Debates of 26 Mar 2019

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:05 a.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 10:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Hon Members, I have a communication from His Excellency the President dated 25th March, 2019.
SPACE FOR COMMUNICATION PAGE 1 -- 10.05 AM
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Monday, 25th March, 2019.
Mr Speaker 10:05 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Official Report of Friday 22nd February, 2019.
Hon Members, is there any correction?
  • [No correction was made to the Official Report of 22nd February, 2019.]
    • Mr Speaker 10:05 a.m.
    Hon Members, item listed 3 -- Questions.
    Yes, Hon Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture?
    Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh 10:05 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, could we take Statements while awaiting for the arrival of the Hon Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture?
    Hon Minority Leader (Haruna Iddrisu): Mr Speaker, it appears we have to wait for the Hon Minister. It should be the other way round; she should be here to respond to Parliament.
    Mr Speaker, could you vary the order of Business to be consistent with
    our Standing Orders, so that we move on to Statements and wait for the arrival of the Hon Minister? It would be better time management for us.
    Thank you.
    Mr Speaker 10:15 a.m.
    Hon Members, Statements.
    Hon Members, I would like to make reference to the Statement of Hon Felicia Adjei, Hon Member of Parliament (MP) for Kintampo South, on the road accident involving the two buses at Ampomakrom in the Kintampo South District.
    Hon Members, it has come to my attention that some members of the public have wondered why there was no Statement on this tragedy yesterday in this House, at the time we had talked about some tragedies elsewhere.
    Hon Members, we have the Parliamentary Press Corps, so the media may engage them on such matters before relevant reportage because we had good reason yesterday. The Hon Member who had already filed a Statement, had to be outside the House because of what had occurred in her constituency. The Leadership were agreeable that she must be the appropriate person to lead the Statement on that in this House, and that did not amount to the House not being mindful of the circum- stances.
    Mr Speaker 10:15 a.m.


    Hon Members, in any case, normally, we would have started work on Tuesday. So, we would want the public to also publish this, as a way of reflecting the truth of the matter. This House is very much concerned with such matters, and has dutifully addressed such matters with expedition at all relevant times.

    Hon Felicia Adjei, the Hon Member duly elected for this area, may please lead in making the relevant Statement.
    STATEMENTS 10:15 a.m.
    Ms Felicia Adjei (NDC -- Kintampo South) 10:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to make a statement on the bloody road accident that occurred in my Constituency.
    Mr Speaker, let me first of all, extend my deepest condolences and that of my constituents to the bereaved families and wish the injured a speedy recovery.
    Mr Speaker, on Friday 22nd of March, 2019, the whole country was hit with the sad news of the tragic accident that took place in the wee hours of Friday involving two buses; one from Garu in the Upper East Region heading towards Kumasi with registration number GT3915-17, and the other from Accra heading towards
    Bolgatanga with registration number GT5694-18 at Ampomakrom in the Kintampo South Constituency.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleagues and I, Hon Kwesi Etu- Bonde, MP for Kintampo North and Hon Albert Akuka A. Alalzuuga, MP for Garu Constituency, visited the accident scene on behalf of the Minority Caucus in Parliament on Saturday, 23rd March, 2019.
    Mr Speaker, we are saddened to inform the House that a total number of 57 individuals died in that accident out of which 35 of them were burnt beyond recognition. The remaining 22 identified bodies include four children and four women. It is sad to note that some of the bodies that were burnt beyond recognition were children and breastfeeding mothers.
    Mr Speaker, a mass burial was held at the Jema Cemetery for the bodies that were burnt beyond recognition in a very solemn environment with the assistance of the District Assembly of Garu and the Kintampo South District, plus the Ghana Police Service led by the Kintampo Divisional Commander and the Jema District Commander with their team of police officers, as well as the Hospital and Mortuary staff of the Jema Hospital and Government officials.
    Mr Speaker, we in the minority believe that this particular accident is a national tragedy, and the Govern- ment must treat it as such by holding a national memorial service across the entire country for the victims of the
    accident and also declare at least three days of national mourning for the victims.
    Mr Speaker, it is my humble suggestion that the Government and the relevant agencies take the following measures to reduce or curb the series of road accidents.
    Mr Speaker, the Government through various agencies such as the Ghana Police Service, Road Safety Commission, Ghana National Fire Service, the Ministry of Roads and Highways must collaborate and make our roads much more safer for the traveling public.
    Mr Speaker, this particular accident could have been avoided if the driver of one of the vehicles had listened to the passengers on board, according to the survivors' account of the accident.
    Mr Speaker, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service must pay more attention on our roads by ensuring that drivers plying our roads are well checked to ensure the safety of the travelling public.
    Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Ministry of Roads and Highways should as a matter of urgency extend our roads into double lanes and also provide street lights on all our major highways. The Road Safety Commission must ensure that enough signages are placed on strategic and dangerous portions of
    the road to caution drivers about the nature of the road to ensure safety.
    Mr Speaker, looking at the spate of accidents between the Kintampo and the Techiman stretch of the road and the slow pace of responses on the part of our emergency services, we strongly urge that the Government establishes a fire service station in between Kintampo and Techiman as well as a Trauma Center to give quick emergency services to accident victims.
    Finally, Mr Speaker, we appeal to the Government to as a matter of urgency, identify the families of the victims who perished and duly support them to recover from their loss. We wish to once again, extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, and also wish the injured victims at the various hospitals speedy recovery.
    Mr Speaker, I am also informed that Government officials have visited the accident scene and victims at the hospital.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity.
    Mr Speaker 10:15 a.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon Adjei, for making this very important Statement. It was worthwhile waiting for your safe return from your constituency.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 10:15 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Dr Appiah-Kubi?
    Dr Kojo Appiah-Kubi (NPP -- Atwima Kwanwoma) 10:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement about the carnage on our roads.
    Last Friday, 22nd March, 2019, the country woke up to the sad news in the early hours to yet another two separate gory road accidents in the Bono East and Central Regions. A Joy News reportage put the death toll of these two road accidents to about 90 just on a single day.
    According to the Ghana Police Service, 55 people lost their lives in the first gory head-on collision between two passenger buses on the Kintampo-Techiman road, with another fifty-three others sustaining various degrees of serious injuries. Preliminary investigations revealed that both buses had a total of 108 passengers on board, of which 35 of the deceased were burnt beyond recognition.
    The other fatal accident also involved two big passenger buses, which occurred at Ekumfi Abor on the Winneba-Cape Coast Highway in the Ekumfi District of the Central Region. According to Myjoyonline more than 30 people were initially presumed to have lost their lives.
    Mr, Speaker, may we request the bereaved families to accept our deepest condolences and also request souls of the departed to rest in perfect peace with the Almighty God till we all meet again.
    Mr Speaker, not only should these two fatal accidents wake up our national conscience about the rising carnage of road accidents on our roads in Ghana, but the high number of the dead and injured people involved should also reignite a serious conversation about the consequences of road accidents on our roads.
    This should consequently lead to massive stakeholder efforts to seriously reverse the rising trend of road accidents in Ghana. This call should also be given serious credence by the fact that road accidents now account for the fifth leading cause of deaths among adolescent and adults in Ghana, and the majority of these deaths are all avoidable.
    Mr Speaker, it is indeed sad to note that road fatalities have increased from 2,084 to 2,341 since 2014 to date, according to the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD). This Directorate reports an average of 2,059 deaths by road
    accidents since 2011, with an average of 7 deaths and 34 people sustaining serious injuries daily.
    Mr Speaker, the rising trend of road accidents and loss of lives and properties is, indeed, frightening nowadays. MTTD statistics shows that January and February this year alone accounted for the loss of 411 lives through road accidents.
    In terms of forgone Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or welfare in a narrow sense, estimates show that Ghana looses over US$230 million dollars yearly to road accidents, equivalent to 1.7 per cent of the country's annual Gross Domestic Product.
    Mr Speaker, apart from the economic costs to the country, road traffic accidents have in most cases always caused physical, financial and mental effects on the people involved. Drivers and passengers have also suffered injuries ranging from minor cuts and bruises to broken limbs, whiplash, back and spinal injuries, paralysis and even death.
    Various causes have been attributed to road accidents in Ghana, and these include;
    Poor driving skills;
    Distracted Driving such as using mobile phones whilst driving;
    Bad roads and broken down vehicles on the road;
    Indiscipline and non-obser- vance of traffic regulations;
    Over-loading of vehicles, said to cause 50 per cent of trunk road accidents;
    Excessive speeding, which is estimated to account for 60 per cent of all car crashes in the country; and
    drunk driving.
    Mr Speaker, governments, regula- tory bodies and other stakeholders have over the years raised concerns over the upsurge of carnage on Ghana's roads, and have also called for major interventions to avert the huge number of deaths and injuries recorded in accidents. The country has consequently set up the National Road Safety Commission to colla- borate with other agencies such as the:
    Motor Transport and Traffic Unit;
    Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority;
    Building and Road Research Institute;
    Ghana Highways Authority;
    Department of Feeder Roads;
    Department of Urban Roads;
  • [DR
    • Mr Speaker 10:35 a.m.
    Thank you Hon Dr Appiah-Kubi. Yes, Hon Agbodza.
    Gory Accidents on Kintampo- Techiman and Cape Coast-
    Takoradi Roads
    Mr Kwame Govers Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 10:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much for graciously granting me this opportunity to make a Statement on the recent gory accidents that occurred on the Kintampo-Techiman and Accra- Cape Coast roads, a tragedy that shook our beloved country, Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, on Friday, 22nd March, 2019, two buses, a Grandbird with registration number GT 5694-18 traveling from Garu to Kumasi and a VIP bus with registration number GT 3916-17, which was also travelling from Accra to Bolgatanga collided head-on at a town called Ampo- makrom, a farming settlement along the highway between Tuobodom in the Techiman North District and Jema.
    The two buses, with a total of 108 passengers, had about 71 passengers perished, with some survivors who sustained various degrees of injuries still battling for their lives at the government health facilities nearby. Some of the victims numbering about 35 according to reports, were burnt beyond recognition and had been buried in a mass grave at Jema.
    Mr Speaker, just when many Ghanaians were yet to come to terms
    with this sad incident, on Saturday, another gory vehicular accident occurred on the Cape Coast- Takoradi road, claiming seven lives, and others admitted at nearby health facilities for the treatment of serious injuries.
    Although official investigations into the accident are yet to be concluded and reports published, some unconfirmed accounts attribute the possible causes of both accidents to overspeeding, use of the lane of the on-coming vehicle in the opposite direction, indiscipline and some other causes that are yet to be ascertained by our road traffic regulatory and enforcement agencies.
    Mr Speaker, the level of carnage and the number of victims on our roads is getting to a crisis level. Statistics from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service on the spate of road accidents for the first quarter of this year, 2019, indicates an upsurge in fatalities; a cause for concern as human lives are irreplaceable. According to the MTTD, a total of 411 persons were killed and 2,048 were injured through road traffic crashes in Ghana from January to the end of February, 2019.
    Mr Speaker, the Kintampo- Techiman and Cape Coast-Takoradi road accidents are clarion calls for critical and frank re-examination of our road safety management methods and measures to resolve the avoidable injuries and deaths on our roads.
    If the eyewitness unconfirmed accounts are anything to go by, one may not be faulted to conclude that this country's methods and enforcement regimes to tackle the carnage on our roads are not yielding the desired outcomes. In other words, this country appears to have kept employing old methods and techniques of ensuring sanity on our roads, while expecting different desirable results.
    Mr Speaker, just as with past accidents, one continues to hear measures such as dualising our roads, checking drunk-driving, having two drivers on long-distance buses, providing rest stops along major highways, construction of speed rumps and installation of road traffic signs, among others as the way forward in addressing the carnage.
    These solutions will amount to nothing if our enforcement regime remains lax with little investments in technology. Ghana needs to complement its traditional methods of managing and regulating road traffic with cutting-edge technologies in the enforcement of road traffic regula- tions.
    In the petroleum downstream sector, the National Petroleum Authority has a Bulk Road Vehicle Tracking System that tracks movement of fuel tankers across the country from a central location. While the system checks fuel diversions, it offers a solution to monitor commercial vehicles across the nation if properly adopted.
    Mr Joseph D. Kpemka (NPP — Tempane) 10:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement made by the Hon Member for Kintampo South.
    Mr Speaker, I make this contribution this morning with a very heavy heart, considering the fact that my constituency was the next hardest hit in the Kintampo-Techiman road crash. My constituency lost five able bodies in the said accident, and a number of the injured are still being treated at the hospital.
    Mr Speaker, it is of so much concern for me to state that yesterday, the commentaries that were being run
    Mr Joseph D. Kpemka (NPP — Tempane) 10:45 a.m.


    -- and I was very much touched when you addressed us this morning -- including some Hon Members of this Honourable House who were to the effect as though this Parliament was unconcerned about happenings within the country, but that was most unfortunate.

    Mr Speaker, looking at the happenings on that road, especially the stretch that we are talking about today, this is not the first time that an accident of that sort has occurred on that stretch of the road, Kintampo and Techiman. It has happened before in the past and, so, the very critical and fundamental questions we should be asking ourselves are the measures that are normally taken by the safety organisations soon after such incidents to ensure that they do not recur.

    Mr Speaker, that stretch of road is a steep climb and a bend and it is a very dangerous one indeed. One would therefore expect that going forward, road signs and other warning signals are to be displayed in conspicuous circumstances to ensure that people who are approaching the said scenes are very cautious in order for us to reduce the carnage on that stretch of the road.

    Mr Speaker, it has been already emphasised how horrible and horrendous this incident has been and the extent to which innocent persons who were embarking on a journey down south from Garu in the Upper East Region met their death. It is a very sad one, and at this stage, I am

    calling on all Hon Members to join hands to continue to pray for them and wish the injured persons speedy recovery. Some of them are with life threatening burns and would need further medical treatment at referral hospitals, etc.

    Mr Speaker, in addition to what government is doing -- visitation by officials of State to the place and the assistance that has been given on the ground -- I would like to also invite the Honourable House to come to the aid of the injured victims in whatever way possible so that they could get better medical treatment.

    Mr Speaker, another thing that is ongoing is the fact that those of us whose constituencies have been hardest hit are assisting the bereaved families to organise funerals at the various locations. Again, I urge Hon Members of this House, as it has always been known of them, to come to the aid of such families that have lost relations in whatever way that is possible to soothe these losses.

    Mr Speaker, it has always been the case at most times, that incidents of this nature, however unfortunate they have been, and the pain that we suffer all through turn to soon forget about what happened and lead normal lives just after a week or two.

    Let us pray for such things to never occur again by putting in place those measures that would stop them from recurring, otherwise, we would continue to bemoan such unfortunate losses on our roads.

    Mr Speaker, as I stated, I commend the Hon Member who made the Statement for bringing it to the fore of the House, but in addition to that, all of us owe it a duty to contribute, in our own little way, whether cash or in kind, to ensure that those who have lost relatives have that care and those who are injured get that treatment.

    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I support fully the Statement made by the Hon Member for Kintampo South.
    Mr Speaker 10:45 a.m.
    Thank you very much. Hon Laadi, and after her, the Hon Leaders.
    Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba (NDC- -Pusiga) 10:45 a.m.
    I thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement ably made by my Colleague Hon Member.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to contribute to this Statement with a very heavy heart. The vehicles that collided, especially the one from Garu happens to be one that could be conveying people from not less than six constituencies; Garu, Tempane, Pusiga, Bawku, Binduri and Zebilla which are all constituencies that could easily have their people on board this very vehicle.
    Mr Speaker, many a time, what happens is that, when a vehicle loads in Garu, for instance, and does not have enough passengers, it continues to pick passengers on its way to its destination. The most difficult thing
    right now is that, I could assure you that there could be people who have passed on and might be part of the mass burial such that their people are not even aware that they were on board the vehicle, not to talk of the fact that they have even passed on.
    Mr Speaker, it is very heart- breaking because there are families that have had up to four people on this particular vehicle. The greatest problem I have is that, if we take careful notice of these buses, in the first place, they themselves do not even have what they require for passengers to escape when there is an accident.
    Some of these buses are supposed to be air-conditioned; the glasses of these buses that should slide so that people could escape in the event of an accident are completely sealed and there would be only one outlet which is usually the one that the driver and passengers use to come in and out.
    One could imagine situations where people could have jumped out in case of accidents, especially when the vehicle was gutted by fire. They are suppressed and have no way of escaping simply because these vehicles do not have such escape exits.
    Mr Speaker, we need to take very serious notice of some of these things and ensure that every single vehicle that is commercial is equipped with every necessary equipment that would support passengers whenever the inevitable occurs.
    Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba (NDC- -Pusiga) 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, some of the vehicles
    might have but only one fire extinguisher and, yet, carrying not less than 60 people. Most probably, sometimes they overload up to 65 people. Fire extinguishers should be placed, at least, one at the front and one at the rear.
    Mr Speaker, education should be given before a vehicle starts its journey. People who are competent enough and would be able to handle the fire extinguishers should be placed at places where they could easily support when fire guts because we cannot rule out that fact.
    Mr Speaker, I would put on record that vehicles might even leave Accra and travel directly to Bawku throughout the night, and instead of the driver resting, this same driver even, if they do well, a second driver would take over and drive back to Accra the day after the arrival of the vehicle. For God's sake, we are human beings; even machines get tired and get taken care of.
    Mr Speaker, it is a shame that this has happened and we are all lamenting, but what are we doing? We need rest stops. Second drivers of every vehicle should not necessarily be on the vehicle. They should wait at the rest stops and take over. Drivers should be given not more than four hours to drive and when they get to the rest stop, the next driver should take over so that we could be assured of some level of safety.
    Mr Speaker, many a time, these drivers we refer to are not even given the education or training on how to handle fire extinguishers. There is the need for continuous education by the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC). When we go to other developed countries, before vehicles move, such education is given especially, when the distance is long. Education is given for people to use seatbelts and for people to be mindful of incidents that might occur.

    This is not done on any of our vehicles that transport a lot of people to such long distances. The distance between Kintampo and Bawku and for that matter, Garu which is far and so there is no single driver who would not have been taken over by sleep when traveling by night.

    Mr Speaker, because our drivers are not given that education, they force themselves by trying to beat time and get to their destinations, reload and then go back. This is very dangerous. Despite the fact that it has happened, what are we doing for the families of those who have been involved in the accident? Most of these cars might be comprehensively insured but does this cover the individuals who would have been on board?

    It is very important, as it is not a matter of us giving one or two pesewas to the affected families and the next minute, the children are out of school. The woman may be struggling somewhere and the father

    may be struggling with the children. It is important for us to take up these issues and then ensure that for whatever we are putting in place, we should do it well.

    Mr Speaker, our Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD) officers should also take it up and ensure that they do their work. When they find out that a driver looks tired, they should do well to ensure that the driver stops at where they are, have a nap before continuing his or her journey.

    In conclusion, I wish to say that our roads are not the best; such roads should be dual carriageways. This is because when that road is dual carriageways, there is no way two buses can run into each other. I say this with knowledge of the fact that it is going to cost. Even if one life is lost, all the money we have in Ghana, cannot buy that life. So we should be able to do something to stop this particular problem.

    Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I wish to plead that this Honourable House under your Leadership should do something for the victims that have been hospitalised, whom I wish a speedy recovery, and for the families of those who have passed on, to at least ensure that this does not repeat itself. My heartfelt condolence goes to all the families and I wish that this never happens in our dear country.

    Thank you very much, for the opportunity, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
    Thank you very much Minority Leadership?
    Mr Mahama Ayariga(NDC -- Bawku Central) 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement that has been made.
    I believe that the facts have been adequately recounted. As Hon Laadi Ayamba, the Hon Member for Pusiga has indicated my constituency borders Garu and there are many of my constituents who are closer to the Pusiga than to the Bawku Township. So instead of going to Bawku to board buses when they are traveling down south, they prefer to go to Pusiga.
    Mr Speaker, as we speak yesterday, I had to call a friend who lives in one of the communities close to Garu because his two children; a daughter and a son were involved in the accident and he lost both of them.
    When I called to encourage him, he said; “as for me, I am managing and I can take it but come and see the women in this house, they cannot take it”. He was referring to the mother and other relatives of the deceased.
    So I stand here to join Hon Colleagues to extend our most sincere condolences to all the bereaved families. As the Hon Member indicated, they spread across the three or four constituencies in that area including mine. Many of the issues have been raised.
    Mr Mahama Ayariga(NDC -- Bawku Central) 10:55 a.m.


    Mr Speaker, I listened to the radio a day after the accident and I heard one of the surviving passengers' mention that the driver was driving at top speed and when he was cautioned, he shouted back at them and ignored them and continued driving at top speed. Later on, they got involved in the accident.

    That stretch of the road is very good. It is asphalted and recently, there have been efforts to make sure that the demarcations are properly done et cetera. The vehicles look good in condition and so, clearly, the major factor is Human error; the drivers and how they manage the vehicles when they have passengers on board.

    Mr Speaker, so the quality of the drivers who drive these vehicles is a critical factor when we are looking at how to address this major problem. All the issues that Hajia Ayamba has mentioned are possible factors that should be addressed and should have been adequately captured in the legislation.

    The law clearly prescribes how long we should drive and the intervals within which one should stop to have a rest. The law is clear on what should be the features of a registered commercial vehicle such as a bus, the kind of insurance one must have for what type of commercial vehicle, the skills and competencies of the driver, who should drive what tonnage of vehicle.

    All these are adequately catered for in the law. The issue is enforcement and compliance. How do we deal with that?

    Mr Speaker, I heard my Hon Colleague say that when a driver is tired, the Police must make sure he or she stops. How do they know where he or she started from and at what stage he or she has reached so that the police will force him or her to rest? So, sometimes, some of the tasks that we expect the police to perform may sound a little impossible.

    The key issue is making sure that by the time someone is licenced to drive a commercial vehicle, we engage in all the necessary checks to deal with the standards and the quality.

    I believe that the Hon Member's insistence on continuous education - - and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and stations basically will do a better job at monitoring these buses and the drivers. They will know at what time the bus took off, arrived at its destination and at what time the bus is leaving and whether it is the same driver who is going to drive the same bus that just arrived a couple of hours ago and so on.

    So the Police would have to collaborate very closely with the GPRTU and all the different stations that are springing up across the country to ensure that there is some form of discipline and order, because the law and the institutions are there but if as human beings, we do not do

    the right things, it becomes almost impossible to achieve results.

    Mr Speaker, as usual, when incidents like this occur, we will engage in all the deliberations and the responsible institutions are hardly held accountable. Statements will be made and so on, but there is no account- ability mechanism for what has happened and ultimately, it would recur.

    We must begin to think of ways of making sure that some people are held accountable for these developments, so that they will not slide back to slumber when such incidents occur and we all appear to forget it after a couple of days or weeks.

    So once again, I join Hon Colleagues to express our most sincere condolence to the families of the bereaved and wish the injured a speedy recovery. I hope that this, as well as many incidents that have already occurred, would be a wake up call for all of us, especially those managing our public transport system, to sit up and ensure that we never experience this bad situation again.

    Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
    Mr Speaker 10:55 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leadership?
    Ms Safo 10:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, respectfully, the Leadership will yield to Hon (Dr) Kwaku Afriyie.
    Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
    Hon (Dr) Afriyie?
    Dr Kwaku Afriyie (NPP - Sefwi- Wiawso) 11:05 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, this is not a new subject. Accidents are the bane of third world countries, and they are some of the leading killers of people in developing countries. But of course, this one is coming at a time which evokes everybody's sensibility.
    Mr Speaker, I am calling for a scientific approach to solving this problem. First of all, accidents are a function of time, place and person. Indeed, accidents could be predicted in terms of what time of the day, year and season that they happen. Accidents could be predicted in terms of who is prone to get involved in accidents. The person who gets involved in road traffic accidents has always been given [Interruption] - - Through behavioural analysis, one could always pinpoint most of these people who are going to be involved in accidents.
    Of course, in terms of place, we know which parts of the country are prone to accidents, which parts of the roads are particularly amenable to be corrected in terms of the prevention of accidents.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to draw the attention of this House to something which happened in the year 2002. President Jacques Chirac noticed that in France, a lot of accidents were happening, especially
    Mr Speaker 11:05 a.m.
    Thank you very much, Dr Kwaku Afriyie.
    Hon First Deputy Speaker?
    Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu (NPP - - Bekwai) 11:15 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to make a little more contribution to the discussion on this rather sad accident.
    Mr Speaker, I recall that yesterday, when I made the last contribution to the debate on the Statement made by the Hon Member for Offinso South, I referred to this accident and extended my condolences, but when our own press corp decided to report and open us up to the public to be insulted, they never mentioned that.
    They said that we did not say anything about that. Those are our partners. They are supposed to be here with us, but they choose to open us up to the public, probably to make themselves feel better.
    Mr Speaker, for the record, I would repeat that this House extends our condolences to the bereaved families of the victims of this accident.
    Mr Speaker, a lot has been said, and I think there is very little left. The Hon Member for Bawku Central made two specific statements which, in my view, are cardinal to finding out why there is so much indiscipline on our roads. He said all the rules exist. All the institutions are in place, so why are the laws we have made and the institutions we have put in place not using the laws to ensure sanity on our roads?
    In my view, it comes back to impunity. If you get on the road now, drivers behave the way they choose. They are not afraid of the Police anymore. The truth of the matter is that there is a way of settling with the Police if they fall foul of the law, but if you have a policeman who insists on taking them to court and thus takes them to court, the unions would stand up and say they are harassing them.
    Sometimes even politicians join them. In the year 2007 or 2008, we were facing such huge challenges, and we insisted that the law must be enforced rigidly.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    The background sound, Hon Members let us pay attention.
    Mr Osei-Owusu 11:15 a.m.
    We insisted that the laws must be enforced rigidly, and they were enforced. It became a campaign against the party in power, because drivers said they were being harassed. They do not talk about the fact that they are breaching the law. They know they are breaching the law, but if you punish them, they say they were being harassed.
    Sometimes, I ask those of us in politics and the media where our loyalty lies. Is our loyalty with the law or with our friends?
    I think that now that this accident has caused so many deaths, we are together. We are bemoaning. We are complaining, but if policemen were stationed there and they started stopping drivers who were
    misconducting themselves and prosecuting them, we would also stand together as politicians and the press and attack the police for harassing drivers. Sometimes, I wonder what we want.
    Mr Speaker, the real challenge is that there is no way this accident would have happened if one of the drivers had not misbehaved.
    The Hon Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice said several accidents have happened at that place. What it means is that drivers are misconducting themselves when they get there. Wherever or whenever the road is good, the accidents are a lot more and the deaths are many, because we are excited by the opportunity to drive way beyond any speed limits that are in place.
    Mr Speaker, we cannot have our cake and eat it. Either we enforce the law, we obey the law, or the accidents would happen.
    Mr Speaker 11:15 a.m.
    Order Hon Members. Those who are conversing, order in the House.
    Mr Osei-Owusu 11:15 a.m.
    Either we enforce the laws or the accidents would continue, and we would continue to come here and lament like we are doing.
    Mr Speaker, the way forward. Public transport in this country is self- regulated. How people graduate and where they graduate from to become
    bus drivers is not known to anybody. We have passed a law saying that unless you are 25 years or more, you cannot drive a commercial vehicle. It is the law, but count those who are driving the taxis. Many of them are less than 25. How did they get away with this?
    Many people are driving buses with drivers' license “B”, which is just the beginners' license. It means they do not have sufficient experience to carry high occupancy passengers. Who is ensuring that? The drivers' unions are responsible for ensuring that their members comply with the law, because they do not want anybody to regulate them.
    They have numbers, so if you insist on the law, they stand together, and they respond in a way which threatens the politicians, so we back out and they continue to misconduct themselves.
    Mr Speaker, I recall that in 2007, I was then at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the union leader at Bekwai called me and said, “Lawyer, half the taxi drivers at Bekwai did not have a license”, and I asked, how did it happen? He said that they insisted on inspecting licenses, and all of them did not show up to work for one week.
    In the end, I had to organise and send DVLA officials to go and organise a training programme for them and be tested, otherwise they would have continued to do it, but because the union leaders realised the danger, they took action.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Thank you very much Mr First Deputy Speaker, for sharing your deep knowledge in this area with us.
    We shall have one minute's silence in honour of our departed ones.

    May their souls rest in peace. Amen.

    Hon Members, order! The Committee on Roads and Transport would take up this Statement further and report to this Honourable House as soon as possible.

    In fact, we are all at very high risk at a time like this when akpeteshie and so on are sold at the lorry parks openly and blatantly. Hon Members, it does not happen in any serious country in this world. You cannot have in any developed country the sale of alcohol at a place like this. We cannot sit and watch! We are attracting
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, you have alerted me on something. Could we move on that, so that we could go into matters of appointment?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources submitted a Lands Bill to the House. Given the circumstances surrounding that Bill, he is in the House to withdraw it and appropriately come before the House to re-lay the document. For now, he would seek the permission of the House and your indulgence to withdraw the Lands Bill.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, I hope there is no difficulty?
    Mr Iddrisu 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is no objection. I see the Hon Minister supported by the Hon Deputy Minister, therefore, we are good to go with what is consistent with our rules, once it is observed.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister, we are in a position to hear you, that you want to withdraw the Lands Bill, 2018 which is now before the House?
    Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (Mr Kwaku Asomah- Cheremeh) 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I crave the indulgence of the House to withdraw the Lands Bill, 2018 with liberty to come back.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    The Lands Bill, 2018, now before this Honourable House is deemed withdrawn with liberty to reapply.
    Mr Speaker 11:25 a.m.
    Hon Members, we would move to item numbered 6, Motions. Chairman of the Committee and First Deputy Speaker of the House?
    MOTIONS 11:25 a.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts the Twenty-First Report of the Appointments Committee on H.E. the President's Nominations for Mini- sterial and Deputy Ministerial Appointments.
    Mr Speaker, in so doing, I seek to present your committee's Report.
    Introduction
    On Thursday, 28th February, 2019 and Friday, 1st March, 2019, H. E. the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, communicated to Parliament the nomination of eighteen (18) Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State for appointment in accordance with articles 78, 79 and 256 (1) & (2) of the 1992 Constitution.
    The nominations were con- sequently referred to the Appoint- ments Committee by the Rt. Hon Speaker for consideration and report pursuant to Order 172 of the Standing Orders of the House.
    The nominations are:
    i. Hon Barbara Oteng Gyasi (MP) -- Minister- designate for Tourism, Arts and Culture;
    ii. Hon Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah (MP) -- Minister- designate for Western Region;
    iii. Hon Solomon Namliit Boar (MP) -- Minister- designate for North East Region;
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.


    iv. Hon Kofi Amoakohene (MP) -- Minister -Designate for Bono East Region;

    v. Hon Kingsley Aboagye -Gyedu (MP) -- Minister -designate for Western North Region;

    vi. Mr Kwasi Owusu Yeboa -- Minister- designate for Oti Region;

    vii. Dr Hafiz Bin Salih -- Minister -designate for Upper West Region;

    viii. Hon Salifu Adam Braimah (MP) -- Minister- designate for Savannah Region;

    ix. Hon Naana Eyiah (MP) -- Deputy Minister-designate for Lands and Natural Resources;

    x. Hon Alex Kodwo Kom Abban (MP) -- Deputy Minister-designate for Health;

    xi. Hon Yaw Afful (MP) -- Deputy Minister- designate for Aviation;

    xii. Hon Stevens Siaka (MP) -- Deputy Minister-designate for Bono Region;

    xiii. Hon Benjamin Yeboah Sekyere (MP) -- Deputy Minister-designate for Ahafo Region;

    xiv. Hon John Benam (MP) -- Deputy Minister-designate for Northern Region;

    xv. Hon Alex Tetteh Djornobuah (MP) -- Deputy Minister-Designate for Western North Region;

    xvi. Mr Samuel Yeyu Tika -- Deputy Minister-designate for Savannah Region;

    xvii. Mr Tahiru Tia Ahmmed -- Deputy Minister-designate for North East Region;

    xviii. Mr Johnson Avuletey -- Deputy Minister-designate for Volta Region.

    Reference Documents

    The Committee referred to the under-listed documents during its deliberations:

    i. The 1992 Constitution;

    ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament; and

    iii. The Curriculum Vitae of the Nominees.

    Consideration of the Referral

    Pursuant to Order 172 (3) of the Standing Orders of the House, the Committee in the first instance caused to be published in newspapers of national circulation, the names of the nominees and notice of the Committee's public hearings for the attention of the general public. The publication further requested memoranda from the general public on any of the nominees.

    The Committee subsequently obtained confidential reports on the nominees from the Ghana Police Service and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) as part of its background checks. Tax Status Reports were obtained from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

    Public hearings were thereafter held to consider the nominations. At the commencement of proceedings, the nominees subscribed to the Oath of a Witness and subsequently answered questions relating to their

    curriculum vitae (CV), matters relating to their eligibility, issues pertaining to the offices to which they had been nominated and other issues of national concern.

    The Committee has duly consi- dered the nominations and reports as follows:

    Hon Barbara Oteng Gyasi, (MP) Minister- designate for Tourism,

    Arts and Culture

    Background

    Hon. Barbara Oteng-Gyasi was born on 5th October, 1964 in Accra. She is a native of Huni-Valley in the Western Region.

    She started her education at the South Labadi Experimental Primary School, Labadi in Accra popularly known as “Home School”. She attended the Mfantsiman Girls' Secondary School at Saltpond from 1976 to 1981 where she sat for the Ordinary Level examinations. Thereafter, she gained admission to Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast in 1981 to pursue the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level course.

    Between 1984 and 1987, she attended the University of Ghana to study law and was awarded LLB in 1987. She continued her professional study of law at the Ghana School of Law where she graduated as a Barrister at Law (BL). She was accordingly called to the Bar in 1989.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.


    Hon Barbara Oten-Gyasi did her National Service at the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ghana. On completion, she was employed as a legal officer in the Legal Department of Unilever Ghana Limited. She was then transferred to the Ghana Textiles Printing (GTP) Company Limited as the Legal Adviser for the VLISCO Group of Companies, which included, GTP, KTL and Premium Africa Textiles between 1998 and 2001.

    In the year 2001, the nominee joined the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF), which had just been established to support the export sector of the country.

    In 2007, she moved on to the State Insurance Company Limited (SIC), when it was about to be listed on the stock exchange, as the Head of the Corporate Secretariat to assist with the process.

    The nominee worked at the Attorney -General's Department of the Ministry of Justice as a Senior State Attorney. After just a year, she moved on, this time, to Shell (Ghana) Limited as Head of the Legal Unit. It was from this appointment that the nominee contested the seat as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Prestea/Huni-Valley and won.

    She is the Hon Vice Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee. She is also a Member of the Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises Committee of Parliament. She is

    currently a Deputy Minister for lands and Natural Resources.

    Response to Questions

    Challenges in the Textile Industry

    The nominee in response to a question on the challenges plaguing the textile industry, informed the Committee that the industry is plagued with challenges which include smuggling of textiles and the Ghanaian preference for foreign prints which has resulted in many Ghanaians not patronising the local prints and its consequential adverse effect on the industry.

    She told the Committee that to change the dynamics of the situation, the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture has initiated an awareness programme to encourage Ghanaians to patronise “Made in Ghana” goods. She praised the President for promoting Ghanaian products as he is mostly seen wearing local prints.

    The nominee assured the Committee that given the nod, she would continue with the advocacy programmes to promote “Made in Ghana” goods.

    Use of EXIM Bank to achieve “One District, One Factory” Programme

    The nominee agreed to the suggestion that the EXIM bank was an important vehicle to support local industries and the export sector. She intimated that the EXIM bank was established to grant credit to local

    industries at a minimum rate and to assist local industries promote their businesses.

    She opined that the “One District, One Factory” initiative was Government's initiative to support the local businesses as a substitute to imported products. She told the Committee that given that the two initiatives are aimed at supporting local businesses, EXIM Bank remains an important vehicle that helps to provide funding to realise Government's vision of implementing the “One District, One Factory” initiative.

    Improving Sanitation at the Beaches

    The nominee, on how she hoped to tackle poor sanitation at our beaches, stated that it is one of the major issues that discourages tourists from visiting Ghana, despite the incredible beaches that abounds in the country. She told the Committee that to attract tourists into the country, the issue of poor sanitation at the beaches has to be addressed.

    She intimated that to address the problems of open-defecation, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture started a programme with the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources to build toilets at some of the beaches.

    She told the Committee that given the nod, she would also explore additional ways to deal with the problem. This would include instituting award schemes such as an award for

    the cleanest beaches, an incentive to keep the beaches clean.

    High Hotel Rates

    On the exorbitant rates charged by hotels in the country, the nominee agreed that prevailing hotel rates in the country were high. She explained that the high hotel charges were due to the numerous taxes and levies that the hotel industry had to bear from Government.

    She intimated to the Committee that due to the low traffic in tourist visitations, many of the hotels are unable to break even. She explained that for tourism to be promoted, there was the need to address the high hotel rates.

    She told the Committee that to promote tourism, the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) is facilitating the establishment of many more hotels in the country. She expressed optimism that competition in the industry would lead to a decline in hotel rates.

    Further, the Ministry would encourage the setting up of budget hotels and rest stops as alternatives to regular hotels.

    She told the Committee that if given the nod, she would liaise with the relevant agencies to see how best the hotel industry could be assisted to be more profitable.

    Promoting Creative Arts industry

    The nominee, in response to the apathy and sluggishness that has
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.


    bedeviled the creative arts industry told the Committee that she was aware of its dissatisfaction with the performance.

    She opined that, the focus of the Ministry had been to promote the Tourism Industry as against the Creative Arts Sector. The result is that players in the creative arts sector feel marginalised.

    She intimated that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and culture needs to promote both tourism and the creative arts.

    She told the Committee that as a Minister, she would create a directorate for the creative arts industry and that a technical person would be engaged to develop the necessary policies for the sector. She assured the Committee that she would engage stakeholders in the sector to know the issues concerning them and fashion out ways to address the issues. She told the Committee she would work hard to ensure the early passage of the Creative Arts Bill.

    Film Industry

    The nominee answered in the positive to the suggestion that the film industry is a good foreign exchange earner for a country. She mentioned that countries such as Nigeria, the United States of America (USA) and India among others earn a lot of foreign exchange from the film industry, Nollywood, Hollywood and Bollywood respectively. Unfor- tunately, that is not the case in Ghana.

    She stressed that if the film industry in the country is developed, it would go a long way to generate jobs and incomes.

    On promoting the local film industry, the nominee told the Committee that as part of the efforts to promote the film industry, Parliament passed the Films Act which seeks to promote the creation of a conducive environment for local production, distribution, exhibition and marketing of films.

    She said if given the nod, she would work together with stakeholders to ensure that the film industry takes off.

    Construction of Theatres in Regional Capitals

    When asked if she would go with plans to have theatres in all regional capitals, the nominee affirmed that it is part of the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) 2016 Manifesto and, the Government is committed to constructing theatres in all the regional capitals.

    She told the Committee that the National Commission for Culture (NCC) has started with the construction of theatres in some regional capitals. She stated that the one in Koforidua has been completed while others are ongoing.

    She assured the Committee that as a Minister, she would follow up on the construction and ensure that each regional capital has a modern theatre.

    Recommendation

    The Committee recommends to the House for the approval by consensus the nomination of Hon Barbara Oteng Gyasi, for appointment as Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture.

    Hon Kwabena Okyere Darko- Mensah (MP) -- Minister

    Designate for Western Region

    Background

    Hon Kwabena Okyere Darko- Mensah was born in Takoradi on 18th June, 1974. He attended Badu Addo Primary School from 1979 to 1980 and Services Primary School from 1980 to 1987. He obtained his GCE ‘O' Level Certificate in 1992 from Mfantsipim School and his GCE ‘A' Level Certificate from the same school in 1994.

    He later enrolled at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 1996 and was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. In 2005, he enrolled for a Masters programme in Democracy, Governance, Law Development at the University of Cape Coast.

    Hon Darko- Mensah worked as a Sales Manager at Macal Tyre Retreading Company Limited in Sekondi from 1994 to 1995 during his National Service. From 1995 to 1998, he was a Supervisor at Ahenfie Hotel Limited., Takoradi. He worked

    at Anto Junior High School, again as a National Service person in the year 2000. From 2001 to 2006 he worked as the Managing Director for E-base Africa Limited and the Assembly Member for Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly from 2002 to

    2008.

    The nominee was the Sales Agent for Akramang Processing Industry, Senya Berekum from 2003 to 2006 and the Project Manager for Total Marketing Limited; National Electri- fication Project (PUE) from 2003 to 2004. He worked at Maggi Hotels Ltd, Takoradi, as an Executive Director, Operations from 2006 to

    2008.

    He has been the Director for the Organisation for Rural Primary Education Developers from 2003 till date. From 2005 to 2007, he was the Director for Student Free Enterprise at Takoradi Polytechnic and from 2006 to 2008 he was also the Director for UN Habitat Slump Upgrading Facility. From 1997 to 2017, he was the Director for Raybow International Hotel, Takoradi, and from 2015 to 2017, the Director of WRCF Citizens Advisory Council.

    He has been a Member of Parliament for Takoradi Constituency since 2009 and currently the Deputy Minister for Aviation. He is a Member of the Business Committee, Committee on Subsidiary legislation and the Committee on Education.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.


    Responses to Question

    Understanding the Role of Regional Minister

    On what the role of a Regional Minister is, the nominee told the Committee that a Regional Minister had the duty to represent the President in the region and co- ordinate activities of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) within a given region.

    In his specific case, the nominee said he would perform his duties by effectively co-ordinating the activities of one metropolitan assembly, eight municipal assemblies and five district assemblies in the Western Region. He assured the Committee that he would work closely with traditional authorities, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to speed up the development of the Region.

    Nominee's Vision for the Western Region

    The nominee intimated to the Committee that his vision for the Western Region was to strategically position it to deliver development for the people. As part of the strategies to achieve that feat, the nominee proposed to institute a league table system to measure the performance of MMDAs in the Region. He opined that he would support relevant institutions to take advantage of ongoing policies to promote industrial development in the Region, and also help to build the capacity of the youth

    in the Region to enable them to participate effectively in economic activities.

    Security challenges in Western Region

    The Nominee, commenting on the security challenges that have bedeviled the Western Region in recent times, told the Committee that though the recent abduction of some girls in the Region was alarming and required urgent attention, the issue was not peculiar to the Western Region. He told the Committee that he had personally funded the development of a mobile application to be used by residents in the Region to verify the registration status of taxis before they boarded them.

    He expressed his willingness to cooperate with relevant stakeholders to make the application available nationwide. The nominee pledged to take the security concerns in the Region seriously and ensure that security agencies were well equipped to deliver on their mandate.

    Challenges in the Region

    On the challenges facing the Region, the nominee identified staffing inadequacies in educational institutions in the Region and stated that about 3,000 teachers and 500 non-teaching staff were needed to address the problem.

    He identified financial constraints as the second challenge noting that allocation had been made in the 2019

    Budget Statement for the construction of the regional hospital for the Region. He pledged to work hard to change the mindset of public servants working in the Region to improve on service delivery by public institutions.

    Dealing with vigilantism

    On the wave of vigilantism sweeping across the country, the nominee stated that he did not have knowledge of any vigilante group in his constituency, that notwithstanding, given the nod, he would work to build public confidence in the security apparatus in the Region to deal with the issue, if any such group was found. He stated that he would comply with the President's call to disband such groups if found or engage them in productive activities.

    Development of the Transport infrastructure in the Region

    The nominee told the Committee that he was aware of plans by the Ministry of Aviation to develop the Takoradi Airport and the accordingly promised to support that endeavour. He told the Committee that he would work hard to ensure the construction of roads already earmarked for construction in the Region including some Takoradi and Sekondi town roads. Towards that end, he told the Committee he would work assiduously with the Ministry of Aviation and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to ensure that all the projects are executed as planned.

    Fishing Off-Shore Petroleum activities areas

    The nominee, on how he would deal with the concern of fishermen fishing around areas where petroleum activities were ongoing, he told the Committee that the issue was economic in nature and needed to be tackled as such. Though he acknowledged the ongoing efforts to educate the concerned fishermen, he stated that more sensitisation of the fisher folks was needed. He proposed for adoption as alternative, aquaculture development in artificial reefs.

    Poverty Reduction Initiatives

    On what initiatives he would employ to reduce poverty in the Region, the nominee told the Committee that he would adopt skills development with financial support as the main methodology to address the high poverty rate in the Region. He also stated that he would pursue opportunities under the local content policy to create jobs for the people.

    The nominee promised to assist the youth to build their capacity and to adequately facilitate their participation in economic opportunities in the Region. He intends to achieve this under the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1, to empower the youth, identify economic opportunities and support them to participate effectively in local economic activities. Slums Development

    The nominee attributed the phenomenon of slums development to
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.


    income disparities among residents in the Region. He was however hopeful that emerging economic activities would offer better income to the people to address the problem. He promised to work with the MMDAs to select some areas for upgrading by exploring opportunities under the Slum Development Fund.

    Affordable Housing Project

    On the preparation of the Region to embrace the affordable housing project, the Nominee told the Committee that the necessary arrangements had been made and he was well positioned to lead the process to get the project executed for the Region.

    One District One Factory Initiative (IDIF)

    The nominee told the Committee that he had accepted a proposal to construct a cocoa processing factory in the Western Region under the One District One Factory initiative. He indicated that he was part of the team that secured land for COCOBOD for the construction of a modern warehouse in the Region. On that backdrop, he promised to vigorously pursue the establishment of a cocoa factory in the Region.

    Combating Galamsey in the Region

    The nominee acknowledged current efforts being made to deal with galamsey activities in the Region. He told the Committee that, with the completion of the first phase of the

    work by the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on galamsey, the next phase would be to ensure the certification of small scale miners and the establishment of community mining schemes.

    He acknowledged the work being done by the Operation Vanguard team in dealing with the issue of galamsey and promised to cooperate with them. He assured the Committee that he would bring to book all persons engaged in the illegal activity including their financiers in dealing with the menace.

    Climate Change mitigate measures

    On the measures he would employ to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change in the Region, Hon. Darko-Mensah informed the Committee that the Western Region was the economic base of the country and every effort should be made to preserve that status.

    In that regard, he promised to coordinate with the relevant institutions to ensure full implementa- tion of ongoing government interventions to address the issue in the Region. He also reiterated that he would use his coordinating role to ensure that environmental concerns such as electronic and plastic waste and other ozone -- depleting substances are properly managed to ensure a clean environment.

    District Assemblies Common Fund utilisation

    On how he intended to monitor the utilisation of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) by MMDAs in the Region, the nominee informed Hon Members that he would supervise the utilisation of the Fund to ensure that it is used to finance developmental projects and not spent on recurrent expenditure.

    In that regard, he told Hon Members he had endorsed suggestions by some chiefs in the Region to label all DACF projects undertaken by MMDAs in the Region, to enhance transparency and accountability. He told the Committee he would apply technology to monitor the financial and project execution processes of MMDAs in the Region and intervene when necessary.

    Dealing with the Algae Problem

    The nominee noted that the problem of containing algae had become pronounced in the past, however, he had not received reports of its recurrence in recent times. He promised to liaise with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other stakeholders to address the problem should it still persist.

    He agreed to a suggestion that seaweed be grown in the affected areas to address the problem, which can also be exported to earn foreign exchange.

    Dealing with exorbitant Housing Rent

    On his plans to deal with high rent in the Region, the nominee espoused Government's intervention under the affordable housing project as the surest way to address the issue. He explained that the affordable housing project would produce more housing units and naturally cause rent rates to dip.

    Preservation of Historical Buildings and Artifacts

    As part of plans to preserve historical buildings and artifacts in the Region, the nominee accepted a suggestion to renovate Paa Grant's tomb and forts and castles in the Region. He disclosed that he was a member of the Tourism Development Committee which selected Paa Grant's tomb for renovation and pledged to bring his experience on the Committee to bear on his work if given the nod.

    Support for the Hotel Industry

    The nominee noted that there were about twenty-one (21) different taxes imposed on hotels which had become a great disincentive to industry players in the Region. He therefore assured the Committee that he would work with relevant authorities to support the development of budget hotels to compete with the international ones.

    Improving Revenue Mobilisation

    On improving revenue mobilisation in the Region, the nominee stated that he would work with relevant authorities to identify all taxpayers in the Region through computerisation,
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.


    and subsequently help to develop multiple systems of payment including mobile money transfers. He said he would also undertake effective monitoring and evaluation to plug all loopholes in the system.

    He told the Committee that during his work at the Shama District Assembly in the Western Region, he employed such strategies to increase revenue. He recounted how effective monitoring unearthed some unscrupulous revenue collectors who were issuing receipts to taxpayers without carbon copies and how remedial measures led to increased revenue.

    Dealing with poor sanitation

    On the issue of poor sanitation in the Region, the nominee stated that, if given the nod, he would intensify education on good sanitary practices and extend the mandate of city guards to include sanitation issues. He also noted that the bulk of waste in the Region were generated in the markets. However, since the operators in the market already pay operating fees, it would be unfair to compel them to pay again for the collection of their waste. He reiterated the suggestion that the MMDAs may prevent indiscriminate dumping of refuse by making use of city guards.

    Recommendation

    The Committee recommends that the House approves by consensus the nomination of Hon Kwabena Okyere

    Darko-Mensah for appointment as Minister for Western Region.

    Hon Solomon Namliit Boar, (MP) -- Minister-designate for

    North East Region

    Background

    Hon Solomon Namliit Boar was born in Bunbuna on 15th July, 1968. He attended Bunbuna Primary School from September 1977 to August 1982 for his primary education and then Bunkpurugu Zongo Middle School from September 1982 to August 1984. He obtained his Ordinary Level Certificate from Tamale Secondary School in June 1989 and a Teacher's Certificate A, (Post-Secondary) in June 1992 at Tamale Training College.

    He enrolled at the Tamale Polytechnic and obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Secretaryship and Management Studies from September 1996 to June 1999. In 2002, he enrolled at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Adminis- tration (GIMPA) for a Certificate in Budgeting and Financial Management.

    He then attended the University of Cape Coast where he obtained a Bachelor of Management Studies in October 2007 and an Executive Master of Business Administration from the KNUST in 2010. From September 2014 to April 2015, he attended the Institute of Paralegal Training and Leadership Studies and holds an Executive Masters in Alternative Dispute Resolution.

    Hon Boar worked as a teacher at Nabulo JSS, Tumu, from September 1992 to August 1994 and then at Sobelle JSS, Tumu, from September 1994 to August 1995. From September 1995 to August 1996, he worked at Nyohini Presbyterian JSS in Tamale and from September 1999 to December 2000, he worked at Kalpohin Senior High School (SHS), Tamale.

    He was a Finance and Admini- strative Manager for NewEnergy, an NGO engaged in Water and Sanitation, Renewal Energy and Sustainable Livelihoods Services from March 2001 to December 2012.

    He has been the Hon Member of Parliament for Bunkpurugu Cons- tituency since 2013 and is currently the Hon Deputy Minister for the Northern Region. He is a Member of the Public Accounts Committee and the Works and Housing Committee.

    Nominee's Responses to Questions

    Success of 62nd Independent Day Celebration in Tamale

    The nominee, Hon Solomon Namliit Boar, touching on his role in the hosting of the 62nd Independence Day Celebration in Tamale informed the Committee that he was the Vice Chairman of the Local Planning Committee for the 62nd Independent Day Celebration held in Tamale, Northern Region. He stated that one of the successes of this year's

    celebration was the willingness of the people in the Northern Region to be part of the celebration. He indicated that the Local Planning Committee was able to mobilise people to fill up the 20,000 capacity Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale.

    Creation of New Regions

    The nominee in response to a question on the rationale for the creation of New regions, told the Committee that it would aid in the rapid development of the said regions. He indicated that several development partners have expressed interest in various sectors of the economy in the new regions. He alluded that the allocation of government resources are made according to regions. In effect, the newly-created North East Region would also receive its fair share of governmental allocations for development and a seed money of GH¢20 million.

    Three Major Challenges in the North East Region

    In response to challenges he anticipates to face in the Region, the Nominee informed the Committee that three major challenges in the Region are the lack of good road infrastructure, poor educational facilities and poorly-equipped health centres. He stated that even though some infrastructural work has been done in the Region, these challenges have become his priority areas for the development of the Region. He told the Committee that the people in the Region were elated when their request
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.


    for a new region was granted because they believe the creation of the region would be the key to accelerated development of the Region. This expectation from the people in the Region has obviously placed a huge responsibility on him and Govern- ment.

    Early Child Marriage

    The nominee, answering a question on early child marriage and its impact on the Region, informed the Committee that child marriage is multi-dimensional which transcends various cultures, religions and people. He stated that some of the causes of this menace include traditional and cultural beliefs and practices, poverty and lack of education. He told the Committee that fortunately, the Queen mothers in the Region are open- minded, so if given the nod to serve as Regional Minister, he would fervently engage them to educate and sensitise the people to reduce the incidence of child marriage.

    Migration of Young Girls to Gulf States

    On why young girls in the Region are attracted to the Middle East to seek greener pastures, the Nominee stated that regrettably, young girls in the Region migrate to the Gulf States in their quest for greener pastures. He indicated that more often than not, most of the girls are unable to contain the unbearable conditions abroad and burden their impoverished families to send them funds to enable them return

    to Ghana. He opined that poverty and the lack of jobs are the major causes of rural-urban migration and the migration of girls to Gulf States.

    He informed the Committee that there are several untapped natural resources in the Region like limestone and if approved by the House, he would help create the enabling environment to attract foreign investors to establish factories for the creation of jobs in the area.

    He indicated that a company from the United Kingdom procures shea butter from the Region and that he would collaborate with them to ascertain whether they could optimise their demand for it. This, he averred would result in the creation of jobs for the people.

    Peace in Dagbon

    On the recent turn of events that has brought peace in Dagbon, the nominee informed the Committee that peace in Dagbon was as a result of intensive consultation and colla- boration with the relevant stakeholders like the traditional rulers on a roadmap which began with the organisation of two important funerals which have been a bone of contention over years.

    The process paved way for the enskinment of a new Ya-Na for the people of Dagbon. He stated that if approved by the House as a Regional Minister, he would ensure continuous engagement with stakeholders to resolve all outstanding difficulties to consolidate the peace in the area.

    Recommendation

    The Committee recommends to the House to approve by consensus the nomination of Hon Solomon Namliit Boar for appointment as Minister for North East Region.

    Hon Kofi Amoakohene (MP) -- Minister-Designate for Bono

    East Region

    Background

    Hon Kofi Amoakohene was born on 11th April, 1969, at Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region.

    He began his basic education at the Roman Catholic Primary School, Atebubu and later Ateo Demon- stration Primary School, where he obtained a Middle School Leaving Certificate (MSLC). He also attended Bechem Business College from 1986 to 1989 where he obtained the RSA Stage II.

    Between the year 2000 and 2005, he attended the Central University College(CUC), Accra and was awarded BSc in Administration (Marketing option). He further proceeded to the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Accra, to pursue a Master of Arts in Conflict, Peace and Security. Prior to the Masters programme, he had attended a three (3) months training programme in Office XP Proficiency at the National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT), Achimota Centre.

    The nominee, before enrolling at CUC, Accra, to pursue the undergraduate programme, was extremely passionate about entrepreneurship and worked hard as a petty trader, and has since built a very successful chain of businesses. These businesses include Customer Company Limited, T-shirt's and More Press Limited and Job 2K Limited.

    The nominee is currently a Member of Parliament for Atebubu-Amantin Constituency in the new Bono East Region and has represented the Constituency since 2017. As part of his duties in Parliament, he serves on a number of Committees including the Appointments Committee and the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture. He is also the Chairman of the Ghana-Czech Friendship Association.

    Nominee's responses to Ques- tions

    Addressing Illegal Migration

    When the nominee was asked what measures he would employ to address illegal migration by the people of Bono East to neighbouring countries, he told the Committee he would coordinate the efforts of stakeholders to educate the people on the dangers associated with irregular migration. He intimated that the situation exposes migrants to dangerous obstacles and in the worst case scenario, loss of lives. He proffered the view that a strong campaign must be launched against the situation.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.


    The nominee, while registering his regret of the situation, assured the Committee that, given the nod, he would also create opportunities to educate the youth through the formal and informal systems on how to utilise resources at their disposal in the new Region in the most creative and innovative way for their advancement.

    Improving Trade in Techiman

    In response to a question on what he would do to make Techiman a West African Global Trade Centre, the nominee told the Committee that he intends to establish a business school where the youth can be well educated to harness their potentials to become industrialists. On the bond of unity that exists in the Region, he told the Committee that he also intends to take advantage of the unity among the chiefs and intellectuals in the Region to assist farmers to add value to their produce by adopting more innovative ways of production.

    Collaboration and Unifying the Region

    On how he intends to manage and bring on board all the districts in the Bono East Region which in their opinions were equally capable of hosting the regional capital, he indicated that he would work to maintain the unity that already exists among the chiefs and people within the Region for their mutual benefit.

    He noted that the existing unity was the strength of the Region and was

    key for harnessing the resources within the Bono East enclave for the anticipated development to be realised. He reiterated that he would enhance collaboration among the Chiefs in the various districts and municipalities to ensure that the existing unity is maintained for progress of the Region.

    Increasing Agricultural Production in the Region

    On harnessing the agricultural potentials of the Region, the nominee confirmed that Bono East area was noted for the cultivation of cashew, mango, tomatoes and poultry. In response to how he would support the youth in the area to develop these agricultural potentials, the Nominee stated that he would consider successful modules from other countries such as Singapore on mango and tomatoes processing technologies.

    He told the Committee that his appeal would be to industry players in the area to take advantage of available potentials and the use of local resources for their mutual benefit and also to consider and adopt a Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach to boost and build their capacity in the sector.

    He further stated that as part of Government's plans to boost the production of cashew in the country, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) is spearheading the production of seedlings for the cultivation of cashew in the country. He told the Committee that he would,

    therefore, suggest to MoFA to increase the supply of cashew seedlings to the Region to help increase cashew production.

    The Policy of One District One Factory (1D1F) and Guaranteeing the prices of farm produce

    In response to a question on how the Region is faring with the policy of One District One Factory, the nominee informed the Committee that establishing factories in the Region is very important. However, he would also like to see market interventions by government to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in the prices of farm produce. He explained that a guaranteed price for farmers would encourage them to produce more for the country, given that their interest is being protected against excessive fall in prices during bumper production years.

    Security on the Highway

    Touching on security issues, the nominee intimated that armed robbery on the road leading from Techiman to the Upper West Region as well as the Techiman- Kintampo stretch has been a challenge and of concern for people who ply the stretch, especially traders. He promised to coordinate the efforts of the various security agencies in the Region to curb crime in the area.

    Recommendation

    The Committee recommends to the House to approve by consensus the

    Hon Kofi Amoakohene for appoint- ment as Minister for Bono East Region.

    Hon Kingsley Aboagye-Gyedu (MP) -- Minister-Designate For

    Western North Region

    Background

    Hon Kingsley Aboagye-Gyedu was born on 29th November, 1968 at Sefwi Anhwiaso in the Western North Region. He had his elementary education at the Sefwi Anhwiaso Methodist School from 1980 to 1984. Subsequently, he progressed to Effiduase Secondary Community School Effiduase Ashanti from where he obtained his G.C.E. Ordinary Level Certificate from September 1984 to June 1989.

    Moving on, he acquired his Advanced Level Certificate at St. Augustine's College, Cape Coast from September 1989 to June 1991.

    Between 1992 and 1996, the Nominee attended the University of Ghana, Legon and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with Political Science. He also attended the Emile Woolf College, London where he gained his professional qualification in Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) between 1997 and 1999. The Hon Nominee for a period of one year from 2000 to 2001 obtained MBA in Finance from the Leicester University, UK.

    Hon Aboagye-Gyedu commenced work as a Management Accountant at Polymark UK Limited, London,
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.


    from 1999 to 2001. He moved to Sky Consult Limited where he was a Senior Consultant/Audit Manager in 2002. From September 2002 to 2005, he moved to Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC), Ghana, as a Senior Consultant. Between March and September 2005, the nominee moved to United States Agency for International Development (USAID) West Africa Regional Programme (WARP) as the Financial Analysts/ Managerial Accountant.

    Later, he held the position of Marketing Finance Manager at the British American Tobacco West Africa Central (comprising Ghana, Togo, Niger and Benin) from 2005 to 2006.

    In 2007, he was the Marketing Finance Manager of the British American Tobacco West Africa Central (comprising 21 countries from Mauritania to DR Congo). The nominee worked as an Executive Director for KingSAG Associates Ltd, a firm of Chartered Accountants and Management Consultants between 2007 and 2012.

    Hon Aboagye-Gyedu was elected as a Member of Parliament in the Parliament of Ghana from 2013 and has remains an MP to date. The nominee has been a Deputy Minister for Health since 2017. He is a member of the Public Accounts Committee, the Lands and Forestry Committee, Youth, Sports and Culture Committee and has served in those capacities since 2013. He was a Board

    Secretary at Sefwiman Rural Bank Ltd from 2003 until 2006 when he was promoted to Board Chairman and served till 2009.

    Hon Aboagye-Gyedu has since 2017 been a Member of the Board of Directors for the Medical and Dental Council as well as the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). He was a member of ACCA from 2003 to 2008 and of the Institute of Charted Accountants Ghana (ICAG) in 2004. He has been a fellow, Association of ACCA since 2008.

    Hon Aboagye-Gyedu has attended several conferences and capacity building programmes in Ghana and abroad. He attended the 3rd Inter Ministerial Conference on Health Environment in Africa, Gabon (2018), the 3rd African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) Ministerial Round Table and 7th AFENET Scientific Conference, Mozambique

    (2018).

    He also attended the International Convention of Public Health in Cuba (2018) and the Road Show to raise Eurobond in Japan (2018). He attended the 1st World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa Health Forum, Rwanda (2017), the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Health Ministers of ECOWAS, Nigeria, 2017 and the Marketing Finance Conference for BAT Africa and Middle East Region Operating Countries (AME-Opcos), Dubai

    (2007).

    Nominee's Responses to Questions

    Indebtedness of Cuba to Ghana

    Touching on the issues surrounding a debt of about US$20million owed Ghana by Cuba, the Hon nominee stated that he discovered the debt through a conversation with his colleague Hon Deputy Minister for Health at a conference in Havana, Cuba. He said the information he gathered revealed that the debt was incurred by Cuba as result of crude oil supplied by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to the country in 1986 when Cuba was under severe economic sanctions by the United States of America.

    He stated that when he disclosed the information to the Government of Ghana and GNPC upon his return from the conference, a negotiation team of which he was a member was dispatched to discuss arrangements for the debt to be settled. As part of the settlement agreement, the Hon Nominee disclosed that the Cuban Government has committed to settling the debt through the training of medical personnel of Ghana and also assist in the establishment of an anti-malaria drug manufacturing company in Ghana.

    Commencement of Stalled Construction of Cocoa Roads in the Region

    The nominee informed the Committee that the suspension of construction works on cocoa roads in the Region was occasioned by the ongoing contract review processes of

    Government to ensure value for money. He said a briefing he received revealed that the process would soon be completed to pave way for work to commence.

    He said he was made aware of some budgetary allocations to fund the construction works this year following the completion of the review. He assured the Committee if given the nod, he would establish contacts with some of the contractors whose contracts have been cleared to commence work. He pledged to liaise with the relevant State institutions to ensure the completion of the construction works.

    Alleged Child Labour pheno- menon on Cocoa Farms in the Region

    On the worrying reportage of child labour on cocoa farms which has been described variously as modern day slavery in the international media, the nominee indicated that he did not believe that the phenomenon exists on the country's cocoa farms, given his personal knowledge on the happenings on cocoa farms. He alluded to a situation whereby parents or settler farmers encourage their children to assist them in their farming activities, which he believed might have been misconstrued by the reporters as a child labour phenomenon.

    He added that children assisting in the daily endeavours of their parents are part of our Ghanaian customs. He, however, pledged to liaise with COCOBOD and any international development partner to commission a study into the phenomenon. He added that should the findings of the
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.


    study confirm the phenomenon, he was prepared to come up with appropriate solutions to curb it.

    Vision for the Western North Region

    In stating his vision for the Region, the Hon Nominee said he would want to see a well-developed region with visible physical infrastructure, jobs for its people and reduced developmental challenges. He indicated that he intends to pursue this vision through the implementation of value addition strategies to process natural resources such as bauxite, gold and timber of the region rather than allowing them to be sold in their raw state.

    Improving Health Delivery System in the Region

    On how he intends to improve on the current status of health delivery in the region, the nominee indicated that he would leverage on his acquain- tances struck during his tenure as an Hon Deputy Minister for Health to lobby for funds to support the development of health infrastructure.

    To this end, he would prioritise the construction of a regional hospital as well as Community-Based Health Planning Services (CHPS) compounds throughout the Region and encourage the people to enroll onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to enable them to have access to healthcare. Besides, he would encourage MMDAs to pursue preventive healthcare rather than curative healthcare by improving

    sanitation situation a which is major source of communicable disease.

    Matters Relating to Recruitment of Nurses and Allied Health Officers

    When asked about an alleged denial by some unemployed nurses on the claim by H.E. the President that about 1,400 nurses and allied health officers have been recruited into the Ghana Health Services (GHS), the nominee recounted how the current Government received financial clearance for the backlog of the health professionals who graduated from 2015 and employed same.

    He stated that as the Hon Deputy Minister for Health, he personally received the financial clearance for the employment of about 14,500 nurses and allied health professionals into the GHS who are expected to commence work on 1st April, 2018, as at the time the President delivered his State of the Nation Address. He indicated that the recruitment processes were ongoing but at a slow pace due to the excessive bureaucratic nature of our public service procedures.

    Continuation of Government Abandoned infrastructural projects

    The Nominee assured the Committee of continuing all the abandoned infrastructure projects such as community day senior high schools and roads that were commenced by the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) Administration. As a demonstration of his commitment, he mentioned how

    he had personally made some efforts through his District Assembly to contact some of contractors on the abandoned projects and led them to the relevant agencies such as the GETFund for them to receive funds to continue the works. He said his intervention has helped to bring some of the contractors to site.

    Managing Expectations Asso- ciated with Creation of the Region

    The nominee, in response to a question on how he would manage the expectation of a fast development by the people as a result of the creation of a New Region, admitted before the Committee that the creation of new regions comes with high expectations from the citizens. He, however, was quick to emphasise that the creation of the regions also comes with its opportunities which must be harnessed to meet the aspirations of the people.

    He explained that it was constitutionally imperative that equity informs the distribution of the “national cake”. The nominee opined that if, in the past, the Western North Region was also entitled to be part of whatever resource was allocated to the then Western Region because Western North was part of it, that could not be said today with the creation of the Western North Region. The nominee promised to harness the natural resources which abound in the Region to create jobs, to meet the expectations of the people and ensure that the people also participate

    actively in the flagship programmes of the Government to improve their lot.

    Strategies to create Jobs for the youth

    On strategies he intends to employ to create jobs for the youth of the region, the nominee said he would encourage the youth to take advantage of the Government's flagship programmes such as the Planting for Food and Jobs and Planting for Exports. The nominee hinted that he would engage GIPC on a regular basis to assist the Region in attracting investors to establish factories to add value to the raw mineral resources that are mined in the Region.

    He cited the establishment of factories that will manufacture paint, alum and toothpaste, among others, from bauxite waste. He told the Committee that setting up factories would go a long way to increase tax revenue for the local governments and have multiplier effect on the regional economy.

    Curtailing Migration of youth to the Southern part of the country for Greener Pastures

    The nominee emphasised value addition through the establishment of factories to create jobs for the teeming youth as one of the crucial measures to tackle the migration of youth of the region to the southern part of the country. He intimated that even though the youth were willing to enter into cocoa farming which is the mainstay of the people of the Region, they
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.


    lacked the needed support such as availability of credit facilities and other farming inputs. He promised that given the nod, he would facilitate the acquisition of the necessary farm inputs and ensure access to extension services and encourage them to stay in the region and cultivate cocoa. The nominee opined that he would lobby for the establishment of cocoa processing factories, among others, that would process the by-products of cocoa to create more jobs for the youth.

    Efficient Utilisation of Internally Generated Funds of MMDAs

    On how he intends to address concerns about inefficiencies in the utilisation of the Internally-Generated Funds (IGF) of MMDAs, the nominee said that a number of legal frameworks exist to govern the utilisation of the funds which he would encourage the MMDAs to adhere to. That aside, he would seize oppor- tunities created by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) meetings to educate MMDAs on why they must invest higher proportions of their IGFs in productive ventures. He assured the Committee of instituting effective monitoring mechanisms to ensure that all MMDAs are in compliance with the legal frameworks and his directives on the utilisation of the funds.

    Indebtedness of NHIA

    On why there seems to be some discrepancies in the reportage of

    arrears owed by the NHIA, through either the national budget, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) formula presented to Parliament, or in the State of the Nation Address by H.E the President, the nominee suggested that the true status of the arrears could only be ascertained by the Auditor-General, which was yet to be carried out. He indicated that the breakdown of the GH¢1.2billion which he posited as the NHIA debt imbalance was available at the NHIA.

    He told the Committee that his experience as a member of the Board of NHIA pointed to the fact that service providers and contractors continue to make claims for their services and that could be the source of the seeming discrepancy in the amounts quoted at the different times. He also emphasised that not all arrears were captured in the NHIF formula.

    Conflict between MPs and DCEs in Common Fund Utilisation

    On how he would tackle the conflict between some MPs and District Chief Executives (DCEs) in the disbursement and utilisation of DACF, the Hon Nominee said that such conflicts are misplaced, and that the rationale for the establishment of the Fund was to enhance the livelihoods of the people, a goal which both the MP and DCE in political leadership should realise. He pledged to educate the DCEs on the implications of such conflicts and

    urged them to double up on their responsibilities beyond partisan interest for the development of the various districts in the Region, should his nomination be confirmed.

    Challenges Impeding the Deve- lopment of the Region

    In response to a question on the three most critical challenges obstructing the development of the Western North Region which he would prioritise during his tenure as the Regional Minister, the nominee stated poor road infrastructure, unemployment and high illiteracy rate. He alluded to a personal experience where he was successful in lobbying for job positions for the people of his constituency in some mining companies, but failed to secure the jobs for the constituents because they did not have the requisite skills and educational background as demanded of the job. He pledged to encourage more of the young people to get educated and also acquire the necessary skills in order to take advantage of the opportunities available in the Region.

    Promoting Tourism Potential of Region

    Touching on the tourism potential of the Western North Region, the Hon Nominee mentioned the celebration of Ghana's Independence Day by the good people of Bibiani which was characterised by special cultural displays that could be promoted to the status of events like the Kwahu Easter celebrations. He said, given the

    nod, he would develop the areas surrounding a natural lake located in Bibiani and the source of River Ankobra in the mountains into major recreational and tourist sites. He further stated that some endangered species of wood and birds exist in some of the forest reserves in the region and he would liaise with the Forestry Commission and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) for its preservation, to attract tourists.

    NHIS Challenges

    The Hon Nominee, while emphasising that the NHIS was not in crisis, mentioned the inability of the Scheme to honour payment on time to service providers and high level of fraudulent claims as among the critical challenges bedeviling it. He noted that fraudulent claims alone constitute 30 per cent of total claims that must be redeemed by the Authority.

    He indicated that the fraudulent claims threatened the financial sustainability of the Scheme. He posited that a substantial amount of revenue could accrue to the Scheme to offer free health services to the aged as provided for under Section 29 of the National Health Insurance Act, 2012 (Act 852) if the estimated 30 per cent of fraudulent claims could be halved.

    Fighting Corruption in Ghana

    In answering a question on what lessons Ghana could learn from the Anti- Corruption crusade of Rwanda having understudied the country, the
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.


    nominee stated that Rwanda copied most of Ghana's administrative systems and procedures. However, the country has been able to perfect their use extensively by ensuring discipline in its implementation.

    He told the Committee that, while in Rwanda, he and his colleagues subjected the Rwandan systems to litmus tests and they worked to perfection. He posited that improving discipline in our administration and reducing human contacts could assist Ghana tremendously in the fight against corruption.

    Backlog of Medical Doctors

    The nominee expressed his dismay at the allegation by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) that the Government rejected postings of medical doctors to some regions. According to the nominee, some regions are in dire need of medical doctors. However, MoH usually seeks financial clearance for those who have completed their housemanship before being recruited.

    He told the Committee that to the best of his knowledge, no backlog of trained medical doctors exists. He however, noted that if there has been any reference to a backlog of medical doctors, then it may be in reference to those who may have just completed their housemanship and whose financial clearances were being sought for by the MoH to pave way for their absorption into the GHS.

    Recommendation

    The Committee recommends to the House to approve by consensus the nomination of Hon Kingsley Aboagye-Gyedu for appointment as Minister for Western North Region.

    Mr Kwasi Owusu Yeboa -- Minister-Designate for Oti

    Region

    Background

    Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa was born in Apesokubi on 14th September, 1952. He attended Jasikan Training College, from1969 to 1972 for his Post-Middle School Teachers Certificate ‘A'. He had his G.C.E ‘O' and ‘A' Level Certificates respectively, in 1973 and 1974 as a Private Candidate. He enrolled at the University of Ghana, Legon, in 1975 and was awarded LLB (Hons) in 1978. Subsequently, he enrolled at the GSL in 1978 and was called to the Ghana Bar in 1980.

    Mr Owusu-Yeboa was the Senior Prefect of Jasikan Training College in 1972 and a Secretary to the Accra- based Volta Region NPP Resource Group from 1995 to 2000. He worked at Oseawuo Chambers, a Private Law Firm from 1980 to 1981. From 1981 to 2000, he worked as a legal practitioner at Ameyi Chambers. He was a Minister of State for the Volta Region from 2001 to 2004 and went back to private practice as the senior partner of Owusu-Yeboa, Nyampong and Associates, a private legal practice and consultancy firm.

    He is currently Ghana's Ambassador (Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary) to the Republic of Togo and a Member of the Ghana Bar Association.

    Nominee's Responses to Ques- tions

    The Diversity of the Oti Region

    On a question as to what he perceives to be a major challenge should he be approved, the nominee told the Committee that the Oti Region is very diverse and includes communities with Kwahu, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo ancestry. He professed that the diversity of the region is sometimes frightening and that this would be one of his major challenges on assumption of office as the Regional Minister. He conceded that he would have an arduous task of maintaining unity and peace in the region.

    Commercial Activities in the Region

    The nominee, in response to how he would advance the cause of commercial activities in the Region, informed the Committee that the Oti Region is one of the food baskets in the country. Dambai, which is the capital of the Region, is one of the largest producers of yam in the country. The region also produces cassava, maize and palm nut. However, the processing of palm nut is on a small scale. The nominee stated that if approved by the House

    to serve as Minister for the Region, he would facilitate the large scale processing of palm nut. He averred that a large portion of the region lies along the Volta River so fishing is one of the major occupations of inhabitants and that there are other resources in the region that are yet to be tapped.

    The nominee said that with the Region's background in mind, he would collaborate with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that Oti Region explores other potentials in the region to make the Region a viable one within the shortest time possible.

    Relationship between Regional Ministers and Local Government and Rural Development Minister

    In response to a question on the relationship between a Regional Minister and a Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, the nominee informed the Committee that pursuant to article 58(1) of the Constitution, the Executive authority of Ghana is vested in the President and a Regional Minister is his representative in the region. MMDAs however report to the Minister responsible for Local Government and Rural Development.

    The Functions of a District Assembly is to exercise political and administrative authority in the district, provide guidance, give direction to, and supervise the other administrative authorities in the district, among others. The functions of RCC is to monitor and implement the activities in the region.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.


    He stated that despite the clear distinction in the functions of these entities, there is coordination amongst the entities to ensure the effective and efficient operation of Government for the benefit of the Region. He would therefore maintain a good working relationship with the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development.

    Communities without Consti- tuencies

    On a question as to how he intends to resolve the issue of communities without constituencies, the nominee informed the Committee that there are some communities in Hohoe that originally migrated from Jasikan. The people in the area seeks to be split into two districts instead of being put together as one district. With the creation of the Oti region, the said communities currently are part of the Oti Region but do not belong to any specific constituency.

    He added that it is impossible to obtain absolute unanimity in any electoral process, nonetheless, the results of the referendum indicated that a high percentage of the voters were in favour of the creation of the Oti Region. He indicated that the President has set up a Committee to resolve the issue of the community without a constituency and effectively would place those communities under the appropriate constituencies.

    Selection of a Regional Capital for the Oti Region

    The Minister-designate, in response to a question on issues that arose during the selection of the regional capital, informed the Committee that after the Region was created, four towns vied for the regional capital to be cited in their towns. This resulted in a lot of agitation in the Region. It also necessitated the need to establish a committee to ascertain the most appropriate town to be selected as the regional capital. The Committee settled on Dambai as the capital, which initially generated hostility in the Region.

    Currently, the traditional rulers and the entire community have accepted Dambai as the regional capital and that peace has been restored in the Region. He added that more often than not, towns compete for the establishment of a regional capital under the impression that the capital would provide jobs and accelerate development in the town. However, if decentralisation is effectively carried out, the fears of the people in other towns would be curbed.

    Child Labour / Slavery along the Volta River

    The nominee, when asked to explain the activities going on at Dambai, which was recently covered by CNN explained to the Committee that the CNN shot a documentary about child slavery activities in the area titled “Troubled Waters” which is extremely exaggerated. He admitted that, in view of the fact that

    Dambai is a buoyant fishing town, a lot of children voluntarily work there or are forced to work as fisher folks in and along the river.

    Nonetheless, it is the responsibility of the State to ensure that children are kept safe and in school where they belong. He indicated that if approved by the House to serve as Regional Minister, he would liaise with DCEs to ensure the establishment of a 24- hour surveillance and arrest people who force children to work on the river. He would also ensure that parents and guardians are continually educated and sensitised about the effects of child labour.

    Recommendation

    The Committee recommends to the House to approve by consensus the nomination of Mr. Kwasi Owusu Yeboa for appointment as Minister for Oti Region.

    Dr Hafiz Bin Salih -- Minister- Designate For Upper West

    Region

    Background

    Dr Hafiz Bin Salih was born in Wa on 27th September, 1970. He attended the Experimental Primary School, Wa, from 1977 to 1981 and later the St. Michael International School, Osu-Accra, from 1981 to 1984. He had his secondary education at Nandom Secondary School from 1984 to 1986. From 1986 to 1990, he was a student at

    the Bolgatanga Secondary School, Bolgatanga, where he acquired an Ordinary Level Certificate and subsequently to Navrongo Secondary School in 1990 and obtained his Advanced Level Certificate in 1992.

    From 1992 to 1995, he acquired a Teachers' Certificate ‘A' 3 Year Post Secondary at Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya Teacher Training College, Wa, and an HND at Tamale Polytechnic from 1999 to 2002. He was awarded a B.Ed Management Studies by the University of Education, Winneba, in 2007. In 2009, he acquired a Post Graduate Diploma from the Paris Graduate School of Management (PGSM).

    He also acquired an MA in Conflict, Peace and Development Studies at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) from 2008 to 2011. In 2012, he acquired an MPhil. In Development Studies from the University of Development Studies (UDS) and a PhD. in Social Administration from the same University in 2018.

    The nominee worked as a teacher at Kanyinguasi D/A Primary School from 1995 to 1996 and later moved to Dah District Assembly Primary School from 1996 to 1997. From 1997 to 1998, he taught at Danku Islamic Primary School and then to the Wa Technical Institute (WTI) from 2002 to 2007. He worked as a National Service Person at the WTI in 2008. He was the Supervisor of Unit Schools in the Upper West Region from 2007 to 2011. He also worked as a Deputy Coordinator, Guidance and Counselling at the Wa
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.


    Municipal Education Directorate in 2011. He currently works at Ghana Education Service (GES) and is the Coordinator of Secondary Cycle and Private Schools at Wa Municipal Education Directorate.

    Nominee's Responses to Ques- tions

    Vision for the Upper West Region

    The nominee, in response to a question on his agenda for the Region informed the Committee that he would use agriculture to drive his development agenda for the Region, if given the nod. He revealed that his vision was informed by the great strides being made by the Government under the Planting for Food and Jobs programme. In furtherance of this, he pointed how some youth in the Upper West Region have made capital gains under the programme and indicated that the programme offers huge opportunities for growth in the Region. He promised to encourage the youth in the Region to venture into agriculture.

    Conflict between MPs and MMDCEs

    On how he plans to resolve possible conflict that may arise between MPs and MMDCEs in the Upper West Region, the nominee said he believed that most of the conflicts between the two office holders arose mainly from lack of trust. He observed that the conflict was not limited to MPs and DCEs from different political

    parties but was equally prevalent even where the MP and the DCE come from the same political party.

    On possible ways to address the issue, the nominee indicated that he would focus exclusively on the development of the Region and would work with all persons in the Region regardless of their political affiliation. He emphasised that he would rely strongly on teamwork in his quest to develop the Region and further establish a forum to serve as constant channel of communication between MPs and MMDCEs to ensure their harmonious working relationship.

    Political Experience of the Nominee

    The nominee told the Committee that the Almighty Allah has been his source of inspiration and motivation throughout his political journey. He recounted how he had encountered numerous setbacks in his political life, but had stood the cause. He advised young politicians to see politics as a call to serve people and the community and develop resilience to face obstacles which they may encounter on the political journey.

    The nominee was commended by the Committee for his exemplary patience, communal spirit and his excellent working relationship with all persons across the political divide.

    Nominee's Understanding of the Culture of People in the Region

    Dr Salih stated that he had lived and worked in the Region throughout

    his life and knew their tradition and religion very well. The nominee explained that some of the people in the Region were die-hard Christians, Muslims and traditionalists, but he had learnt to live harmoniously with them. He expressed optimism that his background, together with his exposure through education would enable him to work with everybody to ensure the speedy development of the region.

    Combating Vigilantism

    On how he would combat vigilantism, the nominee stated that he would use his position as Chairman of the Upper West Regional Security Committee to lead the fight against vigilantism in the Region. He said that he would not allow any political party to usurp the powers of the Police or purport to replace the Police who have been mandated by law to maintain security in the Region. He also said that he had never engaged any vigilante group or encouraged any political party to recruit any such group and promised that he would not form or promote any such cause.

    Challenges in the Region

    According to the nominee, the three main challenges in the Upper West Region were security concerns, deplorable road network and the poor state of the Region's health sector.

    As a way to address the health sector challenges, the nominee

    promised to impress upon medical professionals who hail from the Region to accept postings there and also seek support of MPs from the region in that pursuit.

    Proposals for Economic Develop- ment

    The nominee told the Committee that he would take advantage of the One District One Factory policy to promote value addition to crops which do well in the Region. He also assured the Committee that he would collaborate with all MPs to market the Region to the world to attract the necessary investment to develop it.

    Promotion of STEM Education

    On how he would promote the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in the Upper West Region, Dr Bin Salih observed that a lot of students shunned STEM and that needed to be reversed. To address the problem, he indicated that his office would encourage students, particularly girls, to take STEM more seriously because it offers competitive employment for them in both public and private sectors. He also promised to work with all relevant stakeholders including experts and role models to undertake his promotional strategy.

    Stemming Migration of Young Women to Middle East

    The nominee assured the Committee that he would intensify

    education on the subject to inform the people of the dangers in that expedition and highlight the horrible experiences of victims.

    Recommendation

    The Committee recommends to the House to approve by consensus the nomination of Dr Hafiz Bin Salih for appointment as Minister for Upper West Region.

    Hon Salifu Adam Braimah (MP) -- Minister-Designate for

    Savannah Region

    Background

    Hon Salifu Adam Braimah was born on 25th September, 1965, in Accra. He obtained his Primary Education at Kpembe Primary School from 1969 to 1975. He later obtained his middle school certificate at Salaga Middle Continuation school from 1976 to 1979 and his secondary education at Salaga Secondary School from 1979 to 1981. He obtained his GCE ‘O' Level at Tamale Secondary School in 1984 and his GCE ‘A' Level Certificate at the same school in 1986.

    He enrolled at the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) and was awarded a CA II. Later, he acquired a Bachelor's Degree in Administration (Accounting) from University of Ghana, Legon, in 1990. In December 2000, he obtained a Master's Degree in Finance at Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:25 a.m.


    The nominee was the president of the Student Representative Council (SRC), St. Teresa's Minor Seminary at Aminsano, Elmina, and that of University of Ghana, Legon, from 2nd to 13lh February, 2001.

    He is a Member of the Board of Directors for Akyempim Rural Bank, Gomoa Dawurampong Rural Bank from 2016 to date and the Ejuraman Rural Bank, Kumasi, 2016 to date.

    The nominee has attended a number of conferences such as Conference on Intellectual Property Law organised by World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in July 2018 at Geneva, Switzerland, and undertook a short course on Legislative Drafting in London, England, UK, from 3rd to 7th September, 2018.

    The nominee has been the MP for Gomoa West since 7th January, 2017. In Parliament, he serves as the Hon Vice Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.

    Response to Questions

    Recruitment of Medical Personnel

    The nominee, in response to the need for Government to recruit

    medical personnel for our health service, expressed regret over the fact that the country needs to recruit more medical personnel, especially doctors and nurses, but is unable to do so. The Nominee expressed the view that the challenge was more of financial constraints than available vacancy.

    On the condition of service of health personnel which personnel of the sector have agitated for improvement, the nominee expressed the view that it could be resolved through a holistic review of the single spine pay policy and promised to support the Minister pursue that cause.

    Review of the Health Insurance Law

    On whether the nominee would support a proposal to review the NHIA, 2012 (Act 852) to change the “aged group” from 70 years to 60 years, he responded that it was premature for him to declare his position on the matter, because a number of steps have to be undertaken, including carrying out actuarial studies, before a very realistic determination could be made.

    Construction of District Hospitals

    On how the nominee would assist in ensuring that hospitals were constructed in all new districts in the country, he lauded the policy, but acknowledged that the sector was confronted with financial constraints and that imposed a challenge on Government. He promised to assist his superior pursue the implementation

    of the policy to make healthcare services more accessible to the people.

    Motivation for Medical Personnel to Accept Postings to Rural Areas

    The Nominee expressed the view that appropriate motivation package should be designed to encourage medical personnel accept postings to rural areas. In that respect, he proposed the restoration of tax exemptions granted to medical personnel to clear their vehicles from the ports. He also proposed a scholarship scheme for personnel who would accept postings to rural communities and work there for a certain number of years.

    Composition of Boards of Teaching Hospitals

    On the composition of Boards of teaching hospitals, the nominee raised concern about the Boards' composition and he told the Committee that section 37 of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals Act, 1996 (Act 525) made persons who hold executive positions members of the Board of teaching hospitals. He explained that the structure did not conform to good corporate governance and wondered who such executive members would report to.

    He called for the review of the law to enhance good corporate practices in our hospitals.

    Promotion of Health Tourism

    On how he would help promote health tourism in the country, Hon Abban stated that the country had the capacity to promote it. He however said that health tourism should be seen as only one aspect of the tourism agenda of the country. He therefore called for a holistic development of our health and tourism sectors to realise the full benefit of health tourism. He pledged to support his superior to achieve that.

    Posting of Medical Personnel

    The nominee indicated that although there is the urgent need to recruit more medical personnel including nurses and doctors into our public health facilities, the health sector is not without financial constraints. He opined that the State should up its mobilisation efforts so that more medical personnel could be engaged to help in our health service delivery.

    Revamping the National Health Insurance Scheme

    Hon Abban stated that NHIS was the primary mover of the country's healthcare delivery. He however noted that the Scheme was currently saddled with debts which have resulted in delays in payment to service providers. He suggested the use of modern tracking technologies to track billing by service providers to reduce the incidence of fictitious claims.
    Mr Speaker 12:56 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon First Deputy Speaker.
    Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
    Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 12:56 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion. With your indulgence, I would invoke Standing Order 86(4)(c) that I shall reserve the right to come back to make a comment on it.
    Question proposed.
    Mr Speaker 12:56 p.m.
    We would take two Members from each Side plus Leadership. Please, be brief and kindly speak on specific areas as you so desire.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 12:56 p.m.
    Hon Member, today appears to be your day. You may go on.
    Ms Betty N.E.K. Mensah (NDC -- Afram Plains North) 12:56 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the recognition given me.
    I would like to contribute to the Report presented by your Appointment Committee on the appointment of Regional Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers.
    Mr Speaker, I wish to use this opportunity to congratulate Hon
    Members on their elevation to the positions of Ministerial and Deputy Ministerial positions of the Republic of Ghana.
    I would want to, especially, congratulate Hon Alex Tetteh, my own chairman for the Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF), for his exceptional leadership that has led to the formation and inauguration of YPF of the Parliament of Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, through his leadership, we have witnessed the cooperation and networking of Ghana's young parliamentarians within Ghana and across the globe for the purposes of promoting the young parliamentarians' inclusiveness in decision-making across the globe.
    Hon Alex Tetteh, your exceptional leadership -- [Hear! Hear!] -- In leading a delegation to Nigeria's House of Representatives put Ghana's young parliamentarians on the ladder for other countries to emulate. Your presentation on monitoring and evaluation of Government policies at the recent African Evaluation Associa- tion (AfrEA) conference in Abidjan was very inspiring. [Hear! Hear!]
    I would wish to commend H. E. the President of the Republic of Ghana for recognising the effort of young people and giving them the opportunity to contribute towards Ghana's development.
    I pray that the Government, through the Young Parliamentarians
    Mr Speaker 12:56 p.m.
    Thank you very much Hon Member, for your contribution.
    Order! Order!
    Mr Daniel N.K. Titus-Glover (NPP -- Tema East) 12:56 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to comment on the Report of the Appointments Committee.
    The nominees that appeared before your Committee distinguished themselves, in that, they have some insight in what they would be doing.
    I would not talk much; I would want to focus on one or two of them beginning with the nominee for Tourism, Arts and Culture. An issue that came to mind during the Committee's sitting was about the textile industry. It was about how we can promote made in Ghana cloths.
    Mr Daniel N.K. Titus-Glover (NPP -- Tema East) 1:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I recall during the debate on the State of the Nation Address, the challenges that the textile industries go through in production and the influx of pirated cloths that compete with our Ghanaian cloths came up. I am happy to say that the nominee for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture assured the Committee that she would be an ambassador to vigorously market cloths that are produced in this country.
    History tells us that the Ghana Textiles Products (GTP), Ghana Textiles Manufacturing Company (GTMC), former Juapong Textiles Company and Akosombo Textiles Company have all lived very well and promoted good Ghanaian cloths.
    She said she would make sure that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture would lead in that direction to support the Ministry of Trade and Industry and manufacturing industries to make sure that Ghanaian cloths are well patronised.
    Mr Speaker, the issue about promotion of the creative arts industry is a major one in this country.

    Children of today have fallen in love with telenovelas on television because they are not in tune with the culture of our own people. In this country, all over the 16 regions that we have, we have fantastic cultures and festivals that we celebrate.

    Mr Speaker, for example, when you come to Tema Manhean, next week Saturday, there would be celebration of the Kplejoo Festival, which is the 60th anniversary of the re-settlement of the Tema people from the old town to Tema Manhean. We would see the rich culture of the Ga- Adangbe people in Tema Manhean, and you would be surprised that some of these young ones that are coming are not in tune. But I am happy to say that the nominee assured us that she would create a special directorate at the Ministry to market creative arts, and to make sure that we are in tune with all that.

    Mr Speaker, on the nominee for Western Regional Minister, one issue that has become a national security matter in the Western Region is about the three young girls that have been abducted. Thank God, through information and intelligence, this morning I heard on radio that the young baby that was stolen has been found.

    It is because there is good intelligence and good information flow from the general public to support the police. The nominee assured us that he would work closely to make sure that all these bad nuts within the Western Region that are trying to destroy the good image of the west are dealt with.

    Mr Speaker, he also spoke about the issue of vigilantism. This is an issue that H. E. the President has called on major political players to sit on, and have a look at. The nominee has

    assured us that in the Western Region, there is nothing like that and that he would engage all political parties and security agencies to come to a round table discussion.

    Mr Speaker, at the time of his vetting, when we looked across the table from both Sides, one could see the support that he had. Immediately, he would convey a meeting of both sides, and all of us together would see what we can do to see the end of vigilantism.

    Mr Speaker, in terms of galamsey, he said he would also add his voice and continue to support the initiative of the Inter-Ministerial Committee to make sure that these galamsey threats that destroy our vegetation and environment are stopped. All these nominees who came to the Committee have proved to us that they have the full responsibility and the information in the various offices that they would support.

    Mr Speaker, I would want to pray that Hon Colleagues would support these nominees, so that they can go and serve our motherland.

    Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity.
    Mr Emmanuel K. Bedzrah (NDC — Ho West) 1:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to commend your Committee for coming out with this Report and also recommend that all the 18 nominees would be approved by this House.
    Mr Speaker, out of the 18 nominees, I have noticed that it is only two of our ladies, Hon Barbara Oteng-Gyasi and the Hon Naana Eyiah, who have been nominated by H. E. the President for the Office, either as an Hon Deputy Minister, or an Hon Minister.
    I expected that with the affirmative action, we would have more than two women. I know that we have capable women in this House who are not yet Hon Ministers, and I expect that in the next leg of reshuffle, we would see more of them being appointed to that position.
    Mr Speaker, with that, I would want to commend two of my Hon Colleagues, who came into this House in 2009 — Hon Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah and the Hon Yaw Afful — who have been elevated. Hon Darko-Mensah has been elevated from an Hon Deputy Minister to an Hon Minister.
    We both came into this House in 2009, and today, by dint of hard work, he is being elevated from an Hon Deputy Minister to a full ministerial status, as the Regional Minister for the Western Region.
    Mr Speaker, we all know the abduction of women, especially young girls, in the western enclave, the Western Region for that matter, and this has been at the heart of all Ghanaians. I expect my Hon Colleague that when he gets there, with his hard work, he would be able to bring this to a halt.
    Mr Emmanuel K. Bedzrah (NDC — Ho West) 1:06 p.m.


    The same goes to my Hon Colleague, the Hon Yaw Afful, who has also been elevated to become an Hon Deputy Minister for Aviation. I doff my hat for him, and expect him to do just as he has done in Parliament.

    Mr Speaker, finally, on Mr Johnson Avuletey, who has been nominated, and would today be approved as the Hon Deputy Minister for the Volta Region, I speak on behalf of the Volta caucus that there have been some delays in projects in the Region. He mentioned that he would assist the Hon Minister bring those projects to a total completion, especially the Eastern corridor project.

    Mr speaker, the nominee, Mr Johnson Avuletey, said, and with your permission I read:

    Commenting on what he would do to ensure the completion of works on the Eastern corridor road project to bring relief to communities on the corridor, the nominee expressed worry at the deplorable state of the road which he said has become a source of worry for many road users.

    Mr Speaker, the previous Government and others started this road, but it has been stalled for some time now. I expect the nominee, as we approve him today to become the Hon Deputy Regional Minister, to

    support his Hon Minister to lobby the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways and Government, to make sure that the contractor gets back to site, and completes it.

    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity.
    Mrs Ursula G. Owusu-Ekuful (NPP — Ablekuma West) 1:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I must commend your Committee for the exceptional work that they have done, and I am particularly excited that 18 of the 19 nominees presented before them have been recommended for approval by this House.
    Mr Speaker, however, I do not quite understand the last sentence of the first paragraph, on page 45 of the Committee's Report, and I believe there is some error there that the Hon Chairman ought to address his mind to, and explain for us to understand.
    Mr Speaker, commenting on the views by women advocates on the limited number of women nominees, the last paragraph reads, and with your permission, I quote:
    “She also added that it was critical to educate women to not subscribe to the proposal of reserving seats for women contestants or women contesting unopposed during parliamentary candidate elections to enable them come to terms with the implications of their oppositions to the proposal”.
    Mr Speaker, it is not quite clear exactly what that sentence seeks to say. Did the nominee say that it was critical to educate women to subscribe to that notion or not to subscribe to it, and did she advocate that they need to find out about the reasons for the opposition to the proposal or not?
    That sentence is not quite clear, and I am not sure that the Report accurately captured what the Nominee said during vetting. So, the Committee may want to explain that to us a little bit.
    Mr Speaker, I am distressed that of the appointees for the new regions, only one Hon Regional Minister- designate was a female, and the Report indicates that five out of the six have been recommended for approval, and it is only the female who has not been recommended yet for approval.
    Mr Speaker, I would want the Hon Bedzrah to know that there were three women Ministers-designate, and not two. In the Report, we only have two because there is one outstanding. I would urge the Committee to work speedily on whatever issues are outstanding, so that the third woman can also be recommended for approval by this House to improve the numbers of female Hon Ministers and Hon Deputy Ministers that we have in this country.
    Mr Speaker, we want more, and we would work, push and advocate for more. So we would hope that whatever issues are outstanding would be addressed speedily, so that we can also have another woman join our ranks as Hon Minister.
    Mr Speaker, we must also commend the Hon Members of this House and the other Hon Colleagues, who are not Hon Members of this House, who have been recommended for approval. It shows the diversity and range of the President's choice —the youth, few women, experienced former Hon Members of Parliament, current parliamentarians and others, who are not in this House — all found favour and were nominated for approval by this House.
    Mr Speaker, I have no doubt that if this House approves or accepts the recommendations of the Committee, they would also contribute to strengthening the President's team to enable him to execute the mandate that he has to ensure that we extend governance to the doorsteps of everyone, and let every Ghanaian feel the impact of the ‘‘Ghana Beyond Aid'', and the development that we all work assiduously to ensure becomes a reality in the first term of his Office, and as we prepare to continue with the good work that he is doing.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you.
    Mr Speaker 1:16 p.m.
    Hon Leaders?
    Majority Leader (Mr Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, respectfully, because of the tall list, you could allow only two more Hon Members from either Side.
    Mr Speaker 1:16 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, that is what I am doing.
    Mr Sampson Ahi (NDC -- Bodi) 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the Floor.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to take this opportunity, on behalf of my Hon Colleagues from the Western Region, to congratulate Hon Aboagye-Gyedu and Hon Alex Tetteh on their appointments as Hon Minister designate and Hon Deputy Minister designate respectively for the Western North Region.
    Mr Speaker, the Western North Region is one of the newly-created regions in the country, and my Hon Colleagues who have been given the opportunity to serve as the first substantive Hon Minister and Hon Deputy Minister are already aware of the challenges at the place, particularly, with regard to the roads.
    Mr Speaker, the previous Government awarded several cocoa roads and when the current Government took over, they said they would undertake investigations. But as I speak, I do not know whether they have completed with that investigation.
    I would want to implore the Hon Minister and Deputy Minister- designate that when they take office, they should put pressure on the Ministry of Roads and Highways so that those abandoned roads could be worked on.
    Mr Speaker, a question was also posed to them about the complaints by cocoa farmers in the Western North Region with regard to insufficient supply of cocoa inputs to spray their cocoa farms.
    They gave the assurance that they would liaise with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Cocoa Affairs Department to ensure that enough cocoa inputs are supplied, so that cocoa farmers in the Western North Region would get enough chemicals to spray their cocoa farms.
    Mr Speaker, recently, a waterfall at Boinzan in the Joaboso District has been discovered, and we were assured by the Hon Minister- designate for Tourism, Arts and Culture that it would be developed to attract tourists to the site, so that it could create employment for the people and revenue for the State as well.
    I would want to draw the attention of the Hon Minister and his Deputy - Minister-designate to the Western North Region to take this as a challenge, and to ensure that the waterfall that has been discovered in Boinzan would be developed to the full benefit of the people in the area and Ghanaians at large.
    Mr Speaker, I also want to commend my Hon Friend, Hon Kofi Amoakohene, who is the Hon Minister-designate for the Bono East Region and Hon Yaw Afful, who is the Hon Deputy Minister-designate for Aviation. Hon Yaw Afful promised that he would work with his Hon Minister to ensure that there is aerodrome in all the regional capitals.
    He even went to the extent of assuring me that he would send an aerodrome to Bodi. [Laughter.] I would want to hold him unto his promise that the people of Bodi are expectant of his promise.
    Mr Speaker 1:16 p.m.
    Hon Member, was the promise made personally to you?
    Mr Ahi 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it was made to the people of Bodi District. [Laughter].
    We would hold on to his promise, and appeal to him that he should collaborate effectively with his substantive Hon Minister so that that objective would be achieved.
    Mr Speaker, there are about 126 Hon Ministers and we are still counting -- I do not know whether the President would add more Hon Ministers or reduce the number, but as a country --
    Mr Speaker 1:16 p.m.
    Hon Member, that is speculative. [Laughter.] What you do not know, do not talk about. You do not know what would happen. This is not a House of speculation.
    Mr Ahi 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in conclusion --
    Mr Speaker 1:16 p.m.
    No, Hon Member, you have finished.
    Mrs Elizabeth N.A. Quaye (NPP -- Krowor) 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to commend the Appointments Committee for the swift vetting of the President's nominees for the various ministerial positions. I would want to commend all the nominees and congratulate them on their nominations.
    Mr Speaker, amongst these nominees, I would want to mention Hon Barbara Oteng-Gyasi who is the Hon Minister designate for Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Hon Nana Eyiah who is the Hon Deputy Minister-designate for Lands and Natural Resources.
    Mr Speaker, in commenting on the Report of the Appointments Committee, I would want to narrow down to some comments made by the Hon Deputy Minister-designate for Lands and Natural Resources.
    In her submission, she mentioned that because of child birth, her education was truncated; but because she was focused and had the courage to pursue her life's ambition, she has been nominated as the Hon Minister- designate for Lands and Natural Resources.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to use this opportunity to encourage the youth, especially the young women, to follow the footsteps of Hon Nana Eyiah. I would want to encourage
    Mrs Elizabeth N.A. Quaye (NPP -- Krowor) 1:16 p.m.


    them not to coil back into their shells, but rather come out with boldness to pursue whatever ambitions they have.

    Mr Speaker, I would want to support the call for 75 out of the 275 positions within Parliament, as advocated by Hon Nana Eyiah, to be reserved for women.
    Mr Speaker 1:26 p.m.
    One more contribution from this Side.
    Mr Kwame T. Ampofo (NDC — Sene West) 1:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to comment on the Report of the Appointments Committee on the nominations of H.E. the President for ministerial and deputy ministerial appointments.
    Mr Speaker, I commend all the Hon Ministers and the good work of the Appointments Committee. I will specifically talk about the Hon Minister for Bono East, Hon Kofi Amoakohene, and Hon Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Hon Minister-designate for Western Region.
    Mr Speaker, when I look at the background of Hon Kofi Amoakohene, as a business-oriented person who comes from our area,
    which is somehow deprived, he would do his best in terms of the provision of roads, water and so many things lacking within our corridor. I know that the Hon Minister knows the terrain well, and the Atebubu-Kwame Danso Road to the river side is dear to our corridor.
    If we look at our area, that is the main trunk that is not tarred at the moment. So, the Hon Minister would work hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Roads and Highways to do his best.
    Mr Speaker, all of us within the corridor have done our best by lobbying through the Ministry of Roads and Highways. Every year, the Atebubu-Kwame Danso road is captured in the Budget Statement, yet the road is still hanging.
    He knows the lack of feeder roads in the area, so I know he would do his best and also help the farmers. There are a lot of farming communities in the area and he would work hand- in-hand to improve the area for development.
    We lack so many things there. Water is also a major problem, so I know he would also work hand in hand with the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, the Ministry of Works and Housing, and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to get more boreholes and water in the area. I wish him well, and I know he would perform.
    There are 11 districts within the Region, so we would work hand-in- hand without being selective. He
    would have to bring us together; we would support him to do well.
    The Hon Minister is welcome on board. He should try to work with the District Chief Executives (DCEs) and the Hon Members of Parliament (MPs) there to bring harmony in the area because he knows our area. He should try his best and do what he can.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to also touch on the Hon Minister for the Western Region, Hon Darko- Mensah. I congratulate him on the job done. I know his background and I know there are a lot of kidnappings in Takoradi.
    I know he would work hand-in- hand with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defence, so that we can curb the ongoing kidnappings. Even in this afternoon's news, there were talks about somebody who tried to kidnap a young child; but fortunately, they have been able to fish the person out.
    So, I hope the Hon Nominee would be on top of his game so far as security is concerned to make sure peace and harmony comes within the area.
    Nana Akua O. Afriyie (NPP — Ablekuma North) 1:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have had numerous comments about the nominations that were made by the President. I have only two lines; I
    am here to congratulate my backbenchers, Hon Naana Eyiah and Hon Benjamin Yeboah Sekyere.
    Mr Speaker, during the vetting of Hon Naana Eyiah, she said something that touched me, which the Hon Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture has commented on. It is about when she was growing up, gave birth and did not give up but pursued what she wanted to do, and here she is.
    Mr Speaker, I am sure most girls coming up would also emulate what she has achieved, not because she was unfortunate to have had a child when she was young. She is a woman that we are learning a lot from; her advice and the way she carries herself are very encouraging. I know that she would do same when she takes up the position.
    Mr Speaker, Hon Sekyere Yeboah is our big man at the back here. He is a nice person. His human relationship is also encouraging and I know that wherever he goes, he will do same. I know that he will also perform. I continue to congratulate them on getting where they are.
    Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 1:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion ably moved by the Hon First Deputy Speaker and Hon Chairman of the Appointments Committee. In doing so, I beg of your indulgence so that the public will appreciate and understand the character of the vetting process under your leadership.
    Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 1:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, while Parliament remains accountable to the people of Ghana who remain sovereign, it is also important that they appreciate what we do at the level of the Appointments Committee. While we would continue to respect protocols, kings and queenmothers and others, it is also important that they cooperate with the work of your Committee in order that the Appointments Committee would operate in an environment where there is sobriety, and we could elucidate the kinds of questions that we demand from nominees to satisfy, not just a legal requirement, but a moral requirement to lead this country in the capacity of an Hon Minister or Hon Deputy Minister of State.
    Therefore it is important that we do not personalise what it is that the Hon Chairman of the Committee insisted under your direction, that limited number of spaces be allocated to nominees, and that they are accompanied by persons not exceeding 10; at most 12. That is our collective decision as a House, to sanitise the work of the Appointments Committee, while we reserve the right to work in a manner that a Committee of Parliament should do.
    Mr Speaker, I also noted that in some instances, discrepancies in the names submitted by the President against what appears on the Curriculum Vitas (CVs) that the nominees submitted, but that is normal and usual to our practice. If we refer to the President's letters of 27th and
    28th February, 2019 which got to you on 1st March, 2019 —

    Mr Speaker, generally, we look at the requirements of who qualifies to be a Minister of State under article 94 of the Constitution. Once a nominee is an Hon MP, even the attitude of the Committee to the vetting process cannot be the same as for an outsider because as an MP, one would have satisfied the basic requirements of article 94, except where there is compelling evidence on any matter that borders on one's integrity, loyalty or disloyalty to the State and the Republic.

    Mr Speaker, I would generally want to congratulate Hon Colleagues. I would not be able to go through the long list as the Hon Chairman has done. Particularly, Mr Speaker, I would note Hon Naana Eyiah, Hon Deputy Minister-designate for Lands and Natural Resources, and wish her well in supporting the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to allow for faster processes of land documentation.

    Mr Speaker, yesterday, you engaged leadership on the ease of doing business. The process in the acquisition of land and the time spent by investors are some of those indices that are used to measure -- We were in St Petersburg, Russia, with Naana Eyiah and she demonstrated interest in matters that affect women.

    Mr Speaker, Hon Sampson Ahi has spoken to my own Northern Region. We need to have a national conversation as a country on 126 Ministers of State for the 16 regions of Ghana, the combined effect of articles 78 and 256 of the Constitution. We need to make a clear distinction. It reflected in the President's letter -- decentralise Hon Ministers, as envisaged under article 256 of the Regional Coordinating Councils, and they would be assisted.

    Mr Speaker, for instance, just as today we have the Hon Northern Regional Minister assisted by Hon Solomon Boar, who has been elevated to a Minister; yet, the two of them oversaw that Ministry. Because that Ministry has been divided into three -- Savannah, North East and Northern, we have additional Ministers and their Hon Deputies.

    The world has moved beyond quantitative numbers. We should look at qualitative numbers, and that is what public sector reform is all about. Hon Ministers are political heads.

    Mr Speaker, I would want to commend Hon Solomon Boar, but he has work to do. The road infrastructure between Bunkpurugu, Nankpanduri and others, and beyond Nalerigu is nothing to write home about.

    Mr Speaker, he has to keep the peace and unity of the people of Walewale, Nalerigu and Gambaga, noting the historical role that Gambaga

    plays in the northern territories -- the denial of regional capital and what that consequence would mean to him.

    Mr Speaker, specifically, I note two gentlemen, Hon Kofi Amoakohene and Hon Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah. They are fine gentlemen. As young as they are, they hold promises. Theirs is to support the President to succeed.

    Mr Speaker, I would give this free advice; the Government should focus on the development of the poultry and cashew industries in the Brong Ahafo Region. If that is their share of the One District, One Factory (1D1F), the Government should provide them the resources so that young people would be free.

    Apart from locating Techiman as a major business hub for that Region, I would also note the dangerous curves that contribute to accidents and other things.

    Mr Speaker, to Hon Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the work he did with his Hon Minister as the Deputy Minister for Aviation [Interruption] -- I know that very soon, work would commence on the expansion of Kumasi and Tamale Airports. He now goes to head the Western Region. As Hon Sampson Ahi pointed out, the Western Region and its consequent division, Western North Region, contribute so much to our national kitty by way of cocoa.

    The matter of cocoa roads and the politics of audit -- If one does an audit and there are people to punish,
    Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 1:36 p.m.


    go head and punish them. We do not hold on. If an audit requires that persons are answerable, let us allow the rule of law to work. But the people of the Western Region want their roads fixed; they want cocoa to move faster to wherever it could be exported.

    Mr Speaker, there is some worrying statistics that, in fact, Europe may even be gaining more from cocoa than Ghana and Ivory Coast, which produce it. We should be interested in researching further on those issues.

    Mr Speaker, in concluding, I listened to the Hon Minister for Communications raise the issue of gender. We would notice that out of 19 referrals, the Appointments Committee after its sitting is approving 18 and standing down one, Mrs Evelyn Ama Kumi Richardson, so that we could further engage.

    The onus is not on the Appointments Committee, but on her to provide further and better particulars to questions on an audit query and a matter relating to land. Subject to that, we would engage her. I am sure the Committee would make the appropriate recommendation. So, no one should leave with any impression that --

    Mr Speaker, we support fully gender and affirmative action. I know where you stand on this matter. Let us get the Spousal Rights Bill passed. We have not been fair to the women of this country, as a Parliament, since

    1993, in our acquiescence of sleeping on this matter. We know what the Constitution dictates in article 122, which you have so religiously referred to all the time. We should get those matters done with.

    Mr Speaker, I was particularly encouraged by the Hon Nominee for the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon Barbara Oteng- Gyasi. Her husband is one of the respected private sector players of our country. How I wish that the country could listen more to personalities of his kind in terms of how we could deepen private sector contribution --
    Mr Speaker 1:36 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, you are talking about the Missus and not the Mister, please.
    Mr Iddrisu 1:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am landing on the lighter note that I trust that she would benefit from some home guidance in order that she would improve.
    Mr Speaker, the tourism sector is private-sector led. Once we have somebody who understands what the private sector could do, it may be a better enterprise for us.
    Mr Speaker, tourism could rake in GH¢1 billion to GH¢2 billion depending upon how we manage it. It is only in Ghana that beaches are poor sites. It is only in Ghana that beachfronts are not expensive and good sites that one should be interested in investing. We need to probe further. It means that from Axim
    to Dixcove through to Nungua, we should make the best economic use of it as a tourist potential. She assured us that she would do her best for the arts industry. The musicians of Ghana are not particularly happy with us on matters of copyright. I believe that she should pay attention. Our hotels are still charging very exorbitant prices.
    Mr Speaker, in concluding, the Hon Deputy Minister for Health who now moves to one of the regions, Hon Aboagye-Gyedu, when he comes to the Appointments Committee, he should carry the weight of his document. When we are doing politics and he quotes figures of 1.2 and he brings his own formula and it is not consistent, we have a duty to hold him to it.
    Mr Speaker, he is a good accountant. He was my senior in the university. We trust that -- but a Government struggling for resources would struggle for resources notwithstanding the good people they send to the regions. There is just no money to work. The District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) is suffering; it has been capped significantly by the Hon Minister for Finance.
    Mr Speaker, so while I wish the Ministers well, they should pray that the Hon Minister for Finance would lift those heavy hands and allow for the DACF to move to the grassroots to support them.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Northern Regional Deputy Minister, now moved, knows that in the Bimbilla conflict, when the Police needed to move and sparked the vehicle, it could not move; resources had not gone down. That is why we are talking about adequate resources.
    Mr Speaker, to the Hon Minister going to the Savannah Region, Hon Braimah, Buipe has enormous potential to become Ghana's second industrial city, even with the agricultural activities in the area. Except that his nemesis as an Hon MP in the Salaga-Makango road and getting Bimbilla linked to Kpandai --
    Mr Speaker 1:46 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, you have been concluding for long by your own statement. [Laughter.]
    Mr Iddrisu 1:46 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to commend our Hon Colleagues, those who have had the elevation, to do their utmost best to serve the President in their various capacities. I wish them well, particularly, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, who demonstrated that he can keep the unity of the Upper West Region.
    Mr Iddrisu 1:56 p.m.


    “The President shall appoint such number of Ministers of State as may be necessary for the efficient running of the State”.

    Mr Speaker, Hon Ministers are given various designations to assist the President to run this country efficiently, and that should be their guiding principle. In whatever capacity each one of them finds himselve, they have to ensure that their work complements that of the President. At the end of the day, it would lead to efficiency and good service to their people and the country.

    Again, article 79(1) of the Constitution determines the roles of Hon Deputy Ministers. They are also to assist their Hon Ministers in the performance of their functions, which is to assist the President to co- ordinate and be the head of the administration of that area.

    Mr Speaker, of all the list of Regional Ministers that was given by the President, she is the only woman. I know that the Committee will further

    engage her. As women of this House and Ghana, we want to hope and believe that she will be approved in no time.

    Again, a word of advice to our Hon nominees; if we look at the Hon Members who appeared before the Committee, the President has exhibited one thing, which is that he believes in the youth of this country.

    If we consider the youthfulness of the Hon nominees who were presented before us, it is a sign that His Excellency the President believes in the youth, and we should not let him down nor soil the opportunity we have and block the chances of other youths who would find themselves in that position.

    We should prove ourselves to be competent; we should prove ourselves to be capable as the future leaders of this country.

    Mr Speaker, on this note, I congratulate all of them and I congratulate H. E. the President for bringing these nominations before the House.

    I thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 1:56 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon Deputy Majority Leader.
    Hon Members, in view of the work ahead of us and the time at the moment, I direct that the Business of the House be carried on beyond the prescribed hours.
    Hon First Deputy Speaker, you may want to conclude, and particularly, with regard to the reference made on page 45 by Hon Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.
    Mr J. Osei-Owusu 1:56 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, before I thank Hon Members, I would want us to make these two corrections quickly. On page 45, the last but three lines should read “women to subscribe”. I am seeking to delete the word “not” after “to”. And on the penultimate line, “them” to be inserted after “enable”.
    Mr Speaker, if you make that correction, the statement would be clearer.
    Mr Speaker, on that note, I thank all Hon Members who contributed and members of the Appointment Committee for the long sitting hours we endured. I urge all to vote in support of the Motion.
    I thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 1:56 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon First Deputy Speaker.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    The House accordingly approved the nominations of the following persons as Ministers and Deputy Ministers in accordance with articles 78(1), 79(1), 256(1) and 256(2) of the 1992 Constitution. Specifically, they are:
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:56 p.m.
    We would certainly deal with that, but before we go --
    Mr Speaker 1:56 p.m.
    I know, but I would want to go by a certain order. Hon Member, Motion listed as item 7, Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:56 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to plead that we go back to item numbered 3.
    Mr Speaker 1:56 p.m.
    I would come back to Questions. But since Motion listed 7 is doable today, we would do it and go back to Questions.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:56 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, respectfully, I need to confer with the Hon Minister responsible for Information on that briefly. So we would take it in the second leg of our Sitting.
    Mr Speaker 1:56 p.m.
    But we are in consultation in that regard.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:56 p.m.
    We would certainly deal with it later.
    Mr Speaker 1:56 p.m.
    Question 491?
    Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 1:56 p.m.
    Mr

    Settled? If it has been done, who moves for the Third Reading?

    Mr Speaker, to serve him notice that we intend to arrest the Third Reading, in consistency with our Standing Orders and to call for the Second Consideration of it to satisfy some other requirements that the coalition demands and we also demand to improve the Bill.

    I thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I indicated to you that I need to confer with the Hon Minister for Information on some new issues that have come up. The Hon Minority Leader is aware of the issues that I intend to confer with the Minister for Information, but now he wants to take the wind out of my sail.
    Mr Speaker, the matter relating to the Minister in charge, because of the amendment that we have effected, this matter that he is referring to again is a yesterday issue. It explains why I am saying that we need to interrogate this matter further before the Third Reading is conducted.
    Mr Iddrisu 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader must show me where my patience ran out on any matter, save where he wants to make use of my time when he does not deserve the time again.
    Mr Speaker, the best person to judge my patience is my wife, not him. [Laughter].
    Mr Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Question addres- sed to the Hon Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture. Hon Minister, you may take the appropriate chair.
    In the process, the Hon First Deputy Speaker would take the Chair.
    Hon Member for Awutu Senya- West, this stands in your name.
    Mr George Andah 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, before I ask my Question, may I have your permission to introduce --
    Mr Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Hon Member, no, you cannot have it. Ask your Question. Those who would see would see. It is not our practice.
    ORAL ANSWERS TO 2:06 p.m.
    QUESTIONS 2:06 p.m.
    MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND 2:06 p.m.
    AQUACULTURE 2:06 p.m.
    Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture (Mrs Elizabeth Naa Afoley Quaye) 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have some updates on the Question asked and I would seek leave to give those answers.
    As part of programmes and plans to improve fisheries infrastructure in the country, this Ministry has earmarked to construct ten (10) landing sites and two (2) fishing harbours in selected communities in the Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions. Government has made the necessary arrangements to provide funding for their construction under the China Development Bank (CDB) facility.
    The fish landing sites will ensure safe launching and landing of fishing vessels especially for inshore boats and canoes, create and maintain a hygienic environment for fish handling, prevent and minimise post-harvest losses, and add value to landed fish.
    For these sites, the facilities to be provided depend on the topography of the site, the volume and value of fish landed and socio-cultural factors. The basic facilities that will be provided at these sites include:
    i.Quay wall;
    ii. Net mending shed;
    iii. Fish market;
    iv. Administration building;
    v. Workshop;
    vi. Day Care Centre;
    vii.Cold storage and ice making plant; and
    viii. Fish processing area.
    Senya Beraku is one of the planned landing sites understood to be the same as the one being referred to in the Question. It should be noted that for all the sites, feasibility studies and Environmental and social Impact Assessments (EIAs) have been done, with the EIAs leading to the acquisition of Environmental Permits for all the sites.
    Construction of the landing sites has been planned in Two phases. The First Phase covers construction of landing sites at Axim, Mumford, Winneba and Teshie. The drawings and designs for phase I landing sites have been completed and is scheduled to commence by the next quarter.
    The next phase of implementing the rest of which Senya Beraku is included is expected to be in 2019/
    2020.
    Mr Speaker, the Master Agree- ment has been signed, and by the close of this week, the subsidiary agreements would also be signed.
    The implementation of the Fish Landing Sites and Fishing Harbour Project is being executed in collaboration with key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Transport and its agencies such as the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), the Ministry of Works and Housing, as well as the Ministry of Finance.
    Mr Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Hon Minister, thank you very much.
    Mr Andah 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my first follow-up question.
    Considering the fact that the sod- cutting of this Project was done in 2008, and the Project was not initiated, is there any reason why Senya Beraku was not considered in the first phase of the Project?
    Mrs Quaye 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes, during the era of His Excellency, former President Kufuor, funding for the project was secured and launching of all planned sites were done. It is however difficult to understand why in the eight years of the NDC Government the implementation of these landing sites was not done.
    Mr Speaker, thankfully, the NPP Administration under His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is committed to ensuring the construc- tion of these landing sites. We have secured the financial agreements, and like I said, by the end of this week we would sign the subsidiary agreement, and construction would start.
    MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
    Mr Andah 2:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my second follow-up question is that the Answer that she gave in the Order Paper seems to suggest that plans are far advanced for funding to be secured from the China Development Bank facility.
    Mr Speaker, my question is, in the unlikely event that there are challenges with the funding, could the Hon Minister assure us that the Senya Beraku Landing Beach project would still take place?
    2. 16 p. m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
    Hon Member, we do not encourage speculative questions. Ask another one.
    Mr Andah 2:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want an assurance from the Hon Minister, that the Senya Beraku Landing Beach project would commence in 2019 and how long it would take for the project to be completed?
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, are you arresting the question?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, no. You are asking him to re-frame the question because the form that it takes now, really offends our rules; Order 67(1) (e). He is asking a hypothetical question. So, if you could re-direct him.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
    I did and he has just re-framed that. He wants the Hon Minister to assure him that the work would begin in 2019 and how long it would take to be completed.
    Mrs Quaye 2:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in my submission, I mentioned that the master Agreement for the construction of the landing sites have been signed and also, that the Subsidiary Agreements would be signed by the end of this week.
    Mr Speaker, we are beginning the construction of the first phase of the landing sites this year and after six months of the beginning of the first phase, the rest would also continue.
    Mr Andah 2:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I take that as an assurance that the Senya Landing Beach project would be commenced in 2019. But I did not get how long it would take for the project to be completed so, if she could just — [Interruption]
    My last follow-up question is, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister if there are any plans for community engagement and community sensitisation as far as this project is concerned and if indeed, these plans are there when these kinds of programmes would be initiated?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
    Hon Minister, do you intend to engage communities and when?
    Mrs Quaye 2:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes, we intend to engage the communities. Before now, sod-cutting took place for some of the landing sites, so we want to be sure of the paper work to ensure that we are done with everything before we start with the community engagements. So, Mr Speaker, yes, we would do the community engagements.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
    He wanted to know how long the project would take to be implemented.
    Mrs Quaye 2:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is expected to take about a year and half to construct one landing site.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
    Hon Member for Bodi?
    Mr Sampson Ahi 2:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker thank you very much. Mr Speaker, in her response to a question posed by my Hon Colleague, the Hon Minister responded that it is difficult to understand why the project was not continued after 2008. I would like to find out from the Minister whether she had taken the trouble to find out the reasons why the project was not continued from 2008?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
    Hon Minister, have you found out what reasons were available?
    Mrs Quaye 2:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I said that it is difficult to understand why.
    Thank you.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
    Hon Member for Effutu?
    Mr Alexander K. Afenyo- Markin 2:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, from paragraph 3 of the Hon Minister's Answer, she has given us the communities that would benefit from phase One. That is Mumford, Axim, Winneba and Teshie. May I know from the Hon Minister the plans she has in encouraging the contractors to ensure local content in executing these projects.
    Mrs Quaye 2:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have not appointed our contractors yet but there is a provision in the Agreement for local content.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
    Hon Member for Yilo-Krobo?
    Mr Magnus Kofi Amoatey 2:15 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. In the Hon Minister's Answer at page 11, with your permission, I quote:
    “The drawings and designs for phase I landing sites have been completed and is scheduled to commence by the next quarter of 2019. The next phase of implementing the rest of which Senya Beraku is included is expected to be in 2019/2020.”
    Mr Speaker, I would like to know from the Hon Minister, what the difference is between ‘commencement of work in the next quarter' and ‘the next phase of implementation?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
    Hon Member for Ellembelle?
    Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah 2:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, which was not in the Order Paper, she alluded to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP). I could not find it in her Answer on the Order Paper.
    But having read her Answer, could the Hon Minister explain to us the reason why this project has not been implemented in the third year of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo's Administration? Is it the same financial constraints that prevented the project from being implemented? -- [Uproar] -- And the Hon Minister is aware that the CDB Loan is a fleeting animal?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
    Hon Member, which one do you want her to answer?
    Mr Buah 2:15 p.m.
    There is no guarantee; we chased the CDB Loan for the last ten years. Is there any guarantee that the CDB Loan would be concluded in time for this project to be implemented within the next year? Could the Hon Minister explain?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
    Hon Member, which question do you want her to answer? You are entitled to one question; you have asked about five questions. Select one.
    Mr Buah 2:15 p.m.
    Could the Hon Minister explain to us the reason this project has not been implemented up to the third year of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's Administration? Is this because of financial constraints?
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:26 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is asking the issue that is dealing with another Ministry. Mr Speaker, Order 69 (1) provides:
    “As soon as a Question is answered in the House any Member beginning with the Member who asked the Question may, without notice, ask a supplementary Question for the further elucidation of any matter of fact regarding which the answer has been given, but a Supplementary Question must not be used to introduce matters not included in the Original Question”.
    Mr Speaker, he is asking of the financials, CDB loan and so on. Where is it in the original Question?
    Mr Speaker, would they have patience and read Standing Order 69 (1)? It does not say that it must not be contained in the original Answer but original Question instead. There is a distinction between the Question and the Answer.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:26 a.m.
    Anyway, I asked the Hon Member to select a Question and he asked her that Question. Hon Minister, he asked why you have not started though you are in your third year.
    Mr Quaye 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have been reviewing and upgrading the designs which were done over 10 years ago. We have updated the designs of the landing site which took time to be done. We have also done an environmental and social impact assessment which also took some time. That is why this year, our third year, it is now time for the construction.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:26 a.m.
    Hon Minister, thank you for attending upon the House to answer Questions. You are discharged.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we can deal with item numbered 5.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:26 a.m.
    Very well. Item numbered 5 -- Presentation of Papers, by the Chairman of the Committee. Hon
    Majority Leader, which Committee is supposed to do this?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am informed that the Report for item numbered 5 (a) which relates to the Finance Committee is not ready, so we could deal with item numbered 5 (b), by the Chairman of the Committee on Mines and Energy.
    The Chairman of the Committee on Mines and Energy is bereaved and so he is not in the Chamber. I seek permission for a member of the Committee, Hon Patrick Bogyako- Siame to submit the Report on behalf of the Committee.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:26 a.m.
    Hon Member, you may submit the Report.
    PAPERS 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Patrick Bogyako 2:26 a.m.
    None

    (i) Report of the Committee on Mines and Energy on the Petroleum Agreement by and among the Government of the Republic of Ghana, Ghana National Petroleum Corpora- tion (GNPC), ExxonMobil Exploration and Production, Ghana (Deepwater) Limited and GOIL Offshore Ghana Limited in respect of Deepwater Cape Three Points Block (DWCTP), Offshore in the Republic of Ghana.
    Mr Patrick Bogyako 2:26 a.m.


    (ii) Report of the Committee on Mines and Energy on the Ghana Iron and Steel Development Corporation Bill, 2019.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:26 a.m.
    Are we going to do item numbered 6?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have already done item numbered 6. That was your own Motion and we have already dealt with it. For items numbered 7 and 8, the Hon Minister had to rush to the Ministry to perform a function. He would be here with us in the next couple of minutes.
    In the meantime, we would also need to take item numbered 8 to continue with the Chartered Institute of Bankers (Ghana) Bill, 2018, and complete same today. I plead that in the circumstance, we take a short suspension and come back to deal with item numbered 7, that is the Third Reading of the Right to Information Bill and then we would see where we would get to with the Chartered Institute of Bankers (Ghana) Bill, 2018. We could suspend for an hour, up to 3.30 p. m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:26 a.m.
    Very well, Minority Leadership?
    Mr Chireh 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Leader of Government Business has decided, so we have no objection to what he said.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:26 a.m.
    Very well. The House is accordingly suspended until half past three.
    2.33 p. m. -- Sitting suspended.
    5.39 p.m. -- Sitting resumed
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:26 a.m.
    Available Hon Leader, what should we do? Should we do item numbered 7 or 8?
    Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we would do item numbered 8.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:26 a.m.
    Very well.
    Item numbered 8 -- Chartered Institute of Bankers (Ghana) Bill, 2018 at the Consideration Stage.
    BILLS -- CONSIDERATION 2:26 a.m.
    STAGE 2:26 a.m.
  • [Continuation of Debate from 25/03/2019]
    • Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:26 a.m.
    We were on clause 29 yesterday.
    Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Committee has just walked in so we would call on him --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:26 a.m.
    Very well.

    Chairman of the Committee? There is a proposed amendment in your name.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Stevens Siaka) 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 29, add the following new subclause:
    “The Council shall designate a serving officer as Secretary to the Council.”
    Mr Speaker, the purpose of this is to relieve the CEO.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 29 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill
    Clause 30 -- Internal Audit Unit
    Mr Siaka 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 30, subclause (5), line 2, delete “Minister” and insert “Chief Executive Officer”.
    Mr Speaker, the reason is that these are internal control arrangements and there is no need for it to be extended to the Hon Minister. It is only external issues that could be extended to the Hon Minister, but once they are internal arrangements the CEO should be able to deal with them.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Shaibu Mahama 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, before you put the Question on the whole of clause 30, on sub clause 5, I have noted that in recent legislations, we have shied away from making specific references to subsections when we do cross referencing, but rather to just make reference to the Act itself. For example, it should read: “The Internal Auditor shall in accordance with the Internal Audit Agency Act'' instead of making specific references to sections.
    Mr Speaker, the reason is that because it is a living document, anytime there is a change to that parent Act, the sections may change and therefore, the cross referencing becomes useless. So, we should rather make reference to the Act itself and not specific sections of the Act.
    Mr Yieleh Chireh 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would plead with my Hon Colleague to withdraw his proposed amendment because no matter what amendments we make to an Act, the section would remain the same unless it is deleted.In this particular case, the specific reference would not change much, so we should refer to it directly.
    Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in addition to what my Hon Colleague from the other Side said, the specific reference makes it easier and no matter what, an amendment is even possible because the whole clause that we refer to may even be deleted from the Act. In that case, we would not have done anything. I think it must be left at the specific reference.
    Mr Shaibu Mahama 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I humbly withdraw it.

    Clause 30 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.

    Clause 31 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

    Clause 32 -- Bank account of the Institute
    Mr Shaibu Mahama 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, clause 32 says, and with your permission, I beg to quote:
    ‘'Moneys for the Institute shall be paid into a bank account of the Institute opened by the Council…''
    Mr Speaker, it is not the Council that opens the account, but it rather authorises the opening of the account. So we may have to change it.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:26 a.m.
    Hon Member, what is your proposed amendment?
    Mr Shaibu Mahama 2:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it should be “opened” by management and not “opened by the Council”.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:49 p.m.
    It is a private organisation so to speak and not a public sector, where it would require approval by the Accountant- General et cetera so I wonder if it is the Council — If it is any other than the Council because I do not see any administrative structure that there is a Chief Executive and other staff — At best, you can say, “authorised by the Council for the purpose”.
    Hon Members, it is for your consideration. He has proposed that the Council would not be the one to open the account but can authorise it.
    Mr Banda 5:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is nothing wrong with the current rendition, because the Council is the governing Council of the Institute. To that extent, they cannot be left out when the opening of an account is concerned.
    If the Hon Member wants the account to be opened by the management, then I would rather propose that management may open the account, but with prior authorisation or approval of the Council. The Council is the governing Council of the Institute and for that matter, it cannot be left out completely when it comes to matters which border on finances.
    Mr S. Mahama 5:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if we look at clause 28, “Functions of the Chief Executive Officer,” subclause 1 reads:
    “The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the affairs of the Institute and is answerable to the Council in the perfor- mance of functions under this Act.”
    That includes managing the accounts.
    Mr Chireh 5:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the word “opened” is in the past and so, it is not a process or something that is to be opened, in which case, we are talking about authorisation. Mr Speaker, “opened by the Council” could also mean that it was through the effort of the Council, but the account belongs to the Council. That is how I understand the current rendition.
    If it was a process and we ask somebody to open an account, like in the public sector where we say, “with the prior approval of the Controller and Accountant-General”, that would be different. With regard to the functions the Hon Member referred to, if we say, for instance, the Chief Executive Officer is to open the account, then, that would be a different matter.
    It is an account that has already been opened, so, it is the ownership that we are talking about. Who owns the account? It is the Council.
    Mr Quaittoo 5:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, opening of accounts of many organisations is usually not done by
    the Board of Directors. It is the Board that approves and it is the management of the institute that opens the account.
    Usually, when one goes for the documents, the Board Chairman would have a portion to sign, and that is the approval. After the Board has approved, then the management of that organisation goes ahead to open the account. So here, we can say,
    “Moneys for the Institute shall be paid into a bank account of the Institute opened by the Institute with approval from the Council”.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:49 p.m.
    Hon Members, there is a proposed new rendition, “opened by the Institute with approval of the Council.”
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 5:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think the former Hon Deputy Minister has got it right. I looked for the capacity of the Council to open an account by itself. I can agree to the proposed amendment, because the Institute is a non-statutory body with capacity so they can direct the opening of an account. They can open an account because it is a legal person now with the approval of the Council. That should be the rendition. I support the amendment by Hon Quaittoo.
    Mr S. Mahama 5:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I accept the further amendment.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:49 p.m.
    So the new rendition would be:
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:49 p.m.


    “Money for the Institute shall be paid into a bank account opened by the Institute with approval of the Council.”

    Question put and amendment agreed to.

    Clause 32 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.

    Clause 33 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

    Clause 34 — Accounts and audit.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:49 p.m.
    Hon Members, there is no advertised amendment and so I will put the Question.
    Mr Banda 5:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have borrowed the language of the Constitution in formulating provisions in the nature of clause 34(1), which deals with the Auditor-General, and that is article 187(3) of the Constitution. There is a way that we have drafted provisions of this nature.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to. I can redraft clause 34(1) to read.
    “The Council shall keep all books, records, returns and other documents in the form approved by the Auditor- General.”
    Mr Speaker, that is how article 187(3) has been crafted and that is
    how we have been doing it in this august House lately.
    Mr Chireh 5:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he seems to have left out “books”. He only mentioned books, but it should be “books of accounts” as it already exists in the Bill. What books? Library books or what? [Laughter.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:59 p.m.
    Hon Members, what is here reads:
    “The Council shall keep the books of accounts and records in the form approved by the Auditor-General.”
    I am not sure whether it is not sufficient to cover what the Auditor- General. Whatever it is that must be kept, it must be in the form which the Auditor-General approves. That is the cardinal thing; once we have covered that, how we capture it here would not make any difference.
    Mr Chireh 5:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if you look at article 187(3) of the Constitution, it says and I beg to quote:
    “For the purposes of clause (2) of this article, the Auditor- General or any person authorised or appointed for the purpose by the Auditor-General shall have access to all books, records, returns and other documents relating or relevant to those accounts.”
    So in the end, “accounts” is referred to, unless we lift it as exactly stated here, but this is in a different context; that is when the person does the auditing.
    We are lifting this quotation from the “returns and other documents relating or relevant to those accounts”. It is either we go back to what is in the Bill or his proposal should end with the word, “accounts”.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:59 p.m.
    Hon Members, if we look at article 187 (2) of the Constitution, it talks about public accounts. Yesterday, there was an issue as to whether this body is a public or a private association. If it is a private association, we are only making rules to enable them to be regulated, so to speak.

    Hon Member for Tamale Central, I thought I had given you the Floor.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 5:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have always told my Hon Chairman, that for a very long time we have been together, I have never known him to be easily convinced by a non-lawyer.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman knows that this rendition is right, except that the Hon Majority Leader once upon a time convinced him that we should lift verbatim the words in
    the Constitution and that is where the problem is. There is no problem at all with this rendition and I pray that we revert to it and leave it as that.
    Mr Banda 5:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my attention has just been drawn to the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act and subsequent Bills that were brought before Parliament especially, the Legal Aid Commission Bill. This is the way we crafted it and we all agree that when it comes to superiority of laws, the Constitution reigns.
    Mr Speaker, first of all, we are talking about books of accounts and, secondly, who to audit them; it is the Auditor-General. If we examine the way article 187 (3) of the Constitution has been crafted, it is in such a way so as to include books, records, returns and other documents”.
    Mr Speaker, we would realise that under this current Bill, there is an omission of “returns” and “other documents”. Are we saying that returns and other documents are not recognised so far as accounting system is concerned? If we want to restrict it to the way clause 34 has been crafted, it limits the scope of clause 34 to the extent that it excludes other documents.
    Mr Speaker, I therefore humbly propose --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:59 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, should the Auditor- General direct that they include returns in the format, would that be illegal because this law does not
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:59 p.m.


    mention it specifically? We have said that, as directed by the Auditor- General, should the Auditor-General direct that this and that be provided and it includes the returns, would that be illegal because the law did not mention “returns” specifically?
    Mr Banda 5:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if this law does not include “other documents”, my interpretation on it would be that, the Auditor-General cannot direct that other documents be included.
    Mr Bernard Ahiafor 5:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to be educated. We are talking about, “records”, are “other documents” not records”? If they are records and the phrase used here is “books of accounts and record”, definitely, if “other documents” is ‘record', the Auditor-General can call for the record accordingly for purposes of auditing unless “other documents” is different from “record”. If it is the same, then there is virtually no need repeating the constitutional provision in this particular law.
    Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 5:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thought the issue was settled when Hon Yieleh Chireh proposed that if we look at article 187(3) of the Constiution, the only word that was omitted from the proposal of the Chairman of the Hon Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs was, “account” and we should insert it.
    Mr Speaker, so far as I am concerned, we have used the words the way the Constitution has couched it in recent legislation. The only thing is that he omitted “account”. So we should add “books of accounts” or lift what is in the Constitution and place it at the end. We should include, “returns and other documents” as well.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:59 p.m.
    The real issue is whether there is anything wrong with the provision as it stands? If there is nothing wrong, changing it or lifting the one in the Constitution, in my view, is much ado about nothing. We would achieve the same purpose. We have references to “records”, “accounts” and “as directed by the Auditor-General”. That the current rendition serves the same purpose.
    Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 6:09 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, to the extent that article 187(3) talks about accounts and records as we have them here “the books of accounts and records”, but it adds “returns and other documents”. I am sure that in the wisdom of the framers of the Constitution, there may be other books and so, we would be covered if we go by the letter of the Constitution. That is why we are proposing that.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:09 a.m.
    So if we insert “returns and other documents” in the current rendition, would that solve the problem?
    Mr Opare-Ansah 6:09 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think the current does not stop the Auditor-General from obtaining any kind of document that he wants to.
    Indeed, if we had not even included “books of accounts” and the provision had just read, “The Council shall keep records in the form approved by the Auditor-General', it would still have been good. The Auditor-General can prescribe one of those records to be the books of accounts. It is records or returns but the important thing there is that whatever is kept, be they books, records or returns, it will be in the form prescribed by the Auditor- General. That is the important thing.
    On this note, I would like to think like somebody from Wa West.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 6:09 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is why we urge the Hon Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee to abandon what we went for under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act. We are talking about the functions of the Auditor-General in relation to, not only public institutions, but to a gamut of institutions.
    Under article 187(2) of the Constitution, some of those institutions will only file returns as they do not have books of accounts. So the Auditor-General will have to direct the form the returns will have to be filed. It is not all institutions that file returns. Some other institutions will have to maintain documents of expenditure and so, that is why you would see in article 187 that all the different shades
    of documents that would be needed for purposes of auditing have been provided.
    Mr Speaker, it does not mean that when we set up a public institution that keeps only books of accounts and records, we should add “returns” and “other documents”. [Interruption.] Read article 187(2) with (3) and you will clearly see that it is an expanse. So they provided all those remits for the purpose of meeting the obligation of these institutions which perform different functions for the purposes of auditing.
    In my view, for this particular one, it is only “books of accounts and records in the form directed by the Auditor-General” that should be kept. We might come across a law which will require only “returns in the form directed by the Auditor-General” to be kept.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:09 a.m.
    Hon Members, we have to take a decision now. Are we retaining the existing rendition or the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs insists on his amendment, in which case, I will put the Question.
    Mr Banda 6:09 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I will, but before I do that, I just want to say from the submissions made by the Hon Ranking Member that if “books”, “records” and ‘returns' will not be applicable to all the institutions, but depending on which institution is in question, the institution in question will then determine whether the Auditor- General will have to use “books”,
    Mr Siaka 6:09 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that clause 36, headnote, after “tuition” add “or related banking services”.
    Mr Speaker, these are related services that can only be provided by professional bankers.
    Mr Ahiafor 6:09 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to understand why it should be “related banking services”.
    Clause 36 talks about registration to provide tuition and now, the proposal is to amend to add “or related banking services”. I would want to know why “related banking services” should be there?
    Mr Opare-Ansah 6:09 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, if you look at the next amendment to be proposed by the Hon Chairman in item 8 (iv), you will see that he seeks to split the provision in clause 36 to two different items. One is the provision of tuition and the other is the provision of related banking services.
    Mr Speaker, elsewhere in the Bill, there is a list of services that are referred to as, “related banking services” under clause 41 -- Interpretation, captured as item 8 (xiii) on the Order Paper. We have listed all those items. The headnote seeks to point to the fact that one can either register to provide tuition or related banking services.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Siaka 6:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move clause 36, delete and insert the following:
    “A person who seeks to provide
    (a) Tuition for professional examination in banking; or
    (b) Related banking service shall register with the institute.”
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 36 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Clause 37ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Clause 38 -- Offences
    Mr Siaka 6:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 38, paragraph (a), line 2, delete “banking profession” and insert “institute”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Siaka 6:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 28, paragraph (b), line 3, delete “banking profession” and insert “institute”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 38 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Clause 39 -- Regulations
    Mr Siaka 6:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 39, opening phrase, delete “may” and insert “shall, within twelve months of the coming into force of this Act”.
    Mr Speaker, we believe “shall” imposes an obligation with a timeline. So the new rendition would be:
    “The Minister shall, by Legislative Instrument, make Regulations to:
    (a) prescribe practice standards for members of the institute;
    (b) provide the discipline of members; and
    (c) prescribe forms for the purpose of this Act.”
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:19 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader, do you want an amendment?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am sorry. I thought we were still on clause 38 because I noticed a fundamental error in clause 38 (c), but there is no advertisement for amendment there.
    I do not know whether we could relax it or not.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:19 p.m.
    Yes, we can return to it and finalise it. Let us finish with clause 39 and go back to clause 38.
    Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 6:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, inasmuch as I agree that of late we are heading towards giving timelines to Hon Ministers to actually come out with legislations, I believe a year is a very short time. I may want to propose that it must be done within 24 months instead of a year.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:19 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, what is the purpose? It reads “The Minister shall” -- If he does not do it, what happens? Do we have to go to court to compel him to do it?
    Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 6:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have done that in previous legislations. When we crafted the Northern Development Authority, the Middle Belt and the Southern Belt Development Bills, we actually put the fact that they must do it and a timeline was given. It is safe to say that I know the Ministry is still gathering to bring the legislation to Parliament around this time, which is over a year now.
    We are learning from the practical aspect of it, and that is why I propose the 24 months so that, at least, the Hon Minister shall be judged by what he does within the ambit of the law he is mandated to operate under.
    Mr Ahiafor 6:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am thinking aloud. We are making it mandatory on the part of the Hon Minister to come out with a Regulation. What if the Minister has no need of a Regulation to give effect to this particular Act? So, the use of “may” is appropriate for me.
    Mr Speaker, my second reason is that, if we give timelines within which the Hon Minister is supposed to come out with the Regulations, what happens if he or she fails to comply?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:19 p.m.
    The danger is that we are saying he should bring it within one year. If he brings it
    in the 13th month, is that legal? It says he should bring Regulations within 12 months; if he fails and brings it in the 13th month, does it qualify to be a legal document?
    Mr Chireh 6:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in many jurisdictions, if they pass an Act or a law, indeed, it is required that they prepare Regulations to accompany it. One of the reasons we gave timelines was because some laws were passed, and for 10 years to 20 years, no Regulations have accompanied them. With regard to Stool Lands, the Regulations came recently.
    In fact, people asked for sanctions for those who failed to meet this deadline because many laws were passed and many said that because there were no Regulations, they could not operationalise the law.
    Indeed, it should be a requirement that when one starts a law, one should also bring the Regulations. It should not take long because the things are outlined in the Act. Once it is put in the law that there would be Regulations --
    The Regulations always indicate the areas that we need them; but it is important that we give timelines and put pressure on the Hon Ministers. Whether they comply or not, we would report to the President that an Hon Minister is not working.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:29 p.m.
    Let me listen to Hon Opare-Ansah first.
    Mr Opare-Ansah 6:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that we should go by the 12 months. If we look at the items listed for which the Regulations are required, for instance, the prescription of standards for the practice of members in provision for discipline of members even forms, which possibly could include registration forms.
    These are things that are required for the proper functioning of the Institute as quickly as possible. That is why I believe when the winnowing Committee met with the practitioners, they were of the view that not only should we add a timeline, but we should compel the Hon Minister to also bring these Regulations to the House within the shortest possible time.
    So I would go with the 12 months recommendation as contained in the original amendment proposed by the Hon Chairman.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:29 p.m.
    Hon Leader, did you want to say some- thing?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe that we should have a provision that sets out timelines for the Hon Minister to submit the Regulations, which would help to operationalise the Bill.
    Mr Speaker, yes, for now, we are not in the position to talk about any sanction regime. The Auditor-General for instance, is required under the Constitution to submit his report on Ministries, Departments and Agencies
    six months after the expiry of a financial year. How many times do they comply? They do not, and yet we have the moral authority to bring them under the Constitution to point out the deficiency in their operations.
    So Mr Speaker, I believe that for a start, we could deal with that and perhaps, when we grow as a country or a Parliament, we could then begin to fashion out some sanctions for non- compliance; but if we leave it blank, then they are not in the position to operationalise the Bills that we pass.
    We passed the Health Insurance Act and, for donkey years, the Regulations did not come. So I believe that we need to send the appropriate signal that the Hon Ministers should come to the House in a defined time with the Regulations.
    Mr Speaker, when we wait for a while and they do not bring it, we could bring them to the House to respond to why they are not able to bring the Regulations in good time, then the House would know. If the Hon Minister should require additional time, we would then know that we are working within some defined time confines.
    So I think that it is important that we commit the Hon Ministers to some time frame in order for them to come with the Regulations.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:29 p.m.
    Nobody has offered an opinion as to the legal effect of bringing a regulation
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:29 p.m.


    after the time period that has been given.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, those are the issues that I raised. With the Auditor-General, reports that Hon Ministers are required to submit to this House, they have often been breached, but at least, we have that law there, which should compel Hon Ministers to submit themselves to this House. That is the point I made, and that is why I said, perhaps, when we grow further, we would be able to define for ourselves --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:29 p.m.
    I still do not think that it has anything to do with growing up. It has everything to do with whether it has ever been challenged.
    If anybody challenges a finding in the Auditor-General's report submitted after the constitutional date, what would be the position?
    Mr Banda 6:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, to the best of my knowledge, I believe that there is no rule in the Standing Orders that addresses the legal issue you have raised, which is the legal effect of Regulations submitted outside the prescribed time limit.
    I know that in the court room scenario, where one is required to do something within a certain prescribed period, if one is not able to do same, one cannot purport to do that act outside the prescribed limitation period unless one applies for
    extension of time; and this is applicable to a court room scenario.
    If one purports to do it outside the prescribed limitation period, which is after the expiration of time, without seeking for extension of time from the court, one's purported act is null and void, and is of no effect.
    The question is, could we apply that to the scenario we are talking about here in this august House? I believe nobody has attempted to have an interpretation put thereon in any court before.
    Mr Speaker, secondly, the moment we mention “shall”, it means it is mandatory; but in this particular case, it is not accompanied by any sanction. Somebody may argue that if it is mandatory but it is not accompanied by any sanction, then what is the sense or purpose for making it mandatory?
    Mr Speaker, I believe there is still a way out, which is that if it is mandatory and there is no sanction accompanying the provision, we would agree that we have the remedy of mandamus. Somebody could resort to the order of mandamus to compel the Hon Minister to act within the prescribed period - a mandamus directed against the Hon Minister after the passage of the law to act within the prescribed period.
    So Mr Speaker, yes, the legal effect may be that the document brought outside the prescribed period may suffer from invalidity, and this has not been tested yet; but we know that
    within our jurisprudence, the remedy of mandamus could be resorted to compel the Hon Minister to act within the prescribed period.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:29 p.m.
    Let me listen to the Hon Minority Leader.
    Mr Iddrisu 6:39 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, my expectation was that we take guidance from the question that you posed.
    If we look at clause 39, once we substitute “may” with “shall”, we do not need to walk the period of 12 months again. We should just keep ourselves -- we delete “may”. So, it would read:
    “The Minister shall by legislative instrument make regulations…”,
    Then the rest flow because “shall” is a mandatory activity.
    The fact that this House acquiesces and sleeps in ensuring that people keep to the principle of governance is not one for which we should legislate and give 12 months; no.
    When was the Public Financial Management Act, passed? We all know how important it is in terms of the fiscal management of the economy; yet, it took more than one or even two years to have its accompanying Regulations.

    Mr Speaker, what is the essence of a Regulation? It is to operationalise

    a parent Act to get it more functional and to make it efficient as well as easily implemented. So once we have “shall', we do not need “within twelve months”. I have a difficulty with that.

    We could expect that Hon Ministers would make sure that -- [Interruption.] -- I support “may” being substituted with “shall”; but not to tie it to a “twelve month” period.

    We are developing, and we expect that in the future, the President should measure Hon Ministers by the extent to which they contribute to legislative processes as part of their core duties and functions.

    If we bring an Act that is supposed to be accompanied by a Regulation, it should be part of the indices that the Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation would use to measure people.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:39 a.m.
    Hon Opare-Ansah? [Interruption.]
    Hon O. B. Amoah, I have not heard you; I would hear you.
    Mr Opare-Ansah 6:39 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think the Hon Minority Leader was outside the Chamber when the point was made about the need to compel Hon Ministers to work within a certain time frame. We made the point that in certain pieces of legislation, there is “shall” but they never even come. That is why in this instance, we are thinking of putting in place some time frame.
    Mr Opare-Ansah 6:39 a.m.


    Mr Speaker, but this House is a master of its own rules, and how we legislate does not invalidate anything that comes out of this House. Mr Speaker—
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:39 a.m.
    Sorry, could you say that again; how we legislate does not do what?
    Mr Opare-Ansah 6:39 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am saying that we are masters of our own rules and —[Interruption]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:39 a.m.
    Hon Member, address me.
    Mr Opare-Ansah 6:39 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am referring to the rules of procedure; we are masters of our own rules.
    Mr Speaker, you would note that when Hon Ministers of State notice that there is something required of them in a law that they are supposed to do outside Parliament, they are quick to run to this House to ask for extension of time. For instance, in the matter of the of Excise Stamp, they came to this House. It was a Bill, I think, that was passed in 2013 and they were supposed to have done something 2015, but it elapsed. They
    then came to this House to ask for extension of time. Several times, we have seen Hon Ministers come when it is something they must do outside Parliament.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:39 a.m.
    Hon Opare-Ansah, let us not go far. As soon as we pass a Bill and the President assents to it to become a law, we are functus officio; we have finished, we cannot touch it unless there is an Amendment Bill before us.
    When it comes to our rules, it is what regulates us here internally. I have even suspended it before so that we could work on the Right to Information Bill; but when it comes to the law for the whole country, it is when the President assents to it—
    The question really has not been answered, and I think it is very important that we look at it. When we give any Hon Minister time-twelve months, twenty-four months—
    Mr Opare-Ansah 6:39 a.m.
    Mr Speaker—
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:39 a.m.
    One moment; I want us to be clear.
    The Hon Chairman of the Constitu- tional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee actually stated the legal position; twelve months. If you break it one after the twelve months, it is null and void. Once we understand that effect, it means we know what we are doing. If it cannot be done within the twelve or twenty-four months, it cannot never be done forever, unless we amend the law. It is that what we want?
    Mr O. B. Amoah 6:39 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is a very important and interesting aspect of our subsidiary legislation regime. This country is very guilty of the issue of deciding to make Regulations and going to bed.
    The National Development Planning Committee (NDPC) Act, which was passed in 1994 had its Regulations made in 2016. Indeed, when my good Friend, Hon Yieleh Chireh was the Hon Minister for Health, he had an Act passed in 2012; but as we speak, there are no Regulations to the Act. That is why sometimes, we are pushed to give timelines.
    When the Hon Minority Leader was the Hon Minister for Employment and Social Welfare, he brought a Bill here -- Youth Employment Agency Act. We managed to push him to do the Regulations within six months, and he complied.
    Recently, with the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, we managed to ask that within 90 days, Regulations should be made, and that was complied with.
    Indeed, elsewhere in most Commonwealth countries, when they make an Act, they are supposed to provide Regulations within a certain period. In India, if they go beyond that period, they should ask for permission as to why they have not been able to make the Regulations. There is some discipline in the whole system.
    Mr Speaker, but when we say the Minister “may” make Regulations and go to bed, they take years to even think of the Regulations. Without the Regulations, the Act cannot be fully implemented.
    If we go to the National Health Insurance Act, it has listed about 25 things that should be done under Regulations but not a single one has been done because there is no timeline for making Regulations. So, it is our own conduct and attitude that pushes us to talk about timelines within which Regulations should be made.
    When we say “may”, it becomes discretionary and we go to sleep. If it is “shall” then there should be some timelines. If for any reason they have not met the timelines, they should explain why. [Interruption.] Depending on the Act that we want to pass and the circumstances, we may be pushed to put in timelines.
    We have done that in this House and it has worked, except that it is not in every situation that we would insist that there should be Regulations. By and large, we should look at some of these things; otherwise we would abuse the whole system and there would be no point to putting in an Act that the Hon Minister may make Regulations.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 6:49 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are using our experience in formulating the Office of Special Prosecutors Act to cure absurdities - - to say that from now on, we should compel all Hon Ministers with use of
    the word, “shall” in matters of legislation. In the Office of the Special Prosecutor's case, the subsidiary legislation required was specific and directive for its operations and for recruitment.
    Mr Speaker, we are being told here that if the Hon Minister does not comply, it has no legal effect at all; it only has a political effect. We could come here to say that the Hon Minister has not complied but it has no legal effect. Anytime the Minister brings the L. I. into this House, it would be laid. If we use “shall” it has no legal effect. If we use “shall” and he breaches it, we could go to court, and he would come back to lay it.

    It is not null and void but only a political effect. That is what we must know.

    Mr Speaker, it is simple. If the Minister has six months to lay a provision here, but does not do so and comes to this House to lay it after six months, are we saying that because of the law, we would not allow the Hon Minister to lay the Legislative Instrument (L.I.)? If we say sanction, it is a political decision and not a legal decision. If after six months the Hon Minister appears in this House and lays the L. I. it would be so laid.

    Secondly, the amendment proposed has no place in this law. Are we saying that when we substitute “may” with “shall within twelve months”, the Hon Minister must come

    to this House and amend the First Schedule in respect of the Disciplinary Committee and its procedures for proceedings?

    That is why it is “may”. That is permissible because there are certain things that would only happen when there is the need for it. [Interruption.] I am still on the Floor, and I am being harassed. [Laughter.]

    Mr Speaker, my understanding is that we are considering item numbered 8 (vii), which says:

    Clause 39, opening phrase, delete “may” and insert “shall, within twelve months of the coming into force of this Act”

    That is a preambular statement, which and affects all that comes after it. I argue that when we put that there, it would lead us into the realm of absurdities.
    Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 6:49 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, to some extent, I agree with my Hon Friend on the other Side, Alhaji Fuseini, because if we look at clause 39(d), we cannot use “shall”. I wonder why he jumped from paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) to (d). It means that “shall” will be applicable there. Also, if we look at paragraph (f), which says that it shall be mandatory to, and I beg to quote:
    “(f) provide for any other matter necessary for the effective implementation of this Act”.
    So, I propose that for paragraph (a), (b), (c) and (f), we should use the mandatory “shall”. In other words, let us split it and then for subclause (d), we use “may”. This is because if we look at paragraph (d), for instance, the First Schedule had already provided for disciplinary measures which they might use, which there might not be the need to amend.
    There might not be the need for what has been provided for in the Second Schedule. So, let us split them and use “may” for subclause (d), and for paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (f) we should use the mandatory “shall” and go by the timeline.
    Mr Ahiafor 6:49 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I disagree with my learned Hon Senior when he says the issue of giving a time frame is just political. If this Bill is passed into law, it would become an Act of Parliament. It is trite learning that when a procedure regarding time is set by an Act of Parliament, it would have to be followed in exercising whatever rights.
    This has been the decision in the cases of Askam vs Karam and of Boyefio vs NTHC. Therefore we cannot say that this Act, prescribing a time frame within which the Regulation would have to be made is political but would not have a legal effect.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:49 a.m.
    I raised the issue regarding the time limit within which to operate, and I still think that it is very important that we consider it because my view has
    not changed. There are judgments to the effect that if the law gives a time limit within which you must do something, if you do not do it within that period, anything you do outside that is null and void.
    We have had several examples of doing things many years after. Let us not put into the law time limits such that if we fail, anything to do with Regulations would be forever barred, unless we amend that part. We cannot come to Parliament or go to court to ask for the extension of time. So, if we say “shall” but not give any time limit, then we are safe. Otherwise the rule and the law is settled, and anything outside the time period is null and void.
    Hon Second Deputy Speaker, I saw that you wanted to make a comment on that one.
    Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin 6:49 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I just indicated to my Hon Colleagues that I am against both issues raised, which is changing “may” to “shall” and giving a time limit. You have given the legal position with regard to “shall” and the time limit. Looking at the clause in question, we want to compel the Hon Minister to do so by only Regulation. Can the Hon Minister not do it by rules?
    If we look at article 11, it stipulates that we can come here by order, rule or regulation. When we talk about rules of ethics and codes of conduct as mentioned, should they necessarily be by Regulations? No, and that is why when we say “shall, within twelve months of the coming into force of this
    Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin 6:59 p.m.


    Act, make Regulations”, it means that the Hon Minister cannot come to the House using rules or a code of conduct. It must be by Regulations. So I am totally against the use of “shall”. It should be the Minister may -- He can come through the rules of ethics or codes of conduct and set a standard which is not a Regulation.

    We do not need to do that only by Regulation. Even by our Standing Orders here, when we look at Standing Order 212, Committees are to Report to the House, within the Session ,on matters referred to them. If they fail to do so, they should tell the House why they have not been able to comply with that time limit. Have we been enforcing it?

    We recognise the fact that in this country the failure by the Hon Ministers to comply with these provisions does not mean that they do not do their work well. There are weak institutions -- our institutions have not matured to the extent that they can effectively support various leaders to deliver. We have not done that yet .

    We are now doing mandatory periods and we try to use that to assess the performance of the Hon Minister. Hon Ministers do not make Regulations by themselves. It has to come from the various agencies, the professions and the professionals involved. So why would the Hon Minister be held responsible when the thing is not coming?
    Mr O. B. Amoah 6:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is a very important debate which is supposed to enrich what we do. Indeed, some of us have advocated that there should be an Act on subsidiary legislation in this country Since 1959 that there was an Act which is the Statutory Instrument Act, the Constitution came to repeal it and since then we do not have any Act.
    But for the records, in most Commonwealth countries when they even prepare the Act, they prepare Regulations alongside so that the
    moment the Act is passed within the months, the Regulation is brought. This is because a lot of things are left out for Regulations.
    Mr Speaker, it is not because ingredients were not ready that it took NDPC 24 years to bring Regulations to Parliament. There was nothing about ingredients. It is just that we went to sleep because it took the World Bank to push us to do it because it was to trigger some funds from the World Bank. I was the Hon Chairman of the Committee and there was nothing about ingredients. It was the fact that we went to sleep.
    Mr Speaker, as I speak, the Health Act has not been brought to Parliament. Is there anything which impedes the bringing of the Regulations to Parliament? Just a few weeks ago, the Hon Minister came to Parliament about Regulations under the Local Governance Act. It got to a point and the response was that, it is ‘'may'' so it is discretional -- If one likes then one would do the Regulations.
    Mr Speaker, if that is the way we would want to go, then we are far behind when it comes to these practices in the Commonwealth countries. This is not what countries like United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, India and the rest do.
    That we go to sleep just by putting in, “the Hon Minister may make Regulations''. With even the Regulations we are talking about, it
    could be changed to Legislative Instrument (L.I.) which would cover Orders and Rules so that nobody is restricted to only Regulations.
    Mr Bagbin 6:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague got everything wrong. Even though the law was passed in 1994, it took time for the NDPC Council itself to be established. [Interrup- tion.] Yes, we could say that it took quite a long time, but they could not have complied if they were given 12 months.
    To start with, even the resources for that body to work with -- we should look at the budget we have been passing. It is not that people go to sleep and people do not work, but they are not given the necessary tools to work with.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member compared us to the other Parliaments in Commonwealth, but in those Parliaments when they even pass laws they look at the financial implications and they are able to advise and legislate the sources of the financing to implement the law. Is that what is done here? In this Parliament, do we have the technical people to support us to do that? No.
    We do not even have a legal department. We still depend on the Attorney-General's Department. So we just do not copy blindly [Interruption.] Maybe, that is a strong word, so I withdraw it because I see you object to it.
    We should evolve and evolve within our resource constraints. I am
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Hon Inusah Fuseini raised some issues which relate to the structure of clause 39, that is, if we should employ “shall'' and also prescribe a time frame and how it would affect paragraph (d). The cure is for us to make a distinction between paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) and then we captured (d) and (f) separately. That would cure that mischief.

    Mr Speaker, can Hon Fuseini allow me to finish, because I listened to him when he was talking. I said we use L.I. because it is all embracing and that is the language of the Constitution. The Constitution uses that to capture

    what is supposed to be covered by Regulations, Orders and Rules and that explains why article 11(4) of the Constitution provides which with your permission, I beg to quote:

    “The existing law shall, except as otherwise provided in clause (1) of this article, comprise the written and unwritten laws of Ghana as they existed immediately before the coming into force of this Constitution, and any Act, Decree, Law or statutory instrument issued or made before that date, which is to come into force on or after that date.”

    Mr Speaker, the emphasis is on “statutory instrument”. Again, when we go to the Interpretations Act 295, and we look at the meaning of “enactment”, it means, this again I beg to quote:

    “Enactment” means, an Act of Parliament, a Decree, a Law or a constitutional instrument or a statutory instrument or any provision of an Act of Parliament, a Decree, a Law, a constitutional or statutory instrument.”

    The emphasis is on the constitu- tional instrument or legislative instrument and that is what is supposed to be borne out of rules, orders and regulations. And that is why I am saying that the mistake we have been making is that, we seem to be saying that the Minister may make regulations.

    The “regulations”, as I said, should start with “r”, and the vehicle is the Legislative Instrument. And so we are right there. So I disagree when we say that we should be using orders, rules or we are missing out on orders, rules et cetera. The Constitutional instrument or the Legislative Instrument is sufficient to cover that.

    Mr Speaker, having said so, I do not think that because there is no sanction regime, it invalidates the provision as we are trying to capture. I do not think so at all. Why do I say so? I say so because when we say that a Minister shall make regulations within a defined period, we are giving the Minister discretionary powers and the exercise of discretionary powers is covered under article 296.

    We want to believe that the Minister would act with candour, clarity and some degree of integrity and that is why we give him that opportunity. Otherwise at every stage, in this Bill for instance we should look at clause 35(3) which says and I beg to quote:

    “The Minister shall, within one month after the receipt of the annual report, submit the report to Parliament with a statement that the Minster considers necessary.”

    Is that not an obligation, and because of the obligation, there should be a sanction regime?

    Mr Speaker, I disagree when we say that whenever we employ the word “shall”, there should be a defined sanctions regime. We are coming under article 296, in giving the Minister discretionary powers, and in the exercise of discretionary powers, the Minister is deemed to act the duty; that is to be fair and candid as the Constitution provides for in article 296(a).

    And so I think what we are doing is right, and lately, that is what we have been doing. Of course, it does not mean that if we have been doing that lately and it is wrong, we should continue.

    But I think that we are working to improve the regime and also imposing responsibility so that if an Hon Minister fails to act, we can drag him to Parliament and remind him that he is supposed to act within two years. Already, we have one and a half years, and so what is happening? If for instance he has only six months and could bring the regulations, that is supposed to be a sign post.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:09 p.m.
    I still want to repeat the caution that if we give a time limit, if we fail to bring the regulation within that time limit, we are forever barred unless we amend the law. I want the record to reflect that I have put out this warning. I will now put the Question.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 7:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader says that the “r” in “regulations” particularly captured at clause 39 should be a small “r”. I want to draw his attention to
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 7:09 p.m.


    the fact that when the law uses “R”, it is in tandem with the practice in the Constitution to distinguish Regulations with the force of law from mere regulations. And that is why when we look at the hierarchy of laws, at article 11(1), particularly (c), we would see that —

    .
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:09 p.m.
    Hon
    Member, it is all right. Let us deal with the proposed amendment in the Bill.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 7:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, The life of the law is practice and experience. When the Hon Minister fails to comply, there are no sanctions and the Act does not become null and void.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:09 p.m.
    That is your opinion. I have put mine on record. Yours is gone on record.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 7:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to demonstrate —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:09 p.m.
    I am all right. You have had enough of your demonstrations. Let us proceed.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:09 p.m.
    Hon Members, item number 8(viii). — [Pause]
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think there should be a consequential directive that clause 39 should be split into two parts to avoid that confusion which the Hon Member
    for Tamale Central alluded to, so we appropriately capture it. We would leave that in the hands of —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:09 p.m.
    Split it into two where?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the entirety of clause 39(d) should come under a different subsection. — [Pause]
    Mr Edward A. Bawa — rose --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:09 p.m.
    You have been sitting for less than one hour. I was watching when you came in. [Laughter.]
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I guess my Hon Colleague wants you to recognise him as having entered just over two minutes ago. [Laughter.]
    Mr Speaker, the issue is that we split clause 39 into two parts; the first part would cover (a), (b), (c) and (f); we would need a new preamble for clause 39(d) which would read:
    “The Minister shall, by legislative instrument, within twenty-four months, make Regulations to;
    (d) amend the”
    Then the rest would follow.
    Mr Speaker, my information is that, paragraph (ii) should be deleted but the rest of them --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:19 p.m.
    You have to propose an amendment. Do you want the items listed (i) and (iii) to stand on their own as clause 39(2) and that would be qualified with, “may”?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we would need a new preamble for that because the first part now says:
    “The Minster shall, by legislative instrument, within twenty-four months make Regulations to
    (a) prescribe practice stan- dards for members of the Institute; (b) provide for the discipline of members;
    (c) prescribe forms for the purpose of this Act; and
    (d) provide for any other matter necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.''
    Mr Speaker, the amendment of the Schedule would not have to be done necessarily within twenty-four months. So we would delete the twenty-four months from that aspect.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:19 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, so, I am saying that you should propose an amendment, which would be clause 39(2) which you say the Minister may --
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, even that must be “shall”. What it means is that, when the Minister determines to amend the First Schedule, he must come by a legislative instrument. That should be the vehicle but then we are not obligating the Minister to act within twenty-four months to amend --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:19 p.m.
    Very well, the Hon Second Deputy Speaker shall take the Chair.
    Yes, Hon Member for Wa West?
    Mr Chireh 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if we look at the period he talked about, at clause 39(d), we have deletion of only clause 39(d) (ii), so, the rest would naturally stay. The words, “amend the” has to be there instead of splitting it because -- [Interrup- tion]
    I am talking about the amendment of the Schedule and nothing else. If there is no need for the Schedule to be amended, we should not amend. We did so with the Tax Bills. There is no need to split it at all because --
    MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:22 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, the debate continues.
    Mr Bernard Ahiafor 7:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am tempted to agree with the Hon Majority Leader. We are changing, “may” to “shall” and giving the timeframe within which the Regulation should be made.
    Now, clause 39(d) says “amend- ment” which amendment is with regard to the Schedule. If we do not separate it, it would mean that the Minister shall by a legislative instrument within twenty-four months amend the First Schedule, Second Schedule, Third Schedule and the Fourth Schedule and these “shall” and then, the “twenty-four month period” would not be applicable to the amendment.
    Mr Speaker, regarding the amendment, the Minister may come when necessary to amend. So we cannot make it mandatory because if there is no need to amend the Schedule, it means that the Schedule would not be amended. Therefore, we should split the mandatory provisions from the ones that ought not to have been mandatory.
    Mr Opare-Ansah 7:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, listening to my Hon brother from Akatsi and the Hon Majority Leader, if we look at clause 39(f) carefully, adding it to “shall within twenty-four months” means what happens after twenty-four months when we find out that there is something we need to do for the effective implementation of the Act.
    Mr Speaker, I am compelled to think that it would be better if we kept clause 39(a), (b) and (c) under “shall within twenty-four months” and then
    kept the clause 39(d) and (f) within, “may” so that anytime a Minister feels that there is something that needs to be done for the effective implementa- tion of the Act, he may come by way of legislative instrument.
    Mr Speaker, so if the Hon Majority Leader would address his mind to that, we should keep the last two paragraphs together and keep the first three together.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:22 p.m.
    Hon Chairman of the Committee, what do you say to the proposed amendment?
    Mr Stevens Siaka 7:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in fact, I disagree with my neighbour here -- [Laughter]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:22 p.m.
    Please, come again, I did not hear you.
    Mr Stevens Siaka 7:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I agree with the Hon Majority Leader.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:22 p.m.
    What has he said that you have agreed to?
    Mr Stevens Siaka 7:22 p.m.
    He talked about splitting them into two.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:22 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, what I got from the submissions is that, there is a call on the House to break the clause 39 into two clauses. The proposals that are being made would also affect the first clause which means that we would have to put the Question on the first clause again because we would have to change the rendition.
    Then, there would be a second clause which would now start with, “The Minister may, by legislative instrument” but the Hon Majority Leader said, “The Minister shall” which does not seem to find favour with Hon Members. You are now supporting him but not the Hon Members.
    But let us deal with the first part; clause 39 (1). Give the new rendition so that we can put the Question again on clause 39 (1).
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:29 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the new rendition of clause 39 (1) should be:
    “The Minister shall within twenty-four months of the coming into force of this Act, by legislative instrument, make Regulations to:

    (a) prescribe practice standards for members of the Institute;

    (b) provide for the discipline of members;

    (c) prescribe forms for the purpose of this Act;”

    and the new subclause (d) which is the original (f)

    (f) “provide for any other matter necessary for the effective implementation of this Act”.

    Mr Speaker, that is the first part.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:29 a.m.
    Hon Chairman, do you agree with the proposed rendition?
    Mr Siaka 7:29 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I agree. [Laughter] --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:29 a.m.
    Hon Members, please, we are being called upon to reconsider the Question that was put on clause 39 by splitting it into two sub-clauses.
    The first clause is what the Hon Majority Leader has just read to us and I want to put the question on that but if you are in doubt, I can go over it. — [Interruption] — You are not in doubt?
    Some Hon Members 7:29 a.m.
    No.
    Mr Patrick Y. Boamah — rose —
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Yes, we would move on to the second subclause of clause 39. Yes, Hon Chairman, no proposed amendment? There was a proposed amendment from —
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:29 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:29 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the amendment is to re- engineer the (d) of clause 39 to now read;
    ‘The Minister may, by legislative instrument, make Regulations to
    (d) Amend the
    (i) The First Schedule in respect of the Disciplinary Committee and procedures for proceedings;
    (d)
    (ii) is deleted and now we come to the;
    (iii) Third Schedule in respect of the type of meetings, notification and procedure for meetings of the Institute; and
    (iv) Fourth Schedule to vary the definition of professional misconduct;”
    Mr Speaker, that is the new re- engineered construction of the original clause 39(d).
    So the (d)(ii) that is in respect of the Second Schedule, is deleted and that is why I did not read it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:29 a.m.
    Hon Members, except that the last word on the (iv) “and” should no longer exists.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:29 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, there are minor corrections. You would see that for clause 39(ix) on page 4, of the Order Paper, the Committee is calling for the deletion of the Third Schedule and insert the Second Schedule. Also, for the Fourth Schedule to be deleted in clause 39(x) for the insertion of the Third Schedule.
    So it is consequential and Mr Speaker, you could look at that before putting the Question on clause 39 as variously amended.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:29 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, we need to do some work on that. Yes, Hon Member for Tamale Central?
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 7:29 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have looked at roman numeral (ix) and (x). If you want to delete the Third Schedule and insert the Second Schedule, then we would need to do some work. This is because the Third Schedule actually deals with the types of meetings in the Schedule and so, if we delete it and insert the Second Schedule, it is dealing with Executives -- the Second Schedule which is on page —
    Mr Speaker, the First Schedule is Disciplinary Committee and the procedure for proceedings. The Second Schedule is Executive Committee —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:29 a.m.
    Hon Member, when we get there —
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 7:29 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, what I am saying is that —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:29 a.m.
    Definitely, it will be consequential.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 7:29 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, is it consequential?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:29 a.m.
    When we get there, it will be consequential.
    Hon Members, my attention has been drawn to the fact that a decision was taken to delete the Second Schedule and so, the others become consequential. The Third Schedule will now move to the Second and the Fourth will now move to the Third. That is what is being proposed.
    So we put all the proposed amendments —
    Mr Opare-Ansah 7:29 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, there was an earlier proposed amendment to delete clause 39 (x).
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:29 a.m.
    Yes.
    Mr Opare-Ansah 7:29 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Question was put but there was a misunderstanding about the intent and the House decided to keep clause 39(x) in the Bill. So clause 39(x) still sits in the Bill during the winnowing, it became clearer why it needed to be deleted.
    So Hon Members from both Sides who were at the winnowing understood that it should go, so consequentially, —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:29 a.m.
    So has the Question been put yet?
    Mr Opare-Ansah 7:29 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Question has not yet been put on that and so, if you will relax the rules for us to take it now, we will be very happy.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:29 a.m.
    The Table Office has drawn my attention to the fact that, that has been done --
    Mr Opare-Ansah 7:29 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, if it has been done, then move it consequentially.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:29 a.m.
    They said that it was put and deleted. That is, the proposed amendment for (viii) on page 4 of the Order Paper. It is already put and agreed upon and so, it is deleted and therefore the rest becomes consequential.
    Hon Members, I think that this is a matter of drafting, these are not proposed amendments and so, I will direct the draftsperson to do the necessary and change the Schedules accordingly.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 39 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Clause 40 -- Fees
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:29 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I submitted a proposal for us to have a second look at clause 38(c). If we can just have a look at that.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, what we have there is:

    “A person who

    (c) without being registered under this Act, practices or professes to practice as a chartered banker or a member of the Institute commits an offence.

    That is one leg of it. In the alternative, we can say:

    “A person who has not registered under this Act, and practices”.

    So either of them is right.”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader, I was raising this issue. It is the Institute that registers the members. The members just apply and so the registration is by the Institute. That is why initially I proposed that it should be:
    “A person who has not been registered”.
    Hon Members, the proposed amendment is as follows.
    “38 (c) A person who has not been registered under this Act, practices, or professes to practice as a chartered
    banker or a member of the Institute contravenes section 36 and commits an offence
    …”
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 38 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Clause 40 -- Fees
    Mr Siaka 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 40, line 1, delete “prescribed by the Council and paid to the Institute” and insert “as prescribed by Regulations”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 40 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Clauses 41 -- Interpretation
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Chairman?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:39 p.m.
    None

    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe we can pause here and deal with the -- By pausing, I mean stopping the Consideration of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (Ghana) Bill. If you agree, then we would come back to item listed as 7.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Hon Members, we have come to the
    end of the Consideration Stage of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (Ghana) Bill, 2018.
    Hon Members, item 7, Motion.
    rose rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Why do we have both of the Majority and Minority Leaders on their feet?
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, here you have listed that Motion, the Right to Information Bill be now read the Third time is going to be done by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice. But we amended the position of the minister in the Bill to mean not the Attorney- General and Minister for Justice but the Minister responsible for Information.
    In that regard, Mr Speaker, the Motion would have to be moved by the Minister for Information, and I am submitting the application for the Minister for Information to move the Motion.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:49 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Iddrisu 7:49 p.m.
    First of all, I see Motion numbered 7 on the Standing
    Order Paper, that the Right to Information Bill be now read a Third time.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to invoke Standing Order 130(1), and with your indulgence I quote:
    “ If any Member desires to delete or amend a provision contained in a Bill which has passed through the Considera- tion Stage, or to introduce any new provision to it, he may at any time before a Member rises to move the Third Reading of the Bill, move that the Bill do pass through a second Consideration Stage…”
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move for the second Consideration Stage of the Bill in respect of the clauses 18, 23 and
    41.
    Mr Speaker, even more importantly, it is advertised wrongly on the order paper -- “Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.” That was the initial policy contemplation. Since when did the policy change to Minister for Information?
    That is still wrong. Freedom of information is a sunshine legislation which is used to fight corruption, and everywhere in the world, the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice should be the one to shepherd those legislations. Be that as it may, we would accommodate him.
    Mr Speaker, however, I beg to move for a Second Consideration Stage of the Bill in respect of clauses 18, 21 and 41.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, first of all, you called for an indication, and I indicated to you that we suspend further Consideration of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (Ghana) Bill, 2018, and when you agreed, I then said what the Hon Minority Leader just referred to.
    I said that because of what we did, this ought to change. So I moved that we indeed have to do a re- engineering of who should be in change. Because of the amendment we proffered earlier, which was upheld by this House, it is the Minister for Information who is in charge and so he has to move the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, this is an application I submitted to you. You did not pronounce on it, and midway, the Hon Minority Leader jumped onto the path to say that he is submitting a request for a second Consideration Stage.
    Mr Speaker, there is a proposal before you, and you must make a pronouncement on that, and the Hon Minority Leader, who is always in a hurry should wait until we make a pronouncement, and thereafter, he may come in. We cannot have two different Motions in this House.
    My Motion is that we have the Minister for Information move the Motion. That is the application I submitted to Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, you did not respond to the Motion and the Hon Minority Leader moved another.
    Mr Speaker, he is totally out of order. Can we hear you first on my application to you?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:49 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, what I have before me is an application for leave to amend the Motion as it stands on the Order Paper as item numbered
    7.
    I want to grant that leave for the Hon Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business to move that Motion to amend the Motion as it stands as item 7 on the Order Paper.
    Hon Majority Leader, you may now move the Motion.
    Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that the Motion that the Right to Information Bill, 2018 be now read the Third time be moved by the Minister responsible for Information.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:49 p.m.
    Any seconder?
    Mr Ben Abdallah Banda 7:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:49 p.m.
    Now, the Minister for Information would have to move --
    Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Iddrisu 7:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, now I invoke Standing Order 130 to request for a Second Consideration stage of
    the Right to Information Bill, 2018, in respect of clauses 2, 13, 17 and 18.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:49 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, is it your proposal for us to take the Right to Information Bill, 2018 through a Second Consideration Stage to amend clauses 18, 19, 21 and 41?
    Mr Iddrisu 7:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, clauses 13 and 18.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:49 p.m.
    Only clauses 13 and 18?
    Mr Iddrisu 7:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, you got to clause 13 and asked me. I started with clause 2. They are Clauses 2, 13, 18 and 41.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:49 p.m.
    they are clauses. Clauses 2, 13, 18 and 41.
    Any seconder?
    Alhaji Inusah Abdulai B. Fuseini 7:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion, and to draw your attention to Standing Order 130.
    Question proposed.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Standing Order 130 (1) where the Hon Member is coming under provides;
    “If any Member desires to delete or amend a provision contained in a Bill which has passed through the Considera-
    tion Stage, or to introduce any new provision to it, he may, at any time before a Member rises to move the Third Reading of the Bill…”
    Mr Speaker, my emphasis is “at any time before a Member rises to move the Third Reading of the Bill, a member may move that the Bill do pass through a second Consideration Stage”.

    Mr Speaker, when I moved the Motion in respect of Motion listed as 7 and the question was put and the Motion was agreed to, immediately, the Minister in charge also rose.

    Mr Speaker, he is totally in breach of Order 130 (1). The Hon Minister was on his feet -- [Interruption.] -- The Hon Minority Leader saw that the Hon Minister had risen, so he is in violent breach of the very Order that he cited. -- [Interruption.]

    Mr Speaker, the language of the Standing Order is clear; it comes without any prevarication or ambiguity that it should be done before an Hon Minister or an Hon Member rises. After you put the Question, the Hon Minister rose on his feet. The Hon Minority Leader clearly looked into the eyes of the Hon Minister and Observed when he stood to move his Motion that cannot be entertained at this point.

    Mr Speaker, the Motion by the Hon Minority Leader cannot be accepted at this time. So I invite you
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:59 p.m.


    to rule him out of order for us to move to do what is necessary.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    Before I rule, I would like to listen to the House.
    Yes, Hon Member for Tamale Central?
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Information is sitting behind the Hon Majority Leader. At the time that he turned round to see whether the Hon Minister was rising up, the Hon Minority Leader was already on his feet. -- [Laughter.] That exactly was the reason the Hon Minority Leader caught Mr Speaker's eye. This is because the Hon Majority Leader faces the Hon Minority Leader and he had seen the Hon Minority Leader rise before he turned to see whether the Hon Minister for Information was on his feet. It was the Natural order of things.
    He faces the Hon Minority Leader, and that was why he saw him rise. To be sure that the Hon Minister for Information was on his feet, he turned around and saw him, but he did not know the time he rose. In fact, he rose after the Hon Minority Leader had risen.
    Mr Speaker, because Order 130 is so clear, indeed, it is short of saying that the Hon Minority Leader sprang to his feet in order to beat the Hon Minister for Information. Mr Speaker, I faced the Hon Majority Leader and the Hon Minister for Information, and
    I sat closely by the Hon Minority Leader so I saw him rise before the Hon Minister for Information.
    Thank you Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, respectfully, I know Parliamentary practice and etiquette. When I rise to address you, I looked at you, I do not look at those of them opposite. Mr Speaker, I looked at you and you saw me. So the person that I would notice from the tip of my eye is the Hon Minister. That is how it is. I could see the Hon Minority Leader also from the tip of my eye.

    Mr Speaker, I submit to you that immediately you put the Question on my application to you, the Hon Minister was on his feet; the Hon Minister had risen. And the standing Order is clear. It says:

    “If any Member desires to delete or amend a provision contained in a Bill which has passed through the Considera- tion Stage,or to introduce a new provision to it, he may, at any time before a Member rises to move…”

    Mr Speaker, it has nothing to do with the person catching your eye, as Hon Inusah Fuseini says. It has nothing to do with the person catching your eye. The person should first rise and he rose first. That is the issue I bear witness to, in which case, I still submit that you cannot hear the Hon Minority Leader.

    Mr Speaker, I thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, you have one of your able men behind you; let me listen to him first.
    Hon Member for Wa West?
    Mr Chireh 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
    I think that the Hon Majority Leader is dealing with this matter as if we are joking in this Parliament. [Uproar.] But it is not so because the moment the Question was put the Hon Minority Leader rose before the Hon Minister. So all these arguments about before this person rises does not go somebody rising anywhere.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I take a strong exception to that offensive language by my Hon
    Colleague, the Hon Member for Wa West.
    Mr Speaker, if there is anybody who is known to be a joker in the House, we know who. If it comes to the application of serious minds, the House knows. He cannot do that here. Everybody knows who a serious mind is in this House.
    Mr Speaker, I am applying the rules. If he doubts what I said, let him come up with a superior argument. He cannot do that; we do not do that here. He is senior Member in this House.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, resume your seat.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:59 p.m.
    Thank you very much.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    Hon Members, please, let us have some order. We have had very good deliberations; we should not allow this to mar the beauty of what has happened the whole day.
    In fact, since the beginning of the Session, we have had very good deliberations together. I think the Hon Member for Wa West slipped. Maybe it was said in jest; but because of the issue of records, I would call on him to withdraw.
    The Hon Majority Leader's reaction also offended the same rule. So I would allow the Hon Member for Wa West to do the proper thing first and then, the Hon Majority Leader would do same.
    Mr Chireh 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I withdraw.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:09 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:09 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in accordance with Parliamentary etiquette, which I know, I withdraw. [Hear! Hear!]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:09 a.m.
    I am very surprised because I know that the Hon Member for Wa West and the Hon Majority Leader are the best of friends. We all know that. How this has happened is maybe because -- [Laughter.] [Interruption.] Hon Member, you were legislating and giving time limits, and you gave yourself a time limit and a duty to perform. That is why in spite of the time, you have been called upon to still perform duties.
    We all agreed that if we are able to finish the business before us, we would rise on the 3rd of next month. Failure to do so, and we could continue to the 12th of next month. So I think that Leadership is trying to get us to finish the business before 3rd April,2019, so that we could rise.
    So Hon Members, let us continue with the same civility and decorum. Hon Minority Leader, I wanted to give my ruling on the objection, but if you have something to say before I do that, I would permit you.
    Mr Iddrisu 8:09 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, probably, I could wait for your ruling.
    As the record would vindicate me, at any time that notice is served in respect of the Right to Information Bill, I have indicated that I intended to arrest the Third Reading.
    Again, to the rules, I refer to Standing Order 130 (1) which says “No notice of such motion shall be required…”. Therefore, I was not required to serve anybody notice. It is not of the rules. [Interruption.] They do not read parts of it, but construe the words together. I am not required by the rules to have served notice of the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, when it says “before a Member rises”, -- he is sitting, looking upfront with me. He should read the words:
    “…before a Member rises to move the Third Reading of the Bill, move that the Bill do pass through a second Consideration Stage…”
    I am not aware that any Motion has been moved for the Third Reading, so at that stage the Hon Minister is rising to move a Motion but no Motion has been moved. If there is a Motion that has been moved, it should be established by the records and by the Table.
    Mr Speaker, I am within the rules, and what happened is regrettable. The Hon Majority Leader should have taken it as one of those things, especially when we all make sacrifices to sit up to 8.00 p.m. even though what should have been appropriately done for Hon Members was not done.
    Sometimes at this hour, people run out of gas, and he knows how much commitment Hon Chireh makes to demonstrate, particularly when it comes to the Consideration Stage. He did not need the Hon Leader of the House to carry this matter as far as he did to contest serious and joking minds. That has been extinguished from the records, so I would beg for your ruling.
    Let me put on record that concerning the proposed amendment I moved, my understanding was that the Coalition of the Media Foundation and Occupy Ghana on the Right to Information Bill engaged the Leadership of Parliament including the Hon Majority Leader and me, that they wanted us to fine-tune aspects of the legislation. I did so in respect of the input they made.
    That is why the Constitution requires that public memoranda be respected. The Coalition says that in their view, we could improve clauses 2 and 13, and I so submit. However, if it is the wish that we should shout that it has been passed, why not? I have consistently all these years been a strong advocate of the Right to Information Bill.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:09 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, I thought that we could move on to do more business.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:09 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have rules to guide what we are doing here. First of all, nobody has indicated here or argued that the Hon Minority Leader ought to have come on notice. Secondly, the Motion for the Third Reading does not have to be moved before a call for a second Consideration stage is made.
    So, the Hon Minority Leader was right within his limits to rise; except that when he did, the Hon Minister had already risen and that rendered his Motion statute barred. That is the point I made.

    Mr Speaker, we are waiting for your ruling, and I know that the Chair would do the proper thing by interpreting what is in the rules of procedure, which is Standing Order 130 (1). I do not expect anything less from the Chair.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 8:09 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I see the Hon Majority Leader labouring to convince you that the Hon Minister for Information was on his feet to move the Motion. At what point do we come to the conclusion that an Hon Minister in this House has risen to move a Motion? It is only when the Motion has been so
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 8:19 p.m.


    At what point did Mr Speaker call for Motion numbered 7? For all intents and purposes, the Hon Minister was on a frolic of his own because the Motion had not been called. Was the Motion heard? The Hon Majority Leader applied for the Motion to be amended; so having amended the Motion, we now needed, as a House, to call the Motion. This is Parliamentary practice.

    What the Hon Majority Leader did was to request for Mr Speaker's indulgence to amend Motion numbered 7. Having amended it, Motion numbered 7 ought to have been called for the Hon Minister to move same. However, an application cannot be made for the amendment of a listed Motion.

    By inference, after the Motion has been so amended, the Hon Minister rises to move it. [Interruption.] No, that is not the procedure. When the Motion has been so amended, it must be called by the Rt Hon Speaker. [Hear! Hear!]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:19 p.m.
    Hon Members, what is the sense of
    the House? Do you want us to continue with Business or you want us to adjourn? -- [Interruption]. This is because you are belabouring the point. You have already raised all the issues and it is for me to rule.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, you have an application before you; if you want to rule on it, you could rule on it so that we could make progress.
    Mr Iddrisu 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I withdraw my request for the Second Consideration Stage.
    You may allow the Hon Minister to move for the Third Reading, but they should take note that we sought to do this for and on behalf of the Coalition, and we wanted to see an improved legislation so that this Bill would serve a better purpose to combat corruption and help the Government deal with it.
    Mr Banda 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the impression ought not be created as if we are not with the coalition for the RTI. The Coalition has been with us right from the onset when this Bill was presented to this Parliament, and same was referred to your Committee. When the Committee did the stakeholder engagement, we invited the Coalition and they brought their views and perspectives to bear on the Bill.
    Mr Speaker, a copy of the proposed amendment which sought to be effected by the Hon Minority Leader, has been sent to the Hon Minority Leader and I. I have had the
    occasion to discuss with the Coalition their proposed amendment and we came to the conclusion that the absence of their proposed amendment in this Bill, as currently constituted, would not occasion any damage.
    Mr Speaker, on the basis of this, we agree that the Bill, as it is, should pass and go through the Third Reading. [Interruption.] Clearly, the point has to be made with all deference to the Hon Minority Leader that the impression ought not be created as if the Minority is concerned about the proposed amendment that has been submitted by the Coalition. That is not the case; they are with us and we are also with them.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I appreciate the sentiments expressed by the Hon Chairman. Indeed, I was part of the team that met the Civil Society Organisation, but he forgot to address his mind to Order 130(1). The import of Order 130(1) is simply that with all the considerations, all the stakeholder engagements, our Reports and subsequent amendments in this House, there could still be a second thought which could rise to arrest the Third Reading. That is the import.

    Mr Speaker, Hon O. B. Amoah shouted across that it has been withdrawn; so it is an exercise in futility.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:19 p.m.
    Hon Members, there is no need for me to rule in this matter again since the Hon Minority Leader has withdrawn the intention to move a Motion for the House to do a Second Consideration of the Bill.
    It is important for me to state a few things on procedure. When an Hon Member rises on his or her feet to do something, who determines that the Hon Member has risen? Is it the Hon Member, the Hon Leaders or the Rt Hon Speaker? [Interruption.] Definitely, the Rt Hon Speaker determines that because many times, there are Hon Members who rise on their feet but have no intention to transact business on the Floor.
    We have seen many Hon Members on several occasions on their feet, and when their attention is even drawn, they apologise and resume their seat. So, it is the Rt Hon Speaker that determines that an Hon Member has risen to do business -- in this case, risen to move a Motion for the Third Reading. That is definitely clear, because Mr Speaker is the master of the rules and interprets them. The House or an Hon Member could disagree, but the right thing to do is to come by a substantive Motion; -- that must be made clear.
    I recognised that the Hon Minister for Information had risen to move for the Third Reading of the Bill; that was
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:29 p.m.


    very clear because the intent is used to determine whether the Hon Member has risen to do business or not.

    Before he could do that, the House was aware that the Hon Minority Leader, according to the phrase of the Hon Majority Leader, is always in a haste. [Interruption.] What was he in a haste to do? The Hon Minority Leader was in a haste to take the whole House to go through a Second Consideration Stage of the Right to Information Bill. So all that we did was much ado about nothing, which was why at the end of the day the Hon Minority Leader withdrew his intent to move the Motion to take the House through a Second Consideration Stage. So we would let matters lie as they are now.

    Hon Members, I would want to thank all of you because I thought the House degenerated into some other discord; but you have brought back smiles and exchanges to the faces of everybody with what has happened.

    We all know that the Hon Majority and the Hon Member for Wa West are very diligent and hardworking Hon Members of the House. Even though the Hon Majority Leader has more extensive experience, the Hon Member for Wa West is also a very senior Hon Member who has even learnt drafting and other matters. The Hon Majority Leader, definitely, is ahead when it comes to issues of procedure and practice of Parliament.

    So please, when they are on their feet, it is important that we listen and learn.

    Hon Members, in the circum- stances, I will allow the Hon Minister for Information to move the Motion as amended, which is item numbered 7 on the Order Paper.
    Minister for Information (Mr Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah) 8:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that the Right to Information Bill, 2018 be now read the Third time, and in so doing, I seek your leave to make a few comments.
    Mr Speaker, providing rights for our people and ensuring that those rights are observed is at the heart of building our nation state.
    In 1992, when we enacted the Constitution, article 21(1)(f) gave all persons, and I beg to quote:
    “All persons shall have the right to --
    Mr Iddrisu 8:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are at the Third Reading Stage, and this is provided for in Standing Order 131(2), which provides and I beg to quote:
    “Upon a motion ‘That the…Bill be now read the Third Time,' it shall be competent for any Member to move an amend- ment to delete the words “read the Third Time” and insert the word ‘rejected,' or to move a ‘reasoned' amendment, stating the object and motive on which the opposition to the Bill is based, but such words must be strictly relevant to the Bill and not deal with its details.”
    Mr Speaker, we are at the Third Reading and therefore, he cannot introduce policy principles to the debate. He is to move the Motion, but to do a press conference is not the matter [Laughter.] He could wait; after Mr Speaker has put the Question on the Motion for Third Reading, then he could accompany it with a press conference that the famous Right to Information Bill is now passed.
    Mr Speaker, the way he is proceeding, a while ago, I thought we were being schooled about rules. It is the same Standing Orders that governs the Third Reading, First Reading, Second Reading and “Press Conference Reading”, so he should be guided and move for the Third Reading of the Bill.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:29 p.m.
    Hon Minister, please take the comments on board and move the Motion.
    Mr Oppong-Nkrumah 8:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the beginning, I sought your leave to make a couple of comments, and I am grateful —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:29 p.m.
    But you did not get the leave.
    You just said, “I seek your leave” and you moved on. I did not grant you any leave, but you decided to make the commentary and take us through another process.
    Mr Oppong-Nkrumah 8:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, very well.
    BILLS — THIRD READING
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:29 p.m.
    Hon Members, this is a landmark achievement. [Hear! Hear!] I am personally very happy that at long last, the Right to Information Bill has now survived in this House.
    The process started in 1999 led by the Institute of Economic Affairs. I was the Hon Member from the House to assist the Institute to start the initial drafting of the Bill. It came in various names and has finally been passed now as Right to Information Bill. Some people refer to it as freedom of information, while others talk about access to information; but this is very different. It is right to information. It is the right of the good people of Ghana to all the information that is generated by people who are given power in trust for and on behalf of
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:39 p.m.
    the good people of Ghana, or a body or group of persons. That is why it does not only deal with the public, but also, in some respect affects the private sector. I think that Ghana will now celebrate, that this Bill has been passed.
    We hope, as indicated by H.E the President, that immediately it gets to his desk, he would quickly assent to it. We pray that this would be done, but do not forget that definitely, the right thing would have to be done. The processes would have to be followed. The Rt Speaker would go through it and make sure that all the decisions of the House have been properly captured in the Bill before it is assented to by H. E. the President.
    So, I thank Hon Members for the patience and tolerance; but definitely, we cannot boast and be proud that we passed this Bill because, at least, this is a record time -- taking such a long time to finally get the nod. It is a very key Bill. It is not like the other Bills that have come through the House; this is a fundamental law that will change the whole nature of governance in this country.

    Hon Majority Leader, any indication?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I just would want to thank Hon Colleagues for the diligence that they have exhibited in the smithing of this Bill. It has gone through several rounds.
    I would also make the point that even though at a very late hour we had some people bringing proposals to amend, they should not consider that the House has overlooked the proposals. No law that we have crafted in this House is sacrosanct; every law that we have made has had to come for some amendment at one point or the other in time. There could always be space once we start implementing and we find it worthy to amend. Mr Speaker, the practice of the law would indicate to us whether it is necessary to proffer further amendments.
    On this occasion, I would thank my Hon Colleagues, especially those on the winnowing committee — Hon Banda, the MP for Offinso South, Hon Anyimadu-Antwi; Hon Alhaji Inusah Fuseini; Hon Shaibu Mahama; Hon Ahiafor; sometimes, Hon Yieleh Chireh; -- [Laughter] -- and Hon Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor.
    We have a core group that has always been very supportive, and I see Hon Ras Mubarak looking at me pleading that I should mention his name. [Laughter.] Sometimes, Hon Opare-Ansah -- [Laughter] -- and Hon Yaw Buaben Asamoah. I would want to plead with them that into the future, especially what is before us, the Companies Bill, would require the assistance of all of them.
    Mr Speaker, I cannot leave out the clerks-at-the-table; in particular Mr Ahuma Djietror and his team. They have been most supportive, and we hope that what we have done at various times, they would properly capture same in the final document.
    I must admit that sometimes, it gets a bit confusing when we have to put together the entirety of the Bill which has gone through several amendments, and that is why lately I have devised a scheme to work in close collabora- tion with them to sanitise the Bill. Perhaps, it may even become necessary to put together a smaller team to link up within, so that we get it right and there are no ambiguities and gaps in the Bills that we craft.
    Mr Speaker, I should also thank the Hon Minority Leader for his assistance and cooperation in these matters.
    At this stage, we cannot continue any longer with the Consideration of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (Ghana) Bill, 2018. I guess we could complete that tomorrow.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you. For now, we are in your hands to pronounce adjournment for us to go and have some rest.
    Mr Iddrisu 8:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, at this stage, ordinarily, we are in your hands; but once the Hon Majority Leader has made comments to some specific issues, it is only appropriate that I attempt to respond.
    First of all, I would thank your good Hon Self and all others; in particular, the Hon Chairman, the Hon Ranking Member and members of the Constitutional, Legal and Parlia- mentary Affairs Committee.
    This would pass as a signature legislation of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, and would stand as our contribution to deepening transparency and account- ability in the governance structure.
    Mr Speaker, on the matter of the Companies Bill, few days ago, I indicated that one of the measures of the ease of doing business globally is the speed and the time with which companies are registered. It is one major thing that this Parliament must commit itself to. I am particularly happy that we would get the winnowing committee to work.
    Mr Speaker, yesterday, the American Chamber of Commerce and the Ghana Association of Restructuring and Insolvency Advisors (GARIA) engaged the Rt Hon Speaker and Leadership on the Companies Bill, with support from Professor Date-Bah who chaired the Review Commission ten years ago. I think that we would support to get it passed into law.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to also thank Hon Members and, in particular, the Clerk to Parliament and the clerks-at-the-table. Sometimes we learn from them. I have never believed that there is one person who is a repository of knowledge.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:39 p.m.
    Hon Members, it is important to thank the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and other governance institutions. We also have to thank, in particular, the Coalition for the Right to Information Bill. They did a lot of work. As the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parlia- mentary Affairs has stated, they made very useful inputs to the Bill.
    It is important that people are made to see the draft Bill from the very beginning and the changes that have been made, particularly the
    amendments that have been proffered in this House, to see that we have gained a lot. We have added a lot of value to the skeletal draft Bill that was brought to the House. In fact, we changed the total nature of the Bill.
    This, in my view, is one of the best legislations on the right to information that has been passed by any Parliament in the world. [Hear! Hear!] As a former Hon Chairman of the Committee, I had access to the various laws that had been passed by many countries. They do not measure up to what we have done, but we do not take any glory in it because of the fact that we have also taken a long time to doing this. All the same, we have to be proud that Ghana has passed a legacy legislation that would stand the test of time.
    Hon Members, I thank you so much. It is not yet time to celebrate. The celebration would come after the assent; when it becomes law. I believe that the Hon Majority Leader and the Leader of Government Business would do the proper thing.
    Hon Members, with this, I proceed to adjourn the House.
    ADJOURNMENT 8:39 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 8.49 p.m. till Wednesday, 27th March, 2019 at 10.00 a.m.