Odekro | What has your MP done for you?

Mr Abraham D. Odoom (NPP -- Twifo Atti Morkwa)

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement ably made by the Hon Minority Leader on behalf of Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa .
Mr Speaker, talking about press freedom and journalists, there is also one worrying issue that needs to be tackled within our society and I am talking about the condition of service of our journalists. Their salary and service conditions are so low that invariably, it renders them so vulnerable to so many things.
Issues or scandals that are coming up among our journalists could be related to service conditions. So as we make this Statement, I believe it is also very important that we bring these issues to the fore, so that media houses who are engaging our journalists would make sure that they give good conditions of service to them so that they can perform their professional duties credibly.
Mr Speaker, for these few words, I thank you.

Mr Mathias K. Ntow (NDC -- Aowin)

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity.
One cannot overemphasise the importance and credibility of journalists in the world, in Ghana and more especially in this House of representatives. Whatever we do here, for the people out there to know, it is all done by the good work of our journalists. The question, however, is do they have the necessary tools to work as journalists in this country? How much are they given at the end of the month? Is there any plan for journalists in this country as far as going on retirement is concerned? These are pertinent issues that we have to consider.
Mr Speaker, again, journalists all over the world put their lives on the line in the execution of their mandate.
Mr Speaker, we are all aware of what is happening elsewhere and even in our own country, journalists being beaten here and there. So it is very important for Government to ensure that these journalists who are doing legitimate and proper analysis of issues before coming up with write- ups are protected and well taken care of to ensure that they put in their best.
Mr Speaker, to conclude, I want to congratulate all journalists and media men in this House for the good work they are doing and urge them to continue. That is the profession
they have chosen and they must take it up head-on. They should not be afraid but very objective and report as they see.
With these few words, I wish them all the best and I thank you for the opportunity.

Mr Speaker

Thank you very much, Hon Member; particularly for your brevity.
Any contribution from my right and then we move on to the tribute.

Mr George N. K. Andah (NPP -- Awutu-Senya West)

Mr Speaker, I would like to make a contribution on the World Press Freedom Day on the Statement that has been ably made on behalf of the Hon Member for North Tongu and Ranking Member on the Committee of Foreign Affairs.
Mr Speaker, it is indeed a statement of fact that the media play a very important role in supporting our democratic process. In the recent past, there have been a number of concerns about freedom of the press, security for the press and indeed, there is also some commentary about the remuneration for members of the press.
Mr Speaker, I think that on this day, we all need to appreciate the efforts that great journalism plays as far as our democratic process is concerned and to recognise the role that individual journalists -- we could mention a number of names -- have played in the democratic process of Ghana.

Mr George N. K. Andah (NPP -- Awutu-Senya West)

Mr Speaker, we as Hon Members of Parliament need to support the media. We need to encourage more individual media houses, not just those that are owned by Government or those that are owned by people that are close to politicians but media houses that are truly independent and can put out balanced reports to grow our democratic process.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I would like to congratulate all members of the media, all journalists in Ghana, and to wish them a happy World Press Freedom Day.

Mr Speaker, thank you very much.

10: 34 a. m.

Mr Speaker

Thank you very much, Hon Members.
Hon Members, we had a clear indication as to what we are doing; we would move on to the Statement, which pays tribute to Professor Nketia, who would be buried tomorrow, and I would give Hon Members the free range to make contributions.

Mr Speaker

We would go back to Statements and have five minutes for each presentation. I want you to, please, note that.
Hon Minority Leader?

Thank you very much, Hon Chairman.

Mr Alex Adomako-Mensah (NDC -- Sekyere Afram Plains)

Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and in so doing, I will make a few comments.
Mr Speaker, you will recall that this House considered the Sinohydro Corporation Limited Agreement on 3rd December, 2018. Under this barter Agreement, the Sinohydro group will provide a US$2 billion infrastructure in exchange for Ghana's bauxite.
There is a confusion on this tax waiver being sought for, and the reason is that whether the facility is a barter or a loan, it is something we need to discuss. When you go back to the last but two pages, there is an indication that the loan amount is US$500 million and then tax to loan -- which means that it is not well defined.
Mr Speaker, because it is not a regular facility we have been approving in this House, therefore, we need to look at it carefully in giving a waiver to this Project. The Project scope comprises the 10 lots; the Kumasi Inner-City road is the highest and the Accra Inner-City.
However, what I am very interested in is Lot 8 --

Hon Members, I will put the Question. I said it from the beginning.

Alhaji Muntaka

Mr Speaker, as the Hon Minority Leader agreed with you, the Hon Inusah Fuseini would speak on behalf of the Minority Leadership.

Mr Speaker

Hon Fuseini, you have five minutes.

Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini (NDC -- Tamale Central)

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity to contribute to the matters on the Floor of the House.
Mr Speaker, I have in my hand a parliamentary memorandum dated 12th April, 2019 titled “Request for Waiver Import Duties, National Health Insurance Levy, GETFund, VAT, AU Levy, ECOWAS levy, EXIM Levy, Special Import Levy (SIL), amounting to US$82,082,587.88 equivalent to GH¢417,389,959.30 on Materials and Equipment for the Construction/ Rehabilitation of Priority Infrastructure Project.”
Mr Speaker, I have a report of the Committee which has requested that we do the same thing on the same project, but this time, at US$69, 217,840.24 equivalent to GH¢351, 972,717.62. I would embark on an enquiry.
Mr Speaker, I embarked on an enquiry to determine what caused the difference. The import assessment attached to the Committee's Report is the same one with the same values attached to the parliamentary memorandum --

Mr Speaker

Hon Chairman?

Dr Assibey-Yeboah

Mr Speaker, the Hon Member for Tamale Central referenced a document that came to this House which was subsequently withdrawn and a new one laid.
Mr Speaker, I seek your guidance. Can the Hon Member speak to that document that was laid in the House but7 subsequently withdrawn? That document is not before us. He has that document in his hand, and he compared the second one which was referred to the Committee. Mr Speaker, the Report before the House is based on the --

Mr Speaker

Hon Member, you are taking us backwards. If that is so, kindly withdraw what you said.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I pray hard that having determined that this project is an expensive one to be carried out by a Chinese citizen, with the Chinese still enjoying some benefits by way of prisoner exchange in this country, we, at the final analysis, would have value- for-money.

Mr Speaker

Hon Members, let us not be carried away, and let us be careful. [Interruption.] The Hon Member who has just taken his seat would not listen. Let us be very careful about remarks which touch and concern our foreign development partners of all types. That is why we should not get carried away.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways would make his comments by way of winding down deliberations on the Motion moved.

174(2) of the 1992 Constitution and referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report pursuant to the Standing Orders of the House.

The Committee met with the Minister for Transport, Hon Kwaku Asiamah, a Deputy Minister for Finance, Hon Kwaku Kwarteng, and officials from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.

References

The Committee referred to the following documents during its deliberations:

The 1992 Constitution of Ghana;

The Public Financial Manage- ment Act, 2016 (Act 921);

The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana;

The Concession Agreement between the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and IBISTEK Limited; and

The Tax Assessment by the Ghana Revenue Authority.

Background

The Takoradi Port dates back to April 3, 1928, when it was officially commissioned and opened for operations. Since then, the port has not seen any dramatic expansion or

any major rehabilitation work even though the economy and maritime trade (exports and imports) has seen substantial growth and increase in ship sizes.

The existing infrastructure is unable to support the increased volume in trade at the port. There is therefore the need for the port to be modernised and expanded at this point in time in order to prevent any unforeseen congestion.

In view of this, the Government of Ghana, represented by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and acting through the Ministry of Transport, has entered into a Concession Agreement with IBISTEK Limited to rehabilitate and expand the Takoradi Port.

Clause 23.1 of the Concession Agreement requires that any levy or levies including increase therein of taxes or duties, on account of or in respect of Guarantor's Assets payable to the Government or any Govern ment Authority shall be met and paid by the Guarantor. In order to successfully implement this project, there is the need to waive taxes and duties applicable.

It is in this regard that the request for the waiver of taxes and duties has been submitted to Parliament in accordance with article 174 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

The Request

The request before Parliament is for the waiver of Import Duties, Import

VAT/GETFund Levy, Import NHIL, EXIM Levy, Special Import Levy and other local taxes, amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of sixty-five million, two hundred and forty-eight thousand, three hundred and ninety - seven United States dollars and sixty cents (US$65,248,397.60).

Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah)

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Attached as APPENDIX is the details of the tax assessment.
Observations
Rationale for the Project
The Committee observed that the rationale for the Project is to address
the current infrastructure deficit at the Takoradi Port. Under the Agreement, IBISTEK Limited is expected to design, redesign, engineer, finance, construct, equip, operate, manage, maintain and repair the Container and Multipurpose Terminal (C&MPT) at the Port of Takoradi for the handling,

storage and delivery of containers, RoRo cargo, general project cargo, oil and gas exploration cargo (including pipes and steel and agri- bulk cargo such as cocoa, cereals and grains). The Concessioner is also expected to rehabilitate and reconstruct the port access roads.

Expected Socio-Economic Benefits

The Committee was informed that when completed, the project would help:

Increase the Takoradi Port's throughput capacity to ade- quately handle the country's trade growth;

Create about 2,000 jobs that will contribute to pension funds, national health insurance scheme, et cetera;

Connect Ghana to the global market and facilitating trade that would enable Ghanaians to cost effectively compete for businesses;

Strengthen the strategic position of the port in the sub-region as larger vessels would be able to dock at the port;

Provide new infrastructure and modern equipment and advanced technology to serve larger and deeper vessels; and

Help develop the port competi- tiveness and attractiveness to secure its leading position in West Africa.

Scope of Project/Project Description

The Committee noted that the Scope of works at the port under the Concessional Agreement comprised the following:

Access Channel dredged to 16 metres;

Extension of Breakwater 1.08 Northward;

Construction of Bulk Terminals with 16 metres depth;

Construction of oil service terminal;

Reclamation of 53 hectares (ha) of land;

Construction of open storage area for oil field, plant and machinery; and

Construction of dual access roads to the port.

Conclusion

Considering the benefits to be derived from the project, the Committee is of the view that the request is in the right direction.

The Committee therefore recommends to the House to adopt its Report and to approve the request

for the waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT/GETFund Levy, Import NH1L, EXIM Levy, Special Import Levy and other local taxes amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of sixty- five million, two hundred and forty- eight thousand, three hundred and ninety-seven United States dollars and sixty cents (US$65,248,397.60) on materials and equipment to be

procured for the development of an Integrated Container and Multi- Purpose Terminal at the Takoradi Port by IBISTEK Limited under a Concession Agreement between the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and IBISTEK Limited in accordance with article 174(2) of the Constitution, the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and the Standing Orders of Parliament.

Respectfully submitted.

Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah)

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Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah)

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Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah)

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Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini (NDC- Tamale Central)

Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion before the House and to call on Hon Members of the House to approve of the waiver.
Mr Speaker, IbisTek, and I do it on moral and legal principles -- IbisTek is an indigenous Ghanaian company. It is the only Ghanaian company which during the era of President Kufuor demonstrated a capacity and ability to build a cargo handling centre. At the time, Mr Paul Ansah was the Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.
If we have approved tax waivers for companies that only operate in Ghana but are not owned by Ghanaians, why would we not approve tax waivers for a company that is inherently Ghanaian and that has the capacity to deliver?
Mr Speaker, on this principle alone, I pray and invite Hon Members of this House to exercise their collective responsibility of ensuring that Ghanaians benefit from incentive regimes that are available to others who are non-Ghanaians.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, we could take the items numbered 2 and 3 on the Order Paper Addendum.

Minister for Transport (Mr Kwaku O. Asiamah)

Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1) which require that no Motion shall be debated until at least forty- eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion is moved, the Motion for the second reading of the National Road Safety Authority Bill, 2019, may be moved today.

One contribution on my right Side and we shall move into the nitty gritty of the Bill itself.

Mr Ras Mubarak (NDC — Kumbungu)

Mr Speaker, I am very grateful for the opportunity to pay tribute to the late Hon Steve Akorli.
He was an irrepressible campaigner for rural development. This House clearly would remember him for his warmth, not just to his Colleagues, but to everybody who came across him. He was very passionate about building consensus in Parliament.
Mr Speaker, my thoughts and condolences go to his family at this very difficult time. Indeed, his kindness transcended the political divide and he would be sorely missed. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Mr
Speaker, I equally rise to pay tribute to our former Colleague and compatriot, Hon Steve Akorli.
Mr Speaker, many of us did not get the privilege of meeting him in this House. He exited just when we came in, but as a member of the Parliamentary Service Board, one had had the opportunity to interact with him on a number of occasions.
Mr Speaker, he took keen interest in many of us who came to this House very young in age and were willing to learn. He used his experience many times to guide us as to how we would one day be called well-trained or well- groomed Hon Members.
Mr Speaker, as it has been said, Hon Steve Akorli was one person that took attendance to the Chamber and the work of Parliament very seriously even when he was an Hon Minister. Mr Speaker, I remember the difficulties and sad moments about 12 years after he exited Parliament when the challenges set in; he was not well and when one saw him sometimes, one could see that he was not well, frail and weak.
Mr Speaker, it is said that mourning of the dead should be a warning to the living, and I would want to take this opportunity to send a word of caution to all of us that as Hon Members of Parliament, as we get busy carrying out our responsibilities in our constituencies and in Greater Accra, we must do well to exercise, eat well and periodically check the status of our health.
Mr Speaker, I remember that a number of times this House has lamented about the lack of a gym, but about some few months ago and with your help, as well as the help of the Parliamentary Service Board, we got a very befitting gym for the House. Mr Speaker, but it is sad to note that as at today, only about 28 of us have been patronising the gym, including those who are not regular. When I checked as a Minority Whip with the clinic, we have Hon Members in this House who are yet to even visit our clinic. Mr Speaker, it simply means that many of us may be exercising outside Parliament, but many of us do not even take the exercise and our health seriously at all. For many of us, a year would pass and we would not even check our health.
Mr Speaker, when you see our Hon Colleagues who have left this House as former Hon Members, you do not even need to be told that they burnt a lot of energy within the period that they were here such that they have become worn out after leaving this House. Mr Speaker, it is something that we need to be conscious of because if we look at Hon Steve Akorli, I would not say that he died old. In my view and looking at the health medications that we have today, he died young because this is somebody who had served 12 years in this House, served as an Hon Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways and also served as the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways.
Just as Hon Boniface said, I believe that death would come when it has to come, but if we take good care of our health, we would live a very healthy life even before death comes. Mr Speaker, but today if you meet most of our Colleagues who are outside this House, one of their biggest challenges is their health.
Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to commend you that upon the assumption of your reign as the Speaker, you have put in a policy for our former Hon Members of Parliament and their spouses to be able to visit our clinic. We need to do more for those who are even here because it is my belief that Parliament as an institution should pay for us to go for medical check-ups every year. Mr Speaker, some of us take it upon ourselves to do that every six months just to know our health status and when to start taking medication or when to stop doing some other things so that we would stay healthy. Mr Speaker, it is sad that we have lost one of our compatriots and I believe that as we pay tribute to him, I would want the rest of us in this Chamber to remember that no matter how long we live, one day we would be just like him. What would we be remembered for doing in this Chamber?

Mr Speaker, it is sad to say that some of our Hon Colleagues take it upon themselves to just show their faces in the Chamber and leave. They should remember that a day like this would come. What would they be remembered for?

Ms Sarah A. Safo (NPP -- Dome/Kwabenya)

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
I rise to comment on the Statement ably made in remembrance of a former Member of Parliament, Hon Steve Akorli --

Mr Speaker

Please, after this, if Hon Bagbin could please make a few remarks as a Senior Member.

Ms Safo

Mr Speaker, our hearts indeed pour out to his family. This great nation has lost a great son.
Mr Speaker, the former Member of Parliament was also a former Minister for Transport. We are told that he passed on on the 3rd of March this year. He was the former Member of Parliament for Ho East for 12 years. He served in this House for 12 years and he was a Member of Parliament of the First Parliament of our Fourth Republic.
He voluntarily retired from Parliament and from active politics in 2004. He entered Parliament in 1993. At the time he entered Parliament and represented his people, there were other equally hardworking Members of Parliament from the Progressive Alliance, the National Convention Party and the Eagle Party.
After his passing away, all tributes and memories of this great man have been that he had very good human relations, and indeed, understood his work as a representative of the people. He also had the heart and the humility to serve his country.
Mr Speaker, so, on this day, as we remember our former Hon Colleague, I believe that it is a word of advice to all of us as we have been voted by our respective constituents. We should be able to serve to the best of our ability so that at the end of the day, our deeds would speak for themselves, and our service to our nation would be beneficial and memorable.
Mr Speaker, he again joined the Second Parliament, and that Parliament was very active and lively to the extent that he was in this House with very hardworking, intelligent and humble Members of Parliament from other political parties. We are told that in the Second Parliament, he worked with other Hon Colleagues in the House such as the late J.H.Mensah, the late Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Papa Owusu Ankomah, Dr Apraku and lastly, our current sitting President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Mr Speaker, I am very sure that as the people of Ghana always remember the hard work and level of commitment of Members of Parliament of that Parliament, we cannot say that without adding to our history books the name of Hon Steve Akorli.
I would urge that, as a country, we move away from the culture of praising the dead. The question I ask myself is, are we able to tap the intelligence, experience and expertise of our former Members of Parliament when they leave Parliament? We should advert our minds to that and make sure that those who take parliamentary work as a career are not left with their experience and expertise until they die.
Mr Speaker, I am very happy that Parliament now has a training institute. I know your good self is a believer of tapping on the experience and expertise of former Members of Parliament, and I know the effort that, together with the entire Leadership, you are putting in place to ensure that even the welfare of former Members of Parliament is taken care of.
Mr Speaker, I believe that we should begin to touch base with all of these former Members of Parliament. I know they have an association, and sometimes they use our premises for meetings. We should encourage them. We should go to them. Sitting Members of Parliament should tap on the intelligence of former Members of Parliament in our constituencies.
Mr Speaker, it is not only at the Members of Parliament level. Even at the constituency level, we should make good use of persons who have served in our political parties in the past and always involve them in our activities, because once upon a time, they stood the ground and believed in the ideologies and the principles of our political parties.
Mr Speaker, in ending my contribution, I would state again that Ghana has lost a great son. To the entire nation, to Parliament, to the people of the Volta Region, Oti and Adaklu Constituency, we say he should rest in perfect peace.

Mr Speaker

Thank you very much, Hon Deputy Majority Leader. I would respectfully ask Hon Bagbin, the most Senior Hon Member, to make a few remarks.

It would be helpful if you started drafting something in that nature.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 1, subclause (3), line 1, delete both occurrence of “immovable” and insert “landed” and do same wherever “immovable” occurs in the Bill, unless the context otherwise determines.
Mr Speaker, clause 1(3) of the Bill refers to the State Land Act, 1962 (Act 125) which shows clearly that “property” refers to as landed.

Mr Ahiafor

Mr Speaker, I support the amendment made by the Hon Chairman of the Committee simply because the State Lands Act, 1962 (Act 125), could only deal with landed property. So, the use of the word “landed'' is more fitted in the phrase.

Mr Banda

Mr Speaker, if we would rely on the State Lands Act 1962 (Act 125), then we must quote
the correct word that was used in it. In the State Lands Act, the relevant section does not use the word “landed'' but rather “land''.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote section 1(3) of the State Land Act which says:
“Where the President is satisfied that special circumstances make it expedient that a particular land which is subject to the Administration of Lands Act, 1962 (Act 123) should be declared under subsection (1) as land required in the public interest…''
Mr Speaker, if we want to use the word “landed'' within the context of the State Lands Act, then we might as well, in order to do away with interpretational challenges, define “landed property'' in the interpretation section of the National Road Safety Authority Bill, 2019, otherwise, “landed property'' is misplaced.

Mr Chireh

Mr Speaker, I support the explanation given by the Hon Chairman for Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.
The State Lands Act is an Act that enables the President to acquire land. An empty land could be acquired -- it is not a property that would be bought. This amendment is not necessary and should be rejected because it would introduce questions of interpretation again. Any property
that is on land should not be described as landed property. If we would want to avoid immovable property and yet talk about landed property, the immovable property is better because we all know that the immovable property invariably deals with property that is on the land. If we would want to say that “landed property” should replace “immovable property'', I would say no.
Mr Speaker, I would recommend that we reject this amendment.

Ms Safo

Mr Speaker, I am taken a bit aback by comments of Hon Members on this particular amendment. Not too long ago, we did the Consideration Stage of the State Interests and Governance Authority, the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the Iron and Steel Development Authority Bills, with the same Hon Members of Parliament and because of the deletion that was done on the terminologies of “immovable'' and “movable'' in clause 1(2), we restricted ourselves to the wording “property'' to include that property actually means all types of property which includes movable, immovable and even intellectual property. So, in clause 1(3), indeed, the reason “landed property'' was inserted was for purposes of emphasis because referral was made to the State Lands Act.
The amendment agreed upon at the time by the House per the votes was that since referral made in this respect was restricted to landed property, “landed property'' was appropriate.

Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini

Mr Speaker, indeed, it is for the reasons advocated by the Hon Deputy Majority Leader that I support this amendment. This is because immediately an institution is established as a body corporate, it does not even need perpetual succession. These are attributes of a body corporate. Indeed, clause 1(3) -- because in the 1960 Constitution the whole principles were not part. Acquiring property for public use was upon the prompt adequate and fair compensation, so we needed a pursuant legislation and that was why the law allowed to acquire by Act 125.
Mr Speaker, today, even if there is no Act 125 in this law, article 20 of the 1992 Constitution provides for it. We are limited in our argument because we are being told that we are being consistent, but sometimes the consistency can lead us to absurdity.
The only thing that one can acquire under the State Land Act is immovable property, and it is landed property.
Mr Speaker, so for consistency sake, I will support the Hon Deputy Majority Leader because it is too early to begin to depart from what we did just yesterday. Just yesterday, we argued vociferously that if we do not want “immovable”, we should put “landed”, and today, we are saying that it does not even matter. We would be too inconsistent.
Mr Speaker, I support the amendment that “immovable property” be substituted for “landed property”.

Mr Dafeamekpor

Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. When I heard the Hon Chairman of the Committee defend the grounds for which he sought the permission of the House to delete “movable” and “immovable” property from clause 1, he said to the effect that it was needless and that when we refer to “property”, we refer to all manner of property that is capable of being acquired by the entity we are seeking to establish.
Mr Speaker, so why would we suddenly say that where there is a hindrance in acquiring an immovable property, we should do so in accordance with the State Lands Act. I will propose that the rendition be taken this way; “where there is a hindrance to the acquisition of land, the land may be acquired for the Authority, under the State Lands Act”.
So that we do not run ourselves into interpretational difficulties by having recourse to the use of “immovable” or “landed”, because he defended the position that we should depart from same in clause 1.
Mr Speaker, I prefer that we refer to land when indeed we are making reference to the State Lands Act, because land can only be acquired under that Act anyway, Once we begin to make reference to the use of “immovable” then it should be taken out and “landed” used — because a building is a landed property and a bare land is land. But when we have building sitting on land, it is no longer bare land but landed property. So we should be very careful. I would have preferred if we had retained the use of “immovable”. Once we are departing from the use of that, then we should be very specific.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Actually, that is why the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs referred us to the State Lands Act, and the term used there is “land” and not “landed property” because of this difference. So the proper thing to do is that, if we are really talking about the body corporate acquiring land, we should say so. If we are talking about the body corporate acquiring “land” and “landed property”, then we should stay put with “immovable property”. So, Hon Chairman of the Committee, could you direct us?

Mr Ayeh-Paye

Mr Speaker, rightly so.
Mr Speaker, talking about clause 1(2) which talks about the “movable and immovable property” we are talking about the properties of the Authority, but at subclause (3), there may be a situation where a structure is creating insecurity or the position where the structure is poses danger to road users. The Authority may acquire the property, demolish it to secure right of way. So, this clause is not seeking to address only the acquisition of property for the usage of the Authority, but also, the Authority can acquire a property, demolish it to pave way or ensure road safety. We have to be very careful in using “land”, considering the State Land Act 1962, (Act 125). If we say “land”, we would have restricted the Authority. In the case where they need the land to secure right of way but a property has been built, this Bill seeks to authorise the Road Safety Commission (RSC) to acquire the landed property, demolish it and secure right of way. That is where we have to be very careful.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Do you have a provision there also dealing specifically with acquisition of land, and not landed property?

Mr Ahiafor

Mr Speaker, I agree with my Hon Colleague in view of the argument made by the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Mr Chairman, the rendition, as he proposed, will resolve all the problems for us. Because, the State Lands Act, specifically mentioned “land”, and the argument over being a landed property or land can be

Mr Chireh

Mr Speaker, I will support the amendment by the Hon Member who just spoke, because the explanation that the Hon Chairman was giving is erroneous. If one wants to even construct a road, the person acquires by way of lease. The person would have to go and acquire and direct how far and wide it should be. The person must acquire that land. So if one acquires land, one also acquires whatever is on it. That is the explanation to owning a land. We cannot talk about breaking down houses which belong to people because they are nuisances. We cannot do that. This Bill does not allow us to do that. If one sees a building on a land that is obstructing traffic, one can only go and acquire it. acquisition means buying and then destroying it. It does not matter but it
is land. So we cannot say, landed property. We do not want the situation where we are only talking about landed property when we really mean, anything, for instance, acquiring even land without property.
Mr Speaker, so, I think, if the Hon Chairman will agree to the amendment that is being proposed, by the Hon member we should rather accept it.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Members, I get the sense of the House that we should improve on the proposed amendment from the Hon Chairman of the Committee to delete; “immovable property” from line 1 and 2 and then insert; “land”.
So, subclause (3) will read;
“Where there is a hindrance to the acquisition of land, the land may be acquired for the Authority under the State Lands Act, 1962 (Act 125) and the cost shall be borne by the Authority”.
Hon Chairman, is that the sense?

Mr Ayeh-Paye

Mr Speaker, yes. I agree with that rendition.

Hon Ranking Member.

Mr Agbodza

Mr Speaker, first of all, my Hon Colleague's fear would not be realised because 2(b) says that “the development and coordination”. In fact, we are aware that MTTD exists to enforce some regulations on the road. The National Road Safety Authority does not intend to hold and act as if they are the MTTD. That would still be the job of MTTD so the fears of my Hon Colleague that there would be duplication of activities would not be an issue at all in this particular case.
Mr Speaker, also at the Committee, we interrogated the issue of distinguishing between what crash, fatality and injuries are. Someone could drive into a lamp post with just a vehicle and the damage would be on the vehicle where nobody got injured.
Mr Speaker, we would want to be able to deal with this because on the motorway you would see many lamp posts that have been installed with public funds and have been knocked down and these are costs to the State. Secondly, there could be a crash with fatality; where someone dies. We would want to reduce that and also, there could be a crash with an injury such that a person losing the limb.
Mr Speaker, so, we think that explicitly it must be stated that crash, fatality and injury are different and an incident could result in one, two or all of them. So, the use of the word “accident” does not explain it well enough and I think that this is a better rendition than the use of the word “accident”.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Members, could we move on. This is just a word.
Hon O. B. Amoah
.

It is part of it. I am giving a warning that if we do not take care and rush when Hon Members are tired and we say things, we would make a bad law.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Member for Wa West, you are now crash landing.
The proposal from the Hon Member for Wa West is for the inclusion of the phrase, “collaborate with other relevant agencies to ensure compliance”. As for the standards, when you go to paragraphs (k), (l), (m) and the rest, you would see that the Authority is to establish the standards, the procedures and everything.
Hon Members, the Rt Hon Speaker would take over the Chair.

Mr Speaker

Hon Members, we would continue with the Consideration Stage at another time.

Hon Members, Motion listed 20 on the Order Paper.

Mr Speaker, alright.

One more contribution from each Side and then the Hon Leaders.

Mr Speaker, I would resist the devil — I would not go there.
Mr Speaker, I thank you and your Hon Deputies for steering the Business of the House for the week successfully.
My appreciation also goes to the Clerk to Parliament, his staff for ensuring that the Business of the House for the week went smoothly.
To our media friends, I thank them for their good work and urge them to continue with it to enhance our democracy.
Mr Speaker, I end here by wishing all of us well as we journey back to our various constituencies not to rest, but to continue with Parliament Business at those various locations.
Mr Speaker, the other matters of welfare are under serious consideration, and I know Hon members would be sufficiently compensated.

Mr Speaker

Thank you very much, Hon Majority Leader.
Honourable members,
The gracious presence of the lord has been with us and greatly endowed us with the needed fortitude to successfully complete the business arraigned for the four-day special sitting of the house. It is proper and much befitting to the lord and glorify him for an answered prayer.
Indeed, the two important bills which are:
i) the state interests and governance authority bill, 2019; and
ii) the companies bill, 2018 were all completed within the set timeline.
Crucial matter on energy, tax exemption et cetera were dealt with conclusively.
I recognise the contribution made by Hon Members, committing themselves to long-Sitting hours both in committee and plenary to complete the important assignment, hoping other equally important work laid before the house subsequently, will be tackled with same spirit and vigour.
As I always say, we owe our constituents, a duty to work conscientiously in their interest at all times. As you leave the house today, i will appreciate if you continue to serve them in like manner. Do right to each and every person at the constituency to mirror the representational inclusiveness of what the institution of parliament basically stands and strives for.
Let me again remind leadership of the committees that have outstanding referrals from the previous meeting as well this meeting that they should work on them during the recess.
This will help reduce the workload on the committees and also facilitate speedy consideration of their reports thereon by the house on time on resumption.
I thank the deputy speakers for their continued supports to work for mother ghana even at the peril of their health.
The leadership as usual, was instrumental for ensuring effective and timely execution of parliamentary business. I thank them for their pivotal role.

Debates of 3 May 2019

PRAYERS 10:14 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:14 a.m.

STATEMENTS 10:14 a.m.

Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) (on behalf of Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa) 10:14 a.m.

Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) (on behalf of Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa) 10:24 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:24 a.m.

Mr Iddrisu 10:24 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:24 a.m.

Mr Abraham D. Odoom (NPP -- Twifo Atti Morkwa) 10:24 a.m.

Mr Mathias K. Ntow (NDC -- Aowin) 10:24 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:24 a.m.

Mr George N. K. Andah (NPP -- Awutu-Senya West) 10:24 a.m.

Mr George N. K. Andah (NPP -- Awutu-Senya West) 10:24 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:24 a.m.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:24 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:24 a.m.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:24 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:24 a.m.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:24 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:24 a.m.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:24 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:24 a.m.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:24 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:24 a.m.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:24 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:24 a.m.

Mr George N. K. Andah (NPP -- Awutu-Senya West) 10:24 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:24 a.m.

Mr Kobena M. Woyome (NDC -- South Tongu) 10:44 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:44 a.m.

Majority Leader (Mr Osei K y e i - M e n s a h - B o n s u ) 10:44 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:44 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:44 a.m.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:44 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:44 a.m.

BILLS -- FIRST READING 10:44 a.m.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:54 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:54 a.m.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu 10:54 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:54 a.m.

Mr Speaker 10:54 a.m.

STATEMENTS 10:54 a.m.

Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu)(NPP -- Suame) 10:54 a.m.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu (NDC -- Tamale South) 11:04 a.m.

Mr Speaker 11:04 a.m.

Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa (NDC-- North Tongu) 11:04 a.m.

Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa (NDC-- North Tongu) 11:14 a.m.

Mr Speaker, I beg to quote 11:14 a.m.

Mr Speaker 11:14 a.m.

Mr Speaker 11:14 a.m.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:14 a.m.

Mr Speaker 11:14 a.m.

VOTES AND 11:14 a.m.

PROCEEDINGS AND THE 11:14 a.m.

OFFICIAL REPORT 11:14 a.m.

Mr Speaker 11:14 a.m.

Mr Ras Mubarak 11:14 a.m.

Mr Speaker 11:14 a.m.

Mr Ras Mubarak 11:14 a.m.

Mr Speaker 11:14 a.m.

Mr Speaker 11:14 a.m.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:14 a.m.

Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 11:14 a.m.

Mr Alex Adomako-Mensah (NDC -- Sekyere Afram Plains) 11:14 a.m.

MOTIONS 11:14 a.m.

Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 11:14 a.m.

Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 11:14 a.m.

Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 11:14 a.m.

Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 11:14 a.m.

Mr Speaker 11:14 a.m.

Mr Alex Adomako-Mensah (NDC -- Sekyere Afram Plains) 11:14 a.m.

Dr A. A. Osei 4:09 p.m.

Mr Speaker 4:09 p.m.

Mr Adomako-Mensah 4:09 p.m.

Mr Speaker 4:09 p.m.

Mr Adomako-Mensah 4:09 p.m.

Mr Speaker 4:09 p.m.

Mr Kwame G. Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 4:09 p.m.

Mr Kwame G. Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 4:09 p.m.

PRAYERS

Mr Speaker

STATEMENTS

Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) (on behalf of Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa)

Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) (on behalf of Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa)

Mr Speaker

Mr Iddrisu

Mr Speaker

Mr Abraham D. Odoom (NPP -- Twifo Atti Morkwa)

Mr Mathias K. Ntow (NDC -- Aowin)

Mr Speaker

Mr George N. K. Andah (NPP -- Awutu-Senya West)

Mr George N. K. Andah (NPP -- Awutu-Senya West)

Mr Speaker

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker

Mr George N. K. Andah (NPP -- Awutu-Senya West)

Mr Speaker

Mr Kobena M. Woyome (NDC -- South Tongu)

Mr Speaker

Majority Leader (Mr Osei K y e i - M e n s a h - B o n s u )

Mr Speaker

Mr Speaker

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker

BILLS -- FIRST READING

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker

Mr Haruna Iddrisu

Mr Speaker

Mr Speaker

STATEMENTS

Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu)(NPP -- Suame)

Mr Haruna Iddrisu (NDC -- Tamale South)

Mr Speaker

Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa (NDC-- North Tongu)

Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa (NDC-- North Tongu)

Mr Speaker, I beg to quote

Mr Speaker

Mr Speaker

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker

VOTES AND

PROCEEDINGS AND THE

OFFICIAL REPORT

Mr Speaker

Mr Ras Mubarak

Mr Speaker

Mr Ras Mubarak

Mr Speaker

Mr Speaker

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah)

Mr Alex Adomako-Mensah (NDC -- Sekyere Afram Plains)

MOTIONS

Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah)

Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah)

Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah)

Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah)

Mr Speaker

Mr Alex Adomako-Mensah (NDC -- Sekyere Afram Plains)

Dr A. A. Osei

Mr Speaker

Mr Adomako-Mensah

Mr Speaker

Mr Adomako-Mensah

Mr Speaker

Mr Kwame G. Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu)

Mr Kwame G. Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu)

Dr A. A. Osei