will move on. I think that would be a better approach.

So, we can give ourselves about one week for that kind of consultation suggested early on by the Hon Deputy Minister for the Interior to take place. That does not mean that we are abandoning the Consideration of the Bill. But it is just to give us time to get the input of Cabinet on this issue, possibly, from the Attorney- General and Minister for Justice.

Hon Members, if you would agree with me, we can defer the Consideration for now, then we can pick it up after about a week so that we can make some progress after that.

Yes, Hon Deputy Minister?
Mr Agalga 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the circumstances, we shall concede to your wise counsel and have it deferred for a week. We would get back to Cabinet and possibly engage the Leadership and come back.
Thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Thank you very much.

Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
Mr Agbesi 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this issue of Annual Report of the District Assemblies Common Fund for the year 2014 has been pending. The Hon Chairman is here to take it -- Item numbered 8.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Very well.
Item numbered 8 on the Order Paper by the Chairman of the Committee.
MOTIONS 11:50 a.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Dominic A. Azumah) 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts 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.
Mr Speaker, in so doing, I present the Committee's Report to the august House.
Introduction
The Annual Report on the 2014 District Assemblies Common Fund was laid before the House by the Majority Leader, Hon A.S.K Bagbin on Wednesday, 24th June, 2015, in accordance with the District Assemblies Common Fund Act, 1993 (Act, 455) and was subsequently referred to the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development for consideration and report, pursuant to Standing Order 188 of the House.
Reference documents
In considering the 2014 Annual Report of the District Assemblies Common Fund, the Committee made reference to the following documents:
i. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
ii. The District Assemblies Common Fund Act, 1993, Act (455)
Dr Prempeh 11:50 a.m.
On a point of order.
Mr Speaker, I do not know which Motion we are talking about. This is because, we have to do things rightly.
Mr Speaker, this Motion is the Annual Report of the DACF and it comes through
the budget of the DACF Administrator, then through the Special Budget.
Mr Speaker, for this arrangement, we need a definitive ruling so that the Special Budget Committee does not even consider -- [Interruption] -- Yes, if it is going to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Committee, then we should not split one office into two different Parliamentary Committees.
Mr Speaker, that is my worry. It is not that he should not read it, but a formal ruling should come, so that the Special Budget Committee washes its hands totally off the DACF and its Admi- Administrator.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Yes, Hon Chairman of the Committee?
Mr D. A. Azumah 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sure that is the observation of my Hon Colleague.
Mr Speaker, this issue was brought before Leadership and it was resolved and referred to the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development.
Mr Speaker, the breakdown of the receipts were as follows 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the breakdown of the receipts were as follows 11:50 a.m.
GH¢
3rd Quarter 2013 -- 202,702,189
4th Quarter 2013 -- 217,235,396
1st Quarter 2014 -- 266,403,521
2nd Quarter 2014 (Part Payment) -- 142, 322,844
Total -- 828,663,950
Disbursement
The Administrator disbursed a total amount of GH¢315,090,980 to Metropo-
litan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country.
The breakdown of regional distribution is as follows:
SPACE FOR TABLE - PAGE 5 - 11.50 A.M.

The Administrator also made indirect payments on behalf of Assemblies totalling GH¢131,410,840. All these payments were made subject to the submission of mandate by the Assemblies.

Constituency Labour Project

Payments totalling GH¢65,767,314 were disbursed for the Constituency Labour Projects of Members of Parliament as well as for Monitoring and Evaluation as follows:

GH¢

i. Constituency Labour Project -- 40,228,054

ii. Monitoring and Evaluation -- 25,536,260

Total -- 65,767,314

Priority Intervention Programmes (PIPs)

In the year under review, a total of GH¢ 271,985,769 was disbursed on Social Intervention Programmes as follows:

GH¢

i. School Feeding -- 136,537,570

ii. Sanitation/Waste Management -- 51,737,739
Mr Speaker, the breakdown of the receipts were as follows 11:50 a.m.


iii. Sanitation Guards -- 22,386,739

iv. Seed capital for new MMDAs -- 5,286,479

v. National sanitation/highways -- 53,234,792

vi. Nation borehole programme -- 3,302,450

Total -- 271,985,769

Other Statutory Reserves

Other payments made in the year under review were mainly on GYEEDA-Sanitation Module and District Development Facility (DDF)for the benefit of MMDAs as follows:

GH¢

i Reserve Fund -- 23,767,811

ii Admin. Office -- 2,615,575

iii Training -- 2,615,575

iv Sanitation Module -- 130,052,979

v. Cured Lepers -- 1,090,974

vi People with Disability -- 5,754,264

vii. District Development Fund -- 60,874,000

Total -- 226,771,176

Utilisation

The utilisation of the Fund in the year under review in terms of sectors of the economy as well as regions were as follows:

Space for Table -- PAGE 7 - 11.50 A.M.

Regional Sectoral Utilisation - 2014 T6

SPACE FOR TABLE - PAGE 8 - 11.50 A.M.
Mr Speaker, the breakdown of the receipts were as follows 11:50 a.m.


Observations and Recommendations

The Committee observed that the financial statement of the District Assemblies Common Fund was audited by an independent auditor by name Baker Tilly Andah+Andah.

The Auditor certified that the financial statement of the Adninstrator of the Common Fund was in conformity with internationally accepted best practice and that it truly represented the fair view of the financial activities of the Fund as at 31st December, 2014.

The Committee observed that the total receipts into the Fund from the Ministry of Finance in the year 2014, covered releases from the third and fourth quarters of the preceding year, 2013.

The Committee further noted that only the first quarter and part of the second Quarter were released to the Fund by the Ministry of Finance in 2014. This situation does not only stifle the programmes and activities of MMDAs, but also under- mines the spirit of the decentralisation process.

The Committee therefore wishes to urge the Ministry of Finance to deepen the confidence of the citizenry in the local government system, by ensuring timely releases of accrued revenue into the Fund for further disbursement.

The Committee further observed with worry the amount of moneys being spent on sanitation in various forms and models from the District Assemblies Common Fund.

The situation does not only deny Assemblies the needed funds to tackle sanitation challenges based on respective

local needs, but also, the disconnected and uncoordinated nature of the various approaches which do not augur well for comprehensive and systematic resolution of the sanitation problems in the country.

The Committee therefore wishes to urge the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development to consider reviewing and harmonising the various approaches to sanitation, make MMDAs fully responsible for sanitation and ensure that adequate funds are allocated from the Common Fund to the MMDAs for efficient and effective tackling of the sanitation problems in our country.

The Committee again observed that District Development Facility (DDF) was established to ensure competitiveness among Assemblies, however, the Assemblies are inadvertently denied the right to enjoy the monies already allocated to them by the Law that established the Fund.

While the Committee considers it laudable for government to incentivise and catalyse growth and development through competition by the use of the DDF, it would have been more beneficial if the incentives were given from sources other than the Common Fund which Assemblies already earned by right.

The Committee therefore wishes to recommend to Government and the Minister for Finance to consider maintaining the usefulness of DDF, but should consider making allocations from the Consolidated Fund to meet this useful expenditure.

The Committee further observed that the Common Fund is loaded with so many social intervention programmes by central government such as the Gyeeda Sani- tation Model and the National School Feeding programme.

Though these programmes are useful and laudable, the use of Common Fund to carry out these activities has worsened the already precarious financial situation of the Assemblies.

The Committee therefore wishes to urge the Ministers for Local Government and Rural Development and Finance to consider weaning the Fund of the extra burdens, if the intended objective for establishing the Fund is to be met.

Government may also by Policy, direct Assemblies to spend on some of these laudable programmes that are currently being managed at the centre. This is the surest way by which decentralisation as a tool for sustainable development can be achieved.

The Committee wishes to acknowledge the diligence and consistent efforts being made by the Office of the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund to ensure that the letter and spirit of Act 455 are realised by constantly engaging and updating relevant stakeholders for the effective delivery of the mandate of the Fund.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Committee wishes to state that Members carefully and diligently considered the Annual Report of the District Assemblies Common Fund's Annual Report for the year 2014 and therefore wishes to recommend to the House to adopt its Report.
Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh (NPP -- Sunyani East) 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion and in doing so, I would want to make some comments.
Mr Speaker, on page 2 of the Report, we see the breakdown of receipts for the year 2014 by the DACF. Four receipts, two of which relate to 2013. It means that in the year 2014, as a matter of fact, there were two receipts.
Out of the two receipts for 2014, one is half payment. In reality, for the year 2014, the Ministry of Finance released one and half quarters of the money to the DACF. It is not proper; it is irregular and it must be checked for the future.
Mr Speaker, I say so because, the District Assemblies, in a preceding year, plans for the ensuing year based on the advice they get from the Administrator of the DACF.
So, if it happens that in the course of the implementation year, the moneys are not released to them, it throws their plans and activities out of gear. It also adds to the cost of projects. This is because, when funds are delayed, contractors would seek variation of project cost. It is the country that loses.
It does not help anybody and we do not get value for money as well. We would therefore, urge the Ministry, and for that matter, Government, to ensure that there are timely releases of the DACF and the actual amount must be released.
Mr Speaker, even though we approved the formula, we are getting to a point where the DACF is saddled with too many programmes at the centre. The money is supposed to go to the local level to ensure that development takes place but most often, you realise that -- We have christened it priority intervention programmes.
It means, that the central Government determines what is good for the districts, and therefore, determines the expenditure
Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh (NPP -- Sunyani East) 11:50 a.m.


-- a chunk of it at the centre. We think it is not proper. Going forward, Government would have to put itself in check in some of these matters.

Thank you so much, Mr Speaker.

Question proposed.
Mr Joseph Y. Chireh (NDC -- Wa West) 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion ably moved by my Friend Hon Dominic Azumah.
Mr Speaker, the Report has revealed a number of things and it is important for us to debate them now.
One of the things that I would want to start with, is to look at the possibility of increasing the DACF from its current amount of 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent.
Indeed, all of you should support that. That way, a lot more money would be sent to the districts for development to be carried out.
Mr Speaker, one of the problems we are faced with is also about the money that was being deducted from the DACF in order to fulfil a condition for the District Development Facility (DDF). We want competition among the districts; we would want districts to be able to develop and compare their achievements, whether they have raised enough revenue or not.
But in doing so, we expected Government to vote money from the Consolidated Fund specifically, to match the amount that was pledged by donors, so that we do not touch the DACF which was to be distributed for the benefit of District Assemblies.
That did not happen, so at one point the Ministry was taking the money to match what the donors were to give. In
doing that, I still think if we would want to maintain the donor support for DDF, we should consider voting money directly and allowing the rest of the money to be distributed to the Assemblies as already provided for in the Constitution.
Mr Speaker, in doing this, we would be doing a lot of things. The DACF itself was not to exclude other moneys that would go to the District Assemblies. If you read it very carefully, this was just an immediate formula to ensure that, at least, everywhere in Ghana, we would have some basic development going on.

Mr Speaker, there are other issues about the Report that I would like to comment on. One of the observations made by the Committee is that, the social intervention programmes have eaten into the DACF.

Of course, the argument has always been that those areas that the money is going to are also functions of the District Assemblies. That is true, but if you look at it, once you take the money directly from the DACF, it means that you are going to apply it to areas that some other distr icts may not even need those interventions.

I believe that if Government would want to intervene in areas that are required to -- development to make sure that the vulnerable groups in disadvantaged areas benefit, it should be done through proper budgeting and not using what was to be shared and thereby burden the DACF.

Each District Assembly should be given the opportunity to target what their priorities are. More importantly, if you listen to what I am saying, particularly in the area of sanitation, some of the requirements we have -- some of the districts do not have a problem with sanitation compared to the others.

Therefore, if we take their moneys and apply it for those of us in the cities who have a major problem, it may not be fair.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Members, before we continue with the debate, there is a Communication from the Office of the Vice President.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 12:30 p.m.
Mr Osei-Owusu 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Report has raised its own concerns about the dwindling payments into the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF). But Mr Speaker, I have a few concerns about payments from the DACF -- deductions from the DACF for purposes other than development of the local community.
Mr Speaker, for example, in 2011, the Government decided to purchase new vehicles for District Chief Executives (DCEs) and motorcycles for the Assemblymen. The Government announced that it was supplying the Assemblymen with motorcycles but rather, it charged the cost against the DACF of the Distr ict Assemblies.
Now, the communities may not have prioritised buying motorcycles nor four wheel vehicles for their Assemblymen or for their Metropolitan Chief Executives (MCEs). If the Government intends to supply means of transport to its appointees, the Government has a huge budget which it can use.
But in a situation where the little that is intended for the communities to use for dealing with their social challenges are also used to deal with the administrative deficiencies in the Ministry should be --
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Member, are you raising a point of Order on the submission? Other than that you would probably wait when he is through with it, I can give you the floor.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rose because of the Communication that you read to us. You broke into the submission and read the communication to us. In the same breath, I would want to
raise some issues with the Communication that you have just read.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
I have no problem with it, but you should have been timeous. We will let him complete his submission, then, I will give you the floor.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
I will be patient.
Mr Osei-Owusu 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the point I am trying to make is that, what is coming to the Assemblies for their social interventions are not sufficient so Government should take its hands off their resources. In providing for its --
Alhaji Fuseini 12:10 p.m.
On a point of Order. Mr Speaker, the point is that, my Hon Colleague at the Bar and in Parliament, and senior at that, is positive that it appears Government is dipping its hands into the DACF in supplying equipment to the Assemblies without recourse to the Assemblies, thereby jeopardising the ability of the Assemblies to reach out to their communities. That is the line of his argument and he is grossly misleading the public.
In the Assemblies, no deduction is made from the DACF without a resolution emanating from the various District Assemblies. The District Assemblies, acting as assemblies pass resolutions signed by the Presiding Officer, informing the Administrator of DACF to make deductions from their allocations.
And because of the arrangement of statutory funds, the Administrator of the DACF has no capacity whatsoever, imagined or real, to deduct moneys without resolutions emanating from the Assemblies. Therefore it is grossly misleading to suggest that these deductions are made without recourse to the Assemblies.
Mr Osei-Owusu 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe my Hon Friend is misinforming the House. I am a member of the District Assembly as much as he is. At no meeting, and there is no record anywhere, that in my Assembly, any meeting was held at which a decision was taken, authorising the Assembly to pass any such resolution.
Rather, what happened was that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development called DCEs and told them that they were distributing vehicles and motorcycles, if they wanted them, then they should pass a resolution. And they ‘created' resolutions without the Assemblies' concern.
I am saying that was what happened. If the Hon Member challenges, we should institute an investigation into this matter in the various Assemblies and find out if any Assembly actually met and passed any resolution. This is what happened.
Mr Agbesi 12:10 p.m.
On a point of Order. Mr Speaker, I am also a member of the Assembly and I am aware that -- [Pause.]
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Please, Hon Deputy Majority Leader, you have the floor. Address the Chair.
Mr Agbesi 12:10 p.m.
I am also a member of the Assembly and I am aware that Assemblies do pass such resolutions. With respect to my Assembly, we passed a resolution authorising the Administrator of the DACF to deduct the cost of motorcycles for Assembly members.
Mr Speaker, I will refer you to page three of the Report of the Committee and Mr Speaker, with your kind permission, it states,
“The Administrator also made indirect payments on behalf of Assemblies totalling GH¢ 131, 410,840. All these payments were
made subject to the submission of mandate by the Assemblies”.
Maybe, my Hon Colleague has not taken note of this portion and he is misinforming the House and Ghanaians which is not true.
Mr Speaker, I would want him to take note of this and know that Assemblies do pass resolutions for the payment of such monies.
Mr Osei-Owusu 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am speaking to specifics but he is saying ‘do pass'. That is what they are required to do, they must pass a resolution.
I am saying that in these circumstances it was made a condition. We have vehicles to distribute, we decided to procure vehicles and motorcycles. Hon Baba Jamal was the one who announced it.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Member, I believe the reference he made to page three of the Report talks about the submission of mandate by the Assemblies.
Mr Osei-Owusu 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not disagreeing with him on that. The Assemblies are required to submit a mandate when the decision to supply something has been taken.
Our Hon Colleague, Baba Jamal announced it on air, that, Government was going to supply motorcycles to Assemblymen. And after that announce- ment, the DCEs were called, ‘if you want motorcycles, bring resolutions'.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Order! Order!
Mr Osei-Owusu 12:10 p.m.
And I am also talking about my Assembly, I am not talking about Ashaiman, neither am I talking about Pru Assemblies.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Member, this is a very debatable issue. Some Hon Members who also belong to their respective Assemblies are saying that resolutions were passed. You are saying that, in your particular Assembly, they do not pass any such resolution. So, as far as the matter goes, I will like to be apprised with documentary evidence to that effect.
If it is not available now, I do not think I can entertain that line of argument.
Mr Osei-Owusu 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not know which one, I cannot prove what is non-existent, with all due respect to Mr Speaker.
I said there was no resolution so I cannot prove it. It is rather those who say there is a Resolution who must bring it to back it.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
No! If you say there was no resolution, you can also officially write to the Assembly for them to confirm whether there was a resolution. And if there was no resolution, you produce the evidence before us. I believe that it cuts both wings.
But you can go ahead with your submissions without reference to all of those.
Mr Osei-Owusu 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am saying that the practice where decisions are taken at the centre and the local people are practically coerced into spending their moneys on matters which are not their priority should cease.
We talk about fumigation, every quarter it is recorded there. There is no fumigation going on anywhere.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Chairman, are you up on a point of Order?
Mr Osei-Owusu 12:10 p.m.
There is no fumigation going on anywhere. Every quarter, the monies are taken from their coffers. So, Mr Speaker, my point is --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
He has the floor.
Mr Osei-Owusu 12:10 p.m.
I am sorry Mr Speaker.
Thank you very much.
Mr D. A. Azumah 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, just to help my very good Friend. He is on a specific issue and I just want to clear the air.
In 2010, the National Association of Local Authorities met in Tamale. I was invited as the Chairman, I was present. In the course of their deliberations, the 216 Assemblies and the Association made up of District Chief Executives, Presiding Members, Chairmen of Finance Admini- stration and two other members met in Tamale.
They came up with the proposal of the purchase of the motorcycles. When they discussed it, the Hon Minister told them openly that it must be backed by a resolution of the 216 Assemblies, which they did. It was on that resolution passed in Tamale that Hon Baba Jamal announced the purchase of the motorcycles.
In Tamale in 2010, there was a resolution and Sheriff, the General Secretary even made -- I am sure that if I
go through my records, I could get a copy.There was a resolution passed by the Assemblies requesting that from their Common Funds, motorcycles could be purchased --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Member, I told you earlier that I thought we had sorted this out. I was not minded to give you the opportunity to bring it up again because I thought we had already sorted it out. So I advised the Hon Member to continue with his submission.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think what the Chairman is informing us about is the fact that, at that forum, it was agreed that the various Assemblies should make a resolution. The forum proposed that the various Distr ict Assemblies should go and pass a resolution to that effect.
The resolution of that forum cannot bind the various Assemblies and that is why what he is saying is even very dangerous.
There was a Resolution from that forum but the forum then would transmit same to the various District Assemblies. [Interruptions.] Please, we are not in a market place, could you allow me to talk?
So, if they were to ferry same decision to the various Assemblies for the resolutions to emanate from them, that would authenticate the position. He is saying that the resolution was done in Tamale and I am saying that, that is dangerous. [Interruption] That is what he said and I am saying that it is wrong.
It could only be a directive to them that the Assembly should resolve to do that,but he is saying that his Assembly never did that. That is the issue. Mr
Speaker is saying that it is even difficult to ascertain which Assemblies did it and which ones did not. But then the path he is treading is dangerous for his own health as the Chairman of the Committee.
Mr Osei-Owusu 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am concluding. The point that I still want to emphasise is that, the centre should take its hands off the local management of the resources that are brought so that local priorities would be determined at the local level.
There is too much interference from the Local Government Ministry which constitutionally should not interfere with the management of the local areas. With these few words, I urge the House to adopt the Report.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Members, I thought that we have been able to get the sense of the House, so I will put the Question.
Mr Gershon K. B. Gbediame (NDC -- Nkwanta South) 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as a member of the Committee, I also rise to support the Motion.
In doing so, I would want to make a few observations in addition to what the Chairman has read.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Could we please have some order?
Mr Gbediame 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, your Committee on Local Government and Rural Development undertook a nation- wide tour to visit the newly created districts. In 2007 and 2012, a number of districts were created.
What was observed was that, unlike the districts created in 2007, where no seed capital was made available for establishing office accommodation for the various districts, one million Ghana cedis was made available for those created in 2012.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
The last contribution.
Mr Emmanuel A. Kwasi Gyamfi (NPP -- Odotobri) 12:20 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, it is a known fact that, the District Assemblies' Common Fund is the single most important source of funding for the Assemblies to bring development to the doorsteps of the people.
It is becoming so worrying that the only funding which is available for the Assemblies to undertake developmental
projects are not being seen the way we want to see them.
On page five of the Committee's Report, “Utilisation”, if you look at the various sectors, we have Economic Ventures, Social Services, Administration, Environment and Constituency Labour. Administration alone takes about 51 per cent of the amount transferred to the District Assemblies and, in my view, it is not good enough.
District Assemblies are supposed to generate funds internally -- Internally Generated Funds (IGF), and these funds are supposed to be used to run the day- to-day administration of the Assemblies.
Mr Speaker, if 50 per cent of the Common Fund, which as my Hon Colleague Member from Bekwai said, is deducted at source and the little that is transferred to the Assemblies, 51 per cent of that amount is also used for administration --
Mr Speaker, what is left for the district to use to develop the social and the economic ventures in the Assemblies?
Mr Speaker, on page 9, paragraph 6.10 of the Report, the Committee made a recommendation that;
“Though these programmes are useful and laudable, the use of Common Fund to carry out these activities has worsened the already precarious financial situation of the Assemblies”.
Mr Speaker, this were referred to on page 4, paragraph 3.4 4 of the Report. Which is -- Priority Intervention Programmes (PIPs).
Mr Speaker, after making all these deductions, the amount that is left to be transferred to the District Assemblies are a little above 50 per cent. It means that, not much of the 7.5 per cent which has

been allocated to the District Assemblies for development is transferred to the Assemblies.

Mr Speaker, there is one item which is not here, but I would like to bring the House's attention to that. It is the District Development Fund. (DDF).

Mr Speaker, for the past two years or so, Government is supposed to contribute 30 per cent to the Fund, which is the cunterpart funding. Government has decided for the past two to three years to take that amount from the Common Fund.

The DDF is a performance-based assessment tool and so, districts which do not qualify for this DDF do not benefit from the Fund. If Government is supposed to contribute 30 per cent as a counterpart funding and it is taking that money from the Common Fund before disbursing it to the Distr ict Assemblies, then what happens to those districts which do not qualify?

We believe at the Committee level that this is not good at all. We hope that this year, when the formula is brought to Parliament, we would not want to see this. This is because we would fight against it and would not allow this to happen again. It is something that we all have to be very serious with.

The last time we took the 2013 Annual Report of the DACF, the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development was here and we were much concerned about it.

This year, we hope that this would be taken care of by other sources and not by the Common Fund.

Mr Speaker, this is my humble submission to the House.

Question put and Motion agreed to
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sorry, you were not able to lift your head to see me, for that reason, I was not able to catch your eye. If you had recognised me, I was going to yield to Hon Patricia Appiagyei. This is because, I thought too many men had even contributed, so, we needed a feminine touch. But because the Question had already been put, I guess I should stay further contribution.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I thought I had been able to get the sense of the House and quite a number of Hon Members have contributed.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought the contribution from the Hon Member; Ms Patricia Appiagyei,was going to be from a former Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) and perhaps that would have further enriched the debate.
But since the Question had been put, maybe, she would reserve her comments for next time.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Very well.
Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
Mr Agbesi 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Businesses listed in items 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are not ready.
Mr Speaker, we would like to crave your indulgence to adjourn the House at this stage.
Mr Speaker, before I move the Motion for adjournment, today is the ninth day of the death of our Hon Colleague; the late Mr J. B. Danquah. As we can see --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Member, the name is Mr J. B. Danquah Adu.
Mr Alfred K. Agbesi 1:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the correction. Information reaching us is that, the remembrance day is being celebrated at the park behind the Police Headquarters.
We are entreating all Hon Members, not selected people, but all Hon Members to be there in honour of our late Hon Colleague. Immediately after adjournment, we are all moving to that place at about

Mr Speaker, on that note, I beg to move, that this House do adjourn till tomorrow at 10.00 o'clock in the forenoon.
Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 1:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, just to confirm that, the time of departure is 1.30 p.m. with the buses outside; at the main reception close to the fountain.

There would be buses for all Hon Members of Parliament, staff and the Press to convey us to the venue. If we take our individual cars, we may have problem because the place is congested.

So, as much as possible, all Hon Members should avail themselves by 1.30 p.m. for us to take off in a group -- [Interruption] -- The venue is just behind the Police Headquarters, but you do not need to know the venue so much because since we are going in a group, the drivers would know because we would have a dispatch rider.

Mr Speaker, I second the Motion.

Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 1:30 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 12.38 p.m. till Friday, 19th February, 2016 at 10.00 a.m.