Debates of 12 Jul 2019

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:42 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:42 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:42 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 11 th July, 2019. [Pause]
Mr Speaker 10:42 a.m.
Hon Members, any corrections therein to the Official Report of Friday, 14th June, 2019? [Pause]
  • [No correction was made to the Official Report of Friday, 14th June, 2019.]
    • Mr Speaker 10:42 a.m.
    Hon Members, Business Statement for the Eighth
    Ms Sarah A. Safo 10:42 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, may I be permitted to present the Business Statement on behalf of the Hon Chairman of the Business Committee, the Majority Leader?
    Mr Speaker 10:42 a.m.
    You may, please.
    BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:42 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:42 a.m.
    Arrangement of Business
    Question(s)
    Mr Speaker, the Business Committee has scheduled the Minister
    for Education to respond to five (5) Questions asked of him during the week.
    Questions duly admitted by Mr Speaker would also be programmed for response in due course.
    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.
    Motions and Resolutions
    Mr Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
    Sitting of the House on Mondays
    Mr Speaker, as announced during the presentation of the Business Statement last Friday, the House would Sit on Monday, 15th July, 2019. This arrangement is to ensure that constitutional requirements relating to the coming into force of subsidiary legislations before the House are met.
    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.

    Statements

    Presentation of Papers --

    (a) Report of the Finance Committee on the Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic

    of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and Deutsche Bank AG , London Branch (as Agent, Arranger, Structuring Bank and Original Covered Lenders), as well as the UK Export Finance (as Original Direct Lenders) for an amount of two hundred and thirty-three million, nine hundred and sixty-three thousand, nine hundred and eighty-two euros and eight cents (€233,963,982.08) [including the UK Export Finance support fee] relating to financing the Design, Construction and Commi- ssioning of a Potable Water Infrastructural Project in Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana.

    (b) Report of the Finance Committee on the Commer- cial Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch (as Agent, Arranger, Structuring Bank and Original phase I and phase II Lenders), for an amount of forty-three million, seven thousand, eight hundred and eighty-five euros

    and ninety-seven cents (€43,007,885.97) relating to financing the Design, Con- struction and Commissioning of a Potable Water Infra- structural Project in Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana.

    Motions --

    Second Reading of Bills

    University of Technology and Applied Sciences Bill, 2018.

    Statistics Bill, 2018.

    Committee sittings.

    Statements --

    Presentation of Papers --

    (a) Report of the Finance Committee on the 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) Report of the Finance Committee on the 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.

    (c) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties. Import VAT, GETFund Levy, Import NH1L, EXIM Levy, and other imposts amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of fifteen thousand, seven hundred and thirty-seven euros (€15,737.00 [equivalent to GH¢92,579.00]) on equipment to be procured by RePATRN Limited under the

    implementation of the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.

    Motions --

    (a) Second Reading of Bills

    University of Business and Integrated Development Studies Bill, 2018.

    (b) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (repre- sented by the Ministry of Finance) and Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch (as Agent, Arranger, Structuring Bank and Original Covered Lenders), as well as the UK Export Finance (as Original Direct Lenders) for an amount of two hundred and thirty-three million, nine hundred and sixty-three thousand, nine hundred and eighty-two euros and eight Cents (€233.963,982.08) [including the UK Export Finance support fee] relating to financing the Design, Construction and Commi- ssioning of a Potable Water Infrastructural Project in
    Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its Report as follows 10:42 a.m.
    Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana.
    Consequential Resolution
    (c) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Commercial Facility Agree- ment between the Govern- ment of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and Deutsche Bank AG , London Branch (as Agent, Arranger. Structuring Bank and Original phase I and phase II Lenders), for an amount of forty-three million, seven thousand, eight hundred and eighty-five euros and ninety- seven cents (€43,007,885.97) relating to financing the design, construction and commissioning of a Potable Water Infrastructural Project in Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana.
    Consequential Resolution
    Committee sittings

    Statements --

    Presentation of Papers --

    Report of the Committee on Works and Housing on the Contract Agreement between Ghana Water Company Limited (acting on behalf of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Re- sources for the Government of the Republic of Ghana) and Biwater International Limited of England, for an amount of two hundred and seventy-two million, two hundred and eighty- seven thousand, nine hundred and eighty United States dollars (US$272.287,980.00) in res- pect of the project known as the Tamale Water Supply Scheme.

    Motions --

    (a) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GET- Fund 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.

    Consequential Resolution

    (b) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the 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 equip- ment to be procured by Yedent Agro Bulk Proce- ssing Company Limited under the implementation of the One District One Factory (1D1F) Programme.

    Consequential Resolution

    (c) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, Import NHIL, EXIM Levy, and other imposts amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of fifteen thousand, seven hundred and thirty- seven euros (€15,737.00
  • [equivalent to GH¢92,579.00) on equipment to be procured by RePATRN Limited under the implementation of the One District One Factory (1D1F) Programme. Consequential Resolution Consideration Stage of Bills — University of Technology and Applied Sciences Bill, 2018. Committee sittings.
    • Mr Speaker 10:26 a.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon Deputy Majority Leader.
    Any comments on the Business Statement presented? Yes, Hon Member?
    Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome 10:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the national team, the Black Stars were in Egypt to take part in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Prior to that there were agitations by the public with regard to the budget for the entire campaign, which unfortunately was not submitted. I asked an Urgent Question at the time but it was not published, so I would want to suggest
    -- 10:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker 10:26 a.m.
    Please, if you want to ask a Question -- Hon Member, the Business Statement is not the route, so please ask your Question as an Urgent Question as you please, for it to be duly considered.
    Mr Woyome 10:26 a.m.
    As a matter of urgency, may I suggest that --
    Mr Speaker 10:26 a.m.
    Hon Member, please proceed on the right way, that is file an Urgent Question.
    Mr Woyome 10:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Question has been filed and I just want to reiterate that it -- [Interrup- tion]-- I would want to add that the
    Hon Minister be made to appear before the House to brief the entire public on the budget. On this note, I suggest that at the next Business Committee Meeting, the Question and others be put on board.
    Mr Speaker 10:26 a.m.
    Hon Member, Questions, Statements or Urgent Questions are all the relevant routes, so use the processes as per our Standing Orders.
    Yes, Hon Dr Pelpuo?
    Alhaji (Dr) Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo 10:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, on page 3, of the Consideration Stage of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences Bill, 2018, the expectation was that the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies Bill, which seeks to make the Wa Campus autonomous, should have been listed because it was raised at the Business Committee meeting for the con- sideration of the business of the week.
    I have looked at the Business Statement and it is not captured. This is a very critical aspect of the development of the university into an autonomous campus. The public is very anxious to see what happens, so I would like to understand why that has been left out?
    Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah 10:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I can see that the only day throughout the whole of next week that Questions have been advertised is Friday. However, I noted that there are Questions pending. Could we have some explanation why we have only one day that Questions are advertised?
    Yesterday, I followed up on some Questions that I have ffiled but have not been published, so we need to understand why.
    Mr Speaker 10:26 a.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    Ms Safo 10:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, Hon Woyome asked why some Urgent Questions he filed are not seen in the Business Statement. I have been informed that two Urgent Questions have not found expression in the Business Statement, so I would double-check and get back to him if his Question is part of it.
    The Table Office informed me that there are two Urgent Questions that ought to have been captured here, so they would be scheduled. Whether Hon Woyome's Question is part of them, I would confer with the Clerks- at-the-Table.
    Again, Questions and their admissibility is in the bosom of Mr Speaker, so when the Clerks-at-the- Table get it admitted is when it is then scheduled.
    Concerning the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies Bill that Hon Pelpuo mentioned, I am aware that it is with the Committee on Education now. The Committee is going through it clause by clause and after which it would present its report to the House for adoption. Then we can table it as one of the items to be taken at plenary. So, it is still being worked on and I understand how important it is to all of us.
    Hon Buah spoke of Questions not being scheduled for last week and this week as well. Again, admissibility of Questions is with Mr Speaker. I believe that once it is admitted, it would find expression in the Business Statement. At the Business Committee meeting, we did not have any indication that these Questions have been admitted and scheduled. As you can see, it is on Friday that the Hon Minister for Education would come in to answer a number of Questions.
    Mr Speaker 10:26 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Buah?
    Mr Buah 10:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I crave your indulgence to look into this matter. Hon Members should be able
    to ascertain where in the pipeline their Questions are and have a sense of when those Questions would be advertised. As it stands, I would file a Question; to follow-up, I would not even know where it is in the pipeline. I think that it would be very helpful if a system is put in place, to know the reason our Questions have not been published.
    The point I made today was that there were no Questions on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, yet I am struggling to get two Questions published. So I think Mr Speaker's intervention would be very helpful.
    Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 10:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I looked at the Business Statement and on Monday, we are supposed to have a Motion on the University of Technical and Applied Sciences and on Tuesday, we would have another on the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies. This is one university that has been split. I would suggest that we put them on the same day, maybe Tuesday, because it is the same thing. Other than that, the debate would just be repeated. This would enable us manage our time.
    Secondly, even though I mentioned at pre-Sitting meeting the possibility of inviting the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, I would be grateful that as Mr Speaker directed, the Leadership would meet on Monday.

    We have a lot of petitions from our constituents, especially the Gold Coast Fund Management and many of the banks. So, if the Business Committee would do well and meet as you directed, so that we would be able to programme it for next week, to get the Governor of Bank of Ghana to brief the House on the happenings, I think it would do all of us a lot of good.
    Mr Speaker 10:36 a.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, any responses or clarifications?
    Ms Safo 10:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would start with the last question by the Hon Minority Chief Whip. With respect to the two Motions that have been split, he made that point at the Committee level. So I would ensure that they are taken on the same day, since they involve the same issues so that the debate would not be disjointed.
    The second issue which relates to inviting the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to answer certain
    Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote Order 66 (1) and (2) which says 10:36 a.m.
    66. (1) ‘‘Mr Speaker shall be the sole judge of the admissibility of a Question''.
    (2) When a Question is admitted by Mr Speaker the Clerk shall at once communicate the text to the Minister or Member to whom the Question is addressed''.
    Mr Speaker, we would ensure and facilitate the Clerk's communication to Hon Members whose Questions have been filed.
    Mr Speaker, in Standing Order 66 (3), it is imperative that any Hon Minister could also on his or her own, suo motu go and inquire and with your permission, I beg to quote it. It says:
    (3) “There shall be a Questions Record Book to be kept by the Clerk which shall be open to inspection by Members and which would record -
    (a) the Questions asked by Members;
    (b) the Questions admitted by Mr Speaker and the time of their transmission to the Minister or Members concerned;
    (c) the answers given to the Questions; and
    (d) Questions which have received no answers.''
    Mr Speaker, inasmuch as the onus lies on us to facilitate, I would also encourage Hon Members to also suo motu check from the Questions Record Book with the Clerk so that they would be able to ascertain at what stage the Questions are.
    Mr Speaker 10:36 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Woyome?
    Mr Woyome 10:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in my question, I also wanted to find out
    from the Committee whether they would want to consider inviting the Hon Minister for Youth and Sports to the House to brief us on exactly what happened prior and after the tournament in Egypt, so that at least, everybody would be able to understand.
    Mr Speaker 10:36 a.m.
    Hon Member, you just heard from the Hon Deputy Majority Leader, that there is a Tracking Record Book, if I may so call it. So please, go and enquire of the status of your Question, mindful of the fact that it is common knowledge that the Hon Minister for Youth and Sports was away on duties concerning the Black Stars.
    Hon Member, let us not turn this into an argument. Kindly wait and follow up accordingly because the man in charge of that Ministry is even out of the jurisdiction to the common knowledge of everyone. How can he answer any Question? If you go to the Table Office, you would find this out.
    For the avoidance of doubt, I would want to also say that unless a Question offends Standing Order 67 in all those areas that we all know so well as copiously listed, it would leave my office or the office of the Hon First Deputy Speaker, within just a couple
    of days. As I speak, there is no Question before me or the Hon First Deputy Speaker, as by the close of work yesterday. By 3.00 p.m., I was with him and we looked at the totality of all these things. Which means, every Question has left our offices and it is now a matter of following it up and knowing the status thereof as per the administration.
    Alhaji Muntaka 10:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, with regard to the Questions, my Hon Colleague understands clearly that he has to follow up on them, but he wanted the House to invite the Hon Minister for Youth and Sports to come and brief us with regard to the possible expenses and what happened before and after the tournament.
    Mr Speaker, the information on clearing all Questions on your desk is a useful one, because Hon Members try to follow-up on so many Questions they ask and one of the easiest excuses they are given is that it has not returned from Mr Speakers' office. It is instructive that you have told us that both you and the Hon First Deputy Speaker have cleared your desks on the issue of Questions.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to urge Hon Members that with this information from you, they should go back to the Clerks-at-the-Table to
    Mr Speaker 10:36 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Dr Pelpuo?
    Dr Pelpuo 10:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the response by the Hon Deputy Majority Leader, regarding the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) Bill is not satisfying because I followed up and realised that the Education Committee has done its work and the report has been written. So I would like you to impress on them to lay it because it is a very important area. Every time I go to my constituency, questions are asked on it. I made sure that at the last Business Committee meeting, I mentioned it and it was agreed that it would be listed, but it has not been listed. I would be very grateful if you could make sure that in the course of the week, we alter the Business and add it.
    I would also want to support the call for the Hon Minister for Youth and Sports to brief the House because there is so much talk on the budget and why we lost the match, et cetera. It would be important for us to understand what happened to Ghana because this is the first time in eight years that we could not cross the
    1/16th stage and Ghanaians are very emotional about it.
    Mr Speaker 10:36 a.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, any further comments?
    Ms Safo 10:46 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the earlier plea by Dr Rashid Pelpuo on the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies Bill, 2018 is well noted. We would call on the leadership of the Committee on Education to find out the status and to expedite the laying of the Report on the Floor of the House.

    Mr Speaker, I believe the call for the Hon Minister for Youth and Sports to brief the House is in line with Order 70 (2) of our Standing Orders which reads and I beg to quote:

    “A Minister of State may make an announcement or a statement of government policy. Any such announcement or

    statement should be limited to facts which is deemed necessary to make known to the House and should not be designed to provoke debate at this stage. Any Member may comment briefly, subject to the same limitation.”

    Mr Speaker, in this regard, it is a statement that is being requested. I believe that a statement by the Hon Minister offers both Sides of the House an opportunity to give their comments. It also gives a lot of room for many to enquire of things that they and the people of Ghana ought to know.

    Usually, when it is in the form of questions, it is only pinned down to one Hon Member who would ask just a Question and two ancillary ones. I believe that a statement gives both Sides of the House the opportunity to comment on the state of affairs regarding our Black Stars in Egypt and how far we went.

    Mr Speaker, we would make that known to the Hon Minister for Youth and Sports, and depending on his availability, we would alter the Business for the ensuing week for him to appear before the House to give a

    Statement. I am not sure if he is within the jurisdiction now.

    Mr Speaker, yesterday, we witnessed something like that from the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry which gave both Sides an opportunity. We were well informed, and so were our debates. We would make that communication to the Hon Minister in question.
    Mr Speaker 10:46 a.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon Deputy Majority Leader.
    I direct that the Table Office should examine available Questions and fill any gaps that exists in the programme for next week in order to have Questions filed by Hon Members fully answered, for them to be accountable to their constituents.
    The Business Statement is admitted accordingly.
    Hon Members, item listed 5; Questions. The Hon Minister for Roads and Highways would kindly take the chair. The Hon Minister has been here very early this morning and we would want to deal with his Questions.
    Question 614 stands in the name of the Hon Member for Afadzato South.
    ORAL ANSWERS TO 10:46 a.m.
    QUESTIONS 10:46 a.m.
    MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 10:46 a.m.
    HIGHWAYS 10:46 a.m.
    Mrs Alorwu-Tay 10:46 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, concerning the Logba Alakpeti- Logba Tota roads, could the Hon Minister give the specific date that the upgrading would be done for the people to hear about this, as there are lots of people from that community who work in this House? [Inter- ruption.]
    Mr Speaker, I still have two follow- up questions.
    Mr Amoako-Attah 10:46 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, with the current state of the road, the upgrading exercise would be considered under the Ministry's maintenance programme. So, I would work with my Hon Colleague to ensure that the upgrading programme begins as quickly as practicable. I would take this up.
    Mrs Alorwu-Tay 10:46 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would refer to the Nyagbo Sroe town roads, which is unfortunately my hometown, so you could imagine what I am going through. My follow up question is that -- [Inter- ruption.]
    Mr Speaker, it is unfortunate that the town roads are bad, and the people bash me almost every day on
    the situation. [Interruption.] No, it is not unfortunate that it is my hometown. I am very proud to be a native of Nyagbo Sroe. Mr Speaker, please I have corrected my statement.
    Mr Speaker, I would plead with the Hon Minister and I would continue to approach him on this particular issue because the pressure is unbearable.
    My final question would be on the Goviefe Todzi road. It is as if every road in my constituency needs the attention of the Ministry, so I would plead with the Hon Minister once again to ask the Feeder Roads Department to at least, reshape the roads for the community members because I have written to them a number of times but I have not received any response. This could be done while the Hon Minister waits for the 2020 Budget Statement and the conditions that he has mentioned.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for admitting this Question because my constituents would know that I am really their Hon Member of Parlia- ment.
    Mr Amoako-Attah 10:46 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to assure my Hon Colleague that the Nyagbo Sroe town roads, which happens to be her hometown, together with all other
    roads in her constituency and all the roads in Ghana are prioritised by this Government. Mr Speaker, so, I would want to assure the Hon Member that the roads in her constituency would be attended to.
    Mr Speaker 10:46 a.m.
    Hon Minister, thank you very much.
    Hon Members, we would take Question numbered 615 standing in the name of the Hon Member for Manso Adubia.
    Development of Roads in the Manso Adubia Constituency
    Q615. Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo asked the Minister for Roads and Highways what plans the Ministry had to develop the following roads in the Manso Adubia Constituency to withstand weather conditions of the constituency: (i) Mim Junction - Kumpese Junction (ii) Kumpese Junction - Datano (iii) Kumpese Junction - Dawusaso (iv) Mim - Odaho.
    Minister for Roads and Highways (Mr Kwasi Amoako- Attah) 11:06 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Mim Junction-Kumpese Junction feeder road (16.00km) is an engineered road
    in poor surface condition. It is a gravel road located in the Amansie West and Amansie South Districts of the Ashanti Region.
    A total of 10.00km of this road was awarded to three contractors in 2008 under the COCOBOD Roads Improvement Programme (CRIP) for up-grading to bituminous surfacing but all the three contractors could not complete the works and the contracts have since been terminated.
    Current programme
    The first 7.00km of the Min Junction to Kumpese Junction which ends at Agroyesum was awarded on 15th April, 2019 for upgrading to bituminous surfacing. The financing of the project is from the Road Fund. Bids have been received and evaluated. Letter of Acceptance has been issued to the successful bidder and Contract Agreement yet to be signed.
    However, routine maintenance activities will be carried out on the remaining 9.00km to keep it motorable and safe for use by the motoring public during 2019 maintenance programme. Bids received from eligible contractors have been evaluated and contract will be awarded by the close of July,
    2019.
    Mr Speaker 11:06 a.m.
    Thank you, Hon Minister.
    Any further follow-up questions?
    Mr Addo 11:06 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am satisfied with the Answer given. From the Hon Minister's Answer, it is clear that all roads in my constituency are feeder roads. It is within the rain belt of this country, and anytime it rains on a feeder road, the situation is so bad. So as has been outlined here, I hope work would be expedited so that my constituents would get good roads.
    Mr Speaker 11:06 a.m.
    Question 616 -- Hon Member for Dormaa West?
    Status of Cocoa Roads Audit
    Q.616. Mr Ali Maiga Halidu asked the Minister for Roads and Highways the status of the audit of cocoa roads.
    Minister for Roads and Highways (Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah) 11:06 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, since the year 2007, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD)
    Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
    Any further Questions?
    Mr Halidu 11:16 a.m.
    No, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
    Question numbered 617 in the name of the Hon Member for Kintampo South?
    Alhaji Muhammed-Mubarak Muntaka 11:16 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, Hon Felicia Adjei is unavoidably absent and has asked me to ask the Question on her behalf.
    Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
    Please, go on.
    State of Implementation of the Kumasi Inner City Roads
    Q617. Alhaji Muntaka (on behalf of Ms Felicia Adjei) asked
    the Minister for Roads and Highways the state of implementation of the Kumasi Inner City Roads for which a sod was cut two months ago by the President.
    Mr Amoako Attah 11:16 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, Kumasi, a cosmopolitan city and the capital of the Ashanti Region has seven Municipalities including the Kumasi Metropolis. It has lucrative tourist attractive centres, museum and cultural facilities attracting a high influx of people into the city.
    Current programme
    As part of the Government's agenda to improve road network nationwide, Kumasi is receiving the necessary attention through the development of the inner city roads be it arterials, contributors, collectors as well as local roads. The completion of the beneficial roads will improve commercial/socio-economic activities enhance accessibility, connectivity and livelihood among others.
    As a result, massive road infra- structural projects ranging from asphaltic concrete overlays, rehabili- tation, upgrading, reconstruction and partial reconstruction to bituminous surfacing are currently ongoing.
    Details of some of the ongoing Inner City Roads projects are
    Alhaji Muntaka 11:16 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has mentioned so many roads but I just want to draw the attention of the Minister to his Answer in paragraph 3, where he talks about the Jofel and the Buokrom Ark of God road; Is he aware of this that the contractors are not on site?
    Mr Amoako-Attah 11:16 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have stated this fact in my Answer, and I can inform the Hon Member that I visited the area -- Jofel Street, the Airport roundabout and the Buokrom road just about two weeks ago from Bekwai, where I undertook a sod cutting ceremony on Bekwai roads with our own Hon First Deputy Speaker. I was on site and did an inspection and the contractor was there working. I met him just two weeks ago.
    So, Mr Speaker, the contractor is on site.
    Mr Speaker, the name of the contractor working on that road is Atatsi Construction Company, and he is on site.
    Alhaji Muntaka 11:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would not want to engage in an argument with the Hon Minister because he said two weeks ago - I live in Kumasi, and even last week I was in Kumasi. It may interest the Hon Minister to know that when it rains, moving from airport roundabout to Manhyia as well as heading towards Dekyemso is virtually impossible. I hope he would keep his word and check on it.
    Mr Speaker, the other question I would like to ask comes from his Answer, where he said the interchange at Suame roundabout and other projects at various stages of implementation. I would like him to tell us specifically where this has reached because there again, it is a road that most of us ply. We do not see a sign of anything happening. At what stage are we?
    Mr Amoako-Attah 11:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I agree with the Hon Member and my Leader that the area is flood-prone. That is why less than 200 metres from the roundabout, the contractor is constructing that massive bridge to take care of the perennial floods that we experience.
    To come to his other question, if I say the Suame project and others are
    at different stages of implementation, I am addressing that issue from a technical point of view. Once we start with the design stage of a project, it means that the project implementation has started. So, from the design stage through evaluation, approval, award, commencement, mobilising to site, these are all various stages.
    So we have gone beyond the design stage. That project is very key on the agenda of Government, and the Hon Member knows it because he is an Hon MP from Kumasi.
    Alhaji Muntaka 11:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, lastly, the last paragraph of his Answer talks about the river. I am happy to say that this is in my constituency, and the Hon Minister knows a lot of complaints about how narrow that bridge is and the difficulty arising when it rains.
    The AFD fund he mentioned was approved in February, 2016. Why has it taken the Ministry this long not to even start the reconstruction of those bridges to pave way for easy flow of the rain water?
    Mr Amoako-Attah 11:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am happy that it is within his constituency, and he knows the problems associated with this particular project. Occasionally, I hold discussions with the Hon Member and my Hon Leader about that project,
    Alhaji Muntaka 11:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, though I said the last one, I expected that the Hon Minister would tell me when it would start; but unfortunately, I did not hear that in his answer. So, Could the Hon Minister tell me when the River Babo channel project would start?
    Mr Amoako-Attah 11:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the contractor has mobilised to site. I have also visited the place, so I would like my Hon Colleague to go to his constituency to check on that status, particularly, as primaries are impending. It is being done to enhance his fortunes.
    Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon Minister, for attending to the House and answering our Questions. You are respectfully discharged.
    Hon Minister for Finance, you may please take the appropriate chair.
    URGENT QUESTION 11:26 a.m.
    MINISTRY OF FINANCE 11:26 a.m.
    Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori-Atta) 11:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, on the Question from the Hon Member, I am pleased to inform this august House that we have no outstanding arrears to GETFund. All transfers due them for 2017 and 2018 are fully paid, and the 2019 transfers due them have also been paid up to April.
    We have paid down the 2016 arrears also of over GH¢400 million that we inherited, except for claims
    totalling about GH¢76 million, which we are yet to reconcile.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Nortsu-Kotoe 11:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I remember very well that at the time we approved the GETFund formula, there were arrears to be paid. Could the Hon Minister tell this House when the arrears for 2018 were paid?
    Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
    Hon Minister, what time was it reviewed?
    Mr Nortsu-Kotoe 11:26 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to know the date that money was paid to GETFund.
    Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
    Hon Minister, the Hon Member would want to know the date of payment.
    Mr Ofori-Attah 11:26 a.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, I do not have the specific date. We inherited a GH¢400 million arrears, of which all has been paid, except for 76 --
    Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
    Hon Minister, we would want to know the month and year that the payment was made.
    Mr Ofori-Atta 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not have the exact months -- [interruptions] --
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Hon Minister, by your use of the word “inheritance,” I believe you mean the arrears that were there at the time you assumed office.
    Mr Ofori-Attah 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is correct.
    Mr Nortsu-Kotoe 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not convinced anyway. I would still want to know the exact date of the payment of the arrears up to May
    2019.
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Hon Member, do you agree that there were some arrears to the tune of GH¢400 million?
    Ms Safo 11:36 a.m.
    On a point of Order. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, the rules of this House; our Standing Orders, is so clear on Questions and its contents.
    Mr Speaker, Standing Order 67 (1)(b) states, and with your permission I quote 11:36 a.m.
    “a Question shall not contain any arguments, expression of opinion, inferences, imputations, epithets or controversial, ironical or offensive expressions or hypothetical cases.”
    Mr Speaker, the statement by the Hon Member that he is not convinced is totally against our Standing Orders. He is supposed to ask questions only, but not to give commentaries, expressions of opinion, or any arguments. The Hon Member is therefore totally out of order.
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Hon Member, are you aware of, and could you specifically contradict the statement of the Hon Minister of some GH¢400 million being outstanding at the time he assumed office? Do you have any facts or documents as to the correctness or otherwise, or the exactness of one figure or the other with regard to that statement?
    The Hon Minister tells us that there was a deficit of about GH¢400 million that he inherited from the previous Administration. Do you have a contrary statement to make in factual terms?
    Mr Nortsu-Kotoe 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in my Question, I did not refer to 2016. I referred to 2018 and 2019.
    In the Answer that the Hon Minister provided, he mentioned that he inherited some arrears of GH¢400 million in 2016; I do not contest that. But my question, which he has not fully answered is that I would want to know when the Ministry of Finance paid the last pesewa to GETFund as he said. This is because my investigations shows that funds were not paid, as at the time I asked the Question. [Interruptions] --
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Hon Member, outstanding debts have a cumulative and futuristic effects, and everybody knows that in accounting. We would therefore move on to Question 584.
    Mr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thought that we were still allowed to ask supplementary questions.
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Hon Member, you may ask your question.
    Mr Forson 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister in his submission said that for the year 2019, they have paid up to April. Could the Hon Minister clarify, if his statement; “paid”, means actual releases from the Ministry of Finance to GETFund accounts?
    Mr Ofori-Attah 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Member, who knows the workings of the Ministry of Finance.
    Mr Speaker, in actuality, we have paid, and GETFund is in receipt of the moneys.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Ablakwa?
    An Hon Member 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker -- [Interruption]
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa, you may speak.
    Mr Ablakwa 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am most grateful.
    Mr Speaker, we are both from the Volta Region, but do not share the same name. [Laughter] --
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Finance indicates that the last payment was done in April.
    Mr Speaker, the GETFund Act, 2000, (Act 581), specifically in section 42 reads 11:36 a.m.
    “the value added tax service shall within 30 days of receipt of value added tax revenue, pay directly into the bank account opened
    under subsection one, the proportion of the value added tax revenue that is required to be paid into the Fund.”
    Mr Speaker, this 30 day rule appears to be followed in the breach. April was the last time that payments were made, but we are now in July. Therefore when the Hon Minister says that he is “current”, what does he mean by that in the face of the law; section 42 of Act 581? It gives us only a 30 day window; so the Hon Minister may please advert his attention to the law and come again. This is because the Hon Minister cannot be current in the face of the law.

    11. 46 a. m.
    Ms Safo 11:36 a.m.
    On a point of Order. Mr Speaker, again, I would refer the Hon Member to Standing Order 67.
    Mr Speaker, I would read Standing Order 67 (1)(b) again 11:36 a.m.
    “A Question shall not contain any argument, expression of
    Mr Speaker, reference to a compliance to a legislation 11:36 a.m.
    The Hon Member is asking whether in compliance with the GETFund Act certain actions have been taken by the Hon Minister. That cannot be a follow- up question to this Urgent Question. And I plead that, indeed, you rule as such. If the Hon Member wants to ask a specific question, he should come properly before this House but not hide behind the window of supplementary question to ask a substantive Question.
    Mr Speaker, when the Question was given to the Hon Minister, he prepared and brought the Answer to this House. Gone are the days when in the law courts, we have ambush litigation. A lawyer gets to the court
    room and the lawyer on the other side just springs on him. Mr Speaker, if we ask Questions, we file same, the Hon Minister comes in to answer the said Question — The Question is so clear and what is being asked is in a different leg. So Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa could come properly and file his own Question on this Floor of Parliament.
    I thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Hon Okudzeto, are you able to put your question without apparent difficulty?
    Alhaji Muntaka 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, whereas I agree with my Hon Colleague, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader that one should not insinuate ill motives into Questions, my Hon Colleague is grossly out of order. Mr Speaker, the reference to Standing Order 67(1)(b) does not apply here.
    If she cares to know, the Question that has been asked is payment up to May, 2019. The Hon Minister says he has paid up to April and Hon Ablakwa is making reference to the Act to let the Hon Minister know that the Act mandates him to put money into the GETFund account month by month. So, if the Hon Minister has paid up to April, the Question is asking up to May. What then happens
    to May, 2019 payment? That is simply the reference.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader is the one who is rather introducing all manner of things. She is therefore grossly out of order, because laying foundation and making reference to Acts that are related to the GETFund is a legitimate way of asking questions because that is where he would show that the Hon Minister paying up to April is not up to date because the Act says he should pay monthly.
    Mr Speaker, I would urge you to ignore the Hon Deputy Majority Leader and allow my Hon Colleague, Hon Ablakwa to ask his supple- mentary question, which is in line with the Question that has been asked.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
    Ms Safo 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe that the Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa has taken a cue from his Hon Leader because he has tried so much to polish and lead him to how he wants to ask the question. But Mr Speaker, the records are clear. What the Hon Minority Chief Whip is saying is not the question that the Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa asked. The fact that
    GETFund appears in his question line does not mean that it could fit in as a supplementary question. It is a question that stands on its own. The Hon Minority Chief Whip is trying to give him a cue.
    Mr Speaker, so your earlier direction — we are not stopping him from asking questions but he could ask it in a different way. The way he asked the question, it ought to be filed as a major Question when he refers exactly to section 4 of the GETFund Act and asking whether the Hon Minister has complied. How does that fit in this Question?
    Mr Speaker, I believe that he should come independently and file his Question. This cannot be allowed as a supplementary question unless you have given him a window to rephrase his question which would fit in and if he does that, it lies in your bosom to allow, admit or not to admit. But currently, as the question stands, it ought to be filed as a different Question and the Hon Minister should not be allowed to answer that question.
    Thank you.
    -- [Hear! Hear!] --
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Order! Hon Ablakwa, you are mindful of the
    Mr Ablakwa 11:36 a.m.
    I am most grateful Mr Speaker.
    We all acknowledge that government is a continuum. In 2009, we also inherited a lot of arrears. But my question is —
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    So, inheritance by way of deficit is quite normal then?
    Mr Ablakwa 11:36 a.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker. But Mr Speaker —
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Then you are not surprised by one month's deficit? And the inheritance had been corrected? Please ask your question.
    Mr Ablakwa 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, my question is the principle and the law; Act 581.
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    But you tell us that there have been deficits all the time and perhaps, we want to commend the Hon Minister then.
    Mr Ablakwa 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, with all due respect, if the Hon Minister could respond to the question if he is aware of the provisions under Act
    581?
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    In the light of the —
    Mr Ablakwa 11:36 a.m.
    In the light of responses he has given. He says that he is current and he cannot be current by making payment up to April when the law does not support what he is saying.
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Hon Members, I would want the Hon Minister to please answer. And I believe it is not a difficult issue at all.
    Mr Ofori-Atta 11:36 a.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker and thank you to the Hon Member of Parliament for drawing my attention to the law.
    I think typically for most of us who have worked in the Ministry of Finance Ministry, we do continually juggle, just as we come to meet arrears and we try to pay them off. But beyond that, is the issue of validation, which typically takes a little more time than usual. As we continue
    to digitalise, I am sure that the 30- day window— 15 days might even be more possible.
    So n truly, we are current up to April, 2019. Validation is going on at Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and obviously, having paid all of 2017; all of 2018 and even some of 2019, the goodwill is there and the commitment to honour those liabilities would be done.
    I thank you for the question.

    11.56 a . m.
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Arrears cleared and validation continues.
    Question numbered 584, Hon Member for Mion?
    Alhaji Muntaka 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we had the Order Paper with Answers. A moment ago, an Order Paper Addendum was distributed which also has different Answers. I would like to know which one the Hon Minister is using, so we could follow.
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Maybe, you do not have the document, but I have been advised of the Order Paper Addendum and we know the Addendum Order Paper precedes the original. So, we are proceeding
    on the Order Paper Addendum and not the original Order Paper.
    Hon Member for Mion?
    Mr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, with your permission, my Colleague, Hon Mohammed Abdul-Aziz, the Member of Parliament for Mion Constituency has asked me to ask the Question on his behalf.
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Please proceed.
    ORAL ANSWERS TO 11:36 a.m.
    QUESTIONS 11:36 a.m.
    MINISTRY OF FINANCE 11:36 a.m.
    Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori-Atta) 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the phenomenon and quantum of judgement debts is a deplorable development in our country and can distort our budget as they result from unpredictable breaches in contracts and unethical behaviors of officers who have been entrusted with the
    Mr Forson 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Question was for the Hon Minister to give us the exact amount that has been paid from 2017 to date. In his Answer, he said that they have paid appro- ximately GH¢94 million yearly. Could the Hon Minister specifically tell us how much they paid for the years 2017, 2018 and so far, 2019? That was the spirit of the Question.
    Mr Ofori-Atta 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not have the breakdown but the to- date payment, as I mentioned, is
    GH¢283,256,267.
    Mr Forson 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, could the Hon Minister provide us with the breakdown for the payment of the GH¢283 million that they have paid so far in terms of the beneficiaries? This is important.
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    This Question was on the quantum, so look at the amount. If you want all those matters on persons or bodies these were paid to, it must reflect in the Question.
    Yes, any other Question?
    Mr Forson 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I asked this Question because --
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Hon Member, I am not asking the reason but I am saying that you have to file --
    Mr Forson 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Answer provided by the Hon Minister, he said that in one particular year, GH¢80 million was paid to one company. This is in the original Order Paper. [Interruption] For some reason, it is missing in the Order Paper Addendum and it is for that reason that the Addendum Hon Minister would have to provide us with the breakdown — [Interruptions]
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Order! Order!
    Hon Minister, in reference to your Answer of an amount paid to one company, the Hon Member would want to know if you can inform who or what that one company is?
    Mr Ofori-Atta 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we would be able to give the Hon Member a full catalogue of all the payments that we have done. I can provide that to the House in due course.
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    The Hon Minister can provide full details of the names in due course. [Interruption] That can be easily requested via processes.
    Any further question?
    Mr Agbodza 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am delighted to see a decision by the Hon Minister in his Answer, that is one of the ways --
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    I did not hear you.
    Mr Agbodza 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am just commending the Hon Minister on one of the things he wrote in terms of how we can prevent judgement debts. He said they are now “including certain wording in our contracts indemnifying Government”.
    Yesterday, we took some loan agreements here. Could he tell us some of those wordings, so that as Members of Parliament, we would look out for them when we are considering agreements that come to this House? [Interruption] It is important, because out of this, Parliament must do due diligence and protect the public purse in support of the Hon Minister.
    We need to look out for those specific wordings so that we could support the Hon Minister. This is because even yesterday, in one of the Reports, there was a Bill in this House that did not make provision for insurance for the advance payment which any developer could run away with. We just want to support the Hon
    Minister, so if he could tell us what to look for in those Agreements?
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Hon Member, that would need a full explanation with legal provisions, so kindly specifically ask for that. I know you are very much interested in that area of our Business and so you can ask a Question on it.
    Question 585.
    Public Procurement Authority Charge on Company
    Registration Fees without Parliamentary Approval
    Q585. Mr Ernest Henry Norgbey asked the Hon Minister for Finance why the Public Procurement Authority is charging company registration fees without Parliamentary approval.
    Mr Ofori-Atta 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) was charging administrative fees as mandated in Section 10 (1) (b) of the Procurement Act, 2003 as amended (Act 663) that permits the Authority to impose administrative fines, fees and other charges in the performance of its functions.
    The old Fees and Charges Act, now repealed, did not specifically mention the PPA as one of the institutions in its schedule. The PPA guided by the fee-charging provisions in Act 663, had therefore imposed
    these fees on specific services the Authority rendered. Following concerns raised about the legality of these fees and charges, the PPA sought the opinion of the Attorney- General on the matter. We are yet to receive the Attorney-General's opinion.
    Thankfully, the new Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2018 (Act 983) has clarified the matter. Accordingly, we have directed the Public Procurement Authority to suspend the charging of all fees and charges that have not been approved by Parliament in accordance with Act
    983.
    Mr Norgbey 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Minister if he is aware that the PPA still charges these fees and also if he is aware that the functions of the PPA does not include registration of companies?
    Mr Ofori-Atta 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not aware of these incidents but I could investigate them. The important issue is that we did write to stop them from charging fees, until we clear through Parliament at the appropriate time.
    Mr Norgbey 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, according to the Hon Minister, they have asked the PPA to suspend the
    collection of these charges; so invariably, it is illegal. I would want to find out from him since it is illegal, how would PPA account for the previous moneys they have collected since it cannot be paid into the Consolidated Fund?
    Mr Ofori-Atta 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I cannot ascribe illegality to it. We are also waiting for the Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice's opinion on that and that would guide us in a certain way. As I mentioned, there was a previous Act which enabled them to charge administrative fees but whether it is registration or not, I am not aware of it. I could investigate that, too, and I know the opinion from the Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice would be helpful for all of us. So, I cannot call it an illegality until I read that. At least, we have gone ahead to stop PPA from continuing with the fees and charges. We would then get into cataloguing of the fees; et cetera.
    Mr Norgbey 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the last paragraph in the Hon Minister's Answer says:
    “Thankfully, the new Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provi- sions) Act, 2018 (Act 983) has clarified the matter. Accordingly, we have directed the Public Procurement Authority to
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Hon Member, the Hon Minister has told us they are seeking legal opinion from the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice on this. Refund or what, can only arise from a legal position, so you can hold your horses, until the legal position has been determined.
    Mr Forson 11:36 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Minister whether the PPA was given the permission to spend the amount that they collected as fees and charges. If not, have they returned that amount to the Government chest?
    Mr Speaker 11:36 a.m.
    Hon Member, this will all be influenced by the legal opinion. An area of Government which rests in the ambit of the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice — You may wish to ask this at the appropriate time or address that to the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.
    Mr Forson 12:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my question does not relate to the legality of the matter. I would want to find out whether they were granted the permission to spend the amount. That is critical because they cannot spend without the approval of Parliament and the Ministry of Finance. I am only asking the Hon Minister to clarify whether the PPA was given the permission to spend that fees and charges as part of their Internally Generated Fund (IGF).
    Mr Speaker 12:16 p.m.
    Hon Member, let us await the legal determination of that matter and then we would take it holistically.
    Question 586
    Overall Impact of Reforms Introduced by the GRA at
    the Ports
    Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo asked 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.
    Mr Ofori-Atta 12:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, given the importance of revenue to our Ghana Beyond Aid Agenda, Govern- ment continues to make strenuous
    efforts to improve its revenue mobilisation drive to ensure that we achieve the West African average of 20 per cent tax to GDP ratio. Let me however, take this opportunity to commend the GRA for making some progress in nominal terms. Even though they have missed their targets in the past three years, year on year impressive growth in collections in 2017 and 2018 were 32.3 per cent and 37.6 per cent respectively.
    To achieve this, the Ministry through GRA continues to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the tax administration through various reforms to broaden the tax base, improve compliance and enforcement to achieve much higher revenue growth. Too many of us do not pay our fair share of taxes; the informal sector, professionals, NGOs, et cetera. We must and will change this narrative.
    Mr Speaker, the major reforms introduced by the Government to boost revenue at ports since 2017 include the following:
    The Paperless Port System and Joint Inspection Management Information System (JIMIS);
    Cargo Tracking Note (CTN);
    Reduction in Benchmark Values;
    Mr Ofori-Atta 12:26 p.m.
    information and documentation. The First Port Rule applies basically for transit goods where duty would be paid in the destination country (Ghana) prior to the release of the goods from the port.
    Mr Speaker, the objective of the First Port Rule is to curb the tendency to divert goods purportedly on transit into the local (Ghana) market. By so doing, it would eliminate fraudulent transitors and ensure that goods meant for the Ghanaian market are entered under the home consumption regime and duty paid accordingly. It would also ensure that all imports meant for home consumption are properly entered, thus eliminate diversions under the guise of transit.
    Conclusion
    Mr Speaker, you may recall that during the mid-year review last year, I indicated the Ministry's plan to overhaul the entire GRA. On 1st June, 2019 all the three Commissioners were replaced with three new officials. This is the first time we have had three new Commissioners coming from outside the Authority. We expect the new Commissioners to bring with them new thinking, innovation and a change in culture. These innovations we hope will create a new GRA where the men and women continue
    to provide professional service and protect the public purse through integrity and fairness.
    Mr Speaker, I spent the last two days with the Staff of GRA at the Port, Head office and at the Large Taxpayer Office at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, where I met with Commissioners, Managers, Custom officers, debt SWAT team and some junior staff of the Customs Division, Domestic Tax Revenue Division and Support Services Division who have been doing a yeoman's job collecting revenues for the State.
    I can already sense a wind of change in the attitude of our revenue collecting officers. For instance, during the discussions, they raised their concern about low tax awareness as well as a “negative” public perception of GRA. They went on to propose new revenue opportunities such as e- commerce, professional bodies, property taxes and key sections of the informal sector they are exploring to support our development.
    Most importantly, Mr Speaker, there was unanimous consensus to fast track the digitisation and simplification of the country's tax system. We also intend to institu- tionalise inter-agency interoperability systems to allow the seamless sharing of data.

    Mr Speaker, when we concluded our engagement, there was a collective understanding that the emerging GRA is clear and conscious of its role of mobilising the needed resources and protecting the public purse. I communicated the country's gratitude for their service and charged them to meet their revenue target to finance our Ghana Beyond Aid Agenda. Mr Speaker, the Ministry will dedicate more time with the new management in order to meet our goal of 20 per cent revenue to GDP target in the next three years.

    Mr Speaker, I, together with the Minister for Transport visited the Tema Port yesterday to continue my Ministry's monitoring of the impact of the reforms. Apparently, my visit has generated some discussions, and I am reported to have fired 20 customs officials on site.

    Mr Speaker, this is not accurate. What is actually happening is for some twenty officers who have unper- formed and/or have been in the same role for years to be transferred to other positions.

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 12:26 p.m.
    Hon Minister, thank you very much.
    Any follow up questions?
    Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 12:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I had been trying to catch your eye. Mr Speaker, the rule of this House is that he was to read the Answer that he had provided, but intermittently he veered off. So, I would be happy if what he read could be amended into the record because what he read was different from what was provided.
    Mr Speaker 12:26 p.m.
    The Hansard Department should holistically capture the Answer in terms of what we have and the other presentations.
    Mr Addo 12:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, from the Answer, it is obvious that the reforms are yielding the necessary results that we all want, but there is an issue that I would want the Hon Minister to clarify.
    Mr Speaker, the Question was on all ports of entry, but it looked as if there was concentration on the Tema Port and not the other ports of entry. [Interruption.] With the Answer given, there is every indication that most of the reforms are taking place only at the Tema and Takoradi Ports, but what about the other ports of entry?
    Mr Speaker 12:26 p.m.
    Hon Minister, are we going beyond Tema Port?
    Mr Ofori-Atta 12:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is a national programme, so it would affect all the ports of entry. Actually, I drove from Cotonou to Accra two weeks ago, and I was at Aflao too for some time to look at how things were being done. Fortunately, the new Commissioner had also been there. So, I would like to assure the Hon Member that it is a national effort, and there is a lot of passion and energy to make sure that we change the way in which customs have been run over the past years.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Speaker 12:26 p.m.
    In short, it affects all ports of entry.
    Mr Addo 12:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have no further questions.
    Mr Cassiel A. B. Forson 12:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am making reference to page 5, paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Hon Minister's Answer. I would like him to reconcile the nominal increases in paragraphs 5 and 6 to the consistent underperformance of customs revenue in the Government's fiscal data.
    Mr Speaker, I ask so because in the last two years, particularly with the first quarter data as the Ministry of Finance has provided to this House,
    it does not suggest that customs is actually performing as indicated in his Answer. So, could the Hon Minister reconcile his Answer to the underperformance of the customs revenue in the last two and a half years?
    Mr Ofori-Atta 12:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, GRA has been underperforming the targets that we give them. What I tried to indicate was that, maybe, we demonise them too much because year on year, there has been appreciable increases in their performance. Of course, customs has some shortfalls, but GRA as a total has consistently been increasing for 25 per cent each year. Therefore, there is a lot of focus that we would put on customs to ensure that we come back to modernity. Mr Speaker, but I appreciate the question from the Hon Member.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Speaker 12:26 p.m.
    Hon Minister, we thank you very much for attending to the House and answering our Questions.
    You are respectfully discharged.
    Hon Members, at the Commence- ment of Public Business; item listed 7 -- Presentation of Papers.
    Hon Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
    Ms Safo 12:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I seek your permission to lay the Paper on behalf of the Hon Majority Leader.
    PAPERS 12:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker 12:26 p.m.
    Item 7(b).
    By the Hon Deputy Majority Leader (Ms Sarah A. Safo) (on behalf of the Hon Minister for Communications) --
    Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ministry of Communications for the year
    2018.
    Referred to the Public Accounts Committee.
    Mr Speaker 12:26 p.m.
    Item 7(c) -- Hon Minister for Energy.
    Ms Safo 12:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I seek your permission for the Hon Minister for Finance to lay the Paper on behalf of the Hon Minister for Energy.
    By the Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori-Atta) (on behalf of the Minister for Energy) --
    Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ministry of Energy for the year 2018.
    Referred to the Public Accounts Committee.
    Mr Speaker 12:26 p.m.
    Item 7(d) -- Hon Chairman of the Committee.
    By the Chairman of the Com- mittee --
    Report of the Committee on Education on the University of Business and Integrated Develop- ment Studies Bill, 2018.
    Mr Speaker 12:26 p.m.
    Hon Members, item listed 8 -- Motion.
    Ms Safo 12:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Motion numbered 8 is not ready.
    Mr Speaker 12:26 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, on that note, is there any indication?
    Ms Safo 12:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee would want to draw your attention to the referrals. So, if you could give an opportunity for him to do so.
    Mr Speaker 12:36 p.m.
    Very well.
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the referrals you just made in items 7(b) and (c) -- Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ministry of Communications—and that by the Ministry of Energy are not reports emanating from the Auditor-General's office. They are from audit committees of the Ministries. So, item 7(b) could go to the Committee on Communications, while item 7(c) goes to the Committee on Mines and Energy.
    Mr Speaker, I seek your direction here; in item 7(a) -- I thought the Paper on Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Food and Drugs Authority would have been laid by the Hon Minister for Health and referred to the Committee on Health. So, the presentation should have been done by the Hon Minister for Health and referred to the Committee on Health.
    Mr Speaker 12:36 p.m.
    I see the Hon Leaders nodding. For that matter, the referral should be made accordingly.
    Ms Safo 12:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there are a few scheduled Committee meetings which I believe are ending or ended, per the time. Since item numbered 8 is the last item on the Order Paper, which is not ready, it means we have exhausted the Business for today.
    Mr Speaker, having in mind the fact that today also starts the weekend in which most Hon Members would go to their various constituencies, and considering the primaries of our Brothers and Sisters on the Minority Side, I believe it is only prudent that we bring the curtain down at this juncture.
    However, I remind Hon Members of the workshop for some selected Parliamentary Committee Leadership and the Leadership of Parliament by the Office of the Minister of State for Public Procurement on the role of Parliament in promoting value for money this weekend. It starts tomorrow at 9.00 a.m. and ends on Monday.
    Mr Speaker, I entreat all Leader- ship of the various Parliamentary Committees and of Parliament to join us in Koforidua tomorrow to start the programme.
    On this note, Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this House be adjourned to Monday, at 10.00 a.m.
    Alhaji Muntaka 12:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    ADJOURNMENT 12:36 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 12.40 p.m. till Monday, 15th July, 2019 at 10.00 a.m.