Debates of 28 Jun 2019

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:20 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 27th June, 2019.
Pages 1…11 --
Mr Ablakwa 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful. Perhaps, I should respectfully put on record that my microphone has not been working since yesterday. Anytime, I have to shift to Hon Helen Ntoso's chair. If she is to be in attendance, I do not know which microphone I will use. Could the technicians kindly look at my microphone?
Mr Speaker, on page 11, first paragraph, the third line, it should be
the National Health Insurance Authority on the 2016 Annual Progress Report; it is not “…on the 2016 on the Annual Progress Report…”; ‘…on the…' after “2016” should be deleted.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
Pages 11….15.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, sorry to draw you back. On page 9, it has been well captured by the Table Office. I am not sure Hon Dafeamekpor limited himself only to resettlement communities in the Volta River area. As I recall, Hon Abu- Bakar Saddique Boniface and Hon K. T. Hammond even made refe- rences to Yeji and Makango. That was why we also made reference to Buipe and others.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
But we will still have to limit ourselves to the Statement.
Mr Iddrisu 10:20 a.m.
All right. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Hon Dafeamekpor, luckily, you are present. Would you please respond to what Hon Iddrisu raised?
Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yes; it encompassed all the resettlement communities in the country -- [Interruption] -- It is not Volta River alone. I just specified those from my constituency, but I spoke generally about the condition of the 52 Settlement Communities.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Corrected accordingly.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the content of the Statement is not what is being questioned. What was the title of the Statement? The title is what is captured in the Votes and Proceedings and not the content.
Mr Speaker 10:20 a.m.
Then the title is appropriately captured. Other matters may be referred to incidentally, but that represents the title of the Statement.

Hon Members, in the absence of any further corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 27th June, 2019 as corrected is hereby admitted accordingly.

Hon Members, corrections of Official Report of Thursday, 30th May, 2019.
Mr Agbodza 10:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, column 270, the first paragraph as captured reads:
“Mr Speaker, I think that the Hon Chairman should consider normal using ‘international' and deleting ‘foreign' unless he can explain to us why ‘foreign' and ‘international' are used. We could just use “international bodies.”
Mr Speaker, there was a debate when we did the National Road Safety Authority Bill, 2019. My point was that the Hon Chairman should consider using ‘international'. But the way it was captured, it should rather read:
Mr Speaker, I think that the Hon Chairman should consider
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree in principle with what my Hon Colleague has said, except to observe that the correction of Votes and Proceedings should be limited to facts.

If they relate to grammar and soon, I believe the Table Office will correct same. But if it has to do with facts that we might have churned out for it to be realised that it was wrong, we then cannot use the plenary to correct what we got wrong. I believe matters of grammar or improper capture of the Statement could be left to the Table Officers to handle.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
I think we need to be a bit cautious here too. So it was supposed someone blatantly says and it was actually said that Ghana became independent on 7th March and maybe
nobody noticed and it nevertheless goes into the records. When we are subsequently reviewing, are we estopped from correcting this palpable mistake? Just for our guidance in future, I like to look forward to some of these things. This is because there are times when we may want to correct the minutes even though what is there is actually what was said. So that we set appropriate precedence.
Well, the correction is admitted accordingly.
Mr Ablakwa 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, within the spirit of what the Hon Majority Leader has said -- facts and grammar and all of that: Column 193, his own statement as captured, second paragraph, fourth line, talking about when Dr Kwabena Adjei was born. Instead of “born on 9th March”, we have “horn …” Should we let a matter like this go when “horn” means something else and not “born”? So what would be your advice in a matter like this? We take interest in all of these issues so that we can have a clean record from the House.
What would be your advice, Mr Speaker?
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
In a typical court room situation, a judge would tell you that when an error is manifest on the face of the record, you correct it.
Very well. We proceed accordingly.
Hon Members, in the absence of any further corrections, the Official Report of 30th May, 2019 is hereby admitted as true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, item numbered 3, Business Statement for the Sixth Week.
Hon Chairman of the Business Committee, Hon Majority Leader.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:30 a.m.
Chairman of the Business Committee/Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 10:30 a.m.
Introduction:
Mr Speaker, the Committee met yesterday, Thursday, 27th June, 2019 and arranged Business of the House for the Sixth Week ending Friday, 5th July 2019.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:30 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Question(s)
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee has scheduled the following Ministers to respond to Questions asked of them during the week:
No. of Questions
i. Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation -- 1
ii. Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture -- 1
iii. Minister for Communications -- 1
iv. Minister for Energy -- 6
v. Minister for Finance -- 4
vi. Minister for Roads and Highways -- 5
Total Number of Questions -- 18
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, six (6) Ministers are expected to attend upon the House to respond to Eighteen (18) Questions during the week. The Questions are of the following types:
i. Urgent -- 1;
ii. Oral --17
Statements
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Order 70(2), Ministers of State may be permitted to make Statements of Government policy. Statements duly admitted by Mr Speaker may be made in the House by Hon Members in accordance with Order 72.
Bills, Papers and Reports
Mr Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House for First Reading in accordance with Order 120. However, those of urgent nature may be taken through the various stages in one day in accordance with Order 119.
Pursuant to Order 75, Papers for presentation to the House may be placed on the Order Paper for laying. Committee reports may also be presented to the House for consideration.
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee decided that so many Bills have been referred to the Committee on Education who are considering them at Koforidua as we speak. We are hoping that a couple of them may be ready for presentation and debate and if they are ready, it is intended to take a couple of them in the ensuing week. For now, however, Mr Speaker, indications are that they are considering about six Bills and as observed, if one or two are ready for Consideration by the House, the House would be accordingly prompted on the appropriate day for the consideration of that report from the Education Committee.
Motions and Resolutions
Mr Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
Conclusion
Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160(2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this Honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week under consideration.

Questions --

*574.Mr Mohammed Abdul- Aziz (Mion): To ask the Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation reason(s) for the dismissal of Mr. Wisdom Kwaku Deku as the System Administration Supervisor of the National Identification Authority (NIA) on 24th November 2017.

*576. Dr Zanetor Agyeman- Rawlings (Klottey-Korle): To ask the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture what plans the Ministry has in place for the communities in Osu, particularly South Anorhor.

*582. Rev John Ntim Fordjour (Assin South): To ask the Minister for Communications what measures the Ministry is putting in place to ensure user privacy protection amidst the report by the Wall Street Journal on July 6, 2018 that a million units of inexpensive smartphones sold in developing countries contain preloaded applications that harvest user data without their knowledge.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a)Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, Import NHIL, EXIM Levy, and other imposts amounting to the Ghana Cedi equivalent of seven hundred and ninety- nine thousand, nine hundred and eighty-eight United States dollars (US$799,988.00 [equivalent to GH¢4,122,260.23]) on equipment to be procured by Soshada Limited under the implementation of the One District One Factory (1D1F) Programme.

(b) Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, Import NHIL, EXIM Levy, and other imposts amounting to the Ghana Cedi equivalent of two hundred and twenty-two thousand, one hundred and fifty-one United States dollars (US$222,151.00 [equivalent to GH¢1,144,723.00]) on equipment to be procured by Yedent Agro Bulk Pro- cessing Company Limited under the implementation of the One District One Factory (1D1F) Programme.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:30 a.m.


(c) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Asante Akim Central Municipal Assembly for the year 2018.

(d) Annual Report of the Public Procurement Authority for the year 2016.

Committee Sittings

Questions --

*593. Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane (Nabdam): To ask the Minister for Energy when electricity supply will be extended to the following communities in the Nabdam District: (i) Nangudi Techiman (ii) Pelungo Zeemboug (iii) Dasang Nayakora Yagre (iv) Ndamboug Kpalikpii (v) Ngberiboug (vi) Gungware (vii) Zalerigu Zuaya (Bariki) (viii) Zoug/Zogamok (ix) Daliga (x) Logre Tengnaab Yagre.

*594. Mr Christian Corletey Otuteye (Sege): To ask the Minister for Energy when the following communities will be connected to the national grid: (i) Caesar Korpe Panya (ii) Dogo Korpe (iii) Wonyi.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:30 a.m.
*596. Mr Wahab Wumbei Suhuyini (Tolon): To ask the Minister for Energy when the following communities will be connected to the national grid: (i) Kpaniyili (ii) Wayamba (iii) Jagriguyili (iv) Buiyili (v) Tibogu (vi) Koblimahigu (vii) Tuzeenaayili (viii) Botingli (ix) Dalimbihi (x) Zantani.
*597. Mrs Angela Oforiwa Alorwu-Tay (Afadzato South): To ask the Minister for Energy when the following communities in the Afadzato South District will be connected to the national grid: (i) Gayadzi (ii) Kpokope (iii) New Site (iv) Quarters (v) Azikope (vi) Adakope (vii) Aveyoryoe (viii) Aveyoryoe No. 2 (ix) Kpakope (x) Sadzikope (xi) Akrobotornu (xii) Hadzidekorpe.
*598. Mr Alhassan Umar (Zabzugu): To ask the Minister for Energy when the contractor
will return to site and complete the connection of the following communities to the national grid: (i) Korikurugu (ii) Nyankpala (iii) Mongoase (iv) Jagrido. (v) Kupariga.
Statements
Motions --
Adoption of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor- General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Pre-University Educational Institutions) for the Financial Year Ended 31st December 2015.
Consideration Stage of Bills --
Vigilantism and Related Offences Bill, 2019.
Committee sittings.

Urgent Question --
Mr Peter Nortsu-Kotoe (Akatsi North) 10:30 a.m.
To ask the Minister for Finance why the Ministry has failed to release to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) its appropriated funds for August to
November 2018 and January to May 2019 to enable the GETFund meet its obligations.
Questions --
*584. Mr Mohammed Abdul- Aziz (Mion): To ask the Minister for Finance how much Government has paid in judgement debt from January 2017 to date.
*585. Mr Ernest Henry Norgbey (Ashaiman): To ask the Minister for Finance why the Public Procurement Authority is charging company registration fees without Parliamentary approval.
*586. Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo (Manso Adubia): To ask the Minister for Finance what has been the overall impact of the reforms introduced by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) at the ports of entry in the revenue mobilisation drive of the Ministry.
Statements --
Motions --
Adoption of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor- General on the Public Accounts
Mr Peter Nortsu-Kotoe (Akatsi North) 10:30 a.m.


of Ghana (Pre-University Educational Institutions) for the Financial Year Ended 31st December 2016.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Vigilantism and Related Offences Bill, 2019. (Continuation of debate)

Committee sittings.

Questions --

*609. Mr Joseph Mensah (Kwesimintsim): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the road from Assakae to Whindo will be constructed, since the road has become unmotorable and thus affecting schooling and economic activities in the two towns.

*610. Mr Joseph Mensah (Kwesimintsim): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways what plans the Ministry has to construct a bridge on River Ayile, linking Assakae to Adientam, as the two towns are usually cut off during raining seasons.

*611. Mr George Mireku Duker (Tarkwa-Nsuaem): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Awhetieso to Tarkwa road will be completed.

*612. Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem (Asuogyaman): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways what plans the Ministry has to construct the following roads in the Asuogyaman District: (i) Asikuma - Boso (ii) Apeguso - Mpakadan.

*613. Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem (Asuogyaman): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways why construction works on the Akosombo - Gyakiti road has stalled and when the contractor will return to site.

Statements --

Presentation of Papers --

Report of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on the Amendments to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Vigilantism and Related Offences Bill, 2019. (Continuation of debate)

Committee sittings.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Leader.
Any comments?
Mr Samuel N. George 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to crave your indulgence to see if the Business Committee can invite the Hon Minister for the Interior to brief the Committee of the Whole -
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Member, make a Statement or file a Question. Filing a Question is the way to invite Hon Ministers.
10. 40 a.m.
Mr Ablakwa 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, there is a very important matter which I did bring to the attention of the Hon Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and this matter relates to the recent visit of His Excellency, the President to the Caribbean, specifically to Jamaica. He did speak to a new visa waiver agreement he had signed with his counterpart and announced that it would come into effect on the first of July.
We all know that article 75 and the decision of the Supreme Court on the Gitmo Two say that all these international agreements must be brought to this House. Indeed, there are four of these visa waiver agreements that have been programmed for this particular Meeting; with Columbia, Chile, India and Hungary. When I raised the matter, we were told that with this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would expedite action so that that agreement would be brought to us for us to ratify before 1st July.
Now, 1st July is only on Monday—
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Member, you have a very important tool; bring the Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs here by asking a Question as to when and how that is going to be done.
Mr Ablakwa 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is about the ratification of the Agreement. So, the Hon Minister should have submitted it to the House for ratification.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
If the Hon Minister has not submitted it, you a worthy Member of Parliament as indeed you are, ought to ask her why not.
Mr Ablakwa 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my fear is that the President talked about 1st July, 2019, which is on Monday.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Member, file a Question and trigger your powers to drag the Hon Minister here.
Mr Ablakwa 10:30 a.m.
All right, I would be well guided.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Hon Boamah?
Mr Patrick Y. Boamah (NPP — Okaikwei Central) 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the rules of the House give you the power to admit Questions. And the Hon Chairman of the Business Committee has, I am sure, followed the powers given to you by the rules of the House.
Mr Speaker, Question 574, Tuesday, 2nd July, 2019 has been admitted by you and the said Minister has been programmed to come and answer the Question. It stands in the name of the Hon Mohammed Abdul- Aziz, my Hon Colleague from Mion who wants to ask the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation the reason for the dismissal of Mr Wisdom Kwaku Deku as the System Administration Supervisor of the National Identification Authority (NIA) on 24th November, 2017, by a statutory authority or institution.
Mr Speaker, may I refer you to article 23 of the Constitution. It says 10:30 a.m.
“Administrative bodies and administrative officials shall act fairly and reasonably and comply with the requirements imposed on them by law and persons aggrieved by the exercise of such acts and decisions shall have the right to seek redress before a court or other tribunal.”
Mr Speaker, what would be the locus of the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation to come before Parliament to give reasons for the dismissal of an employee of a State institution who I believe, has gone through due process? If it is oversight, — Mr Speaker, this is a legal issue, I believe for which I do not think the Hon Minister ought to appear.
If the person is aggrieved, he should go to Court.
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Member, let the Hon Minister come and say he should not be here. But Hon Members of Parliament have a latitude; leave the Hon Member to ask what concerns, touches or worries him or her or a constituent. Let him have the freedom to do so.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
The Business of the House has been presented and it reflects what happened at the meeting.
Mr Speaker, I may have to make an application to you for a directive, a directive that at the Business Committee, a fortnight ago, and on the floor, I made a request that the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission would necessarily have to brief this House as representatives of the people on some matters bordering on governance in the country particularly, the challenges with the ongoing voter registration exercise.
In my constituency, there are shortages of forms and there is confusion between online and offline. The President has indicated through you and to the Council of State, matters bordering on a referendum on article 55 and other articles and the conduct of district assemblies' elections.
Mr Speaker, as a representative of the people, the right to vote cannot be a right in denial. Therefore if you could direct that the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission appear before this House. I have made the request to the Business Committee, the Hon Chairman is here. We are
major stakeholders and she must come to share with us her roadmap; how she intends to walk the governance initiatives of the President.
I so apply, Mr Speaker.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, beginning with what the Hon Minority Leader has submitted, indeed, he raised it at the Business Committee meeting and I strongly suggested to him that the Business Committee does not generate its own agenda. And that, if he has issues, he should apply to Mr Speaker. If Mr Speaker, agrees and we have to do that, the Business Committee then would consider same. But until then, there is nothing before the Business Committee to invite the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission on.
So, if the application is granted, we would do what is needful. But for now, there is nothing before the Business Committee.
Mr Speaker, the other one relating to Question 574, the admissibility of a Question rests with Mr Speaker. And once Mr Speaker has admitted that Question, the Business Committee must deem it fit to programme that Question, which is what we have done. Even though dealing with it, as a person, I thought that the Question should not have been
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, you are being described as the main man in introducing foreign elements --[Laughter.]
Hon Members, the Business Statement as presented, is accordingly admitted.
Hon Members, item—
Mr Iddrisu — rose —
Mr Speaker 10:30 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Iddrisu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, you have admitted the Business Statement and I do not know the fate of my application on the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission because the Leader of Government Business --
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Put your heads together --
Mr Iddrisu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we have.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
And take appropriate steps.
Mr Iddrisu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, unless he detaches his head, we have.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
You can ask a Question and demand accountability on every sector in this Republic. There is always one Hon Minister or other -- [Interruption.] We used to have a Chief of Staff who answered Questions here before. So, if you want to ask a Question on something which is beyond parliamentary Questions, if there is any difficulty whatsoever, then let me know. So long as that process is there, it should be applied.
Statements can also be made by Hon Members. Pursuant to Statements, we may set up a Committee or give a directive accordingly. So, please apply our rules accordingly and you could get exactly what you want. There is no estoppel in this matter, but let us go by the book.
It is Question time. Hon Kpodo and the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways should be in readiness.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister is outside the jurisdiction and these Questions were to have been answered last week. Unfortunately, at the time, he was not available and when we thought that he would be available this week and programmed same, unfortunately he had to travel outside
the jurisdiction. He has a very able Hon Deputy Minister and we apply for the Hon Deputy Minister to answer the Question on behalf of the Hon Minister.
Mr Iddrisu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, there can be no difficulty with this one. The Hon Minister for Roads and Highways has been very religious with his Friday appearances before this House to answer Questions affecting Hon Members in relation to roads. He has a capable Hon Deputy who is an Engineer, so we have no difficulty at all accommodating them.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, you may take the Chair. This House continues to appreciate the readiness of the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways to assist Parliament.
Hon Member for Ho Central, your Question? [Pause] I was looking in your direction, not knowing you had progressed to the front bench.
Mr Benjamin K. Kpodo 10:50 a.m.
The Hon Minority Leader said he was going out, so I should come and hold the fort here and at the same time --
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Very well, congratulations. [Laughter]
QUESTIONS 10:50 a.m.
MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 10:50 a.m.
HIGHWAYS 10:50 a.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
-- rose --
Mr Kpodo 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have asked the Question which I submitted and if you read the Hon Minister's response on page 10, paragraph 2 of the Order Paper, he acknowledged that the road begins from Sokode Etoe Junction on the Accra to Ho road. That is the Question I submitted, he has acknowledged it and that is the Answer he has provided, so what I am reading is correct. How can it not be correct? [Interruption.]
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Members file Questions and if a Question is filed and an Hon
Minister is invited, when the Member asking the Question is given the opportunity to ask the Question, he or she cannot introduce anything extraneous other than the Question submitted and has been advertised in the Order Paper.
So, the Hon Member should read the Question to the Hon Minister and he would submit the appropriate response. He does not have any authority to introduce any extraneous issues or foreign material. Mr Speaker, so I would request and humbly submit that you compel the Hon Member to read the Question as advertised in the Order Paper.
Mr Speaker 10:50 a.m.
Hon Member, state your Question as it is or withdraw it.
Q.604. Mr Benjamin Komla Kpodo asked the Minister for Roads and Highways on the status of the works on the dual carriage road from the University of Health and Allied Sciences campus to Titrinu, on the Ho - Aflao road.
Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways (Mr Kwabena Owusu- Aduomi on behalf of the Minister for Roads and Highways): Ho is the capital town of Ho Municipality and the Volta Region as well.
The 14.0km Ho By-Pass is a two lane dual carriageway classified as a major arterial road by the Department of Urban Roads (DUR). It starts from Sokode Etoe junction on the Accra - Ho trunk road through to the University of Health and Allied Sciences campus, Mawuli Estate to Titrinu, on the Ho - Aflao trunk road.
Current programme
The contract for the dualing of Ho By-Pass: Sokode Etoe -- University of Health and Allied Sciences - Titrinu, phase 1, that is, from Sokode Etoe to Mirage at CH 7+200 was awarded on 8 th April, 2016. It commenced on 10th June, 2016 for completion on 9th June, 2018. The works consist of drainage works and earth works. These works have been substantially completed.
Works done in the phase 1 include:
Construction of Pipe culverts- 1 no. 4 cell 1.8m diameter each at chainages 0+300 and 8 + 500, 1 no. single cell 1.2m diameter each at chainages 0+750 and 1+520, and 1 no. double cell 900mm diameter at chainage 7+765.
Construction of Box Culverts- 1 no. double cell 3.5m x 3.5m,
1 no. double cell 4m x 2m, 1no. double cell 3m x 2m, 1no.triple cell 2m x 2m, 1 no. 4-cell 3.5m x 3.5m, and 1 no. double cell 4m x 4m at Chainages 3+910,
4+035, 5+110, 6+575, 8+040,
10+050 respectively.
Filling of culvert approaches and raising of low lying areas.
The DUR has commenced the procurement of the phase 2 of the road project. This stretches from Mirage at Chainage 7+200 through Mawuli Estate to Titrinu at Ch14+000 on the Ho - Aflao trunk road.
The works include the following:
Payment of compensation to property affected persons (including structures).
Construction of 1 no. single cell 1.2m diameter Pipe Culvert at Chainage 1+525.
Construction of 1 no. single cell 0.9m diameter Pipe Culvert.
Filling of culvert approaches and raising of lowlying areas.
Pavement works comprising subbase and base courses on the entire road from Sokode Etoe.

Bituminous surfacing (Primer- seal and Seal works) on the entire 14.0 km road.

Traffic management and Safety measures (eg. Roadline marking, Signage etc).

Construction of walkways and lay-byes.

The Ministry is reviewing the engineering designs and projected costs of the phase 2 of the project after which bids will be invited from eligible contractors.

The project will be financed from the Ghana Road Fund.
Mr Kpodo 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I would want to quote paragraph 2, bullet 3 of the Hon Minister's Answer, which says:
“The works consist of drainage works and earth works. These works had been substantially completed. . . Filling of culvert approaches and raising of low- lying areas.''
Mr Speaker, if the Hon Minister says the road has been substantially completed, it would mean that bullet 3 of his Answer would have been
accomplished and, therefore, the road could be used.
I would want to know from the Hon Minister whether it is true that the culvert approaches have been covered?
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the culvert approaches have been filled, and that is the information we have at the Ministry.
Mr Kpodo 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, interestingly, this road passes in front of my house and the culvert approaches have not been done. So one cannot traverse that road. It is not true that they have been filled?
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Member, do you want to suggest to the Hon Minister that the road culvert approaches have not been filled?
Mr Kpodo 11 a.m.
Exactly so, Mr Speaker. It has not been done, so we cannot even drive over the culvert.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Minister, the Hon Member has suggested to you that it is not correct to say that the road has been done because it is his pathway.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this project is supervised by the DUR, and they have informed us
that they have done the approaches to the culverts. Maybe, it has not been done to the level that one could smoothly drive on, but approaches to the culverts have been done, and that is the information that we have.
Mr Kpodo 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Minister, how much the total contract sum was and, out of that, how much has been paid to First Sky Limited who is the contractor?
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the contract sum of this project was GH¢24.8 million, and the information we have is that not a pesewa has been paid to the contractor because the unpaid amount is GH¢24.945 million. It means that IPC one and two, which were prepared, have not been paid for; so not a pesewa has been paid, but the contractor has done it.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Member, you have exhausted your three supplementary questions, but I would indulge you.
Mr Kpodo 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the claim by the Hon Minister that the road has been done substantially, cannot be true. How could he say that the work has been substantially
completed, when the contractor has not been paid a dime for even the part of the work that he has done?
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member begins by disputing the claim of the Hon Minister and indeed, of the Ministry. He argues with the Hon Minister that the statement cannot be true. If the Hon Member has any question to ask, our Standing Orders allow him to ask; but he has no authority to enter into any argument with the Hon Minister.
Mr Speaker, Standing Order 67(1)(b) provides, and with your permission, I beg to quote:
“a Question shall not contain any arguments….”
Whereas he has the opportunity to ask a supplementary question, he is not required, under our rules, to enter into any argument and disputation with the Hon Minister. In any event, this same question has been answered earlier substantially.
Again, our Standing Orders provide in 67(1)(c) that, an Hon Member cannot enter into any disputation, especially when the question has been answered substantially.
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Member, there are times when you simply have to rephrase your question so as to avoid a difficulty because entering into an argument and so on, is not permitted and it is very clear on the face of the Standing Orders. It is a matter of style. I realised you were not happy, and that was why I allowed you to ask your fourth supplementary question. So, please rephrase your question so we could move on.
Mr Kpodo 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, could the Hon Minister tell us what he meant by his statement that works on the road have been substantially completed? He should also add — [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Please, how can he say the work has been substantially done when he says nothing has been paid? Is that what you want to ask?
Mr Kpodo 11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, could the Hon Minister explain to this House what he meant exactly by substantial completion of the road project?
Mr Speaker 11 a.m.
Hon Minister, the Hon Member would like to know this because in one breath, you said the work is substantially completed and in another breath, you said not a pesewa has been paid. How do you reconcile this?
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is not unusual that works would be completed and the contractor has not been paid. We have reliable contractors who do more than one project and such reliable contractors, like First Sky, are able to work without being paid a pesewa.

Indeed, the contractor did pre- financing of the project, and it is not unusual at all that he should be worried about and relate it to the substantial completion of the project. Substantial completion of the project means that the contents that have been indicated in the project have been completed. That is all.

Mr Speaker, so, he said he will do drainage works. The Hon Member agreed that the culverts have been constructed, but he has not agreed with us that we have done filling of culvert approaches. We indicate that filling of culvert approaches has been done. So, what was required in the

contract has been done and that is why we, as a Ministry, took time to indicate to him in the Answer all the culverts that had been constructed, and then the filling. He has not disputed that of the culverts, has he? No, he has not.

For us, the work has been substantially completed. What they wanted to do in the contract has been done, and that is the meaning of substantial completion.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Question numbered 605, in the name of the Hon Member for Ho Central. Please, proceed.
Q.605. Mr Benjamin Komla Kpodo asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when construction of the dual carriage road from Sokode to the centre of Ho, which started in 2016 would be continued and completed.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Background
Ho is the capital town of Ho Municipality and the Volta Region as well.
The10.5km road is a dual carriageway classified as a major arterial by the Department of Urban Roads (DUR). It starts from Sokode Gborgame on the Accra - Ho trunk road through Sokode Etoe to Civic Center, on the fringes of Ho Central Business District (CBD).
Current programme
The contract for the dualisation of this section of the trunk road (Sokode Gborgame - Civic Centre) and Traffic Management Works were awarded on 27th May, 2016. Physical works commenced on 8th August, 2016 for completion on 7th February, 2018. The completion date has been extended to 31st December, 2019.
The extension was due to a variation order to relocate some utilities and construction of additional drainage structures. The contractor's work progress has slowed down as a result of the Employer's undue delay in paying for work done.
Works completed to date include:
Construction of 0.9m, 1.2m, 1.8m diameter pipe culverts at various chainages or locations;
Construction of Box Culverts of varying sizes at various chainages;
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Kpodo 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I asked the Hon Minister to explain to this House why the road works were halted soon after this Administration took over the administration of the country in the year 2017.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we have indicated in our Answer that the progress has slowed down and possibly, halted. Yes, the work has stopped because the Employer has not paid for work done, and that was during the tenure of the Hon Member's party.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Minister, address me.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yes.
Mr Speaker, the project has halted because the work done by the contractor has not been paid for by the Employer, and that was during the time before January, 2017.
Mr Kpodo 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this road, as he indicated, is a very short road and was started in August, 2016; but as of now, the report is that 32.2 per cent has been done and
certificates raised are up to about GH¢31.6 million. However, only GH¢1,132,594.45 has been paid to the contractor.
Mr Speaker, is it the case that the Ministry has not made any purposeful effort to get the work done?
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is not the case that we do not want to do this work at all, as every road project in the country is important to the Government. Before January, 2017, work that was done by the contractor was not paid for, and that was the reason the contractor halted the project.
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Order!
Hon Member, your last supplementary question.
Mr Kpodo 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to refer to the two roads again. Will the Hon Minister consider a credit facility; a dedicated source of funding for these roads in Ho, which is the Municipality in the centre of the Region? Will he consider that, as we have done in the case of the Kumasi Inner City Roads?
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, no insinuations will be accepted in your questions but you are entitiled to ask the Hon Minister whether he would consider taking a facility for the work. However, you will not be right to make unnecessary and undue comparisons, as that will be prejudicial.
So you may want to ask your question without going into the arena of prejudice, and then we continue.
Mr Kpodo 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was only assisting——
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, please, if you will not take a cue, then you may take your seat.
Mr Kpodo 11:10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, so, let me limit the question to whether the Ministry will not consider a facility that will be dedicated to the funding of those roads in Ho town. This is
Mr Speaker 11:10 a.m.
Hon Member, I will overrule your question if you insist on a different path.
Hon Minister, will you consider taking a facility for this job? I have summarised the Hon member's question for you. You may answer the Hon Member.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry has been doing that for projects that we have difficulty in funding. Presently, on the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Polmakom Road Project, we have asked the contractor to submit a facility because funding is becoming difficult for us. So it is done.
There is no need for comparison, but Ho has got a better road among any of the capital cities in the country. Also, the Volta Region has the best of roads than any other region in the country. It is not good to make comparisons, but this could be done. What is important is for the Ministry to sit with the contractor and ask him whether he is capable of getting a facility for us. He should not compare Ho to Kumasi because Kumasi roads are in very deplorable state.
Bitumen Surfacing and Upgrade of Roads
(Nyankomase - Jakai, Jakai - Assin Kruwa etc. roads)
Q 606. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when bitumen surfacing and upgrade of the following roads would commence: (i) Nyankumase - Jakai (ii) Jakai - Assin Kruwa (iii) Jakai - Kyinso (iv) Assin Manso - Ochiso - Haasowodze.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Nyankumase-Jakai is 10.60 km.
Background
Nyankumase - Jakai road is 10.60 km long with a bituminous surface section from km 0.00 to 4.50 km and gravel surfaced from 4.50km to 10.60 km. It is located in the Assin South District of Central Region. The 4.50 km paved section of the road is in poor condition.
Current programme
The programme for the rehabilitation of the road was planned in phases with the phase 1 comprising the resurfacing of the failed bituminous section (0.00 km- 4.50 km).
Advertisement for the procurement of works appeared in the Ghanaian Times newspaper of 20th March, 2019. Bids have been received from eligible contractors, and the draft tender evaluation report is being reviewed at Department of Feeder Roads (DFR) Head Office. Thereafter, the procurement process will continue to the eventual award of the contract to the successful bidder.
Future programme
The phase 2 of the rehabilitation / upgrading to bituminous surface will include the section from 4.50 km to km 10.00 km.
Cost estimates for works within the section is under consideration. The project will be programmed for implementation under the 2020 Budget subject to availability of funds.
(ii) Jakai - Assin Kruwa (23.50 km)
Background
The Jakai - Assin Kruwa feeder road comprises of two roads namely Jakai - Nyamebebu Jn. feeder road (13.00 km) and Nyamebebu Jn. - Assin Kruwa feeder road (10.50 km). Both are gravel surfaced roads in poor conditions and located in the Assin South District of the Central Region.
Current programme
Programme for the upgrading to bituminous surfacing of Jakai - Nyamebebu Jn. (13.00 km) section of the Jakai - Assin Kruwa feeder road has been divided into two phases; Phase 1 from 0.00 km to 6.50 km and Phase 2 from 6.50 km to 13.00 km.
The procurement process for the phase 1 project is currently at the tender evaluation stage after receiving bids from eligible contractors.
Similarly, the upgrading of Nyamebebu Jn. - Assin Kruwa (10.50 km) was also divided into two phases; Phase 1 from km 0.00 km to km 4.50 km and Phase 2 between 4.50 km and 10.50 km.
However, the poor surface condition of the second stretch (km 4.50 km -10.50 km) was observed to be more severe and therefore critical for the Ministry's attention.
The procurement of this section was considered first and is at the tender evaluation stage.
Future programme
The Phase 2 (6.50 km - 13.00 km) of Jakai - Nyamebebu Junction and Phase 1 (0.00 km to 4.50 km) of
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the roads are many. So if the Hon Member would be specific on the particular road that he would want me to answer this question on.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Hon Member, how many; three roads?
Rev. Fordjour: Mr Speaker, as contained in the Answer provided and stated by the Hon Deputy Minister, we understand that the first phases for Nyankomase - Jakai, Jakai - Assin Kruwa and Nyamebebu Junction - Assin Kruwa roads, which were advertised on the 20th March, 2019, are currently going through procurement processes. These are the roads in respect of which I seek to know when the procurement processes would be finalised.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Department of Feeder Roads is doing evaluation of the bids that have been received. I believe by the middle of July, it should be available at the Ministry for Hon Minister to approve.
Mr Speaker 11:20 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Deputy Minister.
Any further question?
Rev Fordjour: Mr Speaker, as was rightly acknowledged by the Hon Minister in the response on page 14 of the Order Paper, that the poor surface condition of the second stretch was observed to be more severe. Therefore it is critical for the Ministry's attention, and also understanding that phase 1, obviously, would have to be awarded and subsequently in the 2020 Budget, phase 2 might be considered, Within the period while we wait for the consideration of the second phase, may I ask what plans the Ministry has to put the phase 2 on rehabilitation?
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:20 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we have indicated that on the sections that would not be under contract, we are programming routine maintenance works, basically grading of the gravel surface and cleaning of the ditches to make the road motorable.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi 11:30 a.m.


As I indicated, engineering design studies have been submitted on the outstanding section, which is 6.5 kilometres to Nyamebebu and 4.5 kilometres after Nyamebebu, a total of 11 kilometres. We want to include it in the 2020 Budget, depending on the amount that would be given to the Ministry and the portion that would go to the Department of Feeder Roads.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Minister, thank you very much for attending upon the House and answering our Questions. You are respectfully discharged.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in asking the first Question for today, that is Question numbered 604, Hon Benjamin Komla Kpodo strayed into some other areas and introduced some extraneous matters in the Question that he asked. When I requested that he sticks to the Question as advertised, he said the Question and the formulation that he had asked the first time was, indeed, how he formulated the Question.
Mr Speaker, you are in charge of admitting Questions and have the authority, if you so desire, to alter the
Mr Kpodo 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have not had access to that document, but when the Question was advertised, I met with the Clerk to Parliament and showed him what I submitted. He said it would be difficult to change it
because it had already been advertised, so that was why I explained.
True, the road begins to --
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Member, if what you filed has actually been put on the Order Paper, then you just admit that and let it stay because you did not tell the full story. I hope you understand me.
Whatever you purported to do in- between did not materialise. You could have withdrawn your Question, but you did not. So there is no point in making a meal out of this.
So be guided in that regard in future.
Mr Kpodo 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I take a cue.
Thank you.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Thank you.
Hon Majority Leader, no Statements for today, because of other arrangements that we know of very well and as was agreed.
At the Commencement of Public Business— any presentation?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we can do item listed 6.
PAPERS 11:30 a.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 8.
Mr Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Item 8, Motion. Chairman of the Committee?
The Hon First Deputy Speaker would take the Chair.
MOTIONS 11:30 a.m.
Chairman of the Finance Committee (Dr Mark Assibey- Yeboah) 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry
Chairman of the Finance Committee (Dr Mark Assibey- Yeboah) 11:30 a.m.


3.0 Purpose of the project

The purpose of this project is to support the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR) and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) to install and maintain point and piped water systems in rural communities and small
Chairman of the Finance Committee (Dr Mark Assibey- Yeboah) 11:30 a.m.
4.0 Terms and Conditions of the loan
The terms and conditions of the Facility under the two Agreements are as follows in the table below:

The project cost of €30, 000,000.000 is financed by Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State acting through the Export Credits Guarantee Department (operating as UK Export Finance) and HSBC Bank Plc under an export credit financing structure.

UK Export Finance is providing a direct lending to GoG to finance up to 85 per cent of the contract value and the entire guarantee premium. HBSC Bank Plc on the other hand is lending to Government up to 15 per cent of the contract value to finance Government's contribution towards the project.

5.0 Project Components

The project shall have four main components, namely:

i. Point Source Nano- Filtration System (€3 million) -- 10 per cent Project Value

This component will provide point source Nano- filtration systems to 150 communities in areas where the water source is contaminated. The system will comprise photo- voltaic power supplies and solar pumps, Nano-filters in

anti-bacterial tanks, and a revenue capture system (either through mobile money or smartcards) at the source. Financial packages provide a 100 per cent financing solution.

Each system cost approximately €20,000 or €33.33 per capita and will provide safe water to 600 people on average resulting in safe water provision for 90,000 people.

ii. Piped Water to Households and Public Standpipes (€21 million) - 70 per cent of Project Value

This component will provide both piped water to household and public standpipes in 12 small towns. Each system will comprise photo-voltaic power for the pumping system, which will take water from water sources and anti-bacterial storage tanks. Pipes will transport water from the central system either to smart meters at each household or to the public standpipe locations, where water will be sold either through mobile
Chairman of the Finance Committee (Dr Mark Assibey- Yeboah) 11:30 a.m.


money or through a smartcard revenue capture system. Each system costs approximately €1.75 million for each location, including revenue capture and or smart metering and operational and maintenance planning at €109 per capita, and will serve a small town with an average population of 16,000. In total, 192,000 people in 12 small towns will be served under this component.

iii. Environmental, Social Safeguards and Commu- nity Engagement (€1.3 million) - 4.33 per cent of Project Value

This component will cover environmental and social safeguard interventions, selection of communities, community engagement and sensitisation and training of Water System Management Staff.

iv Project Management (€4.5 million) - 15 per cent of Project Value

This component refers to the fees for the overall planning, management and oversight of

the project design develop- ment, data research review, logistics, distribution, imple- mentation and maintenance on behalf of the Government of Ghana by CWSA's internal project team and Aqua Africa's external team.

The fee structure will be used to cover the cost of implementing the project based on the following sharing formula:

CWSA internal project management: three per cent

(€900,000);

Aqua Africa External Project Management 12 per cent (€3.6 million);

The Project Management Teams will operate between CWSA Head Office and Aqua Africa's Accra Office.

6.0 Observations

6.1 Value for Money Audit

The Committee sought to know whether the project would be subjected to a value-for-money (VFM) audit. To this, officials of the Ministry of Finance answered in the affirmative and intimated that the necessary documentation have been submitted to Crown Agents who are

presently undertaking the necessary value-for-money audit. The Committee advised the Ministries of Finance and Sanitation and Water Resources to keenly follow-up on the value for money audit to ensure that it is completed on time to ensure the speedy implementation of the project.

6.2 Inclusion in the non- concessional borrowing under the IMF Programme

The Committee was informed that the project financing was included in the list of projects approved for non- concessional borrowing in 2018 under the International Monetary Fund's programme.

6.3 Project Implementation Period

As to how long the project will take to be completed, the Committee was informed that the implementation of the project will be done in two phases: The first phase will cover a three - month design, resourcing and procurement planning; while the second phase covers a 18-month project implementation and delivery, thus bringing the total implementation period to 21 months. Additionally, the project will have a 6-month contingency period to deal with unforeseen circumstances, if any.

6.4 Benefits of the Project

Benefits expected to accrue from the project include:

Maximisation of social and health benefit such as safe, affordable and reliable water supply, improvement in school attendance and reduction in water borne diseases.

Improved level of service by increasing coverage in the beneficiary communities.

Growth in productivity of the inhabitants leading to economic development and poverty reduction -- approximately 600 direct and indirect jobs will be created.

Boost to business and trade, mainly within the SME, manufacturing and Rural Enterprises sector as espoused in the One-District-One- Factory industrial policy of Government.

6.5 Water for All Agenda

The committee was informed that the project solution meets the new policy direction of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources and incorporates all the tenets of the
Chairman of the Finance Committee (Dr Mark Assibey- Yeboah) 11:30 a.m.


National Water Policy of the Ministry, while meeting the “Water for All” Agenda of the Government of Ghana. The project will also improve the living conditions of the Ghanaian people as well as help to achieve the goal of MSWR'S Water Sector Strategic Development Plan, which is “Sustainable Water and Basic Sanitation for All by the Year 2025”.

6.6 Improved Technology

The Hon Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Hon Cecilia Abena Dapaah, explained to the Committee that the nano-filtration system to be used for the project is a relatively new system capable of getting rid of viruses and pathogens up to 99 per cent. The system is said to be powered by solar and comes with an in-built filtration system. It also comes with a whole maintenance back-up to ensure the sustainability of the project.

6.7 Beneficiary communities

The Committee noted that the project would be implemented in five Regions of Ghana namely Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra, Oti and Volta Regions.

The provisional list of the communities to benefit from the
Chairman of the Finance Committee (Dr Mark Assibey- Yeboah) 11:30 a.m.
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Chairman of the Finance Committee (Dr Mark Assibey- Yeboah) 11:30 a.m.


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MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Hon Yaw Boamah, Bekwai is not on the list; I have checked - I heard him mention Bekwai.
Yes, Hon Benjamin Kpodo, available Leader?
Mr Benjamin Kpodo (NDC — Ho Central) 11:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion in my capacity as an Hon Member of the Finance Committee which considered the Report. In doing so, I would raise a few issues which came up at the Committee level.
Mr Speaker, apparently, the project is from Aqua Africa. It came to light that it has all the designs and project implementation. They are the same group that priced the project and they would implement it. They are the same group sourcing for funds to implement the project. When we look at it closely, we would find that there is no intervention by any independent source which suggests that we need a real value-for-money audit of the project before we accept the price. I believe that is something which needs to be addressed; that is why we need
a value-for-money audit report before the implementation of the project.
Mr Speaker, when we look at the cost of the project, in total, it requires €36million,equivalent to GH¢215, 560,800.00. Included in the cost is €6 million, to be paid as insurance premium on the project loan of €25.5 million; advanced by the UKEF. It is just too high.
Mr Speaker, when we look at the project, we would find out about €11.8 million relates to management, education and others. So, when the project cost is €25.5million and €11.8 million is taken for management and education of the community, 48.76 per cent goes into management of the project. I wonder how we would benefit. I believe the cost for implementing the project is just too high. Even though our people need water, we still have to manage the cost.
Mr Speaker, the other day, we had a loan and I referred to the cost, but the Hon Chairman said we had not borrowed moneys at a lower rate. This is a clear example that we are borrowing at EURIBOR at plus 4.80 per cent from the HSBC. It means, when we go in to negotiate properly, we would always get lower fixed rates; EURIBOR vary. At a point they are negative, but they could become
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:30 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Effutu?
Mr Alexander K. Afenyo- Markin (NPP - Effutu) 11:50 a.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Mr Speaker, having gone through the Report, I could only commend the Government for such a bold initiative.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Committee in moving this Motion, relied on the schedule of the beneficiary communities and made it clear that there is a fair distribution of these projects for the benefit of the ordinary Ghanaian.
For the avoidance of doubt and at the risk of being repetitive, I shall proceed in going through some of the beneficiary communities: Asuo- gyaman, Kwawu-Afram Plains, Lower Manya Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo, Yilo Krobo, Ejura Sekyere Odumase and Ho West.
Mr Speaker, at Ho West, the communities are Kpedze Sreme, Kpedze.
Mr Speaker, Central Tongu 11:50 a.m.
Agortorkpor, South Dayi, and Toh/ Kpalime Dugame.
Mr Kpodo 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe that Hon Afenyo-Markin misleads the House by the way he pronounces the
names of the towns. He claims that he is from Keta; yet the way he pronounces the names of the towns and communities in the Volta Region does not sound that he is from there. He is completely lost. So he should stop naming the villages and come for lessons to know how to pronounce the names before he comes up to start doing that.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Member, your point is well made.
Hon Afenyo-Markin, learn to pronounce the names of your ancestors very well.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I take a cue. These are nouns and when we are pronouncing nouns, we proceed the way we find them; but it is not a problem.
For the record, I do not claim to come from Keta; I am from Keta. My father is from there and my mother is from Effutu. Mr Speaker, I would speak to the issue but Hon Kpodo stayed in Winneba for 30 years, and he cannot speak Fante properly. He had his children there and he cannot even speak Fante. [Laughter] --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Member, proceed.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, North Tongu: Aforde, North Tongu, Kelorkpo -- [Laughter] --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Member, we have the list. In order to avoid any more butchering of the names, just proceed with the argument. All of us would read and pronounce them as we could.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if you have varied your order -- because I sought your leave which was duly granted. But if you are varying it that I should not pronounce them, that is fine.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
My order is that proceed with the argument and leave the list out.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I shall.
Mr Speaker, having taken a cue, let me limit it to only the districts which I can pronounce properly: Central Tongu, South Tongu, South Tongu again, Ketu South, Ketu North, Ho West again, Adaklu-Anyigbe, and Keta Municipal Assembly.
Mr Agbodza 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, for the guidance of my very good friend and for all agencies, there is no district in Adaklu called Adaklu-Anyigbe. It does not exist. The Hon Member
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Member, since Adaklu-Anyigbe is on the record, could you guide us so that we amend the record? So, what is the name of the district which is part of your Constituency?
Mr Agbodza 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is now called Agortime Ziope and Adaklu. So Adaklu-Anyigbe does not exist.
Mr Speaker, I even made a Statement on this Floor urging all agencies here, especially local government; but they keep repeating it. Sadly, I went and lobbied for NHIS district office for Adaklu and they took it to Kpetoe because Kpetoe used to be the capital of Adaklu-Anyigbe so I am pleading. For my own survival, I say that Adaklu-Anyigbe does not exist. It is Adaklu and Agortime Ziope.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Chairman, let us amend the record. Where do you want to place this project?
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the beneficiary communities over there would be Adaklu Kpetsu,
Hehekpoe and Adaklu Dave. So where they apply -- whether Agortime Ziope or Adaklu, these would go there, but the point he is making is that the national cake is being distributed equitably --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Well, I asked for correction.
Hon Kpodo, you were on the Committee and you saw these names, why did you not assist them to make the corrections?
Mr Kpodo 11:50 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I did not anticipate that he would come and mention the names of the communities. I would have helped him, so that he would not come and murder the names of communities.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:50 a.m.
Hon Kpodo, that is not what I asked you. I wanted to know about the correction the Hon Member for Adaklu is raising that the district that is registered on the record does not exist. I have those challenges. My districts were broken up and some agencies still hold the old district. So this is important for the record. It should be Bekwai Municipality, but some still call it Amansie East, which does not exist anymore. So let us make these corrections for proper references.
Hon Member for Adaklu, I direct that after here, you assist the Table Office to insert the appropriate district names.
Yes, Hon Member, continue.
Mr Afenyo-Markin noon
Mr Speaker, I want to reiterate this point that this Government is committed to the development of all sectors, all communities, irrespective of political or partisan lineage.
Mr Speaker, sometimes, people who do not visit this Chamber and people who do not follow debates on this Floor get tempted into arguing that when a particular government is in office, it focuses only on areas that it got much of its votes.
Mr Speaker, today, and for the records, the Hansard would capture that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo's Government -- [Inter- ruption] -- Well, if they have some other examples, they could rise and cite them.

I am citing the Akufo-Addo Governments effort in making sure that areas that are known to be dyed in the wool of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are benefitting from

this Water for All Project, it is there. So, if anybody is on radio claiming that because it is the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Government —

Mr Bawa — rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Member, hold on.
Yes, Hon Bawa?
Mr Bawa noon
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague, while speaking, indicated that there are Members who do not come to the Chamber and do not take part in the deliberations here, but go on radio to indicate that the projects of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo's Government are skewed towards pro-NDC areas.
This is a statement that scandalises everybody who is in Parliament, particularly since he was not specific. We have 275 Members of Parliament and what it simply means is that a constituent, would sit and contemplate if his Member of Parliament is part of it. He has scandalised us and until he specifically indicates those who do not come and appreciate the debates on the Floor of the House, he should withdraw. He could also state the persons categorically.
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
You have not explained how that statement scandalises the House.
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Majority Leader, I want to hear you on this one before I make a ruling.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noon
Mr Speaker, is it the case that the statement that the Hon Member made is untrue? If it is untrue, then that is something else but if it is true that some MPs do not attend to the Business of the House, yet take liberties when they are on radio stations to make statements that do not represent the truth in this House, I do not see what is scandalising about that.
There has been a precedent on this when a similar issue was raised. The
response from the Chair, then occupied by the Rt Hon Justice D. F. Annan when an application was made, was that: “if the cap fits you, wear it”. Mr Speaker, I believe you could make a similar ruling and this House would be liberated. So I recommend that ruling to you; if the cap fits anybody, let the person wear it.
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Very well. The issue is really whether a statement that some Members of this House do not attend the Chamber but discuss matters on radio in manners which do not reflect the true proceedings of the House, is a scandalous one.
I know for a fact that it is true. Some MPs discuss matters outside of here, particularly on radio, and one would wonder whether they have been following proceedings in the House. So, I do not know what is scandalous about it. It is a fact, so he is not out of order.
Hon Member, please conclude.
Mr Afenyo-Markin noon
Mr Speaker, the point I want to make here is that we need to give confidence in the happenings of this House to our constituents and Ghanaians. We need to let them appreciate the fact that this Government is not selective when it comes to development. When
sometimes there is a discussion about the debt situation, that we have incurred debt and are asked what we have to show for it, today, this debate tells us that at least there is a commitment.
A loan may be procured, and the beneficiary communities would be named. Majority of them may be communities that ordinarily, somebody might question what the political gains would be if a project is done there. This Government is not doing projects for political gain. This Government is treating every citizen equally, that we are all equal and need social services. When it comes to social services, it is not about the NDC or NPP —
Dr Apaak noon
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member, Mr Afenyo-Markins (sic), just indicated that this Government does not discriminate. Is he implying that there has ever been a Government that has discriminated in terms of the equal distribution of the national cake and the provision of basic amenities to the good people of this country?
Is it not the case that other Governments belonging to other political parties or birthed by different political parties, have also performed and provided services of much
needed amenities and developments in parts of the country that are known not to be their strongholds? I do not believe this trajectory is healthy for the forward march of this House.
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
This is not an objection but a statement.
Yes Hon Member, please conclude. You have had about 15 minutes already.
Mr Afenyo-Markin noon
Mr Speaker, for the record, my name is Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin and not Markins.
I made an absolute statement on what I know about this Government. I was not making a statement about how loans were procured for guinea fowls or tractor business in the north. That is not the main statement I am making here and I do not want to argue on that. I am talking about water and saying that per the records —
Mr Akandoh — rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Member for Juaboso?
Mr Akandoh noon
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member on the Floor is talking about the equitable distribution of the project. As far as I am concerned, we have about 16 regions in this country and the list I have here, covers only
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
Hon Deputy Minister, how many regions does this Report cover?
Mr Boamah noon
Mr Speaker, it covers five regions. I just do not understand his line of argument because the loan agreement is for five Regions. So, why is he talking about
— ?
Mr First Deputy Speaker noon
His argument is that it is not for the whole country. The argument is that it is equitably distributed within the five regions and that is correct.
Hon Member, you have one more minute because you are not staying on course. You deliberately move to matters which are not before us, so one more minute.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this project is for phase 1. We have done that before and this is a continuation. The next one, I am reliably informed that Savannah Region, Upper West Region, Upper East Region and North East Region would be covered.

Mr Speaker, in proceeding further, we would see Bekwai [Interruption] -- it is in the attachment. The small town -- ‘‘proposed small town pipe water systems''. I know that area because I once did some business there.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Member, which page, because I do not follow the list?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would assist you. It is on the last but one page which is column eight. It is indicated that Ahwiankwanta has a population of
4,903.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest respect, I would want to make an application — [Interruption] —they keep standing to intimidate me.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Member, I would take you out now, if you do not conclude.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, very well. I would conclude.
Mr Speaker, the cluster of communities are Ofoase Kokoben, Adjemasu, Dominase, Huntado which totals, 16,848 -- total population 21,751.
Mr Speaker, clearly, this Government is not looking at areas that perhaps, per the Electoral Commission (EC) records won majority of the votes in the 2016 General Elections. No, it is looking at the ordinary Ghanaian and the need to provide social services.
Mr Speaker, I would want my Hon Colleagues to support this facility. Hon Kpodo argued that the cost was too high — perhaps, if he wants to compare, I would remind him that this facility is cheaper than that which the Government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) procured for the Kasoa Interchange. This is because in that Kasoa Interchange project, apart from the insurance, we were required as a government to put another 20 per cent into a collection account at New York which also came as a cost. In this case, we would only pay the insurance and not put 20 per cent of the value of the loan into a collection account.
So, the two must be well margined so that no wrong impression —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Member, it is all right.
Mr Richard Acheampong (NDC — Bia East) 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion.
Mr Speaker, this is a House of record -- Hon Afenyo-Markin mentioned some communities and said that they would have a second phase - but our Standing Orders are very clear.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote Standing Order 95 (1) which says 12:10 p.m.
“It shall be out of order to anticipate a Bill by discussion of a motion dealing with the subject matter of the Bill on a day prior to that appointed for the consideration of that Bill''.
Mr Speaker, the issue the Hon Member discussed is not before the House or the Committee [Interruption].
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Member, are you raising an objection after the Hon Member has sat down? I saw you on your feet but any time you interjected, you gave him further opportunity to stray even wider; that was why I ignored all that. When you got the opportunity, rather than making your point, you chose to go back and raise matters and indeed, your objection is not well placed.
Please, start and continue with your debate.
Mr Michael Gyato 12:10 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr Speaker, there was a project named Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project, of which a loan of GH¢75 million was contracted, and it covered Western Region, Central Region, Brong Ahafo Region, Upper East, Northern Region and the other Regions and this is phase 2 of that project. These Regions have benefited already and the phase 2 is supposed to capture the other regions that have not been captured.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
So, who is out of order?
Mr Gyato 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member mentioned that some Regions were not captured and we are concentrating on only these five Regions; so I would want to correct him.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
That was the objection which was given earlier. I thought you would wait and contribute.
Mr Gyato 12:10 p.m.
The Hon Member repeated it so I had to correct him.
Mr R. Acheampong 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Friend got it all wrong. This is a new project and a new facility. Under the NDC Government, we did the Kyebi Water Project but in this Agreement —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:10 p.m.
Hon Member, he is not wrong. He says it is a continuation. You said the Report only convered five Regions but he said the other Regions have been covered.
Let us continue and please, speak to the debate
Mr R. Acheampong 12:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am speaking to this Report.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
please, your objection was that this covers only five Regions and he said, yes, this covers five Regions but the other Regions have been covered. So, take that on board.
Hon Member, please, continue.
Mr R. Acheampong 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, like I said, under the NDC regime, we did the Kyebi Water Project which is in the Eastern Region and this same Region is covered under this facility. So, I call on the Hon Minister to take a second look at the other phase so that the Western North
Mr Anthony Effah (NPP- Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa) 12:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion on the Floor and will concentrate on the financing structure as presented.
Mr Speaker, the structure of the facility has been explained to add up to a total of project cost of €30 million and a financing premium of €6 million bringing it to €36 million.
If we look at the pricing, particularly, the insurance premium on the project sum, at first sight, it really looks very expensive as it works up to between 20 and 25 per cent on the principal amount of the loan. However, if you do further analysis of these numbers, you will realise that this one time premium payments of insurance is covering a period of 16 and half years and this works up to just about €400,000.00 a year. When you bring it to percentage terms, it is just below 1.5 per cent and it looks reasonable for the kind of funding that
we are taking for a social project like the water project.
So, while the first impression will be that it is so expensive, if you worked over the number of years and someone is guaranteeing €25.5 million of exposure at just about €400,000.00 a month, I think that it is reasonable, especially when it is approximately 1.5 per cent on a facility.
Mr Speaker, the interest rate, because we now have a middle income status, it is usually very difficult to go for concessional facilities for this type of funding and if we are paying about 4.8 per cent above the Euro Interbank Offered Rate (Euribor) is because of our status as a middle income country but the rating of the country has probably improved this financing cost.
The facility that we are approving has already been considered in the year 2018 Budget Statement and so, we seem to be implementing an existing approval from the 2018 Budget Statement which was approved by this House.
Mr Speaker, I understand that the introduction of this new technology called the Nano Filtration System is able to get rid of about 99 per cent of viruses and pathogens in water. This
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:20 p.m.
Yes, former Hon Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing.
Alhaji Collins Dauda (NDC -- Asutifi South) 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much.
Any project that seeks to provide potable water for our people in the beneficiary Regions is a welcomed one and therefore, this project is a good one and has to be supported. It is going to improve water coverage for rural water development and it is a welcomed news.
However, I have one or two observations to make. One is about managing the system that we provide. In this arrangement, the system that
we provide would be managed by Aqua Africa and Community Water and Sanitation Agency which is different from what we have in the country now.
Mr Speaker, this is not the first time this country is benefitting from Small Town Water System. We have a lot in place and there is a system of managing this system.
What it is, is that Government secures a facility, constructs the small town water system and after the construction, the system is handed over to the community for management in collaboration with District Assemblies. So, any small town water system in every community is being managed by a water board and they do so in collaboration with the relevant District Assembly.
Indeed, the involvement of the District Assembly is that the Assembly determines or approves tariffs to be collected at the points but this one seeks to introduce a completely new one.
Mr Speaker, I am raising this because in the arrangement that is on the ground today, it is backed by a Legislative Instrument but and this comes with a new arrangement.

It is doable because the Ministry can always apply to this House for the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) to be reviewed, but that requires a lot of sensitisation.

Mr Speaker, I say so because if you have two adjoining communities, where one has a system which is running, the community itself manages the system itself and the next community is to benefit from this project, the tendency for this project to cause confusion among the communities is very high. Therefore, I call on the Ministry to undertake a lot of sensitisation if we, indeed, want to implement this project the way we have put it.

Mr Speaker, also, my Colleague Hon Members of Parliament whose communities are benefiting have a lot of talking to do. They would have to go to their communities and educate them, so that it would not be said in their constituencies that the previous one that was done which the communities are managing and the rates might be low compared to this other one which is being managed by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency and Aqua Africa without the direct involvement of the community.

In fact, any project where you have the community directly involved, the community owns the project. When you take it from them, it is like you have taken something big away from them. Therefore, it is important for the Committee to take a second look at whether we indeed want this change in policy which would require change in legislation.

My view is that we are better off leaving the management of these systems in the hands of the communities. Let the communities own and manage it.

Mr Speaker, indeed, there are few reports about some of the systems which are badly managed, therefore, losses are caused. But it all borders on supervision. The District Assemblies are supposed to supervise these water boards in the various communities. If you have a system in place and you do not monitor the system and its management, do not turn round to blame anybody. In this particular arrangement, if you do not supervise, we might get to the same order.

Mr Speaker, under Ghana Water Company Limited, you would recall that when it was running at losses, we engaged a private company to assist in the collection of tariffs. It ended up a “cos-90” exercise. Nothing happened. Nothing was achieved out of that, and we had to revert to Ghana
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Minister, why do they not work? We pay for a service and when it is delivered it does not work. Why?
Alhaji Dauda 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I cannot answer that question. Maybe the technical people are the right people to answer. My observation is that in the communities where the technical people advised us that we could use solar powered water systems, we have failed. The performance is abysmal. Therefore, I think in future, we should not look at that one. Probably, we should use an improved --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
These matters should have been discussed at the Committee. It is a pity you probably were not there.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, are you raising an objection?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:30 p.m.
No, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
When you were on your feet, I thought you wanted to raise an objection.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, both the Rt Hon Speaker and the Hon Minority Leader are calling me out, and I was telling my Hon Colleague to take over and deal with the other Motion on the Committee on Selection. So I am just about exiting. It has nothing to do with what it is --

Mr Speaker, I have always insisted that in the matter of due diligence, we do not even have to take lock, stock and barrel of whatever comes from the Executive. I have always insisted that we have an allocation for us as a House to engage consultants when these referrals are made to us. The committees are not accessing those allocations. So even if we have a due diligence report from the Executive, we should not take lock, stock and barrel. We ourselves should be in a position to engage specialists and

consultants to advise us, which is what we are not doing.

Mr Speaker, so I would yield to my Hon Colleague to continue with his own debate.
Alhaji Dauda 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would just conclude that a second look be taken at the use of the solar systems as a way of powering this water systems. We do not want to encounter the experiences of the past if we have to use it, let us make sure that we have the expertise to run this system for us in order that we do not convert a solar powered system to a manual one.
Mr Speaker, with these few comments, I support the Motion and urge my Hon Colleagues to support it.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
I am going to put the Question. I am curtailing the debate, but I think this issue is important, that we learn from the mistakes we have paid for already. This is a Report from the Finance Committee.
Hon Deputy Minister, I noticed from the Report that a due diligence report is yet to be delivered; it is being done. My interest in the due diligence is the technical part. The value-for- money audit is being done, but the technical part -- the contract and works agreements would come.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Very well. This is about the terms of the Agreement. Is that right?

What is serious?
Mr Agbodza 12:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, at page 7 of 10 -- project management cost, is also a lesson we should all learn. This is not the first time it is happening. Sometimes, when we take loans like this, the managers --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
This argument has been made by Hon Kpodo and Hon Acheampong. So there is nothing new in that. I would put the Question.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
Now, we would take the Resolutions. Are the Resolutions captured as item numbered 9 and 11?
Mr Nyindam 12:30 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, but with your leave, the Hon Deputy
Minister for Finance would take the Resolution on behalf of the Minister for Finance.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Yes, Minority Leadership?
Mr A. Ibrahim 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have spoken to the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, and she is capable of doing this and other things. Thank you very much.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Her capability has never been in doubt in these matters.
RESOLUTION 12:40 p.m.
THIS HONOURABLE 12:40 p.m.
HOUSE HEREBY 12:40 p.m.
RESOLVES AS 12:40 p.m.
THIS HONOURABLE 12:40 p.m.
HOUSE HEREBY RE- 12:40 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Assibey-Yeboah) 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Nyindam 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if we could take item numbered 15 on page 7. It is a procedural Motion. I move it on behalf of the Hon Chairman of the Committee of Selection.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have no objection.
Mr A. Ibrahim 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
MOTIONS 12:40 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Member, please address me.
Mr Nyindam 12:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
1.0 Introduction
In accordance with Orders 151 and 152 of the Standing Orders of the House, the Committee of Selection met and re-composed the Standing and Select Committees of the House.
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Mr Collins Owusu Amankwah 12:40 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague is saying that
somebody who is well-versed, experienced and the longest serving Member of the Committee --
I would suggest that he is being equally replaced with a well-versed Member in the person of Hon Opare- Ansah, who is known when it comes to -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:40 p.m.
Hon Member, if you want to make a contribution, I would give you the opportunity when he finishes -- [Laughter]
Mr A. Ibrahim 12:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in fact, I remember the Committee met the Telcos some time ago, and we were taking decisions on how to fight cyber security and the issue of sim box fraud. The Telcos were trying to shirk responsibility. In fact, he put it before them that sometimes their own members and employees were part of the sim box fraud.

He gave evidence on how he sometimes catches some employees of those institutions with sim cards. When he put it before them, they could not resist and they just had to succumb to that. It assisted us to take decisions on how best we can together fight sim box fraud. It is in

this regard that I say that the Committee will miss him.

Mr Speaker, Hon Frederick Opare-Ansah as a member, sometimes chairs the Committee in the absence of Hon Kennedy Agyapong and the Vice Chairman. Hon Frederick Opare-Ansah now comes in to occupy the position of Hon Ken Ohene Agyapong, I believe the vacuum will be filled.

However, Hon Agyapong who is an expert in telecommunication and an industry player will now chair the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development. I know he is a busy man. Maybe, his new office will be very challenging and he would have to crisscross from one rural area to another. Within two and a half years, the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development has visited over 150 districts nationwide. It is one of the busiest Committees. So, his new responsibility is a very challenging office now that the Ministry is confronted with a herculean task of referendum, district assembly elections and so on. In fact, there is a lot for the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development to do. I believe that with him as the Chairman of the Committee, he has a daunting task, and he will rise to the task; I know he will.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon Member, are you not a Member of the Committee?
Mr A. Ibrahim 12:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not a member of the Committee on Selection. [Interruption] -- The Committee on Selection is chaired by the Rt Hon Speaker and has the Hon Leaders and other Hon Members. As an Hon Deputy Minority Whip, I am not a Member of the Committee.
Mr Speaker, Hon Quaittoo is the one we expected to occupy the seat as the Chairman of the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development. So, the Committee will not be happy with his exit. However, these are issues beyond the Committee; we have no option than to take it.
Mr Speaker, I believe with these replacements, I do not foresee any possible reshuffle which will call for
the recomposition of the committees again. We have to allow the new holders of these offices to last for not less than the rest of the period.
With these few words, I thank you for giving me the opportunity.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Manhyia North?
Mr Collins Owusu Amankwah (NPP -- Manhyia North) 12:50 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I rise to support the Motion numbered 16, that this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Selection on the re- composition of the Committees of the House.
Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would want us to address our minds to article 102(3) of the Constitution of this country. These Committees are charged with powers to investigate and also inquire into the activities of ministries, agencies et cetera.
Mr Speaker, in Parliament, most of our work is done at the committee level. But it seems from all indications that the public is not in the known, in that, if a third party wants to assess the performance of Hon Members of Parliament, they normally come out with research work which has nothing to do with what goes on at the committee level.
Mr Speaker, going forward, I would want to implore the Public Affairs Department of Parliament to educate the public on the work of an Hon Member of Parliament. Of course, as Hon Members of Parliament, we have an onerous duty to ensure that we represent the State and that is the reason why we have been given legislative powers to enact laws.
We also represent our constituents and therefore, their welfare should be paramount to all of us as Hon Members.
Mr Speaker, because we practise multi-party democracy, we owe allegiance to our political parties. As a New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament, the onus is on me to ensure that my party's philosophy, ideologies, programmes or projects are well executed.

Mr Speaker, we are in government and we propose and they oppose. We have a lot of work to do, so if -- [Interruption] -- we are working for you!
Mr Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon Member, are you done?
Mr O. Amankwah 12:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member wants to interrupt me --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
You responded to him and he has not spoken to the microphone. Address me.
Mr O. Amankwah 12:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have the men to deliver, so there is no cause for alarm.
Thank you for the opportunity.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
I do not know whether at this point, there can be some corrections; I have seen two things in two of my Committees.
Hon Mathias Ntow is the Ranking Member on the Committee on Privileges, but it has been indicated in the Report as “member”. I do not know whether it was intended that he will be replaced. Otherwise, that correction should be made.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
The records will be corrected; thank you.
I would have wished that you reviewed the membership of the Appointments Committee. Out of the sixteen (16) members of the Majority Side, only two (2) are not ministers or deputy ministers; all the others are. It makes it difficult to call a meeting and to get a quorum. The ministers and deputy ministers are often busy. Apart from the Hon Chief Whip and I, everybody else is either a minister or a deputy minister. So I encourage the leadership to look at it and consider that at the next review.
Mr Nyindam 12:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree with you. Sometimes, where most of a committee's membership are ministers and deputy ministers, as Whips, sometimes we find it extremely difficult to avoid some of these problems.
Mr Speaker, our Standing Orders and Constitution say that every Hon Member should serve on a committee. Sometimes we are so tight that we have no choice to go in that direction. But Mr Speaker, your sentiment is carried; we will look at it. As I speak to you, this is the best
we can do for now. I am sorry; let us manage it.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Very well. I do not think that is the way. You did not consider it at all. If you did, I am sure you could have spread the Hon Ministers and Hon Deputy Ministers across other Committees.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
Hon Members, it is one o'clock, but that appears to be the end of the Business on the Order Paper. So Leaders, we are in your hands.
Mr Nyindam 1 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as you rightly said, we have advertised for some Committee meetings and today is also a weekend. Hon Members have to prepare and go to their various Constituencies.
So I want to move that this House adjourns till Tuesday at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
Mr A. Ibrahim 1 p.m.
Mr Speaker, today being Friday and having exhausted all the issues on the Order Paper, I think it is appropriate for us to adjourn for Committees to go and have their meetings.
In that regard, Mr Speaker, I second the Motion for adjournment.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 1 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 1.02 p.m. till Tuesday, 2nd July, 2019, at 10.00 a.m.