Debates of 25 Nov 2019

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:51 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:51 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 22nd November, 2019.
Page 1…9 --
rose
Mr Ras Mubarak 10:51 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
On page 4, I have been marked as present, even though I was indisposed on Friday. I sought permission and subsequently submitted a leave of absence form to your outfit. It is just for the records; I was not in the House on Friday.
rose
Mr Speaker 10:51 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Ms Alorwu-Tay 10:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was present on Friday, but I have been marked absent.
Mr Speaker 10:51 a.m.
Page 9.
rose
Mr Speaker 10:51 a.m.
Yes, Hon O. Ablakwa?
Mr Ablakwa 10:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am grateful.
On page 9 item numbered 8, the equivalent of the International Development Association (IDA) Special Drawing Rights of SDR 144,400,000 is “US$200.0 million”. It should be “US$200.00 million” or just “US$200 million”.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 10:51 a.m.
Hon Members, page 9…16
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 22nd November, 2019 as presented and corrected is hereby admitted as the true record of proceedings.
Mr Speaker 10:51 a.m.
Hon Members, At the Commencement of Public Business -- Presentation of Papers, Item listed 4(i).
Yes, Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee?
Mr Matthew Nyindam 10:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, those Papers are not ready to be presented.
Mr Speaker 10:51 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Hon Members, item listed 4(i) and (ii) are not ready to be presented.
Hon Members, item listed 5 -- Continuation of debates on the Budget Statement.
MOTIONS 10:51 a.m.
  • [Resumption of debate from 22/ 11/2019]
    • Minister for Works and Housing (Mr Samuel Atta Akyea) (MP) 10:51 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is with an aval commitment to good governance that I contribute in a very modest way to the Motion on the Floor.
    Mr Speaker, when a political party specialises in winning elections without the competence of managing the economy, the nation suffers. When you do a proper x-ray of this Budget Statement, you would come to that conclusion. We should not specialise in winning elections, but in growing the economy competently. That is the quintessence of the Government.
    Mr Speaker, my submission has the support of the Constitution. With your permission, I beg to quote article
    36:
    (1) “The State shall take on all necessary action to ensure that the national economy is managed in such a manner as to maximise the rate of economic development and to secure maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every person in Ghana and to provide adequate means of livelihood and suitable
    Minister for Works and Housing (Mr Samuel Atta Akyea) (MP) 11:01 a.m.
    employment and public assistance to the needy.
    (2) The State shall, in particular, take all necessary steps to establish a sound and healthy economy whose underlying principles shall include. . .”
    Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect, I would not want to bore you with the rest of the provisions of the Constitution.
    If a political party does not have its foundation on the determination to advance a cause that is right and moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power. I quote with approval, the speech of Dwight D. Eisenhower, which was a speech delivered on March 6, 1956.

    Mr Speaker, let me give you some foundation for my submission. In paragraph 12 on page 2 of the Budget Statement — this is a very embarrassing legacy that we should pay attention to. It reads:

    “Mr Speaker, if you add the cost of cleaning the financial sector challenges to the long list of legacy bills that the Akufo-Addo government had to settle, the

    cost to the Ghanaian tax payer is around GH¢33 billion”.

    Mr Speaker, the result is that the lousy way the National Democratic Congress (NDC) run the Government and the economy previously has occasioned this colossal sum, which otherwise could have been used for developmental purposes. So we would have to ask; where is the financial space to roll out very important infrastructure like affordable housing, if we have to pay off such huge sums of money?
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:01 a.m.
    Hon Member, do you rise on a point of order?
    Mr Forson 11:01 a.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Works and Housing made reference to page 2 of the Budget Statement. Mr Speaker, I have struggled to find it, and I wanted him to tell us which of the editions of the Budget Statement he quoted from. Is it the first or second edition of the Budget Statement?
    Mr Akyea 11:01 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, if a former Hon Deputy Minister for Finance interjected in such a serious debate while I am showing the mess
    of the past, it means I am making progress, and so I will move on.
    Mr Speaker, if we pay regard to this year's interest payments, it is in the colossal sum of GH¢18 billion. That is interest payments alone for this year, and this can be found on page 210 of the Budget Statement. Interest payments for 2020, with the greatest respect, is in the huge sum of GH¢21 billion. This may be found on page 214 of the Budget Statement.
    Mr Speaker, what about the pernicious financial arrangement called “take or pay” in the energy sector in which it is said that, whether the nation consumed the electricity or did not, we were duty bound to pay? I have been educated that regarding the “take or pay arrangement”, we have paid a colossal sum of US$1 billion.
    Mr Speaker, can you imagine the space to which we would have put infrastructure on if we could leverage on US$1 billion -- the number of houses that my Ministry would have rolled out but for the fact that we entered this pernicious arrangement? It is only in hell that you pay for what you do not consume, and it has cost us dearly with this kind of arrangement.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to submit that these unconscionable bargains fit into the crime of causing financial loss to the State. With the settlement of these anti-developmental payments, the infrastructure Ministries are unable to run the projects as we would have done.
    We have a challenge with flooding, and because of climatic conditions we cannot wish away the rains. We presented a Budget Statement to contain what would happen next year. It was in the sum of GH¢528 million for the Ministry of Finance (MoF).
    The Ministry has struggled to give us the commencement so we would be able to solve the problems of next year. This is under the 2019 Emergency Flood Control Programme. It is all for the simple reason that when a Government specialises in winning elections, rather than focussing on the competency of running the economy, there is a challenge in the fiscal space.
    Mr Speaker, coastal protection is ongoing, and the Akufo-Addo Government has spent GH¢597 million so far in trying to guard our coasts and protect us from the ravaging forces of the sea.
    I would want to share a few issues in the Budget Statement concerning my Ministry. Certainly, in trying to
    Mr Rockson-Nelson K. E. Dafeamekpor 11:11 a.m.
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. I rise pursuant to Standing Order 91 (3). The Hon Minister stated to this House that, Ghana does not need the return of the prodigal son. Mr Speaker, he should
    be very clear whom he speaks of so that we could properly place the matter in perspective and context. If he says, ‘the prodigal son', who is he speaking about? Who is the prodigal son? This is a House of records; he should state the name clearly. So that if we agree by what he has said—
    Mr Speaker 11:11 a.m.
    Hon Member, are you asking a rhetorical question or you have an idea of who the prodigal son is? [Interruptions.]
    Mr Dafeamekpor 11:11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, with all due deference to you, when an Hon Member of this House stands to speak, we need to understand exactly what the Hon Member is saying. From what he said, I have no idea of what he is referring to.
    Mr Speaker 11:11 a.m.
    Hon Member, please, continue.
    Mr Akyea 11:11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I know my Hon Colleague on the other Side read Law as I did and therefore, he must be having challenges with the economics, but the context of the ‘prodigal son' is at paragraph 12, page 2 of the Budget Statement and I beg to read:
    “Mr Speaker, if you add the cost of cleaning the financial sector challenges to the long list of legacy bills that the Akufo-Addo
    Mr Speaker 11:11 a.m.
    Hon Bedzrah?
    Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah (Ho West) 11:11 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise to contribute to the Motion and to limit myself to the infrastructural sector, most especially, in the housing sub-sector.
    Mr Speaker, I am surprised that the Hon Minister who just spoke before me did not say anything about his own sector but deviated and went into education and other sectors. Mr Speaker, going through this whole Budget Statement I have noticed the 2017, 2018, 2019 and the 2020 Budget Statements have no policy direction for the housing sector and that is why my Hon Colleague could not say anything.
    Mr Speaker, I have taken pains to go through the 2017 Budget Statement. The only thing the President, through
    the Hon Minister for Finance, came here to elucidate was on page 89 of the 2017 Budget Statement. It is only in paragraph 488 that the Hon Minister stated that the Ministry partnered the private sector to construct 5,000 housing units and the first phase, branded Nyame Dua Estate, of which 240 units has been completed.
    Some Hon Members 11:11 a.m.
    Where is it, show us?
    Mr Bedzrah 11:11 a.m.
    That was in 2016 so, it was completed in 2017. The policy direction in 2017 was that, Government would create enabling environment for the private sector to fully participate in the second phase scheduled to commence in 2017. Mr Speaker, as we speak now, the second phase of Nyame Dua has not started.
    Mr Speaker, I have taken pains to go through the 2018 Budget Statement that was presented by His Excellency, the President through the Hon Minister for Finance. I have also noticed that the only policy directive of this Government, concerning housing in the 2018 Budget Statement was to re-hatch all the things that were said about the Saglemi Project that was completed and that has not been completed; the housing for security services that was completed and was
    handed over by His Excellency, the Vice President, were the only things that were stated in the 2018 Budget Statement.
    Mr Speaker, I have taken pain to go through the 2019 Budget Statement. On page 144, paragraph 717 of the 2019 Budget Statement, a policy directive was given and that was limited only to the State Housing Company Limited. The Government, through State Housing Company Limited, would partner private entities to put up affordable housing to the tune of 200,000 housing units in the year 2019. As we speak today, not even a block has been laid to start the 200,000 housing units. That is why my Hon Colleague could not debate the housing sector but rather talked about Free SHS.
    Mr Speaker, I have taken pains to go through the 2020 Budget Statement and painfully, I must say that this would be the last Budget Statement for this Government. [Hear! Hear!] This is because if a Government subscribes to Sus- tainable Development Goals (SDGs), and then we all agree that there are 17 Goals, and Goal 11 talks about sustainable cities, and target 1 of Goal 11 says which with your permission I quote:
    Mr Bedzrah 11:21 a.m.


    “By 2030 to ensure access for all to adequate safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums''

    However, in the 2020 Budget Statement, there was nothing to indicate that we would hit that target. If by 2030, there would be no single housing put up by the current Government, then we would not meet the Goal 11.

    Mr Speaker, we all know that the housing industry plays a major role when it comes to the GDP of an economy. It stimulates the economy and has a multiplying effect because in every industry, especially, the construction industry, there are various facets. There are suppliers who would be engineered to supply because a house would be put up; there would be labourers who would work, painters would paint and steel benders would work - so if this sector does not see any appreciable development or increase, then we would have a depreciation or recline in our GDP.

    Mr Speaker, permit me to draw the attention of this House to page 207 of the Budget Statement. It would be noticed that in appendix “A'' which

    talks about the real growth, the construction industry as of year 2016, grew up to 8.4 per cent. However, because there was no investment in the sector, in year 2019, it was reduced to 4.1 per cent. With regard to the real estate sector, in year 2016, it was 3.2 per cent but in year 2019 it was also reduced to 2.6 per cent; and it would further reduce to 1.7 per cent in year 2020. This clearly shows that this Government has not considered any policy that would stimulate the construction industry, so it has reduced the GDP factor of the construction in the GDP rate.

    Mr Speaker, as a developing nation and as we subscribe to other international norms -- we were all in this House when H. E. the President presented the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policy, 2017 to 2024.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minister?
    Mr Cudjoe 11:21 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister said that the Government policy in relation to the collaboration of state housing in the private sector has not delivered a single house. I think he is not abreast with what State Housing has done. He could just google State Housing and the advertised projects which the private
    sector has brought -- [Interruption] -- the Hon Member should not deceive the House that under that collaboration, there has not been any housing project delivered.
    Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
    Hon Member, please proceed.
    Mr Bedzrah 11:21 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote the vision for the housing sector as the President stated with permission:
    “A key element of this policy would be to roll out a social housing scheme that rellies wholly on local input. The social housing scheme would be provided in urban, peri-urban and rural areas through a combination of several best practices approaches''.
    Mr Speaker, this is a coordinated plan from year 2017 to year 2024, which was submitted to this House by the President. As I speak today, we cannot find any social housing project that the Government has started.
    Mr Speaker, the social housing Project, as stated in the Coordinated Strategy, was to rely heavily on local materials. There are local materials in abundance -- there are clays that could be used to produce bricks and blocks; clays that could even be used
    to produce tiles. There are cements, iron rods, stones and chippings which are all produced in this country, yet, this Government has not found it wise to get in touch with all these producers to be able to stimulate the housing sector, so that the construction factor of the GDP would appreciate.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Works and Housing has recently signed a one million housing contract
    -- 11:21 a.m.
    rose
    Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister for Works and Housing, are you up on a point of Order or Correction?
    Mr Akyea 11:21 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is a massive misinformation from the Hon Member. He made a statement to the effect that not one single social housing infrastructure has been rolled out by President Akufo-Addo, but in paragraph 852 at page 156 of the Budget Statement, which with your permission, I beg to quote:
    “Mr Speaker, Provision of accommodation for the security services still remains high on the Government's priorities. In line with this the phase III of the Security Services Housing Programme for the Ghana Police Service commenced. The
    Mr Bedzrah 11:21 a.m.
    Hon Member, we are talking about two million housing deficit in Ghana.
    Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
    Hon Member, that is not what we are talking about. You said, none has been done and you have just been corrected.
    Mr Bedzrah 11:21 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to place it on record that the Security Services Housing -
    Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
    Hon Member, you made a categorical statement, please, withdraw that statement and then conclude.
    Mr Bedzrah 11:21 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the social housing that I talked about -
    Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
    Hon Member, please.
    Mr Bedzrah 11:21 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Works and Housing knows that there is no social housing
    and that this one was started by the previous Administration and not the current Administration. --
    Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
    Hon Member?
    Mr Bedzrah 11:21 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I withdraw the truth.
    The Hon Minister for Works and Housing signed a one-million housing project with Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) contractors; and I ask myself, where is this found in the Budget Statement?
    Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
    Hon Member, in conclusion?
    Mr Bedzrah 11:31 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I have noticed that every now and then, a one million housing project is signed in a day.
    With regard to the flooding in our cities, the drainage is supposed to be supervised by the Ministry of Works and Housing but the drains in the cities have not been desilted for a long time and that has caused flooding. Whatever we have to do to get these drains desilted must be done. Unfortunately, there has not been any allocation, but if there has been an allocation, the Government has not released such funds to the Ministry for Works and Housing for the desilting.

    Mr Speaker, as I said last year, in my view, the Ministry of Works and Housing should be closed down so that the Hon Minister could come back to Parliament and work.

    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Speaker 11:31 a.m.
    Hon Boniface.
    Alhaji Abu-Bakar S. Boniface (NPP - Madina) 11:31 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to support the Motion on the Floor. I would restrict myself to the housing sector.
    Mr Speaker, since independence, successive Governments have initiated various policies and programmes to help combat housing issues in this country. For the sake of time, I would restrict my submission from 2000 to date. Mr Speaker, former President J. A. Kufuor saw the problem and introduced the Affordable Housing Scheme because at that time, the housing deficit was about one million houses. So, he decided that, at least, every year, 100,000 housing units should be constructed; one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom flats.
    Mr Speaker, in fact, he initiated the construction of affordable housing units in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Koforidua and Wa. About 5,000 units were started and they were supposed to be completed in June 2009. Unfortunately, the NPP lost power. When the successive Government took over power, they abandoned the project and started a new initiative which was under the STX Programme, where the Government went in for a US$1.5 billion loan facility.
    Unfortunately, there was confusion, between the parent company, a Korean company, and the local company which was a Ghanaian company. Mr Speaker, because of this confusion we lost this project and then another company, Guma Group of Company with Air Afrique, came with the intention of building 500 housing units, but that also failed.
    Mr Speaker, this is because Governments have failed to consistently promote and continue with existing or ongoing projects though governance is supposed to be a continuum. Unfortunately, we abandoned what had been done, and instead of continuing these projects, successive Governments went for other loans, lost the loans and abandoned the housing projects.
    Mr Speaker, today, we must thank God that the Government of President
    Mr Speaker 11:31 a.m.
    Order!
    Alhaji Boniface 11:41 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, they want me to name some. Mr Speaker, drains are being constructed at Sakumono, First Light, Madina, Abokobi, and Hon Vanderpuye's constituency.

    Mr Speaker, I can give a list which shows the excellent work being done; it is in the Budget Statement, on page 156, paragraph 852. I can name them, but I see that they are silent, which means that they agree with me.

    Mr Speaker, on this note, I would want to thank the Hon Minister for Finance who has been doing a great job. However, for this purpose, in one month and a few days, I would want him to intervene and support the Ministry of Works and Housing to help continue with the storm drains that would be helpful for this country. People in Tamale, Bawku and Koforidua are suffering from floods and the construction of these drains would help a lot.

    Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity.
    Mr Speaker 11:41 a.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon Minister.
    Hon Andrew Chiwitey?
    Mr Andrew D. Chiwitey (NDC - Sawla/Tuna/Kalba) 11:41 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to speak to the Motion on the Floor. I would limit myself to the water sector, and if there is time, probably speak to some other areas.
    Mr Speaker, before I go to my main point, I would make this categorical statement on the Floor of the House, because following the presentation of the Budget Statement by Hon Ken Ofori-Atta, a number of New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters in my constituency went on Facebook speaking as if this Government had done so much that we do not have to even talk about the NPP. The 2020 Budget Statement indicated that the Government of Ghana would continue with some five hospital projects. This sounded like those projects were started by this Government.
    I want to make it clear that on 19th March, 2016, this House approved a facility worth €89,935,500 for the construction of five new hospitals; one in Buipe, one in Wheta, one in Somanya, One in Tolon and one in Sawla/Tuna/Kalba District. Mr
    Speaker, I would want the NPP Communicators to note that this funding was 100 per cent secured by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and so no mistake should be made to claim ownership.
    Mr Speaker, let me also quickly touch on the Saglemi Housing Project. The Hon Minister was unable to tell us when exactly they would end with the auditing of this project. The Hon Minister and the President of the Republic are lawyers, and we have the Hon Attorney-General. How long does it have to take the Ministry and the people of Ghana to have this report so that Saglemi Housing Project would be completed? Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister should tell the President to act fast because we need shelter for our people. We lack two million housing units in Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, he also talked about drainage system. He mentioned the construction of some concrete drains in some districts but failed to indicate the percentage of completion. We would like to know from the Hon Minister, how far they have gone with the projects.
    The Hon Ranking Member of the Committee talked about they not building houses, and it became a case. Mr Speaker, it is a fact that the Ministry of Works and Housing has
    not completed a single block that was even started by President Kufuor. I am not talking about what the NDC Government started, let alone talk about the projects they started and have completed.
    Mr Speaker, let me now go to the water sector. We have the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the goal numbered (6) requires that by 2030, every individual on the earth is required to have quality and affordable water. Once again, in 2016, we had a vice-presidential candidate who was all over the place promising the people of Ghana. In one of his speeches, if you would permit me to quote him, he said:
    “Under the Poverty Eradication Programme, where every constituency would get US$1million for rural and deprived communities, there should not be a village or community in Ghana after two years in NPP's Government that would have water problem or toilet problem.”
    Mr Speaker, if H. E. the Vice- President has forgotten, it is still very clear in our minds. [Interruption.] I am mentioning his name because on the day Hon Ken Ofori-Atta was presenting the Budget Statement, he
    took the front seat before the Hon Minister arrived.
    Mr Speaker, as we speak, in my constituency, I have only 300 communities, and we still have water and toilet problems. If the Vice- President is not aware that the NPP Government is not performing, I encourage him to listen to a popular series that is being ran by Joy News entitled “Dear Nana Addo”. That is where he would get to know that his Government talks so much but acts very little.
    Mr Emmanuel K. Gyamfi 11:41 a.m.
    On a point of order.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague, on his feet just quoted H. E. the Vice- President when he was the NPP Presidential running mate in 2016. The Hon Member should give us the source of the document that he quoted, because he said the Vice- President made numerous statements, one of which he just quoted. So, the Hon Member should provide the source of the particular document he quoted from.
    Mr Speaker 11:41 a.m.
    Hon Member, please, continue.
    Mr Chiwitey 11:41 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    In my view, we the first-term Members of Parliament (MPs) are learning, and so when some of us are
    Mr Emmanuel K. Gyamfi 11:41 a.m.
    On a point of order.
    Mr Speaker, I agree with him that he is learning, but he has made a statement which should not stay in our records if he cannot give its source. The admission is alright but he should withdraw. It should not stay.
    Mr Speaker 11:41 a.m.
    Hon Member, please continue.
    Mr Chiwitey 11:51 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, the 2020 Budget Statement delivered by the NPP Government is a budget that has no weight as far as the water sector is concerned.

    Mr Speaker, permit me to refer you to the 2016 Budget Statement. In 2015, the NDC Administration, led by former President John D. Mahama, delivered 1,068 boreholes. They can be found in the Western, Northern, Central, Upper West and Upper East Regions.

    Mr Speaker, that was not the end. The NDC Administration again constructed 52 small town water systems in 2015. We constructed the Wa Water Project, the Esekyiri Water Project and a water project in Techiman.

    Mr Speaker, last two weeks, I was privileged to be with the Committee on Works and Housing and we went round the whole of the Bono,

    Western, andAshanti Regions. It was clear that the NDC Administration delivered to the people of Ghana but retrogression has set in. The NDC Government constructed 52 small town water systems and the NPP Government has done 33 small town water systems. -- [Interruption] - - The figures are from the 2016 Budget Statement, on paragraph 347, where we would see the performance of the NDC Government. We can then pick the current Budget Statement and see what the NPP Government has done in three (3) years, getting to the fourth year.

    Mr Speaker, what is the Government's policy direction as far as the delivery of water to the people of Ghana is concerned? It is very clear that the NPP Administration has no policy direction.
    Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
    Hon Member, conclude.
    Ms Cecilia Dapaah 11:51 a.m.
    On a point of Order.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is churning out figures and these figures are relative. He quoted from the 2016 Budget Statement. At the end of the day, the figures he has quoted covers a period of eight (8) years. I would
    Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
    Order! Order!
    Mrs Dapaah 11:51 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to assure him that indeed, this Government has a clear vision to provide water for all Ghanaians. It is not only boreholes that provide the water. We have huge water projects that would come on board -- [Interruption] -- and these projects have all been approved by this House. If we take the Tamale Water Project alone, we would increase the volume of water from 30,000 cubic metres to 135,000 cubic metres. [Hear! Hear!]
    Mr Speaker, it takes only the able and hardworking leadership of H. E. the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to have such ambitious projects for the good people of Tamale. Is the Hon Member telling us that we should rather drill boreholes for them?
    Mr Chiwitey 11:51 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, because we do not have to politicise
    Mr Chiwitey 11:51 a.m.


    Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to remind the Hon Minister that it is very important for us to have a clear-cut policy direction as far as the water sector is concerned. She should consider looking at the protection and preservation of Ghana's water lands.

    On water and sanitation, I was privileged to be with the Hon Minister at an international conference in Sweden. The Hon Minister would bear with me that the whole world is serious and passionate and we cannot afford to be left behind. The Government of Ghana must wake up. We must let them know that if they do not wake up and still continue to sleep wherever they go to, 2020 is just at the corner.

    Mr Speaker, there was one thing I took an interest in when we attended the conference. For the whole week that we were in the conference, every individual was given a bottle --
    Mrs Dapaah 11:51 a.m.
    On a point of order.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    The Hon Member said we were together in Sweden and he made a statement which I did not get well. He said, “If we continue to sleep on the job.” Who is rather sleeping on the job? It is them.
    Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
    Hon Member, in conclusion?
    Mr Chiwitey 11:51 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in taking the business of water seriously, we also need to take that of sanitation seriously.
    Mr Speaker, I would alert us on the fact that we do not have to litter our environment. For the whole week's stay with the Hon Minister in Sweden, we each had to carry a bottle in our bags and we drank from that bottle throughout the week. Although there were so many people at the conference, we did not litter the place.
    The Mole 30 Conference just ended two weeks ago and the Hon Minister and the Vice President were there. The conference encouraged us a lot. They also distributed bottles, so for five (5) days in that conference, we drank from just a bottle.
    Mr Speaker, it would be important for us as a House to institute a policy in Parliament, so that every parliamentarian would be supplied with a water dispenser. We would
    drink from that to avoid carrying so many bottles and littering the whole place.
    Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, who next? [Pause]
    Yes, Hon Muhammed Abdul- Samed Gunu?
    Mr Muhammed Abdul-Samed Gunu (NPP -- Savelugu) 12:01 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to debate on the Motion to approve the Financial Policy of the Government of Ghana for 2020.
    Mr Speaker, let me begin by pointing out to my Hon Colleague, Hon Chiwitey, that the Government of the NPP is not sleeping on the job. With reference to paragraph 852 on page 156 of the Budget Statement, the Government's affordable housing project at Asokore Mampong, Kumasi, which would provide about 1,030 housing units is progressing
    steadily, and currently at 90 per cent completion.
    Similarly, the Kpone Affordable Housing Project, handed over to the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) Limited, and comprising 24 blocks to provide 321 units of apartments, stands at 90 per cent completion.
    Mr Speaker, the Tamale and Koforidua Affordable Housing Projects, commenced by H. E. John Kufuor in 2006, the Ministry of Finance has approved an amount of GH¢229,500,000 to complete them 13 years down the line.
    Mr Speaker, the financial arrangement with private banks is virtually concluded and the President's commitment to complete the 686 housing units would find practical expression this year in accordance with article 35 of the Constitution.
    Mr Speaker, with that, I would like to concentrate my debate on the water sector. Cabinet and Parliament, in the course of the year, approved the Tamale, Damongo and Yendi Water Supply Projects. Preparatory works are advanced to ensure that the actual construction of these projects, and beneficiary areas will include Tamale, Savelugu-Nanton, Damongo and their respective environs to benefit
    -- 12:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, any difficulty?
    Mr Richard Acheampong 12:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I refer the House to Standing Order 89, and respectfully, I would want to quote:
    “A Member shall not read his speech, but may read extracts from written or printed documents in support of his argument and may refresh his memory by reference to notes.”
    Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
    Order! Order!! Hon Member, please comply and proceed.
    Mr Gunu 12:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not reading outside the Budget Statement. I would like to refer the Hon Member to paragraph 886 on page 163 of the Budget Statement. That is what I referred to. Cabinet and Parliament this year, approved the Tamale, Damongo and Yendi water supply projects. Preparatory works have
    advanced to ensure the actual construction of these projects. The Project beneficiary areas include, Tamale, Savelugu, Nanton, Damongo and their respective environs to benefit about 792,120 persons. This is the good governance we are talking about under H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
    Mr Speaker, there has also been a parliamentary approval for the commencement of the Yendi Water supply project. That project is expected to benefit Yendi and its surrounding communities. The project will benefit 133,000 people in the Yendi municipality.
    Mr Speaker, the bold initiative of the NPP, led by H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo taken on the issue of galamsey has yielded a lot of positive results. Recently, the Committee's visit to the Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo and Western Regions indicated improvement on the water quality, except Owabi in the Ashanti Region, where there was a very serious encroachment of the river. As of the time the Committee visited the place, there were encroachers who were busily roofing their houses. I would therefore urge authorities to take immediate steps to stop those encroachers.
    Mr Speaker, on rural water management, the Sustainable Rural Water Management and Sanitation Project, under the leadership of H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, water supply systems are being constructed at Bosanko, Asiri, Gyankofa, Prang, Dotaba, Bono East and Ahafo Regions.
    Mr Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye (NDC -- Odododiodioo) 12:01 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Government's Economic Policy for the year 2020.
    In doing so, Mr Speaker, I would want to say right from the beginning, that I would go through the “King James Version” and not the “New English Translation” of the Budget Statement which has been provided this morning. I would go through the original Budget Statement that was produced last week, and not the new one that has surfaced this morning.
    Mr Speaker, it is troubling that the most cherished Ministry, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), under this
    Government has been downgraded, disrespected and demeaned. I said it here last year --
    rose
    Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, a moment.
    Mr O. B. Amoah 12:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not think it should lie in the mouth of the Hon Member to say that MLGRD has been disrespected. He has no evidence and proof to make such a statement. What does he mean by “disrespected”? He should withdraw what he said.
    Mr Vanderpuye 12:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am saying this because Ghana's --
    Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, just a moment.
    Hon O. B. Amoah, please make yourself very clear.
    Mr O. B. Amoah 12:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I said Hon Vanderpuye has no proof and evidence to say that MLGRD has been disrespected and downgraded so he should withdraw and apologise. He has no evidence to say that.
    Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, let us avoid insinuations. What are you trying to insinuate; that a whole
    Mr Vanderpuye 12:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I said this because --
    Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
    Hon Member, I have not asked you to justify anything.

    I said I do not accept “disrespected” -- that is to imply motives on the part of the maker of the Budget Statement, and our rules do not allow it. Withdraw that and proceed.
    Mr Vanderpuye 12:11 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    On your advice, I withdraw “disrespected”.
    Mr Speaker, I say this because I have with me here —
    Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
    Hon Member, do not tell me “because”.
    Mr Vanderpuye 12:11 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have withdrawn the word “disrespected” but I cannot withdraw “downgraded” because I would use facts to support it.
    Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
    Hon Member, you cannot do what?
    Mr Vanderpuye 12:11 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have withdrawn the word, “disrespected”, but I cannot withdraw “downgraded” because I would adduce facts to support it.
    Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
    Hon Member, to say a Ministry has been downgraded is to pass judgement, which is to imply a particular motive on the part of the Hon Minister for Finance who read the Budget Statement. I do not accept it. If you cannot speak without “downgraded” and “insulted”, then you must as well take your seat.
    Mr Vanderpuye 12:11 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
    I take your guidance; I have withdrawn all those words.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to state that, in the history of Ghana's politics, from 1957 to 2020, I do not see any situation where the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has seen its jobs and functions dissipated under other Ministries to the extent that it has led to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development taken out of the Cabinet list of Ministries.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:11 p.m.
    On a point of order.
    Mr Speaker, I do not really intend to enter into the submissions of my Hon Colleague, but he just said that, in the history of this Republic, and from 1957 to 2020. Mr Speaker, we are still in 2019; we are not in 2020. He is talking about history. Mr Speaker, clearly, my Hon Colleague is living in a different world; we are in
    2019.
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:11 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the debate on the Budget Statement, thanks to your guidance, is flowing very well, and we are keenly following the issues being raised and debated.
    Mr Speaker, when you urged my Hon Colleague, the Hon Ranking Member for the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development, he had no hesitation to withdraw the words, ‘disrespected'. As the Hon Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development stood on his feet, his objection was on the use of the word, ‘downgraded'. As I said, my Hon Colleague has respectfully withdrawn ‘disrespected' but not ‘downgraded'.
    Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, if you want to challenge the ruling on ‘downgraded', then I would explain it to you.
    Mr Iddrisu 12:11 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, not at all. The basis for ‘downgraded' which is being provided is from the Budget Statement. [Pause.]
    Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
    Hon Member, your time is running; if you want to go on a certain tangent, your time is running. You may simply make your point; but for now, your time is running and I would not reverse the clock.
    Mr Vanderpuye 12:11 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    I would like to move ahead and say that, looking through this Budget Statement, it worries me that for the first time, the mention of district offices for district assemblies, which has become a problem for a lot of the districts mentioned in 2019, was utterly missing. We have not been told why missing; whether the offices have been provided, at what level those offices have gotten to, and even the ones that were mentioned in 2019 to be awarded, we do not know whether they have been awarded. In the 2020 Budget Statement, no mention is made of the district offices for the new assemblies that have found themselves without accommodation.
    Mr Speaker, in the Budget Statement, I got alarmed when the issue of toilets, boreholes and sanitation were mentioned. If we go
    Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
    Hon Minister, do you rise on a point of Order?
    Ms Dapaah 12:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am flabbergasted and totally shocked to the shell as I listened to the Hon Member who made such an effusion of negativity vis a vis the beautiful cities we have in Ghana. We all need to be patriotic to give the true and correct picture as we go on with this debate.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to place it on record that the Hon Member is exaggerating. He should provide the date and time of that picture he has given. We went to Chorkor in his constituency to work. I would want to inform him that the Accra Ladies of the Ghana Water Company Limited have provided household toilets to the good people of Chorkor.

    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member, again talked about landfill sites. I would want to place it on record that the landfill sites needed engineering in the past eight years, but it was not done. It took this hardworking Government to make sure we provide healthy surroundings for the good people of Ghana.
    Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
    Hon Minister, your point of correction has turned into a --
    Hon Vanderpuye, you have additional two minutes.
    Mr Vanderpuye 12:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to correct the Hon Minister that, Chorkor is not part of my constituency.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to refer the Hon Minister to paragraph 332 of the Budget Statement, which says:
    “Mr Speaker, the Ministry will continue to undertake the re- engineering of landfill sites at Kpone and Oti”.
    Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
    Hon Alima Mahama?
    Mr Suleman Adamu Sanid (NPP -- Ahafo Ano North) 12:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
    Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
    Hon Alima Mahama?
    Hon Majority Leader, is there any problem? I am going by your directives.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my attention has been drawn to the fact that they have their own internal arrangements for the Hon Member who just got up to speak, to be followed by the Hon Member for Offinso North and then the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development.
    Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, I did not hear what you said.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, unknown to me, they have
    their own arrangements to have the Hon Member who just got up and is also the Hon Chairman of the Local Government and Rural Development Committee, to begin the debate, to be followed by the Hon Deputy Minister and then the Hon Minister herself would wind up.
    Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
    Very well. I was at a loss because I was going by the note you sent to me; but if there is a change that is fine.
    Hon Member, you may continue then.
    Mr Sanid 12:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would speak to issues in relation to something positive that has happened to this country. We have heard the gloom, the ugly and the negativities which are just too much. There are positives that have happened in this country, and we must highlight them.
    Mr Speaker, currently, the Government has done a lot when it comes to the digitisation of our economy. A lot has also happened with regard to granting our local assemblies the capacity to organise themselves and mobilise their Internally Generated Funds (IGF), so that they would develop our localities.
    Mr Speaker, I would also speak on the referendum and the
    collaboration that is going on between the sector Ministries who handle our sanitation and waste management issues in the country.
    Mr Speaker, it is true that the three Committees -- the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development, Committee on Environment, Science and Technology, and the Committee on Works and Housing visited four metropolis in this country, and we saw what had happened to our waste management system. The two Ministries -- Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development have collaborated strongly to assist the private sector, which is a vehicle to handle waste management in this country.
    Yes, there are few issues we know which would be worked out in terms of the off-taker issues on how much would be paid for each tonnage that would be lifted. Once these issues are handled, the IRECOP, just as the Hon Minister said, would be replicated in the various regional capitals, so that there would be capacity at the regional level, as a convergence point for our waste management materials, and they could be processed. However, the residue must be deposited somewhere, and that is where the landfill sites come in.
    Mr Sanid 12:31 p.m.
    So we must get this out of our system, that there would not be landfill sites. This is because they would be the final points for the residue. We cannot have waste management and say we would not have residue. The residue must find a place, and that is where engineering landfill sites come in.

    So we would not have landfill sites that are big and encumber large spaces that would worry us. We would still have a landfill site where these things would be kept. We would process and recycle, but there must be a place for the residue. Mr Speaker, there is a lot happening and the Ministries are working.

    Mr Speaker, I would dwell on how we want to capacitate the various local assemblies so that they would mobilise resources for our development. Mr Speaker, with your indulgence, I would quote paragraph 611 on page 117 of the Budget Statement:

    “Mr Speaker, the Ministry developed a digital platform to simplify the issuance of Business Operating Permits (BOPs) in all the 29 districts in the Greater Accra Region. The System was

    integrated with the e-Services platform of the Registrar General's Department (RGD).”

    Mr Speaker, what the Government seeks to do is to have platforms created and linked to each other for the purposes of communication. Once there is harmonisation, we would be able to know the number of houses we have and the number of permits that have been provided, then the assemblies could actually target these entities so that they would pay the right tariffs, levies and fees.

    Mr Speaker, this is just a part of the bigger picture, just as the Vice President always say, that Ghana is going digital. Mr Speaker, we need to be digitised so that areas where papers and documents have become so laborious would work seamlessly.

    Mr Speaker, currently, there is a construction permit software that the Ministry has led the process for it to be developed for the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA, as a pilot of the business enabling environment project. Once this is developed and it becomes successful in the Greater Accra, other Assemblies would get this software, and it would help in revenue mobilisation.

    Mr Speaker, this is not the only thing because the Ministry, in collaborating with the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority as well as the Ghana Post, have done a lot of work in addressing the National Digital Property Addressing System (NDPAS). This resulted in the street naming project that was embarked upon when President Akufo-Addo took over power, as well as the Ghana Post GPS System. All these are ongoing. So we are setting ourselves on a platform where we would be able to identify various actors in the economic space for the payment of taxes and levies for our growth.

    Mr Speaker, once again, I would want to highlight what this Government has been able to do across the entire spectrum of Ghana. Job creation was a major issue that confronted Ghanaians, especially the youth. There has been a lot of interventions in other sectors; the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has not been left out. Mr Speaker, as I speak, 2,290 young men and women of this country have been employed by the Local Government Service. This is a plus for the Government because hitherto, these young people picketed and formed unemployed graduate associations. Nowadays, this is a thing of the past because a greater number

    of them have something productive and meaningful to do. This is what governance is all about; the delivery of public good and political dividend to the people. Mr Speaker, something positive is happening with regard to job creation, and we need to highlight it.

    The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, through the able leadership of Hon Alima Mahama actually spearheaded the referendum process.

    Mr Speaker, as a Ministry that is performing so well, we cannot accept the assertion that the Ministry is comatose because it is active and working. As we have seen, the more we sensitise people on the ground, the more prospects and fortunes for a “Yes” vote would be intensified.
    MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:29 p.m.
    Hon Benjamin Kpodo.
    Mr Benjamin K. Kpodo (NDC -- Ho Central) 12:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank
    you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the Floor.
    Mr Speaker, as the sun sets for this Government, it is very imperative to expose the damage that they have brought on the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the local governance system in Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development -- I would emphasise on the “Rural Development” -- is the most decimated Ministry since this Government took over power.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development?
    Mr O. B. Amoah 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member on his feet is misinforming this House and casting undue aspersions on our Ministry. In the first place, he said the Ministry is near redundant; secondly, he said the Ministry is a Ministry of Referendum when there is no ministry like that.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister, do you know this is not a point of order?
    Mr O. B. Amoah 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he has no basis and proof to say that this Ministry is a Ministry of near- redundancy, and that it is a Ministry of Referendum. He has no basis and proof. Otherwise, he should prove it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Is that an issue of point of order?
    Mr O. B. Amoah 12:41 p.m.
    Yes, he is misinforming everybody.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Is that your understanding of the Standing Order?
    Mr O. B. Amoah 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is simply because what he is saying has no basis in truth. He is wrong.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Hon Member, if you call on him to substantiate -- failing to do so, we could ask him to withdraw; but that is not what you said. When you got up, you said he was casting aspersions. That was your own language, that he was casting aspersions on the Ministry. I do not see that in our Standing Orders.
    Mr O. B. Amoah 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I went on to say that what he said was

    wrong. He misinformed and misled the whole House, so he should withdraw. That is what I said. Indeed, it is true.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Hon Member, you are out of order.
    Please continue, Hon Kpodo.
    Mr Kpodo 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, since you have ruled he is out of order, I do not need to respond to him.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, reading through the 2020 Budget Statement, from page 116 to 120, I realised that there is generally nothing to report on about the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. We have come to things that are not material. For instance, they are reporting on how 4,445 people have been trained to acquire technical and vocational skills, and about 331 beneficiaries who went to the Community Development Institute.
    Mr Speaker, this is a country of 30 million people, and a whole huge hitherto big Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is reporting about these small things. It means there is nothing there to talk about. That is why I am saying that the work has been taken away from the Ministry.
    Indeed, all that is happening now in the local government sector is the result of all that was done by the former President --
    Hajia Alima Mahama (MP) -- rose --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Hon Member, please, resume your seat.
    I am not in the mood of allowing these interruptions so make sure that when you are interrupting, it is really on a point of order and not on a point of debate.
    Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development?
    Hajia Mahama: Mr President [Laughter.] The Hon Member --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    I know that you have all had it before. It was a slip of tongue, so you should understand. [Laughter]
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is a member of the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development, and we have been working with him. He has referred to what is in the Budget Statement, and he says there is nothing substantial there.
    I am surprised that an Hon Member like him does not even
    understand what the work of a Local Government Ministry is. A Ministry in charge of local governance is supposed to ensure and promote good governance in the system. It is not about projects, but ensuring that there is good and balanced governance in the system, and ensuring that our Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) understand their roles and execute them. That is what local governance is about.
    And we have indicated on these pages --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Hon Minister, this is a point of debate, but the full title of your Ministry is Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. I am sure you would get the opportunity. You can put all these across. You disagree with him. That is right, and you are entitled to do so, but not on a point of order.
    Hajia Mahama: What he is saying is false. He is misleading the House.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Hon Member, continue.
    Mr Kpodo 12:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, development is key in the Ministry in charge of local governance. That is why it is called the Ministry of Local
    Government and Rural Development. All the developments the current Government talks about were initiated by former President John Dramani Mahama -- [Hear! Hear!] And we have them to testify to that. We have the Kejetia Market, which is a big project. We have the Ho Market, which is another big project. We have the Kumasi Central Market, which they would now cut sod for. It was a project initiated by H. E. John Dramani Mahama. If we talk about development, all these they talk about now were products of the previous Government.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:41 p.m.
    Hon Member, I thought that in that light, you should commend them for continuing the projects of the previous Government since that is constitutional.
    Mr Kpodo 12:51 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I commend them for continuing, but they need to acknowledge what they have inherited. They also need to initiate new ones.

    Mr Speaker, in the 2020 Budget Statement, the amount provided for
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:51 p.m.
    Hon Members, Order! Order!
    Hon Member, please resume your seat.
    Yes, Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation?
    Dr Anthony Akoto Osei 12:51 p.m.
    On a point of order.
    Mr Speaker, I need your guidance. I thought we are discussing principles of the Government's Financial Policy. The Hon Member is talking about Estimates. We have not reached there yet, so that we could follow him, Which principles is he against and
    which principles is he for? I cannot follow his debate. I would like to follow it. He is misleading all of us.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:51 p.m.
    Hon Member, please continue.
    Mr Kpodo 12:51 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am doing a general debate on the policies. I am emphasising the point that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has been discriminatively and poorly funded. That is what I have been trying to bring out.
    Mr Speaker, the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) is what the Ministry relies on to get funding for the MMDAs. The DACF is bedevilled with so many issues: one, they have never been able to declare exactly the total revenue from which the five per cent is computed for the MMDAs. I have two separate computations from the income which the five per cent is calculated.
    In fact, in one instance, the total revenue is GH¢39.4 billion. For the same year, there is another total revenue recorded as GH¢34 billion. So which one is correct? We do not have accurate information from the Ministry of Finance regarding how much the total revenue from which the five per cent is computed.
    Mr Speaker, another issue bedevilling the DACF is the timely release of the moneys computed as due to the Assemblies; the moneys are not realised early. If moneys are collected for January, February and March, they say the money is due only after June. That policy is devilish and it should be changed. If they collect the money at the end of March, the moneys should be given out in April.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:51 p.m.
    Hon Member, please resume your seat.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:51 p.m.
    On a point of order.
    Mr Speaker, did I hear him say that the policy is devilish? A law this House has passed and he calls it devilish.
    Mr Speaker, I think he should --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:51 p.m.
    Hon Member, that one is definitely unparlimentary. In fact, it offends the dignity of the House.
    Mr Kpodo 12:51 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I withdraw the word ‘devilish' and I replace it with ‘starving'. [Laughter] -- They are starving the MMDAs. There is also the problem of arrears settlement. As we are here now, for November, 2018 the Ministry of Finance owes the DACF an amount
    of GH¢142 million. Why are they keeping the money? Why do they not want the Assemblies to progress?
    Mr Speaker, my final point -- [Interruption] -- I have been interrupted so many times.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:51 p.m.
    Hon Member, you have mentioned a figure and the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance in charge of the Budget Statement and releases is on her feet.
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Mrs Abena Osei-Asare 12:51 p.m.
    On a point of order.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is misleading the House. We do not owe November, 2018 and December, 2018 returns for DACF. He is aware. The last time we had the Committee of the Whole, we explained everything, so he is just throwing dust into our eyes.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:51 p.m.
    So, Hon Deputy Minister, what do you owe? What the Hon Member said is not correct. What is the correct one?
    Mrs Osei-Asare 12:51 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he only said November, 2018 and I said that we do not owe for November, 2018. For the second quarter for this year, we have paid. The third quarter is not due. We have
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:51 p.m.
    Well, the Ministry has spoken. They paid up to the second quarter of this year.
    Mr Kpodo 12:51 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, article 252 of the Constitution states that the amounts due to the DACF should be paid in quarterly instalments. The reason I referred to November, 2018 is that they owed the third quarter, which was GH¢142 million and they said it was due in November of the following quarter. That was why I mentioned November. The fact is that they owe GH¢142 million -- [Interruption] -- Hon Abena Osei- Asare, it is true that you owe GH¢142 million to the Fund. Why are you disputing it? [Uproar]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:51 p.m.
    Hon Member, what is your source of this amount?
    Mr Kpodo 12:51 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am the Deputy Ranking Member for the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development. I obtained factual information from the DACF.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:51 p.m.
    Hon Member, I know you are the Deputy Ranking Member of the
    Committee. I asked for the source of the information?
    Mr Kpodo 12:51 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, from the Secretariat of the DACF -- [Interruption]
    Mrs Osei-Asare 12:51 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, first and foremost, I would want him to withdraw that we owe November, 2018 because that is not correct. We are current; we have paid the second quarter and we have the third quarter to pay by the end of December, 2019.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:51 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister, I agree with you. I would let him withdraw the fact that you have not paid November, 2018; that is not correct. He is banding a figure around GH¢142 million. What is the figure that you know that the Ministry owes the Common Fund?
    Mrs Osei-Asare 12:51 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I just said that we are current on our DACF payments. We have paid for the first quarter and second quarter of 2019. The third quarter of 2019 is due in December, 2019. So we do not owe. Mr Speaker, ask him whether he has not received his third quarter of the DACF for 2018; we have all received our third quarter payments. So why is he saying that we owe? We do not owe, otherwise, why would he have received something that he claims we owe?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Ranking Member, you have clearly admitted that the first statement you made about them owing for November, 2018 not correct, so you would have to withdraw that one.
    Mr Kpodo 1:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have said the truth.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, is it true that the releases of November, 2018 have not been paid?
    Mr Kpodo 1:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, they owe GH¢142 million in respect of the third quarter of 2018, which they should have paid in November or December of 2018.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, will you answer my question? It is simple and direct. You made a statement that they owed for the period of November, 2018. Is that the case?
    Mr Kpodo 1:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes the Ministry of Finance owes the DACF GH¢142 million in respect of the third quarter, which they should have paid in November or December of 2018. That is it. They did not pay, and the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance said that we have received ours. Are we the only people who receive money
    from DACF? So, if I have been paid and others have not been paid, have they paid?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, please, when you are on your feet and you catch the eye of the Speaker, and then he recognises you, and gives you the opportunity to contribute to a debate, you are to address him. So you would have to listen to me and answer the questions I put directly to you. Are you saying that the releases for November, 2018 have not been paid by the Ministry of Finance?
    Mr Kpodo 1:01 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker. [Laughter]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, please, this is a serious matter because you said you are saying nothing, but the truth. You know the rules of the House. You may have to revise your notes.
    Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 1:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member for Ho Central is right. The Ministry of Finance owes DACF the third quarter releases of 2018 to the tune of GH¢142 million. Mr Speaker, both the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance and the Administrator of the DACF were here at the Committee of the Whole meeting .
    Mrs Osei-Asare 1:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I just want to put it on record that the November 2018 figure that we got for DACF is GH¢153,640,048, so even what the Hon Member quoted in the first place is wrong. We do not owe releases for November, 2018. [Interruption]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister, are you by this saying that you even owe more than what he just mentioned?
    Mrs Osei-Asare 1:01 p.m.
    What we are saying is this: that we do not owe because as far as we all know, unless he wants to tell his constituents that he has not received his part of the release for 2018 -- We have all received our releases for the third quarter of 2018. So ask them on what basis were they paid then, if they claim we have not paid the amount for November, 2018? They should tell us on what basis they were paid. As far as we know, we have paid for the third quarter of 2018.
    Mr Speaker, usually, what happens is this 1:01 p.m.
    we wait for the returns and once we get them, we use that to calculate
    the DACF. We have not received all the returns for the third quarter, but once we do, we would go ahead and pay as due.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    Well, you simply rehashed the debate that took place at the Committee of the whole, and it means that the issue is not yet resolved. I would have to urge the Committee, once again, to sit with the Ministry, and reconcile these figures. Parliament is very much interested in it for a good cause.
    Hon Member for Ho Central, you may now conclude.
    Mr Kpodo 1:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in concluding, I would want to touch briefly on non-compliance by the Ministry of Finance to the ruling by the Supreme Court on what constitutes total revenue.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister?
    Mrs Osei-Asare 1:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, you asked that he withdraws that we have not paid November, 2018. [Interruption]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister, your final
    Mr Kpodo 1:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is a revelation I would make to you and to the House. The Supreme Court ruled that all non-tax revenue should form part of the total revenues for Ghana before we compute the five per cent that is due to the DACF, but in the 2020 Budget Statement, as with that of 2018 and 2019, this Government has removed revenues from cocoa sources from the Budget Statement. You can take the Budget Statement from 2012. In fact, I have the details here. In 2012 --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, when was the judgement of the Supreme Court?
    Mr Kpodo 1:01 p.m.
    The Supreme Court ruled in June, 2019.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    So, are you applying the judgement retroactively?
    Mr Kpodo 1:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would refer to something which they should have done this year. That is post- ruling.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    Post-ruling?
    Mr Kpodo 1:01 p.m.
    Yes.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    I heard you mention 2012.
    Mr Kpodo 1:01 p.m.
    I will develop the argument if you give me the opportunity.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    No, you are concluding; you are not developing any new argument again. [Laughter]
    1. 11 p. m.
    Mr Kpodo 1:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, what I want to state clearly is that cocoa revenues have been excluded from the annual budget. In effect, it cannot be applied to compute the five per cent that is due to the Assemblies.
    If we go to the Budget Statement, we would see the Table -- Cocoa revenue -- zero. So how could we factor it in the computation of the total amount from— so, we would have the opportunity —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, you have raised another controversial issue, so I see the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation on his feet.
    Yes, Hon Minister?
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he says that cocoa revenue has been excluded. That is what he says, but he dares to say that cocoa revenue is zero.
    Mr Speaker, if we include zero in there, it has not been excluded by definition. So I do not know why he could say that it has been excluded. By definition, zero has been included. Zero is a number and for that matter, it has been included so cocoa revenue is in there.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    In other words, you saw cocoa revenue there, and the number that is written there is zero, so cocoa revenue is not excluded. It is included, and it is only zero.
    Hon Member, conclude.
    Mr Kpodo 1:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think we should advise the financial directorate to put zero against their names when it comes to the computation of salaries and see whether they would like it.
    Mr Speaker, this thing has not been so over the several years that the NDC was in government, and that is
    why I wanted to give you a rundown of how cocoa has contributed to the development of this country since Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah's days, and it is only in this Government that cocoa revenue would be recording zero. It is pathetic! Whatever policy that informs that must be changed.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, your time is up.
    Mr Kpodo 1:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    Hon Augustine Collins Ntim?
    Mr Augustine Collins Ntim (NPP -- Offinso North) 1:01 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity given me to contribute to the debate on the Floor.
    Mr Speaker, I have had the privilege and opportunity in this to peruse the Budget Statements and policies of Governments from 2009 to 2016, and I have also taken a cursory look at all the Budget Statements presented from 2017 to this current one and have come to the conclusion and understanding that the NPP Government is focused; the NPP Government is determined and poised to reduce all the quagmire of poverty that has bedevilled the Ghanaian rural
    folks. And His Excellency, the President, in the 2020 Budget Statement, has sought to position the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to carry out expeditiously, its mandate, mission and vision.
    Mr Speaker, as recalled for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, hitherto, the emphasis has been on the local governance as against the rural economic empowerment of the people -- the rural development agenda of the people. His Excellency the President is so much eager, so much anxious and so much poised to develop every facet of the Ghanaian economy and he has rolled out several programmes and interventions.
    Indeed, pro-poor programmes and interventions that seek to bring on board inclusive community development. And as we do know, programmes like the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) is a veritable tool to address the poverty levels of our dear country. We have the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD). Mr Speaker, this pro-poor programme seeks to bring about a diversification in our rural economy.
    Mr Augustine Collins Ntim (NPP -- Offinso North) 1:01 p.m.


    Mr Speaker, if you travel to Kumasi, Offinso, et cetera, you would realise that the big mansions in Kumasi, Offinso, Akumadan, my hometown and Nkinkaaso were owned by Ghanaians—
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, I have been travelling there so do not say if I travel; say I have been travelling there.
    Mr Ntim 1:01 p.m.
    I am happy that Mr Second Deputy Speaker is sharing with me. Indeed, all these mansions were put up by our Ghanaian farmers - the cocoa farmers. And throughout the Guggisberg era, Ghana's rural economy has depended on cocoa, therefore, it is like we have our eggs and we put all the eggs in one basket, and if it falls, we have nothing to depend on.
    Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President, through this Budget Statement, introduces the programme we call PERD, which seeks to develop the rural economy by bringing on board six major cash crops. For example, the PERD programme seeks to develop cashew, mango and the shea in the northern part of this country so that we create a more consistent, reliable and meaningful poverty reduction strategy in the pockets of everybody,
    and this is being championed by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
    Mr Speaker, all the good policies 1:21 p.m.
    the One village, One Dam; the One District One Factory (1D1F); the One village, one Warehouse and all these nice pro-poor programmes are being expressed at the district levels, where the Chief Executives of the various Municipal Assemblies are over- sighted by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. Indeed,the Ministry has been positioned very well, more than ever, to be able to sponsor and over come the quagmire of poverty that has bedevilled the Ghanaian rural folks.
    So, for somebody to come out to say that the Ministry has been reduced to nothing, it is rather misplaced. Rather, His Excellency the President, through this Budget Statement, has sought to position the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to its real intent, meaning and mission.
    Mr Speaker, in 2017 the Government realised that we have 275 constituencies begot in 216 districts. This means that there are certain number of assemblies that house more than one constituency. What it also means is that the resource allocation of this country is being
    channelled through districts, not constituencies. So, the Hon Ministry for Local Government and Rural Development, led by Hon Hajia Alima Mahama and her team, sat together and upgraded 44 Municipal Assemblies so that no matter how small the resource is, every community in Ghana would have its fair share. That is what we call good governance.
    Mr Speaker, the assemblies need befitting administration blocks. Just as my Hon Colleague on the other Side said, the same thing happened in 2008 and 2009, where the previous Administration created about 38 Assemblies and put in motion the processes to award the construction of about 38 assembly administration blocks. When we came, they were at various stages of completion.

    The Hon Minister thought it wise to complete all the 20 assembly administration blocks, and we also realised that in 2008, former President Kufuor also created additional 35 districts and those districts within the eight years were not attended to. So we had to reach out and provide decent office spaces for them, and my district, Offinso North was a beneficiary. In Akumadan in Offinso North, there are nice edifices which would contain the Assembly.

    Mr Speaker, because of this, the issue of unemployment has become germane. This is because if the enabling environment is not created, we might not be able to get the space to do that, and because of that, the Local Government Service last year, engaged 2,290 people to occupy the various positions in the various Assemblies.

    The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, is also one of the decentralised departments of the Ministry of the Local Government and Rural Development we have also been able to engage 2,700 extension agents to oversee the successful implementation of the Government's Flagship Agricultural Programmes, and all these have added up to the number of jobs that have been created.

    Mr Speaker, we are aware that because of the ways the various
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:21 p.m.
    Hon Member, please, read the paragraph well.
    Mr Ntim 1:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with your permission, I quote paragraph 623.
    “Additionally, temporary employment will be provided to 47,987 extreme poor persons''...
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:21 p.m.
    It is persons'' and not ‘'households''. You said “households''.
    Mr Ntim 1:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the first one is ‘‘household'' but the second one relates to “persons''.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:21 p.m.
    Then correct yourself.
    Mr Ntim 1:21 p.m.
    Alright, Mr Speaker.
    We would provide LIPW in 80 districts, and they would deliver 160 small head dams and also deliver 280kms worth of feeder roads. The interesting thing about this is that, they
    would not only deliver the dams, but it has been designed and programmed in such a way that 60 per cent of the funding amount would remain in the various communities. That is all about the labour base, so that the rural folks would enjoy financial inclusion, then, they would have their dams and the benefit of their roads.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:21 p.m.
    Hon Member, just a minute.
    Hon Member for Odododiodioo?
    Mr Vanderpuye 1:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I want to inform my Hon Colleague that what he has talked about is an initiative that has been at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development since 2015. 60 per cent of all revenues that go to --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:21 p.m.
    Hon Member, you are out of order.
    Hon Member, please, continue.
    Mr Ntim 1:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Ghana Productive Initiative Project came to Parliament in June, 2019, and it was passed in that same month.
    Mr Speaker, the project would not only look at the labour intensive and dams, but it would also look at how
    the environment would be sustained. In this global world, the major threat to us as humans has to do with the increasing global warming, and this project would support 80 districts, with resources in what is termed as the Climate Change Mitigation Measures. Under that Climate Change Mitigation Measures, about 80 districts have been validated and they would raise cashew seedlings. Every district assembly would raise a minimum of 200,000 seedlings of cashew to take advantage of this opportunity.
    Mr Speaker, if we do the business analyses of this case interventions between the next four or five years, Ghana would not only land with cocoa for the US$2 billion, but we would also benefit US$2 billion from the cashew, mango, shea, oil, oil palm and coffee. That is what the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has positioned itself and the various Assemblies to deliver the poverty that has bedevilled our rural folks.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:21 p.m.
    Hon Member for Offinso North, you have 30 seconds.
    Mr Ntim 1:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would want to urge Hon Members to take key interest in the noble interventions, especially those agricultural interventions that the Ministry of Local Government and
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:21 p.m.
    Hon Member for Wa West, Hon Yieleh Chireh?
    Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh (NDC -- Wa West) 1:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you very much.
    I wanted to rise on a point of order, but that would have been a point of debate. In paragraph 467 on page 102 of the 2019 Budget Statement, it says and with permission I quote:
    “Mr Speaker, 35 out of 48 administrative blocks, being constructed for District Assemblies were completed and handed over. Additional five blocks are at various stages of completion. The Ministry also awarded 20 contracts for the construction of additional district offices for Assemblies created in
    2007''.

    Mr Speaker, in 2017, what was the provision made for the completion of these? These are projects that were started by the previous regimes of both the late Prof. John Atta Mills and former President John Mahama.

    Mr Speaker, he was claiming that they have completed them. They did not provide for them and in this year's Budget Statement, even the 20 that they have mentioned have not been -
    - 1:31 p.m.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:31 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague just read to us paragraph 467 of the 2019 Budget Statement and the second sentence reads:
    “The Ministry also awarded 20 contracts for the construction of additional district offices for Assemblies created in 2007.”
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague went on to say that these were initiatives of former President Mills
    and former President Mahama. Mr Speaker, how does he reconcile what he is saying with what is stated in paragraph 467?
    Mr Chireh 1:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have pointed out that the claim, that the previous Government did nothing about it until now and that they have completed it, is the issue I am raising.
    Mr Speaker, I would move to the 2020 Budget Statement, and from paragraphs 607 to 633 on pages 116 to 120, the first paragraph talks about the Referendum which would be held on 17th December. Also, I would read paragraph 610 with your permission:
    “In 2020, the Ministry will carry out post-referendum review of relevant legislations to facilitate the process for the election of MMDCEs and inaugurate all MMDAs. It will also facilitate the passage of the new Local Government Finances Bill.”
    Mr Speaker, my emphasis on these two paragraphs is for the promoters of this Referendum and those who are bringing in article 55 (3) of the Constitution. The NPP Manifesto did not talk about partisan elections, but they found it appropriate to do so. Now, the argument the NDC party took is very clear; this Constitution
    has worked for us for 27 years, and so if we want to change anything in it, then we would need proper consultation and debate.
    Mr Speaker, people must be alerted. They should not just come and drop article 55 (3), as many of us here have not even seen the textual content of that amendment. Mr Speaker, as soon as it was laid, it was immediately referred to the Council of State because it is meant for a Referendum.
    Mr Speaker, we cannot have a Referendum to change the law before we start to do Post-Referendum preparations. We need to do this reminiscent of the fact that when the British said they wanted Brexit, they voted, but they have been stuck for three years now.
    Mr Speaker, what the Government needed to do was to engage all stakeholders and give them all what they intend to do. They should involve everybody so that we all appreciate why we need the change. Mr Speaker, in any case and as the Americans say, “If something is not broken, then why do you attempt to fix it”?
    The reasons for not making the local government system partisan have been adequately advocated. It is proper that we do the right thing, and so I would urge that we go ahead with the elections as promised because as the --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:31 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if I heard my Hon Colleague well, he said that the amendment proposed on article 55 (3) has not even been seen in this House. Mr Speaker, if I heard him right, then clearly, he is misleading this House. The processes of amending entrenched provisions in the Constitution are clear to all of us.
    Mr Speaker, may I draw his attention to article 290 (2) of the Constitution. Clearly, it came here before it was referred by the Speaker to the Council of State. After the necessary interregnum, the Bill was read the First time in Parliament, and this is covered by article 290 (4). So, for my Hon Colleague to say that the House is not aware of the amendment, I think that he is clearly misleading not only this House, but the entire country.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:31 p.m.
    Hon Member for Wa West?
    Mr Chireh 1:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, let me explain. The processes for the amendment of entrenched clauses is that the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice would come here and bow to present it. Similar to what happened during the NDC regime when the Hon Minister wanted to
    make amendments, he came here and bowed. Once that is not entrenched, it is distributed to Hon Members. In the case of this one, normally, we should all be given copies even though it has been referred to the Council of State because there could be an error even in the text itself.
    Now, all that we are arguing about is the last part of article 55 (3), which reads “…other than to District Assemblies or lower local government units.”
    Mr Speaker, basically, what I am saying is that it is our own procedure that we should correct. As Hon Members of Parliament, we must see whether it is going for a Referendum or not. Mr Speaker, but I would urge the Government to continue with the debate --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:31 p.m.
    The issue you are raising is that even though the Bill was raised through the normal Motion, copies were not made available to Hon Members. Is that the issue you are attacking? [Interruption]
    What was in the Official Report? Was it laid in the Official Report?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, before any Bill, indeed, sufficent copies of any Paper presented in this House, must be
    made available. The Hon Member has stayed in this House for a long time, and so he should know the procedure. He cannot mislead the entire nation by his submission because what was proper and fit was done. He cannot be a revisionist in this enterprise.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:31 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, your position is that copies were made available to all Hon Members?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the provision that guides us is that, as soon as sufficient copies have been made available to the Office of the Clerk to Parliament, then it is laid. This is the usual process. I would fault him by saying that this House was not made aware of those copies. He is wrong and should not misinform the good people of this country.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:41 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, would you yield to the Hon Member for Wa West?
    Mr Chireh 1:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader keeps uttering words I did not use. I am not talking about awareness, but the text -- If it was given to Leadership, the rest of us were not given. I am also saying,
    that when the other which talks about article 243(1) was laid, it was circulated. The argument we have had in this House is that once it is going for Referendum, it must not be seen by us. Why should that be the case? Once again, I emphasise that as part of our practice, we should do this.
    When we go to article 243(1), which is the issue that is before this House, the promoters of this amendment kept telling us, despite the points we raised, that firstly, they cannot amend only one of those.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:41 p.m.
    Let us finish with the issue of the copies being made available to Hon Members.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the procedure is for the Table Office to take custody of Bills and other Papers meant for presentation in this House. Leadership has no role to play in that, so only Leadership was served. He is totally wrong. I am surprised that my very experienced Hon Colleague has elected to go on this trajectory, knowing that what he is saying is incorrect.
    Mr Iddrisu 1:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, may I refer you to article 290, in particular, clauses 2 and 3. For us to appreciate
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:41 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, you would recollect that in previous times when we had a referral to this House, the then Speaker assumed control and passed it on to the Council of State, and I said to him that he was totally wrong. Once it comes here, it is the property of this House and it must be circulated. He disagreed with me and wrote to the Council of State that it was coming from him, the Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, you would recollect that I disagreed profusely with the then Speaker that it should come here, be read the First time and we would not consider it. What is the consideration? The Consideration Stage is after the First Reading, so when it comes and we take custody of it, Hon Members
    have every right to have copies of the Bill. Nobody is stopped from having a copy. So my Hon Colleague cannot go on that tangent at all. He is totally wrong. I would entreat you to rule him out of order. -- [Laughter.] The procedure that he would want this House to believe is totally wrong.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:41 p.m.
    Hon Member for Wa West, I am sure you listened to your Leaders?
    Mr Chireh 1:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am echoing the Hon Majority Leader's point. When former Speaker, Doe Adjaho did that, it was not even for a Referendum. I am saying that in the case of the Referendum, ordinarily, they would distribute it, but we would not consider it, which is what happened in the case of article 243(1). I am quite clear about it.
    I am also saying that --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:41 p.m.
    Just a minute, let us listen to the Hon Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development.
    Mr O. B. Amoah 1:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, if we go to article 290(4), it says that the Bill should be read the First time in Parliament, then it would be referred. That was done here. If you even look at the Budget Statement, on the day it was done, it
    was reported in the Hansard. Apart from being reported in the Hansard, regulations which came for a Referendum put the question even in the Regulation; C. I. 120. So if he sits in Parliament and says he is not aware of these, then he is misleading the House and the whole world. He would find it in the Hansard and in the Regulations 120.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:41 p.m.
    Well, the provisions on the amendment to the Constitution would have to be looked at again holistically. The sequencing of the clauses is what might be causing the problem. That would have to be looked at, unless we decide that we would take it to the Supreme Court for interpretation. The clauses have not been well sequenced, so when you read them the way they are now, it causes some kind of problem of the processes. However, I think the Government complied with the process.
    Yes, Hon Member for Wa West?
    Mr Chireh 1:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I did not fault the processes. I said that, additionally, Hon Members of Parliament, even if it is referred to the Council of State, should have the text of that amendment. This is because it is fundamental. It is not about notice here or not knowing. I have also read all these about the amendments of the Constitution and I am fully aware of that.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:41 p.m.
    Hon Member, your attention is being drawn to the fact that it is captured in the Hansard. Once it is captured in there, it becomes the property of the House and Hon Members are definitely assumed to have copies. It is not even assumed because, in reality, you have copies of the Hansard.
    Mr Chireh 1:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I take your guidance in this matter, and I would continue with my debate.
    I am also clear that what I am saying --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:41 p.m.
    I have taken notice of the interruption, and so I would add some minutes to your time.
    1.51 P.m.
    Mr Chireh 1:41 p.m.
    What I am saying is that the Government brought article 243(1), and we advised that, consequentially, we would need to

    Again, they have been talking about a post-referendum programme. In this matter, all the citizens of Ghana, through us, must know what the agenda is. What would they do about it?

    Mr Speaker, the Electoral Commission proposes, and I would read --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:41 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, please?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Hon Yieleh Chireh is ordinarily a very meticulous person in the House and a very good debator. I do not know why, but it looks like on this very day, he has elected to do some other things.
    Mr Speaker, for article 243, the amendment came to this House way back in July, 2019. The House was on the verge of voting on it as a non- entrenched clause. Some of us felt that if we had done so, it would have
    locked Government into the next stages. On July 29, 2019, just when we were about to cast our votes, an issue was raised by an Hon Colleague from the other Side that we should not do that. The House then lifted its foot off the accelerator pedal. On the following day, 30th July, 2019, we thought we could do it, but unfortunately, the matter was put in abeyance. We agreed that upon our return, we would go back to it -- [Interruption] -- I am not debating, I am correcting the factual inexactitude of what the Hon Member said.
    Mr Speaker, so again, the Hon Member is misleading this House when he said that the amendment did not come to this House. I do not know why Hon Chireh, an experienced person, has elected to do this today. He is selling palpable untruths in this House on this occasion.
    Mr Chireh 1:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not want us to debate the issue I have raised one-on-one. I would go to the next point of the debate.
    The Electoral Commission has indicated in the 2020 Budget on pages 108 and 109, particularly, the first paragraph of page 109, with your permission, I quote:
    Mr Speaker, in 2020, the Commission will conduct the General Elections which will be preceded by:
    Nationwide registration of voters;
    Exhibition of the Voters Register;
    Voter and Electoral Education on the Elections; and
    Engagement with key stake- holders.”
    Mr Speaker, my concern is about the first bulleted item.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:41 p.m.
    Hon Member, what is the page number?
    Mr Chireh 1:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, page 109 of the 2020 Budget Statement, paragraph 552.
    Mr Speaker, the Electoral Commission by this is indicating that, it would want to replace the Voters Register. If not so, in paragraph 547, they indicated clearly, that this year, they undertook limited registration. So, I would want to distinguish between the limited registration and nationwide registration of voters. All the stakeholders must be consulted in this matter.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:41 p.m.
    Hon Member, you have one minute.
    Mr Chireh 1:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, early on, we talked about the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and other Ministries that seemed to be performing functions that were originally being done by them. If the NPP
    Administration wants to empower District Assemblies and ensure that democracy thrives, then we should do things properly by not depriving the District Assemblies of what they should do.
    For instance, the one million dollars for each constituency now has to pass through two or three layers. They directly award contracts and do things on behalf of the Assemblies. They are weakening them. Apart from that, if they elect a District Chief Executive (DCE) today, and he has no source of revenue, how would he account to the people? I believe we must do things properly and ensure that the DACF issue that my Hon Colleague raised about the Supreme Court ruling - even if it is added, the delay in the release of the money will make every DCE unable to perform his functions. I believe that Government has to think clearly about it.
    Mr Speaker, I would urge voters to vote, ‘‘no'' on 17th December, 2019. That is the clarion cry because it would disorganise chieftaincy and all of us, and of course, politics. It is difficult to manage Hon Members. We do not think that as a party, we promoted it and it has come to fruition. Twenty-seven (27) years has been a working document for us as a House, and that is why we must maintain it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:41 p.m.
    I do not know whether Hon Nana Amoakoh is now available on the Floor. If he is not, we would take Hon Adjei Boateng.
    Mr Kwasi Boateng Adjei (NPP -- New Juaben North) 1:41 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity to contribute to the debate.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:41 p.m.
    Hon Member, just a minute.
    I would need to invoke Order 14(3) to extend Sitting beyond the normal Sitting hours.
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Mr Boateng Adjei 2:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the issue about the Referendum should be with the vision of the President to lead this process, and by that, broaden the frontiers of decentralisation. It is regrettable to have a situation where we do not get the whole nation united in that spirit behind the President to deliver this good. The Hon Minister will talk about that so, I would move away from it.
    Mr Speaker, my focus would be on paragraphs 611 and 612 of the Budget Statement which talks about the innovations that the Ministry is
    pursuing to try to improve upon performance in our District Assemblies. District Assemblies have been belaboured by the problems associated with poor revenue performance. This has always been the case because of the absence of data, innovation and the use of information technology (IT) in the revenue collection business.
    Mr Speaker, paragraphs 611 and 612 talks about digitisation and the use of IT systems to try and improve upon the collection of data and thereby improve upon performance. It refers to the District-Level Revenue (dLRev) software, which is being implemented across in about 80 of our districts. Hitherto, District Assemblies had their own individual programmes, and so there is the multiplicity of applications that are in use, making control very difficult.
    This Budget Statement talks about the introduction of dLRev as a software which is being supported by the GIZ to try and improve upon performance. As we speak, the number of districts that are already on this project, including the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly and other District Assemblies, have begun seeing improvements in the revenues they collect. If we are able to take this through and discharge it fully, it would give rise to a situation where the
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, please, the Hon Deputy Minority Whip is on his feet.
    Is it on a point of order?
    Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 2:01 p.m.
    Rightly so, Mr Speaker. The Hon Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development is misleading the House. Mr Speaker, he said that we said they are not releasing DACF. They do not release it, and we were not referring to him because he is also suffering. Mr Speaker, we said that the Hon Minister for Finance does not release the DACF through the Administrator to the assemblies. It does not pass through him.
    Mr Speaker, besides that, your Committee on Local Government and Rural Development went on a monitoring tour to about 154 District Assemblies. If you look at the trend of the DACF, what they received in 2016 has declined from then to 2018. [Interruption] It is true. Mr Speaker, the reports are here to be laid and debated in the House.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:01 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Whip, I do not
    want to reopen this debate. We have already urged the Committee to go and reconcile the figures and let us know.
    Hon Deputy Minister, I heard you say “we”. I just want to draw your attention that it is not MLGRD, but the Administrator of the DACF, that releases the money. Take it on board and move on.
    Mr K.B. Adjei 2:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I meant the Government. That is what I said.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:01 p.m.
    That is the problem we have. The establishment of Funds is to take this away from discretionary funds so that they do not come under the control of Governments of the day. That is why the Funds are established, and an institution is established to be in charge. So please, it is not Government but the institution that we have authorised by law to be in charge that should be in charge. So, in making reference, refer to that institution.
    Mr K.B. Adjei 2:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the point I was making was in reference to the concern that was raised, that there is a reduction in the quantum of the money that goes to District Assemblies under this Government. It is the reverse, because under this
    Government, district development facilities have been released to the District Assemblies.
    For 2016 and 2017, this district development facility was not released because the counterpart funding of US$20 million that was supposed to have been paid was not paid. Under this Government, the US$20 million has been raised and paid and subsequently the resources have gone to the District Assemblies to push their projects. A total of GH¢185 million has been released to the District Assemblies to push their development agenda.
    For this year, as captured in paragraph 625 of the Budget Statement, a total of GH¢196,877,626 would be transferred to cover the implementation of approved urban development projects as part of the resources that would go to the District Assemblies.
    Again, some other allusions were made to the effect that we do not see projects in our districts. For this year, 25 of our emerging municipalities, under the US$100 million facility of the International Development Association (IDA) would push developments in 25 of these municipal areas. We are talking about newly emerging cities and places outside the
    Mr K.B. Adjei 2:11 a.m.
    normal areas where we deliver these interventions.
    So, these interventions would serve as a bridge between District and Metropolitan Assemblies. A lot of these resources would push projects that relate to urban services delivery.

    So we would have markets, drainages and mobility issues addressed by the Ghana Secondary Cities and Urban Development Programme.

    Mr Speaker, again, the Births and Deaths Registry is a very vital institution in this country because of the statistics that are supposed to be worked on at that level— they provide us with baseline information for planning purposes. So, for this year, the Births and Deaths Registry, via the introduction of ICT that started a few years back would push the issuance of birth and death certificates so that we could have good data to be used for planning and development purposes.

    Mr Speaker, this Budget Statement looks at enhancing the operations of the Ministry and what we could do to ensure that we further decentralise -- we have talked about even creating

    additional assemblies, and my Hon Colleague talked about the fact that
    -- 2:11 a.m.
    Mr Kpodo 2:11 a.m.
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague is not stating the truth about the Birth and Death Registry. The issue is that, we know that there are so many births to register, but they indicated in the Budget Statement that they would register a certain percentage of them. They should tell us why they could leave the rest out and plan to register just over 30 per cent? If they know that 100 people would be born, why would they say that they would want to register only 30 of them?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:11 a.m.
    Hon Member, this is not a point of order; you are completely out of order.
    Mr Adjei 2:11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I was saying, the Births and Deaths Registry is working on some vital statistics for planning purposes. These are projections, and we need to have that basic idea to be able to build upon that. Mr Speaker, they respond to what has been the case over time; so these figures that have been quoted here are the realistic values such that, going forward would answer the issues of the absence of data that we need for our development purposes.
    Mr Speaker, the other area that I need to talk about is the Community Development Department of the Ministry. Under the Community Development Department, we are working to give skills to people who would normally not have had the opportunity of going through our normal systems. If we look at the Budget Statement, about 331 out of 500 beneficiaries would graduate from 11 Community Development Vocational and Technical Institutions (CDVTIs) across the country, and additional 367 beneficiaries were registered and are receiving skills freely. This is complemented by what we are doing to find jobs for those who have been dislocated, or find alternative jobs for those who were engaged in galamsey activities.
    Mr Speaker, these things demonstrate that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is positioned to deliver on its mandate under our arrangements and the Constitution.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for this opportunity.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:11 a.m.
    We still have so many Hon Members who are billed to contribute for today. I do not know why today's list is so long to the debate on the Budget Statement? It is now the turn of Hon Alhassan Suhuyini Sayibu.
    Mr Alhassan Suhuyini Sayibu (NDC -- Tamale North) 2:11 a.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the Floor, which requires us to approve the financial policy of the Government of Ghana for the year ending 31st December, 2020.
    Mr Speaker, apart from the many errors, mistakes and inconsistencies that have been pointed out, which has led to the creation of a new volume of the 2020 Budget Statement, I wish to begin drawing attention to the litany of broken promises as they appear in the Budget Statement for 2020.
    Mr Speaker, the NPP's Manifesto on natural resources, lands and forestry, targets an annual production of 30,000 hectares of degraded areas within and outside forest reserves for reforestation and plantation development. If we look at paragraph 550 of the 2018 Budget Statement, the Government only achieved 3,447 hectares out of a meagre target of 10,000 hectares. Clearly, that is not what was promise. Not even the target could reach the promise as captured in the Manifesto, and delivery is as disappointing as just 3,447 hectares.
    Mr Speaker, under paragraph 725, only 17,118 hectares was achieved this year.
    Mr Sayibu 2:11 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, perhaps, the confusion is the different volumes of the Budget Statement that we have had. But I actually made reference to paragraph 550 of the 2019 Budget Statement which with your permission I read:
    “Mr Speaker, under the forest sub-sector, 3,447ha of plantations out of a target of 10,000ha were established”.
    Mr Speaker, so, it was 2019 and not 2018.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:11 a.m.
    Hon Member, so your first statement that maybe the confusion was as a result of different volumes -- I am sure you wanted to say editions. It is not correct.
    Mr Sayibu 2:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, well, it is not the edition. Sometimes it is how some of the -- for example, this year, we already have two or three different versions of the Budget Statement presented here.

    If the Hon Majority Leader heard 2018 and if I said 2018, I meant 2019. That might have been a slip of tongue. However, the 2019 Budget Statement was what I wanted to refer to, and it is paragraph 552.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:21 p.m.
    So, the confusion was caused as a result of a wrong referral.
    Mr Sayibu 2:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, possibly, so.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is a mark of humility to eat the humble pie when a person makes a mistake.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:21 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, he ate by saying ‘‘positive''. So, it is accepted.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is not a good eating habit.
    Mr Sayibu 2:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the point I want to make is about a litany of broken promises, and this is one example of the broken promises that are replete in the 2020 Budget Statement. A promise of 30,000 hectares but not even an effort has been made in previous Budget Statements or on this Budget
    Statement to target the 30,000 hectares let alone achieve that.
    For example, for the 2020 Budget Statement, under paragraph 725, only 17,118 hectares was achieved, from a target of 20,000 hectares revised downwards to about 15,000 hectares. This is far below the Manifesto target of 30,000 hectares.
    Mr Speaker, again, it was a campaign pledge by the NPP to reduce the turnaround time for land documentation and the insurance of land certificate. They promised to make it 30 days for people to have their land certificates issued; a pledge that was also repeated in paragraph 407 of the 2017 Budget Statement. Three years on, the 2020 Budget Statement, under paragraph 732, only acknowledges the monumental failure to fulfil this pledge.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:21 p.m.
    Hon Member, just a minute.
    Hon Member, any point of order?
    Mr Ahenkorah 2:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague has misled the whole House. In his referral to paragraph
    725, he stated that only 17,118 hectares of forest planation was established against a target of 20,000 hectares reversed to 15,000 hectares. This is not what is stated in paragraph 725. I do not know where he read that from and he said that the Government failed to achieve its target. The target in that paragraph is 15,000 hectares and we exceeded by achieving 17,000 hectares. So, if he decides to read something from somewhere, and put a value to it and say reverse downwards - I do not understand. He should quote what is in the Budget Statement.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:21 p.m.
    Hon Member, is that the case?
    Mr Sayibu 2:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is important we listen to each other to understand and not to respond.
    Mr Speaker, there was a Mid- Year Budget Review. The 2019 Budget Statement that was presented in 2018 targeted 20,000 hectares, but in the Mid-Year Review, it was revised downwards 15,000 hectares. I made reference to that and said they could only achieve 17,000 hectares, against a targeted 20,000 hectares which was revised to 15,000 hectares. That was what I said and I do not see anything wrong with that because the first target was 20,000 hectares, which was then revised to 15,000 hectares.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:21 p.m.
    Hon Member, is that what he said from the very beginning?
    Mr Ahenkorah 2:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the fact of the matter is that, we have been given an allocation to run a budget. So, why is the Mid-Year Review necessary? It is because, probably, Ghana's revenue -
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:21 p.m.
    Hon Member, we are talking about the facts of the matter; what he said which you countered. We are only interested in what the Hon Member said, so I want to know if that was what you heard.
    Mr Ahenkorah 2:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he read from a book and he used 20,000 hectares, and I told him to refer to the 2020 Budget Statement because it was 15,000 hectares. There is no indication from the 2020 Budget Statement that there was a revision of the total from 20,000 hectares to 15,000 hectares.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:21 p.m.
    Hon Member, he did not read the paragraph. He only gave us the background, and the Mid-Year Review where there was a reduction because the Government realised that the target was too high, so it came down to 15,000 hectares. However, at the end of the day, Government
    exceeded the 15,000 hectares and did 17,000 hectares and over. That is what is in paragraph 725 of the 2020 Budget Statement.
    Hon Member, please continue.
    Mr Sayibu 2:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the clarification. I hope my Hon Colleague gets it that I did not read the paragraph 725. I simply used it to make a point, and there was the need for me to draw from the revised projection of the 20,000 hectares.
    Mr Speaker, in any case, the Manifesto promise was for 30,000 hectares a year, which has been broken. This is because if they make it 17,000 hectares out of a targeted 15,000 hectares, it still falls short of the 30,000 hectares that they promised the people of Ghana. That was the crux of the point I made, and it is an example of the broken promises that are replete in this Budget Statement.
    Mr Speaker, I would talk about the issuance of land certificates, which was also promised --
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:21 p.m.
    Hon Member, do you insist on a point of order?
    Mr Ntim 2:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, when we give targets, they are based on all the policies that we would embark on. In paragraph 269, we achieved a target of 88,918 hectares of the crops plantation. So, it is not about even the 30,000 hectares. We managed and added additional 80,000 hectares into the --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:21 p.m.
    Hon Member, it is not a point of order at all.
    Mr Ntim 2:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is a point of information.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:21 p.m.
    No, you know the process of point of clarification.
    Hon Suhuyini, you may continue.
    Mr Sayibu 2:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there was also a promise to issue land title certificates in 30 days. This pledge was repeated in paragraph 407 in the 2017 Budget Statement; but three years on, in the 2020 Budget Statement, under paragraph 732, they only admit to this failure and suggests that the Government would review strategies now, in its third year, to include Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements to support the Land Commission in its work to meet this pledge that was made.
    Perhaps, if the Government had aggressively pursued the Client Services Access Units, five of which were handed over to it, the Customary Lands Secretariat, 83 of which were handed over to it; and the digitisation, automation and other processes that they inherited. We would not have had the situation where in its third year, it would think of reviewing strategies to, in partnership with PPP, see how they could fast-track the issuance of land title certificates.
    Mr Speaker, again, it is important that we respect the figures that we use. Integrity of numbers is very important because it helps, especially, in the fight against corruption. We know about the problem of ghost names and how in this country some institutions in the past, have attributed numbers that do not exist just so that funds would be released to them for personal gains --

    Mr Speaker, that is why it is important that when figures are bandied around, they are consistent. They just do not help in planning purposes and they do not only help in the analysis that we do, but they also help in checking corruption.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:31 p.m.
    Hon Member, the paragraph is clear on that. It reads:
    “Mr. Speaker, a total of 83,000 people were directly engaged under this year's forest plantation programme …”
    So, it would not refer to what was stated for last year.
    Mr Sayibu 2:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, that even makes it more troubling because we know the prloblems and troubles that the 60,000 who were recruited last year are going through as a result of non-payment. Mr Speaker, what was the process used in recruiting
    83,000 this year? As a member of the Committee on Lands and Forestry, I am unaware of any procedure that was used in recruiting 83,000 people this year. If we sum the numbers up --
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:31 p.m.
    Hon Member, make sure it is a point of order.
    Mr Owusu-Bio 2:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is a point of order and a correction of information.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member must address the issue based on facts because the 46,000 and 60,000 that he keeps repeating are of two folds. Mr Speaker, it was being done by the youth in afforestation; but those under the Modified Taungya System and those under other modules by the Forestry Commission have nothing to do with what the Committee was informed about.
    With the Forestry Commission's projects, depending on how rainfall patterns are within the year - if the rains are good, they could immediately get the locals, especially those around the fringe communities of the Forest to help.
    Mr Speaker, so, if the Commission informs them that they would recruit 46,000 -- when it comes to the Modified Taungya System and others,
    it would be wrong to say that he was not informed. As we speak now, the rains have been very good this year, and the figures that have been quoted in the Budget Statement are for a specific period. By all means, by the end of the year, we would even revise what we have achieved in terms of plantation development.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:31 p.m.
    Hon Member, I am sure you would get the opportunity to put your case across because this is not a point of order. I drew your attention to Standing Order 86, assuming you have already spoken on the Floor; but with the way you spoke, it means that you have not had your bite yet. So, wait because your time would come.
    Hon Member, continue.
    Mr Sayibu 2:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to quote the exact provision under paragraph 727 for the purpose of making the point clearer to the Hon Deputy Minister. It reads:
    “Mr. Speaker, a total of 83,000 people were directly engaged under this year's forest plantation programme. These include 46,000 engaged under the Youth in Afforestation/ Reforestation Project, 15,000 under the Modified Taungya
    System (MTS), and an estimated 2,000 people engaged in seedling production. The private sector also employed an estimated 20,000 people nationwide.”
    Mr Speaker, the point I am making is that in the 2019 Budget Statement, we were told that 60,000 people were employed under this module. Now, if 83,000 people are employed, then let us do the calculation. Mr Speaker, 46,000 plus 15,000 plus 2,000 would give a total of 63,000. Mr Speaker, the 20,000 is interesting because the sentence simply reads:
    “The private sector also employed an estimated 20,000 people nationwide.”
    Mr Speaker, what is the meaning of “private sector”? If they meant private plantations, then in 2019 the private plantations only employed 2,000 people. So it is curious that within one year, a group of people that could employ 2,000 people would employ 20,000 people without any significant or overwhelming change in the forestry sector. That is why I am talking about the need for us to be careful with how we bandy figures around because the figures do not only help in planning and analysis. When the figures are ignored it could also lead to corruption. Where people
    Mr Sayibu 2:31 p.m.


    could benefit from funds that should have gone to support other sectors of the economy just by suggesting that this number of people have been employed, when they have indeed not been employed.

    Mr Speaker, I would also want to look at the issue of permits, which have been reported under paragraph 729. We are told of the number of permits that have been issued and we have been told how much we have made from this gesture of the Government.

    Again, these permits have led to situations where forest areas are affected by logging because people go in the name of these permits for salvage goods, only to recruit young men and women to cut down other plants for their own use. I think it is important that as they have started reporting on the permits that have been issued in the year, they let us know how much we get and how it protects our forests.

    Mr Speaker, in the end, I wish to call on this Government to pay the youth under the Forest Module or to let them know what their fate is. What some of them are going through is painful; they leave their families and go --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:41 p.m.
    Hon Member, your time is up.
    We would now listen to the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development.
    Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (Hajia Alima Mahama)(MP): Mr Speaker, thank you.
    I rise to contribute to the Motion on the Floor.
    Mr Speaker, I would clearly state the role of the Ministry because there seemed to be misconception in this House about our role. The Ministry is responsible for ensuring good governance, and the equitable balanced development of our urban and rural communities within a decentralised environment.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry aims to promote good governance through the formulation of policies and plans, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of programmes using highly trained and motivated staff, and the adoption of appropriate technology in their work.

    Mr Speaker, our work is governance, and they should give us credit that for the last three years, our Assemblies have operated smoothly. We do not hear demonstrations or

    fighting of people within the Assemblies in struggles to remove their MMDCEs. They have operated smoothly, so they should credit us for doing some good works. There is peace at the district levels.

    Mr Speaker, if we continued with their projects, they should credit us. The Government has borrowed money to implement programmes, Local Government Capacity Building Programmes; and it is our duty to complete those projects. We completed the Ho and Takoradi projects. In fact, they were under 50 per cent completion, but we completed them. They should give us the credit.

    In Kumasi, we have completed the market, and we are moving on to the second phase. We brought to this House a loan facility and they approved. So they should credit us for continuing and finishing up the projects because they would talk about projects that were abandoned.

    Mr Speaker, the President, in his vision of focusing on promoting decentralisation, local governance and enhancing people's participation, directed the Ministry to focus on working towards the election of MMDCEs on partisan basis. Therefore there was the need for sanitation to have a focused Ministry to work on various other places. So

    is it not that they have taken away the Ministry's role and handed it to the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources. It depends on one's priorities.

    The priority of the Government on local governmance is to work towards the election of MMDCEs. We all know that when it comes to major decentralisation reforms, it is a lot of work in which the whole of the country is involved. We have to work systematically, especially when it comes to the issue of referendums, debates and getting Parliament to approve or amend constitutional provisions.

    So it was to direct us to focus. In any case, we are one Government. Sanitation is the activity of MMDAs, and they are doing it. The Hon Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources directs through policy, and collaborates with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and other Departments relevant to sanitation. We are therefore one Government, and we work together in harmony to deliver to the people.

    Mr Speaker, if there is anybody who has dumped the work of the Ministry of Local Government; Rural Development, it is this House; and in fact, the Minority side. We have worked with them. Our focus was to work on the election of MMDCEs.

    We went through the referendum process with them. We informed the Committees and at each stage, it was brought to this House, and they know the processes. When it came to the amendment of article 243 to allow for the election of MMDCEs, what was their argument? Their argument was that they wanted MMDCEs to be elected on partisan basis. They should go and read the Hansard of 29th July, 2019. That was what they said; they wanted the election of MMDCEs on a partisan basis; speaker after speaker on the Minority side indicated that. So we thought we had got a consensus with them, and we are moving towards that to ensure that we work on the referendum only for them to chicken out; turn around and give us a shock. That was the whole purpose of the Ministry — to focus on the election of MMDCEs.

    So, if they come today and say the Ministry's work is low and we have been degraded -- I was dumbfounded and asked myself whether I was really hearing the right thing. Is that what the Minority side is telling us today after we have worked with them consistently?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:41 p.m.
    Hon Minister, let me listen to the Hon Member for Wa West?
    Mr Chireh 2:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister said something. She said that we were all on board. We were playing trick on them. We have pushed them to where they cannot change again. We have pulled a fast one on them. [Laughter.]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:41 p.m.
    Hon Member for Wa West, you are completely out of order.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, the nation is listening. If he could sit here to take some decisions but then turn around only for him to tell us that they pushed us to a corner, the whole country is listening and watching.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:41 p.m.
    I ruled him out of order.
    Mr Chireh 2:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, why did she misquote me? I did not say it that way. It was in the face of new information we had; but she said we are opportunists. What is opportunism? We are not opportunists. We also read the radar and saw that there was something else we should not support.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:41 p.m.
    Hon Member, you are out of order.
    Hon Minority Leader?
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, I hope that we would build a consensus.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:41 p.m.
    Hon Minister, just hold your fire.
    Mr Iddrisu 2:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I hesitate rising on points of order when Hon Minsters are on their feet because I respect them as policy champions. But when the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development chooses in her labouring defence of a watered down role for her Ministry, from the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources through the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives, and points fingers at the Minority -- yes, she should go back to the Hansard of 29th July, 2019. We stand by every word of the debate that we uttered.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister must know that on the basis of articles 290 and 291, she being my senior at law, the referendum question has not been considered by this House. If she walks the path of article 243, we are all with her; but the referendum question on article 55(3) is not before this House, pursuant to article 290(1) of the Constitution. What is before us is an amendment on the non-entrenched article 243(1), and the Government amended only article 243(1); but we
    said and argued, and we still stand by it that the amendment was not comprehensive enough for us to support.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:41 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister?
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, as he indicated, I still hope that they would change their mind, we would reach a consensus and go out there to vote “Yes.” [Laughter.] I still hope that they would do that.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thought the issue about article 55(3) being before us has been resolved. So I am surprised the Hon Minority Leader insists that article 55(3) is not before this House. He is totally wrong.
    Mr Speaker, with your permission article 290 (2) provides 2:51 p.m.
    “(2) A bill for the amendment of an entrenched provision shall, before Parliament proceeds to consider it, be referred by the Speaker …”
    Mr Speaker, the Rt Hon Speaker does not operate from his House; he operates here. So, the Bill would have come to this House for the Rt Hon Speaker to take custody of it. We should remember that in 1999, when

    the then Rt Hon Speaker purported to have taken delivery of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government on behalf of Parliament and we requested that he should submit it to Parliament because it was not his property; he said he was keeping it for Parliament. We, however, disagreed with him that he had no such power, but once it came to Parliament, it was the property of Parliament.

    The Rt Hon Speaker insisted that he had taken custody of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government, 1999 on behalf of Parliament and he did not cause it to be laid in this House. We disagreed with him. The point at issue is that the Rt Hon Speaker takes custody when it comes to Parliament. So, the Hon Member cannot pretend to say that the matter is not on behalf of Parliament. He is totally wrong in his understanding of article 292.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:51 p.m.
    Well, Hon Member, this is not a Court of law; this is the House of Parliament, and if we want to litigate this legal and constitutional issue, we have to go to the Supreme Court. But to the best of my knowledge, if we read those articles carefully, articles 289 and 290,
    the Bill would have to be presented to the House before a reference can be made by the Rt Hon Speaker. If you read the clause carefully -- Article 290(2):
    “A bill for the amendment of an entrenched provision shall, before Parliament proceeds to consider it, be referred by the Speaker to the Council of State for its advice and the Council of State shall render advice on the bill within thirty days after receiving it.”
    So, the Bill must come here before the Rt Hon Speaker can refer it to the Council of State; that is the first thing. As I said, it is the sequencing of the article that is giving us this problem; if not, the Rt Hon Speaker cannot on his own receive a bill in his office and proceed to refer it to the Council of State for advice.
    Definitely, the Hon Minister is on her feet, so I would have to allow her to continue.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, the Bill was forwarded to Parliament and sent to the Council of State. It was gazetted and it was laid in Parliament for the First Reading on 28th May, 2019. So it was laid before the Rt Hon Speaker presented it to the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission then went ahead to set the day for the Referendum.
    Mr Speaker, the Referendum is still on. Since the issue of the question --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:51 p.m.
    Hon Minister, you are confirming what I said; the phrase “…before Parliament proceeds to consider it.” If something is not before you, you cannot talk about considering it.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, that is what the Constitution says now.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:51 p.m.
    So, it must be laid before the House, before we could proceed to consider it, then it is referred — The normal thing is that it should be referred to a committee for consideration. But you said it should not be referred to a committee for consideration; it should be referred to the Council of State for advice. So the Bill must first be laid before the House.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, I have worked consistently on this matter, so we went through all the processes. We met with the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. We showed them the Bill, and we also showed it to the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development and it was laid.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:51 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister, I support your position.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, the question on the Referendum is, “Are you in favour of the Bill to amend clause 3 of article 55 of the 1992 Constitution to allow political parties to sponsor candidates for elections to the district assemblies or lower local Government units? Yes or No?” --
    Some Hon Members 2:51 p.m.
    Yes!
    Hajia Mahama: That is the question. For those who say they have not heard, I put the question in all their pigeon holes unofficially. Please, go out there in December and vote, ‘yes'.
    Mr Speaker, it has been part of our deliberations, it was in our Manifesto in 2012, it was in our Manifesto in 2016 and other political parties also had it in their manifestoes. This is what Ghanaians are looking for.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:51 p.m.
    Hon Minister, may you repeat the question?
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, I would give it to the Table Office to give it to you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:51 p.m.
    Hon Member, I said repeat; I did not say give it to me.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, “Are you in favour of the Bill to amend clause 3 of article 55 of the 1992 Constitution to allow political parties
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:51 p.m.


    [HAJIA MAHAMA] [HAJIA MAHAMA]

    to sponsor candidates for elections to the district assemblies or lower local government units? Yes or No?”-
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:51 p.m.
    Hon Members, your vote is secret -- [Laughter.] -- The question is not secret, but your vote is secret. We do not allow open voting on this matter.
    Yes, Hon Member for Ho Central, what is the issue?
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, you would double my time.
    Mr Kpodo 2:51 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister said that is what the people of Ghana want. I believe she is misleading the House. She cannot on any authority --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, you are completely out of order -- [Laughter] -- That is her opinion. She is entitled to her opinion.
    Yes, Hon Minister, please continue.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, I would like to assure the House that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is very active. We have gone to districts and regions of this country working on the
    Referendum. We have done a lot of work. We have met organised groups, civil society organisations, the House of Chiefs and we have met professional bodies. We have also met political parties in our various interactions. We went with National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and Information Services Department (ISD) to ensure that they do the public education.
    Mr Speaker, those who understand the issue are those who are vociferous about it negatively. It is not a question of just understanding it, it is not a question of education; it is about building a consensus and it is about the country. We should not look at it as the NPP Government taking credit for itself or the NDC Administration getting credit for it. It is about jointly operating and doing something to benefit the country. So let us build consensus on this matter and move ahead.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, as part of its governance role and development agenda, would ensure that our staff are in place; the office of the head of Local Government Service has continued to train and build capacity of staff. I recruited about 2,000 people in 2017. This year too, I have recruited over 2,000 people to ensure that our district assemblies have the requisite staff. They have been able to establish the Regional Coordinating Councils
    (RCCs) for the six (6) regions that have been newly created. We have worked to ensure that they have their complementary staff to start their work.
    Mr Speaker, they developed operational manuals for various departments and they would continue to provide excellent service for our districts to operate.
    Mr Speaker, we have developed a Rural Development Policy. For several decades, Ghana did not have a Rural Development Policy. The Ministry has worked with stakeholders and we have in place a Rural Development Policy and we have established a Rural Development Unit in the Ministry. It implements the Ghana Productive Safety Net and Project. It works with the Community Development Department on alternative livelihood programmes. We focus on districts that were devastated with illegal mining.
    We have provided training for about 500 people in the community Development Vocation and Technical Institutes. Mr Speaker, 500 more have been enrolled this year, and we have attached more than 1000 persons to craftsmen in their communities. In this exercise, we provide them with tools, we pay tuition and when they complete, they
    are given a package of tools to work with. We also remunerate the master craftsmen who provide them with the training.

    Mr Speaker, the Social Investment Fund (SIF) continues to implement the Integrated Rural Development Programme. They completed 126 projects that were ongoing, and initiated 136 projects which are at various stages of completion. These include health facility programmes, quarters, schools and other programmes. So the Rural Development Department is quite busy.

    Mr Speaker, still under governance, we have developed a new Local Governance Finances Bill that we would soon bring to this House. We have also developed Regulations to implement the Local Governance Act. We have already looked at the Regulations with the members of Subsidiary Legislation Committee and other Hon Members of Parliament.

    Mr Speaker, as has been indicated, our focus is to support, especially the Ministry of Finance in the mobilisation of domestic revenue. We have worked on that to develop new tools and measures and this has led to an

    [HAJIA MAHAMA] [HAJIA MAHAMA]

    increase in the internally generated funds of our district assemblies. For example, property rates increased by 19 per cent over the 2016 figures, and between 2017 and 2018, we had a further increase of 12 per cent.

    In other various matters concerning Internally Generated Funds (IGF), excluding property rates, we had a total percentage increase of 18 per cent between 2017 and 2018 whereas between 2016 and 2017, it was just about three per cent. So, we are giving more resources to the district assemblies through our District Development Fund (DDF) and other programmes.

    The essence is not for the Ministry to keep identifying and implementing projects. The essence is for the Ministry to support the district assemblies by strengthening their hands to implement projects, identify their sub-projects, do their procurements and implement them by themselves. So, it is not about the Ministry just doing projects; it is about pushing resources to the districts to do projects.

    Mr Speaker, it was indicated that the DACF has been dwindled. Mr Speaker, I beg to differ. In 2016, the total transfer of DACF was GH¢461, 245,117.88. For 2017, it moved from GH¢461 million to GH¢663,183,029.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
    Hon Minister, I ruled on this matter. I do not know why you have gone back to it. I do not want us to start this whole debate all over again on the figures and how much has been paid or not.
    I directed the Committee to get in touch with the Ministry of Finance and the Administrator of the DACF to resolve the differences and report back to the House. So please, can you move to another issue? Or else, you would see Hon Members stand up on a point of order.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, I only said what actually went to the districts.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
    If you say that is what actually went to the districts, they would say no. So, just move away from it, and let us go on.
    Hajia Mahama: I thought I was better placed to say that, but very well, I will move on.
    I would like to emphasise that net transfers to district assemblies have increased. In 2016, about 35 per cent of the DACF went to the districts. In 2017, it was 46.52 per cent and in 2018, 53 per cent went directly to the districts. So, the net transfers to the districts have increased.
    Together with all the transfers that have come from all other ‘discretionary funds', the district assemblies have done over 1,500 sub-projects, including the following feeder roads - 38 per cent from the funds; education - 30 per cent; health facilities - 11 per cent; water and sanitation facilities - 18 per cent of the funds.
    So there are a lot of activities going on in the districts, and I would urge Hon Members to ask their district assemblies what projects have been done directly from their resources, either from DACF or other ‘discretionary funds' -- UDG or DDD -- that have been going on. Mr Speaker, there are a lot of positives in our various districts.
    Mr Speaker, in addition to its governance role, the Ministry monitors the finances of the district assemblies. We ensure that they bring their monthly financial statements. We monitor and analyse them.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
    Hon Minister, you have one more minute.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, they interrupted.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
    Yes, I have taken note of that and
    added more minutes. I know. We are now at 18 minutes, 16 seconds, but you were entitled to 15 minutes.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, I was told I had 20 minutes.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
    Please, my guide is here. That is what I have been given.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, how many minutes more?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
    I said you have one minute more.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, I would like to assure the House that the Ministry is vibrant. With my able Hon Deputy Ministers, we are delivering on governance and financial matters, including mobilisation of IGF and ensuring that district assemblies comply with systems like the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), and they are on top of their activities.
    Mr Speaker, the district assemblies are very active and vibrant just like the Ministry is doing. We continue to support them in various areas, including sanitation, clean cooking activities, alternative livelihoods, capacity building and their various by- laws and legislations, and very importantly, the sanitation facilities that

    Mr Speaker, my final word is to invite the House. We are all interested in deepening democracy. When we go out there and talk negatively about political parties, we talk negatively about ourselves. All professionals, such as teachers, talk positively about the teaching profession; doctors talk positively about the health situation, but we go out there and run down politics.

    That is the best tool for governance in the country. Do people want us to go back to the feudal system that operated in this country? Democracy is the way to go, and it is through election and political parties. We should go out there and vote for the MMDCEs; we should go out there and vote yellow for ‘Yes' on 17th December, 2019 -- [Hear! Hear!] -- to deepen democracy and to allow for communities to select who should be their leaders. They are practising politics already by electing --
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
    Hon Ranking Member?
    Hajia Mahama: They are practising already by electing us. They can elect their President and us --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
    Hon Minister, please resume your seat.
    Hon Ranking Member?
    Mr Agalga 3:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is obvious the Hon Minister has turned this House into a campaign platform, and that is not acceptable. [Laughter] She has brandished some campaign material. This is a material which should not find its way into this House. If she wants to turn this House into a campaign platform, we would respond in equal measure. So she should be made to withdraw.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, I am just trying to warm them up to support --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
    The Hon Minister was making a submission on an issue, and decided to make a graphic presentation of that submission. [Hear! Hear!] You are equally entitled to do so when it comes to your turn.
    Hon Minister, conclude.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, finally, I would want to plead with my
    Hon Colleagues on the other Side to let us look at the essence for the country, and not who benefits from it. At the end of the day, it is the right thing to do for Ghana. We talk about politics at the local level. The local level is in politics. We have polling station executives.
    3. 11 p. m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
    Hon Minister, I hope you would now not abuse my generosity; I gave you one minute and you have now taken four minutes.
    Hajia Mahama: Mr Speaker, I would call on you -- it is not over yet; it is not over until it is over. On 17th December, 2019, let us vote ‘Yes'. - [Hear! Hear!]---
    Mr Speaker, I would have to report Hon Kpodo but I would do it in private.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
    What I saw was an attempt by the Hon Member for Ho Central to kiss you but you did not -- [Laughter.] --[Pause] Hon Members, let us take the last person before we move to a Motion. I think we would now listen to Hon Dr Dominic Ayine, and after that, we take Motion numbered 7 on the Order Paper.
    Yes, Hon Member for Bolgatanga Central? I have noted your arrival.
    Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine (NDC -- Bolgatanga Central) 3:01 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the debate for the approval of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the year ending, 31st December, 2020.
    Mr Speaker, we all know and accept that the approval of the Budget Statement is one of the most important constitutional duties of Parliament. And this is because the Budget Statement is an authoritative mechanism for the allocation of public resources. Given the fact that this is an important aspect of the work that we do here in this House, I think any Hon Minister who comes to present the Budget Statement on behalf of the President of the Republic must do so with probity and integrity. Probity and accountability are fundamental principles of our constitutional order.
    Mr Speaker, I say this because the Hon Minister for Finance presented this Budget Statement and stated in respect of passport administration, a number of things —
    Mr Nyindam 3:01 p.m.
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague made a statement and I
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, I noted that carefully and I am following his submissions; it is too early in the day to raise the issue that you are raising. He is laying a foundation; let us see what happens when he gets — If he is out of order, I would rule him out of order.
    Dr Ayine 3:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    As you rightly pointed out, I was laying the foundation to show the extent to which I think the Hon Minister did not act with integrity on an aspect of the Budget Statement. And that is because if we look at page 110 of the Budget Statement —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, this statement that you have made is a very strong one. When you mean that somebody has not acted with integrity, you know the
    consequences. And our Standing Orders do not permit such statements.
    Dr Ayine 3:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are talking here about accountability. When the Hon Minister comes before Parliament, he comes to account to the people's representatives how he is going to spend publicly raised revenues of this country and accountability implies integrity. One must not misrepresent facts in the Budget Statement to the people's representatives in Parliament.
    Mr Speaker, I refer you to page 110 of the Budget Statement, where the Hon Minister copiously detailed the sort of things or the activities that would be engaged by the passport administration under its programme. Nothing was said in that detailed narrative of the fact that the passport office is going to be relocated and that it is going to cost the people of this Republic GH¢9.2 million to relocate the passport office.
    Dr A. A. Osei 3:01 p.m.
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, the Hon former Deputy Attorney-General says that, the Hon Minister comes here to present the Budget Statement. I am sorry, he does not; he comes here on behalf of the President. He cannot do it on his own. So, if the Hon Member is alluding to integrity, he is alluding to a wrong person. The Constitution
    requires him to do it on behalf of the President. So he should make the proper reference.
    Dr Ayine 3:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation because he has made my case stronger.

    Mr Speaker, the point I am making is that if we look at the narrative which was supposed to educate people like me in Parliament who are not very well versed with figures about what the Government intends to do in the coming year, there is nothing regarding the re-location of the Passport Office; nothing whatsoever! And when we go to the Estimates we see that there is an allocation of GH¢9.2 million for relocation of the passport office.

    Now, that relocation is not for nothing; it is not because they have built a new office and are moving. It

    is because the office is going to be broken down so that a National Cathedral would be built. Mr Speaker, this is the extent of the misrepresentation that I am talking about.

    I am also worried that GH¢9.2 million is going to be expended to break down a building when the people of my Constituency do not have water to drink; when the people of my Constituency do not have electricity; when the people of my Constituency do not have roads. That is my worry.

    I think that the Hon Minister was just being clever here when he said nothing about breaking that building down only to now put it in the Estimates very innocuously as if the passport office is moving—
    Mr Nyindam 3:01 p.m.
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, I am back on the integrity issues because I have listened to the Hon Member and the fact that he has a problem with allocations and priorities does not mean that the person who has come to present the Budget Statement lacks integrity. And for that matter, just as you told the Hon Member, as an Hon Member of Parliament he should know better that to question somebody's integrity means a lot.
    This House does not endorse improper language and I would like
    Dr Ayine 3:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I said this because in appendix 4(b), which is the summary of MMDAs talks about expenditure allocation, item numbered 11 says, relocation of Passport Office. My point is that they should have said, Relocation of Passport Office, in order to give way to the construction of the National Cathedral'' [Laughter.]
    This is because from the beginning, they told the people of this country that no public money would be expended in the construction of the National Cathedral but they have allocated GH¢9.2 million in order to pull down a building, so that the National Cathedral would be built.
    They have prioritised the construction of the National Cathedral over basic services, over the livelihoods of the people and they would not be candid with the people's representatives. This is the point that I want to make.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:21 p.m.
    Hon Member, which page did you refer to?
    Dr Ayine 3:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, appendix 4(b), which is on page 224. We got one version today but I talked about the ‘Old Testament' version.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:21 p.m.
    Hon Member, I am at page 224, appendix 4(b), item numbered 11.
    Dr Ayine 3:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it says, “O/W Relocation of Passport office'' and against it, there is GH¢9,246,720 million.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:21 p.m.
    Yes, that is under GoG.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:21 p.m.
    Hon K.T. Hammond, any point of order?
    Mr Hammond 3:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we need some education on this matter because I have never understood that every single item that is encapsulated by the figures behind the Budget Statement has of necessity to be covered in the prose. If his argument is that he has issues with the GH¢9,246,720 million that has been allocated to the passport office, he could argue that, but if he argues that
    because a construction of a new Passport Office is in the prose, so it could not be in the Budget Statement, we need some education on that because I have never understood that to be the situation ever since I have been in this House.
    The prose is what the Hon Minister for Finance has read and the nitty gritty details are always captured. So what is the point? Is it because Passport Office is not mentioned, we could not have a figure for it? I do not understand that. Indeed, if that is the basis for the integrity of the matter, then we would not make much progress. We have to deal with this matter and make sure that we understand what he means by “integrity'' in relation to the matters I just raised.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:21 p.m.
    Hon Members, it is important we recognise that when Hon Ministers of State appear before the House and contribute to debates or move Motions or make submissions for and on behalf of the President, they act therein, as not just Hon Ministers of State but also as Hon Members of this House. So it is unparliamentary to use such strong words as someone lacking integrity under our Standing Orders. In Order 93(5), the reference to the word “Member'', includes the
    Hon Ministers of State, when they are on the Floor of the House.
    Hon Member for Bolgatanga East, you would have to withdraw that and then use the appropriate words.
    Dr Ayine 3:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for that education.
    Mr Speaker, I would say that the Hon Minister did not act with candour when he made the presentation to this House. I withdraw the use of the phrase “act with integrity''. I have done so, because you have directed and I agree with your ruling on this matter.
    Mr Speaker as far as Hon K. T. Hammond's advice is concerned, even if we ignored the Budget Statement itself, there is still a problem with how the explanatory note to the estimate has been put. We needed to know that they would relocate the Passport Office in order to construct the National Cathedral.
    Mr Speaker, I would plead with you because there has been a lot of interjections, so that my time is not eaten into.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:21 p.m.
    Hon Member, do not worry, I am in charge and I have taken note of that.
    Dr Ayine 3:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my next point would deal with compliance with the Supreme Court's decision in Kpodo vrs the Attorney-General. This was the case in which, the Hon Member for Ho Central and the Hon Member for Keta, Mr Richard Quashigah, led by my good self, appeared before the Supreme Court and contested the constitutionality of the the Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment Act of 2017 (Act
    947).
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:21 p.m.
    Were you a party or a counsel?
    Dr Ayine 3:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was a counsel. In fact, I was pro bono counsel [Laughter.]
    Mr Speaker, the Court was very clear in its interpretation of what constituted total revenues of Ghana in that decision.
    Mr Speaker, I want to quote exactly what the Court said with respect to total revenues of Ghana.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:21 p.m.
    Hon Member, the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation is on his feet.
    Yes, Hon Minister?
    Dr A. A. Osei 3:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the matter was not about the capping law but about the definition of ‘‘total revenue''. The two are different. [Interruption] I was not there but the issue was not about capping but about the definition of ‘‘total revenue'' with respect to District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:21 p.m.
    Hon Member, continue.
    Dr Ayine 3:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with all due respect to the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation, he was neither a party nor counsel in the matter. -- [Laughter] -- I am repeating that we contested the constitutionality, not only of the Local Governance Act of 2016 (Act 936) but also the Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment Act of 2017 which was declared
    unconstitutional because it capped funds that were due the DACF. Mr Speaker, that is the point I am coming to.
    When I looked at the Budget Statement, there is an Appendix on Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) allocations and that Appendix never mentioned the DACF. So I consulted my former client, Hon Kpodo, and got him to explain to me how they could have calculated five per cent of the ABFA as part of the transfers made to the DACF for this year by way of compliance with the Supreme Court's decision. [Interruption] They have not complied.
    Mr Speaker, if we take the Budget Statement, total oil revenue receipts in US dollars would come to over US$1,567,000,000. Mr Speaker, according to the ruling of the Supreme Court, the deduction from this total amount would only be in relation to the Heritage Fund and the National Stabilisation Fund up to the capped amount and the equity finance. If we take all of these into account, the balance on petroleum receipts for 2020 would be US$906,500,000. Five per cent to the DACF would have been US$45,325,000. Mr Speaker, but the allocation of the ABFA is only US$38,650,000.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:31 p.m.
    Hon Minister for the Interior, you were on your feet. I wanted to get the trend before giving you the opportunity.
    Mr A. Dery 3:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I wanted guidance because the Hon Member was alluding to a ruling or a decision in a case. I thought he would have stated what the position of the ruling was and then go ahead and attempt to interpret and apply same. But all I heard was what he got from his former client. Mr Speaker, his narrative is not part of the ratio and so he should state what the ruling of the court is, then he can go on. Mr Speaker, I do not think that he would disagree with me on this matter.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:31 p.m.
    Actually, it is the interruptions that made him move away from that because he was going to read the ruling.
    Hon Member, can we now hear the actual ruling, then from there we can all interpret and apply the law as we know it.
    Mr A. Ibrahim 3:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, at the Committee of the Whole, the effective date of the implementation of that Supreme Court ruling was added to the Committee's terms of reference. So, the Hon Minister for Finance --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:31 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Whip, please resume your seat. Let us just listen to the ruling and then we can move on from there.
    Dr Ayine 3:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Member for Nandom for the direction.
    Mr Speaker, if the House would be patient with me, I would read the totality of the directions and orders given by the Court. The Court said:
    “We, therefore, make the following Orders:
    1. Relief 1 endorsed in the plaintiff's writ of summons is dismissed as upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 252(2) “total revenues of Ghana” does not encompass every revenue no matter the source; we so declare accordingly.”
    Mr Speaker, we urged that the interpretation should be that the “total revenue of Ghana” is all revenue no matter the source. Mr Speaker, the ruling goes on to say:
    “2.(a)To the extent that Sections 1(2), 2(b), 3(1)(b), 3(5)(a), 7(a), and 8 of the Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment Act,2017(Act
    947) and Section 126 of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) purport to limit the proportion of revenue due for allocation to the District Assemblies Common Fund as established by Article 252(2) of the Constitution, the same are in the contravention of the Constitution and are hereby declared to be null and void.
    b) Consequently the District Assemblies Common Fund is hereby deleted from the schedule to the said Act 947; and the references to the Annual Budget Funding Amount, provided for by Section 16 and 18 of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (Act 815) from tax Revenue, in Section 126 of the Local Governance Act are hereby deleted.
    c) For avoidance of doubt such amounts of Internally Generated Funds that Parliament has, pursuant to Article 176(2) (b) authorized to be retained by departments that receive them, as provided for under Act 947, remain valid and in effect.”
    Dr Ayine 3:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we were pushing that all the IGF should be included so that they calculate the five per cent on them but that was rejected by the court. Mr Speaker, the ruling goes on to say:
    “3. Relief 3 is dismissed.
    4. Consequently, we hereby direct that in calculating the annual amount to be allocated to the District Assemblies Common Fund, the Defendant shall comply strictly with the provisions of Article 252(2) as construed and interpreted in this judgment.
    “Total Revenue of Ghana,'' for purposes of allocation to the District Assemblies Common Fund shall include Petroleum Revenue allotted as Annual Budget Support amount and non-tax revenue paid to Central Government. Total Revenues of Ghana shall not include foreign loans and grants, Petroleum receipt paid into the Heritage and Stabilization Fund, retained Internally Generated Fund and levies imposed by Parliament for specific purposes under an Act of Parliament.”

    Mr Speaker, these are the comprehensive orders --
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:31 p.m.
    Hon Minister?
    Mr A. Dery 3:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Member for reading it but I now want your assistance as to whether the court can delete part of an Act. Can they declare it unconstitutional or can they delete it? Mr Speaker, I just want guidance from you for the records. [Interruption] Mr Speaker, as for the separation of powers there is no room for a court to legislate, but I just want you to say something for the records.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:41 p.m.
    The Hon Minister for the Interior has raised an issue on the wording of the consequential orders. The ruling itself declared them unconstitutional but the consequential orders went ahead to say that they are thereby deleted from the Act.

    That is the issue he is raising, whether the court could delete provisions of an Act?
    Dr Ayine 3:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I agree with the Hon Member for Nandom, Hon Ambrose Dery, to the extent that
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:41 p.m.
    That is clearly understood. It is as if it has never happened. With that, it does not exist in the eyes of the law. They also transcended beyond their powers into the legislative arena by ‘‘ deleting and inserting'', which is what we do here. However, we all understand it to mean that it has been declared null and void and of no effect. It has never existed.
    Dr Ayine 3:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, pursuant to the orders of the court, the Ministry of Finance brought an amendment of the relevant portions of the Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment Act to be expunged from the Act. It is on record that this has been done by this House.
    However, Mr Speaker, my point is that, I wrote on behalf of my client to the Ministry of Finance with respect
    to compliance with the decision of the Supreme Court. I wrote on 22nd July, immediately after the court rendered its decision, and on 24th July, the Ministry of Finance wrote back to me. This is what was said in paragraph 4 of the Ministry's answer. It says:
    “The Ministry fully respects the judgement and intends to abide by it. We are liaising with the Office of the Attorney-General for advice in this regard.”
    They added that a copy of the letter was attached, even though they did not attach the Attorney-General's letter.
    They continued that:
    “We wish to assure your client, the Supreme Court and Parliament that we intend to implement the judgment as quickly as it is efficiently possible.”
    Mr Speaker, this is what they have said. Now, if what I have said with respect to oil revenue holds true, it means they are not in compliance with the Supreme Court's order.
    Also, my former client, Hon Kpodo, made the point here, that cocoa revenue has been indicated as zero in this Budget, which means that cocoa revenue is not being brought
    into the basket of resources upon which the five per cent would be calculated for purposes of the District Assemblies Common Fund allocation.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:41 p.m.
    Hold on. Yes, Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation?
    Dr A. A. Osei 3:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is unfortunate that Hon Ayine was not here when we discussed the issue of export revenue. I am sure if he were here, he would not have said that. More importantly, what is happening here is simple; his former client has done his own calculation of what he thinks is the Supreme Court's decision, and he is purporting that to be the only truth.
    The matter came up at the Finance Committee meeting and his former client was found to be wrong. The Ministry of Finance has proved his former client wrong, and he is repeating that statement here. If he thinks that the Ministry of Finance is not compliant, he should go to court.
    Mr Speaker, I have done the calculation, and the Ministry of Finance is correct. What he is reading is what his former client has -- That does not belong here. We do not want opinions here; Mr Speaker, can you tell him?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:41 p.m.
    Hon Minister, we are debating the Budget; looking at the tables and the rest. You agree that, at least, once they recognise that revenue item and put zero, it means it has been included. That is what you said. Hon Kpodo responded by saying, that he hopes that by the end of the month, when you go to get your salary, it would be recognised, and if they put zero for you, you would see whether it has actually been paid. That is how he responded and I think we have gone beyond that.
    Hon Ayine, take this on board. It was debated in the morning. All these were said, so let us move on.
    Dr Ayine 3:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:41 p.m.
    Your lawyer is on the Floor. Hon Kpodo, please, hold your peace.
    Dr Ayine 3:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is a serious issue, and the Hon Minister is directing that if my client and I are aggrieved, we should go to court. He should know the constitutional implication of returning to the Supreme Court on this matter. Let me read article 24 of the Constitution. It says that, failure to obey --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:41 p.m.
    Hon Member, you are not litigating
    Dr Ayine 3:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as far as the President is concerned, this would constitute high treason. For the President and the Vice President, it is sufficient ground for removal from office. For the Minister, he could be jailed for 10 years and be disbarred from holding public office for another 10 years.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:41 p.m.
    Hon Member, please debate the Budget Statement. [Laughter.]
    Dr Ayine 3:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is about compliance with respect to the Supreme Court decision.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:41 p.m.
    You have drawn our attention to the non-compliance. The consequences of the non-compliance is for you to pursue later somewhere and not on the floor of the House.
    Dr Ayine 3:41 p.m.
    Very well.
    Mr Speaker, I have already sent the signal to them, and I would take instructions from my clients regarding our next step.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:41 p.m.
    Hon Member, the House does not
    need this information. It is between you and your client. Please, move on.
    Dr Ayine 3:51 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the next issue that I would want to raise is in respect of the Budget of the Electoral Commission (EC). We know that under the Constitution, specifically, article 46, the Electoral Commission is an independent constitutional body. The Commission is also subject to the Constitution and all the constitutional processes for funding the activities of the Commission. I noticed that we have proposed to allocate GH¢1.063billion to the Commission for the next fiscal year. I hope this would be sufficient in guaranteeing their independence as well as funding all the activities for the year.
    Mr Speaker, my concern is with respect to the Commission's accountability to Parliament. If you look at the 2019 Budget, allocations were made for them to conduct voter registration in all the about 31,000 polling stations throughout the country. After the Special Budget Committee approved their estimates, they then went and grossly revised down the number of polling areas to be covered to about 7,000 polling stations. The concern I have is that, first of all, that variation should have come back to Parliament for approval. This is because, then, it would mean that in actual fact, the
    moneys to be expended would not be the same as approved by the Special Budget Committee.
    Secondly, Mr Speaker, there is the issue of voter suppression because the proposal to do it in 7,000 polling stations rather than the 31,000 stations meant that, the geographical spread became so large that people had to travel long distances in order to register. That can lead to voter suppression in areas such as Bolgatanga East, in my constituency or Daboya/Mankarigu where one would have to travel 85 kilometres to the next polling station in order to register.

    Mr Speaker, despite the guarantee of the independence of the EC, I would suggest that any time they vary their budget in order to reduce the scope of their activities, they must come to Parliament for approval. If the Special Budget Committee does not approve it, this entire House must look through and make sure that the right to vote is not curtailed, as a result of the reduction in scope of the activities of the Commission.

    Mr Speaker, if you look at the Budget Statement, paragraph 1051, the Attorney-General made a statement about the fact that -- [Pause] --

    Mr Speaker, because of the various versions that we have - [Laughter] -- it is causing a lot of confusion. The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice commits --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:51 p.m.
    Hon Member, what we have before us is what is in the Hansard. It is because of the weakness of our institution to make available copies of the Hansard to Hon Members, that has compelled us to use what they presented to us in the form of the Budget Statement. What is in the Hansard is what has been presented to the House, and that is what we should be referring to. But unfortunately, copies are not available.
    So go on.
    Dr Ayine 3:51 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I said, paragraph 1051 states and, with your permission, I quote:
    “In 2020, the Ministry will conduct and publish a research on the implication of the current policy in accessing professional legal education in Ghana. Thereafter, hold a stakeholder workshop on the research findings and its recom- mendations.”
    Mr Speaker, I wonder whether this is a commitment to drastically reform

    legal education in a way that would grant equality of opportunity to the young men and women of this country who aspire to be Lawyers like you, Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader, Hon K. T. Hammond and Hon Ambrose Dery. There are young people who look up to us because they want to be like some of us.

    Mr Speaker, I believe that there must be a fuller commitment, because there is a myth out there, that there are too many Lawyers in this country. I would give a few statistics before I take my seat. The population of Ghana today is about 30 million and out of that number, we have under 4,000 lawyers serving our population. Mr Speaker, when you do the mathematics, you would realise that we are underserved as far as the legal services are concerned.
    Mr Speaker, there are 58,000 Lawyers in the State of Israel. The ratio is 1 3:51 p.m.
    139 citizens. The United States of America (USA) has 1.2 million lawyers. The State of New York, with the population of 19.5 million, has 179,000 lawyers. So, it does not make sense for us to continue with the myth that there are too many lawyers. The Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General's Department should commit to opening up the space, so that young people aspiring
    to become lawyers would have the opportunity.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:51 p.m.
    Hon Member, I gave you ample time because this is a very important issue before the House. The Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Par- liamentary Affairs is handling the matter. In fact, the Judicial Council is to appear before the Committee on this same matter. That is why I gave you ample time to elucidate on it.
    Hon Members, we would end the debate on the Budget Statement for today and move on to item numbered 7 on the Order Paper - Motion.
    Yes, Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    MOTIONS 3:51 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Seth Acheampong) 3:51 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of National Security) and Huawei Technologies Company Limited (Huawei) and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) for an amount of two hundred and thirty-four million, six hundred and four thousand, two hundred and sixty-six United States dollars (US$234,604,266.00) to execute the Integrated National Security Communications Enhance- ment Network (ALPHA) Project - Phase 2.
    In so doing, I present the Committee's Report.
    1.0 Introduction
    In accordance with Article 181 of the 1992 Constitution, the request for approval of the Commercial Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana represented by the Ministry of National Security and, Huawei Technologies Company Limited (Huawei) and China
    Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) for an amount of two hundred and thirty-four million, six hundred and four thousand, two hundred and sixty-six United States dollars (US$234,604,266) to execute the Integrated National Security Communications Enhance- ment Network (ALPHA) Project - Phase 2, was presented to the House on Thursday, 7th November, 2019 by the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei on behalf of the Minister for National Security.
    The Rt Hon Speaker referred the Agreement to the Committee on Defence and Interior for consideration and report in accordance with Article 103 of the 1992 Constitution and Orders 158 of the Standing Orders of the House.
    2.0 Deliberation
    The Hon Minister responsible for National Security, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah; the Hon Minister of State responsible for National Security, Mr Bryan Acheampong; the Chief Director, Lt Col A. Serebour and officials from the Ministry of National Security assisted the Committee in its deliberations.
    The Committee was grateful to them for their attendance and input during the deliberations.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Seth Acheampong) 3:51 p.m.


    ii. Expansion of eLTE network: capacity expansion is carried out based on the existing eLTE network (the existing eLTE network only covers major cities). The target of phase 2 is to cover more areas of the country;

    iii. Microwave transmission: This is to help solve the problem of eLTE network transmitting back to the center;

    iv. Capacity Expansion of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. More ANPR systems are deployed at high-speed intersections or main roads to capture and record vehicles violating the regulations;

    v. Video Transmission Network: including metropolitan area
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Seth Acheampong) 3:51 p.m.
    SPACE FOR TABLE 1, 3.51 P.M - PAGE 8
    7.0 Contract Price
    The total cost of the project is two hundred and thirty-four million, six hundred and four thousand, two
    hundred and sixty-six United States dollars (US$234/604/266.00). The costs of the various components as per Huawei and CMEC is summarised below.
    Huawei's Component
    The cost of Huawei's component is US$143,288,283.00. The amount consists of:
    Equipment -- US$105,680,920.00
    Service -- US$ 37,607,363.00
    Total -- US$143,288,283.00

    The service component includes training service of nine hundred and forty four thousand, six hundred and sixty United States dollars

    (USD$944,660.00) and other services amounting to thirty six million six hundred and sixty two thousand, seven hundred and three US dollars

    (US$36, 662,703. 00).
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Seth Acheampong) 3:51 p.m.


    Table 2 below shows the summary of cost differentials across all cost areas.

    SPACE FOR TABLE 2, 3.51 P.M - PAGE 11

    The above table describes the stages or iterations that the original bill of quantities went through to arrive at the new reduced scope, reflecting the recommended scope in this audit.

    8.4 Title and Risk Transfer

    The Committee observed that title to the Equipment excluding the

    software shall pass from the Supplier to the Customer only after the Customer has paid the total contract price, and the risk of loss and damage to the Equipment shall pass from the Supplier to the Customer upon delivery at the Tema Port.

    The Supplier shall bear the risk of loss and damage to the Equipment

    during the transportation of the Equipment from Tema Port to the designated warehouse and from the designated warehouse to the Site.

    8.5 Standards and Inspection

    The Committee was informed that the equipment supplied under this contract shall conform to the standards and requirements set out in the contract. These standards are determined along prevailing standards and procedures in the Equipment's country of origin and is intended to contribute to the pursuit of services that are considerably befitting of citizens.

    8.6 Spare Parts

    The Committee was further informed that provisions of the Contract requires the supplier to provide the spare parts that would be required for this operation and maintenance of same for up to five years after the preliminary acceptance of the terms set out in the contract.

    The Committee further observed that the Contract permits the Supplier to discontinue production of the equipment or any part of it, provided the said Supplier provides advance notice of six months of such planned discontinuance, in which case the customer retains the right to place a final order for delivery.

    8.7 Training

    The Committee observed that to facilitate a smooth implementation and handover of the manufactured equipment, the Supplier shall train the Customer's personnel on the operation, repair and maintenance of the equipment and works in accordance with the Training Schedule as specified in the Contract. This training would contribute to capacity development of personnel in the country and assiduously ensure the optimum functioning of the equipment.

    9.0 Conclusion

    Having regard to the enormous benefits to be derived from the project, particularly to leverage emerging technologies to facilitate the determent and detection of nefarious activities, increasing crime rates and crime sophistication, conflicts, public unrests and the need for improved emergency response, the Committee recommends to the House to adopt its report and approve by resolution the Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana, represented by the Ministry of National Security and Huawei Technologies Company Limited (Huawei) and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) for an amount of two hundred and thirty- four million, six hundred and four
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Seth Acheampong) 3:51 p.m.


    thousand, two hundred and sixty- six United States dollars (US$234, 604,266) to execute the Integrated National Security Communications Enhancement Network (ALPHA) Project, Phase II.

    Respectfully submitted.
    Mr James Agalga (NDC -- Builsa North) 4:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion moved by the Hon Chairman of the Committee. In seconding the Motion, I wish to make a few observations that follow.
    First of all, this is a project which started under the Former President John Dramani Mahama, and so it is important that from the outset, we give credit to former President Mahama. Phase 1 of this project commenced in 2012.
    Mr Speaker, the Report has captured the excellent interventions that this project has made and would continue to make for the sake of our national security, if this second facility is approved for the commencement of phase 2 of the Project. It is important that we first of all acknowledge and extend our thanks to former President Mahama and the
    previous Administration for all this important interventions.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
    I thought you would just continue to also give thanks to the current Administration for continuing it.
    Mr Agalga 4:01 p.m.
    Absolutely. In fact, Mr Speaker, this is one of the projects that this Government has actually shown good faith. They have demonstrated that governance is indeed a continuum, unlike what has happened in respect of other projects that I do not want to mention for the sake of time. I do not want to provoke debate so far as this particular Motion is concerned.
    Mr Speaker, we are in an era where in our sub-region, terrorism and terrorist attacks have become the order of the day. In neighbouring Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, terrorist attacks are now a daily occurrence. With the implementation of the phase 2 of this project, we would see an enhancement of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) coverage at vital locations increase from 800 to 10,000. That, in my view, is a milestone in the management of our national security.
    Mr Speaker, what is even more important about the phase 2 of the Project is that CCTV coverage would
    also be extended to border areas, to further enhance border security and patrol. This could not have come at a more opportune time because our borders are very porous.
    We all know what happened in Hamile. Our border was breached, but for the vigilance of the Catholics in Hamile, we would have recorded the first terrorist attack on our soil. I am sure if this system is deployed in the border areas of our country, we would be able to detect and deter such criminal elements.
    Mr Speaker, what this Report also does is to acknowledge the fact that crime rate in our country is on the increase. Contrary to all the arguments that have been made -- [Interruption]. This is captured in the Report. It is one of the observations of the Report.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
    Hon Minister for the Interior?
    Mr Ambrose Dery 4:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I just want to correct the Hon Member's statement.
    First, he said the border was breached; it was not breached. An individual was found in the Catholic
    Church with a gun, and we are not by any means endangered because of statistics. He knows that there is an improvement in the reporting system which is instantaneous. Please, Hon Member, you know it is so, acknowledge it. We are safer now than before.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
    Hon Minister, but this is not a point of order. I would give you the opportunity to put across your case, and you can say all that you just said. There is no problem with that. You can disagree with him, and make the suggestions or the inputs that you just made, but not on a point of order.
    Mr Agalga 4:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I made the point before the Hon Minister for the Interior interjected. The point I made, which I would want to repeat is that the Committee observed that --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
    What word did you use? You said the Hon Minister for the Interior did what?
    Mr Agalga 4:01 p.m.
    Interjected.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
    That is not correct; he interrupted.
    Mr Agalga 4:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the correction.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
    Please, let us be kind to each other.
    Mr Agalga 4:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader is on his feet. I have pointed to the specific paragraph of the Report which clearly says, and with your permission, I would read:
    “The Committee was informed that due to the recent spate of terrorist attacks in the sub- region and the increase in the rate of crime and crime sophistication, it is important to upgrade the security systems in the country.”
    This was an observation --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
    What you read did not say that the increase in the rate of crime and crime sophistication is taking place in the
    country. Please, read it carefully. It did not say ‘‘ in Ghana''.
    Mr Speaker, with your permission, it says 4:01 p.m.
    “The Committee was informed that due to the recent spate of terrorist attacks in the sub- region and the increase in the rate of crime and crime sophistication, it is important to upgrade the security systems in the country.”
    The Committee did not ascribe the increase in the rate of crime and crime sophistication to any place. So, we are trying to prevent.
    Hon Member, go on.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, I thought I had handled this matter.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, you have really taken the wind out of my sail. My Hon Colleague on his feet said that he referred to an observation of the Committee, and said to us that the Committee observed the recent spate of terrorist attacks and the rate of crime and crime sophistication in the country.
    Certainly, there is nothing like that. It refers to the sub-region, and if he reads carefully, he would realise that the Committee appeals for a proactive stance and a pre-emptive position because of what is happening in the sub-region. It has nothing to do with the country called Ghana.
    4. 11 p. m.
    I believe he is the Hon Ranking Member and former Deputy Minister for the Ministry of the Interior. Please, he should not mislead the House and himself.
    Mr Agalga 4:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not think we need to split hairs over this; in any case, Ghana is part of the sub- region under reference. [Laughter.]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
    Hon Member, I thought you would not litigate this matter because in your own preamble, you referred to the countries where we have terrorist attacks. You did not say it is so in Ghana; you said we were lucky but we would have had the first one if not for the vigilance of the Catholics, which means Ghana is not part of the terrorist- attacked areas. It is your submissions I am using.
    Mr Agalga 4:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to commend
    the Ministry of National Security for taking steps to have a value-for- money audit conducted on the project before the presentation of this facility for approval by this House. Mr Speaker, this is something that several other Ministries have fallen short of. So, for the first time if there is value- for-money audit, I think that the Ministry deserves recommendation.
    In fact, the value for money audit was annexed to the Agreement, so we had the opportunity to carefully read through it and we satisfied ourselves. Having done so, I would urge this House to approve this Agreement.
    I thank you for the opportunity.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Iddrisu 4:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I had requested from the Hon Majority Leader that -- we were invited by Mr Speaker to receive the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Delegation, and I indicated that given my background, I would like to have a bite of the cherry. So if it pleases you, just two minutes so that I could draw the Hon Minister's attention to some matters.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
    Definitely, I would give you the opportunity; but Hon Members should also be conscious of the health of the Hon Speakers. It is not healthy to sit at one place without moving for more than two hours. Now, it is almost four hours since I sat at one place. It is unhealthy.
    Please, in your submissions, take that into consideration. You have the opportunity to move up and down. Mr Speaker cannot unless we suspend Sitting, and any time we request for that Hon Members say no. Let us do something small, and it is now taking over another one hour.
    Mr Speaker is under severe pressure now; if you want to continue with any long debate, I would be compelled to suspend Sitting and we come back to continue.
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu (NDC -- Tamale South) 4:01 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would be very brief. I naturally would support anything that guarantees the security, safety and stability of our country and to the extent that, the Ministry of National Security is
    building and improving its ICT infrastructure, it is a worthy thing to support.
    Save, Mr Speaker, to refer to page 7 of your Committee's Report and maybe, the Hon Chairman and our Hon Colleagues would be guided. If we do a computation of our line items - original quotation from the original scope, we have US$293,830,407. Let us get a calculator; I presume that it is wrong. It should be US$296,251,407. We may also go to the recommended quotation with reduced scope. It should amount to US$234,612.65; there is less of
    US$3,000.00.
    Mr Speaker, the last one, there is discrepancy between updated quotations. So, if the Hon Chairman could just get his phone and get to the numbers so that, for the purpose of clarity and accuracy, the numbers are adequately captured.
    Mr Speaker, my added difficulty is, while I support this - I know the Government built the e-government infrastructure, which provided for some thousand five hundred LTE sites to cover 170 districts. This should just be an addition to it and therefore there would be what is called harmony and synchronisation of this. I know ZTE played a role and Huawei played a role; we need to have a
    synchronisation of their roles in order to appreciate it.
    Mr Speaker, why I urged you to permit me to take the Floor is an important issue on ownership. If we go to the document that was given to us, they want to own it. The Ministry of National Security should not accept that because currently, the European Union (EU), the British Government and the United States of America (USA) - [Interruption.] When I say ownership, we could go to Schedule 213.3 where they make reference to Network Operating System (NOS). We have to pay every year, and that means that Huawei has full control of our network by licence permit. For a commercial network, that is acceptable; but for a national security network, that is unacceptable. So the Hon Minister would have to demand that ownership is that of the Ministry of National Security relative to that.
    Mr Speaker, the other important point is on privacy. I know that with this, they would have the opportunity to eavesdrop on our communication. Until we have a legislation supporting that-- article 18 of the Constitution -- the privacy of communication. We do not want to know what Hon K. T. Hammond does in his bedroom, or what I do in my bedroom and they are able to monitor that.
    The Hon Minister should be restrained in his conduct because this allows him -- interference with the privacy of our communication is still not lawful in Ghana, save for the purpose of national security. We have not come with a detailed legislation in order to do that. So, it is still important to uphold and preserve our right to privacy as citizens of Ghana, so that there is no interference.
    Mr Speaker, my last point. When we come to the price, schedule -- paragraph 213.12 -- Operation and maintenance services, it is about US$8.1 million. That would mean that we would pay some US$4 million per year for operation and maintenance.
    Normally, even a value-for-money audit should be conducted by an independent third-party, and not them. That is why in many of the contracts, we have room for an independent engineer to do an assessment of it. They are giving us values of their products against others; we want to compare it to the market value. An independent contractor should, therefore be the one to look at it.
    The Hon Minister would also have to take steps -- as I have said, there is 600 kilometre fibre optic city-metro already laid by Government, and there would be a relationship between this and the mobile network operators. We should not forget that we must interoperate with the existing
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu (NDC -- Tamale South) 4:21 p.m.
    networks. It is not just going to be national security. I see that some expenditure would be spent on a data system, particularly in the Ashanti Region.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry for the Interior and the Ministry of Defence - I would just conclude with that. When they make reference to your Committee on page 6:
    “The beneficiaries of the systems are the security and Intelligence Agencies under the Ministry of National Security”.
    Then, it says, the Ghana Armed Forces. No mention is made of the security services under the Ministry of the Interior. Next time, they should be specific, that they are referring to the Ghana Police Service.
    If they want to include the Ghana Immigration Service and others for our purposes, the record should capture that because under the Ministry for the Interior, the most important thing to prevail for law and order since we want to use this to deal with crime, is to indulge the Inspector-General of Police and his men. That should also be captured for our purpose.

    Mr Speaker, Ghana is currently operating a 4G system. The Hon Minister was not there when we debated the Agreement itself. The world has moved to 5G - fifth generation network -- what would Huawei provide? Would they leave us at 4G technology or are we likely to benefit from an improved technology of 5G? So, subject to an independent body -

    Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote paragraph 8.3 on page 6 of the Report, which says:

    ‘‘A combined 6.39% reduction has been achieved in this audit, representing some US$16,008, 099 from the original quotation with reduced scope''.

    When a scope is reduced, it is called savings. If a person decides to build a two or three storey building and reduces it to one storey building, the person does not expect the cost to be the same. So as Government, we should be mindful of what savings we report in terms of this issue.

    Mr Speaker, generally, the existential threat to our country would be IT-related, with the dawn of information and communication technology. So both the Ministry of

    the Interior and the Ministry of Defence must begin to build independent and autonomous networks of IT infrastructure of their own, and not necessarily watch under the ambit of the National Security.

    The Inspector-General of Police and the Ghana Police Service must have a robust IT system for crime prevention and combat crime, so must the Ministry of Defence. At the Ministry of Defence, we would hardly find any IT-related infrastructure, whether hardware or software. So we need to invest in it.

    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I support the Motion.
    Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 4:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I just want to make a few points on the Report before us.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader and I had a discussion about the ownership of the Facility, and I believe it is important that we stress same. It is important because in Parliament, about three months ago, when the office of the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Finance was breached and we had to go and verify as to whoever might have done that, it became impossible to assess the
    information. The reason was that the people who controlled the facility, elected not to give ownership to Parliament. So when it happened, it was possible for someone who sat in Belgium to be able to access the information, but they would not allow Parliament to access the information. I thought that was most frustrating and outrageous.
    Mr Speaker, if we should have such a system for Huawei operating in Ghana, definitely, that would compromise our own security. It is important that as a nation, we would take ownership of this.
    Mr Speaker, again, I agree with the Hon Minority Leader. The home country of Huawei, which is China, has now blanketed their entire country in 5G, but we are not told what system they would want to implement in Ghana. At the time of the discussion, it was between 3G and 4G. We are not even too sure what is intended to be done. So we should insist that it should be 5G and nothing less.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:21 p.m.
    Where is the Hon Minister for National Security? Has he stepped out?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:21 p.m.
    No, Mr Speaker, he is in the House. I believe he is responding to an emergency call.
    Mr Speaker, I do know that 5G cannot be introduced in a vacuum. The necessary infrastructure would have to be provided, and that is what we want to say. We have not said we are there yet. We are not there; but we need to confront the reality that, going forward, the necessary infrastructure would have to be provided and that at this cost of US$34 million, certainly, we could ask that it be provided to scale up the operation.
    Mr Speaker, item numbered (ii) in paragraph 5.0 on page 3 of the Report says; “increase CCTV cameras from 800 to about 10,000''. I believe that is not adequate. There must be certainty about the number of cameras to be procured. [Interruption.] For the pitfall that my Hon Colleague has drawn my attention to, the number is 8,400; but they said the number is about 10,000. There should be reconciliation and certainty about the number that is to be provided.
    Mr Speaker, finally, for purposes of oversight, we should ensure that Parliament is able to provide adequate oversight even though this is a National Security matter. In some jurisdictions, the entirety of
    Parliament may not be allowed entry into the enclave of the outfit. The leadership of the intelligence - some of them call them ‘‘ways and means committee'', and so on and so forth. At times, it is the Leadership that is allowed to look at that. We intend, going forward, to have a Committee on National Intelligence and its intelligence would include national security.
    Mr Speaker, where we are, even if we limit it to the Committee on Defence and Interior, we should devise a scheme to allow Parliament to be able to enter and see what happens. After all, its procurement would be from the Consolidated Fund, for which Parliament acts as a gatekeeper. It is important that we find a way to have Parliament to exercise its constitutional responsibility of oversight as far as these matters are concerned.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the space.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:21 p.m.
    Before I put the Question, I want the Hon Chairman of the Committee to explain whether the CCTV cameras would be 10,000 or about 10,000. Then with the paragraph that deals with the value-for-money audit, the first paragraph talks about it which I state as follows:
    “… leading to a reduction in some quantities as provided by
    the proposed bill of quantities, without compromising the objectives of the project, essentially providing value for money''.
    Then the next paragraph says:
    “A combined 6.39% reduction has been achieved in this audit, representing some US$16,008, 099 from the original quotation with reduced scope''.
    There are problems with the two paragraphs, so please explain.
    Mr S. K. Acheampong 4:21 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Committee meeting, we asked the Head of the Bureau of National Communications about the specific numbers and it was 10,000; but improving from the 800 to the 10,000 would be the new figure for deployment. So the specific figure would be 10,000.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:21 p.m.
    The Committee would have to follow up to make sure that they actually bring in 10,000.
    Mr S. K. Acheampong 4:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, when we approved of the first phase, it was a joint Committee of Defence and Interior and
    Communications and we had a site visit to look at the installations and we verified most of them by ourselves.
    In the current Committee meeting with the National Security, we demanded same that we would want to verify because we went through the Commercial Agreement clauses, areas where we had issues with them in respect of ownership, as the Hon Minority Leader talked about.

    Other network operators and their network operating centres -- How we would have interoperability and interfacing were all discussed at the Committee. We assured ourselves because we needed to have those assurances. That was why the Hon Ranking Member, in supporting the Motion, reiterated the value-for- money audit.

    Mr Speaker, the reduction in the value- for- money audit, as ably said by the Hon Minority Leader, was not necessarily in the scope of the project; but we have proposed value- for- money audit - the infrastructure, as it exists today -- for pragmatism and efficiency, we are making savings. Mr Speaker, because we would have had unnecessarily more gadgets which the current ones we have would have catered for, that was why the scope
    Mr S. K. Acheampong 4:31 p.m.


    was reduced. It was not reduced by virtue of the design of the project. Mr Speaker, we felt that --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:31 p.m.
    So, your statement was that the scope that would be reduced is not correct.
    Mr S.K. Acheampong 4:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is incorrect and I admit that. So I would make those amendments when you allow me. I have also adverted my mind to the arithmetic in the tables as well, so we would make those amendments.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:31 p.m.
    Please proceed to make those amendments before I put the Question.
    Mr S. K Acheampong 4:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have conferred with the Hon Minority Leader on Table 2, which is on page 7. He showed me the numbers, so we would give those numbers to the Table Office so that they can capture them.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:31 p.m.
    Hon Member, mention the numbers so that the Hansard Department can capture them. Give us the correct figures for Table 2.
    Mr S. K. Acheampong 4:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would just want to give the correct figures as calculated by my Hon Colleague. I was on it myself,
    but my Hon Colleague had done his. So if you would allow us, we would reconcile and communicate this to the Table Office so that we do not make too many errors because we need to be careful with the numbers.
    I was doing the computation myself; but at the same time, I needed to listen to the debate so that I could respond appropriately. Mr Speaker, so I would want to do my checks. My Hon Colleague did his calculation and forwarded them to the Hon Minority Leader, so I am now doing my calculation as well. I would require just a few minutes to do the computations accurately.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:31 p.m.
    Well, I should be certain of the figures before I put the Question. That is my worry now. If we have doubts as to the correctness of the figures on Table 2, how can I proceed to put the Question? What are we going to adopt?
    Mr S. K. Acheampong 4:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with your indulgence, I seek to amend the following -- in the second column instead of US$239,830,407, it should be US$296,251,407. In the fourth column - recommended quotation for reduced scope - the total in the last row reads US$234,601,265. Mr Speaker, in the fifth column, the last row, the total figure reads
    US$16,008,098.
    Mr Speaker, these are the corrected figures.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:31 p.m.
    Hon Members, I am sure you have gotten the right figures now.
    Hon Members, the Table Office has taken note of it, so it would appear in the Votes and Proceedings for today.
    Hon Chairman, you can now amend the other paragraphs.

    Hon Members, paragraph 5.0 (ii), delete “about”, so that it would read “increase CCTV cameras from 800 to 10,000”. Then the second sentence of paragraph 8.3 at page 6, we would delete “with reduced scope”.

    Hon Chairman, is that all?
    Mr S. K. Acheampong 4:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, rightly so.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:31 p.m.
    Thank you so much.
    Since the Hon Minister is present, is he willing and able to make comments or should I put the Question?
    Minister for National Security (Mr Albert K. Dapaah) 4:31 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman has responded to most of the relevant questions. I would just want to comment with respect to the 4G and 5G systems. Mr Speaker, 5G is an emerging technology that is currently under pilot deployment in some countries. Today, we have 4G infrastructure and that is what we are using; but of course, in future when the 5G is available, we would want to move unto that.
    Mr Speaker, again, the installations of this project would be under the supervision of our own engineers. When it is completed, the operation would be by our engineers. As the Hon Minority Leader knows, the first phase was essentially installed by our own people when he was in charge, and today it is run by our own people. In fact, there has not been one expatriate or Chinese who is involved in its operation or maintenance. We appreciate the security relevance of this, and would not give this to the manufacturers. We have taken note of that.
    Mr Speaker, the source code would necessarily be owned by the manufacturers, but what matters is the implementation. As I have said, we would continue with the implementation.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:41 p.m.
    Hon Members, I would put the Question.

    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:41 p.m.
    We would move to item numbered 8 -- Resolution.
    Hon Minister?
    RESOLUTIONS 4:41 p.m.
    Minister for National Security (Mr Albert Kan Dapaah) 4:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move
    WHEREAS By the provisions of article 181(5) of the Constitution the terms and conditions of any international
    business or economic transaction to which the Government of Ghana is a party shall not come into operation unless the said terms and conditions have been laid before Parliament and approved by Parliament by a Resolution supported by the votes of a majority of all Members of Parliament;
    PURSUANT to the provisions of the said article 181(5) of the Constitution, and at the request of the Government of Ghana acting through the Minister responsible for National Security, there has been laid before Parliament the terms and conditions of a Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of National Security) and Huawei Technologies Company Limited (Huawei) and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) for an amount of two hundred and thirty-four million, six hundred and four thousand, two hundred and sixty-six United States dollars (US$234,604,266.00) to
    execute the Integrated National Security Communi- cations Enhancement Net- work (ALPHA) Project -- Phase 2.
    THIS HONOURABLE 4:41 p.m.
    HOUSE HEREBY RE- 4:41 p.m.
    Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 4:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:41 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:41 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe we can take an adjournment at this time.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:41 p.m.
    We now adjourn Sitting.
    Thank you so much.
    Hon Members, I would proceed to adjourn Sitting for today.
    ADJOURNMENT 4:41 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 4.44 p.m. till Tuesday, 26th November, 2019 at 10.00 a.m.