Debates of 1 Mar 2019

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:20 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon Members, correction of the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 28th February, 2019.
Page 1… 7 --
rose
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Ahi 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 7, item 1, numbered 4, I was in the Chamber yesterday but I have been marked absent.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Thank you.
Page 8?
rose
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Yes, Hon Andah?
Mr George N. K. Andah 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sorry to draw you back to page 8. On page 8, I see the name listed 6, Hon Samuel Atta Akyea, is marked absent but I saw him in the Chamber yesterday.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Page 9 - 22?
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon Members, we have the Parliamentary Watch Report dated 17th December, 2018, for correction.

Hon Members, item listed 3 -- Business Statement for the Sixth Week.

Chairman of the Business Committee?
Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I seek your leave to present the Business Statement for the upcoming week on behalf of the Hon Chairman of the Business Committee and the Leader of Government Business in the House.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:20 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Formal Communications by the Speaker
Mr Speaker, you may read any available Communication to the House if there are any.
Question(s) Mr Speaker, the Business Committee
has scheduled the following Ministers to
respond to Questions asked of them during the week: No. of
Question(s)
i. Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture -- 1
ii. Minister for Education -- 2
iii. Minister for Finance -- 4
iv. Minister for Youth and Sports -- 1
v. Minister for Roads and Highways -- 6
Total Number of Questions -- 14
Mr Speaker, five (5) Ministers are expected to attend upon the House to respond to fourteen (14) Questions during the week. The questions are of the following types:
i. Urgent -- 1;
ii. Oral -- 13.
Statements
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Order 70(2), Ministers of State may be permitted to make Statements of Government policy. Statements duly admitted by the Rt. Hon 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 in accordance with Order 120. However, those of urgent nature may be taken through the various stages in one day in accordance with Order 119.
Pursuant to Order 75, Papers for presentation to the House may be placed on the Order Paper for laying. Committee reports may also be presented to the House for consideration.
Motions and Resolutions
Mr Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
Debate on the Message on the State of the Nation
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee recommends that the House concludes debate on the Motion to thank H.E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation on Tuesday, 5th March, 2019.
Mr Speaker, for the avoidance of doubt, the Leaders are expected to windup on the debate on the Message on Tuesday, 5th March, 2019.
Public Holiday
Mr Speaker, Wednesday, 6th March, 2019 is Independence Day. The day would be observed as a statutory public holiday.
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 conside- ration.

Urgent Question --
Ms Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo (Shai-Osudoku) 10:20 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture whether the Ministry is aware of the recent mysterious extinction of a large stock of species of tilapia fish in the Shai-Osudoku Constituency and if so, what the causes were and the remedial action being taken as the occurrence is becoming a frequent phenomenon in the Constituency.
Questions --
*542. Mr Peter Nortsu-Kotoe (Akatsi North): To ask the Minister for Education what steps the Ministry is taking to absorb a l l privately trained teachers into the education sector as done in the health sector recently.
*543. Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso (Krachi West): To ask the Minister for Education whether the Ministry plans to construct the Osramani Community Day Senior High School building which was awarded in 2016.
Statements
Presentation of Papers —
(a) Montreal Protocol on Sub- stances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Concluded at Montreal on 16thSeptember 1987).
(b) Further Amendment of the Montreal Protocol (Kigali Amendment of October 2016).
Motions —
That this Honourable House thanks H.E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to Parliament on Thursday, 21st February, 2019.
(Moved on Tuesday, 26th February, 2019 by the Hon Member for Ofoase/Ayirebi, Mr Kojo Oppong- Nkrumah and seconded by the Hon Member BuiIsa North, James Agalga). (Conclusion of Debate)
Consideration Stage of Bills —
Payment Systems and Services Bill, 2018. (Continuation); Chartered Institute of Bankers (Ghana) Bill, 2018; Companies Bill, 2018;
Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill,
2018.
Committee sittings.

Public Holiday (Independence Day) Thursday, 7th March, 2019

Questions --

*424. Mr Michael Yaw Gyato (Krachi East): To ask the Minister for Finance the amount paid on every GH¢100 transaction on mobile money transfer, whether the payment is made at the point of deposit,withdrawal or both.
Ms Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo (Shai-Osudoku) 10:20 a.m.
*493. Mr Isaac Adongo (Bolgatanga
Central): To ask the Minister for Finance how' much the Government of Ghana has (Bank of Ghana) paid to GCB Bank for the takeover of selected assets and liabilities of UT and Capital Banks, giving full details of terms and conditions of any instrument used for the payments.
*534. Mr Isaac Adongo (Bolgatanga Central): To ask the Minister for Finance why the GCB Bank has not filed its audited financial statements with the Bank of Ghana and the Ghana Stock Exchange as at 21/05/
2018.
*535. Mr Kwame Govers Agbodza (Adaklu): To ask the Minister for Finance whether the introduction of the ‘Paperless Port' has increased the cost of doing business at the ports.
Statements--
Consideration Stage of Bills--
Payment Systems and Services Bill, 2018. (Continuation);
Chartered Institute of Bankers (Ghana) Bill, 2018. (Continuation);
Companies Bill, 2018. (Continuation)
Committee sittings.

Questions --

*538. Mr Ras Mubarak (Kumbungu): To ask the Minister for Youth and Sports whether the National Youth

Authority received its five per cent allocation of Common Fund for the year 2017 and if it did, how the allocation was spent.

*557.Alhaji Habibu Tijani Mohammad (Yendi): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when construction works on the Eastern Corridor road project from Kpasa/ Damankum to Nakpanduri will resume.

*558. Mr Wahab Wumbei Suhuyini (Tolon): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways what measures are being put in place to repair the bridges on the following roads, which are badly damaged: (i) Golinga - Natoyili (ii) Lingburg Gundaa - Gundu (iii) Gburimani - Kpahiyagini.

*559. Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo (Manso Adubia): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when work will resume on suspended cocoa road projects.

*560. Mr Gabriel Osei (Tain): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the road from Nsawkaw - Seikwa will be constructed and tarred.

*561. Mr Stephen M.E.K. Ackah (Suaman): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Amoya to Karlo stretch of the Juaboso to Dadieso road will be completed.

*562. Mr Stephen M.E.K. Ackah (Suaman): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when construction of Dadieso town roads will be completed.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Majority Chief Whip.
rose
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Hon Member, are you on your feet or you are pointing towards your Hon Colleague?
Mr Dafeamekpor 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am on my feet.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Then you should speak, because I have recognised you.
Mr Dafeamekpor 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker, I recall that two of my Questions that were previously listed for the Hon Minister 's response, the explanations were that the Hon Minister was yet to receive the response from the
Judiciary. Two weeks down the line, I have seen that it has not been captured in the Business Statement.
Mr Speaker, it is in respect of the two Questions that I asked concerning why the General Legal Council has refused to renew the licenses of lawyers who were lower court judges until three years ago, but were administratively removed. They would want to continue practice at the Bar, but their licenses have not been renewed to enable them to do so.
Mr Speaker, my second Question was also in respect of the steps that were being taken to appoint judges to the High Court in Hohoe, Denu, and Ho, all in the Volta Region.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
rose
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Ras Mubarak 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am very grateful.
Mr Speaker, I would make reference to item numbered (d) on the first page of the Business Statement. On the second paragraph of item numbered (d), the Hon Majority Chief Whip has indicated that pursuant to Standing Order 75, Committee reports may also be presented to the House for consideration.
Mr Speaker, I raised this a couple of weeks ago, that there are several Committee reports that have been outstanding for quite a while, and some of them are very ready. There are reports which you have given to Committees to work on.
I hope that instead of the blank cheque that the Business Committee gives by indicating that Committee reports “may” be presented, those of them that are ready be rather indicated in the Business Statement, so that we would know that in the ensuing week, these are the reports to be considered.
But if an indication is given that they “may” present reports, then it would be like we are not putting pressure on them to have them deal with issues that have been outstanding for several months.
Mr Speaker, this is what I wanted to bring to the attention of the Hon Majority Chief Whip.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member. Your views are taken.
rose
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Yes, Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa?
Mr Ablakwa 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful.
Mr Speaker, I wish to thank the Hon Majority Chief Whip for the able presentation.
Mr Speaker, I have two issues to raise. The first one has to do with a matter that came up on the Floor yesterday, which has to do with the re-constitution of the Appointments Committee. The Hon Majority Leader indicated that we would have to do that, after the Rt. Hon Speaker expressed concern about the manner in which appointees are vetted.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader subsequently said that there are a number of Hon Members of the Appointments Committee who have been made Hon Ministers, and it is not proper that Hon Ministers vet their own colleague Ministers.
He indicated that before the next round of vetting, which is eminent because the President has made some nominations, we would have the Committee re-constituted.
Mr Speaker, I, however, do not see that slated for next week. I would have thought that this House could urgently work on that matter next week, so that we would be in good position to consider the President's nominees. So, the Hon Majority Chief Whip could advert his mind to that matter which came up on the Floor yesterday.
Mr Speaker, finally, I would also want to draw the attention of the Hon Majority Chief Whip to the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463). Section 11 of the Act on annual report says that the President shall within three months after the end of each financial year, submit to Parliament an annual report containing certain information, which I would not want to bore the House with.
Mr Speaker, I would, however, want to say that this is our last month, because we have entered March. I would therefore want to remind the Hon Majority Chief Whip that this House is running out of time, since March is the last window for Section 11 of the Presidential Office Act to be adhered to. So, the Executive could be duly reminded to present the annual report to the House.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would convey the sentiments of Hon Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor to the Leadership of the Business Committee so that his Questions can be rescheduled so that he would have the opportunity to ask them for the Hon Minister to respond accordingly.
On the issue raised by the Hon Ras Mubarak relating to Committee reports, we use the expression “may” because if we say “shall” and there is no report to be presented, then we may be found wanting so any report that is ready for presentation can be captured within the course of the week.
Mr Speaker, on the recomposition of the Appointments Committee, I recall that the issue came out and the Leadership of the House spoke to it, but at the time that the discussion was ongoing in the Chamber, the Business Committee had already met so it could not find expression in here, but it is something that can be done at any time if placed on the Order Paper.
I would like to thank Hon Ablakwa for the reminder about the annual report in pursuance of the Presidential Office Act, but as he rightly pointed out, the report must arrive in this House within the first three months. We are still within the first three months. We are in the third month. It has not yet ended, but it is a good reminder and we thank him.
I am most grateful, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
On that note, the Business Statement for the Sixth Week as presented is hereby adopted accordingly.
Item listed 4 -- Urgent Question. Is the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways in the House?
Hon Minister for Roads and Highways, you may please take the appropriate seat. The owner of the Urgent Question numbered 4(a), the Hon Member for Manso Adubia, please ask your Question.
Mr Emmanuel A. Gyamfi 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have the permission of the Hon Member to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
You may.
URGENT QUESTIONS 10:30 a.m.
MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 10:30 a.m.
HIGHWAYS 10:30 a.m.
Minister for Roads and Highways (Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah) 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
Datano - Tontokrom road
Background
The Datano - Tontokrom road forms part of the Kumpese - Datano - Totokrorn Feeder Road which is 18.4km and located in the Manso Adubia District of the Ashanti Region. It is a gravel road with poor surface condition.
The existing drainage structure which has collapsed is a double cell 1200mm diameter pipe culvert located at km 6.40 which is between Datano and Tontokrom
town. The culvert collapsed as a result of undermining of the inlet portion of the structure by old “galamsey” activities within its immediate neighbourhood.
Current programme
There is no rehabilitation or upgrading programme on the road.
However, engineering design studies have been carried out on the road including a review of the size of the collapsed culvert from 2x1200mm to 2x1800mm diameter pipe which has bigger hydraulic capacity to accommodate large discharge during raining seasons.
Future programme
Due to the emergency nature of the situation, the culvert and its approaches will be given immediate attention while the entire road will be considered under DFR 2019 periodic maintenance programme when funding becomes available.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Member, any further questions?
Mr Gyamfi 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways for the attempt which has led to work on the road.
Mr Speaker, the collapse of the bridge has resulted in the difficulties of passengers or people using that particular section of the road. This Question has been admitted as an Urgent Question.
I would want to find out from the Hon Minister, that once the engineering work has been done on the road, would he consider this as a matter of urgency to look for funding and rebuild the bridge in question?
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Minister, look for the funds.
Mr Amoako-Attah 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is exactly so. That is why the last paragraph of my Answer states that: “Due to the emergency nature of the situation the culvert which has collapsed and its approaches --
If we talk about “approaches”, we are talking about the roads that lead to the location of the culvert -- will be given immediate attention…”
So, Mr Speaker, we would give it the urgent attention that it requires.
Mr Gyamfi 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am very grateful to the Hon Minister for the assurance given.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Urgent Question numbered 4(b) -- Hon Member for Chiana/Paga)?
Urgent Question numbered 4(c) -- Hon Member for Akatsi North?
Sealing off of Unauthorised U-turns
Mr Peter Nortsu-Kotoe (Akatsi North) asked the Minister for Roads and Highways what steps the Ministry has taken to seal off the unauthorised U-turns that have been developed on the Achimota - Nsawam section of the Accra - Kumasi Highway.
Mr Amoako-Attah 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
Background
The Achimota - Ofankor road is part of the National route N6, which runs from Accra through Kumasi. The Achimota - Nsawam road lies within the Accra
Mr Nortsu-Kotoe 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he mentioned that work started some time ago to seal off the unauthorised U-turns. As of last Thursday, my count of unauthorised U- turns from Pokuase to Nsawam was 32.
I would like to find out from the Hon Minister how soon work will resume in desilting the U-drains along the road to seal off the unauthorised U-turns.
Mr Amoako-Attah 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague's observation could be right. I would not argue on that. The thrust of my Answer is that, all these unauthorised U-turns have been occa- sioned by the frequent and continuous silting of the median of the road.
This continues particularly anytime it rains. When we desilt and it rains, because of human activities and the way we scatter refuse, among other things and because a greater part of the shoulder of our roads is not paved, the median easily get silted.
Anytime it is silted, people take advantage of it, and that is why desilting is a continuous permanent feature in the programme of my Ministry. We will continue to do that.
I think the time has come for us to work closely with the security agencies because we have a lot of recalcitrants among us and we should start arresting and prosecuting people. If we do that, these unauthorised U-turn activities would stop.
Mr Speaker, I agree with him that it poses great danger to motorists and all of us are inclusive. So, we shall take steps to ensure that we continue to do what is expected of us as a Ministry and see how this would be brought to a close.
Mr Speaker, let me add that, with the current ongoing work at the Pokuase Intersection, we would work on the entire stretch of that road up to Nsawam and we would take steps to improve the median which would make it unattractive and even impossible for people to engage in these U-turn activities.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Minister.
Item listed 5 -- Question. Question numbered 552 stands in the name of the Hon Member for Gomoa Central.
Mr Kojo Asemanyi 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I would want to ask the Question on behalf of the Hon Naana Eyiah. [Interruption.]
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 10:50 a.m.
MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 10:50 a.m.
HIGHWAYS 10:50 a.m.
Mr Amoako-Attah 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
(i) Gomoa Nduem - Gomoa Lome
Background
The Gomoa Nduem - Gomoa Lome feeder road is 6.0km and located in the Gomoa Central District of the Central region. It is a gravel road with poor surface condition.
Current programme
The procurement process for the upgrading of the road commenced in 2018. The evaluation report has been submitted to the Central Tender Review Board for approval after which the procurement
Mr Amoako-Attah 11 a.m.
process proceeds to the signing of contract and commencement of the project. (ii) Gomoa Awobrew - Gomoa Nsuaem
Background
The Gomoa Awobrew - Gomoa Nsuaem feeder road is 4.20km and located in the Gomoa Central District of the Central Region. It is a gravel road in poor condition.
Current Programme
There is no upgrading or rehabilitation programme on the road.
Future Programme
Engineering studies have been carried out on the road for upgrading to bituminous surfacing. The procurement and execution of the project are subject to availability of funds. However, routine maintenance (upgrading works) would be carried out in 2019 to ensure the safety and comfort of motoring public.

(iii) Gomoa Achiase - Gomoa Dahom

Background

The Gomoa Achiase - Gomoa Dahom is 4.0km and located in the Gomoa Central District of the Central Region. It is a gravel road in poor condition.

Current programme

The procurement process for the upgrading of the road commenced in 2018. The evaluation report has been submitted to the Central Tender Review Board for approval after which the procurement

process proceeds to the signing of contract and commencement of the project.

Meanwhile, the road has been programmed for routine maintenance (grading works) during 2019 fiscal year to ensure the safety and comfort of motoring public.

(iv) Gomoa Abaasa - Gomoa Ayensuadze

The road is engineered and it is 3.20km in length.

Background

The Gomoa Abaasa - Gomoa Ayensuadze feeder road is 3.20km and located in the Gomoa Central District of the Central region. It is a gravel road in poor condition.

Current programme

The procurement process for the upgrading of the road commenced in 2018. The evaluation report has been submitted to Central Tender Review Board (CTRB) for approval after which the procurement process proceeds to the signing of contract and commencement of the project. Whilst waiting for approval from the CTRB, routine maintenance (grading works) would be carried out to provide comfort for the motoring public.

(v) Gomoa Ekwamkrom - Gomoa Manso The road is engineered and it is 3.20km

in length.

The Gomoa Ekwamkrom - Gomoa Manso feeder road is 3.2km and located in the Gomoa Central District of the Central Region. It is a gravel road which is on contract for upgrading to bituminous surfacing.

Current programme

The Gomoa Ekwamkrom - Gomoa Manso was packaged together with other roads and awarded for upgrading to bituminous surfacing dressing under the contract name “Bitumen Surfacing of Ekwamkrom-Manso Feeder Road & Others (11.88km)”.

The contract was awarded on 24 th December, 2015, and commenced on 17th June, 2016, for completion on 19th March,

2018.

The completion date has since elapsed. The works executed on this road alone under the contract include;

a) Concrete U-drain (size 450x450mm) = 963m

b) Concrete U-drain (size 600 x600mm) = 1,286m

c) Concrete U-drain (size 900 x900mm) = 30m

d) Pipe culvert (size 1/900mm) = 1No.

The outstanding works on this road include filling, sub-base and base courses, primer-seal, final seal and road safety provisions. The progress of work to date is projected at 20 per cent completion.

The contractor is currently working on the Agona Nyakrom Secondary School and Amanful Town roads which are all part of the overall contract. The slow progress of work is due to delay in payment of the work done. The contract is funded from the Road Fund.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Member, any follow- up question?
Mr Asemanyi 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I realised that most of the roads are at the Central Tender Review Board (CTRB) for approval. What is the Ministry's relationship with them and what is the timeline at the CTRB? I ask because I realised that most of the works are there waiting to come to the Hon Minister for subsequent work to be done.
Mr Amoako-Attah 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my Ministry, as well as all the corresponding Agencies such as the Ghana Highway Authority, Department of Feeder Roads and Department of Urban Roads are in a perfect working relationship with the
CTRB.
Usually, we do not have any problem with the Board as they work expeditiously on whatever is sent to them, because of the aforementioned cordial relationship that we have with them. I can authoritatively inform this august House, that the CTRB is made up of highly responsible people who are dutiful to the assignments given to them.
So, I believe that as usual, within the normal stipulated time, all these projects would go through and give us the opportunity to proceed.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Any further question? Thank you very much, Hon Member.
Question numbered 553, Hon Member for South Tongu?
Construction of Cisneros Hotel Detsaome, et cetera Road
*553. Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the construction of the following roads would commence: (i) From Cisneros Hotel through Detsaome (ii) From Bekpo through Gonu to Sukladzi.

(i) Cisneros Hotel through Detsaome

Background

The above road is identified in the Department of Feeder Roads Database as Sogakope-Zukplenu feeder road which is of length 7.50km. It has both gravel and earth surface sections in fair to poor condition, and within the South Tongu Municipality of the Volta Region.

Current programme

There is no upgrading or rehabilitation programme on the road.

Future programme

Engineering design studies will be conducted on the above road during the third quarter of 2019 to determine the appropriate improvement intervention. Thereafter, the works would be procured when funds become available. However, routine maintenance (grading works) would be carried out during the year to keep the road motorable and ensure the safety and comfort of the motoring public.

(ii) Bekpo - Gonu - Sukladzi

Background

The Bekpo - Gonu - Sukladzi (7.20km) is a partially engineered road in poor condition. It is located in the South Tongu Municipality of the Volta Region.

Current Programme

There is no upgrading or rehabilitation programme on the road.

Future programme

Engineering design studies will be conducted on the above road during the

third (3rd) quarter of 2019 to determine the appropriate improvement intervention. Thereafter, the works would be procured when funds become available.

To ensure safety and comfort of the motoring public, routine maintenance (grading works) would be carried out during the year.
Mr Woyome 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, for the future programmes for the two roads if I may refer to the Answer given on portions affected, clearly, the Hon Minister indicates that engineering designs will be conducted on both roads.
He said some works will be done by the third quarter to indicate the appropriateness of the type of inter- vention is to be undertaken. May I ask the Hon Minister if we could get some timelines to an extent; when exactly would these activities be conducted?
Mr Amoako-Attah 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my Answer did contain the specific time. If you look at the paragraph under “Future Programme”, I stated a specific time. I did so because every road project is not done anyhow in my Ministry. We programme all projects for the year.
Mr Speaker, so that road is programmed for the third quarter of the year. I can assure him that even though we programmed for the sake of planning, depending upon the emergency nature of any particular road, those programmes are not sacrosanct. If we have to attend to them at any time, we are always ready to do that.
Mr Speaker, but for that road, it is programmed for the third quarter of the year and engineering work would begin before that as it would precede that. The
third quarter would be the period that engineering design work would have been completed. After that, we would begin the procurement process. So, that is the timing for that road.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, you would ask your last supplementary question.
Mr Woyome 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this is my second supplementary question.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
It is constituency- specific, so let everybody be very mindful, please. We have got a very tall order of Questions and I am going to apply a guillotine. Otherwise, after one hour, I would put a close to Question time.
Mr Woyome 11:10 a.m.
Very well, Mr Speaker. I take a cue from that.
Mr Speaker, we ask the Hon Minister to particularly assure us here; the Cisneros Hotel to Detsaome and Zukplenu Road is a strategic road in the sense that we have key economic activities taking place. We have a number of hotels and a lot of people including tourists ply it, and economic activity is so high. Would the Hon Minister consider a bituminous surface for that?
Also, would the Hon Minister consider culverts for the Gonu Road because it is low lying already and anytime it rains, the whole place gets flooded? So, the entire stretch becomes very impassable when it pours. So, looking into the engineering process and all that, would he consider all of these as part of the programme, so that at least the people can really --
Mr Amoako-Attah 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree with my Hon Colleague that that road is of strategic importance. We all know the Cisneros Hotel, its usefulness and the role it plays in our economic development.
So, in tackling that portion of the road, we carry out what we call scope of works and the scope of works are all part of the engineering studies that would lead to the engineering design of the road. Obviously, giving that stretch of the road the appropriate drainage in terms of size is part of the engineering studies.
I would want to also assure him that that road when we start the construction, we are bringing it to bituminous level. We are not leaving it at the gravel stage. We are building it with the sub-base and with the base up to bituminous level. So that assurance is hereby given.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Members, we have got five Questions pending and we have spent 40 minutes already. [Pause]
Question numbered 554?
Upgrading the Insu Junction-Oppong- Valley Road
*554. Mr Patrick Bogyako-Saime asked the Minister for Roads and Highways what steps the Ministry was taking to upgrade the Insu Junction - Oppong-Valley road to bituminous surfacing.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Members, there will be one supplementary question for each Question; otherwise, the alternative will be that when one hour is over, we will cut everything short and then your Questions will be arranged for another date.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Mr Amoako-Attah 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
Background
The Insu Junction - Oppong Valley road is a Regional Route numbered R212.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Minister.
One supplementary question, Hon Member.
Mr Bogyako-Saime 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as the Hon Minister rightly said, the importance of that road cannot be underestimated as it links the Western Region from Bogoaso to the Central Region from Cape Coast, and that is where the iron ore deposit is located.
The second lot of that portion, the zero to 10 km was never worked on. The contractor never did that job, and as he rightly said, he added the variation to it.
May I ask the Hon Minister if they would consider approving the proposal for the upgrade to a bituminous surface since the Ministry and for that matter the Ghana Highways Authority has completed with the survey that it has conducted on the road?
Mr Amoako-Attah 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is true that the kilometre zero to kilometre 10 of that road was not worked on, and that was made clear in my Answer. That occasioned the issuance of the variation order to work on that.
Mr Speaker, I would like to assure my Hon Colleague that his suggestion is a worthy one and it would be taken on board.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Question *555. Hon Member for Pusiga, your Question and then one supplementary question. Otherwise, we would put it for another day. One hour is up.
Tarring of Roads Linking the Pusiga Township to Adjoining Communities
*555. Ms Laadi A. Ayamba asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when Pusiga would get tarred roads linking the township to its adjoining communities of Zuabulga Deega, Kuamise, Kolgungu, College Tendanatenga and Garke, as there is no single tarred road.
Mr Amoako-Attah 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
Background
Pusiga is the capital town of the Pusiga District of the Upper East Region. The Zuabulga Deega, Kutalmise, Kulungungu, College, Tendanatenga and Garke communities are identified to link Pusiga town as follows:
1. Pusiga-Zuabulga — Dabia-Deega (15.0km);
2. Pusiga-Kutalmise — Kulungungu (10.0km);
3. Pusiga-College— Sugudi — Tendanatenga (5.0km);
4. Pusiga-Garike (8.0km).
All the road links are unengineered and have earth surface.
Current programme
There is no upgrading programme on the roads.
Future programme
The Department of Feeder Roads would undertake engineering design studies during the 4th quarter of 2019 and would be programmed for stage construction to bituminous surfacing thereafter.
Ms Ayamba 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, from the response of the Hon Minister, could he kindly tell me what measures he would put in place to link Pusiga to Pultamese, where the White Volta runs between them?
Mr Amoako-Attah 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with the highest respect, I did not get the question right.
Ms Ayamba 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my question was, what measures would the Ministry put in place to link Pusiga and Pultamese because there is a river, that is the White Volta, that runs through that area?
Mr Amoako-Attah 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as informed by my Hon Colleague, there is a river-crossing on the road so, naturally, two roads separated could only be accessed and joined together by a bridge.
We shall consider it and the engineering studies would throw out whether we have to build a concrete bridge or we have to provide a metal bridge. If it is the latter, that could be faster because we have a number of steel bridges available.
But the problem would be given due consideration. If even a concrete bridge is recommended, during the interim, if it would mean providing steel bridge for usage by the people for safety so that the two roads do not separate the commu- nities, I would like to assure my Hon Colleague that my Ministry is so responsible and that would be taken on board in order not to create any inconvenience for our people.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Question *556, Hon Member for Tain?
Completion of Some Roads in the Tain Constituency
*556. Mr Gabriel Osei asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the following roads in the Tain Constituency would be complete: (i) Wenchi - Sampa (ii) Tainso Junction (Badu) - Odomase.
Mr Amoako-Attah 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
a. Wenchi - Sampa Road
Background
Mr Speaker, the Wenchi - Sampa Road is a Regional Road with route No. R93, covering a total length of 80.3km. The road connects Wenchi through several communities such as Tainso, Nsawkaw, Menji, Namase and Debibi to Sampa, a neighbouring border town with la Cote d'Ivoire.
The road is being reconstructed or upgraded to bituminous surface treatment in phases. The section between km 0 and km 30 (30km) of the road is completed under the Phase 1, and the surface condition is good.
Current programme
The reconstruction of Wenchi-Sampa Road; the Nsawkaw-Namase section (26km) is currently ongoing under the Phase 2.
The project was awarded on 27th June, 2008 for completion in 18 calendar months. The project suffered setbacks in payment for work done which affected the
contractor's cashflow. This compelled the contractor to suspend works on several occasions. As a result, the project could not be completed as originally scheduled.
In 2017, all the contractor's outstanding payments were made. The contractor, therefore, resumed work and has since made significant progress.
Currently, the project is 74 per cent completed.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of October 2019 according to the contractor's revised Programme of Works.
Future programme
The phase 3 for the continuation of the road project from Namase to Sampa (24.3km) will be considered in the 2020 Periodic Maintenance Programme to complete the reconstruction programme of the road to facilitate the movement of people, goods and services along the road corridor and enhance socio-economic development of the area.
b. Tainso-Junction (Badu) - Odumase road
Background
The Tainso Junction ( Badu) - Adentia- Odumase road forms an integral part of Regional Road, R138 in the Tain District.
The road is gravel surfaced, and is currently being upgraded to bituminous surface treatment.
Current programme
The project for the upgrading of Odumase-Adentia-Badu road (km 0.0- 30.17) was awarded on 22nd November, 2018 after the Ministry had concurrent
approval from the Central Tender Review Board (CTRB). The project is for completion in 30 calendar months.
However, it is yet to start since the Ministry of Finance is in the process of issuing a Commencement Certificate for the project.
The road upgrading project awarded in 2008 from Tainso to Badu (23.0km) was severally suspended due to the employer's undue delay in paying for work done.
The contractor has resumed work since 2017 and made significant progress. Currently, the project is 85 per cent completed, and is expected to be completed by the end of October 2019 in accordance with Contractor's Revised Programme of work.
Mr Gabriel Osei 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, according to the Hon Minister, the second phase of the Wenchi to Sampa road ended at Namase; but the contractor has gone ahead to work on drainage systems at Debibi, which he did not complete. This has created a lot of inconveniences. The drainage system has developed into manholes and rivers -- very big and deep gutters.
The nearby buildings and light poles around are falling. As a matter of urgency, would the Hon Minister consider working on the drainage system before he considers re-awarding the contract in the year 2020?
Again, Mr Speaker, the road from Tainso Junction to Odomase -- I would want to find out from the Hon Minister if payment has been made to the contractor. According to his Answer, the contractor has resumed work since the year 2017 but
I could assure him that I have never seen anybody on the road since the year 2015.
The area that was worked on has now deteriorated to the point that it is not motorable at all. I would want to ask if payment has been made to the contractor.
Mr Amoako-Attah 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, his question is in two parts. First, I would want to assure him that there is a supervising engineer on the road. There is no road construction in currency anywhere in our country without a supervising engineer. I have taken note of his concern and the dangerous areas.
I would confirm with the monitoring team; we have a department that carries out monitoring which is headed by a director who gives us the information on all ongoing projects.
I would want to assure the Hon Member that I have noted it, and I would seek confirmation. I do not doubt his observation and comments at all. Where we have to make good, we shall do that.
So far as I know, payments are ongoing. For instance, if we take the Wenchi to Sampa road, the employer, who is always the Government, was indebted to the contractor before the year 2017. I can assure him and speak on authority that all outstanding payments, as of the year 2017, have been paid.
We keep paying contractors from time to time as money becomes available so that they could go on with their projects. So, I would followup and make sure that we effect payments as and when certificates are raised, so that the projects would not be stalled.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
We thank you very much, Hon Minister, for attending to the House this morning and Answering our Questions. You are respectfully discharged. [Hear! Hear!]
On the Order Paper Addendum, we have Questions directed at the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry, but our time is gone. As a compromised situation, the owner of a Question may ask the Question and a supplement. If that is agreeable, we would proceed. Otherwise, these would be put for another day; one Question, one supplementary.
Question numbered 514 by Hon Member for Ejura-Sekyedumase?
MINISTRY OF TRADE AND 11:40 a.m.
INDUSTRY 11:40 a.m.
Minister for Trade and Indsutry (Mr Alan Kyerematen) 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Export Trade, Agricultural and Industrial Development Fund (EDAIF), now Export
and Import Bank of Ghana (EXIM) approved an amount of about Gh¢10 million in 2015 for the implementation of phase I of its Cassava Integrated Enterprise Development Project which was aimed at large scale production and processing of cassava for industrial use and export.
The Project which was to be rolled out in phases was to among others, increase economic opportunities through sus- tainable and competitive cassava production, marketing and agro-enterprise development in Ghana.
Mr Speaker, funds were approved for the first phase, for the establishment of three factories namely, Manglobe Agric Limited at Ejura in the Ashanti Region, Sustenance Agro Ventures at Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region, and Ramec Limited at Damongo in the Northern Region. An amount of Gh¢ 2,866,997.40 was allocated to each of the companies.
The factories were to produce High Quality Cassava Flour for the domestic market (to substitute for wheat imports for the production of flour) and for export. The project was also to support 1,050 out- growers to cultivate cassava in the three regions to feed the factories.
Mr Speaker, to-date, the following disbursements have been made to the three companies:
These projects are at various stages of implementation, albeit with some challenges including the following:
1. As part of the project concept, the beneficiaries are to provide an updated list of the out-growers supported through the Food Research Institute (FRI) of CSIR, to the participating Bank. Ramec Limited, a beneficiary of this scheme is however yet to submit the list.
2. Manglobe Agric Limited is in default to the Bank to the tune of Gh¢ 280,000. As part of efforts to reduce the Bank's risk assets portfolio, the company has been asked to show some commitment by paying its debt before any further disbursements can be made.
Mr Speaker, I am happy to report to the House that EXIM Bank on 21st November, 2018, approved the disbursement of the remaining amount to Sustenance Agro Ventures. The Bank is facilitating the process of procuring the relevant equipment to complete the project.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Any supplementary question?
Mr M. B. Braimah 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, from the Answer provided by the Hon Minister, it means that there are some challenges to the implementation of the project as enumerated on page 12; paragraphs 1 and
2.
Mr Speaker, according to the Hon Minister, the out-growers advanced some moneys by the company because of the
delay in the implementation, and cassava, which is mainly for industrial use, could not be purchased by the companies. So, how do these farmers pay back the moneys advanced to them?
Also, in view of the challenges enumerated on page 12, paragraphs 1 and 2, is he going to continue the project or he is writing it off?
Mr Kyerematen 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I indicated in my response, there were certain specific requirements that the companies were supposed to fulfil and one of those conditions was for them to submit a list of the participating out- growers.
Mr Speaker, if the fulfilment of this specific obligation has not been done, then one can understand why the bank has not continued with the disbursement. So my advice will be that, indeed, if the company has all these outgrowers, they are only supposed to submit a list of them and then the bank will continue with the disbursement.
So my understanding is that the project has not been abandoned but the company must submit the list and if they do so, the disbursement will continue.
Mr Speaker 11:40 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Minister. Question numbered 515 by the Hon Member for Awutu Senya West?
Steps to Revamp the Ayensu Starch Factory
*515. Mr George N. K. Andah asked the Minister for Trade and Industry what steps were being taken to revamp the operations of the Ayensu Starch Factory.
Mr Kyerematen 11:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ayensu Starch Company Limited (ASCO), was established in 2002 with the capacity
SPACE FOR TABLE - PAGE 1 - 11.40 A.M.
Mr Kyerematen 11:50 a.m.
to process over 22,000 metric tonnes of cassava starch per annum. To meet its objective, the company assisted various farmer-based organisations within its catchment area to produce cassava by providing them with resources (both financial and technical) to ensure sustainable supply of its raw material needs.
Mr Speaker, as part of efforts to sustain its operations, the Company entered into a two-year off-taker agreement with Guinness Ghana Brewery Limited (GGBL) to supply 14,000 metric tonnes of industrial starch until June 2015. Under the agreement, Guinness Ghana Limited provided the company with financial and technical support.

Mr Speaker, the Government in August 2016 offered 70 per cent of its shares in the Ayensu Starch Company to Tiberias Company Limited, a company affiliated to the Jospong Group of Companies. Tiberias Company accepted and made an initial payment of US$2,269,500.00 representing 51 per cent of its US$4,450,000.00 obligation as the Purchaser, and has made no further payment thereafter.

The Company has failed or refused to fulfil its obligations under the Agreement and has defaulted on all other revised payment schedules. Furthermore, the company has abandoned the factory and left the workers idle and without compensation.

Mr Speaker, in the light of these and other developments, the Ministry through the Transaction Advisors informed the company of its decision to take over the Ayensu Starch Company in a letter dated 20th December, 2018.

The Company, however, in a letter dated 14th January 2019, indicated its refusal to hand over possession to the Ministry although the Company has abandoned the factory putting the plant and machinery at risk.

Mr Speaker, we are seeking legal advice on the next line of action to take to restore the Company to Government ownership.

Mr Speaker, in anticipation of a smooth takeover by Government, the Ministry is negotiating a financial package under the One District One Factory (1D1F) Programme to resuscitate the company to ensure that it achieves its intended purpose of job creation, reducing rural- urban migration and producing an important raw material for the food and beverage sectors and other related industries.
Mr Andah 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Hon Minister for the clarity he has provided in the Answer and I am happy that he has done this at a time that representatives from the --
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Member, any further questions?
Mr Andah 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry if his Ministry would consider a stakeholder engagement session to brief the stakeholders on the current situation of the Ayensu Starch Factory.
Mr Kyerematen 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, very much so. I would work very closely with the Hon Member and organise a consultation and engagement session with the stakeholders including the traditional rulers as well as the farmers in the catchment area.
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Minister, from the facts that you have given this honourable House, this matter must be dealt with expeditiously to get those non-performers out of the system because it is an area that could be of great benefit to our good people.
Thank you very much.
Hon Members, we would take Question numbered 532 standing in the name of the Hon Member for Kumbungu.
Production of Recyclable Plastic Materials
*532.Mr Ras Mubarak asked the Minister for Trade and Industry what the Ministry was doing to ensure that manufacturers of plastic products produce recyclable materials.
Mr Kyerematen 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, plastic products produced in the country are recyclable. However, due to technological and financial challenges, it has not been possible to recycle majority of the plastics produced currently in the country.
In this regard, the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation which is mandated to formulate sound policies and regulations that promote appropriate, environmentally friendly, scientific and technological practices and techniques, is leading the process of developing a comprehensive policy and regulatory framework, which would fully address the challenge of recycling plastic waste and introducing biodegradable packaging materials.
Mr Speaker, the draft policy among other measures, proposes to encourage and support locally-appropriate recovery and recycling technologies and service models including providing attractive in- centives for collectors and manufacturers.
To ensure effective implementation, the draft policy envisages to establish a Re- source Recovery Secretariat to monitor, review, update and publish progress on the achievement of Recycling Targets in a bi-annual Progress Report.
Mr Mubarak 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, while we await the comprehensive policy which is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), would the Hon Minister consider a regulation to incentivise producers of plastic material so that they would know that if they produce recyclable material, they would get certain incentives? Mr Speaker, finally, is the Hon Minister doing the blueprint in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation?
Mr Kyerematen 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that it is a worthy proposal to consider and I would work closely with the Hon Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and probably reflect this in the comprehensive policy. Mr Speaker, it is a good proposal to take on.
Mr Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Members, Question numbered 533 standing in the name of the Hon Member for Mfantseman.
Reviving Saltpond Ceramic Company
*533. Mr Ekow Hayford asked the Minister for Trade and Industry what plans the Government had to revive the Saltpond Ceramic Company at Saltpond.
Mr Kyerematen 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Saltpond Ceramic Factory is situated at Saltpond, the Municipal Capital of the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly in the Central Region. The Municipality has commercial quantities of feldspar at Abonko, Amoada, Saltpond, Otsir and

Akorbadze that can be used as enamel for making household utensils, tiles, porcelain, sanitary ware and minor ceramic uses.

Mr Speaker, the factory was established in 1972 to make use of the clay deposits within the district. The factory, currently known as Ghana Ceramics Company, was a major source of employment in the area but had been defunct for years after its divestiture in the 1990s.

The company was divested to a Chinese company in the 1990s but they were not able to sustain the operations of the factory citing unreliable supply and high cost of energy as the main reasons for the closure of the factory.

Mr Speaker, the Chinese company currently has sublet part of the factory premises to Saltpond Packaging Ltd which is producing carton packaging for companies such as Twyford (Ghana) Ceramics Company Limited and Unilever Ghana Limited. The company currently employs 60 people.

Mr Speaker, it is expected that the factory would be a beneficiary of the Ghana Gas Company Onshore Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline (NGTP), which would pass through four regions -- Western, Central, Eastern and Greater Accra.

The factory's ability to tap gas from the project would considerably bring down the cost of production, similar to that of Twyford (Ghana) Ceramics Company Limited located in the Shama District of the Western Region.

Mr Speaker, in addition to the above, the Ministry of Trade and Industry under the National Industrial Revitalisation

Programme (Stimulus Package) is conducting an assessment to determine the relevant operational and financial interventions required for the resuscitation of the company.
Mr Speaker noon
Thank you very much, Hon Minister. I would take one supplementary question.
If the Hon Member is satisfied, then Hon Members, this brings us to the end of Question time.
Hon Minister, thank you very much for attending to the House and answering our Questions. You are discharged.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, is there any direction?
Ms Sarah A. Safo noon
Mr Speaker, we can take item numbered 9 on the original Order Paper before we begin with the debate on the Message on the State of the Nation.
Mr James K. Avedzi noon
Mr Speaker, today is virtually going to be the end of the debate on the Message on the State of the Nation because Tuesday is reserved for the Hon Leaders. So I would want to suggest that if we could begin with the debate so that we can have as many Hon Members as possible to express their views on the Address of the President. This is because, we are virtually -- [Interruption.]
Mr Speaker noon
Hon Members, order!
At least, we have to listen to one another. In fact, sometimes, when people reply arguments with other things, I wonder whether it is because they do not think they can answer them. The Hon Deputy Minority Leader is on his feet.
Mr Speaker noon
Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
Ms Safo noon
Mr Speaker, yesterday, when we started the debate, along the line, we had to break and take other items on the Order Paper. That distorted the flow of the debate. That is why this morning, if there is only one item which is Motion numbered as item 9 for us to take we can take that one, minimise the number of contributions; so that when the debate starts, there would be a systematic flow of the debate.
Other than that, we could start the debate, and then in between, we break and then take it. I think that is not fair to Hon Members when debating.
So I entreat the Hon Deputy Minority Leader to engage us for the period that we take item numbered 9 so that when we start the debate, we know we are going all out, and Hon Members would have the opportunity to debate.
Mr Speaker noon
Thank you very much. It is quite prudent to clear all matters that might impede our pathway towards a smooth debate of what I agree with the Hon Deputy Minority Leader as an important matter.
That is the very good reason, other outstanding matters could be cleared, and afterwards this House might Sit as long as it is necessary to debate the important State of the Nation Address.
Hon Members, at the Commencement of Public Business, item listed 9.
Chairman of the Committee?
MOTIONS noon
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) noon
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Additional Loan Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) for an amount of seventy-five million Saudi Riyals (SR75,000,000.00) [equivalent to US$20.00 million) to finance the construction of additional facilities, supply and installation of medical equipment to the adjunct Clinical Block at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital in the Upper East Region.
Introduction
The request for approval of an Additional Loan Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) for an amount of seventy five pillion Saudi Riyals (SR75,000,000.00) (equivalent to

US$20.0 million) to finance the instruction of Additional Facilities, supply and installation of medical equipment to the adjunct clinical block at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital in the Upper East Region was laid in the House on Wednesday, 12th December, 2018, in accordance with article 181 of the 1992 Constitution.

Mr Speaker referred the Agreement to the Finance Committee for consideration and report in accordance with Order 169 of the Standing Orders of the House.

The Committee was assisted in its deliberations by a Deputy Minister for Finance, Mrs Abena Osei-Asare, a Deputy Minister for Health, Hon Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu, and officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health.

Reference

The Committee referred to the following documents in its deliberations:

The 1992 Constitution of Ghana;

The Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921); and

The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.

Background

The Upper East Region is one of the deprived areas of the country. There is evidence that physical access to health care is a great challenge. There are huge

service provision gaps due to the absence of health facilities.

In order to address these challenges and to meet people's expectations and to promote effective clinical service delivery, Government sourced funding to commence major rehabilitation works at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital. The rehabilitation works were to add 175 beds to the hospital and give it a total bed capacity of 381.

The rehabilitation and expansion works of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital was also intended to provide an ultra-modern secondary referral hospital for the Upper East Region of Ghana.

This was also in line with Government's vision under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage vision of ensuring that every region has an ultra-modern secondary referral hospital for its people.

The works were to help bridge the geographical access gap in healthcare delivery as well as serving the under- served and unserved communities for the purposes of primary referral whilst taking advantage of medical tourism with neighbouring countries.

The works were divided into three (3) phases. Phase one (1) is complete and it covered the construction of adjunct clinical block, out-patient department (OPD), wards, surgical Apartments, laboratory, Pharmacy, X-Ray and accident and Emergency.

Phase Two (2) is intended to address the identified gaps to ensure that the Adjunct Block that has been constructed is provided with the required infras- tructure. It would therefore cover the

installation of medical equipment and furniture required to make the completed Clinical Block functional.

Phase three (3) would cover facilities that would be required to meet full functionality and scope of services for a Regional Hospital.

In order to execute phase two, Government of Ghana requested the Saudi Fund for Development to provide a total amount of SR75,000,000.00 (equivalent to US$20.0 million). It is this loan Agreement that is before Parliament for approval.

Project Objectives The objects of the project are to:

Undertake construction works at the adjunct block to provide the required infrastructure, medical equipment, and ancillary services to increase capacity of the hospital to full functionality;

Enable the hospital attain full operational status of a Regional Hospital and provide the enabling conditions for attracting the needed healthcare professionals into the facility;

Create the opportunity for operational excellence and knowledge sharing in the area of health training;

Improve provision of Quality Healthcare to the general public.

Project Components

The major components of the project include;

Lift carriages,

Full hospital equipment required for the Adjunct Clinical Block,

CSSD/ Laundry and Kitchen services - civil works,

CSSD/ Laundry and Kitchen services - equipment,

Waste disposal System,

48 body mortuary,

Complete external drainage system within the Adjunct Clinical Block,

Easy access (Roads and walkways system),

Landscape,

Doctor's/Nurses accommodation,

General security (Fence walling of hospital),

Location for prayers/prayer house for medical staff,

Mothers' hostel,

Medical gas plant,

Consultancy fees for extension of existing supervision, and

Estimated consultancy fee for supervision of additional scope of works.

Financing Terms

The terms of the loan facility are as follows:
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) noon


Loan amount -- SR75, 000,000 (APPROX. US$20)

Interest Rate -- 1.00 per annual

Repayment -- 20 years

Grace Period -- 10 years

Maturity Period -- 30 years

Grant Element -- 49 per cent
Mr Isaac Adongo (NDC -- Bolgatanga Central) 12:10 p.m.
Thank you very much for your kindness, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion for the adoption of the Finance Committee's Report for the approval of the additional financing loan to complete Phase 2 of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.
Mr Speaker, your Committee has clearly explained the circumstances of the Upper East Region and particularly the challenge of healthcare in the entire Region.
The people of Bolgatanga and Upper East Region, for that matter, have been looking up to the completion of not just the Phase 2, but also the Phase 3 of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital in order to deliver the state of the art regional hospital that people expect.

Mr Speaker, under the progress of work in the Report, it is refreshing to note that out of the US$12 million that was approved for the first phase of the hospital, the project managers were so efficient that they only used US$10 million to complete the phase one , leaving US$2 million to be applied to phase two of the project.

I wish to advise the current managers of that project to follow the footsteps of the first phase and ensure that the project is managed properly to deliver value to the people.

Mr Speaker, even though the project scope has indicated a wide range of issues that can be addressed by this project, the experience of this country in relation to the other regional hospitals that were constructed by the NDC point to the possibility of that hospital becoming a medical school in future for the University for Development Studies (UOS).

Mr Speaker, several years ago, His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings constructed the Cape Coast Regional Hospital, then called Interbeton. Today it is a medical school.

His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings also continued to construct a similar facility in Ho Regional Hospital. Today, it is a teaching facility. We in the Upper East Region believe that this particular example would be followed in future, such that this regional hospital would become
Mr Daniel O. Aboagye (NPP-- Bantama) 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion that is being debated, and in so doing, I would thank the President for at least continuing that which was started by the previous NDC Government, though if you look at the case of Komfo Anokye Hospital, there is a block that has about 995 bed capacity. It has been sitting there for a long time without any continuation from the previous government.
So Government is a continuum as we know, but under our watch, we would not leave projects behind.
I would focus on the fact that the US$20 million that is being sought, looking
at it in financing terms, is at one per cent, and the term for this loan is about 30 years, with 10 years grace period.
So I believe that it is something that we can all consider and support, especially when it is also going to support our Hon Friend on the other Side, Hon Adongo. It may perhaps, help him to retain his seat and come back and support the people.
Mr Speaker, if we start projects and we do not finish -- there are several examples in the Ashanti Region that I can mention. It means that we are not getting value for money. If we start and do not finish, we would be causing the nation too many losses.
As much as we want to give some credit to the previous government, I believe most of the credit should be given to the President for finishing it, because effort is not that great if it does not yield any result.
At the end of the day, this loan would support to make it complete, and hopefully it becomes a teaching hospital as our Hon Friend said.
In all, I believe this is a good cause that we need to support, and I encourage my Hon Colleagues to support the Motion.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity.
Dr (Alhaji) Abdul-Rashid H. Pelpuo (NDC -- Wa Central) 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the Finance Committee's Report on the additional loan agreement between the Government of Ghana and the Saudi Arabian government.
Mr Speaker, this is a very important loan. We have looked through the loan agreement and the terms, and have come to the conclusion that we could not have received anything better than this.
I am very impressed with whoever may have led this negotiation and the final conclusion that is enabling us to now approve this loan, and to enable the Bolgatanga Hospital to be upgraded to a point where they can have one of the best medical facilities in Ghana.
Mr Speaker, according to the Report, the expansion works are going to bridge the geographical gap to help provide healthcare delivery to the point that you can have the same kind of facility or access as if you were in any of the centres like Greater Accra or Ashanti Region, and this is a very attractive position.
Mr Speaker, while we are talking about the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital and saying that it is a good facility and a good initiative, let us talk about another situation where some kind of inertia is observed in Wa, at the Upper West Regional Hospital.
The same kind of investment was made there, and for the last two years, nothing has happened. The hospital has not taken any shape to enable us to begin to utilise it. It is causing a lot of tension and worry.
Mr Speaker, however, I would give my full support to the initiative. It is a good project, and I call on my Hon Colleagues to accept it and vote massively for this loan facility so that we can recognise that there is an organic whole which is called Government, and that when one government does something and it gets to a point where something else has to be done by another government, we do not begin to talk about political differences.
We should allow a continuum to take place, and this is a clear example of one such initiative.
Mr Speaker, I support it, and I hope that my Hon Colleagues would also support it and vote massively for it.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:10 p.m.
One more from each Side, and then Leadership.
Dr Bernard O. Boye (NPP-- Ledzokuku) 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful for the opportunity. I rise to contribute to the discussion and to urge my Hon Colleagues to approve this particular facility.
Mr Speaker, the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital project has been on the table since 1995. The facility addressing the phase one was approved somewhere in 2012, and we have still not been able to progress to phase two, so I am very happy that finally this facility is being considered in this House.
Mr Speaker, the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital has the potential to augment the good work that the Tamale Teaching Hospital has been offering to the regions in the north, and now that we have the creation of more Regions, it is important that we make sure that there is equity and more facilities that can provide tertiary care.
Mr Speaker, I am very excited that we have a mothers' hostel as part of the project. Over the years, most of our hospitals have had wards for the children, but they do not have a place for the mothers that bring the children to the hospital.
Recently, I was in the Eastern Regional Hospital to do some rounds on quality of
Dr Bernard O. Boye (NPP-- Ledzokuku) 12:20 p.m.


service being delivered, and I realised that they had a big challenge with where to keep mothers who bring their children and have to stay in the hospital for days.

So this is very good news. It means that we are now considering what we refer to as adjunct or supporting facilities when it comes to hospital or clinical care.

Mr Speaker, I am only a bit disappointed that their mortuary has the capacity to handle only 48 bodies.

Mr Speaker, one of the areas for helping raise Internally Generated Funds (IGF) for most hospitals in this country is the morgue. So inasmuch as the dead do not need medical attention, they help to bring money that helps to take care of those who are alive. So next time, we have to look at the IGF potential of the facilities that are captured.

Mr Speaker, the physical infrastructure or buildings which have hospitals written on them do not serve as hospitals or health facilities. We need to have equipment in them and most importantly, we need the personnel to make sure that they are operational and functional. I am happy to mention that in just January and February alone this year, clearance has been given for over 26,000 health workers.

In fact, this is Ghana Health Service official statistics. I just spoke to the Director-General.

Mr Speaker, from 2017 up to date, this Government has given clearance to over 56,000 health workers. It is unprecedented in the history of this country.

Mr Speaker, this would make it possible to now make most of the hospitals that are moribund and not operating to become functional -- the one at Pokuase and all those hospitals that we have made noise about. One of the key reasons that they could not be operated was that clearance had not been given for health personnel.

Mr Speaker, now, we have given clearance for all these calibre of workers and I am happy to mention that we can now get them to be operational. In fact, this Government is not only considering the ten regions. The six new regions are also being considered.

The target is to have an ultra-modern regional hospital in every region so that the pressure on the Teaching Hospitals at Komfo Anokye, Korle-Bu and Tamale would come down.

Mr Speaker, equity is important. Not only when it comes to allocation of regional resources but also health facilities as well. There is a third phase for this particular regional hospital, which is supposed to be refurbished existing structure.

I believe this Government would not hung in the middle but would complete the third phase as well. So with this information and the good news on financial clearance, I urge my Hon Colleagues to approve this facility.
Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
One more from the Majority Side, then the Leadership.
Mr Avedzi 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have one more from the Minority side. Because the Hon Member who just spoke was from the Majority Side.
Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Very well. [Interruption.]
Mr Benjamin K. Kpodo (NDC -- Ho Central) 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support this loan for the completion of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.
Mr Speaker, we noted that with this addition of the works to the project that has already been started by the previous Government, we would be more than doubling the beds at this hospital from 175 to 381.
In the Memorandum submitted to the Finance Committee, it was noted that the facility would be in the position to serve patients from even outside our borders, including northern Togo and Burkina Faso. The issue is whether there would be differential rates in charging clients who patronise the hospital.
That is very important because the financing would be done by Ghanaians and if it is made available to non-citizens, they should not pay the same rate as Ghanaians would pay.
Mr Speaker, there was also concern about the cost of consultancy. We noted that consultancy was fixed at over US$2.2 million on a project that is costing US$20 million. We felt that this was a little too high, but the sponsors explained that it fell within the chargeable limit.
We think that the consultancy fees should be pegged at about Six per cent lower than what is stated here -- that is when we are asking consultants to bid for the project, they should be made to bid within Six per cent of the cost of the project so that more of the money would go into infrastructural development rather than payment for consultancy fees.
Mr Speaker, we also want to advise that there are several other health infrastructural facilities which have been constructed by the previous Adminis- tration but are not being used at the moment. Just imagine the tussle over the use of the University of Ghana Medical Centre.
There are others in the various districts which are currently not being used. It is heart-warming to note from our Hon Colleague that clearance has been given for more health personnel to be engaged to man these facilities. However, I think it should be faster so that these facilities would not be left idle.
Mr Speaker, indeed, when houses are built and they are not being used, they deteriorate and before long one has to do a lot of rehabilitation before it can be put to use. So we urge that all those facilities that have been constructed and are not being used should be put to use.
Mr Speaker, I support this request for the approval of the loan and I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Members. Leadership, any contributions?
rose
Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Bagbin, you may have your turn in addition to Minority Leadership. You would speak as a Speaker.
Mr Avedzi 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Agbodza would speak for the Leadership.
Mr Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Hon Member, you may continue.
Mr Kwame G. Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 12:20 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker and I thank Leadership for yielding to me.
Mr Kwame G. Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the
Motion for the approval of US$20 million to continue with Phase Two of the Upper East Regional Hospital at Bolgatanga.
Mr Speaker, this is a very important project and I urge the Ministry of Health, to as a matter of urgency, look at how we would be able to have a standard by which we bridge the gap in terms of the healthcare delivery in this country.
Mr Speaker, this hospital is currently called the Regional Hospital but it has only 175 beds. In reality, that is the standard of a district hospital.
If we consider the fact that Ridge Hospital has 420 beds and 37 Military Hospital has over 400 beds and if we finish phase two, we are only going to get 381 beds, but we are still saying that it is a regional hospital -- Should we not have a standard by which, until we get there, we do not call it a regional hospital? Just by locating a hospital in a region is not enough to call it a regional hospital.
Mr Speaker, we did some studies privately some time ago and the cost to care matrix showed that the bulk of what we spend on healthcare is spent between the middle part of the country to the south.
Indeed, the population is there but what it means is that the quality of care that is required to be given to our compatriots in the northern part of the country is lagging. That is why I think this project is a very good project.
Mr Speaker, looking at the Report presented by your Committee, a lot of things needed to be done to complete this project. My Hon Colleague, Hon Kpodo talked about pegging consultancy fees at a certain price.
It is a standard in this country under which consultants get paid. Committees do not just determine that by chance. So my Hon Colleagues should be aware that consultancy fees are legal fees and other things there are standards by which they are charged in this country.

Mr Speaker, I agree with the Hon Dr Okoe Boye, that to have a regional hospital with a morgue capacity of 48 spaces is not enough. Indeed, it is true and it is funny, but we would be surprised that a lot of hospitals in this country derive a chunk of their Internally Generated Funds (IGF) from the storage of corpses.

So to have a regional hospital with only 48 capacity is not really enough, especially since they are quite separated from the nearest place that we can have a bulk of these. So I believe it is good.

Mr Speaker, as part of this project, the hospital would have a medical gas production centre. It has become a standard now in this country, which I believe is very progressive, where every district hospital and above would have an in-house medical gas production unit.

What it does is that instead of having to transport medical gases from Accra to a place like the Upper East Region, they could rather have that production unit on site, and we have done it in such a way that even if that medical gas production plant gets damaged, for the next three months, we would still have capacity on site, and I believe it is something that is very good and something that the Ghana Health Service has done, which we believe could be sustained.

Mr Speaker, we still have a long way to go when it comes to healthcare delivery. If we imagine that in the whole of the

Greater Accra Region, we have only about 3,400 beds serving over five million people, we still have to spend a lot more money to be able to bring our health care to where we want it to be.

Mr Speaker, when we are spending on health and education, this House must take those commitments very seriously. Indeed, all of us need those facilities. It is not about our constituents alone. It is about all of us here. I believe that we should commend Government for continuing this project.

I still believe that having a regional hospital with a bed capacity of only 380 is not enough. According to Ghanaian standard, we should have at least 500 beds as a standard of a regional hospital. Then district hospitals could then come up to 200 beds, and that would mean that the capacity in the country is great.

Mr Speaker, I would urge my Hon Colleagues to, as a matter of urgency, consider this Agreement and approve it, and also urge Government to consider the Phase Three. If we look at the facilities in there, there is no clinical facility under this one.

It is just ancillary works and other things, and I am grateful that when this one is also completed, the Ministry of Health would take the chance to do exactly what they are doing at the Komfo Anokye and Legon hospitals when it is finished; things like the laundry and kitchen would be given to private people to manage.

Mr Speaker, I do not see why a hospital manager should be bothered about laundry in a hospital. He should rather be concerned about clinical issues. So when this one is finished, I would encourage the Government to encourage the private

sector to get involved in the healthcare delivery, by providing these services and taking the burden off Government, so that Government could concentrate on the provision of clinical services in our hospitals.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity to support this Motion.
Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
Yes, Majority Leadership?
Ms Safo 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Majority
Leadership would yield to the Hon Dr Akoto Osei.
Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Yes, Hon Dr Akoto Osei?
Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation (Dr Anthony A. Osei) (MP) 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank all my Hon Colleagues for supporting the Motion to approve this loan. I would however want to remind Hon Members that we would need to go by our Standing Orders.
The Finance Committee does not have the capacity to talk about the technical specifications of a hospital. In fact, our Standing Orders enjoin us to speak to the terms and conditions, but people are talking about 350 bed hospitals, which is not for this Committee.
It is rather for the Committee on Health, which is equipped with the capacity to do that. The Finance Committee is supposed to concentrate on the financing terms, but I did not hear many people speak about it.
Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Is that by our Standing Orders? If so, then that is something that we should amend. Because we cannot transact a facility -- This matter has arisen
Dr A. A. Osei 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this august House has passed an Act called the Public Financial Management Act, which also tells us what to do. So it is not only our Standing Orders. We passed the Act.
Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
So Hon Members in this House would be encouraged to consider in a very holistic manner, anything that they would consider to be reasonably and proximately in the best interest of the people of this country.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I take a cue.
Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Dr Akoto Osei, I know your position on this matter for decades in this honourable House.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not have a position on this matter. I just want to remind us that this is why we have Committees which look at the contract and talk about its technical specifications when a loan comes, then another report would come to this House that deals with the technical specifications that would go into the commercial agreement, which has more information.
Mr Speaker, we rarely ever have enough information as a Finance Committee to go into all of that, and it is the reason I suggest that as much as possible, we go into areas where we have the capacity to.
Mr Speaker, on that note, I would want to suggest that the terms the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) given to this Government is very good. When we read of a grant element of 49 per cent, in simple language, it is as if one borrows one cedi, but pays 51 pesewas.
That is the grant element. There is a formula for it, but unfortunately, the Ministry of Finance has been telling them that this House needs to know the formula, but every time that they come, they tell us that they would bring it.
Mr Speaker, I would therefore want you to direct the Ministry of Finance to give that information to Hon Members of this House, so that they can adequately interrogate the formula, but 51 pesewas is very good. If we look at the maturity, it is 30 years, and most of us in here may not be around. Our children and grandchildren --
Mr Chireh 12:30 p.m.
I would be around!
Dr A. A. Osei 12:30 p.m.
Hon Member, would you be around?
Mr Speaker, the former Hon Minister for Health is kidding himself.
Mr Speaker, it is however on that basis that I believe that this House should commend the Ministry of Finance for looking for this type of loan. We would want to also encourage them to go for more concessionary loans, so that our debt sustainability might be maintained.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I urge Hon Members to support the Motion that we are debating now.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member.
Hon Dr A. A. Osei, you would recommend that the Ministry of Finance should provide this Honourable House with details of what they consider to be grant elements.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, because not everybody easily understands it, but it would aid the work of the Finance Committee and Hon Members.
Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
And that is what you are asking for?
Hon Members, this is very important.
I direct that the Ministry of Finance should provide this House within the next one week, the details of what constitutes grant elements, and all matters regarding same, which can help this Honourable House in determining holistically, matters regarding value for money.
If this formula is not clear, sometimes, we would find that we would not be in a very good position to really determine whether there is value for money for this country and this House should do that as its primary duty.
Thank you very much.
Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin (NDC -- Nadowli-Kaleo) 12:40 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker for the concession of giving me the opportunity to give the last word.
Mr Speaker, I also stand to support the Motion that we approve this additional facility for the second phase of the Upper East Regional Hospital, not Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.
We have been using the wrong terminology. Bolgatanga has no region; we rather have the Upper East Region. It can be called Bolgatanga Hospital but not Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.
rose
Mr Bagbin 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have a mechanism in this House to address the issue that the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation has raised about us focussing on the remit of the Finance Committee which just deals with the terms and conditions of the loan.
That is why sometimes we ask for joint Committees because we want to look at the technical nature of the work, particularly, the scope in trying to assist the House to determine issues of value for money and the rest.
The Committee as usual has done good work. I believe that it is a continuation of the first loan. This loan also came from the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), with similar terms and conditions and I believe that Government has done well to continue with it.
Mr Speaker, I would want to raise a few issues. The first is the lethargic nature of governance in this country. We usually say that the wheels of justice grinds

slowly. I do not know what we have to say of the wheels of governance in this country. In the case of justice, it is slow but sure, but in the case of governance, one can never be sure.

Mr Speaker, I met the first phase as the Hon Minister for Health in 2012 and I toured the Upper East Region. I visited almost all the facilities and inspected the Upper East Regional Hospital and we looked at the scope and got the first phase approved.

It has taken this length of time to complete and now we are going to the second phase.

Mr Speaker, at this rate, I do not know whether we would ever move forward. It is too slow and we need to work on the machine of government and look at the institutions of governance to try to expedite action on some of these issues.

Mr Speaker, we realised at the time I was at the Ministry that there was a problem with medical waste and this is so large that many would not understand. How do we dispose of all those things that are cut out when one is in hospital?

I found out when I was the Hon Minister that they were burying some and this was very horrible.

Many of our health facilities do not have the waste disposal systems and so we decided to start some of them and I am happy that it is included in the second phase of the project. All hospitals need to have these waste disposal systems to prevent an explosion in the future.

The additional facility of doctors and nurses accommodation is another very good development. We realised at that time

that people lived at Kasoa, Nsawam and the rest but worked at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. This is an emergency service and it took so long a time and if one is looking for a doctor for emergency and he stays far away --

I recall one Christmas day where I had to rush to Korle-Bu because there was an emergency and the doctors were called but they were far from the facility. It took about two hours before the doctors arrived.

That is something that we want to make a thing of the past and that is why you would realise that the Ridge Hospital, which is one of the hospitals that I personally, together with the former First Lady, the wife our late President Mills, inaugurated in 2012.

We decided that with any new facility and the existing ones -- luckily, we had space there -- we should construct residential facilities for health personnel in the hospitals so that as emergency facilities, they can always be available to attend to emergency cases. I am happy to see this captured in the second phase of this project.

Mr Speaker, I would want to end by thanking Government for continuing with the project, but as we have been told, some of us have received serious flags in the Upper West Region because of the delay in completing the Upper West Regional Hospital.

It has taken quite a long time. It is about 98 per cent complete. It is just left with the equipment and the rest and it has taken two or so more years. We need to look at it and expedite action on it.

With this, Mr Speaker, I thank you and I commend the Committee for a good work done.

Thank you very much.
Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Chairman of the Committee, did you have anything specifically to say? I saw you on your feet.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it relates to the name of the hospital. The Hon Second Deputy Speaker insisted that the name should be Upper East Regional Hospital. Mr Speaker, we also have the Koforidua Regional Hospital.
What comes before the Committee is what we report on. Mr Speaker, the document referred to us bore the name “Bolgatanga Regional Hospital”.
I believe that a regional hospital could be sited away from the regional capital so that, for instance, we could have the Bawku Regional Hospital. We just worked on what was presented before the Committee.
Mr Bagbin 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee got me wrong. I did not say the Committee got the name wrong; I said we should change the names.
Even in the Upper West Region, it is Wa Regional Hospital. Everywhere, the regional capital's name is used and “regional hospital” is added but I want us to --
Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
So Hon Member, you are talking about what should be done.
Mr Bagbin 12:40 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
In fact, I did not even get that clearly. So it is a futuristic proposition.
Mr Bagbin 12:40 p.m.
That is so, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Very well. With that one, there can be no difficulty about it.
rose
Mr Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Member, do you also want to go into the future?
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the regions are named. We have the Greater Accra Region, Ashanti Region, et cetera. I do not know what we mean by “Bolgatanga Regional Hospital”. Bolgatanga is not a region.
It could be the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga, the Volta Regional Hospital in Ho or the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua.
Koforidua is not a region for a hospital to be referred to as “Koforidua Regional Hospital”. The nomenclature is all wrong and we should give the proper references to it.
Mr Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon Chairman, we are talking now in future terms so what you have said stands, but it is an idea.
I would only direct that, in future, the people in the Ministry of Health should please consider this which is a nomenclature issue; it is a naming issue which we cannot exhaust over here.
But in actual fact, Hon Majority and Minority Leadership, as we go into the final stages of revising our Standing Orders, I would like us to seriously look at this matter of referral to the Finance Committee and apparently to the Finance Committee only because it is a matter which concerns finance.
Actually, it is also, invariably, a sectorial matter. If we want to, for example, borrow to do solar energy, it is the officials from the Ministry of Energy who can, among others, input whether we really
Mr Speaker 12:50 p.m.


need all these moneys for solar energy only. And if we do not consult them, we may make mistakes.

If it is agriculture, it may also be affecting the same way. We do not really need so much for this or that, but we would rather concentrate on storage and so on.

So, we would need to amend what has become theft-fighting because the Finance Committee would want this to be just part of their purview.

We have known this for decades in this Honourable House and we would want that we have a holistic look at that aspect. It is the Hon Minister for Information who could tell us that in that particular sector, we need to move more from a particular item to that to maximise what we would get. And it is a very important matter.

Yes, Hon Dr Akoto Osei, I would listen to you for technical reasons.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Finance Committee is a Committee of the House. We are governed by the House's Standing Orders; we do not choose what we do. So, until the House moves further, we are stuck with our mandate.
Mr Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Thank you very much. And we are urging the House to move further.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when the House does that, I think the Finance Committee would do same.
Mr Speaker 12:50 p.m.
And I could see from the consensus that the House wants to move further.
Mr Nelson--Rockson E. Dafeamekpor 12:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, indeed, I have been wondering;
there are a lot of the Agreements that are Commercial Agreements and yet, the Legal, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Committee is not even involved.
And it is very important that we are involved in considering them, including the terms of these Agreements some of which could be very reprehensible to our existing laws.
So, it is important and I agree with you that some of these referrals should be given to the Joint Committee including the Legal, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the House.
Mr Richard Acheampong 12:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the very issue that the Hon Minister for Communications raised, you did direct that going forward, the Ministry of Health should take note and give us the correct nomenclature.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, I would just like to plead with you to expand the scope. As we speak, if we go to Ho, it is written, Ho Regional Airport. But Ho is not a region.
So, let us expand the scope; and do the correct thing because we could just say Ho Airport. We have Kotoka International Airport, Kumasi Airport but you would go and see Ho Regional Airport. It does not speak well of us.
So, let us expand the scope, let us get the correct nomenclature so that the right thing would be told to our younger generation.
I thank you very much for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon Opare-Ansah?
Mr Opare-Ansah 12:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, inasmuch as Parliament would like to see the right things being done, I believe we should leave the designation and nomenclature of this bodies and institutions to the relevant sectors.
Mr Speaker, the term ‘Regional Hospital' is the status given to a particular type of hospital which meets certain criteria. And indeed, we could have two regional hospitals in a region as pertains in the Greater Accra Region.
Mr Speaker, we could go to the other sectors like the Ghana Police Service where we could have Tema as a region, for instance.
Mr Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Which regional hospitals do we have in Accra?
Mr Opare-Ansah 12:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know of the Ridge Hospital. We have been told of one in Tema. But Mr Speaker, the point I am making—
Mr Speaker 12:50 p.m.
There is Tema General Hospital. It is the Ridge Hospital which is regional and Korle-Bu Hospital is exceptional.
Mr Opare-Ansah 12:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I understand Korle-Bu is a teaching hospital. But Mr Speaker, it is the status and not the name of the region that is used for the designation.
Mr Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Yes. Pursuant to my direction, they would look at all these things holistically. If you have any suggestion, take it to them.
Hon Members, now, at the—
rose
Mr Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Yes, Hon Leader, I cannot ignore you.
Mr A. Ibrahim 12:50 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, that is why in Order 6 of our current Standing Orders, it states:
“In all cases not provided for in these Orders Mr Speaker shall make provisions as he deems fit.”
Mr Speaker, we all have due respect for all directives and all indications coming from the Chair. But before then, whenever you are making indications and you are speaking to us, I always see my Hon Colleague on the other Side, Hon Akoto Osei, on his feet. Mr Speaker, he is a senior Member of this House.
Mr Speaker, the Orders are clear that Mr Speaker shall be heard in silence. If we do not bring this thing to the attention of the whole House -- because most of us are learning from him, very soon, we would see that when Mr Speaker is speaking, Hon Members would be on their feet—
Mr Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon Member, you are sitting directly opposite him, so you see more than what others do see.
Mr A. Ibrahim 12:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, going forward, I would like Hon Members to be aware of Order 97, that Mr Speaker shall be heard in absolute silence. Therefore, when Mr Speaker is speaking, Hon Members should resume their seats, and hear Mr Speaker in silence.
Mr Speaker, indeed, that is why the rules say that there could joint referrals. Mr Speaker could even call the leadership of a Committee to assist the Finance Committee.
rose
Mr Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Yes, Hon Dr, since you have been mentioned.

of the House are very clear. With your permission, let me read:

“When Mr Speaker rises to address the House”

The Order says when Mr Speaker rises. Has Mr Speaker risen? Did the Hon Member see Mr Speaker rise?

Mr Speaker, let us interpret the Orders right.
Mr A. Ibrahim 12:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is the more reason I would like a directive to be given. Interpretation of the Standing Orders lies in the bosom of Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker interprets the Standing Orders and whatever interpretation Mr Speaker gives shall be taken as final.
Mr Speaker, in this regard, I would like Order 97 to be made clear to the hearing of the whole House because Mr Speaker always sits when speaking but if care is not taken, Hon Members would be debating him and would even draw him into the debate.
Mr Speaker, when you were speaking, Hon Members were on their feet and I said, “What am I seeing?”
Mr Speaker shall be heard in silence. That is what the Standing Order 97 says and it is clear. So, Mr Speaker, you do not need to rise.
Conventionally, it is only when Mr Speaker is even trying to maintain order, sometimes, in a mood to name an Hon Member, that we see Mr Speaker rising on his feet, and when Hon Members see that they realise that they must all take caution. In this regard, you must be heard
in silence. Even when he is on his feet, Hon Members should not provoke him to take part in the debate.
Mr Speaker, you must be heard in silence. The Standing Order is clear. Interpretation of the Orders lies in the bosom of Mr Speaker. -- [Interruption] --
Mr Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Order.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
Ms Safo 1 a.m.
Mr Speaker, inasmuch as we all want some decorum in this House and that is what you have thrived to do in the Chamber, I would urge my Hon Colleague on the other Side, the Hon First Deputy Whip, to advert his mind to Order 97.
Mr Speaker, Standing Order 97 is expressly stated, so let us read it. The Hon Member should not impute any other interpretation to it. Standing Order 97 says and I beg to quote:
“When Mr Speaker rises to address the House any Member then standing shall immediately resume his seat, and Mr Speaker shall be heard in silence.”
Mr Speaker, the rule says that when you rise. If the Hon Member wants to state a convention of this House and a practice in many other jurisdictions, where, out of respect, when Mr Speaker speaks, any Member on his or her feet would sit -- That is the convention which is acceptable.
However, for him to quote Standing Order 97 -- he quoted a wrong provision and is misleading the House which is under Standing Order 30. So, he should not rise in an attempt to defend himself.
Mr Speaker, yesterday, when the Hon First Deputy Speaker was in the Chair and we were debating, as soon as their Side finished their debate, they walked out. Yet, the Hon Member is here talking about somebody sitting when Mr Speaker is speaking.
For them to have walked out yesterday was an affront on Mr Speaker's Chair. [Interruption.] The Hon First Deputy Speaker was speaking when they walked out. So, he should not try to weep more than the bereaved and when he talks, he has to walk the talk.
He who comes into equity must come with clean hands. I do not think that Hon Dr Akoto Osei was in any way intentionally interrupting when Mr Speaker was speaking, or showing disrespect.
So, the Standing Order the Hon Member quoted is actually a wrong Standing Order and it is expressed in that provision. So, he cannot go back to Standing Order 6 and say that the interpretation of the rules lie in the bosom of Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, we respect the Chair, but it is expressly stated in the Standing Orders. It is a clear and ordinary interpretation that when we say “rise”, it means that Mr Speaker, must indeed rise.
We all respect you and there must be decorum. I believe that is what we all thrive to achieve, but not when yesterday, they walked out on the Chair, yet come here and try to paint a picture that they are holier than thou.
Mr A. Ibrahim 1 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in making my submission, I stated clearly that Standing Order 97 says that whenever Mr Speaker rises in his Chair to address the House, he must be heard in silence and all of us must resume our seats. I added
by saying that Hon Akoto Osei is a senior Member and we all learn from him. I was not trying to impute improper motives. I am aware he knows and that is why I added that.
Most of us are learning through parliamentary practice because we cannot learn it from any book, except by practice. So, when I referred to him and said that we must listen to Mr Speaker in silence, I did not mean that Mr Speaker should always stand when addressing the House.
“When Mr Speaker rises to address the House”, does not mean that he cannot sit to address the House. The emphasis is on whenever Mr Speaker is addressing the House, he must be heard in silence.
If the Hon Deputy Majority Leader cares to know, a walk-out is a legitimate parliamentary tool. She has participated in that before. Is she telling this House that in those days that she walked-out, she showed gross disrespect to the Chair?
She should prove to this House if that is what she was deliberately doing. It is an acceptable and legitimate parliamentary practice and a tool to express one's protest.
Mr Speaker, yesterday, we said that we did not want to be part of that Motion and it is in the records. It does not mean that we did not respect the Chair.
Mr Speaker 1 a.m.
Order! Order!
Hon Members, that was a very good exchange.
Question put and Motion agreed to.

numbered 10, Hon Minister for Finance?
Ms Safo 1 a.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, I ask permission for the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, Hon Abena Osei-Asare, one of our own, to move the Resolution on behalf of the Minister for Finance.
Mr Speaker 1 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, you may move the Resolution.
RESOLUTION 1 a.m.
Minister for Finance) 1 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that
WHEREAS by the provisions of article 181 of the Constitution and Sections 55 and 56 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), the terms and conditions of all government borrowings shall be laid before Parliament and shall not come into operation unless the terms and conditions are approved by a resolution of Parliament in accordance with article 181 of the Constitution;
PURSUANT to the provisions of the said article 181 of the Constitution and Sections 55 and 56 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), at the request of the Government of the Republic of Ghana acting through the Minister responsible for Finance, there has been laid before Parliament an Additional Loan Agreement between the
Government of the Republic of Ghana and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) for an amount of seventy-five million Saudi Riyals (SR75,000,000.00) [equivalent to US$20.00 million) to finance the construction of additional facilities, supply and installation of medical equipment to the adjunct Clinical Block at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital in the Upper East Region.
THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE 1 a.m.
HEREBY RESOLVES AS 1 a.m.
Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah 1 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Speaker 1 a.m.
Majority Leadership, any indication? We want to have all matters dealt with and those which would be
adjourned to some date adjourned, then we would proceed only with the debate.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we could do a few things before we continue with the debate. Item numbered 12 on page 5 of the Order Paper.
Mr Speaker 1 a.m.
Item numbered 12, at what stage is it? Is it at the Consideration Stage?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, so we would now move to item numbered 13. [Pause.]
Mr Speaker 1 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, do you want to start?
Mr Kyei-Mkensah-Bonsu 1 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we need to deal with item numbered 11 first. The sub-caption should have captured it, that is the Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and the Motion in respect of that.
MOTION 1 a.m.
Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
Who seconds the Motion?
Mr Kwame S. Acheampong 1:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can now get to item numbered 12.
Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
Hon Members, Motion numbered 12 -- Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill, 2018 at the Consideration Stage.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Committee is here and so he would lead us through the Consideration Stage.
BILLS -- CONSIDERATION STAGE 1:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
Hon Chairman of the Committee, any other matter in that regard?
Mr K. S. Acheampong 1:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, no.

brings us to the end of the Consideration Stage.

Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
I see listed here consequential Motions. But indeed, it is intended to have the Third Reading of this very important Bill taken on Tuesday and not today.
So, we would not deal with items listed as 13 and 14.
Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
I appreciate that, Hon Majority Leader.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the circumstance, we would go back to Motion numbered 7.
Mr Speaker 1:10 p.m.
Hon Members, item listed 7 -- Motion; continuation of the debate.
Hon Hajia Alima Mahama?
MOTIONS 1:10 p.m.
Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (Hajia Alima Mahama)(MP) 1:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion ably moved by Hon Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, MP for Ofoase/ Ayirebi and to speak specifically on the matter raised on Local Government issues in the President's State of the Nation Address, 2019.
Mr Speaker, the President touched heavily on Local Government and it signifies his commitment to bring governance closer to the people, deepen democracy as well as enhance participation of people in the governance structure.
Mr Speaker, the President in the State of the Nation Address clearly demons- trated to every citizen of Ghana that he is ensuring that all local authorities, that is people in the constituencies and the districts have access to our local authorities.
He is doing this by the creation of more districts and the elevation of some to municipal status. I must say that we now have almost one constituency, one district.
Mr Speaker, we have a total of about 260 districts, six of them are Metropolitan in nature, 108 of them are Municipalities and 146 are District assemblies; the characteristics we all know is related to the population and it is related to the conglomeration of people in the area.

Mr Speaker, it is only the Metropolitan Assemblies that we have two or more constituencies because they have to reach a certain population threshold and splitting them further into Districts would not allow them to meet that threshold to be called a Metropolitan.

Mr Speaker, I must also commend the President for enhancing the participation of women in local governance. The number of appointed females in the Assemblies have increased and the number of female MMDCEs is now 40.

For the first time ever, 16 per cent of our MMDCEs are females. This is the first we have ever had since decentralisation process started 30 years ago. We had 8.8 per cent in 2016; now, we have 16 per cent female representation.

Mr Speaker, the President again indicated his commitment to enhancing people's participation in the local government process. He showed his commitment to the election of MMDCEs.

The President made this statement in the last State of the Nation Address and in this one again, he touched on Article 55(3) of the Constitution and the need to amend this same entrenched clause to pave the way for election of our MMDCEs on a partisan basis.

He called on all to participate to ensure that we really practice what we mean by governance and grassroots participation. Everybody must have access to participation and one way of doing that is through votes, by ensuring that we have voice in electing the person who is our leader in the local authority.

Mr Speaker, the President respectfully called on all parties to support this process and demonstrate that we need collaboration in the referendum for the election of MMDCEs.

We would, therefore, call on all parties, both majority and minority and all other parties to work to ensure that the referendum for the amendment of article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution which carries the provisions of article 292 to 295 applies. It requires that the Bill be gazetted first for six months.

This is in the process. The Bill was gazetted in November and by May, it should be out and it would come to Parliament for the First Reading and submitted for referendum.

Mr Speaker, at the referendum, at least, 40 per cent of registered voters must turn up to vote and out of the number, at least 75 per cent must vote in favour of passing the Bill. Thereafter, the EC would send a certificate to Parliament for us to pass it.

Mr Speaker, getting 40 per cent of registered voters out of 75 per cent to vote,

“yes” would not be an easy task. So, we all have to go back to our constituencies to work, support and explain the reasons for that and explain the issues of democracy and get the buy in of all to support the process.

Mr Speaker, the President has taken a bold initiative. He is sharing power. He says that it lies within him to appoint 260 MMDCEs but that power must be shared with the communities.

In sharing that power, he is focusing on the grassroots. Many people in our communities find their MMDCEs relevant to their day-to-day aspirations and interests.

If they cannot vote for that person who is relevant to their day-to-day interests and aspirations, then there is something wrong with that.

Mr Speaker, they vote for the President and their Members of Parliament. The President is in Accra but the DCE represents central government, and we all know that the MMDCEs are chairs of the executive committees and they take all administrative and executive decisions at the local government level.

So electing the MMDCEs is key for the people at the local government level. That is an expression of democracy and participation in the governance structure.

Mr Speaker, therefore, I would use this opportunity to call on all our membership and those listening as well as our media to take this actively to ensure that we strengthen and deepen our democracy and enhance participation of everybody in their communities in this democratic process that Ghana has taken on.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is

working on it. We have rolled it out and interacted with so many interest groups. We have interacted with political parties, parliamentary select Committee on Local Government and Rural Development and we have had their buy in.

We have talked to other religious groups, civil society organisations and think tanks. We have had a lot of discussions and done consultations and sensitisation on this in all the then ten Regions of the country.

We are working with National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Information Services Department (ISD) in all the districts of the country.

Mr Speaker, but we cannot do this without the support of all Members of this august House, and as we have indicated, this is sending power back to the people and sharing power.

Some people are of the view that we may have a party in power and we may have opposition members as Chief Executives but that is also aspects of sharing power.

We have talked about the winner-takes- all syndrome in this country and, absolutely, there is nothing wrong with sharing power and having other people within other parties taking up local government positions.

In other jurisdictions, it is also the best international practice.

Uganda, Kenya and South Africa came to Ghana to learn about our local government systems and they have gone back to implement their local government systems and have even moved forward to electing their MMDCEs on partisan basis.

I believe Ghana, having had 30 years practice, should be able to move forward, and we are grateful that we have a President who is willing and has taken that bold initiative. He is committed to sharing power with the grassroots in our country.

Mr Speaker, it is therefore important that we take this aspect -- I must say that when we talk about democracy, we all know the party in this country that understands and promotes it.

Therefore, having our President, Nana Akufo-Addo, push this is just in line with the New Patriotic Party's tradition of promoting and enhancing democracy in this country.

Mr Speaker, with this few words, I call on both Sides of the House and citizens of this country to welcome this bold initiative and congratulate and thank the President for yet achieving and pushing for another milestone in our democratic dispensation in this country.
Mr Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Minister.
Hon Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon Alan Kyerematen? -- [Pause] --
In the process of his contribution, the Hon Second Deputy Speaker would take the Chair.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if you would allow Hon Titus-Glover to come before the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry.
Mr Speaker 1:30 p.m.
Hon Titus-Glover would come --
Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus- Glover (MP): Thank you so much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion and also to thank His Excellency the President for his eloquent presentation of the State of the Nation Address.
Mr Speaker, when we go through paragraph 4 on page18 of the State of the Nation Address, His Excellency the President told us that international automobile manufacturers like Volkswagen, Nissan and Sinotruk Group have decided to assemble their vehicles in this country.
This is to the extent that Renault is also conducting feasibility to come and establish --
These giant automobile companies do not come to a country in a vacuum. Before they come to invest in a country, there are certain indices and factors that they consider.
MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Titus-Glover 1:31 p.m.
They look at the business environment, the tax regimes and the labour climate of the country, as well as the vision of the President of the time as to how he would want to lure foreign direct investments into this country.
Mr Speaker, it is on record that anytime that the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Government is in power, the relationship between the Government and the social partners, the employers and the labour unions has always been positive.
We do not see a boisterous relationship compared to what we have under a National
Democratic Congress (NDC) Adminis- tration. So, they look at some of these things before they come to invest in the country.
Mr Speaker, it is on record that in the time of the NDC Administration, in the years 2014/2015, when we look at manufacturing, the growth had always been in the negative.
At the time, we told them that the methodology with which they managed the economy did not help us.
When we look at the cost of doing business and the energy crisis they subjected this country to at the time, for four years -- sometimes, they say that we should give them credit for resolving the energy crisis. Maybe, for the want of -- we would give them a little percentage.
Mr Titus-Glover 1:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the major drive to solve the energy crisis is the financials because we are to religiously pay for the services that were rendered.
That was why, I remember Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) cried so hard to the NDC Administration at the time to give them additional port lines; they could not.
I thank God that we have a President that listens, and the initiative that was set up by the Government under President Akufo-Addo [Hear! Hear!] VALCO is working again; a second port line has been given.
Mr Titus-Glover 1:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when some of these foreign companies want to come, they look at the track record. In the same vein, at paragraph 3, on page 18, His Excellency the President talked about a stimulus package.
He said that 16 companies had benefited from a total of GH¢230 million, which could create between 8,500 to 10,000 jobs. Here again, there is a distinction between the Governments of the NPP and NDC.
Mr Speaker, it was sad that under Former President John Dramani Mahama -- I checked from the Ministry of Trade and Industry -- three companies benefited under their stimulus package at a total of GH¢27 million.
We all know that a stimulus package is a way of trying to help distressed companies -- companies that are in serious challenges and need the support of the State.
The Government of Ex-President John Dramani Mahama, who said he would come back and we are waiting for him, could support only three companies.
Thankfully, under the able leadership and dynamism of His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, we have 19, as of the time I checked from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, which gives a total of GH¢247, 856,353.03.
This is a Government that listens and wants the private sector to thrive. We do not believe in rhetoric; we believe in action. For that matter, our President has walked the talk.
Mr Speaker, on the same page, the President talked about the need to
support the textile industry. For years, the textile industry in this country has suffered.
A majority of them have collapsed. About a walk of 10 to 15 minutes behind my mother's house to the Mankoadze Roundabout or lorry station, as one heads towards the Ghana Textiles Manufacturing Company (GTMC), those days, they could employ between 2,000 and 4,000 young abled men and women.
Today, GTMC has collapsed. When we go to the Tema Textiles Limited (TTL), it is gone. Juapong Textiles, which had been the factory that fed GTP with grey baft, is also gone.
Then again, in the news, Akosombo Textiles Limited has been crying for the support of the State. I would want to take this opportunity to thank His Excellency the President.
As part of the stimulus package that was given to the companies, Akosombo Textiles Limited benefited GH¢17 million to enable them continue within their production.
The President did not end there. We have a tendency of pirating their prints or logos, which makes it very difficult for them to produce. For that matter, in the State of the Nation Address, His Excellency the President made a remedy to make sure we are able to cure these nation wreckers of our time.
What did the President say? He said the Government had granted zero rated Value Added Tax (VAT) on the supply of locally made textiles for three years.
Mr Speaker, we could imagine the quantum of VAT that they could use and plough back into investment.
I recall that in the 2017 Budget Statement, the Hon Minister for Finance
read that companies that import raw materials to produce were not to pay any import duty on those things.
The 17.5 per cent of VAT on financial services as well as special levies were all taken off. The wisdom of doing that was the fact that we would use all the moneys that we would have paid in taxes to plough back into investment.
The President said this, and we would make sure that it is enforced and implemented to the letter.
Mr Speaker, the President went on to say that the challenge of pirated designs and logos -- this time, they would bring a stamp regime. We see advertisements from some of the media houses where there are some numbers on the cloths that have been bought.

You will see advertisements of some of these textile industries in the media houses; where a serial number has been placed underneath a cloth that has been bought, and when one keys in this serial number, it proves the authenticity of the manufacturer.

This is a way of protecting our own by making sure all these foreign illegal clothes that are imported into the country are taken care of.

Mr Speaker, the President went on again by saying that the Tema Port is going to be the designated place where all these imported clothes will be checked. We are going to make sure that people are paying the right taxes to ensure that we do not kill our local industries.

This is a way of making sure that the textile industry that suffered in the past is

no longer going to suffer the same fate under his watch and this is a President that we need to commend.

Going forward, as a fisherman, - I am so grateful to my great-grandfathers for what they have taught me.

This is a Government that believes in the fishing industry; that both artisanal canoe and industrial fishermen can have the opportunity -- And we are insisting that this year, we are going to have a total of 5,000 outboard motors to be distributed among the fishermen of our country.

Mr Speaker, compared to the past, I believe that this is a great opportunity as we believe that our fishermen are doing their best under the circumstance to make sure that fish, which is a major ingredient needed by our bodies, is taken care of.

It is on record that under President Akufo-Addo's watch, we would construct landing beach sites from the east to the west. I recall during the time of the Sixth Parliament when my Hon Colleague.

Hon Afenyo Markins made a Statement in the House that the tidal waves in Winneba had destroyed most of the canoes at the time. In doing so, I am happy that Winneba is part of the towns along the coast that is going to benefit.

Mr Speaker, with all these things, we are not only looking at the construction of the landing beach sites; we are also looking at the handling, storage, processes and disposal of fish in our country and adequate education is being done to make sure that we are able to protect our marine and aqua life.

Under the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, we are trained to enforce the closed season where the fish stock that we have in our oceans are protected. If
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
Hon Member, I have been very generous to you. I think that your time is long past, so --
Mr Titus-Glover 1:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am winding up.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
You should not just be winding up.
Mr Titus-Glover 1:40 p.m.
I will conclude.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
Your last word.
Mr Titus-Glover 1:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I conclude by saying that looking at the transport sector, specifically, under railways, this is unprecedented. On page 27, His Excellency, the President told us that US$1billion would be used to develop the railway sector.
When one comes into the port and vessels come in with the goods, they are discharged into vehicles and then by rail they are taken all the way up north. That is why the eastern and western lines are all taken care of.
The Mpakadan project is going to develop this country. I know that this is a
Government that I -- We must use the resources of this country judiciously, not as we used to do in the past.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
Hon Member, enough is enough.
Mr Titus-Glover 1:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
Well, I have a list here from the Minority Side and I think - Yes, Hon Member for South Dayi is the next on the list.
Mr Rockson-NelsonEtse Kwami Dafeamekpor (NDC -- South Dayi) 1:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the message delivered by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana -- Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the state of affairs in the nation for the year 2018.
In doing so, I would touch on a few matters arising out of the message and concentrate on education, transport, and of course, the Judiciary.
Mr Speaker, if you look at paragraph 36, page 7 of the State of the Nation Address, His Excellency made the point in respect of the education sector, that he intends to bring legislation, for instance, to bring the Administration of all the public universities and other tertiary institutions under one system of legal regime which he termed the Common Law Administration.
My worry is that the public tertiary institutions are not categorised into the same class.
Indeed, we have fully-fledged universities such as the University of Ghana (UG), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Cape Coast and the University of Education, Winneba and others which are categorised into
Mr Rockson-NelsonEtse Kwami Dafeamekpor (NDC -- South Dayi) 1:50 p.m.
university colleges, even though they are public tertiary institutions.
Mr Speaker, others are also categorised into technical universities and so I am wondering what sort of a uniform corporate legal regime would assist to administer the universities from such a system of Common Law.
Again, the President made the point that he intends to bring legislation to breech the constitutionally pre-requisite of differentiating basic education, which starts from kindergarten to junior high school 3 from secondary education.
Therefore it means that the Constitu- tional provision regarding separating basic from secondary education would have to be amended and we need to advert our minds to that as well.
Mr Speaker, the difficulty that presents to me is that the President and his administration are telling us that they are, as it were, introducing curricular reforms in the secondary schools.
However, they have not told us that, for instance, when they intend to upgrade diploma awarding training college institutions to degree awarding ones, there is no indication that there would be curricular reforms for the necessary changes to be effected.
Indeed, he was also silent on the upgrade that he would make in respect of the teaching staff. This is because when the diploma awarding institutions become degree institutions, the requirement for the teaching staff would change. He did not say anything about that.
Mr Speaker, again, the President made the point on page 11, paragraph 53 - I
have tried to number the paragraphs chronologically. He says that; “as part of the urban renewal policies that he has initiated, Nima would be rejuvenated into a modern urban sprawl”.

Even though that it is a very good policy to be applauded, the difficulty that presents to me is that, it appears that even though the President is a resident of Nima, he is oblivious of other adjourning neighbourhoods such as Mamobi, Nima 441, Kotobabi down.

Mr Speaker, because if he singles out Nima for reengineering, rejuvenation and renewal, then Mamobi would be left hanging as another urban sprawl that the difficulties the people face in terms of housing and basic amenities such as water and healthcare would still be suffered with regard to inadequacy or provision.

Mr Speaker, I would want to touch on the President's Address regarding the nature of the state of our roads. Mr Speaker, my constituency is the Eastern Corridor road and 45 kilometres of the segment of that road runs through my constituency from Asikuma to Kpeve and Have.

The President is on record to have stated in June last year at Jasikan when he visited the Volta Region, as it then was, that all the necessary arrangements would be made for the contractor to return to site and continue with the project.

Mr Speaker, as I speak -- And I am very happy that my senior Hon Brother and learned friend at the Bar, the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways -- is here; There is no sign of the contractor on site and the nature of the road is deteriorating at a faster rate.

The situation is also that because this is a project that is under contract, the Ministry of Roads and Highways finds it difficult to initiate maintenance activities on the road.

Therefore it creates problems for road users. For instance, when potholes develop on the roads, the Ministry of Roads and Highways is not able to maintain or seal them. Mr Speaker, that is the difficulty that I see in that aspect of the Message.

I would want to urge His Excellency the President that as a matter of urgency he should direct the Hon Minister responsible for that sector to at least direct the regional Director of Highways to effect road maintenance on the road so that it remains motorable until such a time that a decision is taken to complete that section of the road for the constituency.

Mr Speaker, throughout the Message on the State of the Nation and in respect of the Judiciary, I was disappointed when the President failed to, for instance, touch on the fact that within the two years of his administration he has created so many new Municipal and District Assemblies, and it is a requirement of law that once district assemblies are created, at least, Magistrate or District courts should be created in the various district capitals.

This is to ensure that the administration of justice would be brought closer to the doorsteps of persons who would be newly placed in these districts.

Mr Speaker, but the President failed to indicate the steps that he had taken to ensure that the district Magistrate courts are created in some of these new district assemblies.

For me, this is a worry because the essence of the administration of justice is to bring it close to the people who patronise the services of the Judiciary.

Again, it is on record that there are a number of High Courts that are not manned by Justices of the Superior Courts and I hoped that the President would give an indication as to the steps that his Government would take to appoint new High Court Judges to man some of these courts.

As a result of the current situation, there are a lot of Judges who have been directed to do relieve duties in adjoining courts. For instance, the judges sitting at the High Court 1 in Ho has been directed to do relieve duty at the High Court in Hohoe and Denu and this is to his econo- mic detriment.

Mr Speaker, so, I expect the President to take steps and appoint more Justices to man those courts.

Mr Speaker, we were practically -- for want of a better expression -- stampeded into passing the Office of the Special Prosecutor Bill, 2017. It was one of the flagship policy decisions of the Govern- ment.

Mr Speaker, as I speak and two years down the line, the Office of the Special Prosecutor is struggling to be functional and these were some of the issues that we cautioned against.

I was hoping that the President would tell me, Hon Members of this House and the good people of this country how many cases the Special Prosecutor had commenced investigations into and how many cases have been filed in court during

2018?

Mr Speaker, he was silent on that but I would want to urge him to direct the Special Prosecutor to expressly handle matters because that was the essence for creating such an office for him. He is not supposed to function as a matter of course but he is supposed to do things expressly.

Mr Speaker, I would want to urge the President that next time he delivers the Message on the State of the Nation, such details on some of his flagship pro- grammes should be told to the House.

Mr Speaker, I would want to conclude by touching on the Ministry of Transport.

The President, in touching on some of the programmes that he has initiated under the Ministry of Transport, told us that facilities have been procured for the construction of certain landing sites in some coastal and fishing communities in the country.

That is laudable but the point I would want to make is that, for some of us who are representatives of some of the people who live in communities along the Volta Lake, the lake is a huge source of large volumes of fish production.

So I would want to urge the Government that when they are considering coastal fishing communities for such projects, they should also consider in-land fishing communities along the Volta Lake, for example, communities like Torngor Dzemeni and Torngor Agordeke in South Dayi District and Akaten in Upper Manya Krobo.

Mr Speaker, such landing sites should also be constructed in Amartey in the Kwahu South District and in Yeji. They should also be considered because the coastal communities --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:50 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr Speaker, my attention has been drawn to a statement that has been made by the Hon Member on his feet that in respect of the Office of the Special Prosecutor's Act, he asserted strongly that Parliament was stampeded to pass the law.
Mr Speaker, he knows that it is a palpable falsehood and Parliament was never stampeded. The Bill came to Parliament --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, your information is not exactly right. He said “for want of a better word”, and then he used the word “stampede”. He did not say that Parliament was stampeded but he said that for want of a better word -- and then he paused and said I would use the word “stampeded”. That is for want -- [Interruption.]
He never said that Parliament was strongly stampeded. It is a matter of choice and he was struggling to get a better word but could not get it and so he said “for want of a better word” and then he used “stampeded”.
Definitely that is his opinion and you cannot raise a point of order on that. The fact that you were stampeded does not mean that you were not diligent.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if he says that Parliament was, for want of a better word, stampeded, it means we responded to a force from without; that we did not act in good conscience, we were forced to do something. That is the meaning of it. I am challenging him --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
It can also mean you were forced from within,
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2 p.m.
Mr Speaker, whichever way it is construed, Parliament is not stampeded, either by forces within or by forces without. Matters come before us and we take our time to peruse them.

Mr Speaker, so I respectfully call on my Hon Colleague to withdraw that. Parliament, of which he is a part, does not respond to forces.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, you are aware I have a difficulty there and I am struggling to listen to you and to be convinced that he has breached any of the rules.
That is just a matter of opinion. You disagree with him, and your opinion is that we went through the full process. There was no force from within or from without to push us to do it faster than the norm. That is your position, but he differs from that position.
He started by saying it was a flagship project of Government, and so he wanted to see some action. And he said the Office of the Special Prosecutor is struggling.
I am sure you would have disagreed with the use of the word “struggling” in that one too. Those are his candid opinion and you can disagree with that, but he is not out of order.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2 p.m.
Mr Speaker, do I consider it as a ruling or a guidance?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Do you want me to rule you out of order? I so do.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is because I strongly believe that language is most offensive.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Is it offensive?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2 p.m.
Yes.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, you are completely out of order. I so rule.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in deference to the Chair, even though I may disagree with you, I would resume my seat.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Your disagreement is of no consequence here. [Laughter.]
Hon Member, you may conclude.
Mr Dafeamekpor 2 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you. I am guided.
Mr Speaker, the point I would briefly make before I resume my seat is that, I would want to urge the Government to also consider fishing communities along the Volta Lake for such landing site projects, which would invariably help to improve and increase fish production to feed the good people of this country.
I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Hon Member for Bongo?
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu -- rose --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, we listened to two Hon Members from the Majority. Please let us be fair. I understand the circumstances. [Interruption.] No. It is not the State of the Nation Address.
Hon Majority Leader, as the leader of the House, I would listen to you.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much.
Mr Speaker, nobody compels any person to be in this House, nobody compels anybody to be absent. Now, the first slot should even have gone to them. They were not here.
We needed to start the debate. So if they elect to be outside, should Parliament wait for them? I disagree with this. If they elect not to enter Parliament, and they come at a later time, should we hold the conduct of Business down for them?
Mr Speaker, with respect, I disagree with this.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, it is discretional. I can decide to listen to three Hon Members from this Side, two from your Side or one from your Side and three from their Side, but for purposes of fairness, we decide, in spite of your numbers to make it 1:1.
That is for fairness. Particularly so, as we try to create more room for the Minority to have a say, because at the end of the day, the Majority would have its way.
So it is just being fair to allow two of them to also have a bite. After that, I would come to the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry and that would be after the Hon Member for Bongo has debated.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we strive --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Do you want me to recognise you?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we strive to achieve equity in this House. You are aware that when we first entered this House and it came to any debate, the rule of the thumb from the Chair at the time was that the Minority should have one slot whereas the Majority would have two slots on any matter that came for debate.
It was the Rt Hon Peter Ala Adjetey who said the Majority should have their say just so as the Minority should also have. Then we introduced this concept of 1:1.
Mr Speaker, you would recollect even from the previous Parliament that there were occasions that the Speaker accorded two slots to the Majority.
When I raised issues, he said the numbers were too huge, so, occasionally, I should allow him to do that. If we create the platform that it is 1:1 and a group elects not to be in the Chamber, they would not be able to hold the transaction of Business down.
Mr Speaker, with respect, in this matter, it is not discretionary. We have agreed with the rules. The discretion does not lie any longer --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, you are completely out of order.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2 p.m.
Mr Speaker, you have the gavel. You can pronounce and I would not challenge except that I disagree with the Chair on this. You do not have any discretion on this.

Majority Leader, what you just said shows that I have a discretion. [Laughter.] If the first Rt Hon Speaker, Rt Hon Justice Francis Daniel Annan used to allow two Hon Members from the Minority and one from the Majority and later it was changed to one from each Side, and you also cited another Speaker allowing 2:1, it means there is a discretion to do so.

I do not know which rule prevents a Speaker, or where and which Parliament prevents a Speaker from exercising a discretion in identifying and calling on an Hon Member to contribute to a debate. I do not know of that.

In the Second Parliament, what I recognised or could recollect is that, the first Rt Hon Speaker, Justice Francis Daniel Annan acted as a father and tried to allow the 67 of you as against the 133 Hon Members to have more of a bite because you had just come, needed to learn and needed to be heard.

That is why he used to allow the late Hon J. H. Mensah, the veteran politicians to even speak sometimes for two days. This was all towards developing the culture of democracy in the country - agreeing to disagree in civility. I think he achieved a lot during that period.

So please, if they were not present, I would not have the opportunity to recognise them. They are present and that is why I am recognising them.

Hon Member for Bongo?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
So Hon Member for Bongo?
The Hon Majority Leader is still insisting.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not insisting. I am just saying that I think you have got it wrong when you said that Justice Annan gave us the then Minority two slots against one from the Majority.
The converse rather was the order. It was only one to the Minority then, and two to the Majority. Mr Speaker, I believe you recollect this.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
I cannot recollect that. We need to refer to the records.
Yes, Hon Member for Bongo?
Mr Edward Abambire Bawa (NDC- Bongo) 2:10 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion to thank His Excellency the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to Parliament on Thursday, 21st February,
2019.
Mr Speaker, in doing that, the initial comment I would make is an observation I made when Hon Titus-Glover was speaking. At least, for the first time in this House, he acknowledged that irrespective of the challenges we had in the power sector during the period of 2013 to 2015, the NDC Government resolved the issue. It is on record today, so at least, today the matter has been settled.
That being said, it is important to state that His Excellency the President, told us in summary that the nation was in a healthy state. In doing so, he adduced certain reasons, one of them being the fact that - Mr Speaker, with your permission, on page 16, I quote the last paragraph;
“There has been good news with the recent announcement by Aker Energy of one of the biggest oil
finds in Africa. Mr Speaker, this has led me to think that an NPP government must be good for Ghana. After many, many years of our looking and almost giving up, it took an NPP government to discover oil in 2007. In eight years of NDC administration, 13 oil block deals were signed, and not a single one was developed. The first one signed in 2017, under my government, which was Aker, has led to the second biggest oil discovery in Africa. Enough to make a believer of anyone, I might say”.
Mr Speaker, I think two days ago my Hon Senior Colleague dealt with the whole idea of discoveries in Ghana and when they were made, so I would not belabour that point.
But the very reason why I want to talk about the Aker project is because of a historical inadequacy and an attempt -- and to a very large extent -- an effort to hide State funds that we had voted for a particular purpose, and for which it has not been used. These are the two issues I am going to talk about.
Mr Speaker, you would recall that in 2006 -- and it is true, it is historical -- that there was a petroleum agreement that was signed between Hess and the Government of Ghana.
If you look at the shareholding structure, Hess had 90 per cent and GNPC had 10 per cent. This was a licence that was supposed to cover seven years, and therefore, in 2013, the licence expired.
During this period, what happened was that between the seven years of the licence being valid, Hess was able to gather as much as 300 square kilometres of seismic data.
They drilled eight wells and made seven successful discoveries; five of them were oil, two of them were gas.
Mr Speaker, it is interesting that we look at the specific discoveries on this particular petroleum agreement. I am just using the petroleum agreement between Hess, the Government of Ghana and of course GNPC.
Paradise was discovered on 16th May, 2012. Heckory North was discovered on 8 th September, 2012. Almond was discovered on 11th October, 2012. Pecam was discovered on 6th December, 2012. Cop was discovered on 22nd January 2013, and Pecam North was discovered on 18 th February, 2013.
Mr Speaker, out of these discoveries, Paradise and Heckory North were gas and the rest were oil.
It is evident that if we look at the discovery His Excellency the President was stating and talking about the fact that there was a discovery in 2017 when he signed the petroleum agreement; it cannot be true. Aker offloaded the shares of Hess, so they assumed the shareholding portion of Hess.
Dr Boye 2:10 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr Speaker, I am following the debate closely, and since this House is a House of record, I am interested in the source of the discoveries that my Hon Colleague mentioned. If he could tender it so that it would help us also learn.
In fact, I am interested in following it closely. He did not mention the source. Could he tender it so that we could validate the source?

Member, take that on board. We want to know the source.
Mr Bawa 2:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, anybody who is a keen observer of the oil industry would know that any time there is a discovery, it is published with the dates.
If we go to the Petroleum Commission's website, we would see all the discoveries we have had since 2007, so these are public documents that we could always verify.
So if he asks me to give him a source, he should go to Petroleum Commission. These dates are there for everybody to ascertain their veracity.
Mr Speaker, the interesting part of this is that there was a lost opportunity for us as a country. GNPC knew from day one that the field that was being operated by Hess was a field that had huge potential, so when the opportunity came for Hess to offload part of its shares, GNPC expressed their interest to take up additional interest.
Indeed, they had asked to take up 10 per cent additional interest. This was supposed to be handled by a subsidiary of GNPC, that is, Explorco. Subsequently, what GNPC did was to officially, as part of their work programme --
The 2013 work programme that was presented to Parliament in line with the rules governing the works of GNPC, particularly, when it comes to petroleum revenue --
They made a request for US$47 million to be able to buy the 10 per cent shares that was going to be taken from Hess. Parliament granted that.
Unfortunately, just at the time when all the necessary agreements were made, the dispute between la Cote D'ivoire and Ghana kicked in. And 69 per cent of that acreage was involved in that dispute, therefore there was a delay in the works.
This case was finally concluded in 2017. The understanding was that, GNPC would have gone further to then purchase the 10 per cent additional interest for Ghana.
Mr Speaker, it would interest you to know that the Ministry of Energy then decided that Ghana was never going to exercise the right to buy the 10 per cent, and therefore they were giving that in addition to the 40 per cent that Hess was now holding, because they had offloaded 38 per cent to Luk Oil, and two per cent to Fuel Trade.
They were not going to exercise the right to purchase 10 per cent more for the State, and so they gave 50 per cent to Aker.

Today, Parliament approved US$47 million for us to purchase that. That has not been done. As to what that money has been used for, nobody knows.

Mr Speaker, with your permission, Parliament must take a keen interest in how that money was expended because anything apart from using it to purchase the 10 per cent additional shares would be criminal.

I believe that since we are the people who obviously approved this in 2013 -- I am talking of Parliament; it behoves us to ensure that the right thing is done.

Mr Speaker, the second point I would want to talk about has to do with our current situation. We find ourselves with

depreciation and its effect on the energy sector, particularly, on the power sub- sector.

Mr Speaker, you would recall that just a few days ago, the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) indicated that because of certain factors -- the movement of the Karpower ship from Tema, the eastern enclave, to the western enclave, and the fact that we had the Power Distribution Service (PDS) taking over from ECG and also the fact that we would have certain plants that would move from using heavy fuel to gas --

On the basis of that they would defer the major tariff review from March till June ending 2019.

Mr Speaker, if you listen to and monitor the commentary that has been made by some of these utility companies, it gives a picture that seems to suggest that in the intervening months -- I am talking of the three to four months -- They would accumulate huge debts as a result of exchange rate fluctuations.

Mr Speaker, in March 2016, the US dollar was equivalent to GH¢3.80. Today, in 2019, the dollar is equivalent to GH¢5.52. However, in 2016, if you were to take, for example, GRIDCO, it sold in terms of the transmission charge, GH¢5.040 per kilowatt hour, when the dollar was equivalent to GH¢3.80. Mr Speaker, because of the reduction in tariffs in March 2018 that brought it from about GH¢5.00 to GH¢4.20 thereabout, they had a 17 per cent reduction.

Meanwhile, as we speak now, that is the same rate we use, but if you are to look at the dollar exchange, it is US$1.00 to GH¢5.52 so we have a situation where most of these utility companies lose huge

sums of money just because of forex losses. They buy crude oil, pay their gas liabilities and buy spare parts in dollars; meanwhile, they are still given the same rate.

Mr Speaker, just on Monday, GRIDCO indicated that in 2017 alone, just forex losses on their borrowings was US$143.28 million. For 2018, it came to US$148.43. If nothing was done at all to the current rate and assuming that we would have the same exchange rate, as we have it today, their projection is to have US$246 million.

Mr Speaker, when Hon Titus-Glover was talking, one of the things he said was about the challenges we had from 2013 to 2015 was the financial nature.

Now, if you look at the indebtedness that has bedevilled the utility companies, as we speak, it is huge. ECG alone is piling fresh debt of almost GH¢2 billion post- Energy Sector Levy Act.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Hon Member, you have one minute.
Mr Bawa 2:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, so the point I just want to make is that, as a country, we should be a bit careful. I can understand when H. E. the President in 2016, in Mantse Agbona, indicated that tariffs were more expensive than rent.
So in an attempt to still have these statements justified today, we have saddled our utility companies with debt and I can say without the slightest of doubt that if we keep to this trend, by 30th June, 2019, we would shed load in this country and that is what is more detrimental to the economy that is pretending to be keeping tariffs on the same levels when the Ghana cedi is depreciating at a faster rate.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Hon Minister for Trade and Industry, you have 15 minutes; the others dealt with 12 minutes. That is what is agreed upon.
Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen) 2:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to contribute to the debate on the Message of H. E. the President to this Honourable House.
The Hon Member of Parliament for Tema East has so eloquently articulated the components of H. E. the President's Message that relates to the trade and industry sector that I stand the risk of sounding repetitive if I re-echo those comments.
For the avoidance of doubt and in order for us to strategically position his Message within the overall strategic context of our development agenda, I would like this Honourable House to walk backwards in memory and look at the state of the economy at the beginning of the term of office of the last NDC Government.
The NDC Government in 2009 inherited an economy that grew at over eight per cent. The NPP Government inherited from the NDC an economy that grew at 3.4 per cent, from over eight to 3.4 per cent.
Simply put, it means that this current Government inherited an economy in decline and from any analysis of any economy anywhere in the world, when you inherit an economy in decline, the first thing that has to be done is to bring the economy into a state of equilibrium.
When it is done, that provides the basis then for stabilising the economy before one can talk about the growth of the economy and then move on to the next stage of consolidation. That is the trajectory that normally economies would move along.
Mr Speaker, as was articulated by H. E. the President, within a period of one year, in arresting the decline of the economy, by the end of 2017, the economy had grown to over 8.1 per cent, which means within a period of one year, the economy moved from 3.4 per cent to over eight per cent growth which incidentally was one of the highest in the whole world.
rose
Mr Kyerematen 2:20 p.m.
H. E. the President
also drew attention to the fact that the budget deficit -- and if we use the figures before the rebasing of the economy, the budget deficit that was inherited was 9.3 per cent. At the end of 2018, the provisional figures that we have for the budget deficit is 3.9 per cent.
2. 30 p. m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Hon Member for Ho Central, is the Hon Minister out of order?
Mr Kpodo 2:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes. He is misleading the House. He is saying that the economy is in decline. I would like to find out whether he wants to say the economy is growing at a declining rate or it is growing at a negative rate.
That must be distinguished because what he is saying means that if the economy was one hundred million, when it is declining, it means it has dropped to ninety-eight. But I do not think that is what he intended to say so he should get his facts correct.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
It is a matter of terminology you are trying to analyse; decline and negative. And you are saying that decline here would mean negative.
Mr Kpodo 2:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes. When he said the basket is declining, it means it is going down. But if he says it is growing at a declining rate, everybody could understand that. So what he is saying is completely incorrect.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Well, that was what I understood him to have said, that the economy was growing at a declining rate; from—
Mr Kpodo 2:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is not what he said; he said that the economy was declining, and it is on record.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Hon Member, when I am speaking, you would sit and listen. -[Laughter]- the Hon Minister cited growth of eight per cent and then, growth of 3.4 per cent. So both are growth. He is talking about declining growth.
Well, let me allow the Hon Minister to clarify.
Mr Kyerematen 2:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when I referred to the current Government inheriting a declining economy, what that means is that if we trace back the period before 2008, we would realise that the economy was in decline. And that is why I was referring to inheriting an economy in decline.
Please note my words carefully, that we inherited an economy in decline so if we work backwards, we would find that at the time that the growth of 3.4 was recorded, that the economy was in decline.
Before the 3.4 per cent was recorded, at the time that the NPP took over, the economy was in decline.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Hon Minister, it is that phrase of ‘declining economy' that he is challenging.
If you talk about declining growth, that would be accepted but when you say ‘declining economy', to him, it means the economy is not growing; it is growing negatively like we had in the 1982 and 1983 when we went to minus eight per cent (-8 per cent). That is declining economy and that is what he is referring to.
Mr Kyerematen 2:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is very simple arithmetic analysis. At the end of the term of the first NPP Government, the economy was growing at over eight per cent; on review, nine per cent.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Hon Members, he is simply referring to declining growth. There is a growth but the growth is declining from nine per cent to 3.4 per cent. That is what he is referring to; a declining growth. So let us proceed.
Hon Minister, you may continue.
Mr Kyerematen 2:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for granting protection in this matter. And it is absolutely important that we understand the basis for which this
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, you are in charge of keeping order in this House. We cannot allow this House to be turned into a market place when people keep shouting across the aisle when an Hon Member is on his feet. --[Interruption.]
That is abnormal, Hon Kpodo. And at this stage, you have been here for a long enough period to understand this.
Mr Speaker, can you fully take charge and let us make progress? When the Hon Member was on his feet, it is not everything that he spoke about that I agreed with. I did not shout across the aisle; I listened to you, because I know I would have the opportunity to rebut a lot of things that you have said, I kept my cool. Would you have that tolerance?
Mr Speaker, take charge and let us make progress.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, I am in charge. The records would capture that as uproar. That is what the records would capture.
Hon Minister for Trade and Industry, you may continue.
Mr Kyeremateng 2:20 p.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker. In normal economic terms, the
indicator is growth rate. When we make a reference to growth rate, it is growth rate in the economy.

Mr Speaker, the President also made reference to another very important economic indicator and that is the Budget deficit. The Budget deficit shows and reflects your capacity to be able to finance your own debt.

If we use the figures before the re- basing of the economy, we are talking about 9.3 per cent. Now, at the time that the provisional figures for 2018 were captured, the Budget deficit had declined from 9.3 per cent to a provisional figure of 3.9 per cent.

If we take another very important indicator, which is inflation, inflation recorded at the end of 2016 was 15.4 per cent.
Mr Speaker 2:20 p.m.
As we speak, the provisional figures for the year ending 2018 is about nine per cent. I ask my Hon Colleagues, is this not a reflection of an economy that has significantly improved in its state and quality? That is exactly what the President has been referring to.
Beyond that, another very important indicator is the debt to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio. Again, at the beginning of 2017 --
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 a.m.
Hon Minister, let me listen to Hon Richard Acheampong.
Mr Richard Acheampong 2:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, the Hon Minister has made a point which is incorrect and misleading to this House.
The economy grew at 3.4 per cent in 2016 and in 2017, we recorded 8.5 per cent growth. In 2018, it declined to six per cent, so ending the statement at 2018 leaves out their decline of the economy from 2017 to 2018.
There is still a decline in the economy. We are educating people, so let us present the facts as they are. I have the background and can demonstrate.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 a.m.
Hon Member, this is not a point of order. When it is your turn, you can draw our attention to those figures too, but not on a point of order.
Mr Richard Acheampong 2:40 a.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr Kyerematen 2:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, another very important indicator is the debt to GDP ratio. At the beginning of 2017, when this current Government took over, the debt to GDP ratio was around 73 per cent.
Now, if we take the rebase figure as at the end of 2017, the debt to GDP ratio has declined to 57 per cent.
If we look at the totality of the combined effect of these indicators, it shows a significant improvement in the macro-economy of this country.
The reason I am prefacing my remarks with this analysis is because, for the economy to achieve transformational growth --
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 a.m.
Hon Members, why are you on your feet?
I would not allow anybody to take minutes from his time, so I am noting down all the interruptions and objections and would add it to his time.
Mr Agbodza 2:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister is a very senior person and his presentation may be viewed as facts.
When he talked about the economy having more space for them to do the things that they want to do, he was aware that it only happened because of the rebasing of the economy. It is not because Government took any decision that made it better.
So that information should be clear. It is basically an issue of rebasing, so how can the Government take credit for rebasing the economy?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 a.m.
Hon Members, I think that you have to be guided by our rules in raising points of order.
When you disagree with him, when it is your turn, you could bring it up, so note it down. The fact that you disagree with the person does not mean that he is out of order.
If you would not get the opportunity, you could pass it on to your Colleague to articulate for and on your behalf. You do not have to raise a point of order.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, precisely, and what he has even just said is also incorrect. This is because before the rebasing --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 a.m.
Do not also fall into the same trap.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is important to correct what he just said.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 a.m.
I know
you would have ample time to respond, so let us move on. Let the Hon Minister -
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 a.m.
Before the rebasing, the economy had grown at 8.6 per cent and the rebasing brought it to 8.1 per cent, so what is he saying? He should please learn these things first before he rises to talk.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, you are also the Leader of the House, so please take note.
Mr Kyerematen 2:40 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I provide these statistics for one purpose. We cannot achieve transformation in any economy without having a strong macro- economic framework.
That is why we would appreciate the fact that the first two years of this current Government's term of office has focused on ensuring that we stabilise the macro- economy.

Mr Speaker, beyond that, the purpose of these statistics is to ensure that we have a strong basis for the transformation of our economy. We all recognise that macroeconomic stability is a necessary condition but not a sufficient condition.

So when the President makes reference to the stimulus package; the one District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative and the new strategic anchors that would diversify the

base of our economy to include the automobile industry, he is pointing to the fact that we are not looking at macro- economic stability as an end in itself, but as a means for the transformation of our economy.

That is why after reviewing the statistics of the macro-economy, he now went beyond that to talk about the efforts that the current Government is making in investing in the productive sectors of the economy.

So when he talks about stimulus growth or package for companies, these are existing companies that are potentially viable but have been stressed because of the economic conditions imposed on them during the National Democratic Congress' (NDC) period.

So the record that we now talk about and which the President made reference to, in bringing 16 of these distressed companies out of distress, with a stimulus injection of over GH¢230 million cannot be a matter of insignificance.

We are not just talking about macro- stability but about investing in the productive sectors of the economy.

So when the President moves from providing a record of what the Government is doing to revive existing companies and now talks about the record of 1D1F, he is going beyond existing companies.

I think that there is no better testimony of what this Government seeks to do to transform this economy than initiating this programme of expanding industrial activity throughout the whole country.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 a.m.
Hon Minister, you have one more minute.
Mr Kyerematen 2:50 p.m.
So when the President moves beyond the 1D1F, now to talk about the auto industry, he is only identifying one of the new strategic anchor industries that would go beyond cocoa and gold in diversifying the economy.
So the auto industry is one of it, the petrochemical industry is one of it and many others. The integrated aluminium- bauxite industry, the iron and steel industry are all new sectors that are going to propel this country into transformation.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:50 p.m.
Hon Minister, your last words.
Mr Kyerematen 2:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I hope that our Hon Friends on the other Side will join this Government in moving our economy beyond aid into an era of transformation for the good of this country.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:50 p.m.
Hon Naabu?
Mr Joseph Bipoba Naabu (NDC -- Yunyoo) 2:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity.
I would only want to talk on the President's --
Mr Speaker, even though he did well this time by not praising his Hon Ministers, he did a bit of that by praising the Hon Minister for Agriculture. According to him, the Minister for Agriculture has done so well that Ghana
now has enough food to export to Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Togo.
Mr Speaker, I do not want to agree with the President -- has he got any basis for it? Did he cross check on the information that was given to him?
This is because today in Ghana, we are still in a state of hunger; we have no food to eat and export. Why then is the President going about saying that we are now exporting maize, cassava and rice?
If we are exporting rice, is it local rice or it is the imported rice that we re-export? So I believe Mr President got it wrong on that.
Mr Speaker, I would also want to touch on the appointment of his Ministers. He has over appointed Ministers -- 123 Ministers.
I believe the Ministry for Monitoring and Evaluation should be scrapped because in every Ministry, there is monitoring and evaluation.
If so, then why the need for the President to appoint a Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation?
Mr Speaker, I will also want to draw the President's attention to the fact that the Ministry of Aviation and the Ministry of Railways are supposed to be under the Ministry of Transport.
Why did he create additional Ministries? I believe this is uncalled for and it is a burden on the resources that we have because you would have to provide means of transport, accommodation and so forth for them.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:50 p.m.
The Hon Member for Yunyoo is very brief. He had 12 minutes and he has used four minutes.
I would now give the opportunity to the Minister for Roads and Highways.
Minister for Roads and Highways (Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah) (MP) 3 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Floor of this august House.
The debate surrounding the brilliant presentation made by H. E. the President when he appeared in this House to perform his constitutional mandate of telling the people of this country the state of the nation.
Mr Speaker, his Message, as we all observed was eloquently delivered and it was so consistent and coherent.
I was particularly moved by his last statement by assuring this nation that under his presidency, this nation is in good health.
Mr Speaker, it need not be over emphasised that a well-established quality infrastructure is important and forms the pivot around which the development of any nation resolves.
For that matter, any government that is forward looking and visionary would not play politics with the development of infrastructure.
And that is exactly what H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is doing and that is the path that this Government is walking to make sure that this nation grows from strength to strength.
Mr Speaker, Ghanaians have started appreciating the wisdom and the uniqueness in the President's decision to reorganise ministerial portfolios when this Government took over the administration of this country, particularly in the area of infrastructure.
Now, we have separate Ministries for Railways, Aviation, Housing, Roads and Highways and so on that constitute infrastructure.

Mr Speaker, his decisions has brought a lot of dynamism, strength, concentration and efficiency into these infrastructural Ministries and for that matter his Government as a whole.

Mr Speaker, presenting the State of the Nation Address to this House on Thursday, 21st February, 2019, H. E. said as reflected in the fourth paragraph of

page 26 of the booklet. I crave your indulgence to read what Mr President said.

“Our roads, inside the country and those leading out to our neighbouring countries, have been in a dreadful state for a long time.”

Mr Speaker, this statement was apt and H. E. the President could not have put it in a better way.

Mr Speaker, H.E. the President was reflecting on the state of our roads in our nation as of the time that he took over the Administration of this country.

Ghana is 62 years now after independence. We live in a country with roughly 72380 kilometres of total road network size out of which less than 30 per cent is paved.

We still have a road network of about 70 per cent that is unpaved. If we take even the condition mix of our roads, we still have and hover around 40 per cent as good; about 32 per cent of our roads continue to be fair, and about 29 per cent poor.

If we put them together, between good and poor, as a nation, after 60 years, we still have almost 60 per cent of our total road network of 72, 380 kilometres in poor condition.

Mr Speaker, despite these, we should not throw our hands in despair. The deplorable roads are being tackled with all seriousness by the Government.

We are making major strides in the road sector.

There are major interventions. If we talk about the road sector, it is about the roads, the bridges and the interchanges.

Mr Speaker, I would want to use this opportunity to invite all my Hon Colleagues, particularly all MPs from the northern sector to join me and H. E. the President on 5th April, 2019 to cut that sod.

This amount of money as was said in H. E. the President's Address would fund major projects in this country such as the Accra Inner City Roads, Kumasi Inner City Roads and as I have said, the Tamale Interchange Project, another interchange at the PTC Roundabout in Takoradi, the Adentan-Dodowa dual carriage way,
Minister for Roads and Highways (Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah) (MP) 3:10 p.m.
Sunyani Inner City Roads, Cape Coast and Takoradi Inner City Roads, and selected roads in the Ashanti Region.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague, Rockson Dafeamekpor, my friend and junior twin brother talked -- He is also a twin; I am panyin and he is kakra.
As an Honorable Member of Parliament for South Dayi, when he was speaking about a promise made early on by H.E. the President of a portion of road which falls within the Eastern corridor, I am happy to announce that a greater part of the corridor covering Hohoe, Jasikan, Dodi-Pepesu and so on, come under the first phase of this Sinohydro facility. [Hear! Hear!] --
This is a stretch of road which had been neglected for a very long time. It is an important road joining the south to the north and has two significance in our nation. Anybody traveling from Accra to the north would shorten the distance if we do this road by 100 kilometres.
Apart from that, that stretch of road passes through the food basket of this nation.
Mr Speaker, I would want to assure this nation, and this august House, that, H. E. the President by his vision would ensure that by the end of his first term, the Eastern corridor road would have been properly fixed as originally designed.
Mr Speaker, again, in H.E. the President's Message, he spoke about the Sinohydro facility.
We would tackle that by June this year when the second tranche would have arrived, a total of 61 identified road projects again covering bridges, roads and interchanges across the nation.
Every single region has been taken care of, including the six newly created regions. [Hear! Hear!] -- This is a facility that the nation would benefit from.
Mr Speaker, anybody who followed critically the presentation by H.E. the President as aforesaid, he tackled railways, aviation and housing.
The President said something in paragraph 2 of page 27 of the Message on the State of the Nation about railway which is significant. I seek your leave to read it;
“Apart from all the investment being made, the government is committing an extra one billion US dollars to the development of the new railway network. Five hundred million dollars (US$500 million) will be applied to the development of the Western line, and five hundred million dollars (US$500 million) will be applied to the first phase of the Kumasi to Paga section of the national network.”
Mr Speaker, I am particularly excited by this kind of development because it is common knowledge that railways and roads run side by side and if we invest in railways to carry the bulky cargo of our nation, then we could be sure of the longevity of our roads, so that whatever investments we make in roads would be cost effective and sustainable.

If the railway sector is well-developed, as has been envisaged under the leadership of His Excellency the President, we would offer excellent services to our neighbouring brothers and the landlocked countries in the north.

We all know that Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and others take their cargo from our Ports. Following the expansion of the Port by the Meridian Port Services, the first phase of which would be commissioned in June, 2019, we would increase cargo to the north.

This country cannot wait to see the realisation of railway construction right from the coast, through the central corridor of our nation, to Paga to help accelerate trade.

Aviation is being improved, and we all know the infusion of competition. Unity Air, Passion Air and others have joined the aviation business to bring freshness and a competitive spirit, and to promote free movement of people and goods within our nation.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:10 p.m.
Hon Minister, you have one more minute.
Mr Amoako-Attah 3:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, a lot was said in this area.
Another sector that His Excellency the President touched so much on was the Planting for Food and Jobs programme.
This is certainly a strategic area to be hammered by any Government because of its nature of creating jobs and supporting the flagship policies of the Government by improving feeding under the Free Senior High School programme and the School Feeding programme, and providing basic raw materials to support the policy and flagship direction of the One District, One Factory programme, which by itself would create jobs.
It is refreshing that for the first time in the history of this nation, it has been unprecedented for -- In the year 2018, this country did not spend even a pesewa on maize importation into our nation.
Going forward, I know that the Government, under his leadership, would extend it to rice and poultry feed. [Hear! Hear!] Obviously, His Excellency the President has laid the foundation, and has given us a good message and food for thought.
In winding-up, Mr Speaker, I would want all of us on both Sides to jointly applaud His Excellency the President, and for us to work together and give him the support to lead us into the promise land as he has already started.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:10 p.m.
Hon Members, I would take this period to perform a duty under Standing Order 51.
I have in my hand a written message signed by the President, and I have the authority of the Rt Hon Speaker to make the contents of this message known to the House.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 3:10 p.m.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:10 p.m.
Hon Members, we may now listen to Hon Samuel Gorge.
I have a list that I am going by; this is guidance from the Leadership of the House.
Hon Samuel George?
MOTIONS 3:10 p.m.
  • [Continuation of debate from column 1836]
    • Mr Samuel Nartey George (NDC-- Ningo Prampram) 3:10 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Message on the State of the Nation by His Excellency, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
    Mr Speaker, I would touch on a number of issues from the presentation. First, I would start from home. On page 10 of the President's State of the Nation Address, he spoke about the Saglemi Housing Project. Mr Speaker, with your permission, I would read:
    “The Saglemi Housing Project, started under the last NDC government, is also high on our list of priorities this year. The five thousand (5,000) units it offers would boost our housing numbers”.
    Mr Speaker, it appears that the President really does not know the true state of the nation because in paragraph 529 on page 99 of the 2018 Budget Statement, this was what the Budget Statement of the President, which was
    read by the Hon Minister for Finance, said and I beg to quote:
    “In addition, the first phase of 5,000 housing units at Saglemi-Old Ningo for 1,502 housing units is 75 per cent complete.”
    Mr Speaker, if we go to paragraph 715 on page 145 of the 2019 Budget Statement, this is what he said, and I beg to quote:
    “Out of the 5,000 Saglemi Housing Units, 4,314 units will be completed in 2019”.
    Mr Speaker, which figure does the President want us to use -- 1,502; 4,314; or 5,000? As the Hon Member of Parliament for the area, I can state that all the three figures that were mentioned by the President are wrong.
    If the President does not even know the number of units of housing that have been completed in Saglemi, which his Government has abandoned for over two years, then the state of this nation is in shambles.
    rose
    Mr George 3:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, again, staying in my constituency, I heard the President speak about coastal protection. He made mention of the fact that they would carry out coastal protection projects. On page 11 of the State of the Nation Address, and I beg to quote:
    “Our ongoing coastal protection projects are proceeding in Adjoa in the Western Region, Blekusu, New Takoradi phase II (Elmina), Dansoman, Axim and Dixcove. This year, we will also begin others in Amanful Kumah, Dansoman phase
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, I see the Hon Member for Ledzokuku on his feet. Yes?
    Dr Bernard O. Boye 3:20 p.m.
    On a point of order.
    Mr Speaker, this is a House of records. My Hon Colleague on the other Side mentioned three different figures that have been used for the Saglemi Housing project and said that they are all wrong figures.
    The only way he could tell that all the figures are wrong, is when he has the right one, and as we speak, he has been unable to tell us the figure that is correct; for which reason, he has declared the three figures wrong.
    Mr Speaker, it is not fair to this House to say that His Excellency the President, has churned out a figure that is wrong and go on without mentioning the right one. I do not think that it is fair to the Chair. This is a House of records and so he should furnish us with the right figure so that even if we do not agree, maybe, because it is coming from him, we would consider it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, he is simply requesting for the right figure. It is not that you are unable, but you failed to disclose the right figure.
    Mr George 3:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, respectfully, my intention was to expose three different figures coming from the same Government and President on the same issue. His
    worry should be that the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, Head of Government and Head of State cannot, on one issue, as a housing project, over a period of two years, in three documents that have emanated from his own Government, gives us three contradictory figures. That should be his cause of worry.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
    Well, you succeeded in doing that but it is just that the House wants to know the right figure.
    Mr George 3:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with the greatest level of respect, as at the last check that I did, 1,450 units had been completed as part of phase I which is in my constituency.
    Over the past twelve months, the contractor has been made to demobilise from site, and no work has gone on at that construction site. However, I will repeat, the three figures have been churned out by the President.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, I think that he has given the figure.
    Dr Boye 3:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is not about the duplicity or multiplicity of the figures that he was contesting. He rubbished all the three figures as not being correct.
    What it means is that he is privy to the right figure. [Uproar] --

    Mr Speaker, I respect my Hon Colleague. If he wants the House to take his figure seriously, he should tender the source and documents so that we would know that the Ministry for Works and Housing, is not doing its job.

    It would be very difficult to let go of the work of the Ministry of Works and Housing and go for the checks of the Hon Samuel N. George. That would be very difficult to accept.

    So please, he should check the right figure for us. It is not about the duplicity but about the correctness of the figure as he says all the three figures are not correct. He is now telling us that ‘his checks' and ‘the contractor has demobilise' --

    Mr Speaker, Standing Order 23(2) -- We have to speak to the subject matter and we are not talking about the presence of the contractor or not but it is about the figures on the number of housing units completed. He should give us the figure and the source which is now the most important issue here. This is a House of records.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
    Hon Members, I think that he gave us a foundation; firstly, from the constituency
    and secondly, from his last check. In fact, he used the word; ‘his last count'. What he had was 1,450 and so, I think that is sufficient, and if you have something different that you could counter in your contribution and also lay reference to, maybe, you would have also gone there to count.
    He just drew our attention to the fact that three figures have been used and he thinks that all the three could not be right. So he has given us his ‘count'. So, the source is not just from his chest; he went there and took a count.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    the Hon Colleague on his feet is talking about inconsistency in numbers but the statement that he quoted and attributed to the President -- On page 10, it reads:
    “The Saglemi Housing Project, started under the last NDC government, is also high on our list of priorities this year. The five thousand (5,000) units it offers would boost our housing numbers”.
    Mr Speaker, what in this statement, suggests to him that the President says that the 5,000 houses are going to be completed and he matches it against what he calls ‘his last checks'?. We are dealing with figures and I think that this statement should be clear to anybody, and the President has not implied here that he has delivered 5,000 housing units.
    He says; ‘ultimately' -- and I do not know what my Hon Colleague is doing.
    rose
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:20 p.m.
    An Hon Member does not rise on a point of order when I am on a point of order. Would he learn that?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
    Please, Hon Majority Leader, address the Chair, please.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:20 p.m.
    I am addressing you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
    Maybe, your notes are too many but this is a matter that you could have added to your contribution but you have been noting down so many things.
    This is because as a former Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, I am part of the process and so, I know the figure and it is a matter of construction and understanding -- “5,000 units it offers would boost our housing numbers”.
    Now, the other references he made, I do not know how they are captured from the 2018 and 2019 Budget Statements. So maybe, that is why we have this misunderstanding. If you could read that also so that we see whether it is the same because “offers” here means that is what
    is intended to be constructed finally and that is the 5,000.
    Let me listen to Hon Sam George.
    Mr George 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would read what is captured in the 2018 and 2019 Budget Statements to aid the discussion. Mr Speaker, paragraph 529 on page 99 of the 2018 Budget Statement reads:
    “In addition, the first phase of 5,000 housing units at Saglemi-Old Ningo for 1,502 housing units is 75 per cent complete.”
    Mr Speaker, in the 2019 Budget Statement, in paragraph --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    Did I hear you right? Did you read the “first phase of 5,000 housing units of 1,502”?
    Mr George 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is the construction in the Budget Statement. [Interruption.]
    Mr Speaker, I would read it again.
    “In addition, the first phase of 5,000 housing units at Saglemi-Old Ningo for 1,502 housing units is 75 per cent complete.”
    Mr Speaker, this is their Budget Statement.
    Mr Speaker, paragraph 715 of the 2019 Budget Statement reads 3:30 p.m.
    “Out of the 5,000 Saglemi Housing Units, 4,314 units will be completed in 2019.”
    Mr Speaker, in the SONA it reads 3:30 p.m.
    “The 5,000 units it offers would boost our housing numbers.”
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader must not assume that he alone has command over the Queens language; we all understand the Queens language and he cannot interpret the Queens language to suit his own purposes.
    There is a clear contradiction from three official documents from his government and which he is the leader of their business in this House and he must admit the failing on the part of his government in misrepresenting the facts to the Ghanaian people.
    rose
    Mr George 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if you would permit me to proceed.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    Hon Members, please let us have some order. Please resume your seats.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    my Hon Colleague was shouting that I do not have command over the English Language. I would not allow him to proceed on the path of ignorance. Mr Speaker, --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, did I hear -- ?
    I have reminded you that you are the Hon Leader of the whole House and you cannot use the words ‘of his ignorance'. I think that is too strong.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, respectfully, if this man -- my Hon Colleague -- he is always provoking
    people here. Is he not the person who stood here -- ?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, you have moved away from “this man” to “my Hon Colleague”.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he calls himself my Akonta (my In-Law) but let me move away from there because he says that I do not have absolute command over the English Language. Mr Speaker, I have never said so and I have never laid any such claim.
    Mr Speaker, what is the language employed here? Firstly, it says that out of the 5,000, a 1,502 would be delivered in the first phase and the other he quoted from the Budget Statement said over 4,000 out of the 5,000 would be delivered this year. Now, the SONA reads:
    “The Saglemi Housing Project, started under the last NDC Government, is also high on our list of priorities this year. The five thousand (5,000) units it offers …”
    That is the total.
    “… would boost our housing numbers. We are, therefore, establishing the value for money issues surrounding the project in order to reconcile the number of houses built with the schedule of payments made, and accelerate delivery.”
    Mr Speaker, what in this construction is contradictory? And he said that because we are guiding him on the path of righteousness, he says that I do not have command over the English Language. This should be crystal clear to anybody who has read the three statements that there is no contradiction whatsoever.

    Mr Speaker, so let Hon Sam George -- a young man here -- learn the rules. I am not in any way saying -- maybe he may say that the figures -- because he said that as of his last check, about 1,450 are nearing about 75 per cent completion.

    Mr Speaker, does it distract from the fact that over 4,300 would be made available by the close of the year? If the contractor is not on site and he comes to site maybe, next month, is it possible for the person to finish or not?

    Mr Speaker, if at the end of the year it has not been delivered, then he could critic it, but for now, there is no contradiction whatsoever. Mr Speaker, he would add to it but he should stay on the path of truthfulness.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, you know that Tuesday would be your day. Today is for the backbenchers but you have taken all their time to respond. I think the only problem is with the construction in the 2018 Budget Statement.
    It is one of comprehension and it is only that they made a mistake maybe, in the choice of the preposition and that is what he may be relying on, but the offer of 5,000 units is clear from all the three statements.
    Hon Member, if you like, you could read the 2018 Budget Statements and you would see that the offer of 5,000 is the same throughout the three statements.
    Hon Member, you may continue.
    Mr George 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much and I am guided.
    Mr Speaker, this man here would proceed with his submission. Mr Speaker, still staying in my constituency --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    Well, I believe that it was said in jest because the Standing Orders are very clear as to how we refer to each other and being an experienced Hon Member of Parliament, the Hon Majority Leader and Leader of the House, I think that he conceded and moved away so do not repeat it.
    Mr George 3:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, very well. I am guided.
    Mr Speaker, still in my constituency, I would look at the Coastal Protection Project that the Ministry and the President has promised. On pages 11 and 12, the President promised that there would be the commencement of sea defence projects in a number of places including the Ningo-Prampram Consti- tuency.
    I just want to draw the President's attention that in the 2018 Budget Statement, under paragraph 524, on page 99, it was said that:
    “In 2018, the Ministry will commence the construction of Sea Defence Projects at Axim, Cape Coast, Ningo-Prampram, Shama and Mensa Guinea in Accra.”
    In the 2019 Budget Statement, under paragraph 709, the same promise was repeated, that in 2019, the Ministry would commence coastal protection works and the same communities are mentioned including Ningo-Prampram.
    Mr Speaker, the President repeats the same promise in the SONA but the whole of 2018 no work commenced. In 2019 there is another promise but still no work has commenced. If the state of our nation is one of promises and not deliverables then we are duly guided.

    Mr Speaker, the President in his State of the Nation Address spoke on page 3 about giving constituencies US$1 million, a political promise his party made of giving US$1 million per constituency every year.

    Mr Speaker, on page 3 of the President's Message on the State of the Nation, he makes reference to that and says every constituency --

    I would want to quote him. He says;

    “I am able to able state, and every Member of this House should be able to testify that work is going on in each of the 275 constituencies across the country.”

    Mr Speaker, this is in relation to the US$1 million cedi equivalent in our constituencies. I do not know about the rest of my colleagues, but in my constituency, I do not see US$1 million worth of projects as the President is asking us to allude to as going on in my constituency.

    If you take the 2019 Budget Statement and look at what the President has reported, from Ningo/Prampram in page 255 in explaining how he spent US$1 million at today's exchange rate of GH¢5.55 to US$1 which would be GH¢5.5 million, Mr President in his own Budget for Ningo Prampram says he is building a 10-seater water closet institutionalised toilet with mechanised borehole at Old Ningo Bantama.

    Mr Speaker, I can state without equivocation that there is no such project going on in my constituency. He also said that he is also building another in New Ningo, there is no such project; and

    that he is building another one at Afienya Zongo. None of these projects is existent as we speak now.

    So if the President invites Hon Members of this House to verify this, I am telling the President that there is no such project in my constituency. I am speaking constituency specifics.

    He also says there is community-based mechanised solar powered water system going on in new Ningo Mangbajase, Okyebleku and Old Ningo Ayetepa. Once again, Mr Speaker, none of these projects is ongoing.

    I have been asked by the people of Ningo/Prampram to ask the President where our own projects worth US$5.5 million are since he says we should attest in this House but we cannot attest to any of such projects.

    Mr Speaker, again in my constituency, I have picked the 2018 State of the Nation Address and the Budget Statement. There is talk about a technology park ongoing in Dawa in my constituency. As we speak, not even concrete blocks have been placed in Dawa yet we are being told about an ongoing technology park in Dawa.

    I do not know how we are building castles in the air as a nation and expecting us to be happy about that and say the State of the Nation is healthy.

    Mr Speaker, let us take the issue of the national identification card which the President references on page 28 of his State of the Nation Address.
    Mr Speaker, I ask myself 3:40 p.m.
    how is it that we are talking about a national identification card and calling it a success? When you take the promise of this Government, it was that every
    - 3:40 p.m.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, I can see Hon Members on their feet. Let me recognise them and see what the issue is. Is it on points of order?
    Mr Samuel Ayeh-Paye 3:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is rightly so. I just want to correct an impression been created by the Hon Member for Ningo/Prampram.
    Mr Speaker, last Saturday, I was attending funeral at Dansoman. I was finding it difficult to get the location of the funeral. The bereaved friend sent me a GPRS address, I put it on my phone and the address sent me was able to lead me.
    When I was about five minutes to the funeral grounds, it told me that I was five minutes away and gave me the direction to the funeral. So it is not correct to say that the GPRS that was given to me; GA… With it, I was able to locate the funeral grounds.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to inform my good Hon Friend that the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA) has introduced a chip-imbedded card that stores all vehicle documents.
    The current project is ongoing at the regional office in Tema. Mr Speaker, if you would want to register your car, within 30 minutes, digitally, you can register your car and have all your documents on the chip-imbedded card.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Hon Members, definitely, you know this is not a point of order. When it is your turn, put that across.
    Hon Member for Ningo/Prampram, I think you have to wind up now. I added all the minutes to you, and I am very sure that you have two minutes.
    Mr George 3:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am very grateful. May the Lord give and grant you long life.
    Mr Speaker, just so that my Hon Colleague understands what happened when he entered that address, that direction he got came from Google map system. It did not come from the National Digital Addressing System. It came from Google.
    Even the operators of that programme which is the Ministry of Communications have admitted that the addressing system is overlaid on Google map system. So it is Google map that directed the Hon Member and not the National Digital Addressing System. He should not get himself confused. If he does not know, he should learn; he is being taught.
    Mr Speaker, in wrapping up --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, with that part, I do not support it.
    Mr George 3:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I withdraw.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Do not follow the bad example of the Hon Majority Leader.
    Mr George 3:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am duly guided. I would not follow that example.
    Mr Speaker, I am grateful for indulging me, but let me state that when the President on page 29 in his last but two paragraphs says we have our challenges but our nation is in good health, our nation is not in good health.
    Another President gave us something with the number 123. He gave us 123 community day senior high schools. This President has given us 123 ministers. The 123 ministers have been unable to catch the dollar.
    Today, the dollar is molesting the cedi in its own house. This is not right. This is so wrong. The cedi cannot be molested in its own house by the dollar, and I hope that we would be able to aid --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, your last word.
    Mr George 3:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, these are my last words.
    May we all remember that this country is all we have, and that in 22 months, this country has been raped beyond measure. We can only hope that in the next few months, there shall be redemption for this Republic under the umbrella.
    Thank your very much Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Hon Members, I intend to adjourn at 4 o'clock. We have nine more minutes. Who would want to take just nine minutes from the Majority Side?
    I know I have a list here, but this list, knowing the people involved, it would be difficult for them to use nine minutes,
    particularly the Hon Member for Manhyia North, but I see him on his feet, which is an indication that he wants to use nine minutes.
    Is that the case?
    Mr Amankwah 3:40 p.m.
    Yes Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    So Hon Member for Manhyia North, Mr Collins Owusu Amankwah, nine minutes.
    Mr Collins Owusu Amankwah (NPP-- Manhyia North) 3:40 p.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker, for this unique opportunity to contribute to the Motion that this Honourable House thanks His Excellency the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to Parliament on Thursday, 21st February,
    2019.
    Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would like to commend His Excellency the President of the Republic, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Chairman of the National Security Council for touching on all the critical sectors of our economy.
    Mr Speaker, I have in my hand the Official Report of the State of the Nation Address for 2015 and 2016. Respectfully, I would read. This message was delivered by His Excellency the former President John Dramani Mahama, now flag bearer for the NDC.
    “Mr Speaker, as I present this State of the Nation Address, our Nation is confronted with one of such ills; the challenge of providing adequate electricity to power industry, business and for residential consumption. The effects and frustrations posed by the power deficits are clearly felt in our workplaces, our homes, schools
    and hospitals. The storage of food, academic activity, artisans such as barbers, hairdressers, welders and healthcare providers are all feeling the pinch of the power shortage. Big businesses and industries are also suffering and threatening to lay off workers”.
    And indeed, workers were laid off. This was how we endured life under former President Mahama's Government. Indeed, we went through hell under the ugly leadership of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.
    Mr Speaker, we experienced a very terrible political regime as a result of bad economic policies.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, hold on. I would definitely add the time you would use to his nine minutes.
    Mr Agbodza 3:40 p.m.
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, I had no intention of interrupting my Hon Colleague. He started by saying he was reading from the President's State of the Nation Address in 2015 and then
    2016.
    What he was holding was actually the Official Report. We do not know which one he is reading, but the most important thing is that he used a word, that they were living under the ugly leadership of the former President.
    Mr Speaker, the orders in this House do not allow us to make those attributions to people even outside of this House, so I would urge my Hon Colleague to be guided by the sort of language he uses. It would be important for him to withdraw the use of the word “ugly” on the former President.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, you are being told that the use of the word “ugly” is ugly in parliamentary terms. What do you say to that?
    Mr Amankwah 3:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is an Official Report, State of the Nation Address of 26th February, 2015, column 1172, paragraph --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, we heard that one, but the word they are talking about, that you were living under the ugly regime of the former President, that is what they are talking about, but we heard what you read.
    Mr Amankwah 3:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was describing the kind of regime that Ghanaians went through as a result of bad economic policies, so if my Friends on the other Side are not comfortable with the word “ugly”, then we experienced bad leadership under former President Mahama's government.
    Mr Speaker, it is more refreshing and gratifying to see some level of improvement in our economy. So far so good under the distinguished leadership of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
    Mr Speaker, I do not want to bore the House with all the economic indicators pointing to positive directions, but it is a fact that economic growth has increased from 3.4 per cent in 2016 under the NDC Government, and as we speak now, it has increased to a little over 6 per cent.
    Mr Speaker, there has been a reduction in inflation from double to single digit; 15.4 per cent to 9 per cent. It is crystal clear that there is a reverse trend of declining economic growth.
    We have chalked a lot of successes as Government within this shortest possible
    Mr Richard Acheampong 3:40 p.m.
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, my good Friend is grossly misleading this House.
    He made a point that one of the legacies that we left the current administration with was unemployment. He proceeded further to state that this administration has created jobs for 100 thousand youth. He has given us numbers.
    Can he share with us the number of unemployed that we left for this administration to take over, so that we would be guided that they have reduced the numbers from let us say (one) 1 million to 100 thousand?
    He should give us the numbers, the data and the source of the unemployment rate that we gave to this administration. If he cannot substantiate this allegation, then he better withdraw and apologise to the good people of this country.
    Thank you Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 p.m.
    Now, we are moving from legacy debt to legacy unemployment. May we continue?
    Mr Amankwah 4 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, may you live long.

    Mr Speaker, it tells you how committed we are to solving the issue of unemployment in this country. We have renewed our commitment to agriculture through the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme.

    Mr Speaker, on the issuance of Ghana card, I would want to correct my good Friend, Hon Sam George. It is unfortunate that he has left the Chamber. There is nowhere in our Manifesto, our blueprint, Change: An Agenda for Jobs; Creating Prosperity and Equal Opportunities for All that we have stated that issuance of Ghana card would be done within one year. It is false.

    Mr Speaker, with the unique implementation of national property addressing system, the introduction of paperless port system, implementation of National Entrepreneurial and Innovation Programme (NEIP), the current Administration has once again chalked many achievements which time would not permit me to talk about.

    Mr Speaker, now to my area of interest. It is very instructive to note that security must be paramount to all of us as a people. Let me state unequivocally without any shred of doubt that nobody deceives us that Ghana is in a state of insecurity.

    As the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, the President remains committed in ensuring that this country is secure from both internal and external threats.

    Mr Speaker, our security agencies have witnessed high level of commitment on the part of this current Administration in terms of resourcing them with the needed logistics in order for them to perform efficiently and effectively.

    Mr Speaker, just last week, H. E. the President of the Republic presented 150 vehicles to the Ghana Armed Forces

    (GAF).
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 p.m.
    Hon Member, you have one minute.
    Mr Amankwah 4 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I wanted to talk about the issue of vigilantism, but because of the time, I would want to quote few comments from our Manifesto.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 p.m.
    I gave you notice.
    Mr Amankwah 4 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, they interrupted.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 p.m.
    I said, I am aware it would be difficult for you to use nine minutes knowing who you are -- [Laughter] -- but you said you would comply. I have even given you more than nine minutes.
    Mr Amankwah 4 p.m.
    In conclusion, I would want to quote from the 2016 Manifesto of the NPP.
    “The solutions we have set out in this document have been well- considered. They are a response to the real problems faced by the
    Ghanaian people as a result of mismanagement, incompetence and corruption of the Mahama-led NDC government.
    This Manifesto is our commitment to the people of Ghana. It is a social contract between ourselves and the people of Ghana. We aim to restore hope and to get the country back to working again and relieve the hardships of our people.
    The plans we have set out are for the long term sustainable development of our country. With the help of the Almighty God, the NPP will build in Ghana the most people friendly and the most business friendly economy in Africa, which would create prosperity for the great majority of our people, and thereby secure the stability of our society and the peace of the nation.
    We have an excellent team of men and women who are ready and eager to serve our beloved Ghana. We have a well-thought out programme, and we have a track record of good performance in government. So support us …”
    The NDC should support us to achieve our mission and we are here to achieve it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 p.m.
    Hon Members, I would want to adjourn the House. I am sure I can get the sense of the House that even though you want to continue with the debate -- It is after 4.00 p.m. and it is not healthy to sit at one spot for more than two hours.
    Ms Safo 4 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe that you are correct on the sense that you are getting from the House. Today being a weekend, I am sure many of our Hon Colleagues would be visiting their various constituencies.
    Mr Speaker, before you adjourn, since it is past 2 o'clock, I believe that a lot of Hon Members had prepared to contribute to the Message on the State of the Nation. Unfortunately, due to the nature of our proceedings during the week, not too many of them have had the opportunity to debate the Message.
    Per the Business Statement that was read last week, the two Hon Leaders are to conclude the debate on Tuesday. I believe that it is only fair that we render an apology to all Hon Members who had been scheduled to debate and did not have the opportunity.
    Mr Speaker, this adjustment has been as a result of other engagements of the Chair and our two Hon Leaders in other aspects of their duties. That has necessitated the one week period within which to debate. Mr Speaker, I know that Hon Members are not too pleased but we apologise.
    On Tuesday, God willing, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, we would have the two Hon Leaders, the Hon Minority and Majority Leaders to conclude the debate on the Message on the State of the Nation.
    Mr Agbodza 4 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Hon Deputy Majority Leader, but our Hon Members were prepared and a list was submitted to you for the debate. It was the Majority Side that decided to vary the order and do a lot of Government Business today.
    It would be very unfair on my part to say that Leadership should conclude on Tuesday. I would rather make a request that Leadership should consider allowing a few more Hon Members, at least, those names that are with you to make their presentation before Leadership concludes on Tuesday.
    With these few words, we seek your direction so that those Hon Members would prepare themselves for Tuesday and make sure that they are here on time so that we can take them before Leadership concludes.
    Ms Safo 4 p.m.
    None

    4. 10 p. m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, I thought that this is something that you should consider at your usual daily meetings with the Rt Hon Speaker if you can open up some space for Hon Members to make contributions before the Hon Leaders come to close the debate.
    Truly, I have a long list here and we were to go through all these today. Unfortunately, we spent a lot more time on other businesses.
    My Hon Colleague Speaker is also not available to take over from there so I think that I would be causing too much damage to my health if I continue to preside for this number of hours.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    Ms Safo 4 p.m.
    Rightly so, Mr Speaker. I believe that this is a just application and accordingly, we would engage the Leadership on both Sides and on Tuesday probably, to start with a few Hon Members before the Leaders conclude. I strongly believe that Hon Members would also cooperate with us.
    Mr Speaker, the moment you open that window for that on Tuesday you would have a lot of Hon Members. This is because it started on Tuesday and we could not complete the list that we submitted to Mr Speaker. So it has been piling up over the period of the time that we scheduled.
    So we just want to assure Hon Members that at the Leadership level, when we make that room for other Hon Members to debate before the two Leaders debate, they should accommodate the fact that not everybody who was scheduled could be taken before the Leaders conclude. We would definitely engage with Mr Speaker on that note.
    Thank you Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 p.m.
    Hon Members, with this, I would proceed to adjourn the House. I can only plead with you to always allow the Speakers to enforce the rule.
    We have been so generous in overlooking so many things and you take so much time just haggling over English and other things that are really irrelevant to the core mandate of the House.
    And that is why we are not able to give opportunity to all of you. So, please, when we start enforcing the rules, it is for the sanity, it is the good conductor, it is for the smooth flowing of the debate, and not for any other thing.
    So I proceed with this to adjourn the House. The House stands adjourned till Tuesday, 5th March, 2019 at 10.00 in the forenoon.
    ADJOURNMENT 4 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 4.13 p. m. till Tuesday, 5th March, 2019 at 10.00 a. m.