Debates of 26 Feb 2020

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:02 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:02 a.m.
Hon Members, correction of Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 25th February, 2020.
Page 1, 2 …9 --
Mr Matthias Kwame Ntow 11:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yesterday, I was present in the Chamber and signed the attendance booklet. Yet, my name cannot be found anywhere in the booklet.
Mr Speaker, so, where am I? I need your direction please.
Mr Speaker 11:02 a.m.
Hon Member, it is well noted.
Page 10, 11 --
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 11:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful. Please, page 9 (b) (i) “Buyer Credit” should be captured as “Buyers Credit”.
Mr Speaker 11:02 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Page 12, 13…33?
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of 25th February, 2020 as presented and corrected are adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, any corrections to the Official Report of 6th February,
2020?
Hon Members, in the absence of any correction, the Official Report of 6th February, 2020 as presented is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Commencement of Public Business, item numbered 4; Motions.
STATEMENTS 11:02 a.m.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:12 a.m.
Mr Speaker, before we go into other business, I would want to draw your attention to an incident that happened yesterday.
Mr Speaker, yesterday, as the Votes and Proceedings have
appropriately captured it, we commenced the debate of the Presiident's Message on the State of the Nation, and along the line, I observed that the House had been made “naked” by the media houses that were supposed to cover proceedings in the Chamber and I requested one of the Hon Deputy Whips to follow up on what was happening.

This was because the media houses that have representatives in the House had evacuated the Chamber. Mr Speaker, I was later informed by an Hon Deputy Whip that indeed an Hon Member of Parliament who had opted not to be in the House to participate in the debate had engaged the press outside about the content of the President's speech, for which reason the press followed that Hon Member outside.

Mr Speaker, let it be on record that the media are accredited to come and cover proceedings in the Chamber. Any group or caucus that would want to engage the press could do so, but normally as we did when we were on the Minority side, we would engage the press before the Sitting of the House. Perhaps something dramatic would have happened in the Chamber

which may occasion the press to follow and enquire into whatever might have happened. Mr Speaker, other than that, if proceedings are going on in the Chamber and the press is accredited to cover proceedings, then they do not have to leave the Chamber at the beck and call of an individual Hon Member of Parliament to cover that Hon Member.

If the media would want to cover proceedings, then let it be so registered. I think that they should discharge their responsibilities to this House and not to individuals. Mr Speaker, I would want this to be firmly registered. Thank you.
Mr Speaker 11:12 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:12 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have noted the concern raised by the Hon Majority Leader, but the deer does not laugh at the teeth of its mother. Mr Speaker, once upon a time, the Majority side were on the Minority side and probably they could return to Minority side tomorrow because the clock would always change. I agree that the media should be dutiful to this Parliament, therefore the media should behave in a manner to serve the institution of Parliament and not any individual Hon Member of Parliament.
Mr Speaker 11:12 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:12 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader is requesting the media to be mindful of my past antecedents. However, antecedents are matters of the past and so I do not have “past antecedents” rather I have “antecedents”.

So, the Hon Minority Leader has not really contradicted me, and he is appealing to the press to respond to their own charges which first lies to this House. When I was the Hon Minority Leader, anytime I had to hold a press conference, I told the Speaker and the dictum of the Speaker then was that we should hold it before a Sitting of Parliament, and this is what we religiously applied. Otherwise, it happened after a Sitting of Parliament. This is the issue I am raising.

Mr Speaker, I have nothing useful to add to what I have said so far. Thank you very much.
Mr Speaker 11:22 a.m.
Thank you very much.
I take a very serious view of the matter that has been raised. Apart from the recognition and permission granted by the Speaker, members of the Parliamentary Press Corps would be strangers in this honourable House. In other words, they have our permission to be here by dint of their profession and the work expected of them and we regard them very highly.
I want to make it clear that as much as they may give interviews before or after the plenary and proceedings inside this honourable House and which interviews or contributions could be from the Majority or Minority sides any day, it is forbidden, if they have any doubt, to abandon the permission given them to cover proceedings in this honourable House and go outside the Chamber itself to do some other work other than covering proceedings in this honourable House.
There is a saying in the Twi language that says ye-ye dee ehia ansa na yaye dee efata -- if you do not understand then beg for assistance
to understand. This issue is very important. To wit; “we do what is needful before we do what befits”.
Hon Members, our democracy must be developing and I feel very sad when references are made from whatever angle to those things that may or may not have happened in the past which have nothing to do with me in any way today. So, let us make progressive development in such a manner that we should not be slaves of the evil practices of the past, if any. Definitely, our Republic must develop so we must not major in minors nor the undesirables.
This affects both Sides of the House and I want to let the media know, if that which is reported to have happened should happen anymore - - I have reminded you of the fact that you are here as guests by my permission and because of the importance that this House attaches to the inky profession.

Any such deviation would make you unwelcomed guests, and your welcome would be duly withdrawn. After Sitting, when I rise, I would want to meet the head of the Parliamentary Press Corps as well as the Director of Public Affairs and her group.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:22 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we would deal with the Motion listed as item numbered 4.
Mr Speaker 11:22 a.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 4?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:22 a.m.
That is so, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:22 a.m.
Then who is contributing at this stage?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:22 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we would begin with education, and the Deputy Minister for Education, Hon Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum would lead the debate.
Thank you very much. Yes, Hon Deputy Minister?
MOTIONS 11:22 a.m.
  • [Resumption of debate from 25/ 02/2020]
    • Mr Speaker 11:42 a.m.
    Hon Dr Adutwum, thank you very much for your contribution.
    Yes, Hon Quaittoo?
    Mr William Agyapong Quaittoo (NPP -- Akim Oda) 11:42 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I also rise to add my voice to thank the President for delivering the Message on the State of the Nation to us on Thursday, 20th February,
    2020.
    Mr Speaker, education in Ghana is taking a different turn now. I would want us to advert our minds to page 21, paragraph 2 of the President's address, where he says, and with your permission, I quote:
    “Mr Speaker, all our plans, all our hopes, all our expectations for a brighter tomorrow will only come to fruition if we can guarantee an educated and skilled workforce. A look at the national budget gives a clear indication of where our priority lies and it is with education”.
    Mr Speaker, the next paragraph also says, and with your permission I quote 11:42 a.m.
    “This Government is trying to move the conversation to Technical, Vocational and Education Training (TVET) becoming the instinctive choice for children at school. We are moving the conversation to ensuring that when an institution is designated as a technical institution, it delivers technical courses. And, just in case I need to remind anyone, TVET has always been part of Free SHS, or if you prefer call it Free
    TVET.”
    In other words, many people think that the technical schools in this country are not part of the Free SHS programme that this Government is offering -- it is. Every student in the technical and vocational institution does not pay school fees or boarding fees.
    Mr Speaker, going forward, I would want all of us to advert our minds to the things that the Government is doing in the area of TVET. First, this Government is
    working hard to expand access and increase enrollment in TVET institutions. A company by name “AVIC International Holdings” is undertaking these projects in this country.
    Many of us are not aware of what goes on in TVET institutions. First, AVIC International Holdings is building training workshops for all the eight technical universities. It is also building workshops for two polytechnics and a state of the art workshop for 13 technical and vocational institutions. The cost of this is about €9 million, and this project was approved by this House. It is on- going. It is to expand access and increase enrollment at the TVET institutions.
    Mr Speaker, again, AVIC International Holdings is providing lasting key solutions and systems integration education for engineering, science and technology application and industrial environments.
    Again, for the next two years, AVIC International Holdings would provide training equipment and spare parts for the building of these state- of-the-art institutions. It would also provide training for the beneficiary institutions in the south, so that after the institutions are built, the south
    would be well equipped to be able to pass on the training to students, who are the beneficiaries.
    Mr Speaker, this training is taking place in China, Kenya and Ghana. The focal areas that AVIC International Holdings concentrates on are mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering, civil engineering, automotive repair and welding engineering.
    Mr Speaker, again, to expand access and increase enrollment in TVET institutions, there is another project called the “Planet Alpha Corp”. It seeks to up-grade the re- tooling of all the 34 National Vocational Training Institution's (NVTI's) head offices, ten regional offices and five apprenticeship offices.
    Mr Speaker, we have 34 NVTI institutions in this country. The breakdown are as follows: In the Northern Region, we have the Tamale Vocational Institute, which is being upgraded. We have the Kofi Annan Training Institute, which is also being upgraded, and the St. Mary's Vocational Institute; also in the Northern Region. It is situated in the constituency of the Hon Minority Leader, and he is aware of that.
    Again, if we come to the Ashanti Region, we have the Boho Vocational
    Mr Speaker, the next paragraph also says, and with your permission I quote 11:52 a.m.
    Training Institute, we have the Institute of Business Studies, the Kumasi Vocational Training Institute, and the Kumahuman Institute. These institutions were established in the original ten regions.
    We now have three other regions, created within the Brong Ahafo Region. In Dormaa, we have a vocational training institute there, and another one at Sampa, which is Our Lady of Fatimah Training Institute. We have the Yamfo Vocational Training Institute.
    Mr Speaker, when we come to the Central Region, we have the Breman Asikumah Vocational Training Institute, the Gomoa-Ada Vocational Training Institute, Winneba Vocational Training Institute, and the Assin-Fosu Vocational Training Institute. Lastly, there is also a Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Center, also in the Central Region.

    Mr Speaker, in the Eastern Region, we have about three vocational training institutes being upgraded. We have the Abetifi Vocational Training Institute, the Anum Vocational Training Institute and the St. Mary's Vocational Training Institute at Asamankese. Mr

    Speaker, Asamankese, where you had your youthful life.

    Mr Speaker, in the Greater Accra, we have New Century Career Training Institute at Dansoman; we have Construction Machinery and Machinery Training Institute at Burma Camp; we have Coilo Training Institute at Kokomlemle; Kanda Career Training Institute; Tema Industrial Mission Training and Vocational Institute.

    Mr Speaker, when we come to the Upper East Region, Bawku Training Institute is located in the Constituency of the Hon Member for Bawku Central, Mr Mahama Ayariga and it is being upgraded. We have the Nemaltine Vocational Institute in the Upper East Region. St. Claire's Vocational Training Institute in Tumu and St. Anne's Vocational Institute in Nandom. When we come to the former Volta Region, we have Caring Sisters Vocational Training Institute, St. Theresa's Vocational Training Institute; then to Kpalime and Atorkor Vocational Training Institutes.

    Mr Speaker, in the Western Region, we have Manso-Amenfi Vocational Training Institute, Charlotte Dolphyne Vocational Training Institute and the Takoradi Vocational Training Institute.

    Mr Speaker, all these 34 institutes are receiving some facelift and it is going to be able to train the needed workforce that we need in our technical fields.

    Mr Speaker, apart from that, Planet Corp is constructing two new Finery and Machinery Training Workshops in Accra and Kumasi, so whenever we have our machines brokendown, we would not have to import parts from abroad again but these workshops would be able to manufacture these spare parts for the various machines.

    Mr Speaker, Planet Corp is also upgrading the existing Opportunities Industrialisation Centre (OIC) in Greater Accra at East Legon.

    Mr Speaker, again, we have other rehabilitation and expansion projects ongoing in this country; among them are the Technical Universities (TUs) and Polytechnics which have been provided with world class laboratories that meet industry 4.0 standards.

    If we say industry 4.0 standards, the technical standards have been upgraded up to the fifth level. In Ghana, Planet Corp is providing world-class technical laboratories that would raise our standards in these institutions to the fourth last standard.

    Mr Speaker, there is also a first phase of the construction of 32 state- of-the-art TVET institutes across all the 16 regions of Ghana to begin this year. This Project was approved by this honourable Parliament; the funding was also approved by this honourable Parliament in our last Meeting.

    Mr Speaker, there is free secondary and technical education at all levels. If we look at the project that we are doing, it is going to be manifested in the new Bill that has been given to this House to look at and pass. That is the Pre-Tertiary Education Bill.

    Mr Speaker, the Pre-Tertiary Education Bill is such that it incorporates technical education in the Ministry of Education's activities such that we are going to get a separate Director-General for TVET education and that of course addresses the minds of various people to having to go through this technical training, and not to always look at the grammar type of education.
    Mr Speaker, the investment in this TVET sector is as follows 11:52 a.m.
    AVIC has about €119 million which has been approved by Parliament for its works; construction of the state-of-the-art TVET institutions phase 1 is also receiving about €156 million;
    Mr Speaker, again, the initial project regions are 11:52 a.m.
    Greater Accra; Ashanti, Northern, Savannah, North East, Oti and Volta Regions. Mr Speaker, but some new regions have been added to this programme. They are: Eastern, Western, Western North and Central 11 Regions.
    Mr Speaker, the initial trade areas are 12:02 p.m.
    cosmetology; consumer electronics, automotive repairs, welding and garment making. There are newly-aligned trade areas to be added next May, 2020. And these are: plumbing, furniture, electrical
    installation; block laying and tilling then catering and hospitality.
    Mr Speaker, given all these, we realised that COTVET and the Ministry of Education have organised the first ever national skills competition after successfully organising the zonal skills competition. And because of this, Ghana participated in the World Skills Kigali African Regional Competition in 2018. Ghana won gold, silver and bronze in different categories. This means that our students have the talent and skills set which when harnessed, can lead to national development.

    Ghana was inducted and accepted by the World Skills General Assembly in August 2019 at Kazan, Russia. This has generated a lot of interest in TVET education in Ghana. With this, Ghanaian youth have the opportunity to showcase their skills on international platforms.

    Mr Speaker, the Council has also launched My TVET Campaign to bring on board more people who are not aware of this development going on. The TVET Career Guidance and Counselling pilot project for 100 Junior High Schools (JHS) across the country has also commenced. In all this, the intention is to build the interest of students in TVET education.

    [HAJIA MAHAMA][MR QUAITTOO]
    Mr Speaker, to sum up, the President on page 21, paragraph 2, said 12:02 p.m.
    “The Pre-Tertiary Education Bill, currently before Parliament, defines the priorities. Basic education has been redefined to include Senior High School, and this covers vocational, agri- cultural and technical schools. The emphasis is aggressively to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education across all levels of the education system.”
    Mr Speaker, from all this, we can see that Government is paying much attention to the technical needs of this country. When this country goes to borrow money from outside, the conditions that we often see in the contract agreements are for the lending country to bring its skills here into the country to execute the job for us. This must stop, and that is why the President and the country are drifting towards Science and Technology education.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity.
    Mr Speaker 12:02 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon Member.
    Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (Hajia Alima Mahama) (MP) 12:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, H. E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo since assuming office in 2017 has left no stone unturned. He is ensuring that every single person is touched in his quest to advance the development of the country. Just in two years, he has delivered numerous programmes across the country and strengthened the local governance system.
    I daresay that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is indeed the engine for development, growth, stability and peace of the country. We have worked to deepen grassroot participation at the districts level. Just December last year, we had our district level elections and on 23rd
    January of this year, representatives of H. E. the President, inaugurated all the officials of the District Assemblies. We did not stagger the District Assembly Elections but had all the District Assemblies officials inaugurated accordingly.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry through its Social Accountability Unit has facilitated the organisation of about 800 Town Hall Meetings including over 1,500 community durbars, to ensure and enhance participation at the local level.
    Pursuant to Section 18 of the Local Governance Act, (Act 936), new model Standing Orders for MMDAs have been developed and are now operational. They were launched and the District Assemblies are using them. This would allow them to operate within the new Act 936.
    Also, the Local Governance Permit, Notices and Regulations and the Local Governance Consultations and Regulations have all been developed and are at the pre-laying stage. These regulations are in pursuance to Article 232 of Act 936 of the Local Governance Act.
    Mr Speaker, the President on page 2 of the State of the Nation Address, talked about the Year of Return and I beg to quote:
    “Mr Speaker, it is a matter of great pride to me that all Ghanaians embraced the Year of Return, and helped to project such a positive and endearing image of our country. My heartfelt thanks to all Ghanaians and to Members of the House…”
    I would at this point also continue and extend our heartfelt thanks to our Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) for the work they put in place to ensure that the Year of Return was a success. Our MMDAs provided the structures for the evening events. They also ensured that traffic regulations were adhered to effectively to allow people to move around and enjoy our markets. They ensured that our markets were clean. At that point in time, for our sanitation, we put in place structures and linked it up with the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) to ensure that everything moved smoothly and allowed our tourists to move around in peace and enjoyment.
    Mr Speaker, on page 16 of the Address, the President again referred to the recruitment of 2,700 agricul- tural extension agents. There has been a quiet decentralisation reform in this country but because decentralisation is a process and a reform and involves the movement and activities of people, sometimes it goes on quietly. I would indicate clearly that these 2,700 staff were recruited in collaboration with the office of the Head of Local Government Service and the Ministry of Agriculture.
    I daresay that there is an effective decentralised mechanism and implementation process between the

    [HAJIA MAHAMA] [HAJIA MAHAMA]

    Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development through our MMDAs. The agricultural sector has been decentralised as we are working together and demonstrating that when the nation speaks and the local level acts, we get results.

    The nation speaks, we speak at the national level and then we act at the local level. So the successes within the Ministry of Agriculture including Planting for Food and Jobs, Rearing for Food and Jobs and Planting for Export and Rural Development are ably implemented by the local governance system through the MMDAs and the decentralised departments of agriculture within the local governance system.

    Mr Speaker, let me link this to the President's statement on the Pre- Tertiary Education Bill on page 21. The Pre-Tertiary Education Bill in addition to anchoring technical education would also focus on the decentralising aspects of our local government system. It would soon be debated and I believe it is at the Committee level. I therefore entreat the Committee on Education to take a look at this critically. When we decentralise aspects of our education, we would allow the action to be at the local level.

    We have done that in agriculture and it is yielding results for us. Let us do that in education and decentralise kindergarten education, some aspects of primary education and junior high school education at the local level. This would ensure that at the local level, the MMDAs would take responsibility and know that they have a responsibility to supervise and ensure that the children in their areas have effective and quality education, structures are in place and that teachers are in the classrooms and doing their work.

    Just this weekend, when the Ambassador to China was interviewed about the coronavirus, he indicated clearly that their local government was in control to manage the virus in their area. That shows that policies and issues that arise should be looked at effectively, especially at the local level and that is when we are able to act. That is where we have to provide the systems and the structures.

    Mr Speaker, the local government system is a critical part of our governance to the effect that we should allow for the effective decentralisation and effective collaboration at the local level with all

    our sector Ministries. Health, agriculture and sanitation are elements of local government which must be decentralised at the local level to ensure effective implementation and we get positive results.

    Mr Speaker, the President also referred to the role of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in the Inter-Ministerial Committee on illegal mining. We have effectively implemented an alternative livelihood programme process within the 35 severely-affected galamsey districts and we identified about 6,000 youth who were interested in vocational and technical training.

    Luckily, the Ministry has in place about 24 vocational and technical institutes under the Community Development Department. Five hundred were recruited and they went through various training programmes in the areas of building and construction, plumbing, electricals, auto mechanics, dressmaking, hairdressing, fashion, catering, welding and different other vocations that are provided in those institutes. The Government funded the boarding and lodging of about 500 people who have passed out and have also been provided with equipment to take off and set up their businesses.

    In addition, some of them have moved on to the polytechnics and opportunities have been provided for them to study in areas of arithmetic, mathematics and grammar. As I speak, there are 500 people in the institutes and 200 with the master craftsmen in their various commu- nities. Some of them prefer to study in their communities rather than being in institutions. They study and learn as apprentice with their craftsmen to improve on their skills and at the end of it all, they would also be provided with tools and working capital to set up their own businesses.

    Mr Speaker, the intention of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) is all about employment and projects.

    Indeed, through the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and the District Development Fund (DDF), that has been christened to District Performance Assessment Tool (DIPAT) we have been able to transfer enormous sums of money to the districts to establish projects. For example, in 2018, over GH¢205 million was transferred through our DIPAT and DDF Programme. In 2018, over GH¢164.5 million was transferred and in 2019, GH¢205

    [HAJIA MAHAMA] [HAJIA MAHAMA]

    million was transferred which totalled GH¢369.6 million. This was transferred to the district through the DDF and the DIPAT and they have used it to provide over 2,000 projects which include educational infras- tructure, health, water and sanitation facilities and feeder road components within their various districts.

    Mr Speaker, we have also formulated and put in place a Rural Development Policy -- this country needs direction in our rural development. The policy which has been approved by Cabinet would serve as a guideline for coordinated service delivery and investment in our rural communities. As part of the implementation process, a Rural Development Coordinating Unit has been established and would work with MMDAs as well as Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to review and incorporate programmes of the policy within our work plans and budgets.

    In line with this, Government has secured a US$60 million facility from the World Bank to implement the Ghana Productive Safety Net Project. This project was brought to the House and it was approved last year. The project would directly benefit 25,000 individuals through a productive inclusion programme and 30,000 eneficiaries through a labour-

    intensive works programme. Included in this would be wages for poor households across the country. Eighteen thousand seven hundred and twenty six people would be employed and wages to the tune of GH¢34.9 million would be paid to these households.

    Mr Speaker, the decentralisation policy structure that we met has been implemented and it ended in 2019. However, we have in place a National Decentralisation Policy Strategy, 2020 - 2024 which would enable us achieve quality service delivery through a democratically decentra- lised local governance system and active citizen participation in the programme.

    We have implemented a new local government policy under six pillars which include: enhance citizens' participation; decentralised planning; physical decentralisation; local economic development and admini- strative and political decentralisation. These are the areas we would head and implement.

    The Ministry has also put in place a new project under our Urban Landscope called the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme, where 25 cities or towns have been selected to implement sub- projects which include: markets, bus terminals, roads; storm drainages; and

    recreational facilities. A lot of things have happened within our MMDAs which were all provided for by the Ministry.

    We would embark on digitising and the collection of our revenue specially. In 2018, there was an improvement of 18 per cent in the mobilisation of the internally-generated revenue of the districts. In 2019, it was far ahead of 20 per cent and some muncipalities and districts such as the Adenta Municipality, should be credited because they went over 100 per cent achievement in their mobilisation of local revenue.

    Mr Speaker, employment would continue through the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service. In 2019, they recruited 2,893 people and placed them in various classes which included: engineering; human resource department; IT; development planning; works; social welfare and community development and also established the newly-created Regional Coordinating Councils (RCC) and the new District Assemblies. We have worked to ensure that the RCCs are in place and effective and would deliver in the various regions.

    Mr Speaker, as I travel across the country, I see projects everywhere.

    When I go to my Constituency, I am happy because there are projects everywhere and it could be paired “Planting for Export and Rural Development'' where individuals have established their own plantations and within five years, they could earn a lot of income.

    This is done by the District Assemblies and definitely, we are also benefitting from this programme.

    Mr Speaker, in collaboration with the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA) and the Ghana Post, we are also working on ensuring harmonisation with the GPS for our street naming and property addressing system. We have been able to do that for 26,522 streets in 80 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country and we will continue. We are leveraging on the GPS programme to ensure that we do our street naming and to make our property addressing system effective.

    Digitising is definitely enhancing our work in property addressing system and enhancing the ability of District Assemblies to mobilise their revenue and to improve on their service delivery programmes in the country.

    [HAJIA MAHAMA] [HAJIA MAHAMA]

    Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is focused on delivering on projects, as this is our key work and in every District, they are there for all to see. Within the three years of our governance, we have established effective systems and links to enhance the human resource capacity of the District.

    One may say, well, there are still some lapses here and there but effectively, our District Assemblies are positioned on service delivery and on their projects and they are doing it across the length and breadth of the country.

    Staff have been provided in all the District Assemblies, we are not holding to the purse rather we are allowing recruitment to take place. These staff are working, delivering, and as the head of the Ministry, I am very appreciative of their role and satisfied with work that is going on.

    Mr Speaker, the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) continues to support in their activities. They have increased the revenue allocation for Persons with Disability (PWD) from 2 to 3 per cent and the Office of the DACF Administrator has facilitated the establishment of a baseline data on all PWDs in each

    region. It is possible that some PWDs may not be specific members of particular associations and therefore, they may be neglected and we do not want to leave anybody out. So, we have set up a system to ensure that all PWDs have access to the District Assemblies to be registered by going to talk to them for us to access what problems they have and address them accordingly.

    In the last District Assembly elections, we ensured that every District Assembly had at least, one PWD on the Assembly as an appointed member and as for women, we ensured that at least, every District Assembly had women in their appointment.

    It is unfortunate that when it comes to elections, we are still not there with our women. So the other way would be ensuring that they are appointed to the processes and hopefully, when the Affirmative Action Bill is passed, we will be able to move on to get more women into our areas and District Assemblies. The DACF has also got mechanisms to ensure effective monitoring of the projects that are taken in all.

    Mr Speaker, the District Assemblies are improving in their financial management, service delivery and the Ministry is ensuring regular supervision to ensure that we continue to achieve our goals of improved

    service delivery, enhanced citizen participation, ensuring that every person in Ghana feels part of the governance system of this country.
    Mr Speaker 12:22 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Hon Minister for your contribution. Hon Ken O. Agyapong?
    Mr Ken Ohene Agyapong (NPP -- Assin Central) 12:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Message on the State of the Nation presented by the President of the Republic of Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has said it all and so, I will limit myself to a few of the achievements of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development while stating the broad perspectives of the President's performance in three years.
    The DACF for instance has been increased from GH¢441,937,071.44 to GH¢480 million in three years. Again, in the year 2016 for instance, you will find that in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, there were lots of money being taken from the District Assemblies and when you look at

    So the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in collaboration with the Common Fund Administrator is managing our resources prudently. I know that the Hon Minority Leader will agree with me --? [Laughter] --

    It is important that we emphasise and explain these to the understanding of the citizenry on the importance of inflation. For instance, if you had an amount of GH¢100 and deposited it at the bank without transacting any business on it, at the end of the year 2016, one would have lost GH¢15.60 out of the amount. In the year 2019, if you have an amount of GH¢100 in
    Mr Ken Ohene Agyapong (NPP -- Assin Central) 12:32 p.m.
    the bank without transacting any business on it or investing it, it would be reduced by GH¢7.80. This means that you would have saved 50 per cent of what you would have lost in the year 2016.
    Mr Speaker, again, you can use whatever money you have saved to do something else in business. At the same time, we also inherited interest rates of ridiculous figures and amounts and the percentage was 36. When you calculate 36 per cent of GH¢1000, it means that one will pay GH¢360 in a year for borrowing at 36 per cent.
    Today, the interest rate is at 24 per cent and this means that from the year 2016 to 2020, one would have saved one-third.

    This is because the 12 per cent is an income that has been earned or saved and it can be ploughed back into the business. By so doing, a person would be able to expand the business and employ more people. This is exactly what the NPP Administration led by President Akufo-Addo has done. It is a great achievement that my Hon Colleagues should be here for us to debate and

    see -- [Interruption] -- You are only here to sit and observe.
    Mr Speaker 12:32 p.m.
    Hon Member, go on with your submissions.
    Mr Agyapong 12:32 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the annual growth rate was 3.4 per cent in 2016, but consistently from 2017 to date, we have a growth rate of seven per cent. What this means is that the economy is expanding; therefore we are making more money. Mr Speaker, so it is important that we appreciate what President Akufo- Addo and his Government has done for this nation.
    Again, we have a trade balance where our exports exceed imports. Mr Speaker, what this means is that we are exporting more and earning more foreign currency against importing more and spending more foreign currency. Again, when the exports exceed imports it means that the stress on the foreign currency minimises. Mr Speaker, no wonder Bloomberg has said that the Ghana cedi is the most performing currency that could be used for business transactions. [Hear! Hear!] Thus, because of trade balance we have been able to stabilise our currency and the depreciation has minimised as compared to what we inherited in
    2016.
    Also, out of the 10 commandments of President Akufo-Addo, the greatest of all is the consolidation and recapitalisation of banks in this country. I am interested in this because if President Akufo-Addo, the Hon Minister for Finance and the Economic Management Team had not consolidated these banks, Ghana would have been just like Venezuela or Lebanon. It is important for us to stress on this issue because we are taking the fortunes of this Government for granted. The fortunes of this Government stems from the fact that they have been able to consolidate the banks, recapitalise them and given solid fundamentals for the economy to grow. Therefore we should not take the achievements of this Government for granted.
    Mr Speaker, I say so because if this Government had not intervened, 4.6 million depositors would have lost their hard-earned money. But this Government has recapitalised the main banks with GH¢13 billion and the micro finance and savings and loans institutions have been recapitalised with GH¢5 billion.
    Mr Speaker, this gives a total amount of GH¢18 billion and if the NDC Administration had managed the economy prudently, we would have saved this GH¢18 billion which could have been used for other sectors. It
    could have been used to expand the economy without stress on the Government.
    Mr Speaker, I am surprised that Ghanaians do not appreciate what this Government has done in terms of consolidating and recapitalising the banks --
    Mr Speaker 12:32 p.m.
    Hon Member, do you mean all Ghanaians?
    Mr Agyapong 12:32 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    NDC.
    Mr Speaker 12:32 p.m.
    Hon Member, you are not entitled -- [Interruption] -- unless it is your statement that Ghanaians do not appreciate.
    Hon Member, put yourself clear on the record without mentioning any --
    Mr Agyapong 12:32 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would say that some Ghanaians because it is not only the NDC --
    Mr Speaker 12:32 p.m.
    Hon Member, please do not mention NDC. I mean what I am saying.
    Mr Agyapong 12:32 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, some Ghanaians do not appreciate it because they do not understand what this Government has done in terms of recapitalising the insolvent banks and consolidating them. This is why we
    Mr Speaker 12:32 p.m.
    Hon Member, you would conclude.
    Mr Agyapong 12:42 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, again, it is not by chance that we were able to wean ourselves off the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) harsh conditionalities. These conditionalities were handed to Ghana because the NDC could not manage our resources and economy prudently, therefore they were forced to go to the IMF for assistance, but the IMF bailout came with harsh conditions that we needed to fulfil.
    Firstly, they froze employment and secondly we could not borrow beyond US$1.5 billion. However, between 2017 and 2018 we were able to wean ourselves off the IMF and as a result of that, the Ministry of Education has been able to employ 67,000 teachers, the Ministry of Health has also employed 65,000 officers, the agricultural sector has also employed 2,700, the military and the

    Mr Speaker, why did we have an Unemployed Graduate Association in 2015 and 2016? It was because they could not manage the economy, therefore they went in for the harsh conditionalities of the IMF and we were not able to create employment for our people. Today, my Hon Colleagues on the other Side are also enjoying this governance under President Akufo-Addo. So I expect the Hon Minority Leader to react to this.

    Mr Speaker, since you have asked me to conclude, my last issue would be on the energy sector. It would interest you to know that during the dumsor era, although the NDC had good intentions, they were not good managers. Mr Speaker, they contracted about 17 companies to produce power and because of this, today, we are paying in excess of US$1.2 billion that we do not need. Again, I would want my Hon Colleagues to react if what I am saying is not the truth. They should challenge me and I would give them the facts.

    Mr Speaker, there is an example of an agreement that was signed between Equatorial Guinea and Ghana -- I have seen the former Hon

    Minister for Energy here but I do not know if he is still around. Mr Speaker, the Government of Ghana signed an agreement with Equatorial Guinea to supply gas for 15 years for US$2.5 billion.

    However, with the prudent management of President Akufo- Addo, the Hon Minister for Finance and the Economic Management Team and the love they have for the nation, they renegotiated this same agreement that the NDC made to US$1.5 billion. So they saved Ghana US$1 billion and this money can do more for Ghana.

    They should applaud President Akufo-Addo for the great works he has done within this short period. It is unfortunate that my Hon colleagues from the other Side are not able to react. This is because I see the then Minister whom I wanted him to rebut what I am saying.

    Mr Speaker, all I would say is that we have done marvellously well under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo. Therefore, Ghanaians should appreciate and give President Akufo-Addo four more years.
    Dr Kojo Appiah-Kubi (NPP -- Atwima Kwanwoma) 12:42 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion to thank H. E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to Parliament on Thursday, 20th February, 2020.
    Mr Speaker, if there is any assurance that the people of Ghana got from the Statement of the President, it is the fact that the economy of Ghana is in good health. That assurance is even collaborated by our Hon Colleagues on the other Side of the divide. They all agree that the economy is indeed in good health and is being managed competently. The fundamentals of the economy are not only solid; the economy, as I said, is being managed competently by competent people.
    Mr Speaker, this good health of the nation is reflected in unprecedented improvement in the welfare of the average Ghanaian. And this improvement is underscored by several indicators of the standard of living. These improvements give indication of strives towards achievement of the global sustainable development goals which the country has adopted as its minimum set of socio-economic policy goals to leave no one behind.
    Dr Kojo Appiah-Kubi (NPP -- Atwima Kwanwoma) 12:42 p.m.


    Mr Speaker, the economy of Ghana is expanding. As President Nana Akufo-Addo puts it succinctly on page 7 of his Statement, our economic growth has rebounded to place Ghana among the fastest growing economies in the world for three years in the roll at the annual average of seven per cent from 3.4 in 2016 which was the lowest yearly in three decades.

    Mr Speaker, this has impacted positively on the income levels of Ghanaians as reflected in rising levels of per capita income. Under President Nana Akufo-Addo's Government, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in current prices has started rising again from US$2,037 in 2017 to US$2,223 in 2019 after declining successively from US$2,389 in 2012 to US$1,941 in 2016.

    Against the backdrop of these developments, Ghana is now seen as the likely candidate to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 1 before 2030. The good thing about the rising in GDP growth is that the vital real sectors of the economy including the manufacturing and the agricultural sectors are all experiencing rising growth trends. From 2.7 per cent and 2.9 per cent growth rates in 2016, the

    manufacturing and agricultural sectors have risen to 6.7 and 7 per cent in 2019 respectively.

    Mr Speaker, on the back of high growth rates of the agricultural sector, thanks to effective programmes like the Planting for Food and Jobs, and Planting for Exports and Rural Development, food is not only in abundance but relatively cheap and affordable by the average Ghanaian.

    Mr Speaker, increased production and high yields of foodstuffs have brought down the prices of food to their lowest levels in decades. Overall, inflation has consequently --
    Mr Speaker 12:42 p.m.
    Hon Agyapong, we all listened to you just a moment ago. You would please remain sitting.
    Hon Members, I do not appreciate anything that looks like you have finished yours and you are going. Who would listen to the other's?
    Yes, Hon Appiah-Kubi, go on.
    Dr Appiah-Kubi 12:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, increased production and high yields of foodstuffs have brought down the prices of food to their lowest levels in decades. Overall, inflation has consequently dropped steadily from a high of 15.4 per cent at the end of
    2016 to 7.8 per cent at the end of December, 2019.
    Mr Speaker, this has improved the living standards of the average Ghanaian and contributed towards achieving the Sustainable Develop- ment Goal 2. Indeed, President Nana Akufo-Addo is putting more money into the pockets of Ghanaians through the effective implementation of the country's social interventions. These interventions included the Free Senior High School Programme which allows the average Ghanaian to save about GH¢2,000 annually which goes more to favour the poor in Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, all the five flagship social interventions, namely, the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) the Labour Intensive Public Works, the School Feeding Programme, the National Health Insurance Scheme, Exemptions and Basic Capitation Grants have all experienced expansion under President Nana Akufo-Addo's Government, and are being effectively manged.
    Also worth mentioning is the new socio-economic initiative of the Government to set up a dedicated fund of GH¢5 million to support about 1,000 women entrepreneurs with disability.
    Mr Speaker, these social presidential empowerment for women entrepreneurs with disability does not only ensure inclusive development but also the country's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals 5, 8 and 10 which aims to ensure economic inclusion of women into harnessing the talents and capabilities of women for national development.
    Mr Speaker, through the Zongo Development Fund, many deprived Zongo communities across the country are being provided with the necessary infrastructure to develop. Not only has the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Government over the years introduced several social interventions to improve the social welfare of the poor, but special social interventions are also being intensified to upgrade poor communities.
    According to the latest data from the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources for instance, open defecation-free communities in Ghana as a whole have increased from 410 communities in 2016 to over 5000 communities in 2019.

    In order to create sustainable employment opportunities which prevent poverty of vulnerable families,
    rose
    Mr Speaker 12:52 p.m.
    Hon Dr Akoto Osei, any difficulty?
    Dr A. A. Osei 12:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am so impressed with the paper of my Hon Friend and Colleague but may I suggest that you ask him to lay it, so that it becomes complementary to the State of the Nation Address, 2020 and then people could learn from it? It is a very deep paper and we need to have access to it -- [Laughter] -- So I pray that you ask that he lays it, so

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker 12:52 p.m.
    Hon Member, for the sake of full capture, it is in order after you have finished with your presentation to have the paper laid for full capture. In the meantime, you have the Floor for the next five minutes.
    Dr Appiah-Kubi 12:52 p.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker for the advice. I would also like to thank my Hon Colleague for the advice to --
    Mr Speaker 12:52 p.m.
    Hon Member, proceed.
    Dr Appiah-Kubi 12:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, through the Zongo Development Fund, many deprived Zongo Communities across are being provided with the necessary infrastructure to development. Not only has the NPP Government over the years contributed several social interventions to improve and upgrade poor communities.
    According to the latest data from the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, Open Defecation Free Communities in Ghana have increased from 410 communities to over 5000 communities.
    Mr Speaker, in order to create sustainable employment opportunities which prevent poverty in vulnerable families, the Government is providing economic services to support income earning ventures of farmers and fisher folk --
    Mr Speaker 12:52 p.m.
    And in conclusion?
    Dr Appiah-Kubi 12:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is true that the economy of Ghana is in good shape and it is in good help -- [Interruption] -- Mr Speaker, the Hon Member would like to say something. He has the microphone --
    Mr Speaker 12:52 p.m.
    Hon Member, you are addressing me.
    Dr Appiah-Kubi 12:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is true that the economy is in good health and the Government is poised to achieve most of the SDGs. But going forward, more attention should be paid to reducing inequality and child poverty, which seems to have deteriorated of late.
    Mr Speaker 12:52 p.m.
    Thank you very much.
    I direct that as earlier indicated, Hansard should capture the Paper as presented.
    Hon Members, at this stage, the First Deputy Speaker would take the Chair and I would call on the Hon Ms Patricia Appiagyei, the Deputy Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation to contribute.
    Hon Member, you have fifteen minutes.
    Presentation on SONA -- 26th February, 2020
    Dr Appiah-Kubi 12:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is one thing that the political opponents of Nana Akufo-Addo totally agree with him. Our nation is currently in good health. Indeed there have never been better times in Ghana than today under Nana Addo's Government. The fundamentals of the economy are not only solid, the economy is being competently managed and by competent people.
    Mr Speaker, this good health of the nation is reflected in an unprecedented improvement in the welfare of the average Ghanaian and this unprecedented improvement is underscored by several indicators of the standard of living. These improvements give indications of strives towards achievement of the global SDGs, which the country has adopted as its minimum set of socio- economic policy goals to leave no one behind.
    Mr Speaker, the economy of Ghana is expanding. And as Nana succinctly puts it on p 12:52 p.m.
    7 of his statement “our economic growth has rebounded to place Ghana among the fastest growing economies in the world for three years in a row at an annual average of 7 per cent from 3.4 per cent in 2016, the lowest in nearly three decades”.
    This has impacted positively on the income levels of Ghanaians as reflected in the rising levels of per capita income. Under the Nana Addo's Government GDP per capita in current prices has started rising again from US$2037.95 in 2017 to US$2223.42 in 2019 after declining successively from US$2389.77 in 2012 to US$1941.46 in 2016. Against the backdrop of these developments, Ghana is now seen as a likely candidate to achieve the SDG 1 before the scheduled 2030.
    The good thing about the rising GDP growth is that the vital real sectors of the economy, including the manufacturing and the agricultural sectors, are all experiencing rising trends. From the doldrums of 2.7 per cent and 2.9 per cent growth rates in 2016, the manufacturing and agricultural sectors have risen to 6.4 per cent and to about 7.0 per cent in 2019 respectively.
    Mr Speaker, on the back of high growth rates of the agricultural sector, thanks to effective programmes like Planting for Food and Jobs and Planting for Exports and Rural Development (PERD), food is not only in abundance but relatively cheap and affordable to the average Ghanaian.
    Mr Speaker, increased production and high yields of foodstuffs have brought down food prices to their lowest levels in decades. Overall inflation has consequently dropped steadily from a high of 15.4 per cent at the end of 2016 to 7.9 per cent at the end of December 2019, about the lowest in the last three decades. This has improved the living standard of the average Ghanaian and contributed towards achieving SDG
    2.
    Indeed Nana Akufo-Addo is putting more money into the pockets of Ghanaians through the effective implementation of the country's social interventions. Free SHS for instance, allows the average Ghanaian to save over GH¢2000 annually, which goes to favour the poor in Ghana.
    All the five flagship social protection programmes, namely, the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW), the School Feeding Programme (SFP), the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Exemptions and the
    Basic Education Capitation Grants have all been expanded under Nana Addo's Government and are being managed effectively.
    Also worth mentioning is the new social economic initiative of the government to set up a dedicated fund of five million Ghana cedis (GH¢5 million) to support about 1000 women entrepreneurs with disability. This Special Presidential Empowerment for Women Entrepreneurs with Disability does not only ensure inclusive development but also help to deliver the country's commitment to the SDG goals five (5), eight (8) and ten (10), which aims to ensure economic inclusion of women, and to harness their talents and capabilities for national development.
    Mr Speaker, through the Zongo Development Fund, many deprived Zongo communities across the country are being provided with the necessary infrastructure to develop. Not only has the NPP Government over the years introduced several social interventions to improve the social welfare of the poor, special social interventions are also being intensified to upgrade poor communities. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources for instance,
    Open Defecation Free communities in Ghana as a whole have increased from four hundred and ten (410) in 2016 to five thousand (5,000) communities in 2019.
    Mr Speaker, in order to create sustainable employment opportunities which can prevent the poverty of vulnerable families, the government is providing economic services to support income earning ventures of farmers and fisher folks who mostly fall below the poverty line. It has thus among others already completed 35 warehouses to reduce post-harvest losses and boost incomes, it constructed several fish landing sites for our many poor fishing communities, and constructed dams to facilitate all year round farming and to boost income earning capabilities of farmers. All these would go a long way to help achieve SDG 1.
    In order to enhance agricultural marketing and improve access to market, and thereby stabilise the incomes of poor farmers, the government has revitalised the National Food and Buffer Stock Company and is promoting institutional procurement of produce and sales to schools and hospitals.
    Mr Speaker, with the view to making small scale mining a more legitimate environmental friendly avenue for sustainable employment for
    Ms Patricia Appiagyei (NPP -- Asokwa) 1:02 a.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Motion in this august House.
    Mr Speaker, I listened to the First Gentleman of the land, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the 20th day of February, 2020 for about two hours when he delivered the State of the Nation Address. I could not hide my admiration for the President, who confidently indicated how successful he has been with his interventions, policies and his flagship programmes.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to refer the House to the Address on page 31, with your permission, I beg to quote:
    “I was not elected by the overwhelming majority of the Ghanaian people to complain. I was elected to get things done. I was elected to fix what is broken and my government and I are determined to do just that.” Mr, Speaker, we have done just that.”
    Mr Speaker, I believe that the President would not have made such a bold statement if he did not have the right button to press on. I am sure
    most of my Hon Colleagues are wondering what I mean by the right button.
    Mr Speaker, the Government of Ghana has initiated a policy to place Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) at the centre of the country's socio-economic development agenda. It therefore makes STI a fulcrum around which national development revolves.
    Mr Speaker, you would agree with me that the success of almost all the flagship programmes that we have currently attained, we have applied the right technologies, we have scientific bases for undertaking those projects and we have also adopted innovative approaches in the implementation of most of these flagship programmes.
    Mr Speaker, never in the history of Ghana have we had a Government that has placed science, technology and innovative ways of doing things at the right place than our President has done.

    As a result, all of us have observed that over the years, Ghana has invested heavily in the development of infrastructure that is, building

    equipment and facilities, human capacity, education, training of researchers, engineers and technicians. Currently, in the study of science, we have applied, invested and implemented research outputs in our flagship programmes.

    Mr Speaker, in the payment of salaries in recent times, the country has also taken steps to support the establishment of offices for the entrepreneurial activities of private individuals. Despite the efforts, the limited successes; the linkages between the public research institutions, the academia, and the private sector have remained very weak. Also, the transformation of research output and innovation into products and services of economic value, as well as for social use have been very limited.

    Similarly, there has been very limited support from the private sector in knowledge generation, innovation in technology, and in the application of some of the same, towards business growth and expansion.

    The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, under the watch of His Excellency the President, has decided that there is the urgent need for collaboration amongst public research institutions, exchange, technology transfer, and the transformation of research outputs
    Ms Patricia Appiagyei (NPP -- Asokwa) 1:12 a.m.
    and innovation into commercial products and services. This is a new arrangement that would facilitate the creation of industries and jobs. It would also help to grow the economy and quicken the pace of Ghana's socio-economic development.
    As a result, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) would coordinate all on-going research and innovation activities within the public research institutions and public universities, and also collate and disseminate the outputs of such research and innovations.
    It is also to harmonise innovations and research activities within the private sector, and to facilitate a partnership between Government, academia and the private sector in the country. All these would be done through the promise made by His Excellency the President to assign one per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for research activities.
    Mr Speaker, the GIPC center, is also interested in providing support services for researchers, innovators, start-ups and small and medium enterprises in the following areas. We seek to look at the Intellectual Property Rights Management, look at the facilitation of research collaborations with the private sector, the piloting of research output that is
    accessed to make market potential, and the matching of research projects with investors and venture capitalists.
    We have started with the incubations, development of business plans, entrepreneurial training, and consultancy for strategic communica- tion and marketing. Under the leadership of His Excellency the President, the current Government of Ghana has repeatedly emphasised the urgency for the nation to move beyond aid. It has actually emphasised the move beyond the raw material commodity-base and the Guggisberg economy model.
    Another thing that the President constantly emphasises is the need to create decent jobs for our young and increasing educated population, who are attracted by traditional agriculture, or the low-paying informal sector. These twin objectives are at the heart of the President's coordinated programme of economic and social development policies, and also of the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda.
    As a predominantly agricultural country, Ghana's industrialisation goal must be to increase agricultural productivity through mechanisation. Government has actually assigned a special budget for the mechanisation of the agricultural sector to ensure that we would have an enhanced
    production. In addition to that, we are also using our enhanced seedlings, which has been prepared by the Crop Research Institute or the research centers to ensure that these things are realised.
    The lowest hanging fruits in our industrialisation drive and the ones with the best likelihood of achieving impact on employment and income, is agro-processing. The project for the establishment of foundries and machine tooling centers under the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation would therefore require particular coordination with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture's (MoFA's) Planting for Food and Jobs, Rearing for Food and Jobs, Planting for Export and Development, as well as the One District, One Factory Programmes.
    In order to leverage synergies and reinforce them with the strengthened local capability in science, technology and innovation, under this project, we have also identified that we would build eight technology transfer stations all over the regions of Ghana. These technology transfer stations would ensure that -- we believe that these selected regional centers have specific products, which can be developed for commercialisation. Therefore having the right technology at that particular
    center, we can facilitate its promotion and manufacturing. The related applications would also be used to produce and supply the agricultural industry with the production tools necessary to increase its productivity. Science, technology and innovation would be applied to increase agricultural yields that way. Agro- processing industries would be established to value and reduce post- harvest losses and create gains.

    Mr Speaker, one of the supports that we have enjoyed from our President, is the support to ensure that we preserve our lands and environments appropriately. This support has been given in the area of ensuring that we minimise the spread of galamsey. We would also want to put it on record that one of the things that the President has adhered himself to, for which other people have different ideas on, is the fact that through the President -- as the President mentioned, we have not had an incident since the implementation of the galamsey programme. We have not had an incident where people have fallen into ditches as they mine.

    We have not thrown our hands in the air, we have observed critically that some areas are experiencing clean water supply. And then, we have also
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:12 a.m.
    I will call on Hon Yaw Frimpong Addo.
    Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo (NPP -- Manso-Adubia) 1:12 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion thanking the President for the Message on the State of the Nation that he so eloquently delivered to this august House on the 20th February, 2020.
    Mr Speaker, until the President came to this House to address us, people had some illusions and some beliefs that the fight against galamsey had been lost and that his Government was going to give up on the fight.
    Mr Speaker, to the contrary, the President showed so much commitment to the fight that he is prepared to protect the future of this country especially, the future generations of this country by seeing to it that the degradation to land and pollution to river bodies would stop.
    Mr Speaker, the President did not just make those pronouncements, he showed in-depth knowledge of the enormity of the problem that is confronting this country. This is because small-scale mining or what we call galamsey has been practised in large parts of this country for centuries. And in the areas that some of us come from, it has become a vocation. It is an economic survival. Therefore for anybody to think that this fight can be fought and won in the
    Nana Amaniampong Marfo (NPP -- Afigya Kwabre North) 1:32 p.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker for the opportunity to add my voice to the debate on the unique Address by H. E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
    Mr Speaker, the President's Address revealed a lot of positive things in the Republic. Even though we have a whole year to finish with our first term of our four-year mandate, the Government has achieved 78 per cent of the various promises that were made to the good people of Ghana.
    For the first time in 28 years, the country has recorded the lowest inflation rate at 7.8 per cent, which occurred in this very year, January 2020. By extension, it means that by the close of this year, we might have probably whittled it down to 6 per cent.

    The least fiscal deficit of 5 per cent has been recorded in four decades and I believe they heard me right -- 40 years. President Akufo-Addo has been able to achieve fiscal deficit of five percentage points.

    Mr Speaker, since the last two decades, the economy has con- sistently registered balance of trade surplus, which was an Achilles' hill to the economy of Ghana. Ghana is now counted among the comity of nations, which continues to be counted when the list of faster growing economies are mentioned.

    Mr Speaker, from abysmal growth rate of 3.4 per cent in 2016, we now pose an average of 7 per cent for three years in a row. Now, Ghana is a star in West Africa in terms of foreign direct investment. The recent past mismanagement of the economy gave us an avoidable scar in the sub-region, but now, we are hailed as the new kid on the block -- thanks to President Akufo-Addo's determination to wean us off foreign aid.

    Mr Speaker, the recent successful 15 billion euro bond issue which attracted the lowest coupon rate of 6.375 per cent as against the one we issued in 2016, which was 9.25 per

    cent for similar bond, speaks volumes and tells the healthy nature of the health of the economy. For Ghana to win the contest for the headquarters of Africa Continental Free Trade Area, no one needs to tell the doubting Thomases that Ghana indeed has arrived.

    We cannot talk of the achievement of President Akufo-Addo's performance without the mention of One District One Factory (1D1F). One District One Factory is being rolled out gradually and to give food and jobs to the populace. The Committee on Trade and Industry, of which I am the Hon Chairman, recently visited the Central and Western Regions to have a first-hand knowledge of what is happening on the ground and we were impressed with the few factories we visited. Ghana Free Zones Authority, has seriously partnered private firms to give the state of the enclave in the Shama constituency --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
    Hon Member, please hold on.
    Yes, Hon Member for Monitoring and Evaluation?
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:32 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, since this is a House of records, I want to correct the records. The euro bond
    Nana Marfo 1:32 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Ghana Free Zones Board's presence is now in the Shama Constituency.
    Mr Hammond 1:32 p.m.
    None

    -- [Pause] --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
    Hon Member, are you done?
    Nana Marfo 1:32 p.m.
    No, Mr Speaker. I saw the Hon Member on his feet --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
    I have not given him the Floor.
    Nana Marfo 1:32 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, industrial parks have been constructed all over and sooner than later, vehicular companies like Volks Wagen (VW), Toyota, Sino truck would all be lacing their boots to make Ghana a country of choice to serve the sub region.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
    Yes, Hon K. T. Hammond?
    Mr Hammond 1:32 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am sorry to disrupt my Hon Colleague, but I have observed something which I find very uncomfortable. I have
    realised that Hon Colleagues on the Minority side look morose, pensive and miserable. I suggest that they could as usual, make themselves comfortable with a lunch which they are very good at. This is because most of the times that we conduct serious business, they prefer to go out for lunch.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
    Hon Member for Adansi Asokwa, how is that a point of order? Who is out of order?
    Mr Hammond 1:32 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I wanted to bring to your attention --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
    Hon Member, you are out of order.
    Hon Member, please continue.
    Nana Marfo 1:32 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, industrial parks have been littered all over the country and the good thing is that, first class firms like VW, Toyota, Sino trucks and Nissan have all partnered Ghanaian companies to establish factories so that their presence would cover the whole of West Africa.
    Mr Speaker, what the President drummed to us when he delivered his Message was that Ghana had arrived and jobs were available. We heard from him that unemployment rate had
    been lessened from 11.5 per cent to currently 7 per cent and this was done within three years of his Administration. For this reason, we believe the President and his team deserve four more years, which he pleaded with us and we all agreed with the Minority that we would give him the four more years.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
    Hon Member for Shama, Mr Ato Panford?
    Mr Ato Panford (NPP -- Shama) 1:42 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to emphasise that facts are facts, and based on the empirical information which was given by the President in his Message, we cannot gloss over some of the key things that he mentioned in respect of industry and trade.
    Mr Speaker, when we reflect back to 2014, 2015 and 2016 and compare these to 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively, it is evident that trade balances for our nation have improved dramatically and we have
    recorded even up to the height of about US$400 million in the balances.
    My observation with respect to industry is that, if we look at the kind of policies that the President and his team have been able to put in place to deliver an agenda for us to be able to move this nation forward, it is important to note some key important Bills that the President and his Executive are trying to push before this House.
    Mr Speaker, the Ghana Standards Authority forms one of the key components of the things that have happened over the years. The President also, in all the issues that he mentioned, said that standardisation and conformity are key in the things that we do. The Hon Member who spoke earlier, mentioned some key issues about 1D1F.

    Mr Speaker, as I speak today, our Vice President and the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry are currently in the Western Region cutting sod and commissioning another 1D1F. To empower the realisation of the 1D1F programme, last month, the EXIM Bank as stated by the President in the Message on the State of the Nation on page 20, indicated that an amount of about US$100 million facility with Credit Suisse has been arranged to help complete 20 more export related
    Mr Ato Panford (NPP -- Shama) 1:42 p.m.
    factories this year. These are the key things we need to look at and my Hon Colleagues on the other Side will agree with me that these are going to have a fundamental impact on our economy, in that it will ripple off employment for our youth.
    Business Resource Centres are being commissioned within the nation under the Rural Eenterprises Project (REP) and the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI); we have been able to see that about 30 of them have been commissioned and there are about 34 more in the pipeline to be completed and commissioned.
    Mr Speaker, the Shama Constituency has benefitted from this very important business resource centres. The most important thing to note is that the impact of these Business Resource Centres is going to empower our youth and Small- Scale enterprises (SME) to use this to leverage on the kind of technical and advocacy services that will be offered within these business resource centres. This would enhance and drive the SME agenda within our nation.
    We all know that small-scale enterprises have a component of almost about 85 per cent of the nation's economic contribution, and I encourage all Hon Members,
    including those on the other Side who today, have deemed it appropriate to be quiet on this debate, to encourage Government and especially, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Administration to be able to do more. By this, one of the pivotal issues we need to concentrate on is industrialisation of this nation.
    Mr Speaker, if we are to see any industrial growth, we would have to touch on manufacturing, construction and other aspects of industries.
    From the year 2014 to 2016, manufacturing was on the negative growth but indeed, when we moved on to the year 2017, it will excite all of us to know from empirical record that there has been tremendous growth with the policies initiated by our President, His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
    I also want to emphasise on the policies being driven by this Government, in terms of how we include other agenda for industrialisation. The automobile industry is one of the most exciting industries that we all need to look at.
    In Ghana, we already have the Kantanka Automobile Company Limited and sino-truck and others are being established here. However, our agenda by the Ministry is to support the Kantanka Automobile Company Limited to make sure we have the
    local content of manufacturing our own automobiles.

    Touching on the matter of the bauxite industry, the Ghana Integrated Aluminium and Bauxite Development Industry (GIABI) is one of the key issues that will drive this nation's economic potential forward. We have a lot of other industries that will cause a ripple effect out of the steel and bauxite industries.

    Mr Speaker, rail is one of the key things that will support industry and commerce in this nation. We find railway contributing so much in terms of even the warehouses that are going

    to be built along the rail lines. In Shama, I know and have seen that the industrial park that has been created there by Black IV known as the West Park has started construction and we have companies like Bosch Ghana and other automobile industries as well as financial institutions like Stanbic Bank Ghana which are all relocating to these industrial parks.

    My key concern here is that if Ghana is able to industrialise, as the agenda that we will put in place in terms of the policies and the legal framework that we are trying to put in place, we believe that we would reduce youth unemployment.

    Mr Speaker, we are not leaving our gender issues behind. The NBSSI has been able to sign up a whole programme with Mastercard Foundation to be able to ensure that we have other employment avenues as well as small-scale activities with this Foundation to support the growth of women in entrepreneurship.

    I would want all of us to embrace the policies that this Government has put in place. I would also want to commend the economic management team for the great work and the entire arrangement of our policies in terms of finance. If the numbers jell right for us, in terms of the economic
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:42 p.m.
    All right. Hon Members, that is the end of the debate on the Message on the State of the Nation for today.
    Hon Majority Chief Whip, what next?
    Hon Members, having regard for the state of the Business of the House, I direct that the House Sits outside the regular Sitting hours.
    Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh 1:42 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, item numbered 7 on page 4 of the Order Paper.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:42 p.m.
    Very well. Item numbered 7, by the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
    Mr Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi 1:42 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, before I move the Motion, I would want to make some corrections to the Report.
    Mr Speaker, the last line of the cover page, labelled (ii), should read;
    ‘FOR A 50MW AC SOLAR
    POWER PLANT IN PWALUGU'
    and not “hydro”.
    Mr Speaker, on page 8 of the Report, paragraph 6.10 should read 1:52 p.m.
    “This total value does not include indirect economic benefits...”

    Mr Speaker, this is a Joint Committee's Report and it contains three items which have been captured as Motions numbered 7, 9 and 11. Mr Speaker, so with your leave, I would want to move the three Motions together and present your Committee's Report.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:52 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Iddrisu 1:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe that it is appropriate that the Motions are moved together, but I want the understanding from you that because it is a Joint Committee's Report, it would be fair that we take two contributions each from the Committee Members before the
    Leadership would wind up. Mr Speaker, this is because we want to reflect on both the Committee on Mines and Energy and the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs.
    More importantly, these Motions are about borrowing US$1 billion so it is important that our contributions would capture what the impact would be. So I have no objection and I am sure the Hon Member for Damongo or the Hon Member for Talensi may want to second the Motion.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:52 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, the indication that was given was that after the Motion was moved, there would be a contribution each from both Committees before the Leadership of the House. [Interruption]
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader is saying that we should take two contributions from both Sides on each subject matter. In other words, we would have five contributors.
    Mr Speaker, I do not mind except in that case, the time should be regulated because when we finish, we would still have to take the Consideration Stage of the Narcotics
    Control Commission Bill, 2019, and the time is close to 2.00 p.m. Mr Speaker, in this regard, if it has to be two contributions on each subject matter then you have to regulate the time accordingly so that we are able to contain the debate within a reasonable time.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:52 p.m.
    Very well.
    Let the Hon Leaders guide me on how much time I should allow each contributor. Meanwhile the Hon Chairman can move the Motion while the Hon Leaders engage.
    MOTIONS 1:52 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Emmanuel K. Gyamfi) 1:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Joint Committee on Mines & Energy and Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs on the EPC/Turnkey
    AND 1:52 p.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:52 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Ranking Member?
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:52 p.m.
    Hon Minister, are you on a point of order?
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, just so that we all follow what he said, if you read paragraph 6.12 and you add it to the recommendations, they are inconsistent. I would want to ask his permission for the Hon Chairman to change the conclusion to reflect the recommendation in paragraph 6.12 so that we look at the right numbers. Otherwise, for example, in item numbered (i), the amount re- commended is US$366,011,991 but if you go back to paragraph 6.12, we must remove the withholding tax to make it US$348.58 million.
    So he should correct it now so that the right numbers are effected. If you go to item numbered (ii) and use the same principle, the amount should not be US$55.379 million. It should be US$52.74 million and if you look at the last one, it should be US$404.76 million. The total amount should be US$806.08 million and not US$964 million. This would be consistent with the recommendations he is making. So the records should be captured as
    such, then we can debate the numbers.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:52 p.m.
    If I understand you, in the respective categories, it has been recommended that the withholding taxes should be removed, but they have not been removed in the conclusion.
    Dr A. A. Osei 1:52 p.m.
    That is right.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:52 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    Mr Gyamfi 1:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I agree with him.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:52 p.m.
    The record should reflect that the final figures should be less the withholding taxes.
    Yes, Hon Ranking Member?
    Mr Mutawakilu Adam (NDC -- Damongo) 1:52 p.m.
    Thank you very much for the opportunity to second the Motion. I rise to second the Motion.
    This project started since 2013 when funding was secured for environmental and social impact assessment and resettlement action plan which was completed in 2016. So the financial aspect of this project was taken over and started in 2017
    which finally got approved and secured in 2018.
    Mr Speaker, I have few issues. In respect of the memorandum that we had from the Presidency and the explanation from the Ministry, they are quite conflicting. We tried to reconcile it. The Ministry said the cost of the hydro is US$366 million, comprising the equipment for the power station which is about US$186 million and that of the reservoir. However, the Ministry indicated that we should not add the cost of the reservoir which is US$186 million to the cost of the equipment for the hydro because it is a multipurpose dam.
    Meanwhile the explanation as to where to allocate that US$186 million became a problem? Should we allocate it to the hydro or we allocate it to the irrigation project? If we cannot allocate it in whole, what proportion should be allocated to the hydro and what proportion should go to the irrigation project so that this helps in calculating the cost per kilowatt hour and the cost per megawatt?
    If not, the US$186 million cannot be a standalone which would be difficult to account for when we finally start generating power and the irrigation is also yielding some
    dividend. It becomes a very challenging issue.
    Mr Speaker, they also explained that the output per the hydro would be 176 gigawatt hours. When you convert it to megawatt, it would be 20 megawatt. Even though it is a 60 megawatt plant, what it could generate is a maximum of 20 megawatt when it is a load base plant. It means it can only give us 20 megawatt every day. With that of the solar plant, which is 50 megawatt, it has a dependable capacity of 11 megawatt. So we can only get 11 megawatt out of this figure.
    Mr Speaker, the other issue that came up was in respect to the Public Procurement Authority on why it should be sole sourcing when the money involved is almost US$1 billion and Government is the one to raise that money. Why could we not have gone for competitive bidding but rather sole sourcing? That was an issue the Committee discussed at length.
    Mr Speaker, there is this document which gave us two pages of the cost analysis of the project. In that analysis, it is indicated that this cost is similar to other projects, however, they did not tell us which project they are similar to. I followed up with the Hon Chairman to get the complete report
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:52 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minister?
    Mr William Owuraku Aidoo (NPP -- Afigya Kwabre South) 2:12 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to add my voice to the Motion on the Floor.
    Mr Speaker, this Pwalugu Multipurpose Project is potentially a game changer as far as the economic fortune of the good people of the north are concerned, especially those in the Upper East and North East Regions.
    Mr Speaker, the primary purpose for this Pwalugu Multipurpose Project
    is not just hydro or power production. The primary purpose is for flood control, which is something that has been a bane to this country and the people who live along the White Volta basin and that part of Ghana. There has been incidents of deaths and destruction of buildings and farms. That is why this project was conceived. After the reservoir elevation was raised to 165 metres, it only made sense that we should take some advantage and get some electricity generated from it.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, the US$186 million for the Dam and even the US$366 million that has been quoted would have been justified for the purpose of damming the water in that part of Ghana. The US$116 million that has been earmarked for the power generation is really apt. I think we should thank the good people of the Volta Region and other engineers who came up with the reason for us to adopt the power generation as a secondary product of the Pwalugu Dam.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:12 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister, please hold on.
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Mr Agbodza 2:12 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague, the Hon Deputy Minister has made an emphatic statement. This is a very important project.
    First of all, he said the US$160 million for irrigation is justified. Then he went on to say that even the added cost for the hydro is also apt.
    because the Hon Ranking Member of the Committee just made a comment that we do not have any justification based on any documentation which conclusively tells us whether this is justifiable
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:12 p.m.
    Hon Agbodza, what stops you from contributing?
    Mr Agbodza 2:12 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my point is that if --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:12 p.m.
    You are not on a point of order.
    Mr Agbodza 2:12 p.m.
    I am on a point of order --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:12 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minister, please continue.
    Mr Aidoo 2:12 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I said, the inclusion of hydro power generation is a very good thing and
    the decision makers should be congratulated.
    Mr Speaker, it is expected that something in the region of US$17 million would be generated from the power that would be produced from the hydro dam. If we do a back of an envelope, it means that the hydro project can pay for itself within a period of 10 years. This is something that we should all welcome.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:12 p.m.
    Hon Member, hold on.
    Yes, Hon Bawa? I hope you would guide yourself with Order 93.
    Mr Bawa 2:12 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, a hydro project is not only made up of power house. There is also a hydro dam; that is the reservoir. If the two components are taken, we cannot pay -- The document does not state that.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:12 p.m.
    Hon Bawa, it is an alternative view. You are entitled to make your contribution.
    Mr Bawa 2:12 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, no, this is a House of record.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:12 p.m.
    Please, listen. Refer to Order 91:
    “Debates may be interrupted --
    (a) by a point of order being raised;
    (b) by a matter of privilege suddenly arising;
    (c) attention being called to the absence of a quorum;
    (d) attention being called to presence of strangers.
    In other words, you can raise a point of order, where any of these matters or when the person is misrepresenting a fact. What fact is he misrepresenting? Go straight to the fact.
    Mr Bawa 2:12 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    If we look at the cost in terms of the proposed tariff which is US$9.3 per KW hour, for three years, the project cannot pay for itself. It is not a fact and he is misrepresenting those facts.
    Mr Aidoo 2:12 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we have been told, as a matter of fact that, for the US$9.3 per kW hour the power that would be generated from the hydro generation would give us
    something in the region of US$17 million as I said earlier. If we do simple calculation, it should be able to pay for itself within a space of 10 years and that is the fact.
    Mr Speaker, the project would not only prevent the perennial flooding of the spillage of the Bagri Dam and the seasonal rainfalls that cause commotion in that part of Ghana.
    Fortunately as part of this project, unlike the other projects like the Akosombo Dam, to date, we are still paying compensation and there are issues of compensations pertaining in the Akosombo area. Fortunately, this one has taken care of it and a large sum of money has been earmarked as compensation for the people who live in that area.
    Again, the local content has been taken care of. The good people of the area would get jobs in the region of 2000 for skilled and unskilled labour in the catchment area.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:12 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Pru East?
    Dr Kwabena Donkor (NDC -- Pru East) 2:22 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to this debate.
    Mr Speaker, this is a very good project and we are fully in support of it. Having stated that, the broad principle, the fact that it is a good project does not mean we should not be conscious of cost and also look for efficiencies. That is why I would premise my discussion.
    Mr Speaker, if you look at paragraph 5.2 of the Report, we are told that -- Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to read:
    “The actual cost of the EPC Contract Sum for the Hydro- power is US$116,765,963.34. The remaining sum of US$186,349,557.47 relates to the reservoir/dam. Breakdown as attached …”
    Mr Speaker, this is a very unfortunate statement in the Report. When you take the reservoir away from the power house, we cannot have hydropower based on the power house. A reservoir is always part of the hydropower, so the two cannot be separated and then they come up that the EPC for the hydropower is US$116 million. It is an attempt at misleading the House. The reservoir
    is a critical component of every hydropower project. I would want to put that on record. Therefore the project cost minus the taxation is over US$300 million instead of US$366 million if we take the taxes out. That is the hydropower component.

    Mr Speaker, if you look at the hydro component, at the cost of US$366 million as stated by the three Hon Ministers in their joint memorandum to Parliament, it means that we are paying US$6 million per megawatts at headline; producing 16 megawatts.

    Mr Speaker, during the discussion, we raised the issue of what the dependable --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:22 p.m.
    Hon Member, hold on.
    Hon Chairman, I would have thought that you would have the right of reply. So you should take note of everything that has been said, which you think should be responded to.
    Mr Gyamfi 2:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I agree entirely with you, but for this, I would plead with you, just to put the records straight.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:22 p.m.
    Hon Member, this is like re-arguing. You should wait, so that you make your point when they finish.
    Dr Donkor 2:22 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, if we consider the fact that the dependable capacity of the hydro component is 20 megawatts, if we divide the number of gigawatt hours quoted, which is 176 gigawatt hours by the cost of the project, we would get 20 megawatts as dependable capacity.
    Indeed, when the question was put to the Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), he quoted 22 megawatts, and I challenged him that he should do the calculations again because it is rather 20 megawatts. He therefore conceded that it is so. If we are paying
    this amount of 20 megawatts of hydro power, it would then mean that we are paying US$18 million per megawatt, in terms of dependable capacity. I have quoted two amounts; an amount of US$6 million for the nominal signature figure of 60 megawatts, which in itself is extremely high.
    Again, if we take the dependable capacity of 20 megawatts -- [Interruption] . These are the efficiencies that I talked about. We support the Project in principle, but that does not stop us from looking at the efficiencies in the Project.
    Mr Speaker, the question of value for money was raised during our meeting, and a two-paged document was provided from Tractebel Engie. They did the feasibility studies for the Project, and the company that did the feasibility for the Project cannot also do value for money. It goes against Standard Operating Procedures. One would need an independent body to do value for money. One does not get the company that did the feasibility and recommended the Project to also do value for money, and expect that it would tally. That is why when it comes to value for money, the best practice is to get independent firms to do them.
    Mr Speaker, this was not done because what Tractebel Engie provided does not come across as value for money, particularly when they did the feasibility for the Project. They are an interested party.
    Mr Speaker, in paragraph 6.1, we find out that some figures quoted for plants are said to cost 7.3 cents per kilowatt hour. However, no cash flow was provided to the Committee, so we do not have any cash projections. To worsen the situation, we also do not have the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission's (PURC) tariff approval. So we do not even know how much would come in as revenue.
    During the meeting when we asked, VRA itself said that they were not yet sure --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:22 p.m.
    Hon Member, hold on.
    Yes, Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation?
    Dr A. A. Osei 2:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon good Friend knows the procedure. PURC cannot approve of a tarrif before the Project starts. The Project has not started, yet the Hon Member says we do not have PURC's approval. At best, they may give a proposal, but they cannot
    approve the tarrif until the Project is in place. The Hon Member knows that. They can estimate, but that is not an approval.
    Dr Donkor 2:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    The Hon Minister is a senior Member of this House. In this House, emergency power agreements that we brought in, all had PURC approvals. Before the project even commences, it is a standard procedure that we would need PURC's approval. The Hon Minister knows this. All power agreements brought to this House had PURC's tariff approval before they could take-off. This House would not even give the approval without the economics, which is based on PURC's tariff approval. We did not have same for this Project.
    Mr Speaker, when we asked VRA how they would sell it, they said that they were not yet too sure whether they would send it to the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) or they would sell it to the private company or it would go to the grid. That was what they said. So, we do not even have the bases
    -- 2:22 p.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:22 p.m.
    Hon Member, are you disputing the Report? This is because the Report does not say so.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:22 p.m.
    But it is not the same as saying they are not sure.They gave you options of companies that they can sell to.
    Dr Donkor 2:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, they said that they had various options, but we are not sure of the particular option. That is what we are saying. If we have options and we have not made a choice, we cannot then do the accounting. How would we know the tariff, more so when we do not have PURC tariff indicative approvals? So where did we pick the 9.3 cents per megawatts from, when we do not even know how much it would sell? That is the question I seek to drive at.
    Mr Speaker, I agree that flood control is one of the outcomes of this dam, however, there are options in
    flood control. We can have flood control without the hydro component. The hydro component is excessively expensive for 60 megawatts nominal, and 20 megawatts dependable.
    Mr Speaker, I heard the Hon Deputy Minister saying that US$17 million a year would pay for the Project in three years. This amount times three is definitely nowhere near an amount of US$366 million. That may not be their intention, but that is what came up. He said it would pay for it in three years.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:22 p.m.
    Hon Member, hold on.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minister?
    Mr Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng 2:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member just said that I said US$17 million times three is an amount of US$366 million. It is rather multiplied by ten (10).
    Mr Iddrisu 2:32 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, you have guided our Hon Colleagues on the other Side. We heard the Hon Minister while he was there. The Hon Edward Bawa had risen on a point of order and the Speaker asked for further elucidation to justify his point of order. To paraphrase him, he said that it could pay for itself in three
    years. [Interruption].He may have meant ten years, but we heard him say “three years”.
    Mr Speaker, I demand that the Hansard produces it for us so that we would know what he has been recorded verbatim as saying; whether “three” or “ten” years. That means that Parliament is verbatim.
    Mr Speaker, I rose because the Hon Edward Bawa was saying that he should speak to the fact that even 9.6 would not be able to pay within the time period. At that material time, he disagreed, but now he agrees. And that is my difficulty.
    When he raised it earlier and Hon Bawa raised it, he projected Hon Bawa as not being factual when Mr Bawa was saying that he should be careful because the assurance he was giving could come back as backlash to him because paying for itself -- [Interruption] -- Then, he came back with the US$17 million. Does 17 multiplied by 10 years give us 366?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:32 a.m.
    What is the controversy? The person quoted as saying three says no, but rather ten; it is practicable that one might have heard three but the man said that he said ten. Let the records
    reflect that; if anybody heard ‘three', the man says ‘ten'.
    Please, continue.
    Dr Donkor 2:32 a.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker. I am happy he has now stated that he was talking of 10 years, not three. I would leave that; but even with that, when we do not know the tariff, we do not know the selling price, we cannot say it would pay for itself. We do not know at what rate it is going to sell so we cannot say it would pay for itself in 10 years unless of course, the Government is writing it off in 10 years and it would not have paid for itself by then.
    Mr Speaker, before I take my seat, I would like to state that we are in support of the Project. That is a fundamental principle. But the fact that we support the Project -- and we indeed started the feasibility — does not mean we should not seek efficiencies and value for money for the good people of Ghana.
    And I would be happy if we got a third party to do a value for money audit, we would all sleep far more comfortable than for a company that does the feasibility studies to come with a paper and say this is value for money. It is an interested party.
    Thank you Mr Speaker.
    Mr Kobina Tahir Hammond (NPP -- Adansi-Asokwa) 2:32 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, as the debate was going on, I was beginning to feel a sense of sympathy for Hon Colleagues on this Side but I am happy again, my brother and a former Minister, Dr Kwabena Donkor actually concluded by saying that they support the Project wholeheartedly. And that is very good; it has to go on record.
    Mr Speaker, it would have been cataclysmic for them -- [Interruption] -- Mr Speaker, this Project is for the benefit of people in their Constituencies essentially -- [Interruption] -- of course in Ghana, we are not talking about Burkina Faso. We are talking about Ghana but of course, it is not essentially for the people of Adansi Asokwa.
    Mr Speaker, the doomsayers -- I would mention who they are. In the doomsdays, I tried to check with the Volta River Authority (VRA) when this Project actually started and my understanding is that it started sometime in 1992 when feasibility studies and all that started.
    Mr Speaker, but what I remember distinctly is that it is sometime around 2006/2007 when the documents came to my own table when I was there as the Deputy Minister. And those days, it was only one Deputy Minister and it was K. T. Hammond.
    -- [Interruption] -- [Pause] --
    rose
    Mr Hammond 2:32 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do remember --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:32 a.m.
    Hon Member, hold on.
    What has he said that is generating all this —?
    Yes, Hon Agbodza?
    Mr Agbodza 2:32 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not a member of the Committee but I took interest and I attended.
    The VRA and others made a presentation in the board. We are
    told that the feasibility studies by which we are going by this Project was started in 2013 and completed just -- [Interruption] So when my Hon Colleague says that he knows about 2016, we do not know; this House is not aware. What we are aware of is that it started in 2013 and was completed --[Interruption] - - Mr Speaker, the information available to this House says that the feasibility for this Project was done in 2013 so, unless he can produce any evidence of his 2006 feasibility, he should leave us alone to be with
    2013.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:32 a.m.
    I wonder why you think that what you were told is the only story. He says he was the Deputy Minister and that a document on this matter landed on his table. The fact that you started work on it in 2013 does not undermine his statement.
    Please, continue.
    Mr Hammond 2:32 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would further complicate matters for them because at the same time, we arranged for a loan of about US$500 million from Brazil that was supposed to develop this Pwalugu Project -- [Interruption] -- I do not know what happened to the US$500 million when we -- [Interruption] -- Dr Akoto Osei says he knows; maybe,
    he could help the House about what happened to the money.
    We should be careful when we come to debate these matters. He talks about the fact that the documents said 2013, I am prepared to give it to them. I am prepared to quickly make a move from 2006/2007/2008 and then come to 2013. They were in Government and we are now in 2020 so let us at least reverse one or two years. We are talking about another NPP Government to make sure that the dream of Pwalugu becoming a reality has waited for an NPP Administration.
    Mr Speaker, they get up and make all the noise that they would not agree and that is why I called them the doomsayers and naysayers. When President Kufuor came up with the idea of Bui Dam, we heard all of it again.
    Mr Speaker, I have not got difficulties if they are concerned about the figures. That is an entirely different matter but Dr Osei keeps reminding me: where is that US$500 million from Brazil? I guess that is what he does not want to hear and that is why he does not even admit that the year 2001 to the year 2006, K. T. Hammond was the Deputy Minister of Energy. [Hear! Hear!] -- I was not a Deputy Minister for Petroleum
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:32 a.m.
    Hon K. T. Hammond, please, hold on.
    Mr Buah 2:32 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that this is a very serious debate; it is a project that is national in nature and I do not think that a very senior Member of this House should come and start talking politics.
    Mr Speaker, I was the Minister for Energy in 2013 and there had been some work done in the 2000s but a feasibility was started to update all that work in the past but that work was basically put under some backburner and the feasibility that started in 2013 did not end in 2018. So it was not as if the work was started and was basically thrown away or stalled. It was an ongoing process. And we have gotten to the point that at the right time what we are doing today must be done.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:32 a.m.
    Hon Member, so, what is your complaint?
    Mr Buah 2:32 a.m.
    I am simply saying that he made a point that somehow, the NDC came in and this Project went
    dead. I am trying to make the point that that is not the case. It has been a continuous process; we got money from —
    2.42 p . m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:32 a.m.
    All right, you only confirmed what he is saying.
    Mr Buah 2:32 a.m.
    We got money from Agence Francaise de Development to start the project.
    We ended the feasibility in 2018 and that is why we are where we are. He should not impugn politics to it.
    Mr Hammond 2:32 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the confirmation of what I have been saying all along. The Hon Member should teach his Friends when they get up to object to things that we say. He is objecting that we did not do anything along the years that we are talking about. Fortunately, Hon Buah, MP for Ellembelle has told this House that what I am saying is actually true. [Interruption] If he did not say that, what did he say then? [Laughter]
    Mr Speaker, I think we would deal with the substance of the Project. My Hon Colleagues are quite uncomfortable with the fact that the hydropower component is coming at
    a cost of US$366,011,991.38. I have had the opportunity to discuss this matter at length with colleagues from the Volta River Authority (VRA) and all the other satellite institutions.
    If it were a straightforward case that at a generation capacity of 60 megawatts, the asking price was US$366,011,991.38, we would all clearly have questions because we all have a fair idea. Somebody described it as the back of an envelope but this is really an inside-the-palm calculation and we all have a fair idea on how much.
    Mr Speaker, it has been put beyond argument that that is not it and I guess that is what my Hon Colleagues on the other Side should pay some attention to. It has been explained that the irrigation bit could have been done without the hydro part. It is really a buying-two-and- getting-one-free kind of thing that seems to be happening now.
    There has always been the need to make sure that the irrigation part of the area in question becomes a reality. Then there has been the challenge of the Burkinabés opening the Bagre Dam, spilling water over and flooding the place for all these years. It has been a very difficult issue. So then, there is the situation. We actually need to put the place into proper use, so
    that there is enough water supply for an agriculture powerhouse around the area. We want that.
    Of course, there is also this need for the hydrogenation. That is not the catalyst for this Project. That dam itself is not a catalyst for this Project. It is more so the agricultural element, so this is the decision.
    Mr Speaker, on paragraph 5.2 on page 4, it is made very clear. It says 2:32 a.m.
    “The actual cost of the EPC Contract Sum for the Hydro- power is US$116,765,963.34. The remaining sum of US$186,349,557.47 relates to the reservoir/dam.”
    My Hon Colleagues were talking about the fact that the two are related. Of course the two are related but what it is is that, you have got to get the dam in place. You get the dam and it serves two purposes. You would then fit in the equipment costing US$116,765,963.34 to run the power supply. You would need US$116,765,963.34 to get the dam in place, and they are not getting it. We could just put the dam in place and decide not to put in the turbines to run the power if all we need is the irrigation aspect. So when you put the two together, it would come to the US$366,011,991.38 that is being talked about.
    rose
    Mr Hammond 2:32 a.m.
    Hon Buah should sit down because I have not finished. When I make my point, he can then get up. I mentioned his name and
    asked that he let me finish but I have not finished. Mr Speaker, you have not called him.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, the NPP Government has negotiated it down to US$1.5 billion. It was mentioned on the floor of this House.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:32 a.m.
    Hon Member, you mentioned his name so I have to give him the Floor. Hon Kofi Buah?
    Mr Buah 2:32 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not even aware of what he is talking about. I cannot recollect any period as a Minister where I went to Equatorial Guinea to negotiate for a -- [Interruption] -- It is not correct and he must withdraw that from this record and focus on the issue at stake. This man is misleading this House. He should make sure he withdraws my name that he mentioned.
    Mr Hammond 2:32 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, if he says that it was not him -- I mentioned Hon Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin Central. He said it on the Floor this morning. I have introduced the Hon Member for Ellembelle who I thought was the Minister at that time. If he says he was not the Minister at the time, I am prepared to withdraw and apologise for that. The statement as to the contract with Equatorial Guinea, how much it came to and the fact that the
    NPP Government has renegotiated and brought the figure to this level which was mentioned on the Floor this morning. It was not me, so he should not hold me responsible.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:32 a.m.
    First, let us get it clear. The reference to Hon Buah cannot be confirmed, so let that be expunged from the record. Now, what other point were you making and if it was challenged, we would have to verify.
    Mr Hammond 2:32 a.m.
    The fact of the contract, how much it came to and how much it has been reduced to. I was making the point that if they are going about making allegations to the effect that we are doing this sort of thing -- [Interruption]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:32 a.m.
    Please, I want to understand you before I make any ruling.
    Mr Hammond 2:32 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have just made my point that they are in the habit of doing that sort of thing and not the NPP Government. That is the point I am making and I am prepared to move on.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:32 a.m.
    Well, the Hon Minority Leader is on his feet and I would listen to him on that.
    Mr Iddrisu 2:32 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are following the debate keenly on the approval of the Pwalugu Hydropower and Irrigation Project. It is important that if Hon K. T. Hammond has any evidence of a document to any contract signed in Equatorial Guinea, he should lay it on the Table. He should withdraw his statement if he fails to lay it. So we invite him to put his evidence on the Table, that such a contract exists and was approved by this House for this purpose.
    Dr A. A. Osei 2:32 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I want to support the Hon Minority Leader by using a different path. That Equatorial Guinea issue is not relevant to this but what is relevant is the US$500 million, and I think that is where he should go because it is relevant to this.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:52 p.m.
    Hon Member, hold on.
    Hon Members, the objection is that the insinuation of one group being fond of some conduct is irrelevant to the discussion and I so direct that you move away from matters that relate outside the Report.
    Mr Hammond 2:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would speak to the Report but let it be recorded that I did not make this up. It is in the Hansard -- [Interruption] -- Mr Speaker, I would go away from that in a minute but this has to be settled. I have not come to the House to make this allegation -- I only repeated a statement that is reported in the Hansard of this House. So if I am held accountable, then the Hansard should be recalled so that, that matter be looked at.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:52 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, you have given direction that my Hon Colleague should move away from that because it is not related to the content of the Report that we have before us. So he should confine himself to the subject matter.
    Mr Speaker, so if you could direct him to continue and conclude on his own contribution to this Report.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:52 p.m.
    Hon Member for Adansi Asokwa, I ruled that whatever it is, reported in the Hansard or not in it is irrelevant to
    this discussion and the Report before us. So move away from that and discuss the Report before us. That is my direction.
    Mr Hammond 2:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am entitled to refer to the US$500 million from the Brazilian Government for the purpose of --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:52 p.m.
    Hon K. T. Hammond, you have a minute to conclude.
    Mr Hammond 2:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am almost done but I wanted to seek confirmation that I could deal with the US$500 million for Pwalugu. The question is, where is that money? The money was meant for the construction of this dam and the irrigation projects we talked about. We hold the Minority side of the House responsible. When they were in Government, what happened to the US$500 million? The same way that much of the money cannot be -- [Interruption] -- Yes, they are on their feet and I am prepared to give way.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:52 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Iddrisu 2:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am compelled because the Hon Member has cast insinuations on the Minority side of the House, that I have the
    privilege to lead. If he has evidence on any US$500 million missing, he should proceed to the police station, so that the Police could arrest whoever is responsible for that. He cannot for all intents and purposes, describe us in the manner that he has done. Nobody on the Minority side, yesterday or today, is responsible for any US$500 million. He should withdraw it or provide evidence; we take strong objection to that. There is nothing like that. Even with his referral to Equatorial Guinea, it was President Akufo-Addo, who in August, 2017 went to Equatorial Guinea to sign an agreement on LNG, pursuant to article 75 of the Constitution which never was brought to Parliament for ratification. If he wants to speak to it, he should speak on authority.
    We take strong objection to his posture. He was a former Hon Minister, I have not been there. A formal agreement was entered into by the President of the Republic and that agreement was never brought to this House as required by article 75 of the Constitution. They should find the US$500 million and report any person who is responsible for it for him or her to be dealt with but he cannot say that the Minority side -- [Interruption] -- I have made my point.
    Mr Hammond 2:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have been told that the US$500 million went into the purchase of planes, helicopters and other things.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:52 p.m.
    Hon Member, thank you for your contribution.
    Mr Benson Tongo Baba (NDC -- Talensi) 2:52 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not an Hon Member of any of the Committees, however, because the Project would benefit my constituents, I deem it very important to make few observations.
    Mr Speaker, under item numbered 4 “Resettlement Cost'' in paragraph 5.1 on page 3 of the Report, it is “US$60,400,00” but I want to correct it because in paragraph 6.2, it has been captured as US$60,400,000. So I would want the correction to be made to reflect the actual cost of resettlement.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to make a historical statement that the Project was conceived several decades ago, when the Akosombo dam was constructed. The location of the Pwalugu Tomatoes Factory was part of the plans by the First Republic to have the dam constructed in Pwalugu. It is also a fact that successive governments have made various attempts until 2013, when the feasibility studies were made.
    Mr Benson Tongo Baba (NDC -- Talensi) 3:02 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am more concerned
    about the Project objectives which have excluded the status of the Pwalugu Tomatoes Factory. I do not know whether in the implementation of this Project, there would be consideration towards the rehabilitation of that Project because the factory should be conterminous with any other activity that would take place to inure to the benefit of the people.
    Mr Speaker, the other issue is that when I joined the referral Committees, I made a point when they talked about afforestation and I reminded them that the dam would consume economic trees such as the shea and the dawadawa trees. These are economic trees that very old ladies and widows have depended on over the years for their livelihood. I would want this to be captured in the Report and for consideration during the imple- mentation of the Project. Otherwise, it would solve one problem and create another problem in the socio- economic lives of the people.
    Mr Speaker, I pray that the compensation as has been captured in the Report would not witness what has happened to other projects in the past. Prompt payments should be made to the families so that they could enjoy their resettlements.

    Mr Speaker, there is also the case of land allocation which is 70 per cent for investors and 30 per cent for the indigenous people.

    This was discussed at the Committee level and I thought that it would be captured to reflect the concerns that are raised, that population growth will affect the settlement as 30 per cent is not enough to settle the people. The argument that people do not cultivate more than one hectare of land is not wholly true because currently in Talensi, I have a scheme where people have tractor services initiated by me and other individual tractor owners have also come to join to support the people. So people are cultivating more than one hectare. That notion of the use of hoe and cutlass is no more existent in Talensi.

    Mr Speaker, so I would like that in implementing this project, we take critical look at the land allocation. If we do not solve the problem now but we postpone it, we would have problems on our hands in the near future. We know what has happened in other countries such as Zimbabwe where the land tenure system became an issue.

    Finally, I would want to appeal to this House that this is a laudable project; a legacy project that will transform not only the Upper East Region or the North East Region, but will particularly transform the people of Talensi. It is also going to serve the purpose of reviving the Zuarungu Meat Factory which was abandoned.

    The First Republic saw the need for this Project and had three factories; a tomato factory and a meat factory and the Bolgatanga rice mill. We now have a lot of investors going into the mining areas in Talensi. So I plead that all aspects of the Project must be considered.

    However, the disagreements do not mean that any Side of the House is against the Project. In unison, I would want to plead that we all endorse the project to take place in Talensi.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:02 p.m.
    Can I put the Question now? Yes, Hon Chairman of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs?
    Mr Kwame Asafu-Adjei (NPP -- Nsuta-Kwamang Beposo) 3:02 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am happy to tell the Hon Member that the Pwalugu Tomato Factory would be taken care of
    under this Project. If you look at paragraph 6.7:
    “Proposed mix of Commercial Farmers to Small Holder Farmer.
    The Committee noted that one of the cardinal objectives of the Project is to increase the income levels of farmers, particularly, the indigenes in the project area. However, the considered view of the Committee was that the proposed percentage mix of 70:30 agro-industrial farmers (Commercial Farmers) to Small Holder Farmers may dis- advantage the indigenes who are predominantly small holder farmers”.
    Mr Speaker, there is additional information on the economic benefits of part of the irrigation projects. The Pwalugu Irrigation project will unlock the agricultural potentials of the northern savannah zone and become the largest irrigation scheme in Ghana.
    Again, there would be an expected high yields of main crops namely: sugarcane tomatoes, and rice. A quantity of 200 metric tonnes of tomato per annum which can be fed into a revived Pwalugu Tomato Factory would lead to employment
    Mr Kwame Asafu-Adjei (NPP -- Nsuta-Kwamang Beposo) 3:02 p.m.


    opportunities for thousands of youth in the tomato value chain and help reduce tomato puree imports.

    Secondly, a quantity of 100,000 metric tonnes of rice produced annually would contribute to other efforts towards self-sufficiency in rice production.

    A quantity of 484,000 metric tonnes of sugarcane produced annually can be processed on site or partially processed to feed the Komenda Sugar Factory. Other crops including vegetables, onions, pepper, okra, maize and soyabeans may also be produced on commercial scale as the alternative to sugarcane.

    Mr Speaker, the announcements on agricultural production with and without project scenarios shows that income will grow from US$7.7 million to an estimated figure of US$74 million after the completion of the Project, based on post feasibility and additional study on the irrigation component by Societe de Cal de Provence. Implementation of the Pwalugu project will create several direct employment avenues for small holder farmers, increase farmers' incomes and improve livelihoods.

    Based on the proposed 30 per cent allocation of land to small holder farmers, the Project will create an

    estimated 1,022,400 indirect jobs in the crop value chain. The Project will also produce key raw materials to feed agro-processing industries and thus lead to industrialisation in the northern regions. These are additional information that I am giving you, of which we do not have.

    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:02 p.m.
    Can I come to Leadership now or?
    Mr Samuel Abdulai Jabanyite (NDC-Chereponi) 3:02 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this Report before us. Before I do that, let me direct the attention of the Hon Chairman of the Committee or the Hansard Department to take note of some errors on the introductory page.
    Mr Speaker, when one looks at item numbered (i), it ends with ‘nine hundred and ninety-one' but it is spelt; “nine-one”. Again, if one looks at item numbered (i) and (ii), one captures hydro power and the other, solar power.
    Mr Speaker, a lot has been said about the importance of this Pwalugu multi-purpose dam and its importance cannot be overemphasised.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:02 p.m.
    Hon Member, go on.
    [Pause] --
    Hon Member for Chereponi, speak to me.
    Mr Jabanyite 3:12 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, all right. Thank you. I hope those corrections would be made. A lot has been said about the importance of this multi-purpose dam at Pwalugu which is to be constructed, and we all agree that it is indeed, going to be a game changer for the people of the northern section of the country in terms of improving their socio-economic wellbeing.
    Indeed, experts from the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority, the Ministry of Finance and the Volta River Authority (VRA) made presentations and a lot of concerns were raised. The Report gives a larger reflection of the concerns raised by Hon Members. However, I have a few that I believe have not been captured, which I wish to bring to the attention of the House.

    Mr Speaker, if one looks at compensations that have been allotted to be paid to affected persons in the project area, what we realised was
    Mr Jabanyite 3:12 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with these few observations, I urge the House to adopt this Report. Thank you.
    Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 3:12 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the Floor for the Pwalugu Irrigation Multi- Purpose Dam, additional solar facility and more importantly the hydro facility.
    Mr Speaker, I listened to the President on 29th November, 2019 when he cut sod for this project and the first question I want to ask -- probably because he is in a hurry -- is why would he rush to cut-sod for a project when its cost has not been determined and Parliament has not given approval for it yet he goes to cut sod? Mr Speaker, he was in a hurry to cut-sod, but next time he should be in a hurry to bring it for approval because at the sod-cutting ceremony, he would naturally mention an amount.
    Assuming this Parliament was strong enough to vary the numbers as we should do, he would probably get it wrong. Mr Speaker, assuming we said that the amount involved should not be US$993 million or US$947 million or US$997 million, then that would be problematic. So next time the President should respect our governance structures that before he proceeds to cut a sod for a project, it must go through the necessary approval.
    Mr Speaker, secondly, I listened to the President and I am compelled again to raise the fundamental question that what is Parliament doing in respect of this project?
    Mr Speaker, I beg to quote article 181 of the Constitution to lay basis for my second issue. I would also state emphatically that the principle of the project has the support of the collective House. It is not one for which there is any fundamental objection for wanting to use agriculture to improve livelihoods of the people in the north, particularly in Pwalugu. It would benefit communities from Savalegu, Nasia, Depale through Bolgatanga and those communities in that area.
    Mr Speaker, article 181 of the Constitution states 3:12 p.m.
    18l. (I) Parliament may, by a resolution supported by the votes of a majority of all the members of Parliament, authorise the Government to enter into an agreement for the granting of a loan out of any public fund or public account.
    (2) An agreement entered into under clause (I) of this article shall be laid before Parliament and shall not come into operation unless it is approved by a resolution of Parliament.
    (3) No loan shall be raised by the Government on behalf of itself or any other public institution or authority otherwise than by or under the authority of an Act of Parliament.
    (4) An Act of Parliament enacted in accordance with clause (3) of this article shall provide --
    (a) that the terms and conditions of a loan shall be laid beofre Parliament and shall not come into
    operation unless they have been approved by a resolution of Parliament; and
    (b) that any moneys received in respect of that loan shall be paid into the Con- solidated Fund and form part of that Fund or into some other public fund of Ghana either existing or created for the purposes of the loan.
    (5) This article shall, with the necessary modifications by Parliament, apply to an international business or economic transaction to which the Government is a party as it applies to a loan.
    (6) For the purposes of this article “loan” includes any moneys lent or given to or by the Government on condition of return or repayment, and any other form of borrowing or lending in respect of which
    (a) moneys from the Con- solidated Fund or any other public fund may be used for payment or repayment; or
    (b) moneys from any fund by whatever name called, established for the pur- poses of payment or
    Dr A. A. Osei 3:12 p.m.
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, I was hoping that the Hon Colleagues of the Hon Minority Leader would have advised
    him because there is no loan accompanying this because this is not being finalised by a loan. In fact, when we read the Budget Statement we would know that the Government would finance this from its own resources. So the issue of article 181 does not arise and I thought that the Hon Members in the Committee would have informed him appropriately. This is not a loan and so article 181 does not apply.
    Mr Iddrisu 3:12 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague is in Cabinet and I am not
    -- 3:12 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I quote 3:22 p.m.
    “… an amount of five hundred and sixty-two million United States dollars (US$562 million) for financing of the 400 MW Bui Hydroelectric Project.”
    Today, it is US$366 million for 60 MW. Some explanation has been given by the Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority (VRA) and others that there is an additional solar
    component of 50 MW. There is also the irrigation component which would provide some 25,000 hectares of it. Undoubtedly, this would transform that part.
    Mr Speaker, with Bui Hydro- electric Project, it ended up with US$ 790 million and not US$562 million. [Interruption] No, the numbers could not have been more when it ended up in their hands. The Bui Hydroelectric Project was completed at not less than US$790 million in our hands. But when they came before Parliament at that hour as I mentioned, they said US$562 million was enough for it.
    So today, we are being told that US$366 million for 60 MW would be enough. I am saying we should be guided by the Bui Hydroelectric Project experiences. Tractebel Engineering was the same company that built that particular Dam.
    Dr A. A. Osei 3:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, because of what he is saying, if he looks at that part, he would see that an amount of US$45 million has been budgeted for contingency unlike the Bui one which was not. So we are anticipating a contingency and we have added US$45 million so that what he got from US$560 to US$790
    does not arise. So there is contingency. They did not do that in their time.
    Mr Iddrisu 3:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he has led me to the next point of my debate. It is a ridiculous amount. How could they set aside 15 per cent of the contract sum for contingency? It is high and US$18.2 million for the hydropower and irrigation.
    Mr Speaker, Government must re- look at this numbers so that we are not just giving this away to Powerchina. It could be used to support agriculture in that area. So we raise this procurement issue of sole sourcing in paragraph 6.10. When it suits this Government, sole sourcing becomes wrong. I kept reminding them that it was lawful and permissible within the Public Procurement Act and its amendment Act, Act 663.
    However, Mr Speaker, what are the requirements of the Public Procurement Act when it comes to these matters? Sometimes I think we should demonstrate respect to it. I talked about the Bui project so that the Project Implementation Commi- ttee would be guided by it.
    Mr Speaker, in terms of irrigation, my advice is that this should be the opening of the local private sector going into massive agriculture and modernised agriculture.
    Dr A. A. Osei 3:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, so that I am not quoted incorrectly, for 2020, the Government is not requiring a loan facility. Later years, if the Government decides that it wants to borrow money, it would come to Parliament. However, this is from the 2020 Budget. It could come later that a loan is needed for the balance and there is nothing wrong with that.
    However, I would want to remind the Hon Member that the US$90 million before us does not require a loan facility. There is a difference.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:22 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Alhaji Inusah A. B. Fuseini 3:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, part of the proceeds of the eurobond is to be used to fund this dam. The eurobond is a loan. [Interruption.] It is a loan.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:22 p.m.
    All right, Hon Minority Leader, please conclude.
    Mr Iddrisu 3:32 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, when I used “past and antecedent” for the Hon Majority Leader, I could have just taken a breath and say his antecedent would be right in English language. The Hon Alhaji Inusah Fuseini is reminding the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation what is a loan by its definition.
    Mr Speaker, I am concluding on the fact that Mozambique has a similar dam. We should learn from their experiences. We need an agricultural development plan for the Region which needs to be elaborated for smallholder farmers who can grow cash crops including sugarcane in the area. Institutional social and economic study and a diagnostic report from the VRA is still important. The data they have relied on is not adequate enough.

    The management and organisation of it into the future would have to be looked into. I believe that based on this, there can be optimisation of electricity generation.

    Additionally, Kulpon Dam which is also related, maybe, some amount of money should be dedicated for the development of that dam because

    lives are lost with the spill over of the Bagre Dam. So we should not just concentrate on Pwalugu, but we should do something with the Kulpon Dam.

    Mr Speaker, contribution to farmers' revenue generation and increasing food sufficiency in the area is likely to be the beneficial outcome, if the project is properly and effectively implemented. I have taken note that any time Government wants to borrow for the purpose of Pwalugu, we are assured that they would have to come back to this House because for our purposes now, there is no loan before us; there is no financing agreement before us.

    Power china Company Limited, so determined by the President is to execute the project that he says is the single highest investment. The single highest investment in Ghana's history, the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), is the Gye Nyame/Sankofa, which had World Bank partial risk guarantee of US$400 million at US$5.7 billion for the record.

    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Majority Leader (Mr Osei K y e i - M e n s a h - B o n s u ) 3:32 p.m.
    M r Speaker, today should be a joyous day for all of us in this House. [Hear! Hear!] When this facility came to this House, it was met with a raucous
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:32 p.m.
    Hon Leader, please hold on.
    Mr Bawa 3:32 p.m.
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, our position has always been that the hydro component is expensive. That is the point we have made. What the Hon Majority Leader talked about is the irrigation portion. That is the argument we have made here. It is that we are being misquoted here.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:42 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hansard is there. It captured the position of the Minority when the document came to this House. They said it was too expensive. For them at any given time, they keep shifting the goal post and that is their stock in trade. They mentioned something, which is captured in the Hansard and today as an afterthought, they are providing an ex post facto justification of what they said.
    Mr Speaker, on the crops production and job creation, the irrigation facility is to unlock the agricultural potential of the northern- savannah zone and become the largest irrigation scheme in the country.
    Mr Speaker, it is expected to facilitate the production of tomatoes, rice and sugarcane. The area of cultivation for the sugarcane is proposed to be 12,000 hectares. This in my view would facilitate the construction of a new sugar factory up north. We have always insisted that the sugar factory in Komenda was a complete waste of time and resources because the land for cultivation is no longer there, the water for irrigation which was piped from the Pra and Beposo is no longer there. It has been so much contaminated by galamsey that if the water is pumped from Beposo to Komenda, it has to be purified.

    No person would purify water and use the purified water to irrigate arable lands. So it is a complete waste of our resources. We said so at the very outset that it was not worth pursuing, but we went ahead to do it. I therefore say that this indeed offers a much more credible alternative. It is the reason -- if we look at the 25 hectares of land that is to be under cultivation, 12,000 of it is for sugarcane.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:42 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister?
    Dr A. A. Osei 3:42 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, should I assume that the Motions on items numbered 7, 9 and 11 are to reflect the consequential changes that were made?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:42 a.m.
    I had already given that direction.
    Hon Members, we shall now take the Resolution.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:42 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Resolutions are numbered 8, 10 and 12.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:42 a.m.
    Yes, who is moving the Resolutions?
    Mr Kennedy Nyarko Osei 3:42 a.m.
    Mr Speaker --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:42 a.m.
    Hon Member, who are you?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:42 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is the Deputy Minister for Agriculture. I know that he is to stand in for his substantive Hon Minister, but when I turned, I could not see him. I was going to urge the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation to move it
    on his behalf, but if he is here, then he is the one who has the authority of the substantive Hon Minister to do so on his behalf.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:42 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Minority Leader, any objection?
    Mr Iddrisu 3:42 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, as the Hon Majority Leader may elect, if he wants somebody of Cabinet standing, then he knows what to do. However, the Hon Deputy Minister could stand in for the substantive Minister.
    The Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation was correcting figures, but did not advise the Hon Majority Leader. We would correct him when it comes to Komenda. We are comfortable with the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation moving the Resolutions, but it is for the Hon Speaker to guide.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:42 a.m.
    The Hon Majority Leader made an application, and I wanted your comment. However, you appear to be making a counter application. [Laughter] -- What is your comment on the Hon Majority Leader's application?
    Mr Iddrisu 3:42 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am agreeable.

    well, Hon Deputy Minister for Agriculture, you may move the Resolutions numbered 8, 10 and 12 together.
    THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE 3:42 a.m.
    HEREBY RESOLVES AS 3:42 a.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Emmanuel Gyamfi) 3:42 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    RESOLUTIONS 3:42 a.m.
    RESOLUTIONS 3:42 a.m.
    THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE 3:42 a.m.
    HEREBY RESOLVES AS 3:42 a.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:42 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Emmanuel Gyamfi) 3:42 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:42 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:42 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have agreed with my Hon Colleagues in the Winnowing Committee that we would not do any winnowing today. So we may suspend Sitting for one hour, and come back to continue with the Bill for just two hours.
    Mr Iddrisu 3:42 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is true that my Hon Colleague has discussed with me, but I would want him to know that we have done well by working till 4.00 p. m.; we could have adjourned by now. The number of Hon Members in the Chamber is not
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:42 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe that you did not listen to the Hon Minority Leader, when he said that we have gone beyond “two per cent”. [Laughter] -- But this is a special plea because as I said, we need to finish with this Bill. So I have pleaded with my Hon Colleagues to come back.
    Mr Speaker, it however depends on you. If we could come back at
    Mr Iddrisu 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I meant that we have gone beyond “2.00 p. m.”
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    When Sitting resumes, the Hon Second Deputy Speaker would take over.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5 p.m.
    Very well. We would do just two hours.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Hon Members, the House is accordingly suspended till 5.00 p. m. for the Hon Second Deputy Speaker to continue with the proceedings.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Hon Members, you are welcome back from suspension of Sitting of the House. I am told that we would be moving to the Consideration Stage of the Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2019.
    Hon Majority Leader, is that the case?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5 p.m.
    Sorry, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Is it Consideration Stage?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5 p.m.
    Yes, Consideration Stage and we would continue from clause 62.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    At the Consideration Stage of the Narcotics Control Commission Bill,
    2019.
    BILLS - CONSIDERATION 5 p.m.
    STAGE 5 p.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Hon Members, the item listed 13 on the Order Paper; clause 50.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, respectfully, we are standing down the items listed 13(i) and (ii) and then we move to (iii).
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Items listed (i) and (ii) are accordingly stood down.
    Item numbered (iii), clause 62, Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    Clause 62 -- Winding up of company holding reliable property
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I hold the fort for the Hon Chairman of the Committee and I beg to move, subclause (1), line 2, after “made” insert “by a Court” and in line 3, delete “its voluntary winding up” and insert “the voluntary winding up of the company”.
    So that it would read:
    “Where realisable pro- perty is held by a company and an order winding of the company is made by a Court or a resolution is passed by the company for the voluntary winding up of the company, the functions of the liquidator shall not be performed…”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Hon Members, I am sure you got the sense of what the Hon Majority Leader submitted. And since I do not see anybody, I will proceed to put the Question.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Hon Members, item listed (iv).
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the item listed (iv); the Hon Chairman is here but before he constitutes himself properly, I would continue.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Before he constitutes himself properly?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Is he not properly constituted?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he is now fishing out his documents. -- [Laughter] --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    You mean before he settles down?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker, that is the constitution in the context that I meant.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, subclause (1), paragraph (a), lines 1 and 2, delete “seizure or confiscation is made” and insert “seizure, confiscation or forfeiture” and in line 3, delete “was” and insert “is”.
    So that it would read:
    “If the property is subject to seizure, confiscation or forfeiture is made before the order or resolution for the winding up is made or passed”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Maybe, no consideration. I take it that the House agrees with the Hon Majority Leader so I will put the Question.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Hon Members, we now move to the item listed (v); still at clause 62.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, respectfully, I do not think that this amendment ought to be moved. The reason real ly is that “ realized” as spelt with /z/ is American English and “ realised” as spelt with / s/ is the Queen's language.
    M r Speaker, I do not think i t is necessary because earl ier we used “ real izable property” and in that regard, we have not used /s/ in the context; we applied ourselves to the American spelling. If we need at this stage to substi tute “ real ized” with “ real ised” , we have to go back and change al l “ real ized” , “ real ized” or “ realizable” and change them to the spell ing with /s/. Other than that I believe that all the computers being used now have those A merican spellings; I think we could leave them as they are. Other than that we could leave them for the draftspersons to effect the necessary changes.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Well, this is a drafting matter and I think I will leave it to the draftpersons to do the right thing. Whether it is French or English English, we speak both.
    I direct accordingly that the draftsperson should capture the appropriate word and spellings.
    We move to the item listed (vi); still at clause 62.
    Hon Chairman, have you settled down now?
    Mr Kwame Seth Acheampong 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, almost.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    You are most welcome.
    Please, do the honourable thing of thanking the Hon Majority Leader for holding the fort for you.
    5.35 p . m.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much. I would take a cue from your directive. The Hon Majority Leader and leader of the House who is so clothed with all powers of the House -- [Interruption]
    Mr Speaker, with your kind indulgence by allowing the Hon Majority Leader to lead the pack for us so far, I am grateful. I want to see if I can be a proper pilot. I am still a co-pilot because he is the leader of Business. He has just offered me
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would beg of my Hon Colleague not to overly exaggerate my strength. [Laughter.] He says that I am clothed with all powers of the House, which would include the powers of the speakership. Far be it from me to assume that role. He should moderate his language. [Laughter.]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Well, the sponsor of the Bill is here and I am sure that he is itching to get it done, so could we curtail these interventions?
    Hon Member for Wa West?
    Mr Chireh 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, actually, the Hon Deputy Whip wanted to raise the issue as to whether the Hon Majority Leader is an Hon Member of the Committee and how he could assume that position. I told him that because he is the Hon Majority Leader, he is clothed with all the powers and is also the Hon Chairman of the Winnowing Committee. That is why he is qualified to move the Motions. So this is something that we agreed on, otherwise, we would have objected to him as the Chair of the
    -- 5 p.m.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 62, subclause (2), line 1, after “made” insert “by the Court” and in line 2, delete “seizure or confiscation” and insert “seizure, confiscation or forfeiture” and further in line 3, delete “realizable” and insert “realisable”.
    As the Hon Majority Leader a while ago argued out, we would stand down the last part of the amendment and allow the earlier amendments to be made.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Hon Members, apart from the amendment to line 1 where you proposed that “after “made” insert “by the Court”, the others are consequential.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    We would move to item numbered (vii), still on clause 62. Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 62,
    subclause (2), paragraph (a), line 2, after “creditors”, insert “of”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Still on clause 62, item numbered (viii) by the Chairman of the Committee?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there was a matter that I raised at the winnowing which did not get featured here. It has to do with the words “in respect of” and “with respect to” that we use in our Bills. Sometimes, it tends to be very verbose. For instance, clause 62 (2)(b) should read:
    “(b) prevent the payment out of the property of expenses, including the remuneration of the liquidator properly incurred in the winding up of the property”.
    The original rendition reads: “in the winding up in respect of the property”. I think we can conveniently delete “in respect”. As simple as that.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, we might have a problem with that proposal.
    Mr Chireh 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not see any problem with the amendment.
    I think that what the Hon Majority Leader is saying about “in respect of”, if it is about the winding up, we should just go straight to it. Why should we say “in respect of”? The words there do not add any value.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Hon Members, you cannot say “winding up of the property” because you cannot wind up a property. It is “winding up in respect of the property”.
    Mr Chireh 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that you are right. This grammarian was misleading us. [Laughter]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, you may continue.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the point being made is that clause 62 is about the winding up of a company and not the winding up of a property. That is clause 62 which is on the winding up of a company. So that ought to have read, “the winding up of company” and not “the winding up of property”.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    What I got from you was that clause 62 (2)(b), line 3, delete “in respect of”. So, it would read, “incurred in the winding up of the property”, and I said no, you cannot say “winding up
    the property”. You do not wind up a property.
    Mr Chireh 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he is again trying to confuse us because if it is winding up, we know it is of the company but in respect of the property -- [Interruption.] We are not winding up the property. If we look at it, the clause is about winding up, so the whole subclause has to be read together. What it means is that when you are winding up the company and there is property, it is in respect of the tainted property that we are saying this and not the company.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Well, I am very clear in my mind, so I do not see the doubts in this. He has not moved a Motion; he was just thinking out loud.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, respectfully, I would not want to further litigate it, but I think that intention behind it is crystal clear. We are talking about the winding up of a company and not the winding up of any property. [Interruption] Yes, in respect of the company.
    In fact, I took it for granted that it was “company” and that is why I said we should delete “in respect of” but we are talking about the winding up of a company and any realisable property after the winding up of the company. That is what it is. It is not

    the winding up of property, so it should really read, “incurred in the winding up of the company” and not “of the property”.

    Mr Speaker, as I said, I do not want to further mitigate that because the champion or sponsor of the Bill himself is in the House, so I would yield to whatever he says.
    Mr A. Dery 5:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe that the process of winding up is as a result of the company and then talking of the impact on the property, so the property would not be wound up. I think we should leave it the way it is.
    Mr Banda 5:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, when we take the provision from clause 62(1), line 3, it refers to “voluntary winding up of the company''. When we read 62(2)(b) in context, the “winding up'', refers to the winding up as it is spoken about in clause 62(1), line 3.
    Mr Speaker, if we say “in the winding up in respect of the property'', most of us in the House understand it, but it may not be clear to an ordinary reader because what we do know is “to wind up a company''. It is true that we cannot wind up a property.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to propose that if we should end at “in the winding up of the company'' the meaning would still be clear. This is because what it talks about is “any expenses incurred out of the winding up of the company''. That is what it says. If we want to understand this provision, we should read the whole of clause 62 and put it in context, then we would understand what clause 62(2)(b) says.
    Mr Speaker, I propose that we should delete “in respect of the property'' and insert after “winding up'', “company'' which would still bring out the clarity of the provision.
    Mr A. Dery 5:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, clause 62(2) (b), talks about payment of the liquidator and in this context the payment has been related to the property. This is because it says that; “prevent the payment out of the property or expenses, including the remuneration of the liquidator properly incurred in the winding up of the company'' and the calculation may relate to property. So, why do we want to delete “property''? This is because in winding up, we eliminate the property in the calculation which should not be pursued to the detriment of the context.
    Mr Chireh 5:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with what both the Hon Majority Leader
    Mr Ahiafor 5:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I support the Hon Member for Wa West, Mr Yieleh Chireh, as against the position of those who feel we should introduce ‘'company''. If we look at the opening of the clause, “company'' was mentioned and the expenses, payment of which is under reference is in issue. Therefore the rendition should stay the way it is. It says:
    “prevent the payment out of the property of expenses, including the remuneration of the liquidator properly incurred in the winding up in respect of the property''.
    It is clear that it is the winding up of company in respect of the property. It cannot be winding up of property; therefore it is winding up of the company in respect to that property. It is not all the expenses relating to winding up of the company that we are talking about but the winding up expenses in respect of the realisable property that the company holds.
    If we insert “company'', it would look as if we want to talk about the entire expenses of the winding up of the company but it is about the winding up in relation to the realisable property that the company holds.
    Mr A. Dery 5:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I agree with the position the Hon Member for Wa West, Mr Yieleh Chireh has taken. However, I want to plead because we
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:55 p.m.
    Hon Member, please, address me. I shudder to think what happens in the winnowing committee meetings. If after all what you do there, this is still played on the Floor, then I am sure you usually spend hours on one clause. We need to move on. This has not been advertised and especially, the issue that has been raised is not detrimental. I understood it the way it has been explained and that was why initially, I said we should move on, because the “winding up'' is in respect of that property. We are winding up a company and that has been captured earlier, but we are talking of payment of expenses out of that. If you feel strongly about it, then give notice and then we would get time to debate it again.

    So, Hon Majority Leader, let us go on the advertised --
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, respectfully, I thought that this very one escaped all of us.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:55 p.m.
    Do you mean that it will save all of us?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes. That is, it escaped those of us at the winnowing. I was bringing it to the front burner to exercise our minds on this. I think that I am right, I am not only convinced but persuaded that this is the proper thing to do. However, given what is coming out, there is no weight in the argument at all.
    Mr Speaker, I wanted to further improve it, but if it is causing some hiccups, I may want to drop it. I thought that this is a better expression as it captures the sense better than those saying that; “it is realisable property”. They are totally wrong.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:55 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader -- Well, Hon Ranking Member?
    Mr James Agalga 5:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have been looking at the entire clause 62 critically and I want to concur with the Hon Majority Leader as he is right --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:55 p.m.
    I am not sure that you are aware that clause 62 has been copiously amended. Are you aware?
    Mr Agalga 5:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes, I am aware. I am talking about what is in contention right now. That is, whether the winding up in respect of the property is correct? That is what is being debated. I am saying that having read the whole of clause 62 critically, I side with the Hon Majority Leader.
    Mr Speaker, if we say “winding up of --”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:55 p.m.
    Hon Member, what is the position of the Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Agalga 5:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that the Hon Majority Leader's position is that you do not wind up in respect of property and that the winding up should be in respect of the company. Is that not the position taken? Yes.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:55 p.m.
    Hon Member, the position taken by
    the Hon Majority Leader was for us to delete “in respect of”. That was where he started and so, when I read it, I said that we cannot frame it as: “winding up the property”. Then he said, no, it is not property but “winding up the company”.
    Now, when you read from the main clause 62(2) with the amendments that have been proposed - read it and see whether that is what it is meant to be. That is, the payment of the expenses.
    Please, let us move on. As I said, if you feel strongly --
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, respectfully, let me drop the amendment and then we can move on.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:55 p.m.
    Do you know that as the Hon Majority Leader, you carry a lot of weight and so, when you raise an issue and insist on it, we are compelled to give it time? So I am happy that you have withdrawn that but did not move it as you were thinking aloud.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:55 p.m.
    Let us move to the next proposed amendment which is Roman numeral (viii); still on clause 62.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 5:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 62, subclause (3), paragraph (a), line 1, before “winding”, insert “the”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 5:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 62, subclause (3), paragraph (b), line 1, delete “seizure or confiscation” and insert “seizure, confiscation or forfeiture”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:55 p.m.
    Hon Members, I direct that, that is consequential and the draftsperson should take care of that.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 5:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 62, subclause (4), line 1, delete “1963 (Act 179)” and insert “2019 (Act 992)” and in line 2, delete “or enable the restriction of”.
    Mr Speaker, the final rendition becomes 5:55 p.m.
    “Nothing in the Companies Act 2019, (Act 992) shall restrict the exercise of the powers conferred on the Court by this Act in relation to companies”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 62 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Clause 63 -- Laundering proceeds from narcotic offence
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 5:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 63, subclause (1), line 4, after “convert”, delete “that” and insert “the”
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 5:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, before you put the Question, I think that in the same line (4), before “proceeds”, delete “those” and insert “the” as well.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:55 p.m.
    Sorry, I did not get that one.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 5:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the same line (4), we will delete “those” and insert “the” before “proceeds”.
    Mr Speaker, this is not advertised; we raised that at the winnowing level and I realised that it was not advertised.
    Mr Speaker, can I give the full rendition?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:55 p.m.
    I see that you are calling on us to delete “those” and insert “the”; is that alright?
    Mr Chireh 5:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if you look at that amendment, in line 4, we changed “was” to “were”. I do not know whether the Hon Chairman is aware of that?
    So it will read: “convert the property or the proceeds knowing that all or part of that property or the proceeds were obtained or derived directly or indirectly”.
    Mr Speaker, so there is a second “those” before the “proceeds” which will be replaced by “the”. Then because you are talking about “proceeds”, we change the “was” to “were”.
    So I propose that we do the further amendment on that.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:55 p.m.
    Yes, that is correct. It can no longer be “was” but it has to be “were”.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is a fundamental difficulty with that construction and so, we elected to leave the word “was” instead of changing it to “were”. Initially, I said that we should change “was” to “were”, but if you read the entirety of that construction, it reads:
    “… to conceal or convert the property or the proceeds knowing that all or the property was or a part of the property was
    …”
    But immediately we conjoin it with “those proceeds”, then “were” would apply.
    So, if we use “was” then the introduction of “those proceeds” would make it wrong, and if we use “were” then the usage of “a part of the property or all the property” would also make it right. So there is something fundamentally wrong with that construction. If we left it at “was” it would be alright, and if we left it at “were”, we would still not run away from the problem.
    Mr Chireh 6:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I agree with him but in my notes I changed the “was” to “were”. However, what he is saying now with regard to “all or part of the property or of the proceeds” would then have to be “were”.
    So I think that we should also delete “all or part” because if we do not delete it then it would still be “were”. The “were” immediately qualifies “proceeds”.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:05 p.m.
    The amendment proposed by the Hon

    Chairman is to delete “that” and insert “the” and also delete “those” and insert “the”.

    So it would read:

    “The property or the proceeds knowing that all or a part of that property or of those proceeds

    …”

    In this sense, we can no longer use “was”. It has to be “were” because we are talking about “all or a part of that property or of those proceeds …”so, it should continue as “… were obtained …”

    Hon Minister for the Interior, what do you say to this?
    Mr A. Dery 6:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if we take all of them together then it would be “were”, but --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:05 p.m.
    Let us take them one by one.
    When it reads “all or a part of that property” then we cannot use “was obtained”, it should rather be “were obtained”. And when it continues to “those proceeds” then it would still be “were”.
    Mr A. Dery 6:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the usage of “were” is right.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:05 p.m.
    Hon Members, three proposed amendments have been moved; delete “that” before “property” in line 4 and insert “the”, delete “those” before “proceeds” in line 4 and insert “the” and in line 5, delete “was” and insert “were”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:05 p.m.
    Item numbered (xii).
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 63 subclause (2), line 3, delete “Sixth” and insert “Second”.
    Mr Speaker, this is a consequential amendment.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:05 p.m.
    This is a consequential amendment and so I direct accordingly.
    Clause 63 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Clause 64 -- Power to intercept communication.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 64 subclause (1),
    lines 2 and 3, delete “an officer” and insert “the Director- General”; line 3, before “communication” delete “any” and insert “a”; line 4, after “contain” delete “any”; line 5, before “investigation” delete “any”; line 6, before “purpose” delete “a” and insert “any other”; and line 7, delete “officer” and insert “Director- General”.
    Mr Chireh 6:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, during the winnowing we said that where there are so many amendments within a clause or subclause and all cannot be moved at the same time, the draftpersons should delete the clause and craft a new clause with the corrections inserted. Otherwise, we have to take it one by one but they are too many.
    So I would prefer that while we are considering this, the draftpersons should bring us the new clause, otherwise the Hon Chairman should move each one of them.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:05 p.m.
    Hon Members, the clause would now read: “Subject to article 18 of the Constitution and despite the provisions of any other enactment, where on an application made by the Director-General, a Court considers
    that a communication or postal article is likely to contain information or substance which is likely to be relevant for the purpose of any investigation into an offence under this Act or any corresponding foreign law, or for any other purpose under this Act, the Court may authorise the Director- General to …”
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I remember that at the winnowing -- and I think it was an oversight for the advertisement -- we said that “Subject to article 18” should read “Pursuant to article 18.” That was what we agreed on at winnowing. I think it was an oversight because that day we worked so late into the night.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:15 p.m.
    Hon Member for Tamale Central?
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 6:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Defence and Interior is proposing that the House deletes “subject” and insert “pursuant” because the matters contained in clause 64(i) are not different from the matters contained in the Constitution.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:15 p.m.
    Hon Members, the only addition is to delete “subject” and insert “pursuant”. Should I go over it again?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, you are right, except that in line 5, it should read “for the purpose of an investigation” and not for the purpose of any investigation”.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:15 p.m.
    Hon Members, the further amendment is that in line 5, before “investigation”, we are being called upon to delete “any” and insert “an”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 64, subclause (2), line 2, before “proceedings” delete “any” and in line 3, before “officer”, insert “authorised”.
    Mr Speaker, so it reads 6:15 p.m.
    “Where a person is charged with an offence under this Act or where any proceedings are taking under this Act, any information obtained by an authorised officer under subsection (1), whether before or after that person is charged, or before or after those
    proceedings are commenced, is admissible in evidence at the trial of that person, or in those proceedings as the case may be.”
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:15 p.m.
    We have one more proposed amendment to clause 64.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 64, subclause (3), delete.
    Mr Speaker, already, we have in subsection (1), having all the powers of the institution.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:15 p.m.
    What is the reason?
    Mr Banda 6:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is an order being made by a court directed at the Director-General. It is redundant because any court order is made in writing. That explains why we were of the view that if you say “an authorisation by a court under subsection (1) shall be given in writing to an officer”. We see it as superfluous for which reason it should be deleted. That is the rationale behind the deletion.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:15 p.m.
    Are order and authorisation the same?
    Yes, Hon Member for Wa West?
    Mr Chireh 6:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, because it involves a court and we said subsection (1) says pursuant to this provisions a court could make an order, we thought we were now legislating procedure because if the court is giving any order it must direct the order to somebody in writing.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:15 p.m.
    I did not get that from clause 64(1) because it says “the court may authorise the Director-General” and not “the court may order the Director- General”. I am asking whether to authorise and to order are the same.
    Mr Chireh 6:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in my view, they are the same because the issue is that the order is actually an authority given to the Director- General. Courts do not authorise; they issue orders. “Authorise” in this case means that take an order from the court. That is why they are interchangeable.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we had a long conversation whether we should legislate on procedure because the court has already ordered. This is prime to the prescribed mode of communication.
    I was thinking whether we were not rather legislating procedure.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:15 p.m.
    Hon Member for Tamale Central?
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 6:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, subclause (3) is proceeding from subclause (1). In the last line of clause 64(1), before the subclauses, we find that under the application by the Director-General, the court authorises. In this case, the authorisation is actually an order of the court to intercept. That application and order would definitely have to be in writing. That is why we think this is redundant.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:25 p.m.
    Do you not believe that the Director- General or an authorised officer could visit the court and on the exigencies of the situation get a verbal authorisation which could later be reduced into writing? I agree, but maybe, depending on the circumstances at the time, it is not possible if it is an urgent situation?
    I do not see the harm we would cause by it being part of the Bill.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the reason it was proposed to delete subclause (3) was that, in the original clause 64(1), the amendment that was proposed in the preamble was to add, at the end when we deleted “officer”, we said,
    “…the Court may authorise the Director-General in writing to -
    (a)Intercept, detain and open…
    (b) Intercept any message…
    (c)Intercept, track or listen…
    That is what we did and that was why we said when we came to subclause (3), we should delete it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:25 p.m.
    That has not been done and I think that what we agreed on in subclause (2) did not include “…in writing…”
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:25 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker. That was what we said we should do in clause 64(1); the preamble. So it should have read:
    “…the Court may authorise the Director-General in writing to…”
    That means that when we come to subclause (3), it is superfluous.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:25 p.m.
    Does that mean we have to go back to clause 64(1) and insert “…in writing…”? Promoters of the Bill, does it still convey the sense that you want though we are responsible as a House? I would want to hear from the promoter whether they want us to insert “…may authorise the Director-General in writing to…”, so that subclause (3) would then be deleted.
    Let us listen to him, so that we can take that on board.
    Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 6:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, now that we have not amended to include “…in writing…” it now justifies subclause (3) to be maintained in the Bill. In that regard, I would want us to maintain it and make progress.
    Mr A. Dery 6:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, when the Majority Leader made his intervention, he attempted to delete more subclauses, but this subclause (3) talks of “an officer” and not a specific officer. Clause 64(3) says:
    “…by a Court under subsection (1) shall be given in writing to an officer…”
    It seems to me -- [Interruption] -- Yes --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:25 p.m.
    Hon Member, we only changed it at clause 64 (1) to “Director-General”. But since they want to delete subclause (3), there was no need to delete anywhere. That is why maybe, it is still there. If we have to consider subclause (3), then “the officer” would now change to “Director-General”.
    Mr A. Dery 6:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in which case, we could either contain it as subclause (1) or leave it there. I think that once the “…in writing…” is stated - otherwise, it could be left there.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:25 p.m.
    I propose we put “…in writing…” at subclause (1) and then delete subclause (3). Is it acceptable?
    Yes, Hon Ranking Member?
    Mr Agalga 6:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the deletion of subclause (3) is proper because if we look at the subclause
    (1) --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:25 p.m.
    Hon Ranking Member, I think we have gone beyond that. We are just about to put the Question on clause 64(1) again and then delete subclause (3).
    Mr Agalga 6:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am even against the insertion of “…in
    writing…” in subclause (1). My reason is simple. With the greatest of respect Mr Speaker, all court orders are in writing. No court order is ever given --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:25 p.m.
    I asked a question, are authorisation and order the same? You have not provided the answer and you are telling me, “with the greatest respect.”
    Mr Agalga 6:25 p.m.
    Which authorisation?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:25 p.m.
    Look at the clause, it talks about “authorisation”. Clause 64(1) says, “…may authorise the Director- General…” it does not say ‘order'. Are “authorisation” and “order” the same? So we can go on. Now, with the greatest respect, you have been caught. [Laughter]
    Mr A. Dery 6:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think subject to the amendment proposed, we can delete the subclause.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:25 p.m.
    Hon Members, you know at the Consideration Stage, the rules are flexible. So we would go to clause 64(1) and reconsider it with the insertion of “…in writing…” on the last line.
    “…may authorise the Director- General in writing to…”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:25 p.m.
    There is no further amendment to clause 64.
    Question put and amendment agreed.
    Clause 64 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Clause 65- Seizure of Currency
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:25 p.m.
    There are four proposed amendments to clause 65.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 65, subclause (2), paragraph (a), delete “was” and insert “is”.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:25 p.m.
    Subclause (2), paragraph (a), delete “was” and insert “is”.
    “65(2) An officer who seizes currency shall --
    (a) the name of the person from whom the currency was seized”.
    And now you want it to be “is” seized?
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader, is it in connection with that?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, even before we get there, I think in subclause (2), we decided to insert a preamble. We would insert the word “any” between “seizes” and “currency”, so that it would read:
    “An officer who seizes any currency shall record…”
    And then paragraph (b) will come after
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:35 a.m.
    Let me put the Question on his proposed amendment first, so that we get it clearer.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:35 a.m.
    There was another proposed amendment that came from the Hon Majority Leader, that in the preambular subclause (2) of clause 65, we insert “any” before “currency”, so that it reads: “An officer who seizes any currency record…”
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:35 a.m.
    Hon Members, we would move on to item numbered (xvii), still on clause
    65.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, subclause (2), paragraph (c), line 3, after “General” add “and the person from whom the currency is seized.”
    Mr Speaker, therefore, the new rendition would read 6:35 a.m.
    “Any other relevant information as regards the currency and send the record and the seized currency to the Director- General and the person from whom the currency is seized.”
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it looks like there is something basically wrong with the
    amendment being proposed by the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
    For us to add “and the person from whom the currency is seized.” That then would mean that an officer who seizes any currency shall record in any other relevant information as regards the currency and send the record and the seized currency to the Director-General, and again send the seized currency to the person from whom the currency is seized. That is not what it means; so there is something wrong with the amendment being proposed by the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
    Mr Jabanyite 6:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I also have a little challenge with this because the headnote of clause 65 talks about the seizure of any currency. If we look at what is being added, there should have been some degree of the extent or the amount of currency that would be seized from a person.
    From practice, what I know is that if one is travelling and he is not supposed to carry more than lets say an amount of GH¢10,000 with him, if he carries maybe GH¢1,500 -- [Interruption] -- But then, even with this, I expect that it should have been qualified with the degree or quantum of the amount.
    If we just put it as “with the amount” -- paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) -- we would have made provision for taking information from a person;
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:35 a.m.
    The original amendment looks proper to me.
    Mr Agbodza 6:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in line with what the Hon Majority Leader just said, I would want to step back to clause 65 (2), just for emphasis. It says: “An officer who seizes any currency shall record…”
    Mr Speaker, let us assume that an officer may embark on an investigation, but because he is not sure of the identity of the person being investigated, upon entering a premise to effect an arrest or an investigation, the person absconds. We are saying that the officer should record the name of the person, but in this case, the suspect is gone, but left a pile of cash.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:35 a.m.
    Hon Member, let us finish with the one on paragraph (c). You are reconsidering paragraph (a), but let us finish with paragraph (c), then we can come back to your submission.
    I think what the Hon Chairman is proposing to do is that the person from whom the currency has been seized should have record as to how much has been seized from him. If that record is not made known to the owner, but we just give it to only the Director-General, if there is any differences, the Director-General would not know, but the owner would know the amount that was seized from him and would note that the officer had recorded less. So I think the proposed amendment is in order.
    Mr Chireh 6:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, because of the confusion in paragraph (c) where the money and the record is being sent to the Director-General, we should just add a paragraph where the record is also sent to the person from whom the currency is seized, so that it would become paragraph (d).
    This is because as much as the money and the record should be sent to the Director-General, it should also be sent to the person from whom we have seized the thing. We should not combine it with the original clause as the Hon Chairman has put it by saying “and the person from whom the currency is seized”. We should make it a new paragraph by itself.
    Mr A. Dery 6:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, if we look at paragraph (c), first, we seek to send the relevant information, the record and the seized currency to the
    Director-General. I propose that we add the phrase; “with notice to the person from whom it is seized”. If we add the phrase; “and the person from whom the currency is seized”, does it mean that the currency is being returned to the person? What we would want to say is that the notice of it should be given to the person; information which would deal with discrepancies and so on.
    Mr Speaker, I would just want to propose that the procedure of the seizure should involve notice to the person from whom we have taken the money. I think that it is still necessary that when the ultimate record is being sent to the Director-General, notice is also given to the person from whom the money is taken, so that there would be no discrepancy. So I propose that it should be captured as “with notice to the person from whom the currency is seized”. It would be all right that way.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:35 a.m.
    So the new rendition would be to add “and with notice to the person from whom the currency is seized.” That is what I got from the submission of the Hon Minister for the Interior.
    Hon Chireh, did you also propose that it should be another subclause?
    Mr Chireh 6:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I wanted it to be another paragraph.
    What I am saying is that if we say “notice”, it would not convey the record that is obtained. The record involves the amount, the name of the person and all that. So if we just say “notice” and do not spell out what that notice is, I think that we should capture something about the record of the amount seized as it is the record that should involve the amount taken.
    That is why I say that instead of just combining it by the use of “and giving notice”, we could step it down and make it a separate paragraph (d), in which case it would be captured as giving notice in terms of the record of what has been seized. So I think that if the record and money would be sent to the Director-General, it would be perfect, but the money and the record cannot be sent also to the one from whom it was seized. It would be like a return of the money…
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, if we have to combine it with paragraph (c), we can, instead, I propose that after Director-General, insert “and shall notify the person from whom the currency is seized”. Otherwise, if we have to provide a new subclause (d) then we may have
    Mr Speaker, there is one or two 6:45 a.m.
    None

    Mr Speaker, I think the drafts- person have just sent something to me which is just a replica of what I said.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:45 a.m.
    Yes, can we hear that?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, they are saying that we delete the ‘record' from preamble of (2) as I indicated so that it would precede (a), (b), (c), and, when we come to the new (d), we would say:
    “send a copy of the record of the currency seized to the person from whom the currency was seized”.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:45 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, I do not get it.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, subclause (d) would read: “send a copy of the record of the currency seized to the person from whom the currency was seized”.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:45 a.m.
    Hon Member for Tamale Central?
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, this provision -- clause 65(2) -- is just the procedure where currency is seized. The problem that we are trying to address is, how do we keep the person from whom the currency has been seized informed or --? [Interruption] -- we must inform him in the first place, when the currency is seized and the record of the seized currency is being taken, the person from whom the currency is seized has to sign the record; so we do not send him the record but we give him a copy.
    Mr Speaker, so, we just add 6:45 a.m.
    “And give a copy of the record”
    -- [Interruption] --
    That is the procedure; we would name the person, give the particulars of the amount, record the relevant information regarding the currency, and because the Director-General is not there, we send him the record including the seized currency but give a copy of the record to the person from whom the currency is seized.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:45 a.m.
    Hon Member, I do not think we should assume anything; I do not see
    where it is stated that a person from whom the currency is seized would have to sign the seizure notice. Maybe in the regulations, some of these things may be put there, but it is not yet, so what do we do?
    Let me listen to the Hon Member for Akim Oda.
    Mr Quaittoo 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, once we are trying to see how we would give a copy to the person from whom the currency is seized, I am concerned about the relevant information as regards the currency only, but if we look at subclauses (a) and (b), we are recording information on the person as well as the currency.
    And when it comes to any other ‘relevant', we are relating only to the currency; why not also on the person from whom the currency is seized? Let us look at subclause (c):
    “Any other relevant information as regards the currency”
    Here, the other relevant information is only related to the currency but not to the person from whom the currency is seized.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:45 a.m.
    It is a conjunct; we use ‘and':
    “The particulars and amount of currency and any other information as regards the currency”.
    So the two would come together.
    Yes, Hon Member for Wa West?
    Mr Chireh 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the suggestion by the Hon Member for Tamale Central should then change the order of what we are doing such that once we get the particulars, the amount or the other cost immediately gives a copy to the -- [ Interruption] -- and that is implied in what the procedure is.
    Then, subclause (c) would now become subclause (d);
    “…where the money is sent to the Director-General together with the records”.
    This one should be immediately after the names, particulars and the amount have been taken, then a copy should be given to the person from whom it is seized.
    If the sponsor is going away, we should also close now -- [Laughter] --
    Mr Speaker, did you get the point I am making?
    Mr Chireh 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the point I am making is that, because of what Hon Inusah said, what we should do is to change the order where we say that “the particulars and the amount of”
    And paragraph (c) should be, “and a copy given to the person from whom the currency is seized”. And paragraph (d), the Director-General, would take both the record and the money.
    What we were saying earlier was, why is it that he must be given a copy? It is implied if we put it there.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the draftspersons offered us a pathway —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:45 a.m.
    Yes, that is what I am going through.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:45 a.m.
    Sorry, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:45 a.m.
    What the Table Office proposed is in line with the submission of the Hon Members for Tamale Central and Wa West; that when we come to paragraph (c), we just put “record
    any other relevant information in respect of the currency”.
    Then, we come to paragraph (d): “send a copy of the record of the currency seized to the person from whom the currency is seized”. And then now: “and send the record and the seized currency to the Director- General”.
    6.55 p . m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:45 a.m.
    Is that all right?
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is all right with us.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:45 a.m.
    Hon Chairman, we would move to the next proposed amendment.
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 65, subclause (3), line 1, before “currency”, insert “the”, and in line 2, delete “one month” and insert “thirty days”, and further in lines 4 and 5, delete “claimed the currency by giving notice of the claim in writing to the Director-General”, and insert the following: “by an application on notice to the Court, made a claim for the release of the currency”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:45 a.m.
    We would move to the last proposed amendment to clause 65. Chairman of the Committee?
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 65, subclause (5), opening phrase, after “release”, insert “the”.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am having second thoughts on the deletion of “an”. It appears to be that the court talks of two processes, first by the person from whom the currency is seized and secondly, by and on behalf of the person for whom the currency is seized. So there appears to be two scenarios and if my thinking is right, “the” would have to go and “an” would remain.
    If it had not been so, we would say “the court” because an application would have already been made but they are starting a new situation in which an application is brought for and on behalf of the person by whom the currency was imported or exported. So, if a lawyer is applying for and on behalf of a person by whom the currency was imported or exported, it can only be “an application” and not “the application”. He would not have
    applied already and that is why it is: “a court shall on an application by and on behalf of a person”. It is a general rule that they are setting here.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:45 a.m.
    We were dealing with subclause 5, so I was not getting your submission well until I went to subclause 4. I thought you were talking about subclause 5, but the proposed amendment is to subclause 4.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 65 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:45 a.m.
    What is the pleasure of the House? Should we still go on?
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, if you could indulge us for maybe half an hour, the rush hour traffic is still up. [Interruption]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:45 a.m.
    Are you urging the House to go on for the next half hour?
    Mr A. Ibrahim 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we agreed to work for two hours and we have. I think that it is an appropriate time for us to adjourn the House and come tomorrow morning. I am saying this as a leader, bearing in mind that
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am seriously persuaded by the application made by the Hon First Deputy Minority Whip. However, I would plead with him to indulge us to do clause 66. There is not much controversy on it, it is just a straightforward amendment. So far the advertised amendments are just two, so we could consider it and then close.
    Mr Bawa 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in addition to all the reasons given by the Hon First Deputy Minority Whip, we also have Catholics among us. There is a serious religious activity we have to do and that is Ash Wednesday. Some of us have to go
    back to our parishes to take care of that because we could not do it in the morning.
    I am a baptised and confirmed member of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. The caucus is led -- [Laughter] In fact Mr Speaker, I wanted to be a priest but it is just that I did not get in.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:45 a.m.
    Hon Members, we would take the last clause 66. I see that there is still some energy in you.
    Clause 66 -- Freezing of property
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 66 , subclause (1), line 2, delete “trail” and insert “trial of a person for an offence under this Act”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:45 a.m.
    Yes, the next proposed amendment to clause 66?
    Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 66, subclause (2), line 1, delete “fourteen” and insert “ten”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Agalga 7:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with the deletion of ‘' fourteen'' and insertion of ‘‘ten '' in the second amendment, I was not convinced even at the level of the Committee sitting. How do we want to reduce the period of notice for a person against whom a freezing order of his property is about to be made. The 14 days is just appropriate.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:05 p.m.
    I thought the Director-General, shall within 10 days after the freezing, apply to the court for a confirmation
    of the freezing. So that is in the interest of the person whose -- [Interruption] --
    Clauses 66 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Mr A. Dery 7:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to express my appreciation for the support of this House, for the work done this far.
    ADJOURNMENT 7:05 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 7.08 p.m. till Thursday, 27th February, 2020, at 10.00 a.m.