Debates of 29 Nov 2019

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:44 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:44 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of 28th November, 2019.
Mr Speaker 10:44 a.m.
Hon Members, we would take the Business Statement for next week.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Matthew Nyindam 10:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with your leave and that of the House, I beg to submit the Business Statement of the House on behalf of the Hon Majority Leader.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 10:44 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Formal Communications by the Speaker
Mr Speaker, you may read any available communication to the House.
Questions
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee has not scheduled any Minister to respond to Questions. However, any Questions duly admitted by Mr Speaker would be programmed in due course for response by the relevant Ministers of State.
Statements
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Order 70(2), Ministers of State may be permitted to make Statements of Government policy. Statements duly admitted by the Rt Hon Speaker may be made in the House by Hon Members in accordance with Standing Order 72.
Bills, Papers and Reports
Mr Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House for First Reading in accordance with Order 120. However, those of urgent nature may be taken through the various stages in one day in accordance with Order 119.
Pursuant to Standing Order 75, Papers for presentation to the House may be placed on the Order Paper for laying. Committee reports may also be presented to the House for consideration.
Motions and Resolutions
Mr Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
Committee Reports on Estimates of MDAs and Other Institutions and Related Motions
Mr Speaker, the Estimates of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the Independent Constitutional Bodies are being submitted and the Committees of the House are expected to consider same and report to the House for their consideration in due course.
The Business Committee would liaise with the various Committees and accordingly schedule Committee reports on the Estimates for presentation at plenary whenever such reports are ready for laying.
Mr Speaker, consequent upon the presentation of reports by Committees on the Estimates, the respective Motions would be scheduled for debate by the House.
A revised indicative schedule has been produced in this regard. It should be noted that Estimates in respect of MDAs in group “A” of the schedule have been submitted at the Table Office and transmitted to the secretariats of the relevant Committees.
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee therefore urges Committees that, having taken custody of the Estimates of the respective sectors, they should expedite consideration of same for presentation at plenary.

Sitting of the House on Monday/ Extended Sittings

Mr Speaker, the House is scheduled to Sit on Monday, 2nd December, 2019. Furthermore, the House may have extended Sittings, commencing on Tuesday, 3rd December, 2019, to enable the completion of scheduled business.

Public Holiday

Mr Speaker, Friday, 6 th December, 2019 is the National Farmers' Day, a statutory holiday, and it is expected to be observed as such.

Conclusion

Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160(2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week under consideration.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a) Report of the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development on Monitoring Visits to Selected Ministries,

Departments and Agencies in the Country.

(b) Annual Progress Report for the period 1st January to 31st December, 2018 by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on the Implementation of Ghana's National Anti- Corruption Action Plan

(NACAP) 2015 - 2024.

(e) Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Contract/ Technical Support Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration) and Orell Füssli Security Printing Limited and TGN Digital Security Limited for the Supply of Machine-Readable Visa Stickers and Hardware Personalisation Systems.

Motions --

(a) Adoption of the Report of the Joint Committee on Works & Housing and Foreign Affairs on the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes serviced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (1992 Water Convention).

Consequential Resolution

(b) Adoption of the Report of the Joint Committee on Works & Housing and Foreign Affairs on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non- Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (1997 Watercourse Convention).

Consequential Resolution

(b) Second Reading of Bills --

Land Bill, 2019.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2019. (Continuation)

Committee sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a) Annual Budget Estimates of the Audit Service for the year 2020.

(b) Annual Budget Estimates of Parliament and the Parliamentary Service for the year 2020.

(c) Annual Budget Estimates of the Judiciary and the Judicial Service for the year 2020.

Motions --

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2019. (Continuation)

Corporate Insolvency Bill, 2019. (Continuation)

Committee sittings

Statements

Presentation of Papers

Motions --

Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Contract/Technical Support Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration) and Orell Füssli Security Printing Limited and TGN Digital Security Limited for the Supply of Machine-Readable Visa Stickers and Hardware Personalisation Systems.

Consequential Resolution
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 10:44 a.m.


Consideration Stage of Bills --

Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2019. (Continuation of Debate)

Corporate Insolvency Bill, 2019. (Continuation of Debate)

Committee sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers

Motions --

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2019. (Continuation of Debate)

Corporate Insolvency Bill, 2019. (Continuation of Debate)

Committee sittings

PUBLIC HOLIDAY (National Farmers' Day)
Mr Emmanuel K. Bedzrah 10:54 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the available Hon Leader when the Estimates of the various Departments and Agencies -- ?
Mr Speaker 10:54 a.m.
The Hon Member has a title in this House. Address him.
Mr Bedzrah 10:54 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon First Deputy Majority Whip, and Hon Member of Parliament for Kpandai, may I know from him, when the Estimates would be made available, pursuant to your directives last Wednesday?
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee has scheduled the Committee on Works and Housing to present its Report on Tuesday; but as we speak, the Estimates have not been given to us. We do not know when we would have them for us to present the Report on Tuesday.
Mr Ras Mubarak 10:54 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
From the Business Statement, I can see that the Consideration Stage of the Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2019 was scheduled for this week, but incidentally, it has been knocked off the programme and is being replaced with the Tree Crops Development Authority Bill, 2019.
Mr Speaker, I do not know if there is any specific reason why the Narcotics Control Commission Bill was shelved for this week; it is equally important. I would urge that in the ensuing week, we would not see what happened this week, where a Bill was programmed for consideration but midway through the consideration was truncated for us to look at some other Bills.
Mr Speaker, secondly, we were given commitments that Committees would have the Budget Estimates by today. As we speak, we do not have them.The Committee on Communi- cations has not received the Budget Estimates. Meanwhile, we are scheduled to present our report on Tuesday.
I would urge that expedited action be taken to ensure that Hon Members have the Budget Estimates to study them in time for the debate next week.
Alhaji Collins Dauda 10:54 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is in line with the submissions of the Hon Members who spoke earlier. I observed from the schedule for the submission of Committee Reports attached to the Business Statement that the Committee on Lands and Forestry is expected to submit a Report on the Estimates on Tuesday. What it means is that we would have only Monday
Alhaji Inusah A. B. Fuseini 10:54 a.m.
Mr Speaker, about two weeks ago when the Business Statement was read in this House, you drew the attention of the Hon Majority Leader that it was important to invite the Electoral Commission (EC) to this House.
In view of the fact that we are preparing feverishly to hold a Referendum on 17th December, 2019, the Hon Majority Leader told this House that in view of the importance of that day, 16 th December, 2019 would be declared a no-Sitting day.
We had heard reports of difficulties in the elections of the District Assemblies. Also, we wanted to apprise ourselves of the state of
readiness to conduct the Referendum. The Hon Majority Leader assured us that he would programme the EC to appear before this House. It has been two weeks now. The Business Statement that ends on 6th December, 2019, 10 days to the day that Parliament would not Sit, does not capture or give an indication of the time to invite the Electoral Commissioner to appear before this House to brief it.
Mr Speaker, this House, your House, is so important in the scheme of things that it ought to be briefed first-hand by the EC. That is the only way that we demonstrate our power over institutions of State to which we have approved resources for the performance of their work.
Mr Speaker, I would urge the Business Committee to treat the matter seriously. We cannot simply allocate resources for the EC for the performance of its functions, but we are not briefed first hand on its state of preparedness for an important function like conducting a Referendum. We just take it for granted that they should perform. Mr Speaker, I would urge the Business Committee that, it is important we do it.
Secondly, I have just seen the schedule for submission of Committee Reports and the dates of Annual
Estimates of constitutional bodies, Ministries, Departments and Other Agencies.
The first entry for the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, which is numbered 10 and 11 on the attached schedule paper is Monday. They have just presented the Business Statement for the week, and they are inviting us, as a Committee, to submit report on the two Ministries that we have supervisory jurisdiction over on Monday. Meanwhile, today is Friday but there is no Estimate of any Ministry received by the Committee. It therefore means that the Report is almost dead upon arrival. We cannot submit the Report on Monday, because we have not received the Estimates.
Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 11:04 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
A few days ago, we had a banter on these Reports and the readiness of the House to deal with them. Somehow, when these Estimates are brought, the tendency to distribute them to only members of the Committee should not be permitted because it is for all Hon Members of Parliament. A person may not belong to a Committee, but he or she would need to understand what they do. The
Hon Member could contribute effectively to the debate.
So the practice where a few copies are brought and distributed among members of a Committee must not be encouraged. The Hon First Deputy Majority Whip must take this into consideration in asserting that some Budget Estimates are here.

If they are with the Committees, then they are not in Parliament.
Mr Nyindam 11:04 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe the issues about having the Budget Estimates in the House have been a worry to all of us, and I remember you came in to direct the Ministries to attempt to make sure that we get them as soon as practicable. Mr Speaker, as we speak, some Estimates are in the House, but I must admit that that is not good enough. By now, every Committee should have received their Budget Estimates.
As I said, the schedule is a proposal. We hope that with the arrangement of Business and the proposal we have made, some Committees, by close of today, should receive their Budget Estimates. Hon Members would also admit that when it is budget period, we try as much as possible to work and stretch ourselves even during the weekends.
Mr Speaker 11:04 a.m.
Hon First Deputy Majority Whip, it is imperative that the Budget Estimates reach this House immediately. After I leave this place, please, make yourself available. I would enquire further into that matter.
Mr Mahama Ayariga 11:04 a.m.
Mr Speaker, given our drive towards protecting the climate, the Business Committee should consider providing electronic versions of the Budget Estimates because if they were to give every Hon Member a copy of the Estimates for all the Ministries, we could imagine the volume of materials that we would carry around, and the effect on the environment. So I would plead that if we could begin to give electronic versions, I am sure it would be easier to give every Hon Member a pendrive that has all the Estimates for the sectors, and that would be easier to manage.
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 11:04 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to draw your attention to the fact that three Justices have been nominated to the Supreme Court for about three weeks now and we, the Hon Members of the Appointments Committee still do not have their
curricula vitae (CV). This is a very worrying concern. We would remember that yesterday, I raised it and you tried to make some calls for action to be expedited.
Mr Speaker, as I stand here, I do not even know any of the nominees by name. Usually, when the CVs are brought, the communique from the President is added to it, and then they submit to Hon Members of the Committee. It is then that we even get to know their names in full. So any attempt to look for information about them and prepare oneself for the vetting is impossible. This is a great concern, and the public is watching us. The earlier we get the CVs the better it improves the work that we do at the Appointments Committee.
Mr Speaker, once again, I hope that the Executive would expedite action and get us the CVs because these are nominees for the Supreme Court. I would be the last to say that since we have not got their CVs, we should drag our feet and postpone their vetting. Mr Speaker, let us try to avoid all those things.
If we do not get it in good time, we would not be able to do any meaningful work, because it is through the CVs that we would get to know some of the work that the nominees have done and probably try to get some of their rulings.
Mr Speaker 11:04 a.m.
I personally spoke to the Chief of Staff on this matter, and made a demand. She promised that the CVs would be provided by the close of work yesterday. The moment I leave my seat, I will follow up; unless, of course, the Hon First Deputy Majority Whip has information that the documents are really here.
Mr Nyindam 11:04 a.m.
Rightly so, Mr Speaker. The Hon Chairman of the Appointments Committee just sent me a text that he got the CVs yesterday. I believe by the time we adjourn, all members of the Appointments Committee would get the CVs. They are now available.
Mr Speaker 11:04 a.m.
Hon Member, I did not get you. Could you come back?
Mr Nyindam 11:04 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I just got a text from the Hon First Deputy Speaker, who is the Hon Chairman of the Appointments Committee, that the CVs of the nominees are in and he would make them available to Hon Members of the Appointments Committee.
Mr Speaker 11:04 a.m.
Are the CVs here?
11. 14 p. m.
Mr Nyindam 11:04 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, they are with him; they were presented here yesterday. That was the text I got from —
Mr Speaker 11:04 a.m.
The CVs are with him abroad?
Mr Nyindam 11:04 a.m.
No, the Hon First Deputy Speaker is in town; he arrived yesterday.
Mr Speaker 11:04 a.m.
Is he physically in possession of them?
Mr Nyindam 11:04 a.m.
I think so, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:04 a.m.
I would get in touch with him immediately I leave the Chair, and we shall do that.
Shall we make progress in our Business for the day?
Hon Annoh-Dompreh, your Statement on Serbia.
STATEMENTS 11:04 a.m.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP -- Nsawam-Adoagyiri) 11:04 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Republic of Serbia as we know today has an interesting history that is celebrated on the 29th of November every year. My description of that history results as interest stems from the manner in which the formation of central and south-eastern Europe (of which former Yugoslavia occupied) took place.
Mr Speaker, historians have described in literature, a ‘first' and ‘second' Yugoslavia beset with ethnic tensions that led to conflicts and breakaways. Moving past the unpleasant moments of the civil unrest in 1941, the Croatian wars for independence in 1991, the Bosnian wars in 1992, and the 1998 wars in the province of Kosovo, among others, it is befitting that a day was set, not only to celebrate the momentous 1943 declaration by the
Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia (A VNOJ) seeking to build former Yugoslavia on a democratic federal principle, but also to appreciate the unwavering intent of the Federal Republic and thereafter, to establish a longevity of socialist governance that respects the rights of all persons.
Mr Speaker, in 1945, after King Petar II transferred power to Josip Tito as the new country's Prime Minister, it ceased to be a monarchy and became a republic, and the country was renamed as Federal National (People's) Republic of Yugoslavia. Today, we join in this celebration, drawing key lessons from the events leading to 29th November, 1945 and the era after that.
Mr Speaker, Ghana's first President, the visionary Dr Kwame Nkrumah, laid foundation for the ties that exist today with the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, headed by Prime Minister Josip Broz Tito. Ghana's long lasting relationships with states including Serbia are a product of the efforts of gallant leaders, which Ghana lacks not.
Mr Speaker, these two leaders played key roles in the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at a time when the attention of the world was directed towards the Cold
Mr Speaker 11:04 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Hon Alhaji Fuseini?
Alhaji Inusah A. B. Fuseini (NDC -- Tamale Central) 11:04 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to this historical Statement.
Mr Speaker, I describe this as historical because Yugoslavia no longer exists. Indeed, it was an accident of history put together by the colonial powers when they brought people of different ethnic backgrounds and religious affiliations together to form Yugoslavia.
Mr Speaker, it is true that Yugoslavia then, as part of the Communist Block, collaborated with African countries and particularly
Ghana, to ensure that the Non- Aligned Movement (NAM) had a footing within the United Nations (UN). We, in that vein, exchanged students. In fact, Yugoslavia made it possible for us to send students to Yugoslavia to study in order to build our human resource as an emerging country; our destinies were tied because we wanted to free ourselves from the yoke of imperialism and colonialism, and chart our future and destinies.
Mr Speaker, the collapse of the Berlin Wall also had rippling effects on the countries that were artificially put together by the imperialists. Yugoslavia was one such country that experienced the breakdown of the country into different sects. I am happy Mr Speaker visited that area; the history of the breakdown was not very pleasant because it was characterised by some level of ethnic cleansing.
Mr Speaker, as we speak today, people who were initially citizens of Yugoslavia were denied territory in various areas of Yugoslavia, and the issue has not yet been resolved. Obviously, Serbia has emerged as a strong and functioning democracy within the broken up Yugoslavia, just like Croatia has also emerged as a functioning democracy.
Mr Speaker, Montenegro is still struggling to find its feet and acceptance from Serbia to be recognised by the European Union (EU) as also a functioning and stable democracy populated by people who want to chart their own destiny. As a free and independent country as Ghana, we have the right to choose to align with those we share the same aspirations.
That is why I support the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs when he urges us to support any attempt to open diplomatic relations with Serbia. We are doing so, not forgetting that we also recognise the rights of Croatia and Montenegro to live within the broken up Yugoslavia, and also chart their own destinies and secure their own future.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 11:04 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Alhaji Fuseini.
Yes, one more from this Side and we move on. Today is Friday.
Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah (NPP -- Okaikwei Central) 11:04 a.m.
Mr Speaker, let me congratulate the Hon Member who made the Statement for this all-important Statement on Serbia.
Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah (NPP -- Okaikwei Central) 11:24 a.m.


Mr Speaker, Serbia is ranked 87th in the world, in terms of nominal GDP, which is about 5,901. It is the 17th largest coal production country -- the production is based on over 3.4 million tonnes of coal annually and is also ranked the 31st safest country, in the world.

Mr Speaker, as a student a very close encounter with them was when I watched them play Ghana in Germany in 2006 at the World Cup. Fortunately, we won the match by two goals to one. I recall the goal that Asamoah Gyan scored against Petr Cech, who is one of the best goal keepers in the world who hails from Serbia.

Mr Speaker, they have evolved as a country and become very scientific. Very often, those of us in this part of the world have a certain tendency towards evolving countries in Eastern Europe. Countries like Hungary, Serbia and Czech Republic have evolved and it is about time we changed our attitude and mentality and forged greater partnerships with them, because they always understand how they have suffered and gotten to where they are today.

It is a pleasure that this House has accorded them the opportunity, and

through the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, as it were, to tie this Parliament's apron strings to the Republic of Serbia on this very important day as they celebrate their independence. We wish them well and we believe that Ghana would continue to partner with them and ensure that we all grow in leaps and bounds.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker; Thank you, very much, Hon Member.

I would take the last contribution.

Yes, Hon Ranking Member for the Foreign Affairs Committee?
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (NDC -- North Tongu) 11:34 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to contribute to the Statement that has been delivered very competently and refreshingly by the Hon Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Mr Speaker, today is an auspicious day in the history of the great nation, Serbia. They have gone through a lot of their own contextual historical changes since the days of Yugoslavia and the struggle of member-state within the Union to seek their own self-determination, which led to the breakup of the Yugoslavian Union.
However, it must be said that through all these years, Serbia has remained strong and they have indicated that they intend for Ghana to get back to its glorious days of stronger cooperation and establish a more formidable bond like the one that used to exist in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Mr Speaker, indeed, when the idea of the Non-Aligned Movement was mooted, it was the two leaders of these two countries, President Tito of Yugoslavia at the time and President Kwame Nkrumah who agreed that the Non-Aligned Movement should be formed. President Nkrumah was in Belgrade, Serbia, when the Non- Aligned Movement was inaugurated and had its first meeting.
Mr Speaker, we also recall how it was virtually like a holiday, when news got to Serbia that President Nkrumah had passed on. That is how President Nkrumah is fondly remembered in Serbia.
Mr Speaker, I must point out that you have brought to bear, your own parliamentary diplomatic skills, which certainly, as a distinguished Am- bassador and a Diplomat, would bring the two Parliaments of Serbia and Ghana together. It is highly commendable. Perhaps many people
do not know that due to your ingenuity and diplomatic dexterity, you have been able to secure scholarships for our young students in this country. As I speak, the first batch of students in Engineering, Pharmacy and Medicine are in school in Serbia. We have been to Serbia and the accounts from the students are very positive - they really enjoy their stay in Serbia.
Another good news is that, Mr Speaker has also secured a second stream of scholarships. It appears that the two relations between the two Parliaments is one that would concrete results. It is not just diplomacy at the abstract level, but Mr Speaker has been able to ensure that it translates into really concrete benefits for our constituents and our people and that should be highlighted and commended.
Mr Speaker, I would also want to commend you for efforts that have been made to initiate a Parliamentary Friendship Association, which is headed by my good Friend, Hon Okoe Boye -- another dynamic young man who does very well. Yesterday, I met with him and we had a very good discussion about the progress. I want to encourage the Protocol Department of the Parliamentary Service to support Dr Okoe Boye because he has a few challenges to move the Association

forward. It would be good that this particular diplomatic relations, which has been renewed by no less a person than Mr Speaker himself, must be supported by all of us.

Mr Speaker, I also want to commend the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, for the steps they have taken to begin with the processes of reopening our Embassy in Belgrade. We had an Embassy in Belgrade until 2012, when Kosovo was recognised because of developments at the time. Unfortunately, it was not taken too well, so our Embassy was relocated from Belgrade to Istanbul in Turkey. It is time to reopen the Embassy, now that a positive decision has been taken - the Kosovo recognition has been withdrawn, so there is really no barrier any longer for us not to have an Embassy there.

Mr Speaker, as I appeal for steps to be expedited for our Embassy to be reopened in Belgrade, I would want to also use the opportunity to call on our counterparts in Serbia to also open a Mission in Accra. The last time we had to secure visas, we had to go all the way to Abuja in Nigeria. It is time that this close bond that we have forged we establish Missions in both countries, as a symbol of the new friendship that exists between the two countries.

Mr Speaker, I must also touch on the business to business aspect. Serbia does very well when it comes to ICT and security projects and they are in many parts of Africa - they are really friends of Africa. Countries like Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria have found them very good business partners, so there is no reason we cannot also open our doors.

Mr Speaker, in this year of return, as we seek to attract a lot of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), I wish to call on many more Serbian businesses to look to Ghana as a favourable business destination. I know that there are a number of businesses they could work on and I hope they would be successful. We know that Serbian companies played a role in the construction of the Accra International Conference Center, the Press Centre and the Takoradi Ports, so they have a reputation in Ghana and if we support them, there is more that both countries could achieve. It would be a win win situation for all of us.

Mr Speaker, we congratulate Serbia on their national day and we wish them a very happy day celebrations. I am sure that if there were a Mission in Ghana, there would have been an event this evening and we would have attended to show our solidarity physically.

Mr Speaker, permit me, since we are in a happy celebratory mood, celebrating the national day of Serbia, to also wish former President John Dramani Mahama, the incoming President for 7th January, 2021, a happy birthday since it coincides with the national day of Serbia. It is quite fortuitous.

Mr Speaker, thank you very much and I appreciate your kindness.
Mr Speaker 11:34 a.m.
Any comment from Leadership? The Hon First Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.
Yes, Hon Member, you may, please.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim (NDC -- Banda) 11:34 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you. I am going to make a few comments on the Statement and in doing so, I must commend the Hon Member who made the Statement, both the Hon Chairman and the Hon Ranking Member for the reason such a Statement should be made today.
They have not only brought out the historical aspect of the day and why Serbia is celebrating its national day today and for which reason, we should join them, but they have also added the economic point of view.
Mr Speaker, I have had the opportunity of travelling with you to Serbia. There is a saying that goes; “birds of the same feathers, flock together”. It is unfortunate that Ghana does not have a mission in Serbia; however, on the day that we got to Belgrade, there was a Serbian national who volunteered his time and resources for the whole week in making sure he gave the Ghanaian delegation, led by the Speaker, an escort from the airport to where the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) was organised.
When he was questioned why he was doing so, he responded by saying that he had the opportunity to come to Accra, Ghana, and while there the kind of hospitality given to him by the people of Ghana was great which is why he was doing what he was doing.
Mr Speaker, he was there in his kente cloth such that when we got to the airport, he could be identified as one who had something to do with Ghana.
Mr Speaker 11:34 a.m.
Hon Member, you mean his “kente stole” -- ?
Mr A. Ibrahim 11:34 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
I was touched by that kind of hospitality given to us by the Serbian.
Mr Matthew Nyindam (NPP -- Kpandai) 11:34 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to also say a little about the Statement ably made by our Hon Colleague.
I think we all had the opportunity of travelling with you to Belgrade, and just as my Hon Colleague from the other Side said, the hospitality there was good and I must confess by putting on record that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration must expedite action as soon as possible to let us have a Mission in Serbia.
Mr Speaker, the crop of students we met, the zeal and the passion they had adopted and the kind of character they want to leave behind is a very positive one. I believe that if anyone at all is ready to be friends with you, and he has demonstrated enough to show he is prepared to be a friend, the best you could also do is to open your doors and receive such an individual.
I believe that Serbia has demonstrated this spirit and as Ghanaians, we urge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to also do same by opening a Mission there.
Mr Speaker, it is something so dear to their hearts; they feel that they need to rekindle the age-long relationship they have had with Ghana.
With these few words, I thank you for the opportunity.
MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:41 a.m.
Hon Members, we are at the Commencement of Public Business, Hon Deputy Majority Whip.
Mr Nyindam 11:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if we could take item numbered 1 on the Order Paper Addendum -- Papers.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:41 a.m.
Very well.
Item numbered 1 on the Order Paper Addendum --
Presentation of Papers by the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
PAPERS 11:41 a.m.
Mr Nyindam 11:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if we could go to today's Order Paper on page 6 -- Tree Crops Development Authority Bill, 2019?
STAGE 11:41 a.m.
  • [Debates continue from 28.11.19]
    • Mr Mahama Ayariga 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, yesterday, when we were considering this matter, we were informed by Leadership that the matter be stood down for some consultation in Government.
    It was abundantly clear that when the Memorandum on the Bill was sent to Cabinet, coconut was part of the trees that the Authority was supposed to develop but somehow, when the Bill got here, coconut was absent in addition to mango.

    Yesterday mango was added and we requested that coconut should also be added because many constituencies in Central, Western and Volta Regions where coconut plantations abound would be affected by the non-inclusion of coconut as part of the trees to be developed. We were told by the Hon Deputy Majority Leader that the matter should be stood down and there would be consultations in Government on the

    policy issues, but Hon Afeku confirmed that she was then in Cabinet when the matter was discussed and coconut was part of it and approved by Cabinet. Yet, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader insisted that she needed consultations in Government whether or not coconut should be added.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    Hon Member, have you looked at the proposed amendment? It reads: “Clause 26 - Amendment proposed - Interpretation of “tree crops”, after “cashew” insert “coconut”.
    So, what is your complaint?
    Mr Ayariga 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we moved the proposed amendment yesterday for coconut to be added to the list of tree crops.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    Are you moving the amendment?
    Mr Ayariga 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the amendment was moved yesterday. In fact, there was an extensive debate on the matter and the Hon Deputy Majority Leader pleaded with the Hon Second Deputy Speaker, who was presiding, that the matter should be stood down for further consultation with Government on the policy matter. Yet during the debate, it was abundantly clear that when the
    Memorandum on the Bill went to Cabinet, coconut was part of the list as well as mango. Mr Speaker, when the Bill was brought to Parliament, coconut and mango were absent, but an amendment was admitted yesterday.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    Hon Member, hold on.
    Hon Deputy Minister?
    Mr Kennedy N. Osei 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member made an emphatic statement that when the document went to Cabinet it was approved that coconut should be part of it. Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is not a member of Cabinet and so for him to make an emphatic statement --
    There is a Memorandum that is attached to the Bill and it is specific with four tree crops that Cabinet has approved. Mr Speaker, so, he can go ahead and move the amendment but if there is any objection to it, the Ministry would come and explain the principle and rationale behind the four tree crops and why we excluded coconut.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister, I thought you were raising an objection but your objection is not well placed. I heard the Hon Member say that when the document was sent to Cabinet -- but you are talking about what was in Cabinet and was presented to Cabinet.
    Mr Ayariga 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, yesterday, Hon Afeku said she was in Cabinet when the Memorandum came and coconut was part of it when it was approved by Cabinet.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Education, Hon Quaittoo, also confirmed that coconut was part of it and when the document was being drafted, coconut and mango were left out. When he went to find out why mango and coconut were left out, he was told that the Ministry had not yet developed a policy on mango and coconut and that was why the two crops were left out. So the Bill ended in this House without mango and coconut.
    Yesterday, there was an amendment which included mango and so Hon Afeku also requested that there should be an amendment to include coconut. Mr Speaker, we thought that it would be unfair to the people of Central, Western and Volta Regions for us to add mango and not include coconut.
    Mr Speaker, the argument was made that many of the trees in the

    Central Region have diseases so they are looking for money for researchers to develop new varieties of disease resistant trees before they would consider developing coconuts. So I said that the whole essence of the Authority is to give money for research into resistant varieties --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    Hon Member, hold on.
    Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not understand why the Hon Member is raising the issue about Central Region because coconut is grown everywhere in Ghana and so why is he -- Mr Speaker, it is not peculiar to the Central Region and so he should not
    - 11:44 a.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    Hon Member, let us focus on what we want to develop as a country.
    Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member seeks to whip sentiments of some regions and I do not think that this is --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    When you get the opportunity, you can water down the sentiments.
    Hon Ayariga, please conclude.
    Mr Ayariga 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, our plea is that coconut should be added.
    So, the proposed amendment is that we should insert coconut in clause 26. The amendment was moved yesterday and there was an extensive debate but Leadership asked that it should be stood down for further consultation. Mr Speaker, I thought that it is clear, and indeed, yesterday it was indicated that at the launch of Planting for Export and Rural Development, the President mentioned coconut as part of the tree crops that he intended to invest in their development. So why there is an effort to deprive coconut of being part of the tree crops is something that I still cannot understand. .
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    Hon Members, the proposed amendment advertised on the Order Paper is: “Clause 26 -- Amendment proposed -- Interpretation of “tree crops”, after “cashew” insert “coconut” -- Debate to continue”.
    So we are continuing the debate on this matter.
    Hon Deputy Minister.
    Mr K. N. Osei 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to object the proposed amendment and the reason is that Government was careful in selecting these tree crops. Mr Speaker, we are dealing with matured value chains and these tree crops would be self- financing for the Authority. We have
    to know that this Authority is a self- financing Authority. Mr Speaker, Government would not finance this Authority and so we are looking at tree crops that have a lot of export potential or can raise enough revenue to support --
    Mr Speaker, when we decided on this Bill, we realised that though coconut has economic potential, as we speak, it is not matured and we are now trying to rehabilitate all the coconut trees. Mr Speaker, because they were attacked by a disease called Saint Paul Wilt, the Ministry has now developed a roadmap with a budget to develop coconut. Mr Speaker, if we are to add coconut now, coconut would not contribute financially to the Authority because it does not generate anything. Coconut cannot be developed because the various tree crops associations would not allow the Authority to apply some of the funding to coconut.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister, are you telling us the Ministry's policy?
    Mr K. N. Osei 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes. We are not adding coconut now because we want to develop it to a certain level, and then we would add it later. Mr Speaker, there is an opportunity in the Bill for the House
    to add other tree crops as and when they mature or develop. Mr Speaker that is the position of the Ministry.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:54 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Ahiafor?
    Mr Bernard Ahiafor 11:54 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, what the Hon Deputy Minister is telling the House cannot be correct, in the sense that, if you look at the first paragraph of the Explanatory Memorandum accompanying the Bill, the purpose of the Bill is to establish the Tree Crop Development Authority as a regulatory body to regulate tree crops in the country. Tree crops include oil palm, rubber, cashew and shea.
    Mr Speaker, if you go to clause 26 of the Bill, tree crops have been defined as “Tree crops include oil palm, rubber, cashew and shea”. Having regard to this particular definition, if you apply the ejusdem generis rule, you cannot take away coconut from the definition of tree crops. This is because, it says: “Tree crops include …” It means that they have not closed the definition of tree crops. If the Hon Deputy Minister says Cabinet's decision is to limit it to the crops mentioned here, that cannot be true because the definition of tree crops coming from Cabinet is very elaborate. It is not closed.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:54 a.m.
    Your point is well made.
    Yes, Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation.
    Dr Anthony A. Osei 11:54 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I support my good Friend, Hon Ahiafor. However, I have a big problem. A policy cannot be determined by the Legislature. They are trying to change the policy here, and that is not what we are here for. By adding coconut, they are determining what they want to be there. Cabinet has not included coconut, and so their preference does not really matter.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:54 a.m.
    Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation, let us look at the object of the Authority as contained in clause 2. I do not know whether you have amended the object. If not, what is here is to regulate and develop in a sustainable environment, the production, processing and trading of tree crops.
    There is nothing to suggest that we would want to limit ourselves to three out of the tree crops in the policy. I think we should differentiate between policy and what business we would do now when the Authority is created. It would have the power to decide that the Authority exists, but we are focusing on these three tree crops. However, if they have no authority to go beyond the three, it means that
    even in 50 years, unless we come back to amend the law, they cannot extend it to another. That is what I think we should do.
    Dr A. A. Osei 11:54 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is precisely so. That was the intention. I called the Hon Minister for Agriculture and he was very clear about it in Cabinet. There must be a focus right now. If in the year 2063, somebody decides to come back and change the policy, I do not have a problem, but currently, that is the intention.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:54 a.m.
    Hon Leaders would always have the last word, and so for now, I would ignore Hon Leaders.
    Alhaji Inusah A. B. Fuseini 11:54 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in principle, I support the addition of coconut, but in reality, we have a difficulty, because the Ministry of Agriculture and the former Hon Deputy Minister for Agriculture, who is standing in for the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, made it clear to us that the value chain activities of coconut are not developed. This is because if they are not developed, we cannot add it.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, growers of oil palm, shea, rubber and cashew have all presented strategic
    development plans. They have papers on these tree crops. It is not so with coconut. Also, yesterday, during the debate, it was heavily characterised by passion, but we are not dealing with passion here. We are dealing with the reality as it exists on the ground. Do we have a strategic document on coconut? Do we have the value chain producers of coconut identified such that we can regulate them?
    We do not have it on the ground. That is why yesterday, when we were amending the definition of tree crops, some of us resisted the removal of the word “including” and said we should maintain it because, even tomorrow, after passing the law, when that activity develops to the extent that the Ministry of Agriculture appreciates that they can now be regulated effectively, they would be added because it includes other tree crops. [Interruption.] But that was amended.
    Mr Speaker, unless we want to defeat the purpose of the Bill, which is to move progressively in the development of the tree crop industry. It is not to immediately identify all tree crops and regulate them. No. It should be done progressively, but if we are to add all tree crops, we might not be able to achieve the true intent of the Bill which might be defeated.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:54 a.m.
    Let me take Hon Quaittoo first. Hon Member for Akim Oda?
    Mr William A. Quaittoo 12:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yesterday I said that when this policy was being promulgated, we started with six crops, including mango and coconut and the four tree crops mentioned in the Bill.

    However, after a lengthy deliberation with the technical people, it was reduced to four. So at the time when Hon Catherine Afeku, who raised this passionately was in Cabinet Meeting--

    When the President went to Dunkwa-on-Offin to launch the “Planting for Export and Rural Development”, with the view of promoting these tree crops, he mentioned the six crops. After that, the technical people met and decided that we should go with the four crops, with the view that we would gradually expand.

    So when this Bill came to the Committee, initially the definition of tree crops had “tree crops area” which was the four crops. Some of us argued that we needed to make it open, so that it would be easier for new crops to be added. So, the word “means” was changed to “includes”, and we left it at the four crops.

    Yesterday, Hon Bernard Ahiafor raised an issue concerning criminalisation of those who do not register, with the use of the word “include”. So we agreed that we should not criminalise those who do not register. Based on that and other considerations, the word “includes” was change to “means” again. This means that we should define the number of crops that would sit with the current Bill.

    Yesterday, I was defeated and mango was added- [Interruption] - - I could see that Mr Speaker was for it, so when we voted, those who wanted mango to be added won and I kept silent. I tried to call the Hon Minister to get his idea on why they took away mango and coconut but I think they were in Cabinet, so he could not answer.

    Now, I have consulted him. He said it was purely due to technical and financial reasons that is why those two crops were taken out for now. When things get right financially and technically -- I mentioned that

    coconut has a major challenge, which is that the variety which is grown now is not tolerant to disease. So people go into plantations and the diseases wipe them out. They are trying to resolve that challenge first. It is not the Authority that would resolve the challenge. It is purely a research work. So they would try to find some money to give to the appropriate institution to resolve that challenge, and when they get the appropriate planting materials and variety, coconut would be added.

    Mr Speaker, for mango, the main challenge was that -- Mr Speaker, for all the crops that we have talked about individually, the farmers had their various Associations. They were lobbying for various Boards to be established for them; their working documents were ready. When I was at the Ministry, we were about launching Oil Palm Revenue Board, Cashew Development Board, and Shea Development Board just like Cocoa Board. That was why we put the four Boards together instead of having different Boards, which would be difficult to maintain and regulate. So we put them under one umbrella, which is the Tree Crops Authority, where they would have the various managing directors to manage the various crops.

    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister said that the reason for dropping coconut and mango was purely financial and technical in terms of coconut -- Mango would come on-stream very soon, because they are almost through with their documentation and strategic development plan. When they are done, they would come on board.

    As the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation said, are we Hon Members of Parliament able to change policy? If we are, that is fine but if we are not able to, then we should limit it to what the Hon Minister said in the Bill.
    Alhaji Collins Dauda 12:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I listened to the argument made by the Hon Member when he took the Floor to explain why coconut should not be added. He canvassed strongly that coconut is not very well developed. That is unfortunate because the Long Title of the Bill reads, Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to read:
    “An Act to establish the Tree Crops Development Authority to develop and regulate…”
    So, if it is not developed, it is the responsibility of the Authority to develop it. Mr Speaker, cocoa and shea are well-developed without a crop development authority. So, if it
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:04 p.m.
    Hon Member for Asutifi South --
    Alhaji Dauda 12:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I withdraw the words “shut up”, if they are so offended.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:04 p.m.
    They do not need to be offended.
    Alhaji Dauda 12:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would prevail on them to see reason in adding coconut. It is a crop that we can develop and promote. It should be a challenge to the Authority that would be established. I hope my Hon Colleagues are ready to support -- ?
    Mr Speaker, in my constituency, the District Chief Executive (DCE) has gone round to distribute coconut seedlings as part of the Government's policy to promote the planting of coconut in my district which is predominantly a cocoa growing area. So if Government has taken the step to promote the planting of coconut in the Asutifi South District, it must tell us that some effort is being made to promote the development of coconut in Ghana.
    Mr Andrew K. E. Mercer 12:04 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity.
    I have been listening to both Sides of the argument. It seems this issue can be easily resolved by expanding the scope of the seemingly elastic Motion to make it inelastic by allowing the Authority from time to time to determine the crops that they would wish to add -- [Interruption] -- Such that we may define “tree crops” to mean, oil palm, rubber, cashew, shea and any other product that the Authority may from time to time determine. This would resolve all the tassle back and forth in respect of the issue.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:04 p.m.
    If we had not amended “include”, this argument could be moved. That was what we did yesterday. It would mean that the four crops that have been mentione dare not exhaustive and they can add at any time. I was advised that it was removed.
    Let us move on -- Hon Member have you finished?
    Mr Mercer 12:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am done.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:04 p.m.
    Yes Hon Joseph Bipoba Naabu.
    Mr Joseph Bipoba Naabu 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to urge my Hon Colleagues on the other side that if they do not include coconut in the Bill, I would urge the people of the Central, Western, Volta and Greater Accra Regions to chase them out. [Laughter]
    Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, from the information that Hon Quaittoo gave us, I thought it had settled the matter, since we are still at the Consideration Stage. Hon Quaittoo informed us that they have a decision on each of the tree crops, and because these four were ready, they were lumped together to come out of the Bill. I would want to urge the House that if we could go back to use the word “include”, because we are still at the Consideration Stage, let us do so, so that we could, at least, limit ourselves to what we have agreed on.
    Mr Speaker, I say this because any attempt to add any other tree crop to the Bill means that we would now have to go back to the constitution of the Board of the Authority. This is because in there, it is said that we should have four representatives each of the tree crops as members of the Board. That would mean that we would have to review the whole thing,
    Dr Sebastian N. Sandaare 12:14 p.m.
    To buttress the inclusion of coconut, the Rt Hon Speaker himself brought coconut water here and justified that it should be included.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:14 p.m.
    How does that influence the decision? It does not stop coconut production.
    Dr Sandaare 12:14 p.m.
    To address the importance of coconut logically, once we included mango, we should include coconut. I think that is the only decision left.
    Mr Ekow Hayford 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to add my voice that coconut should be included in the Bill. Yesterday, Hon Catherine Afeku gave a detailed explanation as to --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:14 p.m.
    Hon Member, why have you resumed your seat? Are you done?
    Please, he has the Floor.
    Mr Hayford 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I say so based on the explanation given by Hon Quaittoo. Mr Speaker, if you look at paragraph 7.3 of your Committee's Report, key among the expenditure include Research and Development (R&D). If one of the major issues with coconut is disease, I believe the Research and Development expenditure would cater for that.
    Apart from that, if you look at the economic importance and the jobs that coconut gives to our people in the coastal areas, in my opinion, once this House has the opportunity to include it, I believe that we should do so now rather than wait for the Bill to be passed before we bring it back to this House.
    Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if you look at the almost 600 kilometre stretch of our coastline, it is forested by coconut plantations. As a former student of agricultural science, I know that coconut is reputed to be one of the oldest tree crops in this country. If you travel from Aflao to Elubo, the entire stretch is dotted with coconut plantations.
    Mr Speaker, if some Hon Members do not know, they should not exhibit their ignorance. Mr Speaker, if you travel --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:14 p.m.
    Hon Member, there are words that are not acceptable.
    Mr Dafeamekpor 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I withdraw that. [Interruption] Mr Speaker, I have withdrawn that.
    Some Hon Members 12:14 p.m.
    And apologise.
    Mr Dafeamekpor 12:14 p.m.
    Are you the Speaker?
    Mr Speaker, if you travel to the Western Region, in particular, there are traders who travel to Accra -- there is a whole section of the Agbogbloshie market that trades in coconut oil, and the product is brought from the Western Region. Now, we find bottled coconut water on shelves in supermarkets. Unilever Ghana Limited buys a lot of coconut oil from these farmers and traders as well as copra for the production of soap.
    Mr Speaker, I find it very strange, that the Parliament of Ghana has been asked to enact a law to leave out this important tree crop component.
    In any case, if you look at clause 2 of the Bill, it says:
    “The object of the Authority is to regulate and develop in a sustainable environment the production, processing and trading of tree crops.”
    Mr Speaker, the evidence is that, apart from cocoa, coconut is the next tree of life, so if we are considering to legislating activities regarding the production and planting of tree crops, certainly, we cannot afford to omit coconut.
    In any case, we encourage farmers to go into the planting of coconuts. I recalled as a student of the University of Cape Coast, the Agricultural Science Department developed a new specie which is very short and grows to maturity within three years. It is encouraged in the system, that people should farm that specie.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to urge the House that we do not lose anything if we include coconut in the genre of tree crops that we seek to include in the Interpretation section of the Bill.
    Mr Abraham Dwuma Odoom 12:14 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Floor.

    Mr Speaker, yesterday your Office directed the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs to go back to the sponsoring Ministry to have a discussion on the way forward on this amendment. I would like to relay the information that I gathered from the Ministry of Agriculture.

    Mr Speaker, I met the technical and legal teams of the Ministry of Agriculture as the Hon Vice Chairman of the Committee. They said that the policy initially targeted six crops, but it was reduced to four on the basis that the Authority would be self- financing.

    12. 24 p.m.

    Therefore as the Hon Deputy Minister said, they needed a well- matured value chain to start with. That is why in the description of the tree crops they used the word “includes” so that at any point in time, when the Ministry is well-equipped for other tree crops to come on board, they would submit their proposals.

    Mr Speaker, we had cause and the opportunity, together with the Ministry, to speak to the Export Promotion Council (EPC) on the

    performance of mango and coconut. From 2015 to 2018, mango has brought in US$453,020,635 into the economy. So they were very comfortable that adding mango is all right for them now because they think the mango industry is picking up and would be able to help self-finance.

    When we sought to find out information on coconut, it was not available because we do not do formal exporting of coconut. Locally, yes; everybody knows that coconut is really picking up. Everybody in this House would agree with me that currently, everybody wants to drink, at least, one coconut a day to keep themselves lively and healthy.

    Mr Speaker, that notwithstanding, they said that they have put in place a programme to develop coconut, so that at the end of the day, because they look forward to including coconut in future, in the shortest possible time, coconut could come on board. This is because they recognised, as everybody is saying, that coconut plays a very important role in the lives of our farmers, be it in the Volta, Central, Western Regions or all over the country. So their suggestion and advice is that the Bill is in the bosom of Parliament and we could do anything to it now, but they would advise that we thread cautiously in order not to overburden the Authority.

    That was their final admonition, that in order not to burden the Authority for it to become moribund at the onset, we thread cautiously. It is better to start with one and then add on than starting with many and then getting nowhere.

    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity.
    Dr Bernice A. Heloo 12:14 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    I rise to talk on behalf of the vast majority of our women whose livelihoods are dependent on coconut. -- [Hear! Hear!] --
    Mr Speaker, coconut oil is sold at all places; in my region, the Central Region and indeed, many parts of the country. To say that we would have to wait for this tree crop to be developed at a later stage would be a very big disservice to our women.
    Mr Speaker, based on that and on other factors that we have raised, I propose that we include coconut because we, as a nation, want to promote women and women's economic development.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this matter is taking quite a long time. I
    Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 12:14 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Indeed, if we look at the decisions of the Hon Second Deputy Speaker when he was presiding, it was precisely for the Committee to contact that Ministry and get advice. The Leadership appealed to him for this kind of consultation and I think the consultation has been done effectively.
    Mr Speaker, because of the way we handled this Bill, the Hon Majority Leader was the one who suggested we should close the options of the tree
    Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 12:14 p.m.


    crops and not open it up. That is why we changed “includes” to “means”. We have been advised by the Ministry of Agriculture that Parliament has the right to change this particular policy to include coconut. This is so because if we look at the hierarchy of decisions, Cabinet brings loan agreements here which we could change or refuse to approve.

    This decision is very simple; we have six tree crops and we are not going to start developing all of them at once, but it would be good if we added coconut because it would be in the group. We could start from where we started with cashew or whatever; and once that is happening, we could now treat the coconut disease. We would not need any law again to now give them support.

    Mr Speaker, we have to take a decision now and the decision is to vote because we have been advised adequately by the Ministry, by the Leadership and those who are arguing against the inclusion. But we think that given the importance of coconut, the spread of its use and the development that we want it to contribute to our economy, we must include coconut. We must take that decision now.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:14 p.m.
    I would hear all of you and I hope that we would get the numbers to take a decision.
    Yes, Hon Member for Bosome- Freho?
    Ms Joyce Adwoa Akoh Dei 12:14 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to add my voice to this debate.
    Mr Speaker, coconut is a very important crop. As a Member of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, we have debated -- and I am surprised that we are sitting here wasting valuable time debating this. One could live on coconut water for months. If one does not have blood in his system and one gets coconut water or coconut milk, it could keep one alive for a long time. Although we have four crops at the moment, I think we should add it to the fifth one and then start with whatever we could handle. I am sorry to disagree with this Side, but I think the coconut should be added to the five crops.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:14 p.m.
    Hon Member for Keta?
    Mr Richard Mawuli K. Quashigah 12:14 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Richard Mawuli K. Quashigah 12:34 p.m.
    Indeed, Hon Members who spoke earlier have alluded to the fact that coconut is of economic value in this country.

    There are a lot of people who trade in coconut; we get oil from coconut and it creates jobs and employment. Hence obviously, it should be part of the tree crops.

    As it was mentioned by Hon Collins Dauda and Hon Yieleh Chireh, having it in the law does not necessarily mean that it must also be immediately developed to the extent where cashew and palm tree had being developed up to. We should not belabour the issue.

    Yesterday, there were only two amendments that were to be taken, which took the entire day and has proceeded into today. It is a very simple matter, which we do not need to do further consultations. Consultations have been done, because yesterday the Committee was supposed to meet the Hon Minister for Agriculture to deliberate on this matter. Today, we have been told that the Hon Minister is not in town and the clause should be stepped down again.

    We would be doing a disservice to ourselves, especially, when there are

    so many Bills to be dealt with. Today, we are supposed to deal with the Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2019, the Corporate Insolvency Bill, 2019 and the Lands Bill, 2019 -- which are all on the same Order Paper.

    Meanwhile, we have debated just two amendments of this Bill from the whole of yesterday to today.

    Mr Speaker, from my perspective, the issue is very simple. Let us just add the sixth crop as coconut tree and in future, when it gets to the stage where it could also be dealt with, then it would be dealt with. When it is in the law, it does not change anything - if we do not even start with it immediately, it does not change anything.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise in support of the amendment that coconut be included in the definition of ‘‘tree crops''.
    Mr Speaker, I say so for two reasons. First, recently, Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) brought a request to this House, to enable them procure some facility for expansion and other related activities. Upon careful reading of their document, they talked about increasing seedling production to 78 million. They also talked about the introduction of soilless media.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:34 p.m.
    Hon Member, you are late as I was advised that the word ‘‘includes'', has
    been amended, and for me, that is the solution to the problem. If we have reinstated ‘‘includes'', all these arguments would end because it means that there is room to add.
    As I listened to the Hon Vice Chairman of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, the Hon Deputy Minister and the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation, they talked about the same thing. We do not have the financial and technical resources to do more than four crops at a time but because we have deleted the word “includes'', we are afraid that we would limit ourselves.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:34 p.m.
    I would recognise you, but let the young man finish and I would give you the opportunity.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I turned 41 years recently.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:34 p.m.
    So, you are not young?
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am older than many of them -- on the other Side such as Hon Dafeamekpor, Hon Ablakwa and the like.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:34 p.m.
    You are probably, old among the young.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the role cocoa plays in the national economy cannot be overlooked, so for the sake of COCOBOD alone and the fact that we recently approved a US$ 600 million facility-- if they are unable to get seedlings for our cocoa farmers, how would they utilise the funds for the benefit of Ghanaians?
    Mr Speaker, I want to urge my Hon Colleagues to support this amendment. This is not about NDC or NPP. It is not about a policy matter and somebody arguing it. We have made cocoa a tree crop through our conduct and policies and COCOBOD must grow more cocoa trees. They are moving away from the old system of loamy soil -
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:34 p.m.
    Hon Member, we are talking about inclusion of coconut now. COCOBOD is busy on cocoa, so focus on the inclusion of coconut or not.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in supporting my justification is that there would be a huge market for those who would engage in this coconut business with COCOBOD. They would have the opportunity that could lead to the creation of employment, which would grow the economy.
    Mr Speaker, with the other crops that have been listed, I can confidently say that coconut would be handy - that is immediate because the opportunity would be there.
    Mr Speaker, I, therefore plead with all my Hon Colleagues who earlier opposed this amendment to consider a change of mind and let us by consensus support this very important step taken by Hon Ayariga which rallies all of us to support this amendment, that coconut be included in the definition of ‘‘tree crops''.
    Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin 12:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the House has been debating this issue for three days now.
    On the first day, I was presiding. When we got to clause 26, the amendment of the definition of “tree crops” came up. What you just said was the initial position taken by some Hon Members of Parliament especially the issue of lack of funding to take on more crops. More importantly, however, we referred the Committee to go back to the promoters of the Bill to consult because these are policy issues.
    Yesterday, when the Rt Hon Speaker was himself presiding and that issue came up, they agreed to include mango. At that time, he was

    drinking coconut water, and in fact, he urged Hon Members of Parliament to support it and embrace drinking coconut water. Before he could put the Question, I took over the Chair and he gave me specific instructions. So we easily included mango.

    The issue of the lack of funding or only sufficient funds for four crops became a non-issue, and then we went on and the Hon Member for Evalue Ajomoro Gwira came in with a passionate appeal for us to include coconut; after all, the House had gone beyond the four tree crops to include the fifth one, which is mango. The position taken early on was that the Government initially considered the six tree crops but later had to drop two for no reason; the only reason being lack of funding.

    Now, Parliament had added the fifth one; mango. So there was no good reason to exclude coconut. Some tried to justify the exclusion of coconut by saying that there was not much research in the area. Then other Hon Members of Parliament produced evidence to show that research had been done. In fact, there are companies now producing and exporting coconut water, and earning a lot of revenue from the exports.

    Mr Speaker, so we only did not put the Question yesterday because the Hon Deputy Majority Leader, who was then the Leader of the House in situ, insisted that before the Hon Majority Leader left, he had directed her to ask for a deferment for further consultation. That was what persuaded me from putting the Question. So we directed that the consultation should go on, and then we take the issue today.

    Today we are hearing the same arguments again. In fact, I told them that by the constitutional provision, it would be difficult for us to discriminate. In my concluding remarks, I said that I am persuaded by those arguing for the inclusion of coconut, and I still stand by that point.

    Mr Speaker, there would be no good reason for this House to include mango and exclude coconut. I cannot understand that. In fact, I did not put the Question the first day because I am a mango farmer, and I did not want to have conflict of interest. It was when Rt Hon Speaker took it up yesterday that he insisted that mango should be included, and it was included.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:44 p.m.
    Hon available Leader?
    Prof Gyan-Baffour 12:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think this amendment was actually the property of Hon Catherine Afeku from our Side and Hon Mahama Ayariga on the other Side. So it may actually be that it is bipartisan in nature.

    Mr Speaker, I think this amendment should carry --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:44 p.m.
    Now, I have come to the Hon Leaders, as I am concluding.
    Alhaji Muntaka 12:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am very delighted with the comments from my Hon Colleague, Prof Gyan- Baffour, and the consultation that they have done.
    Mr Speaker, I entreat all of us that when we come to the Floor to speak, because we ply our trade before the cameras, let us be factual. Even if we
    are against something, we should just be factual.
    It was because of the debate that took off two days ago that yesterday the Coconut Federation forwarded so much information to dispute the claims.
    Mr Speaker, there is an association called the Coconut Federation, Ghana. [Interruption.] Please, I need to state these things.
    Mr Speaker, this includes the exporters, processers, farmers, nursery operators and local vendors. With regard to export, they say that until the closure of the Nigerian border, they export 208 tonnes every week, which brings it to 11,000 tonnes a year. They have just one Ghanaian company, Novelty Coconut Limited, which has signed a contract with a Spanish company to supply 9,000 tonnes of coconut.
    When we spoke and people shouted that it was not well- developed, they are not exporting -- we were misinformed, and those citizens were irritated. So let us state the facts. [Interruption.] I have given the facts, and I am happy that we are no longer splitting hairs over this.
    Mr Speaker, lastly, while we set up an Authority, let us not allow them to
    Alhaji Muntaka 12:44 p.m.


    go for the hanging fruits because that is what happens in this country. People want to make laws for themselves, forgetting that they would not stay there forever, or they want to make laws to cover a few people.

    Let us always check the facts behind whatever information that is given us. That is the only way we would remain relevant to the development of our country and to the people who elected us.

    Mr Speaker, I am happy that the Hon Minister for Agriculture has come in and we are saved by the bell even though his Hon Deputy, a while ago, repeated that it was the position of the Ministry -- he did not consult his boss before coming to the Chamber.

    I am happy it is ending this way, but let us take this as a clue that when people come under the Authority from their Ministry -- now that the substantive Hon Minister has a different position, I hope this becomes a lesson for all of us.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:44 p.m.
    It is alright. We are done. The available Hon Leader has spoken, and I thought --
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minister, what do you want to say?
    Mr Kennedy N. Osei 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, when Hon Muntaka spoke, he made direct reference to a comment that I made; that I spoke with a position different from that of the Ministry. It is not true.
    When Hon (Prof) Gyan-Baffour spoke, he said he had to do some consultations. My initial position was that of the Ministry and that was what I communicated to the House. [Interruption.] --
    Question put and amendment agreed to.

    I would put the Question on the entire clause 26.

    Hon Member, I am advised that there is a further amendment to clause 26 standing in the name of the Hon Member for Akim Oda.
    Mr Quaittoo 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the amendment is in respect of the definition of “trader”. It is stated that:
    “trader means a person engaged in aggregation and trading in primary and processed tree crop products”.
    Mr Speaker, primary and processed tree crop are called produce and products. Mr Speaker, I moved a similar amendment yesterday, so I beg to make a consequential amendment that in line 2, delete “primary and processed” and before “products” insert “produce or”.
    The final rendition would be:
    “Trader” means a person engaged in aggregation and trading in tree crop produce or products”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 26 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Hon Members, there is a proposed amendment to clause 27 in the name of the Hon Member for Akim Oda.
    Clause 27 -- Transitional provisions
    Mr Quaittoo 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move that clause 27 (1), line 1 delete “the” before “tree”, and insert “a”.
    Mr Speaker, the reason is that there are several crops and several value chains even within the same crop. So the rendition should be:
    Mr Ahiafor 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is a consequential amendment to clause 6(3), which refers to the quorum at a meeting. The reason is that clause 4(1)(c) states that “ for each tree crops value chain, four persons representing …”
    Now, we have added mango and coconut, and this would now bring on board about eight members. Mr Speaker, so instead of the quorum being seven members, I beg to move that the quorum should be 10 members.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Hon Member, it should be either nine or 11 members.
    Mr Ahiafor 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, then I move that it should be nine members.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Very well.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Ahiafor 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, however, I have an issue with the issue of quorum always being an odd number because a quorum could be an even number so long as the chairman has a casting vote.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    There is nothing wrong with what we have done. It can be odd or -
    Mr Ahiafor 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, but the quorum can be an odd number.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Hon Member, are you proposing another amendment to clause 6?
    Mr Ahiafor 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I just want to bring it to the fore for consideration in our next --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    In that case, let me finish putting the Question.
    Clause 6 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Hon Member for Akim Oda?
    Mr Quaittoo 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I missed the opportunity before you put the Question, but I would have talked about the quorum being nine members because the membership would now be about 31 members; but
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Hon Member, I have been shown your proposed amendments, but I think that it is not fair to other Hon Members if it is not advertised on the Order Paper so that they can look at it and participate in the discussions. So I would not take your proposed amendments now, but take the Long Title. Your proposed amendments could be taken at a Second Consideration Stage.
    Hon Members, the Long Title.
    The Long Title ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Hon Members, this brings us to the end of the Consideration Stage for the Tree Crops Development Authority Act,
    2019.
    Mr Matthew Nyindam 1:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if we could go to the second item on the Order Paper Addendum, the Land Bill, 2019 at a Second Reading.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:04 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
    Mr Avedzi 1:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is a few minutes past 1.00 p.m.: Today being Friday most of us would go to the mosque.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:04 p.m.
    What has today being Friday got to do with our Sitting hours?
    Mr Avedzi 1:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is because a lot of Hon Members would go to the mosque.
    Also, most Hon Members do not even have the Report we are going to debate. If we have any other thing to do we could do it, but not to take a Second Reading of the Land Bill,
    2019.
    Mr Nyindam 1:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not know why my Hon Colleague from the other Side said so. This is a Report that has been with us for almost three days now. Unfortunately, he left his copy of the Report in his office. Yesterday we should have taken this Motion; but unfortunately, some Hon Members were not around. I think that today it would be unfair to the Committee because they have been here for the past three days sitting and waiting that the Motion is moved.
    So I would appeal to my good Hon Friend, Hon Avedzi, to allow us to take this Report. After that, we would advise ourselves.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:04 p.m.
    Hon Members, I have heard from both Sides. Our Sitting hours is from 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. We started Sitting later than 10.00 a.m. and we are still within the Sitting hours.
    Hon Members, item numbered 2 on the Order Paper Addendum - Motion by the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
    Mr Nyindam 1:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with your leave and that of the House, if we could allow the Hon Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, who is an Hon Colleague of ours, to stand in for the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
    Mr Avedzi 1:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, they are not even prepared for this Motion. He is now asking for leave of the House to allow the Hon Deputy Minister to move the Motion. If they were prepared and wanted us to sit here to work, they would have come properly to ensure that all the people who matter would come here.
    He is now asking Mr Speaker to allow the Hon Deputy Minister to move the motion. They should not treat us like that.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:04 p.m.
    Do you object to the Hon Deputy Minister who is an Hon Member of this House, moving the Motion?
    BILLS -- SECOND READING 1:04 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Francis Manu-Adabor) 1:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion.
    In doing so, I present your Committee's Report.
    1.0 Introduction
    1.1 The Land Bill, 2019 was presented and read the first time in Parliament on 1st August, 2019 by the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Kweku Asomah- Cheremeh, in accordance with Article 106 of the Constitution.
    1.2 The Bill was subsequently referred to the Committee on Lands and Forestry for consideration and report pursuant to Article 106(4) of the Constitution and Order 177 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.
    2.0 Deliberations
    The Committee met with the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural
    Resources, Mr Kweku Asomah- Cheremeh, the Hon Deputy Minister, Mr Benito Owusu- Bio and Officials of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Lands Commission, Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands and Office of the Attorney- General to consider the Bill.
    3.0 Acknowledgements
    3.1 The Committee acknowledges the participation and the immense contributions of the following:
    i. Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Kweku Asomah-Cheremeh and his Hon Deputy, Benito Owusu-Bio;
    ii. Officials from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources;
    iii. The Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission and his team;
    iv. The Administrator of Stool Lands and his team; and
    v. Dr Benjamin Quaye of the Land Administration Project.
    3.2 The Committee also acknowledges Members of the following institutions and CSOs:
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Francis Manu-Adabor) 1:04 p.m.


    i. Ghana institute of Surveyors

    (GHIS);

    ii. Licensed Surveyors Association of Ghana

    (LISAG);

    iii. Civil Society Coalition of Land

    (CICOL);

    IV. Network for Women's Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT);

    v. State Housing Company Limited (SHC);

    vi. Ghana Real Estate Development Association

    (GREDA);

    vii. The Community Land and Development Foundation

    (COLANDEF);

    viii. Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD); and

    ix. United States Agency for International Development

    (USAID).

    3.3 The Committee is grateful to all the stakeholders for their assistance during the consideration period.

    4.0 References

    The Committee was guided by the underlisted documents in the course of its work:

    1. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;

    2. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana;

    3. The Criminal Code of Ghana, 1960 (Act 29);

    4. The Lands Commission Act, 2008, (Act 767);

    5. The Administrator of Stool Lands Act, 1998 (Act 481);

    6. The Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016 (Act

    925);

    7. The Survey Act, 1962 (Act

    127);

    8. Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 798);

    9. The Conveyancing Act, 1973 (NRCD 175); and

    10. The Vigilantism Act, 2019.

    5.0 Background

    5.1 The critical role that land plays in the economic development and

    poverty alleviation of a country cannot be overemphasised. The terms and conditions under which land is used and transferred have important consequences for the economic growth of a country.

    The Land Sector in Ghana is however, saddled with challenges to the extent that one can hardly acquire private land without litigation or confrontation. The challenges are multifaceted, ranging from illegal selling of vested lands, multiple sales of lands to individuals and difficulty in the registration of rights and interests in lands. These illegalities and challenges have led to apprehension within and among families and communities in the entire nation.

    5.2 The overlaps and inconsistencies currently associated with the land laws also contribute to the high incidence of land related litigation and disputes. This results in court judgments, in some cases, being inconsistent with national land policies. Also, the process of enactment of land related laws has not been properly coordinated over the years to achieve clearly defined land policy objectives.

    5.3 The Land Bill therefore proposes to complement the Lands Commission Act, 2008, (Act 767); the Administrator of Stool Lands Act, 1998 (Act 481); and the Land Use
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Francis Manu-Adabor) 1:04 p.m.


    Clause 9 emphasises the fiduciary nature of the role of chiefs, Tendana, clan and family heads in the administration of land and makes provision for stool, skin, clan and family lands to be treated in the same manner.

    Clause 10 provides for a situation where land is jointly acquired by a citizen and a non-citizen. Where such a situation arises, the restrictions on the non-citizen still holds as per the Constitution.

    Clause 11 covers issues relating to gender and vulnerable groups in accordance with Article 17 of the Constitution.

    Clause 12 prohibits the use of unlawful means to protect land and interests in land.

    Clauses 14 to 18 caters for land management by the customary owners through the establishment of Customary Land Secretariats (CLSs). The provisions are intended to streamline record keeping by customary owners of land.

    Clause 19 covers rules on community parks, markets, cemeteries, durbars, funeral grounds and other areas that are needed by the community generally.

    Clauses 20 - 22 provides for the management of customary lands.

    Clauses 23 - 28 provides for survey of land. The contents are limited to survey activities relating to land administration.

    Clauses 29 to 31 provides the power to conduct valuation, certification of valuation, and the forms of valuation respectively.

    Clause 33 covers persons qualified to prepare conveyance. It provides that only qualified legal practitioners are to prepare conveyances.

    Clause 35 provides that both the transferor and the transferee are to sign a conveyance.

    Clause 38(3) and (4) provides for Parties to a Conveyance. In a conveyance for valuable consideration of an interest in land by a spouse during marriage, the spouses shall be stated to be parties to the conveyance unless a contrary intention is expressed; and

    Where contrary to subsection (3) a conveyance is made to only one spouse, and that spouse shall be presumed to be holding the land or interest in the land in trust for the spouses unless a contrary intention is expressed.

    Clause 47 provides restrictions on land transfer of and by spouse.

    Clause 57(2)(a) provides for notice by electronic mail for breach of a covenant.

    Clause 62(1) provides for fees in respect of consent to assign, sublet part with possession, dispose, mortgage, change use, renew lease, surrender lease and any other transaction relating to stool, skin, tendana, clan or family lands to be prescribed by regulations in consultation with the Lands Commission and the Administrator of Stool Lands.

    Customs differ from place to place and there is evidence that absence of regulation will lead to abuse by different chiefs. The provision of rules would ensure uniformity throughout the country.

    Clause 68 (1) & (2) exempts vesting assents from the requirement that conveyances should be executed by the parties in the presence of at least one witness.

    Clauses 69 - 72 deals with Customary obligations to be stated in a conveyance.

    Clauses 73 - 79 for the first time introduces electronic conveyancing in

    line “with current efforts in the country to move public business into electronic mode to ensure speedy processing and greater access to information relating to land transactions”.

    Clauses 80 - 205 deals with title registration.

    Clauses 206 - 233 provides for the power of the Republic to compulsorily acquire land for public purposes and align the power with the provisions of Article 20 of the 1992 Constitution.

    Clause 234 provides for acquisition of land by means of purchase or gift.

    Clause 235 provides that public lands shall be allocated for the purpose for which the land was acquired or for purposes of public interest. It further restricts Ministries, Departments and Agencies that are allocated public lands from creating or transferring an interest in the land allocated.

    Clause 236 - 237 prohibits unlawful occupants of public lands from acquiring an interest in or right over that land by reason of the occupation, and imposes a sanction for contravention of the prohibition.

    Clause 238 ensures availability of funds for payment of compensation,
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Francis Manu-Adabor) 1:04 p.m.
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    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:04 p.m.
    Hon Members, I propose that we start the debate, but we will not conclude it today. Matters in this debate are weighty, serious and in some instances extremely controversial. I have looked at Article 22 again.
    I have been a member of the Committee that worked on property rights of spouses. We have travelled around the country, and I have heard comments of people who are emotionally attached to these matters. So we should be very open and allow many Hon Members as possible to make contributions.
    Question proposed
    Yes, Hon Member for Wa Central?
    Alhaji (Dr) Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (NDC -- Wa Central) 1:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as you rightly observed at the Committee, it was a controversial issue in getting this Bill to Parliament for consideration. We however, noticed the Bill is important and would solve a lot of problems.
    Mr Speaker, land issues in Ghana have been controversial. Over the years, people have had challenges with owning land, including people who have moved in to invest. They have met challenges of ownership and land titles.
    Mr Speaker, reading through the Bill, we noticed that it would address a critical issue of land ownership. I am impressed about the fact that issues about allodial title, customary law, custom law freehold, distractory interest, leasehold and customary interest are all tackled into detail, in fact, with definitions and legal frame addressing them. There were a number of controversial issues, according to the Report, especially the interest of a spouse in the ownership and disposal of land.
    Mr Speaker, a lot of people were of the opinion that Ghana was not up there. We believe that it is time to have this done. When a couple owns land and a spouse decides to sell the land, he or she disposes the person of where to live. So it is important to discuss with the person, so they could come to an agreement before the land is disposed of. I believe that, as Mr Speaker said, it would create some tensions and emotions but it is important that we tackle it once and for all.
    Another issue that has been captured by the Report, which is also of some interest, was the ownership of lands and the use of land guards by owners. We noticed that that had been taken care of in an earlier law, which was passed; the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019. We also
    thought that it is necessary to promote some more sanctions on how land guards are used in this country. It is an area that would address the challenge of land ownership. Sometimes people who have muscle power own lands rather than the rightful owners. This law would kill that ill, and promote decency in the ownership of land in this country.
    Mr Speaker, of importance was the fact that land boundaries that are not demarcated in this country have become a challenge, and people fight over them. This law would tackle it adequately. We believe that when the law is passed, people would not fight over lands. The lands in the whole country would be demarcated, and people would know what their demarcations or boundaries are.
    Mr Speaker, I believe that this law, if passed by Parliament, would be a landmark law, which would tackle huge inadequacies in our land tenure system. It would also create avenues for other people, especially investors, to come into this country without any fear of buying and losing it almost at the same time they bought it.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:04 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Ablekuma Central?
    Mr Ebenezer Nii Narh Nartey (NPP -- Ablekuma Central) 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Land Bill came to this House in 2011. I strongly believe that if Hon Members would be involved in the debate and also proffer amendments to the clauses, it would be best for all of us to get the Land Bill, 2019 passed for our betterment.
    Mr Speaker, a major problem, apart from us dealing with galamsey, is the double sale of land and in other aspect, the issue of land guards. I must be honest with you, that many Hon Members in this House, in one way or the other, might have had problems with the acquisition of land. A person buys a piece of land from a particular person but in the process of registering the land, a search report shows that the land belongs to another person.

    Many chiefs and families do not have boundaries of their lands, and many people claim ownership of their land. Mr Speaker, I believe that when we are able to come out with this Bill, it would spell out the boundary of every family, stool and State lands. Therefore we might not be able to have multiple sale of land.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
    Yes, Hon O. B. Amoah?
    Mr O. B Amoah 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, our Hon Colleague has been very categorical that the blame for some of these things cannot be put at the doorstep of the Lands Commission, but at the doorstep of land owners. I do not think he should make that
    categorical statement because some of us have personal experiences to show that, sometimes, it comes from the Lands Commission. He has to be very sure of what he is saying, otherwise, we would end up giving examples and spending all the time here showing that indeed, we cannot always blame owners of lands, but sometimes, those at the Lands Commission.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
    Hon Member, just rephrase your point.
    Mr Nartey 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, let me explain further to Hon O. B. Amoah. The reason I said the Lands Commission cannot be held responsible is that if I am going to register my land and I submit an indenture and a site plan - it was not given to me by the Lands Commission; it was given to me by the one who sold the land to me.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
    Hon Member, many of us here have experiences other than what you have given as an example. So let us not go into that now. There are so many examples of individuals within the Lands Commission and the other agencies who are complicit in many of the cases. Let us avoid that, and speak to the principle of the Bill.
    Mr Nartey 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is why I said from the beginning that when this Bill is passed, in one way or the other, even staff at the Lands Commission as well as those who are going to register their lands or those who sell lands would be punished if they do something against the law. When you have the opportunity to read the Bill, you would know that if an officer at the Lands Commission does something which is wrong, as Hon O. B. Amoah said, which I have not had that experience, he or she would be punished for that. For some, they would have to go to prison for that.
    Mr Speaker, I believe that we all need to support this Bill, and I can assure you that if it is passed, we would have a very good system in this country, and we would not have any problem with multiple sale of lands. Hon Colleagues who have had that experience would have their peace of mind, and we would all have very good lands in Accra and other places to live on.
    Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (NDC -- South Dayi) 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity given me to contribute to the Motion on the Floor. In doing so, I would want to make a few comments by way of corrections to the Report before I conclude with my comments.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
    Hon Member?
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are looking at the principles of the Bill, but I hear my Hon Colleague try to rewrite the entire Report of the Committee.
    We are discussing the principles of the Bill, so let us get to that. If during a different stage he has some amendments to make, I have no problem, but I hear him correcting the entire Report. So should the Committee withdraw the Report? So far that is what he has done. I am not sure in what capacity he has to rewrite the Report. This is the Second Reading of the Bill.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
    Hon Member, at this stage we debate the principles of the Bill, so please, let your discussions be on the principles of the Land Bill, 2019 before us.
    1. 34 p.m.
    Mr Dafeamekpor 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is exactly what I am doing. I am only pointing out certain omissions.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
    You are not to point out certain omissions, at this stage you would debate the principles.
    Mr Dafeamekpor 1:24 p.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker.
    I am very happy that, for instance, the Bill seeks to incorporate into law, judicial decisions that have clearly pointed to the fact that properties acquired during the pendency of marriage is registered in the joint names of the spouses, unless they otherwise state. That is good because I recall that there is a Bill in this House - Spousal Property Rights Bill, which is pending before us and we have not been able to work on it. Therefore if an aspect of the Land Bill seeks to bring into law what that entire Bill seeks to achieve, then it is very laudable.
    Mr Speaker, I have also read from the Report that the Deed of Conveyance is actually not conveyancing but the deed of conveyance which would come in several forms - it could be an assignment, a leasehold, a tenancy agreement; and all that would now be drafted by lawyers. And it is a good practice. It is also another way that Government could generate revenue because when lawyers are exclusively given that right to this, they would pay tax on the fees that they earn.
    But as it is now, sometimes it is Registrars and certain Commissioner of Oaths who sit by the roadside who draft some of these conveyances that are fraught with mistakes. So a lawyer goes to court to litigate a matter and the lawyer sees that the entire deed of conveyance that is before the court is full of mistakes. So I am very happy that we have borrowed this practice from places like Australia, as v the Hon Chairman of the Committee said, to import into our jurisdiction and as a way of bringing sanity into the land administration processes in the country.
    Mr Speaker, the Committee's Report also speaks about the fact that we would encourage electronic conveyance and I struggle to appreciate how we could achieve that. Are we saying that if we want transfer interest from one owner of property to another person, we would have recourse to electronic means? If that is it, those processes are already in existence. Unless we are saying that we would have recourse to full electronic means of doing so, but indeed, if that is what we intend to do, there would still be human interface. I just would like to draw the Committee's attention to that; to note it so that there would still be a human interface to that.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
    Hon Members, I propose that we defer any further debate and continue at our next Sitting. Hon Leaders, do you agree with the suggestion?
    Mr Nyindam 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think it is right because we indicated earlier that we would not conclude the debate today. And looking at the time, and today being Friday, since we would not continue with the debate, I think we should adjourn the House till Monday.
    On that note Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House adjourns till Monday, 2nd December, 2019
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
    I encourage the Committee members in particular to look at the clauses dealing with registering joint ownership; read carefully, article 22: the clause is that property jointly acquired -- People have attempted to say that “jointly acquired” means as long as they are married, property acquired is— that is the kind of definition you are seeking to introduce. Let us be careful; that has become the challenge. The attempt to say that as long as you are married, any property acquired by one or the other is for both.
    That has been the reason why the Proper Rights of the Spouses has stalled. As if by reason of marriage, one has lost one's individuality. I think we should be very careful because
    that would be very controversial. Let us investigate and be clear on what we want to put in the Bill.
    Hon Deputy Majority Whip, did you move the Motion for adjournment?
    Mr Nyindam 1:24 p.m.
    Yes.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Leader, the Motion for adjournment had been moved.
    Mr Avedzi 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    ADJOURNMENT 1:24 p.m.