Debates of 26 Nov 2019

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:34 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:34 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:34 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Monday, 25th November, 2019.
Mr Speaker 10:34 a.m.
Hon Members, at the Commencement of Public Business, item numbered 4, Motions. We will continue with the debate on the Budget Statement.
Yes, Hon Leaders? - Hon Minority Leader, what arrangements have you and your Hon Colleague made as to who starts?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 10:34 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am to start and he would conclude.

That has been the practice, except that --
Mr Speaker 10:34 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, if it is your turn, then proceed --
rose
Mr Speaker 10:34 a.m.
Do you not want to hear the Hon Minority Leader? He is on his feet, so please let us hear him.
MOTIONS 10:34 a.m.
  • [Resumption of debate from 25/ 11/2019]
    • Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) (MP) 10:34 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute
    to the Motion, which was moved on Wednesday, 13th November, 2019 by the Hon Minister for Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta and which he subsequently amended on Friday, 15th November,
    2019.
    Mr Speaker, as I speak, I have three different versions of the Budget Statement 10:34 a.m.
    There is a King James Version, another version and a new version. It is important that this House knows what we are debating, particularly, when the Hon Minister for Finance, in his own words, referred to in paragraph 9, the miracle of the feeding of 5,000 people with two fish and five loaves of bread. It is only the Hon Minister who sees the miracle; the rest of Ghana ought to see, know and appreciate the miracle he talked about.
    Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would refer you to page 233 of the Budget Statement. For emphasis, you would see that in item numbered 16, there is allocation to Government Communi- cation the sum of GH¢6 million. We hope and believe that it would go to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) serial callers or communicators, because naturally, this must be dedicated to a call centre of a ministry. If it is the Ministry of Information or the Ministry of Communications, they should let us
    know. What is it that a whooping GH¢6 million is being dedicated to Government Communication?
    Mr Speaker, on the same page, reference is made of GH¢100 million to the National Identification Authority (NIA). We were here when the Government came and asked for tax exemption of US$76 million to support it. It indicated to us that it was a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. How come that Ghana today has to cough another GH¢100 million for the NIA? If it is an activity solely undertaken by the State, they should let us know the cost to the State.
    We have been told on different occasions that the total cost of national identification stands in the region of GH¢170 million to GH¢270 million. So less the GH¢100 million; less the equivalent of US$76 million. We need to be able to appreciate it.
    Mr Speaker, item listed 9 on the same page indicates that GH¢150 million has been allocated to the One District, One Factory (1D1F) Initiative. This promise and fail attitude of the Government must change. In one breath, 1D1F is private sector- led, but in another breath, the State is taking the tax payers money to facilitate it. If Government wants to be a facilitator, it should be. It cannot
    Mr Speaker, let me quote from the NPP's Manifesto of 2016 which reads 10:54 a.m.
    “On the economy, our goal is simple to build the most business friendly and people friendly in Africa. We would ensure that growth is socially responsible, diversified, spread geographically, comes from genuine value addition, environmentally sensitive and fair to all participants. Our goal inter-alia is to achieve double digit GDP growth annually.”
    It is not business friendly when private sector companies are folding up because Government is not paying them and even contractors are folding up. Mr Speaker, again, the NPP Manifesto-the promise and fail. When
    the Hon Minister comes and-thinks he is clever, he says that we have doubled the rate of the economic growth. They are not the same.
    Mr Speaker, in the attempt to mislead the people of Ghana, he comes to report, maybe, from 3.6 per cent to 7.0 per cent and says that they have doubled the economic growth. That is not what they have pledged.
    In their Manifesto, they said, ‘double digit GDP growth'. Because it is anticipated that for Ghana to develop at a sustainable level, we need a growth consistently between 8 to 10 per cent. 10 per cent puts it at double per cent, not when we go from 3.6 per cent to 7.0 per cent and come to report as having achieved a double digit economic growth. That is not a double digit economic growth.
    Mr Speaker, strangely, the Hon Minister for Finance makes an interesting claim on page 201 of the 2020 Budget Statement that the NPP Government has doubled the rate of economic growth. I say that is inconsistent with their pledge and covenant with Ghanaians to have a double digit economic growth.
    Mr Speaker, you would notice that Hon Minister Ken Ofori-Atta told us in his maiden Budget Statement to the House on page 18, paragraph 91 of
    the 2017 Budget Statement which I beg to quote:

    “In 2016, the cedi depreciated by 9.5 per cent and 5.4 per cent against the dollar and the euro respectively, but appreciated by 10 per cent against the Pound”.

    Mr Speaker, what that meant is that the cedi depreciated against the dollar and the euro but appreciated against the pound in the year, 2016. By end of December, 2016, the performance of the cedi against other currencies were as follows; 4.2 against the dollar, 4.4 against the euro and 5.1 against the Pounds sterling''.

    Today, Ghanaian importers ask - if they say there is no depreciation of the cedi and they have not added to their cost of doing business, what is the exchange rate, even as reported in the Budget Statement? It is certainly not 4.2 per cent but 5.3 per cent or at best at the market level, 5.4 per cent and at some other level, 5.5 per cent.

    Mr Speaker, that counts as a cost to the private sector that they promised to help. The business men and women in Abbosey Okai market are interested in how much they can pay for spare parts and how much
    Mr Speaker, let me quote from the NPP's Manifesto of 2016 which reads 10:54 a.m.
    cedi they could mobilise in order to buy dollar for the purpose of it.
    Mr Speaker, the cedi, I could report authoritatively, has been under sustained pressure since 2018. After depreciating by only 4.8 per cent in 2017, it depreciated by about 8.8 per cent in 2018 and has now reached a double digit in November, 2019, at 10.37 per cent. The current depreciation of 10.37 per cent is almost double the average depreciation of 5 per cent in the first quarter of 2019.

    Today, even as they grow, thanks, to the investment of former President John Dramani Mahama, in the Gye Nyame Sankofa Fields, with increased production of oil and increased revenue from oil, they want to compare their performance to former President Mahama.

    Mr Speaker, at the end of 2016, oil revenue for former President

    Mahama hovered between US$218 million and US$316 million. They have US$1.1 billion -- to whom much is given, much is expected. Therefore, of the US$1.1 billion, they should do more.

    Ghana's international reserves have depleted at the alarming rate since April 2019. Gross international reserves reported by Bank of Ghana (BoG) yesterday, after the Eurobond, is at US$9.95 billion and it has declined by US$8 billion by October, 2019 and yet the banking sector faulted with the BoG to adopt a political command and control micro management of the banking sector to compel banks to grant loans to small medium enterprises. They would do so if their access rates were high and the values were high.

    Mr Speaker, we cannot in all honest, say that we have done well as a country. Every Government would perform because some revenue is made available to them.

    Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote what the Hon Minister for Finance stated in paragraph 420 in page 85 of the Budget Statement which says:

    “…Government shall renew and extend the National Fiscal Stabilisation Levy and Special

    Import Levies (SIL) for another five years….''.

    Not one year, two years or three years but for five years, for an economy that has done well and performed well. What is even more intriguing is that in the same paragraph, the Hon Minister announced that there were no new taxes.

    For the private sector that he told them about the said clause of the National Fiscal Stabilisation Levy and the Special Import Levies was in 2019, which is entirely new to them because they did not anticipate the renewal and an increase of that tax regime for that purpose which would go to them as a cost.

    Mr Speaker, I would want to refer to page 31 of the NPP 2016 Manifesto -- the heading, ‘'Flagship Industrial Development Initiative, One District, One Factory (1D1F) Initiative in collaboration with the private sector. I have already referred to some 150 million of State resources being committed to it.

    Mr Speaker, in column 1641 of the Hansard of 20th June, 2018, in an Answer to a Question on the Floor, the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen said:

    “Mr Speaker, since the inception of the programme and consistent with the programme implementation frame work, over 700 proposals have been received by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

    Out of this figure, 329 have been screened and recommended for financial institutions for support for implementation of these projects, 254, are currently being negotiated with the financial institutions''.

    So if they have negotiated with financial institutes to support the 1D1F, why have they taken GH¢150 million of the tax payers money in the name of 1D1F, when they have already committed over GH¢526 million from Ghana EXIM Fund to support them? We need to know the numbers. How much have they added to the employment figures of our country to deserve this?

    Mr Speaker, I referred to a particular table on page 223 of the Budget Statement -- under item numbered 9 is, One District One Factory initiative, GH¢150 million. So in one breath, the State spends from the Consolidated Fund and also from the Established Ghana EXIM Fund of former President Mahama and the NDC which were supposed to
    Mr Speaker, let me quote from the NPP's Manifesto of 2016 which reads 11:04 a.m.


    Mr Speaker, whiles we give Consolidated Fund money, we also spend from the Ghana EXIM to support the same 1D1F and yet, Upper East Region is zero, Upper West Region is two and they are even uncompleted. So where is the 172 factories they promised under 1D1F?

    Even as the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee finds his feet to retain this seat to continue to play his role, where is the US$1 million per constituency and what has it been used for?

    Mr Speaker, when we said to President Akufo-Addo that the creation of additional Ministries was not only a matter of duplication but a matter of waste in some instances - how could we have a Ministry for Special Initiative, buy ambulances for an established Ministry of Health, yet there is a Ministry of Health established by law which is responsible for health care. It could only happen under President Akufo- Addo's watch.

    Mr Speaker, it is the demand of the Minority that having created the Development Authorities, they must become their own call centres. That money should not be spent at the Flagstaff House; that money should not be spent at the presidency; that money must be used to develop those areas.

    What has happened to the Zongo Development Fund? Now, should we celebrate sports pitches as if that is the development intervention we are looking for-- of artificial turfs?

    Mr Speaker, despite a budgetary allocation of GH¢400 million; see appendix 6 of the 2018 Budget Statement. The Hon Kyerematen informed us that the only way we could have a sustainable model is not

    for the Government to be setting up these state enterprises.

    So, if Government is going to set up state enterprises, why are they allocating 150 million for the purpose of 1D1F? We need answers to that.

    Mr Speaker, when the Hon Eric Opoku had the opportunity to debate, he referred you to some numbers of the Fisheries sector. Despite your investment in that area, it has seen a tremendous decline over the areas. To quote the Hon Minister, in paragraph 11, he said that when the NDC was awarding contracts in the Energy sector, they did not have the slightest care of the public purse. Did the (NPP) have the slightest care of the public purse when they brought PDS to this House and misled the people of Ghana on PDS over the ECG concession; and one of their Hon Ministers could even describe it as a fraudulent transaction and later they use the Hon Minister to repair it?

    We demand as Minority, that the assets of ECG be valued and made public so that we know who deserves a 49 and 51 per cent. After all, zero per cent of zero is zero. If you do not know the assets of ECG, can you say that somebody is entitled to 49 per cent of it?-- 49 per cent of what? The workers need our protection.

    Mr Speaker, performance in the Energy sector from my statistics on ECG. In the year 2016, the ECG made a profit of GH¢583 million, in the year 2017, a loss of GH¢521 nmillion, in the year 2018, GH¢2.9 billion and as of the end of September 2019, it was GH¢1.9 billion. Yet they say they are superior managers of the economy, who have better ways of managing debt and many other related issues.

    The NPP was quick in labelling taxes as nuisance taxes, including the Energy Sector Levy Accounts (ESLA) which has turned out to become their saviour. I heard the President announce somewhere in Canada and the United States of America that he has paid off some money. He should quote properly that he paid and offset those debts relative to the Energy sector. Thanks to former President John Mahama and the NDC for consolidating those taxes in the name of ESLA to be able to do that.

    Mr Speaker, as we are being told, yes, Government has a transaction with the Chinese Government which is estimated at some US$2 billion. Government came to this House that they were to do so in the name of barter in terms of bauxite and some US$2 billion for infrastructural development out of which it is
    Mr Speaker, let me quote from the NPP's Manifesto of 2016 which reads 11:14 a.m.
    reported by a respected ESS Africa heightened lack of transparency in it and we demand better transparency. Apart from the US$649 million which came to this House in the name of Sinohydro, we need to know what the other commitment are in respect of the additional US$1.25 billion that has not been reported.
    We demand transparency in respect of that. We are also told that China will be granted access up to five per cent of Ghana's bauxite reserves. What is our total bauxite reserves? Who evaluated and accessed our bauxite reserves that five per cent of it amounts to US$2 billion. We in the Minority demand more transparency in this transaction as Government deals further with this matter in respect of Sinohydro and many other road projects related to it.
    Mr Speaker, again, rural electrification; we have seen some improvement. The improvement is just that Government has increased access by some 0.5 per cent per annum as against the NDC rate of about 4 per cent. So, within the last four years, what have they done to improve rural access to rural electrification under the Self-Help Electrification Programme?
    At the end of September 2019, the nominal public debt stock was
    GH¢208, 565.18, comprising external and domestic debt up to GH¢107,166.78. It is reported by ESS Africa that this Government has added about US$10 billion to Ghana's debt. Therefore, Ghana still remains a debt risk distressed country notwithstanding the base of the economy and other matters relative to it.
    Mr Speaker, from pages 201 to 203, the Hon Minister in his Budget Statement stated; ‘Nation Builders Corps, 100,000'. Government owes both the young men and women recruited into the NABCO as well as the Youth in Afforestation Programme, and some nurses arrears. They walk in and out of this Parliament demanding that government pays.
    So the Hon Minister for Finance should be kind to those young men and women. They were not working to be paid after four or six months; they work very hard thinking that at the end of the month, they would have been rewarded as persons who are contributing to productivity and to our national development.
    Mr Speaker, as I indicated, the Minority would not be supportive of government efforts in establishing any National Development Bank or a new one. What has happened to the Agricultural Development Bank
    (ADB) and the National Investment Bank (NIB)? Even when the NIB had an opportunity to use its own investment to recapitalise, they were denied that opportunity and declared it as a distressed bank. We think that is not good enough.
    This Budget Statement does not address the concerns of unemployment as is noted by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and therefore we need to do something about it.
    Mr Speaker, in paragraph 201, the Hon Minister for Finance talks about the commodity exchange. You know the role the NDC and I played in getting the commodity exchange, yet they declared that it was established under them. They also say that the 911 emergency intervention which former President Mahama used in June when the June 3rd disaster happened in the year 2015, was also reported that they did it. In those paragraphs where they said; ‘we have', they reported that and attributed that to themselves. It is only fair that tomorrow, they will attribute and know the source-Many of them as were done by the previous Administration.
    Mr Speaker, what is important is for this Government to appreciate the enormous wisdom of former President Mahama on debt service and
    management. I have repeatedly said that when you travel to the Kotoka International Airport and you see Terminal 3, you will know who has a superior debt management strategy. Thanks to the thinking of the NDC, that edifice of a magnificent infrastructure is not sitting on government debt.
    So when they assume Office today and describe taxes such as ESLA as nuisance -- Mr Speaker, may I again refer to the numbers -- [Interruption] -- what we are saying is that, that has not been done.
    Mr Speaker, I will conclude on debt-- Financial sector clean up. The Hon Minister is not repeating ‘wholly' to this House and to the Bank of Ghana. When you say; ‘our debt' excluding banking sector reforms, what does that mean? It means misreporting, because that is also government expenditure and qualifies as expenditure.

    So when they say the debt excluding banking sector clean-up which is around GHC20 billion plus its financing which is GHC11.7 billion -- that must be accounted for in government expenditure. Mr Speaker, notwithstanding the deficit, whether revised or current, we do not think
    Mr Speaker, let me quote from the NPP's Manifesto of 2016 which reads 11:14 a.m.
    that if we do a total cumulation, we would be within the Fiscal Responsibility Act threshold of less than five per cent. Mr Speaker, we think that we must compute adequately and all those other expenditure that were excluded must be added so that we know the true fiscal deficit at the end of the year 2020.
    Mr Speaker, while I am at it, on the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the Hon Minister reported that this time, the allocation would be based on the ruling by the Supreme Court. Mr Speaker, thanks to the Minority side and Hon Kpodo who challenged the matter in the Supreme Court and warned that it must be based on total revenue which is consistent with article 252 of the Constitution -- Therefore when the Formula for the DACF comes, we would ask for further and better particulars and details on how much of the total revenue is being dedicated to the DACF.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister praises himself as if capping is saving - GH¢300 million for the GETFund and GH¢800 million for the DACF - Even though capping gives additional money to spend, it is our indication as a Minority, that the Hon Minister should spend it on related priority areas.
    Mr Speaker, if he takes moneys from the DACF, he should spend it on district development in that area in
    the name of capping. He should not spend the money somewhere else and say that they are doing well.
    Mr Speaker, the Government comes to this House and says that they are performing well when it comes to statutory funds. Mr Speaker, they are performing well because we have forgiven them not to adequately pay what they would have been required to pay. If they did not cap for us to give them a percentage but they were to pay fully on the DACF, they would not come here to say that they are doing well and so we should praise them.

    Mr Speaker, I would conclude. As regards investment in the agricultural sector, we are still not consistent with what pertains within the Maputo Protocol of having up to 10 per cent

    invested in the agricultural sector. Mr Speaker, even though we have seen some significant growth from 1.3 per cent to 1.59 per cent in terms of investment in agriculture, we recognise that our economy is agrarian and the agricultural sector can do more in terms of employment and contribute to export and so on and we should be able to see it.

    Finally, on petroleum funds, I would read the preface of a Paper the Hon Minister laid before this House which is titled “Petroleum Funds for 2019. Table Copy”. Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister identifies agriculture, physical infrastructure and service delivery in education, physical infrastructure and service delivery in health, and road, rail and other critical infrastructure.

    Mr Speaker, under the disbursement of resources, you would appreciate that the physical infrastructure in other areas of the economy are not receiving enough. I note that Government's flagship is in respect of physical infrastructure arising out of the implementation of the Free Senior High School Programme.

    Mr Speaker, if you look at Table 6, “2019 Programme ABFA by Priority Area” which I urge the Table Office to capture, -- you would see

    under physical infrastructure and service delivery in education, an amount of GH¢864 million. Mr Speaker, when you come to physical infrastructure and service delivery in health, the amount is GH¢47 million. Mr Speaker, look at the significant difference between GH¢864 million and GH¢47 million. Further, under road, rail and other critical infrastructural development, the amount is GH¢1.4 billion as a lump figure.

    Mr Speaker, we are saying that the Free Senior High School programme has expanded access to secondary education and there is no doubt about this, but it comes at an opportunity cost to the development of other sectors of the economy. The continuous expenditure of oil revenues on consumption is worrisome for us as a Minority, as it does not secure the future of this country. Mr Speaker, to quote the Hon Minister for Finance, we would need a need-based test to appreciate it. We cannot have a system where everybody passes.

    Mr Speaker, be assured that when former President Mahama regains power in January 2021, thanks to the people of Ghana, the traffic lights of red, gold and green tracking of education would stop. [Hear! Hear!] Mr Speaker, it would stop in a fortnight because it has reduced
    Mr Speaker, let me quote from the NPP's Manifesto of 2016 which reads 11:24 a.m.
    that public financial management was done only during their tenure. Mr Speaker, even with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, we demand that the Hon Minister for Finance comes to Parliament for us to establish the Council as a creation of statute.

    Mr Speaker, the Fiscal Responsibility Council is not mentioned in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. It means that their actions and decisions are only morally persuasive and not legally binding. If they are committed to fiscal responsibility, they must allow us to create the Fiscal Responsibility Council, so that the Minister is bound by it.

    Mr Speaker, we also demand that the Minister reports on the energy sector debt of 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Thanks to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), we are retiring many of the energy sector debts through the Energy Sector Levy Act (ESLA). How much of it have they accumulated?

    Mr Speaker, three days ago, the workers of Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) were threatening us. They said that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) owes them and that when the President gave

    instructions to the Minister for Finance six months ago, that has not been honoured. It has not been honoured because the economy is doing very well. It is doing well when GRIDCo cannot have their take in terms of assuring us that in the distribution of electricity, they are ready and clear to do it.

    Mr Speaker, paragraph 776 of page 144 of the Budget Statement talks about the Tourism Sector, and I quote:

    “776 A Special Purpose Vehicle was constituted to speed up the implementation of the Marine Drive Tourism Investment Project. The project worth about US$1.2 billion is expected to create about 600,000 jobs.”

    Mr Speaker, we would want to know where that money is coming from. Is it from the private sector or a joint partnership with Government? We need to know.

    Mr Speaker, as I have said, this Government has benefited enormously from petroleum receipts over the period. Therefore they should be doing very well. So whether there are new taxes or no taxes, we leave it to the judgement of the Ghanaian private sector. What we
    Mr Speaker 11:24 a.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon Minority Leader.
    Hon Member, you did 40 minutes.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 11:24 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much for this great opportunity to conclude the debate on the Motion that this House approves the Financial Policy of the Government for the year ending December 31, 2020.
    Mr Speaker, before I proceed, I think it is important to respond to a
    few of the issues raised by my Hon Colleague. He spoke about what legacy the NDC Government left for Ghana, and indeed, this Government and he cited the Terminal 3. Yes, the edifice is there, and we know that the financial audit on Terminal 3 established that it should not have cost this nation more than US$175 million. [Interruption] Yet it cost this country US$400 million and that is the legacy they gave us.
    Mr Speaker, the Ghana Airport Company Limited, even today, cannot even pay salaries. That is their legacy. [Uproar.] Mr Speaker, they are so allergic to criticisms.
    I deem it extremely relevant to remind the House of the pivotal concern I raised on the day the Hon Minister for Finance moved the Motion for the approval of the Financial Policy of Government for the year ending December 31, 2020.
    Mr Speaker, I said to the House on that day, that we should gear ourselves up to debate the policy and principles underpinning the Budget Statement in a very pragmatic manner and eschew propaganda and playing to the gallery. It is sad to relate that at this time, when Parliament and Hon Members who have taken their turn should have been debating the principles driving the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of
    Government, many contributors digressed and lost their ways.
    Mr Speaker, the leadership of the House arranged a post-Budget workshop for Hon Members to deepen our understanding of the principles and the foundational construct of the Budget Statement. I thought that at least, for this year's debate, there would be a mild departure from the conventional way of conducting the debate on the Budget Statement. Unfortunately, the hope turned out to be a finite one, given the fact that many debaters elected to set their own examination questions, provide their own marking schemes and marked their own scripts in the manner that they thought would satisfy their base.
    Mr Speaker, in the 2017 debate, some debaters concentrated on insufficient explanations and on the use of acronyms and abbreviations. In 2018, some Hon Members spent precious time on what they described as cut and paste descriptions in certain identified pages of the Budget Statement, forgetting in the process that in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 up to 2016, the Budget Statements had about the same language because they were written by the same civil servants who are accustomed to the same language, knowing what they know to do best.
    Mr Speaker, in 2019, the focus has drifted to the import of maize into the country, when in reality, what happened was that Ghana had drawn from its own buffer stock, with the tacit agreement of the Economic Community of West African State, (ECOWAS) Commission in order for the country to subsequently replenish the stock for countries in the sub- region that might require to be supplied in times of need.
    Mr Speaker, this year, the debate has followed the same trajectory. Rather unfortunately, even though the Hon Member who seconded the Hon Minister's Motion, who is the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee, Hon Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah did strive to set the standard by relating to major improvements in the macro- economy as positive indications that the fundamentals of the economy had become stronger, thereby upscaling development in many areas of our national lives -- Many who criticised the Government's Budget Statement and Economic Policy elected not to deal with the facts and figures, but drew their own conclusions with their own understanding of the facts and figures.
    Mr Speaker, the NDC, in their electioneering campaign of 2008, promised a better Ghana for all.
    Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 11:34 a.m.
    Accordingly, the subsequent Budgets the NDC Administration presented, resonated the better Ghana Agenda. After seven years, when results were not showing many positives, the Government changed the refrain to “Changing Lives and Transforming the Economy”. Mr Speaker, the unfortunate reality for the generality of our citizenry was that most young graduates were unable to find jobs.

    Mr Speaker, there was indeed an encircling gloom and the economy had deformed and not transformed at all. The performance of the previous Government after eight major budgets and seven supplementary budgets did not yield a better Ghana, neither did it touch lives in any meaningful manner, apart from those of them at the centre of power as well as those hovering around the corridors of power. Mr Speaker, things indeed had fallen apart.

    Mr Speaker, the vision of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as expressed in the NPP Manifesto of 2016 is what I beg to quote with your permission:

    “...is to create an optimistic self- confident and prosperous nation through the creative exploitation of our human and natural resources and operating within a democratic open and fair society, in which mutual and economic opportunities …”
    An Hon Member 11:34 a.m.
    Are you reading?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:34 a.m.
    Yes, I am reading the quote. You should know that when you are debating a Budget Statement which is a serious document full of facts and figures, certainly you must make copious references to your script. That is how a budget is debated anywhere by the Leaders of the House, and the young should learn. [Hear! Hear!]
    Mr Speaker, the theme for the 2016 Manifesto reads, and I beg to quote again 11:34 a.m.
    “Change, an Agenda for Jobs: Creating Prosperity and Equal Opportunity for all.”
    Mr Speaker, every Budget Statement, over the past three years the President has caused to be
    submitted to Parliament, has sought accordingly, to synchronise the development agenda of Government with the imperatives of the 1992 Constitution, NPP Manifesto, the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policy of Government, the AU Agenda 2063, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, among other expressed visions for development.
    Mr Speaker, in order to build a strong and resilient economy, one must purpose to restore and sustain macroeconomic stability. That is what the 2017 Budget was set out to do with six target areas that it planned to attain. Those focal areas were: Enhancing revenue mobilisation, strengthening expenditure management and ensuring effective debt management policies.
    The second focal area for the 2017 Budget Statement was: Industrial transformation with a view to promoting international trade and investment.
    In this regard, Government planned to do three things: (a) ensure energy availability and reliability, (b) provide incentive for the production and supply of quality raw materials, (c) invest significantly in research and development, and (d) facilitate access to lands for industrial development.
    Mr Speaker, the theme for the 2016 Manifesto reads, and I beg to quote again 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the sixth target was, agriculture and rural development. With social development, Government aimed to create opportunity for all.
    Mr Speaker, the pursuit of the above focal issues was to help the country grow in leaps and bounds, and therefore put Ghana back to work. That was in March, 2017.
    Mr Speaker, the 2018 Budget Statement was a necessary sequel to the 2017 Budget Statement that came to be unveiled in March, 2017. It is interesting, flashing back to observe, that two days before the 2018 Budget Statement was delivered in the House, the Minority characteristically, in one of their journeys to nowhere press conferences, painted a picture of doom for 2018. They predicted, that in 2018 the nation would be plunged into a situation of scarcities, deprivation and distress that would make hunger and thirst of the1982 and

    1983 period pale into insignificance -- [Interruption] -- I am quoting my good Friend who led that press conference.

    Mr Speaker, nothing close to that doom's day prediction happened. One would have thought that they would spend time to lick their wounds, but unabashedly, they sprung back two days before the 2019 Budget Statement was presented. At that time, the apocalyptic signals that they gave this nation was that we would go back to the dumsor days. Again, nothing like that happened.

    Mr Speaker, at that time, the Hon Minority Leader, normally, a laid-back person, because of his own infamous declaration of adundum adundum be gyai, to wit, frequent power outages will stop, which never happened in 2019, he stated that the nation would be plunged into preso preso which never came for one year. He is now telling me that ebe ba to wit, it wil come, a prophet of doom.

    Mr Speaker, the apocalyptic tone was earlier set by the Hon Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy in 2019. Ghanaians would remember that last year, the NDC wrote to the World Bank and the Government of the United States of America (USA) to sanction the Government of Ghana

    for what they perceived as improprieties in Government's processes of accountability. They wanted the World Bank to sanction Ghana and inflict pain on Ghanaians; the same people that they want to appeal to bring them back to power. That is how desperation operates.

    Mr Speaker, clearly, an opposition party that wants to be perceived as credible, cannot be getting all their predictions wrong on all three Budget Statements that they have critiqued. To have some relevance in contemporary Ghanaian politics, one must speak to facts objectively.

    Mr Speaker, two working days before the 2020 Budget Statements came to be presented, yet another media engagement was organised by my Hon Colleagues. This time they appealed to Government not to submit massaged figures, as if any NPP Administration has ever engaged in that enterprise. If any Government has done that in this country in the Fourth Republic, it is the NDC Government that under-reported, for which reason the World Bank imposed a US$27 million penalty on the country.

    Mr Speaker, none of the four pre- Budget obsequies dirges by the NDC Minority side has ever come to reality. On the contrary, the country has

    Mr Speaker, figures do not lie. The GDP growth in 2000 which was bequeathed to former President Kufuor's Administration was 3.7 per cent. In 2001, it grew to 4.2 per cent; in 2002, 4.5 per cent; in 2003, 5.2 per cent; in 2004, 5.6 per cent; and rose to 5.9 per cent in 2005; 6.4 per cent in 2006; 6.3 per cent in 2007 and 8.4 per cent in 2008, which was later rebased to 9.1 per cent growth.

    Mr Speaker, this indeed is steady growth. These rates occurred without revenue from crude oil exports and the span of years during which the world witnessed the worst economic crisis in several decades. Mr Speaker, it is the financial melt-down and the sky rocketing oil prices of the times. Yet the Ghanaian economy weathered the storm.

    Mr Speaker, it is important to restate the fact that the Ghanaian economy expanded profoundly from US$5.1billion in 2000 to US$28.5 billion at the end of 2008-- a colossal increase of 400 per cent.

    Amidst the global economic and financial crisis of the 2007/2008 era, Ghana was transformed from a low income Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) economy to a lower middle income economy on the frontiers of emerging market status.

    Mr Speaker, the record of progressively upward economic growth compares with the generally declining growth rate under the Governments led by former President Mills and former President Mahama.

    From the 9.1 per cent growth rate recorded in 2008, the GDP swung down to 4.8 per cent in 2009, 7.9 per cent in 2010, and 14 per cent in 2011. Mr Speaker, 14 per cent in 2011 happened because that was the first time petroleum money got factored into our reserves. That was the only reason.

    Mr Speaker, for 2012, it climbed down again to 9.3 per cent, spiralled downwards to 7.3 per cent in 2013 and for 2014, the GDP growth rate nose-dived to 2.9 per cent. In 2015, it plunged further down to 2.2 per cent, which is the worst GDP growth rate for 36 years in this country.

    Mr Speaker, for 2016, the year the NDC exited, the economy grew by 3.4 per cent. Mr Speaker, the 3.4 per
    rose
    Some Hon Members 11:44 a.m.
    Sit down.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the people of this country are clear eyed enough and certainly, they would choose a David over a Saul to rule over this country. [Hear! Hear!]
    Mr Speaker, in 2017 and 2018, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional economy grew by 2.8 per cent, and 3.4 per cent respectively. In 2017, Ghana's economy grew at 8.1 per cent from the shambolic performance of 3.4 per cent in 2016.
    Mr Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, hold on.
    Hon Member, do you stand on a point of correction?
    Mr Forson 11:44 a.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, this is a House of records.
    Mr Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    Hon Member, in the conclusion of the Hon Leaders, we have adopted a different strategy, but I am very particular about facts and figures. If you stand on a point of correction, you may do so. Stick to it.
    Mr Forson 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I come on a point of correction. The Hon Majority Leader, in his statement, said that Ghana recorded a GDP growth of 3.6 per cent for the year 2016. He went on to say that this amount included oil revenue. Mr Speaker, for the records, during the period, oil recorded a -32 per cent growth, and so, the 3.6 per cent excludes oil revenue. [Interruption]
    Mr Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    Hon Members, we will not have this kind of debate in this honourable House. We are capable of making arguments and counter-
    arguments, and I trust the Hon Leader on his feet is capable of answering whatever query. [Hear! Hear!] No, do not shout at this stage. If you knew that, would you have done what you did? I want a brilliant debate, and I would want to trust the ability of Hon Members to carry this out. In fact, I do not compromise on that matter.
    Hon Majority Leader, you may continue.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is intriguing for a man of finance to talk the way my Hon Colleague has spoken. Yes, petroleum revenue grew in negative terms. It does not mean that there was no petroleum revenue. So, for him to say that the GDP did not include petroleum revenue is a very outlandish reasoning. I am surprised and shocked by this kind of reasoning, but I will go on.
    Mr Speaker, in 2017 and 2018, the ECOWAS regional economy grew by 2.8 per cent and 3.4 per cent respectively. Ghana's economy grew at 8.1 per cent from the shambolic performance of 3.4 per cent in 2016, registered under the NDC.
    It is important to note that 1984, which followed the two year period of intense drought and bushfires,
    Ghana has, for more than 35 years, never witnessed a situation where the succeeding year's GDP growth rate has outperformed the previous year's growth rate by 100 per cent. It happened under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo when he took over in 2017 from 3.4 per cent. The upscalling of GDP growth rate was in the excess of eight per cent. It has never happened and that is the magic of the times. Mr Speaker, the upscalling of the GDP rate of growth in 2017 was 138.2 per cent, over and above what John Mahama did in 2016. That, by every indication, is phenomenal.
    It is important to observe that over the past 30 years, between two succeeding years, contraction of GDP has never reached 50 per cent, but it happened under former president John Dramani Mahama between 2013 and 2014. In 2013, the GDP growth rate was 7.3 per cent and it declined by more than 50 per cent in the succeeding year.
    Mr Speaker, in 2019, the economy is predicted to grow at 7.0 per cent, and for 2020, the target is 6.8 per cent. That means that under the Akufo-Addo Administration, for these years, the economy is growing at an average of 7.1 per cent -- [Hear! Hear!] -- whereas the average GDP growth rate under John
    3751Government's Financial 26 November, 2019 Policy, 2020 3752 3753 Government's Financial 26 November, 2019 Policy, 2020 3754
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:44 a.m.
    Mahama was 3.9 per cent. When we talk about being the better managers of the economy, they dispute it. Facts and figures do not lie.
    Mr Speaker, inflation in 2017 was about 12 per cent. In 2018, it descended downwards to a single digit and for 2019, it still remains in a single digit of 7.6 per cent as we speak. Mr Speaker, the NDC, held under President Mills and shepherded by Dr Duffour, registered a single digit inflation for 15 months. At the time, the NDC touted it as unprecedented. Today, we have managed 24 months and we are still counting. How would they describe it?
    Mr Speaker, it can only be described as “milestonic”.
    Mr Speaker, under the NDC, for two consecutive years, the country suffered double digit budget deficit.
    11. 54 a. m.
    Mr Speaker, since 2017, the budget deficit considerably has run below 5.0 per cent. Both in 2018 and 2019, it was between 4.5 and 4.7 per cent. These were not targets that the nation could attain under the NDC . Fiscal deficit has also reduced from 9.3 per cent in 2016 to lower than
    6.5 per cent on the average for three years since 2017.
    Mr Speaker, interest rates have climbed down from 22.0 per cent, and lending rates have also climbed down from the 36.0 per cent to 24.0 per cent, as we speak today. It is down significantly.

    Mr Speaker, the managers of the economy must watch the increase; whether it is US$50 billion, US$70 billion or US$80 billion. However, what does any critical analysis reveal? Under the NDC, the debt stock grew by an average of 38 per cent a year [Interruption.] Mr Speaker, under the NPP now, the growth of the debts stock is 18 per cent per year. [Interruption.]

    Mr Speaker, the Gross International Reserves -- My Hon Colleague, the Hon Minority Leader,

    has spoken to it. The international reserves bequeathed the NDC Administration in December, 2016 was able to provide cover to 2.4 months. By the end of 2017, it had increased to over US$7 billion and in 2018, it had climbed to over US$7.2 billion which could provide cover for 3.6 months. As of September, 2019 - and the Hon Minority Leader tells us that it has climbed down. Yes, indeed; it is now US$8.1 billion, which we could never even dream of at their time of occupying both the Christiansborg Castle and the Jubilee House. They were never able to achieve this - US$8.1 billion, which provides cover for over four months.

    Mr Speaker, in 2019, the country achieved five of the six Convergence Criteria (CC). For the eight-year period of the NDC -- of course, at the time, there were ten criteria; four primary and six secondary criteria. The best they attained was three. Even the third one, by September, 2016, they had slipped. So by the close of the year, they had come down to two.

    Now, under Akufo-Addo's Administration, it has been consolidated into six criteria. We have achieved four of the six in 2017 and in 2018. We attained the same four out of six; in 2019, we have attained five out of the six CC. Mr Speaker,

    that clearly should suggest to anybody that we are doing so well.

    Mr Speaker, in 2014, agriculture grew at 0.9 per cent. I would like my Hon Colleague and dear Friend, Hon Eric Opoku to listen. In 2014, their Government grew agriculture at 0.9 per cent; in 2015, they registered 2.3 per cent; in 2016, it grew at 2.0 per cent; in 2017, it grew at 6.1 per cent; in 2018, it grew at 4.2 per cent, and, indeed, in the first half of 2019, it grew at 2.7 per cent. For the last three years of the NDC, agriculture growth averaged 2.0 per cent whereas, for the NPP, in the first two years, the average growth was 5.5 per cent - more than 175 per cent better than under the NDC's watch.

    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member says it is not true; he should check paragraph 109, page 26 of the 2019 Budget Statement and Figure two, paragraph 6, page 20 of the 2020 Budget Statement.

    Mr Speaker, the cocoa sub sector and this is official, not propaganda. Growth in cocoa in 2014 registered 4.6 per cent; for 2015, cocoa grew at -8 per cent and for 2016, it registered another -7 per cent growth. In other words, for the last three years of the NDC, average growth in the cocoa sector -- was -3.5 per cent. Under the NPP in 2017, cocoa grew
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:04 p.m.
    at 9.2 per cent. In 2018, it was 3.6 per cent. It was not laughable; 3.6 per cent is better than their -3.5 per cent. Mr Speaker, that means that the average rates of growth under the cocoa sub sector has been 6.4 per cent against -3.5 per cent.
    Mr Speaker, let them refer themselves to paragraph 110, table 2 on 27 of the 2017 Budget Statement and paragraph 76 and figure 2 of the 2020 Budget Statement.
    Mr Speaker, industry, in 2014, grew at 1.1 per cent. It grew again at 1.1 per cent in 2015. In 2016, it grew at 4.3 per cent. Mr Speaker, industry grew 15.7 per cent in 2018 and 10.6 per cent in 2019. The average growth for industry for the first two years under President Akufo-Addo was 13.2 per cent. This compares with the abysmal rate of growth under the NDC's watch, which was 2.3 per cent average for the last three years of their regime.
    Mr Speaker, clearly, there is no basis to do any fair comparison between the achievements under Nana Akufo-Addo and the shambolic achievements under President John Mahama. Mr Speaker, it is these gains that the Akufo-Addo Administration is purposed to consolidate for growth, jobs and prosperity for all.
    Mr Speaker, from a lowly 0.9 per cent growth of agriculture in 2016, the Government's ground-breaking Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme and Planting for Exports and Rural Development (PERD) continues to improve production efficiency. Food security, profitability for our farmers, job creation and exports as well as establishing the basis for industrialisation.
    Mr Speaker, as I said, in 2014, agriculture grew by those margins that I have given. Within agriculture, the crops sub sector grew by 2.8 per cent.

    In 2015, it grew by 1.7 per cent and 2.2 per cent in 2016, averaging 2.2 per cent growth rate in the last three years. In contrast, the crop sub- sector grew by 7.2 per cent in 2017, and 6.1 per cent in 2018, giving an average growth rate for 6.2 per cent. We cannot add the half year because the year has not yet ended, and any person who does the analysis would not add the half year.

    Mr Speaker, in the industry sector, the Government has increased subsidies on retail prices of seeds, fertilizers and agro-chemicals. It would focus on the development of small-scale irrigation facilities,

    especially in northern Ghana through the One Village One Dam policy, as well as increase the extension officer to farmer ratio.

    Mr Speaker, a total production of over 1.5 million metric tonnes of cereals and legumes, and over 45,000 metric tonnes of vegetables valued at GH¢1.5 billion and GH¢3.43 billion respectively was achieved between 2017 and 2018 alone. Maize yields increased by 89 per cent from 1.8 metric tonnes per hectare to 3.4 metric tonnes per hectare. Rice yield also increased by 48 per cent from 2.7 metric tonnes per hectare to 4.0 metric tonnes per hectare, and soya beans increased by 200 per cent, from one million metric tonnes per hectare to 3.0 metric tonnes per hectare.

    Mr Speaker, again, I would want to comment on paragraph 258 of the 2020 Budget Statement. Interven- tions in agriculture have indeed created many jobs. Over 746, 000 and almost 800,000 jobs were created in the agriculture industry in 2017 and 2018 respectively. The National Buffer Stock Company also facilitated the distribution of food to the School Feeding Programme, the Free SHS Programme, the prisons and the Ghana Police Service among others.

    Mr Speaker, in 2015, the NDC Government distributed 30,000 brooded cockerels. In 2020, the NPP Government would distribute 80,000 brooded cockerels. In 2015, the NDC Government distributed 450 sheep and 450 goats to farmers in the Northern Region. In 2020, the NPP Government would distribute 14,000 ruminants. In 2015, the NDC Government distributed 700 piglets to farmers, for which reason former President Mahama came to this House and ferried a lady all the way from the Northern Region to Accra, hosted her in a first class hotel, and she was given five piglets - the evidence-based gospel according to former President Mahama. A colossal waste of the nation's scarce resources.

    Mr Speaker, President Akufo- Addo's Government would not distribute 700 piglets, but it would distribute 18,000 piglets and 182,000 layer pellets to farmers. [Hear! Hear!] This is the difference between commitment and the fanciful.

    Over the past three years, the number of beneficiaries of senior high schools has ballooned in enrolment by 43 per cent between 2017 and 2018. The enrolment for 2019, is projected to reach 1.264 million students - this is compared to what they did in three years, which figure was 480,000. That is the difference, and that is what
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:14 p.m.


    the Free Senior High School Programme has unleashed on Ghana, and that is investing in human capital development. Many teaching and non-teaching staff have been employed to cater for the additional numbers employed.

    Mr Speaker, the Nation Builders Corps has engaged over 100,000 young men and women, and agriculture has created over 794,944 jobs; most of them being farm level employment. The Forestry Commission has also engaged many people in the afforestation programme, which number is close to another 100,000.

    In the power sector, Cen power Generation Company Limited which would produce 340 megawatts, has come on stream to increase installed capacity from 4,743 megawatts as at the beginning of January, 2019 to 5,083 megawatts. Amandi Energy Limited is scheduled to produce 190 megawatts and Eni Ghana Exploration and Production Limited, 400 megawatts. They would soon come on stream to take the installed capacity to over 5,600 megawatts.

    Mr Speaker, the positive of this development is that, with our peak power demand currently, around 2,700 megawatts and the backup that

    we require is in the region of 200 to 300 megawatts, the dumsor days are certainly over. The flipside however, is that the astronomical cost to this country -- the rather kneejerk take- or- pay contracts have inflicted on us. In plain language, contracts were poorly negotiated, and the country had to pay on monthly basis about US$9 million for unutilised capacity in thermal power and gas production.

    Mr Speaker, how many roads could we not as a nation fix with the GH¢1.1 billion throw-away cash, because somebody or some people,

    through omission, commission, ignorance, negligence, incompetence or sheer fluke, have inflicted such a calamity on the people of Ghana? It is the reason the present Government has undertaken to renegotiate the tariffs of the Independent Power Productions (IPPs). The response thus far, we are told, is positive. We could only urge the Government to speed up with the negotiations. If we are successful, then we could sell excess power to the neighbouring countries. Otherwise, the Government may have to subsidise the tariffs to our neighbouring countries before we could sell to them, and that would be most discriminatory to our own local users and also fend off investors.

    Mr Speaker, one must be quick to add that even though by every factual account, by every objective account and not propaganda, a lot has been achieved under President Akufo- Addo, and there is still a lot of room for improvement.

    Mr Speaker, first, we must admit that even though as a nation, we have reduced the incidence of poverty, yet paradoxically, within the country, the gap between the poor and the rich keeps widening. So the managers of the economy must attend to this.

    Secondly, we must hasten the delivery of infrastructural facilities, railways and roads in particular, because many communities are pressing for their own demands.

    Thirdly, Government should increase the rate of the development of the One Village One Dam project, which would upscale the 1D1F, and prevent demotivation among the huge numbers who have gone back into agriculture.

    Mr Speaker, having said this, the people of this country are better judges of the unequal performance of the NPP and NDC. Hon Colleagues on the other Side who spoke earlier before the Hon Minority Leader also joined the chorus that the NPP has a litany of broken promises. They have referred to the NPP manifesto, but if we are to compare, they, as usual, would lick their wounds.

    A few examples will suffice. They gave timelines and told Ghanaians that in the first 100 days -- I have their manuf esto here. [Laughter.] [Laughter.] They would take bold and comprehensive measures to deal with the appalling filth in all our communities and the related health problems.

    Mr Speaker, it was during their time that the nation experienced a massive cholera outbreak. It was
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:14 p.m.


    during their time that Mother Nature responded to their inaction; the flooding and calamity that occurred on the 3rd June, 2016; the worst in recent times.

    They said they would review the National Health Insurance Scheme to provide for a one-time premium payment within the first two years. They said they would extend school feeding to all primary schools within the first two years, and review the GETFund Act to decentralise the utilisation of the Fund to the educational institutions themselves with the participation of students. They also said they would legislate for an election fund for political party training, and for the election day activities for the first two years.

    Mr Speaker, they said they would provide adequate number of vocational institutions to absolve all Junior High School (JHS) graduates who did not gain admission to the Senior High Schools (SHSs). They would significantly improve the supply of housing stock, sufficiently modernise agriculture to ensure food security and provide dependable raw materials in the first two years. Before they left Office, we imported cassava and plantain from La Cote d'Ivoire.

    They also said they would create a society in which corruption is punished, and probity and integrity are applauded. We all know what happened. Against these major disappointments, listen to what the NPP has achieved.

    Mr Speaker, within less than three years, the range of economic growth has doubled, but the Hon Minority Leader tried to dispute it. It has doubled from where they left it; at 3.9 per cent on the average. in the last three years, we have grown it by 7.1 per cent.

    Through the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme, the country is now self-sufficient in basic staples including cassava and plantain, which we no longer import from La Cote d'Ivoire. As well, we have not imported dining table maize over the past two years.

    Mr Speaker, the fiscal deficit has been reduced, and the rate of debt accumulation as I related to, has drastically reduced from 38 to 10 per cent per annum. In relative terms, electricity prices have been reduced, benchmark values have been reduced by 50 per cent and the tax burden on Ghanaians have become lighter. We have cleaned up the banking sector and saved depositors from the mismanagement of glorified ponzi schemes which paraded as banks.

    We have attained a trade surplus for the first time in 20 years; the country's current account deficit has been reduced. The rate of depreciation of the Ghana cedi has slowed down, and we have successfully exited the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the NDC plunged this nation into.

    Ambulances have been procured for all 275 constituencies in the country. The Office of the Special Prosecutor has been established, the much delayed Right to Information

    Act has been passed, and six new regions as well as additional districts have been created to accelerate the rate of development in otherwise deprived areas.

    Mr Speaker, construction of 300 out of the 560 small-scale irrigation dams have been completed in partial fulfilment of the One Village One Dam programme.

    The war on galamsey activities has tremendously improved our rural development, and has helped in cleaning up our waterbodies although we must admit that much still needs to be done.

    Mr Speaker, we are implementing the national identity cards system. Three development authorities have been established to vigorously pursue infrastructure for poverty eradication programme. Already, boreholes and sanitary facilities are being constructed in many communities in all the districts of the country.

    The construction of 10 fish landing sites from Keta through Teshie and Winneba to Axim has started. AngloGold Ashanti has been revived under the watch of the NPP Government. The reverse gas flow project to evacuate gas from the east enclave has been completed. The construction of phase II of the Tamale
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:14 p.m.


    Mr Speaker, the Tema end of the Motorway interchange, and the Obetsebi Lamptey interchange are being done, and the railway network in the country is being revolutionarised. The Integrated Bauxite and Aluminium Industry has been born, and the Integrated Iron and Steel Development Authority has come on stream to lead the construction industry in this country.

    Indeed, these are the solid achievements that the NPP Administration, led by President Akufo-Addo has chalked through the various yearly worked plans called Budget Statements that have been introduced in Parliament.
    Mr Speaker 12:14 p.m.
    Order!
    Hon Majority Leader, you have five minutes to read the rest.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I timed myself as I started exactly at 11:30 a.m. I know what I am doing.
    Mr Speaker, this indeed is the solid rock upon which the future further growth of this country shall depend.

    That is why I urge all of us to do what is right in the sight of God and in the eyes of the Ghanaian citizenry by supporting and approving the Motion ably moved by the Hon Minister for Finance, Hon Ken Ofori-Atta, on the authority of the President of the Republic of Ghana on 13 th November, 2019, that this honourable House approves the Financial Policy of the Government of Ghana for the Year Ending 31st December, 2020.

    Mr Speaker, I so submit and thank you very much for your indulgence.
    Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
    Order!
    I do not know if the Hon Minister for Finance would want to make a few concluding remarks, if he so desires.
    Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori-Atta) 12:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you

    Mr Speaker, our work within the last three years has created the platform for real economic transformation, strengthening human capital through enhanced access to healthcare, education and skills development, modernising agriculture and industry, and delivering infrastructure across the country.

    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader did mention that he is yet to see the miracle, and he wondered who had seen it, who knew about it and who appreciated it. Mr Speaker, we can all see because there is no dumsor. [Hear! Hear!] We all know because there is now free senior high school education, and people are educated. [Hear! Hear!] We all appreciate what has happened because it is Ebenezer, and we are thankful for what God has done for us. [Hear! Hear!]

    Mr Speaker, to end it and make it even more personal, there is a little known contractor in Tamale South who is very grateful for the payments that he has received. Mr Speaker, he is seeing the miracle.

    Mr Speaker, as I indicated in the Budget Statement, the achievements are many, and include among others; economic growth has doubled under President Akufo-Addo, inflation has fallen from 15.4 per cent to 7.7 per cent, the banking sector is on the rise again, and recording year on year profits of 1.67 billion - Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader has given us a full catalogue of that.

    I am surprised by the comments mostly from our Hon Friends on the Minority side seeking to downplay the quality of achievements of our nation within the last three years.

    Mr Speaker, constructive criticism and healthy debates are a necessary part of any democracy, and we welcome it because it helps us all to improve. However, when inadvertent
    Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori-Atta) 12:24 p.m.


    omissions such as the Volta roads on the list of critical roads in 2020 and consequential impacts of policy efforts, such as those from the financial sector clean-up, are presented as dubious orchestrations and the regulatory work of state institutions are deliberately misconstrued as personal action, these are not constructive at all. Mr Speaker, they become very destructive and undermine the very institutions that we need to strengthen to support our regulatory framework.

    Mr Speaker, despite claims that the welfare of Ghanaians is deteriorating through Government policies, the evidence does not support this because we have pursued transformative social intervention programmes to improve the welfare of Ghanaians. Indeed, the President takes very seriously, the issue of social justice and inclusiveness. This is why we restored the nursing and teacher training allowances and we have some 1.2 million students in senior high schools; that was why we abolished nuisance taxes that choked business and that is why we have ensured that the next tax burden of the Ghanaian has rather declined within the last three years.

    Mr Speaker, we would encourage the discourse on the public debt to
    Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori-Atta) 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, contrary to suggestions from some quarters, we have rather lowered the rate of debt accumulation in the last three years if we compare 51.6 per cent in 2014 to 56.8 per cent in 2016, which represented an increase of 5.2 per cent compared to 0.6 per cent from end of 2016 to date.
    Mr Speaker, this sustainable debt path is partly on the back of our successful fiscal consolidation programme, which reduced the fiscal deficit by 2.6 per cent from 2016 to 2018. Mr Speaker, the prudent management of the economy has contributed to the course of domestic debt declining from 20 per cent at the end of 2016 to 16.8 per cent by September, 2019.
    Mr Speaker, this fiscal discipline has put on a path of debt sustainability anchored on the institutionalisation of structural measures to ensure irreversibility. In the medium-term, the
    investment towards sustaining economic growth rate at about 6 per cent coupled with adherence with the fiscal deficit ceiling of 5 per cent would actually put the debt to GDP growth on a declining path.
    Mr Speaker, the combined effect of these developments lead to the conclusion that about half of the public debt stock build up were caused by these legacy issues, which predates the Government. However, we have responsible and proactive measures to mitigate the effects of our public finances.
    Mr Speaker, some of us in this House have questioned the continuous implementation of the capping policy, which was passed into law by this House bearing in mind that any reversal of the policy would severely undermine the financing of the Budget Statement.
    Mr Speaker, the Earmarked Funds Capping Realignment Act has so far accumulated some GH¢7.6 billion to support Government interventions mostly in the health and education sectors. It is important to stress the public financing of these sectors. In fact, any other sector goes beyond what is allocated through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and GETFund, or any other specific Fund.

    We provide additional resources to build infrastructure from other expenditure lines such as those embedded in the flagship programmes.

    Mr Speaker, it was actually interesting to hear our friends Opposite proffering lessons on resource allocation and growth in relation to the capping policy. The record of our Government shows clearly that with relatively lesser resources, we have grown the economy at an average of six per cent. The NDC Government ended in 2016 at 3.4 per cent of GDP growth, in spite of all of the election year over expenditure.

    Mr Speaker, permit me to further address the tangential issue relating to the nature of Government expenditure. Some have suggested that most of Government's expenditure are consumption oriented. It is inaccurate and misleading to suggest that the capital expenditure allocation for 2019 only amounts to GH¢6 billion. It is important to note that in the memorandum item on page 213 of the Budget Statement it indicates that the total capital expenditure including the earmarked funds is GH¢10.1billion. In addition, there is a sinohydro and a number of Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects.
    Mr Speaker 12:34 p.m.
    Hon Minister, in conclusion?
    Mr Ofori-Atta 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, on the financial sector bailout, while
    others were indifferent and negligent, we demonstrate compassion and decisiveness. The bailout of the financial sector has been instrumental in redeeming 4.6 million Ghanaian depositors who are at risk of losing their entire savings.
    Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I take this opportunity to emphasise the key policy priorities outlined in the 2020 Budget Statement. We do this to reinforce the forward-looking and dynamic nature of this Government.
    Mr Speaker, let me conclude by assuring this House and all Ghanaians that the President has the noblest intentions for our great country. This has been clearly articulated in his coordinated programme and the Ghana Beyond Aid Agenda. This Government is very clear on the path we are travelling to transform the country and to leave no one behind.
    We are focused and firm in our convictions that the investments we are making in our human capital through the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), investment in the real sector through the Planting for Food and Jobs, investment and industrial sector, investment in the Nations Builders Corps (NABCO), commitment to our social partnership for labour and employers to create a cohesive and
    peaceful society, our drive to attract foreign direct investment to complement our efforts to generate rapid economic growth.
    Mr Speaker, the 2020 Budget Statement raises the issue of civic responsibility and the need for focus on the national heritage. We need to agree on a broad consensus to ensure social mobility for all.
    We urge this august House to work together to sustain the commendable efforts of engaging constructively.
    Mr Speaker, in conclusion, we, in these three years have laid the foundation for a stronger economy; we recall the Asempa Budget Statement, the Adwumapa Budget Statement, the Mpontuo Budget Statement and now the Nkoso and nkabom Budget Statement, which continues to bring hope and the realisation of how far, indeed, we have come to.
    Therefore, we should be confident as people stepping into the future and knowing that God has opened a door that no one can shut as noted in Revelation 3:8 which says and I quote with your permission:
    “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an opened door, and no one can shut it”.
    Mr Speaker 12:34 p.m.
    Thank you, Hon Minister.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    That this honourable House approves the Financial Policy of the Government of Ghana for the year ending 31st December, 2020.
    Mr Speaker 12:34 p.m.
    Hon Members, item numbered 5.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to appeal that we step down the consideration of Motion listed as item number 5 and deal with item numbered 6.
    Mr Speaker 12:34 p.m.
    Hon Members, we would move to item numbered 6, during which the Hon Second Deputy Speaker would take the Chair.
    Item listed 6, Motion - Chairman of the Committee?
    MOTIONS 12:44 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 12:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank
    Group for an amount equivalent to one hundred and forty-four million, one hundred thousand Special Drawing Rights (SDR 144,100,000) [equivalent to US$200.00 million] to finance the Proposed Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project (GARID).
    1.0 Introduction
    The Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group for an amount equivalent to one hundred and forty- four million, one hundred thousand Special Drawing Rights (SDR 144,100,000) [equivalent to US$200 million] to finance the Proposed Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project (GARID) was laid in the House on Thursday, 7th November, 20 19 by the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, Mrs Abena Osei-Asare on behalf of the Minister responsible for Finance.
    Mr Speaker referred the above agreement to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.
    The Committee met with the Deputy Minister for Finance, Hon Abena Osei-Asare, the Deputy Minister for Works and Housing, Hon
    Eugene Boakye Antwi, the Deputy Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Hon Patrick Boamah, the Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hon Kwesi Adjei Boateng and officers from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Works and Housing, the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, the Ministry of Inner Cities and Zongo Development and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
    2.0 Documents Referred to
    The Committee referred to the following documents:
    1. The 1992 Constitution.
    2. The Public Financial Management Act of 2019 (Act 921).
    3. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.
    3.0 Background
    Climate change has become one of the biggest challenges of this century, triggering global efforts to finding solutions to the menace including its mitigation and adaptation measures. There are very clear signs of the direct manifestations of climate change in the world in the areas of increased

    temperatures, rainfall variability, sea- level rise and coastal erosion, among others.

    Unfavorable weather events present threats to national development and economic growth. In Ghana, flooding for instance has been a major setback in both urban and rural areas in the last decade. Statistics have demonstrated that flood events negatively impact on lives, livelihoods, human settlements, natural resources and infrastructure. The November 2007, June 2010 and June 2015 floods demonstrated how climate change can reverse development gains.

    In the aftermath of the June 3, 2015 floods, there was a renewed commitment by Government and all key stakeholders to prioritise issues that are crucial for resilient urban development and flood mitigation. The commitment to reduce the vulnerability of people, livelihoods, property and the economy at large to flood-related risks led to the development of the Greater Accra Spatial Development Framework (2017-2032) and the City Strength Diagnostics (2017). These documents are to provide clear strategic direction for resilient urban development within the Greater Accra Region (GAR).

    It has been observed that flooding occurring in the GAR is usually severe along the Odaw River Basin and the following factors have been attributed to it:

    Climate Change, Poor Drainage and Low Topography: Several factors contribute to flooding along the Odaw River Basin; these include heavyrains, high sea levels, low capacity of drains, heavy silting, erosion, waste accumulation and poor drainage in built-up areas. During the 2015 floods, the business and industrial areas around Kwame Nkrumah Circle and Kaneshie were heavily affected. Modelling results shows that the floodwater which accumulated there was due to the flat landscape, low altitude and lack of discharge capacity of the Odaw drain.

    Poor Solid Waste Management: The GAR generates between 2,500 and 3,000 tons of solid waste daily. It is estimated that about 75 per cent of this waste is collected. However, low- income communities are mostly underserved, resulting in households sending their waste to central communal containers, coupled with limited collection points and transfer stations, the
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 12:44 p.m.


    3.0 Object of the Project

    The Object of the project is to improve flood risk management and solid waste management in the Odaw River Basin of the Greater Accra Region (GAR) and improve access to basic infrastructure and services in the targeted communities within the Basin.

    4.0 Project Description

    The Project is structured around Five (5) components as described below:

    i. Component 1 covers Climate Resilient Drainage and Flood Mitigation Measures (US$92M): This component is to be led by the Ministry of Works and Housing (MWH). It aims at developing sustainable capacity for flood risk management and mitigating the flood risk by implementing a strategy that combines structural and non-structural measures.

    ii. Component 2 will deal with Solid Waste Management Capacity Improvements (US$42.2m): This component is led by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR) and aims at reducing the amount of solid waste flowing into the primary Odaw channel. The

    interventions under the component include community-based solid waste management interventions in targeted low-income communities including a major outreach programme to sensitise and improve public behaviour on solid waste management, improved litter management, construction of waste transfer stations, capping of old dump sites and final solid waste disposal capacity improvements.

    iii. Component 3 deals with Participatory Upgrading of targeted Flood Prone Low-income Communities and Local Government Support (US$58.8m): The Ministry of Inner City and Zongo Development (MICZD) and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) in collaboration with participating Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies (MMAs) will jointly lead the implementation of this component. The aim of this component is to reduce vulnerability, strengthen climate resilience to flooding, enhance public service provision in selected low- income communities and improve metropolitan planning and coor- dination, as well as operation and the maintenance of drainage infrastructure in the Odaw River Basin. The participating communities, Nima, Akweteman, Alogboshie and Alajo were selected based on their vulnerability to flooding, income levels,

    access to basic services and ability to show tangible results for public support and replication.

    iv. Component 4 deals with Project Management (US$7m): this component supports project management activities of implementing entities and preparatory studies for the subsequent phases of the SOP. This include technical assistance equipment, training and operating costs for the Project Coordination Unit (PCU), Project Implementation Units (PIU) in Implementing Agencies and Municipal Planning and

    Coordination Units (MPCUs) in MMDAs.

    v. Component 5: Contingent Emergency Response Component (US$0m): A no-cost Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) is included to enable rapid reallocation of funding between project components, following an emergency. By integrating a CERC into this Project, the level of disaster preparedness is strengthened.

    5.0 Terms and Conditions of the Loan

    The terms and conditions of the Loan are as follows:

    Loan Amount -- US$200.0 million equivalent

    Interest Charge -- 1.25 per cent p.a.

    Service Charge -- 0.75 per cent p.a.

    Maximum Commitment Charge (this is waived for FY 19) -- 0.5 per cent p.a.

    Maturity Period (including 5 years grace period) -- 30 years

    Grant Element -- 33.23 per cent

    6.0 Observations

    6.1 Rationale for the Project

    The Committee was informed that the GARID project was to improve

    the flood risks and solid waste management in the Greater Accra Region. The flooding events in the past decades have led to the loss of lives, caused major damages to property and livelihoods. The project
    MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:47 p.m.
    Hon Members, any seconder?
    Yes, Hon Ranking Member of the Committee?
    Mr Alex Adomako-Mensah (NDC -- Sekyere Afram Plains) 12:47 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion. In doing so, I would make a few comments.
    Mr Speaker, in the past decade, flooding has become a global
    pandemic which hampers the economic and social development of a country. Even though the Government has instituted a supplementary committee to see to the effect of floods on humans and properties, yet the methods employed are not enough to mitigate the hazards of floods.
    Mr Speaker, there are five (5) components, but no allocation was made to component five (5). Component five is on emergency response which is a very important tool. I do not know how the sector would respond, if there is any emergency.
    Mr Speaker, another thing I would want you to know is that, they have four (4) ministries namely: Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development, Works and Housing, Water Resources and Sanitation and Inner-City and Zongo Development. I do not know the role the latter would play in the project.
    Mr Speaker, on paragraph 6.4, on dredging of the Odaw River Basin. I believe it would be proper for this to be done on quarterly basis. After dredging, there would still be minor deposits in the drain, so it would be better if they do it quarterly to help reduce the problem. Rubbish alone do
    not cause flooding, but the silt deposits have resulted in the loss of capacity of the drain. The rubbish in the drain only block the drain. We would need to advise the Ministry which would work on it, so that they do the work properly.
    Mr Speaker, the early warning is very important. When people are notified, they would know when and how to move, so that it would not cause another problem in future.
    Mr Speaker, there are a lot of benefits. It would improve safety and fairly it would also improve the basic infrastructure. This is very good for Accra. I hope that a job would be done to improve the city of Accra.
    Question proposed.
    Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah (NPP -- Okaikoi Central) 12:47 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker for the opportunity.
    I would dwell on component 2, captured on page 5 of your Report. It deals with solid waste management capacity improvements. An amount of US$42.2 million has been allocated to the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.
    Mr Speaker, this component deals with some interventions. They include base solid waste management intervention scheme in low income
    Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah (NPP -- Okaikoi Central) 12:54 p.m.
    communities, a major outreach programme to sensitise and prove public behaviour on solid management, improved litter management, construction of waste transfer stations, capping of dump sites and final water disposal capacity improvements.
    Mr Speaker, most of us in this Chamber do not even know where our solid waste ends. I would entreat Hon Members to also take a critical look at the improvements or the expected benefit of the project to the sanitation subsector.
    Mr Speaker, about 500,000 people from low income communities would benefit from solid waste collection improvement and final disposal capacity improvement throughout the creation of the landfills.
    Mr Speaker, this Government has taken steps to address the sanitation challenge which most people refuse to agree to. The first step that this Government took was to secure a US$45 million facility from the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Sustainable Rural Development to address sanitation challenges in six (6) regions. It includes your Region, Mr Speaker.
    The second step is the continuation of the GAMMA Project and the third
    step is this US$200 million facility that we are about to approve. It shows the Government's commitment in dealing with the sanitation situation in this country.

    I must commend the Government led by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for raising issues about sanitation. We all understand and appreciate the challenge, yet we are unable to openly talk about it, and also, find the requisite resources to support the Ministries or Agencies to fight this challenge. This would go a long way to address the challenges in some parts of the Greater Accra Region.

    Mr Speaker, my worry is with component 4 which deals with project management. An amount of US$7 million has been allocated to that component to support the activities of that unit. I believe it is a bit on the high side. I urge the PCU and the supervising Ministries, which include mine, to have a close eye on that component because very often, the project implementation unit is given so much, and they tend not to supervise the projects very well. We must keep an eye on that unit and support this Motion before us.
    Mr Ras Mubarak (NDC -- Kumbungu) 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I also rise to support the Motion, and in doing so, I have two quick comments.
    Mr Speaker, I do not see in the Report of the Committee an indication of when the first tranche of the facility would be released. We know that traditionally with World Bank projects, there is a lot of bureaucracy before moneys are released. Mr Speaker, judging by the urgency of the situation, and for which reason we seek this facility, I hope that the Ministry of Finance would push for these funds to be released as soon as possible in order for the implementation of the project to begin.
    Mr Speaker, I see cross-sectorial collaboration, but I struggle to see how the Ministry of Inner-City and Zongo Development comes into this particular issue. The Hon Majority Leader has gesticulated from a sedentary position that it is because of Nima. Mr Speaker, I hoped that it could be the Ministry for Local Government and Rural Development that would spearhead it fully because sometimes, with a lot of Ministries involved, it tends to bring about bureaucracy. -- [Interruption] I have seen your Ministry, and I have read the Report. I was actually in the meeting.
    There are so many Ministries involved, and if we are not careful, it would culminate into feet dragging and bureaucracy. So, I would want to urge and caution that we should be guided and take notice that the people of Nima, Akweteman, Old Fadama, Agbogbloshie and the various communities that this project would benefit are the ones for which this money is being accessed. We would not want a situation where there would be a lot of confusion with the implementation.
    Mr Speaker, it is good. More importantly, when disaster is about to strike, there is not ample warning that there would be flood of biblical proportion. So, it is important we get the money quickly, and get to do what we need to do in order to forestall any unforeseen circumstances.
    With these few words, I lend my support to the Motion.
    Mr Fuseini Issah (NPP -- Okaikoi North) 12:54 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion ably moved by the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Hon Member, may I know your name and constituency?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Where you are is definitely not your seat.
    Mr Issah 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I will go to my seat in a moment.
    Some Hon Members 12:54 p.m.
    Back bench.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Hon Members, it is an honour to start from the back bench. There is nothing wrong with an Hon Member speaking from the back bench. I recall your position, so, do not worry. You are now the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee, but you are not yet in the front bench; you are in the middle.
    Hon Member, go on.
    Mr Issah 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the people of Akweteman and Alogboshie are grateful to the Government of the NPP for this opportunity to get their areas remodelled. Mr Speaker, about 70 per cent of my constituency is made up of low income areas, and they constitute the urban poor within the Greater Accra Region.
    Mr Speaker, the urban poor makes up 38.4 per cent of the
    population in the Greater Accra Region, and these people typically live in low lying areas. They tend to also live in informal settlements. This is associated with a lot of problems within the region. These areas typically experience flood at the least rainfall, and they lack drains, roads, access to their homes and a lot of other services.
    Mr Speaker, the people of Akweteman and Alogboshie have been selected as two of the settlements which would benefit directly from the funding in the provision of drains, roads and solid waste collection systems.
    For that, I say, we are grateful to the Government of the day.
    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I support the Motion on the Floor. Thank you very much for the opportunity.
    Ms Betty Krosbi Mensah (NDC -- Affram Plains North) 12:54 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity given me. I am really happy to see your Committee's Report on my desk this afternoon, and I pray that there should be an approval for it.
    Mr Speaker, years have come and gone, and we have witnessed many of our citizens die as a result of
    flooding in our capital city. It has been a challenging problem for Ghana as a whole especially for a country that is known to be the gateway of Africa. As a result of flooding last year, a soldier and his wife passed on, and so I am very happy to witness this Report that is on our tables for the approval of the House.
    I would want to support this Motion, and my plea goes to the Ministry that after the approval of this loan, the loan should go for the intended purpose of salvaging the situation of the drainage challenge we have in the country.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    I am tempted to allow backbenchers to contribute, so, if you are not part of them, please, resume your seat.
    Mr Ebenezer Nii Narh Nartey (NPP -- Ablekuma Central) 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, today, I must say that with this loan facility presented in this House, I can sleep in my constituency because my constituency is one of the flood prone areas in the Greater Accra Region.
    1. 04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it would interest you to know that if it rains for just five minutes, some of the people who live at Mataheko, Adwenbu, Sukura, Lartebiokorshie sometimes would have to either sleep in a mosque or a church. However, with this facility, I can honestly tell you that if it gets approved and the facility is released and construction works start, I believe strongly that the people in my constituency would be very happy.
    Mr Speaker, just about two days ago—
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Hon Member, have you seen the list of the beneficiary communities?
    Mr Nartey 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have had the opportunity to meet with the Ministry of Works and Housing and I know perfectly well that my constituency, Ablekuma Central—
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Are you answering my question? Have you seen the list to know whether your constituency would benefit, particularly, the areas you mentioned?
    Mr Nartey 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes. However, I do not think the Ministry could list the electoral areas so I am
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Hon Member, I do not say you do not know what you are talking about. I just want to make sure that your constituents listening to you would be expecting that what you are saying is nothing but the truth so they would be expecting that the development would take place at those specific areas in the constituency. Not the whole constituency, you mentioned some communities; Sukura and the rest.
    Mr Nartey 12:54 p.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker.
    These communities would benefit from this project because I have had the opportunity to meet with the Hon Minister for Works and Housing and I know that we are part of it.
    Mr Speaker, Accra, as we all know, is one of the most flooding areas that anytime it rains, it becomes a problem. I am not trying to remind those who have lost their family members to such incidents but human life is very important. We cannot --
    there is nobody on this earth who can replace human life. There is nothing that could replace human life so the best we could do is to find solution to problems that always take people's lives away.
    Mr Speaker, I agree perfectly with my Hon Sister Betty that when this loan is approved and the facility is released, we should ensure-- As Hon Members of Parliament, I believe so far as I am going to benefit, I would insist and ensure that I get my share of the cake in my constituency. And not only that but supervise the contractors who would be working in our various constituencies.
    Mr Speaker, sometimes we think that the award has been given and as Hon Members of Parliament, we are happy about it but as to whether we follow the work that the contractors do is something that we need to look at because sometimes some of them come to the sites and just do whatever they think is right and leave the place.
    However, I believe strongly that it is time that we also involve ourselves into some of these loan facilities because at the end of the day, Hon Members of Parliament here have approved the loan and it is our responsibility also to ensure that the loan facility that has been approved and the money that has been released is put to good use.
    Mr Speaker, we have had the occasion when—
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Well, I do not know why you have this agamic curve with a sudden stop.
    Hon Dr Zanetor Agyeman- Rawlings?
    Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings (NDC -- Klottey-Korle) 12:54 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the support of the Motion on the Loan Facility that is before us today.
    Mr Speaker, as an Hon Member of Parliament for the Klottey Korle Constituency, I am very happy that we finally have this coming before the House especially, as we have perennial flooding in our constituency. And it is with great pleasure that I see that care has been taken to look at the areas along the Odaw, all the way down to the sea because one of the problems that we face in our Constituency when it rains is that there is a bit of bottleneck around the Agbogbloshie area and every time that it rains and the water flows away, it comes back and we end up having flooding in the whole of the Odawna area, Official Town, Adabraka and Asylum Down.
    Mr Speaker, this year, for the first time, certain areas in Asylum Down have had a lot of flooding with the rains, which really emphasises the sense of urgency of this particular facility and it is to achieve --
    Mr Speaker, I see also mentioned in the Report, the issue of waste collection and transfer. Certainly, we must be looking at innovative ideas beyond landfills to deal with issues of solid waste and I hope to see a more elaborate explanation of what this involves with regard to solid waste.
    Mr Speaker, on the issue of enhancing early warning systems, it is an important point to just take note of the fact that the University of Ghana has an early warning system in place along the Odaw Channel to help inform residents of any increase in the flood levels. Mr Speaker, this could be enhanced within the community as well, not only along the Odaw Channel to ensure that people understand what it means when the water level rises up to a certain point as well as the establishment of safe havens in the various areas that are flood prone so that people know where to go in these particular instances.
    Mr Speaker, as my Hon Colleague who spoke previously with great passion mentioned, it is a fact that they
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Hon Members, I think we have had enough— sorry, the Hon Minister for Works and Housing?
    Mr Samuel Atta Akyea (Hon Minister for Works and Housiung) (MP) 1:14 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to add
    few words to this very important Motion.
    Mr Speaker, this is an ancient trouble and I am educated that the first flooding happened in 1959 when the Great Kwame Nkrumah was president. It seems to me that we have not paid due regard to this problem; we have a problem which we call the perennial flooding. And I keep telling people all the time that, immediately we use the word, ‘perennial', that means it is a problem that we anticipate. So we could see that over the years, it has been governmental impotence in trying to resolve that which is perennial.
    Mr Speaker, what is very sad is that, the little money that we have, year in, year out -- Mr Speaker, even when you were the Hon Minister for Works and Housing, we would do desilting from the small money that we have. -- [Interruption] -- Mr Speaker, the records reflect that from the paltry sums of money given to the Ministry of Works and Housing by way of capital allocation, we do desilting. -- [Interruption]--
    Mr Speaker, the point of the matter is that, when our money is small, this is not how we spend it. So this whole vicious cycle of desilting and we bring the mess back into the open drains, and do this annually, somehow in the
    Odaw Basin and it spills over into the other areas of Accra, --we are bringing it to an end. It is a very comprehensive infrastructural undertaking and I would like to stress how comprehensive it is.
    Mr Speaker, we deal with the Odaw challenges in a sum of US$92 million. Then, one of the serious things we face - solid waste management improvements, that would take about US$4.2 million.

    It is very necessary that we do not look down on our zongo communities. So, we have the upgrading of targeted flood prone low income community and local government support, for US$58.8 million and the management sum is just about US$7 million.

    Mr Speaker, the comprehensiveness of this project is borne out by the first benefit which with your permission, I beg to quote the main benefit in the Report.

    “Improved Flood Safety and Preparedness as the project will ensure sustainable capacity for flood risk management and will reduce the flood occurrence risk within the Odaw River Basin to once in every Ten (10) years.

    About 161,000 people, businesses and offices will benefit from the structural flood mitigation measures''.

    So we would not do the ‘'touch and go situation'' which has bedevilled the nation since Kwame Nkrumah's days but we have a comprehensive solution to this problem, which has mocked us all these years.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
    Hon Ranking Member of Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee?
    Alhaji Inusah Abdulai B. Fuseini (NDC -- Tamale Central) 1:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this Motion.
    Mr Speaker, it is important for us to know that flooding and its consequences affect the livelihood of persons, the properties of persons and renders people poor and those who are already poor, poorer by reason of the devastating consequences of its effects. So there is no doubt that we must support any attempt by
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
    Hon Member, just a minute.
    Mr Boamah 1:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is the Report of the Finance Committee, on the Financing Agreement. To the best of my knowledge, we are discussing the Financing Agreement and not the Commercial Agreement, so he should hold his horses. When we get to that point, he could raise those points.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 1:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not discussing the Commercial Agreement because I do not have it. I am discussing the Report of the Committee and I have even read out from it. What I said was that, I simply do not get it when they say that they would implement a strategy towards structural and non-structural measure. am I wrong in not getting it? [Laughter] I have also looked at the benefits --
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
    Hon Member, the Hon Minister for Works and Housing is on his feet.
    Yes, Hon Minister?
    Mr Akyea 1:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Friend, who is in the legal profession, would have such challenges because even in the board room of the World Bank with the Ghanaian engineers assembled, I struggled to come to terms with engineering matters. So, when I tell him that we would experience subterranean drainage, it would confuse him but that is not what we are doing now.
    Immediately we begin to go into the engineering dynamics of what they would do - if we look at one of the volumes, it stands very tall. So what our remit now is, with the greatest of respect, is that this is a financial model that this House should approve. When we want to delve into what ties to what in terms of the engineering sense the Committee for Works and Housing would be able to interrogate it. So for now, as we look at these moneys, is it concessionary and would it benefit us? If so, then we could always make it available.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
    Hon Minister, I expected you to explain that to the Hon Member because he has a problem with understanding what you meant by the statement, “building the capacity for flood risk management and mitigating the flood risk by implementing a strategy that combines structural and non-structural measures''. What does that mean?
    Mr Akyea 1:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, when we talk about the structural measures, it is about the infrastructure and how it would change. For instance, we would enlarge the space of the Odaw River and then instead of covering it, leave it as a river? We could enlarge its banks, push all the settlers backwards and for once, have yachts running through it -- [Interruption] -- yes, these are structural changes. Non-structural changes could be how we settle the people who would be dislodged by the structural approach.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
    Hon Member, at least, you have an idea of what they want to do. You may continue.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have no doubt about the capacity of the Hon Minister for Works and Housing and I also understand the flooding associated with the terrain. That is what is called torrential flooding which is associated with nature of the terrain which exacerbates the flooding. I understand that and I am not challenging it.

    Mr Speaker, what I am saying is that as a Parliament of the Republic of Ghana going for a facility, our Report should reflect the activities that those moneys are going to be used for and not the nitty-gritty details as my Hon Colleague sought to convince me about in commercial agreements. I agree, that however, we need to be able to justify it when we are engaging with our constituents. This is because flooding must be controlled.

    I say this because on waste management, the technical team indicated, and I read from page 9 paragraph 6.7:

    “The technical team indicated that under the project, community-based solid waste management intervention targeted at low-income and informal communities would be implemented. The programme is to sensitise and improve public behaviour on solid waste management. Further, waste transfer stations would be established to haul solid waste from the city to its final disposal sites. Collection equipment including skip trucks, mini trucks and tricycles would be used to collect primary waste from the households to the waste transfer stations”.

    Mr Speaker, that is beautiful. My question is, what is different from the status quo? I expected that the Report will tell me that this loan will reinforce what we are doing; I do not see anything new in that paragraph because that is exactly what is happening on the ground and if we are going for a loan, we are doing it because there is a deficiency. So we should be aiming to address that, but, I do not see it in the Report.

    We are also being told on page 7 of paragraph 6.2 that: “About 161,000 people, businesses and offices will benefit from the structural flood mitigation measures”. How will 161,000 people, businesses and offices benefit?

    Mr Speaker, we are being told that 500,000 people, that is, half a million from low-income communities will benefit from solid waste collection improvement and final disposal capacity improvements through the creation of landfill sites.

    So what I am saying is that yes, this is definitely a project that we need and I have no doubt about that. This is because everybody knows what happened in December and June 2015 and saw what happened just two days ago, as well as what happened on the Accra-Tema Motorway the first time it got flooded.

    So, definitely, there must be interventions to address that.

    Mr Speaker, my difficulty is that the Report is so scanty on details, that it will limit our capacity as Hon Members of Parliament to track performance. That is where the bane of utilisation of the loans are. We are unable to track the utilisation of loans and check the activities that ought to be undertaken under the loans.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
    Hon Members, I think I can now put the Question.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we can take item numbered 7 - Resolution.
    RESOLUTIONS 1:24 p.m.
    Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori-Atta) 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that
    WHEREAS by the provisions of article 181 of the
    Constitution and Sections 55 and 56 of the Public Financial Management Act of 2016 (Act 921), the terms and conditions of all government borrowings shall be laid before Parliament and shall not come into operation unless the terms and conditions are approved by a resolution of Parliament in accordance with article 181 of the Constitution;
    PURSUANT to the provisions of the said article 181 of the Constitution and sections 55 and 56 of the Public Financial Management Act of 2016 (Act 921), at the request of the Government of the Republic Ghana acting through the Minister res- ponsible for Finance, there has been laid before Parliament a Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group for an amount equivalent to one hundred and forty-four million, one hundred thousand Special Drawing Rights
    ( S D R 1 4 4 , 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 )
  • [equivalent to US$200.00
    • T HISH ON OU RABLE 1:24 p.m.
    HIOUSE HEREBY RE- 1:24 p.m.
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, item numbered 8.
    MOTION 1:24 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, Import NHIL/GETFund Levy, EXIM Levy and Special Import Levy (including domestic taxes) amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of fifty-three million, five hundred and six thousand, eight hundred and thirty United States dollars seventy-four cents US$ 53,506,830.74) made up of US$2,657,206.74 on local purchases and US$50,849,624 on equipment, materials and vehicles to be imported
    under the Design, Construction and Commissioning of a Potable Water Infrastructural Project in Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, in so doing, I would present the Committee's Report.
    1.0 Introduction
    The request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, Import NHIL/ GETFund Levy, EXIM Levy, and Special Import Levy (including domestic taxes) amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of fifty-three million, five hundred and six thousand, eight hundred and thirty united states dollars seventy-four cents (US$ 53,506,830.74) made up of US$2,657,206.74 on local purchases and US$50,849,624 on equipment, materials and vehicles to be imported under the Design, Construction and Commissioning of a Potable Water Infrastructural Project in Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana which was presented to the House on Wednesday the 13th day of November, 2019 by the Hon. Minister responsible for Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta.
    Pursuant to Order 169 of the Standing Orders of the House, the request was referred to the Finance
    Committee for consideration and report.
    The Committee subsequently met and considered the request with the Deputy Ministers for Sanitation and Water Resources, Hon Patrick Yaw Boamah and Hon Michael Yaw Gyato, Deputy Minister for Finance, Hon Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng and a team of officials from the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ministries of Finance and Sanitation and Water Resources.
    The Committee hereby presents this report to the House pursuant to Order 161(1) of the Standing Orders of the House.
    2.0 Background
    Tamale and its environs contribute significantly to the agricultural fortunes of the country by producing a large number of arable crops like maize, yam, cassava, beans and rice. Together with the newly created Savannah Region, the Northern Region boasts of a significant part of the population of Ghana, thus having a significant and increasing demand for water. The Area also hosts several tourist sites including the Mole National Park as well as the Magic Stone and the Historical Mosque, both located at Larabanga.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 1:24 p.m.


    The existing water supply system for Tamale and its environs was constructed in 1972. The Treatment Plant is located at Nawuni on the White Volta River, 37kms North- West of Tamale.

    In the year 2008, expansion works were carried out on the system at Dalun which included the construction of a 20,000m3 storage reservoir at Kukuo Yepalsi. This increased the production capacity of the water treatment plant from 25,000m3/day to 44,000m3day.

    As a result of rapid population growth in Tamale and its environs, the demand for water has once again outstripped the supply. There are increasing numbers of residents in Tamale that do not have reliable access to potable water. In order to mitigate the situation, Ghana water Company Limited (GWCL) has had to implement a water rationing programme in the Metropolis and its environs.

    To meet the water demand for Tamale and its environs up to the year 2040 planning horizon, the present project is to construct a new water supply system for the city and its environs.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 1:24 p.m.


    5.3 Beneficiary Communities

    Towns and communities that would benefit from this project include, but not limited to the following:

    Cheshegu, Nanton,Yapei/ Yipala, Chirifoyili, Nyankpala, Yepeligu, Dalun, Pong Tamale, Yoggo, Gbullung, Sagnarigu, Zagayull, Gurugu, Sankpala, Zangbulung, Jisonayili, Savelugu, Kusawgu, Kakpagayili, Tibung, Bagabaga, Kanvili, Tolon, Tamale Township, Kumbungu, Vitin.

    The others include;Damongo township and communities enroute: Yipala, Yapei, Banyasi, Ntereso, Fufulso, Sumpini, Busunu, Kebiesu, Tailorpe, Alhassan Kura, Jonopkonto, Achubunyo, Soalepe, Frafra Settlement No.3, Boroto and Nabori respectively.

    5.4 Implementation Period

    As to how long the project would take to be completed, the Committee was informed that other things being equal, the project is scheduled to be completed within fifty-four (54) months, comprising six (6) months Development phase and forty-eight (48) months Works Implementation phase.

    It was explained to the Committee that the Project has not yet commenced because the Contractor

    is waiting for the Tax Waiver approval to commence the necessary procurements.

    5.5 Need for Waiver

    The Committee noted that under subclause 2.6 (Local Taxes/Charges) of the Particular Conditions of the Contract Agreement, Government of Ghana (through the Ghana Water Company Limited) commits to exempt the contractor from the payment of taxes, duties and levies and other compulsory charges due in Ghana.

    6.0 Conclusion

    The Committee finds that the request is in accordance with the Contract Agreement between Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) acting on behalf of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR) for the Government of the Republic of Ghana and Biwater International Limited of England for the implementation of the Project.

    The Committee therefore recommends to the House to adopt this report and approve by resolution, the request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, Import NHIL/ GETFund Levy, EXIM Levy, and Special Import Levy (including domestic taxes) amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of fifty-three million, five hundred and six thousand, eight hundred and thirty United States dollars seventy-four cents US$

    (US$53,506,830. 74) made up of US$2,657 ,206.74 on local purchases and US$50,849,624 on equipment, materials and vehicles to be imported under the Design, Construction and Commissioning of

    a Potable Water Infrastructural Project in Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana, in accordance with article 174(2) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

    Respectfully submitted.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 1:24 p.m.
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    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 1:24 p.m.
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    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 1:24 p.m.


    SPACE FOR APPENDIX - 1.24 P.M - PAGE 44 SPACE FOR APPENDIX - 1.24 P.M - PAGE 45
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
    Any seconder?
    Mr Alex Adomako-Mensah (NDC - Sekyere Afram Plains) 1:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, the Facility is a good one and it would help the good people of Tamale. The project is expected to improve potable water for the people of Tamale --
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
    Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation?
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he said the Facility is a good one. But we are not considering a Facility and so he should withdraw that statement. We are considering a Request for Tax Waiver and not a Facility.
    Mr Adomako-Mensah 1:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I said the project would improve -
    Mr Adomako-Mensah 1:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the project would improve the economic activities and also help the catchment area to improve their development. Mr Speaker, the beneficiary communities are 27 in number and they would benefit from potable water. Mr Speaker, with regard to the implementation period, the Report stated that the Government intends to commence the project as quickly as possible.
    Mr Speaker, but when you come to paragraph 5.4, it is stated that the completion period is 54 months, but the project has not started at all. It means that they are waiting for the approval of the tax waiver. So, what would the Contractor be doing within this period?
    Mr Speaker, at paragraph 5.5, the National Health Insurance and GETFund have been exempted from the tax and this is very good, but the figure that is being ratified is very huge. So, how would the contractor finish the project? Mr Speaker, this means that we need to revise the Bill and include all of these so that we would understand. Mr Speaker, if we are deducting such amount from a tax waiver then the contractor would not have enough money to support the project.

    Mr Speaker, this is my worry and so I would advise the Hon Minister for Finance to bring a Bill to the

    House. With these few words I beg to second the Motion.

    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
    Hon Members, this is the time to raise the issues. I am sure some of you were on your feet because you wanted to contribute but not to raise a point of order.
    Hon Member for Ledzokuku?
    Dr Bernard O. Boye (NPP -- Ledzokuku) 1:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to support the Motion. Mr Speaker, if you look at the communities that stand to benefit, you might only hear names of towns but behind these names, there are a lot of people. There are thousands of people who live in these communities and I am particularly happy because one of the key determinants of overall health is the water that we drink. Once a community gets potable treated water, it means that we would actually succeed in improving the health outcomes of that particular community. I am very glad and I have heard people say that tax waivers let go off funds that could have come to the country. Mr Speaker, but when
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
    Mr James K. Avedzi (NDC -- Ketu North) 1:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I urge the House to adopt and approve the Report so that the tax waiver can enable the contractor to do the work.
    Mr Speaker, today I am speaking on this because the Hon Minister for
    Finance is here. In terms of the promise that he made to the House, that the current Government would review the tax waiver policy -- Mr Speaker, when their party was in opposition, they claimed that the previous Government had been granting tax waivers which affected our revenue generation. Mr Speaker, we explained the reason why tax waivers needed to be granted. As the then Hon Chairman of the Committee on Finance, I explained all the time that what needed to be done was to rather add the cost of the waiver to the cost of the project to determine the actual cost of the project. But if we do not grant the waiver, then it would definitely be added to the loan and we would contract more loan.
    Mr Speaker, it was not well understood at the time and the argument was that we were losing a lot of revenue from tax waivers. So they promised that when they come into Government, they would review it and bring it to the House for approval.

    Mr Speaker, we are now three years down the line. The three years I have mentioned is pinching the Hon Majority Leader and so I would review it to two years and 11months. Is that correct?

    Mr Speaker, when would the Hon Minister bring that review to the House? He is here. Maybe, in his concluding remarks, he should respond as to when he would bring the review to the House. This is because, to them, granting of waiver is affecting our revenue. So when is he bringing the Bill in order not to grant the waivers, so that we can increase our revenue? However, if he thinks that it is important that we grant the waivers, he should just be humble and tell us, so that we stop worrying him about when he would bring the review to the House.

    Mr Speaker, as an Accountant who knows how these should be treated, I support the granting of waivers completely because it is important, and if we do not grant it, the work would not go on. If he would want to collect this waiver and the Contractor adds it back to the cost of the project, government would rather lose because it would need to pay for the administration of the collection, which is an additional cost. So, the best thing is to grant the waivers. But they think that we do not need to do it. Now, it is their turn, they should not grant but rather bring the review to the House. If they cannot bring the review to the House, the Hon Minister should tell us so that we stop worrying him.

    Mr Speaker, I thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
    Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation, are you on your feet to contribute or you have a point of order?
    Dr Anthony A. Osei 1:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minority Leader has to guide you in terms of the Business of the House. He should remember that the Bill he is talking about has been brought before this House, if he does not know. It has been laid. The Hon Minister is now working again on it, but it has been laid and its before the Committee. I am just reminding him, maybe, he has forgotten it was brought here.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
    Mr Avedzi 1:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am hearing from the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation that the Bill has been laid in the House, but he did not tell us when it was laid. If it has been laid, definitely, it was referred to the Finance Committee, and we have the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee seated here. He should tell us why he has not brought the Report. If the Bill has been laid and referred to the Committee, why is the Committee not working on bringing the Report to the plenary? So the ball
    Mr Avedzi 1:44 p.m.


    is in the court of the Hon Chairman. When is he bringing the Report?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
    I would put the Question. This is not the time for questions and answers. I thought it was a rhetorical question.
    Well, let me allow the Hon Member for Ho West?
    Mr Emmanuel K. Bedzrah (NDC -- Ho West) 1:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion. In doing so, I have some few reservations with regard to the tax waiver.
    Mr Speaker, if you look at the tax assessment on local materials sent to us to approve, we have noticed from the table that has the tax assessment on local material purchases for the Tamale Water Project, that item 15.1, has 34kv overhead powerline from 34.5kv main powerline. This is an item. There is also dedicated 3.4, small tools which is indicated as lump sum.
    Mr Speaker, lump sum clearly means that you would not be able to quantify or give the actual materials. If they are giving tax waivers for materials that are priced as lump sums, then what kind of tax waivers are we giving to what items? It should be detailed items with prices quotation that warrant these tax waivers.
    Mr Speaker, I think the tax assessors and those who are working as colleague engineers should give us a breakdown with a price list, so that when we approve it, we would all know the actual price we are approving and not a lump sum on an item.
    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I support the Motion.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
    Hon Members, I would put the Question.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
    We would move to item numbered 9 to take the Resolution.
    Hon Minister for Finance, you may now move the Resolution for its adoption.
    RESOLUTIONS 1:44 p.m.
    Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori-Atta) 1:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that
    THE HONOURABLE HOUSE 1:44 p.m.
    HOUSE IS RESPECTFULLY 1:44 p.m.
    REQUESTED TO ADOPT THE 1:44 p.m.
    BY THE COMBINED 1:44 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 1:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, should I adjourn the House?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was having some consultation. The Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs want the House to assist them in the consideration of the Tree Crop Development Authority Bill. It has very few amendments. I do not know whether the House is positioned to indulge them.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minority Leader has indicated to me that looking at what we have done today, we should end proceedings at
    Mr Avedzi 1:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    ADJOURNMENT 1:44 p.m.