Debates of 7 Feb 2020

Hon Members, item numbered 7 -- Hon Chairman of the Committee?

Mr Speaker, I beg to move that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1) which require that no Motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on
which the Motion is moved, the Motion for the adoption of the Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Host Country Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration) and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) for the Establishment of JETRO Office in Ghana and to Confer Diplomatic Status on the Organisation may be moved today.

Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.

Item numbered 8.
Establishment of Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Office in Ghana and to Confer
Diplomatic Status on the Organisation

Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Host Country Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration) and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) for the Establishment of JETRO Office in Ghana and to Confer Diplo- matic Status on the Organisation.
Mr Speaker, in doing so I beg to present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The Host Country Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration) and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) for the Establishment of JETRO Office in Ghana and to Confer Diplomatic Status on the Organisation was laid in Parliament on Friday 31st January, 2020 by the Hon Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Habibu Tijani Mohammad on behalf of the Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Mr Speaker referred the Agree- ment to the Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration and report.
The Committee met on Wednesday 5th February, 2020 and deliberated on the Agreement. In attendance was the Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley
Ayorkor Botchwey, the Deputy Minister, Alhaji Habibu Tijani Mohammad and officials of the Ministry.
The Committee extends its appreciation to the Hon Minister and her Team for their inputs during the deliberations.
2.0 Reference Documents
The Committee was guided by the following documents during the deliberations and in preparing its Report:
i. The 1992 Constitution
ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament.
3.0 Background
The Government of Ghana received a request from the Japanese Government for the establishment of JETRO in Ghana by the execution of a host country Agreement with JETRO to extend diplomatic status to the office. The request is in the context of the bilateral relations between the two countries.
JETRO is a government related organisation working to support and promote free trade between Japan and the rest of the world. Established in 1958 with the core mandate of

Bia West): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

Mr Speaker, we have a very healthy relationship with the Republic of Japan and they have been involved in supporting Ghana in the roads sector as well as education, health and agricultural sectors.

The cumulative effect of the contributions by Japan to the development of Ghana is tremendous. Although this effort has been initiated from their side and it would mainly benefit them, it would also enhance their global compe-titiveness. So their presence in Ghana with a diplomatic status would go a long way to improve their connectedness with the rest of the world and as a result we would accrue some significant contributions to our country.

Mr Speaker, on the basis of these factors that were considered by the Committee, I would recommend that we approve this Motion. Mr Speaker, thank you.

Minority leadership?

Mr Speaker, I would yield to Hon Ayariga.

Mr Speaker, any time we have an opportunity to have the offices of an international organisation, no matter how small it is established in our country, it is very welcome and we should encourage it.
At the very least, there would be resources set aside to put up an office space; either rented or constructed. Also, certain levels of local staff would be engaged, and so employment opportunities would be guaranteed. Mr Speaker, even if expatriates are brought in and paid in foreign currencies, they would send moneys home but some would remain here and would always spend through restaurants, shopping malls et cetera.
It generates revenue for the country to fight and secure the establishment of offices within the country. So let us commend the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for once again having to secure the establishment of such an office in Ghana as well as all the benefits that will accrue to Ghana.
Mr Speaker, if the office is established here and it oversees the sub-region then it means that the other countries near us who have to go to Japan to deal with such matters would now come to the office in Ghana and that would be overseeing the sub- region. So our airlines would have business opportunities and our hotels
would host them for the days that they would be here. It is really a catalyst for economic growth when a country fights to establish those offices.
Mr Speaker, this House should commend the Ministry, encourage such initiatives and speedily approve such matters so that they would not be held here for long. Mr Speaker, thank you very much.

Majority leadership?

Mr Speaker, thank you.
When we look at the Report of the Committee, we see that Japan has been helping Ghana immensely and we are even told that the largest Japanese assistance was the US$1 billion debt cancellation under the HIPC initiative. Our relationship with Japan has been so encouraging in terms of the provision of infrastructure and so on. Therefore if an important office would be established in this country to foresee the ECOWAS region, then I think that it is good for us to support this Report.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.

Does the Hon Deputy Minister wish to comment on the Motion. ?
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (Alhaji H. Tijani Mohammad): Mr Speaker, thank you.
I would make a few comments on the justification, implementation plan and the key provisions of the Agreement. The key provisions of the Agreement between the Government of Ghana and JETRO which was signed on 29th August, 2019 was basically the normal protocols extended in the diplomatic status.
Mr Speaker, upon approval, the Ministry would work with the relevant State institutions such as the Ministry of Finance, the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre. We would work towards this to finalise the processes for the establishment of the office in Ghana.
Mr Speaker, I would also talk on the justification. The establishment of the Office would facilitate Ghana's engagement with Japan in the area of trade and investment and also place the country in a position to maximise the benefit from the trade and

investment initiatives of the Japanese Government.

Question put and Motion agreed to.

Item numbered 9 -- Resolution.

Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.

Yes, Hon Majority Leader?

Mr Speaker, even though we thought at the very outset that we would be able to do some work on item numbered 11, given where we are today, and today being Friday, I would urge that we standdown the consideration of the Narcotics Control Commission
Bill, 2019 to also allow Hon Members in the winnowing committee to join me after adjournment to see what work we could do on the Bill.
So Mr Speaker, the time reading after 3.00 p.m., you may adjourn the House on your own.

Very well. Hon Members, in the circumstance, the House is adjourned till Tuesday, 11th February, 2020 at 10.00 a.m.