Debates of 9 Jun 2017

Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings dated 8th June,
2017.

Mr Speaker, the Committee met yesterday, Thursday, 8th
June, 2017, and arranged Business of the House for the Third Week ending Friday, 16th June, 2017.

Arrangement of Business
Formal Communications by the Speaker
Mr Speaker, you may read communi- cations to the House whenever they are available.
Question(s)
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee has programmed the following Ministers to respond to Questions asked of them during the week:
No. of Question(s)
i. Minister for Education -- 1
ii. Minister for Health -- 1
iii. Minister for Energy -- 2
iv. Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources -- 2
v. Minister for Roads and Highways -- 5
Total number of Questions -- 11
Mr Speaker, five (5) Ministers are expected to attend upon the House to respond to eleven (11) Questions during the week.
Statements
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Order 70 (2), Ministers of State may be permitted to
make Statements of Government policy. Statements duly admitted by Mr Speaker may be made in the House by Hon Members in accordance with Order 72.
Bills, Papers and Reports
Mr Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House for First Reading and those of urgent nature may be taken through the various stages in one day in accordance with Order 119. Papers and Committee Reports may also be presented to the House.
Motions and Resolutions
Mr Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
Statutory Funds
Mr Speaker, the proposed formula for distributing the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) for the year 2017 is expected to be presented to the House on Tuesday, 13th June, 2017 and considered by the Committee of the Whole.
The proposed formula for the disbursement of the National Health Insurance Fund for the year 2017 would be presented for the consideration of the House in the course of the week.
Conclusion
Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160 (2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this Honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week under consideration.

Questions

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a) Regulation C/REG 22/11/10 Establishing Community Proce- dures for Management of Veterinary Drugs or Biologics.

(b) Directive C/DIR.1/11/10 on ECOWAS Veterinary Pharmacy on Quality Control.

(c) Proposed Formula for Distribu- ting the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) for the year 2017.

Motions

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Customs (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Committee sittings.

Questions

*25. Mr Philip Basoah (Kumawu): To ask the Minister for Education whether funding from the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) in support of the education sector has ceased or the sector still benefits from the funding.

*26. Mr Yusif Sulemana (Bole/ Bamboi): To ask the Minister for Health what is the current state of the construction works at the Bole Community Health Nurses' Training College.

Statements
Presentation of Papers--
(a) Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the Fulani herdsmen menace in the country.
(b) Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the use of live ammunition by the Police in the Dalon Community to control irate youth in 2016 during which Ganiu Abdul Rahman was hit in the leg by a stray bullet.
(c) Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Statement of Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments of the Bank of Ghana for the first half year ended 30th June, 2015.
(d) Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on the State- ment of Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments of the Bank of Ghana for the second half year ended 31st December, 2015.
Motions
Committee sittings.

Questions

*21. Mr Ras Mubarak (Kumbungu):To ask the Minister for Energy when the electrification of the following communities, which was started in 2016, will be completed: (i)

Gupanerigu, (ii) Gingani, (iii) Bagurugu, (iv) Kpegu, (v) Biagu, (vi) Dalun-Bihinaayile, (vii) Gbugli.

*22. Mr Ras Mubarak (Kumbungu):To ask the Minister for Energy when the following communities in the Kumbungu District will be connected to the National Grid: (i) Kuli, (ii) Satani, (iii) Zugu-Kushibo, (iv) Tiring, (v) Dinyokpalgu, (vi) Namdu, (vii) Nyerezegu, (viii) Bihinaayile, (ix) Degu, (x) Kpachi, (xi) Balinkpeng, (xii) Vehekuga, (xiii) Garizegu, (xiv) Kokpeng.

*23. Mr Ernest Henry Norgbey (Ashaiman): To ask the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources the steps the Ministry is taking to relocate the dumping site at Presby Junction at Ashaiman, which is very close to the Presby Basic School and poses significant health hazard to the school children and the residents.

*24. Mr Kennedy Nyarko Osei (Akim Swedru): To ask the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources when the Ministry will extend the Akim Oda-Akwatia Water Project to the Akim Swedru Constituency.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Proposed Formula for the distribution of the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) for the year 2017.

Motions

Third Reading of Bills --

Customs (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

(b) Adoption of the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed formula for the distri- bution of the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) for the year 2017.

Committee sittings.

Questions

*27. Mr Ras Mubarak (Kumbungu):To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the contract for the construction of the Zugu to Satani Road in the Kumbungu District, which is in a very deplorable state will be awarded.

*28. Mr Ras Mubarak (Kumbungu):To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the construction of the Kumbungu township roads will be awarded on contract.

*29. Mr Emmanuel Agyei Anhwere (Atwima Nwabiagya South): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the road connec- ting Sepaase, Ahodwo, Hiawu Besease through Ntensere to Sunyani will be completed.

*30. Mr Emmanuel Agyei Anhwere (Atwima Nwabiagya South): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the contractor working on the dual carriage road from Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital roundabout through Sofoline to Abuakwa will complete the project.

*31. Mr Philip Basoah (Kumawu): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when construction

works on the Oyoko-Sekyere and Bodomasi-Ntaretare roads awarded on contract in 2015 will commence.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

Motions

(a) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the Fulani herdsmen menace in the country.

(b) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the use of live ammunition by the police in the Dalon Community to control irate youth in 2016 during which Ganiu Abdul Rahman was hit in the leg by a stray bullet.

(c) Adoption of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Statement of Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments of the Bank of Ghana for the first half year ended 30th June, 2015.

(d) Adoption of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Statement of Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments of the Bank of Ghana for the second half year ended 31st December, 2015.

Committee sittings.

Mr Speaker, I would want to make an observation for the programme the Business Committee has set out for Wednesday, 14th June, 2017, by way of Presentation of Papers.

Thank you, Hon Majority Leader.
Any comments?

Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, you admitted my Question on the expenditure on Ghana at 60 years. It was advertised in the last Business Statement which was dated 2nd June, 2017.
Mr Speaker, I have been told that the Hon Minister for Finance has requested for extension of time to appear in the House to answer the Question.
Mr Speaker, going through the Business Statement for today, I have not also seen my Question programmed for
next week, so, I do not know when the Hon Minister would appear on the floor of the House to answer the Question.

Thank you very much.
Any other comments?
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?

Sorry, Hon Majority Leader?

Sorry, Mr Speaker. I thought I heard you call the Hon Minority Leader, so, I thought he wanted to make an intervention.
Mr Speaker, I recollect the fact as alluded to by my Hon Colleague, the Hon Member for Juaboso. I know that the Hon Minister was supposed to have answered that Question on Thursday; the day after he appeared in the House. Unfortunately, some circumstances arose, so, we thought we would reprogramme it for next week. I believe it is a genuine oversight. We will relocate it to next week.
Mr Speaker, I would want to say to the Hon Member -- because I noticed he has another Question slated for today. At the pre Sitting meeting, we decided not to allow Questions for today. So, he would have two Questions outstanding which would stay on to next week. We would reprogramme and have his two Questions for next week.
It is equally so for the ‘available' Deputy Minority Leader. I do not know whether to prefix him with an ‘acting' status or ‘available acting' Minority Leader, Hon Mahama Ayariga. The appeal is that, his Question slated for today would be taken next week. So, we would create space for their Questions next week.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.

The Business Statement is accordingly adopted.
We will suspend Questions and move on to Statements.
This morning a very brilliant tribute was paid by Parliament, read on behalf of all of us by the joint efforts of the Hon Majority and Hon Minority Leaders. We want that this should be captured by the Hansard. In fact, that is the reason we are starting at this time. Therefore, the Hon Majority Leader will table it and speak to it for five minutes and the Hon Minority Leader will also speak to it for five minutes. It will be recorded for posterity.

Mr Speaker, thank you for the space to make a tribute on behalf of Parliament in memory of the late Maj. Maxwell Adam Mahama of the Ghana Armed Forces. We paid this tribute at the forecourt of Parliament this morning.
But before I go there, I think it is important, because in reading the Business Statement, I said to the House that Mr Speaker may read formal communications to the House whenever they are available.
Mr Speaker, for the record, the Hon Minority Leader raised a very important matter about the travel outside the country that has been embarked on by H. E. the President. That was a legitimate request.
Mr Speaker, it is important to put on record that, whereas the request was legitimate, the communication had been transmitted to this House timeously, but it got lost in Mr Speaker's documents. I think it is important that we make that -- but it was a legitimate request that the Hon Minority Leader made, that is based on the Constitutional imperatives.

“When a great man dies, for years the light he leaves behind him, lies on the paths of men. [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]”.
Indeed, in the midst of life, there is death. Those who have lived a good life do not fear death, but meet it calmly, and even long for it in the face of great suffering. But those who do not have a peaceful conscience, dread death as though life means nothing but physical torment.
The challenge is to live our lives so that we would be prepared for death when it comes. This simple truism was poignantly brought home to us on that fateful day, Monday, the 29th of May, 2017, when we woke to the news that, a son of the soil, a gallant soldier, Capt. now Maj. Maxwell Adam Mahama of the Ghana Armed Forces had passed on to higher glory.
Mr Speaker, as a soldier, he did not die on the battle front. He did not die from a stray bullet in peacekeeping, he did not die in his sleep. He did not suffer any ill health. His life was snuffed out of him by men and women of the land. His crime? He had gone to protect the people against the ills being inflicted on the land by people of the land.
The land he sought to protect took his life away. And now, we are faced with the challenge of telling his children that their father went to the river side, but did not return. His widow has a farther look in her eyes. We wonder what her thoughts are.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to associate myself with the Statement made by the Hon Majority Leader in loving memory of Maj. Maxwell Adam Mahama who lived between the years of 1985 and 2017.
Mr Speaker, a while ago, we joined your goodself together with the Vice President, and the former Presidents of our Republic, President J. A. Kufuor and President John Dramani Mahama; the Ghanaian public at large together with officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF). We are a nation in grief; a nation mourning the sudden tragic departure of a fine
gentleman of a soldier, Maj. Maxwell Mahama.
Mr Speaker, in doing so, let me just quote from the tribute of the mother of Maxwell. She said that Maxwell:
“Had a pure, loving and kind heart which reflected in his always smiling face since childhood. He was very energetic.”
Mr Speaker, Maj. Mahama periled his life in public duty and in public service and he died an indomitable professional as he could have shot with the weapon available to him as he was faced with death. But he held the creed and honour of the GAF to protect life and to protect the country he loved.

“I am glad you saw me worthy to share in your great but short life. I will not forget to tell the kids how heroic and great you were and are. Your memory will never die. You are not dead, you are still alive in our hearts.”
I believe that Maxwell will forever remain in the hearts of many.
Mr Speaker, we join you in supporting the position of Parliament that a national monument be built and dedicated to his memory to signal an end to ‘mob injustice' -- ‘not mob justice'; that never again will we tolerate this happening.
Mr Speaker, as we eulogise Maj. Maxwell Adam Mahama, let me note that, His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as I observed from the tribute, on 5th June, 2017, gave him posthumous honours to the rank of Maj. Further to it, we are told the State is taking

Thank you very much Leaders, for this, which would be captured in full in the Hansard.

Hon Members, before we proceed any further, we would observe a moment of silence as a sign of respect for the fallen soldier.

May the soul of Maj. Mahama and those of all faithfully departed rest in perfect peace. Amen!

All Hon Members: Amen!

Hon Members, item numbered 6 (a) on the Order Paper -- Minister for Local Government and Rural Development?

Mr Speaker, the Minister responsible for Local Government and Rural Development is unavoidably absent and a Deputy Minister at the Ministry, the Hon O. B. Amoah is here to take charge of item numbered 6 (a) on the Order Paper. I want to explain that this Legislative Instrument (L.I.) was laid in the House last week, but it had to be withdrawn because they have recognised some technical difficulties. He would explain further to you.

So, he is well represented.

He is well represented and will do the laying on behalf of the Minister.

Is the Instrument going to be presented?

Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, we are seeking leave to withdraw the Instrument laid on 31st May, 2017, because of an error we have detected.
With your leave, we can then lay the new Instrument.

So, do you seek to withdraw it at this stage and present another one?

Yes, Mr Speaker. We are withdrawing it at this stage to lay a new one.

Would you do it right now or later?

Mr Speaker, right now.

Very well.
You have permission to withdraw and re-present.

We are grateful, Mr Speaker.

Hon Members, item numbered 7 on the Order Paper is a procedural Motion. Chairman of the Committee?

Mr Speaker, I will plead that we stand this down for about twenty minutes to have copies of the Report given to Hon Members. So, we are not ready to move.

Item numbered 8 on the Order Paper to be stood down.

Item numbered 9 by the Hon Minister for Finance. The procedural Motion first.

Mr Speaker, those Papers were just laid. So, I guess we could take them next week Tuesday.

And that goes with item numbered 10?

It is the same thing, Mr Speaker.

Any indication, Hon Majority Leader?

Mr Speaker, there are Committee sittings and today being Friday, especially given the circumstances that affect our Muslim brothers and sisters, we may want to close, but to announce --
I understand that there are a few Hon Members who would want to go and mourn with the Clerk to Parliament and they may want to go together in a bus. So, a bus would be leaving here on Sunday at dawn and proceed to Techiman and return the same day. [Interruption.] This is because they are of the Seventh

Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion for the House to adjourn till next week Tuesday at 12.00 noon.
Mr Speaker, I just would want to inform you that even though other Hon Members
would want to join in the funeral in Techiman, the Public Accounts Committee would also hold a meeting in Ada. So, we would not be part of the team to Techiman.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon Members, the Motion for adjournment has been moved and seconded.
Question put and Motion agreed to.