Debates of 21 Feb 2020

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:46 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:46 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 20th February, 2020.

Hon Members, any corrections to the Official Report of Wednesday, 5th February, 2020?
Mr Matthew Nyindam 10:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Going through the Votes and Proceedings, I saw almost all the names of the Hon Minority Members
captured as present but we all knew they went out yesterday. So on what basis have they been marked present?
Mr Speaker 10:46 a.m.
Hon Member, I do not get you.
Mr Nyindam 10:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, what I am saying is that if you look at the Votes and Proceedings, the names of the Hon Minority Members have been marked as present but we all witnessed what happened yesterday; they were not here. So on what basis have they been marked present?
Mr Speaker, please, I want your guidance on this.
rose rose
Mr Nyindam 10:46 a.m.
I need Mr Speaker's guidance on this and not yours. This is because we all see that you have been marked present but you were absent from the Chamber.
Mr Speaker 10:46 a.m.
Clerks-at-the- Table, is there any indication that in the middle or during proceedings they left? Is there an indication that certain people left in the course of proceedings? Can I have that and where is anything to this effect?
I direct that it should be clearly stated that certain Hon Members of this honourable House left at one point in the proceedings. They announced their leaving and that should be duly recorded and to appear in the minutes that certain persons decided to leave this honourable House during the proceedings.
Hon Members, let us move on. We have Business to do.
rose
Mr Speaker 10:46 a.m.
Hon Member, any difficulty?
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 10:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was having a discussion with the Hon (Dr) Bernard Okoe Boye and he was suggesting that the Minority left after the national anthem had been sung, at which time proceedings had not begun. So they were not part of proceedings.
Mr Speaker 10:46 a.m.
Hon Member, proceedings began when prayers had been said and we went through some items on the agenda. At that moment, proceedings had begun and I mean exactly that.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 10:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yesterday's prayers were not the usual prayers because ordinarily, when you
come to the Chamber, you assume your Seat --
Mr Speaker 10:56 p.m.
Let it be clearly stated at what time of the proceedings certain persons left.
Item listed 3 -- Business Statement for the Fifth Week by the Hon Chairman of the Business Committee and Leader of the House.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:56 p.m.
Majority Leader/Chairman of the Business Committee (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 10:56 p.m.
Mr Speaker, your Committee met yesterday, Thursday, 20th February, 2020 and arranged Business of the House for the Fifth Week ending Friday, 28th February 2020.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 10:56 p.m.
Arrangement of Business
Formal Communications by the Speaker
Mr Speaker, you may read any available communication to the House.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 10:56 p.m.
Extended Sittings
Mr Speaker, in view of the tall order of the pending businesses, the Business Committee recommends that commencing from the ensuing week, the House considers sitting beyond the prescribed period (2.00 p.m.) depending on the schedule of business of each day.
Conclusion
Rt. Hon. 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 and First Reading of Bills

Customs (Amendment) Bill,

2020

Motions --

(a)That this honourable House thanks H.E. the President for the Message on the State of

the Nation which he delivered to Parliament on Thursday, 20th February, 2020.

(Commencement of Debate)

(b) Second Reading of Bills --

Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management, Ghana Bill, 2019.

Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana Bill, 2019.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2019.

(Conclusion of Consideration Stage)

Committee sittings.

Statements

Motions --

(a)That this honourable House thanks H.E. the President for the Message on the State of

the Nation which he delivered to Parliament on Thursday, 20th February, 2020.

(Continuation of Debate)

(b)Third Reading of Bills --

Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2019

(c) Adoption of the Report of the Joint Committee on Mines & Energy and Finance on the EPC/Turnkey Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Energy) and Powerchina International Group Limited for an amount of three hundred and sixty-six million, eleven thousand, nine hundred and ninety-One United States dollars thirty- eight cents (US$366, 011,991.38) for the En- gineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of a 60MW Hydro-Power Plant in Pwalugu.

Consequential Resolution

(d) Adoption of the Report of the Joint Committee on Mines & Energy and Finance on the

EPC/Turnkey Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Energy) and Powerchina International Group Limited for an amount of fifty-five million, three hundred and seventy-nine thousand, eight hundred and eight United States dollars and sixty-seven cents (US$55,379,808.67) for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of a 50MW Solar Power Plant in Pwalugu.

Consequential Resolution

(e)Adoption of the Report of the Joint Committee on Food, Agriculture & Cocoa Affairs and Finance on the EPC/ Turnkey Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Agriculture) and Power- china International Group Limited for an amount of four hundred and seventy-four million, forty-two thousand, one hundred and forty-two United States dollars (US$474,042,142.00) for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of a
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 10:56 p.m.
24,000-hectare Irrigation scheme in Pwalugu.
Consequential Resolution
Consideration Stage of Bills --
Corporate Insolvency Bill,
2019.
(Commencement of Debate)
Committee sittings.

Statements --

Presentation of Papers --

(a) Report of the Finance Committee on the Buyer Credit Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and Deutsche Bank S.p.A. (as Arranger, Agent and Original Lenders) [supported by the Italian export credit agency, SACE S.p.A.] for an amount of eighty-four million, four hundred and seventeen thousand, six hundred and forty-nine Euros eighty-two cents (€84,417,649.82) to

finance the Expansion and Rehabilitation of the Keta Water Supply System.

(b)Report of the Finance Committee on the Commercial Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and Deutsche Bank S.p.A. (as Arranger, Agent and Original Lenders) for an amount of twelve Million, seven hundred and sixty-six thousand, nine hundred and twenty-eight euros ten cents (€12,766, 928.10) to finance the Expansion and Rehabilitation of the Keta Water Supply System.

(c) Report of the Committee on Works and Housing on the Commercial Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources/Ghana Water Company Limited [GWCL]) and Lesico Infrastructures S.r.l. (Società a responsabilità limitata) for an amount of eighty-five million, one hundred and twelve thousand, eight hundred and fifty-four euros

(€85,112,854.00) for the design and execution of the Expansion and Rehabilitation of the Keta Water Supply System.

Motions --

(a) That this honourable House thanks H.E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to Parliament on Thursday, 20th February, 2020.

(Continuation of Debate)

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Corporate Insolvency Bill,

2019.

(Continuation of Debate)

Committee sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a) Report of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (1963).

(b) Report of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on the Protocol Relating to the Application of the Vienna Convention and the Paris Convention (1988).

(c) Report of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on the Protocol to Amend the Vienna Convention on the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (1997).

Motions --

That this honourable House thanks H.E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to Parliament on Thursday, 20th February 2020.

(Continuation of Debate)

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Corporate Insolvency Bill,

2019.

(Continuation of Debates)

Committee sitting.
Mr Ras Mubarak 10:56 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in commenting on the Business Statement, I see there is an enormous amount of work to be covered before we rise sine die. Respectfully, I
Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah 10:56 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Majority Leader for the Business Statement. On the debate on the State of the Nation, I noted that Leadership would debate for 50 minutes each. I think that that is a mini State of the Nation to be given. I believe their winding up is important.
However, I think those could be said in 30 minutes each. For us to listen to the Hon Majority Leader whom we are so used to for 50
minutes is a lot of work. It is important, but I suggest that 30 minutes would be in order.
Secondly, Mr Speaker, I think the issue of the flow of the debate uninterrupted is very important. I remember that in the previous year, a decision was made that there would be an uninterrupted flow of the debate without many points of orders that are sometimes intended to basically stop the flow of the debate. We need to consider this.
Mr Mahama Ayariga 11:06 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am also proceeding on the same tangent regarding the debate and the time allotment.
Mr Speaker, the mover of the Motion would take 30 minutes and invariably, the mover would also be winding up and using another 50 minutes; unless, the 50 minutes is meant for both Leaders winding up. If it is so, then it means that they are actually having 25 minutes each. So we need some explanation. Is the 50 minutes for each Leader?
It says, “winding up by Leadership, 50 minutes”. It does not say whether each of the Leaders would use 50 minutes or both Leaders would use 50 minutes in which case that would
be 25 minutes each. So let us have some clarity on that. If that happens, I am sure we would have Leaders giving us another mini statement. Mr Speaker, I timed the President and he spent just about two hours.
Mr Speaker, I recognised that there were people sitting on both sides of the House. I was listening to the Speaker. He said both Sides of the House were occupied. I do not know who occupied both Sides of the House --
Mr Speaker 11:06 a.m.
Hon Member, you are out of Order. [Laughter.]
Please, we have a lot of business ahead of us according to your own statements. Let us move to specifics and stop wandering about.
Dr Clement A. Apaak 11:06 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in presenting the Business Statement, the Hon Majority Leader indicated that given the volume and quantity of work that we are expected to accomplish before we go on recess, it has been decided that there would not be time for Hon Members to file Questions.
If I had that wrong, I duly apologised but if that is the case, I would like to appeal to the Hon Majority Leader and Leadership to reconsider asking Questions on
behalf of our constituents and to get clarity and clarification about ongoing projects and activities in our constituencies which are a very integral part of our work.
While I recognised the pressure that we are likely to feel as a result of the volume of work, I truly do not think that it would be fair to deny Hon Members of Parliament from asking Questions on behalf of their constituents.
Mr Moses Anim 11:06 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I just want to find out from the Hon Majority Leader if the Minority can take part in the debate since they boycotted the proceedings yesterday? -- [Interruption] -- And the Hon Minority Leader having helped to usher in the President and then boycotting.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:06 a.m.
That is ruled out. [Laughter.]
Hon Majority Leader, your response.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:06 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Ras Mubarak is asking the Business Committee to consider Sittings on Mondays. In the fullness of time, if it becomes necessary, the Business Committee would consider
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:16 a.m.
it but before then, the Business Committee is proposing that Sittings go outside the normal Sitting period of 2.00 p.m., beginning next week as and when it becomes necessary. So if it becomes necessary to have Mondays conscripted for Sittings, we would consider same.
Mr Speaker, I am not unmindful of the fact that Hon Ras Mubarak is liberated from other assignments, given his status now as a Sitting Member of Parliament who would not be continuing in the next Parliament. We are not unmindful of his current status. So I am not surprised about this request.
Mr Speaker, Hon Buah is saying that the Majority and Minority Leaders should not debate for more than 30 minutes, which was joined by Hon Ayariga. Mr Speaker, the House would recollect that last year, when the Hon Minority Leader was afforded 45 minutes, he was certainly going beyond that and indeed, when the House met, we decided we would accord him and myself 50 minutes each.
Mr Speaker, as I said, this is a major Statement by the President. The Hon Minority Leader is required to encapsulate the vision of the Minority group in his contribution. He must be
accorded sufficient time to do that if he elects to contribute. I do not know whether he would be contributing yet.
Mr Speaker, the Majority Leader does not mimic what the President says but he expands the horizon of what the ruling party has been doing just so that greater light would be shed on the activities of Government. So it is not for nothing that both Majority and Minority Leaders are accorded sufficient space.
Mr Speaker, I recollect that in 1999, when Hon J. H. Mensah was the Minority Leader; he was on his feet for close to two and half hours in responding to the then President's State of the Nation Address. Of course, he was not just occupying space, he made tremendous sense and a huge impact. The Hansard is there for anybody who wants to assess and verify for himself the contributions of the venerable Joseph Henry Mensah.
Mr Speaker, on that ground, when the Majority Leader, Dr Kwabena Adjei was called to respond, he elected not to contribute because he felt that he would not have sufficient audience so he came the following day and he was also accorded sufficient time to make his contribution.
So that is the order in Parliament.
Mr Speaker, so on Hon Ayariga asking an allied question as to whether the 50 minutes for winding up is for the two Leaders, I am wondering why he did not ask if all the other Hon Members would be given 10 minutes. He did not find it useful to ask that question but he asked whether the two Leaders would be afforded space to contribute for 50 minutes each.

That is a necessary question flowing from the Statement. I thought he would begin from that. But knowing him, he elected to do whatever he wanted to do. I do not want to say that it springs out of mischief. I am not capable of saying that but certainly, deductions would be made.

Mr Speaker, Dr Apaak raised an issue of the Business Committee proposing to shelf Questions and tipping the Questions that would have been asked next week to the ensuing week. I think we have explained why we have elected to do that.

It is to create space for the debate and also to allow us to transact other very important businesses. The Questions would not be taken out of the regime; they would be reloaded.

So Questions meant for the ensuing week would come together with the Questions programmed for next week. We will not take them off.

Mr Speaker, I would want to let us know that Government Business, which includes the debate, is what we would do, it takes precedence over private business, and Question time is private business and not Government Business.

Mr Speaker, the Deputy Majority Whip asked whether the Minority having absented themselves could participate in the debate.

Mr Speaker, our Orders provide that at the end of a debate, a Question be put and the rules provide that Hon Members who are not in the Chamber when an issue is discussed still have the right once they enter the Chamber to participate in voting. What it means is that, if Hon Members were not in the Chamber to listen to the President, technically, they still have the right to contribute to the debate.

Our laws allow for them to do that. The issue may be a matter of morality, but that one would be left to the Minority; but technically, they cannot be faulted if they want to participate in the debate.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.
ORAL ANSWERS TO 11:16 a.m.
QUESTIONS 11:16 a.m.
MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 11:16 a.m.
HIGHWAYS 11:16 a.m.
Dr Clement A. Apaak (NDC -- Builsa South) 11:16 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when work on the following roads in the Builsa South District would resume: (i) Fumbisi -- Kanjaga Feeder Road and (ii) Kanjaga -- Doninga Feeder Road.
Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister, your Question.
Minister for Roads and Highways (Mr Kwasi Amoako- Attah) (MP) 11:16 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, the Fumbisi-Kanjaga feeder road (8.6kms) is an engineered road in poor condition. The road forms part of the Gbedema-Kanjaga- Fumbisi feeder road (17.0kms) which was awarded for rehabilitation in 2015.
The contractor executed works within the Gbedema -- Kanjaga section and abandoned the Kanjaga -- Fumbisi section. The Contractor's failure to return to site led to the termination of the contract.
Mr Speaker, currently, the Kanjaga -- Fumbisi section which is in poor surface condition is to receive minor improvement works. Eligible contractors were asked to submit bids and tenders are being evaluated.
The tender evaluation is nearing completion and the contract is projected to be awarded to the lowest evaluated tenderer by the beginning of March 2020. This
intervention is to keep the section motorable and safe for the motoring public.
Mr Speaker, the future plan is that, engineering studies and estimates for the rehabilitation of the road to bituminous surfacing have been carried out. However, procurement and execution will depend on the availability of funds under the 2020 approved budget for the Department of Feeder Roads (DFR). Otherwise, the Project will be included in the list for rehabilitation for year 2021.
Mr Speaker, I would move on to Kanjaga-Doninga Road which measures 13.0kms. The Kanjaga -- Doninga Feeder Road (13.00km) is an engineered road with poor surface condition. It is a gravel road located in Builsa South District of the Upper East Region.
Mr Speaker, currently, there was a critical stream crossing point on this road. As a result, a contract for the construction of a culvert (1no. single 1200mm pipe) was awarded on 17th August, 2018 for completion by 16th August, 2019. The construction of the culvert has been completed but filling of the approaches to the culvert is outstanding.
Works have been suspended due to delay in payment for work done. The continuation of the works will depend on the employer honouring payment for work done.
Mr Speaker, into the future, engineering design studies and cost estimates have been carried out on the road for upgrading to bituminous surfacing. It is unlikely that the 2020 budget can contain the upgrading works. In view of this, the upgrading works will be covered by the 2021 budget for the Department of Feeder Roads (DFR).
Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Dr Apaak 11:16 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister has indicated in the third paragraph of his response to my Question starred 689 that minor improvement works would be made to the Kanjaga -- Fumbisi Road and that evaluations of the tendering processes are being done. He believes that by the beginning of March, 2020 work would commence.
Mr Speaker, why would it be minor improvements on a road that needs fixing for the past three years?
Mr Amoako-Attah 11:16 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as was contained in my Answer, my Hon Colleague Member of Parliament is right. The project is for major
Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Yes, Hon Member.
Dr Apaak 11:26 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on the same Question under ‘Future Programme', the Hon Minister indicates that processes are ongoing for bituminous surfacing to be carried out. He however gives a caveat and says:
“However, procurement and executions will depend on the availability of funds under the 2020 approved budget for Department of Feeder Roads
(DFR). Otherwise, the project will be included in the list for rehabilitation for year 2021.”
Mr Speaker, this is 2020; this is supposed to be a year of roads; could the Hon Minister be certain about whether the future programme would commence in this 2020 year of roads or 2021?
Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Mr Amoako-Attah 11:26 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, indeed, 2020 has been declared by His Excellency the President, as the year of roads, and his Government is doing exactly that. There are a number of activities affecting the road sector which are in currency now and which are taking place simultaneously across all the 16 regions of the country and across all the 260 districts in the country.
Mr Speaker, as I have already said, we have earmarked 2020 to carry out minor works on a number roads including this road. The intention is to develop it up to bituminous level and that is why I stated that once money is available under the 2020 Budget, that planned work on the road would be undertaken.
But in an unlikely event that we do not get all the moneys that we aimed at as a fall-back position, I would like to assure the Hon Member that definitely, the 2021 Budget would capture it, but for now, we aimed to do it to a bituminous level up to the entire stretch of the road this year. Mr Speaker, so the 2021 is a fall-back position.
Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
Hon Members, Question 690, Hon Apaak?
Upgrading of Fumbisi Town Roads
Dr Clement A. Apaak (NDC -- Builsa South) 11:26 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Fumbisi town roads would be upgraded?
Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
Hon Minister, your Question.
Mr Amoako-Attah 11:26 a.m.
Mr Speaker, Fumbisi is the administrative capital of Builsa South District of the Upper East Region. The town is strategically located on the Inter- Regional Road (IR10) between Wiesi and Sandema. The roads in the town are gravel surfaced.
Current programme
As part of infrastructural development, three (3) major roads in Fumbisi town have been selected for upgrading to bituminous surface to provide a facelift for the district capital.
The roads are:
1. Fumbisi Hospital Road (1.2km)
2. Fumbisi SHS Road (1.5km)
3. Fumbisi DCE's Road (1.2km)
The total length of the town roads to be upgraded is 3.9km and it forms part of the upgrading of the Chuchuliga-Sandema-Wiesi Road (40km) which is being executed by Messrs Myturn Limited.
The project commenced on 18th September, 2016 and was scheduled for completion on 17th March 2019.
The contractor has executed works on the main road up to sub-base course as well as some concrete works in Fumbisi, Sandema and Wiaga towns. The overall progress is estimated at 35 per cent completion.
The contractor is currently at site and work is progressing.
Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
Thank you.
Hon Dr Apaak?
Dr Apaak 11:26 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have just one follow up question in reaction to the response that the Hon Minister has given. That would have to do with seeking from him when this Project would be completed. He indicated very clearly that the Project commenced on 18th September, 2016 and was expected to be completed on 17th March, 2019. When does he think that this project would be completed?
Mr Amoako-Attah 11:26 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to assure my Hon Colleague that the Project is in
capable hands; it is being handled by Messrs Myturn Limited.
Mr Speaker, Messrs Myturn Limited is one of the best contractors in our nation. He has up to date, achieved 35 per cent completion. Right from the year 2016, when this project was awarded to him, the contractor has been experiencing payment challenges but we have put everything necessary in place now.
The site was abandoned, but in my Report, I stated that the contractor is back to site because of the arrangements made. He is working and we would make sure that he stays on the Project until it is completed.
Mr Speaker, I would be joining His Excellency the President to the Hon Member's Region next month; so if he follows the timetable and follows us, we shall visit this project. He is invited to join us and he would see for himself the work that is been done on this Project.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Hon Members, Question 705, Hon Member for Walewale?
Completion of Walewale Constituency Roads
Dr Sagre Bambangi (NPP -- Walewale) 11:26 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the following roads in the Walewale Constituency under construction would be completed: (i) Walewale -- Wungu -- Yama -- Bulbiya (ii) Nasia -- Janga (iii) Nasia -- Boakudoo -- Boamasa -- Kparigu - Mimima?
Thank you.
Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
Hon Minister?
Mr Amoako-Attah 11:36 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
Background
The Walewale -- Wungu -- Yama -- Bulbiya road consists of trunk and feeder roads. The Walewale -- Wungu section is a trunk road while the Wungu -- Yama - Bulbiya section is a feeder road.
(a)Walewale -- Wungu -- Mishuo
The Walewale -- Wungu -- Mishuo road forms part of the
Inter-Regional Road (IR11). The road is about 32km and presently ends at the White Volta River at Mishuo. It is a trunk road.
The first 4kms from Walewale is bituminous surface and the condition is good. However, the remaining 28kms is gravel surface and the condition is poor.
The road has been damaged extensively by the torrential rains the area experienced in 2018. As a result, the inhabitants along the road were almost cut off from the other parts of the district and the region.
Current programme
In view of the poor state of the road, it became imperative to undertake emergency remedial works to salvage the road from being cut at various points by river/stream crossings and severe washouts.
The remedial works were packaged into five Lots and procured under a programme captioned “Emergency Remedial Works on Flood Damaged Roads in the Northern Region” amongst others.
Currently, all the five projects are on-going. The projects commenced
Dr Bambangi 11:36 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to inform the Hon Minister that the contractor on the Wungu-Yama- Bulbiya road is not at site because I was at the constituency over the weekend and I have also made calls to crosscheck. The state of the road is such that the diversions have become unmotorable, which makes it difficult to be used by the people. So, if he could do his checks once again and then whip up the contractor to go to site.
I thank you.
Mr Amoako-Attah 11:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, from the Answer given, the road is a very long one and there are a number of activities ongoing on the entire stretch. My reliable information is that the contractors are all on site and they have worked at various percentage levels of completion. The particular section that the Hon Minister talks about, the contractor has done 35 per cent of it.
Mr Speaker, that notwithstanding, I have taken note of it and I would do my checks to ensure that the contractor is on site. Whatever the problem is, once it is identified, it would be resolved.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:46 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Members. That brings us to the end of Question time.
Hon Minister, thank you for attending upon the House and answering our Questions.
Hon Members, at the Commencement of Public Business; item listed 6, Presentation of Papers.
Item numbered 6 (i), by the Chairman of the Committee?
PAPERS 11:46 a.m.
Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah 11:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this referral went to the Joint Committee on Mines and Energy and Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs. The Committee on Finance had no part to play in this, so I do not know why it is being listed as a Report of the Joint Committee on Mines and Energy and Finance, and this runs through.
Mr Speaker 11:46 a.m.
Hon Member, are you talking about item numbered 6 (i)?
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 11:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yes.
Mr Speaker 11:46 a.m.
And what is your difficulty?
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 11:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Committee on Finance was not part of the Joint Committee.
Mr Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi 11:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree with my Hon Colleague; the Chairman of the Committee on Finance. The referral as captured here is wrong. It is not Committee on Mines and Energy and Finance but Mines and Energy and Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs. That should be corrected.
Mr Speaker 11:46 a.m.
Hon Chairman, please, kindly sort this out yourselves and let us sing from the same motions.
Item numbered 6 (ii)?
Mr Gyamfi 11:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the issue also affects item numbered 6 (ii). That should also be Committee on Mines and Energy and Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs.
Mr Speaker 11:46 a.m.
What you have you may present, and then you sort out all other matters out afterwards.
Mr Gyamfi 11:46 a.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:46 a.m.
Yes?
By the Chairman of the Committee --
(ii)Report of the Joint Committee on Mines & Energy and Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs on the EPC/Turnkey Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Energy) and Powerchina International Group Limited for an amount of fifty-five million, three hundred and seventy-nine thousand, eight hundred and eight United States dollars sixty-seven cents (US$55, 379,808.67) for the
Mr Speaker 11:46 a.m.
Hon Members, can we take item listed 11?
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 11:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 11 is a procedural Motion but I think we have gone past
48 hours, so we can move to item numbered 12.
Mr Speaker 11:46 a.m.
All right, the procedural Motion listed 11 cannot be necessary, therefore Motion listed
12.
MOTIONS 11:46 a.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 11:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Request by the Government of the Republic of Ghana for the issuance of Government Shortfall Undertaking Letter (GSUL) in favour of Credit Suisse AG., London Branch, to support Ghana EXIM Bank (GEXIM) to access and drawdown a term facility of one hundred million United States dollars (US$100,
000,000.00).
In so doing, I present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The request by the Government of the Republic of Ghana for the issuance of Government Shortfall Undertaking Letter (GSUL) in favour of Credit Suisse AG, London Branch, to support Ghana Export-lmport Bank (GEXIM) to access and drawdown a Term Facility of one hundred million United States dollars (US$100,000,000.00) was presented to the House on Wednesday, 12th February, 2020 by the Hon Minister responsible for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu on behalf of the Minister responsible for Finance.
Pursuant to article 103 of the 1992 Constitution and Orders 169 and 171(1) of the Standing Orders of the House, the Agreement was referred to the Committee on Finance for consideration and report.
The Committee subsequently met and discussed the Agreement with the Deputy Minister for Finance, Hon Charles Adu Boahen, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export-lmport Bank (GEXIM) and a team of officials from the Ministry of
Finance and GEXIM and hereby submits this report to the House.
The Committee is grateful to the above mentioned Hon Deputy Minister and the officials for attending upon the Committee.
2.0 References
The Committee referred to and was guided by the following documents inter alia during its deliberations on the request:
The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana;
The Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921);
Ghana Export-lmport Bank Act, 2016 (Act 911);
3.0 Background
The Ghana Export-lmport Bank (GEXIM) is a statutory corporation set up under the Ghana Export- Import Bank Act, 2016 (Act 911) to aid the Government of Ghana's long
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 11:46 a.m.


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Mr Benjamin Komla Kpodo (NDC -- Ho Central) 11:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion moved by the Finance Committee Chairman. I wish to add that we have considered the request brought in by the Hon Minister for Finance and have decided to support the bank to secure this loan for the purpose of assisting the companies listed.
Initially, we had a problem with the list of the projects which the bank seeks to support. It took us quite some time but they have finally submitted the list of the projects that the bank intends to support. We know that it is the shortfall request which is being made. For the companies here, there are no indications as to how much each project is entitled to, under the disbursement of the money being sought.
Quite a few have been indicated here but it is not comprehensive and does not add up to the US$100 million that the bank is requesting. We have asked this because as a Committee and Parliament --
Mr Speaker 11:56 a.m.
Hon Member, meanwhile, you are seconding the Motion and in doing so? Let us go by the process. If you second the Motion, then you may also say “in doing so”. You did not say it from the beginning that you were seconding the Motion.
Mr Kpodo 11:56 a.m.
Yes Mr Speaker, I have seconded it. That is exactly what I did. I did say that I am seconding the Motion and in doing so, contributing to the Report.
Mr Speaker 11:56 a.m.
Thank you. Now I hear you.
Mr Kpodo 11:56 a.m.
All right Mr Speaker.
What I was saying is that for our supervisory role over the activities of the bank, it is necessary for us to know the full details of how much each company is going to be given.
Also, we should be interested in the repayment agreement between EXIM Bank and the company, so that we would know when the Ministry of Finance has stepped in as part of its responsibility under the GSUL. We have agreed to call on Hon Colleagues to approve the deal, subject to these issues that I have raised.
Mr Speaker, again, we noted that the EXIM Bank does not have the full amount. They told us that several
Mr Speaker 11:56 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member. Any contributions? One from each Side.
Mr Daniel Okyem Aboagye (NPP -- Bantama) 11:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague on the other Side raised the issue of the fact that the list of potential beneficiaries of this US$100 million loan does not add up to the amount. I just want to submit that at the Committee level, we were provided with how this US$100 million would be distributed in terms of the sectors they would go to. All those sectors added up to US$100 million, which is exactly what they asked for.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague on the other Side also raised the issue of the fact that we do not know how much would go to each company. I must say that in London, even though you might make a firm commitment
to a borrower, ultimately, when it comes to disbursement of the funds, you may have to do a final review that would determine exactly how much a company must get.
Even though we would like to have all this information for our oversight responsibility, I believe it would probably be too premature to begin to ask for the exact amount. This is because I believe that the EXIM Bank is actually acting within its mandate, so we should allow them to have the facility, to be able to push the agenda of trying to create more jobs in Ghana.
When it is done and we have the opportunity to review their activities as we go on as a House, we would be able to raise all those questions that would help us manage and control the national purse.
Mr Speaker, I believe this is a good opportunity for EXIM Bank to do what they have to do to help us develop Ghana. With these few words, I encourage my Hon Colleagues to support the request that is before the House for US$100 million to be given to EXIM Bank for their activities. Thank you.
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 11:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much. I would like to associate
myself with the Motion, that the sum of US$100 million be approved for the Ghana EXIM Bank.
I would like to indicate that EXIM Bank's predecessor was the Export Development and Investment Act, 2011, Act 821. It was important that the EXIM Bank was created, as is indicated in the Report of the Finance Committee to support export finance and in particular, support Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) because they are a major source of employment, and they also make significant contributions to the export sector.
Mr Speaker, I have maintained repeatedly, that the only way we can have a stronger cedi against the major currencies of the US dollar, pound sterling and euro is to have an expanded export regime, and earn foreign exchange to support the stability of the cedi. We should not take advantage when there is a problem in China or when Government issues a bond and it gets stable.
In contributing to the Motion, let me just quote from the Committee's Report. It indicates on page 3, the third paragraph and I beg to quote:
“The Ghana Export-Import Bank has also been the principal financier of the Government's flagship One District One Factory (1D1F) Programme…”
So at least, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government left some versatility and serviceability in the institution, Ghana EXIM Bank, so that if this Government celebrates its success in 1D1F, it is a shared success. This is because this bank was established with the vision of former President Mahama and the NDC.
Mr Speaker, what is significant for me, is to go further to the document on page 7, which reads:
“Memorandum to Parliament by Hon Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister for Finance on the issuance of Government support undertaken in respect of this US$100,000”. I do not know if you have a copy.”
Page 7 of the Report reads:
“One District One Factory Projects -- US$40 million 100 SME-type Industries”
We need to know. I genuinely support going into SMEs. I recall that even as we were transforming the law from the Export Investment Fund to Ghana EXIM Bank, the Ministry of
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 12:06 p.m.
Finance at the time did not appreciate why we needed to add that part of the core objects and functions of the beneficiary institution which must be SMEs.

Mr Speaker, SMEs cannot be 1D1F because they are not the same -- there are market women who engage as small medium enterprises. That is why the government must come out with a comprehensive policy on 1D1F so that we would not give these moneys to sellers because these are not the entrepreneurs that we envisaged under this law.

With regard to 1D1F, it is not every company that is export-related, because some of them produce for the domestic market, but it is proper and appropriate that moneys would be channelled to those in the export sector.

Mr Speaker, in the Appendix you would see the beneficiaries, including Kyepon Ltd and BioMass Systems (GH) Ltd, both in the Brong Ahafo Region. There is also OY Consult but the Region or District has not been stated. Mr Speaker, this is wrong because Parliament must be given better particulars on each of the beneficiaries.

Mr Speaker, number 26 of the beneficiaries is very significant to me and it reads “Office of the President/ 1D1F/CEP Plastic Enterprise” and it is in the Awutu Senya District in the Central Region. How can the Office of the President be engaged in a Plastic Enterprise? This must be corrected because the Office of the President does not engage in private enterprises at the level of a plastic enterprise.

However, what is intriguing is that in the Appendix, beyond number 59, you would see enterprises with amounts attached. For instance, with the enterprise located in Jasikan, there is a figure of GH¢415,124.89 attached. There is also an enterprise in Ablekuma North with a figure of GH¢1,368,974.88 and another in Yonso with an amount of GH¢

250,000.

So how come the others in the Appendix do not have the amounts that they are entitled to being stated? Mr Speaker, this is not appropriate because we must ensure accountability -- [Interruption] -- but even with this they have given indicative figures in one breath but in another breath there are no indicative figures.

Mr Speaker, they have also stated in the Report that there is a shortfall

of GH¢1.3 billion. The question is whose shortfall is it because there cannot be a shortfall? If they have overspent they should say so because there cannot be a shortfall. Again, I beg to quote paragraph 3 of the Report:

“Act 911 provides the Bank with an allocation of 90 per cent or 0.75 per cent of Import Levy …”

I recall that when I was the then Hon Minister in transit, we did the financial engineering so the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee and this House must recommend to the Hon Minister for Finance to yield the entire 100 per cent to GEXIM.

The Hon Minister does not need to keep that 10 per cent because we are told that of the 0.75 per cent -- I know the history because even in the Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund Act, 2013 (Act, 2013) (EDAIF Act) it was less and it was after a study visit to South Africa at the International Development Corporation of South Africa that we learnt that we could do better by adjusting this.

So my interest again is that the Report says on page 3 that the GEXIM is entitled to approximately US$4 million from the Levies. Mr

Speaker, if you go to the Ghana Export-Import Bank Act, 2016, Act, 911) (EXIM Bank Act), 0.75 per cent of Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) cannot give us a definite figure. Once imports come in and depending on the volume of the imports, then we would know how much would be dedicated to GEXIM.

So it is a very unique and special vehicle and it is the only bank which has a natural source of revenue created by Act 911 which established it. It is not like ADB or NIB because with this Bank money drops in so long as imports enter Ghana since 0.75 per cent of the CIF value would go to this Bank. Mr Speaker, we are now using this amount to collateralise.

I would conclude by saying that in the breakdown of the amounts I see US$40 million for SMEs, US$10 million for agricultural vegetables, US$15 million for pharmaceutical manufacturing -- I think that this is not enough. Item 6 reads: “Cocoa Processing -- To support the processing of powder -- US$10 million.”

This can be added to phar- maceuticals because when this House approved the US$600 million for COCOBOD there was US$200 million provided for cocoa processing
Mr Speaker 12:06 p.m.
Majority leadership.
Majority Leader (Mr Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 12:06 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to yield to the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee to wind up except to make two corrections; one is that nobody has said that the NDC has not done anything at all. We said that they have done very little. We did not say that they did not do anything in their eight years.
The second one is that there is nothing known as the NDC Government because the government of the day is the Government of the Republic. So it is the NDC Administration because the NDC does not have a government just like the NPP does not have a government because the government of the day is the Government of the Republic.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee would wind up.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:16 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would respond to a few concerns that were raised.
Firstly, the US$4 million is the average that GEXIM receives because they rake in about GH¢20 million averagely, so the US$4 million would be the average receivables that would come to GEXIM. Also, the Ministry of Finance does not keep any part of the Import Levy because 90 per cent goes to EXIM and 10 per cent goes to the Ghana Export Promotion Authority. This distribution is stated in the law.
Again, in the list provided, there are no figures allocated from number 1 to 59 because these are companies that have applied to GEXIM for funding. So at this stage they would have to decide whether the applicants meet the required amounts that they have applied for.
So where figures have been provided are the approved ones and in any event, GEXIM reserves the right to disapprove some of these applications. They are lending and not under any obligation to lend.
I do not think that the repayment agreements with the individual companies should arise at all.
Mr Speaker, EXIM bank is going to repay this facility from its share of the import levy. There is an escrow account into which US$20 million is being provided offshore. Their account that sits with the Bank of Ghana into which they receive the monthly US$20 million, they will be servicing this facility.
The yearly amount is about US$20 million and if you think of the fact that EXIM bank receives about US$48 million a year, then they would be capable of servicing this facility. That is why Government is only providing a shortfall undertaking and not a guarantee.
So, I think that this addresses your main concerns.
Mr Speaker 12:16 p.m.
Thank you very much. Hon Members, at the --
Mr Iddrisu 12:16 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I appreciate the responses of the Hon Chairman but for our purposes, Government is onlending to these private entities, we would also need to know how they would pay back Government with this facility. That will be important for our purposes. It is not a free-for-all money and that is what I am cautioning but I appreciate his intervention.

the Finance Committee has oversight over the Ghana EXIM bank. Every year, they submit their annual report we review it and all their activities. So that will be the oversight function of the Committee.

Mr Speaker, at this stage, the details of repayment could be shelved and then at the right time, when we meet with the EXIM bank, I think we can go over those.

Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr Speaker 12:16 p.m.
Item listed 13 -- Resolution.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:16 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if you may allow the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance to stand in for the substantive Hon Minister who is currently outside the country?
RESOLUTIONS 12:16 p.m.
THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE 12:16 p.m.
HEREBY RESOLVES AS 12:16 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Assibey-Yeboah) 12:16 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Speaker 12:16 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, where do we go from here?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:16 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if we may do item numbered
9.
Mr Speaker 12:16 p.m.
Item numbered 9. In the process, the Hon First Deputy Speaker will take the Chair.
MOTIONS 12:16 p.m.
  • [Resumption of debates from …]
    • Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, debate commenced on item numbered 9 and it was curtailed when you had asked the Hon Member for Yapei/Kusawgu to withdraw a comment he had made and attended to nature's call and -- [Laughter] -
    - 12:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker 12:16 p.m.
    Is the Hon Member in the House? The Hon Member is not in the House.
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member for Asikuma/ Odoben/Brakwa will wind up.
    Mr Speaker 12:16 p.m.
    The record was corrected by way of expunction of the relevant points made. So, we continue.
    Mr Benjamin Kpodo (NDC-- Ho Central) 12:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to contribute on this issue of granting tax waiver amounting to US$23.9 million to one Platinum Properties Limited for the construction of a hotel.
    I remember that when this Paper was being laid an Hon Colleague of ours, the Hon Member for Adaklu Mr Kwame G. Agbodza rose to object to the laying of the Paper because it was premature.
    Mr Speaker, at the Finance Committee meeting, we raised issues which made requests to the sponsors of the waiver to provide information to the Committee. However, as at the time that the Report was being laid, they failed to do so.
    So why should even the Hon Chairman bring the Report when the information that we were seeking was not provided to the Committee which would have enabled us to do a thorough job on this request for tax waivers?
    One of the issues raised at the meeting was in connection with the equity financing of the project. We asked for this information to enable us determine whether the Platinum
    -- 12:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker 12:16 p.m.
    Order!
    rose
    Mr Speaker 12:16 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, is there -- ?
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member for Ho Central said that at the Committee some documentation was requested.
    Mr Speaker, another meeting was called and the Minority boycotted that meeting just as they boycotted yesterday's Sitting.
    Mr Kpodo 12:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am saying for a fact that after that meeting, there was no other meeting called by the Hon Chairman and I do not know which meeting he is referring to. I contradict him on that. [Interruption] --
    Mr Speaker 12:16 p.m.
    Order!
    Yes, Hon Chairman?
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if they can walk out on the President, you can imagine what they do to me at Committee meetings. I called a meeting and they refused to attend in the same manner that they walked out yesterday. They refused to attend.
    Mr Kpodo 12:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have a procedure for the Finance Committee where all meetings are advertised, documents are sent to us and they are even duplicated and
    MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Ho Central, continue.
    Mr Kpodo 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was making a point when you just entered. I think I should repeat so that you appreciate it.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    You were speaking loud enough so I could hear you.
    Mr Kpodo 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I said that the built cost of the project is US$73 million, but out of that, materials worth US$66.2 million constituting about 91 per cent of the cost of materials for the project would be imported from outside the country. We find this very strange. We wondered whether land was also going to be imported.
    Mr Speaker, there are very funny things. For instance, they would import 1,397 doors which cannot be produced in Ghana. One thousand three hundred and ninety-seven doors -- [Interruption.] -- We do not know what our furniture --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Hon Member, hold on.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Whip?
    Mr Nyindam 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from Hon Kpodo whether those doors he opens
    and enters every day in the house he lives were made in Ghana or outside Ghana? This is because, I visited his house the other time and realised that those doors were foreign ones, and he is here today quoting and spelling doors for everybody to hear meanwhile in his house, the doors are from China. He should stop this propaganda.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Hon Member, please continue.
    Mr Kpodo 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I cannot remember when he visited my house. The doors I use in my house are locally made. He should stop diverting attention.
    Mr Speaker, we are waiving taxes on these materials up to a total sum of US$22.6 million which is the foreign component of materials which would be imported. That is about 34 per cent of the value of the items to be imported.
    Why are we losing so much money and turning around to borrow money to develop our country? We borrow US$5 million and US$10 million then we give out US$22.6 million for free whereas the project is not one which qualifies as a strategic project.
    Mr Patrick Y. Boamah 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is an Appendix to the Report from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) with a certificate at page 20. The GRA stamped and dated it 5th February, 2020, and dated that this is to certify that the assessment given is true and correct.
    Mr Speaker, names of various companies were provided by the Committee to have benefited from a similar arrangement in the past.
    I would want to find out why Hon Kpodo is raising issue with this particular compact, but I would want to serve notice on this House that because those companies did not come to Parliament as is being done to this one, I would go to the Supreme Court for an interpretation so that all those waivers which were given to those companies listed on page 8 of the Committee Report would have to be brought back including Messrs Ghacem Ltd, Messrs Dzata Cement Ltd, Messrs Ecobank Ghana Ltd.
    All of them would have to come back because they were not done in conformity with article 174 of the Constitution.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Hon Member for Okaikoi Central, I thought you were raising an objection.
    Mr Boamah 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I did so, but I wanted to beef it up and serve notice.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:30 p.m.
    Very well. When you get the opportunity, you can make your comment.
    Hon Kpodo, continue.
    Mr Kpodo 12:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Hon Effah raised an issue about the financing of the project that local banks would benefit from the project. The question is; if Africa EXIM Bank is the one providing the debt financing, why are they going through pseudo local bank structure? Why can they not come directly if they have confidence in the project?
    These are some of the issues that bother us because there is no direct confidence in the project itself. There is no confidence by the funders of the project from the external sources. That is why things are like this. They would want to see how it would go before they come in. So we cannot use that rather as an advantage. It is a deficit in the perception of the project.
    Mr Speaker, I am worried that whenever our Colleagues are in power, there is the tendency to build a hotel for themselves --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:36 p.m.
    Hon Member, I want to hear that again. Whenever who is in power?
    Mr Kpodo 12:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, what I am saying is that whenever our Colleagues are in power --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:36 p.m.
    Colleagues, as in?
    Mr Kpodo 12:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Hon Nyindam's group -- [Laughter] -- There is the tendency to participate in the building or the buying of a hotel for themselves. If you remember the story of the “hotel waawaa” --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:36 p.m.
    Hon Member, this is out of order.
    Mr Kpodo 12:36 p.m.
    This is not different from it and in this particular case --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:36 p.m.
    Hon Kpodo, you are out of order. Kindly withdraw that Statement and conclude.
    Mr Kpodo 12:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, while you want me to withdraw, I just wanted to state the fact that in 2000 to 2008, there was a hotel problem -- “hotel waawaa”.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:36 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member on his feet kept stating that he wanted to restate the fact -- Mr Speaker, can he adduce evidence to the so called fact that he is stating? Mr Speaker, this is because once you said he should withdraw, he came back to say that he wanted to state the fact of a so called “hotel waawaa”.
    Mr Speaker, this is a House of record. It is a House for serious minds and nobody is joking here. Either he leaves evidence to support it or he withdraws unconditionally this so called fact that he is stating in this House, which we all know is not factual. Would he do what is honourable and withdraw?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:36 p.m.
    Hon Member, I am directing that that misinformation is excluded from the record and he has forfeited his right to continue with the debate for failing to obey my direction.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am well-guided and people should take a cue as a House of serious minds.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:36 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minority Chief Whip?
    Alhaji Muntaka 12:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think you did the right thing using Order 94 but my Colleague, the Hon Majority Leader should be mindful of Order 93(2) in using the words, “serious minds”. Nobody is a joker here. He may have his way of doing things.
    That is why you are there presiding and Order 94 gives you the room to do what you did but for him to use “serious minds”, Mr Speaker, he is impugning wrong motive and it is only fair that just as you used Order 94 to bring Hon Member for Ho Central, Mr Benjamin K. Kpodo to order to equally bring the Hon Majority Leader to order.
    This is because we are not supposed to use insulting words and improper words, which is exactly what the Hon Majority Leader is doing. Who is a joker here? He may disagree with people when they speak and may not agree with their choice of words and that is why Mr Speaker is there to regulate and he has used Order 94 to deal with the matter, but for Hon Majority Leader to say we are here dealing with serious minds, it is very unparliamentary and the Hon
    Majority Leader should be called to Order just as you used on Hon Member for Ho Central Mr Kpodo.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I said that this House is a House for serious minds. I have not said that this is the House for jokers. People are allergic to some strong words such that if you say that an Hon Member is not able to say this because he suffers from optical illusion, he considers that as an offensive language.
    Mr Speaker, this is the Queen's English and in this matter, I have not gone outside the bounds.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:36 p.m.
    My ruling is that it is not offensive to say that this House is made up of serious minds. Our people voted for us because they believe we are serious- minded people and so the House is for serious minds.
    Hon Oko Boye?
    Dr Bernard O. Boye (NPP -- Ledzokuku) 12:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to support this particular Motion for one prime reason.
    Mr Speaker, one of the biggest problems we have in this country is unemployment. So anytime I see a project come to this House that is going to benefit our people directly, I get very excited. It is refreshing to note that there are many benefits that come with this project. We also have to remind ourselves that in paragraph 4.6 of this Report, we are told that this project has a value of US$126 million.
    Mr Speaker, I do not believe the investors have come to Ghana because they looked at our map and it was nice. They have come to this country because the business climate is favourable and they believe that we are doing things right. That is why they are bringing these funds to this country.
    Mr Speaker, it is important to realise that this facility gives us a clear indication of what the One District One Factory is about, which is to make sure that we remove the obstacles that impede the setting up of businesses or the expansion of already existing businesses. So what we are doing here in this House is to try to lift these obstacles which are in the form of taxes and VAT so that the business can be established and that is why we are being called upon.
    Mr Speaker, it is also important to remind ourselves that these moneys we are talking about are more or less imaginary. If the investor goes away because of the cost of setting up, we do not get this US$23 million --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:36 p.m.
    Hon Member, hold on.
    Yes, Hon Dafeamekpor?
    Mr Dafeamekpor 12:36 p.m.
    On a point of Order. Mr Speaker, I rise in terms of elucidation. Is the Hon Member suggesting that this House is considering this amount which he thinks is imaginary? It cannot be.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:36 p.m.
    I did not get the import. Could you repeat it?
    Mr Dafeamekpor 12:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member in his submission attempts to say that the amount of money the House is being called upon -- US$23.9 million is imaginary and therefore if the developer decides ex post facto the approval today and goes away, we lose the money. We are waiving the money. With all due respect to him.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:36 p.m.
    Hon Member, so what is the objection?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:36 p.m.
    That is your opinion. When you get the opportunity, make that point.
    Dr Boye 12:46 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is important for us to listen carefully. Mr Speaker, the point I am making is that these volumes of money we are talking about would not surface at all should the investor relocate. So we are doing this as part of procedure so that the investor would get that obstacle out of the way and be able to set up the business.
    Mr Speaker, it is important to also realise that US$23.9 million is to be waived in this House but over a period of ten years. According to the Report, it is expected that we would get about US$90 million in VAT as a country.
    We are also expected to get corporate taxes to the tune of US$26 million. I see 250 direct jobs also coming by way of employment of staff at the hotel.
    Mr Speaker, these are jobs that would be sustainable and permanent. What we have not even considered
    are the jobs that come with the construction of all these facilities and it is important that we give due cognisance to some of these facts.
    Mr Speaker, this Government ought to be commended profusely for bringing this arrangement to this House when there is a precedent that eluded this House. A government that was bent on doing something fishy would have toed the convenient route of a precedent. I am happy that all those facilities that benefitted through a similar arrangement prior to the coming of this Government have been listed in the Report.
    Mr Speaker, it is not only the waiver that we consider here. One other important thing we do is to look at the value for money audit and other appropriate measures. That is why we have a debate in this House. I am glad that today our Friends on the other Side have had the opportunity to look into the arrangement, critique it and ask questions. We never got such an opportunity. I do not believe the Government that has brought it to this House is in any business to try to keep anything away from anybody.
    Mr Speaker, it is also important to realise that when we gave approval to Messrs GHACEM Limited, Messrs Dzata Cement Limited, I do not believe Ghana was bleeding
    financially. Hon Kpodo mentioned that we are losing money. Such expressions are put out there, so that discontent and disenchantment is created for the Government. When they gave approval for all these through the backdoor -- [Interruption] -- the Hon Chairman just told me: Messrs GHACEM Limited, Messrs Dream Reality Limited, Messrs Garden City Mall Limited et cetera.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:46 p.m.
    Hon Member, hold on. Yes, Hon Member for Ningo- Prampam?
    Mr George 12:46 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Member, the document he is reading from and what is “mrs”? -- [Interruption] - He said Mrs Dream Realty Limited, Mrs GHACEM, Mrs Dzata Cement -- Mr Speaker, as far as I am aware, we know the word to be Messrs, but he said Mrs. I would want to know who married Dzata Cement Limited and Dream Realty and made them Mrs -- [Laughter.]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:46 p.m.
    Hon Member, Dzata does not refer to the Hon Dzata. You know in this country, where a person grew up influences his or her pronunciation --
    Dr Boye 12:46 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, one very important thing to realise is that most of these entities would not have existed today in this country if there were made to go through the rigorous regime of paying all their taxes. That is what we have to consider. As for their legality or otherwise, I will leave it to the lawyer at the Supreme Court. What they must remember is that if we had not granted the waivers, some of these companies, if not all of them, would not have existed.
    Please for your information, most of the workers at Tang Palace Hotel Limited come from my constituency and that is where my heart is, it is about the jobs. Sometimes when most of our Hon Colleagues on the other Side meet me, they ask me whether I have any job because their constituents are on them.

    Mr Speaker, in conclusion, this is a Government that is bent to make sure that more opportunities are created and they would be given to Ghanaians whether they are members
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:46 p.m.
    Yes, Minority Leadership?
    Alhaji Muntaka 12:46 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thought you were mindful of taking one more contribution. That day before the -- [Interruption] -- the Hon Chairman and the Hon Minister for Information have spoken before Hon Jinapor. So it is only one person who spoke on this Side that day. I thought you would be mindful to take one more contribution before Leadership.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:46 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:46 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is a tall order of Business for the House today. Three
    days ago we could not attend to some other Businesses, in particular the Bill that is before us. We said that we would attend to that Bill today. Already, it is almost one o'clock and our Hon Colleagues who are Muslims would exit to pray.
    Mr Speaker, if so many people have spoken to the issue already, I believe where we are, to call on the Minority Leadership to make a contribution and then one person from the Leadership of the Majority to conclude is appropriate. We cannot go on untenably on just one matter. So I would plead with the Minority Leadership to join ranks and let us conclude this Business.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:46 p.m.
    Hon Leader, I think at this point, it is fair that we come to the Leadership.
    Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka (NDC -- Asawase) 12:46 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I really wish you would have taken a few more contributions. It is a very important thing which does not require us to rush through.
    Mr Speaker, I feel very sad for this country with what we do as Hon Members of Parliament. [Interruption.] -- We have turned
    this House into you and me -- [Interruption] -- depending on which Side of the House that we are, we tend to support the actions of the Executive blindly. [Interruption.]
    Mr Speaker, I believe that a lot of the mess that is happening in this country is because of excessive partisanship in this House.
    Mr Speaker, in this House, we use close to one-third of our salaries to pay taxes. If you check the Hansards of this House, even when we were in Government -- I have been very consistent about tax waivers. I have always said that tax waivers need to be relooked at because it is like giving away money to the rich at the expense of the poor. [Interruption.] By the time I finish, you would see.
    Mr Speaker, as a House, it is better we wake up to a realisation that these actions that we take further widens the gap between the rich and the poor. Those of us on the Minority side are vehemently against this waiver, because from the Committee level, we raised a lot of issues that the Hon Chairman of the Committee has not incorporated.
    I attended the meeting of the Committee and he agreed to incorporate them. We asked the Hon
    Chairman of the Committee to communicate in writing but all of them have not found expression in the Report.
    Mr Speaker, when you look at the Ghana Investment Promotion Act, 2013 (Act 865) (GIPC Act) it talks about a strategic investor who has his own money of US$50 million and that money should come from abroad, so that it would come to boost the economy.
    Mr Speaker, in my view -- yes, this is an Act of Parliament -- even when that person brings that money from abroad, it does not mean we should give the kind of waivers that we have given from archaeology to zoology. Mr Speaker, I would point out to you why the waiver is from archaeology to zoology.
    Mr Speaker, these are our points 12:46 p.m.
    The Pullman Accra Airport City Hotel and Serviced Apartments and Platinum Properties Limited --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:46 p.m.
    Hon Leader, please hold on.
    Yes, Hon Minister for Information?
    Mr Oppong-Nkrumah 12:46 p.m.
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague on the other Side has just stated a factual inaccuracy. He suggested that the Act said that US$50 million must come from abroad.
    The Act does not say so --
    Some Hon Members 12:46 p.m.
    State where?
    This is a House of records and it would be important if he seeks to make this opposition to back it with the appropriate provision.
    Alhaji Muntaka 12:56 p.m.
    The Act is supported by a regulation and that regulation which supports this Act states so.
    Mr Speaker, let me say that this company does not deserve to have this waiver. The reasons are very simple: one, it is not the Pullman Company that is coming to Ghana, this is a franchise; a Ghanaian has decided to take the name and have a franchise agreement with the Pullman International so it is not the hotel itself that is coming. We need to get this fact right.
    Mr Speaker, yes, it is allowed but what are the details? The intention of this company is to mop up from our
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
    Hon Leader, hold on.
    Hon Chairman of the Committee, the Hon Majority Leader would respond. If there is anything that you think you have left out, please tell your Leader. Kindly resume your seat and - that is not part of the debate.
    Hon Chairman, kindly resume your seat and please, I will expect that I will have order in the House.
    Hon Member, please continue.
    Alhaji Muntaka 12:56 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, what is special about a hotel in Accra? There is nothing special about a hotel in Accra because if we ask the five- star hotels in Accra; from La Beach Hotel, Movenpick and the others, what is their room occupancy in Accra? Mr Speaker, when we talk about room occupancy, how many of their rooms are taken daily?
    Mr Speaker, we would be shocked to realise that they are even struggling to have 70 per cent occupancy. Mr Speaker, so what is special about a new hotel in Accra that we the taxpayers have to dole out our taxes to support such a hotel? There is nothing special about a hotel in Accra.
    Mr Speaker, if the hotel was to be built in say, the Mole Game Reserve, we would say that it would boost tourism and maybe, say that people may go to the Mole Game Reserve and there may not be enough rooms for them, it would have even made some sense. It does not make sense at all. To take the taxpayer's money to support the construction of a hotel in Accra. It is detrimental to the poor that we are taking their taxes to be given to the rich.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:56 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, rugs are carpets, not outworn clothing. They are the small carpets in hotel rooms and indeed, in our own rooms. They are rugs.
    Alhaji Muntaka 12:56 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I hope that when the Hon Majority Leader is going to speak, he would go through the list. The tiles are there; the carpets are there; even those in different sizes are mentioned.
    Mr Speaker, we have on the same page 2 --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
    Hon Minority Chief Whip, which item are you referring to and on which page?
    Alhaji Muntaka 12:56 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am referring to page 2 and I say that if we go there, we have tiles; we have carpets, all those things are stated there. We even have --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
    Hon Member, are you referring to rugs as in r-u-g-s?
    Alhaji Muntaka 12:56 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
    Yes, that is the name for the woollen carpet that is balled and kept in the bedroom, not ntomago.
    Thank you.
    Alhaji Muntaka 1:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, look at the same page 2; what is ‘system'? They just mentioned ‘system' and we say we are waiving taxes off a system. What is a ‘system'? They would have to qualify it for us to know what exactly they are talking about.
    Mr Speaker, if we go to page 12, we are waiving tax on ‘et cetera', et cetera'. What is et cetera that we are waiving tax on? Mr Speaker, on the same page 12, we have cooking
    utensils. In this country, we have Alluworks which produces these utensils even for the subregion. Yet they want us to waive taxes for them to bring these utensils from abroad. How fair are they to us?
    Mr Speaker, if we go to page 14, they talk about municipal water before it enters the roof storage tank. What is municipal water that we have to exempt? What kind of waiver is that?
    Mr Speaker, if we look at page 19, they are talking about metering. What kinds of waivers are these? We can see clearly -- when we met at the Committee and we wanted the details on the waiving of taxes for ten vehicles.
    Mr Speaker, our compatriots go abroad, spend nights and days working, they bring one vehicle, we tax them so much that sometimes they are not able to clear them. We now reduce it and sell it to our party faithfuls.

    Yet with a company that wants to build a hotel, we are willing to give them tax waivers for 10 vehicles including saloon vehicles and vans. How fair are we to the tax payer?

    Mr Speaker, this waiver has to be rejected because in June, 2019 when Global Fund came to Ghana with drugs for tuberculosis and they wanted a tax waiver it took three months for them to get the waiver but now, we are in a hurry to provide almost US$24 million to a private person which would be used to build a hotel worth US$73 million and he would import items worth US$66 million.

    If I could borrow the words of the Hon Majority Leader, “we have to be very serious minded people in this House'' -- [Laughter] -- to know that this is a waste to the State -- [Interruption] -- Mr Speaker ruled that, that statement is not parliamentary offensive that is why I borrowed it.

    This would not add anything because we would simply rob the poor to enrich the rich and exacerbate the poverty situation in our country to enrich unnecessary people.

    Mr Speaker, with the greatest respect, how would anybody not want to name this hotel after the President? This is because the free meal the President would give to this waiver is just too much because after all, it was an Executive approval which did not even go to Cabinet for them to deliberate on it.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:06 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance would wind up on behalf of the Majority. However, I want to say that nobody has supported a proposal from the Executive blindly. There is a norm which states that the occupancy rate of hotels, once they cross the boundary of 55 per cent is acceptable.
    I do not know of hotels that on daily basis would score 70 per cent occupancy rate -- there is no single hotel in this country.
    Mr Speaker, I would yield to the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance.
    Deputy Minister for Finance (Mrs Abena Osei-Asare): Mr Speaker, I thought the Minority, would come on the point of law that maybe, the strategic investor did not fulfil something. However, section 26(4) of Act 865 says that if the person invests US$50 million and above -- and we have managed to bring it to the House for it to be scrutinised whether it falls within the law.
    So, if they want to oppose something, they should do that on a point of law because wrong perception and playing to the gallery would not help us. When Tang Palace came into the country, we did not see any fixtures or fittings yet the Minority granted them tax waivers.
    We want to be transparent that is why we have brought this request to the House for all Ghanaians to see what we want to do and the things that they have brought in that qualify them for the tax waiver. The Minority should state the facts.
    Mr Speaker, again, the Hon Colleague on the other Side mentioned the bill of quantities and the drawings. It is not the work of Parliament to look at the bill of quantities and the drawings. The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), does that and certifies it with the Tax
    Policy Division of the Ministry of Finance and based on the value it is brought to the House and a request made for the waiver. It is not our duty to raise the bill of quantities because they are done by professionals from
    GRA.
    Mr Speaker, another correction I would want to make is that, the local partner is not Dr Nyantakyi but Inter- Afrique Holdings Limited (IAH) as stated in page 3 of the Report. The local partner is not an individual but a firm.
    Mr Speaker, it is not strange for 80 per cent of the materials and equipment to be imported. They should go to Tang Palace and ask them. That is why this Government is focused on the One District One Factory -- and we believe that with time, we could be able to produce things like tiles, fittings and the finishings so that we would not have to depend so much on imports.
    We should not be short-sighted but rather support the Government so that in the near future we would be able to do these things in our own country.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:06 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister, hold on.
    Mrs Osei-Asare 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Minority have opposed this waiver right from day one. They held a press conference and peddled a lot of misleadings but we have been transparent enough.
    From the year 2015 to 2016, no strategic investor has been brought to Parliament for waivers, yet the former President gave approval including Tang Palace which is a hotel. Let us go there and see if any of their fittings are made here. Let us not behave as if this is new and unheard of. It is normal in the hotel industry.
    Mr Speaker, that is why I am saying that let us support this Government in the 1D1F. This Government cares for
    the poor; it is transparent and accountable. That is why we have come here to account to you and let you know that this is what we are doing and as we are on it, we would want it to be transparent for all to see.
    Mr Speaker, again, we all know that the cooking utensils are not the normal nnadesen. Even when Parliament imports things from outside, we take tax waivers. We all know that rugs in this context are carpets; let us speak to the facts and come on the point of law. Has the strategic investor satisfied the conditions? Yes! The conditions have been met and so we are coming with this tax waiver.
    Mr Speaker, on this note, I would like to urge the House --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:16 p.m.
    Hon Member hold on.
    Yes, Hon Minority Chief Whip?
    Alhaji Muntaka 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, ordinarily, since she is speaking on behalf of the Hon Majority Leader, I would not have risen but when she kept asking whether the entity has qualified and she responded yes. On point of law, the Hon Deputy Minister should check section 26 of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act,

    Oh yes! Go and read the law. I have mentioned the section to you. So, on a point of law, the entity did not go through the whole mill for us to gazette it as a strategic investment.

    Mr Speaker, please, if she wants to contribute and make her point, she should do so but when she goes into points of law -- That is why I have just pointed her to section 26 and what it says they should do. When we met at the Committee we did ask and this was not done. So please, they should concentrate on their contribution but on the point of law, they erred and that was part of our concerns.

    I thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, you are in the Chair and Hon Members make points of law that clearly are off tangent.
    The Hon Minority Chief Whip himself said that this matter came by Executive and not Cabinet approval. [Interruption] -- Would you listen?
    Mr Speaker, Executive power is vested in the President; he alone!
    Cabinet exists as mere advisors. Parliament does not need the advice of Cabinet for anything because it is only the President that Parliament can hold accountable. Cabinet has no locus in this House, if he cares to know. [Interruption] -- He disputed it and that is why he said it came with only Executive and not Cabinet approval.
    Mr Speaker, we are not litigating points of law here; he knows where to litigate points of law. That is why I ignored what he said because I knew he was totally wrong.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you.
    Alhaji Muntaka 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I never disputed the issue about Executive approval. I said the reason people associate it and try to give it the name of the President is because the President on his own without even taking advice from his Cabinet gave all these freebies. I am not challenging that the President did not have the authority to do that but he did it without even the advice of his Cabinet.
    He did it alone, so if people try to associate the hotel to his name, they are right because he gave a lot of freebies on his own without advice from Cabinet.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:16 p.m.
    Hon Members, we shall continue with the debate. I am not called upon to pass judgement on any matter; I make rulings based on the Standing Orders. That is not a judgement and so those who have issues of law know where to go to. That is why by our own arrangements we do not interfere with the leaders. So I have made it a point to ignore all interventions.
    Now, Hon Deputy Minister, you may conclude.
    Mrs Osei-Asare 1:16 p.m.
    I thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Chief Whip is trying to shift the post. We are saying that the strategic investor has fulfilled the law and based on that we are submitting the request for a tax waiver to Parliament.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:16 p.m.
    Hon Members, at the conclusion of the debate, I will put the Question.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:16 p.m.
    Yes?
    Alhaji Muntaka 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, article 102 of the Constitution is very clear. It talks about quorum in Parliament and we do not have that. It is our wish that instead of putting the Question, in order not to waste so much time, we could just go straight to vote on this because we want the record of this House to reflect what really happened today. I thank you very much.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not know the import of what my Hon Colleague is saying. We have concluded the debate, if his request is that the Question should not be put, and that we should go to other matters, I will associate with that but he ended up being very circuitous about his request. He should come straight.
    Alhaji Muntaka 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, since the Hon Majority Leader wants us to take it step by step, first, I noticed that you are about to put the Question. I am drawing your attention to article 102 of the Constitution to say that we do not have a quorum in the House.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if the Hon Minority Chief Whip is raising issue about the
    quorate number to make a determination, we can go on to other matters.
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I seek your guidance. If the House does not have a quorum for which we cannot take a decision, are we able to move on to other matters? [Uproar]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:16 p.m.
    Hon Member, refer to your own Standing Orders and assist him.
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, for instance, if we consider a Bill and a Question is put on every clause, that is a decision of the House. So if we do not have a quorum for which reason we cannot take a decision, then the House should stand adjourned.
    This business of picking which one to do and which one not to do must cease. If we are conducting Business, let us proceed as such, otherwise, let the House adjourn and then all of us stand advised that this is how we would do Business. If we do not have quorum, we do not do any Business.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:16 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I said, if an issue has been raised about the quorate number
    required for the determination of the issue before us, I believe we can move to item numbered 14.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:26 p.m.
    Hon Members, I was going to put the Question after the debate on the Report. My attention has been drawn to the fact that we do not have sufficient numbers to take a decision which is 50 per cent or more.
    Indeed, it is true we do not have 50 per cent or more in the House but we can proceed with other matters. So the debate has been concluded and the decision is deferred.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in that regard, I believe we can do item numbered 7.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:26 p.m.
    Hon Members, before we take any further business, we have a communication from the President. [Interruption.]
    Hon Member, you are out of order. [Interruption] No, Hon Kpodo, he did not speak into the microphone but he spoke out so loudly that I could hear him. [Laughter] Even though his comment is not on record, he disturbed the proceedings.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:26 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Mr Agbodza 1:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I did not hear when the President would come back.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:26 p.m.
    Read the Hansard tomorrow or the day after and you would find it. [Laughter.]
    The item numbered 7, Motion.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Motion is required to be moved by the Minister for Education. Unfortunately, he is not in the Chamber because of some other engagements and I would plead your indulgence and the concurrence of my Hon Colleagues to move the Motion on behalf of the Minister.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:26 p.m.
    Available leader of the Minority?
    Mr Agbodza 1:26 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have no objection to that.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:26 p.m.
    Very well, Hon Majority Leader, you may move the Motion.
    BILLS -- SECOND READING 1:26 p.m.
    COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESIDENT 1:26 p.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:36 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee?
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr William A. Quaittoo) 1:36 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion, and in doing so present your Committee's Report.
    1.0 Introduction
    1.1 The Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management, Ghana Bill, 2019 was presented to the House and read the first time on Thursday, 30th January, 2020.
    In accordance with article 106 (4) and (5) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and Order 186 of the Standing Orders of the House, the Rt Hon Speaker referred the Bill to the Committee on Education for consideration and report.
    1.2 The Committee on Education subsequently met and discussed the Bill. The Hon Minister for Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, officials from the Ministry of Education, the Office of the Attorney- General and representatives of the Institute of Human Resource Management Practitioners were present to assist the Committee in its delibrations.
    1.3 The Committee expresses its appreciation to the Hon Minister for Education, officials from the Ministry of Education, the Office of the Attorney-General, and representatives of the Institute of Human Resource Management Practitioners for attending upon the Committee.
    2.0 Reference Documents
    The Committee referred to the following documents during its deliberations:
    i. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
    ii. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana;
    iii. The Professional Bodies Registration Decree, 1973
    (N.R.C.D. 143);
    iv. The State Lands Act, 1962 (Act 125).
    v. The Internal Audit Agency Act, 2003 (Act 658);
    vi. The Chartered Institute of Taxation Act, 2016 (Act 916);
    vii. The Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921); and
    viii. The Chartered Institute of Bankers Ghana Act, 2019 (Act 991).
    3.0 Background
    Human resource management plays a vital role in the development of every nation. Indeed, the most important asset of every nation is its
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:36 p.m.
    Hon Members, pursuant to Standing Order 127, a full debate shall arise on the principles of the Bill on the basis of the explanatory memorandum and the Report of the Committee.
    Hon Ranking Member (Mr Peter Nortsu-Kotoe): Mr Speaker, thank you. The Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management Bill, 2019 is the third in the series of Bills concerning institutes in this country. The first one was the Chartered Institute of Taxation which we considered and passed in 2015. This Parliament also considered the Chartered Institute of Bankers and currently, we are considering the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management.
    Mr Speaker, these Bills are being passed into laws to regularise and give the legal framework to the institutes so that they can be legally recognised as associations in the country. Human Resource Management is a very important aspect of the economy and if we are not able to manage our human resources very well, as a nation, we would have challenges going forward.
    It is for these reasons that the Committee has looked at the Bill critically and come up with some amendments that would help the House to pass the Bill into law.
    Mr Speaker, when the Chartered Institute of Taxation Bill was passed into an Act, they encountered a
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:36 p.m.
    Hon Member for Akatsi South, Mr Ahiafor?
    Mr Bernard Ahiafor (NDC -- Akatsi South) 1:46 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Second Reading of the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management Ghana Bill,
    2019.
    It is clear that the object of the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management, Ghana Bill, is to promote and regulate the training and practice of human resource management in Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, human resource management plays a very important role in the development of every nation, and Ghana is of no exception. For there to be effective and efficient utilisation of the nation's resources, human resource is very key in that regard.
    Mr Speaker, from the Report, we are being told in paragraph 3.0 that currently, the human resource profession is unregulated. When I look at paragraph 2.0 which talks about “Reference documents”, at page 2, item numbered 3.0, it is the
    Professional Bodies Registration Decree 1973, (NRCD decree 143), and I strongly believe that is regulatory in nature.
    Therefore to say that Human Resource Management practice and training remains unregulated, I find it very difficult to accept. We have some regulation but that regulation may however be inadequate. So if we are talking about the inadequacy or inefficiency of the existing law, I would agree, but to say that it remains unregulated as though there is no legislative framework regarding the training and practice of the profession, I find it very difficult to agree.
    Mr Speaker, the situation regarding the practice and training of human resource persons in Ghana and being part of the Committee that listened to the practitioners in the field, I called for adequate legislative framework that would take care of the practice and training of the professionals in the field.
    I have read the Bill from the establishment clause to the transitional provision. I am convinced that if the Bill is passed into law, it will go a long way to help the training and practice of Human Resource Management in Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, I must place on record that in doing the Second Reading of the Bill, I have not seen the fiscal impact analysis of the law as required by section 100 of the Public Financial Management Act, which with your permission, I beg to read:
    “Fiscal Impact Analysis of Legislation and Proposals
    1. Any legislation to be laid before Parliament or proposal submitted for the approval of Parliament shall be accompanied by fiscal impact analysis stating the estimated effects on revenue and expenditures for the financial year in which the legislation or proposal is expected to come into effect”.
    Mr Speaker, it is this House that passed the PFMA and I believe that we need to comply with our own laws in ensuring that Bills that are introduced in the House are accompanied by the fiscal impact analysis as required by the PFMA.
    I support the Second Reading of the Bill and urge the House to adopt the Report so that we can pass the Bill into law.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
    Mr Joseph Y. Chireh 1:46 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I defer to my Hon Colleague who is excited to contribute.
    Mr Rockson E.K. Dafea- mekpor (NDC -- Sough Dayi) 1:46 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity from Leadership to make a few comments at this stage of the Bill.
    Mr Speaker, I wish to draw the House's attention to paragraph 2 of the Report and add that I am surprised to see that in addition to the reference documents that the Committee had recourse, the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) did not feature.
    Indeed, it is the Labour Act that presently regulates the activities of all the human resource practitioners that we have. What the present Act seeks to do is to establish an institute to charter, as it were, to regulate or enhance the regulation of human resource practitioners of this country.
    Mr Speaker, this is because with this place being a House of record it is important that we do not suggest that the activities of human resource practitioners are unregulated and that we are yet to do so. Indeed, if you
    look at the Labour Act, Act 651, the various chapters or portions of the law recognise the activities of all variance of employees.
    As you may know, the persons who took care of activities of employees in any agency, be it private or public, were previously called personnel officers and with time, we have decided to label them as human resource officers and now, they are even called human development specialists.
    Mr Speaker, so, for instance, we have a portion that deals with public and private employment agencies, protection of employment, conditions of employment, hours of work, rest periods, employment of persons with disability, sections of the Labour Act that talks about forced labour, occupational health and safety environment of employees, labour inspection provision, and provisions that deal with unfair labour practices. So these are all issues that our human resource practitioners are faced with to safeguard the conditions of employees in private and public agencies.
    So I am happy that we are taking steps to create a statutory institution that will enhance the regulatory environment of the practitioners as we do have them now. As it is, it is only
    private agencies that seek to police the activities of some of these human resource practitioners.
    Mr Speaker, so I want the records to reflect that what we are seeking to do will rather go to enhance the regulatory regime of the human resource practitioners that we have.
    The Bill would indeed, help the practitioners to also have conditions -- [Interruption] -- It appears that it is going to be hierarchically structured in such a way that one moves from one level of practitioners to the other and I am glad that we seek to do that.
    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I urge other Hon Members who will contribute to this, to support the successful passage of the Bill into an Act.
    Mr Chireh 1:56 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, because we have comments from the two Hon Members indicating that there is already a regulation on this profession, I would want to draw the attention to the fact that the issue of regulation is for the professionalisation.
    That is why the Minister for Education is always the one who sponsors these Bills. Once we are going to train people, accredit them and all that, we need a regulatory body to do so. What already exists are professional institutes. By the law the Hon Member referred to, they were all supposed to register under the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council's law.
    The point I am making is that these are regulatory bodies similar to the General Legal Council and the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana. All these are regulated by law and because they train people, we need the proper thing to be done.
    The professional institutions like the Ghana Bar Association, the Pharmaceutical Association of Ghana still exist, but the regulatory body is important. This is why we are putting these laws in place.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:56 p.m.
    Hon Members, having regard to the state of Business of the House, I direct that the House Sits outside the regular Sitting hours.
    Yes, Majority Leadership?
    Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 1:56 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, further to what the potent available Minority Leader has said, I
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:56 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, hold on.
    Mr Ahiafor 1:56 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with all due respect to the Hon Majority Leader, if you look at paragraph 3.0, the second paragraph thereon says currently the Human Resources Management remains unregulated.
    So if it remains unregulated, what does it mean? It means there is no regulation, but the Hon Majority Leader is talking about the training. Here, what is referred to is Human Resource Management as a profession remaining unregulated, and it includes the training and practice, which remains unregulated. What then is the existing law doing?
    Secondly, is the issue on the fiscal impact analysis of the legislation and the proposal. The clause used here is “early legislation”. There is no preference. It says; any legislation to be laid before Parliament. It means we cannot quote any provision to say that there are certain laws that would be exempted from the fiscal impact analysis. Other than that, Parliament in its own wisdom would not say “any legislation”. What is the meaning of any legislation?
    Mr Speaker, it is clear, and there is no exemption to it. So for the record, these are the wording of Parliament in the passage of the Public Financial Management Act, and it cannot be circumvented.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:56 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, to understand any law, one must read it entirely. A person does not quote a verse from a chapter and say that is the meaning of the entire book. We must read the piece of legislation in context. Otherwise, one would say that an amendment to a law is a piece of legislation. So if one would want to effect an amendment, he must come with a fiscal impact analysis.
    Mr Speaker, people should not confine themselves to narrow streets. Otherwise, if we would want to effect an amendment to a legislation to the extent that an amendment is a piece of legislation, it must come with a fiscal impact analysis. It would mean that any instrument, regulation or order must come with a fiscal impact analysis, but that is not the intendment of the law. So we must read the law in context.
    Having said that, my Hon Colleague was mixing up two Bills. He was talking about the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana, Bill 2019 and at the same time talking about the Institute of Human Resource, Ghana, Bill, 2019. The two are different laws. He should not mix the two Bills. He was mixing apples with oranges.
    Mr Speaker, what I said on the third paragraph which he read was that, currently, there is no professional body with legal mandate to provide professional training in human resource management. He should underline “legal mandate”. This is the operative phrase; “there is no professional body with legal mandate”. This is what the Bill seeks to introduce, and I think the Hon Member would have to apprise himself critically to the operative words before he critiques it.
    Mr Speaker, having said so, I have gone through the Bill, and I believe there are a few areas that we need to tighten up to serve the purpose of the Bill. That is why the amendment proposed may not be adequate to cure the mischief. We need to have a serious look at it.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon colleague, the Hon Member who just spoke is a member of that small band we call the winnowing committee, and I believe he would bring his own concerns to bear when the Committee meets to dialogue on the amendments proposed to enrich the content of the Bill.
    Mr Speaker, on account of that, I would want to still submit that Hon Members applaud the second Reading of the Bill.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:56 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Mr K. A. Kwarteng 1:56 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I heard you say that in view of the change in numbers, you would put the Question. [Interruption.] We noted that on page 7 of the Order Paper, there is also a resolution numbered item 13. [Pause]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, unless there is anything special, I wish to -- [Interruption].
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is nothing special.
    Mr Speaker, we can go to the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana Bill, 2019.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Hon Members, item numbered 8, Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana Bill, 2019.
    BILLS -- SECOND READING 2:06 p.m.
    Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana Bill, 2019 be now read a Second time.
    Mr Speaker, the purpose of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana Bill, 2019 is to establish the Institute of Marketing as a regulatory body to set standards for the marketing profession in Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana was established in 1981 to promote the study and practice of marketing as a relevant professional course in the country. Since its inception, the dynamics and complexity of the practice of the marketing profession has changed in the current digital age.
    The marketing profession remains unregulated and as a result, the ethical practice and professional standards cannot be enforced. Currently, there
    is no professional body in Ghana with a legal mandate to provide training and expert advice in marketing and to regulate the practice of the profession.
    The lack of a regulatory framework has resulted in numerous marketing professionals relying on external examinations that cost the nation a lot of foreign exchange through the payment of membership dues and examination fees to external marketing examination bodies.
    Mr Speaker, in addition, there is no institute to set the standards for the practice of marketing by marketing professionals and to ensure that all members meet the required ethical and professional standards. There is therefore the urgent need to establish an institute that would set standards for the practice of marketing, provide training, examine uncertified persons who wish to engage in the practice of marketing and to also ensure that marketing professionals adhere to ethical marketing practices.
    Mr Speaker, with the needed legislative backing, the Institute would be able to regulate and control substandard products and manage the specialist properties of marketing. The Institute would also be able to set enforceable standards for professionals to follow and ensure that
    all members meet the required ethical and professional standards necessary to add value to the business and aspirations in the country.
    Mr Speaker, the establishment of the Institute would also facilitate marketing practice by developing quality marketing professionals to ensure a high quality of service and maintain international standards comparable to other African countries like Kenya, South Africa and to some extent, Nigeria among others.
    Mr Speaker, the passage of the Bill will ensure that marketing is used as an effective tool for business development in the country.
    Mr Speaker, the Bill, therefore, seeks to establish the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana as a corporate body with the object of setting standards for the practice of marketing and regulating the practice of the marketing profession in the country as contained in the body of the Bill.
    Mr Speaker, the matters connected with the institute are well provided for in the clauses contained in the Bill and accordingly, I submit that the House joins ranks to pass this Bill as urgently as possible to ensure professionalism in the practice of marketing in the country.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr William A. Quaittoo) 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion and in doing so, I present your Committee's Report.
    1.0 Introduction
    1.1 The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana Bill, 2019 was presented and read the first time in Parliament on Thursday, 30th January,
    2020.
    Pursuant to article 106 (4) and (5) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and Order 186 of the Standing Orders of the House, the Rt Hon Speaker referred the Bill to the Committee on Education for consideration and report.
    1.2 Subsequently, the Committee on Education met and discussed the Bill. The Minister for Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, officials from the Ministry of Education, the Office of the Attomey-General, and representatives of the Chartered Institute of Marketing were present to assist the Committee in its deliberations.
    1.3 The Committee is grateful to the Hon Minister for Education, officials of the Ministry of Education, the Office of the Attorney-General, and representatives of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana for attending upon the Committee.
    2.0 Reference Documents
    The Committee made reference to the following documents during its deliberation:
    i. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana;
    ii The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.
    iii The Professional Bodies Registration Decree, 1973
    (NRCD 143);
    iv The State Lands Act, 1962 (Act 125);
    v. The Internal Audit Agency Act, 2003 (Act 658);
    vi. The Chartered Institute of Taxation Act, 2016 (Act 916);
    vii.The Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act
    921);
    viii. The Chartered Institute of Bankers Ghana Act, 2019 (Act 991); and
    ix.The Zambia Institute of Marketing Act, 2003 (No.
    14).
    3.0 Background
    In July 1981, the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana was established to promote the study and practice of professional marketing as a relevant professional course in the country.
    The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana has since its inception carved a positive image for itself through effective contribution towards the creation of marketing awareness, and the training of its students and businessmen in marketing concepts and practices. However, with the emergence of the digital age, the dynamics and complexity of marketing has changed.
    Unfortunately, the marketing profession in the country remains unregulated. The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana has no mandate to regulate the practice of the
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr William A. Quaittoo) 2:06 p.m.


    2.16 p .m.

    Question proposed.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Ranking Member?
    Mr Peter Nortsu-Kotoe (NDC -- Akatsi North) 2:06 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity.
    The Chartered Institute of Marketing,. Ghana, Bill, 2019 was laid before this House by the Hon Minister for Education and referred to the Committee accordingly by the Rt Hon Speaker. In paragragh 2 of the explanatory Memorandum which accompanied the Bill, Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote:
    “The object of the Institute is to set standards in the marketing profession comparable to similar professional bodies in other countries. The Institute is also to promote the marketing profession and ensure high quality of service and maintain international standards.”
    Mr Speaker, one of the Committee's observations is that, there are a number of Chartered Institutes in the country. In the marketing profession, Chartered Institute of Marketing has different versions just as we had for Chartered Institute of Taxation and Chartered Institute of Human Resource

    Management. It is important that these many chartered institutes are brought under one umbrella. That is what this Bill aims at doing.

    Mr Speaker, we expect that when this Bill becomes law, it would go through the process of bringing all these sprinter-groups together, so that we can have a united Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, in the last two Bills that we passed 2:06 p.m.
    Chartered Institute of Taxation and the Chartered Institute of Bankers, if we go to the various sections, we would find under regulations that the Minister should bring regulations so that they would govern the conduct of the chartered institutes.
    That of the Chartered Institutes of Taxation and Bankers are yet to be done, and we are now considering that of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana, which would be the third one.
    Mr Speaker, the absence of regulations makes the work of the institutes difficult and I would urge that the Minister takes the necessary steps to make sure that the regulations are made within the shortest possible time, so that they can operate well under the Act.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Yes, available Hon Leader?
    Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion to consider the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana Bill, 2019.
    Mr Speaker, I consider it a very important decision by the Ministry. We have various professional bodies in this country. Mr Speaker, you belong to probably one of the most regulated professions in this country, which is the legal profession where we have
    the General Legal Council (GLC) and the Ghana Bar Association (GBA). There are so many other professions that are not regulated in any way or form. I am happy that the Hon Minister for Works and Housing is here.
    Mr Speaker, for instance, it would surprise you to note that when we pass commercial agreements or financial agreements in this House, and we refer them to the Ministry of Finance or the agency to do value-for-money audit, little does the Ministry or the agency know that the Ghana Institute of Surveyors is not a professional body under any law in this country; they are not regulated by any law passed or Act in this country.
    So when there is an agreement of about US$1 billion and value-for- money audit is to be done, we just hope that they would do that right thing; but the truth is that, it just goes to a club of people established in 1970, which is not backed by any law in this House.
    Mr Speaker, it is a very serious matter that the Hon Minister for Works and Housing must take. The Ghana Institute of Surveyors must have a Bill in this House to set us up under a law that regulates the professionals and their practice. Today, when we say they should go and do value-for-money audit and we
    get a report, we should ask ourselves whether the report is worth considering.
    Mr Speaker, we must be very serious in this country. Everything you have seen -- I have not said that the members of Ghana Institute of Surveyors are not qualified. Some of them are members of Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in the United Kingdom and other places.
    In this country, there is no law. Surveyors trained in Ghana are not regulated by anything. It is a very serious matter that we must take up. That is why I feel that to bring the professional bodies under regulation is a very important thing.
    Today, we are doing the Second Reading for the Chartered Institute of Human Resources Management and Marketing. Mr Speaker, could you imagine how the practice of law would be in this country if the GBA or the GLC did not exist? Could you imagine how the practice of law would have been in this country?
    Imagine Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and Medical and Dental Council did not exist. How will the practice of medicine be in this country? So how do we accept the fact that the Ghana Institute of Surveyors does not exist under any
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Hon Member, let me listen to the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation.
    Dr A. A. Osei 2:06 p.m.
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, I thought we were doing the Second Reading for the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana Bill, 2019 and somebody is talking about the Chartered Institute of Surveyors. What is its relevance to this?
    Mr Speaker, he has a report, he should speak to it. He can talk about his wish later, but not when we are dealing with the subject before him. If there is some issue on the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana Bill, he should let us discuss that and that would be all right. The principles do not apply to what he wishes to do.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, you would speak to the Report.
    Mr Agbodza 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am very grateful that you listened carefully to what I said -- [Laughter.]
    Mr Speaker, I am not a marketer, but for me, I see a greater damage to our finances if we do not regulate surveyors than marketers, because the
    quantum of moneys that they control -- I have not said this Bill is not important.
    rose
    Mr Agbodza 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, when this Bill is passed into an act, it would create -- Mr Speaker, let me continue until you stop me.
    2. 26 p.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Hon Minister for Works and Housing?
    Minister for Works and Housing (Mr Samuel Attah Akyea) 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am grateful to you.
    My good Friend has raised this issue with me before and there was a whole haggling as to whether the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources should handle surveying as it were or my Ministry should do so. I think we have tidied it up and the matter is before Cabinet and very soon we would bring it before this august House to resolve some of the professional challenges of that noble profession.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Hon Member, on that note, conclude on the Report; no more references to --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Leadership -- I will give one more and I would conclude.
    Mr Benard Ahiafor (NDC -- Akatsi South) 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Second Reading of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana Bill,
    2019.
    Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would like to place on record that preliminarily, the Committee on Education gave consideration to the Bill. And in view of the numerous amendments, the Hon Minister, integrated the amendments into the Bill, came to this House, withdrew the old Bill and re-laid it. Mr Speaker, therefore, today, at the Consideration Stage, nobody should be looking at the old Bill in relation to the amendment he is recommending.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Hon Member, today, we are discussing the principles.
    Mr Ahiafor 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes, I would come to the principles.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    When we get to the Consideration Stage, we would take care of that.
    Mr Ahiafor 2:06 p.m.
    Very well, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, I have read the Bill from the establishment to the transitional provision --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Hon Member, hold on.
    Yes, Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation?
    Dr A. A. Osei 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in his submission, my dear Friend is threatening Hon Members of Parliament not to bring any amendments. This is a very serious matter; we are here to do exactly that but because he has looked at it, he is now in the Chamber threatening that we should not attempt to bring amendments. I think the Hon Member should withdraw that statement.
    Mr Ahiafor 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I did not threaten him, but -- [Interruptions]-- No, no, I never said nobody should dare, I said nobody should consider. The few amendments by the Committee to this Bill --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Hon Member, address me. Do not engage him across the aisle.
    Mr Ahiafor 2:06 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have read the Bill in view of the fact that
    marketing contributes a lot to the economy of every nation; marketing as a profession, needs to be regulated.
    Mr Speaker, the Report tells us that in July, 1981, the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana was established to promote the study and practice of professional marketing as a relevant professional course in the country.
    Mr Speaker, the Bill by the Memorandum tells us that there is the need to set standards for the marketing profession in the country. If there is a profession, then the standard for the practice; the standard for training the professionals in the country would have to be established, set out and regulated.
    Mr Speaker, as indicated, the contribution of marketing to the socio- economic development of a country cannot be underrated. As indicated by the Hon Member for Adaklu, Mr Kwame Agbodza, there are certain things that we do not see as direct marketing but in reality, it amounts to marketing. For instance, as Hon Members of Parliament, the way we carry ourselves out in our constituencies, in our regions and in the country is in effect, marketing.
    Mr Speaker, I agree that dressing is even part of marketing oneself as a Member of Parliament. So marketing is very important as a profession; therefore the training, the standard for the practice in the country would need a legislative framework to be able to regulate that.
    Mr Speaker, I am inclined to speak to say that if this Bill is passed, it would go a long way to regulate the practitioners in the field for the socio- economic development of our dear nation, Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, with these words, I thank you for the opportunity.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    I wish to put the Question.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Majoprity Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu): Mr Speaker, I do not really have much to add to what Hon Members have suggested, except to recognise what the last contributor alluded to in respect of the pre-laying arrangements that we have started in the House so that Hon Ministers
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:06 p.m.
    Hon Members, on this note, I bring the proceedings of the House to a conclusion and proceed to adjourn the House.
    ADJOURNMENT 2:06 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 2.36 p.m. till Tuesday, 25th February, 2020 at 10.00 a.m.