Debates of 29 Nov 2018

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:50 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:50 a.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 10:50 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Members, I have the pleasure to introduce to you a delegation of Members of the Parliament of Uganda who are on a five- day benchmarking visit to Ghana.
They are here, among others, to learn best practices and exchange experiences, challenges, and successes arising out of the operations of the Government Assurances Committee. They also seek to build the committee's capacity to effectively scrutinise Government assurances, promises, and undertakings.
The visit is further intended to create the platform for networking between Hon Members and our Ugandan counterparts with the aim of deepening relations between the two legislatures.
The delegation comprises the following:
Mr Matthew Nyindam 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, he is in the House.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Very well.
In that case, I would invite Hon Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Hon Member for Ellembele, to ask the Urgent Question.
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have the permission of my Hon Colleague, Hon Buah, to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr Nyindam 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not objecting to my good Friend asking the Question on behalf of a Colleague, but I just want us to also realise that it is sometimes not easy to get Ministers and Members to come and respond to Questions.
So, if a Question is asked of an Hon Minister, and we are not getting the Minister to come and answer, Hon Colleagues should also bear with us. This is because the Member who has filed the Question and attached such importance to that particular Question is not even in the House to ask the Question. I do not think it is fair.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Thank you, Leader.
Hon Members, I am glad you are not objecting to the Question being asked on behalf of the Hon Member.
Hon Member for Adaklu, you may ask the Question on behalf of the Hon Member for Ellembele.
Mr Agbodza 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
Hon Kiyingi Deogratius Gonzaga Deusdedit -- Leader of the Delegation
Hon Twinamasiko Onesimus -- MP
Hon Kamussime Carol -- MP
Ms Amero Diana -- Clerk to the Committee Hon Members, on behalf of the House,
I welcome them to the Parliament of Ghana and I wish them fruitful deliberations.
Question time; the Hon Minister for Energy is to answer Questions. Is he in the House?
Mr Speaker, the Hon Leader should not be in a hurry, because there is a Question for the Minister of Health.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Member, would you please ask your Question before I withdraw the leave I have granted to you to ask the Question on behalf of the Hon Member for Ellembele?
ORAL ANSWERS TO URGENT 11 a.m.
QUESTIONS 11 a.m.
MINISTRY OF ENERGY 11 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Minister for Energy (Mr John Peter Amewu) 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, owing to the sensitivities surrounding this very important matter and its national security implications, the Ministry of Energy, as part of its strategies for a remedial action, is liaising with the National Security Secretariat for a coordinated effort to deal with the matter effectively and efficiently.
We shall revert to this august House with a full briefing on this matter once our investigations are concluded.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Agbodza 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Minister for providing his Answer.
Mr Amewu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Speaker, because of the sensitivities of the issue, we have officially written to the National Security to investigate the matter on behalf of the Ministry.
Mr Agbodza 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I respect the views of the Hon Minister, and we look forward to a full briefing whenever he gets the appropriate information.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Iddrisu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, to paraphrase him, the Hon Minister in his Answer was emphatic that they have written to the National Security to investigate the matter.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know from the Hon Minister whether he is writing to the National Security to take the necessary and appropriate action to safeguard lives and properties, or what exactly is he going to investigate?
Mr Amewu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would read out the letter to this august House, for the House to know the exact words that we have communicated to the National Security.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Minister, all we would want to know is that you have asked the National Security to protect lives and property. Therefore, Hon Minister, have you asked them to do that?
Mr Amewu 11 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, we have asked them to do that.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member for North Tongu?
Mr Ablakwa 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am very grateful.
Mr Speaker, I would just want to find out from the Hon Minister if he has any indication with respect to time. In his response, he said that he would come back to this House to give us a full briefing. Does he have an indication, and if so, then when would he come to this House so that the Government Assurances Committee and all of us can be expectant?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister, can you give us any time indications?
Mr Amewu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, within the shortest possible time, I would come back
to this House when we get the briefing from the National Security.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, the next Question is in the name of the Hon Alhaji Mumuni Alhassan, the Hon Member for Salaga North.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11 a.m.
MINISTRY OF ENERGY 11 a.m.
Mr Amewu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Dakpemyili, Janyili, Fushila, Yakura, Chandayili, Kpalguni and Nyashila communities are earmarked for inclusion in the proposed Sinohydro Electrification Project in selected communities across the country. Preliminary engineering studies have been concluded to determine the potential list of communities for the electrification project.
The Ministry of Energy and Messrs Sinohydro Limited are yet to negotiate the terms of the Contract Agreement to pave way for the commencement of works.
The remaining communities, namely, Nachimbiya, Kanjanyili, Chihigu, Dingoni and Gbanteni do not form part of any of our electrification projects. These communities would be considered in subsequent electrification projects.
Alhaji M. Alhassan 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he said that the Ministry of Energy and Messrs Sinohydro Limited have yet to negotiate the terms of the contract.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know how soon the negotiations would be completed, and for that matter, when the project would take off.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Mr Amewu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, negotiations for the completion of this contract would be completed latest by the end of January,
2019.
Alhaji M. Alhassan 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, again, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he indicated that Nachimbiya, Kanjanyili, Chihigu, Dingoni and Gbanteni do not form part of any of the electrification projects that the Ministry is undertaking.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know from the Hon Minister, if there is any assurance that these communities would be captured in subsequent arrangements, especially under the Ministry's Flagship Projects?
Mr Amewu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, these communities would be considered in subsequent electrification projects.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon
Member, are you done?
Alhaji M. Alhassan 11 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
All right.
Hon Members, the next Question again stands in the name of the same Hon Member - Alhaji M. Alhassan, Hon Member for Salaga North.

Connection of Zankum and Chongase to the National Grid

469. Alhaji Mumuni Alhassan asked the Minister for Energy when the following communities would be connected to the national grid: (i) Zankum (ii) Chongase.
Mr Amewu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Zankum community has been captured to benefit under the proposed electrification project for selected communities across the country to be executed by Messrs Sinohydro Limited.
Preliminary engineering studies have been concluded to determine the potential list of communities for the electrification project. The Ministry of Energy and Messrs Sinohydro Limited are yet to negotiate the terms of the Contract Agreement to pave way for the commencement of works.
The remaining community, Chongase, does not form part of any of our electrification projects. The community would be considered in subsequent electrification projects.
Alhaji M. Alhassan 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe that the proximity of the Chongase community to the Zankum community -- I would get to the office of the Hon
Minister to see how we could talk about it because they are very close. So working on one and allowing the other to lie fallow would not be too good. So I would go to the office, so that we could see how to work that out.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Minister, we thank you for attending upon the House to answer the Questions. You are hereby discharged.

Hon Majority Leader, is the Hon Minister for Health -- my attention has just been drawn to a letter.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Health has indicated that he is not available. I understand that he has transmitted a letter to that effect.
So, if you could stand those Questions down, we can then lay the Paper captured as the item numbered 6. The Hon Minority Leader would then begin winding-up on the debate on the Budget Statement and Financial Policy.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Well, I would end Question time and then come to Public Business.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I note the Hon Majority Leader's application of the unavailability of the Hon Minister for Health.
I do not intend to behave like Hon Nyindam who sought political capital out
of the immediate unavailability of an Hon Member who was to ask a Question. There is no dividend to this, but to probably ask the whereabouts of the Hon Minister, which I would not do.
I would want to raise the significance of Hon Ministers appearing before this House to answer Questions. There is no harm to it, and we could proceed with the other Business.
Thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Very well.
In the circumstance, the Answers to the Questions numbered 447 and 461 are deferred. The Business Committee would reschedule them, so that the Hon Minister could answer at a later date.
At the Commencement of Public Business -- Presentation of Papers.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
we would deal with the item numbered 6.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Yes, I have called item numbered 6 - Presentation of Papers by the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
PAPERS 11:10 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
The item numbered 7 -- Motion.
Hon Minority Leader, would you start the debate on the Financial Statement of the Government for the year 2019?
MOTIONS 11:10 a.m.
  • [Continuation of Debate from 28/11/ 18.]
    • Minority Leader(Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in winding up for the Minority, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year 2019.
    The Hon Minister for Finance did what was constitutionally and legally needful. He presented this Budget Statement to us, for and on behalf of His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo. The Hon Minister appropriately made references to article 179 of the Constitution and, in particular, the Public Financial Management Act of 2016.
    I would use this opportunity to remind the Hon Minister for Finance, some members of the Government and some Hon Members who debated that the Public Financial Management Act of 2016 is unquestionably a fiscal responsibility legislation.
    rose
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in contributing to the debate, I have with me here the Manifesto of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); in particular, I would want to refer to pages 12 and 13 --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, please hold on.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:10 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader is a very good Hon Friend of mine. So, when he goes a bit off our language, I need to draw his attention. He said that the Government would bring a Fiscal Responsibility Act. I would want to remind him that it is a Fiscal Responsibility Bill; it is not an Act. [Laughter.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:10 a.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, please continue.
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to refer to an important document, which is the Manifesto of the NPP. In doing so, I would want to rely on pages 12 and 13. When the NPP was campaigning they said and I beg to quote:
    “teachers are suffering;
    teacher trainees are suffering;
    nurses are suffering;
    nursing trainees are suffering;
    patients are suffering;
    students are suffering;
    traders are suffering;
    pensioners are suffering;
    drivers are suffering; and
    contractors are suffering”.
    Mr Speaker, 22 months down the line, they are still suffering. Let them be reminded that 22 months down the line, the suffering continues. If they thought they had the panacea to solving the country's problems overnight and midnight, hallelujah to them. There is rising cost of living.
    Mr Speaker, teacher and nursing trainee allowances, as they promised to pay, are in arrears. This is a Government which accumulates arrears and turns around to praise itself as being fiscally prudent. When they do not spend, it does not mean that they are disciplined. It may be that they do not have enough revenue for the purpose of expenditure.
    Mr Speaker, even more importantly, I would want to refer again to page 13 of the NPP Manifesto and I quote verbatim. It reads:
    “Our goal, inter alia, is to achieve double digit GDP growth annually for the next four years (under the Kufuor-led NPP government, the economy attained a GDP growth rate at 9.1 per cent in 2008 without oil).”
    Mr Speaker, in 2011, Ghana achieved its most significant and unprecedented growth of 11.4 per cent under the late President Mills. But that is not the issue. What is important is that they are not growing the economy to double digits. We are still in at single digit and the growth is even occasioned more by growth in oil and gas.
    Mr Speaker, what this Government must appreciate and learn to do for the good of our country is to learn to appreciate the significant contribution of successive Governments in laying the foundation for social and economic development of our country.
    When we debated last year, the Hon Ato Forson reminded them that the growth for the year 2017 was one anchored by growth in the oil and gas sector. We were even told by the economic intelligence team that Ghana's growth for the year 2017 was projected to be higher.
    Mr Speaker, these are not my words; these are the words of the Hon Minister for Finance in paragraph 111 on page 27 of the Budget Statement and with your permission, I beg to quote:
    “Mr Speaker, the Industry Sector grew by 15.7 per cent in 2017, mostly on account of a 30.8 per cent increase in Mining and Quarrying (M&Q) activities, a tremendous turnaround from the decline of 0.2 per cent in 2016. The M&Q growth was driven principally by an 80.3 per cent growth in upstream oil and gas activities during the period under review, compared to a decline of 15.6 per cent in 2016. The increase in oil production was accounted for by the commencement of crude oil production on the Sankofa-Gye
    Nyame (SGN) and increased production from the Tweneboa- Enyenra-Ntomme (TEN) as well as the Jubilee Fields.”
    So the 2017 growth was not because they know economic management better. It was because the NDC Administration invested in oil and gas and in the energy sector in TEN and SGN. This is their own words. This is what occasioned the growth; an oil-led growth led by a good judgment and investment in the sector.
    Mr Speaker, there was a partial risk guarantee issued by the former Hon Minister for Finance, Hon Seth Terkper, and his team on this particular matter.
    Mr Speaker, may I refer you again to page 18. There are interesting times ahead for this country. On page 18, they say that the economy is growing, inflation is at bay, exchange rate of the cedi --
    Mr Speaker, I refer you to Table 1. They owe the people of this country some candour. I would go to the table, “Ghana's performance under the ECOWAS Rationa- lised Macroeconomic Convergence Criteria in 2017: budget deficit -- 5.1 per cent: not achieved; “average annual inflation --12.37 per cent: not achieved”; “Gross reserves -- 3 months of imports cover” -- They conveniently said 4.8 months achieved public debt - 69.23 per cent:
    Mr Speaker, for public debt, I would go back to their manifesto. They said they would limit borrowing. They should not rebase an economy and come that we should hail them because there are improvements in the GDP relationship to revenue and others. They should not rebase an economy and rise to take credit. [Interruption] Rebased economy will naturally produce an effect whether tax or debt as a percentage of revenue.
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:20 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would continue on the
    same page and move on to public debt. The other day, one of our Hon Colleagues argued - Let him be reminded that public debt, in the words of the Hon Minister for Finance, stands at GH¢170 billion. So they have added GH¢50 billion to Ghana's debt.
    Mr Speaker, at whatever percentage they take it, they have added GH¢50 billion and they are adding more. This is a Government which said that borrowing was not acceptable. There is more they can learn from us as a credible alternative Government.
    Mr Speaker, when one see's the Terminal 3 at the Kotoka International Airport, it reveals a Government which appreciates and understands superior debt management.
    Terminal 3 does not sit on the books of the Government of Ghana; it sits on the books of the Ghana Airport Company Limited, thanks to a referral to them to use airport tax as collateral to guarantee that. That is what one does as a superior debt management strategy. So that beautiful and magnificent edifice of Terminal 3 has not added to Ghana's debt.
    Mr Speaker, again, this is a superior debt management strategy by former President Mahama and the NDC which they are failing to appreciate. They have set up ESLA Plc and had over GH¢2.1 billion to service the energy sector debt. That is not and it cannot be their thinking. That is your superior debt management thinking to have and to reduce the energy sector debt.
    Today as we speak, the energy sector debt -- They know the debts of Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and the Volta River Authority (VRA). They are hiding it. They should come clear to the people
    of Ghana. What are the outstanding liabilities of all the utility companies in this country? We would want to know that and their strategy to reduce the accumulated debt.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has announced Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) to provide employment to address the suffering of university graduates. I understand that our universities produce many young graduates who are without jobs.
    Unemployment has not ended. I have always maintained that unemployment is the best measure of living standards. As a country, we need a collective conversation on the matter of compensation.
    Mr Speaker, this Government which has created transitional jobs want us to praise them. I hold here Ghana Medical Association (GMA)'s communique issued at the end of their 60th anniversary annual general conference held from 6th to 11th November, 2018 at Capital View Hotel, Koforidua in the Eastern Region.
    Mr Speaker, I would just read the concluding paragraph for you.
    “The GMA is also concerned about the creeping incidence of unemployment for Medical Doctors and Dentists in the country in spite of the fact that Ghana still suffers from an abysmal doctor to patient ratio. It is worrying that newly qualified Medical Doctors and Dentists as well as those who have completed housemanship over several months are currently staying at home...”
    Facts, they say, are sacred. The economy which is doing so well cannot provide employment opportunities for critical medical practitioners including doctors and dentists
    SPACE FOR DOCUMENT-PAGE 4-11.20 P.M

    SPACE FOR DOCUMENT-PAGE 12-11.20 P.M SPACE FOR DOCUMENT-PAGE 13-11.20 P.M
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:30 a.m.


    Mr Speaker, I beg to refer you to page 214 and to draw your attention to the breakdown of Projected Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) Spending of 2019 for petroleum revenue. Mr Speaker, how I wish I could quote the Hon Majority Leader when he was the then Hon Minority Leader and he said that the country must ensure judicious and optimal use of petroleum resources so that generations of tomorrow could benefit from these resources.

    Mr Speaker, if you go to page 214 you would see under ABFA Allocation -- Goods and Services; an amount of GH¢ 1,030,107.897 and there is Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) which is GH¢1,194,563,820 billion. This Government owes it to the people of Ghana the respect for the Petroleum Revenue Management Act which provides that a substantial portion of the petrol revenue should be dedicated to CAPEX and not Goods and Services.

    Mr Speaker, they should stop investing the money in consumption because that is wrong. They should invest petroleum revenue in capital expenditure so that generations of tomorrow would appreciate that once upon a time our country benefitted from it.

    Under the Petroleum Revenue Management Act we started sending some support to the regions. Where is the support that went to the Regional Coordinating Councils and the District Assemblies?

    Mr Speaker, what is even more worrying on page 214 is that physical infrastructure for education, the figure is there and they are allocating GH¢676,629,869 but CAPEX is zero. So

    how could they take petroleum revenue under ABFA and allocate it to education?

    In any case, I am holding the petroleum report for 2017 and 2018, and they benefitted from the same GH¢ 417 million. Where is the physical infrastructure which accounts for this? If they spent it on consumption, then they should say so.

    Mr Speaker, we would not do so because the creation of that Ministry pursuant to the poverty policies in the NPP manifesto, IEP as it has been captioned, is creating conflict with the established development authorities of the President such as the Zongo Development Fund, Northern Development Authority or the Coastal Development Authority.

    Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives now intends to do things that must ordinarily be done by these development authorities, or at best, by the District assemblies. Mr Speaker, a whopping GH¢ 1.5 billion is being allocated to that Ministry.

    Mr Speaker, we would not support that appropriation, but they could use their numbers as a majority in government to do so. We want the conflict to be resolved and we want the development authorities created by the President to function effectively. If a person builds a house with saliva, it collapses with dew.

    Mr Speaker, still on the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives, they

    promised an allocation of US$1 million per constituency. We could multiply that figure with the rate given by the Vice President as GH¢ 4.2 or GH¢ 4.5 -- [Interruption.] -- They could use whatever depreciation rate but I am just telling them that the Ghana Cedi has depreciated and whether they like it or not that is unfailingly questionable.

    Mr Speaker, what happened to the US$1 million for the Suame Constituency? It must not be expended by an Hon Minister sitting at the Flagstaff House in the name of the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives. That money must be expended by a District Assembly or a development authority.

    Mr Speaker, hail the Hon Minister for Finance because when he comes here he says that he is up to date on the GETFund, National Health Insurance Scheme, Road Fund, District Assemblies Common Fund but we were here when the Hon Minister came to Parliament and introduced his capping legislation.

    Capping simply means savings from earmarked funds and my good teacher who taught me some economics would appreciate opportunity cost. When we say capping, it is not the same as arrears that turn into capping.

    Ordinarily, let me break the GH¢ 1.5 million down -- for GETFund alone there was savings of GH¢ 688 million which arose out of capping; for National Health Insurance Scheme there was savings of

    GH¢ 688.3 million which arose out of capping, for Road Fund there was GH¢ 549 million which arose out of capping and these are in the region of GH¢ 1.5 billion.

    Ordinarily, the GH¢1.5 billion would have stood today as arrears to be paid by government, so he should not come here to say that he must be praised because he is up to date. He is up to date because he had asked for forgiveness to cap this amount of GH¢ 1.5 billion. He should not say that is economics.

    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister in his conclusion -- Hon Members could use their mobile phones and I know the Hon Majority Leader has a thesaurus dictionary - asked for social interventions and the definition for social interventions.

    Mr Speaker, so did a Government which achieved halving poverty in Ghana and was awarded by the United Nations International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as far back as 2015 made no contribution in social intervention?

    Mr Speaker, this could only be incongruous and produce economic dissonance. How could they say that a Government which contributed to halving poverty, provided health infrastructure to address maternal and infant mortality and provided educational infrastructure has no social intervention?

    Mr Speaker, how could a government which contributed to managing persons with disability, both in policy and legislation have no social intervention?

    Mr Speaker, they could come again but what I know is that they cannot add to the definition of social intervention as has been accepted globally and internationally. That global and international definition clears
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:40 a.m.


    us as a Government, that we made minimum and humble contributions to the social and economic development of our country.

    Mr Speaker, may I refer you to page 197 of the Budget Statement and you would appreciate that when it comes to matters of the financial insurance sector, you would see negative growth yet they want us to say that all is well. This Government must assist the private sector to create jobs.

    Mr Speaker, again, they promised the people of Ghana One District One Factory. We were here when the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry appeared before this House and reduced the Hon Minister's promise of -- but I made my point on financial insurance and the figures thereon.

    Mr Speaker, I am now on Trade and Industry. We were in this country when they promised that as part of their quest to address unemployment, there would be One District One Factory. In the 2017/ 2018 Budget Statement 1D1F, we were told that 129 of them were ready.

    A few weeks ago, the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry appeared before this House and said 79 -- and out of the 79, we have zero for the Upper East Region. Is that to suggest that there is no district in the Upper East Region which is entitled to address their poverty, especially as a deprived region of our country as established statistically? In the Upper West Region, he mentioned four. We expect more than that.

    Mr Speaker, if this Government does not know where to find money to finance 1D1F, they should go to the Ghana EXIM

    Bank established by the NDC. They have more financial resources to assist them to finance their 1D1F, but on condition that they are assuring us that they would give opportunity to deprived regions and districts.

    Mr Speaker, we need to support the President to have a hand on unemployment. As he appropriately said in one of his addresses at the United Nations, it is the ticking time bomb of our country - the growing unemployment — graduates, SHS leavers. We need to do something about it as a country.

    Mr Speaker, even as we do that, again, the Hon Minister ought to be candid to the Ghanaian people. May I refer you to paragraph 310 of the Budget Statement?

    Free Senior High School - nobody can take it away from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a noble and worthy initiative. We have questioned its sustainability and we would continue to question it. We have questioned the adequacy of its financing and we would continue to question it. We cannot question investment in human capital, but we would question prioritisation of expenditure.

    The Ministry of Works and Housing, Ministry of Roads and Transport and the Ministry of Railway Development are not getting adequate resources. I would take you back to page 214. You would see that the allocation of the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) is skewed to the disadvantage of the infrastructure Ministries. That is not acceptable.

    They cannot allocate GH¢141 million to the Ministry of Railway Development, Ministry of Roads and Transport and the Ministry of Works and Housing, and allocate GH¢675 million to one other Ministry.

    Mr Speaker, I am on paragraph 313. Sometimes you can swallow words outside Parliament, but you cannot swallow words that you submit to Parliament, because this is a House of record.

    The Daily Graphic newspaper reported a Government policy tying Tax Identification Number (TIN) to Free Senior High School. Let me read.

    Mr Speaker, we would support Government, as we were advised by the resource person, Ali Nakyea, to raise revenue. Our problem -- and that would be my conclusion when I come to IMF. It reads, with your kind permission:

    “Mr Speaker, Government will then broaden the tax net by simplifying payment of taxes through different routes under the guidance of GRA to include the elimination of paying for Government services with cash, Requiring that citizens show their TIN before accessing social services like free health care under the National Health Insurance Programme, free secondary school education under the Free SHS programme . . .”

    The exact words -- So why is the Ministry running away from this? They announced to the Ghanaian people that in order to encourage payment of taxes, this is what they intend to do. It is a good thing to do, but as soon as the Daily Graphic reported it, another statement was issued by the Hon Minister that there is no policy.

    So what is this? They say their economic and financial policy, in it is TIN tied to enjoyment of social services, including Free Senior High School, so they should come again.

    Mr Speaker, the theme of this Budget statement “Stronger Economy for Jobs and Prosperity” is one based on borrowing, and borrowing in the name of barter. Borrowing US$648 million from Sinohydro -- Yet the Hon Minister says in this Budget Statement that they are out of IMF. They would be out in April, not December; so they are not out yet. They have to wait for the final review -- We should not forget that I was a member of the IMF negotiating team. We negotiated three years; they added one year.

    Mr Speaker, in this Budget Statement, the Hon Minister promises zero per cent financing from the Central Bank. That went into our thinking with the IMF, and that was one of the conditions we agreed with the IMF. If it is not good, why do they promise that they would continue with it? I say zero per cent financing. I was in Washington, and they were saying they will continue with it in future. It means they have inherited some worthy economic policies going forward.

    Mr Speaker, today, we can borrow for infrastructure. I have my list here with the Hon Deputy Minority Whip. I would go through it.

    When you have a Government which says that it would keep in line with the IMF -- Mr Speaker, two positives. Ghana exiting the IMF, indeed, was the wish of the former President Mahama when he constituted the technical and negotiating team for the purpose of achieving fiscal consolidation and policy credibility.

    Mr Speaker, today, they may hide in the name of projected revenue and promise that you can achieve a fiscal deficit. We would monitor them closely.

    Mr Speaker, the governance institu- tions; is it not intriguing that the Office of Special Prosecutor, the President's quest
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:50 a.m.
    to combat economic crime and graft - I have always said that he is assured of our support, but is it not interesting that the Attorney-General's Office, established under article 88 of the Constitution is getting less with all its staff, and the Special Prosecutor, with minimum staff, is getting more? Read section 4 of the Special Prosecutor Act. He is still subject to the Attorney-General under her mandate.
    Mr Speaker, the Auditor-General needs to be adequately resourced. The counterpart funding even for the Auditor- General to be able to unlock some KfW facility has not been released by the Hon Minister for Finance.
    Our best ally as an institution of Parliament to fight corruption is the Office of the Auditor-General, and we need to adequately resource the Office of the Auditor-General, even though we should endeavour to reduce the post mortem findings.
    The Public Accounts Committee deals with post mortem; this could be avoided if internal audits are strengthened.
    I therefore request that we increase allocation to the Auditor-General. They still have problems with vehicles. He has evinced an intention to audit matters relating to construction and procurement.

    He has demonstrated that he is an independent man with independent thought; what he needs is for us to finance him adequately so that he could help us reduce corruption.

    Mr Speaker, that brings me to the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana.
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu noon
    They should open it up to a competitive
    tender process, if they respect transparency and others.
    Mr Speaker, finally, a lot of releases go to the Ministries but when we approve this Budget Statement, it is only compensation that is on it. That is not good enough for our country. To quote former President Kufuor:
    “ We are paying people for doing nothing.”
    This is because there is no money for Goods and Services, no money for Capex; we are just paying compensation. As I indicated, if we go to La Cote D'Ivoire, which has about the same economy like Ghana, their workforce is thinner than Ghana's. We need to think through it.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister must appreciate a good foundation laid by the NDC Government. When he came to agriculture, he was waxing commodity exchange.
    Let me remind him that I initiated commodity exchange as far back as 2012, as the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry, and brought the Kenyan expert called Elleni to set up the infrastructure. If he has come to improve upon it, he must say so. He should not come and create an impression of the NDC Government having done nothing.
    Mr Speaker, as I said, we transited Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) to Ghana EXIM Bank. If the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation would recall, even during the debate on the Bill, we had to sponsor an amendment so that in the object and the functions, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) could be supported.
    What Ghanaian women are looking for is micro-credit; maybe GH ¢5,000.00 would even be enough for some Ghanaian women. We should be able to target the SMEs sector because they provide 90 per cent in terms of employment in this country and their problem is access to resources.

    After we increased the Road Fund Levy in the Energy Sector Levy Act (ESLA) and borrowed against it, our Friends in the Majority today were very critical of us. Today, they seek to borrow US$1.5billion against the earmarked revenue of GETFund. A good thing to do because we expect them to pay GETFund contractors and to get many of the projects completed to support the “Free Senior High School” policy of the President.

    Mr Speaker, but must we pay 19 per cent per annum on US$1.5 billion when what we need immediately is US$500 million or US$1 billon?

    Mr Speaker, I recall your directive on the matter and I respectfully ask the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation to monitor this for the President. They are borrowing US$1.5billion and they want to pay 19 per cent per annum on the entire amount when they would actually need US$500million as you indicated.

    Today, there is pride in borrowing and you can borrow against earmarked funds.

    Mr Speaker, let me conclude by thanking you for the opportunity and reminding the President that the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives is engendering conflict with Development

    Authorities, District Assemblies, some Ministries and Parliament in terms of what should go to our constituencies.

    Therefore, even with our numbers, we would prove that it would be tough. We would look at what the Constitution provides. The allocation must go directly to the beneficiary District to allow for the Development Authorities to function.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
    Hon Majority Leader, it is your turn.
    Minister for Parliamentary Affairs/ Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu (MP) noon
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Financial Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December, 2019, and by that, I will bring down the curtain on this aspect of the Budget and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2019 financial year.
    Mr Speaker, our rules of procedure provide in Standing Order 140 (3) and with your permission I quote:
    “Whenever a motion “That this House approves the financial policy of the Government for the year ending ………………………..19 ..................” has been moved by the Minister responsible for Finance, the debate on it shall stand adjourned for not less than three days.”
    My emphasis is on “financial policy”. That is what the rules provide. The Motion before us on today's Order Paper, captured as item numbered 7 reads, and with your permission I quote:
    “That this Honourable House approves the Financial Policy of the Government of Ghana for the year ending 31st December, 2019.”
    The debate, as captured on the Order Paper since last week Tuesday, has been the same. It is on the economic policy; the policy which underpins the 2019 Budget Statement. That is the matter we must debate.
    Mr Speaker, at this stage, we are not debating the Estimates yet. Unfortunately, even though the Post-Budget Workshop which Leadership led Parliament to hold provided further illumination on this and the distinction between the Economic Policy and Budget, some people have decided to set their own examination questions, provided their own marking schemes and gone ahead to mark and award themselves very fat marks.
    The belief that the Chief Examiner, when he comes would concur -- The Chief Examiner would certainly come and they would know that whatever they have done is really spurious and amounts to much ado about nothing.
    Mr Speaker, Hon Members are entitled to their own shenanigans and grandstanding. They are entitled to their play-to-the-gallery behaviour, self- programme and automated responses. What Hon Members are not entitled to in this House is to manufacture their own set of facts.
    The question to ask at this stage of the Budget Statement is, what are the policy underpinnings of the 2019 Budget Statement?
    Chapter 6 of our Constitution is on the Directive Principles of State policy. It sets out in article 35, Political Objectives. Article 36 is on Economic Objectives; article 37 on Social Objectives; article 38 on Educational Objectives; and articles 39
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
    Hon Majority Leader, please hold on.
    Yes, Hon First Deputy Minority Whip?
    Mr A. Ibrahim noon
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, ordinarily, I would not want
    to interrupt but the Hon Majority Leader used a word which in my view does not only affect Hon Members, but everybody. This is because when an Hon Member is on his feet, he addresses the Chair and so he addresses you as well.
    He said Hon Members are entitled to their own shenanigans. I wonder how Mr Speaker would preside over Hon Members using their own shenanigans. That word is too abusive. In our Standing Orders, it shall be out of order to use offensive, abusive or unbecoming words.
    Mr Speaker, with respect, today's Official Report is one that Hon Members would use for research and that word should not find space in it. So I entreat our Hon Majority Leader to withdraw, even if he would not find it appropriate to apologise to Hon Members.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
    Hon Majority Leader, was that word in your lexicon this morning?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
    Mr Speaker, “shenanigans” is part of any parliamentary lexicon. For the avoidance of doubt, since I have been here, in 1997, J. H. Mensah used these words and he was the first to do so. Hon Dr Kwabena Adjei who was the Hon Majority Leader to succeed Hon J. H. Owusu Acheampong repeated this word on more than five occasions.
    Mr Speaker, the young certainly should grow. This is part of any parliamentary lexicon. Filibustering -- I wonder where this is coming from.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
    Hon Majority Leader, I checked the word and
    it means “secret or dishonest activity or manoeuvring.” Would you pitch that against Standing Order --
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
    Mr Speaker, there is a disjunct in what you just read. It said “secret or dishonest activity or manoeuvring”. I am on the last leg. This is parliamentary language everywhere in the world. [Interruption] Shenanigans, filibustering -- I do not understand this and I believe that they would appreciate it.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
    Hon Majority Leader, please substitute that for a word that is acceptable. [Hear! Hear!]
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in deference to the Chair, even though this is part of the conventions and practices of every Parliament anywhere -- [Interruption.]
    Mr Speaker, they should learn and not shout because they need to grow up in Parliament.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
    Hon Members, Order!
    Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu: Mr Speaker, they should learn to at least grow up and respect.
    Mr Speaker, as I said, in deference to your guidance, I will, but they should know that this is part of any parliamentary lesson. If you have given me the directive to substitute the word ‘'shenanigans'', I would substitute it with ‘'contrived manoeuvrings'' [Laughter]. They can google for the word ‘'contrivance''.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, that is accepted, so please, proceed.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the third document that should be benchmarked is the National Medium Term Development Policy Framework; the fourth is how the objectives and aspirations captured in the SDGs reflected in the Budget Statement. Ghana has signed onto the United Nations (UN) Adopted Sustainable Development Goals and Parliament has ratified the SDGs.
    Mr Speaker, again, Ghana has signed up for the African Union (AU) Agenda for 2063, and so, how would the Budget Statement and Economic Policy mirror the aspirations as captured in the AU Agenda?
    Mr Speaker, the sixth objective, as the Hon Minority Leader indicated, is the Public Financial Management Act of 2016; and the seventh, is the Manifesto of the ruling party. These are the benchmarks, and they are the yardsticks to measure any Budget Statement.
    Mr Speaker, the plain discernible truth, foundational on factual evidence and not on imaginations, distortions and propaganda is that the interplay of the policies and programmes by the 2017 and 2018 World Programmes of the NPP Administration have resulted in strengthening the economic fundamentals of this country. It is plain and crystal clear.
    Mr Speaker, the evidence is that, in 2008, the GDP growth rate that was inherited by Ex-President Kufuor was 3.7 per cent. From that period the GDP growth rate trajectory was in the upward swing. It began from 4.2 per cent in 2001 through 4.5, 5.2, 5.6, 5.9, 6.4, 6.3 and 9.1 per cents consecutively up to 2008.
    All these were achieved in a non-oil economy. This is how a really sound economic growth aggregate looks like. If this is compared with the 4.8 per cent
    Mr Eric Opoku 12:10 p.m.
    None

    Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu: Mr Speaker, would the Hon Ranking Member on the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs sit down and listen?

    Mr Speaker, that is the truth. In 2018, the country achieved a primary surplus

    of 1.4 per cent of GDP. The public debt, which includes the bailout cost for financial sector at the end of September 2018, was 57.4 per cent. If the bailout cost are excluded, the public debt now stands at 53.9 per cent of GDP. In 2016, the public debt to GDP was 73 per cent.

    Mr Speaker, these are the matters that should engage our attention. Clearly, there is no basis of comparison between the Administration of the NPP and the previous NDC Administration.

    Mr Speaker, there is an Akan adage which says; se nsuo toe na woante a adekye a wonhu se efom afo? To wit, ‘' if one did not hear the ferocious downpour of rain at night, one cannot refuse to see the wetness of the ground the morning after''. The figures and statistics speak for themselves.

    Mr Speaker, in September, 2016, agricultural growth was 3.6 per cent and that is on page 12 of the 2017 Budget Statement. However, by the close of the year, real growth in agriculture had even climbed down to 2.9 per cent for 2016. In 2015, agriculture grew at 2.3 per cent; and in 2014, it was a mere 0.9 per cent. From that lowly growth rate, agriculture registerd a growth rate of 4.8 per cent as of June, 2018.

    Mr Speaker, within the agricultural sector, crops grew at 2.8 per cent, 1.7 per cent and 2.2 per cent in the consecutive years of 2014, 2015 and 2016 compared with a leap in the crop sub-sector today of 6.1 per cent for 2017 when they grew it at 2.8 per cent, 1.7 per cent and 2.2 per cent. And they say that the women of this country should sing to their praise.

    Mr Speaker, for the cocoa sub-sector, growth for the consecutive years of 2014, 2015 and 2016 was 4.3 per cent in 2014, -8.0 per cent in 2015 and -7.0 per cent in 2016. They should compare this with the 9.2 per cent growth rate in the cocoa sub- sector in 2017.

    Mr Speaker, these figures are even revealing. In 2013, we were told that about 50 million seedlings of cocoa had been distributed to farmers, such that by 2016, they said they had distributed over 200 million of cocoa seedlings to farmers.

    That 200 million cocoa seedlings should translate into bringing under cultivation, 400,000 acres of farm land; and what should that generate? Yet by 2016, growth in the cocoa sub-sector was -7.0 per cent. We need to investigate this. I smell a “broken umbrella”.

    Mr Speaker, if cocoa seedlings -- Indeed, we have put under cultivation, 400,000 acres and we had not planted a giant umbrella which prevented the seedlings from receiving adequate sunlight and rainfall; the result could have been phenomenal and not the -7.0 per cent growth in the cocoa sub-sector. These are the people who are saying that we should give the country back to them to govern.

    Mr Speaker, let me leave the cocoa sub- sector because Hon Eric Opoku, my very good Hon friend is here, he is the spokesperson on Agriculture, and he knows the truth.

    Mr Speaker, for 2014, 2015 and 2016, Industry grew at 1.1 per cent at 2014, 1.1 per cent again and in 2015 it was 4.3 per cent. The facts would speak for themselves. Within industry, all the major players underperformed under the NDC.

    In 2016, mining and quarrying grew at - 0.2 per cent compared with the growth of 30.8 per cent in 2017.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
    Hon Leader, if you want to quote him, quote him properly.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he said, adumdum adumdum no begyae -- [Laughter]— Lo and behold, the adumdum adum dum no anyae. It worsened, deepened, and indeed, entangled and engulfed the entire nation for three solid years.
    Mr Speaker, the NDC's singsong has been that the NPP had not added a megawatt of power generation. Indeed, the former Minister came to Parliament to make that false claim. I would not go into that because we have responded time and again to this, that it is really a false statement that Former President Kufuor initiated steps to add 1,530 megawatts.
    Former President Rawlings had also initiated steps at the instance of the 1982, 1983 drought to boost our power generation, and the steps of former President Rawlings, if we aggregated, came to about 750 megawatts, which were left unattended to on the assumption of office by the NDC at the time. That is what resulted in this.
    Mr Speaker, of course, one cannot continue with this argument because for any group when asked to name one sound social intervention in their eight-year rule would respond, “Kyebi water” -- Mr Speaker, is “Kyebi Water” a policy?

    Mr Speaker, when the Hon Minister for Finance listed roads to be reshaped, re- gravelled or reconstructed in each of the regions, the raucous response from my Hon Colleagues was, “JM!”. Any one road that was mentioned, “JM!” It was to the extent that when the Hon Minister for Finance announced, “And now, Brong Ahafo”, they shouted in response, “JM!”

    Had JM created Brong Ahafo or had he reshaped or reconstructed it? Do you see where automated responses would lead you to? [Laughter] -- Mr Speaker, a colleague of mine who was watching television in the house quickly then sent me an SMS which said, “robotic response” and I chided him to be charitable to the recognised opposition because they are not robots.

    Mr Speaker, let me leave the energy because enough has been said about this sector. On the ECOWAS convergence criteria in 2013, economic growth in countries in West African Monetary Zone, most of which are non-oil producing countries averaged 6.7 per cent.

    The countries in the league are the Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria. In 2013, Ghana placed last in the league of these countries in terms of economic growth. In 2014, we placed last again. We could not achieve even one of the convergence criteria set by the West African Monetary Zone. That was under the watch of the NDC Administration and they are saying we should give back the country to them.

    Mr Speaker, in 2015, of the ten convergence criteria, they achieved only one. In 2016, they achieved only one, and these are the people who say we should give back the country to them.

    Mr Speaker, I know of a very good friend of mine who is a powerful writer and also good at taking down notes. At a point in time, he was a sub-editor of a high profile newspaper -- [Laughter] --

    The Hon Minister for Finance at that time refused to give us that league. Mr Speaker, check the records in 2017. The
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:30 p.m.
    ten convergence criteria have now been consolidated into six and out of the six, Ghana has attained four which is 66 per cent. Under the eight-year rule of the NDC, the best performance was 30 per cent. These are the people who want back the governance of the country.
    Mr Speaker, let me now talk a bit about employment. The NPP Manifesto in 2016 bears a very bold title: “Change: An Agenda for Jobs; creating prosperity and equal opportunity for all.” The Government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recognises the need to create jobs and that is why it has the flagship programmes of One Village, One Dam (1V1D) and One District, One Factory (1D1F). These are on course.
    The one dam per village endeavour is to use the harvested water to irrigate agricultural lands to increase food security and improve nutrition and growth. The produce is to feed the factories that would spring up. This is a well thought through multi-faceted programme.
    Mr Speaker, while we are at this, afforestation programme has engaged several 1000s of young men and women; the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has engaged 99,000 people and the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), over a 100,000 people; the skills development programme has trained over 27,000 people and public employment centres placed about 4000 jobseekers.
    Pursuant to the free Senior High School (free SHS) scheme, many teachers have been employed. Agricultural Extension Officers have also been recruited to boost agricultural production. Hundreds of trained nurses have also been employed. These are real job creation and not the phantom 1.5 million jobs that the NDC said
    they had created in 2010 only for the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of 2011 and 2012 to own up that they had indeed created 120,000 jobs.
    Indeed, when the then Hon Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Hon E. T. Mensah, was asked of the 1.5 million jobs created when he came to answer Questions in this House, he said he did not say so and that we should go and ask the person who made that allegation. Clearly, the man who said that is in the Chamber -- [Laughter.] --
    Mr Speaker, as I said, these are not phantom jobs; they are real ones.
    Mr Speaker, in the final analysis, the question to ask is whether this Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government would add value to the development of this country.
    The various infrastructural projects provide ample testimony. This is a Budget Statement that would add value to the standard of living of the people through direct employment generation and the revamping of agriculture, industry, trade and investments in human capital that the Hon Minority Leader alluded to.
    Mr Speaker, what we should recognise as a nation is that the expenditure on the free SHS scheme is expenditure in the development of human capital. It is not goods and services.
    We should understand that. Education would bring further illumination to the people; it would improve sanitation, afford the people the opportunity to be better informed and make informed choices. Above all, education would make the people know the truth and the truth certainly would set them free.
    When they are set free, the educated class would then be able to say, “Never again shall we fall victims to propaganda and grand deception.”
    Mr Speaker, this is the reason some people are still kicking against the free SHS education and those benefiting from the policy would definitely know where to consign their oppressors.
    Mr Speaker, without any shred of doubt, this indeed is set to provide a stronger economy for jobs and the creation of prosperity and equal opportunity as the preamble of the 1992 Republican Constitution provides. It is for this reason that I urge all my Hon Colleagues in this House to stand up and be counted if they want jobs and prosperity for their constituents and communities.
    Mr Speaker, I support the Motion moved by the Minister for Finance that we should approve of the Financial Policy of Government for 2019 and I urge all my Hon Colleagues assembled in this House to fully support this Motion.

    All Hon Members on the Majority Side -- rose --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Hon Members, at the conclusion of the debate, I would put the Question -- [Interruption.]
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    as it is the tradition, the Hon Minister who moved the Motion may want to make a comment before we put the Question on the Motion.
    The Hon Minister is represented by the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance who is in charge of the Budget Statement.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Whip?
    Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have been doing this without the Hon Minister for Finance himself. The Hon Deputy Minister is here, and so she could hold the fort for him, for us to proceed.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Very well, Hon Leader, there are two Hon Deputy Ministers for Finance here, and so which of them would you want to do the conclusion? The lady has --
    Very well, Hon Members, I would put the Question.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved:
    That this Honourable House approves the Financial Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December, 2019.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader, we have two more items on the Order Paper - Motions.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thought we would be able to deal with Motion numbered 8, but it does appear that -- [Interruption.]
    Mr Speaker, normally, when we bring down the curtains on the debate on the Financial Policy of Government -- not Budget, but the Financial Policy of Government -- [Interruption.] --

    Mr Speaker, I believe we could perhaps adjourn now, but before I do that, even though tomorrow might have been the right occasion to say this, I would, however, want to inform Hon Members that we have agreed at the Business Committee that on this coming Saturday, the House would Sit briefly.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Hon Leader, do you mean the day after tomorrow?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:40 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker, the day after tomorrow.
    Mr Speaker, we shall have further consultations with you. [Laughter] -- So, that is the arrangement. This is because next week Friday is a public holiday, and given where we are, we would need to have three additional days before we adjourn.
    This means that we would have to adjourn, not on the 21st of December, 2018 any longer, but on the 22nd of December, 2018. We would still need another Saturday, which would be on the 15th of December, 2018, to make up the number of days.
    Mr Speaker, if we do not do that, the two instruments would not materialise. The two instruments in respect of the Special Prosecutor would not materialise and that is why we are making this application.
    The application is made in good faith, and I believe that Hon Members would understand. We know that such events
    certainly come with some considerations, and we would do our best.
    Mr Speaker, in that regard, I move that this House adjourns until tomorrow, Friday, 30th November, 2018, at 10.00 a. m. in the forenoon.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Iddrisu 12:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, mine ordinarily would be to second the Motion for adjournment, and as the Hon Majority Leader has said, we would need to engage with you more, and probably with our Hon Colleagues, to work for some additional days to get some instruments done.
    Mr Speaker, therefore, I would want to second the Motion for adjournment, and to remind the Hon Majority Leader that he must prepare adequately, if he would want to secure our holidays. This is because our Saturdays are supposed to be ours.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader made reference to pregnancy in his speech. But I would want to also remind him that Thabo Mbeki said that pregnancy was a good example that women cannot keep a secret. [Laughter].
    Mr Speaker, on that note, I second the Motion for adjournment.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    ADJOURNMENT 12:40 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 12.16 p. m. till Friday, 30th November, 2018 at 10.00 a. m. in the forenoon.